Creative Leadership for National Development ..By DR.APJ ABDUL KALAM

[Guest guest]

AN INSPIRING SPEECH ..AND A MUST READ Creative Leadership for National Development ..By DR.APJ ABDUL KALAM  Address to the 83rd foundation course of Centre Civil Service Probationers At Dr. MCR Human Resource Development Institute

14/Nov/2009 : Hyderabad“A leader is one who knows the way,goes the way, and shows the way.”

I am delighted address and interact the participants of the 83rd Foundation course of Centre Civil Group-I Officers of India at the Dr. MCR Human Resource Development Institute in Hyderabad. My greetings to all of you. I am happy that MCR HRD Institute has developed core-competence in conducting courses for international, national and state government officers primarily from the public and government sector. I congratulate the pioneers both present and past who have laid a robust system of training for the probationary officers coming from different streams.

The country today has an ambience with accomplishments in various sectors and with a sprit that “we can do it”. All of you will be contributing in your own way to this ambience. Yes, we have many challenges before us to meet our vision for 2020. But then we have to see them as opportunities for using our experience, our innovative capabilities, our technological potential, our networking skills and our values based on our civilizational heritage to achieve our vision and development profile.

For the sustainable growth in the global knowledge economy, the thrust has to be on the development of large number of creative leaders. I would like to talk on the topic “Creative Leadership for National Development”.

I studied the composition of officer trainees of 83rd Foundation course and found that they belong to IRS (IT), IRS (C & CE), Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). This composition represents the revenue generation system of the nation, an organization which deals with mass transportation of goods and people indicating the vibrancy of business and social activities and a group which assesses the overall economic health of the nation for finding online interventions to improve the economy.

Today, in my talk, first I would like to share my experience with a few civil service officers who had participated in mission mode programmes. Then I will talk about knowledge society and the linkage between national economic development and creative leadership. This will be followed by leadership style of few creative leaders whom I personally know. I will conclude with the special traits, I had observed in these creative leaders.

My experience with Civil Service officersFriends, when I am in the midst of civil service officers undergoing foundation course, my thoughts go back to three senior civil service officers whom I came across during different phases of my life. Shri TN Seshan was the Joint Secretary and later Additional Secretary during the seven years of SLV-3 programme from concept to launch. One unique quality in him which I saw and cherished is, as a board member of SLV3, he would read the agenda papers fully and come ready with suggestions and questions on each one of the agenda points. Also, he will insist on reporting of the action taken on the minutes of the previous board meeting. Both these actions of Shri Seshan enhanced the contribution of the board to the project and enabled me as a Project Director to keep up the project time schedule.

His major trait was his determination to achieve the goals of the missions in-time.Evolution of guidance missile programmeDuring the guided missile programme phase in 1982-1983, Shri Rao Saheb Krishnaswamy was the Cabinet Secretary, when I was the Director, DRDL. Before the submission of the Cabinet Note on the missile programme, there was a pre-meeting with Shri Venkataraman, the then Raksha Mantri, where Shri Rao Saheb Krishnaswamy and the Vice Chiefs of three Services were present. In the high level meeting, I was called to present the missile programme study report. There was tremendous criticism from the Services that, not a single missile has been successfully developed so far, and how approval for development and production of five missiles together can be given. Dr. VS Arunachalam, the then SA to RM and myself explained the technical and leadership path of the programme. Still the members were not convinced.

That was the time, Shri Rao Saheb Krishnaswamy made a remark which is still ringing in my mind. He said “Hon’ble Minister Sir, I heard all the discussion. But I would like to convey one thing. The time has come, we have to take a decision, exploring new path with courage. We should not be mixed-up with the past. Presently, we are seeing a committed passionate leadership for the missile programme. I consider that all the missiles should be developed, simultaneously in an integrated way.” Based on this remark, Shri Venkataraman named the programme as Integrated Guided Missile Programme. After this meeting, within two months, the programme was approved by the Cabinet. I got the necessary funds, human resource and a new management structure including the funds required for establishing certain key production facilities. Now, two strategic missiles are in production and order has been placed for surface to air missile which will be deployed.

The third unique instance happened when the missile programme was in progress. The missile programme is steered by a high level board called the Guided Missile Board. It was chaired by SA to RM with Defence Secretary, Secretary – Defence Production, Secretary – Expenditure, three Vice Chiefs, DGOF, CMD – BDL, HAL and BEL, Director – VSSC and Director – DRDL as members.

