The Final word

Who owns the media?

2011-11-21T11:59:00.001+05:30

The credibility of media is under serious scrutiny and some actions of media in the recent past have only increased the common man's concerns over objectivity of reporting.

Case in point:

Nov 19th: CNN-IBN reports: High inflation blow to Govt's credibility: Montek Singh Ahluwalia (as a top headline) (Link to the video >>http://bit.ly/sgfslM, which I can't find on the main page anymore)

Nov 20th: the entire interview is telecasted. Mysteriously it doesn't find any mention on the top headlines of the site or in the politics section.

Nov 21st: Tucked away in a slide show the same show has a new headline and guess what it reads. 'Indian banking's downgrade by Moody's absurd: Montek Singh Ahluwalia' (6th slide on the left side of the site) (Video link >> http://bit.ly/rvcvKi) .

I am left wondering why the headline changed from an explosive confession to an inconsequential rhetoric. Why is the news kept away from the headlines? Was there a direction from the Govt.?

Revolution within

2011-09-25T12:55:00.000+05:30

Uneasy with the attributed identity,
I yearn for the identity that was.
As a disillusioned romantic in the middle of a revolution,
I have no where to run and no where to hide.

Self-deprivation to speak to a sleeping master,
wakes an ugly monster within.
Drunk and driven by darkness,
they make a futile attempt for light.

Ban Tomatina. What next?

2011-09-14T20:34:00.003+05:30

There has been an active campaign to ban Tomatina festival in Bangalore. It is wonderful to see such activism. But I would like to take a step back and see if we are barking at the wrong tree?

Could a country where people are starving afford 'Common Wealth' Games? Do we feel okay hogging water and electricity resources for Jacuzzi and umpteen gadgets when around 10% of villages don't have any access to clean water and 15% of villages don't have electricity ? How is Tomatina different from a rock concert, sporting event, star hotel etc. which are wasting more resources which can be put to better use? These are moral questions and the answers to which would vary based on our personal sensitivity.

While there is a valid point in the outrage, I feel it is directed at a symptom than at the problem itself. The problem is with our Govt. policy and problem is with the apathy in urban middle class, which has been a beneficiary of the Govt. policies. So can we take a stab at the problem? Can we force them to get their policies right and implement them? Can we sensitize urban youth to the world beyond their city? I feel we are settling fighting the easier battles. May be we will win this battle, but the war is on.

I am with change.org's central message but I don't think banning a festival or organizing a drink-for-social-change kind of festivals are going to bring meaningful change.

T for Tragedy

2011-03-12T14:26:00.004+05:30

We live in weird times, hooligans demand democratic rights and peaceful protest means to destroy public property. This irony isn't what is shocking, it is the middle-class approval to wanton acts of violence. They proclaim when we are in a struggle such acts happen. Sounds like specious argument made by Rajiv Gandhi on Sikh Roits.

They compare our T-struggle to protest in Tahrir square. People who maintained peace in the face of death, people who volunteered to clean the square because it was their country and that is what they do. I hope the power of web is not strong enough that they hear about how this inspired revolution is unfolding. I am sure they would be ashamed for inspiring such people.

Planned destruction is attributed to police excesses. People carried ropes, sickles, knives, kerosene and hammers for a peaceful protest. Students of our premier institute find no better way to vent their frustration that burn buses, throw stones and intimidate the police and public with dire consequence. If these are educated men who are going to blaze T-land in the sphere of development. I wish my people well.

Interesting times indeed.

The leader of our struggle can't seem to complete a sentence without threatening, humiliating or provoking his enemies. I wonder if that is what T-culture ? Where you want to spit in the mouth of people, rip them apart and threaten to beat them to pulp. His speeches sound like a script given to an out-law in a B-Grade film.

An elected representative was attacked on the floor of the house. Physically abused for having a different opinion. Khabardaar! they roared. There is silent approval and appreciation for this in the T-middle class and there is approval in the educated elite. Looking at this I wonder, how we are any different from Pakistan where the murderers of liberal leaders are hailed as heroes? How are we different from extremist elements which offer no room for disagreement, which end any dual with muscle power. I also wonder the example we are setting for our kids.

Countries and regions formed on hatred and divisiveness have not been able to contain that spiral and are today failed states. Pakistan and Bangladesh may be good examples. Countries who fought for principle and for peace have prospered. India and South Africa are case in point. I hope T-ites know their history.

