Independent Judgement

Goodbye!!

2011-11-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

Time to say a ‘good bye’ and still looking each other in the eye
Wanting to read each word written which seems a reflection
Saying it almost and stopping short with nothing but a ‘bye’
Having whiled away the time with a little girls disposition
Just talking and passing inconsequential remarks

Both have been too lonely too long to ask for anything
Conversations that bustled like a highway traffic have gradually muffled
Now resting like a bird being watched in the rural quietness
Waiting for nature to change the season
Silence has chosen to hang in the air, swaddling everything

Making them say a goodbye against all wishes
Hoping there will forever be a next time
Just another meeting which didn’t circle into an event
Just another ‘goodbye’ said with a smile
And a quietness and sudden emptiness… and hope…

Father of the Indian film industry

2010-10-23T04:57:00.000-07:00

Saw “Harish Chandrachi factory” earlier this week. Had been wanting to see this movie, India’s Oscar entry for a while. A big thanks to Paresh Mokashi was creating this engaging movie which gives Mr Phalke his due, the person who gave up his everything(including selling all his possessions) to create India’s first motion picture and thereby lay the foundation stone for the worlds biggest film industry.

Salute is the first word that comes to the mind for Dadasaheb Phalke after seeing this movie. His passion for making a movie wasn’t restricted to creating a name for himself. His restlessness, his selflessness and his fight against society’s taboo’s was just to create the first motion picture in the country and give the creative minds of this vast country a direction. Post the release of his first motion picture Mr Phalke was offered by many Britishers to shift to England and make movies produced by them and thereby make loads of money. But the only thing Mr Phalke had in mind was to get more people in India make movies and understand the concept of movies. The result, the country now boasts of the worlds largest film industry.

Mr Phalke almost became blind in the process of creating his motion pictures, couldn’t pay much attention towards the upbringing of his kids, was not earning anything for the entire period till the motion picture got released, faced criticism and hardships but still continued to work towards his dream.

The artist must create a spark before he can create a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of his own creation.(Auguste Rodin) Mr Dadasaheb Phalke got consumed in the art that he created.

Pleasant Juley(Greetings in Ladakhi) to a violent Julus!!

2010-08-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Just back from my first trip to Leh –Kargil- Srinagar. And what a trip!

Ladakh, beautiful is the word. What impressed me was the organized way in which everything functions. Every shop has a shop and establishment certificate and the local market committee certificate put up on its walls. Ask a taxi driver for a charge and he will show you the government rate card and charge accordingly. Quiet peaceful people who do their business as it should be done. That’s called law and order. The locals tell us that all that remains in Leh in the winters at -20 degrees is Dogs, Donkeys and Jawaans. Always feel that the people who are ready to make sacrifices are the ones treated badly.

The last leg of the trip, the drive from Leh- Kargil and Kargil- Srinagar was the dangerous and the interesting part.
Kargil is the quaint little town, disconnected from the outside world, vulnerable from everything, cold winters, shelling from across the LoC, bombing! Visit the town and you won’t feel it to be a part of India. Neither do they have anything remotely Indian in terms of culture or way of living. Don’t think any leader has ever visited the town. Why should the people there keep their allegiance with India?
As we drove towards Kargil we saw young children continuously waving towards us. A young guy who did seem educated whiling away his time throwing stones at trees. Probably that symbolized the state of affairs of the place. What have we given them except for insecurity, fear, unemployment and nothing to protect this region which is the worlds second coldest habitat. We don’t deserve the beautiful nature that lies there.

As we drove down from Sonmarg towards Srinagar, it gave the feeling that nature can’t paint a more beautiful picture than this. Lush green mountains, beautiful flowers all around and snow in the background. Whoa! Paradise it is!!
But Srinagar was burning. 24 deaths in the 4days before we reached and 15 deaths in the riots that were happening on the day we were there. Amidst a curfew we heard bullet shelling, heard a “Julus”, heard provocative “azaadi” speeches right up to midnight. Left the city at 4 in the morning for a 12 pm flight to save our lives. En route to the airport we saw things broken, some things burning and blood on streets leaving a permanent memory of a city in conflict.

Fitting reply

2010-07-05T00:12:00.000-07:00

Just months back the living legend, Diego Maradona, refused to share the dais with the promising German youngster, Muller. The comment made by El Diego as he walked off the stage was that Germany had sent a ball boy for the post match conference and he felt insulted to be sharing a dais with a 20 year old rookie. Such insolence!

It was the same 20 year old Muller who has lived a dream world cup so far and played a big part in sending Diego’s men packing back home in probably what could be called as the biggest Route in this world cup. It would have probably been something more than just good fortune had Maradona been even invited to share the dais with Muller post the world cup quarter final.
It’s a strange world. You are bound to be beaten some day. It’s about how you treat your success that matters.

This reminds me of a small anecdote about Einstein which I had read. Einstein happened to meet a scientist who would provide consultations to the Govt and other institutions on matters of physics etc. He introduced himself to Einstien as a scientist working along with the great Mr ABC, PhD in XYZ, specialized in some unknown branch of physics. Einstein, then already a world renowned figure just introduced himself as “a student of physics”. True greatness shows!!

Dont question it?

2010-06-06T04:38:00.000-07:00

Sulking on the air in the room
Sipping on the hot milk
Unsure about continuing with the chore
Stirring the cream in the cup
He continues to stare into the dark

The stars veiled by the clouds beg him to move
At bed, Mummy is ready with the story book
Ram is getting ready to battle the evil
He’s still never understood Hanuman’s giant leap
He’s told it’s wrong to Question it

Morning brings its own routines
He wants to spend time in the park
Play in the muck and dance in the water
But he’s learning two times two is four
He’s told it’s wrong to question it

No one sees his dance of confusion
His quietness and emptiness
He sees his sister not being educated
She’s pickled, sealed and put away
He’s told it’s wrong to question it

He’s curious why brickwalls turn mossgreen
Eager to catch bees and pluck fruits
Sit beneath the Mango glade and jump in the pond
He still can’t understand Hanumans giant leap
But his wings have been mangled, the story is spoilt.

Why I think Dhoni is not a good Captain… :-(

2010-02-26T23:14:00.000-08:00

Being a Ganguly’s captaincy fan, I often end up making these statements. Cant help it. From strategy point of view in many games I feel Dhoni lacks(evident in the 1st ODI against SA) but more so because of his players selections.

A good captain to me is the one who first of all identifies good talent, backs it, persists with it. The present bunch of youngsters in the team don’t give the feeling that the current team is the best India can have at this stage. Infact many of the selections in the last couple of years leave you with the feeling that how did these guys enter the national team.

Ganguly developed a team which could serve the nation for a good decade. He backed players with genuine talent who could have their places in the side for years to come. Sehwag, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Dhoni are all Ganguly products. And he backed them even in their tough times, had full fledge arguments with selectors to the point of blackmailing them with his own resignation. But as a Captain you have to do it.

Ganguly even persisted with Agarkar, Pathan and Jaffer in spite of their bad form for he saw some talent in all of them. You cant just go in with some average person who with good form can stick it out for a couple of years. Even Dravid got in Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma and backed them. This is where Dhoni lacks. Last year or so hasn’t seen a single new comer who has given the feel that he will become a regular part of the Test or One Day team for the next 4-5 years or so.

Joginder Sharma, Badrinath, Praveen Kumar? I don’t think any of them deserve a place in the national side. Do we have a back up for the test middle order once Sachin, Dravid and Laxman retire. At present I don’t think so.

