Happy New Year

Of Bollywood's Copy-Cat Tag...

Dear Blog,

I was just having a long argument about the efficacy of the Indian film-makers... My friend (anonymous) laid forward a point – “Indians film-makers can only copy. No Indian movie in the past three-four yrs has been an original hit. Be it Chak De or Black and the last one, Ghajini.”

Well, I agree they may have been inspired... But doesn’t it take a lot of effort to make it suitable for the Indian viewers... "Devdas" has been inspired from earlier “Devdas” but that in no way takes credit away from Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Talking of Bhansali, "Black"may be inspired from “The Miracle Worker” but aint both movies inspired by the life of the great Hellen Keller!!! Why do we call “Black” a copy of “The Miracle Worker”? I’m no movie critic, but "Black", to me, was one of the finest depictions of the Alzheimer’s disease. This was confirmed by my sister who is currently pursuing medicine and was impressed by the meticulous chronology of Alzheimer’s followed by the script... The making... The symbolism of colours especially the interplay of Black and White... The dialogue and the monologue... Even Rani’s First (and the last) Kiss...

Movies do draw inspiration from others... but comparing them is no good for they are made for a different set of audience... Take the case of "Ghajini" and "Memento". There is no doubt that "Ghajini" was inspired by "Memento" (it’s not a remake for sure). But for all those song-sequences (which I felt needless and distracting but my mom felt good), the movie may have been too much of continuous violence (not that it was any less now) rendering it impossible for the faint-hearted Indian viewer who likes tragedy but mixed with emotions and drama and not the outright violence as is often depicted in Hollywood flicks... Try making the "Apocalypto" in Hindi and the box-office would bomb it out (i.e. if the censor board clears it first). There is very little doubt that viewers of both "Memento" and "Ghajini" might find the latter deplorable (i.e. if they understood "Memento" in the first place) in comparison to the original but then... (OK AAmir Khan Disagrees with me here... He dint find Memento as good)

There are stories and there are movies... What directors do is make movies out of stories... Is there anything wrong if the two movies have the same story...

How many Bollywood movies do u see with a couple asked to leave home only to face hardships in the exile... The lead heroine gets abducted by the villain... The Hero finds friends in the wilderness and recues his lady... Are all those remakes of Ramanand Sagar's legendary Ramayana!!!

PP

P.S. For those who did not understand Memento, I got one site that actualyl tried explaining it... I'll post it as an edit when I find that site again... I, for one, loved the movie... much more than the action packed Ghajini...

P.S. As I promised... Warning: Spoiler Alert... Do NOT Click HERE if u've not seen Memento...

Reflections – Part II (Term 2 @ XL)

 Dear Blog,

Just as I had started settling into the rhythm of 8-hrs sleep per day, a rude awakening call was given to me by the damn reminder in my mobile: September 21. Time to go back to the 3-hrs sleep days... Time for second term @ XL...

The first week, as in the first term was pretty normal. Some teachers were yet to return from their other assignments and hence I was “free” with other pursuits. That joy wouldn’t last for long though... And even in those few days, I had to prepare for the SIPs. Squeezed in between was the great XL Diwali...

Two GBMs... One for the introduction of non-conventional placement opportunities (which I must say gave rise to more concerns about fewer opportunities and the tough times ahead than the “opportunities”) and the other for introduction of the senior teams for the process (to reassure and mend the dent left by the previous GBM)... I’ve already described the process in great depth in other posts [1, 2, 3, 4] and thus will not venture details here... By the way, there was also the famed GBM which I shall not mention here...

Then came Ensemble 2008. 

A place for the best minds from all-over India to meet. Sad, but for the few OTS events, hardly any XLer would have “Ensembled”... The Sudoku challenge, the fin-quiz, the face-painting competition etc. were the saving grace. Else, it was just the various associations and the few lucky teams selected to the final rounds (names withheld due to obvious reasons). The reason behind the best in the field not being called upon and the job left to few “selected” members escapes me... What is more... genuine help is frowned upon and looked at with scepticism (I surely hope, in few isolated cases)!!! As the great Bard put it, All’s well that ends well...

Then the realisation suddenly dawned, not the SIP or Ensemble was what I was here for... The existence of project deadlines and tests hit me hard. That I was able to squeeze in time for everything was in itself a great wonder... My prior experience with PPTs and excel sheets did prove to be handy... Before I realised, the end-terms had dawned, just as I realised, they were over.

My learnings from this term:

• There is logic behind great organisations being so great... 3M and Google surely did not know they were to change the entire content of case studies and presentations. 
• Facts are artefacts... Rare... General knowledge is not very general... Not very well known to people. Any assumptions thereof will be the point of discussion and example for many discussions and possibly even Group "Discussions"!!!
• History is indeed written by the victors... and so is a successful marketing strategy! The loser can only wonder, “what if...”
• If you do not know a thing, keep quiet. If you know it, more so...
• Market never runs efficiently... Thus, it becomes the role of finance managers to take the blame for all the bad judgements of all the people. Who should be blamed for all the economic evil that the world is going thru... the brilliant economists and MBAs or the common junta who just can’t calculate the price of a financial instrument... (well, they are not expected to... but shhhhh... who else can we blame)
• Under Sec 1(aa) of the College Student Act, any dissent against boring subjects is henceforth declared unlawful. The right to strike has, with immediate effect, been withdrawn. Any violation of the above nature may be dealt with in a manner deemed strict by the offender. The award of punishment will be discretionary in nature.
• Democracy gives u only one right... The right to remain silent... Everything else can and will be used against the right...
• Once again reiterating... Friends are the biggest assets... unfortunately, no accounting standard allows them to be  written off in the balance sheet as they bring no liability with them... Pacioli was wrong here...

Bringing the curtains down on an eventful term...

PP

XL Meri Jaan....

Dear Blog,

I was sitting on my computer, typing away words... Yes, thr was my bed with my favourite pillow near me... Thr was the clean green garden visible from my window. There was the hill reminding me of the picturesque hotels I have stayed on my travels. There was the relief of knowing there was a squash court nearby where I could pass time should I feel bored. And there was the joy of having mom’s hand-made food with lots of pure ghee and no aloo... But then, I missed home...

Call me mad but I’m in love with the hectic schedules... that waking up till 4 in the morning with nothing to do but talk about nothing at all. I hate the ISO:9001 food but I more than that I love cursing it and after all cursing, ultimately having the same cheese dosa every alternate day... I hate to live in that small room 311 but I love the neighbours and their neighbours and so on... I hate not being able to find time in the evening to have a game of badminton, but I love making plans with friends for it... I hate when friends talk of home but love it when I make them feel at home far away from home...

