Transcendance 11 ::: Review of a decade in wedlock.....

Dear Gowri
Today is quite significant for three reasons as of now....
First things first, I got married exactly on the same day (at 29th Apr 1998) exactly 10 years back. Second thing is that without any prompt (alarm clock) I have got out from bed after such a long time....I have been getting up in the midnights to write poems and to pen musings for the past one year - hence would like to record this as some thing quite significant...Third and the last as of now is that I have decided to go for a walking at 4.30 AM - which of course is the outer limit of the time that I will be spending on this posting....!!
Yes this posting could be quite big in size....which is becoming a pattern for me but I can just guarantee that it will be stopped the moment there is no urge to continue further.....and it will not get lengthier by any special volitions from my side..... (Pls dont get connected to my example on "intution" now.... )
Well 10 years of marital life..... I try to introspect and ask myself honestly few questions which obviously I am supposed to ask on such a important day - at least by social standards.... Do you carry a feeling that we are age-less and it is quite unbelievable that we are half past thirty and do you amuse yourself to think that we have seen our elders of our family (ambi and suppuni to be precise) at our age when we reached adolescent age & have clear memory of lot of incidents.... Couple of months back when it dawned upon me that Madhoo is going to reach III standard, I was thinking on a particular day the events that happened when I reached this age.....
Not that they are too bitter now....BUT III standard - particularly the II and III Quarter are very significant for me in my life as it is this period we were sent (or we walked out ??) of our chromepet home and stayed alone for close to 6 months back to our father...and I joined Vivekananda vidhyalaya chromepet after quarterly exams.....I had changed 3 schools in the first term (to be precise - they are (1) Oxford Nursery, Tambaram.....as we stayed in our Gopu Mama's home at Tambaram.....this schooling was perhaps max for a month.....; (2) Vidya Nursery, W.Mambalam .... again in my memory I stayed just for few weeks in this school & (3) Anni Besant school very close to Ashok Pillar...where I was staying along with one of our periamma's home alone and reached to our make shift home at Postal colony, Ashok nagar where my mother and others stayed....!! Now, by coincidence none of these schools exist = at least where they used to be...... WHILE I clearly remember the schools, and some of the incidents at these schools....!! I remember faintly by july / aug of that academic year (III standard) we got a summon from our Daddy (just for change....no malice intended) to come back to home...and we shifted our home at Postal Colony within couple of days (now I realise perhaps our mother was bit tired of the experiment and hence she in fact perhaps longing for this re-union....OR she decided to accept defeat as things were not improving....I dont want to think more on this...).
This period of 6 months - in many ways - had been quite significant in my life - and I dont really mean any thing in the nature of SELF PITY when I talk about this.....as except this brief span of life, my adolescent age...(even until I finished my college...OR exactly upto the entry of ISHA into mylife@ 1997 - when I was exactly 24 years) had been incident-free and as I had mentioned earlier in one of my postings in this same blog, I neither have any great memories nor deep rooted wounds about my life until now.... (I even remember when I wrote this...this is to respond to your musings about couple of your friends think in sep 2007 - one of them is Archagaa in a temple.....I was thinking loud on "purpose of life"....JUST TO remind you that this self perception is just being repeated by me....)
Now, why this long bragging when I wanted to write about "decade in wedlock" ?? Just to get connected to Madhoo's perceptions and thinking processes are some thing that I watch closely with lot of curiousity and glee...AND when I heard that she reached III standard, I realised, OK, I am getting old......!! Now comes the second reminder to me within few months......a completed decade of wedding anniversary.....
First things first, (as I have mentioned this too), I got married slightly earlier than many of others of my age group....(lets forget "exceptional" you - and consider other lesser mortals !!) much earlier than I had clarity and maturity to take a decision on such matters.... As Sadhguru puts it, it will be lot more beneficial if we make such decisions "if this is needed to me ?" before getting married....and not doing things just because all others are doing it for themselves !!!!
In my case, it was not done just because others get married but just because, the offer was too forceful AND there was no reason for us (me and our whole family) to refuse it...That was the time when I was jobless - back from New Delhi...searching for a job which I never got...(you remember many of NBFCs were closing down post 95....I was one of the victims)..with my confidence level going down and down, I was not getting even a sumaar job during whole of 96 (I came back from Delhi during March 97 & without much choice was helplessly doing a diploma course at SSI during III quarter...as any way I was not getting any employment offer).....
I even dreamt of career migration but again that was not too deeply felt....and I was aware that RDBMS was much more deep than my understanding at that point of time and it needed more passionate reasons to take a full plunge more than the simple reason that I did not get a job...in my own line...!! It was a period of Y2K and perhaps I missed an opportunity to migrate to a career where my connecting abilities could have taken to a much better career prospects than what I am today.... (I may appear to be bruding...actually I am quite happy that this did not happen....as I fear it could have made me lot more career oriented AND I would have written this musings today and if I would have got time to innumberable intense moments at Isha....which perhaps I would have never ventured).
Now I met Mr.Shankaran (the astrologer at Tambaram sanatorium about whom I spoke to you last week) with this confused state of mind some time in III Quarter.....of 1997 which is very significant meeting AND THIS GENTLEMAN NEEDS TO BE IN THE PICTURE WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY WEDLOCK....Yes, this wedlock and a decade of Anoo would not have happened without meeting him...
I dont know if I have spoken to you about these episodes (perhaps me could...OR some one at our home might have told you....YOU See, I am recording this for posterity only...and this cannot be a duplication) ... This radical astrologer had lot of contacts in software field too and I originally thought I am going to get a job through him...within couple of months, I got so close to him AND I remember he even took me (or brought me) to kodambakkam to one particular house of a big shot in software industry seeking to introduce me to him and to get me a job.....which I never got....!! He made a radical statement seeing my astrology map that some MIRACLE is going to happen to my life very shortly which made me quite excited and I was happy that at last I am going to have some solution for my long pause.... of confused state.....!!
I thought its going to be a job in some software company (I repeat, it is quite comical how I got connected to a job offer at software with a simple diploma in PowerBuilder...but that was the period when so many were migrating with similar qualfication....though I did not have the self confidence and the soft skills at that point of time, I was hoping for this "miracle"....). It so happened that in an insignificant afternoon at our Kamarajapuram home, my cousin sisters (present MIL and her sister, chandra) came quite casually .... and I was not sure what was there in their minds at that point of time....!! eventually the miracle turned out to be my marriage for which I was really not matured enough....but I now have a feeling my lack of firmness in refusing is one way influenced by SHANKARAN's proclaiment of a miracle...I was in a state not to go against some thing happening on its own (at this jucture, I thank God for enabling me to pen down the subtle thought processes so easily and effortlessly...as I write this down at the twilight of this momentous day....it really feels great to write without any thinking processs involved...at least consciously....!!)....
Though they were cousin sisters of mine, I never have seen Anoo....and saw her for the first time on Oct 19th 1997, got engaged exactly after 1 month and got married 4 months after that....without any second thoughts.... I got into a job thru the contacts of anoo's appa during Feb 1998...after a break of exactly 1 year ... after I quit the Delhi company.... (I actually got transferred in that delhi company to chennai... I just got bogged down by few things at their Granite factory at madhurandhakam...and resigned after reaching madras...thats one layer of the confusion that I deliberately skipped from writing...the person to whom I reported at Delhi was another great Boss in my life.....I think "bosses" by themselves account for a seperate posting from me...but thats later !!)
Now during the same time ie., II half of 1997, another significant thing happened which is equally important (mutually opposite ??) as I met Sadhguru and did the basic program.... I got a extra ordinary meditation on the initiation day....and I cried lying in the lap of an unknown volunteer (whose name was chithra...a mid aged woman...whose name is chitra...I was in touch with her for couple of years after this class....NOW SHE IS NO MORE...died of cancer 3 - 4 years back !!) and inspite of this, FATE did not allow me to take a firm decision on joining the Isha group.....The meditation simply exploded me and I started glaring at Sadhguru since then as I clearly knew this is not an ordinary person.... He was serving sweets to all of us sitting and eating at Dining Hall and I remember I was sitting angrily (yes really angry) as I felt he was trying to be too innocent and childish after showing up to me how extra ordinary he is....I am talking about my shunya experience.....!!
otherwise, believe me, I would be one of their teachers today.....perhaps, the temptation of expectation (courtesy :: Mr.Shankaran) was too much in me...that I did not have this strong urge...and more importantly I did not know about Isha as an organisation at that point of time...Perhaps there were just 50 people at aashram and such wide publicity was not there for Him...and my orientation into a simple meditation process (yes, Shunya is extremely simple process of meditation...though it is quite beautiful experience...I subsequently learnt that it was just an introduction in to the world of meditation) was not strong enough to say NO to Anoo's parents who made a decision to go ahead with their feeling to unite us....!!
Now, having put meticulously the background in which our marriage happened, is it time close this posting....Alas...I have not even started....!! But, time is 4.23 AM already and I have resolved to go for a morning walk....15 minutes from now.....!!
So, there will be a part II of this posting.....which will talk only about my marital life of these ten years...Not so much detail oriented....but surely it will be a long piece as I kept it as a self imposed challenge to churn out the "butter" in the part II posting..... Again, there could be a few things that I am going to write about which I have told you already / written already but remember this posting is supposed to be a independent posting and I am sure you will not mind reading few things that you know already..... In life too, many times, we do many things just as we are caught in it more than we want to do them, right ??
will come back before 12 Midnight of today.......
Will be dedicated to Krishnaa after the Part II posting.....just getting reminded to do it, right now....
Regards

