Well, this is something which i remembered early morning while talking to a gal in bus and i started laughing like mad. I thought i will share it with the love of my life "MY Blog". ( Yes, i want to call it mine) :)
The girl was mentioning on how she came across an uncle who told her what is the right place for gals and how they should behave and all that. I remembered a train journey. There was an old couple sitting next to me. It was Rajdhani and i had descended from the upper berth after reading my novel and was waiting for my dinner. Suddenly, both of them ( who seemed to be thoroughly bored of looking out of window) started a conversation.
"Beta, kaha se aae ho aur kahaa ja rahe ho?" I told them about the journey. They started asking about my education, my work. Suddenly, uncle saw an english novel in my hand. He started, this english culture, these novels are not good. I said uncle its on Indian history, it is nice, i can tell you in short what it is all about. BUT, NO! He was all set to tell me that being a girl reading is not what i need to do. I was like, alright, go on, i have a hollow pipe between my two ears and i am in no mood to argue. Thankfully my dad did not think the way you did, else i have no clue what would have happened to my life.
Man! he was getting too much. So, do you know how to cook? AND i told myself, did i tell him that i am looking for a maid's job. Anyway, chill, just answer. I said i know whatever is needed to live, i am not dependent. Uncle ji, dont you know how to cook, wash etc etc? I said, this is the problem with hindi culture, people are so dependent, they will look at books and clothes when they dont even know how to cook their own food and wash their own clothes. (Now, i was ready to take it heads on, enough is enough ok ;)) BTW, do you know?
He said nahi beta aunty hai na tumhari. I looked at the poor lady who looked thoroughly disgusted with her husband. Suddenly all my anger was gone. Yeah, dinner was over and i was having the sweet dish which was an "ice cream". I started laughing like mads. Uncle said kya hua bete? I said uncle, after all the seva that aunty does, you gave aunty to a stranger? He said kaise? I said you never said she is my wife, you said tumhari(stranger's) aunty. I wonder whats wrong in atleast accepting that she is your wife and you love her because you only know how to eat and not how to cook what you eat. I just hope we learn to acknowledge the love and care if nothing else. I am not so sure that this is culture and if it is, it is biased and i for sure think that i am more than a cook for rest of my life, at the cost of being uncultured or whatever bull shit. And then maid servants are available for 5k, so why bring someone home(detach from ething that she is born with) and crib over a bottle of liquor for rest of your life, calling it a "mistake". Please dont ruin people's life for your self interest. If you are "cultured", be good and sensible.
But anyways, goodnight!! I got to read that dirty novel, its damn good. It opens up my mind and hence i sit and comtemplate on culture, so i understand it disturbs your comfort factor. Bbye! It was nice talking to you both. They start staring back to nowhere out of the window and i get back to reading my "dirty" book on Indian history.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Cruelty at its Best!
I happened to pick a dvd with three Afghani movies. I like to watch movies from different countries and languages. ( OK!! i dont understand language but they give good insight into culture.) The movie is about some barbaric rules in Afghanistan where in a woman is not allowed to walk out on street without a man.
The movie moves around a family of a lady, a little girl and an old grand mother. All men in their home have died in wars. They have no one to accompany them outside. If they dont go out then how do they earn for living? They decide to dress up their girl like a boy and follow her for work. There is one street urchin who knows that she is a girl, but he decides to keep quite.
One day, all young boys are caught to teach islamic learnings and she is also made to join the troop.
The movie revolves around her escapade and fears that she will be killed if its discovered that she is a girl disguised as a boy.
The barbarians find out that she is breaking "law". They decide to kill her. No one comes to save her. She is married off to a 60 year old man in the name of mercy.
Oops!! Do people have any sense left? Where do their rationality go? When they make laws, dont they know that women are also human, they need to eat and live too or does the religion consider them to be worse than animals? I was shocked. If they think woman are that bad, its better to kill them and survive in this world alone with their supremacy. In the end, its not men's world. Its a world where every entity has a unique place. Anything that has life and emotions has to be treated with human sense. But the issue is not just the men, its also the women who accept it.
The movie moves around a family of a lady, a little girl and an old grand mother. All men in their home have died in wars. They have no one to accompany them outside. If they dont go out then how do they earn for living? They decide to dress up their girl like a boy and follow her for work. There is one street urchin who knows that she is a girl, but he decides to keep quite.
One day, all young boys are caught to teach islamic learnings and she is also made to join the troop.
The movie revolves around her escapade and fears that she will be killed if its discovered that she is a girl disguised as a boy.
The barbarians find out that she is breaking "law". They decide to kill her. No one comes to save her. She is married off to a 60 year old man in the name of mercy.
Oops!! Do people have any sense left? Where do their rationality go? When they make laws, dont they know that women are also human, they need to eat and live too or does the religion consider them to be worse than animals? I was shocked. If they think woman are that bad, its better to kill them and survive in this world alone with their supremacy. In the end, its not men's world. Its a world where every entity has a unique place. Anything that has life and emotions has to be treated with human sense. But the issue is not just the men, its also the women who accept it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Back Pack from Bangalore!! :)
This is about Bangalore. Its last 15 days in this city. I remember first time when i landed in Bangalore. I had never been to southern part of India, so it was my first tryst to a different state. Things were normal. Bangalore is a truly cosmopolitan city. Not even once in last 4 years did i feel that i was in a part of country which was not known to me.
Its been almost 4 years now. Now that i am wrapping up my things, i realize that i love this city. I have seen many colors of life here. A good set of friends, lots of work, nice weather, extreme emotions and one of the worst phases of my life. Its all over. I have evolved and survived everything to move on into a new phase of life. As i pack my stuff, i look at everything that is mine. Its about the curtains, the dvd, the microwave, the walls, the TV,books,clothes. Each one has a story to tell but then i know i have to give them away and move on. Thats what life is all about.
I dont know what am i heading towards, but what i leaving behind is equally good. This life was good, but then i am never satisfied and i wanted to do better in life. This had to come to an end, i was getting comfortable in this life.
As i sit down to settle my papers, i see some greetings, some visiting cards and some home delivery food palmphlets, and there is a curve on my lips. Yes, i love my friends. The way they would come to my home and demand food, watch TV as if it was their property, crack jokes, download music on net, go out for dinners, talk about ages and years( some of them are my childhood friends), stealing away my books and who is good fight between boys and gals, and yes, i have been irrational when things went wrong, but nothing changed in them. They were always the same, they never left me, not even for a moment, not even when i gave them all reasons to. And i know how lucky i am to have them. Its about the fights we had on chocolates, about the color black, about why they called me all india radio coz i talked a lot and about ice creams with a walk in night. We all are doing very well in life but i dont remember us discussing work often. If someone has an issue at work, we will go all the way to make things light and normal, but otherwise, we had millions of things to talk of.
I remember when i had a severe throat infection. I could not speak and even sleep. My friend used to stay over and make fun of my voice. We laughed, but then i also know that she woke up at midnight to tell me that she wanted to read a book, that was more to make me feel normal because i could not sleep. :)
Its all over? I dont know where will we all go. Suddenly i want to sit and cry, but then i will not. I am ruthlessly practical, i am not emotional anymore. I value everything, but nothing enough to hurt me. I will let it all go with a smile. But just to say friends, you all have been the best part of my life and you are as important to me as anything could ever get. I will be there for you, whenever and whereever you need me.
Here is a teddy that i got. I like it because i love it. Its soft and white and big with a cute smile. It wears a frock and has a bow. When i scored a 580 in my GMAT mock, i looked at my teddy and said read it as 700+ and nothing less and there are no second attempts in my life. It was smiling and i hugged it. And when i wrote my essays for ISB, i told my teddy, how much self boasting does it need, it smiled. And when i went for ISB interview, a day before i blurted out all my answers infront of teddy and asked was i good? It smiled. I got ISB sms, i said you think i should check out the sms? It could be a reject in which case we will cry and accept, in which case we will watch a dvd of FRIENDS. It smiled. So, i learned one big thing from teddy, keep a constant expression, things will come and go. BTW, its still smiling and i am not leaving this in Bangalore. This is going to go to my nephew because both of them smile irrespective of the seriousness of the issue at hand.
Yep, its all packed. Its just two weeks. I have learned to move on. I have learned to give everything my best shot and keep a constant expression irrespective of which direction things move. I dont have a balance sheet of life and i dont keep accounts of happy and sad moments, but i am sure they balance out, i come out happy. I am a survivor. Thanks to everyone who came and went in my life. Thanks to people for coming across my way and teaching me a thing or two, but we are crossing the same path too often. I need to go to a new path, i need to meet new strangers and learn. It was good here and it will be good out there. The point is, i have one life, i have to keep moving till i discover my goal. I am exploring life and each phase is full of surprises. I have packed my good memories and stored them safely. I am leaving bad memories as they are too much of weight and courier charges are sky rocketing. I am sorry, i dont have money for non sense as i am jobless for next one year, only good things can move on in my journey called "life".
Remember, i attach to all good things in life. Good people, good thoughts, good food, good clothes, good work, good movies, good books, good ice creams, good babies, good education, good good good. There is nothing bad in my life, i leave them all behind. :D
Its been almost 4 years now. Now that i am wrapping up my things, i realize that i love this city. I have seen many colors of life here. A good set of friends, lots of work, nice weather, extreme emotions and one of the worst phases of my life. Its all over. I have evolved and survived everything to move on into a new phase of life. As i pack my stuff, i look at everything that is mine. Its about the curtains, the dvd, the microwave, the walls, the TV,books,clothes. Each one has a story to tell but then i know i have to give them away and move on. Thats what life is all about.
I dont know what am i heading towards, but what i leaving behind is equally good. This life was good, but then i am never satisfied and i wanted to do better in life. This had to come to an end, i was getting comfortable in this life.
As i sit down to settle my papers, i see some greetings, some visiting cards and some home delivery food palmphlets, and there is a curve on my lips. Yes, i love my friends. The way they would come to my home and demand food, watch TV as if it was their property, crack jokes, download music on net, go out for dinners, talk about ages and years( some of them are my childhood friends), stealing away my books and who is good fight between boys and gals, and yes, i have been irrational when things went wrong, but nothing changed in them. They were always the same, they never left me, not even for a moment, not even when i gave them all reasons to. And i know how lucky i am to have them. Its about the fights we had on chocolates, about the color black, about why they called me all india radio coz i talked a lot and about ice creams with a walk in night. We all are doing very well in life but i dont remember us discussing work often. If someone has an issue at work, we will go all the way to make things light and normal, but otherwise, we had millions of things to talk of.
I remember when i had a severe throat infection. I could not speak and even sleep. My friend used to stay over and make fun of my voice. We laughed, but then i also know that she woke up at midnight to tell me that she wanted to read a book, that was more to make me feel normal because i could not sleep. :)
Its all over? I dont know where will we all go. Suddenly i want to sit and cry, but then i will not. I am ruthlessly practical, i am not emotional anymore. I value everything, but nothing enough to hurt me. I will let it all go with a smile. But just to say friends, you all have been the best part of my life and you are as important to me as anything could ever get. I will be there for you, whenever and whereever you need me.
Here is a teddy that i got. I like it because i love it. Its soft and white and big with a cute smile. It wears a frock and has a bow. When i scored a 580 in my GMAT mock, i looked at my teddy and said read it as 700+ and nothing less and there are no second attempts in my life. It was smiling and i hugged it. And when i wrote my essays for ISB, i told my teddy, how much self boasting does it need, it smiled. And when i went for ISB interview, a day before i blurted out all my answers infront of teddy and asked was i good? It smiled. I got ISB sms, i said you think i should check out the sms? It could be a reject in which case we will cry and accept, in which case we will watch a dvd of FRIENDS. It smiled. So, i learned one big thing from teddy, keep a constant expression, things will come and go. BTW, its still smiling and i am not leaving this in Bangalore. This is going to go to my nephew because both of them smile irrespective of the seriousness of the issue at hand.
Yep, its all packed. Its just two weeks. I have learned to move on. I have learned to give everything my best shot and keep a constant expression irrespective of which direction things move. I dont have a balance sheet of life and i dont keep accounts of happy and sad moments, but i am sure they balance out, i come out happy. I am a survivor. Thanks to everyone who came and went in my life. Thanks to people for coming across my way and teaching me a thing or two, but we are crossing the same path too often. I need to go to a new path, i need to meet new strangers and learn. It was good here and it will be good out there. The point is, i have one life, i have to keep moving till i discover my goal. I am exploring life and each phase is full of surprises. I have packed my good memories and stored them safely. I am leaving bad memories as they are too much of weight and courier charges are sky rocketing. I am sorry, i dont have money for non sense as i am jobless for next one year, only good things can move on in my journey called "life".
Remember, i attach to all good things in life. Good people, good thoughts, good food, good clothes, good work, good movies, good books, good ice creams, good babies, good education, good good good. There is nothing bad in my life, i leave them all behind. :D
Monday, February 25, 2008
And to the place i loved most.. Kanya Kumari!!
