India, again? Should we just write and hope that we performed our duties?

Everyone in India has reacted to what has been going on in Bombay, and everyone feels the same way towards what has happened. But will anything chance just because we are showing solidarity in the testing moments? The most that will happen, what I see, is that the politicians will be made scapegoats to rest our anger and that we will move with our indifferent views toward life. Everyone, including myself, who is hiding behind the walls of one’s safe home doesn’t have any right to criticize anyone, but ourselves. After being under attack for 48 hours, have we woken up to what the reality is like and what have been living against? Thank God it is over at this point, but will this ever stop? Will we ever wake up? Can we blame Pakistan for this and shed away all the responsibility? When will we stop reacting to the major threat that this country faces?

While acting a lot cynical, I must say that the terrorists performed there act well and had planned there moves well in advance when so-called saviors of this country bicker over the pity political issues. The blame game has started, but should we just listen to these filthy talks when we know what BJP and Congress vouches for? How difficult is it for these intelligent heads to understand that we are in war with Pakistan since 1971 – terrorism of one kind or another? But you can stay assured that not much will come out of their power talks. Well! The matter of the fact is that they are least bothered to what to feel; when they sit for two days discussing what actions they should take, and against what. It is easy to say that we, citizens, will take the control in our hands and act in best interest of this country. But will that ever happen? And, should that actually happen?

I felt disgusted when I heard NRN (first time since I had known him), Deshmukh, Modi, our very PM and many more when they went rhetoric that Bombay is resilient and it will bounce back. I ask them, and myself, just one thing: does it have any choice? With 70% of population living on a daily wage, do they have any choice to sit at home and not venture out for food? It easy for these politicians and others to talk sham while sitting in their safe offices. It is rather easy to shell out money and throw it onto the dead ones to silence the cries. Why don’t these Thakreys and HVPs of the world venture out and help the commandos and the citizens fight out terror that is no way far, but brewing in the heart of their own LOVED MUMBAI?

MARCOS, NSG, Reporters and the hotel staff who have been fighting and reporting to us since the moment this has all begun are the real heroes of the hour. Unikrishnan, Karkare, Kamte, Salaskar and many more are the real heroes who will into the pages of history with a smile on their faces.

I feel sorry for a few, many from my own institute, who are feeling relieved among the disgust that they have gotten a day off and are feeling sorry for others who were to attend classes in crisis. Do we really know what we actually care for and what we actually believe? Or are we just living from meal-to-meal and pretending to be humans while the nation sheds blood to survive the terror? But the problem of the matter is that we all, excluding a few, cry out loud when there is an emergency, but go along with the safe, unambiguous life not much is evident. You and I are no different; you are able to stay indifferent to what’s going around; I get perturbed, but do nothing to feel any better. Dead fish is a Dead fish; and we are on the verge of becoming one.

While the ash settles down, I echoes Harsha Bhogle’s words “everyone calls us resilient, but should we?”

Don't hammer them down.

Non-conformance to the accepted norms has been the law of the entrepreneurial society. I believe that raising your voice for the right reasons should not conform to the traversed path. Every society needs a non-conformist that can revolutionize an idea to lead the path of innovation. From Henry Ford to Mahatma Gandhi, from Galileo to Pt. Nehru, non-conformists treaded the road less travelled to change the face of the society. Furthermore, it is the need of the hour that guides the general belief. That is, norms that fit the society today may not fit it best tomorrow.

I believe that society would rather think rationally given a choice whether to follow the herd or to be critical about generally accepted beliefs. It is rather encouraged in the open societies and corporate cultures to be critical to ideas that may not suit the industry. IT industry, for example, in India changed the perception of the government towards its export oriented outlook. Today, face of modern India portrays a global outlook, which would not have been possible if we had followed the closed policy mindset. It is better to stick out and fail rather than staying put and be ignorant.

What would you choose?

