AATMANIRBHAR: by Ashwani Mahajan (editor)

AATMANIRBHAR: a swadeshi paradigm (2023) by ASHWANI MAHAJAN (editor), Rupa Publications, New Delhi, p 226

The prerequisite for visioning India as a developed nation (viksit bharat) by 2047 is self-reliance or AatmaNirbharta. India is moving ahead with speed, in scale and size.  It took us sixty years past independence to become USD1 Trillion economy whereas next one and a half decade witnessed three-fold increase.  It was the mid of 2020 when the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, provided an impetus for AtmaNirbhar Bharat. It was this timely realisation and focus that led him to further extend it for a greater mission – ViksitBharat by 2047 (marking a century of Indian independence).

The challenge before all of us is how do we become self-reliant in a sustainable way that we are able to cherish the fruits for all times to come.

With this context in mind, I read this book titled – Aatmanirbhar: a swadeshi paradigm, edited by Professor Ashwani Mahajan. It is an insightful volume providing different viewpoints on the whole idea of self-reliance from the perspective of swadeshi bharat. The core of our growth lies in solving our problems with our resources or finding match between available resources, potential, and application. Moving from reliance to self-reliance, or nirbharta to aatmanirbharta, is the key to sustainable development within and beyond defined frames.

This book has 18 chapters authored by intelligent thinkers of contemporary India whose voice matters. The editor deserves appreciation for being able to rope in experts from academics, policy making, and industry to share their perspective on Aatmnirbhar Bharat through their prudent contribution.

The foreword is written by Dr Mohan Bhagwat (Sarsanghchalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), building context around four purusharthas and beyond western belief of materialism and consumerism. The contributors include V A Nageswaran (Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India), Bibek Debroy (Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India), N K Singh (Chairman, 15th Finance Commission, Government of India), A K Lahiri (Former Chief Economic Advisor, Government of India), Sanjeev Sanyal (Member, Economic Advisory Council to the PM), apart from industry experts like Sanjeev Puri (Chairman and MD, ITC), Sridhar Vembu (CEO, Zoho Corpn), and Gopal Srinivasan (CEO, TVS Capital).

The experience of reading this book was enriching and sagacious, traveling through the villages, wage-led growth, industrial growth, food security, and international trade. The mix of macro and micro; problem and policy; trade and technology are brilliantly interwoven through the volume.

Sachin Chaturvedi mentions – 

One element that Gandhi emphasized and that is still relevant today is ethics in economic development. Indian development and particularly swadeshi ethos should nurture this, going beyond corporate social responsibility. At the same time, it needs to be ensured – as emphasized by PM Narendra Modi – that there is sustainable consumption of production with minimum carbon footprint. (p 17).

The manufacturing sector’s growth is visible in many sectors that are propelling economic growth as well as creating employment opportunities. The issues concerning food security, energy deficit, and self-reliant defence sector have been excellently discussed by Shamika Ravi. The initiative of the government to boost industrial growth through production linked incentives (PLI) find mention by few authors and I am sure that this scheme shall be one of the important engines of growth helping industry and employment through building appropriate competencies.

Sanjay Baru (former media advisor and chief spokesperson during PM Manmohan Singh) opines on the idea of Aatmnirbharta through tracing its root in Indian thinking and appreciates focus on manufacturing sector (Make in India) apart from highlighting impact of geo-political conditions on economic growth. Abhijit Das’s paper emphasizing on international trade across sectors and industries warns the policy makers for carrying out an in-depth assessment as well as to have proper preparedness for facing ensuing scenario after FTAs (wrt Canada, EU, and the UK).

The idea of reliance or dependence makes us weak and enthuses a sense of insecurity and inferiority complex. Our historical contribution in the world trade is not unknown to the contemporary policy makers. Last few centuries weakened us both economically and socially that effectuated our dependence on the other part of the globe disturbing balance of trade vis-à-vis balance of payment.

We also need to build ecosystem that focuses on ease of doing farming (p 25) that shall sustain industrial value chain and build us from within to be Aatmnirbhar. Though the governments have been initiating policies to improve economic conditions, yet we never had any political leader who could push us to dream for a developed India through becoming self-reliant.

