tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-141132442024-03-08T00:01:59.219+05:30Laughing BuddhaArun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-32180474149807035312018-07-29T10:46:00.000+05:302018-07-29T10:46:42.235+05:30A little poem on HUL Q1 2018 results <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Synthesize financial results in the form of a poem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">So here goes my first.. Of the company I work for. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The management's optimism is legit</span><br />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
With the three divisions growing in double digit</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Ebitda majestically up by 100 bps</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Where to invest needs no tips</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
The trajectory in tea</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Continues to defy gravity</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Improved performance from dove and pears</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Personal care handsomely allays all fears </div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Homecare showed great growth</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Domex and Co happily adding more froth</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Ayush rocking in the south</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Means that the graph moves north</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
No way stingy on promotion </div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Its key to deliver on the mission </div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
The C4G strategy continues to deliver</div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Awesome results are here to stay forever</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-37468532923746787062018-06-12T07:00:00.000+05:302018-06-12T07:04:06.800+05:30An Act of cowardice?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I for one, used to believe that<br />
Suicide was an act of cowardice<br />
By someone not brave enough to face the world<br />
Or brave enough to face consequences of an act<br />
<br />
Slowly, I began to feel that it could be<br />
A state of mind, where others see doors<br />
While one sees just walls<br />
<br />
It is not about the world view anymore<br />
It is just about what one sees in the mirror<br />
<br />
Mental well being can’t be stressed enough<br />
And While I have nothing against visiting<br />
A psychiatrist or the cooler term ‘therapist’<br />
For I have also used their services<br />
<br />
Just like physical pain, the recovery path<br />
Is outside the clinic.<br />
Make use of the prescription, apply it well<br />
But remember, just like in case of physical well being<br />
Prevention is better than cure<br />
<br />
We live in a world where happiness is<br />
No longer a state of mind<br />
It is an industry<br />
Be conscious of what we are pursuing<br />
Happiness or greed masquerading as happiness<br />
<br />
instagram shows the choicest of foods savoured<br />
Not the instakilograms It builds<br />
<br />
Facebook may show the best vacations<br />
Not the emi calculator<br />
<br />
There may be times when we choose to introspect,but<br />
Let each of us be conscious of whether<br />
We are choosing to be aloof, alone or lonely<br />
<br />
Conformity and compliance builds reverence<br />
But they are not great ingredients for building memories<br />
Sometimes, a bit of cheekiness, happy over right<br />
Will help one live as a character, though not entirely in character<br />
<br />
If there is one thing that will make you sleep<br />
As soon as you hit the bed<br />
If there is one thing that will Wake you up<br />
Without a snooze on the alarm clock<br />
<br />
You are here to stay<br />
You are here to thrive<br />
You are here to live</div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-69477448043667655332018-06-10T21:56:00.000+05:302018-06-10T21:56:20.801+05:30Outsourcing acceptance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When even a film producer refuses to see the film<br />
Through the eyes of the critics<br />
Why do parents choose to see their children through the lens of the society<br />
At the time of holding the baby for the first time<br />
All that matters is that connection<br />
Between the parent and the child<br />
Till the relatives and friends around<br />
Start the guessing game<br />
"The baby looks more like dad or mom?"<br />
Well, the baby looks 100% like itself.<br />
And when as parent there is no patience<br />
To understand the child for what he or she is<br />
Comparisons provide the easy way out<br />
Doesn't matter the duration of the game<br />
Doesn't matter even if the kids are playing different sports<br />
Doesn't matter what arenas they choose<br />
The easiest way out is to find the least common multiple<br />
And compare and contrast<br />
If the child is looking forward to<br />
" i am proud of you" more than<br />
"I love you" , time for a course correction<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-66798532979981688242016-05-01T18:14:00.001+05:302016-05-01T18:14:32.790+05:30Just like that.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Meine socha ki humein baandha hei ek gaada dor<br />
Till, one day you lovingly showed me the door<br />
<br />
Yakeen tha ki yeh rishta jeeyega saalon hazzar<br />
Not once did I know that this feeling is a hazard<br />
<br />
Jab bhi hum the saath bas rahe sukh aur chein<br />
Our journey together was quickly pulled by a chain<br />
<br />
Saath mein the tho lag raha naache saare mor<br />
And just like that, it all disappeared wanting no more<br />
<br />
Ek hi naam jisko sunte hi machi kushi ka shor<br />
All dreams of being together was washed ashore<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-19242793815602015772013-06-16T20:27:00.000+05:302013-06-17T10:59:40.598+05:30The curious case of Infosys and its Founder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had the privilege of attending the 32<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> Annual
General Meeting of Infosys at Bangalore yesterday. As usual, the extremely well-orchestrated
event was attended by the Board, the Executive Council and a spectrum of share-holders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, back to the headline grabbing agenda item of the AGM-
The reappointment of NRN as a Director thereby paving the way to formally become
the Executive Chairman of Infosys. The voices that supported the move certainly
outnumbered the ones that wanted to reject the appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">NRN has been stating that the move from the Board offering
him a seat back at the helm was both unexpected and unusual. Would have loved
to hear something more. That it was unacceptable as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were rich references to the Indian ethos; it is the duty
of the father to do a course correction when the kids need help. Yes, it is the
duty of the father to advise the kids and be a MENTOR. When the son fears
failure in exams, he can ask his father to spend some time with him to
understand the subject better. You just can’t ask your father to appear in the
Board Exams for you. I am afraid at this rate, NRN may be asked to code as well
before his five year term ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As an accountant, I always believe that debits and credits
always match. What is with the Airtel video equivalent annual remuneration? Is
the work of turning around a $ 7 Bn enterprise trivial or is this charity at its peak. I
am sure a lot of us know that there is no such thing as a A Free Lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As far as my assessment goes, it could well be the cost of
guilt of not creating a true leader before the first call of retirement
beckoned. By not letting the next gen to take decision and make mistakes and so that they could learn faster, he has taken it on him to execute the course
correction all by himself again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am afraid history will repeat itself in a few years. These
five years should be spent on nurturing leaders and not create a coterie again.
