Season ticket:The Mumbai Local Train: Blog # 62

Season ticket : The Mumbai Local Train

           

            A local train is a world in itself. You will get to meet all sorts of people. It is a vivid cross section of all the demographies of a city.

            To begin with, there is the class divide – First and Second class. People who get in to first class become bonafide snobs. There is a sense of a misplaced entitlement.

        In the peak hours, the compartments will be packed to the rafters and in the middle of that, some people would want to read the newspaper (which includes me J ). They fold the paper in to 1/8th and read it!

     There are those who are perpetual sleepers – sitting, standing, lying down, leaning over others et al. If you take a regular train and if the perpetual sleeper get in a station before you and get off only after you, chances are you wouldn't find that person in the awake state – Ever!

          How can we ignore the famed foot board travelers? They should be given a subsidized ticket. Even if the whole compartment is empty, they will stand only at the outer tip of the foot board.

                The only kinds who are irritating - those who play loud music. That too, in those Chinese cells which give you a lasting headache.

            The IT crowd will be peeling off their touch screens with the headphones firmly plugged in their ears oblivious to whatever is happening around them. The manufacturing crowd will be looking down on them – about 6 or 7 of them together in the same striped shirts with the company’ s logo on the pockets.

            Those belonging to the intelligentsia-who reads a hefty book, replete with all the long looks outside and a pensive appearance to go by!

            With some, dare you make even a second long eye contact they are ready to pounce up on you with their words of wisdom which doesn't stop until you get down!

            Some people decidedly look out of the window, with a vengeance. Come what may, they won’t look inside the train.             

Then there are the college groups who break in to their own song n dance sequences – Gangnam style!

There are seat hunters who watch the seats like a hawk. They will hunt others down if any one even makes the slightest effort to move towards a free seat.

         There will be some hapless new timers who keep on asking their neighbor whether their station has arrived or how far their station is J.

          At the major stations, enter the vendors who can put any Opera singer to shame with their decibel levels.

And all these come with the fine print when you buy a season ticket J.
                                    
                                                                                                                          Arun Babu                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                

Whispering to the buffaloes: Blog # 61

Whispering to the buffaloes

One needs to keep looking for inspiration as there is nothing to lose yet a lot to gain.

Having got some precious little free time from work, I decided to check out a club functioning out of our office. It is a community which promotes and hones public speaking skills. I went there undecided as to join the club or not. I thought I would witness their activities for a couple of sessions and then take the plunge.

Then this guy, Vishnu started speaking. Incidentally, the objective given to him was to inspire the audience and inspire, he did. He used his own example as to how he transformed himself from being a village educated boy who could not speak English to a professional who could converse in as good English as any urban educated person.

I was thinking hard as to whether I should take this extra effort. Whether I should stay back for an extended time in office to be part of this club? I was getting complacent. Listening to the hardships that Vishnu underwent, I decided I had no right to not make use of the opportunity given to me in a platter.

And coming to the title of this blog, during the course of his speech, he told “To enhance my English, to get ahead in life, I tried everything from yelling at the walls to whispering to the buffaloes.” For some reason, I loved that phrase. It might be an off take from the regional usage. But the regional usage has a negative intonation to it where as he has used it positively here.

Life is a potpourri of such small teachings hidden around the corner. The inspiration that comes out of the least expected corners can influence us immensely in life.

Do whatever it takes to better yourselves, be it yelling at the walls or whispering to the buffaloesJ.

                                                                                                                        Arun Babu

T G I F: Blog # 60

TGIF

This blog is not about the iconic restaurant, ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ which serves heavenly food. The TGIF here stands for Thank God, I Forget!

Forgetfulness is mostly frowned up on. It’s not looked up on as a quality. But it is in fact, a gift; It gives us the ability to move on in life.

‘Fast track’ has this beautiful Ad which implores people to Move on. Of course, considering its target audience, it has tapped in to the relationship aspect of it alone. But if that idea is extended, it turns out to be a great thought.

There are certain things in Life which we should forget. One of my friends says we should remember only the good things from the past. I find that so empowering. If we carry on the baggage from the past, our vision will be clogged. We will see the future only through the veil of the past.

Yes, we all take some time to get over things. But it shouldn’t take a life time.

At some point in life, we have all been told to Forget and Forgive. Forgiveness is possible only if you forget. Only then you allow yourselves to heal.

So let’s Forget, Forgive and Move on!!!

                                                                                                                  Arun Babu.

