September 2011

Respect

This is a core value of our Schools. It was added to Love, Empathy and Discipline because we realized that it is the root and the sum of all three. Respect is at the heart of all cultures everywhere, even for Generation Y. You respect your rock stars, your movie idols for their talent and fame, you respect Mark Zuckerberg for inventing Facebook, and you respect Lady Gaga because you think that she is a sensational entertainer. So you see, respect is not confined to appreciating and deferring to another generation. The world respects a man who wore just his glasses and a dhoti, but had the moral stature of a messiah!

Respect always begins with self. The ego requires respect to be given so that it can stay balanced and altruistic. This simply means that if a child is respected the chances of her growing into a decent, responsible and productive human being are greater. Criminals and anti-social people are not born; they are made so by the society or family that failed to respect them and consider them as good as others.

Respect for the mind is often neglected by young people who do not stretch their capabilities, who do not put in more than minimal effort into mentally creative exercises like reading, thinking critically, writing creatively, painting, sculpting, music, dance and drama.

These years will not return. In college it is too late to develop this kind of respect for one’s ability and potential. Important areas of your mind will shut down forever. So introspection, pushing oneself to do more and do better, to go beyond established records, that is self-respect.

Respect for other people’s creativity, ideas and genius, the commitment of others to a cause, to a purpose, now that is respect that will inspire and encourage you. We live in the age of ideas, we must respect and the ability to think differently, to innovate, to think Change.

Respect cannot be demanded… respect must be commanded.

With warm regards,

Lieutenant General (Retd) Arjun Ray, PVSM, VSM
Chief Executive Officer
Indus Trust