Of truth and lies

Durga Puja and Dussehra both emphasise the triumph of Truth. But we have not learnt those lessons, for most people tell lies. Some more, some less. As Emmanuel Kant pointed out, lies work only because truth is still being told; or, in other words, if lying became universal, then nobody would believe anybody. Sissela Bok highlights that trust is a collective good that every lie depletes, even when the individual lie seems harmless or well- intentioned.

This explains the cynicism enveloping society today: so much untruth has pushed people from believing everything until the contrary is learnt to disbelieving everything until the contrary is learnt. Lying takes a toll on our emotional health, and we twist ourselves into knots telling lies to cover up lies.

Every religion frowns upon untruthfulness. Hinduism speaks of satya as a supreme moral duty. Buddhism requires adherents to abstain from false speech. The Bible views truthfulness as a core reflection of God. Islam calls honesty a foundational virtue.


The Torah expects the believer to distance himself from a false word. Religion permits exceptions in exceptional circumstances. Kant, however, points out that the moment you permit exceptions, truthfulness stops being a duty and becomes a matter of convenience. He believes that lying is wrong even when a murderer asks, 'Where is your friend hiding?' As Gandhiji said, Truth is God, and once truthfulness becomes a matter of convenience, we lose faith in God.

Once you make telling the truth a habit, telling a lie becomes difficult. Conversely, once lying becomes a habit, truth becomes the exception.