What legacy do you want to leave behind? What of lasting value can you offer society?
Last week, I had the privilege of attending a special screening of the Marathi film "Sant Gyaneshwaranchi Muktaai" in Mumbai, invited by my dear friend Smita Shewale, who plays the narrator and foster mother of Sant Gyaneshwar and his siblings—Muktaai, Nivruttinath, and Sopan—in this deeply moving story. The film, a biographical drama, left me inspired by the sheer resilience and purpose-driven leadership of these spiritual pioneers. It beautifully portrays the struggles of Sant Gyaneshwar’s parents, who faced societal ostracism for returning to family life after taking sannyasa—a taboo in 13th-century Maharashtra. They fought for their children’s right to spiritual education, even at the cost of their own lives, ensuring their kids could pursue their divine calling.
Despite relentless hardships—poverty, social rejection, and the loss of their parents—the siblings continued their spiritual journey, simplifying the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi through the Gyaneshwari.
Gyaneshwar, inspired by his elder brother Nivruttinath and sister Muktaai, made these teachings accessible to every common person, embodying leadership that uplifts all for a higher purpose. Their legacy of lokasangraha, working for the welfare of the world—stands as a timeless example of purpose-driven leadership.
The movie beautifully depicts the life and spiritual journey of Muktaai, the revered sister of the saint and poet Sant Dnyaneshwar, highlighting her profound impact on Marathi devotional literature and culture.
She wrote forty-one abhangs throughout her life. In many places in Maharashtra, devotees worship Muktabai. In north Maharashtra people worship Muktai and do varis (devotional visits) to Muktai's temple. Varkari consider saint Muktai 'Adishakti', Goddess. Varkaris sing abhangas written by Muktai. They call saint Muktabai - Muktai means mother Muktabai.
A town's name is changed from Edlabad to Muktainagar to honor saint Muktabai. This town is administrative center of Muktainagar taluka so the taluka also became Muktainagar taluka.
What struck me equally was the leadership of the film’s creator, Digpal Lanjekar, a director whose conviction has reshaped Marathi cinema. Digpal made a bold vow to produce eight films on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha king who protected India from Mughal domination and preserved its spiritual heritage.
His Shri Shivraj Ashtak series includes Farzand (2018), Fatteshikast (2019), Pawankhind (2022), Sher Shivraj (2022), Subhedar (2023), and Shivrayancha Chhava (2024), with two more films pending. I watched Sher Shivraj with friends in Kolhapur a few years ago, and I’m eager to stream Pawankhind on Amazon Prime soon.
The Marathi film industry, unlike Bollywood or Telugu cinema, operates on modest budgets—rarely crossing ₹50 crore even for blockbusters like Sairat (2016), which grossed ₹100 crore but was made on a fraction of Bollywood’s typical ₹100-200 crore budgets. Despite these constraints, Digpal’s commitment brought together talented actors like Chinmay Mandlekar and Mrinal Kulkarni, along with skilled crews, to recreate Shivaji’s history with authenticity and pride.
During Muktaai's screening intermission, I was fortunate to get a chance to chat with Digpal, who shared that his motivation was to inspire the next generation. Pointing to his young daughter, he said, “When kids this age watch these stories, it’ll stay fresh in their minds. They’ll grow with gratitude for our culture and the great Shivaji Maharaj who protected it. The spiritual culture of Maharashtra portrayed in this movie will also have an impact on these young minds.”
Though Shivaji is a popular subject, Digpal’s detour to make Muktaai—a less “mass-appealing” story about spiritual saints—while still having two Shivaji films pending, was unexpected. When I asked how this detour happened, he smiled and said, “It just happened. I guess God and Sant Gyaneshwar wanted me to do it, and I went ahead.”
Digpal has not only glorified Shivaji’s legacy but also built a massive legacy of his own, proving that purpose can transcend financial limitations.
This brings me to a profound leadership lesson: think about your impact as a trustee for the next generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind? What of lasting value can you offer society? Digpal’s journey shows that pursuing a cause greater than yourself—whether it’s preserving history or sharing spiritual wisdom—comes with risks and fears but yields immense satisfaction. Only those who commit fully to such a cause leave an impact that echoes for generations. This isn’t about money or building a corporate empire; it’s about purpose, something deeper than passion—a calling to serve and uplift.
In the Bhagavad Gita, this aligns with the principle of nishkama karma yoga—selfless action performed without attachment to outcomes, driven solely by purpose in connection with the divine. When you lead with such a mindset, as Sant Gyaneshwar, Shivaji and Digpal did, you tap into a divine energy that supports your work, guiding you through challenges with a flow that feels almost predestined.
