The memoirs of Tyler Durden

The Nativity Play - Through the Years!

2010-12-27T10:29:00.000-08:00

It was Christmas' Eve and I was decorating both our Christmas Trees.. why do we have two? One is real and the other one is fake .. lol.. Anyway, and I was talking to Mom and we suddenly realised something very strange. That I had played 4 different roles in various Nativity Plays which have been staged over the year in School and finally in B School as well.

1983

The year I was born. Of course, the only role for me was to play Baby Jesus, and this wasnt by choice.

1987

This year I played a shepherd boy.. complete with make up, rouge, toga etc. I dont remember anything from then though. Its only the photographs which bear testament to the fact that I was in the play that year. Thank God that Dad is so passionate about Photography else I would have never been able to recall most things if he hadnt captured them in the lenses forever.

1993

Much needed respite from Choir Practice :) Yes this time I am playing One of the Kings.. Yes there are 3 Kings and they are from the orient. And yes they are carrying Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh but please dont ask me which one I was :). Just remember that my folks had wrapped a small box used to store visiting cards with Carbury's foil to give it an authentic look of a gift from yesteryears. And I remember getting dressed in the Music Room, with all the beads, Crown, and the satin clothes etc. This is the first play that I remember slightly. I was held in the basketball court just behind the Standard 1 Block.

1999

And of course, the Grand Finale in School when we were in the 11th Std... Playing the Role of Joseph. They say that life comes a full circle. Well for me it had in just the first 16 years of my life. From playing Baby Jesus to now handling a small Baby Jesus. I definitely remember this one nice and clear. Phew... the long practice hours with the choir. And a darling of a Mother Mary.. Nazia.. :) Wow.. trip down memory lane.. I guess I need to scan the pics and upload them as well.

2006

A long break.. What happened in Between... well 3 years of college.. 2 years of work what else? This time I move on the the last and final level in all the roles played in the Nativity Play. I was still at School.. only difference was that there was a B before the School :) This time I get the role of Director & Scriptwriter. Scriptwriter?? Isnt the Nativity Play already written?? Well, someone's got to adapt it for our use right.. Isnt that activity part of writing the script? So anyway.. this was fun.. Getting all the actors together.. telling people when to enter and where to enter from. Deciding when the hymns come etc. For the first time, I wrealised what my Teachers underwent while dealing with us during the Nativity plays which they would patiently direct year after year in school.. Tough Job and Kudos to them.

Of course, I wasnt sitting idle all the other years that I wasnt directly involved in the play. I was part of the choir and put my heart and soul into singing and breathing life into the play.

Is it the Physicality or the Mentality?

2010-12-26T10:38:00.001-08:00

What is it that attracts a guy to a girl? Is it beauty or brains? Beauty many say or as we heard in the beauty pageants which all the Indian girls would win in the 90's is "skin deep". But honestly, if you were dating Aishwarya Rai would you be bothered that you can't carry on a conversation with her because she is so dumb? Well, I guess not!

So that brings me to the title of this post. I am not sure, but I feel that the male populace will be divided on this one. Personally, while it would be great to hangout with a good looking girl, if I cant carry on a meaningful conversation with her, then she will merely turn into a trophy chick whom you flaunt as arm candy. That's it! I don't know if beauty is skin deep or not, but I sure do know that its ephemeral. Twenty years down the line, the "Aphrodite" you married is not going to look the same. Does that mean, you are going to love her any less? Of course not, however that's only when the mental connect is strong between both. I guess that's what they call Chemistry.

There are two types of girls whom guys encounter. The first type are the girls with whom there is no emotional attachment and who serve as arm candy or are an entry ticket into a disco as the case may be. I am sure everyone has encountered such girls. I am afraid, I might be stereotyping, however more often than not, this is the case. When is it not? Of course when there's a balance between the physical and mental attraction. They are the second type. The ones with whom you go for coffee, lunch or a movie. It's these girls whom you end up taking to meet your mom as well :-)

Its but natural to get attracted to a good looking girl, but then if she also turns out to be as intelligent as she is beautiful then that's the icing on the cake. In a utopian world, that could be the definition of balance, "Beauty with Brains".

So whether's its the physicality or the mentality or a combination of both, I guess you got to go with what works best for you.

2010: The Year of Travel

2010-12-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

When I talk about 2010 35 years from now, I will have many things to say, however as of now what I would like to write about is the Travel :)

January

Well I started the New Year in Kolkata. Attended Riddhi & Penny's Engagement and then head to Paul & Jonita's wedding in Mumbai. Though the Mumbai trip was dry thanks to the headbanging affair at Penny's house with a certain Old Monk :)

Back in Chennai after a week of settling down at work, I head to Bangalore to be part of Shelton's Birthday Bash.

February

With Mom in town, we both head to Velankanni to fulfill a few promises we had made. Still cant forget the awesome Prawns there :)

March

In March, the beaches of Goa were home to me and even though Goa was supposed to be dry due to the Panchayat Elections we managed to get some of our favourite poisons.. As the Taxi Driver said, " Sahab .. Goa aur Dry Day.. Aisa Kabhi ho Sakta hai?" which translated means.. "Sir, Goa and a Dry Day? Can that ever Happen?"

April

This is the most important month in this post, because this is the only month in 2010 when I didnt travel anywhere.. unless we count the post midnight bike escapade to Mahabs... :)

May

First day of May and we are in New Delhi. Rohan & Prianka and the entire gang at the Zoo Bar in the Garden of Five Senses.. Was just awesome. Spent some quality time with Dad. And of course.. I got to meet Lucie after 2 years.. along with Arthur... What a feeling!! Amazing trip.

Still on May and we travel to Kolkata.. this time for Riddhi & Penny's Wedding... Of course the Rain Gods were showering their blessings aplenty.. The wedding, Bou Bhath and everything else went off smooth. This was also the saddest month of the year for me.. but more about that in another post.

