LockHER !!

Today we live in a world which is complex. Travelling on official work decade ago was a motivating factor and everybody would look forward for that. Travelling was specific to Marketing and Sales department and few top executives. Many considered those were the lucky ones. Today the scenario has changed, call it as an globalization effect or agility –  this has made even the person responsible for operations keep his bags ready and keep on travelling.

Few avoiding travel with family as they have to safe keep of precious metals that are moulded into ornaments and valuables that are rarely used.

From long time, I was approaching the banks for availing locker facility to ensure that few ornaments are safe and soundly protected. Stephen Covey has made his “Win-Win Situation” mantra very popular even with the lowest executives of bank. Whichever bank I approached they greeted and showed interest in providing a locker, weather it was a Government owned bank or private operated bank. The terms and conditions of all the banks which ever I approached was same. They would charge an rental fees and interest charges based on the size of the locker, which was acceptable. But all of them want an favour, that they openly ask for investment, that to specifically in “Insurance” schemes for providing the lockers.

Many of us look banks as safe place to keep the hard earned money. The banks earn just because people like us have faith and keep long and short term deposits. Candid chat with the bank executive narrated an insight. Every employee working in the bank from sales to operations are given targets to achieve targets by selling insurance product. So every time you want any value added service from bank they greet to ensure that they would generate revenue through sale of insurance. 

Bottom-line:

Just thank God !! for Good Governance as he did not handover air, oxygen, water, sunlight to bankers !! 

LiFE & deATH !!

Life and death are the two faces of the same coin. We love and show lot of affection to our loved ones when they are alive. It becames our moral not to abandon them, just become they are no more. The emotions and memories keep us hunting us when we rewind ourselves. The time we spent together, the fights we had together and moment of fun we had together.  Every religion has a day to remember the departed loved ones. Today as I crossed the Christian cemetery I found candles lighted on the graves, aroma of the burning instinct sticks and loved ones paying homage to the departed dear ones. Tears flowing down, people consoling and offering condolence. The weeping tears express the affection and remembrance.
Today few people plan the birth based on the astrology and auspicious timings. Thninking and assuming the future would be bright and will touch the success through colours. But nobody plans their death. Death is something tarring and scary. However the best part of each of us death is the wish on the death. Every one wish to die a comfortable death without any struggle and giving much trouble to others. Many wish to die on auspicious day and love to have a big crowd to mourn the loss.
Many thoughts come across the mind; every religion practices the day to remember the departed souls. In some graveyards there are lot of candles, flowers and people standing. Many graves looks empty without anyone. Today we are in a world of technology, where every thing and activity need to be online without having any troubles. However we are always busy and have no time to express our love  and gratitude for a minute near the grave for the loved one.

Bottom-line It is not that death can be evicted, but we are born to die. However the days & time we spend by our good deeds are the promise of better rewards after death. The day is just an reminder that we are just visitors in this world. Some visitors are lucky that they can enjoy each moment in their journey. But reminds that we are made of mud and we will go into mud.

DisParITY

Every day there are many thoughts that strike each one of you in our day to day interaction with people or while reading any article. We also find lot of issues on disparity among the rich, middle class and poor people. The gap between all these are so huge and growing that it won’t be of any surprise if an revolution takes place in future. I find many people working hard just to earn bread to feed their family at least once. On the other hand when I visit the restaurants we find people wasting the food. Where does it go ? is the thought ! 
The last 10 years and so, we have read the stories of Shining India, published, propagated in the media and politicians delivering their speeches publishing their achievements. Is this growth Inclusive ? or just for some layer of people, who are already well established and leading a niche life? In many places we see the banners on 
“prohibition of child labor , however if we visit any restaurants we always find the child labors working or cleaning. The salary they earn is in peanuts compared to IT industries. Many a times i think what the chief or CEO of any company do so differently that he is paid in astronomical figures. Are their salaries and perks justified ? By the way whose money is it, the small time share holders and stakeholders? It is true that the decision made by the MD / CEO of any organisation either would take the organisation to the traciatory growth path or just wipe out from the business. However the point that harps is that all these decisions are made on the facts & data provided by the lower grade employees, who work and not get benefited as that ... 
The growth story of India shinning has provided an opportunity to all in India to experience the mall culture, that once was the highlight of western countries. All though these big brand retail & mall culture have provided opportunity for employment and earning but these earning can only feed the family and not prospers. The prosperity of these approaches is only for the owners. The poor man can visit these malls and experience the look and wonder for the marvelous but cannot purchase. Because the so called growth is not inclusive.

