Enlightened Leadership: Tapping the Power Within
Picture Courtesy: Financial Times
Editor’s note: Once in a while, we publish essays that do not focus on Hinduphobia. This essay, at the end of the year, is one of those exceptions.
Does Indic wisdom have any insights on leadership in today’s complex world? Yes, says R. Balasubramaniam, author of the recently published Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi. Co-founder of the Vivekananda Institute of Leadership Development (VLEAD) in 2002, Balu (as the author is popularly known) is no stranger to the subject of leadership. A former Rhodes Professor at Cornell University, Balu has been conducting leadership workshops for many years and currently serves as a member-HR (Human Resources) at the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India.
In the preface, Balu highlights that prevailing ideas on leadership have been significantly influenced by Western thought. The focus is more on a behavioral approach to leadership and ‘being a leader.’ In the Indic view, shaped by the timeless principles of ‘self-realization’ and ‘self-awareness,’ the emphasis is more on the ‘exercise of leadership’ rather than on the individual leader. Exploring Prime Minister Modi’s leadership style through this lens of Indic thought, Balu strives to inspire the youth to recognize their inner strengths, engage in self-evolution, and allow this evolution to manifest for societal good. Balu acknowledges that in today’s polarized world, leaders like PM Modi have both ardent admirers and fierce critics. His submission is that the book is less about PM Modi’s policies and more about PM Modi’s leadership expression.
This essay is an exploration of some interesting aspects of an ‘Indic take on leadership,’ as brought to the fore by Balu after his deep dive into the leadership journey of PM Modi.
Enlightened Leadership
The path to Enlightened Leadership entails reflective engagement with mankind’s spiritual traditions (which in some form permeated across many ancient societies) and developing a profound connection with communities that leaders aim to serve while demonstrating cultural sensitivity. Traditional thinking associates leadership with authority. However, leadership is more than just exerting influence and power. It is about understanding one’s ‘Self’ and harnessing one’s immense potential by mobilizing others.
As leaders walking on this path evolve, they develop an observer’s appreciation of the context in which they operate. They can recalibrate their actions with intellectual and emotional freedom. Like parents acting in the best interests of their wards, they both enable and restrain simultaneously. Humility and a desire for lifelong learning allow them to embrace diverse perspectives and forge a consensus by breaking vexed gridlocks.
In Bharat, the similarity in the etymological origin of netritva (the essence of leadership) and netr (eye) is no accident. It underscores the importance for leaders to have a vision and keep the focus on the work to translate this vision into reality while adhering to certain core values.
Balu contends that PM Modi embodies the observance of Raajadharma. In the Mahabharata, family elder Bhishma counsels the Pandava King Yudhishtra on raajadharma. Bhishma says that the king should work for the welfare of the people and not be driven by his likes and dislikes. Only a king with the qualities of a rishi (seer) can observe raajadharma. Responding selflessly to the needs of others requires an empowered surrender to a higher guiding force. Such surrender instills in one ‘Shraddha’ (faith and devotion), which flowers into untiring effort, and ‘Vairagya’ (detachment), leading to equanimity.
Grounding in these Indic values drives PM Modi to proclaim that he is the pradhaan sevak (prime servant) and not the Pradhaan Mantri (Prime Minister).
Saadharanikaran
Meaning ‘simplification without the loss of essence,’ this model is derived from Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra. It emphasizes the relational and social aspects of communication. Genuine communication goes beyond the transmission of information and is anchored in ‘compassion with affection.’ There is awareness of the potential for miscommunication across different social and cultural settings.
Saadharanikaran focuses on sahridayata, which means the convergence of hearts. It endeavors to identify mutual understanding between communicating parties. Sahridayata rests on two groups, preshaka (sender) and prapaka (receiver). The model acknowledges the importance of bhaava (emotional tone of communication) and sandarbha (cultural and situational context). At the sender’s end, there lies abhi-yanjana (an encoding), which refers to how language (verbal or otherwise) is used to convey an idea. The sandesha (message) then travels through a sarni (bridge) and can be affected by external dosha (noise). Once it reaches the receiver, she comprehends the rasa (essence) after rasasvaadana (decoding). The pratikriya (feedback) from the receiver concludes the communication process.
Balu draws attention to Robert Olivier’s observation that in Western rhetoric, the speaker seeks to obtain or even gently coerce agreement from his listeners. In ancient Asian rhetoric, however, the speaker seeks acceptance rather than agreement from his audience.
In Bharat, the exploration of rhetoric was a collective journey towards enlightenment. Both the speaker and the listener aimed to discover a universal truth that embraced them and all other things. The presupposition of a unified identity was unquestionably accepted, and any apparent contradictions were seen as shortcomings arising from individual limitations in character and understanding. Communication was revered as sacred, an embodiment of the concept of Shabda Brahman. This notion holds that the universe itself originated from Pranava (Om), the primordial sound. Words were thus held in high regard. In contrast, Westen tradition lays stress on persuasion, which then manifests in a perpetual struggle between the speaker and the listener.
Balu highlights PM Modi’s exceptional communication abilities by quoting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who underscores that communication is the medium through which Modi fosters unity, inspires action, and influences public sentiment, both at home and abroad.
