The Ovarian Lottery

Recently, I attended a programme organized by the CII titled the Global Partnership Summit, which was held in Chennai.  A number of reputed persons were part of the elite panel of speakers.  One such speaker, Mr. Tarun Khanna, a professor of the Harvard Business School, used an unpopular terminology “Ovarian Lottery” while he was addressing the issue of skill gap existing in this country. What he meant by that terminology was that some people are born lucky or in an advantageous position as compared to others.  It’s the idea that fate plays a part in your success, because being born in a certain place makes a huge difference in the outcome of your life.

To explain this further, imagine there are two identical children born, both equally bright and energetic, but one of them is born in the USA, and the other in Zimbabwe. The probability of the one born in USA, climbing up his life ladder is much easier as compared to the one born in Zimbabwe.  Though the person born in Zimbabwe has inherent strengths, like his counterpart who is born in USA, the country he is born has inherent weaknesses. In order for him, to tide over these limitations, a huge amount of his time and energy is lost. He has to first survive the problems of his living, such as food, water and shelter. It is after this he has to aspire for education and primary health care. If he has been lucky enough to manage these, then comes the question of employability. He then encounters the curse of every developing country, such as corruption, bribery, quota systems, red tapism, and what not. In the course of time, his aspiration suffers a premature death. The probability of these people rising above all these limitations, are very rare and exceptional.

The country factor, could be just one such variable. Many other variables such as  the economic status of parents, the literacy level of parents, the social conditions in which one is brought up, etc contribute to the ‘Ovarian Lottery’ as a whole.

Why compare two different countries? Let us for instance, take the life of an Indian living in the Urban India Vs a person living in Rural India. Is not the challenges of people living in the rural part of this country, far much greater than that of a Urban Indian? . Starting from basic infrastructure such as road, rail, water availability, electricity, health care, education, etc; aren’t we facing a huge imbalance?

Gandhi said, ‘India lives in its villages’. How much has this been a concern amidst the decision makers in the country. The migration of labour from the rural part of the country to the urban part is a clear indication, that not much developments are happening in rural india and therefore the limited opportunities, compel people to migrate. While many trade bodies and organizations are voicing out their complaints and in reciprocal every politician is selling a hope for a better tomorrow, in practice the pace of rural developments is very slow. The inability of the government, to cater to the employment needs of the rural  people, shows in form of offering free food, free TV, 100days guaranteed employment schemes, all aimed at keeping the rural masses happy and content in life, while no real progress is happening in their lives.

The real life stories of successful people who had a humble beginning, inspires most of us. It is the ‘rags to riches’ stories we see in the movies, that emotionally overwhelms the masses. Undoubtedly, there are many such people, who have a high aspiration, but could not make it to the top owing to the many inadequacies they have faced as a result of their ‘ovarian lottery’.  When we are in contact with such people, let us not condemn them for their incapacities, but have a heart to look, where they come from. Let us give them the benefit of extra care and concern; they failed to receive in their childhood. There may be many bright stars hidden behind the dark clouds. Let us strive to give equal opportunity for everyone, and make the stars shine.

The question is, “Does our country have a better story to tell for the future generations or are we going to continue depending on our ovarian lottery.”

Happy Reading,

D.Senthil Kannan

Article dated April 2010