I & 3 letter words
Somehow I have an infatuation with 3 letter words. Yes, 3 letter words, you read it right, especially those that begin with I. 20 years back, when I was in school, IIT was more than a dream, it was an obsession. It was like, its going to be IIT or nothing. Do or Die. I remember the Test Papers of Agarwal Classes and Brilliant Tutorials. The Irodovs, the Hallidays and the Morrison & Boyds. It was crazy. Finally one did get to the IIT. Kanpur was a cool 4 years of B Tech. Then in 92 one joined the Corporate world. Suddenly, I felt missing something in life. And one was back to IIT for M. Tech. With another dream. Another 3 letter word. Another I.
Somehow Kanpur and growing up in the cow belt made one feel that if any job in India is a dream job that is of the IAS. Yes, many friends and relatives and even the Interview Board for the IAS examination questioned me – how could you let the Nation’s investment into your training at IIT go waste. But then Dreams are Dreams. And was lucky enough to have survived in the madness of the IAS exam to get through. Since 95, have been living the dream. Through Good times and through pretty bad and desperate times. Have seen a lot – from the insurgents and the greenery of Nagaland to the dirty politics, riots and poverty of Uttar Pradesh. And yes, always thought how relevant IIT education was to Administration. The fundamental law of Governance in our country is the Law of Inertia – nothing moves till a force is applied!!!
After a dozen years of life in the IAS, one landed up in Hyderabad, by chance in 2006, to a beautiful lush green and serene campus called ISB for a 2 week course. One of the best places to train and relax. Felt instantly in love with the Institution. Interacted with the students, faculty and the dean to get to know more about the course and how to get in. Staying in the campus during April exposed me to the fun the guys were having. Suddenly one felt younger. And yes, I have been craving for getting back to school, one more time and to study Business Management. The desire came from within, to get to see the Private Sector, the Corporate world and how life is. Not to mention the big bucks salary announcements every year and the desire to earn money in life, which one is denied in the Government. And yes the clinching issue was the 3 letter word – ISB and the I!!!
So after 2 years of dithering, on a rainy day in August end, I was a bit low, and felt like chucking the IAS job, one went to mba.com and registered for GMAT. Last date for ISB was Sep 15 and was lucky to get a GMAT appointment on Sep 13. So 2 weeks of Princeton Review and Official Guide and scores of practice tests from torrent downloads and elsewhere, one managed a 710. ISB essays and application including recommendations was completed on Sep 14. And Bingo, made the deadline.
ISB was nice to have invited me for the Interview in Delhi on Oct 15. Was good friendly chit chat. And then the long wait on Nov 20. Pagal Guy thread was interesting and it felt great to get to know a diverse set of wannabes. Guys bustling with energy and confidence unlike the dull and weary company I have at work in Government. Felt younger. Was at times, feeling will ISB chuck me on account of me being too old!! But then the mail did come at 2033 hours on 20th Nov and yes I felt I am in the Class of 2010.
A lot has happened since then. Being part of the ISB yahoogroups makes one feel one knows a lot of future classmates. After the initial euphoria the process of getting to ISB begun. First deadline was Dec 5 and 2 lakhs deposit. Government is yet to approve my study leave. Was worried as to what if its not approved and I end up loosing my 2 lakhs deposit. Am yet to make up my mind as to if I can come back to Government after ISB or will I chart out a new career for myself in 2010. The Economic crisis is making things worse. Many friends and well wishers advise that its not wise to chuck a cushy, safe and secure job like the IAS in these times. I know these times will not last for ever. But for me if I have to be at ISB, it is now or never. Anyways, so made a special request to ISB for extending the 5 Dec deadline. And yes, they agreed. So the dilemma continues. And so does the journey.
Which 3 letter I word its going to be, ISB or IAS!!!!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Why Mumbai!!!
Why!!! Why Mumbai!!! Why another attack!!! Why so many lives lost!! I am sad. Depressed and Down. What can we do about it. Are we destined to just see these gruesome visuals on television every second month. What can one do. What can the Government do. What can the security agencies do!!
Seems news agencies are thrilled with the attack. The anchors seem to be excited. Different channels are coming up with their own theories. Their reporters are lost between Trident, Oberoi and Taj. They are confused with grenades, firings, fire, gunshots. Who is responsible. How long will it take. And how many killed. Its crazy. Sad. And tragic.
Is it true that terrorism is religious. Till sometime back, all terrorist attacks were deemed to be Islamic. Till the Malegaon probes which gave first inications that even Hindu fundamentalists could plan terror attacks. Unfortunately the chief investigator of malegaon probes, ATS Chief Hemant Kirkire has lost his life in the Mumbai attacks. We might never get to know the truth.
Why is it that we find a situation that many Muslims get attracted to fundamentalism and terrorism. To me, it is primarily because of lack of education.Muslims consitute almost 18 % of our population. However, even if I look at the list of ISB Roun 1 admits, I find that there are hardly any Muslims, Why is it so. In my IIT class, out of 300 stuents we just ha 4 or 5 muslims. Why. Are Muslims not a backward community toay. Somehow our system has not been able to take them along. Many of them still go to madarasas and are brain washed into funamentalism. Most Muslim voters are used by politicians as Vote banks. The community needs to be taken care of. Leadership will have to come from educated and enlightened muslims.
Anyways my heart goes out for the families who lost their loved ones. May God give them strength. And may our intelligence and security agencies be able to prevent a attack in future.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Is it going to be ISB?
ISB or IAS
Last week I got an admit to ISB. This made me very happy. Infact thrilled. ISB as a school and campus has always attracted me. Its lush green ennvirons, state of the art classrooms, hi tech atrium and overall ambience made me wish to be a part of the school when I had gone there for a 2 week course in 2006. However I could not bring myselft to apply for the school.
Finally in 2008, when I was finding continuing to serve in Nagaland a not so bright proposition, I thought I will write GMAT and look for options for a MBA course.
I took GMAT with a just 12 day notice period and preparation time. Somehow managed to get a 710 (which friends told me was much below my potential). However it was something what I was targetting as I thought a 700 plus score is good enough. I wrote on September 13 just to be able to meet the ISB R1 deadline of Sep 15. I also had plans of applying for MBA to schools like Wharton and Harvard. But the falling rupee is making the prospects of a foreign MBA a little bit too expensive. Added to it is the economy in recession and I really dont know, 2 years from now, whether US economy will be any better. Over and above the one year course of ISB ending in March 2010 attracts me.
Finally on Nov 20, I got an admit. The overall excitement associated with the admission process of ISB has really thrilled me. The threads at Pagal Guy, the mails at yahoo groups and the overall diverse profile of ISB admits for 2010 makes me wish to be a part of it. Working in the Government for 13 years, one really feels the difference in attitude of people who you will study with in ISB and people you work with now. One suddenly starts feeling younger!!! It is an exciting and buzzing group of people who are oozing energy and hope. This is what makes me believe that if corporate India is going to get such human resources, the revival of the economy is not far!!!
Now why am I undecisive. A major reason was my desire to be back with my family. In July this year my wife and kids had shifted to Delhi for the sake of education of my daughter who is going to Sanskriti school. Now I too expect to get a posting in Delhi by end December. That too in a field I desire - IT and E Governance. At this stage, what should I do. Shall I leave my cushy IAS job and test the waters of a MBA from ISB and the exciting world of Corporate world. Does it make sense to leave the comfort of a secure - low paying IAS job and trade for an exciting - high paying Private Sector job. Specially in these recessive times. Thats the question that needs an answer.
Well, what do I actually want to do. I do want to go to ISB. What attracts me. The chance to learn something new. The opportunity to create a window of option at this stage in life. I have enjoyed my stint in IAS but do I not always crave for more. What I miss in IAS is the working style of the Private Sector and the money. But deep inside I do not want to quit the IAS. IAS has given me a lot. It is still regarded to be the most satisfying and reputed jobs in the country. The diverse job profile is unmatched. The IAS tags opens more doors than what even MasterCard does!!! It is a tough call!!!
The other option is to go to ISB and take the call then. But thats a bit expensive proposition. 20 lakhs for a decision. Way beyond. Over and above, I have to take the call in the next one week. By December 5, I have to accept the ISB offer. That means making a deposit of Rs 2 lakhs that is non refundable!!! Gosh!!! Real tuff call...
How I wish I have a dream which makes things clearer and helps me to decide!!!!!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Change :: Can We ?
CHANGE :: CAN WE?
Change, We can Believe In. These five words have dominated the world headlines and minds and thoughts of the people more than anything else in the past few weeks. The rise and nomination of the phenomenon called Obama is truly remarkable. As Barack Obama outlined his vision and plan for America, on that cloudy evening in Denver, his words were being heard and revered by people beyond the Democrats and the Americans. He spoke of Change. Change that we can believe in. He asked people to believe in their ability to bring about change and not just faith in Obama’s capability to bring about a change in Washington. He elaborated on issues that included Civil Rights, Defense, Disabilities, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Ethics, Faith, Family, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Immigration, Iraq, Poverty, Rural Communities, Service, Seniors, Social Security, Technology, Urban Policy, War Veterans and Women. As you might have guessed, the above is an alphabetical list, but does it leave out any imaginable aspect of life.
Reading the whole text of his speech and going through his thoughts makes one feel that real democracy exists in America. They do debate issues, take positions and then decide who should govern them. We too are a democracy, but do we analyze real issues facing the nation in a similar manner? Why is it so? Actually as a Nation, we avoid Change. We believe in Status Quo. This is because it is supposed to be the easy way forward. Change involves risk. Change requires analysis of issues, application of minds and taking decisions. At times, the decisions are not easy. Those are the times when one looks for leadership and statesmanship. Can we reach a situation when we can also be as ambivalent to change as we should be?
Why don’t we Change. Why is it that we continue to have floods in Bihar? Why do our Dams breach. Why is it that we still have clashes based on religion? Why can’t we guarantee protection to minorities in Orissa? Why is it that a simple issue of Amarnath Yatra is allowed to simmer and blow up into a crisis where we start fearing that Kashmir might secede. Why do we still have bomb blasts in trains and hospitals and market places killing innocent civilians? Why do we have people opposing gender equality and affirmative action and reservations for women and disadvantaged groups. Why?
