Year 2009

let me think and introspect on the year 2009 .. it was overall a fabulous year for me as a family as two of my favourite people in life had a great year. Amrita started the year in a very low note in professional front but magically regained her deserved place during the year. I must say she is one hell of a woman. Zoya had bad health but she is doing well and the best part is she got admitted in one of the best schools. As far as I am concerned, her life is made if she does thinks ok. As far as i am concerned, health has been good (Thank God) but on work front it was one of my worst years. Salary cut, no raise, etc etc...i enjoyed working in terms of learning and experience, but i am not happy with the returns. This is not the way i should spend my life in work. Things has to change and i must get going with people and places who respect my values and where i can feel fair. Anyways, no cribs overall.

Towards the end of the year, I met one of my very good friend, Praveen Bhomia, we know each other for over 18 years now and the meeting was simply super. We spent 4 hours chatting... remembered our years in REC and the things we did. I must say we agreed that we are all doing fine and are leading a normal and satisfied life. belive me, thats a great thing. I realised that having such people in life with whom we share a strong and unseen thread running through time. People who represent our core values and chatacter. When we meet these people, it works like a mirror which shows what you are. All facades fade and we feel happy.

This new year, i plan to consolidate what we have gained as a family. Health, money and general well being. I need to find a place where i can work in a just environment. On material front, a SUV will be a good idea. Also a nice europe trip.

will write more later...

Interesting men

Yesterday i met two interesting people..one who has helped set up the famous Olive chain of restaurants..from him i heard the inside stories of how tough it is to make a brand out of a eating place... the second guy i met when i was standing outside my hotel after a couple of drinks..this was an all American -tattooed-tough guy..it turned out that he is an ex marine from Seattle, USA and now earns his living from laying undersea cables sitting inside a compressed chamber..weird!! and you know how much he earns???? 11000 USD per day.. holy cow!! and here he was distributing Marlboro ciggies to all people around.. and gulping beer on the roadside...but trust me two interesting people a day is worth the job :-)

changing mind

see how i changed my views between the last two posts :-) now thats what makes me a human..

The Shriram school

I am writing a blog after a real long time. Was caught up with the turmoils of work and too much travelling between Delhi and Mumbai. I got unused to this thing so was bit upset. But the best thing to have happened after a long time was Zoya's admission in one of the top schools in India. We got the news on Saturday. But let me tell you the background. Amrita has been a real chaser as far as this school was concerned. We were determined that we will put Zu in the best possible school come what may. And that also on our own and without any jack or back. The form was filled with great thought and with lotsa help in articulation from Ma. We got shortlisted and then the interview. I was like a village bumpkin and answered in a real unlike zahir fashion. All answers were true but badly articulated and presented. Zoya was the only star and followed by my wife, who saved me from utter disgrace in front of the three stern looking ladies. I said YES, Amrita said NO WAY we can get in now. But the final list gave us the belief that all is not lost in this world. All of a sudden we were part of the hallowed group. Jealousy and disbelief was writ large on many of my friends and colleagues. How can these two get seleced??/ whats so special about them? etc etc...but the bottom line is Zoya is in Shriram and hope God has set a marvelous path for her. Amen!

Education!!

It has been a real tough time for us to decide where our little daughter Zoya should go for school. We got her admitted in a a school called DPS. Well whats the big deal then? the big deal is, there are these new age school with Airconditoned buses, classes, toilets and what not. There are horses and camels and fun and games. A kid learns everything other than books. That's they call "experiential learning." Now we are a middle class family and have come where we are through simple traditional uniformed AC less schools. I am not sure i want to send Zoya to an environment which she is actually not belonging to. I don't want her to develop a false sense of luxury and security. A good point highlighted to my yesterday was by a friend named Charudatta. Now i respect his views, he is learned and he is deep. he knows India well. he said, the reason why our country is doing well in the world is due to our classic education system. Curriculum based teaching. That does not mean we should not give extra curriculum activities. But the point is if the kid doesn't study then what the hell do they do? how will she go to a good college??? will horses and camels give my daughter the breakthrough after 14 years???

Car and Rain

Finally it rained and it rained good. It just made me feel happy and cool. It also exposed our hollow claims of being a developed world and India's Singapore stuff. Lets just face it, we are still developing and will take ages before we have less jam when it rains little.

Also planning to buy a family car- Honda City or Innova or Scorpio..we are all confused and believe me that where the fun is...let us be confused for some more time...

Go Kiss the World

I must mention that after a long time I managed to read a super book. This one from a person named Subrata Bagchi. The famous guy who started MindTree Consulting. The book is to-the- point, plain, simple and gives you feeling of peace. It is written in a form which anyone can understand and relate. I remember one of my ex-Boss Harminder Sahni of Technopak once told me that if you manage to get even one learning from a book, then it was worth investing the time. I keep that advice very close to me. I look for that one or two things which i would inculcate and imbibe from a book. Kiss the world taught me few things which will be great help as i move closer to my mid life crisis in professional life. Thanks Subrata and Thanks Harminder

Mumbai

Stinking hotel and bad rain..Gurgaon is better

Digital Revolution

One of the key changes which we are witnessing now is in the digital community. It is as if there is altogether new world which exist in the digital space..communities, cults, groups, opinion makers etc etc. There is this huge hulla gulla about the "power of social media/Internet". I agree. I saw this phenomenon first hand recently when i dealt with property brokers, relocators etc. Almost 100% of them used emails and had websites. Its amazing how quickly these service providers who are scattered all over, have adopted to change! the world is all going to be hovering around personal websites, Mobiles and laptop. Speed will be the in thing and non personal interactions for routine matters done thing. People will meet if that "adds value".... wow!! i can prophesies.

