education and ethics

Can only education give you high ideals or is it something inherent to one’s nature

I was forced to ask myself this question when an officer shared with me his experience in the deserts of India.

 He was out for an exercise in the sand dunes of Rajasthan. Village children from nearby villages regularly brought food, curd, butter for the troops. Out of gratitude, the officer decided to buy some eats for the children as well. When he was distributing the eats to the kids, an elderly called out, “hukum  saab”, the officer said, “I wondered what was wrong and stopped, the children stood quietly and then the old man came up to me and said”, “Saab do not mind but we bring you food as you are our guest and it is our duty, if in return you give something to these children, you’ll spoil them. They will start expecting things in return of the hospitality which is our duty. If today they get treated in return for bringing you food, tomorrow they will serve a guest only if he brings something in return.”

The officer had no reply to the old man’s words, he just ordered for the sweets to be taken back.