I’m home... But thanks to the two terms spent doing MBA, now I’m far away from my other home...

XL Meri Jaan...

PP

Two contrasting Movies in a Day

HI

I had decided tht all work here will be original... Just cudn't resist putting this in the archives...

Danny: Sometimes I wonder... will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize... God left this place a long time ago.

Was watching Blood Diamond today.. Must say this was one great movie I hadn't seen.. Very powerful message... Good acting and breathtaking shots of Africa... Prob the best movie I've seen on Africa and slavery after "the master of it all from the master of it all", Amistad (Spielberg, Freeman, Hopkins...What better cud u ask!!!).

The other movie I watched today was SRK starrer "Rab Ne..." Quite a contrast to watch :) Well, I'm no SRK fan but the ease with which he shifts between roles is really praiseworthy... The storyline may be nothin worth mention but the way SRK adapts to it sure is... I knw, many are callin me crazy as I write this, but yeah, I kinda liked the movie despite all its melodrama and the YRF cliche.

Planning for tomorrow's Matinee show...

PP

I'm A Proud Geek...

I'm a proud geek.. and just to clear a few misconceptions... doesn't remotely mean I'm a ghissu (XL lingo... with no english translation...)

The context...

Sheldon is the perfect example of the perfect geek... My new role model...

• Geeks are sociable people. Ghissus are sociable only with the books...
  
• Geeks love technology and products. Ghissus love the reading the theory behind the technology without ever realising that the theory was discovered and rejected for being too complex around two decades back.
  
• Geeks are well aware of Page 3 news. Ghissus are well aware of page 3... and not just that.. also page 4,5,6,7,8...100,101,102.....999 of every one of their books.
  
• Geeks crack jokes (understanding them requires something extra though). Ghissus can crack jokes only if they have taken humour as an elective and their text-book contains an exercise where they have to pick out phrases commonly called by people as jokes.
  
• Geeks love people. Geeks will use all their geekyness to help a friend in need. Ghissus love the people only if they are the authors of their favourite text-book.
  
• Geeks are frail (often to the point of being invisible). Ghissus are not. They are often plooomp (this can be credited to their long hours spent in their rooms or library or canteen).
  
• Geeks put their friends first (spl in case of fights with others... the reason.. refer the previous point). They will use their geekyness to the breaking-point to solve any problem. Ghissus, they follow Groucho Marx to the letter and have books as their best friends...
  
• Geeks have deep emotions (which may or may not be as geeky) and believe in the Saturnalia Miracle. Ghissus are deeply attached to their books (quite literally).
• Geeks are five-point-someone. For all they care, they could go down another half a point without getting worried. The ghissus.. they often wonder why, even with their near perfect replication of the book, their grades linger around the sevens and eights without once going over the magical figue of 8... BTW a slump of 0.1 often translates to two less hours of sleep everyday...
• And for the curtain dropper...
  Geeks will know that the territorial boundaries of India extend upto 12 nautical miles into the sea but not who the author of the books they are carrying is... and for the ghissus... well does it matter as long as it is a book they are carrying.

A Proud Geek,

PP

Finally, Indian Science Showcased...

Dear Blog,

Bored of studying for my exams, I reverted back to my first love... maths and numb3rs literally!!! Finished the season 5 (till date) in a marathon run... First of all, the last two episodes (s05e08 and s05e09) have references to India, though both in not-so-good contexts... the first it in the reference of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the second in a reference to a terrorist activity. But what is proven is that the world recognises the Indian presence much more than ever. In fact, as one of the main characters (though as an “American with Indian origins”), the show features Amita Ramanujan (Navi Rawat).

Two things here... One – Indian in a major role in the most popular Friday evening American TV Series and Two – named after one of the most prolific Indian mathematicians known (Srinivas Ramanujan. Ramanujan never won a Nobel Prize but a show to feature the lead sure does justice to the immense potential that was cruelly cut short 

by fate. Amita, born in a Tamil family represents the new-age Indian mathematical genius who, like Ramanujan, is exceptional in maths but also is representative of the famed modern Indian programming skills.

And the other TV series, though in a completely different genre, is “The Big Bang Theory”. It features Kunal Nayyar as “Rajesh”, one of the four geeks that form the lead roles in the series. Again, working at CalTech, Rajesh is a brilliant Physicist with roots still connected to India in the form of his parents. Rajesh, thus represents the Indian in US and not the American of Indian origin.

Point here, Indian abilities in science and maths have been here and now have started to get noticed... Not that India has produced a string of Nobel Laureates in recent past or anything... probably more because Indians are finally being given their due... Long live the breed of Aryabhatta...

Revelling in the pride of being an Indian..

PP

Images: Courtesy - Wikipedia

An interesting course...

Dear Blog,

Today's entry has been written more in awe than anything else.. 

Well... It requires a special talent to teach history to students of applied science in a way that they study it like the way they study science... and not just study but enjoy it too. Well, today’s test was a subject in that category... Generally regarded and surely perceived as boring piece of history with no practical relevance and surely not application. Well, this course surely changed my view... Not only do I find it very practical, but it was more like the only logical subject I had this term... Rest all were pretty much, well, history :) (No offence to those studying history.. but it just is not a science for me... Obviously historians differ)

Today's paper was a culmination of wat has been a very informative series of 20 sessions and a more than welcome break from the enervating courses I've undergone...

I always thot organisations were formed out of a brilliant idea (or a lucky one) and that they grew just coz stagnation wud lead them to decline and in gen human tendency is to keep growing and never be satisfied... Never knew there was so much of science behind how and why they grow into what they grow into. Never thought the ESOPs were anything beyond a retention gimmick which nobody but a few lucky ones gained from... Never thot any happening in the ET cud be linked to the psychological and organisational aspects and not pure finance!!! This term I gained a new lens to view international news with and it sure presents a more real picture than what I used to see.

Thus ends, a very interesting course and prob my second most interesting course in XL...

PP

Exams Approaching...

Ya Ya.... I've not been able to post for a few days now...

Ya Ya.... So much has happened over the last few days and yet I've not posted anything...

Ya Ya.... I'm just trying not to upset people and set minds racing towards ways and means of getting back...

Ya Ya.... I've another excuse too...

Ya Ya.... The exams are coming and thus I've refrained from posting too often...

