Melange Thoughts

Feel good factor

2010-04-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

It was a lazy Sunday yesterday. Afternoon was spent lazing around the house and reading an Indian fiction. Surfing through the various channels, I see that The Princess Diaries is being aired in one of them. I again watched the whole movie for the nth time. The dialogues and the sequence of scenes are all imprinted in my mind. Why did I watch the movie again? The simple reason is that it gave me a good feeling and a sense of happiness and peace. Sometimes very small inadvertent actions can refresh us and fill us with renewed hope and vigor.

Clash of the Titans Remake 2010

2010-04-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

What can you expect different in a movie which was made previously too? An imaginative change in the storyline (if it is a myth) and in today’s era; the standard of graphics and special effects. The movie touches the issue of Man, God and their inter-relationship.
One would argue that why should I watch this movie? Well if you are interested in mythological stories and especially Greek/ Roman ones then this one is for you. Some stories like Cleopatra, Gladiator, Troy, Alexander, even non-descript ones like 300 have a certain appeal for the die-hard followers and of course I would recommend these kind of movies for kids.
Yes, Clash of the Titans is worth watching in a movie hall or if you have a huge screen with “surround sound” at home.
The movie has also been released in 3D format too. Viewing the movie in 2D one can imagine how phantasmagorical the 3D experience will be.
The story is about Zeus, Hades and Perseus who is mentored by Ammon in his endeavor. Another not too central female character is that of Andromeda.
The Greek Gods have lot of similarity with the Hindu ones and parallel can be drawn in their stories too. Even the specificity of actions where a man is forbidden and a woman can maneuver reminds one of Bhisma and Shikhandi or Amba.
The city of Argos shown in the movie has a misty hangover of the sets of Lord of the Rings and so does the costumes. Some graphics reminds of the “Death-eaters” in Harry Potter. The SFX pertaining to Hades are most resplendent and enamoring. On the flip side Kraken is lackluster and so is Zeus’s palace (reminds ones of Indra’s palace). Medusa is engaging and slithery.
The weakest part of the movie is that Kraken is defeated too easily as compared to the hype created about him and his strength. In comparison Hades creates bigger mayhem.
The most subtle underlying message in the movie is that you need the Gods. There are actions of Gods which one might feel unjustified but they serve a bigger picture. Argos needed a demi-God to protect its citizens. Man alone could not protect them. Man forgets the greater benevolence of the Gods at times of peace and hence is thrust upon with dire situations to bring them back to Gods.
Go watch the movie and enjoy!!!

Living within laws

2010-04-03T05:26:00.000-07:00

Oops that was a typo. I meant “Living with in-laws”.
Last night I am my better half went to watch a late night show at a multiplex close to our house. Our 1.5 year old son went off to sleep before we left the house. We happily went ahead for the movie without looking back. My in-laws were at home looking after him.
That instant while we were waiting for the lift outside the apartment, I looked back at the closed main door and realized how much secure I felt to go out for an evening of enjoyment without any burden. I realized the benefit of living in a joint family with in-laws first hand. This blog post is not to propagate joint family system etc. It is aimed just to share my positive experience.
Indeed this issue is not devoid of vehement discussion and counter argument with instances of gruesome conditions. I agree that my case might be one of those blessed ones and I am thankful to God for this. But with the absolutely horrific stories that one sees on investigative TV channels about maids and their methods I am ready to compromise a bit for a safer environment for my kid.

Corporate culture in the IPL teams

2010-04-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

It is worthwhile to note that the teams held by corporates have managed to do better though there is no scientific data to support the same other than the match scores.
Royal Challengers Bangalore after a dismal performance in IPL 1.0 has managed to get their act together and so have Mumbai Indians.
Delhi Daredevils are languishing in the second half of the table this season but did well last 2 seasons. Rajasthan Royal’s low-cost proposition has also helped its owners earn handsomely. Somewhere the corporate culture definitely percolates into the team. Yes, I admit that this statement is highly debatable.
Getting the costliest players, best endorsements, prancing cheer leaders and other promotional gimmicks and hoopla is not enough.

Shahrukh ke shoorvir

2010-04-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

KKR has finally won a league match in IPL 3.0 after couple of losses recently. There are some silent sigh of relief here and there.
The team though needs to win its remaining league matches to remain in contention for a place in the semis. Of course the permutations and combinations of outcome of other league matches will also decide KKR’s fate and that is not directly in their control. So winning wont be enough, they will definitely need some “Daivam”.
Ganguly’s valiant knock of 88 runs created a solid base for the team to fight back. And it can be clearly dubbed as a “Captain’s leading from the front” knock. But in my opinion Chris Gayle is a waste. I have never seen him perform to match all the hype about him. And dear old Ajit still manages to throw wide ones during crunch situation like the end 2-3 overs. But end of the day, KKR have won fair and square.
Another interesting observation (not just my unique observation though) is the toned down version of King Khan compared to his fist pumping dug-out routine during IPL 1.0. Maybe he realizes that his Midas Touch wont work everywhere and has probably accepted the reality.
Finally, it is the outcome of the matches that matters the most. Break even can be shown by tweaking numbers anyway you want. A case in point is trying to show what a big grosser “My name is Khan” through advertisements in the newspapers. But did they bother to show how much was spent in making of the movie or its promotion?

The Sania Mania – Is there a need for the media hype?

2010-04-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

Sania Mirza, the tennis player who has put India on the World Women’s tennis map is back in the news. And thankfully this time is about her marriage to Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Malik and not of losing another championship’s first round match.

I would not like to belittle her achievements but if we compare her achievements to all the other Williams or *Ova’s of the world then she has a long way to go. Saina Nehwal instead has achieved much more in badminton for the nation but does not share the same kind of limelight.

The media has gone on a tizzy. Juicy details about Shoaib’s alleged first marriage to another lady is already making the rounds with various degrees of accuracy.

It is hilarious to note that discussions have catapulted to the intricacies of Indo-Pak border relations etc. affecting this relationship and vice-versa. Of course it is also reported that they will settle in a neutral territory – Dubai.
Rediff reports that the Pakistani Tennis Federation has started trumping the issue that Sania should play for Pakistan post marriage.
Is it really worth reporting such juvenile statements?

This whole media hype and exposure is absolutely unnecessary. It is inconsequential whether Sania continues to play tennis or represents Pakistan instead of India. And let us not forget that Sania plays professional tennis where she represents herself first; the fact that she belongs to India or Uganda is trivial.

I would like to stress that it is a marriage for God’s sake between two people irrespective of whichever country they might belong to. Is it just because one is Indian and other is Pakistani? Would it have made so much news if she was marrying someone from Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan?

The media should harness its resource strength and analytical ability to impartially focus on issues of greater importance like the inflation, economic slowdown, nation’s preparedness for the Common Wealth Games, causes of water crisis and electricity shortage, the state of our education and healthcare system or even the honor killings perpetrated across the nation.

Bonding with Bacchus - Call a cab!

2010-02-01T00:49:00.001-08:00

I am seriously surprised at these events of drunken driving leading to fatality. Two innocent lives lost, and families shattered. So many lives have changed forever owing to lack of judgment by a single grown-up adult person.
Nooria is 27 years old as reported by the media. (The same media which has reported two different reasons for the accident in papers owned by the same group, but that is besides the point here). She is not 14 or 16. Someone who has lived on her own in the US and come back to pursue a profession. Many people her age get married, have kids and also hold responsible positions at work.
What prompted her to drive her vehicle after such reported huge amount of alcohol, close to 6 – 7 large pegs?
I am sure someone who drinks that kind of alcohol is not an occasional drinker and must have done it earlier too. I am not against drinking or drinking in large amounts.
What puzzles me is the psyche behind driving a car to a party or gathering with friends where one is sure to drink and revel? Did she think that the police might not catch her or that she will be able to drive back home steadily? For God’s sake we have so many cabs in this city not to mention the services of Meru or Mega cabs too. One call for a cab would have saved the lives of the people who died for no fault of theirs and saved Nooria all the legal tangles which she is finding herself in.
This city has regularly featured in the media with cases of drunken driving but something is seriously wrong in the psyche of the people who don’t seem to take things seriously until something happens to THEM!
Last but not the least what kind of friends did she have who were reported to be hanging around with her? Were they really friends? Or were they simply acquaintances? I don’t think any good well-meaning friend would allow her to drive away after such a heavy – drinking session. They are friends whom we can choose not relatives.
Everyone is to blame to a certain extent – Nooria herself, her parents, friends, laws and enforcement of laws.
In a country like ours, laws alone won’t act as deterrent or help improve the drunken driving situation. People themselves have to become serious and take responsibility. Friends have to step – in and grab the reins before it is too late. Parents also have an active role to play. Accept that their child/ children drink and then help them become responsible by not admonishing rather instilling safe ways of drinking and reaching back home.
On the lighter side - Honda can claim how great its car safety measures are considering nothing happened to Nooria after the huge crash and the condition of the CRV as photographed in the media.

H1N1 - Is it straight out of a Hollywood script?

2010-01-13T01:36:00.000-08:00

The recent news reports on the H1N1 "scam" seems that the perpetrators (if proven) created the whole scenario like a Hollywood virus movie like say the story based on Ebola or some futuristic XDP345E or something. (Dont ask me what is XDP345E)
The corruption charges against drug companies are from time immemorial like that of the cigarette manufacturers. This is further aided by regular journal articles on the harmful effects of Ayurveda (and Yoga as well as Pranayama) which seems to be eating into their profit share. Lets test the drugs openly live on TV like a reality show and let it be aired round the world. Ramdev baba are you reading this?
It is claimed that India is one of the most corrupt nations alongwith Indonesia but one needs to see what the so called high priests of the society of the developed western world do for their own material gain. The alleged Rs. 50 charged by an average traffic police for missing helmet seems innocuous in front of what the officials of institutions like WHO or UN are doing. This does not mean I am defending corruption but trying to put things into perspective.
Think!

Bhagat(e) Raho

2010-01-06T06:07:00.000-08:00

I have been reading the recent brouhaha about Chetan Bhagat's tussle with the makers of 3 Idiots for credits. I am not sure how far and what is true but I gathered that the rights for the movie was properly bought 2- 3 years back and he was promised credit in the end. Does it really matter? I am not sure what Mr. Bhagat is running after (if he is running after as reported)?
All print media, blogs have mentioned that the film is based on this book. People who have read him also can identify the same. I am not sure if it is one of those publicity gimmicks or just plain "need" fore recognition.
All I can say is that "Mr. Bhagat, your book was a trendsetter after which many IIM grads wrote similar stuff". You were first of the block and always will be remembered for it irrespective of whether there is a flick like "3 Idiots" or not.
What new are you coming out with?

