Weekend Musings: Progressing Together – The India-Japan Friendship

To set the context for this particular piece, I feel the need to start it with a closing statement. One of the most important things I have learned in my life is that to be a true leader, your focus must not be restricted to your employees but extend to the masses as well. Only when you try to become a leader of the masses – understand and answer their needs – can you become a successful leader of any organization. This is something that I not only feel but something I am reminded of now and then – with the latest being as recently as the past week.

Last week, I participated in the India-Japan Business & Tourism Conclave organized by AMA (Ahmedabad Management Association). It was yet another opportunity to meet many people and to know how individuals and organizations are trying to make a difference by strengthening the cooperation between the two countries. Working close to the administration machine of the country, New Delhi, I am familiar with the majority of efforts and action happening between cities which are the trading, financial or technological hubs. Nevertheless, it was good to know in detail the efforts made by members of the AMA and Indo-Japan Friendship Association over many decades.

The theme of the event was to share the “Recipe of Success” for Japanese companies in India. The main highlights for me included hearing notable speakers such as Mr. Sujan Chinoy, who served as the Ambassador of India in Japan during a critical geopolitical environment and is now spearheading the government think tank IDSA (Institute for Defense Studies & Analysis), and Managing Directors of Maruti Suzuki, Toshiba, Daikin, Mizuho Bank and related chambers from Japan.

Almost everyone spoke about the importance of enhancing the cooperation between India and Japan and how the two countries have a lot in common when it comes to cultures and value systems. It is heartening to know that Japan already is a significant contributor to India’s development, be it with the Ahmedabad Metro project or the ambitious High Speed Rail Project. However, another significant takeaway for me was to see it is not only the Japanese assistance India appreciates but Japanese leaders as well.

One of the speakers at the event touched upon an incident in the late 1920s when Japan was going through an economic crisis. He shared how the founder of Panasonic, Konosuke Matsushita, under high pressure then, stood by his employees and sustained through tough times imbibing the spirit of entrepreneurship in every employer, while many Japanese companies were laying them off. Another participant spoke about Matsushita’s initiative of PHP (Peace and Harmony through Prosperity). It was good to hear that people not only have high respect for the founder of Panasonic but also have a deep awareness about his life, work and philosophy. This is something very close to my heart and will be one of the agendas in my way forward.

Konosuke Matsushita was a leader who believed not just in the welfare of the company but of the society. Creating awareness about his life, business philosophy, and the PHP institute he created is something I wish to do. And I feel that a network of individuals and organizations who hold him in high regard can help catalyze this endeavour of letting the business community in India “Know Matsushita”. In the coming time, I will make efforts to explore this agenda as he is the best examples of how a leader should not only lead his company but also his life – by being a leader of the masses.