The IT revolution changed the living standard of people working in these industries, making people working in other industries envy and develop an inferiority complex among themselves. It has created an division among the workforce. Everyone is aware of the shortcut of cut & paste, and organisation have created this by coping and pasting from western culture to form “Outsourced”. In many organisations the core operations are also outsourced just to ensure profits, what about the benefits of the outsourced employees ? they are robbed of their benefits and dignity. They are made to work hard and the employees of the organisation hardly work. Till what time shall these guys suffer ? And all these efforts and results of such operations from outsourced workforce is benefited by rise in salary & perks of the senior management of organisations. The percentage of profits are shared apart from the percentage regular increments.
It is just mockery making the increments standard across the organisation. The person who earns more gets more and more, the person earns less is happy about the increment % but is of no use. The inflation is same be it rich or poor ?
Only time will have to say !

Snake & ladder

Today as I stepped out of my house, I found little kids throwing the dice and playing the indoor game " snake and ladder". It was a flashback on my childhood days, the funny, cunning moments playing with my brothers and friends to win the game and always safe from the mouth of snake.


But the thought that came to my mind, is there any significance of learning which we forget to teach or to learn from the game of snake & ladder ?


We just try and use all the means that are available by hook and crook to win the game. As I started reflecting on the game and its teaching or leaning with respect to the life and this world we live - I can correlate every hiccups, troubles, misunderstandings, greed, diseases are snakes that always brings pains and sometimes becomes the barricade for progress . But empathy and sympathy are the ladders that gives us Joy for happiness in life.


However human nature is something that gets satisfied, and greed goes high every time. We always play to win but not lean the hidden meaning in it.
The best example of real life scenario of the game of snake and ladder is the corporate office, every one - Good, Bad and Ugly wish to climb the ladder of success - the ladder here is knowledge, skill and attitude to do the best. But the snakes at the corporate sector is favorism, politics, bulling, etc.


Bottom-line


life is difficult. "life is complex t h e r e are no easy answers - Thinking is difficult. Thinking is complex. And thinking is—more than anything else – a process, with a course or direction.
a lapse of time, a n d a series of steps or stages that lead to some result.

FACE LIFT !!

When I was very young, we could very rarely see an aeroplane flying in the sky. One day an Fighter Jet was flying high in the air, and did some stunts across our town. Whole school came out just to see the fighter jet, which was making a loud noise. After few days, the school teacher told the pilot was the student and hence we all had an opportunity to view.
Earlier, traveling by air, meant only for the business class and rich people. Lot of stories were told and the journey was described as if someone has a great achievement in life time. The poor / middle class traveled in those time only when they were offered a Job in gulf or other countries.
The liberalization and Globalizations of Indian economy in 90's became a game changer. The complete scenario of air travel changed, traveling in a airplane was just like travelling in Govt bus. When I booked air tickets for my parents and travelled with them from Bangalore to Bombay, I could feel the happiness and something they were proud about. Way back at our native, parents had their own experience of 1 hour journey to share with the relatives and neighbors. It was for them some something life time achievement.
One thing that come to my mind, is the "Air Hostess". I do not wish to describe their beauty - because it’s one more coat of Asian paint applied on the beautiful face to get facelift !
But I always admire the gesture of showing the 32 teethes, at the beginning and end of the each journey just fascinates me.
I understand they are also human beings like me, with ups and downs being a part of life, but putting a brave smiling face each time every time is something commendable.
Even people working in front desk ! always Smiling !!!
Agree Face is the Index of Mind, and smile is just the trigger to fool people of showing how happy they are !!

Spare + Oh+ Day !!