Ya Ya.... You have a right to laugh at the above statement of mine. Puneet and studying... ha ha...

Ya Ya.... I'll be back after the exams with a review of the term that passed...

Ya Ya.... That'll be a very long post. So much has happened in this term...

Ya Ya.... Ok. I'll try not to be very protective of identities and associations...

Puzzled Puneet

Dear Blog,

There are few thingss that can make me sit up and start thinking; some physical, some mental.

Physical:

Anomalies don’t exist without a reason. I wwas curious since the time I can remember. From simple things like why does the potato remain hot when the gobi which is cooked along with it becomes cold. I remember asking, “What would happen if the astronauts were to discover that they ran out of fuel on the moon?” Why do we see the moon bigger near the horizon when aactually it farther (rem the hypotenuse is longer than the vertical distance) than when it is overhead? Everything has a reason. And that reason I believe, can be found out. (Ya ya... I know I’m crazy to bother about simple things like this!!! Spl when there are bigger tthings to worry about like my grades, society and world ppeace :D)

Mental:

These are ones that I don’t find aanswers to and am left in the lurch. One thing that I take very seriously is criticism... I make sure I don’t give anyone a reason to complain... and iif they do, I try to ensure in future I don’t... I'm not a normal human (as put by so many of my friends) but still am in parts... and curiosity is one human characteristic I surely possess... though that too in inhuman proportions... I find out what made the person complain and what can mmake him take it back? What do I do when the other person doesn’t tell me the mistake that I committed and tells me not to repeat it!!! And that curiosity killss me (does that mean I’m more a cat :P). Once I’m set into the motion, I dunno what I did wrong and I can’t rest till the time I know for sure that the allegation was unfounded (rarely) or what my mistake was. I gotta think of what my activity was for the whole day (or may be even earlier) and identify myself if what I did was wrong. But then, there are so many different ways I could hhave done what I did that I dunno if the other way would be seen as wrong... How can I uundo it... Am I to dream of it... and what if even the dreams fail to provide an answer...? And thus, the puzzle remaines unsolved but thats fine. All I lose is a day (or night's sleep) and next day I'm back to nnormal...

Oh yeah there is the third type... human foolishness. (Including the human parts of me) “The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits”, Albert Einstein. I rest my case.

In light of the above information, from now on, I shall change my sobriquet to "Puzzled Puneet" or "PP"...

PP

P.S. I got an FM test tom and all I can do right now is not thinkk about it... Gawd, I'm so puzzled!!!

My first sales experience...

Dear Blog,

Yday, I added another of “my firsts” to my list. For a college event, I went to my designated area for enticing the shopkeepers to set up stalls, give goodies etc. It was a new experience and I must say, a humbling one... For, now I know why sales people keep talking about sales targets and customer indifference.

We made pitches to six major shops and a few chhotu ones, none of which could be converted. Designing a sales pitch in itself is an experience. I and my buddy for the adventure decided what would be out pitch before entering any shop, then looked out for whom to give the pitch to and then made the pitch. Now language and medium used forms a very important part of the pitch. My buddy was not fluent at Hindi and thus it was me who was making the initial pitches and then gauging the mood and demands of the potential customer, my buddy made the pitch stronger.

Will quote memorable incidents after we have completed pitches... in one collection...

Something about pitches (a bit early to be writing this but ok):

• The big showrooms have a lot of potential but often they are company outlets and the store manager has very little power in terms of branding or sponsorship. They have within their powers to make sales, offer spot discounts etc. but setting up stalls, giving away freebies is not within their jurisdiction.
• It is important to customise the pitch to the specific needs of the target. You don’t go to a shoe store and talk of marketing research and profiling until the store is looking to open a new chain of outlets in your city.
• The more ignorant the target is, the better it is. God save u if the target is an unsatisfied prior customer.

Anyways, the day 1 was a partial disaster. Hoping the other days are better.

All sympathies and congratulations for the salesmen,

MMM

The FM test...

A blog for a test??

Surely you must be crazy Mr. Aggarwal... Well, it was no ordinary test... It was the test of FM.

Background:

FM is one of those subjects, where you miss one class and you are lost throughout the term. Well, that’s what happened... In the first class, we started portfolio management with the Markowitz Model. I got lost in the first three slides (Damn the Greek... Damn Mathematicians... can’t they use X and Y... why do alpha, beta, sigma come in... And those summation signs mean “THE EnD”)... And the whole class was a blur. Everything was based on the first few moments and I missed it.

Now the "Preparation":

For two hours, I pondered over where to start. I finally thought, a big-fat book, it must have something... Decided... The book shall be starting line...

1. I looked at the book. Known script... Good... Alien Language... (Dead end)
2. I looked at the ppt... “Wasn’t this the same thing with those alien characters... What I cudn’t get then, how can I get now??” (Dead end)
3. Repeat One... Get anything?? No...
4. Repeat Two... Get anything?? No...
5. Go to pidgin (fancy program as sub for gtalk)... See if anyone else is getting anything... 
   
   “Na... not started... will do tom”
   
   “U nerd...”
   
   “Plsssssss”
   
   “Shut up. Me and FM...”
   
   “Joking???”
   
6. Repeat 3, 4,5 till u get something... 
   
   (the loop continued for a while)
   
7. Get up next morning...
8. Roomy knows something... My great roomy... Tells me basics... Confidence up.
9. Read Markowitz model ppt... Lost again... (Dead end)
10. Repeat 3,4... Already post-noon. Need to do something. Resolve. Start reading chapter 7. Not so alien after all... On to chapter 8. Lost again!!!
11. Roomy Zindabad... Confidence up.
12. Read Markowitz model again... yippee... makes sense... remember later... go on now... on a roll...
13. Read CAPM ppt. Wow... lost again... Sleep.
14. Get up. Read the notes everyone is studying... (if comps can reach human efficiencies, I dunno... but humans (some... or is it just one???) sure have mastered the art of converting speech to text)
15. Go to test.

The test:

Not bad at all... think hard... Generally, I am in the first batch to get up and leave... today is different... think hard... think of various possibilities... not bad at all... I do know some FM (ok at least the stuff in the paper)

Post Mortem: Ya right... my answers are probably wrong given the extra-thinking I did...

Moral of the story: It doesn’t pay to think extra. Efficient market hypothesis is anyways not always applied by all people... its best to go with what most ppl think is true...

