It is said that some people are born great, some people become great while some have greatness thrust upon them. A person born great would be someone like Prince Charles of England who by virtue of being born into a royal family instantly became famous and heir to a great inheritance and bloodline recognized around the world. A person who becomes great would be someone who despite the overwhelming challenges and odds against and around him is able to achieve success and create a niche for himself. And a person who has greatness thrust upon him would be someone who might not have been an achiever or a person of great personality, integrity or talent but is labeled and proclaimed as great by people who had some ulterior motives or hidden agendas to promote and better their own interest, culture, history or lineage.
But whatever the kind of greatness be, it would not be wrong to say that the idea of greatness has undergone a drastic change in the unceasing flow of history. For example, let us take the case of Alexander of Macedonia who set out to conquer the world. This guy is labeled in history as Alexander the great. But is he really great? I personally feel the title has lost its relevance in today’s present context because we live in a world that has grown and come of age. So I think it is inappropriate to still label Alexander as ‘the great’. Alexander lived in a world and time where everything was decided by war and bloodshed and a king’s or kingdom’s status and reputation was dependent on the extent of territories that it conquers by bloodshed. So in that time when wars, bloodshed, violence and conquests were the norms, Alexander might have been great and mighty. Alexander lived for only 32 years and by the time he was 16 years, he started killing people and for half of his lifetime, he was into this killing business. But today when the enlightened world no longer considers conquest by killing and violence as noble and just, it would be improper to still label a killer and destroyer as a great soul when he was driven by sheer blind ambition without any regard or sympathy for human life.
Yes, in the olden times, the driving force behind most of man’s activities was ‘might is right’. But as the world grows wiser and comes of age, today we no longer think that ‘might is right’ but that ‘right is might’. The transition from ‘might is right’ to ‘right is might’ is not something which is going to take place or is taking place. But it has already taken place and so, if someone has not woken up to this reality, he is still asleep in the old and is yet to face the new world. And with this transition from ‘might is right’ to ‘right is might’, the whole idea and practice of greatness has also changed and what was considered great in the past may not be so today.
When Mahatma Gandhi went to South Africa as a young lawyer, he saw firsthand the menace of Apartheid and was appalled by the injustice, discrimination and disparity that was prevalent in that country where everything was decided by the color of the skin. If one was born with white skin, he could have everything as he was entitled to all facilities. But if someone was born with black skin, he was treated worse than animals. But when Gandhi saw this scenario, he did not lose heart or thought about returning back to his country. But he decided to stay there and do whatever he could no matter how insignificant or trivial to uplift the lives of the down-trodden. This was how he found his life’s purpose and mission in a seemingly impossible and irreparable environment. And his experiences in that country proved to be a training ground for him to prepare him for the real fight back home in India. And that was why, speaking about South Africa, Gandhi later said, “it was in that god-forsaken country that I found my god”. I think this is true greatness – to be able to find one’s life mission even in a seemingly impossible situation and stick on to it till the last.
In Calcutta, mother Teresa’s heart melted when she saw beggars roaming in the streets with no food and no home. She was also appalled by the apathy and indifference of the well-to-do who had no regards or sympathy for the poor. But, in her entire life, mother Teresa never criticized or blamed the people of Calcutta for not taking care of the poor. Instead of blaming others for their lack of sympathy and compassion, she decided to do something herself even though she had no resources and nobody to support her. And this was how this lady was able to touch millions of hearts around the world. I think this is also true greatness – to be able to do something yourself instead of blaming others.
It is said that history repeats itself but sometimes one may find oneself in a situation or era that is totally unique. Though history is a great teacher and we learn many things from it, the present situation and time may have its own unique challenges, demands and needs. And to be able to read between the lines and live up to what your society and situation require and demand from you is again a mark of true greatness. Such a situation presented itself to the Nagas when the British were about to leave their South East Asia empire. When the history and geography of South East Asia was about to be re-written and redrawn in the mid-1940s, some from the Naga Hills were able to read between the lines and saw the possibilities and dangers of their beloved land and people being swallowed up by much bigger nations that were about to be born. Thus, they raised their voice and mobilized their people to see the danger that lay ahead of them so that they do not become a lost people and nation. History is important but true greatness also depends a lot on how one reads and reacts in the situation and era in which one finds oneself.
Let us conclude today’s discourse with the story of an old man. This old fellow was dropped at an “Old Age Home” because he had become too old and his family was no longer in a position to take care of him. As he was dropped there, a charming nurse was assigned to take care of him. As the nurse was leading him to his room, in order to cheer him up, she started a conversation with the man. She told him that she was taking him to the best and most beautiful room. To this, the old man replied, “I love it, I love it, I love it”. She told him that it has big windows and a big balcony. Again, the old man replied, “I love it, I love it, I love it”. She told him that the balcony provides a good view to the outside scenery. Again the old man said, “I love it, I love it, I love it”. The nurse again told the man that cool winds blow from the seas nearby into the room and provide a pleasing and comfortable stay. Again the old man said, “I love it, I love it, I love it”. The nurse then told the man that the room has a big television, extra seats and beds for visitors and even a table and books which he could read. Again the old man said the same thing, “I love it, I love it, I love it”. By now, the nurse was a little irritated because she thought the man was not in his right senses and was probably hallucinating. So she turned to him and said, “listen here old man, you first see the room and see how the things are arranged and then tell me whether you love it or not”. To this, the old man replied, “listen here little girl, whether I would like the room or not is not dependent on how the things are arranged but it is dependent on how my mind is arranged and so I don’t need to see the room to decide whether I would love it or not”.
In the same way, true greatness is not dependent on the things around us but it is dependent on how our mind is arranged. If we have true greatness in us, we will find our purpose even in impossible situations, we will do our part without blaming others and we will be able to read between the lines and know what our society and times demand from us.
