Something Special

Thalaivaa Movie - Micro Review

2013-08-10T21:13:00.000+05:30

Director: A. L. Vijay

Cast: Vijay, Amala Paul, Satyaraj, Santhanam, Abhimanyu Singh, Suresh, Nassar, Ponvannan, Manobala and Sam Anderson (Cameo Appearance)

Music: G. V. Prakash

In the first half of the movie, Vishwa (Vijay) is portrayed as a mineral water supplier and as a dancer in Australia. Meera (Amala Paul) pretends to be Vishwa's love interest and manages an Indian restaurant in Australia. Yes, she just pretends because she is actually a police officer from Crime Branch in India. She plots a clever plan with Suresh (who pretends to be Meera's father) in order to bring back Vishwa to India and arrest Vishwa's father Ramadurai a.k.a. Anna (Sathyaraj) because nobody knows where Anna is living in Mumbai. According to the plan, Meera joins Vishwa's Sydney famous dance group "Tamil Pasanga", makes him fall in love with her, proposes him and takes him to India to seek the approval of Anna. Until Vishwa reaches India, he is unaware of what exactly his father does. Forget that, he does not even know his house address in Mumbai. Anna is a very famous figure in Mumbai who not only helps the poor and needy but also fights against injustice. He has earned the respect of many people in Mumbai which has caused him a lot of trouble. His enemies have done some golmaal and want the police to arrest him. When Vishwa gets back to India with Meera, Anna reveals this truth and Vishwa also gets to know about Meera's plot. Soon after, Anna dies in a bomb blast which was not intended by Meera. Vishwa wants to take up the position of Anna but his chitappa (Ponvannan) refuses and tries to send him back to Australia. But Vijay recollects his father's golden words- "This is a one way path. One cannot step back. In the end, what goes away, is only life. Once you take up aruval (sword) in your hand, you should fight for justice". Finally, Vishwa's chitappa turns out to be a back stabber (literally). But, Vishwa kills all those who had conspired his father's death. Meera, as a responsible police officer helps him out in various instances and also quits her job in the end and marries Vishwa. Then the movie finishes off with the words- "Time to lead"!

On the whole, it was difficult to digest Vijay's transition from a dancer to a leader and Amala Paul's drastic change from a pretty lass to a police officer. The dance moves in "Tamil Pasanga" song was really nice. "Vaanganna Vanakkanganna" song made the audience whistle like anything. "Sol Sol" is my favourite but this song was not to a part of the movie. Sathyaraj had done justice to his role and for some strange reason, the Anna character reminded me of my grandfather. As usual, Santhanam's comedy was top notch. Adding to that, Sam Anderson's cameo appearance was out-of-the-box comedy. First half of the movie was interesting. Second half was little boring. Nothing extra-ordinary in this movie but Thalapathy fans will enjoy it.

My So-Called-Best-Friend

2013-03-30T18:23:00.000+05:30

When I was feeling low,
You smiled and hugged me tight and slow.

Your hug was always warm
But I didn't know that it would sting my heart like a bee swarm.

Your smile was really soothing
But I didn't think that you were the friend I was losing.

Because, one fine day, you stabbed my back with a knife
And I will never forget it in my life.

Later, you said sorry
But our friendship looked very blurry.

You said you hurt me by mistake
But that was a lie which made my heart break.

All you actually wanted was name and fame
And now, it looks like I'm playing the blame game.

I can forgive but I'm not able to forget
Because, the trust I had on you, makes me regret.

I could have forgetten if you were my enemy
But as a best friend, how could you back stab me?

Remeber one thing, my so-called-best-friend:
When you start winning arguments, you start losing people in the end!

Kadal Movie - Micro Review

2013-02-04T14:13:00.001+05:30

Director: Mani Ratnam
Cast: Gautham Karthik (son of Karthik), Thulasi (daughter of Radha), Arvind Swamy, Arjun and Ponvannan
Music: A. R. Rahman

Kadal is a beautiful movie which revolves around the lives of Christian fishermen. It throws light on Jesus and Satan, directly represented by Arvind Swamy (Father Sam Fernando) and Arjun (Bergmans) respectively. The hero Gautham Karthik (Thomas) is caught between these two men in different stages of his life. He explores both the good and evil ways to lead his life and finally chooses the right path with the influence of the heroine Thulasi (Bea). In the end, the good triumphs over the evil.

