The Paths To Glory Lead But To The Grave | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

–Tapesh Kumar

Within the human psyche lies a remarkable inclination to derive pleasure from diverse sources, even from pain and melancholy. This propensity is evident in the enduring popularity of gothic literature, horror films, mournful lyrics, and grievous ballads. We find solace in somber tales, solace in sad verses, and a peculiar serenity in elegies that embrace our melancholic side. Regardless of how grandiose our lives may seem, there's always room for the bitter truth of pain and sorrow.

Thomas Gray, an 18th-century English poet, classical scholar, and Cambridge University professor, penned a mournful poem in a rural churchyard cemetery titled 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.' In it, he wrote, 'The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave, Awaits alike the inevitable hour, The paths of glory lead but to the grave.' These verses serve as a perpetual reminder of human mortality, irrespective of social status, beauty, wealth, or fame. Gray himself rests in the same burial ground where he wrote these lines.

Of all certainties, death is the most universal, a realization that leaves no room for doubt or exception. Throughout history, mankind has sought physical immortality through alchemy, sacrifice, yoga, enlightenment, or Nirvana, but all such efforts have proven futile. Anyone who is born shall eventually die; this is the inescapable truth. People spend their entire lives pursuing money, material wealth, love, family, health, and glory. Yet, no matter the nature of life's tribulations and preoccupations, they all yield to the inexorable grasp of death.

Even in mythology, attempts at immortality have their tragic outcomes. Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, was dipped into holy water by his sea-nymph mother, Thetis, in an effort to make him immortal. However, he met his end during the Trojan War, struck by an arrow in his vulnerable heel, the one part of his body untouched by the water. Thus, all his valor, swordswomanship, and formidable strength reduced to the phrase 'Achilles' heel,' symbolizing vulnerability. Indeed, death stands as the ultimate truth, undeniable and inescapable.

Yet, the fear associated with death may be a matter of choice. Death appears frightening not because it inherently is but because life often becomes fearsome. The fear of death stems from the fear of life itself. Those who are prepared to face death at any moment are the ones who truly embrace life. It is in the conquering of this fear that glory takes root and thrives. The durability of one's life is often intertwined with the intensity of the glory achieved.

Maria Corazon Aquino, a self-proclaimed housewife, rose to become the 11th President of the Philippines after her husband's assassination, toppling a 20-year authoritarian regime. She famously said, 'I would rather die a meaningful death than live a meaningless life.' Yet, even she succumbed to death, passing away from colon cancer in 2009.

Before the advent of society, humanity was merely a collection of individuals driven by primal instincts. Society arose to fulfill our needs for interdependence and sustainability. The path to glory echoes this balance between needs and sustenance, but the beast within humanity never truly vanishes. It lurks, sharpens its claws, and strikes when intoxicated by power and pride, leading to a moral imbalance. Glory is not a straightforward path to navigate; Oriana Fallaci, an Italian author and journalist, aptly noted, 'Glory is a heavy burden, a murdering poison. To bear it is an art, and to possess that art is rare.' Opting for a more cautious, less glorious life might seem safer, but there is no fortress impervious to the claws of death.

Death is like a vast, impenetrable forest whose true scale cannot be perceived from the ground, as the view is obstructed by the initial rows of trees. It is life that categorizes, while death declassifies all. Death unites paupers who struggle daily for survival with the wealthy, who have ornate burial sites and lavish funerals. In the end, the rich do not live long enough to witness all the extravagance. Regardless of our accomplishments, emotions, or experiences, death unites all classes of people. Poor individuals may have lived inconspicuously, but in death, they are no different from the wealthiest among us. To the deceased, whether resting on a bed of thorns or an embroidered cushion matters little. Death is like a calm body of water where all deeds eventually fade like ripples.

German author and playwright Wolfgang Borchert, influenced by the Second World War, wrote in his play 'The Outsider': 'A man dies. Only a few circles in the water prove that he was ever there. And even they quickly disappear. And when they're gone, he's forgotten, without a trace, as if he'd never even existed. And that's all.'

Motivation is a driving force in life, whether it be the pursuit of sustenance driven by the hunger of the human body or the pursuit of glory motivated by societal acceptance, praise, recognition, or envy. Roman statesman and scholar Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, 'We are motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is, the more he is inspired by glory.' Even philosophers, in their writings that may seem to reject glory, inscribe their names in pursuit of it.

In the quest for survival, death serves as the ultimate motivation, pushing individuals to discover uncharted boundaries, unknown territories, and unyielding resolve. The philosophy of the vicious cycle of rebirth, karma, and nirvana guides humanity toward peaceful coexistence, discouraging violence, promoting accommodation, and providing solace and distraction from the specter of death.

Although Buddhist teachings speak of cycles of rebirth, a Jataka parable tells of a grieving mother who brought her son's corpse to Buddha, hoping he could bring the boy back to life. Buddha asked her to bring a handful of cereal from a household where no one had died before. Exhausted from her search, the woman returned to Buddha, who imparted the lesson that death is certain, but its timing is not.

Steve Jobs, facing his impending death, candidly described his perception of death: 'No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.'

Dying is a continuous process that begins the moment we are born, euphemistically referred to as aging. Death is the ultimate outcome of this ongoing process. Indeed, the preciousness of life lies in the presence of death, and health is cherished due to the cruelty of illness. What makes life truly vibrant is the concept of 'memento mori,' which reminds us, 'Remember that you must die.'"