Pleasing everyone, is a task that cannot be done...

I know and live this statement so very well indeed. When you try pleasing everybody, you usually end up pleasing nobody at all including yourself. Oh well, everything in good time.
What I feel like and what I would actually do is two totally different things. It just isn't in me to run. Part of my problem I guess, I have to face it full head-on.

A serious problem with trying to please everyone is that you might be forced to abandon you ideals. Stooping down, as it were, from the bar you’ve raised for yourself just to make someone else happy will only makes you unhappy. In other words, there will always be a price to pay when trying to please everyone.

I just wish I could somehow solve all the problems and conflicts that I am encountering. Furthermore, solve all these with the least amount of trouble and pain and hurt if preferable. Many at times I feel like running away, but that isn't even an option anymore. It never was I guess.

I realised that if my best isn’t good enough for some people, bluntly speaking: that’s their problem. I can’t punish myself for that. I have decided not to waste more time and energy (because I have none to spare) in feeling bad because I can’t make everyone happy. Coming to terms, accepting things as they really are, actually helps. I just had to let go of the wishful thinking.

I’ll be happy with this truth:
Although I can’t please everyone, I can always please SOMEONE.

Is it the beginning to complete bifurcation of the country???

It is a sad time for India, going down a very bad path. As we keep dividing the country along state lines, I remember only one lesson from Indian history: be wary of "divide & conquer". Either its riots, divisions of states, complications like agitations against non-“Marathi Manoos” in Maharashtra or political controversies; India seems to be creating hurdles for its own development and progress.

And now, the oversimplification of the Telangana issue is ridiculous. It is wrong to divide the country on the basis of language, religion, or dominance of some caste. Division should have been purely on the administrative grounds.

Granting of Telangana is no solution, whereas it will be the root cause for developing fissiparous tendencies all over the country by interested political groups. If political parties do have political will, they must discuss this issue threadbare to assess the pros and cons dispassionately and then only move forward. And when there is a clear divide between the various political parties over the issue, such a big decision cannot be taken stand alone. The only persons to benefit from division are those who will become, ministers, chief minister DG police, & Chief Secretary & head of other departments. Rest everybody will be loser.

One must agree that the deprivation of opportunity and development cause separatism than any other reasons. If a geography is constantly ignored for whatever reason, then a revolt is bound to happen. But dividing into separate state is not the solution for underdevelopment. The whole world is worried about economy, climate, jobs, infrastructure, technology and future prospects; and look at us we are worried about forming a separate state. Instead, let’s try to fight the underdevelopment, get rid of the naxalites and create a healthy environment.

Some argue that what are the grounds on which we created Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh, that Telangana doesn’t satisfy. But if we go by the same logic, after creation of Telangana, what are the grounds that we can deny separate states for Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand or Coorg to be created? Their protests and agitations have also become.

And suppose, we still succumb to this demand and Hyderabad will go to Telangana. The question remains that why all the development in Andhra Pradesh should be taken straight away by the new state? What would be left in the remaining AP? Everyone has been immersed in developing Hyderabad, that most other cities seriously lack the resources.

Though the Constitution created the federal-like set up with three layer governments, in reality, the bottom layer - so called "Panchayat Raj" - has already vanished purely because of corrupt political atmosphere in the country. It means people lost voices in their own administration, despite India technically called a democratic nation! But is fasting, protesting and demonstrations a way to get things done in a democracy? The sovereignty and unity of the nation is at stake.

Thinking about it, my family and relatives agree that my house should be a separate state and I don't understand why the Govt. of India should object to this genuine demand. In fact, our neighbour works hard and earns more, which is something we cannot bear. I want my house to be made a separate state and the government should send me funds for development directly; if not, I will retaliate.

All I can say is that any decision taken in a hurry in such a scenario, by accepting the demand for a separate state, will give rise to a sever crisis and confrontation against the Law and Order of the country. It will set a bad example for the youth, to take the reins of violent protest to get the demands met.

Is the breakdown of our national unity nearing?

An end to the bad-luck with movies..2012 and Paa...

Finally, my uneventful binge watching boring movies ended with ‘2012’ and ‘Paa’.

2012 is a big, splashy and loud movie, more exhilarating that anything I had experience before. The movie portrays the year 2012 as the end of the world. For some, the story would be an example of idiocy, but it can be seen as a possible future outcome of happenings like solar storms, global warming, etc.

The problem with the movie is that it straight away jumps into the core issue without a build-up. It uses an ancient Mayan prophecy to establish the doomsday scenario. With some complains that it is a preposterous film, there's enough cheese here to satisfy the wildest of action movie buffs. Massive explosions, colossal waves, flipping cars, tumbling trains, cracking and drowning cities improbable escapes, mammoth sized arcs, it’s all there. It’s irresistibly entertaining.

But Paa, for me, is the star of the year. Yet another blockbuster from the Big B, it is a simple film told in the most simplistic manner.

Auro is a 13-year old progeria patient, a disease which causes accelerated ageing. Defying his looks of a 65-year-old, Auro is the same naughty 12-year old boy, who runs around, asks for piggybacks and plays in puddle. Auro has completely percolated down into Amitabh; it is only the vulnerability of the character that touches you, not the trademark baritone voice of Amitabh. It is indeed a casting masterstroke. Vidya Balan plays single-mum Vidya, who raises Auro with some help from her mother, after dumping her selfish boyfriend in college, when he suggests an abortion. Amol (Abhishek Bachchan) is not ready for marriage; he is keen to follow his father into politics. Years later, Amol, who is now a Member of Parliament, accidentally meets Auro at a school event, both oblivious to the fact that they are father and son.

Contrary to what the film’s marketing conveys, Paa is actually a mother-son story. The first half of Paa unfolds breezily, with witty dialogue and clever scenes. Even in delicate scenes, the obvious pitfalls have been avoided, that come with stories about characters suffering from grim conditions.

The only problem in the movie is an embarrassingly scripted tiff between the politician Amol and the media. Other than this, the excellent prosthetic make-up, dazzling cinematography and shooting score make Paa and easy, enjoyable watch. The movie clearly establishes how Indian film industry is trying to push the boundaries to a different level. Amitabh surely is going to bag awards for his brilliance in ‘Paa’.

Theatre vs Cinema..Brief Candle...