The music is synced well with the movie. The background score creates a good ambience for the scenes. The choreography brings out the best in Gautham Karthik. Thulasi looks like an angel in her white dress throughout the movie and she suits the role of Bea perfectly. The cinematography is very realistic and you will have the feeling of getting washed away by the waves by the end of the movie. Though the dialogues are in colloquial language, they are clearly understandable unlike the dialogues in other Mani Ratnam's movies.

Overall, it's an amazing movie with a simple story which slightly touches the subject of philosophy. You just need lots of patience to watch it!

Birthday Wishes For My Friend

2012-11-21T23:59:00.000+05:30

Every time I think of my school days, there's one particular girl's face that flashes on my mind. If there's any girl with whom I've never had a fight right from my childhood, it's only her. She's the one who listens to all my silly problems. She's the one who can take all my emotional dramas. She's the one who sticks around even when I don't pick up her phone calls or reply to her messages. She's the one who loves me when I give her every reason not to. She is none other my best friend Sahana. Today is her 23rd birthday. May all that's bright and beautiful, fill her heart with happiness. Happy birthday.

P.S.: Sahana, this world is filled with many uncertainties but one thing is always certain- I will be your friend beyond words, time and distance. Many more happy returns of the day!

"Bandhan"

2012-11-20T23:53:00.000+05:30

Few weeks back, I had been to Orion mall with my mom for Diwali shopping. She suddenly entered into Titan showroom, took a glance at all the watches displayed there and she really liked one particular watch. She wanted to buy it but that watch was to be sold along with another watch. Those two watches (one men's watch and one women's watch) are known as "Titan Bandhan" and they are little costly. She could have bought it but she thought she could buy it some time later when there is discount.

Today is my parents' 24th wedding anniversary. All these years, I've never bought any gift for them on their special day. Yesterday I suddenly felt I should buy those "Bandhan watches" and surprise my parents. That's what I did. I went to a Titan showroom nearby, quickly bought those watches with the money I had earned during my summer internship, got it gift wrapped and kept it on a table in our drawing room. When my parents woke up in the morning, they were really surprised to find a gift and they were more surprised when they saw those two watches. That smile on their face was really priceless.

Thought my parents have difference of opinions most of the times, they complement each other perfectly, just like those two watches!

She Stood Up For Me!

2012-08-14T23:18:00.000+05:30

We were six of us (all girls) in my Spark car, enjoying the drive back home from college on the muddy roads of Anekal village. Suddenly from no where, two drunkards came zooming in their bike and bumped into my car! I was stunned for a moment. Amulya, one of my close friends, warned me not to stop as it was not my mistake. I was concerned about those two guys and I had no clues that they were drunk. The moment I got down from the car, around 15-20 villagers surrounded us and started blaming us for the accident. I was so shocked that I was shivering and I couldn't say a single word. One of the drunkards sat inside my car and demanded me to take him to the nearby hospital though he was not really hurt while the villagers were yelling at me for no reason. It was then I saw my friend in action. Amulya stepped out of the car and literally yelled back at all those 20 village men! Those men were so furious and they could have done anything to her but she was trying her best to defend me. Luckily, before the situation could go out of control, four of our class mates (all guys) came to our rescue.

There are many situations in my life when I have failed to stand up for myself and this was one among them. It made me feel very brave when she was beside me and when she stood up for me. Though it was a simple act, I will never forget it!

P.S.: Amulya, I know you will read this someday. Thanks a lot for being there for me. Love you lots!

Billa 2 Movie - Micro Review

2012-07-21T18:56:00.000+05:30

To be very frank, Billa 2 is not as good as Billa 1. But as Ajith's fan and Yuvan's fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Ajith's stylish acting and Yuvan's striking music always makes a good combo. Not even a single minute in the movie was boring.

All the songs are really trendy. The moves in each song was very appropriate and also captured very well. I wonder why the theme music was not played right from the beginning. Only after the interval, you get to hear the theme music. Out of all songs, I was excited to watch the "Gangster" song because it's got my favourite music director, Yuvan in it. I expected this song in the very beginning but was shown only in the end of the movie. The song "Idhayam" sounds very romantic and I expected this song somewhere in the middle of the movie but this song was not at all shown anywhere in the movie. The background music is damn powerful and makes the movie worth watching!

The fight scenes were on par with those in Hollywood movies. The helicopter stunt in climax was the best.

If you are Ajith's fan, you will not regret watching this movie because the way he walks and talks is simply stunning. His clothes in this movie is simple when compared to his attire in Billa 1. The way he portrays his attitude as David Billa is dazzling. Parvathy Omanakuttan and Bruna have got very less acting scenes in the movie. It is totally one man show and Thala Ajith has done his part well. If you think that the movie is just average, blame the director, Chakri Toleti.

