“I have lived a long life,
and I am proud that I spend the whole of my life in the service of my people. I
am only proud of this and nothing else. I shall continue to serve until my last
breath, and when I die, I can say, that every drop of my blood will invigorate
India and strengthen it.” —Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was one of the
most charismatic women leaders of India. She was renowned for her courageous
leadership and daring decisions whether it was winning the war against Pakistan
in 1971 or flushing out the militants from the Golden Temple in 1984. She was
also infamous for imposing emergency and an unprecedented centralization of
power. In this post, we will discuss her leadership style and the lessons we
must learn from her leadership.
Leadership
Lessons
“You must learn to be still
in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.” —Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was the only
first woman Prime Minister of India. She was the second longest serving Indian
Prime Minister after Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. She encountered several
challenges one after another in her personal life and political career. However,
she came out with flying colors with her grit and determination. She survived and
succeeded in a male-dominated society. It is obvious from her challenges and
controversies that she was the most interesting and inspiring leader at that
time. There are several lessons you can learn from her leadership. Here are
some of them.
- Walk your talk.
- Be a great communicator.
- Connect with the common
people emotionally.
- Overcome volatility,
uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA).
- Convert your threats
into opportunities.
- Encounter the challenges
head-on.
- Make bold decisions.
- Be tenacious and
resilient.
- Encourage women
empowerment.
- Stand by your principles
and philosophies.
I served in the Indian Air
Force and my first posting was to the Air Force Station, Race Course, New Delhi
in 1983. I served there for three months. I was fortunate to see Indira Gandhi regularly
because her residence was a walkable distance to my residence. I was personally inspired by her grace,
charisma, and leadership.
Conclusion
“All my games were political
games; I was, like Joan of Arc, perpetually being burned at the stake.” —Indira
Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was a bold,
beautiful, and brilliant woman leader. She was loyal to her nation and expected
loyalty from her team. She consulted her team before making decisions. Once she
made the decisions, she never looked back. She was firm and determined. She
adopted nationalization, abolished privy purses, and liberated Bangladesh from
Pakistan. She was successful in the Green Revolution, joining the club of
countries with nuclear weapons, and building a strong nation. She was a
stateswoman. She led our nation despite several constraints and stiff opposition
both at home and abroad. She made India a powerful nation in South Asia.
Indira Gandhi received
several awards for her contribution to India and world including Bharat Ratna
and Bangladesh Freedom Honour. She was
named "Woman of the Millennium" in an online poll organized by the
BBC.
Learn lessons from her
leadership to excel as a courageous leader. You are gifted with one life and
you must deliver your goods with excellence without craving for any attention
and approval from others to provide meaning to your life.
Indira Gandhi remains an
inspiration for all Indians and will be remembered forever in Indian history
for her courageous leadership and contribution. Jai Hind.
“Forgiveness is a virtue of
the brave.” —Indira Gandhi
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