YES MEN, EGO MASSAGE, SYCOPHANCY, GROUPTHINK
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Tradition has it that conflict is bad; it is something to be avoided.
The culture of many organizations implies explicitly or implicitly that conflict should be suppressed and eliminated. It is common for managers to perceive intra-organizational conflict as being dysfunctional for the achievement of organizational goals. Most of us still cling to the idea that good managers resolve conflict.
Current thinking disputes this view. In the absence of conflicting opinions, harmonious tranquil work groups are prone to becoming static, apathetic and unresponsive to pressures for change and innovation. They also risk the danger of becoming so self-satisfied, that dissenting views – which may offer important alternative information – are totally shut out. In short, they fall victims to a syndrome called “GROUPTHINK”
In a study of public policy decision fiascos, I.L Janis identified “GROUPTHINK” as a major cause of poor decision making. As he describes it, ‘groupthink’ occurs when decision makers who work closely together develop a high degree of solidarity that clouds their vision, leading them to suppress conflicting views and negative feelings about proposals, consciously or unconsciously.
A manifestation of the groupthink phenomenon is the staggering irrationality which can beset the thinking of the otherwise highly competent, intelligent, conscientious individuals when they begin acting as a group or team.
EFFECT AND SYMPTOMS OF GROUPTHINK
The net effect on the group is that it overestimates its power and morality, it creates pressures for uniformity and conformance, and its members become close-minded, living in ivory towers. Some manifestations are the illusions of invulnerability and the encouragement to take great risks and to ignore the ethical or moral aspects of their decisions and actions.
This author has witnessed close-mindedness on the part of several managers which then permeated their teams. One project manager took this to the extreme and in effect defined his environment as consisting of two kinds of people, either "friends" or "enemies" - The "you are either for me or you are against me" syndrome.
The friends were people who completely agreed with his favoured solutions and supported his project. All others were enemies.
Soon his entire project team was echoing similar sentiments having fallen victim to “GROUPTHINK”, resulting in unbending positions, heated arguments and subsequent lack of respect for anyone who disagreed with them; the ultimate consequences can easily be guessed.
The symptoms of groupthink include:
(i) An illusion of invulnerability that becomes shared by most members of the group.
(ii) Collective attempts to ignore or rationalize away items of information which might otherwise lead the group to reconsider shaky but cherished assumptions.
(iii) An unquestioned belief in the group’s inherent morality, thus enabling members to overlook the ethical consequences of their decisions.
(iv) Stereotyping the dissenters as either too evil for negotiation or too stupid and feeble to merit consideration.
(v) A shared illusion of unanimity in a majority viewpoint, augmented by the false assumption that silence means consent.
(vi) Self-appointed “mind-guards” to protect the group from adverse information that might shatter complacency about the effectiveness and morality of their decision.
Not very surprisingly it has been suggested that individuals most susceptible to groupthink will tend to be people fearful of disapproval and rejection. Conversely, an outspoken individualist who freely airs his views and opinions, if trapped in a groupthink situation, runs the risk of being ejected by his colleagues if he fails to hold his tongue.
GROUPTHINK SITUATIONS
THE DOMINANT LEADER
Firstly, because the CEO [or the “Boss”] dispenses all favours, his biggest problem is to avoid being treated like God. Secondly, the “Boss” must avoid thinking that he is God.
Indeed, in many organizations, it is not easy to contradict or argue too vigorously with the boss.
Even when managers feel that they know more than a superior, they may suppress doubts because of career considerations.
Fear, respect for authority, and even admiration may make sceptics hesitate when confronted with a confident CEO or dominating superior. This is less of a problem if the leader acts in the organization’s interests, possesses requisite soft skills, and has strong ethics and cognitive capabilities to make decisions.
However, if a leader does not force serious questioning, he or she will sometimes make mistakes and errors of judgement. Colleagues will become “yes-men”, and groupthink will take over decision making. And the dominant CEO may not discover his or her mistakes because fearful employees withhold information.
