It was a cold winter morning. Men were all sleeping in the village outside their houses on the wooden cots. Most of the doors of the homes were not locked. There was no fear of theft or any other reason for the people of the village to close their doors. The old clock stuck 4 a.m and birds started their crippling sounds making attempts to begin their fly for the day. People could hear the sound of the kabuliwala in a distance... singing the fate of the day in front of every house and going on...
Slowly the elder women started to wake up and water their lawns and draw the kolams before sunrise.
"Kamala, Kamala, get up and get ready before sun-rise" Called the father at 5 am. The bullock cart got ready and the family of two daughters, parents and grandparents set to the weekly village fair. Kamala came out and suddently noticed her father talking to the Kabuliwala. She brought him the tea in a mud cup and the old kabuliwala looked at her.
" Bless you my child. Huh,, don't know how you are going to live?" and he gave back the cup to her and went off. Father stood looking in the way the old man went.
Kamala did not understand the statement. She asked her father what he meant. His father smiled and patted her on the back and got into the cart and all of them drove away.
On the way back, she could not hold her inquisitiveness and asked her father what the kabuliwala said.
"Kamala, he is my friend for ages, for every day he said that I am going to do good, things went so well for me. Today for the first time, he told me good bye. Even I don't understand what he meant".... explained the father.
Few days later, the father died suddenly in an accident. Unusually, the kabuliwala did not come to the street for that week. Kamala was shocked. Is that what the kabuliwala already indicated to her and her family. She could not believe it.
Kamala with her family left to the town to stay with her maternal uncle's family after the tragedy. It was after several years, that she suddenly came across Kabuliwala in a railway station. She ran behind him and caught him to speak.
"Sir, what you said year backs, I am still not able to understand? Can you explain to me " For this question from Kamala, Kabuliwala said that they go by the intuition to predict things and when the predictions happen for wrong reasons, they leave the place and go. He had hinted that he may not see her father after that day and that is what had happened and he could not return to the village where his old friend is no more. Kamala looked bewildered, was it his friendship that made him have this instinct or is the concept of kabuliwala real...she stood there still wondering as the old man took his next train...........
Friday, October 10, 2008
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa
Music is one thing that binds the world. It does not have boundaries of Nations, it does not stop with one media, it does not have limitations of language, religion, caste, creed or community. It does not stop with an instrument or a way of performance. Be it Hindustani, Classical, Folk, Carnatic or Western, what ultimately becomes a world class phenomenon is when the listener's get immersed in it.
SaReGaMaPa- A hunt for the world's best talent is currently going on. What makes it a pride thing is when our brothers from Pakistan sing our songs with the same pitch and vibes, it makes us recall the 20 year old of song that first came in DD- Miley sur mera thumara.... only wish we never had this split with Pakistan and as Mrs Sarada Ramani, CEO of CI International says, our country would have been the world best in many things long time back for our energies would not have been diverted to resolve issues with our neighbouring countries. Hope SaReGaMaPa and many other such events bring back a little amount of solace to other-wise troubled neighbours. Hats off to Zee TV for this endeavour.
హేల్లపురి కాలింగ్ యు బ్యాక్
ఏ దేసమేగిన ఎందు కాలిడిన పొగడరా నీ తల్లి బుమ్మీ బారతి నే, నిల్లుపుర నీ జాతి నిందు గవ్రవము
కానంతరాలు దాతి వచ్చిన, ఎన్నో ఏళ్ళు గడిచిపోయిన మనసూ మాత్రం పుటిన ఉరుకీ పరుగులు తిసుడ్నది. శ్రీ శ్రీ కవిత్వం లాగా పరుగులు తిస్తున నా అలచోనలికి సరిహదు లేయకుండా వస్తునాయి. గోదావరి గట్టు కింద కూచొని ఎద్దుసతున పిల్లవాడిల్ల చిళ్ల చిల్ల వినిపిస్తునాద్ఐ నా మనసు. రా అన్తునది నా బల్ల్యం , నా కోసం రా అన్తునది నా తొలి ప్రేమ , నా కోసమేయ్న రా అన్తునారూ నాన ..ఎవరికోసం కాకా పోయిన, నా కోసమీ నెయ్నూ నా ఉరికి పరుగులూ తిస్తునా ప్రతి రోజ్జు నా ఊహలలొ
Be a Sun when you are alone- Shine as a star when you are around!
Utterly bitterly being alone
Hardly have time to be frown
For I am happy being myself
Encompassing every gulf
Nor do I miss my day with fun
For I smile at myself in the run
I look upon the sky and the sun
Smiled at him for he is all alone
The night came to my thought
I smiled back at the moon in twilight
For I know for sure, I have more fun
Being one amongst the stars to run!
Hardly have time to be frown
For I am happy being myself
Encompassing every gulf
Nor do I miss my day with fun
For I smile at myself in the run
I look upon the sky and the sun
Smiled at him for he is all alone
The night came to my thought
I smiled back at the moon in twilight
For I know for sure, I have more fun
Being one amongst the stars to run!
Fatima Oldage Home- A Shelter for the autumn leaves
With a heavy heart went in search of the Fatima Trust and Oldage Home in Thoraipakkam in Chennai, after knowing that one of my old aunt who is ailing, bedridden and counting days is moved to this oldage home. First time in life, I felt so useless to myself, for I could not help the situation for her. I cursed myself for having little or no possibility to take care of her bringing her home and was silently in tears as we were nearing the place. Sometimes though our hearts ache and urge for making things differently, our unfortunate circumstances do not support our thoughts. My situation was very much the same, for this aunt was widowed at a very young age, had no children, and worked as a school teacher and retired, and she had been very close to me as a child. I stood with shame and helplessness for a moment.
But my feelings got a better solace as I stepped inside. The place is well maintained, and inmates are well taken care of by providing appropriate diet on time, medical care being provided, and the caretaker taking full efforts to make the place a real home. Thankfully I found that people found company in each other and lot many returned my smile with real happiness to see a visitor. Almost 70% of the inmates were sick and needed medical attention and timely care. I was amazed to see an old freedom fighter having all his photos, certificates and memories hanging in his room and was taken by awe to see our National Flag near his pillow. Inadvertently I went ahead to salute him with pride. Then I took few minutes to talk to the care-taker and discuss about the welfare of my aunt. Talking to her I felt, that she is in the safe hands of a person who have abundant care and love for her fellow human beings. I was shocked to hear that most of the inmates want the final journey to be made from the home and the home also takes care of doing this most pious responsibility. I had no words. All I could do is stand up and put both my hands together in salutation to the care-taker and walk ahead without looking back.....
On the way back, glad my husband told me that we would one day run such an institution when both time and money permits and do our best back to the society. I did not reply him. Tears flooded my eyes and thoughts!!!
