The Difference Between Right and Left

So far this trip to India has been filled with opportunities to compare and contrast. For me, one of the most poignant contrasts to American culture is that everyone in India seems to be a philosopher. Your yuk-tuk driver, the president of the largest medical facility, a store-front owner, or a tour guide will all tell you incredible stories (some easier to follow than others) but they are deeply rooted in Indian culture and belief systems.

My favorite so far is what we learned during our trip to the Elephanta Caves. Our guide was amazing, and he told us the incredible philosophy behind "namaste" - or at least his version. And what he told us is that everything must reside in balance with its counterpart. He believes that when it comes to our intellectual priorities things have become unbalanced and there's "nothing left in the right [brain], and nothing right in the left." This was poignant for our group because throughout our business visits we have heard repeatedly about how Indians are great at science and math - the logical skills of the left brain - but often lack management capabilities and the softer skills of the right brain.

Maybe this is one thing we are slowly getting better about. When I think of my BU SMG classmates I see a variety of skills that harness both the hard and soft skills necessary for effective management. But regardless, finding that balance is something important to think about. I'm so glad I got to hear it from a great Indian philosopher.