Anupam- The Dreamer

The concept of power is a very beautiful yet perplexing one. Power, in simple terms, is the “ability to get things done”. This definition is very simple yet very profound. Anyone who has the ability to get things done has power or can be considered as powerful. For example, if you can purchase a car, if you can complete a project within stipulated time, if you can get people to achieve a particular goal, if you can punish others for wrongdoing. The power is everywhere around us, whether in personal or professional sphere. And power can be of different types- like money power, muscle power, the power of youth, the power of beauty, the power of strength, the power of intellect and knowledge etc etc.

In traditional terms, the power is considered as charismatic power, traditional power (like monarchy) and legal-rational (like bureaucracy). The power structures are embedded in every society- like executive, legislature and judiciary, corporates etc. Every structure exercises some sort of power to get things done. Charismatic power is very hard to cultivate, whereas institutional power like government and bureaucracy is relatively easier to acquire. Because in the former, you have to cultivate some personal traits like intelligence, communication skills, leadership etc to exercise power over others- for example some celebrities. However, in the latter, you just have to be worthy of acquiring some already existing power structure in the society. For example, becoming a government officer or an MP, allows you to exercise power and authority which is already inbuilt in that position. Whether you have personal charismatic power or not, does not matter much here, because the compliance of the people to your command would be based on the fear of punishment or law if you don’t follow him/her. It is therefore, there is so much clamour to acquire institutional power- whether political party leadership at any level, or bureaucracy or becoming a judge etc.

Everyone around us wants to acquire more power, if available for free and without any hardwork. If you ask any person- whether you want to be powerful? The answer would obviously be YES! If you ask anyone, do you want more money, strength, intelligence, smartness, they will quip that are you mad? Obviously, I want everything in this world! I want to be Alexander the great, if I can! But, the quintessential question that arises here is this- WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT ACQUIRED POWER?

It is said that “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Then, you must have also heard that “If you want to test the character of a person, give him/her power”. Because the true character is revealed when you have the power to do anything moral or anything immoral. And what you do with that power? If power acquisition becomes the ultimate goal of life, then may God bless the person. But, the real victory is when you use the power for the benefit of others to make their lives more beautiful! Everyone works for himself/herself in this world and to fulfill his/her own goals/desires/needs. But, what differentiates an ordinary person from an extraordinary person is that the latter rises above petty selfishness to work for others. That is where the role of “empowerment” comes!

Empowerment, you see, is another beautiful and intriguing concept. It means to “give power to others”. It simply means to make others powerful- it can be by giving simple things like education, healthcare, skills, money, knowledge, wisdom, good living standard etc. Empowerment doesn’t just mean that you share the institutional power with someone like if you are an SP, you don’t need to give your own statutory powers of law and order to the citizens, but what matters here is what you do with your powers as an SP! Whether people in your district feel safe when your police is around, whether the citizens can approach you with their grievances, whether they are assured of a fair justice in your office?

Acquisition of power is a good thing only if you are going to use that for the benefit of people and society at large. Otherwise, excess power (which is more than you actually need to lead a good life) will only eat you from inside like a termite. And the power in a true democracy lies with its citizens! Democracy has institutional power to serve the people, yet the ultimate source of that power is “we, the people”. And the true test of democracy is when its people feel powerful! And that to me is true empowerment and the true goal of power.

Till next time….