But my feelings got a better solace as I stepped inside. The place is well maintained, and inmates are well taken care of by providing appropriate diet on time, medical care being provided, and the caretaker taking full efforts to make the place a real home. Thankfully I found that people found company in each other and lot many returned my smile with real happiness to see a visitor. Almost 70% of the inmates were sick and needed medical attention and timely care. I was amazed to see an old freedom fighter having all his photos, certificates and memories hanging in his room and was taken by awe to see our National Flag near his pillow. Inadvertently I went ahead to salute him with pride. Then I took few minutes to talk to the care-taker and discuss about the welfare of my aunt. Talking to her I felt, that she is in the safe hands of a person who have abundant care and love for her fellow human beings. I was shocked to hear that most of the inmates want the final journey to be made from the home and the home also takes care of doing this most pious responsibility. I had no words. All I could do is stand up and put both my hands together in salutation to the care-taker and walk ahead without looking back.....
On the way back, glad my husband told me that we would one day run such an institution when both time and money permits and do our best back to the society. I did not reply him. Tears flooded my eyes and thoughts!!!
Live-In Relationships- A new paradigm in India
Off late, people have been running behind issues that exist in India for a long while. But now the run is different. The chase is for legalizing and institutionalizing every thing with an opinion to keep in pace with the changing world. The issue of legalizing homo-sexual relationships, accepting gay marriages, providing legal status to transgender, streamlining and legalizing prostitution and now the government’s intervention to legalize live-in relationships, and giving the status of "wife" to the woman involved. People who had their own reasons why they could not bind themselves as man and wife in a marriage will now have to think about this new emerging proposal. There are multiple ways of looking at this issue.
Let’s look into the way people who support this proposal assume and otherwise:
A legal status to the relationship, so that in case something happens to the man, the woman in live-in will get a legal status to claim his property etc as a legal heir.
Neither the man nor the woman can escape the binding factors under law once they started to live together for what so ever reasons.
The statement in the proposal of the "Reasonable time" has to be defined. Or else, for few people living once together would become a life time emotion, and how can you define what is a considerable amount of time in such a situation.
This also raises questions on what happens in cases where a married man or a woman is having another relationship under the tag "live-in". Will the first husband or the first wife lose their legal status once the extra-marital affair gets legalized under the live-in law?
The proposal talks about benefiting the urban communities where this change is become inevitable as lot of people are in live-in relationships to the given fact that they cannot bind to the marriage due to work pressure and other commitment factors- Then what is that this new law is going to achieve, when the people involved themselves do not want to have a commitment, that is the very objective of people in live-in relationships why they don't tie the knot?
The proposal also states that the rural woman will be protected as most of the men end up in polygamy where there exists no legal right for the second wife under law. There arises another question- Are you legalizing multiple marriages or multiple wives by giving the second wife a legal status as well under the tag of live-in? In such cases, does the woman also have an equal right to have multiple husbands? This sound absurd and illogical.
Can the man and wife in the live-in also divorce and does the existing law of separation apply to them as well?
When a law is made and an amendment done at a government level, the proposal should consider all aspects of the issue. Above statements are the points showing the weaker side of the proposed law. It is for the government and legal framework to dig deep into the issue with wide statistics that need to be considered before this become a new law in the country. To me this proposal looks like a mixed up requirements with no clarity- Cant help being a business analyst!!
The other side of the coin- For those who talk about Culture and Heritage.
What is culture- Culture is the way in which people live over civilizations in a country. If the current civilization has a changed way of living, accept it. Look at the larger picture of people in the country today. There are no more Rama's nor there are any Draupadi's in the country today. Our culture, our epics and our heritage had references to the live-in relationships. When we could regard Pandavas being born to Kunti for each God, and for the country which believes in Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar, and lot many other references, Jesus was blessed to Mother Mary... and lot more, what is that you are contradicting the live-in relationships stating not in our culture. Instead of referring culture as a reason, I would suggest people think from other areas - like this may encourage mutiple partners, throw in more of health hazards and disrupt the sacred Institution of Marriage in its present form which is regarded as the world- best institution. I am not supporting the proposal as is, but definitely would support the emotions of the people who are into such a relationship for what ever known personal reasons. As long as the major questions of this proposal are addressed, the country can vote for the proposal. Unless the clarity is arrived and people do not get caught unaware of the loopholes of the new law, this can go. Otherwise, this will become a well dug deep to bury everyone involved- both emotionally and legally!
This reminds me of a line- "My kids and your kids play with our kids"
How is this concept in rest of the world:
To the western and European world, this concept is not new. But the law becomes a binding factor when there are children out of the live-in relationships. Irrespective of whether the father and mother are married or no, the child get the legal status as a legal heir to both the parents individually. Such parents end up in a contratual obligation for sharing the responsibility of the children even if they decide to part ways later or stay together. If they decide to part without children, then there is no legal binding where the partners can claim alimony or legal rights to the property of the person with whom they lived for a while. I have seen people who got married when they had teenage children and when they thought that their relationships can work for a life time. Government's current proposal should see the proven theories of the world to make it a more practically viable law that can be accepted by the people of the country. Its not like some one wrote some rules fifty years back and we are still bound to follow them..Things are changed a lot in Modern India and this should be reflected in our policies and proposals as well.
A last statement- My Opinion:
This is something personal to people involved. There are thousands of social issues that the government can really look into like providing shelther to homeless, eradicating poverty, providing wide spread employment opportunities, making India a world class tourist destination, protecting people against communal violence and terrorism, making proposals for people's participation in Army and Border security, providing support to military personnel who are risking the lives to protect our Nation and lot many. Instead of diverting our attention to issues that people can handle themselves, it is for the government to concentrate more on the major issues that are common to everyone in this country. If they are really serious of making laws, I would suggest Government looks at making amendements to the existing books of law that were written in pre-independence era - Like Rs 500 fine for a rape accused, 5 years of prisonment for a drunken drive killer and a fine of Rs 100 for person who breaks a law at the fall of a hat! Wake Up India. Wake up for real burning issues that my country is bleeding with...
Let’s look into the way people who support this proposal assume and otherwise:
A legal status to the relationship, so that in case something happens to the man, the woman in live-in will get a legal status to claim his property etc as a legal heir.
Neither the man nor the woman can escape the binding factors under law once they started to live together for what so ever reasons.
The statement in the proposal of the "Reasonable time" has to be defined. Or else, for few people living once together would become a life time emotion, and how can you define what is a considerable amount of time in such a situation.
This also raises questions on what happens in cases where a married man or a woman is having another relationship under the tag "live-in". Will the first husband or the first wife lose their legal status once the extra-marital affair gets legalized under the live-in law?
The proposal talks about benefiting the urban communities where this change is become inevitable as lot of people are in live-in relationships to the given fact that they cannot bind to the marriage due to work pressure and other commitment factors- Then what is that this new law is going to achieve, when the people involved themselves do not want to have a commitment, that is the very objective of people in live-in relationships why they don't tie the knot?
