1

CHANAKYA BIOGRAPHY
Chanakya ( c. 370 c. 283 BC) was an Indian teacher, philosopher, and royal
advisor. Originally a professor of economics and political science at the
ancient Takshashila University, Chanakya managed the
first Mauryaemperor Chandragupta's rise to power at a young age. He is widely
credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Maurya
Empire, which was the first empire in archaeologically recorded history to rule most
of the Indian subcontinent. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both
Chandragupta and his son Bindusara. He is the pioneer of Political Realism in India,
and is often compared to Thucydides and Machiavelli.
Chanakya was not good looking and he chooses her wife, as she was also not good
looking. Chanakya married to a dark-skinned Brahmin girl named Yashodhra. Once
she went to her brother's house for a function. At that function her sisters & sister-in-
laws made laugh of her poverty. This made her & Chanakya very sad. His wife said to
Chanakya that she has heard that King Dhananand of Patliputra gives cows to
Brahmins on the No-moon day of the Krishna-pashas of Kartik month. So, Chanakya
went there and sat on the seat, which was meant for the king.
Chanakya is touted as the "Pioneer Economist of India". Chanakya was the adviser
and Prime Minister of Emperor Chandragupta. Chanakya was a professor at the
University of Takshila (located in present day Pakistan) and was an expert in
commerce, warfare, economics, etc. His famous works include Chanakya Neeti,
Arthashastra and Neetishastra. Read this biography of Kautilya that covers his
interesting life history.
Chanakya is also known by the name of Kautilya and Vishnugupta as is mentioned in
his text. His famous work called Arthashastra is a classic example of statecraft and
politics and is read in Europe even today. It basically consists of the principles of
politics and how the state works. An able ruler has to be a ruthless leader to make sure
that the state works smoothly and efficiently. The legends associated with Chanakya
are very interesting and provide a testimony of his greatness.


2

CHANAKYA HAS WRITTEN THREE MAIN BOOKS:
1. Chanakya sutras,
2. Raja nitisastra, and
3. Arthasastra


CHANAKYA CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS SOCIETY:
He was man of great tactics who made great contributions and was instrumental in
changing the course of Indian history. It is said that Chanakya had been personally
offended by King Nanda and he had vowed to keep his long sikha (pony
tail) unknotted until he saw to the demise of the contemptuous ruler and his drunken
princes. Chanakya helped Chandragupta in raising large army and defeating King
Nanda there by fulfilling his vow. He roughly lived between the periods 350-275 BC.
He was also known as Kautilya and Vishnu Gupta. Chanakya functioned as
Chandragupta's counselor and advised him in many matters related with state. A
treatise on the science of politics "Arthashastra' is the most famous work of
Chanakya. He is considered as pioneer of the field of economics and political science.
He is considered as one of the great teacher, thinker and diplomat. His intellectual
genius commanded lot of adulation and respect during his time and subsequent years.
Later on people even tried to attribute authorship of several works dealing with
various subjects ranging from to astronomy and mathematics to him but only
arthashastra and Neetishstra or Chanakya Neeti are the two books attribution to
him.
He is considered as great economist and revolutionary. He was a great strategist of his
time, and also considered as ruthless manipulator who was determined to achieve his
goals by using fourfold policy of Conciliation, Donation, Punishment and Division.
Contribution, Artha Sastra, a treatise on economics and political science in India
centuries ago. It is no surprise that many of the ancient wisdom suits the present
situations of political and economic conditions too because of Chanakyas exceptional
foresight.
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MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM CHANAKYA
Lesson 1 : Even though Chanakya was reputed and famous in Takshila, it does not
mean he would be famous in Patliputra too. So his asking for the debate is justified to
prove his worth. Similarly, a high performer' in one team or company needs to prove
his worth in a new environment to gain the same tag.
Chanakya was prepared to face it. But he could try a different approach for the desired
result. In the corporate world, referral plays a major role in hiring key senior
employees. If any of the key ministers of the Nandas had referred or introduced him,
he might have got the position.
Chanakya did not vacate the golden seat, and the Nanda princes physically pulled him
down. During this process, a lock of his hair got ruffled up. At this moment,
Chanakya took a vow to redo the hair only after defeating the Nandas.
They were about to punish him with the death sentence, but one of the ministers
prevailed upon the princes to forgive him. Chanakya went out of Magadha and met
Chandragupta, who Was waiting for him.
There are many stories on how Chanakya first met Chandragupta, but one thing was
clear: Chanakya could sense the inherent qualities in Chandragupta and trained him as
he wanted to build an empire by making him the king who could protect India from
The Greek invasion.

