How Parents Become the Silent Centre of the See-Saw
By CA Surekha S Ahuja
The Pain No One Sees
Every family business has two balance sheets—
one financial, one emotional.
The first is audited yearly.
The second is carried silently by parents.
When siblings disagree, parents stand in the centre—
not as judges
but as the fulcrum trying to balance two worlds.
Their suffering remains unspoken:
the guilt of being “unfair,”
the fear of losing harmony,
the heartbreak of watching children drift apart,
the silent tears when their life’s work becomes a battlefield.
In every conflict, parents bend first… and break deepest.
Why Geeta Jayanti Makes This Reflection Necessary
The Gita begins with Arjuna’s emotional collapse—
not due to lack of skill,
but due to attachment, confusion, and inner conflict.
This is exactly how family disputes unfold.
Krishna’s teachings offer a clear path:
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Ego is the real enemy, not the other person.
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Decisions made in emotional fog always cause damage.
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Dharma is choosing what preserves harmony, not what satisfies the ego.
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True leadership is emotional clarity, not authority.
Today, more than ever, this wisdom is needed in family businesses.
Parents: The Unseen Shock Absorbers
In most families with two children:
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both are educated
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both are capable
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both feel right
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both want space
And parents get stuck in the middle—
absorbing hurt from both ends.
They don’t choose sides.
They only choose peace.
But peace comes at a cost:
their own emotional wellbeing.
Children Suffer Too
Sibling conflict is rarely about business.
It is about feeling:
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unheard
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unequal
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overshadowed
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insecure
Both children hurt.
Both fear losing their place.
Both fear disappointing their parents.
But neither says it aloud.
A Simple Dharma Framework for Family Harmony
1. Saankhya — See Clearly
Understand the real cause of conflict before reacting.
2. Nishkaam Karma — Act Without Ego
Decide for the family, not personal victory.
3. Samatvam — Stay Emotionally Balanced
Not every difference needs escalation.
4. Swadharma — Right Role, Right Person
Let competence decide responsibilities, not entitlement.
Geeta Jayanti: A Day to Reset
Ask yourself:
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Are our words hurting our parents?
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Is ambition getting louder than affection?
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Are we fighting for roles or for recognition?
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Are we reacting from ego or responding from wisdom?
Krishna didn’t remove conflict.
He removed confusion.
Families must do the same.
Final Reflection
A business can recover from losses.
A family may not recover from broken relationships.
On this Geeta Jayanti, choose:
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wisdom over ego
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communication over assumptions
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understanding over pride
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unity over victory
Because the strongest family businesses are not the ones that earn the most—
but the ones that hurt the least.