Farmville Fever

2010-01-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

Are you on Farmville? (Facebook, Farmville - does it ring a bell?)
I regularly check my Facebook account. I used to get lot of Farmville gifts and invites etc which I ignored for months. Then out of sheer necessity to be courteous to my friends and their invites, I ventured into Farmville one fine day.
And guess what? I am hooked totally! And the "need" to check my farm forces me to log on to the net atleast once a day irrespective of whatever work I have.
Yesterday my friend told me the benefits of visiting my friends' farm. I put that also into practice immediately. Today while checking my friends' farm I found that some of the stuff is ready for harvest. What did I do? I called my friend and asked if she can check on her farm, she said no! I took her login and password, went to Farmville, harvested the stuff and logged out. Imagine what a farmer I am turning into!!!
My farm

3 Idiots - The Review - Must watch

2010-01-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

First and foremost - "Awesome".
I have not seen such a well made Bollywood flick in a long long time. The message is crisp and clear. I will not want my son to try and go to Harvard from now on :).
Locales are breathtaking without trying to show any undiscovered part of Europe. The color of water in the final scene is mind blowing. Acting of the 3 Idiots as well as Boman is a class in itself.
Some parts of the book seem to be from 5 Point Someone but some instances like the answer sheet scene is from a copy of Chicken Soup (I dont remember for whose soul). Overall a wonderful watch and absolute value for time and money spent. The songs are nice and hummable. I intend to buy a DVD and keep it for posterity.
Go out, grab a friend and watch the movie. Live!

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T04:47:00.000-08:00

A very Happy New Year to you! :)

Back after a hiatus

2009-12-22T05:01:00.000-08:00

Its been months since I last blogged.
Bogged down with some important academic targets.
Well, partially achieved and hope to be more habitue on the blog scene.
Merry Christmas!

Dad at 13 - Alfie tests negative for DNA

2009-03-27T01:39:00.000-07:00

Well well well. Today's morning paper says that Alfie the puny looking kid who was reported to have fathered a baby at 13 is not "the father". According to DNA results, he is not the father of the baby girl. Still it does not change a thing about their culture. I hope the kid is much more responsible in future and focuses on shaping his life in a productive manner and not just a "re"productive one.

Birth certificate in Mumbai

2009-03-10T00:32:00.000-07:00

In India getting any work done through the government is nothing short of an ordeal. But things are improving these days. Computerization can be seen in many areas which makes the system efficient.
I would like to share the experience of getting a birth certificate of my li'l one. The hospital staff collected my name, husband's name, address etc from me just after the birth of the baby. They sent these details to the Greater Mumbai Municipality office in 'T' Ward Mulund which is in Paanch Rasta. While going from Thane to Mulund you need to take a right turn from the fire station on the main road (after R-Mall).
I had to check up with the municipality office after 2 months. I was asked to come back after 3 months are over.
>> The office remains closed on second and fourth Saturdays.
>> The office timings are 9 am to 1 pm. Nothing will happen after this time.
On my next visit I had to fill a "birth form" collected from counter no. 7 and then fees were paid in counter 1 - 3. After paying the fees, I had to submit the form duly signed at counter no. 7. I was asked to come on the next working day after collecting a receipt.
>> Important. Be very careful with the spelling of name, address and dates and ensure that the Pin Code is also filled correctly.
When I went the third time, I produced the receipt and got the certificate. There were some mistakes in my middle name as well as the pin code. Hence, I had to go to room no. 51 in the same building (second floor) and give a written application for the necessary correction and proof of the said correction. (Electricity bill as pin code proof). They kept the form and asked me to go and pay the fees again and come back next day to collect the form. (Same procedure as earlier). And you lose the initial fees that you had paid.
You can opt for 4-5 copies of the birth certificate if you want. You have to pay the necessary amount in the fee counter (1-3).
I hope this post proves to be helpful to some Mumbaikar parents.
Be very careful about the data that is filled by your maternity home before it is sent to the municipality office.

Dad at 13???!!!!

2009-02-15T23:51:00.000-08:00

I am not sure if many of you guys read the news of a Brit girl who gave birth to a baby girl at 15. The father is a guy who is 13. If you see the pics, the guy looks like a puny little thing not older then 8. Whats wrong with these kids? And I dont understand the logic of nature - here we are struggling to give birth to a baby at 30+ and there these irresponsible kids are breeding broods like anything. Dont they have any concept of contraception or the morning after pill? Maybe Cipla and Mankind should look at the prospects of their OTC drug iPill and Unwanted in the UK market or maybe they already have :). And frankly I dont understand what their mother's are doing? And to top it all now there are some couple of other guys who have staked their claim on the baby. Seems Chantelle the mom was sleeping with 8 guys. Well one can sleep with 'n' guys but bringing a baby into this world!!!????!!!!
To read the news and see the pic of the parents and newborn go to the page in "The Sun" http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2233878.ece

These Western buggers write about Indian child weddings and stuff but what about the state of their society?
Just thought of sharing this piece of news.

Breast milk with Satavarex

2009-02-06T00:24:00.000-08:00

Breast milk production is highly essential in the first six months after delivery for feeding a new born baby. It ensures good health and a strong immune system.
One product which new-mothers can opt for us Zandu's Satavarex granules. It is available in all leading pharmacys. One can take 1 tablespoon full twice daily and wash it down with plain water or mix it in a glass of milk and drink it.
I have used it and found it to be of great help.
There are many similar products under different brand name but I can vouch for the efficacy of Satavarex only.
Promote and propagate breast feeding.
Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI)
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

The revolution called "Modi"

2009-01-17T06:59:00.000-08:00

Recently there was lot of attention about Vibrant Gujarat 2009.
Mr. Modi has been able to garner huge investments through MOUs.
It is something to be extremely proud of.
The leaders of Indian business have hailed him the next leader for the nation.
Even a MP of the Left has said that one should emulate Mr. Modi's ways.
But at the same time I saw a television statement by Mr. Tiwari of Congress refraining people from supporting a "Fascist".
I propose that the media does an independent point by point analysis of Mr. Modi's achievements and "misdeeds" vis - a - vis that of some other "great" leaders of this nation and come out with "Just Facts".
I am sure Mr. Modi is going to win hands down. :)
Just look at the amount of television talk shows (1 on 1) in various channels featuring Mr. Modi. You cannot ignore "Results" however much you hate the person.
Action speaks louder then words.
Lets be honest and give credit to someone who has actually done something rather then just give hollow speeches and promote their sons, daughters or wife.
All the best Modi Saheb. You are the best!!!

Chanda Kochhar

2008-12-24T01:13:00.000-08:00

Recently Chandra Kochhar of ICICI has been named the successor of Mr. Kamath. It is wonderful to see a woman finally at the helm of affairs in ICICI. This does not mean that the company was biased towards men and that Ms. Kochhar has broken some glass ceiling. Women have always dominated important positions in this company but being the BOSS means being "the boss"!!!
I have been following the role of women in ICICI since the 90's based on newspaper articles. Any professional achievers award or function definitely featured the "Charlie's Angels" of ICICI - Chanda Kochhar, Kalpana Morparia, Madhabi Puri Buch, Shikha Sharma, Lalita Gupte to name a few.
There were oft small articles in the papers that some 12 odd people are in the reckoning for the post.
I was sure that one of them will head the company sometime in future. When Kalpana Morparia moved to JP Morgan and Chanda Kochhar came on TV regularly to defend ICICI after the Lehman Bros debacle, I was more then sure that she is the ONE!
Finally, the result is out and Chanda Kochhar is the new CEO of ICICI. I was always fascinated by her quite demeanor and the peaceful confidence that she exuded be it in the print media or on TV.
I was watching an interview of hers in a TV channel and was pleased to know that she has a beautiful family comprising of her husband and two kids. I am sure they are proud of Chanda today and the kids definitely understand the sacrifices that they and she had to make till now and will have to make in future. Whatever she is today, a large part of the credit goes to her family who stand by her.
I used to feel that it is difficult to balance career and family but she has proven me wrong.
As a student of Management Studies, I always wanted to become like them in my life. It is a different thing that today motherhood has made me leave my job and be a full time mother to my kid atleast in the first few months. I believe that we must put our 100% in whatever we do in order to be successful - be it a job or role of a mother.
In the near future I will be joining the family business and start learning the ropes. I hope I am able to do justice to the position and role that I will be filling in. Chanda Kochhar is definitely a role model for me.
All the best Chanda!

Matching blood and blood banks

2008-12-03T23:23:00.000-08:00

Recently I delivered a baby boy. I had mentioned it in my blog.
I was not sure whether it will be a normal or a C-sec.
And I have a rare blood group. I wanted to keep a pint of matching blood "just in case".
I learnt couple of things about blood bank, cross match and transfusion etc.
1. Hope and pray that you NEVER have to undergo a transfusion.
2. If you have to then you will need blood from a blood bank. All hospitals have their resources for the same.
3. In case of a planned surgery, it makes sense to reserve a pint atleast. It costs hardly anything compared to the cost of sudden need for blood.
4. A small sample is taken from you and is sent to the lab for "cross match". It is not necessary that all banks will have "fresh" matching blood all the time.
5. Cross matching process takes approximately 1 to 2 hours.
6. The blood stock expires in 15-21 days. Blood loses its oxygen content as it grows older. So you should try to procure fresh blood as far as possible.
7. Cross match cannot be done well in advance. The cross match sample also expires in 2 days.
8. Some banks have the provision of reservation but that is also for a short period. You cant have it stocked for you when someone else needs it urgently.
9. You must know your blood group very clearly. Get it checked from different labs at different times (atleast 3 times to be statistically correct :) )
And a pint costs somewhere around Rs. 15 to 1800 (subject to change and can vary from place to place).
The important thing is that you must take keen interest in this process especially when you go for an elective surgery.
Donate blood whenever you can.

Heads have started rolling . ..

2008-12-01T03:51:00.001-08:00

Ok so now some ministers are resigning since their "conscience" is asking them to.
Hahaha conscience!!!?@#$% Do they even know the spelling?
The fact is that they know they will be ceremoniously KICKED out if they dont resign on their own.
Good riddance!!!

Salute to the Soldiers

2008-11-30T23:09:00.000-08:00

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers and cops who gave their lives in the Mumbai Massacre.
I hope the departed souls rest in peace.
You are our true heroes.
Because of you, I sit in my cozy room and write these blogs.
Because you protect us each day.
My salute to your fearlessness, courage and sense of duty.

Jai Hind!!!

Late but still . . . . .

