December 18, 2010
December 02, 2010
Calcutta or Kolkata
I am an Indian and lived throughout in India – and I can’t believe that I am visiting Calcutta, now Kolkata, for the first time. I was excited, enthralled and looked forward to getting drowned in Kolkata culture. I was never disappointed – I did drown and what a feeling it was.
It was quite late when I landed in Kolkata – the first thing that struck me was the Ambassador taxi. These extinct behemoths were there everywhere – and I loved it – my first ride in a four wheeler was in an ambassador car. I fell in love with the city immediately.
Next day I just walked down a while. The difference from other cities was glaring and stark. The British Raj buildings still existed there with work still being done out of these ‘offices’ – no flashy glass frontages, no multi storied concrete structures. The place reeked of old world charm and aesthetic cultural montage. Work moved at the same pace as the bullock carts – it reflected the mentality of the people. The taxi driver proudly showed us the building burnt several years with the soot all over it still fresh. They lived life and in between somewhere, work moved. Take it easy. The people had a weird attitude – they did everything they could to ensure they did nothing. That’s a great way to view life and death.
The tea in the mud containers told everything that Kolkata stood for – crumbles easy but great on the green. What is more important to life is what we stand for. You need to compromise on what you need to do and what you do not need to do – each has its pros and cons. I feel I am more of a person that would root for a life there. I don’t want to rush life and take my environment for granted. I need to merge into it and dissolve.
And lo, for the first time in my life I saw a tram in India – they disappeared from other cities of India ages ago – but, no sir, not in Kolkata. It was a pleasure to see people getting on and off wherever they wanted. I wondered why they had stops at all.
And then I saw the Birla temple. The security guards won’t allow me inside with my back pack (actually my lap top). I told very gently but sternly that I have come a long way and there was no way I am going to return without a darshan. He hesitated, but took care of my bag till I returned (despite the fact that my placing a bag in their custody was a bigger security risk – in my opinion). I offered to open the bag so that he can inspect – he refused. I was humbled by his trust. And when I returned, I was too ashamed to open the bag to check – he made me open the bag and check if everything was there. I left the place having got the darshan of the Lord right outside the temple.
Next day was my ambassador ride day. It was a great ride – I will remember this for a very, very long time indeed. I was sorry it came to an end so soon – I just rolled the names of the streets and loved the twirls of my tongue – Shakespeare Sarani, Park Street and so on.
That night I wanted to walk back. The street hawkers bring life to the city. Just name it and it is found there – cheaper than anywhere in India, well, mostly. And while bargaining they have a language of their own. “Please, brother, take this. I’ve been here for 17 years and if you find a defect and come after two years I will be here to exchange it for you – for free. And bloody, I bet you can find that guy in the very same spot with a few more grey hairs. And perhaps, selling those very same wares.
I thing, I can bet on – you cannot get cheaper and better food than in Kolkata. Of any type be it sweets or junk food. Street foods of course, stand out, literally.
And before the culture could seep in, it was time for me to return. I came to the airport – it is the blandest airport I have ever seen. The bus stops in some metros looked better. But the laid back attitude pleased me – I was in no hurry either.
I missed travelling by the metro – the icon that is trying to change the image of Kolkota – am I glad I did not travel.
Not sure when I will travel back – when I do I plan to go to the park street hawker and ask for a replacement lock and key that I got last year for Rs.30/-.
Liked Calcutta better than Kolkata.
December 01, 2010
November 30, 2010
November 25, 2010
Are you Eligible
Once upon a time, there was a king who liked to chant the Vedas. He asked his Rajaguru to teach him the vedas. The Rajaguru refused under some pretext or the other. As the king became impatient after some months, Rajaguru said that the King was not yet ready to learn the vedas. He tried to explain that one has to go through a period of strict discipline and become eligible before the learning starts.
The king refused to believe it and found out another teacher in a nearby village. The King returned happily after a month and boasted to the Rajaguru that he had learnt chanting of the vedas.
