Shantanu Deshpande on inequality in India, Work, Wealth, And Majboori Culture
Assume citizens received free basic income needed to sustain a person’s life without even working. Would they still go to their jobs? Shantanu Deshpande, the Chief Executive Officer of Bombay Shaving Company, posed such a question in a controversial post on Bertie’s page. To further illustrate his point, he went on to discuss the existing “crazy” inequality that exists in India alongside criticising the ‘work culture’ that births millions of ‘slaves’ who work solely for the reason to earn their next meal.
The Problem Of Wealth Inequality
Comments of Shantanu Deshpande detail the amount of poverty and need for exploitation that exists in India. He further adds that only 2,000 families in India account for 18% of the total economy and that they only contribute 1.8% of taxes. While sceptics remain cautious as to these statistics, the story behind them seems to resonate with many people across social media. mudança das](min0329). ”Such families and other ‘equity builders’ like me… indeed should be accused of selling a ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ ideology But as soon as people perceive it to be self-serving, this type of speech loses its pretty self-serving side.”
“Work… Is A Must….”
Through his post Deshpande described a dismal state of a modern workplace when he said, “If sustenance money and financial security were to be provided to everyone in India, 99% won’t report to work the next day.’’ To him, the impact of economic disparity forces men and women into jobs they don’t love, making work a ‘majboori’ (compulsion) to fend for their families.
According to him, this phenomenon is present in every job category in all aspects of the industry. Gig economy participants, government employees and even those working at startups, most of them work out of necessity and not to be fulfilled. ‘’To pull someone from his house and family the whole day and dangle a paycheck over him is just so fine with everyone,’’ Deshpande wrote, highlighting the negative ethics of a work culture that promotes productivity over people.
Splitting Opinions
The perspectives of people have drastically shifted on Shantanu Deshpande’s post as it has caused a lot of controversy. Certain people did applaud him for tackling a controversial topic such as that of wealth inequality and balance at the workplace, but certain other people did not hold back and shared their problems with his vast generalist views.
One of the LinkedIn users claimed, “The corporate 1 percent will not be seen coming in to work however nations have farmers, teachers, engineers, healthcare workers, street vendors and several others who make up the economy, in most cases they still walk in to work!” while another dismisses the notion that they would abandon the motivating factors of their jobs simply for the sake of security.
Do We Need To Change or Reconsider Work?
This argument compels us to ask some more fundamental questions about the work ethic in society. Is work only submission enforced transactional activity of desperation and survival or a tool for self-esteem and self-building? In such circumstances, work is worship is the shibboleth of the desperate and the “work hard and climb up” paradigm is challenged. As a business owner, that privilege from his perspective makes his argument less straightforward. “We do not know how to work without slaying,” he confessed. This outlook would rather suggest that the problem is structural in nature. Maybe the answer is not to eradicate work but rather to envision a new type of work culture where security and satisfaction accompany the problem rather than wealth creation and equity distribution being the goal.
Moving Forward
Dismantling the supremacy of the affluent in India’s society is a step towards progressing to a more progressive society. Whether through policies, change in corporate ethics or through social activism, progress is possible makes Shantanu Deshpande’s post even more relevant when India faces all these challenges.
Additionally, enshrining purpose-driven work culture instead of hunger-driven work culture may change how people perceive jobs and work. This is a radical change that may in return promote innovation, mental wellness and creativity amongst the people which in turn fills some of the economic voids and also uplifts the living standards of the society as a whole. Personal development opportunities which are embedded in the workplace can mean that employees build an inclusive workforce that is enriched with great motivation.
Equitable policies with utilisation of technology can ensure better distribution of inherited wealth amongst the different layers of society and put an end to the economic injustice Deshpande addresses. It is terrorism of ostentation which Deshpande abhors and the reformed tax systems would serve the purpose. Though such changes may feel daunting they would in return guarantee a more equal and fair economy and society.
The dialogue is still ongoing and we cannot say with certainty whether or not Shantanu Deshpande’s statement will encourage more people to speak out about the injustices ingrained in their everyday life. As he noted, however, such a change has to start with a query.