There has been a great change in people’s way of entertainment. To my mind, today most people prefer going to cinema or clubbing than spending a weekend watching a theatre. I can’t say that I am a theatre goer, but I am very much fascinated by the live performances and appreciate their talent a lot. I believe, the only thing that can popularize dramatic art is our passion for acting alive, our passion for pondering over our feelings and life problems, which theatre actors can make us do playing this or that character just before your eyes. It's a great experience to feel vividness and energy of actors who act for a limited audience. Theatre will be inferior to movies (in terms of its popularity) as long as we are not accustomed to experience the greatest feeling of being involved into the storm of emotions shared by the public in the auditorium.

Nevertheless after a long wait, I watched a play in Prithvi Theatre Mumbai. The last time I went there, I failed to get a ticket. But this time I reached well in time.

I witnessed the ‘Brief Candle’, a play directed by Lillete Dubey, starring well-known artists like Suchitra Pillai, Joy Sengupta, Amar Talwar, Zafar Karachiwala, Satchit Puranik and Manasi Parekh. The story goes like...

Avedna is a hospital and hospice for cancer and the terminally ill. The founders have requested for a cultural event on founder's day. Dr. Dave, Shanti and some of the terminally ill patients feel that a play written by an inmate who died of Aids related cancer will be an ideal choice. The play is a farce with some extremely funny situations revolving around a hotel room near the airport. As they rehearse the play, the actors discover similarities between themselves and the characters they are playing. It is clear that the dead playwright is speaking to them. The metaphor of arrivals and departures for life and death leaves them with a reflection of their own struggles and needs.

It is a poignant, tale that is also humorous and moving.

Awful Movie Spree continues..Tum Mile and Kurbaan...

After watching three bad movies on my last stay here in Mumbai, spanning Acid Factory, Surrogates and Blue, my awful movie spree continued with Tum Mile and Kurbaan. Tum Mile was absolutely pathetic, while Kurbaan at least gave me some return for my money.

Trapped in the deluge of 26 July, 2005, carefully navigating around half-submerged vehicles and dodging death on the flooded streets of Mumbai, Tum Mile is intended as an emotional drama about how a life-changing event makes Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan realise that they've always loved each other.

The problem is there's not enough drama in the screenplay to begin with. The first half of Tum Mile is spent setting up the relationship between Emraan and Soha, who play Akshay and Sanjana, a struggling artist and a successful journalist in Cape Town. Over the course of an hour we watch as they meet, fall in love, squabble, and ultimately part ways. Post-intermission, the action shifts to Mumbai where the couple is reunited years after calling off their relationship. With a convoluted story, poor photography and special effects, and uninspired leads, Tum Mile put a hummable show.

The other flick ‘Kurbaan’, noticeably, is set on the same plot of ‘NewYork’. However, it has been a more compelling and convincing version. With a credible performances from its leads and a comprehensive screenplay, the plot holes in the film are overlooked.

Avantika (Kareena Kapoor) teaches at the university and falls in love with colleague Ehsaan Khan (Saif Ali Khan). The duo marries and shifts to New York City. There Avantika becomes witness to some terrorist operations in her neighbourhood headed by a Muslim fundamentalist (Om Puri). Soon she realizes that she is a pawn to a huge conspiracy. She secretly seeks help from a television reporter Riyaaz (Vivek Oberoi) who attempts to infiltrate the terrorist outfit to foil their big plan.

The flaw with Kurbaan, however, is that it can't decide if it wants to be a serious film addressing a burning issue, or a commercial potboiler set against the backdrop of terrorism. Kurbaan starts as a love story, swiftly changes identity to a social film and keeps the viewer engaged throughout with its thriller treatment. Sensibly the romance is kept short and succinct without losing out on the chemistry of the characters. Once the terrorist activity comes to forefront, the love story is given a backseat as the story intends to highlight and discuss serious issues related to global terrorism.

Amidst all this, Kurbaan is a one-time watch, which you can’t remember later, but can’t regret either.

Truth or Happiness?

There is so much truth to the statement that truth or happiness, but not both. Since we encounter occasions where mostly truth and happiness do not go together, should one seek truth or happiness, is a question hard to answer. It requires a cognisant decision to be made as to which direction does one consider important – truth or happiness.

There is a quote that “The Truth shall set you free”. However in no shape or form does it say that happiness comes along in that freedom. And a learned person said that Wisdom is a burden if it does not make you free. This statement actually brings out the ultimate fact of life that we seem to overlook today. It essentially implies that wisdom is of no use if it is directed towards just imposing what is right or just finding what is right and not applied towards finding happiness for self and others.

This is completely true, I believe. I have been on the wrong path many times. My intention often turns out to be "find what is right", instead "let’s be happy". My experiences in life now say that – happiness is the better path, looking from the holistic point of view.

For example, I had already mentioned numerous times that a substantive answer to address most of the problems is having “No Expectations”. Now I want to also take another example, "Judgement". These days I have gotten stronger opinions about morals and right doing, as I now look at behaviour from a very keenly observant point of view, and find many "wrong" intentions in daily normal behaviour. For me, "ego" also falls in the wrong category, and this is one of important reasons why I find all behaviour "bad" these days. However, I do find the right ones, don’t worry. In fact I find more right ones than bad ones than many other people do, and hence I consider myself close to many people.

But I recently found that it was not helping me. Judging everybody was taking me nowhere. I needed to like the people as they are. Even though they are bad, they always have a good side, if not apparent, sometimes we need to dig it out from them. And most people need love and love can be the means of relationships. (These days, when it is becoming easy to live, people are more tending to not needing love with other people, but I am sure, if they have the proper experience, they will ultimate realize it regardless of how individualistic they are).

And then, when I found somebody who was really not understanding how things work and his/her lack of empathy was causing trouble for everybody, instead of finding solutions to the problem that lead to peace and happiness for all, my ego and anger started rising and I started finding ways which gave support to them (ego and anger) instead, causing bad consequences. However, hopefully I have realized soon, and I can swerve the future.

Finding truth in world, and living with is almost next to godliness now. Sometimes, living in a myth or amidst a false belief is essential. What I consider important is that we don’t lie to ourselves. And then everything is on track.

Let us all be successful in finding joy for everyone. Let was walk vehemently on that path, with determination to never fail.

Establishing my existence

Hey folks, I am still alive. After a prolonged unexpected gap, I have found bit of time to get back to my niche. Its a nostalgic feeling when I have a look into my blog, just takes me back to the time when I used to spend a dozen of hours everyday in front of my system. Once I have got into the corporate hub, I just got screwed with work and I feel happy that somehow I could find some time now. I am currently working on a couple of projects which makes me hop often from Indore to Mumbai and vice versa. Working late hours, and stretched at both ends, now I feel I have got imbibed into the corporate life. I hope I would be able to proceed with putting my thoughts into words more often.

A World In Motion...

