Leadership And The Reality of Illusion

Leadership And The Reality of Illusion

BIG IDEA: The `Consciousness Leader` is the next step
in the evolution of leadership in the 21^st century

Tagline: It is an interesting phenomenon that while the leader must grasp the illusory nature of his role to make it real for his people, many team members may operate from a `reality` that they can independently define their space and the leader can be `managed`. What is illusion and what is reality itself is debatable, but adopting an `illusion model` to leading makes leaders more adaptable to the variables and realities of human behaviour.

Leadership is a deep subject. There are many models that provide a framework for leaders to operate from. However, the real test lies in having the ability to move beyond the frameworks and operate real time amidst the complexity that people create.

Great leadership hardly flows from one's technical expertise. The technique to handle people rises way above technical skills. The best part about technical skills is its relatively static nature, but people throw up variables which can surprise the most competent leader in the world. The leader of course must display decent technical skills to earn the respect of his team, but it is people handling skills that tower above any other dynamics in a leadership role.

The toughest thing about handling people is that they cannot be conditioned beyond a certain timeframe. One of the great differences in training animals and people is that the former get conditioned and stay conditioned, whereas the latter have reasons to get conditioned, yet find ways to break free. Animals are instinctive; so when the instinct is reined in, they give in, but people carry instincts along with a host of ohere emotional dynamics like ego, rationality, sensitivity, aspiration, etc.

A leader has to deal with all this, besides his own personality, complexes and complexities. A leader must possess great self-awareness and also have the ability to navigate through complex personalities in his team. Unlike animals, who, once trained, revel in being obedient, human beings can break off long-held relationships in a matter of minutes. This could result from a bad experience, a misunderstood communication or withering trust.

Human beings function from a complex set of factors and are governed by an abstract yet fundamental phenomenon called Consciousness. The nature of consciousness is such that it makes people oscillate between reality and illusion. A leader's great challenge is to grasp this crucial dynamic in a team's psychology. People fundamentally don't like to be led, they like to lead. The team may perceive the leader's role to be illusory and their own perspectives to be real. This has a major bearing on how they behave and respond to a leader's presence and personality.

It is an interesting phenomenon that while the leader must grasp the illusory nature of his role to make it real for his people, many team members may operate from a `reality` that they can independently define their space and the leader can be `managed`. What is illusion and what is reality itself is debatable, but adopting an `illusion model` to leading makes leaders more adaptable to the variables and realities of human behaviour.

Context plays a very critical role in a leader's life. With diminishing age for leadership positions in teh corporate world, the lack of experience can be made up only through well-built perspectives and a spiritual-intellectual approach to the role. It will help leaders to internalise the ephemeral nature of life, which will play out in their interactions with team members. No behaviour or relationship is permanent and no emotional connection beyond reach.

A leader must work not just on his competencies, but also on his consciousness. A leader's life is defined by the extent of complexity he has to handle. Complexity can become overbearing and at times impossible to manage. It is therefore imperative for a leader to be both a learner as well as a meditator. He must not just meditate on leadership strategies, but also practice meditation as a habit, as that will create within him magnificent detachment combined with emotional engagement with his team. Meditation will help him balance the illusory and reality forces that will confront him frequently and substantially. Meditation will help him come to terms with the `illusion of reality` as well as the `reality of illusion`.

Elevating leadership to a level of consciousness will make the leader approach the role with spontaneity and tenacity. A leader must `belong` and not just `be`. For this, it is imperative that he masters the art of adapting to people's behaviors and their varying levels of consciousness. A leader therefore has to manage the `clash of consciousness` and not just the clash of temperaments.

The `Consciousness Leader` is the next step in the evolution of leadership in the 21^st century.

The Contemplative Calcuttan

The Contemplative Calcuttan

Kolkata prides itself on its arts, literature and culture. It has made slowness into a fine art of sorts, providing people that extra breathing space to contemplate on the finer and subtler aspects of living. In comparison to the fast-paced metros, it comes across as lazy and laid-back. But if we were to look at it from another perspective, what really have the so-called developed metros achieved in terms of lifestyle barring more stress and distress? Kolkata, at least on the outside, offers a picture of contemplation and a resolve to stay peaceful.

