Tolstoy, Carlyle and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

According to Leo Tolstoy, history shapes and determines leaders. In simple terms Tolstoy believed that a combination of several individual decisions, actions and coincidences impact the course of events where one particular man’s actions stand out. Providence allows a single individual to take charge and assume leadership. Contrary to Tolstoy’s theory Thomas Carlyle contended that leaders shape and determine history. In Carlyle’s views some great men endowed with extraordinary characteristics make decisions that determine the course of history. Tolstoy favors an overtly deterministic view of history but Carlyle upholds personal qualities of a few select men.

While India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is attempting to highlight himself as history’s slave, his countrymen are clamouring for him to dawn Carlyle’s great man mantle. Prime Minister Singh’s interaction with editors of electronic media on February 16, 2011 emphasized this disconnect. It was hoped that the prime minister would come up with a well defined plan of action to tackle corruption in his government and resolutely address concerns over rising inflation. The prime minister however, chose to express his helplessness without making any specific commitments. Click to continue…