suchoo

Making of Managers - 10 ::: "Getting ready"

Dear
I have been blabbering my latest heart throb to migrate to my passion....in teaching profession.....and I have been taking decisive steps to groom myself on my future dream...
There had been lot of fads like this earlier, but this particular passion, as I see it now, is making me very sure footed and leading me taking the right steps towards the eventual direction.....
I have already mentioned that I have enrolled for a Public Speaking class which is going to commence from next sunday.....and have plans to visit a crowded "accounts and IT' tution master to observe him while he delivers...He is a very reputed guy and I wish I understand him from the perspective of training techniques used OR at least his natural style that captivates the people.....
yesterday, as I walked down from office, a HR personnel joined me who leads the band of part time trainers of the company....a very nice lady with whom I always feel at home...some one who joined the organisation quite recently but has really taken lot of iniatives in delivering the induction training modules and streamlining / integrating lot of trianing efforts at our organisation...
While we travelled together in office cab, she casually told that she is also personally imparting a "time management" module ... I was amused to know that there was no external agency doing this module too and checked with her politely if I can handle few sessions myself...(I have infact made a simple presentation on 4 quadrants of time...stephan covey....for my own team and delivered in roughly 6 months back...just out of my own interest.....).
She gladly agreed at my proposal and asked me to check with my manager so that she should not get any complaints from him.....I assured that I can take care of that part and told her to rope me into some thing more too when ever there is a chance.....as I can allot a half day per week for such endeavours.....and getting an approval from my boss is not too difficult....for me..
In the meanwhile, Anoo has also got some details from her school principal who takes lot of English Training classes in week ends who prides that he earns lot more there than from the school in which he works...
Looks like he is welcome to meet me any time to share his experience in the industry and feels I can start off any time I want....with some simple initiatives...Now though he talks about English classes, to me either it is English OR accounting OR Soft skills .... Training by itself is a methodology that I am eager to sharpen.....Dont mind using any subject which I can manage until the time I gain the guts to throw away my present employment...
Definitely I dont have dreams to deliver a training program at CA institute OR CFA institute on declining Dollar OR on impact of HYDE act on economy...
I dont intend to become Dhronachaarya OR Bhishmachaary ....who were meant for advanced pupils....Being a Kripaacharyaar (elementarty level teacher) is my passion....If we touch people early in thier lives AND their knowledge levels, the impact that we make is lot more than the advanced minds....Many knowledgeable minds get crippled and lose their innocence and freshness AND become complicated, isn't it ??
suchoo
ps:- I distinctly remember a little girl at Chettinad vidhyaashram who reached me after the crisp lecture that I gave on Project Green hands and in mazhalai she told me "uncle, your speech was very nice...my father is secretary in lions club...I will go home and tell him about your project....he will definitely help you thru' his contacts"... What more you want in life....Janaab ??

Waves of Bliss !!! (Aanandha Alai)

Dear Gowri
I have been hearing this new term at Ishaworld since last month (precisely from the date of Maha shivarathri) which is a sort of rigorous campaign for Isha's 7 days Yoga Program - which is a new format that they started using since last may....I have done this course and its quite powerful with Sadhguru's powerful presence felt through out the class as they play thru' LCD monitor the CD which contains the recorded speech and guidance of Sadhguru on the meditation process...In fact the initiation into this new process (it is not a meditation technically and should be called as a Kriya....Kriya is essentially defined as some thing that we do using our energy and not with our body, mind or emotions.....which normally lead to Karma..or bondage) is kept on a sunday...resembling the old format in which Sadhguru completes the teachings that is being imparted by him during the past four days....The process is deceptively simple but too powerful....!! The total process takes 21 minutes and it does not require special posture like Vajraasana...
Now, coming to this "aanandha alai", instead of conducting this class sporadically, Isha has announced that during May- June they are going to launch series of this 1 week program in a very big wave....just to give instance, though we have just 15 - 20 centres at chennai having the regular classes 3 - 4 times in each of them during a year, it is expected to have around sixty to eighty classes in chennai alone during this short period....to put the program and also the institution firmly in the spiritual map of the country....(not just at chennai but where ever they have network, they intend to attack at top gear....if I can use the word)....
Still I am not sure with the exact details, but it appears during June, there is going to be a Mahasathsangh...for all the participants who have taken part in this series of classes which will definitely contain Sadhguru's always famous ques and ans session....perhaps could be live telecast in some TVs and definitely will be available in Web too....!! The 2 minute clipping of this advertisement was repeatedly played at Raj TV on Mahashivarathri (march) where I joined the Isha crew who were doing the Tamil Translation for Aastha TV's relay....where commentry was made from coimbatore in Hindi....
I was quite amused at the neatly made powerful 2 minutes ad for this....and of course it was mentioned in the series of article written at Ananda vikatan too....a month back....AND now, I heard it is going to get started......in another couple of days...
I met a volunteer of Mambalam at Railway station during last week and since I have been avoiding going to volunteering these days (my earlier posting on this subject pasted below this one), he - without embarassing me much - handed over few pamplets on the class that is supposed to start in "AA" series on 30th Apr.
I got the Ananda vikatan of current week which contained a free cd which played for close to 40 minutes which is supposed to further trigger the curiousity for TamilNadu people about Sadhguru and this new "AA"...Of course, He has been writing articles in this tamil magazine for little over 2 years now and quite a familiar face in the hoardings and sign boards outside the flats....but still, this CD gives him a much better introduction....
I could not see it yesterday as Madhoo wanted to watch a Kamal film and today morning, the first thing that I did after getting up was to play the CD....Amazingly made .... intro music with hundreds of clippings that introduce isha very nicely followed by sadhguru's mini lecture and answering questions raised by 3 /4 people (most of them known to me...all familiar faces of volunteers)....No doubts on the reach of the CD and the impact it can make on some one who sees it for the first time...The CD abruptly ends with a card showing phone numbers to be contacted to take part in "aanandha alai".....!! (I actually gifted the CD that I got yesterday when I bought Vikatan who has long time back got the details on Isha to put his wife in this class....& I got a new book for me to have my own copy of CD)
Now....This long posting is not to share the delight of seeing the CD..and that illuminated face of my Guru....I was happy that inspite of not being a volunteer my reverence towards him has not come down even by milli grams....and I got into my usual molten state with tears in my eyes when he walks, speaks, laughs and looks intensely in various clippings...(again....I need to repeat, the CD is nicely made)....BUT........
just to record my anguish that this was not the Isha that I knew....10 years back, when I started off with the basic class, Sadhguru used to proudly say that this organisation is "deliberately kept as a loose organisation as he may dissolve it any time he wants to...." and he identified himself as "hard core spiritualist"....& when one of the person attending the intro class told that he got a very important meeting on sunday and cannot make himself present for the whole of sunday....Sadhguru folded his hands and told him "your time has not come....let us meet in the next batch of class".....
Some time later (I mean during 1999) when Dhyana Linga was constructed, he became bit easier with the society and I was in the historic meeting during 2003 when he announced that he is going to live long in this world for the sake of the loving hearts around him.....
Then came Green Hands post 2005 which needs lacs of volunteers and Isha started expanding in exponential rate....The bliss of this project and the popularity and mileage it gave to Isha was well deserved as it was basically a social project done for the people at large more than BY isha.....!!
I have read some criticism about Sadhguru and Isha by some one quite popular in his field that "few" spiritual organisations are just marketing their chief and nothing more....which made me thinking for a while, though I was a hard core volunteer at that point of time (will a hard core volunteer allow such thoughts within himself ??? thats a million dollar question...perhaps I was only a pseudo volunteer..I dont mind these labels anyway)
Even now, I am following up for a corporate program at my own office and the way I get follow up calls remind me of the aggressive marketing that the band of volunteers keep doing which is very different situation from a decade back....!! They do every thing that marketing guys do ...but are able to meditate and do pranayam...and rever Sadhguru and remain dumbfound in his presence...This is a typical isha volunteer who involves himself in various worldly activities....There are few other volunteers too..who go deeper and deeper into yoga with no urge to speak...BUT majority of them tend towards the former segment....as it suits them and their present lives.....I can appreciate even that too (I clearly remember a particular gentleman about whom I have great admiration as a volunteer who was using filthy language as the expected sponsorship did not materialise......inspite of my energy levels during Greeh Hands days, I have never got into so much of frustrations....It is utterly impossible for me to use foul language and getting frustrated when We call ourselves involved in some thing called YOGA...perhaps, I am terribly mistaken in my attitude....!!)
Now, the bottom line of this musings is that beneath the wonderful breathtaking shots of the CD that I saw today, I could smell the stench of marketing constantly...It was too much visible and audible for a volunteer like me who has stayed closely with this organisation for more than a decade....and still not willing to help admiring at lot of positives about this place.....
I particularly noted Sadhguru's answer to a particular question on the quality of Isha program...that each teacher is trained for TWO / THREE years before he becomes a Teacher....I have heard the same person telling proudly on Jan 19th 2003 at a Maha Sathsangh organised at Chennai Marina Beach (Seerani Arangam) that the teachers are undergoing FOUR TO FIVE years of training......!! Of course the present class and the syllabus does not need 4 years of training......BUT the question is not about the quality of training and Sadhguru....
The whole point is "why this mad rush" in the name of spreading something that is called YOGA.... which is all about preparedness of the receiving mind more than the maturity of imparting person ??
The people around him (most of them) are only ordinary & simple people (though Sadhguru recently announced that by the time he leaves, there will be 1 lac realised people at Isha.....) and the way things can get misinterpreted and distorted with not so sharp people around him......I wonder if I am going to be a odd man out from this circuit.....I may stand in a corner glaring Sadhguru as he delivers his message in a Maha sathsangh with the same intensity that I have today...BUT may never be able to be a part of so called "family" full of laughter and jokes....which in my feeling, dilutes the flame inside....at least inside myself....!! people who can continue to balance between their intensity AND socialising may go deeper and deeper - I am sorry - wider and wider in "volunteering"...and become a tiny molecule in the wave of Bliss....!!
It will be very nice if I dont regret in my life time for what I have penned out in this posting.....At this moment, what is being written is directly from my heart without any alteration...lets see....
Time is a great teacher...
krishnaarpanam...as always...
suchoo
Nov 27, 2007

