There was a sudden spring and bounce in our feet as we rushed through those never ending stairs that promised to lead us back into past. Going past a small hallway surrounded by the food counters at Grand Blossoms hall in Mumbai, we entered a large hall exclusively reserved for the occasion. Suddenly the eyes glazed over and the mind went into perma frost. Little did we realize that we would be creating history and we did, by being part of the St John’s High School, The Class of 1986 Reunion.
The hall had good illumination and was elegantly decorated. The photographs of four houses were prominently displayed on either side of the wall. The red and white coloured balloons with printed name of our School and our batch year looked alluring. A small stage was built in the center and next to it was a large masked screen. The banners located strategically at the gates and hanging over the stage looked beautiful. On the left side of the stage was a long table that displayed the various gifts and flower bouquets while on the other side, the DJ with his consol was already in his rhythm.
The atmosphere was abuzz with communication. The lip smacking starters accompanied with mocktails were served non stop. The dinner counter had delectable food with a live pasta counter and seasonal desserts.
It’s been 25 long years since we had left our school. The threads of discussion to have a reunion started on school Google group created by Alwyn and later it got cascaded to various chat sites online. Thanks to Alwyn who came up with the idea of having a school reunion to celebrate this occasion. The ubiquity of social media helped to reconstitute a faithful remnant of organizing team and we were under way.
With Samir, Adeline, Amit, Suresh, Renuka, Mamta and Sunil Nair, we had a formidable team that met religiously, sacrificing their weekends, often sneaking from office to meet and plan the entire event. The organizing team also garnered help from Madhavi Patel, Rajeev Madhavan, Vinod Halkarni, Ganesh Pandit, Vinod Kamath, Santosh Shetty, Shilpa Bhise, Sajid Sheikh and Naresh who blossomed in the end (The pun unintended – the Natural Flower! – Contact Sunil Nair for more details)
The first debates were about the dates and the venue, given that our school is now altogether a different institute managed by different organisation. But the deciding factor in organizing a event of this magnitude were the budgets and most importantly the attendance. Thankfully the response generated by NRI buddies comprising of Asma, Alwyn, Rajesh, Prasad, Sathya, Sajeev and Atul just to name a few spurred all of us into action and we were able to freeze the date.
If it wasn’t for Amit Mehrotra who allowed us to meet at his Arihant Classes, we would have struggled to plan the event peacefully. Samir Mullaji helped us with a beautiful venue.
The most difficult part of reunion was to establish contacts with long lost friends. With many changing their residence and girls happily married with new names, it was one of the onerous tasks to trace everyone. Then are those who have their email i.d.’s but rarely access mails… and there are many who do not still return phone calls….or even SMS. The other challenge was tracing Teachers and staff.
Well thanks to our batchmates like Suresh Balan, Madhavi Patel, Vinod Halkarni, Adeline Pires, Renuka Acharya, and few others….who painstakingly managed to contact some of our long lost friends and boy weren’t we glad to see many of them at the reunion.
The other challenge we encountered was pertaining to collection. Despite the rising interest rates, inflation and salary increments becoming an illusion, we were delighted to receive contribution from many. A magnanimous contribution from Samir Shah helped us a lot. Thank you so much Samir….
There is something intriguing about school unions. It makes some people get so excited that they jump on a plane, fly across the continents, and in case of Sathya even changed three flights only to be here whilst at the same time there are people who live within walking distance and still wouldn’t come if you paid them!
For some of us it is a look to the past and regression into all the feelings of childhood. For others it is a look into the future and a realization that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually the oncoming train of Mid Life Crisis bearing down upon them. If at all you had any of those feelings on the night of reunion, don’t worry, you were not alone.
One cannot rule out the possibility of experiencing some feelings of trepidation or otherwise while attending a reunion. Meeting an old buddy, or to come across those that have done well in life, or even coming across that classmate who must tried to bully you in class or seeing that the teacher or the girl whom you had first crush on and who isn't quite as you remembered can sometimes be very unnerving.
There were few who desperately tried their best to attend, but due to some last minute exigencies had to miss it. Whilst the attendance was noteworthy, we also missed several batchmates whom we are yet to trace.
Thanks to Rajesh Mishra and his Google hangouts, we managed to rope in the baldies - Alwyn, Sajeev, Atul & Swaroop. Kamlesh & Paul also joined the hangout. We did miss them and their patience was indeed admirable. Seating patiently glued to a computer and watching the past re-appear in various forms can be an exhilarating experience. It was nice to hear Swaroop’s voice after 25 years on my mobile.
After a brief introduction of the agenda by Nishant, it was time to get nostalgic. The film “Back to School” brought back memories and captured few textures of school life. It had music that lifted the mood, and was accompanied with a short commentary from Nishant and his office colleague Ekta. The film cleverly portrayed life at school and paid tribute to teachers. In short, the film was almost like a dot on the exclamation mark.
Suresh and Naresh managed to meet Dr (Mrs.) Mabel Aranha, our School Principal. Even at the age of 77, Mrs. Aranha was punctual and eagerly waiting for both of them. It was indeed overwhelming and ecstatic to talk with Mrs. Aranha over the phone. Mrs. Aranha instantly agreed for the video recording but slightly hesitated for she wasn’t dressed for the occasion. Somehow Suresh convinced her and using mobile phones, they successfully recorded her speech which was later incorporated in the film.
Mrs. Aranha in her speech thanked Suresh and Naresh for inviting her for the reunion event. She also mentioned that our school emphasized personality development and not just intellectual development of students. She graciously thanked all teachers and staff and gave her blessings to all students.
A two minute silence was observed to pay tribute to some of our deceased teachers, friends and family members of everyone assembled.
Mamta Jain’s welcome speech was indeed splendid just like her long dangling earrings …with her sonorous voice, coupled with few anecdotes and immaculate oration she managed to thrill the crowd.
Sometimes age brings a certain realization and reunion presents a perfect opportunity for confession and acknowledgment that people CAN and sometimes DO change. Perhaps even take a shot at REDEMPTION!…
Through his extempore, Sudhir Hegde induced humour which is characteristic of him but also confessed to few things. I don’t know whether he was taking a shot at redemption or just playing to the gallery since he called me to edit his speech in the video. There is no way that his speech will get edited. His speech took everyone with surprise and few of them were even shocked. During his speech, the teachers appeared to be in a state of bewilderment.
As kids many of us must have been involved in playing pranks and have occasionally misbehaved. To my mind, Sudhir’s speech was one of the best and honest speeches, I have heard in a long time. At least there was someone trying to live our school's core values - ‘Brave and Truth’. During his rendition, I was impressed to observe Sudhir’s confidence and courage, and even learnt lessons in public speaking.
It was great to meet everyone from different classes. Many of us were meeting for the first time in 25 years. It was nice to see Asma, Prasad flying from Singapore and Rajesh, Sathya arriving from US. While Bharti arrived from Delhi, Vanashree Sathe and Anand Poudwal drove down from Pune. Aftab Alam came with his family from Goa and there may be many others who travelled from distant places for this reunion.
We did miss the tedious predictable sequence of student speeches filled with nostalgia and new experiences common during most reunions. However the main highlight of the event was the felicitation ceremony followed with some evocative speeches by Teachers.
Naresh Singh in his speech profoundly thanked all teachers, for they are the ones who selflessly shaped our life, inculcated values and made us into fine citizens.
As a token of our gratitude, admiration and respect, all the assembled teachers were felicitated with a memento and bouquet. The teacher’s speeches were evocative and inspiring. Mrs. Pinto, Mrs. Mahima Karekar and Mr. Nair Sir waxed eloquent on the charms of school life, the importance of values and learning. They shared their unique experiences and were visibly happy to be part of this momentous occasion.
Mrs. Nagarkar’s speech in Marathi was redolent of her craft lessons and those bright afternoons in primarary school. Speaking with passion, her speech moved the entire audience. It was also nice to see the other teachers Mr. Acharya, Mrs. Arora, Mrs. Sethi, Mrs. Vijaya Menon and Mrs. Devi Manohari at the reunion and all of them spoke with equaly aplomb. Along with the teachers our staff members Kishore, Jayaprakash, Joshi and Ganpat were equally delighted to be part of this event.
The evening was wonderful with good music, some novel games where we also had teachers participating with the same enthusiasm. It was marvellous to see everyone participating in the team games and cheering their respective divisions. The team games added variety. The C division won the finals while the A division managed to scrape past the B division in the final round. History seemed to have got repeated when in the final GK round the three contenders Ganesh Pandit – C division, Asma Siddiqui – B division and Prasad Menon – A division - were fighting tooth and nail.
Despite thinning at the top or widenining down low, everyone looked stunningly gorgeous and handsome. And it’s always a good sight to see such figures and shapes dancing with abandon to the music of Kolavari. Finally don’t they say life begins at 40?
A quick vote of thanks proposed by Nishant and Amit was followed with group photos. This is where we missed our friends who were glued virtually. After dinner we had Rajesh Mishra along with Samir Shah urging everyone to share their experiences and even made our friends from virtual world interact with the real world.
Like an old autograph book, the memory book kept circulating around, urging everyone to record their sentiments and contact details. A beautiful ‘Cup of Joy’ with the school emblem and a small ‘Key Chain’ to lock Happiness and Memories were diligently presented as return gifts to everyone.
Towards the end, The Class of 86 Reunion provided us with PERSPECTIVE about ourselves and others, and the opportunity of RE-CONNECTION. As life progresses the amount of people who have KNOWN you for a LONG time or have known you at KEY MOMENTS of your life is obviously less. That makes reunions valuable, perhaps in ways we haven’t yet realized. There were lots of laughs, and it is important that we value and cherish- what we all shared and the possibilities of this occasion.
The 25th Reunion celebration helped us to rejoice, relive and reminisce those wonderful times we spent at St John’s High School, Goregaon― a time when we were together almost every day ― played together, studied together, danced together ― went through puberty together ― when we formed many of the values we now hold dear, and many of the most intimate, precious and lasting friendships of our lives.
