Articles of the year 2021

History is replete with successful Kings, Emperors, leaders and politicians. Each one of them who was successful had one common thread. His advisors were brilliant and were responsible for the success of their leader. Akbar is famous for his Navaratnas or Nauratan who laid the foundation of the Mughal empire before the ICS was created.

His system of government ran the Mughal empire that ruled a diverse country like India successfully for eight hundred years. His tax collection and land records and administration survives to this day. Ronald Reagan, the American President that is considered the most successful President in the US history was a B-grade actor who rose to become Governor of California and then president of the United States for two terms. The reason for his outstanding performance was his cabinet which was the best that could be found in his time.

He picked the most successful businessmen in the United States, each one had reached the pinnacle of his field and administration for him was already well learned. So running a government ministry was no problem for such an experienced businessman. Earlier, JFK had set the tone by bringing in the whiz kids youngsters after the Korean War who had excelled in the department they served in. These instances are quoted throughout history as the basis of a successful politician. These are examples which Imran Khan has successfully not followed and another reason for his three years of repeated failures. Including in his cabinet a state agent and a used car salesman was a recipe for disaster.

Missing was the paan wala who is famous for the Choona he applies. Thus Imran’s failure was guaranteed. Not by himself per se but in his choice of advisors. Reaching the top is by luck staying there and being remembered is hard work and more hard work but with the right people. The wrong ones will bring you down. Imran’s three years have exposed this weakness. He as an individual is an outstanding achiever as a captain of the cricket team he was one of eleven and could not lose. Running a country of two hundred million people is difficult unless he puts together a team, the best of the best.

Imran needs to put a new team in place and get rid of the car brokers and state agents. He does not have time as he is surrounded by enemies baying for his blood and minutes matter. He has to bring people to assist him to put together a new team quickly, the sooner the better. I have quoted three examples above of the most mediocre people who have risen to success by their team of correct choice. Now we have in front of us an incredible Individual who is admired internationally as a person, who is not a religious icon and is still failing because of his choice of team.