”……..a true leader is willing to be in a team, for advancement and development comes only through teamwork and it is dangerous when it becomes a one man show.”
The coming General elections is going to be rather interesting, as an observer. Party affiliations and personal relations aside, this election will be a deciding factor foe a lot of politicians, especially those who have shifted constituencies plus giving themselves one last chance to try their luck in politics. It is the make and break for some senior politicians, plus an introduction for numerous new comers. New faces in the political arena are a sign of change thus change of ideology and political ideas. The most significant factor which we will see is leadership. Leadership skills is something which most of our politicians lack, for it was “follow the leader,” politics which we had witnessed in the past Governments and the leadership skill was with only one or two leaders, thus the Government was run by their suggestions and ideas. Therefore, Nagaland has been a playing field for numerous parties and individuals. Leadership qualities and skills is a gift which cannot be bought or thought as a crash course, and this gift is the main foundation of Politics.
Jawaharlal Nehru died 30 or 40 years back and sadly he had no other leaders with similar leadership qualities under him. His successor, Lal Bahadur Sahstri was thrown in the seat, totally un prepared. It took a crisis to bring a leader to his position. On the other hand if we look back into our history, a leader like Kim II Sung, the leader of North Korea had prepared and groomed his son for leadership, thus when the time came, the old man graciously left the chair and retired for he knew that his son would carry on from where he had stopped. This is what we actually need in Naga politics. For random or crisis leadership brings only disaster and no development whatsoever. Random leaders like Hitler, Mao and Stalin brought nothing to their people but untold miseries and tragedies. Hitler was responsible for the Holocaust, Mao was the cause of elimination educated and prosperous individuals, whose wealth and ideas had made the Chinese Civilization, thrive and prosper, plus Stalin was responsible for Communism, forcefully brainwashing their citizens to follow their leader and not follow their conscience. The last of the royalty was successfully annihilated, which is the reason why Russians cannot boast of their imperial past like other European countries. This is why we should never allow crisis or random leadership to infiltrate our political arena. States like Bihar, UP and Rajasthan, were at one stage amongst the richest nations in the era of Royalty (Maharajas, Rajas and Rani’s), but look at them now – they are the mother of fanaticism and “goondaism.” The rampant destruction and disrespect for other religions has directly caused unrest in the country, where many innocent citizens have lost their lives. All these factors emerged for one reason only and that is lack of leadership. Leadership skills and leadership qualities can change the status of Nagaland as a welfare State but lack of it will bring untold miseries, inflicting incurable sufferings, which will finally become our downfall.
“Leadership is getting the best of results from your people, with their co-operation and developing them at the same time.” Paul. Saul who later became Paul studied under an influential leader and scholar in his days, thus leadership came to him rather easily. In one of his writings Paul also wrote, leadership is training, not performing or achieving. The leader who focuses on himself or herself (sounds similar to some of our leaders) is surely going to mislead.” It is a honest observation of a great leader like Paul, who could adjust anywhere and with anyone. Most leaders in Nagaland are slowly learning to continuously be in touch with the grassroots, for before, they would only try to mingle with the grassroots only during the elections. We should always realize that leadership is not characterized by our stars on our shoulder or bio-data’s our material prosperity, but a true leader leads by example. We should also realize the fact that if a leader continues with the same responsibility for too long, loses his vision, therefore it is now time for Nagas to see a change in the faces of politicians. New faces mean new ideas and new ideas mean new developments and new developments always walk hand in hand with advancement.
In Conclusion, for me, it is these examples and qualities I will look at before deciding to choose a leader, who will represent me in the Assembly. For too long our politics has been overshadowed by money power and gun power and never on proper leadership skills. This is why we had a bunch of idiots in the Assembly as well as the Parliament, so how could we expect any development by such leadership. But we cannot crib about it, for whether they win through illegal means or not, they have been elected by the public. Therefore what we sow is what we produce. I am happy though, for our leaders are now more focused on leading by example and understanding the genuine needs of the public, rather then focusing on themselves and their constituency alone. This election should be a healing process for all the damages and untold miseries we brought on ourselves due to our choice of leaders. It is somewhat positive to see old politicians and new politicians trying to be in the fray and also those who have learned from their previous mistakes. It is a also a leadership quality to ensure that the leader grooms and tutors someone in a proper manner, so that when he takes over from his teacher or political father, he will adjust into his role comfortably. This is what we call real and proper leadership, which in no way can de deterred or misled. Leaders need to learn to focus on their vision and promises and then when this is done then focus on himself and his constituency. In a way Nagas are fortunate, for not all states have got this type of opportunity and although they long for change, the politicians and leaders continue to focus on their manual which I am sure was written even before India got its Independence. Lastly, a true leader is willing to be in a team, for advancement and development comes only through teamwork and it is dangerous when it becomes a one man show – Nagas should be a witness to this fact.
Contributed by: Kedi Haralu