This is day 3. We start for Kanyakumari late night and reach the place at 3 AM in morning. God, i need to sleep. We land in a hotel room, the tour guide says, mam, i will be here at 5:45 AM, we have to see the sun rise from Bay of Bengal. Haan bhai! OK!! And i am telling to myself, i dont care whether sun rises or not, i dont think i am getting up. I NEED TO SLEEP!!
I enter into my room and open the window, i can see sea. I saw a huge rocky structure in dark, thats Vivekananda memorial. OK mum! sun rise will look good. I will get up. I set the alarm for 5 o clock and go for a quick sleep. It dsnt take long for that alarm to ring, but then i dont have a choice, sun will not wait for me. We get up and walk down to the sun rise point. I had never seen day shining on sea shore. It was beautiful experience. The sea waves were hitting the rocks. The day was brightening with every passing moment. I captured the stages. Suddenly the orange round rose up from behind the sea. It became bigger and bigger. There were boats of fisherman going out in sea. Expereince was amazing. The waves of water were running to hit the shores as sun made them brighter.
We headed to a point where Indian ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea meet. the color of water of these three seas is different and you can see the black, dark blue and greenish color stand out. I like the feeling of sea waves wiping off the land beneath my feet. I settled in knee deep water and waited for sea waves. Its amazing. There is water all around and soft land under your feet. The color was marvellous. We moved on to check out some temple of brahma, vishnu and mahesh 20 kms off kanya kumari. We took out some time for wax museum in kanya kumari. I liked the way guide described it, "One london, 5000 Rs, other wax museum India only 50 rs." :).
We came back to sea shores for Kanya Kumari temple, vivekananda rock and gandhi memorial. Now was time to explore Vivekananda rock which was off the land. We were seated in a huge boat, it took us to place where swami vivekananda prayed for knowledge. Nice site. Sea touching the rocks all around. There was water till my eyes could see on one side. Time to come back.
We reached back to hotel and started back for Bangalore. I wanted to stay in Kanyakumari for a day more because we had not seen the sun set. I told to myself, never mind, some other time. Mum seemed to be enjoying sea a lot. She did not crib of tiredness, no sleep or food or for that matter anything. Strong mum! when i asked her thrice, she said she wanted to sleep and i saw that our feet were swollen because of extensive travel in short time. Time to get back to home sweet home.
All in all, its tiring, tanning, sleep depriving, but travelling is always worth. Its fun to discover new places, meet new people, learn about new cultures. One life is not enough and i need to sleep before i go miles...... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Location- Kanya Kumari
Travel- 250 kms from Kanyakumari
Food- Good
Cleanliness- Good
Places to visit- Sun rise, Vivekananda memorial, Kanya Kumari temple, i liked was museum, Sangam point, Gandhi memorial, brahma vishnu mahesh temple.
Caution- have fun@ beaches ( remember three oceans meet at this point, its a rare sight.)
I enter into my room and open the window, i can see sea. I saw a huge rocky structure in dark, thats Vivekananda memorial. OK mum! sun rise will look good. I will get up. I set the alarm for 5 o clock and go for a quick sleep. It dsnt take long for that alarm to ring, but then i dont have a choice, sun will not wait for me. We get up and walk down to the sun rise point. I had never seen day shining on sea shore. It was beautiful experience. The sea waves were hitting the rocks. The day was brightening with every passing moment. I captured the stages. Suddenly the orange round rose up from behind the sea. It became bigger and bigger. There were boats of fisherman going out in sea. Expereince was amazing. The waves of water were running to hit the shores as sun made them brighter.
We headed to a point where Indian ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea meet. the color of water of these three seas is different and you can see the black, dark blue and greenish color stand out. I like the feeling of sea waves wiping off the land beneath my feet. I settled in knee deep water and waited for sea waves. Its amazing. There is water all around and soft land under your feet. The color was marvellous. We moved on to check out some temple of brahma, vishnu and mahesh 20 kms off kanya kumari. We took out some time for wax museum in kanya kumari. I liked the way guide described it, "One london, 5000 Rs, other wax museum India only 50 rs." :).
We came back to sea shores for Kanya Kumari temple, vivekananda rock and gandhi memorial. Now was time to explore Vivekananda rock which was off the land. We were seated in a huge boat, it took us to place where swami vivekananda prayed for knowledge. Nice site. Sea touching the rocks all around. There was water till my eyes could see on one side. Time to come back.
We reached back to hotel and started back for Bangalore. I wanted to stay in Kanyakumari for a day more because we had not seen the sun set. I told to myself, never mind, some other time. Mum seemed to be enjoying sea a lot. She did not crib of tiredness, no sleep or food or for that matter anything. Strong mum! when i asked her thrice, she said she wanted to sleep and i saw that our feet were swollen because of extensive travel in short time. Time to get back to home sweet home.
All in all, its tiring, tanning, sleep depriving, but travelling is always worth. Its fun to discover new places, meet new people, learn about new cultures. One life is not enough and i need to sleep before i go miles...... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Location- Kanya Kumari
Travel- 250 kms from Kanyakumari
Food- Good
Cleanliness- Good
Places to visit- Sun rise, Vivekananda memorial, Kanya Kumari temple, i liked was museum, Sangam point, Gandhi memorial, brahma vishnu mahesh temple.
Caution- have fun@ beaches ( remember three oceans meet at this point, its a rare sight.)
Journey Journey Part 2 with droopy eyes...
This is day 2. The day is supposed to be a trip to Rameshwaram, this is an island situated in gulf of mannar. I asked mum not to wake up very early as i knew that next three days were going to be extensive on journey. But, the day starts at 6:00 AM. I have difficulty opening my eyes, but then something tells me that you are going to check out the south eastern tip of India, c'mon. And i jump out of the bed. Ready to run at 7:00 AM. With bag on my shoulders, i enter into the bus to find some of the known faces. We all smile at each other. I take out my camera and share some of the pics with the gal, who is amazing photographer. She shows hers to me. We all settle for a 3 hours bus ride. I keep showing the farms to mum in the way. We finally smell something BAD, alright, this is fish and we are near sea. Mum was happy, she told that she loves the horizon and i realize that so do i. There seems to be a point where sea meets sky and there is no visible piece of land. And trust me, for a moment, everything looks like a beautiful painting to me.
We pass pamban bridge on the sea. Its a beautiful site. The bridge is constructed on sea and there is a parallel railway line which runs along. There is water all around.
We stopped to see a floating stone's temple. There are some stones which when thorwn in water, do not drown. It is said that the ones' touched by Nal and Neel from hanuman's army do not drown. This indeed is interesting. One temple was ruined by tsunami, but then they show the ruins.
We reached the main rameshwaram temple. There is a queue of people who are willing to sell you moksha for Rs 50/-. The package includes taking a plunge in sea, then they will throw water from 22 wells on you( which will make u holy), then if you pay 150, you will be given special prefernce over people who are standing in queue. Ok, i get that.
The whole temple is muddy and watery because people have to go through the 22 well bathing. Its supposed to purify ones soul, but you should take bath after being through 22 wells, your body is separate from soul. This was an interesting experience. Millions of people is all i remember. The temple is huge. Again an architectural marvel and yes indeed the water from 22 wells does not dry up even after millions of people take bath in it. It is said that water from each well tastes different and Lord Rama had to go through this before he sat down to pray to Lord Shiva.
We came out of temple soon. This was time to explore surroundings. I loved the sea though it was dirty at the shores. I sat down at a cleaner side and observed a ship pass by. It was a small, wooden boat. The person rowing it was a fisherman. He was heading in a huge sea with his fishing nets. He does not know about moksha, he knows that he has come on earth and he needs to earn to survive. He waves his hand and so do i. I know everyday he heads closer to moksha. I look at the temple in back ground, God is smiling again. He says, you all come to me and there are millions who earn from your coming, look at it positively. I set my eyes at the small fading boat again. I got my answer God, OK!! :)
Location- Rameshwaram
Distance- 200 kms from Madurai (3-4 hours journeys)
Food- Average ( You get all kind of Indian food)
Cleanliness- Its a holy place, so dont expect anything
Places to visit- See the south eastern most tip of India from pamban bridge, check out the sea, do go through 22 wells(they never dry), check out the temple architecture. Yes, you can see Abdul Kalam's house in Machalipatnam. Floating stone temple.
Caution- Be rational.
We pass pamban bridge on the sea. Its a beautiful site. The bridge is constructed on sea and there is a parallel railway line which runs along. There is water all around.
We stopped to see a floating stone's temple. There are some stones which when thorwn in water, do not drown. It is said that the ones' touched by Nal and Neel from hanuman's army do not drown. This indeed is interesting. One temple was ruined by tsunami, but then they show the ruins.
We reached the main rameshwaram temple. There is a queue of people who are willing to sell you moksha for Rs 50/-. The package includes taking a plunge in sea, then they will throw water from 22 wells on you( which will make u holy), then if you pay 150, you will be given special prefernce over people who are standing in queue. Ok, i get that.
The whole temple is muddy and watery because people have to go through the 22 well bathing. Its supposed to purify ones soul, but you should take bath after being through 22 wells, your body is separate from soul. This was an interesting experience. Millions of people is all i remember. The temple is huge. Again an architectural marvel and yes indeed the water from 22 wells does not dry up even after millions of people take bath in it. It is said that water from each well tastes different and Lord Rama had to go through this before he sat down to pray to Lord Shiva.
We came out of temple soon. This was time to explore surroundings. I loved the sea though it was dirty at the shores. I sat down at a cleaner side and observed a ship pass by. It was a small, wooden boat. The person rowing it was a fisherman. He was heading in a huge sea with his fishing nets. He does not know about moksha, he knows that he has come on earth and he needs to earn to survive. He waves his hand and so do i. I know everyday he heads closer to moksha. I look at the temple in back ground, God is smiling again. He says, you all come to me and there are millions who earn from your coming, look at it positively. I set my eyes at the small fading boat again. I got my answer God, OK!! :)
Location- Rameshwaram
Distance- 200 kms from Madurai (3-4 hours journeys)
Food- Average ( You get all kind of Indian food)
Cleanliness- Its a holy place, so dont expect anything
Places to visit- See the south eastern most tip of India from pamban bridge, check out the sea, do go through 22 wells(they never dry), check out the temple architecture. Yes, you can see Abdul Kalam's house in Machalipatnam. Floating stone temple.
Caution- Be rational.
A 3 day trip to holy south indian cities..Part-1
The journey started at 10:30 PM on 22nd feb. I wanted to sleep then and i want to sleep now as i am jotting down my experience. In morning the bus hit Madurai. I woke up my mum and told her that we were in temple city. Madurai looked like an old, dirty town. ( I have no clue why is tamil nadu dirty, but consistently i have observed that while its earning from tourism in immense, they don't learn that hygiene factor is important.) Here, a man walking on dirty streets without slippers, welcome to Madurai.
We got down and were taken to a nice hotel by our tour operator( Thankfully, had it been dirty too, he was in to get a good piece of mind for me.). We were told that we were near Meenakshi temple and we could visit the same and be ready for a trip around city by afternoon. We got ready and walked towards Meenakshi temple. The temple was huge. It has four huge doors and has magnificent stone carvings all around. There is a temple of Lord Shiva and Meenakshi. To me the temple looks mysterious because its too huge and dark. We boast of technology, but the funny part is we cant even maintain what people could make 1000 years back. The temple needs better maintenance. The temple was dark inside with some small openings through which sun descended its rays into the temple. And, lets not talk of pandits and their constant cry for money. I feel like asking God that why did he become so biased about his bhakts. What if i did not have 50 rupees, was i not supposed to see him then?
Afternoon was welcomed by a tour guide. We were taken to some palace which has been converted into a museum. The carvings were wonderful, BUT it cried out loud for maintenance as well. It was dirty, unkempt and full of people. It will not survive the century if not taken care of. From there, we headed for some big lake. There is a temple right in mid of that lake. The temple is empty year round. Once in year, god and goddess are brought to visit the same. So, we are shown the same from distance and i so badly want to go to the temple and see it. BUT, its something to be seen from distance, OK.
Next, we travel some 20 kms off Madurai to visit another mysterious temple between hills. There is an animal cut infront of a closed door every day in name of "bali".The door opens once in an year because that's how God likes it. We enter inside to see a whole new mysterious world. Its all a huge huge mansion carved out of greyish huge rocks. Its been told to me that it was constructed when cement did not exist. The cement was replaced with a mixture of jaggery, eggs and sand. Amazing if that is true. The building is huge. I have never seen such huge temples ever in life. They are huge stone pillars carved with millions of statues which i find difficult to interpret. Its huge and beautiful, but as i say, there is an element of mystery, it says you cant explore me, i am beyond you. The paths look difficult to interpret, its usually dark inside and the pillar trails ends nowhere. And then i realize that i am probably in 25% part of that mysterious place and will be too scared to go to other 75% alone, but i would want to.
