Saturday, October 14, 2006

One Host - N Guests - A party

A brief Intro :- Host -> Asif , Guests -> the rest(including me)

Oct 11th is Asif's birth-day.It was decided that he has to give the party at Terrace Bay near Somajiguda.The restaurant was on the fifth floor of the building.The lift made me recall SPEED-I movie's action scene.

As soon as I entered the restaurant , I thought "Aaj Asif ki phatnewaali hain" , the atmosphere is rich and luxurious.The restaurant is bounded by a glass pane.The city looked fabulous from the height.I never knew the view.

Non-drinkers (Reddy & Myself) ordered soup.The soup is super.The cost also.Satti ordered a mug of beer.After taking a sip he decided that he is happy with his photography.Raju ordered signature(whisky brand).He prepared a 1% solution of wine and 7-up.But he acted as if it is 100% wine solution.He exhibited his "Stalin" spirit by giving a sip of this solution to "three" others.Chaitanya ordered Scotch.I found the seven colors of the rainbow in his glass.

Poor Asif was just seeing guys enjoying the drinks and soup.Then came starters.They were OK.After that we ordered Nans and curry.They are not bad.

Asif realized that it is his birthday party and he must enjoy ordering what he likes.He decided that he must have a cigaret.He ordered for one but didnt get any even after a long time.Now Raju took this as opportunity and wanted to show every one that he is indeed drunk.He shouted at the bartender to get the cigs with in the next minute for his esteemed host.

We too had a dose of "Gandhigiri".M.K.Hemanth shared his love to our guest by just satisfying himself with water,cabbage leaves,carrot sticks etc.,Then came biryani.Not bad.Finally desserts.

We started projecting the bill.The highest value projected is less than 3000/-.Asif was very happy because his upper limit was 3000/-.Then the manager placed the bill before him.Jubiliant Asif turned pale.It is 6000/-.

The DRT(Disaster Recovery Team, here Raju &Co. ) took its charge.It converted some guests into hosts.Poor Asif calmed down.For the time being DRT funded the gap in the bill.Hopefully by the next birthday of Asif this bill will be settled.

At the end we all had a cheerful experience and some nice pics to store in our memory folders(courtesy: Attili Satti)

Monday, September 04, 2006

Koshish

I joined Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) group started under the leader ship of Anita (HR Department)of my company some 5-6 months back.Whenever I have free time I try to participate in the events organized by this group.The amount of self-satisfaction given by such activities cannot be described in words.Even if you become CEO of the Fortune No1 company you wont get that much of self-satisfaction.Some of the activities in which I participated are:-

(1)I AM WITH PAWMENCAP

PAWMENCAP=Parent’s Association For The Welfare Of Mentally Handicapped Persons
This organization have various projects like
(1)Mayukha :- Early Intervention and Pre-Schooling Centre ,
(2)Manokrushi :- Special Education & Training and Rehabilitation Centre ,
(3)Manochetna :-Vocational Training and Sheltered Work-Shop,
(4)Saans :- Respite Care Centre

As part of the program "I am with PAWMENCAP" ,we invited the mentally handicapped children to our company campus.Amazing thing is the right hemisphere of their brain is perfect.They cannot speak well but they can identify melodies,they can do creative things.They make notebooks,candles,phenol etc., just like anyone else.We organized stalls to sell the items made by them in our campus.I bought note-books and candles.Some of the associates organised their own stalls in between theirs not to single them out.Our idea is to streamline their sales that their efforts bear fruits for them.I talked to some of them Rahmat ,Pinky etc.,I felt bad for them.I thought why God was unjust towards them?But later the same guys performed on the stage.Absolutely I, or for that matter most of the normal guys cannot do like that.The expressions shown by the girl performing "Varsham"(telugu movie) song is amazing.
They lack many basic facilities.They need a paper-cutting machine to make notebooks.They need support from all of us."MY HUMBLE REQUEST FOR THOSE WHO READ THIS POST ,PLEASE TRY TO CONTRIBUTE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE KIDS" .However we are in the process of sensitizing PAWMENCAP, by creating a web-site for them.
Their Address::
#10-3-15/2/1, MCH Colony, Humayun Nagar,Hyderabad - 500 028
Tel:: 23536902,55782815 Fax:: 040-55782816

