“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.”
— Lao Tzu
While
revisiting Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji by Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, I found myself gently drawn into a realm beyond thought—a
quiet immersion in transcendence. This book, gifted to me by a dear colleague,
is not merely a literary offering. It is a luminous bridge—spanning science and
spirituality, intellect and intuition, leadership and humility. Each page
pulses with purpose, inviting reflection, reverence, and renewal.
Dr. Kalam’s
reflections on Pramukh Swamiji touched me deeply. The fusion of scientific
rigor and spiritual depth, the emphasis on honour and creative leadership, and
the call to live with purpose—all these themes echo in the lives of quiet
visionaries I’ve been privileged to know. Their leadership was not a
spotlight—it was a mirror reflecting the strengths of others.
One such
moment of revelation came during a presentation by an IT engineer—an alumnus of
a U.S. university who had left behind a promising career to serve the
Swaminarayan Sampradaya. His presentation unveiled the story behind the
construction of Akshardham Mandir in Delhi. What moved me most was not the
grandeur of the temple, but the process, and the vision behind its creation.
To achieve
the temple’s intricate symmetry and sculptural finesse, the team sought out the
descendants of once-renowned sculptors—artists whose lineage carried the
dormant genius of stone and spirit. These heirs, having drifted into other
professions due to the decline in demand for traditional craftsmanship, were
rediscovered and retrained. Pramukh Swamiji believed that artistry, like
values, lives in the genes—it only needs the right soil to bloom. Through
patient mentoring and spiritual conviction, these individuals reclaimed their
ancestral gift. The result: a temple that stands today not just as an
architectural marvel, but as a testament to faith in forgotten potential.
Later, I
visited Akshardham and experienced its grandeur firsthand. The film on
Neelkanth, shown on what was then India’s largest screen, transported me into a
state of trance. I felt the presence of something timeless—an echo of devotion,
discipline, and design. My visits to Swaminarayan Mandirs in Mumbai, Vadodara,
Dhule, and Jalgaon deepened this connection. I was fortunate to witness the
construction and inauguration of some of these temples, each a living
embodiment of service and sanctity.
The
reflections in Transcendence continue to guide my understanding of creative
leadership. They remind me that true leadership is not about visibility—it is
about nurturing possibility. It is the quiet art of enabling others to shine;
leading not from the front, but from within. It is the courage to trust in
latent talent, the humility to serve without applause, and the wisdom to build
bridges between tradition and transformation.
The legacy
of Pramukh Swamiji teaches us that value-based leadership is not a
performance—it is a pilgrimage.
Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Pune, Nov.
4, 2025
(Value Based Leadership,
Publishing soon)
#TheSculptorOfSouls #CreativeLeadership #ValueBasedLeadership #PramukhSwamiji
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