Sometimes events and happenings even though seemingly unrelated to each other, are connected by a deeper history, which lies hidden unless looked into slightly more microscopically.
A lot of emphasis is placed on extracurricular reading in the corporate world these days, in search of innovative ideas, new strategies. It is becoming more of a race to look into past laurels and learn from there. In that sense, the market today is the new battle field and hence evermore stress on the generals of today to follow what generals of yore have done and gotten away with.
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, has become a cult favourite in terms of looking for strategies and quotes, not to be unfair to the many who prescribe to this, reading after all is the best way to learn, only slightly lower on the scale than experience. But then, that is mostly for the fights in the world outside of the organisations, when it comes to extinguishing the fires within, a lot many generals have burnt their hands unsuccessfully.
It is ok to recite a few strategy points copied from here and there, to make everyone believe that they still have some iota of creative springs sprouting within them, but the pictures clear up like a winter fog melting away in the noon, when their foot soldiers start asking questions to which they have no answers whatsoever. Looking back, they regret why they just read the bold sections in the beginning of every chapter and not whole chapters of the Sun Tzu book.
The current scenario is not unlike what situations would be world over in many organisations, over the history in many verticals of all industries, hadn't it been so there wouldn't have been the numerous revolutions which changed the shape of world economy. Back home as well, a long time ago, there was a revolution, which even though completely unrelated to current times and industry, can be used to draw parallels and maybe improve what has now become a widespread phenomenon of employee dissatisfaction.
Coming from a school of thought which preferred to read deeply and not just read for reading a text, i was able to, maybe, see some common ground between the seemingly impossible similar situations.
Many of my friends and learned colleagues, in and out of the industry are well read people and not just techno geeks as assumed by people who haven't seen this world inside out. For them it could be a scene out of their normal routine, but then too, what i want to convey here doesn't in any sense require advanced degrees in any engineering or business administration.
Bear with me when i try and give a well researched run down of events from history, a subject not of much interest to many, but then, it is always good to know that the time and events then and now are not that dissimilar, infact it could also make people realise, where they are stuck at in the journey of their career and whether its the same place they wished to find themselves.
Before i start with the actual comparison, here is a small recap on some of facts which may not be in ready reckoning, of the general readers memory,
A lot of emphasis is placed on extracurricular reading in the corporate world these days, in search of innovative ideas, new strategies. It is becoming more of a race to look into past laurels and learn from there. In that sense, the market today is the new battle field and hence evermore stress on the generals of today to follow what generals of yore have done and gotten away with.
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, has become a cult favourite in terms of looking for strategies and quotes, not to be unfair to the many who prescribe to this, reading after all is the best way to learn, only slightly lower on the scale than experience. But then, that is mostly for the fights in the world outside of the organisations, when it comes to extinguishing the fires within, a lot many generals have burnt their hands unsuccessfully.
It is ok to recite a few strategy points copied from here and there, to make everyone believe that they still have some iota of creative springs sprouting within them, but the pictures clear up like a winter fog melting away in the noon, when their foot soldiers start asking questions to which they have no answers whatsoever. Looking back, they regret why they just read the bold sections in the beginning of every chapter and not whole chapters of the Sun Tzu book.
The current scenario is not unlike what situations would be world over in many organisations, over the history in many verticals of all industries, hadn't it been so there wouldn't have been the numerous revolutions which changed the shape of world economy. Back home as well, a long time ago, there was a revolution, which even though completely unrelated to current times and industry, can be used to draw parallels and maybe improve what has now become a widespread phenomenon of employee dissatisfaction.
Coming from a school of thought which preferred to read deeply and not just read for reading a text, i was able to, maybe, see some common ground between the seemingly impossible similar situations.
Many of my friends and learned colleagues, in and out of the industry are well read people and not just techno geeks as assumed by people who haven't seen this world inside out. For them it could be a scene out of their normal routine, but then too, what i want to convey here doesn't in any sense require advanced degrees in any engineering or business administration.
Bear with me when i try and give a well researched run down of events from history, a subject not of much interest to many, but then, it is always good to know that the time and events then and now are not that dissimilar, infact it could also make people realise, where they are stuck at in the journey of their career and whether its the same place they wished to find themselves.
Before i start with the actual comparison, here is a small recap on some of facts which may not be in ready reckoning, of the general readers memory,
- Before the Revolt of 1857, India wan't under the direct rule of the British Crown
- East India Company, the one started by the British, was the largest trading company in the world by then, and it had its own private army to protect its assets. India had three divisions, The Bengal Army, The Bombay Army and The Madras Army. If the names seem familiar, its because many of the regiments remain unchanged even today.
- The Mutiny, as it was called by the British, only affected the Bengal army, for reasons not unknown. The Bombay and the Madras divisions remained unaffected by the revolt.
This also became one of the reasons for the British to call it a Mutiny than a war of freedom.
- Disconnected Ranks.
- Incapable seniors. Bang. As if this is one problem faced by all the industries. Managers. In other words the Generals and Colonels above the foot soldiers. If I may say so. During the decade of 1830, a gradual decline began to come in the ranks of the Bengal army. Previous experienced higher officers were being replaced by a new segment of people. The new ones were not as talented as the old guards retiring now, or moving on to even higher assignments. Experience and lack it, both came out in the front when neither the Managers nor the employees were happy with one another.
- A change over in any realm is not without friction. Ideas and Ideals rub against each other and then they become smooth over time to form a new rhythm. Precisely what was missing. The new guard never trusted the foot soldiers. They were mostly aloof and a deep sense of mistrust ensued between both the layers. The new management was hardly concerned with the problems and trepidations of the ones beneath them. They had their won will to be imposed on everyone at all times.
- Professional Grievances,
- Salary Differences. As is common today, there are two extremes of this argument. On one side the salaries are exorbitant for anyone with even half a decent applicable skills, at the same time engineers are churned out from colleges and hired in hordes to account for fake strength. The Bengal army, for a better part of the 1840's hired much like what the industry has been for the past decade. Everyone and anyone was pulled in. There was a high discrimination in renumeration paid to Officers of Indian and British origin. Not unlike the favouritism shown in todays times as well. The quantum of amount being slightly different between now and then.
- Promotions. Due to the growing mistrust between the ones above and the the actuals soldiers fighting the wars, there emerged another class of the latter. The ones who were not concerned with the work, but wanted brownie points for good behaviour. Talent took a back seat and awards and favours were granted on mere appearances. This middle layer which was despised by their own comrades would be the next level of defence. For the ones above, managing this crop was easier, even though all they would do was to weaken the army. But then a lack of vision is the biggest lacuna, for leader, as has been shown so many times in the history of mankind.
Most of the employees would agree with the rants above. Now, i could go ahead and generalise this situation for everyone company and each business vertical, but then that is not the case. Remember the Bombay and the Madras armies did fine even in the face of mutiny. Of course not everyone is same, but a majority of professionals are facing these issues in current times, and sadly i don't even hear the call of "halla bol" anytime soon.
