8 characteristics a leader must have: Dr Kalam

As prices rise all around us (just yesterday, the rail fares went up and there has been a proposed hike in the price of diesel as well as the LPG gas cylinder), we thought it would be a good time to bring you former President APJ Abdul Kalam's vision for transforming India into a developed nation, with an economically developed, prosperous and peaceful society.

In order to do so, said Dr Kalam at the 6th Penguin Annual Lecture that was organised in New Delhi recently, India needs sustainability in her value system.

India would also need a creative leader, said Dr Kalam. He went on to define certain characteristics that such a leader must have.

To hear what Dr Kalam had to say, watch the video on this page (Videos courtesy Penguin India).

To read the complete lecture, click here.

Click on NEXT to find out why Dr Kalam believes the youth will transform India...

Dr Kalam said he noticed a marked change in the thinking of the youth; they wanted to know what they could give to India.

He believes the youth are ready to contribute towards national development.

In the last six months, said Dr Kalam, he had seen an additional change. The youth had become more confident in their belief that they could transform India.

This, said Dr Kalam, has given him the confidence that India will certainly become economically developed nation before the year 2020. The only thing that India needed, he said, is for her leaders to have a vision and push for it.

To hear what Dr Kalam had to say, watch the video on this page.

Click on NEXT to find out more about Dr Kalam's idea for sustainable development.

Dr Kalam shared his idea for a sustainable development model.

This included a user community pyramid structure linking natural resources, information communication, convergence of technologies, societal business model, application and users.

To find out more, watch the video on this page.

Click on NEXT to find out about the 10 pillars of development...

1. A nation where the rural and urban divide has been reduced to a thin line.

2. A nation where there is equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.

3. A nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.

4. A nation where education is not denied to any meritorious candidate because of societal or economic discrimination.

5. A nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists and investors.

6. A nation where the best of healthcare is available to all.

7. A nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.

8. A nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feel alienated.

9. A secure nation devoid of terrorism, peaceful land happy; a nation that continues with a sustainable growth path.

10. Finally a nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership.

Watch the video on this page to hear Dr Kalam detail out his view.

Click on NEXT to find out what are the eight characteristics that an ideal leader should possess, according to Dr Kalam...

He added that, in order to ensure sustainable development, the youth of India have to work in tandem with a creative leader to create a green, clean environment without pollution, have prosperity without poverty and peace without fear of war.

According to Dr Kalam, these are characteristics an ideal leader should have.

1. A leader must have a vision.

2. He must have the passion to transform this vision into action.

3. He must be able to travel into unexplored parts. A good leader, says Dr Kalam, never travels the paths explored by others.

4. A leader must know how to manage success and failure.

5. A leader must have courage to take decisions.

6. A leader should have good management skills.

7. Every action of the leader should be transparent.

8. A leader must work with integrity and succeed with integrity.

Watch the video on this page to hear Dr Kalam detail out his view.