The proposal also states that the rural woman will be protected as most of the men end up in polygamy where there exists no legal right for the second wife under law. There arises another question- Are you legalizing multiple marriages or multiple wives by giving the second wife a legal status as well under the tag of live-in? In such cases, does the woman also have an equal right to have multiple husbands? This sound absurd and illogical.
Can the man and wife in the live-in also divorce and does the existing law of separation apply to them as well?
When a law is made and an amendment done at a government level, the proposal should consider all aspects of the issue. Above statements are the points showing the weaker side of the proposed law. It is for the government and legal framework to dig deep into the issue with wide statistics that need to be considered before this become a new law in the country. To me this proposal looks like a mixed up requirements with no clarity- Cant help being a business analyst!!
The other side of the coin- For those who talk about Culture and Heritage.
What is culture- Culture is the way in which people live over civilizations in a country. If the current civilization has a changed way of living, accept it. Look at the larger picture of people in the country today. There are no more Rama's nor there are any Draupadi's in the country today. Our culture, our epics and our heritage had references to the live-in relationships. When we could regard Pandavas being born to Kunti for each God, and for the country which believes in Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar, and lot many other references, Jesus was blessed to Mother Mary... and lot more, what is that you are contradicting the live-in relationships stating not in our culture. Instead of referring culture as a reason, I would suggest people think from other areas - like this may encourage mutiple partners, throw in more of health hazards and disrupt the sacred Institution of Marriage in its present form which is regarded as the world- best institution. I am not supporting the proposal as is, but definitely would support the emotions of the people who are into such a relationship for what ever known personal reasons. As long as the major questions of this proposal are addressed, the country can vote for the proposal. Unless the clarity is arrived and people do not get caught unaware of the loopholes of the new law, this can go. Otherwise, this will become a well dug deep to bury everyone involved- both emotionally and legally!
This reminds me of a line- "My kids and your kids play with our kids"
How is this concept in rest of the world:
To the western and European world, this concept is not new. But the law becomes a binding factor when there are children out of the live-in relationships. Irrespective of whether the father and mother are married or no, the child get the legal status as a legal heir to both the parents individually. Such parents end up in a contratual obligation for sharing the responsibility of the children even if they decide to part ways later or stay together. If they decide to part without children, then there is no legal binding where the partners can claim alimony or legal rights to the property of the person with whom they lived for a while. I have seen people who got married when they had teenage children and when they thought that their relationships can work for a life time. Government's current proposal should see the proven theories of the world to make it a more practically viable law that can be accepted by the people of the country. Its not like some one wrote some rules fifty years back and we are still bound to follow them..Things are changed a lot in Modern India and this should be reflected in our policies and proposals as well.
A last statement- My Opinion:
This is something personal to people involved. There are thousands of social issues that the government can really look into like providing shelther to homeless, eradicating poverty, providing wide spread employment opportunities, making India a world class tourist destination, protecting people against communal violence and terrorism, making proposals for people's participation in Army and Border security, providing support to military personnel who are risking the lives to protect our Nation and lot many. Instead of diverting our attention to issues that people can handle themselves, it is for the government to concentrate more on the major issues that are common to everyone in this country. If they are really serious of making laws, I would suggest Government looks at making amendements to the existing books of law that were written in pre-independence era - Like Rs 500 fine for a rape accused, 5 years of prisonment for a drunken drive killer and a fine of Rs 100 for person who breaks a law at the fall of a hat! Wake Up India. Wake up for real burning issues that my country is bleeding with...
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
An Ardent Quest
From the time I was born
I run behind the things I want
The red ball in the corner of the room
which my maid pushed with the broom
I crawled to get it back
Tried walking little slack
When I could walk a little
To me everything was a riddle
A bud turning into a flower
and a brook flowing into a river
Wondered how the birds fly
and why do the children cry
As a grown up, the quest continued
to know what I want to be in life
Everything planned went ingenuous
unplanned happiness sprang in recess
The quest did not subsidize
Became an wild fire is disguise
The quest continues to haunt
from the cradle to my grave
Not able to think beyond best
for I am happy with my ardent quest!!!
I run behind the things I want
The red ball in the corner of the room
which my maid pushed with the broom
I crawled to get it back
Tried walking little slack
When I could walk a little
To me everything was a riddle
A bud turning into a flower
and a brook flowing into a river
Wondered how the birds fly
and why do the children cry
As a grown up, the quest continued
to know what I want to be in life
Everything planned went ingenuous
unplanned happiness sprang in recess
The quest did not subsidize
Became an wild fire is disguise
The quest continues to haunt
from the cradle to my grave
Not able to think beyond best
for I am happy with my ardent quest!!!
A Trouble Tree?
For those who wonder what a trouble tree is from my earlier post, here goes a story I read from an unknown author.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trouble tree??
The Worry Tree...The Carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier."Oh, that's my trouble tree", he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.""Funny thing is", he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Line: Leave your worries outside your door, for that's where the garbage is dumped.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trouble tree??
The Worry Tree...The Carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier."Oh, that's my trouble tree", he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.""Funny thing is", he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Line: Leave your worries outside your door, for that's where the garbage is dumped.
Wheel of Time - Spinning which side?
Kalachakram - the wheel of time is being referred as the zing thing controlling everything happening in this universe. I used to watch the TV serial Mahabarath - where in the beginning of every episode - in the voice of Saint Veda Vyas, there used to be a reference made to Kalachakra- The Time. What does it denote? It identifies a pattern or a phenomenon in which everything in this universe happens. Right from a day after night, rotation of the earth on its own axis and also going around the sun, water evaporating as clouds, and clouds coming back as rain, and the human existence continuing with newer generations as the old disappears. This being the very phenomenon of our existence, we do not really give more importance to these natural cycles - the game of time played in our lives without even we making a notice of the same.
Having heard lot of elders telling that their time is bad, time is good,as child, used to wonder, how can time be responsible for a man's destiny. Over the years, a dawn of realization happens that the wheel of time, definitely have its importance. Man does not come with any materialistic things and do not leave this world with any either. It all starts and ends in a vacuum. A reality. Then what is the quest in between. The quest and its subsequent actions are what man leaves behind to everyone around him, to his future, to his time in the future in fact, where he is no more a part of it.
Life itself is a vicious circle. In this wheel of time, everything around is only part of the larger truth. The truth that nothing is permanent in this world. The only variation is the duration of existence for each thing. Man may live on an average of 70 years, animals for 20 years, trees may live for 100 years, buildings may survive for 200 years, monuments may stand for 2000 years, and after that what happens...Change. A change that is the core aspect that defines the wheel of time.
What makes me write this?!
Do not get succumbed to the troubles of time. Nothing is permanent.
Be courageous to face the world, what ever may be the adversity. It will have its time to vanish
Believe in yourself, that the time is ahead of you for better things.
Leave the worries behind the trouble tree and walk ahead with life.
What provoked me to think on this:
NRI Karthik Rajaram's cowardly act of killing his family and himself. A person who enjoyed quick fortune was not prepared to handle a quick disaster. People's acceptance to reality is what is the need of the hour.
