Fortune fame, Mirror Vain, Gone Insane.......

Money can buy body but not soul!
Money can buy medicines but not health!
Money can purchase a house but not a home!
Money can buy sex but not love!
Money can acquire books but not knowledge!

“There are certain things in life that money cant buy; for the rest there’s Mastercard” – this very slogan probably defines the fundamental relationship between the needs, wants and the necessities of an individual in particular and the society in general

In the same lines, one can’t buy respect and has to earn it.
This is what struck me in the recent fiasco that surrounded the highest civilian award of our country The Bharat Ratna. Typically an award of this stature is not something that is awarded on the fly nor is there a typical quota completion factor behind it, stating that x number of people have to be awarded every year. It’s only awarded to those whose achievements are of the highest level in the country’s development and progress. National Service of the highest order – says the official manifesto; giving rise to a set of grave doubts about the intent and the actual execution of the awards ceremony. When we talk of awards of this nature a lot is at stake, and since there are no tangible parameters to measure “national service”, thereby guaranteeing a quantifiable cut-off for qualification, it’s open to its own can of worms.

A majority of the Bharat Ratna winners happen to be politicians in various capacities leading to the first question of unbiased disbursement of the awards. Controversy or no controversy, national service is not and should not be restricted to running the state- and even if it is , its time we award a few bureaucrats as well.

Since the last 7 years have produced no awardees and some smart alec reporter “discovered” that – actually suggesting an award for Sachin Tendulkar – all hell broke loose. We had the entire political fraternity up in earnest fervor nominating some leader or the other. Hello, we are not looking at a Prime Ministerial candidate for the next general elections!!!! There are people in our country who have made us proud but go unnoticed as the limelight is not on them. But the political brass tends to blindly ignore that and with utter disrespect to protocol starts “seeking” awards. What amazes me is the fact that the people in the highest offices can stoop down to such base levels for some cheap publicity and securing vote banks. Please put a stop to this farce – we might as well elect our next awardees!!!!!!!
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The Elitest of em all

Imagine the sharp faced, 6 foot something, sporting rayban aviator and standing in a crisp navy blue suit beside any Indian VIP. Looking closely one can spot a minute ear-piece popping out of his ear. For the uninitiated he is one of the MSG group (Ministerial Security Gaurd) - the elite group of the Black Cat Commandos of India trusted with the work of protecting our political leaders/eminent personalities who have Z category security.

A commando force is a special group of soldiers who are trained in special tactics, are experts in certain specific counter-action procedures, with excellent skills to carry out the task at hand - specialising at short-range to long range combats as the case may be.
In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit, or a raiding style of military operation. In some contexts, "commando" means elite light infantry or special forces. Commando units have a variety of specialist capabilities which enable them to conduct these kind of operations, most notably a broad range of deployment skills which often include parachuting, airborne rappelling or fast-roping, or amphibious landings.
All commandos come out of basic and advanced near-death training programs with a 95%+ short range and 855-90%+ 1000 yards shooting accuracy. The very nature of the commando training is such that the adage "fittest survive" becomes an understatement. Its actually that the fittest are alive at the end of it all. Every year the very training program leads to few brave soldiers losing their lives. Whatever be the text book definition of Commando, in general they are lean mean killing machines... more machines than human.

The commando forces mainly specialise in counter-terrorism and/or; reconnaissance and sabotage missions behind enemy lines.Since the very nature or work of these special forces is kind of secretive, we do not have much data in the public domain about them. In fact in certain cases the government refuses to acknowledge their existence whereas in certain cases its only acknowledged after the assault is over.

Every country has their own Special Ops Groups each having their own USP. Some like the Green Berret, Navy Seals (US), SAS (UK), Sayeret (Israel) and NSG (India) are known to the world and not covert groups; In fact in today's global war against terrorism, these units operate in tandem with each other and lend techinal/training/tactical support to each other. Then there are the covert groups like the the SFOD-D (Special Forces Operational Detachment -Delta) commonly known as the Delta force whose very existence happens to be a matter of conjecture w/o any written records of the same. they are known to act as civilians - no uniform, hair dress-codes, just like you and me - only much leaner/meaner accurate killers.

