On this auspicious occasion of 25th International Ramayana Conference, let us observe the great traits of leadership in Raama, as portrayed by Sage Valmeeki in Ramayana. Leadership is a natural trait for many people, among which Sri Rama stands as the tallest.
Leadership cannot demand respect, but shall command respect. To command respect, leadership cannot limit itself to preaching, but shall stand in the frontline, to practise the tenets of the philosophy, they follow. Valour is not to slay a mighty person or a group of weak kneed foot soldiers. Valiant Leader is the one, who does not crumble under pressure to compromise the principles.
To analyse this better, let us remember some of the ground rules to define leadership and valour.
· विकारहेतौ सति विक्रियन्ते येषान्न चेतांसि त एव धीराः। They are the brave people, whose minds do not waver in the trying circumstances.
· न मात्सर्यं न च क्रोधः न भीतिः, न च भेदधीः। No Jealousy, No Fury, No Fear, No Discrimination – These are traits of a good leader.
· न खलु वयस्तेजसो हेतुः। The nature of great people is noticed from the very beginning. Age cannot be the criteria, for bravado.
· संस्कारमात्रेण जनः प्रवर्तते, निर्बन्धवाक्यं फलदायि न स्यात्। स्वयं त्वनुष्ठाय फल प्रदर्शनं You need not and should not force someone to follow your principle. Instead, exhibit your achievement and success by simply putting into practice your guiding principles. Your success should induce your follower to be guided by your philosophy. This will have long lasting effect, rather than compulsion.
· धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः। Dharma is a principle, which protects the humanity, if followed properly. If violated, it would turn out to be your nemesis. Apply this to the instance of a traffic rule, which prohibits traffic movement on the right side of the road (in India). If you violate this principle, collision is inevitable which could result in grievous injury and even death.
All of the above mentioned sentences are exemplified by Sri Rama. We shall now analyse the Magnanimous personality of Raama by citing some of the instances from Ramayana.
Generally people tend to follow principles, if it conforms to their convenience. A person can be termed, as principled if does follow under two circumstances.
1. In the most trying difficult moment.
2. In absolute privacy (where there is no supervision or surveillance
Though most of us come across such situations of life it is common that we succumb to the temptation. The incarnation of Rama was to help us draw parallels of joys and sorrows of life and manners of dealing with the circumstances. All through his life, Rama had faced many such testing situations in life. His apt behaviour had not only defined his virtuous character, but also laid ground rules for thousands of generations to emulate. Let us cite some of them.
1. Following Sage Viswamitra to the forest, in view of the compelling state of his unwilling father
2. Slaying the demoness Taataka
3. Relinquishing throne, to honour the promise of his father to Kaikayee.
4. Reaffirming his resolve to spend 14 years of Life in forest, even without basic amenities
5. Refusing the lusty overtures of Surpanakha (even in absolute privacy)
6. Obliging Hermits to control the misdeeds of demons
7. Providing refuge to the kin of the enemy, without inhibition
8. Dispatching an emissary with a message of peach to avoid bloodshed of thousands of followers (Soldiers) and ordinary mortals losing life for the sake of the lust of their ruler
9. Ensuring decent funeral and according respects to the brave and great enemy, in spite of his committed sins
10. Assigning the kingdom to the native, instead of usurping the defeated regime
These are some of the examples to draw our attention to the fact that, Sri Rama had been a leader to inspire scrupulous adherence to fundamental principles of life. In fact, he was a sort of unassuming leader inspiring millions of people throughout the kingdom to follow his path.
Normally, ideals are construed as impractical. (Whatever is termed as good ideal ought not to be practical, due to constraints and temptations). However, Rama’s regime was one such exception in known human history, where the emperor had led his subjects to practise and uphold Dharma. Precisely, this is the reason, why we fondly term the word Raama Raajya, which refers to the combination of idealism with practicality.
Eventful years in the history of Raama, such as the 14th year of Vana Vaasa (Stint at the Forest) and the preceding and following years are gloriously portrayed in many treatises, due to the dramatic values. But, very little is said about the institution, Sri Rama had set up during his greatest regime, spanning over 10,000 long years. He was the first known ruler to assign administrative divisions to able men, among the clan for better administration. In fact, this decentralisation of power had averted frequent battles.
Moreover, no transgression on the part of administrators or officials was overlooked and excused, instilling a sense of accountability among ruling class. Absence of this vital aspect, wreaks havoc in the world, as it is evident. Threat of usage of Force, rather than the actual usage of force worked wonders in his regime. This was solely possible; due to the moral authority he exercised to pre-empt the crime; apart from the divine prowess.
The first chapter of Ramayana enlists the virtues mandatory for an administrator. Ramayana mentions, the humility required for the mighty, so that one does not end up being arrogant.
In these days, in the garb of secularism, we are not teaching the next generation, the basic ethos of our culture. Even those, reading Ramayana as a religious scripture are oblivious of the great Dharmik traits exhibited by Sri Rama, ending up as equally indifferent. In this process, the society is getting demoralised, in the sense of insensitivity towards morality and ethics. In fact, conservative Europe is still lucky to have the religious education, in which students inculcate fundamental ethics of life. But, for minor exceptions the system has been quite useful, as we can observe. Etymologically speaking, religion is to reconnect our self to divinity, so that we remain poised and dignified in joy and sorrow.
In order to train our future administrators, officials and to inspire the rulers including politicians to do the perfect job, it is highly needed to study the Ramayana from the administrative perspective. Rather than looking Rama as a mythological figure or a religious personality, it is quite pertinent to view his administrative personality as a case study and to emulate the precedent, as applicable to current day context.
On this forum, we call upon the intelligentsia and political leadership, to wake up and address the calamity of ethical degeneration, resulting in the disintegration of society due to corrupt practices and environmental pollution due to greed, perversion and neglect. Poverty in terms of values and ethics is far more frightening than material poverty, as affluence acquired thru ill-gotten methods is destined to end up in disaster sooner or later. This is often proved by history.
Let us vow to emulate Sri Rama in right earnest and promote His principles thru the study of Ramayana.
आपदा मपहर्तारं दातारं सर्वसम्पदाम्।
लोकाभिरामं श्रीरामं भूयो भूयो नमाम्यहम्।
श्रीरामाय नमः
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