“The Leader Other Leaders Love”
In an article titled “The Leader Other Leaders Love”, the magazine said the economist-turned-politician Singh, engineered the transition “from stagnant socialism to a spectacular takeoff in the global economy.”
“But it’s Singh’s unassuming personal style that really inspires awe among his fellow global luminaries, who praise him for being modest, humble, and incorruptible,” the magazine said in the article.
It also quotes former International Atomic Energy Agency director-general and Egyptian presidential challenger Mohamed ElBaradei as saying that “the soft-spoken Singh is the model of what a political leader should be.”
The rank was based on five categories of national well-being, education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and political environment.
Newsweek’s list of Top ten world leaders Photos
The leader other leaders love
Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh was ranked No 1 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
Young and vivacious
British Prime Minister David Cameron was ranked No 2 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
Hero among environmentalists
Maldives’ President Mohamed Nasheed was ranked No 3 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
Controversy personified
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was ranked No 4 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
People’s Leader
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was ranked No 5 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
Leader of troubled times
Ireland Prime Minister Brian Cowen was ranked No 6 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
The leader with a foresight
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was ranked No 7 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
The leader with the soft skills
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was ranked No 8 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
The deft planner
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was ranked No 9 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
The reformer
Saudi Arabia’s King Adullah bin Abdel Aziz al-Saud was ranked No 10 in the list of top ten world leaders by ‘Newsweek’ magazine.
mr.manmohan, we, Indians are proud of you… You are doing great things for national development….
During the past few years I visited Gujarat. I had an opportunity to meet Shri Siddharth Patel amongst other prominent figures in politics. I was impressed with him and felt that he has a vision and resolve to lead the party in the State.
You also have a young and vibrant leader in Shri Shaktisinh Gohilji. His is sound more mature and daring. Above all he seemed to be more down to earth leader who knows his people and his own role.
What ever people in Congress think of Modi, his abilities can not be underestimated. I think two factors should be recognised – he has loyalty RSS card which bring him dedicated support and his personal leadership skills that brings him above every one else. Some one said, if Modi is gone, the BJP in Gujarat will have huge void to fill. I. Probably, that is why he has been buried in Gujarat to provide refuge for some politicians. In any battle, an eye on the strength and capacity of your opponent.
If you in any part of the world, they talking about Mahatma Gandhi, Paditji, Sardar Patel and Indira Gandhi. In most part of the world their names are associates with India.
While some media in India have been dismissing Sr Manmohanji as a puppet of Soniaji, today world has noticed his leadership and respects his economic sense. Today, Soniaji also is a name that is highly acknowledged in the international community. It is a great team at the centre. He has put India on an international map as a force that will have to be respected.
In succeed of India, there is a good story for Gujarat. Because, Gujaraties have always been aspiring to be successful businessmen. Gujarat blood is like that. In UK and USA the lead Gujaraties have taken; is an example that we are capable of making progress regardless of political stability.
In any battle, an eye on the strength and capacity of your opponent. Congress has right values, the challenge is to get the message effectively in to the communities.
Buddhdev welcomes views buddhdevp@googlemail.com
Some time ago, Sr Lal Krishna Advani cautioned BJP seniors, “We made the mistake of underestimating the mother, don’t do the same with him”. I wrote on – why Rahul Gandhi is destine for the most powerful office of the country. Below are some extracts for your party supporters.
Initially the opponents like BJP and RSS supporters were dismissive of the Rahul factor as inexperience ‘babalog’ (youngsters) and attributed successes to his good looks and youth. But, addressing the key party loyalists and managers he warned that it would be a mistake to dismiss Rahul Gandhi.
Their argument was that that “undue credit’ is given to him without doing anything spectacular or brilliant. But Rahul Gandhi’s impressive performance in the local state election that brought caused some uneasiness amongst his opponents.
The fear is growing as Rahul popularity is evident in rural India amongst the younger generation. It is no more secret that the Secretary of the Congress Party is most likely contender to the office of the Prime Minister. Now it is a regular pastime to point out that he lacks a macro view of the complexities involved in governance. A leading opponent commented, “one cannot understand the country merely by spending a night in a Dalit home!”
In public life often those who are sincere and determined do spend time with the people that matters to the voters. The late PM, Smt Indira Gandhi came to power with no relevant experience as a Minister and went on to becoming one the most formidable political figure. Rajiv Gandhi, her elder son, a quite unassuming figure just wanting to be a pilot ended up being a Prime Minister of India and left the legacy of the IT revolution. A bacon which became fundamental for India’s leading position in the world today.