Having heard lot of elders telling that their time is bad, time is good,as child, used to wonder, how can time be responsible for a man's destiny. Over the years, a dawn of realization happens that the wheel of time, definitely have its importance. Man does not come with any materialistic things and do not leave this world with any either. It all starts and ends in a vacuum. A reality. Then what is the quest in between. The quest and its subsequent actions are what man leaves behind to everyone around him, to his future, to his time in the future in fact, where he is no more a part of it.
Life itself is a vicious circle. In this wheel of time, everything around is only part of the larger truth. The truth that nothing is permanent in this world. The only variation is the duration of existence for each thing. Man may live on an average of 70 years, animals for 20 years, trees may live for 100 years, buildings may survive for 200 years, monuments may stand for 2000 years, and after that what happens...Change. A change that is the core aspect that defines the wheel of time.
What makes me write this?!
Do not get succumbed to the troubles of time. Nothing is permanent.
Be courageous to face the world, what ever may be the adversity. It will have its time to vanish
Believe in yourself, that the time is ahead of you for better things.
Leave the worries behind the trouble tree and walk ahead with life.
What provoked me to think on this:
NRI Karthik Rajaram's cowardly act of killing his family and himself. A person who enjoyed quick fortune was not prepared to handle a quick disaster. People's acceptance to reality is what is the need of the hour.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Making the best out of the Worst- A Classic Example
Having had excellent share traders in my friends, I always used to wonder what is that this biggies are trying to calculate, keep on scribbling something on their touch pads, always calling out some numbers on the phone, be in while driving, talking, or eating? Its a search for alternatives.
It was the beginning of the Millennium era, Year 2000 and around, that proved the nostalgic beliefs can be changed. Perceptions can change. Sentiments can change. Facts can change. Change for good.
Aadi Month- a tamil calendar month which begins in mid July and end in mid August is believed to be one of those months in the year where no auspicious things used to be done. No marriages, no house warming ceremonies, no buying new clothes or jewels, no investments and people used to spend time in early morning prayers and keep a very low profile over all. Suddenly, a new building emerged in the heart of Chennai called Pothys- a textile showroom calling itself Aalayam of textiles, meaning a temple. And I think this logic worked, for it was called a temple. They came up with a revolutionary concept of Aadi discounts- clothing made available at throw-away prices. People found a new energy in the otherwise non-exiting month and found shopping having a new reason. Moreover, this month just preceding the Aug-Sep season of more marriages, proved to be the correct time to hit the market. In less than couple of years, Aadi became a month of expectation from the general public for every thing to go on discounts and deals. It did not stop with textiles or home appliances but became a wide-spread concept of selling in the newly emerged markets. A new change succeeded.
What is the lesson to be learnt? - Making the best even out of the worst of circumstances. As I repeatedly tell in most of my posts, change is the only constant thing. Accept it and go ahead.
This same logic applies to capital markets also. Warren Buffet is busy investing now. So what are you waiting for. All you need is the guts to take the risk. Do little bit of homework on how to plan, proceed and succeed. Keep your ears and eyes wide open. Take the least best opportunity to find a new beginning. Do not rest, do not end your quest. Recession is bad but not the end of the world. It has to change. It has no choice.
It was the beginning of the Millennium era, Year 2000 and around, that proved the nostalgic beliefs can be changed. Perceptions can change. Sentiments can change. Facts can change. Change for good.
Aadi Month- a tamil calendar month which begins in mid July and end in mid August is believed to be one of those months in the year where no auspicious things used to be done. No marriages, no house warming ceremonies, no buying new clothes or jewels, no investments and people used to spend time in early morning prayers and keep a very low profile over all. Suddenly, a new building emerged in the heart of Chennai called Pothys- a textile showroom calling itself Aalayam of textiles, meaning a temple. And I think this logic worked, for it was called a temple. They came up with a revolutionary concept of Aadi discounts- clothing made available at throw-away prices. People found a new energy in the otherwise non-exiting month and found shopping having a new reason. Moreover, this month just preceding the Aug-Sep season of more marriages, proved to be the correct time to hit the market. In less than couple of years, Aadi became a month of expectation from the general public for every thing to go on discounts and deals. It did not stop with textiles or home appliances but became a wide-spread concept of selling in the newly emerged markets. A new change succeeded.
What is the lesson to be learnt? - Making the best even out of the worst of circumstances. As I repeatedly tell in most of my posts, change is the only constant thing. Accept it and go ahead.
This same logic applies to capital markets also. Warren Buffet is busy investing now. So what are you waiting for. All you need is the guts to take the risk. Do little bit of homework on how to plan, proceed and succeed. Keep your ears and eyes wide open. Take the least best opportunity to find a new beginning. Do not rest, do not end your quest. Recession is bad but not the end of the world. It has to change. It has no choice.
How about having "Bench" in life? -A question raised by my friend
"Bench" - No more a funny word- but the word that is threatening software professionals across the industry. For people who are not in projects for long time, and who are recruited expecting pipeline projects to materialize are said to be on Bench. First time, I heard about it, I asked, "Bench- What bench? ". Now I think I don't ask anyone this questions anymore, not sure whose on bench and whats the fate?!?!. Never know, you may end up on the Bench!!!.Be Aware!
But the same word made me have a hearty laugh after long time, when my friend Harish Mahadevan mentioned about having a bench in life?.. I believe he was asking one of our common friend, why are we not having a Bench in life, just like how we have in projects and IT companies. What a great thought!... It may sound absurd, silly, funny and all sorts of reasons that we can just laugh off and ignore and go on. I too did that when I first heard about his question this morning.
But few hours later, I thought. What made him even think about having a bench in life. Gosh, he is hinting at a much larger necessity of life- SPACE. People who are burdened at being tangled in the life's routine, busy but monotonous way of living, not having time or thought for things that are dear to our hearts do end up feeling life overwhelming. There is no space for yourself. You are searching for nothing but YOURSELF. Your every day passes by doing the things your family wants, what your work demands, what your routine takes. You are driven by everything around you and don't have that personal space for yourself. To understand or even think of what you, Just You, want in life.
Spacing is important between relationships as well. We bond and gel with the family, enjoy friendships, worship our work, and spend all our lives doing what we are supposed to do. After many years, when you turn back and look at your past, what you will find is only a life that was driven by everyone else and not you. So once in a while, a space is important. The space that is your own. The space that lets you do things that only you want. The space that is important for you to revive, re-energize and re-emerge more with new found energy to go on back again with the routine.
May be Harish, its time for a holiday of your own. Take a long drive. Take a break. You would be on bench of your own in life. A bench that would make more sense and brings in a freshness and new arm of energy to proceed with life. Go ahead Friend, its time to re-discover yourself!!!