MMM

The (ir)Rationality of Reason

Dear Blog,

William Cowper once said: “The absence of proof is not the proof of absence.”

I just saw a documentary by Richard Dawkins, "The Enemies of Reason". While I completely agree with the fact that the world has been gripped by superstition, I don’t believe everything needs reason. Let us try to understand why people believe in superstition and why to a certain extent, we should allow them to.

Why did people believe in God in the first place? Did the human race start with a belief in God? Why did it happen that so many people had different so many different views about “God”? I believe humans, by nature, need a reason. And attributing everything that happens to a “God” is a reason...!!!

Astrology may completely be a science of coincidences... but then, so are the expert opinions on finance and economy. If finance and economy are completely scientific, why are we facing the meltdown...!!! No, I’m not comparing the two to “unscientific” astrology... but then, all are subject to uncertainties that can’t be explained by any theories.

What is the harm in consulting a psychic if it gives me a good feel? Why do “rationalists” not take it as equal to any other activity that a man can feel satisfied by... something as simple as say, having a smoke...!!! Marketers dupe people about characteristics of products, the government dupes people of policies... what’s wrong with these new age “gurus” duping people!!!

As long as personal beliefs do not interfere with and harm self or others, I believe individual beliefs should be allowed to exist. False positives provide the comforting illusion of meaning. We desperately want to feel there is an organising force at work in our bewilderingly complex world. We want someone to blame when we are stuck by misfortunes and someone to share our fortune with.

Thus, to summarise, I believe, believing in supernatural is wrong but what is more wrong is not letting the believers believe the truth behind their belief.

MMM

P.S. I’m an ATHIEST. I don’t believe someone can govern what I do. But I have utmost respect for those who do. And this is a belief that I do not wish to debate on...

War (i)n Peace...

Dear Blog,

Not a very happy thanksgiving...

This I write even as the operation to drive out the terrorists from the Taj Hotel in Mumbai is underway. The attack on hotels is a recent trend in terrorist attack history. Call me a conspiracy theorist who just spends time in finding coincidences where none exist but I don’t think this one can be rubbished off. Hotels are the major private properties where terrorist attacks take place.

Lemme have a look at the hotels I remember have been the target of the terrorist attacks. (The source of this info is limited to my memory and inconsistencies with actual facts must be forgiven)

August 2003, Indonesia: Hotel Marriott is bombed in Indonesia in a suicide bomb attack. Marriott was a common centre for US Independence Day celebration in the past. Though conspiracy theories point to CIA hand in this attack as many US bookings were cancelled just hours before the attack, Jakarta Police had found links to the Bali blast as far as I remember.

June-July 2005, Egypt: Ghazala Hotel is bombed in a suicide attack. The bombings take place at the height of the tourist season... At 1pm in the night when the bars and clubs are busy...Victims included foreign nationals as well.

Late 2005 or early 2006, Jordan: The Grand Hyatt was the one of two or three hotels that were the target of terrorists. It should come as no surprise that the hotel was frequented by foreign tourists. If I remember correctly, there was a wedding ceremony taking place in one of the hotels at the time of the attack.

January 2008, Afghanistan: The Hotel Serena in Kabul is bombed. A Norwegian delegation is put up at the hotel at the time of the attack. A foreign journalist is amongst those killed. Modus operandi – suicide bomb.

September 2008, Pakistan: Hotel Marriott is once again the target but in Islamabad. Again, the hotel is a regular amongst the American tourists. Photos of destroyed cars are shown on the front pages of various dailies. More than 40 are killed. Once again, mode of bombing, suicide car attack...

That brings me to the unique and outrageous Mumbai attack: Two major hotels taken under siege. Foreign tourists held hostage. More than 45 hours later, the battle is still on. More than 100 people have been confirmed dead. That includes the chief of the anti-terrorist unit, an Addl. Commissioner amongst others.

The whole of national media has everything covered... so much so that everyone forgot the hundred killed due to the cyclone Nisha in Tamil Nadu. And there are citizen journalists sending videos and pictures of the attacks on the internet. And the India TV phone call received from one of the terrorists holed up in the Taj... And with it the hall of shame for the media... senior journalists airing on 'news', clues that terrorists could easily use for their advantage, asking families of hostages about how they are feeling... yeah right.. #*$^@*#, one thing's for sure, they not are as excited about TRP and airtime as you are...!!! For once, the political parties have not politiced the issue and have come out in solidarity condemning the attack and offering help and not indulging in the usual blame game. Keeping Fingers crossed...

Waiting for it to end,

MMM

Happy Thanksgiving...

Dear Blog,

What a nice way to celebrate thanksgiving for the unfortunate souls trapped in one of the most prestigious hotels in Mumbai, Taj and Oberoi!!!

Terror strikes India again... This time, once again, it is the heart of Indian economy – amchi Mumbai... 

Since yday evening, I’ve been following the news and am shocked to see the scale of the attack. 26 people sneak in through boats (Courtesy: IBNLive.in.com)... armed with heavy armoury and laden with explosives, Some take two hotels under siege... 

Simultaneously, the other operatives cause havoc in public locations like the railway terminus.

This comes at a time when Indian players have expressed concern about playing in Pakistan. How safe are we in India? The very players who have refused to play in Pakistan might well have been in any one of the hotels on an unfortunate day... I’m sure there were other dignitaries (some even more important than the cricket players) in Taj when the terrorists struck. No, I’m not saying that the players should play... Just that do they consider themselves safer in India than Pakistan!!!

What this leads to is a question of what can and needs to be done at a time when you are safe nowhere!!! How does the government keep a tab on the rise of terrorism? The government accepted it was completely clueless and had no intelligence on the issue (Courtesy: Live news from IBNLive.in.com). The inaction from the government has left the country in a situation where terrorists anyways have the whole country in a hostage situation. Why do terrorists go for an attack without laying demands? Come in the open... declare demands and hold the country for ransom..!!!

For now, it seems to be coming to an end... people coming out of Hotel Taj. And tomorrow, the city of Mumbai, the gritty city of Mumbai will be back to normal... each person hoping when the next attack happens, he’s not in the eye of the storm.

For now, homage to the unlucky ones who could not make it alive to the other end of this dark night... Respects to the ATS chief and other policemen who succumbed to the attack.

MMM

P.S. Read a Similar Post from the archives...

I love to hate it...

Dear Blog,

What generally inspires people to work is a positive interest in the field... What inspires me is pure hatred for it...

