The Hindu Business Line : India Vision 10-20-50

Just 10 per cent more real time for listening and 20 per cent more quality time will result in 50 per cent more Kama (enjoyment of the senses) and Artha (wealth of such enjoyment). The 50 per cent more is then not only for the Shrest a but for all members of the family.

Dr Mritunjay Athreya, the eminent management guru, freely held forth on his two passions. They are an Indian Economic Vision, and the Indian Atman (soul) in management. The scintillating speaker that he was, it was no wonder that I took back home from the convention he addressed many of his quotations and numbers he used so fluently and to such good effect to hold his audience spellbound.

I was, in turn, determined to share, and show off that evening my new-found knowledge with the family. Such opportunities that come but rarely, are not to be dismissed lightly for they are few and far between and provide the occasion for the head of the household to reinforce his intellectual superiority and leadership position within the family.

The key milestones in the Athreya Eco-Vision for India are the exciting possibility that by 2010 India could be the world's third largest economy. Not just at purchasing power parity, but in cold hard US dollars. Exciting and possible if, as we were recently reminded by no less than Lee Kwan Yew, father of Singapore's economic miracle, India would only adopt an economic policy not blinkered by outmoded ideas of socialism that were falling like nine pins all around the world. Adopt a policy less open to corruption and cronyism. Take concerted action to stamp out rampant corruption and blatant nepotism would be a prerequisite.

The government ineptly involving itself in commerce and industry without the capital, expertise, talent, or the ability, and basic consumer and customer focus, would have to go. This ineptitude and social experimentation had put the country way behind much of the world, and particularly our neighbours in South-East Asia. All these neighbours who had started way, way behind us, in key areas of telecommunications, transportation, electrification and infrastructure.

Indians first need to accept real discipline and then dramatically improve productivity. India has been called the land full of promise that perpetually remains full of promise. The world's largest potential achiever, and also the longest under- achiever. With the highest illiteracy in the region.

That could all change and change soon. Many Chief Ministers were determinedly shooting for the Singapore model. We needed more discipline, more productivity, more output. What a Vision! Imagine 1000 million Indian's holding their heads high!

The formula to getting to this Promised Land, explained Dr Athreya, is 7--12--25. These numbers, he explained in his own inimitable style, represented a consistent annual 7 per cent GNP growth, 12 per cent growth in industrial output, and a 25 per cent growth in exports. Ambitious, yes, but well within the capability of the Indian Genius.On my return home, the family gathered around the polished centre-table in the drawing room. Leaning on bolsters at the feet of their mother, the children heard me out with patience and keen attention as I excitedly shared with them, the Athreya Vision. The transition from years shortages, queues, permits, ration cards.

"Years of low self-esteem, acceptance of indigent quality in all things from cars, to scooters, roads to transportation and medical facilities will go. They can no longer be kept rudimentary and basic to protect the special interests of a few. Technology in telecommunications, transportation, roads, railways and all infrastructures that seemed frozen in time, and in the public sector, will change with liberalisation. Surely the Indian consumer deserves better. The promised of transition to an era of pride in being Indian and all things Indian; a halahal, a churning, a transformation that would take us into a new era of growth, modernity, literacy, sunshine and laughter all round."

All this left Kavita, my little daughter, a bit pensive and deeply lost in thought which mood was quite at odds with her usual noisy and ebullient self. Secretly, I was chuffed, proud that I had made a positive impact on her young mind. The family had obviously been stirred and experienced some deep insights as a result of my elegant and lucid exposition. My confidence grew leaps and bounds.

I proceeded to expand on the Atma and the Paramatma and the inextricable linkage between man's passion, longing, striving and ultimate achievement. Again, I could see I was holding the undivided attention of all the family. I flushed with pride and made a special effort to remain rooted to the ground. Encouraged thus, I went on in greater detail adding generous helpings of my own icing onto the lavish Athreya exposition.

The next day I had forgotten the entire episode, as new issues and new uncertainties arose to fill the hours. There was the usual quota of strategy papers, assessments, reviews, poring over reams of ratios and statements, and some refereeing in disputes that seem to arise on every working day. Punctuated by the customary coffee-breaks and corporate lunch, summary board meetings and profit-centre consultations. Each moment, each decision seemed so crucial, so climacteric, and so acutely important, that all else paled into insignificance before the needs of the mighty corporation. No amount of effort, no extremity of exertion, no singular sacrifice was too much to ask for. In fact, a number of zealous managers lined up eagerly for such opportunity. Thus, exciting days followed singularly exacting days. As was conventional on the non-touring days I was in town, we had a sacred practice within the family, where we would gather around the dinner table for the evening pre-dinner pow-wow and catching up on the one another's' highlights of the day. It was then that Kavita approached me, in an unusually serious and thoughtful mood.

