Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi

The market is full of self-help books and books on leadership written by Western authors. Even if one could find good books on leadership by Indian authors, more likely than not, leadership is analysed through the Western framework. But is there a way to look at Leadership through a Bharatiya lens?Dr Balu comprehensively answers this question in his latest book, 'Power Within'. At 300+ pages, this is a fairly large book, a tome in comparison to his previous works. But written in simple English and peppered with Sanskrit terms, this book is an easy read. From page one, Dr Balu captivates the reader with a compelling case study on the current Indian Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi and by picking anecdotes from his life, presents an Indian view on leadership. However, the analysis of leadership is done so masterfully that readers might, at times, forget who the subject of the book is.A few aspects of the book stood out for me.1. Dr Balu weaves many different, sometimes disparate, threads to give a comprehensive view of leadership. Within one paragraph, the readers could jump from the Western concept of leadership to neuroscience to Bharata Muni's Natyashastra to the words of Swami Vivekananda. It takes a skilful writer to convey the message coherently while incorporating such wide-ranging subjects, and through this book, Dr Balu proves he is one.2. There's a fine line that separates pride in one's own culture from jingoism. Dr. Balu treads that line like a Russian acrobat. While examining leadership through the Indian lens, he never once discounts the Western point of view. In fact, he routinely analyzes and compares PM Modi's leadership style through both the Indian and Western lenses, lending depth to the topic that is hard to find elsewhere. This allows the reader to decide which take is superior without being spelt out.3. The book treats PM Modi as just the subject of a case study on leadership without going into either extreme of deifying the man or making ad hominem attacks on him. Looking at the current political situation in India, anyone who puts PM Modi on the cover of their book would be tempted to pursue one of these extremes since extreme opinions sell. However, by remaining neutral, Dr Balu ensures that anyone with an open mind can read the book and makes it timeless by not binding it to the zeitgeist of 2020's.4. The most impressive aspect is the breadth and depth of Indian texts propounding the Indian view of leadership. I was amazed by the ancient Indians who deemed it fit to include aspects of leadership in texts ranging from the epics (like Mahabharata and Ramayana) to texts on economics and statecraft (Arthashastra) and treatise on performing arts (Natyashastra). More impressive is the research that Dr Balu undertook with his research team to look at PM Modi's leadership style through these little frameworks.Reading the book was an eye-opening experience for me, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Indian Knowledge Systems or leadership. I have already gifted a copy of this book to my friends from the West since I realized how easy it is for anyone to read it.Speaking of Western readers, I do have one minor criticism of the book. I found myself flipping the pages between the text I was reading and the appendix because this book has an incredibly detailed appendix. On the one hand, this book requires such a detailed appendix since the author introduces an immense number of Indian concepts and Sanskrit terms that are incomprehensible for lay readers and Westerners alike. But on the other hand, it breaks the flow of the text being read. That said, I don't know what would have been the most ideal solution. I would like to think that the author, his editors, and the research team spent a lot of time deciding how to present the explanations and came up with the best possible solution, although not necessarily the perfect one.Minor criticisms aside, this is a pathbreaking book and is a must-read for management students as well as IKS enthusiasts.

A lot has been spoken about PM Modi - mostly extreme views about his life and work. Very rarely have we come across a book on his style of work, his exercise of leadership all through his life. Dr R Balu's book is an analysis on the same.For me, this insightful and deeply thought-provoking work has been a super-abridged introduction to Indic wisdom and also a path to realization that the journey is long and arduous. The structured presentation gives a reassuring feeling that we have exemplars around us to learn from and aim to emulate.We often quote Swami Vivekananda's letter to the Maharaja of Mysore - "They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive." This book is a must read to meet two people who are alive and living their life - PM Modi, and Dr RB (it takes someone like him to spot and narrate these leadership lessons).

In Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi, Dr. Balu skillfully weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and philosophical and spiritual insights to present a multifaceted portrait of prime minister Modi's leadership through an Indic lens.One of the book's strengths is its exploration of the Vedantic concepts that have influenced Modi's worldview. While Western thought often emphasizes innate traits and qualities, Indian leadership is more about practice and exercise. Balu sir delves into how prime minister Modi's leadership style reflects this Indian perspective, emphasizing his relentless hard work, communicative approach, and constant quest for self-discovery.Book discusses the vedantic concept of witness consciousness, the role of yoga in cultivating mental and emotional balance, and the significance of seva (service) in fulfilling one's dharma (duty). It also talks about Modi's leadership journey characterized by his commitment to tapasya (self-discipline) and yajna (sacrifice). These concepts, rooted in Indic philosophy, emphasize the importance of personal discipline, selfless service, and the pursuit of a higher purpose. This adds a rich layer of complexity to the book and offers valuable insights for those interested in the intersection of leadership, spirituality and politics.While some readers may have differing opinions on prime minister Modi's policies and governance, Power Within offers a balanced and informative account of his leadership journey. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the Indic concepts of leadership and how it can be the solution to the complexities of a world Brittle, Anxious, Non-Linear and Incomprehensible(BANI).

From Narayanaswamy G IRS (Rtd) BengaluruI found “Power Within: Leadership of Narendra Modi” to be a fascinating read. It is not only taking us through the concepts of Indic and Western leadership styles but with a great example of Narendra Modi, inspires us to adopt these styles in our own lives. Several times I see myself instead of Modi ji !! It clearly shows the style enumerated with authentic research is well within our culture. Our growth is proportionately linked to how much and how consistently we follow these styles. This is truly inspiring to follow the example of the leadership without being intimidated by seeing the where Narendra Modi has reached through his Enlightened Leadership. Dr Balu has brought out the example in a lucid but simple manner for us to read and strengthen our own areas of weakness to align with the stars set in here. I recommend even one, not just the executives and politicians to read it and imbibe the principles.