Flitting between Cities

Travelling has,somehow ,become a part of my life.In the last 3 years, I have moved from one city to another, trying to take in whatever that city throws at me - in terms of people,climate,attitudes and culture. Starting from Panaji,Goa(where I worked !) ,moving on to Pune , to Chennai, to Bangalore,to Gurgaon-Delhi and now Bangalore again -(of course with trips to Mumbai thrown in from time to time) its been a great ride.

One thing travel gives you is a perspective.About how things are different in different cities - though unique and sometimes,necessary in their own way.The other thing it gives you is allegiance to that city. So when someone in Delhi says something about Chennai (or vice versa) which does not make sense - then you rise to that city's defence -because you have stayed there,and you know its not really true. Its a natural bond one forms with a city when one stays there and mingles with its people.Tough to explain.

So when one has to go back to a particular city again - it brings back fond memories.Your mind goes back to the great times you had there,not so long ago.Though you know,this time around - it'll bring you a whole new experience - you might meet a different set of people and have new things to talk about.Its this factor of the unknown - the ambiguous - that I love about travelling.

Have to keep travelling.Lots more to see. Lots more people to meet.Lots more experiences to have.

P.S.: Moving back to Gurgaon soon.New role,same company.New people.Different experiences?You bet.

Cheaper By the Kilo?

In Bombay, they sell bananas by the dozen.

In Bangalore, they sell 'em by the kilo. Neat,Huh?

The Axe Effect

Till some time, I'd just heard of the security ramp-up at the airports. A few days back, I got to see it too.

A deodorant in my personal baggage was stopped,screened and confiscated by airport authorities.This ,despite me making frantic attempts to save my poor li'l deodorant.I even sprayed it on myself to show them that it actually WAS a deodorant and not some fluid bomb!!!

Futile attempts.Finally I packed up and left. (I had a flight to catch)

Net loss of Rs 225/- (price of deodorant)

Net gain = Some avoidable body odour !!!!

On a more serious note, what happens when you donate your deodorant to airport authorities?Is there a way to get it back?Or get re-imbursed?Who is responsible?What if it wasn't a deodorant worth 200 bucks and was a Bvlgari perfume worth 4000 instead?

Security is indeed important and checks are necessary.But will passengers keep paying for it like this?

Business By Night

In the middle of the night,you get up and feel like having a coffee.Or maybe a tea.When you're a student,you get up, take your bike and find a chai-ka-tapri on the road -where you have your cup of chai with rickshwalas,paperwalas,truckwalas and of course your friends.But I wonder,if someone wants a better 'midnight-chai experience' then where will they go?

There are not too many cafes open in the middle of the night.And I'm wondering,why not?With so many night-only call-centers blooming all over the place,the time has come for some cafes/hotels to become all-nighters.That is the natural next step in the evolution of next-gen India,eh?Most big call-centers have a cafe in the office building -but the same is not the case with small,start-up call centers.

If taken to its logical conclusion, this could be a sizeable business for any cafe.I'm sure the idea is there in the right minds already.It probably needs some policy intervention from the government.

Till then, the chai-ka-tapri beckons..

Blogger break

This has been a blogging break for a bit too long.Work's been kind of busy.But will post something soon.(Not that many people are reading anyways!!!!hahahaha)

Rohit

Films of Change?

'54% of India's people are in the 15-25 age bracket.This is - well, the future generation - the generation that will define what India will become in the next few decades.' Haven't we heard this argument enough times in enough places?

But somewhere,we fail to realise how its already started changing the dynamic of our everyday existence.Today.

Film-makers have started realising that this is the segment of the population which will make or break a movie.Hence the number of family-entertainment movies have gone down - and the number of movies that appeal to this young audience have increased.The Hum Aapke Hai Kauns of this world have given way to experimental concepts - Dhoom,Salaam Namaste,Darna...series - Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor have given way to Mallika Sherawat and Emraan Hashmi.Yash Chopra now makes movies like Neal n Nikki!!!

I remember there was a time when there were discussions in the family as to whether Rangeela was a good movie to take young kids to - because of the levels of 'exposure' in the movie.Today, 'exposure' is in our drawing rooms - and audiences are lapping it up. Today Salaam Namaste -the 'live-in' movie - has become family entertainment - which just goes to show how the social fabric is fast changing from the times gone by. I'm not suggesting that if I decide on a live-in relationship with someone tommorow - my family will support me - but yes, they surely wouldn't be shocked when I mention it. And that is a HUGE change.

Films are becoming very representative of this 15-25 generation , their ideas and ideologies.And that generation is responding.The latest is a political-party by IIT-passouts promising 'corruption free governance'(seems straight out of Yuva).Then there are Rang De Basanti type candle-light protests at IndiaGate against the court decision on the Jessica Lal murder , another against reservations and quotas. And from the looks of it, these wont be the last ones.

