Mahatma Gandhi, An Exemplary Leader
B.P
Wilmington University, Delaware
Class MGT-6503 Leadership Development and Change Management
Professor – Sherry L. Read
Author Note
B.P, Department of Business Management, Wilmington University, Delaware
Keywords: leadership, traits of leadership, emergent leader, credibility, honesty, integrity, visionary, follower-centric, transformational and charismatic, quality
Profile Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, (born on October 2nd 1869 in Porbandar, India – died January 30th 1948 in New Delhi, India) was a leader of Indian Nationalist Movement opposing British rule, considered to be ‘Father of the Nation’. His father Karamchand Gandhi served as a high official to the ruler of Porbandar State (Rajkot).
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Gandhi said: “The history of the world is full of men who rose to leadership, by sheer force of self-confidence, bravery and tenacity”. Gandhi had many positive leadership qualities which led him to be the Father of the Nation. Few of which are described below: Honesty and Integrity Integrity is consistency between words and deeds. (5) Kouzes and Posner conclude: Honesty is absolutely essential to leadership. After all, if we are willing to follow someone, whether it be into battle or into the boardroom, we first want to assure ourselves that the person is worthy of our trust. We want to know that he or she is being truthful, ethical and principled. We want to be fully confident in the integrity of our leaders (Kouzes and Posner).(2) A high degree of self-efficacy and integrity, which Gandhi possessed as a boy, stayed with him throughout his adult years.(4) He said that he never resorted to untruth in his profession, and that a large part of his legal practice was in the interest of public. He preached forgiveness, and there was consistency between his words and action. “Nonviolence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another… There is no god higher than truth” (Mahatma Gandhi). Forward Looking or Visionary Gandhi’s vision was to see India independent, and after independence and partition, his vision was to see that all the communities live in unity without looking for
Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Kathiawar, India, which in that time was part of British Empire. Gandhi was unfortunately killed by a fanatic in 1948. His father and mother were Karamchand Gandhi, a chief minister and Putlibai Gandhi, a deeply religious woman who fasted regularly. Gandhi studied law and advocated for the civil rights of Indians. Gandhi became a leader of India’s Independence movement.
Thesis: A true leader, an anti-war activist, and the leader of India’s independence movement, Mohandas Gandhi was a man of great significance.
Florence Nightingale, Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi all have one thing in common: they are leaders who made positive historical impacts. Inspirational in the eyes of their followers, these leaders used their eloquence and influence to mobilize a team and achieve shared goals. However, as much as history likes to show how they powerful and superior they were, one thing is certain: these leaders were the ultimate servants because they served the people and the purpose they lead.
Aroused by the massacre of Amritsar in 1919, Gandhi devoted his life to gaining India’s independence from Great Britain. As the dominant figure used his persuasive philosophy of non-violent confrontation, he inspired political activists with many persuasions throughout the world (Andrews 23). Not only was Mahatma Gandhi a great peacemaker, but also his work to achieve freedom and equality for all people was greatly acknowledged. Gandhi’s unconventional style of leadership gained him the love of a country and eventually enabled him to lead the independence movement in India.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948), a past lawyer now world-renowned activist, led India’s independence movement from Great Britain through his praxis of Satyagraha to take it back from Colonial rule. To him “the greatest menace to the world today is growing, exploiting, irresponsible imperialism.” Mahatma— meaning supreme soul— Gandhi showed his distaste towards British imperialism through non-cooperative and non-violent movements when he saw what had become on India on his return: use of culturally suffused symbols, Satyagraha— which is an emphasis on truth in the political field— and his ability to win the masses. Following World War I he returned to India from South Africa and became involved with the Indian National Congress and the
America was built on the foundation of Francis Scott Keys Poem, the phrase, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” The people who designate their future and life to others, that shed blood and tears, and risk it all, are people who have made a difference and have protected the ones who prioritize survival. Gandhi is one of many inspirations who has risked his safety and protection to stand against the enemies to serve a point in history and nonviolently fight for his religion and culture. He, as well as many others risked their lives to pursue India to independence and further inspire civil rights movements and freedom across the globe. Another innovative leader who promoted a fight for the benefits of others was Harriet Tubman, who fought for the freedom of all slaves while risking her life and future. She lead over three hundred slaves to safety, by generation an illegal and dangerous escape route, known as the Underground Railroad. Today it is the military system, the men who willingly put there life on the line for others and our nation to keep us safe and guarantee our freedom. There are a variety of bold and courageous leaders in the world, and they are the few who will make a difference in mankind.