When I was staying in a Apartment in Mumbai, I could never find a Sparrow, With high density of population and few number of trees and lot of noise one cannot expect a sparrow. Only bird which can be found in and around Mumbai was Pigeon! Thanks to temples and few more people who feed them and encourage these pigeons to grow !
When I visited my native just few months back, in the lemon tree of my house, I found a bunch of sparrows ticking and quacking the leaves. sometimes these sparrows come inside our house and make a sound.
Today I am working down at south, which is not crowded as Mumbai, but has few trees more then mumbai, still I notice not a single sparrow. However happy that some pegions have made their way towards my apartments and spend their time sitting on the window shade.

Thoughts !
Today the world celebrates, World Sparrow day ! What a complexional. we have made so much concrete jungle, that these birds have become very few. Once very village and town had sparrow and each house as the sunlight falls on the door, these birds were found.
Its ironic that these are becoming rare species. Time only can predict, in future will our Children will be able to identify sparrow or these will be in Museum or zoo, captured inside the cage and struggling to get freedom.

The idiot word "Goal" !! !

When I was kid, I heard the word "Goal”, To hear and shout this word, I used to feel happy. It meant we have scored against the other team, while playing football. Every football player and fan is well versed at this word. When you enter into so called "corporate world", you once again hear this word. The word "Goal" is like "Sword", which has the ability to dismiss the person based on the performance. There are companies where the Goal is written on the walls. In every assessment that the organization undergoes, a group of so called Wiseman(Auditors) test the employees weather they know how these are cascaded in there department & into individual.
Many people does not understand what this “ Goals are & its importance ”. I feel sucked when I hear this word Goal. My class teacher, in Seventh standard - used to utter every week "Life without Aim, is like Bow without Arrow ". I still remember the teacher and her words, its humming in my ears. During my childhood days I could not understand what that meant to me. I used to think, then why you need bow and arrow? When you don’t want to aim and kill any animal.
When I was in Tenth Standard our drawing teacher at the end of the academic year wanted to know what we wish to be in future. You may agree that every boy Or girl from south India wish to become either doctor or engineer. But nobody wish to become Criminal or Police or even Teacher.
I said I am interested in Engineering, but didn’t knew is it Diploma Engineer or Graduate Engineer! what and which stream, which colleges etc. But many of my classmates said Engineers, Doctors, bankers, Accountants, and so on. When I reconnect my bench mates of school, I feel happy that 2 are doctors 3 are engineers and 1 Tax consultant. But the fact of the matter is no body are in touch neither through virtual means.

Many a times, I get screwed up when some do ask me what is your future Goal ! I get irritated by this word. When we don’t know our present ? what difference it makes on Future ??. Whole day & night hear, propagate and use all the known Management Jargons on Goal and end of the day at home I once again hear this ! Irritation word Goal !

My thought
What brings back to my mind is - is Goal necessary ? Without Goal cant we live happily ? How Goal makes a difference ?.
When I closely observe a number of people, working hard in life just to get their daily bread - Why should this hell goals is required ?
Is Goal - to become rich ? or to make lot of money and lead a life without peace ?
Ultimately Goal only brings stress and disturb the peace of mind

Bottom-line
I agree, and I have read many self help books, audios on Goals and Goal Setting.
But ultimately one has to leave this world and go in a simple clothes. The clothes on the final day does not have pockets to keep all the accolades & achievements !
So what ?
Goal is required ?

Why not a simple living having peaceful life be a goal ! that could relate humanity with happiness !! So What ??

Are we Baised ?

When I go to the observatory level and have a cup of coffee, my favourite drink from my childhood, I just watch the construction of a commercial complex that’s coming up just next to my office. The work is happening in full swing. Construction is play of how much money you could spend. More money power, faster construction. As I sip my coffee, many thoughts come across my mind.

The first thought that come across is that of construction worker safety. The worker climbs up, pulls the iron bars, walk, run with bare foot, handles concrete with bare hands.
Is the life is so cheap of these? Is there value for their life & family.
I visited the middle east country as a part of safety implementation. I could observe the commitment of the government and client. Safety was integral part ! Although the worker is from India, at least far off from the country, at least they get safety gears. Those companies are Indian but they abide with law and at least provide the safety gears.
So why not in our own country, lift them up by providing at least minimum personal protective equipments.

