Former police officer urges students to seek inspiration beyond politicians, film stars

Police officer-turned-motivational speaker V. V. Lakshminarayana advised students to look beyond politicians and film stars for inspiration on leadership.

Addressing students at a programme organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Tirupati on Friday (September 25, 2026), he termed leadership as a responsibility, not a crown worn at convenience. “A leader should look beyond merely giving orders to inspire fellow individuals by setting a goal and leading them towards success,” he said.

“Leadership is not limited to politics. There are leaders among scientists, doctors, farmers, economists, astronomers, and administrators too, who are worthy of emulation,” he stated.

Calling failure a “temporary obstacle,” he said it is not the end of life, but an opportunity to understand where one had gone wrong and learn from the experience. “Low marks should not disappoint you, but should become a valuable lesson. FAIL is nothing but ‘First Attempt In Learning’ for us”, he said.