Author: S Ramesh Shankar

Born in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, I have been brought up in different parts of India. Graduate in chemistry and post graduate in personnel management and industrial relations. Have been a HR practitioner for 38 years in the industry and have experience in working in steel , automobiles, FMCG and engineering industry. Was head of HR for Siemens in South Asia based out of Mumbai till March 2019. Currently founded hrishti - joy forever, a social enterprise to give back to society and work as Chief Joy Officer.

The generational shift

I was born in the so called baby boomers era. We then have had Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, millennials and so on. Each generation brings some unique characteristics along with them. In every phase of life, we live with multiple generations and hence we need to learn to live and thrive, in a multi-generational society.

A lot of talk is there at present ,as to how do we deal with millennials and so on. However, the reality is that many generations co-existed from time immemorial. So, it is not something new ,we are discovering today.

Every generation thought the next generation was not as good as they were. They felt the values had degenerated and the seniors were not respected, as much as in the past. Each generation tries to live in the past rather than foresee the future, which is evolving in front of them.

It is true that each generation will be different and their behaviour, norms and social ethos ,will be different. We can neither live in the past nor discard the developments in the present and the likely scenario in the future.

In my view, the behaviour and ethos of every generation is possibly determined by the environment around them. For eg. the baby boomers may have lived through multiple challenges, lived and worked for their survival ,on a day to day basis. The Gen X comparatively had a comfortable place to stay and got educated ,as per their needs.

Gen Y had more comforts from a physical sense ,as the Gen X could afford more material luxuries than the previous generation. Gen Y had more risk taking ability and hence ventured outside their comfort zones and moved across the country. Gen Z have become truly global and live more in the present than all the previous generations.

Each generation has the opportunity to learn from the other generations and build on their strengths. For eg, Gen X could learn from the sacrifices of the baby boomers. Gen Y could appreciate the comforts provided by Gen X to them. Gen Z can appreciate the risk taking abilities of Gen Y ,so as to enable them move across the globe and find their passions.

It is fashionable in organisations today to talk of multi generational workforce and how they have challenges in managing them. It is a reality that multiple generations, have been part of history in organisations ,always. May be the challenges were different and our ability to manage them ,were different.

Having said all that, it may be helpful to understand the strengths of each generation in the organisation and build on them so that the subsequent generations ,benefit from their deeds.

Yes, each generation will face a set of challenges and it is upto us to adapt to this shift and learn from the changes happening around us. We need to learn from both the generations, senior and junior to us.

Let us learn the generational shift and thrive in this change.

S Ramesh Shankar

10th Jan 2025

Life is like a party

Someone sent me a nice quote, which read that “Life is like a party” – some will come early, some later, some will enjoy while others will crib. Some will leave early while some others will leave late. Only a few will stay back after the party is over ,to clean up the place ,along with you.

So, you know, who your true friends are. Some come for maintaining their status, others come in to make their presence felt. Some consider it a formality while some others want to enjoy every moment of the party. But, when the party is over and it is time to clean up the place, very few will stay behind for that ,with you.

Life is no different. We meet all kinds of people, all along our way in life. Of course our family members join us early in this journey and generally stay back till the end. Friends may come and go as they deem fit but true friends will stay with you ,till the end of your journey.

We need to develop the ability to understand different types of people, whom we meet along the life journey. Some join us with a purpose and as soon as their purpose is fulfilled, will leave and go. Some others want to be with us ,for our wealth or comforts. They may be the first to leave if we get into any financial trouble or any other issue, which may impact their comforts.

True friends and relatives stay with you all through your thick and thin in life. The beauty of these friends is that are unconditional and never expect anything from you. They love you unconditionally and care for you always. Today I got a call from a friend of over four decades, who belongs to this category. We started our career together and treaded different routes ,to achieve our career goals. Both of us achieved what we could, in our respective careers. However, neither our position nor social status ever determined the quality of our friendship.

The quality of true relationships goes beyond money, time and status in society. We care for each other as honest human beings and enjoy each other’s company always. We do not use each other but are there for each other ,without even being sought for. A true friend may not call you or visit you for months or years but will always be around, whenever you need their support. They are just a call away, always.

