Frenzy-Bed, bath, beyond

The amount of workload that piles up with a new born in your house is phenomenal.Right from the mental workload of what to do, how to do, when to do and where to do along with who will do is a big challenge.The baby cries and the entire family runs in to figure out all the above.The procedures to be adopted to wrap the baby , clean it up, feed it, the holding techniques etc simply emerge in front of you and you along with your instincts and the new training you have received after a span of 15-20 years maybe since one might have handled a baby, is mind boggling.The sheer amount of laundry that the washing machine has to handle is like asking it to run a double shift.Then to dry the laundry one needs to order additional clothe hangars.The food and the strict diet regime for the mother in particular is a test.The grandma in particular is like a robot, programmed to execute the functions as if it were a multitasking contest which one has to graduate with honours.The other members of the family for example the grandpa apart from figuring out that he has added years to his life, is trying to figure out how he fits in as a TOY to entertain the little one with maximum gimmicks.He gets tossed around in this frenzy along with his daughter or son( the babies aunt or uncle) in the process.The best part is when one finds out the gibberish talk one needs to do with the newborn to which it responds and then falls a sleep is fantastic.I for one, rattle down the newspaper headlines and TV breaking news to the baby and surprisingly it keeps looking at me and smiles.I wonder what goes on in that small brain that must be processing information at the speed of sound maybe or more.Must be saying , hey grandpa, why bore me with all this news that drives all of you nuts.So the baby decides to sleep.What a strategy.!!

The aunt or uncle is confused and is busy wassapping and FB addicted announcing the good news to the world with snaps being posted and news travelling faster than the speed of light.The comments that come are" how cute!!! and "Awwww!!!""etc.....The smarter ones just say "hey, when is the party?The elders start comparing the little one with"I think it looks like its dad"!!remarks.The social network is abuzz with likes and comments.The journey from the hospital to the place of residence is another task as if it were a mission to the moon.The preparation time, the degree of preparation, the state of the transport vehicle, the captain of the ship,and the navigator who will spot the other traffic companions and the signals and bumps.Then the arrival formalities loaded with traditions and beliefs, followed by the acclimatization of the new born to the surroundings.The barricades and the bunkers are erected to ensure the baby is safe in a shell/cocoon.The room is fumigated and every nook and corner tapered off to ensure no obstacles lie on the floor.The curtains and the shears optimised to ensure the right amount of luminance.The room heaters , lights all tuned to give the right temperatures.The bath area cleansed and readied like a war room.The next door grocer and chemist, is doing booming business with toilet rolls, disinfectants, medications,in plenty being sent across to one household in the vicinity .The maids and special masseurs and nannies suddenly are the most sought after persons of the decade.The outdoor and indoor duties are to be distributed to avoid unnecessary stress and strain on a particular person and inspite of that the amount of work the granny in particular does is huge.The way she snores at night  is enough evidence.

All this and more makes one wonder ,how much of management we actually do even if you are not a qualified MBA ,managing the logistics, the marketing, the materials, the personnel and time.One baby changes the entire surrounding  and your world.

Cactus

The prickly issue of the current Indian Diplomat, and the treatment meted out to her is such an insult to all Indians, that we feel ashamed to even call our self self respecting Indians with a population of 1.2 billion people and one of the large democracies in this world.

So many debates, disputes splashed across newspapers, TV channels and literally even rational anchors getting emotionally disturbed while conducting the debate can make any Indian spectator feel patriotic and angry.The countries ,around us already treat us like dirt.China walks in and treads on our  territory at will and make atrocious claims, refuses visa or gives visa on seperate papers instead of the passport, arrest 3-5 people from our own territory and needle us at will.Yet we sit and watch like dummies,keep requesting and pleading and ignoring the signs till such a time comes where anybody stands up and slaps us Indians.Is this what we deserve?Pakistan, a piddly nation, a breakaway state from India( the biggest mistake ever made by our own people),sends terrorist across our LOC and slaughter our army personnel and we meet their PM shaking hands????The 26/11 is a glaring example, where for years post the event we still are sending evidences( ridiculous)to the other side asking them to admit their hand in the attacks.They keep refusing bluntly and we do the Indian bobbing  and nodding like a puppet on a string.Shame on all of us!!!!

Why can't we do the same airport checks for ex-American presidents visiting us as they did for Dr Abdul Kalam at the US airports and then state that there was a mistaken identity or lack of coordination between internal security agencies( which anyway is common in India).Can a prominent Hollywood actor be kept waiting in the Indian immigration with no fan,no access to telephone, no chair to sit and only be bombarded with questions asking him to prove his identity or reason for his visit.As we have some minority communities who are always treated with suspicion,why don't we treat some surnames with the same contempt when they visit us from the western countries.

Our govt.officials in high places too are so lame that the entire countries image has gone for a toss and we are treated worse than criminals.Pull out all the diplomats of those countries who don't treat us with respect and treat them the same way as our people are ,and immediately without delay.We need to make our presence felt.They need us to boost their economy and they need our population to grow on.If we withdraw all the key positions from USA represented by Indians as a diktat, they will suffer for sure.Give them back and make them realize that we don't take things lying low.Its high time.Today its the limit of counselor privileges and immunity definitions being violated and then hypothetically , lets assume we get an apology that turns up every politicians ego.But,what about the victim who goes through this?We have a piddly country like TOGO kicking our butt.Sad.I am appalled and feel humiliated.When will we ever stand up and show the world enough is enough.Lets be the cactus and prick others where required and not be at the receiving end at all times.

First cry

What an experience it is for the new born,especially the mother who is stepping into a big challenge in one of the most beautiful phases of life.

However what one sees is the list of endless "to do  and not to do things" on the never ending agenda coming from generations of experience and all nooks and corners of the country.The people around you locally seem more excited to share their knowledge and information stating what use to take place and what they consider best for the new born .This dates back from 1940's onward and depending on who and which part of the country and which religion or caste one belongs, the suggestions keep pouring in at intervals.If you have an inter-caste marriage then we have the north -south or east west cultures conflicting at times.The statements you get to hear are somewhat like"when i was pregnant, my mother and grandma did this................".The others come from the yester generation aunts and friends a like.The latest coming from well read e-savvy youngsters and mothers to be who get enough dope from the net and if they were to merge this information as what to do for a healthy baby etc , the new mother to be would possibly call it quits.Every phone call you receive , one gets to hear a string of things and lists shared , irrespective of wether you want it or not.Some of them go to such details that your head starts spinning and you go in a tizzy forgetting the most important task on hand.

I wonder, what about kids who are born in the western countries,what about those from china and south east Asia, what about those under privileged ones who cannot even afford the basic luxuries of a simple clean delivery.I have seen construction workers, daily wage earners who deliver kids and are moving half naked in the blistering cold, or beating the hot sun, with no footwear and braving the rains and dirt on the streets.These same people grow up to be strong ,more immune working class laborers who withstand all types of situations and survive.We on the other hand , give tons of medication, Ayurveda, nuts and steroids and take extra care of handling the infant and the mother since conception.Our kids inspite of all this are likely to catch a cold, fall ill, get fever etc with small changes in the weather.Ironic isn't it.And of course, give suggestions which i am not against, but don't confuse the poor mother to be.She gets paranoid at the list of things thrown at her, without considering her state of mind when multiple signals sent to her tiny brain from 100 other creative minds, will create panic.

So please , all well wishers and relatives and friends of new mothers to be, keep in mind the above and make life simple.

Foli-age

Its such a bliss to be close to nature.The greens , the fresh and soft foliage, the dewdrops that slide down the leaves and the changing colours that are a visual treat from the early days to its last.

If we talk to these plants, nurture them,care and shower love , put some music and see them respond, gauge their emotions which they express non verbally, its a treat.The seeding days, the first sprouts, the green sapling, the budding leaves, the first branches and then the floral tribute.Some lucky ones bear the fruit of their efforts and make us all happy.They need to be taken care of the same way as we take care of our young ones.This can be a small terrace garden,a sit out or a major garden.Walk in a botanical garden and just experience the smell of pine wood, the beautiful orchids, the cascading red velvets, the crowning sunflowers, the blood red roses, the palms, the cycas and so many more.

The gardener who takes care of them treats it so passionately that they respond back and show the results.The children playing nearby should be taught to respect and treat the plants the same way as they would treat their best friends.Not to destroy, pluck flowers or trample them,but treat them with care.If we walk on the grass to improve our health, treat the same grass also with respect.The turf is thick and has a bounce that triggers your health nodes.Similarly if one imagines that the grass too must be seeking some positive value addition from us rather than just be trampled upon, it would feel so elated.As we need a hairdo , so do the plants .The trimming and shaping is as good as the trainer visiting the garden to shape the plants up and give them a new look.The way they bounce back is amazing.

Eventually being close to nature and the jungles is far better than being surrounded by the concrete jungle that chokes us .The foliage releases loads of oxygen and brightens up our days.Little do we realize the importance of all this in our day to day life ,and I suggest spend a few minutes of yours with nature and see how it De-stresses you.It will certainly charge up your mental parameters and you would experience the difference.

Page 3

The most sought after space in the newspaper.Everybody, a celebrity, a brand, an unknown face wanting to be known and just for hecks type personalities clamor to get their painted faces, sculpted bodies displayed and printed in this space.The matter is irrelevant.Be it a party a music concert , eating out and wardrobe malfunctions are all in the news here.

