Sunday, May 21, 2006

Reservations the death-knell of India

It seems that all is set for the next big thing in India.
When everyting is going on pretty smothely, India Rising, finally coming true, Sensex booming with the future prospects of the Indian Economy, if something can spoil the party, it has to be the Indian politicians. Not even the US slowdown can have as negative an effect as this new 27% increase for the OBC's.

Can somebody tell me, how many castes are backward in India? Our's is the only country where people vouch to be backward!!! People shout in parliament at the top of their voice that my community is backward, and what government should do for it, give reservations, as if giving reservations would suddenly turn a kid living in shanty in the dirtiest part of town to a millionaire. How insane! Everybody knows that reservations are taken up only by the select few who have the 'virtue' of being born backward and the luck of being in educated family.

As far as I have seen in my enginnering and MBA college not even a single reserved candidate deserved the reservation. Everybody was from a well to do family, who knew exactly how difficult it is to get into the college and who at the same time knew that there is this weapon of reservation, the ultimate trump card which will take them notches up the rest in the competition. All this because our forefathers have treated them in grossly inhuman ways...who knows, we all might have been Dalits in the purva janma and theses people enjoying benefits now might have been the aggresors.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Fathoming MBA life.

Fathoming!!! Now, I don't generally use such big words...but am forced to after coming to Bangalore...
I am doing my interns in Intel, and staying in IIM-B hostel. Last two weeks have been real happening, can't believe tht it is just 2 weeks! Have got the taste of work life for the first time being a fresher, man it is real exciting to work, especially if you get a project of your liking.
Me in the (Supply Network) SN CAM grp. which caters to SMG, Sales n Mktg.; and CPLG, grps.
SN CAM is only some 200 ppl. strong out of which 50 r in India n out of which arnd. 15 are from NITIE. Man, I really felt great about my college, considering all the tp tht we do and all the comparisons and drawbacks that we point out, when it comes to supply chain NITIE rocks!!!
Having said that, thr. is still a long way to go for our clg., with international SCM profiles going to IIMC, we hv to give a go at it...
But certainly, have got the first tryst with my destiny, my job in the corporate world. I always wondered how it would be like to work, sitting at your desk, meeting deadlines, handling the pressure, n man challenging it is!!!
Intel has been a grt. company so far, a true MNC, with ppl. coming at 12, some working from their home to ppl. coming in shorts to office...certianly thr seems to be no restriction on an individual as long as you meet the deadlines...Will get a better feel once I start working earnestly on my project...

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Writing after too long a time, had nearly forgotten that my own blog exists, when one of my frnds asked me to rate his...
Life has been pretty smothely for last few months...Lots of masti in college, no real work load.



Had been to Kashir beach and Janjira fort. Man what a place it is. Had heard a lot about Janjira in history books, unconquered. . . unconquerable and now I know why. . . The fort is sorrounded by two hills, is half a kilometre into the sea, has it's own supply of fresh water and one underground tunnel that goes 80 feet deep and connects it to the mainland. . .








No wonder it stood unconquered for 900 years. Stone has eroded with time due to the force of the ocean waves but the joints are still intact. . . Such a high quality of engineering that too 900 years back. This fort was built by an African trader as safe heaven for his trading. Many attacks and invasions were carried on the fort but nobody absolutely nobody could step on the fort. . .




Notably this fort is very near to the areas of operation of the graeat Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but he too couldn't capture it, although the battles of his succesors are famous in history...

But, like most forts in India, this too has lost its glory thanks to the apathy of government in maintaining. . . All the houses inside the fort have broken down and place of such a historic importance is lost in the pages of history. . .







Well we salute the fort, the great trader who thought much ahead of his times realised the importance of trade and had such a marvellous fort built in a distant land, the spirit of the descendents, who's ancestors knew nothing but to guard the fort: had to suddenly find a living on the mainland and they survived by being the guides n naviks around. . . and lastly our great Indian Democratic Government who has been so instrumental in giving monuments the looks n feel n the stinch that they are getting today. . .

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Five Point Someone

Yup, saw name of this book in many other's fav books n as it suited my 'needs' these days got hold of Five Point Someone and my what a book it is...
Really worth reading, author has written it such that we can actually relate to the characters in the book. Story of three jugheads Ryan, Amit n Chetan who have to fight for their carrers, family, love just because they couldn't fit into IIT's grading system of mugging the subjects off...
I always thought that in IIT's it must be diffrent. We did the same mugging business in our schools then in our engg. With the exception of the mathematical subjects in Electrical it was almost as if u have to finish mugging all the expected questions. But IIT's also have same system, with little research incentive! How can we expect then to have scientists in this country!

