The un/selfish leader explores notions of selfishness, as they were perceived by people in the village of Ekkaraiyur, Tamil Nadu, India, at a time they associated with thorough changes in their lives. Discussing locally held notions about agrarian change, seen as causing the erosion of earlier village loyalties and leading to the emergence of a new type of leaders, the study focus on the censure of the alleged corruption of these leaders. Expressed in a rich repertoire of stories about the ideals of leadership and about the excellence of the past and foreign societies, the censure was routinely voiced in public debates and in everyday conversation. Set against the background of an increasing role of the state for the people of Ekkaraiyur, the censure of leaders implied a critique of the contemporary society they were taken to represent.
Moreover, the study argues that the critique was grounded in evaluations of individualism and selfishness in human nature.