Volunteering
HiBasically sort of lazy guy and having an added advantage of not knowing too many aspects of practical life, it was quite a huge thing for me to be a volunteer at Isha for a brief period....It all started in 2004 when I joined Ford...I started attending all the 13 days class at Mambalam (which happens once in 4 months)...I have attended practically all classes until this March....around 10 classes excluding one session that happened during my sweden stay......The indulgence in Green Hands was a huge part of experience and for close to 4 months I enjoyed every moment of our Awareness Camp in various schools and it was wonderful to see that such a social project was not very different from the class volunteering......I still remember lot of tender moments and my own frequency levels while I was in action.In one particular school - the principal Lady (Gurunanak Hr Secondary school, velachery) observed me waiting to meet her outside her room...after she walked to her room supervising few people she sent for me and I went inside....I told in 3 minutes about our project and wanted to have some time to talk in their assembly...she was watching me quite intently and I could see that she had a very calm and powerful eyes...perhaps she is into some transcendal meditation....after I finished off my crisp introduction, she bluntly told me before any thing else that I carry very positive vibration around me...I literally blushed in front not because I felt underserved for this comment because I COULD FEEL IT MYSELF !!....she was very co-operative for the project too)During those 13 days, I reach a different frequency and there were many days I cannot sleep more than 2 or 3 hours considering that I had to leave very early for the morning class and sleep would not come before 12 AM midnight as I will be fully charged....Office just passes off effortlessly on those days and I think that whole eternity gets adjusted itself to ensure that I dont take a break in between those 13 days...in Particular, on the Games day and on initiation, I used to be in full flow without any other thoughts on any other aspects of life.....!!I still remember the March 2007 class which was the last 13 day program - on the initiation day I was crying my heart out...(perhaps I knew that it was my last class !!) It was the last class at chennai in the old format and the new format was without Shoonya meditation....which was like a rude shock for me... Later when I did the class in May, I did enjoy the sunday which was very different experience BUT still it did not have a seperate initation hall arrangement....and some how I never felt like going to the two subsequent classes at Mambalam until now....I just absconded from the class....I dont want to reason out my sudden change....neither I want to justify my absence these days.....The phone call kept coming for the august class and during october, there was just a courtesy call which was not followed up....there are enough people to take care of the class !!I some how feel that I have seen the depth of the volunteering within myself and I am bit scared that I could become full of action and bit dry and mechanical if I go on and on in this....Further, it is quite costly in terms of time and allocation of substantial time....I know there are lot of people who go deeper and deeper and their whole personality change over a period of time with volunteering but I am quite contented with getting into a molten stage as an outcome of my volunteering....and would prefer to retain my "expression".....It will be ofcourse quite nice to regulate it but definitely I dont want to throw it away completely....Who knows, I may reach a stage when I get fed up with my volatile moods and decide to throw away my "expressions" ...then perhaps I have no shame in going back to Isha as a volunteer....Till the time I get ripened to this state, the "moments of bliss" and "transcendance" will keep me enough fit ..... I am sure.....suchoo
Posted by Suchoo at 10:36 PM

On Nepal

Dear Gowri
I am not sure about Maoists and their culture....All I knew was that Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom of the world and from what you say some so called terrorist outfit (I guess) has taken over the rule from Monarchy....(perhaps groomed by China ??)
On your wordings below "The present Indian Govt may applaud the present "victory of democracy" in Nepal - but, I strongly feel that we are going to pay a heavy price for this !! "...Do I see a contradiction....??
If the majority of the people of that country has chosen a terrorist outfit to rule them, what else can be destined for those people ?? Have I not always felt that you always praise democracy and this is the best form of governance ?? Did I notice any contradiction in your views OR is it just a misunderstanding OR poor understanding of the context from my side ??
Please give an elaborate response .... in the very same blog....and not as a personal mail....
regards
suren
ps:- any chance, China can overpower the web servers and demolish all our musings ??? See, I always scope myself just adequately.....and to the extend I am personally affected....!!
Apr 25, 2008
** Nepal **
Monarchy in Nepal is gone and the Maoists are in !! Down the line, say after a few years of Maoists rule, I see China coming in with all its might into Nepal. The Himalayas is no more going to be a border for India in North !! Islamic terrorism is going to get deeply rooted in Nepal !! The present Indian Govt may applaud the present "victory of democracy" in Nepal - but, I strongly feel that we are going to pay a heavy price for this !! Now, India has too many huge windows open along its border - Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh... !! Thank god, we have oceans on the other three sides !!
Posted by Gowri at 7:45 PM

** Nepal **

Monarchy in Nepal is gone and the Maoists are in !! Down the line, say after a few years of Maoists rule, I see China coming in with all its might into Nepal. The Himalayas is no more going to be a border for India in North !! Islamic terrorism is going to get deeply rooted in Nepal !! The present Indian Govt may applaud the present "victory of democracy" in Nepal - but, I strongly feel that we are going to pay a heavy price for this !! Now, India has too many huge windows open along its border - Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh... !! Thank god, we have oceans on the other three sides !!