June

Surprisingly we were having the most amazing weather in Chennai at this time... The Summers had lasted just 15 days and it was always raining and pleasant.. However, since I had bunked the IPL Final in Mumbai a month ago, this time Alok, Rakhee n co. ensure that I was there for Uncle's farewell and the last lap at the MD's bungalow at RCF. Heaven on Earth Man... I had no idea there were such open expanses of land in Mumbai which were untouched and which you can be rest assured would never become concrete jungles.

July

Already July... And guess who is in town.. Ma Chere Lucie along with Arthur.. But of course.. we all head to Pondicherry over the weekend.. What fun man.. after ages I was hearing that laughter of hers.. Carefree as ever... And as they say... there's no better way to explore Pondicherry than with the French.. :)

August

Come August and there are two trips that happen.. and guess where to? Pondy again :) Well the trip with Ste, Marta, Simone and Luca was just unforgettable. Wish we could have done it once before they left. Hopefully once again in the future... Insha Allah as they say :)

September

While writing this post, September almost joined April in the sense that I almost missed out the fact that I had travelled in September... Where to?? Velankanni ! Wow two trips to Velankanni in the year! Now thats a first. But yes the Prawns were not missed :)

October

Come October and I am back home for Durga Pujaaaa!!! After 9 long months I got to visit my favourite place in the entire world. The familiar crowds.. the Dhakis.. playing their music.. the entire festive spirit.. I was just soaking it all in :)

November

November... well this was meant to be a month when I travelled so it all happened one fine night at the Race Club... where the monks, both old and new were having a session and the idea took shape. Outlook invites were sent immediately to show the seriousness to make it happen this time... And tickets booked.. we are off to Masingudi :) Well though we couldnt spot any Tigers in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.. it was one helluva trip and definitely a trip I will never forget and one I would look forward to do again in the future.

Of course.. the third weekend of November also provided for some holiday cheer.. Where to? Pondicherry.. but just a day trip.. Off in the morning and back in the evening..

And I almost forgot about one of the most rocking trips of the year... so much so that I had to edit the entry to write about it.. The Diwali trip to Bangalore.. The much famed Vietnamese Pork Burger more than lived upto its reputation... And of course.. the monk was in full action along with his other partners The Bird, The Green Fairy and others. It literally was a cracking weekend and that without even bursting one cracker.. :)

December

I am actually quite scare to count the number of days I was on leave and the number of days I worked in December.. It might be that the former are more in number.. :) Starts with a whirlwind trip of Jamshedpur on the first weekend.. then the Next weekend to Bangkok.. It was maiden voyage and the most thrilling moment of course was when my passport was stamped for the first time... The Fb pics speak for themselves I guess. And the the last but not least.. the Christmas and NYE trip back in Jamshedpur. You can go everywhere for a holiday but when it comes to Christmas you just have to be home with your family and friends. Cant be anywhere else.. As they say.. Home is where the Heart is ! Oh and I just remembered... Need to mention the day spent in Cal as well.. Little work and a little fun.. thats how I could describe the day !!

Well this year sure was eventful. Lots of ups and downs.. more ups I would say. But it was by far the best year of my life in terms of everything.. And I look forward to 2011 to take my breath away with an even better year by breaking all the tall benchmarks which have been set by 2010!

Here's to the New Year!

The Hook : You’re either “On” it or “Off” it

2010-12-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

How many times have you heard this from a girl? “I like you; you’re a great guy, but I am not ready for a relationship right now.” Of course, the “We’ll always be great friends” will also be thrown in.

What exactly does “not right now” mean? I first heard something on these lines around 12 years back and I still fail to understand any of it. Does it mean, “Not right now”, but “sometime in the future”? Or does it mean that “dude, you just have to try harder, I am not giving in so easily!” Well, volumes can be written on this, but this post is not about what that phrase means, but about “THE HOOK”.

Yes, either you’re “Off the Hook” or you’re “On it”. And it works both ways; I might be on someone’s hook while I might be keeping someone else on the hook. But it all starts with those 3 words “not right now.” I guess it stems from the fact, that the other person is a good friend and you probably enjoy spending time with them and wouldn’t want to lose them. However what we fail to consider is that slowly and steadily, they start weaving their own little dream world; thanks to the “not right now” hook. Probably you are selfish and don’t want to lose the friendship and rapport you share with the person so you just keep putting it off rather than facing it. A point to note though is that the longer you keep on with it, that dream world will become more real for the person on the hook and when you burst that bubble, its going to be very painful for them, and will in all probability result in the end of all relations between the both of you; no one takes rejection well J. But I guess that’s the solution – Out of sight = Out of mind!

In my opinion there are two ways of doing it. One is say some nasty stuff, make the girl cry… Yeah I hate that, but just can’t help it and ensure that she starts hating you to the point that she doesn’t want to be with you anymore. The other is to have a calm and cool talk with her and explain that things will never work out. Yes, she might cry in this case as well, but there is a slight chance that you may not lose her friendship at least. Which solution one goes for totally depends on the kind of person they are and what they are comfortable with? I would always go with solution one for one simple reason. The pain is substantial, but it only lasts at that point of time, post which most would come to terms with the situation and move on hating me. I can live with that and comfort myself that they underwent short term pain for some long term gain. As for solution two, if you are once again at your diplomatic best, you might just end up placing the person on the hook one more time, just so that you don’t hurt them. I am not denying the fact that there might be several other ways, but these are the two that I know of. And trust me, solution two has been used on me quite extensively however I would just end up being hopeful and waiting for something to happen.. J

Also, a few more phrases which I have come across other than “not right now”. The other phrases which I have heard are “my parents wont approve of this right now”, “I need to focus on my studies right now” – The first two were of course school favourites, “I don’t think I am ready for a relationship right now”, “I’ve never seen you THAT way” , “Being in a relationship increases the expectations and just ruins everything – what we have is so perfect” and the current favourite, “I am really focused on my career right now” and so on and so forth.

Designationsss!!!

2010-11-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

A Designation... When you dont have one, then you want it.. and When you have one, then you may not want the responsibility that comes along with it. Nevertheless, it feels good to have a nice fancy designation. Doesnt it? Whether you deserve it or not is secondary.