Although I am an eternal optimist, I doubt if we would be able to organize a reunion again… of such magnitude …and I pray and hope to be proved wrong. Perhaps we could think of having another bigger reunion five years from now. But for that to happen, many smaller meetings must frequently take place.
Until then, Class of ’86, lets all stay connected, trace our lost friends and plan to meet up again but hopefully in a little less that 25 years. Remember we were blessed to meet each other on Friday the night of 23rd Dec 2011...
Hoped everyone had a great night!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Kiss the Frog – To Zinda Ho Tum!...
You have probably heard this story of a frog being kissed by a princess. There is another story of a young man who also heard a frog calling out, “Please kiss me, I’ll become a beautiful princess and be yours for a day.” He quickly picked it up and put it in his backpack. The poor frog pleaded for a kiss and kept increasing the reward from a day to a week to month to a year, but to no avail. Finally when the young man did not react to an offer of a lifetime of companionship, the frog finally asked as to why it was not being kissed. The young man casually walked on and said “Look I am an engineer … a talking frog is really cool as far as I am concerned.”
‘Kissing the Frog’ to get the handsome prince is a metaphor for all the intimidating opportunities in your life that you would rather avoid than explore. It also implies moving out of your comfort zone.
Undoubtedly, engineering college was one place that made me feel alive, excited and helped shape my character. The auspicious occasion of Indian engineering day is perhaps the perfect time to reminisce some of the student experience.
The initial days at engineering college is like entering a rabbit hole where a different world begins to unfold. You come across some wonderful people and make new friends from various parts who are brilliant, ambitious, opinionated, arrogant and as years go by, they become humble. The stimulating discussions quickly end in debates that generate diverse perspectives. Opinions are constantly challenged and an eternal quest to find scientific, logical, analytical answers for everything including your own existence begins. Students from urban area blame their circumstances, while students from rural areas create circumstances, seize opportunities and even motivate you to study using lanterns.
Life in engineering college is full of surprise. Every week there is a new time table but things rarely happen as per the plans. The lecturer has already started the fourth chapter even before you have understood the earlier chapters. Even before you soak in the new environment, it’s time for submission of term work. Like a chameleon, your grades also change every semester. The professors and staff, who welcomed you with a broad smile, will smile during the valediction ceremony. Each moment reminds you of the immortal quote from ‘Alice in Wonderland’, “Reeling and writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.”
By the end of the first year, many students are in a state of shock. The academic probation (read ATKT) induces a change in personality. Extroverts become introverts and introverts are on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Although ATKT provides some respite, students start refraining from attending family functions and marriages. Well Shit Happens! However, failure instills discipline, dedication and determination so as to savour the joy of success. You become resilient and realize that both engineering and life are governed by a sinusoidal curve.
The workshops are an interesting place where you develop skills in filing, carpentry, welding and learn accuracy and precision. You get to experience the hardships encountered by workers in the factories and start respecting dignity of labour. Engineering inadvertently helps to conquer your inhibitions and subtly reminds to continuously improve your own performance. Make many friends Kyunki Har Ek Dost Zaruri Hota Hai. You need their support, guidance and certainly as proxy. The group exercises make you realize that success largely depends on effective collaboration.
The standard books were always out of stock and therefore some of us had to borrow books authored by unknown authors. The atmosphere was so competitive that some of the toppers in the class would ridicule you for referring to unknown books. Some of these unknown books featured wealth of information, replete with beautiful illustrations and incisive research. Instead of generating curiosity, encouraging critical approbation of different books and research papers, the faculty promoted education based on rote. These unknown books do cultivate varied reading habit.
Some of us were overawed with designing various girders, bridges and cantilevers, while the chemical engineering students struggled with Stoichiometry equations and the coulometer measuring various constants – Avogadro, Rydeberg, and Planck. Students from electronics engineering grappled with AM/ FM signals, microprocessors 8080/8085 despite the advent of Pentium. Having friends from different engineering disciplines subtly increases your awareness about other subjects which can be useful while working on multi-discipline projects and especially in today’s knowledge economy.
The word “engineering” is derived from the Latin word “ingeniare” means “to design” or “to create”. Typically final year students prefer to work on conventional projects, but it is extremely critical to work on some innovative projects. There is nothing great in constructing 10,000 litres water tanks made from concrete, but designing and constructing water tanks made from Ferrocement still makes me proud. (Ferrocement structures are composite structures designed and built without using bricks or concrete). By working on innovative projects, you start believing in what seems impossible.
There was one group exercise that I can never forget. The class was divided in groups of six and we had to conduct a topographical survey. The six of us headed out with survey instrument, levelling rod, measuring tape, chain, pegs and hammer etc to the nearby field. One of my good friend and I were in the same group, so we decided to skip and join the group later. The Indian team was playing against England, we decided to stay back and watch the match. After some time we rushed back to the field. By the time we joined the group, the survey was almost done. Based on the survey findings the group members plotted the readings on a sheet and both of us blatantly copied it. In two weeks time, a viva voce was scheduled and students were interviewed in pair. As luck would have it, my friend and I were paired together. The professor asked us questions on surveying, levelling, contouring etc. Both of us replied correctly with immense confidence. The professor then pointed to the drawing sheet and asked us to identify the points from where we took the fore and back bearings of each survey lines and how did we go about it? We were so impressed with our earlier replies that without even looking at each other, immediately our fingers indicated different points on the opposite ends of the sheet. The professor raised his eyebrow and reprimanded us with another grueling assignment. Our answers had generated a hearty laugh but it also brought to fore that engineering and life - its all about execution.
Hostel life teaches you lessons in trust, managing finance, cooking, washing and survival. You find solace in various form of music; emote with ghazzals and bollywood songs. You draw inspiration from the philosophies of Ayn Rand, Bertrand Russell, Aldous Huxley and rock on with Jim Morrison and Led Zeppelin. Some intelligent students even make notes about their deft moves at bridge tournament. Participation in sports, tech-fest, and various activities provide with enriching experience in event and even project management. All these extra-curricular activities play a vital role in developing your personality.
If you are studying engineering in some village, you also get to witness social entrepreneurship. With engineering college in the village, a gradual change begins and soon the village metamorphosis into a modern town. Local villagers offer their homes on rent, women provide lunch tiffins to students, canteens transform into restaurants, grocery stores supply stationeries, STD booth owners install photocopier machines and lab assistants start part- time computer training centers. Literacy rates begin to improve, villagers get employed in college, and the urban students reverse migration makes few people entrepreneurs.
While the quality of the staff and education could be debatable but in years to come there seems to be some semblance of improvement at these institutes. Regardless of the facilities, faculty and quality of education, contrary to the engineer above, engineering students wherever they study, invariably learn to kiss the metaphorical frog or any anthropomorphic creatures and go on to do well in life. Perhaps these inspiring words, from Imran (movie Zindagi Na Mile Doobara), convey how engineers live their Life to the fullest…
“Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho, toh zinda ho tum,
Nazar mein khwaabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho, toh zinda ho tum“
Happy Indian Engineering Day!
‘Kissing the Frog’ to get the handsome prince is a metaphor for all the intimidating opportunities in your life that you would rather avoid than explore. It also implies moving out of your comfort zone.
Undoubtedly, engineering college was one place that made me feel alive, excited and helped shape my character. The auspicious occasion of Indian engineering day is perhaps the perfect time to reminisce some of the student experience.
The initial days at engineering college is like entering a rabbit hole where a different world begins to unfold. You come across some wonderful people and make new friends from various parts who are brilliant, ambitious, opinionated, arrogant and as years go by, they become humble. The stimulating discussions quickly end in debates that generate diverse perspectives. Opinions are constantly challenged and an eternal quest to find scientific, logical, analytical answers for everything including your own existence begins. Students from urban area blame their circumstances, while students from rural areas create circumstances, seize opportunities and even motivate you to study using lanterns.
Life in engineering college is full of surprise. Every week there is a new time table but things rarely happen as per the plans. The lecturer has already started the fourth chapter even before you have understood the earlier chapters. Even before you soak in the new environment, it’s time for submission of term work. Like a chameleon, your grades also change every semester. The professors and staff, who welcomed you with a broad smile, will smile during the valediction ceremony. Each moment reminds you of the immortal quote from ‘Alice in Wonderland’, “Reeling and writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.”
By the end of the first year, many students are in a state of shock. The academic probation (read ATKT) induces a change in personality. Extroverts become introverts and introverts are on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Although ATKT provides some respite, students start refraining from attending family functions and marriages. Well Shit Happens! However, failure instills discipline, dedication and determination so as to savour the joy of success. You become resilient and realize that both engineering and life are governed by a sinusoidal curve.
The workshops are an interesting place where you develop skills in filing, carpentry, welding and learn accuracy and precision. You get to experience the hardships encountered by workers in the factories and start respecting dignity of labour. Engineering inadvertently helps to conquer your inhibitions and subtly reminds to continuously improve your own performance. Make many friends Kyunki Har Ek Dost Zaruri Hota Hai. You need their support, guidance and certainly as proxy. The group exercises make you realize that success largely depends on effective collaboration.
The standard books were always out of stock and therefore some of us had to borrow books authored by unknown authors. The atmosphere was so competitive that some of the toppers in the class would ridicule you for referring to unknown books. Some of these unknown books featured wealth of information, replete with beautiful illustrations and incisive research. Instead of generating curiosity, encouraging critical approbation of different books and research papers, the faculty promoted education based on rote. These unknown books do cultivate varied reading habit.
Some of us were overawed with designing various girders, bridges and cantilevers, while the chemical engineering students struggled with Stoichiometry equations and the coulometer measuring various constants – Avogadro, Rydeberg, and Planck. Students from electronics engineering grappled with AM/ FM signals, microprocessors 8080/8085 despite the advent of Pentium. Having friends from different engineering disciplines subtly increases your awareness about other subjects which can be useful while working on multi-discipline projects and especially in today’s knowledge economy.
The word “engineering” is derived from the Latin word “ingeniare” means “to design” or “to create”. Typically final year students prefer to work on conventional projects, but it is extremely critical to work on some innovative projects. There is nothing great in constructing 10,000 litres water tanks made from concrete, but designing and constructing water tanks made from Ferrocement still makes me proud. (Ferrocement structures are composite structures designed and built without using bricks or concrete). By working on innovative projects, you start believing in what seems impossible.
