The great leader of Pakistan, Begum Benazir Bhutto, is now no more. Her killing has been condemned by all sensible persons throughout the world and she has been assigned the status of a martyr post her death. I have been her admirer ever since I started understanding her but developed great regard for her after I saw an interview of hers on television, sometime in September 1999. At that time, I was in Bangalore staying in a hotel. When I switched on the television, this interview was going on and it immediately caught my attention. In that interview Begum Bhutto narrated several important events of her life, which were not only interesting but also gave deep insights into her personality.
While she was narrating all those events, she said that in all great lives trials and triumphs always go together. While people generally take note of the triumphs alone, the trial part remains unknown to most people. She cited her own example as to how she first suffered during her father’s time and then in her own family life. Amidst all these trials, she grew to a level of international status and led her country. How true her words were, was amply reflected in her end subsequently. Somehow, her phrase ‘trials and triumphs’ caught my attention and it still keeps coming back to me. Those who look for triumphs and more so for a higher cause, have to prepare themselves for trials also. It means that there is no short cut to success. The path is always a difficult one. One has to tread it with courage and patience.