However, one would have to agree that in the recent past with the advent of the new age "Knowledge-based" organisations, organisational hierarchy as we knew it 20 years back in the traditional manufacturing industries has gone out of the window. Today I can be an Assistant Vice President at the age of 23 and a Vice President at probably 26. If something like this were to happen back in the old days, even the thought of it would have been blasphemous.

However, with the advent of the "MBAs"; the guys who think they know it all even before they start working, throwing fancy designations has become to norm with all companies looking to attract the best talent from business schools.

In the previous generation of Baby Boomers if you got promoted once in 3 or 4 years, you were considered to be a fast tracker and had a bright career ahead if you stayed with the company. These individuals would actually be excited that they got promoted. Today with Gen Y, if they dont get promoted one year, then suddenly, the company is not all that good as it was when they joined or growth prospects are limited or they they look at joining competition at a higher designation. Promotions are like salary increments these days. People expect them at least once a year. And hence, organisations have devised their own ways and means of keeping Gen Y happy year after year. No wonder, designations today have a number of prefixes like, "Additional, Assistant, Deputy, Senior, Executive, Associate, Joint" which have ensured that a normally flat organisational structure has been turned into something else altogether with 500 AVPs, 1000 Deputy Managers, 30 Joint Directors etc etc.

If you looked at it this way, would you be 1 among thousands or 1 among 3 or 4... To elucidate further, this is the very difference between someone who is the Vice President "IN" a company and someone who is the Vice President "OF" a company. In the former, you probably will be swimming in the sea with thousands others as is the case with some of the multinatonal banks which started the fancy designation throwing back in the early 1990s. However in the latter, you are probably one among 3 or 4 people in the company and your actions have a huge impact on the fortunes of the company as is the case with large manufacturing firms.

So why is that people stuck to companies even when they werent getting promoted every year? Well, this can be answered in many ways. One, they were loyal to the company. Today loyalty is probably a function of the money one draws from their jobs. Two could be that there lack of options. The economy was still protected and there probably was no other place to go so they stayed put. As we know, today opportunities are limitless and the world is your playground. Three, they were probably looking at security whereas today, most are just looking at more money rather than anything else..

Good things always come to patient people. Please note, its patient and not lazy or lackadaisical. However in our Gen Y, people like this are few and far between as everyone is benchmarking themselves with the most successful person they know in their age group and wants to surpass them. Yes, some guys get what they want and yes they get it when they want and yes you feel they dont deserve to be where they are. But thats life and at some point you have to accept it. But having a fancy MBA tag from a top B-school only gives you a head start in your career and doesnt guarantee success in the long run. Those who win in the long run will be those, who have the grit, the determination and the perseverance to overcome all challenges presented to them and emerge victorious.

Ever wondered what the longevity of sprinter's career is as compared to that of a marathon runner? The answer is simple. Whereas sprinters peak between 19 - 24 years and have a rather short lived career, marathon runners are at their prime much later when they are in their 30s and they go on running till they are well into their 40s. Though both probably start their careers at the same age and work equally hard, sprinters achieve success much earlier however as they get closer to their mid and late 20s their career is over.

So I will leave you with one question. Would you rather be a sprinter or a marathon runner?

Spontaneity!!

2010-10-18T04:57:00.001-07:00

Spontaneous is an adjective that means seeming to occur through self-generation, by one's own means, or in a way requiring no outside influence or help. The noun form, spontaneity, refers to the quality of being spontaneous. This is of course the dictionary definition of Spontaneity. However, the question is, “What does Spontaneity mean to each individual?”

Is it an action that is self generated? Or occurring by one’s own means? Or in a way that requires no outside influence or help? Or is it all of the above. I guess for most, spontaneous is more of a “spur of the moment” act rather than something which strictly sticks to the above definition. Or is it something different?

Is it imperative for the outcome of a spontaneous act to be positive? Or does a negative outcome signal a spontaneous act turned stupid? Deciding to bike it down to Mahabaleshwar from Pune at 2 am in the morning and setting out immediately according to me is spontaneous. However, in case something goes wrong such as your bike breaks down or you encounter some angry villagers on the way then the same spontaneous act turns stupid.

Spontaneity of course ensures that life is full of excitement for those who love it and anxiety for those who hate it. Though, I seriously doubt that there would be anyone who would hate spontaneity and still try to be spontaneous. I feel spontaneity can’t be acquired or practiced. It needs to be inborn more like an innate personal trait. Yes, there might be some people who due to some reason, be it peer pressure or a inferiority complex, try to be spontaneous just to fit in. However as I mentioned earlier, since this is an inborn personality trait, it would be difficult to keep the act on since its not their natural tendency to behave in that way.

Placements - Part 2

2010-06-13T01:33:00.000-07:00

While Marketing Students were devouring their Kotler for the nth time, Finance guys were running through their balance sheets and P&L statements and HR guys were memorising labour laws, I was watching a movie by the name of "Thank You for Smoking". Aaron Eckhart is the smooth talking lobbyist for the Academy of Tobacco Studies in this movie and does what a lobbyist does best, he "spins" his way through his office, celebrity talk shows, his son's school and even his ex-wife's boyfriend.

All one needs to see is how he would turn a seemingly lost situations into a winning ones. What better place to learn from? Especially when you know you are going to be badgered and pinned down with questions from a panel of 6 - 7 people. He is convincing and believable and steals the show wherever he goes.

That doesnt mean that your knowledge is superficial and all you need to be is a smooth talker. However, even when you gain mastery of the subject, you need to know how to present it to a third person. Nick Naylor (Aaron's Character) does an amazing job in this respect, whether its internally (within the academy) or with the outside world, he is perfect and makes me feel that if he was a pastor could convert non-believers into pious Catholics.

And considering the kind of stress interview I had and the way the interview went, I owe a lot to Jason Reitman and Aaron Eckhart because of whom I cruised home in the interview. I dont know about others but I would definitely say this movie is a must watch before any interview and it just doesnt matter whether you are a Finance, HR or Marketing Guy, you will start walking, talking and oozing confidence once you watch it.

