Ideas, Ideals and Idols

You had an idea about how people should approach their work. You knew it was good, but you couldn't demonstrate its efficacy. Somebody else had the same idea and he put it into practice. He showed that the idea worked. He became successful and a famous leader of men. You went around thumping your chest, pointing to him and saying "See, I was right". Soon it became less of an idea, and more of an ideal. Meanwhile, that other chap went on succeeding. The ideal was becoming universal. And this other chap was becoming your idol for demonstrating that your idea was an ideal.

Then that chap started to fail. A fear of failure was making him unfaithful to the ideal. Earlier you would have clicked your tongue and moved on, as this chap had failed to uphold an ideal. But he had become your idol, and idols can't fail. So, now you allow your ideals to relax to accomodate your idol. Sad, but maybe things will get back to normal. But, it doesn't help, he continues to fall short. The ideal now looks like merely like a good idea. The idol is no longer the personification of the ideal. It looses its sheen. You don't know whether to empathize with the idol for being human, or get angry at him for having once been a true idol, or to get angry at yourself for confusing ideals and idols. You think that maybe it is better for good ideas to remain ideas and not progress to ideals. For ideals can't be compromised with.

These inane ramblings were prompted by whats recently been happening to Saurav Ganguly - the captain of the Indian cricket team. At one time he was the idol. A fearless leader of men, who looked the devil in its eye and made it blink. But a vicious and judgemental media and increasing self-doubts seem to be making sure that not even the shell remains of this once fine leader.