Lesson 2: Fearlessness, perseverance and patience are the key attributes of any leader.
This helps in setting lofty goals and fuels the determination to achieve them by
executing against the well-laid-out plan.
Another great quality exhibited by the leader is in spotting' talents and grooming them
to take bigger challenges.
Chanakya's first step was to sneak in a spy to keep a watch on the Nandas' inner
circle. He knew one Jeevasiddhi, who was intelligent and could do the job. Chanakya
told Jeevasidhi about some of the secrets of the palace learnt from Chandragupta who
had heard about these from his father.
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They sent Jeevasiddhi to the palace. Jeevasiddhi convinced the Nandas that he
possessed supernatural powers by narrating the secrets hidden in the palace. The
Nandas started leaning on him and consulting him before making any major decision.
Slowly, he became a part of their coterie.
Lesson 3 : A background check is required for most hires, but a detailed one is a must
for senior positions to ensure right fit. At a very senior level, where information
regarding tender, bid, intellectual property and other trade secrets is involved,
company must take steps to protect it.
Many companies ask people to sign the non-disclosure agreement and, at times,
activate special clauses restraining them from joining rival or competing companies
for a few years.
Meanwhile, Chandragupta started helping the people of Magadha . His popularity
started soaring. This acted as a threat to Nandas. The Nandas had an intelligent
minister in AmatyaRakshasa. He advised the Nandas to kill Chandragupta. Jeevasidhi
learnt of the plan and helped Chandragupta escape.
Chanakya encouraged Chandragupta to take over the Magadha throne. Chandragupta
networked with people and built the Mauryan army. Most of them were people
disillusioned and unhappy with the Nanda rule. Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya
announced a battle plan and ensured that the Nanda army could be diverted to reach a
distant battlefield to fight the Mauryanarmy.In the meantime, a civil war erupted in
Magadha .
Lesson 4 : A peaceful handover to the new management is desirable as it saves the
company from infighting that could weaken it. It would be faster and fruitful to scale
new heights from a stable company rather than a wrecked one. It helped Maurya kings
to reach new heights faster not only due to their great leadership skills, but also due to
peaceful transition.
It was a monumental task to build an efficient government for Chandragupta Maurya.
Chanakya convinced Rakshasa to continue to be the minister of Chandragupta by
sharing his grand vision of fighting against the invasion.Chandragupta was able to
leverage Rakshasa's excellent skills in administering the kingdom. Chanakya assumed
the position of an elder statesman.
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Lesson 5 : One needs to perform and show results to be considered as a key resource.
Key People are always in demand, but more so doing organizations transformation.
People are the main asset. Their knowledge and expertise can provide a big leap to
any activity. They should be retained. Managers should not be biased in working with
high performers' even if they used to work with their adversaries in the past, provided
the person maintains loyalty and confidentiality. Top performers are attracted by lofty
visions/goals and Are willing to face difficult challenges.
While serving Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya started adding small amounts of
poison in his food so that he could get immune to it and would survive any attempts at
poisoning.

One day, his queen, Durdha, shared the food with the Emperor while she was
pregnant. She died and Chanakya extricated the baby from the womb. A drop (bindu
in Sanskrit) of poison had got into the foetus and hence Chanakya named him
Bindusara. Bindusara would go on to become a great king, and his son, Ashoka,
would emerge as one of the greatest emperors.
Chanakya had a political adversary called Subandhu, who was in the court of
Bindusara. He kept looking for opportunity to defame Chanakya in the eyes on
Bindusara. On finding the right occasion, he mentioned to the king that Chankaya had
killed his mother. However, the bigger question that remains is: why did the Maurya
kings keep Subandhu when his envy towards Chanakya was well known?
Bindusara became angry with Chankaya. On knowing this, Chanakya walked out of
the city, donated all his wealth and sat on a fast. When Bindusara learnt the truth, he
felt ashamed and asked Subandhu to apologise to Chanakya.
Subandhu hatched a plan to meet him and asked him to forgive him. But secretly, he
set Chanakyas abode on fire. Chanakya was killed in the fire.



6

THOUGHTS FROM CHANAKYA
1) "As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
2) "The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
3) "Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't
abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
4) 1"God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your
temple."
5) "A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
6) "Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such
friendships will never give you any happiness."
7) "Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold
them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up
children are your best friends."
8) "Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
9) "Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't live long enough to make them all
yourselves!!"
10) "A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people
are screwed first."
11) Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."
12) "There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship
without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
13) Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I
doing it, what the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think
deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."








7

DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM BIOGRAPHY

APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 at the South Indian state of Tamil
Nadu and received honorary doctorates from about 30 universities globally. In the
year 1981, the Government of India presented him the nation's highest civilian honor,
the Padma Bhushan and then again, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Bharat
Ratna in 1997.
And Dr APJ Abdul Kalam regards his work on India's nuclear weapons program as a
way to assert India's place as a future superpower. Even during his tenure as
President, APJ Kalam took avid interest in the spheres of India's science and
technology. He has even put forward a project plan for establishing bio-implants. He
is also an ardent advocate of open source software over proprietary solutions to churn
out more profits in the field of information technology in India
Achievements - This eminent scientist and engineer has also served as the 11th
President of India from the period 2002 to 2007. APJ Abdul Kalam is a man of vision,
who is always full of ideas aimed at the development of the country. He firmly
believes that India needs to play a more assesive role in international relations.
Apart from being a notable scientist and engineer, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam served as the
11th President of India from the period 2002 to 2007. He is a man of vision, who is
always full of ideas aimed at the development of the country and is also often also
referred to as the Missile Man of India. People loved and respected Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam so much during his tenure as President that was popularly called the People's
President.


