Free dependence

Gandhari and Sugriva are two characters in the scriptures, who were very devoted to dharma, but at some point of time they kind of became angry with Krsna and Rama respectively.

Gandhari was angry with Krishna because of the intense suffering caused by the death of her children, even though in one sense she was equally responsible for her children’s fate.

Sugriva was floating in  an ocean of gratification after long forced austerity, like a fasting man becomes overwhelmed by variety of food. He forgot his commitment to Rama, and became angry with Laxmana who came to remind him of his promise to Lord Rama.

Wherever the king or  administrator creates too much luxury or too much suffering then people will be self absorbed and forget to become independent thinkers.

Unfortunately, the modern world provides two extremes, too much misery or too much pleasure, both of which  make people forget and dull their intellectual ability.  

This is in turn is exploited by shrewd politicians who continue to keep people swinging with this pendulum. But if care and concern is there, then the pain becomes bearable without losing one’s power of discrimination.  Therefore Dharma has to be the foundation of our Artha (gain) and kama (gratification), so that we can experience Moksa (continued freedom).
We need leaders who can free their followers from the leaders themselves,not culturally but intellectually; making them interdependent instead of over-dependant.