Anna Hazare’s Movement: Some Lessons for Management Students

All is well that ends well. When 74 year old Gandhian who withstood 291 hours without food, announced his decision to end his fast, on the basis of Parliament passing the sense of house resolution moved by Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister of India, entire nation had a sigh of relief. At the same time, Parliament was spared from passing Jan Lokpal bill, maintaining the supremacy of the Parliament as well as constitutional provisions in the matter.

Are there any lessons for management students?  It is reported that Xavier Institute of Management will study the Anna  Hazare Movement. Let us analyse what lessons can be drawn form this movement.

In the history of India, there are at least three non violent movements: First of course the non violent movement led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British rule, second non violent movement was launched by Shri Jai Prakash Narayan against emergency and the last one was led by Anna Hazare against corruption. All the three movements succeeded because the leaders of all these movements were perceived to be selfless men who led the movement with the strength of their own moral character. They truly reflected the will of common citizens who gave whole hearted support. The first lesson to be drawn  from this movement is: You can provide effective leadership, when  you lead on the strength of your own moral character, without any conflict of interests, that is, without any personal gain or hidden agenda.

Next important lesson is that you have to put in place a core team with impeccable credibility who will not budge even if their own credibility is targeted or questioned. Only when you have such a team in place you will be able to weather the storms and take on mighty governmental establishment.

Third lesson to be learnt is: Do not under estimate power of communication and media. When you are launching a project or championing a cause of people, you must constantly talk to media and through the media to the common man. This will ensure that public interest is aroused to create sufficient pressure on the powers that be, and this in turn will bring success on your way earlier than expected media certainly can play role of agent of change.

Last but not the least, interests of common man also should not be overlooked. He is the ultimate stakeholder. Hence, if you take up cause of common man you are expected to receive unequivocal support of common man. Hence, as a leader of corporate body, product or a service will receive indeed an overwhelming response if you can connect common man with the product / services launched by you.

Notwithstanding what is stated herein above, it is pertinent to note here that we get the government we deserve. If members of the government are corrupt, that is because we as the members of the society are corrupt. When we point out one finger at others, three fingers are pointing back to us. Until we stop participating in the game of corruption – mindlessly paying bribes to traffic police, Police constable, Municipal peons/clerks and officers, village patwari, and politicians of every hue for getting our work done – corruption will not stop despite passing how so ever strong Lokpal bill. This not to undermine the great awareness created by Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption. But real gains will be possible only when every citizen stops giving or taking bribes. Onus of creating such a society is on us- “we the people of India”- including you and me. Let us all resolve that we will not fail India in creating corruption free society.

Prof. Anil Gor

Faculty - Finance

M.Com, LL.M, MFM, FCS, CAIIB, MICA