2008-11-30T23:00:00.001-08:00

I used to listen to a ghazal whose lyrics were somewhat as follows:
Der lagi aane me unko|
shukr hai fir bhi aaye to||
Aas ne dil ka saath na choda|
Waise hum ghabraye to||

When I saw Shivraj Patil's resignation (what did he wear while writing his resignation note - Gucci/ Givenchy/ Giorano ;))
I thought -
Der lagi jaane mein unko|
Shukr hai fir bhi Gaye to||

Though he is a miniscule non-existent thing, but each time I heard or read his comments, statements, I just hoped he gets kicked out of the government.

Look at Madeliene Albright and look at this ex-hommie of ours. I remember he visited that Gujarat 2008 blast site in peak monsoon wearing all white with white shoes and palms folded one over the other in front of him as though he is in a prayer meeting.

Countries like Spain and Argentina also have strong female leaders who are miles better then this dud.

I hope he lives a long life on the sidelines of abject anonymity and each of these terror deaths haunt him and make him gaunt. Words like failure, weak, useless etc are understatements for him. There is actually no word in our English dictionary to describe this "thing".

Mumbai Mayhem 26/11

2008-11-30T22:47:00.000-08:00

It was a usual week night for me.
Now my schedule revolves around our new born son's need to feed and change.
I spent the day watching Ind vs Eng ODI in Cuttack and then surfed to Raising Helen.
The movie had sub titles so I could watch it without any sound.
12 in the night my best friend smsd me - Have you seen the news? I called her - What news? She said firing in South Mumbai - Leopold and all.
Through the news channels I came to know about the mayhem that was ensuing.
I woke my husband and told him what is happening. His office is in South Mumbai.
It is shocking to see the events over the entire night while feeding and changing diapers.
One moment you see the ATS chief live on TV and next moment it is flashed that he has become a "shahid". Next day a cousin mentions about Karamvir Kang and his loss. Soon we come to know that he was a batchmate of one of our brother in law and some acquaintances' cousin. Suddenly these are not nameless people but people you know somehow.
What are we headed for? How many more lives have to be slaughtered before the government does something constructive? We need concrete plans and swift execution not the usual speeches that we have been seeing of Manmohan Singh and Shivraj Patil.
If we still dont wake up then many more Taj, Oberoi, Nariman House will happen and I dread to say that it could be any of us.
Wake up India!!!

Our Newborn

2008-11-30T22:42:00.000-08:00

On 13th of November 2008, I and my husband were blessed with a baby boy.
It has been one of the most surreal experience for us and the best gift ever from God.
Life has changed for good for the both of us. :)
Thank you God :)

Dada - The End of a Saga

2008-11-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Today was the last day of the Nagpur Test match between India and Australia. Why I am mentioning it is because it also happens to be the last day in Saurav Ganguly's Test career for Team India. And what a remarkable send off by the team. A victory over Australia! The whole world will remember that Saurav Ganguly retired on a winning note when the Indian team wrested the Airtel Border Gavaskar Trophy from reigning world champions - Australia.
It has been one long journey for the Boy from Behala.
I happened to stay a few streets away in Behala in late 2000 for few months. Dada's house was slightly away but the whole area was known as the place where Saurav Ganguly lives.
What is remarkable about this successful captain and cricketer of India is that he brought out the aggression in the team and its members. Yes, it is a gentleman's game but does it seem so when the Aussies or the Proteases play.
Look at the swagger and the bullying attitude of the Aussies. Today they are so hurt and disoriented by the Indian attitude of fighting back that happened after Monkeygate in Australia is palpable from the fact that even now people like Gilly, Ponting and Symmo are talking about it. I am sure they are not able to forget it and remember the incident each night they go to sleep. :) Somewhere Saurav is responsible for making the team fight back and not take things lying down. Captains should not be like the decent front bencher school boy who is always in the teacher's good books but a wily fellow who works with and for the team and ensures that they win. Dhoni also is showing lot of promise in these lines.
The TV channels will be showing his bare chested t-shirt dance in Lords for sometime now and then everything will die down but the legend called Prince of Calcutta will live on in the minds and hearts of Indian cricket lovers for a long time.
I wish him all the very best for his future and hope he has a great post-cricket life both professionally as well as a family man.

TMT vs BEST

2008-11-05T23:32:00.000-08:00

Today politics rules over every conceivable idea or initiative in India.
The city of Thane has its own city bus service called TMT. Mumbai has a similar service called BEST. As the name suggests, it is one of the BEST services in India. The quality of bus, maintenance, punctuality, service everything is worth appreciating. TMT fares poorly in all these parameters.
Recently, a good initiative was taken and a bus service of BEST was started to connect Thane and Borivili (central and western suburbs). The price of the ticket is reported to be Rs. 15 compared to Rs. 500 that you might shell out if you came by a cab (personal experience). And the buses will ply at regular intervals from dawn to dusk.
TMT might have 1001 reasons why its services are poor compared to BEST but the bottom line is that the BEST service is going to be helpful for the common man. Yesterday there was a bus and auto strike but I am sure they also know that the BEST service is the BEST move.
How long should such lame services be given shelter and protection? One might argue that the average driver or conductor of TMT is not responsible for its plight and hence their interests should be protected but what about Commuter's Interest?
Such innovative and lateral initiatives should be promoted further instead of letting TMT and autos to resort to strikes etc. This is what brings out the competitive streak and ensures that government services shrug their laid back attitude and perform.
Hail BEST!!!
See what today's Mumbai Mirror has written on the same issue.
"Commuters make the BEST of new Thane-Borivli route" and "What’s wrong with the TMT"

How Barack Obama has become the 44th Prez of USA

2008-11-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting picture from Rediff.com dated. 05.11.2008.
Have a look.

Original source of the picture: Click Here

Sadhvi Pragya's Conversation and Indian Media

2008-11-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was surfing through various channels trying to understand where the market is whirring to. I happened to see a news item in couple of staple news channels about some conversation between Sadhvi Pragya and an accomplice or whatever one Mr. Ramji which has been released by the police or ATS.
First of all it was not a recorded audio tape. It was a script which was shown on the screen and read out by a male and female voice.
The funniest thing is after 5 minutes when I shifted to another channel, the same news was being aired but the script has changed. The sequence of conversation has changed.
I really dont know how far you can trust these channels and their reports and biases.
My purpose of writing this is not as a support or criticism of what the Sadhvi has or hasn't done rather it is about the type and quality of report that are being fed to us by our "responsible" media and fourth estate.

House Interior Decoration - The DIY Guide from a Beginner - Our Experience

2008-10-04T00:26:00.000-07:00

The global economic changes in the recent days have put our finances in doldrums. The national scenario is also nothing much to talk about especially with high inflation rate and the faltering stock market. The housing projects also were commanding sky high prices in the metros till the recent past. Interest rates of home loans have also soared in the last 3-4 years. Bottomline - everything has become expensive.

You have bought a house with your hard earned money and in case you have taken it on floating loan then you are paying high EMIs on the same. Most of the home owners in various classes of cities are first time buyers and till recently have been staying in a rented accommodation. Having ones own house gives them the dual benefit of creating an Asset as well as saving on Income Tax as per Indian IT Act both for the principal and interest part of the loan. On the other side staying in a rented accommodation gives a sense of being unplanned and intermittent. We take the benefit of HRA in our IT calculation for the rent that we pay to the landlord. If finances permit then it makes sense to build ones own immovable property.

These first timers would prefer to shift to their newly acquired houses as soon as they get possession. But it is easier said then done. An apartment is not like a car. You dont take the keys and ride away immediately. What you get is a basic house where you have to do up the interiors as per your requirement and means to make it livable. Nothing gets done overnight and everything comes at a price.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

You can either buy readymade furniture and put them in place to start living in the house or you can get a professionals like carpenter, plumber and electrician to do up the furnitures and fixtures. But how do you coordinate the work and ensure that everything gets done in a synchronized manner. Most people opt for an interior decorator to do up their houses. They are now available everywhere a dime to dozen. Hiring an interior decorator is no longer the forte of rich people. They are available in all sizes and shapes. :)

The question now is to hire an interior decorator or do it yourself. Both have pros and cons. If you and your spouse are working professionals then you wont have the time to check on the details in day to day life. You wont have any other option other then buying ready made furniture or hiring an interior decorator to do the job. You also might not find readymade stuff suitable for your need or dimension.

What an interior decorator does for you is gives you a proposed plan of what furniture and fixtures to be put in your flat, arrange for carpenters, electricians and then getting the job done. But they charge atleast 10% of the total interior decoration project cost which is the sum of material and labor. They have great glossy ideas but dont forget that they work with your money. Saving on your costs and at the same time ensuring quality is the last thing in their minds. They will push for all contemporary design though they might become obsolete in a year or two's time.

What I recommend to people who are conscious about how much they spend and what they get for their money is to DIY. Do it yourself. It is not as difficult as it might sound. And yes, it is a learning experience.

BUT HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT?

First of all you need to be a little PC and numbers savvy. Go out and get a chequered page notebook or a graph book, couple of pencils, erasers and ruler. (Like what we used to do maths in early school and do draw graphs in the mathematics class) Googling on the net will get you many conversion tools which you can use to convert millimeters, centimeters, foot, inches etc. Your builder will normally give the dimensions of your apartment/ flat in square foot. The carpenters generally do their work in millimeters. Hence the need for robust conversion.

Make a list of all the furnitures that you would need in your house. Prioritize the need of each of them in terms of Absolutely Necessary, Necessary but at a later date, Desired but not mandatory. This will ensure that you focus on the fundamental stuff and not divert your energy and resources to insignificant things like the phone stand or magazine rack.

Make a list of which furniture will be located in which room. Simultaneously, the color of the paint on the walls should also be finalized. You can check the online shade catalogue of paints on the sites of Asian Paints etc. The color of the furniture will need to be coordinated with that of the paint so that it is soothing for the occupants of the room.

You can segregate furnitures in terms of readymade and custom made. Items like beds, sofa, dining table set can be bought outright whereas cupboards might need to be customized.

Good quality readymade furnitures are available in branded stores in every town catering to various price structures. These again can be searched through the websites advertised in the print advertisements of the stores. Some of the well known ones are @Home, Style Spa, Durian etc. Then visit the stores. It saves your precious time.

Draw the layout your room in your graph book (to scale) and then place each of the furniture as per their dimensions (again to scale). This will give you an idea of how much free space will be available to you. It will also ensure that you are not cramping your room. For example a queen bed might fit adequately in your room rather then a king sized one.