Success comes to those who dare to challenge the storm. You don’t capture the mast sitting in the comfort of glass cabin ruing about the ethos that faltered along the way, rather you take the plunge clinging to your will and ethics. People unaware of the consequences may seek the right path to success, but the one who is conscious takes everyone towards the course. The given case reflects an interesting scenario that depicts clash of the integral values and mystified thoughts. The world is on a brink of imminent disaster and one wrong move could lead to irrevocable consequences.

Who doesn’t care for a hero in life? It is our natural disposition to seek qualities in others to what we lack and what we aim for. Superman is an immortal idol that humanity looks after to justify the means of the mere existence. It is with unfortunate turn of events that adversity has taken the front row, and has blocked the “free will” to take course. But the belief has not shaken; it has just subsided into the temporal views. Metropolis needs its hero, but the call to the hero has lost its mean in the oblivion of the material life. But as true savior, Superman can’t leave his disciples in the midst of confusion. Tyrant, that Lex Luthor is, can’t lead the fortune of the community into disarray.

Lex is justified in his explanation to himself only. He overreached a state where his decisions matter to no one but himself. With a socially dominant nature, human-beings will suffocate if they were to live away from society’s boundaries. As rules governed by the society fit best to the survival of the human race, vying away from the accepted norms will attract nothing but discomfort. The situation poses a scenario, which may prove fitting in the short term, but the consequences may be dire as the base of human existence is in danger. The social principles are formulated to aid the individuals and not to alienate them from their thought process.

Herd follows a herd. But the most difficult course is to break the herd mentality and make them realize of individual’s potential. Superman will face numerous obstacles and setbacks before he would incite the positive frame of mind, but before that he needs to stand to his conviction and follow what he thinks is well. Everyone loves to see the hero fall, but he is the one who bounces again and regains his mettle. It won’t be easy to bring back the reality to people’s lives, but Superman must be resolute to think in best interest of humanity and drive himself to achieving the right path.

The easiest way for him would be to join the hands with the oppressor and live undifferentiated life of the unknown. Standing there, Superman raised his head following the slow movement of his hand. He is looking directly into Lex’s eyes, but his mind is with the thousands who lost the meaning of life. Umbra of conflicting thoughts is clogging his head, stretching him between unyielding means. He reflects for a moment and picture of his past appears before him. Will he desert everyone who put their faith in him? Won’t he bring the ignorant to light? He looks at Lex again and with a sigh of certitude and says ‘we stand at separated ends of humanity, while you destroy it, I redeem it’.

If I were to align the animated thoughts to real world’s corporate ethos, I would adjudge that every corporate needs a Superman to challenge the inadequacies and repressors of the system. Pillars of success of an organization are supported by a few who believe in empowerment of others and live by the organizational ethics. Organizations often get infected by few greedy individuals who propel an ineffective culture. Organizations without a clear direction lead to unsatisfied employees. Superman of the Will Power, if succumbed to ineffectiveness, would certainly collapse the organization. Unwittingly, the onus comes on to the leaders to guide the best way out.

I believe that the leader is one who introspects clearly to what is desired by others and what is socially acceptable. He is the one who takes the right course even in unfavorable conditions. Organizations may not always know the right path to take and need a leader to drive them past the unknown. Those who dare to confront the inadequacies and unfavorable conditions, lead from the front, and finally, come out winning. Every one of us has a savior within; the key resides in realizing the potential and organizing the positive thoughts. A leader understands that well and believes in making future leaders and not followers.

To conclude, my Superman will stand strong with me and will fight for the values that he committed his life to. A leader stands tall whatever may be consequence and has to courage to take the uncharted course. For one Superman to vanish, many need to rise to take charge for without a leader this world will be a chaotic race. Ethics have prevailed in this society and will stand their ground for the ages to come. A few unsettling thoughts will not shake the very foundation of the society and organizational culture. The future lies in raising more leaders who have the sense of vision and who dare to challenge the storm.