Well, I tried to look this up on google, but did not find this. This whole story was told by a teacher who taught me history long time back in school. Shubha teacher, I hope you would be reading this :) Of course, I have added some American spice to it, but the main theme of the story is what I find most fascinating.
In a remote village somewhere in India, there lived a priest. He was very learned, and people respected him a lot. One day, he found a cat stray into his yard. He decides to pet it, and keeps it in his house.
Every morning, the priest performs a Pooja,lights a small diya, and chants his mantras with utmost concentration. The cat, unknowingly moves around in his setting, thus disturbing the priest. The priest tries to pacify the cat and move it away, but this thing keeps happening again and again, and the priest gets annoyed.
The priest decides that while doing the Pooja, he should tie the cat to a pole nearby, so that the cat does not interfere. It works, and the priest is happy. This thing goes on for years. The priest's son, who has seen this happening everyday, now grows up and becomes a priest himself.
One day, the priest dies, and his son takes over all his duties and responsibilities. Now, he too performs the Pooja, and exactly as his father did, he ties the cat to the pole while performing the Pooja. His son, now small, sees this and wonders why, but does not ask. He grows up too and becomes a priest, and takes over from his father after he dies.
What's interesting, is that the first priest's grandson, has really no idea why the cat needs to be tied, and the cat, now old, is still tied during the Pooja. One day, the cat dies.
Guess what?
The priest's grandson, now brings home another cat,and ties it to the same pole, and performs the Pooja. After all, you can't perform the Pooja without tying the cat, can you ?
Centuries later, at an Indian center somewhere in the United States, 2 students in their twenties discuss
"Man, everything done for the Pooja ? "
"Yeah, got everything, but couldn't manage the cat"
"Oh No! This is the tradition, man, this Pooja has never been performed without tying a cat to the pole.That's how it has been done ever since the beginning of time. We'll be committing a big sin if we don't follow this tradition, and of course, the community will not like it too. We absolutely have to get a cat from somewhere. The Pooja will not be complete without it. And I don't want someone to say, that just because we are in the US, we have forgotten our Indian traditions"
Indeed. Amen.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Wednesday to remember
Saw A Wednesday last week. I know that people have had different reviews about the movie, but as far as I am concerned, I found the movie very well made and interesting.
To start off with, I think the last 10 years, we have seen a lot of off beat movies, breaking the standard formula of a hindi movie, and violating the basic rules associated with every commercial hindi film , if you wanted it to be a hit. Basic rules , like that every Hindi film should have a hero and heroine, at least 5 songs ( including one around the trees), an emotional mother, an evil villian, and all that masala without which a film would be considered not-so-good for the commercial front.
Be it Black, Traffic Signal, Shwaas, Mr and Mrs Iyer, all these movies and plus their success speaks a lot about the change in attitude of movie makers and movie watchers, and I think is a very positive step.
Be warned, that reading further reveals the plot details of Wednesday, and it might not be very good to watch the movie if you already know the plot
The film looks like a typical ransom drama, with Naseruddin Shah chalking out a systematic plot of planting bombs in the city, monitoring police movements, and asking them to release prisoners, in exchange for the information about the bombs, looks similar like the plot to release Maulana Masood Azhar in exchange for IC-814 hijacking.
And, like you would expect, the police releases the terrorists, but in the most unexpected of twists, Naseeruddin shah blows up the terrorists, and it's revealed that he's just a common man, who wants to do his bit to reduce terrorism.
A simple yet powerful story. Bold and precise. No bakwaas, no masala. A film that makes you think. A film which reflects the thoughts of the common middle class educated Indian. About, what impacts his life, and the emotions that he goes through. And the difference that one man wants to make to society. Without a name, without a trace, he does his bit. A man who decided to do something other than the usual . A person who decided to risk his life and go one step forward. Would you be able to do the same?
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Mumbai Meri Jaan - the review
Saw Mumbai Meri Jaan last weekend with some friends. The movie is well made and has a good and fast paced story, but I guess why I liked the movie really was due to the fact it was about this city I have always loved, whose spirit I have always appreciated, and the events that are shown are some which are very close to my heart.
For those who don't know, the film covers the life of a few individuals from radically different walks of life, and how their life is suddenly affected by this fearsome and sudden event.Some good points about this movie, which I was noting on my phone as I was watching the movie
1. Powerful actors ( as opposed to mainstream film actors ) like Irfan Khan, Madhavan, Paresh rawal,Soha Ali Khan and Kay Kay. The film is so much about their individual performance as opposed to people dancing around trees and singing. In fact , this film looks like one in which the art of acting takes a front seat, and all the masala is left out. Quite a refreshing change, I must say
2. A take on the Indian media. Be it this post , or so many others, we know that the media will want to make a big story, sometimes not thinking that the people whom they are interviewing and showing are individuals who have lost their near and dear ones, and of course dramatizing everything beyond limits. The 'Rupali Bani Rudaali' episode in the film is more than a perfect example for what's going on.
