Back in the 80’s, in Form IV (now Grade10), we had to study “Macbeth” as an English Literature textbook. At that time, as most carefree teenagers I found it tedious to read about how one Lady Macbeth (-no pun intended-) enticed her husband to commit murder in order take the throne. And I asked our teacher: “Why do you impose upon us textbooks which are old by centuries?” She replied: “Human nature has not changed!”
Over the years, with maturity, I learnt to read on my own. My first conclusion was how right our teacher had been! Human nature has indeed not changed!
Back to “Macbeth”. Though he was a fictional character, Macbeth was easily absolved for his crime as there were no CCTV / Safe City cameras, and not even forensic police officers then. Yet, the couple never had peace of mind. Macbeth had to commit several murders to feel “safe in power”. Lady Macbeth, laded with guilt, sank into insanity and eventually committed suicide!
In real life, during the last century we’ve had the likes of Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin.
In modern times: the most striking example is PKJ, President Kim Jeong, of North Korea. The actual Kim Jeong is a ‘piti” who came to power upon the death of his “papa”. (Again, no pun intended).
A simple click on Google or YouTube, will reveal how PKJ “runs” North Korea.
In brief, it is the most hermetic country in the world, completely under police/army control. There is only one national propaganda television. No free press. Internet, but with restricted sites, is accessible only to a privileged few, those in the inner circle of PKJ. Speaking against the regime is extremely dangerous, with the punishment ranging from forced labour to death. Most people work extremely hard yet they live in poverty. The few who dare to flee the country do so only at the peril of their lives. Needless to say, the dictator lives lavishly.
The common trait of all dictators: the insatiable desire to have absolute control over everybody and everything!
A comparison of different types of leadership will not be out of place here. Let me quote Louis Fischer, who wrote a biography on Mahatma Gandhi.
Quote: “Mahatma Gandhi had more than influence, he had authority, which is less yet better than power. Power is the attribute of a machine, authority is the attribute of a person. Statesmen are varying combinations of both. The dictator’s accretion of power, which he must inevitably abuse, steadily robs him of authority. MG‘s rejection of power enhanced his authority. Power feeds on the blood and tears of its victims. Authority is fed by service, sympathy and affection.” [*]
In brief, a true leader is loved, whilst a dictator is feared!
May God preserve Mauritius from dictatorship!
YNAM ALLY
*[P.S: Unfortunately, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, an RSS member, the very organization in which Modi made his political debut]
