Monday, January 10, 2005
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Can Kautilya‘s Rajarishi be successful in today’s corporate?
Can Kautilya‘s Rajarishi be successful in today’s corporate?
“In the happiness of his subjects lies the king’s happiness, in their welfare his welfare. He shall not consider as good only that which pleases him but treat as beneficial to him whatever pleases his subjects. “
Kautilya‘s Rajarishi:
RAJARISHI-A WISE KING
A Rajarishi is one who:
• Has self control, having conquered the (inimical temptations) of the senses.
• Cultivates the intellect by association with elders
• Keeps his eyes open through spies
• Is ever active in promoting the security & welfare of the people
• Ensures the observance (by the people) of their drama by authority & example
• Improves his own discipline by (continuing his ) learning in all branches of knowledge &
• Endears himself to his people by enriching them & doing good to them
Such a disciplined king should:
• Keep away from another’s wife
• Not covet another’s property
• Practice ahimsa (non violence towards all living things)
• Avoid day dreaming, capriciousness, falsehood & extravagance, and
• Avoid association with harmful persons and indulging in (harmful) activities.
Kautilya says that artha (Sound Economies) is the most important, dharma & karma are both dependent on it. A Rajarishi shall always respect those councillors and purohitas who warn him of the dangers of transgressing the limits of good conduct, reminding him sharply (as with a goad) of the times prescribed for various duties and caution him even when he errs in private.
DUTIES OF KING
IF the king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic. If he is slack (and lazy in performing his duties) the subjects will also be lax and thereby eat into his wealth. Besides lazy king will easily fall into the hands of enemies. Hence the king should himself always be energetic. He shall divide the day and the night, each into eight periods of one and half hours and perform his duties as follows:
| Day | |
| First 1½ hours after sunrise | Receive reports on defence, revenue, expenditure |
| Second 1½ hours after sunrise | Public audiences, to hear petitions of city & country people |
| Third 1½ hours after sunrise | (Personal-bath meals, study) |
| 1½ hours before | Receive revenues, tributes, appoint ministers and other high officials & allot takss to them |
| First 1½ hours after | Write letters & dispatches, confer with councillors, receive secret information from spies. |
| Second 1½ hours after | (Personal-recreation, time for contemplation) |
| Third 1½ hours after | Inspect & review forces. |
| 1½ hours before sunset | Consult with Chief of Defence |
NIGHT
| First 1½ hours after sunset | Interview with secret agents |
| Second 1½ hours after sunset | (Personal-bath meals, study) |
| Three hours before & first 1½ hours after | Retire to the bed chamber to the sound of music, sleep) |
| Second 1½ hours after | (after waking to the sound of music, meditate on political matters & on work to be done) |
| Third 1½ hours after | Consult with councilors, send out spies |
| 1½ hours before sunrise | (Religious, household & personal duties, meetings with his teacher, adviser on rituals, purohitas, personal physician, chief cooks & astrologer) |
Hence the king shall be ever active in the management of the economy. The root of wealth is (economic) activity and lack of it (brings) material distress. In the absence of (fruitful economic) activity, both current prosperity & future growth will be destroyed. A king can achieve the desired objectives & abundance of riches by undertaking (productive) economic activity.
Creative assumptions:
The Rajarishi- The CEO
The Senapatis- Head of SBU’s / Directors
The Yodhas or warriors- ranked in order of their position in the organisation
The Praja-The shareholders / lower level employees
Enemies- Competitors
Internal Strife:
Kautilya says –Quarrels among people can be resolved by winning over the leaders or by removing the cause of the quarrel, people fighting among people themselves help the king by their mutual rivalry. Conflicts (for power) within the royal family, on the other hand, bring about harassment and destruction to the people and double the exertion is required to end such conflicts.
Hence internal strife in royal family for power is worse than quarrels among people.
(Royal family-top mgt, people- lower level employees)
Kautilya comments on Vices
Vices are due to ignorance and indiscipline, an unlearned man does not perceive the injurious consequences of his vices. He summarizes: subject to qualification that gambling is most dangerous in cases where there is more than one entity sharing power, the vice with the most serious consequence is addiction to drink, followed by, lusting after women, gambling, and lastly hunting.