Gaining Industrial Leadership - Magic Mantra of New India
In a small village in India, people always used to wonder, why the rich is always getting richer? For one thing, the rich had was the power of acquiring, the power to take risk, the power to look out of the box. This is exactly the state of Indian Economy and Industrial revolution happening making the dream of 2020 very near!. You may wonder, what the hell I am talking, when people are losing jobs, economy is uncertain, inflation is at 12% and credit has become a major enemy. Hold on!. Look Beyond!. Its the country's new found confidence and opportunity. The courage what made Lakshmi Mittal stand where he is today. Mr.Mittal is famous of acquiring sick industries, using the machinery, manpower and lessons learnt, revive it, re-structure it and go ahead. Today, the steel baron had made India Proud. Lot more to follow in this spree.
Indian majors like Satyam, TCS, Infosys and HCL are already in the market having millions of acquisitions in pipeline and lot many medium sized businesses also are following this process. Tata steel acquiring English - dutch Corus for whooping $12 billion. VSNL, GHCL, Reliance, and lot many Indian companies acquiring US firms have become the trend of the day.
What makes Indian companies confident to go ahead?
Reliable low cost, consistent performance, high quality of products and service and deliverable on time. These are the vital ingredients of the Indian Industry that made us having large cash flows, planning and risk taking a near possibility. Indian business is ready to handle any kind of business culture, regulations, practices and adhere to global standards and expectations. Indian Industry is no more a shy and conservative economy which had been exploited by various invasions in the past in the name of trade and commerce. Now it is the time for a new dawn in the Indian economy for a global sunrise. Be it information technology, heath care, pharmaceutical, financial services, insurance, telecommunications, FMCG, manufacturing, automobile, hotel and hospitality industry, astronomy, services sector including training, teaching and talent-acquisition, strategic planning- name it, you will find an India spreading its wings world across. Its time for the world to look upon India for every thing the best that they need- for one thing we can be very proud of - our human intellect. Nothing can be in par to it, coupled with commitment and fire to achieve our place in the global market place- towards the top- nothing less is compromised!
Indian majors like Satyam, TCS, Infosys and HCL are already in the market having millions of acquisitions in pipeline and lot many medium sized businesses also are following this process. Tata steel acquiring English - dutch Corus for whooping $12 billion. VSNL, GHCL, Reliance, and lot many Indian companies acquiring US firms have become the trend of the day.
What makes Indian companies confident to go ahead?
Reliable low cost, consistent performance, high quality of products and service and deliverable on time. These are the vital ingredients of the Indian Industry that made us having large cash flows, planning and risk taking a near possibility. Indian business is ready to handle any kind of business culture, regulations, practices and adhere to global standards and expectations. Indian Industry is no more a shy and conservative economy which had been exploited by various invasions in the past in the name of trade and commerce. Now it is the time for a new dawn in the Indian economy for a global sunrise. Be it information technology, heath care, pharmaceutical, financial services, insurance, telecommunications, FMCG, manufacturing, automobile, hotel and hospitality industry, astronomy, services sector including training, teaching and talent-acquisition, strategic planning- name it, you will find an India spreading its wings world across. Its time for the world to look upon India for every thing the best that they need- for one thing we can be very proud of - our human intellect. Nothing can be in par to it, coupled with commitment and fire to achieve our place in the global market place- towards the top- nothing less is compromised!
India Infotech - Heading towards new business opportunity
On the wall of HP office in Chennai- there is a big poster which says " Do not look at the closed door for long, for you may fail to see the new open door" something like that, not able to recall the actual sentence, any way the crux is the same.
This is exactly what is happening to India Infotech. The industry which saw a steady 30% overall growth in the last 3 years would have to settle now for anything around 20% in the next one year, probably because 40-60% of the industry is working on the Banking and Financial Services Industry (BFSI) operations work. With the global markets struggling to maintain an equilibrium, a fight for the survival continues. With huge financial companies heading towards major bottlenecks and bankruptcy filling, a new avenue of work would begin in Asian countries that can pitch in to help the west in completing the required work. Legal and Regulatory. Legal services are the most expensive work in US and UK, and India would be looked up to to handle the huge tasks associated to manage the legal proceedings, for the economies of scale are large when India Inc. participates in this activity.
Corporate governance and strong regulations to follow SOX law post experiences of the past, there is lot of work to do. Companies have to learn to handle credit, cash and customers at large. The financial vertical will see a big change with the legal vertical gaining predominance in the coming year and companies have to look on the new opportunities that are going to arise out of this crisis. Hard work always pays guys! Definitely people are working hard, having greater focus, unearthly time zones, cultural and geographic challenges, Indians have reached out to every corner of this globe. Today the major task of handling the historical 700m$ bailout activity of the US financial markets is assigned to an Indian born American. What else folks. Its time for us to look for the new door opening up or opened already- Kulja Sim Sim!!
This is exactly what is happening to India Infotech. The industry which saw a steady 30% overall growth in the last 3 years would have to settle now for anything around 20% in the next one year, probably because 40-60% of the industry is working on the Banking and Financial Services Industry (BFSI) operations work. With the global markets struggling to maintain an equilibrium, a fight for the survival continues. With huge financial companies heading towards major bottlenecks and bankruptcy filling, a new avenue of work would begin in Asian countries that can pitch in to help the west in completing the required work. Legal and Regulatory. Legal services are the most expensive work in US and UK, and India would be looked up to to handle the huge tasks associated to manage the legal proceedings, for the economies of scale are large when India Inc. participates in this activity.
Corporate governance and strong regulations to follow SOX law post experiences of the past, there is lot of work to do. Companies have to learn to handle credit, cash and customers at large. The financial vertical will see a big change with the legal vertical gaining predominance in the coming year and companies have to look on the new opportunities that are going to arise out of this crisis. Hard work always pays guys! Definitely people are working hard, having greater focus, unearthly time zones, cultural and geographic challenges, Indians have reached out to every corner of this globe. Today the major task of handling the historical 700m$ bailout activity of the US financial markets is assigned to an Indian born American. What else folks. Its time for us to look for the new door opening up or opened already- Kulja Sim Sim!!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
True Love is Selfless- Kannum Kannum Review
Love is a beautiful feeling. It is a genuine emotion that sprangs from the inner consciousness of heart and soul. Sometimes, love takes a turn in life depending on what our mind says as well. In such instances, love becomes a silent sacrifice that encompasses for the benefit of everyone around. Not everyone in love gets a chance to live together. That doesn't mean that love fails, or love does not exist. It in fact reflects the original edifice on which the emotion builds its divinity.
Common Guys, don't now look at me with a confusion.... this is the review of the Tamil Movie Kannum Kannum. There is so much in this movie that a family can sit and watch happily after long many years. Lot of people would recall the way they sacrificed their love, for the benefit of the families, for the fear of losing many other things except love. How can love be sacrificed if it is so strong, genuine and so important to those in love. That is the power, that is the strength, and that is the real success of any love- Attaining selflessness.
