New Year is approaching. We all would be eager to know what the future would hold for us. 2008 being a very worst year, in terms of economic recession and financial meltdown globally, I am sure everyone would welcome 2009 with the hope that it would be full of the joys of spring.
Leave 2009. I wonder what India would be in the year 2050. My mind wanders. Come; let us see how it would look like……
It’s the New Years Eve. Year 2050 is about to begin. India is a developed country. People are planning to celebrate the new year on high rise buildings, most of which is 100 storied. The highest building is in India is 7500 ft high (three times the height of the Burj dubai building).
Every city in India is connected. There are bullet trains which could go at 1000 kms per hour. People travel from Delhi to Chennai for work and go back and vice versa as well. There are high speed expressways (20 lanes). There is no pollution anywhere in India. All the vehicles run on green technology.
Infrastructure is fantastic. All the infrastructure projects get completed before time. There is always Time under runs and cost under runs for all the infrastructure projects.
And all this is possible because our Gandhi family decided in the year 2009 not to contest any elections. Henceforth other good parties ruled the country, which made this change possible.
Let us hope this becomes true….Hey 2009, We welcome you. Bring us all the joy and development in the year 2009 and beyond.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Cartoon Attitude
“When will you stop watching the Cartoon programs? Are you still a kid? When will you grow up? If you keep watching this you won’t pass your exams.” My mom hollered a warning, which still reverberates in my ears. I wondered “What’s wrong in watching a cartoon program? How does it determine whether a person is grown up or not?” I had never bothered to listen to anyone in my life. What effect would the whoop and the holler of my mom would have on me.
Years have passed by. I have stopped most of the cartoon programs. But I do still watch Tom and Jerry. The best part is, nowadays, my mom also enjoys Tom and Jerry cartoons.
Irrespective of age or gender, most of us like cartoon programs, especially Tom and Jerry if not other cartoon programs. I wondered what could be the reason for that. How can a program be successful and make us feel happy when there are only two characters which fight always? Is it because they keep fighting with each other? Is it because it is very funny?
There could be n number of factors which make it interesting. But I realized one unique feature of all the cartoon programs. None of the characters in the cartoon programs die or get hurt. Even if Jerry shoots Tom with a gun, or throws a bomb on Tom, its face would at most turn black. Again the next second it would become the original Tom. Even if Tom is cut into pieces, it will come back again. Even if Tom hits Jerry with a hammer, at the max Jerry’s face will become flat. The next moment it will become normal.
I feel this unique feature of the cartoon programs; give us a feel good factor. Since none of the cartoon characters die, I sometimes wonder whether the term “Never-say-die attitude” is derived from this feature of the cartoon programs.
In our lives, we should be like Tom and Jerry. We should come out of all our problems and shed negative thinking as soon as possible. I have given a new term to this: “Cartoon Attitude”.
Years have passed by. I have stopped most of the cartoon programs. But I do still watch Tom and Jerry. The best part is, nowadays, my mom also enjoys Tom and Jerry cartoons.
Irrespective of age or gender, most of us like cartoon programs, especially Tom and Jerry if not other cartoon programs. I wondered what could be the reason for that. How can a program be successful and make us feel happy when there are only two characters which fight always? Is it because they keep fighting with each other? Is it because it is very funny?
There could be n number of factors which make it interesting. But I realized one unique feature of all the cartoon programs. None of the characters in the cartoon programs die or get hurt. Even if Jerry shoots Tom with a gun, or throws a bomb on Tom, its face would at most turn black. Again the next second it would become the original Tom. Even if Tom is cut into pieces, it will come back again. Even if Tom hits Jerry with a hammer, at the max Jerry’s face will become flat. The next moment it will become normal.
I feel this unique feature of the cartoon programs; give us a feel good factor. Since none of the cartoon characters die, I sometimes wonder whether the term “Never-say-die attitude” is derived from this feature of the cartoon programs.
In our lives, we should be like Tom and Jerry. We should come out of all our problems and shed negative thinking as soon as possible. I have given a new term to this: “Cartoon Attitude”.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The antithesis of my opinions – About movie, music and politics
After checking the gmail and orkut for umpteen number of times, with no new mails or scraps, I thought enough was enough. So for a change, I watched the movie “No country for old men”. The film was pathetic from the beginning. There was no momentum in the movie. But the last 20 minutes was excellent. In my opinion the last 20 minutes of the movie makes it worth watching. Kelly Macdonald looked pathetic in the movie. I hate her.
Once I finished watching the movie, I downloaded the songs of “Yuvvraaj”. If you have to explain the music in one word, I would say its “horrible”. I was wondering why A.R.Rahman is still composing music. He is the worst Music Director this country has ever produced. Can A.R.Rahman ever compose music like Anu Malik (the greatest music director of all times, with a wonderful voice).
