The Method of Change – by an Aspirant

[The following anonymous note is written by an inmate of the Ashram and represents the line of thought among the majority of Ashramites.] 

If it is true that the silent majority among the ashramites is in favour of a change, but is afraid to demand it openly because of fear of retribution, or because it is uncertain whether the majority of ashramites would want it, then the following may be a method to overcome their hesitation and fear.

A centralized group of forerunners start maintaining a list (a group of just 3 or 5 persons, X, Y. Z). To start with, those who have already openly supported the change will be in that list.

Then a tentative classification of the ashramites is made according to their presumed attitude towards a change: 1) Likely to want a change 2) Hesitant, unsure, doubtful 3) unknown 4) unlikely.

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1) Those ashramites who are considered likely to be aspiring for a change: Each person from the list selects those among the rest of the ashramites whom he considers as a likely aspirant for change and whom he/she can approach on a personal basis and put up the following proposal:

“If more than half the number of ashramites are willing to submit a memorandum asking for a change, would you be willing to be one of them? You need not sign anything; we are just trying to find out if the majority want a change. Only if more than half want the change, then we will show the list to those who want the change and then prepare a memorandum that all those wanting the change may sign. Till such a majority is reached, the list will not be shown to anyone but X, Y, and Z, not even to those who have agreed to support the change and are on the list. In any case, yours is only an expression of a wish and no commitment, written or verbal. Only when the list contains more than half the ashramites who wish for a change, will it be shown to those who want the change, and then a memorandum may be prepared which you may sign. During this process, the total number already in the list will be revealed to anyone in the list who wants to keep track, but not the specific names.”

2) The unsure, doubtful, hesitant ones: They are approached later when the list has grown sufficiently large.

To those who are apprehensive that the forerunners are trying to take over power or that there may be an undesirable striving for power, divisive politics etc, it may be useful to propose the possibility of a democracy without politics

3) Unknown: Some suitable contact person from those who are already in the list may be asked if he/she can approach A or B personally, to find out what his/her outlook in the matter is, and if favourable, the above proposal may be explained to A/B.

Those who do not want a change may be maintained in a list so that they need not be asked again.

An Aspirant