The Hindu Business Line : Mahatma’s relevance to banking sector highlighted

Mumbai, Nov. 26 After captivating the youth across the country through Gandhigiri (Remember Lage Raho Munnabhai?), it seems the Father of the Nation now charms the banking industry.

In an unexpected manner, he became a focal point of discussion at a session on building high performance organisation at the BANCON-2007. It was Mr Mohan Das Pai, Head, HR, Infosys Technologies Ltd, who brought the Mahatma to centrestage by mooting that the industry should take to him to tide over the leadership crisis.

10 mantras

Speaking on what makes a leader, Mr Pai said the banking industry might consider adopting the 10 mantras of leadership envisaged by Gandhiji.

“`Mahatma Gandhi could lead 60 per cent the world population against one of the mightiest colonial regime by his leadership,” he said suggesting that his mantras for leadership should be adopted by the banks which are on the verge of a leadership crisis.

They include a clear vision, demonstration of self belief and courage, leading by example, openness and flexibility, treating the whole world as one’s own while retaining the individuality, being global in perspective, humility about achievements, belief in higher quality and in the principle that means do not justify the end.

Vacuum at the top

Elaborating further, Mr Pai cautioned the bankers that the new generation were not looking at the banking industry especially after 1991. Hinting at a possible leadership vacuum in the banks in the near future, he said leadership training to create transformational leadership was vital.

Speaking earlier, Mr Anil K Kandelwal, Chairman and Managing Director, Bank of Baroda, said leadership and capability building was an issue for the industry and the industry had reached a crisis.

According to a McKinsey report which was released earlier, there was a need for 50,000 leaders in the banking industry, he observed.