I feel sad and ashamed. I wish I could be proud some part of it, any part of it. Alas! wishes they are.

Such out-laws and people who can't control their emotions don't deserve democracy, separate state comes next. We should demand them to behave before anything else, for the whole country is watching, for our kids are watching.

If there is a separate state so be it. If we get a land of our own, we will work on it. But this violence and intimidation in the name of revolution is not done.

PS: I am from the T-region and agnostic on the issue.

Deep Tan

2011-02-14T13:38:00.002+05:30

Scales of judgement recalibrate to recognize fairness in insanity,

scattered priorities realign to connect the dots,

old dying world starts living afresh,

when cupid strikes and magic happens.

Detour to dream world becomes an unavoidable halt from pleasant reality,

Sentences spoken convey more than just the meaning of words,

physical distances cease to indicate intimacy of hearts,

when cupid strikes and magic happens.

Matters of no consequence become an acceptable proxy for togetherness,

promise of companionship morphs inevitable destiny into an achievable target,

coveted positions of heart get ceded a secret a day,

when cupid strikes and magic happens.

Living through these times,

basking in these moments of magic,

heart grows a deep tan which won't pale in a life time,

mind nourishes memories which would last beyond.

Just for the record!

How to be a positive Deviant?

2010-12-12T21:10:00.003+05:30

I today completed Atul Gawande's Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to make a difference. The best part of the book was the Afterword, where he recounts a lecture at medical school. It covers 5 suggestions to make a worthy difference, which are:

Ask an unscripted question - Make a personal connection with people
Don't complain - It's boring, it doesn't solve anything and it will get you down
Count something - Count whatever you find interesting in your work
Write something - It helps you to think things through and you become part of a community
Change - Be open to new ideas

2 is my personal favourite.

3 is a very interesting suggestion. The more I think the more sense it makes.

What are your thoughts and do you have an alternate list?

(Thanks to Rishabh for loaning the book)

Question time

2010-12-02T18:34:00.006+05:30

Warhol 2.0 would have used seconds instead of all so precious minutes. In this information age our attention span has shrunk to 15 sec for either watching/listening or reading (140 characters). We as a generation are in the danger of buzz-worded language and shallow opinions.

Buzz around sustainability and social entrepreneurship would be case in point. Today we have fully flourishing, money minting businesses with as much social impact as any other normal company being hailed as poster boys of social entrepreneurship (whatever that means!), where as a company like Nokia - which has affected a communication revolution connecting almost everyone in the world is just a normal company without any social jazz. Why is one a champion of social justice while the other is surely not?

The major problem are not the buzz-words themselves but the way they are adopted with meager to no questioning. It becomes worse with popular media presenting opinions as facts and almost no in-depth analysis on issues. Present day media is in the business of breaking the news than putting together a well researched story.

Questioning often leads to clarity which in turn leads to fresh thought & action. I hope coffee table debates among young people would revolve around taking a harder look at the information they are consuming and opinions they are adopting. As a nation we need young people who question and find new solutions than passive consumer of popular propaganda.

Beyond the honour of killings

2010-11-16T09:50:00.002+05:30

Another couple bites the dust in the name of honour. Newspapers in the last few months have extensively reported on the honour killings across the country. The latest one, according to the CNN - IBN report:

"Sunkara Srinivas, 32, belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), and 22-year-old Swapna Reddy, belonging to an upper caste, had eloped and married six months ago.

Swapna's family was against the alliance as Srinivas was from a lower caste and already married.They returned to the village three days ago. Swapna's relatives called the couple on the pretext of discussing some issues. Following an argument, they started thrashing Srinivas and when Swapna tried to protect him, they attacked her as well.The couple was then tied to a pole and the attackers, numbering about 30, pelted stones on them leading to their death."

There seems to a social and societal acceptance at a village level to these killings. The defiant stand by Khap Panchayats that they would continue with such acts (of honour killings) raises awkward questions about influence of our law enforcement authorities. Death sentence in the recent honour killing case in Karnal should serve as deterrent to others. Going by the cases reported doesn't look like it.

Beyond the usual lip service of calling people and incidents "horrible" and "uncivilized" I want to understand why and how such a phenomenon is allowed to continue. For family members to kill their kin, it must take more than just their hurting ego. The social boycott of the family, throwing the family out of the village or the kind of punishments which destroy the lives of the entire family may be few reasons for families or parents to take such drastic measure to avoid the repercussions.

