Relevance: UPSC Ethics Simplified draws your attention to a topic of self-awareness and self-management in the form of a caselet. This caselet is an extension of the concepts discussed on Kant’s Philosophy. It is advised to revisit the concept article before reading the caselet below.

Nanditesh Nilay writes for UPSC Ethics Simplified fortnightly. The first article will be a concept while the second article will be a caselet, based on the concept. Don’t miss the ‘Ethicist view’ below.

Anmol was a driver by profession and a golden-hearted person. He used to drive senior bureaucrats’ vehicles when he was posted in a government training institute. One day his director asked him to receive a very senior bureaucrat Mr. George from the airport. While returning from the airport he learned that Mr. George was willing to buy a piece of land and asked Anmol to connect him with the right people. Though Anmol was a thoroughly committed employee, he still used to go beyond his limits to help others. He connected Mr. George with Sunil, the landowner. Finally, Mr. George got that piece of land with a good discount.

Anmol and that landowner were from the same caste, but moreover, it was Anmol’s goodness that helped George and Sunil get a good deal. Sunil, the landowner, said to Mr. George, “I have seen several bureaucrats in my life. Please don’t get me wrong, but I found most of them selfish, rude, and highly cosmetic. It is only due to Anmol that we can close the  deal.”

Time flies. Anmol was near to his retirement. One day while visiting Delhi he got to know that Mr. George had become the top bureaucrat in a ministry. Just for a courtesy, Anmol went to meet Mr. George in person and requested his staff to inform his coming. One of the secretariat staff asked, “Anmol, does our sir know you? Anmol proudly replied,” Oh yes! If you can please inform him that Anmol has come from XYZ institute.”

After half an hour the secretariat staff informed Anmol, ” Sir is very busy. And sorry, he  doesn’t know you.” When Anmol was leaving that staff cunningly said, “Our sir don’t give time easily to Collectors and DMs. Why do you think he would give it to you? You are a driver. Sorry.” Anmol returned.

The next day was Anmol’s farewell. His department was preparing him to felicitate for his good behaviour and work. Meanwhile, someone informed Anmol that a very senior bureaucrat is coming by flight and he will have to go to receive him and that duty will be his last one. Anmol, like a humble employee, went to the airport. To his utter surprise, he saw Mr. George, the bureaucrat. He held his emotions and greeted him. The bureaucrat said, “After my meeting, we will go to the market. I have to buy a Pashmina Shawl for my wife. You have to ensure that I get the best deal. Is that Ok Anmol?” Anmol was not at all surprised when he called him by his name. He knew that people like Mr. George possesses a sharp memory and always remembers profit pointers in their lives for sure.

His farewell time was 5 pm. Anmol went to the director room and said, “Sir, I don’t want to go anywhere today. Please send some other driver with Mr. George.” That other driver took the bureaucrat to the market. At the shop, the bureaucrat introduced himself to impress the staff. The shopkeeper said,” Sir, you are a big shot. You don’t need to impress us with a few hundred rupees discount. Prices are fixed here. Please don’t take me wrong. I didn’t know you. Yes, if you would have come with Anmol…” He stopped abruptly.

Meanwhile, at Anmol’s farewell, the director asked him to share his few experiences. Anmol went to the dias and said, “I was lucky to work and meet so many successful officers of our country. It has been a journey of great learning for me. I want to thank everyone. Especially George sir, who is sitting here. He taught me a few lessons in life. Thank You, sir.”

After the event, Mr. George said to Anmol,”Due to you I felt a loss of minimum Rs.500. I bought a shawl but without any discount. Anmol, you would have gone with me.” Anmol replied, ”Sorry Sir. I was very emotional. And sir, there are many drivers like me, and we all are human beings, without any discount.”

In the above case there are subtle issues that call for our attention from the ethical perspective. Anmol understood the golden rule of ethics — do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.  Simultaneously, he never tried to take any favour from the bureaucrat. He follows the Categorical Imperative of Kant,” act only by the maxim through which you can at the same time that it becomes a universal law.”  He didn’t try to bring up the bitter incident even in his last interaction with the bureaucrat. Instead, he focused on the larger question of Kantian ethics of universalizability and reversibility. Though he said to the director that he was not willing to go with Mr. George, yet it was certain that duty, organisational commitment and dignity were everything to him. Mr. George failed in carrying all those ethical principles. He was more of a profit-minded person rather than a good human being or a utilitarian. He even didn’t fit in the framework — “maximum good for maximum numbers.” Over all this case urges the reader to focus on those emotional and rational issues which are counted in the decision-making process.

(The writer is the author of ‘Being Good and Aaiye, Insaan Banaen’, ‘Ethikos: Stories Searching Happiness’ and ‘Kyon’. He teaches courses on and offers training in ethics, values and behaviour. He has been the expert/consultant to UPSC, SAARC countries, Civil services Academy, National Centre for Good Governance, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI), etc. He has PhD in two disciplines and has been a Doctoral Fellow in Gandhian Studies from ICSSR. His second PhD is from IIT Delhi on Ethical Decision Making among Indian Bureaucrats. He writes for the UPSC Ethics Simplified (concepts and caselets) fortnightly.)

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