The Rise of Ratan Tata
Kautilya Rajarishi qualities versus Ratan Tata
Kautilya -An ideal king is one who has the highest qualities of leadership, intellect, energy & personal attributes.
The qualities of leadership (which attracts followers) are : birth in a noble family, good fortune, intellect & prowess, association with elders, being righteous, truthful, resolute, enthusiastic & disciplined, not breaking his promises, showing gratitude (to those who help him), having lofty aims, not being dilatory, being stronger than neighbouring kings & having ministers of high quality.
Ratan was born in
Ratan’s father Naval was born with a famous surname & not much else. Distantly related to
Ratan’s childhood was troubled as Naval & Soonoo did not get along well with each other. They finally separated in the mid-40 when Ratan was about seven and Jimmy was five. The divorce must have left its mark on young minds. Soonoo moved out, both the kids stayed in
JRD bequeathed on Ratan 84 companies of which 39 were listed, a corporate empire whose sales topped Rs. 240 bn with pre-tax profit of Rs. 21.2 bn. The group claims to contribute 3% to national GDP & annually pays out Rs. 35 bn in taxes. That is appx. 3.2 % of total government revenues come from Tatas.
Since he became chairman in 1991, Ratan has been trying to push the group into a higher gear. He knows that the group is watershed in its 125 year history. Equally he is intensely aware that the head of an amazingly diversified conglomerate producing just about everything from steel to lipsticks and employing 270,000 people, he cannot afford to take a wrong step.
Kautilya -The qualities of intellect are: desire to learn, listening (to others), grasping, retaining, understanding thoroughly and reflecting on knowledge, rejecting false views and adhering to the true ones.
An energetic king is one who is valorous, determined, quick, and dexterous.
Ratan Tata is tall- six feet at least –broad shouldered. The craggy face is fair & clean shaven with light grey-green eyes above a large Parsi nose. His dark hair is liberally peppered but he looks younger than his age. His light but gravely voice has an American twang, a hangover from his college days.
Tata has never married. In
Kautilya-Training of a future King
Importance of self discipline:
Discipline is of two kinds –inborn and acquired. (there must be an innate capacity for self discipline for the reasons given below)Instruction & training can promote discipline only in a person capable of benefiting from them, people incapable of (natural) self discipline do not benefit. Learning imparts discipline only to those who have the following mental facilities-obedience to a teacher, desire and ability to learn, capacity to retain what is learnt, understanding what is leant, reflecting on it and (finally) ability to make inferences by deliberating on the knowledge acquired. Those who are devoid of such mental faculties are not benefited (by any amount of training) One who will be a king should acquire discipline and follow it strictly in life by learning the sciences from authoritative teachers.
The training of a Prince:
With improving his self discipline, he should always associate with learned elders, for in them alone has discipline its firm roots. For a (trained) intellect ensues yoga (successful application), from yoga comes self possession. This is what is meant by efficiency in acquiring knowledge. Only a king, who is wise, disciplined, devoted to a just governing of the subjects & conscious of the welfare of all beings will enjoy the earth unopposed.
Ratan was given two sick companies supposedly to train him. First Nelco then ailing Central India Textiles.
Kautilya -As regards personal attributes, an ideal king should be eloquent, bold and endowed with sharp intellect, a strong memory and a keen mind. He should be amenable to guidance. He should be well trained in all the arts and be able to lead the army. He should be just in regarding and punishing. He should have the foresight to avail himself of the opportunities (by choosing) the right time, place and type of action. He should know how to govern in normal times and in times of crisis. He should know when to fight and when to make peace, when to lie in wait, when to observe treaties and when to strike at an enemy’s weakness. He should preserve his dignity at all times and not laugh in an undignified manner. He should be sweet in speech, look straight at people and avoid frowning. He should eschew passion, anger, greed, obstinacy, fickleness and backbiting. He should conduct himself in accordance with advice of elders.
