Leadership and Welcoming Criticism

Gandhi, whose 150th birth anniversary we recently celebrated, has much to teach us. In a time when leaders, across our world, publicly shame and humiliate those who question their actions and policies, Gandhi's attitude to criticism is refreshing.

Gandhi expected his friends to be critical of him. In a letter to Horace Alexander, a friend and colleague of Gandhi and Charles Andrews, Gandhi implored him to “criticize me as frankly and fearlessly as Charlie used to do.” He concluded a letter to Andrew, one in which he disagreed with Andrews, with the following words:

"Instead of a letter, I have inflicted upon you what may almost read like an essay. But it was necessary that you should know what is passing in my mind at the present moment. You may now pronounce your judgement and mercilessly tear my ideas to pieces where you find them to be wrong." (From my book, "Essays in Hindu Theology- Chapter 7).

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