COMMENT
Imitation is known globally as the best format of flattery. Charles Cotton in 1825 had coined, ‘imitation is the sincerest flattery.’ But is it so?
Since my school days, I was told and then I personally quoted the adage, the idiom, that imitation is essentially flattery with a deep seated negative connotation. That’s to say, that imitation is not looked upon as a necessarily good thing to pursue. A copy can never be good as original. The underlying thought being the negative sentiment. But after working for more than three decades, I am of the view that, imitation is not entirely a bad objective to follow. This is true particularly when, what is being copied and imitated is noble, good and positive.
In fact, on a closer examination of human history, we find that it is one quality ie to imitate; so inherent and intrinsic to human behaviour and genres. As children, we look upon our parents as role models to emulate. We pick up, sometimes intrinsically and at times, with deliberate pursuance, their habits, regardless of those being good or bad. While imitating my father’s voracious habit of reading, I picked it up as a habit and so have my off springs. I loved to watch my father smoke his Havanna cigars in a dimly lit room, after dinner with soft melodies of KL Saigol, playing on the radio or the turn table. Smoking not being a good habit, it wasn’t imitated. Consequently by design or recognition we siblings did not imitate our own father in this regard; but all of us love good music. And certainly if any of us were to imitate the smoking habit of his to flatter him, we can even today as grownups visualise how costly that ‘flattery’ would have been!
I deduce therefore that it is up to an individual to decide what needs to be emulated/imitated and what should be avoided. I find imitation of this kind a healthy pursuit and not negative.
After watching a movie at the cinemas we all emerge with feelings that we are the Rock Hudson’s, Tom Cruise, Dilip Kumar, Amitabh or Madhuri, Mahira or Mawra Hocane (depending on gender preference). The obvious take here is, not that we start to resemble them physically but since we like their appeal and roles, we fool and numb our minds into believing that we have their persona too. We imbibe their habits in dress and some take it to ludicrous levels of speaking like them. Clarke Gable look alike was Gregory Peck and his Bollywood look alike was Dev Anand. Here nature blessed them with similar physical attributes, so imitation for Peck and Anand became easier. But not all are blessed. SRK is a bad physical copy of Yusuf Khan aka Dilip Kumar but in mannerism of “acting” the imitation is simply perfect.
In the corporate world, is imitation a good pursuit or not? Whether we make a deliberate attempt or move in a non-conscious manner, we all end up in imitating our bosses, our colleagues and co-workers. Why? Simply because we like to see in ourselves the positive qualities they possess. No harm done with such action.
That brings me to the idea of the much touted concept of ‘role models’. Who are these? And why do we need to have and recognise them? Role models are those recognised individuals who have over long periods of consistent performance in their respective fields, created an aura about themselves. This aura compels the watchers to emulate them. So if Afridi were to copy the tricks of Imran Khan’s leadership (cricket only!) qualities- does that constitute flattery? No, this is a quest to better oneself. So if we were to copy and emulate our bosses what’s wrong with it? Nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong in the pursuit.
Pretending is virtue. If you can’t pretend how can you ever be the king – or the President or CEO. Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess and to gain applause which he cannot keep (Samuel Johnson in “Ramblers”). So emulating role models must be a well researched activity backed by dedicated efforts. No imitation is to be pursued, where there is recognition that the necessary quality of talent is nonexistent. ‘Sparrows who emulate peacocks are likely to break a thigh’. And there is the African proverb to remind us: the frog tried to look as big as the elephant and burst.
Personally, I have imitated several of my bosses, by picking up their skills, their mannerisms, their art of speaking etc. At one point in time while living in Hong Kong, my friends started to joke and later complained that in my unintentional quest to be like my boss; I had begun to speak like him, gesticulate like him and even had begun to be aloof like him.
I was then imitating unknown to myself because the admiration of my boss was beginning to grown on my persona. I never felt shy to admit so. In fact felt proud. The intent was to inculcate his best, and not to flatter - even if he (the boss) saw it as flattery it was never to a disadvantage!
The desire for fools to appear learned end up mostly appearing as fools to the learned. It is significantly imperative that flattery must not find itself only in wearing the same colour suits, same brand of tie or shoes, but must extend beyond to picking up good habits and necessary skills. If the imitation is for form and not for substance, it is akin to the donkey finding its braying as the most melodious sound. Francis Bacon had once remarked, ‘there is no such flattery as is a man’s self’. Imitate quality skills, good habits and not merely colour of ties or silk kerchiefs!
In freedom we imitate each other. As youth we imitate the old, and in old age we either imitate, our own selves or sometimes make the laughable attempts to imitate, youth. It is said that the immature imamate and the mature steal. Don’t ever fall so low, has to be not imitating, someone worthy of emulation.
The narcissist that exists within us is our best friend and a brilliantly devious misguide! Be wary of its potential. Imitation is not flattery; it is a journey towards self-improvement, if the intent is clear. Begin with others to end with yours.
The writer is a senior banker and freelance columnist