The answer to most of the questions lies in the fact that we are reluctant to Change. Recently I read viewpoints of Vir Sanghvi and Arundhati Roy on what if we would allow Kashmir to secede. What will happen? The weekly magazine, India Today points out that we have spent Rs 38,156 crores as grants in Kashmir from 2003 to 2008. Kashmir’s own revenue of Rs 2299 crores will not even cover the annual salary bill of Rs 4389 crores. The per capita expenditure of Government of India in Kashmir is Rs 11510. Compared to this it is a mere Rs 700 per person in Uttar Pradesh. Inspite of this we have Parliamentarians who are espousing the cause of the separatists and secessionists. The emotions and sentiments seem to be more in favour of our neighboring country, which is a failed State. Should we tolerate this? Why can’t we just let them go. India is a democracy with a booming economy. In a decade from now, we will be amongst the developed nations. We should be able to eradicate poverty and unemployment by 2020. Inspite of this, we have people who still want to have their own destiny and future, may be the time has come to Change the age old mindset of integrity and unity. I am sure ultimately Economics will get better of Politics and the objectives of Unity and Integrity can be served better with Economics.
Change. What does Change mean to we all in Nagaland. I meet young boys and girls everyday in person and on Facebook, who all have a vision and a desire to change things and achieve something. I see entrepreneurs budding. One of them said this is going to be our generation. And we will not let it go by. They are not status quoits. These guys seem to mean business. They are willing to experiment and take risks. They are the ones who will be required to build Institutions. We need people who can not only dream but also strive to make the dreams a reality. We need to change the mindsets that this is impossible and can not be done. There are women and women groups who are demanding reservations in municipal councils. All this does mean that the movement for Change has begun. There are challenges, though. The biggest challenges will come from the status quoits who will swear by the Customs and Traditions and age old rituals and practices. But that is another name for Status Quo. Things will happen. Had they been so sacrosanct, we would not have got Christianity, more than a century ago. Religion also requires Changes. In Hinduisms, there was a time when Sati, Untouchability and Dowry were customs. Then came social reforms and Change. Now all these practices are crimes. This shows that Change is inevitable.
Of course, we will require leadership. This can come from the Academia. However, unfortunately, our academicians in the University do more research on charges and counter charges than on thinking together in developing a blueprint for Change and Economic transformation of the State. It is not that they can not do it. It can be done if they realize that they all have a secure career, more attractive after the Pay Commission recommendations, and what is needed now is to sacrifice narrow objectives, self interests and false egos and work for the welfare of students and the Institution, both of which need nurturing. How I wish and pray that this Change comes about before Friday, when we will be giving our respects and gratitude to our teachers.
I have dwelled enough on my random musings and seems have reached the limit this column offers me. There are many more thoughts and ideas which I will save for some other day. I hope I do not end up offending anyone with my thoughts. In case there are people who have counter views, I respect them and will request them to ignore these thoughts if they don’t agree. May be I need to Change my thoughts!
Change, We can Believe In. These five words have dominated the world headlines and minds and thoughts of the people more than anything else in the past few weeks. The rise and nomination of the phenomenon called Obama is truly remarkable. As Barack Obama outlined his vision and plan for America, on that cloudy evening in Denver, his words were being heard and revered by people beyond the Democrats and the Americans. He spoke of Change. Change that we can believe in. He asked people to believe in their ability to bring about change and not just faith in Obama’s capability to bring about a change in Washington. He elaborated on issues that included Civil Rights, Defense, Disabilities, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Ethics, Faith, Family, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Immigration, Iraq, Poverty, Rural Communities, Service, Seniors, Social Security, Technology, Urban Policy, War Veterans and Women. As you might have guessed, the above is an alphabetical list, but does it leave out any imaginable aspect of life.
Reading the whole text of his speech and going through his thoughts makes one feel that real democracy exists in America. They do debate issues, take positions and then decide who should govern them. We too are a democracy, but do we analyze real issues facing the nation in a similar manner? Why is it so? Actually as a Nation, we avoid Change. We believe in Status Quo. This is because it is supposed to be the easy way forward. Change involves risk. Change requires analysis of issues, application of minds and taking decisions. At times, the decisions are not easy. Those are the times when one looks for leadership and statesmanship. Can we reach a situation when we can also be as ambivalent to change as we should be?
Why don’t we Change. Why is it that we continue to have floods in Bihar? Why do our Dams breach. Why is it that we still have clashes based on religion? Why can’t we guarantee protection to minorities in Orissa? Why is it that a simple issue of Amarnath Yatra is allowed to simmer and blow up into a crisis where we start fearing that Kashmir might secede. Why do we still have bomb blasts in trains and hospitals and market places killing innocent civilians? Why do we have people opposing gender equality and affirmative action and reservations for women and disadvantaged groups. Why?
The answer to most of the questions lies in the fact that we are reluctant to Change. Recently I read viewpoints of Vir Sanghvi and Arundhati Roy on what if we would allow Kashmir to secede. What will happen? The weekly magazine, India Today points out that we have spent Rs 38,156 crores as grants in Kashmir from 2003 to 2008. Kashmir’s own revenue of Rs 2299 crores will not even cover the annual salary bill of Rs 4389 crores. The per capita expenditure of Government of India in Kashmir is Rs 11510. Compared to this it is a mere Rs 700 per person in Uttar Pradesh. Inspite of this we have Parliamentarians who are espousing the cause of the separatists and secessionists. The emotions and sentiments seem to be more in favour of our neighboring country, which is a failed State. Should we tolerate this? Why can’t we just let them go. India is a democracy with a booming economy. In a decade from now, we will be amongst the developed nations. We should be able to eradicate poverty and unemployment by 2020. Inspite of this, we have people who still want to have their own destiny and future, may be the time has come to Change the age old mindset of integrity and unity. I am sure ultimately Economics will get better of Politics and the objectives of Unity and Integrity can be served better with Economics.
Change. What does Change mean to we all in Nagaland. I meet young boys and girls everyday in person and on Facebook, who all have a vision and a desire to change things and achieve something. I see entrepreneurs budding. One of them said this is going to be our generation. And we will not let it go by. They are not status quoits. These guys seem to mean business. They are willing to experiment and take risks. They are the ones who will be required to build Institutions. We need people who can not only dream but also strive to make the dreams a reality. We need to change the mindsets that this is impossible and can not be done. There are women and women groups who are demanding reservations in municipal councils. All this does mean that the movement for Change has begun. There are challenges, though. The biggest challenges will come from the status quoits who will swear by the Customs and Traditions and age old rituals and practices. But that is another name for Status Quo. Things will happen. Had they been so sacrosanct, we would not have got Christianity, more than a century ago. Religion also requires Changes. In Hinduisms, there was a time when Sati, Untouchability and Dowry were customs. Then came social reforms and Change. Now all these practices are crimes. This shows that Change is inevitable.
Of course, we will require leadership. This can come from the Academia. However, unfortunately, our academicians in the University do more research on charges and counter charges than on thinking together in developing a blueprint for Change and Economic transformation of the State. It is not that they can not do it. It can be done if they realize that they all have a secure career, more attractive after the Pay Commission recommendations, and what is needed now is to sacrifice narrow objectives, self interests and false egos and work for the welfare of students and the Institution, both of which need nurturing. How I wish and pray that this Change comes about before Friday, when we will be giving our respects and gratitude to our teachers.
I have dwelled enough on my random musings and seems have reached the limit this column offers me. There are many more thoughts and ideas which I will save for some other day. I hope I do not end up offending anyone with my thoughts. In case there are people who have counter views, I respect them and will request them to ignore these thoughts if they don’t agree. May be I need to Change my thoughts!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Take a Break
Take a Break
Well. I had taken a Break from the weekly column of Monday Musings for a variety of reasons. However, the last few weeks the kind of response that I have got from readers, friends and well wishers has been such that I feel it would not be an exaggeration if I honestly admit that there were readers who were actually missing my columns and writings! This may sound like me blowing my own trumpet, well, that’s actually true!! I always feel that to blow a trumpet, you gotta have one. And in case you do have a trumpet, no one else is going to blow it for you. So you better do it yourself!!!
Anyways I was indeed taking a Break from writing and getting back on my reading and thinking. Infact a Break is something that all of us need. It is rejuvenating and helps relax our mind and body. A Break helps us to think better and perform better. Planned relaxation calms anxiety and helps your body and mind recover from everyday rush and stress. Music, a long soak in the bath, or a walk in the park do the trick for some people, but for others it's not so easy. If you feel you need help with learning to relax, try a relaxation or meditation class.
Take a look at a dog when it is resting. Its body is free of tension, its brain has switched off and has gone into peaceful mode. Because of our stressful lives, many of us have lost the ability to do this, so there seems to be a need to relearn it.
The Health Desk of BBC suggests a step by step approach to relaxation. I will share with readers for everyone’s benefit. The way to relax is:
Choose a quiet place where you won't be interrupted.
Before you start, do a few gentle stretching exercises to relieve muscular tension.
Make yourself comfortable, either sitting or lying down.
Start to breathe slowly and deeply, in a calm and effortless way.
Gently tense, then relax, each part of your body, starting with your feet and working your way up to your face and head.
As you focus on each area, think of warmth, heaviness and relaxation.
Push any distracting thoughts to the back of your mind; imagine them floating away.
Don't try to relax; simply let go of the tension in your muscles and allow them to become relaxed.
Let your mind go empty. Some people find it helpful to visualise a calm, beautiful place such as a garden or meadow.
Stay like this for about 20 minutes, then take some deep breaths and open your eyes, but stay sitting or lying for a few moments before you get up.
This routine can be done even in office when you are sitting on your desk. Infact what many people do is to use a good screen save to focus on and as you see the formations float on your computer screen, it does have relaxing results. While driving, it is best to stop, park on the sides and do breathing exercises and relax oneself.
However, if one has been going on one’s work for a long time, one should take a break away from work. May be a vacation with just close family. If possible one should even avoid the cell phone. Most corporations force their employees and senior managers to go for annual vacations. This helps them to relax and come back to work with recharged minds and new ideas. Even in Government, everyone is entitled for 30 days leave but most of us accumulates so much of pending work, mostly personal, that leave is also spent working, albeit in a different way. Leave for relaxation should be sans work. It should be spending time with the family and kids. Playing football, watching a movie or in a Spa. Or reading a book or exploring a place you have never been.
