Path Of Glory Leads, But To ????

PATH OF GLORY LEADS BUT TO GRAVE

This concept may appear ludicrous, but ironically it is true. Thus the gain in life by heroic acts or even greed has little sustenance, for death is certain. Our actions which lead to glory in the chosen field of work or of greed or avarice for wealth or power, may bring glory but since life is perishable it all leads to the grave. However taken in a different perspective there has been an unbroken tradition of great martyrs from Socrates, Jesus Christ to Lincoln, who brought glory to mankind, but had sacrifice their lives at the altar of noble principles held by them. They were great souls, who propounded ideals which were much ahead of their time. As a consequence, they had to bear the brunt of ruthless oppression from their opponents. Ironically the will of tyrants prevailed, for the days belonged to them, but the future did reverence to the great martyrs, who lived and died for a just cause and became immortal.

Socrates preferred to drink the cup of poison given to him by his prosecutors, rather than abandon the spirit of enquiry so dear to him. Also Jesus Christ preached tolerance, love $ compassion towards enemies, in the era of hate and violence. In more recent times Martin Luther King fought for abolition of slavery and equality for the blacks in America. Nearer home Mahatma Gandhi transformed the society by his strong belief of nonviolence, satyagraha, untouchability and self sacrifice and was instrumental in eradicating the age-old social evils.

Each of them possessed a strong courage of conviction, which made them fight for their cause, despite heavy odds. They lived and died for a cause, which was dear to them. Their ideals brought glory to them, for they were great visionaries, thinking much ahead of many revolutionaries who espoused noble ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity, even sacrificing their lives for it. Their ideas sowed the seed for great revolutions like the French and the Russian revolution which radically transformed society.

“All that live must die, passing through nature to eternity,” said William Shakespeare. Therefore one must live life fully, engaging in noble pursuits, for who would not like to be immortalised and in the words of H W Longfellow, “And departing leave behind, Footprints in the sand of time.”