Parents

In life there are few things which are precious. One of them are our parents. Today when i dropped them in the station, i realised that. My father and I watched with amazement and awe the long line of passengers who waited in the scorching sun to get a seat in the general compartment. We remembered the days when both of us had to sit inside the toilet to travel to Jullunder to get my engineering admission..those were the days!!.. it brought back memories of all the sacrifices which our parents have done and will do to take care of us..the children. Still when we grow up..we sometimes find their presence irritating and sometimes we do feel little uncomfortable..we forget all those days and nights of struggle which they must have gone through...in some sense we have become selfish and self centered... we keep forgetting past!! we forget we too have kids and they too will grow up soon.... i am feeling guilty today for not able to understand and accept our parents as they are... i realise i have Long way to go before i stop feeling like this..

leadership

For long i have been wondering whats makes a good leader. Age? Exp?Knowledge?Looks?Class?... What i learn so far is certain qualities which are either inherent or which can be developed makes a good leader. One of then is Decisiveness. Take decision and take decision fast and clean. Period!

Social Media

Now here is new kid on the block "Social Media" ..it seems almost all around me is getting hyped at this new animal. I do believe that this is the thing of the future where almost all of us will be using net the way we use mobiles now. So the relevance of social media platforms becomes critical. Opinions can be generated, brand made into demi Gods, Brands massacred and business generated. It can be a tornado in the waiting!! I wanna be part of the revolution!

Ralationship

Yesterday and today i learnt a good lesson in relationship management... never take them for granted!

Kashmir

went to Srinagar after nearly two decades..it was such a beautiful site from the aircraft..the meadows, the snow capped mountains..and the fresh and crisp air...amazing!!..but when i landed the entire landscape was tarred with khakies and military fatigues...a blot on us and modern society which couldn't solve a problem. Sufferers, people like you and I and the sweet natives of that valley!!

Rain

Finally rain!!...now Delhi will cry potholes, water logging etc etc....human nature never happy..huh!!

Bored

I am bored...give me some interesting work....

Hot Hot Hot

Delhi is burning and its burning like hell..some say its 47 Degrees and some 43...what the hell? its too hot and dry...wish winters are here soon..but then the typical human crib will start..wish summer is here soon!!...so i have decided to enjoy the tempretures..how? just drink plenty of cold water and stay in shade...rest all is peace!!

Good follows Bad..

here i am again...to share with you one of my experiences ..an experience which is profound and humbling..i know a special woman...a woman, when she was of just 31 years of age,was diagonised with a serious type of cancer..yes the dreaded illness which makes the bravest of guys sink into the abyss of hopelessness and fear...but she fought many turmoils and near death situating to not only come back with a bang into life but also join back her work...during that struggle many supported her..but the best came from her organisation...i released there are people and organisations which still has heart..where else will you find a "company" give millions of rupees as unconditional support and a paid leave of more than 8 month...however it also brought out the fact that there are some very nasty people around too..people who suggested she quit at the midst of her struggle..when she was lying alone in the ICU wondering if she will live to see the next day....but after another year of steadfast struggle to prove that she is still good for anything..she finally wins...drafting the termination letter of her own boss...amazing na??

Driving out

It has been always a pleasure to drive out of the city and into the fresh air of our country. Yesterday I went up and down to Jaipur, what a refreshing feeling it was..just close your eyes and imagine Cristal clear blue sky, fresh and crisp air, wide and dark roads, yummy food by the dhaba, and of top of that excellent people all around...i wonder what kind of creatures are we becoming!! city bred, isolated and insensitive...life is what out of this concrete jungle...i so much die to drive out every now and then..it reminds me that there is hell lot of stuff out there to feel cool about and enjoy...

New Store

Here I am sitting inside the new store which we opened yesterday. Called CARPLUS.. it will sell full range of auto accessories and enhancement products and services. Going by what we did, this brand would be a great one in the coming years. I learnt a lot for this project..how to create and implement a altogether new business and get it operational in real terms...learnt how media works and how PR works....saw how people and new employees behave...How excellent colleagues make life easy for you and take you upwards...so many things i will imbibe and take it forward

Lobby

Lobbies of 5 start hotels are a fun place..you just sit around and look..some sit and wait for interview, some are sucking up to a VIP, some are just bird watching and some like me work on a laptop as if we are all so important...but the best part is to look into the water and the fountain and the fishes swimming around. Sometimes the music is also soothing...i love big hotel lobbies..they make me feel somebody in this world of nobodies..

HeadAche

For the last few days i am having a bad headache..you might ask me so what? yess..i agree so what? but the point I wanted to make here is that a good nights sleep and a nice mattress and pillow is so very importnat for a person to go through the next day in peace... let me invest in a good sleeping mattress and rest in peace!! Amen!!

making money

I have subscribed to adsense of google..lets see how much can i make...fun

Facebook vs Blog-- what do i do now?

I was wondering why no one responds to my status msgs on facebook or any other chat sites..well i realise that its to do with age and generation gap. Yes the same much used word which we used against our parents.. when i looked deeply into the type of people who are there around me in facebook.. they are all at least 10 years younger to me... and all my co agers are no where in that sphere of activity... time for me to move to more serious and my=kinda-age net platform..blog may be?