Since time immemorial there have been umpteen number of researches to identify what actually drives humans towards action, towards achieving something extraordinary and unprecedented. Beyond some physiological and social needs, there is something that drives us to some great actions.
When Shree Krishna asks arjuna to not give up his ‘gandiv’ and fight for dharma, we couldn’t understand what actually inspired arjuna; when a teacher in ancient India comes up with his disciple Chandragupta as the emperor of undivided India, we did not know what drove him towards such actions to take down some great kingdoms; when Maharana pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji could inspire warriors with no military backgrounds into war, we can’t comprehend how they achieved this uphill task and intimidated mighty mughals.
Well, there seems to be one common thread connecting all of these that can be found at every instance where something great and historic has been done and achieved.
An ‘Idea’ possesses the greatest strength; strength to start something new, strength to take initiative, strength to act, and also the strength to inspire others toward action. Like ‘dharma’ was an idea in lord Krishna’s mind and it was so powerful that Arjuna couldn’t refuse to act even when the compassion and love in his heart cripled his hands.
In the middle ages, ‘swarajya’ or ‘patriotism’ was the idea possessed by Maharana and Chhatrapati that inspired thousands against cruel and powerful invaders. In today’s world where money and power are arguably the biggest motivators for mankind, ideas hold the pole position to inspire great action, and because of these ideas that we are able to witness some astonishing sophistications in technology which are created and worked upon by common people who got motivated and inspired toward action by some great and noble idea.