Though this is a true story but I loved n hated afterwards the last part of it the most... The student's convocation ceremony where the Dean of Mech Department accepts all that has been wrong with him n college n how these boys have 'earned' more from this college than him as they have made best friends and enjoyed their life n also done some research work. All the time during that chap. I was truly amazed at how a person as senior n as adament can accept these things in public.
In fact these guts only make a person great! If u have loads of knowledge n experience but u can't share it properly, accept the flaws in the system, be bold enough to think of change then u don't deserve to be remembered at the end of ur life.
U must have guts to accept the truth, whatever it is, n tell it in front of all!!!
And this prof. was doing exactly the same thing till, shit, it was all a dream... Prof. had said nothing at all like this... Man how I wish that all this was true, so that this prof. would have rested in peace after his death....

Anywyz book is written so lucidly that u just can't stop reading. It engulfs u in n we think that only foreign authors can write a good novel!!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Prerna Unplugged

Yeah, It's finally over n I am finally finding some time to watch some good English movies.......
It was really a commendable show put up by PMG(Prerna Management Group).

On the first day we had our business meet, my first visit to a 5-star hotel ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton ( though 5-star mein khane ka sapna abhi bhi baki hai thanks to PMG jo us paise mein bloody events karaye....)
Prerna Business Meet was easily the best show, by knowledge gain speakers were exceptional, Mr. Jerry Rao, Mphasis CEO; TCS mastermind Mr. Kanodia and Philips India CEO Mr. Ramchandran. You seriously get metamorphasied when people who have done so much in life talk so easily about all the big things. Topic was Brand India from emergence to leadership...
Kya bole yaar speakers..... Everone was sure that India is going to lead the world economy but they give some serious insights into where we r lagging.
Then we had Cita De la, the talk show where we had personalities from different walks of life, notable figure being Mr. Boman Irani. I loved what he said. Shit... I forgot the exact wordings.... but the crux was u must ensure that u do what u like in life.
I loved the event yaar, these two talks gave me some real insights n I am going to see at things differently now... atleast I will be able to better appreciate what is life n how to lead it....
One more thing, I now know my favourite subject in MBA:- Economics.

After all we have only one life....

Here is the list of media coverage which Prerna n Mastishk got....
It is a long list, but just go thru the site pages if u want to get the feel of events....

And one more thing, I came live on TV dancing to the tunes of Orange Street..... though maine bhi nahi dekha but will get the CD soon.

Will post the photos soon....


>PRE EVENT
>
>Indian Express NEWSLINE
>Economic Times
>Bombay Times
>Calcutta Times
>Business Standard Campus Dairy
>Business Standard
>Free Press Journal : Curtain Raiser
>New Mumbai Plus
>Planetpowai
>Pagalguy.com for PRERANA
>Pagalguy.com for MASTISHK
>Businessworld Website Prerana
>Business Word Website: Mastishk
>planetpowai.com
>Indianmba.com
>Vernaculars: Pratahkaal
>
>
>POST EVENT
>
>Free Press Journal : Day 1
>Free Press Journal: Day 2(1000 word articles)
>Free Press Journal: Day 3 & Conclusion(1000 word articles)
>Pagalguy.com Day 1
>Pagalguy.com Day 2
>Pagalguy.com day 3
>New Mumbai Plus
>newkerela.com
>
>
>Also recieved one colour and one black and white articles in Free Press Journal
>
>Expected Coverages
>
>The Times of India
>DNA
>Hindustan Times
>Mid-day
>WEEK Magazine
>UNI & PTI in the process of distribution of news
>Vernaculars:
>Navbharat Times
>AAJ
>Loksatta
>Pratahkaal
>Maharashtra Times
>Navbharat
>
>TV COVERAGES
>( CDs in the process of being arranged)
>
>PRERANA BUSINESS MEET
>
>
>DD News(National): Progamme called METRO SCAN
>2 minute bulletin on DD NEWS at 645 PM on Friday 21st Ocober 2005
>
>DD News(National) : Programme called Business News
>2 minute bulletin on DD NEWS at 130 PM on Monday 24th October 2005
>
>DD Sahyadri :
>Carried over 4 times a day on the news sections
>
>Zee Business
>2 minute bulletin on ZEE Business on Friday and Saturday (used in rotation)
>
>
>SUMMER PROJECT CONTEST+RED HERRINGS+ ARTI GUPTA INTERVIEW
>
>SAHARA SAMAY MUMBAI (68 countries)
>2 minute capsule 5 PM onwards on Sahara Samay Mumbai channel news
>
>ROCK SHOW
>Sahara Samay Mumbai
>Split LIVE telecast of 45 minutes from 8 to 10 on Saturday 22nd evening
>
>Uninterrupted telecast of entire Rock show from 1 AM(night) 23 rd onwards: atleast 150 minutes
>
>PRERANA BUSINESS QUIZ
>
>Sahara Samay Mumbai
>Split LIVE telecast of 40 oodd minutes between 8 to 10 PM on 23rd evening
>
>EXPECTED COVERAGE
>
>(not confirmed yet but shall be informed in case so)
>
>A Programme of 60 minutes planned for Prerana Business Quiz final rounds especially Sunday evening 23rd 11PM to 12 midnight(30th October 2005)
>
>
>Links of Coverages
>
>http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=203746&leftnm=lmnu4&lselect=0&leftindx=4
>
>http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=40026
>
>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1267366,curpg-1.cms
>
>http://www.pagalguy.com/index.php?categoryid=15&p2_articleid=136
>
>http://www.pagalguy.com/index.php?categoryid=15&p2_articleid=137
>
>http://www.pagalguy.com/index.php?categoryid=15&p2_articleid=140
>
>http://www.pagalguy.com/index.php?categoryid=1&p18_action=displayeventdetails&p18_eventid=120
>
>http://www.indianmba.com/Newsflash/News281/news281.html
>
>http://www.indianmba.com/Newsflash/News283/news283.html
>
>http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1257655.cms
>
>http://www.businessworldindia.com/b_school/october2005.asp#

