Devanand

Generally I avoid writing about individuals and refrain from using any names in my blogs. There are many reasons for practicing this principle and one of them is my harsh views about hero worship. I believe that all human beings are same and are to be respected. However their actions can make one respect them more or less.

While on the net this morning I saw a flash about Devanand’s death in London. It’s sad. Death is a reality and world doesn’t stop with this. However the news made me blank for a moment. I always liked Devanand’s movies, his style and his attitude. I don’t think I missed many movies of him. I have a fair collection of his classics and still watch them. Hum Dono (हम दोनो), Guide, Tere ghar ke samane  (तेरे घरके सामने), Nau Do Gyarah (नौ दो ग्यारह)…… are some of my favourites. Devanand remained young at heart. He had ‘never die and be young’ attitude. He believed in himself and was never shattered by failures. Many of his films flopped at the box office, but that never affected him. He continued with what he believed in. The number he acted मै जिंदगीका साथ निभाता चला गया हर फिक्रको धुएमें उडाता चला गया is true to his attitude. He exceled in all the roles be it as an actor or director or producer. Not many persons know that Devanand was the only one from film industry who openly criticized the emergency imposed in June 1975. I admire him for many of his qualities and foremost for being young at heart.

I chanced to meet him twice. I had never imagined that I will ever see him in person. I remember my school days when I would ask my parents for permission and five annas (31 paise) to watch his movie. Standing in queue in scorching heat in Nagpur, firmly clutching the three ten paisa and a paisa coin in my hand to buy a ticket for Hum Dono is still fresh in my mind. On one side I remember the kind of struggle that I had to see the actor on the screen and on the other hand I remember the actor standing in front of me and extending his hand to me. Both are realities. It was during one of the vintage car rallies in late 80’s when Devanand had attended the rally. He was looking for a particular car for his forthcoming movie. He enquired about our family car (Ford, A Model, 1930). I introduced him to my parents, who were alive that time and were sitting in car. We talked for a while and he departed. I did not miss out on the occasion to pose for a picture with him. The incidence was forgotten over a period of time. My job kept me busy and films were no longer an essential part of entertainment with changes taking place in the society and my social life. Time was flying. We entered the new millennium. In the year 2000, I again chanced to meet Devanand. I checked in at Bangalore airport for Mumbai flight. I looked around in the lounge to find a suitable place or to find any acquaintances. My glance paused at a corner; I stared at the figure sitting alone. It took no time for me to recognize the person, it was Devanand. In the era of Khans, the generation around him had forgotten this great actor. I walked to the corner, stood in front of him. He lifted his head to look at me. I kept my briefcase down and said ‘namaskar Dev saab’. He replied politely, ‘namaskar’ and gestured to occupy the empty seat next to him. I sat down and asked him “how are you Sir?’. This initiated a dialogue and we kept on talking till the flight was announced. He was in Bangalore for his production Censor, which unfortunately did not do well. We were together for almost half an hour. Our talk encompassed from Hum Dono to present day films and from technology of yesteryears to the digitalization that was taking place. During our discussion I asked him, if the technological developments have made his job easy or more difficult. He was candid in replying. He felt that the technology has raised expectations of the viewers and to match the expectations one has to exert more. The gap between expectations and what is offered somehow remains unchanged. He was right in way. The viewers are always going to be more demanding and that’s what makes the job more difficult.

I remembered all this after I read the news on the net and then switched on the TV set to see the glimpses of his old classics. In one of his movies he had a song, जीवनके सफरमें राही मिलते है बिछड जानेको........ How true it is!

Exam days are here again!

November has been a hectic month ever since I started teaching. Many times we celebrate Diwali during November and always we have exams hovering during this period. Whatever that has been learnt in last twelve sessions for most of the subjects is to be described in such a fashion that will help to get better grade. This goes on batch after batch and year after year. The question is ‘Are we testing memory’? The answer may be ‘yes’ for some and ‘no’ for others. And I won’t rule out a certain percentage that says ‘may be’.

Memory is important, but not for reproduction on the answer book what you have read or heard during the semester. Memory is important to store the concepts that one has understood. The concepts should find a place in the ‘memory bank’. The concepts are like investments in ‘Gold’. These investments have liquidity. There is no point is investing in a currency that has no liquidity, has no value. No one would like to keep in term deposit millions of any soft currency that has diminishing value. You can’t use that investment at the time of crisis. Gold will come to rescue at that moment. A small quantity of gold can be of more worth than a large quantity of currency that has negligible liquidity. Therefore using storage space of the memory bank should be for the concepts. The concepts can be explained and this happens automatically. The one who has clarity of the concepts can elaborate the same. One who has not understood the concepts will search for words. A good classical singer (of Indian classical music) can sing a bandish (बंदिश) for hours, only when he knows the basics. Someone with firm base goes on for hours while others can ‘finish’ that bandish in few minutes. Why this happens? Give a thought. Extend this example to exams. When concepts are clear one can write pages, if one lacks clarity then answers are over in half a page. Therefore the answer to the question, ‘are exams for testing memory’ will be yes, but testing memory for recounting the concepts.

Use memory for the files that are zipped, condensed. You can store more. Delete unwanted files, make some room. You do delete some files to make your computer run faster. This can help to perform better and faster. During my exam days, I generally stopped reading the notes at least twelve hours before the exam. I would avoid loading those files that would affect the speed and performance of my brain. I would go for a movie or listen to music. I would decongest my memory bank, make more RAM available and may be it worked for me. One can always argue that those days were different, competition was different etc. Yes it was, but remember every era has its own complexities. We had no computers. There was no internet. Source of information was college library and teachers. The technological advancement was not there (relative). Means of communication were not available. Lal Bahadur Shastri used to swim across the river to reach the school. So let us not get in to comparison. Our brain still works (biologically) in the same fashion as it worked earlier. Basics are still basics and we should learn that well. So cheer up, decongest your memory, remove unwanted programmes, load it with sound fundamentals and use it appropriately in answering the questions, not only in exams but also in life. There is no room for failure. You are going to succeed.