3. A take on NRIs . One film that is honest but still manages to send this message out, that people living in America will complain about small things in India. And like many other films and articles, this does not over do it. Just about right.
4. A strong sense of Satire ( or Vyangya ) which is there in a lot of dialogues/acts. This gives the movie a feel of a drama as opposed to a mainstream movie. If you have been a fan of dramatics, you'll possibly appreciate this point in the movie
5. Paresh Rawal in yet another amazing performance. His act is of the normal Bombay policeman, good at heart, willing to walk with the system, and try to do the best for himself, and somewhere in the corner of his heart, he wants to see this city in peace. Also, with simple yet powerful comments ( about Hindu Muslim unity), he sends across the message in a much more effective fashion to the common man. He acts similar to the Sutradhar of this otherwise disconnected kind of storyline. And his performance, as always, was the icing on the cake.
6. Madhavan in yet another strong performance, both in terms of his role, and his acting. His love-hate relationship with the country, his dilemma whether to go to San Francisco or not ( :) ), and his beliefs and disbelief's are expressed very strongly.
7. The exceedingly popular mall culture in Bombay, and the change the city has undergone in the last decade or so.
But the best moments of the movie were towards the end, especially when the spirit of the city shows up, and the moist eyes of Madhavan, when he participates in the one minute silence in memory of the victims of the blasts, or when the song 'Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan' plays in the background, when Paresh Rawal explains his simple philosophy to Kay Kay, and his change of thinking, just makes you feel so close to the city I have always loved.
It's an amazing movie, you should watch it.
As an end note, I must say that about 2 years back, someone put a comment on my blog, incidentally to a post which was titled Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan
"Mumbaikars are somewhat pathetic. They can't even get the civic administration to fix their storm water drains. Every monsoon season it's the same story and the monsoons are far more predictable than terrorist attacks.
If Mumbaikars are hoping there would be no more terrorism they are soundly mistaken. Like a battered wife who'd rather commit suicide than stand up for her rights, they are the perfect victim."
A thought to think about. Maybe more about that coming in my next blog.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
5 years
Well, yes, like most of you who'll read this post, I am also just about to finish 5 years in this country. It's been an amazing journey of fun, courage, happy and sad moments, emotions, and above all, there are two things I would savor most out of the five years, one being the lessons in life I have learnt, and second being all the great friends and angels I have met in these 5 years.
I remember the last moment when I was about to leave my parents and cross the final line into immigration at Bombay Airport. There were a whole lot of thoughts in my mind. Will I be successful? Will I come back soon to this land? Should I just leave this flight and go back home? When will I see my parents again? Will I be able to live alone without them in a foreign land?
The only thing was, there was no one beside me to answer these questions and talk to me. No one whatsoever. And that's when it struck me. The time had come, to leave your parent's hand and go out into the world. It was time to come of age. It was time to be responsible. After a 22 hour flight ( which was full of hiccups), I landed at USC, and the feeling finally sunk in , of being in a new world.
The first few days, will be most memorable. Little things, like trying to install trillian/easymessage on the computers on Leavey to chat with your parents and friends. Like teaching Mom to use the computer while chatting on MSN, with things like 'There'll be an icon that looks like this to the left of the screen', like meeting new people like you who are roaming around in campus with a small plastic bag, a map, and the wish in everyone's eyes to 'make it'.
And then, all the firsts, the first time you got a job by yourself, the first paycheck, even if it was for 7 dollars an hour, the first raise( it was 25 cents per hour raise ;)),the first time you took a girl out for coffee (;)),the first time you celebrated a night out with friends, the first time you felt that your family hadn't called you for some days, and they are now probably used to your absence :), the first time I went to Artesia and got a taste of what good life in US might be like, the first time you borrowed a camera to take pictures of your University and send them back home.
Five years, seems unbelievable, it's the most amazing time I have had though. Thank God it happened. Thanks everyone who made my journey more memorable. All my angels, all my friends.
I remember the last moment when I was about to leave my parents and cross the final line into immigration at Bombay Airport. There were a whole lot of thoughts in my mind. Will I be successful? Will I come back soon to this land? Should I just leave this flight and go back home? When will I see my parents again? Will I be able to live alone without them in a foreign land?
The only thing was, there was no one beside me to answer these questions and talk to me. No one whatsoever. And that's when it struck me. The time had come, to leave your parent's hand and go out into the world. It was time to come of age. It was time to be responsible. After a 22 hour flight ( which was full of hiccups), I landed at USC, and the feeling finally sunk in , of being in a new world.
