“All we commonly know of Jains or Jainism is the Jain food. The food that excludes garlic and onion in its preparation. However, there is much to Jainism culture that extends to businesses too. If observed carefully, Jains are present in many businesses and they run it successfully,” opined Devdutt Pattnaik, author and speaker who focuses largely on the areas of religion, mythology, and management. Pattnaik was speaking at the 5th Edition of Orange City Literature Festival (OCLF) that kickstarted on Friday evening at Chitnavis Center, Civil Lines. Present on the occasion were Dr Rajan Welukar, Vice-chancellor of ATLAS SkillTech University; Varsha Manohar, President of Soham - Women's Home Trust; Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai, Author; Sunil Raisoni, Chairman of Raisoni Group and OCLF, Shreyas Raisoni; and well known television artist Siddharth Kak.

 

Drawing parallels between mythology and business, Pattnaik shared an insight on his book ‘Bahubali: 63 Insights Into Jainism’. Establishing good relations is the key aspect for any business to be successful, he said. “No one is right or wrong in absolute terms. Therefore,, there is no universal truth. This situation exists in businesses too, which leads to a constructive dialogue between the giver and the taker. The practice is much inherent in the business done by Jain people, and is the biggest reason for their success,” stated Pattnaik. Dr Rajan Welukar, in his inaugural address, stated that the context and forms of art have changed with digital media. However, it cannot comprehend the significance of historic events, he said. Events such as OCLF is one of the best platforms for new and emerging artistes, he added. Siddharth Kak, in his speech, stated that a responsive audience could take an artist to new heights.

 

‘Chanakya’s 100 Best Sutras’, a book penned by Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai was launched on the occasion. “There is a story to be told by everyone. I am happy that OCLF is growing and I am part of It. Everyone coming here, should some day write his own book,” stated Pillai, while speaking on this occasion. The 5th OCLF is a testament to the city's commitment towards fostering love for literature and arts, making it a must-attend event for city’s literature enthusiasts.