Its been sometime since when I have thought of putting together some interesting trivia from Bollywood specially things relating to Hindi film music...So here they go...
Raj Kapoor, Shankar - Jaikishan (SJ), Shailendra and Hasrat are regarded as the best ever combination of a producer, music director and lyricists in the Hindi film industry. Their association spanned two decades (1948-67) from Barsaat to Mera Naam Joker before Shailendra died after his home production Teesri Kasam bombed. Though they were the best combination, there was actually no collaboration. Shankar and Jaikishan used to compose separately and in later years Shailendra used to only write for Shankar and Hasrat for Jaikishan. To their credit, they all took these professionally and no album of theirs mentions which song has been penned by whom.
There was a song which SJ had composed for Lekh Tandon's Amrapali which he decided not to use and hence the same tune was given to Raj Kapoor by SJ. Subsequently, Lekh Tandon was advised by others that the song was actually required. But Raj Kapoor refused to part with it. Now Amrapali was a war film set in the times of the Mauryas in India and was under a huge budget. Lekh Tandon was under pressure to complete the film. It was decided that Shailendra would write the song and SJ would compose and Lata Mangeshkar would sing and everything to be completed in a day. To have a peaceful surrounding, Lekh Tandon asked SJ and Lata to wait in the studio while he went to a park with Shailendra. As providence would have, Shailendra could not manage to write a single line. After a few hours, they decided to return to the studio and inform others that the recording had to be postponed. As soon as they reached the studio, Shankar asked Shailendra - could he finish the song? Before Lekh Tandon could say that they could not manage a line Shailendra recited the entire song which he composed on the spot. The song was the superhit "Jao re jogi tum jao re" rendered immortally by Lata Mangeshkar and presented on screen by Vyjantimala.
Similarly Anand Bakshi and RD Burman were asked to create a song in an evening by Dev Anand for his film Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Anand Bakshi could not make a single line. Frustrated, RD said "Aap socho, main ek dum maarke aata hoon" ( You think while I have a smoke and come). Readers can guess, the song was the superhit " Dum maaro dum" finally made superhit by Asha Bhosle's rendition.
For the movie Teesri Manzil, RD Burman was under pressure to perform because he had displaced Shankar Jaikishan as the music director for the Nasser Hussain production house. The terms were if this movie was a hit, next 5 films of Nasser Hussain would have RD. Nasser Hussain was one of the biggest producer-director in the 70s and 80s. RD had composed "Aaja aaja main hoon pyaar tera" as a very tough song and invited Rafi and Asha for rehearsal. As it was expected Rafi got it right immediately but Asha could not get the "aa aa aaja aa aa aaja" phrase which was the clincher for the song. The whole day they tried but Asha could not. She returned with a sullen face and Lata asked her the reason. Asha narrated her incapability to which Lata said there should be nothing in music which the Mangeshkar family cannot achieve so Asha better keep up the name. The entire next day Asha sang only that phrase for about a 1000 times before the rehearsal. All her servants and even the car driver thought she had gone mad. But Asha got it right and we all know what a gem of a duet was by Rafi and Asha with Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh dancing to the tunes.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Magnificence munificence and extravagance
Have you ever seen a title of a blog to be so non-correlated? It only seems that the title is chosen purely to enforce a sense of rhyming. Well, to be honest its true to a large extent! However, its also a thought which sparked in me after my day-long tour to Dubai.
This was a full day trip organized by a tour company on an open top bus with defined stops and routes. The best part was you could hop-off and on the bus at any and every stop because every 20 minutes the next bus comes to pick you up. The bus also provided running commentary on various landmarks and areas of Dubai as the bus passed through the broad streets. The amazing part was the commentary was exactly synchronized with the landmark on your right or left.
The day ended with an hour long cruise on the Dubai creek again with a commentary and drinks on board as well.
After a full day in Dubai and covering almost all the major spots in the city (the city has too too many of them) I ended up revising and re-visiting them. (if you have any doubts please read my zodiac sign in my profile!). The conclusion was apart from a single fort and museum and the Gold Souk all I saw was expansive hotels, huge malls with all the biggest brands of the world and hotels and malls again.
The world islands under construction will actually resemble the world map from an aerial view when completed. The Palm Atlantis is a huge resort constructed on man made islands which on an aerial view will resemble a palm with a crescent. This is connected by an undersea tunnel from the mainland. The Burj Dubai is probably the tallest building in the world. The Burj Al Arab is the largest hotel in the world with a helipad on top. Federer and Agassi famously played a tennis match on the top of this hotel! The list goes on and on! Each of these monuments ( I don' t see any other word for them) were the tallest or largest building in the Gulf or in the world when they were built.
The question which naturally comes is how much of this is serving the purpose? Is it being driven by demand from the wealthy all over the world or is it an artificially created pomp and hype intending to attract everyone in the world?
However, the questions remaining aside, for tourists like us it provides simply a magnificent sight to behold. The munificence of the land and the people together with the extravagance in spending as well as thinking (even if you have money to spend how many countries in the world have even thought of creating such structures leave alone actually creating them?) emerges in a magnificent splendor and is a sight to behold specially during a river cruise ride after sunset.
Hence the title magnificence munificence and extravagance!!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sense of achievement
In recent times I have been plagued fairly frequently with questions as to what am I? Where am I going and what am I doing and what is its purpose? In a nutshell, I was trying to answer certain questions in order to understand my own identity and purpose in life. In many cases, I dismissed these thoughts as a typical aquarian infliction (probably I got too influenced by Linda Goodman :( )
Lately however the questions have been too many and too frequent to be ignored!!! All these questions, have brought me to think about what I have been doing all these years and how each stage in life has provided the satisfaction / dissatisfaction with it and what are the achievements in all these years.
A foregone conclusion to this question was that in the last few years there has been nothing to be spoken of..neither as a part of the profession or otherwise...this conclusion also brought with it some fundamental questions...a) what could be done which can be termed as an achievement in one's own estimation b) why has there been no sense of any such thing specially in the past few years despite the fact that so much hardwork, stress and strain has gone by...
Answer to the second question is probably easier...and which is - we are increasingly getting drawn into the routine aspects of our lives ('business - as - usual' for the management guys) that we are unable to get out of the routine and do something unusual...its very similar to why organizations seek external advise / help in order to improve their own self...an organization knows itself the best but still they ask for external help because they feel that they are so much into the system that its best to bring someone who can see sitting outside the system...Ditto for our own lives! Ofcourse this is not to say each one of us need an external help...
Coming back to the first question - what could be done so that we ourselves can term it an achievement...Well to put simply do someting which you will be proud of till your last day in life...still better do something which the larger society remembers you even after your life...
When you are studying - lets say getting into the IITs / Harvard or the ilk would definitely be an achievement...In your professional career doing something which brings a significant betterment either within or outside your organization could be an achievement...
Now all this also brings us to other questions such as you should be really talented and should have the right backing and should be lucky and should have so many other things in place to achieve something...And since our lives are so dependent on situations and hence we get an escape route saying things werent in my favor an hence I could not do anything special...
Looking at it from this angle, also tortuously brings me back to the answer of the second question which is we are so tied up to our current situation and daily activities and burden that it is becoming impossible for us to rise above it, think differently and actually make use of the knowledge and experience that we possess...
Fundamentally it is a choice between thinking about oneself as the 'Created' one or the 'Creator'...Being the 'Creator' is definitely not easy and it calls for something which is over and above the huge energy and time that we spend in 'business - as-usual' activities...but it also brings with it that sense of achievement and pride in oneself...Let's therefore begin this new Samvat after Diwali with a passion to create and achieve...And as always its a game of quid pro quo - you create and you get back the fruits of creation together with a sense of achievement! You give some you take some!
P:S: Next time you do a general conversation with anyone and ask people how are things and how is it going? Just try and note how many say "going on" or "as usual" or the likes and how many have a different answer... Happy diwali!
Lately however the questions have been too many and too frequent to be ignored!!! All these questions, have brought me to think about what I have been doing all these years and how each stage in life has provided the satisfaction / dissatisfaction with it and what are the achievements in all these years.
A foregone conclusion to this question was that in the last few years there has been nothing to be spoken of..neither as a part of the profession or otherwise...this conclusion also brought with it some fundamental questions...a) what could be done which can be termed as an achievement in one's own estimation b) why has there been no sense of any such thing specially in the past few years despite the fact that so much hardwork, stress and strain has gone by...
Answer to the second question is probably easier...and which is - we are increasingly getting drawn into the routine aspects of our lives ('business - as - usual' for the management guys) that we are unable to get out of the routine and do something unusual...its very similar to why organizations seek external advise / help in order to improve their own self...an organization knows itself the best but still they ask for external help because they feel that they are so much into the system that its best to bring someone who can see sitting outside the system...Ditto for our own lives! Ofcourse this is not to say each one of us need an external help...
Coming back to the first question - what could be done so that we ourselves can term it an achievement...Well to put simply do someting which you will be proud of till your last day in life...still better do something which the larger society remembers you even after your life...
When you are studying - lets say getting into the IITs / Harvard or the ilk would definitely be an achievement...In your professional career doing something which brings a significant betterment either within or outside your organization could be an achievement...
Now all this also brings us to other questions such as you should be really talented and should have the right backing and should be lucky and should have so many other things in place to achieve something...And since our lives are so dependent on situations and hence we get an escape route saying things werent in my favor an hence I could not do anything special...
Looking at it from this angle, also tortuously brings me back to the answer of the second question which is we are so tied up to our current situation and daily activities and burden that it is becoming impossible for us to rise above it, think differently and actually make use of the knowledge and experience that we possess...
Fundamentally it is a choice between thinking about oneself as the 'Created' one or the 'Creator'...Being the 'Creator' is definitely not easy and it calls for something which is over and above the huge energy and time that we spend in 'business - as-usual' activities...but it also brings with it that sense of achievement and pride in oneself...Let's therefore begin this new Samvat after Diwali with a passion to create and achieve...And as always its a game of quid pro quo - you create and you get back the fruits of creation together with a sense of achievement! You give some you take some!