Breaks are a must for people at all levels. I know within a few days students will be completing their Class X and XII exams. They would be longing for a break. But Class XII guys have no respite. I remember my own days, when just after the Board Exams, we used to have all sorts of competitive exams. Engineering, Medical and other courses. With lots of pressure from parents, friends and family to excel and do well. So most students will have to wait for their break. But even within the process of preparing for those crazy JEEs et al, do remember to relax. And the 10 step guide mentioned above can be a good start. It will yield great results.
And if none of the above is applicable to you, the best way to relax is to laugh. Get in touch with one of your friends from school or college who was good at jokes. Talk to him and you will feel happy. And yes Jokes are a good way to relax. Jokes on SMS or mail definitely make you feel happy. And they give break from the routine that one is going through.
I would end today with an old Joke but a Good one. This one is on how Greeks do Business. We have Mr Con talking to his son George.
CON (father): "I want you to marry a girl of my choice."
GEORGE (son): "I will choose my own bride!!"
CON (father): "But the girl is Bill Gates' daughter.."
GEORGE (son): "Well, in that case... okay."
Next CON approaches Bill Gates.
CON (father): "I have a husband for your daughter.... "
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!!"
CON (father): "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah! in that case... okay."
Finally CON goes to see the president of the World Bank.
CON: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."
President: "But I already have more vice-presidents than I need!"
CON: "But this young man is Bill Gates' son-in-law."
President: 'Ah, in that case... okay."
And that, my friends, is how Greeks do business.
Well, its time to go back to our own Business. Or rather time to take a Break. Wish I could.
Anyways, keep relaxing and planning for your Break!!!
Have a nice week ahead.
Well. I had taken a Break from the weekly column of Monday Musings for a variety of reasons. However, the last few weeks the kind of response that I have got from readers, friends and well wishers has been such that I feel it would not be an exaggeration if I honestly admit that there were readers who were actually missing my columns and writings! This may sound like me blowing my own trumpet, well, that’s actually true!! I always feel that to blow a trumpet, you gotta have one. And in case you do have a trumpet, no one else is going to blow it for you. So you better do it yourself!!!
Anyways I was indeed taking a Break from writing and getting back on my reading and thinking. Infact a Break is something that all of us need. It is rejuvenating and helps relax our mind and body. A Break helps us to think better and perform better. Planned relaxation calms anxiety and helps your body and mind recover from everyday rush and stress. Music, a long soak in the bath, or a walk in the park do the trick for some people, but for others it's not so easy. If you feel you need help with learning to relax, try a relaxation or meditation class.
Take a look at a dog when it is resting. Its body is free of tension, its brain has switched off and has gone into peaceful mode. Because of our stressful lives, many of us have lost the ability to do this, so there seems to be a need to relearn it.
The Health Desk of BBC suggests a step by step approach to relaxation. I will share with readers for everyone’s benefit. The way to relax is:
Choose a quiet place where you won't be interrupted.
Before you start, do a few gentle stretching exercises to relieve muscular tension.
Make yourself comfortable, either sitting or lying down.
Start to breathe slowly and deeply, in a calm and effortless way.
Gently tense, then relax, each part of your body, starting with your feet and working your way up to your face and head.
As you focus on each area, think of warmth, heaviness and relaxation.
Push any distracting thoughts to the back of your mind; imagine them floating away.
Don't try to relax; simply let go of the tension in your muscles and allow them to become relaxed.
Let your mind go empty. Some people find it helpful to visualise a calm, beautiful place such as a garden or meadow.
Stay like this for about 20 minutes, then take some deep breaths and open your eyes, but stay sitting or lying for a few moments before you get up.
This routine can be done even in office when you are sitting on your desk. Infact what many people do is to use a good screen save to focus on and as you see the formations float on your computer screen, it does have relaxing results. While driving, it is best to stop, park on the sides and do breathing exercises and relax oneself.
However, if one has been going on one’s work for a long time, one should take a break away from work. May be a vacation with just close family. If possible one should even avoid the cell phone. Most corporations force their employees and senior managers to go for annual vacations. This helps them to relax and come back to work with recharged minds and new ideas. Even in Government, everyone is entitled for 30 days leave but most of us accumulates so much of pending work, mostly personal, that leave is also spent working, albeit in a different way. Leave for relaxation should be sans work. It should be spending time with the family and kids. Playing football, watching a movie or in a Spa. Or reading a book or exploring a place you have never been.
Breaks are a must for people at all levels. I know within a few days students will be completing their Class X and XII exams. They would be longing for a break. But Class XII guys have no respite. I remember my own days, when just after the Board Exams, we used to have all sorts of competitive exams. Engineering, Medical and other courses. With lots of pressure from parents, friends and family to excel and do well. So most students will have to wait for their break. But even within the process of preparing for those crazy JEEs et al, do remember to relax. And the 10 step guide mentioned above can be a good start. It will yield great results.
And if none of the above is applicable to you, the best way to relax is to laugh. Get in touch with one of your friends from school or college who was good at jokes. Talk to him and you will feel happy. And yes Jokes are a good way to relax. Jokes on SMS or mail definitely make you feel happy. And they give break from the routine that one is going through.
I would end today with an old Joke but a Good one. This one is on how Greeks do Business. We have Mr Con talking to his son George.
CON (father): "I want you to marry a girl of my choice."
GEORGE (son): "I will choose my own bride!!"
CON (father): "But the girl is Bill Gates' daughter.."
GEORGE (son): "Well, in that case... okay."
Next CON approaches Bill Gates.
CON (father): "I have a husband for your daughter.... "
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!!"
CON (father): "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah! in that case... okay."
Finally CON goes to see the president of the World Bank.
CON: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."
President: "But I already have more vice-presidents than I need!"
CON: "But this young man is Bill Gates' son-in-law."
President: 'Ah, in that case... okay."
And that, my friends, is how Greeks do business.
Well, its time to go back to our own Business. Or rather time to take a Break. Wish I could.
Anyways, keep relaxing and planning for your Break!!!
Have a nice week ahead.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Human Resource Paradox
Human Resource Paradox
This week would definitely be remembered in history for the images from the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. It was a truly breathtaking show – going through the 5000 years of history of China and the performances proved that China has arrived on the world stage. It was without doubt the most impressive start to any Olympics of the near past. These Olympics go on to prove that this century is going to be an Asian Century if not Chinese. For all that we know, China might emerge as the winners in these Olympics since their athletes and sportsmen have been striving hard for more than ten years for their moment of glory.
Of course, it makes us also think as to why we as a nation, inspite of being second to China in population, struggle to get a single medal in the Olympics. There are many reasons for the same and many of them are as applicable in the Sports field as in any other field. Infact, we have our limitations in sports, due to lack of proper infrastructure and training facilities as also attitude and mindset of society in general towards Sports. What worries everyone is that will this also lead to our failure in achieving our potential in the economic arena also.
Recently Goldman Sachs' have come out with their report on India, titled "Ten Things for India to Achieve its 2050 Potential", which lists out as to the measures that India should adopt to harness the demographic dividends likely to accrue on account of its young population. From 2000 to 2020, India’s population is expected to increase by 310 million, about the same size as the population of United States today. India will in effect create the equivalent of another US, and for those of working age between 2000 and 2020, India will create the equivalent of the combined working population of France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Thus if our economy can productively employ everyone, then we will be on our way to attain the status of a developed nation by 2020.
Goldman’ Sachs’ goes on to identify 13 variables that are crucial to productivity and growth sustainability. These 13 variables include Rule of Law, Corruption, Political Stability, Life Expectancy, Inflation, External Debt, Government Balance, Investment, Schooling, Openness, Computers, Mobiles and Internet.
Of these Governance is the most vital as in the absence of Good Governance, efficient delivery systems and effective implementation, we will find it difficult to educate our citizens, build infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity, and ensure that the fruits of economic growth are well-distributed. The problems manifest in various forms – inspite of we being a democracy, accountability is limited and voters are not really supreme, Citizens are not organised to demand better services and the role of the state is blurred as both a regulator to ensure adequate services and a producer of services. Citizens do not have the ability to hold service providers to account, as the latter do not depend on them for financing. The report offers suggestions to resolve these issues, by achieving greater accountability to the citizen, unbundling of the government's roles as regulator and provider of services, extending autonomy for service providers, and ensuring greater ability of citizens to hold service providers to account for the services they deliver. As an example, it recommends Public-private partnerships. Allowing the private sector to provide public services in wide-ranging areas such as health, primary education, building infrastructure, water supply and inner-city transport would solve several important problems. It would enable the government to fulfill its obligations to supply core services, which are badly served. Citizens would exercise choice over providers, and it would clearly separate the role of provider and regulator, with the government becoming the latter.
Reading the report, one is forced to think as to what ramifications it has for Nagaland. As per Census of India, our projected population on 1st March 2008 is 21.87 lakhs as compared to 19.90 lakhs in 2001. In 1981 our populations was 7.75 lakhs and in 1991 it was 12.09 lakhs. Thus in the 27 years from 1981 to 2008, our population has increased by around 14 lakhs. This is the segment of population that we commonly refer to as the youth and it only goes ahead to prove the fact that around 70% of our population are below the age of 30. The question is that if we leave out the school going population, still those between 18 to 35 years of age constitute almost half of our population and much more than our present working force. If only we could gainfully employ this section of our population, it will mean a lot to our economy and definitely will lead to prosperity and well being of all.
Thus the need to ensure adequate growth in employment opportunities to provide productive employment for the continuing increase in the population and the labour force is the most important problem for us. In the last few years, there has been an increased Government spending on various schemes and programmes, but they have not led to a commensurate expansion in employment. Employment opportunities in Government are limited due to various factors. Processes of privatization have been initiated in various sectors but they also create an environment which is not conducive to expanding employment in the organized private sector. The net result of these forces is a very slow expansion in employment opportunities in the organized sector, leading to rise in unemployment rates and growing frustration among the youth. The problem is perceived to be especially severe for educated youth, who have high expectations about the quality of employment opportunities that should come their way.
Along with this we also have the classic employability problem. We have expanded educational facilities in the last few years and our colleges are producing quite a number of graduates. However less than 20 % of the graduates are considered suitable by employers for direct employment making skills shortage one of the key risks to sustainable growth. On the other hand we also have the classic employment problem wherein there are many jobs available in the society that are not taken by our youth and they are actually availed by migrants from neighboring States. Infact a recent study by Evaluation Department showed that a significant portion of the economy and income is in the hands of the migrants. The question is why can’s our youth take up these jobs. One reason has been lack of relevant skill sets amongst the youth in particular with regard to jobs in the unorganized sector. Another reason is the lack of interest shown by many amongst the youth to take up jobs involving labour or in retailing and hawking vegetables etc. This co existence of low employability of the available work force alongside vast numbers of unemployed is a classic Human Resource Paradox.
