Value, Ethics & Governance BB1101 [2 Credits] [2 0 0 2]

Topic 1: Relevance of Value Education using Misconception Check

After clearing so many misconceptions among all of us, we established that Value Education is very
important. The most dangerous misconception was that values are relative and can be whimsically
decided by an individual ruling out any need for incorporating it in formal academic system. While it is
certainly true for any specialization or vocation that if an individual is having interest, Providence will
certainly help that individual to find the ways and means; however most of us are not self-driven and
that is why institutions of systematic education are required, so that the society can move forward in a
cohesive and meaningful way.

Whimsical actions of selfish and egoistic psychologies have perpetrated a lot of suffering on the entire
human race collectively and individually which can be acutely felt in terms of increased societal (e.g.
depression among youth, suicides, surging crime rates, etc) as well as environmental problems(global
warming, pollution, etc). History has witnessed mass carnage by weapons due to tyrant psychologies
and misuse of technologies due to individuals plagued with unholy value system.

Genuine leaders of all societies and nationalities of the world have unanimously agreed that in the
rampant spree of hedonism in the recent past, we have ignored educating ourselves in what is essential
to the entire humanity, nay the entire existence of life on planet Earth. In this pursuit, it is essential that
this vision has to percolate the education system. Hence all the statutory bodies entru sted with the
responsibility of disseminating and monitoring the education system have taken notice that apart from
skill development, there has to be embedded impetus on positive utilization of the technology. This is
evident from the “Program Outcomes” of the engineering program.

Technology, like any other tool, can be used for benign purposes; however if approached with evil -
mindedness it can act as Frankenstein’s monster devastating the very same lot who misused it. Hence
the need of Value Education cannot be overemphasized.

Some said that we have studied “Moral Science” during our schooling, hence why are being taught it
again in our higher education. We need to understand that higher education is built on the foundation
of primary and secondary education, and although we have studied courses like physics, chemistry,
mathematics, etc; again during higher education we studied advanced versions of them in application
oriented ways to hone our skills further, and get into cognitive and affective domains so that we are
irrevocably convinced about the need of lifelong value education, because the application of values,
ethics, and governance requires a dynamic and empathetic attitude.

For example, we may have heard, “As you sow, so shall you reap” in our moral science classes; however
when it comes to application in our life it is negligible. We indulge in doing wrong things and still expect
that nothing wrong should happen to me. However laws of nature act very mechanically, and whatever
we have done we have to bear the consequences accordingly; we may be whoever we may be.
Hence this course has been embedded in our education system to remind the budding technocrats,
entrepreneurs, and future leaders of the society that it is our responsibility to make this P lanet Earth a
better place to live.

This course invokes the divine potential within everyone to contribute energetically in a positive way
towards making the journey of their lives a perfectly blissful one, and help others to do the same.

The natural question which comes to our mind is that how to cultivate a benign value system, and
how to avoid a malign value system. Do we have the free will? ; or are we just random molecular
combination programmed to live in a certain way, and hence we should not be blamed for the choices
we make.

Answer: Yes we do have the free will. Using our free will, we do exercise our choices. Acting on our
chosen thoughts repetitively shapes our habits. Our set of habits defines our attitude(cognitive
psychology) as well as behavior(functional psychology). The previous two factors conditions a person to
create identifications and designations, which together form the ego. The term ego means identity, and
our actual identity is that all of us are divine entities, but when we misuse our free will to harm
ourselves, we create a false ego, which is very dangerous for a the person himself as well as everyone
related with him. When we exercise our free will for good purposes, then we are acting in the state of
true ego.

Depending on whether one is acting on platform of true ego, or false ego, the value system is
also chosen accordingly. True ego leads us to benign value system, whereas false ego misleads us to
malign value system. Fortunately, Providence always gives us chances to rectify our false ego to true
ego by proper use of free will, and hence the choice is always ours. Remember, “We need to make our
choices responsibly, for we will be held responsible for our choices”. Stated otherwise, “We need to
make an intelligent choice of our value system, for we will be evaluated based on our value system”.

