RIPPING FAULTLINES

Admiral Sergei Gorshkov was appointed at the helm of the Soviet Navy in 1956 at age 45 and went on to command it till 1985. This duration of 29 years saw the Soviet Union’s expansion into a global sea power. Gorshkov’s 29 years as the Soviet Navy’s Chief demonstrated that he was not only a survivor and but also an extremely patient man. His tenure saw through five Soviet leaders in the post-Stalin period. This speaks volumes about his ability to play his political cards right with the Kremlin. He also survived a defense structure dominated by WWII-era party officials fixated on land power and Red Army marshals who were contemptuous and ignorant of naval matters in equal measure. Thus, Gorshkov clearly understood the limits of inter-service rivalry and intellectual rigor within the Soviet system.

Gorshkov penned forth his vision of sea power, Russia’s maritime heritage and destiny, and the naval component called    Operational Art. Gorshkov’s writings led to vigorous debates amongst Soviet naval experts in the West and established a strategic discourse for the superpower naval rivalry that, in hindsight, was truly remarkable. He was, if we may conclude, successful in bridging various fault lines which emerged as he led the Soviet Navy through the tumultuous 29 years wherein the Cold War ran at its peak.

This analogy leads us to an interesting debate which emerges on the fault lines which have been ripping the world apart in various human arenas. Each and every field of human life is seeing ripping fault lines cracking up the domains within no time. Each new fault line shifts the strategy to new corners and seams of the arenas are always getting torn apart. Can we name even a single arena where the issues are closed and chaos does not prevail?

These are interesting times. Humans have developed interesting traits. There are hardly any followers now. Each human is a leader in his or her own right. In majority of the cases, even if they follow a leader, it is for certain gains and if there are any pains then the followers simply vanish. The shift of focus is fast, furious and premature exits are the norms of the society. The challenge build up each day and not on each day the human are willing to take the challenge head on. The energy levels of each human are different and so are the capabilities. Getting a bunch to think alike for the progress of the society hardly finds any takers!!

The deep penetration of social media should have been a boon for the humans. Even in this arena, the fault lines have ripped apart the thought processes. The smallest of the issue has multiple confused solutions which eventually do not lead humans anywhere near the peace, prosperity and joy that humans always strive for. Agitations, threats, insinuations, sedition are the buzzwords of these times. Stability has been lost in a myriad of desires and broken dreams. Cracks and fissures are competing with each other at a maddening pace.    

What do humans actually need? This definition seems to have blurred approaches and therefore is the natural cause for ripping fault lines. Every human wants to breathe, but it seems that they only want to breathe for themselves. There is no space left for others to join and to gain happiness. The only bright spark is that all is not lost yet. There is scope of getting around and getting better. Maybe, many of us need to calm ourselves down and take a strong look at the future. A fractured World will be of no use to man or mankind. Calm and peaceful humanity would bring about the best results to soothe the pains. It seems to be easier said than done, but, it is not difficult to achieve either.

Each one of us in our own arena needs to calm down the nerves of our associates and to guide them to plug their own fault lines. A little help at the correct time can prevent the small issues to escalate into a full-fledged fault line. Probably, this is exactly what Admiral Gorshkov achieved many a times in his 29 year long stint as the Soviet Navy’s Chief. It must not have been easy for him to have lived through five political leaders and to put the Soviet Navy on the path of growth. With each change at the helm, Admiral Gorshkov would have meshed his plans, plugged the gaps and ensured that no fault lines are created.

Calm heads and clear visionaries are the need of the hour in any Organization. Only those organizations, where a clear path is shown and smooth movement of people is ensured will grow in the fault line strewn world. These professionals would be able to bridge the gaps and ensure that they do not topple. Each one would have to carry many individuals with them to spread the message farther and farther. The ripping fault lines are moving at a hectic pace and time is absolutely right to plug them up. The results of plugging the fault lines will bring in the much human desired and long lasting peace, prosperity and happiness.  

So, if you need to live a smooth life, get up and hold some one’s hand to stop him or her from creating yet another fault line to rip the World apart. Do you have it in you, eh?