My Opinion

Mahakumbh,Prayagraj the spritual oasis of India,the effulgence of the Sangam where the Ganga,Yamuna and Saraswati meet, the many akhadas,shaiviks,vaishnavas,,nagas and ranging crowds all coming to experience a moment of realisation having a dip at the holy ,Triveni Sangam.

I came with the imagination of meeting some saints ,rishis, mahatma's,avadhuta's and may be somebody who could tell me my future.

But that was not to be. What i experienced was sheer satisfaction and contentment having a dip at the Sangam (Ganges) and enjoying the time with my friends.

From science to spirituality was the shift I was looking at.

The government arrangements were good. Though we had to walk a lot on our return to our stay from Sangam.Also there was a steady crowd at the Sangam which we enjoyed.

We stayed at the Mata Amritanandamayi Devi Math ,venue at prayagraj.The stay was cordial and the food was awesome.

When Ugesh sang the bhajan "Sitaram Sitaram radhe radhe shyam"crowds swelled outside to have a glimpse for him. A star had been born.

I was also a bit worried, because I had heard the shaivas when greeted with 'Hare Krishna' become angry and Vaishnava when greeted with 'Har Har Mahadev' would be completely inconsolable. For me all remained the same.

The drive from Powai,Mumbai to Prayagraj had its moments where our heart was in our mouth too,but we were happy that we were able to reach safely.

The conversations in the Ertiga were top notch and Kamaljit KK said he had had not had such a hearty laugh for a very long time. Ditto for me where usually Binal was at the receiving end of jokes.
Without Binal ,the heart of the trip would have been missing.

Finally a big shoutout to nirav shah who took the initiative of planning the whole trip and took the pains to drive all the way from Ahmedabad to mumbai for the trip.Without his planning and initiative the trip would have been a no show.

It was a memorable and Unforgettable experience. Paisa vassol Trip.

We do work everyday with many different people in our lifetime but none become memories,It is trips like these that stay in you memory even long after you have gone.

Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Maximum City, Minimum Infrastructure

To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing.
- Raymond Williams

Myth

Reality

Mumbai Mein kisi ke pass time nahi hai. Mumbai your apathy is deafening. 7 dead and 42 injured in a crowded market place in Mumbai (Kurla) as a BEST bus lost control and collided with some vehicles and pedestrians.

You expect roads to have a deserted look next day, protests marches, bandhs, hartals, strikes but what do you see next day, it is again hustling roads with people going back and forth to their offices/homes. Mumbai is back to its feet and news channels will definitely praise its resilience.

No Mumbai if you do no protest now, you are bound to lose your basic necessities. The roads would become narrower and narrower, there would be vehicles parked on either side, there would be illegal shops mushrooming on each side of the bustling roads of Mumbai.Its nerve wracking to cross the roads.

It is pretty easy to find a scapegoat. How does a poor BEST driver drive on such narrow roads, with autorickshaws and two wheelers riding as if it’s their last ride. Only god’s grace saves them each day.

Can’t we ask for wider roads, can’t we put safely of our people on priority. Can’t we have more buses so as to reduce the cramped BEST buses, also to reduce the waiting time, so that we can travel with dignity and space.

Forget about the local trains of Mumbai, as the Bombay High Court put it "that passengers are treated like cattle", I completely disagree, I believe that “cattle’s are treated much better than the passengers in the local trains of Mumbai”. Can’t we have multiple tracks for trains to run simultaneously, or better still India specific double decker trains.

I heard that 52% of the total FDI that comes to India goes to Maharashtra, but where is it, I don’t see it anywhere, neither on the infrastructure nor on job creation.All I can see is dilapidated buildings,crumbling roads,unemployed youth, and overcrowded trains.

I remember the famous dialogue from Krantiveer

"
थोड़ी देर में मुझे यहां लटका दिया जाएगा,
ये घर जाएंगे, खाना खाएंगे, सो जाएंगे
सोने की आदत पड़ चुकी है इन्हे |

“

Mumbai your silence is deafening than your resilience.

Wake up Mumbai!

PS: I travel to my office on the same route everyday by BEST buses.

Saturday, 28 September 2024

EY employee Anna Sebastian Perayil Death and ILL-Effects of Corporate Culture

"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain.

The recent spate of incidents involving an EY Pune from Kerala and a Delta employee from Thailand, bring to light the large-scale inhuman practices present in various industries.

The Gen Z, working out just after college do not seem that concerned about health. They work in their offices enjoy their high paying salaries.

But thus, brings to fore the unhealthy work schedules, the tight deadlines, and the hire and fire policies.

Though the trade unions don’t really seem to be the answer, but I am sure the problem needs to be addressed by compassionate business leaders before it becomes a calamity.

Referring to the above incidents, I am reminded of my work schedules in my early working days in Mphasis, Amrita and Whitehatjr which was all beyond comfort. I was lucky that in Amrita and Whitehatjr my Managers and Projects were changed and that brew fresh oxygen to my life though not lucky enough in Mphasis that took a toll on my health.

As such every manager is just bothered about his next uprisal or promotion and that does go a long way to make a case of his/her KRA’s very strongly to his/her boss. I think there is a need to reevaluate and understand what really ‘fundamental’ needs to be driven to the last mile.

There is also an acute need to articulate a vision from the company leader /founder so that it drills down throughout the last person in the company about being a compassionate leader beyond the quarterly results.

I also call for more activism by HR managers/mentors who should also have the decision-making power to help an employee move from a toxic environment to a productive state where employees can connect with the HR without fear and prejudice.

