WHEN INTELLECTUALS LEAD

‘When intellectuals lead’ was a topic of a seminar in a prestigious college in Kerala in the last year. Intellectuals led the society in the past, are leading in the present and will lead in the future. The elephant in the room is what qualities these intellectuals have. The recent past easily tells us that the virtuous life of intellectuals cannot be taken for granted. Thus, I would rephrase the topic as when the virtuous intellectuals lead the society the society must follow. Violence is not an answer to the problems of the society. Anger is not a right emotion for a forward looking country. India, a developing nation requires an element of love for the other which in turn would help it to bring a process of healing in the individuals. It is not enough that individuals are able to forgive: it is also essential that communities too are willing and able to forgive to each other. If we dwell on past, past will devour us. Let the intellectuals lead with new ideas. Let our selection of intellectuals come from virtuous people who look to true growth of the society.