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
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
That sweet smell of a victory
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
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
Thursday, December 20, 2007
CHEENI KUM AND ATITHI DEVO BHAV
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
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
Friday, November 23, 2007
Placement shots-Instant Connections
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
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
Saturday, November 10, 2007
JaB wE mET
“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
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
Monday, November 5, 2007
Whom do you produce for?
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
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
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Life doesn’t give you a second chance.
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
“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
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