O J’s Corner

Thrill in others’ elevation

Is not the world brutally selfish, with jealousy, ill-will, malice permeating everywhere. There is no happiness about someone else enjoying happiness. One can understand the discomfiture, if there is cogent reason for it. Being bruised one hearing others’ prosperity is overtaking all canons of good feelings.

An exception to the all-pervading anathema was Harkishan Singh Surjeet. He was amenable to Sonia Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister. Before that he tried to make Jyoti Basu the Prime Minister. But other partymen of consequence vetoed it. This time when the UPA was formed, he had wanted CPM representatives to join the Cabinet. But there was stiff resistance from some of the party leaders.

It is very clear from these and other gestures that Surjeet was comfortable when others got elevated. Rather he would take the initiative to secure fine positions for others. What could be the reason for his endearing disposition? Congenital attitude of goodwill, variegated experience and fellow feelings had got compressed into the frail body. An emancipated soul indeed.