We head back to reach to a relatively modern temple, huge beautiful idols, but then its not mysterious as Meenakshi and the other temple. There are stories around the coming up of each temple. How God prayed to make Goddess happy, who was kind of cross(atleast that's what i got out of the story). The one who prayed even got gold lotus from a pond which now has only pink natural lotus. But yes, Meenakshi temple is beautiful and huge. You must check out the four main doors which are 9 stories and have more than 1000 idols carved in it. The idols inside are huge and carved out of black stones. There is a 1000 pillar hall in Meenakshi temple which looks more like dancing hall to me. Its now converted into a museum with anything and everything that broke down in temple due to lack of maintenance.
So, after a long day, we came back to hotel. Tonight, we were supposed to sleep for next 3 days it was going to be BAD. I have no clue when did i fall asleep but i know that i was discovering the mysterious temples in my dreams and they were not dark. They were beautifully lit and i wondered how kings in olden times visited such huge temples. I was dreaming.
However, i would say that commercialization of temple looks bad to me. They are supposed to be places where people could go and sit in peace. There is nothing like that which remains in temples anymore. Poor stand in long queues, they are pushed out. Its the financial capacity based on which God's view is sold. I feel bad about this aspect. There were huge hoardings suggesting that only Hindus could enter in temple shrine. I have no clue. Does God or the temple management know whats my caste? When you are charging money to see God then why restrict it on other factors? God, do you see all this?
Anyway, i am dreaming and i realize that when king enters the temple, its only him and his family. Poor people get to see once in a while. God did not construct it, mind you, King constructed it. God did not set the rules, people set them. God seems to be tired himself working 20 hours a day and accepting offerings from millions when he is supposed to be the giver. Then i look at his idol, he is smiling. He says, i smile at all of you. I love you all, even after paying you cant see me. I am your faith, you search me in all easy places while i reside in you. Do good and be good. This is a historical heritage building, i happen to be sitting here because i thought king did a great job. Yes, he did. I got my answer, thank you God! :)
Location- Madurai
Food- Average
Cleanliness- Bad
Travel- 8-9 hours journey from bangalore
Place to Visit- Meenakshi temple (Such temples are not a common site. Architectural marvel)
We got down and were taken to a nice hotel by our tour operator( Thankfully, had it been dirty too, he was in to get a good piece of mind for me.). We were told that we were near Meenakshi temple and we could visit the same and be ready for a trip around city by afternoon. We got ready and walked towards Meenakshi temple. The temple was huge. It has four huge doors and has magnificent stone carvings all around. There is a temple of Lord Shiva and Meenakshi. To me the temple looks mysterious because its too huge and dark. We boast of technology, but the funny part is we cant even maintain what people could make 1000 years back. The temple needs better maintenance. The temple was dark inside with some small openings through which sun descended its rays into the temple. And, lets not talk of pandits and their constant cry for money. I feel like asking God that why did he become so biased about his bhakts. What if i did not have 50 rupees, was i not supposed to see him then?
Afternoon was welcomed by a tour guide. We were taken to some palace which has been converted into a museum. The carvings were wonderful, BUT it cried out loud for maintenance as well. It was dirty, unkempt and full of people. It will not survive the century if not taken care of. From there, we headed for some big lake. There is a temple right in mid of that lake. The temple is empty year round. Once in year, god and goddess are brought to visit the same. So, we are shown the same from distance and i so badly want to go to the temple and see it. BUT, its something to be seen from distance, OK.
Next, we travel some 20 kms off Madurai to visit another mysterious temple between hills. There is an animal cut infront of a closed door every day in name of "bali".The door opens once in an year because that's how God likes it. We enter inside to see a whole new mysterious world. Its all a huge huge mansion carved out of greyish huge rocks. Its been told to me that it was constructed when cement did not exist. The cement was replaced with a mixture of jaggery, eggs and sand. Amazing if that is true. The building is huge. I have never seen such huge temples ever in life. They are huge stone pillars carved with millions of statues which i find difficult to interpret. Its huge and beautiful, but as i say, there is an element of mystery, it says you cant explore me, i am beyond you. The paths look difficult to interpret, its usually dark inside and the pillar trails ends nowhere. And then i realize that i am probably in 25% part of that mysterious place and will be too scared to go to other 75% alone, but i would want to.
We head back to reach to a relatively modern temple, huge beautiful idols, but then its not mysterious as Meenakshi and the other temple. There are stories around the coming up of each temple. How God prayed to make Goddess happy, who was kind of cross(atleast that's what i got out of the story). The one who prayed even got gold lotus from a pond which now has only pink natural lotus. But yes, Meenakshi temple is beautiful and huge. You must check out the four main doors which are 9 stories and have more than 1000 idols carved in it. The idols inside are huge and carved out of black stones. There is a 1000 pillar hall in Meenakshi temple which looks more like dancing hall to me. Its now converted into a museum with anything and everything that broke down in temple due to lack of maintenance.
So, after a long day, we came back to hotel. Tonight, we were supposed to sleep for next 3 days it was going to be BAD. I have no clue when did i fall asleep but i know that i was discovering the mysterious temples in my dreams and they were not dark. They were beautifully lit and i wondered how kings in olden times visited such huge temples. I was dreaming.
However, i would say that commercialization of temple looks bad to me. They are supposed to be places where people could go and sit in peace. There is nothing like that which remains in temples anymore. Poor stand in long queues, they are pushed out. Its the financial capacity based on which God's view is sold. I feel bad about this aspect. There were huge hoardings suggesting that only Hindus could enter in temple shrine. I have no clue. Does God or the temple management know whats my caste? When you are charging money to see God then why restrict it on other factors? God, do you see all this?
Anyway, i am dreaming and i realize that when king enters the temple, its only him and his family. Poor people get to see once in a while. God did not construct it, mind you, King constructed it. God did not set the rules, people set them. God seems to be tired himself working 20 hours a day and accepting offerings from millions when he is supposed to be the giver. Then i look at his idol, he is smiling. He says, i smile at all of you. I love you all, even after paying you cant see me. I am your faith, you search me in all easy places while i reside in you. Do good and be good. This is a historical heritage building, i happen to be sitting here because i thought king did a great job. Yes, he did. I got my answer, thank you God! :)
Location- Madurai
Food- Average
Cleanliness- Bad
Travel- 8-9 hours journey from bangalore
Place to Visit- Meenakshi temple (Such temples are not a common site. Architectural marvel)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"Value Vs Money"--The STOCK puzzle
Its about an interesting perspective i am kind of trying to discover. About the stock market and money. What is money? A measurement for value, its worth. What is Stock market? Market where value is traded ( Money is not traded in stock market, its the valuation and perception price.).
Then why do people incur losses? Because perception are wrong. Why is Warren Buffet so successful? Because his investments evolve out of valuation. What can impact valuation? Sudden change of management, market trends or a new innovation. Is stock market a gamble? NO, its a very very intelligent game in which 80% of people gamble and hence they loose.
Investment is a bigger and longer trade. One has to step into business man's shoes, know exactly what lies under the setup of an organization, discount for risk and move on to do a similar exercise for more and more organization whose business holder he wants to be. One has to patient for statistical fluctuations, observant of realistic risk factors and then trade. So, if one has mastered the art of analyzing business, identified the real risk factors for business, there is a fair possibility that his investments will not be doomed. BUT, one has to understand the industry, incase one has portfolio, he has to ensure that risks are mutually exclusive for set of stocks to be able to recover losses if one looses. Infact an inverse relationship in risk can pay higher value. ( Its difficult to find a stock portfolio with risk balancing done because risk factors have high dependency.)
Amazing, i always thought stock was gambling. But i think its an intelligent game. It needs a very analytical and balanced player. And its not as unpredictable as it seems. Market emotions settle down, finally what remains is "Value". WB is successful because he invests in value and he invests in industries whose business and risks, he can interpret. So, yes, there is more to this "value" market. Money is a measurement of value, if you caliberate the scale of measurement, the value does not change. Finally you win and loose against value.
Then why do people incur losses? Because perception are wrong. Why is Warren Buffet so successful? Because his investments evolve out of valuation. What can impact valuation? Sudden change of management, market trends or a new innovation. Is stock market a gamble? NO, its a very very intelligent game in which 80% of people gamble and hence they loose.
Investment is a bigger and longer trade. One has to step into business man's shoes, know exactly what lies under the setup of an organization, discount for risk and move on to do a similar exercise for more and more organization whose business holder he wants to be. One has to patient for statistical fluctuations, observant of realistic risk factors and then trade. So, if one has mastered the art of analyzing business, identified the real risk factors for business, there is a fair possibility that his investments will not be doomed. BUT, one has to understand the industry, incase one has portfolio, he has to ensure that risks are mutually exclusive for set of stocks to be able to recover losses if one looses. Infact an inverse relationship in risk can pay higher value. ( Its difficult to find a stock portfolio with risk balancing done because risk factors have high dependency.)
Amazing, i always thought stock was gambling. But i think its an intelligent game. It needs a very analytical and balanced player. And its not as unpredictable as it seems. Market emotions settle down, finally what remains is "Value". WB is successful because he invests in value and he invests in industries whose business and risks, he can interpret. So, yes, there is more to this "value" market. Money is a measurement of value, if you caliberate the scale of measurement, the value does not change. Finally you win and loose against value.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
People Management !!
People, people all around. One day i felt lost, the other day i felt at home. Life is such an amazing puzzle. I was born in a home and those were the first human faces i saw. I grew up imitating my parents and brother. I trusted them because as a blank minded kid whenever i opened by eyes, one of them was there to hold me and make funny faces to make me smile. I was taught how to walk, talk and they were the only ones who could understand my language to start with.
Oops!! There is a shift. Now my world is bigger. I am spending more time with people i dont know, who dont love me, who can kill me if i come in between their selfish goals. Its people, people all around. I am exploring. Some of those people are my "Friends" because they dont hurt me, they love me. Some are "acquaintances" because i am not so sure if they matter. Some are "colleagues", we share a working relation, who is better than whom is a constant question. Then there is someone you love called "Boy Friend" because you think that you can trust him enough to spend rest of your life with.
Phew! The point is, its the PEOPLE who are most critical in life. They say you can learn finance and economics in books, but if you fail to handle people, you are doomed. I agree completely. May be because i work in people intensive industry or may be because i believe in people. I think its the "Human" by the end of the day which operates machines. "Value" can not be generated without his will, its his brain.
My journey with people has not been long, but some things i learned are very very dear to me. First training, there is a project group, 4 people do not work, not because they cant, but more than their success, its the failure of the person who has been topping for last 2 months. Hmm, the job has to be the best, with or without you. I dont hate you, you are an average human, you will rise in an average curve. OK, nothing stops, we are with you. Fine, team is formed, there is a synergy. I made mistakes, but when i look back, i know i have learned something.
#1 Learning- Never start a battle when others want to. Start it when you want to.
New team. You learn things fast, you like to show some attitude, you also bypass almost 80% of the crowd who has been slogging like hell. You are immatured, you show off. Nope, your work is your work. No one can take it away from you. Keep your attitude in your pocket and showcase on right people. For people whose peace you have disturbed, be understanding.
#2 Learning- If you are better, open up and share with people. They should respect you for what you are and not hate you for what they are not.
You enter into a team where everyone is 7 years exp. You were liked by organization with one year experience. You are hired at same level as they are. No, not because you are good, but because they accepted a lower profile for money or brand. People dont like you. Suddenly their choice is wrong for them because you made a better one. BUT, you perform. People know you above the 7 yrs. Cool, a hundred thousand issues. You know that everyone is unique, his frustration is ok. Smile, let some things go off, give some credit, take some.
#3 Learning- You can not keep people happy at your cost. You cant bring your level down because everyone around wants to walk, when you are keen to run. So, let them settle themselves. Either perform and prove or keep wasting your energies, i am not here to make you feel better, should be the mantra.
Phew!! This is consulting scene, mind you guys, it could be very very tricky if you work with four people who are experts in four different fields, are extremely independent thinkers and you are the only connecting dot. There are more issues at ego level, everyone is right, you own the piece of work and indirectly each one knows whose perspective it is. Sometimes fight could be over color of ppt. :D
#4 Learning- Pick your own color and declare that it has evolved out of best colors that you had ever dreamt of. Take a stand and just hold on to it. Let them fight, you dont have to be a prey to personal competitions. Your job was to understand, evolve and move.
Working with a control freak conservative boss while you report to a highly dynamic and freedom lover one who reports to conservative. Nothing can get worse than this. One asks you to jump, other wants you to sit in a corner. One is level one appraiser, other is level two appraiser. In the end, work for yourself. Let the two fight like dogs. Pick your strategy, modulate the two stands, if it suffocates, diverge your portfolio to do more of what you want and more and more.
#5 Learning- Being stubborn helps. Know what you want. Make it clear. Show how you will balance risk and non risks while goals are being set. Shift the focus more and more towards what you want to do. If they say a word in appraisal, show them the previous goals and throw it on their face. They have given you the right to be your way in written, damn it! BUT no, never react. Calm and peaceful. NEGOTIATE!
