UNIT IV: Human Values and Professional Ethics & The Last Leaf Human Values and Professional Ethics: India s Contribution to World Unity - Arnold Joseph Toynbee About the Author: Toynbee who was born on April 14, 1889, London, and died on Oct. 22, 1975, was an English historian. Long a professor at the University of London and the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Toynbee also held positions with the British Foreign Office. He is best known for his A Study of History, which put forward a philosophy of history, based on an analysis of the development and decline of 26 civilizations. Criticisms of his Study include his use of myths and metaphors as being of comparable value to factual data and his reliance on a view of religion as a regenerative force. His other works include Civilization on Trial, East to West, and Hellenism. Arnold Toynbee was one of the most remarkable thinkers of the 20th century, a man of farreaching imagination, extraordinary erudition, and an infinite capacity for hard work. At the height of his fame, he was the most renowned scholar in the world, acclaimed as the author of the monumental, 10-volume A Study of History. Indeed, such was the regard for his Study that Time magazine, in a cover article on Toynbee published in 1947, declared that he had found history Ptolemaic and left it Copernican. Introduction: Human values are a set of consistent behaviors and measures that guide human beings in doing what is right and acceptable by the society. They attract dignity, respect and appropriateness among people. Professional ethics relate to the rules governing the conduct, transactions and relationships within a profession and among its publics. Arnold Toynbee delivered a commemorative lecture on India s Contribution to World Unity. In the lecture he thoroughly appreciates Indian attitude towards life and approach to the handling of everyday human affairs. He also suggests that these Indian ways can very well be the guiding principles for the entire world in the complex modern times.
Human Values and Ethics adopted during the Indian independence struggle: According to Toynbee, Human Values and Ethics adopted during the Indian independence struggle were unlike any other country s revolution. Some instances of this characteristic Indian attitude were: Non-violence, Civil Disobedience and Non-cooperation. After achieving independence Indians never brooded over the past or nursed their grievances against the British rulers. Inviting a British scholar to deliver a lecture in one of the Muslim universities speaks volumes of their unresentful Indian spirit and attitude. Indian People s Freedom form Rancour: One Indian virtue that greatly impressed Toynbee and touched him deeply was the Indian people s freedom from rancor. Indians never hate their adversaries. After the successful independent struggle, they did not continue to brood over the past and nurse grievances against their former rulers. They are so unresentful that do not hate the British and Muslims who ruled India and subjected Indians to many difficulties. Indians were inspired by Gandhiji to keep the freedom struggle on a spiritual plane above the level of mere politics never allowing the movement turn violent. Gandhiji s Unique Achievements: Arnold Toynbee gives an account of the unique achievements of the Indian people under the inspiring leadership of Gandhiji. Gandhi s vision for the country and his dreams for the community as a whole still hold good for India. He got the community to assimilate and reflect true values of humanity and to participate in tasks that would promote the greater good. These issues are still relevant to what free India is and represents. The main cause of worry today is intolerance and hatred leading to violence and it is here the values of Gandhiji are to be followed in letter and spirit with more passion. Gandhiji was benefactor not only to India but also Britain. He made it impossible for Britain to go on ruling India at the same time making it possible for them to withdraw without any disgrace. He saved both Britain and India from one of the commonest tragedies of history.