"I've been thinking of Professor Athreya's Vision and the impact for good that it can have on all our peoples." she said, "It bodes well for our people, and our Country. And the Vision being achieved by the year 2010 makes it all the more exciting as that's well within my lifetime. But I do have another Vision and that vision has a somewhat similar line of reasoning, though it arrives at a conclusion with a slightly different formula. My Vision is for the tribe called the Indian Professional manager. It's a vision that does not have a long incubation period. In fact I do believe it can take place even in 2001! My formula is 10-20- 50!"

It had became obvious to me that Kavita had shared her rationale and figures with the family, for they were quite unperturbed. They were obviously waiting for my reaction. In fact, they continued to look at me in a knowing and conspiratory manner. This was a riddle I would have to sort out on my own. I took a larger than normal gulp of my evening aperitif as I mentally sifted through her figures in an attempt to make better sense out of them. There followed a long period of relative silence. I sat back lost in thought, exercising my left brain for all its capacity in linear thinking, logic and analysis. Coming up woefully short, I put into gear the right brain for the best of spatial thought, the colour, the pictures, the passion. That seemed to add light without in anyway increasing the clarity of thought.

Kavita had successfully aroused my curiosity. I remembered well the 7-12-25 formula and had understood that with great clarity in terms of GDP, industrial growth, and export growth. Investment climate, foreign direct investment, deficit financing, bonds, debentures and even derivatives were well within my grasp. It would take more than an adroit practitioner of modern management to trip me up on issues of commerce would, personnel or even technology would. But what was this new formula, 10-20-50, and that too in 2001? I was making no headway in deciphering the import of her figures. How and on what basis had Kavita arrived at a seemingly magic formula of 10-20-50?

Accepting defeat did not come easily. Swallowing pride usually culminated for me, in a choked gullet. Giving up was totally against the grain. Eating humble pie was not a family trait. An ancestor had stood down six generations ago and he was till today the butt of many a joke. His memory lessened forever. Yet, curiosity and suspense got the better of me. It was not long before I succumbed. I took a deep breath and valiantly attempted to keep from getting asphyxiated on swallowed pride. Finally, I asked the question.

"It is all very simple, Appa," said Kavita, "It derives directly from Professor Athreya's vision and in the context of professional managers. If the Shresta (elder) wants true Kama (enjoyment of the senses), it must come from within the goal of Dharma (right conduct and dealing). My formula suggests that the Shresta, particularly of the Professional Manager tribe, follow the 10-20-50 formula. That is, they give 10 per cent more real time to listen to their family. It would make the home a place of better communication and more happiness. Then try giving 20 per cent more quality time to loving and sharing with the family. Real quality time without the tensions and pressures of objectives, targets, deadlines, profit before tax and other such office tribulations."

By now the family had gathered around the table to listen with avid interest to Kavita's exposition. She had a captivated audience, in particular her mother and sister; their eyes filled with admiration and heads nodding vigorously in agreement. Thus far the logic was faultless, the submission near axiomatic. The veracity of her statement was absolutely unarguable. A fair and necessary corollary to the Athreya vision. What was the magic figure of 50 in the formula? That' is a big number by any reckoning. We all waited for Kavita to proceed.

She allowed the subject to hang, teasingly, tentatively before delivering the coup de grace. "The rest is simple. I learned this in my social studies class. Just 10 per cent more real time for listening and 20 per cent more quality time will result in 50 per cent more Kama (enjoyment of the senses) and Artha (wealth of such enjoyment). The 50 per cent more is then not only for the Shresta but for all members of the family. Don't you think it an equally realistic and noble vision?"

There was instant and spontaneous applause from the rest of the appreciative audience. The complete agreement and approbation of the majority of the audience with the Kavita formula was so apparent. In my case, it took a little longer for the import and true meaning of her exposition to sink in. Then I too, joined wholeheartedly in the applause.

How often do we allow the seemingly and apparently important take away from the really vital? Blinded by the immediate we loose sight of the future chasing ephemeral goals. And Kavita's formula had encapsulated this learning so concisely and powerfully.

Humbly, I realised then that all too often, true wisdom comes from the least expected sources. If only we do listen.

(The author is a Bangalore-based consultant and writer.)

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