People go out to even give advertorials just assuming that audience loves to catch up with all those scoops and wild parties,The space that each one tries to gobble up, the angle at which is snap is taken, with whom it is taken all that matters to the snobbish society we live in.The dressing sense or nonsense is spread all over,crazy hats and spiritual thoughts of celebrities printed ,of which they may not even be aware of .The PR agencies however are on overdrive trying to ensure that the film fraternity is in the news even if it were he or she sneezing or catching a cold or holidaying on the beaches of Italy.

The newspaper too is trying to push this space and the photographer is considered a VVIP at all such functions just for that 2x1" snap.The real heroes, the real people who matter to the society and do good really don't care about this.Azim Premji of Wipro, Nararyan Murthy, Ratan Tata, don't hog space and neither doing the push sales.Yet their contribution is millions of miles more than these flimsy, superficial,phony mannequins,draped in atrocious dresses spoiling the culture and or blowing millions which could be of use to the BPL people in India.The film with the same title shows the gray shades and dark nights of the actual behind the scene page 3 activities.Who , how and why?This is what we clamor for and want to be considered the rich and the famous.Every one has a short memory and for you to be really acknowledged as some one you should be able to make space in their hearts and capture the mental share of individuals across ,even if it were not visual.I call the rest the Desperados.God be with them.

On the bun

9 months is the time period most ladies experience and is so unique to them that they would take great pride to narrate the same like a mystery unfolding.The emotions of the new parents to be is phenomenal.The initial days ,where confirmations and excitement are leading the emotional trail.Then various tests that certify that the process has initiated and things are on track.The eagerness to let know and not show the excitement is a big quandary.The superstitions on one side and the societal responsibility on the other keeps every one guessing till the time is considered right.Various religions have various traditions to perform before revealing the secret.

The new mom to be is now going through the phases of life which the males would never get a chance to do so.But believe me, the sheer delight and anxiety it leads you through to simply watch every move , daily or other wise is a roller coaster.Things keep happening, schedules change,diets are controlled, exercise begin, awareness increase, the sense of smell and alertness is at the zenith,and you feel bliss.The magic of almighty is something which has no words to describe.The Gynaecologist ,one needs to go around checking and finding out,preferably a female, experienced, one who is practical and not a commercial C-section industry.Then the hospital or nursing home you would want to select and keep in mind ,knowing fully well that as months close in one needs to fix and book them up.The blood tests and USG's definitely are a common routine and one needs to keep budgets ready .The Dad to be is balancing the work front and the daily new story that unfolds at home.The in laws and the girls parents start applying the logic they have been through and bring in the old school of thoughts whereas the Mom to be is busy with the latest trends on the Internet and literally keeps tab day wise and monitors it as much as a Doc.The over enthusiastic relatives are giving their share of dope of Do's and Dont's.The days pass and then shopping in anticipation for the little one to emerge is on Top of the list.The array of dresses and bibs, prams and nick knacks are mind blowing indeed.Speciality shops catering to these items are doing booming business.The URL for baby names to be shortlisted are scanned over and over again to find out all options just to be prepared.

The penultimate months arrive and the countdown begins.The climax is just round the corner.The frequent changes, sleepless nights, football kicks and synchronous swimming done by the little one in the womb is on the high.The response to stimulus is exhilarating.The songs, noises, pats and hums all add up to the memories that the child will bring into this world.It is such an experience for the other family members around that they too feel the BP fluctuations.

But I must say ,what the woman goes through this is simply great and hats off to all  mothers for going through this to bring the new life into this world.

Masters

Education,something every living being would love to do.Millions spend, millions to get there and stand head over heels to see that their child gets the best.At least for the sake of society they want to graduate from a reputed institute and carry that Tag life long with pride.Then one starts experiencing the truth and what lies beneath the skin or facade of the so called glamour institutes is exposed.

Big names, mostly political, crowd this education industry.Government approved and so on.The syllabus being the latest, the state of the art stuff being advertised and the rush to get the admissions there is phenomenal.The life time savings are at stake, or the bank sharks are waiting in the wings to offer attractive interest rates to get you there.We fall for that trap under the name of education and then realise what we get for it.

The infrastructure most of the times is pathetic.Cramped rooms, no fans, the tables and chairs have no ergonomics under consideration ,and that is the same place where management sciences are taught.The civil construction with leaking roofs at times makes us wonder if the same people teaching civil engineering in that class would ever approve of such quality.The corridors and lighting is just not proper in terms of intensity.The lifts if available may or may not work.The canteens are subcontracted and a health disaster.The add on monies that follow for trips and uniform and the works keep making a larger hole in your pocket.The parking stands are cluttered with 2 and 4 wheeled latest models given to their children by the rich parents.The books required and recommended based on the college management kickbacks are never available in the market.The professors are more drawn towards pleasing their superiors and outdoing their colleagues in the tussle for promotions than teach students.The students on the other hand trying to grapple at various ends start accepting the way of life and make their own way with minimum or sometimes no guidance.Big names, annual functions, overseas trips etc are money making machines for the institutes and if only they gave basic proper infrastructure and well qualified professors who have academic and practical views and experience the next gen will have a better perspective of life than blow the hard money of their parents the way it is today.No doubt people go to get them selves educated abroad.

Hope we master the art of education and churn out grads, post grads and doctors who can sense the health of the quality of education for future generations.

Survivors-In the wild

Nature and its beauty and there beyond lies the struggle called life.Amidst the beauty and grandeur laid down by almighty in the form of lush green Savannah's or ice cold Arctics ,be it the Deserts of Rajasthan or the depths of the Pacific,one sees the moment by moment spent by each life and its struggle to survive and experience the one time opportunity given by god.

Watching Nat geo on TV and the sheer depths they take you to makes you wonder how this struggles, challenge, adventure, fear and beyond exists together anywhere and in varying proportions for all, including mankind.The tiny worm,the caterpillar, the moth, the bird, the vulture, the wild cats and so on, the list is endless.Each trying to outwit the other.They not only are preying on something, somewhere , but also have the fear of being hunted themselves.

The seasons change, the fight to own space,grab food, protect the young ones and feed them,and fend the harsh winters or arid dry regions with no signs of water is simply mindblowing.At every step there is danger lurking down the corner.The lakes, the streams the rivers, the seas and the oceans , each have their own adventures and mystery's wrapped ,waiting to be unfolded as soon as the characters step in.When the conditions are adverse, how everyone tries to survive and the instincts sharpen up.They also use their hidden talents and explore unknown areas simply to live.A polar bear ,not finding snow due to the global meltdown created by man,struggles to find even a fish and a place that he would like to call, his HOME.The small birds , perched in the crevices of steep rocks , high above the sea level just to protect their young ones from predators.Do they have a phobia of heights?Do they fall sick?What about stress and strains going through all such situations day in and day out?We have medical assistance, do they?Who takes care of their cardiac issues if any?Who nurses their wounds?What about the plight of those parents who loose their young ones at an early stage to predators?So many questions??At every step of the life chain we have something happening.When a human being is expecting , we have a series of tests and trials, medications and medical aids with technology to take care of us.In the animal kingdom however, nothing of this kind exists.The beauty however is, they have lovely soft fur, beautiful eyes, chiseled body, agility to die for, speed, stamina and sight and vision that need no gymnasiums , no laser technology and or massage parlours.One wonders how this entire fabric is so well weaved and in place that nothing can ever match the beauty, the planning, the intricate detailing, the class, the mystery if it ever were to be made by mankind.No management school can deliver the speed, precision, accuracy, class and mastery that has been created by the one and only Almighty.

We should therefore not crib and live every moment keeping in mind,its wild out there.

The Matinee Show

Moving into a new residential complex and looking around to see what Luxury is all about ,one gets a weird feeling about what money really does to people.Some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, some work their way for the money, some have it passing down  through the generations and some hit a jackpot.The outcome can be seen by the way people flaunt their money.A new trend is emerging.

A quick glance at people around and you realise that money is no longer an urban domain.Its spread across smaller cities, due to rising agricultural incomes, land prices acquired by the rich and the famous to spend weekends away from the mad city chaos,and aspirations that are built up by electronic mediums that put the person from a hut to the global village.The biggest however in India as can be seen is Political clout and its dirty money.Any and every body from these classes hook them selves to this sphere as education is never a criteria, ample free time, willingness to be a hooligan, ready to be a yes man of some MLA or MP and do all his odd jobs.Then you start graduating into this space and start calling your self" DADA" which means elder brother ,but is construed as "BOSS".Even it reflects on the car registration number he uses ,which in English resembles 8055 in decent font.Then the use of white clothes make it cheaper to have a wardrobe and gives a license to do all the darkest of things.Tax is taboo and only cash speaks.Be it 1000 bucks or somethings in multiples of that.These are stashed around all over the huts and small tenements which never are on the radar of the IT officials as they are supposedly busy snooping around , religiously sincere tax paying middle class people.The white garments then start getting adorned with atrocious taste gold bracelets and neck chains which resemble more of the dog chain one wears.They love to show that off, except they may not show the trust and loyalty a canine usually  shows.

