This book aims to explore the ?elements? of business as practiced by Indian entrepreneurs all over the country and present them in points, charts, matrix, etc. Rather creatively the thoughts of freedom fighters have been juxtaposed with the thoughts of management gurus. The author presents a strong case for India to have its own management thought syllabus and not blindly ape the Western world, thinking that everything which is good in today'sworld necessarily has its origin in the West.
Every nation has its heroes and every generation its own leaders. The greatness of the actions of the men and women who fought for India'sIndependence has been a source of inspiration for the generations that followed and equally inspiring have been their messages that galvanised an entire nation to articulate their philosophies. Moreover the author feels that after 60 years of freedom, their powerful insights have been lost in the interpretation of their words.
However, in the current scenario it appears that most of emerging India'scorporate and management philosophy is shaped by Western ideologies rather than being rooted in Indian ethos. Except for a few isolated attempts to integrate Indian philosophy into Western management thought, India'smanagement theorists are deeply steeped in Western management, traditions and thought. As a result the author feels that the Indian managers have failed to blend the best of Western thought with the essence of Indian tradition and create a unique set of advantages. The author has put together thoughts and ideas of leaders of India'sIndependence movement and management gurus. One will be amazed how smartly the author weaves the strands that run parallel between their thoughts.
Talking of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the author says that the former showed his management skill in giving impetus to the swadeshi movement by persuading resourceful businessmen to start mills for weaving cloth indigenously apart from factories for manufacturing soap and match-boxes. National banks were set up for collecting the capital required for establishing different industries.
Dadabhai Naoroji said to the British, ?You cannot desire any good except by doing good to India.? Speaking at the United Methodist Church on July 1, 1890 in aid of the Indian Relief Fund, he said ?You manage our expenditure and our taxes in such a way that while we pay a 100 million pounds of taxation, this 100 million never returns to us intact. Only about 80 million returns to us.?
Similarly the author has talked of the contributions made by Bhulabhai J. Desai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chittaranjan Das, Mahatma Gandhi, Savarkar, Bhagat Singh, M.N. Roy, M. S. Golwalkar, J.C. Bose, Aurobindo and others.
According to the author, motivation of people and efficient use of other resources to achieve a specified goal is at the heart of modern management theory.
?M.G.
(Publisher-author, B/107, Nirman Apartment Rajmata Jijabai Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai-400093.)
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