I wasn't required to spend time in deciding this title for the post. It is the name of the event I am talking about here, and with which I am associated with. The concept is good, and I found it relevant as well.

A World In Motion (AWIM)

This curriculum joins together teachers, students, and industry volunteers in an exploration of physical science while addressing essential mathematic and scientific concepts and skills. Industry volunteers play an essential role in motivating the next generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math by bringing their everyday experiences into an AWIM classroom.

The abandoned citizens of Mumbai...

My current project office in Mumbai for SAP implementation is on Reay Road.

Reay Road Railway Station on harbour line is a landmark and a heritage railway station in Mumbai. But I doubt if one can get that sort of feeling on going there. Probably most of us who visit Mumbai, would not have heard of this place, forget about visiting it. But me visiting it the first time popped sever

What I saw there was another portrait of an underdeveloped Mumbai, where you see no signs of proper living conditions. So what seemed to be restricted to known areas, like Dharavi and Byculla, is definitely not the case.

Since the beginning of the city, slums have been a part of Mumbai’s landscape, posturing as festering wounds on a civic space. When you land or take off from the Mumbai airport, you get a good glimpse of the habitat.

Often we hear and read about plans to clear Mumbai, and provide housing to the slum-dwellers. But this looks like an intractable task to me. The reason being, that a place like Dharavi can be considered for redevelopment because it would be an striking proposition for the builders, but there are a whole lot of others which are along the roadsides, railway tracks or on footpaths. There is no money to be made there, so it would not attract the builder. The government also has been benign with their approach to the issue of slums and their proliferation. With these pictures of Reay Road, which are still a lot “human” as compared to what I actually witnessed but could not gather the courage to photograph, you would see that the appalling sores on the cityscape speak volumes of the fortitude of people. They are also the rightful citizens of the city, but have been left abandoned with their fate.It needs a conscience, a tremendous political will and the mindset of non-slum dwellers to get rid of this inhuman state of living, which is a blot on Indian civilisation.

At last, I rode my new bike...

October 31, 2009. Finally relaxed my nerves of excitement to ride my bike.

Well, to inform everyone, I have cleared the clouds of confusion of which bike to take by eventually buying a Hero Honda Hunk - a strong muscular black coloured beast.

Now I am not writing this post to elaborate on how my bike looks, or how good it is. But if I say that I got the bike on 21st October, but did not ride it for 10 full days, you would surely look at me with surprise. But that is the truth.

Actually my Mumbai trip from 22nd, and thereafter me going down with cold and cough made me reach this long waiting period. My hands were itching to get hold of the grip, and go zooming out for a long long ride. And when it ws Saturday approaching, I knew that finally the wait was about to be over.

It was bliss. The feel and ownership of a new bike is surely amazing. It might be short-lived, but at least in the initial few months, I am going to relish and cherish it like a treasure. (For 10 days, it was covered with a bedsheet and tied with a rope to prevent dust from settling on it.)

And to my relief, Sumit also approved, after his ways of testing, that the bike is nice. :)

Solution to a lot of problems in Life – “NO EXPECTATIONS”...

After a lot of thought and reflecting back on where things go wrong, I have found a substantive answer that addresses some problems in life. This does not correspond to only me, or any one section of the society, but I believe the mass can relate to it.

We frequently face conflict in our lives because we can't deliver to someone's expectations or we expect too much from others. When they fail expectations, we get angry, upset and forget all the good in them because of one failed expectation. For example, angry customers would create a scene if the products or services they bought did not fulfil their expectations. But I am talking of a much broader spectrum of expectations. I see that every day in my personal life, in the lives of my close ones, as well the public. Some hold on to that as a grudge and constantly bring conflict. It doesn't serve well in the long run. I specifically want to focus on the expectations in a relationship, primarily friendship.

It is high time as one gets over with that golden period of any relation wherein everything is ideal and works well, he should realize that friendship is not everything in life. As soon as one realizes it, better for him/her. What if one gets to know that friendship which meant the world for him is only superficial relationship? Some friends just care enough to be there in your good times and one incorrect step they are not there.

I feel like putting my hypothesis as “REFRAIN FROM EXPECTING TOO MUCH OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP UNLESS YOU TOO SURE OF THE RELEVANCE IT HOLDS FOR THE OTHER” because when your friendship becomes your world, and all of a sudden things come to a standstill, you start getting the feel of a lost creature and the whole motive of the friendship has gone astray. The belief takes over us that all the stories of true friendship are just too ideal, but in this world no one really cares. It hurts and makes one sink to the deepest furrow of grieves. This commandment is the best way to survive in this contemptible world where everyone lives for himself first and then thinks otherwise.

I received a text message which is also very true and apt in such scenarios. Never tell your problems to anyone except who genuinely cares for you. Most people would be happy that you are in trouble, and the rest don’t care about your sorrows. With thrashed expectations you can never revive your friendship again how hard you may try. At least when not expecting much from the relationship, everything is casual, and life moves on.

Relentless Thoughts

I think that facts are stubborn things. I believe in that. My life has had a number of insistent moments, which at times leave haunting memories and trails of thoughts behind ,affecting my perception and my attitude towards life and relationships. Despite of what I am writing here, I'm still open minded enough to know that circumstances surrounding facts can and do change. As have mine.

Days have gone, time has passed,
They say time heals, but to me, time kills and rots;
I may not be a great writer or a vivid poet,
But I can portray and scribble the words of my thoughts.

Each passing day, I settle in dismay,
Sitting by the window, all I see is my past;
Perplexed and baffled with the varied harsh experiences,
I wonder when it would be my lingering last.

Relentless thoughts plague me every day,
making me realise how much scathe I might have caused;
Hiding behind a mask of whimsy whims and pretensions,
I feel that the happiness in my life has paused.

I've been hurt in incomprehensible ways,
Hurts that last to this very day;
Tranquillity seems like a distant reality,
With my serenity beset, I guess it will always end this way.

Amidst the picturesque image of the illusions I had,
These thoughts of mine seem stricken;
I’ve realised that life's a bitch with no alluring presence,
Thus from now on there's nothing much on life to be written.

Is this what we want our life to be???

Recently I got a mail from my friend, which had this small description of how life is today. The way our lives have been reduced to being merely work machines, I found it apt and worth mentioning here.

Life is...

“Leaving the house in the morning, dressed in clothes that you bought on credit card for work, driving through the traffic in a car that you are still paying for, putting in fuel that you cannot afford, in order to get to the job that you hate but need so badly so that you can pay for the clothes, car, fuel and the house that you leave empty the whole day, in order to live in it.”

