PROBLEM IN BEING A MANAGER FOR LONG.

This was the time in India during the seventies when Industrial labour unrest was at its peak with the Labour Unions militant in their approach,their demands unrealistic and what is worse the means adopted by the unions in the form of physical coersion of Management Employees to achieve their ends was downright barbarous to say the least.In such a scenario it was but natural that the Management-Labour Relationship in most companies across the Industries in India was then at its lowest ebb.

In the above scenario,the ones affected most were the large Multi Nationals and large Indian companies.This was partly due to the large labour force involved with greater militancy and partly due to much higher expectations by labour being more with increased wages they were paid.It was therefore necessary for the management of these companies to keep the relationship with the workers as cordial as possible on an ongoing process and to pre empt actions when required without waiting for the event to take place.

One large Multinational Company (name not disclosed) then the largest consumer products manufacturing and marketing company in India,,where I was then working in their Bombay(now called Mumbai)plant,was well known as a fore runner in such management techniques.Towards this purpose besides the close interractions in work,the company used to organise regular Extra Curricular Activities in the form of Games,Dramatics and the like where the management ensured active participation of the workmen.One such event held annually and looked forward eagerly by both the Managemenst Staff and the workmen was the inter departmental one innings Tennis Ball Cricket match held simultaneously between different departments on a big play ground near Chembur (a suburb of Bombay)followed by a sumptuous Lunch at Company's cost.Although I was an active participant in these events as a management employee,personally I had my own reservations on the utility of building such relationships which I believed could only be temporary and brittle.I was somehow convinced that at the end of the day the then labour would ultimately demand and act what they feel is suited to them.Although I had shared this view of mine with my Seniors in different forums, the Corporate management viewed otherwise and I,as a disciplined soldier,followed suit.

It was on one early winter morning in 1977,I remember,we had one such one innings Tennis Ball cricket match in which we lost to our neighbour department very early in the day and I was watching other departments playing while waiting for the Lunch break.In fact even before the Plant Head,one BERTY(full Name not disclosed) turned up on the ground to watch us playing,our match had got over and he could only join me in watching others play.

When Berty enquired as to what happened to our game,I narrated to him what exactly happened and the dialogue that took place between the two of us was as follows----
Berty:"What about your match for the day?
Myself:"Sorry saab,Our match is already over.We lost to the Hard Soaps Department.
Berty:So soon?I can't believe it.What exactly happened?
Myself:We lost the toss and were put in to bat.We were all out for forty Two runs and they scored it off easily losing only two wickets.
Berty:How much did you score?
Myself:Berty,I will narrate what exactly happened.The Fist ball I faced was outside the off stump,I tried to hit it and I missed the ball.The second ball I faced was outside the leg stump,I again tried to hit it and again missed the ball.And the third ball ,Berty,was a straight ball which I again missed and I could see the ball going towards the wicket.
Berty:So you got bowled?
Myself:No Berty,This is when I took a spot management decision.Since getting bowled is a humiliating form of getting out,I stopped the ball with one of my legs and I was declared out LBW.
Berty:But tell me. If you had so much time to stop the ball with your leg,why did you not stop with the bat?
Myself:Yes Berty coming to think of it this is what I should have done.But then this is the problem in being a manager for so long.Even as you decide it happens to be a wrong decision.

On hearing this,Berty, who was aware of my views on such relationships building,
was taken a back for a moment but realising the humour behind my saying so,,he burst into a hearty laugh.So loud was his laugh that when others and myself joined in his laugh,ours got drowned in his laughter.

Narrated by BAIYU (self)