Mahatma was a master at conflict management

Eluru: A seminar on ‘Mahatma Gandhi as Management Guru’ was jointly organised by Gandhian Studies Centre, and Department of Management Studies, Sri YN College, Narsapur on Friday. Dr KVCS Appa Rao, Principal of the college presided over the programme and welcomed the chief guest Prof G Haragopal, Professor of TISS, Hyderabad, Visiting Professor in National Law University, Bangalore and Member, AP Civil Rights Forum.

Prof Haragopal said the Mahatma was a good manager and resolved various conflicts and difficulties he faced during the freedom movement with his courageous leadership and practical ideology.

He referred to various incidents such as the Champaran movement, Partition of Bengal, differences with Ambedkar, Nehru, Bose etc, where Gandhiji tactfully managed the situation. Gandhiji believed that if people were given freedom then they would work freely and effectively.

At the same time, he believed that freedom without accountability and responsibility would lead to conflicts, said Prof Haragopal. Making a comparison of the management theories of Taylor, Mayo, Bernard and Gandhiji, Prof Haragopal said that Gandhiji was a master at conflict management.

He added that modern managers should realise that authority did not mean the exercise of power but establishing a good rapport with the subordinates and people. Gandhiji proved the same with his morals, values, personality and discipline, he said.

Director of Gandhian Studies Centre Prof D Venkateswara Rao, Head of MBA dept Dr R Pardhasaradhi, Dr N Chinta Rao, Director of PG Centre Dr CS Rao, , Dr Ch Srinivas, Dr PV Subba Rao, DDN Prasad, Ranga Babu, Sita Smitha, Madhuri and other faculty and students participated in the programme.