Money is the means to an end. How can money be an end in itself? it's a vehicle. Just as language conveys thought, money is used to achieve something. Sitting in the bank or sitting in your house, there's nothing you can do with it. It's a wonderful thing to have money. But I think you have to bear in mind that human beings have this weakness, that nothing is ever enough. The parameters are all in the mind. Is money evil? Not at all. It's a great necessity. It provides security-it provides so many things in life apart from security. You'd definitely feel insecure if you didn't have it. The only thing is-like everything else-you must realise the importance of it in life.Money has the power to be within your own capabilities, you can do so many things with it. Like it enables us to visit our children abroad. But still, I definitely wouldn't equate money with power. Options yes, and certainly security. Not just for oneself, but, in a wider sense, for those you care for.
I don't think I'm an extravagant person. If I have a music system that's satisfying me, and yet there's one twice as expensive on the market, I don't think I'd be happier listening to music on that! I do enjoy travelling, and my wife and I have travelled extensively in France while I was ambassador there. To be honest, in the beginning, when Rajiv (Gandhi) offered me the post, I was very unhappy. First of all, I don't know French! And then to go to a particular country where the people are sensitive to their language. Of course, my wife is half-French, so she could speak it, but I could hardly tell her to come along and interpret whenever the Prime Minister sent for me, could I? If you go back in history, there was a time when there was no money! And people still wanted to acquire things they didn't have. So they'd barter. When money came in, it was a major thing. Today, it's the credit card!
Moralising is repulsive to me. But I have to say, I'd feel revulsion at anyone showing off wealth, ostentation. I think simplicity has its own dignity. And I think ethics is the key element in human life. How could you make your peace with your Creator otherwise? It would be a betrayal.
In the whole system of things, corruption has become a degrading, destroying element. It strikes at the very root of ethics also. The only way out is by example, not just enforcement by law. You have to try and see how you can motivate society.
What if someone left me a million dollars? Well, at this stage, it would be a problem! I'd have do decide how best to utilise it. Money is a wonderful thing to have, whether for enjoying, or for educating your children, or for helping people. But a luxury is a luxury only as long as it remains a luxury. That's the essence of my philosophy.
(Air Chief Marshal Lateef, PVSM, has been chief of air staff, governor of Maharashtra and Indian ambassador to France.) -As told to Punam Mohandas
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