Last evening, due to unavoidable circumstances I had to attend a political meeting of a top leader in the ruling party.

I watched in absolute horrified fascination, as the man literally like a Tarzan in a a comic book, stared disdainfully at the crowd, waved his hands, thumped his chest, and was it my imagination that heard him cry, ‘Kreegah! Tarzan bundolo!’ even as he spiced his speech with only one ingredient-his name!

As I heard him go on and on about himself, a sad thought came to my head; that as we try and save endangered animals from extinction, there is an endangered species of leaders, fast disappearing in India, and I asked myself, “Where is the servant leader?”

Ah, the Servant Leader! That mythical creature, once found in abundance, now as rare as an honest politician or a diet that actually works. There was a time when leaders saw themselves as servants of the people, humbly working for the greater good. But today? Oh, today we have the Emperor Leader, the self-crowned, self-serving, self-adoring ruler who believes democracy is just a fancy word for “Do as I say.”

Once upon a time, the servant leader walked among us, sleeves rolled up, ears open, listening to the grievances of the common folk. He knew the taste of sweat, the value of hard work, and—brace yourself—the meaning of humility. But somewhere along the way, the concept was misplaced. Perhaps it got stuck in traffic on the road to progress or drowned in the sea of political speeches. Today, the term “servant” in leadership is considered an insult.

Oh yes I saw last night as all the politicians drove in, in their Lexus and Mercedes SUVs – who wants to serve when you can command? Why lead when you can rule?

The modern leader—sorry, the Emperor Leader—believes that leadership is not about service but about self-preservation. He is not there to listen; he is there to be listened to. His words are gospel, his actions beyond question. If questioned, he graciously provides you with two options: agree enthusiastically or disappear mysteriously.

The Emperor Leader loves grand speeches about democracy, delivered with the conviction of a street magician selling invisible rabbits. He declares himself a champion of the people while erecting walls—that divide people.

But let us not be unfair. The Emperor Leader does work hard—at keeping power, at dodging accountability, at mastering the art of saying much while meaning nothing. His ability to “look concerned” in a crisis while doing absolutely nothing is truly Shakespearean.

And the people? Ah, the people, like the apes around Tarzan thumping his chest, they cheer, they clap, they sing songs of devotion. Some even believe him when he says, “I am one of you.” As he jets off to discuss poverty or hug another emperor leader in America.

If only we could take a lesson from the greatest Servant Leader of all—Christ himself. The one who knelt before his followers and washed their feet, demonstrating that true leadership is not about sitting on thrones but about kneeling in service. He did not seek power but sacrificed himself for others. He did not demand loyalty but earned it through love and humility.

Until we embrace such a model, we will continue to be ruled by emperors, like the one who I heard last night, who prefer golden crowns to humble hearts.

And so, we wait—perhaps hoping that someday another leader will arrive in a small self driven Maruti 800, willing to wash the feet of those he serves instead of demanding they kiss his feet..!

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