Two Girls and a Friendship!

2011-11-23T00:41:00.002+05:30

It was way back in my 8^th standard when I first met Salma. She was new to “The East West School” and she was my classmate. Initially I didn’t interact much with her (I was very shy throughout my high school days). But she used to talk to me every single day about all relevant and irrelevant topics. Soon we got along really well and were known as good buddies.

If you have noticed me playing throw-ball, I have a very weird style of serving the ball and that’s simply because it was Salma who taught me how to serve! I have tried to change my serving style but I always like to stick on to the way she has taught me because every time I serve the ball, it reminds me of her. Oh, it also reminds me of the inter-school and inter-house competitions. It is an age old practice in our school to divide the students into 3 different houses- Green, Mauve and Yellow. Fortunately, Salma and I belonged to the same house, that is, Green House. As a team of two, we participated in vegetable carving competition and used fruits instead of vegetables; in rangoli competition, we used flowers and diyas instead of colour powders; in essay writing competition, we wrote poems with rhyming lyrics instead of boring paragraphs; we sang patriotic songs instead of filmi songs in singing competition; we neither spoke for the topic nor against the topic in debate competition; and guess what, we won prizes in all the above mentioned events. We also represented Green House for the basketball, throw-ball, tug-of-war, short put, high jump, long jump and other such competitions. We were always different from the crowd. Somehow we both shared a good rapport. She encouraged me like no one else did in school and made me feel special in all possible ways.

It was somewhere during the middle of 9^th standard, Salma lost her dad. She was horrified and so was I. When she cried for days together, I made sure that I was always there for her, wiped her tears and helped her to get over the pain she was going through. This strengthened our friendship. Gradually she was back to normal.

In 10^th standard, much to our surprise, we both were nominated by our teachers for the same post- Green House Captain. I was happy that she was nominated but sad that I was contesting for the election and that too, for the same post. The best thing about the election was, I voted for her and she voted for me. I won the election. She was happier for me than I was happy for my own self. She was not at all jealous about me becoming the new Green House Captain. We were and we are such true friends.

In 10^th standard, we were taken on a school trip to Hyderabad. Due to personal reasons, she couldn’t come to the trip. I too thought of skipping it but since other classmates insisted me to not miss out on all the fun, I decided to go. Only after we left to Hyderabad, I realised that I missed her so badly. To make it worse, I got fever, cold and cough and I did not really enjoy the trip as much as my classmates.

On our farewell day, we both never cried or felt bad because we knew that we would stay in touch. After 10^th, we joined different PU colleges. I made new set of friends. The frequency of our phone calls and hangouts gradually decreased. By the time I joined my degree college; we both had changed our numbers and completely lost in touch with each other. But she always calls me to my landline number on all my birthdays without fail. When I was in the last year of my graduation, I received a mail from my school which was regarding the school re-union. I was more than just excited because I knew Salma would attend the re-union and I hadn’t met her in 5 years. That re-union helped me to get back in touch with her and all other classmates. Though I met her after a really long time, we were still the same. We still felt like we were school kids. It was after the re-union party, she told me that she was going to get engaged and also get married in few months. It was then I realised how much our lives had changed. So we both decided to have as much fun as possible before she her marriage. We spent quality time with each other.

And then, on November 12^th 2011, she got married. Just like how I always used to be there for her throughout our high school days, I was there with her on her D-day also. I had mixed emotions. I was happy that she got married but sad and scared that our friendship would change. As I was standing beside her on the day of her wedding, she was able to sense my feelings and that too just few minutes after she got married, she had all the time in the world to listen to me about all that was running in my head. This clearly shows how much she values me, my emotions and our friendship. She assured me that our friendship will always remain the same no matter what happens.

I know that she will keep up her words though her cell phone was switched off right from the very next day of her wedding. Let anything come on the way of our friendship and I’m sure that we will feel like school kids and still remain the same the next time we meet!

