Indian wedding system - a bad Economics?

"Observation is the key to learning. There is no dearth of learning opportunities around us but there is certainly a deficiency of attention management. If one can be trained to have a keen observation and honest contemplation, learning will be automatic and self enrichment will always be an ongoing process."



I do not recall exactly who imbued this in my mind, my mother may have been that person, but i can recollect that this was an imprint with me and i always tried to follow this since very early days of my schooling. I would sit in the class always in the first row and would listen to every word my teacher spoke in the class very carefully and try to retain it. The same habit extended to all those social situations also where i was able to accept someone as my role-model.



My cousin, elder to me at least by 10 years or more, is a knowledge professional. These days he works for a very popular Hindi newspaper. He has always been a very eloquent speaker and i have always made it a point to listen to him with undivided attention whenever we meet. His rational approach has always attracted me. He has always challenged the practice of following the traditions without applying one's own logic.



Some twenty five years ago, we were sitting on the occasion of some marriage in the family. He was the centre of attention for everyone. He was talking with someone (not directly to me) about Indian wedding system. He said, " I don't understand why we spend so much money on wedding ceremonies. It's a very bad Economics and a bad Sociology as well. So much money is wasted. Moreover, so many man hours are wasted. And to add to the problems, the couple getting married is so much involved in the rituals that the natural love between them and the thrill of getting married is also lost. I suggest something better. Both the families should go to some hill station with the couple. A very small but closely knit family function should be held for the marriage and then everyone should come back leaving the couple behind."



The idea appealed to me. I accepted his argument that the existing system was very bad Economics. As time passed, this idea gained strength. Then somehow, Indian festivities also were added to the same list. I began to believe that celebrating Diwali with so much fireworks and decoration etc. is a sheer wastage of money.



When i studied Economics for my masters, everything changed. The study of socialism gave me a new perspective. And when i read the theory of Prof. Pigou about welfare, an entire new thought sequence dawned upon me. And today i can say with conviction that welfare Economics supports Indian wedding system and festivities in most of the cases. Excepting some systems like dowry etc. all the other rituals not only pass the test of socialism but they also promote the cause of human welfare and economic well being of our nation. Allow me to present this case in a simple language.

Prof Pigou says that welfare of a nation can be ensured in any or both of the two ways. First, the Gross National Product should go up. Second, the flow of money should take place from the rich to the poor. And Indian wedding system fulfills both the requirements. The celebrations and the extravaganza not only increases Economic activity and increases GNP in the process, but also transfers the funds from the rich to the poor. Just pay some attention to the fact that who is spending and who is getting; and you can hear the soul of Prof Pigou appreciating our wedding traditions.

And how is the declared national objective of socialism achieved by this? When the flow of money takes place from the haves to the have-nots, the difference between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is bound to diminish! Naturally, socialists should support these traditions.

So, one can say with conviction that our festivities and our rituals are a very good Economics.

Does it imply that i support the extravaganza? Not at all! On a very personal level i will always continue to believe that economic sense alone cannot justify many traditions of society. I still find the scale of celebrations irrational. And by the way, I am not a socialist either!

The idea of having weddings on hill stations cannot be scrapped that easily!

Dear Human beings! What about some food, drinks, sleep and sex?

God made a man. Man made the world!

Na.. God made the world and man made a beautiful world!

Na.. God thought and man was there! Man thought and civilised world is here!

In whatever way may it be put forth, it is impossible to belittle human contribution in giving its present shape to the world. If we want to summarise, it can be expressed in just one word i.e. positive.

* * *

Let us ask a question to ourselves now. In what activities do we spend our maximum time and attention? What are our prime concerns? What issues occupy a major chunk of our thinking?

* * *

About 28 years ago, a survey was conducted on this topic. Nearly 800 young boys and girls of Europe were asked these questions. And the results were not astonishing. They listed out just five issues - Food, drinks, rest (sleep), self defence (including offence) and sex.

***

One spiritual Guru of Indian origin, when he came to know of the survey and the results thereof, commented, " Every creature on this earth - animal, bird or insect - is capable of enjoying all these five activities. In some forms of life, they are much more capable than human beings in these areas. And if we believe in human superiority in all the forms of life, there must be some other, and more important, purpose of our existence."

I find this analysis very thought provoking and transformational.