Telangana ? :-( ? :-(

2010-02-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

She sat there, crying, next to the body of her child. She was shouting to the many people around to let her be alone, let her feel her sons body by herself. I saw this all in shocked horror. Her son, a student at some university had committed suicide for the cause of Telangana state. Some people had led the students believe that their future would be great only if the state is created which in turn would lead to locals being given preferences in admissions, jobs and everything.
People started blocking roads around. A large number started gathering. Some people saw an opportunity in it, an impetus to their on going protests for the past two months. Shouts and chants started filling the atmosphere. The car in which I was travelling was already surrounded by a mob.
She just sat there, numb to all that was happening. My car started moving, finding its way through the mob. I saw the last glimpse of the woman for whom her world had got over. The suicide had killed two people. The shouts and chants began getting louder, for the creation of their state, their own state. Incidents of student suicides are on the rise for this cause. They are now ready to give blood. Something must have gone terribly wrong at some point of time somewhere for people to get to such extremes. Have things gone so wrong that a mother’s tears are not cared for? A helpless mother just crying away and asking, “why??”” Would there be more mothers whose sons bodies would be used for political mileage or have the emotions got so strong in the region that these sons would be called “shaheed” a few years later.

Plain Luck is it!

2009-08-10T01:55:00.000-07:00

I was just plain lucky to be at the place at that time! I was thinking about it for the past few months, talking about it with a few friends, trying to find information on the same. And there I was, the information I needed presenting to myself on its own. Had I left at my usual timing from the Office I might not have been able to lay my hands on it. But just that very day I decided to hang on till late for some data. It was almost 9.30 in the night. Had I even left with a colleague 10 minutes back which I planned to, still I would not have been able to get this on my palate. Thats what you call destiny.Well not destiny. That is what I might make with this piece of information. This is plain luck.

It seemed a bit weird that someone else was collecting just the same information I was looking out for, for this information does not have connections with anything I am doing currently or even any connections with the other person who found out all about it and presented to me. Strange, I said to myself. But hang on, probably that means I am thinking in the right direction myself. For someone else in similar shoes as mine, with no connection to this particular piece of information also sees a logic to it.

Thats the weirdness of some ideas, you cant draw a clear logic for them and still you understand that the idea is hinged on absolute logic. And you also know that the idea will work !

One foot from a winning touchdown

2009-07-16T02:55:00.001-07:00

I had written sometime back about a victory on the sports field giving the maximum high possible, at least to me.
http://independent-judgement.blogspot.com/2007/09/dancing-on-that-ground.html
(Yeah read that again :-) )
The other day I was watching the classic Roddick vs Federer final. I put myself in Roddick’s shoes and my heart felt for the guy. He had put in his everything, un match able serves, a pure glimpse of grit over class, but just felt short. Just like sports is able to give you the maximum high I felt it can also give you the biggest of lows. “Emotionally drained” that is all I could make out from Roddick’s face after the defeat, at least for that particular moment. It’s that moment when you are so close from what can be a huge victory and suddenly you see it slip out of your hand. You are left helpless and dejected and emotionally drained. Just wanting the thing to play over again. The thoughts of how you could have changed a few things keep lingering in your mind. Just hoping that that one stroke of luck had gone your way…..You have gone into the match picturising the entire crowd shouting your name and cheering you and then suddenly you are there watching the opponent/s clutching the winning trophy and dancing on that very ground!!!.....
When I mentioned this feeling to a friend the question I was asked was, “Is winning everything then?” I do not have an exact reply to this question(although my heart probably continues to say Yes) but I believe this entire feeling comes more because of the love for the sport and the passion for the same than just the pure thought of winning.

Impatience is a virtue??!!??

2009-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Airtel advertisements off late have always been one expressing emotions or are ones to do with emotions. So I got quite interested on seeing the “impatience is the new life” advertisement which seemed completely different than the Airtel genre of Ad’s.

An impatient new generation not ready to wait patiently for its turn. The whole Ad seeming more like a chant by an entire generation. An Ad which the generation connects to and I guess would definitely give it a Thumbs Up. Nothing preachy, nothing exaggerated, no thrusts.

Telecom advertisements in India have become things that are getting discussed on canteens, streets and buses. From Vodafone kid and the pug to zouzous, Idea’s “what an idea sirji”, Airtel’s “express yourself” and the highly famous AR Rahman tune had made Telecom advertisements instant connects and reconnects. The Reliance Ad even made Sehwag’s maa amongst the biggest hits of a cricket season. But somehow the Airtel Broadband “impatience” Ad I feel, has taken the whole thing to a different level. Kudos

A Fluent 99

2009-05-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

I am going to praise this movie for a few reasons.

One, it wasn’t that average as the reviews I got from friends and the ones I read. Two, there’s no other movie releasing. Three, its actually decent enough.

The story revolves about nothing actually. An attempt to a story is made through Kunal(Sachin) and Cyrus(Dravid) falling into the hands of a local betting syndicate. The story moves from Mumbai to Delhi for no particular reason except for taking a dig at a bit of Delhigiri, so it seems.

The thing I liked about the movie is that all the important twists are subtle. The romance between Soha and Sachin is more of friendly nature than filmi types. You won’t even realize when the only song of the movie started and got over with. So guess what works for the film is that none of the typical Bollywood trappings are used. The music is pretty decent while the dialogues at times are brilliant, cute and crisp. “sochna bhi mat” Soha Ali tells Sachin while the two are sitting in a lounge and the whole set of dialogues is portrayed so innocently. Kudos. Some silly excerpts, “Delhi me ladkiyon ke do hi naam hote hai, Pooja aur Neha”, “saari ladkiya DTM, desi turned mod”, “yaha ke taxi me meter bhi nahi hote”

Kunal Khemu is getting into the league finally and Soha Ali is cuteness personified. Cyrus and Mahesh Manjrekar have added good humour without a single good punchline given to them. As expected Boman Irani steals the show and a near perfect performance by Kuber.

All in all a clean comedy. A nice easy 99 on a slightly spinning track. After all its often that a 99 gets remembered more than a normal century.

Worth a see(As if you have choice these days) I hope there are some more producers who will get bugged of the strike soon and have mercy on us ‘velas’.

This summer

2009-04-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

This summer spare a thought for each of these:

1. The Bus conductor who is standing throughout his long journeys in this heat
2. The Goods Truck driver sitting in hot truck cabins who ensures supplies reach your neighbourhood store
3. The old man who sells vegetables by the roadside because there is still no pension provided for the unorganized sector
4. For all those government employees who have to do compulsory election duty for a reimbursement of only Rs 128 per day(A steep hike from the Rs 95 per day in the last election :-))
5. For all those non-corrupt candidates with different ideologies who are campaigning in this heat, at least they dared to take the plunge into politics!
6. For all the policemen who have to stand in scorching heat for terrible pays and still be criticized.
7. For all those who do not get regular electricity to keep their fan going
8. For all those who not get enough water to quench their thirst
9. And for the UNFORTUNATE STUPID COMMON MAN who like all of us travels in buses and trains, walks for kilometers, at times drinks un hygienic water so that a few summers later he can afford to have an air conditioned car, sit and enjoy bread with honey, have his children to afford a cold drink when they please, watch un interrupted television and criticize the system!

Umeed....

