A Tale of Desi Networkers
The term ‘Networking’ in Manhattan may have been the essential element for growth in business or career. However, as far as my experience is concerned, no one seemed to spell out that they were out to ‘network.’ Hence over glasses of beer and suppressed burps a lot of contacts were pulled out of the back-pockets; the brain raced while the voice jingled a pleasant giggle; tummies were sucked in while making casual orders to the waiter. All in all, everyone walked out feeling they had made progress.
Film festivals, art shows, book readings, food reviews, golf tournaments were nomenclature of events for two sets of people who attended them – the purists who really came for the show and the networkers who came to achieve in the long run. The latter was as much respected as the former and it was a happy level playing field. (Unless of course there turned up a certain individual who no one wanted to be seen with, for various reasons.)
Since my return to Delhi, I have been organizing a couple of networking events through my website. I cannot help but notice that people are still a little shy of the term. Some even have the courage to think it is not as important while others are ashamed to admit that they need to network! The ones that come, however, are the cream of the lot and are there with a real purpose.
Desi Networking in America & India
A firm I used to work for in America tried to build a ritual to meet all its clients once a fortnight after work for a TGIF kind of gathering. And all with the exception of some who had to stay back for an official engagement made it. Wives, husbands, lovers, friends or people in that category were never made excuses of absence! It was meant to be one of those things that such people ought to understand! The networkers may not have had anything immediate to gain or share but they fully acknowledged that these meets would come handy when they needed the people around.
Question asked in Delhi before a networking event – “So what do we do when we get there?” or a blatant “How will this help me?”
Question asked in Manhattan before a networking event – “Where did you say it is?”
Anyway so here’s what I have concluded – our country is teeming with people. We live in extremely close proximity to each other. Within the next 10 houses in one’s neighborhood there is a good chance you will find a scientist to a copy writer and with varying levels of seniority and experience.
Networking in India can even happen within the family! Our culture keeps us close to our relatives (even if they are distant enough to forget how they are related). More often than not an uncle’s cousin’s niece’s student will be called for help.
What better way could there be to network?
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11 Comments
Hi Kriti, superb thought and nicely penned. I have come across an inner thought mirror that beautifully placed in the piece! Thanks Kriti for the same:)
@Swati – that’s a very interesting way to say it… Thanks a ton for that comment 🙂
Good one!! I think unlike in the US, we Indians network all the time without even realising that we’re doing it. It’s just that when you put a formal term to it, we dont know what to do with it 🙂 Having said that, I must agree that in the Corporate world networking is becoming a big deal…’just that we’re taking time to apply it to parts of our lives that are not “corporate”… Enjoyed reading!
@Tapas – I certainly hope so. Thank you so much for coming by!
@Janaki – yes it is. I am a huge advocate… There really is no harm in bringing the world closer to yourself : )
Kriti, an incisive inquiry into the scenario. And I agree with both Sulekha and Yoshay. But I think, like the paradigm shift in acceptance of other technological advancements, the gradual process of social networking will eventually gain popularity. Thanks for sharing.
I am all for networking. Nice article. Networking was fun at the Indi bloggers meet, which I attended for the first time. As you said, it is a long term gain instead of an immediate one.
@Yoshay they have embraced it but not without a whole lot of speculation. They lead busy lives here. Added to their work and family there is so much more socializing and host playing that is done here. Its like they are committed to a routine and breaking from there and going to a networking event is something they have to make time for. So you see unless you give them a fabulous reason to do so – they are not really up for it.
Mitr networking is a part of India still but the way the people take it is different in my limited experience of a year here. Maybe things will change. When you think of it I don’t mind the challenge at all : )
I haven’t been in India for a long time now, and I have missed the “networking” scenario there, but it seems strange how people haven’t yet embraced this great combination of work-cum-socializing openly as yet. I thought, of all the places, India would be the place where the idea of networking would reach its culmination since subconsciously, we have been at it for ages!
Excellent observation Mitr, there is a vast difference in the way people think in America and here in India.Networking is slowly catching up here too and social networking sites are playing a major role in this. Enjoyed reading both sides of the story, thanks for sharing.