The first few days, will be most memorable. Little things, like trying to install trillian/easymessage on the computers on Leavey to chat with your parents and friends. Like teaching Mom to use the computer while chatting on MSN, with things like 'There'll be an icon that looks like this to the left of the screen', like meeting new people like you who are roaming around in campus with a small plastic bag, a map, and the wish in everyone's eyes to 'make it'.
And then, all the firsts, the first time you got a job by yourself, the first paycheck, even if it was for 7 dollars an hour, the first raise( it was 25 cents per hour raise ;)),the first time you took a girl out for coffee (;)),the first time you celebrated a night out with friends, the first time you felt that your family hadn't called you for some days, and they are now probably used to your absence :), the first time I went to Artesia and got a taste of what good life in US might be like, the first time you borrowed a camera to take pictures of your University and send them back home.
Five years, seems unbelievable, it's the most amazing time I have had though. Thank God it happened. Thanks everyone who made my journey more memorable. All my angels, all my friends.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Whom do we support?
It was 1996. The BJP had come to power, albeit for a short time, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the PM. On the 12th day, he resigned before facing a vote of confidence, which would have forced him to resign anyway. But before that, he gave a speech, and a speech that made me a fan of this guy .
1998. In the middle of a coalition crisis, AB Vajpayee announces Pokharan 2. I am not sure if I am a supporter of nuclear weapons or not, but surely this was the most powerful political move I had seen till that point in my life. Finally, we had a leader who had a powerful answer to everything. The Kargil conflict, the IC-814 hijacking, and the negotiations of the nuclear weapons deal with the western world and the UN, all and all, we still supported this guy and his party. For some reason, there was something about them,maybe it was their powerful oratorship of these leaders, Vajpayee, Pramod Mahajan, Jasvant Singh or Brijesh Mishra, or maybe it was just the fact that we found these leaders to be wise and intelligent, and most importantly,they laid emphasis on things that needed it, not like . this (thanks Animesh for pointing the broken link),or maybe it was just the personna which would always make me a fan of the team which I thought would lead India into the 21st century.
But today, everyone looks useless. Be it the Congress wholesome support of reservations for SC/ST/OBC, or the BJP's vehement opposition to the nuclear deal( which I am sure they would have signed if they were in power, and the Congress would have opposed it),and of course the left, who seriously look to have no business than to threaten to bring down the government. And with events like these , the credibility of the the BJP keeps going down by the day.
Maybe it's time for some retrospection. Or to support someone like an political party started by educated people . Or maybe we need someone like this . I wish I was strong enough to do something like that. But that's what the problem is. Everyone knows that politics is a dirty gutter, but no one wants to clean it.
1998. In the middle of a coalition crisis, AB Vajpayee announces Pokharan 2. I am not sure if I am a supporter of nuclear weapons or not, but surely this was the most powerful political move I had seen till that point in my life. Finally, we had a leader who had a powerful answer to everything. The Kargil conflict, the IC-814 hijacking, and the negotiations of the nuclear weapons deal with the western world and the UN, all and all, we still supported this guy and his party. For some reason, there was something about them,maybe it was their powerful oratorship of these leaders, Vajpayee, Pramod Mahajan, Jasvant Singh or Brijesh Mishra, or maybe it was just the fact that we found these leaders to be wise and intelligent, and most importantly,they laid emphasis on things that needed it, not like . this (thanks Animesh for pointing the broken link),or maybe it was just the personna which would always make me a fan of the team which I thought would lead India into the 21st century.
But today, everyone looks useless. Be it the Congress wholesome support of reservations for SC/ST/OBC, or the BJP's vehement opposition to the nuclear deal( which I am sure they would have signed if they were in power, and the Congress would have opposed it),and of course the left, who seriously look to have no business than to threaten to bring down the government. And with events like these , the credibility of the the BJP keeps going down by the day.
Maybe it's time for some retrospection. Or to support someone like an political party started by educated people . Or maybe we need someone like this . I wish I was strong enough to do something like that. But that's what the problem is. Everyone knows that politics is a dirty gutter, but no one wants to clean it.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Somewhere in between?
I realized today, while writing an email to someone, that I am now somewhere in between someone born and brought up in the US and somewhere who's come from India fresh? Oh, I know what comes to your mind after reading this. He's going NRIsh, he's going into the
x +1 syndrome, and he's going to stay in the US forever.
No. Not quite. In fact, I have found that most people who go back are the people who have understood the difference in depth . So what's the big change?