Now you can draw the layout of your customized furnitures as per their dimensions. This will help you in roughly estimating the material requirement. Many furniture stores do job work as per your layout. Go around and check couple of them. Show them your drawing. Ask them how much they would charge and what material would they use. How much time would they need to complete the job? Ask for a segregation of the material and labor cost. Once you have checked atleast 4-5 shops then Compare your notes. You will get a fair idea of how and where to get the job done. You should also visit the plywood/ laminate/ veneer stores to understand the rate of materials as well as hardware stores for the fixtures like handles and hinges. The exposure to the readymade furniture stores will give you an insight of how your customized furniture will be designed and integrated.

There are various grades and rates of plywood (known and unknown brands), laminates and veneers. Go out and check. You will be surprised at the range of material available out there.

The layout of the furniture will help you decide the location of lights and fans. This can then be done through an electrician.

Do it yourself will definitely prove cheaper and also give you a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. It will also help you get your house ready much faster.

What is in fashion is definitely desired but are we building a model or a place that we can call home and love to return each evening after a hard day's work.

I have taken the help of a decorator for our house but lot of the things mentioned above have been done by me personally and I write from my experience. If you wish to share your views or ask questions, please leave a comment and I will revert back to you.

Gold for a billion!!! Bravo Bindra!

2008-08-12T05:22:00.000-07:00

The year is 2008 A.D. Atlast an INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC GOLD for India, a country that boasts one of the oldest civilization as well as SECOND LARGEST population in the world.
I was watching the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics 2008 on our National TV channel DD. There were so many countries participating in the this mother of all sports event (10000+ athletes and sportsmen from more then 80 countries). Many of you will need the help Google to locate some of these countries.
When the Indian team entered the Birds Nest arena, I was pondering that what is it that holds back country like ours from winning medals - Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Olympics. Look at this years' medals tally till date. Countries like Slovakia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan feature in the tally. (Ok now even India does thanks to our Golden Boy Abhinav Bindra) Does our country have such dearth of talent that we cannot produce winners? Maybe it is not dearth of talent but availability of facilities as well as state support and interest to excel. One should look at the seriousness of China in winning medals. If there is WILL, then it is POSSIBLE.
We do not win in sports like Soccer, Swimming, Basketball, Tennis or Boxing where one might argue that superior diet and physical features make a lot of difference but what about sports like Table Tennis, Archery, and yes Shooting. These require skills which I dont think are country or creed dependent. But after reading today's Times of India and learning the amount of money spent by Bindra and his father I realize that it is not just about SKILL but MONEY too. And lots of it is required for things like coaching, kits, diet, fitness etc.
I dont think our country will have more of Bindra's and hence till the country (center as well as state governments) really means serious business while preparing for Olympics we will still remain behind countries like maybe even Cayman Islands in the medals tally in the years to come. The plight of sports in our country is hopeless and pathetic.
But for this year thanks to the entrepreneurial activities of "King of a Singh father" his young son Abhinav Bindra won the FIRST ever INDIVIDUAL GOLD MEDAL in Olympics for India. It is a great personal as well as national achievement for him and all credits should ONLY go to him and his proud parents as well as his German coach Frau. Buhlmann.
Congratulations Abhinav!!! Congratulations to Mrs. and Dr. Bindra too.

India's N-deal and the ensuing political crisis

2008-07-14T02:28:00.000-07:00

I consider myself apolitical and do not take much interest in the Indian political scenario. My husband does. He has a keen interest, follows events regularly and keeps himself updated. I simply read about the general stuff like who are the main ministers, the party(ies) in power, recent policy changes etc. so that I don't look like a dork in a gathering :).
I was hearing a lot about the nuke deal on TV. Initially, I did not give it a thought. There are so many better things to do in life rather then nuclear science, an issue which is neither my forte nor within my realms. Recently I saw the political scenario becoming highly intense. The reason - PM wants to go ahead with the N-deal and the Left parties are against it. That is when I sat back and thought - what is this all about? I realized that average people were unaware of the nitty gritties of the deal. I asked my husband what it is all about.
In very layman's terms we are signing this deal so that in another 20 odd years 4-5% of our electricity will be generated through nuclear fuel. If you observed the level of debate in the parliament prior to the trust vote you will be able to gauge the depth at which our chosen leaders understand this deal.
Only time will tell what this deal will do for India but at the moment some people are making hay (till the sun shines) :)
I believe the media could have played a much more constructive role by educating the masses about the Hyde Act, 123 and the deal on the whole. Even one of our budding young politician is not aware what IAEA stands for (forget the nitty gritties of the deal :) )To know more, visit IAEA.org

Summer of 2008 - Arushi and Hemraj

2008-07-14T00:44:00.000-07:00

The summer of 2008 will be etched in my mind for a long time to come for various reasons. One of them is the much hyped Arushi-Hemraj murder case (henceforth referred to as A-H case) of Noida. No, it the hype is not Noida coz' I think it one place that is most notorious place for murder, rape and all illegal activities ever reported on Indian TV. The hype and interest is due to the way the whole case was handled both by our ever enthusiastic media and the quintessential Indian Police.
(I remember during my childhood days; not that I am ancient now :), most Hindi Bollywood films would show the entry of police with their sirens and jeeps only after the hero has single-handedly vanquished the villains.)
Due to being incapacitated by a minor health condition, I got the luxury of staying in bed and all I could do was catch every bit of news on TV channels apart from Nat Geo and Animal Planet. The A-H case caught my fancy due to the murder of a young girl just blooming into her teens. As usual the media hounds swooped in on the crime site maybe before the police too. Each move of the police was aired on TV with the common expression "BREAKING NEWS!!!"
What was striking is how the police never found Hemraj's body on the first day itself? The way the crime site was handled is least discussed the better. The CSI producers would die instantly on watching the same. It was also appalling to see how the police tried to pry open the Talwar's garage door with a kitchen appliance. No doubt so many people commit crimes in India knowing that with such primitive forensics and winding court cases most would get away easily in this lifetime.
The SSP of Meerut - Gurdarshan Singh provided rest of the fodder for the media and the viewers with first talking about Nidhi. Not once or twice but thrice!!! Nidhi???!!! Who? Well he meant Arushi but did not remember the name :). Then his press statements were straight out of Ekta Kapoor's serial. The father was already labeled as the murderer. No murder weapon, witness or proof but case solved. According to the SSP he found his daughter in an "objectionable" but not "compromising" position. What does THAT mean? How can the police reach to such a conclusion without any evidence? The case was further made juicy with the hint that the doctor was having an illicit affair with a co-doctor. Dr. Talwar spent 50 odd days in Dasna jail - thanks to the competent UP police, CBI and our emancipated media. (Christian Amanpour is the real trend setter) I think the shooting TRP of A-H case was only matched by IPL matches.
The case was handed to CBI, thanks to the intervention of certain politicians and public outrage. They have also taken their time, the case is still remains unsolved conventionally though a lot has been proven based on advanced scientific tests. But thankfully the poor father is out of jail and can grieve the death of his loving daughter with his family provided the media lets him be. :)
There are lot of debates on TV whether police or media are to blame for the mishandling of the case, for Dr. Talwar's extended stay in jail etc. The media is shouting hoarse to prove that they have done a good social deed instead of accepting that they are equally to blame for sensationalizing the case and giving their own opinion without any proven basis.
Yes, the media today plays a constructive role in many instances but they should act more responsibly in such cases. The competition of channels to outdo each other can be harmful for people like Dr. Talwar. And the media should act with some amount of compassion for the affected people instead of thrusting their microphones in their faces and asking them how they feel.
As far as the police is concerned; there is serious dearth of forensics in solving present day crimes. The images of crime scene investigation in the Nithari case is also vivid in my mind. The police personnel also need to understand that their each comment is viewed under a magnifying lens. Gurdarshan Singh's comments on Dr. Talwar were irresponsible and cheap. Channels went on to air special episodes on how kids feel about their fathers etc. Young minds are getting nurtured. We have certain obligations while exposing them to radical views.
I hope the case gets solved in the near future and most importantly the souls of Arushi and Hemraj rest in peace. A young dream is lost and maybe the sole earning member of a family too.

Rafa rules Wimbly 2008, Fedex goes off track

2008-07-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I got the chance to watch the mind blowing Men's Singles final at Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal deserved to win the title. I had initially expected it to be over in straight sets especially the way Rafa was making Fedex fly all over the court. But then Fedex being Fedex clawed back into the game. The scores spell out the events - 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7. (You can see the scores of the finals of Gentlemen's Singles since 1877. Click here)
Federer never looked in control of the game though there were frequent glimpses of his master strokes. I think his first serves let him down on a crucial day. But Federer has class and his game and mannerisms remind me of Stefan Edberg in his hey days. His outfits, conduct on court and his back hand are simply awesome.
But this year seems like it belongs to Spain. The Euro Cup win was also a thriller. Lets see if they have some surprises for us in Beijing.

Antioxidants - Are they Elixir of Life?

2007-11-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Back to the Basics - atoms, molecules and cells

Lets go back to our early biology classes in school and refresh our knowledge.
How is the human body constituted?
The smallest forms in our body are atoms and molecules.
Organelles (the next higher form) are sub-parts of a cell which
help in its functioning. Nucleus, mitochondria, golgi bodies are
all examples of organelles. The nucleus contains all genetic
material. Mitochondria are termed as a powerhouse of the cell
because they generate energy by breaking down oxygen. The cells
having similar structure and function aggregate and form tissues.
Organs are formed by integration of these tissues and are responsible for specific functions in our body. Heart, lungs, kidneys, bladder, brain are all examples of organs. The next level of constitution in a human body are organ systems. Organ systems are defined as the interplay of related organs for a specific function. The human digestive system is one such example which starts from our tongue and ends with excretion of waste from our anus. Similarly, digestive system, circulatory system are examples of organ systems. Finally, the human body is the consolidated physical structure consisting of organ systems, organs, tissues and cells.

And a dose of Chemistry . . .

Oxygen is a gaseous element which is colorless, odorless and
tasteless. We breathe oxygen to survive. It is this same oxygen
which causes rusts on pieces of iron. It is highly reactive in
nature and always looks for free electrons to form convalent bonds
to stabilize itself. Again going back to chemistry sessions on
periodic table, the number of protons in a nucleus is called the
atomic number and always equals the number of electrons in orbit
about that nucleus (in a nonionized atom). The atomic number of
oxygen is 8 and it has 6 electrons in its outermost shell also
called the L shell. In order to make itself stable it needs 2
electrons to form covalent bonds. (Elements form either ionic or
covalent bonds)
Water is formed by sharing of electrons between Oxygen and
Hydrogen. The bonding capacity of an atom is determined by the
electrons. Thus, oxygen keeps on looking for 2 electrons to
stabilize itself and till both its free radicals are stabilized. This gives oxygen its reactive nature.