Reasons For Not Posting Here Quite Often

2011-09-07T21:03:00.001+05:30

I know, this is a really weird topic to blog about. But I can't think about anything better right now. It's been exactly two whole months since my MBA course started. I joined Alliance University in Bangalore. The MBA course here is very hectic. To make things worse, this B-school is 45 kilometers away from my house. If I have to travel to and fro everyday in Bangalore's nasty traffic, it would take away at least 4 hours of my precious time. So I'm staying in the University's hostel and if possible, I go back home only for the weekend. And, I have some assignment or the other every single day. It's good in a way because I've learnt to make ad campaigns, business plans, product launch, etc. etc. But because of too many assignments, I'm left out with no time for my family members and friends and yeah, for the blog also. It feels so good to actually make a blog entry. I should seriously create some space for myself before this mechanistic life rules over me. Anyways, I need to get back to my half-finished-assignment which has to be submitted tomorrow. So, this is Sandhya logging out, see you soon in the next blog post! :)

Misty Mornings & Frosty Nights

2011-06-21T16:21:00.000+05:30

I’m just back from Kodaikanal and I must say that it is one of my favourite holiday destinations. I’ve been there countless number of times but every time I go there, I get a new experience. It is such a calm and peaceful place to be in. I feel so refreshed after spending the entire weekend there.

The best thing about this place is the weather. I like it when I can’t see the sun’s rays for days together in Kodaikanal. Walking amidst the fog and mist is what I look forward to. The cleanliness maintained and the ban of plastic bags is something that has to be appreciated. I’ve visited almost all the sight-seeing spots which includes- Silver Cascade, Pillar Rock, Green Valley View (Suicide Point), Devil’s Kitchen (Guna Cave), Kurinji Andavar Temple, Berijam Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Observatory, Shenbaganur Museum, etc. The Lutheran Church is a masterpiece of ancient architecture in Kodaikanal. Cycling and horse riding around the lake early in the morning is so relaxing.

The next best thing in Kodaikanal is the food! I like to hog on hot and spicy food in Hilltop restaurant, especially the butter chicken. Astoria is another restaurant which serves class food. The baked and roasted maize with chilli paste, which is sold by vendors is a must try. I never forget to buy at least a small packet of home-made chocolates. There are so many varieties and they all taste so yummy. Pastry Corner is a small but well known bakery which is usually crowded and all the items sold over here are mouth-watering. The Naturals ice-cream parlour sells delicious natural flavoured ice-cream for only Rs. 20 or Rs. 30 per scoop.

There are so many resorts in and around Kodaikanal. As far as I know, Hill Country Holidays is the best. It has many posh villas and the price is also a bit high but as my uncle knows the manager of this resort very well, our family gets discounts. Holiday Home is yet another resort which has many comfortable cottages instead of rooms and the prices of the cottages are very economical here.

I go on a shopping spree whenever I visit Kodaikanal. Danish Display is my favourite. This shop always has many wooden show-case items, bronze statues, fragrance oils (like- rose, lavender, jasmine and tea tree), spices, accessories, terracotta wall hangings, etc. The hand-made woollen sweaters, jackets, pull overs, shawls, etc. which are sold in the Tibetans shops are of very good quality and it does not cost much when compared to other branded clothes.

I never miss out on listening to Kodai FM when I’m in Kodaikanal. This radio station plays a good mixture of soothing old and new Tamil songs continuously.

If you want to holiday in a South Indian hill-station, I suggest Kodaikanal. Trust me, there’s something very magical about this place. And, I’m already eagerly looking forward to my next visit to Kodaikanal.

Things My College Taught Me..

2011-04-12T22:00:00.000+05:30

Well, my college days are almost getting over. When the month of May ends, my final semester exams will be over. I wonder how quickly these 3 years flew! During these years, I have learnt many lessons- both inside and outside the college (actually more lessons outside the college because PES is known for "education for the real world").

I still remember how the first year of my college started. I thought everything I had was perfect – my friends, my knowledge, my body, my hair, my clothes, my accessories, and my entire life. But gradually by the end of first year, I realised that I was caught in the rush of college life. I didn’t know where I was going. My so-called-perfect-friends started becoming jealous of me (I still have no clues for what reasons). Hanging out with those friends was a mundane task. At one point of time, I realised that they were just fair-weather-friends. I started putting on little bit of weight. My permanent straightened hair was no longer poker straight. I was not the topper in the class anymore. I didn’t win either in the basketball tournament or in the badminton tournament or in the national level best manager event! To make it worse, I didn’t have a crush on any guy. No guys in my batch were handsome (at least for my eyes), leave alone the senior guys, they were worse. I had even reasons to run into depression. I was kind of going nuts about everything. But before all these issues could get on my nerves, I decided to take things lightly.

So, in the whole of second year, I made entirely new friends. Some of them were very out-going but some were introverts. I was able to strike a balance between both set of friends. I kept myself busy after the college hours. I hanged out with friends only twice in a week. I involved in more extra-curricular activities. I concentrated more on the college fests. I was able to make it to the finals of most of the national level management events. I gave up playing basketball and badminton. I gave up my strict diet. I indulged in pizzas, burgers, ice-creams and chaats once in a while. I ensured that I exercised at least 5 days in a week. I had proper updated notes. I started preparing for exams well in advance. My grades improved. I may sound like a geek but I didn’t want to compromise on my character. This way, my college life seemed to be way better! The reason was- I was no more obsessed with perfection! I was well organised but I was not perfect yet I was happy!

