Utopian Dreams ?

The current debate between the prime ministerial candidates of India, as they jockey for power in the ongoing elections of the largest democracy in the world, is as interesting as it is sad.

One party has gone on record saying that since a particular candidate is not a good public speaker and not a good politician he does not deserve to strive for leadership. Which raises the question: Does one have to be politician to be a good leader ?

History shows that there have been numerous examples of people, who, though not politicians have proved to be great leaders and have greatly benefitted mankind through their noble vision and progressive ideas. On the other hand we have no dearth of great orators/politicians who have brought about untold grief upon mankind due to their stunted vision and self-serving ambitions.

Peter F. Drucker said -“Leadership is not magnetic personality—that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not “making friends and influencing people”—that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.”

In a democracy, it is true that the candidate or party which succeeds in convincing the masses shall be successful, it is also a fact that a large part of the electorate is poor and uneducated and does not have the wherewithal to question the claims of the candidates nor to be able to share the vision of the leaders beyond their immediate needs and requirements. Under such circumstances it is often the decibel level and manner of delivery of the speech rather than the content which assures success. Given that, it is possible that the best man might not be elected but then whose fault is this? Is it not the responsibility of the educated and intelligent sections of the society to try and bring about a change in the state of affairs by actively participating in the process and ensuring that more and more deserving candidates are presented to the people?

There is an opinion gaining currency among some people, that it is the aged old men of politics how have brought the parties into infamy and that the need of the hour is the emergence of youth with, its fresh ideas and insights, to take over the mantle from them. While it is always preferable to have young people interested in affairs of state taking up administration and politics, the age of the candidate in no way guarantees an automatic improvement of the system since corruption does not follow a Darwinian policy of selection.

One look at any of the myriad reality shows will serve to prove the point, as the participants regardless of whether they are young or old, male or female, lie, cheat, fight and betray each other in their quest to be at the top of the heap, but I digress.

It is becoming increasingly evident that mankind’s evolving moralities are taking society towards an acceptance of – power at any cost concept- and the age old notions of honesty, fair-play, loyalty and trustworthiness have become passé.

A society which disregards the importance of these basic values is headed towards anarchy and destruction

The need of the hour is to disown the rabble rousing, mud-slinging politicians, their seditious speeches and self-aggrandizing philosophies, in favour of leaders with principles and vision who can put us back on the right path. Contrary to what has been said,a leader of the nation need not be a “politician”. The beauty of a democracy is that it allows a group of people to pool their strengths and work towards better governance.

An ideal democracy is where a group of socially responsible, like minded souls leverage their individual capabilities to ensure that – the government of the people, by the people and for the people, succeeds in improving the lives of all the people.

An ideal leader would be one with vision to provide direction, intelligence to convert the vision to reality coupled with integrity and strength of character to ensure that morality and justice are not sacrificed on the way to success.

Utopian dreams? I suppose so…

Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” it seems the need for power also corrupts in a similar manner.