DUTY

1. Right from our childhood our parents talked of `Duty’. So did our leaders like Tilak, Gandhi and others. The only `right’ Tilak talked about was our right to `swaraj’. Let us look at how society looks at `duty’. To list a few: there is duty to parents, teachers, spouse, children, society, country and above all duty to `oneself’ – because unless one looks after oneself it would not be possible – nay impossible – to discharge any or all other duties.

2. Further :

Business owes a duty to its customers and suppliers. Corporates owe a duty to all its stakeholders and society as society is one of the stakeholders – it is for the first time in the world that duty to society has been codified in India. Corporates are now expected to spend 2% of their net profits in the discharge of their `social responsibility’.I believe this is a mandate, though initially it is being treated as somewhat optional.

We professionals owe a duty to our clients – to render a service to the best of our ability and never feel shy of seeking help where we need it. We also have a duty to those articled with us to train them to be good professionals.

The government owes a duty towards its citizens for being fair and transparent and citizens have a corresponding duty of living according to the code of conduct and paying our taxes. There is a good old saying `yield to ceaser what is due to him’.

The sage owes a duty to the seeker as much as the seeker owes a duty to the sage by following his preceptor with faith.

3. Moreover, in life `following’ is as much a duty as the `duty’ to lead – for every one of us without exception is both a leader and a follower.

4. Duty to society, per se, includes duty to obey laws, both natural and manmade. Hence, if one discharges one’s duties – he favours no one as doing one’s duty is discharging an obligation. As a matter of fact, one should not even seek appreciation or a `thank you.’ If it comes it comes as a `bonus’ in accounting language.

5. Duty to oneself is not only looking after one’s body but includes taking care of our mind and emotions. Hence in management parlance, it is in this sense that it is said that E.Q. is as important as I.Q. if not more – because if one cannot take care of one’s emotions – how will one discharge one’s duty with care and compassion. However, doing one’s duty is not easy – difficulties will arise but difficulties don’t deter the doer of duties. He faces the difficulties with faith and courage – faith in himself – and overcomes them with the guidance of his preceptor and help of God. Living upto one’s duty, though not easy, develops harmony.

6. However, the irony is that we have moved from `duties’ to `rights’ and the result is–strife, commotion, intolerance and uneasiness prevails at home, workplace and in society. We have forgotten that if all of us discharge our duty, there would be peace and harmony. Mahatma Gandhi advises :

• The true source of rights is duty; if we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek’.

• The best society is a duty-conscious society,

           the worst society is a rights-conscious society’.

8. I believe we can and it will happen, for it is the only way to bring peace, harmony and happiness in one’s life and in society. Doing our duty sets us free. Charles Bandclair declares :

• the habit of doing one’s duty drives away fear’.