Rajat Gupta, former Goldman Sachs
board member had everything that a human being could dream of – good education,
unmatched wealth, loving family, good character, respect, and that too earned
through grit, hard work and brilliance. Not so long ago, he was hailed as the
poster boy of Indian businesses in America and a role model for millions. He
proved to the hilt that dreams do come true if they are peppered with focus and
sweat.
What came into him that he let everything
slip away so easily? What took Rajat almost a life time to earn, was lost in a
jiffy. Right from the time when he was ranked
15th in IIT JEE exam, the spot light has always been on him; but
this time it is for all the wrong reasons. For sure, it was not an instant
decision to fall astray something like murder or rape which can happen in rage
without understanding the consequences of the act. What did he think that he was in India and
never be caught or his good connections will bail him out if ever caught or it
was okay to help a friend? He was deep
into American system and was fully aware of its laws. Still, he fell to the
greed (was it greed?) or plain stupidity.
Rajat Gupta is doomed. He may
live a normal life after completing his sentence and paying the huge fine which
includes $ 6.2 million to Goldman Sachs and more than $30 million towards his
own legal charges. Was it really worth it?
No amount of money, repentance, convincing, and explanation can get him
back what he has lost – his respect. His friends, hundreds of charitable
organizations and societies that he was associated with, will never look at him
again with awe. No matter what, it will never be the same again for him and his
family. Confessions of a respectable inside trader, is the only saving grace
for him. He should come forward and enlighten people about what comes into a
person’s mind when greed or stupidity get the better of him. Most of us would
want to know.