Best luck

Diwali/Deepawali

Few years back I tried to explain what Diwali (दिवाळी/दिवाली)  is to my American friends. Same thoughts once again for my young urban friends.

Diwali festival generally extends for 6 days. Diwali is as the name suggests is a festival of light. Diwa (दिवा) = Deep (दीप) = Lamp. Diwali has its origin in the socio-economic aspect of the Indian civilization during last many centuries. India has traditionally been an agricultural economy. Even today about 70% of the Indian population is engaged in the agriculture sector. Cow has been the main resource for the Indians, particularly in the past. The number of cows one owned judged richness / affluence of an individual. The most valuable donation in that era was donating a cow. Rightly so as the entire economy evolved round the cow. The cow produced bulls that helped the farmers in various agriculture operations. The bullocks in the past did all the operations that are being done mechanically by the machines in present era. The bullocks helped farmers not only on the field but also off the field. Bullocks were of help to draw the carts to the market place to transport the agricultural produce. The agro waste product of the harvested crops was the fodder for the consumption by the cows and the bulls. The cow dung was the best organic manure available for the farms. There is no better example of bio-degradation than this. Cow was therefore the mainstay of all the economic activities.  Diwali is celebrated in the post-harvesting period. Rainy season is over and the agriculture operations are over for a while. The produce is already in the market or part of it is sold and part is stored for the lean season. The farmers are loaded with the money. This is the time to relax and enjoy.

Great preparations are made for Diwali. The houses are cleaned, fresh coat of paint is applied. Renovations are carried out or even new houses are built or bought. New clothes are bought for everyone in the family. Loads of snacks are prepared in advance for consumption and distribution to the near and dear ones. Purchase of gold ornaments, new gadgets, land etc is done in this period. Climatically it is early winter and is a refreshing break for the farmers who have to, soon after the festivities, get ready for fresh farming operations. During Diwali houses are illuminated. Traditionally earthenware lamps with oil and cotton wicks are used for this purpose, rightly so as there was no electricity about a century and half back. The courtyards are leveled and sprinkled with mixture of water and cow dung that is well recognized for its antibacterial properties. These courtyards are then decorated with Rangoli (रांगोळी /रंगोली), drawings drawn with a special powder of selected white stones. This powder is also at times brightly coloured for enhanced decorative effect.

The first day of Diwali is known as Go - Baras (बारस) or Vasu Baras (वासू बारस). The word Baras means Twelve. ‘Go’  (गो) is cow and Vasu is cowherd. As the festival falls on the 12^th day of the second fortnight of the month Ashvin (अश्विन) of the Indian calendar, the word Baras has been used. On this day Cow and the Calf are worshiped. This is a sort of thanks giving function. Cows and calves are fed with choicest food. The cowherds dance and rejoice on this day. The cattle is given a bath, decorated and draped in special costume. In the evenings the cowherds takes pride to parade their possession and visit their friends and relations.

The second day of Diwali is Dhan Teras. Dhan is wealth and Teras or Treyodashi (त्रेयोदशी) is thirteenth day. On this day Wealth is worshipped. All the account books, stocks, cash and coins along with the idols of Lord Ganesh (गणेश) and Godess Mahalakshmi (महालक्ष्मी) (Goddess of Wealth) are placed on decorated platform or dais and worshipped. Seasonal flowers, especially Marigold and seasonal fruits are offered. Coriander seed and joggery, i.e. unrefined sugar, along with puffed rice known as Lahya (लाह्या), are offered to the Goddess. Panchamrut (पंचामृत) a combination of milk, yoghurt, sugar, ghee (तूप, घी) (clarified butter) and honey mixed together is offered to the goddess and later distributed to family members and friends who attend the function. It’s like a nectar. This Puja ( पूजा, worship ritual) is done after the sunset. Crackers are burst during the Puja. Feasting is on through out the day.

The following day is Narak Chaturdashi (नरक चतुर्दशी). Again Chaturdashi (चतुर्दशी) is Fourteenth day and Narak (नरक) means Hell. In the Indian mythology there was a demon named Narakasur (नरकासुर). Narak (Hell) symbolizes dirt and message is to clean the dirty surroundings. God in a battle defeated this demon and to commemorate that victory this day is celebrated. It is customary to get up early in the morning and take bath before sunrise. The male folk in the house get oil massage from their sisters, mother and other female relatives and then a hot water bath is given. During the bath certain powdered herbs, which work as scrub, cleansing agents and astringent are applied. This sweet smelling powder is know as Utane (उटणे/उगटन)  that has rejuvenating properties and acts as a skin tonic. During bath the female folk applies Tilak (तिलक,red herbal powder) on the forehead and a small quantity of uncooked rice which symbolizes prosperity is put on the head as blessings. Five lamps are lighted and are moved in circular motion in front of the person in a traditional way. This is called as Aukshan (औक्षण), which means long healthy life. Every one is ready in a new dress well before the sunrise, this makes lot of time available to visit friend and relations. Every place wherever one goes, snack and sweets are offered. The day is spent in feasting. In the evening again Lakshmi Puja (लक्ष्मी पूजा) is done like the previous day and crackers are burst.

Lakshmi Pujan (लक्ष्मी पूजन) is on the next day which is the last day of the month of Ashvin in the Indian calendar. This is the main day of the festival. The worship of the wealth is done on larger scale in the evening. The bankers, moneylenders, stockbrokers have greater importance for this day. Festivities, meeting friends and relations mark this day. In certain communities, gambling with (playing) cards, on this day is considered to be a good omen.