There was one group exercise that I can never forget. The class was divided in groups of six and we had to conduct a topographical survey. The six of us headed out with survey instrument, levelling rod, measuring tape, chain, pegs and hammer etc to the nearby field. One of my good friend and I were in the same group, so we decided to skip and join the group later. The Indian team was playing against England, we decided to stay back and watch the match. After some time we rushed back to the field. By the time we joined the group, the survey was almost done. Based on the survey findings the group members plotted the readings on a sheet and both of us blatantly copied it. In two weeks time, a viva voce was scheduled and students were interviewed in pair. As luck would have it, my friend and I were paired together. The professor asked us questions on surveying, levelling, contouring etc. Both of us replied correctly with immense confidence. The professor then pointed to the drawing sheet and asked us to identify the points from where we took the fore and back bearings of each survey lines and how did we go about it? We were so impressed with our earlier replies that without even looking at each other, immediately our fingers indicated different points on the opposite ends of the sheet. The professor raised his eyebrow and reprimanded us with another grueling assignment. Our answers had generated a hearty laugh but it also brought to fore that engineering and life - its all about execution.
Hostel life teaches you lessons in trust, managing finance, cooking, washing and survival. You find solace in various form of music; emote with ghazzals and bollywood songs. You draw inspiration from the philosophies of Ayn Rand, Bertrand Russell, Aldous Huxley and rock on with Jim Morrison and Led Zeppelin. Some intelligent students even make notes about their deft moves at bridge tournament. Participation in sports, tech-fest, and various activities provide with enriching experience in event and even project management. All these extra-curricular activities play a vital role in developing your personality.
If you are studying engineering in some village, you also get to witness social entrepreneurship. With engineering college in the village, a gradual change begins and soon the village metamorphosis into a modern town. Local villagers offer their homes on rent, women provide lunch tiffins to students, canteens transform into restaurants, grocery stores supply stationeries, STD booth owners install photocopier machines and lab assistants start part- time computer training centers. Literacy rates begin to improve, villagers get employed in college, and the urban students reverse migration makes few people entrepreneurs.
While the quality of the staff and education could be debatable but in years to come there seems to be some semblance of improvement at these institutes. Regardless of the facilities, faculty and quality of education, contrary to the engineer above, engineering students wherever they study, invariably learn to kiss the metaphorical frog or any anthropomorphic creatures and go on to do well in life. Perhaps these inspiring words, from Imran (movie Zindagi Na Mile Doobara), convey how engineers live their Life to the fullest…
“Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho, toh zinda ho tum,
Nazar mein khwaabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho, toh zinda ho tum“
Happy Indian Engineering Day!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Debt Trap !....
In a gruesome competitive and capitalist, world, along with top grades one also needs to be a consistent high performer. Apparently, the quest for higher grades, spectacular economic performance and higher credit ratings are also sought by all countries. No wonder when the grades and ratings falls, it creates furore, even panic and all of this was evident last week!
There is a famous aphorism “When the US sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold”. With Standard & Poor downgrading the United States government's credit rating from AAA to AA+, the aphorism has again got triggered sending shock-wave and creating panic across the globe. The decision is based on political situation and therefore the S & P downgrade may appear symbolic but the ratings do not belie severe financial implications to the US economy.
Let me try and list down how this credit rating impacts US and the global economy.
The U.S. debt over $14.3 trillion is the largest in the world and is the sum of all outstanding debt owed by the Federal Government. Nearly two-thirds is the public debt, which is owed to the people, businesses and foreign governments who bought Treasury bills, notes and bonds. The rest is owed by the government and held as Government Account securities. Most of this is owed to Social Security and other trust funds, which were running surpluses. For many decades, the US government had a great credit rating (AAA), making it easier to raise money from other countries at very low interest rates. The US borrowed blatantly that it finally hit the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is a self imposed limit for US Government borrowing. The Government recently decided to increase the debt ceiling but that implied its credit worthiness and weakening of US economy. As soon as the debt ceiling was increased, the S&P downgraded the US long-term debt to AA+.
So what made this debt large?
Government debt is an accumulation of budget deficits. Year after year, the government continued to cut taxes and increase spending. There is still no consensus among Congress as the Republicans are not ready to increase tax cuts and Democrats are still harping on sponsoring welfare measures. One of the reasons for increase in debt is due to the Social Security Trust Fund. Instead of investing revenue from Social Security Trust Fund, which was collected through payroll taxes leveraged on Baby Boomers, the Fund was loaned to Government to finance the increasing deficit spending. This interest-free loan kept Treasury Bond interest rates low and allowed more debt financing.
The other reason for increase in debt is due to Treasury Bonds. The US and China are two sides of a same economy. US have outsourced its production and manufacturing to low cost China and later spends its dollars to buy the produced goods. So, foreign countries like China ($1.1 trillion) and Japan ($ 900 billion) kept on increasing their holdings of Treasury Bonds as a safe haven, at low interest rates and thereby managed to keep their currencies low relative to the dollar.
The debt also increased due to other factors. The two wars dipped heavily into Government surplus. To add to that, in 2008 the real estate bubble followed with subsequent sub-prime mortgage crisis brought down several large banking and financial organisations. In order to bail out the failing financial institutions from becoming bankrupt, the US Government had to dole out huge amount of money. Because of this people stopped spending and that led to economic recession and job losses. With rising unemployment, government found difficult to raise money from taxes and so they reduced tax cuts. It would have also been expensive for US to borrow trillions of dollars from other countries to offer as stimulus packages to failing companies and therefore US decided to print money.
In hindsight the doling of money, coupled with restrictions on immigration appears to have been a temporary respite since it failed to promote industrial growth, attract entrepreneurs, create more jobs and generate income for government. The government also ignored austerity measures to reduce government spending and all these led to widening of the fiscal deficit.
How U.S. Debt Affects the Economy
The US government debt is a benchmark for global financial markets. For the past few months, the US economy has been under severe stress and the GDP growth appears stunted. There is a slow down in industrial production, decline in employment rates and warning signs of so called double –dip recession. A credit rating downgrade will definitely impact the world. Investors will demand a higher return for holding US government debt. This would mean increase in interest rates, increase in asset prices which in turn would diminish demand for US Treasuries, putting downward pressure on the dollar and thus slowing the economy.
By the time Baby Boomers retire, the Social Security funds have to be repaid. Since this money has been already spent, resources have to be identified to repay this loan. That would mean higher taxes.
As an outcome of all these developments, the demand for gold which is seen as safe haven has increased manifold. Clearly the U.S. economy is caught in a debt-trap. Globally there will be clamour for an alternative global reserve currency, but the dollar will continue to hold sway for want of a real contender. Meanwhile U.S. will have to set in structural reforms, increase taxes and control fiscal deficit as a corrective measure. Recovery would be a long-drawn and painful process.
The downgrading is certainly not good for Indian exports with falling dollar. Even imports would be impacted. Companies with higher exposure to developed economies will be more vulnerable and Capex plans will be prolonged.
However as far the Indian economy is concerned, the downgrade would have only temporary impact on the nation's domestic consumption-based and service-led economy. The RBI has acknowledged ample liquidity and market hygiene in India. Baring gold and silver, a slower global economy could reduce commodity and oil prices which may bring down India’s inflation. There could be a possibility of higher inflows of foreign institutional investor (FII) funds which will lead to appreciation of the rupee, and in turn bring down the current account deficit.
But lets not get complacent since we are equally confounded with our own demons of corruption, terrorism, inflation, interest rates and falling industrial production. In weeks to come, the effects of the US crisis would be clearer until then we must aggressively implement reforms and practice good governance.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Women’s Tennis – Grit, Grunts, Grace, Glamour, & Glory !...
Watching Petra Kvitova play against Sharapova in the finals of Wimbledon 2011, reminded me of the historical rivalry between the two legendary players of women’s Tennis – Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert.
Kvitova enchants us with her simplicity, shy smile, calm and composed demeanour. Her tennis is embellished with power, purpose, and perseverance. Sharapova’s beauty goes beyond her long legs, ear-rings, blonde hair and high shrieks. Her tennis is engaged with a silken movement and precision. Like Martina, Kvitova is also a southpaw, while Sharapova, like Evert, plays with both hands. Perhaps it is too early to foretell whether Kvitova and Sharapova may compete often as the two legends. Personally I would prefer the gorgeous and effervescent German Sabine Lisicki play against the unassuming and disciplined Kvitova in future.
The platinum blonde, Navratilova, aptly watching from the Royal box, looked stunning, her high cheekbones giving her a graceful and regal bearing with time. Admiring her compatriot Kvitova’s accomplishment, she must have probably felt nostalgic and overwhelmed with joy
Few rivalries in sports were as fiercely contested as that of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Mohammed Ali fought Frazier 3 times, Borg faced McEnroe 14 times, Sampras faced Agassi 34 times, Federer faced Nadal 22 times - all great rivalries, but Navratilova and Evert met an incredible 80 times over the course of 16 years (with 60 of those clashes coming in finals) with Navratilova edging the series 43-37.
As a child, it was Navratilova - Evert and Borg – McEnroe matches that attracted me to tennis. Another factor that elevated Navratilova – Evert rivalry to an almost celebrity status was their contrasting personalities, their on and off court idiosyncrasies and their playing styles. As Evert puts it, "The beauty of our rivalry was not only that we met so many times, but the contrast: we were night and day, so different in every way and brought our own set of fans to the mix. It was drama."
Evert with a strong baseline game, was elegant, attractive and had an emotionless demeanour which earned her the title of “Ice Maiden”. She was earlier known as "Little Chrissie”, and “Cinderella in Sneakers”.
Navratilova played outstanding serve-and-volley game but due to her sexual orientation was unfortunately cast as the villain. Another legendary player, Billie Jean King once said about Navratilova, "She's the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived.”
