M2022090 HARSHAD KOYANDE OPERATIONS

Ethos in Indian Management

Assignment - 4: Karma - Dharma
Story: Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuh

Abhimanyu, while in his mother’s womb, had learned how to break the Chakravyuh, an
intricate battle formation. On the thirteenth day of the great battle, the sixteen-year-old youth
fought bravely against the experienced, much older warriors and reached the centre of the circular
formation where Duryodhana was. The Kauravas rushed to save Duryodhana and attacked
Abhimanyu. Unfortunately, Abhimanyu had not learned how to exit the formation. He put up a
great fight and killed many great warriors before he himself was killed.

All of the employees often always have choices to make in their work environment. Day-
to-day they have to make choices and take decisions. There are KPIs to be met. Your credibility is
at stake for results, and you might be constantly under scrutiny. We have options of compromising,
or we have the option of fight for the right with valour, no matter your might.

Sometimes the Chakravyuha is caused by your own mind, sometimes it is by your

competition, and sometimes it could be office politics. You have the option of fighting like
Abhimanyu while thinking that someone might join forces. But if the Chakravyuha is strong
enough, you might enter before being backed up. The choice that you can make is to make an entry
irrespective of whether or not the forces behind you are capable of entering. That was the choice
Abhimanyu made.

Stand for what is right, even if it means being side-lined. Failure is not wrong, as long as
you fail with dignity. Fight till your last breath, never give up. After you lose, people still have to
talk about you for your valour, and for years even after you fail. If you win, you win. If you fail,
yes you failed, yet you failed with dignity. What is the purpose of winning, when the means of
winning is unethical? What is wrong in failure, if you failed, yet doing the right things? Do what
is right, and not what is convenient. For you would be remembered for doing what is right, no
matter your might. You might be laughed at, mocked, even ridiculed for your naive, but certainly
not forgotten.