Dynamics of Power: The Gandhian Perspective

Be it muscle power or knowledge power, power still remains at the center stage. Who is more powerful? Who is the greatest? Often, we think that the most powerful person is the greatest. Under this illusion people struggle to acquire power and then, struggle to retain power at any cost. Is power given to dominate and exploit, or to liberate and empower people? Is power a master or servant? Is it from within or outside the human person? The Dynamics of Power is the central theme of this book. Gandhi gave a different perspective to power. He made people look within. He made power go beyond the structure and focus on human potential. He made power a source of mobilisation of the human resources for the liberation and upliftment of people. In today’s IT dominated life, a person may lose his conscience and become a machine and a slave of IT. He may command knowledge and IT skills, but may not know how to live. The Gandhian perspective is a call to discover possibilities of an authentic living in the midst of liberalization, globalisation and never ending struggle for power. As Gandhi would say, physical force is transitory, even as the body is transitory but the power of the spirit is permanent , even as the spirit is everlasting. Power based on love is more effective and permanent than power based on fear of punishment. We need a paradigm shift from having more to being more, from power being a master to a servant—an instrument of service. This book would enable you to explore new frontiers in your power equations and will help put you in touch with the real source of power. It would awaken the power of the spirit and love in you.