(2)TRAFFIC UN-JAM

As Part Of our CSR week we have taken up the job of creating traffic awareness among people.We concentrated the junction at the Hitech city and and the junction in front of our company.For a week we have spent on roads for 3-4 hours a day chanellising the traffic.The basic problem is most of us dont know correct rules.So we violate them.We educated people how to circle around the junction?When there is a circle at the junction one has to circle around it to make a turn but generally the human tendency is to take short cut.This creates lot of mess at the junctions.At the Hitech-city havoc is created by autoes.We ensured that auto-guys dont stop where ever they like.There should be reserved space for autoes.No one uses the free-left efficiently.This is because the vehicles that want to go towards right come towards left and in the process of crossing to move towards right they create mess.The vehicles who wants to move towards left/right should decide firmly use the turn indicator and make an effort to move towards the side of their choice at least 1 km before the gap in the median.
We tried to address such basic and minimum issues.Believe me! with in 2-3 days there is free flow of vehicles and pedestrians.We were congratulated by ACP traffic.
Many guys from other companies congratulated me in person and asked me more about our CSR activities.The best compliment we got is traffic polices talking among them-selves "Hey! We do the same job daily but such a free-flow is never seen".
Related Post Is the Solution Workable


I am very thankful to Koshish team for giving me this opportunity.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Pigeons

Last week I went home.I saw a pigeon shouting in the curtilage of my home.There was deep sorrow in its cry.I asked my mother Why is it crying?She reminded me of the pigeon and its eggs during my previous visit.My mother's feelings for the pigeon and its family touched me.Although she is not an ornithologist the way she watched the pigeons is astonishing.Here is the tale of our guest from the discussions with my mother.

Before this visit, when I went home I saw the pigeon hatching its two white eggs in an empty pot.Empty I mean it has no plants but filled with soil.The mother pigeon is brilliant.It selected the pot because it is in shade due to all the plants surrounding it.Dont imagine a big garden.Its a small area where there are some nine to ten pots of plants.After selecting the place it created the bed to lay the eggs and subsequently hatch them.It untangled the twigs of our broom.With them it built the foundation and compound wall of the nest.Then it collected cotton pieces found here and there,threads,fibres etc., to cover the twigs.All this for the comfort of its young babies.Architectural skills are not pertained to man alone but also to the pigeons.All of a sudden it layed the eggs and started hatching them.During this time the male one guarded the mother and eggs against any enemies.

The pigeon meddled with the things around.It grimed the place around with its droppings.Our house maid was frustrated.Next day she came up with a plan of handing over the pigeons to the local pigeon-catcher.For this my mother was annoyed.She explained to her that its sin to separate a mother from her babies.From then onwards our house maid also bore the pigeons with patience.She even took care so that the hatching process is not disturbed.Watching the pigeons became one of the daily chores for my mother.The pigeons became a part of the conversation of my mother and our maid.

My mother has to move around the place for watering the plants and moving the pots around so that plants get proper sunlight.Then the mother pigeon flew into the air out of fear.From the air itself it ensured that no harm is done to babies/eggs.Anyhow my mother took extreme care that the nest and the eggs are not disturbed.To ascertain that the hatching process is not disturbed my mother reduced the frequency of watering the plants.

After 17-18 days the eggs were hatched.Two cute pigeon babies emerged from the eggs.Now the mother fulfilled her second phase of responsibility i.e., feeding the new born.
It gets the food suitable for the babies holding it in its beak.The way in which it feeds its babies is astounding.The sounds made by the mother will stir emotions in your heart.This act similar to the way in which my mom used to nourish me.The sounds are similar to the stories that my mother used to say when I was a toddler to make me consume the food.

Slowly the babies developed wings.One of them was strong the other one was a bit weak.The stronger one flew away one day.Then the mother searched a lot for it.But it couldn't found it.Finally it gave up and took care of the other one as usual.It carried on the rites getting food,feeding it with utmost love.All of a sudden the other one also disappeared.

The mother was anxious about her kids.It cried with sorrow.It searched around.My mother and even the house-maid were upset seeing this.The pigeon cried a lot but in vain.The babies are not going to return.They became strong,developed wings depending on mothers nourishment.Now they left their mother alone.It used to come to the place where the nest was there and cry throught out the day for about a week.Thats why the pigeon was crying.

Our parents dote on us.They struggle,sacrifice their small desires for us to make us successful in our life.Once we get the wings we should carry our parents,our well-wishers who were with us in the process of our developing wings along with us to the heights we reach.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

V for Vendetta

I watched this movie 2 weeks ago.The dialogues are impressive.Here I am giving a sample dialogue ,introduction of V(Hugo Weaving) to Evey Hammond(Natalie Portman).

V: Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
Evey Hammond: Are you like a crazy person?

Try translating V's dialogue to a common man's English.
With the help of word-web and my understanding of the movie I tried translating this to a common man's English :) Please go through my translation and correct any errors.

Monday, April 10, 2006

God! Give me R.S.

R.S. is not a girl.If it were a girl I would have been in IMAX catching the latest release with her , but not here writing this post :( .Now, what is R.S ?It's abbreviated form of Real Stubbornness.

