A Night In Custody: What Made Gandhi Mahatma? A day in prison can do wonders. A night In Custody can change your entire weltanshauung (worldview). This is true. Before going to prison, the Mahatma was a mere unreformed male. The prison made him the great soul that he later shared with his countrymen and women and the world at large. His largesse had its roots in one of the two things that go to make men great men: one is getting in touch with the greatest number of masses that one can. The Mahatma had done that in ample measure – across the length and breadth of India. The other measure that makes mere mortals into great beings is getting in touch with oneself. There is nothing like a 6x6 prison cell with a toilet in one corner which sends you into rhapsodies of self discovery. I was once In Custody overnight so I can tell. That was a long time ago, quite far away in Singapore – but that tale has to wait for another blog. For now, matters more immediate, such as Jagan’s impending arrest. Bottomline predicted, speculated, and even advocated the arrest of the upstart MP from Kadapa, and now that it is happening, we welcome it. I thought it was long overdue but with the bye-elections underway, the timing seems to be rather well thought out. One thing is clear, Jagan must be stopped from campaigning and the only way is to put him in prison. Now rewind a little: Jagan has travelled the length and breadth of Andhra to meet people. It is said that about 200 people around him are his own ‘men and women’ (and maybe even children). Even so, he is getting in touch with more people in Andhra than the entire Gandhi clan ever did. That way, he is set to complete the goal of getting in touch with the masses. How about getting in touch with himself? Here is a godsend: the government is going to send him to a closed cell, which is the best incubator for great leaders. The prison experience puts things in perspective, gets you into your cosmic groove and sets you up to really do what you are destined to do. If Jagan is destined to carry out his father’s legacy, no one can stop him from that. But then, Jagan himself must face up to what his father’s legacy really is: there is no better place than prison for Jagan to really retrospect the events of the past few years. Things have moved at such a maddening pace that he needs a bit of rest and retreat from the rough and tumble. He must now seek to formulate a vision for the future for himself and for the state beyond the kursi. Given a little space, be it locked up, for oneself, an intelligent businessman like Jagan would know how to turn the game to his advantage. That space, and a chance to get in touch with oneself, is the godsend Jagan has now on a platter. Yes, and God is watching. Let us hope Jagan will emerge a better human from custody, which seems immanent; and a better leader, if not a great soul.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
A Night In Custody: What Made Gandhi Mahatma? A day in prison can do wonders. A night In Custody can change your entire weltanshauung (worldview). This is true. Before going to prison, the Mahatma was a mere unreformed male. The prison made him the great soul that he later shared with his countrymen and women and the world at large. His largesse had its roots in one of the two things that go to make men great men: one is getting in touch with the greatest number of masses that one can. The Mahatma had done that in ample measure – across the length and breadth of India. The other measure that makes mere mortals into great beings is getting in touch with oneself. There is nothing like a 6x6 prison cell with a toilet in one corner which sends you into rhapsodies of self discovery. I was once In Custody overnight so I can tell. That was a long time ago, quite far away in Singapore – but that tale has to wait for another blog. For now, matters more immediate, such as Jagan’s impending arrest. Bottomline predicted, speculated, and even advocated the arrest of the upstart MP from Kadapa, and now that it is happening, we welcome it. I thought it was long overdue but with the bye-elections underway, the timing seems to be rather well thought out. One thing is clear, Jagan must be stopped from campaigning and the only way is to put him in prison. Now rewind a little: Jagan has travelled the length and breadth of Andhra to meet people. It is said that about 200 people around him are his own ‘men and women’ (and maybe even children). Even so, he is getting in touch with more people in Andhra than the entire Gandhi clan ever did. That way, he is set to complete the goal of getting in touch with the masses. How about getting in touch with himself? Here is a godsend: the government is going to send him to a closed cell, which is the best incubator for great leaders. The prison experience puts things in perspective, gets you into your cosmic groove and sets you up to really do what you are destined to do. If Jagan is destined to carry out his father’s legacy, no one can stop him from that. But then, Jagan himself must face up to what his father’s legacy really is: there is no better place than prison for Jagan to really retrospect the events of the past few years. Things have moved at such a maddening pace that he needs a bit of rest and retreat from the rough and tumble. He must now seek to formulate a vision for the future for himself and for the state beyond the kursi. Given a little space, be it locked up, for oneself, an intelligent businessman like Jagan would know how to turn the game to his advantage. That space, and a chance to get in touch with oneself, is the godsend Jagan has now on a platter. Yes, and God is watching. Let us hope Jagan will emerge a better human from custody, which seems immanent; and a better leader, if not a great soul.
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