Case study of Smoking

Topic 2: Mantra for Success : Morality and Ethics

We human beings have a very important role to play in the overall scheme of the universal
management system. We must understand that those who occupy important positions, have to behave
responsibly.

Intellectuals and leaders need to behave even more responsibly and with due care, concern, sensitivity
and empathy for all the stakeholders in their existence. This starts from caring for oneself first – it is
said, “in giving we receive”- but to give we have to receive first. This brings us to the point of being
successful in our respective domains, if we want to contribute . Success refers to accomplishment of
intended goal statement resulting in happiness.

1. S: Set your goal statement (Priority management, not just time management)
 2. U: unleash the immense power inside you by igniting the fire of self-motivation
3. C: clarity of focus(LASER sharp focus – 3 steps of achieving it : 1. Identify the Most Important
Goal; 2. Give it 2 of your best hours; 3. For 3 months) – accept the favorable; reject the
unfavorable.
4. C: Contagious energy and enthusiasm

5. E: Execution of strategy; 4 steps of execution (1. Most Important Goal; 2.Effort consistency
score, and Result accomplishment score; 3. Scoreboard with proper data analytics and
recordkeeping; 4. Weekly review meetings) N.B. Shortcuts will not help to attain sustainable
success.
6. S: Setback? Setback and failures should be harvested to cultivate learning. Whenever we get a
setback in life, we should not just lament and sit back, we should step back to make a more
determined come back.; e.g. Elon Musk, Winston Churchill, and many more.
7. S: Smile and be sober; avoid anger, avarice, pride and envy. Convert anger into a positive
resolution, practice forgiveness; envy has to be destroyed.

Illicit means will not give us durable success.

Misconception check question: Are we requesting everyone to be moral and ethical just for the sake of
the same?

Ans. No. We are educating ourselves to be moral and ethical in our business because illicit means will
never choke our efforts for long-term sustainable success. If we whimsically achieve illicit means, sooner
or later we will be exposed, and punished, and all our efforts for success, happiness, and contentment
will be mutilated by ignominy, infamy, distress, depression, moroseness, and so on.

Moreover, it is a very widely acclaimed misconception that ethical and moral people cannot be
successful in business or any profession. We must know how to increase the volume of business by
applying suitable techniques like scalable business model, etc.

Success means Inclusiveness:

We may also remind ourselves that success is meant for celebration and that requires togetherness. The
joy of success becomes compounded multifold when we help others to succeed. Remember: “When we
derive happiness only in our success, then the scope of happiness and success is limited; but when we
learn to derive happiness in others’ success, the scope of success and happiness is unlimited.”

It is very important to understand that success without morality and ethics is not sustainable.
 Lecture 3: Professional Ethics and Ethical Dilemmas

Success requires that whatever we are doing, we have to do with full allegiance, integrity, and rightful
ethics and morality i.e., we have to profess it religiously.

When we profess something religiously, we are always faced with conflicting situations, which we need
to resolve with proper intelligence and consulting senior well-wishing professional situated in wisdom
about the pro and cons of the different choices.

Our myopic approach (short-sightedness) misleads to adopt shortcuts for professional success, and
sometimes we remain mute spectators, participants, and stakeholder in illegal and corrupt practices;
sometimes due to fear, inhibition, and even out of avarice.

However we always have the choice to make by exercising our free will. Professional success attained by
illicit means may be taste sweet like honey in the beginning; but it’s actually success.

As it goes deeper and subtler into our body, mind, and intelligence and ultimately false ego, to the
extent that we think that we are right although we are totally wrong. We also tend to justify our wrong
doing by developing incredible volumes of logic, rationalization, and so on.

We keep on revolving in this vicious cycle, and the possibility of coming out becomes more less. Not
because we don’t get sufficient rectificatory chances, or others don’t hint at that; but because of the
fact that we become falsely egoistic.

