I often tend to give people second chances when they do wrong. I want to believe that people are generally good, and that they become bad due to the circumstances around them. I hope that, if given a chance and the right guidance, they may find their way back to goodness.

I am not a very good judge of character. I can perceive people to some extent, but even then, I try to see the goodness in them. They may think I am gullible or naïve, and I let them think so.

I have learned by observing people around me that doing bad deeds and choosing a bad path eventually leads to consequences. Justice may not come immediately, but it does arrive in its own time.

A powerful example is from the Mahabharata, when the Kauravas attempted to disrobe Draupadi in front of the assembled elders, chiefs, and citizens. Many who had the authority to stop it remained silent. Though there was no immediate punishment, the consequences of that injustice unfolded later, and each was held accountable through fate and karma. The epic reminds us that silence in the face of wrongdoing is also a form of wrongdoing.

That said, it is necessary to judge people to some extent and observe their actions carefully. This awareness can help us guide them, where possible, toward a better path. After all, as the saying goes, “Manava Sevaye Madhava Sevaye”—serving humanity is the same as serving God.