Coordinator’s View

Bhakti vis-à-vis Sycophancy in Democracy

Human species are biological evolution and are primarily nature loving. Ability of human to think has not only made it superior to other species but it has garnered ability to explore the nature. This ability has got manifested on one side in the form of better lifestyle and on the other harvesting nature to suit growing needs of comfort and support population blow. It would not be incorrect to call the latter of the quest is competing with the nature. These aspects, in another context, have been discussed in Human History: An introspection. This article introspects Bhakti and Sycophancy a trait generally found with difference of degree and dimension across people, so much so that Bhakts and sycophants, are used interchangeably, are potential danger to democracy, the natural form of governance.

Bhakti takes different forms with changes in level of needs and is, therefore, always subjective. Psychologists Abraham Maslow in 1943 advanced concept of hierarchy of needs in his theory of motivation.

In Indian culture different stages of life are stipulated viz. (a) बाल्यावस्था (Balyawastha- known as Infancy) in which child is completely dependent on care of parents. (b) Yuvawastha (युवावस्था – Yong age). At this stage a child is expected to learn skills of life and survival. It is known as student hood. In India, this stage is also called Bramhacharya (ब्रम्हचर्य ). (c) Tarunawastha (तरुण अवस्था Adulthood). This is also known as Grahasth Ashram (गृहस्थ आश्रम – Family Life). In this stage couples create their own family and ensure care, wellbeing and growth of the family. It is perpetuation of the role played by parents, in best possible manner in the their circumstances. It is also called repayment of Pitru Riin (पितृ ऋण – Parental Debt). (d) Vanprasth Ashram (वानप्रस्थ आश्रम - Hermit stage). In this stage a person prefers keep away from family life and is supposed to utilize his life’s experiences for the larger good. (e) Sanyas (सन्यास Renunciation) where-in one lives without any kind of desire and leads a path towards salvation (मोक्ष- Moksha) i.e. to free oneself from the cycle of rebirth., a belief in Indian culture.

These stages of life can be mapped to corresponding level of needs in Maslow’s Model. Yet, it is important to consider that needs cannot be earmarked or compartmentalized to specific stage of life. Here, reference is made to Transactional Analysis, a part of management psychology. It provides for three kinds of egos viz. Child Ego, Parent Ego, and Adult Ego. These egos coexist in every person, but in different proportion according to time, place and situations. Accordingly, human management is all about negotiating these three egos to regulate the behavior of other person.

In this context, at every stage of life, each one is in pursuit of fulfillment of one or the other need in a match-&-mix manner depending upon his stage of life, place and circumstances. Trajectory of fulfilment of needs grows like a spiral. Yet, real life is full of hopes and despair. This reality drives subjectivity in person to explore easiest ways and means of fulfilment of needs.

Human civilization with its growth has seen newer dimensions of survival needs fanning into emotional, devotional and spiritual dimensions. Thus evolved a cycle of faiths-religions-faiths. It gave rise to devotional practices taking different routes viz. idol worship, non-idol worship. Each of them have many forms right from chanting devotional prayers, scriptures, verses, songs, gatherings, services and visits to the places of importance to one’s faith. Some of the devotional practices for salvation that paddled soft were preached by Gautam Buddh, Jesus Christ, Gurn Nanak, while Mahaveer and Mohammad Paigamber promulgated stringent practices. Each of the religion has its own Do’s and Don’ts with a difference of degree. Here, focus is not to make a treatise on bhakti. Yet, followers of faiths and religions are known as Bhakt.

Indian culture has defined various paths of self-actualization viz. Bhakti Yog, Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Raj Yog. Adherence to the Bhakti marg is anchored to a Guru, Idol, Scripture, or a Symbol. As against this Gyan Yog, Karma Yog and Raj Yog can be pursued independently based on one’s experiences, conviction and wisdom.