What should I blog???

Initially when I started writing, my contemplations were all about what to write on the blog, how discretely would I write, what shall be the title and the theme; and finally I decided that all these things don’t matter. All that matters is to start blogging and the topics and themes shall follow. And so I bring forward random thoughts and expressions of my life, trying to put them into words in the best possible way.

Today I have been deliberating that it is my blog and so obviously my turn to blog and it has been my turn to blog since Tuesday. But what to blog? I thought of several ideas to blog and here I am...blank. I guess I’ve been sort of blank in my writing these days, also. Not that I don’t have ideas, I always have ideas. All I have to do is go out on the road or think of my life and people around me or watch television, and I get ideas for my own. It is also a great way to get inspired. But lately I’ve been doing summery things. I think maybe there is a time for everything. I know I will write another post soon. I know the time will come. I will see others reading my blog and either smiling, or reflecting back those things upon themselves. But I just want to ensure that I am discrete enough not to make my personal life too open for others to bog me down. Probably I need to write my personal diary.

Frozen Tears...

This predicament is not for a while,

But often in life, I have to give a fake smile...

Smile, although my heart feels like breaking.

Smile, although I am hurt inside.

Smile, although I feel like crying my lungs out.

Smile, with a lump in my throat that even loved ones don't notice.

I prevent my eyes reflecting my grief, to fight bravely all the fears,

I wish that all my tears turn into Frozen ice, into Frozen tears!!

"Hardest moment is not when you lose something and tears come out of your eyes, but its when you lose something and left broken, but you still manage to smile."

Movie Review - All The Best...

At last, a breather amidst a gamot of bogus movies. All the best is undoubtedly the most entertaining film amongst the 2009 Diwali releases.

Tucked away beneath some pointless songs and overblown action scenes, this is a silly yet surprisingly enjoyable tale of misunderstandings and mistaken identities. The story involves two buddies (Fardeen Khan and Ajay Devgan) who owe an awful lot of money to a local don, but have no means to raise it. Fardeen lies to his elder brother Sanjay Dutt about him being married so as to get more pocket money. Renting out the bungalow to get money was the only option, but Sanjay Dutt suddenly shows up unannounced at the wrong time, leaving Fardeen and Ajay trapped in a mess. Mughda Ghodse and Bipasha Basu, do not strike out as much, but add a lot to the story of mistaken identities. The setup includes a bunch of madcap characters including a mute gangster who communicates by rattling a spoon inside a glass, a Malayali housemaid with a deep voice, a crackpot tenant who can't wait to move into his new house, and a tempo-driver who wants to unload the furniture in his vehicle so he can attend to his pregnant wife.

The maker has got it spot on in keeping the audience laughing with a clean movie, without resorting to below the belt humour and vulgar interludes. Ajay Devgan’s looks are a little cynical, but he showcases his improved comic timing and towers above the rest. Sanjay Dutt adds in with a top form and entertains. Johnny Level and Sanjay Mishra have made the proceedings funnier, with witty one-liners and hilarious sequences keeping the audience trapped.

There is nothing new in this movie when it comes to novelty, but the background score and the performances truly tune well with the storyline. The choreography and cinematography is elegant and pleasant. Thought not very different, it sure is effective.

Like every other bollywood movie, ‘All The Best’ also left some loopholes, but when you watching an ensemble piece like this, such blunders can be overlooked. And reviewing the other movies that have released at the same time, I sure know that this movie is going a long way. All the Best!

Movie Review - Blue...

Third movie in a week, but the consequence was no better than what I had with the other two. Blue has been washed up and deserves to go down deep, failing the expectations it had built with the promos and the cast.

This movie has been claimed by media reports, to be the most expensive Hindi film ever made, with a very strong host of stars including Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif, Sanjay Dutt, a guest appearance by pop star Kylie Minogue; and also the crew members like composer AR Rahman.

But what is the end result of all this money and talent? An incredibly daft underwater thriller.

The plot essentially involves a coveted treasure, but the way it has been put into the story is lethargic. Akshay Kumar is rich, but obsessed with finding the treasure lying in a sunken ship called Lady in Blue. Sanjay Dutt, who is considered the only person in the world to unearth the treasure, is reluctant to even talk about the ship or the treasure. So Akshay puts up a plan around Zyed Khan (Sanjay Dutt’s brother) to get Sanjay in for finding the treasure. Lara Dutta is into the movie probably as an Eye-tonic, and there was no need to Katrina at all.

In the absence of a sane screenplay, we are subjected to some burnout action sequences and bike chases (those who have seen Torque, would notice the extremely close resemblance of the scenes). For most part of the movie, nobody goes near the ship, but when they eventually do, they find the treasure with such ease, that you wonder why nobody else did it before them.

The dialogues are juvenile and with a low IQ. The casualness in the conversations fails to induce depth to the cinema. And the so-called suspense about Akshay Kumar’s gray shade in the role can be easily anticipated and judged in the beginning itself.

For those who still want to watch the movie, should stay tune for – an astonishing cinematography at the beautiful location of Bahamas; the serene beaches and authentic aquatic life; dazzling and sexy Lara Dutta in the first half of the movie, and some nice songs to keep you awake. And of course, the bike lovers would love the Ducati.

Mumbai: Heat is tolerable..Humidity sucks...

Mumbai, oh Mumbai.......the smell and intense humidity that greets you when you step off that plane is second-to-none.......I can't decide whether I love to hate it or hate to love it. The fun just begins.

It's like a punch to the gut. You walk out of your place or your car, or any air conditioned place, and you're hit with an invisible wall of such magnitude that it almost knocks you over (usually completely ruining your mood). This of course has been the weather situation in Mumbai almost throughout the year for as far back as I can remember (or as far back as my dad remembers.. and his father would have before him).. It is not the hotness that burns you out, but the humidity which kicks in at around 85% and above, making breathing a chore.

Daytime is death, it literally sucks the life out of you. It's so hot that you'd probably die if you stood in the sun for more than 15 minutes. Air conditioning is one invention that I believe has single-handedly increased the average lifespan of a person in this region by 20 years. And the deodorant market has boomed for sure because of the sweaty conditions, since taking a bath becomes a waste in a matter of minutes.
The ministry of electricity and water thus enjoys playing God. In Mumbai, water cuts are expected after Diwali. And to add to it if you come to know that some guy decides when and for how long to turn off an entire area's electricity, you’ll surely feel doomed.

