If Chanakya teaches B School students!

"What would you ask Chanakya if I vanished and the great Scholar appeared here in my place for only 5 minutes?" I asked of the nine Gen Y students whom I was asked to have a Group Mentoring session with..."What tips would you give me as a management student?" said the first. "How would you suggest I get ahead in life?" expressed another.... "Give me some advice for getting a good Campus placement" mumbled the third, quite sheepish.

As the bright youngsters continued their spontaneous responses, I pondered what my own question would be and further, what would be the wise counsel from this first Management Guru of India (if not of the world)?

"Please guide me on how to kill my first boss (like you killed the Evil King Dhanananda and his six brothers)",I imagined and then quickly banished the thought - Chanakya would not be impressed. Besides, outside of my first boss, I had been very fortunate. I quickly visualised my next question to be "Tell me your Top 3 principles for Leaders". How boring, I thought to myself...I modified that further to "How can HR be practised best?"

Here are Chanakya's responses:

1. Use HR to unite the Nation (Chanakya was not only a kingmaker but primarily a Nation builder). Don't think just for your company or your city, but how the Human Resources of the country can be leveraged.

2. Focus on the Youth, they are the future of the Country and will build a better, stronger one if they appreciate the power of HR - to catalyse teams and team - building (after all, this brilliant Karmayogi from History had traveled from village to village, inspiring young blood to work for the Nation)!

3. Nudge the Youth and especially students to follow their natural inclination and make a life of it - this should be the most quintessential goal of academia and industry - especially HR, who often influence careers.(Chanakya believed his Swadharma was to teach/ mentor and did not crown himself king. Infact after finding an able successor, he retired to his hermitage to continue writing, his other love). Incidentally, Rancho came much later.

I was completely absorbed in my thoughts on my poser to the Great Guru and his advice, when I was shaken out of my reverie by a student who said "Actually, only 5 brothers of Dhananand were poisoned by Chanakya, the sixth one escaped alive and I am his descendant down several generations...Swati Nanda!"....

Jai Ho! Jai Chanakya!
Rajesh