EDUCATION TIMES – APRIL 12, 2009

THE SOUL OF LEADERSHIP

The Alliance for the New Humanity (ANH) and Sahabhagi, an initiative by the Times Foundation,
are embarking on a grassroots volunteer program, in their hunt for new leadership. Deepak
Chopra, President, ANH, invites students to help make a difference.

As president of the Alliance for the New Humanity (www.anhglobal.org), I recently had the good
fortune to connect with the Sahabhagi effort in India. Sahabhagi is an initiative of the Times
Foundation. I think ANH and Sahabhagi have the opportunity to create leadership of the future, by
focusing on personal and social transformation through a breakthrough training program and
visionary leadership. All the problems we see in the world today, including extreme poverty,
economic disparities, social injustice, war and terrorism, and ecological imbalance have been
created by human beings that function through fear, greed and competition. We require a new
leadership, based on our understanding of love, interconnectedness, and compassion in action.

India represents a unique population that can play a pivotal role in

planetary transformation. Already in the US, where I live, President Obama
is introducing a massive t program to encourage volunteerism amongst the
youth. There is no reason this movement in volunteerism should be
restricted to the US. I would like to suggest that ANH and Sahabhagi and TIMES
the Times Foundation begin a program to teach leadership skills, based on FOUNDATION
spiritual values in schools in India. Education has always been strong in SAHABHAGI
India. Indian scientists and technologists are responsible, in part, for the
technological innovations in the last two decades, and the economic boom that
came from these innovations. However, economic development based on the
old paradigm, 'me and mine', has now resulted in a global economic
meltdown.

Only a new breakthrough in leadership can turn this around. I would like to
suggest that ANH and Sahabhagi embark on a grassroots volunteer program that would include
the following:

1. Personal transformation through technology, media, mindfulness, reflections of self-

inquiry, and establishment of worthy goals.

2. Relationship building through the creation of peace consciousness and the understanding of
conscious nonviolent communication. This will also include the technology of emotional
intelligence. Intellect is defined as the ability to get in touch with our own feelings - the
ability to empathize and understand the mechanics of compassion, and the ability to
manage relationships in a nurturing way. The technology of emotional intelligence can be
easily learned and incorporated in any situation requiring conflict resolution. These skills
are sorely lacking in our current leaders.

3. Learning creative problem solving, by having collective intelligence and collective

creativity.

4. Service for the collective good: Such a volunteer program has never been attempted before,
but holds the promise of creating a breakthrough in leadership skills. The Alliance for a
New Humanity thinks that a global program, based on the above principles (rendering a
creative mass), would create a new humanity.

Sahabhagi and ANH would like to know if students would be interested in such a volunteer
programme, as part of their education. If this interests you, visit www. timesfoundation. org, and to
enroll online, click on Sahabhagi Enrollment Form.