“Even the buildings seem to be in suspended animation,” I commented to my relatives as I stared outside from their seventh floor apartment in Kolkata. Every visit to the City of Joy makes you wonder at the reluctant pace at which the city is still coming to terms with liberalisation. As the nation commemorates twenty five years of liberalisation, Kolkata seems static and contented in its own space and time, as if liberalisation is fast spreading its tentacles in a far distant land.

The city though has not been able to escape the effects of liberalisation. There is visibly better infrastructure, more options for eating and entertainment. But it does not escape anyone's notice that the old Calcutta is still determined to hold on to its legacy – the rickety yellow Ambassador taxi, the still-reckless-though-broken mini bus, the slow-moving tram and the pioneering metro combine to put together a unique symphony of sorts. However, I did notice that hand-pulled rickshaws were out of sight.

Kolkata holds a special place in my life as I spent an impactful part of my childhood there. At a young age it deeply ingrained in me the impressions that stay with you for a lifetime. Every visit there fills me with nostalgia, memories and cravings for the only kind of sweets available on Planet Earth. Not to mention the amazing Bengali samosa (singada), puchka (gol gappa or pani puri for the rest of India, depending on where you live) and the `cutting chai` in the small earthen pot. And all these come at a cost which will make your jaws shake in `happy horror`.

A recent visit to Motilal Nehru Raod, where I spent two critical years of my life with my uncle's family, filled me with a sense of deep nostalgia. While a redeveloped building here and there had come up in the lane, memories sped back to my childhood as I saw youngsters from another generation play cricket with the same gusto that we did. I wondered if anything had changed at all. The lane, its people, the surroundings all seemed blissfully contented in occupying a space in time which seemed not just reluctant, but resistant to go the modern way.

Kolkata prides itself on its arts, literature and culture. It has made slowness into a fine art of sorts, providing people that extra breathing space to contemplate on the finer and subtler aspects of living. In comparison to the fast-paced metros, it comes across as lazy and laid-back. But if we were to look at it from another perspective, what really have the so-called developed metros achieved in terms of lifestyle barring more stress and distress? Kolkata, at least on the outside, offers a picture of contemplation and a resolve to stay peaceful.

The city it appears to me is resolute about maintaining its solitude. While the rest of the country is busy planning the next big economic move, Calcutta is taking measured steps towards globalisation. For the outsider, it invokes both curiosity as well as contempt for its `laziness`. The `progressive` Indian accuses it of economic backwardness and industrial unfriendliness. But has anyone bothered to ask the `Contemplative Calcuttan` whether he would be ready to impart training in the nuances of the Bengali language, Rabindra Sangeet and Satyajit Ray films? The enthusiasm with which they pursue activities contemplative and intellectually enriching has to be seen to be believed. It's important purely from an evolutionary perspective to not just give Calcutta the benefit of doubt, but also acknowledge the unique strengths it offers to the Indian populace. The contribution of Bengalis to the national creative space is outstanding to say the least.

Oh! Calcutta, I know the `wrath of time` will with each passing day challenge your stubbornness to remain traditional and lure you into `development`, as can be seen from the way classical homes are getting clouded by the presence of modern buildings, but may you remain steadfast in holding on to what India and humanity need to preserve in your bosom. May you acquire only those modern traits that will uplift human consciousness and not increase human cravings.

The Contemplative Calcuttan after all epitomises not just the nature of a city and its people, it also offers hope of escapism into a zone of consciousness which connects you to `everything within the nothing`.

The Contemplative Calcuttan

The Contemplative Calcuttan

Kolkata prides itself on its arts, literature and culture. It has made slowness into a fine art of sorts, providing people that extra breathing space to contemplate on the finer and subtler aspects of living. In comparison to the fast-paced metros, it comes across as lazy and laid-back. But if we were to look at it from another perspective, what really have the so-called developed metros achieved in terms of lifestyle barring more stress and distress? Kolkata, at least on the outside, offers a picture of contemplation and a resolve to stay peaceful.