What can lower-level managers do about the boss who has lost touch with reality and seems to be driving the organization in the wrong direction?
One can adopt three different strategies:
(i) “Exit” (Leave the organization)
(ii) “Voice” (attempt to force changes from within)
(ii) “Loyalty” (accept things the way they are)
Each individual can evaluate the risks and benefits of each strategy.
However, if the organization is really on the wrong track, true loyalty requires an attempt to communicate one’s reservations and concerns to the leader.
How can a confident, independent CEO avoid the pitfalls and temptations of absolute power? The obvious (but difficult) answer is to make sure that power is never absolute, and surround oneself with other confident, independent people, and encourage dissension and debate on every decision.
In his autobiography ‘A Soldier’s Story’ General ON Bradley has exemplified this aspect in the decision-making style of General George C Marshall, Chief of Staff of the US Army in World War II, a dominant leader who was instrumental in the Allied Victory owing to his resolute management of the entire war effort. “Gentlemen, I am disappointed in you. You haven’t yet disagreed with a single decision I have made,” he told his staff after one week in office. “When you carry a paper in here, I want you to give me every reason you can think of as to why I should not approve it. If, in spite of your objections, my decision is still to go ahead, then I’ll know I am right.”
Rather than search for views that might reinforce his own, a CEO should seek contrary opinions to avoid groupthink. Some suggest using devil’s advocates for all major decisions by assigning some individuals in all groups and teams to argue against the dominant view.
PARALLEL POWER
This is a “groupthink” situation in which individuals or groups low in the hierarchy are powerful enough to do what they want, even when contrary to organizational objectives. Such power may be based on specialized expertise or privileged access to information. Parallel power can lead to groupthink in two ways.
Firstly, senior managers may accept ideas from lower-level managers that are not necessarily in the organizational interest, either because they have insufficient information to ask the right questions, or because opposition would not seem legitimate.
Secondly, top managers may make decisions without all the necessary information because subordinates do not provide it due to vested interests arising from misplaced loyalties to a limited function, department or team, rather than to the organization as a whole.
Such situations can be mitigated by ensuring that managers rotate between different units and positions.
NATURAL UNANIMITY
When everyone in power instinctively shares the same opinion on an issue, the wise manager should be wary. Natural unanimity groupthink results in an inward-looking organization detached from its environment.
Escape from this predicament almost certainly requires a fresh perspective that can come only from outside, by hiring new managers or appointing outside consultants.
A CEO may lay overemphasis on staff – line cooperation in the belief that the easiest way to ensure implementation is to recommend only those actions that the line managers agree with. But this is not necessarily useful to an organization and may lead to mutual admiration and, ultimately, ‘natural unanimity groupthink’.
The effectiveness of staff - line dichotomy depends on maintaining a certain tension between the staff and the line managers. When the tension disappears, the staff may not be doing its job.
CONCLUSION
The key element in any strategy for avoiding groupthink is to instil checks and balances into the system. Formally, this can be achieved through cross-functional teams, staff advisers, external consultants, or procedures like “devil’s advocacy”.
Informally, managers must learn to tolerate dissidence, criticism, contrary opinions, discussion, brainstorming and debate and encourage their colleagues to express doubts about proposals. Propositions from various parts of the organization need to be treated transparently, equitably, and consistently, to avoid groupthink.
In a nutshell, for effective decision making, steer clear of yes-men, ego-massage, sycophancy and groupthink.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
mailto:vikramkarve@sify.com
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Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
MANGO
MOUTHWATERING MANGO MUSINGS
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Mouthwatering Mango Musings - recollections of delicious yesteryears as the new Mango season approaches...
I love eating Mangoes – yes, the mango is my favourite fruit.
The mango is ubiquitous in India
All these years I bought mangoes from the market, but now, ever since I live in the pristine verdant paradise called Girinagar, I relish mangoes exclusively from my own garden.
