Journey to Gandhigram
Our journey to the city of Gandhigram was excellent…in fact a revealing one…..
…nestle away from humdrum of city life…Gandhigram is really a place making a story for me..
…I was struck by its serene belongingness to the nature…. pristine beauty….unlike inhuman settlements of metros….
…it was a striking example of how challenging and rewarding a lifestyle can be….given the advancement in telecommunications you need to live in such serene places to attain the nirvana, yet remain abreast with the world….
Away from all noises, small towns will remain in vogue in near future to come…
India is going thru a period when consumerism is at peak…it can be seen from demand for consumer goods …this phase has demand already passed for advanced civilizations like Europeans….now they are after search for a blissful nirvana…
My stay at Gandhigram was also a good revelation how much we need for living…
Man eats for his tongue unlike animals who eat for their stomach…we were told that we will get only a working lunch…..we thought it’s okay for us, instead of going out…
..we had veg biryani and korma and tomato rice and chutney…for lunch…
…having experienced how much we eat in cities…presented with so many dishes… we thought ,for moment, will it be sufficient for us or we will have to get up during the night and search for food?…however, as we were consuming that food, towards the finish we found that the quantity was just sufficient for subsistence and our stomach was not laden with unnecessary extras…
…the food was in fact such a nice and soothing….the masalas were to the extent of just bringing out flavour, aroma, to make it palatable…also acting as anti-dotes on many ill-effects of pesticides that enter into the food…..yet refraining from making it heavy…
…given a misnomer, eating only rice will put us dosing….we found that although our food consisted of rice, at lunch,yet we never felt such urge to doze….
….for dinner two thick chapaties/parathas and a gram based dish and chana…. at around 7.30 p.m…..unlike time for dinner for me…here also when we were consuming our second chapati we found that our stomach was full…realized that the food in this quantity is sufficient….…we tend to consume more in evening ‘coz in working families it is the dinner at which all family members are together and hence, many dishes are prepared and we tend to eat more….
….7’ o clock in evening and you don’t see vehicular noises ….no TV or music being honked…. there is no usual humdrum… nothing of this sort….you tend to figure out why this lull, is there any mistake?…no Sir, this is GRI, Gandhigram… we are amazed at the nature here, serenely calm…a person like me, born and brought up in Mumbai…I was wondering if I will be able to pass my time….then realized that I am here for study….for attending the classes…..so I sat down and opened my books and started reading …this is the place , I thought, you need environment like this for concentrating on your subjects…
…after the end of the second day of the class, when my classmates had gone back home and I was still there in the hostel…my flight was on the next evening…I felt a big void…how a man can spend his time in isolation or solitude…at the same time I was wondering what my son may be feeling when he is alone at his hostel, when his friends are away….but then realized that this situation is needed if you have to achieve something and also good for concentration…..
Monday, January 30, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Sony MP3/MP4 Player
Sony MP3/MP4 Player
Tom & Jerry video.=== =========>
Hi! This is a new SONY player bought from V.T. area and I do not think it's an original one...but cost me only 2.2K for 512 MB model.Not used much but audio/video quality is ok for it's price.Take a look at it...
<== This is my new SONY MP3/MP4 Player.It is a 512MB device which can play and record mp3/mp4 files,has an FM radio and can be used as a removable disk also.
This is a selection screen ==>
Tom & Jerry video.=== =========>
Hope you will like it.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Load Shedding…
Life without electricity? Can we think that now?.....it frightens us terribly…..but that’s the fact now in Maharashtra… two hours to twelve hours a day…even parts of Mumbai, on the outskirts have to bear load shedding…
But think this way….suppose you are at home…a holiday…or simply no other work to do or attend…like once you are back from office…
…there is a TV, computer, music system….and with prices of these things coming down we probably have multiple units of these items…..
…and hence one kid is glued to a computer and the internet and at the same time music system is honking….
But think this way….suppose you are at home…a holiday…or simply no other work to do or attend…like once you are back from office…
…there is a TV, computer, music system….and with prices of these things coming down we probably have multiple units of these items…..
…and hence one kid is glued to a computer and the internet and at the same time music system is honking….
…your wife is probably watching Ekta Kapoor wannabe… or perhaps song rendering/dance or watching any get rich reality show competition…..
…daughter is on Cartoon Network….
…and you, yourself probably trying to get glimpses of highlights of India-Pak series and news in-between….
….we see that there is hardly any time for interaction…everyone is busy minding their own business….forgetting that actually your home is a place for you to be a family…
… when your young son comes back from hostel, on week-end, you feel that he will engage in conversation with you, daughter will tell you about her school tit-bits…but you hardly see these things happening…or at least this routine task is being done superficially and they are back to their own business…
....you really can’t do anything…times have changed….unlike some 20 years back when these avenues for entertainment were not available aplenty…and now there is a lot of exposure and avenues for entertainment today….
…..although we require electricity & power for almost everything …considering above scenario, I don’t feel bad when there is a power failure due to load shedding….
…so what can we do when there is a load shedding….
1. experience the nature…birds chirping, whistling sound and subtle touch of wind
2. read newspapers, books….when day light is available
3. do exercise…open you windows and try to do simple things like breathing exercises, light exercises…
4. drawing and painting….
5. play cards, carom etc. with your family… just to foster togetherness… and it’s the best time to discuss various issues…social or concerning your own family.. .
6. simply talk…interact with other family members…this could be the best thing you can do…
True to their ingenuity, kids would like to add the following activities..
1. this is the best time to use laptop when dad is not going to object…
2. use your mp3/mp4 player to see your favourite downsized movie, cartoon clips, or just listen to your favourite tracks…
3. keep on eating….
4. do nothing…simply lay down…just perfect for lazyards…
…..although we require electricity & power for almost everything …considering above scenario, I don’t feel bad when there is a power failure due to load shedding….
…so what can we do when there is a load shedding….
1. experience the nature…birds chirping, whistling sound and subtle touch of wind
2. read newspapers, books….when day light is available
3. do exercise…open you windows and try to do simple things like breathing exercises, light exercises…
4. drawing and painting….
5. play cards, carom etc. with your family… just to foster togetherness… and it’s the best time to discuss various issues…social or concerning your own family.. .
6. simply talk…interact with other family members…this could be the best thing you can do…
True to their ingenuity, kids would like to add the following activities..
1. this is the best time to use laptop when dad is not going to object…
2. use your mp3/mp4 player to see your favourite downsized movie, cartoon clips, or just listen to your favourite tracks…
3. keep on eating….
4. do nothing…simply lay down…just perfect for lazyards…
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Konkan Backwaters-III
DAT#3
The last Day
26th December2005
This was the last day of our tour.We were told to start early so that we could cover as many places.
We decided to take some pictures around our resort, Pratik.
As usual we started late, at around 09:30 a.m.We proceeded to Dabhol harbour from where we took a ferry to cross over to Guhagar.We then called on to Velneshwar Temple.One can grasp beutiful scene of Konkan backwaters on the way to Velneshwar. Velneshwar has a beautiful beach; however, again the organisers did not stop at the beach citing a delay.So sad, everyone felt.
From Velneshwar we proceeded to Hedvi Ganesh Temple few kilometers away.The Ganesh here is a tem armed idol.
We had lunch at Suruchi Baug near Hedvi.We were served a grand vegetarian and non-vegetarian lunch. The non-veg lunch had 2-3 varieties of fish, which was liked by fish-eating folks amongst us.
After lunch we started our journey beck to Mumbai.
On the way we halted at Lord Parsuram Temple at Lote Parshuram.You have to climb down steps to reach the temple.It's 300 years old temple and has 3 idols.
From Lote Parshuram we halted at Hotel Pagoda and had a high tea.We stopped at "Kshanbhar Vishranti" where we had our dinner before finally reaching Mumbai.
It was a memorable experience largely because of nice company of our co-travellers.
The last Day
26th December2005
This was the last day of our tour.We were told to start early so that we could cover as many places.
We decided to take some pictures around our resort, Pratik.
As usual we started late, at around 09:30 a.m.We proceeded to Dabhol harbour from where we took a ferry to cross over to Guhagar.We then called on to Velneshwar Temple.One can grasp beutiful scene of Konkan backwaters on the way to Velneshwar. Velneshwar has a beautiful beach; however, again the organisers did not stop at the beach citing a delay.So sad, everyone felt.