The Rajaguru seemingly angry, shouted at the nearby body guard to slap the king hard. The court was stunned for a while and the body guard was perplexed. The Rajaguru again shouted at the body guard to slap the king. When this was repeated two or three times, the King got annoyed and shouted at the body guard to slap the Rajaguru hard. The body guard obliged and slapped the Rajaguru.
Then the Rajaguru told the king, "See, when I asked the bodyguard to slap he would not slap you inspite of the fact that I told him several times. He never listened to me and I wasted my energy. However, when you told, he immediately obliged. That is because you are eligible to say what you said and can see the effect of your words. Similarly, one has to be eligible to be able to say something or pray something in order the see the effect."
The King felt that he was slapped now and learnt an important lesson in life.
(as told by my dear friend Jayant Pande)
The king refused to believe it and found out another teacher in a nearby village. The King returned happily after a month and boasted to the Rajaguru that he had learnt chanting of the vedas.
The Rajaguru seemingly angry, shouted at the nearby body guard to slap the king hard. The court was stunned for a while and the body guard was perplexed. The Rajaguru again shouted at the body guard to slap the king. When this was repeated two or three times, the King got annoyed and shouted at the body guard to slap the Rajaguru hard. The body guard obliged and slapped the Rajaguru.
Then the Rajaguru told the king, "See, when I asked the bodyguard to slap he would not slap you inspite of the fact that I told him several times. He never listened to me and I wasted my energy. However, when you told, he immediately obliged. That is because you are eligible to say what you said and can see the effect of your words. Similarly, one has to be eligible to be able to say something or pray something in order the see the effect."
The King felt that he was slapped now and learnt an important lesson in life.
(as told by my dear friend Jayant Pande)
November 24, 2010
November 21, 2010
November 19, 2010
November 05, 2010
November 01, 2010
Way to Go
OK! This is big stuff and you may not want to agree with me.
The ONLY ONLY way to resolve all terrorism related issues is to follow this three pronged methodology:
The ONLY ONLY way to resolve all terrorism related issues is to follow this three pronged methodology:
- Improve economy of the people
- Encourage art of the region
- Involve in sports diplomacy
July 05, 2010
Of Space and Time
One day I agreed to drop my daughter at her school, she had joined a coupe of months ago. On the way, I had a nagging doubt and asked her which left turn I should take. She said she was not sure as she normally took a different route. Nevertheless I was able to read my bearings and took the correct left turn and dropped her at her school. But not before lecturing on the need for observing landmarks, directions, improving intuitive spacial cognitive capabilities and understanding at least geographical locations. She kept nodding her head – I hope she understood what I meant.
On my way back, I got cocky after all the discourse. Why do I need to take the next right a good kilometre away while I can take the right turn just here. And so I did. Immediately I felt happy – the general direction was correct and the road was empty with cool breeze blowing across my face. It was early morning and I started enjoying the early morning sun light. Even a bird started calling – far removed from the other right that was soaked in diesel, congested with vehicles and paved with pot holes.
The road started meandering and I sure liked it. Unlike other roads of Bangalore where after every half a kilometre you hit a fork with three roads with two of them one-ways, this was simple – just one road. I started to think of the good old days of Bangalore – this is the closest I can come to. And then I recognized something – my smile widened. See, my sense of direction and my grasp of land marks have stood by me. I came closer. I sure recognized it. It was my daughter’s school. After three kilometres all I had done was to end up where I started.
I came back home and ate my words for breakfast. Of course, I did not tell anyone.
June 29, 2010
Let the animal in you run free
A friend of mine recently narrated an interesting incident.
Suppose a hungry lion chases a deer and after a long chase the deer manages to escape, what would it do. Does the deer feel happy that it has escaped; does it feel sad because nature has made him weaker than a lion, does he feel angry and schemes to avenge his to-be killer, or does he feel jealous of the lion and dreams of becoming one. Nothing - the deer feels nothing. He is on his way grazing and going ahead with life.
Just imagine you are the deer. What do you feel?
