How not to be a leader

Stop being seen in jeans & tees, go for desi gear with vests; exotic headgear will take things to the next level

Some of these young men (and by that I mean men in their 50s like me) who are aspiring to be leaders, really need to be able to read the room. And by room, I mean our entire political nation. They ought to know by now that they can’t just go to a party or wedding and be caught on camera with unsanskari Nehruvian celebration happening in the background.

That’s not how great leaders do it. Great leaders prep for their role.

Well, for whatever it’s worth, here’s a ready reckoner while operating in our ancient culture.

Firstly, they have to stop being seen in jeans/tees. That’s not how leaders dress. That’s the gear worn by the offspring of our leaders currently studying in the US and UK. Impeccably tailored desi gear with vests in a variety of colours (except green!) is what lends gravitas to the aspiring leader. Exotic headgear – ranging from the war bonnet of Chief Sitting Bull to a Viking helmet and everything in between – takes things to the next level.

The importance of personal grooming cannot be stressed enough. What’s with the scruffy stubbles some of these men are sporting? Grow them out into full-fledged beards, for Bhishma’s sake! A well-groomed beard, constantly varying in length and shape, depending on whether one hopes to invoke Periyar or Otto the Great, is a Great Leader must-have. Glowing skin is a prerequisite, too. Thanga bhasmam twice a day helps, I hear.

Coming to accessories, Indian gear paired with high-end imported accessories is the trend.

Before I forget, keep a bow and a quiver full of arrows on call, young sirs. Didn’t you see how Ram Charan’s stock went through the roof after he was seen with a bow and arrow? It’s all about subliminal messaging.