Bhakti is an emotional devotion arising out of experience. Thus, bhakti got integrated into a way of life known, faith or religion, in different forms and parts of the world. The element of devotion in bhakti starts with finding a solace somewhere when one finds crisis or situations beyond control. These contentions and gestures can be observed in the lyrics of prayers, devotional songs, meditation, mortification (तपस्या  -Tapasya) and practices. Atheists may vehemently denounce bhakti in any form, yet when they are caught in abnormal circumstances a common utterance is Oh My God! ! !.

Bhakti has different forms of devotion to person, power or its symbol viz. places of prayer or worship. Oblations in different forms viz. offerings, donations or services, either in anticipation of wishes, with which one reaches out to the symbol. Such oblations are also made with a sense of gratitude for the gains accrued in the past, either expected or beyond expectations. Oblation is the easiest way for those who can afford and, therefore, has a latent selfish motive. On this path, bhakti and mukti are two objectives. It is believed that one who asks for mukti God frees himself by granting wish to his bhakt. But, one who asks for bhakti, God always follows him, and is excellently conveyed in ‘story of footprints’.

Epitome of bhabkti is available in an episode of Mahabharat where Lord Krishna asks Kunti , who was in deep trouble from all sides, “Bua (बुआ – Father’s sister) tell me what you want, I will fulfill it”. The landmark reply of Kunti was “Vasudev Krishna give me only sufferings so that I continue to remember you always”. This conversation signifies essence of Bhakti. There is another story that Swami Ramakrishna Paramhans used to obstinately wait in-front of idol of Goddess Kali, which he worshiped, to accept Bhog (भोग – food served to deity, before one consumes it). Finally, the goddess used to yield.  There are many more tell-tales of bhakti.

Subjectivity is the easiest path, whereas objectivity demands one to rise above oneself in thought, speech and actions. It has to be with a sense of purpose, commitment and perseverance. There are many examples of bhakti on stringent path of mortification where some had objective to do good for humanity and nature. One of them, in the recorded history, is Gautam Buddh. Yet, there are abundant citations of mortification to acquire power to rule the humanity and nature. There is always a crowd of bhakts, while individuals in pursuit of objective ways of life viz. Gyan Yog, Karm Yog and Raj Yog are scarce.

Nature as it is purely democratic and offers equal opportunities to all to ‘live and let live’. It also offers opportunities to each to grow on principle of survival of the fittest, without discounting principle of coexistence. Whenever there is breach of these natural principles, it leads to man-made calamity, conflict and destruction. Adhering to the principles of democracy requires highest degree of wisdom with sense of duties and responsibility to protect right of deprived person(s). If a single person in country or society is deprived, in any way, it is Personal Social Responsibility (PSR) of the better ones to rescue him from the stage of deprivation. This spirit exists among Sandhi’s, Gujarati’s, that I know, and is beautifully articulated in Ubuntu in ancient culture of Africa.

Human instinct is first to grab for self on available opportunities. This aspect has been articulated by psychologists, sociologists and management gurus in word motivation. Motivation for fulfilment of needs, provides a leeway to immediate problems. Yet, its aftermaths are left for persons to handle it successively. It has thus prompted to analyze Maslow’s model in terms of efforts needed to fulfil needs alongwith their latencies.

Eventually aberrations bhakti in different sects, religions and, may not be incorrect to say, in human civilization have penetrated into human behavior trans-boundaries, be it of any kind. It has its manifestations right from personal to socio-political arena in the form of sycophancy.

Sycophants are also in two categories some are orthodox and indulge in praise of powerful persons without even trying to know merit or demerits of the person. Such persons are known as loyalists. While, others indulge in insincere flattery to for personal gains and are ready to toggle ships. Abuse of sycophancy is bilateral.  Sycophants are since biased; they are not only repelled from other school of thoughts or persons but are also vehemently opposed to them. Such tendencies are generally observed in columnists, reviewers, critiques and satirists in amusing their audience. These are elites and are capable of forming public opinion, so as to awaken their audience in respect of urgency of efforts to eradicate of anomalies in the systems. This is, infact, the natural and eternal need.