Given the urgent need for equipping the blue collar as well as the white collar workforce, with the requisite knowledge and skills to participate in the process of economic growth and development appropriate policy initiatives are necessary. While short term initiatives could entail design of special policies and programmes focused entirely on skill development, in the long term, a careful re look at policy imperatives in the Education system becomes necessary. The declaration of Year of Capacity Building will definitely be able to address some of the issues.
I am sure this is a topic that requires much more thought and much more space than this column can offer. I look forward to views and suggestions from all, specially the youth on how we can overcome these problems and paradoxes and work out a strategy that gives us the opportunity to leverage our human resource potential in creating an era of progress and prosperity.
Have a nice week ahead.
This week would definitely be remembered in history for the images from the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. It was a truly breathtaking show – going through the 5000 years of history of China and the performances proved that China has arrived on the world stage. It was without doubt the most impressive start to any Olympics of the near past. These Olympics go on to prove that this century is going to be an Asian Century if not Chinese. For all that we know, China might emerge as the winners in these Olympics since their athletes and sportsmen have been striving hard for more than ten years for their moment of glory.
Of course, it makes us also think as to why we as a nation, inspite of being second to China in population, struggle to get a single medal in the Olympics. There are many reasons for the same and many of them are as applicable in the Sports field as in any other field. Infact, we have our limitations in sports, due to lack of proper infrastructure and training facilities as also attitude and mindset of society in general towards Sports. What worries everyone is that will this also lead to our failure in achieving our potential in the economic arena also.
Recently Goldman Sachs' have come out with their report on India, titled "Ten Things for India to Achieve its 2050 Potential", which lists out as to the measures that India should adopt to harness the demographic dividends likely to accrue on account of its young population. From 2000 to 2020, India’s population is expected to increase by 310 million, about the same size as the population of United States today. India will in effect create the equivalent of another US, and for those of working age between 2000 and 2020, India will create the equivalent of the combined working population of France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Thus if our economy can productively employ everyone, then we will be on our way to attain the status of a developed nation by 2020.
Goldman’ Sachs’ goes on to identify 13 variables that are crucial to productivity and growth sustainability. These 13 variables include Rule of Law, Corruption, Political Stability, Life Expectancy, Inflation, External Debt, Government Balance, Investment, Schooling, Openness, Computers, Mobiles and Internet.
Of these Governance is the most vital as in the absence of Good Governance, efficient delivery systems and effective implementation, we will find it difficult to educate our citizens, build infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity, and ensure that the fruits of economic growth are well-distributed. The problems manifest in various forms – inspite of we being a democracy, accountability is limited and voters are not really supreme, Citizens are not organised to demand better services and the role of the state is blurred as both a regulator to ensure adequate services and a producer of services. Citizens do not have the ability to hold service providers to account, as the latter do not depend on them for financing. The report offers suggestions to resolve these issues, by achieving greater accountability to the citizen, unbundling of the government's roles as regulator and provider of services, extending autonomy for service providers, and ensuring greater ability of citizens to hold service providers to account for the services they deliver. As an example, it recommends Public-private partnerships. Allowing the private sector to provide public services in wide-ranging areas such as health, primary education, building infrastructure, water supply and inner-city transport would solve several important problems. It would enable the government to fulfill its obligations to supply core services, which are badly served. Citizens would exercise choice over providers, and it would clearly separate the role of provider and regulator, with the government becoming the latter.
Reading the report, one is forced to think as to what ramifications it has for Nagaland. As per Census of India, our projected population on 1st March 2008 is 21.87 lakhs as compared to 19.90 lakhs in 2001. In 1981 our populations was 7.75 lakhs and in 1991 it was 12.09 lakhs. Thus in the 27 years from 1981 to 2008, our population has increased by around 14 lakhs. This is the segment of population that we commonly refer to as the youth and it only goes ahead to prove the fact that around 70% of our population are below the age of 30. The question is that if we leave out the school going population, still those between 18 to 35 years of age constitute almost half of our population and much more than our present working force. If only we could gainfully employ this section of our population, it will mean a lot to our economy and definitely will lead to prosperity and well being of all.
Thus the need to ensure adequate growth in employment opportunities to provide productive employment for the continuing increase in the population and the labour force is the most important problem for us. In the last few years, there has been an increased Government spending on various schemes and programmes, but they have not led to a commensurate expansion in employment. Employment opportunities in Government are limited due to various factors. Processes of privatization have been initiated in various sectors but they also create an environment which is not conducive to expanding employment in the organized private sector. The net result of these forces is a very slow expansion in employment opportunities in the organized sector, leading to rise in unemployment rates and growing frustration among the youth. The problem is perceived to be especially severe for educated youth, who have high expectations about the quality of employment opportunities that should come their way.
Along with this we also have the classic employability problem. We have expanded educational facilities in the last few years and our colleges are producing quite a number of graduates. However less than 20 % of the graduates are considered suitable by employers for direct employment making skills shortage one of the key risks to sustainable growth. On the other hand we also have the classic employment problem wherein there are many jobs available in the society that are not taken by our youth and they are actually availed by migrants from neighboring States. Infact a recent study by Evaluation Department showed that a significant portion of the economy and income is in the hands of the migrants. The question is why can’s our youth take up these jobs. One reason has been lack of relevant skill sets amongst the youth in particular with regard to jobs in the unorganized sector. Another reason is the lack of interest shown by many amongst the youth to take up jobs involving labour or in retailing and hawking vegetables etc. This co existence of low employability of the available work force alongside vast numbers of unemployed is a classic Human Resource Paradox.
Given the urgent need for equipping the blue collar as well as the white collar workforce, with the requisite knowledge and skills to participate in the process of economic growth and development appropriate policy initiatives are necessary. While short term initiatives could entail design of special policies and programmes focused entirely on skill development, in the long term, a careful re look at policy imperatives in the Education system becomes necessary. The declaration of Year of Capacity Building will definitely be able to address some of the issues.
I am sure this is a topic that requires much more thought and much more space than this column can offer. I look forward to views and suggestions from all, specially the youth on how we can overcome these problems and paradoxes and work out a strategy that gives us the opportunity to leverage our human resource potential in creating an era of progress and prosperity.
Have a nice week ahead.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Miracle of the Han River
Miracle of the Han River
I must say that last two months for me have truly been a learning experience. I was away on training in Mussoorie. This was a compulsory training for IAS officers and was conducted by IIM Bangalore in association with Maxwell School of Public Policy, Syracuse University. We also had an international module for our training, for which Government of India had tied up with the KDI School of Public Policy, Seoul. This module from May 18th to 31st was one of the best training exposures that I have ever had. Till, we landed in Seoul, I had a different perspective on Korea. Now I am totally impressed by the Miracle, the Koreans have achieved in the last 30 years, truly the Miracle of the Han river, the river on which Seoul is situated.
South Korea is a nation that has braved all odds to transform into a developed nation with in a span of just 3 decades. From a per capita income of around 100 dollars in late 1960’s today they stand tall with a per capita income of more than 20000 dollars. And all this has been achieved inspite of the fact that they have no natural resources – No Oil, No Iron Ore, No Coal. Yet they are one of the leading producers of steel, have 40 % share of Ship building industry and companies like Hyundai, Samsung, LG, SK and POSCO are true world leaders. Their only resource is human resources and they have invested heavily into it – with a world class Education System, from Primary levels to the University levels and a firm resolve to excel and sense of discipline has helped them leap frog into the top bracket of developed nations.
How have they done this. South Korea has a population of 48 million and is strategically located between China and Japan, with hostile North Korea on its north. They have a GDP of 888 billion US dollars and a literacy rate of 98 %. Historically Korea has faced several invasions on its land. Korean history dates back to 2333 BC when it was a tribal state in the Ko Chosun Period. It faced the Han invasion during this period. In 37 BC, Korea comprised of Three Kingdoms of Koguryo, Paekche and Shilla kingdoms. After lots of infighting, Shilla dynasty ruled Korea in 668 AD. At this time, Korea faced the Tang invasion. This was followed by the Koryo dynasty in 918 AD when Buddhism reached Korea. Around this time, the Mongols invaded Korea. By 1392 AD, the Chosun Dynasty was ruling in Korea and at this time Confucianism prevailed. Japanese attacked Korea in 1910 and it underwent a long period of Japanese occupation. World War II was followed by the Korean War which ultimately divided Korea into the North and the South. North Korea went the Communist way whereas South Korea prospered under democracy. Thus historically Korea has been subject to foreign influence. China and Japan have always eyed Korea and later Russia, US and Western Europe regard Korea as a key strategic partner for the whole region.
It is interesting to know that almost 50 % of Koreans do not follow any religion. Around 23 % are Buddhists and 20 % are Protestant Christians. 6 % are Catholics and remaining 1 % follow other religions. There is a strong influence of Confucianism amongst Koreans and most people do follow the five cardinal principles of Confucianism:
1. Filial piety to parents
2. Loyalty to the King
3. Respect for the elders
4. Obedience to husband
5. Trust amongst parents
Of course, in modern times, this has led to the values like Respect for authority and family traditions, social harmony and relationship and emphasis on education and hard work. The general Confucian principle has been:
“When the moral character is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order. When the state is in order, the whole world will be pacified.”
Along with these values and ethical principles, another feature of Koreans is that they are extremely hard working. As per the OECD fact book 2008, an average employee worked for 2357 hours in Korea. This is quite significant compared to other countries – USA : 1797 hours, Japan : 1784 hours, France : 1564 hours and Germany : 1436 hours. I am sure we are no where near those figures. These figures have greatly contributed to their booming economy. Their economy has undergone a process of liberalization and industrial restructuring with the political leadership resolving firmly to create world class infrastructure along with significant investments in Education and Health. Korea spends about 7.5 % of its GDP on Education, which is amongst the highest in the world. They were amongst the first to realize the limitations Agriculture has vis a vis increased incomes, and systematically ensured that Service sector and Manufacturing employs more people. In 1960’s around 65 % Koreans were employed in Agriculture and today it is less than 10 %.