I think it's about getting the best of both. I remember a dialogue from Hyderabad Blues as also one from Swades, both of which give a common message, which is, if you have got a chance to compare two cultures and take the best of both, there's nothing wrong with it. There are some really good things that the US has taught me, some of which I found out during my last India visit , and I saw that people around me were so surprised that it worked in India. For example, I have developed a habit of addressing everyone in India, be it a govt official or the smallest peon as 'Aap'. I found that people feel good , and work gets done easily. Or maybe just greeting the next guy on the road with a 'Good Morning' or 'Have a Nice Day'. Similarly, sometimes you find that the Indian culture of offering someone sweets or good food from your plate sometimes leaves Americans surprised but happy.
I sometimes feel glad that I got this opportunity, and in my case, I got some really lovely people who taught me nice things , to be remembered for a lifetime. Thank you all!
x +1 syndrome, and he's going to stay in the US forever.
No. Not quite. In fact, I have found that most people who go back are the people who have understood the difference in depth . So what's the big change?
I think it's about getting the best of both. I remember a dialogue from Hyderabad Blues as also one from Swades, both of which give a common message, which is, if you have got a chance to compare two cultures and take the best of both, there's nothing wrong with it. There are some really good things that the US has taught me, some of which I found out during my last India visit , and I saw that people around me were so surprised that it worked in India. For example, I have developed a habit of addressing everyone in India, be it a govt official or the smallest peon as 'Aap'. I found that people feel good , and work gets done easily. Or maybe just greeting the next guy on the road with a 'Good Morning' or 'Have a Nice Day'. Similarly, sometimes you find that the Indian culture of offering someone sweets or good food from your plate sometimes leaves Americans surprised but happy.
I sometimes feel glad that I got this opportunity, and in my case, I got some really lovely people who taught me nice things , to be remembered for a lifetime. Thank you all!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
What's happened to the Indian media?
This post is going to be less text and more pictures ( as they say, worth a thousand words)-
It's just that the last few weeks, I have been receiving quite a few emails on the kind of news coverage by television channels, and I have been no less than shocked. I remember an old post about the Times of India just trying to sensationalize news stories that was not really needed.
The new series however, is much more useless, and makes us think , what happened to the big media revolution in India, where are the Barkha Datts and the Rajdeep Sardesais
To start with, the picture above and to the left, how interestingly titled 'Commissioner ka Kutta'. Apparently, these people were tracking when and how he was lost, where he was found...Wow, too much of time.Then of course, Ami sent me the following gems
When Teji Bacchan passed away, they showed some pictures where Aishwarya has her hand placed on Abhishek's shoulder. and the breaking news flash went "Aishwarya ne apna farz nibhaaya" !!!
When there were reports that Aamir Khan had an alleged love child Jaan with British writer Jessica Hines, the channel through the day, compared Aamir Khan's childhood pics from the movie 'Yaadon ki Baarat" with Jaan's pics in an attempt to prove it!
And no, it does not end here. In fact the best one of the lot was the 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' by Aaj Tak, which is by far the most stupid piece of television journalism I have ever seen
Monday, January 21, 2008
Looking Back or Moving Forward
It's always interesting which way you look at life. Half full or Half empty. In the past or into the future. Thank God for this wonderful existence He has given you or complain to him about all those things you did not get. Repent on your mistakes or learn to not make them again.
It's interesting how you always promise yourself to be optimistic, but ironically, you just wish you weren't pessimistic sometime back, thereby breaking your promise.In a discussion I had with my roommate, I realized that at every step of life, I looked for a newer horizon, but when I reached it, there was a new horizon in place, and I was again working hard towards it.
I remember a good advice that an old friend gave me, he was like, when you think that right now you don't have all the things you want in life, go back 10 years and remember those things , which you felt you abs wanted at that stage in your life. Suddenly, you'll feel those things were so trivial. Maybe, 10 years down the line , you'll think the same about today. The truth is that life goes on. As is said in castaway, whatever happens, the sun will rise the next day- and thats how I believe it has always been. Challenges, Victories, ups, downs all come and go, and they do affect your life, but maybe not as much as you think they would. The problem is , that this is what your brain says. The heart will always say something else :)
But then, one thing I have learnt, and will stand by , is to live every day and every moment. Ask yourself, if you made a difference today, if you didn't , it's time to make an effort tomorrow. Soon, you'll come to know that it counts.
I know what you are thinking. Yeh to senti/philo ho gaya hai. Not quite. But sometime it's good to give your emotions a vent .
It's interesting how you always promise yourself to be optimistic, but ironically, you just wish you weren't pessimistic sometime back, thereby breaking your promise.In a discussion I had with my roommate, I realized that at every step of life, I looked for a newer horizon, but when I reached it, there was a new horizon in place, and I was again working hard towards it.