“Even the buildings seem to be in suspended animation,” I commented to my relatives as I stared outside from their seventh floor apartment in Kolkata. Every visit to the City of Joy makes you wonder at the reluctant pace at which the city is still coming to terms with liberalisation. As the nation commemorates twenty five years of liberalisation, Kolkata seems static and contented in its own space and time, as if liberalisation is fast spreading its tentacles in a far distant land.

The city though has not been able to escape the effects of liberalisation. There is visibly better infrastructure, more options for eating and entertainment. But it does not escape anyone's notice that the old Calcutta is still determined to hold on to its legacy – the rickety yellow Ambassador taxi, the still-reckless-though-broken mini bus, the slow-moving tram and the pioneering metro combine to put together a unique symphony of sorts. However, I did notice that hand-pulled rickshaws were out of sight.

Kolkata holds a special place in my life as I spent an impactful part of my childhood there. At a young age it deeply ingrained in me the impressions that stay with you for a lifetime. Every visit there fills me with nostalgia, memories and cravings for the only kind of sweets available on Planet Earth. Not to mention the amazing Bengali samosa (singada), puchka (gol gappa or pani puri for the rest of India, depending on where you live) and the `cutting chai` in the small earthen pot. And all these come at a cost which will make your jaws shake in `happy horror`.

A recent visit to Motilal Nehru Raod, where I spent two critical years of my life with my uncle's family, filled me with a sense of deep nostalgia. While a redeveloped building here and there had come up in the lane, memories sped back to my childhood as I saw youngsters from another generation play cricket with the same gusto that we did. I wondered if anything had changed at all. The lane, its people, the surroundings all seemed blissfully contented in occupying a space in time which seemed not just reluctant, but resistant to go the modern way.

Kolkata prides itself on its arts, literature and culture. It has made slowness into a fine art of sorts, providing people that extra breathing space to contemplate on the finer and subtler aspects of living. In comparison to the fast-paced metros, it comes across as lazy and laid-back. But if we were to look at it from another perspective, what really have the so-called developed metros achieved in terms of lifestyle barring more stress and distress? Kolkata, at least on the outside, offers a picture of contemplation and a resolve to stay peaceful.

The city it appears to me is resolute about maintaining its solitude. While the rest of the country is busy planning the next big economic move, Calcutta is taking measured steps towards globalisation. For the outsider, it invokes both curiosity as well as contempt for its `laziness`. The `progressive` Indian accuses it of economic backwardness and industrial unfriendliness. But has anyone bothered to ask the `Contemplative Calcuttan` whether he would be ready to impart training in the nuances of the Bengali language, Rabindra Sangeet and Satyajit Ray films? The enthusiasm with which they pursue activities contemplative and intellectually enriching has to be seen to be believed. It's important purely from an evolutionary perspective to not just give Calcutta the benefit of doubt, but also acknowledge the unique strengths it offers to the Indian populace. The contribution of Bengalis to the national creative space is outstanding to say the least.

Oh! Calcutta, I know the `wrath of time` will with each passing day challenge your stubbornness to remain traditional and lure you into `development`, as can be seen from the way classical homes are getting clouded by the presence of modern buildings, but may you remain steadfast in holding on to what India and humanity need to preserve in your bosom. May you acquire only those modern traits that will uplift human consciousness and not increase human cravings.

The Contemplative Calcuttan after all epitomises not just the nature of a city and its people, it also offers hope of escapism into a zone of consciousness which connects you to `everything within the nothing`.

10 Reasons Why Companies Must Train Their People

10 Reasons Why Companies Must Train Their People

Here are ten reasons why companies – small, medium and big – must focus on developing their people to create competence and thereby build performance excellence:

1. The only way to grow your business by growing your people. If you don't train, their minds will rust, and eventually, so will the business.

2. When people are trained, you make them competent. If they stay, they will perform, if they leave, they will propagate about you.

3. Training helps add to perspectives within the organisation. This leads to more ideas which keep the working ambience vibrant.