Evolution of RCIWhen the programme was in the initial stages of progress, there was a large demand for development space, environmental facilities and assembly facilities due to safety considerations leading to a creation of a new complex. Fortunately, we had 2500 acres of land, but we needed additional funds of Rs 60 crore for creation of the new facilities with equipments for the project. Many of the members thought that it was very difficult and there would be a need for a new Cabinet Note for sanction. We were concerned that within a short span of six to eight months of the previous sanction, whether the government will sanction additional funds.

 I still remember Shri R. Ganapathi, the then Expenditure Secretary said, “I like this programme. We must support the programme in full.” He said, that if the GMB approved, he would visit the site, discuss with the scientists and come up with a proposal for sanction. The Board authorized him to do so. He visited DRDL and RCI area and recommended approval of the funds for the additional facilities which were vital for the timely completion of the missile programme. We got the funds and the programme progressed without any holdup. The programme was empowered to give a technology project for completion of the special facilities in two years.

I am referring to you friends, these incidents to illustrate, how the nation can progress exponentially through a fast decision making process by the policy and procedure making team in the government which has to be synchronous with the project team members who are executing the project. When you take a decision on a focused problem, you have to ask yourself “what can I give” or “how can I help”. These are the two action oriented thoughts needed for accelerated national development today.

During the last five decades of my professional career, I have come across great human beings who have become examples for various dimensions of creative leadership. I would like to present few examples of creative leaders who have made unique contribution to the growth of India.

Space VisionaryI was fortunate to work with Prof. Vikram Sarabhai for seven years. While closely working with him, I saw the dawn of the vision for the space programme in a one page statement. Witnessing the evolution of this one page by a cosmic ray physicist, a great scientific mind and be a part of the team which has been working ceaselessly for many years to realize the vision have been of really great learning for me. I was thrilled to see the famous vision statement of Prof Vikram Sarabhai made in the year 1970 which states “India with her mighty scientific knowledge and power house of young, should build her own huge rocket systems (satellite launch vehicles) and also build her own communication, remote sensing and meteorological spacecraft and launch from her own soil to enrich the Indian life in satellite communication, remote sensing and meteorology. The projects selected in space programme, are designed to meet the societal needs”.

A total of 150 transponders are there in the geo-synchronous orbit for providing connectivity to the nation. If I look at this vision statement today, I am overwhelmed to see the results of this statement. Today, India can build any type of satellite launch vehicle, any type of spacecraft and launch from Indian soil. India also has launched Chandrayaan and has successfully placed the satellite in Lunar Orbit and now it is preparing for manned missions to other planets. India has proved that through space science and technology, we can provide effective communication, resource mapping, disaster predication and disaster management systems.

Success and Failure ManagementThree decades ago while I was working at ISRO, I had the best of education which won't come from any university. I will narrate that incident. I was given a task by Prof. Satish Dhawan the then Chairman, ISRO to develop the first satellite launch vehicle SLV-3, to put ROHINI Satellite in orbit. This was one of the largest high technology space programmes undertaken in 1973. The whole space technology community, men and women, were geared up for this task.

Thousands of scientists, engineers and technicians worked resulting in the realization of the first SLV-3 launch on 10th August 1979. SLV-3 took off in the early hours and the first stage worked beautifully. Even though all the four stages of rockets and systems worked, the mission could not achieve its objective, as the control system in 2nd stage malfunctioned. Instead of being placed in the orbit, the Rohini satellite went into Bay of Bengal. The mission was a failure. There was a Press conference at Sriharikota, after the event. Prof. Satish Dhawan took me to the press conference. And there, he announced that he takes responsibility for not achieving the mission, even though I was the project director and the mission director. Later, we launched SLV-3 on 18th July 1980, successfully injecting the Rohini Satellite in to the orbit.

