Acharya Prashant explains that the issue of nepotism has recently come into the limelight, and it is good that people want to know its root cause. He defines nepotism as favoritism, clan-based bias, or cronyism, which involves being prejudiced in favor of those connected by blood or social ties and using one's power to advance them. The fundamental cause of nepotism is the ego, which identifies itself as the body. This body-consciousness leads to the feeling that certain individuals, like parents, are the source of one's existence, and thus, some people are considered 'mine' while others are 'strangers'. The ego is lonely and constantly seeks connections to complete its identity. For instance, the identity of a 'father' depends on having a son. The son's existence becomes necessary for the father's identity, not out of love, but out of a compulsion to protect his own sense of self. This makes the father use any means to ensure his son's success, as the son's failure would shatter his own identity. This is a compulsion driven by selfishness, not love. The second cause is social conditioning. The speaker recalls questioning why a president's wife, with no qualification other than her marriage, would stand on the same high platform to receive a salute. This is a form of socially accepted nepotism. Society itself has determined that one's primary responsibility is towards their family. If you serve people outside your home, you might be called a social worker, but if you don't give most of your attention to your family, you are condemned. Society has not only run but also promoted nepotism in various ways. In conclusion, the speaker identifies two main reasons for nepotism: first, the physical identification ('I am the body'), and second, the social system that reinforces this. The only antidote to this is spirituality. Until a person realizes they are not just the body, they will continue to practice nepotism. When you don't know who you truly are, you accept the default, natural answer that 'I am a body'. Consequently, all relationships based on the body become 'yours', and you will do anything to advance them, not out of love, but out of a selfish need to protect your own identity, which is tied to them.
