The Secret of Success

This is undoubtedly a very important principle of success. But only those can follow this principle who take action after thinking of the consequences and not those who react impulsively. The Asset that Wins Affection Lord William Bentinck, British Governor General in India from 1828 to 1835, has the dubious distinction of being remembered as the man who ordered the destruction of the Taj Mahal in Agra—an order which, fortunately, he was never able to have carried out. This was revealed at the turn of the century by the then Viceroy, Lord Curzon. The East India Company had been going through hard times, Lord Curzon explained, and it was suggested to Lord Bentinck that a sale of the Taj would fetch Rs. 100,000—enough to extricate the company from its financial crisis. News of the Company's intentions circulated, and there was stiff opposition to such a move. This infuriated Lord Bentinck, who then went one step further and gave orders for the total destruction of the Taj. Opposition to the imperial command stepped up, with both Hindus and Muslims joining in one massive voice of protest. The danger that a full-scale rebellion would ensue if the Taj was destroyed prompted the Governor General's advisers to persuade Lord Bentinck to withdraw the order. It was not the people who saved the Taj Mahal. It was its own beauty which saved it. If the Taj Mahal had not been beautiful, it would not have won such overwhelming support; Hindus and Muslims would not have united behind it to foil the British government's designs. Had the constructors of the Taj Mahal been able to reproduce in themselves the beauty which they produced so perfectly in their work of construction,