We know that he is the best man to do the job, but again it looks like Infosys
and its shareholders would be happy with fish for dinner and not the fishing
rod that will be able to feed them for a lifetime. I am afraid this knee jerk
reaction will end up creating an eternal Re 1 pension for the founder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And if there is an emotional connect that drives him back to
Infy which he claims rightfully as his middle child, why would his son also
have to tag along at Re 1 per annum. Or Is it a case where the third child bears the
burden of the failure of an elder sibling? This is one Bollywood potboiler
waiting to unfold in all its splendor over the next five years.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disclosure:</i> I just hold a single share of Infosys and that is for two reasons. One- it is like a memento of the institution where I spent well over five years of my professional life. The second is a little less sentimental; I get a lavish wedding reception-like snacks once a year for the rest of my life.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-20924202302350034212012-09-05T21:06:00.003+05:302012-09-05T21:06:34.762+05:30Malini Miss...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Rajam Miss expressed her sadness when she had to hand me over from 1E to 1B. Pramila Miss was the class teacher in Class 2B and the stand out incident as far as I was concerned in that class is thankfully not widely documented :)<br />
<br />
<br />
3A – My favorite teacher till date took Maths classes for us. Malini Miss. The warm smile on her lips looked like a permanent fixture. Thinking back, it sure looked like an expression of someone who just loved her profession and was unconditionally happy to be amidst children and impart some Maths and a lot about enjoying school<br />
<br />
4A- As the school opens after the annual leave each year with us wearing the new school uniforms to school, the biggest game was to guess who the Class Teacher would be. As far as my friends and I were concerned, it was more a prayer than a guessing game. <br />
<br />
As Malini Miss entered the class wearing the predictable crisply starched saree, our prayer was answered. Not sure what it meant then, but I guess it was just a simple feeling of reassurance that we were going to be in safe and caring hands.<br />
<br />
As Class 4 drew to a close, the fad for getting autographs of teachers and friends had just begun. So when me and my friend Prem went running to her to get her signature, she was amused and told us it made little sense, for that was not the end of schooling and we were all going to meet again in less than three months. Never the less, she did oblige.<br />
<br />
There have been countless teachers whose classes that I have been fortunate to attend. Some were very good in the subject they taught and some adept at tackling the adolescent minds in High School. But I can boldly say, there is no other teacher who has left such an indelible mark in my mind. Though I don’t know where I kept that autograph book, what will stay as vivid in my memory as her saree prints, would be her smile and the sense of reassurance we derived in her sheer presence.<br />
<br />
Miss, you still bring a little smile on my face whenever I think of you!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-78190925542000935832012-08-07T07:17:00.003+05:302012-08-07T07:19:16.334+05:30Education, the fishing rod to secure India's future<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Welcome back to 'Just Like Us'. In this concluding part, I am happy to present to you, my conversation with Prasad Revuru - An affable
software professional with the mind of a scientist, head firmly on his broad
shoulders and a heart of gold. Prasad and I got to know each other thanks to an ERP rollout project we were part of, representing different entities.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<i>Arun: Prasad,
let us get straight to the achievement of yours that I admire most. The school.
What is it called and why did you choose Nellore as the location for the
school.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Prasad: As of now we are supporting govt
schools and colleges in rural area villages in four mandal in Nellore Dist. We,
Visista Grameena, are open to work anywhere in Andhra Pradesh. But due to lack
of volunteers in other places we primarily focused in Nellore Dist only. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Now-a-days, even
in mandal headquarters, many educational institutions are coming up with fancy
names like concepts schools, IIT schools, techno schools, digi schools, international
schools and list goes… All these schools
are specially designed for economically well placed people in the society. At
the same time the rural area education system is being ignored by all of us. But
the students who join in govt. schools are from either backward cast or
financially challenged families. And those schools are being gradually ignored
by the major communities in the society.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Visista Grameena
takes up this point as serious problem and started working with the Schools and
communities. We aim to take care of the rural education system through
‘Vishysta Grameena Vidya Samrakshana – VISHY eduCare‘. We are providing an
environment that encourages overall growth and development of rural area
schools</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<i>Arun:
What are the various initiatives that your foundation undertake at this point?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Prasad:<b>
Active Programs:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Utukuru ZP High School Adoption</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Provided additional teachers in the year 2009-10</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Provided free books, cloths and other stationary
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Schools outings</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Awareness programs </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Financial aid for merits for further studies</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>School competitions in four mandals in Nellore
Dist</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Important day celebrations like teachers day,
Independence day, Mathematics day etc</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Awareness programs like choose your career,
ICET, MSc, IT awareness programs</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Financial aid for merits who finished schooling
in govt high schools – for intermediate education</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Scholarships for poor and needy students. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span>Adopted an orphanage student in 2012 and planning his career </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
For more details, visit <a href="http://vishy.org.in/activities.html">http://vishy.org.in/activities.html</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<i>Arun: What
all the readers would like to know, how did a school feature in the agenda of a
software professional?</i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
Prasad: As I came from a small
village, I studied in rural area govt schools and colleges. I faced lot of problem like lack of awareness
in job opportunities, higher educational opportunities, communication skills
and so on. Even today students who study in rural area college are not aware of
many things. For instance, many India based companies like TCS, CTS, HCL,
Wipro, Infy etc… hiring BSc graduates as Software Professionals. How many
colleges/students know about this?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<i>Arun: How
important do you think education is in a middle class scenario?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<o:p>Prasad: </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In Rural Areas,
education should be self-supporting, to know the better life, farming, better
marketing. They don't know about the govt schemes and programs which are
actually planned for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">For students who
want to go for higher education, they should know about the career
opportunities and current job market trends. Present education system is not
enough in this scenario.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We, Visista
Grameena, come forward to show a difference in their lives with our programs
and activities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Prasad, thanks for
sharing the activities of your foundation and your thoughts on education.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-61971600396146027612012-06-24T18:46:00.000+05:302012-06-24T18:46:02.259+05:30Conversation with a 'gifted' entrepreneur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we go
into part four of “Just Like us”, I hope that you guys have been enjoying the
series so far. In this part, I have the pleasure of chatting with Ravi Kumar,
Co-Founder and Director of DilSeBol. Com, a pioneer online customized
merchandise portal.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ravikumar
and I got introduced through his wife and my school friend Jayasri. This was
when I was thinking of getting started on my own venture heartisans, back in
2009. We have been business associates since, and not restricted interactions
to mere buying and selling. An extremely affable person, I find him to be an
ideal sounding board for some of my business propositions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over to the
conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Ravi,
for starters, could you please let us know when were the first seeds on
entrepreneurship sown in your mind? Is business a familiar career choice in
your family?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ravi: Truth
