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Subramaniam Swamy may be an jackass

For those of you who are offended by ‘Subramaniam Swamy and his antics. Here is a thought.  I have not met this man but I really appreciate the role he plays in the democratic process.   He takes on the powers with boldness and grit. He has a smile as a bonus..a smile that is pleasant not wicked. 

Iam not a big fan of Congress or the Gandhis but I really believe that they played a role in stabilizing the country after independence. Good or bad there is some order and democratic process because of congress. So when I saw his latest tweet lashing out at the Gandhis  I was a bit taken aback. But then a man like Subramaniam Swamy has to do what he wants to do, and he must do it his way. 

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Get on to the edge and then you can fly

We are thought to draw our own boundaries.  Should we be in the middle class then these boundaries are a safe distance from the edge.  And then to make sure that we dont mess around we are told constantly that keep a safe distance from the boundary now… “dont even go near it” we are advised.  This ensures that we stay away from the edge and live a secure life in the perimeter of safety.

Richard Bach in his book Illusions talks about the a creature village that lived beneath the crystal river.. read the story

The Master answered and said “Once there lived a village of creatures along the bottom of a great crystal river.
“The current of the river swept silently over them all — young and old, rich and poor, good and evil, the current going it’s own way, knowing only its own crystal self. “Each creature in its own manner clung tightly to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom, for clinging was their way of life, and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.”But one creature said at last, ‘I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going. I shall let go and let it take me where it will. Clinging, I shall die of boredom.'”The other creatures laughed and said, ‘Fool! Let go, and that current you worship will throw you tumbled and smashed against the rocks, and you will die quicker than boredom!’ But the one heeded them not, and taking a breath did let go, and at once was tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks. Yet in time, as the creature refused to cling again, the current lifted him free from the bottom, and he was bruised and hurt no more. And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger, cried ‘See a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies! See the Messiah come to save us all!’ And the one carried in the current said, “I am no more messiah than you. The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go. Our true work is this voyage, this adventure.

This story captured my imagination at a very young age. I realized following (obeying) dictats of the family gives you expected outcomes, keeps you safe and secure and then we wait in our safety to be swallowed up by the big fish  one day.

We delight in the baby as it crawls and then takes those drunken baby steps and starts to walk and navigate space.  Is that all?  Its when they get adventurous with spaces we wish they cling to safety.  I like what  Philip Roth  says on this.  A home must be a hammock under a child’s heart .. he/she must be able to come and rest in it secure whenever they want.  So lets get them to fly!!!!!

This morning I got to see this pic and Iam reminded of my resolve to walk on the edge and then fly away.

The Pyramids in the Democratic star

Pyramids.. were they just tombs?  Yet they seem to occupy such an important place that we now  talk about hierarchies using the Pyramid.  The Bottom of the pyramid obviously has the struggling class and beneath it obviously is the silent (dead)

Tahrir Square..  neatly boxed those Egyptians who were kept in the bottom of the pyramid, and were nearly being pushed further down to give company with the mummies.  It was time to square up perhaps.  The tip of the pyramid had to be  chipped away. The star of freedom and democracy twinkles in the horizon.

Now we need to wait and watch how the square is going to regroup and be able to handle the Star & Crescent and the Star of David that shines  around.  If the pyramids were to symbolize autocratic dictatorial power  the Egyptians now have to deal with 5 or more little pyramids in the democratic star and not forgetting the ‘pentagon‘ in the center.

The party is on in Cairo and the party has to end soon. Challenges come in all shapes, sizes and  spectrum (ask Indian Raja). Regardless of all these bizzare shapes crackling the big round world goes on – well smoothly that is.

Kryptos

Ελληνικό φαγητό είναι υπέροχο.. now I almost forgot folks in Chennai (pronounced Chai naie) dont know Greek. Okay listen you normal non greek mortals, there is some amazing food around in Chennai.