Ratan in the late 70’s thought that the Tatas should be in these areas, we were among the few who would be willing and able to invest in areas like super mini & personal computers, driven by microprocessor advances, artificial intelligence, the convergence of computing & communications into information technology & biotechnology without expecting quick returns, he argued, why shouldn’t Tatas enter those fields of recent technological advancement which have application potential in India?
Russi Mody versus Ratan:
In 1988, JRD had finally made up his mind over the succession issue and his choice fell on Mody. Since Mody was already TISCO chairman, he would take over charge of TELCO from Moolgaokar, ailing chairman. This would make him the head of the two biggest companies in the Tata Group, with combined sales muscle of Rs. 30 Bn- a little more than half of the group’s total sales that time, and would put him in a strong position to stake a claim to the group chairmanship after JRD retired.
In JRD’s game plan, once Mody was Telco’s chairman, Ratan would be his deputy. When JRD played his first move, Mody was overjoyed and prematurely gloat an interview to the Business Standard. Mody’s gung-ho attitude alarmed several Telco executives who began to fear a putsch once he took over. .
On hearing the whispers, an incensed Moolgaokar refused to step down. He would carry on his saddle. He insisted that Ratan should be immediately inducted in Telco as executive deputy chairman giving him the portfolio of Telco’s day to day operation. Palkhivala, then deputy chairman voluntarily resigned but continued as Director. Both Mody & JRD tried to persuade Ratan to resign and publicly state that he would only accept the position under Mody’ chairman, but he refused to do so. Among the values he had learnt from his grandmother was the sanctity of promises. He would not denigrate Moolgaokar, who had built Telco, over the years.
Assault on Ratan’s position came from an unknown trade union leader- Krishnan Pushparanjan Nair better known as Rajan Nair. In 1988 he was suspended for allegedly threatening to murder a security guard & sacked a few months later. He left Telco vowing to bring the management to its knees. Tata did not recognise Nair as Union leader for any negotiation as management views was that a dismissed worker with criminal record could not be acceptable. The unresolved wage agreement became Nair’s rallying point with the management.
On
On
Telco shed its conservative image for the first time & utilized media to create a public opinion, the mangers initiated a one-to-one contact with workforce to convince them of management intentions & slowly the tide began to turn.
On September 19, Tata ‘s move to eliminate position of Nair by signing a 3 year retrospective agreement with Telco Kamgar Sabha(TKS)rival , the Telco Employees Union (TEC), offering a wage hike of Rs. 585 & a lumpsum arrears of Rs. 7000. Tata wrote to every employee in Pimpri & Chinchwad units warning that ‘the company would have to reconsider its plan for further investments in Pune if the trend of labour unrest continued.’ 2 days later 3000 workers went on indefinite fast at Shaniwarwada, with red bandannas with initials of RNP- Rajan Nair Panel. By third day workers, were fainting from hunger. At the end of week there was a real fear that a fatality could trigger off uncontrollable violence. Pawar, then the Chief Minister stepped in & pressurized both sides to break the deadlock and meet. They agreed. On Wednesday Sept 27, Tata flew from into
A tripartite meeting between Tata, Nair and Pawar was arranged at CM’s official residence. Before that Dutta Samant led a morcha to Bombay House while Nair held rallies and press conferences. These vitiated that already charged atmosphere. In obvious bid to slight Tata, Nair and his team deliberately arrived late by one and half hour. Meeting proved inconclusive & Nair was unwilling to concede ground.
Powar was becoming increasingly worried about strike’s political repercussions, Pimpri-Chinchwad areas was crucial vote bank, home to over 2000 industrial units with annual turnover of Rs. 35 Bn and nearly a quarter million workers.
Pawar was getting flak from
Tata believed that it was vindication of principles and values which the group had so zealously protected and propagated all along. The media’s portrayal of Tata as tough manager capable of handling difficult labour situations posed a subtle threat to the Russi Mody.