4. Training promotes more purposeful conversations, which lead to enhanced productivity.

5. Training makes people more organised and process oriented. That adds to organisational efficiency.

6. Training creates hunger for learning, which will lead to greater earning for the company and its people, for after all earning lies within l(earning). A learning culture will create a performance culture.

7. Training helps promote bonding and team work. When people work together, overall productivity multiplies. That is why companies must focus on both functional as well as behavioural training.

8. Training, coaching and mentoring promote better behaviours. This improves customer centricity. The only way to take care of your customers is to take care of your people.

9. Training, coaching and mentoring build better leaders. No organisation can progress without a strong leadership culture.

10. Training is the biggest retention tool. Its is also the greatest differentiator in the marketplace.

India @ `25`

India @ `25`

In the past twenty five years if one thing is to be marked out as a single biggest game changer, it has to be technology. For us, getting a landline telephone connection and owning a colour television set were nirvana. Today, our kids change their mobile phones within months and have hundreds of channels at their service. Technology has changed the way India lives, breathes, talks, feels and expresses. When we were at school, we were measured by IQ and today our children are measuring us with TQ.

India is introspecting life after twenty five years of liberalisation, one of the momentous post-independence events. I was just 22 when PV Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister and Finance Minister respectively, announced economic reforms. The Congress-led government was forced to take the step due to the balance of payments crisis. What it meant politically was a break from the socialist stance and embracing capitalism. The Cold War had ended with the US, with whom India thus far had shared an ambivalent relationship, decisively winning it. Caplitalism had triumphed over communism. The USSR had broken up and the US emerged as a massive superpower.

What economic liberalisation meant for the lay man here was more television channels beyond the usual fare from Doordarshan, and international soft drinks and fashion brands enticing us with their flavours. My generation started to feel the change in the '80s itself as Disco music and Hollywood movies started to capture our imagination. There was a palpable cultural shift. Signs were clear that India was on the cusp of a change – a major change.

That major change was sealed in 1991, as India was forced to open itself up to foreign investments and thereby foreign competition. The comfort zone of being a closed, public-sector controlled economy was shaken at its roots. Nehruvian socialism was about to break its links with the past and a new kind of governance was thrust upon a reluctant country. The brands started to come in thick and fast.

Hindi movies started reflecting the change. They became grander. The nation was less angry and more anticipating now. The Rajesh Khannas and Amitabh Bachchans of Bollywood made a decisive way to the Madhuris and Shah Rukhs. No more of the lost and found, let's fight poverty and injustice types of plots. It was a bolder and more expressive India with Madhuri Dixit having the nation on its toes with her `revealing` ek, do, teen number in the film Tezaab. She symbolised an India that was prepared to shed its inhibitions big time.

Economic liberalisation changed the meaning and value of money. When Manoj Kumar raised a rant against inflation in the 1974 film Roti, Kapada aur Makaan, nobody could have visualised the rising inflation levels the country is living with since 1991. Be it the basic necessities of life, property prices or cost of entertainment, everything has been on a constant upswing. Yet, the middle class has seized upon the opportunity to live a life of its dreams – cars, homes, clothes, burgeoning income, etc.

As I push towards 47, besides the impact on the perception of money, I can see that the country has undergone a drastic cultural shift too. Economic liberalisation has not just transformed the value of money, it has altered cultural equations. It is redefining perspectives on traditional ideas of relationships, marriages and lifestyles.

Teenagers today, who were born in the `new` India, inheriting parents from the `old` India, celebrate life far more than people from my generation could have imagined. They have probably already used up the `celebration quota` allotted to us at birth. Many of them are uncluttered and live life to the fullest. The shift in the way India lived pre-1991 and now can be seen by simply visiting any academic institution today. The way we operated as students seems like we belonged to an archaic generation.

In the past twenty five years if one thing is to be marked out as a single biggest game changer, it has to be technology. For us, getting a landline telephone connection (how funny that when it comes to phones today, you have to be specific) and owning a colour television set were nirvana. Today, our kids change their mobile phones within months and have hundreds of channels at their service. Technology has changed the way India lives, breathes, talks, feels and expresses. When we were at school, we were measured by IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and today our children are measuring us with TQ (Technology Quotient). Unfortunately, many from my generation, myself included, fell way short in IQ and are trying to improve their TQ score.

