“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” These were the words of former South African President Nelson Mandela in his famous autobiography titled “Long Walk to Freedom”.
Mandela’s vision and how he faced the life experiences that moulded him are looked up to even today, due to the sheer courage he had, and he is aptly revered as a symbol of courage and a leader that spread kindness, forgiveness, and togetherness. That is why his birthday, which falls on 18 July, is commemorated worldwide as International Nelson Mandela Day.
Speaking of leaders, Sri Lanka has many self-proclaimed leaders, but when looking at how they have led the country thus far, a question arises as to how many of them have leadership qualities required to be a leader of a nation and lead a nation to prosperity and to establish peace. As a matter of fact, Sri Lanka is going through a time when it needs peace and prosperity more than ever before.
Sri Lanka ended a 30-year war against a separatist militant group in 2009, over a decade ago. However, when it comes to peace, more specifically an end to ethnic rifts that led to the war in the first place, unfortunately, we have not achieved as much success as the country’s leaders claim we have achieved. That is why even though there is no armed war, there are tensions between different ethnicities and religions. It does not stop there; hatred, power, and hunger for money, and discrimination exists among those of the same religion and ethnicity too, and it has prevented us from achieving things leaders have no control over, despite being a country heavily influenced by Buddhism that advocates most of the principles Mandela lived up to. The divisions that have plagued the country are too numerous to mention, but it would not be wrong to say that divisions among political parties and socio-economic classes have affected all aspects of the society and have begotten more divisions.
So, the question we must ask is not how our leaders differ from Mandela, but why have we, as a nation, failed to create and support a system that upholds unity.
The type of unity Sri Lanka needs cannot be established by leaders that follow Mandela’s path; people too have a responsibility. It is a responsibility that extends beyond merely wishing to elect leaders like Mandela; it is a responsibility peace-loving people too need to take.
Every time we discuss the fate that has befallen the country, with which many people are anything but happy, the most immediate concern is whether the people have chosen leaders who are truly committed to fulfilling the interests of the people and the country. Good leaders pave the way for more good leaders as they establish a political culture and a national appreciation for such leaders. These conditions are essential for good leaders to emerge.
However, in this respect, Mandela is somewhat of an exception as the conditions were less than ideal for a leader of his background and ethnicity to emerge in a deeply divided nation. This further enhances the work and struggle of Mandela. When Mandela led his people before being imprisoned in 1962, apartheid and institutionalised racial segregation was intense, and he had to spend nearly three decades of his life in prison. But the period of time he lived as a politician, which was less than a decade, was enough to make him a memorable politician, and Sri Lankan politicians have a lesson there.
As long as there are divisions among diverse ethnicities, social classes, professions, etc., Sri Lanka is unlikely to achieve what it wants to achieve as a nation, and it is those divisions that empower corrupt leaders and hinder the leaders that are genuinely interested in seeing a prosperous country. Perhaps, unity among the people is what Sri Lanka needs in order to create leaders like Mandela who prefer a unified nation over a divided one.
Mandela’s timeless lessons in leadership
19 Jul 2021
Mandela’s timeless lessons in leadership
19 Jul 2021
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” These were the words of former South African President Nelson Mandela in his famous autobiography titled “Long Walk to Freedom”.
Mandela’s vision and how he faced the life experiences that moulded him are looked up to even today, due to the sheer courage he had, and he is aptly revered as a symbol of courage and a leader that spread kindness, forgiveness, and togetherness. That is why his birthday, which falls on 18 July, is commemorated worldwide as International Nelson Mandela Day.
Speaking of leaders, Sri Lanka has many self-proclaimed leaders, but when looking at how they have led the country thus far, a question arises as to how many of them have leadership qualities required to be a leader of a nation and lead a nation to prosperity and to establish peace. As a matter of fact, Sri Lanka is going through a time when it needs peace and prosperity more than ever before.
Sri Lanka ended a 30-year war against a separatist militant group in 2009, over a decade ago. However, when it comes to peace, more specifically an end to ethnic rifts that led to the war in the first place, unfortunately, we have not achieved as much success as the country’s leaders claim we have achieved. That is why even though there is no armed war, there are tensions between different ethnicities and religions. It does not stop there; hatred, power, and hunger for money, and discrimination exists among those of the same religion and ethnicity too, and it has prevented us from achieving things leaders have no control over, despite being a country heavily influenced by Buddhism that advocates most of the principles Mandela lived up to. The divisions that have plagued the country are too numerous to mention, but it would not be wrong to say that divisions among political parties and socio-economic classes have affected all aspects of the society and have begotten more divisions.
So, the question we must ask is not how our leaders differ from Mandela, but why have we, as a nation, failed to create and support a system that upholds unity.
The type of unity Sri Lanka needs cannot be established by leaders that follow Mandela’s path; people too have a responsibility. It is a responsibility that extends beyond merely wishing to elect leaders like Mandela; it is a responsibility peace-loving people too need to take.
Every time we discuss the fate that has befallen the country, with which many people are anything but happy, the most immediate concern is whether the people have chosen leaders who are truly committed to fulfilling the interests of the people and the country. Good leaders pave the way for more good leaders as they establish a political culture and a national appreciation for such leaders. These conditions are essential for good leaders to emerge.
However, in this respect, Mandela is somewhat of an exception as the conditions were less than ideal for a leader of his background and ethnicity to emerge in a deeply divided nation. This further enhances the work and struggle of Mandela. When Mandela led his people before being imprisoned in 1962, apartheid and institutionalised racial segregation was intense, and he had to spend nearly three decades of his life in prison. But the period of time he lived as a politician, which was less than a decade, was enough to make him a memorable politician, and Sri Lankan politicians have a lesson there.
As long as there are divisions among diverse ethnicities, social classes, professions, etc., Sri Lanka is unlikely to achieve what it wants to achieve as a nation, and it is those divisions that empower corrupt leaders and hinder the leaders that are genuinely interested in seeing a prosperous country. Perhaps, unity among the people is what Sri Lanka needs in order to create leaders like Mandela who prefer a unified nation over a divided one.
Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!