GandhiGiri and the Bottle Trap
Key Points – 8th April
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Cleared a clogged kitchen sink and cleaned the bottle trap personally
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Recalled similar self-help experiences from Gandhi Hostel, Surat
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Thanked the substitute driver and Mr. Tete for timely pickup
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Morning meeting saw low participation again
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Emphasized safety culture and initiated a greeting campaign: "Always Be Careful, dear Friend."
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Discussed environmental concerns on use of plastic bags
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Shared personal example of cleaning to inspire responsibility
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Highlighted need to focus on root cause analysis in DPM
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Hot and humid weather continues
Some days begin not with plans or meetings—but with a clogged sink.
Last night, after days of delay, I finally decided to roll up my sleeves and fix the blocked kitchen sink. The culprit? A completely choked bottle-trap.
Sticky, smelly, and messy. But someone had to do it—and so, I did.
While crouched under the sink, elbows deep in residue and grime, a memory flashed back—my days at Gandhi Hostel in Surat.
We were young, broke, and fiercely independent. Plumbing issues, electrical fixes, cleaning clogged drains—it was all in a day’s work. And none of us hesitated to get our hands dirty. That’s where “GandhiGiri” was more than an ideal—it was a practice.
Gratitude for the Early Bird
This morning, the regular driver was sick, and the replacement driver showed up early. A small gesture, but it meant a lot—especially on such a humid morning.
I took a moment to thank the driver and also expressed my gratitude to Mr. Tete, the transport in-charge.
Sometimes, leadership is just about acknowledging the little things—because they are not little for the people who do them.
Morning Meeting: Low Attendance, High Intent
Attendance at the morning meeting was again below 50. A concern, yes—but not one to be met with complaints.
Instead, I requested everyone to look after those who didn’t come.
Greet them during the day with a simple but strong message:
"Always Be Careful, dear Friend."
It’s not a scolding. It’s a gesture. And sometimes, a small line said with warmth carries more weight than a warning.
Plastic Bags, Health, and Responsibility
Our Safety Officer raised a very relevant issue—plastic bags being thrown carelessly around the plant.
I used the opportunity to talk about a few things:
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Environmental impact of plastic
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Health risks of carrying food in cheap plastic bags
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And most importantly, who cleans it up?
I tied it back to my sink-cleaning story. Why throw trash around when someone else will have to clean it? Why not reduce the work instead of increasing it?
This wasn’t a speech. It was a conversation—about consciousness, cleanliness, and character.
DPM – The Root Cause Blind Spot
In the Daily Performance Meeting, the tone shifted.
There are problems—and then there are repeated problems.
The reason? We're not digging deep enough. We’re treating symptoms, not diseases.
I reminded the team that if Root Cause Analysis is not done honestly and thoroughly, we’ll be stuck in the same loop.
We need to build a habit of asking “Why?” not once or twice—but five times if needed.
A Hot and Humid Backdrop
The weather today added another layer to everything—hot and humid, again. The kind that drains energy but also tests resolve.
But maybe that’s the kind of weather that forges stronger teams—those who stand together despite the sweat and discomfort.
Closing Thought: Leadership in Small Things
Today wasn’t about huge shutdowns or grand decisions.
It was about small, consistent acts—clearing a drain, thanking a driver, reminding someone to be careful, urging for root cause analysis, and nudging everyone to be better than yesterday.
That’s GandhiGiri. Not the movie version, but the real one.
Quiet, gritty, grounded.
And very, very effective.
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