KARMA YOGI – SHRI KVK RAJU - A CATALYST OF CHANGE

This is the first of the series of articles as narrated by Prof IV Chalapati Rao, about the life of Shri KVK Raju the founder of NAGARJUNA GROUP, South India’s Largest Conglomerate.

Kanumuri Venkata Krishnam Raju delectably known to his friends and the professional admirers as KVK, was a first generation technocrat and a entrepreneur. He scaled great heights by dint of his hard work, persistence, fortitude and vision from a very humble beginning to attain a paramount position as an industrialist. He broke new ground and blazed new trails to become a torch bearer and a beacon to many others to become entrepreneurs.

Hailing from a small hamlet and born in a traditionally agricultural family, Shri KVK rose to eminence to become one of the few self-luminous, self-propelled figures who lit up the industrial scene. By sheer force of his character and unremitting labour he established NAGARJUNA GROUP bringing his own State Andhra Pradesh into the spot light in the industrial world. He was a common man who achieved uncommon things.

Shri KVK faced hard times and led a life of utter simplicity and intense activity. Inspired by him no less than 42 entrepreneurs most of whom were under his tutelage came into industry.

Shri KVK’s had laudable objectives of generating employment, achieving material progress and upholding ethical standards in a co-ordinated manner each complementing and completing the other, and providing enduring value to all his business constituents, customers, employees, shareholders and the public. His ambition was to create wealth through industry and use it for the good of the nation.

Few industrialists make it to history during their own life time. What appeared as a miracle or mirage to lesser mortals seemed within reach to Shri KVK who was an incurable optimist. Many of his friends wondered that only a maverick would aspire to achieve exgtraordinary results with such slender means at his disposal. Moreover he started his industry rather late in his career when most of his contemporaries gave up because of the fact that the country was sailing in low financial waters, what with its huge international debt and the depleted state of foreign exchange. Besides, an entrepreneur had to face the problems of bureaucracy and red tape. Adding to this, his own people including elderly relatives were not in favour of his forsaking a comfortable and lucrative career in Union Carbide in search of “fresh fields and pastures new”.

Despite all these discouraging circumstances and every other adverse factor, he persisted in the passionate pursuit of his goal. Naturally this appeared to others as a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) or a wild cat venture. His conviction, indomitable courage and infinite patience saw his through all the obstacles and carried him through. The man who invested his provident fund as a capital astonishingly achieved success as one of the leading industrialists of the country.

No doubt Shi.KVK is an ordinary man with an extraordinary commitment.

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ADAPTION TO CORPORATE CULTURE

Have you ever noticed how we react to foreign visitors? We always welcome the foreigner who is alien to us. But we accept them only when we find that the foreigner adapts to our norms, our environment and our culture. If the foreigner is not adapting to the norms of the local environment we reject the alien.

This is true in case of Business also. A new executive or a consultant should first try to understand the culture of the Organization and adapt to the corporate culture and take the acceptance of the people. Sans this understanding, the chances for success of the new executive are trifle. Moreover the members of the culture would definitely reject the alien and will work against them.

Is there any thing wrong with the members of the culture rejecting the alien? NO.

The reason is that the employees, the employers, the stakeholders prefer the conformity in their culture. What is conformity? It is the environment where people would and could easily predict the actions and behavior of others and where a harmony prevails. This harmony arising out of the stable environment promotes self confidence and brings the best out of them. Moreover it brings stability and order to the Organization.

So if the new executive wants to change the culture, he should first of all understand the culture and get the acceptance of the members of the culture. How can you bring change when you are not accepted? Many of us have ideas but how effectively we implement the ideas is very important.

The executive should first of all understand that the culture evolves over a period of time and he should not aim at changing it overnight. There is a well know saying “the older the heritage, the more ingrained the culture is in its members.”

The new executive should bear in mind that changing the culture is just not meeting the deadline. Changing the culture involves people. Understanding the culture and bringing the desired changes in the culture is a management art.

Trying to bring changes without understanding the fabric of the culture has brought the demise of several executives. Trying to blame the culture without understanding that people do commit mistakes and people do have different perspectives itself would ruin the executive.

So every executive should be careful about the following: -
• Culture evolves over a period of time and trying to change it without understanding it is a blunder.

• Once you understand the culture, gain the acceptance of the people in the culture

• Understand the good things in the culture and appreciate it abundantly.

• If you find something needs to be changed in the culture, prepare a plan in discussion with the management and important stakeholder.

• Don’t set a deadline for changing the culture and try to meet the deadline. It would be disastrous or may not yield the desired results.

• Communicate more frequently emphasizing the need and importance of the change initiation.

• Gain the acceptance of the members of the culture for the change management and provide them with enough opportunities to internalize the desired changes.

• Monitor and evaluate the changes. Reward the change managers

• Celebrate the changes and involve the people in the festivity
• If you are determined to change the culture, you should be more determined to be patient.

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Beauty Dares Beasts

Miss Pakistan World Natasha Paracha has denounced the truce between Pakistan Government and the Taliban forces to implement Sharia laws in Swat Velley.

She has demonstrated the courage and guts the maile folks in Pakistan failed to do by taking up against the powerful radical forces.

Calling the implementation of Sharia laws beginning of the downfall of Pakistan, she said: "This act of compromise by the Pakistani government clearly shows that it is a failed nation. Taliban has no place in Pakistan and the people of Pakistan should kick them out. They are invaders and barbaric people."

While the armed forces are running away from the frontier, policemen are resigning or turning sympathisers of Taliban, people are afraid of opening their mouth and just follow Taliban rules, this beauty notwithstanding the dangerr Taliban can pose has challenged them. She deserves a pat on the back.

Pakistan has struck a deal with the devils and the devils would not rest until it draws the last blood from Pakistan.

