Good governance goes beyond better government. It is the healthy interaction between government, youth, civil society and other stakeholders of the state that truly can create a roadmap towards better resolution. We must perhaps even re-think and re-discover a kind of government that is more open and inclusive, especially of the dynamic and innovative leaders who shape the political and economic machinery of their respective nation.
In order to re-shape the politics in J&K UT, we should establish a leadership that can truly, honestly and sincerely represent their people in more productive way and address their issues in more democratic accent. However, the electoral political leadership that has a key role to play in shaping the socio-politico-economic environment of the UT has seen many ups and downs for the last several decades.
Though it is quite understood that to run politics at a place like Jammu and Kashmir has never been easy and is bound with many extraordinary challenges to political machinery. However, we can relatively say that the electoral political leadership of the place need to re-imagine and re-establish in such a way that it could functionally and efficiently pay due attention to the dissent voices of its citizens and build a constructive roadmap for development in health, education, economy, social and political rights of its people.
To re-establish and redefine the idea of true leadership, a political leader must inherit the following qualities:
Honesty
Facing vulnerability and speaking out for people with true intention comes out to be a challenge though. However, honesty develops character and builds credibility and trust, which are the foundations to evoke confidence and respect from those around you, and in the case of political leaders, teammates and constituents.
Compassion
Compassion is the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something to alleviate that suffering. While many see compassion as a weakness, true compassion is a characteristic that converts knowledge to wisdom. Good political leaders use compassion to see the needs of those he or she leads and to determine the course of action that would be of greatest benefit to all those involved.
Integrity
The word integrity is defined as ‘the adherence to moral and ethical principles; the soundness of moral character.’ It is a synonym for honesty and uprightness, and is a vital characteristic for those in political leadership. Political leaders who possess integrity can be trusted because he or she never plays with his/her inner values, even when it might benefit them to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers. This requires the highest standard of integrity.
Confidence
Having confidence in a political leader is about having faith or belief that he or she will act in a right, proper, or effective way. A good political leader needs to be both confident in himself or herself as well in their ability to lead. Leaders who possess this quality inspire others, drawing on a level of trust which sparks the motivation to get others on board and get the job done.
Flexibility
Flexibility for a political leader is about understanding the give-and-take aspects of politics, and the ability to find the common ground. Good politicians listen carefully to all sides; hear the arguments to especially learn what it will take on behalf of all parties involved to reach a consensus. This characteristic allows political leaders to recognize setbacks and criticism, to learn from them and move forward.
Knowledge
Knowledge and intellect is crucial. Being a ministerial candidate, he/she should possess knowledge about the system, constitution, laws etc. A leader’s behaviour flows from three main sources- attitude, desire and knowledge. A leader must get aware that with power comes responsibility and that responsibility has to be executed through the true representation of the issues of the people.
Great political leaders have all of the above qualities – and more. Each aspires to respect different views, analyse problems, and identify the best solutions – not based on loyalty to their political gains, but rather based on what is good and right and in the best interest of the state as a whole.
So the need of the times is to emerge a sensible leadership for the cause. Sensible leadership can have an immense role to play in reshaping the distorted political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370. It is well understood to everyone that abrogation of special status and concomitant downgrading of the erstwhile state to a Union Territory – has drastically changed the overall political scenario and emerged new challenges to face for the existing and de-novo political leadership of the place.
I would like to infer with hope and optimism that in these testing times of massive political transition, we shouldn’t be hopeless and helpless, and rather we need to instil positivity, braveness and courage among people to move forward towards dawn of development and light. Our political leaders need to get sensitive enough towards the growing challenges in education, health , economy, basic human rights and the existing political system in Jammu and Kashmir and should shoulder responsibility to set it right in a more positive direction.
The coming assembly elections could provide as an initiation to foster robust development in the UT in multiple dimensions. Irrespective of the party, the elections should reflect as a testament to strengthen the gross roots democracy. Many intellectual educated minds including independents are participating in such elections and are passionate to work for the development of the erstwhile state- that is an encouraging sign.
And it is high time to re-imagine the political landscape at grass roots level, do a kind of thorough introspection and foster an internal dialogue mechanism among ourselves to design a way forward in reshaping and revolutionizing the politics of the region. Moreover, actively engaging in mainstream electoral political process through dialogues, debates, discussions and participations is the way forward in strengthening the grass roots democratic system. As politics influence our lives in multiple ways, there is a need to seriously re-think and disrupt the way the politics has been happening in the UT for decades and come forward with a revolutionary leadership to reshape it.
(Author is a medical doctor, public speaker and columnist. He can be reached at: [email protected])
