In November 2010, I interviewed Radhakrishnan Pillai, author of “Corporate Chanakya”. It was Radhakrishnan’s first interview he had given anyone. Radhakrishnan was quite excited and was eagerly awaiting the success of his book. An year and a half later, Radhakrishnan’s Corporate Chanakya is a best seller. It is recommended by many academic institutions in and outside India. Currently Radhakrishnan Pillai is busy traveling across the globe delivering lectures about Chanakya and his managerial philosophy.
Radhakrishnan Pillai who has come to be known by the sobriquet “Chanakya Pillai” remains as humble, unpretentious, and humorous as he was in November 2010; if he was excited then about the response he had been awaiting, he is now excited by the phenomenal success of the book. Success has not got into his head.
Continuing my discussion with the incredibly busy author Radhakrishnan Pillai, who I daresay has become a friend of mine over time, here we go:
Congratulations, Mr. Pillai, on the grand success of “Corporate Chanakya”. Please tell us briefly about your journey during the last year and a half.
The journey was like a dream come true for any first time author. My only book till date is ‘Corporate Chanakya’. It was released on 15th august 2010, our independence day at the University of Mumbai. Initially there was a doubt if people would turnout for the launch on a Sunday morning. The response was phenomenal over 300 plus chairmans, directors and senior management professionals turned up. Infact people had to sit down due to lack of space.
The book was launched by Hon Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University Dr Rajan Welukar and Dr.Ajit Ranade, Chief economist of Aditya Birla group along with others.
But I did not stop at that. I believed if you have a good product one should not sit quite but market it more. I would like to thank Jaico my publishers for giving the unconditional support. Later I traveled across India and launched the book in 14 cities across India including Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkatta, Chennai,Hyderabad, Pune and small cities like Hubli and Sirsi.
The media also reviewed the book positively and have contributed to the success of the book.
Today when I look back we have sold close to one Lac copies of the book. This is the first time in Indian publishing industry a management book has reached such figures in short period of time.
The book was nominated for the Vodafone-Crossword book of the year award. Also it has been in the best seller list for over 80 weeks now. It is currently best seller number two in the ‘non fiction’ category after Steve Jobs biography.
What kind of response have you been receiving? Do you have any unique experience?
Many unique experiences. Friends from across the globe write to me about reading about the book and seeing in various book stores.
The book is a leadership and management book according to Chanakya’s thoughts. But the best response is when leaders and managers of various companies and our nation appreciate the book.
Chief ministers like Narendra Modi, Pritviraj Chauhan have personally given time to me and appreciate the research contents of the book. Even leaders of armed forces, academicians, scientiests, police and spiritual leaders have appreciated the book.
But the best response I got was from a road side book seller. I was in pune and saw it on the roadside. I curiously picked up the copy as asked him how the book was selling without mentioning I have written it. He immediately came to know by the questions I asked that I was connected to the book. He said “Sir aapne yeh book likha hai? Bahut demand hai. Accha chalta hai. Kya main aapke saath photo nikal satka hoon?” (Sir, have you written the book? Its has a lot of demand. Sells a lot. Can I take a photo with you)
So that, for me a truely best seller. At the airports and also on the streets, if an uneducated man can appreciate the book its true success.
What motivated you to write “Corporate Chanakya”?
Jaico publishers. Mr Ashwin shah, Mr Akash shah owners and the chief editor Mr Sharma of Jaico actually came up with the idea of a book when they heard me speak on Chanakya at a function.
Many authors go to publishers. In my case I have been lucky publisher came to the author. Thanks to Jaico team they inspired me to write a book.
Also I studied the original book of Chanakya ‘The Kautilya Arthashastra’ at the Chinmaya International foundation under Dr.Gangadharan Nair. So Swami Chinmayananda and all my teachers have been my inspiration.
- Radhakrishnan Pillai
How difficult was it to compile the Arthashastra sutras of Chanakya into the form that your book has taken?
It took me four and half years of research to write the book. The challenge was to simplify the sutras of Arthashastra for a common man. There are many scholars across the globe who have done great research work on the Arthashastra. But I wanted to give the book a management angle and position Chanakya as the world’s first management guru. I wanted to highlight Indian management as another way of thinking.
Did you have a target readership in mind when you were writing Corporate Chanakya?
While writing the book I had kept the readers in mind. They should be students, managers, leaders and even a lady managing the house. This connect was important to achieve. At the same time I did not want to make it a management jargon filled book. The book is very easy to read with examples for a common man. Each chapter only takes three minutes to read.
