** Olympics 2008 **

China has definitely set an example by successfully organising the Olympics with very high standards. Organising an event of such huge magnitude calls for involvement from every sphere of the nation - and by conducting it successfully, China has proved its mettle, calibre and growth in every sphere. The inaugural and closing ceremony were simply fantastic. Facilities and resources left everyone astounding. Credit goes to China !! This only proves that "population" is NOT an impediment to growth. It is the 'discipline' that we Indians lack and which puts hurdle in the growth path of our nation.

** Sports & Facilities **

Indian wrestler, Sushil Kumar, who won the bronze medal for India in the just concluded Beijing Olympics made all the Sports ministry officials talk high. But, what is the ground reality?? One of the TV Channels showed the living condition of Sushil Kumar in Delhi, where he was staying and practicing. It was a small dingy hall will full of cots. Around ten were staying in that hall - where, not a single more could be accommodated. Cots were put next to each other without even one centimeter of space. A person living in a road side hut would have had more living space than that. Cant the sports ministry select atleast the top few and provide them better amenities?? All the three boxers who reached the quaterfinals and the wrestler have proven credentials even before the Olympics and yet the facilities provided to them were awful !! That speaks volumes of what the Sports Ministry does. Thats the exact reason that the value of the medals that these men have brought for India is worth more than what it appears. We will NEVER be able to up with China- not just in sports !!

** Kill and Walk free **

RK Anand and IU Khan are two eminent High Court lawyers (one of them is an ex-MP). They were caught on camera influencing a witness to depose in favour of the prime accused in a sensational BMW hit-and-run case which resulted in the death of six. The witness is the main witness (sole?) for the whole case and if he back-tracks, the prime accused, son of a rich arms dealer Nanda, will walk free.

Well, now that the lawyers were caught obstructing the justice on camera, you would expect harsher punishment. No, NOT in INDIA !! All they got was a four months suspension from appearing in court and a fine of Rs.2000/- (those lawyers servants may be getting more than that as monthly salary!). This only sets a wonderful trend where anyone can obstruct justice and all they get is a mild punishment, if at all they were caught.

Making of Managers - 19 ::: Getting relieved with heavy heart but light mind !!!

Dear Gowri
Last week was very special in terms of intense activities, formal announcement of my move to a project team to my current team and my telling a BYE to them yesterday. I had spoken to the TLs on the prior day who were all quite shocked at the series of changes happening (my boss incidentally got moved to another team last week only)
Few were sincerely hoping that I am going to fit into his shoes and become the next manager but some thing told me that our senior management will consider me for the next level only after some time. I in fact was particularly not too thrilled to get elevated at the present team itself where I dont have much challenges in terms of job....Not that every thing is perfect and completed but we have a peculiar market which is always indifferent and insensitive....and we do not have even regular meetings with our counterparts like other teams at our organisation. It is just people handling and taking self initiatives without any expressed need raised by market which used to be the very foundation / challenge in our service industry - normally.
Well, my selection for the project team was a real bouncer which happened quite close to my boss movement while I was getting ready to work under a new person in his seat.... In fact his successor is not announced yet and It felt great to get relieved at this different experience too - me being an eternal optimist.....me getting relieved announced by the GM to our team.
On Friday, I had a meeting at the project upto 11 AM and hurriedly reached to my seat...I had fixed up a standing meeting at my work area requesting the whole of the team to assemble by around 11 AM...and the moment I entered, the whole team gathered in stark silence.
It was nice to see that our Manager too had come to HIS old department and he too joined as I spoke to my team. After telling them few courteous words clearly and slowly (my communication with team has dramatically improved with my training experience...I just dont allow any confusion / distortion in communication these days), I dont know why I got bit emotional and just stopped a particular sentence in between.
The young faces - many of them whom I had personally groomed - spending lot of time in correcting their mistakes in speaking and in emails....countless counselling sessions & consistently giving feedbacks....all of them noticed me hanging my head down with full of emotions. Just then my ex boss pitched in and spoke about me lavishly for 10 minutes giving all his blessings...and that he was surprised to join this as he came quite casually to pick up his diary from his work station.
It is a custom that people give some feedbacks / choose to express few nice words one by one but after my boss completed, there was pin drop silence. It was so wonderful and I could see that it was more beautiful than any words my team could have spoken about me...( I had done couple of novel things to make them really done....While reaching office in a hurry, I had all the time to buy a box of 60 diary milk - the small 5 Rs one - and distributed it before even I started speaking....which was quite unusal.... Further, before people gathered around my desk, I had scribbled down my new extension number, changed email id and also the location where I will be sitting for next 1 - 2 months.....in the board at my workstation....with lot of pro-acitivity - both these simple acts added to my image, I realised then...)
Well, none of them spoke and my manager kept on inducing for a while and I cut him short and raised some general topic for chatting to lighten up the situation.... and I reached to my new work location with a heavy heart.
Before the time, I had reached my work station, 2 - 3 mails had flown into my new mail id wishing me great future...and one particular long mail listed all that I had done for this boy. There were couple of phone calls telling me that they need to speak to me in person on monday for which I agreed.
Now, this is the beauty....For some one who never cared to improve his technical skill set but just remained people oriented, there cannot be a better farewell given by his team. I am sure that these little kids will get reminded of me as a source of great inspiration when they undergo some training programs where the trainers ask us to get reminded of personalities from their lives.
What more a person wants when he gets reminded by - if not all - couple of people who are going to join management team - either in current employment or elsewhere too ?
suchoo