Thus strong political leadership which had vision to invest in Education to create low cost educated work force has contributed greatly to Korean Economic Development. They have a high savings rate which leads to greater investment and in the 1980’s and 1990’s worked out an Export oriented industrialization that helped them to grow at a fast pace. They also had a lot of trust with the Big Businesses and Government really played the role of a facilitator in allowing companies like Hyundai, Samsung, LG to Dream Big and Plan Well. Korean companies are truly globalized and this they achieve through Capacity Building by collaborating with R & D centres, Universities, suppliers and consultants. R & D Expenditure in Korea is almost 3 % of GDP which is next only to Japan. Broadband Internet penetration is the highest in Korea – almost 98 % of households have access to Internet. The Korean students are amongst the best in the world, though questions have been raised on their system of over burdening the kids – many of them come back from school at midnight – leading to lack of innovations, creativity and emotional stress.
Korea faces many more challenges, the key being an aging population. Economic Growth is bound to slow down as the proportion of working population vis a vis dependent population is coming down. However, the enterprise of Koreans and their capacity for hard work and sense of discipline will ensure that they continue to achieve better things.
All this has lessons that can really help us also to change things for the better. Human nature is basically nothing but a combination of four drives. Drive to Acquire is inherent which manifests itself in the form of efforts to acquire money, status and power. Second is the Drive to Bond, which explains relationships, networking and the community approach to life. The third drive is the Drive to Learn, which motivates us to get Education & Knowledge and also to seek answers in Religion. Then there is the drive to defend which relates to formation of Nations, Families and Belief systems. It is the sum total of the four drives, and having the right mix, which leads to success and achievements.
There are many other aspects of Korea that thrilled us and made us think and reflect. Hopefully, I should be able to muse more on Korea in the days to come. Not only muse, but also to adopt some of the Korean ways for our benefit.
Abhishek Singh
I must say that last two months for me have truly been a learning experience. I was away on training in Mussoorie. This was a compulsory training for IAS officers and was conducted by IIM Bangalore in association with Maxwell School of Public Policy, Syracuse University. We also had an international module for our training, for which Government of India had tied up with the KDI School of Public Policy, Seoul. This module from May 18th to 31st was one of the best training exposures that I have ever had. Till, we landed in Seoul, I had a different perspective on Korea. Now I am totally impressed by the Miracle, the Koreans have achieved in the last 30 years, truly the Miracle of the Han river, the river on which Seoul is situated.
South Korea is a nation that has braved all odds to transform into a developed nation with in a span of just 3 decades. From a per capita income of around 100 dollars in late 1960’s today they stand tall with a per capita income of more than 20000 dollars. And all this has been achieved inspite of the fact that they have no natural resources – No Oil, No Iron Ore, No Coal. Yet they are one of the leading producers of steel, have 40 % share of Ship building industry and companies like Hyundai, Samsung, LG, SK and POSCO are true world leaders. Their only resource is human resources and they have invested heavily into it – with a world class Education System, from Primary levels to the University levels and a firm resolve to excel and sense of discipline has helped them leap frog into the top bracket of developed nations.
How have they done this. South Korea has a population of 48 million and is strategically located between China and Japan, with hostile North Korea on its north. They have a GDP of 888 billion US dollars and a literacy rate of 98 %. Historically Korea has faced several invasions on its land. Korean history dates back to 2333 BC when it was a tribal state in the Ko Chosun Period. It faced the Han invasion during this period. In 37 BC, Korea comprised of Three Kingdoms of Koguryo, Paekche and Shilla kingdoms. After lots of infighting, Shilla dynasty ruled Korea in 668 AD. At this time, Korea faced the Tang invasion. This was followed by the Koryo dynasty in 918 AD when Buddhism reached Korea. Around this time, the Mongols invaded Korea. By 1392 AD, the Chosun Dynasty was ruling in Korea and at this time Confucianism prevailed. Japanese attacked Korea in 1910 and it underwent a long period of Japanese occupation. World War II was followed by the Korean War which ultimately divided Korea into the North and the South. North Korea went the Communist way whereas South Korea prospered under democracy. Thus historically Korea has been subject to foreign influence. China and Japan have always eyed Korea and later Russia, US and Western Europe regard Korea as a key strategic partner for the whole region.
It is interesting to know that almost 50 % of Koreans do not follow any religion. Around 23 % are Buddhists and 20 % are Protestant Christians. 6 % are Catholics and remaining 1 % follow other religions. There is a strong influence of Confucianism amongst Koreans and most people do follow the five cardinal principles of Confucianism:
1. Filial piety to parents
2. Loyalty to the King
3. Respect for the elders
4. Obedience to husband
5. Trust amongst parents
Of course, in modern times, this has led to the values like Respect for authority and family traditions, social harmony and relationship and emphasis on education and hard work. The general Confucian principle has been:
“When the moral character is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order. When the state is in order, the whole world will be pacified.”
Along with these values and ethical principles, another feature of Koreans is that they are extremely hard working. As per the OECD fact book 2008, an average employee worked for 2357 hours in Korea. This is quite significant compared to other countries – USA : 1797 hours, Japan : 1784 hours, France : 1564 hours and Germany : 1436 hours. I am sure we are no where near those figures. These figures have greatly contributed to their booming economy. Their economy has undergone a process of liberalization and industrial restructuring with the political leadership resolving firmly to create world class infrastructure along with significant investments in Education and Health. Korea spends about 7.5 % of its GDP on Education, which is amongst the highest in the world. They were amongst the first to realize the limitations Agriculture has vis a vis increased incomes, and systematically ensured that Service sector and Manufacturing employs more people. In 1960’s around 65 % Koreans were employed in Agriculture and today it is less than 10 %.
Thus strong political leadership which had vision to invest in Education to create low cost educated work force has contributed greatly to Korean Economic Development. They have a high savings rate which leads to greater investment and in the 1980’s and 1990’s worked out an Export oriented industrialization that helped them to grow at a fast pace. They also had a lot of trust with the Big Businesses and Government really played the role of a facilitator in allowing companies like Hyundai, Samsung, LG to Dream Big and Plan Well. Korean companies are truly globalized and this they achieve through Capacity Building by collaborating with R & D centres, Universities, suppliers and consultants. R & D Expenditure in Korea is almost 3 % of GDP which is next only to Japan. Broadband Internet penetration is the highest in Korea – almost 98 % of households have access to Internet. The Korean students are amongst the best in the world, though questions have been raised on their system of over burdening the kids – many of them come back from school at midnight – leading to lack of innovations, creativity and emotional stress.
Korea faces many more challenges, the key being an aging population. Economic Growth is bound to slow down as the proportion of working population vis a vis dependent population is coming down. However, the enterprise of Koreans and their capacity for hard work and sense of discipline will ensure that they continue to achieve better things.
All this has lessons that can really help us also to change things for the better. Human nature is basically nothing but a combination of four drives. Drive to Acquire is inherent which manifests itself in the form of efforts to acquire money, status and power. Second is the Drive to Bond, which explains relationships, networking and the community approach to life. The third drive is the Drive to Learn, which motivates us to get Education & Knowledge and also to seek answers in Religion. Then there is the drive to defend which relates to formation of Nations, Families and Belief systems. It is the sum total of the four drives, and having the right mix, which leads to success and achievements.
There are many other aspects of Korea that thrilled us and made us think and reflect. Hopefully, I should be able to muse more on Korea in the days to come. Not only muse, but also to adopt some of the Korean ways for our benefit.
Abhishek Singh
Monday, August 4, 2008
Driving in the Rain
Driving in the Rain
Inflation, Communitisation, Football, Violence, Rains and Poetry are the themes that occupied my thoughts last week. I love football, even though it means loosing your sleep to know whether it’s Spain or Germany. Communitisation is the buzz word now with even the United Nations recommending it to be the model of Good Governance. I can hardly do anything about the prices and killings. So I think more about the rain and the poetry. Echoes of the Spring, collection of poems by the Krocha sisters – Agnes & Rita, made all of us think of the literary talents that is just around all of us. Their poetry, reflecting their thoughts and deep understanding of nature and society is meant to be read and comprehended by all of us. Infact, none other than Ruskin Bond, in his beautifully worded foreword, of the compilation, says that the sisters remind him of the Bronte sisters. I am sure Agnes and Rita, will, in the days to come, produce many more literary delights and will surely gain acclaim and appreciation, from the doyens of English Literature, much beyond the Bronte sisters.
The joy of enjoying poetry gets all the more with the gentle sound of rains all over. The rain drops falling on the CGI roofing makes us wonder of the marvels of the almighty who blesses us in this season. However, this year, it is more than rains. Infact it’s pouring. In Kohima, these rains, in no time, turns the streets and the roads, into puddles and one wonders whether the drains have come over on the roads or the roads have gone to the pits. Driving becomes a hazard and those on footpaths can never dream of worse times. Even highways become difficult to negotiate with landslides all over and mud on the roads making it slippery and risky to drive. One has to go beyond into the country side to enjoy the green meadows and sun playing with the clouds to really cherish the delights of the season. I love long drives in the rain.
Driving in the rains requires one to be lot more cautious. When the road is wet, the film of the water on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Another less obvious fact is that the rain reduces driver perception — it's harder to see through the rain — and also decreases visibility through its action on headlights, windshields and the road itself. While most people know to slow down in the rain, there are other tips like planning for more travel time that can help one to enjoy the drive rather than become a statistic. Along with this, one should brake earlier with less force than normally as it not only increases the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you're slowing down. Also, one should be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.
If you see a large puddle up ahead, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it's covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of hell. If not, water splashing up into your car's engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel or knock your suspension out of alignment. If you can't gauge the depth, or if it's covering up the side curb, try to avoid it.
There are many other tips which I have found from the literature available on the net and thought would share with the readers for everyone’s benefit.
Turn on your headlights, even when there's a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don't blast your high beams in the rain or fog — it'll obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. It’s a good idea to have fog lights, as it is always helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see.
Watch out for pedestrians. An ordinarily observant pedestrian may become distracted by fiddling with an umbrella or a rain coat. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road.
If it's raining so hard that you can't see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out. If you can drive, Track the car ahead of you. Let the car ahead pave a clear path, so to speak, through the water. Then follow the car at a safe distance.
Give a truck or bus extra distance. Their extra-large tires can create enough spray to block your vision completely. Avoid passing one, but if you must pass, do it as quickly as safety allows.