The second thought was
construction labour family. I can observe 2 girl child always following their parents as they work. There is no separate crush for these, no timely meals but I can observe the happiness of both children’s and parents. Some times these small kids imitate their parents, by lifiting bricks and keeping those on their heads. Really heart touching sorry feeling for these kids.

The sudden thought which arise is are we biased? Many of the gen next parents, do not allow their own kids to play down or put them down on the floor and make them play. They are so protective, that they ensure that kids wear clothes to ensure that they don’t get cold. What about these kids?

Bottom line

Many of us are fortunate, we earn and spend. We give more than required comfort to our children’s. But still we are unsatisfied and unhappy most of the time. We keep grumbling and making comments. We compare for each and everything, we plan to buy everything, even though it is not required !

Off course, God is great, he keeps the children’s of these hardworking, struggling parents with a blessing of Good Health !

So What ??

Gods Unconditional Love

As I switched on the TV on 26th Jan 2012 at 8:30am after the flag hoisting in our layout, the electronic media was reporting breaking news. The breaking news was really a heart breaking news. A small child of 2 years old undergone an inhuman, brutal handling. The electronic media reported the critical condition that baby is going through ! Every electronic media was prorogating this news on this child has been undergoing. Really sad to hear. Anyone with heart or even any animal will not torture the child like this. Baby doent know what is love, is having its head smashed against wall, Human bites across the body and fractures ! Imagine the trauma the kid may be going through, cant express ! What are we into ? Does we have any values inherited ?

It was an habit, that every morning I used to attend the service at the church during my childhood & teenage days. The reasons might be my house was close proximate to church and other might be the immense faith in God by Parents & Grand Parents. Every day there was clear message delivered by the priest / pastor. As a child, I could not understand much and moreover neither I tried to understand since this was routine. When I was a teenager, I used to argue against many of the things based on the presumptions and the behavior of the elders with whom I used to sit , chat and play.

I can recollect an message from the old testament I heard many a times during the preaching’s & in word of God, the Lord says “ If your real mother forsake you, I will not”. During my adolance stage and teenage, I really doubted on the above sentence. I would categorically argue how come , our own mother forsaking her own child. Is it really possible ? Will not the child cry and mothers heart gets melted down and shower her love ? These questions in my mind got unanswered and I didn’t try much to understand. In most of the movies I used to watch, it was family story and in the story the mothers would love the child like anything ! that was my impression.

I make it to watch Aradana TV from 9:30 to 10:00pm , although there whole day telecast on it,. Actually 8 to 8:30pm was the prayer time with my parents. It brings memories of family prayer – dad sitting and praying in the bed room, and we rest brothers and mummy sit in front of the alter and do our prayer.
As the program continued Dr. Paul Dinakaran said to the gathering taking a quote from the old testament “ If your real mother forsake you, Lord will not”. And shared the part of his testimony, where in a women aborted her child. He made the picture clear – A child in the mother’s womb – still not seen the world is murdered.

Suddenly few of these thoughts came to my mind – What if God did the same ? God start killing the children’s – Then what would be the reaction of mothers ?

I deep in my heart I could feel “ Yes – There is unconditional love & Care showered by God “ maybe we could not understand. I can recollect an incident where in mummy along with the neighbors ran to watch a baby girl, left in the footsteps of the school nearby. A huge gathering and gossips about the poor baby. A poor family went, picked the baby and wrapped it in clothes before anyone could reach. The sad thing is that “Influential” from the nearby locality filed a complaint stating the back ground and took the baby with them so that they can up bring with good social environment. The point of matter is a baby girl was blessed with “care & Love” where her own mother forsaked.

We have mothers keeping the child so young as 3 months old in a crush, where in someone takes care ! Does the care taker provide the same love and affection as of the mother to the kid ? is it not forsaking the baby ??

We have become more selfish, we want to earn – so what ??