Now, we may argue that why do we need to care whether my professional accomplishments are ethical
or not? We will attempts to answer this using the following arguments:

1. Sustainability, scalability, replication of professional success is not guaranteed when we adopt

illicit means.
2. Professional success is very much dependent on positive word of mouth of genuine people who
have been previously been related and affected, and remember that this world is an
interconnected globe.
3. Originally, we are all divine beings, and adopting illicit means is something which is not in our
grain at all. That is why those who indulge in such practices are always prone to anxieties,
distress, moroseness, depression, and so on; although they may fake not to be so.

In its historical beginning, the term “profession” was used chiefly for 3 practices considered highly
crucial for the well-being of the society:

1. Divinity – priest, popes, religious leaders, etc.

This was important because it helps us to reconnect with our true identity as a divine child of
GOD. All civilized societies have some form of religion, which helps the people to revive their
 true identities. Like other systems, this is also driven by people, and this order requires very high
degree of personal integrity & commitment due to the sensitivity and responsibility in -built.

2. Medical practices – medical doctors, nurses

They help the society by taking care of the human body using prevention as well as cure
techniques.

3. Legal practice
The problem of corruption and injustice has plagued this material world since time immemorial;
however an egalitarian society wants to ensure that everyone has right to j ustice. The legal
practitioners help us to secure justice in a positive way and maintaining the law & order by
ensuring that the wrongdoers are held accountable for it.

In the recent past, we have re-discovered that any welfare society needs to take care of all its members,
and hence all the different occupational duties were properly institutionalized; and provisions were
made to recognize the occupational contributions of all the members. Using the techniques of
categorization, various professionals were identified.

Many more professions can be identified as follows:

4. Scientists
5. Academicians
6. Engineers
7. Intelligence Agents
8. Hackers
9. Chartered Accountants;
And many more

Every profession is sacred if we are doing it with the benign intent; and provided that it carefully weeds
out the wrong from the right. This brings us to the point of “professional ethics”.

Professional ethics helps us to discriminate the right from wrong, and even in choosing what may be
more right. Pursuit of profession in an ethical way necessitates the following: (1) Associating with ethical
professionals; (2) Insulating (or if necessary isolate yourself) from unscrupulous psychologies; (3)
Consistent reinforcement by reading bona fide literature; (4) Avoiding whimsical behavior, and always
keeping the long term interest.

Some wonderful examples:

1. Mahatma Gandhi – during his career as barrister at South Africa

 2. Neerja Bhanot – in her role as chief flight attendant
3. Practice of iron ring given to engineers in Canada
4. Oath administered to medical practitioners

How lack of ethics can be so dangerous? – example of Nurses in a hospital at Las Vegas

Topic 3:The Three Modes of Material Nature

(Three Gunas and their relevance, Nature and kinds of value)

This topic is a very broad topic, and a judiciously justified academic approach for understanding wil l
necessitate at least a full-fledged semester course, with experiential learning modules, application
oriented sessions under supervised group leader, and so much more. In this course BB1101, we will
discuss it very briefly.

The origin of this term “Gunas” can be traced to Vedic scriptures. An interested reader may read
“Bhagavad Gita – As It Is” (Chapter 14, 17 and 18) (www.bhagavatgita.ru/files/Bhagavad-
gita_As_It_Is.pdf), which is the most bona fide edition of this great holy scripture. An evaluation copy of
this book may be downloaded by clicking on the hyperlink mentioned above.

Many people use this classification technique of categorization for their vested interests, but generally
in want of referring to the original bona fide source; their perception, interpretation, and application
misleads them and others who read those.

Just as there are 3 primary colors, and an expert painter can paint unlimited number of paintings us ing
them; similarly in this universe all the different living entities have been awarded different bodies
(biological body+mind+intelligence +ego) by GOD depending on their free will, through the agencies of
the “Three modes of Material Nature”.

