Monday, September 11, 2006

Gandhigiri today - will it work?

OK, so here's the serious part of my Lage Raho Munnabhai review...

But before we proceed, here's a note. This is not about non-violence versus violence. This is not a promotion, justification or condemnation of either of them. This is only about doing good in today's world, and whether it comes back to you where and when you need it. That's the Gandhigiri I am talking about.

Read that twice, then move on to the next part.

Does Gandhigiri have the power to transform us today? Will it result in cleaner staircases and roads, less corruption in government offices, better arranged marriages, and the rule of love and warmth? I hope so! But I am not too optimistic.

There's nothing wrong in Gandhigiri - it's probably just a little too soft to have an impact in the lives of people caught up in the rat race. Gandhigiri needs people to think, feel, and change. But people do not have time to think and feel. Everyone is running away, moving on, in pursuit of tomorrow. You may be good to me today, but tomorrow is another day and I have no time to thank you. I want to move on...

You let down your best friend of years - maybe a misunderstanding, maybe bad timing, maybe just your stupidity. Maybe you lied for some reason. You genuinely regret it, and you want to make up with your friend. Will your friend take you back? Maybe yes.. maybe not. Maybe your friend has moved on.. you can wait all you want, but I doubt your friend will find time in life to think of you again...

You groom your best team member to take over from you. You see a lot of promise in him, you see leadership, you see a future, and you put in every effort to give him the best chances, the best opportunities to prove himself, you invest your time and your money in him. One day he comes and tells you, I have learnt so much under you, thank you... I found this cool job which will pay me more. But I will always remember you as my first boss! And the next day your own boss pulls you up because 1) your other team mate complained against you for favoritism and 2) there seems to be some problem with your leadership skills - your best people seem to be leaving you for better opportunities... lol...

They may not do it on purpose - they are just moving on. They have no time for you and your goodness - hey, they didn't ask you to be good to them, did they?

I loved the movie, but you know what - it'll take some time for me to start offering my other cheek - no, I am not ready for Gandhigiri just yet

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ghandhigiri might not be apt for todays world because we forget one thing: We want everything done in a flash without much hurt n waiting ourselves. We have become too used to the comforts which is not the way this funda works.

Ghandhigiri also says that we do good without expecting from others others to do good in return or even appreciate. When we seek out not to take but to give and only give is something that takes a courage which we have lost which is a must if we want to acheive things by Gandhigiri.

-Namita