I remember a good advice that an old friend gave me, he was like, when you think that right now you don't have all the things you want in life, go back 10 years and remember those things , which you felt you abs wanted at that stage in your life. Suddenly, you'll feel those things were so trivial. Maybe, 10 years down the line , you'll think the same about today. The truth is that life goes on. As is said in castaway, whatever happens, the sun will rise the next day- and thats how I believe it has always been. Challenges, Victories, ups, downs all come and go, and they do affect your life, but maybe not as much as you think they would. The problem is , that this is what your brain says. The heart will always say something else :)
But then, one thing I have learnt, and will stand by , is to live every day and every moment. Ask yourself, if you made a difference today, if you didn't , it's time to make an effort tomorrow. Soon, you'll come to know that it counts.
I know what you are thinking. Yeh to senti/philo ho gaya hai. Not quite. But sometime it's good to give your emotions a vent .
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
This Modern Life....
This one is taken from wellingtongrey.net . Found it quite amusing. The picture is enough to convey what I mean to say
Definitely my life is like this. I wish it wasn't ;)
Note: Picture used with permission from origina author Wellington Grey
www.WellingtonGrey.net
Definitely my life is like this. I wish it wasn't ;)
Note: Picture used with permission from origina author Wellington Grey
www.WellingtonGrey.net
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A good entertainer
We've seen quite a good and bad movies in the last couple of years. Many classics of the likes of rang de basanti and lage raho munnabhai to absolute horrors like Bhool Bhulaiya . While RDB and Lage Raho Munnabhai were classics in their own respect, for some reason for a long time , we had not seen a film with an absolutely single minded focus. Entertain...
That's where I liked Om Shanti Om . A film with an average to good story line, but then, it kept the audiences entertained for 2.5 hours. Witty scenes, good music, decent storyline, good performances, and above all good wholesome entertainment. Even if it meant getting so many guest appearances . It was a movie that we all felt good after seeing it. In general, there was not a phase in the film where the movie went like ,'Oh, when will this end'. Performances of most actors were mostly good, but the best I would like is the variety of guest appearances and the way they were put in there(esp Abhishek Bachchan). For those you are yet to see the movie, try to lip read Abhishek Bachchan in the awards function ;).
A good movie to start the year with. Oh yes, Happy Diwali and Happy new year to all you folks.
That's where I liked Om Shanti Om . A film with an average to good story line, but then, it kept the audiences entertained for 2.5 hours. Witty scenes, good music, decent storyline, good performances, and above all good wholesome entertainment. Even if it meant getting so many guest appearances . It was a movie that we all felt good after seeing it. In general, there was not a phase in the film where the movie went like ,'Oh, when will this end'. Performances of most actors were mostly good, but the best I would like is the variety of guest appearances and the way they were put in there(esp Abhishek Bachchan). For those you are yet to see the movie, try to lip read Abhishek Bachchan in the awards function ;).
A good movie to start the year with. Oh yes, Happy Diwali and Happy new year to all you folks.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Bhool = Mistake - Bhulaiyya = forgettable
Yes,I know that forgettable is not the literal meaning of the word. It is however the appropriate word to be used for the movie. Sometimes you feel that a film was not all that good, or maybe you did not like it because your expectations were too high. Bhool Bhulaiya does fall under that category, however , there's nothing really nice about the movie.
A terrible plot (involving the ghost and havans and all), led by a pretty pathetic acting by Shiny Ahuja, and mediocre performances by everyone else.Akshay Kumar's acting is good, but does not get a chance to really do any kind of good stuff. To top it all, songs are thrown anywhere, making the movie all the more boring. It's interesting that there was a half an hour interval, in which the trailers provided some good relief
But the most disappointing part of this Priyadarshan movie, was that Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav, both of whom I expected to have some good funny scenes, did not have almost any funny scenes or dialogues. Since Hera Pheri, it has become almost an unwritten rule that a Priyadarshan comedy with Paresh Rawal in it, will have some really intelligent and witty stuff from Paresh Rawal. Rajpal Yadav hardly has any role and absolutely no comedy scenes as we have seen in his earlier movies like hungama.
And with random things about ghosts, random characters (Vikram Gokhale at the end) thrown in , you really doubt how coult Priyadarshan make such a movie . Wikipedia did give me one answer
The film began shooting on February 18, 2007 for a 41-day schedule at Jaipur, India and released on October 12, 2007.
A film made in 41 days. Looks like they did not have a story writer and made up the story over the 41 days.
All and all - disappointing. It's not a waste of just 100 rupees or 10 dollars. It's a waste of 3 hours of your life.
