Scribble and Scrawl

Developing Effective Communication Skills

2015-06-07T01:59:00.001-07:00

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

If any men were to ask me what I would suppose to be a perfect language , I would answer that in which a man speaking to five hundred people of all common and various capacities should be understood by them all in the same sense which the speaker intended to be understood ~ Robinson Crusoe

Essence of Communication

Conveying effectively what you intend to convey, without leaving it subject to interpretation, is the essence of communication.

A Naga Sojourn

2015-06-07T01:40:00.001-07:00

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

Nagaland, well-known for its natural beauty and breath-taking pristine natural forests is also known for its warm and hospitable people. In December 1968, I was posted in Pfutsero in Kohima District of Nagaland, as Second-in-Command of a CRPF Battalion. The Battalion was deployed to aid the Government of Nagaland in maintaining Law and Order.

: Pfutsero, Nagaland | Image credit : touristlink.com

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How to trump the Curse of Success

2015-04-26T00:17:00.002-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Overcoming challenges brings success, success brings its own challenges.

Success has its own attractions, but it also has the side effects.

The Initial stages of the Journey To Success

When you start something new as a professional or as an entrepreneur, or in sports or in a creative field, you generally start with a high risk appetite.

You are enthused and you put in your best efforts and toil for your success.

You make mistakes, learn from them and grow on your experiences. Any positive feedback you get adds to your levels of motivation and bolsters the hope of further positive outcome.

When success finally knocks the door, you’re excited; you get adulation from all quarters and you cherish the attention.

Digital India – An Initiative to Transform Lives

2015-04-26T00:13:00.002-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

India is heading towards an internet economy worth USD 200 billion by 2020, that will contribute 5 per cent of the GDP.

- Report by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Digital India – A Transformational Initiative

The Digital India initiative, envisioned by the Govt of India, aims to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy by leveraging IT as a growth engine to enable change.

With 850 million mobile users and 243 million internet users in 2014, India is all set to ride the wave of digitization and grow into a strong digital economy.

: Digital India | Image cedit :digit.in

Centered on the 3 Key areas of

Improving the digital infrastructure
Providing Services on Demand
Digital empowerment of citizens

Digital India Initiative, has the potential to positively impact the lives of all citizens of India, irrespective of where they come from.

A digitally enabled India can bridge the gap between urban and rural areas by virtually connecting far flung areas of the country and empowering citizens to avail services with ease from any place within the country.

Manipur - A Land of Jewels

2015-04-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

Manipuri Dance – One of the eight Indian Classical Dance Styles

Manipuri dance, from the ancient land of Manipur, is one of the eight and the finest Indian classical dance styles.

As the legend goes, Lord Shiva, the great connoisseur of cosmic dance of Lord Krishna, Radha and the Gopis, ensured that no one disrupted the rhythmic beauty of the heavenly dance. When Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, desired to see the ethereal dance, he chose Manipur as the venue for re-enactment of the divine Raas Leela Dance.

: Raas Leela Dance , Manipur, Image credit : indiamike.com

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10 Inspiring Quotes on Hope and Optimism

2015-04-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Hope inspires, Hope enthuses, Hope soothes, Hope seduces.
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Hope is an universal phenomenon

Life without hope is drab.

What keeps us going each day, is the belief that there is something good in store for us, or that the future holds something fancy in the form of luck, happiness, or whatever we wish for.

As we go on in the pursuit of our goals, hopeful thinking at each and every stage in life, both during the good and bad times, gives us the energy and enthusiasm to move on with zest to pursue our goals.

Here is a collection of 10 beautiful quotes on the significance of hope and optimism in our lives.

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The Decision towards Self-Reliance

2015-04-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

In my last post The Power of Storytelling, I had mentioned about the advertisement ‘Will of Steel’ that inspires us to break gender stereotypes.

Here’s an equally moving advertisement from HDFC Life Insurance that shows a dad giving his daughter an opportunity to be self-reliant.

This touching ad shows a father helping his child put on her anklets (ghungroos) on her artificial titanium foot after he takes her to join a dancing school. The child keeps on insisting that her father ties up her anklets each time she dances. Slowly he convinces her to tie it on her own.

With a smile of satisfaction, the father watches his daughter adjust anklets on her titanium foot, by herself, and perform in a dance ceremony with a group of other children.

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Darjeeling Himalayan Railways in the 19th century - Vintage Pictures

2015-03-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

"Mere Sapno Ki Rani kab aayegi tu...."

This romantic Hindi song from the movie Aradhana, had enchanted hundreds of thousands of people from all over India in the 70s. Sitting atop an open jeep, Rajesh Khanna, crooned the lively song to woo Sharmila Tagore, who sat reading a book in the Toy Train, as the miniature steam engine chugged uphill in the scenic settings of Darjeeling.