One would have to go through this book to dive deeper into the thought of aatmanirbhar (self-reliance) Bharat, priority areas for required policy framework, and to explore the pathways to developed India (viksit bharat). I recommend this book to all interested in seeing India becoming self-reliant and an economic power. We have transitioned from fragile five to first five. Apart from being the largest economy we need to focus on reducing inequalities and improving human well-being that should increase per capita income.

I am sure India shall regain its past and lost glory when all of us put forth our efforts in the direction of Viksit Bharat and by the time we celebrate 100 years of India’s independence, we shall stand tall, firm, and humble.

THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION by Klaus Schwab

THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (2017) by Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum, Switzerland, p 172

There is no doubt about the speed of change that has accelerated in last few decades due to technology interventions.  It has affected our thinking so much so that we are not able to predict the future even for next one decade.  Last three hundred years have transformed the world in its demography, geography, economics and politics.  Europe and Americas have dominated the scene till the 20th century and it is presumed that this century belongs to Asia.

In these changing times and trials Klaus Schwab (famously known for founding World Economic Forum) brings out this book out of his experiences and interactions to advocate the case for fourth industrial revolution which is going to be dominated by technology at a different level.  The term Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR is in currency for last few years and has attracted the academia, practitioners and policy makers to get prepared and respond to this revolution in order to stay relevant.  The book argues the exponential nature of change with the disruption created by technology in all kinds of market, industry and services.

The evolution of industry over the last few centuries has demonstrated transformations in business, industry, market, society and polity.  The inventions and explorations have made life easier and comfortable.  Railways facilitated movements and transportation, electricity brought light to human life and internet opened unthinkable opportunities which culminated into ubiquitous market spaces.  The algorithms and binaries have redefined the way search engines operate and researches are conducted.  It has revolutionized thinking, expectations and experiences.  Last few centuries and decades also witnessed marketable knowledge creation affecting development of new disciplines of study.

Klaus Schwab informs that there are going to be four main physical manifestations of the technological megatrends, viz., autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, advanced robotics, and new materials.  The way research is being conducted and availability of physical space is reducing, nano technology shall change the way manufacturing happen in future and products are developed.  The tipping points that are expected by 2025 are just terrific - 91.2 per cent of the respondents feeling that 10 per cent of people shall be wearing clothes connected to the internet; around 90 per cent of the respondents feeling that there would be around 1 trillion sensors connected to the internet; more than 80 per cent of the respondents feel that 90 per cent population shall be using smart phones; around half of the respondents felt that there would be AI (Artificial Intelligence) machine on a corporate board of directors; etc.  These are not vague estimations or wild imagination, this is how things are expected to shape in the 4IR domain and all stakeholders needs to get prepared for this time.

Technology shall impact growth and GDP as demand shall accelerate and so would production.  Nature of job in future shall change as automation shall take away traditional jobs and new opportunities and jobs shall get created in the domain of new technologies. As highlighted in the book, occupations like telemarketing, tax preparers, insurance appraisers, legal secretaries, real stake brokers etc shall be more prone to automation as compared to mental health, choreographers, psychologists, counselors, HR managers, sales managers, CEOs, etc.

Because digital technology knows no borders, there are many questions that come to mind when considering the geographic impact of technology and the impact of geography on technology. What will define the roles that countries, regions and cities play in the fourth industrial revolution? Will Western Europe and the US lead the transformation, as they did the previous industrial revolutions? Which countries will be able to leapfrog? Will there 71 be greater and more effective collaboration for the bettering of society, or will we see increased fragmentation not only within countries but also across countries? In a world where goods and services can be produced almost everywhere, and where much of the demand for low-skilled and low-wage work is overtaken by automation, will those who can afford it congregate in countries with strong institutions and proven quality of life? (p 74) 

The whole ecosystem of interactions, interventions, governance, employment, ethics, delivery, citizenship, and society is expected to witness paradigm shift beyond imagination. Some of it would be gradual so may not surprise much, some of it would also be abrupt and shall steal away human creativity beyond imaginarium.

The way forwards as briefed by Klaus Schwab for disruption by nurturing and applying four different types of intelligence, viz., contextual (the mind); emotional (the heart); inspired (the soul); and physical (the body).  Certainly these are important and they need to be looked at from the perspective of a caution as well.  The deep shifts as given in the appendix of the book provide an insight into the expected future in 4IR environment.  There are 23 shifts that are narrated with their respective positives and negatives. 