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Pakistan defeated and surrenders meekly

Pakistan has surrendered to forces that are threat to the humanity and the civilization. Pakistan’s surrender to the Taliban forces is more disgraceful than its surrender to India in 1971. In 1971 India decimated Pakistan but today Pakistan warped to the radical forces in its own country.

The surrender commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The whole world watched with concern, disbelief and uneasiness the massive victory rally organized in SWAT valley by Sufi Mohammed, the spiritual leader of Pakistan Taliban and his son in law “Radio” Fazullah. The rally was a clear indication of victory to Taliban forces over American forces and the Pakistani army which the Pakistan Government is refusing to accept. The fact is that Pakistan has lost control over the Frontier.

The world is outraged over Pakistan government's surrender to the Taliban knowing the threat Taliban pose to the world. The Taliban forces are just 200 Kms away from Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and are waiting at the doorsteps to capture Islamabad also. The world is worried that Taliban could take control of the nuclear weapons which would be a sure threat to the Western world.

Who is to blame for this? These forces were groomed by the very same people who now brand them as a serious threat. Islam communalism was exploited by The West to counter the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Under Zia-ul-Haq, the ISI armed and supported the Taliban, who then fought against Soviet and pro-Soviet forces. Zia-ul-Haq opened the doors for the Islamist takeover of Afghanistan. Once the Soviets were expelled, Afghanistan turned to civil war but West no longer showed any interest in Afganistan. But Zia-ul-Haq continued to fund and support the Taliban. As you sow, so you reap.

It is now the same Taliban that is asking for a pound of flesh from Islamabad. Pakistan sooner or later should concede because it has let these forces grow out of its control and now these forces has started controlling Pakistan.

While India has done nothing to encourage these radical forces, it has become a target and victim of the sell out. The terrorist organization has already threatened to attack the western cultural centers in India and this is just a beginning.

Taliban has chopped off Pakistan's Northern arm and would soon aim for its head. India has to view this seriously and our politicians should set aside the differences and counter this proactively instead of makiing reactive statements.

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FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS

The private sector banks and the multi national banks are not coming to the rescue of the MSME i.e. micro, small and medium enterprises.

The SMEs which are the backbone of our country are reeling under impact of global meltdown. Arranging funds has become next to impossible for the SMEs.

The Government from its side has already announced two stimulus packages to ease the situation. However not enough has been done by the private banks and the multinational banks to lend a helping hand to the deserving MSME community.

Commerce Secretary Mr.G K Pillai has rightly said that the private sector banks have been fair weather friends unlike public sector banks and went on to say "If they don't comply with RBI direction, at some point of time, the government will be forced to act,". But this has not fallen into the deaf ears of the private banks who feign corporate social responsibility.

It is really unfortunate that the Private Banks are abandoning the MSMEs in the need of the hour and letting down the Government and the RBI.

Nothing matters to these banks except a rosy Bottom line. These banks should definitely understand that it not possible for Public Sector Banks alone to fund the huge population of MSMEs and they are also equally responsible towards the society as a whole.

RBI now would understand the true colors of these Private Banks.

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EDUCATION @ UK

British Council is organizing a two day education exhibition in Taj Coromandel, Chennai which concludes today. Over a hundred representatives from more than sixty UK institutions participate in this exhibition. Education UK exhibitions bring you face to face with representatives from schools, colleges and universities who can tell you about their courses, admission requirements, facilities and services. I visited the exhibition yesterday evening. I was really taken aback to see more than 58 universities from a country which is less than one tenth of India's geographic area. The response was overwhelming and it attracted a lot of people who want to pursue their higher education overseas. The program was well organized. When we just entered the exhibition hall, the security outside reminded us 26/11 which has become indelible. Every stall had well informed personnel who could give the required information for every aspirant. Some of them did not have the courses the prospective student wanted and those students were properly guided to the Institution stalls which offered the courses. Seeing the crowd and the response to the exhibition, I felt that India is still not crippled by the global melt down fully and still there is a ray of hope amongst the students. To fully understand the benefits of this exhibition a person has to spend at least half a day in the exhibition. Moreover a seminar is organized on both days on Students Visas, Scholarships etc to educate the visitors. The exhibition starts at 10 AM and concludes at 7 PM sharp. When the organizers signaled the closure of the stall of visitors, it was sharp 7 PM. This exhibition is a must for all those who take their higher education overseas seriously.
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BAN ON SMOKING DESTINED TO SUCCEED

First of all, we are indebted to our Health Minister, Mr.Anbumani Ramadoss for taking the campaign against smoking unequivocally. "Don't smoke" is what the elders tell the younger people, the parents tell their children, teachers tell the students, good friends advise their smoking friends. Dr.Anbumani is performing the role of an elder, a parent, a good friend and a teacher in his campaign against smoking. He has spared none in this campaign. He has raised his voice against the celebrities, the politicians and the VIPs without any soft spot. He has gone to the extent of challenging court's decision lifting the ban on smoking in films. His initiative is just a beginning of the journey towards a society with healthy habits. We all should support his mission. We cry hoarse that our politicians are not honest, lack values etc etc. But here is a politician who is well educated, honest, with a very good value system. Let us support his initiatives irrespective of which party he belongs to, which caste he belongs to, from which region he is hailing from? He has also voiced his concern about the growing pub culture. The media is prompt in maligning his name as a supporter of the Manglore incident. Mr.Ramadoss definitely did not support the attack but on the other hand condemned the incident. This substantiates that he does not have the media support. Nevertheless, he is not going to give up nor his journey is going to end abruptly. He has already declared that he is going to take up ban on alcohol after the ban on smoking. This journey is just a beginning and would never end till it reaches the destination. The ban on smoking is destined to succeed and the ban on alcohol would follow the suit.

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