Let me tell you about it.
We are surrounded by a large number of mango trees, each of a different variety, and one thing I have learnt is that mango trees bear fruit every alternate year. Also each variety of the mango ripens at different times which enable us to enjoy the king of fruits through the long mango season from April to July.
In early April the abundant fruit on the Hapus tree started getting ready and for a month we relish the delightfully flavoured Alphonso mango, truly the King of Kings amongst Mangoes.
Then there is a wait as in eager anticipation we closely watch the fruit on the Langda and Malda [Bombay Green] trees ripen, and in May it is time to savour the fibreless juicy-sweet Langda and the pleasantly flavoured fleshy Malda.
Last, but not the least, in June and July, it's time to savour the uniquely flavoured Chausa [Chowsa], probably the sweetest and most delicate mango in the world with an utterly delicious lingering aftertaste – a fitting end to the mango season.
Now I eagerly wait for the mango season about to begin this year when the remaining trees – the Neelam, the Dusehri, the Rajapuri and the other Alphonso Hapus tree will bear their succulent delicious fruit.
Are you wondering how come there are so many varieties of mangoes out here in my quaint picturesque bungalow in Girinagar – well it is the legacy of the wonderful nature loving foodies who lived here for all these years.
And now let me tell you about my surroundings – the most beautiful, most pristine, most unpolluted and most verdant place in Pune – a lovely place called “Girinagar”.
Pune has changed – for the worse.
The pleasant, salubrious, tranquil, stress-free, easygoing, cozy, affable Pune (then known as Poona) I once lived in no longer exists.
Every nook and corner of Pune has suffered the ravages of “modernization” – except one place – Girinagar.
With the mighty Sinhagad Fort towering as a Sentinel, Girinagar is a fascinating place located on the slopes of the hills adjoining the cool blue Khadakvasla Lake
The view from the Girinagar ridge is amazing.
The view from the Girinagar ridge is amazing.
You can see backwaters of Panshet and Varasgaon dams in the distance, and close by down below the serene expanse of the Khadakvasla Lake
The metamorphosis at sunset is enthralling.
The dance of colours, on the waters of the lake, from yellow to orange to crimson to blue to grey and then a still darkness – I have not seen a more magnificent sunset view anywhere else.
In the mornings as you climb up the hills the pure cool unpolluted fresh air cleanses, refreshes, revitalizes and invigorates your lungs, you look in the distance and see the heavy layer of smog settling down over the city of Pune
And when it rains, the sensuous mist envelops all around, everything is a soothing green, and the place is simply magnificent...
That is my story of Mangoes Memories in a pristine paradise called Girinagar near Pune...
That is my story of Mangoes Memories in a pristine paradise called Girinagar near Pune...
And now as summer arrives, I eagerly await the Mango Season...
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Ulka and Alka
ALKA and ULKA - Short Fiction
ALKA and ULKAhttp://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/04/alka-and-ulka-a-short-story-by-vikram-karve.htm
Dear Reader: I had written this story in April 2006 and posted it on my Sulekha Blog on 20 April 2006. The links to the blog post are given above. While surfing the net, reading blogs, I was aghast to see that this story ALKA AND ULKA had been copied and pasted on a few blogs without even mentioning my name as author or giving me any credit. Maybe they wanted to portray as if they had written this story. I wonder what one can do to prevent such unethical acts of blatant plagiarism. Should one stop blogging - or posting creative work on one's blogs...? Maybe one solution is to for the author to keep reposting his work at suitable intervals to ensure the author's creative claim to his piece of work.
So, Dear Reader, here is the story once more. I am sure you will enjoy reading it.
ALKA and ULKA
Fiction Short Story - A Romance
By
“Ulka. It’s Ulka – U. L. K. A. – that’s my name, not Alka,” screamed the furious lady.