All these and more on these special Operation groups immediately form a picture of a MAN- with rippling muscles, a M5 type rifle in hand, menacing battle fatigues and an armoury of ammo - Prepared to Assault. But this stereotype takes a beating here in our own country which is basically the main trigger for this writeup. India has its own Mahila commando group - a division of the black cat itself- women who have swapped the salwar kurta for the black fatigues and assault rifles, and the only female Active combat Group. Desperate actions requires desperate measures. In today's world the female suicide bombers and female leaders required high security, there is a need for a band of "Lady commandos" working as proximity security agents or leading an attack on the terrorist group with surgical precision or even act as an air marshall. Lady officers in the armed forces are quite common these days but it takes a lot for a woman in India, to break tons of myth/taboo/stereotype to join the elite forces. For the sacrifices are huge in many cases - a non-existent family life in many cases, suitors running away and much more. The dozen strong commando group is yet another testimony of the fact that Women can take up and break into traditional male bastions and be equally good if not better in that. As one eof them say "No doubt, as women in any profession we have to be ready to make the sacrifices, quash some aspects of our life for a successful career." We know its much much more than just that.

I salute thee....The Elitest of em all.


A soldier lives by chance
Loves by choice and
Kills by profession.

A scary thought - The road ahead

Read an article on the failure of DRDO,(click here) well this one takes a very skeptical view of the organization going to the extent of labeling the scientist as nothing more than glorified farmers producing hybrid veggies and some stupid unusable missile system. But the key point to be noted out here is that most the failures are attributed by the author to a lack of foreign collaborative process. This is where the hammer struck the nail I guess. As many of the textbook spewing "experts" will say at the drop of their hat, a collaborative process of sharing is a recipe for success. For some reasons, weird as they may be, we are shying away from this 'adage'. Its not an isolated issue with a single organization but a collective failure at every level in our country's highly intelligent organizations which are present at the public as well as the private sector.

Some weird reasons for the same include bloated ego-centrisms, lack of intent, lack of accountability, fear of losing out, Problems with security and secrecy issues and espionage among others. Some are justified but the rest are as baseless as a …..

“Am the best, f*** the rest” goes the mantra. A build all from scratch may yield significant benefits in terms of costs, when timelines are stringent its of very little consequence. A very small example – if there is a small part in the big scheme of things- available from a vendor at a reasonable price, it makes better sense to buy it from that vendor and use it. An investment has to be incurred but the time and the resource investment to develop that part internally can be better utilized for better things. This very idea of trying to develop everything from scratch is a commendable feat but it’s important to evaluate the practical feasibility of the same. . There is no way one can soothe bloated egos

This is the same way in our higher education institutions. Researches happen people come out with doctorate degrees but what good did that research serve other than adorning the annals of the library. 5 years and a few hundred thousand rupees later what we have is a few booklets. Plain living and high thinking! Patents anyone? And commercially viable research - zilch? The whole effort looses sheen if the intent is wrong. Out here the intent is to get the degree not patent the research for a good venture. Google was borne out of a research paper on “BackRub” – we are eons away. A dissertation can frame one's entire academic career – this very concept is alien. People still have the time,energy to dissect Shakespeare but not solve the energy problems or shortage of potable water in this country.

There is also a serious lack of accountability in these institutions. Timelines are meant to be broken, budget overruns are the norm and the end-product is in many ways a half baked cake but a chocolate truffle. Point a finger and a serious blame game ensues. Its an interesting game with 2 variables. The main resources required in any research work are
Money and people (tangible)
Time (intangible)
It seems there always a battle amongst them with one component lacking leading to a serious problem. Either its paucity of funds or its lack of skilled workforce or its time and sometimes a combination of them. 3! = 6 different reasons not to finish the task.
The main reason for failure can be attributed to a missing fourth requirement and that is “INTENT”. Its just not there.

The most important reason for lack of a collaborative framework happens to the childish idea that the other party might gain more from the deal. Organic growth plagues most of the private sector no matter how time-constraining the process – inorganic growth is both time saving and with massive cash chests the most prudent thing to do.

