My heroes: History

                      Universal disdain for history amongst students is quite understandable because it is taught to us as a mere subject which needs to be mugged up. One is tested on ones memory and not taught how to appreciate events which have shaped the world the way it is today or what lessons could we learn from such events. Historical characters are either loved or vilified depending on who is writing and there is no scope of having a different view on the matter. I might hate Gandhi from the core of my heart but I'd be damned for writing so and moreover I have to address the imposter as a Mahatma. Why? My heroes are Alexander and Hitler.

                        Alexander was tutored by Aristotle himself (imagine that) who told him that the world ended just beyond the Caucasian mountains. Alexander not only challenged that but went on to rule half the known world at that time and all before he turned 33 by which time he was dead. Had it not been for his tired and weak army he would have conquered India and world history would have been a little different than what it is now. But more than anything it was the power of his belief and self confidence. He believed that he was the son of Zeus himself and that he was a descendant of Achilles the great Greek hero. He wanted to see for himself where the end of the world lay and if Aristotle was right. In the process he captured half the world and laid the foundation of a uniform administration from Macedonia to the banks of the Jhelum. His military genius was evident from his battle strategy against the Persian king Darius. His other legendary military exploits are well documented and gives credence to his title Alexander the Great. But what is most striking is the fact that he did what he did, conquered what he conquered before his 33rd birthday. Now think of any 33year old man of our age and you will know why he is still remembered today and why he is called The Great.

                         There is no man in modern history who is more hated than Adolf Hitler and rightfully so for the sins he has committed against a particular religious order and humanity in general. However there is no denying his abilities as a leader of the mass. No other individual in history has been so successful in raising nationalistic sentiments and pride. Under him the Germans rose like a nation to be reckoned with and challenged the supremacy of the other west. Yes he killed a million, but so had Gengiz Khan and Alexander whom today we call greats. I believe that if Hitler was born perhaps a few centuries ago he too would be held as a hero and not the villain that he is today. Concepts of right and wrong is highly elastic and certainly changes with time. Genocide was an accepted strategy for kingdom expansion right from the times of Arthur's round table. The Americans continue to monger war and kill innocents even to this day. Great Britain committed unimaginable atrocities on the local population of the nations it ruled and colonised including India. Then why should Hitler's strategy of final solution be viewed any differently. The Germans under Hitler made more progress technologically and scientifically and otherwise than ever. They were way ahead of their rivals in the US and UK. Hitler's only mistake was that he challenged the supremacy of the UK and US. One cannot also forget that his was a meteoric rise from rags to world domination. His generals except a handful were not worthy or competent enough to help him realise his dreams. One cannot blame him for his downfall. In the end when we judge him he will be seen as evil almost like the anti Christ himself but there is no denying his vision,his ability to manipulate and raise resources and simply get a crestfallen nation to rise like the eagle. Is there any politician today who could do that?