GENGHIS KHAN [1162 – 1227]

Leadership – the tour d'force of the world, is the ability of a person to lead, inspire and mobilize masses to act in unison, in pursuit of a common goal. Genghis Khan, also spelled Ching–Gis, Chingis, Teng hiz or Iinghis, the great Mongol conqueror, was one such leader who brought different tribes under the Mongolian flag and then expanded his empire across Asia, right up to the Adriatic Sea.

Starting from an obscure destination, he swept throughout Asia like a juggernaut and set in motion, forces more powerful than any kingdom. He conquered almost half the world claiming and achieving the top spot among daredevil conquerors of this world. Harnessing the diverse and dispersed strength of various clans, in turn conquering city after city, he raised a mammoth empire. The ‘Universal Ruler’ as he was called, worshipped the Eternal Blue Heaven, the holy deity of Mongolians, throughout his life.

It is unfortunate that this man of substance and valor is known only for his exploits and the trail of destruction that he left behind after his conquests. Today the icy eyes of Genghis Khan grace the Mongolian currency, bestowing upon him the respect of the Mongolian People. It is still a fond belief among die-hard Mongolians that Genghis Khan would return to earth like the legendary Phoenix, ‘rising from the ashes’, the one who unified and expanded their nation into the largest ‘landmass’ empire of its time.