The following day is the first day of the new month Kartik (कार्तिक). It is also a New Year day for some communities. On this day mother anoints her sons with oil and herbal powders and offers special prepared delicacies in the meals. The same is done by wife for her husband and by daughters for their father. In the evening a procedure of applying Tilak, showering uncooked rice and lighting oil lamps is done by mother for her sons and by wife for her husband. The male folk have to offer gifts to mother, wife and daughters on this occasion. This day is very important to business community, as it’s the New Year day for them. They start new account books on this day. Even the stock market is open in the evening on this day to commence formal business.

The last day of Diwali is Bhai Dooj (भाई दूज). Dooj (दूज) is the second day of the month and Bhai (भाई) is brother. The royal and loving treatment that mother offers to her sons on the previous day, on this day is by sisters to their brothers. And of course the gifts for the sisters are must. The almost week long festival comes to an end with this. Revival of family ties, get together, feasting mark Diwali. Every one prays for economic prosperity, health and happiness on this occasion. The significance for urban population, salaried employees and businessman might have undergone a change during last few decades, but the spirit is the same. The economic situations have certainly changed but festivities are still the same. May these festivities continue in this era of globalization.

Happy Diwali.

Future

Excerpts from my fiction Future of Future

Twitter           @ManoharPandit

FB                  Prof.Pandit

Linkedin        Dr.ManoharPandit

I turned around when I heard the Windows starting sound wondering who started my laptop. It was my two and half year old granddaughter Aanya, who knowingly pressed the start button and was waiting for main screen to appear. I decided to wait and watch her next move. She also patiently waited till main page appeared. She spoke aloud ‘A’ and pressed the ‘A’ key, then called out B and pressed ‘B’ key. She glanced at the screen, there was no change, she realized something more needs to be done that she was not aware of. She looked at me and gestured to express that something needs to be done. I realized that perhaps she wants me to open a new word document, which I did willingly, pressed caps lock and then she happily started striking the keys from A to O, that she had learnt and from 1 to 9 as she did not know how to type 10 even though she knows the figure 10. I waited for a while till her attention got diverted to something else and she left the room.

I sat with my laptop staring at the screen that blanked out and took me to the future. I saw myself in a classroom to deliver my lecture. I noticed a talented generation, extremely smart generation occupying seats to listen my lecture. There were no note books, no pens or pencils but there was a small smartphone like gadget with each one of them. I refrained from showing my ignorance about that gadget, thought it might be a new generation mobile phone or similar. I wondered in absence of notebooks where and how these students will be writing. I glanced at the class and started my session, I kept talking, and the students were listening and moving their fingers over the gadget they held. In between I wanted to explain a point on the board. To my surprise there was no board or markers or chalks. I asked for the class representative to check the possibility to have a board and markers. I noticed a great surprise in his eyes. ‘You mean to say that you want to write’? He almost screamed. I said ‘of course yes, I can explain better on the board’.

‘Well Sir’, he said, ‘we have boards or writing material only in museums, not in college’.

I wondered at his reply. ‘You mean to say you don’t write’ I quipped.

‘We analyze, understand and just memorize what you say’ he explained. ‘This is the only thing we need for all our activities’. He showed me the smartphone like gadget to me.

‘We don’t write, rather we don’t know how to write’. I was startled at his reply. How come a management student can’t write? I was amazed. He guessed my expression and predicament.

He said, ‘Sir there is no need to write, we can manage without writing’.

I thought for a while and then realized, yes, he was right. There no reason why he or anyone from his generation should write. All that one need is recognition of alphabets and numbers. Once these are identified then there is a keypad on mobile or laptop or a virtual key board to type. Where is the need to write? One communicates by texting, emails, voice chats, video conferences and many more ways including telekinetic. Then what’s the need to learn writing. Handwriting is a matter of history and so are the writing equipments. To confirm my thoughts, I asked the students if they carry any pens or similar, any paper or notebooks? What is that someone asked me? Then I realized that I was at a wrong place or some drastic changes have taken place. The students were very different. There were no notebooks, no papers, no pens, and no pencils. These articles and for that matter even these words were not in their dictionary. I thought of my younger days and the scolding that I had from my parents and teachers to improve handwriting. The money spent by my father to buy the three line and four line note books, the time spent by mother holding my hand to guide me over the dotted letters to improve the handwriting were part of that civilization that might return only after the complete destruction of this current and future civilizations. 

‘How do you sign?’ that was my next question.

‘What do you mean by sign?’ there was a counter question.

‘Well, how do you establish your identity? How do you authenticate the documents or transactions?’ I tried to explain.

‘Well that’s no problem. Biometrics does that job. In rare cases behaviometric is used’. For no reason I remembered the illiterate farmers who used their left thumb impression to authenticate the moneylender’s exploiting documents.

By now I realized that the glasses worn by the students were capable of getting converted as scanners that would do neuroimaging and inform them my thoughts well in advance. That was mind boggling. There was no further reason to address the group and as my thoughts were already ‘read’ by them. I wondered what kind of sports would be played in such society. Chess would be out of question. Many more forward moves would be known to the players. If at all cricket would be played then both the batsman and bowler would know in advance the kind of ball that would be bowled and what stroke will be played. The fielders would move to position before the ball is bowled. In such cases the one who can swiftly read multiple minds and act instantly would be the winner. The batsman would just signal and make use of telekinetic to move the side screen. Perhaps the commentators would know in advance the next couple of overs. The match fixing and betting will have different dimensions. Scorecards will be digitalized and no one would write the score books. Writing will get extinct.