Significance of Non-violent revolution Non-violent revolution is a characteristic Indian accomplishment. Toynbee says that it not only played a monumental role in settling the political issue between Indian and Britain, but continues to play a vital role in the country s domestic life. He gives the example of Bhoodan movement, a voluntary land reform movement in India started in 1951. He also praises Asoka who followed the same principle in successfully substituting religious propaganda for military aggression with a view to maintain peace. Toynbee reminds us that we are all living in an age in which technology can easily destroy the entire world. In 1945 the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The principle of non-violence seems to be of far greater values than ever before in this age of destructive material power. In this sense, India continues to be a responsible role model for the rest of the world. He declares that the Indian outlook and the general way of life are indeed inspired by this Indian spirit of non-violence. He adds that tolerance to the practice of other forms of religions is another of India s great virtues. Appreciation of variety which is very well practiced by Indians, is an object lesson of great value for the rest of the world in this atomic age. Technology has dispelled distances. Though people of the world all are physically neighbors, psychologically they remain strangers to one another. This is exactly where the spirit of tolerance to others views and beliefs will prove to be crucial. People must learn not only to practice their religions and ways of life but also to respect others religion and ways of life. We must become conscious of our neighbour s distinctive features and appreciate them. Only then they will be able to live together amicably and peacefully. Mutual destruction will follow if mutual distrust and fear come to the fore. We have to love our neighbors as precious members of the human family, which is now exposed to the common
danger of being wiped out by atomic warfare. Variety in unity and unity in diversity are great Indian virtues that are recoginsed and appreciated worldwide. There must be amity among all sections of people. Another great Indian achievement is the combination of hard practical work and contemplation. Conclusion: Toynbee finally says that as Gandhiji proved, spiritual activity and material pursuit can go together. In fact, material fulfillment is a necessary enabling condition for the spiritual activity, he adds. This great balancing act of material pursuit and spiritual activity is the greatest lesson that the world can learn from India. The spiritual gift of contemplation makes Man human. This gift is still intact in Indian souls. It saves mankind from self-destruction. Non-violence is essentially an Indian phenomenon that has great universal relevance and significance. It is the ultimate solution to all kinds of problems and conflicts in the society, nation and world. The Last Leaf - O. Henry The theme of the story, The Last Leaf is self sacrifice. In the story, we meet Johnsy, who is suffering from pneumonia. She compares her life to that of a vine whose leaves keep falling. She believes that the falling of the last leaf will usher in her death. It was the last leaf painted by Behrman that had given hope to the sick girl that had given her the will to live and to make her believe that there's still one more leaf. Behrman, however, later dies of pneumonia. This story takes place in New York City where two young women Johnsy and Sue share an apartment. They, like all the tenants in their building, are artists who earn their daily break
making drawings for magazine advertisements. All the artists, though, hope to paint a masterpiece, someday. One of the girls, Johnsy, has come down with pneumonia. She is not in a hospital but is being nursed by her room-mate Sue. The doctor has visited the apartment and advises the healthy girl that her ill friend will only recover if she has the will to live. Sue tries her best to keep Johnsy cheerful but in vain. The sick girl is in bed staring out the window. On this rainy November day, she is staring through the window watching leaves fall from a vine on the opposite building wall. She announces that when the last leaf falls, she will die. Sue is in a panic. She keeps trying her best to bring some cheer, to infuse her friend with the will to live. The sick girl refuses to improve. The healthy girl visits an old artist, Behrman, who lives downstairs. She tells the old drunk that their friend needs a reason to live. He scoffs at this suggestion, and our nurse goes home dejected. The next day, the last leaf is still on the vine. And, the next day, it is still there. Johnsy begins to improve. The doctor visits and gives her a much better chance of survival. But, he also lets her know that the old man downstairs is now stricken with pneumonia.
They found him in his room sick, wet, and cold. Outside were a ladder and his palette of paints where he had painted a single leaf on the wall. It was the last leaf, so painstakingly painted by Behrman that had given hope to the sick girl that had given her the will to live. Message of the story: -The will to live is a powerful force. People, especially the young ones, should be motivated and have meaningful objective or ambition to their lives which gives them the will to live. -We observe the self-sacrifice of one girl for her friend. And, in the surprise ending, the old man (an alcoholic) makes the ultimate sacrifice for the girl. Like all the artists in the building, he had planned and hoped to someday paint a masterpiece - and indeed he did for a purpose. -We may have some dream or aspiration, we plan to be famous and remembered forever. In reality, our masterpiece may matter or make sense only for a few people. -O. Henry also supports the view that art is meaningful only when it is meant for people and their betterment in some way. In other words, art is not for art s sake but it is people s sake.