2009-03-03T04:11:00.000-08:00

Yuhi baithe baithe najane kitna arsa beet gaya
sannate ke goonj me dubkar apna hi awaaz ghum gaya

itna tha ujala fir bhi andhiyara use daba gaya
Shyam ki dastak ayi aur aaj ka bhi din dhal gaya

ek masum khwahish leke tha nikal pada
raste pe thak gaya, woh bhi aage na badha

khwab sabhi dekhte hai par bhool gaya tha disha
sirf ek lehar ki chunnauti se sara sapna simat gaya

ussi lehar par kudne ka ek armaan mann me jhunjhta raha
takrake chur honewale pathar se alag astitva banane ka chaha

sunhari dhoop me bhi dhundne laga badalon ki chaav
jhuki aankhon me aa gaya ab umeedo ka bhaav

ruka nahi thama nahi, jaana sirf sapno me hai jaan
leharo se ladne laga dene sapno ko anjaam

The twenty-five somethings

2009-03-02T03:42:00.000-08:00

I read a forward about the “quarter life crisis” which inspired me to write about this stage. Whether I connected to it. Well I wont state that bit…..

For twenty-five somethings time does exist in two different dimensions depending on ones state of mind. Twenty-five’s something could be the most exciting part of your life and at the same time it could be the most anxious part of your life. A life partner, your standing vis a vis your friends, your career, your dreams everything gets decided or finalized or changes its path drastically for the good or bad during this interesting period.

At times you would be quite content on being an observer of the unfolding drama of life while at times you would think, this is the time for me to act, now or never! You would be wondering whether its actually the right time for you to get married or you are just not ready for it. Marriage?? For some shaking hands with a new person of the opposite sex is still a sexual experience at 25! The enthusiasts still hope for meeting someone in trains, buses, classes, treks, friend’s parties, etc. You start considering people you have known all along but never given much thought to earlier. The advantage being that at least you know the person. Those in relationships start thinking about how the same would progress till and after marriage. The future plans start falling in place. Those few have-beens and out of a relationship start dreading another and prefer to take their own sweet time when presented with photographs and suitable Resumes. Not trusting things becomes a norm. Time seems to be moving on crutches.

The job that was the absolute dream just a couple of years back seems the most dull thing for the moment. The adventurous are still busy planning ventures, failures which were never really felt before start taking huge tolls. Uncertainty and Living on the edge seems a part and parcel of life, especially in recession times like these. The ones who have always been rankers in college, well settled in their jobs start feeling that time investment to find a life partner during the study times would have made so much more sense.

What exactly would success be?? Another question which keeps lingering on and on. Is this what I actually want to do with my life?? What if I get extremely successful in my professional life but not find the right partner? What if I am unable to achieve my dream?? Let me just settle down now?? For the first time, even the most confident varieties worry about their future.

One phone and you are back in your mood…one mail from your Boss and you feel like quitting….you call your friends and discuss the same bullshit for hours again and again…..you hear a news and you suddenly feel insecure….. Life is a confusing question paper...Anticipation goes on forever….

DEV D

2009-02-28T02:56:00.000-08:00

Fabulous Music, inspiring camera work, characters who do absolute justice to their bold roles and absolute brilliant masterwork by Anurag Kashyap!! A treat for someone who appreciates unconventional cinema. No pop corn bullshit, emotions which aren’t loudly portrayed, simply superb background music which wants you to immediately go to a friends place and copy all the songs(Since the whole world believes in piracy and not buying CD’s anymore)

Hats off to the unique scenes like 3 performers at the bar, the scene where Abhay Deol lands from the drinks table to the bed, and the entire “duniya gol hai’ song…. Anurag Kashyap and the cameramen deserve kudos. Some Desi swearing, Abhay Deol shown drowning in the Vodka, and Paro’s brilliant dialogue, “tumhe apni aukaad dikha rahi hu” give the movie continuous punches.

Dev and Paro are brilliant right throughout. Deol has got the charizma and Mahi the boldness which is loved. Coyness is a thing of the past! And Abhay Deol is the next kid on the block.

People loving unconventional movie watch it more than once, those loving the Shahrukh-Yash Chopra-Karan Johar type drama, at least do go for the music.

No soda …a complete Neat 5 star…this is no pop corn movie….some beer in your belly before going to the movie hall would do.

Mockery!!!

2009-02-17T02:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to -Lok Sabha Elections 09- glimpses of the colorful politics in a young vibrant country and currently the second fastest growing economy.

Sanjay Dutt who could have been possibly spending his time in jail is now contesting Lok Sabha elections. We offer direct transfer from jail to Lok Sabha! We believe in absolute democracy. Thugs too need representation in Parliament! Just go and talk some crap “Mamugiri”, give it a touch of Gandhigiri, and you could be through. Till 5 years back we had the nation’s leader contesting from Lucknow, now we have the nation’s thug. Apart from Mayawati the town has one more reason to stay on the political map.

Shibu Soren charged for murder too might contest Lok Sabha elections. With some effort and time, he could get the CID to close the case and we have Shibu Soren as a possible Ministerial candidate.

The current PM at age 78 is busy resting his currently beating heart. To challenge him we have a 81 year old Leader of Opposition who perfectly knows when to bring in the Mandir issue. Err did I just hear that the Mastermind of the Gujrat riots being made his successor. Out here development and mass massacre go hand in hand. Bhakti, Shakti and if time permits then Vikas!!

Raj Thackeray is missing from the scene? Well, these aren’t Mumbai Corporation Elections or Maharashtra Assembly Elections. He doesn’t indulge himself in National level things.

And then we see everyone bending and touching an Italian lady’s feet. “I know my limitations and I don’t like politics. I am involved only because of my husband” we hear her say.

And who says youngsters do not have a representation. We have Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Omar Abdullah, Rahul Gandhi, Priya Dutt, Milind Deora and a few others. It’s sheer co-incidence that all of their parents were in politics too. There were a few other youngsters from colleges and organizations interested in improving the system. They rather chose to get in the rat race and bother about their fat pay cheques. They say politics ruins the character.

15th August 1947 gave us a glimpse of the possibilities and responsibilities we all have. We were a child then. The child is grown. But the dream is still ON. Probably just that we have become comfortably numb.

A glimpse of the Maximum City

2009-01-30T02:20:00.000-08:00

I get down from the bus to see a line of taxis and autos waiting. I get into one of them. The city is lighted as if Diwali is here for good. It’s 2 O’clock in the night and the city seems to have just come to life.

The auto rickshaw is now flying at full speed. Heavy traffic on the road even at this time of the night. I see a few motor bikes parked by the roadside. People are having “cutting chai” being served by a guy who has bought the same on a cycle. His cycle is his shop. Some road repairing work is in progress. “Anda bhurji” stalls having the busiest time of the day. The owner might have just completed his day job a few hours back. But he has chosen this life for himself. This city boasts of people who chose a tough life rather than fate chosing one for them. My rickshaw fellow overtakes a guy on the cycle who’s driving right in the middle of the road. “tere baap ka rasta hai kya?” my rickshaw-walla screams. Slang is the poetry of everyday life for Mumbaiites.

We meet with some traffic when nearing the airport. “There are too many flights at this time. That’s the reason for this traffic.” My rickshaw fellow informs me, “They should have an evened out time table through the day for these flights”. In this city everyone has an opinion about things he has no say in. We cover just about a hundred metres in the next 5 minutes thanks to the traffic. “Is there so much traffic everyday at this time?” I ask. “Because everyone is in a hurry everything walks on crutches here.” I smile at the philosophical reply. “How much do you earn in a day?” I ask. “Thanks to the high fuel prices, with this rickshaw I earn lesser than the watchman of your building who would be fast asleep by now” He replies with all the sarcasm he could put in the sentence. “However I operate a garage which gives good money. Me and my brother take turns between operating the garage and driving this Mercedes.”

