wide angle mein soch

No wonder I am enjoying the book ‘imagining India’ by Nandan Nilekani. He is currently talking about a few ideas that have helped India and how they were looked upon as issues to be resolved in the past. To take forward my last blog entry, much younger I had a lot of hot head ideas.
I opposed people wanting to go abroad after they did their technical education in India. I supported population control measures a la Sanjay Gandhi’s forced Nasbandi program. I thought population was a nightmare. I thought migrants to the cities must be stopped etc etc.
To give me credit, at least I had a point of view. Most peers did not have a point, leave alone a view. I knew a bit because I eavesdropped, overheard conversations. Typically the most forceful of them would have impact as opposed to the milder ones with erudite backings. I too believed that Gandhi was wrong and Nehru was a moron. Too much sway very little wisdom. While my views on the former are already known (previous blogs), I see Nehruvian economics and politics in better perspective. When one does criticize someone in hindsight, one must be knowledgably to give due respect to the situation that the decisions were made in. One thing is to find fault with the decision, the other is to see what the consequences would have been instead, the third is to figure if the person made an honest error or made one in arrogance or contempt.
History also teaches us to be smarter in analyzing the current situation. Thinking changes over a period of time. What was wrong in one era would be right in another. To give an example we chided our parents for going gogogaga over Rajesh Khanna’s looks and Dev Anand’s antics. What is our explanation for having Shah Rukh Khan as our superstar?
I am making two points: one – don’t criticize without balance. Two – hold your views in perspective and have them in moderation.
Thanks Nandan for this book. I don’t know if I got the point you were making but I sure got something that I hold very valuable. I think I could empathize with this book as my generation has seen pre 91 era of ‘depravation’ and then the uncorked Genie of consumption post that. Whenever I have a conversation on how bad we had it, I will save my breath and give them your book. Its easier, better references, researched and hell it’s written by a man as intelligent as you. It can’t get better.
Also on books, reading this book I realized it is pretty useful to listen to the author and then read his book. This way you get a better perspective and can put a face, voice and most importantly tone to the book. That’s why book readings and road shows are organized I guess. In this one I was fortunate enough to organize it and be close to the author. It definitely adds a color to the reading. Good color.

on the shoulders of giants

We had an event on Tuesday. I had the priviledge of being the top dog at the event. So in other words I got the stupid job of bring the MC. I know I can do it, but normally I am too bored to do it. This time I had no such luck and was given the job. It went off pretty well. Two speakers stood out. Nandan Nilekani and Anil Kumble. I guess I am always a sucker for people talking about their experience as opposed to bookish management theories.
While I was too much in awe of Nandan to really ask him too much; and he was also surrounded all the time, with too many senior people. What really impresses me is the fact that Nandan being a business leader still is an academic in his approach and so different from other corporates. Most corporates just love to fart and hide behind their power point presentations. Nandan is precise and clear in his thought process.
Anil Kumble was also a revelation. He was outstanding as well. I got my two fundas clarified from him. First one – What the hell is a flipper. That’s the ball that got him wickets by the bagful. He explained the same to me. The other question was more serious (or was it the other way around). I had heard of this theory through two different sources. John Buchanan – the Australian team coach had said – you dont need to motivate someone to play in the Australian team. The fact that you are in the team and playing for Australia is motivation enough. The other time I read it is when Jim Collins wrote in his seminal book (I forget which one) that you shouldn’t need to motivate employees. You need employees who are self motivated. The role of the leader is to remove demotivating factors. I had liked this and believed in it. Give the employees an honest, open, fun and fair atmosphere and you are on. I don’t like motivating people or people who sit and sulk all the time waiting for external motivation. Itna time kisse ke pass nahin hai. I posed this to Anil. His response was that people are different. Motivation is not so much a problem but what the routine could get boring after a point in time. He said that if he came in everyday and was expected to do the same thing, bowl over after over and practice the same way, then it could get boring even for the athlete. He said in the tenure of John Wright, John brought in a lot of changes in way they practiced and brought in innovation and change. – that’s an interesting thought and with a bit of introspection I found it to be true. Sure employees need to be self motivated but it’s the job of the manager to ensure that it’s not boring over a period of time. Good point. Thanks Anil. I appreciate the thought. On another note he was gracious enough to ask for feedback, which I emailed to him and then he was even more gracious enough to reply back, thanking and accepting it. I am super impressed. Celebs are too irritating normally. Here is a level headed guy. It’s no wonder he was perhaps India’s best bowler.

My anniversary was on Monday. It was our tenth anniversary. Just a day before the most important event of the year, I was a bit busy and preoccupied. But I did manage to do something before. I gifted my wife a Swiss knife with her name engraved on one of the blades. That was a perfect anniversary gift!