Wolves shall succeed

- Rajeeva Nayan Pathak 

“Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven…” (John Milton in Paradise Lost,  book 12, lines 508-9).

These haunting lines seem not merely a poetic vision of a corrupted future but a grim reflection of realities we sometimes witness in the very institutions meant to shape character and culture. 

Spoken by the Archangel Michael to Adam, these lines foretell the time when corrupt individuals, under the guise of spiritual leaders, will replace true teachers. These “grievous wolves” shall distort divine truths and lead the innocent astray. It is a prophecy of internal decay — not by force from outside, but by betrayal from within.

This metaphor finds a disturbing echo in the modern school environment. Schools, sacred spaces for nurturing young minds and spirits, are not immune to the infiltration of such ‘wolves’. These individuals, disguised as colleagues, sometimes even friends, actively target those who stand for values, sincerity, and truth. The gentlemen among teachers — those who work with quiet commitment, who refuse to play politics, who lead by example — are often the targets. The wolves do not attack directly but tarnish reputations through rumour, innuendo, and whisper campaigns. Their strategy is to sow suspicion, erode trust, and gradually isolate their targets. The damage is not limited to the individuals alone. An entire institution begins to suffer. Morale dips. The culture of collaboration collapses. The young, though not told directly, sense the unrest and confusion. A place meant for growth becomes ground for silent conflict.

Such themes recur across classic literature as well. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago poisons the noble Othello’s mind with seeds of jealousy and mistrust. He never acts openly but manipulates, hints, and misleads, resulting in destruction.

Similarly, in Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon rises to power not by virtue, but by eliminating truth-tellers like Snowball and rewriting facts to suit his ambition. The animals, like uninformed followers, lose the very dream they once believed in. 

In the Mahabharata, Shakuni engineers the destruction of harmony in Hastinapur by feeding ego, jealousy, and hatred into the hearts of the Kauravas. His plots, though seemingly subtle, push an entire kingdom into war. 

All these stories teach us one truth: when truth is pushed aside, and wolves rise to power, destruction follows — often slow, silent, and deep.

The Ramayan too bears witness to this. Manthara, a servant, whispers poison into Queen Kaikeyi’s ears, turning her against Rama, the very son she once adored. Her manipulation leads to Rama’s exile, Bharata’s heartbreak, and Ayodhya’s sorrow. 

In Ram Charit Manas, Goswami Tulsidas beautifully captures this twist of fate, where a crooked mind turns good intentions into grave errors. Rama, the epitome of dharma, faces hardship not because of external enemies, but because deceit finds a place within the palace itself. This internal betrayal is what makes the fall more painful. 

A school is no different. When deceit enters the staffroom, when falsehood wears the robe of sincerity, when genuine efforts are dismissed through crafted lies, the entire culture suffers. What was meant to be a place of light begins to dim.

True leaders in education must recognise these signs. The wolves thrive in environments of silence, fear, and unchecked gossip. But they falter where truth is spoken, where communities stand by the honest, where transparency is not feared but welcomed. Protecting the gentlemen — the sincere, the humble, the quietly strong — is not just an act of kindness, but a strategic necessity for any school that dreams of greatness. 

In our scriptures, in our classics, and in our daily lives, the message is the same: beware the wolves who smile and slander, who mislead and divide. The cost of allowing them to rise is always too high. 

Our schools must be raised where the sacred mysteries of learning are preserved by those who live by truth — and not preyed upon by those who wear the mask of teachers but act as wolves. The spirit of learning, the joy of teaching, and the innocence of students deserve better.

***Jai Hind***