Well if we are not getting our act together pretty soon we will lose out a lot on the big picture…..And that’s a scary thought.

Death Be Not Proud

A macabre spectre is the way I see it. The gravest threat to global security is the way experts around the world see it. We are contending with a group/ multitude of people who dream of death and its heavenly aftermath. Youth sometimes barely out of their teens are ready to sacrifce their life as they consider it their duty/service to their motherland. And am not talking about the national armies out here, its what the globe calls organized terrorism. Violence can never be a means to an end; it can only start another nor will anybody be able to justify violence. Death for these young men and women is so glorified that the are willing to give up their life at the press of a button. Divine orders! Well No divinity preaches this blatant anti-thesis of life when suicide is against HIS will.

In certain cases from past files, it was uneducated, ignorant people who jumped the bandwagon sometimes even for the lure of the lucre. New research shows that its a myth, neither is today's group uneducated nor poor. A promise of heaven and glorious afterlife is sometimes all it takes to motivate them. Where are we heading?
Read this touching article




DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow......

By John Donne from "Death Be Not Proud

"Top Speed"

For a Marion Jones fan its shocking. I really can't express my disappointment at this piece of news. If her admission to taking drugs in Oct 07 made me sad (well it stripped her of her medals), this 6 month sentence has actually devastated me.

Have followed the track n field events with great gutso since I was a kid and Mike Powell broke Bob Bemon's long standing long jump record and Carl Lewis' 9.86 s sprint in the Tokyo World Championship games, 1991. 100 m sprint is the most glamorous event and the king/queen of track is definitely the person who wins it. Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrel, Dennis Mitchell, Donovan Bailey,Maurice Greene, Tim Montgomery (well! sigh!) and Asafa Powell come instantly to mind. The speed kings of our era.... Two of the most glamorous speed queens that instantly come to mind are "Flo Jo" - Florence Griffith Joyner and Marion Jones. Flo Jo faced quite a few allegations of drug abuse throughout her career (which is also said to contribute to her premature death) but her world records for 100/200 m still stand. Marion Jones scorched the turf in the 2000 Olympics winning 5 medals. What makes headlines today is her fall from grace.


It was 97 and my final year at high school, and Marion Jones was winning it all for NCSU - North Carolina State University.
Leading the Basketball team to wins et al. By the next couple of years she had announced her arrival on the track and field circuit with clean sweeps at the World Championships. The World waited with bated breath for the 2000 Olympics and it was at best described as a complete domination of Jones as she went on to win 3 gold and 2 bronze medals. Overnight she became the track queen heralded as the Sexy Sprint Queen by the media. Her next-door smile won her endorsements and fans alike.


But somehow all these today seems murky. All the people around her have been convicted of performance enhancing substance abuse - CJ Hunter, Tim Montgomery - which leads me to a very fundamental question. Is use of steroids as rampant as it appears to be or is it always one-off? Probably the stakes and the pressure of success is so high that doping seems a simple and easy way out. CJ Hunter was famous for "clear" steroids - clear meaning performance boosting stuff which are not detected by tests. Well how widespread is the phenomenon will be unknown to someone like me.

But one thing is clear - Track and Field will probably lose out on a fan...

We can do it better than Ford

Seamless integration is a key B-school jargon. A major M&A headache, its a lot more effort an money than what went to the original seamless stuff. Buying a company is one thing whereas creating a set of business processes to match the direction and vision of the new parent while keeping the distinct fingerprint of the child is a major challenge. Its for this very reason that M&A is big business - to buy out stake requires cash/stock/kind exchange but the advise in that crucial stage about the long term and the short term pros and cons of the merger is a very important step. Which therefore makes the M&A strategy consulatants the high seat of consultancy consisting mainly the creme-la-creme of the crowd shared only by the I-Bank pros at the Wall Street.

Consider the complexities of the current case.

At stake are twin luxury behemoths of the auto industry who have been in red for the past decade or more and still bleeding. causing worry not only for them but grief for their parent company as well.