Mohandas K. Gandhi, known to the world as The Mahatma, or the "Great Soul", brought a great gift to the modern world. That gift was the light of Non-Violence, of Service to the Community and of Social Justice. His life served as an example and this light became a torch which illuminated our world and which saved us from our own
The world has been molded throughout history by some very knowledgeable and selfless leaders who have given up their lives in the name of freedom. Mahatma Gandhi was a nonviolent leader in India who inspired the world to resolve their disputes with peace. Gandhi inspired many to follow in his footsteps, such as Martin luther King Jr. Gandhi was the selfless leader who caused the many nonviolent Civil Rights protests.
Great leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Franklin D. Roosevelt all had an eclectic list of characteristics, but they shared three important ones. These leaders were trustworthy, loyal, and honest, and those are some of the characteristics which make a great leader.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869- 1948). Played a huge role in India independence by inspiring movement for civil rights, non-violence and freedom around the world. He led his followers by example. He inspires them to give their best to India. His strong vision for a change in India reflects Gandhi as a transformational leader.
In shaping my personal theory, I sought out my own definition of leadership. To do this, reflected on some of the leaders I admired such as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Indira Gandhi, and Mahatma Gandhi, Why did I admire them? Were there any shared qualities they possessed? What I noticed with many of these leaders was their selflessness, their strong ethics and their ability to bring
Historically, there were many good leaders. Each of them were unique with their attributes. However, there were only some leaders that were very effective. One of these leaders was Gandhi. Gandhi was a leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule by using nonviolent civil disobedience. Another example was Julius Caesar who was a leader in the Roman Republic and transformed the republic into an empire. However, Caesar lacked attributes that Gandhi has that could have made him a more effective leader. Although seen as a person who restrained Britain from growing, Mohandas Gandhi was an effective leader because of his humility, his persistence, and his inspiration and motivation to his followers.
Gandhi was very different form the other leaders of that era, He was not just a political figure but also a humanitarian and spiritual leader, He was called ‘Mahatma’ which means ‘Great Soul’ .One with an uncanny ability to connect with a common man which is perhaps why his movements had such a good following. One other thing which distinguished Gandhi was the fact that his ideology was not limited to a single community or country. His commandments of non-violence and peace could be applied anywhere in the world and would`ve been just as effective. One such example is of Adul Ghaffar Khan, the North West Frontier had a reputation for violence and aggression, the
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, widely known as “Mahatma Gandhi,” was popular for his involvement in the independence movement against the British rule of India, as well as advocating for the rights of Indians in South Africa. He was born in Porbandar, India, on October 2, 1869. Gandhi studied law and began organizing boycotts and other peaceful forms of civil disobedience against British institutions in an effort to reduce British influence on Indian culture, and ultimately, gain independence. Despite his fame as a peaceful protester, he was killed by a Hindu fanatic on January 30, 1948.
Mahatma Gandhi was an inspirational and non-violent leader who was instrumental in both South Africa and India during their social movements. He is now known as an international symbol of piece and human rights. Business academics throughout the world have also praised Gandhi as a pioneer of non-violent activism contributing his methods to the theory of transformational leadership. He showcases a multitude of characteristics, which couldn’t be contextualized through various management and organizational theories provided in textbooks until after his death when many people began to analyze his practices. By comparing Gandhi’s real life examples of leadership with the theories and concepts provided from various sources we can begin to understand how these principles can be used to lead in a multitude of environments.