be told, entrepreneurship through DilSeBol just happened. Like all of us, till
I actually started DilSeBol, I had only sporadic thoughts of doing some
business and making it big! Business is not really a family career choice –
having said that, I am lucky to have great support and understanding from my
family. Without that support, I can’t imagine trying to make a success of this
business!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I seriously
started considering starting up when I was here in Chennai on a project around
2006 (was working with Accenture then) – I have always been a keen follower of
the retail business as an industry and was pretty excited about the online
retailing space in general, right from my MBA days. I thought that space had /
has a lot of potential. I had actually made a business plan for an online
apparel retail company in my college days, around 2000-01 but didn’t really
follow up on it. Come 2006, a chance meeting with a friend Kapil with whom I
had discussed the online plan back in 2001 led to me meeting Suresh and this
set things in motion. Within a couple of months after that, I had quit, Suresh
and Kapil and I joined hands and with some of our own funds, we started www.DilSeBol.com.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
You did your MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad. You also worked with extremely reputed
brands like Coca Cola and Accenture in both on –the-field and management
consulting profiles before you started DilSeBol. What are the conflicts that
you face internally apart from just the typical money aspect when you decide to
pursue entrepreneurship? And what tilted your ambition in favour of
entrepreneurship?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ravi:I am
not sure there are that many conflicts to talk about – once the
entrepreneurship bug bites, things just flow from there! Still, if I were to
point out one thing, it is the fact that in the initial days, entrepreneurship
is all about doing most things on your own, being self motivated as there is no
organizational support structure such as that available in a big company like Coca-Cola
or Accenture.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like the
idea of bringing a business to life (motivated by the hopes of achieving high
returns on investment!) with my own efforts – I want to try new things and I am
a big believer that whatever I do, I must learn at least one new thing everyday
– I suppose such an outlook made me lean towards entrepreneurship.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br /><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: I
am sure once you decide to be an entrepreneur, lots of business ideas would
have crossed your mind. How did you evaluate which one to pursue?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ravi: Like
I briefly mentioned, I had pretty much decided that my calling was online
retail with an emphasis on apparel – DilSeBol is just a variant of this idea
brought about by the fact that we felt there was a big gap in the market for
on-demand customized merchandise in India.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
Gifting is a universal concept, but gifting options are not. How does Dilsebol
stand testimony to it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ravi:I have
no clue how to answer this! Once we started DilSeBol with the basic
customization theme, I think the evolution as a port of call for unique gifting
options is just a natural process. As we look to expand and grow, we keep
evaluating new concepts which fit our overall customization theme and that’s
how we ‘ve ended up with such a lot of gifting options!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
After venturing into retail customized apparels and gifts, you have diversified
into providing mass gifting options for corporates. Is it a natural
progression?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ravi: Our
initial plan was more an exclusive B to C online website – however, as time
went by, we started getting a lot of corporate enquiries and orders due to word
of mouth publicity and some favourable feedback about our quality and
reliability in terms of delivery schedules. Co<st1:personname w:st="on">rp</st1:personname>orate
business soon become a big volume and revenue generator and now, it is
something we have to concentrate on as that has become our main revenue
contributor! However, our differentiation is still the fact that we will only
do customized items – at the very least, we at least have to print a logo to
make it a customized product for a company.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we look
to the future, we see the B to B space as growing even further – our challenge
is make this part of the business work online as we still see it is driven a
lot by face-to-face interaction, even for standard items like t-shirts.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br /><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
You have displayed great persistence and stuck to your conviction for more than
five years now. Sure, you would have seen lull periods as well, but you have
not looked for alternative pastures. What is the mantra that keeps you charged?
What motivates you each morning during those periods?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ravi: I
have a strong desire to make this a really successful business – that’s what
keeps me going! The added incentives are the freedom that comes with running
your own business and the fact that I am still learning at least one new thing a
day, even after 5 years on this job!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
You co-founded DilSeBol with Suresh Subbian, a serial entrepreneur. How do you
think partners should complement each other in the journey of a venture as it
rides through each phase of the maturity cycle?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ravi: Ideally,
it would be good to have partners who cover each of the main operational areas
like Marketing, IT, Production / Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Accounts etc –
this rarely happens. I feel that at least the essential areas to the success of
a business (in our case, manufacturing and Sales & Marketing) must be areas
where the partners have complementary skills. Other than that, trust,
especially in matters concerning finance, is very important. Another thing that
I feel has helped us in DilSeBol is that we don’t interfere in something the
other person does – sometimes having space to operate is a very good thing! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
Your team members always have a smile on their face. What are the soft skills
that you adopt to keep them cheerful?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ravi: Haha,
again I have no clue! We try to be flexible in our handling of our staff – we
try to be open and honest with them, regarding where the company is headed,
about their work, pay etc, what they can expect going forward – we also have
the occasional movie sessions and eat outs with the team. Whether this is what
keeps them happy and smiling, I do not know but it has helped so far in
building a close knit team.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
When it comes to startups, With great funding comes great responsibilities. How
hands on or off do you think Private Equity and Venture Capitalists players
should be to nurture a business and raise it to its full potential? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ravi: This
is too generic a question – I would imagine that each company and each team
that runs it is different and depending on these factors, the level of
involvement must vary. However, it is a bit unfair to expect someone to put
money in a business and then not worry about it – it goes with the territory
that whoever invests will want to be involved to make sure that good returns
are delivered and I quite understand this sentiment!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
Entrepreneurs are viewed upon as people who are always looking for the next
opportunity and do not get a typical off time. How do you de-stress yourselves
from targets, proposals and the likes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ravi: True
– I think when we are looking to grow aggressively, we can’t really be thinking
about taking time off etc! In DilSeBol, since there are 2 of us, it helps. We
do take off on a holiday once in a while to get away from it all and when one
person requires a break, the other person covers! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: Ravi,
as usual, it’s been a pleasure chatting with you. Thanks for the wonderful
insights!</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Latha;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-40333072708485761362012-06-17T05:43:00.003+05:302012-06-17T05:43:57.685+05:30Catching up with a Serial Civil Servant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third part of ‘Just Like Us’ features Dr
Bheemashankar Guled IPS. The combination of qualifications sure sound exotic,
don’t they? That is precisely the reason this dear friend of mine features in
this series. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema was a batch-mate of my co-brother, Sandeep and
we got introduced to each other about three years back. Humility, hard work and
persistence are the aspects that I think make him what he is today. By the time
you finish reading this, you will certainly agree with me!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Arun:</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Bheema,
first things first, many congratulations on being selected for the Indian Police
Service. I would like to warn you that this interview may have a fan tone to
it, as I am in complete awe of your achievements!<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema: Thank
you so much Arun .It feels wonderful talking to you after such a long time.
