“If you are not with me, you are against me”, Duryodhana told Krishna in Mahabharata. It was not a statement of strength, but of insecurity. A leader who sees the world in black and white, friend or enemy, abandons the essence of Rajdharma, the duty of leadership.
Sadly, this mindset is alive in many Indian mid-sized companies today. Leaders mistake obedience for loyalty and dissent for disloyalty. The organization becomes cantered on personalities rather than purpose. And just as it did in our epics, this mindset leads to downfall.
Satyam Computers: The fraud wasn’t just numbers, it was silence. Senior leaders didn’t dare question the top. Truth became the casualty.
Ranbaxy: Family disputes divided the company into camps. Employees were dragged into loyalty wars, breaking the very unity needed for growth.
Kingfisher Airlines: Built on charisma, not collaboration. Voices of caution were ignored. Flattery replaced counsel, and the collapse was inevitable.
These are big names, but similar stories play out daily in INIDAN corporations, where a talented manager who raises compliance or safety concerns is told: “If you don’t like it, maybe this isn’t your place.” Indian wisdom has always held leaders to a higher standard:
What Indian Wisdom Teaches is Rajdharma, the duty of leadership, has always been clear: Listen to dissent, for wisdom often comes from those who disagree. Put the welfare of the organization above personal pride. Build loyalty to purpose, not person.
Leaders who stick to “with me or against me” might win obedience, but they lose trust, talent, and long-term growth.
True leadership is not about creating followers. It’s about creating a shared commitment to a higher purpose. That is Dharma in action.
Have you seen this mindset in action? How did it impact culture in your workplace? Share your experience, I would love to hear your perspective.
