By Pradeep A. Shah
Chartered Accountant
I was reading Stephen Covey’s Book “Principle – Centered
Leadership.” The Chapter “Seven Deadly Sins” completely took me by surprise.
Stephen was writing about Seven Deadly Sins as listed by Mahatma Gandhi! I knew
nothing about this! My curiosity took me to Gandhi Book Centre from where I was
directed to ‘Mani Bhavan’ Library on Laburnum Road, Gamdevi. They helped me to
discover the original writing of Gandhiji which had appeared in “Young India”
in the year 1925 as under:
Seven Social Sins
The same fair friend wants readers of Young India to know, if
they do not already, the following social sins:
1. Wealth Without Work
2. Pleasure Without Conscience
3. Knowledge Without Character
4. Business (Commerce) Without Morality (Ethics)
5. Science Without Humanity
6. Religion Without Sacrifice
7. Politics Without Principles
Naturally, the friend does not want the readers to know these
things merely through intellect but to know them through the heart so as to
avoid them.
Mohandas Karamchand
Gandhi
(October 22, 1925, Page 360 Young India 1925)
As I look around, I find that of the seven, “Wealth Without
Work’ is the most deadly, most rampant and one which has a terrible impact on
the society today. For that matter, it is not only wealth without work, but
also income without work, position and power without work which has a
devastating effect on the human being.
These are the days of ‘Getting Rich Quickly’. People who have
done nothing, but held on to inherited wealth have made fortunes in
investments. People having immovable properties and particularly land, have
seen their wealth sky rocketing to unbelievable dizzy heights. Kids in their
teens spend at a pub or a club more money than what may be the take home pay of
a peon or a clerk. Experience teaches us that hard earned money gives a
different flavour to our lives, and makes us happier. As someone has very aptly put it, “The
Greatest Waste in the World is the difference between what we are and what we
are capable of becoming.”
It is the duty of all us of to ensure that our future
generations are not crippled by excessive provision made for them and their
talents are not stifled. Let us all then see that we provide sufficiently for
our children’s needs, but at the same time ensure that they learn the value of
work.
“It is not enough to have lived. Be determined to live for
something.
It should be creating joy for
others, Working for the betterment of the society, Sharing what we have,
Bringing hope to the lost. And giving
love to the loners.”
“William
Arthur Ward”
There are several wealthy persons like Azim Premji and Bill
& Melinda Gates who have either during their life time or by making their
wills have ensured that a substantial portion of the massive wealth is utilised
for philanthropic purposes, for the welfare of the poor and needy, and for
making our world a better place to live in. We can emulate their examples.
We must remember that there are two things that
which are certain. We are all going to die some day. Secondly whatever wealth
we have gathered in our lifetime, we will have to leave behind. Let us then
teach our children the concept of trusteeship. They should understand that
whatever they inherit in excess of their genuine needs, that they are getting
and holding as trustees, are for people who are poor and needy who are less
fortunate than them. If they adopt this principle of trusteeship, they will be
saved from the sin of “wealth without work.”