Placements - Part 1

2010-06-12T23:46:00.000-07:00

Placements!! Apart from the rankings, this is one of the most important aspects which students consider while choosing a B-School. Of course, Good placements in turn contribute to a better ranking for the institute.

Once you are in, even if you dont want them to, Placements take the center stage in any and every activity. Whether its 2 months into the 1st trimester and the internship interviews start or you have some head honchos visiting the campus as part of the corporate interface program, life is all about placements. Come the conferences, and you need to target speakers based on the companies you want to recruit from campus. A few months later, the internship begins and you are gunning for a top slot there to score a pre-placement offer which would make life so much easier. Internship done and then you are working hard in the 4th trimester to ensure your grades are up to the mark so that you make the cut for the placement week itself! 5th trimester and you are trying to select lighter subjects so that you have more time to prepare for placements and bursh up on your basics. Placement week !! Trials, tribulations, elation, tears (both of joy & sorrow), ecstasy, frustration, excitement, disappointment, dejection, confusion, desperation and many more emotions are witnessed in those power packed 6 - 7 days.

Once you are placed, life is again about placements!! WHY?? Students stop attending class because they are placed and the sole objective of coming to B-school was getting placed.

B-school students come in like caterpillars and the sole objective for each one is to be the best butterfly at the end of two years. For some, the ride gets bumpy and their objective then is to just become a butterfly and not have to go through the Pupa stage again (If you know what I mean).

But this post wasnt about Pupa, Butterflies or what placements mean to everyone at a B-school. What I want to write about is how I prepared for Placement Week 2007 when I was in the 2nd year of MBA which is covered in Part 2.

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Jharkhand | Jamshedpur’sUdaan takes wing in Cannes

2010-06-05T02:34:00.000-07:00

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) Jharkhand Jamshedpur’s<I>Udaan</I> takes wing in Cannes

Like all other true blooded Jamshedpureans... I am waiting to get a copy of Udaan... This is simple amazing.

Pearls of Wisdom which I received in Kolkata

2010-05-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

Been a long time since I wrote but, I am sure that in the coming days, much to the delight of a few of my friends, I will be writing on a more regular basis.

Last week, I was in Kolkata to attend the wedding of one of my closest friends. I stayed at an old family friend's place. Sunday afternoon was spent chatting with his son who is a Regional Manager at a Healthcare Company. It was an enriching conversation and below are a few pearls of wisdom which he gave me.

INCOME = EXPENDITURE

For a healthy life, income must always be equal to expenditure. Now I know what most would be thinking and trust me, the same thought were running in my mind as well. If income is equal to expenditure, then I will always be broke! He went on to say, Yes, your bank balance should always be zero. By now I was completely confused. Was it the mid day vodka snack which was talking or was he going to make some sense. Then he says, " I am not talking about your monetary condition, not in the least bit." He was referring to food intake. Yes, today most of us have a sedentary lifestyle, sitting in front of a computer screen and pushing buttons all day long or in case of amy of our friends who are in the BPO Industry, all night long. Our lifestyle is such, that income (Food & beverages) are only on the increase and Expenditure is minimal. So he said, if you are using public transport, then ensure you get off at least 2 kms away from home and walk home at a fast pace. If you use a car, then even if your office is on the 8th floor, use the stairs while going up. While coming down, there is no reason why you should'nt be using the stairs. And trust me, he is supremely fit, has'nt gained a single gram of weight since he finished college 15 years back.

BE DISCIPLINED LIKE YOUR MOTHER

How many times have you called in sick at work? Well, I have done it and I am sure that most of us as diligent and hard working as we may be, would have done it at some point of time. But How many times have you heard your mother calling in sick when your dad had to leave for office and you had to leave for school? Never!! I am sure with a few exceptional cases, everyone would agree with this. When you were small, how many times, did you have to wear a dirty uniform or clothes which weren't ironed to school? My guess is never. Come what may, the water would be warm for a bath in the morning, a neatly ironed set of uniform would be waiting after a bath, polished shoes, sumptuous breakfast along with some yummy food in the tiffin box. Lunch would be ready when you got back home from school. On an exceptionally hot day, some refreshing lemon juice would also be waiting in the Refrigerator. And come rain or sunshine, all this would always be done. So when each one of us have been brought up by someone who is so disciplined, why is that some many of us are unable to replicate the same kind of discipline in our careers, our lifestyle and other day to day activities. I guess it made lot of sense, and the fact that it was coming from a person who handled business in 11 States of India for his company, he was definitely practising what he was preaching.

THERE IS NO "I WILL DO IT" IN THIS WORLD.

As the old saying goes, "Let your actions speak louder than your words". Its so true. At then end of the month, when your boss asks, "What are the numbers?", you cant turn around and say that this month I was unable to do so I will do it next month. There is nothing like next tomorrow, next month or next year. Its always today, now and I have done it. That's the only way you earn respect in any group, when you focus on results rather than on activity.

Well these were the few pearls of wisdom which I got from him. I know, most of you would say that this is common sense. But then, how many of us practice it.

The Top 10 Reasons for travelling without a valid ticket!!

2009-12-25T02:52:00.000-08:00

1. I thought this was the unreserved compartment.

2. Are'nt we allowed to travel if our tickets are waitlisted?

3. Is it the 23rd of December today??? I thought it was the 22nd.

4. I thought Local Train tickets would also be valid.

5. To the TTE, "Sir, dont you ever have holidays? Its a Sunday for crying out loud."

6. I promise to pay double the next time I travel.

7. How many times do I have to pay to travel in the same train? Do you take me for a fool?

8. Isnt the ticket for people who are carrying luggage?

9. I am a Politician.

10. Tickets?

SLEEP.....My Biggest Enemy...

2009-06-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

SLEEP.... Its a 5 letter word that means nothing to me....

But its the one thing which I envy the most.

Not many would understand what I am saying here... But that is the truth.....

By definition..

