Jewel in the Crown - The Lion Capital of Ashoka

Paul Scott's Raj Quartet (1966-76) includes some fine pieces of conversation that apply not only to India in the 1940s but any country anywhere at any time.  

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The Day of the Scorpion (page 176): 

Sarah Layton: "... curiosity on the self-evident."

Ahmed Kasim: "... In India, nothing is self-evident."

Merrick: "... I'd say things that are self-evident are common to all countries."

Merrick is the simple petty bureaucrat that is still alive and well to whom everything is simple, the petty brain of the bigot. 

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Count Bronowsky:

"He does not see where he fits in. ... self contained, wondering where you belong or to what. ..."

"We are looking for a country but it is here... Why should we not stop squabbling about it and start living in it. What does it really matter who runs it, Hindu or Muslim or whose face is dark or white."  

There is considerable wisdom in these sentences and it can apply not only to who should govern a country but to an individual's own life. Rather than looking for the grass that is "greener' on the other side we should get on with what we have and make most of that and not be so bothered about the exact shade of green. There remain however many other shades of life.

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Young Ahmed Kasim to his politician father: 

"I do not understand all these ins and outs. Whatever happens, people will die of starvation or kill one another if they don't. It all means nothing to me, parties and such like." 

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Merrick: 

"Are you one of those people who thinks that if you teach an Indian the rules of cricket he will become an English gentleman."

Perron: 

"Hardly, sir, I know quite a few Englishmen who play cricket brilliantly and they are absolute complete shits."

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The Lion Capital of Ashoka, which has been the state symbol of India since 1947 has been interpreted as symbolising 'The Middle Path' which in Buddhism is the spiritual practice that steers clear of extremes. Aside from Buddhism, this can simply be seen as desirable sensible human moderation in life. 

People in different parts of the world over time have seen the benefits of the middle way of moderation - common sense. Yet many people also succumb into extremes. The challenge remains.