Moment of Bliss - 21 ::: Some thing too subtle.....!!

Hello Gowri
The events that happen during the whole of Aug are too much and I keep mentally noting down that I should record the experience as it happens...but taking time to do what ever that we want to do....and executing every single vridhi of the mind is a real challenge.... Perhaps, this is why, I feel that the spiritual people prefer to work on the mind to minimize vridhis (or ripple of thoughts) instead of trying to do every thing their mind wanders about.... which is almost impossible feat....!!
Well, while my mind played a trick with me to post another "all in one" for the current period of life, I re-inforced to myself it is going to be three seperate postings in all the three series that I am currently writing... Infact it really gives great pleasure that this simple act of expression of thoughts and feelings have grown into 3 files of 40 pages each.....for each of the series....without having any real plan why I am storing all these so systematically.... (for that matter - in addition to storing all the poems and a log book for the poems, I also store quite sincerely all the feedbacks that I get from people - mainly from training initiatives & also few other touching ones....and this file too keeps growing...)
Well, let us come to the subject. I travelled with my ex- GM in his car upto teynambet during one of the days last week who is a great man in terms of knowledge and humanity. We do have such people - really rare creed - in every organization and I do remember him always as a source of inspiration and a possiblity for human potential. He in fact graduated from Pachiappaas College and grew quite systematically in his career....He is respected and loved by the entire organisation for his unassuming manners and humility...He creates a stir even amongst the security staff as he moves around in the office which is a wonderful sight to watch when we walk along with him.
Now, I shared one of my poems "Suzharch" with this Gentleman who gave his nice feedback on my thought process while giving his appreciation to me for writing poems of good quality though I started very late. While we touched upon the subject during the car travel, I casually told him on my wish to write on Vairamuthu's Kallikkaatu ithihaasam (I have named it too...already "Glimpses of an EPIC")
He was astounded with the mere idea that I had..and suggested me that this could become a great literary work (He was actually quoting .... that this could have prospects of "nobel prize"....which I am safely ignoring to quote outside this bracket !!) and sincerely suggested couple of English Books to read before even getting started. I really felt that I should not hurry up on this work by the way this person understood my project pretty well and put out his thoughts.
Because, my idea is not a translation...which is impossible to do....considering the local slang that vairamuth extensively uses through out the book. The one line of the book as I expressed some time back in this blog is to give an intro to a non tamil person ...and tell him the dimensions of this book. And..what ever I expressed to my ex boss while travelling, he grasped or absorbed like a blotting paper and then came his candid feedback...
This was truely a moment of bliss for a person like me...who have ever been an average performer for such a long time...finding his feet slowly and discovering his true potential and skill set very late of his life......!!
suchoo

** J & K **

The State is in a turmoil since the past few days. I do not agree with the view of lot of so-called "elites" who keep writing that Kashmir should be given "aazaadi" (yes, in Indian news-papers!!). The present situation is entirely due to the stupid act of the Congress government - both at the Centre and at the State. It does not have any resolution in hand to solve the tangle - and that has added fuel to the fire. The present situation is quite dis-heartening and painful and I am watching the horizon with a grave concern.