Moment of Bliss 13 ::: Resurrection of Friendships

Dear Gowri
Today was a memorable day ..... as I met three of my old friends together....The get to-gether was organised by one of them who is a Doctor (Not just a MBBS, specialised in Neurology) and we have been studying in school together until +2... And this meeting happened exactly after 10 years....!!
Well, before I go into the details, Let me candidly accept that I never had been in groups and had very limited people to be defined as friends....!! I do not have enemies / bitter relationships too as it needs some closeness to fight with people.....!! Some how, in terms of friendship, I can recall just 10 or 12 faces and I normally admire people who keep constant touch with their friends....I had always been satisfied with a basic level of interactions with people around me and never attempted to keep the relationships / contacts continued after the need for association (school, college, offices) is over....
Well, this particular re-union is about the tale of 4 friends....The only period where I allowed myself the luxury of Group Friendship...between 91 to 97.....all of us as stated above, studied in same school and the host today also used to host others (and few more) for group studies through out the night at his house.... His family never had interacted with us much but religiously her aunty (periamma, it was a joint family) made a flask full of tea every night for our group.... !! This particular boy was a hard worker and was quite used to studying 8 to 10 hours together....and topped in our school and without any hassles got admitted into Medical college....

In our today's get together, we also had another boy who continued to study with me in my college too...right now positioned as a Senior manager in one of our competitive company at Bangalore....This get to gether is planned to sychronise with his monthly visit to his home at chennai where his parents live....

The third one is a business man owning a hardware shop who always took pleasure in entertaining us in his shop and I vividly remember the time spent at his shop and watching how he handles his customers...This boy's family had always been in business and no wonder, though he completed graduation, he got his own shop now after his father's demise....

Though they were quite good friends, some how, they did not come to my marriage due to some communication gap and I should say that I was terribly dissappointed... There was no reason for them to miss the occassion and it appears that just for some silly reasons they did not manage to reach the marriage hall....!! I was quite unhappy with them for some time and gradually the relationship faded away as I never made any attempt to contact them on my own, while, with the sense of guilt , they too did not try to renew our friendship.....(they just paid one courtesy visit to our home soon after marriage...and I remember I did not speak to them...it was a silent evening for all of us !!)
Now I met one of them (the business man) at a common friend's house quite accidentally and within 24 hours, I got a phone call from the two others...and we have been planning to have this get to gether for more than a month... All the three have since got married AND blessed with two kids each (the Sr Manager - Finance got twin daughters !!).... and me, the senior one to get married is happily satisfied with one daughter....
It was a great evening as all of us gathered at Beach and after spending some time, reached the Doctor's house to have dinner....and reached home just half hour back... Not much has changed in physical appearance in four of us.....though we have gathered flesh around our belly...as a standard feature....!! and in terms of our conversation style and characteristics just remaining as it used to be.... with all children (7 of them) playing, the wives talking to each other, we four were recollecting our school mates names AND teachers names....and their whereabouts....all of us sitting in open terrance of the house..Incidentally, it apppears they too never got a chance for such a get together - being in different walks of life and it was such a natural start of our second innings of togetherness....
Amongst the four, to the extend I have gathered the information, I think, they are much more richer in experience with life....with lot of changes / challenges faced in their personal lives and it had been incident-free during the whole of past decade....!! Of course, this also has a reflection in our careers but I was not feeling any negative feeling when one of them in my own field - who has toiled 16 plus hours at work (and is still continuing....!!) - has risen to the post of Sr Manager.....while I am yet to get designated as a manager....!!
During my chat, I casually shared my recent passion and my thoughts on switching the industry...which brought their heads nodding...as they all seem to have carried me in their memory as some one who talks charming and my capacity of connecting things were always admired by them even during the school days....!!
This was a great evening and I really felt very happy that I was able to relate my old friendships extremely natural from my side, gleefully watching all our children playing together....!! I would rate it as a great get together after last apr 14th - when we celebrated the anniversary of Vanagiri Group.....!!
suchoo

Making of Managers - 9 ::: A day starts @ 1.30 AM !!

Dear
On last sunday, I had been to our Parent's place and it was time for socialising during the whole of the day and watching the TV too as Anniyan was telecast..... The next day at office, I was supposed to deliver my first session on Telephone Handling and I had originally planned the whole day for preparation.... The other set back in addition to the TV watching was the computer at the home was not able to read the pen drive in which I carried the soft files of presentation AND the audio files needed for my training session....
I decided to get up early in the morning on Monday to reach office bit early like 6 AM to have some preparation until 10 AM....The session was at 2 PM in the afternoon but I had few basic things to be taken care of in the forenoon.... I had set the alarm for 4 AM and went off to sleep at 10.30 pm itself...I did not imagine that I am going to get up with fresh eyes at 1.30 Am itself...
I reached out the open space in front of the house and sat cross legged and started my preparation....that is, all those things which I can familiarise with ... without the computer in front....and was deeply involved in going through the course material until 4 AM... It was quite a wonderful time with a nice cool atmosphere....and without any disturbance...Just I had to wave my hand towards the Police man who was having his (perhaps) routine rounds - getting suspicions at me sitting with Lights on....outside the house.....!!
After finishing my breathing practises, I was out of the home sharp at 5 AM and reached the bus stand to get the first bus to a landmark near my office hoping to get an auto from that point...Little did I realize that there was a direct bus until my office which I was lucky to get and reached very close to my office at just 5 Rs.... within next 20 minutes....!!
Then started my intense preparation....correlating the slides and getting ready for the open ended questions to be posed...and time budgeting for the whole of the training session....I was getting more and more confident...
I skipped the lunch (as usual...I had never been able to take lunch until now....as I dont feel any hunger before the session....with the level of excitement AND preparedness) reached the hall and ensured all arrangements were ok and waited for the 22 Gods who are going to make me divine !! Yes.... It is such a training ground for some one like me without any insecurity in mind AND giving a taste of a real profession which I cannot enter immediately....without taking substantial risk...and making lot of compromises....
I was able to put all my efforts in the best possible manner and pulling all the silent persons one by one....and making them involve in the practise sessions.....There was a back up trainee sitting there watching me and taking notes occassionally.....who ensured that I was in full control of myself and if I was not over doing any thing.... I had organised for another peer of mine who had done accent neutralisation classes at our office whom I requested to help me with some tips on accent just when I was talking about Voice and the stress element in voice...
As if things were falling in perfect place, when one of the active participant talked about pronounciation of a particular word, I thanked him and smiled at the group...."just as ..... helped us with the right pronouciationl, some specialist in this area will be joining us shortly to give us much more information in this regard..." which was enough to put every one into some curiousity....My friend just entered the hall in next 5 minutes, and I invited him to give some orientation on pronouciation and the right accent.... It happened very professionally with me getting back to the centre telling people the purpose of this 15 minutes demo is not to make them experts in accent but just to make them aware that this is a big subject which needs a structured training..... and at least they will identify & appreciate people with good accent when they talk over phone... AND over a period of time, can pick up the right pronounciation of at least few of the common words they use....
At the end of the session, I was dead tired but was with great satisfaction distributed the feedback forms to all of the trainees after briefing about the organisations's initiative on such part time trainers and sharing our ambitious targets about our Trainers club.....briefly.... seeking their feedbacks....
In addition to the feedbacks, I got a hand shake from al most every of the boys who came towards me for the purpose which by itself was a great metric for performance.... With heavy eye lids and severe head ache out of the exertion, I read through the feedback forms for any negative feedback but there were none....!!
Delivering a Training session seems to have its own challenges which is much different from the actual subject....It is extremely exciting with a new set of participants every time and a all new time management struggle without showing up the mental clock too openly for them to read..... I particularly felt very happy when I used couple of techniques that I learnt for group involvement and found the effect of the tested ones almost instantaneously.....Was able to freely talk to the participants making them feel easy and respond back....and there was literally no side talks during the 4 hours needing my attention .....
Particularly, the last one hour I was in terrific flow and I was relating the current slide with the various earlier ones throwing open how much can be grasped by ability of connecting things AND taking a total and complete view instead of fragmented approach.... I infact have kept couple of demos in this telehphone session IN RESERVE to be released in the next possible opportunity....based on the exercises given.... Such demos can always be used when the participation is not upto the mark and be catalysts for them to break their inhibitions...
I wish I never have to use such personal demonstrations....!!
Krishnaarpanam...
suchoo

** Iran - Pak - India Gas Pipeline **

One thing that I like about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is that they were careful when handling with issues relating to Pakistan. When it comes to the Congress (I) Party, they always want to show that they are more "secular" in their behaviour and they think that their actions against Pakistan would be seen as anti-muslim and hence would undermine their Indian Muslim vote bank. What else do you call the Petroleum Minister, Mr. Deorah's statement that India would go ahead and sign the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project in the next two or three months ?? The Congress Govt has not learnt its lessons from the past 60 years behaviour of Pakistan. Nor is the Congress Govt looking at the present. If so, it would have seen the anarchy that is prevailing in the border areas of Pakistan where the pro-Islamist groups have taken the reigns and wield better control. All the Congress government doing is handing over the advantage to Pakistan and thus to the Islamic terrorists and is also dropping its pants down allowing Pak to rape it and thus our nation, India.

