Well, about 4 years ago, we discussed why HOPE could change the
world order. And then I disappeared for a brief period :-). Going forward,
please trust me that I will try to be as regular as possibly I can be. I won't
promise the frequency. But will try my level best to update my blog once in a
week.
We said that we would discuss how HOPE can be leveraged to create POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE and then Wealth. You may have to bear with me for some time before
we discuss this piece.
Let us first understand what creates HOPE.
I believe HOPE is:
- Cultural
- Experiential
Well, both are not entirely independent and may feed into each other.
CULTURAL HOPE
When I was a small kid, I saw a beggar in the market. I asked my father why
he was begging. When my father explained to me what beggary was and how poor he
was, I asked him, "Why should he live?" My father said, "Because
he believes that one day God will end his miseries and he would have a better
life". I was also told that God helped everyone in pain and distress.
India is a culture where almost every individual believes "Bhagwan sab
theek kar dega" (God will ensure that all the problems are fixed). This
very belief ensures that we are Hopeful. When nothing works, we surrender
to God and believe he will take care of us. In our Gita (Hindu Mythological
Literature), Lord Krishna has said, "Karmaneva dhikarsthe, maa faleshu
kada chanam." (You have the right to do your duty and leave the result to
God).
These religious philosophies and near blind faith has ensured that we always
remain hopeful. So in some ways blind faith is helpful as well.
EXPERIENTIAL HOPE
I have divided Experiential Hope into:
- Childhood Experiences
- Organizational Experiences
- Social Experiences
Childhood Experiences
Well, let me take my own childhood experiences. I belong to a family of
academicians. My parents are students of political science, as they describe
themselves. During a fateful Diwali vacation we had gone to visit our
relatives. When we returned, just before Diwali, we realised that everything
was stolen except furniture that thieves could not carry with them. We did not
have a single spoon left at home. We were well to do but not very well off.
Next day as my father brought a few utensils and other important articles of
immediate need, I very quietly asked him if we were going to celebrate Diwali
that year and if we would buy crackers at all. To my surprise, my father not
just responded in positive he was full of enthusiasm and excitement about
Diwali celebration. That was my first brush with Hope even in dire
circumstances. I never saw my parents lose hope even in the most adverse
circumstances.
Organizational Experiences
Now if we were to consider organizational experience, when I joined
Hindustan Petroleum as a young engineer, I was posted at Wadala Terminal.
The unions had made lives of managers miserable. This was a time when
Datta Samant was active in Mumbai. I saw no end to these miseries and
communicated my frustration to the Terminal Chief B D Seth, a 50 year old very dynamic
manager. He asked me if I would work with him to solve this problem.
Remembering my parents' never say no attitude, I was excited at the proposition
and conveyed my acceptance. He explained to me his strategy of creating another
union and dividing the power between the two unions to keep both of them at
bay. I followed his instructions diligently and intelligently. It took us six
months. But we succeeded. That was my first lesson in corporate sector
"Never give up. There is always a way out of any seemingly hopeless
situation".
Social Experiences
Coming to social experiences, I had a friend in my home town. He was in to
edible oil retailing, His warehouse caught fire due to an electrical short
circuit. The stocks were not insured. The building was insured. But the
insurance company could find some clauses in the fine print and refused to pay
any claims. He did not give up. His extended family and friends helped him with
interest free loans to restart the business. In a matter of two years, he was a
flourishing businessman again and he managed to pay off all the loans.
I think a combination of childhood, organizational and social experiences
create HOPE. If one is hopeful he/ she fights hard to achieve his objectives.
If one was to combine these experiences with culture that is hopeful in itself,
you have a society where Hope will never die. That is India.
Next week we will talk of converting Hope into Experiences into Action and
finally Wealth.
