Like in any tough and challenging situation, COVID-19 will bring out great leaders in all spheres — the country, society, organisations and at home
As the Coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the world, the West is adopting some age-old Indian traditions like greeting people with folded hands and the use of ayurveda. As we battle the biggest common enemy of mankind, it is crucial for us to go back to our roots and give the world the much-required leadership lessons that we have acquired from one of the greatest Hindu scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita, in the dialogue between Arjuna and his guide and charioteer, Lord Krishna.
Walk the talk: Not only in the Bhagavad Gita but also in the great Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, leading by example is envisioned for a great leader. No matter how hard it is, a leader should walk the talk. This has been beautifully brought out in chapter three of Karma Yoga verse 21: “Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” India was one of the first nations to organise a countrywide 21-day lockdown which was later followed by many others. This was quite a feat given the size of the country and its population of 1.3 billion. Now, this lockdown has been extended till May 3. It is true that several sections of society, particularly migrant workers, had to undergo tremendous suffering due to the shutdown but this decision had to be taken for the benefit of the country, else the virus would have been uncontrollable. A good leader takes tough decisions when it is required. Indians collectively changed the global perception of being undisciplined and disorganised and by and large followed the directives of the Government. Several countries and global organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) have praised India’s response as comprehensive and robust and have lauded our huge efforts towards prevention and spreading of the virus through increased surveillance, testing protocols and isolation procedures.
Mutual association: One of the most important concepts of well-being is coexistence and interdependence and a great leader should incorporate the same in his governance style. Man cannot survive alone on this planet, so it is his responsibility to take care of the environment, plants and animals. The shanti (peace) mantra from Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Upanishad shows the importance of mutual association: “Om. May he protect us both together; may he nourish us both together. May we work conjointly with great energy, may our study be vigorous and effective. May we not mutually dispute. Om. Let there be peace in me. Let there be peace in my environment. Let there be peace in the forces that act on me.”
All countries have to work with each other to solve the greatest problem, the pandemic, which they are facing together. India has again taken a lead in this regard in its fight against the Coronavirus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader who called for collective action against Covid-19 at the SAARC and G-20.
Developing a sense of equanimity: Chapter 2, verse 48 of the Bhagavad Gita throws light on samatva or equanimity. It teaches us that a true leader performs his duties keeping the best interests of society in mind. He might take some tough decisions, which may be successful or could fail. But in either situation, a leader keeps his cool. The lockdown was appreciated as a tough but necessary step to stop the spread of the pandemic. But the Government was also criticized for the hardship suffered by the migrant workers. According to a survey by Jan Sahas, a civil society organisation, most of the labourers are worried about lost jobs, lack of food, illness and the inability to return to their hometowns and villages. The recent suicide of a labourer in Gurugram, leaving behind four children, wife and parents, is a grim reality of how these daily wage labourers are becoming victims of the lockdown. In addition, many small businessmen and traders are also suffering as their establishments are closed, with no revenue coming in and bills, loans and salaries pending. Bigger businesses with huge costs are also grappling with the problem of liquidity. Professionals are worried as organisations lay off people. Leaders are faced with a catch-22 situation and having the virtue of samatva during these difficult times makes the difference between a great commander and a weak one.
“This, too, shall pass,” is a Persian adage that shows the temporary nature of everything. The eternal hope is that this mayhem caused by the Coronavirus will also become a thing of the past. We will go back to our normal lives but after learning very important lessons about respecting our freedom and responsibility towards nature and civil society alike. And like with any tough and challenging situation, COVID-19 will bring out great leaders in all spheres — the country, society, organisations and at home — who would work harder to stay on top of things, explore and pursue innovative solutions to problems and inspire other members to stay positive.
(The writer is Associate Professor, Amity University, Noida)