Defog your windows. Rain will quickly cause your windshield to fog up. Switch on both front and rear defrosters and make sure the air conditioning is turned on.
If you start to hydroplane, don't brake suddenly or turn the wheel, or you might spin into a skid. Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds between the rubber tires of your car and the road, leading to lack of traction and thus preventing the car from responding to control inputs such as steering, braking or accelerating. Release the accelerator pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).
Now that you know how to drive in the rain, take some precautionary measures to ensure that your vehicle is prepared to get you through a downpour.
Stay on top of your car's condition. Its brakes, tire pressures, tire tread depth and defroster operation should be checked regularly so that you'll be ready to deal with a deluge when the time comes.
Most vehicles are available with antilock brakes these days, and safety features like traction control, stability control and four wheel drive are becoming increasingly popular as well. Four wheel drives are really useful in the hilly terrain and along with them traction and stability control can be very handy on rain-soaked roads. Traction control helps you maintain grip by putting the brakes on the tire(s) that don't have traction, while a stability control system monitors your steering input, intervening with the brakes and/or reducing engine power as needed to keep you on your intended path.
Make sure that your wipers are in good condition and functioning properly. If the blades are brittle or damaged, replace them before you're caught in a downpour.
Over and above, one should drive in heavy rain, only if it is a must. Or if you love adventure. Otherwise, Coffee, Snacks and Some Poetry is not a bad idea on a rainy afternoon!!!
Anyways, have a nice week ahead.
PS Views expressed above are entirely my personal. Readers can send their feedback to abhish18@gmail.com or by SMS to 9436434432.
Abhishek Singh
Inflation, Communitisation, Football, Violence, Rains and Poetry are the themes that occupied my thoughts last week. I love football, even though it means loosing your sleep to know whether it’s Spain or Germany. Communitisation is the buzz word now with even the United Nations recommending it to be the model of Good Governance. I can hardly do anything about the prices and killings. So I think more about the rain and the poetry. Echoes of the Spring, collection of poems by the Krocha sisters – Agnes & Rita, made all of us think of the literary talents that is just around all of us. Their poetry, reflecting their thoughts and deep understanding of nature and society is meant to be read and comprehended by all of us. Infact, none other than Ruskin Bond, in his beautifully worded foreword, of the compilation, says that the sisters remind him of the Bronte sisters. I am sure Agnes and Rita, will, in the days to come, produce many more literary delights and will surely gain acclaim and appreciation, from the doyens of English Literature, much beyond the Bronte sisters.
The joy of enjoying poetry gets all the more with the gentle sound of rains all over. The rain drops falling on the CGI roofing makes us wonder of the marvels of the almighty who blesses us in this season. However, this year, it is more than rains. Infact it’s pouring. In Kohima, these rains, in no time, turns the streets and the roads, into puddles and one wonders whether the drains have come over on the roads or the roads have gone to the pits. Driving becomes a hazard and those on footpaths can never dream of worse times. Even highways become difficult to negotiate with landslides all over and mud on the roads making it slippery and risky to drive. One has to go beyond into the country side to enjoy the green meadows and sun playing with the clouds to really cherish the delights of the season. I love long drives in the rain.
Driving in the rains requires one to be lot more cautious. When the road is wet, the film of the water on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Another less obvious fact is that the rain reduces driver perception — it's harder to see through the rain — and also decreases visibility through its action on headlights, windshields and the road itself. While most people know to slow down in the rain, there are other tips like planning for more travel time that can help one to enjoy the drive rather than become a statistic. Along with this, one should brake earlier with less force than normally as it not only increases the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you're slowing down. Also, one should be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.
If you see a large puddle up ahead, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it's covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of hell. If not, water splashing up into your car's engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel or knock your suspension out of alignment. If you can't gauge the depth, or if it's covering up the side curb, try to avoid it.
There are many other tips which I have found from the literature available on the net and thought would share with the readers for everyone’s benefit.
Turn on your headlights, even when there's a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don't blast your high beams in the rain or fog — it'll obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. It’s a good idea to have fog lights, as it is always helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see.
Watch out for pedestrians. An ordinarily observant pedestrian may become distracted by fiddling with an umbrella or a rain coat. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road.
If it's raining so hard that you can't see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out. If you can drive, Track the car ahead of you. Let the car ahead pave a clear path, so to speak, through the water. Then follow the car at a safe distance.
Give a truck or bus extra distance. Their extra-large tires can create enough spray to block your vision completely. Avoid passing one, but if you must pass, do it as quickly as safety allows.
Defog your windows. Rain will quickly cause your windshield to fog up. Switch on both front and rear defrosters and make sure the air conditioning is turned on.
If you start to hydroplane, don't brake suddenly or turn the wheel, or you might spin into a skid. Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds between the rubber tires of your car and the road, leading to lack of traction and thus preventing the car from responding to control inputs such as steering, braking or accelerating. Release the accelerator pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).
Now that you know how to drive in the rain, take some precautionary measures to ensure that your vehicle is prepared to get you through a downpour.
Stay on top of your car's condition. Its brakes, tire pressures, tire tread depth and defroster operation should be checked regularly so that you'll be ready to deal with a deluge when the time comes.
Most vehicles are available with antilock brakes these days, and safety features like traction control, stability control and four wheel drive are becoming increasingly popular as well. Four wheel drives are really useful in the hilly terrain and along with them traction and stability control can be very handy on rain-soaked roads. Traction control helps you maintain grip by putting the brakes on the tire(s) that don't have traction, while a stability control system monitors your steering input, intervening with the brakes and/or reducing engine power as needed to keep you on your intended path.
Make sure that your wipers are in good condition and functioning properly. If the blades are brittle or damaged, replace them before you're caught in a downpour.
Over and above, one should drive in heavy rain, only if it is a must. Or if you love adventure. Otherwise, Coffee, Snacks and Some Poetry is not a bad idea on a rainy afternoon!!!
Anyways, have a nice week ahead.
PS Views expressed above are entirely my personal. Readers can send their feedback to abhish18@gmail.com or by SMS to 9436434432.
Abhishek Singh
Power Plays
Last few weeks have seen hectic political activity and different sets of people and political parties voicing their views on the Nuclear Deal, which refers to the agreement India has signed with the United States, with regard to Nuclear Cooperation between India and United States. What is this whole Deal about? Is it good for us? In what ways it will affect the way we live our lives. Why is our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh so passionate about the deal and why the Left parties are opposing the deal? It is a very interesting development in the overall scheme of things. And it also has lots of ramifications for our Energy needs for the years to come as also for how firm can we be with regard to agreements made with foreign countries.
The Government’s logic in going ahead with the deal is that it is vital for our energy needs and in no way compromises our nuclear weapons programme. Our Energy scenario is really bleak. Our Power sector is characterized by 13.8 % peaking deficit and 9.6 % energy shortage. Our Transmission and Distribution losses are as high as 40 % and the sector hardly has any competition. Private investment is highly adequate. We were supposed to add 100,000 MW from 2002 to 2012, but the increase in generation capacity has been much less than what was planned. One of the reasons cited has been that Power has been a concurrent subject and it is very difficult for Regulators to bring in reforms in the States and hence the growth remains sluggish. This is partly true, in particular, in comparison to the telecom sector where the growth has been phenomenal. Telecom has been marked by huge investments by the Private sector leading to rapid improvement of the tele density as also almost 90 % drop in the tariffs. Of course, Telecom is a Central subject, and hence the job of regulators becomes easier, but the woes of Power sector are much beyond just being in the Concurrent List.
Apart from the problems in Transmission and Distribution, the major bottleneck remains Generation. Thermal energy and Hydel Energy projects have long gestation periods. We have been traditionally been dependent on Coal and Petroleum for our energy needs. The key challenges facing our energy scenario are :
· Coal depletion and pollution. Coal accounts for more than half of the country’s energy consumption. However the quality of our coal is quite poor and coupled with a lack of infrastructure to clean it, can be a major environmental threat. Corruption and poor productivity dog the industry. Although it is the world’s third biggest coal producer after the United States and China, India’s coal reserves could run out in forty years.
· Rising oil imports. Oil consumption, which accounts for roughly a third of our energy use, has increased six times in the last twenty-five years. We import about 65 percent of its petroleum. Infact rising crude prices has put lots of pressure on our Foreign Exchange and we had a deficit last month for the first time after several years. With energy demands rising, the figure could be as high as 90 percent by 2025, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Infact this is a key reason for which we need to have good relations with countries like Syria and Iran.
· Natural gas demands. Natural gas consumption has risen faster than any other type of energy source, but our limited domestic gas reserves spell a need for foreign dependency in this sector as well. The government has slowly been switching from highly polluting coal-fired power plants to plants using natural gas. Our natural gas needs have resulted in negotiations with nations of concern in terms of reliability, including Iran, Bangladesh, and Burma.
· Inefficient electricity distribution systems. Although 80 percent of the country has access to electricity, unreliable power grids cause regular blackouts. Furthermore, inefficient electric systems result in almost 40 percent loss of power in the distribution system. State electricity boards run the infrastructure behind the country’s power distribution and own a large portion of electrical output. The boards are in poor financial shape, largely because they provide power at highly subsidized rates, particularly to farmers. Although the government has loosened limitations on foreign investment in the power sector, the notion of working with the financially beleaguered electricity boards has scared off private investment.
· Energy-related water shortages. Indian farmers have access to heavily subsidized power to pump water for irrigation. The low costs lead them to wasteful water use, depleting the water tables. As water tables lower, larger pumps require more power to access deeper water supplies.
· Limited nuclear energy. With fourteen nuclear power plants run by state-owned companies, nuclear energy accounts for just 3 percent of our energy consumption. Government of India hopes to boost this sector through the nuclear deal allowing U.S. companies to sell equipment, nuclear fuel, and reactors to India. However, the agreement requires us to allow inspections and implement safeguards for our nuclear facilities in lieu of the assistance for our civilian nuclear energy program. Proponents say the deal could help India meet its energy needs over the medium to long term by opening the door to investment in the country’s nuclear energy sector. The left parties are crying foul as they believe that we have succumbed to US pressure in allowing inspections of our nuclear facilities thereby virtually halting our weapons programme. They contend that the deal compromises Indian sovereignty. In view of the fact that we already have the necessary deterrence, the moot question is that should we go ahead in order to make us Energy secure. Most scientists including former President Kalam are in favour of the deal. There are other critics of the deal who say it will hurt international nonproliferation efforts because India, which has tested nuclear weapons, is not a member of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the U.S.-India deal only safeguards civilian nuclear facilities made by India when the deal was reached and it does not limit the number of nuclear weapons India produces.