1. Implantable Technologies; 2. Our Digital Presence; 3. Vision as the New Interface; 4. Wearable Internet; 5. Ubiquitous Computing; 6. A Supercomputer in Your Pocket; 7. Storage for All; 8. The Internet of and for Things; 9. The Connected Home; 10. Smart Cities; 11. Big Data for Decisions; 12. Driverless Cars; 13. Artificial Intelligence and Decision-Making; 14. AI and White-Collar Jobs; 15. Robotics and Services; 16. Bitcoin and the Blockchain; 17. The Sharing Economy; 18. Governments and the Blockchain; 19. 3D Printing and Manufacturing; 20. 3D Printing and Human Health; 21. 3D Printing and Consumer Products; 22. Designer Beings; and 23. Neurotechnologies,

It is a fascinating story based on facts and figures, experiences and experiments, observations and studies which opens the eyes of the reader for embracing technology driven future.  Technology and time shall certainly influence the nature of instant gratification which would not be a good sign for human well-being.  But that is the price humans shall have to pay by succumbing.  What to say, we all have inherent desire to survive. The book is a must read for the young students of today and teachers of tomorrow so that they are able to see the future and develop an appropriate appetite.  Only time shall tell us how it is distributed and digested.

INDIAN PSYCHOLOGY - An experiential approach by Neeltje Huppes

INDIAN PSYCHOLOGY - An experiential approach (2017) by Neeltje Huppes, Indian Psychology Institute, Puducherry, p 176

When we look at general human behaviour, we tend to compare individuals on the basis of region, culture and ethnicity.  The approach of an Indian is found to be much different than that of an American. There seem to be a view on the West and the Rest kind of classification which is vague and calls for revisiting.  India as a geography and culture is much different from Europe or other parts of the world.

The book is a brief text on Indian Psychology providing an overview touching upon different dimensions.  As believed, Indian Psychology is considered to be based on holistic consciousness and this text divided in four sections and sixteen chapters encapsulates core surrounding issues nicely.  The development of cognitive faculties depends on the belief system on one side and the fire (within) to discover self in the given environment on the other side.  This is the foundation of formation of perception.

The book is written from the conception of omnipresent consciousness and explains it through the narratives of Vedas and Upanishads.  The concept of sat-chit-anand as depicted and explained in the Upanishads has been brilliantly narrated in the text which is considered to be inherent part of vedanta philosophy.  In the description the author has put rigor in simplifying the concept for the understanding of the students. It is reflected throughout the text which makes this title riveting and easy. 

In the Indian philosophical thinking there are three gunas, viz., sattva, rajas, and tamas. These are well explained as essential modes of nature through examples in Bhagavad Gita. Self reflection and observation have contributed towards forging the base of Indian psychology and makes a sound case of integral psychology as the author views.  Prana (vital), Manas (mind), antaratma (soul), and ahamkara (ego) have been explained in different chapters through text and exercises.  

I liked the format of the book which briefly discusses the concept in the text and at places through pictures as well and provides additional readings and exercises towards the end of each chapter.  Links to the web and visuals are provided in the text for substantiating and supplementing reading experience. A rich Online companion to the book is also provided for easy access for readers.  The appendix on Fear is an excellent depiction of the nuances.  Annotated bibliography of books provided towards the end is a good guide for students interested in further exploring this domain. 

Overall Indian psychology as believed, preached and practiced by Sri Aurobindo inundating integral psychology is narrated in the volume. The students shall surely be enriched by the text and would have better understanding of Indian psychology after going through this brief volume.

FACTFULNESS by Hans Rosling

FACTFULNESS: Ten Reasons We're wrong about the world - and why things are better than you think by Hans Rosling (2018) with Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Ronnlund, Hachette - Sceptre, UK, p 342.