8

DR. A.P.J ABDUL KALAMS CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS EDUCATION
Being a top scientist of international reputation, his direct contribution to the
advancement of science and technology is unique and commendable. His scholarly
research publications, articles, books etc. have opened new avenues for research and
studies in the area of aeronautics, ballistics, and metallurgy.
Below are some important factors of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, for better
Education.
Capacities to be built among students: The primary focus of the students should be to
excel in their studies. This is their first contribution to the development of the nation.
The education system should instill in the minds of students capacities of inquiry,
creativity, technology, entrepreneurial and moral leadership. If we develop in all our
students these five capacities, we will produce "Autonomous Learner" a self-directed,
self controlled, lifelong learner, who will have the capacity to both respect authority
and at the same time is capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner.
Planning for good education for children in villages: Every school should have basic
amenities such as a good building equipped with ventilation and lighting. The rooms
should be airy and have spacious classrooms. The school should also have a library,
laboratories including the latest Information Technology tools and infrastructure, safe
drinking water, clean toilets and a playground. This is possible by earmarking the
additional 2 to 3 per cent of GDP.
Mission of education: Education is the most important element for growth and
prosperity of a nation. India is in the process of transforming itself into a developed
nation by 2020. Yet we have 350 million people who need literacy and many more
who have to acquire employable skills to suit the emerging modern India and the
globe.
Inequality of access to educational resources: It is essential that we enlighten and
create widespread awareness of education among all sections of society particularly in
rural areas and among the urban poor. We should use technology for this important
social purpose. It is possible for NGOs, other social and philanthropic institutions and
the media to focus on this area of creating awareness. We should also mobilise
necessary resources for providing education to the underprivileged people. Mobilising
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resources for the mission of education: Over the last 50 years, successive
Governments have been committed to achieving the national goal of universal
education and has steadily increased the budgetary allocation for education. However,
35 percent of our adult population is yet to achieve literacy. The expenditure on
education as a percentage of our Gross Domestic Product has a direct impact on our
literacy. Today our expenditure on education in India is little more than 4 per cent of
our GDP. If we have to achieve nearly 100 per cent literacy, it is necessary to increase
expenditure on education to about 6 to 7 per cent of GDP. This 2 to 3 per cent
increase has to be sustained only for a few years. Thereafter, a lower percentage of
GDP allocation to education will be adequate to sustain the high degree of literacy in
this country for all time to come.
Reducing Dropouts: It is reported that 39 per cent of children, drop out from school
after studying 5th Class and 55 per cent drop out after studying up to 8th Class. The
Right to Education Bill for children between the age group of 5 and 14 years. But, an
Act alone cannot achieve the goal, unless education is delivered in a manner, which
will take into account the socio-ecnomic reality and perception of the people to whom
it is addressed. Apart from attracting children to schools, the education system should
be able to provide nourishment and inject creativity among them. The aim of the
education system should also be to build character, human values, enhance learning
capacity through technology and build confidence among children to face the future.

10

APJ ABDUL KALAM CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS INDIA
Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's
first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected
the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an
exclusive member of Space Club.
He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and
PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies.
He led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II
nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made
India a nuclear Weapon State.
He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple
development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft.
MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM APJ ABDUL KALAM
1. Be Prepared
Life does not always follow the path we have set for it. Sometimes, it takes its own
course and makes us follow it instead. And when that happens an emergency, as
some would term it, we better be prepared. At least have the presence of mind to
know what is the best course of action suited to that particular situation. The fanatic
emphasis on Plan B that professionals talk about is not a cowards fall-back
system. It serves a purpose, a purpose that a strategist has envisioned and
planned before the need for an alternate solution surfaces.
After the initial tweak of schedule, everything went as planned. Dr. Kalam formally
addressed the audience, spoke about inspiring leadership and upheld his mentor, Prof.
Satish Dhawan, the Chairman of ISRO, as a stellar leader.
2. Leaders Acknowledge Contribution
Prof. Dhawan was the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization when
Indias Rohini satellite was to be launched into orbit. Dr. Kalam, then a scientist, was
the Project Director for the launch. Despite the best research and technical expertise,
the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal instead of the satellite going
into orbit. In the press conference that followed the disastrous launch, Prof. Dhawan
11