As India is now caught up between two generations with dramatically different paradigms, it is interesting how our lives are parallely panning out. We always chased, but our children have attracted. We inherited values, they have redefined choices. We stuck to relationships, they have no qualms to move on if need be. We saved money as we thought it was scarce; they spend it unabashedly as they are confident of creating more. We waited for the country to change, they are changing the country. We listened to our parents, they are questioning us. We laughed at ourselves, they are laughing at us – so in that sense we are aligned. We dreamt of going abroad, our children can now far more easily access different countries. We were fascinated by Hollywood – held it in awe - they are seeing `Hollywood in Bollywood` now.

We live in a society where technology is constantly redefining our relevance by the minute and challenging us to constantly add value. We created technology for our convenience, but now it is threatening our relevance. Robots, a fantasy for our generation, are now about to enter our homes and take over their functioning. These are very interesting times where ideas are getting realigned before they get debated. There is something happening all the time – whatsapp messages, construction, shopping, celebration, etc.

Twenty five years on, India has changed beyond recognition. The biggest change is that the party that ushered in liberalisation is struggling to reinvent itself. Population, which was a major liability pre-1991, is now an asset. India, because of its economic potential, is now the cynosure of the world's eyes. The Narendra Modi-led government was voted into power in 2014 on the back of huge expectations. It is trying to make India a major political and economic force. But socially, the divide between the rich and the poor has widened. It is creating its own complications, testing the democratic and secular fabric of the nation all the time.

In terms of daily life in India, my generation, conditioned by its pre-1991 upbringing, is trying to implement a parenting style dictated by the demands of the post-1991 generation. It is a tough balancing act. That in a nutshell is India @ 25.

Finally, It's About Water, Dal-Chawal And Six Feet Of Real Estate!

Finally, It's About Water, Dal-Chawal And Six Feet Of Real Estate!

It is a paradox that while income levels have skyrocketed, savings have plummeted, against an India which earned less but saved more. Today, we eat more. The food is expensive and unhealthy. But my generation grew up eating the healthy and classical roti-sabji with the occasional indulgence at the nearby popular Udipi hotel. While things change, not everything about the past is irrelevant. The classical way of living had its constraints, but it ingrained in us a sense of responsibility. Today's reckless spending and dramatic lifestyle are presenting a great outer picture, 

but creating an inner vacuum.

You had a hard day under the Sun. The most refreshing moments came from you gulping down cold drinks. Yet, on coming home, the first thing you did was drink a few glasses of water, and they did what a few bucks spent on fancy cold drinks could not do – quench your thirst.

You were looking forward to eating varied delicacies for lunch in the choicest of restaurants. You happily paid the sumptuous bills. For dinner, you chose to have a light meal – dal, chawal and sabji. And lo! the satisfaction they provided far surpassed the `joy` of starters, sizzlers and desserts earlier in the day.

You went on a long holiday with family to a luxurious resort. The first few days were exciting – great ambience, great luxury, great food and awesome locales for sight seeing. However, a few days later you craved for the cosiness of your home. As soon as you entered it, you uttered, `home sweet home, real satisfaction is where our home is`.

You recently heard about the death of a rich man in your neighbourhood. He worked all his life for money, and because of his wealth, he was the stuff of envy. Yet, whenever you met him, you noticed the stress behind the smile. As you neared his dead body to offer your respects, you noticed that while in his lifetime he had acquired acres of real estate, he lay lifeless on just six feet of ground.

What's common between these scenarios? That, as much as we may hanker for the riches and luxuries of life, ultimately, it's the simple things that offer us solace and contentment. A life spent earning for the comfort of the family, without having the time to see your kids grow up is a wasted effort. The joy of life does not lie in the mindless luxuries we build. It lies in being part of the simple things that keep us happy and secure. Happiness and security come from spending quality time with family, seeing our children grow up, taking care of our health, taking care of our parents in old age, serving society in small and humble ways. And yes, the timeless statement that `we will take nothing with us` will forever remain timeless.