P:S: Next time you do a general conversation with anyone and ask people how are things and how is it going? Just try and note how many say "going on" or "as usual" or the likes and how many have a different answer... Happy diwali!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Society, culture and welfare economics
Keynesian theory of welfare economics calls for movement of money in the market. It recommends that the money should always remain in the system so that the economic multiplier effect can come into being taking the economy on the growth path. One of the radical thoughts of this theory was the role of the state in the economy in order to provide the path for growth. In times like the one we face today, Keynes would recommend the expansion of fiscal deficit, spending by government to make up for the money withdrawn by other entities (banks, corporates, consumers etc). To an extent, most central banks and governments are resorting to this when they see that effects of monetary policy in form of rate cuts are not having the desired effects. In a nutshell, Keynes says spending has to be encouraged so that there is money flow in the system and to re-spiral the economy towards growth.
Religion has always been thought of as something which we practise because our fathers did so or purely on basis of faith and beliefs. For a society or culture to take shape, religion or faith has been thought of as the basis. That religion could be driven by economics seems far-fetched. However a deep thought in to this shows the inherent relation. In fact, economics drives most of our activities, so why should religion be kept out of it.
Most of our festivals prescribe specific activities to be performed. If its colours for Holi, its crackers for Diwali, dandiya for navratri, pandals for Durga Puja, boat races for Onam. These notwithstanding, the custom of new clothes, painting of houses, charity to poor, span across all festivals. The underlying thought is, patronage of these specific industries and skills by stimulating demand of those through these festivals and customs. It provides for jobs for millions which in turn, provides money in the hands of more people which implies even more spending. Crux of the matter being flow of money through the system. Symbolically, Hindu philosophy describes Lakshmi the goddess of wealt and material prosperity as being very fickle. She keeps moving from one place to another, providing prosperity to the multitudes but no one can keep Lakshmi with themselves forever. What this means is, prosperity of a society is possible only when money flows (symbolically referred as fickle mindedness of Lakshmi).
Another thought which closely resembles modern day welfare economics model is using money as an enabler for growth. Keynes says money should be an enabler and used in the right manner to provide for growth in the right. The objective should never be storing and hoarding money / wealth. Because when that happens, money remains outside of the system and retards growth.
An old legend provides a similar lesson. It is said that Vishnu and Lakshmi had an argument as to who is greater amongst them. Vishnu said people follow dharma and are righteous and hence he is superior while Lakshmi's contention was people would do anything to be rich and prosperous and hence she is superior. They descended on earth to test their views.
Vishnu went to a village as a sage and found people welcoming him to their homes and offering him their belongings as per the custom. Vishnu requested the villagers to give him only a house to live and that too one which no one is using. So he was given an old house as per his wishes making Vishnu feel that he was right. But it actually proved to be otherwise. Lakshmi went to the same village as an old lady with a ragged bag and asked for water. When she was offered in a glass she refused to take that saying she has her own golden cup in which she would take the water. To people's amazement she threw away the golden cup saying that she never uses it again. She repeated the act multiple times throwing golden cups here and there. It naturally spread like fire in the village and people assembled in front of the old lady asking her what she needed. She placed the same request as Vishnu did. The villagers in their greed threw the old hermit out of the house and gave it to Lakshmi. Now it was Lakshmi's turn to feel proud that she was superior.
The climax of the story however was, when the sage after being thrown out was wandering, he found people fighting over the golden cups as to who should take it home. And, they called the sage himself to preside over the fight and assist the villagers that what is right and do justice.
The legend points to the fact that even when material prosperity is available, it can only be a medium and even to use it rightly, it needs an objective and the correct path. Philosophy says, that where there is 'dharma' there is Vishnu and where there is Vishnu there is Lakshmi.
So if you use money to pursue a rightful objective, you achieve growth. But if you want achieve money and prosperity it will always slip away in absence of direction.
Its a game of quid pro quo - you give some you take some
Friday, February 27, 2009
A friend's wedding
This post - as the title would suggest - comes after attending one of my old and very special friend's wedding. That she has been more like a sister to me all these years goes unsaid.
Dutifully therefore, I was informed way back in november about this with strict instructions to be there else...Fact of the matter was, there was no option of an else...However, as circumstances would pan out, till about 4/5 days before the actual wedding my trip to calcutta was not confirmed. In the interim, again the same instructions were repeated this time even more threatening!!!
The feeling of happiness (when you understand the importance someone attaches to you) and dissappointment of not being sure of keeping up to that is never a good quagmire to be in...
Nevertheless, somehow I could ensure my presence at the end - albeit for a very small amount of time. I guess sisters are the best in the world because they are able to accept a lot of things even if they are undesirable and so I am sure my quick exit would be forgiven...
Certain instances which left an impression on me during the 2 days that I was there form the reason per se of this post. And adding the usual disclaimer, these are my own realizations from what I saw today and in the past....
First, the bride is typically unaware of the expectations and social protocol. Its like "am I supposed to speak to all the guests who have come" or "am I supposed to do this"? So when a similar question was directed towards me, I answered in the affirmative. It was then realization dawned, that this is something she must have hardly done before (being the kid in the family) and not only that, going forward, she has to don this mantle not only at her parents' place but also with her new family. There would be many social courtesies and protocols that would follow post the marriage as well!!! The single phrase that I could attribute to this was that it would be a "giant leap of faith"
Second, during the wedding, so many (and I mean it..there were so many!) wished her and I saw, that she was already learning the ropes of being cordial and warm with them. Poor thing, there were so many whom she could'nt recognize in the first place! Yet another realization for me as to how you should know people even when you dont know/recognize them!
Third, when she signed on the dotted line (literally I mean!) assuming her new name - I was curious as to how it felt when you literally change your identity. An identity with which you have been associated for all your life... By her own submission, it was weird signing a new name! This is something I have pondered and discussed with a number of female friends of mine and most of them ended up saying they did not like it in the first place but accepted / got used to later...But there are still a few who refuse to attach their identity to their husband's! In any case (whether you assume a different identity or not), you face hurdles...The realization for me was, that a girl when she enters a new home has to not only don a new role but create a new identity for her as well irrespective of the change in the name...How well she's able to do it is what matters!
Marriage as they say is not a ceremony or an event but is an institution! Before she enters, she is absolutely care-free and the kid in the family! As she enters, she starts learning the ropes and as years go by, she learns the demands of the role that demands her to juggle attention between multiple families, not to mention her own professional career.
Before ending this, here's wishing the new couple all the very best and lots and lots of happiness in their forthcoming conjugal life! And I take this opportunity to apologize to my friend of not being present in her wedding completely! and a big thank you to her as well for literally forcing me to take this holiday...by virtue of which I could catch up with my own family and old friends...
Cheers to all the sisters in this world!
Dutifully therefore, I was informed way back in november about this with strict instructions to be there else...Fact of the matter was, there was no option of an else...However, as circumstances would pan out, till about 4/5 days before the actual wedding my trip to calcutta was not confirmed. In the interim, again the same instructions were repeated this time even more threatening!!!
The feeling of happiness (when you understand the importance someone attaches to you) and dissappointment of not being sure of keeping up to that is never a good quagmire to be in...
Nevertheless, somehow I could ensure my presence at the end - albeit for a very small amount of time. I guess sisters are the best in the world because they are able to accept a lot of things even if they are undesirable and so I am sure my quick exit would be forgiven...
Certain instances which left an impression on me during the 2 days that I was there form the reason per se of this post. And adding the usual disclaimer, these are my own realizations from what I saw today and in the past....
First, the bride is typically unaware of the expectations and social protocol. Its like "am I supposed to speak to all the guests who have come" or "am I supposed to do this"? So when a similar question was directed towards me, I answered in the affirmative. It was then realization dawned, that this is something she must have hardly done before (being the kid in the family) and not only that, going forward, she has to don this mantle not only at her parents' place but also with her new family. There would be many social courtesies and protocols that would follow post the marriage as well!!! The single phrase that I could attribute to this was that it would be a "giant leap of faith"
Second, during the wedding, so many (and I mean it..there were so many!) wished her and I saw, that she was already learning the ropes of being cordial and warm with them. Poor thing, there were so many whom she could'nt recognize in the first place! Yet another realization for me as to how you should know people even when you dont know/recognize them!
Third, when she signed on the dotted line (literally I mean!) assuming her new name - I was curious as to how it felt when you literally change your identity. An identity with which you have been associated for all your life... By her own submission, it was weird signing a new name! This is something I have pondered and discussed with a number of female friends of mine and most of them ended up saying they did not like it in the first place but accepted / got used to later...But there are still a few who refuse to attach their identity to their husband's! In any case (whether you assume a different identity or not), you face hurdles...The realization for me was, that a girl when she enters a new home has to not only don a new role but create a new identity for her as well irrespective of the change in the name...How well she's able to do it is what matters!
Marriage as they say is not a ceremony or an event but is an institution! Before she enters, she is absolutely care-free and the kid in the family! As she enters, she starts learning the ropes and as years go by, she learns the demands of the role that demands her to juggle attention between multiple families, not to mention her own professional career.
Before ending this, here's wishing the new couple all the very best and lots and lots of happiness in their forthcoming conjugal life! And I take this opportunity to apologize to my friend of not being present in her wedding completely! and a big thank you to her as well for literally forcing me to take this holiday...by virtue of which I could catch up with my own family and old friends...
Cheers to all the sisters in this world!
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Corporate & Consulting Jargon
At the outset, here goes two confessions - One, this post has come up as a result of a blog of a kid just out of his engineering college trying to settle into the shoes of a would be manager in the first few weeks of his new b-school. He's learnt two of most common jargon used in corporate more so in the consulting industry today. Second, consulting industry respects firms & individuals who can simply "add value" to simple things to provide a strategic direction and draw top management attention. Bamboozled...? Keep trying not to?
