From the beginning the creative force has been intelligently creating and transforming society. If we look within, we discover the seeds of that transformed society that is to be one day, a society that is free from fear and want. A good leader is one who is gifted in discovering that seed within. He or she yearns to want “put right” that what is wrong in society. All of us have it in various degrees; this desire. Some have it more than others, or they work into it, to make that hidden dream within, to become a reality.
People like Martin Luther King, speaking about the emancipation of the Afro-Americans, said he had a dream, that one day, on the other side of the mountain, he could see these people and whites co-existing in harmony. He worked towards that vision and was rewarded by seeing it come true.
Nobel Laureate, Desmond Tutu, was long admired throughout the world for the heroism and grace he displayed while encouraging countless South Africans in their struggle for human rights. He saw how individual and global suffering could be transformed into joy and liberation. His liberating message of light, in those dark days, is for our era too. He writes in his book, “God says to you, 1 have a dream, please help me to realize it. It is a dream of a world, whose ugliness, squalor and poverty; whose war and hostility, greed and harsh competitiveness, alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counter parts.” We can do this, by cultivating in society, the qualities of love, forgiveness, humility generosity and courage, and thereby change ourselves and our world.
From primitive society to the modern, the longing has been there for such leaders. Leaders, who can protect, guide and fulfill the deepest aspirations of society. Each age and generation produces leaders, who immerge and are also dispensed with when they fail to cooperate with the evolution of society.
Today we may see a crisis in leadership. There is a dearth of good leaders. Our educational system, may be churning out stereo types to fit into a mould. We may not be placing much emphasis on making each individual to be that unique person that’s meant to be. The need of the hour is to make each a creative and questioning individual. To discover and bring out in every person, that latent uniqueness that lies buried within each of us.
Most of today’s leaders, in both the secular and religious, appear to be far from being concerned about others’ needs and the society’s liberation from self-centredness. Their concerns seem to be largely about themselves and holding onto their authority. Such are soon dethroned by fate. The mystics have revealed the truth that says, leaders are given their mandate by higher spiritual powers. Such are called to cooperate with divine principles that are in operation. Failure to do so would bring about their downfall.
The framework of these principals is to let go of worldly values, of self interest, personal gain, pride power or self glory. Many leaders blindly run behind these vices. These are what we are called to deal with and be careful about. Mother Theresa of Calcutta, known and loved throughout India and the world, was a leader, who lifted the poor and the rejected off the streets, and gave dignity and meaning to their lives. This great leader lived and moved among the poor. She was like a Mahatma Gandhi who when asked why he travelled third class, by train, replied that it was because there was no fourth class. May our motherland give birth to such leaders holding noble visions.
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