Misdirected enthusiasm or Misogyny?

I have been following this recent enthusiasm for celebrating certain days as special days with some amusement.  It is rather naive to assume that only one day in a year should be given prominence for a certain event (Father's Day, Mother's Day, and today, Women's Day).  I have been trying to really delve deeper to understand what it really means.
I have been following this huge enthusiasm in TV channels to portray the Woman's Day as a special day of celebration, and this has perplexed me.  Would a celebration of this day mean that on other days we need not treat women with respect?  Does not celebrating the day make you a misogynist?
The Indian culture is often blamed for having too many holidays for celebrations.  But if one looks closely at any of these holidays, they are typically meant to celebrate an event - a triumph of good over evil, a welcome for a new season,  etc.  No celebrations have been meant to remind us of something.
So,where exactly did this culture of trying to celebrate days after persons start? I believe it is much more a western culture which we have been attempting to ape without really understanding the implications in our cultural settings.
India has a deep seated belief in the position of women in society - no, it is not rooted in equality between men and women as is practiced in the West, but in a clear understanding of the position each gender plays in making a society vibrant.  No married man can deny that even if the man can claim to be the boss, at home, his ear belongs to his wife first and foremost. A man's domain is clearly different from that of a woman, and in India, this is acknowledged, mostly without shouting from the rooftops about it.
Just as the males have a reasonably undisputed say in domains outside the house, the women have an undisputed say in domains inside the house.  The difficulty arises when, influenced by western thinking, we attempt to make men and women equal in everything.
The biggest demerit of such a claim of equality is comparison between the two genders, which is often unequal, and many a time leads to poorer relationships. The question should therefore never be who is superior - the man or the woman; rather the question to be asked is what is a man, or a woman good at, and are they given the space to explore these spaces.
It also leads to unhealthy competition.  Should the country then consider reservation for women at all (for seats in colleges, in buses,etc.)? A well educated woman is an asset to any house as well as to society, but not necessarily by 'earning' her living through contributing money to the household.
Ancient India always gave space to geniuses of women, as does modern India.  They have contributed to sciences as well as society without in any way contributing to the commerce.  To respect these women (as any other women), is normal and should not require any further ado.  To expect to remember a day to treat women differently presumes that on most other days, this respect need not be bestowed, and this is an unfortunate thought.
Let us take a moment to reflect on our culture of mutual respect, of quiet celebration of our uniqueness, of our togetherness, and the strong culture that persuades us to treat all with respect no matter what their strengths or weaknesses are.
TV studios have a task to increase TRP, and they are free to air programs of a certain nature - we need not fall into the trap of doing the same in our personal lives.

Big Brother is the new watchword..not Big Data

Increasing online presence of individuals, both as a matter of social habit, as well as due to commercial compulsions have opened up an unexpected Pandora’s box.  Inadvertently (and sometimes deliberately), a lot of our personal information is posted in electronic formats which are readily available for others to view, or manipulate not fully realizing the consequences of our action.

In an age where even Governments machineries are willing to peak into our personal world’s our continued use of the electronic media only makes us that much more vulnerable. While the electronic world has become a vital component of our daily life, sometimes we over indulge in it and unknowingly provide free fodder for the information kleptomaniacs out there. This information could be as simple as the location where are you to what you are going to this weekend or what all you shop. So it’s always better to know where to actually draw the line of making available personal/professional information on electronic media. Here are a few tips which could be useful:

1. First things first, be clear about the purpose of your transaction or post and reason it to yourself whether it is a personal or a professional interest.
2. Check out the information "visibility ". Is it open to friends or friends of friends or to the entire public? It is always better to have separate email for managing personal information and another one for public transactions.
3. Be aware that mentioning personal information, such as your phone numbers, place of work visible to the public make it vulnerable for this information to be misused by others.
4. Online transactions from public access sites are always prone to problems and can be avoided as much as is possible.
5. Online forms which require you to give information typically ask for much more information than is required.  When you provide information online, question yourself whether this information is absolutely essential to provide; fill in only mandatory information.
6. Maintaining multiple passwords is a challenge.  Yet, changing passwords at least once in 2-3 months would ensure that data theft does not happen. Rely on good old pen and paper for keeping a track of passwords.
7. Some e-commerce sites allow you to access their websites by logging in through any of the other social media logins (such as Facebook) that you may have. Be cognizant of what information they are going to take when they actually allow you to login through Facebook. While it is convenient to login through Facebook, be aware of what you actually tell them about yourself; un-check any info that you do not want to divulge to them.
8. Unless to a closed group, do not post your views, especially if you consider that they could be seen as radical.  The same goes for pictures and photographs of your home, or the place where you stay in, or photographs of your kids/friends/acquaintances in social networking sites.
9. Review the sites that you access periodically.  Unregister from the sites which you had registered, but no longer use.
10. Be aware of the kind of documents and other information that you save in public storage sites like DropBox, Google Drive, etc. These could be easily accessed by others.
11. Many applications that we download on mobile access data on your devices.  Be aware of the data being sent from your phone to online data storage sites which back up your device data.
12. Last but not the least; do not accept friendship requests from strangers. Social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin) thrive on getting you ‘linked’ to as many people as possible. The more people you are connected to, the more you propagate your information, and the more popular you tend to become.  Linking to strangers just for the sake of improving your network is the most dangerous thing that you could do. Instead, go out and socialize.

(Thanks to Raghu and Pavani for helping with this compilation)

Looking forward..looking backward

2013 is going to be very different than any of the previous years.  This is not as much a prediction, as a realization that changes are happening much faster than ever before; the world is moving at a pace which many of us are unable to keep up with.  Here are a few things which I believe are revolutionizing the way we will view our world in the coming year.

1.  People Voice vs. Political Power: Even democracies which pretended to represent its people have gradually moved away from listening to the very same people who elected them.  People all over the world have begun finding their voice, whether it is in the Jasmine Revolution in Middle East and Africa, or the Spanish people's protests, or the Anna-Kejriwal lead multiple anti-corruption morchas.  These are reminders that somewhere these voices are being muted, muzzled, lost in the wilderness.  These voices will now continue to echo again and again, until they are heeded to, Governments will need to start listening to the people.  

2.  The Power of Technology: Technology has played multiple roles – it has made the silent people audible, the invisible people visible, and the powerless suddenly having their voice heard.  It has also dramatically reduced the gap between those who have used brute power of money to gain popular voice, and those who have no money but have important messages to convey.  More and more, those who have something to say are being listened to, not because they are powerful, but because they make sense.  Whether Facebook and Twitter make commercial sense may be debatable but clearly they have changed the world for ever.

3.   Gaps, Distance, Frustration: While in the past, gaps were taken for granted, as a part of any system, this status quo has being questioned many times in the past few months.  In the coming times, gaps arising out of lack of communication, or responsiveness are likely to lead to heightened frustrations.  To top it all, there continues to be a blurring of lines between what consists correct and what incorrect.  So, in any debate one is likely to find as many people proposing, as opposing any sentiment.  The days of hand-down winning of one-sided debates are over.

4.  Economic Blues: The economic pain is here to stay.  For long, governments have  borrowed much more than they deliver, and these borrowings have traditionally hidden the inefficiencies of governance.  No matter whether one talks about the now averted fiscal cliff in the USA, or the pains of Euro Zone, or the fiscal deficits of India; all are due to over-governance with little accountability.  A floundering government has no ways of encouraging private enterprise, which is now beginning to show signs of fraying at the edges.

5.   Uncertainty, the new status quo: We are in the age of two minute titillation -   momentary pleasure, angers, frustrations, and then on to a new high or a new low, depending on ones’ choice.  Younger leaders, with smaller lifespans are causing greater energy dispersion with lesser satisfaction.  The younger generation is eager to adapt to the new, without completely understanding what the new direction is all about whereas the older generation tries to cling to its known paths of safety.  The young will prevail.  