faced the media, took the blame of the failure on himself and assured the world that
by next year his team would definitely succeed.
3. Go With The Flow
Dr. Kalam knew the effect he had on the masses, especially the youth. With a leaders
vision he knew how eager the audience was to talk to him, hear him, and be inspired
by him. He went beyond what was chalked in his schedule and made an exception for
all present that day. He let them touch his hand and in return, touched their lives. He
gauged the situation, sensed the unspoken dreams and went with the flow. And
because he did that, everybody present in that auditorium that day emerged a different
person- more inspired, more ready to face the world, more willing to make a
difference.
So potent was my first meeting with Dr.Kalam that it became the backdrop of my
debut novella, Loves Labor, ten years later. After the book was published, I wanted
to present him with a copy and requested an audience with him. Dr.Kalam obliged.
There was more learning in store. The first thing I noticed about the former Prez was
how he had kept himself up at his age. The mental alacrity, more than the physical, is
what caught my attention.
4. Keep Fit
Successful people realize the importance of a healthy body and a healthy mind. They
know that the two are inextricably inter-linked and imperative for their smooth
functioning. They follow a strict regimen of healthy habits which include right eating,
adherence to meal times, a holistic exercise plan that suits one s age and a mind full
of positivity. It is established that the first three invariably impact the fourth.
At eighty plus, when most resign from life and suffer from purposelessness and
isolation, Dr. Kalam has launched his mission for the youth of the nation called
the What Can I Give Movement with a central theme to defeat corruption. He writes
Tamil poetry, plays the veena, and continues doing what he had set forth after his
Presidential tenure sharing his experiences with the youth, helping them to ignite
their imagination and preparing them to work for a developed India for which the road
map is already available. He exemplifies what others aspire for, he looks to the future
with hope.
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5. Have A Vision
This is that single most potent factor that drives our civilization. Having a vision,
nurturing it, waiting for its fruition, reaping its rewards all give meaning to life. The
human spirit collapses not when it is deprived of food but when it is denied a dream.
People with purpose move far ahead in life than those with none. The auto-pilot mode
that works well for an aircraft is fatal for a human. The youthful lament of getting
bored or the elderly refrain that all responsibilities are over and theres nothing else
left, does not bode well for a nation that still has a long way to go.

THOUGHTS OF APJ ABDUL KALAM
1. You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing,
there will be no results.
2. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever
3. An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
4. You should be the change that you want to see in the world.
5. Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.
6. The best way to find you is to lose yourself in the service of others
7. I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along
with people.
8. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
9. The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way in
which its animals are treated.
10. Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
11. You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.

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12. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable
will.
13. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in
harmony.
14. I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of
one.
15. First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you
win.
16. A 'no' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'yes' merely uttered to
please, or worse, to avoid trouble.
17. The more efficient a force is, the more silent and the more subtle it is.
18. The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.

Books Written by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Wings of fire
Mere sapno ka Bharat
India 2020
Agni ki Udan
Spirit of India
Broom Groom



14

MAHATMA GANDHI BIOGRAPHY
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, a coastal
town on the Kathiawar Peninsula and then part of the small princely state of
Porbandar in the Kathiawar Agency of the British Indian Empire. His father,
Karamchand Gandhi (18221885), served as thediwan (chief minister) of Porbander
state. His mother, Putlibai, who was from a Pranami Vaishnava family, was
Karamchand's fourth wife, the first three wives having apparently died in childbirth.
The Indian classics, especially the stories of Shravana and king Harishchandra, had a
great impact on Gandhi in his childhood. In his autobiography, he admits that they left
an indelible impression on his mind. He writes: "It haunted me and I must have acted
Harishchandra to myself times without number." Gandhi's early self-identification
with truth and love as supreme values is traceable to these epic characters.
In May 1883, the 13-year-old Mohandas was married to 14-year-
old KasturbaiMakhanji in an arranged child marriage, according to the custom of the
region. In the process, he lost a year at school. Recalling the day of their marriage, he
once said, "As we didn't know much about marriage, for us it meant only wearing new
clothes, eating sweets and playing with relatives." However, as was prevailing
tradition, the adolescent bride was to spend much time at her parents' house, and away
from her husband. In 1885, when Gandhi was 15, the couple's first child was born, but
survived only a few days. Gandhi's father, Karamchand Gandhi, had also died earlier
that year. The religious background was eclectic. Gandhi's father
was Hindu Modh Baniya and his mother was from Pranami Vaishnava family.
Religious figures were frequent visitors to the home.
Mohandas and Kasturba had four more children, all sons: Harilal, born in
1888; Manilal, born in 1892; Ramdas, born in 1897; and Devdas, born in 1900. At his
middle school in Porbandar and high school in Rajkot, Gandhi remained a mediocre
student. He shone neither in the classroom nor on the playing field. One of the
terminal reports rated him as "good at English, fair in Arithmetic and weak in
Geography; conduct very good, bad handwriting." He passed the matriculation
exam at Samaldas College in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, with some difficulty.

