Ao Yemen Chang
Down through ages when one peeks into the history of mankind, we find rulers of different shades and greatness who have exercised their powers and Authority over the common populace and the results have been both devastating and beneficial to the governed. It has been shown time and again that it is dangerous for a society to have individuals with too much power.
The historical figures like Alexander the great, Napoleon and Adolf Hitler, some of the arch authoritarians who in their quest for more power, prestige and glory brought and caused much misery and bloodsheds. Power worshippers glorify the war as evidence of a nations power and gives it more importance than democracy. But war is evidence of humanity having reached its lowest possible level in it’s efforts towards resolving disputes. The founding fathers of America fearing the consequences of vesting too much power in a single person or on one branch provided balance of power to check against the concentration of power. The attack on Iraq is a pointer towards the arrogant attitude or the Authoritarian attitude of the Americans which has been denounced by the minority few who foresaw its consequences.
However, the power that be went ahead and the chaos created by it are being reaped in the form of civil war, bomb blast and reprisals from all angles. Infact, authoritarianism is not possible without enough authoritarians in the population to form sufficient binding force. It is the power given by the people to govern them. Arch Authoritarians considers themselves to be the strongest believers in “my country, right or wrong”, though this concept is dangerous and has led many people to their deaths fighting unjust wars. They leave no room for questioning their authority and will label anyone who disagrees with them as subversive and unpatriotic. When one doesn’t take an objective and broad view ignoring all the intrinsic complexities that leads to the outbreak of any war, one will take side and start rooting for the total victory of it’s side. Although, it is questionable whether anybody really ever has won a war. Even though one party wins, it will be a pyrrhic one. Ultimately, peace which should have been sought in the first instance will be searched after causing much damage and miseries.
In history,When one looks back, none can compare the peace offensive launched by Ashoka the great after winning the Kalinga war. After over runnning the mighty Kalingan’s he was at the peak of his military power. But in his position of power he decided to abstain from any future aggression. was it an act of cowardice? No, it can be said that the real meaning of war and bloodsheds dawned in him after seeing the suffering and miseries caused to the people. Under his benevolent rule the people enjoyed a period of complete peace and harmony.Peace alone can bring happiness, contentment and brotherhood feeling but strife and war will earn much sufferings on all the parties and the resultant consequences and it’s effect will have a numbing effect on humanity and the society. Peace will lead to productivity and prosperity whereas wars and strife will lead to destruction, discord and dismay.
So, the moot question for us, the Nagas of today is where are we heading ? Are we Authoritarians in our way of thinking? Are we heading towards total annihilation and destruction of our society? Let’s ponder ,retrospect and introspect so that our thinking and action won’t affect the many helpless citizens of today and the future generation.