I heard innocent mothers boasting that their boy is stubborn.They feel that If he wants to do some thing no one on the earth can stop him even the force of friction :).He is stubborn to watch SRK's latest release on day one or to propose the girl next door.But when it comes to the Real Thing is he stubborn?A typical telugu movie hero is portrayed as this kind of stubborn boy.

What is this Real Thing?I feel that it is the one which helps you to grow and help others to grow along with you.It can be like mastering a technology,getting your dream job,service (as mentioned in my previous post) and so on.I know this is purely relative notion, so please free to comment me on this aspect.

In my case, first of all let me make myself clear.My mother never boasted of my stubbornness.She is very much aware of my weaknesses and strengths.Whether someone talks about your stubbornness or not, I feel that stubbornness is an innate quality.Where and When you use it is what really matters! I will exemplify my argument with some of my own incidents.

Yesterday I decided to do two mutually exclusive things.One is watching the movie V for Vendetta and the other start reading word-lists(I dont know when I am going to start this).My office work was completed by 5:30 PM.I proved my stubbornness by watching the movie.(It's a different issue that the movie is good and I learnt some new words from the dialogues :) ).I dont really consider this stubbornness as stubbornness at all because it is exhibited by any Tom,Dick and Harry.

Suitable helmet locks are not yet made for Honda Unicorn.Seeing the lock fit with long screws on my friends Unicorn I decided to have the lock for my bike on the back-side only.But the mechanic I caught hold of told that its impossible and some how convinced me that it will hurt my side lights and blah blah.So I agreed to have it on the bike's leg guard.Thi created hell lot of problem.The lock slides along the rod,the locked helmet occupies my leg-room.

Again on fine day I searched for a better mechanic.The old lock was fixed so strongly that it has to be cut.I bought a new lock and long screws and got it fixed on the bike's back side.This transition costed me 300 bucks.I would have saved this amount if I would have exhibited the same stubbornness that I did in watching V.

So I decide to be stubborn in real things also.Here I want to make myself clear.I am not talking about imaginary things like reading all AynRand works in a singe day for an uninitiated reader.

I dont know how many loop-holes are present in my argument.Please free to comment on it.

Friday, April 07, 2006

A Paradigm Shift

One evening a scholar was addressing the participants
on the concept of work culture. One of the
participants asked the following question :
"I am a senior manager of Materials Department and I
joined an organization 25 years ago as an Engineer Trainee and over the last
25 years I have gone through every experience in the
organization.
During the initial part of my career, the job was very
challenging and interesting.
However, all those exciting days are gone since I do
not find my job any more interesting because there is
nothing new in my job. I am now feeling
bored because I am doing a routine job.
However, Sir, I am living in the same house for over
forty years, I am the son for the same parents for
over forty five years, I am the father for the
same children for the past ten years and the husband
for the same lady for the past twenty years !( the
toughest job!)
In these personal roles I do not feel bored Please
tell me why I am bored of the routine in the office
and not in the house?"
The response from Scholar was very interesting and
convincing. He asked the executive the question:
"Please tell me for whom does your Mother cook ?"
The executive replied that obviously the mother cooks
for others.
Then the Scholar said that the mother "Serves" others
and because of this service mindedness, she is not
feeling tired or bored. But in an office, we
"Work" and not "Serve". Anything we consider, as
service will not make us feel bored. That is
difference between Serving and Working.
He asked the executive to consider his work as service
and not merely a work !! This was a very interesting
analysis!! Whenever you put a larger
context around your work and see a broader meaning for
your work, you will take interest in your work and it
will make a very big difference in your
internal energy.

Attitude Matters !!!

If you think you are working for the organization you
will get frustrated.
If you feel you are doing a service and getting some
service charges you will feel happy.
After all -doing what you like is freedom but liking
what you do is happiness!

Source :- Mail Forwards

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Tax Funda

This is the logic given by my friend pradeep(Bolero)on how the income taxing system works.

There were 10 men who went out for dinner. The bill for all 10 came to
Rs 100. They decided to split and pay their bill exactly the way we
pay our taxes. The first four men - the poorest - paid nothing; the
fifth paid Re 1, the sixth paid Rs 3, the seventh Rs 7, the eighth Rs
12, the ninth Rs 18., and the tenth man - the richest - paid Rs 59.

The 10 men continued to eat everyday in this restaurant and seemed
quite happy with the arrangement. Until one day, the restaurant owner
threw them a curve! (in tax language a "tax cut"). "Since you are all
such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your
daily meal by Rs 20." So now dinner for the 10 cost only Rs 80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes. So
the first four men were unaffected. They would still eat for free. But
what about the other six, the paying customers? How could they divide
Rs 20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share"?