Coming to the two most commonly used ones - " We are taking a look at it" & " We will get back to you" - strictly speaking in most cases this would be the response to the person who has raised a question and if you dont even know what it is leave alone the answer to the question! Wannabe MBAs learn this the first from their seniors when they submit their carefully crafted assignments & hope for a good feedback from seniors! There is ofcourse a presumption here that seniors will look at it and let them know! Seniors always are in the "looking at it " "will get back" mode!
Now, for some consulting "value -add" to these! In the very first place what is value-add! Much bandied about but no one realizes unless they call consultants themselves who can make them realize! The consulting version of "will get back" is now "circle back" or "touch base"! Maybe because "getting back" sounds too lowly or prudish!
To get an initial overview has become "to take a first stab"! Interactions between two persons/processes/systems have become "touch-points"! Providing a maintenance guideline has changed to providing a "sustainability framework"! And to think of it, I have not gone towards bandying of words like alignment, strategic intent, perspective (to my knowledge the most commonly (ab!)used words"! Financial modelling is now equated with just basic revenue / cash flow projections!
I am still learning! People who are trying to welcome to the club! You can see for yourself the effect such "versions of truth!!!" have on people at large! Otherwise how will they dole out their largesse to us in form of fees! We provide them "value" with some solid creativity spiced up with an impressive verbage like "we will split the hair into two for our analysis" (meaning we will get into bare details)...they provide us the moolah! you give some, you take some.. Game of quid pro quo!
Coming to the two most commonly used ones - " We are taking a look at it" & " We will get back to you" - strictly speaking in most cases this would be the response to the person who has raised a question and if you dont even know what it is leave alone the answer to the question! Wannabe MBAs learn this the first from their seniors when they submit their carefully crafted assignments & hope for a good feedback from seniors! There is ofcourse a presumption here that seniors will look at it and let them know! Seniors always are in the "looking at it " "will get back" mode!
Now, for some consulting "value -add" to these! In the very first place what is value-add! Much bandied about but no one realizes unless they call consultants themselves who can make them realize! The consulting version of "will get back" is now "circle back" or "touch base"! Maybe because "getting back" sounds too lowly or prudish!
To get an initial overview has become "to take a first stab"! Interactions between two persons/processes/systems have become "touch-points"! Providing a maintenance guideline has changed to providing a "sustainability framework"! And to think of it, I have not gone towards bandying of words like alignment, strategic intent, perspective (to my knowledge the most commonly (ab!)used words"! Financial modelling is now equated with just basic revenue / cash flow projections!
I am still learning! People who are trying to welcome to the club! You can see for yourself the effect such "versions of truth!!!" have on people at large! Otherwise how will they dole out their largesse to us in form of fees! We provide them "value" with some solid creativity spiced up with an impressive verbage like "we will split the hair into two for our analysis" (meaning we will get into bare details)...they provide us the moolah! you give some, you take some.. Game of quid pro quo!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Entry & Exit!
Entry and exit - antonyms in english, antipolar in direction but equal in importance at every phase in life! A grand entry into a phase of life and equally respectable exit is desired..
Whether the entry is grand - depends a lot on the people surrounding you. But the exit is almost always depends on how one has conducted oneself in that period of time...One of my teachers used to say, one should always exit before people want you to...rather you should exit when people want you to stay...this can be at a party, or for an artist on the stage floor, or a cricketer or even a politician...Humans however have a tendency to cling on to their existing states till of course the system pushes them away. The system when pushing you will not even for a moment reflect your stature and your contribution, status etc etc.
Even the great Kapil Dev was forced to exit despite the fact he was gunning for a world record. The entire media was abuzz that he was in the team only because of the record. Even if that might be the truth cant the system provide that concession to a sportsman who has given volumes to his country to be proud of!
Where this blog comes into the picture is in between the entry & exit, ones activities & actions almost always determine the propensity of the system to push you out! Most often the exit then becomes a quiet and nondescript one! When we came to NITIE there were a bunch of seniors, professors and everyone welcoming us, trying to make things & life in general easier and comfortable...The exit for almost all of us has been a quiet one with a few handshakes and lo! your 2 years come to an end! Everyone is left with a job and suddenly realizes he is on his own entirely! The very objective of most of us to come for an MBA was this job but now this doesnt seem as bluechip as it seemed to be 2 years back! Suddenly the desire of clinging to the same environment & cushion emanates but the system does not allow you to!
However, life as always has a way of evening things out! When you exit one you enter another system! And most often it is a little difficult to cope with it but even you have grown up! It is only then that you realize the ultimate truth! The objective of each entry & exit is to contribute a little bit so that you are not absolutely unprepared for the next entry!
That breaking off or coming out of a long relationship is painful is known universally! But not many realize that it actually makes you that much wiser when you enter the next one! Entering a new relationship is ofcourse difficult not because of the vestiges of the previous but more because you are more informed about your own self and your expectations! In Google-speak, the quality of your keywords and search strings become more refined hence search throws up fewer but definitely much better results!
It is therefore upto us to make our exit as less painful and more graceful! More importantly, realize the takeaways from it as each system is like an inn for the weary traveller which provides shelter for the life! You give the comfort of an existing system to enter a new one but the system returns you with the experience and wiseness to enter the next! You give some- you take some! Quid Pro quo!
Whether the entry is grand - depends a lot on the people surrounding you. But the exit is almost always depends on how one has conducted oneself in that period of time...One of my teachers used to say, one should always exit before people want you to...rather you should exit when people want you to stay...this can be at a party, or for an artist on the stage floor, or a cricketer or even a politician...Humans however have a tendency to cling on to their existing states till of course the system pushes them away. The system when pushing you will not even for a moment reflect your stature and your contribution, status etc etc.
Even the great Kapil Dev was forced to exit despite the fact he was gunning for a world record. The entire media was abuzz that he was in the team only because of the record. Even if that might be the truth cant the system provide that concession to a sportsman who has given volumes to his country to be proud of!
Where this blog comes into the picture is in between the entry & exit, ones activities & actions almost always determine the propensity of the system to push you out! Most often the exit then becomes a quiet and nondescript one! When we came to NITIE there were a bunch of seniors, professors and everyone welcoming us, trying to make things & life in general easier and comfortable...The exit for almost all of us has been a quiet one with a few handshakes and lo! your 2 years come to an end! Everyone is left with a job and suddenly realizes he is on his own entirely! The very objective of most of us to come for an MBA was this job but now this doesnt seem as bluechip as it seemed to be 2 years back! Suddenly the desire of clinging to the same environment & cushion emanates but the system does not allow you to!
However, life as always has a way of evening things out! When you exit one you enter another system! And most often it is a little difficult to cope with it but even you have grown up! It is only then that you realize the ultimate truth! The objective of each entry & exit is to contribute a little bit so that you are not absolutely unprepared for the next entry!
That breaking off or coming out of a long relationship is painful is known universally! But not many realize that it actually makes you that much wiser when you enter the next one! Entering a new relationship is ofcourse difficult not because of the vestiges of the previous but more because you are more informed about your own self and your expectations! In Google-speak, the quality of your keywords and search strings become more refined hence search throws up fewer but definitely much better results!
It is therefore upto us to make our exit as less painful and more graceful! More importantly, realize the takeaways from it as each system is like an inn for the weary traveller which provides shelter for the life! You give the comfort of an existing system to enter a new one but the system returns you with the experience and wiseness to enter the next! You give some- you take some! Quid Pro quo!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Fate & Free Will
Hindu culture has ingrained in us a deep sense of fate. We all have a common habit of saying that everyone comes into this world with a described fate and incidents, achievements, failures and even death happens according to that prescription of Fate. Grandmothers describe Lord Yama as the guardian of Fate and say that he has an accountant called Chitragupt who keeps a track of all good and bad actions and our Fate is described by our actions in our previous life.
However, Hindu culture also implores you to perform Poojas/other ceremonial rites like Karva Chauth by which it says that bad times can be warded off or long life can be ensured. Now if Fate has prescribed them before how can they be changed?
Lord Krishna says "Karmanyevadhikaaraste maa faleshu kadachana" in the Bhagvath Gita. He advises that you are to decide your destiny by your actions. We have heard many great people advising us as well that it is only human beings with their intellect can decide their future according to their Free Will. Now again if our past life has ensured a sequence of events/results Free will and "Shaping one's own destiny" are irrelevant.
Hindu mythology provides an astounding example of how one can defeat Death which is said to be beyond us. It describes a princess Savitri who marries Satyavan despite knowing that he would die within an year of marriage. She remains a dutiful wife and lives a righteous life devoted to her husband in the hope of a reversal as a result of her actions. However Fate is Supreme! On Doomsday the noose of Lord Yama falls on his body and pulls out his soul. The legend continues that Savitri follows Lord Yama and in order to ward off her insistence he grants her 3 boons (except the grant of her husband's life ofcourse). She asks for the prosperity of her in-laws poor family, her own family and as a third boon asks for a son. Lord Yama in his haste says "Tathastu" and asks her to leave. Savitri still follows much to chagrin of the Lord! Savitri chides him that despite his promise he fails to keep up his own boon. To a surprised Yama, Savitri says if husband is no more, how could she have a son? The Lord of Dharma that Yama is, He had to uphold his own promise and had to return Satyavan's life to her.
The legend uphelds the victory of determination and will over Fate even in matters of Life & Death which has always been considered by elders as irrevocable.
All this brings us to the question of "Fate vs Free Will" - which among them dominates? This question specially dogs us when we tend to take important decisions in our life. Personally, I have found people resorting to Fate when results of decisions/actions are not favorable and trying to take credit on their determination and will when actions bring positive results.
