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
#ValueBasedLeadership
#EngineeringHeartBeats #EngineeringDreamsInspiringSouls #PowerPoliticsInfluence
