The quote Udyogam Purusha Lakshanam is believed by some to have come into existence during a past period in the country when some people chose to be idle, saying that God will look after everything, encouraging begging in the process. A person, irrespective of gender, who does not work is not considered by society as a proper human. Not many would question the merit in the prescription that human beings should always work to rise above their present circumstances — both physically and spiritually. The term udyogam in the aforementioned quote is commonly understood as employment in some job, something that is worth doing. The term Lakshanam, according to scholars, marks out the individual if the work is synonymous with industriousness. This brings the debate on the message in the quote to issues of quality of work. Further, one will do well to the philosophy of dignity of labour espoused by many thinkers as respecting all types of jobs equally, not to forget that begging is out of the reckoning for now.

A news report in a widely read daily that 20 lakh applications were received in response to an announcement by a State government that 20,000 sweepers and drain cleaners would be recruited should help one in making a reality check. The factor of qualification in relation to quality of work has just got into focus as the applicants included M.Sc, M.Com and MBA degree holders, thus prompting one to revisit the aforementioned quote for its relevance in our times.

While job-hunting turns to job-hopping on the part of well-marked sections due to myriad reasons, including disenchantment with the job-in-hand and more take-home pay, clamouring for jobs in the government is common sight and for obvious reasons. The famed British commentator on Public Administration, Cyril Northcote Parkinson (1909-1993) has thrown much light on the quality of work supposed to be done by the staff in different departments of the government, irrespective of their qualifications.

The following narration, reproduced from some source, in pure humour, may interest the readers: One day King wanted to go fishing. He asked the royal weather forecaster for advice, getting the assurance of no chance of rain. The royalty went fishing, meeting a man on the way riding a donkey with a fishing pole, who advised the King to return to the Palace right away not to get caught in a huge rain storm. The King, saying that he held the educated and experienced weather forecaster in high regard, continued on his way, getting badly soaked in the torrential rain. He fired the forecaster and summoned the fisherman, offering him the prestigious job in his government, to learn from the new recruit that he gets proper guidance from his donkey. The King hired the donkey. The practice is unbroken to this date!