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Organizational Networking and

Leadership Development for like-minded Hindu Organizations
------------------------------- Dr. Bala Aiyer -------------------------------------
trategi! "lanning for #ealisti! O$%e!tives& !he!ks and $alan!es
with 'ommitted Leadership Development and working in 'ooperation
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Some new ways to think for proper strategies and realistic Organization
(. )ntrodu!tion*
We have many Hindu Organizations around the world working for the cause of
improving and strengthening the cause of Hindu Dharma and Hindu Rashtra. Several
of the Hindu Organizations political social and Religious are all organized well. !heir
leadership is strong and command good respect among their followers. Still many of
them lack universal support among Hindus at large. While most active mem"ers of
these organizations may feel that they are all in good shape with "usiness as usual and
the situation keeps them in power and popularity# we often get a $uestion why they do
not have a mass support of the Hindu community. !here are many organizations setup
in !amilnadu and the surrounding states which are formed "y a group of % or &
committed individuals with few of their friends. !hey have vision and plans of a limited
nature "ut lack mass support due to lack of pu"lic relations pu"licity and are not a"le to
esta"lish credi"ility for their fund collection and for their master plans. Often they lack
long-term vision for on-going upkeep and maintenance of the pro'ects that they develop.
!hey face an ongoing pro"lem in their effort to preserve and propagate the interest
among their community mem"ers and at the same time have a pro"lem in pro'ecting a
proper image of Hindu Dharma with pride to the community they are living in.
!here are many small groups some political some social and some protective
"ut often without proper o"'ective direction or leadership. Often our general pu"lic get a
mi(ed message of the priorities that they need to work on and mi( several aspects of
the needs in one organization without a focus. Often there is pressure for each
organization to take-up varying causes as and when the need for each one arises. !his
includes !emple renovation education political activities and also fighting with alternate
religious forces. We can not afford to work on different fronts at the same time. )any of
our leaders talk and work with great ideals and conservative spirit. !hey take up all
types of causes without proper o"'ective and division of work among different groups
and without competing with one another for the same cause. !hey have not prepared
the leadership at second level and have not shown proper directions for the followers at
the ground level who often lack sincerity and discipline. )any often confuse their
personal agenda and social actions with the proper Hindu Dharma cause. *n this early
%+
st
century the political situation has changed around the world and needs new
thinking new planning and new strategies to face the situation and can not "e "usiness
as usual. We invite our participants to analyze and discuss the pro"lems and to give
their inputs for proper leadership development and for working with one another.
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+. ,hat do we need to do for our Hindu Dharma and for our o!iety-
!he ,eaders of the various organizations working for various causes of Hindu
Dharma should meet together once or twice a year as needed to discuss their
pro"lems and their plans. !hey should discuss to sort out the strategies o"'ectives and
plans in a closed session and also meet and talk in an open meeting. We need to
arrange for a -!hink !ank. formed among leaders to meet periodically to plan proper
strategies and once decided all should a"ide "y the decisions and work on them. While
the volunteer workers in various groups can associate themselves in more than group of
activities the leaders should confine and concentrate on one set of o"'ectives and work
for those causes. !he workers if they are interested in any other cause they should not
mi( that with the Hindu group activities in the same time. !hey should not mi( the
pro"lems or use the platform of Hindu organizations for their personal agenda. !his
must "e controlled and governed "y the leaders properly. !he controversial persons
should "e asked to confine to one or the other however dear they feel a"out it.
Similarly the leaders should not insist on their personal social ha"its or /chaaras
on the group and say -let us do it my way.. We must understand the realities of the
situation and keep within the needs of the community. We have to understand that there
are several causes for Hindu Dharma we may "e working on. !here are the -Satvika.
causes related to Hindu Dharma education !emple activities and Hindu community
activities with faith "ased spiritual work. !hen there are the social needs of the
community as -!amasika causes. including education vocational training and health
education and health care for which the poor community mem"ers will need assistance
and will "e needed to keep these mem"ers involved in the spiritual and temple related
activities. While working for the needs of the community we need to identify what is
needed to work for the spiritual needs of the society and to strengthen Hindu Dharma.
