What is Leadership?

Vimla Kaul, 75, a Delhi resident was in Mumbai recently to bask in a much-deserved glory. She was among the 24 people who were given the Real Heroes Award by CNN-IBN. Her work in children’s education was being recognized finally. Or was it? Vimla is of course proud and happy but does not see this as the first recognition. Because, recognition has been coming all these years, not from big media houses but from the community—from each and every individual child whose future she has impacted.

Vimla’s story started along with her husband, Prof. Hari Mohan Kaul whom she tragically lost to cancer last year. For decades the two have worked in perfect unison serving communities wherever they lived. They did not form an NGO, or work under any banner. They just believed that doing something, everyday, for those who had less than them was good enough. They did not look for laurels or awards. Their Delhi project – a school for poor, village children- started about a decade ago. It was at first a Rotary project and they took it up. Rotary stepped out shortly. But the Kauls had already put in a lot of effort and did not want to see it go waste. They continued it on their own steam. And funds. Friends and family contributed to make the wheels continue to turn while the couple spent all its mornings ensuring that the children studied. This may sound fairly easy except that it wasn’t. The children had to study in a “garden”, which was actually a smelly dump never cultivated by MCD. Refuse lay everywhere. The Kauls have tried over a decade to get a place but in vain. The municipal corporation said it would help but again, nothing happened. This continues till today. But in these conditions, hundreds of children have finished the primary school curriculum, an impressive number has got into public schools and the older ones in vocational courses. Tens of young girls and housewives have learnt trades from jam and pickle-making to sewing to embroidery to make themselves financially independent. Without a title and without a banner they have been recognized by people who know their work. Without an office or trappings of success, they are inspiration to many. In recent years, substantial media coverage has got them the attention of others who want to emulate their model. Vimla who misses her husband today says, “The model is only a simple desire to make some difference to the world we live in.” I think this is true leadership. What about you?