Is the era of mentoring over? Does the Wrestling Coach in the Film Represent the Hollow Leadership We See Around Us at Our Work Environment? 'Dangal' hints at how a coach/mentor should not be.
Shambhu Sahu
Besides the much talked
about social issues Aamir Khan's latest film "Dangal" raises, there
is a much nuanced take on what mentoring has become in recent years.
"Dangal" is the story of ex-wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat who
informally trains his eldest daughter Geeta to become state wrestling champ.
Thereafter, she has to be 'formally mentored' by a 'professional' coach Pramod
Kadam for the national and international championships.
(If you have seen the movie, it will be easier for you to relate to points raised here.)
After becoming state-level wrestling champion, Geeta gets enrolled at the National Sport Academy (NSA), Patiala. Kadam is the wrestling coach at the academy, entrusted with the job of training or mentoring athletes like her, who would then bring laurels to the country. But is 'Coach Saab', as Geeta addresses him in the film, is fit to lead the team and shoulder such a responsibility? Does he represent some of the managers or leaders or mentors we see around in corporate office?
Let's have a look at some aspects of coach Kadam's personality, which might resonate with many of us who work in corporate offices:
1. Background (does it even matter?): It is not clear what this coach saab's background is. Did he play the sport himself? Did he have a successful stint? Film doesn't show anything about it, which in itself is a statement that it doesn't matter. To lead a team or to mentor people in a particular domain, you have to have some background in that specific or allied field. It will certainly help you understand what goes in the mind of workers and what hurdles they may be facing in their day-to-day work.
2. Insecurity: This coach is so insecure that he shouts and uses his official authority to ward off any possibility of 'being challenged' (or exposed). Remember that scene when Geeta's father very politely approaches Kadam with a request to 'nurture her talent'? Feeling threatened by this former wrestler, he snaps rudely at Geeta, to show Phogat that 'he is the boss' now. His sense of insecurity and inferiority is quite evident there.
3. Power without Substance: Well, Kadam was a state-appointed mentor/coach, so he sure had all the powers. Geeta came to believe that he not only had the powers but his techniques were better than her father's. Since Kadam was sitting at 'the official throne' even she forgets that it was only basis her father's mentoring that she could make it to the prestigious sport academy. However, after a series of losses over three years, Geeta reverts to her father's mentorship and techniques. So, what USP did Kadam had as mentor?
4. Taking Credit for Other's Work: The coach, who himself lacked any major accomplishments in life, wanted to use his 'brightest student' to add a few feather in his cap. He wanted to be called a 'successful' coach (and perhaps win a Dronacharya award), on the basis of his pupil's achievements. That's why in the movie he is rushing to take credit at post-match press conferences. Moreover, when he realises that Geeta is not going to credit him for her possible win at the Commonwealth Games wrestling finals, he conspires to lock up her father, who was successfully guiding her from audience stands, in a store room. He wanted to ensure that the world, particularly media, doesn't spot her father; thereby implying that he is the ONE who 'coached' her to victory.
5. Inspiring figures no more? “Dangal”'s wrestling coach is a stark contrast with the hockey coach in "Chak De! India", played by Shah Rukh Khan. In “Dangal”, while training the athletes for international events, and after a series of failures, he tells Geeta, "I want at least one medal from you." (Mujhe tujhse kam se kam ek medal chahiye). In "Chak De!", SRK inspires his team to achieve it for themselves. His famous "Sattar Minute" (70 minute) dialogue is about inspiring the girls to go out there and give their best for themselves. Before the final match, Geeta's father, says only this much to inspire her: "If you win Silver, people will forget you. But if you win Gold, you will become an inspiration... and people never forget an inspiration".
Geeta, of course, wins the wrestling final against a mighty Australian opponent, following only her father's training and mentoring and ignoring her coach's adverse advices.
Kadam thus become an interesting case study as a (inefficient) leader or mentor of a team. He asks Geeta to "unlearn" all wrong techniques she has learnt in the past. "Unlearning the Past Learning" is a jargon we all have come across quite often in our professional lives. But did his "new techniques" work? No. Did he inspire his team? No (in spite of Geeta being in an awe of him in the beginning).
Did he for even once introspect at his pupil’s failure? No. Do leaders/mentors need not introspect?
No amount of accomplishments or qualifications should stop a leader from introspection; revisiting strategies and playing to the teams strengths.
Finally, the importance or value of a good leader/coach/mentor will never go out of fashion. Youngsters, generations after generations, will need that mentorship to reach new heights. I personally have seen few leaders who have the mantle of being a good mentor.