While many Hindu leaders and workers are talking a"out cultural pro"lems and
trivial things in the society they should find an answer to the real pro"lems that is really
affecting the Hindu Dharma. While we work for the spiritual development of the people
to gain a "etter future we need to assist them in their current needs. We need to work
on social uplifting all mem"ers of the Hindu community including the very poor and the
handicapped and support them without hurting the others. 0ducational programs and
social service work in city slums and villages are a must for all Hindus. 1illages need
clean and safe water supply and also proper health education. So while the leaders try
to form the organizations and plan their o"'ectives there must "e a place for all these.
We need to support the social activities for the development and uplifting of the poor
Hindus. !hen there are several groups of organizations which are working in -Ra'asika.
type of activities. We need to develop a +22 percent support of all Hindus in *ndia in the
political field to support pro-Hindu mem"ers in any political party. !hese are the groups
that work as political parties to fight with groups that are detrimental to the Hindu
Dharma and Hindu society. !here is a certain need to keep any such political activities
separate from religious activities. Loka Dharma eva .oundation /rust is a non-
political social organization and we do not want any political activities associated with it.
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0. ,hat is "ositive planning for Leadership development-
While any group may have several active workers if the cause is proper they
can get sympathetic support of all mem"ers of the community. We need a +223 support
of the community. )any are talking mostly of the pro"lems of the recent past or the
glory of the ancient past and often stop short of even thinking a"out a solution or an
action plan. !here is no need to talk "ad a"out other religious faiths. /fter all they are
doing their 'o" right and in a very smart way as they are ordained or ordered to do and
now we need to do ours. We can have other groups of political activists to watch over
the activities of other religions. *n ,DS4! and its cooperating organizations there is no
need to 'oin any political groups to support any political activities or support any fight
with other religious groups. *n organizational networking we need to align only with like
minded non-political organizations of -Social /ctivists. that work for Hindu Dharma
!emple re'uvenation Hindu Dharma education and community social welfare. We
should never attack or talk ill among our own groups or sections while 'oining hands
with other Hindu religious groups to fight with another section of Hindu community. *n an
essence we must think talk and act positive only as negative a!tion $egets failure.
*n networking all groups of mem"ers of various organizations should plan to
work together e(plain each one5s vision plans past activities and future needs. !hey
must show some checks and "alances of their plans and financial control and
commitment. 4or the proper credi"ility among the general pu"lic contri"uting to our
efforts we must show transparency in our plans honesty in our transactions
accounta"ility of our e(penses and periodic auditing as necessary function for fiduciary
control. We need to develop proper leadership with proper command and control with
a"ility to plan and e(ecute the pro'ects on time. What we need to do is a plan of action
and organization of all our efforts with a realistic thinking and a strategic planning to
reach our ideals "ut not 'ust in the idealistic way. We need discipline to prepare such a
strategy and a follow the plan. We need a good command and control "y the leadership.
We need to esta"lish a discipline for the workers and group mem"ers to follow the plan
keeping aside their own ideas and alternate and independent thinking. 6nity among all
Hindu Dharma followers should "e the most important. Survival of the Hindu population
and esta"lishment of Hindu Rashtra should "e the "asic aim and the only goal.
!hey must have the following principles in their work and organization7
+. 8losed loop communications 9 discuss all information#
%. 8lear messages to "e given 9 proper O"'ectives#
&. 8lear roles and responsi"ilities assigned#
:. 0veryone must know one5s limitations#
;. <nowledge sharing 9 e(change of ideas#
=. Specific orders and plans of /ction#
>. 4ollowing orders and actions with full support.
?. 8onstructive interventions 9 @ew *deas#
A. Re-evaluation and Summarizing#
+2. )utual Respect for all mem"ers of the team.
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1. ,hat is Organizational Networking of like-minded groups-
Blanning for the mission of each group should "e made with realistic clear
approach and strategic planning o"'ectives and goals need to "e analyzed according to
the needs of the community needs of the hour and for the future and listed properly. We
all need to work as a team in cooperation with each one have his or her own assigned
duties and not to mess up with each others work. ,et us follow the principles of
coordination and cooperation for the survival of the community. 0ach group of active
organizations their regional entities and the grass-root mem"ers should recognize and
have a team leader and a set of team mem"ers at various levels. !he position of team
leaders should "e on rotational "asis and not assigned to one mem"er or one family.
