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A new 'Panna' in the making?

The view from here:

“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes." -Peter Drucker 

My adventure began with the IAP more than 25 years ago. It started with establishing a new district branch of IAP in my hometown, Bijnor, and publishing a two-page pullout highlighting the branch's activities, which later grew into a quarterly bulletin, 'Pediascne'. Later, in 2001 and 2002, I joined the Central IAP as an executive board member from the Central Zone and UP. I still remember how fiercely we had to fight to change the format of the IAP EB election from a zonal basis to state-level polls. Indeed, there was a strong desire to change the IAP's functioning, identity, and community perception. Of course, there was also a strong desire to establish the Academy as one of the leading guardians of Indian children, a vision still manifested in the Academy's Mission Statement. Since then, the "morphology" and "physiology" of the IAP have undergone significant changes. The IAP, both externally and internally, exhibits both strengths and weaknesses, yet it remains an important ensemble that is difficult to ignore at the national and international levels. Building this association into one of the best in the country necessitates a significant stepping up of efforts from all quarters.

My journey with the Academy

Thinking back on my time at the academy, I gradually realized that there were numerous 'roadblocks' to making one's aspirations a reality. There was rampant partisanship, one-upmanship, hypocrisy, and indifference to some unethical practices that have become ingrained in the academy's functioning. None of these characteristics were unique to the IAP; they are now commonplace among similar associations. I attempted to bring attention to some of the unethical acts by speaking out on my behalf, but the then-office bearers took punitive action and threw me out of the academy. Regardless, I relished my time at the Academy and never wavered from my principles during my brief tenure there. Later, following some sane pieces of advice from my well-wishers, I distanced myself from the Academy's active politics (read contesting for the posts) and started devoting more time to academics. 

The best president? 

Throughout these past 25 years, I have known and worked closely with many IAP presidents—from T. Jacob John to Upendra Kinjawadekar. To whom would I rate as the best among them? A daunting task. At best, it's a pointless academic endeavor. After all, how would it make any difference to the academy's prospects? They were all stalwarts in their respective fields, ranging from brilliant scholars to philosophers to outstanding orators and astute clinicians. Some had electrifying charisma, some the earthiness, and others the exceptional oratory skills. They all contributed to the academy's growth in their own ways. But, arguably, the one whom I consider the most ‘valuable’ for the Academy was undoubtedly the late Panna Choudhury—for his unflinching loyalty, commitment, dedication, and honesty for the association. I may be a bit biased in my assessment since I had worked very closely with him for many years. I know how sincerely he discharged all his duties. His strong commitment to the academy was evident in his preference to travel by train, three-wheelers, and other forms of public transport instead of private cabs and air travel, reflecting austerity measures aimed at conserving funds for the IAP. This was not an isolated incident that demonstrated his deep commitment. There were plenty of them. He was the unsung architect for numerous peers, diligently completing their incomplete endeavours without seeking acknowledgment. Indeed, he embodied the essence of his name-a 'panna' of the IAP, a precious gem. He exuded simplicity and grounded earthiness. I had never witnessed him explicitly taking credit for any new accomplishment or the success of any program or activity. This sharply contrasts with the current generation of stalwarts who promptly showcase their modest achievements on social media, accompanied by a flurry of congratulatory comments, as if a momentous occasion had taken place!

But people like him are a rarity now. The days of such commitment and selfless service are over. His exceptional qualities have become the virtues of a bygone era. Personal motives have become the driving force. Sycophancy and obsequiousness have become the order of the day.

Why this write-up? 

After such a long hiatus, I'm sure many of you are asking why I'm writing this post again. This serves a purpose. Remember, during the IAP election, I used to regularly publish interviews and analyses on the candidates' prospects in the Pediascene? However, a presidential candidate once stooped so low as to attribute an ulterior motive to this practice, accusing me of carrying these features to secure 'undue favors' in the future. This allegation was highly offensive and directly attacked my integrity, causing me significant pain. I stopped publishing these features in subsequent editions. However, my sole aim was to create some buzz around the IAP elections and offer an opportunity for different candidates to showcase the different facets of their personalities. No other publication offered this option to the contestants.

I would occasionally let my emotions get the best of me when I was thinking about a particularly exceptional candidate who I thought would be a tremendous asset to the academy. During Naveen Tacker's 2007 campaign, I published a cover story about him under the title "Simply Naveen Bhai!" that continues to spark discussions among IAPians today. From there, the story unfolds. He became the first president of the International Pediatric Association (IPA), an honor never before bestowed on an IAP president. Looking back, my instincts and faith in his incredible abilities were correct. My article didn't help him succeed; he was determined, competent, and confident.

Is there going to be another Panna? 

After 2007, I once again decided to take a break from academics and share my thoughts about another outstanding candidate in the fray. He lacks the academic prowess of Jacob John, the charismatic personality of Swati Bhave, the humor quotient of Pramod Jog, the teaching abilities of Piyush Gupta, the organizing capability of Bakul Parekh, the suaveness-laced diplomacy of Vijay Yewale, the political acumen of C. P. Bansal, the righteousness of HPS Sachdev, camaraderie of Sachi Kamath, graciousness of Rohit Agarwal, and the social skills of Naveen Thacker. But he duly compensates for the lack of these qualities with his exceptional single-minded devotion and dedication to the IAP. I see a glimmer of Panna Choudhary in him. He is a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, honest, and dedicated IAPian who loves to keep a low profile and never boasts about his past accomplishments. Yes, you got it right. He is Vineet Saxena-a man Friday for the academy in the past and whom you can trust blindly to serve the academy in years to come. 

All other contestants are just as deserving, though. Each has its own set of strengths and abilities. Among them, Neelam Mohan is truly a wonderful buddy who was there for me when I was going through tough times at the academy. Even though I've worked with both A. S. Vasudev and Anand Kesavan before, I still get along well with them and share a positive rapport. But, if I do a dispassionate analysis, Vineet’s name comes at the top. His unwavering commitment, steadfastness, and disciplined approach make him my top pick to head the academy. I wonder whether the IAP electorate would also seize this opportunity to ‘gift’ another ‘panna’ to the academy!

-Vipin M. Vashishtha 

Bottomline……………..

"A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."  -Lao Tzu