stories from sankutanthra for management kids

This is the story of the hare and tortoise as retold from Panch tantra for helping the management kids of today’s busy world. The inputs received in this connection from many management gurus are duly acknowledged.
The story starts with a challenge thrown by the hares to the the tortoises to participate in a race so as to trivialize the competition faced by the Rabbit Enterprises (RE) from the Tortoise Group(TG) in the Jungle Kingdom.A two kilometer long winding track normally frequented by the nobility for their morning walk was selected by RE for the purpose. The objective was twofold-to show the public that TG moved very slow in the success ladder and could be ignored in business bids; to highlight the dynamism of RE as a safe bet for future investments.
The elders in the Tortoise Group were not eager to take part in the race since they knew that they would be defeated in the run.But the adventurous youngsters wanted to participate.”A hare in leash is worth many in the slush”,they quoted from the well-known proverb.
The competition was inaugurated ,as is usual for such grand occasions, by an important VIP and presided over by the local Panchayat chief.The hare ran briskly and was in no time far ahead of the tortoise.Naturally,he thought of relaxing for some time but soon fell asleep.The tortoise in the meanwhile could overtake him and reach the destination emerging as the undisputed winner.
Moral:
Slow and steady wins the race.
Over confidence is self defeating

The members of RE were shocked at the result.Some soul-searching followed and it was concluded that the race was lost due to laxity and lack of self control.The hare was therefore directed to challenge the tortoise for another round. Forgetting that it was a mere chance that made them winners in the first round, the proud Tortoise Group agreed readily. In the race that followed, the hare, after downing cups of tea to keep himself awake, ran without taking any break, and became the winner.
Moral:
Fast and consistent people beat the slow and steady in the race.
Cups of tea a day keep lethargy away.

Though the tortoise accepted defeat in the second race,TG members could not take it in their stride.They prevailed upon him to try again, quoting the oft-repeated story of”Robert Bruce and the Spider’They would help him to win,”by hook or crook”,they assured him.Thus it was the turn of the tortoise to challenge the hare for another round.
As soon as the race commenced, the hare shot ahead,but at every bend in the track, he saw the tortoise crawling ahead. By the time he neared the destination,he knew that he had lost, for the tortoise was there to welcome him!
The winner’s moment of happiness was short-lived since, before declaring the result,an eagle who was hovering above watching the fun intervened. Pointing an accusing finger at the tortoise,he cried foul stating that at every bend he had seen a tortoise readying to come out when the hare reached the point to give an impression that the tortoise continued to be ahead,The eagle had also verified that the tortoise at the starting point was still trundling along the track.
Moral:
In a competitive world, the end justifies the means adopted ,so long the means employed remains unexposed
Honesty is the best policy,but not a virtue .


The episode continues further
The after events of the race having affected their fair name as also business,TG went into a huddle to chalk out the next move.A committee was set up to look into the issues that exposed their strategy and to suggest remedies so that they could regain their lost prestige.After all,everyone knew the old saying that ‘a committee a day keeps the problems at bay.’ .The tortoise was again directed to invite the hare for another round with the condition that this time the tortoise would select the track for the race.This condition was acceptable to the hare since he knew that irrespective of the track condition,he could beat the slow moving tortoise .Hence he readily agreed but he too had a condition that the eagle would monitor the race.Tortoise had to accept this.
The hare got up early in the morning to get ready for the race since he knew that’an early bird gets the worm’But the tortoise got up late fully appreciating the adage that ‘early to bed and late to rise, keeps a worm healthy, wealthy and wise’,He did not want to be an ‘early worm’ to lose to the ‘bird’.
Soon after the go signal was given, the hare surged ahead,looking back frequently to ensure that the tortoise was not in the cheating mode.But he was aghast to find that a river crossed the track just before the destination and he had to wait till the tide receded or a boatman came to help.While he awaited, the tortoise came,swam across and reached the destination,thus winning the race.
Moral:
Time and tide keep no targets.
In a cut throat competition, identify one’s strengths and weaknesses and choose an opportune path, to survive the threats and to succeed.(The SWOT method?)

The story does not end here
A wolf from abroad who had come to explore business opportunities in the Jungle Kingdom, found out that if he could subordinate the hares and tortoises here,he could take over the entire business.Knowing his capability,he invited them to participate in the race.By experience he knew that a strategy in time saves nine.
Threatened by the wolf,TG and RE unanimously agreed that for sheer survival, they together have to win the race, respecting the fact that in a competitive business world, there are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent interests to be taken care of.Hence it was decided that their representatives would run together as a team. .
The path selected by the tortoise was to be the race track.The race started at the appointed time and during the race,the hare carried the tortoise on his back till the river bank. Though the wolf got the initial lead, and reached the river front early, it had to wait there for the water to recede.When the hare reached the river, the tortoise swam across carrying the hare thereby reaching the destination and thus becoming the winners.
The wolf had to leave the place in sheer disgust, being not able to even reach the destination.The teamwork brought laurels to the native teams.
Moral:
Teamwork ensures improved performance and neutralizes foreign take over bids
..
The episode could continue further.
But, if kids ask questions, remember always that ’invention is the necessity of mother’.