Fasts and more .. but fast please

So now that the period of fasting is over for Team Anna and also a lot of other people around India – the period of introspection begins as we have got a lot of food for thought . Did we really win as a democracy or such movements are possible only in a democracy ? The heartening thing is that the cause managed to awaken the urban middle class from the ennui that has set in .

I personally think that we need to take up the cause of the Mumbai infrastructure in a big way i.e. the Anna Hazare way if you may say . The flooding and perennial construction work has affected the commute , the general living standards . Then there are a host of issues related to infrastructure, certain amenities like playground etc - but no one really has taken up the cause in a focused way like the way it was done in nearby Thane and other places . We really need some help here !!

Back after a long time …..

It took so much time to get back to blogging . There was too much on my platter ..
But at least I am back .One thing that comes to my mind when we talk about finding time for things is the amount of time we spend on phone calls . We cannot invariably forget the numerous unsolicited calls these days due to the last minute rush of various companies related to sales of personal investment product and services . As a result one is subject to ruthless calling for mainly insurance or other financial products . And not to forget credit cards – you might be in a meeting and suddenly there is a call : we are pleased to tell you that your card has been upgraded . Well it could be a great distraction at times . But these are the outcomes of a booming economy where consumerism is on the upswing .

So much for Team Anna !!

The Team Anna sojourn !!
So what is happening with the state of corruption in India or the corrupt State ? It is a simple yet difficult questions . Millions throng on the streets to express their solidarity. But will the Machiavellian moves suppress the honest and sincere attempts to shake a giant monster that has only flourished since years and years of " thought and mind enslavement "


Chennai snippet
One of the work related trips took me to the southern city of Chennai and what a change when dinner was served in the hotel on the roof top in a typical Dhaba kind of a setting !! More than the food it was the ambience which was delightful – with the live music , the lights and the general enthusiasm in the environment.

BTW – It is Hotel Pride at Kilapuk !!


State of Mumbai
The state of roads in Mumbai certainly calls for a certain amount of radical thinking and some fast work . Day by day the state of roads does not become the commercial capital status which the city has .The rains only add to the woes of the commuters . Of course there is metro rail work going on and there is general digging which has made Mumbai land surface similar to that of the Moon – if we may say so . But when will these craters pave the way for smooth roads . All other major cities – Hyderabad , Delhi have moved ahead with their wide and spanking new roads ,airports and general infrastructure !!

On Shopping In Modern Times

In India we have just got used to shopping in supermarkets, malls etc . I am prodded to think that with the elegant layout and a huge spread before the potential shopper are we enticed into buying more than what we want at times ? Where were the hidden needs for carts and carts of knick knacks before these markets were created?( not that I have escaped untouched from this phenomenon !). Of course the markets are extremely convenient for the busy urban dweller as you get all requirements under one roof . There is a whole lot of work that goes behind the layout , design and other paraphernalia to woo the retail customer . And I think these retailers are doing a damn good job at that !

Parliamentary Behaviour

Arun Shourie has written a book on reforming the Indian Parliamentary proceedings . He has observed that the behavior in Parliament has deteriorated over a period of time . But isn’t a Parliament a reflection of society and the elected representatives of the people will be a sum total of what the society is currently ? Can it be different from the current social ethos ? But the question is how many people have actually voted them into power?
The author writes about the time when stalwarts like Pandit Nehru set a precedent by their exemplary behaviour in the Parliament . But do we have those visionaries in the Parliament anymore ?Is our society in need of leaders , those heros who are demi-gods ? Or the Parliament is no more a place where you can find leaders . Rather you would find them in everyday life . Real Leaders who shun the trappings of power in a Parliament kind of setting might be on the field in unexpected domains – in education , in non profit sector , in R &D labs , in the corporate world . Unfortunately not many have their efforts showcased on prime time television or in leading dailies . Hence they might even go unnoticed .

The Soaring Temperatures

The heat in Mumbai has reached an all time high and an all time low . High because the afternoon sun can get really scorching hot and low because it was definitely not so unbearable sometime back till the reckless concretisation happened. I shudder to think about the climatic conditions in the city say after a decade . Environmental issues are at best viewed with indifference as it does not affect day to day living directly . So one is really not bothered about global warming, rising pollution , lack of open spaces as these are not urgent or immediate issues . But the floods that happened in Mumbai in 2005 are a pointer to the fact that the changing landscape has caused untold damage in the long run . The creeks and other marshy areas are getting reclaimed at a rapid pace and the city is literally losing its lungs . But what worsens the situation is apathy. The not in my backyard syndrome is affecting most of the city residents . But it will not be very long till the vagaries of nature start affecting us immediately and directly .

About Institutes and Intellectual Orientation

The other day we were discussing about intellectual orientation making a difference at the workplace..Or does it not make any difference ? The geek at the workplace is a well known phenomenon but what about people with a not so great intellectual orientation stuck up in an environment where knowledge is one of the key raw material for the organizational building blocks . I think this person stands out like a sore thumb , a fish out of water . We debate if the academic institute would make a difference in selecting a person for a role that demands great intellectual rigour and analytical depth . May be after a few years it does not matter in specific cases . But why does institute matter ? Has it got to do with the early choices in life ? Is it the person’s innate disposition which is unalterable – only a specific type would get into a particular academic institute and only that finished product would be eligible for a role in certain organizations . Anyone else in that role will be a fish out of water …