Without doubt, however the matter is one of intrigue and can determine one's own attitude towards life/decisions/actions. So what does the Hindu culture tell us on this subject through its intricate fabric of habits legends and tales?
A holistic view goes to show that its actually "Fate and Free Will" and never "Fate v/s Free Will". Since Hindu culture believes in rebirth, it says actions in this life will revert back to oneself in this life itself and if that does not happen in full measure it balances in the next life. That is in effect, our own will and actions determine our destiny and Fate. Both are two sides of the same and both follow each other in a cause effect relationship.
As always, its a two-bit cycle. Your actions determine the results and the same results determine your further actions....It thus goes on and on as a Game of QuidProQuo
However, Hindu culture also implores you to perform Poojas/other ceremonial rites like Karva Chauth by which it says that bad times can be warded off or long life can be ensured. Now if Fate has prescribed them before how can they be changed?
Lord Krishna says "Karmanyevadhikaaraste maa faleshu kadachana" in the Bhagvath Gita. He advises that you are to decide your destiny by your actions. We have heard many great people advising us as well that it is only human beings with their intellect can decide their future according to their Free Will. Now again if our past life has ensured a sequence of events/results Free will and "Shaping one's own destiny" are irrelevant.
Hindu mythology provides an astounding example of how one can defeat Death which is said to be beyond us. It describes a princess Savitri who marries Satyavan despite knowing that he would die within an year of marriage. She remains a dutiful wife and lives a righteous life devoted to her husband in the hope of a reversal as a result of her actions. However Fate is Supreme! On Doomsday the noose of Lord Yama falls on his body and pulls out his soul. The legend continues that Savitri follows Lord Yama and in order to ward off her insistence he grants her 3 boons (except the grant of her husband's life ofcourse). She asks for the prosperity of her in-laws poor family, her own family and as a third boon asks for a son. Lord Yama in his haste says "Tathastu" and asks her to leave. Savitri still follows much to chagrin of the Lord! Savitri chides him that despite his promise he fails to keep up his own boon. To a surprised Yama, Savitri says if husband is no more, how could she have a son? The Lord of Dharma that Yama is, He had to uphold his own promise and had to return Satyavan's life to her.
The legend uphelds the victory of determination and will over Fate even in matters of Life & Death which has always been considered by elders as irrevocable.
All this brings us to the question of "Fate vs Free Will" - which among them dominates? This question specially dogs us when we tend to take important decisions in our life. Personally, I have found people resorting to Fate when results of decisions/actions are not favorable and trying to take credit on their determination and will when actions bring positive results.
Without doubt, however the matter is one of intrigue and can determine one's own attitude towards life/decisions/actions. So what does the Hindu culture tell us on this subject through its intricate fabric of habits legends and tales?
A holistic view goes to show that its actually "Fate and Free Will" and never "Fate v/s Free Will". Since Hindu culture believes in rebirth, it says actions in this life will revert back to oneself in this life itself and if that does not happen in full measure it balances in the next life. That is in effect, our own will and actions determine our destiny and Fate. Both are two sides of the same and both follow each other in a cause effect relationship.
As always, its a two-bit cycle. Your actions determine the results and the same results determine your further actions....It thus goes on and on as a Game of QuidProQuo
Saturday, November 24, 2007
A Morning
Chemistry taught us that rules are always formed so that exceptions can be defined...Or in plainspeak - there is no rule without an exception and this rule is the only exception because it does not have one. Whilst you figure out a way in the quagmire of exceptions and rules, let me go on with the subject of this post per se...The rule-exception dual started with a phone call early in the morning (early wrt NITIE and not to the general world :) ). The general rule is I answer the call and get back to my bed if it is so early...What happened today was an exception and a greater one at that because its a Saturday, a holiday and hence a greater reason to sleep long!
Chemistry also taught us that exceptions are not without reason. As I answered the call half asleep in the small verandah of my room (Thank God for NITIE...where else would you find such privileges!) I saw an amazing sight. The trees, the lawns, lake and the very ambience were resplendent in sunlight. A light breeze adding a chill supplemented the beauty. Communing directly with nature - was the feeling that I had.
The call being answered, I stayed put in the verandah still communing with her! The scene immediately reminded me of Sahir Ludhianvi's lines:
"Yeh kis kavi ki kalpana ka chamatkaar hai, yeh kaun chitrakaar hai"
As I got down for breakfast, it felt great to wish people Good morning as the morning itself was much more than good. A nice breakfast with tea together with the day's newspaper getting its first reader (even the newspaper was new and fresh) in conjunction with the usual banter...All sums up to be a great morning!
As they say "Old is Gold"....Personally in terms of adages they are definitely gold.....Early rising in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by cheerful people is the best recipe for a good life!
To all those who get up late, this is for them. Sacrifice a few hours of sleep and see what you get in return. And as always you get some only if you give some. Its a Game of Quid Pro Quo - you give some you take some.
Chemistry also taught us that exceptions are not without reason. As I answered the call half asleep in the small verandah of my room (Thank God for NITIE...where else would you find such privileges!) I saw an amazing sight. The trees, the lawns, lake and the very ambience were resplendent in sunlight. A light breeze adding a chill supplemented the beauty. Communing directly with nature - was the feeling that I had.
The call being answered, I stayed put in the verandah still communing with her! The scene immediately reminded me of Sahir Ludhianvi's lines:
"Yeh kis kavi ki kalpana ka chamatkaar hai, yeh kaun chitrakaar hai"
As I got down for breakfast, it felt great to wish people Good morning as the morning itself was much more than good. A nice breakfast with tea together with the day's newspaper getting its first reader (even the newspaper was new and fresh) in conjunction with the usual banter...All sums up to be a great morning!
As they say "Old is Gold"....Personally in terms of adages they are definitely gold.....Early rising in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by cheerful people is the best recipe for a good life!
To all those who get up late, this is for them. Sacrifice a few hours of sleep and see what you get in return. And as always you get some only if you give some. Its a Game of Quid Pro Quo - you give some you take some.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Tata Ethos
Tata - the name itself embodies everything good within it. Good culture, quality, values, ethics. Having worked for a Tata group company, I used to and still continue to admire the group for what it symbolizes in today's corporate India. In fact it has been a true champion of Indian excellence right through the 100 years of its existence since the first wasps of smoke started bellowing from the Sakchi plant of Tata Iron & Steel Company (TISCO) in 1907. Sakchi, later renamed as Jamshedpur is now a UN Global Compact City and it defeated the only other Indian nominee Bangalore.
A strong ethics and value system has always been a hallmark of the Tatas and the greatest testimony is in the fact that 100 year old Tata Steel has stopped working only once due to labor unrest and that too way back in the 2nd decade of the previous century! Their commitment to philanthropy and human values defies comparision. Read LN Mittal's description of his visit to Tata Steel below:
" I visited Jamshedpur over the weekend to see for myself an India that is fast disappearing despite all the wolf-cries of people like Narayanamurthy and his ilk. It is one thing to talk and quite another to do and I am delighted to tell you that Ratan Tata has kept alive the legacy of perhaps India's finest industrialist J.N. Tata. Something that some people doubted when Ratan took over the House of the Tata's but in hindsight, the best thing to have happened to the Tata's is unquestionably Ratan. I was amazed to see the extent of corporate philanthropy and this is no exaggeration.
For the breed that talks about corporate social responsibility and talks about the role of corporate India, a visit to Jamshedpur is a must. Go there and see the amount of money they pump into keeping the town going; see the smiling faces of workers in a region known for industrial unrest; see the standard of living in a city that is almost isolated from the mess in the rest of the country.
This is not meant to be a puff piece. I have nothing to do with Tata Steel, but I strongly believe the message of hope and the message of goodness that they are spreading is worth sharing. The fact that you do have companies in India which look at workers as human beings and who do not blow their software trumpet of having changed lives. In fact, I asked Mr. Muthuraman, the managing director, as to why he was so quiet about all they had done and all he could offer in return was a smile wrapped in humility, which said it all. They have done so much more since I last visited Jamshedpur, which was in 1992. The town has obviously got busier but the values thankfully haven't changed.
The food is still as amazing as it always was and I gorged, as I would normally do. I visited the plant and the last time I did that was with Russi Mody. But the plant this time was gleaming and far from what it used to be. Greener and cleaner and a tribute to environment management. You could have been in the mountains. Such was the quality of air I inhaled! There was no belching smoke; no tired faces and so many more women workers, even on the shop floor. This is true gender equality and not the kind that is often espoused at seminars organised by angry activists. I met so many old friends. Most of them have aged but not grown old. There was a spring in the air which came from a certain calmness which has always been the hallmark of
Jamshedpur and something I savoured for a full two days in between receiving messages of how boring and decrepit the lack lustre Fashion Week was.
Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata had created an edifice that is today a robust company and it is not about profits and about valuation. It is not about who becomes a millionaire and who doesn't'. It is about getting the job done with dignity and respect keeping the age-old values intact and this is what I learnt. I jokingly asked someone as to whether they ever thought of joining an Infosys or a Wipro and pat came the reply: "We are not interested in becoming crorepatis [millionaires]
but in making others crorepatis [millionaires]." Which is exactly what the Tata's have done for years in and around Jamshedpur. Very few people know that Jamshedpur has been selected as a UN Global Compact City, edging out the other nominee from India, Bangalore. Selected because of the quality of life, because of the conditions of sanitation and roads and welfare. If this is not a tribute to industrial India, then what is? Today, India needs several Jamshedpurs but it also needs this Jamshedpur to be given its fair due, its recognition. I am tired of campus visits being publicised to the Infosys and the Wipro's of the world.
Modern India is being built in Jamshedpur as we speak. An India built on the strength of core convictions and nothing was more apparent about that than the experiment with truth and reality that Tata Steel is conducting at Pipla.