I reach my building and ask the rickshaw wala to halt. The fare comes to 93 rupees with the night charge. Before I remove a 100 rupee note from my wallet the fellow is ready with coins amounting to 7 rupees. Mumbai thy name is efficiency! I make a futile attempt to get in through the gate which is locked from the inside. I go inside the society compound by jumping over its wall for the watchman is fast asleep.

Grass is always greener on the other side.....

2008-11-25T07:34:00.000-08:00

Grass is always green on the other side

Ask a ten year old kid going to school

Or ask an old mechanic working on his tool

Why is it that with rules we always have to abide

You peek in the ruins of your conscious mind

Where life flickers off and on in alteration

The quizzical look on the face is just a reflection

The mind always looks to the distant ringing bells as a friend

Grass is always green on the other side

Only the halcyon days of yesterday are remembered with joy

You remember the sweet old first love and its first expression, coy!!

But we surrender for ambition and our own isolate covenant of conscience

You live for dreams, both frustrated and realized

You step into the all engrossing rat race

It only helps you lose the smile on your face

What you still have to achieve will continue to keep you amazed

Grass can be seen to be greener on your side

But you need to have the courage to say ‘Yes’ to life

Even if it means to try when you are torn with strife

And all it takes is to treat each moment as a joyful ride!!!

Bye bye Dada!!

2008-11-10T07:12:00.000-08:00

“We are visitors in your country, we expect to be treated with respect” was a reply Ganguly gave when a rascist comment was passed by a spectator in a practise match Down Under in 2000. As far as captaincy was concerned he did not believe in Indian schools of antiquity. Post 2000 Indian Cricket stopped being nervous polite visitors and soon began to be taken notice of as a team that has come with an ambition of becoming the conqueror. Ganguly wore his hurt on his sleeve and soon taught a cricket crazy nation to do the same.

Dada did not have a technique to boast off and gave ample opportunities to his critics to lick their fingers. But he embodied grit and determination like no one else in recent times. No one else might have made as successful comebacks as Ganguly did, that too on two occasions.
Ganguly built his own team and led from the front. An attitude was seen on display whenever the Indian team started taking field. The Bengal southpaw gave India 22 test victories and those sweet cover drives, but more importantly he gave the sport of this country an attitude.

The popularity of a public figure only manifests itself in the individuals departure from the scene. I just hope its not a departure and Dada returns back as a coach of the national team soon. As a fan of this great game, my utmost respect to a champion of the game which has always been my biggest teacher in life.

Aditya

Pain with the thousand teeth

2008-10-27T02:40:00.000-07:00

The Tatas have moved out of Singur. Many would term this as very unfortunate, especially for the state of Bengal. One persons loss is anothers gain and Modi quickly stepped into the opportunity to prove that his politics and plans go beyond Hindutva. Ofcourse the economic trajectory does not cancel out communal trajectory.
I would try to be optimistic of the entire episode and say whatever happenned has just taught a lesson to everyone. In a developing economy like ours, more and more projects are going to be undertaken, lots of infrastructure needs are hopefully going to be addressed in the coming decade. And all of this is going to require lots of land. And we still do not have a proper land acquisition policy/ people rehabilitation policy in place!
Why should the poor farmers lands be acquired without their consent? Why should a Mamata Banerjee or a Medha Patkar be criticised? May be none of them is really interested in the farmers cause and it all is a political goodwill gaining exercise, but the issue is extremely critical.
The fact of the matter is that there has been no proper handling of these issues. 12624 farmers were to lose their land in Singur. The so called protectors of the marginal farmers, the Communist Party themselves were becoming exploiters of the down trodden. You may have grand plans for the betterment of your own people in the future, but it is equally esential to have immediate plans of action for their present well being. Be it Kashmir, Naxalism, LTTE or Kargil, unfortunately for India there is no coming to consciousness without pain. Its time India Inc, the State governments and the Central Government take a leaf out of the whole Singur episode and work towards a well laid out development plan for the country.
That which is escaped now is only pain to come. Lets wake up in time for this.

Towards that shining star I will rise!!!

2008-09-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

Towards that shining star I will rise
I have this ambition which I do not bite
At times I feel there are very few things I do right
But to reach that shining star I will hunt for every prise

I had a dream and that dream I followed
Was oblivious that to the very dream I had to surrender
Was unaware that there would be times I would just wander
With a pinch of salt everything I had swallowed

But the dream I believe in and the dream still exists
The mind is now eager, thirst even stronger,
To set out on my path I can wait no longer
To achieve the dream I will persist

A different path I will adopt, new ideas I will try
It is a new challenge, a sudden gauntlet thrown
Failures have only helped and my confidence has grown
The path has had thorns to whom I have said good bye

Time has now brought my passion to the fore
Ready to explore new avenues and things unheard
Not afraid of doors closing and certain people absurd
With time the doors too have creaked that much more

The doors will finally give up, The journey will look beautiful
Fresh, colorful and full of people hearty
Life, I would want to make it one big party
Yes, towards that shining star I will rise!!

Aditya Khandekar

Tables turned

2008-09-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Being in a sales function you have to keep going to the market to understand the happenings of the game and also to push the sales yourself. You visit a store, end up calling the shop owner as Sethji, Sirji or some more respectable names if you can come up with. For finally they are your customers.
Even some of the shop keepers often try getting some ego massaging done, a little bit of “bhav”….who doesn’t like it? Its always nice to be a buyer in a business deal, you are always welcome!

Still the shopkeeper calls you “Sir” and so does your salesman. The poor salesman has to bear the brunt incase the buyer doesn’t end up getting all that he had ordered for.

Recently I visited a huge Kirana shop, one of the prominent ones in the locality I was visiting. I wished the owner a namaste followed by a “sethji”. The owner just replied, “Sirji, mujhe aap sethji mat kehnaa”. Initially surprised, but then I realized the owner was one of our companies old salesman. Having been in the field for 20 years he understands all the nuances of the game. He knows the tricks of the trade and now calls the shots!!

Hats off!!
Aditya

Jane tu...ya jane na......

2008-07-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Grow old with me…..the best is yet to be!!

Touching the so very old theme of friends not knowing they are in love and further unable to express the same when they actually realize it. Friends whom you keep teasing with someone else's name, though at the bottom of your heart you would not want him/her to be away from you. A friend who you feel is absolutely no match for you, but later realize that no one understands you as much as him/ her. That being who has been so much a part of the hedonism, your pranks, your problems that he/ she cannot remain “just a friend”. That being who has an existential map having ‘you are here’ written all over it."

The movie is full of some good college bakwaas, some real catchy tunes, cute faces, dumb looks, a Naseeruddin Shah talking through Photo frames and aapdo Gujju bhai Jiggy organizing his own surprise Birthday party, albeit some irritating scenes at times (it actually starts with a funeral for a cat). But every frivolous scene is ‘maaf ’ for the way the movie gets built up. For in spite of everything being so predictable you keep yourself telling just one single word till the end “Cute”.

Kitne ajeeb rishte hai yaha pe
Do pal milte hai sath sath chalte hai
Ek mod aye to yuhi chale jate hai

And the special friend doesn’t meet to just walk away from your life someday. Thankfully Jai realizes this Just in Time.
Wisdom too often does not come and one ought not to reject it merely because it came late!!!

