The Character of an Institution is Reflected in its Leadership “अग्रे चलति इति नेिा” (A leader is one who moves ahead and leads others.)

A leader is one who has the ability to take people forward. The above statement explains
leadership ability very well. When Mahatma Gandhi took over the leadership of the
Congress, he transformed it into a mass movement and brought it closer to the common
people. It should be remembered that earlier the Congress was an organization limited
mainly to the educated class and lacked faith in the power of ordinary people. It was
Gandhi’s personality and leadership that not only changed the nature of the Congress but
also made India’s path to independence easier.
The greatest feature of Gandhi’s personality was the unity between his words and actions
and his ability to understand people’s emotions. It was said about him:
“Jidhar do dag mag mein, chal pade koti pag usi aur.”
(Where Gandhi took two steps, millions followed in the same direction.)
The character of an institution is influenced by its leadership. Different kinds of people are
associated with an institution, and their natures are also different. The role of leadership is
to direct people with different personalities towards a common goal and achieve the
desired results. If the leadership is in the hands of an effective person, nothing can stop the
institution from reaching great heights.
One important quality in leadership is Emotional Intelligence. Through emotional
intelligence, a leader can understand not only the feelings of others but can also regulate
his or her own emotions effectively. Because of this quality, leaders are able to maintain
harmony among members of the institution and motivate everyone towards a collective
goal. Emotional intelligence has played an important role in the success of every great
leader in the world.
Another important quality of leadership is discipline and hard work. Discipline and hard
work contribute significantly to the progress of an institution. The example of Steve Jobs,
the founder of Apple, is very relevant. Steve Jobs did not consider the people working under
him as mere employees but as colleagues. However, he himself was highly disciplined and
often worked harder than his colleagues when necessary. He used to tell them that if they
wanted to achieve the best results, they should work as if it were the last day of their lives.
If we talk about the role of hard work in success, the life of Thomas Alva Edison is an
excellent example. Edison promised Americans that he would invent electric light and
remove darkness from the world. Even after failing a thousand times, he did not give up.
When his wife advised him to stop, Edison replied:
“What are you saying? I am close to success because I have discovered one thousand ways
that do not lead to success.”
After many experiments and failures, Edison eventually succeeded. He inspired an entire
generation of scientists and gave direction to scientific leadership, resulting in important
inventions for the world.
Leadership should also possess the quality of truthfulness, because only then can trust be
established within an institution. The credibility of any institution in society is largely
determined by this quality.
Leadership should create harmony among all members of the institution and promote a
sense of equality. A leader should not discriminate among members. In this context,
George Mason’s statement is considered very significant:
“In this world, everyone comes and returns equally, because death does not discriminate
against anyone.”
The qualities of courage and the ability to face challenges are also essential in leadership.
Even a nation can be considered a kind of institution. In matters of national security, Lal
Bahadur Shastri presented a remarkable example of courage…
Pakistan attacked India. Pakistani rulers declared that they would celebrate that day in
Delhi after defeating India. In response, Lal Bahadur Shastri said that if Pakistan intended
to celebrate in Delhi, India had thought of reaching Lahore itself to welcome them. Shastri
gave a strong reply to this challenge and opened another front, directing the Indian Army to
move towards Lahore.
Along with courage, the ability to face difficulties without fear is also essential for
leadership. In this context, the example of Swami Vivekananda is very relevant. Once, while
passing through a lane in Varanasi, a group of monkeys chased him. Frightened, he started
running. At that moment, a woman called out to him, advising him to face the monkeys.
Vivekananda turned around, raised his stick, and walked towards them boldly.
Immediately, the monkeys ran away. This example teaches us that many kinds of problems
(like monkeys) come into human life, but if they are faced courageously, they cannot
remain obstacles. Vivekananda used to say that problems are not solved by running away
from them but by confronting them fearlessly.
A leader should never take sole credit for achievements. If leadership possesses this
quality, no one can stop an institution from reaching great heights. For example, when the
first launch of the SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) failed, its chairman Satish Dhawan
accepted complete responsibility. However, when the very next launch succeeded, he gave
all the credit to his team.
For an institution, continuous achievements are necessary. For this, leadership must have
not only honesty but also innovation. The example of Sir M. Visvesvaraya is very inspiring in
terms of honesty. When he served as the Diwan of Mysore, he set an example of personal
integrity. He never used government resources for his private work. On the day he resigned
from his position, he used a government vehicle only until he officially held office. While
returning after resigning, he used his personal vehicle.
Similarly, innovative leadership plays an effective role in the development of institutions. In
today’s age of rapid change, if an institution cannot transform itself according to changing
times, it falls behind in market competition. Leadership that encourages innovation
enables institutions to adapt according to market demands. The greatest advantage of
innovative leadership is that every person associated with the institution receives
encouragement to think creatively. Regarding innovation, Chinese leader Li Keqiang stated:
“Change is the carrier of innovation, and innovation paves the way for progress.”
The other side of this issue should also be considered. When leadership lacks truthfulness,
honesty, hard work, courage, and strong moral character, institutions gradually move
towards decline. There are many examples illustrating this fact.
For example, Satyam Technologies’ chief executive B. Ramalinga Raju concealed the
company’s actual losses and falsely projected continuous profits. However, when the truth
came out, Satyam could not be saved from collapse. Due to dishonest leadership, a
company once honoured with the Golden Peacock Award eventually ceased to exist.
Another example can be seen in the case of Sahara India and its chief Subrata Roy. It is well
known that Sahara India collected money from people through its associate real estate
companies but failed to return it on time. People approached the courts, and the Supreme
Court ordered Sahara India to refund the money. However, Sahara India failed to comply,
resulting in imprisonment for Subrata Roy.
In conclusion, it can be said that leadership plays a crucial role in determining the
character of an institution. If leadership possesses emotional intelligence, discipline, hard
work, truthfulness, courage, the ability to face challenges, strong moral values, honesty,
and innovation, no obstacle can prevent an institution from reaching excellence. On the
other hand, if these positive qualities are absent, the institution may decline and eventually
collapse.