The acquirer is a conglomerate whose automobile portfolio include medium to heavy duty trucks/trailer, a small car, a mid sedan and a car making news these days whose total cost might equal some of the trivial options on one of the luxury cars mentioned above.

Not exactly a marriage made in heaven right? Well it does not take a lot to figure out that its Tata's takeover bid of Jaguar/LandRover.

Luxury cars are weird - as of today most of them are owned by one mass-product manufacturer or the other - but a lot of effort is taken to ensure that the shadow of the parent does not even cross the path of the child. Imagine the Rolls Royce Phantom and BMW M7 series sharing the same dash component - not only will it be blasphemous but also spell doom for the former. Secondly their buyers expect to pay a lot for the badge and exclusivity, hence immense care has to be taken to ensure that - one pays for a Lexus ES/GS 300, but if Toyota comes out with a car as good as that in its Avalon XlS its bad for both. Thirdly the image has to be preserved and thats the biggest thorn in flesh for the Tata's takeover - dealers across the globe are skeptical about Tata's name being tied to these marque brands.

On the other hand there is Mr Ratan Tata, the septuagenarian Tata Chief who cannot be described in a few words. In a period of 16+ years at the head of the group he has turned the group to an entity to reckon with in the global business world.The half a dozen major operating companies in the group are now transformed entities and global players, every one of them. The Tata group does not stand at the top of the list of India's most valuable business houses, and Ratan Tata himself does not figure in any listing of billionaires. But he is certainly India's tallest businessman. (The Ugly Duckling).
Every big businessman thrives amidst strong skepticism and sets high standards for himself but when it comes to Mr Tata, he raises the bar so high that his peers are left gasping.

Only time can tell the outcome of the merger. As of now to quote Mr Tata himself "We can manage Land Rover and Jaguar better than Ford."

Thank You

For over a century a business house has been flourishing in this country in their own way. Carving a niche for themselves in every business they've ventured into. Being ruthless capitalists yet an apostle in "Corporate Social Responsibility". Surviving and flourishing in today's competitive money-centric world still sticking to the old world virtues. Always putting the nation ahead of self.

A business house that has always been led by Visionaries none less than JN Tata, JRD (Jeh) Tata and now Ratan Tata.

A visionary is person with a clear, distinctive and specific vision of the future. The Tatas seem to have all this and more. They have given the country so many things that one needs to read quite a few books by RM Lala and Gita Piramal to fathom the length and breadth of their business empire and their contribution to put India on the fast lane.

They gave us the first high higher institute of science/tech (IISC), the best generic research institute (tata Insti of Fundamental research), Tata Institute of Social Science, the superspeciality Cancer Hospital (Tata Memorial Center), Tata Airways (now Air India) among a lot of many firsts.
And now comes the one-lakh nano - bringing the four-wheeler to the masses.

Whats most important among this is the fact that they have made a generation of people believe in themselves. Another generation has dreamt because of them. Yet another one is actually realising/ in the process of realising their dreams.

A belief further affirmed by the statement: "We can manage Land Rover and Jaguar better than Ford."

We Indians as people as a nation is indebted to the House of Tata.

Its all about Money, Honey!

Some RESEARCH throws out awesome figures. This one deals with the salaries of the premiers of most of the countries of the developed world. Well seems they get paid a tenth in comparison to the CEOs of top companies.

Just thought about our Indian politicians; Their salaries are abysmally low compared to our private sector wages too.. Point to ponder, then why is the madness to be on the seat?

Rounding off with a joke

National calamity and all politicians are requested to part with 1 day’s “income”. Politicians refuse, stating that they can part with a month’s “salary” but not a day’s “income”

Where Art Thou

The Moral police.

Two love birds enjoying some quite moment in a park and the moral police is up on them. Its against our culture they claim - western influence and all that jazz. Lecture them on free-mixing and all you get is a tight slap and beating and lots of verbal insults. A self confessed group of people hell bent on cleansing the society of its evils


The Human Rights

A group of people who are always ready to crucify a uniformed officer when he kills/injures a criminal on flimsy grounds but are strangely silent when a uniformed officer recieves a same fate. Seems the criminals are entitled to the rights which the police/army is not.