I came back to present when I heard the windows closing sound. I abandoned my plan to buy notebooks and pencils for Aanya, decided to divest from investments in paper industries, companies manufacturing pens, pencils and similar products.  The future was different, beyond imagination. Highly knowledgeable persons would be semi-illiterate as they would only read but not write. The future was frightening. 

Teacher's Day

This blog is dedicated to all my students for their love and affection.

Tweeter           @ManoharPandit

Facebook        Prof.Pandit

Linkedin           Dr.ManoharPandit

It was just a chance that after I delivered my speech as the chief guest for a pharmacy week function at a local college, I was requested to tutor the management students. I was never a teacher in my life and wasn’t sure to accept the offer. Back home my wife was excited at the offer and the director of the institute was very persistent. I gave a serious thought and finally gave my consent for various reasons; one of them was the inspiration that I derived from my father’s action.

It was way back in year 2000. That evening after giving my consent I rushed to nearest book store, we just had one in Vashi in those days. Went through couple of books and wondered is this what I would like to read and teach? The crumpled copy of the university syllabus that I had said ‘yes’ but my heart said ‘no’. I thought I would rather share my experiences of over three decades of corporate world with the students rather than teaching theory from the books. I returned home empty handed but with lots of thoughts in my mind. That evening I sat down with a notebook and pen, and started writing my experiences that would explain management theory to the students. I had a dial up connection for internet that made me struggle to get some latest information from the net at a miserably slow speed. Over next two or three days I was ready with my first lecture. I went to the only stationary shop in Nerul bought few acetate sheets and marker pens to make my first OHP slides. I don’t think I had ever made such slides in the past, my secretarial team and co-workers managed this for me. Where to start and how to start was a question. Few sheets got wasted, yet I kept trying till I was satisfied. Finally the day of first lecture arrived, I was standing in front of nearly fifty students of MMS third semester. OHP, black board and, few chalks were in place. It was a different experience. The audience or participants were so different than what I used to have in the corporate world. I started carefully keeping a watchful eye on the audience. I could notice a flicker of interest in the eyes of the students and that was what I was looking forward to. I kept on going, at time using the chalk to explain on the board. I enjoyed the first session. During the break few students gathered around and we had some chat. This enforced my observation that the students are interested in my lecture. And if that is so then it is my responsibility to meet their expectations. I was in a different world when I drove back home.

I started enjoying my sessions. It was fun and very interesting. The interaction with young aspiring students kept me charged. The semester ended after twelve sessions. After the last lecture we had a photo session, some students made me write some message for them on their note books and I returned home with heavy heart and bouquet of roses.

In due course of time the next semester started, then the next year and then another year and then another institute and it goes on. OHP is a history, LCDs came in, ppt was the order of the day was replaced by pptx. PCs were replaced by laptops, that got replaced by netbooks and now tablets. I was enjoying. I got more and more involved. I had a different sense of satisfaction each day when I retired for the day. All these years I learnt that to be a good teacher, I need to be a good learner. I was learning each day and that made me a good teacher (if I can say so). Today with over 10,000 students from different institutes, over a decade, I have a great sense of accomplishment, the one that I was looking forward to, knowingly or unknowingly, over the years.

I still remember all my teachers, all those who taught me. Being a good learner I learnt even when the person I was interacting was not my teacher. One such incidence gave me inspiration and that made me a teacher. It’s old story that is still fresh in my mind. One day I was to travel to Pune as a young executive, when my father desired that he would like to accompany me. He was old and a trip to Pune was not as comfortable as it is today. He told me that he was keen to meet someone by name Mr. Watchmaker. I took him to Pune. We searched for Mr. Watchmakers’s place and reached there without giving any intimation (telephone was a luxury in those days). It was a typical Parsi home and someone answered the bell. We announced the purpose of our visit. The person led us to a spacious well-kept drawing hall. In one corner an old frail figure was sitting in a wheel chair that was Mr. Watchmker. He was over ninety at that time. I looked at my father who was over seventy five, his eyes sparkled. He sprinted towards Mr. Watchmaker took his hand fondly in his own, shook gently and bent down to touch his feet. Mr. Watchmaker stared at my father and before he would ask any questions my father said, B M Pandit, Sir, your BA final year student in 1918 at Robertson College. For a moment Mr. Watchmaker looked blank, soon his eyes glittered, became moist. He held my father’s hands as firmly as he could. I too bent down to pay respects to teacher of my first teacher, that’s my father.  The reunion took place after over fifty five years. My father always cherished the teachings that he had from his teacher. That incidence gave me an inspiration to be a teacher sometime in life and that is what I am today. I may not reach that height but let me try.

God bless you and best luck. Do well in life.

Aaj ka Mahabharat

Now on Twitter @ManoharPandit

Right from my childhood I was informed that Mahabharat (महाभारत) was a war between good and evil, scrupulous and unscrupulous, virtuous and dishonest. Mahabharat says that the one who follows Dharma (धर्म) will always win. There was no apparent reason for me not to believe this. During Mahabharat the good guys were outnumbered by bad guys and it was a heroic deed to win over the large number of bad guys. Pandava (पाण्डव)  represented good characters and the Kaurava (कौरव) were just the opposite. Reason for the war was larger numbers practiced evil and drove away the virtuous marginal by unfair means. Shakuni Mama (शकुनी  मामा) designed the crooked strategy. A stage came when Draupadi (द्रौपदी)  was also lost in gamble and was to be disrobed in public. Draupadi who was an asset (not in sense of physical property) to Pandava, raised some valid questions in the gathering of Kaurava and other royals. Bhishma (भीष्म)  was the only sensible person in Kaurava’s camp who played safe. He claimed Dharma is subtle. Many stalwarts from Kaurava camp were unable to resolve her queries. Her question was laced with legal, moral, ethical, cultural dimensions. The question was whether baiting Darupadi, in the gambling by the Pandava was acceptable to Dharma? As a sequel this has raised an issue that who has authority to decide about Dharma? In Mahabharat era all the characters knew relevant meaning of Dharma and each one practiced it for one’s own benefit.  The question was not complicated but the answer was. No one could reply and ultimately the zing of unscrupulous rulers forced the noble out. The war got ignited because the virtuous were denied their rights. The war was won by noble who were in miserable minority.

