Fire in the Belly

“I don’t think you have Fire in the Belly”: I’m surprised if somebody has not heard this kind, in the corporate world, given the Indian context?

But, why do you say this? Isn’t it an act of curbing the other person’s confidence? Doesn’t it sound rude?

I had a good chance to work with a North Indian boss, whom I felt that he could bring change in the process (at that time, I even thought that my personal growth would happen too). Most of us, in the team got opportunities to apply for various job openings in the organization and what I personally learnt from him was that he gave opportunities to learn as to how we can deal situations better than him when there was vital state of affairs that he faced and we helped him instead the situation being overlooked. He and his friend had a weird thing in mind that “South Indians don’t have fire in the belly”.  They brought in Northies from other departments and made them leaders. They brought in Northies from other companies and made them Assistant Managers, and you know what answer they gave: “I don’t see any calibre in you guys and there is no scope for improvement”. Is this what we learn in management?

For me, it is fine if you bring in a Northie leader, it is fine. If you bring in a person who is well knowledgeable and would treat people as people and guide them as to how to develop themselves, it is commendable. However, except the latter, these kinds of people tried to advocate nonsense.

I don’t think they know, because of a crucial role of South India and South Indians, the liberalization policies too stood stronger. No parliamentary cabinet is strong without a South Indian. Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad are the first places to be recognized in the world as sophisticated IT cities. It’s the talent that is recognized first and then the cities. So, I can proudly say that we are very talented. I get passionate about my place, if one were to give a negative comment on it. Please remember, the first President of India is a South Indian, what more do you need? Why do you discriminate, or is it a topic to debate at the outset? I believe, without a East, West, North and South, India could not be in a place that it is today and is not complete. Do we need to act like this and bring disrepute to ourselves or do we need to work together in tangent so that we can uplift our prestige of being One!

Yet, the act of identifying the right talent and fitting in the right person to the right job is the expected job of a Manager. If he brings in a creature just like himself, as a perpetual demeanour, then definitely, surprises are in his way, which would make him accept the reality. This is how nature works and that’s reality!

I like and adore people, who have improved themselves, by constructively helping others to build themselves, and they are the real managers and I am happy that I was associated with such great people in the organizations I worked with. Learning is absolutely there.

I am proud to be an Indian and I salute and give a mountain of thanks to all the soldiers who have made us live happily wherever we are in India!!!