The Giant Wheel of Power, Politics, and Influence

 The Giant Wheel of Power, Politics, and Influence

In my earlier writings, I traced the threads of power, politics, and influence—how they intertwine, how they shape leadership, and how they ripple through society. Today, I return to that tapestry with a new image: The Giant Wheel.

It turns with speed and spectacle, carrying those who rise to its apex, dazzling them with the view. Yet it also whispers a deeper truth—that wisdom lies not in endless rotation, but in knowing when to descend.

Power and Leadership:

Power is the force that brings change in any organization. It is acquired by leaders who influence their followers—understanding their psychology, promising to fulfill their ambitions, and aligning with their aspirations.

Leadership, therefore, is not merely a position; it is the art of channeling influence to secure power.

The Giant Wheel:

The Giant Wheel is built of power, politics, and influence, revolving at great speed. Those who secure high positions sit in this wheel. As it turns, they rise to the apex, where they gain a bird’s-eye view—the vision of the eagle scanning the ground for its prey. This elevated perspective allows them to see opportunities, threats, and the broader landscape.

Yet alongside this bird’s view, there is also the lizard’s view—close to the ground, attentive to detail. Both perspectives are essential. True leadership does not choose “either-or”; it embraces “both-and.” Desire, integrity, and wisdom flourish when both views are combined. 

The Fair Below:

From the Giant Wheel, the powerful look down upon the fair below. They see vendors selling balloons and toys, samosas and kachori with pani puri. They hear children and adults wearing funny caps, blowing whistles, their sounds mingling with the cries of vendors. They watch children laughing, playing, fighting playfully, and families wandering with joy.

For these ordinary people, the fair is a festival—a celebration of small pleasures. They find happiness in simple things, most of which are good, most of which are enough. Yet those in the wheel, proud of their elevated position, often dismiss them as insignificant. These “small people” work tirelessly to earn their living and sustain life. They are told to dream of the Giant Wheel, hoping one day they will ride it. And so, they work harder still.

Power as Display:

The Giant Wheel is not merely entertainment. Consider the London Eye, one of the largest wheels in the world. It is not only a marvel of engineering but also a symbol of power and display. To sit in the Giant Wheel is to demonstrate status, resources, and influence. Ordinary people, lacking money or access, cannot buy the ticket to ride. They remain below, watching the wheel turn, watching others rise.

Still, they find ways to connect with power. Some take photographs, selfies, or reels with those seated in the wheel. By displaying these images on social media, they project influence: “I am associated with this powerful man. I am connected. Do not trouble me.” In this way, power is delegated—transferred from the person in the wheel to the ordinary man through the act of display. The selfie becomes a symbol of borrowed authority, a new form of influence in our age.

Who Truly Benefits?:

Yet who truly benefits from this display? Not the man who posts the selfie, nor the viewers who admire it. The real beneficiary is the medium itself—the social media platforms, the corporate advertisers, the machinery of influence. Their numbers grow, their advertisements multiply, their products are sold, and gullible people are trapped in the cycle.

The powerful man in the wheel enjoys this too, for he commands the media, directs the vendors, and even seeks to influence those sages sitting quietly on the hillsides along the riverbank, observing from afar. Promises are made: Build monuments on the hills. Arrange great events. We will help you. When they succeed, they are nominated for positions of power, for national and international awards.

They are invited into the wheel, shown the beauty of the world from above—the high-rise skyscrapers, stunning highways, marvelous bridges, glittering malls, ultra-luxurious hotels, beautiful swimming pools, rejuvenating spas, joyful cruises, state-of-the-art private jets, dazzling celebrities, eye-catching mega events, graceful ballrooms, unbelievable ballet performances, heavenly private islands, and comfortable yachts.

The Trap of Endless Rotation:

Technology has made this wheel faster, larger, and more dazzling. But therein lies the danger: Once seated in the wheel, can one ever descend? The speed is too great, the momentum too strong. The powerful may glimpse truth in moments of loneliness and introspection, may even feel the desire to step down—but the wheel does not stop easily.

True wisdom lies in realising that the wheel can be halted. The operator can be commanded: ‘Stop. I wish to get down.’

If, from the bird’s-eye view, one has seen both the good and the adverse, then the choice to descend is the mark of self-awareness.

The Soul and Selflessness:

Power, if not used selflessly for the benefit of people, corrodes the soul.

The Giant Wheel dazzles, but it also traps. If you are seated in it, and in a moment you glimpse truth, you may step down. Step down to serve. To serve with gratitude.

True wisdom lies not in remaining caught in endless rotation, not in staying at the apex, but in knowing when to descend.

Closing Reflection:

The wheel will always turn. The fair will always bustle below. Mega events will be celebrated. The media will always magnify the display. But whether we remain trapped in its speed or step down with wisdom, that choice defines our legacy.

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Pune on Jan 31, 2026

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