Sometimes, it is better to be an animal with no such excess feelings and emotions that try to overwhelm. It is not the extreme circumstance that overwhelms but the resultant emotions and feelings following your reaction to those circumstances. It is the reaction what makes you human or inhuman. Extreme circumstances drive you to take extreme actions and when you are pushed - it is better to let the animal in you run free. Once you start thinking like one, you suddenly realise you are more human.
Suppose a hungry lion chases a deer and after a long chase the deer manages to escape, what would it do. Does the deer feel happy that it has escaped; does it feel sad because nature has made him weaker than a lion, does he feel angry and schemes to avenge his to-be killer, or does he feel jealous of the lion and dreams of becoming one. Nothing - the deer feels nothing. He is on his way grazing and going ahead with life.
Just imagine you are the deer. What do you feel?
Sometimes, it is better to be an animal with no such excess feelings and emotions that try to overwhelm. It is not the extreme circumstance that overwhelms but the resultant emotions and feelings following your reaction to those circumstances. It is the reaction what makes you human or inhuman. Extreme circumstances drive you to take extreme actions and when you are pushed - it is better to let the animal in you run free. Once you start thinking like one, you suddenly realise you are more human.
June 25, 2010
June 18, 2010
Slick
Not many realise this - as it does not affect directly right away. We have to pay for this humanity! Slick is Sick.
June 05, 2010
Wanderers
I have been observing this person for the past couple of days. He sat silently in the temple not talking to anyone and not entering the temple always. Sometimes when the heat increased he came inside.
We were taking part in an event that involved reading of a religious text (Srimad Bhagavatham) for seven days. The days ended with a discourse by wise men on the philosophy of life. As is customary in temples, food was served during the entire period.
On the fourth day, I met him at another temple. That is when I noticed that he had a kit but appeared to be in no hurry to go anywhere. From his body language, I understood that this temple was his temporary halting place and the small kit held all of his belongings. He spends his nights at this temple and comes to the other one to spend his days – to have his breakfast, lunch and dinner, free of cost.
When I saw him he flashed a smile of recognition. He introduced himself as chandrashekharan from North Kerala. And then he opened up making his mind to speak in halting english. He is a loner. He has his parents and siblings but never depended on them. He said he just goes from place to place and wherever finds a place he can spend some time (get free food) he spends the time till the next function starts somewhere else.
He said that he does not have anyone but has the entire world working for him, ensuring that he survived. He has gone places throughout India as far as Allahabad, Hrishikesh, Badrinath and Kashmir – traveling alone and without spending a rupee. He says that he gets most help from people around the temples, from police and the army (surprised me). Three times he tried going to Kedarnath and failed – he will try this year too.
Gave me an insight into how people manage to survive and to what extent people are willing to push their way of life.
He said he takes life one day at a time (divided by three – food times). He said he likes the way he lived without knowing what he would like to do with life or how he would spend the next day. He seemed to be genuinely happy. I failed to understand that he needs to do something with his life. At last he made his point – he is interested in the journey of life – not the destination. Go wherever life takes you.
I was trying to compare myself, who gets anxious if a single insurance premium is overdue, with this man who does not know and does not care from where his next meal is going to come from. I sit at a home that I could call mine after 20 years, having a steady job working for someone else, maintaining a seemingly happy family and yet looking forward to reach a destination that is alluringly near all the time.
At 2 am, he disappeared – he continuing on his journey and I staring at the destination. I wonder who the wanderer is – him or me.
We were taking part in an event that involved reading of a religious text (Srimad Bhagavatham) for seven days. The days ended with a discourse by wise men on the philosophy of life. As is customary in temples, food was served during the entire period.
On the fourth day, I met him at another temple. That is when I noticed that he had a kit but appeared to be in no hurry to go anywhere. From his body language, I understood that this temple was his temporary halting place and the small kit held all of his belongings. He spends his nights at this temple and comes to the other one to spend his days – to have his breakfast, lunch and dinner, free of cost.