From Velneshwar we proceeded to Hedvi Ganesh Temple few kilometers away.The Ganesh here is a tem armed idol.
We had lunch at Suruchi Baug near Hedvi.We were served a grand vegetarian and non-vegetarian lunch. The non-veg lunch had 2-3 varieties of fish, which was liked by fish-eating folks amongst us.
After lunch we started our journey beck to Mumbai.
On the way we halted at Lord Parsuram Temple at Lote Parshuram.You have to climb down steps to reach the temple.It's 300 years old temple and has 3 idols.
From Lote Parshuram we halted at Hotel Pagoda and had a high tea.We stopped at "Kshanbhar Vishranti" where we had our dinner before finally reaching Mumbai.
It was a memorable experience largely because of nice company of our co-travellers.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Konkan Backwaters-II
DAY#2
25th December2005
Only Backwaters
This was a day we were looking for as most of the particpants had come to have experience of Backwaters only. I have visited Kerala for official work on many occasion but not been to Kerala Backwaters which I would love to do.
On the second day we were a bit late to start. We had to travel 90 km to Tarkarli, Chiplun for boarding engine boat for Backwater experience.Here, we were welcomed by members of Chiplun Nagarpalika (Municipal Corporation).All Chiplunkars are looking forward to have Konkan a developed tourist destination and dreaming of developing Backwater tourism.
Here we are proceeding towards the boat.
In the boats...... 
A beautiful house on the river bank...
Barges digging out sand...
Lot of crocodiles resting on the river bank...in fact it was a "crocodile spotting" sport!
S.N.Pendse's famous Marathi novel " TUMBADCHE KHOT" has been swirled around this house in Tumbad, which is on the banks of Jagbudi River.
Beautiful scenery on the bank of Jagbudi River touching Tumbad...
A Konkan Railway train passing by...
We had a great time at Tumbad. We were welcomed by Tumbadites with flowers.We had a very nice breakfast at lunch time (Brunch)... bhakris(rotis),jawla(babelets of prawns),thalipits...Thereafter we had a nice informal discussion with the Khot shet on whom S.N.Pense based his famous novel.He told us about how S.N.Pense came to know about Tumbad and also how he made Tumbad exportable!
We then proceeded to Maldoli by boat for lunch and had a heavy lunch at Tea time around 4 p.m. A cultural program was also arranged but as we were very late only one piece of folk dance was presented.
A traditional Zakdi folk dance...
We set for Dabhol at around 5:30 p.m. All were sad that we would be missing further backwater experience from Maldoli to Dabhol as we were late. Reached Dabhol at 8 p.m. and our day ended with dinner at around 10 p.m.
25th December2005
Only Backwaters
This was a day we were looking for as most of the particpants had come to have experience of Backwaters only. I have visited Kerala for official work on many occasion but not been to Kerala Backwaters which I would love to do.
On the second day we were a bit late to start. We had to travel 90 km to Tarkarli, Chiplun for boarding engine boat for Backwater experience.Here, we were welcomed by members of Chiplun Nagarpalika (Municipal Corporation).All Chiplunkars are looking forward to have Konkan a developed tourist destination and dreaming of developing Backwater tourism. 
Here we are proceeding towards the boat.
In the boats...... 
A beautiful house on the river bank...
Barges digging out sand...
Lot of crocodiles resting on the river bank...in fact it was a "crocodile spotting" sport!
S.N.Pendse's famous Marathi novel " TUMBADCHE KHOT" has been swirled around this house in Tumbad, which is on the banks of Jagbudi River.
Beautiful scenery on the bank of Jagbudi River touching Tumbad...
A Konkan Railway train passing by...
We had a great time at Tumbad. We were welcomed by Tumbadites with flowers.We had a very nice breakfast at lunch time (Brunch)... bhakris(rotis),jawla(babelets of prawns),thalipits...Thereafter we had a nice informal discussion with the Khot shet on whom S.N.Pense based his famous novel.He told us about how S.N.Pense came to know about Tumbad and also how he made Tumbad exportable!
We then proceeded to Maldoli by boat for lunch and had a heavy lunch at Tea time around 4 p.m. A cultural program was also arranged but as we were very late only one piece of folk dance was presented.
A traditional Zakdi folk dance...
We set for Dabhol at around 5:30 p.m. All were sad that we would be missing further backwater experience from Maldoli to Dabhol as we were late. Reached Dabhol at 8 p.m. and our day ended with dinner at around 10 p.m.
Konkan Backwaters
How lousy and lazy am I?...a lot, I would confess!
We had been to Konkan for backwater tour and I had decided that I would write about the tour immediately upon my arrival in Mumbai.But now it's almost three weeks that I am back from the tour am yet to write on Konkan.
We carried a borrowed Sony camcorder.I had to tell my son to do photography umpteen number of times and therefore the tour was not covered on video the way I would have liked;nevertheless it was a wonderful and memorable tour.
The tour was organised by Konkan Paryan Vikas Sanstha , not to be confused for a look alike charitable or developmental agency but promoted as a company by Mr. Sanjay Yadavrao,(on left) a young enterpreneur having an engineering degree.A staunch Kokani, his ambition is to make his Kokan a tourist destination with a difference:ecotourism.
We started off from Dadar, at around 10 p.m. on 23rd December2005, in a 15 seater bus.We had this elderly couple,Mr. 7 Mrs.(Dr.) Kudalkar (on right), as our accompanied passengers at Dadar. One cople (Mr. & Mrs. Boraskar) boarded at Kharghar in New Mumbai.One Yogesh Tople was our guide.
DAY # 1
24th December2005
We reached early morning at Dabhol and were put up at Pratik Resort, a beautiful serene place.We rested there till 8 a.m. before we started for our first day of konkan Backwater tour.There we were joined by Two more families : Raje(s) and Shinde(s).
First we travelled southward for 2 km and reached Chandika Temple.It's a cave temple formed by force of water of a monson flowing Konkan river.You have to bend a bit to move inside in darkness to reach the deity.The deity itself is a "Swaimbhoo" meaning naturally occured or formed deity.This photograph was taken just outside the temple within the temple premises.The temple is surrounded by beautiful small waterfall and a valley.Kids liked to play around the area.
From there we moved to North and landed at a place called Kolthare.We were told that we can see a traditional Konkani House (which hardly exists thesedays)and we were infact shown one such a house of Vaidya (Doctor) Mahajan (left,with folded hands).Dr. Mahajan,I believe is an Ayurvedic doctor, a Manufaturer of AGOM brand of Ayurvedic/Herbal products and his products are regularly being advertised on TV channels (that's what i was told...I don't see much of TV as I have many interests to spare my spare time!).
Thereafter we were taken to a sea beach. The beach at Kolthare is untouched by many homeosapiens,unspoilt one and therefore a beautiful beach.We spent a quite a time there seeing our kids enjoying in knee-level water.
We had a sumptuous lunch at a Brahmin's house and we were literally forced to take a rest at the place as there was no scheduled program during the day.Why we were taken to Kolthare is a still a mystery to us.There was nothing to be seen at the Kolthare.The unkept promise of a visit to Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth and also of a visit to one more beach in the afternoon were the negative points as far as organisers are concerned.
The night "Mehfil" was too good an opportunity to showcase talents of individual members and Mr. Ashish Raje was a star performer in doing mimickery.Shinde family also put in their worth.Not to forget Mr. Boraskar also sung few Hindi old numbers.In all a beautiful experience and a feeling of having a gala time ahead!
We had been to Konkan for backwater tour and I had decided that I would write about the tour immediately upon my arrival in Mumbai.But now it's almost three weeks that I am back from the tour am yet to write on Konkan.
We carried a borrowed Sony camcorder.I had to tell my son to do photography umpteen number of times and therefore the tour was not covered on video the way I would have liked;nevertheless it was a wonderful and memorable tour.
The tour was organised by Konkan Paryan Vikas Sanstha , not to be confused for a look alike charitable or developmental agency but promoted as a company by Mr. Sanjay Yadavrao,(on left) a young enterpreneur having an engineering degree.A staunch Kokani, his ambition is to make his Kokan a tourist destination with a difference:ecotourism.
We started off from Dadar, at around 10 p.m. on 23rd December2005, in a 15 seater bus.We had this elderly couple,Mr. 7 Mrs.(Dr.) Kudalkar (on right), as our accompanied passengers at Dadar. One cople (Mr. & Mrs. Boraskar) boarded at Kharghar in New Mumbai.One Yogesh Tople was our guide.DAY # 1
24th December2005
We reached early morning at Dabhol and were put up at Pratik Resort, a beautiful serene place.We rested there till 8 a.m. before we started for our first day of konkan Backwater tour.There we were joined by Two more families : Raje(s) and Shinde(s).