The leaders at the top or those in the making need to pause a bit, and reflect on the kind of leadership they are offering. Do they inspire people in office (or it's just the position)? Do their words, guidance, mentorship change anybody’s life for real (discounting the personal favours)? Did they help someone really rise from ground? And lastly, who will cry when they die?
PS: Mahavir Singh Phogat may not qualify as a real mentor as he was coaching his daughters for his personal dream.
<Ends>
(If you have seen the movie, it will be easier for you to relate to points raised here.)
After becoming state-level wrestling champion, Geeta gets enrolled at the National Sport Academy (NSA), Patiala. Kadam is the wrestling coach at the academy, entrusted with the job of training or mentoring athletes like her, who would then bring laurels to the country. But is 'Coach Saab', as Geeta addresses him in the film, is fit to lead the team and shoulder such a responsibility? Does he represent some of the managers or leaders or mentors we see around in corporate office?
Let's have a look at some aspects of coach Kadam's personality, which might resonate with many of us who work in corporate offices:
1. Background (does it even matter?): It is not clear what this coach saab's background is. Did he play the sport himself? Did he have a successful stint? Film doesn't show anything about it, which in itself is a statement that it doesn't matter. To lead a team or to mentor people in a particular domain, you have to have some background in that specific or allied field. It will certainly help you understand what goes in the mind of workers and what hurdles they may be facing in their day-to-day work.
2. Insecurity: This coach is so insecure that he shouts and uses his official authority to ward off any possibility of 'being challenged' (or exposed). Remember that scene when Geeta's father very politely approaches Kadam with a request to 'nurture her talent'? Feeling threatened by this former wrestler, he snaps rudely at Geeta, to show Phogat that 'he is the boss' now. His sense of insecurity and inferiority is quite evident there.
3. Power without Substance: Well, Kadam was a state-appointed mentor/coach, so he sure had all the powers. Geeta came to believe that he not only had the powers but his techniques were better than her father's. Since Kadam was sitting at 'the official throne' even she forgets that it was only basis her father's mentoring that she could make it to the prestigious sport academy. However, after a series of losses over three years, Geeta reverts to her father's mentorship and techniques. So, what USP did Kadam had as mentor?
4. Taking Credit for Other's Work: The coach, who himself lacked any major accomplishments in life, wanted to use his 'brightest student' to add a few feather in his cap. He wanted to be called a 'successful' coach (and perhaps win a Dronacharya award), on the basis of his pupil's achievements. That's why in the movie he is rushing to take credit at post-match press conferences. Moreover, when he realises that Geeta is not going to credit him for her possible win at the Commonwealth Games wrestling finals, he conspires to lock up her father, who was successfully guiding her from audience stands, in a store room. He wanted to ensure that the world, particularly media, doesn't spot her father; thereby implying that he is the ONE who 'coached' her to victory.
5. Inspiring figures no more? “Dangal”'s wrestling coach is a stark contrast with the hockey coach in "Chak De! India", played by Shah Rukh Khan. In “Dangal”, while training the athletes for international events, and after a series of failures, he tells Geeta, "I want at least one medal from you." (Mujhe tujhse kam se kam ek medal chahiye). In "Chak De!", SRK inspires his team to achieve it for themselves. His famous "Sattar Minute" (70 minute) dialogue is about inspiring the girls to go out there and give their best for themselves. Before the final match, Geeta's father, says only this much to inspire her: "If you win Silver, people will forget you. But if you win Gold, you will become an inspiration... and people never forget an inspiration".
Geeta, of course, wins the wrestling final against a mighty Australian opponent, following only her father's training and mentoring and ignoring her coach's adverse advices.
Kadam thus become an interesting case study as a (inefficient) leader or mentor of a team. He asks Geeta to "unlearn" all wrong techniques she has learnt in the past. "Unlearning the Past Learning" is a jargon we all have come across quite often in our professional lives. But did his "new techniques" work? No. Did he inspire his team? No (in spite of Geeta being in an awe of him in the beginning).
Did he for even once introspect at his pupil’s failure? No. Do leaders/mentors need not introspect?
No amount of accomplishments or qualifications should stop a leader from introspection; revisiting strategies and playing to the teams strengths.
Finally, the importance or value of a good leader/coach/mentor will never go out of fashion. Youngsters, generations after generations, will need that mentorship to reach new heights. I personally have seen few leaders who have the mantle of being a good mentor.
The leaders at the top or those in the making need to pause a bit, and reflect on the kind of leadership they are offering. Do they inspire people in office (or it's just the position)? Do their words, guidance, mentorship change anybody’s life for real (discounting the personal favours)? Did they help someone really rise from ground? And lastly, who will cry when they die?
PS: Mahavir Singh Phogat may not qualify as a real mentor as he was coaching his daughters for his personal dream.
<Ends>
