The art of invisible leadership

One striking question that has been debated and discussed in most parts of the world and remains inconclusive revolves around - Does social development lead to economic growth or is it the economic growth that paves way for social development? From the Obamas and Modis to leaders from across the world, most of them are still ambiguous when it comes to summing up ‘social development vs economic growth’.

From the FDI reforms to cutting down BPO operations to trade agreements, the decisions of the leaders shape the future of the planet. In times of recession and global meltdowns, global warming and political upheavals, with the advent of unpredictable environments and ecological discontinuities, there is a compulsive need for responsible leaders to ensure a better future.

It is generally said that some people are born leaders whereas others just emerge as a great leaders depending
on the situation or the environment they are in.

And then you have the Dr Verghese Kurien kind of leaders, who come in the rare breed of ‘visionary’ category. How many of us youngsters with a masters degree from a US university would like to settle down in a village and work with the locals. A throwback to the 1940s will bring forth the visionary in Kurien, who spent his lifetime trying to achieve precisely these aspects that elevated the country’s status on the world stage. The vision that he had continues to bear fruit even as India stays firmly at the top as the leading milk producer of the world, but most importantly the social impact that he created across thousands of villages and shaping the lives of millions of villagers is incredible.

He not only created economic growth but brought social development inclusive in nature. He made a milkman gain economic independence that actually improved the community’s strata in the society.

It becomes difficult to understand how someone can transform small-scale household activity into world’s largest milk producing enterprise. That is where his contributions remain selflessly humane.

Dr Kurien empowered women and small and marginal farmers and provided them an additional and more importantly, a sustainable alternative source of revenue to augment their income besides a source of pride and dignity to millions of its shareholders.

In the Indian context, he effectively eliminated social taboos like caste system by having a same queue at the cooperative societies where everyone was treated equal. He built institutions with principles and values as he was driven by the urge to make a success of any venture he undertook. Operation Flood I & II, Amul, NDDB, IRMA and the powdered milk, which even surprised the corporate giants in the west, stand testimony to his visionary genius.

Dr Kurien is not a war hero; he did not create any masterpiece in literature or science and he never was a celebrated personality.

All he did was he ensured the next generations had milk to drink, strengthened the backbone of our economy - farmers - brought economic independence to rural women and built institutions that are sustainable and successful for next century. Given his contrbutions, Dr Kurien deserved bigger accolades in his lifetime. I salute the zeal of Dr Kurien, who we all identified as Dadu, and his eternal gift to mankind- Art of Invisible Leadership – Dadu’s version.

By: B Naga Trinadh