Two days ago while dining in Kryptos with my friends, across this table was this τζέντλεμαν pronounced tzéntleman, a Britisher settled in Singapore, was drooling on his food, then he reached the point of restlessness,  he had to come across and tell Vipin Sachdev (the man behind Kryptos) that he has not had such lovely Greek food even in London. Pink papaya is behind – Tuscana Pizzeria now Kryptos by Willie and lot more to come – Burgundys, Jade walk and some more exotic names.

There are some strange benefits that one can derive out of Greek food. Now if you are a parent with daughters, and if you find their boyfriends below your expectations in looks and intelligence- don’t be disheartened.  Just force some Greek food on them and see results in 2 months. Such is the power of the village salad Choriatiki Salata, made out of tomatoes, fresh cucumber, onion, green peppers, GREEK OLIVES, feta cheese in chunks with oil and vinegar.  Lots more .. the Kotopoulo Kapama (stewed chicken).. hello I just found that Krytos has got this huge affair going with vegetarians. Some delightful Veg dishes are there.

Now the interiors.. they are stunning.  There is center table, now if you happen to go there, and if no is around just plonk yourself on it.

After all this I get to hear that it does not take much to travel all the way to Greece.  Two more trips to Kryptos I may really want to visit that land.

India needs a Monarch

Have you heard of this king called King Pari?  His generosity is an inspiration for many apparently  AndiMuthu Raja, a disciple and follower of Muthuvel Karunanidhi, has been in the receiving end of this story from the Kalaingar.  King Pari was riding his chariot one day as he noticed a jasmine creeper lying on the ground.  People living in cities and the digital babies may not have seen a Jasmine creeper – they look a lot like the complex wiring you get to see in telecom systems.  Now King Pari’s heart went out for the poor creeper that he asked the charioteer to bring the chariot near the creeper and gently lifted the creeper and placed it on the chariot.  After this gesture King Pari walks back home and returns with some bamboo structures to support the creeper.  Such was King Paris benevolence.
Now such wonderful stories of sacrifice have been intricately wired into the minds of these literary stalwarts and as much of literature impacts science it can impact anything including untangling the complex telecom muddle too.

AndiMuthu Raja was  taking a walk down the corridors of his ministry one day when he saw this poor 2G spectrum unattended and trampled.  He cannot bear to see it so he picks it up and gently places itself around himself and gave it life.  Now the twist in the tale is due to the passage of time.  King Pari’s gesture was appreciated on that day; the context was a lot different. What Raja did was far nobler – he gave himself, so why all this hue and cry.  The creeper  found its way into his pockets but that’s not the fault of the man who made the biggest sacrifice.

The vagabond says Democracy is not fit for India, we need Monarchy back, and we need a noble king and Raja to rule us.  I agree with him.  Consider the state of deterioration in our country, when a man of noble birth carrying a noble name sacrifices himself for a noble cause the blood thirsty mortals are screaming for his blood.

Hear ye Raja, if ever you decide to start your own state with the 6000 crores, count on me for support.  I am willing to sacrifice myself and all that I have and serve as a humble Minister in your Telecom Department.

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"Lets not reinvent anything"

I managed to catch up  with two of my old friends yesterday. One of them said ” Chennai has too many events that I have decided not to attend any of them” ( so TiECON, I understood cannot be classified under an event, and that makes me happy) now the other one said “Well its better to have some event or the other happening than to have nothing at all”.   So when Vishy told me about the assignment at TiECON, all of me screamed  ‘God why me?’ yet one little gut  kept pleading within me to be part of this group.  The soft whisper of this little gut was louder than the screaming NO..

I’am glad I heard my gut.

To sum it up, only on  two occasions did I feel terrible about being part of this project.  That was when I had very little to do and then last evening as the God’s daughter, the dark night, spread its  canvas across the sky.