I really felt sad reading the news item that Shivraj Patil has resigned and P Chidambaram would be taking over as the home minister. How can Shivraj Patil be held responsible for a terror attack on Taj Hotel? He is just the home minister. And the attack was on the hotel. Not on anyone’s home. Also, he is not a hotel minister right? Since the hotels would be governed by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni should have actually resigned. I think it’s a conspiracy by the BJP to remove him from power.
I read a report that India is considering attacking the terrorist camps in PoK. How can we attack terrorist camps? How stupid!!! Terrorists also form part of minority community. The government should actually send them thousand roses instead of attacking them. Also they should be given some reservation in our educational institutions and government jobs. The government should also consider the release of Afzal Guru as a goodwill gesture!!!
It’s time for me to pack up guys. See you in India soon.
Once I finished watching the movie, I downloaded the songs of “Yuvvraaj”. If you have to explain the music in one word, I would say its “horrible”. I was wondering why A.R.Rahman is still composing music. He is the worst Music Director this country has ever produced. Can A.R.Rahman ever compose music like Anu Malik (the greatest music director of all times, with a wonderful voice).
I really felt sad reading the news item that Shivraj Patil has resigned and P Chidambaram would be taking over as the home minister. How can Shivraj Patil be held responsible for a terror attack on Taj Hotel? He is just the home minister. And the attack was on the hotel. Not on anyone’s home. Also, he is not a hotel minister right? Since the hotels would be governed by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni should have actually resigned. I think it’s a conspiracy by the BJP to remove him from power.
I read a report that India is considering attacking the terrorist camps in PoK. How can we attack terrorist camps? How stupid!!! Terrorists also form part of minority community. The government should actually send them thousand roses instead of attacking them. Also they should be given some reservation in our educational institutions and government jobs. The government should also consider the release of Afzal Guru as a goodwill gesture!!!
It’s time for me to pack up guys. See you in India soon.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Mahabarat and Management philosophies
“You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself”. Modern businesses can learn various management principles from the historical information available with us. After all, what is the use in studying history if we do not learn from the mistakes of past generations?
India has a long history. There have been several rulers and there are several success stories and failures. However the two great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata stand apart from the rest. (Well…these two cannot be strictly considered as history, as these are referred to as a part of Hindu mythology. But for the purpose of this post we would assume that it is a part of our history).
Of the two epics, Mahabharata in particular, can be taken up by various management institutes to study the management philosophies. For example if Kauravas (read Kaurava Inc) had taken up lean management seriously they would not have ended up in a disaster. Had Dhritarashtra (read “The Chairman”) taken up production planning seriously, he could have had control over his family. How can a person manage 100 kids (read “Employees”) when people cannot manage 1 or 2? If you have 100 kids you would feel like kicking all of them out instead of disciplining them. Moreover top management needs to have some vision. Dhritarashtra naturally did not have vision. Gandhari, wife of Dhritarashtra (read Managing Director) had vision but decided not to use it. On top of all this, Shakuni is the advisor (read consultant……..he is a bad consultant unlike me…OK) for Kauravas. On the contrary Pandavas (I don’t understand how can they be called Pandavas considering the fact that Kunthi used the Mantra with the help of so many gods to get herself pregnant!!!) were small in number (5 in number is quite manageable right). And they had a right person like Krishna (He is the real consultant like me) who helped in their strategy.
Drawing analogy to the current business scenario based on the mythical masterpiece, General Motors (like Kauravas), and other car manufacturers in US, has grown in its size without adding any value. They have been begging to various governments (this is heights of begging….call it the transatlantic begging) without any success. Their downfall seems to be quite imminent unless the various governments decide to use the tax payer’s money to save these behemoths. On the contrary, smaller automobile manufacturing companies like, Suzuki and Honda though affected by the recession severely need not beg for their survival…hopefully.
The last thing, which the Big three beggars of the automobile industry could do, is to get the funds infusion from various governments and then request me (just like how Pandavas requested Krishna) to help them in their revival strategy. I know you guys are up in arms now…..or may be not. Appreciate or abuse by giving your comments.
India has a long history. There have been several rulers and there are several success stories and failures. However the two great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata stand apart from the rest. (Well…these two cannot be strictly considered as history, as these are referred to as a part of Hindu mythology. But for the purpose of this post we would assume that it is a part of our history).
Of the two epics, Mahabharata in particular, can be taken up by various management institutes to study the management philosophies. For example if Kauravas (read Kaurava Inc) had taken up lean management seriously they would not have ended up in a disaster. Had Dhritarashtra (read “The Chairman”) taken up production planning seriously, he could have had control over his family. How can a person manage 100 kids (read “Employees”) when people cannot manage 1 or 2? If you have 100 kids you would feel like kicking all of them out instead of disciplining them. Moreover top management needs to have some vision. Dhritarashtra naturally did not have vision. Gandhari, wife of Dhritarashtra (read Managing Director) had vision but decided not to use it. On top of all this, Shakuni is the advisor (read consultant……..he is a bad consultant unlike me…OK) for Kauravas. On the contrary Pandavas (I don’t understand how can they be called Pandavas considering the fact that Kunthi used the Mantra with the help of so many gods to get herself pregnant!!!) were small in number (5 in number is quite manageable right). And they had a right person like Krishna (He is the real consultant like me) who helped in their strategy.
