18.
THE
PRESIDENT OF INDIA
The President of India, Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam, on 14 June 2005, asked the Governors not to take any partisan
stand lest the people might hesitate to approach them with their suggestions
and problems.
The President, again on the same day, said that he favoured the post of
President being brought under the purview of an independent organization to
probe the charges against the Public Servants.
In a song composed for tsunami
victims, President of India Abdul Kalam, on 30 June 2005, said that the people
of India would overcome all odds with knowledge, courage and hard work.
The
Hindu, on 7 June 2005, published an article written by His
Excellency the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It was based on his
interaction of a with Jain Muni Acharya Shri Mahapragya a few days ago,
which was not reported by the media. It is reproduced below.
“Conscience
is the light of the Soul that burns within the chambers of our psychological
heart. It is as real as life is. It raises the voice in protest whenever
anything is thought of or done contrary to
righteousness.
Conscience
is a form of truth that has been transferred through
our genetic stock in the form of the knowledge of our own acts and feelings
as right or wrong.
Conscience
also is a great ledger where our offences are booked and registered. It is a
terrible witness. It threatens, promises, rewards, and punishes, keeping all
under its control.
If conscience stings once, it is an
admonition, if twice, it is a condemnation. Cowardice asks, “Is it safe?” Greed
asks “ Is there any gain in it?” Vanity asks, “Can I become great?” Lust asks,
“Is there pleasure in it”
But
conscience asks? “Is it right?” Why have we become deaf to its voice?
Insensitive to its pricks? Callous to
its criticism?
The
answer is corruption.
Corruption
is an assault on consciousness. The habit of taking bribes and seeking favours
has become very common.
People holding important positions have
developed inconsiderateness to their conscience. They pretend everything is all
right.
Do they not have an idea of the law of action
and reaction? Have they forgotten how impressions of the conscious mind and
their force work?
If you take bribes, your thoughts and actions
are registered in the subconscious mind.
Will
you not be carrying forward your dishonesty to your next generations causing
them great suffering?
It is a painful reality that corruption has
become a way of life affecting all aspects of living, personal as well as
social.
It is not merely the pecuniary corruption but
other forms as well.
Immoral
ways of people holding high positions and handling power have taken away guilt
from the minds of lesser mortals. What a dangerous situation? A great
civilization is endangered.
A
virtuous man alone can use the instruments of conscience. He alone can hear the
inner voice of the soul clearly.
In a wicked man this faculty is dead. The
sensitive nature of his conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption.
Hence he is unable to discriminate right from wrong.
Those
who are leading organizations, business enterprises, institutions and
Governments, how can they be corrupt?
Is it not wise to have a clear conscience and
enjoy freedom from anxiety and all kinds of worries?
If
you do wrong actions and sinful deeds and treat them lightly today, you will
not hesitate to perform various crimes tomorrow.
If
you allow one sin to enter and dwell in your conscience, you pave the way for
the entry of a thousand sins.
Your
conscience will become blunt and lose its sensitivity.
The
habit of doing evil deeds will pervade the whole body like the poison of a
scorpion.
Do
you know when you are corrupt, your children who are indeed enjoying the fruits
of your corruption are mocking at you? After all they are
well informed and knowledgeable.
Your
parental mask is too thin to hide the contempt of your children. You are no
more the role model of your own children. Is this disgrace not enough?
Our
society is fast reaching a stage where the immunity of conscience is challenged
by the corruption, as HIV would do to the body of an AIDS patient.
The corruption has seeped into every stream of
our lifeblood. Can we save ourselves as a civilization?
Spiritual
leaders have evolved morals, codes, and teachings of righteousness. Beautiful
hymns, songs and prayers have been written and composed.
But
the annihilation of conscience by corruption appears frightening. Religion has
not been effective in evoking conscience. Who then will? Can our conscience be
redeemed?
A
movement for the Foundation for unity of Religions and Enlightenment of
citizenship (FUREC) against corruption has to be made as a new feature”.