Sleep is a natural state of bodily rest observed in humans and other animals. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and it is more easily reversible than hibernation or coma. It is common to all mammals and birds, and is also seen in many reptiles, amphibians, and fish. In humans, other mammals, and a substantial majority of other animals that have been studied (such as some species of fish, birds, ants, and fruit flies), regular sleep is essential for survival.

My Delhi 6…. Err Jamshedpur 1

2009-04-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

I was in Jamshedpur for a short but amazing Easter Break. And guess what I just went on a shopping spree there…. Stuff is so cheap… Just couldn’t control myself.

So… as is my habit in Chennai… I like dressing in a T-shirt, 3/4ths and floaters…. And I did the same in Jsr… Though, even then the heat was killing. So I was walking down Sakchi Market dressed like this.. and of course wearing my new Ray Ban shades and I noticed that everyone was looking at me…. When they were walking towards me, they were looking at me and when they had crossed me, they were turning back and looking. I couldn’t quite figure out why this was happening… You know the first thought which comes to your mind when this happens… (Yeah … probably my shorts are torn… or the birds have sent their blessings on my t-shirt…) I checked… but couldn’t make out anything… Then I suddenly remembered what Mom had said in the morning before I left… People are going to laugh when they you like this… But I didn’t take it seriously.

Come to think of it, even though the heat was killing, people were still dressed in full shirts, Jeans etc… I would die in them…

Secondly, the market had changed so much and since I was going there after almost 3 years… I was looking around like a tourist who was visiting for the first time. I was looking at the people around me… I was noticing how they walked… how they talked… and how much I had changed since the time I had left Jsr 8 years back…. That’s when I felt like I was Abhishek Bachchan in Delhi 6. His first experience of India, and that too Chandni Chowk… Poor guy was scandalized. For me it was not that bad, however seeing the old sights after long did make a bit nostalgic as well.

Also Sakchi Market is not too far from Chandni Chowk in terms of the traffic management system… (Traffic – Loads of it, Management – What’s that ? , System – ha ha ha ha) A 10 feet road where you have people, cows, bikes, cycles, rickshaws and the stray car as well… Not to mention the people who stop their vehicle exactly in front of the shop where they need to buy something even though the designated parking might be far far away….

Well, I am sure that you get the picture. But all said and done, this is what makes our country, our cities, towns and villages so unique and so enjoyable… And as the cliché goes, “There’s no place like home”.

Till the next post.

From Private to Public….

2009-04-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Wondering what the title means… No I am not referring to dirty linen being washed in public by our various Page 3 personalities and other celebrities… Neither am I referring to the License Raj and pre-1991 days when certain priority sectors were taken over by the government from Private business houses (case in point Air India being taken over from Tata by the Government)…..

What I am referring to is a very simple observation which I made recently on my visit to Jamshedpur, which in turn prompted me to write this post. Before I come to what I saw, let’s go back 4 years. 2005 – Gurgaon… I was working at IBM Daksh and was a frequent visitor of the Sector 14 Market. You could also call this market an ATM Plaza because it has ATMs of HDFC, HSBC, Citibank, ICICI, SBI, SB of Hyderabad, IDBI, IndusInd, PNB, Axis Bank (Then UTI) and probably some others which I am unable to recall at this juncture. And the amazing thing was that they were all located next to each other and within an area of 1500 Sqm which also had a flurry of retail shops and of course, Parking…

I had a Citibank Card so I would use the Citi ATM, however, whenever I would be there, I would notice that there was always a long queue in front of the ICICI Bank which was understandable; aggressive bank, lots of clients, large presence etc etc. At times, if the Citi ATM wasn’t working due to any reason, I would also go to the ICICI ATM even though it was the farthest from the Citi ATM. Why?? Because of one simple reason – Herd Mentality. And moreover the ATM next to Citi was HSBC… (My God… MNC Bank… 1 ATM in every 100 Sq Km…. If something goes wrong whom will I speak to….) These were the thoughts that would cross my mind… little knowing that I would be a loyal and satisfied HSBC customer 4 years down the line.

So coming back to the crowd at ICICI… I once went upto a few people and asked them if they were all ICICI account holders and to my consternation, I discovered that around 25% weren’t. However, due to some reason since they were unable to use their bank’s ATm, they were there. So people were ready to wait in the line here rather than visit any other ATM. One reason could have been the confidence that if anything went wrong in the ATM, the branch was just next door and the problem could be resolved immediately. However, SB of Hyderabad also had a branch along with their ATM. Anyway all said and done, people were flocking to withdraw money to ICICI.

Now coming to my observation in Jamshedpur recently. Near my place there are two ATMs located next to each other. An SBI ATM and an ICICI ATM. Guess where the line is?? Yes, not ICICI but SBI. And not once, but at least 10 – 12 times in the past 6 days. Amazing but true… In just 4 years there seems to have been a sea change in the mindset of most people…. And come to think of it… we are witnessing this change in many places. MBAs who were more than eager to grab that 8 figure salary or high 7 figure salary from an MNC I-bank are today settling for a 6 figure salary with SBI. Personally, in the past 7 years of flying to various places, I took an Air India flight for the simple reason that it was the cheapest and I knew that I would definitely reach in time. And I was right, I reached before time in fact… Sounds amazing isn’t it?? But its true. And there are many more such examples….

My previous post was unique as it was my first one which was typed on the Blackberry and this one is unique in itself as it has been typed at a height of 28,000 feet…. However… am flying Indigo this time around.

Till then.

To hell with the Malls .......... Dilli Haat rocks !!

2008-12-30T21:34:00.000-08:00

Well well, this entry is historic for me, in the sense that this is the first entry that I started writing on my Blackberry but then due to connectivity issues had to complete it on the comp.

When I read Business @ the speed of thought, I had never thought that what Bill Gates wrote about handheld devices on which we could read our emails, would ever be a reality... Let alone the devices, I didnt even have any idea about E-mail at that time.