Aditya

The Traveller

2008-07-01T02:44:00.000-07:00

The Traveller
He has a deer's legs and an ass's back

No kind of energy and observation should he lack
From one place to another he has to go

At no place which he visits can he lie low
Pain and sufferings he has to see

Through such things stoic he has to be
Memories are collected at every junction

Tomorrow will be another place is a presumption
In case of darkness he has to move

He has no time to get into his groove
He has to forget those beautiful eyes

Contain emotions and let out no sighs
A positive energy he has to vibrate

Pep up some kid who seems will enervate
Every journey is always spiced up

To become a virtuoso you need to keep up
For no one can ever be the perfect master

Games are played even by the creator
No one can understand when the journey will consummate

whether its in the morning dew or the evening sunset
Aditya Khandekar

The visualizer to actualizer !!

2008-01-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

Currently in our MBA class they are teaching us entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurship course as such started after all of us have been done with our placements! Mumbai University rocks.

"Whats so different about entrepreneurs" our Prof asked. Calculated risk taking, vision, good inter personal skills, innovators, opportunity seekers, people with inter disciplinary approach and many more such cliches. But what is it that differentiates an entrepreneur she again asked? "Will to take initiatives" one friend of mine said getting up from his nap.

"Calculated risk taking?" Every sensible man always takes risk on a calculated basis, its not restricted to entrepreneurs. The term itself doesnt make much sense.
"Vision?" Statesmen of various countries, Financial heads have great visions, entrepreneurs rarely and more so the vision develops only after a few successes. In almost all occasions they end up doing something other than what they initially planned.
"People with inter disciplinary approaches?" May be yes, because an entrepreneur always thinks of his finance and his sales. At the same time he wants to be having a good networking with people. Innovators, Initiators and many more such words came into the discussion.

Although I have no first hand knowledge, 4 things which I felt are more important than anything else for being a a Successful Entrepreneur and which wont ever get mentioned in any book on Entrepreneurship
-"tremendous self-confidence". Unless a person has the confidence about his own ability he will dare not even think about starting his own firm even if he/ she has the best idea in the world.
-"A roll your sleeves and get down to the field on the job" kind of guy who has the guts to find his way around.
-someone who is "mentally tough" and probably has faced failure in life.
-and those who have the potential to think ON their Business along with thinking IN their business

and I sincerely feel, rest of all the terms/ adjectives associated with an Entrepreneur are only for Glory.

Aditya

How Much more.....

2008-01-06T02:56:00.000-08:00

We have been known as a country of tolerant people and have continued to be so right through our history whether its us against imperialism or the dirty politics or for that matter even on the cricket field.

The new year has started on a note where Kumble and his men have earned the support of 1.1 billion cricket crazy Indians on losing a Test match which could have been rightfully
theirs. The game never was allowed to stay as a battle among equals. The Australian skipper, Ricky Ponting appealing for a catch on day 5 when the ball was clearly off the pads and had then touched the ground as well summed it all. India were fighting against a bunch of ruthless, ethics-less, so called aggressive team of 11+2 people on a foreign ground.

The gentleman's game ceased to stay so right on day 1 of the second test when Ponting led by example and stood ground dishonestly. Things reached its peak when the only known gentleman Down Under, Adam Gilchrist appealed for a caught behind for Dravid when the ball had not touched any part of the Batsman's apparatus. 6 wrong decisions is not bad umpiring, its something beyond that.

These things may be just a part of sport for anyone else, but in India Cricket is sacred and anything done on the 22 yards is debated and discussed on every street, in every living room and even in the Corporate Boardrooms of the country. Apart from an Indo-Pak war, Cricket alone has the potential to make this entire country stand in unison.

How the Board presents its case to the ICC is a different issue altogether, its now about
how the depressed Indian XI fight out their remaining series against the tyrants. Its now a War to be fought for its no longer remained just a mind game.

Men in Blue, the whole country backs you, for your performance often does predict the mood of this nation.....Dont expect pity, dont take take it heads down, fight it out for glory, respect and dignity.

Aditya

That sweet smell of a victory

2007-12-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

One statement from a person who held the power over us at that time gave us that sweet sweet sense of victory.A victory of reason and common sense over arrogance, misunderstandings and bureaucracy. We had to negotiate a victory which we deserved, and requiring to negotiate for a victory which you have already got is often frustrating. Those who do not know the context of all that I am talking about may not get the idea of this but I cannot afford to state the facts here.

Playing the game of using the right words to convey the facts with the exact meaning is not exactly easy and fun. Diffident voices which had to be firm inspite of the position of Office we were talking to. You never know on what issues you can afford to take a stand and where you cannot. I still do not know whether I am already celebrating beforehand........

Aditya

CHEENI KUM AND ATITHI DEVO BHAV

2007-12-20T01:01:00.000-08:00

In June 2006 I happened to go on a business trip to Poori, Orissa while I was working with ICICI Bank. I had around 8-10 local operators with me and I was assigned the task of getting around 40000 people enrolled in these villages and further understand the requirements of MicroFinance customers in order to design a solution for them.

On a particular day I decided to accompany 2-3 of my operators to a few villages around 20 km from Poori. We had hired a car for ourselves and set out for the job. By around noon we had covered 2 villages and were headed for the third. At that point of time a few of our laptop batteries being used for the enrolments conked off. Inorder to charge the battery I went to one of the houses in the village. I realised the house was not wired at all, a proper established Big House! I found it a bit strange and tried out some charging possibilities in a house in the adjoining village. The same result. I travelled to 4 consecutive villages on that road in order to charge my battery. Not one house/ shop in any of these villages was even wired! These people had never experienced the concept of electricity!!!

Finally having assured myself of the futile chase I decided to let the operators continue with the remaining number of working laptops. We reached village number 5 on that route, already tired and a bit frustrated and just wondering why Edison’s invention had not percolated down to these places. Every foul word present in my dictionary came to my tongue, all for the people of this country. What the hell are we celebrating this economic growth for, I thought.

The next village I reached barely had a population of around 300 people I was told. People were covered only in rags. All the children around looked malnourished. Around more than a 100 people came to meet me and at most to say a “Namaste” on getting the news of a “shahari babu” having come to their village. Their earnings per family per day hardly ever accounted to Rs.50. Inspite of me refusing to have anything these same people went and got cold drinks for me, having had to cycle down 4 km in order to get that. After all I was their guest. “Atithi devo bhav” to the core. Further on, few of the women went and made “sandesh” for me. I was made to eat it although it was almost “sandesh minus the sugar”. Again there was a huge party of another 80-100 people who came to see me off. I was later told by the Bank employee accompanying me that a few households had forfeited their children having any milk that day in order to ensure enough for me and my group. For a moment I just could not believe it. I offered money to these families which they immediately refused inspite of some persuading from my side. A tear dropped down my cheek before I could even realise. That was definitely the most wonderful “sandesh” I have ever had and would ever have although it was Cheeni Kum. And the Cheeni Kum because they had not got their monthly ration.

Hats Off to “atithi devo bhav” and CHEERS to the 8.5% growth!

Aditya Khandekar

Placement shots-Instant Connections

2007-11-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

The placement season is in full flow in the college. Companies coming to explain the profiles and shortlisting of candidates. Lots at stake for everyone, sometimes feel the whole thing is a huge gamble. But the whole process and the way it is all managed deserves kudos. This process in itself is teaching everyone a lot of things I feel. The placement committee I feel should be allowed to add this as part of their work experience. It is absolute project management.