Stitha-Prajna
One of the Bhagavad Gita’s key teachings is to maintain an inner calm amidst various life situations, pleasant or challenging. This evenness of mind is referred to as Samatvam. It requires one to develop what Ramana Maharishi called ‘witness consciousness,’ and this often takes years of sincere effort. ‘Witness consciousness’ is the state of being an impartial witness to one’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It emanates from the recognition that there is a deeper unchanging awareness that underlies the ever-changing flow of thoughts and emotions. By cultivating this consciousness, individuals can realize their true nature beyond the limitations of the body and the ego. Such people are described as stitha-prajna in the Bhagavad Gita. Free from attachment and desires, they remain unaffected by external circumstances. This state of equipoise not only helps one evolve spiritually but also aids in maintaining composure amidst both successes and failures. Leaders with such heightened spiritual awareness can very effectively harness what author Eckhart Tolle calls the ‘power of now’.
After the failed Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019, PM Modi hugged K. Sivan, the teary-eyed ISRO chairperson. Four years later, amidst the cheers surrounding the successful Chandrayaan-3 landing, PM Modi shifted the discourse to a steadfast pursuit of science entailing never-ending experimentation. He said that what mattered more than success or failure was a commitment to learn from each occasion. Those who worked closely with the PM were impressed with his equanimity, as he did not seem to be affected by the outcomes of either Chandrayaan-2 or Chandrayaan-3.
One emotion that comes in the way of this experience of ‘oneness,’ especially for those working under a lot of pressure, is anger. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna expounds on how engaging in practices like yoga and meditation can help calm the mind. Yoga today is often understood as a regimen of physical exercise. The actual meaning of yoga is elaborated upon in the Yoga Sutras attributed to sage Patanjali. Sutra 1.2 — Chitta Vritti Nirodha (yoga is calming the fluctuations of the mind) captures the essence of the text. In what is generally called Ashtaanga Yoga, Patanjali outlines the eight limbs of yoga, which entail different practices. Individuals who incorporate these into their routine begin to exhibit heightened empathy, sensory restraint, and presence in the moment.
A dedicated yoga practitioner, PM Modi exemplified both dispassion and detachment during the controversy surrounding the passage and subsequent withdrawal of the Farm Laws in 2020-21. In line with his commitment to raising farmers’ incomes by liberating farmers from vested interests, farm laws were passed in the Parliament in 2020, albeit amid loud opposition. Two major concerns soon emerged. One was the suspicion that the new laws might undermine the MSP (Minimum Support System). There was also the fear that the involvement of corporate entities could lead to the exploitation of farmers. What followed was a yearlong protest and eventually, in November 2021, PM Modi announced the repealing of the Farm Laws. In his address to the nation, he apologized and humbly acknowledged that he had failed to convince some farmers. All the while during this tense period, the PM is said to have maintained remarkable composure without having lost his cool even once.
Prajna Bala
In the Mahaabhaarata, Vidura (a respected figure) describes five kinds of power — prajna bala (intellect), abhijata bala (innate abilities of the ruler), dhana bala (economic power), amatya bala (good counsel), and bahu bala (physical power). The foremost power, according to Vidura, is buddhi (intellect) which facilitates discernment and acquisition of other forms of power. Intellect has helped man tame wild elephants. Vidura elaborates how the withdrawal of influence of the five senses can help in harnessing prajna bala. While the different manifestations of power are all interconnected, Indic thought lays particular emphasis on the ‘softer’ and ‘smarter’ application of power.
PM Modi’s leadership exemplifies the considered exercise of these powers, with a steadfast focus on lokahita (welfare of the public) and antyodaya (last mile) rather than lokapriyata (popularity). In December 2019, when very little was known about the Coronavirus outbreak in China, the PM called for a meeting to discuss a containment strategy that would require action across several ministries. The Cabinet Secretary recalled that he was impressed with PM Modi’s thorough grasp of the issue and the effectiveness with which such a large-scale crisis was managed. Mansukh Mandaviya (Union Minister of Health from 2021-24) reminisces how PM Modi’s approach was deeply sensitive towards the welfare of the common people.
Conclusion
Balu examines the legacy of three admired world leaders — Abraham Lincoln, Lee Kuan Yew, and Deng Xiaoping. They all affected a positive turnaround in the destinies of their respective countries. While their leadership was a product of the times they lived in, their actions did have the consequence of advancing materialistic tendencies.
In one of the most profound paragraphs in the book, Balu highlights that Indic thought recognizes the perennial action of two forces on people. One draws us higher to the sukshma (subtle) world, and the other draws us lower to the sthula (material) world. The pursuit of the lower makes life jada (inert) and dukkha (sorrowful), while the higher pursuit provides everlasting sukha (joy) in satya (truth). The more one practices pratyaahaara (restraining of senses) and purification of manasa, vacha, and karmana (thoughts, speech, and actions), the more one develops dharma drishti (vision) along with evolving a higher consciousness. A person traversing this path develops extraordinary skills. The mind is cultured to such a high degree that it manifests what it wills. This is the power of shuddha sankalpa (pure will) and the legacy of Dharma, which has been attested to by sages of all times, in Bharat and beyond.
PM Modi’s life, an embodiment of these practices, exemplifies leadership that is both culturally rooted and technologically forward-looking. Balu signs off by saying that leaders who consciously observe these principles will be able to exercise ‘Enlightened Leadership,’ driven by the power from within.
References
1. Goodreads. ‘Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi’
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214239476-power-within
