Leadership is about doing justice to your position

28 September, 2012

Leaders who happen to be 'yes men' are mostly forgotten, whether in India or abroad, while leaders with good background and intellectuals are always remembered for their positive legacy. A leader is one who is remembered for all time to come and not just for the duration of his or her leadership.

WITH THE passage of time, our memory of people and events undergoes change. The changing environment can affect how the image of a person is perceived.

The day Ms Patil our ex-President retired from the Supreme Post of the country, there was hardly any photo or coverage by the media while earlier her itinerary and movements were often published and publicized but now she is completely a lost figure.

Hon’ble President Pranab Mukherjee has just landed in the Supreme Post's job, and his image is picking up gradually within India and globally.

But let us take the case of Hon’ble Dr Kalam - another ex-President of India. He is still in the limelight as and when there is a special occasion. He is very often invited to international conferences on Science and Technology and Nuclear technology abroad. On many occasions he is the key speaker in seminars and conferences.

Going over the track record of these three presidents, it seems that leaders who are happy with the status quo are often forgotten but leaders who leave their mark through thoughtful hardwork are always remembered in their country as well as abroad. Dr Kalam is among such a group of leaders - a man of certain principles, and that is why he never opted for his nomination in the election for the President's post for a second term - that's called character.