Business to the Buddha

Tag: Shaku bai

  • Entrepreneurship and interdependent co-arising

    Over time, I have been analyzing socialism and capitalism from the lense of spiritual professional. Mostly, people think combination of words “spiritual” and “professional” sound as an oxymoron. No it is not. A spiritual person can be more thoughtful, it is not necessary that a spiritual approach only suits in Himalayas. On a lighter note – I do not intend to state that I am thoughtful. My looking at socialism and capitalism has also come from practically looking at people be it Aarti Amma or Shaku bai.

    • Business-to-the-Buddha

    Well, slowly I have made a centrist approach, though leaning right. At least capitalism gives everyone an opportunity to become rich, understand the futility of being ultra rich and become a philanthropist. We can argue till cows come home about the eyewash of this philanthropy in many cases. There are many of these new gen millionaires in India, they are doing their bit of philanthropy in a different manner. They are helping other startups with funding or advice.

    In last more than a decade, India probably has seen many young, competitive, hungry for more and problem solver millionaire. The list is long from Bansals of Flipkart, Ritesh Agarwal of Oyo, Vijay Sharma of PayTm, Byju Raveendran of Byju’s to others. The best part is, the list is very long. This kind of opportunity was less likely in India before 1990’s. This new entrepreneurial energy and problem solving for Indian and global context lets me lean to the right.

    If we take examples of Sarla or Kishore, there is surely a better way of making everyone work towards becoming self dependent. This opportunity is better offered by capitalism – as much good as you can make good for yourself and society you can be better off and in return you are helping the society too. In a way capitalism gives you an opportunity to be more practical in implementing interdependent co-arising. If you are solving a pressing problem you will get buyers, you make buyers life easy, they will pay you.

    Now, I see entrepreneurship also from an spiritual perspective. I believe that there will be someway and someone who will help Aarti Amma and Shaku Bai to grow beyond their limited means. Though when I look at socialism and capitalism I still emphasis, socialistic approach is needed in some cases such as healthcare, education and food safety. Here too a Public Private Partnership is fine. At one time or the other interdependent co-arising will work for Aarti Amma and Shaku Bai too with some entrepreneur helping them and make a financially viable business solution.

  • Reservations! No, it’s about Inequality







    One of my friends commented on Facebook as priority #1 for New Govt of India – Abolish Reservation! Here are my 2 cents on reservation (e.g. reservation in Govt jobs, education et al) and how it should change.

    Indian reservations system is grossly misused, people assume it to be “entitlement”. An entitlement for even those whose parents have become somebody e.g. IAS from nobody.

    Reservation system was brought in to reduce inequality. This inequality at olden days was among caste based divided Indian citizen. In last so many years division is somewhat reduced however now the divide is evident among those oppressed communities as well for whom primarily the system was created.  The system needs to be rationalized. Just to give you an example – Devyani Khobragade is from reserved category. She became an IFS with the same reservation system – why was she given reservation when her father was also an IAS officer? The purpose of reservation was to uplift lives of the oppressed, now few of the oppressed have become oppressors as well! Any class 1 officers son or daughter shouldn’t be considered for reservation.

    Two different stories where I dont deny reservation –

    Budia Damor was my classmate in 11th – of course he was from reserved category – he did not have books. He was from a village named “Gram Aali” on Mandav road near Dhar. A village with population of about 300 (in 1995), yes in India there are villages as small as that. He was committed and he needed help. Besides Govt scholarship and reservation – I thought what best I could do was to give him some of my books, I did it. There are many such people. They need helping hand.
    I also remember Shaku Bai – our maid. Very committed, hardworking and responsible person. She had 5 kids, 2 or 3 of her kids were studying in a govt school in some tribal area, living in Govt hostel. The biggest asset for her in that hostel was – at least the kids are not starving! Yes this is the situation in many parts of India.

    building bridgesShe lived in a hut (what you just can imagine in photos, drawing only). She was expecting her 6th child- my mother helped her a lot. After delivery 2nd day she was at home to do work, baby with her with only few cloths my mom gave her. My Mom, didnt allow her to do anything, gave cloths for the baby and gave her gyan on family planning et al. I must say she was very committed, hardworking and responsible, may be I don’t have more words for her appreciation. We need to help them. Not Devyani Khobragade for becoming an IFS on the entitlement of Shaku Bai or Budia Damor.

    I see reservation for bridging gap of inequality – so if a Brahmin boy is very poor a chance for his upliftment should also be considered. Keywords are – upliftment and bridging the gap of inequality – Not scoring political brownie point.

    Though when I’m writing Brahmin I personally have serious objections with Indian caste system.