I guess this dimension has made the book a best seller and accepted even as a reference and text book in various management colleges across the globe. Many people gift the book to their bosses, subordinates, friends even clients and suppliers.
How easy or difficult it was to relate Chanakya and contemporary managerial theory and establish the relevance of Chanakya to the world today? Do you think the current generations of managers understand ‘Chanakya’ the way you do?
It was not difficult to Chanakya to modern management as I was already teaching and training in the management field. It was easy to connect.
I was quite surprised by the positive response. The book is only a starting point. Many managers write to me asking deeper solutions to their problems. Then we take training programs for them and today I have trained over 1 lac executives.
The current generation executive are curious to know more about Indian management from not only from Chanakya but from works like Geeta, Ramayana and the Upanishads. There is a huge demand.
Do you think Chanakya’s theory would continue to be relevant in the years to come?
Chanakya’s theories are timeless. They are eternal and universal principles. What Chanakya said 2400 years ago is relevant today and for centuries to come. The basic reason is Chanakya deals the problems of management and leadership with the knowledge of human psychology based on strong spiritual values. This makes it relevant even today.
At times you come across as a “Spiritual Guru” just as much as you come across as the unmistakable “Management Guru” you are. I wonder how a guru of mundane, materialist issues can be a spiritual guru too in the same breath!
Its a mistake to think that spirituality and materialism are different. They are two sides of the same coin. Those who understand spirituality can understand management better. I have been fortunate that I have been trained in Chinmaya mission, a spiritual organisation since childhood.
Even in the western world we find this. If you read the books of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management or Steven Covey they talk a lot about spiritual leaders or value based leaders. Even Gandhiji was an example of a spiritual leader.
- Pillai with Tom Alter at the launch of audio book by Shemaroo entertainment
Do you think the common man suffering from spiritual vacuum or from poor management skills is actually relating to your book?
Yes in a big way. When the book became a best seller we also knew one limitation – the language barrier of English. My publishers Jaico books came up with the idea of translating the book in regional languages. Today the book is translated into Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali,Aasame, Oriya, Tamil, malayalam,Telugu and Kannada.
It has already become a best seller in regional languages like Gujarati and Marathi (Maharashtra state education minsiter Rajesh Tope launched the Marathi version).
Shemaroo entertainment company has launched an audio book (for those who would like to listen to the book if you don’t like to read) the voice is given by veteran actor Tom Alter. The audio book in regional languages is also under production.
A management film by the name ‘Chanakya speaks’ inspired by the book is now ready for release.
We have tried as many ways as possible to make it available to the common man.
Today management is not just related to companies but also its important to a common man.
How do you rate your experience with your publisher?
Ten out of ten. As I said earlier I was lucky with my publishers. Jaico book house is in the books business for over 60 years. Its a third generation family owned company. They have seen the ups and downs of the industry and hence very matured. With nine offices across India there wise advices to me worked for the success of the book. I work with them very closely. I am the only author who has visited all the offices of Jaico in different parts of the country. I have met every single employee, from the Chairman to the editorial team, sales team to office boys. We are in touch with each other on daily basis. We meet monthly and discuss ideas openly. Its true partnership full of mutual respect and admiration.
Could you tell us a little about your interaction with Mr.Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat?
Mr Modi is already one of the most respected politicians of India. He has transformed Gujarat into an ideal state. I had the opportunity to meet him many times. But the personal meeting with him at his residence is very memorial. I had sent him a copy of my book Corporate Chanakya. On a saturday afternoon I got a call from his office to come and meet him on Monday. I was there with my other director of Chanakya Institute of Public leadership Mr Ranjit Shetty. We were invited with a lot of warmth. When we were called inside it was just him alone. He appreciated the book and asked more about our work. He suggested ways to promoting the book. In fact the idea to translate it in Gujarati was given by him. Ever since that time he has been mentioning this book in his various public speeches. What else would be better when the Chief minister itself appreciates and promotes the book. In a recently held book fair in Ahmedabad during the inauguration ceremony he mentioned about the book again and asked the book stalls to promote reading as a habit, as a culture.
Who are all the persons who you think have contributed to the book directly or indirectly?
Many people including friends like you (susmita…). Jaico group, shemaroo group, University of Mumbai and my team of professors and students, my office, my media friends, my family and friends across the globe. But finally the grace of God and the blessings of my teachers and Guru Swami Chinmayananda.
Also I need to mention my father is an author himself so that has been helpful too, the support of my family.
You have been travelling a lot. What is your experience in your direct interaction with your audience who must have been your readers too?
