Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday 25 December 1980

RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL

Synopsis: Communication For Productivity
Letters written to some 7500 Workers / Managers / Union Leaders, following a period of strike / Go slow / Murders (1979 - 1987), at Mumbai factory of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. This direct / open / honest communication led to a remarkable atmosphere of trust between Workers and Management, which, in turn, increased productivity at 3% per year (ave).

25 DEC 1980

To:
Dear friends                 
RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL

The Bible speaks of a father and his two sons.
When the sons grew up to become adults, the  father gave each an equal share of  his wealth.  There was also  some fatherly advice on how to make the wealth multiply by working hard.
It so happened  that the younger  son did not quite  heed the advice.  He was  a happy-go-lucky type  of a man  and avoided work whenever he could get away with it.
Now that he  had money in his  hands, to spend as  he wished, the younger  son  left home  and started  visiting places  of pleasure.  He squandered away all his money  and soon started begging for  food.  Half-starving, he  now realized  the good advice of his father but felt too ashamed to go back to him.
Finally, one day  he overcame his  remorse and returned  home. The overjoyed  father  ordered music  and feast to celebrate the event.
When the hard-working  elder son returned home  from the farm and learned of  his father's orders, he was very  unhappy and refused to  take part  in the family  reunion.  Here  he was, toiling away under  the blazing sun to preserve  and multiply the family-wealth and  whose home-coming is being celebrated? - the good-for-nothing vagabond!
It was now  the father's task to explain that whereas  he had greater respect  for the elder  one and  valuad his  work, he loved  both sons  equally.   The rejoicing  was to  mark the return of the prodigal  to the family-fold and to  the family tradition of hardwork and respect for  the elders.  No matter how far he  may wander, a child that returns home  by evening is not to be considered "Lost".'
On this  X-mas day, I wonder if the story  has any relevance to our own times and to our own lives !

H.C. PAREKH

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