Conflict of Interest

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I first learned this word 'conflict of interest' a couple of decades ago.

With my Project Student Tushar I wrote a very long Paper on Edwin F Taylor's Spacetime Software and its Applications and sent it to AJP.

Romer who was the Editor of AJP and a close friend of EFT sent two copies of it to two independent referees and an extra copy to EFT himself stating that he would love to have his comments on it although he knew that EFT (who was a past Editor of AJP) had a 'conflict of interest' in its publication...a very piquant situation.

I got to know all this since I was by then a close pen-friend of EFT.

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A near synonym of this word in Sanskrit, I think, is Dharma Sandeham. Our epics abound in episodes of this dilemma.

Raja Harishchandra, who was wedded to Truth (and not divorced like our present Kings and Queens) was perforce led to take up the job of the Official Cremator in what was his own earlier kingdom.

And his wife brings their dead child for cremation and pleads that she didn't have the 'fees' to pay for it. Raja stands his ground and declines to cremate his own son flouting the sacred duties of his Government Job.

And his wife had to offer her sari as the required fees.

Upon which all the gods descend from their heavenly abode and set things right to the satisfaction of all.

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Gandhijee (the original one) was a great fan of Raja Harishchandra.

Once he was traveling with his wife in their usual Third Class Compartment by the Howrah-Madras Mail braving all discomforts.

Upon getting down at Madras, Gandhijee and his followers rushed to the open tap under which they had their bath and wash to their heart's content in the seminood.

But his wife was watching them quietly hesitating to take her dip in the Community Tap meant for Third Class Passengers.

Gandhijee looked at her and was consumed by compassion for the hard life he imposed on her (he was wedded to Truth much after he was wedded to her).

So, he breaks his Dharma and arranges for her bath in the Second Class Waiting Room.

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I am always struck by the plight of poor Lakhman when he is commanded by his brother Raam sternly to take care of Sita without leaving their cottage while he goes out on his witch-hunt for the Golden Deer which turns out a hoax.

And you know what happens...Sita accuses him of harboring all sorts of unholy intentions and refusing to go forth and help her hubby.

My Father used to refer to such situations (in which his wife used to dump him) by saying he was like a nut in a nut-cracker...Father had his turn of phrase alright!

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I also empathize with Yudhistir who had to calmly watch while his wife was being disrobed in public.

I guess, unlike Gandhijee, Yudhistir's love for Dharma overcame his love for his (shared) wife.

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Tailpiece

Apocryphal Story:

This Senior Professor and HoD of an Engg Dept writes a stinking letter to the Director that his earlier letters for funds to set up a High Voltage Lab in their Department had all gone unanswered.

The next day, the Director was on leave and this very same Senior Professor occupied his Chair as Acting Director for the day.

And the Secretary pushes this High Voltage File for his decision.

Upon which he writes a stinking Note rebuking the HoD for pressing all sorts of untenable wishes without understanding the funds crunch under which the system had to work.

Conflict of Interest!


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