E. Sreedharan is known as metro man of India after successfully completing Delhi Metro project at breakthrough speed and lowest possible costs. His biography just came out and is aptly named as KaramYogi. The epithet Karmayogi describes nothing more than the essence of his spirit. He has scaled the pinnacle in his professional career, discharged his duties towards his family and, above all, kept healthy habits and his integrity as a person— indeed, he is an amalgamation of actions and qualities that make for an impeccable human being. He has the weakest of the weak members of society factored in when he handles projects worth hundreds of crores. This is the reason why a large number of lay people rally proudly behind him as he stands tall, like Arjuna on the side of righteousness in the many battles of Kurukshetra. He would not hurt anyone with word or deed, and was a calming presence and a towering source of hope for many. He insists that all his accomplishments belong not to him, but to the common people who are the real stakeholders in all his endeavours. You could read the distilled essence of his life’s journey from the Yoga Vasishta Ramayan quote framed in his office: Karyam karomi, Na kinchit aham karomi (I perform the deed. But I am not the one who does it.)
Given below are key takeaways from his book;
God Helps us thru people, and we just have to hear them: God doesn't come in his personal form, but he helps us thru people around us or provides us guidance thru our inner conscious. When E. Sreedharan was re-building Pampan bridge, the largest sea link in India(before Worli sea link) that was ravaged by the cyclone. He was given an aggressive deadline of 3 months when the duration to procure 126 lost girders was more than six months under normal circumstance. At this time, the local fisherman came to him with news that they have found washed away girders not too far from the coastline. He could see the god's will and went with them on an expedition to find them. Under shallow and a clear sea he could clearly see the girders and none of them were damaged. Locals fisherman overjoyed with their discovery and a possibility that they can help build the bridge faster helped find all of 126 of girders, which helped Sreedharan build the bridge in 46 days vs a very challenging target of 90 days.
Linking to higher purpose thru scriptures: In project delivery, Sreedharan would gift each officer at the executive level a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Sreedharan did not distribute the Gita to endorse a particular religion in his organisation. He cherished the work as the foundational document of management practices with which to run his organisation. There was no better way to convey the message of fulfilling one’s karma in order to be beneficial to society while also finding avenues to refresh oneself. The gift inspired its readers to brush all mounting troubles aside and immerse themselves in their duty. On Mondays, during the meeting of the department heads, the recitation of shlokas and discourse on them was a usual practice. Sreedharan had always believed in and championed the need to inculcate and reinforce such values in people, even during his school days.
Fight for your right: Its about the principles, when Sreedharan was on deputation under the shipping ministry as a CMD on deputation from the railways. Sreedharan joined the shipyard while he was a chief engineer in the Indian Railways. The rank of CMD was higher than that of a chief engineer in the railways. During the interview, Sreedharan was promised the salary of a CMD, which the Ministry reneged on as soon as he assumed the position. They let him know that their intent was to give him a salary commensurate with his position as a chief engineer of the railways. The broken promise and the attempts to justify his lower salary by a posting made by way of deputation had irked Sreedharan. It was not that he wanted money, but he would not shy away from fighting a battle that was righteous.
Dharma to him is being in the thick of action without concerning oneself with personal gains; it is about finding out what is best for the common good and submitting oneself to its fulfilment with great responsibility and excellence. He has rejected multiple offers from private sector firms to like to his principle of serving the society vs going for personal gains
God Help those who help themselves: Polish your professional skills and do not let it go out of date was his mantra. One such example is how he built his technical mastery, first by funding his trip to Japan to learn about metro, when he was part of Kolkatta metro team. He would always know the rule of the book to ensure he can manage his adversaries with knowledge vs force.
Never Criticize: In 2013 when corrupt lobby wanted to oust Sreedharan from Kochi metro project. He had never uttered a word in public against his detractors. He would repeat his message firmly, as befitting a battle-wise warrior, in his inimitable style: he merely wanted to finish the project without delay and without corruption, simply for the benefit of the people. The plotters had nothing to do but to beat a retreat, admitting defeat. Those who wrote off Sreedharan as just another project manager or a civil engineer capable of executing big projects were handed a loud and clear message that his name had found its way into the hearts and minds of the people at large, and could not be dismissed.
Honesty: Mostly people define honest is to keep themselves away from the wrongdoing. But, according to Sreedharan, honesty is not a state where corruption is absent, but actively taking a stand to benefit the institution and society for the long term. He says, be honest in your private and public life in such a way that you don’t need to try hard to convince anybody.