Very rarely do I have positive things to say about Hindi films.They have generally been, well, too filmy for my liking.But if any of the above is even partly because of films - then those films and their messages deserve a pat on the back.

So here's to more RDBs,Yuvas , and a few Murders too!!!

Gurgaon's Travel Problems

This post has been long overdue.Anyone who's been in Gurgaon and has had to travel locally will identify with what I have to say.

Gurgaon has no public transport.No buses.No trains.No autorickshaws.There are just the Kolkata-ishtyle man-pulled cycle-rickshaws which take people from place to place locally.But these are slow and take almost 4 times the time that a motor-vehicle would.People travelling within Gurgaon on business -and their kind is increasing- have no means of public transport.Pretty sad, coming from a city which seems to be exploding on the development front and is supposed to be competing with Bangalore as a major MNC/IT/BPO hub. This lack of public transport is a serious challenge for travelling salesmen, to people new in the city and the people on temporary stays - for whom, a personal vehicle isn't a viable option.

I was wondering what could be a good answer to this problem.The easiest would be ,of course, to go in for the 3-wheeler meter-based rickshaws which ply in most other cities.Which would be great.But the quick implementation of which would be difficult.

When I was in Goa a couple of years back, for the first few days,I did not have a vehicle to commute.There were the state run buses - which ran at their own speeds.But a quicker way to get around was using the 'pilot' - a guy on a bike who would transport you from one place to another at good speeds.Typically, you haul yourself onto the backseat and the pilot takes you to your destination for an agreed-upon priceThis is a state-supported concept in Goa - and it works great - because long distances are covered quicker on 2 wheelers - and the fuel-efficiency of the 2 wheeler keeps the costs affordable to the traveller and the operator.

Could this work in Gurgaon?Worth a try.

Days Go By

The whole sentiment of college life finally being over.The overwhelming feeling of days gone by so quickly , never to return.

Just feeling like this song right now.

Days Go By - Keith Urban

I'm changing lanes and talkin' on the phone
Drivin' way too fast.
And the interstate's jammed with gunners like me
Afraid of comin' in last.
But somewhere in the race we run,
We're coming undone...

And days go by...
I can feel 'em flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind.
The cars go by...
Yeah it's all we've been given,
So you better start livin' right now
'Cause days go by...
Oh and a woo-hoo...


Out on the roof just the other night
I watched the world flash by,
Headlights, taillights,
Running through a river of neon signs.
Mmm-hmmm...
But somewhere in the rush I felt,
We're losing ourselves...

And days go by...
I can feel 'em flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind.
The cars go by...
Yeah it's all we've been given,
So you better start livin' right now,
And days go by...
Oh and a woo-hoo...
Yeah, the days go by...
Oh and a woo-hoo!


We think about tomorrow then it slips away.
Oh, yes, it does.
We talk about forever but we've only got today...

And the days go by...
I can feel 'em flyin'
Like a hand out the window as the cars go by...
Yeah it's all we've been given,
So you better start livin',
You better start livin',
Better start livin' right now!

'Cause days go by...
I can feel 'em flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind.
The cars go by...
Yeah it's all we've been given,
So you better start livin' right now...
'Cause days go by...
Oh and a woo-hoo...
Yeah, these days go by...
Oh and a woo-hooo!

Oh!
So take 'em by the hand,
They're yours and mine.
Take 'em by the hand,
And live your life.
Take 'em by the hand,
Don't let 'em all fly by!

Come on, Come on now...
Yeah!
Come on now!
Oh and a woo-hooo!
Don't you know the days go by...

The Myopic View

When I was in Bschool - and that wasn't a long time back, there always used to be 2 sides to things - there always used to be 2 or more viewpoints to consider,analyse ,decode - to arrive at an acceptable , 'middling' though workable solution.

And looking at things from an 'outside' perspective, I used to think - 'hey , how can this company make such a dumb mistake in their strategy??'

Now I discover I'm polarised.I'm on one side.I'm inside an organisation.Polarisation and objective perspectives don't go hand in hand. It becomes harder and harder to cultivate and maintain that objective streak.

So the battle for objectivity begins. The battle against blind belief in personal opinion and in organisational propaganda.And I surmise this will be a bigger fight on a professional front than work-related stress, corporate politicking or dangerous bosses .

Global Connections

Up until not so long ago, my experience of 'globalisation' was only restricted to the customary visits to McDonalds/Pizza Hut and consumption of fizzy cola drinks.Maybe a few friends working in BPOs here and there.

