Do Ethics matter?

In 2003 Satyendra Dubey an IIT graduate lost his life for speaking against corrupt officials and contractors, he was working with the National Highway Authority of India on the Golden Quadrilateral project , the pet project of the then PM AB Vajpayee. Prior to his death, he had tried to inform the high ups even the PM of India but some rotten apples in the administration leaked his name. Ultimately he was killed and his body left on the highway.

In November 2005, Manjunathan an IIM Lucknow pass out, manager with Indian Oil Corporation ( PSU) lost his life for standing up against the Oil mafia, he received death threats for ordering closure of a petrol pump selling adulterated fuel. Both brilliant guys, with middle class values of honesty and integrity instilled in them, only hope of parents who ensured good solid education would give them a head start in life. Both penalized by a system that refuses to change by rewarding the honest.

Both could have got jobs anywhere in the world but stayed back only to lose their lives while doing a job. Who is to be blamed? Is it the insensitive system that does not reward honesty, fails to protect the whistle blowers or the middle class values and ethics? What choice do the young and upright have - to withstand it all even if it means losing ones life or opt for the safe option of going abroad?

well.....i am waiting for indygirl to comment first 😛 😛

I really don't know who is to blame...both of those guys seemed really brave though. I guess in order for you to stand up for something, you need to have a lot of people support you so that you are not alone in the matter.

its totaly onez choice, if he/she feels that they gotta dedicate their life to their job then go ahead die, but if u care more bout ur family, then i guess the 2nd option is better 😛

😭 Hun, I know it feels horrible 😭 .
I dont know what to say because its so hard.
I just had to post to commend these two great men and atleast say "Thank You" for bring so brave and say "Sorry" becaue I am from India and I suck because there is nothing I could do about it-

Had to add what i felt again, these two words aint helping anyone except me, damn it-

Originally posted by: kool_gal

its totaly onez choice, if he/she feels that they gotta dedicate their life to their job then go ahead die, but if u care more bout ur family, then i guess the 2nd option is better 😛

true

Thats a tough call to make Signora2 !!Ethics should have a high place in every one's life . But unfortunately that can't be expected of all . There always will be honest people like Satyendar and Manjunathan . And there will also be corrupt officals.

You may have heard of the V.Plame case , an undercover CIA agents who's name was leaked to the press !! So there was someone in the administration who was a whistle blower .

Its a tragedy that it happens !! But people who belive in ethics will not still compromise these values no matter what !!

that sure is herculean task signora2. to choose.everybody has to die someday! people with ethics will die a martyrs death and the whistle blowers will always die a traitors death! there are no two ways about that either.

and rindam your sentence "I just had to post to commend these two great men and atleast say "Thank You" for bring so brave and say "Sorry" becaue I am from India and I suck because there is nothing I could do about it-"

this has nothing to do with being indian or in india. this happens the world over! they were brave men, i agree and i commend their stance too! but it sucks no matter who the whistle blower is, and it is a matter of pride no matter what nationality the principled person is from - russian, american, afghan or indian!

Originally posted by: jasunap

and rindam your sentence "I just had to post to commend these two great men and atleast say "Thank You" for bring so brave and say "Sorry" becaue I am from India and I suck because there is nothing I could do about it-"

this has nothing to do with being indian or in india. this happens the world over! they were brave men, i agree and i commend their stance too! but it sucks no matter who the whistle blower is, and it sucks no matter what nationality the principled person is from - russian, american, afghan or indian!

I named India only because these two men died in India though and because of the Indian system. And I couldnt help in anyway and thats why felt responsible. I failed them.

I can only try to clean up my mess, around my home. If other people's homes are dirty as well, I can help but not be held responsible-

Okay first Aparna, I was waiting for your reponse, Yes Whistle Blowers get hit the hardest. But do you have legislations in America in protecting them? Well in India we started in this direction after the Dubey murder but it has not been passed in Parliament.
Yes I agree Jas, it is all over the world and not related to India.
You know what in India our responses are very slow, I have never seen a politician or a criminal being booked, the cases end up either due to lack of credible witnesses or turning hostile.
Then what has emerged in the aftermath of Manjunathan's killing is erosion of faith among the youth, u know in a way the message would go around it really does not pay to be honest. This is worrying, are we to encourage cowardice and be apathetic when there is a wrong doing?
Really mind boggling, I saw in one of the TV channels the parents of Manjunathan saying he had told his highups about it but there was no response.
All men in uniform know they will die and they know it, but Manjunathan was your regualr guy doing his job and doing it honestly.