Then come the elections and the whole time goes in wandering around the city limits on petrol paid through black money hoarded by the biggies and/or looted from poor farmers.The income tax , service tax, wealth tax and any other is just not applicable to such people.They start the SUV boom and buy only white cars denoting peace and power and put the darkest sun films that exist on earth.Then comes the red small beacon and the mind gets corrupt.The disregard for etiquette's and civic sense is seen across and such people then start floating into the urban space.They not being exposed to any of the classy styles try to ape the same and end up making their abodes a gaudy film set and discotheques.The use of dark curtains the red and green lights in the living rooms, the balconies stacked with all that is unwanted and the upholstery in the cars show it all.Then comes the cleanliness and surroundings that you would like to enjoy especially in the evening when you come back from a long days work.What you see is, whats not yours in on the floor every where else except their own space.Even the elevators are not spared.The door entrances are like cages and are appropriate considering the kind of people within that space.The air stinks of  the money at every step.The language one speaks is raw to the core and they are chatting about setting up educational institutions that get them donations in tonnes.Imagine what will happen to the country with institutions run by people who themselves don't have a clue about it?The Gymnasiums see the bouncers....oops!! the Dada's walking around as if they own the common areas as well ,and go about hiring personal trainers to shape their dollops.The belly however keeps sagging with the money one accumulates and is considered signs of prosperity.The rural paradigm shift is good provided we also help them align to the urban environment .the gaps between the rich and poor is increasing and the ambiance and peace may get lost.Such people buy these spaces in cash outright whereas we end up burning 20 years of our prime life paying of interest taken from banks where the same people may be directors.

This is what the trend nowadays is and if it continues, we better watch out.

MJ(Moment of Joy)

The blockbuster in my life.The surprise package and the most awaited event of the lifetime.The feeling, the excitement,the progress and milestones, the monitoring and wait and watch moments are absolutely exhilarating.Its like consuming tonnes of red bulls together.

In every bodies life, almost, this phase comes and depending on the degree of involvement and passion , i guess we have our own experiential learning's . The transition in my daughters life and her reactions and expressions actually take you to a different level all together.It takes you back memory lane and sets you thinking,as to what and how you were when you went through a similar phase but at a different age.Now its a different view, role and anticipation.Times have changed.Emotions too.You have been through it and yet , its a mystery, suspense, action packed thriller waiting to unfold into the biggest blockbuster of your life .

I guess a few of you may have understood the context and few wondering, whats wrong with me.I am trying to emulate Alfred Hitchcock maybe.The next few days of my life are a major countdown towards bliss, happiness unlimited and joy.Its going to pep me and my entire family manifolds.There is so much to wait for and do and plan and execute .wow!!I have to apply all my management skills to ensure basics and fundamentals are bang on.

Almighty is taking me to the next step in my life and experience something that makes you feel simply wonderful.My wife and me would transit to the next generation and of course make me go salt and pepper on one side and a baby on the other.I would like to step into every possible step of transactional analysis and play every role to the fullest and unwind.I want to express my joy in a million different ways.On all fours, on my back with a roll, a skip, hop and jump and make the strangest of sounds that possibly only the new member would understand and may sound Greek and Latin to others.The gurgles, the purrs, the movements, the gaze, the grip, the kick all sounds like Taekwondo but in fact, are stages of development in the new member ,who will add so much of life to our lives, that time that use to fly ,will now be Mach 3

I couldn't hide my excitement, i was trying to put all my thoughts in this post and to be honest I am blank.All I can say is MJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ..............................(a very special meaning in our lives).God bless.
Waiting with open arms and hearts.Fill up the space with love and you will get it 5 times more.The story unfolds and will brighten up our moments in the new year.Watch the sequel.....coming soon in a life near you.

bruised

The word itself indicates a lot and one gets physically bruised , maybe due to an accident,a fall, in sports, a knock on the head and many other situations.Along with that however there are many cases where we get mentally bruised.Bruised due to ill effects, foul words,unpleasant circumstances and so on.In the first case one can apply a medication, bandage it or plaster it and maybe with some time period it heals.Almost.But........

What happens in case of a mental bruise?

It needs repairing from within.How many of us can overcome that?How easily or how tough is it?Is it completely curable or stays behind in the bylanes of the gray matter?May be in the subconscious, deeply rooted at times and creates havoc with our present and maybe in the future too!!How can one overcome this?How does one deal with such situations?Is it the inner strength, the willpower, the attitude, the approach to life?What are all these?Does every individual have them?If so in varying quantum , is it?Can they be strengthened?Through what?

We recall incidences so often,and they come back to us .Deja vu.Sometimes even when we don't want them they appear out of nowhere.People remind us of them and sometimes rub it in.These are things beyond our control.How then do we tackle these without letting it affect us?

1)Take time out and reflect over the episode that disturbs us.

2)What happened, what could have happened and how best could have things been better, if at all?

3)If that is looked in then one may select what to do next! You decide if you wish to linger over something that is not redeemable, or make a note of it an decide to move on, if there is a next time you are better prepared, and if there are ways to make that better, one must use these learnings to ensure we do make them better.

Once you decide, move on and keep looking and focussing on things that are happening and going to happen , rather than those that have happened.

Its that practice that definitely helps you heal your mental bruise.

H2O

The essence of life.Commonly termed Water.Never given importance unless the rains play havoc.They either create storms and floods or droughts that make people realise the value of a single droplet.

But watch the plants.How many of us really understand them?The street side ones grow by themselves and survive just like human begins and street side urchins .TheY deep root them selves and draw water from the deep.The ones in the gardens of affluent society are taken care of by gardeners.Others have no time to take care of themselves and may not value these plants much.

However, just try to water the garden, tend to the leaves and dress them up a bit and watch the way they are energised and invigorated.The sudden dull, dried , I give up look turn around 360 degrees, with just a few water droplets and revive like they were just born yesterday.When a small shower takes place the entire ambiance changes.The flowers bloom with the help of the sun rays and the water effect.The grass encompasses the dry plains and the trees have foliage as if to say " environment day begins".

The result is better oxygen for us, lush green surroundings amongst the concrete jungle and nature's beauty that make your life healthy.So value that single water droplet.Save water and use it wisely.Take care of your surroundings and the plants ,whether potted or grounded.They are your partners for life.

customer delight

This phrase is being tossed around all companies who are trying to be customer centric, evaluating each other and benchmarking against leading competitors, as to where they stand, quarter on quarter, year on year viz others.Sometimes we have astonishing results and many of them really don't know how they manage to get such high scores of satisfaction/delight.Others really strive towards excellence and they sustain.Kudos to these.In the retail sector especially in  India, and maybe other Asian countries one finds the following.The people selling a Porsche for example have never probably visited a star hotel or for that matter been associated with anything termed premium in his daily life.The potential buyer on the other hand, may be a suave , well attired, high flying global czar or just a plain clothes business man but with tons of money stashed  away and not knowing where to splurge.It is here where the litmus test starts.

If we don't gauge the potential correct, we had it.If we do gauge and don't offer him a star treatment we still had it.To give star treatment one should have at least experienced the star treatment ones self to offer the same.e g Dom Perignon champagne in the ELITE lounge, Mont Blanc exclusive Meisterstuck to sign the documents,a Rado or Omega round the wrist to show the exact time,and so on.Is this all necessary to keep the customer delighted.?If so, once he gets used to this treatment he will ask for more and you have to oblige!!If not your ratings plummet.If you give, your costs escalate.What a catch 22 indeed!!He may ultimately buy the product  or maybe not.The standard psychology of a salesman being, look at the mans attire, which pen he uses, which car he came in, which perfume he wears and what timepiece he has to show precious time.If he comes in any other attire,poof he is a sundry guy and one doesn't give him that importance.This is where we make our biggest mistake.Judgements.

It's no rocket science and neither do we have to bend , twist so much that we end up getting coiled up like a spring.Just offer the person coming over, the basic courtesies, satiate his ego,he is the most precious thing that ever happened to you and that exists in the world for that moment, and keep smiling.If your attitude is correct, and the approach is honest I think one can deliver delight at all steps.Be it branded jewellery to watches or cars.Don't look down upon the customer even if he is ignorant about your product or a first time buyer or even boasts of having used similar products and not really familiar with the usage.Be polite, take it in stride and make that experience the best ever he would have wanted.Keep things simple and you will find the biggest smile on the customers face.

Running thin

The culture one tries to create takes a long time and tons of efforts in the professional circuit.Its bringing in people from all religions, ,mindsets,upbringings, male and female together and focus their minds in the direction that would help the organisation set examples and best practices that become that culture.One makes processes adherence  a habit.Volumes of process and audits are carried out as if to train the people like circus animals at times.Actually the intent is to condition the mind and make the people involved in the system attuned to the working and service delivery so that there is  a pleasant experience internally and externally.

Then comes money and the mind gets warped.The intelligence given by god that is used in getting academic graduation and growing up starts working in a crooked manner suddenly.The warped mind then doesn't have patience  to wait 30 days to get his hard earned salary and looks out for quick ,easy  routes to generate it through avenues that start hurting the system.These are the termites of the organisation that burrow the organisation and make it a beehive if not detected in time.

Crime doesn't last long and the guilty are caught.Then comes the culture at the top management in treating the wrong doers.Loosing its cool and showing signs of cruelty and anger rubs of on all members of the organization indirectly.The morale, the motivation, the rhythm all go for a toss.The trust is breached and every one in the system then becomes suspect.The normal working day doesn't become interesting anymore.Even if one tries to push the system to go back to normalcy the cracks are evident.The culture fabric weaved has to be stitched, patched and worn again but without the original effect.How do the people who are innocent and sincerely adhering to the spirit of the culture created get back to normal business, if they witness such low standards of ethics and behaviour by the owners in treating the people who are at fault.