This initiative of “Just like Us” is great. Let me say that we are part of a
mutual admiration society </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Arun: </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Who has been
the inspiration for you to take up civil services?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
There is none specific but yes it’s Govt in general. Since my first standard I
have studied only in govt school and institutions without which I would be
nowhere. Hence I had this urge of serving back and there is no better service
than civil services to give back to the society.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
Were the seeds for the civil service career sown before you took up medicine or
during the course of your MBBS?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
It was more in my medical school. All my friends always encouraged me
steadfastly in me taking leadership positions and supported me in all my
endeavors. All this finally lead to me choosing civil services. During my
internship I decided to pursue civil services.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
After you completed MBBS, you took a road less travelled and didn’t pursue
practice or prepare for MD. How did your family react to this?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
It is my great fortune to have a family that supported me when I chose civil
service as my destiny. There were times when I had doubts in myself but my
parents gave unwavering support. Even though they were worried about my future
career since all my batch mates in medical school were getting settled. But
nevertheless they gave all the support that was required even though they didn’t
know much about civil services. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
have to share a small anecdote here. During one of those fine evenings when I
decided to pursue civil services and told my friends about the same one of my
close friends in his bewildered first reaction asked me “Mr Bheema did you come
to medical field just to make friends or what that you are leaving such a hard
earned field?” but eventually same friends were rock solid behind me and they
were the ones who kept on motivating me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:Did
you get into the Indian Police Service ranks in the first attempt?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
No Arun. It was my 4<sup>th</sup> attempt.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
How do you pick yourself up and stay motivated when an attempt doesn’t yield
the expected results? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
Two things that made this possible were self belief and the determination.
Since the passing percentage is around just 0.002 % a small mistake and you
will have to wait an entire year to write the exam again and undergo the whole
process of selection right from the scratch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
So, I remember when you were preparing for civil services, you based yourself
in Bangalore, far away from your hometown a village between Bijapur-Gulbarga.
What was the reason for this?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
Even though our villages have seen growth and development it still is a
shameful fact that newspapers, magazines and other books that are necessary for
such exams are hardly available not just in villages but even in district
headquarters. Hence, I had to move to Bangalore.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
You were studying with a group of friends in Bangalore. How did the group
atmosphere influence you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
Preparing for such exams requires a congenial atmosphere and it requires
variety in problem solving and decision making. It’s the group of friends that
makes this possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
You made it to the Indian Postal Service (IPoS) last year. You still didn’t
seem satisfied. This year, you have made it to the IPS. Will we see Dr
Bheemashankar Guled IAS next year?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
Yes Arun. That remains my ultimate dream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
How do you unwind yourself in the limited free time you have as you juggle
between high level responsibilities and preparation for exams?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
It’s the comfort of friends’ company and reliving those moments of time spent
together that makes me unwind myself. I am a voracious reader {Strict no to
Textbooks ;-)} and I watch a lot of TV too. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun:
Thanks Bheema for sharing your experiences of your exciting journey and all the
very best in your future endeavours. I am sure you will make a positive
difference to the Police Force!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bheema:
Thank you, Arun. It has been great chatting with you. Good Day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-55939488319445697342012-06-10T07:18:00.001+05:302012-06-10T07:19:26.819+05:30A toy story with a twist!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A lot of us
keep toying with multiple business ideas from time to time. In the second part
of our series “Just Like Us’, we chat with someone for whom the business idea
itself was toys. Meet Santhosh Kumar Subramaniam, co-founder of Bambaram Toy
Library and Founder of MooreMarket, a facebook based ‘flea market’.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh
and I got introduced to each other at my wife’s cousin’s wedding. I already a
little <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>knew about his Bambaram before we
met, and you will know a lot more about it as you read trough this interview.
Over to the Toy Story:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santhosh, could you please take us through
your educational qualifications. Your graduation as well as your post
graduation.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: Have
done my graduation in mechanical engineering from SASTRA and my post graduation
in management from IIT Kharagpur .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you been an entrepreneur only ever since
your post graduation from IIT, Kharagpur? Did you work elsewhere before you
started this venture?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: After
my post-graduation, I worked with one of the leading food specialty retail
chain in Mumbai as marketing manager for around 2 years. Before my post
graduation, I worked with an IT enabled services company as a developer. Most
of my corporate work experience helped me in teaching what all fields one should
not venture into. But I had my fair share of learning from the corporate world
and it helped me when I decided to bootstrap.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: You
founded webvastra when you were doing your post graduation at IIT Kharagpur.
That must have been taxing!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: Not
really. When I joined my MBA, I was more or less decided not to repeat the same
mistake I did in my UG – Just study the subjects and leave your institution. So
I ended up getting involved with whatever I can. So when webvastra idea was
proposed by my friends, I was more than happy to find time for it. It was
taxing. But I really enjoyed those two years at Kharagpur. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: An
interesting aspect of your stubbornness to remain an entrepreneur is that you
have still not collected your MBA certificate from IIT. Sounds extreme. Sure
you would have ruffled a few feathers at home.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
Yes. Initially, the prime reason for not collecting the certificate was of
course laziness. But when I decided to take a plunge, I decided to get the
certificate whenever its absolutely necessary. The moment is yet to come and I
hope it will never come! There was quite a bit of criticism from my parents.
But what’s the fun if the whole world accepts whatever you do. Now they are
more or less convinced that I am crazy beyond their expectations. In
hindsight, that’s the acid test for every entrepreneur. If you can’t convince
and sell your ‘vision’ to your own folks, why should the world listen to you?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: A
Toy library sounds like a novel concept, since kids don’t attach themselves to
a top for more than a specific period of time. How did you hit upon this idea?
Did you launch Bambaram alone, or is it a partnership<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: I
borrowed this idea from Children’s Toy Foundation and Vidyarambam who runs a
toy vans which goes around in government schools. The initial idea we had in
mind was to provide quality structured arts & crafts education in schools.
But when I travelled along with Vidyarambam vans, we shifted gears to toy
library to start with.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is
indeed a novel idea for India. The concept exists in western world and there
are quite a number of toy libraries which are run by government where parents
can just walk-in and take the products. I am sure that will happen here too
once we start realizing how important ‘play’ is in the overall development of a
child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: Do
you connect with parents at an individual level, or do you get the
subscriptions by tying up with corporate or playschools?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: Now
it’s a mix of both! Initially considering the zilch marketing budget we had, we
went and tied up with corporates and served the employees working with the
organizations alone. Later we tied up with schools to include the various
educational kits to be part of their curriculum. Now we serve individual
parents too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you wish to differentiate Bambaram from
any other venture of a similar nature that may spring up in future?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: Right
from the start, our focus reminds on learning aspect of the toy. That’s why we
adopted theory of multiple intelligences to classify the products and whichever
products were not fitting the learning goals were not included in the library.
