Leadership Style And Influence Of Two Historical Figure

This is an extensive study of leadership styles and scope of influence of 2 historical figures of Nepal. “Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama Buddha) and Prithivi Narayan Shah. They can be seen as an effective and influential leader known to whole world. I found difference in their leadership style in different cultures and some key elements that led them to success. Gautama Buddha is a religious leader and Prithivi Narayan Shah can be seen as a political leader. Keywords: Buddha, Prithivi Narayan Shah, unification, religious beliefs. Leadership style and influence of two historical figureA leader is the one who has to guide as well as inspire and motivate his team mates wherever necessary. As leaders are the ones’ who shows pathway to the people so they can achieve success. It is necessary that leader knows the correct path himself. With the growing competition, it is necessary for team mates to do the job right heading towards correct path, so that he can lead the team accordingly. A good leader always takes risk and also save his team from any kind of losses. An iconic leader not only avoids losses but also helps gain considerable progress (Ann, 2017). This is why one must not be a good leader but also an iconic one (Ann, 2017). Successful leaders are the driving force and the mind in any successful achievement or innovation in the world. Leaders are the one who take risks and led their nation or organization to success. Leaders tend to steer the nation or organization around any failures or pitfalls. Leaders tends to influence their teammates and have perfect knowledge about how to seize an opportunity.

Gautama Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama was born around 2600 years ago in the Lumbini, Nepal. Siddhartha Gautama was a son of the king of the tribe in the Lumbini, known as economically poor and bad geographical condition. There is a myth or truth that, Gautama was born in the forest of the Lumbini, and believed that he walked five steps after he was born. After Gautama was born the royal holy priest told the king that his son would be a great leader or a religious leader. He would abandon his kingdom in search for the enlightenment. So, the king kept his son inside of the palace and didn’t let his son know about the miseries and the difficulties of the human being. As Gautama reached his late 20’s, he was eager to experience the outside world. One day he went outside of his palace and he was immediately confronted with the miseries and the reality of the human life. In the journey he saw an old man and a sick man and a funeral. It sparked a question and curiosity in his mind about the human suffering and the traits of the humanity. So, he left his kingdom to know or gain knowledge about the human suffering, fears, life, death, anger, happiness, agony, etc. After that he lived an aesthetic life, learned and practiced meditation. He gained five aesthetic as his followers. Whatever Gautama tried he wasn’t able to find that satisfactory answers he was looking for. One day a little girl offered him a bowl of rice, when he accepted the bowl of rice he realized that living under harsh condition was not means to achieve the knowledge about spirituality. Then he started to encourage people to follow the path of balance.

One night he vowed to himself that he would not get up until he finds a satisfactory answer and started to meditate under the Bodhi tree. As days passed on thinking about the life experiences he gained till now and soon the picture began to form in his mind about the sorrows and life, finally he saw an answer the answer that he was seeking for so many years. In that moment of enlightenment Gautama Buddha was born. After his enlightenment, he had traveled to many places of India by foot to impart his knowledge and wisdom to the peoples. Prithivi Narayan ShahPrithivi Narayan Shah is known as king of kings in Nepal. He was the main reason we have this country Named Nepal. He is the one who has big hand in the unification of Nepal. Prithivi Narayan shah was born in Gorkha kingdom, one of the kingdoms in Nepal. He was born in 1723 B. S. Privithi Narayan Shah was very promising in his early ages. Queen Pravati had taken charge to build his character. Queen Pravati kept Prithivi away from any wrong ideas and pleasures in his early life. Prithvi Narayan Shah was always interested in nations affairs, so he would initate to take some responsibility from his father “the king” and complete it. He had a dream to re capture the Nuwakot, that his father lost in previous war. After death of his father, at the age of 20 he became the crowned king of the Gorkha. He used to talk with his peoples and find out the problems in the nation. He would talk to people and figure out what would make them happy. This practice made him easier to understand the needs of the people. Prithvi Narayan Shah influence people to use local made product. He had stated that if the people of the country is capable the country would also be stronger. He believed in using local hand weaved clothes than foreign. He believed that if foreigners product enters their market then I would suck the place dry. Each as an effective leader.

Gautama Buddha is a religious leader and Prithivi Narayan Shah is a political leader. At the age of 29 Buddha went in an aesthetic journey, which led him to the enlightenment of the life and universe. It is said that father of the god’s Brahma inspired him to impart his knowledge with people. He was hesitant in the beginning to share his knowledge. As a leader Gautama was very humble and peaceful leader. He would walk by foot to travel many places to share his knowledge. He would share his knowledge to everyone from every race, casts, kings, labors, etc. He used to tell truth about every experience and answer the question of the people truthfully even the bitters one. He was very honest. He always persuades the people to walk the middle way or the balance life. It means live simple living high thinking. In his journey he had lots of followers, some left but he was persistent in his vision to achieve his success in finding out the answers. He failed in different methods. Gautama was trying different things to gain the knowledge and answers to his question. He was persistent, he never gave up on his vision and beliefs. As kings Ashoka was so inspired and motivated by Gautama Buddha, he constructed a Pillar in the place where Gautama was born in the respect of Gautama Buddha.