This movie is not an extension or the other side of Autograph, but it has its own way of convincing people, how circumstances can make love sacred and silent. This is just one of the thousands of reasons that come on way of the people we love but with whom we cannot really live in life together. Dedicating this beautiful concept of selflessness and this blog to all those people who scarified their love for what ever reasons, and still go ahead with life..., respecting and remembering the cherished love within their memories and thoughts, managing to handle the pain silently and making the Love -Eternal.
Common Guys, don't now look at me with a confusion.... this is the review of the Tamil Movie Kannum Kannum. There is so much in this movie that a family can sit and watch happily after long many years. Lot of people would recall the way they sacrificed their love, for the benefit of the families, for the fear of losing many other things except love. How can love be sacrificed if it is so strong, genuine and so important to those in love. That is the power, that is the strength, and that is the real success of any love- Attaining selflessness.
This movie is not an extension or the other side of Autograph, but it has its own way of convincing people, how circumstances can make love sacred and silent. This is just one of the thousands of reasons that come on way of the people we love but with whom we cannot really live in life together. Dedicating this beautiful concept of selflessness and this blog to all those people who scarified their love for what ever reasons, and still go ahead with life..., respecting and remembering the cherished love within their memories and thoughts, managing to handle the pain silently and making the Love -Eternal.
Friday, October 3, 2008
NO SMOKING- Bold Decision- Tough Implementation Mr. Anbumani, Hats off to you!!!!
As we stopped at a gas station today to fuel the car, I found an interesting thing on the Price Board - along with Petrol, Diesel prices, one interesting thing caught my attention- the prices of Cigars! Michigan, USA, may be open for Smoking. But back home in India, another reason to celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi, when a total ban on smoking in public places got into effect with Mr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the Indian health minister voted for his bold decision. Only wish that this does not become just a rule, which again can be broken with no qualms. I still remember the day, when Helmet wearing was made compulsory in Chennai, even for pillion riders. On way to office, we were laughing at the way people were looking funny and lot of them struggling to drive with new helmets on!!!. Third day, all was back to normal. Slowly pillions riders were spared and though its still mandatory for bike riders to wear helmets, not 100% do so still. Same way, not sure, how far Mr Ramadoss would be able to bring in this change in the people across India.
Am sure, chain smokers, ITC, tobacco traders, petty shops and lot many doctors would also not welcome this decision. But to thousands of housewives and people who were hating smoking all this while, have a solid reason to smile at, atleast for few days from now!!. I can sense a rejection to this decision happening in my family and amogst friends as well...not few would be happy, especially the patroned husbands who loved smoking outside not to taste the wrath of their wives at home. Now that is gone!!!. Where come the poor smokers go???? Only wish they realise the very objective of our famous minister laying this as a rule!. Do not smoke off your lives. Please Quit Smoking!!!...
Am sure, chain smokers, ITC, tobacco traders, petty shops and lot many doctors would also not welcome this decision. But to thousands of housewives and people who were hating smoking all this while, have a solid reason to smile at, atleast for few days from now!!. I can sense a rejection to this decision happening in my family and amogst friends as well...not few would be happy, especially the patroned husbands who loved smoking outside not to taste the wrath of their wives at home. Now that is gone!!!. Where come the poor smokers go???? Only wish they realise the very objective of our famous minister laying this as a rule!. Do not smoke off your lives. Please Quit Smoking!!!...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Temple Stampede Deaths- Where else will this happen?
Its heart-throbbing to note for the second time in a year, deaths in temple crowd stampede. People pushing and rushing to temples in India is not an uncommon sight, and as a frequent visitor to Lord Balaji hills in Tirumala Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh, I am not unaware of the facts behind it. But its unfortunate that neither the government nor the people learn from the history.
Every time I go for Balaji Dharshan, I used to be highly cautious to put in all my energies not to lose my grip on the wall or on the barricade and not let the pushing crowds behind me fall on my child who is made to stand in front of me. The least I could do to ensure she is protected. What would happen if the control is lost, is someone makes a dirty strong push. Same thing.
Prayers and places of worship are said to be closer to heaven, but should not be passports to heaven directly. But it is happening time and again in our country.
Endowments revenue is said to be one of the important revenues to the governments, one side no bigger action is taken to restore the heritage, old temples, architectural marvel pieces that speak volumes about the age old traditions, history, glory of various time periods, technical competence and sculptural excellence, maintain the facilities or support the ever increasing devotees in all the famous places of worship. So much money is being given by people as donations and there is no proper accountability for all these. The temples are still in the same old ways where there is no proper lights, ventilation and space for people to move around. Those days temples mainly catered to smaller crowds who carried the big lantern lamps and follow a high amount of discipline and walked behind the kings and queens, scholars and artists and maintained the serenity. Today is world of hustle-bustle. People still want to continue worship, blessings on special occasions, but still have to manage the humdrum of the normal lives, making them run everywhere, buses, trains, markets and temples are no exceptions. I have seen people chanting slokas in trains, singing songs in buses, praying online. I am not an alien to this common sphere of life.
How to prevent such things in future:
People should understand places of worship is sacred and follow queues, silence and patience.
Government should bring in facilities to manage and maintain huge gathering.
All temples should come up with the proper emergency exits, lights, ventilation's and first aid medical facilities.
Restoration of the temples has to be happen with immediate due diligence to provide amenities to suit the current needs of the people
Endowments department of every state government should be made accountable to adhere to certain changed rules and regulations and not blindly follow what has been set Pre-Independence era.
When the whole world is heading towards change, technological advancement and when the world has other things to worry, it is frightening and sad to note that we have issues that take lives of our innocent people in the most unexpected ways. Let the places of worship not be the places of hell to the people who come there with faith, beliefs and sentiments. Government cannot change the perceptions of millions of followers of various faiths, the least they could do is to provide security, safety and approachability and in times of crisis, emergency exits, aids and medical facilities that can save lives quickly.
This do not stop with just protecting people, temples, but also applies to protecting churches and mosques where there are other types of communal issues that are threatening the people around! Government, Please wake up before it happens again!!!! The secular decorum of our Nation is now under jeopardy!!!
Every time I go for Balaji Dharshan, I used to be highly cautious to put in all my energies not to lose my grip on the wall or on the barricade and not let the pushing crowds behind me fall on my child who is made to stand in front of me. The least I could do to ensure she is protected. What would happen if the control is lost, is someone makes a dirty strong push. Same thing.
Prayers and places of worship are said to be closer to heaven, but should not be passports to heaven directly. But it is happening time and again in our country.
Endowments revenue is said to be one of the important revenues to the governments, one side no bigger action is taken to restore the heritage, old temples, architectural marvel pieces that speak volumes about the age old traditions, history, glory of various time periods, technical competence and sculptural excellence, maintain the facilities or support the ever increasing devotees in all the famous places of worship. So much money is being given by people as donations and there is no proper accountability for all these. The temples are still in the same old ways where there is no proper lights, ventilation and space for people to move around. Those days temples mainly catered to smaller crowds who carried the big lantern lamps and follow a high amount of discipline and walked behind the kings and queens, scholars and artists and maintained the serenity. Today is world of hustle-bustle. People still want to continue worship, blessings on special occasions, but still have to manage the humdrum of the normal lives, making them run everywhere, buses, trains, markets and temples are no exceptions. I have seen people chanting slokas in trains, singing songs in buses, praying online. I am not an alien to this common sphere of life.
