“Makeup!”

The leader sits before the mirror while an assistant powders his face.

“Chest out, sir,” whispered another.

The leader tries to push his chest forward.

“Sir, a little more, it looks 36, not 56 inches”

“Chin up, sir.”

The chin rises.

“Now look grim, as though you have just defeated three enemy nations before breakfast.”

The leader narrows his eyes.

“Excellent, sir. Now walk slowly towards the cameras, wave without smiling, and pause every few steps so that photographers can capture your confidence.”

“And what shall I say?” ask the leader.

“Nothing yet, sir. The teleprompter is not ready.”

How we are easily fooled by such actors. I do not mean only actors on the screen who later become politicians. I mean politicians who have become excellent actors. They know how to walk confidently, stare grimly, display their chests, wave majestically and hug foreign leaders as though the entire world has been waiting for their embrace.

Some even wear different costumes for different occasions. One outfit for farmers, another for soldiers, another for temples, and perhaps a carefully designed jacket for world conferences. Their makeup is flawless, their lighting magnificent and their camera angles perfect.

But confidence is not measured by chest size, costume changes, powerful lighting or the number of foreign leaders one can hug.

The real test comes with other measurements: like, when someone disagrees.

Also, a confident leader listens to dissent. A clever actor arrests it.

A confident leader answers questions. A clever actor avoids press conferences.

A confident leader respects critics. A clever actor ridicules them, abuses them and sends his supporting cast to shout them down.

A confident leader does not need enforcement agencies or tax authorities to frighten opponents. He does not misuse power because he is not afraid of losing it. He knows that disagreement is not disloyalty and criticism is not conspiracy.

Watch, dear readers how a leader treats those weaker than himself. Watch how he behaves towards minorities, journalists, students, activists and ordinary citizens who cannot offer him money, votes or applause.

That is where confidence reveals itself.

The bully always appears strong until someone refuses to be frightened. Then the makeup begins to melt, the confident walk becomes uncertain and the heroic voice waits anxiously for the teleprompter.

The truly confident leader does not need ridicule. He does not humiliate opponents or turn every speech into a performance about his own greatness. His strength is visible in restraint, fairness, humility and the courage to hear an uncomfortable truth.

Yet we continue applauding the clever actor because the cameras tell us he is magnificent.

Perhaps the next time the curtain rises, we should stop admiring the costume and examine the character.

Otherwise, the performance will continue, the nation will pay for the tickets, and we fools will keep cheering, as the rest of the world watches the clever actor deliver flops..!

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