Mody desperate attempts to have his men as Chairman of Tisco, could not materialize. His expressive nature through press was disliked by the members of Tata Group. At the introduction of retirement policy which included removal of granting extensions in the tenure of group directors. Mody then seventy five walked out of meeting saying the meeting is closed. The retirement policy was adopted unanimously.
The board answered Mody’s badmouthing in Press by passing a resolution that he would have to go by May 1, when JRD spoke the same to Mody, he requested time till May 21 as an auspicious day to him. Then came his fatal interview in Hindu, doing more badmouthing resulting in his sacking. For the first time in history of Tatas was a top men sacked. Ratan’s perseverance & commitment to principles had managed to bring down Mody from the high pedestal that he had assumed for himself.
In Kautilya’s Arthshastra -An abettor is one who incites or encourages to the act, without sharing in its performance.
Since a revolt can arise either in the interior or in the outer regions, there are four logical possibilities, depending on where it arises & where it is abetted. The four types, their relative seriousness and methods of dealing with them are shown in the table below.
| Type | Instigator | Abettor in | Seriousness | Tackle | Method |
| 1 | Interior | Outer | Least Serious | Abettor | Conciliation Gifts |
| 2 | Outer | Interior | 2nd Least | Abettor | Dissension Force |
| 3 | Outer | Outer | 2nd Most | Instigator | Dissension Force |
| 4 | Interior | Interior | Most | Instigator | All Four |
With all respects to individuals involved, for study purpose let’s compare the Krishnan Nair and Russi Mody as being the Instigator and Abettor for Ratan Tata’s empire.
Kautilya says that for Type 4: in case of conspiracy wholly in the interior, the king should use any of the four means, as appropriate. He may use conciliation if the instigator acts as if contented even if he is not (or acts discontented without really being so). Gifts may be given to him, on happy & sad occasions, on the pretext of appreciating his loyalty or in ostensible consideration of his welfare (thus placating him). A spy, posing as a friend could warn him that the king was about to test his loyalty, and that he should tell the truth. Attempts may be made to carrying tales to the king. Lastly different methods of secret punishment could be used. Three kinds of secret methods can be used-using kinsmen, entrapment & playing one against another.
Some of Ratan Tata ‘s moves : Publicly announcing that he was not aware of Rajan’s arrest on
These facts of Ratan Tata method of curbing the revolt by these two men, can be compared with tackling style of Kautilya’s Rajarishi.
In the past, JRD had refused to pay under the table for licenses. Ratan upholds the tradition and to an extent is paying price for his commitment to Tata Group values, watching helplessly other business houses getting licenses. Circumstances & personality gave combined to make Tata a loner. The boardroom battles carved deep scars and he has shed his trustful nature. Reticent to a fault, few know his secrets, hopes and desires. He doesn’t share his confidences with anyone.
Regarding Advisors, Kautilya says a King shall confine his deliberations to three or four advisors. If he consults only one, he may find it difficult to reach a decision on complicated questions, for a single adviser can behave as he pleases without restraint. If there are only two advisers, they may either combine together and overwhelm him or fight and neutralize each other. If there are more than two, they (may either form a clique or split into factions and) become difficult (to control). If ever three or four councillors all combine against the king or become involved in a fight among themselves, it spells great danger (for by then it will be too late to regain control). There should be no more than four advisers, because with more than four, secrecy is rarely maintained. As of Ratan Tata’s advisors very little is known. But assuming his conservative-loner approach, I assume his advisors to be critically selected and few in number.
QUESTIONS UNANSWERED in my mind:
So who today is looking out to make Rajarishi or Wise-Kings for the Indian Corporate?
B Schools? If yes then, does selection process of CAT, XAT, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview of x minutes or hours really efficient? Is this a pool out of which B schools is supposed to be creating Rajarishi? Are values examined during the two year training of a B School? What do B schools teach? Do these subjects make a difference in creation of Industry anchor? Is there a Kautilya today? Is one needed?