First we travelled southward for 2 km and reached Chandika Temple.It's a cave temple formed by force of water of a monson flowing Konkan river.You have to bend a bit to move inside in darkness to reach the deity.The deity itself is a "Swaimbhoo" meaning naturally occured or formed deity.This photograph was taken just outside the temple within the temple premises.The temple is surrounded by beautiful small waterfall and a valley.Kids liked to play around the area.
From there we moved to North and landed at a place called Kolthare.We were told that we can see a traditional Konkani House (which hardly exists thesedays)and we were infact shown one such a house of Vaidya (Doctor) Mahajan (left,with folded hands).Dr. Mahajan,I believe is an Ayurvedic doctor, a Manufaturer of AGOM brand of Ayurvedic/Herbal products and his products are regularly being advertised on TV channels (that's what i was told...I don't see much of TV as I have many interests to spare my spare time!).Thereafter we were taken to a sea beach. The beach at Kolthare is untouched by many homeosapiens,unspoilt one and therefore a beautiful beach.We spent a quite a time there seeing our kids enjoying in knee-level water.
We had a sumptuous lunch at a Brahmin's house and we were literally forced to take a rest at the place as there was no scheduled program during the day.Why we were taken to Kolthare is a still a mystery to us.There was nothing to be seen at the Kolthare.The unkept promise of a visit to Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth and also of a visit to one more beach in the afternoon were the negative points as far as organisers are concerned.
The night "Mehfil" was too good an opportunity to showcase talents of individual members and Mr. Ashish Raje was a star performer in doing mimickery.Shinde family also put in their worth.Not to forget Mr. Boraskar also sung few Hindi old numbers.In all a beautiful experience and a feeling of having a gala time ahead!
My SOP
This is my Staemnet of Purpose (SOP) written for submitting to Indian Institute of Mnagement,Calcutta (IIM-C) a premier management school in India for their Executive program in General Management.This was in Feb2005
Statement of Purpose
One may be wondering what this man in his mid 40s, a public servant is doing here.
A job with government, in India, is traditionally seen as a secured job. Govt. employees are (or were) in comfort zone and I am no exception. However, things started changing in 90’s, when winds of liberalization started blowing over India. Slowly but surely this comfort zone started tumbling. Probably the employees didn’t feel that tremours acutely then but in the years to come there were dramatic changes.
One of the immediate and noticeable barometers of comfort, salary, did not rise in Govt. sector vis-à-vis the private sector. In the good olden days the salaries to Govt. servants were better, compared to the private sector; however, that changed rapidly and our apostles in heaven were shaken when there was a major change in salary structure all over. In the early 90s, salaries in Govt. sector were 30-40% more than salaries in corporate ; but now private sector salaries are many times the salaries in Govt. sector. The Govt. servants are definitely at the receiving end as far as pay packet is concerned
Post liberalization brought with it better lifestyle. Gradually it was noticed that it was very difficult to subscribe to and also to maintain the present lifestyle at the salary structure prevalent in Govt. sector. To worsen the matter familial demand to remain on parity with neighbours has made going tough. Really govt. servants started viewing liberalization as a treat to them
On positive side, with threat also came an opportunity under the mask; only you need to recognize it. Post liberalization, the Indian economy has opened up tremendously and there are opportunities of all sorts available in India. But you should be equipped to take advantage of the changed scenario. Having spent many years only thinking about doing something else also but not doing anything, came the realization why not upgrade ourselves! When the umpteen numbers of opportunities are present why not take a dip into something new and exciting!
Principles based on natural laws, which are immortal, have not changed. But the development has led us to new situations previously unheard or unknown and we may fail if we apply the old solutions in the new changed situation. The skills required now are quite different. What we need is the paradigm shift in thinking and it is with this aim in mind I thought it prudent to enroll myself in the Executive Management program of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.
In my analysis what I have seen is that it is the courage that is the main ingredient for success in life. One may have knowledge but that doesn’t guarantee you a success. It is the application of that knowledge which requires training and skills. I have come across people who have risen to top position simply because of the courage that they exhibited in carrying out their ideas.
In the ultimate analysis all managerial problems can be solved with man management relations. Management is managing the men (and their egos!).That is the reason I have decided to go in for General Management program instead of Finance or Marketing or HRM etc. as they deal in functional (management) aspects, however, General Management, in my opinion deals in leadership aspect.
I think I have essential ingredients viz. knowledge and skills in relating myself to society.
I am a Rotarian and was a President of Rotary Club Of Bombay Mulund East in the year 1999-2000.As a president I ensured that all the meetings were not only interesting but also informative and as a result drew a good attendance during my tenure. Infact, during the tenure I was diagnosed with Lymphoma and was confined to bed for almost 4 months but chaired most meetings myself. Also, published club bulletin with the active participation of all members of the club.
Way back in 1980s, as an active Civil Defence member, I took courses in Emergency Communications and Control, First-Aid, Fire-Fighting and Mountaineering Rescuing so as to be able to provide help to civilians during the time of any emergency. Seeing my interest, knowledge and enthusiasm in the various activities my instructors then recommended me as an instructor for Civil defence.
I am an active Amateur Radio operator, also known as HAM. Amateur Radio fill vacuum when the normal channels of communications fail during the disaster. I have received a specialized training in providing emergency radio communication during disaster. I have been instrumental in conducting classes for training the young boys and girls in Radio Communication in preparing them for the examination conducted by Ministry of Communication. I have been teaching Radio Regulation Act to the students from the disaster/earthquake prone areas. I make them realize how to use a powerful instrument like radio wireless transmitter not only effectively and efficiently but also with due care.
What I feel now is that there needs a spark to ignite my knowledge and skills to take it in the higher orbit… as an individual grows within an organization it is imperative at each step forward to add on qualifications & skills that are commensurate with the role he is assigned: a broad overview of the key concepts, tools and techniques needed to successfully meet the challenges of today's global business environment. However, I sincerely feel that such opportunities for interaction are rarely available in govt sector; the transparency, openness is lacking, communication is restricted, the hierarchy is strictly maintained and there is a limited scope to communicate your ideas.
I don’t know what, but something has always made me yearn for my own business. I always had the motivation to become an entrepreneur but needed guidance to explore the hidden magnitude of business, particularly so after being in a comfort zone for past 20 years!
At this age I find myself unwilling to work under somebody, and for that matter even in a multinational, if I switch on my job. For me independence of mind is the greatest advantage and that has cast me into a state of confusion. However, there is only one thing that I am certain about at this point in time that I want to become an entrepreneur. Today I find myself at crossroads, not knowing how to begin, where to begin and even what to begin with.
I always admired business achievers and wished to be one of them. But I am yet not clear as to what exactly I want to do, what is my forte.
There are few people whom I admire or who have influenced me a lot. I have been a steady investor, first in the govt. securities and then in equities. I’m a great fan of Warren Buffet. Although he is a great investor his strategies are fairly simple, showing a clear logic: buy a stock below it’s intrinsic value. He is an investor and not a speculator and holds the stock with a purpose of owning the stock in a company that does in business which can be understood by a layman also and hence his strategies do not need a complex financial analysis.
You need acumen to relate to people; a person that comes to my mind here is my boss Mr. X X X . He is such a wonderful person, who has established a very good rapport with his team and this is for the first time that I have seen in my professional career that he has no whims of his position and relates very easily with his subordinates.
I believe training in various aspects of management will definitely help me for when I will have knowledge and information to avoid making mistakes, will realizing my strengths & weaknesses and boost my self-confidence. Besides, the program will help me in developing soft skills like communication skills, negotiation skills etc.; essentially a well-structured training, in grooming myself. I hope to get the composite exposure as B-school education mainly consists of group / syndicate work where participants need to work as teams.
And for that matter doing an executive masters in Business Administration from reputed institutes of the caliber of IIMs, while continuing in the present service, would be a great fun together with benefit of acquisition of knowledge. Also there is a chance to have sufficient opportunities to gain from close interaction with the faculty from reputed institute like IIM-C. Although, the success of a person depends on his mettle, one cannot undermine the brand value associated with a person educated at a reputed B-school like IIM-C.