Bottom-line
Whatever may be Gods love is unconditional, and blessed are those children who could actually feel the parents love and care.
However are we return the same love and sacrifice our parents made to us, when they are old ? is the point to reflect and act upon !

Disclosure: There is nothing to harm or hurt anyone sentiments .

Admission Blue !!

Every parent rich or poor wants his children to be admitted in an Good School and have good education. The word Good is subjective based on the expectations and spending power of the parent. In last 70's and 80's there were few schools and some reputed schools. Parents would choose a school nearby and try for admission so that their children are not stressed of commuting. The process of admission was very easy one, I think so. But fairly depending upon the school capacity and influential power. Once the child is selected, It was assumed that child would love the school. The school encouraged admission to siblings and hence the parents had one time activity as they would definitely get admission to their children’s. The concept of old students children was one more thing that was the differentiator.

Today the complete scenario has been changed, the parents need to plan before the child is born! They have to save money that needs to be Donated to make the child educated. The donation varies as per the reputation of the school. Today parents are not bothered to check for the school in the vicinity, but they wish to admit the child for reputation.

There is lack of good teachers, be it in reputed school or otherwise! Teachers lack the future knowledge and technological advantage. Today kids have technology advantage !
Whatever may be !

The thought that comes to my mind is Why should the child bear the stress? The great learned people say "Let the aim of education is for gaining Knowledge" . I remember a proverb, Skill is through knowldege and Wisdom is through observation. But the manifestation today is Education is for Employment that to for Senior level.

The struggle that parents take to just admit their child to kindergarten schools which have flourished like anything has become a nightmare. There is lot of choice with every choice has its own price tagg, that depends upon the capacity of deep pockets of parents.

Bottom line

I feel it is easy to get admission to colleges and do your PhD's in your favorite subject through correspondence courses, than getting admission to Nursery !
Where the child believes that their teacher is always right, even they need to be corrected at home !

So what - Nun or None !

Every day I take a walk to the station and then catch a bus to my office. Today I found an leprosy patient sitting and begging on the street. This reminded me the incident that I witnessed in Mumbai .

Mumbai is a dream city, no doubt about it. Everyone who comes and get adjusted to Mumbai, does not like to leave the city. The city is vibrant. I miss now. You dream and you work hard either through hook or crook, you can realize your dreams.
Every Wednesday, you find large number of people attending the hourly prayer service at Mahim Church, It is believed if you pray their for nine weeks your petitions will be heard and you wll be blessed. Our needs does not get satisfied, one is satisfied, automatically we want much more .

It was one of those Wednesdays, it was around 11:00 am busy weekday. On the way to the Mahim church we find lot of people of various ages begging. As I was walking, I found a person who had lot of wounds and foul smell. As I about to pass through him, I noticed a Nun with a bucket of water alighting from a jeep. I found little strange, by her dress I could make out she belonged to Missionary of charity congregation. Suddenly a large crowd gathered near that place.

Believe it or not,

I was stunned to see the nun giving bath to the person who was actually having leprosy. I just watched as others did, she gave bath has if she was giving morning bath to a new born baby. The gesture is still in my heart and I felt like crying. She applied powder dressed the wounds and went in search of others to whom she can serve.

Bottom line

Can I do that way ?

I should confess I am selfish, i do not have that guts, I live for ourselves. Leave giving bath, we shove away the beggars

These nuns leave their family and serve the downtrodden with love and care! They are my heroes. I salute them their belief and their motto. I can understand what compromise, sacrifice they might have given. Money is not everything. !

I can just pray that God give these selfless nuns internal strength, attitude of courage and experience of love and Gods Blessing.

  Off course this world curse them !

So what?? Right !

Traffic baby begging !

Everyone in India, I believe might have gone through these sceneries in their way of life. Some might have observed this and felt petty and tried to do something like talking or donate , some might have shoved them away with abuse, and some including me we have just ignored as this is every day event.