Second year was like a turning point for me (in a good way). But unfortunately for most of my batch mates it was in a bad way. Many didn’t realise that being perfect is not the only thing to do on earth. Thus most of them couldn’t cope up with pressure and dropped out of college. Others indulged in excessive boozing, fagging and pulling hookah. Some even got heavy on drugs. I was in no way associated with them, so I couldn’t do anything to help them fight the pressure of college life. But I’m glad I learnt that it is ok not to be perfect and didn’t give in to all the above mentioned concerns.

In the third year, I continued to be the way I was in second year and now everything looks like candy floss and it actually is! I know that I’m not perfect. So what! I have true friends, good percentage in all semesters, job offer from Infosys, and offer for MBA seat from eight B-schools. Moreover, I have learnt how to deal with ups and downs of college life. What else could I ask for! I gained confidence by every experience and most importantly, as a business management student, I have learnt to manage myself first! (Ok, I’ll stop here. I have bragged enough about myself). I have had the almost-perfect-college-life!

My First Job Interview

2011-01-27T19:33:00.000+05:30

Today I faced my first job interview. And so did most of my batch mates in college. Fidelity Investments! That was the first company which came to our campus for recruitment. Until then I never knew that such a company even existed. Just yesterday, I prepared my resume and I also surfed the net to know more about Fidelity Investments. It seemed to be worth attending their interview.

The interview consisted of three rounds.

First round: Aptitude test

We were given an imaginary situation in which a consumer had a problem with a service provider and that consumer found some faults in the services. We had to assume ourselves as the service providers and solve the problem by writing an email to the consumer.

This is something which I’m very good at. I showed off my convincing skills in the email and I thought the first round was over.

But we were not yet done. We had to answer around 50 multiple choice questions. It was hundred times easier than my MBA entrance exams. So it went on well and the first round was over!

First round result: Selected!

I was happy when my name was called out in the first list itself. All the entrance exam coaching classes I had attended finally paid off.

Second round: Technical and HR Interview

The word technical made me got nuts. I’m not good at it but luckily the HR manager who interviewed me didn’t ask any technical questions. Here is the set of questions he asked me:-

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What is your educational background?

3. What is your family background?

4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

5. What are your hobbies?

6. What do you want to be in the future?

7. What are your achievements?

8. What are the challenges that you have come across in your life?

9. When you have to do four things at a time, how will you do it?

10. Why have you taken up international business as your specialisation in BBM?

11. How much salary do you expect?

I answered all these questions so easily. I had all the answers at the tip of my tongue. But then the final question came:-

12. Are you ready to work in night shifts?

I wanted to say “no” but I didn’t want to lose the job opportunity. I rolled my eyes and I unwillingly said “yes”. I guess the interviewer sensed my unwillingness. But I was very much satisfied with my performance and I stepped out of the interview room with a wide grin on my face.

Second round result: Not selected!

Yup, I couldn’t make it to the final round because I didn’t get selected in the second round. I feel I should have frankly told the interviewer about my lack of interest to work in the night shifts. But even if had given him an honest answer, I wouldn’t have got the job as it was a night shift job only.

Anyways, there are so many opportunities out there and this is not the end!

My Reflections On 2010

2011-01-06T15:28:00.000+05:30

While people out there are excited about the New Year, I want to take a look at 2010. It was quite a bumpy roller coaster ride and at the same time, filled with pleasant memories. Here is a quick re-cap about some random interesting (at least to me and my peer group it sounds interesting) stuff I did in the year 2010:

I made genuine friends (and got rid of fake friends)

I started taking my car to my college everyday (though I hated to pay the parking fee)

I went on long drives with my friends (we travelled around 50 kms in the outskirts of Bangalore)

I attended almost all the CAT coaching classes (I knew I couldn’t make it to the IIMs but I still had high hopes)

I wrote the CAT exam (don’t ask me about the result – it’s not yet announced)

I saw a shooting star and made a wish (the wish is too personal to be shared)

I started writing this blog (I’ll be celebrating its b’day sometime soon)

I attended my school re-union (met most of my school mates after 5 long years and also hanged out with them)

I lost my digi cam (I got it for free but I miss the pics that were there in it)

I started talking my mind out (hence I became straight forward)

I got into so might cat fights (it was fun)

I attended aerobics class (and lost oodles of weight)

I started learning French (J’adore le Français)

I completed my internship (Now I’m no more an amateur when it comes to marketing analysis)

Well, not bad, I have tried my hands at so many different endeavours! 2010 was surely quite a happening year for me.