The six paying men calculated that Rs 20 divided by six is Rs 3.33.
But if they subtracted that from each of their share of the bill, then
the fifth man and the sixth man would end up being PAID to eat their
meal! So the restaurant owner suggested that it would be fair to
reduce each man's bill in rough proportion to their share, and he
proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so the fifth man paid nothing (100 per cent saving), the sixth
pitched in Rs 2, the seventh paid Rs 5, the eighth paid Rs 9, the
ninth paid Rs 12, leaving the tenth man with a bill of Rs 52 instead
of his earlier Rs 59. Each of the six was better off than before. And
the first four continued to eat for free.

But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their
savings. "I only got a rupee out of the Rs 20," declared the sixth
man, but he got Rs 7!" pointing to the tenth. "Yeah, that's right,"
exclaimed the fifth man, "I only saved a rupee, too. It's unfair that
he got seven times more than me!"

That's true! shouted the seventh man, "why should he get Rs 7 back
when I got only Rs 2? The wealthy get all the breaks!" "Wait a
minute," yelled the first four non-paying men in unison, "We didn't
get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The 9 men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night he
didn't show up for dinner, so the 9 sat down and ate without him. But
when it was time to pay the bill, they discovered, what was very
important. They were FIFTY-TWO Rupees short of paying the bill!

And that, dear friends and law-makers, is how the tax system works.
The people who pay the highest taxes would quite obviously get the
most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for
being wealthy, and they just may not show up at the table anymore.
Where would that leave the rest?

Simple story and Straight forward logic

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

The dark face of IT/ITES salaries

This is from the point of view of the young employees in IT/ITES sectors.

"IT sector pays high salaries in India-so I want to become an IT professional",I am coming across this statement very often now-a-days.I am not trying to point that it is wrong.I may also say the same if I am not an IT professional.

The highest salary paid in IIIT-Hyderabad campus is Rs.8.4 Lakh per annum for a BTech graduate.A BTech graduate from other disciplines is paid a maximum of 1.5 Lakh per annum in their respective sectors.This is a large gap(6:1 ratio).So almost all graduates are shifting to IT by acquiring the required skills from coaching institutes .

The brutal murder of 24-year-old Pratibha Srikanth Murthy, who worked at the HP GlobalSoft call center has made me think , How many potential Entrepreneurs,Researchers,IAS/IPS/IFS officers,Chartered Accountants,Bank managers,Lawyers,Judges,writers,....... are taking up the call center jobs,because they need money? Working in the night,sleeping in the day is against biological clock but many youngsters are used to it.What I feel is youngsters must think BIG.

Coming to the work done in IT sector.90% of it is not up to the standard, but people are satisfied with their work because of big bucks.It is upto the youngsters to show the world that India is not only capable of support work of a company but also core and fundamental work.This will happen when India Inc. comes up with a revolutionary startup like Google.I am happy to know that effort is put in this direction.I also want to be part of it.This include barcamps,Technology Business Incubation units are opened in IITs and some of the other schools.They encourage the students to establish startups to carry out work in fundamental areas.Kritikal solutions,Kanwal Rekhi School of Information and Technology, are some of them.I hope many more institutes work towards such initiatives.Indian government must back them up.

Although IT sector pays high salaries compared to other sectors.The hype is so much that a lay man started considering IT employee as an ambani or a Tata.Also companies in service sector doesn't pay so much particularly for a fresher.Instead of the average salary metric ,the maximum salary metric is more advertised.This may be the cause of hype.Take places like Miyapur,Kondapur and Madhapur in Hyderabad (may be the same with IT boom cities) .This is the belt that surround the IT companies.The standards of living in these places is double compared to other areas Why?Simply because the support landlords,house-maids,food joints think that software people swim in the money like Scrooge Mc Duck of Ducktales.One will faint easily looking at the prices in the menu of any road-side restaurant in these areas.So my room-mate and I am cleaning the house by ourselves,washing clothes and are planning to cook.

May be I overeacted when our landlord increased the rent by a high amount all of a sudden and looked as if it is his right to do so because we are earning sooo much according to him