In conversation with Nature: Blog # 59

In conversation with Nature

      Standing atop a hill in our hometown, I was listening to the wind. Adding beauty to it was the vision of wavering brown vastness of grass with the crimson sun rays flowing on them abundantly.  Winds are nature’s way of conversing with us, don’t you think?

The early morning wind has a whiff of freshness to it and the twilight breeze carries the day’s toil albeit with an enchantment wrapped in it.

Stand in the middle of a paddy field when you get a chance. There is this breeze which talks to you through the rumblings of the lush green grass and mostly a lone tree wavering in its center.

         Go to a beach and the sea roars at you with the wind there. There is this constant swish in your ears which lingers for a while even after you leave the seaside.

      There is this mystery to the winds in a sprawling estate. It comes from a distance brushing past the tallest of trees and the smallest of shrubs.  

        The winds from the mountains are ominous yet have a compelling vivaciousness to them. 

        Many a time nature plays Chinese whisper with us with these winds. More often than not, we don’t understand what it is trying to say and or is it meant to be so?

        Sadly, the breeze in the city rarely talks. Has it forgotten its language or is it us who have got too busy to lend an ear?

Arun Babu.

Live it up?: Blog # 58

Live it up? : An Ode to Consumerism

            There is something about November in Kerala. There is this omnipresent zephyr with a hint of the winter that it is going to bring along. The mornings will be misty with this breeze playing around with the fog. One moment, you will see a lush green paddy field and the in the next, all of it will be covered in a veil of fog.

            Basking in the morning sun, I was in the balcony whiling away the Sunday morning at my home. Then gleamed past,  a Merc- S class. Than the obvious fascination for premium cars, what caught my interest was the person in it. He was a family friend of ours. I asked my sister whether they got a new Merc. She said “Knowing him, he CAN buy one”. That ‘CAN’ had a twin intonation to it. One – he has the economic backing for that and second, he is the kind of person who wouldn't mind splurging.

            This is one question that has daunted me perpetually. How much of spending is justified?; more so because I have a very frugal lifestyle. Surprisingly, in spite of it being an amount, a number, it is subjective. It is entirely left to the individual. What share of one’s earning should one spend on the needs and the wants?

            I have come to realize that I have a sense of respect for people who spend on luxury. The respect comes from the fact that they have the conviction that their future endeavors will bring in enough income to sustain the lifestyle they are following. They have that clarity of vision. They have that confidence in themselves.

            I remember our economics professor once praising the profligates. He said if not for them, the economy will stagnate. If all of us were to have a frugal life style, there will be minimal buying/spending and the market will stall.

            Don’t get me wrong. I am not advocating reckless spending. The result of that was there for all of us to see in the form of subprime and the rest. Spending is akin to taking risks - it will be sustainable if it’s calculated.

            In striving to secure our tomorrow, we shouldn't forget to live our present neither should we live our present in a way that will wipe away the hopes for a better tomorrow.

                                                                                                                        Arun Babu

To Err is human...: Blog # 57

To Err is human : Blog on Rajat Gupta

       

The only respite in the hour long morning commute to office is the reams of world news that I buy for Rs.3/-. In the recent past, many world leaders fell from grace - Dominique strauss kahn , Lance Armstrong and more recently, the epitome of Indian leadership and business acumen, Mr.Rajat Gupta.

Why do wise men of the world act insanely naive at times? Is it a momentary lapse or the inevitability of a nadir following a pinnacle!

Having scaled the heights they did, I would say writing them off for one misdeed is brutal.   I am not justifying their present with their glorious past. All I am saying is that there are lessons to be learned. I am not sure if this holds true for the two people I mentioned earlier, bur for Mr.Rajat Gupta, it definitely does.

Mr.Gupta lost his parents as a teenager. What bigger turmoil can a person face in one’s lifetime! From there, he reached Harvard. That shows the person’s will and grit.

In spite of his occupying the poll positions in the board rooms of the largest and most respected firms in the world, he ensured his family remained his priority –not only the immediate family, but the extended one as well.         

The philanthropic activities he was involved in and the magnitude of funds he mobilised is astounding.

His brilliance transcended many a field so much so that at one point, he was an adviser to the United Nations.

Indian School of Business forms a small part of the elaborate testimonial of his contribution towards his mother land.

Above all, his humility and warmth is something people from all walks of life remembered in spite of all his high flying achievements.

Mr. Gupta’s ordeal also stands a staunch reminder of how careful one need to be about the company one keeps.

                                                                                                Arun Babu

Old times' sake: Blog # 56

Old times' sake

            Having met my dear old friend, Lakshmi from engineering days, I was driving home by around 9.Half of my town were already home and getting ready for supper. Coming from a place where traffic wouldn’t have eased one bit by this time, the wide - thinly occupied roads were a welcome surprise.