Solitude

2010-09-24T21:47:00.000+05:30

Beneath the stars in the sky,
Our train moves by.
I’m in solitude
Which, I have always pursued!
I look out at the night that is moon-lit.
Unexpectedly beside me you come and sit.
Your eyes meet mine
With a sparkling shine.
Mildly the cold breeze blows.
Only then I realise that we are sitting so close.
As a sentence or two you speak,
It makes me so much meek
And also over-whelming.
I don’t want to stop this feeling
‘Cause it seems to be very new
And forever I want this to continue.
But so soon you leave!
This makes me hard to believe
That I never again want to be in solitude
Because, I’m subdued!

Will India Become A Super Power As Per The Vision 2020 Inspite Of Today's Market Conditions?

2010-08-15T00:09:00.000+05:30

The world today is struggling with the financial crisis and recession. As countries struggle to come back to normal, they will try to avoid job losses and stimulate their economy in whatever way they can. One of those ways is to protect jobs for their citizens and to encourage consumption of resources produced within the country. At times like this the free market system is suddenly an inconvenience.

These are clear signs that we are entering an era of protectionism brought on by the worldwide recession or slow down. Protectionism is likely to become more common as country after country feels the heat. Getting visas for professionals to do work in other countries will become increasingly difficult. How is the Indian IT services industry going to cope with the coming challenges? The response of the industry will have to be creative, and transcend the obstacles that we will face.

A key reason for success in future will continue to be the level of connectivity we have with our markets. After all, connectivity was the key to the growth and success of Indian IT companies. But is India prepared for a future where the quality and capacity of connectivity, both domestic and international, will be a key driver of the industry? The answer is an obvious yes as the Vision 2020 for India already includes world class connectivity, both within the country as well as to international markets. This will be a key determinant in how strategically positioned we are to continue to grow our share of the IT services market worldwide.

India would be able to weather any recession in the United States, because rising trade and investment within the region makes it less dependent on the U.S. economy than in the past. While a recession in the United States would drag on India’s growth by eroding demand for exports but a rapidly growing middle class in India is craving for automobiles, electronics and housing much of which will be supplied from India itself. Demand for oil, iron ore and other commodities to build roads, sewage systems, and office buildings in the booming economy of India will help it sustain through any US slowdown. Well, the US economy is not that important anymore. A drop in U.S. growth rate might lower down India’s growth rate due to recession but since India is growing so fast, it isn’t likely to be affected that much as India’s economy will still continue to expand but just slightly slower than the previous year, i.e., India's growth will likely slow to 7 percent from the current rate of about 9 percent but still the growth will be sustainable at 7 percent.

If the policy initiatives that were taken in 1991 economic liberalization, privatization, globalization and modernization are continued to be taken, India’s economy will be a dynamic economy and it will launch our economy on a healthy growth curve. Now India is on a visible path to progress towards the status of a developed nation. Whether the nation crawls, walks or runs, it does not matter as long as the policies are continued to be taken up at the right time as it will ensure a speedy progress towards the goal.
Thus the experienced capitalists who have the skill to evaluate technological risks and have the self-confidence to invest in untried technology. During recession, if India continues to go too slow, it will miss out on worthwhile opportunities. It is technology, not money, that brings prosperity these days and India has many talented technologists who are capable of creating a continuous stream of innovative products.

Consider the case of an industry that normally has sales of Rs 1 crore, an interest burden of Rs 20 lakh, and leaving a net profit of Rs 5 lakh. Suppose prices double due to recession, sales go up to Rs 2 crore, the interest remains at Rs 20 lakh and the net profit shoots up to Rs 30 lakh - six times. Thus though the banks might suffer due to recession and increase in the interest rates, the equity share holders will make lots of income. If the financial institutions continue to have self-confidence and keep investing, the Indian firms with valuable indigenous technology will continue to grow even during recession.
Just consider the bold business decision made by Ratan Tata, in taking the plunge to launch the much awaited ‘Nano’ into the Indian market! If an automobile company, which was most hit by the recession can do it, so can other companies. Moreover, Tata group is taking over the U.K.’s Jaguar and Land Rover. But the U.S is resisting a take over of general motors. So the lesson is obvious. U.S’s economy has failed. The inflation demonstrates that the rich tend to get richer not only at the expense of the poor but at the expense of their own economic system. From the past recessions it can be observed that companies emerged stronger after a recession were the ones that had less cash in hand but decided to spend and invest heavily. A recession like this adds urgency to the situation and as a result companies start rethinking their strategies and sort out issues. This is where there will be a rise of the markets which will see a double digit growth.