The "Toy Train" on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) line has been a unique feature of Darjeeling since the 19th century. Ferrying between Darjeeling and Ghoom (India's highest railway station), the Toy Train moves through the hilly terrain absorbing the magnificent beauty of Darjeeling hills.

Inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, DHR became the first Hill Railway in India, and the second in the world to be accorded this status.

Here are some vintage pictures of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from the 19th century.

Darjeeling Station, ca 1891

: Photograph of Darjeeling Station, ca 1891

Darjeeling was the chief summer resort for the British government in Bengal.

Lucknow in the 19th century - Vintage Pictures

2015-03-27T00:02:00.001-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Lucknow, the city of Nawabs, was also once the city of adab and tehzeeb (etiquette and manners).

Refined speech, manners, art, literature, poetry and "Nawabi" style cuisines once marked the culture of the city.

The capital city of Uttar Pradesh, on the bank of River Gomati, has a cultural legacy shared by Hindus and Muslims, with a strong influence of Persian court culture. The nobility consisted mainly of Shiite Muslims, who traced back their ancestry to Persia.

Peppered with Persian vocabulary and idioms, Udru language spoken in Lucknow was known for its elegance, expressiveness and extreme politeness. Lucknow Urdu played a key role in the city's cultural milieu.

: Street scene in Lucknow, with shops and traders and a horseman

Lucknow first attained prominence in the 15th century under the sultans of Jaunpur. Later it was ruled by Mughal governors. By the 17th century, Lucknow was a prosperous commercial centre, and continued to flourish till 1856 as the capital of the independent Nawabs of Avadh (originally governors under the Mughals).

How Technology has aided the World Cup Cricket

2015-03-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

On 13 February, the opening of the 2015, ICC World Cup Cricket tournament, one of the world's most viewed sporting events, was celebrated with a Google Doodle. The tournament has come up a long way from the time when the first Cricket World Cup was played in England in 1975. And how!

: Google Doodle Cricket Icc World Cup 2015

Back in the seventies and early eighties, when all the matches were played during the day, people would gather around the Television or radio sets to watch the match, or at least to listen to the commentary. The games were slow paced and the hangover of the 5-day Test Matches could be seen in the World Cup too. Players dressed in traditional white uniforms played 60 overs per team, with red balls.

Dima Hasao - Dreamland of Assam

2015-03-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

The Birds Mystery

Jatinga, a scenic village nestled among the Borail Hills range in the Dima Hasao District of Assam, is known for a strange eerie phenomenon. During misty and foggy days in the months of September to November, each year, thousands of birds come to this valley and crash to their death. As the sun sets, huge number of birds descend on the village and fly full speed, smashing against buildings and trees, to drop dead.

: Jatinga Birds Mystery | Image Source :sify.com

People from all over the world come to see this mysterious annual phenomenon of suicide by disoriented birds, which lies unexplained so far. The renowned ornithologist Dr Salim Ali had noted,

“The most puzzling thing about the phenomenon is that so many species of diurnal resident birds are on the move when, by definition, they should be first asleep.”

This weird mass suicide phenomenon of birds has earned Jatinga the name of Death Valley for Birds.

Why Storytelling is a Powerful Business Skill

2015-03-10T23:36:00.000-07:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

I am not an avid TV watcher, but often when I do, a remarkable advertisement ‘Will of Steel’ never fails to catch my eyes.

This advertisement shows a girl, in a village in Haryana, getting up in the morning, putting on her shoes, and going out for a run, followed by practising crunches and weight lifting. Another lady in the house is shown lighting incense sticks, sweeping the house, washing clothes and preparing food.

: Will of Steel

A background commentary in rustic Haryanvi language sermons the duties of a woman.

A woman must get up before the sunrise, offer prayers and get into the kitchen to get on with the household chores.

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Social Media on Mobile - Convenience or Addiction?

2015-03-03T03:39:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

You are what you share. - C.W. Leadbeater

The above saying has gained relevance, more than ever before, in this age of social media. Breaking the barriers of age, hierarchy, gender, status and geography, social media allows us to express our views, share ideas, bridge distances and connect with like minded people.

I have to admit that I have taken to social media like a fish takes to water.

: Giphy

Social media has become an integral part of my life, to the extent, that a day without social media now appears to me almost like a day without electricity.

A Mission in Mizoram

2015-02-27T02:25:00.001-08:00

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

The monsoon set in quite early this time in the high hills of Mizoram. It was raining incessantly throughout the day and night in the middle of July 1986. Zemabawk, on the outskirt of Aizawl, was the location of CRPF headquarters. I was posted as DIG CRPF, responsible for overseeing the operations of all CRPF battalions deployed in Mizoram.

