Credits of strategic counsel

Next learning in our series of management lessons from #ValmikiRamayan is the importance of seeking counsel before taking strategic decisions. Let me narrate the story before taking up Valmiki’s counsel about taking counselling.

Ravana’s Deliberation

We are in yudhakand now. The vanara sena completes the construction of the historic bridge across the ocean and reach the shores of Lanka.  Sometime before that, Ravana fearing a war calls a meeting of his ministers for strategic deliberation on the preparations for the possible war.

He recalls to the group about the fearful and the terrible acts of Hanuman and seeks suggestions from his ministers on future course of action to deal with the possible crisis. Ravana makes his opening remark with a very valuable leadership lesson to encourage his ministers to come forward with their suggestions.

Ravana starts his speech by quoting “There are three types of men in the world, namely the foremost the middle most and the lowest. I am telling their inherent merits and defects."

मन्त्रिभिर् हित सम्युक्तैः समर्थैर् मन्त्र निर्णये || Valmiki Ramayan 6-6-7

मित्रैर् वा अपि समान अर्थैर् बान्धवैर् अपि वा हितैः |

सहितो मन्त्रयित्वा यः कर्म आरम्भान् प्रवर्तयेत् || Valmiki Ramayan 6-6-8

दैवे च कुरुते यत्नम् तम् आहुः पुरुष उत्तमम् |

"The wise call him as the foremost among men, who carries through the beginning of any undertaking after consulting those who are wedded with the welfare of others, or with the ministers who are efficient in conferring decisions or with friends having common interests or additionally with relatives".

एको अर्थम् विम्ऱ्शेद् एको धर्मे प्रकुरुते मनः || Valmiki Ramayan 6-6-9

एकः कार्याणि कुरुते तम् आहुर् मध्यमम् नरम् |

"The wise men call that man as mediocre, who deliberates about an activity solitarily, applies his mind on law and justice all by himself and performs works singly."

गुण दोषाव् अनिश्चित्य त्यक्त्वा दैव व्यपाश्रयम् || Valmiki Ramayan 6-6-10

करिष्यामि इति यः कार्यम् उपेक्षेत् स नर अधमः |

“He who does not determine the merits and demerits of an act clearly, having recourse to Providence and neglects his duty is the lowest among men."

Foremost among men do not undertake important acts solitarily. Valmiki gives the list of people who can be consulted in times of need, and they are:

·        People who are interested in the welfare of others

·        Efficient ministers (ie next in command)

·        Caring friends

·        Relatives.

Consult and deliberate with people who care about you before venturing into important missions, for, that would help you to understand perspectives you would have possibly missed. But keep that within a small group of people who would be able to offer useful counsel. Too many would spoil the show.

Ravan continues and classifies further based on the resolution in their thought:

·        Resolution of thought is excellent, in which the thinkers obtain consensus and are satisfied with it.

·        The mediocre obtain a decision finally by a consensus of the counsellors only after deliberating several kinds of opinions.

·        That resolution is said to be worst in which several arguments are made, employing one or the other divergent opinions and in which there is no advantage even after a consensus.

Ravana’s hypocrisy

Ravana starts the deliberations with a strategic advice to us, but Valmiki narrates later that Ravan’s passionate talk is not genuine but hypocrisy. We understand that Ravana calls the meeting only to hear words pleasing to his ears and not for seeking genuine advice. Ravana proves himself to be a worst leader based on the yardstick set by him. I shall narrate the deliberations in that meeting so that you can understand and appreciate this:

All those in that meeting except one sensible person eulogized Ravana and pooh-poohed the threat from Rama. They recalled and praised Ravana’s previous victories and assured him victory if Rama comes for a war.

One #Vajradamshtra took out a terrific iron club and vowed to kill Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva. Then one after the other rose to promise killing Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva.

Amid sycophancy and cacophony, one sane voice emerged, that of sensible #Vibishana, Ravana’s youngest half-brother.  Vibishana’s message and Ravana’s response to his brother are excellent leadership lesson.  I shall analyse in the next episode of #MondayMusings. Wait for a week.