When I saw him he flashed a smile of recognition. He introduced himself as chandrashekharan from North Kerala. And then he opened up making his mind to speak in halting english. He is a loner. He has his parents and siblings but never depended on them. He said he just goes from place to place and wherever finds a place he can spend some time (get free food) he spends the time till the next function starts somewhere else.
He said that he does not have anyone but has the entire world working for him, ensuring that he survived. He has gone places throughout India as far as Allahabad, Hrishikesh, Badrinath and Kashmir – traveling alone and without spending a rupee. He says that he gets most help from people around the temples, from police and the army (surprised me). Three times he tried going to Kedarnath and failed – he will try this year too.
Gave me an insight into how people manage to survive and to what extent people are willing to push their way of life.
He said he takes life one day at a time (divided by three – food times). He said he likes the way he lived without knowing what he would like to do with life or how he would spend the next day. He seemed to be genuinely happy. I failed to understand that he needs to do something with his life. At last he made his point – he is interested in the journey of life – not the destination. Go wherever life takes you.
I was trying to compare myself, who gets anxious if a single insurance premium is overdue, with this man who does not know and does not care from where his next meal is going to come from. I sit at a home that I could call mine after 20 years, having a steady job working for someone else, maintaining a seemingly happy family and yet looking forward to reach a destination that is alluringly near all the time.
At 2 am, he disappeared – he continuing on his journey and I staring at the destination. I wonder who the wanderer is – him or me.
April 24, 2010
A Helping Hand
We were a compact gang. Each of us was different – some rich, some poor, some staying nearby and some not so near. We fought each other but had the magnanimity to honour the gang motives. We stuck with each other through thick and thin. And we taught ourselves the art of sharing and of helping each other.
One of the gang members was anxious. In fact, he was absolutely devastated. The examinations would start in a few months and he knew he cannot get through. English always terrorized him. He somehow managed to pass the rest of the subjects. English was the only one subject between being called uneducated and ‘SSLC pass’. This would be his final attempt – he knew he cannot pass and he wanted to pass it desperately so that he can muster some job or the other. His father cannot support him any longer because of family circumstances. He was keen to ensure that he did not add to the family burden but wanted to reduce it by being productive.
The gang got into collective thinking. All of us knew that he can never manage to pass if all of us made him study twenty four hours a day till the exams start.
I offered a dangerous proposition. I said, “I can write for you provided you get my photo in your hall ticket”.
Another friend offered his unique services. He said, “I can get my father to allot an exam centre far away from our place. It means that I can also manage to get the wrong photo to the right hall ticket”.
And so our friend is immediately overjoyed with the simple solution. Everybody go home happy that day. The samaritan’s father reluctantly agreed to do the gang’s beckoning.
And so one day the gang turns up at my house.
One said, “Okay, its time to start”.
I said, “For what?”.
He said, “Have you forgotten? You promised to write for me and tomorrow is the exam day”.
My head reeled. I had not studied and the centre was 200 km away. There was no time to lose. So we took a bike and all of us travelled the entire distance and reached the exam centre the next day morning.
I gingerly entered the examination hall. They found nothing out of ordinary. But exam supervisors sure were curious because I started writing and never stopped. Fast, furious and trying to cram as much as possible. The exam was over in half the time and I came out with my fingers crossed but totally relieved. More so was my gang.
The results were out. He scored 63% in English – the highest of all the exams. He was elated and so was I.
After 25 years, he remains a good friend. He still drives the auto that he started after becoming a qualified ‘SSLC Pass’.
(As narrated by my friend, Jayant Pande – 30th of March, 2010)
April 18, 2010
The Manager
I saw this woman in a flight to Mumbai. One look at her and anyone can make out that she is on a mission. Set jaws, eyes straight ahead and a powerful projection of persona. She is out to prove to the world and the flight’s destination is what she is looking forward to right now.
Sure enough, no sooner did the aircraft’s tires hit the ground, she hit the ground running by switching on her mobile. She called someone – perhaps, her junior one of the hundreds of people working for her. Immediately she started shooting her bullets.