I grew up in an India that thrust simplicity on us. The closest we came to enjoying a burger was a vada pav. The nearest we came to experiencing a movie at a multiplex was a balcony ticket with the air condition magically directing its cool breeze towards us. The tailor and the kirana storewala next door were our source of good food and clothing. Having cutting chai at the nukkad and indulging in small talk with friends were elixirs of life. Those moments cost less, but they endured more.

Money had a value that went beyond mere currency. It was hard to acquire, so not easy to spend. Being a part of the great Indian middle class was about maintaining social balance. The middle class contributed to the political, intellectual and economic dialogue. It had a vibrancy which kept the nation ticking.

In the India we live in today, money seems to have overpowered every other consideration, like quality of one's inner life, simplicity of thinking and value of relationships. I am not cribbing about the changing dynamics – after all, to quote a cliche, change is the only constant. But while materialism expands one's choices, knowing where choice ends and greed starts is critical.

In the old India, stress came from lack of choices and access to information. So, we trusted more. But today, stress comes from the abundance of choices. We as kids waited for our father to return home safely from work everyday. On days he was late, we just prayed and hoped all was well, as we had no mobile phones. Today, however, we are experiencing the `stress of convenience`. It's important to respond to a message instantly. It is important to watch the movie here and now.

Our parents bought a home to live. But today, many people are buying real estate to `show`. Earlier, having your own house was a matter of satisfaction, but today, where you live is a status statement of sorts. Of course, there is nothing wrong in craving for a good lifestyle. But if the cost is your peace of mind and intrinsic happiness, there is surely something to think about.

Earlier, there used to be three classes of people – the rich, middle class and the poor. Now, there seems to be a fourth category, what I call as the Rich Middles Class Labourer (RML). The RML is a peculiar class where a family of four lives in a 3 BHK apartment, drives an expensive car and has five figure salary (compare this with times when multiple families shared a single apartment!). Yet, at the end of the every month, there is lack of funds, as EMIs and lifestyle expenses keep taking their toll. The wants are greater than the needs for this family. They are actually middle class with a pretentious rich lifestyle. They are often frustrated with the kind of job, but have to `labour` it out for maintaining their lifestyle, settling the bills and EMIs. After all, a real home is where the heart is, not where the EMIs are.

It is a paradox that while income levels have skyrocketed, savings have plummeted, against an India which earned less but saved more. Today, we eat more. The food is expensive and unhealthy. But my generation grew up eating the healthy and classical roti-sabji with the occasional indulgence at the nearby popular Udipi hotel. While things change, not everything about the past is irrelevant. The classical way of living had its constraints, but it ingrained in us a sense of responsibility. Today's reckless spending and dramatic lifestyle are presenting a great outer picture, but creating an inner vacuum.

The realities of life definitely call for a reinvention of thinking and living styles. But just as the `bland` roti cannot become an `interesting` egg roll without wheat, the fundamentals of life lie hidden within the grander and expansive nature of existence. Simplicity is at the core of existence. We need to stay connected to simplicity for appropriate leverage of the abundance of opportunities and choices. As a society, we need to not just enjoy our choices, but make more intelligent ones. Keeping it simple even amidst the plethora of choices is still the best policy.

Simplicity is not just in our lifestyle, it is in the way we feel about life. A simple way to connect to the fundamentals is to ask ourselves once in a while, what really at the end of the day gives us happiness? The answers would be obvious - a happy home to return to, a glass of water, dal-chawal and a cosy bed or floor to sleep on. How we live will ultimately determine how we die. The day it's time to go, we'll be judged by how peacefully we occupy the six inches of real estate on the ground.

So, in a way, we need to live to die and not die to live.

Oh! West Indies

Can this team `short of brains` leverage the same desperation to turn the corner in the longer formats? With three world cup wins back-to-back – Under-19, Women's T20 and Men's T20 – it seems nature is conspiring to present the famous Calypso Dance on the cricket field far more often than seen in the past two decades or so. Cricket lovers around the world await this turnaround.