“I’m sorry Ma’am. It’s just a small mistake,” the ticketing clerk, a young girl, said apologetically.
“Small mistake...? You spell my name wrongly and call it a small mistake...?” the beautiful lady fumed.
“I must have heard wrongly on the phone.”
“It’s carelessness. Anyway change the ticket.”
The ticketing clerk took the ticket from the lady and with her pen overwrote ‘U’ in place of the ‘A’ changing Ulka to Alka.
“What nonsense is this?” flared the lady, livid.
“How does it matter, Ma’am...? It’s just a minor change of spelling. Besides your surname is spelt correctly.”
“Minor change...? You need an attitudinal change...!”
“Excuse me, Ma’am...!”
“What do you mean ‘excuse me’...? Just cancel this ticket and issue a new one with my correct name.”
“You’ll have to pay cancellation charges.”
“Cancellation charges...? What nonsense...! Why should I pay...? It’s your mistake. You think I’m a fool...?” the lady shouted beginning to lose control of herself..
Till this moment I was just watching from the sidelines, but now it was time for me to intervene.
“What’s the matter...?” I asked the ticketing girl.
“She’s creating a big fuss over a minor issue.”
“Big fuss! You change my name and it’s a minor issue...? Suppose the plane crashes, what happens to the insurance...? You are incompetent. I’ll have you fired...! Who’s the top man here...?” the lady said, trembling with fury.
“Excuse me, Madam,” I said, “may I help you...?”
“I want to see the top man here,” she shouted, her enormous brown velvety eyes flaming, her flawlessly smooth cheeks flushed, her slender upturned nose luminous, almost translucent, her deliciously juicy lips quivering – in her anger she looked devastatingly beautiful .
“I am the top man here,” I said to her, and turning to the ticketing clerk I said firmly, “Issue a fresh ticket with the proper name. Don’t make any mistakes...!”
“But, Sir...?”
“Just do what I say,” I snapped at the hapless ticketing girl, and turning to the angry lady I said politely, “Ma’am, please come to my cabin.”
A glass of water, a freshen up, and a cup of coffee later, composed and appearing a bit contrite, fresh ticket with her correct name on the table in front of her, the beautiful lady said, “I’m sorry for creating a scene, but I get very upset when I’m called Alka instead of Ulka.”
“I can understand,” I said. “One’s name is important and people do get touchy if there’s a mistake. But then, Alka and Ulka, both names suit you.”
“What do you mean...?” she asked, confused.
“‘Alka’ means a girl with curly hair. Just like you...!”
She blushed, and asked, “And ‘Ulka’...?”
“Well, 'Ulka’ means a meteor, a star falling on the earth from the heavens, fire, a torch or a firebrand.”
“Now don’t tell me I’m a hothead firebrand or look like a meteor...” she smiled mischievously. The ice had broken. Her anger melted.
“Ulka and Alka. They sound so similar that one can easily confuse Ulka with Alka which is a more common name,” I said.
“I know. But because of this Alka-Ulka slipup – I’ve paid a heavy price for it,” she said, and told me her story. I am easy to talk to, and her words came tumbling out.
“Around ten years ago, when I was in my final year at college, a boy saw me in our college canteen and fell head over heels in love with me.”
“Wow...!” I said.
“He was so desperate that, after we left, he asked a waiter my name and the stupid waiter made the same mistake – he told the boy my name was Alka.”
“But the boy was in your college isn’t it...?”
“No. No. I never noticed him. Must be one of those rich types just hanging out in our college ogling at girls. He had fallen so madly in love with me that he tried to find out my address from our college office.”
“Then what happened...?”
“He asked for ‘Alka’ and unfortunately there was an ‘Alka’ in my class, so they gave him Alka’s address. Then the guy goes to his parents, gives them the address, and asks them to meet Alka’s parents and ask for her hand in marriage.”
“And then...?”
