The Bane of Public Life

Alas!! even the mighty fall. Fall prey to the frailty of human nature - to the desire for fame & recognition, the desire for leaving a stamp on things that are not theirs, for they consider everything to be their domain. Is this unbridled ambition, or again the self getting too much with one self???

I often wonder what makes our idols behave in such an imprudent manner. Perfectly sensible and wise people, acknowledged national icons, celebrities in their own right - why do such people get carried away . Have they not achieved thier life's ambitions, their crowning glory , thier share of limelight??

Time and again, we have come across national icons making a mockery of themselves by getting carried away too much - just look at the illustrious list - T.N.Sheshan, Mohd. Azaruddin ( although his misdemeanour waas a bit more serious) , Arundhati Roy ( encashing literray fame to advocate secessionism), K.P.S.Gill ( for the tremendous contribution to the demise of Indian Hockey), M.S.Gill (blotting the impartiality of the office of the CEC by becoming a Minister), Shabana Azmi (questioning India's secularism after enjoying benefits of a liberal pluralistic society) - the list is endless.

This post is attributed to the rise and fall of Mr. E. Sreedharan, the much acknowledged and widely appreciated Managing Director of the DMRC. The man who was an icon for the nation's youth, who had captured and captivated the collective conscience of a nation due to his impeccable integrity and meticulous execution of the nation's flagship project - the Delhi Metro.

What suddenly prompted him to shoot off a letter to the Planning commission questioning the premise of implementing Metro projects on a BOT basis- that too after DMRC was a consultant and a party to the deccsion making process. Is this ethical behaviour - the GoAP has rightly questioned the DMRC cheif for violating the sanctity of contract, threatening leagl action and contemplating suing him for defamation. Justifiably so.

Agreed - Mr. Sreedharan is an authority on Metro systems and his words carry weight due to his experience of implementing the Delhi Metro- no doubt a success story. Does this give him the authority to criticise innovations or new practices being contemplated by other cities - or does he assume that he has the sole monopoly over wisdom of implementing a MRTS??? Without doubt, he has a right to question, but not to criticise based on unsubstantiated allegations. Untill we have a scam, Mr. Sreedharan had no right (or better still business) to attribute motives to the process undertaken by the GoAP for the Hyderabad Metro. Why is this insecurity creeping in this man - or is there a sinister motive of ensuring all metro models run on DMRC pattern - either to continue being an adviser to upcoming metros or to sustain the business of DMRC as a Consulting firm???? Let the BoT model for metro fail - don't assume that failure. There would always be naysayers to innovations (wasn't the Delhi metro touted as a failure initally) - does it not go against the tenets of basic principles of urban planning - a metro in a non-linear city was supposed to be a failure - did it not succed???

Mr. Sreedharan's integrity is impeccable- the kind of motives am attributing to him are precisely the kind of motives he has attributed to Hyderabad Metro. The criticsim coming from lesser mortal would not have hurt - coming from an illustrious person like Mr. E.Sreedharan pains immeasurably. I guess this imbalance between reality and the self is the bane of fame in public life. It's time for Mr. Sreedharan to gracefully tender an apology - not for questioning the BOT model but for attruibuting motives and retire gracefully to enjoy the sunset years.

A lesson we as a nation should learn is that no one is indispensable - in public life or otherwise. There is no dearth of talent in this nation ( or anywhere fo that matter) and our celebrities should have the humility to exit at an appropraite moment - rather than undue moralising. No where in the world do officials become celebrities / heroes for doing what they are supposed to do.

Is it not the time to have larger national debate on why as a nation we focus so much on individuals rather than systems - why are all our reforms individual centric?? As far as we can see, we notice individual islands of brillance leading the crusade of reforms for ex. in administration and governance, we come across individual excellence - be it crusaders like Mr. Chandrashekahr in Thane, Mr. Khairnar in Mumbai, Mr. Sheshan in the Election commission, Mr. A.K.Lakhina in Auranagabd and scores more from Ludhiana to Surat. Why are the reforms dependent on individual brilliance - what is the systemic flaw that does not enable us to replicate these in other places??? In fact this leads to a larger question and calls for a debate as to why the system fosters so much of inefficiency and inertia among other officers whereas a handful succeed??? Is it the recruitment process or the moribund environement that robs the zeal to perform?? Why are there few notable examples of reform orientation and administrative efficieny among 6,000 bureaucrats that we have ??

Another thought that comes to my addled mind is why do we in India make a virtue of necessity - there is often a tendency to state - 'X official is very honest , Y is very efficient'. Isn't it ridiculous to make such statements - aren't X & Y supposed to be honest and efficient - are they not getting paid for being so - are officals or for that matter people in public life not supposed to be so - is'nt this a necessary qualification criteria for them to be in the position they are in???