Some fifteen years ago a renowned practicing psychologist in Philadelphia was interacting with me and I asked him about his experience of India and to my utter surprise he shared some of the bad memories he had while he visited Bombay (Mumbai).  He told me it is overcrowded, beggars all over the places, corruption, poor law and order etc., etc. I didn't want him to continue further, so I intervened and inquired when was it, I mean the year, he tried to figure out the year but unable to recall he said it was sometime in early 80s.  I just told him, things have changed a lot in India and in Mumbai.  India is not same as before.  As world has changed, India has changed positively too.

But at the back of my head, I got into thinking as to how we tend to form our opinion about places and people and what drives our bias towards what we think. We see things from the experiences we have and get so possessed that we forget transitions overtime and our perspective lands into narrowness.  Most of us commit this error unknowingly and accordingly our perceptions and decisions are affected.  Many a times they are far from reality.

It is in this background when I read a brief about Factfulness and saw TED talk by Hans Rosling, I was driven to go through the book.  Bill Gates has been a great admirer of Hans Rosling and his way of looking at future on the basis of facts.  He states that it is one of the most important books he has ever read and that's why his charity is giving a free eCopy of this volume to all graduating Americans this year.

Factfulness is based on some of the most interesting questions each one of us should have and try to find answers of when we are interacting with the new world. Most of us tend to believe that the world is getting worse year after year.  We have heard lot of stories from our elders that their days were better.  Media keeps writing fascinating stories about the dark days we are living and going to face in the future.  Most politicians capitalize on our ignorance and preposterously play with our emotions. The policy makers get myopic while designing policies. So we form our perception on the basis of what gets written about, what people around us talk about and what was told to us long back or we saw long back.

Interestingly, most of the times we do not dig into data and try to know whether what is being served to us is correct or not, or what is the reality behind.  Hans Rosling along with Ola Rosling (son) and Anna Rosling Ronnlund (daughter-in-law) provide us guided tour through an unusual quiz and provocative puzzles which make one realize number of times that chimpanzees think better than a human being.  His arguments are exemplary and as a physician and expert on global health, his grip on health issues and defense that we are in much better condition as compared to the past, assures that things are not bad but perceptions are.  So better if we try finding facts and data and use some little analysis to form an opinion which can help us think better and make better policies. Though there are only 13 questions as such which are the basis of the whole argument that the world is getting better, there are many other questions which the book answers through the narratives to the social milieu.

Like many of my generation people, I grew up with the binary classification of the world - developed and less developed or poor.  Later the World Bank started classifying the world in four categories, viz., Low income, Lower middle income, Upper middle income, and High income and we began to see the world in different way.  Never knew that it was Hans who was trying hard to break the binary and could successfully convince the World Bank to expand in four categories.  In this book all the questions are answered from the perspective of four categories as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4.  Countries are moving from Level 1 to Level 4 exponentially (Soon, most people on Level 4 will be non-westerners) and this volume is an exceptional tribute to the changing world where we see lot of improvement in health indicators (88% immunization, 70 yrs of Life Expectancy) globally. It might sound unbelievable but it is heartening to know that 90% girls go to school globally.

Personal experiences are beautifully corroborated by the author and the way the whole book is written shows the passion of the team towards the cause of providing clarity based on facts which otherwise get maimed. As individuals and institutions we need to draw policies and strategies, design products and services, provide solutions and make systems for the organisations and market of tomorrow and if they are based on the facts which could be extrapolated for the future, we shall be preparing for better future, mind it, Societies and cultures are not like rocks, unchanging and unchangeable.

We can not use old glasses for new challenges and very strongly we need to come out of archaic thinking based on mere observations or hearsay, we need to get to look for reality through data so that we see the future more clearly.  Though Hans Rosling could not see the release of the book as he left us in Feb 2017, the kind of awareness he has created and legacy he has left, I am sure it shall go a long way in helping all of us to understand the world better. It shall be a true tribute to him if we all become possibilists as he used to call himself.  I wish the person I met in Philadelphia shall appreciate the changes that and amend his opinion about India which was nothing but a crude generalization.

The book is written in a very reader friendly manner.  The visuals are unique and never-before type and are simple to understand.  It diagnoses problem, prescribes solutions and cautions the reader to not get carried away with the crowd.  The book is very prescriptive and that is the best part of this book.