Martina was expressive, erratic, muscular, athletic, often giving cold stares to people around the court. Perhaps these traits had a lot to do with Martina’s upbringing and her early life behind the dreaded Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia.
Frank Deford, author and Sports Illustrated writer succinctly described about Navratilova, “How gratifying it must have been for her to have achieved so much, triumphed so magnificently. Yet always to have been the other, the odd one, alone: lefthander in a right-handed universe, gay in a straight world; defector, immigrant; the gallant volleyer among those duplicate baseline bytes. When she came into the game, she was the European among Americans; she leaves as the American among Europeans—and the only grown-up left in the tennis crib. Can't she ever get it right?"
While Evert had the best of their earlier encounters, it was Navratilova who dominated in the 1980s. Though successful on all surfaces; Evert was the ‘Queen on Clay’. Off court they were amazingly close friends and often practiced together, even before the actual matches. Their rallies were all masterpieces of touch, timing, finesse, strategy, stamina, psychology, disguise, spin and intelligence. Thankfully none of these two legends grunted or groaned and it was this blend of grit, grace and glamour that captivated our hearts.
While Evert gracefully retired, Martina had another contender to beat – ‘The Strokes of Genius’, athletic and reticent - Stefani Graf. They had some epic battles fought with dogged determination, emblazoned with blend of youth against old, right hand against south paw, introvert against extrovert, with Steffi finally defeating Martina in style.
There was a certain romance, joy and a sense of elation when Steffi was around. Steffi with stunning legs and a strong forehand was known as ‘Fraulein Forehand’. She displayed intense concentration, energy and versatility across all playing surfaces. Steffi tossed the ball too high, induced pace in the game, and rarely used her backhand. Her footwork looked unbelievable giving her the perfect balance, speed and power to hit a moving ball in air.
Michael Stone in New York Magazine once wrote, “Graf is exciting to watch no matter whom she plays. Unlike Evert whose baseline game is primarily defensive, or Navratilova with her muscular net - rushing tactics, Graf plays an aggressive all court game, ripping ground strikes with an abandon that baffles the opponents.”
Steffi had her epic battles with Evert as well. In the first half of 1990’s Steffi and Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario had one of the more exciting rivalries in tennis, with Graf eventually clinching 22 championships including the Golden Slam.
Steffi was later challenged by Monica Seles who had to relinquish playing tennis after a ghastly stabbing incident. After the retirement of Steffi, Women’s tennis almost lost its charm. Monica played well but it was her grunting that was obnoxious and unbearable. The next decade was dominated by Williams sister’s with strong baseline game coupled with their grunting, athleticism, and attacking strokes. Along with superior tennis, the William sisters are also famous for their fashion faux pas. Between the two they have won nine Wimbledon titles.
From 1990’s, Women’s tennis became a glamorous sport with the arrival of gorgeous Anna Kournikova. Anna’s matches with cute looking Martina Hingis were always looked upon. Hingis gained popularity at a very young age but failed to demonstrate the tenacity required for any champions. Anna never won a Grand Slam but that didn’t stop the slim, oestrogen bomb to secure the title of "Sexiest Woman in Sport" followed with huge modeling contracts. Before Anna, it was Gabriela Sabatini, known as “Pearl of the Pampas” and “The Divine Argentine”, who had the hottest looks and a splendid backhand that made her clinch the US Open.
Wimbledon is a coveted, traditional tennis tournament and that conservativeness is reflected in the white clothing rule. But the color restriction has not stopped the players to express themselves and challenge the rules. Nadia Petrova is famous for her fluffy Ellesse apparels. Bethanie Mattek Sands never fails to attract attention with her looks and the recent Lady Gaga's designer jacket adorned with white tennis balls must have created a furore amongst the organisers. Venus William’s new zipper jumper with an open back is definitely unique, whether you like it or not, only this time in a much better way than her shocking Australian Open 2011 choices and the most of the provocative 2010 season dresses.
The game has changed significantly. There are many fashionistas and grunters around. The purists despair against plunging necklines and rising hems but not the sponsors, media and marketers. For them, women’s tennis is huge business and the celebrity status of players, garners more interest among spectators.
The players today are increasingly focusing on their looks, fitness, and some of them are equally serious about their game. Already the girls have become cynosure of all eyes. Let’s hope these beautiful ladies will continue playing good tennis with similar grit, grace, gumption so as to attract spectators based on their craft and become a model of gracious sportsmanship like Evert, Navratilova & Graf.
Reference: Martina Navratilova - Navratilova Legacy - Voice, Tennis, and Time http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3418/Navratilova-Martina-Navratilova-Legacy.html#ixzz1RAARar13
Kvitova enchants us with her simplicity, shy smile, calm and composed demeanour. Her tennis is embellished with power, purpose, and perseverance. Sharapova’s beauty goes beyond her long legs, ear-rings, blonde hair and high shrieks. Her tennis is engaged with a silken movement and precision. Like Martina, Kvitova is also a southpaw, while Sharapova, like Evert, plays with both hands. Perhaps it is too early to foretell whether Kvitova and Sharapova may compete often as the two legends. Personally I would prefer the gorgeous and effervescent German Sabine Lisicki play against the unassuming and disciplined Kvitova in future.
The platinum blonde, Navratilova, aptly watching from the Royal box, looked stunning, her high cheekbones giving her a graceful and regal bearing with time. Admiring her compatriot Kvitova’s accomplishment, she must have probably felt nostalgic and overwhelmed with joy
Few rivalries in sports were as fiercely contested as that of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Mohammed Ali fought Frazier 3 times, Borg faced McEnroe 14 times, Sampras faced Agassi 34 times, Federer faced Nadal 22 times - all great rivalries, but Navratilova and Evert met an incredible 80 times over the course of 16 years (with 60 of those clashes coming in finals) with Navratilova edging the series 43-37.
As a child, it was Navratilova - Evert and Borg – McEnroe matches that attracted me to tennis. Another factor that elevated Navratilova – Evert rivalry to an almost celebrity status was their contrasting personalities, their on and off court idiosyncrasies and their playing styles. As Evert puts it, "The beauty of our rivalry was not only that we met so many times, but the contrast: we were night and day, so different in every way and brought our own set of fans to the mix. It was drama."
Evert with a strong baseline game, was elegant, attractive and had an emotionless demeanour which earned her the title of “Ice Maiden”. She was earlier known as "Little Chrissie”, and “Cinderella in Sneakers”.
Navratilova played outstanding serve-and-volley game but due to her sexual orientation was unfortunately cast as the villain. Another legendary player, Billie Jean King once said about Navratilova, "She's the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived.”
Martina was expressive, erratic, muscular, athletic, often giving cold stares to people around the court. Perhaps these traits had a lot to do with Martina’s upbringing and her early life behind the dreaded Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia.
Frank Deford, author and Sports Illustrated writer succinctly described about Navratilova, “How gratifying it must have been for her to have achieved so much, triumphed so magnificently. Yet always to have been the other, the odd one, alone: lefthander in a right-handed universe, gay in a straight world; defector, immigrant; the gallant volleyer among those duplicate baseline bytes. When she came into the game, she was the European among Americans; she leaves as the American among Europeans—and the only grown-up left in the tennis crib. Can't she ever get it right?"
While Evert had the best of their earlier encounters, it was Navratilova who dominated in the 1980s. Though successful on all surfaces; Evert was the ‘Queen on Clay’. Off court they were amazingly close friends and often practiced together, even before the actual matches. Their rallies were all masterpieces of touch, timing, finesse, strategy, stamina, psychology, disguise, spin and intelligence. Thankfully none of these two legends grunted or groaned and it was this blend of grit, grace and glamour that captivated our hearts.
While Evert gracefully retired, Martina had another contender to beat – ‘The Strokes of Genius’, athletic and reticent - Stefani Graf. They had some epic battles fought with dogged determination, emblazoned with blend of youth against old, right hand against south paw, introvert against extrovert, with Steffi finally defeating Martina in style.
There was a certain romance, joy and a sense of elation when Steffi was around. Steffi with stunning legs and a strong forehand was known as ‘Fraulein Forehand’. She displayed intense concentration, energy and versatility across all playing surfaces. Steffi tossed the ball too high, induced pace in the game, and rarely used her backhand. Her footwork looked unbelievable giving her the perfect balance, speed and power to hit a moving ball in air.
Michael Stone in New York Magazine once wrote, “Graf is exciting to watch no matter whom she plays. Unlike Evert whose baseline game is primarily defensive, or Navratilova with her muscular net - rushing tactics, Graf plays an aggressive all court game, ripping ground strikes with an abandon that baffles the opponents.”
Steffi had her epic battles with Evert as well. In the first half of 1990’s Steffi and Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario had one of the more exciting rivalries in tennis, with Graf eventually clinching 22 championships including the Golden Slam.
Steffi was later challenged by Monica Seles who had to relinquish playing tennis after a ghastly stabbing incident. After the retirement of Steffi, Women’s tennis almost lost its charm. Monica played well but it was her grunting that was obnoxious and unbearable. The next decade was dominated by Williams sister’s with strong baseline game coupled with their grunting, athleticism, and attacking strokes. Along with superior tennis, the William sisters are also famous for their fashion faux pas. Between the two they have won nine Wimbledon titles.
From 1990’s, Women’s tennis became a glamorous sport with the arrival of gorgeous Anna Kournikova. Anna’s matches with cute looking Martina Hingis were always looked upon. Hingis gained popularity at a very young age but failed to demonstrate the tenacity required for any champions. Anna never won a Grand Slam but that didn’t stop the slim, oestrogen bomb to secure the title of "Sexiest Woman in Sport" followed with huge modeling contracts. Before Anna, it was Gabriela Sabatini, known as “Pearl of the Pampas” and “The Divine Argentine”, who had the hottest looks and a splendid backhand that made her clinch the US Open.
Wimbledon is a coveted, traditional tennis tournament and that conservativeness is reflected in the white clothing rule. But the color restriction has not stopped the players to express themselves and challenge the rules. Nadia Petrova is famous for her fluffy Ellesse apparels. Bethanie Mattek Sands never fails to attract attention with her looks and the recent Lady Gaga's designer jacket adorned with white tennis balls must have created a furore amongst the organisers. Venus William’s new zipper jumper with an open back is definitely unique, whether you like it or not, only this time in a much better way than her shocking Australian Open 2011 choices and the most of the provocative 2010 season dresses.