** விகடனும் LTTE-இம் **

In the latest edition of Vikatan - it has published a survey on LTTE and Tamil Nadu. The survey was done amongst a total of 4195 people and has been published as if that is the overall views of people of Tamil Nadu. A magazine of the stature of Vikatan could have acted more responsibly. The following are some of the "findings" of the survey :-

a) Support LTTE - always :54.25%
b) Tamil Eelam - Yes, needed:55.44%
c) India Should involve in the SL problem - YES:62.59%
d) LTTEs growth in the warfare - Proud of it:46.24%

Icing on the cake :
ராஜீவ் காந்தி படு கொலையில் குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்ட பிரபாகரன் -
கைது செய்யப் பட வேண்டும்:43.02%
மன்னித்து விட்டு விடலாம்:40.07%
குற்றம் அற்றவர் : 16.90%

So, will these people say the same if equated with Kashmir?? Isnt it the same scenario. Tamil people in SL for Kashmir people; LTTE for Kashmir terrorists; Sri Lanka for India; and India for Pakistan !!!

This is an example of how insane can people get to and how irresponsible can a magazine be !!
Jai Hind!!

** Abortion Law - Pt II **

Exactly on the same day I made my previous posting on the plight of a couple who had filed a suit seeking permission to abort a 25 weeks foetus - court has given its ruling that they CAN NOT !! Per the ruling, since the 25 weeks foetus starts breathing, it becomes alive and hence cannot be terminated. Law has no provision for 'euthanasia' in Indian constitution. Now, the couple can do nothing but to pray God.
---------------
A couple in Mumbai has filed a case in court seeking legal permission to abort the 25 week foetus as medical/scan reports suggests that the unborn child has heart blockages. In India, the country’s abortion law does not allow termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks unless it harms mother’s life/health. Aborting a 25 weeks foetus, is by itself a threat to the mother - and now, the court is going to take a few more days to decide. Adding to the chaos, Mumbai's Archbishop has given a religious colour to the case by appealing to the couple to allow the child to be born and the church will take care of the child. So many questions go begging - about our abortion laws; on why cant the church take care of lakhs of children getting treated for various diseases in India? - But what is clear from all these happenings is - if you decide to seek a solution to any of your problem, do NOT seek legal assistance in India !! Jai Hind !!
----------

** Sports & Grit **

Natalie Du Toit & Oscar Pistorius are no ordinary sports persons. Both are physically challenged. Natalie, a swimmer with only one leg and Oscar a sprinter with no legs at all! While Natalie has qualified for the Olympics, Oscar failed to qualify. Oscar fought a prolonged legal battle to allow him participate in the Olympics to compete alongside other able bodied sportsmen; it was opposed on the grounds that artificial legs gave him an advantange over fellow men; Oscar ultimately won the case but failed to qualify in the Olympic qualifying rounds. However, Natalie's is a success story. She says her memorable experience was in one of the Common Wealth games that she participated, where, when she turned around to take the last 50 m lap, all other swimmers had already finished the whole distance, but the whole stadium stood up and cheered for her. In this Olympics, no doubt, I will be cheering for Natalie.

Check out the links below to know more about them :-

Natalie Du Toit ..............................Oscor Pistorius

.........................


Watch Oscars 400m run in the You tube link below..
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=1so1ZMgpg2w

and Natalie's swim and more on disability in sports in the link below
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=j9GxfsQ1eVw

** Abortion Law **

A couple in Mumbai has filed a case in court seeking legal permission to abort the 25 week foetus as medical/scan reports suggests that the unborn child has heart blockages. In India, the country’s abortion law does not allow termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks unless it harms mother’s life/health. Aborting a 25 weeks foetus, is by itself a threat to the mother - and now, the court is going to take a few more days to decide. Adding to the chaos, Mumbai's Archbishop has given a religious colour to the case by appealing to the couple to allow the child to be born and the church will take care of the child. So many questions go begging - about our abortion laws; on why cant the church take care of lakhs of children getting treated for various diseases in India? - But what is clear from all these happenings is - if you decide to seek a solution to any of your problem, do NOT seek legal assistance in India !! Jai Hind !!

"All in One".......