Looking from a pragmatic point of view, it is very clear that we need assistance of United States in order to move ahead on our Nuclear Energy programme. This is essential as our Uranium deposits are limited and we also need the technology to manage big civilian nuclear reactors. Energy security is vital for our sustained economic growth and Nuclear Energy can be an environmentally safe solution for our energy needs. Thus rather than continue to harp on a nuclear weapons programme, which in today’s world is not really required, and we already have the necessary deterrence, it seems to be natural for us to go ahead with the deal. Already lot of time has gone by and in the days to come, with US Presidency elections just round the corner, it is to be seen if the deal sees the light of the day. Meanwhile Power plays continue and Samajwadis are going to occupy the vacuum created by the Left. Government has other pressing issues like Inflation to handle. It seems interesting days are ahead.
Anyways, have a nice week ahead.
PS Views expressed above are entirely my personal and any feed back can be given to abhish18@gmail.com or by SMS to 9436434432.
Abhishek Singh
The Government’s logic in going ahead with the deal is that it is vital for our energy needs and in no way compromises our nuclear weapons programme. Our Energy scenario is really bleak. Our Power sector is characterized by 13.8 % peaking deficit and 9.6 % energy shortage. Our Transmission and Distribution losses are as high as 40 % and the sector hardly has any competition. Private investment is highly adequate. We were supposed to add 100,000 MW from 2002 to 2012, but the increase in generation capacity has been much less than what was planned. One of the reasons cited has been that Power has been a concurrent subject and it is very difficult for Regulators to bring in reforms in the States and hence the growth remains sluggish. This is partly true, in particular, in comparison to the telecom sector where the growth has been phenomenal. Telecom has been marked by huge investments by the Private sector leading to rapid improvement of the tele density as also almost 90 % drop in the tariffs. Of course, Telecom is a Central subject, and hence the job of regulators becomes easier, but the woes of Power sector are much beyond just being in the Concurrent List.
Apart from the problems in Transmission and Distribution, the major bottleneck remains Generation. Thermal energy and Hydel Energy projects have long gestation periods. We have been traditionally been dependent on Coal and Petroleum for our energy needs. The key challenges facing our energy scenario are :
· Coal depletion and pollution. Coal accounts for more than half of the country’s energy consumption. However the quality of our coal is quite poor and coupled with a lack of infrastructure to clean it, can be a major environmental threat. Corruption and poor productivity dog the industry. Although it is the world’s third biggest coal producer after the United States and China, India’s coal reserves could run out in forty years.
· Rising oil imports. Oil consumption, which accounts for roughly a third of our energy use, has increased six times in the last twenty-five years. We import about 65 percent of its petroleum. Infact rising crude prices has put lots of pressure on our Foreign Exchange and we had a deficit last month for the first time after several years. With energy demands rising, the figure could be as high as 90 percent by 2025, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Infact this is a key reason for which we need to have good relations with countries like Syria and Iran.
· Natural gas demands. Natural gas consumption has risen faster than any other type of energy source, but our limited domestic gas reserves spell a need for foreign dependency in this sector as well. The government has slowly been switching from highly polluting coal-fired power plants to plants using natural gas. Our natural gas needs have resulted in negotiations with nations of concern in terms of reliability, including Iran, Bangladesh, and Burma.
· Inefficient electricity distribution systems. Although 80 percent of the country has access to electricity, unreliable power grids cause regular blackouts. Furthermore, inefficient electric systems result in almost 40 percent loss of power in the distribution system. State electricity boards run the infrastructure behind the country’s power distribution and own a large portion of electrical output. The boards are in poor financial shape, largely because they provide power at highly subsidized rates, particularly to farmers. Although the government has loosened limitations on foreign investment in the power sector, the notion of working with the financially beleaguered electricity boards has scared off private investment.
· Energy-related water shortages. Indian farmers have access to heavily subsidized power to pump water for irrigation. The low costs lead them to wasteful water use, depleting the water tables. As water tables lower, larger pumps require more power to access deeper water supplies.
· Limited nuclear energy. With fourteen nuclear power plants run by state-owned companies, nuclear energy accounts for just 3 percent of our energy consumption. Government of India hopes to boost this sector through the nuclear deal allowing U.S. companies to sell equipment, nuclear fuel, and reactors to India. However, the agreement requires us to allow inspections and implement safeguards for our nuclear facilities in lieu of the assistance for our civilian nuclear energy program. Proponents say the deal could help India meet its energy needs over the medium to long term by opening the door to investment in the country’s nuclear energy sector. The left parties are crying foul as they believe that we have succumbed to US pressure in allowing inspections of our nuclear facilities thereby virtually halting our weapons programme. They contend that the deal compromises Indian sovereignty. In view of the fact that we already have the necessary deterrence, the moot question is that should we go ahead in order to make us Energy secure. Most scientists including former President Kalam are in favour of the deal. There are other critics of the deal who say it will hurt international nonproliferation efforts because India, which has tested nuclear weapons, is not a member of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the U.S.-India deal only safeguards civilian nuclear facilities made by India when the deal was reached and it does not limit the number of nuclear weapons India produces.
Looking from a pragmatic point of view, it is very clear that we need assistance of United States in order to move ahead on our Nuclear Energy programme. This is essential as our Uranium deposits are limited and we also need the technology to manage big civilian nuclear reactors. Energy security is vital for our sustained economic growth and Nuclear Energy can be an environmentally safe solution for our energy needs. Thus rather than continue to harp on a nuclear weapons programme, which in today’s world is not really required, and we already have the necessary deterrence, it seems to be natural for us to go ahead with the deal. Already lot of time has gone by and in the days to come, with US Presidency elections just round the corner, it is to be seen if the deal sees the light of the day. Meanwhile Power plays continue and Samajwadis are going to occupy the vacuum created by the Left. Government has other pressing issues like Inflation to handle. It seems interesting days are ahead.
Anyways, have a nice week ahead.
PS Views expressed above are entirely my personal and any feed back can be given to abhish18@gmail.com or by SMS to 9436434432.
Abhishek Singh
Death & Grief
Death & Grief
Last few days have been strange. I might have never heard as many bad news as I did last week. It began with a series of news of people whom I knew or their near and dear ones dying. A young employee of our office lost his wife. His was a truly strange story. They were a happy family till a few months back. Suddenly, illness struck, she was operated in Guwahati, but could not survive. Around two of my seniors lost their parents. Another employee of my office came to me yesterday saying that his son is in ICU in the hospital. Then a colleague of mine told me that this weekend, she is planning to spend some time reading stories to a cousin of hers who is terminally ill. So thoughtful of her. But still, all this filled me with a lot of sadness and grief. I wondered. Why do such things happen? If God is kind and he is Supreme, why does he make us suffer? This made me read more about death and grief and even though it is friendship week, I can’t help but think about these depressing thoughts.
When coping with a death, we go through all kinds of emotions. We may be sad, worried, or scared. At times we are shocked, unprepared, or confused. Very often we feel angry, cheated, guilty, exhausted, or just plain empty. Our emotions are stronger or deeper than usual or mixed together in ways we have never experienced before.
Some people find they have trouble concentrating, studying, sleeping, or eating when they're coping with a death. Others lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. Some people lose themselves in playing computer games or eat or drink to excess. And some people feel numb, as if nothing has happened.
The grieving process takes time and healing usually happens gradually. The intensity of grief may be related to how sudden or predictable the loss was and how you felt about the person who died.
Some people may hold back their own grief or avoid talking about the person who died because they worry that it may make a parent or other family member sad. It's also natural to feel some guilt over a past argument or a difficult relationship with the person who died.
How do we cope with Grief? Just as people feel grief in many different ways, they handle it differently, too. Some people reach out for support from others and find comfort in good memories. Others become very busy to take their minds off the loss. Some people become depressed and withdraw from their peers or go out of the way to avoid the places or situations that remind them of the person who has died.
For some people, it can help to talk about the loss with others. Some do this naturally and easily with friends and family, while others talk to a professional therapist.
Some people may not feel like talking about it much at all because it's hard to find the words to express such deep and personal emotion or they wonder whether talking will make them feel the hurt more.
People sometimes deal with their sorrow by engaging in dangerous or self-destructive activities. Doing things like drinking, drugs, or cutting yourself to escape from the reality of a loss may seem to numb the pain, but the feeling is only temporary. This isn't really dealing with the pain, only masking it, which makes all those feelings build up inside and only prolongs the grief.
If your pain just seems to get worse, or if you feel like hurting yourself or have suicidal thoughts, tell someone you trust about how you feel.
The first few days after someone dies can be intense, with people expressing strong emotions, perhaps crying, comforting each other, and gathering to express their support and condolences to the ones most affected by the loss. It is common to feel as if you are "going crazy" and feel extremes of anxiety, panic, sadness, and helplessness. Some people describe feeling "unreal," as if they're looking at the world from a faraway place. Others feel moody, irritable, and resentful.
Family and friends often participate in rituals that may be part of their religious, cultural, community, or family traditions, such as memorial services, wakes, or funerals. These activities can help people get through the first days after a death and honor the person who died. People might spend time together talking and sharing memories about their loved one. This may continue for days or weeks following the loss as friends and family bring food, send cards, or stop by to visit.
Many times, people show their emotions during this time. But sometimes a person can be so shocked or overwhelmed by the death that he or she doesn't show any emotion right away — even though the loss is very hard. And it's not uncommon to see people smiling and talking with others at a funeral, as if something sad had not happened. But being among other mourners can be a comfort, reminding us that some things will stay the same.
Sometimes, when the rituals associated with grieving end, people might feel like they should be "over it" because everything seems to have gone back to normal. When those who are grieving first go back to their normal activities, it might be hard to put their hearts into everyday things. Many people go back to doing regular things after a few days or a week. But although they may not talk about their loss as much, the grieving process continues.
The loss of someone close to you can be stressful. It can help you to cope if you take care of yourself in certain small but important ways. Here are some that might help:
Remember that grief is a normal emotion. Know that you can (and will) heal over time.