I was 10 when I started hating the concept of praying someone ‘coz he/she/it could shower blessings on you... It was more a hatred against the peripherals and not the core concept. Nevertheless, that inspired me... I delved into Hindu mythology, read up a lot and drew parallels across the domain... Compared different philosophies... Identified self-contradictions (The Hindu Mythology is replete with them... situations modified to get the desired results and results modified to match situations and learnings). Basically, my hatred towards it made me work for it and I was richer in knowledge of the subject... And ultimately learned that it did not deserve my hatred... it was just a few people who try to use it to their personal gains, not just in the present ages but from the age of the kings.

Then I hated computers... they were just machines taking away credit from human intelligence, ability and creativity... There were programming languages which were designed to confuse the common man so that the computer geeks could maintain their supremacy... This hatred made me learn about computers... fiddle around with them until I reached a stage where I couldn’t be away from them. I learnt to use the computer such that I don’t overpower the human aspects while just using the complex power of the device. I decided to work on original stuff (most of my design work consists of self-designed posters and not ones which just have a flick-off from one site and one from other).

My most recent hatred is “Finance”. 

What do the brightest minds of the world work on – it’s all complexifying the basics, i.e. accounts!!! Giving complex names so that the I-Bankers can make money out of duping people with their "higher intellect" and "View"... Speculating performances of markets and companies some without even knowing the business of companies. How do you believe in a method that relies on neck-lines and shoulder-lines!!! Now I’m sure, there is some logic (or is it) to all this but as earlier, I’m yet to delve into the field. And once I do, I’m sure I’ll start hating it less for all goods it presents. But there is one big problem here; the field is very vast and interlinked... There is no C-language which will give me the basic of all others... There is no Krishna, who, while epitomising slyness, taught the otherwise fa(LU)natic Hindu the art of pragmatism and strategy. Also alas, I’m yet to find myself a mentor who will let me into his/her fin know-how and be ready to tackle Puneet at his sarcastic and analytical best... who will push me question the concept and learn along... one who would be willing to use this novice's views and research for his work...

Looking for my mentor,

MMM

P.S. Statutory Disclaimer: My hatred for finance doesn't relate to any association, event (past or forthcoming) or person.

Here I go

Dear Blog,

Far from the emotions of humans

Close to the depth of emoticons

Far from the ignorance of fun

Close to the of joys of ignorance

Far from the fear of being me

Close to the anatomy of fear

Far from the silence of solitude

Close to the sound of silence

Far from the triumph of longing

Close to the bliss of triumph

Far from the gloom of the desolation

Close to the alienation of gloom...

Here I go!!!

MMM

“Democracy” – An Excellent mockery of governance

Disclaimer: The following piece of literature presents hypothetical systems. Any similarity or reference to any existing government machinery (or incident) is purely coincidental and unintentional.

Dear Blog,

Many score and many years ago, Ab Lincoln talked of a democracy “Of the People, By the People and For the People”. What he proposed was a utopian society where every man was equal. Lemme analyse how further wrong could he not have been...

You have the right to elect the leaders but no right to govern their actions. What if the majority government unilaterally enacts a legislation (with all suitable amendments and clauses) heavily inclined against the common populace?

One fine morning, ToI first page: In lieu of the 900th amendment to the “Winners of Lottery Act, 2008”, the ruling government reserves the right to the largest amount in any lottery. Any wealth collected vide 900th amendment to the “Winners of Lottery Act, 2008” will be termed legal. This amendment will supersede all other contradictory articles and amendments in the constitution.

What right does the ordinary man have to prevent the government from doing this?

Defence by the government, “The ruling has been made by a popular government. The voter has the right to NOT-CHOOSE the government the next time it goes to vote if he unsatisfied by the government and its bodies.”

Will someone tell me how many times does a common man win a lottery? What happens to the wealth accumulated by the ruling government in the period till the next government comes to power? Can it not be used to further influence people?

Well, to appear just and not unilateral, the government gives the voter the option of impeachment described below:

If motion proposed by minimum 1/8 of population (1)

    If minimum number of attendees to the motion equal to 7/8 of population (2)

        Voting valid --> Decision taken by simple majority. (3)

    Else End of Process

Else End of Process

Brilliant. The government is responsive. The government is so open. The government is so just.

Second look: What if 6.99/8 of population is in favour of the motion? Condition 1 satisfied. What about condition 2? To further compound the problem, what if 1/16 of the population is not in town to vote? That’s not good enough. What if 1/32 of the population is direct stakeholder against the motion? That leaves only further 1/32 of the population to actually abstain from the voting to get it declared invalid. What a democracy – 87% of the population v/s 2% of population and the 87% is considered invalid because the 2% are absent from voting!!!

Which government will modify this legislation, a legislation so inclined in the favour of the ruling government; a legislation that empowers the government to commit any crime and ask for solid proof (which again is ratified as acceptable by the same government!!! Y am I not surprised...)?

Probably, George Orwell got it more right when he said, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. And when the mistakes of super equals are brought to fore, they retaliate in a manner which makes the other equals feel these super equals were better off ignorant of the mistakes (Putting it mildly against “crimes”). That these super equals will do anything to protect their exalted status is the essence of modern democracy.

The democracy is “By the people” when the government is formed, “Of the people (the neo-super-equals)” during its existence and “For the people (the super equals)” in its functioning. For the rest of junta, kat raha hai...

MMM

P.S.: Any Law (Civil, industrial or watever else) students/professionals, please correct me if I've overlooked any provsion(s) in Indian constitution which is in direct contradiction to above. There is a possibility that the whole article is incorrect, in which case, please provide me links to suitable literature.
P.S2.: The limit on quorum is 10% as known to me. The specific example of the impeachment procedure is a known violation of the rule used to prove a point

Requiem for a (G)Dream

Friends,

Today we gather to pay homage to a once-preferred mode of short-listing candidates. He was a technique, a method and over all – a true judge of person’s abilities to work in a group. However, in face of zillions of websites and coaching centres trying to make group workers out of overzealous individuals, our poor chap lost out. Now what remains is a group but hardly any discussion ever takes place. Saddest of all is the fact that he was betrayed by his own tools. 

For me, he was not just a GD, he was more... he was a G(m)D.

• Initiation: Initiation was seen as a positive sign of a person being able to take initiative. But now everyone knows this. Result, when the initial few minutes are given to think and jot down key points, participants are more looking at their watches than thinking. 5 secs before the actual time, all start – “Friends.... blah blah” It’s pure luck who sustains this...!!!
  
