COMMENT | Great movements trump great men

When we think about heroes, we see personalities, not organisations. The titans, the legends, the tigers, lions, eagles, and whatnot. The great men and women who have dedicated themselves to a life of service for the nation to make our country a better place, at great risk and sometimes harm to themselves.

While not wanting to take anything away from the stupendous work that these people have done, it, however, steals some attention away from the work that’s being done under the radar.

The planning, the organisation, the logistics, the catering, the whispered persuasions at a local kenduri, the volunteers manning phonebanks checking in on local residents, the analysts preparing reports and recommendations; these are just some activities that make up the mechanisms and systems required for change although they hardly attract attention or plaudits.

Strong systems and institutions are also necessary to rein in the whims of an individual leader, which if not held in check can lead to deep negative effects or even collapse of an organisation or society. These systems, and the work that goes into them, need to be properly recognised...