** Governance - Congress Style **

In Canada, a huge procession was taken by Sikhs supporting and glorifying Indira Gandhi's assassins. Indian Intelligence bureau has warned the Punjab Govt that the Khalistan movement is on the rise (Fanatic, but more prominent Punjab political groups are supporting it - calling it as people's movement). Former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Mufti Mohammed Syed has said that the use of Pakistan currency should be allowed in Jammu & Kashmir. As a true citizen, you would believe that Government would against all such prominent and disturbing happenings !! Unfortunately this is India and the ruling party is Congress .... nothing of any sort, in the name of action is seen - atleast till now.

** Tamil New Years Day **

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr Karunanidhi has passed a resolution changing the Tamil New Year's day from April/14 to Jan/14 !! Given the sort of politician that Karunanidhi is, this is not a big surprise. This change of New year is nothing but another gimmick that Mr Karunanidhi has pulled out of his hat. What has he achieved by it?? He has proved that his so called "secularism" is nothing but fiddling with Hinduism. I can challenge him and the folks of his ilk that all they can do in the name of "secularism" is to 'finger' Hinduism - for, they do not dare to touch Christianity and Islam. Because, people of those religion are better bonded when it comes to the question of religion. Almost everyone has kept quiet on this issue of changing the Tamil New Year, because, Karunanidhi was clever enough to label his resolution as "pro-tamil". If you speak against the stupidity of this exercise, you would be branded "anti tamil". No one will dare to say that the King is walking naked !! I only wish that everyone start looking into such cheap tactics - than consoling ourself that all such historical changes were first met with some stiff resistance and will, over a period of time, be accepted by people. [ Here, I also see a behaviour pattern of certain set of people. Pervez Mushraff has to be more aggressive - or rather, visibly more aggresive, against India, because he has to prove to the people of Pakistan that though his birth place is India, he is a true Pakistani. Actor Kamal Haasan has to be more (visibly) aggresive against "God" and has the need to support EVR Periyar - because, he has to prove that though he is born as a Brahmin, he should not be seen as one. Over a period of time, it is the role that they attire than the originality that takes prominence. Do you now see the reason as to why a lot of Brahmins have kept quiet - or even have supported this issue ? ]

** Reservation - More on Quota **

Supreme Court in its decision favouring 27% quota for Other Backward Class (OBC) people, has said that the quota system should be reviewd after five years. After five years, Review, they will - to see whether the quota need to be increased further and not to decrease it !! I dont think I will ever get to see the quota system being removed in my life time ! Basically, more than the upliftment of Backward class, this quota arragement is more about Politics. Supreme Court has played to the tune of Politicians and has helped pave way for faster degradation of premier institutes like IITs and IIMs - and India as the nation on the whole !! Jai Hind !!

** Times of India **

Times of India (ToI) has started its Chennai edition from today (Apr/14/2008). ToI is the sort of newspaper which gives 'what people wants' - a lot of sex & glamour !! They also do sell it at a cheaper rate - aggressive marketing !! I would not consider ToI as a threat to "The Hindu". But lesser mortals like, "The Deccan Chronicle" and "The Indian Express" may slowly fade away from the arena; or at best, they also would switch to the "style" of ToI. If you wish to read lot of tit-bits, masaala news, glamorous news and wish to see some sexy photographs in glossy sheets, goahead and subscribe to ToI - but in the least, subscribe to ToI as an additional newspaper for your home, not the sole one !!

Making of Managers ::: 8 - Appreciating paradox in a deeper sense !!

Prelude ::: Did you notice that there is a slight change in the series name...it is no more "Making of a Manager".....but it is "Making of Managers"...this is in line with my earlier posting...and will continue to be so....
Dear Gowri
In one sense, I am not sure whether we can tell today as Tamil New Year's day with recent MK's announcement....Looks like the wonderful government has even suggested the temples not to entertain any special pujas in the guise of "new year" in order to be synch with the New Government Order making Thai as the first month of year....
I got some clarity on the whole thing (rather just accepted some body else's view) when I read Madhan's response that July month was inserted by Juleit Caeser... I am sure he is not any Prophet and perhaps our MK can rank parellel to him in terms of his experience as a "ruler" in modern days' definition.... While Madhan gives an opinion that such things are always shocking to accept initially but no one seems to brude over the 31 days in July.....I nodded my head quite unconsciously.... I will not get surprised if - perhaps over a period of time - Karunanidhi's funny rule may become the order of the day....!!
Coming back to this posting, Anoo's appa was bruding over some thing....THis happened when we visited his home yesterday night as he had rushed back to home in an auto due to a very serious sprain that he had at office...unable even to shut down the computer...ie., handle the mouse.... He had infact visited a hospital on a way - did not dare to travel in the scooter - and got diagonised the pain that he had was due to a muscle catch in the back....may be because the new scooter is too heavy for his old age.....!!
The point he was bruding is about a yearly ritual which he reverentially does every Tamil New year (I Mean the "old" fashion !!!) .... He use to buy 15 - 20 Panchangams and gives it to a local temple priest who in fact got so habituated with this long time gift AND will wait for anoo's appa to reach on Tamil New Year's day....Perhaps it is win win deal for both of them....they always say that getting this sentimental book from a temple is auspicious for the devotees and I assume the donor gets divine grace inturn....You see, we can never question or challenge others' sentiments.
I volunteered to do it on his behalf and got the details....I was scheduled to reach Tambaram today leaving from Kodambakkam as early as possible but did not mind spending 15 - 20 minutes for a sincere soul's sentimental value....IT was so sure he may not be able to be normal today morning & further he did not have the two wheeler with him to do it himself as it was left at his office itself....
Here I am today morning visiting AYodhya mandapam at 7.30 AM and surprised the vendor brahmin (Am I permitted to be so blunt ??) with a bulk purchase for which he generously offered me a 1 Re discount per copy..... While I took a U Turn of my scootie the man candidly told me with lot of happiness over a bumper sale ..."We need to be honest in business"....for which I responded with a broad smile "santhosham mama....."....
Now I headed towards the Temple...it is an Anjaneya temple close to 5 Lights...which is some thing I like very much and had gone couple of times on my own... This one is basically the hall of an old house and a very pious person aged around 50 years is taking care of it...ALl over the wall you can see the display of "silence please".....While you get amused with too many such card boards across the small place of worship, you tend to get surprised with the pin drop silence and the devout people - most of them regular visitors - who adhere to this instruction which by itself is a rarity in our society. I have alwasy seen temples are most talkative and loud places but for the main praharam but this place is quite radical in this sense....
Even when I went previously to this temple, I have had the glimpse of this man of this temple, who has a tuft and looks extremely handsome and glowing and never opens his mouth (leads by example).....!! I have heard that Krishna Premi was associated with this temple and had started his career in this same place only...when he was a teen age boy.....!! I have always felt a tranquility in this place and in fact during my days of depression, I consciously have avoided going to this place fearing not to pollute this place....!! I am just being honest...
Now here I am visiting this temple with a clear and cheerful mind, fully fresh physically and mentall peaceful eager to honour the deed of some one who does some thing religiously.....!! after sitting for few minutes in the temple, I was searching for the head man who was not found near by....While I was thinking perhaps I can hand over the Panjangams to some one sitting there requesting them to hand deliver to this person, he appeared from the inside of the house for getting some thing from the shrine..only to go back inside once again...
I hurriedly followed him and gently tapped the main door of his house....from the dark interior, the glowing face with sharp eyes pierced me with a question on the face...I showed the bundle of Panchangams in my hand to him from where I was standing and told "Sent by ........." clearly aware that no more words were necessary...
The intense and handsome face got into some gentleness and with a radiating smile nodded in recognition. I took my hands forward to hand over the bundle...he showed the bench lying near me and gestured to keep it there....with the smile still in his face and meeting my eyes intently....
I kept it obediently AND folded my hands in reverence and nodded my head as if to say "good bye"...and left out very calmly...
Silent people always make me craving and in fact I do remember I had posted about a shop owner in front of my house "hare rama hare krishnaa" movement.....who is always on the vow of silence....in this musings.... THis is another gentleman AND this effective communication between him and me put so much of nice feelings into me....
Yes..... craving for a profession which is all about raising the pitch of the people around and inspiring whole lot of them, extensively using the communication skills, It may appear to be an irony to read this posting... BUt I have had the first hand experience of the power of such tranquility during the break of the session...when I handled a session during last week...While I sent the participants for a break, I sat back in my chair just closing my eyes enjoying the vacuum of mind till the time I start hearing the noises of them coming back to their seats...
Powerful communication emanates only from rock like silence.....!! It will be stupid of me to get carried away with wrong notions AND get too involved with the music of my own voice.....!!