            I have always cherished friendships – be it old, new and yet to come. Yes I admit it takes some effort on the part of my friends to reach me (at timesJ ). But I make it a point to get back in touch with them.

There is something about old friendships. I read somewhere that old friends are the most priced antiques. So true!

 Lakshmi and I were sharing our college stories to her husband, Shine. Then I realized I haven’t forgotten even one bit of those fun days. It was literally a walk down the memory lane. They remind us of a time which many of us think we have forgotten until we meet them.

            The good thing about old friends is that you don’t need to take an effort. They already know you. There are no pretentions, there are no formal pleasantries. That’s why Lakshmi made it a point to call up Swetha (our partner in all the crimes ;) ) and remind her that I didn’t go and meet her when she came on leave. J. And yes, Swetha blasted me in a way only an Old friend can J.

And good old friends, remember. When I was about to leave, Lakshmi came with a packet of Mars chocolates, my favourite. I used to pester her for this when she used to go to Dubai during vacations. That was so sweet of her.

            It is important that we keep in touch. It reminds us of who we were and what we are now. If there is much of a difference (unless for the better), we should indulge in some serious soul searching. So if your friends smile and say “you haven’t changed at all!!”, it’s a good sign. You haven’t lost yourself completely.

                                                                                                                         Arun Babu. 

Being 'Sill'y...: Blog # 55

Being 'Sill'y : Of Window sills & more

                                When was the last time you sat on a window sill and looked outward? It is one place at home where we sit without nothing much to look out for but always leaves us with this feeling of wishing for something to look forward to.

It has a mind of its own. Or rather it reflects the persona of the person to whom it belongs.

A house with kids can be easily identified as the toys will take up the window sills.

If there is a teenager in the house, the wallet and/or a watch will take up the place.

For a college goer, here is where the text books and the ‘to-be-read’ fictions get piled on. And bits and pieces of mid night snacks too.

It will mostly be the office tags and the laptops which will be covering the place for a working couple. If it is by the bedside, there will be the omnipresent cell phone and its charger leading to the nearest plug point.

The elderly keep their medicines and spectacles here. May be, a couple of photographs too.

It also varies with cities. In Bombay, I have seen window sills masquerading as mini gardens. Many a time in Bangalore too, but mostly on the outer sill where as in Bombay, it’s in the inner sill. The weather might be the explanation.

For a person of aesthetics and taste, the window sill can be a courtyard of creativity. It is a pretty special place which lends so much character to a room while taking up so little space.

                                                                                                            Arun Babu 

Going the extra mile: Blog # 54

Going the extra mile

* My first write up as an HR Professional for a University's Magazine

            Next time you visit a public transport terminus, look around. Invariably there will be one rundown, dusty public telephone booth. It was in the not so distant past that telephone booths were a thriving source of employment for many people. The emergence of the cellular phones forced these booths to shut down in a time period of just under two years. All those people had to seek an alternate source of employment. If the need to have an open mind towards new challenges is prevalent in those strata of employment, the importance of it in the higher echelons of corporate scenario is never over emphasized.

  In this day and age of intense competition, having a degree can take you only as far. Gone are the days where having a degree ensured a job. Today, a degree is just a qualifier, not a differentiator.

Today’s students are expected to explore various horizons of learning. The objective of learning shouldn’t be confined to the academic curriculum alone. A student should extend his/her mind map to include the ever evolving demands of macro environment too. They should traverse the extra mile. Only then shall one become ‘employable’ in today’s world.

            The term employability in its literal sense describes those competencies which equips a person to secure a job with an organization. But it doesn’t stop there. In a broader sense, it is about constantly evolving and updating oneself. It is about being competitive and remaining in the race. The core of it lies in learnability which is one of the key skills any organization looks for in an employee. Learnability depicts the urge to keep oneself informed and move ahead.

            Let us look at the ways to attain Employability. Keeping oneself abreast with the happenings in the macro environment can be the flag off for the long looping lap ahead. Being aware of the ongoing events in one’s immediate social environment enables a person to obtain a holistic perspective. This translates to a clear understanding of where to focus one’s energy on and in which direction should ones dedicated efforts be expended.

            Being employable requires prioritising. One needs to understand what skills are sought after in the current situation. Again, it is not a stagnant process. The requirements keep on evolving and changing. A person seeking employment should acquire skills as per the situation demands.