Participate in rituals. Memorial services, funerals, and other traditions help people get through the first few days and honor the person who died.
Be with others. Even informal gatherings of family and friends bring a sense of support and help people not to feel so isolated in the first days and weeks of their grief.
Talk about it when you can. Some people find it helpful to tell the story of their loss or talk about their feelings. Sometimes a person doesn't feel like talking, and that's OK, too. No one should feel pressured to talk.
Express yourself. Even if you don't feel like talking, find ways to express your emotions and thoughts. Start writing about the memories you have of the person you lost and how you're feeling since the loss. Or write a song, poem, or tribute about your loved one. You can do this privately or share it with others.
Exercise. Exercise can help your mood. It may be hard to get motivated, so modify your usual routine if you need to.
Eat right. You may feel like skipping meals or you may not feel hungry, but your body still needs nutritious foods.
Join a support group. If you think you may be interested in attending a support group, ask an adult or school counselor about how to become involved. The thing to remember is that you don't have to be alone with your feelings or your pain.
Let your emotions be expressed and released. Don't stop yourself from having a good cry if you feel one coming on. Don't worry if listening to particular songs or doing other activities is painful because it brings back memories of the person that you lost; this is common. After a while, it becomes less painful.
Create a memorial or tribute. Plant a tree or garden, or memorialize the person in some fitting way, such as running in a charity run or walk in honor of the lost loved one.
Anyways, what we need to remember is that life goes on. For every grief, for every death, we have to find something positive in this world that makes us happy and our day brighter.
Have a nice week ahead.
PS Views expressed above are entirely my personal and any feedback can be sent by Email to abhish18@gmail.com or by SMS to 9436010439.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Technicolour Weekend
I must say that it has been a great weekend for me and for Kohima. Nothing could have been better than to get to enjoy good music and see the best plays that I have ever seen in Kohima. Well it all happened on Friday and Saturday. Friday was a real treat, the occasion being the launch of the debut album of Nise Meruno, the celebrated and widely acclaimed pianist, composer and musician. I must say that Nise is truly gifted and the way he performed shows the true professional he is. It is widely believed that we have real talented singers and musicians, but I must say that those like Nise are rare. He has really honed his natural skills and talent by going through formal training in music in Singapore and Trinity, London and it shows. A good singer or a musician becomes a true professional when he adopts the fine art of performing on stage. Kudos to Nise. He is really blessed and we all look forward to many more albums and performances from him.
While Nise really enthralled us, I must also say that I was quite impressed by the performance of Ballad Fusion that evening. The array of compositions presented by them was truly amazing. Whether it was the Circle of Life medley or Go The Distance, they excelled. Heart of Dreams by Bethel was quite original. She too is really gifted and I am sure we are going to hear more of her in the days to come. The whole show was conceptualized by Hope Productions and I must say that Team Hope is doing a great job in promoting music and talent in the State.
If Friday it was music, I was treated to theatre on Saturday. It was the concluding function of the Intensive Theatre workshop organized by National School of Drama and North East Zone Cultural Center. They staged snippets of 3 plays and I could not believe that just 45 days of training can result in such beautiful productions. Full marks to the Directors and the trainers from NSD and I am sure this venture will draw many of our youth to theatre which is one of the most creative art forms. The participants truly excelled – whether it was presenting Technicolour Dreams or A Doll’s House or Scapin the Scoundrel.
Technicolour Dreams was one show which should not have been missed by anyone. If you live in Kohima, Dimapur or Mokokchung and you missed the play, you truly have missed something big. This performance was so creative and so original and it depicted present day realities that we all face that not only makes us laugh but also retrospect and introspect as to what can be done to set things right. The snippet that they staged on Saturday showed the complications we face in view of the multi ethnic communities, languages and values and customs. The link language amongst people – Nagamese – howsoever we may detest, is a reality. We have different tribes having their own way of speaking and interpreting Nagamese and life for someone who can not communicate in this crazy language can really be difficult specially in our cities, as depicted in the play. This play makes us think as to what do we do with Nagamese. Should we just let it be as it is or should we try to adopt it as a uniform language with providing for proper grammar, syntax and including common words from across various languages spoken in the State.
Moliere’s Scapin the Scoundrel was truly present in the signature comic style and provided humorous anachronisms and funny situations. The actor who played, Scapin, the clever scheming servant of Geronte, is a most amusing, likeable scoundrel who makes us complicit with his schemes. The social satire presented in the play is still relevant though it is more than 300 years that the play was written.
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House traces the awakening of Nora Helmer from her unexamined life of domestic comfort. Ruled her whole life by either her father or her husband, Nora must question the foundation of everything she believes in when her marriage is put to the test. Having borrowed money from a man of ill-repute named Krogstad by forging her father's signature, she was able to pay for a trip to Italy to save her sick husband's life (he was unaware of his condition and the loan, believing that the money came from Nora's father). Since then, she has had to contrive ways to pay back her loan, growing particularly concerned with money. The actor who played Nora really excelled showing a wide range of emotions and looked to be quite an accomplished performer. She has great potential and will do very well if she takes to theatre.
The performances had musicals also which made strong statements on the problems our society is facing today. Whether it is killings, fight for supremacy, drugs, HIV, the performers exhibited the strong resolve and will of the youth in having a stake in improving things. Overall, the plays were staged beautifully inspite of the limitations of stage, equipment and time. Full marks to NSD and NEZCC for brining such a show to Kohima. I am sure if these, in particular, Technicolour Dreams, are staged in other districts also, it will draw huge crowds. So Social and Cultural organizations, if interested, may get in touch with the NEZCC office in Dimapur.
Thus music and theatre kept me away from the other negative happenings in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and our very own Parliament. Sometimes one wonders where are we headed for. Blasts and killings of civilians is the most barbaric thing that can happen anywhere. What happened in Delhi during Trust vote was shocking and sad for our democracy. If elected representatives can be bought and sold, what future do we have. Collectively, as a nation, we need to reflect on these issues and as citizens need to take strong stands.
I wish we are able to focus more on positive things like music and theatre. Infact I got another piece of good news last week. A young guy named Toshi Sangtam from Dimapur has qualified for the theatre round of Indian Idol. He is to perform in Mumbai on August 5 and needs everyone’s blessings, help and support and later SMS votes. At the same time I am waiting for the launch of the third edition of our very own Naga Idol from Mokokchung. I am sure my erstwhile colleagues in MDACC must be making big plans for this years show.
While Nise really enthralled us, I must also say that I was quite impressed by the performance of Ballad Fusion that evening. The array of compositions presented by them was truly amazing. Whether it was the Circle of Life medley or Go The Distance, they excelled. Heart of Dreams by Bethel was quite original. She too is really gifted and I am sure we are going to hear more of her in the days to come. The whole show was conceptualized by Hope Productions and I must say that Team Hope is doing a great job in promoting music and talent in the State.
If Friday it was music, I was treated to theatre on Saturday. It was the concluding function of the Intensive Theatre workshop organized by National School of Drama and North East Zone Cultural Center. They staged snippets of 3 plays and I could not believe that just 45 days of training can result in such beautiful productions. Full marks to the Directors and the trainers from NSD and I am sure this venture will draw many of our youth to theatre which is one of the most creative art forms. The participants truly excelled – whether it was presenting Technicolour Dreams or A Doll’s House or Scapin the Scoundrel.
Technicolour Dreams was one show which should not have been missed by anyone. If you live in Kohima, Dimapur or Mokokchung and you missed the play, you truly have missed something big. This performance was so creative and so original and it depicted present day realities that we all face that not only makes us laugh but also retrospect and introspect as to what can be done to set things right. The snippet that they staged on Saturday showed the complications we face in view of the multi ethnic communities, languages and values and customs. The link language amongst people – Nagamese – howsoever we may detest, is a reality. We have different tribes having their own way of speaking and interpreting Nagamese and life for someone who can not communicate in this crazy language can really be difficult specially in our cities, as depicted in the play. This play makes us think as to what do we do with Nagamese. Should we just let it be as it is or should we try to adopt it as a uniform language with providing for proper grammar, syntax and including common words from across various languages spoken in the State.
Moliere’s Scapin the Scoundrel was truly present in the signature comic style and provided humorous anachronisms and funny situations. The actor who played, Scapin, the clever scheming servant of Geronte, is a most amusing, likeable scoundrel who makes us complicit with his schemes. The social satire presented in the play is still relevant though it is more than 300 years that the play was written.
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House traces the awakening of Nora Helmer from her unexamined life of domestic comfort. Ruled her whole life by either her father or her husband, Nora must question the foundation of everything she believes in when her marriage is put to the test. Having borrowed money from a man of ill-repute named Krogstad by forging her father's signature, she was able to pay for a trip to Italy to save her sick husband's life (he was unaware of his condition and the loan, believing that the money came from Nora's father). Since then, she has had to contrive ways to pay back her loan, growing particularly concerned with money. The actor who played Nora really excelled showing a wide range of emotions and looked to be quite an accomplished performer. She has great potential and will do very well if she takes to theatre.
The performances had musicals also which made strong statements on the problems our society is facing today. Whether it is killings, fight for supremacy, drugs, HIV, the performers exhibited the strong resolve and will of the youth in having a stake in improving things. Overall, the plays were staged beautifully inspite of the limitations of stage, equipment and time. Full marks to NSD and NEZCC for brining such a show to Kohima. I am sure if these, in particular, Technicolour Dreams, are staged in other districts also, it will draw huge crowds. So Social and Cultural organizations, if interested, may get in touch with the NEZCC office in Dimapur.
Thus music and theatre kept me away from the other negative happenings in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and our very own Parliament. Sometimes one wonders where are we headed for. Blasts and killings of civilians is the most barbaric thing that can happen anywhere. What happened in Delhi during Trust vote was shocking and sad for our democracy. If elected representatives can be bought and sold, what future do we have. Collectively, as a nation, we need to reflect on these issues and as citizens need to take strong stands.
I wish we are able to focus more on positive things like music and theatre. Infact I got another piece of good news last week. A young guy named Toshi Sangtam from Dimapur has qualified for the theatre round of Indian Idol. He is to perform in Mumbai on August 5 and needs everyone’s blessings, help and support and later SMS votes. At the same time I am waiting for the launch of the third edition of our very own Naga Idol from Mokokchung. I am sure my erstwhile colleagues in MDACC must be making big plans for this years show.
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