Kalam For President ... Again!

With Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's presidential term ending in July, we've seen a lot of names crop up as the next President of the soverign republic of India. With names such as Shivraj Patil, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Pranab Mukherjee in contention for the top spot, the race was expected to have a tight finish. But the entry of Pratibha Patil changed the equation and all the men mentioned above had to step aside and make way for the lady. This has left us with a choice of having either Dr. Kalam or Mrs. Pratibha Patil as our next President.

I think that Dr. Kalam, if given a chance, should take up the second term as the country's president. I think so because here is a man who has a vision and how many of our past president's (or politicans) have had one? Its also a lot easier to implement the vision when you are the President. By this, I do not mean that as a President you can force reforms or bully around to change things for better. But its just that I feel that when you are at the helm of affairs and when every change in the rule book is to be authorised by you, you are always at an advantage to get the big picture. And having this knowledge will always help a person to find a way out when he hits a roadblock. And with Dr. Kalam not affiliated to any political parties, he should not find himself in a dilemma of going against the interests of any political party.

So, go for it Dr. Kalam. A well educated and intelligent candidate with no political alliances is always a better choice then someone who has the support of a group of politicians just because the party bigwigs thought so!

P.S. I don't really know much about Mrs. Pratibha Patil and so I see no reason on why I should comment on her prospects as the President.

Kudos to PMC

Sometime around mid-July last year, there were parallels drawn between Pune's roads and the surface of the moon. There was a lot of noise from not only the rival political parties but also from some citizens' groups. And I think that the administration deserved every bit of this criticism. The condition of roads today suggests that the harsh words have struck the right chord with the people in-charge of maintaining the city's roads.

Driving around the city today, you will come across a lot of places wherein the roads have been repaired or are under various stages of construction. Some of these have been completed under record time. The most encouraging aspect of this has been the quality of the work done. The roads definitely look as if they would be able to bear the onslaught of the monsoon this year. The fact that the contractor concerned is ensuring that the roads are marked out properly shows that he is paying attention to detail. I am also impressed by the efforts taken by the contractor to limit the inconvenience caused (at least on the roads I frequent) to people while the work is underway.

I know that there are still a few areas where the roads are riddled with potholes and also that the construction work has caused inconvenience to some people, but I still think that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken a step in the right direction and they deserve a pat on their back for the efforts put into this project! Keep it up guys!!

A Different Photo Shoot

Skimming through the newspaper, I came across an article that spoke of the latest photo shoot by Spencer Tunick. There were a couple of things that made this photo shoot different from the ones that I've heard of in the past. First of all, it involved an estimated 10,000+ models and second is that they all agreed to pose nude for him. And to the best of my knowledge they did this for free. Now, this surely is something new for me.

I must appreciate the freedom of expression (especially for such events) available in some of the foreign countries. You cannot even dream of doing something similar in a society like our's where nudity in public is still an alien concept. I personally would not be comfortable or interested in posing for such an event and this adds to my surprise at the number of people who managed to be a part of the event.

You can read more about this event here. And in case you are interested in being a part of similar shoots in the future, you need to follow this link and sign up. If you sign up and end up being a part of something similar I must say that you are - different. Also, if possible, do let me know your reasons for the same as I fail to understand why would anyone want to do something like this.

The Entrance Saga

Sitting in the lawns outside the examination centre, waiting for my brother to wrap out his IIT entrance exam, I can't stop wondering how easy life was when I passed out of twelfth standard. With an engineering degree in sight, the only entrance I considered was the JEE. Other than that, I knew that I could get into a good engineering college solely on the basis of performance in Physics, Chemistry and Maths in the borad exams.

Compare this with what my brother is going through. He has been juggling regular college with extra classes (meant for the various engineering college entrances) for six days a week, for some hundred odd weeks now. Sundays are not meant for breaks but for taking tests that judge what he has studied for the last few weeks. And mind you, the Sunday tests cannot be taken lightly as your place in the merit batch as against the regular batch is decided based on your peformance in the Sunday tests. Am sure the uncertainty in the mind of an average Indian cricket team player of making it to the playing eleven is much less than that of my brother retaining his place in the merit batch. Every month end there is mock test, IIT ishtyle, wherein you are tested in all the three subjects at the same time. Almost every two months there is a parents' meet, where the parents have to face the harsh reality in terms of their ward's performance in the innumerable tests (ouch!).

I had plans for my 'post 12th standard vacation' about a month before the board exams started. Almost a month after his board exams, all my brother has planned for is the number and dates of the entrances that he is to take in these couple of months. The saga does not end with the preparation, mock tests and actual tests. There is a lot more to follow in the form of results for each one of them (4 to be precise) followed by the counselling for some if not all.

But if you look around, you find comfort in the fact that he is not the only one going through all this. Cut throat competition is a way of life today and you don't want to concede an inch if you are aware of it. Beating competition is something that my brother's generation has learnt a lot earlier than I did. And, not to forget, given the kinda importance an IITian or someone from a NIT or from BITS enjoys the ordeal mentioned above seems all the more worth it. So, here's hoping that my brother can make it to an engineering college of his choice. Cheers!

A Fresh Start

I have not been working on the tasks listed in the to do list I mentioned earlier. So, here's a fresh start to things with a new blog template and renewed enthusiasm to try and achieve the tasks listed for 2007!

P.S. I think the new blogger template is damn cool and it makes life smooooooooth for someone like me who is not well versed with the basics of html.

