Power lies in the Network

Hanna Ardent distinguished between Power, violence, strength and other connotation of power like force. She says strength is individualistic. Force has some element of violence. But power lies in the network. Power comes when a group of people comes together for a common cause. And power disperses the very moment you recede back in your personal sphere.

I saw a message on whatsApp. A person goes to fruit vendor to buy some grapes. He asked the price of grapes bundle. The vendor replied 80 rs/kg. In the side of the bundle, some unbundled grape pieces were lying. They were same. They got plucked or got separated while handling the bundle. Out of curiosity, the person asked about prices of individual pieces. The vendor replied 30rs/kg. The person was left amused. He received a lesson in the power of the network.

Yesterday one of my colleague was managing some file. Out of curiosity, I asked him about what is he doing. He asked me to come and see. I got up from my seat and went to his place. He was inserting some visiting cards in a big file. I flipped through the file which was essentially a visiting cards catalogue. It had nearly 10000 visiting cards, well catalogues and of people who holds a responsible position in various positions in the government or private sector. No surprise, the file belonged to my manager. He has meticulously managed all the visiting cards he has received over the years in a catalogues file. It took me not less than one second to understand the power of network and importance of connecting with people around.

Sadly, today power is confused with influence or ability to distort rules and do vices. However, in a true sense, power is the most sacrosanct word of the dictionary that characterizes the social capital and convey the ability of humankind to do the impossible.
Hail Power. :)