Let us start observing our thought process. Whenever we find ourselves contemplating on any of these five issues, we should remind ourselves that though there is nothing unnatural in this, yet it is not making full use of our existence as a human being on this planet. We are born for some greater purposes. Let us find them out and achieve them. We must behave sometimes as a human being and not only as an animal.

Almighty has a plan for my life and that's all i need to know!

India vs. Bharat

What is the population of India?
10 to 15 crores.

But I have read somewhere that the number is even more than 100 crores.
No, that's wrong. The population of India is only 10 to 15 cores.

It can't be wrong. India is second most populated country of the world.
No, that's wrong. India has very less population.

There are many problems in India such as unemployment, inflation and poverty.
Wrong! There are no problems in India other than some recessionary trends and swine flue!

* * * * *

I am sure by now, many of you have guessed the matters right. We are living in a land co-inhabited by two different nations that is India and Bharat. India, a nation of 10 to 15 crore population, is growing fast while on the other hand, Bharat, a nation of 100 crores is languishing.

If you somewhat agree with this analysis, or find it worth examining, please continue to read. If you find this dangerous like two-nation theory of Jinnah, please curse the author and stop reading.

Let us have some distinguishing features of India and Bharat.

1. India talks in English. Bharat follows the adage Char Kos par paani badle, aath kos par baani.
( Water quality changes after every four miles and the dialect spoken changes after every eight miles).

2. India is riding on the wave of IT revolution. Bharat is struggling to make every child literate. For many Bharatiya people, the proverb Kala Akshar Bhains barabar is fully applicable.

3. Indian people are winning the world. While inhabitants of Bharat are busy in their own villages.

4. India is perceived to be a global power. Bharat is still seen as a land of snake charmers.

5. The hot issues of discussion in India are swine flue, gay rights, proposed change in IIT admission criteria etc. Bharat is still engaged in discussing about the availability of electricity, water and roads.

6. India does not vote. It considers itself much above the Hoi Polloi election process. Bharat desperately wants to vote, primarily to earn the freebies associated with casting a vote.

7. India is net savvy. Bharat is stuck in the net of poverty.

8. India is working on the target of making it India's century. The vision 2020 has become the policy document. Bharat is somewhere lost between changing times or, better if we say, is nostalgic about history and just wants to keep on reliving it.

* * * *

Who are we - Indians or Bharatiyas? Where do we live - in India or in Bharat? A very difficult question indeed! Our survival depends on any one of both the nations as per the demand of the situation. In many cases the shopkeeper is Indian and the customers are Bharatiya. Exactly the opposite also happens in many other cases. With some planned thinking, everyone of us can think of many such examples. Everyday on the road, we find both type of people passing by us. And the paradox is that while India depends on Bharat for its manpower needs, the vice versa happens for many other things as well. Hence we really need to find a model of peaceful co-existence.

The peculiarity of the situation is that holistically a solution has to be found in unison without creating disjoint pieces.

End note on the terminating sentence : Recently i was part of a corporate meeting. A lot of discussion took place. Part of that was absolutely superficial. A lot of meaningless sentences were used just to impress the audience, not to convey any sensible message. After the meeting, it was found that many statements used during the discussion were so general and colorless in nature that they can be used anywhere. The last sentence of this post is one such example. Try to use it in any situation you like. Chances are that it will suit everywhere. But just exercise one precaution. The peculiarity of the situation is that holistically a solution has to be found in unison without creating disjoint pieces. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Prepare! Prepare!! Prepare!!!

The year was 1992. I had just completed my Company Secretaryship course. I had been busy with my coaching classes for the last 4 years and it was a very enjoyable experience. My father was very happy with my getting a professional qualification because to him, it meant my getting rid of a below dignity job.

In the month of August 1992, i was sitting in the lounge with my father. He was anxiously looking at the entrance gate time and again. I asked him, "Papa! Are you expecting someone?" " No, no! Absolutely nobody", he replied nervously. I felt uncomfortable. Why is he behaving in such a manner?

