Until beginning of this 2010, Dr Manmohan Singh was on of the highly credible and respected leaders of India. On par with, Atal Behari Vaypayee, the tallest leader among the current political class, the ex-President and widely respected Dr APJ Abdul Kalam or NR Naryana Murthy, iconic businessman and founder of Infosys technologies. But what happened to Dr Singh credibility with in a span of 365 days?
If we look at Vaypayee, Dr Kalam or Nayana Murthy, one thing that strikingly different for Dr Singh is - he is neither seen as independent nor assertive. Let's take the case of Vajpayee. He was from the right wing Hindu RSS organisation. As RSS member, Vaypayee was at the best should have been pro-Right, Pro-Hindu and anti-westernisation. Once Vaypayee became Premier - he proved otherwise. He was as always seen, proved to be moderate and never was under the instructions of his RSS masters. In a nutshell, he was independent and assertive. This never alienated him from the Hindus, Muslims or RSS. All in all, Vajpayee is now rated on of the best Prime Ministers of independent India.
Dr Kalam comes from the Government of India Service. He was a President by accident due to the circumstances of the time. He was in fact, made the President of India by the Vajpayee Government of the time. Again, once in the President shoes, for five years - Kalam asserted his independence. Shunned his political masters, took the critical decisions and became the "Peoples President". Either in the office or outside, today Dr Kalam is one of the most inspiring leaders.
Finally, Murthy is a businessman. Infosys brought international fame to the Indian IT services. Murthy is an icon. Known for his honest and independent views, needless to say - Mr Murthy is an inspiration for the future generations of leaders.
Vaypayee, Kalam and Murthy have lead by an example and at the same time inspired generations.
Recently I was watching the Hollywood blockbuster, "Invictus" and I was particularly impressed by one of the conversations between Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar. Mandela himself, one of the inspiring leaders of Mahatma Gandhi class wanted South African Spingboks Rugby team to win the 1995 Rugby world cup hosted by South Africa. But Springboks were at their worst recorded performance about the time and he was told that at best the team could scrape through the initial rounds but there was no chance of them winning against Australia, England or New Zealand to claim the cup.
Then Mandela invites Pienaar to his office for tea. During the conversion (one of the best motivating discussion), Mandela asks Pienaar, how he would make his team a winner? Pienaar replies "leading by example". Then Mandela talks about the Invictus poem and how it helped him to get "motivated" and "inspired" while he was imprisoned in Robin Island or afterwards. The conversion in a nutshell -"leading by example without inspiring the team or motivating them to win would be futile" Pienaar, some what shaken by the powerful words of President, comes out and tells his girlfriend "I never met a person like Mandela in his life". Rest was history and as the movie tells the story how - South Africa have in fact won the 1995 world cup.
Dr Singh leads by example. Simple, honest and sincere. Does these qualities make him a great leader? The Prime Minister who cannot be independent, assertive (except on very rare occasions like Nuclear deal episode), inspiring or motivating can never be, of course. Under the circumstances, Dr Singh is not having any hope to revive such qualities. Dr Singh at best could be a good number #2 and he can never be a #1.
"Ask why are you leaving, not why are you not leaving" is one of the best self introspecting question, for any one in the public office. Vajpayee, Kalam and Murthy knew this question and demitted their office at the right time. Dr Singh must have known by now that his image is sharply blurred following some of the worst corruption scandals that independent India has ever seen. Being tied down by his political masters, Singh could not do anything to stop the scandals and now, the fingers are pointed directly at him.
Singh is nothing to gain even if Congress wins or looses 2014 elections. Rated one of the intellectual brains worldwide, for me the question for 2011 is - why Dr Singh wanted still to occupy 7, Race Course Road while he can only lead by example?
Only Dr Singh knows the answer - but for an unkown like me - isn't it that power sucks even the honest!
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