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NamaskaarShakespeare said “Comparisons are odious”. Yet,
‘compare’ and ‘contrast’
are the two traits which control our behavior. The issue is:
Are we conscious of the
fact that they rule our lives?
Comparisons and contrasts are obvious in every aspect: for example, we have good
and bad, black and white, high and low, love and hate, etc. However,
‘comparison’, in particular, is a tool by which we evaluate our actions always
in comparison to others. For example, we ask of ourselves: Am I
* successful?
* acting fairly?
* rich or poor?
* knowledgeable?
* socially oriented?
* charitable?
* handsome – beautiful?
All these questions are in comparison to someone else. A
comparison could be with one’s idol or idea or it could be with one’s teacher,
relative, friend, colleague, peer, senior or subordinate. Comparisons compel and
motivate us to improve. On the other hand, we should not forget that comparisons
also have a dark side: it leads to jealousy — a destructive emotion. A
comparison can also be drawn out of insecurity that is rooted in a sense of
inferiority. It can also be based on the concept ‘I am better than someone’.
These comparisons always lead to unhappiness, anyway. The art of living lies in
making use of comparisons constructively, that is, to improve our lives, make
life more fruitful, rewarding, successful and happy. Comparisons will always be
there irrespective of whether we compare consciously or unconsciously; hence,
let us consciously compare ourselves with the best in every sphere and
constantly endeavor to improve ourselves. Let us see how comparisons may have
helped some achieve greatness. For example:
* Gandhi probably
compared himself to Buddha;
* Martin Luther King’s
model was Gandhi;
* Obama models his
actions on Lincoln.
Comparison also leads to emulate in our economic policies. At
one point of time, we were emulating Russia. Today, we find ourselves emulating
the ‘free world’. However, in my opinion, despite comparisons, we should take
care to evolve policies that suit India’s peculiar needs, and not blindly
emulate or compare ourselves with the ‘free world’ and repeat the mistakes we
made in adopting socialistic policies. Our success in avoiding the financial
meltdown of 2008 is largely attributable to the Reserve Bank of India, which
over the past few years, despite comparing India with the free world, has
followed policies which were ‘Indiacentric’. We should do the same with our
other economic policies. The mantra, therefore, is: Compare with the best, but
do our own thing.
However, I also believe:
.1. ‘Comparison’ is not always in relation to others, but
also sometimes with our own past thoughts and actions. We always judge the
present or project the future in comparison to our past or the present.
.2. ‘Comparison’ leads to emulating and copying. It can kill
originality. Hence, in using comparison as a tool to improve ourselves, we have
to consciously innovate in order to suit ourselves to our environment and avoid
being cast into a mould. In short, ‘comparison’ should not kill ‘originality’.
Hence, let us consciously avoid the negative impact of
comparison; let us consciously use it to improve our thoughts and actions; and,
last but not the least, let us consciously use comparison to motivate ourselves
to do better.