Accordingly to me the delivery method used for this program will provide a chance of meeting with my lecturers, teachers, mentors over the video conferencing and also in person at the contact classes. The chances of meeting fellow students who are in middle and senior management position in corporate world and businesses should give my confidence a tremendous boost, besides extensive knowledge. The program, I am sure, will have inputs on soft skills, like communications skills and negotiations skills which will develop and groom me to become a perfect businessman.
However, starting life again in the wake of numerous life threatening conditions that I have undergone like Lymphoma in 1999-2000 (Diabetes since 1994), part amputation of left great toe in 2002, it will be pertinent to note the unconditional support lent by my family. My family is kind enough in making generous adjustments in their schedules and needs for one year if I am to do this program. When you are committing your time and money, for the program by severing the same from your family you cannot but think of a success at any cost.
I consider joining the management programs for other reasons also. One reason is to imbibe on the minds of our kids that virtually anything can be achieved with due perseverance and for that matter getting admission in a highly reputed business management school is also not exception.
I am thinking big. Although I was an average+ student throughout, I believe that it's never too late to throw mediocrity out of your life. All the more required so to make second half my life inning… the next 40 years… wonderful and meaningful ….afterall life begins at 40!!
Signed
(Prashant Koli)
One may be wondering what this man in his mid 40s, a public servant is doing here.
A job with government, in India, is traditionally seen as a secured job. Govt. employees are (or were) in comfort zone and I am no exception. However, things started changing in 90’s, when winds of liberalization started blowing over India. Slowly but surely this comfort zone started tumbling. Probably the employees didn’t feel that tremours acutely then but in the years to come there were dramatic changes.
One of the immediate and noticeable barometers of comfort, salary, did not rise in Govt. sector vis-à-vis the private sector. In the good olden days the salaries to Govt. servants were better, compared to the private sector; however, that changed rapidly and our apostles in heaven were shaken when there was a major change in salary structure all over. In the early 90s, salaries in Govt. sector were 30-40% more than salaries in corporate ; but now private sector salaries are many times the salaries in Govt. sector. The Govt. servants are definitely at the receiving end as far as pay packet is concerned
Post liberalization brought with it better lifestyle. Gradually it was noticed that it was very difficult to subscribe to and also to maintain the present lifestyle at the salary structure prevalent in Govt. sector. To worsen the matter familial demand to remain on parity with neighbours has made going tough. Really govt. servants started viewing liberalization as a treat to them
On positive side, with threat also came an opportunity under the mask; only you need to recognize it. Post liberalization, the Indian economy has opened up tremendously and there are opportunities of all sorts available in India. But you should be equipped to take advantage of the changed scenario. Having spent many years only thinking about doing something else also but not doing anything, came the realization why not upgrade ourselves! When the umpteen numbers of opportunities are present why not take a dip into something new and exciting!
Principles based on natural laws, which are immortal, have not changed. But the development has led us to new situations previously unheard or unknown and we may fail if we apply the old solutions in the new changed situation. The skills required now are quite different. What we need is the paradigm shift in thinking and it is with this aim in mind I thought it prudent to enroll myself in the Executive Management program of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.
In my analysis what I have seen is that it is the courage that is the main ingredient for success in life. One may have knowledge but that doesn’t guarantee you a success. It is the application of that knowledge which requires training and skills. I have come across people who have risen to top position simply because of the courage that they exhibited in carrying out their ideas.
In the ultimate analysis all managerial problems can be solved with man management relations. Management is managing the men (and their egos!).That is the reason I have decided to go in for General Management program instead of Finance or Marketing or HRM etc. as they deal in functional (management) aspects, however, General Management, in my opinion deals in leadership aspect.
I think I have essential ingredients viz. knowledge and skills in relating myself to society.
I am a Rotarian and was a President of Rotary Club Of Bombay Mulund East in the year 1999-2000.As a president I ensured that all the meetings were not only interesting but also informative and as a result drew a good attendance during my tenure. Infact, during the tenure I was diagnosed with Lymphoma and was confined to bed for almost 4 months but chaired most meetings myself. Also, published club bulletin with the active participation of all members of the club.
Way back in 1980s, as an active Civil Defence member, I took courses in Emergency Communications and Control, First-Aid, Fire-Fighting and Mountaineering Rescuing so as to be able to provide help to civilians during the time of any emergency. Seeing my interest, knowledge and enthusiasm in the various activities my instructors then recommended me as an instructor for Civil defence.
I am an active Amateur Radio operator, also known as HAM. Amateur Radio fill vacuum when the normal channels of communications fail during the disaster. I have received a specialized training in providing emergency radio communication during disaster. I have been instrumental in conducting classes for training the young boys and girls in Radio Communication in preparing them for the examination conducted by Ministry of Communication. I have been teaching Radio Regulation Act to the students from the disaster/earthquake prone areas. I make them realize how to use a powerful instrument like radio wireless transmitter not only effectively and efficiently but also with due care.
What I feel now is that there needs a spark to ignite my knowledge and skills to take it in the higher orbit… as an individual grows within an organization it is imperative at each step forward to add on qualifications & skills that are commensurate with the role he is assigned: a broad overview of the key concepts, tools and techniques needed to successfully meet the challenges of today's global business environment. However, I sincerely feel that such opportunities for interaction are rarely available in govt sector; the transparency, openness is lacking, communication is restricted, the hierarchy is strictly maintained and there is a limited scope to communicate your ideas.
I don’t know what, but something has always made me yearn for my own business. I always had the motivation to become an entrepreneur but needed guidance to explore the hidden magnitude of business, particularly so after being in a comfort zone for past 20 years!
At this age I find myself unwilling to work under somebody, and for that matter even in a multinational, if I switch on my job. For me independence of mind is the greatest advantage and that has cast me into a state of confusion. However, there is only one thing that I am certain about at this point in time that I want to become an entrepreneur. Today I find myself at crossroads, not knowing how to begin, where to begin and even what to begin with.
I always admired business achievers and wished to be one of them. But I am yet not clear as to what exactly I want to do, what is my forte.
There are few people whom I admire or who have influenced me a lot. I have been a steady investor, first in the govt. securities and then in equities. I’m a great fan of Warren Buffet. Although he is a great investor his strategies are fairly simple, showing a clear logic: buy a stock below it’s intrinsic value. He is an investor and not a speculator and holds the stock with a purpose of owning the stock in a company that does in business which can be understood by a layman also and hence his strategies do not need a complex financial analysis.
You need acumen to relate to people; a person that comes to my mind here is my boss Mr. X X X . He is such a wonderful person, who has established a very good rapport with his team and this is for the first time that I have seen in my professional career that he has no whims of his position and relates very easily with his subordinates.
I believe training in various aspects of management will definitely help me for when I will have knowledge and information to avoid making mistakes, will realizing my strengths & weaknesses and boost my self-confidence. Besides, the program will help me in developing soft skills like communication skills, negotiation skills etc.; essentially a well-structured training, in grooming myself. I hope to get the composite exposure as B-school education mainly consists of group / syndicate work where participants need to work as teams.
And for that matter doing an executive masters in Business Administration from reputed institutes of the caliber of IIMs, while continuing in the present service, would be a great fun together with benefit of acquisition of knowledge. Also there is a chance to have sufficient opportunities to gain from close interaction with the faculty from reputed institute like IIM-C. Although, the success of a person depends on his mettle, one cannot undermine the brand value associated with a person educated at a reputed B-school like IIM-C.
Accordingly to me the delivery method used for this program will provide a chance of meeting with my lecturers, teachers, mentors over the video conferencing and also in person at the contact classes. The chances of meeting fellow students who are in middle and senior management position in corporate world and businesses should give my confidence a tremendous boost, besides extensive knowledge. The program, I am sure, will have inputs on soft skills, like communications skills and negotiations skills which will develop and groom me to become a perfect businessman.
However, starting life again in the wake of numerous life threatening conditions that I have undergone like Lymphoma in 1999-2000 (Diabetes since 1994), part amputation of left great toe in 2002, it will be pertinent to note the unconditional support lent by my family. My family is kind enough in making generous adjustments in their schedules and needs for one year if I am to do this program. When you are committing your time and money, for the program by severing the same from your family you cannot but think of a success at any cost.
I consider joining the management programs for other reasons also. One reason is to imbibe on the minds of our kids that virtually anything can be achieved with due perseverance and for that matter getting admission in a highly reputed business management school is also not exception.