Similarly animate as well as inanimate entities (gross as well as subtle); for example places, things, food,
lifestyles, civilizations, intelligence, determination, faith, knowledge, etc.) can be classified using 3
modes of material nature.

The 3 modes of material nature are:

I. Mode of Goodness (Sattva guna)

II. Mode of Passion(Rajo guna)
III. Mode of Ignorance(Tamo guna)

As far as civilized human beings are concerned, and particularly intellectuals( e.g. leaders, and those
who are entrusted with the future of the society) , they are expected to cultivate Mode of Goodness,
and go beyond it and situate themselves in the MODE OF TRANSCENDENTAL GOODNESS (VISUDDHA
SATTVA or GUNATITA or NIRVIKARA or NIRGUNA(or beyond the modes of material nature)(analogy of
flight take-off may be cited). Why? We will address this soon as we go further.
 The ultimate aim of knowledge of “Three Modes of Material Nature” is to break free from the different
these 3 bonds of material nature which impede us from the pursuit of true success. In essence, as divine
children of GOD, all of us have nothing to do with the 3 modes of material nature, and our actual
situation is in the MODE OF TRANSCENDENTAL GOODNESS (VISUDDHA SATTVA).

However, when we choose to have illusory happiness we become bound by the 3 modes of material
nature. Let us describe the 3 modes of material nature before we come to the original point.

Mode of Ignorance:

If someone’s psychology (mind, intelligence, and false ego) is predominantly governed by the mode of
ignorance, that person thinks and does wrong as right, and right as wrong with staunch conviction.

Some of the characteristic traits of the mode of ignorance are:

 Inertia,
 Laziness,
 Madness,
 Over-sleeping,
 Irrational violence,
 Insecurity,
 Unpredictable behavior – not trustworthy
 Moroseness
 Indolence
 Insatiable lust : adamant desire to exploit others and enjoy what is not good
 Blatant Envy
 Blaspheming others
 Fault-finding tendency
 Likes to see others in pain.

Examples: Anti-social elements, those who engage in human trafficking, drug mafia, gangsters,

Mode of Passion

IIf someone’s psychology (mind, intelligence, and false ego) is predominantly governed by the mode of
passion, that person is generally unable to discriminate the wrong from right and right from the wrong.
Such a person is unable to distinguish between permanent and temporary.

Some of the characteristic traits of the mode of passion are:

 Intense hankering and lamentation;

 Intense activity;
 Insatiable lust(adamant desire to have what is not good for someone, excessive exploitative
mentality)
  Avarice(excessive greed) for money, power, prestige, fame and adoration even by adopting illicit
means
 Not trustworthy – for they can go to any extent due to being selfish

Mode of Goodness

If someone’s psychology (mind, intelligence, and false ego) is predominantly governed by the mode of
goodness,that person is generally able to distinguish and act on what is wrong and right.

Some of the characteristic traits of the mode of passion are:

 Happiness
 Illumination
 Knowledge
 Discipline
 Determination
 Vigorous
 Courageous
 Enthusiasm
 Equanimity amidst miseries of this world

However, the problem associated with a mode of goodness person is that he becomes conditioned by
a sense of pride due to happiness and knowledge. There is every possibility that he may behave in a
condescending manner with others sometimes due to false pride; which may land him in immense
trouble.

Special note: It is noteworthy that since the modes of nature are competing for dominance, people and
their psychologies cannot be ascertained to a particular mode only; the manifestation of different
modes of nature at different times and places can be easily seen even within one person; hence one
should consistently try to situate oneself in the mode of goodness, and avoiding the lower modes of
passion and ignorance.

It is a common misconception that we can situate oneself in any mode; for there is some good in
everything. The good part of mode of passion is activity, but that is in built in mode of goodness;
similarly, a mode of goodness person may ignore others’ faults and focus on the good, but that does not
mean that he is in the mode of ignorance.