Factfulness is an insigthful sojourn into the world of optimism, possibility and positivity. The passion Hans Rosling has reflected in writing this book makes it an interesting read for everyone. For policy makers, students, academics, business community, civil society, challengers, complainers, politicians - for almost everybody, this volume tries to explore and provide an answer to use better informed, fact based yardsticks. All who are interested in the future, more than the present and past, shall enjoy it thoroughly.

HUNGRY PEOPLE, BETTER RESULTS by Deepak Malhotra

HUNGRY PEOPLE, BETTER RESULTS - Unleash the Fire Within to Win Continually in Life by Deepak Malhotra (2017), Bloomsbury, p 298.

Leadership has been a key domain of discussion among academicians and practitioners in last one century starting with a belief on Leaders are born to Leaders can be made. Both the views had their merits and demerits and the literature has proved that one can learn the art of leadership and become successful leader if one is open to learning and has developed a positive attitude towards change.

This book by Deepak Malhotra tries to narrate the nuances of practicing leadership through the perspective of selected successful leaders in different areas of their work and profession. Though the individuals who have been selected for their views on leadership and their conception of Hungry People Better Results have proved excellent records yet the criterion of their selection has not been made explicit anywhere in the volume. It seems to be the prerogative and convenience of the author.  The efforts made by Deepak to gather together these many leaders is remarkable. Though the book looks like a lengthy volume, once you start reading and flip its pages, you can presumably find it handy, short and simple.  At times it gives you a feel that it is an extended version of Oxford book of quotations, but suddenly you find a narrative advice on the ways how one can succeed in life and career. The pathways are illustrative and many a times repetitive.

The book has as many as 29 chapters covering achievers and leaders who have strong messages for practice. It includes business luminaries like Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Harsh Vardhan Goenka, Harsh Neotia, on one side and cricketers like Bishen Singh Bedi and Ravi Shastri on the other. All the leaders and achievers profiled in the book portray strong sense of responsibility. Their vices are convincing, their conception is clear, their advices are authentic and their wisdom is impeccable. Lessons from the corporate boardrooms to the cricket ground, from a successful entrepreneur (PC Mustafa, Preethi Srinivasan, Madan Padaki) to running a big media house (Annurag Batra) and from a cancer fighter (Rahul Yadav) to climbing Mount Everest (Arunima Sinha) are all well recorded and narrated by the author in the book. If I have to summarize and give five common traits that a leader should possess, they could be: High on Integrity, Learning Attitude, Honest Intent, Good Communicator, and High Sense of Humility. The possessions of these characteristics would certainly make one an effective and successful leader. When it comes to theoretical links, one can find these traits well recorded and explained in almost every text on leadership.

I liked this paragraph from the book which has strong message to convey:

Being the best is not enough nowadays and even benchmarking with the best is not enough. Companies like Eastman Kodak, after eighty years of being number one, do not exist. Samsung has outsmarted the Sony that unseated them. GM is outsmarted by Tesla; Cabbies by Uber. Facebook has vanquished Orkut. If you are on the top floor of an elevator building, there is only one arrow you can press and that is the one going downwards. No one wants to do that! Thus, Inspire, Innovate, Implement, Improvise, Incentivize, and be Independent of Extinction and Dependent on Distinction. (p 239)

Hunger for achievement and intrinsic motivation to perform better for the achievement of set goals would surely produce better results. The author has successfully defended the need for Social Media Quotient which is need of the hour but I have my own reservations on its longevity and sustainability, yet it made lot of sense to relate it with IQ and EQ. As one looks at the corporate following the modern ways to respond to their customers and clients through social media platforms and crowd-sourcing many of their new products and services, it seems it is going to have its presence at least for the next few years. And for individual leaders as mentioned earlier, connecting to the audience is important, social media is facilitating it and is able to work as two way communication in multi-channel environment.

The writing style of the book is very different as at many places the continuity gets broken and numerous unsolicited suggestions pop up which disturbs the flow of reading and by the time one gets formatted to concentrate on suggestions and preaching, the text of the interview appear.  The author has much to say than the people who are interviewed. This could have been avoided to focus on the expert's views on leadership.  The overdose of quotations and inconsistent Grey Boxes bites on the seriousness of the text, which could have been minimally incorporated. Many of these quotes are popular and could be seen in almost all related texts.  There are typo errors at many places in the book which I think should not find place in a volume of this kind coming from Bloomsbury. At some places the writing sounds pompous which distracts the reader. Otherwise the book is a good account of real world leadership.