I am thinking big. Although I was an average+ student throughout, I believe that it's never too late to throw mediocrity out of your life. All the more required so to make second half my life inning… the next 40 years… wonderful and meaningful ….afterall life begins at 40!!
Signed
(Prashant Koli)
Middlescence and Me
Middlescence, a condition where you are caught in between your career graph, wherein you find your boss either demand much more from what you are doing or try to overlook you, by ignoring you, by seeking direct report from your juniors. Thus you are being ignored or become irrelevant or redundant.
You burn from inside but there is nothing that you can do much except, perhaps, learning / adapting to new skills and reshaping yourself to the demands of the present and thus try to avoid your obscelence.
Middlescence is also about a search for a new identity. It is a strange urge to do something different in your career or life, which could provide the one thing we miss: satisfaction. This of course is, to a large extent but not necessarily, a direct result of turmoil in your present career wherein you are continuously being felt left out. So there is a need of reinventing you. People who have been courageous enough to chart their own lives or careers should ask : What Should I Do With My Life?
I am going through this period. For me it’s not that my boss is ignoring me and seeking report directly from my juniors in rank but it is the feeling that I should either do things in better way or do something new.With advance in age I feel it is increasingly clear that in such a period it is the technology who is going to help you.
I have gone through the period of over-indulgence,over consumption in past and sudeenly you find that things have changed.Unable to find what exactly has gone wrong or what should be done; suddenly I realsized that I am trying to find my own identity…..
There are many reasons why am I doing that..trying to find own identity...
One important reason could be economic compulsion.
I am in Central Governmnet. Salaries or wages or compensation in Government service is a paltry sum today compared to salaries offered by corporate sector in India for comparable level of education and skills. It is difficult to scape thru daily necessities of life...somehow necesseities can be satisfied but not the niceties…
Govt salary has become peanuts considering that almost all govt servants come through a grueling public exam followed by interview.Public servants could have flourished elsewhere had they not indulge themselves in thoughts of fear of uncertainty and ‘seeking for safe heaven’.
What does the govt think when they offer such paltry salaries? Of course I know that they cannot offer increase in salaries across the board but they should do something so that public servant can also lead a decent life;afterall fruits of economic development should reach them also.They also have a right to dream of a beautiful house, a modern car (if not expensive one),education in modern public schools for their children,they should be able to take benefits the modern technology offer e.g.the internet,computers,PDAs,digital cameras etc.,and a holiday at domestic and international destinations. Is it possible to have all such things in their paltry salary?
Person like me who are in their mid 40s are really caught at crossroads...naa gharka naa ghatka...nowhere to go;probably spend their whole life doing something which they do not like now.
You burn from inside but there is nothing that you can do much except, perhaps, learning / adapting to new skills and reshaping yourself to the demands of the present and thus try to avoid your obscelence.
Middlescence is also about a search for a new identity. It is a strange urge to do something different in your career or life, which could provide the one thing we miss: satisfaction. This of course is, to a large extent but not necessarily, a direct result of turmoil in your present career wherein you are continuously being felt left out. So there is a need of reinventing you. People who have been courageous enough to chart their own lives or careers should ask : What Should I Do With My Life?
I am going through this period. For me it’s not that my boss is ignoring me and seeking report directly from my juniors in rank but it is the feeling that I should either do things in better way or do something new.With advance in age I feel it is increasingly clear that in such a period it is the technology who is going to help you.
I have gone through the period of over-indulgence,over consumption in past and sudeenly you find that things have changed.Unable to find what exactly has gone wrong or what should be done; suddenly I realsized that I am trying to find my own identity…..
There are many reasons why am I doing that..trying to find own identity...
One important reason could be economic compulsion.
I am in Central Governmnet. Salaries or wages or compensation in Government service is a paltry sum today compared to salaries offered by corporate sector in India for comparable level of education and skills. It is difficult to scape thru daily necessities of life...somehow necesseities can be satisfied but not the niceties…
Govt salary has become peanuts considering that almost all govt servants come through a grueling public exam followed by interview.Public servants could have flourished elsewhere had they not indulge themselves in thoughts of fear of uncertainty and ‘seeking for safe heaven’.
What does the govt think when they offer such paltry salaries? Of course I know that they cannot offer increase in salaries across the board but they should do something so that public servant can also lead a decent life;afterall fruits of economic development should reach them also.They also have a right to dream of a beautiful house, a modern car (if not expensive one),education in modern public schools for their children,they should be able to take benefits the modern technology offer e.g.the internet,computers,PDAs,digital cameras etc.,and a holiday at domestic and international destinations. Is it possible to have all such things in their paltry salary?
Person like me who are in their mid 40s are really caught at crossroads...naa gharka naa ghatka...nowhere to go;probably spend their whole life doing something which they do not like now.
Middlescence
Middlescence is a newly coined word,a combination of middle and obsolescence; in management circle, it is pointed towards middle managers;caught between a demanding top management and a restless entry level, middle management is being squeezed into irrelevance; to yank a manager out of obsolescence brought about by newer technologies, changing work ethic, and high-powered growth.
During the first Internet wave, which lasted in India until end-2000, middlescence reflected the agony of the analog generation: it was caught right in the middle. But since then, the middle has started aggressively reshaping and recalibrating itself to cope in an era where email, Google, PDAs, and PowerPoints have become workplace fixtures.
However, this is a period in ones life which represents the search for a new identity.It is a strange urge to do something different in your career or life, which could provide the one thing we miss: satisfaction.People who have been courageous enough to chart their own lives or careers: What Should I Do With My Life?
Middlescence is not just about careers or middle managers. Its an idea that opens a whole Pandoras Box of lifes intricate issues. Its about trying. Its about willingness. And its more than a job.
Indeed, its an interesting time of your life when you ask: What next?
Read about Middlescence at
http://digital.dnaindia.com/showstory.aspx?queryed=3&querypage=21&boxid=30779448&parentid=6607&eddate=Jan%20%207%202006%2012:00AM
During the first Internet wave, which lasted in India until end-2000, middlescence reflected the agony of the analog generation: it was caught right in the middle. But since then, the middle has started aggressively reshaping and recalibrating itself to cope in an era where email, Google, PDAs, and PowerPoints have become workplace fixtures.
However, this is a period in ones life which represents the search for a new identity.It is a strange urge to do something different in your career or life, which could provide the one thing we miss: satisfaction.People who have been courageous enough to chart their own lives or careers: What Should I Do With My Life?
Middlescence is not just about careers or middle managers. Its an idea that opens a whole Pandoras Box of lifes intricate issues. Its about trying. Its about willingness. And its more than a job.
Indeed, its an interesting time of your life when you ask: What next?
Read about Middlescence at
http://digital.dnaindia.com/showstory.aspx?queryed=3&querypage=21&boxid=30779448&parentid=6607&eddate=Jan%20%207%202006%2012:00AM
Friday, January 06, 2006
steroids in ayurvedic medicines?
There is talk these days of being feeling great, a feeling of being elated, after taking an Ayurvedic products....what could be the reason?
When you ask someone how do they feel after consuming certain products…e.g. Aloevera….people are likely to tell you that they are feeling great...they simply cannot tell you anything else....rumours are that many Ayurvedic products contain Steroids and hence such a feeling....
I have no idea of first hand experience as I have never taken any ayurvedic feel good medicine /tonic...
We shall definitely need to see if there are other ayurvedic/herbal drugs/tonics that also create such "feel good" feelings...
Do ayurvedic/herbal drugs undergo clinical trials or tests?It seems that there is a council to check test these drugs but standards followed are not that rigorous as followed by Allopathic drug testing....
Warning: views expressed are the views aired in general by people and author of this blog does not necessary may hold the same view,wishes to have a truth explored.
When you ask someone how do they feel after consuming certain products…e.g. Aloevera….people are likely to tell you that they are feeling great...they simply cannot tell you anything else....rumours are that many Ayurvedic products contain Steroids and hence such a feeling....
I have no idea of first hand experience as I have never taken any ayurvedic feel good medicine /tonic...
We shall definitely need to see if there are other ayurvedic/herbal drugs/tonics that also create such "feel good" feelings...
Do ayurvedic/herbal drugs undergo clinical trials or tests?It seems that there is a council to check test these drugs but standards followed are not that rigorous as followed by Allopathic drug testing....
