BUSINESS SUTRA- A Very Indian Approach to Management by DEVDUTT PATTANAIK

A very stimulating and interesting interactive session was held with Mr. Devidutt Patnaik, the Chief Belief Officer of the Future Group. He is a self-taught mythologist, and a consultant to several companies on issues related to culture and leadership. His books include Myth=Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, The Pregnant King, The 7 Secret Series, Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata, An Identity Card for Krishna and Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management. The first print-run of the book, Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management was completely sold out in 40 days.

He strongly believes that the modern notions of leadership taught in business schools are rooted in the Protestant work ethic, much admired in the US and implicitly based on the Biblical paradigm, where the CEO (the prophet) has to take the team (the tribes) to the Promised Land (vision statement) in keeping with the processes (commandments) approved by the Board of Directors who serve as the voice of the shareholder (God).

When Japanese and Chinese business houses rose to prominence, leaders were exposed to Sun Tzu’s Art of War – in which to create a great army that obeys without question, even the emperor’s favorite concubine is not spared. Now India is rising. What is India’s offering to the leaders of the world? Potentially, the long ignored secret of how to stop chasing Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and make her chase you instead. This book attempts to unravel the puzzle of three hundred and thirty million gods and goddesses as well as present in sixty four chapters the secrets of Hindu management.

Bela Badhalia, the chairperson of FLO Jaipur Chapter said, “It has long been said that a parallel can be drawn between all that happens in our world today to the happenings recorded in our age old mythologies. Mr. Pattanaik’s book has beautifully joined the dots between our traditional beliefs and our business outlooks. FLO being an organization wholly supporting the endeavors of female entrepreneurs has been able to connect with the book Business Sutra as it provides a whole new outlook on management and business embedded with inherent Indian values, just like the fierce Indian business woman of today who is a force to reckon with in business and yet bleeds tradition.”