The game has changed significantly. There are many fashionistas and grunters around. The purists despair against plunging necklines and rising hems but not the sponsors, media and marketers. For them, women’s tennis is huge business and the celebrity status of players, garners more interest among spectators.
The players today are increasingly focusing on their looks, fitness, and some of them are equally serious about their game. Already the girls have become cynosure of all eyes. Let’s hope these beautiful ladies will continue playing good tennis with similar grit, grace, gumption so as to attract spectators based on their craft and become a model of gracious sportsmanship like Evert, Navratilova & Graf.
Reference: Martina Navratilova - Navratilova Legacy - Voice, Tennis, and Time http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3418/Navratilova-Martina-Navratilova-Legacy.html#ixzz1RAARar13
Monday, April 25, 2011
Harnessing The Pygmalion & Galatea !...
Has it ever occurred to you, why some employees perform consistently well and why others struggle? Do you often rack your brains, and ponder how do we get our teams to increase their effectiveness and enhance performance?
Well, the answer to the above questions lies in the famous Pygmalion & Galatea Effect.
Pygmalion first appeared in Greek mythology as a King of Cyprus who carved a beautiful statue of a woman called Galatea. Overtime Pygmalion deeply falls in love with the statue and begins to wish that his beloved statue breathed some life. Pygmalion prays to Goddess Venus asking her to give him a lover just like the statue. Venus is touched by his love and brings the statue Galatea, to life.
Do you remember the famous movie, “My Fair Lady”? The movie was based on the famous play ‘Pygmalion: A Romance in Five Acts’ written by George Bernard Shaw. In the play, Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can train a bedraggled Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to pass for a Duchess at an ambassador's garden party by teaching her to assume a veneer of gentility, the most important element of which, he believes, is impeccable speech.
In simple words, the Pygmalion Effect means "You get what you expect". If you expect disaster, your expectations may well be met in a kind of "self-fulfilling prophecy". Come to think of, the recent best seller, ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne subtly tends to highlight this aspect.
Long time ago, J. Sterling Livingston in Harvard Business Review perspicaciously described The Pygmalion effect in Management. "The way managers treat their subordinates is subtly influenced by what they expect of them." Livingston went on to say about the supervisor, "If he is unskilled, he leaves scars on the careers of the young men (and women), cuts deeply into their self-esteem and distorts their image of themselves as human beings. But if he is skillful and has high expectations of his subordinates, their self-confidence will grow, their capabilities will develop and their productivity will be high. More often than he realizes, the manager is Pygmalion."
Can you imagine how performance will improve if supervisors communicate positive thoughts about people to people?
Today this very principle is used by sports coach. The legendary Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh used to share with his team lots of positive thoughts and his expectations with the team. He used to hand out a page to every player stating their individual strengths and his expectations about their performance before the match. No wonder his team managed to become number 1 in Tests and One day international and managed to create a record winning streak of 16 tests in a row.
At work place, the supervisor forms expectations about the employee's behaviour and performance. These expectations in turn influence the supervisor’s behaviour towards the employee. An employee who is expected to do well receives more emotional support thorough verbal and non-verbal cues, frequent and valuable feedback and reinforcement, challenging goals, better training and more opportunities to demonstrate her or his performance. These have positive effects on the employee who in turn demonstrate desired behaviours and better performance, thereby supporting the supervisor's original expectations.
Apparently the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy can be summarized in these key principles:
1. We form certain expectations of people and events.
2. We communicate those expectations through various cues.
3. People tend to respond to those cues by adjusting their behavior to match them.
4. The result of the original expectation becomes true.
At the same time one must also be cautious; remember that communication can sabotage staff performance if you tell them, even subtly, the opposite. For example, the supervisor fails to praise his subordinate performance as frequently as he praises others or the supervisor talks less to a particular employee. All these lead to de-motivation and creates negative impact. Therefore it is important that a culture of appreciation and providing individual constructive feedback is regularly practiced by managers across all levels.
Here are some practical ways to harness the Pygmalion Effect:
• Hold frequent, positive verbal interactions with the employee
• Communicate consistently your firm belief in the employee's ability to perform the job.
• Make sure employees are receiving consistent messages from others.
• Provide opportunities for employees to work on increasingly challenging assignments.
• Make sure they succeed at each step before moving forward.
• When coaching employees focus more on employee strengths
• Encourage employees to visualize the successful execution of tasks
• Enable the employee to participate in potentially successful projects that bring continuous improvement to the workplace.
Now let’s quickly understand how Galatea Effect works.
A manager could be having low expectations from an employee or an initial neutral impression could get lowered due to the employee making a mistake. The manager then begins to wonder if this person has what it takes to be successful in the organization. His verbal and non-verbal communication conveys the lack of confidence in the abilities of the employee. This doubt leads the manager to watch this person more carefully. The employee, of course, notices this reservation and begins to sense a loss of trust. The employee then gradually starts doubting his own judgment and competence. This process results in a destructive relationship that is fuelled by negative expectations.
So, are you unwittingly communicating low expectations to your team? If yes, gradually change the way you behave. Remember people’s expectations of themselves also affect their performance. This is called the Galatea Effect. Employees who think they will succeed are most likely to succeed. So it goes without saying that any actions the supervisor takes to increase the employee's feelings of positive self-worth will help the employee's performance improve.
Pygmalion effect can cause Galatea Effect and both can be powerful performance management tools. The simple truth is that almost all of us behave pretty much according to the way we’re treated, isn’t it!
Well, the answer to the above questions lies in the famous Pygmalion & Galatea Effect.
Pygmalion first appeared in Greek mythology as a King of Cyprus who carved a beautiful statue of a woman called Galatea. Overtime Pygmalion deeply falls in love with the statue and begins to wish that his beloved statue breathed some life. Pygmalion prays to Goddess Venus asking her to give him a lover just like the statue. Venus is touched by his love and brings the statue Galatea, to life.
Do you remember the famous movie, “My Fair Lady”? The movie was based on the famous play ‘Pygmalion: A Romance in Five Acts’ written by George Bernard Shaw. In the play, Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can train a bedraggled Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to pass for a Duchess at an ambassador's garden party by teaching her to assume a veneer of gentility, the most important element of which, he believes, is impeccable speech.
In simple words, the Pygmalion Effect means "You get what you expect". If you expect disaster, your expectations may well be met in a kind of "self-fulfilling prophecy". Come to think of, the recent best seller, ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne subtly tends to highlight this aspect.
Long time ago, J. Sterling Livingston in Harvard Business Review perspicaciously described The Pygmalion effect in Management. "The way managers treat their subordinates is subtly influenced by what they expect of them." Livingston went on to say about the supervisor, "If he is unskilled, he leaves scars on the careers of the young men (and women), cuts deeply into their self-esteem and distorts their image of themselves as human beings. But if he is skillful and has high expectations of his subordinates, their self-confidence will grow, their capabilities will develop and their productivity will be high. More often than he realizes, the manager is Pygmalion."
Can you imagine how performance will improve if supervisors communicate positive thoughts about people to people?
Today this very principle is used by sports coach. The legendary Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh used to share with his team lots of positive thoughts and his expectations with the team. He used to hand out a page to every player stating their individual strengths and his expectations about their performance before the match. No wonder his team managed to become number 1 in Tests and One day international and managed to create a record winning streak of 16 tests in a row.
At work place, the supervisor forms expectations about the employee's behaviour and performance. These expectations in turn influence the supervisor’s behaviour towards the employee. An employee who is expected to do well receives more emotional support thorough verbal and non-verbal cues, frequent and valuable feedback and reinforcement, challenging goals, better training and more opportunities to demonstrate her or his performance. These have positive effects on the employee who in turn demonstrate desired behaviours and better performance, thereby supporting the supervisor's original expectations.
Apparently the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy can be summarized in these key principles:
1. We form certain expectations of people and events.
2. We communicate those expectations through various cues.
3. People tend to respond to those cues by adjusting their behavior to match them.
4. The result of the original expectation becomes true.
At the same time one must also be cautious; remember that communication can sabotage staff performance if you tell them, even subtly, the opposite. For example, the supervisor fails to praise his subordinate performance as frequently as he praises others or the supervisor talks less to a particular employee. All these lead to de-motivation and creates negative impact. Therefore it is important that a culture of appreciation and providing individual constructive feedback is regularly practiced by managers across all levels.
Here are some practical ways to harness the Pygmalion Effect:
• Hold frequent, positive verbal interactions with the employee
• Communicate consistently your firm belief in the employee's ability to perform the job.
• Make sure employees are receiving consistent messages from others.
• Provide opportunities for employees to work on increasingly challenging assignments.
• Make sure they succeed at each step before moving forward.
• When coaching employees focus more on employee strengths
• Encourage employees to visualize the successful execution of tasks
• Enable the employee to participate in potentially successful projects that bring continuous improvement to the workplace.
Now let’s quickly understand how Galatea Effect works.
A manager could be having low expectations from an employee or an initial neutral impression could get lowered due to the employee making a mistake. The manager then begins to wonder if this person has what it takes to be successful in the organization. His verbal and non-verbal communication conveys the lack of confidence in the abilities of the employee. This doubt leads the manager to watch this person more carefully. The employee, of course, notices this reservation and begins to sense a loss of trust. The employee then gradually starts doubting his own judgment and competence. This process results in a destructive relationship that is fuelled by negative expectations.
So, are you unwittingly communicating low expectations to your team? If yes, gradually change the way you behave. Remember people’s expectations of themselves also affect their performance. This is called the Galatea Effect. Employees who think they will succeed are most likely to succeed. So it goes without saying that any actions the supervisor takes to increase the employee's feelings of positive self-worth will help the employee's performance improve.
Pygmalion effect can cause Galatea Effect and both can be powerful performance management tools. The simple truth is that almost all of us behave pretty much according to the way we’re treated, isn’t it!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Dhoni stamps India’s authority on World Cricket and ensures another Tryst with destiny ! ...
