STRAIGHT TALK ... 2

STRAIGHT TALK ... 2

Celebration of icons, when it crosses reasonable proportions, induces hypnosis in the fans and weakens them. Better by far is to oneself emerge iconic than unduly worshipping another human being as an icon to a fault. Repeated irrational affirmations giving demigod status to an individual of exceptional merit in a particular field or even the hyper-glorification of God or messenger induces intellectual paralysis in the polity with all its debilitating effects on character. Hence, it is counterproductive to say that Tendulkar is the 'God of cricket' or that Gandhiji is the 'Father of the Nation'. Overmuch of fanfare leads to fanaticism which creates exclusive cults and thwarts the democratic growth and rise of all. Hence, critical appreciation and absorption of attributes thereof, at least in principle, are better than blind fan-following of an iconic figure. That leads to freedom in living instead of abject slavery that men subject themselves to, a colonization of their enervated minds. So, devotion to great men, gods and goddesses, icons and idols notwithstanding, self-respect holds the key to good living that is free of slavery to the foreign element. From self-respect will come reverence for your own self that will bear its luscious fruit in freedom earthly and freedom ethereal.

Written by Sugata Bose