Prithivi Narayan Shah as I think he was a born leader. He was very much interested in his father’s affairs in nations work from his early life. He was a people person. He always tried to talk with people of his kingdom to know their needs and difficulties. He even inspired his people to fight against the other kingdom. As we know Gorkha had a small troop and not very much stronger one. But with the inspiring attitude and motivational qualities he was able to build a huge troop of solder and strong one. His first capture was Nuwakot, in re-unification of Nepal. He had a vision to unify the nation. He is one the most influencer leader of the Nepal. Even in this time his pictures motivate people. As we see his finger pointing that represents we are all united and its resonates with our beliefs. Great initiation of Prithivi Narayan Shah is to be thankful that we are able to live in this country Nepal and the map which are inscribed in every Nepalese people hearts and mind. As we know our country has 4 castes system and 36 sub castes, it is Prithivi Narayan Shah who developed the message and feeling in the people’s heart that “Unity in Diversity”. It was his courage that avoided Nepal to be ruled by British unlike India. Influence the life of othersGautama Buddha and Prithivi Narayan Shah in majority both have influenced the life of the others in positive way.

Gautama Buddha has a vision to enlightenment the people imparting his knowledge about valuable lessons of life and universe. At this time, we Nepalese fell proud in telling Gautama Buddha was born in Nepal. Gautama Buddha is a world renowned iconic leader, also known as the light of the Asia. Gautama Buddha shared his vision to spread the message of peace and non-violence all over the world. His vision was so well executed to his followers that even after 2600 years later his followers descendent are spreading the knowledge what Gautama Buddha wanted to share back then. As Prithivi Narayan Shah also had a vision of unified Nepal. Although, he was cruel and strict. It was his cruelty and courage that led his regime to achieve his vision. He was so focused in his journey to extend his territory; he did not consider any type of relationship. He had negative effects in people’s life in his era due to wars, bloodshed, killing people for peace of land, but in bigger picture he had a positive influence in people of Nepal. Remembrance in History Gautama Buddha is remembered as a light of Asia. He was a religious leader that has imparted many knowledge about peace and nonviolence. Buddhism was created on his foundational learning. Buddha’s foundational learning is his famous Four Nobel Truth. The first Truth tells us about the suffering, stress and unable to satisfy. As for example: as we know famous proverb, peoples demand never ends. They will never get satisfy with what they have, they demand more. The second truth about the causes of first truth. As Buddha describe that the main cause of those causes are cravings. Craving is derived from not knowing ourselves and understanding reality. Misunderstanding leads to anxiety and frustration. The third truth tells us about liberation and the cravings. Liberation depends on one’s own insight into the source of stress and unhappiness.

Craving will not stop until you realize for yourself what’s causing it (O’Brien, 2018). The fourth truth tells us about insight comes with practice. Practices includes meditation, mindfulness, living a simple life, happier life and wisdom. Prithivi Narayan Shah is remembered as the greatest king of Gorkha. He will be remembered for his heroic achievement in unification of Nepal. His courage and the vision were the main turning point in the unification of the Nepal. He was a visionary king of the Nepal. He will be also remembered as the one to diversify the Nepal. His famous saying states that unity in diversity. That saying has still maintained Nepal’s Unity. It was his heroic courage that kept Nepal form invasion of British. Servant Type LeaderIn my view, I view Gautama Buddha was a Servant type leader. Let’s suppose in management style, he was in the top of the pyramid and his followers were in bottom part of the pyramid. As we know Gautama was always trying to help people to solve their problems. Some of the characters that makes Gautama Buddha as a servant type leader are:

1. He was a good listener. He traveled many places just to answer the questions of the problems the people had.
2. Empathy: He was very good to understand the people. He even empathizes with the people.
3. Healing: His words and his insights are magically healing to listen at for the troubled minds.
4. Peace and non-violence: Buddha’s learning about the peace and non-violence can also be regarded as the servant type leadership qualities.

Conclusion

Gautama Buddha and the Prithivi Narayan Shah are the great leaders in the history of Nepal. They both have influenced the life of the Nepalese people. They both have lots of the leadership traits that we can learn and apply it to our own life for success and stress free living. A successful leadership brings great success in life of his own and his team mates or followers. At last a leader is best when he is iconic and have great vision.