An interesting (and depressing, for an oldtime Bangalorean) piece from the Fast Company Blog on the need for entertainment and cultural outlets for the city. A sobering subtext, for me, is the role, or lack thereof, of the moral police in the modern context. We are not having this discussion in the public sphere in India yet, and it is an important one.
As the current issue’s cover story makes clear, creative and productive cities need to offer creative cultural outlets and options for the people who live and work in the area in order to succeed. So it’s slightly interesting to see that Bangalore, one of the emergent outsourcing epicenters in India, has banned dancing in night clubs. (Subscription required to access the Wall Street Journal online.)
The last line of the piece is the kicker, for me (emphasis added).
After all, regardless of where your business is based, if I can’t dance, I don’t want to be a part of your workplace revolution.
- Mary Meeker’s 2014 Internet Trends report - May 28, 2014
- Andreessen-Horowitz raises $1.5B for its new fund - February 1, 2012
- WestBridge launches India “evergreen” fund - November 15, 2011
While one may laugh at such ironic state of affairs, it is also worthy of thought that an ideal ecosystem may just be too ideal to exist, specially when various sections of society might have varied priorities.
In that context, businesses may need to walk some xtra mile and provide some of the components itself. Like it doesn’t appear too wacky that the large campuses and fancy food courts that are provided in lots of offices today can accomodate a place to unwind, dance, sing, party, act….or whatever.
I am myself putting together a mediocre rock/ Pop band that will play at corporate canteens once (or more) a month….and let people dance..sing…