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

My Dad's Gift AP 09 BB 6324

At last "my" problem of commuting from one place to another is solved.My pappa(father) gifted me a bike.It's grey metallic Honda Unicorn.I tried out both Bajaj pulsar and Unicorn.Then finalised Unicorn because it is of my type :-).I was happy for buying one of the best bikes in the market.But at the same time I am confused and panic because I was a no-vice driver.This is the first-ever bike in my life.I was used to Bajaj Scooter only.That too in Ongole(my home-town) where the traffic is not even one-hundredth of Hyderabad.
Seeing my poor condition my dad decided to give me a driving hands-on tutorial by instructing me siting on the back-seat.Does it sound strange(Bike-Driving Tutorials!!!)?My fathere is my alchemist(Paulo Coelho).I was weak at geometry in high-school especially I used to feel hell-like to draw incircle.My father learned the method from me and taught me the easiest approach to do the job.Ths fact is he is from Biology background(Masters in Vet Sciences).
My classes started and went on for five hours.
Hour 1: My father told me to first get acquainted with changing gears.Its critical to use the right gear at the right time.I practised the process for a few minutes keeping the bike still i.e., first gear down then neutral then second so on fifth.Then we slowly rode off to a petrol bunk.He told me to get the tank filled,check the fuel guauge.It is a good habit to keep track of mileage given by the bike.My bike is giving 50-55 mileage.
Hour 2,3: He told me to drove to Ameerpet.Ameerpet road is the busiest in Hyderabad.I was totally shaken at the sight of the traffic.Irony is I never got an opportunity to feel the real heat of traffic as I was always packed inside the city bus when ever I traveled to Ameerpet. He told me not to get confused.Just maintain proper balance of the vehicle holding on to clutch and brakes.Then slowly move on when ever you get an opportunity.Don’t hurry and at the same time don’t relax.Following his instructions I tried moving in the gully and successfully got out of the maze.I felt as if I got a Olympic gold medal.
Hour 3,4: My father was going to Sholapur on some official work.So we drove off to Secunderabad Railway Station.At one instant in our journey the traffic signal was about to go red.I was confused whether to move on or wait.He asked me to increase the speed a bit and carefully cross the road before the signal goes red.But I was confused.I was going slowly on fourth gear.The bike stalled exactly at the junction.Then the signal went red for my side and green for the other.I was sweating seeing the vehicle stream rushing towards me.The traffic police was shouting at us.Then My father told me to calm down,use the electric start, and immediately get out of junction.I followed the instructions and got out of ‘chakravyuha’ .Funny thing is I was doing all sort of things that delay my efforts to get out of the confusion.I was switching on lights changing gears what not but not at all using the electric start mechanism.
Hour 5: This hour is review of the show put on by me in the past four hours.As he always did, my father encouraged me and praised me that I picked up driving in the busy traffic faster than he did.I was worrying about the signal incident.He said “It’s all common.But take care of your driving and driving of others on the road.Others because not only the mistakes done by you but by others on the road can cost you.There is no hurry.Don’t travel at high speeds.While speeding up or speeding down estimate the movement of the other vehicles on the road.What ever you give an indication to others on the road that you are speeding up or down through indicators.In case of speeding up if you cannot estimate better continue with your speed.In case of speeding down give an indication to the vehicles behind you before slowing down.Above all be careful and always wear your helmet.Again there is no hurry.Be calm and cool while driving.”

After that I returned to my room safely.I had a smooth ride.

Now I am comfortable with my driving even in the busiest of the busiest roads.All this is because of the confidence given by my father.I got my bike registered and its number is …(you guess?).

Happy Biking!!

Thursday, February 09, 2006

The Bald Man's Comb

A Story on how to manage your career & your expectations by R. Gopalakrishnan

There is a Thai saying that experience is a comb which Nature gives to man after he is bald. As I grow bald, I would like to share my comb with your people, about their career ahead.

1. Seek out grassroots level experience
I studied Physics and Engineering at University. A few months before graduation, I appeared for an HLL interview for Computer Traineeship. When asked whether I would consider Marketing instead of Computers, I responded negatively : an engineer to visit grocery shops to sell Dalda or Lifebuoy? Gosh, no way. After I joined the Company and a couple of comfortable weeks in the swanky Head Office, I was given a train ticket to go to Nasik. Would I please meet Mr. Kelkar to whom I would be attached for the next two months? He would teach me to work as a salesman in his territory, which included staying in Kopargaon and Pimpalgaon among other small towns.

I was most upset. In a town called Ozhar, I was moving around from shop to shop with a bullock cart full of products and a salesman's folder in my hand. Imagine my embarrassment when an IIT friend appeared in front of me in Ozhar, believe it or not! and exclaimed, "Gopal, I thought you joined as a Management Trainee in Computers". I could have died a thousand deaths. After this leveling experience, I was less embarrassed to work as a Despatch Clerk in the Company Depot and an Invoice Clerk in the Accounts Department. Several years later, I realised the value of such grassroots level experience. It is fantastic. I would advise young people to seek out nail-dirtying, collar-soiling, shoe-wearing tasks. That is how you learn about organizations, about the true nature of work, and the dignity of the many, many tasks that go into building great enterprises.


