Mythology of Democracy & Development

Devdutt Pattanaik

2Myth

= Subjective Truth = Assumption = Belief

• Religious• Secular• Tribal• National • International • Personal• Organizational• Brand

• What the world is?• What the world should be?• Who am I?• Who I should be?

3Mythology

= Stories, Symbols, Rituals transmitting Myth

4Traditional Dominant Themes

Hero VillainVictimChaos

GodLeaderFollowerHeaven Sage

NymphHouseholderRebirth

YinYangHarmony

‘Problem to Solution’ Myth 5

PRESCRIPTIVE

‘Cause & Consequence’ Myth 6

REFLECTIVE

7Modern Myth = Western Myth

• Nation• Development• Democracy• Fairness• Justice• Rights• Rationality• Secularism• Freedom

Big guy & Little guy

Have to cross the narrow bridge

Who first?

? ??

Big Guy kicks Little Guy aside

Revolution

Industrial Revolution

Little Guy gets Big Car

Situation Reversed

Have & Have Not

Revolution

Democracy

Movement by Consensus

What should matter?

Merit

Economic statusGender

Social Rank

Legacy

PopulationOrigin

Rationalized Stalemate

Development needed

Cars for both

Stalemate Continues

Solution: Build two bridges

Tree Protests

Revolution

All because no one gave first right of passage

? ??

We forget humans are 99% animals 29

Leadership_JSA

30We want to dominate

We want to be Powerful

We refuse to be domesticated

We hate being leashed

Baxi

33

I use my talent to dominate

I use my wealth to dominate

Churn to create Wealth…

… has become a Tug-of-war

Can we outgrow the animal?

39But Winning Feels so Good

PWC

40So the gods watch and smile

….while we reflect

PWC

For More Information 41

website: devdutt.comdevdutt@devdutt.comtwitter: devduttmyth

Shortlya course

in ISB