“They saw each other. The boy realized his goof-up and told her, and described me accurately to her, but Alka’s smart; she wasn’t going to let go of such a prize catch. I don’t know what she did. Maybe she told him there was no one like me in her college or that I was from some other college or some such yarn, but she must have sure worked on him with all her wily charms and finally they did get married. And now she’s having a ball of a time loaded in dough, the wife of a wealthy businessman, while I slog it out all alone like a slave day in and day out.”
“You never met the boy, haven’t you...?”
“No. I don’t even know how he looks. I told you I hadn’t even seen the boy looking at me. I didn’t even know all this till yesterday.”
“Yesterday...? Then how did you come to know...?”
“Alka told me.”
“Alka...? Here. In Hyderabad
“I ran into her at Abids last evening. At the jewelers. I was just looking at a string of pearls. Too expensive for me. But Alka bought a lovely pearl necklace and an exquisite diamond studded watch.”
“A diamond studded watch...?”
“I told you she’s loaded.”
“And then...?”
“She took me out to dinner in a restaurant. Remember I told you that the boy told her everything, accurately described me to her. She teased me that her husband still remembers me.”
“She didn’t invite you home...? To meet her husband.”
“I asked her. I wanted to meet him. But she made up some excuses. She’s scared. After all, a man’s first love always has an enduring place in his heart.”
“Sad...!”
“Yes. Just one small Ulka-Alka goof-up and look at the consequences. She, glowing in matrimony in the lap of luxury, and me, in the abyss, all alone.”
“All alone? You didn’t marry...?”
“No.”
“Why...?”
“Still haven’t found a suitable guy, I guess...!”
“Well, let me tell you that what you’re imagining isn’t that true.”
“What do you mean...?”
“Alka’s husband - the ‘boy’ who fell head over heels in love with you – he’s no hot-shot businessman. He’s just the owner of a modest travel agency.”
“You know him...?”
“Of course I know him. That boy is me. I am Alka’s husband.”
She froze. Then melted. Broke into a smile. We looked wistfully into each other’s eyes in silence for a long long time.
After she left, there were just two thoughts perambulating in my mind.
Firstly, I wondered what life would have been like had I married Ulka.
Secondly, whereas my darling wife Alka had gleefully shown me the lovely pearl necklace the moment I reached home last night; I wondered why she hadn’t told me about the exquisite diamond studded watch she had bought along with the necklace at Abids last evening...!
VIKRAM KARVECopyright © Vikram Karve 2006
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
Friday, April 2, 2010
THE SERPENT and THE GURU
THE SNAKE AND THE SAINT
A Teaching Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Today, during my evening walk, I remembered is one of my favourite stories from the parables of Sri Ramakrishna:
A group of persons from a village went to a holy man, a Saint, who was meditating in a cave in the mountains. They were very scared and complained to the Saint about large venomous snake who was terrorizing everyone in the village.
“This terrible serpent’s hiss can be heard for miles around,” they said. “He mercilessly bites everyone – the snake does not spare anyone and attacks even our wives, our children, our cattle, our dogs, everyone. Even the bravest among us have become afraid to venture out into the fields, which are dry, parched, uncultivated. Our granaries are depleted and empty. Our numbers are dwindling from death by the snake, and by starvation. Please help us. You are a great Guru and you alone can subdue and vanquish him.”
The Saint, realizing the gravity of the situation, went to the village, to where the snake lived, and as he approached, the terrible venomous snake moved swiftly toward him with upraised hood. The terrified villagers ran away, leaving the Saint to deal with the snake. The Saint looked at snake, slithering and undulating, his scales shimmering in the sunlight, dark and shining in his majesty, awesome in his length and his beauty.
“Come forth, O Magnificent One,” the Saint called out to the snake, and mesmerized by the aura and charismatic presence of the Saint, the snake suddenly he lost all his ferocity and glided towards the Saint and coiled up meekly at the Saint’s feet in obeisance .
