Saturday, June 14, 2008

"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."

The greatness of a person is a rather general opinion, more or less. Except in a few cases, society by and large proclaims an individual as great, or notorious. Greatness of an individual is the society's perception, based on that individual's qualities or achievements. There is a wide spectrum of opportunities, in which an individual can prove himself to be distinguished. These include scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, sportspersons, and performers of various arts; to name a few.

As an observation, the graph of such distinguished persons generally rises at the onset of their career, reaches a peak after a great struggle to prove themselves, and culminates with an acknowledgment of their achievement. The contemporary society has seen the entire struggle, and is in itself a catalyst for the performance of these individuals. Moreover, when it comes to arts or the manufacturing industry, the contemporary society is the one which is most benefited or has the greatest impact. As a result, these masses can truly confer the greatness upon the individuals responsible for the impact. For example, the society which witnessed the liberation of slaves brought about by Abraham Lincoln, were most likely to understand its value, and hence were the best judge of his greatness. No doubt even today we salute this man as the founder of the basic right to freedom of an individual, we have more or less taken this right for granted. Another apt example is of literary figures like Rossoue and Voltaire, whose satirical writings were an inspiration during the French Revolution.

On the other hand, in areas where the impact of the work of individuals comes at a much later stage, their greatness is appreciated more by those who live after them, rather than their contemporaries. To better understand this, take the scenario of research and its application. Generally, scientists in various fields discover and lay down the fundamentals of science, but it is only much later that technology is actually developed upon these researches, to fully understand and utilise their potential. Today we consider Newton and Einstein as the pioneers in the laws of physics, because based on these laws, we have developed technology that enables us to revolutionise the way we live on earth, and also enable us to embark on missions that unravel the secrets of the universe.

Then again, there are individuals who carve a place for themselves, during their era, and for a long time after them. The work of art performers, for example, is witnessed by their contemporaries no doubt, but also enjoyed by many, decades after their time. The taste of people keep changing, but distinguished art is always passed down through generations, and such individuals become immortal in the memories of the masses. There are many such Indian singers, who were at the pinnacle of fine arts during their time, but are equally, if not more, cherished by a large audience today.

Hence, in my opinion, the work of an individual is the best criteria of his or her greatness, rather than who decides it. Also, an individual must be duly credited for his or her work, and more so when he or she is alive to receive that recognition. The greatness of individuals can thus be decided by people who live after them, as well as their contemporaries.

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