Thursday, January 21, 2010
Mother Earth
I am your mother Earth and I have to tell you that I'm tired of you, of your bombs, of your missiles - you're to loud.
See, I give you to drink. I give you to eat. But some of you even find a way to let others suffering hunger!
Since the day you've been born I attend you during your whole life and when you die I am your bed for you can rest in peace.
I'll still keep you in my memory when nothing remind anything of your being.
I carry you, I support you, I transport you, I am always there when you need me, I heel all your wounds.
If I would take away my cereal, my trees, my fruits, my oceans, where all the birds will sit and sing? where the horses will run? where would you paint the history of your glories, your great heroes, your victories, your miseries, your love, your hate?
What are you waiting for? To see my rivers running dry? Well, I know you, I hear the ones you've buried complaining about you. Have I ever depressed you with my gardens? Did I ever stress you with my perfumes? Go and lay to rest somewhere else. Do you want the sky? go ahead! Clime in the air and re-invent another existence, but out of my life. When I'm cereal you're burning me, when I'm water your polluting me, when I'm air you're contaminating me. You became arrogant and ignorant, your own pride has spoiled you. I cannot take it any longer. Is there some other people who could inhabit me? And respect me for what I am? Some other people who has open ears to listen to my voice when I'm talking? Who has eyes to see the signs of the time and react in harmony with me? Will you oblige me to destroy you? Now listen to my last words I'll have to tell you:
I AM THE EARTH, I AM WATER, I AM THE AIR, I AM FIRE, I AM WAITING PATIENTLY, YES I'M QUIET, UNTIL ONE DAY…DON'T BELIEVE YOU COULD SILENCE ME, IF YOU WON'T CHANGE, ON THAT DAY I'LL HAVE TO SILENCE YOU!
Friday, January 15, 2010
How to make this world a better place to live in!

We have the Copenhagen summit failing, kyoto protocol not being rectified and various climate talks that are going on. At the end of the day countries blame one another, no one is ready to compromise and so on. We as individuals also think that since large companies and countries which emits so much does not do anything WHAT WE CAN DO! and we end up doing debates and talks and critise.We watch 2012 movie and think what will happen. Wars, poverty, diseases, religious intolerance etc are increasing day by day.
But what we as individuals have done to make this world a better place to live in!! Once we think Mother EARTH as our home and treat it as we do to our sweet homes we will be able to contribute on a major scale.Though there are many ways I here list 10 ways according to me will help make this place a better place to live. This is not only about climate change but about everything that helps in building a better living place.
1)Use public means of transport atleast once a week.
2)Try to avoid as much as one can in using plastic, wasting oil, paper(pay bills online, ask for statements online), electricity etc.
3)Donate atleast 1% of salary to those in need per month.
4)Have strong faith in religion but avoid being a fundamentalist.
5)Try to visit places like orphans home, old age home, home for disables etc and spend time with them.
6)Plant a tree, participate in teaching(teach India campaign), in food distribution to poor( Akshya Patra) and various other socio-environmental issues.
7)Buy energy efficient products and use less of water heating and air conditioning machines.
8)Be tolerant and forgiving but speak against all evils.
9)Help one another; who knows you may also be in need and there is no one to help.
10) Propagate, help others, educate others and encourage others to also do atleast some of these things.
But the real funny thing is that we all know about this BUT WE DONT ACT UNDER THE EXCUSE OF COMMITMENTS, NO TIME ETC
ACT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
No more short term and cheap ULIPs
The move to lower charges was definitely to effect the term of the policy as IRDA has regulated charges in terms of YIELD (Gross return- net return at 10% should not be more than 3% for policies less than 10 years and 2.25% for more than 10 years). So the charges will remain more or less the same as commission needs to be payed from that and instead the term will be long term and bonuses will be more at the end of the term, and it will increase proportionately with the term of the policy; so that the yield cap is maintained.
Also the fund management charge(FMC) is capped at 1.35 per cent for products below 10 years and at 1.25 per cent for more than 10 years. So longer term means more FMC in terms of money payed. So more or less there is not going to make any major difference and instead the customer ends up locking his investment, which in turn is good for the customer himself, economy and the company. Some of the losses the company will make will be recovered by lending the money of the customer to long term projects of the economy.
The overall effect- More long term policies, less commission for short term policies, less small ticket policies, more money for the economy, but the effect in new policies sold needs to be seen. It may be less as customers always prefer short term unless the agent miss-sells long term policies as short term.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Shoud India be divided into smaller states?