The new year started with a bang. A big BANG must I say.

2 women molested by a mob in Mumbai
A couple assaulted in Pune for refusing to be photographed
A dozen guys barge into a ladies hostel in Patna in a fit of drunken revelry
A swedish girl molested in Kochi...

As the news of such events filtered in from the length and breadth of the country and the eminent panelists in the discussions to follow blamed everything from education, outsider influx, politicians, police, lawmakers and "Disco Culture", I was really taken aback by the sheer absence of the aforementioned groups. Human Right's Activists and the Moral Police Group - Where Art Thou?????

A Butt of jokes

One U.S. Desi is a software guy
Two U.S. Desis is a lunch group at work
Three U.S. Desis is a bitching session about the U.S.
Four U.S. Desis is four software guys, heating tamarind rice in the
office microwave, cooked that morning, in their shared one bedroom
apartment, and bitching about life in the U.S.

For some nothing can be farther from truth, for the rest its life depicted in a quartet. In today's money crazy world a visit to the "onsite" location (not abroad) is considered a ticket to fame; a barometer of success - something akin to plum Govt. postings of yore. An Indian working in the software industry for a couple or more years without a trip in considered a dud. For many the very reason of joining the industry is also the same. Its a crazy obsession. Check out the Orkut profiles of few of them - career interest does include “Waiting for the free onsite trip".

This breed comprises those for whom a trip to a foreign location becomes a family prestige issue, a pride heirloom and god only knows what else. Certain categorically state that this improves their "marriageability" - with increased of dowry thrown in for added measure. So the fact remains that you have to visit US at least once.

But then everything is not a piece of cake. Temperature/Climate is the first problem. Certain areas are very cold. six months of winter pass off with the temperature rarely hitting the positive scale. Food is vastly different. A non-existent social life coupled with the fact that one does not know how to drive; plus saving money is the motive so traveling is out of question. Life acquires hellish qualities - my dear friend neither can you live with it nor without it.

First they will pester their bosses to send them to US or other locations.... bhejo bhejo bhejo ..... and when they are sent out here when the ground reality strikes them wapas lao, wapas lao is the mantra. That’s when the Bitching portion starts off. The problem is that a bulk of them have never stepped outside their house, never tasted any food other than rice and dal/sambar. So the first casualty out here is the food. They can’t eat the food out here. Carry their own food to the workplace and mange to permanently stink out the entire kitchen area. The Americans hate that but somehow they couldn’t care any less. Most of them cant speak a full sentence in English without stammering. Add to in the Tams,Tels, Mals and Kans (they form the bulk in the industry) have names that will make it to the Tongue-Twister hall of fame.

Believe me they have made themselves a butt of jokes in this country. And seriously it does not take much to enjoy life in this country or to earn respect of the people out here. Most have done it without trying to become American themselves. Neither is accent faking required, nor would you have to drink alcohol to earn that. My unit head spent a decade in this country, still a veggie and teetotaler, and still receives a "We Miss you" card every year from the CEO of the company for which he worked as a Vendor.

Firstly The life of an average Joe in the software engineer is a very restrictive one. His world is limited to JAVA, Mainframe, .Net and the like. Software Guy A meets Software Guy B what do they discuss: Evidently its got to be C#, VB, COBOL or CICS. That’s the beginning and end of their horizon. Or the discussion finally will divert to salary concerns and finally "onsite". With no creative hobby the guy is a wreck to start of with whose source of entertainment is Beer on Fridays..... Broaden your horizon, Get a hobby, get a life....

Secondly, Learn to drive, cook and live by yourself. Stop being a kid. Life will be a breeze if you are able to do these 3 things.
Thirdly, speak fluent English so that you be well understood and comprehended. Appreciate American sense of humor and throw in your one-liners once in a while. If a Yankee laughs at your joke - that’s it. Be confident in your work and show them you know what you are doing. Walk the talk....
Fourthly, stop being a stingy miser and travel around.
Finally, be flexible in your food habits and go slow on the chameli ka tel or nariyal tel. Man that stinks.....