Very very nice peers. How is day? How are you? I have my work, but i like your work more. Its not my work, its your better work which bothers me. I will be very very nice to boss, will call day , night if it is required and will be very very nice to you too. My words- Stay away. Be very very nice to such people. But never tell what you are upto. Poisonous people. Irritate subtly, so that their true color comes out.
#6 Learning- People who kill you from behind. Be very rational. Remain neutral but never fall prey to their tactics. Never engage in long discussions. Talk about all the movies and leave it at where work starts. Give a clear message-" THIS IS MY DOMAIN. Stay away, or you will perish. Do not mess up with me. " Such people dont have guts to face you.
When among 50 fools.
#6 Learning- Be irrational, illogical and adamant, when you know that you have done enough of your homework and you want somethings to happen. Organizational dynamics give in to strong stand when you have very very strong points. Most of the time people blabber, so know who is talking sense and who is not.
Team is critical for any kind of work. Know yourself, know what kind of work you do. Know what kind of people will fit in and form a team. A team of 80 sincere idiots for an innovative work is useless. A team of 20 over smart people for a routine work is useless as well.
#7 Learning- People are born with some basic talents. Never try to suppress them. Help them evolve. When you deal with juniors, see their aspirations an their dreams. For them growth and dreams are more important.
#8 Learning- If you want to grow, associate with better, positive and honest people. One will get honest feedback and suggestions. Respect all. Learn from all. Balance egos.
#9 Learning- When angry. Step back. Evaluate the options. Speak out in such a way that person infront does not understand when he/she is angry, but unerstands when its over.
#10 Learning- Like people for what they are. Try to handle issues on moment. Try to clean memory. By the end of the day, its human reacting. Have patience and give another chance.
When i look back, i see thousands of mistakes i must have done and i also feel that major part of life and work is people. If i have to succeed, i have to detach emotions, handle objectively and efficiently. I had a set of learnings. Most important being, i learned from almost everyone i met.
Thank You People!! I will keep this journey on for rest of my life. They call it Organizational Behaviour and they say it cant be taught in class, so i have to keep meeting. :)
Oops!! There is a shift. Now my world is bigger. I am spending more time with people i dont know, who dont love me, who can kill me if i come in between their selfish goals. Its people, people all around. I am exploring. Some of those people are my "Friends" because they dont hurt me, they love me. Some are "acquaintances" because i am not so sure if they matter. Some are "colleagues", we share a working relation, who is better than whom is a constant question. Then there is someone you love called "Boy Friend" because you think that you can trust him enough to spend rest of your life with.
Phew! The point is, its the PEOPLE who are most critical in life. They say you can learn finance and economics in books, but if you fail to handle people, you are doomed. I agree completely. May be because i work in people intensive industry or may be because i believe in people. I think its the "Human" by the end of the day which operates machines. "Value" can not be generated without his will, its his brain.
My journey with people has not been long, but some things i learned are very very dear to me. First training, there is a project group, 4 people do not work, not because they cant, but more than their success, its the failure of the person who has been topping for last 2 months. Hmm, the job has to be the best, with or without you. I dont hate you, you are an average human, you will rise in an average curve. OK, nothing stops, we are with you. Fine, team is formed, there is a synergy. I made mistakes, but when i look back, i know i have learned something.
#1 Learning- Never start a battle when others want to. Start it when you want to.
New team. You learn things fast, you like to show some attitude, you also bypass almost 80% of the crowd who has been slogging like hell. You are immatured, you show off. Nope, your work is your work. No one can take it away from you. Keep your attitude in your pocket and showcase on right people. For people whose peace you have disturbed, be understanding.
#2 Learning- If you are better, open up and share with people. They should respect you for what you are and not hate you for what they are not.
You enter into a team where everyone is 7 years exp. You were liked by organization with one year experience. You are hired at same level as they are. No, not because you are good, but because they accepted a lower profile for money or brand. People dont like you. Suddenly their choice is wrong for them because you made a better one. BUT, you perform. People know you above the 7 yrs. Cool, a hundred thousand issues. You know that everyone is unique, his frustration is ok. Smile, let some things go off, give some credit, take some.
#3 Learning- You can not keep people happy at your cost. You cant bring your level down because everyone around wants to walk, when you are keen to run. So, let them settle themselves. Either perform and prove or keep wasting your energies, i am not here to make you feel better, should be the mantra.
Phew!! This is consulting scene, mind you guys, it could be very very tricky if you work with four people who are experts in four different fields, are extremely independent thinkers and you are the only connecting dot. There are more issues at ego level, everyone is right, you own the piece of work and indirectly each one knows whose perspective it is. Sometimes fight could be over color of ppt. :D
#4 Learning- Pick your own color and declare that it has evolved out of best colors that you had ever dreamt of. Take a stand and just hold on to it. Let them fight, you dont have to be a prey to personal competitions. Your job was to understand, evolve and move.
Working with a control freak conservative boss while you report to a highly dynamic and freedom lover one who reports to conservative. Nothing can get worse than this. One asks you to jump, other wants you to sit in a corner. One is level one appraiser, other is level two appraiser. In the end, work for yourself. Let the two fight like dogs. Pick your strategy, modulate the two stands, if it suffocates, diverge your portfolio to do more of what you want and more and more.
#5 Learning- Being stubborn helps. Know what you want. Make it clear. Show how you will balance risk and non risks while goals are being set. Shift the focus more and more towards what you want to do. If they say a word in appraisal, show them the previous goals and throw it on their face. They have given you the right to be your way in written, damn it! BUT no, never react. Calm and peaceful. NEGOTIATE!
Very very nice peers. How is day? How are you? I have my work, but i like your work more. Its not my work, its your better work which bothers me. I will be very very nice to boss, will call day , night if it is required and will be very very nice to you too. My words- Stay away. Be very very nice to such people. But never tell what you are upto. Poisonous people. Irritate subtly, so that their true color comes out.
#6 Learning- People who kill you from behind. Be very rational. Remain neutral but never fall prey to their tactics. Never engage in long discussions. Talk about all the movies and leave it at where work starts. Give a clear message-" THIS IS MY DOMAIN. Stay away, or you will perish. Do not mess up with me. " Such people dont have guts to face you.
When among 50 fools.
#6 Learning- Be irrational, illogical and adamant, when you know that you have done enough of your homework and you want somethings to happen. Organizational dynamics give in to strong stand when you have very very strong points. Most of the time people blabber, so know who is talking sense and who is not.
Team is critical for any kind of work. Know yourself, know what kind of work you do. Know what kind of people will fit in and form a team. A team of 80 sincere idiots for an innovative work is useless. A team of 20 over smart people for a routine work is useless as well.
#7 Learning- People are born with some basic talents. Never try to suppress them. Help them evolve. When you deal with juniors, see their aspirations an their dreams. For them growth and dreams are more important.
#8 Learning- If you want to grow, associate with better, positive and honest people. One will get honest feedback and suggestions. Respect all. Learn from all. Balance egos.
#9 Learning- When angry. Step back. Evaluate the options. Speak out in such a way that person infront does not understand when he/she is angry, but unerstands when its over.
#10 Learning- Like people for what they are. Try to handle issues on moment. Try to clean memory. By the end of the day, its human reacting. Have patience and give another chance.
When i look back, i see thousands of mistakes i must have done and i also feel that major part of life and work is people. If i have to succeed, i have to detach emotions, handle objectively and efficiently. I had a set of learnings. Most important being, i learned from almost everyone i met.
Thank You People!! I will keep this journey on for rest of my life. They call it Organizational Behaviour and they say it cant be taught in class, so i have to keep meeting. :)
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Bill Gate's love story.. Wonderful! :)
One of the most wonderful one, shared by colleague in morning.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/04/news/newsmakers/gates.fortune/index.htm.
Having kept an eye on bill and milenda gates foundation, i always knew that there was something better about Milenda than being Bill's wife. :)
http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/04/news/newsmakers/gates.fortune/index.htm.
Having kept an eye on bill and milenda gates foundation, i always knew that there was something better about Milenda than being Bill's wife. :)
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Celebration of Love!!
Valentine's as they call it. :) I leave my cell phone at home as my mum is visiting me. I received a call from mum in afternoon that i have 10 calls and many smses. I asked her to read couple of them to me. OOPS!! Its a day to remember and celebrate love. I said ok mum, forget it. You know its like friendship day, mum's day, they have this lover's day and people wish. Nothing important. I kept the receiver and thought i love my mum, she is at home all alone because of me. Her being around me makes me happy. She is my strength, mum and papa have given me everything i ever dreamt of. And this is day to express love. None of those 10 calls or smses deserve the acknowledgement because its a day for special ones. Hmm.. i called back. Mum, we will go out for dinner tonight. She, sweet as usual, no i will cook something, we will go out on weekend. I said no, we will go today, plz.
We went to a nice restaurant and settled for a candle lit dinner. She told me about my child hood days and things which i used to do. How my brother used to love me a lot, how we used to fight. How dear i was to my papa. I looked around. I showed some people to mum. A guy was standing on door for say 40 minutes with roses, but his gf did not turn up. There was guys who gifted a rose to a gal, which was lying on floor. There was a guy with his girl friend, but he was busy looking at all the gals on the floor.
I asked mum, if they had valentine's day. She said no. I said look at people around. They say its day to express love. Its good. Fanatics and political parties object. For some people its a day to be happy, for some its a day to be sad. You like it? She said yes. Then, whom do you love most mum? She said since you are youngest and papa loved you the most, everyone loves you the most. I knew i had to celebrate this day with her. :)
We were walking back and i stopped at cake shop, i said we will eat something here. She smiled and said ok. We had a nice time. Probably after years, i had a date with mum. Since long i have been struck in work, this and that. It was wonderful to relive some moments. I think i will definitely make it a point to wish her every year and let her know that i love her a lot.
This is mum. She comes to my home and everything is organized. I get to eat good food. I cant rush out of home without breakfast, even if that means i miss by bus. For her, important is me, she dsnt care which meeting is on hold. And the most wonderful part is when she gives me soaked almonds in my hand saying that they are important for good health. I hug her and say, almonds dont make people healthy. She says, they do, you dont understand. I understand mum, i ate those almonds thats why i stand and do whatever i do and will do whatever i will do for rest of my life. Thanks!! :)
We went to a nice restaurant and settled for a candle lit dinner. She told me about my child hood days and things which i used to do. How my brother used to love me a lot, how we used to fight. How dear i was to my papa. I looked around. I showed some people to mum. A guy was standing on door for say 40 minutes with roses, but his gf did not turn up. There was guys who gifted a rose to a gal, which was lying on floor. There was a guy with his girl friend, but he was busy looking at all the gals on the floor.
I asked mum, if they had valentine's day. She said no. I said look at people around. They say its day to express love. Its good. Fanatics and political parties object. For some people its a day to be happy, for some its a day to be sad. You like it? She said yes. Then, whom do you love most mum? She said since you are youngest and papa loved you the most, everyone loves you the most. I knew i had to celebrate this day with her. :)
We were walking back and i stopped at cake shop, i said we will eat something here. She smiled and said ok. We had a nice time. Probably after years, i had a date with mum. Since long i have been struck in work, this and that. It was wonderful to relive some moments. I think i will definitely make it a point to wish her every year and let her know that i love her a lot.
This is mum. She comes to my home and everything is organized. I get to eat good food. I cant rush out of home without breakfast, even if that means i miss by bus. For her, important is me, she dsnt care which meeting is on hold. And the most wonderful part is when she gives me soaked almonds in my hand saying that they are important for good health. I hug her and say, almonds dont make people healthy. She says, they do, you dont understand. I understand mum, i ate those almonds thats why i stand and do whatever i do and will do whatever i will do for rest of my life. Thanks!! :)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Irritate me NOT !! :)
Something told me that i dont want to tolerate with anything odd for the day. AND when you decide to do so, God poses the challeges, huh!
Going back home i met one of my colleagues, had a nice light fun filled discussion and i settled myself on the first seat of bus. I looked outside the window and opened a non fiction to read. I was happy, but i knew that i wanted to be happy and probably not bear with things that i dont like for another hour. I am usually known for tolerating with the oddest of characters in life ( Read, i can tolerate with a smile sometimes.). But NO, yesterday was not the day.
Here comes the mystery babe. Whole bus dreads her facial expression. Its always tensed, there is somthing miserably wrong with her life and NO, she passes a smile and sits next to me. LO!! Howz you duddette? Yep, fine. How about you? Uff, yaar this company sucks. The life sucks. The work is horrible. That lady( pointing at her, mind you) sitting behind, she is so BAD, she used to lead my team sometime back, it seems her husband shouts at her and she shouts at everyone in office. Did you see that woman ( she is physically disabled and she is trying to point, i catch her hand say let it be, i know i can see.) , how does she manage to catch the bus. Sad haan!
I said, dont feel sad. We all have some or other deformities, she has physical, we might have a mental one, no one knows. And when she is not sad, you dont have to be sad. Anyways, you have so many troubles of your own. Be happy, now whatever God has given to you or may be you have created for yourself, you have to either change it for good or learn to be happy with it. Negative thiking does not help.