This division will only lead more such movements as in AP itself( rayalseema), UP, West Bengal(Darjeeling),Maharastra (Vidarba), Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP and so on. But does it really help the poor.Haryana and Himachal has taken nearly four decades to be successful. The rampant corruption and Maoist issues in Jarkhand and chhattisgarg tell a different story.There are smaller states in North East but where is the development?
And it is only the richer will get richer. There will be new CM, and ministers, new head of police, judicial, etc (leading to more corruption on account of newer projects)and only the higher class will be benefited. But the farmers will be farmers. The poorer will be poorer.
Instead of a separate state, they should be given autonomy. Except for legislative and military powers all other powers can be given. Let them have a new High Court, new University etc.But then the politician will not get involved as there are no New Ministerial berths created.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Why employees leave company?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Greatest Bengalis
Actors and actresses
1) Rahul Bose - Bengali and Bollywood actor and rugby player
2) Shefali Chowdhury - Hollywood actor, seen in Harry Potter movies as Parvati Patil
3) Ashok Kumar - Bollywood actor
4) Kishore Kumar -Bollywood singer, actor, music composer
5) Uttam Kumar - Bollywood and Bengali film actor
6) Suchitra Sen - Bollywood and Bengali film actress
7) Konkona Sen Sharma - Bollywood Actress
8) Ronit Roy-TV actor
9) Rohit Roy-TV actor
Economists
1) Amartya Sen Ômorto Kumar Shen - economist, Nobel Laureate
2) Abhijit Banerjee - Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Entrepreneurs
1) Jawed Karim - co-founder of YouTube
2) Amar Bose Ômor Gopal Boshu - founder of Bose Corporation
3) Subrato Roy - founder of Sahara India Pariwar
Filmmakers
1) Satyajit Ray Shottojit Rae - filmmaker, won the Bharat Ratna in 1992, won the Academy Honorary Award in 1992 for lifetime achievement and received the Légion d'honneur award of France and also received an Academy Award for his film Pather Panchali.
2) Hrishikesh Mukherjee Rhishikesh Mukharji - filmmaker
Intellectuals and social reformers
1) Shri Aurobindo, Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, scholar, poet, mystic, evolutionary philosopher, yogi and guru
2) Ram Mohan Roy, - founder of the Brahmo Samaj
1) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar - responsible for introducing major reforms in the educational system and was Women's right activist
Journalists and news reporters
1) Pritish Nandy - Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd
2) Prannoy Roy - Founder and President of NDTV - One of India's largest television and media production house
Musicians
1) Abhijeet Abhijeet Bhattacharya - Bollywood playback singer
2) R.D. Burman Rahul Dev Burman - music composer
3) S.D. Burman Sachin Dev Burman - famous music composer and singer and father of R.D. Burman
4) Manna Dey Manna De - Bollywood playback singer
5) Anjan Dutta - Singer and musician of popular Bengali music. Also a Bengali filmmaker and actor.
6) Pritam Pritam Chakraborty and rupam- Bollywood Music Composer Fossils band
7) Shaan Shantanu Mukherjee - Bollywood playback singer
8) Kumar Sanu Kumar Sanu - Bollywood playback singer
9) Ravi Shankar Robi Shôngkor - sitar maestro, Grammy Award winner, father of Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar
Political figures
1) Subhas Chandra Bose-Former President of Indian National Congress,Freedom Fighter and Co-Founder Indian National army
2) Pranab Mukherjee- Minister for External Affairs ,Government of India, Senior leader of Indian National Congress
3) Priyaranjan Dasmunsi- Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Senior leader of Indian National Congress and President of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee
4) Chittaranjan Das - Prominent person in the Indian independence movement also known as Deshabandhu.
5) Bagha Jatin Bomb expert in India's Independence struggle
6) Sarojini Naidu or Sarojini Chattopadhyaya , also known by the sobriquet Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India),
Sportsperson
1) P.K. Banerjee - Footballer: was named Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA and received the Padma Shri Award in 1990
2) Sourav Ganguly - Cricketer, former captain of Indian cricket team
3) Brojen Das Swimmer: first Asian to swim across the English Channel and the first person to cross it four times
4) Gostho Pal, Great Footballer.Member of the 1st Indian Team(MohunBagan)those who won the IFA shield against a British team in the pre independence period.Led the Mohunbagan Club successfully
5) Mihir Sen, Swimmer: First Indian to swim across the English Channel in 1958.