Warning: views expressed are the views aired in general by people and author of this blog does not necessary may hold the same view,wishes to have a truth explored.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
ADSL on 2567xxxx a.k.a.MTNL & Tri-Band
This is further to my earlier blog at : http://prashantkoli.blogspot.com/2005/10/mtnl-and-tri-band.html
I visited MTNL exchange at Mulund(West),on 16th Nov2005, to see progress in my ADSL connecttion for my 2567xxxx telephone no.
As usual I was made to go to 2-3 personnels before directed to a correct one. I landed at one personnel and I saw Mr.Vaidyanathan sitting there. Mr Vaidyanathan, this time, however, told his boss upfront that there was some line problem with my 2567xxxx telephone number.He took me to one of the room, asked me to wait outside the room and came back with sort of a printout which showed only 52-55% connectivity between the exchange and my line.I asked him whether this was due to [possible] poor concealed telephone wiring in my house to which the gentemen replied in negative.I was told that the 2567 exchange is a very old and this problem will be solved once my number is upgraded to new 2563 exchange; but that may take another six months.
One thing was clear here that MTNL had problem with their old exchange; all the time they were blaming for internal home telephone wiring.Now they had proved that they were playing "passing on the buck" game.
I told them that I have another telephone beginning with 2562 Mr.Vaidyanathan offered to check connectivity for that number.We went a floor down and again he came out with a printout saying that my 2562 line was getting a 100% connectivity.I was advised to cancel my ADSL connection for 2567 line and apply for ADSL on 2562 line.I did that thinking that now atleast ADSL connection on my 2562 line will start in few days...but as usual things are not so straight here, at least at MTNL...Keep on reading.....
I visited MTNL exchange at Mulund(West),on 16th Nov2005, to see progress in my ADSL connecttion for my 2567xxxx telephone no.
As usual I was made to go to 2-3 personnels before directed to a correct one. I landed at one personnel and I saw Mr.Vaidyanathan sitting there. Mr Vaidyanathan, this time, however, told his boss upfront that there was some line problem with my 2567xxxx telephone number.He took me to one of the room, asked me to wait outside the room and came back with sort of a printout which showed only 52-55% connectivity between the exchange and my line.I asked him whether this was due to [possible] poor concealed telephone wiring in my house to which the gentemen replied in negative.I was told that the 2567 exchange is a very old and this problem will be solved once my number is upgraded to new 2563 exchange; but that may take another six months.
One thing was clear here that MTNL had problem with their old exchange; all the time they were blaming for internal home telephone wiring.Now they had proved that they were playing "passing on the buck" game.
I told them that I have another telephone beginning with 2562 Mr.Vaidyanathan offered to check connectivity for that number.We went a floor down and again he came out with a printout saying that my 2562 line was getting a 100% connectivity.I was advised to cancel my ADSL connection for 2567 line and apply for ADSL on 2562 line.I did that thinking that now atleast ADSL connection on my 2562 line will start in few days...but as usual things are not so straight here, at least at MTNL...Keep on reading.....
ADSL on 2562xxx
I have had this phone particularly for Internet under MTNLs Internet Plan B. Recently they doubled the tariff across all the plans and thereby pushing out all subscribers out of 24/7 Unlimited plan…probably they want to promote ADSL…that's OK…but see their pathetic service…
On 16th Nov 2005 I applied for transfer of plan from Internet Plan B to Plan 160 (Voice) and ADSL-200P. Voice circuit was activated on the second day but as usual they have not done anything for ADSL…they had done the same to my earlier ADSL application for 2567xxxx also.
I went to Mulund (West) Exchange, on 2nd Dec 2005, to find out about work order for new ADSL….it was not at all prepared…after making me run here and there they took out my application from a heap of applications and processed….and asked me to note down a certain number which they said was my WO No…..well, what I do with that no. I do not know…and now it is 14th Dec 05 and I am still waiting for a call from MTNL for my ADSL……
...as usual they have many advetisements for ADSL connections but it seems they hardly work to fulfill their promise...one more thing which comes to my mind is that such PSEs are definitely making way clear to private operators by their pathetice services....
Story of an absconding girl-II
….why the mother insisted that her daughter was attending the school regularly?
The mother had lost her husband few years back and was living with her only daughter.The mother is herself a school teacher in one of the private schools in Thane.
When her child entered the said school she bought new uniform,books,notebooks for her child.There came a semester exam and went on very well for the girl. When the mother asked her daughter for the result first she was told that the school had not declared it then….thereafter the mother learned that her daughter had passed her semester exam but the school had not given progress card….then there was annual examination which was also passed by her daughter…
The girl went into Std.IX…..again the poor mother bought new uniforms, books etc…..the girl was attending the school regularly, was seen studying at home, preparing for all internal exams, and passed her Std.IX annual exam….however, for some reason the school had not handed over the result sheet…
…then the girl entered crucial Std.X stage…..the girl joined tuitions….and now the girl was seen attending her school, classes, doing her homework regularly….she attended her prelims….she filled her form for the Board exam….and she went for her Board exam also…..the Board result also came in and the girl told her mother that she has passed her SSC exam too. When her mother wanted to see her marksheet the girl told her that her school had kept it.The mother was nevertheless happy and she went ahead to seek admission into a famous local college…she even took a small loan to pay for so called donation to the college.
….having almost finalized entry of her daughter into the local college,she was disturbed by the fact why the school was with-holding mark sheet of her daughter….and in a zest she dashed into the school of her daughter….
….only to find that her daughter had actually not attended the school after failing in the semester exam of her Std.VIII…..
The mother had lost her husband few years back and was living with her only daughter.The mother is herself a school teacher in one of the private schools in Thane.
When her child entered the said school she bought new uniform,books,notebooks for her child.There came a semester exam and went on very well for the girl. When the mother asked her daughter for the result first she was told that the school had not declared it then….thereafter the mother learned that her daughter had passed her semester exam but the school had not given progress card….then there was annual examination which was also passed by her daughter…
The girl went into Std.IX…..again the poor mother bought new uniforms, books etc…..the girl was attending the school regularly, was seen studying at home, preparing for all internal exams, and passed her Std.IX annual exam….however, for some reason the school had not handed over the result sheet…
…then the girl entered crucial Std.X stage…..the girl joined tuitions….and now the girl was seen attending her school, classes, doing her homework regularly….she attended her prelims….she filled her form for the Board exam….and she went for her Board exam also…..the Board result also came in and the girl told her mother that she has passed her SSC exam too. When her mother wanted to see her marksheet the girl told her that her school had kept it.The mother was nevertheless happy and she went ahead to seek admission into a famous local college…she even took a small loan to pay for so called donation to the college.
….having almost finalized entry of her daughter into the local college,she was disturbed by the fact why the school was with-holding mark sheet of her daughter….and in a zest she dashed into the school of her daughter….
….only to find that her daughter had actually not attended the school after failing in the semester exam of her Std.VIII…..
Story of an absconding girl
This is a real story narrated by a headmaster of a school in Thane.
At the hay time of admissions, a lady walks into Headmaster’s room and asks why the school is not releasing/giving out mark sheet of her daughter,who studied in that school and was successful in the recently declared S.S.C.exam. She wanted to take admission for her child in a famous college in the Thane city, for which she had already made arrangements.
The headmaster asked a fellow teacher to check why were they holding on to mark sheet of the girl. To their surprise they found that no such student had appeared for S.S.C. exam from their school. The mother was told so. However, the mother insisted that the school was making mistake and asked the school to check their records discreetly as her child was attending the school regularly and has passed recent Board exam.
The Headmaster was surprised….how can it happen?…how can name of the student, a girl , not appar in their rolls?....they again checked rolls of all the divisions of last years Std.X…..they didn’t find her name in any of the division….the lady, the mother of the child insisted that her daughter was attending the school…
Fearing goof-up, the school started searching for any possible omission of on their part….they started searching records of earlier year, when the girl would be in Std.IX….still no avail….
…then they went on to search records of Std.VIII…..and lol…..they found that the said girl didn’t attend the school for more than three months continuously and when no response was forthcoming from her parents to a letter they sent to her parents, her name was removed from the school….and district School authorities were informed accordingly….
….the story ended here?
…..No….
At the hay time of admissions, a lady walks into Headmaster’s room and asks why the school is not releasing/giving out mark sheet of her daughter,who studied in that school and was successful in the recently declared S.S.C.exam. She wanted to take admission for her child in a famous college in the Thane city, for which she had already made arrangements.