Suchoo

Quality versus Quantity

Gowri
after vomitting out as I had termed in my first posting of today, when I just viewed the last 10 - 12 postings made, your three brief postings (on golden temple, on kathipaara and one more ... hokenakkal ??) stand jammed between the big and long postings of mine...
While you had taken care to address something as a responsible citizen of the country (& state too ??? just kidding), my essays are so self centred...and brimming with self confidence that they will be read you....
It is always said too much of quantity may not represent qualitative stuff, right ??
Any way, let me stop here for the day AND perhaps for the week....
suchoo
ps:- I had forwarded a particular posting (just pasted it and sent) to Ninja...which was on Sujatha's short story "nagaram"... even the most courteous Ninja did not even respond...think he has become wiser and does not want to make himself restless by even recognizing the receipt..... Just kidding....Please dont even mention this to him..... just one more prank from my side...

Moments of Bliss - 12 ::: madhoo's connecting abilities

Dear Gowri
Some thing light in this posting after two long postings that I made until now and to sign off for the day.....
I had purchased a DVD during last week which had 4 films of kamal....I compusively grabbed it as it contained avvai shanmugi, anbe sivam, thenali AND thevar magan....Madhoo is yet to see the last one and we hid the DVD till thursday as she had her exams....
Yesterday night after I reached home from virugambakkam, we started off with Devar Maghan roughly around 10.30 PM, with madhoo as usual on my lap when she watches movies AND Anoo deciding to go to sleep after a long day at the Registrar office...(I still dont understand why she came all the way for 50 + 50 km...it was not at all needed...just that she wanted to come...strange world.....there is no point of seeing any greatness when I mechanically put the thumb impression in a cheap priced notebook which I doubt may not even last for two more years.....and for this moment we waited outside the "esteemed" office for more than 5 hours....Hm.....)
Now, the film started and I gave the normal instruction that I used to give her...just to see intently without any questions OR turning towards me so that she will not miss the next frame...Like every time , she nodded in acceptance when I told that she may actually get the answer for the question in th next frame itself....and got assured that I will explain her some thing if the same is warranted myself...putting PAUSE to the movie....and for this I dont need her prompt...
Though it may appear silly, I ensure that every cinema watching becomes a YOGA for me and I crave that it should happen to the people who see any cinema along with me..... and this is not about one's grasping ability....!! For that matter, I am yet to taste the breadth of this cinema field and know that there are lot of wonderful world class films that I have not seen until now..but thats later...now its time for ...THththevar Maghan....
While I was looking at Madhoo once a while, ensuring that she is watching the film intently and enjoying it, the first metric of her involvement was revealed when she managed to see the whole of the film without batting her eyelid....(she had promised to tell me that she will let know if she felt sleepy and we can always see the balance portion on the next day)... I found that her head was nodding unconsciously with lips bit curved up with a smile during the song "inji iduppazhagaa..." enjoying revathy's pranks on music at the end of first two lines of the song...
Two more instances when she made a remark to me during the film made me really blissful and reverential to God about the gift he has offered to us....
In the particular scene when Kamal decides to stay back in the village, She turned towards me telling that Nasser had done a good thing (breaking the dam bund with explosives)... I could not understand her initially...but she clarified that she tells so as only because of this gory incident, Kamal makes an important decidions.....
The second instance was just before the Inji iduppazhagaa..song....when Revathy meekly submits to Kamal's instruction...She told me abruptly that "revathy has become like Kamal"....When I sought for explanation, she told me that "like how kamal used to be respectful to his father in earlier scene, revathy is doing the same now to Kamal...."...
I was delighted to see how she understand the film by connecting things....and gave her a word of caution in the last scene that Nasser's head will be chopped off and asked her to close her eyes if she wants....Some how she took it quite easily (!!!) and watched Kamal;s last piece of action....from getting surrendered AND getting into the train after falling at the feets of his chittappa and chinnamma.... (During this scene, I normally get reminded about Dharmaputra's respect to Diruthirashtra in Mahabaratha...after the gory battle with Kauravas...literally killing every one of their hunderd sons....)
I could see that her eyes were bit moist at the end of the last scene and she smiled at me without any word.....and that was enough for me to respond...
Both of us went to sleep and started snoring within few minutes.....hugging each other....
nalla appa .... nalla ponnu....RIGHT ??
subhamasthu...
suchoo

Manager in the making - 7 ::: New twist to this series title....!!

Dear Gowri
I vividly remember the cause / purpose of this series when I started...to record my proud moments of evolving at my office in managing / leading people before I eventually become one....
I am getting reminded about a beautiful tamil novel written by M.V.Shivakumar who was my sister's colleage who had penned few novels too and had some association in film industry...One of his novel is titled "vedanthaangal"...the story revolves around a group of children gathering together in a relatives house for summer vacation....sort of memoirs of the writer on his childhood and naturally we are mistake / interpret the title of the story to mean the birds sanctuary.... Towards the end, this writer nicely interprets the title of the story to give a totally different meaning....He decides to act in his life and to avoid his natural style / flair in order to compete with the world...Yes, he will interpret the title in the last few pages of the novel, "vedam thaangu".....making us aware that we were duped in our earlier interpretation....
Now, some thing like this has happened to this series too...at least could happen over a period of time and the eventful past 2 days helped me to put few pieces of zigzaw puzzle in place about which I never had a clue until now.....!! Let me come back to this later and handle the pieces of the puzzle, right ??? (I am become a big katha kaalakshepagaa......getting too indulged in narration, connecting and dismantling ......)
Well, I had vividly captured the serious questions that I was exploring on thurday night after rubbing off with my boss and eventual reconciliation....Further, couple of other dimensions too happened to add to this postings....
The second aspect is the training session which I did on Thursday where the whole of 15 participants gave their whole hearted participation to my session though it was a worst day for me in terms of preparation....I gathered myself within 5 to 10 minutes of my start....but I could have done lot better with rehearsing the opening 3 or four times.....!! I was looking at my connecting abilities and the way I was pulling the silent trainees in to the fray..cheering them up and virtually all of them responded... One of my peer who is a designated trainee for a big department (from which this whole group of thursday session had come), also sat in during the session as an observer who is supposed to be my backup...He was in all smiles and praise to me at the end of session telling me few innovative things I did was breathtaking ...and I rate his comment much more than my own perception as it comes from some one who is in training people....
The peak of the session came when one of the participant, a young boy, reached me to just hold my hand for couple of seconds before he left the hall...So much inspired by me and eager to look at the emails generated by him in future with lot more care and attention as it deserves....!! IT was a defining moment to me to get more information on this industry and if by any chance I can become a Full Time Trainer instead of being an eternal average performer in what ever I am doing now.... Both the sessions that I have handled now, I had skipped lunch and being a great "eater" and "relisher" this by itself is a great metric for my intensity to stand as a teacher...or a trainer....and as this is a profession by itself needing some formal preparation, I do realise that I have to work a little bit before turning to be a true professional....
Now there is a probability that I may get my promotion in next 6 months max and this thought that has come to me irresistably had to be explored further...so I impulsively got in touch yesterday with a Trainer whom I know..I have met this gentle man in one of a training session in the same company couple of years back AND have also seen him conducting some training programs in my earlier company too...A very seasoned guy and a person with whom I was in touch once a while during the past 2 years...
Like a shishyaa, I was there reaching his home after seeking his availability with half kg of sweets purchased from my favourite savarana bhavan...handed over it to him reverentially like a Gurudhakshanaa....He had gone out by the time I reached his home at virugambakkam AND i was allowed some privacy by his mother in his office room which was electrifying with a huge collection of books neatly arranged on leadership, mentoring...inspirational quotes ....and what not...Here I am in the office room of a person who is self made and has sold 2 decades of experience in the field and vibrates people around him with his magnetic voice and his captivating sessions....
After he joined me, as a good Trainer, he lent me his ears for a full 15 minutes hearing me out....Even when I was in sort of doubt if wants to say some thing, He assured me that he wanted to listen.....I could see some expressions in his face as I unveiled my love for his profession and confessed that I am really bruding if this is too late to migrate....!!
At this point he started speaking telling me reassuringly that he migrated to this career exactly at my age....and his son was just born (second one) at that time....The next half hour he spoke....of the enriching career and the defining moments of his life and did not mind acknowledging that he has faced the same type of emotions and reverences when he migrated...and gave me lot of useful information and tips on what I should do....
I was literally absorbing every word he spoke yesterday night between 7.10 PM to 8.20 PM and got some phone numbers to be contacted further...the first one which I did right today morning...This is a place at Adyar who conduct public speaking classes at low cost only on sundays...which he felt is something very crucial for a person like me to undergo...He recalled that it was a great experience for him to undergo this powerful course which he did under the founder of the institution which is currently handled by his son as the old man got too old to handle the classes.
I also intend to attend one program which he (meaning the person whom I met yesterday) personally conducts....which will be post june only as he is away for a US tour during May and June.....(He travels literally every year to US to get trained AND also to give some programs there to finance his tours....)

