Kaiser Bengali on the importance of integrity
Aug 14, 2025 - Editor’s Note: This 2018 interview with Kaiser Bengali became an instant hit upon release and remains one of VCast Online’s most popular videos, with nearly 1.5 million views to date. The message continues to resonate deeply.
“I was fired from a job for being too honest. I have not received any medal anywhere, but this is my medal,” says Kaiser Bengali, a distinguished educationist, economist, and policy expert who has served with various government institutions and think tanks. Reflecting on his career in public service, he shares that he was fired from three public jobs, with one termination explicitly citing his refusal to compromise.
In a country where honesty in public office is often questioned, Bengali stands as a rare example of integrity.
While serving in the Sindh government, Bengali was handling the provincial budget—a staggering 140 billion rupees. During this time, he was forced to vacate his rented apartment after his landlord needed it back. Pressed for time, he asked a staff member for help with the move.
The staff member, in earnest, suggested that if Bengali simply “made money” off of a single government project, he could easily buy his own house. While he did not respond in the moment, Bengali thought: when he would lie in bed at night, he would look at the ceiling, and if that ceiling had been built from illegal money, he simply could not sleep under it.
Bengali’s understanding of honesty was also shaped by a show he watched 45 years ago while studying in Boston. The show followed a Black policeman—a humble family man with a wife and three children, living in a small apartment. One evening, a famous actor (whose hotel room the policeman had guarded) visited him. The actor had slapped a waiter, leading to a court summons, and now wanted the policeman to testify that he saw nothing. He opened a briefcase full of cash to bribe the policeman. When the offer was refused, the actor offered even more money. The policeman again declined.
When asked why he wouldn’t comply, the policeman replied: “Every morning, I have to shave. And when I shave, I have to look myself in the eye.”
That line remains a lifelong reminder for Kaiser Bengali. Every morning, when he shaves, he is reminded of that scene. It is not about what others think—it is about being able to face yourself.
In a system where compromise often becomes currency, Kaiser Bengali holds fast to what truly matters: a clean conscience.
How can we practice integrity in our own lives? What impact would this have on society and governance? Share your thoughts below.
This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools.