The grandson is a ‘chip of the old block’ and knows value of building experience and local knowledge as a competent General Secretary should. There is nothing wrong to spend few hours in the home of a villager living in extreme poverty or digging roads in the Indian hot summer with the labourers to see how it feel. In an interview Rahul explained that we know the problems, but it is more important to share with them what the local solutions, often provides simple answers which are both realistic and workable.
After the general election fiasco, many BJP activist when asked would murmur, “We wish our leaders would have done the same to save us from such an embarrassment!” Party managers kick themselves for relying on support from their loyal media friends and singling out Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Sigh for personal attacks without offering any significant policy issues that matters to millions of voters.
‘Discovering India’, seems to be in the DNS of the family. Mahatma Gandhi spent travelling India precisely to see the ‘relevance’ to the meaning the needs of the people. From the late Diana who was named as the ‘people’s princess to the civil rights leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, all had one thing common. They took the time to be with ordinary people.
There is no doubt that the reluctant leader; politely refusing to confirm his desire to join the Government is preparing for is entry at the right time.
India has now at the new historical corner stone with the economic and technological progress. Modern politics and leadership demands advanced understanding and quality counsel for managing governance and policy in the world of complex globalisation.
He has taken bolder route to equip himself with a team of advisers who are drawn from business management expertise. Amongst them are Kanishka Singh, Sachin Rao, from Michigan Business School; and the Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria in foreign policy-related matters with Dalit affairs expert Dr Sudha Pai of the JNU all, providing expert counsel. His advisor-in-chief, however, continues to be his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He is known to maintain appropriate relationship with senior members in the party to ensure he does not loose out on experience, but seemed to rely more on his own peer group.
The political wind is more favourable for Rahul considering the state of the BJP, often described as a parry degenerating in to a dysfunctional political family. Their veteran leader Mr Advani are approaching near sun set time in their career as the Gandhi dynasty once gain seeing its rising start blooming. The Chief Minister of Gujarat State Mr Narendra Modi, once thought of a Prime Ministerial material saw his hopes dashed since the Godhra incident that ignited attacks on him. Last year in February during the war of words Mr Modi compared the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to a “small fish” in an aquarium. In the General Election that followed, Mr Modi along with Advani were blamed for the disastrous result for their party by othe BJP leaders.
The political future of the BJP seems doomed! Entry into the politics through the ‘right-wing’ gate, Mr Varun Gandhi, the son of Indira Gandhi’s second son, will prove a temporary nuisance for Rahul. Prediction may prove true that VG would be used as an ideal pawn against Rahul by the anti-Nehru Gandhi dynasty factions. The RSS most likely to dump him after restructuring its strategy to find a new creditable alterative to the tired old BJP!
Youth on his side, Rahul undoubtedly has a natural advantage over his opponents. His cousin, VG rides on a narrow single issue based on sectarian and communal interests. Rahul’s cry for a stake of the poor Indians in the economic success story of the country is already appealing the masses. The trump card in his strategy is the talks of ‘one India’ for all the people”. With ever growing army of skilled and educated younger generation looking for a new vision for their future, he is right on the spot to build his base with the help of such as Dr Jayeram, expert in team and leadership building.
His controversial wisdom to go-it–alone, once regarded as a blunder finally has paid off at the general election. Mr Pratap Mehta, President of Centre for Policy Research – a Think-Tank in Delhi commented at the time, “This is Rahul’s moment”. My thoughts are that his vision for ‘one India’ for every one is a new cry for a strong united country. It seats comfortable with its diversity which in time may proven a new welcome attraction to the masses of the disillusioned generation across many cities and villages in India.
The agenda of communal and sectarian politics is a significant threat to India’s economic progress and indeed unity of the nation. What impresses me is his faith in the human talent in India’s poorest states which he regards as good as anywhere else exposes a clear inclusive policy that is long over due in the Indian politics. Far from a view from with in an aquarium, he seemed to be embracing the new and modern world of pro-market forces while seeing it as an opportunity for the poor to have a stake in the success stories.
His biggest challenge will be to avoid the trap of hubris and managing those inevitable flatters. Then, of course the Party President Mrs Sonia Gandhi is beside him to shore up necessary support to over come the hurdles. And, what is wrong if she does that?
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