3 lessons from Dusshera

Today is the occasion  of Dusshera. Not the anniversary of beating Sri Lanka dry in the World Cup final, but that of the annihilation of one of the worst tyrants this world had seen. One who could make the dictators and terrorists of the modern world look like C grade spoofs. Seriously, who else could make a city entirely of Gold and sustain it from pollution and cheap thefts? Or maybe Sri Lankans are not the types who even steal the waste paper baskets installed by their municipality.

Why is this occasion celebrated with such pomp and burning of a helpless effigy? I'll leave that for you to ponder. Meanwhile here are the 3 reasons my not misleading headline prompted -

1) Teamwork can beat paper analysis - If you ever look at your team at work and think "huff.. all I got is a bunch of monkeys to work with. Boss will eat us for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the next review", think again. Ravana thought that of his opposition too. The only positive to come out for him was his opposition were not cannibals and instead accorded him a decent funeral. Ram's biggest strength and credit as a leader was that he directed an army to believe in themselves. On paper it would seem unlikely they could defeat the monsters who destroyed even the heavenly planets. History tells us otherwise.

2) Help can look like your enemy - The prejudice of Rama's strategy team can be forgiven for dismissing the help of Vibhishana, brother of Ravana. No, Vibhishana was not the Fair & Handsome model of the Rakshasha dynasty as many movies/serials/ cartoons would have you believe. One could perhaps credit Rama's royal genes for his tactful selection of allies. But the prime factor behind Ram's decision was that he was ready to accept anyone as a friend. He was even ready to accept Ravana, should he have chosen to surrender. This is the reason Rama was the beloved of those times and even to a few now. Some would wish those who claim to be his followers retain that same grace. But rarity of that nature is why Rama still is revered so much.

3) The solution can be born from the heart of the problem -

This lesson I relate to pretty well. Many times I find a quick fix solution to certain  issues. But like Ravana's magically persistent heads, they are up again in no time, giving a huge problem to the solitary non-magical head of your own. "Shoot to his heart my Lord" said Vibhishana and Rama used his best arrow (no, it was not laden with firecrackers) to pierce Ravana's heart way before he could say "Et  tu  Vibhishana". Or maybe one his heads did?

So quick fixes may assure you a series of small victories. But by getting to the root of issues even a complex monster can be made a helpless kitten.

So who inspires you? Rama, the monkeys or demon whose death anniversary is still celebrated today?

If you are keen to learn more management/inspirational lessons from Ramayana and Mahabharata in small doses every other day follow this blog -

http://lessonsfrommahabharat.blogspot.in/2014/09/living-dying-and-making-leader.html?m=1

The Big Festival I didnt take part in.

This is the biggest festival I least participate in.

That's because all my exams, school to graduation, coincided with this festival. And the chawl a few 100 metres from my home places the same then cassette now CD for all the years. SAME!! Not one change. So much so that I could tell you which track is next at any given time.

And I would cringe, whine and pray for the dance to get over. So yes, some bad memories associated with this festival. But no bad feelings as such.

Thanks to a lot of bengali friends I got to see the other side of the festival. My friends Suchandra and Sudisha took me along to the Durga Puja festival in Balkanji bari, santacruz. Now that was something!!

This festival is arranged by Raja Mukherjee, brother of Rani and cousin of Kajol. A beautiful arrangement of a pandal every year, with an elegant deity of Durga Maa. After praying to her we head to the entertainment show that follows. A lot of famous singers n actors drop by and give a decent performance. But then I get to meet a lot of other sweet bengali people.

I read about the mela in Shivaji park, and I wanted to attend that. But as you will be familiar by now if you have been tracking my blogs, my nights are tied up, hence missed going there. Next time I hope to.

Dusshera! I have enjoyed for years watching the story of Lord Rama killing Ravana, in cartoon and drama. I definitely not a fan of the burning of Ravana effigy. Too combustive! (Yes I won't be burning crackers in Diwali, and haven't been since quite some years.

Quite some BBMs talked abt Dusshera being a lesson never to mess with another persons wife. But not many know, that Lord Rama had given the provision that if Ravana would come and ask for forgiveness, Rama would forgive him without punishing him.

But Ravana didn't, even after witnessing Hanuman single handedly burned Lanka to Ashes.

So Dusshera is the lesson, that death is imminent, but take it as chance to let go of unnecessary, unwanted vices before you regret that its too late.

-------------------Thank You-----------------------