A terrible plot (involving the ghost and havans and all), led by a pretty pathetic acting by Shiny Ahuja, and mediocre performances by everyone else.Akshay Kumar's acting is good, but does not get a chance to really do any kind of good stuff. To top it all, songs are thrown anywhere, making the movie all the more boring. It's interesting that there was a half an hour interval, in which the trailers provided some good relief
But the most disappointing part of this Priyadarshan movie, was that Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav, both of whom I expected to have some good funny scenes, did not have almost any funny scenes or dialogues. Since Hera Pheri, it has become almost an unwritten rule that a Priyadarshan comedy with Paresh Rawal in it, will have some really intelligent and witty stuff from Paresh Rawal. Rajpal Yadav hardly has any role and absolutely no comedy scenes as we have seen in his earlier movies like hungama.
And with random things about ghosts, random characters (Vikram Gokhale at the end) thrown in , you really doubt how coult Priyadarshan make such a movie . Wikipedia did give me one answer
The film began shooting on February 18, 2007 for a 41-day schedule at Jaipur, India and released on October 12, 2007.
A film made in 41 days. Looks like they did not have a story writer and made up the story over the 41 days.
All and all - disappointing. It's not a waste of just 100 rupees or 10 dollars. It's a waste of 3 hours of your life.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Slow Down Culture
I got a forward the other day- but I liked it quite a lot. I could not trace the author of this one , but it's a must read
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slow Down Culture . . .
by a Concerned citizen of this Universe
It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's
a rule.
Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a
need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate,
hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.
The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive
early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything,
either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied,
"Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think
so? Imagine my face.
Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe named Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their
food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for
as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week. Basically, the movement questions
the sense of "hurry" and craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the quality
of being".
French people, even though they work only 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 29 hour workweeks and
have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do
it now!". This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality,
perfection, with more attention to detail and less stress. It means reducing rejects and wastage. It means re-establishing family values, friends, free
and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous future. It means taking
humans' essential values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where
humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.
It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products
and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here
any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.
Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing
to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have
equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment.
As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".
Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is particularly interesting, especially to people like us, who have been always taught to move fast in life, and those things about hard work is all it takes.Your comments are welcome.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slow Down Culture . . .
by a Concerned citizen of this Universe
It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's
a rule.
Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a
need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate,
hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.
The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive
early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything,
either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied,
"Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think
so? Imagine my face.
Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe named Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their
food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for
as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week. Basically, the movement questions
the sense of "hurry" and craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the quality
of being".
French people, even though they work only 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 29 hour workweeks and
have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do
it now!". This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality,
perfection, with more attention to detail and less stress. It means reducing rejects and wastage. It means re-establishing family values, friends, free
and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous future. It means taking
humans' essential values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where
humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.
It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products
and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here
any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.
Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing
to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have
equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment.
As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".
Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is particularly interesting, especially to people like us, who have been always taught to move fast in life, and those things about hard work is all it takes.Your comments are welcome.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
What's in a name?
Today, this news article on rediff.com says that the name of Bangalore has been changed to Bengaluru. Brings back memories when Bombay was renamed to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Madras to Chennai, and so on and so forth.
Now is the time to ask, What's in a name? Do you suddenly feel more closer if the city is renamed to what it was called in Pre-British times? I strongly disagree. Firstly, even if the British renamed cities, it was in those times that these cities developed. The names of these cities are testimony to the good development work in those times, and not to the British Raj. Secondly, I wonder if anyone from the majority working class, cared for the official name of the city.
Then, why am I against this?Simple,more costs, more confusion, and generally more work for nothing. More work, well, I remember in Bombay, that Shiv Sena had given a deadline to all businesses to get their hoardings changed to Mumbai, or else :). So , in a city where people come to do business and make some profits out of their investment, here comes an additional cost . And of course, with everything in Bombay named after Chhatrapati Shivaji, there's this perrenial confusion of which airport to go to. In fact, I sometimes wonder how a foreigner will ever realise that Chhatrapati Shivaji Int'l Airport,Mumbai is the same old Sahar Airport in Bombay that he landed on many years back. But then, people are happy :). If nothing, some good amusement.Aaah!
Now is the time to ask, What's in a name? Do you suddenly feel more closer if the city is renamed to what it was called in Pre-British times? I strongly disagree. Firstly, even if the British renamed cities, it was in those times that these cities developed. The names of these cities are testimony to the good development work in those times, and not to the British Raj. Secondly, I wonder if anyone from the majority working class, cared for the official name of the city.
Then, why am I against this?Simple,more costs, more confusion, and generally more work for nothing. More work, well, I remember in Bombay, that Shiv Sena had given a deadline to all businesses to get their hoardings changed to Mumbai, or else :). So , in a city where people come to do business and make some profits out of their investment, here comes an additional cost . And of course, with everything in Bombay named after Chhatrapati Shivaji, there's this perrenial confusion of which airport to go to. In fact, I sometimes wonder how a foreigner will ever realise that Chhatrapati Shivaji Int'l Airport,Mumbai is the same old Sahar Airport in Bombay that he landed on many years back. But then, people are happy :). If nothing, some good amusement.Aaah!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
IBM branded macine guns?