“Ok. Give me the status update’. She said already calculating the number of problems she needs to resolve.
The other person must have told something like, “Let me first get the update so that I can give you.”
“I need to know now. I do not wish to be kept waiting for problems to be resolved on their own. It doesn’t matter if they are bad. Please give me straight”. She said expecting the worst.
This could have been the response from the other end, “Well, the work is going on and nothing to report at this juncture. I shall report once we achieve a milestone" – or something to that effect.
She was actually irritated now. She said, “No. This will not do. I exactly need to know what is happening. It is straight in the line of your duty.” I got even more curious with the tone of the conversation. She must be handling something really grave – perhaps very sensitive and of national significance.
Perhaps, the other guy was a smart Alec. He must have given a vague reply like, “I am under control and you do not have to be bothered with such mundane stuff.”
She must be a very powerful person – she would not give up so easily. I wonder if she is a top governmental official who gets her work done or someone who has been a boss all her life. She said, “Please do not give me such pedantic replies. I know that you know and I need to know what you know”.
The guy is caught – I sensed that he had no choice now and must have given some facts. She retorted immediately, “This is not what I was looking for. There are responsibilities clearly drawn up – who will do what and when. I am not looking for daily reporting – I need hourly updates; clear and unambiguous. You are the person who shall ensure that each hour the progress is monitored, measured and updates given to me. I want the activities tracked against the plan. I need them now. I already missed two hours this morning.” She seemed extremely impatient with that seemingly inefficient manager.
I am not sure what the next piece of conversation was but sure she did fly off the handle. Her eyes dilated and she kept shouting in a muffled tone, hardly being able to control herself. The way she seemed excited, I was sure the nation is going to endure the worst of this failure of her manager. The plane still had not come to a stop now - ignoring all announcements to keep the mobiles switched off until the aircraft comes to a complete halt, she retorted, “What do you mean – he hasn’t reported yet. It is ten in the morning. You just cannot say, if he has not come, he has not come. This is grave injustice. I need the work done now. And there are dependencies. What about the risks involved. Who is going to bear the cost?” She seemed to think miles ahead – I felt she is planning for the future generations’ prosperity with such zeal.
When the full import of the message sunk into her – she moved away from the panic mode and switched into her solution mode. You can expect these only from the real mature visionaries. Those who have been in the line day in and day out of their lives solving complex issues of the society and the country at large. I was amazed at her tenacity and judgment.
"Ok. Let me quickly think. Please take notes even as I talk to you. Once this call is over, I will give you his number. His name is Selvam. He is from Tamil Nadu and you need to find someone who can talk to him in Tamil. Tell him that the work is waiting for him. He has exactly two days to complete the job. You need to talk to the architect who can specify what the problem is.” No wonder, I thought she is a person of great repute – who else but an enterprise architect would have such insight into explaining what the problem is. And she must be even greater to have an enterprise architect working for her.
Even as I was admiring her immense aspirations she has for her country – the next sentence she uttered felt like cold water thrown on my face.
She said,”Selvam is the plumber. He can know what the problem is from our architect. On my instruction, you have taken leave just to take care of this plumber and you tell me he has not shown up. I do not care what you do – get the plumber resolve the issue and let me know. Call him. Take your car to wherever he is and bring him. Give me a call half an hour later. Now I need to rush to office work.” That must have been her husband. God save him, at least from the plumbers of India.
I felt relieved. For a moment I thought IT people have really started showing concern for their work. Of course they do - for all their personal work. But this one took the cake. The language sounded so familiar even I was fooled by her.
This was not the first time where I came across people using their project management tactics in real like - it works very rarely. And even rarely still in IT.
I just smiled, switched on the mobile, took the incoming call from my boss and said. “I am still stuck in the plane. I will give you an update when I check out of the airport.”
Sure enough, no sooner did the aircraft’s tires hit the ground, she hit the ground running by switching on her mobile. She called someone – perhaps, her junior one of the hundreds of people working for her. Immediately she started shooting her bullets.