No yaar, but this restaurant i went to eat in yesterday, its staff is so bad. The food is horrible, never ever go there. OK! And this bus driver( we are sitting on first seat), he dsnt know how to drive. I interrupt, would you want to take the other bus to save your life? She says, no yaar, its ok, i know i wont die. :D Theek hai. This Bangalore, Uff, that lady, she puts nariyal tail and phool. I interrupt again, why are you in bangalore? If you dont like it, why dont you try for a job in delhi? (Whole bus must be blessing me for this suggestion.) She said, you like it? I said, yes. I like Bangalore, it gives me job, money, food and its people are intelligent and down to earth unlike hype in delhi. I feel peaceful and i respect the cosmopolitan attitude. Now whether someone dresses like whatever, is his/her personal choice. I am not saying that i appreciate over simplicity, but its fine. There are good things which outcast bad things.
Ok jaane do. This Road, its so bad, its takes an hour. Yeah. I hate these people, they cross road. I interrupt, they have to cross road, there is no overbridge. Yep, but it slows down my bus. OK, but then dont be angry on them, just like you they have to live. We should shout at government for this. She starts off again. I have a head ache. I have to walk so much in office. I dont like the food. Are you not tired? Tired? I dont work in manufacturing industry, no yaar, i am strong as such, head ache happens only when i dont use my lens for 2 days and walking is ok with me. I guess you are weak, eat properly. She starts off again.
This time its BAD. I am irritated now. Here, since last 40 minutes i am being a part of negative thought process. I wanted to read my book and may be share a joke or two.
She gets a call and i feel better.
I looked outside window and said to myself, i know there is one category of people in life i dont want to be with, AND they are NEGATIVE ones. People could be amazing in everything, but if they carry a frown on face, they can be so painful. Its so easy to blame, but when it comes to making things better, such people have nothing to do. Life is best lived forward. Good and bad happens, nothing is absolute. Suddenly, i feel that i dont want to tolerate such people. I have been ok with every kind of human till now, but if i let negative forces around me , i will turn into one too. Your thiking reflects on your face, walks and talks. I learned a great thing yesterday, i know what kind of people i love, i like people who are action oriented, genuine, positive. I like people who can speak their heart out, who can take stand and who are honest to their being. And when i think of it, i know that all my close friends are positive. I fall on ground and they will shout c'mon, no time to cry, we got to reach the mountain. The thrill to reach the mountain takes over the pain to fall. I say, i have fever and they call up to stay, enjoy the weakness by watching TV. :) Thanks Miss Negative, you told me today, how much i value everyone i associate with. May be more i meet you, more i will love them.
While all this was going on, my bus pal who is always smiling and positive, she looked at me and winked. I am like, yeah i know. :D
Going back home i met one of my colleagues, had a nice light fun filled discussion and i settled myself on the first seat of bus. I looked outside the window and opened a non fiction to read. I was happy, but i knew that i wanted to be happy and probably not bear with things that i dont like for another hour. I am usually known for tolerating with the oddest of characters in life ( Read, i can tolerate with a smile sometimes.). But NO, yesterday was not the day.
Here comes the mystery babe. Whole bus dreads her facial expression. Its always tensed, there is somthing miserably wrong with her life and NO, she passes a smile and sits next to me. LO!! Howz you duddette? Yep, fine. How about you? Uff, yaar this company sucks. The life sucks. The work is horrible. That lady( pointing at her, mind you) sitting behind, she is so BAD, she used to lead my team sometime back, it seems her husband shouts at her and she shouts at everyone in office. Did you see that woman ( she is physically disabled and she is trying to point, i catch her hand say let it be, i know i can see.) , how does she manage to catch the bus. Sad haan!
I said, dont feel sad. We all have some or other deformities, she has physical, we might have a mental one, no one knows. And when she is not sad, you dont have to be sad. Anyways, you have so many troubles of your own. Be happy, now whatever God has given to you or may be you have created for yourself, you have to either change it for good or learn to be happy with it. Negative thiking does not help.
No yaar, but this restaurant i went to eat in yesterday, its staff is so bad. The food is horrible, never ever go there. OK! And this bus driver( we are sitting on first seat), he dsnt know how to drive. I interrupt, would you want to take the other bus to save your life? She says, no yaar, its ok, i know i wont die. :D Theek hai. This Bangalore, Uff, that lady, she puts nariyal tail and phool. I interrupt again, why are you in bangalore? If you dont like it, why dont you try for a job in delhi? (Whole bus must be blessing me for this suggestion.) She said, you like it? I said, yes. I like Bangalore, it gives me job, money, food and its people are intelligent and down to earth unlike hype in delhi. I feel peaceful and i respect the cosmopolitan attitude. Now whether someone dresses like whatever, is his/her personal choice. I am not saying that i appreciate over simplicity, but its fine. There are good things which outcast bad things.
Ok jaane do. This Road, its so bad, its takes an hour. Yeah. I hate these people, they cross road. I interrupt, they have to cross road, there is no overbridge. Yep, but it slows down my bus. OK, but then dont be angry on them, just like you they have to live. We should shout at government for this. She starts off again. I have a head ache. I have to walk so much in office. I dont like the food. Are you not tired? Tired? I dont work in manufacturing industry, no yaar, i am strong as such, head ache happens only when i dont use my lens for 2 days and walking is ok with me. I guess you are weak, eat properly. She starts off again.
This time its BAD. I am irritated now. Here, since last 40 minutes i am being a part of negative thought process. I wanted to read my book and may be share a joke or two.
She gets a call and i feel better.
I looked outside window and said to myself, i know there is one category of people in life i dont want to be with, AND they are NEGATIVE ones. People could be amazing in everything, but if they carry a frown on face, they can be so painful. Its so easy to blame, but when it comes to making things better, such people have nothing to do. Life is best lived forward. Good and bad happens, nothing is absolute. Suddenly, i feel that i dont want to tolerate such people. I have been ok with every kind of human till now, but if i let negative forces around me , i will turn into one too. Your thiking reflects on your face, walks and talks. I learned a great thing yesterday, i know what kind of people i love, i like people who are action oriented, genuine, positive. I like people who can speak their heart out, who can take stand and who are honest to their being. And when i think of it, i know that all my close friends are positive. I fall on ground and they will shout c'mon, no time to cry, we got to reach the mountain. The thrill to reach the mountain takes over the pain to fall. I say, i have fever and they call up to stay, enjoy the weakness by watching TV. :) Thanks Miss Negative, you told me today, how much i value everyone i associate with. May be more i meet you, more i will love them.
While all this was going on, my bus pal who is always smiling and positive, she looked at me and winked. I am like, yeah i know. :D
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
King Of Good Times!!
It was nice nice tuesday morning. I decided to go to office at 11 AM. I switched on the TV and it was NDTV good times. OK! let me check whats on. Some yoga, some marshall art and then suddenly ads. ( OK, i know nothing new, the yoga part was new and not the ads. )
The ad that came on was kingfisher's and it said u lala la u aae ooo. WOW! I was happy. They have finally come back to the best lines ever. I love this music by king fisher ula la la u a ooo. I would hum this so often that my mum would be like, uff i have a roadie in home. And my friends would say gaa mat yaar, ye sehen nahi hota, bahut mushkil hai itna torture sehna. BUT, there isnt much i can do about it. :( This great and damn catchy. So, as i was mentioning, this got back on my tongue.
Mum came to stay with me for sometime and as she entered, i was like u lala la oo ae oo and she was like, God, i thought you forgot. I was like, i did, but what to do, they realized that its too good to be forgotten, so they have got back to it.
Anyway, this is to acknowledge the RED king, may be because i am wearing red today. Vijay Mallaya is one lively man in life. He will go on to take risks, he would venture in beer, airlines ( i know it makes losses, but he is a business man and he knows business makes losses at times. ), he would also want to win back the sword of tipu sultan from UK in auction, he would talk of good things and the tagline of his company is, "King of good times." HUH! U la la la ooo aee ooo.
The ad that came on was kingfisher's and it said u lala la u aae ooo. WOW! I was happy. They have finally come back to the best lines ever. I love this music by king fisher ula la la u a ooo. I would hum this so often that my mum would be like, uff i have a roadie in home. And my friends would say gaa mat yaar, ye sehen nahi hota, bahut mushkil hai itna torture sehna. BUT, there isnt much i can do about it. :( This great and damn catchy. So, as i was mentioning, this got back on my tongue.
Mum came to stay with me for sometime and as she entered, i was like u lala la oo ae oo and she was like, God, i thought you forgot. I was like, i did, but what to do, they realized that its too good to be forgotten, so they have got back to it.
Anyway, this is to acknowledge the RED king, may be because i am wearing red today. Vijay Mallaya is one lively man in life. He will go on to take risks, he would venture in beer, airlines ( i know it makes losses, but he is a business man and he knows business makes losses at times. ), he would also want to win back the sword of tipu sultan from UK in auction, he would talk of good things and the tagline of his company is, "King of good times." HUH! U la la la ooo aee ooo.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
FRIENDS!
If at all, life were a little less complicated, phew!! This comes from an incident yesterday. Four of my friends including me went out. I should thank God for granting me the best of pals. They love me a lot and sometimes its irrational because knowing that there are some good things i do in life, they feel bad if they feel it suffocates me. :)
Knowing that i love ice creams and had been keeping a strict watch on its consumption since sometime, one of my pals could not bear the pain that i was going through. Yesterday, while everyone was busy shopping, we both were sitting in cafeteria, he said, i will eat icecream with chocolate sauce, will you? I said no. He ate the whole ice cream offering it to me a 100 times. I was adamant that its something i like but not my weakness. He said, look you like somethings in life and you should be honest about it. I said but i dont want to eat it seriously. And story ended there.
After sometime, he was smiling, i said whats so interesting? No i mean, i know of an ice cream, its fat free, milk free, sugar free. Wow!! if its free of everything then how is it an ice cream? He said its gelatin ice cream, come we will eat that. I said hang on, i think i will eat ice cream with chocolate sauce, we cant insult the goodness of milk and sugar, may be 20 minutes more on tread mill.[:P] Thank God you respect the feelings of milk and sugar, i agree that its not your weakness. I just smiled at him and said you are right, its not my weakness, you made it my weakness. I knew that i respected the feelings, the effort and thought behind making me eat an ice cream. ( Aren't my friends amazing? Do you have friends who spend 60 minutes on thinking how to make you eat an ice cream and come up with gelatin ice cream but ICE CREAM? :))
Knowing that i love ice creams and had been keeping a strict watch on its consumption since sometime, one of my pals could not bear the pain that i was going through. Yesterday, while everyone was busy shopping, we both were sitting in cafeteria, he said, i will eat icecream with chocolate sauce, will you? I said no. He ate the whole ice cream offering it to me a 100 times. I was adamant that its something i like but not my weakness. He said, look you like somethings in life and you should be honest about it. I said but i dont want to eat it seriously. And story ended there.
After sometime, he was smiling, i said whats so interesting? No i mean, i know of an ice cream, its fat free, milk free, sugar free. Wow!! if its free of everything then how is it an ice cream? He said its gelatin ice cream, come we will eat that. I said hang on, i think i will eat ice cream with chocolate sauce, we cant insult the goodness of milk and sugar, may be 20 minutes more on tread mill.[:P] Thank God you respect the feelings of milk and sugar, i agree that its not your weakness. I just smiled at him and said you are right, its not my weakness, you made it my weakness. I knew that i respected the feelings, the effort and thought behind making me eat an ice cream. ( Aren't my friends amazing? Do you have friends who spend 60 minutes on thinking how to make you eat an ice cream and come up with gelatin ice cream but ICE CREAM? :))
Thank You Mentor!
I have been working in innovation and intrapreneurship domain. New ideas, doing feasibility study, making business cases, taking them to market , its all so much fun. I fell in love with my job when i joined Infosys. The organization gave me ample opportunities to do what i love to do irrespective of my degree. I told at the time of interview that i earn well and i will earn well, but i want to grow intellectually, give me job where i can be a thought leader and not just a servant to an MNC. One of the seniors picked up my profile and took me in his team. We were just two, him with 12 yrs exp and me with 2.5. :) He said i have no clue what Portfolio Consulting in IT would mean. We have to find this out, we have to create a business model, we have to grow a team and we have to do all this in one year. Movement started and probably the person i admire the most in life till date, joined the team in a month or two. Working with him was fun, he made everything fun, he let me think openly, talk and argue freely. We came up with a business model and moved on to get it patented. The beauty of learning with my mentor was that everything he made me do, was simply fun. After a while i started getting hungry to learn something new and asked him if i could move into some new role and he said yes, i will not hold you. Grow and learn.