6) Arati Saha, Swimmer: First Asian woman to swim English Channel in 1959.
7) Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, athletics: Double gold-medallist in track at Asian games, was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award and Padma Shri award
Religious figures
1) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Choitonno Môhaprobhu - Syelleti Hindu monk and social reformer
2) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Ramkrishno Pôromôhongsho - Hindu saint
3) Swami Vivekananda Shami Bibekanondo - Hindu monk and social reformer
4) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - founder of ISKCON
5) Paramahansa Yogananda Pôromôhongsho Joganondo - monk and exponent of Kriya Yoga
6) Sri Anandamoyi Ma, - Spiritual teacher and Guru
7) Baba Lokenath Brahmachari - Hindu saint and philosopher
Scientists & Engineers
1) Amar Bose - Inventor, founder of Bose Corporation
2) Jagdish Chandra Bose Physicist, radio and wireless transmittion pioneer, invented the radio before Marconi. Also did substantial work on botany.
3) Satyendra Nath Bose Physicist, founded Bose–Einstein statistics, which helped to produce Bose-Einstein condensate (2001 Nobel Prize in Physics was given for this discovery); Boson, a study of Elementary particle, is named to honor him
4) Subhash Mukhopadhyay - Physicist: became the first physician in India and second in the world to perform the In vitro fertilization
5) Prafulla Chandra Roy bn:প্রফুল্ল চন্দ্র রায়- Pioneer in the field of pharmaceutical and chemical works (discovered mercurous nitrite)
Writers
1) Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (1894-1950) - novelist
2) Manik Bandopadhyay (1908-1956) - novelist, short story writer
3) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894) - novelist, essayist
4) Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1876-1938) - novelist
5) Michael Madhusudan Dutt (1824-1873) - poet, dramatist
6) Sunil Gangopadhyay (b. 1934) - poet, novelist
7) Amitav Ghosh - novelist, essayist
8) Jhumpa Lahiri - novelist, short story writer
9) Arundhati Roy - novelist, essayist
10) Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) - poet, novelist, essayist Rabindranath Tagore is the first Asian Nobel laureate
Friday, November 21, 2008
Reservation
Trouble is the private sector has all the ability and wisdom to improve the lot of the reserved classes. But they are not applying it and now the PMO has even given them such an opportunity to avoid legislation
They will give peon’s job …how will they evolve? Their evolution lies in literacy, quality education, but the government will skirt it, because educating these people will liberate them and take away the votes. I was hoping atleast the private sector will think differently, and instead of jobs, they will offer to invest their surpluses to create educational opportunities.
Their should be meritocracy, why should your birth status give you privileges? And despite all the benefits they demand, they don’t want a level playing field at all! I would imagine if one generation gets benefits of reservation, then their next generation should be de-reserved, yes? But no! They continue to wear caste badge and claim preferential treatment! And let’s face it, the reservation ploy is not going to create abundance or economic equality for the minorities ….it is abused by some to concentrate wealth and usurp power.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Tolerance
Friday, July 13, 2007
Recruitment is defined as the process of identifying the prospective employees, stimulating and encouraging them to apply for a particular job or jobs in the organization. While selection comes after that if the candidates are found suitable in the respective positions applied.
It is quite fashionable nowadays to say that there is lack of talented people. Big icons like Narayana Murthy said that 80 % of the graduates passing out are not eligible for jobs. They say that there is no updating of syllabi and all sort of things. But I believe that the problem lies in the identification of talented people. I believe that they recruit wrong people (for whatever reasons) and then they pass such comments.
I will state the following things that happened during our campus recruitment in our PGDM course.
In colleges due to huge numbers applying for a particular job, the first round to eliminate is of GD. They are supposed to find out people who are aggressive (for sales), see their communication skills and attitudes etc. But is it what happens during GD! Not once but nearly 4-5 times it happened that the person who has not opened their mouth are asked by the observer to conclude the GD and in the end they are selected in the GD. IS IT FAIR??
We are told that during GD we should not be stopping others from speaking by abruptly stopping them or not giving them chance. I attended nearly 15 GDs and still I could not make out on what basis they select. Some speak continuously disturbing others, shouting and some even don’t open their mouth or hardly speak once or twice and they are selected. Then how can you make out what to do in a GD. IS IT FAIR??