• Team skills: Commonly heard in GDs I’ve been part of – “Taking his point forward... blah blah” when the point being made is not even remotely connected to the previous speaker and in many cases contradictory....!!! “As my friend (Remember, u can’t call him names in GD) said... blah blah” and proceed to make a point which is a polar opposite of his actual point.
  
• Listening: Lesser said the better. Stop a GD midway and ask the next speaker to not make his point but reiterate the previous point and half the time he/she would just mumble.
  
• Assertiveness: Yeah right... Shout and be heard. Repeat “Friends friends friends...” till someone with more sense than you stops and lets you speak.
  
• Knowledge: Does it even matter!!! As long as you can speak English, it shouldn’t matter. IR guys trying to explain fin fundae (That was brilliant!!!) and bummers talking of labour laws, rights of workmen and court procedures (Even more so!!!)... Marketing – well that is anyone’s field anyways... you just need to think customer is a fool and you know more than the marketers of global conglomerates (Kotler sure had an uneasy day!!!)
  
• Reasoning ability: Yes. That is still present in GDs. “Friends... let us first try to understand the reasons behind blah blah....” is what all GDs start with. This forces me to assume there is some reasoning going on behind the brains (though the content that follows often defies the reasoning)
  
• Leadership skills: Stopping one person making a valid point to give a non-participative member a forceful chance to speak is bringing out the best and thus demonstrative of leadership skills. “Friends... I think let us hear what Mr.XYZ here has to say” even when Mr.XYZ has no particular point to make. Mr. XYZ also starts making a “valid” point when in his mind he is thinking, “Dude! What are you doing? Why do you want to make a fool of me? I know nothing on the topic and am only waiting for the moderator to say ‘summarise’. If I speak now what will I do then!!!”

GD was a good man but overuse caused a total burnout leaving no purpose in his existence. Though HR pros still think they can use his services, what they are actually doing is reducing their workload due to absence of any other bakra. May the G(o)D rest in Peace.

MMM

An Experience to Remember - The Concluding Part

Dear Blog,

After the GBM, it might be seen as repetition... but I dint feel that justice was done by a mere applause... The effort put by the seniors was exceptional to say the least.

It started with helping people turn empty sub-standard CVs to masterpieces which were often self-deceiving... each one formatted to perfection... more like being crafted to exquisite forms of art...!!! Thank you dear mentors... Then there were individual interviews and GDs. Not just any GDs, there were “Chairman’s GDs”, case GDs and every other type (though most of them turned to a common fish-market was another matter). As the forms started pouring in, Gyaan followed.

And this was the beginning...

The first call to SIP was given by a melodious rendition of “Bhayee Bhorrrrr”... And as we entered the holding area, biscuits and juice packs awaited us... Served on a platter, we knew we were in for few days of pampering... Team services had all planned for all of us... to meet all our needs at all times of the day... all with a faces lit by brilliance of a 1000W smile. From the early morning snack to the late-night munchies, Services made sure no person was left wanting.

One certain incident which I shall never forget... I was down... just not out... I wished to eat a sandwich... made a request for it... five mins was all I waited for me to be served... thts it??? No... Not just one senior to help me out with my mental state but two of them... Suddenly I felt pity for the companies that rejected me... A feeling of being important engulfed me... I felt wanted... Too bad the companies couldn’t gauge my potential... A smile lit up my face and I spent the day happy though I couldn’t manage to sign-out!!! One fine morning, as I entered the holding area, I was offered a biscuit but what made my day was the feeling attached to it. I decided today was gonna be my day... And so it was!!!

There were moments when people vented their pent-up anger on the team services and all the team did was smile back and say... did u have food? Want anything else... some juice, cold drink? Outside the holding area, you could see the tension and fatigue on their faces but all they had for us juniors was the famed smile. But for team services, GAK how many more people would have broken down and found themselves in abysses they could never have recover from. There might be numerous allegations against every other team... every other person... But Team Services was simply loved by all. Kudos to the team...

Then there was the Team-Controls. I dunno wat software they designed... and thankfully did not have to know it too... for they functioned so efficiently... brilliantly managing multiple parallel GDs, interviews along with maintaining pecking sheets and databases... all with the calm of the deep sea... The target of most abuses, team controls was impeccable with their job.

And last of all, the StuCos and CoCos... they were the last point of contact before a candidate entered the gallows. They ensured the prospective candidate was well prepared... more mentally than factually. The last bit of confidence-boosting was done by these seniors. How can I forget the invaluable tips I received from the CoCos before the numerous GDs I attended (I must have let them down for I went to more than 15 GDs without success.... Gawd.. how bad a learner am I)

Revelling in the experience of SIP,

MMM

P.S. Also in the series: Part 1 - Prelude, Part 2 - The beginings, Part 3 - The process

P.S2: PlaceCom and CRISP - I dont feel qualified enuf to put into words the part played. No appreciation is good enuf.

An Experience to Remember - Part 3

Dear Blog,

The last post ended with, “Retire for the day”... Did that mean Sleep?? Hardly... For those lucky souls who managed to “sign-out” on day 1, it was ecstasy while for others, it was anticipation and tension. 

0500 Hrs: SAC heard again – “Good Morning Juniors”... but the Cactus tree was pushed into oblivion. Whether it was due to unavailability of lead singers or due to sheer sense, it was welcome. Nevertheless, the whole XL was assembled in the holding area at 0600 hrs. There were more companies slotted for the day... more shortlists(extended and otherwise), more GDs (and more loud voices) and more PIs. And to make matters worse, there was desperation in those loud voices too. But then, as they say... jaako raakhe saaiyan maar sake na koi... the hand of god waived and some voices signed out... 

1400 Hrs: My third GD of the day and I lost track of time...

The situation was a prime case-study for any psychology student. While some students were joyous, others were indifferent and still others were angry (at themselves, process, authorities or anyone who could be blamed) and the remaining had plummeted to depths of despair. That the results were withheld (due to “sound logic” to avoid “process complications”) only added to the problem. It was the day the first signs of eye-swells started showing up. The rivers behind the lacrymals were ready to pierce the dams guarding them. Night dawned, but it was only virtual. There was no end to the process that day or for the days that followed.