2. Deserve before you desire
At one stage, I was appointed as the Brand Manager for Lifebuoy and Pears soap, the company's most popular-priced and most premium soaps. And what was a Brand Manager? "A mini-businessman, responsible for the production, sales and profits of the brand, accountable for its long-term growth, etc., etc. I had read those statements, I believed them and here I was, at 27, "in charge of everything". But very soon, I found I could not move a pin without checking with my seniors. One evening, after turning the Facit machine handle through various calculations, I sat in front of the Marketing Director. I expressed my frustration and gently asked whether I could not be given total charge. He smiled benignly and said, "The perception and reality are both right. You will get total charge when you know more about the brand than anyone else in this company about its formulation, the raw materials, the production costs, the consumer's perception, the distribution and so on. How long do you think that it will take?"

"Maybe, ten years", I replied, "and I don't expect to be the Lifebuoy and Pears Brand Manager for so long"! And then suddenly, the lesson was clear. I was desiring total control, long before I deserved it. This happens to us all the time - in terms of responsibilities, in terms of postings and promotions, it happens all the time that there is a gap between our perception of what we deserve and the reality of what we get.
It helps to deserve before we desire.


3 Play to win but win with fairness
Life is competitive and of course, you play to win. But think about the balance. Will you do anything, to win? Perhaps not. Think deeply about how and where you draw the line. Each person draws it differently, and in doing so, it helps to think about values. Winning without values provides dubious fulfillment. The leaders who have contributed the most are the ones with a set of universal values ¡V Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King for example. Napoleon inspired a ragged, mutinous and half-starved army to fight and seize power. This brought him name and fame for twenty years. But all the while, he was driven forward by a selfish and evil ambition, and not in pursuit of a great ideal. He finally fell because of his selfish ambition.

I am fond of referring to the Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy. It was instituted in 1964 by the founder of the modern Olympic Games and here are two examples of winners.
- A Hungarian tennis player who pleaded with the umpire to give his opponent some more time to recover from a cramp.
- A British kayak team who were trailing the Danish kayak team. They then stopped to help the Danish team whose boat was stuck. The Danes went on to beat the British by one second in a three hour event!

What wonderful examples of sportsmanship! Play to Win, but with Fairness.


4 Enjoy whatever you do
Sir Thomas Lipton is credited with the statement, "There is no greater fun than hard work". You usually excel in fields, which you truly enjoy. Ask any person what it is that interferes with his enjoyment of existence. He will say, "The struggle for life". What he probably means is the struggle for success. Unless a person has learnt what to do with success after getting it, the very achievement of it must lead him to unhappiness.
Aristotle wrote, "Humans seek happiness as an end in itself, not as a means to something else". But if you think about it, we should not work for happiness. We should work as happy people. In organisational life, people get busy doing something to be happy. The more you try to be happy, the more unhappy you can get. Your work and career is all about your reaching your full potential. Working at one's full potential, whether it is the office boy or the Chairman, leads to enjoyment and fulfillment.

A last point about enjoyment. Keep a sense of humour about yourself. Too many people are in danger of taking themselves far too seriously. As General Joe Stilwell is reported to have said, "Keep smiling. The higher the monkey climbs, the more you can see of his backside".


5 Be Passionate about your health
Of course, as you get older, you would have a slight paunch, greying of hair or loss of it and so on. But it is in the first 5 - 7 years after the working career begins that the greatest neglect of youthful health occurs. Sportsmen stop playing sports, non drinkers drink alcohol, light smokers smoke more, active people sit on chairs, starving inmates of hostels eat rich food in good hotels and so on. These are the years to watch. Do not, I repeat do not, convince yourself that you are too busy, or that you do not have access to facilities, or worst of all, that you do this to relieve the stresses of a professional career.

A professional career is indeed very stressful. There is only one person who can help you to cope with the tension, avoid the doctor's scalpel, and to feel good each morning - and that is yourself. God has given us as good a health as He has, a bit like a credit balance in the bank. Grow it, maintain it, but do not allow its value destruction. The penalty is very high in later years.


6 Direction is more important than distance
Every golfer tries to drive the ball to a very long distance. In the process, all sorts of mistakes occur because the game involves the masterly co-ordination of several movements simultaneously. The golf coach always advises that direction is more important than distance. So it is with life.

Despite one¡¦s best attempts, there will be ups and downs. It is relationships and friendships that enable a person to navigate the choppy waters that the ship of life will encounter. When I was young, there was a memorable film by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart and Dona Reed, and named IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It is about a man who is about to commit suicide because he thinks he is a failure. An angel is sent to rescue him. The bottomline of the film is that "No Man is a Failure Who Has Friends".


Conclusion
My generation will never be twenty again, but when you are older, you can and should be different from my generation. Ours is a great and wonderful country, and realising her true potential in the global arena depends ever so much on the quality and persistence of our young people. Good luck in your journey, my young friends, and God be with you and our beloved Nation.

These are the personal view of Mr. R. Gopalakrishnan, Director( now chairman!) - Tata Sons

For more read this

Friday, January 06, 2006

Will my dream come true?

