Compiled by Suman Chakma
" A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him."
~ David McClure Brinkley
Leaders are there all around - in villages,in towns,in cities,community, local populations,state,country and all that we may name. Some are self proclaimed, some are anointed,some are dynastic, yet some are selected or elected by the people. But we remember those who make some lasting impact in our life,in the history of the country in its development and growth, and who have a perspective feeling and ideology that shapes the life of the people and directs the nation towards progressive outlook that is devoid of any narrow mindedness.This brand of leaders do not depend on miracles that may descend from some extraneous circumstances but on the miracle power of hard labour, scientific and analytical thinking and actions of the people that they lead and not only preach but practice a life of dedication, sacrifice, commitment and a sense of creativity and innovation.
This topic of leadership has been debated over the ages and many quotes and statements are abuzz in the literature.We may try to look at the issue with some degree of creativity and analysis. India is proud custodian of the world's biggest democracy but is filled to the brim with indignant protest of the people for their misery, dismal economic situation despite high profile and intense subjugation of the policy of globalization and liberation,perennial problem with neighbouring countries like Pakistan, inter-state boundary problem within the country,ethnic issues, communal problems along with superstitious and obscurantist practices. These reflect a case of failed leadership. Basically, it's in the sustained provision of public services for all that the Indian state falls flat on its face despite taking giant strides and technology.
In his recent article "Vanity Fair", Economics Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz claimed that the upper one percent of Americans monopolise nearly a quarter of the annual income, and control 40 per cent of the national wealth and then he noted with disdain, "the top one per cent have the best houses, the best educations, the best doctors, and the best life styles, but there is one thing that money doesn't seem to have bought: an understanding that their fate is bound up with how the other 99 per cent live. Throughout the history, this is something that the top one per cent eventually do learn. Too late." Is Indian situation anything different? The two decades of liberalization has led to unprecedented increase in inequalities. As a result, Indian has produced some of the richest people in the world while keeping the vast millions deprived of the basic necessities of life. The most disturbing feature of all these developments is that the general population has lost confidence with the system of governance and the blame for this should be equally shared by the political bosses as well as their sycophant bureaucrats- they are inseparable, you cannot put the blame on one and absolve the other.
In a multinational country like India, with globally unmatched socio-cultural-religious diversity, the proclivities for the growth of reactionary ethnic nationalism which divides people on narrow sectarian lines are immense. While championing the struggles against genuine oppression and discrimination of these sections, these challenges that seek to further divide the unity of the exploited sections must be squarely met and defeated. There is again over emphasis on traditions and traditional beliefs which even broods superstitions and obscurantism. These reformist tendencies tend to alienate one section of people from other in addition to putting a barrier to the flow of rational and scientific thinking. There is distinct difference between practicing science by taking science merely as a career and conceptualizing science with analytical mind towards every aspect of life.
In modern days, with internet facilities penetrating every hook and corners of the country, we are watching another brand of leaders who may be termed as "Candle-light and Facebook revolutionaries". May it be any public issue of general welfare or not, these brand leaders demonstrate mostly in the evening with thousands of lighted candles, and the issue and the concern remains alive till the time wax in the candle supports the flame. thereafter, it is only the media who steals the show with eye-catching pictures in the front pages and "fantastic (!!!)" interviews in the live and not-so-live television programmes. Social networking like Facebook,Twitter,Blogs or others are also showing their mark on this arena taking the examples of pro-democracy movement in Middle-East forgetting that in-depth and committed learnings are fundamental to achieve any logistic conclusion and meaningful result of any movement. Dictators were revolved in those strife-ridden Middle-East countries but has the democracy been achieved in its true sense in those countries?
One of the greatest scientific philosophers of the world, Karl Marx, had once famously said that the moot point of emerging social order is to CHANGE this world but not merely to understand it but also to bring a social order that ensures social welfare and equality. A leader is the one who satisfies this basic condition and
propagate this ideal taking the whole lot of masses with him- creativity is the essential ingredient to achieve this. Understanding the past, analysis of the past with a scientific mind and embracing the concept of dialectic materialism is essential pre-requisite in this direction. In fostering creativity and leadership, we may note some of the qualities that one should possess:
1. A fighter who asks nothing and gives everything- a motivator, an inspirer and an energizer who can ignite minds and empower lives.
2. A personality who believes that 'Knowledge is the Power House' to achieve any meaningful goal.
3.One who can defend and uphold the ideals of promoting the fundamental human values and establish a rational and progressive modern society coupled with cultural harmony.
4. One who has courage to formulate and persuade alternative policies within the structural limitations.He/she has to think and act positive.
5. One who will totally commit and dedicate in safe-guarding civil liberties and democratic rights of the people at large.
6. one who has determination to overcome all challenges.