Burning is an example of fast oxidation

Let us now understand what is oxidation? It is the process of
combination of a substance with oxygen. It is a reaction in which
the atoms of an element lose electrons and its capacity to react
increases accordingly. Rusting of iron pieces is an example of slow oxidation.

Free Radicals cause Oxidative Stress

Imagine the number of processes that are occuring in a human body
at all times. The number would easy run into millions. These
processes require oxygen. In the process of utilizing oxygen
during normal metabolism with in the cell to create energy
(oxidation) free oxygen radicals are created. These free radicals
need to be neutralized immediately using anti-oxidants otherwise
they can easily harm the cells. Aggregation of these cell damages
will subsequently increase to tissue and organ levels thus
affecting the entire human body. It basically affects the immune system at the cellular level. This is called “oxidative stress”.

Oxidative stress in human bodies is one of the main causes of
chronic degenerative diseases. Degenerative means gradual
destruction of organs and cells thus leading to loss of their
functions. Cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease are all
degenerative in nature. It also means the damage of cells by free
radicals. Free radicals are mainly oxygen molecules that have at
least one unpaired electron in their outer orbit.
Oxidants are also created by smoking, regularly intake of alcohol
beverages, inadequate exercise and insufficient diet which lacks
relevant portions of protein, fat and carbohydrates.

Antioxidants . . .

Antioxidants, or anti-oxidation agents, reduce the effect of
dangerous oxidants by binding together with these harmful
molecules, decreasing their destructive power. Antioxidants can
also help repair damage already sustained by cells.
An antioxidant is substance that has the ability to give up an
electron to a free radical and balance out the unpaired electron
thereby neutralizing it. Some anioxidants are created in our body
but it does not produce all of the required ones. This deficiency
of antioxidants has be fulfilled through nutritional intake. Our
intake should be such that it balances the free radicals with adequate amount of antioxidants.

Sources of Antioxidants

The most common source of antioxidants are green leafy vegetables
which contain Vitamin C and E. Some of the sources of Vitamin C
are all kinds of berries like cherry, blueberry, black currant,
strawberry. Our body also requires sources of various carotenoids
like betacarotene, lycopene, lutein etc to fulfill the antioxidant
requirements. Items containg carotenoids are tomatoes, mangoes,
apricots, red peppers, oranges, peaches, carrots, peas,
watermelon, spinach etc. Some other food sources are walnuts,
ginger, pomegranate. Selenium is essential for formation of
enzymes like glutathione peroxidase which is an important
antioxidant enzyme. It is found in chicken, fish, liver and other
dairy products. Fruits and vergetables which are consumed raw or
marginally cooked provide the highest amount of antioxidants.
If you have insufficient diet due to your lifestyle then there are
options like nutritional supplements laced with antioxidants which
you can pop everyday to keep yourself fit.
Green Tea is also considered to have excellent antioxidant
properties. Recent studies have proven that Chinese herbal teas
have therapeutic effects and are proven source of antioxidants.
The leaves in Chinese herbal teas contain EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate) fluoride, catechins and tannins. Having 4 cups of Chinese herbal tea can prolong the healthy condition of the cells and maintain your youth.

Bottomline

If you understand the organization of our body explained in the
first section and the role of oxygen then you will be able to
gauge the depth of the problem if your body cells start becoming
bad and defective. Taking care of your body starts at the cellular
level.
Intake of antioxidants after diseases have set in is not the
solution. One has to start early. Mom always said, “Eat your
fruits and vegetables, they’ll help you grow big and strong.”
Inculcate the habit of balanced, nutritional diet in your children
and explain why they need to eat well. Today’s fast paced life has
led to lot of compromise on the quality, quantity and periodicity
of the food that we consume. Look around you, heart diseases are
affecting people in their 30’s whereas your grand parents are
still young and full of life.
There is no elixir to youth. The cycle of life and death is
inevitable. What is possible is that you can have a healthy and
disease free life if you ensure that you eat good balanced diet
everyday and exercise regularly.
Eat and exercise well, enjoy life!!!

Thought to be a Lion, turned out to be a Lamb

2007-11-20T10:19:00.000-08:00

In my opinion this movie is an example of Corporate Social
Responsibility of Hollywood towards their country and countrymen.
I have been watching these Hollywood movies since childhood and
they all have the same theme where Americans are always right and
they always win in the end be it against the enemy on earth or in
our galaxy and outer space.
This movie is an amalgamation of three different settings. The
political interview or rather discourse between a young (would-be
Prez candidate) gung-ho senator and senior journalist, a professor
trying to awaken the soul of his disillusioned student and a army
forward location in a third world country.
The senator has a typical all-American attitude of fighting the
enemy with “whatever it takes” but there are subtle moments where the character acknowledges that the great country went wrong in cases like Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq. But that does not mean that the troops will be called back home.
Media also plays equal roles in today’s world when it comes to
pushing and propagating political agendas and actions. Are they
also somewhere responsible for the way they have projected these
wars? There is a question of conscience and right or wrong on the
role of press. No one is winning the war, and lots of human lives
are being unnecessarily lost in these political interplays.
The few scenes of the war zone are ok though there are some
instances when the special effects look too unrefined especially
the Apache part. Anyway it is not a war movie but the politics
behind the wars.
The professor - student dialogues lack depth and leaves a lot to
be desired. The director has not been able to do much justice and
leaves the viewer unconvinced.
The star cast of the movie creates lot of interest and was the
main reason why I trotted to the movie hall - Tom Cruise as the
Senator, Meryl Streep as the Journalist and Robert Redford as the
Professor. The performance of each of these characters is
engaging. The weakest part of the movie is the storyline which
loses its punch after the interval.
This movie is replete with dialogues and is unlike many of the
recent loud graphic-loaded movies which are a must-see on giant
screens in the dolby digital environment of a movie hall. Dont
waste your money by going to a hall.
If you watch the movie closely then there is a scene where Meryl
Streep looks at a framed article in the senator’s chamber and then
there is a final scene of a news strip on TV. The interpretation
between the two is left to your imagination. Overall the movie
looks half-baked and amateurish. The story is always mightier then
the cast.
My verdict: Lion for Lambs is a DVD/ VCD Movie. Watch this movie in the cool confines of your home on a lazy day when you have nothing else to do.

I think we need to "Diversify"

2007-11-20T10:11:00.001-08:00

The costs are not coming down. Look around you - everything is
becoming day by day. The cost of milk, paper, electricity, water,
transportation, education. You name it. But the sources of income
are not increasing many folds for all classes of the society.
The need of the hour is to utilize your earnings and make them
grow at an accelerated pace to cover your future requirements of
finance.
The economy has opened up in many nations and we are no longer
confined to the boundaries of our country.
Any movement in the global capital markets affect the Indian
Sensex too. If you have all your investments in shares then your exposure is
very high since if the share market becomes bearish you end up
losing a lot of money.
What is the solution? If you have noticed the advertisement of a
mobile phone company where one of the manager says, “Sir, I think
we need to DIVERSIFY”.
In this dynamic scenario, it is highly recommended that one should
have a neatly diversified portfolio of financial assets for future
sustenance.
A portfolio is basically a list of financial assets held by an
individual or a firm.
What are the avenues of diversifying investments for a normal
middle-class person? There are many options of investment available
today. The most common option used by people are savings account
in a bank but the returns from a savings account are the least.
One can choose from risky options to relative secure ones based on a person’s propensity to absorb risk.
Let us look at few such options.
1. Mutual Funds - Regularly invest in diversified mutual funds in
the form of SIP (Systematic Investment Plan). If you understand
the market a bit and can invest some time regularly then only
consider sectoral funds. Sectoral funds are those which invest in
the stocks of a particular industry like infrastructure, power,
metals etc. Starting a SIP is very simple. You can give instruction to your bank so that a fixed amount is invested in the fund directly from your account on a fixed date of the month. This leads to a discipline and saves lot of your time.
These funds are liquid and you can withdraw your money within 2 business days. The benefit of mutual funds is that you need not keep track of them on day to day basis like stocks.
All you need to do is keep an eye on the list of stocks that form the
investment basket of a particular fund.
It is better to invest in some good mutual fund rather then keep your money lying in a savings account earning meagre interest. You can check these details on www.moneycontrol.com or www.valueresearchonline.com
2. Fixed Deposits - There are lot of banks these days which
advertise 390 or 590 days lock-in period FDs. There are others which run upto 5 years. All you need is walk-in to a bank branch. The whole procedure can be completed in no time. If you have an existing account with the branch then it makes it all the more easier. The money that you invest in FDs should be that amount which you dont need in the immediate (read less then 1 to 1.5 years)future. I recommend that one should invest in the FDs of reputed banks rather then lesser know cooperative ones since their reliability is always questionable. The management of cooperative banks are also not always above par. One source of security while investing in banks is that they are bound by RBI guidelines.
3. Public Provident Fund (PPF) - PPF is a type of investment which is overseen by the Government of India. The lower and the upper limit of investment in a financial year is Rs. 500 and Rs.70000. PPF accounts can be opened at select post offices around our country and in certain branches of public sector banks like SBI. The account matures for closure after 15 years. Hence, this is a long term investment. You can withdraw your depositis prematurely every year after completion of 5 years from the end of the year of opening the account.Government backed investment option; hence it is considered to be one of the safest and rish is lowest. You can have a PPF account in your/ spouse or children’s name. Imagine the impact if you start saving for your child when he/ she is 3. You will have a corpus of funds ready when your child turns 18. This is an option for all those people who do not have the Provident Fund component in their salary. In case of Provident Fund some part of your basic is deducted form your salary and saved in your PF account. Your employer also contributes the same amount. When you leave your company you can either withdraw your PF amount or get it transfered. Getting it transfered makes more sense since the longer the money remains in the account, the more interest it earns.
4. National Saving Certificate (NSC) - is another Government of India sponsored investment option. The lock-in period is around 6-7 years. The lower limit is Rs. 100 and there is no upper limit of investment.
NSC investment is also liable to Income Tax rebate if it is under Rs. 100,000.

