The Great Man's Burden

The Great Man’s Burden

Just how big is the great man’s burden? When anybody from any field is anointed as a great – either by peers, media or even self – the freedom to fail is limited, if not quashed. Letting go the freedom to fail is an incredible trade-off, as it simply adds to the pressure to stay ‘true to the image’.

The recent face-off between Virat Kohli and the Board Of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) is interesting, but also has an element of philosophy to it. This article is not to judge either the body or Kohli, but to highlight the ephemeral nature of everything that exists in this world. Virat may bounce back stronger and BCCI and he may have great communications in future too. But the BCCI-Kohli standoff is only a trigger for this article and is not about the issue at hand.

Not too long ago, Virat was the toast of everything. Captain across all three formats, the powerhouse of Indian cricket, celebrated aggression on the field, huge fan following…..But cut to the time of this article, he is captain only in tests and runs have dried up. The man who many thought – and maybe still think – would surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s seemingly insurmountable hundred hundreds, is battling with both bat - and if reports are to be believed, even with team mates – and ?administration.

Makes me think, just how big is the great man’s burden? When anybody from any field is anointed as a great – either by peers, media or even self – the freedom to fail is limited, if not quashed. Letting go the freedom to fail is an incredible trade-off, as it simply adds to the pressure to stay ‘true to the image’.

Be it in sports, politics, business or any area of life, greatness is a burden difficult to carry and even more cumbersome to sustain. Even in families, ‘the greats’ have to stay on course to keep their authority and control. As a society, we are passionate about thrusting greatness on people. Maybe, it fills us with a sense of security in a very queer way. Maybe, it fills us with a sense of fulfilment in identifying ourselves with somebody who apparently can live and lead a life the average commoner cannot.

We all have an image about who we are and who we want to be. The pull of who we want to be is irresistible and its fulfilment insatiable. What we cannot be often gets reflected in the choice of people who seem to mirror our own imaginations about ourselves. Thus, we see that many societies cutting across cultures from time to time choose authoritarian and charismatic leaders and many consciously blind themselves to their follies. The need for power, control, larger-than-life respect is inherent in human nature. Perhaps everyone, silently or expressively - seeks it. This gives rise to treating men as God and according worship a unique dimension.

The ‘worshipped man’ has to connect by being normal, yet be seen as being above everyone else. The space he holds on to comes from the territory of followers and their commitment to stay put. It is truly a fine delicate balancing act and a great burden, for life is ephemeral. Territories of followership shrink, and eventually, the burden gets to the ‘god’ himself.

Before you aspire to be counted amongst the great, be aware of the intense challenges that come with it. Often, many such great people have to lead three lives – one for the public, one, when with the near and dear ones, and the one when they see themselves in the mirror everyday.

The seeing-oneself-in-the-mirror business is the tricky one. Everyday your face tries to tell you something, which can be conveniently ignored or given a hearing to. It is only when the ‘fall’ is duly acknowledged that many a ‘great’ man communicates more honestly with his face. Those are the truest moments of reckoning. Just ask the businessman who lost so much overnight, or the politician who became irrelevant within days, or the actor who got replaced by another in a film as his ‘saleability’ had dipped, or the corporate stalwart who got sacked or superseded without much notice. How you deal with those tricky moments reflects not just your character, but your philosophy of life.

Wisdom lies in acknowledging the ephemeral nature when the tide is in your favour, so that when the fall eventually happens, you have already mentally and emotionally lived it before.

True greatness lies in being humble always, and this needs practice. Ego finds its way into our system with or without valid credentials. It is a trick nature is ever ready to play on those who are unprepared and let their guard down easily.

The great man’s burden is not a burden for those who don’t take their ‘greatness’ seriously. They train themselves to be equanimous in all situations.

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

??If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

??And treat those two impostors just the same…

- Rudyard Kipling

So beware, if you find yourself in the zone of greatness!