Some also conduct written test but they hardly declare the cut off and even some are selected without writing the test. Some even fail in the test but as the requirement has to be fulfilled they are also called for interview. Then what is the point in taking the test. IS IT FAIR?? ( I forgot the name of company but it was a reputed company)
Then coming to the Personal Interview, it is even more frustrating. I believe that I had seen enough nonsense. One person’s resume was not selected. He did not even attend the GD. But he asked some questions that impressed the interviewers and he was called for PI and was selected. Then what was the basis of rejecting his CV initially. What about the so called GD. IS IT FAIR??(The company was RPG Spencer)
Another company Eurotech (a furniture company) was mind blowing. There were about 30 persons for the selection round. They called five people at a time and then described about their company, told us what were the company doing, their business operation, and job profile and in the end asked if there were any questions. After all were told about the company I was shocked that some students were rejected. I could not understand that without interview only telling them about the company the decision of rejection was made. IS IT FAIR??
Then there were place preferences like knowledge of local knowledge and local area. I do understand that for sales it is necessary. But the problem lies with the recruiter. They tell that all can apply. But they reject non-local candidates. One company (Reliance communications) came for recruitment. I asked the recruiter whether knowledge of local language is necessary. They straight forward said no. After the GD when I went for the PI they said that the placement is in Kerala and the job was of recruitment, and hence knowledge of local language was necessary. Then they could have said at the beginning but they don’t. It is frustrating to go through all the process and tension and to hear that due to useless reasons one is not selected. And then there is preference for lady candidates. I hope I don’t have to elaborate on this. IS IT FAIR??
Then after selection there are many formalities that they don’t tell at the time of giving offer letter. Indiabulls recruited some students but at the point of joining they were told that they have to clear some examinations otherwise they will not be allowed to work further in the company. They could have told this so that they can have taken the necessary preparation. And also (ICICIPru) they recruited people for some profile and during joining students were given different profiles then what was promised. Naukri came for position in Mumbai but later the posting was made in Bangalore. IS IT FAIR??
It is only a part of the things that has happened. Many more such things happened. Their main job is to fill the vacancies. Then after that, passing comments that 80% of students passing out are not suitable for job is totally unjustified. N. Murthy and others have reached a position when their sayings get great publicity and are believed upon. But it is not so and if the recruitment is made in a proper way then such complaints will go and also the attrition rate will come down drastically.
So these people instead of passing comments which are morally discouraging for the students they should take care that the recruitment and selection process are to the best standards, so that the problems are resolved.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Sometimes it happens that we are in a perplexed state as to which one to follow the heart or the brain. I am also not able to make up as which is the best option. In some cases it happens that following the call of mind is best because you tend to make logical decision and you don’t take it in your heart if there are negative results. But in some other cases you feel that you don’t think about the results; you feel like doing it and you go ahead and do it.
I feel that in cases relating to your personal life per say your inner feelings it is better if you go for the call of your heart. This you give you sometimes happiness and sometimes dejection but at least you will have no regrets. But in case of some materialistic needs it’s wise to go for what your mind says. Suppose you love somebody then just go ahead and tell. He/she may accept your proposal or reject it or sometimes will not say anything. But atleast you will be relaxed that you have said what you feel. In this case you can follow the mind also. You can make relations taking the future aspects, talk what needs to tb told etc but here you will not feel mental satisfaction as you will not be doing what you want to do.
In other case if you have Rs 100 to spend on something you may either spend it or save it. If you have a strong desire to spend it just go ahead and spend it. Don’t think what you will have in the future. Enjoy that moment. Otherwise you may think of the future and save then save until you find that the time to spend has passed away and there is no thing left to spend upon. If you spent then also you may have less money in the future, but atleast you have enjoyed that particular moment.