The war could have been avoided, had the natural rights been recognised, had a common meaning of Dharma been accepted by the warring parties. A natural right like the right to liberty comes first, and then comes the civil society and then the political parties. The individuals therefore are allowed to express their concerns. Government shouldn’t be insensitive to the individuals seeking natural rights. Even Mahabharat has made it amply clear that the King (government) is morally responsible to protect its citizens, which includes their rights.

Today are we heading towards Mahabharat, but with some differences? Is it Mahabharat of Kaliyug (कलियुग)? The civil society has overcome the barriers of political parties to unite for abolition of corruption and for better governance. Today the Pandava are still a minority but unfortunately are they scrupulous? They hold all productive resources and wealth but their asset Draupadi is not with them. The Kaurava are once again in majority, but now they are scrupulous. Today Kaurava are held to ransom by handful Pandava, who have no answers to the questions of Draupadi. The mighty and learned Pandava and their faithful are unable to answer the simple questions that Draupadi has raised about corruption and civil society. Today also her questions are laced with legal, moral, ethical, cultural dimensions. The questions are not complicated but the answers are. The answers are like boomerang, that’s going to hit back the Pandava. No one wants to reply. No one is ready to reply to the basic question of Dharma? In today’s context is it the civil society important or the governance by political parties is important? With some difference a noted English scholar John Locke also voices similar views. Today’s Pandava should realise that his ideas and views were responsible for intellectual revolution in Europeans and also gave birth to the American Declaration of Independence.  

The zing of unscrupulous rulers should not be intimidating Draupadi and Kurava. Today’s Mahabharat unfortunately does not have a Bhishma. Both Kaurava and Pandava have changed their colours and with this change, now  Kaurava must win. The battle ground is not very off from Kurukshetra where first Mahabharat took place. Kaurava army is swelling and Draupadi is leading the peaceful battle. Pandava had won Mahabharat with deceit, today also they want to try the same old trick for yet another win, but Kaurava are more alert, they have learnt from past experiences. They have decided not to take up the weapons and still win the war. The Shakuni Mama has changed the side, he went to guide the Pandava, however his wicked tricks will not work now. The game is on. Now the civil society is Kaurava and handful of Pandava are trying very hard to disrobe Draupadi and to further the misery of Kaurava. This has to stop and Pandava have to respect the natural rights and in turn the civil society. There is no Krishna (कृष्ण) to mediate, it’s we against corrupt you. Let’s resolve to win. Win without violence and with dignity.

Disclaimer: No disregard for Mahabharat is meant. I have immense respect for the same. The article is just to highlight how large numbers of people are supporting anticorruption drive and a handful of persons are not in favour. Apology in advance is any sentiments are hurt.

Govinda

It all started with Krishna (कृष्ण) who wanted to have his share of butter from the Gopis (गोपी). In the days when refrigerators did not exist, the only way to store butter was in earthen pots (Handi हंडी) and that too well above the ground. It served many purposes; the Handi (हंडी) kept the butter naturally cool and prevented melting. Tying the Handi (हंडी) well above the ground and close to the ceiling ensured better cooling due to air circulation and safety from cats, Krishna (कृष्ण) and his teammates. Krishna devised a simple method to reach the Handi (हंडी) by forming human pyramid. May be a two or three layer pyramid would suffice to reach to the Handi (हंडी) and ‘steal’ the butter.

It’s surprising how of all other communities, only the natives of Girgaum in south Mumbai picked up this act of Krishna and started the event that has today assumed large dimensions and is known as Govinda. What was once upon a time just emulating Krishna, turned into a social event and then a sport. The landlords of Girgaum on the day following the Krishna’s birth would mingle with their workforce, stand shoulder to shoulder to form the pyramid, hit the pot (हंडी) hanged well above the ground and share the contents that included eatables. It was truly a social event. Over period of time the nature of the game changed. It can be a matter of research, but not the scope of this article. The social event turned into a sport, first unorganised and later on organised. Local teams got formed. The landlord and workforce aspect got eliminated. Different people from all strata of the society joined hands for this event. As the height of the pot from the ground kept on rising; the eatables were replaced by cash. Higher the height more was the cash. Teams became mobile and started visiting neighbourhood to scale newer heights to break the Handi (हंडी) and of course to earn more prizes.

All this was fine and acceptable. But the politics crept in. The team size increased as the height of the Handi (हंडी) increased. The lowest circle had to be large with stout members, more layers were needed leading to increased numbers of team members. More the members, so the more expenses and this resulted in the need for a sponsor. And when the sponsors are needed, how could the politicians miss on the opportunity. Politicians always need followers, and that too at a minimal cost. Sponsorship that offered a tee shirt and a Vada Pav (वडापाव) with Chai (चाय)  a day was the least that a team would expect and the most that a politician would offer. More money would be spent on hoardings and media advertising. Due to higher expenses, the Handi (हंडी) with low prize money was not attracting the teams. The Handi (हंडी) went into a competitive spiral. Thanks to politicians. The Handi (हंडी) of few rupees started swelling. Hundreds became thousands, thousands became lacs and this year lacs have turned into crore. The greed increased, so the layers in the human pyramids increased. Seven layers to eight, eight layers to nine and this year nine layers to ten, making the sports more dangerous. Accidents became more common, resulting in death or paralyzed individuals. The sponsors offered lip sympathy or meager compensation in such cases. It is said that many a times the promised amounts were not paid even after taking all the risk to break the Handi (हंडी). Few sweet words and false promises help the politicians to keep the teams with them.