Forty-eight tribal girls (yes, tribal girls who these corrupt and evil politicians only talk about but do nothing for) are being educated through a residential program over nine months. I went to visit them and I spoke to them in a language that they have just learnt: Bengali. Eight weeks ago, they could only speak in Sainthali, their local dialect. But today, they are brimming with a confidence that will bring tears to your eyes. It did to mine. One of them has just been selected to represent Jharkand in the state archery competition. They have their own women's football team and what's more they are now fond of education. It is a passion and not a burden.
This was possible because I guess people like Ratan Tata and Muthurman haven't sold their souls to some business management drivel, which tells us that we must only do business and nothing else. The fact that not one Tata executive has been touched by the Naxalites in that area talks about the social respect that the Tata's have earned.
The Tata's do not need this piece to be praised and lauded. My intent is to share the larger picture that we so often miss in the haze of the slime and sleaze that politics imparts. My submissions to those who use phrases such as "feel-good" and "India Shining" is first visit Jamshedpur to understand what it all means. See Tata Steel in action to know what companies can do if they wish to. And what corporate India needs to do. Murli Manohar Joshi would be better off seeing what Tata Steel has done by creating the Xavier Institute of Tribal Education rather than by proffering excuses for the imbroglio in the IIMs. This is where the Advanis and Vajpayees need to pay homage. Not to all the Sai Babas and the Hugging saints that they are so busy with. India is changing inspite of them and they need to realise that.
I couldn't have spent a more humane and wonderful weekend. Jamshedpur is an eyeopener and a role model, which should be made mandatory for replication. I saw corporate India actually participate in basic nation-building, for when these tribal girls go back to their villages, they will return with knowledge that will truly be life-altering. Corporate India can do it but most of the time is willing to shy away. For those corporate leaders who are happier winning awards and being interviewed on their choice of clothes, my advise is visit Tata Steel, spend some days at Jamshedpur and see a nation's transformation. That is true service and true nationalism. Tata Steel will celebrate 100 years of existence in 2007. It won't be just a milestone in this company's history. It will be a milestone, to my mind of corporate transparency and generosity in this country. It is indeed fitting that Ratan Tata today heads a group which has people who are committed to nation-building than just building influence and power. JRD must be smiling wherever he is. And so must Jamshedji Nusserwanji. These people today have literally climbed every last blue mountain. And continue to do so with vigour and passion. Thank god for the Tata's !"
A steel magnate himself, LN Mittal's words as above speaks volumes of the Tatas and their contribution to corporate India. The Tatas fully deserve the global respect that they command from CEO's to the poorest of all because of their yeoman service to the nation. As always its a Game of Quid Pro Quo - you give some you take some
A strong ethics and value system has always been a hallmark of the Tatas and the greatest testimony is in the fact that 100 year old Tata Steel has stopped working only once due to labor unrest and that too way back in the 2nd decade of the previous century! Their commitment to philanthropy and human values defies comparision. Read LN Mittal's description of his visit to Tata Steel below:
" I visited Jamshedpur over the weekend to see for myself an India that is fast disappearing despite all the wolf-cries of people like Narayanamurthy and his ilk. It is one thing to talk and quite another to do and I am delighted to tell you that Ratan Tata has kept alive the legacy of perhaps India's finest industrialist J.N. Tata. Something that some people doubted when Ratan took over the House of the Tata's but in hindsight, the best thing to have happened to the Tata's is unquestionably Ratan. I was amazed to see the extent of corporate philanthropy and this is no exaggeration.
For the breed that talks about corporate social responsibility and talks about the role of corporate India, a visit to Jamshedpur is a must. Go there and see the amount of money they pump into keeping the town going; see the smiling faces of workers in a region known for industrial unrest; see the standard of living in a city that is almost isolated from the mess in the rest of the country.
This is not meant to be a puff piece. I have nothing to do with Tata Steel, but I strongly believe the message of hope and the message of goodness that they are spreading is worth sharing. The fact that you do have companies in India which look at workers as human beings and who do not blow their software trumpet of having changed lives. In fact, I asked Mr. Muthuraman, the managing director, as to why he was so quiet about all they had done and all he could offer in return was a smile wrapped in humility, which said it all. They have done so much more since I last visited Jamshedpur, which was in 1992. The town has obviously got busier but the values thankfully haven't changed.
The food is still as amazing as it always was and I gorged, as I would normally do. I visited the plant and the last time I did that was with Russi Mody. But the plant this time was gleaming and far from what it used to be. Greener and cleaner and a tribute to environment management. You could have been in the mountains. Such was the quality of air I inhaled! There was no belching smoke; no tired faces and so many more women workers, even on the shop floor. This is true gender equality and not the kind that is often espoused at seminars organised by angry activists. I met so many old friends. Most of them have aged but not grown old. There was a spring in the air which came from a certain calmness which has always been the hallmark of
Jamshedpur and something I savoured for a full two days in between receiving messages of how boring and decrepit the lack lustre Fashion Week was.
Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata had created an edifice that is today a robust company and it is not about profits and about valuation. It is not about who becomes a millionaire and who doesn't'. It is about getting the job done with dignity and respect keeping the age-old values intact and this is what I learnt. I jokingly asked someone as to whether they ever thought of joining an Infosys or a Wipro and pat came the reply: "We are not interested in becoming crorepatis [millionaires]
but in making others crorepatis [millionaires]." Which is exactly what the Tata's have done for years in and around Jamshedpur. Very few people know that Jamshedpur has been selected as a UN Global Compact City, edging out the other nominee from India, Bangalore. Selected because of the quality of life, because of the conditions of sanitation and roads and welfare. If this is not a tribute to industrial India, then what is? Today, India needs several Jamshedpurs but it also needs this Jamshedpur to be given its fair due, its recognition. I am tired of campus visits being publicised to the Infosys and the Wipro's of the world.
Modern India is being built in Jamshedpur as we speak. An India built on the strength of core convictions and nothing was more apparent about that than the experiment with truth and reality that Tata Steel is conducting at Pipla.
Forty-eight tribal girls (yes, tribal girls who these corrupt and evil politicians only talk about but do nothing for) are being educated through a residential program over nine months. I went to visit them and I spoke to them in a language that they have just learnt: Bengali. Eight weeks ago, they could only speak in Sainthali, their local dialect. But today, they are brimming with a confidence that will bring tears to your eyes. It did to mine. One of them has just been selected to represent Jharkand in the state archery competition. They have their own women's football team and what's more they are now fond of education. It is a passion and not a burden.
This was possible because I guess people like Ratan Tata and Muthurman haven't sold their souls to some business management drivel, which tells us that we must only do business and nothing else. The fact that not one Tata executive has been touched by the Naxalites in that area talks about the social respect that the Tata's have earned.
The Tata's do not need this piece to be praised and lauded. My intent is to share the larger picture that we so often miss in the haze of the slime and sleaze that politics imparts. My submissions to those who use phrases such as "feel-good" and "India Shining" is first visit Jamshedpur to understand what it all means. See Tata Steel in action to know what companies can do if they wish to. And what corporate India needs to do. Murli Manohar Joshi would be better off seeing what Tata Steel has done by creating the Xavier Institute of Tribal Education rather than by proffering excuses for the imbroglio in the IIMs. This is where the Advanis and Vajpayees need to pay homage. Not to all the Sai Babas and the Hugging saints that they are so busy with. India is changing inspite of them and they need to realise that.
I couldn't have spent a more humane and wonderful weekend. Jamshedpur is an eyeopener and a role model, which should be made mandatory for replication. I saw corporate India actually participate in basic nation-building, for when these tribal girls go back to their villages, they will return with knowledge that will truly be life-altering. Corporate India can do it but most of the time is willing to shy away. For those corporate leaders who are happier winning awards and being interviewed on their choice of clothes, my advise is visit Tata Steel, spend some days at Jamshedpur and see a nation's transformation. That is true service and true nationalism. Tata Steel will celebrate 100 years of existence in 2007. It won't be just a milestone in this company's history. It will be a milestone, to my mind of corporate transparency and generosity in this country. It is indeed fitting that Ratan Tata today heads a group which has people who are committed to nation-building than just building influence and power. JRD must be smiling wherever he is. And so must Jamshedji Nusserwanji. These people today have literally climbed every last blue mountain. And continue to do so with vigour and passion. Thank god for the Tata's !"
A steel magnate himself, LN Mittal's words as above speaks volumes of the Tatas and their contribution to corporate India. The Tatas fully deserve the global respect that they command from CEO's to the poorest of all because of their yeoman service to the nation. As always its a Game of Quid Pro Quo - you give some you take some
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Importance - The craving and pitfalls
Value which one attaches to a thing or person translates into how less or more important a person or thing is. Importance is a craving for every person specially in or amongst a large group or even in a mutual relationship. The craving results in expectations which almost often remains unfulfilled. The result is a painful reconciliation to the newer level of importance and revised lesser expectations. An out of the box parallel could be drawn with the stock market as well. Investors invest in a stock assuming an expected return and hence the price of the stock increases due to the demand! The stock's price being unjustified or expectations being higher than what the worth is corrects itself when the investors realized the expectations which leads to lesser importance to the stock and lesser expectations!
Why, Expectation is an important metric in the statistics by which we anticipate the future expected values of an event!
Coming back to a much more complex arena of humanity, what happens when the importance you felt you had isnt what it actually is. Or more ironically it has changed or changes periodically as per the wants of the second person involved. Personal experience tells me, most likely either you have misread the situation and thought you were important but you actually are not! This atleast one can blame oneself! But what about the periodically or situationally changing ones? Objectively importance cannot be constant and has to change periodically for any person! However there has to be a basic level attached to everyone and this basic level shoud ideally be constant. However, personal experience also shows that most often even this does not happen.
Most often you would see people turning up to you in times of pressure and need and then and then an abject disregard after the wind has blown away. This also takes me to the subject of being taken for granted but let's that keep for the next post!