The tinkerng with the resumes is now all done and its time to now get out and see new people and impress them in the first meeting.

The other day we had a software firm which had come to campus to explain the profiles and functionalities they expect and are looking for. The presentation was so crisp and the presenter was so well prepared that she commanded great respect from all of us. So much depends on the way you portray yourself I felt, especially since you are representing your entire organization.First impressions often have such a huge bearing on your decision making.

Aditya

JaB wE mET

2007-11-10T22:49:00.000-08:00

“When hum mile”: Catchy name : So smart marketing I thought.

Went for this movie on Diwali day. The occasion was actually to meet a few old friends and movie was just the “bahana”.

Well for this movie now. Aditya(incidentally the hero’s name too is Aditya) is a rich Businessman whose “love” marries someone else. The dejected Aditya meets this chatter box, hedonist girl (Kareena) in a train when he is headed nowhere. Kareena asks him to burns his lovers photograph and throw it in the toilet in order to forget his love. Had some Management guru seen this scene he would have called it “Flush the thoughts” theory( if things like “foot in the door” theory, “Bypass atack” theory can be made then any kind of nonsense theory can be christened)

So now Aditya travels all the way to Kareena’ s place in Bhatinda helps her run away( “No other work” theory) from her house so that she could meet her Boyfriend Anshuman. During all this time Kareena starts falling for Aditya. And Aditya too is falling for her, though he keeps using the “Pull strategy”, no “Pushes”(some learnings for all the wannabe romeo’s) “Do you love me”, Kareena asks one day, “Yes I do, but that is my problem, you do not worry” says Aditya. Too coooool a dialogue I thought. Not to forget some running around the trees and emotional drama once in a while. Now Kareena and her boyfriend Anshuman both have agreed to MARRY each other amidst some more drama while Aditya too is in the picture. Girls always have a choice!!!!! :-(

So Kareena uses the Conjunctive Heuristic method. And finally………..the guy with the higher relational equity wins.

Worth a see if you have a “variety seeking watching behaviour” or if you too have the “No other work theory” or if you are in love or something.

Aditya

Whom do you produce for?

2007-11-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

Whom do you write for, produce for, the common man with less intellect or the intellectuals. If you produce for the intellectuals, then they are few and you do not gain that much popularity. For in that case the masses don’t understand your produce. You are celebrated but not exactly popular. If you come out with something which is for the masses, you are celebrated, you are admired and even if you are not exactly revered, you are compensated.

What does a artist do in such a case. Does he perform or produce something which would be accepted more by the people or does he only follow his heart and produce the thing which he likes.

How do you rate in such a case. For the sake of an example, consider “Swades” and “Lagaan”, both movies directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. “Swades” was something more close to his heart while “Lagaan” was commercially more successful. He was able to create “Swades” and get better coverage from the Press because he was the “Lagaan” Director. Imagine Swades to be released before “Lagaan”, would he have got the same credibility ?

The celebrated writer Arthur Conan Doyle, made the most of his fans because of the legendary character Sherlock Holmes. Though even Sherlock Holmes was brilliant stuff it prevented Sir Arthur from writing literature which was what he intended to be known for. Because literature is not in demand since its often beyond the grasp of the common man.

Adi

Life doesn’t give you a second chance.

2007-10-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

How often has it happenned that you have performed some action and regretted it later. And just realised the consequences of it are far too more than you ever imagined. You want time to reverse back a little, but only if you could. In the spur of the moment you decide to go ahead with some decision or say something, later only to realise how foolish you have been. We do not always think before saying and sometimes the very conception of our thinking is absurdity.

“Its easy to be wise after the event” as they say, so very true.

Life doesn’t give you a second chance, you need to grab up the only chance you are likely to get most of the times. No lengthy post mortems thereafter are going to help in any way. We can dissect and discuss what we think was right and wrong and try to learn from our successes and failures. We keep bothering ourselves about the “ifs” and “buts” and the thinking becomes conscious of itself. Much of this kind of thinking is conducted in internal monologue or silent soliloquy only to incentivise further brooding and give trouble.But ultimately we're only as good as we can be and never sure we would have enough presence of mind even the next time.

Aditya

Dancing on that ground…….

2007-09-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

When Dhanraj Pillay was once questioned about his retirement plans he said, “ I want to dance on that Olympic stage once again before I retire”. “Dancing on the ground”, something every sportperson intends to do after a match where they have given it all. It would take something more than my limited talent to describe what a sportsperson goes through on winning a match in any tournament. Guys who have done this perhaps even at school or college level would probably connect with my thoughts.

“ When a sportsperson leaves the ground, it should not be possible to understand whether hes won or lost”. I do not agree with this thought. You play for nothing but winning. And if winning isnt everything, why then do they keep a score? And its perfectly alright to let out your emotions after the match, especially if you have won. The spirit and the will to win are things that endure and mean much more than all events happening on the ground. There are no gentleman’s games, not even Cricket or Golf. You are playing for pride!

Spectators arent coming to the ground to see their idols or see polite shake hands, they come to see their idols fight, they come to see the passion, they come to get involved in all that’s happening.

Winning a game of any sport gives you a “high” which nothing else could probably match. Its an achievement you cherish, it’s a feeling that you have beaten your opponents, that you have outplayed your peers. Every sport is a mind game, and winning is a justification that you have outplayed the opponents through your mind, the equipments used and talent possessed are just factors. Using your talent to win gives you a satisfaction and triumph few men can ever know.

Every sport is a battle, you got to play it straight but play it hard!!!

Aditya Khandekar

Money Changers

2007-09-09T00:44:00.000-07:00

There continues a huge debate about rupee appreciation. The exporters lobby being very powerful ensuring that the rupee continues to get regulated. Also the common perception is that an appreciating rupee does not bode good omen for our economy in the present circumstances with the stock market booming because of the huge cash inflows from exports.

An appreciating rupee will ensure increase in quality of goods and services as India will start losing the cost advantage. We would no longer be able to export products at the lower end of the value chain. It will also ensure more research work in the IT industry than just specialisation in back end jobs. With the present growth rate of economy, the Government is going to be compelled to start more huge infrastructure projects. A lot of hardware will be needed to be imported for the same. A large amount of imported technology is going to be required in Banking infrastructure, Pharma and Medical equipments, Telecom Infrastructure, etc since Indian firms still do not produce high quality equipments required for these sectors. The appreciation in the rupee will promote imports and bring in the best technologies available at a lesser cost to the country.

Also it will encourage Banks to borrow more from abroad and lend it at lesser rates in the country, something that will definitely help for the true financial inclusion of the masses.
There has to be a point where RBI should stop becoming a market player. The weak currency policy has outlived its purpose. The controls over Banks borrowings need to be diluted and the competitive forces alone should decide the valuations over a period of time.

Also the whole SEZ policy might have to be revisited with the rising rupee.May be I do not sound practical at this stage and the brains sitting in Delhi would definitely have some strategies in their minds, but how often have we seen economic imperatives being subjected to political considerations and lobbying by interested groups.

The Bean counters of India should not forget that the whole outsourcing industry was only the means and not the end of what we intend to achieve. Indian Business is again set for a new paradigm.

-Aditya

Sometimes only the Fighter knows......

