In every sort of politics, in history, it has its own problems

The words of Sonia Gandhi, “In every sort of politics, in history, it has its own problems, its leaders, its own opposition,” are a sober reminder of the eternal pattern woven through the ages. Wherever there is politics, there are struggles; wherever there are leaders, there are challengers; wherever power gathers, resistance is born. This is not a flaw in human affairs, but the natural rhythm of governance, the clash and balance through which nations rise and fall.

The ancients themselves spoke of this cycle. In Athens, democracy birthed brilliant leaders like Pericles, yet always there was opposition, sometimes noble, sometimes petty. In Rome, the Republic flourished through debate, yet it was that very contention of voices that both strengthened and eventually tore it apart. Thus Gandhi’s words echo the ancient truth: problems and strife are not accidents in politics, but its very lifeblood, ensuring that power is never left unchallenged.

History reveals this rhythm clearly. Consider the birth of Indian independence. There were towering leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, yet also fierce opposition—from colonial rulers, from within their own ranks, and from the daunting problems of poverty, division, and rebuilding a nation. This opposition did not erase their cause; it tested it, refined it, and ultimately shaped the destiny of a people.

Gandhi’s words remind us that no system is free from strife. Problems will always arise, for human hearts differ in vision and desire. Leaders will rise, but so too will voices that resist them, whether in anger, in hope, or in the defense of justice. This tension is the crucible in which history is forged. Without opposition, power decays into tyranny; without leaders, opposition dissolves into chaos. Both are necessary, both eternal.

Let the future generations understand: to despair at problems in politics is to misunderstand its nature. The presence of opposition is not always a curse, but a sign of life, a safeguard against stagnation. The wise do not seek to abolish conflict, but to guide it, to turn the clash of forces into the dance of progress. For as long as men gather in councils, there will be leaders and those who rise against them, and through their struggle the world moves forward.