Lessons from Mahabharatha - The Eighteen Days Rule

Every dictator has to fear the Eighteen Days Rule.

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At about a time in the hoary past which has variously been designated by scholars to be between 6000BC and 500 BC the power centre of the Indian Sub Continent shifted from the region of Kuru to Panchala. Kuru roughly comprises the region of modern day Haryana and Panchala is today's NCR and portions of UP with Delhi as its centre.

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When we look to see what the cataclysmic event was that led to this epochal realignment we find that it was the Kuruskshetra War so graphically described in the Mahabharatha. It was a war that was considered to have been fought between Dharma and Adharma. Actually it was a struggle to remove a dictatorial regime entrenched for more than a generation and half – which works out to about 30 years.

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Now comes the curious observation.

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The struggle lasted 18 days. 18 days!

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Fast forward to Tunisia, the land of Hannibal. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had been in power for 23 years. Mohamed Bouazizi, was a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 Dec 2010, in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the humiliation that was inflicted on him by a female municipal official. A murmur of discontent rose in Tunisia. On 28 Dec 2010 when Bouazizi was almost on his last breath President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali visited him in the hospital. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian revolution known as Jasmine Revolution sparking deadly demonstrations and riots throughout Tunisia in protest of social and political issues in the country. Anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi's death. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ran out of the country on 14 Jan 2011.

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How long did the struggle last?

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Just 18 days.

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Move forward to Egypt. Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt for 30 long years during which his rule was well known for widespread corruption, patronage, and nepotism. Economic reform did not benefit most Egyptians and there was no hope of political change since he was propping up his son (like Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu). On 25 Jan 2011 the Egyptian people moved into the Tahrir (liberation) Square. They faced gun fire, molotov cocktails, water cannons and vehicles driven into their midst. On 11 Feb 2011 Hosni Mubarak abdicated.

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18 days again!

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However, what is the lot of the people?

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After the Mahabharatha War Lord Krishna went away to Dwaraka and the Pandavas were too old and tired to carry on with the administration of the State. India descended into anarchy and petty wars. We are where we are because of that.

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Tunisia and Egypt have gone into Army Rule who were in the first place the power behind the dictators.

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So what is the lesson?

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People can throw out bad leaders in 18 days;

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But unless they can throw up good leaders they are doomed!!