Merit and integrity
MAHMOOD BIN MUHAMMAD
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’Where have all the leaders gone?’
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In his just-released book bearing the above title, 82-year old U.S. businessman Lee Iacocca laments the passing of the era of good American leaders, leaders of the stature of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Truman, and asks, “Where are the voices of leaders who can inspire us to action and make us stand taller?” It is said that in India, politics attracts the interest of more people than in any other country in the world, but in recent years, it has attracted the interest of several wrong people. To find leaders of the stature of Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel, Ambedkar and Rajaji in modern India is like searching for a needle in a hay-stack. Meritocracy and integrity are said to be the two pillars of democracy. They can only be saved for posterity if men of merit and integrity enter politics and man our legislatures and ministries. The public life in modern India, however, presents a picture where irresponsible people have been inducted into positions of responsibility for narrow partisan ends.
A responsible leader
Who, indeed, is a good political leader? A good political leader’s fingers are on the pulse of the people he represents. He leads all the way, always a step in front. He is democratic in decision-making but dictatorial in implementation.
In ordinary matters, he swims with the current but in matters of principle he stands like a rock. He has merit, integrity, intelligence, initiative, commonsense, courage and also a subtle sense of humour. He gets his followers to do what they do not want to do and like it. He never evokes fear but radiates love. He is a man of conscience and has no ego problem. He has an open mind on all issues and a secular outlook. A good leader selects good advisers. He does not need speech-writers. He is a good communicator and listener, and is easily accessible. He can engage, argue, explain and inspire directly and spontaneously. He is also an efficient crisis manager. He wins the hearts and respect of his followers, which makes the greatest achievement possible.
Nurture young talent
There is no dearth of promising, young men in our country with leadership potential but the system thwarts their entry. May their tribe increase! Unlike a banyan tree under which nothing grows, the senior leaders should try to help and develop young juniors, not just themselves.
Lee Iacocca asks, “Why blame only the politician for all the mess we are in?” The truth involves us all. Everyone interprets truth to suit his own ulterior motive or design. The politician does it in the name of national interest, for getting votes. Some others do it in the name of religion, caste or sect for their self-interest.
“May God protect us from religious self-seekers for we have seen many highway robbers in the garb of leaders,” runs a famous Urdu couplet.
As for democracy, one thing is certain. We may not love politicians but we like democracy because it is the only political system which is consistent with justice. However, it cannot be imposed from outside; it must grow from within.
The spirit of democracy, like the rule of law, must come from the hearts of people. If not, no one can save it.
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