Yes we did lose few members because of that. But in the long run, parents
started appreciating it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: This
concept may have been viewed with some skepticism by parents as they would have
felt this to have been a downgrade, or may have feared that the hygiene could
be compromised. How did you tackle the initial mental inertia in the minds of
parents?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: It
was an uphill task. That is the reason we tied up with corporate because this
concept is quite known in western world. Considering the western exposure the
parents in IT had, it was relatively easier to convince them. Still the
conversion rates were not great initially. So we took products to corporate
themselves to show what we can offer to the parents and invited parents to our
warehouse for a demonstration. Then the word spread!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: What
has been the most cherished moment in your journey as an entrepreneur so far?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: Letters
from parents! Especially when the parent starts using the library with a
specific objective in mind. Most of the parents were hesitant to share that
objective too. The best moment was when a parent approached us saying her
pediatrician referred us! That was the eureka moment for us </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: How
do you plan to take this venture forward? Are you looking at a franchisee model
to expand your footprint, both in and outside Chennai?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: The
market is huge and is still afresh. We are working with schools to make play as
part of their curriculum having successfully completed our pilot project with
an international school. With regard to franchise, right from the first few
months we started, we are being flooded with franchise requests. But we were
waiting to get it right in Chennai. Now we have fine tuned our model. So we are
considering few places for expansion through franchise route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: You
are constantly connected with entrepreneurial groups in Chennai. How do those
sessions help you? <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh: The
startup environment really helps. Most of us as entrepreneurs repeat the same
mistakes. Staying in connected with similar startup ventures helps you avoid
these mistakes (and of course you can contribute to the pool of ‘new’ mistakes </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">)
and reach out to right people for your needs. I have personally seen lots of
ventures coming out of these startup clubs themselves when like-minded people
meet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Arun: Before
we wind up this conversation, could you please let us know how ‘mooremarket‘,
your facebook based old stuff trading portal is doing?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mooremarket
is just an experiment I am trying with social media and its really catching up
well. I had few stuff to sell/get rid off. So started this to see if it can
sold through Facebook among friends. Now some 2300+ people are members in 8
days time with few successful transactions. Only, when the number of
transactions pick up, can we say if it is successful or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Santhosh,
thanks a ton for time taken to share your thoughts and experiences. We Wish you
all the best in your journey.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To know
more about bambaram, please visit </span><a href="http://www.bambaram.in/"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: blue;">www.bambaram.in</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> . Your experience will be ‘TOP’
notch </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-59301740872928723762012-06-06T16:39:00.002+05:302012-06-06T19:08:22.801+05:30Inaugurating 'Just Like Us', the artist way!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vaaman has been primarily bringing to you my experiences, expressions
and opinions. Just thought would be a decent idea to bring in a fresh
perspective by sharing with you experiences of some of my friends who have
excelled or on the right course of pursuing excellence in a field which is not
conventional and have taken the plunge for the better, outside the comfort
zone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are not people who have descended from the heavens. Neither have
they necessarily taken on the society, squashed supreme challenges etc. These
are people as real as you and me. Hence, though this may not make for perfect
potboiler material, they would provide the readers with a view of how these
achievers in the own right have gone about their business. In the process, it
would be a bonus if this could inspire a few more souls to take the road less
traveled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the above objective, we start this series with Mihir Ranganathan, a
friend of mine from primary school. Right from Standard IV, I have been a fan
of his illustrations. Imagine someone drawing complete Transformer series
images at that age!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The seeds have been bearing fruits over the last decade. After doing
VISCOM from Loyola College he now heads a few diverse enterprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More on him over the course of this conversation.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Presenting the first part of the new series<strong> ‘Just Like Us’</strong> (pun
seriously intended </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Does the artist gene run through your family, or are you the
pioneer in your close family circle? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir:I am the first in the family to take up art/graphic art as a
career. Though my father is excellent at sketching and a fantastic engineer, it
was never more than a hobby for him. I have learnt a lot by just watching him
at work. My mother is also artistic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: How was the decision to pursue a full-on arts based education
backed by your family? Didn’t the typical Professional qualification topic not
dominate breakfast sessions?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: There was some disappointment when my engineering entrance
results came in and my family understood that I may not make the cut so easily.
I then tried NID (National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad) with my family’s
support immediately after school, but didn’t get past the entrance test. I
later enrolled for a Bachelors degree course in Visual Communication at Loyola.
I’m fortunate that my parents understood that being in entertainment or media
was a viable career. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Did you start your post qualification career as an entrepreneur,
or were you working before you took the plunge?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: I had no notions of being an entrepreneur when I first started
out. My first job was as a graphic designer in Chennai agency D’zine Garage,
while I was in my second year of college<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: You started your entrepreneurial innings with web design and
branding? Any specific reason that made you choose this line? Was it commercial
viability or did it suit your personality? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: Not only did I believe it was commercially viable, I also
believed I was good at it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: You then moved over to setting up your own brand consulting firm
BrandMuni. What exactly are the service lines in this business? <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir:To keep it short, Brandmuni offers strategic brand management
using print media, the internet and events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Moving onto what many would perceive as the most exciting part of
your artistic streak is the founding of Duality, your music band with Manoj
Sreekumar. How did you both get together and what was the time it took from
your decision to the first live performance?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: It was Manoj’s idea. I met Manoj through a common friend. We then
stayed in touch through Facebook, which as a platform revealed a mutual
interest in music, and one day out of the blue, he pitched the band concept to
me. It was an opportunity to live out a fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Take us through the rigours of musical band operations. How big is
your team and what according to you are the essential roles that make a band
tick?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: We are lucky that the concept of Duality requires just two
musicians. Getting together for a practice session is not as difficult as it
would be for a 4 piece of 5 piece band. Duality works because we value each
other’s contribution to the overall creative process. Mutual respect and appreciating
each other’s strong points and weaknesses is extremely important. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What makes us tick? The high after every performance and the sheer
thrill of performing for an audience!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: How do you manage to multitask between the various ventures of yours.
There could be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>times, when some of your
team members feel that a particular venture needs more attention than it is
accorded. How do you manage those situations?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: I restrict my practice sessions to weekends or non working hours.
A musician must do his homework and cannot afford to get too rusty. A little
bit of practice can be accommodated even on the busiest days. Sometimes it can
get difficult, but my colleagues and my band mate Manoj respect my view that I
need both in my life and that I won’t give up one for the other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: How important is the spirit of partnership and team spirit in a
start up environment? What is your mantra for motivating a young team?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: Team spirit is very important in a start up, and if you have the
right team every member in is willing to put in the extra effort. Motivating a
team is a subtle art, especially in a startup and requires keeping their
spirits high and encouraging them to take on responsibility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also believe that every member has to have
an active life outside working hours. A casual environment helps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Artists need to maintain a balance of being ambitious but at the
same time, portray a sense of contentment in public. With you being both a founder
of an out and out commercial venture as well as a member of a musical band, how
do you juggle the hats?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: I must say that as an ‘artist’, I’ve been allowed a few quirks.