Conclusion is importance is good and creates a feel-good warmth. It also comes with it the risks of being rejected and disregarded later. Maybe even in this its give and take - initially you give the importance to a person and later take the disregard with pain! Game of Quid Pro Quo as always it is!
Why, Expectation is an important metric in the statistics by which we anticipate the future expected values of an event!
Coming back to a much more complex arena of humanity, what happens when the importance you felt you had isnt what it actually is. Or more ironically it has changed or changes periodically as per the wants of the second person involved. Personal experience tells me, most likely either you have misread the situation and thought you were important but you actually are not! This atleast one can blame oneself! But what about the periodically or situationally changing ones? Objectively importance cannot be constant and has to change periodically for any person! However there has to be a basic level attached to everyone and this basic level shoud ideally be constant. However, personal experience also shows that most often even this does not happen.
Most often you would see people turning up to you in times of pressure and need and then and then an abject disregard after the wind has blown away. This also takes me to the subject of being taken for granted but let's that keep for the next post!
Conclusion is importance is good and creates a feel-good warmth. It also comes with it the risks of being rejected and disregarded later. Maybe even in this its give and take - initially you give the importance to a person and later take the disregard with pain! Game of Quid Pro Quo as always it is!
Friday, August 31, 2007
KRISHNA - THE ULTIMATE
" Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Faleshu Kadachana"
- Bhagvad Gita
Hindu mythology presents a diverse diaspora of several epics and stories which to the common man may sound fantastic as well as a fantasy but in the truest sense they reflect the entire vivid rainbow of humanity. The variety of characters and situations that it depicts still remains to be completely unravelled . What follows here in this page is a modest attempt to dissect a persona that has no parallel in India and that which doubtless encompasses humanity in its entirety , possesses all the qualities of a human and yet is different in all possible aspects . He is none other than KRISHNA - THE ULTIMATE , or also famous as GOVIND, NARAYANA, HARI. He has been described as the one who possesses a thousand names ( he is called the "Sahasranamdhari" ) , as the one who is comparable to none, one who has no beginning ( He is called "Anaadi" ) and the One who has no end ("Anant ").
The Hindu stories have maximum references to him and He epitomizes values in their variety, nature in its naturality . The story of his birth itself indicates what lies in store ahead for those who listen to His stories. He was born on the Ashtami of the "shravan" month of Hindu calendar in the Shukla Paksha . The myth surrounding his birth in a stormy night in the prison bars of Mathura to Devaki and Vasudev is famous and every Indian child listens to it with rapt attention when the story sessions of grandmothers begin.
The antics of the lord in his childhood are glorified as His " Leela" or sport and countless sonnets and ballads have been written and sung over the millennia in every Indian language possible . Even today a child is referred as "Balakrishna" ( Little Krishna ) when he bowls over his mother with his playfulness. It is perceived that the Lord was giving his mother "Moksha" ( salvation) by his pleasing antics . The great poet Soordas in his lyrical ode to the Lord's childhood has mentioned that the greatness that Yashoda has achieved by being a mere spectator is more than what can be achieved by great seers in seven rebirths. Poets have been rendered speechless when they perceive the sheer humanity in his playfulness and Hindi literature is abundant with such Mother - Son sequences.
As the child grew up his activities took a different turn. The cowherds and the cows became His companions in His Sport . Though he behaved humanly the Lord showed glimpses of His being the "Avatar Purush " like His lifting of the Govardhan mountain in His little finger and thus showing Indra who is the Supreme . The people of Vrindavan adored him and their adoration was their "Bhakti ". In fact this form of "Bhakti " called the " Prem - Bhakti " ( devotion through love) is the most important message of Krishna .
Hindu philosophy advocates two forms of Bhakti to attain salvation . One is the "Gyan Marg" and the other "Prem Marg". Through the former one attains the Lord by gaining knowledge and preaching the same about HIm. The latter is the more simpler asks the Bhaktas to love the Lord himself , not as a Lord but as a companion . Here one must mention that this love is echelons above what we today term as love. "prem" as our texts say is a spiritual phenomenon which is a "Sangam" of two souls. In case of Bhakti it is the confluence of the "atma" and the "Parmatma".Hindi poets like Soordas, Raskhan , Meera have described in great elaboration the worth of such form of Bhakti and who better than the most beautiful of them all - Krishna Himself .The character of Akroor in the Bhagvat Puran is to demonstrate the superiority of the Prem Marg over the other.
Krishna's "Raas - Leela" is one of the striking phase of his incarnation. Legend has it that every Gopika loved Him in her heart but social barriers prevented them from expression. This also indicates that Bhakti is without barriers and does not remain confined within the societal rules. It is said that the Lord in His Sport once asked Devi Durga to descend to Vrindavan and advise all the Gopikas to think of their beloved and fast for a period of 40 days succeeding which they would be granted their beloveds. Everybody wished Krishna and waited for 40 painful days which is also famous in Hindi as " Viyog Parv". At the end of the Parv as promised Krishna with His Maya became omnipresnt and every Gopika thought that He was with her. But in reality He was with his consort Radha. The Bhakti of Radha is unparalleled in Indian Mythology. The union of Radha-Krishna is the ultimate confluence of the "Jivatma " with the Supreme Being and it also shows that marriage is not necessarily the final resort of Love.
This story has all the shades of a classical but spritual romance. Even today Hindi film songs directly refer to the saga of Radha - Krishna . Every aspect -from Krishna teasing his consort near the Yamuna ("Bhor bhaye panghat par , mohe natkhat Sham sataye") to Radha getting angry with Him is encompassed in our literature. Poets have narrated incidents galore of this phase of the Lord's life.
The last and final major aspect of Krishna's life is his role as a Kshatriya and as a master craftsman. Krishna was the Indian Machiavelli and advocated immortal principles in the Gita which if followed even today will lead to success as well as peace of mind. He was the first to advise the businessmen to start the lending business.Legend tells that when Jarasandh invaded Mathura , it did not have the resources to lead the fightback. Krishna much to everyone's indignation advised that resources be generated from the lower "Vaishyas". His philosophy that they were also citizens and they also had equal responsibility towards the safety of the city.Moreover they being businessmen would never want to lose money and hence would bless the Kshatriyas to victory to satisfy their purpose. His role in the Kurukshetra War is an open book to all. His policy was to counter Dharma with Dharma but to tolerate Adharma taking Dharma's resort is a crime. Thus he defined His actions in the war as Dharma when he defeated Drona , Karna , Duryodhana taking resort to unlawful means.
Krishna is a Philosophy in Himself, combining an institution of rules , variety of emotions that engraves in itself the humanity in its entirety. The Bhagvad Gita is a Bible for us . It prescribes one to be not a "Bhakta Yogi" but asks us to be a "Karma Yogi". Our authority is confined to the job only and not in its results. {"Ma Falesu Kadachana"). His life is statement on way of life on all the 4 stages of life and each and every action of His is an education in itself and worthy of replication .
The above is only a small attempt to cover a persona which has been tried in vain through millennia by poets and preachers, seers and sages. Much water has flowed down the Kalindi (Yamuna) since His days but the Vrindavan still abounds by His charms. His "Venu Vadya" ( Flute) still resonates in the greens and even now the Raag "Brindavan Saarang" brings delight to the true lovers as well as the peacocks which wait eternally for their lover , the "Sawan" (rain drops) as Radha waited and is still waiting for Him to return.
- Bhagvad Gita
Hindu mythology presents a diverse diaspora of several epics and stories which to the common man may sound fantastic as well as a fantasy but in the truest sense they reflect the entire vivid rainbow of humanity. The variety of characters and situations that it depicts still remains to be completely unravelled . What follows here in this page is a modest attempt to dissect a persona that has no parallel in India and that which doubtless encompasses humanity in its entirety , possesses all the qualities of a human and yet is different in all possible aspects . He is none other than KRISHNA - THE ULTIMATE , or also famous as GOVIND, NARAYANA, HARI. He has been described as the one who possesses a thousand names ( he is called the "Sahasranamdhari" ) , as the one who is comparable to none, one who has no beginning ( He is called "Anaadi" ) and the One who has no end ("Anant ").
The Hindu stories have maximum references to him and He epitomizes values in their variety, nature in its naturality . The story of his birth itself indicates what lies in store ahead for those who listen to His stories. He was born on the Ashtami of the "shravan" month of Hindu calendar in the Shukla Paksha . The myth surrounding his birth in a stormy night in the prison bars of Mathura to Devaki and Vasudev is famous and every Indian child listens to it with rapt attention when the story sessions of grandmothers begin.
The antics of the lord in his childhood are glorified as His " Leela" or sport and countless sonnets and ballads have been written and sung over the millennia in every Indian language possible . Even today a child is referred as "Balakrishna" ( Little Krishna ) when he bowls over his mother with his playfulness. It is perceived that the Lord was giving his mother "Moksha" ( salvation) by his pleasing antics . The great poet Soordas in his lyrical ode to the Lord's childhood has mentioned that the greatness that Yashoda has achieved by being a mere spectator is more than what can be achieved by great seers in seven rebirths. Poets have been rendered speechless when they perceive the sheer humanity in his playfulness and Hindi literature is abundant with such Mother - Son sequences.
As the child grew up his activities took a different turn. The cowherds and the cows became His companions in His Sport . Though he behaved humanly the Lord showed glimpses of His being the "Avatar Purush " like His lifting of the Govardhan mountain in His little finger and thus showing Indra who is the Supreme . The people of Vrindavan adored him and their adoration was their "Bhakti ". In fact this form of "Bhakti " called the " Prem - Bhakti " ( devotion through love) is the most important message of Krishna .