Had someone asked me 4 months back - " RP what do you think about globalisation?" - I would have given some pre-formatted MBA gyaan on foreign companies coming to India,setting up factories , selling their products ...all the normal MBA blah..the 'world-view' of things - as people call it.

But if someone asks me that question today, I will probably tell them how it feels to work together with people from different countries who share the same office workspace with you.How even though people come from drastically different cultures - they work on the same platform towards common goals. How world level ideas are translated into effective local action.

Its quite an intriguing , fascinating ,though novel and surely a 'global' experience.

For the Shoestringers

Sometime last year, I'd read an article on budget hotels and how there is a gap to be addressed in the Rs 800-1200 a night hotels.Now I have experienced the gap, having stayed at a few budget hotels in different cities. The one which I really liked , becomes the subject of this post.

A few days back , when I was in Bangalore, I stayed in Indione Hotels . At 975/- a night for a single room and 1175/- for a twin-bed ,it is one of the better bugdet hotels I have stayed at.The USP of the hotel is 'Smart Basics' - every facility/convenience is basic - the idea being - AC, TV,bed, compact bathrooms,and rooms are not unneccesarily large. The idea being - if you want frills , you gotta pay extra for it.

Every room has a table with a water glass and tumbler. If you need water , you have to fill up the tumbler from a cooler which is 10 metres outside your door.There is a dairy whitener ,tea-sachets,coffee sachets for you to make your own tea or coffee in the room.

Room service is charged extra. And if you go to the hotel restaurant, you get a basic menu to choose from- 2 sabjis, 1 chicken dish,dal and maybe a few fast food options.All priced at udipi prices - sandwich@ 20 bucks , dal @25 and so on.

Just a smart hotel with basic facilities that suit a non-fussy business traveller like me.

Hope there are more of these around in the next few years.

So....

I suddenly realised that I have a very receptive vocabulary.When I go to new places and I meet new people, I tend to pick up their style of speaking - their style of communication.

It is not a conscious choice - but it happens even before I know it.

When I was in Pune, I stayed with a Delhi-ite and a Chennai-ite.So I picked up a few words here and there - for example - chutiyap,pel diya (courtesy my Delhi roomie) and picked up a nasal 'uhh' .....courtesy my Chennaiwala roomie.

So when I had to ask a question - I went ' You new in Pune ,uhhh ??'.

Even while at it , I realised I had picked up the lingo.

Now, in the Nike Gurgaon office , people have a habit of starting every sentence with 'S0...' and I fear I will pick that up too in no time.

'So how are you today,Mr X?'
'S0 ,I went to this mall yesterday,and I saw.....'

Quite funny actually.Even while I'm doing it , I realise it. But its not in my control !!

And the experts even have a term for it - Neurolinguistic programming(NLP) !!

Dad & Mom

25 years of being together.25 years of marriage.Thats something.Dont know whether I'll be able to pull off something like that. :-)

There's a sense of achievement in the air.For Dad, who comes from a family of 6 people who stayed in one room in a dilapidated Dadar chawl - a family of limited means - and for Mom who came from not-so-dissimilar background - bringing up 2 kids - and bringing them up well - and with that , moving up in life themselves - is a big deal. Virtually everything they have done in life is a first.They have walked on a bed of thorns to make a bed of roses for me and my brother.

Mom and Dad - what can I say.Thanks.For everything.

I'm proud of u guys.

Heart Wrencher

Australian Open action just got over.Yes, Mahesh and Hingis won.Good . But the action was somewhere else.

Marcus Baghdatis , an upbeat,enthusiastic, talented though erratic Cyprian, made it to the final , beating a host of highly seeded players.A player who overwhelmed competition by the speed of his movement, his coverage of the tennis court and a power-packed forehand.Dubbed an 'unstoppable freight train' by Alan Wilkins, he matched and bettered the shots of all his opponents upto the final , thus firing the imagination of the Australian public and the hearts of millions of spectators worldwide.

Playing against Roger Federer , the acknowledged champion, Baghdatis was like a fiery tornado in the first set , winning it in style , whats more , he had the champion all over the court. But patience and the silent confidence of Federer saw him through in what was , probably , one of the most exciting matches in recent tennis history - simply for the quality of tennis on offer. Federer went on to win the championship, but Baghdatis' infectious smile , his go-for-the-guns attitude and his incredibly cavalier game found him new fans all over the world, including yours truly.

Baghdatis, you're the new heartwrencher. You're the one who'll keep coming close to the champions to try to beat them . And we will keep loving you for it.

While watching the game , I couldn't help but remembering the last one - Goran Ivanisevic....and he brought back a flood of memories.

Someone rightly said -

'Champions make good discussion. The Heart-Wrenchers make great nostalgia.'