5. Gold - Yes, gold but not in the form of jewellery but pure 24 carat coins or biscuits if money permits. Some part of your investment should be in the form of gold. It helps in diversifying your investment basket. Investing in gold does not mean buying ready or custom-made jewellery. Why? Because they dont have the requisite resale value. Why? Because the gold in jewellery is normally 18 carats since it has to be reinforced with other metals to make it strong otherwise gold is basically a malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold strips can be easily bent. Gold coins come in pure form and have excellent resale value. The best place to buy these coins are from your trusted jeweller. There are lot of advertisement of certified gold sold by banks like ICICI and HDFC. These gold are much more expensive due to a slew of taxes paid at different stages. But if you dont know a good jeweller then it is recommended that you buy the gold from the back. You will be given necessary certificates to prove its purity.
6. Stocks - Last but not the least is the most riskiest option - shares and stocks. You can buy/ sell stocks from the market through your shares agent or from sites like www.icicidirect.com or www.sharekhan.com. All these sites will charge you some amount for the transactions. You will need a demat account with a depository participant in case you wish to deal in stocks. Many companies come out with IPOs (Initial Public Offering). You can invest some amount at that time and see if you are alloted some shares. This is a risky option where the market sways with lot of heresay and emotion. Critical news about companies can make stocks shoot up or bomb. If you do not understand the share market or do not have the requisite time and discipline to follow it then do not enter into stocks and shares.

Please ensure that you check your tax liability in case of each of
these investment options. It can vary from person to person based on age, income, investment and gender. All types of investments come with some amount of risk but then this whole life is about risk.
Money will not grow by itself, it is you who has to nurture it properly like a plant. Save regularly and follow a discipline.

Using Microsoft Word for Beginners – A Kick Start Guide

2007-11-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

We all need to use some kind of documentation tool in different areas of our life most common being writing school or office project reports, term papers, project reports, thesis, everyday letters in your workplace, manuscripts, articles, proposals etc. It has touched every aspect of our life in some way or the other. This article is also written using one such tool.
Microsoft Word is one of the most common documentation tool used by people across the world. Unfortunately many of the users just start working on it without having much knowledge about its vast capability in streamlining the activities.
In this article, I am going to touch upon some fundamental points which can make it easy to use MS Word for beginners*. I will be touching upon lot of keyboard shortcuts in this document so that the reader can reduce his/ her dependency on the mouse. Believe me it is much easier and faster to work solely with the keyboard.
* (It is assumed that the prospective reader of this article is reasonably versed with the basic computer operations.)

STARTING UP MS WORD IN A COMPUTER
Click on Start Button --> Programs --> Microsoft Office --> Microsoft Office Word
There are other ways of executing the application too. You can create a Shortcut of Word on the Desktop. (This will be explained at the end of the document) Alternately one can also find a tab called New Office Document on clicking the Start button.

GET ORGANIZED, SAVE YOUR DOCUMENT
Yes, you read it right. Most people have the practice of writing the document and then saving it. Imagine what will happen if there is an error in your application and the program shuts off or the computer stalls and has to be rebooted – Whoosh!!! All your data that you had painstakingly typed will be lost. One of the best practices while working with any document using computers is to save it at the outset.
Another aspect is that once you are clear about the aim of writing the document, you need to store it in a particular location which will help you retrieve it easily next time when you need it. Novices sometimes store their file in odd locations and then end up futilely searching for it when it is needed the most. A computer is used to help you get your work organized. Start getting organized from the beginning.**
** (Activating Auto-Save is outside the scope of this document)

Click on File --> Save as --> Select the location in the Save In Drop Down Menu (This could be your C or D Drive or a sub-folder in one of these drives)  Write an appropriate file name in the File Name Box (The name should be short but self explanatory)  Save as Type should be Word Document --> Click on the Save button

You can also Press Alt+F and then A keys. Alt+F and A is equivalent to clicking on File  Save As. You will straightaway get you the Save As window. Your file will be saved on completing the above steps.
When I type the character ‘+’ as in Alt+F, I imply that one has to press Alt and the F key together at the same time. Do not touch the + key.

FAST SAVE YOUR DOCUMENT ON THE RUN
Once a file has been saved with a file name then subsequently you should save it after short intervals by simply pressing Ctrl+S keys. Here you do not need to specify the file name since it has already been done.

ORIENTATION, PAPER SIZE AND MARGINS – DEFINE THE PAGE SETUP

Orientation: How do you want your document to be printed or displayed on the computer once it is ready? The 2 common orientations are portrait or landscape. Portrait is basically when you print a document whose height is more then its breadth and landscape is when the width is more then the height.
Paper Size: Another consideration is whether you want to print on an A4 or A3 size paper. The most common paper sizes are A4 or Letter and in some cases A3 when you want to print a huge tabular data. A3 size paper is larger then A4.
The usual sizes in ascending order are A5  A4  A3  A2.
(A4 is twice the size of A5 and A3 is twice the size of A4 or four times the size of A5.)

Margins: When you print on a document, you do utilize the entire area. There are 2 main segregations in a document in terms of printing – printable and non-printable area. In order to differentiate between the 2 you have to define the margins of the page. It is important that you leave more margins to the left of your document since normally it is punched and filed. Visualize a scenario if you print too much to the left of the document. A part of the document will get cut due to the punch holes and will make it difficult to read.

Click on File  Page Setup  Margins (Set the Top, Bottom, Left and Right Margins which are defined in inches) (Suggested Settings: Top – 0.5”, Bottom – 0.5”, Left – 1.25”, Right – 0.5”) Do not touch the Gutter or Gutter Position settings. (Try to set too less left margin and then file the document and see the difference)

Click on Orientation – Portrait or Landscape (as required)
Click on the Paper Tab on Top (There are 3 tabs – Margins, Paper, Layout)
To set the paper size – select the drop down menu and click on A4, Letter or A3 as may be required

Click on the Layout Tab to set where you want to print the Header and Footer of your document. Normally we print the page numbers, document name etc in the header and footer areas. These areas are relative to the Top and Bottom margins. You can set it to 0.3” each.

Click on OK
The shortcut key to get the Page Setup window is Alt+F and U. Try it!
You have now saved your document and set the print attributes of your page. This will ensure that your document will automatically set itself for printing and ensure that you do not write in the non-printable areas.

ARIAL OR TIMES NEW ROMAN – SET THE FONT
The standard fonts used in formal communication are Times New Roman or Arial. Times New Roman is a Serif Font and Arial is Sans Serif. Serif means a short line at the end of the main strokes of a character. See the difference in the examples given below.

Times New Roman – Serif - Sun rises in the east.
Arial – Sans Serif - Sun rises in the east.
Your document will look highly unprofessional if you use fonts like Windings or Comic Sans.
One other font used commonly in the websites is Verdana.
Wingdings – 
Comic Sans – Sun rises in the east.
Verdana – Sun rises in the east.

Click on Format  Font  Select the Font, Font Style (See example below), Size (Suggested size is 10 or 12) Click on OK
Font – Arial, Style – Regular, Size – 10: Sun rises in the east.
Font – Arial, Style – Bold, Size – 10: Sun rises in the east.
Font – Arial, Style – Italics, Size – 10: Sun rises in the east.
Font – Arial, Style – Bold, Italic, Size – 10: Sun rises in the east.
The shortcut key for setting the font is Alt+O and F.

SET THE PARAGRAPH ATTRIBUTES
The most common attribute is the spacing between 2 lines. You can set it to 1 or 1.5. You can set the attributes before you start typing your document or alternately the settings can be done after writing the text in the body of your document. See the examples below.
Sun rises in the east.
Sun rises in the east.
-------------------------
Sun rises in the east.
Sun rises in the east.
Secondly you can specify how your document should be aligned - left, right, center or justified aligned. See the examples below:
Left aligned Shortcut Key. Ctrl+L after selecting the text
At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.

Right aligned Shortcut Key. Ctrl+R after selecting the text
At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.

Center aligned Shortcut Key. Ctrl+E after selecting the text
At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.

Justified aligned Shortcut Key. Ctrl+J after selecting the text
At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.
Sample Text Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Independence
Click on Format  Paragraphs  Select the Alignment, Select the Line Spacing in Spacing option (Suggested – Single or 1.5 Lines)
The shortcut key is Alt+O and P. to get the Paragraph Settings box.
The shortcut key for setting the line spacing is Ctrl+1 for Single spacing and Ctrl+5 for 1.5 Lines spacing. These shortcut keys should be pressed only after selecting the text for which you want to set the attributes.

The basic blueprint of your document has been defined. You can proceed by typing the body of your text. It is recommended that first you should complete typing the entire body and then make the necessary attributes like Heading, Sub-heading, bulleted points, indention etc.
The only way you can move from being a Beginner to an Expert is by practically implementing what has been mentioned in the document. Working with Microsoft Word is an iterative process whereby you can learn more features by trying them out in a real life situation.

We had discussed about creating a shortcut of Word on your Desktop in the beginning of the article.
Click on Start Button --> Programs --> Microsoft Office --> Microsoft Office Word (Right click on the Name – Microsoft Office Word and select Send To --> Desktop (create shortcut)
I will be touching upon points like page number, inserting tables, pictures, drawing items, adding footnotes and endnotes, additional font features and using columns in my next article.

For the formatted pdf version leave me a comment! :)

How insurance surveyors can make your life miserable?

2007-11-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Recently there was an article in Economic Times dated 24.10.2007, Page 21 - "New India asked to pay Rs. 10 Lakh to Clinic"
I am happy that the consumer power managed to get this judgement against New India Assurance (NIA) company.
We have been insuring our cars with NIA for last many years.
I am writing this in order to appraise others of what happens to common customers and the kind of treatment meted out to them by the "esteemed" surveyors many of whom are doing nothing but trying to swindle money out of the customers on the pretext of processing the insurance claim. Many of us Indians take the easy way out by paying this money to reduce our hassles.
Our car met with an accident on the Ahmedabad - Mumbai National highway this September. We swerved off the road while trying to save a cow. The cow was saved but our ordeal had just started. We managed to bring the car upto Thane and sent it to a reputed garage. My husband wrote the entire details of what had happened, how, when and where as per the surveyor's requirement. We also had a photo of the car at the accident site as well as photos of how the car swerved off the road. It was a clear case of getting insurance for the damages. We do not have a track record of missing any premium dates.
We had to wait for more then 3 weeks for the surveyor to complete the entire process. First 5 days the garage people could not touch the car since the surveyor had not checked it. He also asked my husband to repeatedly tell him about the incident though the same was written and given to him. He complained of not receiving a fax and other petty issues. We had to resend the fax multiple times. Then his complaint was that no senior person is available in the garage when he went to visit which is again a lie. Do you need the owner of the garage at your beck and call. I think these demands are absurd. The owner's son was around throughout this incident.
This same car when it had earlier met with an accident was repaired in another garage with much lesser capability and facility and the insurance was claimed from your organization only.
We found the surveyor's behavior highly fishy and we were given the feeling that our work would have been completed easily if we had agreed to some financial considerations.
We could manage without that car for more then 2 weeks simply because we had other resources. There are many people out there in our country who do not own more then 1 car. Imagine their plight when they have to go through these delaying and arm-twisting tactics of your surveyors. I hope the NIA vigilance department does something about these errant surveyors.
This is what is happening in NIA at grass root levels.
I and my husband had done our Medical Insurance through New India. Now we are having second thoughts about the decision.
For the vehicles, we changed to a private company. Reason - pathetic and unethical treatment from the surveyor after an accident of our car. We have also told all our relatives to stay clear of NIA in future for any dealings. We hope that all the others who have insurance with your company get better treatment then what we got. It is a sad state of affairs.

