This is where Learning Management Systems come in for making personalized learning delivery. It is the mix of these two that modern L&D should focus on – contextual and personalized learning with ample opportunities for experiencing real-life situations for information application to ensure that the learning is meaningful for the learners. While the Gurukul setting in both, Ramayana and Mahabharata, focuses on a more traditional and theoretical form of learning that is personalized for individual learners (considering the fact that King Ram was no short of a genius and needed a curriculum – so to say – that fit his caliber), the other side of learning is entirely experiential. What changes in each of these is ‘the context’ and ‘the way’ that learning manifests. Learning is Contextual and Personalizedīoth Ramayana and Mahabharata cite several instances of training from the traditional classroom setting or Gurukul, as it was known back in the day, to Ekalavya’s self-driven learning – with Guru Dronacharya as his “virtual” teacher, and the different phases of learning that the Pandavas and Kauravas underwent.
Inspired by Author, Mythologist and renowned Leadership Coach, Devdutt Pattanaik’s interpretation of Mahabharata and Ramayana in L&D and how they can lead the shift in learning, here are some of my learnings from the “learning” lessons that can be drawn from our age-old Indian mythology. What could these ancient stories tell about modern day management, especially Learning and Development (L&D), Training Practices and Leadership Training? Similarly, in plain sight, Mahabharata and Ramayana are two mythological texts filled with stories about kings, their lives, the hardships and the ways in which they forged ahead.
Take for instance, the inferences from Kautilya’s Arthashatra in Indian Public Administration ( the source of our current day budgeting system, taxation policy, diplomacy and foreign policy). However, looking at it closely, one realizes that the modern judiciary, administration, traditional training and more have all been inspired or inferred from many of the mythological scriptures. Most of the time, Indian Mythology is equated to nothing but a tale as old as time, handed down generation after generation. In other words, the Holy Grail of soulful enrichment. A plethora of interesting stories fictional, historical and some with deep messages. And not to forget the countless hours spent figuring out the wily ghost Betaal’s fixation with King Vikramaditya, the perseverance and steadiness of Dhruva, who went on to become the Dhurva Nakshatra (Pole Star), the witty and insightful anecdotes of Akbar and Birbal, the intellectual, witty and humorous stories of Tenali Ramakrishnan and so on.
For those born in the late 80’s and early 90’s these stories were often backed by television shows filled with remarkable visual effects and the catchy title tracks, of course.
Growing up in a diverse country like India, our young minds have often been titillated by stories of deities and demi-gods, mythological tales of righteous kings, bizarre wars and so on.
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