Being the introvert in the band and in my venture, I limit my activities to the
creative aspect/behind-the-scenes workings of both! I choose not to be the face
or the mouth of either<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: What would be your major learnings through this decade of serial
entrepreneurship which seems to be your chosen path? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: If there’s one thing I have learnt over the recent years, it is
that every human being is versatile and can be useful to his environment and
people around him in more ways than one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arun: Thanks for your time, Mihir. It was a pleasure to share your
experiences on vaaman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mihir: Thank you! I enjoyed answering your questions as well! </span></span></div>
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-44880528190899183032012-02-05T00:23:00.001+05:302012-02-05T10:45:10.031+05:30Mine forever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We start the day together<br />
<br />
I take control of you as the day grows<br />
<br />
Then you overpower me as the day wears out<br />
<br />
I don’t feel bad that you win at the end of each day<br />
<br />
For I know you can never be if I am not<br />
<br />
I play a lot with you<br />
<br />
Unmindful of what happened the previous evening<br />
<br />
I continue to wake up with you<br />
<br />
Dear Shadow, thanks! for I will never have to miss you!<br />
<br />
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-76899987542988909512012-01-07T12:09:00.000+05:302012-01-07T12:09:48.457+05:30Just arrived<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A time in your life when <br />
<br />
<br />
The distance between the lips and the ears is the shortest<br />
<br />
Laughter and tears manifests with equal spontaneity<br />
<br />
The world around you is binary and grey is just a colour<br />
<br />
You go on sleep mode as soon as the eyes close<br />
<br />
Sentences were peppered more with why’s than I’s<br />
<br />
You waved at aircrafts and waited for a reaction<br />
<br />
You thought babies are born when flowers meet<br />
<br />
Constraints belonged to an alien world<br />
<br />
A phase which one thinks would never end<br />
<br />
Yet unable to indentify later as to when it really ended.<br />
<br />
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-35224291739138198162011-12-14T23:59:00.001+05:302011-12-15T00:01:25.982+05:30FDI is cool. Why not try that in politics?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The Government’s arguments in favour of bringing 51% FDI in retail are compelling. FDI brings expertise, corrects inefficiencies and brings down inflation. If world experts can help India’s retail, why not bring a similar ‘reform’ in our politics. 50% FDI, anyone?<br />
<br />
In every constituency going for polls, a number equal to the Indian political parties contesting will be earmarked for overseas counterparts. This way, the electorate has a wider choice. Maybe, after losing once, the Indian parties will pull up their socks just the way the local kiranas are expected to do in the case of retail.<br />
<br />
The best practices of parliamentary functioning world over will also be accessible at home. Imagine a Republican from US and a Labour Representative from UK winning a couple of Lok Sabha seats as a result of opening up of the industry.<br />
<br />
Inflation in most developed economies is 2-4%. We will also get overnight benefits, innit?<br />
<br />
One might have questions on national security and confidentiality. Let’s build a few safe guards like Home and Defence Ministries and post of the PM remaining with Indian nationals.<br />
<br />
This will also help politicians derisk against currency fluctuations as the guy giving kickbacks and the guy using may belong to the same country and use the same currency .<br />
<br />
What's more it will be 'one stone two mango' approach. This initiative will both be an FDI as well as an electoral reform!</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-3151474155179316002011-10-23T16:03:00.000+05:302011-10-23T16:03:31.777+05:30Primer to Tamil Films<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">You think you know Tamil movies well? Or a new fan of Kollywood? This one is the first activity for those who are getting to know Tamil films better.. and for the veterans, a tool of reassurance of domain knowledge.. <br />
Match the following:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa2DL_a6l0UJkn2NQRK7AtA7VeV0119Je-RRoz1PSjQLF1dnOtrpX64uxlDTqxP4Ew8dfoREyYaKyzM7AONVtaRfrsmwmXIIXAiPebMJ-nmGmC5FaB27thOH04cQJsGF6sjYt/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa2DL_a6l0UJkn2NQRK7AtA7VeV0119Je-RRoz1PSjQLF1dnOtrpX64uxlDTqxP4Ew8dfoREyYaKyzM7AONVtaRfrsmwmXIIXAiPebMJ-nmGmC5FaB27thOH04cQJsGF6sjYt/s320/Untitled.png" width="216" /></a></div></div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-32208757500524090462011-08-04T08:48:00.002+05:302011-08-06T16:38:57.065+05:30The Raavan Durga Principle of Management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_mrt60a="184">Many of us would be aware about the Hindu mythology’s star villain Raavan and icon of lady power Durga Mata.</div><br />
<br />
Now, note how they are generally depicted:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_mrt60a="206" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9ruxzOBbzYhmJe9VkZ9UUylOGDtJJTMysgRxqyKl-6KcHrsm6pmziTzgcWTWte9ObwX1ArCRT1kynpRublMBBKZJnGAqKd1iLtbq02PWhER4Ntca7L9lveaf4X8MHSZlfD9p/s1600/raavan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9ruxzOBbzYhmJe9VkZ9UUylOGDtJJTMysgRxqyKl-6KcHrsm6pmziTzgcWTWte9ObwX1ArCRT1kynpRublMBBKZJnGAqKd1iLtbq02PWhER4Ntca7L9lveaf4X8MHSZlfD9p/s1600/raavan.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfEXhhpmIJj4SYwt-pQYhElfnc8jB4QXXtXkGcX1b2945e8DV-CVV4juvhGbWtLO7oCIONXEuITIcL-3LN3dnKztF0SOxlisqIXVTX4xleuluXIsQAOZRKQmpbTSrAb_AMJpK/s1600/Ravana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfEXhhpmIJj4SYwt-pQYhElfnc8jB4QXXtXkGcX1b2945e8DV-CVV4juvhGbWtLO7oCIONXEuITIcL-3LN3dnKztF0SOxlisqIXVTX4xleuluXIsQAOZRKQmpbTSrAb_AMJpK/s320/Ravana.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8qbs7j5DMjeI2N5pamls0y1MJtHrujJr30CvcUezgOqaQIPBdxoSdEnRMUhyjKQZCSLz5LNZy9G1LOCAkXJkVA9jfxvXsLFY5uy_ge5RKGbcKVt7hoYPIrctTWI-Z5ZBTBQp/s1600/durga+mata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8qbs7j5DMjeI2N5pamls0y1MJtHrujJr30CvcUezgOqaQIPBdxoSdEnRMUhyjKQZCSLz5LNZy9G1LOCAkXJkVA9jfxvXsLFY5uy_ge5RKGbcKVt7hoYPIrctTWI-Z5ZBTBQp/s320/durga+mata.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div closure_uid_mrt60a="227">The relevance of these images to corporate organisation structures is immense.</div><br />
<div closure_uid_mrt60a="340"><div closure_uid_3iay6o="188">Raavan as we all know met with his end in a battle with Lord Rama and the reason that I see is the fact that he had just one pair of hands (the actual guys in operation) being cross guided by 10 heads (the think tank/management). The second image on this page is an even better recipe for disaster where there are multiple heads and hands providing a confused cross and multiple reporting scenario(straight line, dotted line, convoluted line, etc). What's worse is each hand thinks it is empowered but runs the risk of being overruled by any of the heads. A reverse pyramid or a connfused matrix can never ever work. At best, the hands may prefer to get severed from such confused leadership with conflicting directions.</div></div><div closure_uid_3iay6o="189">Both go against the natural rule of unity of command and failure is guaranteed. Even with the best of intentions both at head and hands level, such a structure is dangerous.</div><br />