As they say, it is the times of despair when you seek the quantum of solace... It is these times that bring the best of relations to forefront. The best of friends can become staunch rivals in face of adversity but SIP was different. Each second round interview shortlist was greeted with applause despite people not finding themselves on it. There were people who kept getting shortlists (I tracked mine till 20+ before I lost count) some kept converting GDs (hail the GD gods and goddesses) too... The sign-out was still a long way. It was time when people who once having prided themselves on having got into XL starting doubting if they were actually worth it. People who thought they had seen life enough were in for a shock. Amidst all this there were old ties being strengthened and new relations being formed... 

And once again, I found my best pals right beside me... but this time, there were many more... and boy, am I glad for that!!!

I didn’t hear my name being called out for sign-outs... But the call for treat at Regent (which I shall undertake someday) told me, I dint need to spend another night thinking what I was doing wrong... or another day thinking what I could do right!!!

What remains to be mentioned is the mentoring and a lot more I received through the process... And owing to the sheer size of task and emotion, that merits a new post...

MMM

Earlier in the series: Part 1, Part 2

An Experience to remember - Part 2

This post, I’ll post about the SIP experience of the juniors in the little chill times (i.e. Day 1)

The first of November, while many states of India celebrated their official state holiday, XLers had a busy day. Pecking discussions, slotting discussions and also sometimes, subject discussions... If teachers were around, they would surely ask the admin to have a SIP process every term so that the students actually take up books and study. And this continues right into the “Holding Area”. The whole campus is decked up for the impending arrival of the corporate India (and world).

Lights... Sound... Camera... ACTION!!!

0500hrs Nov 2^nd: Heard all over XL, “Good Morning Juniors”... SAC is finally heard!!! For once, no one was seen frowning over the not-so-rude awakening (literally) to the SIP... Eyes half closed – but smiling faces. Cactus tree Rox J

Sabko pata laga “Bhayee bhooooooooorrrrrrrrr”... The suits come out of the closets... Everyone u meet is a “Man-in-B” (where : B=Black, Blue, Brown). Shortlist (extended or otherwise) or no, XLers assemble in the “Holding Area”. It’s time for GDs and PIs to begin.

GD is one experience that will remain etched to me like a birthmark on my skin. Some people are loud, some people are intelligent, and very few are both. And it is these the second in the list who suffer. But coupled with the shrill in the voice and inability to listen (aka. active participation), it is the first category who rules the “Discussion”. More on GDs in another post sometime...

Then there are PIs. PIs are the opportunity for the candidates to prove how far they can stretch their imagination... making a mountain out of a mole-hill does require an elaborate effort. That all your hard-work through 20 yrs of life can be negated by one wrong example (seemingly) is something that I learnt, albeit the hard way.

Anyways, Day 1: Thru the day, there was the lone “sign-out”. Evening came, more sign-outs. Reputed names shoddy games. Notable in the “Well” – congratulations and allegations...

2300hrs: After a long day’s work, there’s pecking to be done. The taps of Gyaan open again... Mar-focus, Fin-focus and for most of us, simply Job-Focus...

Late in the night: Retire for the day.

MMM

Earlier in the series: Part 1

Escapade

Inebriation is the best form of awakening. Inebriation is the best form of freedom. Inebriation is the best form of truth. Inebriation is the best form of bonding. Inebriation is the best form of true love.

Inebriation is the best time for jokes. Inebriation is the best time for games. Inebriation is the best time for making lasting friends. Inebriation is the best time for telling the world you are what you are.

Spl when it’s the other person who is in the subconscious, truthful, frank and elevated state...

In light of personal experience of the same, I rest my case.

MMM

P.S.: Successor post to "An Experience to Remember - Part 1" shall come soon...

An Experience to remember - Part 1

There are experiences you have which u remember for a long time... Some good, and also some not-so-good (Note: NOT bad; just “not-so-good”). The SIP process was in the second category. This process, a new learning for me had so many moments that shall remain burnt to my memory that I shall distribute them over multiple posts – each looking over one aspect of the process. This shall be the prelude post.

It was end of September... the days had started to get shorter and longer at the same time. The sun set early but XLers worked late. And surprisingly, it was the start of the term. Why then, would students strain themselves? It was the term where the SIP would take place... SIP – an acronym for many different names (including “some idiotic process”) is the life of a B-Schooler in his second term. Two months before the start, CVs get ready. They are resurrected from depths of mediocrity under the special guidance of the experienced seniors. That they never are perfect is another matter!!!

Then there are the company PPTs. Each trying to woo the students with promise of “live projects”, “structured processes”, “hands-on experience” and some with pizzas and goodies (which btw remain the only point of differentiation after a score of PPTs...). If there is one purpose these accomplish, it is to let the students know that we are here and we want you. XL is a brand. XLers carry along with them a name tag which is worth a lot. Xlers have a responsibility to fulfil. And the XLers resolve to continue the legacy. Xlers shall put their best foot-forward.

Then there are special GBMs called for giving a feel of the process, mock (ing) process and GDs and interviews. Each GBM institutes a sense of fear and anticipation in the junior junta. Gyaan is dispensed off with ease. And yes, a lot of it is actually for the purpose it is depicted to be (others just exercise their put options ;))

You know its SIP time when things start to heat up, when tension rules the roost, when class-strength grows thin, when BFA, Kotler, Law books come to the fore, when the library sees some off-take of books and some in-take of students, when Classrooms (LH1,2) are lit up with people working even in the wee hours of the night, when the marketing blogs and investopedia replace the chat windows and even the FRAXers are seen with “things-to-do” lists.

That Diwali came and went was pushed into oblivion... Noone remembers what they did on Diwali, which btw, was less than a week back.

And thus began SIP... To be continued

MMM

Read other parts here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Related Posts: All About GDs, Application Process

I and PUNEET

Dear Blog,

How often do you miss a person so close to you – the second part of you, who always knows what to do when things are not going good, the patient part of you who thinks it’s you who will get what you deserve – the best. You try to hide things from him but then he knows everything – far more than what even you know. You try to act nonchalant but deep down you know it’s him who knows that things are not right. The heart and the soul of the living being rebel against the mind but in the end it’s the heart that wins the battle and the soul that experiences the victory. This second person is no outsider to you; you might not even attribute a physical form to him, he’s just surreal – too good to be true. There’s so much common in the two of you. Both of you always think about YOU. Both of you are happy (or sad) at YOUR achievement (or failure). 

One bad day, you find yourself lost in the crowd; lost amongst and because of so many things happening around you; lost because there is no one to see that you are lost; lost because you do not know if you know what you should know. And it is then that you look beside you and find him there, carrying your fears so that you are relieved of the burden... You look to him and you know he knows... You are no more lost. It is then that you realise that it was never you alone who chugged the beaten track. It was always you and your special friend you call PUNEET.

