Anyone who
displays certain qualities which set him apart from the run of the mill may be
broadly described as a hero. For
example, a man who has the courage or compassion to jump into a dangerous river
in order to save a drowning person is a hero. A person with certain talents may be
considered as a hero by some. Thus an
actor or a sportsperson or a writer may be a hero for some. Nowadays heroism has become so prosaic, thanks
to the likes of Forbes magazine, that
wealth can create heroes. Maybe, the
heroism of the wealthiest people lies in their ability to create wealth rather
than in being wealthy per se.
Philosophically,
can we define certain essential qualities of a hero? I think there’s no harm in making such a
list. So here it goes.
Heroes are
usually on a quest.
The target of the quest may be anything ranging from conservation of the
environment to fighting for human rights.
Aruna Roy who quit her prestigious job in the civil services in order to
work for the poor and marginalised people in Rajasthan is a hero. There are many such heroes who are on unique
quests.
Risk or
sacrifice
seems to be an integral aspect of heroism.
Greatness seldom comes without demanding certain sacrifice. A heroic quest actually sets a person apart
from the mediocre. Anyone who is above
the mediocre runs the risk of being belittled, questioned, alienated or even
done away with. Most heretics of the
medieval Europe paid with their lives for their pursuit of truth. For me, they were heroes. Today also we have writers and artists who
run great risks and some are murdered brutally by the purveyors of absolute
truths.
Sisyphus Painting by Nikolai Burdykin |
Courage obviously follows next in
the list. But I think the courage of a
hero is a natural concomitant of his quest.
Every heroic quest is a passion which overrides challenges. Sisyphus who rolled the stone uphill if only
to spite the gods was driven more by his blasphemous quest than mere
courage. His quest listed in the
necessary courage. Salman Rushdie who
wrote Satanic Verses is a hero for me
and possibly many others. He must have
known the hazards he was embracing while writing such a novel. He must also have been scared stiff by the
fatwa issued by a purveyor of absolute truths,
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. [I
love the very pompousness of that name.] Yet he could not have but written the
novel simply because it was the natural outcome of his quest. When a hero is on a pursuit he is not
deterred by potential threats. If he is,
he is not a hero. However, once the goal
is achieved the threats can shake his nerves.
A hero is also a normal person.
PS. Written for Indispire Edition 140: What makes a person a hero? Can anyone become a hero? If yes, how? #BeAHero
May we all embrace such essence of heroism.
ReplyDeleteAgree with your points. But, all heroes may not be on a quest.
Some may be accidental heroes too thanks to luck or smartness ;)
India needs more real heroes.
DeleteAccidental heroism and smart heroism are like mushrooms: here today gone tomorrow ☺
Quest - yes....that is one essential component towards becoming heroic....It requires courage too, and yes, you said it right, they can know what 'fear' is - after all, they are humans too.
ReplyDeleteYou understand, Sunaina. And hence you make the difference.
DeleteI think risk and courage and are the prominent qualities that distinguishes a hero from others.
ReplyDeleteYes, without those qualities there cannot be any real heroism.
DeleteAgree. Inspiring morning read, this one Sir.
DeleteThanks Anupam
DeleteYou said it Sir. And the example of Salmaan Rushdie is apt. He is truly is a hero. And so is Tasleema Nasreen. And so is Arun Shourie.
ReplyDeleteThere are many, many heroes. I mentioned just a handful.
DeleteGlad you find yourself agreeing with me.
नोटबंदी के बाद डिजिटल पेमेंट पर जोर, जानें क्या है डिजिटल पेमेंट
ReplyDeleteReadmore Todaynews18.com https://goo.gl/BgzxC9