Anyway, looks like I have deviated from the topic enough. Lets get back to what I set out to write. Well on 30th Dec I went to Dilli Haat... now for the uninitiated this is the little (read as 7.6 acres) marketplace just opposite INA Market.... I had been hearing of the place since ages .. ever since Tritaya used to tell me of her shopping escapades here... back in 2001... and trust me, I used to feel like a fool that I hadnt been to Dilli Haat even though I have been staying in Delhi since 2005... Well better late than never...

Mom and I decided to visit the place...on 30th... its Changeover day... Damn... so most of the shops would be just setting up. Anyway, something better than nothing. At least the food stalls are there.

So we get the ticket and go... dude.. its like a Mini India inside... a confluence of all our states and Union Territories (notice how I conveniently forget to mention the number of states and union territories...lol) Right from Kashmir to Digha to Rajasthan to Kanyakumari, there is stuff from everywhere...

Malls talk about circulation... Well I think this place has the best circulation I have ever seen. You are just bound to see all the shops and even the food stalls have been placed in such a way, that they give you a nice relaxing break after which you can get back to shopping like crazy...

Okay... you brand crazy guys... there is nothing for you here... but for those who love the charm of the old world... the work of our rural artisans... our handicrafts... that part of our culture which has still not been corrupted by the west...this place is paradise... Right from the Madhubani paintings, to the bambo work from Arunachal Pradesh... to the shell work from Digha and of course, the Intricate craftsmanship on the pashmina shawls from The Valley itself....

Hmmm... yes yes of course, the winter fashion was very much visible in the long over coats of the girls were wearing and even the leggings coupled with cute skirts...

And then I saw her... at the junk jewellery stall right next to the Hyderabad Pearls stall and opposite the food stalls... She was wearing a pale yellow pullover and light blue stone wash jeans.... She was a goddess. For the first time in my life.. time stood still... everything had just come to a standstill and it was just me looking at her... Straight black hair.... long black eye lashes.... pink lips.... skin smooth like a pearl (unspoilt by the forces of nature).... And I was just capitvated .... Kya yehi pyaar hai... Haan yehi pyaar hai... Truly love at first sight...

Thankfully, mom was also buying some stuf from the same shop, so I had more time to just admire her. Slowly she brushes a couple of strands behind her ear.... Wowwwwwwwwwww.... For once I am speechless... I have nothing to say.. and I just stand there... looking at her. She was with her friend... I just hoped that the friend didnt see me staring at her.... else I was in for trouble.. anyway the cops in Delhi smack you really hard...

Suddenly mom pulled me away from this stall and we headed to another place... Back from my dream to reality... We then headed for some Hyderabadi Biryani... but I just couldnt get her out of my head... and even today... I still have her image perfectly etched in my memory...

Food done.. we roam around all the other shops and then I head to the Handicrafts Emporium to shop for some curios and other stuff... back from that, feel like going to have some coffee... so what better place than Filter kappi at the Tamil Nadu stall... I was sitting there sipping my cup of coffee and suddenly she appeared from no where... This time, she was walking towards the exit... In retrospect, I could have done so many things... Could've just run to her and said that my mom wanted to speak to her.... could've just gone up to her and said that she looked very familiar... and asked if she was from delhi, jamshedpur, pune.... anything dude... being with mom, I could have taken her support and no one would have told me anything..... But i did nothing of the sort... just watched her walk of into the horizon....

But yes... I have the belief in my heart... that if its true and pure love... I will meet her again.. and that day I will be able to speak to her. It will happen in the same way ... we will just bump into each other .... conincidence as usual..... (well some of my readers my get a feeling of deja vu)....

So guys... I used to think the malls were rocking... but after Dilli Haat, I have become a die hard fan of the place and truly no mall even comes close to it. If all other stuff available in malls was sold the way it is in Dilli Haat, I would anyday go to Dilli Haat...

Wishing many more years of success the the artisans and the handicrafts of India.

Till then.

Deals may come and deals may go... But life comes only once

2008-12-08T09:07:00.001-08:00

From the time I heard these words today morning... they have just been ringing in my ears.
Which makes me think.... Is money more precious than life??

For me its an emphatic no.... but sometimes when I look around me at the multitudes trying to mindlessly hoard up wealth at any cost, it brings me back to the same question.

The title for today's blog comes from what our boss had to say when he was addressing us today. He was narrating an incident which happened recently and thats when he heard the very same words.

The terror strikes have achieved exactly what was intended. Embed a fear... fear of the unknown in each one of us. Because deep down, each of us knows how easily it could have been one of us who might have been a victim in Mumbai.

I used to think that the only thing which is constant in this world is Change.... however I have proved wrong... I think the only thing which is constant in the world in "UNCERTAINTY". Those who are close to me, would know exactly what I am talking about and what is that one incident which has provoked me to write this post.

Can you imagine... Chandel dropped me home early and when I was about to book my flight tickets to home, he calls and says that one of our colleagues has been assaulted by some unidentified assailants... need I elaborate now. The man was brave enough to ride to the nearest hospital and the doc said that he was out of danger but this could have so easily turned out for the worse... With God's Grace he is safe. But where is the certainty in life? Where is the guarantee when I leave home for work, that I will be back in the evening?

We talk about all the progress we have made in our culture and in economic terms as well, however that animal instinct of harming another individual whom we feel has wronged us, just doesnt go.

So I leave you with a question.

Are we any better than the cavemen who lived in the pre-historic era, or is it still a question about the survival of the fittest?

Till then!

The ledger...

2008-12-06T23:58:00.001-08:00

I know.. I know... this blog is my online journal and the title of this post is the ledger.... However, please dont think, this has anything to do with Finance, Accountancy or anything thats even remotely associated with Journals and Ledgers... Thats cos I deeply abhor anything thats starts with the letters "FIN".

Anyway, lets not waste time talking about my hatred for the "F" world. That can be taken up on another day. This post is simply about the night when I overcame acrophobia or for the uninitiated, the fear of heights. It was one of those nights that Kay Maan came over to my place and we were on our usual movie watching spree when a call from his place ensured that he was packing his bags to leave... He had left his bike near the Raintree and I had to drop him there... Since it was night and as usual the cops would be swarming the streets, I decided not to risk taking my bike which has an out of state number and borrowed Anurag's bike.