I started preparing for GMAT and moved into new team. Work was amazing, i went ahead and learned various things in multiple domains. I learned to do financial planning, marketing, domain analysis and what not. But, still i can say that working under my mentor was the best phase of my life. He can talk from politics to strategy to philosophy and it all derives out of work, you can never get bored while working with him. He is not prejudiced by your age or your experinece. All he looks forward to is your thought process. Its very rare that you get a senior like him. He has activated grey cells of many people who have worked under him. A few days back he shared a mail by one other guy who had worked under him and it said that whatever i am, i think a lot goes to what i learned under you. While reading it, i smiled, i said can i say that too to you someday? :)
There are some people who impact your life and you can never forget them. I think he had more faith in me clearing ISB that me myself. A day before the interview i was very nervous, lots of thoughts were passing through my head, and all i knew was that i wanted to probably talk to someone who can clear all my doubts and out my brain to rest. My mentor works from Chennai, suddenly i got a message on my communicator, JUICE? I was like how? I am in Bangalore for some meetings. :) This was it, i knew i will crack the interview. I met my mentor, asked him about new strategy, why infy share value is falling down. This and that. He replied to all my questions with a lot of other insights on management. In the end came the best words,he said, dont think much, be yourself and live those 30 minutes as king khan says.
These words were magical, i slept peacefully, did not bother about interview. Walked in relaxed. I think i was extremely myself in my interview. I did not fake a word, but yes, i think 30 mins over a glass of juice had a lot to do with my state of mind. People say that i associate with all, but i respect and listen to one in millions. I can only say that they are right, i really listen to one in millions and thank them for the impact they make on my life. Thank You Sir, for opening up my thought process and encouraging me to be myself on one of the toughest days of my life. It was difficult, as i was really desparate to crack it,i had not apped for any other b school and i did not want to die non MBA.(Read Mediocre But Arrogant) :)
I started preparing for GMAT and moved into new team. Work was amazing, i went ahead and learned various things in multiple domains. I learned to do financial planning, marketing, domain analysis and what not. But, still i can say that working under my mentor was the best phase of my life. He can talk from politics to strategy to philosophy and it all derives out of work, you can never get bored while working with him. He is not prejudiced by your age or your experinece. All he looks forward to is your thought process. Its very rare that you get a senior like him. He has activated grey cells of many people who have worked under him. A few days back he shared a mail by one other guy who had worked under him and it said that whatever i am, i think a lot goes to what i learned under you. While reading it, i smiled, i said can i say that too to you someday? :)
There are some people who impact your life and you can never forget them. I think he had more faith in me clearing ISB that me myself. A day before the interview i was very nervous, lots of thoughts were passing through my head, and all i knew was that i wanted to probably talk to someone who can clear all my doubts and out my brain to rest. My mentor works from Chennai, suddenly i got a message on my communicator, JUICE? I was like how? I am in Bangalore for some meetings. :) This was it, i knew i will crack the interview. I met my mentor, asked him about new strategy, why infy share value is falling down. This and that. He replied to all my questions with a lot of other insights on management. In the end came the best words,he said, dont think much, be yourself and live those 30 minutes as king khan says.
These words were magical, i slept peacefully, did not bother about interview. Walked in relaxed. I think i was extremely myself in my interview. I did not fake a word, but yes, i think 30 mins over a glass of juice had a lot to do with my state of mind. People say that i associate with all, but i respect and listen to one in millions. I can only say that they are right, i really listen to one in millions and thank them for the impact they make on my life. Thank You Sir, for opening up my thought process and encouraging me to be myself on one of the toughest days of my life. It was difficult, as i was really desparate to crack it,i had not apped for any other b school and i did not want to die non MBA.(Read Mediocre But Arrogant) :)
Friday, February 8, 2008
LEAD India.. I DID vote for you Mr. Mishra !! :)
Sir, i never thought i will vote for you, when i met you first. Today's argument with you has made me your fan. I like your honesty in being you. Hats off! You are not someone who can be made or fade by a simple vote, but i will propogate for you, because i really want you to be am Prime Minister. :)
I have met MR Rajendra Mishra(LEAD India Finalist) some 3-4 times by now. I met him in an SE seminar and he has been coming to Infy for talk sessions, and today was one of those days. An aggressive, action oriented and smart personality. Thats how i know him. He is smart, has worked hard, earned a lot and has invested a lot in bringing up Bangalore's infrastructure. What i love about him is the fact that he masters public private partnership model and he is someone who can fight the corruption and politics well. No, he does not crib, he uses his brain to fight the dirty system. :)
(Can read more about him- http://rajendramisra.blogspot.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIY9ZXUfYLg)
In today's session he declared that he wanted to become prime minister of India and i like the fact that he does not fear dirt. There were questions coming from all over. I just had one question for him. One intelligent guy in filth of politics, how will you fight, whats your strategy and what will you give to society(give me four points), will you be shifting your focus by getting into politics? I argued with him in the hall over this, i said please tell me how are you different from Man Mohan Singh(one intelligent man with lalus) and what will you change with support from people like me who dont even vote, the real India lies in slums,which is sold for a bottle of liquor and they dont know who you are. I wanted answers and he tried hard to answer. My take away was that he is smart,he is shrewd, he can get what he wants out of the system and being a commoner, he is willing to dedicate his life to fighting. He is one honest man in life and i think leave all things alone,this is the best. I have always admired his courage to speak out his heart and fight it to attain results and not just be right. He is not a great orator, but indeed a man of action. He is arrogant about what he has done, he is confident and clear about what he wants to do. While we were talking, i asked him, will you open a school and nurture a generation of young leaders who want to be like you PPP, he said you open a school, i will become a prime minister. And i could not help smiling. :) He is just too clear about what he wants in life.
I have met MR Rajendra Mishra(LEAD India Finalist) some 3-4 times by now. I met him in an SE seminar and he has been coming to Infy for talk sessions, and today was one of those days. An aggressive, action oriented and smart personality. Thats how i know him. He is smart, has worked hard, earned a lot and has invested a lot in bringing up Bangalore's infrastructure. What i love about him is the fact that he masters public private partnership model and he is someone who can fight the corruption and politics well. No, he does not crib, he uses his brain to fight the dirty system. :)
(Can read more about him- http://rajendramisra.blogspot.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIY9ZXUfYLg)
In today's session he declared that he wanted to become prime minister of India and i like the fact that he does not fear dirt. There were questions coming from all over. I just had one question for him. One intelligent guy in filth of politics, how will you fight, whats your strategy and what will you give to society(give me four points), will you be shifting your focus by getting into politics? I argued with him in the hall over this, i said please tell me how are you different from Man Mohan Singh(one intelligent man with lalus) and what will you change with support from people like me who dont even vote, the real India lies in slums,which is sold for a bottle of liquor and they dont know who you are. I wanted answers and he tried hard to answer. My take away was that he is smart,he is shrewd, he can get what he wants out of the system and being a commoner, he is willing to dedicate his life to fighting. He is one honest man in life and i think leave all things alone,this is the best. I have always admired his courage to speak out his heart and fight it to attain results and not just be right. He is not a great orator, but indeed a man of action. He is arrogant about what he has done, he is confident and clear about what he wants to do. While we were talking, i asked him, will you open a school and nurture a generation of young leaders who want to be like you PPP, he said you open a school, i will become a prime minister. And i could not help smiling. :) He is just too clear about what he wants in life.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
US Sub Prime Crisis and India
Disclaimer: All views expressed by the author have evolved out of analysis and might suffer from paralysis. You are free to take your stand. :D
The hot topis as it may rightly be called. Economists world over are busy number crunching the illusion fall( or may be coming down to ground reality) of banks under the term,"Sub Prime Crisis". Well for my dear readers who are like me, the crisis relates to increasing number of defaulters and foreclosures of home loans in US. The sudden increase of defaulters has led to an increase in availablity of houses and hence the lowering of peoperty values. The general life style of US is based on hypes and valuations, so as they say, take risks, you will spur and you will fall down equally well, but you will enjoy both.
The idea here is high risk loans which fell on the wrong side. Stocks, securities and properties work on valuation mechanism. The fall of value is directly related to demand and supply. There were too many MBAs diversifying the portfolio of credit lending to make the share of sub prime lending in home loans reach to a proportion of one fifth and all calculations failed when risk anticipated turned into reality. This was just to give a brief context on the problem at large.
The question is, how does it impact India and other Asian developing countries, considering that this is an era of globalization and US' Godliness has been diversified, however, it still remains to rule because of its high risk taking appetite.
Things which are bound to be impacted-
Impact on IT? Oh yes. I have been involved in this industry for sometime now and i can say that around 60% of revenue for most of the big IT companies comes from US clients and Banks INVEST on quality and technology in quest to go global. While sectors like energy and utlity and retail are picking up, banks still remain to be the big HUB of investments in IT. To add to it, banks outsourced a lot of processing to India, so BPO busines is BADLY hit. So, a) reduction in customers ( to an extent). Falling value of US dollar would mean reduction in profit margins for IT service companies. So, b) Reduction in profit earned and that drives stock values in simple terms. Suddenly, the organizations are crying for improving productivity, reason, bottom line is what can be impacted, they really dont have control on top line. I dont count it as negative though, its a balancing act. Anything that grows leaps and bounds has to come back to ground reality and normalize. So, probably we are in maturing and we will do balancing act to diversify our client portfolio to diverse geographies and most importantly understand the value of domestic business and drive demand from local industrialists. IT impacts a major part of middle class population, their purchasing power and hence the domestic needs. IT is one of the best pay master for youngsters, so yes middle class will be impacted, they might not come on ground, but the luxuries will reduce.
Things which are bound to balance-
Well, i do want to thank Tatas and Birlas and Reliance. We will survive and will be impacted mildly( if the assumptions go right) the game because they have invested in food, shelter and clothing business. We as a nation invest in steel, we manufacture cars, we build infrastructure raw materials, and we export clothes. And here, we dont look at margins only, we look at volumes and geographies. We trade with Sri Lanka, singapore etc etc( which IT is waking up to do now). They have made right use of globalization by diversifying their organizational business portfolio to keep IT a part and reinvest its earnings in expanding the busiess on basics which can not be ruled out for life. So, we come in business which trades in salt, grains, clothes, wire, phones, steel and since we are a poor uneducated nation, the economy at lower end does not know what US mortgage is, they never even had a bank account. How does it matter if US falls or awakes, we will still live. May be we will reduce our two cell phones to one because banks dont give us loan anymore, but then what the heck, we never had a phone to start with.
So, guys the answer is yes, we will be impacted. IT is not all that rich till US comes out and IT companies diversify their client profile by taking a hit on their profit margins. And sadly, these guys pay well, huh! BUT, i will love to call it a balancing act. This is about a bubble that bursts. We get slightly impacted, but our economy gets chance to diversify and decrese geographical dependency to make optimum usage of globalisation. Only sad part is, we react, we dont pro act. Never mind!! everything that happens over next two years will take us more and more towards sustainable growth and development, might be a bit slow but yes, steady. :)
The hot topis as it may rightly be called. Economists world over are busy number crunching the illusion fall( or may be coming down to ground reality) of banks under the term,"Sub Prime Crisis". Well for my dear readers who are like me, the crisis relates to increasing number of defaulters and foreclosures of home loans in US. The sudden increase of defaulters has led to an increase in availablity of houses and hence the lowering of peoperty values. The general life style of US is based on hypes and valuations, so as they say, take risks, you will spur and you will fall down equally well, but you will enjoy both.
The idea here is high risk loans which fell on the wrong side. Stocks, securities and properties work on valuation mechanism. The fall of value is directly related to demand and supply. There were too many MBAs diversifying the portfolio of credit lending to make the share of sub prime lending in home loans reach to a proportion of one fifth and all calculations failed when risk anticipated turned into reality. This was just to give a brief context on the problem at large.
The question is, how does it impact India and other Asian developing countries, considering that this is an era of globalization and US' Godliness has been diversified, however, it still remains to rule because of its high risk taking appetite.
Things which are bound to be impacted-
Impact on IT? Oh yes. I have been involved in this industry for sometime now and i can say that around 60% of revenue for most of the big IT companies comes from US clients and Banks INVEST on quality and technology in quest to go global. While sectors like energy and utlity and retail are picking up, banks still remain to be the big HUB of investments in IT. To add to it, banks outsourced a lot of processing to India, so BPO busines is BADLY hit. So, a) reduction in customers ( to an extent). Falling value of US dollar would mean reduction in profit margins for IT service companies. So, b) Reduction in profit earned and that drives stock values in simple terms. Suddenly, the organizations are crying for improving productivity, reason, bottom line is what can be impacted, they really dont have control on top line. I dont count it as negative though, its a balancing act. Anything that grows leaps and bounds has to come back to ground reality and normalize. So, probably we are in maturing and we will do balancing act to diversify our client portfolio to diverse geographies and most importantly understand the value of domestic business and drive demand from local industrialists. IT impacts a major part of middle class population, their purchasing power and hence the domestic needs. IT is one of the best pay master for youngsters, so yes middle class will be impacted, they might not come on ground, but the luxuries will reduce.