The Fuss about Albus being GAY

2007-11-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Times Of India 28.10.2007. Pg. 19. Title. The Fuss about Albus

I am a die hard fan of HP.
Why is there so much hue and cry about Dumbledore being gay? I find it absolutely unnecessary.
Why are we raising questions and casting doubt on JKR and her timing of this announcement?
Has her declaration rattled the image that we had conjured in our mind of Dumbledore?
What is the harm if JKR creates a spin and wants to increase her target audience? Has it been ever explicitly mentioned that HP is a children's book? Our Indian mythological books are interpreted in different manner by different people. That is the freedom of our mind and maturity and expanse of thought.
When I saw "6th Sense - The movie" for the first time I did not understand the concept. It took me awhile. But the next time I saw it from an entirely different perspective and it made it quite enjoyable all over again. Same with the 7 books. I should say that
JKR has ignited our minds with a lateral view and have drawn us back to all the books once again.
If we try to make it sound that Dumbledore being gay clouds his ability as a wizard then there is something wrong with our thought process. Martina Navratilova, George Michael, Elton John have made different choices in their sexual preference but does that undermine their skill and achievements?
JKR has just cast a charm and we are swayed by it. :)

Durga Puja and Dussehra

2007-10-16T06:49:00.001-07:00

It is the time of the year again when Goddess Durga begins her journey for her parental house.
This period of Navratri starts just after Pitra Paksh (a period when you are supposed to pray to your fore fathers)(people generally do not start any good activities during this period).
The ninth day is followed by Dussehra. This day signifies victory of good over evil or bad.
Wishing you all a very Happy Durga Puja and Dussehra. :)

Change . . . . . .

2007-10-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

Introduction

Today we are in the 21st century. Mankind has come a long way from Stone Age somewhere around 600,000 B.C. The Homo sapiens (human beings) had the aptitude, which helped them make their own weapons and tools for hunting and eating food. This is what separates human beings from animals till date. The earliest invention of fire and wheel are glaring examples of man’s capability to think and create and are the highlights of Stone Age. Initially the process of invention was slow but steady. Man made boats, ink, coins etc in the period know as Before Christ. A set of important inventions that took place between the 9th and the 11th century were Lateen Sails, Compass and Sternpost rudder. The sail helped man to move against the direction of wind and not depend on the wind to flow with it. The compass and the rudder led to the Discovery Age when men started finding new lands and civilizations. The first major invention After Christ was Paper. The invention of Printing Press by Gutenberg in 1439 marked the advent of the Knowledge Age. Books could be easily printed, circulated to the masses and thus knowledge started spreading to the farthest corners of the world. People became enlightened and emancipated. Knowledge no longer remained the virtue of a handful of people. In 1765, James Watt invented the Steam engine. The far-reaching implication of this invention was that man was no longer dependent on animal power. Railroads, ocean going steamships, mining and textiles came to the forefront and comprised of the Industrial Revolution, which changed mankind forever. Trade and business prevailed in the era Before Christ too but it was restricted to a limited area and did not have any far reaching effects. The movement of man, material and money started around the world at a pace never attained earlier after the Industrial Revolution. This boosted the growth of business, organizations were formed, trade started growing between nations, the life style of men started changing. It was the year 1928; Alexander Fleming made a chance discovery of Penicillin. Till date no other medicine has saved more lives then Penicillin in the history of mankind. It was a conquest of sorts. And finally – the Information Age. John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert made the ENIAC (first calculating machine) in 1945. The last century is marked with numerous inventions and discoveries by man that is affecting our lives in both good (heart-lung machine) and bad ways (the atom bomb). Today we are moving into the realm of robots and artificial intelligence, man has landed on the moon and as I write this article a mission to Mars has commenced.

What is remarkable in the above observation is that each and every invention from fire to fighter jets is that each one of them has affected the lives of man in some way or the other. We had to realign our lives to the new inventions and discoveries around us in order to survive and sustain. Bullets were invented to kill people and at the same time we invented bulletproof vests to protect against bullets. It is rightfully quoted that necessity is the mother of invention.

The most common and striking impact of all this invention is Change – in every aspect of life.

It is an inevitable part of our life. Charles Darwin in his famous book – The Origin of Species mentions about survival of the fittest. The crux of his theory is that the world is not constant or recently created nor perpetually cycling, but rather it is steadily changing, and that organisms are transformed in time. According to his theory of Natural selection, evolutionary change comes about through the abundant production of genetic variation in every generation. The relatively few individuals, who survive, owing to a particularly well-adapted combination of inheritable characters, give rise to the next generation. The views of Darwin in The Origin of Species have percolated into our business world of capitalist ideas surrounding the organizations. Organizations go through the cycle of “Survival of the fittest” and “natural selection” in this environment of globalization and competition.

Why do so many organizations take birth but dwindle away and some grow bigger and wider each day? How do we identify the reasons? Organizations go through different phases of growth. The first challenge for leaders who wish to grow their organizations is to understand what phase of the organizational life cycle one is in. (Murray Johannsen) The Organizational life cycle is very similar to a Product Life cycle. It can be divided into various phases. We will refer to the simple phases mentioned by Murray Johannsen.

Startup (or Birth), Growth – This is sometimes divided into an early growth phase (fast growth) and Maturity phase (slow growth or no growth). However, maturity often leads to Decline. When in decline, an organization will either undergo Renewal or Death and bankruptcy

Organizations encounter different kind of situations and circumstances at each of these stages. Today, we have revised/ new laws laid by the government, banks modify their lending rates based on the global scenario, new technological advancements affect the existing manufacturing or service processes, competitors come up with newer strategies to compete in the market, customers are better informed, newer channels of delivery are created. All these issues lead to a situation where the organization has to modify its strategy, systems, and structure either individually or all at a time. The chances of survival and growth increase proportionately with the pace of adaptation and transformation of these organizations. At the fundamental level in order to adapt, an organization has to modify the way it used to function. It has been found that when businesses are not clear about their strategies, practices, policies, processes, behaviors and expected outcomes there is chaos. Chaos and uncertainty can severely hamper the ability to achieve organizational goals and can jeopardize the ability to implement long lasting change strategies.

Organizations today are operating in environments that require different approaches, different ways of functioning and different structures. Organizational change demands a "new way of life." Business is about managing, and managing is about handling change. Business is always changing, and change comes in basic three forms: routine day by day, non-routine planned, non-routine unplanned. The nature of change and the organization's role in influencing and responding to it are issues with which humankind has grappled for a long time. The ancient Greek thinker, Heraclitus, remarked more then thousand years ago that "everything is born in strife and constant flux; and whatever lives, lives by destroying something else." Many other Greek philosophers offered opposing beliefs as to whether change is real or simply appearance, what causes it, and whether or not it has a purpose. What is man's role in change? Does it really even matter? Ancient thought, it turns out, is highly relevant to the management of change in business today (Wagner, 1995).

Most organizations – and most jobs – are in a constant state of evolution: introducing new technologies, new systems and new products. These incremental changes come in small, manageable steps: word processors replace typewriters, calculators replace mechanical adding machines, computer skills become important in all kinds of work. Major transformations outside require dramatic adaptation inside. Some changes are not incremental. Rapid, large-scale changes in the world force organizations to make equally dramatic adaptations just to preserve status quo. If an organization is to make an abrupt, radical change in its structure or systems, the people of that organization must change the way they work, they relate to each other, and the way in which they think about their work. People must change to make change last. To transform itself, an organization must call on its employees to change themselves and the way they function. Many believe that it's hard for people to change. Some believe that people really don't change. People do change. It is our nature to change. Our adult lives are a history of unique, personal change. We make changes that are more dramatic than growth or evolution. We change on purpose. We change our skills. We change our surroundings and the places that we live. Most of us change jobs. Some of us change spouses. We even change our beliefs and rearrange our values. The gist of the above discussion is that Change is inevitable. It is rightly said that the only thing constant about change is change itself. The question now arises is that – How should we initiate any kind of change in an organization? Transforming a company's culture is like starting an earthquake.

Organizations can change their relationship to their environments - the nature of their ties to their markets and major stakeholders - by structuring or redefining their identity and boundaries through mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, or alliances and partnerships. Organization survival today depends on courage and imagination - the courage to challenge prevailing business models, and the imagination to invent new services, new products, and new markets. Increasingly, neither business leaders nor rank-and-file employees question whether to change but how. The challenge of change is not simple a large-scale conceptual and philosophical issue. It is every bit as much an immediate practical issue: choosing first steps and concrete actions. (Kanter, Barry and Todd, 1992:489)

(Note. Some references might be missing but this is just a draft idea)

The Goal of a Company . . . .

2007-09-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Goal of any Company is to make MONEY. Simple!!!
I was on a short vacation in June 2007 and read the book by Dr. Goldratt titled The Goal. I was deeply impressed by the same.
I gave a small presentation on the same alongwith a bit of the principles from The Toyota Way.
In case if anyone is interested in viewing the ppt, drop me a note on this blog and I will send the same.
The crux is that it is all about managing your CONSTRAINTS!!!

Adios,
Yps

Information Technology – Quo vadis? – My view

2007-06-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

We are moving towards an integrated and well-connected world where geographical boundaries will remain only in the geography books when it comes to Information Technology. Change is a continuous process.

I envision that we will have virtual web-based existence such that we can access our data anywhere in the world by simply logging into the net. All our work related files, music, movies and other data will be stored in virtual drives which will be secure as well as available 24X7X365 anywhere. Google is coming out with newer applications each day. Soon our entire workplace will look like a portal where we can work on our files, read the news, play games, check emails, sms our friends, book tickets, buy stuff online and publish our material through a single interface.

Networking technology will also grow leaps and bounds so that accessibility becomes faster and securer. The physical distance will cease to matter. These technologies will become cheaper and accessible by the masses and not restricted to corporate only. But managing these futuristic technologies will require lot of skilled staff. These equipments will also be powered by renewable solar energy so that they don’t add burden to our depleting energy resources.