There is no doubt that this sport needs lot of organisation, planning, team work, physical efforts, strength and of course funds. Teams have to start the practice at least three months ahead. During this period the team members must have some incremental diet to meet the enhanced caloric requirements. The cost of this incremental diet can be minimum Rs.20/- per day per team member. If he team comprises of one hundred members then the incremental expenses are Rs.2000/- per day. For a period of three months it would be nearly Rs. 200,000/- per season. Add to this the travelling and other expenses incurred on administration, travelling etc. This all can run upto Rs.250,000/- at the least per team. To retain and motivate the participants who are mostly from poor families, the amount may have to be four to five times more than the bare minimum. If you want insurance and medical facilities, snacks on the D day, the expenses swell further. Does any sponsor rally shells out this kind of money? More money is spent on media. The electronic media is flooded with sponsorship advertisements. All political parties compete to gain the mileage at the cost of poor participants. The returns are minimal for the efforts. A team can break maximum three to four Handis (हंडी) in a day. In order to attract teams and for political propaganda the prize money keeps on increasing. Unfortunately at some places the Handi (हंडी) remains unbroken or the prize money promises are broken.

Govinda (गोविंदा) must remain a clean sport; remain away from politics and undesirable risks. It’s a cultural heritage and it should not get corrupted with politics, power play and money power. Healthy competition is welcome with organised efforts to take Govinda (गोविंदा)  around the world.

Have a safe and enjoyable Govinda (गोविंदा) . Best luck.

Independence or Liberation

Story of a common man in India. I am sure everyone must have noticed this or similar.

Rahul spent whole day waiting in a serpentine queue outside the college for his admission. His hard work to score over 98% in twelfth standard was evident from his frail figure. Right from ninth standard his growing years were confined to the four wall of his small house studying hard to score well in twelfth standard. He was shaken when he found his name in the waiting list for admission in the college. By end of the day all that he saw was admission to a mediocre student under some quota and rejection of his application. Clutching the crumpled mark list in his hand he headed towards his home, uncertain of the future in independent India. The system had rejected the talent.

Ramu walked eight kilometres to the nearest police station with his application. He had a small piece of land that he cultivated diligently. The approach to his farm was through a narrow strip of land in between the farms of two landlords. A local goon had encroached on this passage blocking way to his own farm. Ramu had no access to his farm as the neighbouring landlords did not allow him passage through their farms and the goon had blocked his path. The goon had started an illicit liquor distillery that was blooming with the blessings of local politicians. Ramu waited whole day holding the papers in his hand to meet the police sub inspector. By end of the day all that Ramu saw was the goon speeding away in his SUV along with the sub inspector. Clutching the crumpled paper soaked with his sweat Ramu headed home, uncertain of the future in independent India. The corruption had vetoed an honest worker.

Naresh joined civil services nearly thirty five years back. He was on verge of retirement. After faithfully serving the government he was falsely implicated in a scandal as he did not oblige the kin of a minister. Naresh was restlessly moving up and down the corridor in minister’s office for an audience. He wanted to be heard and his suspension order to be revoked. Whole day he has been pleading less than half of his age twelfth standard pass personal secretary of the minister for few a minutes’ audience. By end of the day all that Naresh saw was the minister leaving his chamber with his kin who was responsible for the problems that he had. Clutching his suspension order in one hand and wiping his tears with another, Naresh headed home, uncertain of his future in independent India. The nepotism had anguished a loyal worker.

Sita suffered from tuberculosis. She got the medication from government dispensary. For some strange reasons the medication did not work. The organism had become resistant to the drugs. It was feared that substandard medicines were supplied to the dispensary. The medical social worker helped her to reach government hospital. Sita was lying in one corner of the female ward in the government hospital on a small piece of gunny bag. There was no bed available for her. No one attended her for whole day. Late evening Sita saw a bed being prepared, she had a ray of hope. All that Sita saw by end of the day was the bed being allotted to a patient with mild fever, who was the housemaid of the doctor. She gathered strength to be on her feet, clutching her prescription in one hand, she picked up the gunny bag with another and headed for home, uncertain of her future in independent India. The favour had overruled the need.

Rita, right from midnight was standing in queue for darshan of her favourite deity. On an auspicious day the temple attracts large number of devotees, that includes a common man on the street to the powerful politicians and Bollywood actors. Holding the puja thali (पूजा थाली) in her hand she was praying and patiently waiting for her turn to get the glimpse of the deity. Sun was rising over the head and she was sweating. The queue was moving at snail’s speed. Just after the dusk her turn came. She was dictated by the priest to offer the payers as fast as she could. See looked at the deity, stood still, and closed her eyes for a moment, to pray for a better future, when someone pushed her out. All that she saw be end of the day was a Bollywood star being escorted to the temple to have close darshan  (दर्शन) of the deity. On her way out she was clutching the puja thali ( पूजा थाली) in her hand and was uncertain of the future in independent India. The devotion was crumpled by position.

Sixty four years after the independence, we are still uncertain of the future. We got the independence but not liberation. The independence has resulted in dependence on power centres. We were slaves of foreign rulers and now again we are slave of unscrupulous politicians, corruption, nepotism, systems, bureaucracy, redtapism, politics etc. Independence is a thing of the past, what we need is liberation.

Jai Hind




Disclaimer: Resemblance with situation or any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

Raksha Bandhan

Need protection then tie Rakhi. It's emotional binding. Anyone can tie Rakhi to any person from whom one desires the protection. In good old days wife tied Rakhi to husband to protect him from evil forces and sister did the same to her brother for same reasons and to seek protection for herself. In return gifts and assurance of protection were given by the person who got the Rakhi tied. 