Again, there was a Press conference and Prof. Dhawan put me in the front to share the success story with the Press. What do we learn from this event? The leader gives the credit for success to those who worked for it, and the leader absorbs and owns the responsibility for the failure. This is leadership. The scientific community in India has the fortune to work with such leaders, which resulted in many accomplishments. This success generated great happiness among all my team members. This is an important lesson for all of you who are aspiring to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Evolution of MetroThe Delhi Metro Rail Project has given to the nation the potential of executing a fast transportation system using high technology with reliability through a time bound mission mode operation. Delhi, the Capital of the country with over 14 million population, has the distinction of having a world class metro rail with frontline technologies. The work on the metro rail commenced on 1st October 1998 and the first phase with three lines covering 66 kms has been completed by December 2005. The second phase with 121 kms of line length is in various stages of completion and they all will be functional before 2010.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has brought to the country, the most advanced rail technologies for the first time. The notable gains to the country are, light weight stainless steel, sleek, modern trains with pneumatic springs, regenerative braking, public information display, wide vestibules and automatic doors. The sophisticated coach technology which was not available in the country so far, has been transferred to M/s. Bharat Earth Movers Ltd., Bangalore, which is now assembling these trains with progressive indigenization. BEML is now in a position to supply train sets needed for Phase-II of Delhi Metro Rail Project and meet the requirement for Metros coming up in other cities of the country.

Mr. E. Sreedharan, the Managing Director of Delhi Metro has ensured that, all the scheduled sections were completed by their target date or before and within their respective budgets through his programme management skills. The dedicated and transparent leadership backed up with professional competence of Mr. Sreedharan has given to the nation, one of the best transportation systems of the world at the most economic cost. He is a recipient of many national and international awards. Also, he is in demand for undertaking the development of metro system in different countries of the world which he has politely declined due to pre-occupation with committed Indian programmes. Delhi rapid transportation system has made a great impact in public service.

The nation is fortunate to have persons like Mr. Sreedharan to implement such a scheme. When we met, I asked him, “Mr Sreedharan, how a transparent and cost effective system you have brought to the nation in such record time?” His answer was – “developing and positioning the right type of leaders for the task at hand. Whenever there is a problem, the leader has to be present while executing critical missions”.

What we have seen is visionary leaders create new paths. The civil service officers whom I came across, always had a great mind seeking “what they can give to the nation” Now I would like to present my visualization of development profile of India by the year 2020.

Distinctive Profile of India by 20201. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water. 

3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony. 4. A Nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination. 

5. A Nation, which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors. 6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all.7. A Nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.

8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated. 9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.

10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership.Integrated Action for developed IndiaTo achieve the distinctive profile of India, we have the mission of transforming India into a developed nation. We have identified five areas where India has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Education and Healthcare (3) Information and Communication Technology (4) Reliable and Quality Electric power, Surface transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the country. (5) Self-reliance in critical technologies. These five areas are closely inter-related and if progressed in a coordinated way, will lead to food, economic and national security.

All of you, whether you belong to IRS – IT, IRS –C & CE, IES or IRTS, you will have a role to participate in the realization of any mission directly or indirectly. You have to carve out a particular challenge based on your experience, passion and professionalism. Since, Dr. MCR HRD Institute has participants coming from different disciplines, I would suggest the institute to take up an interdisciplinary project which will bring the disciplines together and enable integrated thinking and action.

ConclusionDear friends, I have seen three dreams which have taken shape as vision, mission and realization. Space programme of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) , AGNI programme of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) and PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) becoming the National Mission. Of course these three programmes succeeded in the midst of many challenges and problems. I have worked in all these three areas. I want to convey to you, what I have learnt from these three programmes, on leadership :

1. Leader must have a vision. 2. Leader must have a passion to transform the vision into action. 3. Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path. 4. Leader must know how to manage a success and failure. 

5. Leader must have courage to take decision. 6. Leader should have Nobility in management.7. Every action of the leader should be transparent. 8. Leader must work with integrity and succeed with integrity.

For success in all missions we need creative leaders. Creative leadership means exercising the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect. Creative Leader will have a mission to work with integrity and succeed with integrity. Also creative leaders of the civil service should be concerned about their responsibility to the citizens and they would like to give more to the society than what they have drawn. For a paradigm shift in national development, we need large number of such creative leaders. I am sure, Dr. MCR HRD Institute is in the mission of developing such leaders for the country.

My greetings and best wishes to all the participants of 83rd foundation course of Centre Civil Service Probationers for success in your missions.May God Bless you.www.abdulkalam. com-- ------------ ---

Warm regards,Subramanian

-- " O Shirdi Sai Nath, Give me the guidance to know when to hold on and when to let go and the Grace to make right decision with dignity " " The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their Dreams "

Om Sai Ram~ anil - chandrot ~