WHO COMES FIRST: THE KING OR THE KINGDOM?
– Vaibhav Johari –
(Writer, Jeweller & Social Activists)
Jaipur. Before we talk about kings and kingdoms, let us first look at the bigger picture. What should truly be controlled, and what should not?
If a person buys a piece of land, does that mean he owns the Earth? Of course not. Then what exactly is this “protocol” that allows the lives of ordinary people to be disrupted?
Why should people who are simply walking on the streets, driving to work, or travelling with their families be forced to stop, panic, or change their path just because someone important is passing by?
There have been countless situations where these so-called protocols have almost caused serious accidents. Sometimes they actually do. I myself once faced a situation where my entire family could have died because of the sudden chaos created on the road in the name of protocol.
Any rule or system that is created with the intention of protecting human life and ensuring safety is good and necessary. But when a system starts disturbing the very people it is supposed to serve, then it loses its purpose.
Attempting to harm someone is a crime. Creating fear and panic among the public reflects the same mentality.
Just because someone holds power, owns land, carries a title, a surname, or a position does not give them the liberty to trouble the very people who elected them. It does not make anyone the king of the world.
And even if someone considers himself a king, basic decency should come first. After all, those in power usually have more education, more resources, and more opportunities than the people they govern.
History teaches us a simple truth: even the greatest empires have fallen. Nothing lasts forever. If someone believes that hooters, blocked roads, and intimidating convoys prove power, then that is not real leadership. That is simply ruling over fear.
A true king would sacrifice his own comfort for the safety of his people.
A real leader keeps the kingdom above himself — and today, our kingdom is much bigger than a throne. It is our Earth, our nature, our air, our water, and humanity itself.
And if the real intention is to reduce crime and improve society, then focus on the problems that truly harm people. Ban the manufacturing of products like tobacco and liquor that destroy health and often fuel social problems, even though they generate tax revenue.
Because a system that profits from things that slowly kill its people cannot truly call itself responsible.
If someone truly wants to act like a VVVVVVIP, then take bold steps that genuinely protect society and improve people’s lives — instead of using protocols and hooters merely to visit temples.
True greatness is not shown by the power to stop traffic. It is shown by the courage to serve humanity.