15

BOOKS WRITTEN BY MAHATMA GANDHI
Autobiography: my experiments with truth
Character and nation building
Non- Violence resistance
All Men are Brothers
The way to god
Satyagraha in South Africa
Hind Swaraj etc.
GANDHIJIS CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONALIST MOVEMENT
The nationalist movement grew into a wide spread mass anti-imperialist movement at
the end of the First World War. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi came into
prominence at this time and became the undisputed leader of the nationalist
movement. Powerful mass movements were launched under his leadership. These
involved defiance of laws, peaceful demonstrations, boycott of educational
institutions, boycott of courts, boycott of educational institutions, picketing of shops
selling liquor and foreign goods, non-payment of taxes and the closing of vital
business. These non-violent but revolutionary methods influenced millions of people
belonging to all sections of society and infused in them bravery and self-confidence.
Millions now braved the repression resorted by the govt boldly courted imprisonment
and faced lathicharges and firings. Gandhiji lived the simple life of an ascetic and
talked to the people in a language they could understand. He came to be known to the
people as Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhiji made social report a part of the programme of the nationalist movement.
His greatest achievement in the field of social reform was the campaign against
inhuman institution of untouchability which had degraded millions of Indians. His
other achievement was in the field of cottage industries. He saw in the charkha, the
spinning wheel, the salvation of the village people and its promotion became part of
the congress programme.In addition to infusing people with the spirit of nationalism it
provided employment to millions and created a large group of people who were ready
to throw themselves into the struggle and court imprisonment. The charkha became so
important that it eventually became a part of the flag of the Indian National Congress.
16

MAHATMA GANDHI'S CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION:
Gandhiji's model wasnot only holistic and practical, it was highly decentralized and
integrated, with a demonstrated capacity to motivate the entire community and place
responsibility and accountability at the community level versus the State. To highlight
just a fewof his contributions.
An Investment in Human Capital :On economic, political and military grounds, India
was of first rate importance to the British and education was the instrument by which
they sought to maintain and strengthen their domination by experimenting with a
unique model of educating an elite through a foreign language.
It was Gandhiji, who in 1937 first recognized the interconnectedness of the eight
curricular forces and questioned the futility of the British education system. Based on
his wisdom and successful experiments with education in South Africa, he put forth a
Basic Education Plan which had the merit of achieving one aim of peace and freedom,
for which all mankind yearns today.
Also, recognizing the futility of a centralized plan and control in implementing
programmes, he also outlined a comprehensive but decentralized model to be
implemented by the village Republics. Thevital objective of his model was to develop
productive and social skills among the masses.






17

MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM MAHATMA GANDHI
1. Walk the talk
Mahatma Gandhi preached the concept of simple living and high thinking, although
he came from an affluent Indian family. He came up with various austere living
standards and requested his followers to adopt them. His kept his life open to public
scrutiny. People may debate regarding his personal choices but no one would raise
questions on his ethics and integrity. Irrespective of the difficulty involved, he always
was able to take the high moral ground and never compromised on his personal
values.
In the present corporate world we respect the leaders who are able to walk the talk,
demonstrate ethical and principled behavior, and lead by example.
2. Think out of the box
The strategy and tactics adopted during the Indian independence struggle were unlike
any other countrys revolution. Some of the concepts were:
Non-violence A war fought on the basis of principles without any bloodshed.
Civil disobedience- Court arrest if the British officials are threatening
imprisonment for demanding your rights.
Non-cooperation- The message given was maintain your jobs with the British
empire, however do not support it regarding its practices against Indian people.
Managements today are advocating out of the box thinking and competing
strategically. The organization which implements a unique strategy generally wins the
market.
3. Brand building
Mahatma Gandhis personal brand has lasted 60 years after his death without any
investment. He created a brand of a simple moral man living life on the principle of
Ahimsa (non-violence). His home spun cotton clothes, wooden shaft, leather slippers,
vegetarian meals and home at the ashram all embodied his personal brand. His
character and communication depicted his core values to the masses. The corporate
world is spending huge sums on advertising to build the corporate brand. We hear
18

Tom Peters and other management gurus talking about building the Brand You. The
focus now is on developing a personal brand.
4. Competitors size doesnt matter
The Indian freedom struggle gained ground with the idea of a few committed
individuals who wished to bring about a change. They envisaged taking on the might
of British Empire which had the resources, funds, weapons and management
capability. The Indian leadership team acknowledged the strengths of the British
Empire and devised a strategy which minimized those strengths. They built a strategy
on the following:
Non-violence which required no weapons;
Asked masses to contribute for the independence and live frugally, hence survived
on minimal resources;
Developed local leadership across all regions under Congress banner.
Using a similar strategy, Barrack Obama won the American presidential elections
when he had no funds and support. Recently corporate world has witnessed small IT
companies (e.g. hotmail) developing into big names just by pioneering a unique
product and leveraging the market properly.
5. Build dream teams
Indian Congress Party besides Gandhi had a number of other accomplished leaders.
Namely,
C. Rajagopalachari, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose and
others. These leaders all had different personalities and ideologies, however worked
for a common cause. Gandhi and Nehru complimented each other tremendously and
mostly operated as two in a box. Senior leaders acted as mentors for the younger
generation. The party had leaders at grass root level, and people were encouraged to
develop leadership traits.
Business world is focusing on building dream teams with leadership at all levels. The
Human Resource Departments are focused on concepts of two in a box, alternate
leaders, chief mentors and succession planning.
19

6. Engage and empower people
Mahatma Gandhi in his speech on the eve of Dandi March said -Wherever there are
local leaders, their orders should be obeyed by the people. Where there are no leaders
and only a handful of men have faith in the programme, they may do what they can, if
they have enough self-confidence. He encouraged common man to show leadership
and commitment under the overall umbrella of Congress. He united the people by
specifying the mission, vision and code of conduct of Congress. The masses were
committed to the cause and in all his symbolic protests he involved people
participation.