And on this rather bright note, let us hope that the New Year brings in new hopes and renewed faith in the overall goodness of human kind.

This is Me!

My posts have always been about issues that I feel strongly about.  When I first started blogging, I really did not have a coherent thought process, neither did I really know what I stood for.  However, when I started reviewing my posts, I discovered a pattern that made me recognize this.
So, this blog post is an attempt to define me! Readers can be aware that henceforth when you read my posts, you will identify them with who I am.

1. Lots of patience: As a person, I take a lot of abuse, mostly with a smile. Where does this quality come from?  I do not know, perhaps from my Dharma, perhaps from my father who taught me the virtue of patience, perhaps from my belief that no matter what we do, we are governed by forces greater than us, and we should learn to respect and accept them. Many of the people close to me have been amazed at how equivocal I remain in the face of adversity, and am even able to absorb pressures where others could have crumbled.  I somehow, have not been able to appreciate other's views of me as much as I should, and realize this point only through other's perspectives of me.
2. Observe a lot, talk a little: I am an introvert; this is not a confession, it is the reality.  Where others would prefer to say a thousand words, I would probably say a few, and stop at that.  That makes me intransigent at times, difficult to understand or grasp, but then, that is me.  If people around me are not perceptive, they are likely to miss the point.  More often than not, it is what I do not say, which has to be read, then what I say. So, how do you get to know me? By carefully observing exactly what I say, even if it is rarely that I speak. Also, because of my need for brevity, listeners will need to fill in appropriately for what I do not say, and if that does not happen, I lose interest in the conversation fairly quickly.
3. Take note, move on: I have rarely looked back.  There are ups and downs, good and bad in my life too, as in everyone's lives.  I find instances of people cursing their past, or living in past glory.  Neither of these interest me, or affect me.  For me, life is about moving on, so long as the path you believe in is right.  If I do look back, it is only with a quiet sense of satisfaction, and gratitude towards what the world has provided for me, in spite of all my failings and shortcomings.
4. Keep making mistakes: There is this general tendency in this world that everything must be 'perfect'.  What a boring world it would be, if that wish became a fact.  Being human is realising that we are bound to make mistakes. Sometimes, the mistakes are because of commission, other times, due to omission.  Once you realise that they are bound to occur, you start accepting them and then moving on to your next mistake.  Each mistake that I make gives me some learning, but that does not prevent me from making my next mistake. The main thing for me is to accept mistakes when I make them, ignore them when I am accused of them, and move on, 
5. The fall guy...implicit trust in relations: I have always placed implicit trust in relationships, sometimes, blindly and foolishly. When such implicit trust is broken it does not hurt me as much as it saddens me. Faith and trust are earned with great difficulty, and breaking such trust is a difficult task. If at all, I have always left it to the other person to demonstrate a lack of trust before I give up.  On many occassions, I find my trust is misplaced, but then I count it as one more mistake on my part, and move on.
6. Brook no nonsense: Now this could be contradicting what I said earlier, but then which human being is not a bundle of contradicting thoughts? I am fairly clear in my mind as to what is correct and what is not. I may decide not to be vocal about it, but that does not alter my thoughts.  When I find people who are continuously against my grain, I ignore them altogether.  People either need to respect me for what I am, or learn to live without me in their frame.
7. Respect for law, even when I believe it is flawed: I find a lot of things wrong with the law, the way it is conceived, the way it is implemented, and the way people around me decide to follow or flout it. At many times, I am at loggerheads with it, unwilling to accept it as correct, and yet unwilling to break it.  For every such dilemma that I face daily in my life, I prefer to follow the law even if I do not understand or agree with it. For, if we were not to follow the law, any law, for that matter, we would add to the chaos of a lawless world, and that is something I would hate to do.
8. Change should begin with self, not with others around you: I keep hearing so many sermons from so many people who preach the world what they should do.  I am sometimes surprised when some of these preachers fail to practice what they preach. I find it difficult to ask people to change, especially when I know I myself resist change.  So, what do I do? Stand up for what I am, the way I am.  Neither proud, nor defiant; just the way I am.  if people see a role model in me, so be it. Follow my examples, good or bad. if on the other hand, you disagree with me, follow the path that you think is correct, even if I or others may not agree with it.