2007-08-15T00:49:00.000-07:00

His Ship was torn with the storm
The waves were rising and there was no respite
Others would have thought of being in Life’s departure lounge
But he was not the one to cringe or scrounge

No one gave him a chance to survive the night
But he was a fighter in his own right
Bearing all odds he reached the shore
Not a feeling of exhaustion did he show

He did not swoom he did not sigh
A rare combination of shyness but head held high
A dim astonishment at the strain he felt
On his courage and spirit I dwelt

Even on a dark stormy night with a lull
Such people are aware of a star whose light although dull
Every moment they are glad to have lived
Never a rude word and never to be rived

These people are rare
With ambition in their mind and courage leading the way
Always looking forward to the next destination
From those they admire they earn their recognition

They earn reverence without any decree
These are ordinary men to extraordinary degree

-Adi

A Leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved!

2007-07-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

This is true in every single field and probably the things that seem the most non sensical or weird at that point of time change the course of history for the better in such circumstances. Leaders are born, ideas are created, then celebrated and the crisis is converted into an opportunity.

“Build trenches and fill them” was the classic reply of the non Classic celebrated economist John Maynard Keynes on being asked how US could come out of the great depression. “Demand creates its own supply” was what he preached even at the height of the American depression and earned himself hundreds of critics . But a leader was born with this statement and his courage to make predictions.

He predicted that mass unemployment would be necessary to deflate sterling wages back to pre-war gold values and that falling unemployment would cause a higher price, not a higher inflation rate. Both his predictions proved to be right.

Another less celebrated economist who managed to do wonders for his country was Ludwig Erhard. In 1942 he started writing the book ‘War Finances and Debt Consolidation’ having already predicted at the height of German glory that Germany would lose the war .
Post 1945, observers thought that Germany would have to be the biggest client of the U.S. welfare state. Yet twenty years later its economy was envied by most of the world. And less than ten years after the war people already were talking about the German economic miracle. Erhard's motto being "Don't just sit there; undo something."

Come 1991, India faced its biggest economic crisis, with foreign exchange enough only to purchase two weeks imports. Instead of traditional thinking of tightening the belt, Manmohan Singh and Narsimha Rao, only one month into their Government, prescribed Stabilization plus a credible structural adjustment program. At the time when the nation was hit by its worst crisis since independence, Manmohan Singh dared to talk about his vision and dream of becoming an economic super power. He dared to make every Indian take an ideological journey.

The strength of these people’s influence can be seen by the wave of economists who have criticised these peoples thinking and the fact that their visions cut across ideological barriers.

adi

2007-07-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Admire the Gujratis and the Marwadis!

Wrote this article on the day i Quit my job.

My father had gone with his college friends for a trip to lonavla a few weeks back, well some interesting things about it.

They were 12 of them.6 gujratis, 4 maharashtrians,1 south indian and 1 catholic. All the maharshtrians were academically and technically far better than the gujratis. One of those gujratis took 8 years to complete his engineering.(i am not exaggerating) Today most of the gujratis in the group are crorepatis and all 6 of them have their own businesses. All the maharashtrians including my dad and the south indian guy are working in some firm although with good designations.

Coming back to the gujratis-3 of the gujratis did not have any family business and started all on their own. One of them even went to the extent of selling his house in order to get capital to start his business. Even he had a family to care for! A few of the gujratis went into losses, went through failures but still hanged on with their dreams which bore rich dividends. One of the gujratis started a factory that makes air-tight packets for chips,Lays, and other food items. My dad tells me not a single packet of this kind was ever to be seen 20 years back and not many people would have the vision to think of this demand around the millenium year. Mind you the economy ws a closed one until '91 and not many would have even thought that the wafer/snack market even in some rural areas would be captured by MNC's who would require these air tight packets for their food items.

Many have visions and plans, but it takes guts to follow your dreams, come-what-may!!!

Life is tough when you do not fit the standard profile. Most of the people sacrifice their ambitions for the want of security. Why is it that very few maharashtrians and south indians venture into business. Whenever they have done so they have done very well, infact outdone most of their competitors,but then the percentage of people actually entering into businesses is very less. My barber once mentioned to me: for the average guys as long as he owns his own house and has 24 hours running water in the tap he will be happy.

So what is so different about these gujaratis-marwadi businessmen. Not all are born rich. But would an average working guy even think of selling his house/jewellery to start off a business. Risk is something not present in their diction. Time and again economists have said that buying a house is not an asset but actually a liability. Renowned economists have advised the buying of an house only after one has settled completely in his profession and life. But for an average Indian the buying of an house for oneself is the biggest achievement!! (i agree there would be difference of opinions on this issue) and all his energies and investment is directed towards the buying of an house. So that by the time he reaches marriageable age, it puts him in a better position to bargain in a marriage scenario.

Hats -off to these businessmen who are the actually building the nations economy. Today the Patels and Shahs are controlling the worlds diamond and jewellery business. If any amongst you people have ever read Fredrick Forsyth(Negotiator if i remember correctly) or Robert Ludlum novels you will find that the shopkeepers name is often patel-yes-even in the US of A!!! Because their business sense has now got world wide recognition. The entire western coastal fishing is owned by gujus/marwadis and those from the hindi heartland who hire local people to help them earn profits.

I could go on and on about stories of how people i know , have made it big, none of whom ever fitted the standard profile of a middle class person.

Disclaimer :
I am not asking anyone to quit their jobs and make money but dont work for long in some job you despise just because you feel secure and the bean counters pay you your monthly cheque.

Neither am I saying that you should drive all your energies only to get rich for the sake of getting rich, but use money as a count to measure you success. Aim high and try to fulfill your respective ambitions.

Explore, Dream and Discover.....

A thing created is loved even before it exists

2007-06-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Was just reading through the Deccan airways buyout by Kingfisher. Consolidation is in the air, for good or for bad. And this is happening in all sectors. Small fishes being gobbled by the larger ones.

But how does a person who has created a company from the scratch feel like when he has to let go off, the control of his firm. The company which he has built so that it could become a powerhouse in its own right. True that Business cannot be done with emotions, but just give a thought about how a person would feel when he has to sell his firm, something which has meant so much to him and is perhaps one of his Life’s big dreams, something for which he has developed a filial attachment to.

You might have had some plans for your firm but the financers don’t follow your mind and sometimes the compulsions of being listed in the stock exchange ensure that you cant follow your heart even if at the bottom of it you know you were right. Its like a friend coming to your birthday party and walking away with the entire cake.

But then again, life is a game and the courgeous and the innovative will make new rules to play the game and be back at it. People will attempt to take back the sparkle in your eyes and the ambition in your gut. You have to fight to keep this sparkle and ambition.

Adi

Walking through the rain.....