20

THOUGHTS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
1. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
2. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
3. I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of
one.
4. First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.
5. A 'no' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'yes' merely uttered to
please, or worse, to avoid trouble.
6. You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing,
there will be no results.
7. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever
8. An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
9. You should be the change that you want to see in the world.
10. Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.
11. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others
12. I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along
with people.
13. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
14. The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way in
which its animals are treated.
15. Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
16. You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.
17. The more efficient a force is, the more silent and the more subtle it is.

21

DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR BIOGRAPHY
Bhimrao Ambedkar was born to BhimabaiSakpal and Ramji on 14 April 1891 in
Madhya Pradesh. He was the fourteenth child of his parents. Ambedkar;s father was a
Subedar in the Indian Army and posted at Mhow cantonment, MP. After the
retirement of his father in 1894, the family moved to satara. Shortly after, his mother
passed away. Four years later, his father remarried and the family shifted to Bombay,
where he cleared his matriculation in 1908. His father BhimabaiSakpal died in
Bombay, in 1912.
Ambedkar was a victim of caste discrimination. His parents hailed from the Hindu
Mahar caste, which was viewed as "untouchable" by the upper class. Due to this,
Ambedkar had to face severe discriminations from every corner of the society. a The
discrimination and humiliation haunted Ambedkar even at the Army school, run by
British government. Fearing social outcry, the teachers would segregate the students
of lower class from that of Brahmins and other upper classes. The untouchable
students were often asked by the teacher to sit outside the class. After shifting to
Satara, he was admitted to a local school but the change of school did not change the
fate of young Bhimrao. Discrimination followed wherever he went. In 1908,
Ambedkar got the opportunity to study at the Elphinstone College. Besides clearing
all the exams successfully Ambedkar also obtained a scholarship of twenty five
rupees a month from the Gayakwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III. Political Science
and Economics were the subjects in which he graduated from the Bombay University
in 1912. Ambedkar decided to use the money for higher studies in the USA.
After coming back from the US, Ambedkar was appointed as the Defence secretary to
the King of Baroda. Even, there also he had to face the humiliation for being an
'Untouchable'. With the help of the former Bombay Governor Lord Sydenham,
Ambedkar obtained the job as a professor of political economy at the Sydenham
College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay. In order to continue his further
studies, in 1920 he went to England at his own expenses.
Conversion to Buddhism

In the 1950s, Ambedkar turned his attention to Buddhism and travelled to Sri Lanka
(then Ceylon) to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. While
22

dedicating a new Buddhist vihara near Pune, Ambedkar announced that he was
writing a book on Buddhism, and that as soon as it was finished, he planned to make a
formal conversion to Buddhism.[9] Ambedkar twice visited Burma in 1954; the
second time in order to attend the third conference of the World Fellowship of
Buddhists in Rangoon. In 1955, he founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha, or the
Buddhist Society of India. He completed his final work, The Buddha and His
Dhamma, in 1956. It was published posthumously.

Ambedkar organised a formal public ceremony for himself and his supporters in
Nagpur on October 14, 1956. Accepting the Three Refuges and Five Precepts from a
Buddhist monk in the traditional manner, Ambedkar completed his own conversion.
He then proceeded to convert an estimated 500,000 of his supporters who were
gathered around him.[9] Taking the 22 Vows, Ambedkar and his supporters explicitly
condemned and rejected Hinduism and Hindu philosophy. He then traveled to
Kathmandu in Nepal to attend the Fourth World Buddhist Conference. He completed
his final manuscript, The Buddha or Karl Marx on December 2, 1956.

Death

Since 1948, Ambedkar had been suffering from diabetes. He was bed-ridden from
June to October in 1954 owing to clinical depression and failing eyesight.He had been
increasingly embittered by political issues, which took a toll on his health. His health
worsened as he furiously worked through 1955. Just three days after completing his
final manuscript The Buddha and His Dhamma, it is said that Ambedkar died in his
sleep on December 6, 1956 at his home in Delhi.

A Buddhist-style cremation was organised for him at Chowpatty beach on December
7, attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers.