Amidst this tiring way of living where you need to travel a hell lot tightly stuffed into the local train compartment, or brushing shoulders in a bus, the only good part is the sea. With the gush of cool air coming from towards the sea, one can know that he is approaching a heavenly experience. Sitting at Band Stand, Carter Road or Marine Drive, and watching the sea, is an altogether different experience which can take off the entire tiredness of the day in a split second. I will write more about it in my coming posts, but here I am just re-emphasizing that the financial capital of India doesn’t make life easy in any way.

Two different genres of movies on the weekend...

Last weekend, I saw two movies: Acid Factory (in Hindi) and The Surrogates (in English). I cannot give a detailed review of the two, since they are not worth the effort. But I consider it my duty that others should not be subjected to the same trauma which I underwent in those hours in the movie hall.

'Acid Factory' was a home production for me, produced by Mumbai Mantra (Media & Entertainment arm of Mahindra Group). The secret to this action thriller is a whole lot of gas. No offences meant, but actually the story showcased the chaos and confusion amongst the characters, who suffer from temporary amnesia after a gas leakage in a factory. An under-cover cop operation, a friend’s betrayal, a kidnapping, a villain with a sexy chick – how can this drag try and posture itself as a wannabe thriller? Even with a strong enough cast with likes of Irfan Khan, Manoj Bajpai and Diya Mirza, and the surrounding location as Capetown, the movie seems to be economically made with most part of the movie shot inside the factory. Meanwhile, a hundred chases happen, cars get blown up, and people get killed. The ending gets wrapped up all too abruptly even delicately hinting at a sequel. I would say that the plot was good, but the cinematography and the overall movie could have been made better. Some might call it a suffocating psychological thriller at its core. But I find it a better attempt than saying ‘Sorry Bhai’.

In case of ‘The Surrogates’, it can be only the use of human emotions, some cool technology and Bruce Willis that can save this film from simply being a compilation of similarly themed “Too much technology” lessons. Some science fiction films take us to different worlds or alternate realities, or offer visions of the future. In each of these new worlds, certain new rules apply. In this future world, humans can strap themselves into a chair, plug themselves into a bunch of sensors and have complete control of an artificial being, including movement, speech and senses. It depicts what can happen in the future with such surrogates –what was to help and aid the disabled, ends up even crippling people because of over reliance on surrogates – become human being again. But the movie is too small and rushed, taking a toll on people to understand what’s happening. And the film leaves behind too many unanswered questions in its quest to drive the action forward.

My first experience on the other side of the table...

October 7, 2009 – Another novel experience as a part of my career, when being the campus ambassador of Mahindra for IIM Indore I was asked to be a part of the summer recruitment process at my alma mater. It has been an opportunity one doesn’t get so early in the career, that too when you not from an HR background and just 4 months into the system. For sure, makes me feel proud and responsible.

Four panelists in all, including me, were all geared up at an odd late night hour for the process. Mahindra gets a preferential treatment at IIM Indore owing to the rapport being developed over last two years, and thus the Placom of IIM Indore allowed us to conduct the process on the night before the full-fledged roll down of the summers.

The initial shortlist was given on the basis of their resume scores, based on the information provided by them in the forms. Out of over 200 forms, 30 were picked. A group round followed by interviews, was what we had scheduled for the shortlisted candidates. It was a Bingo round aiming at finding out the qualities of individuals from the public, wherein all the 30 were grouped together, and they had to speak about any other person in the group. The response was over whelming and the participants were also happy to hear about themselves.

8 made it through to the interview, and we split ourselves into two panels for the same.

Interviews are not 100% foolproof means of selection. But the process went nicely, making me realise those aspects of an interview which while I was the interviewee for so many years, did not understand that well. It is an altogether different ball game when you face questions and when you ask. So be it as interviewer, or an interviewee, stepping into the other person’s shoes is necessary for expectations matching and to make the interview a worthwhile selection process.

Eventually, the HRs boiled down to taking 3 people, but I staunchly argued to persuade and get one more person in, more because I had interviewed that candidate and found her knowledgeable. Probably the difference in opinion with my senior co-panellist, because of reasons I wrote about in “Openness and Transparency”, created the dilemma. But I knew the frame of mind in which a fresher is when just into the MBA program. And by god’s grace, I succeeded in convincing the HR.

9.00 PM at night to 4.30 AM in the morning – it was exhausting. But definitely, the pains were worth the experience.

Subtle art of indirect communication...

One who reads this title must be wondering that am I so knowledgeable that I am writing on something so big and difficult. The answer is NO. It is just the change in the schedule on being in Mumbai has driven my brain into motion, provoking my thought process to think a little intellectually as well as rationally.

Subtle and indirect communication – that’s an art I don't have, and NO, being frank and speaking straight is not an asset. It is a big big big disadvantage.

Saying "I don't know, and I'm sorry I don't have the time to do it" is not right. Yes there's a right answer to it, I just don't know it.

Saying "I'm not going to do this bullshit, simply because someone else is idling and not doing it" is incorrect. Yes, once again, there is a right answer to it, a right way to tackle it, and I don't know that either.

Saying "this is not a fair price, I'll pay x amount", isn’t a smart way of bargaining either. And yes, you guessed it again; I sure as hell don't know the right way to go about it.

This is something I've been thinking of a lot lately. Things that happen at work, at home, amidst friends, when you're out shopping, or just trying to negotiate with life. I've always had a tendency to say straight out what I am thinking, and somewhere along the way, lost the art of getting work done by a circumlocutory way, what we term as ‘ungli tedhi kar ke ghee nikalna’. I am not good at it, and I also realise that it costs me. I pick more quarrels where I'm left looking like the offending party, when I could have answered obliquely and got back my own. I complain and nag about things which I can't seem to change, which I could perhaps have manipulated better and got better results. I am almost unable to bargain, since that’s one area where this skill is put fully to use. And needless to say, I end up getting upset and hurt, with a tag that I portray a lot of unnecessary attitude.

So effectively, my ineffectiveness at this effective way of communication has taken a toll on my efficiency in all aspects of life.

Anyone know of any diploma courses I could take in this??

Openness and Transparency...

Four months into my professional career, I get bewildered by certain thoughts. Openness and transparency – they seem to be such favourite buzzwords in the corporate world. All this talk of the utopian little universe where hierarchies have been flattened, levels reduced, there is free flow of communication and information - both upwards and downwards. But wait, we just flattened the hierarchy right, ok then, so let’s just say there's free flow of communication and ideas.

Of course there is much to do about openness and transparency, if we seek a work culture where resources operate in unison for common goals.

Writing this while I am in Mumbai for some work, and meanwhile I discussed several key aspects of the attitude and behavioural aspects of a profession, with my seniors.