I presume we have stooped so low in terms of moral turpitude that ordinary expected behavioural traits are being touted as virtues. Our public figures need to learn a lot from the erstwhile Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi , who quit politics at the hegiht of his popularity and despite repeated pleas has refused to re-enter. This is the mettle true heroes are made off - accepting extensions to jobs ( even if you are forced by the Govt) - Mr. Sreedharan is not stuff that real heroes are made off.

Dilemma of Management - random thoughts

After having read innumerable blogs of working professionals (including the perspicaciously endowed IIM / ISB graduates), am yet to understand the cause of all pervasive dissatisfaction engulfing these worthies. From an outsider's perspective, these guys ostensibly seem to have the best of all worlds ( grand sals, good career, flashy lifestyles). But the picture ain't so rosy.

They vent their existential angst & frsutration in their blogs which is very depressing. Why do such brilliant people reach the end of their patience and satisfaction levels so soon - within a couple years of passing out. Is it real dissatisfaction or is it overwhelming ambition???
or is it a case of thinking too much of themselves, taking one's careers and education a bit too seriously? or too much faith in their limited abilities -

The question is are they unequal to tasks assigned to them (in a +ve way) -or are they taught something far superior vis-a-vis job requirements??? Are the jobs mundane as compared to their vast intelligence, wisdom and skills ?? or to put it simplistically - are they the right people in the wrong jobs??? are we equipping them with too many skills or the wrong kind of skill set -

The foot soldiers of our industry seem to have too many weapons to fight their battles. If so, it calls for a revamp of our education system (especially in our much touted best schools of management). The most common grouse is that nobody seems to add any value to their jobs -be it in consulting, accounting, taxation, FMCG , banking or marketing. Isn't this a systemic failure of the 'Best' and leading business schools of the country?

The overwhelming impression one gets is these bright management graduates feel that they are doing clerical - once the novelty factor wears off. Why is it so??

Let's begin with the CAT - the competition is immense, the standards very high, 90 odd questions in 120 minutes spanning logical reasoning, mathematics and English language. A tough task requiring months of preparation. Focus of examinatio is on speed & accuracy. Is this level of speed and accuracy called for in manager's day-to-day decsion making?? Am afraid not (I hope am wrong) .

Once you are in one of these elite instituions, it s 24 hour endless slog-lectures, assignments, workshops, projects, presentations, festivals, quiz and what not. And all this as a preapration for what??? Is this effort in synch with the life after graduation???

end of the day, an MBA is just a finishing school. It is not and cannot be a substitute for learning the finer nuances of economics. Finance (may be yes ) but Economics -NO. It definitely is not Diminishing marginal utility of intelligence. Marginal utility of a commodity declines only if one has too much of it and when it cannot be put to construcitve use - i presume the same does not hold true for knowledge ( learnt in the MBA school). The use and utility of knowledge is infinite.

I presume either the knowledge is limited or teaching archaic / jargonistic (or may be it just states the obvious) , adding little value in itself. The real world does not work on management principles (fundas). I presume this assessment carries some sense (not only because its mine), for if it were not so, how does one account for the Collapse of Lehman brothers, Bear sterns, Freddie Mac - and Morgan stanley and Goldman are not in good shape either. am reasonably confident that these instituions were being run by a lot of wise men who graduated from these august instituions - the collapse is not surprising - what is more strage is despite indications, these wsie men could do nothing to stop the rot. It surely is a reflection of their ability , their education, and understanding. No humility and all hubris collapses the market. Human greed and desire fuelled by management education.

The media and public opinion gets swayed so much on government failures - be it delivery of utilites or law and order or disater management. We talk of government reforms , systemic failure, revamp of governance. Why don't we talk of these issues with the same sense of purpose and sincerity - just because it does not affect the common man. Isn't a 85 billion USD bail out coming from the Tax payers money. What do we call it - 'Socialist Capitalism', enlightened Capitalism, Inclusive socisalsim??

Why have these double standards in public life - one set of rules for the market elite and another for the poor government sector? Is creation of wealth for handful via investment banking an excuse for such disasters??

It's a strange feeling to pen down one's thoughts. Have been thinking of having my own blog since the past few years. The awe inspiring literary talent that I have (the blog allows one to pen down imaginary talents and accomplishments) was burried deep down in some abyss. Had a sudden brain wave of inspiration today and I created this blog. Credit is due to a gossip session in office (to beat Monday morning blues) which suddenly inpsired me to do something creative (at least supposedly so) and of course the BIG B, who despite his pre-occupation in irritating the watchdogs of Marathi asmita ( needless to mention - am being politcally correct), writes an amazing blog.

Assumptions are so dangerous. its so rightly said- " Dont assume- you would end up making an ass of u & me). Had imagined that I would be great writer and that people would stay awake at night to read the next post. Don't think it would work out that way.

Having started this blog on this auspicious day of September 22, 2008, I seem to have nothing more to add. My situation is aptly summed up in a poem written by BIG B's dad titled - ' Kya bhoolun Kya yaad karun' i.e (What to Forget and What to Remember- for those who are linguistically challenged in the national language).

Aspiring to have more regular post in future .......