The doodles given by Adil Malia are excellent pieces of original thinking and provide creative portrayal of organizational and individual reality. Deepak has a lot in store to convey on leadership and motivation, both from theoretical perspective as well as from practice.  Though it is his second book (first being – Match the Age to Keep Them Engaged: Decoding the Secrets of Creating a Happy WorkPlace published by Bloombury in 2016), he has shown his capacity to communicate with the reader and to provide examples of leaders of today. He needs to be congratulated for having brought so many leaders from diverse fields in one volume for the cause of finding inner drive to excel in whatever one takes up.

The students of management would certainly find it valuable, inspiring and illustrative. Deepak’s presence on social media shall help the readers to connect with the author and converse on the issues narrated in the book.

Bhujia Barons by Pavitra Kumar

BHUJIA BARONS - The Untold Story of How Haldiram Built a 5000 Crore Empire by Pavitra Kumar (2016), Penguin Portfolio, p 256.

It was sometime in February 2017 that I read about Haldiram becoming India's biggest snack maker with a turnover of over 4000 crore leaving aside Nestle Maggi, Domino's, McDonalds and many others. That was the time I wanted to read the genesis and evolution of this great Indian brand and that is when I came across this title - Bhujia Barons by Pavitra Kumar. The book got into my Kindle and has been waiting for its turn. Last week I started reading it and finished it in few long sittings. I must admire the ability of strong story telling style of Pavitra Kumar. She has been excellent in putting through this piece; her style of writing is literatic and engaging and at some places philosophical. Gathering information from different sources and validating it with the people involved in the process at different locations from Bikaner to Kolkata and from Nagpur to Delhi, she has shown impeccable commitment and has successfully put all the views from different corners. Her sense of professionalism in telling all sides and shades of the story without any bias has made this title worth reading.

Rome was not built in a day and so was Haldiram brand. Haldiram as we see today is result of efforts put up by people at hand for around 75 years. I have no hesitation in saying that it is the hard work of Ganga Bishen Agrawal aka Haldiram and his concern for customer service, knack for good taste, and belief in strong value system that has made this empire that we see today and which many of their tribe envy. A product that was once sold in newspaper cones, the process which was designed by Haldiram himself through a calculated mix of besan and moth dal sieving through handmade holes on a thin steel sheet, distribution mostly through shopfloor selling, and publicity mostly through word-of-mouth, some 70 years back has traveled a long distance in order to become a household name when it comes to bhujia. It would be no exaggeration to say that bhujia and Haldiram can never be separated from each other. Such is the power of the brand Haldiram.

The book provides a rich narrative of making of the brand Haldiram and traces its sound as well as weak links through the family feud, writings of media reports, comparing attitude and behavior of siblings and treatment by their parents and children. Ambition and apathy, respect and reactions, indulgences and impunities, are all have been part of the growing of Bhujia Barons as Pavitra calls them. In the time when the government is emphasizing on Make-in-India through its policy framework, I think Haldiram’s make a strong case of backing that as apart from responding to the locale, they have spread their wings in other parts of the globe as well. They are promoting Indian taste to the people abroad whether they form part of Indian diaspora or otherwise.

The expansion of this brand from merely a bhujia maker to branded, formalized structure of sweet shops and retail chain of vegetarian restaurants or QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants), responding to all kinds of tastes is the strength that the promoters have built through their concerted efforts at different geographies in India. Till their entry to Delhi, the capital city of India, it seems there were not much issues related to the use of brand among the cousins. But as they say, Delhi has a strong division power, when brothers Shiv Kishen (Nagpur) and Manoharlal (Bikaner) [grandsons of Haldiram] plunged into exploring the opportunity in Delhi. This territorial expansion also lured their cousins who were operating out of Kolkata which has brought the families to court for settling issues over use of brand. Though there seems to be some sky-clearing, yet the matter is not fully resolved and the families are not in that kind of relation as used to be.