2007-06-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

I sat at the window sill

A Tea cup in my hand
Taking in the sweet fragrance of my wet Land

Besides the heavy rain drops was an undercurrent of silence in the air

Not a single voice nor a fidgety creature
Man is a helpless plaything at the mercy of nature

At that point a thought entered my mind

There would be farmers and today their eyes would not have a shine
There would be a wet child who could not afford to dine

A sweet young couple could be having the best of their time
An unfortunate urchin hoping to atleast get a dime

A lonely old man just going through the grind
His days are numbered he wouldn’t mind

There would be a young boy all raring to go
For with the morning Sun he needs new ideas to sow

Even he wants to apprecite the wet grass and the weed
But he cant sit back, hes got a family to feed

He wants to feel the blades of grass and the dew
He himself doesn’t know how his youth just flew

There would be a policeman keeping vigil to his own soul
For fighting this system has always been his only goal

He’s heard those hushed whispers in the corridors of power
Tonight he has to ensure shelter for all who will cower

He would see a Businessman, a virtual paragon of ingenuity
Seeking shelter in a slum, disasters don’t follow any disparity

A Damsel would be singing along with the rain pellets
Showing off to her friends her new bracelets

Proud to be an earning girl and independent
Hoping the next monsoon she bears a pendant

She likes this guy for he is honest about his sleaziness
Perhaps he could be the factor to bring her the happiness

There would be youngsters out on the streets
Helping out the homeless not for any credits

In this deluge they will dare
For people with a passion always care

There would be the confident young man

Walking through the deluge
Not thinking of it to be anything huge

He’s seen the Businessman
And also the policeman

He’s seen the youngsters help the old man
And thinks of the passers-by to be one of his clan

The plight of his fellow men brings to his eye a tear
He is not the one ashamed to acknowledge his fear

He’s ready to lend a helping hand
But does not have time to just wait and stand

He wont digress in his path which is long
Still he makes it a point to enjoy the song

He wants to reach quickly to his destination
For he knows he owes his vision a realization

Each of this kind knows the other exists
Perhaps thats the reason they all co-exist

Taking in the sweet fragrance of my wet land
I feel life is absolutely beautiful and grand

To strike the right chords it does take a while
The world belongs to the one who can walk through a disaster and smile

adi

Theres music in all things, if men had ears

2007-06-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

After quite some while I have resumed my piano classes, after almost a gap of 4 years. Feels good playing those keys, though the tunes I play are still far from being melodious.

I guess I would have been an outcast by now had I been in the Carribean or Queens’ own island, not knowing to play a single instrument. The American President, whenever he goes on foreign visit, one of the things he carries is the music quotes of the national anthem of the country he is visiting. While our Ministers, am not sure even know all the wordings of their own national anthem. If the King loves music, alls well with the land.

This is because music and for that matter even sports arent given enough importance in our culture. Learning a musical instrument is a part of the curriculum in most European Schools. Like we have to score a 40 in each subject at our graduation levels, why isnt that an imperative even for subjects such as athletics, music, painting etc with proper parameters set. If you can make every person to know atleast the basics of arithmatics by class 10, then developing a ear for music or atleast a liking for music for every student definitely is easier! Period.

This would not only give some poor musicians some kind of job at schools, but also ensure the drop out rates in schools are lesser. And perhaps the number of suicides at student level would reduce.

Adi

Theres no making lemonades out of this !!

2007-06-11T04:19:00.000-07:00

The Indian snack and cold drinks industry is something that has always fascinated me. Probably an industry that has a tremendous and forever potential for growth in a tropical country full of foodies.

Being a tropical country, India is probably one of the biggest markets of cold drinks in the world. By cold drinks I also mean the plethora of options at your discretion like nariyal paani, nimbu paani, kala-khatta, lassi etc. Soft drinks are a big part of this industry but in India they are just a part of it. “Nimbu paani” also known as “shikanji” in north india is still the highest consumed drink in this country.Also lemon drinks form a good 11% of the soft drink industry by sales and this is set to grow since Indians do know how to squeeze lemons!

Do they actually prefer squeezing lemons to having Mango Milk shakes? Well the truth is that lemon drinks are popular because they are cheap. And price is the single most factor determining the popularity of a drink in India.

Milk drinks though healthy, form only 2% of the entire beverage industry. Also the milk industry has been able to reach a figure of 2% thanks mainly to the smart pricing of “Amul chaas” at Rs.5 which forms a big chunk of the milk beverage sales.

Those urbanites prefering soft drinks to roadside nimbu paani is mainly because of the hygiene factor. This gives a wonderful opportunity to corporates to come up with a packaged/bottled drink offered at somewhere around Rs.4-5. How they will manage this and how will they handle a pan-India distribution network would be interesting to see.

As the development status of a country improves, Pepsi and Coca Cola are two companies that start getting the jitters, for across the world whenever a country has started progressing and reached a certain level, the market shares of both these companies have started reducing due to the entry of local players who have the capability to build proper distribution systems. And I believe India has reached that stage now. And with the retail boom, soon this industry could get flooded with many different packaged drinks at various prices to suit every consumer segment. Whether someone is able to come up with a 250 ml bottle for Rs 4-5 remains to be seen. Perhaps after the 1 lakh car the next big news could be “ the 4 rupee drink”.

Till then when dealed with a lemon make lemonade. Leverage the beverage market!

Aditya Khandekar

First blog

2007-06-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

The penchant for writing was always there, but never thought I would write a blog until I saw an article in the Sunday times which claimed IBM would surpass Infosys and TCS as the No. 1 IT company of India. I had predicted with my own analysis and had written an article about the same a few days before I read this article and my reaction was ….Hell! Even I had stated this though had not circulated my article in a Sunday daily or even amongst most of my friends. (What you do in this world is of no consequence, its wht you mke others feel you have done is what counts, so true, aint it)So my first blog starts with this very article, which though not well edited seems a good start. So here it goes

I have always been the one to crib about standard practices and theories. So this is a further addition to it. Not that I feel you should challenge it for the heck of it. But these practices get formed because they were a success somewhere, but its not necessary that these practices will get successfully replicated anywhere else.

I always feel that an organization should grow horizontally,move into different sectors once they have kind of established themselves in one sector. I sometimes don’t agree to the conventional thought of sticking to your core sector. According to me every organization has to venture into different sectors if it has the wherewithal and the capital.

For example, a bank has to move into the transport sector, because its big revenue business which only banks can afford since they can call the shots and bring consolidation. No bank has tried this anywhere in the world which surprises me. They start and end with tinkering of financial instruments and once in a while do come up with brilliant concepts, but always in the same field. People who can manipulate and tinker with finance can definitely apply their minds successfully at various other things which they never try to.

Its so much of cash doing the rounds every day. An active entry of a bank in the transport sector will change the way everything functions

A telecom company should look at ways to act as clearing agents instead of banks. Remittance is big business ....and what better way to remit money than with the instrument you fiddle with the whole day long....

A company like Infosys I believe is restricting itself and at some point of time the growth will stop. Imagine having around 40% of its balance sheet total in cash. I would say they are playing it too safe, something is terribly wrong. This is what differentiates a TATA or Reliance from everyone else in India, because they have constantly ventured into different sectors. Infosys on the other hand have been doing the same old business for the past many many years and are stocking up too much of cash. Don’t understand why all the IT companies have a penchant to stock up cash. Even after 10-20 years of operations, stock market listings, growths of 30% annually if you are still worried about a cash problem that could emerge due to a sudden depression, then those growth figures don’t mean much.

Also they say that “find a niche” within your sector. Finding niches is alright, but at the same time, niches will get you riches only if its applicable.

Everyone thought Sam Walton did not have much business sense when he started off. Because he decided to have everything in his store, from clothes to grocery to lingerie to crisps. No one had thought of this before. But he became the worlds richest man breaking every single rule in the book. To the extent that he never maintained a proper accounting system. He infact had an ESP accounting system, where ESP stands for Error Some Place. Imagine a company of the size of 18 stores at that time maintaining everything on paper and just writing error some place at the bottom to make their books balance. This is an absolute example of getting on with things without bothering too much about rules and practices. Because the underlying passion of such people does not permit them to bother about things they feel are unneccessary.

Being passionate not packaged is the key to such successes.

Aditya Khandekar