After the tragic stampede at a TVK event in Karur, which led to multiple deaths, Vijay and his party blamed the ruling DMK for mismanagement instead of pointing to TVK’s own organizational lapses.
Socratic Reflection in Political Leadership
After the tragic stampede at a TVK rally in Karur that claimed 41 lives, actor-politician Vijay and his party blamed the ruling DMK for poor arrangements and alleged conspiracy. DMK leaders, in turn, criticized Vijay for arriving late, failing to provide basic amenities, and leaving the venue immediately after the incident.
Socrates’ quote “An unexamined life is not worth living” applies here. Ethical leadership begins with reflection, not evasion.
“An unexamined life is not worth living” (2021 UPSC GS4 Question) implies that true leadership demands introspection.
Instead of immediately blaming external forces (DMK), a responsible leader must first examine:
- Was the venue appropriate for the crowd size?
- Were safety protocols followed?
- Did the delay in arrival contribute to unrest?
- Was there adequate crowd management?
Absence of Accountability: The Madras High Court noted that Vijay left the venue immediately after the tragedy and showed no remorse. Ethical leadership demands owning responsibility, especially in moments of crisis.
Failure of Compassion: Abandoning victims and failing to provide immediate support contradicts the moral duty of care expected from a public figure.
Blame-Shifting: Instead of introspection, Vijay and his party blamed the DMK. This violates the spirit of Thirukkural (Kural 190): “If each his own, as neighbours'' faults would scan, Could any evil hap to living man?”
— urging self-correction over fault-finding.
If Vijay had publicly reflected on these questions before assigning blame, it would have demonstrated ethical maturity and accountability. This introspection could have:
- Strengthened public trust.
- Shifted the narrative from political blame to collective responsibility.
- Set a precedent for ethical leadership in crisis.
Ethical Application of Thirukkural to Vijay’s Leadership
Thirukkural (190) —“If each his own, as neighbours'' faults would scan, Could any evil hap to living man?”
ஏதிலார் குற்றம்போல் தங்குற்றங் காண்கிற்பின்
தீதுண்டோ மன்னும் உயிர்க்கு. (190)
The Madras High Court strongly rebuked Vijay and his party, TVK, for their conduct during and after the Karur rally stampede that claimed 41 lives. The court condemned:
- Vijay’s disappearance from the scene.
- TVK leaders abandoning victims.
- Lack of remorse or accountability.
- Misleading rally timings and poor crowd management.
Kural Insight:
- The Kural urges self-accountability: Vijay, as the leader, should have first examined his own party’s lapses—delayed arrival, inadequate safety measures, and misinformation—before attributing blame to others.
- The absence of introspection, as noted by the court, reflects a failure in ethical leadership. The judge even remarked that the lack of remorse “shows the mental state of the leader”.
In moments of crisis, true leadership lies in accepting responsibility, learning from mistakes, and prioritizing public welfare. Had Vijay embodied the spirit of this Kural, the tragedy might have been met with compassion, reform, and healing—instead of confrontation and evasion.
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