The global economic slowdown presents an opportunity for the Indian industry to work on products produced by the small scale industries, one of the key strengths that we have.

The world economy is in grave consequences and this situation has had adverse implication on our economy. But the Government has taken wide ranging measures to mitigate the impact and to ensure that actualization of our vision 2020 remains on course and the Government remains focused on erecting the building blocks for the attainment of the economic vision 2020!

My Answer.... In Silence.

2010-06-11T15:01:00.000+05:30

Do you think I really don't care?
Actually, the hurt and the pain, my heart is not able to bear.
Nowadays, you are the only one whom I miss
But how do I tell you this?
When you pass me by, a beat, my heart skips.
When I want to talk to you, there is only movement of my lips.
All through the night I cry,
Hoping that you'll find an 'answer in my silence' before we say Good-Bye!

Getting Drenched In The Rain

2010-06-10T14:28:00.000+05:30

(I had written this article when I was in 10th standard and it was featured in my school magazine.)

Just then, it had began to drizzle. I could sense the lovely smell of the earth. The maths class was going on. My teacher was teaching us Theorems on Triangles. I sat uninterestedly in the class. I heard nothing but the melodious music of the rain. I was completely lost in its beauty. Drops that were falling mildly captured all my attention. I badly wanted to get drenched in the rain but getting permission from the maths teacher to get drenched in rain was impossible. So, sitting inside the classroom itself, I began to imagine as if I were getting drenched.

Here goes my imagination:

Everyone inside the classroom is concentrating so well that they are not noticing the natural showers. So I, slowly and silently get up from my place, remove my specks and slip away from the class, leaving the door closed behind me. All of a sudden, I feel cold. The rain drops fall on me leaving no traces but making me wet. I feel as thought I'm paralyzed, but still, I try hard and move further. There's a mild breeze and I experience chillness. I hug myself as I feel very cold. I spread my hands widely and feel the delicate drops of water. I go around in circles. There's a smile on my face, satisfaction in my mind and contentment in my heart. Everything else in the whole wide world is forgotten.

"Sandhya?" My maths teacher's voice interrupts my imagination.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"How far have you understood the Theorem?"

"Completely!" I answered abruptly.

I drift back into my imaginary world.

There are puddles everywhere. I jump in it ignoring how dirty my uniform and shoes become. The rhythm of the falling rain drops is so melodious that it soothes my soul. I try to hum to catch up with the tune of the falling droplets.

But all of a sudden, unexpectedly, I hear a loud shrill noise- and I'm interrupted again. The shrill was nothing other than my school bell. The maths class was over and the teacher had left the classroom.

I look at the blackboard and the theorem is Greek and Latin to me.

"Would you mind explaining the theorem to me?", I ask my friend who sits beside me.

"Sure I'll explain! But, didn't you understand it?"

"No! Not even a single part of it!"

"Why? What were you doing when ma'am was explaining?"

"Getting drenched in the rain!", I reply and of-course, my friend is confused.

The Game Basketball

2010-05-29T19:47:00.000+05:30

I play basketball
Though I'm not good at it at all.
My dribbles are wrong,
My passes doesn't travel long,
My catches are not sure,
My shots are impure,
My team mates use words as their armaments,
The viewers pass comments,
My matches I lose,
What I hear is only boos
But to try again and again is the only thing I choose.
In the core of my heart there is a will
That tells me to improve still.

My True Friend.

2010-05-28T19:45:00.000+05:30

When things weren't going on well,
The day when I when I felt I was in hell,
You came placidly,
Listened to me patiently
And understood me greatly.

To all my traumas you put an end.
Then, you said, "I'll always be your friend!"
Those words flowed out of your mouth easily
And you welcomed me whole heartedly.

Those weren't just words
Because they made me fly
In the sky,
Like the birds.

My spirit- you made it elevate
And replaced love instead of inner hate.
You finally helped to find a "new" me!
Thank you my dear "true" friend and my "true" friend you will always be!

My Unforgettable Grandpa.