The mobile gadgets and phones have become highly evolved but they will develop further. Nokia’s new ad says - It is not one thing it is many. Phones will act as normal computers too. They will become much more compact and power packed with features. Memory capacity of phones will also increase simultaneously to decreasing sizes of memory cards and chips. Presently the phones have smaller screens and keyboard facility. I envisage that we will come up with futuristic features like projection screen and keyboard such that we can put our phone anywhere and generate a screen and keyboard like a projector image. This will bring in a new meaning to anywhere anytime!

Though I have the vision that everything will be on the web but we cannot simply write off the existence of a personal computer or laptop. They will continue to form an integral part of our lives. We will be able to synchronize our web contents to our personal computer each time we start working on it. This will ensure that we have a single copy of data both on the web as well as on our local work station.

Personal computers and laptops will become more efficient and standardized. There will be generic drivers applicable to a particular family of gadgets like RAM, video card, soundcard etc. This will ensure that the OS itself will detect the devices and make them functional. Hence even layman can buy, install and maintain his own machine without too much dependence on hardware staff. With the advent of flatter and larger screens, the computer can also work as a television for some people. The DVD drive can be used to double as a regular DVD player of movies which it already does. The monitors will have more evolved and futuristic speakers with excellent sound quality which is lacking at the moment.

Computers in general will also come with faster chips, larger disc space (and smaller disc size), compact space conserving design with plug and play features. The CPU designs will change and can have the option of being docked with the monitor directly so that a work place will have only the monitor and the wireless keyboard with navigation device integrated in it.

One major area where there will be significant improvement is recovery of data in case of crashed machines. This will take disaster management to newer heights. We hope that the open source program will grow leaps and bounds thus ensuring that we have much more stable OS and programs. Easier licensing norms should be focus where users will not have to wield through a gamut of clause and sub-clauses to understand what is required for them. Database technology especially will evolve further to become more robust and dependable like a flight’s black box.

Free, open and standardized is where the world is headed towards. Reliance has made telecommunication cheap and accessible by the masses. This was unthinkable way back in the early 90s. Though we see lot of expensive gadgetry around us today, the prices are headed southwards. People will derive better value for money in terms of tangible benefits too. I also visualize utilization of lot more recyclable eco-friendly material in IT. The times have changed from the days of shell scripts and slow telephone lines to connect to the net which would snap in an instance to broadband connection and graphics rich interface. There is a lot remaining to be changed. A few more Linus Torvalds will change this world of information technology in the years to come and today’s vision will become tomorrow’s reality.

Corporate Intranet - Start one today!!!

2007-03-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Corporate Intranet

We have been using Internet for more then two decades. It has brought revolutionary changes in the way we do business and communicate with our internal as well as external customers. Nowadays companies have done lot of computerization and most of the employees are connected to each other through email and other workflow techniques. Organizations however small or large have started making there presence felt through information and interactive websites. This is the age of information. We now talk about ERP, CRM, SCM, BI, BW, EAI applications to enable business processes and systems. We will look into another highly effective tool of information sharing in organizations which can have varying levels of complexity – Intranet.

Wikipedia defines Intranet as a private computer network that uses Internet Protocols, network connectivity, and possibly the public telecommunication system to securely share part of an organization's information or operations with its employees.

Generally we all have a local area network in our office and the computers are connected to each other through a workgroup or a domain. An Intranet as the word suggests is restricted to the users within the company and its network. It is not meant for the external customers.

There are various types of information which can be made available on the Intranet since it is a direct tool of communication with your employees. You can put training documents, holiday list, important contact numbers, employee manual, online templates of various reports, the item and vendor master, in-house newsletter, employee birthday information, promotions, achievement of various personnel be it professional or personal (if shared by the employee), latest happenings in the organization, new initiatives by the management, targets for the financial year and the target versus actual figures, status of various projects etc. There is no limit to what can be put on the Intranet as long as it complies with the organizations’ policies.

This Intranet can also be connected to the HR – Payroll system so that employees can download their salary slip and Form 16. Employees can also view their leave record and apply for their leaves in case of advanced systems where workflow is integrated into the Intranet. Companies can avail this facility to make announcements and put other bulletin board information. The employees of an organization do various kinds of activities based on their job description and responsibilities allocated to them. This is one platform where different functions can share information about there activities thereby educating the other employees. Company can share their vision and goals and communicate the same to each and every employee through this system. It also leads to lot of transparency and team spirit. HR department can utilize this feature to advertise vacancies in case there is a policy of internal referrals. This tool can be utilized for cost saving through intelligent usage.

A very basic Intranet application can be created by designing a website using Microsoft FrontPage (which comes bundled with MS Office Professional version) or other HTML tools available free on the Internet. In case you wish to have an entry level Intranet then you do not need a dedicated IT person to manage the same. Tools like FrontPage are very simple to use and have lot of help available free on the Internet to develop your own application. A normal user can be given the responsibility of maintaining the site. This site can be published on the local file or data server. Users can simply type the path on their browser screen and access the site. In case your company wants to go for an entry level Intranet then a single desktop computer is all that you need to get started. You can also use Microsoft SharePoint Server Portal 2003 to get a jumpstart on your Intranet implementation project.

There is no pre-defined format of an Intranet site. The layout, contents, color scheme, software entirely depends on the needs and objective of the organization. The site can be as simple as a single text-based page; text based multiple pages, text and image based or a highly complex one which is connected to a database or the corporate ERP system.

An organization can accrue various gains by using intranet in innovative ways. This can prove to be one application which will aid in the creation of paper-less office. People outside the company can also access the intranet through the corporate website which can be secured by user-specific login access.

There are companies who link there application or ERP application database to their intranet site. It helps in better workflow systems. Employees can fill in their leave form, generate their payslip, superiors can authorize the leave directly from the system instead of having access to the direct application. The same feature can also let people fill up various kinds of forms like travel or vehicle requisition, reimbursements, insurance etc.

Project status can be updated by various teams in the form of a forum so that they can share ideas and updates (which can also be done through marking copies of emails) and keep track of the historical information. Some sites can be customized based on the role of the personnel who has logged in so that only relevant areas of the intranet are visible. This will ensure the confidentiality of projects if any.

An organization can utilize an intranet site if it does not have an integrated application like ERP. The intranet site can link the data of various modules like purchase, stores and distribution. Personnel can check the current stock level of various materials consisting of raw materials and finished goods, the purchase order register, production plan for the month or week, MIS report, manpower status, shift plans, parts list, maintenance plan etc. Instead of issuing multitude of notices and writing emails with copies marked to an entire gamut of functions the information can be simply displayed on the site. The problem of version control can also be handled through intranets. Since the information is displayed only on one platform the changes can be made without keeping track of re-issuing the document.

Company employee information manual can be managed on the intranet. It will reduce the burden of printing and issuing hard copies and re-printing them in case of policy changes or inclusion/ exclusion of certain information.

Organizations can also put all the user-related documents on the site instead of making copies of the same and distributing among employees or concerned personnel. Nowadays many books especially related to commercial (excise notifications, company law, income tax etc) and technical aspect (operation manuals, guides, training documents, drawings, blueprints etc) of business come with CDs. This information might be relevant for many personnel who can log on to the site and view the data they need instead of storing copies in their desktop.

The benefits of the application look very interesting and promising but there is also a flip side to this. Is your staff ready for an intranet experience? Are they ready to read all the information online instead of skimming through pages of a document and writing unnecessary emails? Majority of the employees would just brush it off as another technological jargon or wasteful activity and never bother to open the site even once. Change is one of the most difficult things and adapting oneself to the newer way of things is an uphill task which most people would not like to embark upon.

Implementing an Intranet site is only half the job done. The employees should be given formal training on how to benefit from the same. The training can include topics like the objective of the initiative, the features available in it, why it is better then the present system prevailing in the organization, how they can contribute for its improvement, how the system will enhance overall efficiency and of course making it a daily practice of logging into the site for updates and changes. They should be clarified that soon information will be only on the intranet and will not be circulated through hoards of mailers and letters.

There are many tools and methods employed by organizations to keep enhancing their systems and procedures. Lot of funds is put into modification and development of “way things are done” in an organization. Intranet can be one such imperative though not essential. The ROI of such an initiative cannot always be calculated immediately but over a period of time the results will definitely show. Initially there will be lot of comparison and complaint about how things are easier without Intranet or how Intranet has made things further complicated but an organization needs to keep up the pressure to adopt. Most people have short-lived memory and as time passes they will not remember how they used to work in the pre-Intranet days. It is one of the cheapest and easiest way of reaching to each and every employee of yours provided the organization already has a certain level of computerization. There are lots of resources available on the Internet to setup your first Intranet and savor the experience. If you do not have a site then why not start one today?

It is ONE life – LIVE. Don’t just QUIT

2007-02-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

In the Old Testament of Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1) there is an interesting section on life. It says - To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to love and a time to hate. But there is never a time to QUIT.

From the age of three life begins in a play school where toddlers enter the world of formal education holding the index finger of their parents. That is when the “grind” begins. Through the years we move from one class to another through a myriad set of teaching sessions, projects, assignments and of course tests. It is these tests which decide whether we get promoted to the next grade or not. Over a period of time many students start becoming serious about how much they score and how well they perform in their class. The benchmark becomes the total marks scored vis-à-vis their counterparts. Nothing else really matters. This sense of so-called rat race or “annihilating competitiveness” is further fed by the ambitions of their parents who overtly or covertly make it felt that if they fail then that is doomsday!

Failure is a difficult affair to handle. Whether it is failure in tests, job, and relationships or in life itself; it is one of the toughest things to overcome. TOUGHEST but not impossible. What we need to do is to try and see beyond the immediate failure. In a battle a soldier has two options – go down fighting or retreat and come back another day stronger and wiser. Many parents might disagree with my thought but I request them to sit back and ponder – what is more important – a healthy child with some amount of failure and uncharted future or no child at all! No amount of remorse or propitiation brings back the dead.

It is that time of the year again when many youngsters will be appearing for their board exams across the nation; an exam to test their skills and knowledge. Tests whose outcome decides the future of many and sometimes become the sheer deciding factor of ones existence.

It is sad to note that young children these days are living under tremendous pressure to perform and excel. There is frequent news of students committing suicide. Believe me no failure necessitates death.

Today there are lots of options in life. We need to look around for them rather then believing that being a doctor or an engineer is the sole destination. It is one life for all of us, one life to laugh and play, sing and dance, fall in love, one life to dream and make dreams come true. The beauty of dreams is that they can change and so can your life. But you need to LIVE in order to dream newer dreams and build a beautiful future. And the only person who can help you fight and overcome failure is YOU yourself. Believe in yourself!