CL -- RIGMAROLE

One day Rabindra Nath Tagore was very upset. His wife was constantly pestering him to pay the electricity and the credit card bills. Tagore found he had no money left. Now what to do? He never worked for anyone. People were not ready to accept him as a poet, author nor an intellectual. But he has to run the household expenses. He decided that he will do a job as per his liking and capability.  He applied for the post of a “creative editor” in a giant engineering firm dealing with steel, automobiles, chemicals etc.

The giant engineering firm had a lot of in-house journals which were circulated among the employees so as to keep them abreast of the latest “visions”, “goals” and “ideals” of the company. Similarly for their “promos” of different products they needed a person with a creative talent who could coin in ‘catchy’ phrase lines which would appeal to the public, shareholders, connected even remotely with the Company.

Mrs. Renuka Agarwal, HR Head of the company was given the task of finding out a “creative editor” for the company. After doing her graduation she opted for a PGDM in HR from a reputed Management Institute. Immediately she got a job at an equally reputed steel company owned by an illiterate steel magnate. There were no stopping for her as she jumped from one company to another with the ease of a trapeze artist. The only thing worried her was her upper lip hair growth. 

Mrs. Agarwal handed over the whole job of hunting down a creative editor to an outside agency. They promptly gave ads in the job portals and waited for the applications to arrive. A huge number of applications were received by the company which included the application of Tagore also. Then they shortlisted the applications through a computer. Certain key words like creative writing, leadership qualities, essays, write ups were fed into the computer. The soft ware programs designed to scan the applications rejected the application of Tagore as his CV and covering letter did not had those key words. Tagore’s application was not thrown in to the dust bin but went straight into the recycle bin.

Tagore felt irritated. He headed to the company Headquarters and met one of the Directors with a copy of the application. The Director looked at him and the application. “So you have written poems and novels, can you show us some poems which have been published?” Say, how you call yourself a creative person? Tagore was dumb struck. He just murmured --- “Can I meet the Chairman of the Company?” The director grudgingly allowed him to go the Chairman’s chamber.

“See Mr. Tagore, how can I take you in my company when I see you have not done any formal education whereas the other applicants are highly educated with also a Management degree? You do not have any  leadership qualities nor did you participated in any “group activities” and you are trying to impress me in believing that you will open a “gurukul” type school some where in Bolpur. Have you done any financial management otherwise how will you manage a school and later a university? Mrs. Renuka Agarwal, our HR Head has also pointed out that you write disastrous poetry in your Face book. Look how smart is she? She had already done an Internet search about you. So Mr. Tagore I am sorry ……  

The cell phone of Rabindra Nath Tagore rings. The caller at the other end informs him his selection for the Nobel Prize in literature. Mr. Tagore ends the call and tells the Chairman --- “so you can select an army commissioned officer, he will be having leadership qualities and also creative skills in penetrating the enemy territory, best of luck Mr.Chairman”.

 

Sitendu De is the author of this post.

Disclaimer: This is not a real story. It is a satire only which is not intended to hurt anyone in particular.

CL is the short form for Creative Leadership.

The Story of Four Horses

Imagine that we are to pick one of the following four horses and train it to be a world class racing horse winning most of the prestigious prizes.

Though all the horses look exactly alike they have the following characteristics.

The first horse just knows what to do and where to go. It does not need any guidance. It can sense what you want and do things accordingly. If you wish it to turn right it would do so. If you wish it to go left it would go left without your asking. All you have to do is to wish. This horse just seems to know your mind so well that little or no effort is needed to guide it.

The second horse moves in the desired direction only when you crack a whip. But the whip need not touch the skin. The sound of the cracking is enough to steer it in the desired direction.

The third horse moves in the desired direction only when the whip lightly touches the skin. A light touch is enough to set it in motion and move the horse the way you want it to move.

However, the fourth horse is extremely stubborn. It moves only when the pain of a whiplash reaches right up to its bones. Till that time it refuses to move an inch in any direction. This horse does not do anything unless it feels the pain deeply enough. 

Which horse would you care to put your money on to win races for you?

The Chrysalis

The sight of the Himalayan mountain range from his bedroom window had never been so dull and frightening for the twenty one year old Akash Gupta. The family was mourning. Akash’s father lost his job. He was working in a garment manufacturing company in Bhadarpur, Nepal----a small sleepy bordering town in the India-Nepal border.  The great recession had its toll on one of the outsourced American garment manufacturing company at a small town in Nepal.

Akash’s father was given some money and send off home. The amount he got was not much to take care of his family for even a month. The family asked each member ---“Now what”? Akash’s father decided to open up an eatery in front of the Bhadarpur College. At least this would somehow steady the rocking financial boat.

A month after, Akash graduated in commerce and got the desired certificate. He wanted to pursue his career by joining a management course. But that meant a lot of money. Akash restricted all his expenditure. He stopped going to the local gymnasium. He even restricted buying clothes. All the austerity measures could not bring the financial happiness in the family. In her spare time Akash’s mother started making woolen garments in her knitting machine so as to supplement their family income. Akash started applying for different jobs but couldn’t succeed.

“Why don’t you join our type of work, you would be paid quite handsomely, for every trip you undertake”. Akash was offered the job of a “carrier” by the local smuggling cartels operating in the India- Nepal borders. Akash readily agreed. After all he has to just carry those cheap Chinese electronic goods from Nepal and cross the Mechi River which separates Nepal from India and deliver it to the Indian smugglers. These Chinese goods are in great demand in the major cities of India, especially Kolkata, Delhi and “B” grade cities. He informed his parents of his “new job” assignment in an “export-import” company. His parents were happy.

Akash father was overjoyed and blessed his son when he handed him twenty thousand rupees as his first “pay”. This would make us live a little bit comfortably.

Akash’s trip to India continued. He was successful in evading the eyes of the Indian border guards. Akash graduated from smuggling cheap Chinese toys to animal skins. Akash’s smuggling employers were very happy with his work. What a success rate? No arrest and no loss of goods in Akash hundred and ten trips to India so far.  

Avinash Mathur an inspector in the Customs department in India had been following Akash’s activities for quite some time. He waited for an opportune moment to strike Akash. The day arrived when he caught Akash with a large consignment of contraband goods. Avinash made a deal with Akash. Either you work for us as a “source” or be ready to spend the rest of your life at jail. Akash thought it’s wise to listen to Avinash.

Akash’s many tips to Avinash had been useful. Avinash made large seizures. His name was recommended for a promotion. But poor Akash, he had no place to hide. His smuggling bosses were after his blood.  A sudden fear gripped him. He could be killed any day. He pleaded with Avinash to find him a respectable job. He wanted to leave this dirty job. Avinash didn’t want to loose his golden goose. He made false promises to Akash so that he continues with his supply of information. Akash thought he is being used like a condom only to be thrown away when the purpose is over.

Akash went to Siliguri to find a respectable job. He found none. Not knowing what to do he sits at a tea stall. He ordered for a tea. A group of youths were discussing some recruitment in the Indian army. He approached them to know what type of recruitment was going on. It was the “Short Service Commission” officers’ examinations. 

Akash Gupta is now days known as Captain Akash Gupta.

 

Sitendu De is the author of this post

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