MMM

Diwali @ XL

There’s always something about XL that makes u put ur hands up in the air and say – WoW...

I have stayed in hostel for last four years now but the feeling of a home-away-from-home never came... This Diwali changed it all... Little did it matter that I have spent most of my Diwalis at home... Little did it matter that I’ve friends who I have known only for the last half a year... Little did it matter that I am in a small city like Jamshedpur which knows how to celebrate but without pomp and show... The only thing that mattered ultimately was that we all are Xlers... It was a Diwali that transcended the wall between the Profs and the students... the seniors and the juniors... the bummers and IRs...

Till the evening, I was sad... There was no Diwali in the atmosphere... there were no lights around... There was palpable tension of the oncoming SIP... The crackers were silent... And then the sun set... And this was a sunset that signalled the dawn of life in XL... Lights all around... Sounds of crackers... And slowly after a sober Lakshmi-Poojan, it was fun and frolic. Students dressed up in their best (Not the business suits pls...) came down to celebrate. The Profs opened up their doors to students and all classes were forgotten as students celebrated the welcome change from the mess food. There were delicacies from the south, savouries from the north, munch-ins from the west and the ever-so-wanted sweets from the east... I’ve stayed in residential campuses all my life but ask me if I’ve felt the feeling of being one big family as today and I’d give an emphatic NO as my reply..!!! After visiting the Profs’ house there was the PlaceCom GBM (Sssshhhhhh...). But that too was filled with enthu for the following cracker-show...

Then, for an hour, the only sounds were those of crackers and the only lights were those of lamps and sparklers. From the loud sounds of the “atom bomb” to the playful “aloo bomb”, from the bright aerial rockets to the sparkling lights... it was Diwali everywhere. And most noticeable of all, there was the light emanating from the bright faces... lit by joy... overshadowing the tiring hrs spent on CVs and preparation...

Antakshari followed... where winning was the last objective... and celebration was the first (ok not just the prized chocolate pack)!!!

Its 2:40 in the wee hours of the morning... and the crackers just keep going on... It’s the freshers’ time now... the terrace of GH1 plays host to them...

And while my family-in-Xl enjoys, I rejoice in their happiness... my dearest pal exercising put options, with roomy searching and finalising same, kiddo NOT getting smaller by the minute, and going ‘CR’azy about the sub-Prime crisis, the two hunks, fail to stay apart ;) I love you guys...

Happy again,

MMM

What part of NO do I understand?

What part of NO do I understand? Neither the N nor the O...

Why is it so difficult for me to say NO to me? Why do I have to see myself saying “Yes I can do it” to everything? There are things beyond me... If I were meant to do everything the world would have been so full and monotonous... There would have been only me around. The reason why others exist is because they can do somethings I can’t. The reason I exist is because there are things that I do others can’t. 

This realisation keeps coming to me but goes away faster than the arrival rate, hence before the next train of thought comes in, I’m already half way through and the realisation effectively fails to have effect.

Guidelines for anyone reading this: I do not get tired... I only feel so. There is always the extra amount of glucose left in my veins. I do sleep but only when I have nothing better to do and anything is better than sleeping. I do not know everything but not for long. I do not lie; it’s just that my version of truth is different from yours.

Guidelines for me: B***S***. Go to sleep...

Sleepyhead,

MMM

||Karmanyev adhikaraste, maa phaleshu kadachana||

Long back, Krishna told Arjun on the battlefield,

“Dude, listen up.. watcha talkin about rewards and consequences. Do u think doing good will get u good for sure and doing bad will bring harm to you no matter wat... Arre bhai.. there is no good or bad. U feel u are doing good but the other person may not see it as good. If not bad, it may be just seen as routine happening.

So wat shud u do? See doing good is in ur control. Do it. Hope it is seen as good and u get something in return (reward or award). Jyaada se jyaada kya hoga... award nahi hi milega na... but at least u’ll know ki tumne apne kaam kiya.. u tried... and if tht satisfaction is not good enuf, no reward ever will be. So don’t try for tht which is not in ur control. Wat u are good at will not be recognised. Wat good u do will be ignored... wat u’ll get will be a courteous reply saying u are good but we’re sorry... Wat u are bad at will be the titlebar on every screen but wat can u do?

One option is to sit and think over it... second option is to forget (though tht’ll be the toughest think to do) and proceed. In short do ur work... take if any reward comes ur way but u got no right to claim anything... nothing is urs... Machi, accept the fact.. its my way or the highway”

This has been my story for the last few days... filling up forms... hoping someone will think I’m good enuf... but the more I talk to ppl, I tend to realise I’m not. If not bad, i’m no more than routine... someone they can choose to ignore for want of better ppl. And by now I’ve become so immune to it all that I will chose to ignore if i’m not picked and proceed with my daily routine of fillin in more...

Mera number bhi aayega..
MMM

P.S: Self-prophecy turned out to be true...

I'm happy today

Dear Blog,

There are many reasons I’d be happy today... some told many untold... I’ll share the former here.

There is something in me that can’t tolerate sad people... and even more so, seeing people sad. And when I’m happy, I know I’ve seen a happy person or at least made an attempt (with some success) to make someone happy. And that was all that made me happy today...

To start off – saw the speech I had written for the MCN class and smiled to myself... said to myself, “I’m so damned if I am asked to speak today...!!!” and couldn’t help but smile... Made myself happy!!! Nice beginning for the day...

Then saw happy faces around (some, in spite of bashings received)... looked like some turtle-heads which had retracted to their shells for the tumultuous time had made their way out with a smile... Thoughts about the wonderful learning from the session we just had (and in general) and further smiles. Did it mean there were no hectic schedules for the day, negative!!! This is the power of the human mind. It can selectively filter moments of joy out of a raging ocean.

The last one, I dunno if it really qualifies to be here... We had gone on a “village trip” and seen some sad faces there. We were asked to propose solutions to turn them into smiles. A humorous and most certainly impractical one though, we presented a solution. TATA could not sell trucks as vehemently as we did. It may not have brought smiles that were intended but I felt satisfied that I did at least think of it. (It sure did bring smiles to the panel)

Do I not knw that these smiles I try to create are not the complete truth... But then wat is... So for the time being... I’ll be happy...

Well, happy till those smiles last. As they say, I’m living the dream, enjoying the life in the matrix,, floating on cloud nine...

MMM