Chanakya to the rescue

A worker at a quarry sheds his laziness after the manager tries Chanakya's advice on problem-solving.

When I was Works Manager at a quarry, I had to encounter a plethora of labour problems. When I was in government service, my superior vested me with the powers to take spot decisions in the event of any indiscipline among the staff.

He quoted, and even often successfully adopted, Chanakya’s prescription to deal with adversaries.

Chanakya sermonised in Arthasasthra: one should pursue the policy of sama (a peaceful approach), bedham (to create dissensions among the enemies), dhanam (corruption), and the last one, dhandam, (punishing by other means).

One day, while I was in my chamber, I heard the roaring noise of two human voices. It was the noise of a heated wordy duel.

“I always see you napping. Never do I notice you in action. Don’t you draw wages?” My supervisor was shouting in his manly voice at a worker.

The worker, in response, retorted in ire, “I have turned 66 and into a ‘battered engine’. If you harass me too much, I may turn rebellious and upset the whole project.”

The worker had the potential to perform any kind of mischief as he was a prominent leader among the work force. The supervisor complained, “Sir, he seems to be docile, dormant and dozing all the time. His corrupting influence may force us to extend the deadline.”

Confusion confounded me. Chanakya’s strategy of sama, bedham, dhanam and dhandam flashed across my mind.

Extending an olive branch first, I tried sama. I addressed him. “Hello! Why can’t you co-operate with us?” He looked at me quizzically and responded, “Within a couple of days, we may convene a meeting of the Union and propose an indefinite strike. The decision is irrevocable.”

Sama failed. I tried bedha.

I noticed a Cross adorning the chain around his neck. “You had your lunch?” I asked. “No, sir, I am observing Lent, hence I fast.” Scratching my head, a brain-wave flashed. ‘Motivation. Productive and positive motivation!’

I said, “I see eye to eye with all the problems you face. I will never force you to work. It is enough if you were to keep the deadline.”

“No, sir, that is far-fetched,” he replied.

“Are you aware that all this blue metal produced here will be used to build a church? The bishop has accepted to perform the consecration ceremony,” I said.

“Ha! His eyebrows raised. It is an eye-opener, sir. Why was this kept in the dark all these days? I’m a pious Christian!”

Bedham produced an electrifying effect, soon turning the ‘battered engine’ into a ‘human dynamo’.

He said, “Sir, this work is dedicated to Jesus. It will be a blasphemy to disrupt it. Will you please oblige to introduce me to the bishop during the consecration ceremony?”