Invincibility, Challenges and Leadership is a product of a thorough study and understanding of history, combined with the author’s extensive personal and professional experience in the army and government. K. V. Krishna Rao has used his wide-ranging research and experience to give the reader an over-view of the development and rise of a few civilisations and empires in the course of human history, and to examine the reasons for their downfall. He takes an in-depth look at the causes and consequences of major wars in the twentieth century; and the progress of the wars, explaining the course and impact of major battles fought. The author then closely looks at the life and role of major political and military rulers, to illustrate the development of these great leaders and examine the impact they had on events. These examples are used to identify the role of leadership in defining events, the characteristics and virtues of good leadership, and the consequences of the presence of these leaders in directing events.
As the author notes, to be effective leaders, or even good citizens, an understanding of history is vital, since that gives us an opportunity to learn from the past, and the chance to prevent repeating mistakes. This book clearly demonstrates this fact, by merging lessons from history and discussions about possible future challenges. This book is a must-read for those interested in world and military history, for current and future leaders and for an understanding of the development and qualities of leadership.
General Krishna Rao successfully served for forty-one years in the Army and eleven years as Governor, during a crucial period in the sensitive northeastern states and twice in Jammu and Kashmir. During his tenure as Governor, he brought the disturbed situation due to insurgency in the Northeast under full control. In Jammu and Kashmir which went through a turbulent proxy war, he was instrumental in restoring normalcy, holding credible elections and restoring democracy, after President’s rule for seven years.
During World War II, he served in Burma, the North-West Frontier and Baluchistan. Thereafter, he was deeply involved in the first war against Pakistan in the Rajauri-Poonch area in 1947–48, the second war against Pakistan in 1965 in the Ladakh area where the Chinese also carried out some aggressive moves, and the 1971 war in East Pakistan, leading to the liberation of Bangladesh. He was awarded the highest award Param Vishisht Seva Medal for displaying “outstanding leadership, courage, determination and drive” during the war.
Preface Introduction
PART I: Empires and Civilizations Ancient 1. Mesopotamia 2. Egypt 3. Persia 4. Greece 5. Rome 6. India 7. China
Middle Ages 8. Mongolia 9. Ottoman 10. France 11. Britain
Modern 12. Russia 13. United States of America Observations, Comments and Lessons 14. The Rise of Empires 15. The Fall of Empires
PART II: World Wars and Major Wars
World Wars 16. First World War 1914–1918 17. Second World War 1939–1945 18. Observations, Comments and Lessons Major Wars after Second World War 19. Korean War 1950–53 20. Indo-Pak War 1971 21. Arab-Israeli War 1973 22. The Communist Offensive in Vietnam 1975 23. Gulf War 1990–91
PART III: Greatest of the Great Leaders
Great Political and Military Leaders 24. George Washington 1732–1799 25. Abraham Lincoln 1809–1865 26. Lenin 1870–1924 27. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1882–1945 28. Winston Churchill 1874–1965 29. Joseph Stalin 1878–1953 30. Mahatma Gandhi 1869–1948 31. Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong) 1893–1976 32. Ho Chi Minh 1890–1969 33. Indira Gandhi 1917–1984 34. Martin Luther King Jr 1929–1968 35. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918–
Military Leaders 36. Napoleon 1769–1821 37. General Douglas MacArthur 1880–1964 38. General Dwight D Eisenhower 1890–1969 39. Marshal Georgi Zhukov 1896–1974 40. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery 1887–1976 41. Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw 1914–2008 42. General Vo Ngoyen Giap 1911–
PART IV: Role of Leadership
Vital Role of Leadership 43. Characteristics 44. Future Challenges 45. Major Options and Preparedness Conclusion Maps Bibliography Index