People and the Leader

Arjuna, the Leader of Pandava Army
with his Guide & Guru Lord Krishna

It has been a time tested and well established behavioral pattern of common masses imitating the good or bad acts committed by their leaders. Even in a family, the small kids usually imitate behavioral pattern their parents. Ordinary people always look towards their leaders in the society or country who can inspire people by truly walking on the path which they preach. If a leader possesses bad habits and acts contrary to what he preaches, sooner or later he/she looses the trust of the people. One cannot preach to his followers to do one thing while he/she himself/herself acts in a contrary manner. For example, a leader cannot teach people to stop smoking while he/she himself/herself is a smoker. A teacher has to set high moral standards to teach his student to be truthful, honest and brave. In a society, the leaders are under constant watch of the people and they expect them to be honest and truthful. The leaders are expected to follow the norms and conventions evolved in a society. In today’s time, the leaders cannot fool their followers for long by preaching one thing and doing the opposite. In the modern world; the parents, the teachers, sports persons, the journalists, film actors, the administrative officers, political persons and all public figures are knowingly or unknowingly acting as leaders for the society and the people. If they demonstrate highest level of integrity, high moral character, honesty, trust, truthfulness, service to the nation; they become the true leaders and role models for the people. If they themselves deviate from path and get involved in unethical behavior against societal norms, they lose respect, credibility and their position; soon to be dumped by the people. A nation flourishes if its leaders possess high personal character and integrity. If they act otherwise, the country suffers and people’s faith dips leading to the country’s towards low morale, downfall and self destruction.

In Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, Bhagwan Krishna beautifully conveys this message to the civilization through disciple Arjuna in the verse 21 of chapter 3;

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥ (21/3)




भावार्थ : महापुरुष जो-जो आचरण करता है, सामान्य मनुष्य भी उसी का ही अनुसरण करते हैं, वह श्रेष्ठ-पुरुष जो कुछ आदर्श प्रस्तुत कर देता है, समस्त संसार भी उसी का अनुसरण करने लगता है। (21/3)

Meaning: Whatever acts are done by leaders, the common man also imitates the same. The leaders set a standard for the people in the world and it acts as a guide to common man.

In this verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that he is leader of his army and therefore, it is his duty to fight the holy war in the battlefield of Kurukshetra to neutralize the evil designs of Durydhana and to establish victory of Dharma over Adharma (righteousness over evil).