When I saw the headlines in the papers today “Sonia won’t be PM”, I thought, here we go again people who supposedly promote democracy but yet are not prepared to accept the result. I know there are many who just don’t want her to be PM for whatever reasons. But I was pleasantly surprised to read further that it was she who humbly decline the post.

Now, here is what I mean, it takes more than a man……. to decline the highest elected office of the world’s largest democracy, India – it takes a woman ! History has shown again and again, men of greatness who were prepared to accept the losses in order that humanity can continue to move forward. Mahatma Gandhi had almost nothing when he died. And only not so long ago, Nelson Mandela who was able to accept the loss of his 27 years of his life in prison. He never come out and go for vengeance. Instead he gets everybody to let go of the past and works towards the future. There is the mark of a great man.

Have you ever wondered what the world would have been, where the terrorists would be, if President George Bush had decided not to retaliate with physical force after September 11 ? But alas, a superpower cannot be some one else bashing bag.

The problem is the world is all caught in a winner’s syndrome. We must always win. We cannot lose. “Winners” are held in high esteem whereas losers are being shunned. But wait a minute, if everybody wants to win, who is going to lose ?

In order that we can have a world where everybody wins, we need to understand that a loss may not be a loss, it may be a gain. A gain may not be a gain, it may be a loss.

I’m glad that Sonia has seen it. We are going to see another great Gandhi rising in India. Her non-acceptance of the premiership will augur very well for the future of India and will leave all her foes dumb founded.

And I shall go so far as to predict that either her son Rahul or daughter Priyanka shall be the future PM of India !

Yes, it takes more than a man to accept losses. But through understanding losses and defeats, one opens the door to greatness.

May The Wisdom Be With You.

Your fellow traveler in time.

Billi Lim
Author of No. 1 Best-seller “Dare To Fail”