Crime is wrong but one must also know that dealing with the people who have wronged must be left to the enforcement officials, HR departments and done in a civilised way.If the treatment meted out to the wrongdoers where tempers fly high and physical treatment of the police kind given in the working premises itself is in my opinion uncultured.It sends out wrong signals, instills fear but sane people in the organisation find it difficult to align back because of what they have witnessed.I have witnessed such a sequence for the first time in 30 years of my professional life and pity the people who faulted and would certainly like them to be punished no doubt.But ,I never prescribe to the physical inhuman treatment given by the so called civilised Management to the employees within the premises.

Few seconds of greed as well as anger can lead to destruction of an entire system, and some ones personal life, self esteem, Honor and standing in the society at large.Earn money the hard way even though it may look insufficient in the mind,but momentarily greed that takes over makes you compromise your ethics and let down your colleagues and friends by your actions.Be aware, it can happen anywhere and anytime.

Power of Zero

The figure Zero can add so much to your life.Size Zero spruces up your fashion  quotient.Add a couple of zeros to your paycheck will lift your social standing,but the same Zero in your mark sheet and your self esteem crashes, your body temperature goes sub zero, the peer pressure go skyrocketing by many zeros and life goes on.

Just imagine the life of a person who earns 100 bucks a day and just manages to qualify as an above average below poverty line person.(BPL) as per sadistic government guidelines in India.Add a zero and he becomes a decent earning member for his family but his aspirations are unfulfilled and he starts chasing zeros.The more the zeros he adds to his income his life starts becoming full of zeros.He starts taking more stress, that spoils his health and work life balance,Thereafter he starts zeroing in on to targets and achievements and his peaceful sleep turns to Zero.His or her relations start getting strained and then its simply a zero world.

To be honest we all come into this world with a big Zero and then we add all zeros thinking that life would be better and that turns out to be the biggest error.If we live within our means and add only as much as we need then the zero sum game is well played and life is enjoyable.If not then we only add to our woes and will repent later.Size zeros which the ladies run after is also damaging though it adds fame and money but the health may go for a toss .God has given each individual an unique beauty within and we add zeros to that it will make our external presentation better each time.Climatic Zero and sub zero temperatures make us shiver ,add zeros and it make us feel as if we are getting cooked in an oven.While studying we get a zero and we are failures, we add zeros and we are excellent at academics , though not necessarily in life as you need to be excellent as a human being.Your expenses with every zero added makes a big zero in your wallet.

Know the power of zero and when and where to add or delete.This will help us all to enjoy the life to the maximum,

Lonely at the top

In life , we struggle, and however positive an outlook and attitude we may have , we still have to take major decisions for self, family, business and others.All this takes it toll and one may sense fatigue at times and you sit back to introspect , lots of thoughts flash across your mind.

Many a times you realise that you do share your thoughts,your actions you propose to take or consult your friend, wife or some one you trust or have faith in.In the professional network however you remain lonely at the top.The pressures mount by the day.The results and outcome is the benchmark of your success.You have to keep your cool and take rational decisions as you are the leader.The captain of the ship and you are to steer clear of all dangers that you may visualise or anticipate or some that are created to make things difficult for you.You are blitzing through cities and countries perhaps, using technology to the limits and discussing graphs and statistics that are mind boggling,% and fractions that sometimes make you hairline recede faster than the torrents of the high tide and low tide in the seas daily.The surf in the water becomes pepper and salt in terms of your hair and you age.Mentally and physically.Time doesn't stop for anyone and you cannot afford to miss out on any moment.

When these things are happening , its obvious you may  be able to share this grind or crunch or emotional state of mind with some one in the office space or professional space who could comfort you and help you unwind.This is true.Where does one get that outlet?Who should he /she choose?What kind of emotional outlet one expects?How fast can he/she unwind?One thing is a must that one needs to unwind and fast , cause if you don't the results may be dreadful in the years to come.

If one gets a companion in such times, who could give comfort, in the same space and be a friend, a sponge,a muscle relaxant,a stress buster,a fun quotient who adds zest to your life, even in the professional space,it  would in my opinion be the most sought after.It really helps you to change course, share some thoughts that make sense to the other person and connect at a different level mentally and perhaps physically.A bear hug, a warm handshake, an assuring pat on the shoulder, a flirty smile or remark,a quite coffee break or a simple drive make these stress levels disappear.This may not be possible in the home environment where one needs to switch over to a different tune.Explaining everything from scratch to any family member at home, is an ordeal and more over rewinding the episode itself is a disaster and stress builder than a buster.This applies for both sexes at work.If one can manage the equations well I say this is  a need of the hour.Practise it.

B-vision

Buzz, that's the Bee Vision I am talking about.What, you may wonder and it again came out of the blues in my mind this morning.A bee happened to be flying too close around my airspace , possibly seeking a landing ground with so much of area to spare on my bald head.I was looking at how the bee with its multidimensional vision capabilities must be viewing the world, as it flies and hovers around different air spaces, seeing, smoke, sunlight, rain, colour, flowers, a swatter,a cow  and tons of pollen, everyday when it slogs more than us to collect HONEY.Human beings collect MONEY.Because they have a unidirectional vision.Money, money and more money.

On its head, a bee has two sensory antennae. It also has five eyes -- three simple eyes, or ocelli, and two compound eyes. The compound eyes are made of lots of small, repeating eye parts called ommatidia. In each compound eye, about 150 ommatidia specialise in seeing patterns. This allows bees to detect polarised light -- something human beings cannot do.See how much of value it all adds up to.It does sting you ,if there is a threat perception.But,so do we!!!

Humans have brains but they use it for many other purposes that they are not supposed to.If they were ever to experience the Bee Story, and look at life from the B-Vision, they might be able to add so much of value to life.Better results, better efficiency, better output and at the same time help the world to flower. In its lifetime, a drone which lives for 40-50 days collects 2.5gms to 40 gms or 1-1/2 teaspoonful of honey!!!!Look at the massive activity it does in that time.A very active life indeed.It lives it live with all the risks, has a multidimensional view of life and takes its chances.Can we too live like that and make every moment of life as interesting as the 1-1-1/2 teaspoonful of honey the bees collect?With an average lifespan of 70 years ,we humans can add sweetness worth 52kgs of honey.But because we run after money we get Diabetes instead.That is sweet too, only harmful.

B-vigilant, B-alert,B-conscious of your surrounding,B-smart, B-Yourself.

RHYTHM

This is a word that sets the tune of your life.Your ECG(  Electro Cardiogram)that makes your heart function in peaks and troughs, sets the rhythm for a healthy life.If it gets stressed then the troubles start and you feel the discomfort.You need a rhythm at every step of your life.I walk with my wife every morning on the track and we walk in a rhythm that unconsciously you tend to experience and its such a good beat that you feel the synergy.Its like two strokes are better than one.Firing on twin cylinders.Apply that to automobiles and you will realise what i mean.It misfires if out of tune and you have to rush to the mechanic who then sets it back.Who then is the mechanic of your life?YOU!!!

When you have to live life with your partner, you need to fine tune the rhythm.First check your pace, then your partners pace, see the tune and align accordingly.If that is set at all levels then you find the perfect match and music of life.Sound of Music Do-re-me.If not the orchestra of life does not perform a la Beethoven, but goes out of synch and creates a terrible sound.Such is the ruckus that not only you but the neighbourhood around you gets disturbed . That happens at work with your colleagues as well,and the harmony is lost.Keeping pace is one part , but having a rhythm is another.You set the tone, set the decibels and you will find work gets done at a very good pace.You Cruise in short.You talk to some one in a nice warm tone and pitch , you will find a similar response coming from the other side and work gets done quick.Some times you raise the pitch and the other person too then you have a blast.It rocks the peace, and quiet across and ends up resulting into nothing or a one sided decision that is thrust upon the others and may not be good for the times to come.

Rhythm at play and you find so many times Cricketers  in good form and smashing sixers out of the park or home runs and scoring goals in football.Suddenly they seem to be falling like nine pins and the people wonder , whats wrong.Ask the expert and he will say"Ah! he will get back into his form( rhythm)".So is the case in a dance as well.Synchronisation and agility, along with the music and speed ,delivers an awesome outcome.Upbringing of your family too, frequent changes may spoil the harmony at home but if we quickly change and align our footsteps we are back in the game.

So set your Rhythm, adjust, get in synch with life and enjoy.This is your life, only YOU can live it.

FIRE WITHIN

Juvenile cases in gang rape.The Indian mentality is so warped that we are getting worse by the day.We talk about changing the law and treating the rape cases on a fast track and deliver the punishment , so that it would be a deterrent to one and all and create a fear about engaging in such a heinous activity. But where does all this emerge from?What is the root cause?

