As a student of Anthropology and OD, I am always drawn to the subject of cultural evolution. Unfortunately, cultures don’t always move forward, sometimes they recede and get distorted also.

The popular story of Lakshman Rekha from the Ramayana is one such example. Interestingly, this story has absolutely NO MENTION in the original Valmiki ji Ramayana or Adikanda. In Tulsidas ji Ramcharitmanas who was a contemporary of Akbar in the 16th century, there is an indirect mention by Mandodari (Ravan’s wife), rebuking him when he boasts about his valour. With nearly 3,000 versions of the Ramayana, including countless oral versions, the Lakshman Rekha seems to have been a later addition. It most likely emerged at a time (16th–17th centuries) when crimes against women were rising and there was a burning need to ‘protect women’.

Stories are not just entertainment. They shape societies, carve mindsets and beliefs, and silently define what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’ In ancient India, women fought wars, were educated and played equal roles in strategic decision-making. With the Lakshman Rekha, however, a new narrative took shape — women as fragile beings are to be protected, their agency needs to be confined within invisible lines. A story originally created to save women ended up taking the society backwards.

As leaders, I invite you to mull over:

  • What stories are shaping your culture today?
  • How well these stories are connected to the purpose of the organization?
  • How would you ensure that they create possibilities, and not draw invisible lines?