Satya (Truthfulness)

What is truth?

That one which doesn't change over time and is constant at all times.

?What is truthfulness then?

Saying what is, as it is. Neither adding anything or nor deducting anything.

Calling a spade, a spade.

In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act – George Orwell.

Rarely, if telling the truth causes harm to anyone, we can very well refrain from saying it.

Lies or untruths said for the benefit of someone or something are called white lies and not harmful.

In Thirukkural, it has been clearly mentioned that white lies are admitted if they serve a higher purpose, like saving a life.

Many of us know the story of Raja Harishchandra, who stands as a testimony for truthfulness.

He was tested to the core, so that he might lose his resolve to be truthful and lie. On the contrary, he stood by truthfulness and proved that, " Truth alone triumphs".

In India’s National emblem, the same words are engraved, " Satyameva Jayate" meaning Truth alone triumphs.

Another classic example of a person who lived by truthfulness and abstaining from telling lies is Mahatma Gandhiji. He had lived a life of truthfulness. His autobiography itself is titled, " My experiments with Truth".

In that autobiography, Gandhiji had mentioned that in a dictation (Spelling test), his English teacher saw him writing the spelling for the word “kettle” wrongly and he nudged Gandhiji to copy from his neighbouring student in the classroom. But Gandhiji politely refused to do so. He had mentioned in his book, that Raja Harishchandra was his inspiration to be truthful at all times, come what may.

On a lighter note, if you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. Isn’t it true? Only when we lie, we need to remember what we said to whom and be consistent in repeating the lie.

In a nutshell, truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.

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