            Equipping oneself with employability also means inculcating the ability to unlearn. To deconstruct the older methodologies either by incorporating newer ones or by adopting a newer process altogether.

            To keep up with the changing times and its demands, it is important to look and think ahead. The best way to do this is to push oneself in to attaining better than what is expected. Always take up tougher assignments which push one out of the comfort zone. That is the closest which one can reach to tomorrow’s needs.

            In a nutshell, making oneself employable is to not resist change and allow oneself to get moulded by the forces of evolution – be it of technology, skills or life at large.

Arun Babu

           

Resilience turns 70: Blog # 53

Resilience turns 70 : Blog on Amitabh Bachchan

            The world is celebrating Seven decades of the phenomenon that is Amitabh Bachchan. A television channel played the immortalised dialogues of ‘Agneepath’ and ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ one after the other in the unmistakable baritone. I think that should define the benchmark of versatility.

            In my generation at least, there has been no other actor who has achieved as much cinematic excellence and histrionic brilliance. But, I am not here to comment on those. Rather, I would like to look at the path he treaded all the while – more often than not, the less traversed.

To begin with ,‘KBC’!. It seems he has a penchant for all that which is against the conventional wisdom of the time .Main stream actors being on the small screen is fashionable only now. I believe he was among the early birds when it came to endorsements too.

            There is this ongoing debate about visibility affecting the enigma of an actor. Again, Mr.Bachchan took to social media like a fish to water. And if the hits that he receives on his Face book page and the following that he has on twitter is anything to go by, the enigma has only got more elusive.       

           The kind of roles he adorns on screen at this stage of his career adds to the testimony. Be it the uber cool widower in a multi starrer or the chef who falls for a much younger lady, he has always explored newer horizons. It will be a crime if I do not pause and admire his seminal work in the film, Black.

         It’s often said one shouldn't spread oneself too thin. One should focus on ones core competency. Enter, Mr. Bachchan. By his own admission, his blogs alone can constitute a stack of books without much effort.

The root of all this lies in one single quality that Mr.Bachchan has epitomised by now - Resilience. The urge to rise from the dust. The hunger to keep oneself going. The passion to be at it. I know I speak for a million minds when I say through all this, he has kept the Indian cinema also resilient.

                                                                                                            Arun Babu.

Keywords: Indian Cinema,Bollywood,Hindi Films, Indian films, Indian movies, Indian film industry, Indian actors, Indian actresses,100 years of Indian Cinema,Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Zanjeer, KBC, Kaun Banega Crorepati,Agneepath, Deewar

            

I Know you will like it!!!: Blog # 52

I Know you will like it!!!

This is one phrase in the English language which oozes a lot of warmth. Count yourselves blessed if you have a handful of people in your life who tells you this.

When someone tells you “I know you will like it”, it shows that the person have known you for long and for good. She/he has an idea as to what ticks you.

In a way, it is the basic premise for any relationship to work. For instance when you gift something to someone , you expect that person to like it. So this phrase conveys a lot of mutual understanding too.

Also, it tells you that the other person accepts you with all your preferences and prejudices.

It conveys a lot of intimacy too. That person knows that when he/she recommends something to you – be it a book, a film or some music, you will give it a thought.

So next time when someone says this sunny phrase to you, understand they are telling you that you are someone they count in; in their circle of trust J.

Arun Babu

Three’s company: Blog # 51

Three’s company

            The city of Coimbatore is home away from home. Much to my glee, I get to travel to Cbe on work , a lot.

I came out of the hotel room to the long corridor with a steaming cup of tea. It overlooks a pool surrounded by palm trees and a couple of pine trees bordering a beautiful lawn. There are cane chairs lined up with a small side table. Add to this, the enticing evening weather of Coimbatore with a slight breeze. Who wouldn't want to write! J.

            It has always amazed me how much camaraderie a third person can add to a group of two. It’s like this. When only two people are there, things get boring pretty fast. The moment a third person enters, there is a lot of room for chemistry.

There is no need to be concerned about the flow of conversation. Since there are three people, it will happen organically. In the case of two, they will be conscious as to whether one is speaking too much or too less.

When there are only two people, they get mindful of space too – of self and of the other person. The moment a third person walks in, this guard is let down.

In our society, one to one interaction is not as easy as a group conversation. There is only as much that two people can talk about where as a third person can add a lot of flavor.

Add to that, the ego factor. If something goes wrong between two people, even though they are friends, communication gets clogged. The presence of a third person opens up an easy channel of communication.

            Having said all that, in the most intimate of relationships, three is not company but a crowd. J

                                                                                                                        Arun Babu.