The headmaster asked a fellow teacher to check why were they holding on to mark sheet of the girl. To their surprise they found that no such student had appeared for S.S.C. exam from their school. The mother was told so. However, the mother insisted that the school was making mistake and asked the school to check their records discreetly as her child was attending the school regularly and has passed recent Board exam.
The Headmaster was surprised….how can it happen?…how can name of the student, a girl , not appar in their rolls?....they again checked rolls of all the divisions of last years Std.X…..they didn’t find her name in any of the division….the lady, the mother of the child insisted that her daughter was attending the school…
Fearing goof-up, the school started searching for any possible omission of on their part….they started searching records of earlier year, when the girl would be in Std.IX….still no avail….
…then they went on to search records of Std.VIII…..and lol…..they found that the said girl didn’t attend the school for more than three months continuously and when no response was forthcoming from her parents to a letter they sent to her parents, her name was removed from the school….and district School authorities were informed accordingly….
….the story ended here?
…..No….
Friday, October 07, 2005
...Main Hoon Na...
In my last post I talked about Kal Ho Na Hon..
…Main Hoon Na…. is another such nice song that I like…
…again, such songs bring out sense of support that you wish to lend to your family…or to others who look to you for yours …
..to start with your family, your kids look for your support in the form of approvals…it is not suggested here that you give support for all their activities…and for that matter, at least in the Indian context, they will not seek or look for your support at the activities that they feel will be reprimanded by you…they are looking for your support where they feel uneasiness, may be due to severe competition, nervousness again due to any reason, loneliness, weakness or other difficulties….
…it is important that you feel that they need you and therefore, learn to accept them and be with them…
…we all know that your child has to travel path of life journey on his own…but human child need support of their elders, particularly parents, for varying periods, depending on the need…and the constant need of theirs for support…particularly for psychological support, cannot be overlooked or ignored…
…after all culture is nothing but learned traits transmitted from one generation to the other and therefore it is a cumulative sum of traits…and … won’t you like to pass on the traits which are based on love, passion and compassion?...we can definitely …
…and when I hear this song, beautifully sung by Sonu Nigam, I get a renewed vigor in me to be nice with everyone in my family…and also work hard for them…
…Main Hoon Na…. is another such nice song that I like…
…again, such songs bring out sense of support that you wish to lend to your family…or to others who look to you for yours …
..to start with your family, your kids look for your support in the form of approvals…it is not suggested here that you give support for all their activities…and for that matter, at least in the Indian context, they will not seek or look for your support at the activities that they feel will be reprimanded by you…they are looking for your support where they feel uneasiness, may be due to severe competition, nervousness again due to any reason, loneliness, weakness or other difficulties….
…it is important that you feel that they need you and therefore, learn to accept them and be with them…
…we all know that your child has to travel path of life journey on his own…but human child need support of their elders, particularly parents, for varying periods, depending on the need…and the constant need of theirs for support…particularly for psychological support, cannot be overlooked or ignored…
…after all culture is nothing but learned traits transmitted from one generation to the other and therefore it is a cumulative sum of traits…and … won’t you like to pass on the traits which are based on love, passion and compassion?...we can definitely …
…and when I hear this song, beautifully sung by Sonu Nigam, I get a renewed vigor in me to be nice with everyone in my family…and also work hard for them…
Kal Ho Na Hon
…Kal Ho Na Hon…This is one of the very few songs that moves me….for that matter I always think many might have been moved by the song……Main Hoon Na…. Is the another song that I like…and again it appears that such songs are liked by many……such songs bring out sense of support that you wish to lend to your family…or …the work that you will like to do for your family … how you will be remembered when you are no more there……most of us like our old Hindi songs…they are unforgettable…unlike the new ones…but I am amazed at people who keep on talking about the greatness of our old hindi songs disregarding certain new songs…agreed, old songs are great….but please don’t belittle many new songs, like two I have just mentioned…they are two of the great new songs. …
..it is rightly said that you are not going to carry anything with you when you will leave this abode…money, property and other things will not accompany you anywhere… people will, slowly and surely, forget you….may be for your near and dear it will take sometime to forget you…but time waits for no one…
…”yaaden”.. ”remembrances”, “ memories” will be there, however…
...so dear friends, do such things that you will be remembered for good deeds that you did...
… all of us know, or rather have a general complain that our children do not listen to us…or they pay a scant attention to us…however, please remember that this is an universal phenomena (ubiquitous) ….and age-old too… you ad me can not do anything about that…and remember how much attention did you pay to your father when you were kid?...
… we are not sure if we can give all good things in the world to our children but surely you can leave behind good memories for them to cherish when you are not around…
…and this is important from another angle: socialization…the process of making your kids know the path to be followed…so that they can leave behind their kids good memories…
…and when I hear this song, beautifully sung by Sonu Nigam, I get a renewed vigor to work best for my family…and before that to be nice with them…
..it is rightly said that you are not going to carry anything with you when you will leave this abode…money, property and other things will not accompany you anywhere… people will, slowly and surely, forget you….may be for your near and dear it will take sometime to forget you…but time waits for no one…
…”yaaden”.. ”remembrances”, “ memories” will be there, however…
...so dear friends, do such things that you will be remembered for good deeds that you did...
… all of us know, or rather have a general complain that our children do not listen to us…or they pay a scant attention to us…however, please remember that this is an universal phenomena (ubiquitous) ….and age-old too… you ad me can not do anything about that…and remember how much attention did you pay to your father when you were kid?...
… we are not sure if we can give all good things in the world to our children but surely you can leave behind good memories for them to cherish when you are not around…
…and this is important from another angle: socialization…the process of making your kids know the path to be followed…so that they can leave behind their kids good memories…
…and when I hear this song, beautifully sung by Sonu Nigam, I get a renewed vigor to work best for my family…and before that to be nice with them…
MTNL and Tri-Band
MTNL and Tri-Band
Ever since MTNL announced their ADSL Internet service I was longing to have their connection. And when they announced Tri-Band offer under DSL-NU plan I booked one on 5th July,2005.
Since then they were at their best…in their age old game of not offering service to their clients . To begin with, after having booked a connection on my existing phone line, I was told that they will start the service in another 10 days. After about 15 days their personnel came and put up an ADSL modem and went back saying that they will start connection in two days…number of calls after two days and their technical personnel arrived and checked the connection only to announce that the line was not stable and it may need some sort of tweaking…
...he goes and a call comes from MTNL declaring that there is a “Cable fault” and the fault will be rectified when the whole bunch of cable fault complaints in my locality is attended….few calls after a week and I get a reply that “don’t you know that there was a flood-like situation in Mumbai and water has sipped into the cables…we will be able to correct the fault only once the water is dried up…”
…The Mumbai rains has helped MTNL to shun from responsibility towards their customers… it rained again throughout the Gaesh Utsav and even during the last week of September 2005…
…come 30th September, 2005 and I get a call from their Exchange enquiring about Tri-band…only to be amazed to know that my Tri-band connection was never established… I was promised a visit by their engineer on the same day…I realised that local MTNL exchange have to send a quarterly compliance report by 30th September and hence the call to me…again a long wait for us (by deferring all work that day)…
… next day, the 1st Oct. , at 11 A.M. I got a call again and the so called technical personnel promised to come by noon…the person arrives just 15 min short of 6 in the evening…probably their closure time..he makes few calls, here and there, only to tell me that cable lines in my locality are not good enough to handle broadband connection…he calls up again someone in their (sub)local office and asks the other person to look into the matter by replacing the pair of cable with a good available pair…and there was again a promise of starting a tri-band on Monday, the 3rd Oct….my son who had arrived earlier on Saturday night from his campus continued to stay back at home on Monday, just to see how fast the Tri-band works (as these are the kids who are more interested in having a faster connection…obviously for downloading) only to be disappointed later in not seeing the light at the tunnel…pity scene,uh?...
…till date, 6th October,2005,after three months MTNLs adbill is burgeoning in tall claims only at the expense of not delivering the promises …
…you may say what happened to their Compliance Report dt. 30th Sept or 1st Oct. ?...I am sure that my grievance was attended to …at least in their report…
…after all “Raat gayi, Baat gayi…”
Ever since MTNL announced their ADSL Internet service I was longing to have their connection. And when they announced Tri-Band offer under DSL-NU plan I booked one on 5th July,2005.
