Leadership

I am writing this while watching NDTV's Indian of the Year awards ceremony and have just heard Omar Abdullah make an acceptance speech for the GenNext Politician of the Year. And for the very, very first time in my life, I heard someone talk about Jammu & Kashmir with hope. That is a very important word in my dictionary. Hope. The word epitomizes the future, and bespeaks the arrival of opportunity and achievement.

Why should businessmen go to Davos for networking ? Why can't we have a Davos in India, right here in Gulmarg? The generation of my parents used to come to Kashmir to honeymoon and spent months in Houseboats on the Dal lake or in a hut in Pehelgaum. I want to see that back in Kashmir.

Be it honest desire or vain talk, it made me happy. Hope.

And it made me write on leadership. Omar Abdullah, atleast for that moment in time, was the perfect leader. Another "perfect" leader I have great regard for in India is the Chief Minister of Gujarat - Narendra Modi.

Leadership knows no age, nor is it limited by Rank.

Hal Krause wrote this timeless poem on leadership which shaped my respect for leadership as an Institution. When I look at Abdullah, I see a real life example of ageless leadership.

Leadership is an institution that transcends all worldly barriers, which is single most inspirational aspect.

As a nation that is supposed to grow phenomenally, we need equally phenomenal leadership. Most of us refuse to lead. I wouldn't be too upset with that if it were not for the fact that we refuse to be led as well. It's just that in India we refuse to be led. We choose to be individualistic for all the wrong reasons. I do not see why we should behave that way. Being led, according to me, is far more honourable than being bull headed.

How many of us think of politics as a career option today ? Maybe that is an esoteric question. It has been asked several times, without much success though. But I am tempted to ask it once again. I would definitely like to lead my country if I get a chance.

Modernism is Exodus. Exodus is Modernism.