It’s simply an amazing feeling to join the crowd again after 28 years and keep screaming, shouting, prancing, dancing and waving flags.
It’s another moment of pride and happiness for all Indians as Dhoni and his men create history and clinch the ICC World Cup 2011 by defeating Sri Lanka in a 274 run chase by 6 wickets.
India is now the only nation to have won all the formats of World Cup cricket. The 60 overs in 1983, the T20 in 2007 and have managed to break the jinx – by comprehensively winning the 50 overs tournament as a host nation!..
Circa 25th June 1983:…. It was late evening and I still remember as a 12 year old boy, Kapil running behind and taking an unbelievable catch and after a while clinching the world cup with a big grin at Lords, the Mecca of Cricket. 28 years later, it is again late in the evening and who would have imagined that history would repeat with skipper M.S. Dhoni finishing the game in style with a huge six at long on at the modern Mecca and the cradle of Indian cricket in Mumbai. In 1983, Mohinder got Holding LBW then this time it was Yuvraj the man of tournament who along with skipper M.S. Dhoni, the man of the finals finishing the match. Back then skipper Kapil led India’s win with his bowlers and defended a paltry total of 183 against the mighty West Indies, today it was Dhoni’s turn to lead the chase with his amazing batting against another island nation Sri Lanka. In 1983, Indian team was the underdog but this time we were the favourites and the manner is which we achieved this pragmatic victory today simply speaks volumes about our progress in last few years.
2011 witnessed the two best teams in the tournament and led by the two of the finest and dignified captains. Earlier in the day, there was a major guffaw when the match referee had to re-toss the coin. India lost the toss albeit I suspect that Dhoni had won the toss first time. But in the end the toss hardly mattered. What mattered was the team that was able to build partnership, consolidate, find gaps, exploit power plays effectively to their advantage and remain composed. India bowled well and their fielding was simply outstanding.
The first ten overs cleverly tied up the prolific Sri Lankan openers. Zaheer was brilliant throughout the tournament. Today he conceded only 16 runs in 5 overs with 3 maidens and a wicket but was milked in his second and third spell. Unlike South Africa or Australia, India have never been the best fielding side but everyone threw themselves around and managed to save at least 30 – 40 runs. Yuvraj and Raina were live wires on the field between point and cover. Barring Zaheer, India probably did not have the best bowling side in the tournament either but the part timers played a pivotal role.
A partnership from skipper Sanghakarra and Jayewardene added a 50 run stand and were beginning to post a total of over 300 runs. But Yuvraj's discipline bowling got rid of Sanghakarra and Samarweera. Rarely would you describe Yuvraj as disciplined player. But this world cup has been a revelation of his talent and resilence. Jayewardene batted along with Kulasekhara and Pierra and manage to post a huge target of 274 to win. Jayewardene batted tenaciously and scored a brilliant century in 85 balls. The last batting power play fetched Sri Lanka 63 runs. Suddenly the total looked big and unattainable.
The tournaments best openers, Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan didn’t do much. Sehwag felled for a duck. Watching Tendulkar bat has been one of the great sporting privileges of the last 21 years and every Indian prayed and hoped for Sachin’s 100th century in International cricket and the world cup in his hands. The little maestro Tendulkar played some exquisite shots along with his signature straight drive but was caught behind on 18. Malinga was on cloud nine for taking the prize wicket of his Mumbai Indian captain. The entire stadium and Indians across the world were stunned and shocked.
The match was soon turning in Sri Lanka’s favour but Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli with their left and right batting combination remained focused and consolidated the innings. Kohli got out cheaply and in walked Dhoni promoting himself ahead of the in form batsmen Yuvraj Singh. That was the turning point of the match since both Yuvraj and Raina are south paw and it was important that the left/ right combination attack the Sri Lankan spinners. Like the T20 finals in South Africa, Gambhir again displayed enormous patience and determination. He tenaciously scored 97 and deserved a century. Meanwhile Dhoni found gaps between long off and covers. Both these batsmen didn't allow Murali, Malinga and Randiv to settle. Kulashekra & Pierra were relentlessly clobbered. The Sri Lankan bowlers were running out of steam and Sanghakarra seem to have ran out of options.
With Gambhir back in the pavilion, the match almost went to the wire, but it was time for Yuvraj to join the party. Yuvraj made 21 runs. Both he and Dhoni played sensible innings and in the end changed the equation in the final batting power play. Dhoni played a captains knock and scored 91 runs to ensure that Indian run chase did not falter at any point. Sri Lanka fought hard but none of their bowlers could run through the Indian batting.
The entire Indian team displayed wonderful performance throughout the tournament and Tendulkar, Raina, Yuvraj and Zaheer have been exceptional. The manner in which India had defeated big sides in the knock out stage; Australia in Ahemdabad and Pakistan in Mohali had induced more self belief, confidence and definitely the team deserved to win. Coach Gary Kirsten and the support staff deserve a special applause for inducing this belief and bringing this paradigm shift in the Indian dressing room.
Dhoni's captaincy has been fearless, bold, courageous and indeed outstanding. Although he remains calm and compose, today for the first time we saw him emoting on the ground. The tears of joy on the faces of Indian players including Dhoni reflected the kind of huge pressure the men in blue must have had. As a captain, Dhoni backed his hunches and took calls that might seem little bizarre and questionable but like a true leader showed the courage to admit his mistake and take complete responsibility. Under his captaincy India has clichéd the World Twenty20 title, have climbed to the No. 1 spot in Test cricket, and now have won the coveted ICC World Cup 2011.
The finals today also showcased the two great legends for the last time – Muralidharan and Tendulkar. Murali has mesmerized the entire cricketing world and has served Sri Lankan cricket with many memorable match winning performances. His retirement will surely create a huge vacuum. Murali couldn’t contain runs and failed to work his magic. Watching these two old masters at work has been another great pleasures of this tournament.
For the past 21 years, Tendulkar has carried the dreams, burden, hopes and expectations of a billion people and it has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to watch him play. Perhaps this would be Tendulkar’s last world cup game. And as Peter Roebuck once said, “Tendulkar’s greatness lies in the excellence of his play, the extent of his achievements and the manner in which he has carried himself past the torments and the tiredness and the backslapping and the bulging bank account and into life itself. He is a brilliant sportsman and a straightforward fellow, and has shown that the combination is possible, despite everything.” No wonder all Indians including every member of the Indian team desperately wanted to win this cup for the humble little master and fulfill his dream of winning the cup. It was difficult to avoid the tears of joy when Sachin received his medal on stage. At the same time, it was very touching and emotional to see the young turks of Indian cricket Raina, Kohli and Yusuf Pathan lifting Tendulkar on their shoulders and carrying him around the ground that incidentally happens to be in his hometown. Although Sachin was overwhelmed, ecstatic and is content to be part of the team, he will continue to remain a true champion, a modest human being and for billions of cricket lovers - The God of Cricket.
The Sri Lankans looked dejected and Jayewardene almost shattered. There were emotions in both camps but eventually the match was worthy of finals and India who performed well in all departments deserved to win.
The World Cup seems to have given new life to the 50-over game and Power plays have influenced the outcome of most matches. Having said that, the world cup has truly provided Dhoni and Indian cricket team to stamp their authority. India was expected to win. It was not a question of mere fragile hope. Nor did the enormous expectation of billion supporters and the 100th international century distract them from their purpose. And therefore its time to rejoice and celebrate with great pomp and fervour Dhoni’s leadership, Tendulkar humongous contributions, the players and support staff's efforts and the success of Indian cricket team.
Congratulations Dhoni, Tendulkar and entire Indian Team and everyone in India. Commiserations to all the other nations who tried and gave a valiant fight.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Clash of Generations !....
Generation gap exists and it is getting wider at workplaces !
For the first time in modern history, we are challenged by having to recruit, retain, motivate and manage up to four generations in the workplace all at once. In India and emerging economies, this gap is increasing everyday. The diverse perspectives, attitudes and needs of these four generations have changed the dynamics of the entire workforce.
Perhaps a little insight into the differences and preferences among the generations can help us understand our colleagues in an age-diverse workforce. This will also help to leverage the talents and capitalize on the diversity within our teams.
Although there is no consensus of the exact birth dates that define each generation, they are generally broken into four distinct groups:
Traditionalists – Born between 1927 and 1945 – Patriotic, loyal, hard-workers and self reliant. They grew up in the shadows of the World War, Great Depression, India’s freedom struggle, feudalism, Partition and all these must have shaped their mindset. They respect leadership and aren’t concerned about career development. This generation is less tech-savvy and prefers personal interaction.
Boomers – Born between 1946 and 1964 - In the West, they are optimistic but in India, they are idealist, cynical and conservative. Partition, Wars (Pakistan/ China) coupled with JP movement, nationalization of industries and green revolution played a significant role in shaping their mindsets. Boomers worked in Government and manufacturing organizations. They feel their youth and almost better part of their career was wasted following egalitarian pursuits and Nehruvian socialism. Their career opportunities were stifled due to license raj, emergency, violent industrial relations and abysmally poor Hindu rate of growth. The Boomers therefore link “sacrifice” with “success.” Interestingly the youth in 60’s managed to twist, jive, shake and rebel.
Boomers demand job security, title, plush corner office, seniority, follow protocol and respect for hierarchy. It is starting to shift however to the value of time. They value face time in the office, respect for organisational hierarchies, and often detest work flexibility and / or even work/life balance trends.
Gen X-ers (Nexters) – Born between 1965 and the early 1980s - Optimistic and competitive. Gen Xers are academically brilliant, highly qualified, have filed several patents and the main culprits of brain drain in India. They saw the world changing rapidly with Indira’s populism, Gaddafi’s terrorism, Regan’s policies, the rise and fall of Thatcherism, Gorbachev’s Perestroika and Glasnost. Either you like these politicians or hate them but you could never ignore them.
Gen X in India developed a mental model patterned on a rich, rambunctious, violent and yet a vibrant democracy - comfortable with many views, perspectives, and voices. They have seen tremendous media inventions from cable TV, micro-waves, video games, pagers, cell phones and the most significant being the personal computer.
