Authority is responsibility; absolute
authority is absolute responsibility. Authority of all kinds is responsibility.
Dictatorship is absolute responsibility.
Authority has two aspects – power and
responsibility.
Power without responsibility is corrupt.
It is detestable and retaliatory. Bloody revolutions have happened due to the
exercise of power without responsibility. Responsibility makes power
appreciable.
A man of authority has responsibilities
towards the living and non living things under his authority.
He has responsibility to feed, cloth,
protect etc.
I have read somewhere that the origin of
authority has a link with hunters. In ancient time, men’s enemies were not
other men, but animals. Animals from surrounding forest of their village used
to crawl into their farms and residential areas, creating havoc. Agricultural
loss was doom for them. Nights were dreamless due to the fear of wild animals.
A system of gathering together at the attack of animals to defend themselves,
gradually originated. This system created a leader or group or leaders. Group
of leaders should have a leader. The leader gradually acquired authority over
the group of leaders and down to the people. The leader shouldered the
responsibility to protect the village, people and farm from wild animals. His
is authority was approved by the rest of people, because if gave them a sense
of security. The leader later changed his strategy of defending the attack of
wild animals to offending them by penetrating into the surrounding areas of
forest. This leader may be considered as a prototype of Kings.
I am not sure whether this theory is
acceptable. But a truth underlies in
this theory. Authority is responsibility.
A king has authority over the country –
the land, people, animals and natural resources. This authority is pieced together
with responsibility to manage, protect and augment all that is under authority.
Parents have responsibility to earn
bread, manage finance, care for future, protect etc.
A teacher has responsibility to teach,
reform and produce tomorrow’s citizens.
The head of a business or industry has
responsibility to care for his employees, manage resources, plan for future
etc.
King, parents, teachers, heads of
business and industry – all have authority. If they do not accept
responsibility along with authority, they cannot achieve success. True success
is a tranquil experience. Exercising authority without responsibility will not
produce serenity.
Authority is respected only when it
carry responsibility.
Authority without responsibility is beastly.
Authority is not demanding, but
sacrificial.
Authority is not taking, but giving.
Authority is the responsibility to take
right decisions at right time.
Authority is taking responsibility for
failure and success….
Further readings:
Professor Jacob Abraham
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