If God has sent you here, He has a purpose. You are playing a role here. Till you finish your role all the resources will be provided by Him. You don’t need to think about it. There is a saying in Bengali which goes like this-“Whoever has sent you on this earth will provide you with food and security”. One way or the other you will get all that you want. You need not worry on these aspects. JUST GO AND DO WHAT YOU WANT. But in all this cases do remember not to heart others feelings.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The best days of a man's life is his childhood
The best days of a man's love life is his schooldays(adolescence)
Many things bring a smile to our lips, when u think about them,
But universally the one thing that always makes u blush is ur first love,
The first love, in every one life's is something so special
when u think of school days, especially ur 11th/12th/ junior college, it reminds u of those
giggles, those blushings, those so so so special moments
oh how gr8 was it then if u could jus get a glimpse of ur crush
or u wud have been in cloud 9 if she had asked u a pen or maybe she said an excuse me
School crush is a very sweet and simple and innocent crush
So many small things like lookin at the corner of ur eyes, or even smiling seemed to make us happy
How very special was it, when he actually proposed over the phone,
or when she said yes, smiling shyly at u
wow u wud hav felt like dying right there
At an age so tender, so innocent, simple things made us so happy and so excited
But now, in our twenties and thirties we are so confused and unsatisfied with life
A few years back, such small things made us so happy, a kiss seemed like the biggest
thing that u ever wanted...and now we don’t even care about the peck on our cheek
growing up, facing the world has hit us so hard....
losing innocence,,, and workin so hard has taken the charm out of our life
but atleast sweet memories of those special days still brings us a tinge of happiness॥
SCHOOL LOVE....So Simple...So Special...........
Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Before the beginning, the Brahman (absolute reality) was one and non-dual. It thought, "I am only one -- may I become many." This caused a vibration which eventually became sound, and this sound was Om. Creation itself was set in motion by the vibration of Om. The closest approach to Brahman is that first sound, Om. Thus, this sacred symbol has become emblematic of Brahman just as images are emblematic of material objects.
The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of Om is also called Pranava, meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath. Om also represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in Om (AUM) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds Om represents the "Turiya" state.
Because the first of the three states of consciousness is the waking state, it is represented by the sound "A" pronounced like "A" in accounting. Because the dream state of consciousness lies between the waking and the deep sleep states, it is represented by the letter "U" which lies between the "A" and "M". This "U" is pronounced like the "U" in would. The last state of consciousness is the deep sleep state and is represented by "M" pronounced as in "sum". This closes the pronunciation of Om just as deep sleep is the final stage of the mind at rest. Whenever Om is recited in succession there is an inevitable period of silence between two successive Oms. This silence represents the "fourth state" known as "Turiya" which is the state of perfect bliss when the individual self recognizes his identity with the supreme.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Today people are celebrating Valentine’s Day, so it’s appropriate to write on this issue today.
Valentine’s Day …Why? People say to celebrate love and express love. I feel that it is absurd. No, not Valentine’s Day; I am not against it. But by the way in which everything is reduced to materialism and concentrated on a particular day. I feel it is absurd by the day MNCs are dictating our lives. Now MNCs will tell us what and when to do. To wish our fiancée we need a Valentine’s Day. To wish our father that we care for you, we need a Father’s Day; to tell our mother how much we love her, we again need Mother’s Day; for friends Friendship Day and so on. Each and every occasion is being reduced to a day. Do we need such days to express our feelings? Then we are force feed that it is better if we do it with roses, cards, gifts etc. A MARKETING GIMMICK!
Another point is that, in the end where are we heading to! Making boyfriends, girlfriends is more of a peer group pressure than a matter of heart (my experience, no research to prove). Living together and ‘enjoying’ is becoming a fashion. I have seen people committed for 5 years and still they are dating others. They say it is ‘filling the gap’. Girls are losing their virginity, they say ‘entertainment, modern, stress reducing’ and what not. Men are passing comments on every passing women, dating multiple ‘friends’ but in the end they are marrying whom their mamma selects. And he also burns her if he gets fewer dowries. Are we modern? Are we going towards materialistic society? Where are we heading to???
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Jessica Lal case, Matto case, Tehelka episode are all some good (rare) things that media has contributed towards society. 1st congrats to them. But I feel that they have done more harm than good.
I will give three examples to illustrate my point-though there are plently of examples.
1) Suicide:- We all know that suicide among the youth is increasing. There are many conditions leading to this. But my point is that from where we come to know the various methods by which we can take our lives. In cinemas, in reality shows media shows us various ways in which we can kill ourselves. Hanging and burning ourselves are common but what about cutting our viens, etc. from where we got such information-from media offcourse.(recent example- movie Woh Lamhe)
2)Drinking:- This again I will contribute to media. Major parties in cinemas are shown where it is not complete without drinks. It is also shown that when you need to say some daring thing to your father or your girlfriend, you take a peg and you will be able to face it. Another is people say that they drink to drown their sorrow( but my dear friends "sorrow knows how to swim"). From where we know such things -again it is media. In some terrible tragedy or some betrayal heros go and drink leaving an impression that when you feel sad you need to drink.
