The Gordian Knot!

I think from the time Man came to his senses, he has despised the idea of death. Once, we became the only species to bond for lifetime, the thought of losing a person, of losing yourself and not being able to be with your loved ones - became despicable. Since that time, Man has always tried to immortalize himself, the very perception of 'Human Greatness' - has been to survive and be remembered long beyond his living years...  

And so this piece is written in the quest of ... "What really makes people Great??" 

Consider Leonardo da Vinci, a great philosopher of his time, who was as much an artist as he was an Engineer. Be it complex weapons, that helped shape the history of the world, or his lasting paintings, or his technical drawings and observations on human anatomy - that even today inspire new designs .... In a time when the topmost brains of the world can not foresee beyond 10 years of human evolution, Leonardo invented concepts that were almost FIVE centuries ahead of his time..

The modern father of science, Sir Isaac Newton, who instead of eating the apple that fell on his head, was great enough to define gravity, who created 'Calculus' and laid the mathematical foundation of scientific development for the next century.... Or the great Albert Einstein, who saw things that few people can understand even today, and certainly no one did in his lifetime ...

In a recent article, I read, the author of "Five Point Someone" - Chetan Bhagat was described as a great writer .. frankly it made me laugh ... I think greatness in literature is Shakespeare ... whose work has survived irrespective of modern thought ... of words that strike the core of mankind and nature and which remain true no mater what the era. .... 

Or Mr. Samuel Clemens - more popularly known as our beloved "Mark Twain" .... whose words are as innocent and humorous today, as they were when written... 

Perhaps the one figure most associated with "Greatness" - is one that has the very adjective as part of his name .... "Alexander the Great!" Upon his birth, the oracles foretold - that he would once rule all the world - travel far - and wide - and achieve what no man ever had! 

[Image credit :- http://www.maa.org/devlin/GordianKnot.jpg ] 

The rest is history ..... they say  - He came - he saw - he conquered ... As I studied history, an incident that remained with me the most ... was when he reached Telmissus - and encountered - 'The Gordian Knot' - a prophecy stated - that the one to untie the knot - will rule all of Asia .. 

Since its conception, the Gordian knot had found no living being, capable of untying it. When after struggling hard - Alexander couldn't find a solution, he took out his sword and cut the knot in half! By standers exclaimed - "Hey - thats against the rules!" - to which Alexander - so regally replied  - "I am Alexander the Great - I make my own rules!!" - he did go on to rule Asia - thus fulfilling the prophecy ....  

A keen observer will note that - the deeds of these men - did survive long beyond their life times ... I think what makes great people great - is that - they don't fear dreaming big - like Alexander - they are not afraid of breaking rules - of doing what it takes to achieve their goals - and when called into action - they walk boldly forward and claim their Destiny!!  ... That is greatness! 

Although, nature might have intended - death - to be its cleaning agent - one that assured - new genes would survive - ensuring a stronger future.... and while man's battle against this very design might be ill advised - I am happy - that it at least produced such great men - whose deeds defined life - for ages to come .... 

It makes me wonder ....  in a thousand years from now .. if the human race survives - who will they know - to be 'Great' from our generation - or has the time for great deeds past us. Are we going to be a generation that did nothing more than watch "Youtube" - and gossiped online - or do we still have that germ of desire - that can drive us to great deeds - do we still have a lust for "Immortality" ???

What it must be - to be taught - by the great Aristotle himself - to have such a great destiny - to fulfill ??

What must it be - to live in the time of  Alexander - or in the time of Hector - the defender of Troy! - of Achilles - the son of Zeus himself!!! 

 - Sanket