Content of this hub is based on a proverb " A man is not honest simply because he never had a chance top steal- Yiddish Proverb.

Honesty is speaking truth and having trust or being trustworthy. But how one can can trust someone whom he has not tested for the honesty. Some people are honest by nature whereas some are forced honest. "Forced honest' means the people never got an opportunity to become dishonest. Real test of someone's honesty takes place when a person has lot of opportunities to become dishonest but he exercise restrains. However, you can not call someone honest without testing him or providing him/her enough opportunities to become dishonest.

This proverb is a time tested statement. In public life, people debate day and night about honesty. People try to convince and prove that most of the people in society are corrupt and only few are honest. Such people never forget to mention their names in the list of honest people. One of my friend is a government servant and he always claims that his department is clean of all ills like corruption, bribery and dishonesty. Sometimes, I am also present in the discussions taking place between my friend and his colleagues. Discussion is always centered around corruption, insincerity, dishonesty, commissions, bribe etc. and the conclusion of the discussion is always drawn in a single sentence that reason for employees honesty in the department is: There is no scope for corruption, dishonesty, and bribe in the department. There are no public dealings. Purchases are made by other departments and employees of the department has little say in these purchases. There is very little scope for theft like making unauthorized telephone calls, misuse of vehicles, carrying pen or pencils to home etc. However, recently few gadgets like cameras, laptops and handy cams have been purchased. Let's see, what these so called honest people do with these things? Do they take these things to their home or utilize these things as per the protocol?

I did not meet my friend for a long time and I don't know what's going on in my fiend's office. Whether values such as honesty, sincerity etc. are intact or not and cordial relations are maintained or not between the employees. I've great curiosity to know the recent happenings. Now it's getting difficult. I can't wait more and I am leaving to my friend in his office. Since office of my friend is very near to my place, I 'm likely to reach there within few minutes.

I confirmed from my friend whether he is free or not and after getting assurance from my friend I left my place to meet my friend. Luckily, he was not busy when I reached his desk. After exchange of greetings, I came straight to the point and asked what's going on with new gadgets. I was surprised to know that my friend was not happy with his colleagues as all the gadgets were out of reach to most of employees and these gadgets were taken to home by the superiors in the office. My friend informed me that his boss has taken handy cam, laptop and camera to his home. There was a birth day party of youngest daughter of his boss few days back and boss was shooting it with official handycam. This practice can not be termed corruption or bribe. At the most you can call it misuse of official items. You can not call it dishonesty also. This is just tempetation of possession of ultra modern gadgets. This is other thing that boss had the purchasing power but why should he waste his hard earned money ongadgets which are available in the office.

Boss has great affection to his children. Office has installed a phone connection at his home. This phone has to be used for official purposes. However, it is used by all the family members of his boss. Now-a -days, children can not survive without internet connection. So boss has purchased dial up connection card for official use but it's really difficult for him to restrict the use of this card for official purpose. He can't stop his family from misusing it. Similar case is with official vehicle. My friend is very frustrated and now he has started criticizing his boss. His boss has become dishonest in his eyes.

(More content to be added......................)

Few acts of dishonesty in public life:

1. Misuse of official telephone/mobile

2. Misuse of official vehicle for transporting family members

3. Using official gadgets (Laptop/handycam/camera) for personal use at home

4. Bringing newspapers to home

5. Receiveing a favour from official suppliers (of stationary, computers etc)

6. Misuse of phone for personal internet use

7. Receiving gift items from official suppliers

8. Using mileage points (earned on official tours) for personal travels

9. Receiving commission on award of contracts

10. Engaging employees for personal work