Sometimes, some places seem to make an honest effort –to actually do things transparently. But I wonder, if perhaps it’s a cultural thing, especially in India, to fight against these things. To go out of the way, to close ranks, create hierarchies, use information as power, firmly treat managers as bigger people than others, try to keep people in their "place" so to say. And this trend is more prominent in the conventional family owned businesses, even though they grow up becoming MNCs. The conservatism still prevails.

I'm not saying that other countries/cultures have an inherently open or better culture. Just that here the different strata seem to pay inordinate amounts of importance to different things. The seasoned veterans will still value years of experience at work and traditional mindset over a fresh gush of thoughts. And the newer generation needs more dynamism and radical changes, but instinctively classifies parts of work as lower grade. Becoming an MBA, you consider yourself to be of a different pedigree, and then you have a list of tasks as “touch-me-not”, a list of people you don’t attend to, and what not. An honest attempt at openness is actively discouraged. Very actively, by whatever means necessary.

All very well, maybe with our current kind of work and the mix of people who work, that is the only system that can perform. Maybe assembly line sweatshops can only operate in that environment, and not in one of the utopian concepts.

But the question still remains. Can you actually have creative output in that environment? Can you actually make the much envied "world class product" in such a setting? I don't think so. I might be motivated to keep my head above water, but beyond that? Is a collaborative approach possible?

Who knows...

Choosing a bike is so damn difficult...

The Great Dilemma – this is what one faces in choosing which bike to buy, out of a vast portfolio of offerings in the market. But for me, the thing has been worse.

My confusion started with a decision to be made between buying a car or a bike. Must be sounding absurd that why should there be a confusion since both cater to different needs. But my situation has been different. I just needed a vehicle, and had no inclination towards either a car or a bike.

And I got no help whatsoever at home in clearing the air, since Dad said Yes for both. The exact statements being “Ye bhi le sakte ho”, “ Jo lena hai le lo”, etc. :) Lots of constraints went in - like how much I need to travel, when would I shift to Pune, formalities while shifting, financial outflow, etc. etc. Eventually after lot of deliberation and discussion, we boiled down on taking a bike.
But now the Great Dilemma was in front of me. I knew for sure that I would go for 150cc+ segment, but even that has so many models, and each model has a variant. Bajaj Pulsar 150, Bajaj Pulsar 180, TV Apache RTR 160, TVS Apache RTR 180, Hero Honda Hunk, hero Honda CBZ Extreme, Yamaha FZ16. God! Bewildering situation. I decided to go and get the quotations for each, and also the financing options and festival offers, thinking that this might help me. But everywhere I went, things seemed to be identical. The specifications of all vehicles are so similar, that my mind stopped working. Totally blank.

I resorted to the next option – reading reviews. But bloody these reviews, there is no clear stance in the comparisons they make. They give the pros and cons of each, and leave an open ended frame of mind again. Waste of time going through those reviews.

Finally, I thought of asking the people who owned these bikes, and ask them about the performance, maintenance requirements, etc. I probably missed out on the fact that no one says bad about his/her own belongings. That is what happened with me. Everyone gave me a majestic view and vivid description of the attributes of their respective bikes. This exercise again went in vain.

Currently with a few days to go for Diwali, I am in such a fix that have not been able to decide anything. I need mileage, as well as power. I need looks, as well an economical proposition. Arghh. Leaving the choice to my Dad. If someone has suggestions, forward them to him, not me.

Fire-fighting percolating to enhanced learning...

This is a description of a week at my workplace, just a fortnight ago (third week of September).

After a takeover, what follows is a plethora of unforeseen problems. This came true with Mahindra & Mahindra after they took over Kinetic Motor Company Limited in November 2008. Mahindra took on-board all the employees of erstwhile Kinetic, but the problems had just began.

Since the beginning, there had been issues over wage agreement with the workers, which went on for months, until this week which I am talking about. Amidst all the negotiations happening, one day, the assembly line came to a standstill. And what followed, was a strike from the workers. The situation was much serious than what it would have been in normal circumstances, because for an automotive company already under financial distress, halting of production at a time when it has just launched two new models in the market could be a big jolt, that too when the main selling festive period of Navratri and Dussehra had come.

So in this situation of crisis, the onus was on the staff and managers to somehow manage to take the ship across without getting severely daunted by the storm. And they successfully rose up to the occasion. For the entire week, the staff and managers took the responsibility of running the entire plant to the best of their capacity. Every individual took up the task according to his skills, and slogged over time to maintain considerable production. It obviously took time to get used to the work which we all usually oversee and not perform, but we managed to produce 100 scooters a day easily, even with all sorts of line stoppages occurring.

My primary reason for mentioning this incident is that the amount of learning that percolated through each and every individual during this week has been far greater than what one can think of. And for me, it had been one of the best experiences over the few months of my professional career.

The persistence of the management, continuous communication and motivation broke the barriers which prevented the staff and managers to dirty their hands on the shop-floor. Everyone learnt the minute details of making a scooter. The learning was immense. Even I now know how to assemble and dismantle a scooter, how the wiring harness is laid, the connections done, etc. Though I had been spending ample time on the assembly before this incident, I lacked so much clarity. Touching and feeling the product at every stage of its development gives a totally different feel. Now I can proudly say that I work in a manufacturing company, and I know in detail what my company makes. This probably is something which many people would otherwise lack, and they would just know the superficial aspects.

Apart from the technical knowhow, I personally gained a lot of advantage in terms of the networking I could do in a week. I got a chance to intermingle with personnel from every department, and seeing me work at par with them, made them also open up with me more, which wasn’t possible in the usual circumstances. Sharing ideas, discussing views, telling stories – this informal interaction did wonders in enhancing my knowledge and knowing more about my workplace. Following a routine, punctuality and timeliness are the qualities that I got to develop even further in this one week.

To add to all the positives, even the workers on seeing us work started getting restless, and realised their duties. It was palpable that they all want to get back to work. So finally, the management and the union came to a consensus, and the strike was called off, restoring the activities in the plant back to normal. The way workers happily talked to all the managers and staff after that, shaking hands and congratulating, truly showed the emotions that go while one works at the workplace. It is not only a means of earning livelihood, but also a place of worship.

All these experiences of mine would be a part of my memories as one of the best experiences of my career, which people cannot usually under go.

Footprints '09...

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. Going back to the college days is always fun - an opportunity to know what my batch mates or my seniors are doing now, and a chance to relive those memorable days together - a prospect to catch up with all buddies.

This is what Footprints 09 had in store for me, and all other alumni of IIM Indore.


