Learnings from GandhijiLearnings from GandhijiBased on the Gandhi Katha series

by Mr. Narayan Desai

( Son of Gandhiji’s PA - Mr Mahadevbhai Desai)

Gandhiji as a Leader

A Guide

On Narayanji’s Upnayas Sanskar, Gandhiji gifted him two books – Bhajanawali of Ashram – Anashakti Yog (the book on Bhagwat Gita by Gandhiji)

Gandhiji wrote a note on books:– Understand & memorise all the Bhajans– Do what I expect from you.

These simple sentences became the BHRAHMA VAAKYA of Narayanji’s life.

A TaskmasterNarayanji’s mother - Durgabai was serving milk to Gandhiji with a spoon, and a few drops spilled out to the ground. Gandhiji questioned ‘WHY?’

She replied “Due to spoon, Bapu”.

Gandhji said “If Abha (a newcomer at the Ashram) had said this, it will be accepted but I cannot expect this from you Durga (who has been working since long)”.

A Neutral Person

To discourage racism in India, Gandhiji decided not to attend any marriage of similar caste.

Narayanji’s father chose a same caste girl for him and pursued Gandhiji to attend the ceremony.

He refused “Exceptions are not allowed for family members.” and sent his blessings by a post-card.

A Demonstrative Leader• If Gandhiji want something that people should do, he

demonstrated it in his actions first.

• During the various Satyagraha, he never took support for his personal work.

• Other leaders saw this and started doing their personal work by themselves.

Value Based Leader

When Dudabhai (a dalit) came to stay in the Ashram, Kasturbabai and Maganbhai didn’t like and asked Gandhiji for not allowing him to stay any further.

Gandhiji - “If someone does not like Ashram’s rules, he/she must leave the Ashram”.

He visualized India with economical, social and administrative equality, hence after independence he said, ”My work is still not completed.”

Setting Examples

Gandhiji encouraged and ensured the presence of common people in court room.This act motivated people to sacrifice for the nation. The trend is visible in common man's involvement in pre and post - Gandhian movements.  Nurturing TalentCreated, Nurtured & Guided several Leaders, like Rajendra Prasad, Rajgopalachari, Jayprakash Narayan, Vinoba Bhave, Lalbahadur Shashtri and Sarojni Naidu Abbas Tayyab.

Negotiation Skills

Took a proactive approach to know and understand the other person's views.

This gave him way to formulate “win-win” situation.

For Example:In Vaykom Satyagrah (Kerala), he ensured to maintain discipline by stayagrahi and demanded to remove the police force.

People saw the disciplined satyagrahi and joined them to make movement successful.

  Credibility Consciousness

A true “Brand Ambassador” in himself

– Truth ambassador: Never took any case based on lie or withdrew himself from any such cases. Judiciary also believed that if it is Gandhiji, it must be true.

– The people’s man: A great follower of “Jaisa Desh, Vaisa Bhesh” and used to dress as per the group.

– Walk the talk: He never spoke what he had not done or was not going to do.

– Quality improvement: Gandhiji developed a tool for “Self Inspection, Self Evaluation and Self Cleaning” for his own assessment and improvement

Gandhiji as a Manager

System Developer– Gandhiji initiated the working committee concept in

Congress. – Checked the Cadre plan in movements– Brought the regular meeting and review concept in national

movements.

System Protector– Gandhiji always ensured that system should be followed in

all circumstances.– Called off the Non Cooperative Movement because people

broke the system.

 

A Great Planner

– He ensured that people should not loose their energies during the inter-movement period.

– Engaged people into “Rachnatmak Karya” (Creative Work)

– Before starting any movement he used to communicate with people to guide his next line of action , hence his arrest never became a hurdle in movement.

Innovative

– During the Swadeshi Andalon, Gandhiji used Babool’s thorns as paper clips and Neem’s juice as a glue.

– Also, Satyagrah itself was a very innovative tool of all times.

– Followed several management practices which were not even known at that time.

 

Human Resources Orientation

Gandhiji knew that the success of any movement depended solely on its people and their attitude.

    Training & Development

An Ashramee would always have to go through a highly disciplined schedule of training.

He trained people :• At Ashram• With trained leaders• Individual assignments

Performance Evaluation:

– Gandhiji had organized a team of evaluators who used to give their reports on behaviour of Satyagrahee’s, based on which a ranking list was prepared by the working committee.

– Based on that list, national and state level leaders were announced.

Engagement & Involvement:

– He used to engage the members through some creative work during the peace period to...

• Prepared for war • Keep their mood high• Build the feeling of togetherness

Great Executor

– Worked as an executor in many movements, as he believed that for leading the movement one should understand the execution well.

– He always made detailed plans with MIS format.

– He also had the ‘before and after’ review practice.• For example, during the Vaykom Satyagraha at

Kerela he monitored all activities from his Ashram only. He joined the Satyagrah at last when negotiation was required.

Gandhiji as an Administrator

Practical Approach•Gandhiji had a practical approach to take decisions•He picked Ahmedabad as the location for setting up the 'Ashram' as he could get financial support from the local businessmen.

MIS System•He took decision on well defined MIS reports.•In Independence Movements, he used to check the trends of people’s involvement through reports like:- How many came for prayer- How many went for jail.- Production through Charkha etc •The format of MIS had both - quantitative as well as the qualitative data.

Disciplined

If Gandhiji announced that ‘I will take a 29 minute nap.’ He was sure to get up by the 30th minute.

In Peace March at Nokhali in East Bengal, he used to take only 600 calories per day in spite of working for more than 16 hours a day.

Life of Gandhiji can be symbolized as a straight line which represents the simplicity of his thoughts as well as the depth of his vision.

Thank You

Presentation is brought to you by:Mr. Sushil HandaThe Fifth Veda Entrepreneurs