Things which are bound to balance-
Well, i do want to thank Tatas and Birlas and Reliance. We will survive and will be impacted mildly( if the assumptions go right) the game because they have invested in food, shelter and clothing business. We as a nation invest in steel, we manufacture cars, we build infrastructure raw materials, and we export clothes. And here, we dont look at margins only, we look at volumes and geographies. We trade with Sri Lanka, singapore etc etc( which IT is waking up to do now). They have made right use of globalization by diversifying their organizational business portfolio to keep IT a part and reinvest its earnings in expanding the busiess on basics which can not be ruled out for life. So, we come in business which trades in salt, grains, clothes, wire, phones, steel and since we are a poor uneducated nation, the economy at lower end does not know what US mortgage is, they never even had a bank account. How does it matter if US falls or awakes, we will still live. May be we will reduce our two cell phones to one because banks dont give us loan anymore, but then what the heck, we never had a phone to start with.
So, guys the answer is yes, we will be impacted. IT is not all that rich till US comes out and IT companies diversify their client profile by taking a hit on their profit margins. And sadly, these guys pay well, huh! BUT, i will love to call it a balancing act. This is about a bubble that bursts. We get slightly impacted, but our economy gets chance to diversify and decrese geographical dependency to make optimum usage of globalisation. Only sad part is, we react, we dont pro act. Never mind!! everything that happens over next two years will take us more and more towards sustainable growth and development, might be a bit slow but yes, steady. :)
Small Scale Industries and Micro Finance.
I have been associated with Young India chapter of my organization since sometime now. I relate to the ideology of social upliftment as business. As a part of some initiatives i have dirtied my hands on coming up with small business models and have also been on field understanding the real issues. I think what i learned and what i am still learning is the fact that Rural Poverty or urban rural divide is an immense opportunity to bring in prosperity. Its a gold mine for enterpreneurs and to add to all when you see your actions impacting simple lives, you love it all the more.
When four of us started the rural zing, we had no capital to start with. We just had an idea that we wanted to take educated youth to villages and hence activate their grey cells to get the ball rolling for their rural friends. It is doing good and it is my heart and soul, i am not letting it die is all i know. This is one work which i have loved to do so much and i feel i relate to every life that i have met in making this a success.
Today YI organized a talk by http://www.s3idf.org/. The organization works on providing pro environment, scalable technologies that can provide infrastructure services to poor.
I left my work and rushed for it because i had the hunger to know how people connect and sustain. I dont believe in social work, but i believe in finding gaps and leveraging them to make profit which benefits poor. I had read a lot on the failures of microfiancing institutes and i always knew that money is not the end. We have enough money lying with every social upliftment house, its the ideation, innovation, enablement and connect. And yes, i think this organization is doing the same. They leverage the volume of trade that happens in India by exchange of money through pockets. They read the small enterprise, develop them, do a market fesibility, go to banks, stand as guarantor ( Read, negotiate smart terms), enable and help the enterpreneur run. Of what i gathered they have 100-150 small scale projects in their portfolio and the loss is 2-3 projects. So, yes, there is a lot of business behind those slums, if you dare to sit and bring them up, you can make many dreams a reality. The idea here is not to lend money, but to strike a deal with banks by sharing the risk. They are not micro lending, they are making banks lend, by building their confidence and showing how much money lower class transacts on a day today basis. Must say. SMART Krishna and Dr.Russell!
What is common thread that i have discovered is, that its not the lack of money, its not the lack of ideas, its the lack of organizing and channelising. We work day in and day out cribbing about work being non creative, why dont we voluntarily connect with some of these small enterpreneurs, help them bridge the gap with our knowledge and be a part in someone's dream. All they need is some of your reach and brain which anyways is dormant working for MNCs which lend out third grade BPO, research and servicing job to us.
Its fun to work on ground, relate to people, work on real solutions and experiment with models which work. Rural Zing has given me and is giving me the vision and learning which has no parallel. I love the thrill to dream, sort, analyze, visualize, discuss with my partners. It helps me learn which theory works and which doesnt. It has left me hungry to discover this black hole more and more. And interesting is the fact that i am not alone, there are millions who share the vision for social enterpreneurship and are all set making it a big success.
My only concern- The reach for such organizations is very limited. For a truly successful venture, the idea has to spread all over India and it has to grow to involve villages and villagers at all level. We have to think BIG.
When four of us started the rural zing, we had no capital to start with. We just had an idea that we wanted to take educated youth to villages and hence activate their grey cells to get the ball rolling for their rural friends. It is doing good and it is my heart and soul, i am not letting it die is all i know. This is one work which i have loved to do so much and i feel i relate to every life that i have met in making this a success.
Today YI organized a talk by http://www.s3idf.org/. The organization works on providing pro environment, scalable technologies that can provide infrastructure services to poor.
I left my work and rushed for it because i had the hunger to know how people connect and sustain. I dont believe in social work, but i believe in finding gaps and leveraging them to make profit which benefits poor. I had read a lot on the failures of microfiancing institutes and i always knew that money is not the end. We have enough money lying with every social upliftment house, its the ideation, innovation, enablement and connect. And yes, i think this organization is doing the same. They leverage the volume of trade that happens in India by exchange of money through pockets. They read the small enterprise, develop them, do a market fesibility, go to banks, stand as guarantor ( Read, negotiate smart terms), enable and help the enterpreneur run. Of what i gathered they have 100-150 small scale projects in their portfolio and the loss is 2-3 projects. So, yes, there is a lot of business behind those slums, if you dare to sit and bring them up, you can make many dreams a reality. The idea here is not to lend money, but to strike a deal with banks by sharing the risk. They are not micro lending, they are making banks lend, by building their confidence and showing how much money lower class transacts on a day today basis. Must say. SMART Krishna and Dr.Russell!
What is common thread that i have discovered is, that its not the lack of money, its not the lack of ideas, its the lack of organizing and channelising. We work day in and day out cribbing about work being non creative, why dont we voluntarily connect with some of these small enterpreneurs, help them bridge the gap with our knowledge and be a part in someone's dream. All they need is some of your reach and brain which anyways is dormant working for MNCs which lend out third grade BPO, research and servicing job to us.
Its fun to work on ground, relate to people, work on real solutions and experiment with models which work. Rural Zing has given me and is giving me the vision and learning which has no parallel. I love the thrill to dream, sort, analyze, visualize, discuss with my partners. It helps me learn which theory works and which doesnt. It has left me hungry to discover this black hole more and more. And interesting is the fact that i am not alone, there are millions who share the vision for social enterpreneurship and are all set making it a big success.
My only concern- The reach for such organizations is very limited. For a truly successful venture, the idea has to spread all over India and it has to grow to involve villages and villagers at all level. We have to think BIG.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Memory Game..
This is about a human who is more forgetful than any existing piece of life on this earth- Me.
I want to dedicate this blog to the kind of things i forget to do. I feel its not normal anymore. I FORGET every damn thing. The story started with forgetting my cell phone in hotels, coffee shops and i dont know what all locations. I thought i was just not bothered about cell phone, so i kind of forget. ( Despite everthing, it has managed to come back to me, i have never lost a cell phone.:))
Second incident happened few days back when i was going back home for a vacation.I had packed my luggage and i was supposed to come early from office, pick my luggage and head for airport. I kept my laptop and moved on for my home. ( I stay 20+ kms away from office. ) While i was sitting in bus in my own dream world, i realized that i need to open the door of my house to pick my luggage, but the keys were in office drawer. Oops! I have 60 minutes to catch the flight. I can not go back. I have tickets and i have money, and i have the pair of clothes, i am in. OK! Bhai, i am coming back home with nothing. I headed for airport with tickets and nothing else.
My mum said, now that you have forgotten keys once, you will never forget them again. I said yes mum, you trust me a LOT. I came back from vacations with new clothes (;), there ARE some benefits of forgetting, like you get all new clothes. It was hardly 10 days that i reached back home again to realize that i left keys in office. I called up my friend and stayed over at her place as it was already too late to go back 20 kms away from the city. :(
I thought forgetting is normal, but its getting worse with me with every passing day. Two days back i met a guy, he came to me and smiled, so how are you doing? I looked at him and i said i am fine, but i am sorry, i dont think i remember you. he said we met at XYZ's bday treat and we talked for 2 hours. I said ok yes, how have you been? ( I still dont remember his name. :()
Today was heights people. I FORGOT MY LAPTOP AT HOME and started for office. After travelling for about 15 mins, i realized that i did not have the machine on which i am supposed to work ( I was listening to FM when it struck me.) . I ran to stop the bus, everyone in bus amazed at what was the issue, when one guy said, you forgot your laptop? HA HA HA! I was almost into tears, i looked at him and said yes i did. I got down from bus, came back home and missed the last bus to reach office which is 20 kms away. Next bus was supposed to be after 2 hours. I was crying now. And this time it was hurting me. Why does this happen with me God. I looked at Baristaa and went in it to think over a sandwich. I went in and ordered a sandwich, the counter boy said plz pay later, i said take it now, i forget. He smiled and said its fine and i loved him for being so kind. I was tired and hungry. I was drained out of life. I wanted to sit and introspect. I was thinking why all this has been happening to me since long. There is nothing in my mind which keeps me occupied then why does this happen. Why cant i be more careful. Why cant i do things picture perfect and i was crying and crying and crying. I had been on my feet for 2 hours now, it is extremely hot, i have missed upon my work and i dont want to sit, its a punishment for me. AND i am not forgetting anything, anymore. Huh! Lost in the thoughts, i started walking out, when the waiter came and said Maam, bill? I said i told you, you did not have to add to my misery.
:)
I want to dedicate this blog to the kind of things i forget to do. I feel its not normal anymore. I FORGET every damn thing. The story started with forgetting my cell phone in hotels, coffee shops and i dont know what all locations. I thought i was just not bothered about cell phone, so i kind of forget. ( Despite everthing, it has managed to come back to me, i have never lost a cell phone.:))
Second incident happened few days back when i was going back home for a vacation.I had packed my luggage and i was supposed to come early from office, pick my luggage and head for airport. I kept my laptop and moved on for my home. ( I stay 20+ kms away from office. ) While i was sitting in bus in my own dream world, i realized that i need to open the door of my house to pick my luggage, but the keys were in office drawer. Oops! I have 60 minutes to catch the flight. I can not go back. I have tickets and i have money, and i have the pair of clothes, i am in. OK! Bhai, i am coming back home with nothing. I headed for airport with tickets and nothing else.
My mum said, now that you have forgotten keys once, you will never forget them again. I said yes mum, you trust me a LOT. I came back from vacations with new clothes (;), there ARE some benefits of forgetting, like you get all new clothes. It was hardly 10 days that i reached back home again to realize that i left keys in office. I called up my friend and stayed over at her place as it was already too late to go back 20 kms away from the city. :(
I thought forgetting is normal, but its getting worse with me with every passing day. Two days back i met a guy, he came to me and smiled, so how are you doing? I looked at him and i said i am fine, but i am sorry, i dont think i remember you. he said we met at XYZ's bday treat and we talked for 2 hours. I said ok yes, how have you been? ( I still dont remember his name. :()
Today was heights people. I FORGOT MY LAPTOP AT HOME and started for office. After travelling for about 15 mins, i realized that i did not have the machine on which i am supposed to work ( I was listening to FM when it struck me.) . I ran to stop the bus, everyone in bus amazed at what was the issue, when one guy said, you forgot your laptop? HA HA HA! I was almost into tears, i looked at him and said yes i did. I got down from bus, came back home and missed the last bus to reach office which is 20 kms away. Next bus was supposed to be after 2 hours. I was crying now. And this time it was hurting me. Why does this happen with me God. I looked at Baristaa and went in it to think over a sandwich. I went in and ordered a sandwich, the counter boy said plz pay later, i said take it now, i forget. He smiled and said its fine and i loved him for being so kind. I was tired and hungry. I was drained out of life. I wanted to sit and introspect. I was thinking why all this has been happening to me since long. There is nothing in my mind which keeps me occupied then why does this happen. Why cant i be more careful. Why cant i do things picture perfect and i was crying and crying and crying. I had been on my feet for 2 hours now, it is extremely hot, i have missed upon my work and i dont want to sit, its a punishment for me. AND i am not forgetting anything, anymore. Huh! Lost in the thoughts, i started walking out, when the waiter came and said Maam, bill? I said i told you, you did not have to add to my misery.
:)
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........................
Its only when you close your eyes to sleep that you dream,
So, you know what to do, to make it big in life.
- Dilbert In Action ( My friend has these craziest if witty remarks and i cant resist this one. )
So, you know what to do, to make it big in life.
- Dilbert In Action ( My friend has these craziest if witty remarks and i cant resist this one. )
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A day in life with Noni.. :)
Mr Noni is cute, little baby. He is 2 years old and he doesnt know anything about life( not that he cares, either :)). He wakes up and cries if he does not find familiar faces around. He looks for his milk bottle, lies down and drink it to get charged for the day. Once he is through with his bottle, he smiles ear to ear, which means, now you see how i make you run in whole house till 10 PM. And, yo. He is out of bed to meet his grand mother( he bribes the high commission, so that cops( mum and dad) cant scold him.). He goes to every member in family to be loved and cuddled before he starts his day.
