10 Management Lessons from Life of Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya

After a protracted wait, Government of India finally honored the legendary educationist and freedom-fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, also known as ‘Mahamanaa’ (meaning one with a great heart/thinking) with the highest civilian award “Bharat Ratna” for the year 2014. Ever since the announcement, Pt. Malaviya’s life has been analyzed by newspapers and the media. But I am not sure if one aspect of it has been analyzed enough – the Management Lessons from life of Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya. That is something I am going to do in this small article.

Management Lesson# 1: The Power of Stretched Goals

We all understand about the power of ‘stretched goals’ and how it leads to never-before achievements. It contributes immensely to an organization’s and individual’s growth. Pt. Malaviya’s stretched target to establish Banaras Hindu University (BHU) or Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya is a fine example of the same. Malaviya ji was deeply affected by lack of proper education in India and he wanted to do something about it. When he first thought to setup a university, his friends and seniors asked him to be ‘realistic’ and settle for a small school. They told him that his idea of setting up a university was impractical. But Malaviya ji had a stretched target in mind. He wanted to setup a university and never settled down for a school or a college.

Management Lesson# 2: Think Big and Match it with Great Effort

There is no doubt that Pt. Malaviya’s vision to start a university and not to settle down for a school or a college was a perfect example of “Thinking BIG”. He not only thought big but also matched it up with his really great efforts. When it came to funds collection, he showed a courage and industry which was of unimaginable scale. He went to the Darbhanga Naresh, Bikaner Naresh, to the rulers of Kashi, Kashmir, Mysore, Alwar, Jaipur, Indore, Jodhpur, Gwalior, as well as collected funds from the common masses across the length and breadth of India.

Management Lesson# 3: Nothing is Impossible

When Pt. Malaviya started out, perhaps no one would have thought that a man of such humble means like him would one day actually realize his big dream. But Malaviya ji proved it literally that where there is a will, there is a way.

Management Lesson# 4: Leadership by Example

Setting up a university was never a one man’s job. It needed a team and some great team work. It needed the entire team to work hard towards a single goal. Malaviya ji’s personal life and his setting up of a personal example worked as a great motivator. He was born as fifth child amongst seven of his parents’ kids. His father Pt. Vrajnath Vyas ji was a ‘Bhagawat Kathakaar (reciter)’ and of humble means. Malaviya ji had to work very hard to finish his studies and become a journalist, advocate, and to do great in the fields of politics and social movement. He was an achiever in his own right when he started the BHU initiative and hence his team followed his inspirational leadership by example. The first donation for the university was given by his father in the form of hard-earned Rs 51.

Management Lesson# 5: When Life gives you a Lemon, Make Lemonade

Once Malaviya ji went to a Nawab asking for donation for the university’s cause. Perhaps Nawab was not in a good mood at the moment and hence he threw his shoe at Malaviya ji in order to send him away. Malaviya ji picked up the shoe; thanked Nawab for it and went to the market and announced his interest in auctioning the shoe with proceeds going to the university’s cause! In another event, when Nizam of Hyderabad declined to give any financial assistance, Malaviya ji started collecting coins being thrown at a funeral procession. When people asked why he had to do that, he answered famously, “When I return to Varanasi and if people ask how much the rich Nizam of Hyderabad contributed for the university’s cause; how could I tell them that I got nothing? So in order to save Nizam’s reputation I have to show them some money!” When Nizam got to know about it, he felt ashamed and honored Pt. Malaviya with good amount of donation for the university.

Management Lesson# 6: Act Local but Think Global

Malaviya ji ensured that BHU had a global outlook. There were hostels for domestic as well as international students because he expected some foreign students interested in studying Indian arts and culture. He hoped that it will serve as a means to remove doubts in the minds of foreigners about India and Indians. It was his vision which sets Malaviya ji apart and makes him appear really extraordinary.

Management Lesson# 7: Keeping a Larger Vision

In 1935, while addressing BHU students, Pt. Malaviya said, “You don’t only have to do studies in this university; you also have to build your character. If we join learning with character building, then we will earn respect of the world.” Whenever a student or a youth asked for his autograph, Pt. Malaviya used to write in Sanskrit, “Satyen Brahmacharyen vyayamenath vidyayaa. Deshbhaktya-atma-tyagen sammanarhah sadaa bhava.”, meaning, “Be worthy of receiving honor by practicing truth, celibacy, physical exercise, education, patriotism and self sacrifice.” He did not want to restrict himself into providing only education but equally focused on life skills and character building. Malaviya ji also focused on women education and also started a school for girls. Due to a leader’s vision he earns respect and trust from his followers.

Management Lesson# 8: Scalable enterprise, ready to expand and diversify

Pt. Malaviya noticed that lack of good hospitals and proper healthcare was also causing much harm to the nation, apart from lack of education. Hence Sir Sundarlal Hospital was started in BHU which gives both modern allopathic and ayurvedic medical facilities to all. By starting it, Malaviya ji expanded and diversified the university, since there was a compelling reason behind it.

Management Lesson# 9: Leadership with humanity, empathy and kindness

Once one of his employees did a theft in the office. The man was caught and brought in front of Pt. Malaviya. When Malaviya ji realized that the employee had to steal because of poverty and insufficient money, instead of punishing him he raised his salary! We can only guess that the employee must never have done anything wrong in the rest of his life. There are several other incidents during his life which show the human side of Malaviya ji where his actions were full of empathy and kindness.

Management Lesson# 10: Dedication and commitment

Pt. Malaviya showed immense dedication and commitment towards his work. The best example comes from near the end of his life. When Malaviya ji was sick and signs were showing that he won’t survive for long, his colleagues were planning to shift him to the mainland Kashi, because of a belief that a person who died in Kashi got God’s mercy. When Malaviya ji heard of their plans, he immediately called others and told them, “Promise me that they won’t take me to Kashi or anywhere away from the university. There is so much work pending for me in the university and for the country that I don’t want Moksha yet.” Ultimately Pt. Malaviya took his last breath in the BHU; on 12 November, 1946. This was the level of his commitment and dedication!

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There are so many other life events and character traits which set Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya apart and we come across plenty of other Management Lessons too. For example, Pt. Malaviya never bothered about personal rewards and praise. He was ready to work as shadow warrior towards his greater goals. The fact that he got Bharat Ratna after so many decades, itself tells a lot about relevance and endurance of the values and ideals he stood for.

I think, we as a society and a nation need to learn many of the lessons, both on the management and personal ethics sides, from the great Ratna of Bharat – Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.

- Rahul 

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect views of the organization the author is or has been associated with.