![]() |
Leadership
India needs action, not rhetoric !
Leadership is all about the import of exemplary achievement of talented people and also learning from their troubles. The dynamics of governance calls for right focussing on "collective consciousness" by choreographing institution-building, upgrading systems and procedures and fine-tuning processes to deal with the hurdles in growth and development. It is the sense of belonging to the people/ work force with desired results for sustainablity in future, enjoying success in case of the corporates and harnessing the potential of the Land and the People for creating a culture and core beliefs rigoursouly focussed on future.
The ruling dynamics in the post Nehru era was of populist politics. Governance was weak and leaks could not be controlled. The country was over managed. It was democracy without discussion. Values and beliefs were not reflected by ruling and social mores and then leadership emerged out of frustration leading to terminal impotence. the support team and surprise, as well for
the public at large.
Derailed leaders may appear to be
successful to a point. The society, however,
reacts considerably. It shows patience for
sometimes but ultimately, if expectations
are belied, the leader is passed over.
Numerous instances of such derailed
leaders are found in the history of
corporates and also of the States.
People respond to emotional exploitation
to an extent only. They lose confidence and
are not carried by rhetorics. The experience
is melancholic, if the leader starts recalling
his achievements through anecdotes. The
leader is to keep in mind that relationship of
the people with the rulers is transactional.
Efforts to inspire with new interpretations of
welfare of the people by such leaders does
not work.
Atal Behari Vajpayee resembled 'a lark in full flight '---- free from conceit and foibles. He recognised the sickness of the State and sickness of the society. He followed Nehru's ideology of secularism and provided hope and balance between the rights of the citizens and social and economic regulations to transcend what limits growth and development. His government gave the country dignity and belief. The governance was intentfocussed. It had a different perspective and never ignored the magnitude of development.
People perceived functional and decisiontaking
paralysis.
The times now are reflective of
displacement. We are exposed to a narrative
promising impressive economic
transformation and holistic approach to
development with fair and honest systems and
procedures. The ground realities, are to the
contrary. The problem with implementation
continues. India, today needs not statements but action in perspective building capabilities and capacities. Collective mediocrity is better than individual brilliance. One is reminded of Brecht's play -- Life Of Galelio - -"A society that needs heroes is unfortunate". We don't need a cult society and cult figures. We need intellectuals who could lead the country and leaders who could strengthen the institutions to improve governance, transcending systemic impair in areas of health, education and social order and making bureaucracy and civil society more responsive. The country still feels that leadership has not failed but derailed only. Derailment and failure are not synonymous." The painful lessons of derailment, it is hoped, would offer clues to the leadership to creat a context in witch good governance is preserved and enhanced. And there is no standing still, to its flaws. We, then, tend to agree with T N Ninan's metaphor," India is the country of the future and will remain so." Let us hope the country gathers critical mass to generate a distinct governance culture. The author is an eminent management consultant. He has been the Managing Director in the Life Insurance Corporation of India. |