Kay and me were quietly going down the "dark as hell" staricase when I realised.... Shit Shit Shit... alongwith my bike keys, I had the house keys as well.... and Anurag didnt.... Damn it... Now how the hell was I supposed to enter the house when I got back after dropping Kay... It was 2 am ... and I knew that nothing I did was going to wake Anurag from his slumber... and of course, being aware of the fact that he hated being woken up from sleep... I dare not disturb him.... But then, what do I do ?????

Okay, now its time for desperate measures. Let me call Anurag on his Reliance Phone... Damn... its on silent... Now its turn for the other phone... Oh man... this one on silent too... The last resort... the land line.... Crap... this one is ringing and ringing... No response....

Kay Maan... what do you say??? What do I do now?? "Bulb lights over my head".... Cartoon style..... :-) :-).... I just remembered... He keeps all the keys on the window sill..... Okay now its time to emulate the guy from Airtel who fixed my braodband collection....

From the staircase, onto the ledge... Dont look down.. dont look down... I just kept saying that to myself... If I fall thats the end of it .... Then I started walking towards Anurag's room... first window... I want to shout... But that would wake the neighbours and if anyone sees me on the ledge and calls the cops... Sheesh.. Anyway, I still let out a muffled shout... no response. I move on to the next window where the keys are normally kept.

Murphy's law at its best. Since the window doesnt close properly, the man has tied it .... What luck. All I can do is to force it open, which if I may mention is a bit difficult when you are standing on a 1.5 foot wide ledge looking down upon a 40 foot fall.... Okay... I push a bit more and thankfully the rope gives way... I reach out for the first set of keys... look at them... no these are for the suitcase. Once again, my hand is on the window sill... keys... YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS... I got it... Phew.... GOD IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now its time to slowly ease back to the staircase...

Kay Maan... mission accomplished. Now let's go. I said these words with mixed feelings. Relief on one side and accomplishment on the other since that day I had overcome my fear of heights.
Well more from my side some other time.

Adios.

The Twin Towers...

2008-12-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

No guys, its not because of the recent terrorist attacks that I am going to write on 9/11. Though, what has happened in Mumbai recently is terrible and I hope that its a lesson for all and such a heinous crime never takes place again.

Well, on a lighter note, lets get to the title of this post. These days since my bike is out of commission and I am too lazy to get it repaired, I travel to office by auto. Each day is a harrowing experience to first explain the location of my office and then to negotiate a good deal especially since negotiations in English anyway warrant a 30 % hike in the fare.

So each day, I am talking about either ICICI Bank on Santhome High Road or Mayor Ramanath Chettiar Marriage Hall and using them as landmarks, but today something very interesting happened. I was explaining the location of the driver and then he mentioned.... Twin Towers????

I knew he had understood the location, but I just cracked up cos unknowingly he had just christened TVH Beliciaa Towers as one of the most famous symbols of the capitalist world in the 20th century. Come to think of it, rather than cracking up, I should have been more surprised by having come across the term from an auto driver... (lesson to be learnt... never understimate anyone). Hmm.. Looks like things are improving for the better, even in the auto driver fraternity. Well almost everything... since their overzealous tricking of customers has still not stopped.

This incident reminded me of my ex-boss in IBM, Anuj's experience with a cabbie in San Antonio, where if I am to go by Anuj's account, the guy was more well read than most people we meet in our day to day life....

Hmm... now after Gen X, Gen Y and all the other Gens... is it the turn of the auto drivers to ape the west????

Well thats for us to see.

Till then.

Goodbye iphone... Hello Blackberry...

2008-10-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well... I thank my stars that my blog is not that popular, else I could have been sued by RIM for criticising the Berry at length...

This post might read like the apology sections printed in newspapers after people point out mistakes in their stories. But I cant be blamed for it. Who on this blue earth would have thought that the iphone would cost more than 30,000 when the US version costs around 8,000... other than the Apple guys of course... (Another case of discrimination eh!!!)

Well since the iphone was beyond my reach due to its prohibitively expensive pricing, I decided to look for another phone... the search stopped at the O2... Yeah... I had always wanted that phone and on ebay I was actually getting a brand new one... looked like a damn good deal and of course.. Rohan had also used it.... So all I needed to do a little research on the features and a little feedback from Rohan... and I would be go to go....

Did all my spadework... zeroed in on the O2 XDA Atom... boy have I always wanted a phone with a stylis??.... and then I speak to Rohan... and he told me bro... have you gone crazy... please dont buy it...it has been the worst phone I have owned... so there go my O2 plans down the drain....

What do I do now?????

Well well well...am back on ebay... and they are offering some awesome deals on ... yeah yeah... BlackBerry handsets.... he he... so I start considering buying a blackberry .... as I mentioned in the previous post... the best thing about them is that there arent a thousand models.... just a few models... and since I am working for JLLM Chennai where everyone has a Blackberry, I can have a first hand look at almost all models.... Chanel & SatCharan 7130 G.... Ameeth, Anup & Prem Krishnan 8800.... Sarita, Ranjit & Boss 8100 Pearl... Kevin & Sridhar (the man who prompted me to write the previous post) the 8310 Curve..... so there you have it... I have a whole plethora to choose from....

Well... those of you who know me... and who know one berry from the other... can guess which one I got.... But of course... the Pearl.... sleek... lightweight.. compact (aint a blackberry trait... guess they kept me in mind while designing this model)....

Well the day I got it... it was a struggle to even msg people... cos of the QWERTY... but as Chandel had said... in 2-3 days I became a master and trust me guys its awesome... so simple...

I have used many phones in my life... and always swore by the Nokia user interface... but I have to give it up to the RIM guys... awesome interface.. so easy so simple... even kids can use it without any difficulty.... and the benefits... are unlimited just like the Vodafone Blackberry plan I have....to name a few.... Facebook... Gtalk... Yahoo Msngr... MSN Msngr.... and of course... Internet Explorer.... and my mail.... he he.....

