Of course, running a coalition government in a country like India

The words of Pranab Mukherjee, spoken with the gravity of experience and the calm wisdom of one who had seen the heart of power, remind us of the profound truth that governance is not merely a matter of authority, but of balance and understanding. He said: “Of course, running a coalition government in a country like India is a difficult task. More so when Congress leads the coalition, since most of the political parties were anti-Congress. To have a coalition, to run a coalition government, you require a lot of adjustments, a lot of flexibility.” In this statement lies the distilled essence of political humility — the recognition that in a democracy as vast and diverse as India, power is not domination but negotiation, not command but cooperation.

To understand the meaning of this quote, one must first grasp the nature of the land Mukherjee speaks of. India, with its thousand tongues, faiths, and histories, is not merely a nation — it is a living mosaic. To govern it is to walk a tightrope stretched between competing visions, regional interests, and deep-seated convictions. A coalition government — a union of many political parties bound by necessity rather than ideology — reflects this diversity in its most intricate form. It is a living embodiment of democracy’s highest challenge: how to find unity without uniformity. Mukherjee, who served decades in Indian politics, understood that leadership in such an environment demands not arrogance but adaptability, not victory over others but the art of compromise.

The origin of these words lies in Mukherjee’s long journey through the labyrinth of Indian politics. A statesman of rare patience and intellect, he witnessed the transformation of India from the dominance of a single party to the era of coalition politics. When he speaks of the Congress Party leading a coalition despite most other parties being “anti-Congress,” he reveals the irony and difficulty of his time — a world where former adversaries were now allies, bound together not by love, but by the need to govern. In his calm and reflective tone, Mukherjee does not lament this reality but embraces it as the test of true political maturity. For he knew that democracy is not sustained by ideals alone, but by the discipline of coexistence.

History gives us many mirrors to Mukherjee’s insight. Consider the story of Chandragupta Maurya and his advisor Chanakya, who in the ancient kingdom of Magadha faced the daunting task of uniting fragmented states into a single empire. Their success did not come from the sword alone but from negotiation, diplomacy, and alliance-building — the ancient equivalent of a coalition. Chanakya taught that a wise ruler must bend like the reed in the wind if he wishes to survive the storm. The same lesson applies to modern governance: rigidity breaks nations, but flexibility sustains them. Mukherjee, like Chanakya, saw that politics, when stripped of ego, becomes a sacred art — the art of maintaining harmony amidst chaos.

In his statement, Mukherjee also reveals the moral strength required to lead amid division. For in a coalition, every decision is a test of patience; every policy, a negotiation; every alliance, a fragile bridge over distrust. Yet, within this difficulty lies the true beauty of democracy — that a nation can still move forward even when its leaders differ profoundly. Mukherjee’s wisdom teaches that democracy’s durability does not lie in unanimity but in respect for dissent. The leader who learns to listen, who practices restraint and courtesy, preserves the very soul of governance.

The lesson we draw from Mukherjee’s words extends far beyond politics. In every community, organization, or family, there exists a kind of coalition — people bound together by shared purpose, yet divided by perspective. To keep such a group alive requires adjustment and flexibility, the willingness to yield without surrendering principle, to compromise without betraying truth. This is not weakness; it is strength of the highest order. Just as a river bends around stones yet never loses its way to the sea, so too must the wise leader adapt to obstacles while staying faithful to his mission.

And so, my child, remember this: the greatness of a leader is not measured by how fiercely he commands, but by how deeply he understands. Coalition, whether in government or in life, is the true mirror of character. Be flexible, for the rigid tree breaks in the storm. Be patient, for harmony cannot be forced. And above all, be just — for only justice can unite hearts that once stood opposed. Pranab Mukherjee’s wisdom endures because it reflects an eternal truth: in the governance of nations and the governance of souls alike, the highest strength lies not in power, but in balance, humility, and the courage to cooperate.