Frankly our problem is that we can never be satisfied with what we have and where we are. Act as Ambassadors of the country and dont turn yourself into a butt of jokes.

Give them their due...

“if you work, from whatever you earn, 50 percent will go in taxes and rest 50 percent will go in housemaids;” says he to his wife. I say excuse me its 2008! When would we give women their due? No Answers……

Which leads me to a few basic questions -
Does one work for the sole purpose of making money?
When would we give women their due?
Why does the success of women raise eyebrows whereas for men its taken for granted?

Let me dwelve on these further

I know money is important but is it the only reason why we work? Should it not be a natural progression to put your skills to active use without worrying about the result? The archetypal MAN refuses to believe that. To him the woman is supposed to take care of the house and not venture out, while the man takes care of the financial needs. We have stepped out of the Purdah system but the mindset refuses to change. Scores of women sacrifice their careers for the sake of their family; how many men do that – zilch! I feel like telling these men “Take a hike, bro or take a leaf out of your wife’s book!!!”

Women today are as capable if not better (might I add) for any job that a man does. Though we do have equal opportunity employee bandwagons but it does seem the Women do face a glass ceiling at work. There has been scores of controversies regarding the same right from our home grown civil service to the most powerful boardrooms in the world. Practice what you preach bigwigs. If you are an equal opportunities player, act and don’t just advertise that in glossy paper.

How much newsprint was wasted on Carly Fiorina's appointment and subsequent dismissal (unceremonious) as the chief of HP. Compare that to the dismissal of Frank Dunn of Nortel. Both happened at approximately same timeline. Indra Nooyi was appointed the CEO of PEPSICO made bigger headlines than CEO appointements in the same time. Lets take a stock of the situation – these are not eye-popping incidents but a precursor to the future when this will be a norm rather than an exception. Don’t raise eyebrows at such appointments.

Pratibha Patil is the 12th president of India. What did the headline say? “The first female president of India”. Not expected from the section of the media in a country which has had its first lady Prime minister more than 40 years back.

Lets cut out of the old mindset and give women their due respect…..


Woman I can hardly express
My mixed emotions at my thoughtlessness
After all Im forever in your debt
And woman I will try to express
My inner feelings and thankfulness
For showing me the meaning of success……..

From Woman by John Lenon

New Year

I thought the new year expects something new of me. So I started with my blog. Changed it to BLUE (my fav). Well for other changes, more to come in later posts.....
ciao

DREAMZ

Well the New Year has ushered in without much fanfare and din. Its 3 am and I am listening to Satriani’s Flying a blue dream as I write this piece. Well Dreams – do they have colour? Or is it just symbolic of the mood? Only the Master can tell.

Am an eternal dreamer, as Ozzy says “I dream my life away…” But my dreams have not come when I am asleep, meaning they are more day-dreams than anything else. I fantasize a lot, built a lot of castles in the air and tend to have “visions”…. Of a better and different tomorrow.

My mother used to say that dreams are an expression of a person’s thought process during the day. Holds good for me in more ways than one. For one, my nightly dreams have majorly been a recollection of my daily jigs and for another, it’s been a problem solving activity. Yes many of the technical solutions for my problems have been “hand me downs” in my dreams. Be it the Apache integration and Disk/ processor simulation algorithm errors in my college to much bigger challenges in my actual work environs – all of these problems have been resolved while I was asleep. A deep sleep and an early morning clue that held the keys to the solution. Am not exaggerating – it’s the truth and I swear by it.

Well for a long time, I was not having these problem-solver dreams to the extent I started believing that either I had lost my “dream” touch or that the problems had just disappeared – putting simply my day acumen was enough to solve them. Till yesterday morning I had it once again. There was a problem bugging me for some time – nearly ruining my year end holiday; and I had the solution “even before I woke up”….. I woke up triumphant and more confident.

A word of advice – Early morning dreams have an astonishing ability to become true events, trust them…..



I’m just a dreamer, I dream my life away, today
I’m just a dreamer, who dreams of better days, ok
I’m just a dreamer, who’s searching for the way, today
I’m just a dreamer, dreaming my life away……..

From Dreamer by Ozzy