A Blast from the Past - my article in Economic Times

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1133152.cms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, JUNE 05, 2005 10:29:06 PM]

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What can today’s entrepreneurs learn from India’s past? A lot. About

value creation, globalisation and the power of the intellect. It is well known

that the India-China region produced around 60% of the world’s industrial

manufactures in 1830. Around 1000 BC Baudhayana discovered the so-called

Pythagoras theorem. Aryabhata dealt with advanced astronomy and progressions.

One could cite numerous such examples of India’s prowess. However, every

nation has to earn its stripes on an ongoing basis. Yet, nearly 24% live in

poverty today and India’s share in world trade has declined continuously

(1950: 1.29%, 1990: 0.52%, 2000: 0.67%). Surely our ancestors did something

right. The purpose of this article is to peep into the past and cherry pick

some learnings that could be followed by today’s entrepreneurs. a. We

tend to forget that India was among the most globalised nations. She exported

spices to Europe, music to Japan, Buddhism to China. At a time when

international travel was unthinkable Indians reached distant lands. India

prospered through continuous interaction with the world. We need to become

global citizens again. On our terms. While globalising, Indian companies must

note that even after hundreds of years people of the Far East and South-East

Asia appreciate India’s contribution to their civilisations. The key is

to ‘take care of local sensibilities’. Indian firms must be seen as

job/wealth creators and emulate the Indian Diaspora who have rarely clashed with

the local population. b. “From time immemorial, the great aims of human

endeavor have been classified in India as dharma, artha, kama and moksha

roughly translated as moral behavior, wealth, worldly pleasures and

salvation”. (Kautilya The Arthashastra by LN Rangarajan). Creation of

wealth was always encouraged. What mattered was how it was earned and used.

Ironically, making profits/being rich were dirty words for the first 50-odd

years of Independence. As a nation we must focus on wealth creation. With time,

its benefits would percolate down. The rich should share a larger percentage of

their wealth with the poor. That can happen when attitudes changes from

‘What’s in this for Me’ to ‘What’s it that I can

do for You’. c. Indian philosophy relies on direct vision of truths and

pure reasoning. It is unique because there are nine schools of philosophy

divided into Astika and Nastika. The former includes Nyaya, Vaisheshik, Sakhya,

Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta. The latter includes Bauddha, Jaina and Carvaka.

Although each school of philosophy is unique, they are bound by certain common

characteristics like open mindedness, direct experience, support of logic and

reasoning.

When a follower of one school uses the power of reason to convince another he

has to first listen to another’s viewpoint, use his intellect to find

fault in that argument and lastly articulate his viewpoint convincingly. To do

so the person needs to have an open mind and be a good listener. The heart of

this process lies in two human traits, humility and intellect. When translated

into the world of business it means a company should be innovative, willing to

learn, employee friendly, invest in research and believe there is always a

better way of meeting consumer needs. Unfortunately there was a period when

creativity was stifled. Sri Aurobindo wrote: “Our first necessity, if

India is to survive and do her appointed work in the world, is that the youth

of India should learn to think — to think on all subjects, to think

independently, fruitfully, going to the heart of things, not stopped by their

surface, free of prejudgments, shearing sophism and prejudice asunder as with a

sharp sword, smiting down obscurantism of all kinds as with the mace of

Bhima...” (India’s Rebirth). d. India attracted students from

around the world to places like Nalanda university. They came to study Indian

philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and medicine. The community funded education

and its purpose was gaining/sharing of knowledge. Conversely, today education is

a passport to a job. Educational institutions are discouraged from making

profits resulting in inadequate investment. If only corporates were allowed to

run postgraduate educational institutions students could avail of international

quality education in India. However, corporatisation can succeed only when there

is a transparent regulatory framework supervised by an All India Regulator.

Indians are yet to realise their full potential but NRIs in the US and UK have

excelled. Says Subhash Kak, professor in Asian Studies and Cognitive Science

programmes, Louisiana State University, “NRIs have done well in the West

because the West has institutions that reward excellence, whereas India is

mired in sloppy socialist notions”. The purpose of education must be

reoriented to teaching the power of concentration. If every student learns to

concentrate for one hour daily lifelong it would improve self-control,

stimulate activity, and increase national productivity and happiness. A

thinking, outward-looking India that empowers its women, believes there is

always a better way of doing things and shares her wisdom with the world is the

way to go. (The author is CEO, Surya Consulting and founder www.esamskriti.com)

 

Unlocking Value From Knowledge through InnovationSanjeev NayyarSurya

Consulting348, Tardeo A/C Market,Mumbai 400 034.

 

Cell 9821112693, Tel 91 22 2351 1888, tel fax 2351 1021.Email -

suryacon (AT) vsnl (DOT) com, MSN - suryacon (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

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