Now comes the third & the last dimension....a contact from a placement services to whom I had forwarded my resume came back today morning stating that my resume may not be felt as a HOT one by any candidate.... While I can always improve the same as per her recommendations / suggestions, Let me also candidly admit that I had never been a great performer at office until last year & so there may not be much of data to fill up in my resume even if I wish to expand it..... I continue to carry a low self image about my background in my profession...I never touched any academic book after 1996 and never had an urge to go through the budgets after the same is presented in parliament....and worse, dont know the abc of stock market, mutual funds ....& cannot answer why the dollar rate is dipping....
Very true, there are people in my profession who can give a lecture on this subject bit superficially from what they gathered from Hindu and Express, but unfortunately I dont have an interest even to do even this.....!!
Now, a million dollar question has come to my mind...if I should take a plunge into something which I love to do....instead of my pet habit of hesitation and postponing things....I do have enough time to have some more shadow boxing (or rehearsels) in my passion in my current employment and wondering if at all I migrate, it should be only in the "white hot imperative" instead of another company with same field....
Now the title of this series is mocking at me.....Yes, here is some one who is seriously toying an idea to make lot of managers and leaders.....with the inspiration that he can provide abundantly.....!!
Is this ending of this posting going to be a new beginning....?? OR is it just another fad ????
Krishnaarpanam...
suchoo

Transcendance 10 :::: Tasting the peak of Communication GAPs

Dear Gowri
On Thursday (day before yesterday) I was literally dumbfound / absolutely beaten up with a communication gap (rather series of communication gaps) that happened at my office...and I thought - as usual- let me record the details of the same which I may tend to forget gradually over a period of time.....Madhoo, my darling, should also know her father fully well and I guide her even after I am physically not there with her....(idhu konjam over..illa ??)
Well, where to begin.... ????? I had been to SBI on thurs morning in connection with the last stage of my Loan which I had applied for purchase of a land....
For that matter, I was never serious about this investment which my better half feverishly organised as a long term investment for us....She was literally keeping herself very busy in seeing many sites in and around sriperumbudur AND spend close to 2K for her Cell Phone to follow up this particular land piece which she finally decided....
Of course, I will never absolve from this deal totally and was fully ok for her decision and her sincere AND responsible step to make a savings...I had given a whole hearted go ahead to her to proceed further but was neither curious to know the details of the investment nor I am excited about getting the land piece registered (which eventually happened yesterday)....When Anoo congratulated me at Registrar's office, I looked at her blankly wondering what extra ordinarly has happened to feel so excited.....!! Well Am I drifting away from Thursday's episode ....Let me come to friday later....

Well, considering the fact, that the bank (SBI) wanted me (the loan applicant) to visit personally just before the day of registration to sign few documents and based on which they will prepare the cheque amount (& physically hand over personally to the land developer only on the venue of Registration on the next day)...I had to go there...I thought it could me max one hour and had taken permission from my boss to reach bit late to office....
(I may lose my patience if I go into the horrible procedures of SBI.....and the way they have killed us (I mean Anoo...not me....) in every stage... Already I had spent a horrible half day at the bank at the time of sanction wasting my "earned" leave at office) let me stop here...
I had a session on communication training (want to be specific here...In the capacity of Trainer !!) at office between 4 PM to 8 PM...for which I have to go to another location of our own office which is 3 km away from our Office and I had to take a cab sharp at 3 PM in the noon...The original plan was that I will finish my bank work and reach office by 11 AM and do few basic things upto 2 PM, have lunch and then leave lesisurely for my training session..The plan was flawless and I had smsed both my Boss and another colleague the prior night that I am not going to bring lunch...
Here I have to say a few words on our lunching together which has become a sort of great sharing and caring episode these days with me, my boss AND two direct reportees of mine having memorable time during lunch...kidding each other and enjoying the food collectively....There were lot of days when my boss does not even bring lunch and we just give a share from ours...making his total share much more than our own....!! This was the first time, I gave an SMS just to alert them so that they too dont come empty handed...
I got a prompt sms from him on wed night that he will bring lunch AND Will also bring extra quantity....!! so far so good...
I got stuck up at bank until 1 PM and when I rushed to chepauk station to catch the MRTS train, I realised that I was going to be late to office...meaning, I may not have time for a long lunch of half hour that we used to have...I was so convinced about this and I gave an SMS to one of lunch mates (not my boss) requesting them to carry on with their lunch as I am late (a train was just going over my head at chepauk...and I was sure the next train will be only after 20 minutes).
The communication gap started here...and the destiny smiled at me cruelly...this message did not get delivered at all and I never got suspicious about this episode and never became inquistive why I did not get a confirmation message as I was busy getting myself ready for the training session....rehearsing the questions to be asked...and the flow of the the training session.....sitting in a bench of the platform at Chepauk railway station.....!!
I had infact kept talking to all of them until I was in Bank and did not really have any suspicion about me & staying so long at bank and never gave any hint about missing the lunch..AND the extra quantity of lunch brought by my boss....I eventually got into the train at 2.10 PM from cheapuk reaching taramani station at 2.35 Pm, got into an auto to reach office and my seat at 2.50 PM....quite naturally went into the lunch room (we use the board room for our lunch...I mean just four of us .....previlged people, right ??) to tell them a bye....
When I entered the board room quite casually and just as a courtesy apologised for delay, I suddenly noticed the fury in my boss face....and the three others in the board room - one more counter part had joined as a rarity.....and he told me just this..." I dont want to speak any thing...please leave right away...lets talk later"..... Considering the others hanging their heads down, I realised that some thing was really serious...and I did not even have the time to go further on why this fury....as my cab was leaving in few minutes...
I just smiled at them and hurried towards the basement....and just peeled off the whole worry in my mind like the onion skin...and got ready for the session that I need to handle for 4 full hours.....The session went on too well like my previous session (seperate posting) and during the break that I gave the participants, I called one of my lunch mates and understood that my SMS never reached them..... Realising the reason for the rage of my boss, I told him to book a cab for me at 11 PM in the night...as I had to do some amends at least after my training session (The session was between 4 to 8 PM and I changed my decision to go to home directly from this other office....felt like going back to my own office and address the issue......FURTHER, I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE LEAVE ON FRIDAY FOR THE LAND REGISTRATION.....about which I never had hinted until now....!!
Well these are the problems of getting associated with people bit closely than what is required but believe me it was an interesting situation to handle....I was fully exhausted at 8.45 PM when the session ended (I had to extend it by 45 minutes considering people's involvement....that comes later in seperate posting) and the 3 idlies that I had at 8 AM in the morning had evaporated long back and I was almost like a corpse when I reached back my office....Though my mind was so charged with the wondeful interactive training session...
I could see that my boss was sitting in his seat (he leaves to home around 9 normally) and one our lunch mates who had booked a cab for me was also found....My boss looked at me with a big smile and asked about the session....how well it went off ?? (this is one of his great qualities....childlike....and capable of gathering himself at any moment...). Being from rural background he had demonstrated many times that wastage of food is some thing makes him too unhappy and angry....and here I was there as a victim....and reason for a big wastage of HIS food.....
I did the most right thing I guess, with a broad smile told him that I dont mind eating the left over now...for dinner if he permits me....!! I had planned to go to canteen to take food , but some time unconsciously we do right things, right ??? this moved / melted him, I suppose, he immediately lifted his lunch box, smelt the whole thing like a DOG and handed over it me....I diluted some sour curd he have with lot of water, had some kootu as side dish and was hungrily eating the buttermilk rice sitting alone in our canteen area (which is restricted to our team only)...
Visibly moved, he along with my other buddy joined me at 10 PM to the canteen and then the inevitable arguement started and lasted for next 1 hour....He expressed something like 'irresponsibility" from my side which I countered vehemently.... It was an evenly poised discussion - meaning that I had enough reasons to defend myself but I was also secretly appreciating their view points....I had clarity at my heart with all my initiatves while I was stuck up in the bank for the whole of forenoon to avoid any communication gaps....but what cost heavily was that single "undelivered SMS message" which had never happened to me until now....I had always used SMS as the most convenient and swift way to get in touch with people and for the first time, it had fooled me....
This is not just the only commuication gap, but at least half dozen other things happened which had put both of us in wrong understanding of each other's position and situation....making the communication gap more and more.....I actually felt like laughing at the nice manner the whole thing had been fabricated and designed..but he was not in a mood of such macro level wisdom that I always possess and nourish.....
I was appreciative of his views and the reasons for his anger on me knowing him and his simple mind fully well.... but at the same time, I was quite agressive with him when he started uttering some thing that I will not be scaleable if I can be so unreliable....At a point, I even told him that I did not mind being a DM for the whole of my life if such an extreme view is taken.....!! (too much....and daring...but just to give a glimpse of our intimacy).... When he started talking about a meeting that he had organised at 1 PM with my team hoping that I will return by that time, I had to politely counter him telling that he cannot just like organise a meeting 15 minutes earlier and expect some one who has not even reached office to fly and join the meeting (he is known for his all of a sudden meetings.....and in my perception, he is a poor time manager though he has other good qualities)
The other lunch mate became like a "perusu" trying to console both of us and candidly told that he was so scared to speak our manager for the whole of the afternoon...as he found him so fierce and disturbed....throughout....The latter immediately laughed and told he never felt so much anger in his life.....When I reached back to my seat and shared what went on with another lunch mate....he nicely summarised the whole fiasco....AND the emotions that played a role in our discussion....I give below his words as much as possibly exact....
"they always say, you get very angry when you have so much love...he loves you so much and that is the reason for getting so harsh"...
His statement which he made with all smile and understanding our great relationship made me feel bit proud...but at the same time, I started thinking seriously....from that moment..."Am I getting too much personal ?? Can this type of personal relationship really good to be proceeded further ?? Am I really taking shelter under this type of person and becoming a puppet in his hands.....Does this type of personal relationship play a part in allowing me the luxury of remaining depressed for days together.....?? Lot more abstract questions.....!!
the musings continue.....Will be "surrendered" to Lord Krishna...only at the end of the sequel...
suchoo

