VR left this comment on my previous post. Thought I should put it as a post and comment on it.
"Quite an obvious line of thought coming from a non Indian. It was the same kinda discussion that I and T from Switzerland had yesterday before the IT and E-comm class. I think that conversation partly throws light on why these distinct schools of thought exist.
He casually told me that the competitive nature of Indians sometimes is quite unnerving for him, as it was for a few others from his land. He went on to add how the higher education streams in his country were relaxed and were easy to get into with a bit more effort and the whole lifestyle was so relaxed, that the government was doing everything possible to encourage higher education aspirations. However people are just plain happy leading the laid back life that they have got accustomed to. Like the Little Men in "Who moved my Cheese"
Now contrast this with India. Which Indian middle class student today does not want to do a B.E? How many of them nurture plans to do a Masters, get a plush job, etc. Almost everybody you know of, right. What is the government doing? Nothing, coz the system takes care of itself. Like the competitive free market system in capitalist countries. This is the breeding ground for competition where a little complacency might do you in. Given this as the backdrop, shouldn't it be natural that we Indians are already losing out on 40 winks in search of a job? I still completely agree that it should not be at the cost of getting the best that MBA has on offer for you, but worry you will.
Now there is no good thing or bad thing about each line of thought, it is just that different countries of the world go through different stages of evolution at different periods in history and it is this which shapes an individual's mental make-up."
Knowingly or unknowingly VR has answered my question that whether this has become the Indian psyche? Yes, it has. VR lists the reasons and circumstances very nicely above. The next logical question that comes to mind is ... Agreed we have this competitive nature which is a good thing when we are in India, but should we continue with this now when we are at the global level or should we make a concerted effort to tone down ourselves and make others feel comfortable around us? Again two lines of thought emerge. On one hand we can argue that healthy competition is not bad. Its not as if we are pushing others down to show ourselves higher. On the other hand we can say that most of us now plan to work in global companies with people from various nationalities and it is very important that we do not come out 'loud' and make others comefortable around us. After all, teamwork depends on the comfort level between team members.
Is it time to leave behind the Indian psyche and embrace the Global psyche?
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I like the way this discussion has been shaping up. Just wanted to add a few comments of my own. Not too sure i agree with your view point of toning it down to fit in better with the "global economy". Agreed we need to be team players, but at the same time it is diversity that gives a team its strength. My personal observation says the competetive edge in some of my fellow countrymen actually work well for the team they are a part of. And while all parties need to make certain adjustments to their thought process and behavior, a drastic change in the same would imply losing the essental qualities imbibed in you thus far. I can tell you one more thing, catch some of these guys you have been talking about,in the sports arena, and then you will start feeling that they are the ones who are ultra competetive.
What i am trying to drive at is that you try and work with what you have without making wholesale changes to the way you are because for all you know that might be your best feature. Adapt- YES, Change just to "fit in"-NO. That i feel is one of the biggest lessons we should try and take away from our program
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