The Mission

On 30 June, 1986, the Govt of India had signed a “Peace Accord” with the Mizo National Front (MNF) ending the two-decade old insurgency in the ”Land of the Highlanders”.

CRPF was assigned the mission to receive MNF cadres at designated places and take over their arms and ammunitions for handing over to the Army. Subsequently the MNF cadres were to be escorted to a Peace Camp “Remna Run” on a high ridge near Tui- Vamit-Tlang, a windy village, at one extreme end of Aizawl.

Parva and Marpara were the two earmarked places through which the MNF returnees were to enter Mizoram from Bangladesh and lay down their arms and ammunitions.

The Terrain

Aizawl, set on the ridges of steep hills is flanked by the lofty peaks of the beautiful Durtlang Hills.

: Durtalang Hills , Mizoram | Image Source : misual.com

10 Quotes on Nurturing Talent

2015-02-24T21:04:00.002-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

How many times while reading a gripping book, or while seeing an awesome movie, or while watching an interesting game have you been completed fascinated by the performance of the artists, singer, writer or player and wondered at what makes them so amazingly talented.

Blessed are the people who are born with unique talents and are more gifted than others. When talent is honed and nurtured with rigor and discipline, and presented with the right opportunities, it leads to extraordinary results.

Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time. ― Marcus Buckingham

Believe in the power of 'And'

2015-02-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

'AND' - the simple 3 lettered word represents the spirit of empowering yourself to pursue different tracks, without having to turn your back on one path for choosing the other.

One dimensional labels have, for long, been used to typecast women.

Time and again you are told that you can be either a successful homemaker OR a successful professional, a caring woman OR an ambitious woman, a demure woman OR a brazen woman. Unfortunately such stereotypes are painfully restrictive, leave women with little choice, and have dissuaded many women from reaching their potential.

Now is the time to give a chance to 'AND' .

I will tell you about two women, born in different times, almost 70 years apart, and how OR and AND have influenced their lives.

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The Great Indian Litterbug

2015-02-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Litterbug is the name; to litter is his game.

He is one you will adore, for his qualities galore.

This is the story of the 7 year old little Litterbug

Cute little Litterbug is just back from school. Hungry as hell, he throws around his bag and yells for food. His doting mother hands over an apple and some bananas to him. The little Litterbug eats the half apple and throws the other half right out of the window.

‘My son will grow up to be a great cricketer one day. See how he strives to perfect his aim!’ Mother Litterbug utters aloud drooling over the antics of her lil one.

The banana peel follows the half eaten apple out of the window as she lovingly looks on. He tears open a packet of chips, takes out his notebook, and starts scribbling vigorously to finish his homework before he goes out to play.

: Little Litterbug

10 Quotes on Love and Life - Valentine's Day

2015-02-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

14th Feb is the day when love is in the air as people all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Love, it is said, is what makes life worth living. Philosophers and poets have defined love in numerous ways. Here is a collection of some of my favorite quotes on love and life.

‘They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.' ~Tom Bodett

‘There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.’ ~ John Lennon

'Where there is love there is life.' ~Mahatma Gandhi

Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan - Pictures from the 19th century Part II

2015-02-12T21:43:00.002-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

"And here, over the portals of my fort,
I shall cut in stone the word
which is to be my beacon and my banner.
The word which will not die should we all perish in battle.."

- Ayn Rand, The sacred word

Taking on from my last post on Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan - Pictures from the 19th century Part I, here I continue further with the imaginary leap back in time, and present pictures and photographs from the 19^th century of the historic forts and palaces of Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bundi, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer.

Palace of Bheem and Padmini, Chittorgarh, ca 1885

Engraving of Padmini's Palace in Chittorgarh, by Edward Francis Finden and Patrick Young Waugh, ca 1829

Chittorgarh was the capital of the Mewar kingdom from the 8th to the mid-16th century.

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5 Lessons in Teamwork from Shamitabh

2015-02-12T01:46:00.002-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Shamitabh – the movie with an unusual name formed by merging the names of the characters Daanish (played by Dhanush) and Amitabh (Bachchan), is a movie with an unusual theme.

Now before you think that this post is a review of the movie, I need to tell you it is not. This post is about the compelling thoughts conveyed beautifully through the story of Shamitabh.

A mute lad Daanish, who is obsessed with movies since he was a child, harbours the dream of becoming a film star. Akshara (played by Haasan), an assistant director, helps him to overcome his handicap and communicate through a borrowed voice with the use of technology. Amitabh Sinha, a cynical drunkard and a failed actor, with a baritone voice, who lives in a graveyard, becomes the voice of Daanish. The duo turn out to be a winning combination and Daanish, renamed as Shamitabh, becomes a superstar.