Reference:
· Kautilya –The Arthshastra Edited, Rearranged & Translated By L
· Business Maharajas-By Gita Piramal
Navendu Shirali
Roll No 90
PGP2
Goa Institute of Management
18 JUNE 2004- A DAY PANAJIMITES SHOULD TRY FORGETTING
18 June was a day, which was significant for freedom of Goa. 18 June 2004 is a day when I m ashamed to be a Hindu resident of Panaji. Primarily on reading the so-called “feat” of renaming names of road, which was “reminding us of Portuguese conquests and oppressors.”
If the heads of a school show power or should I say “DADA GIRI” of majority community fearlessly by using violent means I can understand what kind of role model they are being. I am thankful to the same lobby of Hedgewar for the Blood they arranged for my family when we met with an accident. But today I m confused on my helplessness.
A crowd gets into mob fury, individuals giving fiery speeches and renaming roads in a place, where we are trying to ghettoize the Portuguese culture we have. And nothing is done to stop them.
I was not born when Portuguese ruled us, but what I do know is that their presence for 4 Centuries means that they are part of Goan Culture. We Saraswats also came settled here some thousand years ago & where as ruthless as Portuguese with the fisher folk & shudras. Aren’t Aryans foreigners on this Indian soil? Why then hypocrisy of saying no “Portuguese culture on Indian soil”?
And today we start claiming what Goa is, what it should be and how…
If 18 June 2004 was with objective to rename roads, then we can see in some years Gujarat episode occurring in Goa. During a recent youth conference, my interactions with Gujarati boys from age group of 16-28 narrated me incidents where they where given list of people to harm, houses to stone/ rob etc.
I agree that in every nation, the majority community has always tried to boss over the minority, in process we today see the reciprocation of the same in Panaji. But isn’t India a country with a difference, a nation to be a role model for others to follow, but when heads of most respected and influential institution display “maniacism” breaking name plates & renaming roads in Christian areas with Portuguese background then just imagine what next generation of students are going to follow. I can imagine the day when they will bulldoze all homes with Portuguese architecture as they “remind us of Portuguese conquests and oppressors.” Question I have is what would the so-called heroes of 18 June 2004 do if they where born in Fountainhas in Christian family where Portuguese is spoken and some Hypocrites rename the roads where they once played cricket. How safe will you then feel…and your respect for the majority religion.
Why I call them hypocrites just go to Miramar circle in the evening behind the Cigarette “Gaddas” you will see the sons of the “Heroes” talking & doing….Fix your home then start fixing your city.
Navendu Shirali
Dr. Vijay Mallaya In The Eyes Of A 20 Year Old
After reading the newspaper Dt.13/5/20003 Vijay Mallya, also announced a ten-point programme with focus on providing 'a brighter and more secure future for the youth of the state'. That night I
slept late.
Dr. Vijay Mallaya, the owner of the United Breweries group worth 6000 crore rupees, the man who walks in a company of ' You know who ',the man who is invited for every celebrity Inauguration, Dr. Vijay
Mallaya, who today is also the member of the Parliament, moves in his own private jet, sponsors Indian & Foreign teams. Every man wants to
know what he is doing? What is his lifestyle? The places where he has his mansions? Movie stars, Politicians have his photographs with him
printed in the newspaper. Media talks about the cars he has, the speed he loves driving, Great Man! Great Personality!
Now let's see the other face of the coin, what does Mr. Mallaya sell... He sells Booze, the Pioneer of Alcohol Sale in India. The same alcohol whose advertisements today flash on the TV despite the Ban on them, through ' Soda ' or 'Mineral water' or 'Apple juice' what shame of the legislation.
My friend circle is among the 20 year olds, who at this age should be suffused with creating and building a new India, dream of India -today are drowning in the ocean of alcohol, thanks to Mr. Mallaya's empire. Every home in this state (Goa) has an alcoholic. The Husband has alcohol, and comes home and beats his wife. The student gets a
block in the paper, he goes with his friends gets drunk. Thanks to Mr. Mallaya's empire escapism from reality is easy, as alcohol is now available even at places where you will get lost.