Importance of Time and Decision making: Almost all project he lead were completed on time. He stuck to his policy of taking the rigorous decision at the right time. It did not matter if it was right or wrong; it was more important to be able to make a decision. Many a time, Sreedharan would thrust his nose into highly complex situations faced by his deputies to help them make timely decisions.
Trust your team; you would be paid in full: He spent the time to choose the right people, once in team was given full autonomy to take the decisions. No minutes were kept of the meetings as a proof of the trust to his people, which was visible by the commitment of the people
The learnings are endless, and he is a role model for all youngsters. I would encourage you to take a leap and buy a copy of his autobiography of this living legend
Given below are key takeaways from his book;
God Helps us thru people, and we just have to hear them: God doesn't come in his personal form, but he helps us thru people around us or provides us guidance thru our inner conscious. When E. Sreedharan was re-building Pampan bridge, the largest sea link in India(before Worli sea link) that was ravaged by the cyclone. He was given an aggressive deadline of 3 months when the duration to procure 126 lost girders was more than six months under normal circumstance. At this time, the local fisherman came to him with news that they have found washed away girders not too far from the coastline. He could see the god's will and went with them on an expedition to find them. Under shallow and a clear sea he could clearly see the girders and none of them were damaged. Locals fisherman overjoyed with their discovery and a possibility that they can help build the bridge faster helped find all of 126 of girders, which helped Sreedharan build the bridge in 46 days vs a very challenging target of 90 days.
Linking to higher purpose thru scriptures: In project delivery, Sreedharan would gift each officer at the executive level a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Sreedharan did not distribute the Gita to endorse a particular religion in his organisation. He cherished the work as the foundational document of management practices with which to run his organisation. There was no better way to convey the message of fulfilling one’s karma in order to be beneficial to society while also finding avenues to refresh oneself. The gift inspired its readers to brush all mounting troubles aside and immerse themselves in their duty. On Mondays, during the meeting of the department heads, the recitation of shlokas and discourse on them was a usual practice. Sreedharan had always believed in and championed the need to inculcate and reinforce such values in people, even during his school days.
Fight for your right: Its about the principles, when Sreedharan was on deputation under the shipping ministry as a CMD on deputation from the railways. Sreedharan joined the shipyard while he was a chief engineer in the Indian Railways. The rank of CMD was higher than that of a chief engineer in the railways. During the interview, Sreedharan was promised the salary of a CMD, which the Ministry reneged on as soon as he assumed the position. They let him know that their intent was to give him a salary commensurate with his position as a chief engineer of the railways. The broken promise and the attempts to justify his lower salary by a posting made by way of deputation had irked Sreedharan. It was not that he wanted money, but he would not shy away from fighting a battle that was righteous.
Dharma to him is being in the thick of action without concerning oneself with personal gains; it is about finding out what is best for the common good and submitting oneself to its fulfilment with great responsibility and excellence. He has rejected multiple offers from private sector firms to like to his principle of serving the society vs going for personal gains
God Help those who help themselves: Polish your professional skills and do not let it go out of date was his mantra. One such example is how he built his technical mastery, first by funding his trip to Japan to learn about metro, when he was part of Kolkatta metro team. He would always know the rule of the book to ensure he can manage his adversaries with knowledge vs force.
Never Criticize: In 2013 when corrupt lobby wanted to oust Sreedharan from Kochi metro project. He had never uttered a word in public against his detractors. He would repeat his message firmly, as befitting a battle-wise warrior, in his inimitable style: he merely wanted to finish the project without delay and without corruption, simply for the benefit of the people. The plotters had nothing to do but to beat a retreat, admitting defeat. Those who wrote off Sreedharan as just another project manager or a civil engineer capable of executing big projects were handed a loud and clear message that his name had found its way into the hearts and minds of the people at large, and could not be dismissed.
Honesty: Mostly people define honest is to keep themselves away from the wrongdoing. But, according to Sreedharan, honesty is not a state where corruption is absent, but actively taking a stand to benefit the institution and society for the long term. He says, be honest in your private and public life in such a way that you don’t need to try hard to convince anybody.
Importance of Time and Decision making: Almost all project he lead were completed on time. He stuck to his policy of taking the rigorous decision at the right time. It did not matter if it was right or wrong; it was more important to be able to make a decision. Many a time, Sreedharan would thrust his nose into highly complex situations faced by his deputies to help them make timely decisions.
The learnings are endless, and he is a role model for all youngsters. I would encourage you to take a leap and buy a copy of his autobiography of this living legend
