Over two decades ago, I came across a case study that made me pause. Not because it was complex. But because it was human.
It was called “The Parable of the Sadhu,” published in the Harvard Business Review by Bowen McCoy – https://hbr.org/1997/05/the-parable-of-the-sadhu.
Let me narrate the story for you, the way I reflected on it — not as a business executive, but as a student of life.
🌨️ A Sadhu on the Mountain
Imagine this: You’re trekking in the Himalayas. The air is thin. The wind is biting. And you’re laser-focused on one thing — reaching the peak.
Suddenly, you spot a man — a Sadhu, a holy man — lying in the snow, half-conscious, freezing. He may not survive the next hour.
You’re not alone. There are other trekkers. Each person helps a little — someone gives a jacket, another offers food.
But no one stays. They all move on. The summit awaits.
One of the climbers, a senior executive, later reflected: “Did we do enough? Or just enough to feel okay with walking away?”
When I read this story, I saw something deeper. Something very Indian.
Because years later, when I read the Bhagavad Gita, I found a similar dilemma.
⚔️ Kurukshetra vs Kailash
Arjuna was on a battlefield, not a mountain. But his struggle was the same — a moral conflict. Should I act? Should I retreat? Is this my responsibility or someone else’s?
The Gita teaches Arjuna that life is not about avoiding tough choices. It’s about rising above fear, ego, and convenience — and doing your duty, with clarity and compassion.
And that’s exactly what the Sadhu story is about.
Let’s reflect on 5 simple leadership lessons from both — using anologies you and I can relate to.
1️⃣ Inaction is Also a Choice
“Niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyāyo hyakarmanah” (Gita 3.8) “Perform your duty. Action is better than inaction.”
The trekkers helped a little… but didn’t commit.
💭 Real Life Analogy: During the 2020 migrant crisis in India, thousands of workers began walking back to their villages when lockdowns were announced. Many people saw them on highways. Some gave biscuits or water. But a few actually stopped to organise buses, food supplies, and shelter.
One such person was Sonu Sood. He didn’t ask, “Why me?” He asked, “Why not me?” He helped over 7,000 migrants get home safely — with zero political power or position.
👉 Doing something small is good. But doing what’s truly needed — even when it’s inconvenient — is leadership.
2️⃣ Duty Before Destination
“Karmany evadhikaras te, ma phaleshu kadachana” (Gita 2.47) “You are entitled to your duty, not the results.”
The climbers were focused on their goal — the summit. The Sadhu was seen as a distraction.
💭 Real Life Analogy: In 2021, during the second COVID wave, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Biocon stepped up to supply oxygen cylinders and free medicines even when her company was battling disruptions.
She didn’t wait for perfect conditions. Her goal was not just shareholder value — it was human value.
👉 Sometimes our biggest test comes when we’re closest to our personal goal. Do we pause? Or push ahead?
3️⃣ Don’t Outsource Your Conscience
“Shreyan svadharmo vigunah paradharmat svanushthitat” (Bhagavad Gita 18.47) “It is better to fail in one’s own duty than succeed in another’s.”
In the Sadhu story, everyone expected someone else to act. But leadership isn’t a shared excuse — it’s a personal responsibility.
💭 Real Life Case Study: When E. Sreedharan was appointed Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), many warned him: “It’s a government project. Delays and corruption are normal.”
But Sreedharan didn’t let bureaucracy or blame culture dilute his responsibility. He introduced transparent procurement systems, enforced strict deadlines, and refused to bend rules — even when senior politicians pressured him.
The result? Phase 1 of the Delhi Metro was completed before time and under budget — a rarity in Indian public infrastructure. And all because one man didn’t say, “This isn’t my job.” He said, “This is mine to fix.”
👉 When we don’t outsource our conscience, we not only transform projects — we transform culture.
4️⃣ The Sadhu Appears Everywhere
“He who restrains action outwardly but dwells on it mentally is deluded.” (Gita 3.6)
McCoy later confessed: “We helped the Sadhu… but I don’t feel good about it.”
💭 Real Life Analogy: Think of that colleague who slowly withdraws — missing meetings, avoiding conversations. We sense something’s off, but we tell ourselves, “It’s not my business.”
Months later, we hear they left due to mental burnout. And we feel that sinking guilt: I saw it coming.
👉 The Sadhu is not always a holy man. Sometimes, it’s the person one seat away.
5️⃣ Leaders Set the Tone
“Whatever a leader does, others follow.” (Gita 3.21)
Had even one climber said, “I’ll stay with the Sadhu,” others might have followed.
💭 Real Life Analogy: In 2014, Chennai was drowning in floods. While many waited for rescue, actor Siddharth and RJ Balaji went street by street delivering food and water.
Others soon joined. Suddenly, it wasn’t a celebrity initiative — it was a citizen movement.
👉 Leadership is not about position. It’s about initiation. You go first — and the world follows.
🌿 Final Thought
The Sadhu didn’t need a group. He needed one person to stop.
And in your life — at work, at home, in society — you will meet many Sadhus. They won’t be in orange robes. They may not be lying in the snow.
But they will be:
- The intern no one listens to
- The security guard who looks unwell
- The employee who’s been unusually quiet
And in that moment, you will hear two voices — one saying “Not my problem”, the other saying “This is your moment.”
The Gita calls this Karma Yoga — to act not for reward, not for applause, but because it’s the right thing to do.
So the next time life tests you, ask yourself:
Is this my Sadhu moment? Will I walk away? Or will I stop — and serve?
Read more leadership insights in my book: The Corporate Arjuna