3) Recent Godhra riots:- A particular man was shown with hands folded in all the major newspaper. The photo created such a huge storm. It was shown in such a way that people were going to kill him and he was pleading for mercy. But the real situation was that he pleaded with the photographers not to take photo of him. Such incidents provoke people.
Such incidents incite people into doing things that they perceive is right at that particular moment. Its high time media recognises their responsibility and act accordingly and not respond to the call of cheap publicity.
Friday, October 27, 2006
On the eve of Diwali I went to a circus show at Jamshedpur where I am staying at present for my project. In my childhood days I was more than eager to go and watch the boys, girls, the animals and off course the Joker performing in the show. As with children all over the world they were among the persons who were enjoying the most. They were laughing like anything when the joker was performing, and looking at astonishment when the boys were performing with fires and animals. The parents seeing their children in such joyous condition were much happier than the children internally.
But as I watched the show I could not enjoy as much as I would have if I were a child. As I looked at the little boys and girls, the joker (a short man), the animals performing, a strange feeling encircled me. I asked myself a question. Whether we are right in allowing the circus to continue? On one hand was their livelihood and our and the children’s right to entertainment and on the other hand was the exploitation of animals, young children and the joker who was laughed at more because of his short height. I was asking again to myself. Is it right to get entertained at the expense of others? Nobody would have come and performed like this in the stage if they got a better job, the joker was making fun of him and was making us laugh because he has to survive. Nobody would do such an act if it was not the case of ‘pappi pet’.
All through the show these questions were preventing me from enjoying the show. I am in a dilemma as to what is right or wrong, what is ethical and what is not. As the dogs, the hippopotamus, the camels, the elephants, the parrots, the monkeys, came on one by one it only showed how they were exploited. Their skins and body screamed with the torture they were facing. But at the same time if we stop going to such shows naturally these animals will be starved to death on account of low funds to feed them and if we go more, the profit will only be taken by the managers and the animals will only get less than what is necessary. If the animals are taken by the wildlife authorities and the people associated with it are rehabilitated which in case full rehabilitation is not possible because of different factors, one more question remains. Are’nt we discriminating against our child from preventing them from seeing the artists perform and all these forms of entertainment? Nowadays there is less open space for them to play, they are confined in flats with video games, TV, and the real form of entertainment that we had few years back is becoming extent. It will be sooner that these stories of us enjoying in a circus will find their way in the history books. The children are losing their touch with the nature and becoming more materialistic.
Yes, they can go to a wildlife resort and enjoy the beauty, but this is not possible for all; again due to various reasons. Even if they go it will be once in 2-3 years or even less. While circus happens every year and that too; in the same place where you are living they can atleast enjoy every year till they become grown ups.
But the million dollar question whether to allow the circus to continue still haunts me.
Monday, October 09, 2006
An interesting speech delivered by a CEO of a premier IT company in India during an employee session with another IT company in India. He is incidentally one of the top 50 influencial people in Asia according the latest Asiaweek publication. He is also the new IT advisor to the Thai Prime Minister.
Extract of Mr. Narayana Murthy's Speech during Mentor Session:
LOVE YOUR JOB, BUT NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR COMPANY BCOZ U NEVER KNOW WHEN COMPANY STOPS LOVING YOU - Narayana Murthy
I know people who work 12 hours a day, six days a week, or more. Some people do so because of a work emergency where the long hours are only temporary. Other people I know have put in these hours for years. I don't know if they are working all these hours, but I do know they are in the office this long.
Others put in long office hours because they are addicted to the workplace. Whatever the reason for putting in overtime, working long hours over the long term is harmful to the person and to the organization.
There are things manager can do to change this for everyone's benefit. Being in the office long hours, over long period of times, makes way for potential errors. My colleagues who are in the office long hours frequently make mistakes caused by fatigue. Correcting these mistakes requires their time as well as the time and energy of others.
I have seen people work Tuesday through Friday to correct mistakes made after 5PM on Monday. Another problem is that people who are in the office long hours are not pleasant company. They often complain about other people (who aren't working as hard); they are irritable, or cranky or even angry. Other people avoid them. Such behavior poses problems, where work goes much better when people work together instead of avoiding one another.
As Managers, there are things we can do to help people leave the office. First and foremost is to set the example and go home ourselves. I work with a manager who chides people for working long hours. His words quickly lose their meaning when he sends these chiding group emails with a time-stamp of 2am. Sunday. Second is to encourage people to put some balance in their lives.
