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Whether you are a startup founder, a CEO, an educator, or a spiritual seeker, this book by Hindol Sengupta will leave you not just believeing, but transforming
The book is a rare gem, a confluence of literature, leadership, and legacy, write the reviewers.
In a world gasping for leadership that uplifts and unites, Sing, Dance & Lead by Hindol Sengupta arrives as a breath of fresh, ancient air. The book is not merely a biography or a study in spirituality, it is a penetrating exploration of transformative leadership as exemplified by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the visionary founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Sengupta draws a bold and beautiful portrait of a man who redefined global spiritual engagement, not through dogma, but through joy, devotion, and relentless execution. As Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON Bengaluru and author of the book’s foreword, aptly writes, “This book reveals the spirit of a monk who led without ambition and conquered without control, whose only weapon was love anchored in truth.” That spirit is what Sengupta captures with clarity and reverence throughout this remarkable narrative.
Melding the Ancient with the Urgent
The author deftly bridges timeless Vedic wisdom with modern theories of organizational leadership, modify management, and entrepreneurship. Drawing from leadership frameworks ranging from Peter Drucker to Jim Collins, the book positions Srila Prabhupada as a “deep time” disruptor, one whose vision operated across civilisational timescales but who executed with startup-like precision.
Readers will find in Prabhupada not only a spiritual teacher but also a product developer (the translated Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam as knowledge products), a brand strategist (positioning Krishna consciousness with clarity across cultures), and an organisational designer (overseeing more than a hundred temples globally by the time of his passing).
The Unorthodox Path to Influence
What sets the book apart is Sengupta’s powerful portrayal of joy as a leadership tool. The “song and dance” are both literal and spiritual, rooted in kirtan and prasadam, transforming philosophy into lived experience. This “experiential leadership” offers a fresh model for leaders across sectors. Prabhupada’s focus on authenticity, discipline, and truth stands in contrast to performative leadership. His humility was his strength, and his deep faith kept his global vision intact, growing stronger through unwavering commitment to original scriptures.
Going Beyond the Theories
The book weaves leadership theories from Goleman’s emotional ininformigence to Kotter’s modify model without letting them overshadow Prabhupada’s deeper impact. Sengupta explores how Prabhupada inspired thousands, ensured global consistency, and built lasting systems all through stories, research, and reflection. In 10 crisp chapters across 200 pages, the book reveals the essence of visionary, ego-free leadership. One particular chapter, ‘The Monk’s Motto’, captures his detachment-led, purpose-driven path.
Praise from Titans
It is no surprise that some of India’s most respected voices across business, academia, and considered leadership have lent their admiration to this work. N.R. Narayana Murthy hails the book as a “landmark contribution that humanizes and elevates the idea of servant leadership.” Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw notes how “Sengupta’s lens of value-based leadership displays how Prabhupada’s shiftment combined mission with scale, something modern enterprises still struggle with.” Jaideep Prabhu from Cambridge University adds depth by aligning the book’s insights with frugal innovation: “How else could an elderly man create a global institution with almost no capital?”
A Call to Rebelieve Leadership
In an era dominated by burnout, noise, and short-termism, Sing, Dance & Lead is not just a book, it is a paradigm shift. It gently questions leaders to reimagine their roles as facilitators of meaning rather than merely managers of output. In Srila Prabhupada’s journey, Sengupta offers a case study of leadership that is mystical yet measurable, ancient yet adaptable.
The book is a rare gem, a confluence of literature, leadership, and legacy. Whether you are a startup founder, a CEO, an educator, or a spiritual seeker, this book will leave you not just believeing, but transforming. Srila Prabhupada once stated, “Books are the basis.” Hindol Sengupta adds, so is leadership. And when both are aligned in purpose, shiftments are born.
The reviewers are columnists working in the field of innovation, entrepreneurship and internationalisation strategy. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the reviewers. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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