“Ok. Give me the status update’. She said already calculating the number of problems she needs to resolve.
The other person must have told something like, “Let me first get the update so that I can give you.”
“I need to know now. I do not wish to be kept waiting for problems to be resolved on their own. It doesn’t matter if they are bad. Please give me straight”. She said expecting the worst.
This could have been the response from the other end, “Well, the work is going on and nothing to report at this juncture. I shall report once we achieve a milestone" – or something to that effect.
She was actually irritated now. She said, “No. This will not do. I exactly need to know what is happening. It is straight in the line of your duty.” I got even more curious with the tone of the conversation. She must be handling something really grave – perhaps very sensitive and of national significance.
Perhaps, the other guy was a smart Alec. He must have given a vague reply like, “I am under control and you do not have to be bothered with such mundane stuff.”
She must be a very powerful person – she would not give up so easily. I wonder if she is a top governmental official who gets her work done or someone who has been a boss all her life. She said, “Please do not give me such pedantic replies. I know that you know and I need to know what you know”.
The guy is caught – I sensed that he had no choice now and must have given some facts. She retorted immediately, “This is not what I was looking for. There are responsibilities clearly drawn up – who will do what and when. I am not looking for daily reporting – I need hourly updates; clear and unambiguous. You are the person who shall ensure that each hour the progress is monitored, measured and updates given to me. I want the activities tracked against the plan. I need them now. I already missed two hours this morning.” She seemed extremely impatient with that seemingly inefficient manager.
I am not sure what the next piece of conversation was but sure she did fly off the handle. Her eyes dilated and she kept shouting in a muffled tone, hardly being able to control herself. The way she seemed excited, I was sure the nation is going to endure the worst of this failure of her manager. The plane still had not come to a stop now - ignoring all announcements to keep the mobiles switched off until the aircraft comes to a complete halt, she retorted, “What do you mean – he hasn’t reported yet. It is ten in the morning. You just cannot say, if he has not come, he has not come. This is grave injustice. I need the work done now. And there are dependencies. What about the risks involved. Who is going to bear the cost?” She seemed to think miles ahead – I felt she is planning for the future generations’ prosperity with such zeal.
When the full import of the message sunk into her – she moved away from the panic mode and switched into her solution mode. You can expect these only from the real mature visionaries. Those who have been in the line day in and day out of their lives solving complex issues of the society and the country at large. I was amazed at her tenacity and judgment.
"Ok. Let me quickly think. Please take notes even as I talk to you. Once this call is over, I will give you his number. His name is Selvam. He is from Tamil Nadu and you need to find someone who can talk to him in Tamil. Tell him that the work is waiting for him. He has exactly two days to complete the job. You need to talk to the architect who can specify what the problem is.” No wonder, I thought she is a person of great repute – who else but an enterprise architect would have such insight into explaining what the problem is. And she must be even greater to have an enterprise architect working for her.
Even as I was admiring her immense aspirations she has for her country – the next sentence she uttered felt like cold water thrown on my face.
She said,”Selvam is the plumber. He can know what the problem is from our architect. On my instruction, you have taken leave just to take care of this plumber and you tell me he has not shown up. I do not care what you do – get the plumber resolve the issue and let me know. Call him. Take your car to wherever he is and bring him. Give me a call half an hour later. Now I need to rush to office work.” That must have been her husband. God save him, at least from the plumbers of India.
I felt relieved. For a moment I thought IT people have really started showing concern for their work. Of course they do - for all their personal work. But this one took the cake. The language sounded so familiar even I was fooled by her.
This was not the first time where I came across people using their project management tactics in real like - it works very rarely. And even rarely still in IT.
I just smiled, switched on the mobile, took the incoming call from my boss and said. “I am still stuck in the plane. I will give you an update when I check out of the airport.”
January 09, 2010
Trees of Bangalore Today
a few photos taken where beauty of Bangalore, it's trees - were cut and replaced by steel and concrete . A few photos. But are they not necessities and don't we use those pieces of infrastructure for our convenience.
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