!he small organizations in local areas with limited agenda like a !emple renovation one
small educational program in one location or other similar goals should form a network
to work together or unite and ad'ust their o"'ectives if needed.
!he leaders should have strength through clear support from the mem"ers of
the group proper knowledge and understanding of the o"'ectives and should "e
prepared to leave aside their personal opinions desires and attachments for the sake of
the common cause. !he ,eaders should "e a"le to work in cooperation with other Hindu
organizations working on other aspects of the o"'ectives in their group as well as other
similar groups. !his is very important in organizational networking as it is not a one-way
street of 'ust getting help and financial support and e(pects to "e left alone. @ow we
must analyze and consider what is needed of the !eam ,eadership and of the !eam
)em"ers of each group and of their o"'ectives and directions. We must consider what
is lacking and what will get strength and popular support without diluting our principles
and at the same time get the needed strength to keep the ideals of Hindu Dharma.
While each group should get clear limitations of o"'ectives and not to take up
the work of other groups in the same region different groups can work on similar type of
activities in different regions. Here each mem"er should "e e(pected to work with the
other groups in their areas and their leadership and directions. Here each group of
mem"ers will help the other groups when needed and work together. !o put it as simple
e(ample when one group goes for arranging class room activities mem"ers of !emple
activities can 'oin them to assist in organizing the class rooms while they get help in
reverse in temple re'uvenation activities and similarly "oth will work together in the
same area for a health camp when organized "y another group. Similarly groups with
similar goals will work together on the same pro'ect in each ones place of choice. !eam
,eaders for each social activist5s group selected with concurrence for efficiency in
directing the followers and volunteers. ,eaders should have periodic conferences and
conventions to discuss the o"'ectives policies and procedures among the workers and
with other group mem"ers to get proper support from other groups of different areas of
activities. ,eaders should develop and earn the respect and confidence of the mem"ers
in all their programs and plans and discuss with all mem"ers. ,eaders should not mi(
their pro'ects which are not directly related to the Hindu Dharma causes in their agenda.
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Needs of the hour and for the future for organizations in /amil Nadu*
LD./ and other groups to work together 2 3ision to $e analyzed and listed 2
#ealisti! 'lear approa!h and trategi! "lanning for O$%e!tives and 4oals
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC END CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
!eam )em"ers should study and understand the principles o"'ectives and
limitations of their group activities and o"ey and follow the directives of the leaders for
the good cause. 0ach Hindu organization and their leaders can take up one or more of
the group of activities outlined as their total o"'ective and also work with other groups
for the total success. Doth leaders and mem"ers should act and perform such actions
as a service to Hindu causes without harming the society at large or in'uring the Hindu
*mage.
Still working on the following texts:
Working on last 2 pages where LDSFT and the other groups in Tamil Nadu can
work together as or as a group.
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0ach Hindu organization and their leaders can take up one or more of the group
of activities outlined as their total o"'ective and also work with other groups for the total
success. Doth leaders and mem"ers should act and perform such actions as a service
to Hindu causes without harming the society at large or in'uring the Hindu *mage. !eam
)em"ers should study and understand the principles o"'ectives and limitations of their
group activities and o"ey and follow the directives of the leaders for the good cause.
!eam ,eaders for each group as well as national leaders should "e elected or selected
with concurrence for committed leadership $ualities and for efficiency in directing and
controlling the followers and volunteers E work-force. ,eaders should have periodic
conferences and conventions to discuss the o"'ectives policies and procedures among
the leadership groups and among the workers to get proper grass root support and
proper support from other groups of different areas of activities.
,eaders should develop and earn the respect and confidence of the mem"ers in all their
programs and plans and discuss with mem"ers. ,eaders should not mi( their pro'ects
which are not directly related to the Hindu Dharma causes in their agenda. )em"ers
should realize that they should not mi( any of their personal pro'ects along with the
national Hindu Dharma causes in their activities and will not get support from the
leadership for any personal activity especially if they do not get mass support.