The Brains of today's generation are being submerged in the uselessness and anarchy. No one dreams big, at age 24, people do not know what their ambition is, what is their goal ? All they say is "Sushekaat"
The irony of this society is that a man who sells women, who sell their body for the sake of their stomach, we call him 'Dalal' or 'Dealer' and have disgust. But what of the men who sell death, not
only to its buyers, but their families, why are these men looked upon by our society as men with great character? Why these double standards? Do these people, not have a conscience? Do they not
realize the huge profits they make is made out of the sufferings of so many families? Dr. Vijay Mallaya who has leadership and successful
business qualities, why does he not make money by selling medicines, education by which the millions of this country will prosper. Why sell death, why sell this poison that is slowing the progress of this
country, Is this all for Money? Is Money so important? Is Money so desperately wanted ? What satisfaction does this money provide, which
has come after destroying so many families and so many careers.
I know people like Dr. Vijay Mallaya are not to be blamed entirely,but people of the country are also responsible because they have sold their will power, their self control for a glass of Booze, that takes
them temporarily in a world of happiness. But if there is demand ,there is always a supply. At 9 PM in Goa, most of the shops open are Bars. You will not see a family walking, forget about a goan girl
moving freely. But if you go to Gujarat, one sees a group of girls shopping, and see families enjoying ice cream at night.
Ask any Doctor in GMC, majority of the accidental cases is normally caused due to either the thirst or the ones over-quenching their thirst. Everyone knows the effect of alcohol and yet still they booze, why ? Escapism from reality, wow!!! That means every drunkard is a coward who can not face the difficulties of life.
Our President dreams of India, as developed by year 2020, but respected president where are the minds and hands of the young men who are going to take this nation there, they have a glass in their
hands, and a mind...God knows where.
The irony of this education system is that most of brilliant students in 12th science go for engineering, where in the first 6 months of
hostel life, he has a crash course in alcohol consumption, addictions and ofcourse the style mantra-cigarette, that so called makes you
feel like an engineer. Ask a student why does he smokes? why does he booze? "Ah! Too much pressure, I have submissions, deadlines" "Ah! Company, have to be a part of the lifestyle of my friends" "Time pass". The best excuse I have heard is " I booze, when i am happy". I mean, if one needs to write a book on excuses, just ask the same questions..
Pinewale ko pine ka bahana chaihye.
My friends always tell me what problem do I have if others booze.I tell them ' don't have a problem until you can guarantee me that no person who is drunk will get behind the wheels drive over any of my family members or yours. If you cant guarantee me that then I don't want a maniac on the road who is
on mission to hurt'.
According to my observations, alcohol and smoking today is an addiction for the youth because today most of us have herd mentality,we want to follow what the majority do. Simple fact not known, is
that everybody flows with the river, only the one with nerves of steel and self control and belief, swim against the current and he is remembered.
The worst thing I hate about alcoholics and smokers is that, they need company in celebrating their daily basis death. They enjoy more, worst is that most of the boys who top tenth standard, where they
wrote correct answers on the effects of alcohol and smoking, today have forgotten all they had learnt in school, and now follow the path to anarchy. I can understand students who come from financially
better off families going for vices, as their parents have made enough for them, but what of the children of the middle class families, who have responsibilities of their families, runaway to
this addictive escapism, why ?
I know that if tomorrow Dr. Vijay Mallaya, closes his empire, there will be a sudden boom in "bad, illegal liquor". That will have huge calamities. So what do we do? Continue the same path, which
leads us to the silent killer, who is never punished.
When our country was liberated & free, Japan was bombed to hell by the Atom bombs, their financial empire was history, today look where that country has reached and where we are? If the same addictions,
the youth has for smoking and alcohol, had we for the country, then every year we would have a Nobel prize, such is the potential of the youth of today.
We are told few bullets of Hindu fanatic were the cause of death of Mahatma Gandhi physically, but every moment somewhere in India, I feel his worldly acclaimed principles for good human being, have been
assassinated by his followers in white dress and white caps.
My youth of the 20ies looks for a Messiah... Who will lead us, Man like Dr. Vijay Mallaya?
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