Cooperation, Not Jealousy, Builds Strong Organisations-Dr Santosh Kumar Mohapatra Cuttack

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Cooperation, Not Jealousy, Builds Strong Organisations
Dr Santosh Kumar Mohapatra
One disturbing tendency within our circles is that we often fail to feel genuinely happy when our own colleagues perform well on public platforms. A few days ago, an article by Com. Brihaspati Samal was published in The Samaja. Today, another thoughtful article by Com. Kishore Jena has also appeared in the same newspaper. Such achievements should naturally become moments of collective pride for all of us.
Unfortunately, I hardly noticed trade union leaders sharing or encouraging these writings, particularly many of those who regularly advise others to read and circulate articles written by outsiders. This silence raises an important question: why do we hesitate to appreciate the talent, intellect, and achievements of our own comrades?
The problem perhaps lies deeper. Instead of nurturing cooperation and collaboration, we are increasingly trapped in unhealthy competition, insecurity, jealousy, and sometimes even vindictiveness. When appreciation disappears, organisational spirit weakens. When people feel ignored within their own fraternity, enthusiasm and creativity gradually decline.
A healthy organisation grows not merely through slogans or speeches, but through mutual encouragement, recognition, and collective pride in each other’s success. If we fail to celebrate our own capable and creative colleagues, we unintentionally discourage participation and weaken the very culture of solidarity that trade unionism stands for.
This mindset is one of the reasons progressive and democratic movements are gradually losing ground, while forces like the Bharatiya Janata Party continue to expand their influence. Strong organisations are built on teamwork, emotional bonding, appreciation, and unity of purpose — not on ego clashes or silent resentment.
We must introspect honestly. If we truly want our organisations to grow stronger, we need to rise above jealousy and develop a culture where every achievement of a colleague is celebrated as an achievement of the collective. Only then can cooperation replace bitterness, and solidarity replace division.