NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, MAY 15
Corruption is akin to Coronavirus whose origin still remains a mystery and bureaucracy’s colonial mindset is the single biggest factor for corruption, said a senior retired government official here on Saturday.
- Former CS PK Lahiri launches AK Jagatramka’s book “My Selfie With Integrity” at GLF
Former chief secretary of Gujarat PK Laheri was speaking after launching noted industrialist and Gujarat NRE Group chairman Arun Kumar Jagatramka’s book “My Selfie With Integrity And The Gujarat NRE Story” at the ongoing Gujarat Literature Festival on Saturday.
‘My Selfie With Integrity’ is the snapshot of Jagatramka’s professional life, lived with utmost transparency and the highest ethics. It chronicles the life of a middle-class Kolkata boy, who suddenly finds himself at the helm of a listed company, and is faced with the underbelly of corruption as he tries to find his feet in the business world. The book details his true quest for integrity in a corrupt world.
In his address at the book launch, which was attended by the who’s who from the world of literature, arts, and business, Mr. Laheri said, “I have known Arun Kumar Jagatramka for three decades and by passion, he is a crusader. I must congratulate him for being the flag bearer against corruption. The country will benefit if more such people come together to fight against corruption. Corruption is akin to Coronavirus whose origin still remains a mystery. However, if all stakeholders like common men, activists, the political bosses as well as the officialdom can collectively contain this like we contained the pandemic.”
Laheri said the bureaucracy’s colonial mindset is the single biggest factor for corruption.
“The tsunami of corruption has inundated our society, but hardly 1% is visible. We have the CVC, Lokpal, and other constitutional bodies, but there is little impact in curbing corruption. The people indulging in corruption have no fear,” he said further, adding India may become a $5 trillion economy, but will not be a happy country or an economic superpower in case it cannot clamp down on corruption.
To drive home his point, Laheri also recollected Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quotes “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” which was also mentioned by the author in this book.
Ahmedabad Management Association president Deevyesh Radia said that when he was travelling out of Ahmedabad, he came across a conversation of a family how to hoodwink the traffic policeman. To this their four-year-old daughter said, “Just pay him money.” She was unaware of corruption but had keenly observing the happenings around her. Radia advocated that the seeds of integrity should be inculcated right from the tender age.
In his address, Jagatramka said, “PK Laheri ji has been one of the most respected bureaucrats in Gujarat. I extend my sincere gratitude to him for agreeing to preside over the book launch ceremony.”
“The evil of corruption is a daily struggle, suffered in silence, for every Indian. ‘My Selfie With Integrity’ voices these daily frustrations and also shows a path toward a corruption-free India. It is the balance sheet of an honest Indian businessman,” he said further.
After holding the book reading session, the author interacted with the readers and exhorted that everyone ought to contribute their might for creating awareness against corruption and maintain integrity at all times.
The book tells the journey of Gujarat NRE, which was suffering from a cash crunch, fighting multiple legal battles, and had become a non-performing asset in 1997, but transformed into an AA-rated, super wealth creator company under Jagatramka’s leadership.
The book shows how Jagatramka overcame the odds heavily stacked against him, and also shows his steadfast tenacity and confidence in reviving Gujarat NRE, which he has done in the past.
