Where does Dr.manmohan Singh stand when referred to what Bhisma said???? A reference to the great Indian epic Mahabharatha, at this point in time, will perhaps be in order. Of the eighteen chapters that comprise the epic, the twelfth named Shanthi Parva – the longest - assumes a venerated significance when it comes to the art of governance. It is in this chapter the sagacious Bheeshma, from his deathbed formed out of the arrows that had pierced all over his body, obliges Dharmaputra by advising him on various aspects of Rajneethi (a term that is, today, used more by film-makers than by Indian politicians). Among other things, some of the profound advices that he gives are: The eternal duty of a king is to make their subject happy, to observe truth and act sincerely. The foundation of good governance is Dharma. For the sake of appearing to be good, no ruler should be tolerant of bad behaviour. Quoting Bruhaspathi Maharishi, he says that only because a mighty elephant shows extreme tolerance, a man who is very weak in strength also can ascend on the elephant and sit on its head. Likewise, an extremely tolerant ruler will be an object of ridicule. A ruler should always be a beacon of truth. Except the most confidential matters pertaining to national security and political governance, he should never hide the truths. He should be the protector of the people and not of his chair. Of course, the Dharma that was applicable in those times may not be applicable to the current ones in totality. Nevertheless, governance and ethics cannot be given a complete go by even in these modern times. Precisely that is what has been happening in the past decade or so in India.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:11:28 +0000
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