A Season Of Sycophants; Beware of Them

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

28 March 2024

Sardi Ho, Garmi Ho, Sookha Pade, Barsaat Ho Ya Ho Kadi Dhoop

Chamche Woh Keede Hain Jo Har Mausam Mein Rahte Hain Zinda

Latif Banarasi

(Whether it's winter, summer, drought, rains or scalding heat/ Sycophants are the insects who survive in all seasons)

Now when the General elections are on the anvil, sycophants, like the frogs in monsoon, are croaking and extolling their leaders and masters 24X7. They have elevated our 'dynamic' PM to the level of god/s and a world leader!

Though outright cringeworthy, sycophants with their sycophancy have existed in all ages and eras. "Sycophancy is embedded in human nature. But only the inferior of us indulge in it for some kind of footing," observed Edmund Burke.

While preparing the first formal dictionary of English language, the great lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson was so baffled by the deluge of words for this particular human trait that it's said, he deliberately omitted a number of synonyms for sycophancy. 'Chatukarita', 'Chamchagiri'  are a few words used in Hindi and other Indian languages.

The point is: Who're the sycophants and who encourages them? Burke opined that sycophants are inferior people, who're always on the lookout for some sort of footing for survival. And those who encourage them and love to be hemmed in by a battery of toadies are the people who're forever in need of getting their over bloated ego caressed.

Though sycophants are everywhere and in all walks of life, you'll mostly find them in politics and showbiz, because politicians as well as almost all stars in the showbiz just cannot survive if they don't get the constant 'service' of their 'loyal' flatterers. Sycophants are very intelligent people. They trade upon a universal human weakness: desire to be praised. There has never been a single human being in the entire history of mankind, who hasn't felt good after getting admired. You praise a person and have your work done. There's a beautiful Hindi term for it, 'Thakursuhati ' (Do what the master likes).

Eulogy, whether sincere or insincere, never fails to hit the nail on the head. In fact, all lovers are no less than 'seasoned' sycophants. During courtship, all men lie without any prick of conscience and a sense of compunction. "Men to lie and women to believe,'' aptly observed the legendary poet-playboy Lord Byron.

But the worst and cringing type of sycophancy is seen in the corridors of power where sycophants thrive, thanks to their political masters' willingness. But the politicians and stars don't understand that the sycophants are like rats that disappear the moment the ship starts sinking.

Where have Rajesh Khanna's apple-polishers gone? There was a time when the superstar was so intoxicated by his dizzying success that some of his sycophants would listen to the story of a film as the star found story-narration sessions to be infra-dig!

Sycophants can bring an empire down. Kautilya warned all kings of sycophants and their subtle designs. He even categorised them. Sycophants prosper by ingratiating with their masters and live like parasites. "Only a person who has absolutely no self-respect can survive on full-time sycophancy," observed Lt. General T B Henderson Brooks and Brigadier (later Lt. General) Premindra Singh Bhagat while vivisecting the 1962 debacle, when the Chinese vanquished Indian Army.

Though their report was never published, it's clear that Nehru was never apprised of the real situation as he was surrounded by those who would curry favour and continuously misguide him.

Seneca had to die because he dared to advise emperor Nero to keep the flatterers away. " They blinker your vision and tinker with your reason," said Alexander Pope about sycophants. Beware of them.

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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.

 

URL:     https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/season-sycophants-beware/d/132019

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