October 1 evening: Though Footprints was scheduled from October 2–4, 2009, I and Asoka reached the campus the previous evening itself. The place was all buzzed up with the preparations for Indore Marathon happening the next day. It made us go back to the same day last year, when we slogged our asses out for organising the Marathon. Of course, we had lesser resources and more work to do that time. I and Asoka decided on going for a night-out at the marathon venue, as we did last year. So we packed our bags, and were all set to get into the bus, when suddenly laziness surmounted us, and we decided to watch a movie and take a nice nap.

October 2: The juniors were exhausted with the amount of work they put in for the marathon. And most alumni were going to arrive on 2nd itself, but Charkha was there early in the morning. So with a kind thought of utilising the time, we went to watch “Wake up Sid” with some more friends of mine. No doubt had a good time, but what was waiting for us back at the campus were floods of abuses and curses by the friends who were shouting like anything that why couldn’t we wait for them to go to the movie. Alas! All we could do was ‘hear and nod’. The day passed chitchatting and gossiping, pulling each other's legs.

As usual, the night life at the campus was remarkable. Counter Strike and cricket – what more did we need to mark an end to the first day of footprints. Back to the hostel with serene environment, surely was amazing. And to add to our joys, the weather showed a turnaround from scorching heat to pleasant breeze with drizzles.

October 3: It was the institute’s Founders’ Day, but no one bothered to go and listen to the exorbitantly intellectual talks by some eminent people in the morning. In the evening, we did go for the formal inauguration of Footprints, which as usual started at IST. But it was compensated by our diro, Prof. Ravichandran, who did us completely with his witty but thought provoking talk. The developments happening in our alma mater and the diro’s vision for future, truly made us feel proud.

I don’t know who suggested organising ‘Gandharva’ music late in the evening when a sumptuous dinner was laid out for us in the lawn. So as obvious, most of us preferred eating over listening to the music which wasn’t our taste. Relishing the food from ‘Sayaji’ has been something which we had been doing for the two years at campus. What followed was an awesome play “Breaking News” by Idanim, which acted as a cherry on the top of the pudding.

And eventually, the most awaited dealing for all the alumni as well as the participants. The famed melting pot and D-block basketball court of IIM Indore, which has been witness to many a students and events across years, was the venue of the informal party organised by the juniors (call it ‘DJ with Drinks’). Varied tones, from hard rock to Punjabi songs, kept everyone’s legs moving. The booze did the rest. The party went on till early morning, with Apoorva and Thagela being amongst the last to leave the dance floor.

October 4: After the sort of party that went on the previous night, one should not expect to see early risers. So it was the Alumni-com who went banging on doors to wake us up and get us to the mess for Brunch with faculty. Reluctantly, we all started filling the mess, with a lesser inclination to meet the faculty, but more interested in the food.

The mega-reunion came to an end on October 4th itself, with the reaffirmation of the clichéd saying, “I came I saw I conquered”.

IIM Indore still generates a strong affinity amongst its alumni, this was reflected in the number of alumni who willingly invested their time to attend the meet, coming from all over the country. As expected, the maximum junta was from the batch of 2009, i.e. my batch. But whosoever turned up, would surely have had a gala time.

Coffee..Unleashing the Sociable Power...

“Behind every successful individual, is a substantial amount of coffee...”

I adore good coffee! There I've said it.
I am not one of those coffee fiends that drink coffee all day long. But during this tiring and hectic routine, amidst such scorching heat even in the month of September, I sure can turn my mouth towards a cup of coffee to relax my veins. And while I am waiting for getting my coffee brewed, several thoughts pop up in my mind and I end up writing here.

Life is a journey chock-full of literal and proverbial coffee breaks. Imagine the things that can happen over a cup of coffee. Discovery of an innovative gadget, a new music track, chance finding of a solution to an issue, thought of getting back with your old mates, or saying yes to a marriage proposal! Well, there are numerous possibilities to be explored over a cup of coffee. Not to forget heart-to-heart conversations.

It’s been a numerous times that I have myself experienced the same. Spending hours and hours with my Phoenix friends at Buddies cafe near Treasure Island, going with cousins to Lotus, or meeting new friends at Cafe Coffee Day. Relating to it, I deciphered this code that Coffee brings sociability to new heights and awareness. It's a personal enrichment that touches every aspect of your life, be it personal or professional.

It is fairly well known that going for a coffee with somebody can help you persuade them. A key reason why this works is that 'having a coffee' moves the person out of any threatening formal situation and puts them into a relaxed and friendly environment. With their guard down and friendly trust increased, they are more open to suggestion. This aspect does wonders particularly in corporate world. Sales people would know this well, and many big deals have been closed over coffee, lunch or dinner. Coffee is even the classic ice-breaker and motivator among colleagues and clients for businessmen and businesswomen.

Coffee shops thus continue to have a large social resonance, becoming primary social meeting places for youth, as well as the veterans. For example, you've just been set up on a date by your friends and are now frantically searching for a place to go to that would be cheap, low-maintenance, and provide an easy move-out strategy in case things don't look good. The perfect solution? Go out for coffee at a nice specialty coffee shop.

Isn’t it amazing how coffee brings together so many people in so many different situations?

I am not championing a cause. I just love good Coffee and great Conversation. My coffee is now here so would take a leave, but I would highly recommend making a nice shot of espresso to compliment your reading because there's nothing better than reading about coffee with a nice cup of coffee by your side. It is bound to get the mind brewing!

Can’t you smell it now?

Grasping for objectivity in my subjective life...

“How can there be so much difference..between a day off and an off day ?”


Sundays are always off. But I finally get a weekday off for myself from everything: getting up early, hectic work, jingo colleagues, et al. And the occasion for the same, is Vishwakarma Jayanti. Sorry, but If you ask me about it, I won’t be able to answer anything. But still, there is not a lot that i have to squander away with the time I have. I just visited the book-fair and went window shopping. Totally unlike my usual self.

Frankly, I can’t recall when was the last time I spent a whole day in between the week, lazying around and sleeping and reading and watching TV, or going on a long outing with friends. Ah! I miss this so much. Come to think of it, it’s only being about three months on my job.

But whatever, it’s been a good start to my corporate career. My job profile’s good (something which I was too eager for), pay’s decent considering the recession and all that, and probably the most important thing is that I have, at least for now, not acted stupidly on the job.

Anyhow, the out-and-out worst part of the current job is the bloody travelling time. It takes more than an hour to travel to my workplace, and the type of hostile environment I get there, does not make it any better for me. So I have resorted to the best thing in life...Sleeeep. Taking a nap while going, and coming back, surely relaxes me a lot out of the busy schedule.