Wikipedia at it again. It's strange how you come across such interesting trivia ,
This article on Wikipedia
In particular, this piece looks the most interesting to me.
In fact,some time back there was an interesting discussion as to how most of the things related to the development of the internet were funded and supported by defence bodies, as the sole aim of them was to use them to improve their strength on the military side. I wonder sometimes what would have happened if they had used the same money for similar purposes minus the war. I guess it could have been both ways, maybe we would have had more peaceful results out of these things, maybe we would have never had these things :)
Among other news, saw the Indian Ocean concert at Hayward yesterday...It was too good.
This article on Wikipedia
In particular, this piece looks the most interesting to me.
After America entered World War II, IBM played an active role in the U.S. war effort. According to the IBM archive website:
When World War II began, all IBM facilities were placed at the disposal of the U.S. government. IBM's product line expanded to include bombsights, rifles and engine parts – in all, more than three dozen major ordnance items. Thomas Watson, Sr., set a nominal one percent profit on those products and used the money to establish a fund for widows and orphans of IBM war casualties.[5]
In particular, IBM manufactured the Browning Automatic Rifle and the M1 Carbine. Allied military forces widely utilized IBM's tabulating equipment for military accounting, logistics, and other war-related purposes.
In fact,some time back there was an interesting discussion as to how most of the things related to the development of the internet were funded and supported by defence bodies, as the sole aim of them was to use them to improve their strength on the military side. I wonder sometimes what would have happened if they had used the same money for similar purposes minus the war. I guess it could have been both ways, maybe we would have had more peaceful results out of these things, maybe we would have never had these things :)
Among other news, saw the Indian Ocean concert at Hayward yesterday...It was too good.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Call center for the blind
There is this interesting article on BBC news about a call center in Mumbai(Bombay) which is meant for visually challenged people only.
I find this as a good sign, because people are thinking out of the traditional app roach that blind/handicapped people are only limited to a set of jobs.( If you've seen Black , there's a very nice dialogue that Amitabh has to reflect the same). Also, I am sure that this will give them a sense of achievement, and also , an all important, making them financially self sufficient.
Most importantly though, I feel that the fact that the person at the other end does not know that they are blind, will instill a great feeling of confidence since it gets rid of the (sometimes undesired) sympathy. Kudos to the people who got this great idea to work.
I find this as a good sign, because people are thinking out of the traditional app roach that blind/handicapped people are only limited to a set of jobs.( If you've seen Black , there's a very nice dialogue that Amitabh has to reflect the same). Also, I am sure that this will give them a sense of achievement, and also , an all important, making them financially self sufficient.
Most importantly though, I feel that the fact that the person at the other end does not know that they are blind, will instill a great feeling of confidence since it gets rid of the (sometimes undesired) sympathy. Kudos to the people who got this great idea to work.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Reflections of India - 2
So here's the big deal. India is rich. Teenagers have more money than ever before. If not , they have a credit card. Is it just because of the economy booming?
I don't agree. It's because of a new way of life, which is more influenced by the western philosophy. More and more credit cards, more and more malls, and more are the people influenced to shop. And oh, the big 'chain' restaurants. I don't think I can generalise, but when I was in college, I would not dare to ask my dad for 100 Rs . to spend on one coffee in a 'coffee' house . And again, not that we did not spend money. But, somewhere show business has come into picture quite a lot. It's just so 'cool' to sit in cafe coffee day, and it's so 'uncool' to go to a local restaurant and have coffee. Surprising.
The positive side is, though, that it is fun. There's a lot of life which somehow was non existent. I mean, now there are umpteen places to hang out, as opposed to a very few.
And of course, cultural values have changed. It's no longer a taboo to divorce someone and move on, and as pre martial relations and teenager independence are going over the roof, the new Indian generation is breaking the shackles of that 'Humaare yahaan aisa sab nahin hota' thing. While some of it is wrong, I do believe that it's good in a way, since I would rather follow something in which I believe in rationally, than just be forced into it since I was brought up here. Maybe it needs a little bit more care.
One interesting thing I observed, which follows from one of my earlier blog posts, is that somewhere we have developed the tendency of going the 'under the table ' way, instead of going straight. Somehow every employed person who tries to do his duty, is considered 'khadoos' and the corrupt guy is considered - 'flexible aadmi hai'. I found , particularly in this visit, that most working class people will do their duties properly, if you speak politely to them( One guy was just too shocked, when I said 'Aap please zaraa yeh kar denge' ) Something, which we might have never tried, might just work . It's about giving it a shot.
This post has been badly structured, sorry for that. I just had too many thoughts, and could not organize them properly. Your comments are welcome.
