Don’t ignore the lessons of history
5 April 2015 5:26 AM IST
It’s common knowledge that there is dissent in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its members are washing their dirty linen in public. The most surprising aspect of this saga is a recording, where Arvind Kejriwal is heard profusely cursing and ranting against his fellow colleagues. It’s unclear how this tape got leaked and now the new row which has erupted is: should somebody as high ranking as a Chief Minister-be it in public or in private life- use such uncouth language? Above all what about the supposed tolerance for dissent, patience, internal democracy and transparency that AAP espouses?
We must admit that these were the main things which attracted all the discerning people towards the party in the first place.
The party’s behavior is not surprising considering it has done the same thing, which political parties have done since time immemorial: muzzling anything which is contrary to their deeply entrenched views. Anyone who asks uncomfortable questions and puts forth a different point of view is usually considered as an irritant and anti-party. In this regard the corporate world is no different.
Consider a relevant example; Alfa Romeo was an automobile company, which made sports cars a cult of sorts in car manufacturing. Enzo Ferrari who was a racing car driver in the company came up with an alternative make of engine and suggested that it be tested by Alfa Romeo; as he believed that with his engine the performance of the car would increase along with its speed. He was ridiculed and his idea was rejected. This was probably because he was a mere driver and he was not allowed to meddle in something as esoteric and complex as mechanical engineering. In fact he was told bluntly that designing a sports car engine was not his cup of tea. He felt dejected and frustrated by the bureaucratic management and left the company to start his own sports car brand. The rest as they say is history. But did he learn from his own personal history? Surprisingly not! The problem with history is that it repeats itself.
There was an aficionado of Ferrari who owned a tractor manufacturing unit. Out of enthusiasm he designed his own car model and went to present it to Enzo Ferrari. Rather than appreciating this aficionado’s work and enthusiasm, Ferrari rejected the idea by calling it a tank rather than a car. The fellow left with the same disgust as Ferrari must have felt when he had presented his car engine design at Alfa Romeo. The fellow poured his own money and started his own company. The person was none other than Ferrucio Lamborghini. Now everybody knows the fabled rivalry between Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The biggest threat to a developing and forward looking society are its insecure albeit powerful and popular people. This threat is accentuate by people who start their carrier as an epitome of morality, accountability and responsibility and later give up all these attributes just to hold on to the power by any means available. In that process of blatant and blind power grabbing the first casualty is transparency. In 1812, Lord Acton, an eminent English historian and politician stated, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men”. There is a grain of truth in what he said.
This manifestation of power is not only among popular and influential people but all who feel that they have the means to coerce others by hook or by crook. Just look at our own culture of education. Do we consistently allow any of our students to ask unconventional questions? The probable reason is that if a teacher doesn’t know the answer to a tough question, the easiest response available is to ask the student to get out of the class and stop disturbing decorum. Offence is the best defense. The moral of the story seems to be “don’t listen to the message but shoot the messenger instead”. The same goes for a family unit, a neighborhood, corporate companies and political parties and consequently the nation. It’s a butterfly effect of sorts which never stops and ceases.
Through this article we hope to remind Arvind Kejriwal and AAP that the people of this country have placed great hope in them to be catalysts of positive change. This is a massive responsibility which should not be shirked. Please do not compromise ethics and democracy for the sake of power. Please don’t crush dissent with the brute majoritarian force. Listen to dissenting voices and logically counter these voices as far as possible, rather than running a party like a tin pot dictator. It was the power of inclusion of dissent and rebellious ideas which made England-a tiny Island into a great industrial nation and naval power of 17th century. It is the same small island which Napoleon used to call a country of shopkeepers.
Dear Arvind Kejriwal, if you are willing to learn from history, you will find all these interesting stories, and if, due to your responsibility, dedication and commitment for the people and consequent paucity of time you can’t, at least read the Lord Acton’s quote. Let power not corrupt you and let absolute power not corrupt you fully.
We must admit that these were the main things which attracted all the discerning people towards the party in the first place.
The party’s behavior is not surprising considering it has done the same thing, which political parties have done since time immemorial: muzzling anything which is contrary to their deeply entrenched views. Anyone who asks uncomfortable questions and puts forth a different point of view is usually considered as an irritant and anti-party. In this regard the corporate world is no different.
Consider a relevant example; Alfa Romeo was an automobile company, which made sports cars a cult of sorts in car manufacturing. Enzo Ferrari who was a racing car driver in the company came up with an alternative make of engine and suggested that it be tested by Alfa Romeo; as he believed that with his engine the performance of the car would increase along with its speed. He was ridiculed and his idea was rejected. This was probably because he was a mere driver and he was not allowed to meddle in something as esoteric and complex as mechanical engineering. In fact he was told bluntly that designing a sports car engine was not his cup of tea. He felt dejected and frustrated by the bureaucratic management and left the company to start his own sports car brand. The rest as they say is history. But did he learn from his own personal history? Surprisingly not! The problem with history is that it repeats itself.
There was an aficionado of Ferrari who owned a tractor manufacturing unit. Out of enthusiasm he designed his own car model and went to present it to Enzo Ferrari. Rather than appreciating this aficionado’s work and enthusiasm, Ferrari rejected the idea by calling it a tank rather than a car. The fellow left with the same disgust as Ferrari must have felt when he had presented his car engine design at Alfa Romeo. The fellow poured his own money and started his own company. The person was none other than Ferrucio Lamborghini. Now everybody knows the fabled rivalry between Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The biggest threat to a developing and forward looking society are its insecure albeit powerful and popular people. This threat is accentuate by people who start their carrier as an epitome of morality, accountability and responsibility and later give up all these attributes just to hold on to the power by any means available. In that process of blatant and blind power grabbing the first casualty is transparency. In 1812, Lord Acton, an eminent English historian and politician stated, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men”. There is a grain of truth in what he said.
This manifestation of power is not only among popular and influential people but all who feel that they have the means to coerce others by hook or by crook. Just look at our own culture of education. Do we consistently allow any of our students to ask unconventional questions? The probable reason is that if a teacher doesn’t know the answer to a tough question, the easiest response available is to ask the student to get out of the class and stop disturbing decorum. Offence is the best defense. The moral of the story seems to be “don’t listen to the message but shoot the messenger instead”. The same goes for a family unit, a neighborhood, corporate companies and political parties and consequently the nation. It’s a butterfly effect of sorts which never stops and ceases.
Through this article we hope to remind Arvind Kejriwal and AAP that the people of this country have placed great hope in them to be catalysts of positive change. This is a massive responsibility which should not be shirked. Please do not compromise ethics and democracy for the sake of power. Please don’t crush dissent with the brute majoritarian force. Listen to dissenting voices and logically counter these voices as far as possible, rather than running a party like a tin pot dictator. It was the power of inclusion of dissent and rebellious ideas which made England-a tiny Island into a great industrial nation and naval power of 17th century. It is the same small island which Napoleon used to call a country of shopkeepers.
Dear Arvind Kejriwal, if you are willing to learn from history, you will find all these interesting stories, and if, due to your responsibility, dedication and commitment for the people and consequent paucity of time you can’t, at least read the Lord Acton’s quote. Let power not corrupt you and let absolute power not corrupt you fully.
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