Integrity is tested not in comfort but in adversity

Integrity is tested not in comfort but in adversity The moral architect of human being is often invisible during regular routine life. It unveils itself during the time of adversity or a crisis. It is very easy and infact beneficial to follow moral principles when there is prosperity and societal approval. Integrity is defined as an unyielding adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. As Martin Luther King Jr said "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenges." To understand why adversity acts a true litmus test for integrity, we should first understand the nature of comfort.

Comfort provides an ethical cushion. When an individual's social, emotional and material needs are met, it is very hard to compromise on one's morals. A well funded bureaucrat faces no inner compulsion to accept a bribe. A good examination system gives a student no incentive to try unfair means to cheat. A nation having economic and social prosperity has no temptation to crush voices of it's citizens. Adversity shatters this illusion, it introduces a friction path where choosing the right decision comes with some personal consequences. It presents a choice between an easy wrong and a difficult right. The pages of History are filled with individuals who demonstrate that integrity can be upheld during times of adversity. Mahatama Gandhi, during the freedom struggle could have easily chosen a life of professional comfort and social prestige as he was an english educated barrister. Yet, he chose the path of 'Satyagraha' (Adhering to truth) that brought him physical assault & repeated imprisonments.

His integrity was tested during various events when his followers were beaten up but he choose to retaliate with non-violence. Nelson's Mandela integrity was put to extreme test during his 27 year imprisonment on Robben Island. The Apartheid regime offered him conditional freedom various times if he was willing to compromise on his political struggle, but he refused. For a civil servant, the temptation to compromise on integrity comes disguised as political pressure, transfer and promotion threats and personal or family safety risks. Officers like Ashok Khemka and Tukaram Munde refuse to bend when the system turned hostile. A civil servant's integrity is not tested by maintaining clean files and doing up to date work in office, rather under immense political and social pressure. During public crisis, such as a pandemic or a disaster, the integrity of entire state is tested.

Resources are scarce and panic is high. A system with integrity ensures equitable distribution of relief, protection of marginals and upholds rule of law. On the contrary, a corrupt system lacking integrity collapses into favouritism, black marketing, protecting a handful of citizens and abandoning the others. Similarly, for corporates, when they are blooming, their revenues and profits are growing, implementing fair trade practices and upholding rights of labours is very easy. The true test occurs during economic recessions or market crashes. While various big Tech Giants of the world (Amazon, Google) are unable to uphold integrity during recessions and resort to firing or laying off their employees, groups like TATA Group ensured that needs of all the workers are taken care of, who were affected in 26/11 attacks. For political parties and leaders, it is very easy to show integrity and ensuring transparency and accountability when you have popular support. The true test of integrity is when you have lost popular support and accept the defeat.

A person who lacks integrity might resort to fake promises, false propaganda or election rigging. The true test of Judiciary also comes in time of crisis, to uphold it's duty to deliver justice. In the Shah Bano Case, it was the Judiciary which upheld it's integrity and interfered with the Muslim Shariyat Law, to give women their due respect in the community. It made severance pay a legal right for muslim women. The Great Indian saint Kabir says, "An integral person is like a gold brick. Even if you break him, he still retains his value. An A person who lacks integrity is like a clay pot. He looks attractive and shiny from the outside, but once there is some crisis or you put some pressure of adversity on him, he is shattered into pieces". In modern world, where India aspires to be 'Vishawguru', it is certainly very important to uphold integrity. Integrity is not tested during periods of economic boom, but during times of crisis and how India upholds it's integrity and ensure well being of it's citizens. Integrity that has never survived adversity is just an unproved claim. Choosing integrity during adversity involved short term pain but at the cost of long term gain. Comfort and wealth are temporary but the self worth out of a moral battle won is permanent. As Lord Krishna advises in Bhagvad Gita to uphold our 'Dharma' (duty) and not worry about the consequences or results. This way we can ensure a life that can be sustained through all turbulent times and still follow a path of satisfaction and happiness.

This way we can ensure a life that can be sustained through all turbulent times and still follow a path of satisfaction and happiness.