When Emotion Overrides Common Sense

When inflated by charisma, spectacle, or group momentum, public emotion can easily overshadow ordinary judgment. This reflective essay begins with an incident from Salem, Tamil Nadu, witnessed more than fifty years ago, and uses it to explore how collective excitement can overwhelm reason. The narrative connects past and present, raising questions about crowd behavior, public safety, and the delicate threshold between admiration and adulation. The essay concludes with a call for calm, proportion, and shared responsibility, particularly in public gatherings.