India has for long been an aspiring economy driven by the hope of millions. So when corporate gurus like Anil Ambani and Ratan Tata are summoned by the law in connection with scams, there’s an immediate social impact on every young Indian who one day hopes to reach the very heights these men have ascended. This also gives rise to one important question: How much of a role model is India Inc.?
For instance, telecom tycoon Anil Ambani emerging from the CBI headquarters after being questioned regarding the 2G scam or Ratan Tata going to court to stop the release of the leaked taped conversations between lobbyist Niira Radia and top industrialists, politicians and journalists, do not exactly inspire confidence among young professionals.
Quotes from these corporate honchos have helped fill pages of self-help, get-rich-quick management books, but now the scene’s a bit different. Says 24-year-old Priya S. who is a program analyst with a leading IT company, “The who’s who of corporate India have been mired in controversy in the past year. The recent scandals have exposed the nexus between the corporate world and politics and as a result, the untainted, socially-responsible image of businessmen has been tarnished. We need transparency in the corporate sector. I hope the accused don’t escape the clutches of law if they are guilty.”
Most corporate bosses, however, believe that the scandals that have hit India Inc. have not affected the inspiring image of the corporate sector. Kalyan Kar, managing director, Acclaris Business Solutions Pvt Ltd., feels one must look at the big picture. “Despite the blemishes, I still think young and aspiring B-school grads and employees look up to India Inc. as we are still shining example of ethics, values and resilience in the global arena. If we have the Ramalinga Rajus, we also have inspirational leaders like Narayana Murthy and Azim Premji who are not only respected for their innovations and business acumen but for the way they’ve conducted themselves in their personal lives too,” he says.
Gaurav Saraf, director, Squarefoot, couldn’t agree more. He says, “More than top corporate leaders, young Indians should look up to good and ethical companies as they will not let them down. It’s not the big leaders but the government which should be questioned.”
Though the scandals are traumatic, some say India is going through a cleansing period to make it a better investment destination. Entrepreneur, brand manager and author Harish Bijoor of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc, on the other hand, feels that young guns and students today don’t really mind flawed leaders. He explains, “There is no disbelief in corporate India. Everyone has a blemish and youngsters of today relate to it as they are more open-minded. What matters is the moral leadership style and effective strategies. To err is human but one must not lose faith in the judiciary.”