I remember the night I sat for the pages of Economic Times.   Hard work combined with sleeplessness should have made ordinary mortals crumble. Not so here.  The logical preciseness of JK, the overarching vision of Ramraj, the humor of Chandu and the design prowess of Uday came prancing now and then like the elves who helped the shoe maker turn around his enterprise.  So lesson:  Even when you are tired keep up the good cheer with some great company around.

There is no greater joy to see the youngsters engaging and committing their time for the conference.  Dorai Todla, has this ability to attract sensible and committed ones.  The team he put together under Sorav Jain‘s charge showed commitment and I am sure they are enriched after the conference.  Through them TiECON CHENNAI 2010 will echo and ripple for a while.

I have read that the Generals of Napoleon used to dread every victory, for Napoleon used harass them to find out what are the right things they had done to ensure victory.  And all they had to do was to repeat the right things in the next battle.

I can hear JK say “LETS NOT REINVENT ANYTHING ” . These words have become entwined in my neural pathways for I have heard this say this a million times.  When we sift the right things that were done, the ones that need improvement will stay behind for us to be addressed  next year.

Thank you guys for the great journey with TiECON CHENNAI 2010.

PS:  I actually read this blog again after publishing and found 6 mistakes and corrected them.  A small big lesson from TiE Chennai.
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Only Australia can save cricket

Marks & Spencer on Briggate following a recent...

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I remember the watching cricket at the Marina grounds.  The high profile boys from MCC came in cars, beer and the lunch arrived from The Taj. And these guys from ICF team landed up in buses carrying lunch packed in banana leaf and secured with the newspaper.  On the field they matched each other and most of the times ICF won the game ( I would like to believe ).  Post lunch the beer and the Taj food never really helped the MCC guys.

I remember the Indian team, my friend’s Dad who was chosen to play for India, way back in the 40s had to haggle with his dad to pay him the train fair to reach the test venue.  Now I remember this cricketer Sudhir Naik who was caught shop lifting socks in Marks & Spencers and the entire team had to face humiliation.

Not too many years ago, I remember the Indian team looked very impoverished and laid low with the likes of Imran, Javed, Akram, and the likes walking the pitch as models walking the ramp.  The Indians were short and puny and definitely had a complex, till some guys like L Balaji, Sehwag and Dhoni came out from nowhere to take Pak to the dryers.

Its a lot different story today.  The Pakistan team is in the wrong end of relative deprivation.  They have to go beyond regular cricket to match the neighbouring  Joneses next door.  The mammoth population that India boasts, cricket crazy nation is funding these cricketers big time.  And Pakistan can never come anywhere near. Yesterday the show stopper of the day was Dhoni in his new car Hummar. 

We have come a long way.  Sooner or later India will dominate the scene.  Is it good?  Certainly not.  This just a trivia, there  was the time of Maharajas when India toured England for the first time in 1932. Although there were not many runs to write home about, it is said that the Maharaja of Porbandar collected more Rolls Royces than runs during the tour. The Maharaja, of course, was the skipper too.  India is sure on the road to regain past glory in some way.

Suddenly I have started liking the Australians.  They play dirty on the pitch but they come clean.  They seem to scorn the ones who are making obscene money through the game.  I will rather change my loyalties for cricket sake and support the Aussies.  Yay yay Aussies you guys are future of the game.  Lick all these guys like crazy. . White wash, black wash whatever but clean up the game mites.  Only you guys can do it

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Social connectivity

I was reading this interview in Business Standard with . Lucy Jameson, executive strategy director of DDB UK and chair of DDB’s Global Planning Futures Group. She talks about social creativity and shift from traditional advertising.

“Instead, consumers today want something they can participate in, play with, may be produce something new out of it, and pass on. They are interested in things they can interact with. And, that is what social creativity is all about. We are talking about social creativity that provokes social reaction and gets passed on to people’s social networks both online and offline. It is not just about connecting people with brands but also connecting them with more people”.  To me it’s all about bridging. Bridging online to offline events, bridging people,  etc.