Due to illiteracy people are not exposed to liberal interpretations or contradictions in some of the religious or social diktats which they seem to be finding solace in. The killings of couple who are married under same gotra is a classic case for the same. It is believed that people who are born under the same gotra are related as brothers or sisters. It is a scientifically and legally unproven claim which is deep rooted in hindu customs and traditions. Court after considering proceeding in a case back in 1945 concluded

"Courts have to construe the texts of Hindu law in the light of the explanations given by recognized commentators. But it must always be remembered that since the said commentaries were written, several centuries have passed by and during this long period the Hindu mode of life has not remained still or static. Notions of good social behavior and the general ideology of the Hindu society have been changing. The custom as to marriages between persons of the same gotra in this case is an eloquent instance in point."

Unless we understand and address the root causes and basic questions of why, how and what, trying to deal with it's fallouts will be ineffective and futile. The outrage and anger needs to lead to some serious thought and sustained actions so that we are able to protect lives of young people who have dared to step out.

Role of Powerful Experiences in Education

2010-08-24T21:09:00.003+05:30

When I was back in third year of my college I watched a movie called Motorcycle Diaries, one of the things that stuck on from the movie was its tag line which read "Let the world change you, and you change the world". Back then I couldn't completely appreciate its meaning. But as I left college and looking at the way the experiences from college shaped the decisions I was making I slowly started understanding what it meant.

I went to Pilani for my engineering after spending most of my life in Hyderabad. Pilani was a whole different world for me. There were different things that I tried at college but two themes prevailed.

One was social change. I had read about poverty, illiteracy, drought and many other pressing problems but they were just numbers or facts one used in a debate, for the first time in my life I started finding a face to some of these problems. I got an opportunity to learn about aspirations and dreams of people who represented greater part of this country. Second theme was around the joy of creating value, I was part of a group at college which was passionate about entrepreneurship. Vigorous debates, inspirational talks and small efforts made me curious about the road not taken.

They evolved from deep personal experiences I have had and people I have met. For me there were no penny dropping moments, but there were these myriad conversations, impromptu discussions and unplanned dialogs with friends, acquaintances and in many cases nameless people. They shaped my world view and my decisions.

The two themes converged as I grew older. After college along with like-minded friends we started an organization called Yofa (Youth Factor) to engage young people into social sector. After a year I quit my job to run this organization as my primary occupation. The first initiative that we launched as part of Yofa is Grassroutes. Grassroutes is a fellowship program to provide young people with powerful experiences to discover the changemaker within. We send fellows away from their comfort zone into a rural setting where they live with the community and work with an inspiring changemaker for a period of one month. So far we have worked with 40 fellows over 3 editions and the impact of the program has varied from reaffirming people's career choice to work in development sector to a greater interest in social sector and initiative to take action. At a more generic level we are sure that because of the experiences of this one month every fellow is more sensitive about problems and more aware about his role as a part of the solution.

Learning that comes from such experiences and exploration is invaluable when it comes to helping people discover their passion and cause. These are the dots that we connect to find the true calling. My organization works in development sector but the experimental and exploratory learning is true for development sector as it is for any other sector. Most successful entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and politicians have very strong experiences which guide them to greater glory and success. I believe that every kid has the potential to be a change agent who can leave his dent on the face of this universe if he has the opportunity to discover and pursue his passion. This is one of the learnings that happens out of the textbook and classroom. Our purview of education needs to broaden to include and encourage such exploration and discovery. It is one of the intangible yet very important facets of education that is often missing.

One of my friends at Youth Venture, Vipin often says "If million causes have million crusaders we will be a far better country". To create that strong country we need strong leaders in different fields and the onus is on teachers, educators and social entrepreneurs to help discover leader within each kid and that is only possible through powerful experiences. The responsibility to create the right context and encourage kids to explore lies with us. And as they say there is no better time to start the change than now.

The article was written for OSOW initiative which is a network of teachers, educators and social entrepreneurs working in the field of education.

Delilah

2010-08-17T11:23:00.002+05:30

Life has a wicked sense of purpose,

the closer I moved, the farther they went.

People say we have come so far ahead

that distances don't matter.

I wish they are right,

I wish I knew how.

Distance in thought ain't reality,

travelling distance in reality isn't a thought away.

I wish time and space were unrelated distractions,

rather than a potent recipe to destroy dreams

I wish you were here,

with me in thought and reality.

