Seven Leadership Lessons from Chandrayan2 Launch

Indian space research organization (ISRO) set it eyes to achieve what no one else had done before and its most ambitious project till date was launch of moon mission Chandrayan2.  This was a mission significantly different and unique in many ways like the choice of soft landing location (South Pole), the low cost of the project (940 Cr) , the indigenous nature of this program (Made in India technology) and the scientific objectives of Vikram Lander & Pragyan Rover . We traveled more than 3 lakh Km in this journey, successfully placed the moon orbiter and came as close as 2.1 kms to make a soft landing on the surface of the moon. The communication to the lander was lost just few seconds before the touchdown and it is still being contacted as i write.

ISRO Ground Station , Bengaluru

This whole initiative was led by a team of scientists from ISRO, their chairman K Sivan and most importantly our leader Hon. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. The event gave us very important ‘Leadership lessons’ and i list them in as simple words as I can.

1.  Set out a visionary goal

PM Modi set out an objective that was never accomplished by any other country so far. The team believed in it and came together to deliver, working day and night over couple of years.

2.  Empower and entrust your team

The Indian government per se, gave full autonomy to ISRO scientists to perform. The PM kept an eye on the mission at all times and put his full trust in the team.

PM Narendra Modi with ISRO Chairman K Sivan

3.  Raise the benchmark for success and failure

ISRO had already launched a successful mission Chandrayan1 and worked in pursuit for higher excellence. Chandrayan2 was 99% accomplished, even a partial failure was better than our last best.

4.  Stand with your team at all times

Physical presence of management with their team in high pressure events, key meetings, make or break situations is a big morale booster. PM Modi returned back from an international visit but was present with ISRO scientists at 1 30 AM to witness the soft landing on moon, staying back till 3 AM and again coming back at 8 AM the same morning.

5.  Share words of wisdom & advise to boost morale

Outcomes don’t follow projections and predictions however perfect a situation is and the same happened with Vikram Lander & Pragyan Rover. The team of scientists were crest fallen and they needed their leader to belittle the miss which the PM did so gracefully. He came back to ISRO center at 8 AM and communicated with them in the most logical words. Science is all about experiments and not failures, and if we don’t experiment we don’t break the glass ceiling. The mission will succeed and our scientists will not rest until they have done so, were his words to boost their morale and re-energize them.

6.  Give a human touch

The embrace, the hug which PM Modi gave to ISRO Chairman K Sivan said so many things about his character and his humane side. Governments, Institutions, Organizations, Civilizations are nothing but the people who represent them and all events of our lives can only be depicted by these interpersonal relationships. A great leader knows the importance of a hug, an embrace, a smile, a handshake and a body language that is positive and comforting.

PM Narendra Modi and ISRO Chaairman K Sivan

7.  Give recognition to the team

Naysayers might say that live telecast of soft landing on the moon was too risky, since the cost of failure in terms of public opinion is very heavy. If one sees from the view of our Prime Minister, he wanted to give credit where it was due. The country never knew the silent warriors that our scientists are as they always keep away from limelight. With this event, the entire world came face to face with our technological prowess and the brains behind it. Men and women from all parts of the country have fought their battle to reach where they are now and they deserve respect, recognition and support. Our leader ensured that this unique window of telecast to the world gave our scientists their share of name and fame. What it also did to the young minds of the country is, a resolve to join such prestigious institutes and one day launch missions like Chandrayan.

I am hopeful of our success, optimistic about our future, proud of being born in a country of billion dreams. Ten years from now, we will be a superpower in space programs and India will contribute to the welfare of the world and this is what we as a civilization have been known for.

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India First, Narendra Modi First - Lok Sabha 2019

While i write this post, voting for the 7th phase of Lok Sabha election 2019 is underway and with its completion will end the (world's most watched after) election process in India. Our country has a population of 130 Cr + and for this year we have 90 Cr eligible voters that span across different states ,different geographies,different socio-economic segments ,caste,religion and off course different ideologies and beliefs. Consider the mammoth task a leader and his political party has cut out for them to win confidence of millions of people to be elected in centre. By the time i finish and post this article it will be close to 5 PM and exit polls will start on all the channels and a picture will emerge out as to what the general sentiment has been.So what's my reading of the scenario and the likely outcome that we all can expect on 23rd May ?

I clearly see the wave in favour of Shri Narendra Modi the current Prime Minister of India and my analysis tells me that he will certainly regain his post. Not only will he come back but the mandate will be astounding , assuring and appeasing to the political wit and wisdom of his party - Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). I have keenly followed this election and there are certain reasons why i am so assured of this political outcome.

PM Narendra Modi will return back to power

Firstly , the performance of Modi's government has been very satisfactory and his policies, vision and actionable in the last 5 years have changed the perspective of the entire country. I can talk about so many areas that his government has touched upon but for me its Unified Taxation , Thrust on Infrastructure,  Freedom to Armed Forces, Foreign Policy , Global Outreach , Make in India & notably Digital India* program(s). There was not another opportune time in the history of this country where one felt proud of being an Indian and be living in India. The morale, optimism and national pride is all time high in this country and its citizens are looking towards a very bright and stable future under the premiership of Prime Minister Modi. . With this new found confidence we see India leading the world order in next 5-10 years and we will rightfully take that pole position which is due to us for long.

Secondly, during this election the opposition was in shambles. The country and the electorate do not know who the opposition actually is. Apart from BJP the other major national party in India is, Indian National Congress whose base has got eroded over years because its fortunes are controlled by a single family. The party ruled this country for close to 70 years but rampant corruption, appeasement policies, lacklustre leaders and remotely controlled governments led to their downfall. It is highly unlikely that they will be able to set their house in order very soon unless and until there is a revolt inside the party and it reorganizes itself. The question is, when will that revolt happen ??. No point talking about small regional parties here as they are too many and their winning few seats does not make a difference unless and until a coalition government is in place. India needs a stable government and mind you we will elect a government with full majority.

Third and most important reason why Mr. Modi will come again is , use of technology by BJP . Data Analytics, Algorithms, Sentiment Analysis , Digital Marketing , Social Media , Mass Outreach and Campaign across channels , Big Data are the tools and tackles being used by political parties this time to sway and win elections. Thanks to *Digital India program of Modi , an analysis says that more than 50 Cr out of the eligible voters use mobile phones and access data and content through it. Each citizen or voter is being tracked and he or she is seeing the content that the particular party wants them to see. These web of technology tools are seeded everywhere and all activities on internet be it online purchase , social media communication , work related access etc is intertwined with a tracking mechanism that suggests our political affiliation and the control we have over our networks. BJP has created Digital Center of excellence and this houses technology experts and infrastructure that is capable of processing tons and tons of data within no time. They have widely used Information Technology platforms to connect with the voter in the remotest part of the country and spread their messaging. I would like to also highlight here that all this would not have been possible without a cadre that is very disciplined , organised , structured and has touch points on the ground. No technology can help a party win if its booth level workers , party representatives , office bearers and leaders do not work together and that too in a common interest. In the use of technology and its cadre, BJP takes a big big lead over all its rivals.

Before  i end this article, i predict BJP coming close to 300 seats alone and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of which BJP is a part reaching 350~360 seats. My best wishes to the man who during these gruelling elections logged over 1 lakh kms, leading 142 rallies across the length and breadth of the country, gave interviews across the board , connected with masses through all possible means of communication and with only one interest being supreme that is INDIA FIRST !!

Ladies and Gentlemen !! Please give a standing ovation to Hon. Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi who returns to power with all boxes ticked and rightfully deserves this win.

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