Now, Mr. Noni is in his car. Its a red colored car with a remote control. Everyone in home is hiding as once you operate his car, you will have to do it for an hour atleast. He looks at bua and hands over the remote with a smile showing the car and showing the buttons on remote ( he knows bua comes rarely and will not say no, he is smart baby.). Now, Mr.Noni will yell, shout out of joy, will carry his Pooh bear along with in his car. Suddenly he looks at you and says no no.( means, enough, you fool, how long will you keep me in this car, my life dsnt end at it, like urs ends at office, i have multiple things to look into.)
He has jumped out of his car and he goes straight to the pool of toys, takes out a black racing car and runs to bua to put battery in it, so that it could run. He is good at getting his job done. After 5 mins of admiring the music of car, he throws it in one corner. Now, is the time for him to have breakfast. Mr. Noni has a high chair, so that he can have the view of dining table while he eats. You can eat the porridge and fruits, Mr. Noni doesnt like such healthy things. He takes in food to keep you happy and takes it out to tell you that it can not go in unless he likes it. He is through with his bfast and the chair looks suffocating to him.He is shouting to be realeased.
Mr noni goes for a bath and comes out well dressed.( This look is a rare treat, he will be extremely dirty in half an hour. He is too hard working to keep the crease of colthes intact.). He goes around the house to win the adimiration and love of all on how neat he can look at some point on time in day.
I pick up the newspaper to read and Mr.Noni comes running to say, YOU CANT or else i tear in into million pieces. He gets his toy basket and asks me to make somespace for him, so that he can sit. Now, you have to take out each and every toy and show him how to play. He will smile, he will shout with joy and if he very happy, he will kiss you for being so intelligent (Read, you know how to play with toys :)).
Everyone tries to tell Noni that he is tired, he has been running around for hours and some sleep is normal. But Mr. Noni is not someone who will retire before the sun does. Whole house is on its toes. Mr. Noni wants to dance. You have to catch his little fingers and do a ball dance to make him happy. Now my cute Mocambo is on and on and on with his toys, his cubes, puzzles, intermittently giving smiles and ensuring that someone is around him.
He wants to be taken out, he will pull people towards his pram ( another entity everyone dreads, once he is in it, you might have to walk for kms, showing all kind of cows and dogs until he orders you take his carriage back home.). He manages it well with his bua again, he knows she is on vacation, so she has all the time in this world to admire dogs and cows with him. He points towards a small soft ball which he prefers to play in park. So, now comes Noni in his pram. Dogs seem to follow, cows seem to turn, cars look bigger than the ones he has and he turns to ensure that its me behind him, just incase dog tries to get pally you see. :)
Noni's pram is parked in lawn, he is on his little feet to play. All kids love him since is cute and chotu. He throws some tantrums by hiding into his bua and she tries to make him comfortable with other little friends. Noni wants to go back home. His pooh is alone.
He is back, running, shouting, jumping and suddenly he comes to someone, places himself confortably in lap, lifts hand and puts it on his head and says, "Soja, soja." ( which means, i am tired, please help me sleep :))
As his cute face lay peaceful dreaming of toys, i wonder how his mind works and what his world is like. There are no complications and no apprehensions. He does not know how to speak, yet he can explain himself. He is tiniest form of human survival. He is learning to explore emotions, activities. And for him we are heroes, we can talk, we can walk, we can take him out, he thinks he will also do all this one day. And something tells me that all kids dream, but not all are fortunate to have heroes around them.
Now, Mr. Noni is in his car. Its a red colored car with a remote control. Everyone in home is hiding as once you operate his car, you will have to do it for an hour atleast. He looks at bua and hands over the remote with a smile showing the car and showing the buttons on remote ( he knows bua comes rarely and will not say no, he is smart baby.). Now, Mr.Noni will yell, shout out of joy, will carry his Pooh bear along with in his car. Suddenly he looks at you and says no no.( means, enough, you fool, how long will you keep me in this car, my life dsnt end at it, like urs ends at office, i have multiple things to look into.)
He has jumped out of his car and he goes straight to the pool of toys, takes out a black racing car and runs to bua to put battery in it, so that it could run. He is good at getting his job done. After 5 mins of admiring the music of car, he throws it in one corner. Now, is the time for him to have breakfast. Mr. Noni has a high chair, so that he can have the view of dining table while he eats. You can eat the porridge and fruits, Mr. Noni doesnt like such healthy things. He takes in food to keep you happy and takes it out to tell you that it can not go in unless he likes it. He is through with his bfast and the chair looks suffocating to him.He is shouting to be realeased.
Mr noni goes for a bath and comes out well dressed.( This look is a rare treat, he will be extremely dirty in half an hour. He is too hard working to keep the crease of colthes intact.). He goes around the house to win the adimiration and love of all on how neat he can look at some point on time in day.
I pick up the newspaper to read and Mr.Noni comes running to say, YOU CANT or else i tear in into million pieces. He gets his toy basket and asks me to make somespace for him, so that he can sit. Now, you have to take out each and every toy and show him how to play. He will smile, he will shout with joy and if he very happy, he will kiss you for being so intelligent (Read, you know how to play with toys :)).
Everyone tries to tell Noni that he is tired, he has been running around for hours and some sleep is normal. But Mr. Noni is not someone who will retire before the sun does. Whole house is on its toes. Mr. Noni wants to dance. You have to catch his little fingers and do a ball dance to make him happy. Now my cute Mocambo is on and on and on with his toys, his cubes, puzzles, intermittently giving smiles and ensuring that someone is around him.
He wants to be taken out, he will pull people towards his pram ( another entity everyone dreads, once he is in it, you might have to walk for kms, showing all kind of cows and dogs until he orders you take his carriage back home.). He manages it well with his bua again, he knows she is on vacation, so she has all the time in this world to admire dogs and cows with him. He points towards a small soft ball which he prefers to play in park. So, now comes Noni in his pram. Dogs seem to follow, cows seem to turn, cars look bigger than the ones he has and he turns to ensure that its me behind him, just incase dog tries to get pally you see. :)
Noni's pram is parked in lawn, he is on his little feet to play. All kids love him since is cute and chotu. He throws some tantrums by hiding into his bua and she tries to make him comfortable with other little friends. Noni wants to go back home. His pooh is alone.
He is back, running, shouting, jumping and suddenly he comes to someone, places himself confortably in lap, lifts hand and puts it on his head and says, "Soja, soja." ( which means, i am tired, please help me sleep :))
As his cute face lay peaceful dreaming of toys, i wonder how his mind works and what his world is like. There are no complications and no apprehensions. He does not know how to speak, yet he can explain himself. He is tiniest form of human survival. He is learning to explore emotions, activities. And for him we are heroes, we can talk, we can walk, we can take him out, he thinks he will also do all this one day. And something tells me that all kids dream, but not all are fortunate to have heroes around them.
Monday, February 4, 2008
State of Evolution....
Last few months have been full of preparation, applications, achievements and some failures. One of my friend was back after long from US. After chatting and trying to cover lots that had gone by in last year,over the lunch, suddenly the topic changed to self exploration. I was talking about essays and how they made me think and evaluate different options in life. Suddenly, he said, do you know yourself? Can you talk about you for an hour, you know i realized it a month back that i cant and that scares hell out of me, IVY league just took me farther off from me. It took me by surpsrise, "Myself? I think yes, but then what knowing yourself would mean?"
He explained that if i could explain what makes me happy, how a b school makes me happy, how does it impact my life, how would i want to die, with whom would i want to spend rest of my life with, what kind of people would i avoid, then i would have made a business plan for life.
Obviously, i was lost. ( Considering that telling him that ice creams make me happy, b school gives me learning, and i want to die like i sleep and never wake up, no disease and no pain will make no sense. He was looking for an answer which he knew i did not have, because he knows that i dont tend to think a lot.) My answer was wierd but i will place it nevertheless because i think i THOUGHT and it also describes my state of evolution as on 5th feb, 2008 :).
"I am a strong believer of "whatever happens,happens for the best" coz dad used this statement often and i have grown to learn that he was right. I have no clue what future holds for me, and i for best know that i am not a control freak, i will not try to control my life in anticipation either. I live life one at a time. Everything can make me happy and sad, not many people around me have the power to make me sad though. For me b school means extending my horizons, i sincerely pray to God that i come out with my feet on ground, but if flying is what its meant to be, i will enjoy the flight and know that someday i will have to rest on ground, for no one has remained in sky forever.
I have evolved to love people and life in every form. I dont think there is a segment i will not want to associate with, however people with narrow outlook scare me. The kind of people i like are the ones who are honest to themselves because only such people can be honest to others. I am allergic to people who play double roles in life, i do this because A likes it but i dont believe in it, i think you better do what you believe in or if you decide to do something, call it your action, coz it has evolved out of your mind, may be "A" influneced you, but then by the end of the day, you did it. A wrong supported is as good as wrong done for me. About rest of the life, i am sure that i am not filling it with a wrong one, its got to be either right or none. There are some things better left at instincts and serendipity, rationals dont work in relations is all i know. You dont have to be blind to start with, but you have to grow to trust blindly because identities have to merge to resolve conflicts that independence brings in.
Aim of life is to be happy, rest of the things will come and go. The idea is how strong i am to keep the happy emotion in toughest of times. I am not sure if life has a business plan and i dont know if i can ever make it, all i can do is be positive and open to all changes and challenges life throws on me. I love to live even when i am in deep shit. :) "
He said that right now with me throwing such a heavy question on you, you seem to be in deep shit, you seem to be loving it and i have recorded this. I can see that you are red and your brain is drained out trying to think so hard, so let me give you some rest and not put myself in the league of people you would not want to spend rest of your life with. Will you mark it on your blog as state of evolution please? Now, record what i say about me, lets update evolution every quarter ( now, thats an MBA speaking;)) and see the progress. :D
He explained that if i could explain what makes me happy, how a b school makes me happy, how does it impact my life, how would i want to die, with whom would i want to spend rest of my life with, what kind of people would i avoid, then i would have made a business plan for life.
Obviously, i was lost. ( Considering that telling him that ice creams make me happy, b school gives me learning, and i want to die like i sleep and never wake up, no disease and no pain will make no sense. He was looking for an answer which he knew i did not have, because he knows that i dont tend to think a lot.) My answer was wierd but i will place it nevertheless because i think i THOUGHT and it also describes my state of evolution as on 5th feb, 2008 :).
"I am a strong believer of "whatever happens,happens for the best" coz dad used this statement often and i have grown to learn that he was right. I have no clue what future holds for me, and i for best know that i am not a control freak, i will not try to control my life in anticipation either. I live life one at a time. Everything can make me happy and sad, not many people around me have the power to make me sad though. For me b school means extending my horizons, i sincerely pray to God that i come out with my feet on ground, but if flying is what its meant to be, i will enjoy the flight and know that someday i will have to rest on ground, for no one has remained in sky forever.
I have evolved to love people and life in every form. I dont think there is a segment i will not want to associate with, however people with narrow outlook scare me. The kind of people i like are the ones who are honest to themselves because only such people can be honest to others. I am allergic to people who play double roles in life, i do this because A likes it but i dont believe in it, i think you better do what you believe in or if you decide to do something, call it your action, coz it has evolved out of your mind, may be "A" influneced you, but then by the end of the day, you did it. A wrong supported is as good as wrong done for me. About rest of the life, i am sure that i am not filling it with a wrong one, its got to be either right or none. There are some things better left at instincts and serendipity, rationals dont work in relations is all i know. You dont have to be blind to start with, but you have to grow to trust blindly because identities have to merge to resolve conflicts that independence brings in.
Aim of life is to be happy, rest of the things will come and go. The idea is how strong i am to keep the happy emotion in toughest of times. I am not sure if life has a business plan and i dont know if i can ever make it, all i can do is be positive and open to all changes and challenges life throws on me. I love to live even when i am in deep shit. :) "
He said that right now with me throwing such a heavy question on you, you seem to be in deep shit, you seem to be loving it and i have recorded this. I can see that you are red and your brain is drained out trying to think so hard, so let me give you some rest and not put myself in the league of people you would not want to spend rest of your life with. Will you mark it on your blog as state of evolution please? Now, record what i say about me, lets update evolution every quarter ( now, thats an MBA speaking;)) and see the progress. :D
Friday, February 1, 2008
Life..
And probably the best i read today:
To live is like to love -
all reason is against it,
and all healthy instinct for it.
~ by Samuel Butler, Life and love ~
To live is like to love -
all reason is against it,
and all healthy instinct for it.
~ by Samuel Butler, Life and love ~
Wind Beneathn My Wings
BETTE MIDLER LYRICS
"Wind Beneath My Wings"
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
"Wind Beneath My Wings"
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
You say it best when you say nothing at all- Allison Kraus
It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old Mr. Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old Mr. Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
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