Since then they were at their best…in their age old game of not offering service to their clients . To begin with, after having booked a connection on my existing phone line, I was told that they will start the service in another 10 days. After about 15 days their personnel came and put up an ADSL modem and went back saying that they will start connection in two days…number of calls after two days and their technical personnel arrived and checked the connection only to announce that the line was not stable and it may need some sort of tweaking…
...he goes and a call comes from MTNL declaring that there is a “Cable fault” and the fault will be rectified when the whole bunch of cable fault complaints in my locality is attended….few calls after a week and I get a reply that “don’t you know that there was a flood-like situation in Mumbai and water has sipped into the cables…we will be able to correct the fault only once the water is dried up…”
…The Mumbai rains has helped MTNL to shun from responsibility towards their customers… it rained again throughout the Gaesh Utsav and even during the last week of September 2005…
…come 30th September, 2005 and I get a call from their Exchange enquiring about Tri-band…only to be amazed to know that my Tri-band connection was never established… I was promised a visit by their engineer on the same day…I realised that local MTNL exchange have to send a quarterly compliance report by 30th September and hence the call to me…again a long wait for us (by deferring all work that day)…
… next day, the 1st Oct. , at 11 A.M. I got a call again and the so called technical personnel promised to come by noon…the person arrives just 15 min short of 6 in the evening…probably their closure time..he makes few calls, here and there, only to tell me that cable lines in my locality are not good enough to handle broadband connection…he calls up again someone in their (sub)local office and asks the other person to look into the matter by replacing the pair of cable with a good available pair…and there was again a promise of starting a tri-band on Monday, the 3rd Oct….my son who had arrived earlier on Saturday night from his campus continued to stay back at home on Monday, just to see how fast the Tri-band works (as these are the kids who are more interested in having a faster connection…obviously for downloading) only to be disappointed later in not seeing the light at the tunnel…pity scene,uh?...
…till date, 6th October,2005,after three months MTNLs adbill is burgeoning in tall claims only at the expense of not delivering the promises …
…you may say what happened to their Compliance Report dt. 30th Sept or 1st Oct. ?...I am sure that my grievance was attended to …at least in their report…
…after all “Raat gayi, Baat gayi…”
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Using USB MP3 player/recorder for text transcription
Few months back I happened to read the following post on CEO of "Goal Free Living":
"Here is a photo of Stephen Shapiro’s high tech car from his 2003 trip — well, at least back then it was. With a desk built into the passenger seat of the car, he used GPS tracking on his PC, cellular internet access (with streaming Internet radio…often listening to the BBC), voice recognition software, and a digital tape recorder that transcribes directly into MS Word.
"Having read the post I wanted to ask Stephen for success rate of such transcription. After some six months I sent him a mail and got a prompt reply :
"Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, I found the success rate to be unacceptably low. After a number of experiments, I found it faster/easier to listen to the recording and then manually type what I wanted. To get a high rate of success with the electronic transcription, I would have to speak too slowly, announcing punctuation, for it to be practical. I wish I had better news for you."
Bad news, isn't it?
Anyway, one of the use of such compact recorder lies in recording speeches at my local club. A speech will be recorded as a file and speeches can, therafter, be distributed to other members, as an attachment who could not made it to a certain meeting or it can be archived. Of course, one can go through the speech at leizure to use it in your next bulletin.
Prashant
"Here is a photo of Stephen Shapiro’s high tech car from his 2003 trip — well, at least back then it was. With a desk built into the passenger seat of the car, he used GPS tracking on his PC, cellular internet access (with streaming Internet radio…often listening to the BBC), voice recognition software, and a digital tape recorder that transcribes directly into MS Word.
"Having read the post I wanted to ask Stephen for success rate of such transcription. After some six months I sent him a mail and got a prompt reply :
"Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, I found the success rate to be unacceptably low. After a number of experiments, I found it faster/easier to listen to the recording and then manually type what I wanted. To get a high rate of success with the electronic transcription, I would have to speak too slowly, announcing punctuation, for it to be practical. I wish I had better news for you."
Bad news, isn't it?
Anyway, one of the use of such compact recorder lies in recording speeches at my local club. A speech will be recorded as a file and speeches can, therafter, be distributed to other members, as an attachment who could not made it to a certain meeting or it can be archived. Of course, one can go through the speech at leizure to use it in your next bulletin.
Prashant
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
...how best a notebook can be put to use?
.....Something......
..well, few hours back I wrote a blog after a very long period...after seven months.....then decided that I shall try to scrib on something at least once a day....that time I was at my office...having done a night shift duty and was on my back to home in our office vehicle....and I had many ideas in my mind then....back home and after having spent few hours....definitely not more than 4 hrs...I do not remember what were those things about which I wanted to write...afterall now I am 45 and forgetfulness is the order of day for me,it appears...
...one of the thing that I wonder, these days, is what to do with this IBM Thinkpad that I bought a month ago?....actually, I wanted to go for an HP/Compaq Celeron, which is available for something equivalent to US$700 as it has nice features for general purpose like firewire port,6 in 1 card reader,S-video output etc.....however, when I asked my son, who is doing his 2nd year Bachelors' degree in engg., which one I should go in for he suggested or rather insisted on buying a Centrino....and that's how I got this IBM for US$1000...
...I think I am digressing....the point is what should I do with this notebook?....basically, I thought of learning,seriously, Technical Analysis that can be used for buying/selling common stocks...with notebook I thought of pondering on charting software while commuting to and fro office which is 1 and half hour one side...
...however, by god, I have not started using any charting software in that way...I still do not have updated data to be able to use for the charting software....and first of all I will need to read thouroughly a good book on Technical Analysis....
...secondly, carrying the notebook to office seems to be not-so-worthy a proposition...for unnecessarily being admonished by my colleagues...
...having said that, I wonder what are the things that can be done using this notebook...I mean all the time I am repenting my decision of purchasing the notebook...I always have this feeling that my wife may be (secretly) cursing me for spending $1000 (I am sure I may be more than 100% wrong as she doesn't mind spending anything for me)....which is a lot of money in India....
...I asked this question to my son also...what to do with this notebook?...I asked him to take it with him to his college (he is 100 km away from home and stays in a hostel) but he doesn't like a notebbok as he likes to play games only...
...if there is any reader to this blog and he/she is kind enough to let me know what should I do with this notebook....I mean, how best I can use it....I shall be thankful for his/her suggestion(s) ...
-Prashant
..well, few hours back I wrote a blog after a very long period...after seven months.....then decided that I shall try to scrib on something at least once a day....that time I was at my office...having done a night shift duty and was on my back to home in our office vehicle....and I had many ideas in my mind then....back home and after having spent few hours....definitely not more than 4 hrs...I do not remember what were those things about which I wanted to write...afterall now I am 45 and forgetfulness is the order of day for me,it appears...
...one of the thing that I wonder, these days, is what to do with this IBM Thinkpad that I bought a month ago?....actually, I wanted to go for an HP/Compaq Celeron, which is available for something equivalent to US$700 as it has nice features for general purpose like firewire port,6 in 1 card reader,S-video output etc.....however, when I asked my son, who is doing his 2nd year Bachelors' degree in engg., which one I should go in for he suggested or rather insisted on buying a Centrino....and that's how I got this IBM for US$1000...
...I think I am digressing....the point is what should I do with this notebook?....basically, I thought of learning,seriously, Technical Analysis that can be used for buying/selling common stocks...with notebook I thought of pondering on charting software while commuting to and fro office which is 1 and half hour one side...
...however, by god, I have not started using any charting software in that way...I still do not have updated data to be able to use for the charting software....and first of all I will need to read thouroughly a good book on Technical Analysis....
...secondly, carrying the notebook to office seems to be not-so-worthy a proposition...for unnecessarily being admonished by my colleagues...
...having said that, I wonder what are the things that can be done using this notebook...I mean all the time I am repenting my decision of purchasing the notebook...I always have this feeling that my wife may be (secretly) cursing me for spending $1000 (I am sure I may be more than 100% wrong as she doesn't mind spending anything for me)....which is a lot of money in India....
...I asked this question to my son also...what to do with this notebook?...I asked him to take it with him to his college (he is 100 km away from home and stays in a hostel) but he doesn't like a notebbok as he likes to play games only...
...if there is any reader to this blog and he/she is kind enough to let me know what should I do with this notebook....I mean, how best I can use it....I shall be thankful for his/her suggestion(s) ...
-Prashant
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