Look at the circumstances under which we live here in India.The basic education to millions of kids is no where in sight.Upbringing and culture is so varied and diverse that it swings from conservative to ultra modern within 300km radius.The warped mindset starts there.To add to that certain religion and its hardliners add fuel to fire.The male folks, have every avenue to do what ever they want and with whom ever behind a veil.They can marry a few dozen times or have extra marital affairs, but when they find caste based romance or love they become Taliban's and create terror by honour killings and brutal results follow.The word SEX is a taboo.Talking to a girl may be a big no-no in some cases, and in some cases living in is also accepted.It depends on which layer of society you are basking in.North of India the night life reeks of all you can possibly think of and so is Mumbai and many other metros in varying proportions.In other cities , smaller or classified as B and C grade cities, these things happen on the sly.The television and its bad effects are seen here too.Sex comedy in movies and exposure to the Internet all adds up to the bottled up testosterone waiting to spurt out at the sight of the first victim.The topics seen and discussed and debated on the news is only murder, gang rapes and how cruel it has been.The so called crime scene episodes  further glorify it and make the poor victim and her kin embarrassed to no extent.Why can't we be more sensitive? Why do we not take collective responsibility to clean up this mess and better the mindset?Why start the stupid blame game that leads to nothing but delays and procrastinations at large.

The uneducated, jobless and the urchins who have plenty of time on hand and are exposed to all this filth are scavenging and look at the first victim their hands can fall on.Romantic couples(Youngsters) too, to escape from the clutter of urban life try to search for the silent, secret locations on the outskirts where they think they can get some peace and end up being raped and tortured.Why go to deserted mill compounds without proper escort?Knowing fully well what can happen if you don't take care, one must be equally responsible for ones self and ensure we take a calculated gamble in the worst case.The destiny decides our fate .But we could take extra care and efforts to ensure we do not let the innocent get harmed.Society and film fraternity should stop selling TRP's and counting crores on lousy films which are provocative and encourage this filth.They need to more accountable .What can the police also do?They are a pathetic sight when they have to own up every nonsense done by our politicos, swamis, murders, scams,kidnapping and rapes.Check his own house.He himself cannot fend for himself and his family what could he do for society at large?Why stretch him thin and use him like a rubber band that will crack .

gruff

The way people address the domestic helps or any person they consider below their social status, is really a pity.I sometimes wonder just because someone is less fortunate as of this instance and unable to get a better position in the so called pseudo society we live in , one should not treat the other with disrespect.Even if one has a point to make and that too a valid one , there are ways and means to put them across.On one hand we have the so called titles like "ben" and " bhai" which is used in Gujarat very commonly and stands for sister and brother respectively.On the other hand the attitude and the tone in addressing these so called low ranking persons is definitely a no-no.

I have noticed even with employees the behaviour the owners or senior staff has is kind off ," hey I own you and you do what ever i tell you to do!!" .The way it is assumed and the fact that its accepted by the people , one wonders ,"doesn't anyone have a self respect?".Giving bad words, using the foul language to the extent of making it a part of every breath you take, is obnoxious.People get cowed down with the show of these words alone ,imagine if it were to erupt into a physical show of strength.

God made one and all.Why not we speak to the people and give that respect they deserve.It takes patience as they may not have the capacity at present to view certain points the way we would.But, it ends up being a short conversation and doesn't hurt anyone.The work is done without the other person spewing venom in his mind and wishing the worst for us.The materialistic power that one accumulates actually starts this and all it needs is one jolt to bring him or her to the ground realities.One should remain humble always and treat everyone at par and see the outcome.Even a animal on the road deserves respect.Not to be kicked or stoned but guided to take the right path.Imagine yourself in that position and then!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Inspiron

A new word coined to inspire one and all through the facts of life which one must experience in their journey called LIFE.(Love, Inspiration,Fun, Energy).Take the positives only and see the rest as areas of improvement.Every step you take is a measure of your confidence.Just make sure that you don't leap of a cliff without the harness.What i am saying is ,when you walk you have a stride.Some times you casually stroll with short steps,many a times we just walk briskly but with the same small steps and on occasions, we take giant strides to catch up with something super urgent.This is exactly how we must take our decisions.Small one, stroll but take a step ahead.Big ones, start strolling, get a grip, build a pace and then stride or even jog depending on the time lines you have set for your self. Look ahead, look down to ensure no pot holes where you might trip.Even if you miss astride , never mind but synchronise the body and mind and you are back into stride.

The beauty of the heptathlon is we have straight stretches, bends, hurdles, pits, slush  and rough terrains to overcome in or journey.The fun is in getting inspired ,but experiencing those unique moments which each individual has his own.There cannot be any experience which is the same.

There are most of the times the typical questions clogging our minds"is this the right thing?Should i do it ?Is it fine now or later?what if?How?When?where?and we get into the muddle.The more we try to link these together , the more confusing it becomes.There is where we need a good starter.The best thing out of all this is give it a try and make it work.You will realise that most of the cases you can make it work.You need to apply a lot of common sense and have a self belief.In the school and college days every one encourages us to be excellent at academics and to be a great employee in the future by getting a super job.How many get encouraged to start their own businesses.?Are they all college drop outs that make it big in business?The Google, the twitters, the face books and Microsoft or even Ambani group for that matter all multi billion dollar businesses set up by the drop outs.They had the drive, the belief and the  will to hang in there that took them ahead .They employed the best of people who scored fantastic in academics and these same people worked their backsides off and generated these Billion dollar deals.10% people control 90% of the world business and riches.Learn from these people and take your step forward always.If they can do it , so can you.

Touched

How many times in life you feel touched? That sensitive emotional moment that brings tears of joy, happiness, and a bouquet of emotions that takes you down memory lane, creating nostalgia.Its happening in my life of late quite often.History repeats is what they say!I don't like repetitions , but recalling those splendid moments and the people involved, especially when they pop out of no where and appear in front of you on a social media circuit or in person or phone.That moment is something I would value for my life time.That I consider the biggest present of my future.

I got a connect from my college mate of the 80's who actually i haven't been in touch for over 3 decades .They were the 3 queens of my engineering days and today I got the connect of the 4th queen of hearts through a common link, who happens to be my wife's friend and staying miles away from where my college mate stays today.This connection came through a blog post i wrote yesterday and reading that her mother somehow managed to correlate it to this person about whom I wrote the post.The interesting part is this person is the sister of my college friend who again though we are on face book but haven't met for 3 decades!!Such an amazing world, what a moment.I also got a connect from one of my other colleagues who worked me in the gulf, and now settled in the USA with his family .Excellent human being,a Lebanese by origin and it was no nice of him to recall all those wonderful days and refresh them.Why these moments start of back to back is the question/.What relevance do they have in our lives?Why now?I have experienced things pretty similar occurring every decade of my life.As the posts get read across countries with no borders, including morocco, Israel, Poland, Venezuela,Turkey,Greece,and fiji I know the power of blogging and its consequences.I would utilize this space as best as I can.

The most stunning part comes now.It may be trivial for some, but for me this is priceless.I got a call from my close friend whose son graduated as an engineer and happened to be facing a series of interviews and group discussions for a well known MNC.To prepare for the same , my friend suggested that his son go through my blogs and catch hold of any thoughts, ideas, strategy he may feel that would be useful and approach the interviews.As i understand from him , he read all my blog posts and was certainly inspired and actually qualified for their recruitment .He was selected and will join this MNC .I don't wish to deprive the young lad of his efforts and engineering brilliance, but what touched me was his father's call( my close friend) who specifically called me to mention this to my wife and me was very touching.I am humbled.If these posts make even a small difference to any body's life and adds value , i would have contributed a little bit for making this world a better place.Such moments I would cherish for life.I was so moved yesterday , and the picture moves in front of my eyes as a slide show of life.

I like to express in words, the way I see life and wish to one day turn it into a book of sorts with simple steps that may help the young and old.

Ultimate sacrifice

Came across a  lady working in a bank and is about to retire in the next 6 months.Husband , expired  when he was just 22 years of age.Children well set , one in the armed forces and one an IT professional settled in the USA.Both married and settled.The lady of the house however is taking care of her in laws aged 90 years plus, one hard of hearing and the other restricted movements due to ageing.A care taker maid 365x24x7 at their service.A small tenement in a small city,and now will be having huge time on hand.

The lady has to restrict her diet and cook only bland , soft food that the in laws can digest.The moment she gets a chance to help her self with the food the colleagues bring she is all set to even take it home if need be just so that she has a change in her routine.

So technically , she has everything and yet restricts her self and her life every day she lives .Devoting all that for her in laws for over so many years and now when she stops working , she will face a huge question mark?That being , so much free time and yet unable to move anywhere due to the 90 plus dependents that pose the  restriction.

What does one do in such a case?One life you have to live.The present generation , though well set are not wanting to share the responsibility or see that their mother gets some space or a breath of fresh air.The in laws having lived 90 years plus still want to continue living in the same place/House for their friends and social connect etc etc.So you live, and don't allow the younger ones to live their life is it?Isn't this a catch 22 situation.?Are you born in this world just to suffer, silently or otherwise?Is it fair for this lady?What should the children do?Can they not lend a helping hand, find a better option and make her life a bit better.If one were to look back she could be a small % of mother Teresa with no Nobel prize.

People live long, its a part of destiny ,and not much can be done about it.But ,by being stubborn and blocking the way of living of their family members is not fair , i guess.You must not deprive the lady of the possibility of spending the next few years of her life post retirement in a way she would love to,and relax and enjoy , even if her in laws decide to complete a century and enter the books of world records, where this lady would never find a mention.The lady still manages to put a smile, tries to mingle with everyone and puts up a brave face.Hats off!!!

