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“In a crisis, beware of danger — but recognise the opportunity”. — Richard Nixon What is a crisis: It is an event which challenges you — it changes the direction of one’s life — in other words — it shapes one’s behaviour. Crisis is when relationships change. Crisis is also when one doesn’t know how to accept a given situation and feels lost. However, crisis cannot be faced with a disturbed mind. It is a myth to say that we control events — the fact is that events control us — shape us. Who in life has not or does not face a crisis — even Gods face crises. Crises are a part of our existence and life. It has been rightly said: ‘Crises produce deeds of courage’. In my view, whether God or man, both have faced crises:
With a balanced mind and action based on conscience.
The few instances I touch upon are:
- Vishnu faced crisis when Rishi Bhrighu hit Him on the chest. Vishnu responded with a balanced mind.
- Ram faced a crisis when he was asked to accept ‘Vanvas’ instead of ‘Raj’ — the acceptance was without a murmur — the result of a balanced mind.
- Gandhi faced a crisis when he was thrown out of a train in Africa. He handled it with fortitude and a balanced mind.
- President John F. Kennedy faced a crisis of Soviet intervention in Cuba. He reaffirmed American supremacy in the area — with a balanced mind.
- Rupert Murdock is facing a ‘trust crisis’ on phone hacking and took the decision to close ‘World News’ — with a balanced mind.
This write-up is autobiographical — it is based on some of the crises I have faced:
- At the age of ten I faced an emotional crisis when I lost my grandfather. I loved him and revered him and he loved me and was indulgent. His loss was my first brush with ‘death’. This is also when life moved from ‘indulgence’ to ‘denial’ as my father was a disciplinarian. He sculptured and instilled in me the value of work, wealth and worship. The sculpture he created was polished by my uncle. I am what I am because of the duo and I am indebted to them. However, this emotional crisis converted a demanding KC to one who accepted but with a rebellious streak.
- At the age of 17 the partition of the country created an economic crisis — the environment changed from ‘plenty’ to ‘. . . . . . . . ’. It impacted the family’s living environment and style. Our family migrated from Amritsar to Mumbai.
This economic crisis opened my eyes to the fact: material wealth is unreliable and transitory and developed in me the need to educate myself and have the capacity to earn through ‘knowledge’.
- At the age of 44 when the founder and senior partner of the firm died — there was a professional crisis — nay challenge — the perception was that the firm he built would not survive. However with the help of our people we the then partners not only sustained but enhanced the operations and prestige/standing of the firm — on the premise: though small endeavour to ‘be the best’.
- At the age of 48 another emotional crisis I faced was that of loss of my uncle who was more a friend and confidante. This crisis steeled in me the streak of doing my duty without considering consequences.
- I have also faced the crisis of being in the ‘doghouse’ and the crisis of being questioned when I was not even involved. The issue is how I have faced these and other crises. I was able to face these:
- With His grace — and a balanced mind devoid of emotions. The strength to face crisis came from Him and Him alone.
- Help also came through the understanding and support of family and friends.
I have been extremely fortunate in having received both these in abundance.
I believe each of these crises steeled me.
Crises, though painful, are also beneficial and help us in developing and shaping us. Another name for the crisis is ‘problem’. Raymond Williams has rightly said: ‘crisis is always a crisis of understanding’. In other words, once we understand the problem the solution is embedded in the problem. So let us embrace ‘crisis’ as a friend. It is difficult to call ‘crisis’ a friend, but that is exactly what crisis is. It builds us. I repeat, ‘crisis’ whether major or minor is a part of our daily existence. Hence, to have a happy existence it is necessary to develop a responsive mind as opposed to a reactive mind to face ‘crisis’. In other words, have a ‘controlled’ and ‘balanced’ mind.
As a nation, presently, we are facing ‘crisis of confidence’ — perched on and nurtured by corruption. There is ‘public interest litigation’; there are public protests, resignations of ministers and civil society agitations. In my view, corruption cannot be abolished, but can be controlled if all concerned consult and act with a cool mind.
I conclude by quoting Richard Nixon:
‘The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One brush stands for danger, the other for opportunity’.
Let us seek ‘opportunity in crisis’.