Ambedkar was survived by his second wife Savita Ambedkar, born as a caste
Brahmin and converted to Buddhism with him. His wife's name before marriage was
Sharda Kabir. Savita Ambedkar died as a Buddhist in 2002. Ambedkar's grandson,
Prakash Yaswant Ambedkar leads the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangha and has served
in both houses of the Indian Parliament.
23


A number of unfinished typescripts and handwritten drafts were found among
Ambedkar's notes and papers and gradually made available. Among these were
Waiting for a Visa, which probably dates from 1935-36 and is an autobiographical
work, and the Untouchables, or the Children of India's Ghetto, which refers to the
census of 1951.

A memorial for Ambedkar was established in his Delhi house at 26 Alipur Road. His
birthdate is celebrated as a public holiday known as Ambedkar Jayanti. He was
posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1990.
Many public institutions are named in his honour, such as the Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar Open University in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, B. R. Ambedkar Bihar
University, Muzaffarpur, the other being Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International
Airport in Nagpur, which was otherwise known as Sonegaon Airport. A large official
portrait of Ambedkar is on display in the Indian Parliament building.

On the anniversary of his birth (14th April) and death (6th December) and on
Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din, 14th Oct at Nagpur, at least half a million people
gather to pay homage to him at his memorial in Mumbai. Hundreds of bookshops are
set up, and books are sold for millions of rupees. His message to his followers was "
Educate!!!, Organize!!!, Agitate!!!".

Ambedkar v. Gandhi on village life

Ambedkar was a fierce critic of Mahatma Gandhi (and the Indian National Congress).
He was criticized by his contemporaries and modern scholars for this opposition to
Gandhi, who had been one of the first Indian leaders to call for the abolition of
untouchability and discrimination.

Gandhi had a more positive, arguably romanticised view of traditional village life in
India and a sentimental approach to the untouchables, calling them Harijan (children
of God) and saying he was "of" them. Ambedkar rejected the epithet "Harijan" as
condescending. He tended to encourage his followers to leave their home villages,
move to the cities, and get an education.
24


Criticism and legacy
This section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details.
(September 2007)

Ambedkar's legacy as a socio-political reformer, had a deep effect on modern India.
In post-Independence India his socio-political thought has acquired respect across the
political spectrum. His initiatives have influenced various spheres of life and
transformed the way India today looks at socio-economic policies, education and
affirmative action through socio-economic and legal incentives. His reputation as a
scholar led to his appointment as free India's first law minister, and chairman of the
committee responsible to draft a constitution. He passionately believed in the freedom
of the individual and criticised equally both orthodox casteist Hindu society, as well
as exclusivism and narrow doctrinaire positions in Islam. His polemical condemnation
of Hinduism and attacks on Islam made him unpopular and controversial, although his
conversion to Buddhism sparked a revival in interest in Buddhist philosophy in India.

Ambedkar's political philosophy has given rise to a large number of Dalit political
parties, publications and workers' unions that remain active across India, especially in
Maharashtra. His promotion of the Dalit Buddhist movement has rejuvenated interest
in Buddhist philosophy in many parts of India. Mass conversion ceremonies have
been organized by Dalit activists in modern times, emulating Ambedkar's Nagpur
ceremony of 1956.

Some scholars, including some from the affected castes, took the view that the British
were more even-handed between castes, and that continuance of British rule would
have helped to eradicate many evil practices. This political opinion was shared by
quite a number of social activists including Jyotirao Phule.

Narayan Rao Kajrolkar criticized Ambedkar because he believed that he was biased to
spend government on his own caste, the Mahar, rather than divide the funds equally
among others such as the Chambars and the Mangs.[10] Sitaram Narayan Shivtarkar
criticised him on the same account at the Chambar conference held at Khond at the
25

Ratnagiri District on 27 October, 1937. [11] The "First Chambar Conference" at
Ratnagiri on December 1937, chaired by S. G. Songaonkar, echoed this yet
again.[12]S

Some, in modern India, question the continued institution of reservations initiated by
Ambedkar as outdated and anti-meritocratic.

Aftermath

Frequent violent clashes between Buddhist groups and orthodox Hindus have
occurred over the years. When in 1994 a garland of shoes was hung around a statue of
Ambedkar in Mumbai, sectarian violence and strikes paralyzed the city for over a
week. When the following year similar disturbances occurred, a statue of Ambedkar
was destroyed. Upper-caste groups in Tamil Nadu have also engaged in violence
against Buddhists. In addition, some Buddhists who converted to Buddhism have
rioted against Hindus (such as the 2006 Dalit protests in Maharashtra) and desecrated
Hindu temples, often incited into doing so by anti-Hindu elements and replacing
deities with pictures of Ambedkar[13]. The radical Ambedkarite "Buddhist Panthers
Movement" has even gone so far as to attempt to assassinate academics who have
been critical of Ambedkar's understanding of Buddhism.


