ON CHARACTER

ON CHARACTER

Character is what distinguishes man from the normal human being. Whatever distinction man has achieved is lost if he has no character. Fame and name, reputation and all other qualifications are useless without  spotless character. Our character is defined by what we do when we think no one is looking. People behave in a way when others observe them while it is totally different when they are alone or unobserved. The end of education is character. Any education that does not bring in character fails miserably. It is the most invaluable gift of education. Wealth, social status, knowledge and others are in vain without character! According to Abraham Lincoln, “ Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow.The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Though all men can stand adversity, the test of character is when he is invested with power. The true test of character is not when you are in your best days but how you behave and act in your worst days! The truth of character is revealed through the choice of your actions. One should be concerned with his character rather than reputation because his character is what he really is while his reputation is merely what others  think he is. Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted! Thus through thoughts, words, actions and habits a person's character is developed gradually.

How to develop character? ‘ watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny!’ Bad company corrupts good character. “ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of the skin but by the content of their character” says Martin Luther King. In these days of racial discrimination people are not bothered about the sterling qualities of character of the individual. Character is not easily discernable.  We have to observe the actions of the person carefully including his conduct. Beauty catches attention while character catches the heart!

Ravana, king of Lanka is a classical example of a person who was undone by lack of character! He was the brother of the god of wealth, Kubera. He had enslaved all the devas who were at his b

eck and call. He had a beautiful wife, Mandodari and the brave son Indrajit who defeated Indra king of Gods. He had immensely pleased Lord Siva by singing the Samaveda and even shook the Kailash mountain! But his weakness for women cost his life finally! His desire for Sita, spouse of Sri Rama and even the divine damsels sealed his fate. Character is destiny-- good leading to greatness and bad dragging to destruction and downfall!

Duryodana in the epic Mahabharatha, is another illustration of  a victim who lost everything by evil designs and loose character! Envy ate him up and he went to the extent of getting Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, disrobed! At every step he tried to destroy them but got himself destroyed in return! Thus character plays a very significant part in the life of every man. No matter what your distinction and achievement, it plunges you into abysmal regions or elevates one to ethereal plane! It is necessary that man should realize the importance of developing good character and ennoble his existence on earth.