I dream of a day when I will be able to commute from Madhapur to Secunderabad seated comfortably in a city bus.It would be wonderful if I can reach secunderabad in 45 min.This is a luxurious dream for a Hyderabadi.

Currently during peak hours travelling is a night-mare.After waiting for a long time you have to travel standing until unless you get into the bus at its originating point.You cannot even comfortably stand.In a circle of radius 1 metre around you there will be 4 or 5 people.Imagine the horrible scenario for your self.The bus will move like a bullock-cart because of heavy traffic.If you own a vehicle you wont have to undergo this arduous journey but the delay will be the same.
The cause of the problem is less number of city buses combined with narrow(relative term) roads.Realizing this Municipal Corporation Of Hyderabad is continuously widening the roads.I dont know when will this process comes to an end?

The solutions like constructing fly-overs,widening roads have a physical limitation.At some point of time we cannot widen roads even by an inch.

I think the effective solution is increasing number of city buses and reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.Please note that I am not at all against automobile industry.In our situation we have to make some compromises to meet the goals of all atleast partially (I'm not sure but I think that Nash's game theory (remember the blonde in Beautiful mind) is applicable here).
The number of private vehicles are increasing day-by-day.Easy vehicle loans and the perception of vehicles as a basic need have contributed to this increase.A car that provides space for 4-5 people carries only 1 or 2 people.This wastage of space leads to a feeling that roads are narrow.Government should make policies that discourage people from using personal 4-wheelers on weekdays.At the same time the number of city buses should also be increased.If I am not wrong this is similar to bin packing problem.

Although my solution is vague please comment on it and feel free to post your own solutions so that we can bring it to the notice of the concerned authorities.

IIM grads who gave up India Inc.

AHMEDABAD: Think about an Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad alumnus and you conjure up the image of a corporate warrior engaged in boardroom battles.

That's till you meet people like Bhushan Punani, director of city-based Blind People's Association, or social entrepreneur Vijay Mahajan.

"Money offers pseudo comfort which never attracted me," says Punani. And Mahajan wishes that "more IIM-A alumni would move away from the beaten path".

The latest issue of IIM-A's inhouse magazine 'Alumnus' features 20 IIM-A alumni who took the road less travelled. These "intrepid souls", says the magazine, put their cause above themselves by promoting livelihood for the poor, supporting the visually challenged, contributing to performing arts, sports, eco-restoration etc.

It features the likes of Pavan Kapoor (1985 batch) who made a career in the Indian Foreign Service. "It is particularly satisfying when we are able to defend our nation's interests against others," he writes....

Kapoor's job involves negotiation on behalf of the Indian government in specific WTO committees. Then there is the more famous Harsha Bhogle who lived out of his wife and batchmate Anita's income before making it big in the world of cricket.

"It is important to realise," says Punani, "that the concept of management is relevant to any activity which concerns people and money."

It was while working on dairy development in Punjab, that Punani decided to pursue an alternative career and has established a leading disability development organisation.

There are a few odd students who do think differently. Vardan Kabra (2004 batch) made headlines when he chucked an offer from P&G and started Fountainhead Education Foundation.

But what about status and money? Kabra is candid, "At times, I do wonder whether I have made the wrong choice but that's a temporary phase."...

Punani's words probably reflect the overall sentiments of many others of his kind, "My batchmates earn tonnes, while I earn pennies; most people have sleepless nights, I go to sleep content."

There are some unconventional souls in the present batch too, like Gaurav Dagaonkar, a guitarist and vocalist who wants to start a music company. This soon-to-be IIM-A grad calls money "a by-product of talent.

Source:- Rediff News

I am proud to work with Tata Group

This article on Tatas inspires every one to do their part for the society.It is written by Suhel Seth,CEO, Equua Redcell.

I visited Jamshedpur over the weekend to see for myself an India that is
fast disappearing despite all the wolf-cries of people like
Narayanamurthy and his ilk. It is one thing to talk and quite another to
do and I am delighted to tell you that Ratan Tata has kept alive the
legacy of perhaps Indias finest industrialist J.N. Tata. Something that
some people doubted when Ratan took over the House of the Tatas but in
hindsight, the best thing to have happened to the Tatas is
unquestionably Ratan. I was amazed to see the extent of corporate
philanthropy and this is no exaggeration.

For the breed that talks about corporate social responsibility and talks
about the role of corporate India, a visit to Jamshedpur is a must. Go
there and see the amount of money they pump into keeping the town going;
see the smiling faces of workers in a region known for industrial
unrest; see the standard of living in a city that is almost isolated
from the mess in the rest of the country.

