True Greatness Remains Unacknowledged

The Marathi daily "Sakal" (सकाळ ) has a local edition published for Sangli District. On the occasion of the 25th. Anniversary, of this edition, celebrated on the 24 th. of Jan 2009, the Daily published a special supplement, "Sinhasan"(सिंहासन ). It was supposedly meant to give it's readers a panoramic view of the politics of the district, both past and present. One thing that struck me, was how the present and a forecasted future, distorts the past. The supplement highlighted only those past personalities, and their achievements, whose heirs are at present, or in future likely to be, adorning positions of importance. All those who were the real heroes were conveniently forgotten. My thoughts were turned to all the history that we had studied so sincerely as children, and believed so ardently, when all the time, the so called history we were reading was of 'history makers', who were not only engaged in the "making" of history, but also in ensuring that they would be given due recognition, by generations to come. Those who were not diligent in documenting their own achievements, had at least, to have heirs who would do the necessary, if they or their achievements were to be remembered at all.
I some times wonder, why society puts the victorious and the successful, on such high pedestals, when we know that their victory or success, was more due to providence, or the fortuitous turn of events. If at all credit need be given, it should be given to all those millions who have really contributed (including also, those who were vanquished, or were unsuccessful in their attempts).

I bow my head to all those countless soldiers and ordinary people, past and present, whose names will never make it to any history document, or whose memorial would never adorn any street square, nor a bard sing paeans in their honour.