Then Dr B.G.Sharma appeared. He was retired principal of the biggest college of our town and a very good friend of my father. I welcomed him, offered him a seat and proceeded to leave. I did not want to become a disturbance between two friends. "Sit down, Barkhurdar!", he ordered me in his authoritative voice, " i have come to talk to you only." " Yes, Sir!" i showed my respect. "Sit down." I obeyed. "What do you do these days?" "I teach. I run this coaching class." I pointed my finger at the sign board. "That's okay. But what do you intend to do as a profession?" I was shocked at the sarcasm. "This is my hobby and this is my profession. I enjoy this job and by god's grace, i earn a good amount - much more than a college professor! I want to continue this only." He overlooked my nasty comment as a childish mistake and continued, " Beta. Trust my experience. This is a good job to pursue along with your studies only. Now you are a professional. You must get a respectable job. You must free this room that you have occupied for your so called coaching class. We will play bridge here."

I don't recall the entire conversation but one thing was sure. I was able to understand that it was a stage managed show. My father and Dr Sharma had planned for the evening and i was the target to be brainwashed. And they had done the homework very well. I was informed about a good opening in a nearby city and was convinced to apply for the same. I was excited about this new possibility.

I applied for the job. The position was Asstt Company Secretary. I was very confident of getting the job. A teaching experience of four years had made me overconfident. This is a professional hazard of teaching. As one comes across students most of the time, one tends to think of himself as a superman. Two or three blows are required to teach the realities of life to such creatures. One such blow was waiting for me.

I was called for the interview. I reached the venue before time and began to talk to the people present there. A gentleman there asked me about my background and i told him my entire life story.

When i was asked to enter the interview room, i was slightly overconfident. When i saw the same gentleman sitting at the centre of the three member panel, i was ecstatic. He took out my business card from his pocket and showed to the other members. Then he asked me just one question, "How much do you earn from this?" I told him slightly inflated figures as per my habit and temperament. And then i heard this, " I think you should not waste your precious time here. We won't be paying you this much here initially." " But, sir!" i begged for an opportunity. "Thank you, you may leave now." He was curt and i came out, humbled and broken.

When i reached home, the news of the proceeding was already there. My father was visibly very upset. But he did not ask for any explanation.

I learnt two things from this episode.

One who fails to prepare is preparing for failure. We must try to foresee every situation and decide our role in the same.

You can't give up something that you don't have! First earn something and then you have a chance to choose to have it or not.

And these lessons are universal. They apply to every situation. May it be studies, may it be placements or may it be any competition!

Networking needs commitment! Networking helps to fulfil other commitments!!

They say man is a social animal. Very true. We live in a society, everybody knows and accepts. But the lesser-felt fact is that the society we live in is expanding everyday. If Mr John interacted and dealt with x persons in his entire lifetime, and if other things remain the same, Mr Johnson will interact and deal with 2x persons in his lifetime. Unnecessary clarification : They both belong to the same family and the names are indicative of their relationship! :-)

Now this growing periphery of human interactions requires one to follow some disciplined networking habits. We come across many people in the normal course of life who are very likeable, interesting and of course, useful. We want to stay in touch. We tell ourselves to do so. We promise to call back or meet again. We make a mental note to do the same. Still many times many of us are unable to keep the contact alive. To be very frank and honest, i also suffer from this disease. And one more fact based on personal observation, around 9 out of 10 people i know also have this bad habit. What do we call it? Lack of commitment can be the answer.

Networking needs commitment. And a successful career growth needs networking. We all know about some habits of wealth and success. I would definitely rank this committed networking among the top three in the list of such habits.

Last evening i was witness to the magic of networking and commitment. While i was sitting with a senior colleague of mine at PROTON, the issue of placements came up for discussion. After some initial discussion, someone commented, 'Hum sabko apne apne network ko use karna padega!' This provided the ignition. And i observed with great astonishment that this senior colleague of mine started calling his CEO friends. In about an hour, 10 calls were made. Every call to the CEO of some company. A lot of discussion took place on every call - about the company, about the economy, about recession and about the trends of revival, and of course about placements.

It was a very good experience. Apart from getting some very good openings for placements, a lot of other revelations sprang up. It became clear that the trends of partial revival of Indian economy are sectoral only. While some sectors such as Telecom and Realty are showing promise, some others like Commercial Vehicles industry are still in the dock. And a very big learning was discovered. When some CEO or any profit centre in charge starts with the cliche "The fundamentals of this country are rock solid", it's a definite evidence that the company is in a soup!

The best part was that we did get to know about some real placement opportunities. But the most useful learning for me was that you must be committed in your networking habits. It certainly helps. And how does it help? It helps you in fulfilling your other commitments!

It proves that the world is round. Commitment helps networking and networking helps to fulfill other commitments. Amen.