This is not meant to be a puff piece. I have nothing to do with Tata
Steel,but I strongly believe the message of hope and the message of
goodness that they are spreading is worth sharing. The fact that you do
have companies in India which look at workers as human beings and who do
not blow their software trumpet of having changed lives. In fact, I
asked Mr Muthurman, the managing director, as to why he was so quiet
about all they had done and all he could offer in return was a smile
wrapped in humility, which said it all. They have done so much more
since I last visited Jamshedpur, which was in 1992. The town has
obviously got busier but the values thankfully haven't changed. The food
is still as amazing as it always was and I gorged, as I would normally
do. I visited the plant and the last time I did that was with Russi
Mody.

But the plant this time was gleaming and far from what it used to be.
Greener and cleaner and a tribute to environment management. You could
have been in the mountains. Such was the quality of air I inhaled! There
was no belching smoke; no tired faces and so many more women workers,
even on the shop floor. This is true gender equality and not the kind
that is often espoused at seminars organised by angry activists. I met
so many old friends. Most of them have aged but not grown old. There was
a spring in the air which came from a certain calmness which has always
been the hallmark of Jamshedpur and something I savoured for a full two
days in between receiving messages of how boring and decrepit the
Lacklustre Fashion Weak was.

It is at times such as this that our city lives seem so meaningless.
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata had created an edifice that is today a robust
company and it is not about profits and about valuation. It is not about
who becomes a millionaire and who doesnt'. It is about getting the job
done with dignity and respect keeping the age-old values intact and this
is what I learnt.

I jokingly asked someone as to whether they ever thought of joining an
Infosys or a Wipro and pat came the reply: "We are not interested in
becoming crorepatis but in making others crorepatis."

Which is exactly what the Tatas have done for years in and around
Jamshedpur. Very few people know that Jamshedpur has been selected as a
UN Global Compact City, edging out the other nominee from India,
Bangalore.
Selected because of the quality of life, because of the conditions of
sanitation and roads and welfare. If this is not a tribute to industrial
India, then what is? Today, Indian needs several Jamshedpurs but it also
needs this Jamshedpur to be given its fair due, its recognition. I am
tired of campus visits being publicised to the Infosys and the Wipros of
the world. Modern India is being built in Jamshedpur as we speak. An
India built on the strength of core convictions and nothing was more
apparent about that than the experiment with truth and reality that Tata
Steel is conducting at Pipla.

Forty-eight tribal girls (yes, tribal girls who these corrupt and evil
politicians only talk about but do nothing for) are being educated
through a residential program over nine months. I went to visit them and
I spoke to them in a language that they have just learnt: Bengali. Eight
weeks ago, they could only speak in Sainthali, their local dialect. But
today, they are brimming with a confidence that will bring tears to your
eyes. It did to mine.

One of them has just been selected to represent Jharkand in the state
archery competition. They have their own womens football team and whats
more they are now fond of education. It is a passion and not a burden.
This was possible because I guess people like Ratan Tata and Muthurman
havent sold their souls to some business management drivel, which tells
us that we must only do business and nothing else. The fact that not one
Tata executive has been touched by the Naxalites in that area talks
about the social respect that the Tatas have earned.

The Tatas do not need this piece to be praised and lauded. My intent is
to share the larger picture that we so often miss in the haze of the
slime and sleaze that politics imparts. My submission to those who use
phrases such as "feel-good" and "India Shining" is first visit
Jamshedpur to understand what it all means. See Tata Steel in action to
know what companies can do if they wish to. And what corporate India
needs to do. Murli Manohar Joshi would be better off seeing what Tata
Steel has done by creating the Xavier Institute of Tribal Education
rather than by proffering excuses for the imbroglio in the IIMs. This is
where the Advanis and Vajpayees need to pay homage. Not to all the Sai
Babas and the Hugging saints that they are so busy with. India is
changing inspite of them and they need to realise that.

I couldn't have spent a more humane and wonderful weekend. Jamshedpur is
an eye-opener and a role model, which should be made mandatory for
replication. I saw corporate India actually participate in basic
nation-building, for when these tribal girls go back to their villages,
they will return with knowledge that will truly be life-altering.

Corporate India can do it but most of the time is willing to shy away.
For those corporate leaders who are happier winning awards and being
interviewed on their choice of clothes, my advise is visit Tata Steel,
spend some days at Jamshedpur and see a nation's transformation. That is
true service and true nationalism.

Tata Steel will celebrate 100 years of existence in 2007. It won't be
just a milestone in this company's history. It will be a milestone, to
my mind of corporate transparency and generosity in this country. It is
indeed fitting that Ratan Tata today heads a group which has people who
are committed to nation-building than just building inflluence and
power. JRD must be smiling wherever he is. And so must Jamsetji
Nusserwanji. These people today, have literally climbed every last blue
mountain. And continue to do so with vigour and passion.

Thank god for the TATA s