I don't agree. It's because of a new way of life, which is more influenced by the western philosophy. More and more credit cards, more and more malls, and more are the people influenced to shop. And oh, the big 'chain' restaurants. I don't think I can generalise, but when I was in college, I would not dare to ask my dad for 100 Rs . to spend on one coffee in a 'coffee' house . And again, not that we did not spend money. But, somewhere show business has come into picture quite a lot. It's just so 'cool' to sit in cafe coffee day, and it's so 'uncool' to go to a local restaurant and have coffee. Surprising.
The positive side is, though, that it is fun. There's a lot of life which somehow was non existent. I mean, now there are umpteen places to hang out, as opposed to a very few.
And of course, cultural values have changed. It's no longer a taboo to divorce someone and move on, and as pre martial relations and teenager independence are going over the roof, the new Indian generation is breaking the shackles of that 'Humaare yahaan aisa sab nahin hota' thing. While some of it is wrong, I do believe that it's good in a way, since I would rather follow something in which I believe in rationally, than just be forced into it since I was brought up here. Maybe it needs a little bit more care.
One interesting thing I observed, which follows from one of my earlier blog posts, is that somewhere we have developed the tendency of going the 'under the table ' way, instead of going straight. Somehow every employed person who tries to do his duty, is considered 'khadoos' and the corrupt guy is considered - 'flexible aadmi hai'. I found , particularly in this visit, that most working class people will do their duties properly, if you speak politely to them( One guy was just too shocked, when I said 'Aap please zaraa yeh kar denge' ) Something, which we might have never tried, might just work . It's about giving it a shot.
This post has been badly structured, sorry for that. I just had too many thoughts, and could not organize them properly. Your comments are welcome.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Statistics of the India trip so far
Days spent: 16
Places visited: 3
Shopping done: Rs.25,000
Number of people who have told me that I have grown Fat : 31 ( and increasing)
Places visited: 3
Shopping done: Rs.25,000
Number of people who have told me that I have grown Fat : 31 ( and increasing)
Monday, May 07, 2007
Reflections of India
I have come to India a good 2 years since I last came here. Also, having learnt the experiences of life in Uncle Sam's land, I have been kind of away from the way of living in India and Bombay in particular. This time, as I come back, I feel there are so many things I wanna tell everyone
Firstly, India has grown rich....For some reason, I still think of India as the one I left in 2003, which is a far cry from anything you see right now. Somehow people have all the money to spend on expensive restuarants, funky mobile phones (I want to write more about this in a separate blog), and in general, India has changed
Let me start with some things that I did not like though. The first habit being branding us guys as 'US returned' and worse terms. A simple example
We went to a resort, and food wasn't allowed inside. For some reason 3 people close to me tried to smuggle food inside the resort. On top of that, they gave the same reason(in the same words).The reason was 'Yeh ladka America se aaya hai, aur bahut Bimaar hai'. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I did not like this on several counts. First, I believe my approach has generally changes towards breaking rules. Especially if it serves little or no purpose to do so. If they don't allow food inside, it's prob to keep the park clean, and I feel that is 100% justified. And please, just because I am US returned, does not mean tht I am the most sick person and hence should get all the favours. I don't like because people do this, and then people will say, yeah America se aaya hai, khaane peene ke bahut naatak honge. All this when you really don't want it.Disheartening :).
I always stick to the philosophy that a person who goes to America is no where different from a person who does not go. It's just a matter of making a career choice, that drives a person there.
Have I changed? Maybe not. I am just 4 years behind all these people. It's they who have changed.
Firstly, India has grown rich....For some reason, I still think of India as the one I left in 2003, which is a far cry from anything you see right now. Somehow people have all the money to spend on expensive restuarants, funky mobile phones (I want to write more about this in a separate blog), and in general, India has changed
Let me start with some things that I did not like though. The first habit being branding us guys as 'US returned' and worse terms. A simple example
We went to a resort, and food wasn't allowed inside. For some reason 3 people close to me tried to smuggle food inside the resort. On top of that, they gave the same reason(in the same words).The reason was 'Yeh ladka America se aaya hai, aur bahut Bimaar hai'. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I did not like this on several counts. First, I believe my approach has generally changes towards breaking rules. Especially if it serves little or no purpose to do so. If they don't allow food inside, it's prob to keep the park clean, and I feel that is 100% justified. And please, just because I am US returned, does not mean tht I am the most sick person and hence should get all the favours. I don't like because people do this, and then people will say, yeah America se aaya hai, khaane peene ke bahut naatak honge. All this when you really don't want it.Disheartening :).
I always stick to the philosophy that a person who goes to America is no where different from a person who does not go. It's just a matter of making a career choice, that drives a person there.
Have I changed? Maybe not. I am just 4 years behind all these people. It's they who have changed.
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