Spontaneous

Life is full of fun, ups and downs, it depends upon how one views it as well.I also, like many of you have been through the roller coaster,and got those thrilling and exciting moments.Edge of the seat moments and sheer goosebumps sliding down the rollers ,coasting away down sharply at good speeds.Yet , one realises that you are up and away on the next bend and curve, battling the G forces and wanting more thrills.

I get these kind of spontaneous moments so often and I have always  been a guy who has taken these decisions in life , literally spontaneously.Call its God's guidance, gut feel, leap of faith, walking into a Black hole,calculated risk taking and much more.To tell you the truth , I have been always lucky to have them all work in my favour.My Guru , gave me that confidence years ago.I posed a question in front of him when I was going to take a major leap in my career, going from a high end brand to an unknown entity, from a plush premises to a small dingy setup, from organised chaos to utter disaster that prevailed, from a metro to a small town where the big MNC had set up or intended to set up its operations.I had never ever carried out this work. I had no clue how I was to do all that.The expectations were high.My mother too was apprehensive and was not quite happy about me leaving a super premium Luxury car brand and stepping into the unknown trying to make a brand of it.But , that was the step I took and it turned out to be the best years of my life, professionally.Simply classic.It came with tons of efforts and hardships no doubt but gave me so much of confidence and I found that man can do what ever he wishes to do and has enormous capability given to him by almighty.He only has to believe in himself and he or she can do wonders.

I bought cars, property, and many materialistic things in my life on the spur of the moment.Every instance, I thanked god and asked him for his blessings at all times.Never did I fail to deliver.It took time in many cases but it happened.Be it switching jobs, getting admissions for my daughters even in mid term, having switched states and universities( mid term and delayed) and knowing fully well what it means to get such admissions in good schools and colleges.Never once did I have to pay donations.I came across instances where, having seen situations completely negative in front of me , i got the strength to still face up to it and turned it around.This was , probably a miracle,but it happened on more than 5-6 occasions and that cannot be a miracle only.This now i firmly know.I get a flash at any odd hour and i then make a note of it and start working towards it.I have shifted 10 jobs in 30 years, with 7 locations , one of them abroad as well , with no relatives etc to support.By god's grace , I am proud to say I am a self made man.What ever, i have earned is from real efforts and and not through  the easy money which people go for now a days.This money doesn't last.I have instances where my mother inspired me to do certain things, or my kids or wife mentioned something and I got it done, or I noticed something while walking on the street or even at midnight I have woken up and changed a decision( a major one) getting out of deep slumber.I treat these occasions like directions from almighty and go headlong into it ,without fearing the consequences.My family initially used to get worried , they faced their own situations because of my decisions, but they never cribbed.They supported me whole wholeheartedly.Its very important to have that support.specially from your wife and children.

What ever we are today is due to this spontaneity and I would suggest everyone, trust your guts, make a quick back of the envelope calculation, and go for it.Don't procrastinate.Just do it.Once in , take it to its logical conclusion.Don't make a U-turn.Never go back to the same place where you once leave.Keep walking.Live and enjoy that spontaneous moment and you will cherish it for life.This post too was spontaneous :)

Community love

As you age, you realise what you have missed all these years , especially struggling and making money and adding all the stress burdens to your body and overburdening it,there comes a time when better wisdom prevails on you.

I too went through that phase,had my stints with pleasure, leisure, hard work and stress build ups, health scares,and my share of wealth , both material as well as personal.Recently,I had an opportunity to spend time, real quality time with my brother , his family after many years.He is a doctor by profession and  way different in nature from me.We have our own strengths and areas of improvement and as years passed and we added salt and pepper to our intellectual territory, the head we really wizened up.This time around , I realized that we hit it of so well and could appreciate the finer aspects of life which we missed, all along .His affection and attention for details, his concern and care for my daughters who are grown up and cruising, his concern for the life after he retires from his profession next year and transits to a new ,quite place with his son,my nephew Akshay and his family.He never forgot to cater to my wishes, especially getting me the dollops of Chicken Biryani, inspite of he following a strict vegetarian meal  rituals for the holy month of  Shravan.It touched me a lot.It was one of my best visits to my hometown and I carried back memories,emotions, and got a whole lot of work done with the backing of my wife and kids.We had a moment where my daughters 2 wheeler stalled on the way back at midnight when we all were returning from a great party.It was an uphill task , literally as we had to drag the scooty up the hill with no help in sight.I had my car as well and ,without a second thought, my brother Rajan jumped out of the car and volunteered to push the vehicle up the slope.Inspite of my insistence that he drive the car , he refused and with all the stamina he has conserved even at 63,he trudged his way up the slope and I drove his family with hazard lights on ,closely.So many thoughts flashed my mind and I was uncomfortable.My health situations do restrict me pushing heavy loads, but here was a situation where , if i was alone, or had no other choice , what would I have done?You need family and your true well wishers to be around at times when you really need them.

I just stretched that imagination and wondered, how wonderful it would be if we could all stay as a small community together, in a small home of ours , where we could share thoughts, ideas, love, emotions, and moments that would probably never come again.Its the need of the hour.One can assist each other in times of need, emergencies, or just go on a holiday, share our concerns and give huge moral support.I plan to make that come true and hope my brother agrees to that.It would be great fun.One life and that's all that god has given us to experience these riches.If we squander these chances, they would never come again.We need to realize the enormous joy and delight it may give to one and all.Even staying in the same apartment, adjoining blocks, maybe even in the same house and make it a great HOME.

dumb charades

The game ,,,,,an intelligent one when played by the rules.

However, I see a lot of DUMB people trying to play that game in everyday life.When they speak, they make the things complex.Clarity, pitch, words, decibel all are askew.They are suppose to sell, over phone, across the table and end up muddling things so much that they come to the highest authority with that "DUMB" look and you know what has transpired.

I get so irate with these people who try to spoil and upset your mental calm and peace and try to make the iceberg a volcano.You can only go and bang your head against the wall and injure yourself and or boil and raise the blood pressure and get yourself to jump of a cliff.But.......................

Is communication that difficult?If a dumb expression communicates so much , do words complicate matters.I guess , its true.Silence speaks.Facial expressions give away a lot and more.Words however get into conflict, tangles,and quarrels.When the matters heat up, one can go into a shell and keep quite and yet express much more than the train of words , with irrelevant expressions and pauses messing up a simple situation.Fear of facing the consequences,spineless, zero accountability,limited scope of understanding and foolery all lead to disastrous results.

Words engage, egos bloat and clash of the Titans takes place.The BP rises and the words flow like an over flooded dam above the danger level mark and flood and destroy anything that comes in its way.Sometimes , as the river changes course, the subject matter also deviates and we have a long haul in sight.

Good to be quite and even if you know whats happening , give that dumbest expression that would make the world wonder and nominate you to the "BELIEVE IT OR NOT "archives.

Crab Club

The crab mentality.What a phrase!Its so apt in India and maybe similar to some extent in other countries ,but prevalent on a large scale here.(Self assessment).People stand up and claim many things about themselves.Self belief .But if they stand in front of a mirror, the mirror will crack out of sheer embarrassment.They have such inflated egos, misconceptions of self and float around as if they are the highest helium gas reserves in the universe.

When in an organisation, people serve for a few years, some have experience from elsewhere and join them, and some are freshers .When it comes to performance evaluations, result oriented individuals need not even speak as the outcome speaks for itself.The measures, process and a fair and logical evaluation done over 12 months with midterm reviews obviously set a clear trend about which direction ones career is progressing.Moreover , when in open forums you are asked"Who amongst you aspire to be a team lead or a Manager" and no one volunteers or expresses his desire then the options are clear.So when the time comes, the management takes a decision , obviously not in favour of the so called "helium family"which then immediately loose the gas .

The immediate reaction,"what does the management think, we don't exist?".Why should they elevate Mr."x" and "what will they do if I am not around?".No one is indispensable and that is clear.No organisation works because of a single individual.It's a team.You could rock the boat , not dream of sinking it.In fact I believe, shedding of dead wood makes the tree lighter, brighter and smart.Even the boat that anyone wishes to rock,becomes faster , leaner and having offloaded the excess baggage senses a new direction and a course.But crabs as we are, we won't allow the person elevated to have a smooth run and neither want self to move and add value.Just create the barriers and hurdles trying to make simple things complicated.That where the litmus test of the new  leader or Manager starts.

Its like putting all crabs in a Glass jar and watching them pull each other so no one reaches the top.
Sad but true.Such cheap and low mentality people should be put in boiling hot water and watch them go orange, when they can be clipped with clippers and juiced out with their so called phony shells and dumped in a garbage can.Taste not guaranteed, however.

Nostalgia

I have a certain experience which I want to share through this medium.It may be of interest to a few , and others may just want to ignore it .Its fine with me.

I was never a strong believer in Almighty till 1993 when I lost my beloved father.I felt that huge vacuum and the worst part being  staying in the Gulf and not been able to be with him during the time where I needed to be the most .Everything stood still.It was kind of a darkness that descended.He was a major source of strength and support to me .The only time I saw tears in his eyes were,when I was departing to the gulf in 1989 , my first overseas trip, into a place where I had no one, and was walking blindly into an arena hoping to create a future for me and my family.I had seen them ( my parents) go through the grind, selling butter on a bicycle and having spent years struggling to give us the right platform.He was so principled  and never budged from that ever.He said" Son, I have no idea about being abroad , and you are the first in the family to go there".take care and he hugged me.I tried to make my future there and wanted to get my parents overseas.Unfortunately that remained a distant dream.I tried every way possible, got the visa and then as destiny had its say, it didn't happen.
I was devastated.