X-ers tend to look for career security rather than job security, focus on employability than just employment and prefer frequent global and varied work assignments . They dislike rigid work requirements and thrive on freedom, autonomy, diversity, challenge, responsibility and creativity. They want flexible leave policies, paid time off, accelerated career paths, relaxed dress codes, and continuous training. The end of license Raj in India followed with liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation immensely benefitted this generation to leap frog in their career and also become entrepreneurs.
Gen Y (Millennial’s) – Born in 1980 or later - Smart, practical, tech-savvy, outspoken and brand conscious. They believe, “It’s better to have a live-in relationship rather then having a divorced life!” They are just arriving and it is a little too early to really know what they will bring to the workplace.
Gen Y has been pampered, nurtured and programmed with a slew of activities since they were toddlers, which means, they are both high-performance and high maintenance. They communicate through emails, Facebook, YouTube, texting, and Instant Messaging giving them a reputation for being peer oriented and seeking instant gratification. However clear thinking, crisp communication, some what free spirited and restlessness are what defines Generation Y. They know what they want, desire instant gratification and have no qualms about it. They constantly need to know that what they are doing is making a difference and prefer the shortest and often quickest route to success. They expect to be recognized and rewarded more frequently even for mere participation!
Generation Y demands recognition, work/life balance and flexibility. When working with or supervising Generation Y, it’s wise to frequently communicate, reassure, reward and at the same time impose structure, stability and cultivate a team-oriented environment.
A generation's personality is determined by events and conditions that influenced its members during their formative years. These varied influences results in generational differences also known as “Clashpoint” and that is why generations collide. (Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman have coined the word Clashpoint in their book, ‘When Generations Collide’.)
ClashPoints frequently erupt around feedback, rewards, role change, and training. Organisations who are unprepared to deal with Clashpoints -- or worse, ignore them -- risk everything from reduced profitability to wasted human potential and attrition.
The keys to managing generational conflicts are awareness, empathy and flexibility. Apparently a one-size-fits-all career path, structure, reward programmes and HR practices will not work within a three or four generation workforce. Is it any wonder many companies are dealing with hiring challenges, job mismatch, managing expectations, increasing employee attrition, increasing usage of social network, communication challenges and low morale?
By 2020 the workplace in India will be known as ‘Youngistan’ and its time all four generations learn to adapt. To conclude, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin
For the first time in modern history, we are challenged by having to recruit, retain, motivate and manage up to four generations in the workplace all at once. In India and emerging economies, this gap is increasing everyday. The diverse perspectives, attitudes and needs of these four generations have changed the dynamics of the entire workforce.
Perhaps a little insight into the differences and preferences among the generations can help us understand our colleagues in an age-diverse workforce. This will also help to leverage the talents and capitalize on the diversity within our teams.
Although there is no consensus of the exact birth dates that define each generation, they are generally broken into four distinct groups:
Traditionalists – Born between 1927 and 1945 – Patriotic, loyal, hard-workers and self reliant. They grew up in the shadows of the World War, Great Depression, India’s freedom struggle, feudalism, Partition and all these must have shaped their mindset. They respect leadership and aren’t concerned about career development. This generation is less tech-savvy and prefers personal interaction.
Boomers – Born between 1946 and 1964 - In the West, they are optimistic but in India, they are idealist, cynical and conservative. Partition, Wars (Pakistan/ China) coupled with JP movement, nationalization of industries and green revolution played a significant role in shaping their mindsets. Boomers worked in Government and manufacturing organizations. They feel their youth and almost better part of their career was wasted following egalitarian pursuits and Nehruvian socialism. Their career opportunities were stifled due to license raj, emergency, violent industrial relations and abysmally poor Hindu rate of growth. The Boomers therefore link “sacrifice” with “success.” Interestingly the youth in 60’s managed to twist, jive, shake and rebel.
Boomers demand job security, title, plush corner office, seniority, follow protocol and respect for hierarchy. It is starting to shift however to the value of time. They value face time in the office, respect for organisational hierarchies, and often detest work flexibility and / or even work/life balance trends.
Gen X-ers (Nexters) – Born between 1965 and the early 1980s - Optimistic and competitive. Gen Xers are academically brilliant, highly qualified, have filed several patents and the main culprits of brain drain in India. They saw the world changing rapidly with Indira’s populism, Gaddafi’s terrorism, Regan’s policies, the rise and fall of Thatcherism, Gorbachev’s Perestroika and Glasnost. Either you like these politicians or hate them but you could never ignore them.
Gen X in India developed a mental model patterned on a rich, rambunctious, violent and yet a vibrant democracy - comfortable with many views, perspectives, and voices. They have seen tremendous media inventions from cable TV, micro-waves, video games, pagers, cell phones and the most significant being the personal computer.
X-ers tend to look for career security rather than job security, focus on employability than just employment and prefer frequent global and varied work assignments . They dislike rigid work requirements and thrive on freedom, autonomy, diversity, challenge, responsibility and creativity. They want flexible leave policies, paid time off, accelerated career paths, relaxed dress codes, and continuous training. The end of license Raj in India followed with liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation immensely benefitted this generation to leap frog in their career and also become entrepreneurs.
Gen Y (Millennial’s) – Born in 1980 or later - Smart, practical, tech-savvy, outspoken and brand conscious. They believe, “It’s better to have a live-in relationship rather then having a divorced life!” They are just arriving and it is a little too early to really know what they will bring to the workplace.
Gen Y has been pampered, nurtured and programmed with a slew of activities since they were toddlers, which means, they are both high-performance and high maintenance. They communicate through emails, Facebook, YouTube, texting, and Instant Messaging giving them a reputation for being peer oriented and seeking instant gratification. However clear thinking, crisp communication, some what free spirited and restlessness are what defines Generation Y. They know what they want, desire instant gratification and have no qualms about it. They constantly need to know that what they are doing is making a difference and prefer the shortest and often quickest route to success. They expect to be recognized and rewarded more frequently even for mere participation!
Generation Y demands recognition, work/life balance and flexibility. When working with or supervising Generation Y, it’s wise to frequently communicate, reassure, reward and at the same time impose structure, stability and cultivate a team-oriented environment.
A generation's personality is determined by events and conditions that influenced its members during their formative years. These varied influences results in generational differences also known as “Clashpoint” and that is why generations collide. (Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman have coined the word Clashpoint in their book, ‘When Generations Collide’.)
ClashPoints frequently erupt around feedback, rewards, role change, and training. Organisations who are unprepared to deal with Clashpoints -- or worse, ignore them -- risk everything from reduced profitability to wasted human potential and attrition.
The keys to managing generational conflicts are awareness, empathy and flexibility. Apparently a one-size-fits-all career path, structure, reward programmes and HR practices will not work within a three or four generation workforce. Is it any wonder many companies are dealing with hiring challenges, job mismatch, managing expectations, increasing employee attrition, increasing usage of social network, communication challenges and low morale?
By 2020 the workplace in India will be known as ‘Youngistan’ and its time all four generations learn to adapt. To conclude, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin
Monday, February 14, 2011
Ruminations!!!
This had been scribbled in January however due to some technical problems was unable to post it.
New Year is a time when you silently reflect upon various things that happened last year and make few resolutions. I refuse to make any considering my dismal past record. Despite resolutions I cannot refrain from the seductive charms of a cheerful bookshop or a well-stocked music store knowing fully well that there will be little leisure to read or listen to music. But then isn't leisure a state of mind !
Every year there are books that I read with pleasure, and there are books that are quickly skimmed through. There are many books whose pages are flipped with enthusiasm but do not get a second look. No wonder these books are angrily staring at me. And its time I did something. This year, therefore, I intend to avidly browse my library and revisit the books whose delight I have savoured and more importantly read those whom I have neglected for a while.
Well 2010 started with some ‘Audacity of Hope’.
Autobiographies/ Memoirs:
The Audacity of Hope - With Obama winning the election, I simply couldn’t stop myself from rummaging through this remarkable book which provides an optimistic look at America. Obama uses the book to share his perspective on America's history, present situation, and the challenges the country must overcome in order to have a prosperous future.
Dreams from My Father is an unforgettable read, illuminating not only Obama’s personal journey of discovery but also the universal desire that people have to understand their history and what makes them into the people they are.
High Adventure by Sir Edmund Hillary - With nimble words and a straightforward style, New Zealand mountaineering legend Hillary recollects the bravery and frustration, the agony and glory that marked his Everest odyssey. The memoirs are so inspiring, engaging and indeed insightful. Hillary describes the thrill of expedition, and succinctly conveys his admiration of the human drive to explore, to understand, to risk, and to conquer.
Istanbul - Orhan Pamukh pays homage to his home city and literally encourages you to visit Istanbul during your next holidays.
Politics:
If Management literature is abound by Ram Charan then political and sports books are governed by Ramchandra Guha.
India After Gandhi – Ramchandra Guha’s books are simply irrestible and this book does not disappoint you either.
Imagining India – Nandan Nilekani – book provides a road map that defines the strategies required to build the future of India.
Films:
Something like an autobiography – Akiro Kurosawa – If you love Kurosawa films, then you shouldn’t miss this wonderful literature. The book is a treat for all those who wish to learn about film making.
Cricket & Sports Books:
Indian Summers -Well nothing can match the cricket books written by Sir Neville Cardus, C.L.R. James and Jack Fingleton. I wish some day my friend in Australia and UK would get me the volumes written by these three greats. Its time I request my school buddy Alwyn to help me. John Wright’s Indian Summers is more than one man's story. The book is an account of the dramas and disappointments of a coach and his team who worked and played in an environment where keeping your head is as vital as keeping your wicket. It also lifts the covers on modern Indian cricket, as phenomenon and passion, and explains why coaching India is like no other job in the game.
Pundits From Pakistan is a book on cricket by Rahul Bhattacharya. It covers the Indian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in the year 2004. While the book is largely about cricket, it also tells of how the tour had an impact that went far beyond sub-continental cricket in terms of the goodwill and sense of bonhomie it created between the people of the two countries, thereby encouraging peaceful relations.