How to prevent such things in future:
People should understand places of worship is sacred and follow queues, silence and patience.
Government should bring in facilities to manage and maintain huge gathering.
All temples should come up with the proper emergency exits, lights, ventilation's and first aid medical facilities.
Restoration of the temples has to be happen with immediate due diligence to provide amenities to suit the current needs of the people
Endowments department of every state government should be made accountable to adhere to certain changed rules and regulations and not blindly follow what has been set Pre-Independence era.
When the whole world is heading towards change, technological advancement and when the world has other things to worry, it is frightening and sad to note that we have issues that take lives of our innocent people in the most unexpected ways. Let the places of worship not be the places of hell to the people who come there with faith, beliefs and sentiments. Government cannot change the perceptions of millions of followers of various faiths, the least they could do is to provide security, safety and approachability and in times of crisis, emergency exits, aids and medical facilities that can save lives quickly.
This do not stop with just protecting people, temples, but also applies to protecting churches and mosques where there are other types of communal issues that are threatening the people around! Government, Please wake up before it happens again!!!! The secular decorum of our Nation is now under jeopardy!!!
Monday, September 29, 2008
360 Degree of the Spinning Economy
Life is a vicious circle. So is the Economy. This is the first lesson what we learnt in the economics class. But when it is actually happening, we sound as if we are caught unaware. Would like to share with you an interesting story of the little ants- a lesson in the seventh standard Telugu text books of Andhra Pradesh State Board syllabus.
The Ant Story:
The Ant is supposed to be found mostly in Asia, Africa and very recently in America as well. The Ant is said to be a very tiny insect, few type of ants are harmful where as most of them are harmless and ants are said to be very hardworking little creatures.
Attitude of the little ants: Ants are excellent team players. They don't venture on anything alone and the teams are strong, supportive, cooperative and mind spinning, carrying weights together which are multiple times more than its own. The ants work very hard, sometimes almost working themselves to death, during the summer in the hot sun, during spring when others keep enjoying life (like our grasshoppers in the old stories we heard), and keeping struggling to build safe and comfortable home for it and the family for the coming winter! ( Cold and brutal reality). Storing food and provisions for the upcoming rainy days and cold winters.
While the ants were working hard for the rainy day, our friends grasshoppers make mockery of the ants for not enjoying the spring, spending time for fun, dance, sing and spend the so called LIFE in a meaningful way. The grasshoppers think that ants are fools not knowing to lead life the summer way. Finally, the winter dawns in, and our friend ant is safe and warm, protected by its hard earned shelter and food, where as our grasshopper blames the lords of the jungle that they are not taken care. The Lords are safe in the caves and not sure of what our grasshoppers want in life. So they get ignored and destined to accept reality, having no food or shelter and left to die.
Moral of the story: Repetitive adage: Make hay while sun shines.
Thousands of people today are stuck with unexpected turns and twists in the economy, especially the 11% of population who are dependent on nothing other than software industry and capital markets. They are used to 5 figure salaries, lavish living, and no bigger savings. Lot many are entangled in the monthly EMI's that don't know how devilish it could be if not paid for few months. Speculated savings and money that's stuck in mutual funds and share trading is all at the mercy of the economy's vicious circle. Our breather en don't know what is it to live within the means and credit cards now would take its ghostly heads up. Parents will be heard telling that they warned them already. Companies in the verge of saving their own financial stands do not have much to hear to the employee woes and there is no one to really save the segment of grasshoppers. Ants are safe and can handle themselves till the next summer. So what are you, Ant or Grasshopper?? If not an ant yet, try being one sooner!!!
The Ant Story:
The Ant is supposed to be found mostly in Asia, Africa and very recently in America as well. The Ant is said to be a very tiny insect, few type of ants are harmful where as most of them are harmless and ants are said to be very hardworking little creatures.
Attitude of the little ants: Ants are excellent team players. They don't venture on anything alone and the teams are strong, supportive, cooperative and mind spinning, carrying weights together which are multiple times more than its own. The ants work very hard, sometimes almost working themselves to death, during the summer in the hot sun, during spring when others keep enjoying life (like our grasshoppers in the old stories we heard), and keeping struggling to build safe and comfortable home for it and the family for the coming winter! ( Cold and brutal reality). Storing food and provisions for the upcoming rainy days and cold winters.
While the ants were working hard for the rainy day, our friends grasshoppers make mockery of the ants for not enjoying the spring, spending time for fun, dance, sing and spend the so called LIFE in a meaningful way. The grasshoppers think that ants are fools not knowing to lead life the summer way. Finally, the winter dawns in, and our friend ant is safe and warm, protected by its hard earned shelter and food, where as our grasshopper blames the lords of the jungle that they are not taken care. The Lords are safe in the caves and not sure of what our grasshoppers want in life. So they get ignored and destined to accept reality, having no food or shelter and left to die.
Moral of the story: Repetitive adage: Make hay while sun shines.
Thousands of people today are stuck with unexpected turns and twists in the economy, especially the 11% of population who are dependent on nothing other than software industry and capital markets. They are used to 5 figure salaries, lavish living, and no bigger savings. Lot many are entangled in the monthly EMI's that don't know how devilish it could be if not paid for few months. Speculated savings and money that's stuck in mutual funds and share trading is all at the mercy of the economy's vicious circle. Our breather en don't know what is it to live within the means and credit cards now would take its ghostly heads up. Parents will be heard telling that they warned them already. Companies in the verge of saving their own financial stands do not have much to hear to the employee woes and there is no one to really save the segment of grasshoppers. Ants are safe and can handle themselves till the next summer. So what are you, Ant or Grasshopper?? If not an ant yet, try being one sooner!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Moral Policing - Need to create fear or clean up the society?
In continuation to what I earlier wrote on Moral Policing, I felt there is need to look into the other side of the coin as well. As long as you go as a couple, such instances do not impact you much, but when you go with the kids, it becomes tough explaining whats happening around. Be it the beaches, or the shopping complexes parking lots, cinema theatres, deserted streets, libraries, Gandhi mandapam, and finally the school complexes and corporate conference halls or silent rooms are not spared these days. All these places are misused by people who indulge in unnecessary actions. What has to be confined to the homes, or the private places of people, is now available for everyone to see in all these places. One side the more of moral policing, the other side, its more of irresponsible behaviour of the people that is causing a concern. The worst was when the closed cars found near the school compound walls that traumatised the parents at few instances. We are not trying to be orthodox or conservative after having seen various cultures and countries that are more open to such behaviour. But what matters is to upkeep at least few things for which we are responsible for, our culture and heritage. At least people need to be cautious not to set wrong examples to our future generations. Enjoy your private lives as long as it do not disturb the very fabric of our society. Do not end up in embarrassment for you, your family and friends and to people around you. Maintain certain amount of care and caution, and responsibility towards our society.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Is it Moral Policing or Money Policing? Whats up Chennai?