Its a chicken or egg situation. Either they read my book and then come to listen to me. Or they listen to me and then become readers of my book. Either ways there is a personal connection with each of them.
I believe it is personal connect that matters. There is an old saying “Man learns a lot by books, better through travel and best by meeting people”. When my readers meet me I learn from them too. There is warmth and a different connect. We discuss and learn more. I also go back richer by
knowing how in different ways people have benefited from Chanakya’s teachings.
So ‘Chanakya’ has changed your life! Do you believe that you are one of the most successful authors in India? ?
Yes Chanakya has changed my life. It has given me success both materially and spiritually. It has given me appreciation and respect from the society. It has made me travel across the globe. I can only be thankful to God for this.
People call me a successful author which I am happy about. However, I feel there are many more milestones to be achieved. There are over 1.2 billion people in India and 7 billion people in the world, there is a huge market to be captured. Also I have written only one book. There are many more books to be written….Miles to go before I sleep….Miles to go before I sleep….
Can you describe your experience while facing the camera for the movie based on your book Corporate Chanakya?
Acting has been a part of my life. In colleges I used to participate in acting competitions, mimicry, drama etc and even win prizes. Also I have been a teacher, trainer and public speaker for many years. There has been no stage fear. So in a way while facing the camera for the film ‘Chanakya speaks’ was easy. Moreover, in the film I play myself.
However the difficult part was remembering the dialogues. But my director Vasu and producer Madhuri were very helpful. They said “Do not worry too much. Even if you miss some words its fine. Let the flow be there” That put me in ease.
Also watching the other actors of the film Mohan Kapoor and Divyag was great learning. They are professionals in front of the camera and gave me valuable tips.
After the end of the shoot Atul Maru board of director of Shemaroo said, “Radha, you are good. You should start acting…” What a compliment. Watch the film and I will await your comments.
Manager, spiritual leader, management guru, Writer… what next?
A good teacher working for nation building. I am working closely with the youth of India. We train young boys and girls to become future political leaders and social workers for our country. We teach them the Arthashastra and make them responsible and productive citizens. All this is happening at the University of Mumbai through my institution Chanakya Institute of Public leadership -CIPL (visit www.ciplmumbai.in)
- Radhakrishnan Pillai
What are your plans for the future?
Reading a lot, writing more books, researching, teaching, Building our CIPL institute, networking, making Arthashatra knowledge more famous, re creating India as the knowledge leader of the world, being a good family man. And in all this not forgetting that spirituality should be the base of every activity….so many things to be done.
Also at the same time I want to work for the plan God has got in store for me. I am open to what destiny has got to offer me.
Have you started planning for your next book? What would be the topic?
Interestingly my next book is very different from the first. Its on strategic leadership in Indian policing system. I am connecting it to Chanakya and the model of 7 aspects of success in leadership. I am co authoring it with the ex-Director General of Maharashtra police D.Sivanandhan, IPS who is one of the most respected police leaders who had eliminated the underworld control over Mumbai city through encounter specialists. There are many other aspects in police leadership like managing team, finances, government which is not generally known to people. I will be giving a different dimension to leadership in the book. Also two other books are there in the pipeline.
What is the best tip that you can give to the aspiring authors?
Authors should be good readers themselves. Also authors should do a lot of research and study before they pen down their ideas. Also a warning, don’t write a book just to become famous. Write a good book that one should become famous as a bi-product. Also today marketing the book is very important. Don’t forget to do that through all possible means available like social media, promotional events, functions etc.
Could you please give any message to the readers of Spectralhues?
Always try to read different and variety of books. Also read same book from different dimensions. Read a book you like after many years. You will understand it differently. Its like watching an old movie again. It helps you to grow and understand different perspective.
I do that with Kaiutilya’a Arthashastra. Its helped me grow as a person.
Thanks for your time, Mr.Pillai! We shall meet again. Wish you all the best!
Thanks Susmita for taking my interview again. It gives me a chance to look back what the journey of ‘Corporate Chanakya’ has been like. And yes I still believe it is just the beginning the best is yet to come.
It was indeed a pleasure talking to Radhakrishnan Pillai. In a candid chat with Susmita Bose the bestselling author tells us his story. He is delighted about the grand success of his first book “Corporate Chanakya”.
Spectralhues wishes Radhakrishnan Pillai all the very best in his future endeavours.
Tags: Arthashastra author interview Chanakya Chanakya Pillai Chanakya's Arthashastra CIPL Corporate Chanakya corporate chanakya author interview with Radhakrishnan Pillai Kaiutilya'a Arthashastra Radhakrishnan Pillai