Kathi paarudaa.....!!

Hi Gowri

Nice to look at this posting today morning which unfortunately I had not read until now on Kathi para junction bridge which I remember by coincidence, we were talking about yesterday night.... It is coincidence in one sense but the other angle to it is that it is a communication distortion...as perhaps you would have thought I was speaking about it only after reading your postings...right ?? Please dont start arguing that it cannot be a "distortion"...at least it has a possibility to become a communication gap, isnt't it so ??

Yes, this particular over bridge is some thing gladdens my heart and I feel so much belonging to this wonderful city (yes, for me, chennai is a great place to live.....) with the hopes and prospects of this city which is growing every day....inspite of all odds and deficiencies.....!!

There used to be a time when we had to go out of our home town for getting a good job and situation is fast changing that one can stay for the whole of the career in chennai itself without compromising much on his career and the pay compensation....I travelled in MRTS yesterday from Taramani to Chepauk and this new Train really matters a lot for chennaittes...even during the mid day in which I travelled, around 1 PM, the train was fully occupied though there were no standees.....The platforms are bit deserted and bit deceptive to compare against the actual utilisation....Like many other things, I am sure they too will improve over a period of time...and the large built area in each station is really made use off....for some commercial purpose.....(I have lot of ideas on how these spaces could be utilised...who is going to listen to me....hmmmm)

Till very recently,we did not have the comforts and the growth at chennai and I wish to shout aloud at pitch of my voice...."madaraasi enru solladaa...thalai nimirndhu nillada...."...I want to really shout with joy.....I am telling myself...."deey...kathudaa.....kathi paarudaa...."......

the last para is just to justify my title....he hey....

suren

Apr 10, 2008

** Kathipara Overbridge **
After a pro-looonged delay, construction of a part of Kathipara overbridge in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India was completed and opened to traffic on Apr/09 ! Some relief to the choking traffic at this junction. When this bridge is totally completed and also when the overbridge near the airport is completed, traffic from Tambaram to Anna-Flyover will ease to a greater extent. Hope we will get to see that soon.
Posted by Gowri at 7:33 PM
Labels: General

Prelude before a flood

Dearest....
Suchoo back again with lot of things to be poured out...as usual....
It appears as of now that I need to vomit out (I literally mean this...as without doing this, I am not going to able to do any thing else that I have scheduled during today....) though I keep carrying an illusion that my vomits are not so nauseating and nice / curious to look at....even by people passing by who are not connected to me..... !!
Well there past 30 hours have been too much to bear for me in terms of intensity of living and I allowed myself a full 8 hours sleep only to get up at 9 AM today....(yeah, went to sleep only at 1 AM....) as I knew today is going to be lot more hectic than yesterday...
By sheer coincidence OR by my unconscious stretch of imagination, there are going to be minimum four postings...one in each of my pet series....AND at least 1 feedback..(kathipaara) in my natural style of musings on the subject written by my better half...(on kathipaara....)
shall I start
Reverentially yours
suchoo

** Kathipara Overbridge **

After a pro-looonged delay, construction of a part of Kathipara overbridge in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India was completed and opened to traffic on Apr/09 ! Some relief to the choking traffic at this junction. When this bridge is totally completed and also when the overbridge near the airport is completed, traffic from Tambaram to Anna-Flyover will ease to a greater extent. Hope we will get to see that soon.

* Hogenekal Project **

The dust has settled down a bit as the Tamil Nadu Govt has decided to put the Hogenekal drinking water project on hold. This project was envisaged to supply drinking water to the people of Krishnagiri and Dharmapur district. This project was earlier worked out on a sort of 'barter' arrangement. Way back in 1998, Tamil Nadu Govt gave a clearance to the 'Bangalore Drinking water scheme' to use the Cauvery water, for which in return, Karnataka Govt, gave a clearance to this 'Hogenekal Project'. The fluoride level in water, in the districts of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri is at 9.0 mg/L (against the WHO norm of 1.5mg/L). The Hogenekal project would have benefitted both these districts - or around 2.2 million people (most of them, according to one estimate, are Kannada and Telugu speaking people).

Though we have the previous clearance... why the storm now??? "ELECTION" - is the magic word !! While there is certain amount of truth in Jayalalitha's accusation that Karunanidhi has given up to Karnataka - we need to realise that, at this stage where elections are round the corner in Karnataka, going ahead with this project would only have made every political party in Karnataka fight tooth and nail against the project. Afterall the politicians care for nothing but for votes. Worst of all are the statements from one of our former (unfortunate) PM - Shri Dewa Gowda !!!

God, save this Nation from Politicians !!

** Vellore Golden Temple **

I have seen quite a few beautiful places in India. On Tuesday, after my visit to the 'Golden Temple' built in Vellore, Tamil Nadu (India), I would, without any hesitation, rank it as the best that I have ever seen so far. Its simply breath taking, even better than the Lotus temple and Amritsar Golden Temple. The pathway that takes you to the central main temple is designed in a star shape and the landscape on both sides of this pathway is breath taking and well maintained. Let me not waste too many words - dont forget to get this place on your 'must see' Indian site. To enjoy your trip, plan it on any of the week days and during early morning hours when the place is not crowded.