2010-01-25T14:02:00.000+05:30

One hot afternoon, when I was young, I was spending my summer holidays with my relatives in my grandpa’s house at Sivakasi. I was having a casual talk with my grandpa after a heavy lunch. Through the door I saw a thin, white bearded old man who looked like a wanderer, limping all alone on the street. “Poor man,” my grandpa said. Something sad must have happened in his life, he explained. He told me that that old man deserved respect and love. My grandpa also told me that he has always been very glad about the unconditional respect and love that I have for him. And I was always glad that he is my grandpa!

I loved my grandpa. His name was Subbaiah. He was an active person, more than five and a half feet tall, with twinkling grey eyes and a thatch of white-brown hair. He was the best tutor for life I have ever had.

Grandpa was born in Rajapalayam to Periyathambhi Nadar and Mariammal in the year 1927. He grew up in Rajapalayam along with his siblings. He did his schooling also there itself.

Later when grandpa was old enough to work, he went to Sivakasi. His first job was in Standard Match industries as a supervisor. He worked there for a very long time but later he left that job. Grandpa then became the first counsellor of the Sivakasi town. He was even offered a MLA seat by the DMK party but grandpa refused it as he was no more interested in politics. He wanted to start a business on his own. He worked very hard for that. After saving a lot of money, he was ready to start a match industry in Sivakasi which was named as- SALCO Match industry. Grandpa some how had to shut down this business concern and again wanted to start an other business firm but this time he wanted to set his foot in a different field of business which was not explored much in Sivakasi. So he started Kumar Transport. The business went on really very well. The success of Kumar Transport made him open a medical shop in Sivakasi which is known as- Maharaj Medicals. Both these business concerns are very famous in the Sivakasi town. Around 200 employees work in these concerns. I have always been inspired by the fact that grandpa started from the scratch, soared high and shined like a star!

I used to go to Sivakasi only during the summer vacation and I never had an opportunity to spend all my time only with my grandpa as I used to be busy with my cousins and he used to be busy with his work. Once when I was in 6th standard, grandpa had planned to stay a month with me in Bangalore. That was the first time we both spent so much time with each other. After staying in our house for about one week, Grandpa wanted to go back to Sivakasi. He missed his friends and the medical shop very much.

Grandpa had many friends. Everyday he has so many visitors in the medical shop where he sits all day long. Everyone marveled at his energy, loved his gentle smile and the kind words he had for everyone.

One of my fondest memories is of listening to Grandpa relating his experiences about hunting in the wild. He was passionate about guns. I did not know about it until then. I was really surprised to know that he was such an adventurous person. Grandpa was always interested in sports. When ever he turned on the television, he watched only sports channels.

Grandpa was also good at poetry writing. Once I found a paper in his cupboard. He had written a kavithai. The kavithai which he had written was for my grandma. I suddenly copied that kavithai in another sheet of paper so that I could keep it with myself and replace the original version of the kavithai in the cupboard. Grandpa had expressed the deep love that he had for my grandma in that kavithai. That kavithai is definitely a masterpiece.

Though I lived in Bangalore, I used to keep in touch with my grandpa through the telephone. As soon as I press the last digit of the phone number, the phone bell rings and my grandpa picks up the call and answers in his cheery voice as he used to be happy to know that I am at the other end of the phone. I always used to ask him how he was and he used to tell me that he was doing well because of me. Then I used to tell him to take care of his health.

Grandpa grew older but he was always healthy. One day when he was in Sivakasi, he fell from stairs and he fractured his hand and hip. He was rushed to a hospital and was admitted there. Doctors told that he had to undergo an operation. Hearing all this, my father rushed to Sivakasi to be with my grandpa. It was really hard for me to digest the fact that grandpa was going through so much of pain and it was sad as I was not near him at that point of time. Just few minutes before the operation, I called up my grandpa and told him to be brave. He told me that he was already brave and convinced me that I was the one who had to be brave. Grandpa always had a strong will power. He was sure that he would be alright soon. The operation went on well and grandpa was fine. I called him up again that day night, after the operation. He could not talk to me properly as he was given anesthesia but he ensured that he would be able to talk to me the next day. But even the next day he could not talk to me. But I was sure that I could talk to him after he returned home from the hospital. Little did I know that that would be my last talk with my grandpa! Grandpa passed away just one day after the operation. On 17th April at 6.20 in the morning, his soul slipped away from his body. Grandpa was gone forever and I had to rush to Sivakasi with my mother. My grandpa’s house was jammed with hundreds of mourners.

A great man had died. As far as I know, he was the greatest man who had ever lived. He was my grandpa. I was thankful that God let me have him as my grandpa and that I always let him know how much I cared for him. Everyone who knows grandpa know that he was a great success as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend, a business man and as a grandpa!