Ganesha is the first Chief Innovation Officer.
WHY? I am sharing 2 examples of his innovative application of resources available to him.
- When there was a competition between him and his brother (Muruga or Karthikeya) for circumbulation the universe, he chose to go around his parents.
- When he was commissioned for writing Mahabharata by Vyasa, there was a condition that he will write non-stop. In between the tip of his pen broke, without wasting anytime, he broke one of his tusks and start writing. Hence the name Ekadanta — One who has One Teeth
He embodies the Wisdom and Intellect. While Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning, Education (Vidya in Sanskrit), Ganesha shows the way to use the knowledge with a purpose.
Everyone aims to get qualified and get certified endless with hope to grow in professional life. While it is good to have degrees and certification, but they are useful only when applied when required.
I am reminded of the famous G. D. Naidu (Gopalaswamy Doraiswamy Naidu) (23 March 1893 – 4 January 1974) who was an Indian inventor and engineer who is referred to as the “Edison of India” and “the wealth creator of Coimbatore. He had no formal education as he hated attending classes. He was experimenter and learner. He has several patents to his credit.
Often when I interact people, I find that they are proud of their academic achievements. I believe that is must and they have it. I also find very often lesser application of what they learn on the job and life.
We must remember that education and academic achievement are Means to an End, not the End itself.
Threads of Excellence 