As on date, for obvious reasons, we all need to tie Rakhi to someone to get us protected from unscrupulous politician, corruptions and anarchy. 

This is the mantra for tying Rakhi.

येनबद्धो बलिराजा दानवेन्द्र: महासुर: । 

तेन त्वां प्रतिबद्ध नामि रक्षो मा चल मा चल ।।

Meaning - 

Just as the great King Baliraja, the great leader of duality, the king of all manifested existence, was bound by truth, just so do I bind you to protect me through all the movements of  life 

Enjoy Raksha Bandhan

Enjoy Raksha Bandhan

Patriotism on Sale

Come August and January every year and we find patriotism on ‘sale’. Every traffic signal has hoards of children pestering vehicle owners and passer-by to purchase a national flag or similar products depicting the tri-colour. This is very peculiar to our country. I have never seen such a ‘sale’ in the second largest democracy in the world.

Do we really need to sell patriotism? Perhaps ‘yes’, in our democracy. There is a huge market flooded with buyers. There are many who buy it twice a year, in August and January, just like observing fast on Ashadhi (आषाढी) and Kartiki (कार्तिकी)  Ekadashi (एकादशी).  Some need to buy it to display patriotism. They have to show it to others to get appreciation from them. It’s like observing a day’s fast to wash out sins. Many a times I find when hard core non-vegetarians are forced to adapt vegetarian meals or to observe fast during some religious events, they wait eagerly for the fasting period to be over so that they can bounce back on their favourite meals/meats. Likewise many unpatriotic activities conducted during January to August period can be washed away on August 15^th under the grab of patriotism and August to January sins can be washed on Republic Day.

The patriotism should be displayed by some long-term philanthropic activities. Distribution of fruits or sweets to patients or prisoners once or twice a year is not enough. Year round activities to alleviate the pain of patients can be more desirable. Reforming the prisoners on long term basis is also laudable. How can display of national flag on shirt or car dashboard be termed as patriotism? How can the crispy white cap be a symbol of patriotism? Can these and similar be the real parameters of patriotism? No one can buy or sell patriotism. It has to come from within. It has to be in one’s character. Will the politicians engaged in scams ever understand this. For them perhaps a twice a year display is enough. It has rather become a ritual. A political ritual in independent India.

The flags are bought or sold for display of patriotism. No one is bothered to look into Flag Code. The design and manufacturing process for the national flag is regulated by three documents issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), but does anyone really bothers? Originally only Khadi was to be used for the flags, either cotton or silk, and that too in a count of 150 threads per centimetre. Any violation of protocols, guidelines for manufacture or display or use are punishable by law with imprisonment up to three years, or a fine, or both. Unfortunately it is observed that a day after the Independence Day, many flags and those that are bought for display of patriotism are not disposed as per the guidelines given in Flag Code of India. We must respect the flag.Independence Day is round the corner. Please give a thought before you buy a flag. 

The national flag must get the respect and if you can do that then only buy a flag, that too the one that conforms to the guidelines of BIS. Patriotism that’s within needs no means for display. 

Jai Hind.

     

Marketing Significance of Shravan

Marketing and culture go hand in hand. Marketing has to be relevant to a given culture to ensure success. One can effectively make use of this strategy in ritualistic societies. In India various rituals are associated with festivals.  When it comes to rituals, who can ignore  Shravan (श्रावण)? Shravan is the most important month in India. The importance is from astronomical and cultural aspects. The stellar constellation of Aquila, known to Indians as Shravan Nakshatra (श्रवण नक्षत्र) consisting of α, β, and λ Aquila, rules the sky around full moon in this month. From cultural viewpoint this month is of great significance due its association with religion. Many cultural events are religious rituals. Shravan is wonderful blend of culture and religion. The significance of this in agro based economy like India is enormous. Major manual agricultural operations are over just before the beginning of this month. All those engaged in services in the farming sector have relatively free time. The peak of the rainy season generally starts receding after the full moon.

The food culture for the month is significantly different from rest of year. Abstinence from alcohol and non-veg food makes this month different. Marketing implications are a lean season for breweries, butchers, eateries and alike. A good season for service sector engaged in religious rituals (priests), vegetarian food and food that’s consumed for the fasts (उपवास), florists, and many others. In rural India the entertainment sector gains as the snake charmer earns an extra buck on Nag Panchami (नाग पंचमी), the banjo party does a brisk business for Govinda (गोविंदा) which in urban India has unfortunately become a political platform with huge turnover, and a multimillion dollar business for Rakhi (राखी). It’s an international business opportunity, and China has already replaced many indigenous gifts that brothers and sisters would like to exchange. Multinationals like Cadbury’s wait for this festival to improve their turnover and of course the profits by replacing traditional sweets. The courier companies work overtime and those in the online business make money by offering satisfaction of having sent Rakhi or a gift to brothers and sisters settled abroad. The festival like Narali Pournima (नारळी पौर्णिमा) in the coastal region of Maharashtra is also a money spinner for coconut farmers. The last day of Shravan, Pithori Amavasya (पिठोरी अमावस्या) is also of religious significance and the same day has festivities for the bulls. Business opportunities, for this thanks giving day (पोळा, Pola) for the bulls, who had toiled untiringly during past few months for the farming operations, are enormous.

Shravan helps us to understand the ecology. Nag Panchami signifies importance of snakes for farmers to control the rodents that eat away the agricultural produce. Had snakes not been there the farmers would have been left with no grains due to rampant rodents. Offering of different flowers and leaves in Puja (पूजा) provides the knowledge of horticulture and helps control the growth of certain unwanted plants and propagate the growth of useful plants. Rituals have been our teacher for this.