<div closure_uid_mrt60a="375">Now, take a look at Durga Mata's image. There is one head and multiple hands which indicates clear direction for the operations team and each of the hands have a particular object in hand which ranges from a flower to a sword. A team for all seasons, one clear thinking head. Does success need anything more? Hence the respect from everyone and celebrations galore.</div><div closure_uid_mrt60a="362"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_mrt60a="362"><div closure_uid_gvsli8="178">Okay, time for gas refill...!</div></div></div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-60779673363632513432011-07-20T15:31:00.001+05:302011-07-20T15:47:40.276+05:30A snail paced centuryHello friends! Glad to inform you that this is vaaman’s 100th post. It’s taken six years and considering that the second fifty took five of those six years, it has not just been nervous nineties but I guess it has been nervous 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Though there could be multiple reasons as to why the blog could not have crossed the milestone much earlier, I would like to focus more on what this journey has meant to me. Seriously, the journey outshines any milestone!<br />
<br />
As I mentioned in my 50th post, this blog has helped me express my thoughts freely to a larger demographic spread and helped me win new friends. As I was refreshing my memory by reading through the earlier posts, it gave me a great insight into what were the various thoughts and ideologies that I had and how they have shaped me into whatever I am today. <br />
<br />
Vaaman helped me discover the blog poet in me (a clan equivalent in grade with a bathroom singer). The fact that I wrote about creating wealth than laying claim to a portion of the pie way back in 2006, vindicated my jump into entrepreneurship band wagon was not after all an overnight decision.<br />
<br />
After the initial 60 odd posts, the entries have been sporadic at best and that has reflected in the reduced eyeballs as well. Though I keep promising that I will be more regular, it pains me that I have never been able to fulfill that. And the learning is that, I don’t promise higher frequency now either, but whatever deserves a mention will surely not miss out on some bytes in vaaman. A cursory analysis of the scribbling suggests that bulk of the content are on relationships, cities, politics and movies.<br />
<br />
Thanks for all the comments and feedback all through these years. Looking forward to hear from you in future as well.Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-17511493398855942622011-07-18T17:36:00.000+05:302011-07-19T16:31:33.656+05:30pyaar bhari maang :)तुझसे मिलके बड़ी खुशी हुई<br />
<br />
<br />
बस इतना बोलके निकल जाने से<br />
<br />
मुझे खुशी थोड़ी ना होगी<br />
<br />
अगर बात और नहीं बड़ा पाऊँ<br />
<br />
तो मेरे साया से भी पीछे पड जाऊँगा<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
तो जैसे सब लोग करते हें<br />
<br />
मैंने भी उससे दोस्ती किया<br />
<br />
कोफ़ी पीते थे हम साथ साथ<br />
<br />
राज़ हम बाँटते थे एक दूसरे के साथ<br />
<br />
धीरे धीरे बाहर की मौसम जो भी था<br />
<br />
मन के अंदर तो सावन ने घर बसा लिया<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
प्यार से दुनिया भरने का भाषण सब देते हैं<br />
<br />
फिर प्यार की बातें करना इतना मुश्किल क्यूँ हैं<br />
<br />
अगर दोस्ती बस एक बहाना था और प्यार एक वजह<br />
<br />
क्या इस बात पे छूटेगा अपना हाथ<br />
<br />
पूरे डेरींग के साथ जब बोलने गया दिल की बात<br />
<br />
बस एक ही बात बोली उसने<br />
<br />
क्या दोस्त से नहीं तो दुश्मन से करेगा कोई प्यार?Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-43730808338624187012011-06-27T13:18:00.001+05:302011-06-27T13:18:52.182+05:30From Up there<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am nothing but a ball just hanging out there<br />
<br />
<br />
You dearies get confused between<br />
<br />
How I look and what I really am<br />
<br />
I have no shine of my own, <br />
<br />
And marred to the core<br />
<br />
The unconditional love baffles me<br />
<br />
For I just reflect what is thrown at me<br />
<br />
You adore me at every stage of my rise and fall<br />
<br />
Full, half or even stained<br />
<br />
Even when I am completely invisible<br />
<br />
You celebrate it as a thief’s night out!<br />
<br />
Barring the power to alter the tides<br />
<br />
There is hardly anything I do<br />
<br />
Can’t imagine how I would be celebrated<br />
<br />
If I really was the source of all the joy<br />
<br />
Like the Sun or something<br />
<br />
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-36814221373676631752011-06-11T13:43:00.000+05:302011-06-11T13:43:58.146+05:30Un ninaippil en pozhudhu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">En idhayam enna brindavanama<br />
<br />
<br />
Dinamum adhil nee malargiraye!<br />
<br />
En Manam enna solaivanama<br />
<br />
Un mel aasai dhinam mulaikiradhe!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sombal murikum pozhudhil<br />
<br />
Mudhal velichamum nee<br />
<br />
Ucchi veyilil thinarum bodhu<br />
<br />
Saanthamana nizhalum nee<br />
<br />
Iravil un ninaipil puralum bodhu <br />
<br />
Ennodu vambu pesum natchathiram nee<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kodayin maalaiyil seeendum poo thenralum nee<br />
<br />
Mazhai oindhadhum varum vaanavillum nee<br />
<br />
Elai Udhir Kaalathil Pournami Nilavum nee<br />
<br />
Vasantha Kaala Magizhchi yum Neeye Neeye neeye<br />
<br />
</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-61010488318571015382011-06-02T12:48:00.000+05:302011-06-03T16:40:01.114+05:30Kadhal Vandha...(madras peta mix)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sathyam Theatrela Padamo moonu manneram<br />
<br />
Kanne Un nenappu iruvathi naal manneram<br />
<br />
Roaming plan la irundha en manasa<br />
<br />
Un heart o da hotline aakiniye<br />
<br />
Navarathri Sundal pola freeya irundhene<br />
<br />
Un pinnadiye eppavume sutta vittaye<br />
<br />
Sachin Salman Surya verum posterla dhaan<br />
<br />
Kadhal Palliyila Head Mastere Naan dhaan<br />
<br />
Tirukuralla eppodhum ezhu vaartha<br />
<br />
En idhayathil un peyaro ore vaartha<br />
<br />
En Appa voda sanda potten unakaaga dhaan<br />
<br />
En Akka enakku support panadhum unakaaga dhaan<br />
<br />
Kanaalam Katikita varumaam porupu porupu<br />
<br />
Nee en girl friend aana dhaale naan pista parupu<br />
<br />
Vettiya naan selavazhichen nethu vara<br />
<br />
Inime naan semippen last vara</div>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-36599171466480996532011-04-04T00:27:00.000+05:302011-04-04T00:32:00.917+05:30Tamil Nadu: Apathy v 2011Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day. But if you give him a fishing rod, you feed him for a lifetime goes a Chinese proverb. While a plethora of Chinese products have found their way to our markets this proverb has missed the flight to Chennai. Quarter, Biryani and Sarees is history. Cash distributed through newspaper circulation was Gen X ways. Now Gen ‘Why’ comes with something more on the face. Making freebies a part of the manifesto seems to be every party’s strategy. Laptops, grinders, free rice. Next in line could very well be breakfast coupons at Saravana Bhavan and Murugan Idli shop. The deal clincher would be an extra helping of jigarthanda. How about a free round trip on Spicejet? With the electorate being reduced to just a perk seeking demography, the political class is laughing at the sheer helplessness of the public. After dividing the state with reservation policies in the garb of the Dravidian movement, now comes the slap of indignity on the masses. One tight slap on every voter. How can the parties assume that the people are not remotely bothered about alleviation of corruption or poverty. Feeding a mouthful of rice doesn’t serve either. Why has the voice sucked out of the people of Tamil Nadu? Have the so called politically aware electorate been relegated below the ones in Gujarat and Bihar. Have we bid farewell to political will and good governance. All that seems to resound is “Atleast that leader performs . So corruption is okay”. Is this all that is expected from the corridors of power? Why should it always be devil or the deep sea? Really wish there could be a way out, but it hurts to see that both major alliances have sought this ugly route to power. Is there a choice that is unexplored yet.. well hope so…Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-69046963373920637222011-02-18T12:40:00.000+05:302011-02-18T12:42:54.987+05:30Aur kyaa?