It is said that mind is the inner psyche of a person that makes him think, feel and respond in a particular way?best suited to his needs, interests and aspirations. A typical characteristic of human mind is that it is never static?different kinds of thoughts keep running through the mind all the time. However, not all of them are put into practice. Many of the ideas, which are not within the ambit of possibility in the given set of circumstances, are rejected by the rational mechanism inherent in the psychic human system. Certain thoughts that are integral to human psyche, which the psychologists call ?basic instincts?, refuse to be sublimated or controlled. When these basic instincts are given a free rein and allowed to run dominant, problems begin to arise.
There is a great degree of truth and wisdom in the traditional view that people in all walks of life need to control mind if they are to succeed in their vocation or in the mission of elevation of a given community. Vocation tied to a practical commitment to social wellbeing or reform demands a supreme control of the baser instinct. Its success is definable by the degree of proportional control which we exercise on our mind. In a job situation, this control manifests itself in honesty, dedication and earnest endeavours while executing the vision of a particular organisation.
For business professionals, control over mind may express itself in quality production, reasonable pricing and welfare of employees. There are several Indian companies like the Tatas, Infosys, Dr. Reddy'sLab, etc. which have built large business empires on foundations of such attributes of discipline and sensible business ethics. Business of a large scale in itself is bound to bring in its trail a popular conception of deceit since a business enterprise involved in the very process of self-promotional policies is usually marked socially to be a consequence of cheating, deception and skullduggery. But history of all business empires does not seem to always endorse such popular notions. Business may well be seen as a vocation as well as a fulfilment of a commitment one may love to pursue. Indeed most of those creating empires in this field have often put their back into timeless principles of integrity and ethics. But business or commerce may play a role beyond the generally accepted vision of business as a significant but socially unethical project.
Uplift of community is an onerous task involving equitable distribution of economic resources, building of infrastructure in all parts of the country, removal of illiteracy and poverty, creation of employment opportunities and raising the standard of people.
The mission requires huge capital and contribution from each quarter. But this venture may spawn wanton competitiveness leading to an unethical chaos which may militate against conventional humanitarian values. To really elevate both the popular notion about business as a profession and the ethics of business, the exponents of business, trade or commerce must exercise an exemplary ethical principle which offers a changed vision of an important human enterprise like business.
(The writer can be contacted at Rly. Qtr. No. N-423-A, Central Colony, Bongaigaon, Assam and his e-mail ID is mithun_jhum@rediffmail.com)
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