Hindu philosophy advocates two forms of Bhakti to attain salvation . One is the "Gyan Marg" and the other "Prem Marg". Through the former one attains the Lord by gaining knowledge and preaching the same about HIm. The latter is the more simpler asks the Bhaktas to love the Lord himself , not as a Lord but as a companion . Here one must mention that this love is echelons above what we today term as love. "prem" as our texts say is a spiritual phenomenon which is a "Sangam" of two souls. In case of Bhakti it is the confluence of the "atma" and the "Parmatma".Hindi poets like Soordas, Raskhan , Meera have described in great elaboration the worth of such form of Bhakti and who better than the most beautiful of them all - Krishna Himself .The character of Akroor in the Bhagvat Puran is to demonstrate the superiority of the Prem Marg over the other.
Krishna's "Raas - Leela" is one of the striking phase of his incarnation. Legend has it that every Gopika loved Him in her heart but social barriers prevented them from expression. This also indicates that Bhakti is without barriers and does not remain confined within the societal rules. It is said that the Lord in His Sport once asked Devi Durga to descend to Vrindavan and advise all the Gopikas to think of their beloved and fast for a period of 40 days succeeding which they would be granted their beloveds. Everybody wished Krishna and waited for 40 painful days which is also famous in Hindi as " Viyog Parv". At the end of the Parv as promised Krishna with His Maya became omnipresnt and every Gopika thought that He was with her. But in reality He was with his consort Radha. The Bhakti of Radha is unparalleled in Indian Mythology. The union of Radha-Krishna is the ultimate confluence of the "Jivatma " with the Supreme Being and it also shows that marriage is not necessarily the final resort of Love.
This story has all the shades of a classical but spritual romance. Even today Hindi film songs directly refer to the saga of Radha - Krishna . Every aspect -from Krishna teasing his consort near the Yamuna ("Bhor bhaye panghat par , mohe natkhat Sham sataye") to Radha getting angry with Him is encompassed in our literature. Poets have narrated incidents galore of this phase of the Lord's life.
The last and final major aspect of Krishna's life is his role as a Kshatriya and as a master craftsman. Krishna was the Indian Machiavelli and advocated immortal principles in the Gita which if followed even today will lead to success as well as peace of mind. He was the first to advise the businessmen to start the lending business.Legend tells that when Jarasandh invaded Mathura , it did not have the resources to lead the fightback. Krishna much to everyone's indignation advised that resources be generated from the lower "Vaishyas". His philosophy that they were also citizens and they also had equal responsibility towards the safety of the city.Moreover they being businessmen would never want to lose money and hence would bless the Kshatriyas to victory to satisfy their purpose. His role in the Kurukshetra War is an open book to all. His policy was to counter Dharma with Dharma but to tolerate Adharma taking Dharma's resort is a crime. Thus he defined His actions in the war as Dharma when he defeated Drona , Karna , Duryodhana taking resort to unlawful means.
Krishna is a Philosophy in Himself, combining an institution of rules , variety of emotions that engraves in itself the humanity in its entirety. The Bhagvad Gita is a Bible for us . It prescribes one to be not a "Bhakta Yogi" but asks us to be a "Karma Yogi". Our authority is confined to the job only and not in its results. {"Ma Falesu Kadachana"). His life is statement on way of life on all the 4 stages of life and each and every action of His is an education in itself and worthy of replication .
The above is only a small attempt to cover a persona which has been tried in vain through millennia by poets and preachers, seers and sages. Much water has flowed down the Kalindi (Yamuna) since His days but the Vrindavan still abounds by His charms. His "Venu Vadya" ( Flute) still resonates in the greens and even now the Raag "Brindavan Saarang" brings delight to the true lovers as well as the peacocks which wait eternally for their lover , the "Sawan" (rain drops) as Radha waited and is still waiting for Him to return.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Why are we moving away??
How does our past influence us? Specially the past which was never a part of our lives and about which we have only heard and read about in books. The past of our country which is seeing a sea-change in attitudes tastes and preferences now. The new brigade is seen to be in an advantageous position because it was brought up in post liberalization era where profits where not wrong, extravagance was appreciated and envied and flaunting the order of the day. If you have it show it was the mantra. Now that cud be wealth to well-toned bodies! This brigade was talented and energetic to work hard and dared to dream. Situtaion demanded people who could shape up their dreams and lo behold! here appeared encouragement from all quarters including politics, media and what not...People might be wondering where this piece of prose is heading....It actually heads nowhere because we, ourselves as a society are heading where??? to nowhere....Every major city is at a cusp of conflicting and confused identities. A traditional Chennai is gradually being dumped with resto-bars and lounge-bars and unfortunately the increase in them is equated with city getting developed! Where have more logical parameters like transport, infrastructure, roads gone?
Gone is the old charm of Calcutta with its Durga Puja...the Puja itself competes with discs and extravagance and flaunting of the people. There is a clear divide amongst people who still listen RabindraSangeet and the new brigade which has been rarely exposed to it!
This is not a pessimistic or a communist feeling that we should revert back to old days because old is gold. India today is at an exciting threshold now. The people who dare to dream never had it so good. Profits are not decried anymore and rather any wealth & prosperity obtained through hard work is exemplified and eulogised! However, as an individual I am at splitsville to say the least...Is allegiance to traditions foolhardy? Why cant we look into the rationale of our traditions and then reject them? Arent we still under colonial influence only that it is being replaced by reasons like globalization and westernization? Why still anyone speaking better English is thought to be better or smarter? Why do people have to freak out at pubs and malls to celebrate? Why is extravagance = celebration? And what if I dont want that shall I be called as a 91 year old instead of 19?
On one hand we seem to be self-assured and confident and on one hand we seem to be confused...Societal and peer pressures try to shake off the Indian roots but something which is ingrained is impossible to amputate...Its thrown everybody from politicians to portfolio managers, from brand managers to media into a topsy turvy zone where you can only expected the unexpected to happen....
At threshold of its 60th Independence Day, India is still like a new bride who is waiting for her "ghoonghat" to be pushed over and her moon-face to be revealed! Lets not forget ourselves in the deluge of consumerism! Lets bring new ideas and theories to explain ourselves rather than resorting to existing ones! Because India is new! And as is the trend the Indian mantra we always follow Bollywood - "Chak De India"...Lets give her our best...and take the best from her!
As always you give some you take some! A Game Of Quid Pro Quo
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The recordings of what we played...
The recordings of what we played in Denovo...
The first is an adaptation of Titanic soundtrack!
Second is our version of Motherland an adaptation to fusion in Raag Jog...
Listen and let me know
The first is an adaptation of Titanic soundtrack!
|
Second is our version of Motherland an adaptation to fusion in Raag Jog...
|
Listen and let me know
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Denovo 2007 NITIE's annual cultural day
Denovo - NITIE's annual cultural day happens once the juniors come in and are asked to showcase their cultual talent to the seniors, faculty and staff. Completely different time in the life of an MBA student always into business and money. This Denovo was special as it also marked the launch of the cultural club a concept a few of us have been carrying in our hearts for long.
One of my very few satisfactory performances and definitely a sea change in terms of experience...we played instrumental fusion with Anuj n Jajoo on electric, dawn on harmonica, Sameer on Tabla and Jayanth on mridangam (percussionists after a loooong time!) and yours truly on the violin...The idea was to showcase all the talents as well as present music as a universal language....hence the choice of a Indian base track on Raag Jog and the Titanic track for the western base...
The initial exhilaration of listening to the motherland of L Subramaniam quickly vapored away as it was too hot to handle....then started customizations suiting our standards...greatest challenge for me was I had to lead the track the way Subramaniam had done....and he being who he is, is impossible to replicate...moreover as the track provided ample scope for improvisation, clamping down on that and setting up a nice framework encompassing Jog and within a minute and half, playing a bit of jazz in it as welll....but all's well that ends well and in my opinion it ended really well....
Titanic was something we had played last year and though the output wasnt satisfactory, last year's experience was valuable....Jayanth's addition to this group proved invaluable as his mridangam blended beautifully with the western sounds...there was a time when Titanic sounded like Therukoothu (Tamil folk)!
Appreciation was instantaneous and immense! But quite a lot to learn...most importantly if you put in the effort - in practise as well as in minor things like setting the pitch, accoustics, tuning of instruments- it pays you handsomely...again it boils down to a Game of Quid Pro Quo - you give some you take some!
One of my very few satisfactory performances and definitely a sea change in terms of experience...we played instrumental fusion with Anuj n Jajoo on electric, dawn on harmonica, Sameer on Tabla and Jayanth on mridangam (percussionists after a loooong time!) and yours truly on the violin...The idea was to showcase all the talents as well as present music as a universal language....hence the choice of a Indian base track on Raag Jog and the Titanic track for the western base...
The initial exhilaration of listening to the motherland of L Subramaniam quickly vapored away as it was too hot to handle....then started customizations suiting our standards...greatest challenge for me was I had to lead the track the way Subramaniam had done....and he being who he is, is impossible to replicate...moreover as the track provided ample scope for improvisation, clamping down on that and setting up a nice framework encompassing Jog and within a minute and half, playing a bit of jazz in it as welll....but all's well that ends well and in my opinion it ended really well....
Titanic was something we had played last year and though the output wasnt satisfactory, last year's experience was valuable....Jayanth's addition to this group proved invaluable as his mridangam blended beautifully with the western sounds...there was a time when Titanic sounded like Therukoothu (Tamil folk)!
Appreciation was instantaneous and immense! But quite a lot to learn...most importantly if you put in the effort - in practise as well as in minor things like setting the pitch, accoustics, tuning of instruments- it pays you handsomely...again it boils down to a Game of Quid Pro Quo - you give some you take some!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
A Bunch of Juniors
Being a part of the Impact team @ NITIE has been an exhilarating experience! More so because many hundreds of people who aspire to be amongst us here or for that matter in any top school look up to us. There is this certain aura that is present which makes people in a b-school seem out of the world to those who arent.