At that time I met my Guru.I was told to set up an appointment with god every Sunday at 0430 hrs in the morning at the "MATH" which is the temple, where he had taken a Samadhi.The fact was, god doesn't want you to be with him 365x24x7, because he is always there with you , and we don't realise that.But when you go to him , make it at that day, a time and place where he would love to see you .Believe me, I could do that uninterrupted for 12 long years , every Sunday, even If I had to travel overnight, on bikes, in a rickshaw(auto), rains or not,and 22 kms from the place where I lived.Never once did I face any problem reaching him in time .That gave me enough resilience and determination to believe in my self and stand up for it.

Its his energy and intuitive powers that flow through when I blog.Trust me , all that I write is spontaneous, never more than 5 minutes and in one go.If the post is not to be there , it just doesn't finish.What i start , I finish.The words, the humour, the sincerity , the emotions all just flow through.
I cannot explain many a times how that happens, but I know its special.That people appreciate, like it , get inspired is my biggest happiness.

My dad's dreams may have come true by this .I know I miss him a lot and just wanted to pen it so that some where in space , he might get a chance to read it too.Love you dad.

Stealth

The word stealth...undetected, and lethal.Capable of huge potential to destruct or otherwise.High potential underutilized many a times.Be it an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle,a Bomber at high altitude or a WOMAN.

The lady is always underestimated and right from the time she gives birth to a child which itself is a phenomenal feat, the huge multitasking she does as a daughter, as a wife , as a working lady denotes the potent power she possess.Yet, we keep doubting this person, her capabilities and keep her away from giving her equal footing and level playing field in all spheres of life.

I am a ladies man!!Don't get me wrong, what I mean is I am in a minority in my house with all ladies around me.Having been through a lot in the past 5 decades of my  life, i must say I have enough insights on the Women power aspect.

The plus points to state a few:

Very emotional
Very sincere
Very good at multitasking
Excellent shoppers and good at keeping money aside for a rainy day as well .
High on energy and enthusiasm.
Mostly systematic and clean in their approach.
Can balance work and play and still have enough energy to keep everyone happy at home.
Know their way in the kitchen and manage to concoct reciepes that  are mind blowing.
Awesome at haggling and earn every bit of that margin back.

The areas of improvements as such:

The natures gift given by almighty is loaded with tons of chemicals to prevent the natures gifts like sun, breeze, dust,etc from not affecting them.
Time management is non existent in most cases
Traffic discipline and confidence is majorly missing.
I got habituated to the morning news because I got them at my desk faster than BBC world correspondent could get them, especially when you have a lot of ladies staff with you at work.
G O S S I P..........................eternal bliss.
CHATTER..........................Vodafone survives and profits from them.
There would be no colour without ladies............
MASTER OF FACADE .....works for many as they are very difficult to make out at times.More like a coconut....hard on the outside and soft ,sweet and cool inside.
Giving them a credit card may destabilize the fiscal budget
They tell a big story when you just need a bottom line!!!!
Remember the dates and times, anniversaries and birthdays and of course girlfriends and admirers of yours very well.....even if they are a decade old.
Get them at a dinner table in a group and you can feel as isolated as if you are stranded on an island in the midst of nowhere, unless you make them realize you are the only palm tree on that.
Bad at mathematics but remember shapes and sizes very well.
High on observation skills and can beat a radar hands down.
Nasal power too good.....smell alcohol and smoke at 10 feet away .....any ways of trying to beat it is a feeble attempt to show you are smart.....
Carry a mobile warehouse with them in their bags that can spill out 10000 things from the smallest clip to a pepperspray.

Wake up lady you  must realize how much you can do in this world.You have it in you and must not be a follower but lead the way.Be it space, or 20000 leagues under the sea, you can do what you think is MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

Inspiration

Hey , all you lovely guys and gals out there on the web.Its so heartening to see the readers spanning across 31 countries, viewing, reading, enjoying my posts that one feels elated and overjoyed.

I have been blogging for over 19 months and have @330 plus posts on various topics as they happen in real life.Some are spiritual, some realtime as they take place in my city. Some that you read and see on TV and press and some from experience.All these are spur of the moment spontaneous write ups and take me approximately 4-7 minutes to complete in one sitting.Its just plain flow of thoughts as they appear and need to be penned down immediately.

What I would like to get is comments, reactions, responses, feedback, critique and also am very eager to know who are those people behind these that give me the motivation to do more.If you really like these posts, let me know.People from Finland, Latvia, Venezuela, China, Oman,Japan,Russia are the ones that intrigue me.Its good to have friends and well wishers who can really motivate me and one fine day I wish to write a small book on these experiences as well as train, coach, mentor and guide the new generation .

Please be kind enough to join as members or give your candid feedback as regular readers about what you feel and express the same .

Thanks in anticipation.

I, ME, MYSELF

What a sequence.This is observed by us daily and such blokes who go about tom tomming and blowing their trumpet , however harsh and out of synch it may sound ,and take pride in underlining their so called achievements.

The look, the arrogance, the artificial aura and the air that suffocates are a sight to watch.Every second step they have the word "I",and on other occasions its "ME".Total narcissists.
What you wear , what you speak reeks of sheer arrogance and at times snobbishness.The whole world is holed up into the letters "I""ME""MYSELF".That is a blackhole.

What would happen if others were not there?Who would he or she go and trumpet around?Imagine if his parents wouldn't have bought this individual to this world,he wouldn't be there( What a relief it would have been!!).Then if he wasn't taught by teachers , he still wouldn't exist!And ofcourse what ever he does in life if he has no body to tell, he would be a big ZERO.They however don't realise this as they are blinded.Imagine when they suffer a big blow to there EGO's.They refuse to step back and grace fully accept defeat.They will always have their nose  in every situation and like to have a finger in every pie.Their sheer presence makes it obnoxious.They strut around like a peacock without feathers and grace.The way they argue or try and put forth their point of view which is foggy most of the times, is a joke.Lord Brahma, who is the creator of the universe, would also feel left out in their world as he would never feature in any of their creations ever.

WE and US will never exist in their dictionaries.Imagine living with a person like this as a life partner.It is as good as virtual existence.You are a non entity.I have seen such people dragging themselves under the shadows of these egoistic blokes and live for years.How do they survive and what life is that is anybody's guess.

Body walk

Such an interesting phrase...body language!!The body speaks and we must be able to pick up the clues.People call them selves experts and writes books and research on this topic.This is seen in every day life at home and work.The question is , how aware are we??Do we really notice this or just the butterflies in beautiful dresses that walk on stilts and reek of perfumes that attract attention.For the opposite sex may be the brawn, macho,handsome, 6 pack Hunk is all that matters.

I notice people who drag their feet and carry themselves around the place as if they have the worlds heaviest bell tied to their feet.The feet are at an angle of 30 degrees pointing inwards,maybe both or one of them ,especially the left for sure.The knees wobbly or rubbing against each other till they generate enough friction and possibly catch fire( The only spark in that personality , perhaps).Then we can really assess every inch and make statements which need not be personal but a critique in the sense that a change in that may elevate a personality of an individual and take him ahead much faster.

In interviews, the entry at the door, the posture, the composure, the energy , the confidence exuded by the eyes and the handshake that follows, the determination and sights set on the objective of the event is a fascinating study.Every person if one starts assessing at every encounter in his or her life , one can get a Phd in the same.

Step back and check the personality of the baby in a mothers womb by how hard it kicks and how frequently it kicks to assess the confidence and energy of the new arrival.Then how strongly it wails when it faces the new world out of the comfort zone ,how pleasing a smile it gives when he or she smiles in their sleep.How hard the grip is on the finger you give them.So much to decipher and so much to understand about a persona just by the body talk.

Then comes the first step, the run and then the ultimate rushhour:).Facial expressions, the twitches,the dimples,the fidgety nature, twiddling of thumbs,rubbing the nose, blinking of the eye and what not.Every step you keep revealing your state of mind and the basic nature.If understood by the opponent could make you loose the battle.If you take charge , you could recruit the best candidates even if the academic profile may not be excellent,win battles,lead organizations and becomes a star.

Interesting personascope that gives all away.....................

United States Of India(USI)

India...again at this rate if they continue to ape USA they are soon going to arrive at a destination called USI.In short going to US is by Auto, taxi, Bus or volvo, if not a train and or a plane.See how simple the govt.of India is making things for you.The travel to US was out of reach for many , but now slowly and steadily we will have a familiar terrain.29th state of Telangana, 4 more from UP,1 from Maharashtra and who knows Mumbai too??We have 5-6  in a row and counting.

Imagine we have a Presidential election across the nation for only 2-3 candidates that too after TV and public debates and taking their gloves off not literally which they might do!!.First they will have to learn english or chaste Hindi.Then to appeal to the minorities they will have to attend all their parties and learn their traditions,attend mass, without rubbing anyone on the wrong side.Thereafter they will get confused with languages, dialects,colour, caste and sub caste and wonder who to ask for a vote.Eventually it may have a good effect.The urban and educated voters will vote 100% and that will make the difference.We will not have Mc Babbars @12 rs but real voters who know ground reality.To educate the masses the Presidential candidates will ensure they will do all that it takes to get maximum people to vote and hence provide basic education for them, which is a  long pending promise..Then we will have governors-Ala Schwarzenegger with country made pistols though as in UP and Bihar instead of the AK 47 etc.Then we will see the states too coming out overwhelmingly to ensure they get the right candidates and hopefully we have a better representation.