Drawing analogy to the current business scenario based on the mythical masterpiece, General Motors (like Kauravas), and other car manufacturers in US, has grown in its size without adding any value. They have been begging to various governments (this is heights of begging….call it the transatlantic begging) without any success. Their downfall seems to be quite imminent unless the various governments decide to use the tax payer’s money to save these behemoths. On the contrary, smaller automobile manufacturing companies like, Suzuki and Honda though affected by the recession severely need not beg for their survival…hopefully.
The last thing, which the Big three beggars of the automobile industry could do, is to get the funds infusion from various governments and then request me (just like how Pandavas requested Krishna) to help them in their revival strategy. I know you guys are up in arms now…..or may be not. Appreciate or abuse by giving your comments.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Melting Moments
When it comes to the choosing between watching Dostana and going to Bradford for the weekend, there is no need to beat your brains out. The storyline of the film, is about the love that dare not speak its name, did not appeal to me. Also the fact that I have to spend 7 pounds for the movie made my decision easier.
On a cold Saturday morning, when the temperature was a degree below the freezing point, I set out to travel to Bradford. The train journeys in UK are normally a treat to the eyes. The lush green fields and the beautiful landscapes are a sight to watch. But this being a winter season, there was a lot of fog which made it impossible to view anything beyond 10 meters. I am sure Wordsworth would not have loved the winter season with the trees doing the bare act, and the visibility at its minimum.
The return journey was not much different. It was pitch dark when I started at 4.30 pm from Bradford. There was a teenage couple sitting before me in the train. They had a physics case study spread before them and they started discussing the same. The guy was explaining the physics case to the girl. But the girl never seemed to be interested in the case. Her cursory looks at the case and the seductive looks at the guy made me feel that she was more interested in chemistry than physics. When the subject matter moved from physics to the physical chemistry I thought it would be better to recap the melting moments of my life rather than watching their melting moments. If life had rewind button some of us would go back to the wonderful moments that we had lived. Memory is the only time machine known to us to take us back to the blissful days.
My thoughts drifted to my early employment days during which I had watched innumerable number of movies, discussions, fights (esp. with Srinivas), to the college days during which we had bunked the classes and played cricket mindlessly for hours. Truly these are golden moments which require separate blog posts. I wondered whether there will be some scientific advancement which would make us relive those wonderful moments.
When the announcement was made in the internal speaker system in the train, my attention came back to the couple in front of me. The couple had already mastered various topics of science like forward thrust, acceleration, speed, angular momentum (physics) to bonding (chemistry). Hey wait…don’t think otherwise. I am not writing a Mills & boons novel here. Go and check your physics and chemistry books. These topics are really there.
If only all the schools in the world follow coeducation system, it would be easier for students to master various topics in science. Co-education truly helps students to keep the scientific temper alive and kicking. Before the couple could move to master the biological concepts like evolution theory, I took a quantum leap as the train was approaching the Manchester station.
On a cold Saturday morning, when the temperature was a degree below the freezing point, I set out to travel to Bradford. The train journeys in UK are normally a treat to the eyes. The lush green fields and the beautiful landscapes are a sight to watch. But this being a winter season, there was a lot of fog which made it impossible to view anything beyond 10 meters. I am sure Wordsworth would not have loved the winter season with the trees doing the bare act, and the visibility at its minimum.
The return journey was not much different. It was pitch dark when I started at 4.30 pm from Bradford. There was a teenage couple sitting before me in the train. They had a physics case study spread before them and they started discussing the same. The guy was explaining the physics case to the girl. But the girl never seemed to be interested in the case. Her cursory looks at the case and the seductive looks at the guy made me feel that she was more interested in chemistry than physics. When the subject matter moved from physics to the physical chemistry I thought it would be better to recap the melting moments of my life rather than watching their melting moments. If life had rewind button some of us would go back to the wonderful moments that we had lived. Memory is the only time machine known to us to take us back to the blissful days.
My thoughts drifted to my early employment days during which I had watched innumerable number of movies, discussions, fights (esp. with Srinivas), to the college days during which we had bunked the classes and played cricket mindlessly for hours. Truly these are golden moments which require separate blog posts. I wondered whether there will be some scientific advancement which would make us relive those wonderful moments.
When the announcement was made in the internal speaker system in the train, my attention came back to the couple in front of me. The couple had already mastered various topics of science like forward thrust, acceleration, speed, angular momentum (physics) to bonding (chemistry). Hey wait…don’t think otherwise. I am not writing a Mills & boons novel here. Go and check your physics and chemistry books. These topics are really there.
If only all the schools in the world follow coeducation system, it would be easier for students to master various topics in science. Co-education truly helps students to keep the scientific temper alive and kicking. Before the couple could move to master the biological concepts like evolution theory, I took a quantum leap as the train was approaching the Manchester station.
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