The heydays of Impact are the 4 days of GD/PI on campus where a bunch of more than 800 students vie for a 100 odd places in college. So many questions, so many doubts, so many aspirations! It seemed as though a few of our statements could possibly change their decisions and hence the course of their career! It instilled in us a greater sense of responsibility that made us more careful and more empathetic to the varied situations of the aspirants and their vivid descriptions :)
The better part ofcourse is the Induction season once the new batch lands on campus! Now the eyes are a bit less starry but full of questions none the less! The questions though now vary and veer towards profiles and jobs and studies and on the lesser side proxies mess food better cell connections! Everywhere and anywhere there are juniors smiling and saying a hi! Many many more people know you and respect you just because you are a solitary year senior to them in a b-school! So we have all the rights to give as much gyaan as possible (Gyaan is and will always be any MBA's forte! :P). They aspire to be in committees and contribute to the college! We aspire to get the best candidates to our committees and I am dead sure that a lot of wrangling over a few juniors (especially the girls) is going to take place over the nexr week!
Yes next week! Will be the most critical for all committees as they choose their future batch over a 4 day sessions of interviews and double interviews and shortlists and what not! Will leave both the batches tired but definitely excited! I for one am looking forward to seeing a bunch of juniors answer our questions diligently and trying to be one of Impact!
But all said and done borrowing from one of the famous ad lines...
"Buying a house-15 lakhs, Rajinikanth's fees in Sivaji- 15 crores, meeting a bunch of juniors at any time of the day or night - priceless"
6 months more in this campus! Intend to work hard a lot! Party and booze a lot and emerge out with a satisfaction of having contributed in some small way to the college and guided several younger and impressionable minds to their own paths! No doubt involves a lot of hard work and compromise on your own time! But as always its a "Game of quid pro quo - you give some, you take some"
The heydays of Impact are the 4 days of GD/PI on campus where a bunch of more than 800 students vie for a 100 odd places in college. So many questions, so many doubts, so many aspirations! It seemed as though a few of our statements could possibly change their decisions and hence the course of their career! It instilled in us a greater sense of responsibility that made us more careful and more empathetic to the varied situations of the aspirants and their vivid descriptions :)
The better part ofcourse is the Induction season once the new batch lands on campus! Now the eyes are a bit less starry but full of questions none the less! The questions though now vary and veer towards profiles and jobs and studies and on the lesser side proxies mess food better cell connections! Everywhere and anywhere there are juniors smiling and saying a hi! Many many more people know you and respect you just because you are a solitary year senior to them in a b-school! So we have all the rights to give as much gyaan as possible (Gyaan is and will always be any MBA's forte! :P). They aspire to be in committees and contribute to the college! We aspire to get the best candidates to our committees and I am dead sure that a lot of wrangling over a few juniors (especially the girls) is going to take place over the nexr week!
Yes next week! Will be the most critical for all committees as they choose their future batch over a 4 day sessions of interviews and double interviews and shortlists and what not! Will leave both the batches tired but definitely excited! I for one am looking forward to seeing a bunch of juniors answer our questions diligently and trying to be one of Impact!
But all said and done borrowing from one of the famous ad lines...
"Buying a house-15 lakhs, Rajinikanth's fees in Sivaji- 15 crores, meeting a bunch of juniors at any time of the day or night - priceless"
6 months more in this campus! Intend to work hard a lot! Party and booze a lot and emerge out with a satisfaction of having contributed in some small way to the college and guided several younger and impressionable minds to their own paths! No doubt involves a lot of hard work and compromise on your own time! But as always its a "Game of quid pro quo - you give some, you take some"
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Finance after all!!!!!!!!
Finance...most glamorous subject, profession, domain and what not...the study of tricks with money or what is popularly or pristinely termed as investment banking, has to have big bucks..after all one is playing with big money and that too that of others..winning some and losing some....Therefore we come to define rather think of the subject of finance as one which deals with money...Ways and means of making money.
However a very interesting paradox is you cant make money from anything or nothing...To make money you got to have money.now where do you get that money from...Before this leads to the usual chicken and the egg scenario let us focus on the subject- as the typical MBA would say-..Money...What is money after all?? One would think what a stupid question was that...It actually isnt...Come to think of it money is nothing but a notional value that one attaches...symbolized by the currency today and barter in the ancient days...Akin to a dot in geometry where it is a symbol which addresses the notion of a point..coming back to the subject, money has now led us to currency as we have to have a material object to represent....But what is a currency or very simply what does a 100-rupee note mean...Contrary to the general opinion it actually doesnt mean Rs 100...It is actually a promissory note by the governor of the RBI saying that he is liable to pay the holder Rs 100...so when we give a 100 rupee note to say a shopkeeper we actually transfer the liability to him. the conclusion- we all are behind wealth which in itself is a notion...
In fact nothing in finance is material...depreciation, cost of capital, net present value, you name it you can see...a subject that has evolved to be the most strategic one in the present times is one which is completely immaterialistic...
Possibly that is why people chase it...a mirage worth chasing all your life...finance...the subject..more you delve into it...more you theorize...more complex it becomes...
As always nature plays a game of quidproquo...you develop theories make more money and more complex it becomes for you to make more money....but the subject the notion lingers on....providing academic bliss to some and mystery to others....prosperity to some misery to others ( again notional mind you)....you give some you take some
However a very interesting paradox is you cant make money from anything or nothing...To make money you got to have money.now where do you get that money from...Before this leads to the usual chicken and the egg scenario let us focus on the subject- as the typical MBA would say-..Money...What is money after all?? One would think what a stupid question was that...It actually isnt...Come to think of it money is nothing but a notional value that one attaches...symbolized by the currency today and barter in the ancient days...Akin to a dot in geometry where it is a symbol which addresses the notion of a point..coming back to the subject, money has now led us to currency as we have to have a material object to represent....But what is a currency or very simply what does a 100-rupee note mean...Contrary to the general opinion it actually doesnt mean Rs 100...It is actually a promissory note by the governor of the RBI saying that he is liable to pay the holder Rs 100...so when we give a 100 rupee note to say a shopkeeper we actually transfer the liability to him. the conclusion- we all are behind wealth which in itself is a notion...
In fact nothing in finance is material...depreciation, cost of capital, net present value, you name it you can see...a subject that has evolved to be the most strategic one in the present times is one which is completely immaterialistic...
Possibly that is why people chase it...a mirage worth chasing all your life...finance...the subject..more you delve into it...more you theorize...more complex it becomes...
As always nature plays a game of quidproquo...you develop theories make more money and more complex it becomes for you to make more money....but the subject the notion lingers on....providing academic bliss to some and mystery to others....prosperity to some misery to others ( again notional mind you)....you give some you take some
Monday, October 16, 2006
Classical music fading away?????
Today the music is more an entertainment than a path to spirituality and salvation. The better the PR and hype greater the aura surrounding the artiste. Even the standard of the audience is derogating and the demands are more populist rather than classy. It is also evident from the trends in the more popular musical form of Bollywood film music. The purists might wrench their hearts but people are making money in the business. The correlation coefficient between quality product and business capability is fast tending towards zero. So what is the end of all this drama? As always you have to give lot of time sweat and patience to achieve class in the classiest form of classical music that India
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
2- The number The concept
Two. The prettiest number espousing the greatest concepts in logic, mathematics, philosophy, physics, electricity and why even database. The only even prime number in mathematics. The number whose powers can be added to get any integer of any magnitude. The number of logic states (0 and 1). The no of states in which an electric charge can exist. The number of physical states- male and female. The number of sides in a coin. Philosophy says Vidya and Avidya. Hindu Religion says Shiva and Shakti. Jews say Yahweh and Shekinah. Physics says proton and electron, neutrino and anti-neutrino and even matter and antimatter. And in each and every place when the two are fused they become the whole or there is nothing left of them. Or viewing from another angle the two are different sides of the same. Hinduism says Shiva and Shakti are incomplete without each other and truly they are two sides of the formless nameless spirit. Before Genesis the universe was void and thus when matter was created its opposite antimatter also came into existence.
All this brings us to the principle of duality which is the very basis of nature and for the more realized souls it’s the singularity in this duality that strikes.
Einstein showed that light has to be treated as a particle as a stream of photons to explain photo-electricity which thus came as a full circle in Physics after Newton’s corpuscular theory of light which was later disproved by Huygen’s wave theory to support interference and diffraction. It was then accepted that light can be treated as a particle as well as a wave in different conditions in concurrence with Nature’s duality. Similarly Einstein’s E=mc^2 also propounded that mass and energy are interconvertible and they are nothing but two different states in which any thing can exist. De Broglie’s equation also showed that even humans can be treated as a wave when they run but we don’t do that because the wavelength is too small to be significant. But one cannot deny its existence.
Even electricity and magnetism previously treated as separate subjects are now accepted as different expressions of the same force when seen from different frames of reference. The power of 2 and its powers can be seen from the Egyptian legend. It says that once a king was impressed with a farmer and asked to him choose anything as his reward. The clever farmer said that he wants the courtroom measured and for the first square inch he needs a rice grain and for each further square inch measured double the previous number of rice grains would be added. The king laughingly acceded but little did he expect that at the end of the measurement that number would be staggering.
Coming back to duality Nature has very rightly chosen this principle in order to maintain the balance in its scheme of things. The perfect example is the presence of two forms in its most exalted creation-humanity. Masculine and feminine are two completely contrasting forms having different views, ideas, psychology, mental make-up everything so to speak. But no one form is superior to the other as a whole. The feminine might be responsible to for the deliverance of new life but even that is not possible without the masculine. The spiritualists would say a child is the Divine’s reflection because it is a result of the union of the two forms and when the two forms unite in Nature – it might be physics, maths, philosophy- it becomes the whole and either completely destroys itself or creates a completely new form.
The Gita says the events are the results of one’s own actions. The old adage says “As you sow, so you reap”. Everything happens in a two bit cycle of cause and effect. Cause and effect- again two in number. That’s why they say Nature and life- “it’s a game of quid pro quo.” You give some you take some. Give and take.
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