IDHAR UDHAR KI BAAT 76- FEARS Brig PS Gothra (Retd)
Soon enough, he forgot his grand promises of shunning luxuries like Ghoda Gadi. Just like everyone else, he indulged. Power brought him privileges, and privileges brought him haughtiness. He criticized the Lion even more.
Sensing a threat, the King Lion called his chief jaasoos (spy) and tasked him with digging up dirt on the Tiger. The jaasoos came back with an unexpected revelation.
"Boss, the Tiger’s ultimate weakness is his royal toilet seat!"
And this wasn’t just any toilet seat. It was a state-of-the-art, custom-fitted, hot-and-cold-jet-equipped throne that even made the monkeys jealous!
The Lion, being wise and strategic, brought up the topic in casual conversation.
"Tiger, have you ever wondered what it would be like to live without your fancy toilet? You know, like in a jail cell?"
The Tiger froze. Jail? No jet spray? Just the thought made him sweat bullets (or pellets, if you catch my drift). From that day on, he toned down his criticism of the Lion.
But the chamchas (sycophants) weren’t satisfied. They wanted more fun. They pestered the Lion to actually throw the Tiger into jail.
The Lion, however, was too wise.
"Tum log meri baat kab samjhoge?(When will you people understand?)"
he roared. "Fear of a threat-in-being is more powerful than the threat
itself. Leave him be."
But chamchas will be chamchas—they didn’t listen. In their eagerness to impress the Lion, they arrested the Tiger and locked him up.
The biggest punishment?
An Indian-style toilet! No bubbly hot-and-cold jets to massage him.
For the first month, the Tiger was miserable. But by the second month, he started adjusting. Squatting made his blood flow better to the upper body. His chronic cough vanished. By the fourth month, he had an epiphany:
“Yeh sab chinta mujhe bekaar mein thi!(I was unnecessarily worried)”
When he was finally released, he didn’t even return to his palatial house. Instead, he started rallying the jungle animals, forming alliances, and growing even stronger.
The Lion was furious.
"I told you fools not to touch him! Now that he’s overcome his
fear, he’s stronger than ever. Ab humein usse harane ke liye das guna zyada
kaam karna padega! (Now we will have to work ten times harder to defeat
him.)"
I don’t know what happened in that tussle between the Lion and the Tiger, but it certainly sent me on a strategic thinking trip.
Before February 2022 the mere presence of Russian military force on Ukrainian border acted as a threat-in-being, deterring Ukraine from fully integrating with Western alliances. This melted away when Russia invaded Ukraine. Similarly the USA could leverage the economic sanctions much more as long as they were threats in being. When I think of the wise words of the King Lion, I realize how his wisdom about “threat” and “threat-in-being” can apply to international relations and geostrategic posturing.
Note:- If it brought a smile to your face or you can recollect more examples of strategic thinking, do write it in the comments of this blog.
Nice one
ReplyDeleteIts interesting, how your mind processes diverse events, digs out the common thread and builds it in to a powerful narrative - a la Panchtantra - PSG - You are - Our very own modern day version of Pandit Vishnu Sharma!! Compile your own Panchtantra!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes , fear of unknown is worse than facing the odds👌
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely master piece for not only present time of crisis but has been in existence since time immemorial. Thanks for sharing your impact full story.
ReplyDeletePSG sir as usual brilliant..Agree with your own Panchtantra
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe threat in being.
An Apt narration. Sounds similar to Pakistan or China being against India or North Korea or USSR against US or closer home Ex Delh CM against the centre ruling party.
Similar instances occur frequently in professional domains too.
Once the threat is executed the being vanishes slowly and there is no threat at all allowing the fear to vanish..
The whole mantra is the being
A very important issue which we all deal with in our lives have been presented in a very simple and lay man language.
DeleteBrought a smile to the face while understanding the nuance of threat in being
ReplyDeleteLoved the analogy! True, threat in being is a more powerful deterrent!
ReplyDeleteSir I hope that it doesn't have any relation to Delhi politics 😎 viz...cough, jail , frugal life etc .....
ReplyDeleteCould not have had a more apt description of one of the most significant geostrategic imperatives of the contemporary times
ReplyDeleteNice one Sir
ReplyDeleteReminds me of an old joke a husband keeps threatening his newly wed bride of dire consequences in case she did not listen to him, this carried on for a few days. She was scared and would immediately comply. Then one day she discussed the issue with her mother. The mother said just ask him what are the consequences and watch the fun. The next day that is precisely what she did, when the hubby demanded hot water for bath, when the wifey retorted what would he do if the water was not provided, the husband meekly replied he will bathe with cold water. 😁😁😁
ReplyDeleteWonderful narrative PSG...👌Awesome correlation to events past and present 👍. An insightful take on the Fear of the THREAT vs it's execution.
ReplyDeleteNice narrative, a template fitting at so many present day environments, national and international scenes.
ReplyDeleteNice reading.
ReplyDeleteGood analogy.
Interesting phrase..."Threat-in-being".
Lot's of food for thought.
Can be summarised as - band ho muthi to lakh ki - khul gayi to khak ki !!!
ReplyDeleteGreat reading Sir. Very rightly connected the most strategic & contemporary issue affecting everyone directly or indirectly to the simple and hilarious tussle between Lion & Tiger!
ReplyDeleteInteresting narrative. I see many other national or International scenarios where threat works more effectively than the actual damage itself. Well brought out.
ReplyDeleteWonderful article as always. Threat in being often works well.
ReplyDeleteAmazing as always PSG! Threat-in-being is definitely much more effective!!! In all walks of life!!!!
ReplyDeleteVery Thoughtful. Earlier Times, Many Armies of the Kings Use to Just Camp outside Forts, without engaging in Battle. An Elephant at the Entrance is a Bigger Threat than an Elephant in the Room. Initially, I thought this is about Kejriwal. Beautiful Write.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a beautiful representation
ReplyDeleteYou connected the threads so well, Brig Gothra.
DeleteLove the way you weave your narrations 👏👏