“O you beautiful creature, what is it that I hear about you being the scourge of the village? Leave your destructive ways. Be good. Don’t terrorize the poor villagers needlessly. Stop biting them. Leave them alone,” the Saint said to the snake.
The snake bowed and nodded assent. He resolved to leave his evil ways and be good and promised the Saint that henceforth he would not bite anyone.
The venomous snake turned a new leaf, scrupulously kept his promise and began to live a life of innocence, without attempting to harm anyone.
The villagers were very happy, the fields flourished, the cattle grazed and the children came out to play fearlessly.
One day, several months later, the Saint passed by the village, searched for the snake and found the snake coiled near the root of a tree, lying mangled and half dead. The snake was utterly transformed. His scales had fallen off; he looked dilapidated, emaciated, innocuous, and badly injured. He had sores all over his body. The poor snake seemed to be on the verge of death.
“O My Dear Friend, what happened to you…?” the Saint asked the snake.
“This, O Guru, is the fruit of obedience, of being good. I obeyed you, I gave up my evil ways, I let the villagers alone, I stopped biting them, I stopped attacking them, and what happened to me? Now everyone pelts me with stones, beats me with sticks, even the children tease me and drag me mercilessly by the tail. But I have kept my promise that I made to you…”
The Saint smiled and lovingly said to the snake, “I exhorted you not to attack them, but I did not prohibit you from hissing… yes, my dear friend, I told you not to bite them, but did I ever tell you not to hiss…?”
The snake learned a lesson for life and henceforth got on in life safely.
Moral of the Story:
The unbridled senses are like the poisonous snake playing havoc among people.
The curbed senses are like the inactive snake almost beaten to death.
The sublimated senses cause harm to no one, while elevating their owner to sublimity.
[Sublimation is the transformation of unwanted impulses into something less harmful – like hissing instead of biting…!]
Dear Reader, did you like this parable…?
VIKRAM KARVE
Thursday, April 1, 2010
BIBLIOTHERAPY The Ladies Oracle by Cornelius Agrippa
BIBLIOTHERAPY
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Whenever I’m in a blue mood, I browse through my bookshelves and pick up a book.
Those who do not have the habit of reading remain imprisoned in their moods and immediate surroundings.
I’ve just picked up a delightful little book called “The Ladies Oracle” by Cornelius Agrippa from my bookcase. Let me tell you about it.
Whenever I buy a book, I write down the date and place of purchase on its first page. I have duly recorded that I bought The Ladies Oracle on 14 February 1989 on the pavement bookstalls opposite the CTO at Fort in Mumbai, then known as Bombay
I don’t remember what prompted me to buy The Ladies Oracle – maybe to present it to my darling wife, or maybe because there was no “The Man’s Oracle” in the pavement bookstall. But that’s not important now, so more about the book.
I don’t remember what prompted me to buy The Ladies Oracle – maybe to present it to my darling wife, or maybe because there was no “The Man’s Oracle” in the pavement bookstall. But that’s not important now, so more about the book.
Let’s get down to using this delightful oracle. First choose a question from the ninety five listed in the book from pages (v) to (viii) numbered 5 to 100 (I wonder where the first five questions are?).
I select question number 35: – Shall I always enjoy good health...?
Now I turn to page (i), close my eyes and put my finger on the table of signs. (I have placed my finger on the sign representing a single square).
Now I consult the table starting from page ten, follow the line marked by the number of the question (35th line) till I arrive at the column which has the chosen sign over it, and this figure gives me the number of the page (74) where by looking at the sign traced by my finger I find my answer: – You will always have joy, health and prosperity...!
Fantastic...! I’m feeling good already.
Now the next question, number 15: – How many lovers shall I have...?
I go through the procedure and the Oracle gives me the answer: – A great many, but those that have so many generally choose the worst...!
Hey, I’ve to be careful!
