The surest indicator of a great nation is represented not by the
achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists, but by the general welfare of its people.

Though any nation earns pride through the achievements or inventions of their rulers, artists’ scientists, the real indicator for greatness comes from general welfare of the larger population that any nation encompasses. Even the great rulers or the scientists would not have directed their works towards their personal glory or towards the nation they represent.

The world is seeing lot of problems stemming out due to protectionist and dictatorial attitudes of some nations. And rightly there is a shift in measuring a nation's greatness and has led to indicators like Human Development Index which focuses more on the general welfare of the people of a nation.It evaluates many parameters like literacy rate,quality of living,sanitation facilities,fair treatment of all the citizens.Scandinavian countries are highly rated on this index and they stand tall in global outlook.

Though the achievements of the leaders or other individual person do bring laurel to a nation, they arenot the representative of the whole nation. Each nation consists of large number of people from poor to rich and the nation and its leader’s task is not complete unless they bring happiness or solve the problems faced by larger section of their people.

Moreover even if we take the achievements of great scientists who invented a particular vaccine,the scientist would be more happy if it cures a disease of larger mass and in ameliorating their welfare. Definitely he would not have spent his stupendous efforts for himself or his national glory alone.

Thus it would be prudent to conclude that nation represents a bigger population than its leaders,scientists and its greatness has to be measured more on the general welfare of its general public.If The achievements of its leaders were also in the direction of upliftment of their people then surely it would be a better place to live.