The example for this bridging is Volkswagen’s Fun Theory campaign in Sweden created by DDB. Stairs in a subway in Stockholm were turned into a keyboard. So instead of people going up and down the escalator, they started taking the stairs as it made musical notes. The experience was recorded and put online. Some 40 million people watched it, without Volkswagen having to spend any money on the traditional media. The idea demonstrated Volkswagen launching a new range of green cars and that adopting green behaviour can be fun. Volkswagen did a series of such experiments under the Fun Theory campaign for its greens cars. These are today among the most watched videos on YouTube.

The future according to me more on understanding the depth of the mind of specific consumer segments, their tastes, interests and cognitive ability.

Read the article in Business Standard

Anand is pissed off.. says he wants no chocolate

My mind is quite patterend in the morning.  I like my newspaper, though I handle it along with the laptop these days.  Yet I like soft thud of the morning paper falling in my garage.  Its a little difficult to move at once, so I take my time and then slowly as my bones creak I go down and pick up the newspaper.  I have this affinity to THE HINDU.   Somehow I beleive that its one of those few newpapers in India which has not been entire sucked up by the market forces.

Viswanathan Anand of India, winner of the Worl...

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I glanced, same lay out, sports in the back page, the page 3 was in tact, the edit place occupied the pride of place in the center spread.  As the sun rises, so was this paper, a constant and my day promised to be one too.  A large article on page 12, right on top, brought in this suddgen disruption. The face looks lot familar and it somehow seemed misplace.  Oh yes, now I got to figure out that it was the pic of Viswanathan Anand and he was in page 12, probably hopped across a few pages from the usual sports page.

My thoughts ran  amock about the science of news paper lay out and how the layout in itself has lifes lesson embedded in it.   If you happen to be in the big league in politics or crime or terrorism the chances are that you will hit the opening pages.  The frisky and frivilous party animals come to page 3, the other pages are dominated by the small achievers.  Now the back pages are dominated by sports performers, then come the business moguls.  The sacred space, the editorial, is for the sensible stuff were the real humans can express or are given prominence now and then. This does not apply to papers like Times of India though, the entire section is occupied by the ones with the cotton candy lifestle.

Isnt life reflected out here?  the core remains the thinkers and intellectuals surrounded by all sorts of people around from Criminals to Sports achievers.

Kapil Sibal, Union minister in Ministry of Sci...

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So when Anand Viswanathan hit page 12 it was indeed a bit disruptive to me. Leading sports stars like Chetan Chauhan and Azharuddin have got on to the political bandwagon but have  seldom become Page 1 material.  This leap from the back page to the front page is too revolutionary for comfort.  Hence I like this journey Anand Vishvanathan has taken. This journey of  passed over for the doctorate got him in to page 12, now hopefully he will get into the editorial pages if he makes the right kind of statements and if Kapil Sibal decides to sustain the controversy with some intelligent talk.

To me this doctorate bit is more like a chocolate.  Iam sure Anand would look at this way too.  But why not make capital about this and have the TV channels going shrill?  makes political sense, a good move.  Lets wait and watch what happens next.

August 25th 2010

Anand has made a strategic move.  I picked up todays paper and he was in the top story for the day, in the front page.  By rejecting the doctorate he has made it to the front page.  But this journey to the front page was a bit rapid, and such rapid progression is not good for it fades away soon.  So what do you think Anand could have done?

He could have spoken on a broad level on why bureaucratic inefficiency has been harming sports.  Crap thats too direct.  He could have probably spoken about some lessons he had learnt from chess about governance.  On how the pawn gets a queen status only when its able to cross over, and how crossing over is difficult with the Bishop, knights and the rooks around.  He could have resorted to humor perhaps and started a great debate.  He could have probably worked up a case for as to why Mathematicans and Logicians will make far better rulers particularly for India.

He could have come out with a bizarre statement.

Now this over.  Like a little kid, he has said no to the chocolate.

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