The next question, number 91: – What opinion has the world of me...?
The Oracle answers: – You are thought to have had more than one adventure...!
Oh, dear...! Have I really sown my wild oats that much...?
Shall I be happy in love...? The oracle says: – You will find more pain than pleasure...!
Pretty bleak – I better steer clear of falling in love...!
So I ask:
The oracle answers: It will always be as you make it...!
I must take care to build up a good reputation!
Shall I go many long voyages...?
You will do well not to voyage farther than round your own room...!
Great...!
That puts an end to all my travel plans...!
All I’m going to do is go round and round in my room...!
What a gloomy answer...!
And I thought browsing books was supposed to lift my spirits...!
Okay, just one last question, and the answer better be something good, or else no more ‘bibliotherapy’ for me!
I select question number 74: – What is the person that I am thinking about doing at this moment...? and the Oracle answers: – She regrets not being with you...!
Wow...!
Bibliotheraphy really works.
I feel thrilled, jubilant, ecstatic, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven and right on top of the world as I rush off to surprise my beloved sweetheart.
And just imagine, I thought she never even thought about me...!
Long live The Ladies Oracle...!
Oh, Yes...The Ladies Oracle is a delightful little book you can consult from time to time on matters of love and life, believe me you’ll enjoy it.
It may be called The "Ladies" Oracle, but I feel that even men can consult it with satisfying results.
Dear Reader, why don’t you try it out?
It is a delightfully entertaining reading, guaranteed to lift your spirits. I always carry this oracle in my pocket to enliven my moments of waiting.
Get a copy of this delightful oracle, ask the questions you always wanted to ask, and enjoy the answers!
That's Bibliotherapy.
VIKRAM KARVE
Monday, March 29, 2010
POWER IS THE RECIPROCAL OF DESIRE
POWER IS THE RECIPROCAL OF DESIRE
An Apocryphal Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Here is an apocryphal story I had read long back about Alexander the Great and his encounter with the Greek philosopher Diogenes.
Alexander the Great, the Emperor of the World, who had conquered all lands and seas and considered himself the “son of a God” and before whom all knelt in veneration and reverence, one day early in the morning, was riding with his army through Greece.
Suddenly he saw a man lying naked in the sand by the side of a river basking in the early morning sunlight.
Curious, Alexander rode towards the naked man and sat imposingly on his horse towering over the emaciated prostrate man.
The Emperor Alexander was shocked to observe that the naked man seemed to be totally indifferent to the distinguished visitor and appeared nonchalantly oblivious of the bountiful entourage and captivating presence and charisma of the great Emperor.
The stranger remained prostrate and made no attempt to get up and pay obeisance to the Emperor.
In fact the prostrate naked man continued lying down and totally ignored Alexander the Great sitting majestically on his horse.
An angry soldier shouted at the naked man, “You there – do you know in whose presence you are…?”
“Who is he…?” the prostrate man answered lazily, without the stir, making no move to get up.
The astonished soldier proclaimed, “Wretched man, you are in the presence of His Exalted Highness Alexander the Great – Emperor of the World.”
“Oh,” the naked sunbather said impassively, continuing to lie down. He casually looked up at Alexander the Great mounted imposingly on his horse and said, “I am Diogenes.”
“Ah, so you are the eccentric philosopher Diogenes…!” Alexander exclaimed, “I have always wanted to meet you – I have heard so many stories about you. Diogenes, I am impressed. I will grant you anything you wish. What do you desire…? Tell me Diogenes, what do you want, ask for anything in the world and it will be yours…”
Still lying prostrate on the sand, Diogenes looked Emperor Alexander in the eye and said to him, “Please could you move a little to the side and get out of my sunlight, because you are blocking the sun and spoiling my sunbath. That is all I want from you…”
Power is the reciprocal of desire, isn’t it…?
You cannot have power over someone who desires nothing from you…!
Think about it…
VIKRAM KARVE
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