Ah! finally some free time after a hectic fortnight (actually 2 months).. Sipping tea after 4 days of 3 hr sleep ( a rarity in my life) I wish each reader a very very Happy Independence Day.. Jai Hind!!
The day started with reading the transcript of the same boring "Theek Hai" speech by Dr. Manmohan Singh drawing a rosy picture of India for the 10th time in a row but Narendra Modi's impromptu made up for the dullness in the former. While each year since 2008 the PM makes a speech spelling out hope and boom it has always been the opposite. Social Networking sites have left no stone unturned to make a mockery of the PM and his false speech even going to the extent of the problems that should be addressed and ways and means to solve them.
Today I will not speak on the age old topics of corruption, mismanagement by the Government, bowing to coalition pressure and "saas/sasur-damaad sagas"(Read: Sonia G and Robert 'Banana' Vadra and Srini-Meiyappan) taking India back to pre-1991 days ( it has in fact become worse in my opinion) but one word that has become the favorite of all Indians - JUGAAD. Though it was not heard frequently 15 years ago, the frequency has increased exponentially with each passing day. Each and every sentence related to work involves the word "Jugaad". Well for people not well versed with the Hindi term, Jugaad means "getting work done mostly by bypassing the procedure". Students during exams say "koi jugaad kar lenge" while when you go to a government office you happily tell the concerned person "sir koi to jugaad hoga, sab khush rahenge". Even corporates have not stopped from using this Jugaad and get all their proposals passed by hook or by crook. Well in some situations it is absolutely fine to bypass the protocol and get what you want but it is alarming when you find for ways and means to use jugaad for every damn thing. And the best way to do this is find connections higher in the hierarchy and just bribe him or form such good relations that you have it your way. Nothing bad to have connections. It can be looked as a means for networking and as I have learnt in my MBA course, 48% of successful managers rated networking as the highest among other traits of a good manager. But then to use shortcuts for everything is simply not accepted. And from this attitude of ours corruption and other problems follow. Add to this, we take pride in saying that we are the best "Jugaadus" and can do anything. This makes me feel sorry about our future.
If we don't follow procedures and just use shortcuts it will lead us to nowhere. And if the final outcome is itself going to be decided on that basis why have rules at all.. For example while coming up with the guidelines for banking licenses RBI came up with a number of guidelines to be adhered to. But we all know that one group will bag a license in all probabilities by using its power in the government circles. So all the hard work that other interested groups do will go in vain. Rather why not declare that one company is sure and there are 'x' number of other companies. That will bring some transparency.
It is still not dangerous but in future when our future generations right from the time they are born start practising this it will lead to great problems. Only the rich will prosper while the poor will die bribing the ever unsatisfied babus, having connections up the hierarchy will be another style statement ( not that it is now) and whatever little honesty is left will either die or migrate abroad and contribute in their already good state. Rules are made so that there is a level playing field and it is in the interest of all parties involved. It is fun to break them once or twice but making it a habit spells doom for us. It is better to have complete knowledge of what we do which not only enhances our knowledge but also gives us satisfaction.
This can go on and on but being in MBA I am taught to manage time especially when I have my exams in 5 days. So lets hope to go on the right path and do less of Jugaad.. Else time is not far when the most famed son-in-law would be proved right about our country - turning into a "Banana Republic" with no rules but only Jugaad.. Happy Independence Day again.. Vande Mataram!!