You want West Indies to win more often on the cricket field, simply to watch them celebrate. Their celebration is one of a kind, unmatched in world cricket. While every team, after a major win, gathers around one another, jumps on each other and shouts away to glory, the West Indians bring in a rhythm to the joyous chaos. It was a sight to see them celebrate both the semi final and final in the just concluded T20 World Cup in Mumbai and Kolkata respectively. After the initial disappointment of the Indian team losing in the semi finals, the country rallied around the West Indians, which lifted the World Cup for a second time in this format.

India and West Indies share a bond of sorts. If Viv Richards is a hero in India, Gavaskar is worshipped there. The original Little Master handled the feared West Indies pace battery as if he was born to carry out a mission, whereas Richards massacred bowling attacks as if they did not deserve to bowl to him. As kids, we adored Richards and looked up to Gavaskar. We, the gully cricket exponents, tried to bring to our play the audacity of Richards and the technique and resilience of Gavaskar. While Richards feasted on the hapless Indian attack, Gavaskar relished the challenge of standing up to the West Indians as if he was an army general thrown in to battle marauding invaders. If there was one batsman the West Indians hated bowling to, it was Gavaskar, and if there was one batsman Indian bowlers – and others around the world too - feared, it was Richards.

A defining moment in India-West Indies contests - for the most part, at their peak, the West Indies' bowlers ensured no-contests – was Kapil Dev running backwards to catch a Richards pull off Madan Lal in the final of the 1983 World Cup. Viv was in a hurry to take home the cup, but Kapil's extraordinary catch altered the fortunes of Indian cricket itself. Before that catch, Viv was toying with the bowling. An overconfident West Indies however fell prey to a determined India.

The dominant West Indies of the 70s' and 80s' is part of cricketing folklore. Teams would buckle by simply looking at the lineup of batsmen and bowlers. The lineup made up of the likes of Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Lloyd, Roberts, Marshall, Holding and Garner created a sense of awe within opposition teams. In a talent and skill contest, the West Indians were way ahead. They dictated terms from start to end.

The greatest tragedy for world cricket came from the decline of the West Indies in the '90s. Australia, with its systems orientation and professionalism, took the cricketing world by storm. The West Indies never recovered from the retirement of the greats. Australia though kept bouncing back even when it hit a low. West Indies cricket however kept going from bad to worse. It stopped producing legends barring the iconic Brian Lara, who waged a lonely battle with the bat for his team. In both Test and one day cricket, Australia rose head and shoulders above other teams as a hapless West Indies became a mere shadow of its glorious past. A mix of factors - maybe bad administration, a natural process of degeneration after being at the top, etc – took away the shine from the way West Indies played their cricket.

The T20 World Cup win also comes in the backdrop of conflict between the board and its players. While a world cup win would normally send players and the country into joyous hysteria, the win is more a statement of sorts than merely the best team in the competition winning the cup. There is joy of a different kind which goes beyond mere cricketing achievement – that of having proved a point. There is no doubt West Indies have made the T20 format their own – they simply belong.

For a cricketing connoisseur, the best piece of news would be West Indies improving their performances in the game's 50-over and Test formats too. That will not just do competition a world of good, but it will also revive the joy of watching a spectacle that comes straight form the heart.

The great West Indies tradition has been about playing the sport with passion. At their peak, opposition teams tore their hair off in exasperation, just as the England team may now be doing after the Brathwaite spectacle in the last over in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup. The four sixes reflected the vengeance with which they approached the tournament. They were desperate to win this one. Just as in the Socrates story, with 19 runs required from 6 deliveries, Brathwaite, finding the team under water at the start of the over, simply wanted the team to breathe – and the only way to do that was by winning.

Can this team `short of brains` leverage the same desperation to turn the corner in the longer formats? With three world cup wins back-to-back – Under-19, Women's T20 and Men's T20 – it seems nature is conspiring to present the famous Calypso Dance on the cricket field far more often than seen in the past two decades or so. Cricket lovers around the world await this turnaround.