Many leaders have spoken,I am sure Narayan Murthy would also be happy with his employees being healthy and vibrant instead of working 70 hours a week.

This is a genuine concern in the industries of IT/BPO/Ed-Tech/Financials where Gen-Z seems to be working tirelessly. I hope we do not require another Anna Sebastian to address the situation.

Monday, 26 August 2024

My Views on Hema Commission Report.

"Like the two wings of a bird, women and men are of equal value. Without the two in perfect balance, humanity cannot progress." - Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

In the Malayalam Film Industry, some cats have being falling out of the bag as the Hema Commission report has been released finally by the Kerala Government.

Many allegations have come out along with resignations of some prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry.

Any report for the improvement and to bring more safety and transparency for the Malayalam Film industry along with improving conditions for the artists should be welcome and each allegation needs to be properly investigated and the guilty punished.

Also I must add Malayalam film industry does not become maligned by allegations, it becomes maligned only if things are suppressed.

Also it needs to be noted that the allegations do not become like the Solar-Sarita type against former and Late Chief minister Oomen Chandy, that were completely false and Sarita just happened to be a opportunist in the hands of the opposition. Again it should be noted that consensual sex or transactional sex is not termed as rape or molestation. This would clearly hinder the real victims from getting justice.

Also what is baffling is the timing of the report released by the Kerala Government. The Kerala government in order to hide its failure to prevent the Wayanand Crises has found a perfect scrapegoat. Wonder why the government woke up suddenly after all these years when the report was submitted in 2017.

I must add Malayalam film industry still remain by far the best industry among the southern film industries in terms of its content and the opportunity it provides for the newcomers whether it is direction or acting . The recent movies like Premalu, Manjumal Boys and Vaazha support that.

Let the Malayalam film industry not be in denial and use this as an opportunity for safety, security and transparency in the Malayalam film industry.

Monday, 12 August 2024

My response to an article in Indian Express Editorial today.

My response to the article below in Indian Express editorial today.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/sanjay-srivastava-writes-olympic-glory-what-is-the-role-of-the-state-9507662/

The expanded version:
https://archive.ph/11WYR

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be - Rosalynn Carter

The leader has to understand the pulse of the nation. If the demographics of India are people aged 25-35 years. It has to fulfil the aspirations of the youth.

The expenditure by the government for the Olympics has not only provided secure career aspirations for its youth but also many ancillary businesses have cropped up, like coaching and many sporting complexes where it has allowed the youth to take up sports as a career option.

India's winning medal at the Olympics is a sense of pride and prestige for the country and its countrymen.
In a nation with lots of despair, the medalist seems a sense of hope and joy for their children.

I think the article published in Indian Express is a mischievous and absolute mockery, and trying to take India backwards by banking on the opposition parties of India, one can just see the amount invested by other countries in the Olympics’. Paris where the event was conducted, has raised its infrastructure by a notch and its will lead to more businesses being comfortable investing in Paris, France.

This is the same argument used when India sent its mission to the moon. Saying it has to concentrate on its majority.

Also said, was that it should be left to the private sector to invest in sports, we can see how expensive it has become to afford hospital treatment or medical education (MBBS) in the private sector, similarly it would be difficult for street children, village and the rural population to afford any such training if it is in the hands of the private sector. Hence the government contribution becomes essential.

Some other things that can take India backward.

My thoughts on reservations:

Well, I certainly agree with SC's verdict when it says that merit alone cannot be the criteria it should be a 360-degree assessment of the candidate. I am sure the same needs to be extended to the reserved candidates so that they are evaluated on certain parameters or yardsticks before they’re placed in any position.

We have used 50% reservations for 75 years it is time to add measurable parameters and delivery yardsticks of the people getting selected through reservations.

It's high time Indian political parties look beyond reservations and look at the ability and merit along with service to the society at large when placing them at higher positions, as it disturbs the morale of the entire force if the leadership lacks merit or ability

Thursday, 11 January 2024

Being a Hindu

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

What does being a Hindu mean to you?

For me Being a hindu means to acquire spiritual knowledge

Reading the teachings and biographies of the saints and mahatmas of India like Sant Gynaeshwar, Sant Tukaram, Eknath, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Goswami Tulsidas, Surdas,Kabir Das, Ramana Maharshi , Ramakrishna Paramhansa,Swami Vivekananda etc. to name a few.

Gaining the knowledge of the scriptures like the Bhagavat Gita, Narayaneeyam,Shrimad Bhagavatam and Ramayanam.

Reciting the archana’s like Lalitasahasranamam, Vishnusaharanamam, Hunuman Chalisa or the Shiv Namavali (Any one) everyday.

To chant the mantras like Panchakshari Mantra, Gayatri Mantra, the Mrityunjaya Mantram or the Maha Mantram

(Hara Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ) continuously.

Bhajanam – Singing praises of the guru and the god.

Meditation or Dhyana

Having opportunities to listen to Satsang of realized saints and mahatmas

Most importantly to develop an attitude of selfless service towards the downtrodden and the daridra narayans.

And having unflinching faith in one’s guru.

In addition to this I will add one more point seeing the current environment

Every Hindu should become self sufficient. i.e he should be able to earn money through dharmic ways so that he does not require to takeup adharmic activities for his livelihood. For that the hindu has to be skilled so that he is employable or can be a dharmic entrepreneur. The relentless focus has to be on the upliftment of the hindu and not to teach anybody else a lesson.

One must definitely point out any unrighteous activity coming before our eyes, but to impose what one thinks as righteous on others is adharma, and one should strictly keep away from it and only
follow one’s dharma.