I know guys ... the camera and flash aren't like Nokia... but hey... its a business phone and the camera is just put in for guys like me who like to have a business phone and take pics on their weekend getaways.... well the pictures saga has started and have clicked some masterpieces already.... esp in Mussorie... oh by the way... I will write about that trip very soon :)....

So there you have it friends... thats how I said Goodbye to the iphone and Hello to the Berry....

And of course.. today, just like Jerry even I can say that I am the first guy in my batch to be the proud owner of a BlackBerry....

Till we meet again
Adios

Why not to buy a Blackberry... no not cos it becomes Crackberry...

2008-08-16T03:20:00.000-07:00

The good thing about RIM's Blackberry is that there are a limited number of handsets so deciding on which one to buy, is not so much of a problem. Once you buy the handset, not even half the battle is won.

You get it back to office and all your colleagues are raving about how cool the handset looks. Now the ordeal starts. You called the resident IT guy to know the blackberry can be configured so you can start getting your mails. And he starts.... First, before even thinking about your emails, you need to sync your old phone with the laptop and download all your 3000 + contacts onto the laptop. Only one problem, you seem to have misplaced the CD which came with the old phone... Anyway.. minor problem, the software can be downloaded from the net, thank God for that! Next, once all the contacts are downloaded on to the laptop, you transfer them to your blackberry. Phew! What a relief... But it’s not over.

Next, you got to send a request to the Server team in Singapore who in turn forward the request to the enterprise server team in San Jose. And then you got to wait for the password which they will send you.... for another 4 working days... can you believe it... another 4 days... Yippee... 96 hours later... the password is here. Time to test my Blackberry now. And yeah it works.... started getting my mails also... :-) S

o there you have it friends... if you so crazy about a Blackberry that it’s turned into a crackberry for you... Go ahead and buy it... but be ready to use all its features only 8 - 10 days later after all the formalities are over...

PS. I am buying an iphone.

How to spend your weekends....or should it be.. How I spend my weekends..

2008-05-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Well I'd say a perfect weekend should be when... Oh I forgot, it starts on Wednesday itself... of course thinking about Saturday... and in anticipation... tippling a few drinks.

Then on Thursday you dont want to lose the momentum, so you tipple a few more drinks. But not too much, since you have to get to work on Friday.

Friday lunch, nothing too special. Just a lunch at KFC with a whole 12 piece bucket just for you.. Whoa now thats a lot of chicken..

Friday night you go for a happening party down to the local disc where you get your snaps clicked but since the girls you are with are not supposed to be there... you got to tell the photographer to delete the snaps else if they are printed in the papers then the ladies and jacked. Talk about my luck!

You party into the wee hours of the morning where get drunk and then go to some italian joint and have some food which gets over before you even realise... he he... well I think its the Beer...

Then you just about manage to chaperon your newbie biker hostel mate back to the hostel....

Saturday mornings... mornings?? Its more like saturday afternoons... Yeah.. thats when you wake up. Meet up with one of your best pals ever when she is just about to leave for her first job.. in one of the Big 4. A hug and a kiss... and then she is gone.. But you know .. you will meet her very soon... How... Well only time will tell ..

You get back... watch a season of Friends... Wow!! Now thats what I calla good time. And then you go out for some dinner.. Some nice Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Nans... ummmmm.... If KFC was finger lickin' good.. then sure is lip smackin' good...

Oh I was too preoccupied with the food... forgot to mention that before the episodes of friends, you also chat with one of your juniors who is on an international internship and once again... one of the big 4. And guess what... she wants to go to Paris and since you have friends there.. you contact them and they as always help her out in all ways possible to arrange a perfect trip for her.

You get back after dinner... as usual waste time...

Sunday morning, you rise early as for once, you were not inebriated the previous night.. he he... And then you read the papers.. Check out the pics of the party you had gone for and that so easily your naps could have also been there.. aaahhh.. what the heck... next time... Then you surf the net for all the credit card options available in the country and try to zero in on the one which gets you the maximum discounts at all the pubs/discs and hang out joints in the country... Pretty cool huh... Of course you zero in on the one which you dont trust at all.. but hey.. as long as the offers are on.. who cares...

Then its time to do the laundry cos you just realise that you dont have any clothes for work tomorrow.

After that you just lounge around, trying to do some work. But then.. you just shift to Friends... One more season... its just awesome.. and addictive too...

Some food from the local burger joint follows.. So I guess no dinner tonight...

Then you are just about to sleep... and you realise that tomorrow, 2 of your best friends and your boss share their bdays... So you just decide to update your blog waiting for it to be 12 midnight so you can wish all of them...

And i dunno after that... You go to sleep...

Buona Notte for now.

Ten Reasons Why an Indian Guy and a European Girl can never be "Just Friends"

2008-04-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

This is my first post and I am glad that I actually got down to writing it.
Of course, those close to me would know who I am talking about and know most of our experiences.

Here are the various statements and questions which I have faced.
1. I am told "You cant be just friends. I am sure that you have some ulterior motives".

2. Are you in charge of all International Students. How is it that you are friendly with all of them.

3. You dont have any time for us these days. Always hanging out with her.

4. You go to the club with her and all the bearers who have seen you since childhood think you have got married.

5. You go to your old school and all your old teachers think that she is your girlfriend / fiance.

6. You go to the railway station and everyone is looking at you in shock and astonishment and commenting, " See... that Indian Guy.. with a Foreigner. They must be getting married."

7. At the Railway Station, you get surrounded by all kinds of hawkers and then they start talking about the progress India is making and how inter-racial marriages are on the rise.

8. You meet a junior from school in the railway station and he looks at you in an excited manner ...." Girlfriend... Is she your girlfriend????"

9. You buy garlands for her parents who are about to arrive at the Int'l airport and people in Bike & Barrel ask you if you are getting married to her. And not one but three of them.

10. You go to drop her at the airport and people feel you are going to receive your future in-laws.

C'mon... Give me a break!!

But the fact is that this is how everyone's mind works.

Till then !!