101. Deteriorated Standards of Rulers over the Years!!!!!!!!!!

In ancient times the Rashtra or the State was administrated by an eminent personality elected from a restricted class of Kshatriya or Royals. He was often referred to as “Gopa” (protector of Cows) and “Samrat” (Supreme Ruler). He governed the people with their consent and approval. He had Sabha and Samiti which were a group of council to assist him in governance. Samrat’s main duty was to protect the people and their cattle. He was aided by two functionaries, the Raja Purohitas a learned person who were masters in four arts of Mantras (all rituals), Economics, Politics and Warfare and the Senani the Army Chief. The former not only gave advice to the ruler but also practiced magic charms for success in war. Samrat often got a ceremonial gift called Bali, from the people which he had to redistribute it to his people. The main intention of the Samrat along with protecting his people was to uphold Dharma, the righteousness. He would go to any extreme point for the cause of Dharma. There are many instances of Kings taking unimaginable decision to protect Dharma. Chakravarthi Shibi, son of Usinara a famous king of Chandravamsa who ruled over Ushinara was renowned for his kindness and unselfishness. Once a pigeon chased by the hawk fell on King Shibi's lap seeking his protection. The hawk argued that the pigeon is its food. Shibi offered to compensate with his own flesh. Raja Harishchandra, the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty was very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life and was renowned for his piety and justice. With his vow to remain truthful at all times, Harischandra successfully faced the rigorous challenge posed by Vishwamitra. Though a king, he sacrificed everything including his kingdom and even his wife. This moving story affected one of the great men of the 19th-20th century, Mahatma Gandhi who was deeply influenced by the virtues of telling the truth when he watched the play of Harishchandra in his childhood. Raja Yudhishtira, The eldest of the Pandava brothers, the heroes of the great epic, the Mahabharatha. Yudhishtira lived for justice, and patiently suffered humiliation and exile just to uphold Dharma. Rani Jhansi Lakshmi Bai, great heroine of the First War of Indian Freedom. She lived for only twenty-two years. Jhansi was in grip of Greedy British. She was a queen of small state but the empress of limitless empire of glory. Rani Keladi Chennamma ruled over a small state, Keladi for twentyfive years (1671-1696). But proved she was great heroic queen. She protected the kingdom when her husband failed his duty. And she faced the wrath of the mighty Aurangazeb, and gave shelter to Rajaram, Shivaji's son. Chhatrapati Shivaji escaped from the prison of the Mughal Emperor, to become the ruler of a kingdom devoted to Dharma and service of the people. He was one of the wisest rulers as he was one of the greatest generals. With monarchy gone we have the honour of electing our leaders. There was a saying “Yatha Raja Thata Praja” which meant the people were as the king is that is if the king is good his subjects were good and vice versa. As we are now electing our leaders it is now “Yatha Praja Thata Raja” we are electing our leaders as we are. Unfortunately in democracy a person who has not approved a party or its leader should also bear his governance as he has decision not got majority. In yesteryears we had leaders like Kamaraj Nadar, Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, Lal Bahadur Srivastava Shastri, whose ambition was to serve people. But today we find it is not democracy but just a mob rule. Real democracy is the one when every individual is protected by state for keeping his views and acting against what he feels is not good to his society. Here we have got nepotism and caste politics. There is no Dharma. The leaders have forgotten that they are elected to serve the people and they have taken politics as a profession and are selling their souls.