For instance, here is a guideline I find helpful:
1) Wake up, eat a good breakfast and go to work.
2) Work hard and smart for eight or nine hours.
3) Go home.
4) Read the books/comics, watch a funny movie, dig in the dirt, play with your kids, etc.
5) Eat well and sleep well.
This called recreating. Doing Steps 1, 3, 4 and 5 enable 2. Working regular hours and recreating daily are simple concepts. They are hard for some of us because that requires 'personal change'. They are possible since we all have the power to choose to do them.
In considering the issue of overtime, I am reminded of my oldest son. When he was a toddler, if people were visiting the apartment, he would not fall asleep no matter how long the visit, and no matter what time of day it was. He would fight off sleep until the visitors left, It was as if he was afraid that he would miss something. Once our visitor's left, he would go to sleep. By this time, however, he was over tired and would scream half the night with nightmares. He, my wife and I, all paid the price for his fear of missing out.
Perhaps, some people put in such long hours because they dont want to miss anything when they leave the office. The trouble with this is that events will never stop happening. That is life. Things happen 24 hours a day. Allowing for little rest is not ultimately practical.
So, take a nap. Things will happen while you're asleep, but you will have the energy to catch up with you awake.
Hence, "LOVE YOUR JOB BUT NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR COMPANY".
Sunday, October 08, 2006
You often hear this. It gives a sense of pride as an Indian. It soothes our ears and inspires us to do many things. But the question is..... is this really possible? I don't think so. You may think that as an Indian I must not tell this. You may find me unpatriotic but this is what I call reality and reality bites hard. As far as my knowledge goes India cannot be a developed country by 2050 ....at this rate also.
India may be growing at the rate of 8-9% ....booming economy, increasing per capita income, recognition in the international space, etc.......But do this really count. As you know there are two sides of a coin and everybody tends to look at the better half. We go to classes in AC office, are in AC, live in good cities and parents give us all that we need but we hardly realise what it is to earn money. There are companies like Info. Wipro, ICICI, ONGC but how many companies are there......my first trip out of my home was in Kolkatta. It was a nice place ...malls, shops, multiplex etc. I lived there for 2 weeks or so. Then I went to bangalore..I don't have to explain...So many companies; all the riches are there. Then I came to Bubaneshwar, Hyderbad, and then to Cochin. All that was fine nice places to live in. At present I am in Jamshedpur. It is maintained by the Tatas it is a fantastic city...But is it the whole of India?.....no never it cannot be if you come out of your Ac cars and rooms and visit the villages..
Today I went for a ride with my friend to Purulia about 50-60 kms from Jamshedpur. What I saw there really shoked me. I have seen many places but I have not seen places like this. In India there is a reality that the languages changes in every 50 kms and there is a vast difference if you move out from your cities. The people living there are so poor. They live in mud houses, houses made of mud only...only mud and nothing else. Women cover their bodies by only a saree. Kids are lying here and there like .............I cannot describe. Even the roads and all this will take a long time to become developed. The Tatas have done a good job. But how many companies are doing this. We cannot blame the Government alone. It cannot do that much as we expect it to do. We as an individual must try every grain that we can sow. Every individual must contribute..
If you want to see the real; face of India then move out of Info. Wipro and your AC rooms.....India has a lot more to go before it can be called a developed country .......till then hope and work for the future....
Friday, October 06, 2006
1)Roll up your sleeves and help.
2)Be a safety net for your team.
3)The silent benefactor. ----When he helped someone, he never ever breathed a word about it to anyone else.
4)Dream big but dream with your eyes open.
5)Money is not a product by itself, it is a by-product, so don't chase it
Though he was not from IIM or SCMS till he managed to build such a vast empire due to this qualities that he had possesed. If we see our lifes we will find that hardly we can find this traits among ourselves or among our friends or those nearby us. we are the future of India....are we really??
If so then atleast we must find one of these traits. The whole future is ours. The next generation is looking at us and what we are teaching them. Corruption...(though it was there for a long time), jeleousness, hatred, selffishnes........etc name any bad thing we will find ourselves surrounded by it. Is it what the future managers of tommorow do? We must each ask this question to ourselves then only we can improve....and one more thing never blame others for whatever that has happened to your lives. If you think of the past only then you will remain in the past. Think about the future ......the good and free one and you will be there and you will find us, and the nation sorrounding you.