Lessons from Shamitabh

Whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Success is usually brought about by a combination of several factors. For a team that becomes successful, it is very difficult to isolate the factor to which, or single out a person to whom, the entire success can be credited.

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Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan - Pictures from the 19th century Part1ontinue Reading

2015-01-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

“Sublime wonders lie in store,
I am shown a regal residence;
a mighty kingdom, an empire
with more grandeur than before ...”

- E.A. Bucchianeri, Poetry for the Phantom of the Opera

Forts and palaces never fail to fascinate me. These rare examples of architecture offer a glimpse into the past grandeurs and reveal many a story of kings and their kingdoms, the wars they fought, the courts they held, and the way they lived.

Here are some pictures and photographs from the 19th century that capture the oriental magnificence of the historic forts and palaces of Rajasthan.

Amber Fort, ca 1860

Amber Fort, part of Raj mahal & Maota Lake, watercolours by William Simpson ca.1860

Eleven kilometres to the north of Jaipur, is the town of Amber.

The impressive fort and the palace complex, on a hill overlooking the Maota Lake was built at Amber, in the late 16th century by Akbar's famous general, Raja Man Singh (ruled 1592- 1614). Alterations and additions to the palace structures continued throughout the 17th century and beyond, until the fort was finally abandoned in 1727.

8 Theories of Motivation that underscore the drivers of behaviour

2015-01-22T22:41:00.000-08:00

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

Good leadership consists of motivating people to the highest levels by offering them opportunities, not obligations. ~ Lao Tzu

Nature of Motivation

Motives are expressions of a person’s needs and personality.

Even though you may find it comforting to believe that all your actions are a result of conscious deliberation, but at times, unconscious motivations may lead to actions without your complete awareness or understanding. Your behaviour is controlled on many occasions by external forces, though on many other occasions you may do things based on your discretion, for their intrinsic value.

Motivations are not static in nature. A person may be motivated for one job but when he or she is put for some other job, the same person may not feel motivated. The levels of motivation also vary from person to person.

A leader must understand what gives people the impetus to act in a particular manner to achieve alignment of their goals with his/her own goals.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams

Different theories help us to understand better the concept of motivation:

4 Lessons from the Life of Louis Zamperini

2015-01-16T09:30:00.001-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.

- Bern William

The life of Louis Zamperini, is a tale of unbroken human spirit.

Louis Zamperini, a US Olympic runner, who became a fighter in the World War II, was marooned in the Pacific ocean for 46 days, survived the ordeal of a Prisoner Of War (POW) in Japanese camps, and later turned into an inspirational speaker, exemplifies resilience.

A wayward child, Louis had taken to smoking and drinking, early on in life, and was often picked up by the local police for getting into brawls. His parents were first generation Italian immigrants who had moved to Torrance, California, in 1919. Their repeated efforts to discipline Louis were discounted by the defiant kid; but the constant encouragement of his brother Pete, influenced Louis and he started taking an interest in sports.

His racing abilities soon came to be noticed, as he started improving and winning races, including the national high school race, in which he broke the record set during World War I.

: Louis Zamperini Image Source : veteransadvantage.com

Louis went on to participate in the 5000 metres race in 1936 Olympics, where he finished the final lap so fast (in 56 seconds beating the previous Olympic record of 69.2 seconds) that it caught the eye of Adolf Hitler, who personally came up to Zamperini and shook his hand.

Celebrate diversity and break cultural stereotypes

2015-01-14T00:38:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combination of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.

There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.

There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.”

― Sun Tzu

India being a large country, the culture and tradition of a part at one end of the country are distinctly different from another part at the other end. The vast multitude of art, music, dance, food and traditions add to the cultural diversity and enliven the country with shades and hues of different colors, but not without presenting their own set of challenges.

We are, often, so oriented to our customs and traditions that most of us tend to judge others solely by the values and standards of our own culture. We don’t desist from complaining about how foreigners perceive us, but then we Indians have our own yardsticks for judging people from other states. Deeply ingrained in our psyche are the cultural prejudices that we have grown up with.

Chennai in the 19th century – Vintage Pictures

2015-01-06T03:29:00.000-08:00

By Somali K Chakrabarti

A city with a curious blend of tradition and modernity, Chennai has a rich historical legacy.

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai was a leading urban location and naval base, at the time of the British rule. Madras derives its name from Madrasapattnam, a fishing village located on the Coromandel Coast, where the British East India Company had first built a trading post in 1639, and followed it up with the construction of Fort St. George.

At that time, the weaving of Cotton fabrics was a local industry and the English invited
the weavers and native merchants to settle near the Fort. Businesses flourished on the crowded streets of the province known as George Town.

Here are a few pictures from the yore.

Outskirts of Madras, ca 1851