Dear Gowri
I could not find a better title than this for the current posting....This could be a historic posting that I have ever made because I am posting this soon after an experience with a hurry to vent out my exact state of mind...before I start distorting it with my own thoughts and interpretations......Further, I do have lot of things to do for next few hours and cannot allow myself to get stucked up with this great experience which made me tasted some thing which is relevant and apt for all the three series that I am currently writing (Transcendance, Managers in Making & Moment of Bliss)...Let me justify this part later but it is important for you to get sufficiently reminded that this could be a long posting......and may appear like making mountain out of the molehole.....and you may relegate this to your liesure hour as I am eager to get your specific feedback on this posting alone from you.....(I do appreciate the agreement between us that you will give feedback only to poems and not for the postings that we make....which could put us in never ending loop....)
Well, Today I called up the Head-Man at the Public Speaking class to check with him if I can join tomorrow's session as I thought a second listening could do a world of good for me to understand the few subtle things that I missed out earlier.....though I was quite intent and eager....!! I need to expand a little bit here that I have hands on experience on this belated understanding of subtle things with Kaml Films, Isha Classes...and (God Bless) I had the sanity to check with this man before going to the same class again naturally as I used to go to Kamal Film or Isha Class....!!
I first spoke to his wife and after exchanging courtesies, she reminded me of the Grammer class that she is starting next sat at her home.....I had asked for details and had spoken to her some time back (when I visited their home for preparing for culturals) for the purpose of Anoo...(Just wanted to brush up the fundamentals for her as she is developing a complex when she sits to "teach" our little devil - well, I should add, there were some embarassing moments for her when both of them came to me for spelling / meaning / grammer usage when they were in confllict of the correct grammer & english....Unfortunately, most of the times, the little devil is proving her mother that she is better amongst the two....)
So, when I called up, reminding on the date of new classes was quite natural for which I gave a fitting response to her.... (avasyam !!). You cant' call me wrong or indecent in the manner I put forth my request if by any chance I can attend the class sitting in the last row...and if they allow it in their process / institute....I got a rather professional reply from her to check with her hubby and immediately gave his cell number.
I spoke to (one of my) guru and he instantly recognised me....and asked me lot of questions quite cheerfully....!! And then, I gradually put forth my request, he told a decisive NO.....telling me it could be boring for me....!!! I was not the one to give up, I asked him by any chance I had missed out some thing, I wanted to catch it up...and did not mind to add a tinge of humour that I will be sitting quitely in the last row (for that matter, during our sessions, we always had few people in back benches who missed / remained absent on some of their classes in previous batches...and it was normal to have 4 - 5 people in his class more than the current batch strength.. I never imagined all of them would be cases where he personally monitors and invites....and tracks the attendances of them !!
He clearly told me that it is not advisable to re-attend the class and re-confirmed to me that there will not be much learning value to listen to him once again......!! I thanked him with a smile and excused myself.....and disconnected the phone line....
I had mixed feelings and confused thoughts about this simple episode...Undisputably I was the best student of his batch and had great value in the batch by triggering people around me and making the sessions very participative.....!! I had groomed a (pretty) girl to compere the whole of cultural events on the last day when I was personally requested by this man to organise the whole thing......!! and last but not the least, the manner in which they handed over the certificate (mine came in between in the bunch....I could clearly see that he put it as a last one and finishing all others, he gave it after telling a few words about me.....)... Within few seconds from the subtle sense of dissappointment that I had (about which I never wrote any series of postings), I could see that I was able to smile at myself taking a lesson out of it....
Is it not a moment of Transcendance ? I clearly realise that there is a big difference in each and every transaction that we have with people around us (the ones whom we love as well as one whom we hate)....and it is important to entertain thoughts / requests based on merits of the case......!! (ironically, the tomorrow's session is on Transaction Analysis...Try Google)
Further, I clearly realised, if my vision is to make it really big as a Trainer - considering that I will be one of the aged trainer with minimum experience in the field - I need to conserve my energy a little bit and keep focussing on the priorities of the day...Imagine if there are going to be more back benchers than the front benches...Who will pay the Hotel Bill for the Conference Hall ?
So, this was also quite a relevant experience for me in "making of Managers" title...

But, I also see that some thing could be done slightly different about such requests and predicaments...if we dont take passionate financial goals for ourselves in what ever we do...!! I am eager to make myself available to lot more people than whom I will cover for financial considerations...While I realise the importance of having a regular income, I must be able to customize a life that will serve few people who are interested in their self improvement.....Now, I dont want to even think about the details as I type it down....Most of my talks at office circuit in front of my team are extempored these days...While the team gathers, I scribble down the points to be covered , the opener and concluding "bulls eye" statements....and humour touches....!!
So, as it comes by, I can easily fit a plan of mission to suit my vision...Until then, let me do my today's job...and forget this incident..
After all, getting out the juice effectively, what is the point holding the dry flesh....??
suchoo
ps:- It is really a moment of bliss for me to record this within 30 minutes of happening of the incident...Krishnaarpanam as always...

** Talent **

VaLLavanukku PuLLum AaYuDhaM !! Watch the video clip in the link below..... I love this fellow.. :)

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=4iSYjn7Tjz8