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Prerna in Full Swing

As Mastishk get's over here comes NITIE's annual Business festival, Welcome "Prerna 2005".
One of the most anticipated events of the year, for which people work for entire year, there is one seperate committee PMG, Prerna Management Group. These people are known to be one of the less fortunate amongst the batch with heavy workload for atleast last 2 months, and by heavy I mean sleeping at 5 in the night( or morning, whatever fits for U).............
Now when Prerna comes all other committes r disolved and people work day n night for the event. Prerna Business Meet and Prerna Bussiness Quiz r the main attractions every year.
This year also trend follows and we had a seperate comm. called 'Corporate Promotion' Team dedicated specially for this purpose, u guessed it right, I was member of the team n went to Pune for the purpose. I tell u for the first time I saw companies in the real world n so many of them. Pune is the hub for IT in India, n I went to two major software areas, Hinjewadi software Park n Senapati Bapat Road... Saw many companies Infy, Wipro, CTS, CompuSoft, PSPL n ofcourse also went to colleges mainly all Symbi's........
We left at 5 in the morning in car n came back at 2 in the night..... It was one hectic day, neverthless one that would be remembered by me, for many reasons.......

Now, as Prerna comes I am in the back-office comm. and was cutting all badges, tickets for rock show n what not. Will have to work hard for next two days also.....

Well I forgot to mention we r having Rock Show in Prerna n Orange Street along with Vayu r coming for it(though I have their names for the first time) we r expecting a good show that would rejuvinate the spirit of all those who come to attend Prerna..... Here is the poster for the same.

Great work isn't it? This poster was made within 2-3 hours, as and when bands were finalised, there r really some talented people in our batch in designing..... Mastishk also had share of the these gifted souls.

Will tell u more about the events soon..........

Friday, October 14, 2005

Amchi Mumbai


First Mastishk update, nearly 870 ppl played my Vox Populli game for a week, making it one of the hottest games amongst B-school students in India. U love it when people appreciate your efforts, when they discuss government spending, taxes n their impacts on growth rate.... Phew!!! all those formulae worked and worked magic, though ofcourse people had their grudges as "sale mere sare indicators badhe hai phir bhi popularity utar gayi"..... O, how much I loved to explain the 'intricacies' of the game n " u must think about it in different perspective".....

Meanwhile I had an uneventful Navratri and Dusra. Atleast in Surat, in my engg. college I could enjoy out n watch all Dandiya's, though I didn't had the luck to play it with my gal... par yahan pe, we r in such remote place of Mumbai that it will take proper planning to reach to any Dandiya n after tht u will have to pay much more.......

Certainly Mumbaikars can't enjoy the Dandiya with so much crowded environs, u can't move in a circle properly let alone playing Dandiya. Seriously Mumbai is one cramped place, u go anywhere n u find ppl, literally in heaps....
Hell! even couples can't njoy a private kiss out here n have to do it in public.... There was much hue n cry about obscenity in Talav-Pani, one of the still existing beautiful lakes of Thane.

But tell me where else can they go, in local where it would take an age to reach ur partners lips, which r so jam packed that u would be lucky if u can wipe sweat on your forehead.

Or in the Best buses, naam ki hi best hai yaar.... Not a single time I was able to get a seat in the buses that go from L&T to Mulund n I tell you, u get a bus per minute for 12 hours each day.
Or on the polluted streets where hawkers take any nook or corner available.

I bet u 100 bucks to walk on any footpaths of Mumbai for a stretch of 1 KM. People walk on roads like zombies returning from their office while autos n buses keep on honking their horns for sides. There is a limit to what a city can absorb n there is a word called 'planning' in dictionary........
Hope our Mumbai administrators realize it some-day n we have 'decent' living with 'breathabl'e air, 'walkable' roads and 'commutable' rails n buses.

Seriously when other day somebody told me tht Mumbai is dead as far as any further develpment is concerned, I wondered n will have to accept that he had lot of merit in his argument.....

Still Mumbai is Mumbai, n I would love it anytime........