26

FOLLOWING LIST OF BOOKS WHICH WRITTEN BY BABASAHEB.
Administration and finance of the east india company
Ancient Indian Commerce
Annihilation Of Caste
Buddha Or Karl Marx
Buddha And His Dhamma
Castes In India
Evidence Brfore The Royal Comission On Indian Currency And Finance
Federation versus Freedom
Frustration
India and The Pre-requisites of Communism
India on the eve of the crown government
Lectures on the English Constitution
Maharashtra as a Linguistic Province
Manu and the Shudras
Mr. Russell And The Reconstruction of Society
Mr. Gandhi And The Emancipation Of The Untouchables
Need for Checks and Balances
Notes on Acts and Laws
Notes on History of India
Notes on Parliamentary Procedure
Pakistan or the Partition of India

27

DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS TO INDIAN SOCIETY
B. R Ambedkar's role and contribution to the making of the Indian Consitution is
certainly of the most significant level-- on 15th August 1947, when India achieved its
independence, Nehruji made Ambedkar as his first Law Minister, in recognition of his
legal prowess; and also, in fact, made him the Chairman of the Indian Constitution
Drafting Committee: a singular honour, and of course, his first/primary important
'contribution' to this document i.e. its actual writing/drafting and structuring, which is
no small thing, as it is Ambedkarji's words that roll off so decorously when we read
the document.
As writer/drafter/framer and 'prime mover' of the new Indian Constitution, Ambedkar
also had a central role in guiding his committee towards the sort of socialistic,
idealistic vision that he had, and that to some extent he also shared with Nehru ji.
According to Granville Austin, this document thus was first and foremost, a 'social
document' i.e. one which identified many of the basic problems besetting and needing
to be addressed, for the amelioration of the masses-- and in this regard it is
worthwhile noting down pointwise some of Ambedkar's main, personal contributions,
depending upon his own expertise and interests/concerns:
1. Guarantees of basic civil liberties to Indian citizens
2. Abolition of all forms of discrimination of caste and creed, freedom of religion and
abolition of 'untouchability' in principle at least-- something very peronal for him,
coming as he did from untouchable origins.
3. Equal rights under law to Indian women, and full social and economic freedom/s to
them, too.
4. Various job quotas guarantees for scheduled castes and tribes and minorities in
India, to ensure fairplay and some modicum of 'removal' of social inequalities for
remote and underpriviliged communities.
These were no small achievements personally, and along with their adoption, the
whole of the Indian Constitution was thereafter formally passed by Parliament
(Constituent Assembly) on 26th November 1949.

28

THOUGHTS OF DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR
Educational thoughts of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
Student should pursue their studies very sincerely. You have done a good thing that
you came to see me before leaving Delhi. I do not want victory at the cost of my
students. You should return the ticket and do not come to Bombay for canvassing.
You are conducting research for Ph. D. in Agriculture, which is very important
subject. I wish, you should concentrate on your research. For your information, I tell
you that, we have made good provisions in constitution for encouraging agricultural
developments.
We must now entirely give up the idea that parents give birth janma to the child
and not destiny karma. They can mould the destiny of the children and if we but
follow this principle, be sure that we shall soon see better days and our progress will
be greatly accelerated if mail education is persuaded side by side with the female
education the fruits of which you can very well see verified in your own daughter. Let
your mission therefore be to educate and preach the idea of education to those at least
who are near to and in close contact with you.
Education is something, which ought to be brought within the reach of everyone.
The policy of the department therefore, ought to be to make higher education as cheap
to the lower classes as it can possible be made.

Economical thoughts of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
Up to 1833 the Company, by means fair or foul, managed to win over the English
statesmen to continue her monopoly. But in that year the cry against hr monopoly had
gone so loud that both the Company and the Ministers had to give in and the East
India trade was thrown open to all the English public.
Mutiny or no mutiny, the British statesmen were impatient to have direct control
over the leaves and the fishes that came but indirectly from their rule in India by a
process of disgorging a corporation which directly fed them on beef fat.
29

It went as a continuous tribute to England to pay dividends to the Companys share
holders; and as the flow of the money from India was not sufficient to pay the
dividends, there was an increasing debt called the Public Debt of India.
It is likely to be a matter of surprise when one sees the smallness of the Indian Home
Bond Debt as compared with the Indian Debt. But the surprise will no longer exist
when we know that the capacity of the East India Company to borrow in England was
strictly limited by Parliamentary Regulations. The Parliament was ever eager to obtain
the advantages of the rule of the company without its disadvantages Companys
raising the loans beyond a certain limit lest the Company lose its hold upon India and
bring ruin on England by jeopardizing English capital.
The Land Tax levied by the British Government is not only excessive, but, what is
worse, it is fluctuating and uncertain in many provinces.
It is true that the British Government only followed the precedent of the previous
Mohammedan rulers who also claimed an enormous Land Tax. But the difference was
this, which what the Mohammedan rulers claimed they could never fully realize: what
the British rulers claimed they realized with vigor.
The company though legally extinct continues to live for all practical purposes and
enjoys her dividends even to this day in the shape of interest paid out of Indian
revenues. The astounding result of this policy was gains to England and costs to India.