<p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">A city where your voice may get lost in the noise<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">A city where you may lose yourself in the crowd<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">A city that gives a glimpse of the potential<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">A city where pain and gain blend harmoniously<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Space for everyone,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yet there is enough for none<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Where livelihood is a daily battle, but smiles aplenty<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Street smart, dignified and resilient<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The people’s hearts is not on trade<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">People land here with a dream<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">As there is no time to dream once here,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The city that never sleeps!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">March on, oh foot soldiers, for there is no one better<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">To solve the problems despite being part of it<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">It’s time to think what can be given <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">To this magnanimous metropolis<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Than continuously plunder the resources<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">To satisfy each one's end.</span></span></span></p>Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-73068409914189657462010-12-29T21:38:00.000+05:302010-12-29T21:53:10.239+05:30Hurray! I am victimized!Of late, I have been interacting with a significant number of people who seem to have the common rant of situations or people being unfair to them. Once or twice is fine, but the distrubing thing that I notice is that this is more to do with mindset than with state of mind. I am actually pushed to a point when I start pondering what would these people do if theirs problems are already addressed.<br /><br />And there is a passive disorder associated with this. The gossip mongers have a field day and the speed at which the issue is discussed from being a first person account an nth person account is exponential. The key- how many people know about it barring the person who has the reasonable powers to offer a solution.<br /><br />Why do some people think that no problem is solvable? Why do they feel that raising the issue to an appropriate authority or escalate when resquired is a redundant idea. Why can't the system be given a chance? Some feel cool when they are in the " I am vicitimized zone". They make martyrs make out of themseleves when they are actually making an ass out of themselves. Presuming the result of a conversation that has not even been dared to be initiated is down right stupid.<br /><br />At the risk of sounding pompous, I can say that it gives me a real high when I get solutions by knocking the appropriate door in the system. If I feel that a problem is beyond redumption, then maybe I am the problem and exit the place or the situation. Sounding like an escapist? May be.<br /><br />Does this mean I hate gossips.. you must be kidding :)Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113244.post-21260151001582911622010-09-21T19:11:00.001+05:302010-09-21T19:40:24.474+05:30Satvik's diary decodedWhat a Sunday!<br /><br />I woke up pretty early, err, I was woken up pretty early. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">kosuru</span> nap I took by lying down on my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">amma's</span> lap after 6 30 in the morning was not exactly useful. But, like a good kid I did everything to get ready on time for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">thatha's</span> 70<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> birthday celebrations. I even sacrificed the bucket dip for the bigger cause (pat on my back, please).<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Appa</span> was upset with delay caused because I had to be fed before being taken to the hall . I still can't understand why he behaved like that as me agreeing to eat in itself is a rarity.<br /><br />I was happy to see Aadhi, Ameya and Atul, but in the crowd I felt like 'thriuvizhala tholanja kozhandhai' and my only solace in those times is to cling onto <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">appa's</span> legs; no, i didn't take inspiration from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">lenovo</span> ad. Actually, I can sue them for copying my style.<br /><br />As usual, I didn't eat anything at the event. I came back and I behaved in a manner to justify my pet name "Duracell battery". While others in the house were sleeping, I found myself to be the lone watchman. Thank God, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Arun</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chithapa</span> got a call and he woke up to answer it.<br /><br />I hid myself behind the bedroom door and called him with the cuteness that only I can portray and only he can melt to. He happily showed me Thomas Train for half an hour on the PC thanks to google images.<br /><br />So far so good. For whatever reason, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Appa</span> came under intense pressure for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">chellam</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">kuduthufying</span> me a bit too much. All that I did was refuse wearing a diaper. Now, how else could I convey to my dear father that I have grown up and will inform when appropriate. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Appa</span> got angry with me and shouted at me :(. I tried playing the divide and rule game and gave <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Arun</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">chithappa</span> 'good' tag, but somehow he suddenly became smart and spotted the bluff.<br /><br />Lucky <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">paati</span> later <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">drishti</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">suthified</span> for all of us, and my famous dislike for the liquid <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">drishti</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">pottu</span> was pronounced by a loud cry from yours truly. I went for broke and was relentless and this angered <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Appa</span> even more. On a normal day, someone had to play the good cop and console me and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">adakify</span> the aggressor. But well, today was not one of those days. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Amma</span> also joined <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Appa</span> and yelled at me.<br /><br />Poor me, the only trick left for me was to curl up to big <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">aane</span> (my favourite blanket), suck my thumb and slip into slumber mode citing the excuse that I woke up early and did not sleep in the afternoon. Phew, now i know what a bad hair day means! when am i heading to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">salon</span>?Arun Sriramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326606852904230477noreply@blogger.com1