Ethical Governance and Society: Essential Parameters
| Published date | 01 July 2013 |
| Date | 01 July 2013 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120130312 |
| Author | Aruna Goel |
| Subject Matter | Article |
ETIDCAL
GOVERNANCE AND SOCIETY:
ESSENTIAL PARAMETERS
ARUNAGOEL
India has surpassed the limits
of
scams and scandals, which
have become normal
for
the governance in India. How to
overcome the occurrence
of
big scams which are causing
misery to people? How can we tackle the corrupt machinery
of
governance? The article tries to enumerate some practices
based upon India s traditional wisdom to promote ethical
governance
for
the welfare
of
the people.
Much had been said about the sovereignty
of
the people.
We
have held
that the ultimate sovereignty rests with moral laws. People as well as
kings, are subordinate
to
that Dharma, righteousness is the king
of
kings-Dharmaman Kshtrasva
Kshtram-It
is the sovereignty
of
this
law we have asserted. -Dr. S. Raclhakrishnan
Fm;mer President
of
India
THE VACUUM created because
of
traditional and 'old fashioned' values
drawn from religious sources and based
on
common sense being discarded
in favour
of
materialism and selfish individualism, clearly points to the
need for a code
of
ethics. As a matter
of
fact, no specific standards were
left sacred against which the conduct
of
public officials (as well as business
people) could be measured. And as clergy and religious leaders were told
to keep out
of
the state affairs, the protective layer
of
public morality was
left exposed to the onslaught
of
corruption, dishonesty, sleaziness, deception
and selfish individualism. That protective layer in the body politic is needed
back.
For
no nation
or
a society, irrespective
of
its political and religious
orientation, can live in a moral vacuum. There have to
be
some articles
of
faith (drawn from the societal culture, traditions, and religions) governing
our lives, which must
be
resurrected and strengthened. We already know
that one cannot legislate honesty and good behaviour; these haye to come
from within.
For
that, one has to look to our religions where such attributes
are considered sacred. But, one does not acquire such attributes
by
thinking
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