Fasting, restrictions on diet and ban on certain food items is prescriptive to have good health during somewhat unhealthy season. Water gets polluted and lack of sunshine gives chance for pathogens and bacteria to strike during rainy season (seen advertisements on TV for soaps), thus this food culture is for disease free period. Culture is our teacher.

Shravan is a month for socialisation, with no work on farms people gather together to perform Bhajan (भजन), Kirtan (कीर्तन) and other religious activities. As a ritual, Satyanarayan Puja (सत्यनारायण  पूजा)  is also performed in Shravan. Inviting friends and relations for this Puja makes it a social function. Each day is significant from religious ritual viewpoint. On Mondays one can observe long queues outside Shiva (शिवा) temples. The itinerant traders do a brisk business outside the temples. On Tuesdays the newly wedded brides worship the goddess in groups (मंगळागौर, Mangalagaur), it’s a more of a social event and lots of traditional games played on this day, rather night, that are designed for exercise and physical wellbeing. These games obviate the need for a modern day gyms. Shravan being a rainy season not much of physical activity is done, so such celebrations keeps the body toned up. On Wednesdays and Thursdays the housewife worships lord Vishnu along with Budh (बुध Mercury) and Bruhaspati (बुहस्पृती, गुरु, Jupiter). The images of these two celestial deities are drawn on door frames and cupboards. The underlying reason for this may be is to ensure the cleanliness and removal of dampness and fungus growth from wooden surfaces in the humid rainy season. Fridays mark the celebrations with high protein diet like Puran Poli (पुरण पोळी) and prayers are offered for the welfare of children (जीवति पूजा, JivatI Puja). Saturdays are for appeasement of Saturn as well as wealth accumulation. Sundays assume importance due to traditional Sun worship in this continent. So each day of the week is important.

Lots of marketing opportunities are available in Shravan due to its cultural and religious significance. One can design the products and services suitable for this month. The culture can be used for designing promotional tools and for effective communication. Being a ritualistic seasonal product prices never come under stress. Just for few flowers one shells out a ten rupee note without hesitation. Another business opportunity has emerged with revolution in IT. The e-pujas are also available in large number of temples. It’s a novel way for distribution of services.  One has to just design an appropriate strategy to take advantage of the belief of public, but in an ethical way.  

So go ahead and plan something  for a successful marketing career. Best of luck.

Marketing Terrorism

Globalisation of terrorism has created newer marketing challenges. Al Qaeda has realised the need to market their ideologies to the newer segments, newer markets. Globalisation and marketing have a close association. Globalisation results in enhanced competition and that triggers the need for aggressive marketing. Companies strive to build brand equity that enables them to have customers with life time loyalty. Organisations marketing health drinks, noodles, oral care products, toiletries, detergents and many more products effectively target children to CTY (“Catch Them Young”). Those in service industries also follow the suit. Today, advertising plays a massive role in the society, because it tends to steer young minds notably. Television and multimedia offer this exposure and has immense influence on behaviour of children. Like advertisements on TV, the other TV programmes and CD/DVDs of cartoon films have a deep and lasting impact. Unfortunately there are not many programmes that aim to inculcate positive values. Most of the programmes, cartoon films show violence. It’s sad; research indicates that the violence in cartoon films causes aggressive behaviour in children. Violence seen in the films and television increases the likelihood that the children who watch this will demonstrate aggressive behaviour towards others. The worrying aspect is that all this leads to desensitization to violence and there is no remorse for the violent act.

Juvenile crimes are on rise. One of the reasons is children feel that the violence doesn’t hurt. The young ‘to be’ criminals see that the person in the cartoon films or television shows get stumped over by another character and they get back unharmed.  Children tend to believe that violence doesn’t really hurt others. This is dangerous. One wonders if remand homes and correction center’s really help those juvenile criminals to give up the crime when they grow up.

Many cartoon films and programmes show the individuals who commit crimes go unpunished. The legal process is long and tedious. Many films show the criminals walk free after they commit the crime. This is another problem. This indirectly supports violence and also leads to erosion of values.

If children are viewing cartoon characters using violence or aggression to get what they want, then the children will do the same and will feel that violence is a good way to solve the problems. Many cartoon films create heroes out of the people who commit the crimes. Children feel that if they copy the criminal they will be a hero, too. The hero that commits the crime is glamorized. Children begin to think of criminals as powerful role models. There is definitely nothing heroic about violence and it is wrong to show children that it is.

Young minds needs to be given positive strokes. CTY is good, but has to be for the good. The recent news about Al Qaeda planning cartoon films aimed at recruiting children to their terror network is inhuman. Glorifying terrorism and depicting the terrorist as heroes is a threat to the world. The younger generation can get deeply influenced by such marketing gimmicks of a terror organisation, develop loyalty and it can be catastrophic to the world.

Can we do something? Of course, we can. The marketing brains have to unite to counter the terrorist propaganda. We have to be innovative to counter this malicious design. We need to project the virtues, demonstrate how values are still indispensible in today’s world. The TV serials like Ramayan (रामायण), Mahabharat (महाभारत) in yesteryears had kept the India glued to the TV sets. The streets were deserted when these programmes were telecasted. In recent years Lage Raho Munnabhai (लगे रहो मुन्नाभाई) had also casted some favourable shadow. Such magic will have to be recreated to CTY and to make the children good human beings. The technology has far more advanced today. We can make use of this for faster, better and effective communication. In India with over 122 crores population, nearly 33% population is less than 14 years of age. This translates to nearly 20% population in the age group of 7 to 14 years. If these formative years can be given positive strokes, then no power on the earth can dare to touch India. We need to create such material that will, not only neutralise the impact of evil cartoon films but will give positive directions to the young minds. Can my young MBA friends work on this? Can you create something that will attract the young minds?  Can you market positivity? Best luck.