The doctrine of destiny is too thin

a line to balance my faith

It's too precious a feeling to let it be,

but closer I move, the farther they go.

Crossed over

2010-07-28T13:53:00.002+05:30

Today marks the beginning of a new mode of book purchases for me. From today on, I have decided to push most of my book purchases through Flipkart. I have done few transactions through them and loved their service. So that brings to an end a long and cherished association with Crossword. I would still pay them a visit every now and then, but loyalties have changed.

Wall

2010-05-25T19:53:00.006+05:30

I have a new addition to my room wall

Dedication: Coldplay

I is he

2010-04-09T23:28:00.007+05:30

He could be the artist

who got up to turn dreams into reality,

A job and money to live and

skipping an obsession-a-week to kill boredom, is that him?

Is he the one with flag and

a cause to change the world

or is he the one with a crazy idea and long hair,

the one who didn't give a damn

Examples and inspiration in abundance,

my search for answers and myself

returned a no donut for you

and the journey continues...

The Abandoned Road

2010-04-05T10:34:00.014+05:30

As rubber hit the road,

for a trip down the road abandoned,

a smile here and few words there is all it took to start,

a journey towards discovering an old feeling.

I was back in world of magic,

where every moment was filled with excitement and expectation,

where difference between reality and dreams seem to blur,

where small was significant.

Your presence seemed to make it worth everything,

it made past irrelevant and future out of context,

all I was living was now and

I wish this moment was life.

Something inside me called out -

We think in dreams but live in reality.

Every thought of yours brought with it a mirror and a magnifying glass,

I was romancing a thought, while you stood alongside.

Someone inside me reminded -

Words of love have to be paid with pain,

I am bankrupt, and all I can afford is silence,

I let go of the promised land for the status quo.

As rubber hit the road,

for a trip down the road abandoned,

few memories here and possibility there ended

the journey to bring me back to this old world

and the road remains abandoned.

-Rake Thinker

T tales - 1

2010-03-22T18:48:00.006+05:30

Some of the most insightful conversations I have had are with Autowallahs. They are smart and give the aam admi perspective on most issues.

When I was bullish about TDP chances in the recent election, many auto guys recounted tales of progress under Congress. Most of the instances they gave were standard propaganda material, but as it turned out that is how aam admi thought. They have talked to me about the city, people and other issues. Most of these thoughts are raw, blunt and true. They talk to you, tell you what they think. It is always a delight to have such a talk.

Couple of days back, I got into an Auto to Railway station for my return journey. I generally asked him, given that it was Sunday if he had more customers. He told me how his business did not run on days but on people coming in to the city - the visitors.

He continued "Hyderabad ke loga kahan ghoom te saab, office jaa te ghar aa ke TV dekhte." Somehow his argument did make some sense to me.

He continued on how the last 4 months have been the worst with his income going down by 50% from around 500-600 to 200-300. I was wondering if it was a coincidence or is he referring to the T-movement. To confirm I asked him innocently if it was because of the T-movement.

"Nahi toh kya saab, koi abhi Hyderabad nahi aa raha" He went on to tell me how small businesses are suffering. He continued "Hum bhi toh Telangana ke hai, humare yea saare paise kaun dega saab? Uske kya jaa raha, uske party mein saare leadera jo hai, uske khandan ke hai, itna paisa kamaye Telangana ke naam pe, humare pet pe laat maar raha. Telangana aaya toh bhi humare auto wale ko kya milta saab"

After his monologue I was left wondering if T happens- what will I get?

What matters now ? - Youth Factor!

2009-12-14T23:28:00.005+05:30

There is something common to all the people who have brought about great change in the world. These are people

who question status-quo,

who dare to dream different,

who follow their passion irrespective of the support they got,

who have great energy to achieve their goal,

who are inquisitive to learn, experiment and experience.

This is ideal or natural state of youth and something most of us lose out on as we grow old and hence this is something I term Youth Factor. I think that is what matters now, to preserve and nurture that youth factor in every young person.

Post is inspired by the e-book put together by Seth Godin answering the above question . What is your answer?

Looking back

2009-12-09T21:37:00.005+05:30

Days, dates, anniversaries serve their own purpose. To remind you of the person you were and discover the person you are. They give you a reference point for comparison. It is also sometimes an occasion to realize how few things still mean as much, how your priorities haven't/have changed. Other times the energy, excitement and feeling were special and are just worth reliving. A smile here, tear there, hope here, cynicism there, I wait for another day and date.