We still have a long way to go to the 50 states( 21 short)....com'on guys there is a lot to do to break India into pieces.Go ahead.But don't lose hope , we in India can do anything.Jugaad as they call it in local lingo.1683 mother tongues!!!850 are in daily use and 21 languages are officially recognised by GOI.That may go up too.Whew!!

We are catching up and one day going to achieve this for sure.God bless India.Lets start painting the Presidential Palace white for a start.Who knows!!!Whats next>>>I am learning english and attending debates .Optimism at its peak.

Clean chit

The word clean has to be redefined as in India it seems to be given to the dirtiest of people, most corrupt, cruel, egoistic and adamant blokes.The cleanliness that comes from detergents and other chemicals I can understand but clean chits for scams, rapes, murder and illegal activities is atrocious.

Srini clean chit, R .bhaiya clean chit Rathod clean chit,IPL bookies clean chit................If that is already pre decided then why all that farce.This is annoying, insulting to every citizen of India and we are tolerating this nonsense.A tainted Rajyasabha MP goes to jail and gets reinstated to her initial position!!!!Are  we so seriously short of good members??

As sincere citizens we have to face the flak for many a things and go through the grind be it police, be it law, or even a simple transaction in a government office.Others can flout all rules and regulations and yet come out clean.!!

Morning headlines, TV breaking news and sick debates drive you mad and we wonder is that all that is that makes news??Throw out an honest IAS officer, kill a superintendent engineer working on a controversial project, or a principal who refuses to take responsibility for the death of 22 kids in a midday meal scheme.

My  India............i am ashamed to be a part of you.Everyday puts me back many years and I wonder this country with a fantastic cultural and historical background that runs into centuries is going to the dogs......................

City scapes-Pace off

Metro life, high pace, loads of money, tons of stress, false sense of security, High profile meetings and hobnobbing, high power snobbish culture and the muwaah, muwaah that go around in black dressed Armani or D&G party animals,high Octane night life upto the wee hours of the morning, 4 hours a day journey time, 11 hrs of work time,1 hour of breakfast, lunch and dinner if you get that time of course, and for a few 2-3 hours in airline security and lounges,1 hour on the internet ,and if there is time catch up with some sleep where ever.Work hard and party harder philosophy till the knee joints require replacement, the heart arteries require a cholesterol flush and the lungs a vacuuming to clear the smoke and tar.

Then you are jet setting and earning mileage points ,hoping to spend those with the family or upgrading your self to Business class from economy.The family time rarely comes because you are wedded to work, work and work.So you are hopping airports, drinking coffee and beer , skipping lunches and breakfast  to earn those brownie points or impress the boss. and in the process mess up your health.No time to jog, walk or relax.

Earning money is the sole objective, give the family and yourself what the peers and neighbours expect to see you in as a high flying executive working with a MNC devoting those precious moments for someone else and some other brand.By the time it tires you out and you are high on caffeine  and or booze in your blood stream that gives you insomnia and BP.You seldom realize, that it ends up putting you years back when it is time to enjoy.If you have taken a health cover , you are saved.If not, god be with you.When its time to enjoy your hard earned money your heart and feet don't allow you.Whats the point?

With electronic devices and social network you are on face times and g-talk and chat and wassup trying to touch base with the people who you love.They too start looking at you as a virtual Dad or mom and there is trouble brewing for sure.The crazy i-world is making people sit next to each other and busy looking at their phones every 30 seconds instead of having a nice chat face to face.

I stepped out of this 6 years ago and came into a smaller city giving up all this frivolous life and instead enjoying quality life with me and my family and friends in person, at my own pace and also keep in touch on the social networking and business networking sites expanding my horizons, learning all the time and relaxing in a hammock with an" Absolut" :).What a peace of mind.You can introspect, share , learn and absorb the beauty of nature and live life to the fullest with what you have rather than run after something that you will not have time to enjoy.

Think.........................apply...............shift gears and relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx..............................Its time!!!!!

Pschycological promotions

Games people play and make employees wedded to organizations for life.Of course that also depends on who gets conned and which section is gullible.This is a narration of how one can lift a persons mindset and make him feel superior within ,yet he doesn't want to see the game.

At the beginning of ones career, you sit with all your colleagues and face in one direction at par.This happens for a year or two as the expectations are less and one wants to prove more to his bosses.Then Boss is happy and says ,now you step out of the clutter and sit in the front row closer to his cabin and calls you a permanent employee with the so called perks.This goes on for a year plus and during the next appraisal you are declared as a senior executive now having spent 3-4 years in the organization and sensing the loyalty you are annoited.Hmm the feeling is great, yet you remain in the same place , except the business card changes or may be the name plate on the table where you sit.Year 5 you are moved 180degrees opposite to face your team and are designated team leader.Bravo.!!!2 more years of committed service.You now face your team and sit and feel different than the rest in the same surrounding mind you.

Year 6-8 you now can be groomed into an Asst.Manager and have been delinked from your team with a waist high partition made of wood that makes you feel important.This is just a cubicle , waist high with no extra features.Ahem!!!You have a table and 2 chairs exclusive maybe to cater to team meets and attend visitors.year 9-10 alas you become Dy.Manager and the name plate outside your cubicle changes.11-12 years and now you become a full fledged manager.The cabin is created but without a door.The partition goes full height.Maybe an AC thrown in!!.Now we move to the next levels.

The door arrives with the Senior Manager position and then we have the bells and whistles tossed in.

The real tests start hereafter and you join the politics and play up to your boss and his whims and fancies or stand upright and bear the consequences as the top of the Pyramid is narrow.The blood bath may take place or the smart guys maneuver their way up the walls and use all possible methods to go to the top.Is that worth the moves???God only knows!!

its TIME

"Time is the essence" , "Time is money"..........wow!! They all sound so good to hear.How many of us really understand the importance and of course respect time?

We keep people waiting be it a few minutes or hours!!If there is a time slot which you have allocated to someone, its your valuable time given by god in one lifetime which doesn't come back.Yet , people merrily come at will and give excuses sheepishly.Hate such people who don't see the watch and wall clocks inspite of having the best brands and number of them all over.The clocks may be running behind time, may have stalled and may be running ahead but seldom on time.Who cares??For seconds and minutes , we care a damn.Though that split second could change the course of your life.But till we don't  experience it , till such time all izzz well.Once you get the jolt, then one may change.There are many who still continue to stick to the same attitude and will never change.

If one wants to reach at a time "x" and knows that he needs 20 mins to reach that place, we still see them doing their last minute beauty touch ups, or calls and unwanted stuff 10-15 mins before the meeting time.Then when they land up late, blame it on traffic.No plan "b"!!!Knowing fully well that it is bound to hit heavy traffic we still don't give any buffer and keep committing the same errors.

At the time of birth, if the newborn says " hey, hang on , I will come 30 minutes behind schedule, imagine what happens to the mother to be, the family around stressed for 30 more minutes, doctors working 30 minutes more and so on.See how valuable time is?The time of death, frail and sick you are suffering from everything bad possible or on a ventilator and its still is far away from that "TIME"....THAT LAST SECOND.....THAT LAST GASP.......!!!!Keeping the ventilator on and which second to switch of is the matter of life and death,Only when we reach such a stage that we respond to minutes and seconds.

Wish we all understand the importance of the word T.I.M.E.,value it and respect the same.

Quack

The rate at which we have establishments and institutes springing up in India offering MBA ,medicine and Engineering degrees, private sector specially, with huge capitation fee/Management quota per seat ranging from 100-200,000 USD is mind boggling.

Leave aside the quality of students that will subsequntly pass out of college with proxy candidates giving exams or by other means , but imagine the lives of human beings in the hands of such Doctors for instance.The infrastructure for such institutes is pathetic, the teachers most of them underqualified or hanging in there as they don't get another job, so imagine their attitude.Who has validated their credentials??The same dummies who set up the institute?Just see the names of these institutes who are using money and muscle power to set up this brick structures with no knowledge of what these degrees mean or what implications they will have on public at large.Imagine constructing a sea link bridge with a "QUACK" who got admissions on the basis of money power and passed on the same grounds!!!Will the link hold up?What about major operations and surgeries??.The doctors strolling out of these colleges are going to look at first recovering the management fee they have "invested" in their education and will go to any lengths to recover the same asap.What about the frustrations of childern who really study and miss out by a few marks and have to compromise their careers? They don't have so much to throw in and get admissions.It is possibly a saving of a life time for many people.It means the parents slog their backside for 22 long years to collect money to give  to an idiot running a college to see his child become a doctor or an engineer!!!!

Not surprised that every one is busy trying to outdo the other in making money any which way but survive.Jungle law, producings QUACKS who should be chucked out .The caste based reservations add to the woes of general public and leading to stress etc that effects health.Is it worth the grind.?

Those who have it in them can send their children abroad and maybe hope to get a better footing .Others fight it out hammer and tongs to get yourself into some quirky institute with a quirky name and try to make their future.Where is this all leading too!!!