LOVE BEGETS LOVE

KARMA YOGI SHRI KVK RAJU – PART 2

Many of us would be fascinated to know how Shri KVK Raju a first generation entrepreneur managed to win the hearts of his employees to become a Demi god to them.

His mantra was simple :-
• Love begets love
• Trust attracts trust

He never exuded his power but made his demands sound more like gentle requests making his requirements abundantly clear.

Whatever he said and to whomsoever he said, he always said it with a bouquet of flowers. He knew that personal relations are as important as official relations. He was looked upon as a father figure by constantly looking after the employees’ welfare.

I am not aggrandizing by saying that Shri KVK’s personal services included admission of the workers’ children in schools, marriage of their sons and daughters and hospital care whenever they need it.

Shri KVK’s leadership style was democratic and participative. He functioned as a team member rather than an autocratic boss. He firmly believed that work is a way of life rather than a mere means of livelihood. The employees were encouraged to become share holders at a concession of easy instalments for deeper involvement of the employees.

Human relations were Shri KVK’s sphere. He possessed the common sense to understand the people sense. With accessibility and allure of good demeanour, Shri KVK was a stickler for order and discipline. When the neighbours were plagued with the usual menace of absenteeism, worker unrest, low productivity, strikes etc, he was able to maintain a high standard of discipline, which was not super-imposed from outside but voluntarily observed from within. He was aware that there was a greater compulsion in the leader’s personal example than in ruthless enforcement of a heavy handed discipline system. He demonstrated that it was possible to be loving and democratic and yet maintain authority and control.

Another diamond in his crown was his belief in the trusteeship concept of management, wealth should be held in trust, possession of wealth and ownership of property should be used for the good of the community. Shri KVK tried to adopt this idea and apply it to industry so that the difference between capital and labour shall be eliminated. He saw a great amount of success in his effort. He lead a simple life. Though he provided houses to his workmen, he did not have a house of his own and never lived in his own house.

Behind Shri KVK’s accomplishment lay a concoction of optimism, endurance, serenity, tenacity and fortitude. When the dense shadows darkened around him, morning shone in his hearts. The reason is that be believed that problems and crises can be converted into opportunities and so he did.

When a person’s mind vibrates at a high rate with impetus the resultant fervour, passion, zeal, zest and gusto is swelled to reach the minds of people within its radius and beyond, especially to those who are close to that person. Shri KVK’s motivation and buoyancy permeated every corner of the Organization and is felt even today.

Lessons for young technocrats from the life of Shri KVK Raju :-
• Love begets love
• Trust invites trust
• Personal relations are as important as business relations
• Work is a way of life and not a mere means of livelihood
• It is possible to be loving and democratic and yet maintain authority and control
• Serve the society you belong to
Published for MSN.COM
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