I looked at the people in the car next to me in the T Nagar parking lot, trying to explain to the policeman with real eagerness. After completing my shopping and settling down the things in the car, and was about to start when I noticed the girl and guy in the next car trying hard to explain something. I was there all the while watching them enter the car, and the couple started some argument and were yelling at each other, suddenly the guy pulled her close and was trying to console may be. Within 2 mins, someone knocked on the window pane of their car and this guy got down. The guys who made the couple get down were not in uniform but from their body language have understood that they are so called MORAL POLICEMEN. For a moment, I was stunned at what was unfolding in front of me. Today it happened to them, tomorrow it may happen to us. So was the curiosity. The police man sat in the driver' seat and was talking something to the girl. I understood that probably they are not husband and wife, may be getting married, lovers, or even good friends. Then, the police guy took the keys and was waiting outside when the man rushed to the nearby ATM. He came back and pushed something into the hands of the police guy and I heard the girl shouting that they don't need to pay anything for they were not wrong. But no listeners. Perhaps the guy did not want to mess up anything for the sake of the girl's reputation and he just gave the money the police guy demanded and drove off.
Common guys, what are we doing? People's reputation is being exploited. Real culprits who use women like play toys in the star hotels go unnoticed. And normal man in the name of moral policing is being attacked. If he was a genuine policeman who wanted to keep up the so called Morals of the society, why did he not take them for a proper investigation? Perhaps the man was worried about the further harassment that is possible. Ridiculous- What rang in my ears again was JPR's speech that I heard years ago- boy boy talk ok, girl girl talk ok, Boy Girl Talk NOOOOOO! !!! ...
Common guys, what are we doing? People's reputation is being exploited. Real culprits who use women like play toys in the star hotels go unnoticed. And normal man in the name of moral policing is being attacked. If he was a genuine policeman who wanted to keep up the so called Morals of the society, why did he not take them for a proper investigation? Perhaps the man was worried about the further harassment that is possible. Ridiculous- What rang in my ears again was JPR's speech that I heard years ago- boy boy talk ok, girl girl talk ok, Boy Girl Talk NOOOOOO! !!! ...
Friday, September 26, 2008
Guts and Grace- The Woman with Greater Substance - G SreeVidhya- Head- Ravindra Services
It was in 2004 November, that I met a tall woman around 5.11'', gigantic and manly, strong looking with a sharp features, having three cell phones in hand getting down her black SUV for the meeting of the day. It was a meeting presided by Ms.Kanimozhi at one of our IWC members residence in Chennai. The debate of the day was whether women has equal rights in the society. Taking a 2 hour break from busy migration work in office, I wanted to watch the fight, for and against!. She was introduced as President of all women Rotary Club of Samudra. I thought what a big deal!... But OMG, when she started to speak, Gosh, I could not stop being her admirer. She began.." I am a different woman in a man's world, for today I manage men, chase them, threaten them, control them and respect them. " Many things were unusual with her, mainly her profession. She has been managing Ravindra Services which runs D Group Security Services with HQ in Chennai. Probably the only woman in the man's domain. She has an elegance and pride that is so visible when she talks about real domination in the man's world.
To me, she reminded the story of a stone turning to a sculpture. The more hits a stone get, the beautiful the sculpture turns. I was seeing a live sculpture emerged out pain, strong will, and focus. A broken marriage at age of 21 with two daughters in hand to handle did scar her life but did not tarnish her motivation to move ahead. She do not handle people who are polished and educated, she has to handle people from various walks of life, skilled and unskilled, educated and uneducated, rude men, and retired military personnel who are head strong and take it as an insult being managed by a woman. Learning the nuances of trade in a hard way, believing in the path set by her mentor Dr Ravindra Padmanaban, and today manages more than 3000 people mostly men. She said that she never thought that her gender should impact her profession. Strong mind, hard work, dedication and assertiveness are the core ingredients of her success.
She said that she takes unexpected inspections to the clients sites where her men are working to ensure no stone is left unturned as what matters is the security and safety of her clients who believed in her strength. At 1am in the night, with her two personal security guards, she takes rounds around the city giving surprises to her people. Today her company is wide spread and have clients in all major cities supplying security guards, gun men and escorts. Her pride lies that she protects her clients with confidence and does a perfect job assigned. If Chennai corporate houses, call centres and BPOs where people are working 24*7 feel protected, safe and secure, it is because of the best services provided by people like Vidhya who take their work as worship. It was a pleasant surprise to know that this busy woman loves classical music and is a trained singer, acting plays and also doing programmes in radio. She is making the Rotary Club of Samudra getting popular day by day with the realm of events and doing her bit back to the society, making it as a passion. She concluded with pride that both her daughters are now doctors who emerged to handle people with empathy. I think real woman, would have time for everything. The more of sufferings and endurance, paves a way for our success. Hats Off Vidhya!!!
To me, she reminded the story of a stone turning to a sculpture. The more hits a stone get, the beautiful the sculpture turns. I was seeing a live sculpture emerged out pain, strong will, and focus. A broken marriage at age of 21 with two daughters in hand to handle did scar her life but did not tarnish her motivation to move ahead. She do not handle people who are polished and educated, she has to handle people from various walks of life, skilled and unskilled, educated and uneducated, rude men, and retired military personnel who are head strong and take it as an insult being managed by a woman. Learning the nuances of trade in a hard way, believing in the path set by her mentor Dr Ravindra Padmanaban, and today manages more than 3000 people mostly men. She said that she never thought that her gender should impact her profession. Strong mind, hard work, dedication and assertiveness are the core ingredients of her success.
She said that she takes unexpected inspections to the clients sites where her men are working to ensure no stone is left unturned as what matters is the security and safety of her clients who believed in her strength. At 1am in the night, with her two personal security guards, she takes rounds around the city giving surprises to her people. Today her company is wide spread and have clients in all major cities supplying security guards, gun men and escorts. Her pride lies that she protects her clients with confidence and does a perfect job assigned. If Chennai corporate houses, call centres and BPOs where people are working 24*7 feel protected, safe and secure, it is because of the best services provided by people like Vidhya who take their work as worship. It was a pleasant surprise to know that this busy woman loves classical music and is a trained singer, acting plays and also doing programmes in radio. She is making the Rotary Club of Samudra getting popular day by day with the realm of events and doing her bit back to the society, making it as a passion. She concluded with pride that both her daughters are now doctors who emerged to handle people with empathy. I think real woman, would have time for everything. The more of sufferings and endurance, paves a way for our success. Hats Off Vidhya!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)