Travelogues:
The Great Railway Bazaar is a travelogue written by Paul Theroux. It recounts Theroux's four-month journey across Asia by train, travelling through Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, before finally returning via the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The Kingdom by the Sea (1983) is a written account of a three month long journey taken by Paul Theroux round the United Kingdom in the summer of 1982.
Science:
The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris is truly a best seller and incisive. No wonder translated into 23 languages and still in demand.
Novels/ Light reading:
You cannot keep a John Grisham away but last year; I was overwhelmed by two famous women writers. The Grass Is Singing by Dorris Lessings is a remarkable novel that provides a bleak analysis of a failed marriage, the neurosis of white sexuality, and the fear of black power that Lessing saw as underlying the white colonial experience of Africa.
‘July's People’ is a 1981 novel by my another favourite Nobel laureate author Nadine Gordimer. Nadine Gordimer wrote this book before the end of apartheid as her prediction of how it would end.
Play:
Tughlaq – A Kannada Play intelligently translated in English by Girish Karnad. In its canvas and treatment, Tughlaq is both huge and contemporary. It is a tale of the crumbling to ashes of the dreams and aspirations of an over-ambitious, yet considerably virtuous king.
Gourmet Books:
Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi is interesting but no where closer to gourmet columns by ‘Busybee’ a.k.a Late Behram Contractor. You can read ‘Rude Food’ from any chapter since it is a compendium of Sanghvi’s various articles.
Eating in India by Chitrita Banerji very appetizing. This book is a fascinating tour through the culinary and cultural landscape of India, with mouthwatering descriptions of local delicacies and brief historical side-tours that provide context and background for the reader.
Recipe Books: I have yet to enjoy Sanjeev Kapoor and Tarla Dalal’s recipe books. But Jeroo Mehta’s ‘101 Parsee dishes’ and India’s famous chef Arvind Sarswat’s book ‘Masala cooking' unravels several authentic delectable recipes. Don’t forget to experiment, Jeroo’s famous Parsi Lamb Dhansak recipe and wash it down with some good beer on Sunday afternoon. Well unless you do not experiment in the kitchen, you will never enjoy these recipes.
Management:
Often, it is a drudgery to read management books especially when there is nothing new. However the books that still manage to enthrall me:
We are like that only: Rama Bijapurkar unravels Indian consumers and presents insights to business who wishes to capture Indian markets.
The Long Tail by Chris Anderson is an important manual for the new economics of the Internet and digital culture. As well as demystifying the numbers it provides an essential guide to how to navigate a world where everything is available, all the time. Although The Long Tail is a business book, it is also about culture in general and how it’s changing.
I have yet to finish reading Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s The Black Swan and Fooled by randomness. Somehow was unable to concentrate on these books, despite knowing how radically different and best sellers these books have been.
Books read again:
Marathi books written by P.L. Deshpande and an inspiring biography of Dada Kondke. Someday must explore if there any books about these phenomenal thespians – Mehmood, Pran and Nilu Phule.
Read again:
A corner of foreign field – Ramchandra Guha.- A must read to understand Indian cricket. Glimpses of World History – Jawaharlal Nehru – I still love reading this epic and you can never keep a P.G. Wodehouse away, can you?
Now I must stop because I have painfully realized that its time to remedy the lamentable state of affairs.
2011 - Time to read the books that have been neglected by me and also savour the pleasures of reading again - Sartre, Bertrand Russell, G.B. Shaw, Aldous Huxley, Ayn Rand and J Krishnamurthy to gain some new perspective and learning. The last time I read them was 20 years ago.
Until then, Belated Happy New Year !!
New Year is a time when you silently reflect upon various things that happened last year and make few resolutions. I refuse to make any considering my dismal past record. Despite resolutions I cannot refrain from the seductive charms of a cheerful bookshop or a well-stocked music store knowing fully well that there will be little leisure to read or listen to music. But then isn't leisure a state of mind !
Every year there are books that I read with pleasure, and there are books that are quickly skimmed through. There are many books whose pages are flipped with enthusiasm but do not get a second look. No wonder these books are angrily staring at me. And its time I did something. This year, therefore, I intend to avidly browse my library and revisit the books whose delight I have savoured and more importantly read those whom I have neglected for a while.
Well 2010 started with some ‘Audacity of Hope’.
Autobiographies/ Memoirs:
The Audacity of Hope - With Obama winning the election, I simply couldn’t stop myself from rummaging through this remarkable book which provides an optimistic look at America. Obama uses the book to share his perspective on America's history, present situation, and the challenges the country must overcome in order to have a prosperous future.
Dreams from My Father is an unforgettable read, illuminating not only Obama’s personal journey of discovery but also the universal desire that people have to understand their history and what makes them into the people they are.
High Adventure by Sir Edmund Hillary - With nimble words and a straightforward style, New Zealand mountaineering legend Hillary recollects the bravery and frustration, the agony and glory that marked his Everest odyssey. The memoirs are so inspiring, engaging and indeed insightful. Hillary describes the thrill of expedition, and succinctly conveys his admiration of the human drive to explore, to understand, to risk, and to conquer.
Istanbul - Orhan Pamukh pays homage to his home city and literally encourages you to visit Istanbul during your next holidays.
Politics:
If Management literature is abound by Ram Charan then political and sports books are governed by Ramchandra Guha.
India After Gandhi – Ramchandra Guha’s books are simply irrestible and this book does not disappoint you either.
Imagining India – Nandan Nilekani – book provides a road map that defines the strategies required to build the future of India.
Films:
Something like an autobiography – Akiro Kurosawa – If you love Kurosawa films, then you shouldn’t miss this wonderful literature. The book is a treat for all those who wish to learn about film making.
Cricket & Sports Books:
Indian Summers -Well nothing can match the cricket books written by Sir Neville Cardus, C.L.R. James and Jack Fingleton. I wish some day my friend in Australia and UK would get me the volumes written by these three greats. Its time I request my school buddy Alwyn to help me. John Wright’s Indian Summers is more than one man's story. The book is an account of the dramas and disappointments of a coach and his team who worked and played in an environment where keeping your head is as vital as keeping your wicket. It also lifts the covers on modern Indian cricket, as phenomenon and passion, and explains why coaching India is like no other job in the game.
Pundits From Pakistan is a book on cricket by Rahul Bhattacharya. It covers the Indian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in the year 2004. While the book is largely about cricket, it also tells of how the tour had an impact that went far beyond sub-continental cricket in terms of the goodwill and sense of bonhomie it created between the people of the two countries, thereby encouraging peaceful relations.
Travelogues:
The Great Railway Bazaar is a travelogue written by Paul Theroux. It recounts Theroux's four-month journey across Asia by train, travelling through Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, before finally returning via the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The Kingdom by the Sea (1983) is a written account of a three month long journey taken by Paul Theroux round the United Kingdom in the summer of 1982.
Science:
The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris is truly a best seller and incisive. No wonder translated into 23 languages and still in demand.
Novels/ Light reading:
You cannot keep a John Grisham away but last year; I was overwhelmed by two famous women writers. The Grass Is Singing by Dorris Lessings is a remarkable novel that provides a bleak analysis of a failed marriage, the neurosis of white sexuality, and the fear of black power that Lessing saw as underlying the white colonial experience of Africa.
‘July's People’ is a 1981 novel by my another favourite Nobel laureate author Nadine Gordimer. Nadine Gordimer wrote this book before the end of apartheid as her prediction of how it would end.
Play:
Tughlaq – A Kannada Play intelligently translated in English by Girish Karnad. In its canvas and treatment, Tughlaq is both huge and contemporary. It is a tale of the crumbling to ashes of the dreams and aspirations of an over-ambitious, yet considerably virtuous king.
Gourmet Books:
Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi is interesting but no where closer to gourmet columns by ‘Busybee’ a.k.a Late Behram Contractor. You can read ‘Rude Food’ from any chapter since it is a compendium of Sanghvi’s various articles.
Eating in India by Chitrita Banerji very appetizing. This book is a fascinating tour through the culinary and cultural landscape of India, with mouthwatering descriptions of local delicacies and brief historical side-tours that provide context and background for the reader.
Recipe Books: I have yet to enjoy Sanjeev Kapoor and Tarla Dalal’s recipe books. But Jeroo Mehta’s ‘101 Parsee dishes’ and India’s famous chef Arvind Sarswat’s book ‘Masala cooking' unravels several authentic delectable recipes. Don’t forget to experiment, Jeroo’s famous Parsi Lamb Dhansak recipe and wash it down with some good beer on Sunday afternoon. Well unless you do not experiment in the kitchen, you will never enjoy these recipes.
Management:
Often, it is a drudgery to read management books especially when there is nothing new. However the books that still manage to enthrall me:
We are like that only: Rama Bijapurkar unravels Indian consumers and presents insights to business who wishes to capture Indian markets.
The Long Tail by Chris Anderson is an important manual for the new economics of the Internet and digital culture. As well as demystifying the numbers it provides an essential guide to how to navigate a world where everything is available, all the time. Although The Long Tail is a business book, it is also about culture in general and how it’s changing.
I have yet to finish reading Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s The Black Swan and Fooled by randomness. Somehow was unable to concentrate on these books, despite knowing how radically different and best sellers these books have been.
Books read again:
Marathi books written by P.L. Deshpande and an inspiring biography of Dada Kondke. Someday must explore if there any books about these phenomenal thespians – Mehmood, Pran and Nilu Phule.
Read again:
A corner of foreign field – Ramchandra Guha.- A must read to understand Indian cricket. Glimpses of World History – Jawaharlal Nehru – I still love reading this epic and you can never keep a P.G. Wodehouse away, can you?
Now I must stop because I have painfully realized that its time to remedy the lamentable state of affairs.
2011 - Time to read the books that have been neglected by me and also savour the pleasures of reading again - Sartre, Bertrand Russell, G.B. Shaw, Aldous Huxley, Ayn Rand and J Krishnamurthy to gain some new perspective and learning. The last time I read them was 20 years ago.
Until then, Belated Happy New Year !!
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