World as well as India is suffering from flurry of leaders devoid of creativity and innovations. These bundles of leaders with high profile charisma are basically following the dictates of some despot global financial managers who serve only that one per cent as stated by Stiglitz. Understandably, this is the root of all the misery of people because they are insensitive to peoples' outcry. But creativity and leadership cannot be alienated from each other if we are to uphold public welfare in all spheres of life. Fortunately, even in modern world there are examples of such leaders who devoted totally to public welfare and are changing the course of development of the nation starting from a scratch. without pondering much we may take care to study the ideology and course of action pursued by Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, the President of Venezuela, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former trade union leader and factory worker widely known by the name Lula, the Brazil's first working-class president and similar others in the contemporary world who have been successful in making their countries forge ahead in development and growth taking care of overall uplift of even lowest strata of general population.
Apart from those leaders in political and social arena, we have people who are guiding academic institutions amongst others and making these institutions to be emolliated all over. Leaders, in any front, are the product of some academic institutions and therefore these institutions have a pivotal role in producing meaningful citizens who can shoulder effectively the cudgels of leading our society- politically as well as socially - in a manner that ensures welfare to everyone. There is no dearth of examples in this category who have made the nation proud by their sheer zeal to make great sacrifices for the cause of education and welfare of peoples, and they have been motivated by high ideals, even suffering incarceration in many cases. they led their lives with high moral and ethical standard, never thought education or for that matter any issue of public welfare as business and also had intimate contact with people in the community irrespective of their social status.
Let us remember that most of the ills of the present day society originate from the process of "primitive accumulation of capital or wealth" with a vengeance. A democracy in which leaders lose their moral legitimacy in the eyes of the public becomes fragile.The constriction of egalitarianism has a dialectics of its own. Primitive accumulation undermines the egalitarian premise of democracy, and by discrediting democratic system and institution it only breeds corruption. It also restricts the democratic process itself, creating opportunities for select group to usurp popular sovereignty. Any strategy that promotes primitive accumulation or monopoly in any sphere of life is fundamentally antithetical to democracy. Karl Marx had once written in a letter to his father: ".....The more you have, the less you are". That alas is not the maxim today. But we must not be dejected, rather be committed to change the present day regressive world order.
Education, needless to emphasize, plays the mos important role in harnessing the leaders with creativity and having public welfare as the supreme goal. To end this piece of writing, let us end and embrace what scientist Albert Einstein had observed and put in black and white in his famous article "Why Socialism?" - ".....crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career,"
"I am convinced there is only ONE way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented towards social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child.The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own native abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society."
Note: This article was originally written by Professor Dr. M.N. Battacharjee and published in one college magazine named "Fostering Creativity and Leadership"
" A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him."
~ David McClure Brinkley
Leaders are there all around - in villages,in towns,in cities,community, local populations,state,country and all that we may name. Some are self proclaimed, some are anointed,some are dynastic, yet some are selected or elected by the people. But we remember those who make some lasting impact in our life,in the history of the country in its development and growth, and who have a perspective feeling and ideology that shapes the life of the people and directs the nation towards progressive outlook that is devoid of any narrow mindedness.This brand of leaders do not depend on miracles that may descend from some extraneous circumstances but on the miracle power of hard labour, scientific and analytical thinking and actions of the people that they lead and not only preach but practice a life of dedication, sacrifice, commitment and a sense of creativity and innovation.
This topic of leadership has been debated over the ages and many quotes and statements are abuzz in the literature.We may try to look at the issue with some degree of creativity and analysis. India is proud custodian of the world's biggest democracy but is filled to the brim with indignant protest of the people for their misery, dismal economic situation despite high profile and intense subjugation of the policy of globalization and liberation,perennial problem with neighbouring countries like Pakistan, inter-state boundary problem within the country,ethnic issues, communal problems along with superstitious and obscurantist practices. These reflect a case of failed leadership. Basically, it's in the sustained provision of public services for all that the Indian state falls flat on its face despite taking giant strides and technology.
In his recent article "Vanity Fair", Economics Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz claimed that the upper one percent of Americans monopolise nearly a quarter of the annual income, and control 40 per cent of the national wealth and then he noted with disdain, "the top one per cent have the best houses, the best educations, the best doctors, and the best life styles, but there is one thing that money doesn't seem to have bought: an understanding that their fate is bound up with how the other 99 per cent live. Throughout the history, this is something that the top one per cent eventually do learn. Too late." Is Indian situation anything different? The two decades of liberalization has led to unprecedented increase in inequalities. As a result, Indian has produced some of the richest people in the world while keeping the vast millions deprived of the basic necessities of life. The most disturbing feature of all these developments is that the general population has lost confidence with the system of governance and the blame for this should be equally shared by the political bosses as well as their sycophant bureaucrats- they are inseparable, you cannot put the blame on one and absolve the other.
