After globalization, the word “management” is heard everywhere and its demand is growing by leaps and bounds. Communication skill, ie ‘the power to speak’ is essential to succeed in any ‘Management’ role.
Communication – the divine weapon
Long ago, Mahakavi Kalidasa wrote in ‘Raghu Vamsa’, a great work: ‘Vaagartha Viva Sampruktau; Vaagartha Pratipattaye; Jagatah Pitarau Vande; Parvati Parameswarau’ ‘I salute Parvati and Parameswara, Parents of the Universe, to bless me with expression and meaning, for they are so close.’ Therefore, Kalidasa knew that in communication, the word and the meaning must be closely linked. It is necessary to say or write what we want to say exactly. The expression of feelings is the only differentiator that separates human beings from other living beings. Communication is like a divine weapon. If you misuse it, it can become a destructive weapon in the hands of a fool. There are people who enjoy congratulations with the power of their ‘speech’! There are people who invite wars due to lack of proper communication! You can recover the slip of your leg and you can heal, but you can’t reverse the slip of a tongue!
Hanuman – the communication expert!
The importance of the power of communication is illustrated in Valmiki’s epic Ramayana. The general public always feels that Hanuman is just a person who always sings Ram bhajan. He is the expert in Vedas, expert in all sciences, a man of action, a noble minister, an efficient ambassador, an eminent leader and an obedient servant. Whatever position he held, he always followed the dharma of himself as an ideal idol for others.
How is this possible?
Her background in communication allowed her to take on various roles efficiently and effectively. New age managers can learn a lot and receive advice from Hanuman, the communication expert, acclaimed by Lord Rama himself.
How to communicate?
Hanuman is an expert in scientific communication, that is, he always speaks as he should. Rama discusses how Hanuman speaks in Kishkindha Kaanda as told by Valmiki. When Hanuman first meets Rama on the outskirts of Kishkindha as Sugreeva’s messenger, Rama was enchanted by Hanuman’s style of communication and art of speaking. He tells his brother Lakshmana: ‘See how excellently Hanuman has spoken. He did not utter a single word without relevance and meaning. He has not wasted a single word. Neither did he omit an appropriate word. He has not taken more time than is strictly necessary to express what he wanted to say. Every word he said can never be forgotten. Such a voice promotes the general welfare and remains forever in the hearts and minds of generations to come.’ Isn’t that a brief statement of the basics and essentials of what speech should be like?
Again, when Hanuman sees Sita in Ashoka Grove in Ravana’s Lanka, the Demon King, he exclaims: “Finding Sita here is like listening to a person who lacks the culture of words, trying to say something but actually saying something.” . the rest!’ A mismatch between what is said and what is meant.
According to Francis T. Bergin, a well-known communication expert, the seven C’s are the essential elements of communication. It must be ‘correct’, ‘clear’, ‘complete’, ‘concise’, ‘specific’, ‘frank’ and ‘polite’. Don’t these coincide with the advice of Valmiki, who wrote centuries ago in the ageless epic of him?
Hanuman on how to talk!
Anyone who can practice as Hanuman can achieve success in any of his chosen fields. To cite one more example from the Ramayana, illustrating Hanuman’s effective communication skills, let’s follow this scene. Hanuman, having found Sita in Ravana’s Asoka Garden, returned with his fellow monkeys, who are eagerly awaiting the news. Seeing the anxious faces of him, in the presence of Rama, Hanuman shouted ‘Drushta Sita’ and this released not only Rama’s tension but also all the monkeys.
‘Have you seen Sita!’ – What an appropriate communication in the given context! If Hanuman had started his communication about finding Sita with something other than ‘Drushta’, say with a pronouncement like Sita, it could only have aroused the anxieties of the monkeys and Rama to higher levels, raising countless questions like: ‘ Sita, what happened to her?’ Is she alive? Was Hanuman able to see her? etc., even before Hanuman could complete the rest of his statement. And herein lies the greatness of Valmiki in having Hanuman pay attention to the state of mind of his fellow monkeys and Rama and convey exactly what they were eagerly waiting to hear.
How and how much to talk?
This is one of the dilemmas we all face on a day-to-day basis. Moral values, rules and regulations will not penetrate deeply into the heart, if one simply says them with lost words. To understand the importance of the message, it must be illustrated with a short story or an interesting anecdote. Hanuman demonstrated in the Ramayana on many occasions on how and how much to speak.
As emissary and representative
How to talk while chatting with family? How do you speak in the performance of your professional duties? How to talk when you are in business? How to talk when you are solving a problem? How do you talk when you are trying to build relationships? How to talk when you are an intermediary or representative?
Hanuman watched Sita as she tried to commit suicide. He has to stop her from making that big mistake. He has to inform her about the arrival of Rama. First, he has to earn the confidence that he is Rama’s Emissary. In order for his task to be successful, he thought carefully and uttered a single sentence: “Dasaratha is the king of Ayodhya.” He then began to narrate the story sitting in the branches of the tree. Sita stopped her efforts to strangle herself to death after hearing the word ‘Dasaratha’ in Lanka, where Rama is only familiar with the demon population. She felt that her close helpers had come to Lanka. So, Hanuman appeared in front of Sita and explained all the blissful happenings that Rama comes to Lanka to free her from Ravana’s clutches to comfort her and give her courage. He didn’t utter a word about her adventures while crossing the sea.
Sita has to live until Rama reaches Lanka. What to do to achieve this goal? Just by informing him of Rama’s arrival, He is able to stop Sita from sacrificing his life. It is not necessary to narrate his adventures in the sea and boast of his greatness. That is why Hanuman always speaks what is necessary according to the situation.
How to communicate with friends?
Hanuman, after meeting Sita, burned Lanka, warned Ravana and returned across the sea to meet his army of monkeys waiting anxiously on the other shore. He reported on Sita’s welfare and comforted them. After hearing this good news from Hanuman, they began to ask him about his adventures in the sea. How could you cross the sea of hundreds of miles? How did you get into the incredibly protected Lanka? How could you find Sita in that huge Lanka City? Do we want to know everything about his victorious journey to Lanka? The monkey army has posed Hanuman with all enthusiasm and eagerness. Hanuman explained all the trials and turmoils of his journey to Lanka and captivated them with his experiences at sea. They are his friends and most eager to hear about his adventures. He narrated his entire trip to Lanka like a travelogue. He told them all his adventures, but he did not tell them the two words that Sita said to Rama. Those details are only for Rama. They should not be informed to the friends of him. Those words are for Rama. Friends are friends and the boss is the boss. Personal messages should only be delivered to a particular person.
How to communicate with Boss and King
After returning to Kishkindha, the entire army of monkeys danced for joy at seeing Sita. Rama asked those who had seen Sita to come forward, until then Hanuman was humbly stepping back. After Rama’s due request, Hanuman explained the sad situation of Sita in Lanka. He spoke the two words to Rama as Sita spoke them. Hanuman handed over the ornament given by Sita to Rama. That’s all! He did not utter a single word about his adventures, trials and tribulations during the trip to Lanka.
Rama is the King. Hanuman is Servant. One has to obey his Boss and complete the task efficiently. That’s all!
One has to emulate Hanuman’s task-oriented behaviour, proactive nature and power of speech to succeed in any of his chosen fields.
Ramayana and Mahabharata should be read not in the last phase of life (old age), but in the first two phases. You have to read the epics in childhood and follow them in youth so that they become the pride of parents and proud children of the land.
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