Changes

I started a morning walk / jog routine today. I had been planning some sort of early morning physical activity for quite some time but always found reasons not to get going with it. I enjoyed the jog this morning and by the time I got back home, I could not stop myself from wondering. What was it that kept me from starting this earlier?

What was more difficult – to stop being a late riser or to start getting out of the house for a jog? Or was it both? I think it was both. And the fact that both the activities are so closely related but yet unique made the beginning all the more difficult. I think that the two activities are unique as there were instances when I woke up early (by my standards) and yet never stepped out of the house!

Isn’t it strange, how its difficult to start some things where as its equally difficult (even more at times) to end others? I guess its all got to do with changes – they always get some challenges along. Even if the change is a pleasant one, it’s not a certainty that it’s going to be easy adapting to it. To make the situation all the more complex, I’m told, that change is the only thing constant in life!

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time leadership mattered, now dealership rules the world.
Once upon a time quality was a craftsman's pride, now it is a departmental mess.
Once upon a time a mouse was a untouchable mammal, now it is a handheld pest.
Once upon a time wisdom was cultivated by wise people, now it is flashed on T-shirts.
Once upon a time teachers taught and students learnt, now teacher trade and students consume.Once upon a time population was a problem, now it is a flourishing mass market.
Once upon a time competition brought out the best in products, now it brings out the worst in people.
Once upon a time there was a golden rule, now if u have gold, u rule.
Once upon a time truth telling was good for ur soul, now it is bad 4 ur promotion.
Once upon a time success meant living by the ideals, now it is about rising above all principles.
Once upon a time beauty was in the eye of the beholder, now it's a booming business

P.S. Got these lines from a forward!

India Poised

If you are an urban Indian aged between 20 and 30*, there's one point that almost all of you will agree to - India's bright future. Keeping in mind that there are many areas that we still need to start improving upon, you can see the winds of change sweeping the minds of the land. There is this buzz around you, telling you about the country's fortune being northbound! And mind you the buzz is no illusion.

The Times group has started this campaign, called India Poised. As a part of this campaign, they intend to highlight not only the best but also the areas that we need to work upon as a Nation to be a true international force to reckon.

The campaign's anthem is beautifully written and does an excellent job of capturing the sentiments of the nation. Mr. Amitabh's Bachchan's voice just adds to the magic of the words. Log onto www.indiapoised.com to hear the anthem and get inspired!!

P.S. You will have to register in order to listen to the Hindi version of the anthem, but its gonna be truly worth it.
*The chosen subset is just the group of Indians I relate to most!

Job Fair Tips

I represented my company at a job fair recently. I was supposed to select candidates for my department. The candidates short listed by me were to be later subjected to a long selection process. So, it can be said that I was the first hurdle for anyone interested in being a part of my company.

This was a first for me in a couple of ways. Firstly, I had never attended a job fair before and secondly, this was my first time on the other side of the table - selecting candidates. Based on my experiences there, here are a few tips that may help you bag that job at the next job fair you walk into.

1. Carry your latest resume. No need for any fancy stationery, plain A4 size paper will take you places if you’ve got the right content on it.
2. Do not hesitate approaching the company’s stall as that beats the very purpose of you going to a job fair. In the worst case you’ll be dinged. But you would never find this out unless you approach him.
3. Avoid approaching the company’s stall in large groups. It only dents your chances as you may not be able to cement your position in the minute or so that you are given for your first shot.
4. In case of a rush, wait for your turn. Do not jump the line or be pushy.
5. Feel free to ask company / job specific questions. A conversation is a best way of showcasing your communication skills.
6. Pay attention to the conversations the representative is having with the other candidates. It would only help you know more about the vacancy / company and you could market yourself better.
7. Be clear about the kind of job you looking for. You could get away without this if you are a fresher, but for someone with experience – you got to know what you getting yourself into.
8. Avoid asking salary related questions at the job fair unless you sure that you’re talking to the HR person OR sure of landing yourself the job.
9. Never be rude to the company person, even if your application is turned down.

10. Don’t force him / her to keep your resume. Because, if he is not interested in the first place, your resume is going to land up in the dustbin anyways. So, why waste a copy of your resume?

Decisions

In my twenty-four years of existence, I’ve been at the crossroads on a number of occasions. Times, when I’ve had to take a decision for myself based on the situation at hand and ready myself for the future. Some of these decisions have been taken with full cognizance of the fallouts, whereas others have been risks. In either case, the decision was made and fallouts accepted.

For me, taking decisions affecting just myself are a lot easier than those that affect not only myself but also the ones I care. Over the years, I have found myself in more and more instances wherein the decisions taken have been of the second type as above. I guess this is what terms like growing up and being responsible are all about. Whatever be the case, the fact remains that its difficult deciding things for oneself and picking options keeping others in mind just makes the process all the more interesting(!).

I am the low risk-taking types when it comes to matters involving people I care for. And over the last few years, this trait of mine has been a major flash point for some of my friends. I’ve been found guilty of not taking the popular approach on a couple of occasions. I’ve even had to pay a price for doing this.

I would like the people concerned to spare a moment and digest the fact that I cannot keep all of them happy all the time. And I need to be true to myself in order to do full justice to their importance in my life. Thus, unless I am convinced about something I will not vote in favor of it. I’m aware of the consequences of such a decision and I’d rather be true to myself than fight myself into playing a role I’m not convinced about.