In a multinational country like India, with globally unmatched socio-cultural-religious diversity, the proclivities for the growth of reactionary ethnic nationalism which divides people on narrow sectarian lines are immense. While championing the struggles against genuine oppression and discrimination of these sections, these challenges that seek to further divide the unity of the exploited sections must be squarely met and defeated. There is again over emphasis on traditions and traditional beliefs which even broods superstitions and obscurantism. These reformist tendencies tend to alienate one section of people from other in addition to putting a barrier to the flow of rational and scientific thinking. There is distinct difference between practicing science by taking science merely as a career and conceptualizing science with analytical mind towards every aspect of life.
In modern days, with internet facilities penetrating every hook and corners of the country, we are watching another brand of leaders who may be termed as "Candle-light and Facebook revolutionaries". May it be any public issue of general welfare or not, these brand leaders demonstrate mostly in the evening with thousands of lighted candles, and the issue and the concern remains alive till the time wax in the candle supports the flame. thereafter, it is only the media who steals the show with eye-catching pictures in the front pages and "fantastic (!!!)" interviews in the live and not-so-live television programmes. Social networking like Facebook,Twitter,Blogs or others are also showing their mark on this arena taking the examples of pro-democracy movement in Middle-East forgetting that in-depth and committed learnings are fundamental to achieve any logistic conclusion and meaningful result of any movement. Dictators were revolved in those strife-ridden Middle-East countries but has the democracy been achieved in its true sense in those countries?
One of the greatest scientific philosophers of the world, Karl Marx, had once famously said that the moot point of emerging social order is to CHANGE this world but not merely to understand it but also to bring a social order that ensures social welfare and equality. A leader is the one who satisfies this basic condition and
propagate this ideal taking the whole lot of masses with him- creativity is the essential ingredient to achieve this. Understanding the past, analysis of the past with a scientific mind and embracing the concept of dialectic materialism is essential pre-requisite in this direction. In fostering creativity and leadership, we may note some of the qualities that one should possess:
1. A fighter who asks nothing and gives everything- a motivator, an inspirer and an energizer who can ignite minds and empower lives.
2. A personality who believes that 'Knowledge is the Power House' to achieve any meaningful goal.
3.One who can defend and uphold the ideals of promoting the fundamental human values and establish a rational and progressive modern society coupled with cultural harmony.
4. One who has courage to formulate and persuade alternative policies within the structural limitations.He/she has to think and act positive.
5. One who will totally commit and dedicate in safe-guarding civil liberties and democratic rights of the people at large.
6. one who has determination to overcome all challenges.
World as well as India is suffering from flurry of leaders devoid of creativity and innovations. These bundles of leaders with high profile charisma are basically following the dictates of some despot global financial managers who serve only that one per cent as stated by Stiglitz. Understandably, this is the root of all the misery of people because they are insensitive to peoples' outcry. But creativity and leadership cannot be alienated from each other if we are to uphold public welfare in all spheres of life. Fortunately, even in modern world there are examples of such leaders who devoted totally to public welfare and are changing the course of development of the nation starting from a scratch. without pondering much we may take care to study the ideology and course of action pursued by Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, the President of Venezuela, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former trade union leader and factory worker widely known by the name Lula, the Brazil's first working-class president and similar others in the contemporary world who have been successful in making their countries forge ahead in development and growth taking care of overall uplift of even lowest strata of general population.
Apart from those leaders in political and social arena, we have people who are guiding academic institutions amongst others and making these institutions to be emolliated all over. Leaders, in any front, are the product of some academic institutions and therefore these institutions have a pivotal role in producing meaningful citizens who can shoulder effectively the cudgels of leading our society- politically as well as socially - in a manner that ensures welfare to everyone. There is no dearth of examples in this category who have made the nation proud by their sheer zeal to make great sacrifices for the cause of education and welfare of peoples, and they have been motivated by high ideals, even suffering incarceration in many cases. they led their lives with high moral and ethical standard, never thought education or for that matter any issue of public welfare as business and also had intimate contact with people in the community irrespective of their social status.
Let us remember that most of the ills of the present day society originate from the process of "primitive accumulation of capital or wealth" with a vengeance. A democracy in which leaders lose their moral legitimacy in the eyes of the public becomes fragile.The constriction of egalitarianism has a dialectics of its own. Primitive accumulation undermines the egalitarian premise of democracy, and by discrediting democratic system and institution it only breeds corruption. It also restricts the democratic process itself, creating opportunities for select group to usurp popular sovereignty. Any strategy that promotes primitive accumulation or monopoly in any sphere of life is fundamentally antithetical to democracy. Karl Marx had once written in a letter to his father: ".....The more you have, the less you are". That alas is not the maxim today. But we must not be dejected, rather be committed to change the present day regressive world order.
Education, needless to emphasize, plays the mos important role in harnessing the leaders with creativity and having public welfare as the supreme goal. To end this piece of writing, let us end and embrace what scientist Albert Einstein had observed and put in black and white in his famous article "Why Socialism?" - ".....crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career,"
"I am convinced there is only ONE way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented towards social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child.The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own native abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society."
Note: This article was originally written by Professor Dr. M.N. Battacharjee and published in one college magazine named "Fostering Creativity and Leadership"
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