Some people wrongly say that sleeping is in the mode of ignorance activity, but it is not so if we are
sleeping just enough to recharge our energy, and get detoxified as per the natural biological clock of the
body.
MODE of TRANSCENDENCE (GUNATITA or NIRGUNA or NIRVIKARA or VISUDDHA SATTVA stage)

This is the actual constitutional stage of all living entities, for they are all the divine children of GOD.

The following are the qualities of a person situated in this stage:

1. Unflinching devotion towards GOD

2. Compassion towards all living entities
3. Innate ability to transform and elevate others for their good by his sublime and faultless
character
4. Humility
5. Tolerance
6. Wisdom
7. Respectful disposition towards everything and everyone
8. Forgiveness
9. Non-violence : respects life in every living entity, not just human beings
10. Is never affected by the material modes of nature
11. Innocent like an infant
12. Irrevocable determination
13. Is a well-wishing friend for everyone
14. Always radiates positivity wherever she/he goes

Conclusion: The personality and behavior of different living entities around us is controlled by the Three
Modes of Material Nature through the agency of Time Aspect of the Providence based on their desires,
exactly as puppets are controlled by the puppeteer.

Topic 4: Relevance of traits of individual like Personality, Attitude, Behavior, Ego, Character,
introspection, Motivation(Session objective: To acquaint & develop positive traits of personality in
oneself and understand negative traits)

CHARACTER: The accumulation of attributes that determines a person's moral and ethical actio ns
and responses. It also refers to good reputation of an individual. Remember the old adage:

Wealth is gone, nothing is gone;

 Health is gone, s omething is gone;

Character is gone, everything is gone.

"Successful leadership is not about being tough or soft, sens itive or as s ertive, but about a s et of
attributes . Firs t and foremos t is character” : Warren Bennis

In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if
they don't have the firs t, the other two will kill you."

Warren Buffet, CEO, Berks hire Hathaway

PERSONALITY: refers to the aggregate of the qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character,
temperament, disposition, persona, psychophysical propensities, ideology, etc.

In the contemporary times, we confuse personality with our bodily features, or the way we deck up.
However personality is much more deep, and it refers to the sum total of the qualities of an
individual.

BEHAVIOR:

ATTITUDE: Our attitude is defined by the following 5 factors:

1. False ego – or ahankaar Mercedez Benz- rickshaw analogy

2. Past life conditioning
3. Upbringing
4. Association – literature, friends, internet, etc. write the association chart
5. Will power – option to exercise free will

Power of Pos itive Attitude: If we are looking for reasons to complain and whine, then we will get
plenty of them; but if we are looking for positive opportunity, we will get that also. Remember the
following adages:

Seek and thou s hall find.

Knock, knock and the door will open.

Story of Sindhutai Sapkal

Topic 5: Leadership traits & 4Qs (Session objective: To realize importance of leadership and to imbibe
the same in life)

We are all leader in one sense or the other. The parents are the leaders for the
children GOD has entrusted under their care; similarly the elder people are the
leaders for the younger people. We have this innate ability to influence others by the
way we conduct and interact with others, hence all of us need to cultivate the
following in general, and particularly for those who are in specific leadership
positions e.g.: Project-lead of a project, HOD of a department, Parents & children, etc.

We will see some of the important aspects as follows:

1. Genuine friendship is the key to success: Any leader who wants to act effectively
should be very kind, gentle, well-wishing and genuine towards his subordinates. The
sweet relationship between superior and subordinate includes – being submissive,
mutual cooperation to bend down and hear from each other, thick friendship
between both of them. The leader should act as the friend, philosopher, and guide for
his subordinates. Please do remember that the position of superior and subordinate
keep on flipping : for example, when we are dependent on our parents, they take care
of us; but when we grow up, our parents become dependent on us for love, care , and
concern.
2. Functioning together as an organically constituted team: Avoid finger-pointing and
fault-finding, such cleavage between the team leader and his subordinates will kill the
organization. A powerful leader is one who leads from the front and takes the blame
on his own when the team fails, but gives the stage to his team members when it
comes to celebrate the success of the team. Anecdote narrated by Dr Kalam about his
mentor Dr Satish Chandra Dhawan may be quoted in this regard.
3. Diagnose first, prescribe next or listen first, instruct next: A leader has to patiently
listen from the subordinate even though the subordinate might be just blabbering;
because if we prescribe without listening, such prescription or advice will not at all be
effective. Anecdote of the busy doctor who wrote the prescription to the patient
without even bothering to listen to the symptoms, as he saw the patient coughing;
and patient also threw that piece of paper into garbage.
Misconceptions to be avoided:
 Don’t think that just because I am a leader, I know better.
  What my subordinates can tell us for I already know what they are going to
tell me for I am more experienced and better informed?
4. Empower the subordinates to express their thoughts, ideas, innovativeness, and
suggestions in a bold, confident, and friendly way without hesitations. This is just not
possible when the superior and subordinates do not have thick friendship.
Story of ex-CEO of HONDA , Tadashi Kume
5. Be fair, not just be nice: Leaders who tangibly affect the lives of many have to be very
responsible and sensitive. Why? Their decisions(recruitments, appraisals,
recommendations, mentorship, hand-holding, rectifications, etc.) affect the lives of
many; hence they have to be ultra-careful. Their assent, consent or dissent is very
important. Hence in their decision-making they have to be fair – in fact being fair is
much more important than being nice.
In this world, we see many people who are very well-behaved and sweet-spoken, but
not genuine. When we do a survey with people in the right frame of mind to choose
between fairness and nice behavior, of course they will choose fairness.

6. Practice what you preach: A leader has to lead by example. Apart from leading
people, a leader also has to act as subordinate to her/his superior, and others closely
follow what we do; example: father telling child to tell on phone that they are not
there, and the child telling that father is telling to tell that he is not there.

7. Don’t be aggressive, but be assertive: A leader has to pinpoint the problems and
potential loopholes in a project even in teams where he is not the lead. This will help
his subordinates to learn about voicing their opinion, even though it may not be the
popular opinion if they are seeing the merit of the point. Being mute participant in
some wrongdoing is as good as being as being responsible for the same and its future
repercussions, and we have to face the consequences individually as well as
collectively.

One may behave nicely, and still remain crooked and deceptive inside; but fairness is
something which cannot be faked.
Mentors in the field of leadership often say, “A noble leader has to be spiritually
absorbed, societally sensitive , and politically alert.
By spiritual absorption, we do mean that ideally a leadership personality should be
situated in Mode of Transcendence (visuddha sattva stage), however if he is under the
active mentorship of someone who is in the Mode of Transcendence(visuddha sattva
stage), then also he can be accepted provided he is endeavoring to situate himself in
the mode of goodness.
Societal sensitivity and political alertness requires one to cultivate following skills.
These skills are assessed by suitable techniques by leadership mentoring
incorporations by quantification, assessment, and measurement for the sake of
management.
The quotients(Qs) are parametric quantification of the different attributes in
someone’s personality are as follows:
Name of the quotient What does it try to quantify?
Physical quotient physical health and fitness by a disciplined lifestyle
Intellectual quotient problem solving skills, perseverance
Emotional quotient Ability to contain one’s emotions, and deal with others’
emotions in a positive way
Creativity quotient Imaginativeness, originality in thinking

Adversity quotient Ability to bounce back while facing inevitable problems and
failures in this world full of duality
Ethical & Morality Ability to hold on to ethically moral practices even amidst
quotient potentially debilitating allurements

Socio-cultural quotient Ability to take the good from all the cultures, which is essential
to work together as a team while dealing with people from
different ethnicities and culture
Political quotient To nullify negative politics(bigotry, discrimination, bickering
among vested interest groups) and having better alternatives to
promote cohesiveness and coherence among subordinates