An empire that can’t weather a few blows…
…isn’t an empire at all, but merely a house of cards.
I’ve been immersed in politics for quite a while now, thanks to my dad who instilled in me the habit of reading newspapers from a young age (around fourth or fifth grade). It’s a good practice, especially considering the General Knowledge sections are part of most of the exams held in the Great Indian Education ecosystem.
Although I don’t claim expertise in politics, I’ve observed a recurring theme in this field: achieving success is one thing, but maintaining and enhancing it is another challenge altogether.
There are a lot of interesting case in Indian politics that underscore this theme. Please read the below not as a political piece but as a lesson that we lesser mortals can learn from the political lives of our leaders.
A case that’s long intrigued me is that of Rajiv Gandhi. He ascended to power with an overwhelming mandate, but his government was marred by the Bofors corruption scandal within three years, leading to resignations and a drastic reduction in his party’s seats in the subsequent elections. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_scandal
So winning elections was one thing for Rajiv Gandhi — but holding on to power was altogether a different beast.
I was about 15 when he lost the election in 1989 — and the picture that always reminds me of Bofors scandal and that of Rajiv’s fall from prime ministership was of a Rodeo rider — Rajiv just couldn’t hold on to that damn horse for long! Subsequently, he tried his level best, but unfortunately, his efforts were cut short by his assassination in 1991.
Contrast this with Narendra Modi’s trajectory. Despite facing criticism, notably after the Gujarat riots, he weathered the storm within his party and emerged as India’s Prime Minister.
Likewise, if you examine the tenures of Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh — both had the specter of Sonia Gandhi and her coterie looming large over them. While Rao managed to navigate through her interference, Singh’s tenure (and legacy) was tarnished by corruption scandals despite his notable contributions to our economy.
I’ve witnessed acquaintances who successfully preserved their marriages, relationships, and mental well-being during turbulent times when everything seemed at risk. In contrast, I’ve personally experienced sinking swiftly during similar challenging periods. These divergent reactions serve as the inspiration for this article.
The crucial takeaway for ordinary individuals like us is that while it’s natural to hope for smooth sailing in our lives, it’s equally important to remain resilient when faced with adversity.
I know friends who have saved their marriages, saved relationships, saved their sanity when a Big Dip tried to sink whatever they had built. And I have sunk like a stone in such Big Dips. In a way, these two opposite behaviours is the reason for this article!
Developing the ability to endure adversity, which Nassim Taleb refers to as AntiFragility, is crucial not only for surviving but also for thriving in the face of various storms like career, health, finances, children(parents!) — we face as we navigate through this ocean called life.
I welcome you to reflect on this article’s themes and share your own experiences and perspectives:
1. How do you think the concept of resilience portrayed in Indian political history resonates with challenges in your own life or career or business or personal relationships?
2. How might the lessons learned from the experiences of political leaders inform our understanding of effective leadership and decision-making in times of crisis?
3. Are there any historical or contemporary examples from your own country’s political landscape that resonate with the themes discussed in the article?
4. Building on Nassim Taleb’s concept of “Antifragility,” how can individuals cultivate resilience not just to withstand adversity but to thrive and grow stronger in the face of challenges?
Hope this piece added value to you 🍁.
