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By: MOHAMMAD ALI AMIN

QUALITIES OF GREAT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS

 
In this essay, we shall study and survey the most indispensable
qualities of Great Democratic Leaders. Let us examine these qualities
briefly.

PATRIOTISM

We can define patriotism as “ardent and unwavering love of a person

for his country”.

Therefore, a great democratic leader must have a fervent desire to

work for the best interest of his country and people. He never betrays
his country and people to achieve his selfish objectives. He rules the
country to take it to the glory and prosperity.

A democratic leader must also have a passion to protect the country

from all internal and external enemies and threats. In addition, during
difficult and perilous times he always rises to the occasion. He shows
great valour and stamina during these times to protect his country
and people from all kinds of enemies and threats. Furthermore, with
his charisma, he always keeps the morale and spirit of a nation high
during normal and difficult times. Moreover, he always remains loyal
to his country and people and never emerges as a charlatan leader.

Therefore, a great democratic leader should be patriotic, to safeguard

the interests and benefits of his country and people.

ETHICS AND HONESTY

A democratic leader must have strong moral convictions. A good and

great democratic leader will always set an example for his people to
behave ethically and honestly. If leaders are unfair and dishonest in
their dealings and treatments, what kind of signal they send to their
people. Certainly, such a signal and behaviour will make the whole
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nation unethical and dishonest. In addition, the nation will gradually

start losing righteousness and will become mendacious. 

Therefore, a good and great democratic leader must be a good role

model for his people. He must have strong ethics and should always
behave honestly.

WILLINGNESS TO SERVE

Democracy is a welfare and betterment system, which always

protects the rights, interests, desires and benefits of people.
Therefore, a great democratic leader must have the willingness to
serve his people with great honesty and the best of his abilities.

A democratic leader’s government can never survive unless he does

not serve his people like a humble, obedient and loyal servant. If a
democratic leader does not have the willingness to serve his people,
then after passage of time his government will start taking its last
breaths.

Therefore, a great democratic leader must have the willingness to

serve his people; otherwise, his government can never survive.
Furthermore, democracy cannot function properly if democratic
leaders will not have the willingness to serve their people.

CARE FOR POOR AND MASSES

Great U.S president and democratic leader ABRAHAM LINCOLN had

said

“God must love the common man, he made so many of them.”               

Yes, it is evident from the pages of history that all great democratic
leaders had a great desire to work for the welfare and betterment of
poor and masses. They feel serene by working for the welfare and
betterment of the common person. 

A common person like a factory worker, labour, farmer, driver etc.

always play the role of backbone in any country’s development. 
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Therefore, great democratic leaders must make every effort to raise

the standard of living of poor and common person.

KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME

There is a famous saying that “A stitch in time saves nine.” This

phrase implies that if we do not mend quagmires for a longer period,
then a time comes when it is very late to mend them. It also advises a
person not to act carelessly.

This is a proven fact that some governments ignore small problems,

but as time passes the problem gets bigger, and eventually, it is
insurmountable to control the problem.

A great democratic leader knows this fact and realizes the importance
of time. He always acts according to the situation, takes the prompt
actions and nips the evil in the bud.

Therefore, great democratic leaders must know the importance of

time and they must never act carelessly.

IMAGINATION PRUDENCE AND FORESIGHT

Einstein had said

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” 

                           
                            
Therefore, great democratic leaders need to have strong imagination
and foresight. They must foresee using their imagination that how
their country is going to be after five or more years. Are we going to
have enough resources to fulfil the requirements of the people at that
time? If not then they should work in a prudent way to produce the
required resources. In this way, great democratic leaders should use
their imagination and foresight to tackle future difficulties and
problems.

Great democratic leaders always make prudent decisions. Before

deciding on an issue, they always analyze the pros and cons of an
issue. They also do not decide hastily, because haste makes waste.
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Therefore, democratic leaders need to have imagination, prudence

and foresight.

BELIEVES in EQUALITY

Great U.S president and democratic leader ABRAHAM LINCOLN had

said

“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master”

This was the idea of great ABRAHAM LINCOLN regarding democracy.

That is, God has created all men equal and we must treat them in an
equal manner.

Therefore, all democratic leaders must have the same ideas and
thoughts to finish discrimination from a country.  
  

BELIEVES IN UNION AND NOT IN DIVISION

Great U.S president and democratic leader ABRAHAM LINCOLN had

said

“A house divided against itself cannot stand”

All of us also read a story having the moral “Union Is Strength”. The
idea is “it is not easy to destroy the people who are united”.

Therefore, a great democratic leader should always believe in union

instead of division. He must destroy the differences among people,
which are due to colour, creed, and state prejudices. He must unite
the nation in such a way that every individual strengthen the other
individual instead of harming another individual. 
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HARD WORK

All great men of the world have indeed been hard workers. They
achieved glory and fame through their struggle and hard work.
Without hard work, no nation can emerge as a strong and prosperous
nation. 

Therefore, great democratic leaders should strongly believe in hard

work. They should always encourage hard-working people of a
society. They should ask their people not to shun the struggle and
hard work, and it is through the hard work of people a nation can
achieve immortal.

SELF RELIANCE

It is a proven fact that the economic progress of a country strongly

relies on self-reliance. Nations and people always make their fortunes.
Therefore, great democratic leaders should always rely on their
people and resources. Self-reliance is a great virtue and all
democratic leaders should possess it. 

SELFLESSNESS

A true and great democratic leader cannot afford to be selfish,

because his selfishness will always take the country towards the
verge of destruction.

It is essential for successful democracy that democratic leaders

should deny their selfish interests over the interests of their country
and people. They must never live in the quagmire of selfishness. They
are always supposed to take selfless and patriotic decisions to take
their country to the path of glory and prosperity.

Therefore, all great democratic leaders should be selfless.

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KINDNESS

Kindness is a very great virtue as it means showing sympathy and

love towards all beings.

Great leaders are men with a gentle behaviour and are always kind in
their speech and conduct. They never show malice and tantrum
towards others.

I often remember a poem called ABOU BEN ADHEM, which has a

moral “Love of fellow beings is the love of God”.

Therefore, kindness is a desirable quality and great democratic

leaders should possess it.

My essay concludes that if the democratic leaders will possess the

above-mentioned qualities.

Then, I am sanguine that government of the people, by the people, for

the people will never perish from the earth.

(THE END)