Srinagar, Aug 08: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said leadership means understanding people, creating new paths for them, and serving them with humility and honesty.
The LG was addressing the convocation ceremony of the 9th batch and the induction of the 10th batch of the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), an initiative of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai.
Addressing the graduating youth, faculty members, mentors, administrators, distinguished guests, and parents, the Lieutenant Governor said the event is a convergence of two important journeys—one reaching completion and another beginning with new energy and hopes. He congratulated the graduating students of the 9th batch, who now step into diverse fields of public life, and warmly welcomed the 10th batch, who begin their journey of learning with enthusiasm and aspirations. The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that the Institute would continue to enrich young leaders with constitutional values, discipline and wisdom.
Highlighting the journey of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini since its establishment in 1982, Sinha said it made immense contribution to leadership training and capacity building, with over 60,000 parliamentarians, legislators, panchayat representatives, entrepreneurs, and youth trained, the institution has played a pivotal role in strengthening governance and entrepreneurship. He said the creation of IIDL further ensured that India’s democratic institutions continue to receive young leadership infused with energy and resolve for nation-building.
The LG said that India’s future depends on addressing seven key challenges: sustaining long-term economic growth; eliminating terrorism, separatism and divisive forces while strengthening national unity; promoting transparent, accountable and technology-driven governance to curb corruption; ensuring merit-based opportunities in politics; fostering national integration through shared cultural initiatives; achieving global leadership in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors; and building a world-class education system driven by quality, research, innovation and skills. “Overcoming these challenges requires the collective commitment of all Indians, especially the youth, to secure a prosperous, united and globally competitive India,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor reminded the youth that leadership is about responsibility, ethics, and service, and praised the Institute’s motto, Lokahitam Mam Karaniyam – Welfare of the people is my duty- as a guiding principle for future leaders. Drawing from the Vedas and Upanishads, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised collective resolve, unity, and noble intentions as the foundation of prosperity and harmony in the society. He urged young leaders to align their thoughts and actions with public welfare, echoing India’s civilisational legacy as the “Mother of Democracy”.
LG Sinha outlined four essential principles for democratic leadership: honesty and transparency as the foundation of trust, knowledge and wisdom as the compass guiding decisions, sensitivity to maintain balance in democracy, and public service as the highest duty of leadership. He said institutions gain strength only when infused with ethical leadership, and that true success is measured not by position but by the lives transformed.
“The strength of democracy lies in Constitutional values, institutions and in those leaders who are committed to the values of honesty, humility, and public service. Remember that institutions create the structure of democracy, but it is ethical leadership that infuses them with life, purpose, and energy. Without ethical leadership, even the finest institutions weaken over time, whereas honest and accountable leadership can turn even ordinary institutions into powerful engines of change and nation-building,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that India today stands at a historic turning point, where its demographic power and civilisational journey are entering a new phase, and with more than 65% of India’s population under 35, the youth emerged as the nation’s greatest strength. He said it is the youth’s responsibility to transform this demographic dividend into a leadership dividend by building teams, empowering others, and creating roadmaps for inclusive growth.
He cited the transformation in Jammu and Kashmir post-2020 as an example of leadership rooted in public service and good governance, where over 30,000 projects have been completed through public participation, Panchayati Raj institutions have been strengthened, and digital governance has been implemented, exemplifying how transparency and accountability can bring historic change.
“In your professional life, make ethics your character, public service your duty, responsibility your identity, and excellence your style of work. I believe your success will not be judged by your position, but by how many lives you changed, how much trust you earned, and how positive an impact you left on society. To realise the resolve of Viksit Bharat, young leadership must bring change into the life of the last person standing in the queue of development,” the Lieutenant Governor told the youth.
The Lieutenant Governor urged the young leaders to balance tradition with modernity, and progress with sensitivity, to build a prosperous, inclusive, and innovative India that can guide the world. “Every decision you make, every word you speak, and every action you take will either strengthen our democracy or weaken it. Therefore, let us choose with care and put the national interest first. Young leadership should be driven by innovation, empowered by technology, credible through transparency, humane through sensitivity, and result-oriented through effective implementation. Such leadership will strengthen good governance, deepen public trust in democracy, and take the nation to new heights,” he said.
He said today’s young India is more educated, more advanced, more connected, and more ambitious than any previous generation, with new ideas, capability, and energy. “Young leaders will have to create roadmaps based on shared growth, equal opportunity, and the larger goals of nation-building,” Sinha said, adding that a new India, rapidly moving through urbanisation, climate change challenges, and rising aspirations, is looking for young leaders who can solve complex problems and contribute to making policies that can transform people’s lives.
“I want you to always remember that the greatest strength of democracy is the trust of the people, and trust is built through dialogue, consensus, and inclusion. True leadership rises above the boundaries of caste, religion, and region, carries everyone together, and treats public welfare as its highest duty,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
