I wish all Indians a very Happy Republic Day.

Today, we celebrate not just a date in history, but the values on which our Republic was built—truth, justice, integrity, and responsibility.

No matter where we live, one truth remains: India lives within us.

I inherited strong examples of ethical living from my parents and grandparents. Yet, growing up in an era of rapid modernization, competition, and digital influence has made it harder to live by those same principles. I care deeply about human values. But at times, I struggle to uphold them in a world that rewards speed, visibility, and personal gain over honesty and character. The question is not whether I knows these values—but whether I am willing to protect them.

One painful reason for the decline of human values is that doing the right thing often feels difficult, lonely, and slow. Being loyal may cost opportunities. Speaking the truth can invite criticism or punishment. Fighting corruption demands time, courage, and sacrifice, while silence feels safer and easier. In a world obsessed with instant results, ethics seem inconvenient. Slowly, compromise becomes normal. And when compromise becomes normal, values begin to disappear without a fight.

So how do we move forward? We lead by living our values. We teach by example—at home, at work, in public life. We reward honesty, not shortcuts. We support those who speak the truth. And we remind ourselves every day that success without values is temporary, but success with integrity lasts. This is not about being perfect. It is about being brave. Brave enough to care. Brave enough to stand firm. Brave enough to believe that values still matter.

Because when human values are lost, we don’t just lose principles—we lose ourselves.

Jai Hind