As I was watching the movie Hitler: The rise of an evil, I couldn’t help but pity the poor wretch who is probably the most despised historical figure. It was surprising to learn that the person responsible for the death of so many innocent people during the Second World War could have had such a traumatic childhood. Hitler, I learned, was abused by his father during his childhood. He also was deprived of the love of his mother or anyone else throughout his life.

Hitler was meek as a child and all his friends mocked him. This was also partly responsible for making him such a cruel dictator. The early years of Saddam Hussein’s life were equally eventful. Both these men shared similar childhood experiences and their adulthood was no different. Their lives teach us that children brought up in an environment of hatred, fear and contempt are prone to develop dangerous dispositions. Such children, as they grow old, trouble not only themselves but also everyone around them, and, in a few cases, the whole world, as is evident from the above examples. Probably, Hitler and Saddam need psychological treatment rather than punishment.

The Hindi flick Maine Gandhi Ji Ko Nahin Mara, by and large a political drama, also highlights the effects severe punishment and parental scorn have on young minds. Our upbringing shapes our unconscious minds, which, in turn, manifest in our behaviour in later life. Hence parents and guardians play an important role in shaping the future of their children.

It appears that the children who are abused and neglected are incapable of loving other people. They cannot even love themselves and hence are unable to build any self-esteem. We see enough proof this in our own society.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could diagnose the symptoms of maladjustment early in childhood and nip it in the bud, thereby forestalling the emergence of another Saddam Hussein or Hitler? All the parents and guardians of young children as well as the would-be parents should take care to raise their wards in an environment conducive to healthy psychological growth. By the way, I am still wondering what kind of a childhood Jung Bahadur Rana must have had!