Research backs this up: purpose-driven leadership inspires measurable impact. A 2023 Deloitte study found that purpose-driven companies see 30% higher employee retention, with workers 3.2 times more likely to stay when they feel aligned with the organization’s mission. A 2021 McKinsey report showed that purpose-led brands achieve 40% better customer retention, as consumers connect emotionally with their values. And a 2020 Harvard Business Review study revealed that purpose-driven firms outperform their peers by 6.9% on average in annual revenue growth, boosting the bottom line through loyalty and innovation. Purpose isn’t just noble—it’s a strategic edge that fuels resilience and results.
One of the paradoxes of business is that the most profitable companies are not those that are most profit focused. In a survey titled “The Business Case for Purpose”, a team from Harvard Business Review Analytics and professional services firm EY’s Beacon institute declares “a new leading edge: those companies able to harness the power of purpose to drive performance and profitability enjoy a distinct competitive advantage”.
This is a reprise of the findings of Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, who in 1994’s Built to Last found that between 1926 and 1990 a group of “visionary” companies — those guided by a purpose beyond making money — returned six times more to shareholders than explicitly profit driven rivals.
Today, people are hungry for inspiration, and leaders like Sant Gyaneshwar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Digpal Lanjekar stand out because they embody values worth emulating. They were unafraid to be different, prioritizing service over personal gain, even at great cost. Sant Gyaneshwar and his siblings endured ostracization, poverty, and the loss of their parents, yet continued their mission to democratize spiritual wisdom. Shivaji lived incognito, toiled in forests, and faced constant threats to protect India’s sovereignty and spirituality. Digpal, too, faced struggles—working with limited budgets in a competitive industry—but his purpose to serve the next generation kept him going.
At the screening, I was struck by his humility; despite being one of Marathi cinema’s most successful directors, he and his daughter were dressed simply, with no airs about them. He shared that for Muktaai, he and many actors didn’t even take an honorarium, driven purely by a desire to serve Sant Gyaneshwar’s mission. Their joy and blessings from this selfless service fueled their perseverance.
They are embodying the message of the Bhagavad Gita verse 2.48, in which Krishna advises Arjuna to fight while performing nishkama-karma-yoga by being equipoised in success and failure. Samatvam yoga ucyate: “Such equanimity is called yoga.” This is how the verse reads, "Do thou fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat – and by so doing you shall never incur sin."
As a leader, your path may be hard—solving a unique problem for the world always is—but the joy of serving, the purification of your own spirit through this fiery commitment, and the value you create for society make it a legacy worth building.
In his book, Grow: How Ideals Power Growth and Profit at the World’s Greatest Companies, Jim Stengel said it best: purpose mobilizes people in a way that pursuing profits alone never will.
According to Stengel’s 10 year growth study involving over 50,000 brands, companies driven by the purpose of improving people’s lives far outperform the competition – so much so that an investment in the “Stengel 50” would have been almost 400% more profitable than an investment in the S&P 500! These companies are driven by why they are in business rather than by what product or service they are offering.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna speaks of lokasangraha—the duty to act for the welfare of the world, guiding others toward righteousness and their true essence. Digpal’s work embodies this principle. Through his Shri Shivraj Ashtak series, he has rekindled pride in India’s cultural and spiritual heritage, reminding us of Shivaji’s fight to protect it. With Muktaai, he goes further, bringing the teachings of Sant Gyaneshwar and his siblings to life, helping modern audiences connect with their spiritual core in a world where such pursuits are often dismissed as “uncool.”
Leaders, take inspiration from this: your greatest contribution lies in building something that benefits society and aligns with timeless values. When your work helps others reconnect with their essence—be it through culture, spirituality, or purpose—you fulfill the highest calling of leadership, just as Digpal has done.
Sant Gyaneshwar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Digpal Lanjekar show us that true leadership is about serving a purpose greater than ourselves - building legacies that uplift and inspire generations. Their stories remind us of the power of nishkama karma yoga and lokasangraha, where selfless action and a duty to the world create lasting impact, supported by divine energy and proven by research to drive business success. As a leader, you, too, can found a future that endures by aligning with your deepest purpose.
I’m here to help you on that journey: through 1:1 coaching with me and my team, I’ll guide you to connect with your inner being, uncover your unique purpose, and expand your leadership with clarity and impact—let’s schedule a session to start this transformation.
Or join me and Ayça İşbilir at the EASEnlighten Turkey Retreat, August 24-30, 2025, to immerse in ancient wisdom, heal through practices like Ayurveda and energy work, and set a purposeful direction for your leadership—reserve your spot today [insert link]. Together, let’s build a legacy that echoes forever.
Categories: : Leadership