Dedicated to a month which is filled with moments and occasions. Dedicated to a friend who shares similar emotions for this month.

Moment

2009-11-23T20:42:00.005+05:30

Modern art previously seemed to me a result of a collection of random acts than a deliberate effort towards the end result. A splash of color here and contrasting color cutting it in half. Something that looks like a lady in between. Hands and legs out of place. Individually each looked chaotic but as a whole there was a sense of completeness to it.

A special moment in life with random factors like music, weather, company and talk combine to give the moment a feeling of completeness and it seems perfect.

Both cases there are choices. Actions are deliberate. End effect is incidental. The art is in the detail.

How to change the world ?

2009-11-01T00:23:00.002+05:30

This song explains more or less the philosophy we believe in - helping everyone discover the changemaker in them, helping people find their cause.

As the song goes :

If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

Some times answers or solutions are just that simple.

Cross-posted on Grassroutes blog.

Culture and Zappos

2009-10-14T11:40:00.002+05:30

I was reading an interview of Tony Hsieh, Zappos. This was not the first time I was reading about the culture at Zappos and the tribe that they have created. But towards the end he talked about putting together culture book based on articles and experiences from the employees, on what Zappos culture meant to them. The whole concept of building a company with a distinct culture has impressed me for long and when I knew I could get a peek into it, I decided to write to Zappos asking if they could ship one to India. They responded to my mail in few hours and told me

" I'm sorry that you have not been able to experience the Zappos yet, hopefully soon!

As for the book, I'd be happy to get your very own copy over to you! You should be expecting the book shortly at the address you provided."

They had no reason to ship to a country where they don't operate, but they did. In the process, they just earned a life-long evangelist for their company.

Hail Zappos!

A great day for freedom

2009-09-04T01:39:00.000+05:30

And with glasses high I raised a cry for freedom had arrived...almost!

About a girl

2009-08-23T19:12:00.010+05:30

Hello world

What's in a Name?? - Brilliance, Light, Splendor or just Dyuthi

Media shy, Already?

P1: Say cheeeese
Dyuthi: Shout (Meaning - In few months. For now I'll look, be happy)
P1: OK... Click

To my little niece, who has brought great amount of joy and happiness to our family.

Clunk clunk . Cheers

Title Dedication: Nirvana & Beatles

Either or are not the only choices

2009-06-21T12:55:00.003+05:30

Why is it that most of the times we are given either or choices ? One reason could be because we don't think/know and is an option.

If contradictory elements like good and bad coexist in each of us. I don't think we need to make as many of those either or choices.

Re-late

2009-06-20T23:22:00.004+05:30

I believe relationships are built on common experiences from the past and nurtured with experiences from present.

I hope I am wrong.

Road taken

2009-06-06T03:30:00.004+05:30

I have been working on something I have been passionate about for over an year now. I am writing this to cover my journey so far and I have to say it has been a brilliant ride.

What makes it brilliant ? It flips around all the things people may hate work for. At the end of day's work it's something which makes home welcoming and sleep earned. It has given me a cause to fight for and a chance to rewrite rules which I don't quite agree. It fills a void and gives a direction to the quest for meaning in life. There is a sense of creation in a every small module you build.

Does all that sound pompous ? May be, those are the words I have heard people describe their feeling of starting up. I don't disagree with any of them.

Simply put - It makes me happy .

This doesn't mean things have gone according to the plan. Quite the contrary, chaos always rules the roost. There have been many surprises and few unpleasant ones. There have been bad days where I screwed up and I have felt as worse very few times. Long nights and short weekends. Lesser my-time. It's a lonely path and draining at times. So is it worth it ?

More than worth it. We all just need few moments to live our life and this provides more than few of those moments. How you earn those moments is a different question all together.

Few other things I learned on the way:

- When you really care for something, you think about it 24*7*365 . Even when you are concentrating for 10 seconds gap to cross over to the other side of MG road

- Pain and Pleasure go together ;)

- You never do a Job, you work

- You can't replace work with people. People are still very important.

- People respect you by what you do and not by what you think (I think the actual sentence had judge instead of respect, but I think people judge even if they don't know you. ergo the modification)

- Serendipity does exist

- If you startup and make money then you are rich, if you don't you are a rock star :P

I suggest you don't trust any of it and go discover for yourself. Do leave a trackback when you cover your findings .