At this point it is essential to analyze Maslow’s model in context of efforts, means and timeframe of fulfilment of needs and their latency. Basic needs are physiological in nature on day to day basis. These can be fulfilled quickly with least efforts and with little support. Latency of these needs is short and every time, even during a day, one either need to work for it or supported by someone. This is more a matter of concern of masses. Next in hierarch are psychological needs they are accomplished individually, with a facilitation by system. In pursuit of these needs lies section of society whose basic needs are fulfilled. Fulfilment of these needs have medium term influence. Emergence of next level of needs is a natural consequence. At highest level is need of self-actualization. It requires continuity of passion, commitment, pursuance and perseverance. These, while accomplishing full potential and creativity entail wellbeing, happiness and prosperity of the system for the larger good. They are the elite people, a very thin section of the society. Wider is this section, more prosperous is the society.

Democracy despite its serenity, has got evolved into parliamentary system. Merit of this system lies in the fact that politicians have to periodically reach out to their constituencies with their accomplishments, agenda and vision. While doing so, taking offensive against opponents, promises of varieties is the common strategy among all contestants.

Dynamics of democracy that attract largest section of polity lies at the level of basic needs. Its fulfilment is a must in a welfare state, in democracy. But, a family, society and nation has to and must grow. Therefore, the only focus on basic needs would jeopardize growth of nation, which is through fulfilment of higher level of needs. This is necessary for a nation to grow into strong and prosperous socio-economy. It requires each one to contribute its best with a sense of duty and responsibility.

In parliamentary democracy to lead the nation on the path prosperity one has to secure majority through periodical elections. This majority cannot be achieved without fulfilment of basic needs of the citizens. This turns democracy into mobocracy where mushroom of sycophants occurs. They are the people whose loyalty is completely self-centered. This is a global phenomenon having variance across countries. This variance depends upon degree of education and consciousness of duties and responsibilities, as against rights. Disparity among citizens provides a playground for politicians to articulate the basic needs, expectations and promises. Thus, democracy appears to grow quickly and rise like a balloons filled with light gas or highly volatile fluid. Such rise is commensurate to its buoyancy. The moment filling in it is made substantive, splintering is inevitable. This is clearly demonstrated with rise and collapse of communism in the world.

Fulfilment of higher level needs in a welfare state requires society to grow monolithically into a wise constituency which is ready to sacrifice for the larger good. Japan, Germany and Vietnam, despite destruction in war, have successfully demonstrated will of their citizens to think as a nation, work as a nation and live as a nation. This vision can be accomplished by ensuring education to all and without discrimination, where learning is not an end but a means to an end for the larger good of the nation across its citizens. Such a vision lies far beyond the literacy necessary and for fulfilment of personal needs.

Here, it is pertinent to cite history of Unite Kingdom which accepted relevance of political leadership of Winston Churchill during World War II. In democracy there is no room for either indispensability or monopoly, whomsoever. Yet, those are the bhakts and sycophants who become the biggest spoilers of the democracy. They eventually undermine relevance of leadership in dynamics of time and situation.

Conclusions: The challenge of up-keeping democracy in our country which is full of diversities is huge. Yet, it can be accomplished with considered objectivity through fulfillment of basic needs of citizens and inspiring and facilitating them to accomplish higher level needs. Such citizens must first discharge theirs, duties and responsibilities, before seeking their rights in democracy, the most natural form of socio-politics. This will make each of them worthy participant in democracy by evaluating political contenders in fulfilment of their promises for the larger good. A country which is rich of such citizens, grows into a strong economy peacefully, happily and would coexist in its surroundings. Though, it is impossible to delineate bhakts and sycophants in society, but they will have to be made infructuous for a democracy to grow. This is the only way to realize dream of Gurudev Ravindranath Tagore in his poem Geetanjali.

 

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