Vijaya Dasami and the Entrepreneur’s Journey
- Devaki R Menon
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
Vijaya Dasami, also called Dussehra, marks the victory of good over evil. In the epics, it is the day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana, and when Goddess Durga triumphed over Mahishasura. It is also the day when people traditionally begin new learning—whether it’s starting a business ledger, teaching a child to write their first letter, or launching a new venture.
But beyond the rituals, there is a strong management lesson tucked inside this festival.
Victory (Vijaya) was not achieved overnight. Rama’s battle with Ravana was the outcome of planning, alliances, delegation, and persistence. Durga’s triumph came through the collective strength of the gods—each offering their powers to create a force greater than themselves. In both stories, the win was the result of strategy, resource alignment, and disciplined execution.
For entrepreneurs, Vijaya Dasami is a reminder that:
Every “Ravana” has many heads. Business challenges rarely come as single problems. Like Ravana’s ten heads, they reappear in different forms—finance, competition, people, technology. True strategy anticipates this, rather than being surprised each time a head rises.
Victory requires collaboration. Rama didn’t fight alone—he built partnerships with Sugriva, Hanuman, and the vanara sena. Entrepreneurs, too, need to invest in alliances, networks, and strong teams.
Start with intention. The festival tradition of beginning something new on this day carries a simple truth: success often comes to those who begin, not those who keep waiting for perfect timing.
Management thinkers refer to this as the principle of strategic execution—having clarity of purpose, mobilising the right resources, and staying consistent. Vijaya Dasami reminds us that even in the epic battles, victory wasn’t about brute strength, but about vision aligned with disciplined action.
So as you mark Vijaya Dasami, ask yourself:
What is the “battle” my business is fighting right now?
Do I have the alliances, systems, and team strength needed for victory?
What new initiative can I courageously start today, instead of waiting for tomorrow?
Festivals are not just celebrations of the past—they are mirrors held up to the present. Vijaya Dasami is one such mirror. It asks entrepreneurs to look at their own Ravanas, sharpen their strategy, and lead their teams toward their own victories.
Comments