Morality and Leadership

India has been under foreign domination for almost seven centuries. The invasions through the historic Khyber Pass (Dara Khaiber) repeatedly brought turmoil to the subcontinent, and Punjab was always the first to resist. From the land of the Rigveda and the Mahabharata, this region produced warriors like King Porus, who stood with unmatched courage before Alexander called the Great. Perhaps Porus was the first,and the last to resist so heroically. After the battles of Panipat and Jhelum, the invaders often ruled undisturbed, considering themselves safe and victorious.

It was into this moral and social collapse that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born&mdasha voice of divine awakening and human dignity. He initiated a spiritual and social revolution, reminding the people that material pleasure without honour is hollow. His powerful message resounded:

&ldquoJe jive pat la?hi jae, sab haram jeta kichh khae&rdquo

(If one lives without honour, whatever one eats is sinful.)

And again, his call for courage and commitment became immortal:

&ldquoJo to prem khelan ka chao, sir dhar tali gali meri ao&rdquo

(If you desire to play the game of love, come to my street with your head on your palm.)

Through these divine words, Guru Nanak laid the foundation of moral leadership ,rooted in truth, justice, and sacrifice.

His followers carried this message forward. Guru Arjan Dev Ji gave his life for righteousness. His grandson, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, sacrificed himself to defend the religious freedom of others. And the tenth Guru&rsquos sons,Baba Ajit Singh, Baba Jujhar Singh, Baba Zorawar Singh, and Baba Fateh Singh ,showed the world that true leadership is not measured in power, but in sacrifice for honour and faith.

The process of dying for honour, which began with the Gurus, was carried forward by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, who struck the first blow against Mughal tyranny and established the first people&rsquos rule based on justice. Then came Nawab Kapur Singh, Sultan-ul-Quam Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who restored the pride of Punjab and proved that moral strength and military courage can coexist.

Hari Singh Nalwa, the legendary general, personified this ideal, brave, honest, respectful to women, secular to the core, and just to both friend and foe. These leaders embodied the Sikh ideal of Miri-Piri ,temporal strength guided by spiritual wisdom.

Even in the modern era, Punjab produced leaders of integrity. Master Tara Singh and Partap Singh Shankar , Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur , remembered as honest presidents of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), lived simple lives. They would bring their food from home and rarely used the langar or the money of the Sangat. Their moral character reflected the Guru&rsquos teaching that leadership must be a seva (service), not an opportunity for self-gain.

For decades after Independence, Punjab had no shortage of upright officers and public servants. Honesty, courage, and simplicity were respected traits, not liabilities. Unfortunately, this moral foundation began to crumble around 1956, when political and administrative compromises crept into the system. Gradually, honesty came to be seen as a weakness, and manipulation as a qualification for advancement.

Today, perhaps one out of a hundred in public life enjoys the reputation of being truly honest and professionally competent,whether in politics, bureaucracy, or the judiciary. The corridors of power are often crowded with agents, touts, and middlemen. This erosion of morality has created a trust deficit between the people and the system.

The recent scandals in Punjab involving police, bureaucrats, politicians, and even sections of the judiciary have deeply shaken public faith. The common Punjabi, once known for his courage and self-respect, now feels helpless and betrayed. A Persian proverb aptly captures this despair:

&ldquoTang Adam, Bhujang Adam&rdquo when a man is cornered and loses all hope, he either takes his own life, falls into addiction, or turns violent.

This moral decay must not be allowed to continue. Punjab, the land of saints and soldiers, must rise again, not through violence or anger, but through moral and institutional reform. We must replace this scandal-ridden system with one that is transparent, people-oriented, and rooted in ethics.

Across the world, we see that the most progressive nations are those where leaders are honest, systems are fair, and citizens trust their institutions. Integrity is the foundation of true progress. Fortunately, India today has many examples at the national and state levels where leadership has regained moral ground. The central leadership underlines that development and honesty are not opposing forces infact ,they strengthen each other.

Punjab, too, must reclaim its lost legacy. The land that produced Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh ,cannot remain hostage to corruption, drugs, and despair. Moral leadership must once again become the standard of public life, not an exception.

It is time for every Punjabi to remember the Guru&rsquos command:

&ldquoSo kio manda akhiye jit jammeh rajan&rdquo

(How can one call her bad, from whom kings are born?)

Respect for women, justice for all, and courage in action ,these are the eternal pillars of Sikh and Indian civilization. When these values return to governance, Punjab will again become the land of angels ,pure, strong, and radiant with truth.

Let&rsquos join hands to revive Punjab the Land of Angels of Guru Nanak.

Together, with honesty as our shield and truth as our sword, we can rebuild a Punjab that inspires the nation once again.

Iqbal Singh Lalpura

Former Chairman

National commission for

Minorities Government of India.