Everyday when I commute from home to office and then office to home, I happened to see in the major junction when the vehicle stops when the signal goes red, then a Women carrying small child come and pled for help, in other words an young lady begging with the help of small baby. They need only cash. Be it in the hot sunlight or at cold evenings. I thought this was an unique feature of Mumbai at the traffic junctions., but I was wrong and I can observe at most of the junctions in tier II cities. This is just as controlled & planned mafia....
I have noticed even hours together the children doesn't cry , even for a while, when the lady is begging. what comes to my mind is, Is the child well feed ? or doesn’t bother at all or is the baby drugged as it gets into sleep. Is this the case of helplessness of a baby ??
we observe the reverse of the above when we visit and closely observe the parents and child behavior in restaurants, malls and movie houses. These parents are so concerned of their children and their cry. They start to give everything the child wants to ensure that it stops crying and try their best to ensure that the child understand their love. Is this a case of helplessness of parents??.

The thought that comes to my mind is:
To beg each and every day - Year after Year from where do they get babies ??

We feel petty about the child, and we give out money, but whether they deserve ?
I
n one of the articles in the print media and an episode in electronic media , they had reported about the child begging mafia ! but so far no action on it. this menes is growing stronger and stronger !

The TV media has got higher TRP rating and public has poor memory so it is wiped out.
Now a day’s every Sunday, if you surf TV you would at least see one or the other award or reward programs recognizing efforts of the common people who have succeeded in changing social life. I happened to watch an program, where in an NGO -Essas for runaway street kids was recognized. They are really doing an good job in educating street kids.
My point is why not such an NGO come forward and try this for small kids carried for begging. What is the life expectancy of the baby, when it is exposed to high pollution at the traffic junctions !

Bottom-line
God is great, he cares everyone and does not baise on poor or middle class or rich!
"The most important thing in this is not to see whether the baby is happy or laughing but according to me, it is necessary that the baby doesn’t have to suffer or die due to hunger. At least the alms collected by the lady will give the baby the much required food that’s required for his survival, isn’t it?(hope So) After all to survive in this big mean world, is more important than anything else"

So what ??

Helplessness

When we walk around the heritage site or pilgrim places across, we always come across people requesting for help for going back to their own village or native. The common reason they say is that they have lost their money or someone had pick pocketed their valet. Very often we distrust just because we do not know him, a stranger and doubt on his intensions. Many of the times even our heart try to influence our mind to help them out, but the mind which always looks deep at the pockets and put a stopper there by resisting providing any help to a stranger. We always judge the intention of that person, based on our own assumptions and past experience, Often we make a comment that he is a dunked and needs money for buying alcohol. We try to examine him based on his dressing sense, the way he appears and so forth. We fail to understand the helplessness that the person is undergoing, the mental agony of lost document and stress of arranging alternatives to reach the loved ones. We doubt and mistrust them and their story. In most of the cases we just abuse and ignore. I remember one of such cases, It was an evening I along with my friends were standing near a tea shop, a man appeared and started begging in front of a group of people who were chit chatting for help for buying an train ticket to join his family. He narrated the story of how his lost his valet. He had come for some work in Mumbai and the train reached during early morning and he saw people sleeping in the platform and so he rested there. When he got up in the morning, he found that his valet containing his document and money was missing. A new place, no one to help and nothing to eat. He made-up his mind to ask the strangers in the city to help me out to buy a ticket so that he can reach his home, we were watching him begging and plead for help him. When he came to us, out of curiosity and making fun, we enquired how this had happened and why was he not attentive ?, why couldn’t he sought the help from police or seek help from his employer who had sent him. After hearing his part of the story, we realized and thought that we spend lot of money smoking, why not gift that amount and think we have spent on cigarette. I handed over some money; We were surprised when he refused to take the money and informing us, that he is not begging for money but actually looking for a day’s work to earn and buy a train ticket. We were taken aback on his thought ! We come across in daily news, people just cheating to make money, earn prestige, and showoff the pride. This came as an revelation that thoughts of the needy may be different, however it is care and sympathy needed to come over. We arranged food for him as he said he had nothing from the morning. But this incident has given enough thoughts to realize the pain when someone lose money and become helpless in new city when everywhere and everything is new and strange.


I remembered the whole incident, when I lost my valet when I was an stranger in an new place. Although I was fortunate to make alternative arrangements, but this left me a thought what about helpless people !