Pavitra has explicitly narrated the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s death on 31st Oct 1984 and its effect on Chandni Chowk workshop of Haldirams and that is how the book starts which I thought makes a good plot to a storyteller who weaves together the threads back and forth and serves a tapestry of family run business model. For a moment I got nostalgic about my college days when we had heard of assassination of the prime minister of India by her own security personnel. The whole story of Haldiram as narrated by the author makes me feel as if I am watching a Bollywood Hindi masala movie which portrays almost all kinds of moods and emotions, climax and a happy ending.

Today who does not know about Haldiram Bhujia, but very few know about their resilient journey. This book provides a good account of that journey. The book is divided in Six parts starting with introduction and family background, their movement to different places and the wrongdoings of Kolkata cousin (the black sheep), legal fights and the future ahead (final paces). It is a revelatory tale of a family business house which has built a reliable brand over the years. The author deserves appreciation for an excellent display of honest effort, professionalism and probity through this work. And I can't stop myself from saluting the spirit of great entrepreneurship, innovation and customer service as envisioned and portrayed by Ganga Bishen Agrawal. What a man he was. There is lot to learn from him for the entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow.

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also read:

THE MARWARIS: from Jagat Seth to the Birlas by Thomas A Timberg

Dabawalas: Lessons for building lasting success based on values

True Leaders by Price & Ritcheske

The Ostrich Paradox by Meyer & Kunreuther

THE OSTRICH PARADOX: Why We Underprepare for Disasters by Robert Meyer & Howard Kunreuther (2017) Wharton Digital Press, p 132

The motivation for choosing is title was the force of recommendation of Adam Grant and kind words of appreciation for this title by Daniel Kahneman. Decision making is one of the very important functions of any organization or of any government. When the issue of public policy is discussed, it is the decision making which makes all the difference, just as in a business organisation it happens while devising successful strategies to compete. Decision making is really a very complex process as well as a risky proposition for state and organisations alike.

This book holding its premise in the nature of bird Ostrich makes a good sense driven by the force of nature.  System 1 and System 2 (thinking systems which drive us to use our brain cells) as narrated and defended in Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman gets blended with the perception policy makers have while deciding on their future course of action. Primarily the book is all about Six Biases that get to play while preparing for disasters or risks. It is defended that the reason why we underprepare for disasters lies in these six biases, viz., Myopia, Amnesia, Optimism, Inertia, Simplification and Herding. The authors believe that the researches on most of the disasters of past years are the result of harmful effects of these six systematic biases. These biases show the weakness while we commit System 1 error to perceive risk in haste and commit System 2 error while making decision. The first part of the book narrates these biases with the examples of disasters occurred in different geographies of the world. These examples make the arguments convincing and the biases strong.

Part 2 of the book is prescriptive and the authors provide some kind of remedial measures so that such disasters could be avoided.  Behavioural risk audit of each bias and its elaborate analysis makes the book worth contributing towards providing some practical solutions to deal with disasters. The authors propose four guiding principles to manage long term risk:

1. Commit to long-term protective planning as a major priority.
2. Commit to policies that discourage individual and community actions that increase their explore to long-term risks.
3. Create policies that consider the cognitive biases that inhibit adoption of protective measures.
4. Commit to addressing problems equitably.

These suggestions are well defended with preemptive figures. As a student of business and strategy I feel the book makes a very good case for making successful strategies while organizations handle competition. Lot of times organizations have suffered and faced these biases which gets into while dealing with sustainability issues within and beyond organization. Risk management is an important field of study where this title helps to provide some guidelines. Actuarial scientists have a lot to learn from this volume.  Some of the interesting bytes that I got from the book are:  

'while economics and statistics teach us how we should think about probability and outcomes when choosing between alternatives, we rarely follow these principles when actually making decisions. More often than not, we make choices under risk intuitively rather than deliberately.'

'The perceptions we form about risk are thus more cognitive cocktail of objective facts, subjective feelings, and emotional blend that often causes beliefs about risk to stray widely from those a statistician might prescribe.'

'It is hard to convince people that - the best return on an insurance policy is no return at all.'

Though the book is concise and written from the perspective of disaster management, it travels beyond that boundary and helps its reader to deal with problems through having a perspective.  The authors deserve credit for compiling series of disasters and developing a practical argument to look beyond and prescribe measures for preparations.