In the past 75 weeks, I have contributed management articles on these pages, where I have tried to concentrate largely on the value of instituting the ‘Best Internationally Accepted Practices’ and on the need to adhere to the highest ideals of ‘Good Governance’. The underlying message in all contributions was the need to create and respect good governance. This is also a reaffirmation of the same.

After 78 years of independence, we are still struggling to define what good governance is and how it can be effectively deployed. To have in place the relevant standards enshrined in the body of law, rules, and regulations is one thing; their adoption and implementation are a totally different ball game. Adoption requires will — something that has always remained illusory. It has been perennially beyond the horizon of understanding and appreciation. The desire is to apply ‘standards’ of behaviour and operating procedures upon ‘others’, while consistently seeking ‘personal exemption’. This attitude is true for all types of leadership, from the political to the corporate and from religious to social leadership; they all seek treatment that must be above the law.

In this quest for exemptions, they openly flout the standards while making vociferous calls upon others to follow systems. The dichotomy of belief and behaviour runs through all levels of society. It is, in fact, difficult to fathom why people holding power cannot respect basic traffic rules and lights. Certainly, it is not for ‘security’ reasons, because they travel in cavalcades of 30–40 vehicles (that appear to be running in some Formula 1 Grand Prix),........

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