Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Making of a good leader

One of the main reasons for any conflict is engaging in “violent communication” on a daily basis. A violent communication is based on judgment and not observations. A violent communication can be in thoughts, action, speech or writings. A non-violent communication, on the other hand, is either based on observations or on individualized opinions. These observations or opinions are always written or spoken as quote-unquote.
“Congress calls Anna Hazare 'unelected tyrant' (TOI)”
“Hazare team targets ‘arrogance of power’ (Calcutta Telegraph)”
“Threat to democracy is from unelected tyrants, says Congress (TOI)”

These are few of the latest headlines in the media that reflect a war of words and hence, violent communication between the Government and Anna Hazare team.
If we look at the current scenario, both Baba Ramdev earlier and now the Anna Hazare team are violently communicating through the media.
The three ‘Cs’ of violent communication are: Criticize, condemn and complaint.
Using violent communication is expected of a politician, in this age of Kalyuga, but for a Satyagrahi team or a saint to communicate in such a manner is beyond comprehension.
Most of the recent statements of Anna Hazare team, through media, press conferences and during their Satyagraha demonstrations, have used phrases that give an impression of violent communication.
A medical perspective on this is that reading a violent communication incites negative feelings in the heart of the readers, which can even produce a feeling of anger.
Any righteous fight, which is based on violent communication like criticism, condemning and complaining will soon lose its credibility.
When Anna Hazare started his movement, he began on a positive note based on the Gandhian philosophy of non violence. Here, one must bear in mind that violence does not only stand for riots; it also denotes violence in your speech and thoughts.
The general public joined Anna Hazare in large numbers, especially, the younger generation, in his non violence approach to anti corruption. His non violent approach won the attention of the general public, media and the government and a committee was soon constituted. But, since then, the communication to the public by the Anna Hazare team has not been based on the principles of non violence.
In Sat Yuga and Treta Yuga, when the majority of the people were truthful and there was Ram Rajya, there too were people like Ravana and his team, though in minority, still created hell for the society. Similarly, the Dwapar Yuga, the era of Lord Krishna, had people like Kansa. Likewise, in Kal Yuga, when we have majority of Ravanas and Kansas, we are bound to have Satyugi people, even though in minority. Just as Ravana and Kansa created havoc for the society in their respective eras, in Kal Yuga too, some Satyugi people, even if in minority, can create havoc for the Kalyugi people in majority. 
After the death of Bhagwan Sai Baba, many people began thinking that they have got another Avtar in the guise of Anna Hazare to lead this Satyugi minority population.
Whether a person is a Satyugi or Kalyugi is decided by presence of some or all the four characteristics as mentioned in Srimad Bhagwad: Truthfulness (Satya), Selfless hard work (Tap), positive thoughts (purity) and Daya & Daan (Charity).
1.      If all the four characteristics are present, the person is Satyugi.
2.       If truthfulness is absent, the person is Tretyugi
3.       if both truthfulness and hard work are absent, one is Dwaparyugi
4.       When only Daan & Daya are present, the person is Kalyugi.
 To become a Satyugi in today, one should follow the principles of communicating the non-violent way.
 If Anna Hazare group continues to communicate violently, they will lose their credibility in the public.
 Saam Daam Dand Bhed is taught and practiced as a fundamental principle in politics. It is understandable that politicians in power will try to instigate Anna Hazare so that he responds using violence in his speech and in this way lose his credibility in the public.
 And this is what has been happening over the last few days. Everyday we are witnessing members of his team attacking the government with violence in their speech. Anna Hazare should realize that public sympathy is with Anna Hazare; he is respected as a Gandhian and not his team mates. If they continue using violent communications, this movement will lose its importance and impact.
 Is somebody listening?
About the author: Padmashri & Dr. B.C. Roy National Awardee, Dr. K K Aggarwal is a Senior Consultant, Physician, Cardiologist at Delhi based Moolchand Medcity; President Heart Care Foundation of India; Chairman Ethical Committee Delhi Medical Council and has served as the Research and Academic Wing Heads of National Indian Medical Association.

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