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Strategic Blanning for Realistic O"'ectives in Organizational @etworking
with 8ommitted ,eadership Development 9 / framework 9 to achieve7
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+. - What are the pro"lems that we are facing nowF ,et us "e realistic7
,et us first concentrate on Bro"lems for Hindu Dharma in *ndia.
*n various parts of *ndia the challenges and opportunities are $uite different. !here are
many groups some political some social and some protective "ut often without proper
o"'ective direction or leadership. While some of the Hindu groups are working hard with
several ideals for good causes most of them lack in pro'ecting a powerful image to win
the pu"lic support and sympathy. !hey have not developed a -we are Hindus. feeling
among themselves or among the ?2 percent of the *ndian population. )any of the
leaders talk and work with great ideals and spirit and take up all types of causes
without proper o"'ective and division of work among different groups who are competing
with each other. !hey have not prepared the leadership at second level and have not
shown proper directions for the followers at ground level who often lack sincerity and
discipline. )any often confuse their personal agenda and social actions with the
common cause.
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(a. 2 Which o"'ectives are the ones that are most importantF
($. 2 Which ones we can "ear with and ignore for the time "eingF
(!. 2 Which are the important goals that we need to achieveF
(d. 2 What has gone wrong when we could not achieve these goalsF
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%. 9 What are the possi"le solutions to these pro"lemsF
+a. 2 What do need to do to educate /,, our Hindus a"out our faithF
+$. 2 What do we do to create a unity among all Hindus to get supportF
+!. 2 What do we do to improve our institutions to function wellF
+d. 2 What do we do to prevent conversions and get more into our faithF
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&. How do we develop ,eadership from grass rootsF
0a. 9 !he ,eadership governs guide and regulate the activities of the mem"ers
and if necessary discipline them to stay within the path and o"'ectives.
0$. 9 Organizational leadership at head$uarters meets and plans the "asic
O"'ectives and minimal areas of activities and give directions to mem"ership.
0!. 9 *s there is a place for family mem"ership and grooming of future leaders
from $ualified candidates or family mem"ers 9 who decidesF
0d. 9 !he grass roots at Regional District levels and at Gonal levels create the
policies and procedures for direction.
0e. 9 !he leaders plan and organize periodic regional and head$uarters
meetings. !hey organize "oth closed meetings for policies and planning and
open meetings for propagation and e(ecution of plans.
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:. How do we work together to plan activities to each organizationF
;. How do we plan to assign activities and goals to each group and areasF
=. How do we work and plan changes in vision in e(isting organizationsF
,et us think as to what has gone wrong in our acts and what we need to avoid.
/gain 9 let us all "e realistic -- allowing for human emotions and desires.
!here is a verita"le need to develop a framework to facilitate effective networking
"etween activists and leaders of all organizations in order to optimize the resource
input and increase the overall output of the collective social work with increase in
popularity and general pu"lic support.
What is needed now for reorganization and ,eadership DevelopmentF
,et us plan as to what we need to do now and how we have to work on.
/gain 9 let us "e realistic - allowing for human emotions and desires.
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@ow who will "ell the catF - @ow how will you catch a flying crane or a running catF
Remem"er7 -Who moved my 8heeseF. /ny organization can improve only "y doing
the 'o" "etter and more organized with proper planning and efficient e(ecution.
,et us think as to what has gone wrong in out acts and what we need to avoid.
,et us plan as to what we need to do now and how we have to work on.
/gainst 9 let us "e realistic --- allowing for human emotions and desires.
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Outlines:
1: Introduction 2. Wht nd where is the !ro"le#$ %
3. &ow it hs ffected us$ 4. Wht hs h''ened in the !st$ %
5. (")ecti*es nd 'lns. 6. Wht chnges will "e hel'ful$ %
+. ,o##uniction nd #eetings.
-. !u"lic reltionshi' to co##unicte with 'eo'le.
.. /utono#01 freedo#1 res'ect1 control nd disci'line2 %
13. ,ler thinking nd cler 'ln execution2 %
11. 4elistic (")ecti*es nd Strtegic !lnning2 %
12. 4es'ects for ll &indus of lternte thinking2
+
+