So, life is indeed like a party ,we host at home. We may invite a wide variety of people. Some we enjoy, others enjoy at our expense. Some like us and others may not. But the true friends will be there with no invitation or no purpose beyond their care for you. They will be around from the beginning of the party till the end and clean up the place along with you and then leave.

We need to develop the ability to understand the different kinds of people. While we may not have a choice always to choose whom we would like to invite for the party, we can always learn to differentiate the rice from the husk. True friends are loving, caring and compassionate. They are with you during good and bad times.

Let us learn to enjoy the party of life with all kinds of people around us.

S Ramesh Shankar

10th Jan 2025

Ten life lessons from the “Kailash Manasarovar Yatra”

  1. The journey is as important as the destination: I had a dream of visiting Kailash Manasarovar for many years but it remained a dream for long. When I undertook this mission, I realised that the journey is as important as the destination. You can admire all aspects of nature as you tread along the mountains and rivers and when you reach Kailash, you realise that the road to the destination is as as beautiful as the destination itself.
  2. Physical fitness is not good enough to make it: I have been going for a walk every day for more than three and a half decades. I also practise yoga every day for more than a decade but this physical regimen was not good enough. You needed emotional and mental fitness to undertake this yatra. We met a few Everest climbers, who were gasping for breath and needed oxygen to survive in this yatra.
  3. Spritual calling is essential to make the trip: About three months back, I had contacted an agency in Bangalore and even on phone they rejected our candidature since my wife has a history of arthritis, bronchitis, cholestrol and BP. I did not want to undertake this yatra alone, leaving my life partner behind. But three months later, a family friend called and this time the tour organiser assured us that we can make it and I would call it a spiritual calling indeed. Today I have returned from the yatra to Kailash Manasarovar , along with my spouse.
  4. A confluence of body, mind and soul : The challenges of the yatra tests you physically, mentally and emotionally. I have never been admitted to a hospital in my life nor taken sick leave anytime in my career. But during the course of this yatra, I had high altitude sickness and was having diarrhoea/vomiting for three consecutive days and was drained out. I recovered from this illness just as we reached Manasarovar lake and was fit to undertake the yatra. A fit body supplemented with a focussed mind and a pure soul, possibly enables us to achieve this mission.
  5. We understand what a luxurious life we lead in our every day life, as we experience minimum comforts during the yatra: In life, we take most things for granted.-A good night’s sleep or clean toilets or a long journey by car. But, when you undertake this yatra, you trek, you take a horse, you walk through landslides and spend sleepless nights too. Sometimes you share rooms with many more people and have to also share washrooms. This is when you realise how lucky we are ,on a day to day living.
  6. Acclimatisation is the key to the yatra: We move from 3000 feet at Bangalore to 5000 feet at Kathmandu and gradually ,go up the hills , to reach a peak of about 16,600 feet. This climb is made gradually , so as to enable the body to acclimatise to the high altitudes. There is less oxygen in the air and the temperature keeps falling too. Our ability to adjust is the key to our success in life.
  7. Adaptability and flexibility keeps you ahead: We want everything in life ,our way. This yatra teaches you the basic lesson to adapt and be flexible to achieve your goal. You are not sure, when you start the yatra ,as to what is in store for you. It could be rain, sun or landslides along the way. Our intermittent stoppages may change and hotels booked ,may not be of use ,as we may be late or early. So, our ability to be flexible and adaptable makes us realise our mission.
  8. Change will be constant in life: The Kailash yatra teaches us this basic lesson that change is constant in life. Many things may not go as planned. Our flights may get cancelled, our route may get changed due to inclement weather, our immigration may be challenging experience ,spreading to hours of wait and so on. But as long as we are willing to embrace change as a way of life, we are sure of achieving our goal post.
  9. Focus on the mission – rest will follow: We need to be focussed in our goal in life. This yatra taught us that ,as long as we are clear and focussed in our goal and are willing to take on the challenges along the way, the mission could be accomplished. If we lose focus and give up along the way, we may return to the base camp, without accomplishing our goal.
  10. Gratitude to God and all elders is essential: Last but not the least, at every stage of the yatra, we need to be grateful to God and all elders ,for providing you all the basic essentials in life, in abundance. This yatra makes us realise that real happiness in life is the product of gratitude and contentment in life ,always.

Let the journey of self discovery continue for all of us ,forever.

S Ramesh Shankar

19th Sep 2025