Previous | Next

Vidur's Neeti is very famous in Mahaabhaarat. It is through Dhritraashtra.

There's a another knowledge transmission in MBH after the MBH war is over and the Kaurav are all dead. As the victorious Paandav are about to assume control of Hastinaapur, Krishn advises them to talk to Bheeshm, their grand uncle, who lies mortally wounded on the battlefield. As a result of a blessing, death would elude him for some time. "Make him talk until his last breath. Ask him questions. He has a lot to tell," says Krishn.

Sure enough, when prompted, the dying Bheeshm spends hours discussing various topics: history, geography, politics, economics, management, war, ethics, morality, sex, astronomy, metaphysics and spirituality. Bheeshm's discourse is captured in the Shaanti Parv (discussions on peace) and Anushaasan Parv (discussions on discipline) both combined make up a quarter of the Mahaabhaarat. After listening to their grandsire, the Paandav have a better understanding of the world, and this makes them better kings.

Raam asked Raavan for his wisdom before his death. The Paandav listened a lengthy discourse from Bheeshm as he lay dying in the battlefield. This is called knowledge management. Both these stories draw attention to the value of knowledge. In triumph, it is easy to claim the material possessions of the defeated, but it is not easy to claim for their knowledge. Knowledge does not outlive death.

Every day, a vast amounts of knowledge is churned out. Every day, people leave this world taking their knowledge with them the knowledge which they had acquired by learning in this world because they are part of the world. They take with them many kinds of knowledge, formal and by their personal experience. This should not be confidential information or patented information, but it is information that gives a competitive edge. Often because they are like Sahadev.

Sahadev was the youngest Paandav and, in the South Indian Mahaabhaarat, he is described as an expert in many predictive sciences such as astrology, palmistry and face reading. But he is cursed: if he ever gave any information voluntarily, his head will split into a thousand pieces. That is why he is silent throughout the epic. He knows every fortune and misfortune that his family will go through, but he can never use his knowledge to forewarn anyone. When Yudhishthir finally learns of his brother's prowess he is furious - "Why did you not tell me all that you knew?" All he gets in response is Sahadev's silence.

These Sahadev are of two types: either they are unwilling to share their knowledge or they don't have the means to do so. The former category knows that knowledge is power and will not give it away under any circumstances. The latter category is willing to share knowledge but either no one asks them for it or there is no system where they can make it available for others.

Knowledge Management is leadership driven. Only a Raam, and not a Laskhman, and only a Krishn not the 5 Paandav, can do it. He must first believe in it. He must respect the fact that everyone, even those who he does not particularly like, are repositories of great wisdom not only knowledge of things that work but also knowledge of things that do not work. He must make conscious efforts to capture as much of it as possible.

The simplest method to transfer the knowledge is talking to people, it can be anywhere. Many people do not believe that Lakshmee follows Saraswatee: they do not believe that existence of knowledge systems improve efficiency and effectiveness and can provide raw materials to provoke new ideas or prevent old mistakes. Unless a leader believes that Saraswatee is critical, he will end up with an organization of many Sahadev. Take a step back. Check if you are creatively shunning this rather tedious matter of knowledge transfer. If you are, then remember the wise words of Raavan: it must be actually good for you.