The Garland of Purpose: A Parable for HR

 The Garland of Purpose: A Parable for HR

A young boy wandered into a lush garden and was surprised to find dozens of fresh flowers scattered on the ground—not wilted, but fallen in their prime. Without hesitation, he rushed to his nearby home, grabbed a plastic tub, and carefully gathered every bloom, determined to give them a second life.

Back home, he presented the flowers to his sisters. “Make a garland,” he said, “using all of them.” The younger sister took charge first, examining each flower with a gentle eye. She trimmed the dry edges, removed the bruised petals, and arranged them in a harmonious sequence of color and size. Then the elder sister took over, binding the arrangement with a thin but strong banana fibre—pulling every flower into place until the garland hung whole and radiant.

When the boy saw it, he smiled. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “If we had left these flowers on the ground, they would have dried up and lost their charm. But now, for the next few days, this garland will decorate our shop and remind everyone of what care can create.”

A customer walked in later, and her eyes lit up at the sight. “Is this for sale?” she asked.

One of the sisters replied, “No, madam. It’s only to show our craftsmanship. When you see this, you’ll understand how well we do what we do.” Impressed, the customer asked for a catalogue and placed an order for her upcoming event.

The lesson for HR practitioners:

·       The young boy is the recruiter—tasked with gathering the right raw talent from the outside world.

·       The younger sister represents shortlisting and assessment—trimming what doesn’t fit and spotting the best in each candidate.

·       The elder sister is selection and onboarding—choosing the final fit and weaving individuals into one cohesive unit.

·       The banana fibre represents the organisation's vision, mission, values, and purpose. Without that common thread, you only have a pile of flowers. With it, you have a garland—strong, beautiful, and meaningful.

 

And whoever wears that garland—whether a customer, a vendor, or an employee—gains value simply by being connected to people bonded by a shared cause.

HR is not just about finding and selecting people. It is about bringing the right people together, binding them to the vision, and creating success for every stakeholder—inside the organization, outside it, and for the nation.

M.L. Narendra Kumar