This is me as I am today.  They say that in a person's lifetime, he lives seven times, and recalls his 'previous' life only as a distant memory, disconnected with the present life.  The me of tomorrow could be very different from the me of today, and that is a law of nature.  What I am today is because of my past; as I keep growing, new experiences will make a new me, and that will gradually change the old me.

Thanksgiving

Well, many of you may be wondering, why a blog on thanksgiving in the month of October. And then, what does it have to do with Indians; Is this not a very American/Canadian affair?
As we toil away in life, to satisfy our own desires for greater achievement, or fighting our disappointments, we fail to recognize or even give credit to all those around us, who have silently, and many times, with absolutely no expectations of any returns or rewards, done their bits to make us happy, satisfied, and secure.

Archit and Vasudha

So, here is a thanksgiving message to all of them:

1. First and foremost to my parents, who have been the reason why I can write this blog.  For their untiring encouragement, for their assurance to me when I am down, for their  
2. To my wife, Vijayalakshmi, for her unflinching support in all that I believe, continuing faith in my love and affection for her, and for taking care of all the small details that I quite grandly ignore.
3. To my two lovely kids: my son Archit, and my daughter Vasudha, for giving me a reason to continue to do what I do.  While I get to see very little of them, they give me the most pleasure, even at times when I get angry with them, or when they come to me to cuddle for some love and hugs.
4. To my school teachers, who have contributed the most in shaping me, and making me who I am. For all their tireless and selfless efforts, knowing fully well that their students would one day go far ahead of them.
5. To all those who have consciously or sub-consciously taught me and have been my gurus.  Many of them, I will continue to respect through my life because they are the ones who have made me who I am, slowly, one piece at a time.
6. To all the wonderful people who have surrounded me through my so many years, looking up to me, expecting me to be their leader and putting their trust in me, which I will try my best not to betray.
7. To all my students from various batches, who have patiently listened to my mix of lessons in theory, as well as lessons of life.  I hope that you will look back at your lives and benefit from our brief interactions.

Just thinking of all those wonderful people who have made me what I am, it is just not possible to call myself a self-made man.  In fact, who is?  And I am thankful that I have so many people to thank for making me what I am.

What should I do in return?  All that I would like to do is to try and give back as much as I can; be the teacher that my teachers were to me, be the parent that my parents were to me, be the friend, adviser,confidante, guide, and mentor that I have been so fortunate to find in others.

I will strive to make a mark, not as a successful business person, but as someone who has given back much more than what he has received in life. And that is what will be my biggest acheivement.

Lessons in Entrepreneurship...3

Well, as we go on in the journey, new lessons are learnt, and my commitment is to share my learnings with as many budding entrepreneurs as possible.  I hope that some of the readers will benefit from these readings and perhaps change their methods accordingly.  So, here goes:

1. Document, document, document:  No matter how small you are, there is no time too early to start documentation. Many times this is the best defense mechanism available when you want to retrace your steps, and want to find out where things could have gone wrong.  At other times, it sets in a discipline of doing things right within the organisation, and ensures that standard bases are set up to be able to calibrate individual performances, and reward mechanisms.
2. Prepare for the worst: Most budding entrepreneurs are born optimists.  As a result, they fail to see the possibility that things do not go to plan.  In business, it is important to expect that if something can fail, the chances are it will.  Someone once said, you should be prepared to go through a six month period without any receipts, and that is the best test of your ability to withstand the pressures of entrepreneurship.  This is also a good way of planning for how things could be.  
3. Honor commitments, but be wary of your clients: Honoring commitments is a 2-way street.  If some of your customers keep harping that you should meet your commitments and at the same time they do not meet theirs, be prepared to understand that the relationship is not going the right way.  Any business is a two way street where while you are required to deliver, your customer is required to pay.  If he takes delivery, but delays payments, or does not commit to making payment, raise the red flag immediately.  In worst cases, stop delivering unless clients meet their commitments first. 
4. Sub-contractng, to do or not to do: Sub-contracting is a two edged sword. When you are small, it is prudent to sub-contract out to others in order to be cost efficient. But as you keep growing, it makes more sense to start handling more of the work in-house.  However, sub-contractors pose the danger of stealing your information, and in worse cases, your clients.  This is a huge risk to business that one must be aware of. So, if sub-contract you must, ensure that at least there is a confidentiality clause built in, and more importantly a non-poaching clause (both for your staff as well as for your clients) is built into the contract.  
5. You cannot do all: Sometimes some opportunities appear so endearing that you forget that it is not you who will deliver, but your team.  So, look at what are the commitments that your team has, how well are they able to handle these requirements, and whether they can handle them at all.  If you believe that even a great opportunity can be something that your team cannot handle, back off, rather than taking more on to yourself than is necessary.
6. Performance metrics for your staff: You must know what each one of your staff does.  You must also set up measures of how much and how well they do what they do.  Intuitive measures only serve half the purpose, and as you grow in size, any decisions taken based on your intuition may appear to be arbitrary to others.  So, even if it is not complete, or accurate, set up an early measurement mechanics.

And, as always, happy entrepreneurship!

Why I do not support Anna

Anna is in the air, once again.  For all reasons good and bad.  I admire Anna for what he is attempting to do, but cannot agree with what he does.  Here are my reasons for why I do not support Anna:

1. Corruption is a serious issue.  However, in this case, Anna is fighting the corrupt, the ruling elite, by refusing to talk to them. Surely that is not going to work.  The first rule of negotiations is that you try to find common ground, and then try to prioritize the items that you are willing to keep and those that you are willing to let go.  By drawing a line where nothing can be given and everything must be accepted, Anna and team have painted themselves into an unnecessary corner from which it will be very difficult to extricate themselves.
2. Fasting has become fashionable.  It is now a tool of the politicians much more than others.  Adopting the same methods which Gandhi had applied many many years ago does not hold water any longer.  Moreover, if one decides to fast at a drop of a hat (seriously, there have been too many fasts, and threats of fasts), the fatigue factor does set in.
3. What is the agenda?  Besides harping on corruption, which every citizen is aware of, and willing to discuss, there is no clear agenda.  Well, let me correct myself here.  The panacea to corruption is a strong Lokpal bill.  This kind of a thought process was successful in bringing in the RTI Act, which has dramatically changed the way we access and view information. Unfortunately, corruption cannot be expected to be challenged the same way.  Tackling corruption requires multiple areas to be addressed, perhaps simultaneously.  A critical element is the introduction of strong IT systems, better checks and balances (bear in mind that we already have the CAG, which does a fantastic job), and then perhaps a Lokpal.  Lokpal is not a magic wand that can brush away corruption.
4. While I have little doubt that politicians are corrupt, one cannot forget the complicity of the corporate sector at all.  A politician's first window to large scale corruption is provided by a corporate entity which wants to maximize its profits by any means.  By only raising issues with politicians while entirely ignoring the other equally important angle of private sector complicity, one does not gain any sympathy.
5. Doing the same thing again and again does not change the impact.  There has been no change in tactics, strategy, or even position over the last few months.  With a government that is hell bent on muzzling every initiative from the Anna camp, they must certainly change tack, if they indeed want to succeed.
6. Finally, as with any corporate strategy, there must be coherence.  Having a number of voices all speaking together in different tones does not show the Anna in very good light.  On the one hand, we have clandestine meetings (where is transparency now?), and on the other, we have intemperate language being used against the very people with whom one intends to negotiate!

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. Rather than waste time in sitting in dharnas in support of Anna, I would strongly recommend that we all start doing our actual bits preventing and actively dissuading corruption in all that we see around us. That, to my mind, is a much better plan.