Women are Good Managers by Instinct: A Case

WOMEN ARE GOOD MANAGERS BY INSTINCT:
A CASE STUDY OF NIGAMA SHARMAAKKA

While the chromosomes decide the sex of a child, hormones control the physical features and growth, mental character and maturity, nature and behaviour. Presence of the female hormone Estrogen, is the reason for the difference in the appearance, behaviour and the way of thinking of women from men. One of the features special to women by birth is management. They are good managers by instinct. Women can manage any critical situation in an amicable manner. The talent of adjustability, inherent in them gives them the capability.

An efficient mother manages her home with available amenities. This unifies and strengthens the family leading to the strengthening of the society. A woman learns this management as a child and imparts to the members of her family. A Girl child’s growth is faster. Understanding and grasping power of girls are more, says medical science. From the infancy she knows that the house she’s is born and brought up is not her home. Her permanent abode is elsewhere. Knowing this fact she strives hard for the betterment of that house. The moment she is married, she adjusts in her new house and new relations to make it her home.

In Telugu literature, there are many instances that throw light on the managerial capabilities of a woman. For example:

Tenali Ramakrishna Kavi was a great poet who depicted the women characters as personification of humanity and explored the different dimensions of their personality. To establish the managerial capabilities of an Indian housewife, he created the character of Nigama Sarma Akka who was not given a name. He intended her to be the elder sister to those who go astray from righteous path.

When she came to know that her brother (Nigama Sharma) was addicted to vices, the first and foremost thing she did was to visit her parents’ place with her husband and children. This shows her foresight in anticipation of her extended stay, as she had no clue of the extent of damage her brother caused to the family and the time needed to set things right. The second reason being to get help form her husband and children. The third main reason was to show an example of a happy family to her brother who neglected his wife.

The fundamental necessity for success is to understand the problem, and prepare a plan of action before starting the work. This basic rule of management is followed by Nigama Sharma Akka. The second step is executing the plan.

She did not weep when she met her distressed parents. She stayed for a while understanding the situation completely without jumping into action. The most important part of management is communication skills. She spoke to them in a caustic and instigating manner to get them out of their state of distress. She did not hesitate to use a negative approach to get the right results. When they were to their normalcy, she balanced things by her pleasant deeds.

They had quite a few servants working for them, who were not monitored properly. She enquired about· their well-being and delegated the work to each of them. So the house started running smoothly and regained its grandeur.

She got the details of the principal treasure from her mother and kept it under safe custody, making sure her brother doesn’t lay hands on it.

The responsibility of Vedic school run by her father and the library, which was in a bad shape, were entrusted to her husband.

She gave the responsibility of the works that were outside the premises to her sons ­like the movable properties that were not known to her brother.

Allotment of work to proper persons reveals the managerial efficiency. Another major and important part of management is knowing the limitations. Apart from doing and delegating the work realizing one’s incapability also is part of fine management. She could set right many a thing, except one major problem i.e. Nigama Sharma’s wife’s misery. If there was something that could be done for her happiness, her mission would be accomplished.

One fine day, Nigam Sharma came home to devour the leftovers stealthily. She caught him red-handed, understood his condition, gave her son to her brother to hold him, making sure her brother would not runaway, showed many incentives to allure him to stay . As a part of it his wife came forward to wash his feet with water. For the first time he saw his wife’s beautiful face. After that things started falling into place as planned – good oil bath, new clothes, and delicious meal with the entire family. After the meal, when he was relaxing in the porch chewing betle leaf, his sister came and started combing his hair. Waiting for the right time, creating congenial atmosphere and steering the conversation according to the situation is an art. The royal way to victory. She won half the battle by gaining his attention. She was very careful in selecting the words, accent, tone and actions. She made him experience the happiness of staying at home with family. She showed him her and her husband’s concern to him. Finally allured him by promising him anything he wanted.

Indian scriptures state that there are four means of getting work done.

1) Sama – getting work done by talking in a nice manner
2) Dana – offering something in return to get a work done
3) Bheda – creating enmity towards others to get a work done
4) Danda – getting work done by force

She used the first three means. As a result Nigama Sharma stayed at home for sometime and behaved in a proper manner.

Nigama Sharma Akka is depicted as a personification of an ideal Indian woman, i.e. a good daughter, a good sister, a good wife and a good mother in whom managerial efficiency became an integral part.
*

‘The world turns and the world changes
But one thing does not change
In all my years one thing does not change
However you disguise it, this thing does not change
The perpetual struggle between Good and Evil.’
–T. S. ELIOT