Not a Student No More

These days my friends say that a big rock seems to have hit me.

As a matter of fact, it has.It all started when I asked myself - "I mean, is that really it ? College life's over in 10 days??"

No longer a student. What does it mean ?

It means that there will be no more listless hours in the canteen.No more wandering about in big groups. No more purposeless bike-rides in the night.No more staring at 20-something bimbettes with scarce guilt.No more hitting on professors.No more getting screwed in vivas by the hit-on professors.No more booze parties with babes being the sole point of discussion.No more kheechofying friends on little issues.No more being kheechofyed by friends on mushy,queasy issues.No more all-nighter study groups. No more 11.45 night-movies at Esquare.And definitely no more maska-pav at Pune railway station at 4 am.

Its almost like someone has proclaimed -" Your train-of-fun stops here."

When I came for an MBA , I thought I'd prepared myself for a more responsible life 2 years later.Now someone up there wants to cut that time-frame by 3 months.Funny ,huh?? Its almost like a pre-mature ejaculation - you expect something, and you get the unexpected.

And does a more responsible life come with the unwanted add-ons of less fun, less frolic ?? I will try to find the answer in the coming year or so.I guess , somewhere, I will have to strike a balance . No longer can my life be one continuing joyride ,one pleasure trip.Somewhere,I will have to take the crests with the troughs , the ups with the downs.

But a new phase of my life begins.A scary phase dat I have not seen.

But will venture.Will try. Will fall.Will get up and dust ass. Will try.Will do.

And will keep venturing.

Worst Movie Ever

I saw the worst movie ever. And it was recommended by a friend.Needless to say, I wont be following his recommendations anymore.

The movie goes by the name of VULGAR. Dont watch it even if you are paid to do so.And remember, u read it here first.

Run !

Mumbai ran .....some ran 7 ,some ran 21, some ran 42.

Some ran as Gandhi, Some as Patel, some as Nathuram Godse, Some as Nehru , Some as semi-deities , some as turkeys (yes,dats rite - turkeys) and most ran as themselves.

The marathon saw a turnout of 26000 people this year.People of all hues - old, young, kids , grandpas, nobodys, somebodys and celeb-bodys were on show.A friend says there were as many people cheering as there were running.

A fundraiser event for a charitable cause - the marathon sees people become selfless selves for one half-day.It sees corporate do-gooders, media-savvy celebs, filmstars, sportstars,industrial tycoons, social workers and ofcourse , it sees common-man do-gooders like you and me - everyone comes together on one platform for one cause.

The Mumbai Marathon has ,very quickly,come to represent an annual demonstration of Mumbai's spirit.2005 gave Mumbai enough opportunities to showcase its spirit - July 26/27 being the case in point - flood waters brought strangers together in untoward ,unexpected circumstances - resulting in acts of unforeseen bravery and heroism.

But if spirit need be showcased, may it be through events like the Marathon than unfortunate natural disasters.

So, run Mumbai run. Run and keep running , never to stop or to hesitate .

Pink !

Hutch goes Pink !!

Pinky Ponky Pink !!

I think they should do some co-branding with Fair and Lovely ...hehe...LOL !!

P.S.: A friend said they want to get femmes with the pink colour. hmm....

Purposelessness Personified

Placements are over. Everyone is placed.

The placements process at a Bschool is a melange of emotions and expressions - anxiety , curiousity,expectation,depression, desperation, happiness,glee, delight, hopelessness, self-doubt - a combination which is tough to explain ,unless you see it for yourself.

Now that its all over, a sense of purposeless-ness will pervade our lives for the next 3 months.Everyone comes for an MBA with one purpose - get a job (where one had none) or get a better job(where one had one) - the intention being to move up in life.Suddenly, one day, that purpose is lost on you when you have a job in your hand. So what do you do after that????

You have all the fun that you can in the remaining time at college before getting into the rigours and routines of a job. And this is where a lot of MBA students are caught unawares.They find it difficult to adjust to realities on the ground after leading a rigourous ,yet cushy life in an MBA course.

MBA classrooms have the habit of treating business difficulties in an objective problem-solution manner.Businesses have problems , and MBAs are the solution-providers.

So MBAs go out into the business world armed with their case-study approaches and problem-solution methods.But real life , they find out , is a lot more complicated. A lot of political, economic, social,human issues affect business decision-making - and these can never be simulated in a classroom. Bschools also make your life interesting and exciting by simulating different situations - but real life is a lot more dull(everyday, you live the same case study,and it doesn't change!!) .A lot more routine - and never as interesting.

I read on a blog somewhere - "An MBA is like a great wine-tasting session.Enjoy it while it lasts."

Well Said.