Inner strengthInner strength

www.kochousephchittilappilly.comwww.kochousephchittilappilly.com

Inner strength is an integral part of Inner strength is an integral part of success and leadership. A firm belief success and leadership. A firm belief in what is right and the will to in what is right and the will to enforce it. In situations where others enforce it. In situations where others are passive and silent, it takes a are passive and silent, it takes a leader to look beyond the obvious leader to look beyond the obvious and take a stand.  and take a stand. 

I have faced many situations where I have faced many situations where taking a stand has made a taking a stand has made a difference. I have narrated this difference. I have narrated this incident in my book Practical incident in my book Practical Wisdom. It was way back in 1979, Wisdom. It was way back in 1979, just two years into the inception of V just two years into the inception of V Guard, when it was yet a very small Guard, when it was yet a very small company and I was the sole sales company and I was the sole sales representative. representative.

  I was travelling by bus in North I was travelling by bus in North Kerala to meet dealers and address Kerala to meet dealers and address their grievances. The bus passed a their grievances. The bus passed a village school and was accosted by a village school and was accosted by a group of teenage school boys who group of teenage school boys who were protesting. They stopped traffic were protesting. They stopped traffic and while shouting slogans began to and while shouting slogans began to let the air out of the tires of vehicles let the air out of the tires of vehicles

  I watched this atrocity with horror. I watched this atrocity with horror. Passengers in the vehicles looked on Passengers in the vehicles looked on helplessly. As the boys approached helplessly. As the boys approached my bus to do the same, I stood up my bus to do the same, I stood up and shouted at them in a loud voice, and shouted at them in a loud voice, telling them not to damage the bus telling them not to damage the bus and that if they do, all the and that if they do, all the passengers would beat them up. passengers would beat them up.

On hearing this, passengers who On hearing this, passengers who were up till then, silent, began to rise were up till then, silent, began to rise up in unison against the students, up in unison against the students, who very quickly exited the scene. who very quickly exited the scene. My bus was spared and I was able to My bus was spared and I was able to get to my meetings on time.  get to my meetings on time. 

All it takes is the inner courage, All it takes is the inner courage, backed by the fact that you are in backed by the fact that you are in the right and the have will to the right and the have will to implement it.  implement it. 

A similar incident occurred recently, A similar incident occurred recently, at one of the warehouses of V-Star. at one of the warehouses of V-Star. There was an altercation with a few There was an altercation with a few headload workers belonging to a headload workers belonging to a trade union. trade union.

We had our own workers, duly We had our own workers, duly registered under the law, to carry out registered under the law, to carry out the loading and unloading. But, they the loading and unloading. But, they were obstructed from doing their were obstructed from doing their work by members of a trade union work by members of a trade union who were taking law into their who were taking law into their hands.  hands. 

The draconian system of The draconian system of �Nokkukooli�, where trade union �Nokkukooli�, where trade union members are paid just for their members are paid just for their presence at the site, even if the presence at the site, even if the loading and unloading is done by loading and unloading is done by others, is prevalent in Kerala. others, is prevalent in Kerala.

The law requires that, in a scheme The law requires that, in a scheme covered area, only a registered head covered area, only a registered head load worker can do loading and load worker can do loading and unloading. We had duly complied unloading. We had duly complied with the law by registering our with the law by registering our workers. workers. 

Knowing the law, I knew I had to rise Knowing the law, I knew I had to rise up against this. When confronted up against this. When confronted again, I was compelled to step into again, I was compelled to step into the lorry and offload the material, the lorry and offload the material, with the union members looking on. I with the union members looking on. I have also taken up the matter before have also taken up the matter before the Court of Law. the Court of Law.

You can You can watch the video clip herewatch the video clip here. I . I have received many letters and have received many letters and emails from citizens across the emails from citizens across the country pouring out their angst and country pouring out their angst and supporting the bold move. supporting the bold move. 

It takes inner strength and courage It takes inner strength and courage to stand up for what is right. It will to stand up for what is right. It will make a difference to your life, your make a difference to your life, your country and the world at large. country and the world at large.

Where there is a will, there is a Where there is a will, there is a way!way!

Contact UsContact Us

www.kochousephchittilappilly.comwww.kochousephchittilappilly.com