Anyways, this is not an act of bewilderment, or to gain sympathy. After all the serious stuff and critical writing that I have done straight away since I started blogging, I thought I needed a break. So while relaxing, I just put in this cribbing bit, waiting to see who all are lame enough to read this. That's why had to put in a attractive seductive title for this post. :P

Patience..a virtue lost in today's world...

“A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains...”



Yesterday, I was reading some stories from the book “Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul”. While reading it, there was an excerpt that I found very true with how we behave these days, and could relate it so well to myself. Thus, writing it here for everyone to give a thought.

__________
An old man was sitting with his forty-five year old son. A crow was perched at their window. The father asked his son “What is that son?” The son replied, “It’s a crow, father.”
After a few minutes the father asked again, “What is that son?” This time, with just a little hint of irritation in his voice, the son retorted, “I told you just now father, it’s a crow.”
A few minutes later the old man asked again, “What is that son?” This time the anger was evident in his son’s tone as he said, “It’s a crow, a crow!”
For the fourth time his father asked, “What is that son?” The son screamed back, “Why do you keep asking me the same question over and over again? Do you think I have no other work? I just want to read my paper and have my cup of tea in peace!”
The old man got up very quietly and returned with an old tattered notebook in his hand. The notebook was his diary. He opened the page to the day his son had turned three. He requested his son to read the page aloud; he would go to his room and leave his son alone with the tea and newspaper after that, he said.

Impatiently his son began:
Today my little son turned three. We were sitting together on the sofa chatting, when a crow came and sat at our window. He asked me what it was and I told him that it was a crow. With his three-year old mind, he had difficulty retaining the name of the bird and he asked me about twenty-three times what it was. I answered his question each time, spicing it up with a poem here, some information there, and a few stories about crows as well. Each time he asked me the question, I hugged him; after all who else will he go to with his questions.
__________

It is all about patience. It has never been easy to be patient, and it's probably harder now than at any time in history. But patience is a virtue that can be cultivated and nurtured. It is necessary to apply discipline to thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal.

I believe the message is loud and clear. I have made certain resolutions after reading this story yesterday. May be you should do as well...

Sachin leads..Victory follows...

"Long live Sachin..."

Finally some condolence for the Indian team, now that they have won the Compaq Cup by defeating Srilanka, and taking the No. 2 stop in ICC ODI Ranking. But for how long, is the question? If the Aussies clean sweep the series against England, they will surpass India as well as the Proteas at the top. But that is something we will have to wait and watch for.

Under the lights at the Premadasa, winning the toss was an auspicious start for India. But Dhoni would surely have lost all his nails in this thriller of a final, in a match featuring punches and counter-punches. Poor line-length of pace bowlers, shabby fielding, catches being dropped, stumping and run-outs missed - The Indian team was trying everything possible to hand over the win to the Srilankans. It made mistakes that could easily have cost them the final. This reinforces my perception of the Indian team’s calibre. And probably this is the reason why records show that since April 1999, India had reached 21 finals prior to this one, but won only 2 of them.

Alas, it was the experience of a few characters like Sachin Tendulkar (who played a master’s knock of 138), Yuvraj Singh (for his all-round performance) and Harbhajan Singh (for his five-wicket haul), that powered India’s win. In the frenetic chase of this huge total, the bowling of Harbhajan, Yuvraj and Raina might have over-shadowed the blizzard innings that set the tone, but in no way can Sachin’s role be undermined.

All is well that ends well. Just ahead the Champions Trophy, this series win will be a big boost to the confidence of Team India. But a lot needs to be done by perfectionist Dhoni, so as not to allow the tri-series triumph gloss over the weakness, and ensure that the mistakes are not repeated. The biggest positive to take out from the series win is that the Master Blaster is back in his sublime form. And it surely would be a big blow to his critics. Winning the Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-series titles justify his mantle.

Surely, Sachin leads..Victory follows...

Short-lived Glory...

"Team India numero uno ICC ODI Rankings"...
This was the news that hit all the channels and papers when India defeated NewZealand in the tri-series by 6 wickets.It spread a wave of joy and pride amongst all Indians, for the Indian team achieved this fate first time in the history.

But Indian's World No.1 Ranking could not stand up to scrutiny. Despite of having world-class players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, M S Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, etc., we have failed to deliver when needed. Our players have repeatedly shown instances of indiscipline, and lack of commitment. And consistency is something which has never been India's cup of tea.

So,as expected, India ran out of steam. The honeymoon was over in less than 24 hours. Needing three straight wins in the series to keep the No.1 spot with them, their defeat to Srilanka in the inconsequential match for the series, on September 12, dislodged them from the top spot. India demonstrated how quickly can one let go off the prestigious top ranking, and Australia's win over England in the fourth one-dayer put the icing on the cake. The entire nation is heart-broken.

Now to give back for the humiliation, and for a consolation, India at least has to win the series by defeating Srilanka today, to win the title and keep the second spot in the ranking to itself, and then hope that Australia don't run them over.

Friends Indeed ???

Friends are an important part of our lives. Trust and respect is what defines this relationship.
But there is a question that keeps pondering me time and again - "Who are your real friends"?
There are times when we are tempted to put more faith in friends, but is it worth it?

I get the response to this question, when I think of my group "Phoenix - The Fire Within Us". Those who know about my group, would know the reason for Phoenix coming to my mind, and for those who don't know about my group, probably don't know me well. For them, I would soon write about my group as well, because that's something dear to me.

This poem was written by me a long time back, but have edited it over time, and is thus dedicated to Phoenix and all my other close friends. I have let the dilemma in my mind be a part of it.

Mahindra expands its two-wheelers portfolio...

Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd., the two wheelers arm of the US $ 6.3 billion Mahindra Group, and also the company i work for, has unveiled two new Power Scooters - the Mahindra Rodeo and the Mahindra Duro. With their contemporary styling and attractive features, these Power Scooters come packed with a host of features which make riding a sheer pleasure.

This launch is a validation of the commitment that Mahindra made last year to establish a robust, end-to-end global two wheelers business with a presence across segments. With their international appeal and powerful performance, the Rodeo and the Duro are world class scooters and will extend the Mahindra DNA of 'tough and rugged' style to a whole new consumer segment.

Both models offer the comfort and convenience of a scooter coupled with the thrill and power of a motorcycle. Mahindra's strong R&D capabilities and stringent quality control measures, coupled with technological inputs from SYM Taiwan and design inputs from Italy based Engines Engineering, have resulted in a perfect blend.