Enjoy another Holiday..Dont bother about Nation

On 26 January 1950, India became a republic and a new constitution came into effect under which India was established as a secular and a democratic state. So we are celebrating 61st year of being a secular republic. We are the largest democracy in the world. We are proud to have produced people who have excelled in different works of life. That’s what I get to read through email chains and scraps and tweets and blogs.
We deliberately or unconsciously ignore the underbelly of this nation. We are the nation that faces challenges from religious violence, casteism, naxalism, terrorism and regional separatist insurgencies, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern India. India has unresolved territorial disputes with the People's Republic of China, which, in 1962, escalated into the Sino-Indian War, and with Pakistan, which resulted in wars in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999.We proudly sit on top of corruption list and dirtiest cities of the world. Yet I am supposed to be a proud Indian and endorse the tricolor.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of Independent India, in his special message to his countrymen, on the birth of the Indian Republic, said:
"We must re-dedicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realization of the dream that had inspired the Father of our Nation and the other captains and soldiers of our freedom struggle, the dream of establishing a classless, co-operative, free and happy society in 'his country'. We must remember that this is more a day of dedications than of rejoicing - dedication to the glorious task of making the peasants and workers the toilers and the thinkers fully free, happy and cultured."
If we go by his word we have been a big failure as a Republic by his words yet we are we one of the strongest force of this century.

Lets look at what the preamble to our constitution was:
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
Going by the preamble I can question on JUSTICE,LIBERTY,EQUALITY,FRATERNITY in today’s context. We have been given FUNDAMENTAL rights. We not only forget our DUTIES but also expand our FUNDAMENTAL rights to an extent that it crosses hand with the law which is old enough not to cope with present generation.

Tomorrow when I wake up I will enjoy another holiday as the reason for holiday has long lost its importance and value. We can all hope for HOPE.

A vision through the maze

Who is a true leader? There is no concrete answer to this question. History is filled with depiction of great men who have made their mark but does it mean all of them are great leader. Looking back at Indian History we have come across people who have been able to change the course of this nation but searching through their lives you will not find many leaders.

There have been people who have been able to garner faith and respect of people and have transformed themselves to a level where people would naturally follow them. Moving up the corporate ladder makes me realize that the huge potential of the industry at the bottom of the pyramid which gets squandered because there is not many people to channelize this potential. Most people up the pyramid are leader by designation and not by ability. It’s a big statement to make but this is blunt truth. Our corporate structure is not aimed in grooming leaders so in a few years we might find a problem of plenty.

When we entered the industry (Software Industry) way back in 2004 the head count in companies were relatively low. 2004-2006 had seen the intake of huge number of people. Now the leaders we had seen during our initial period were mostly guys who have worked for 10-15 years as Computer Engineers. The catch here is when they graduated most of the students used to opt for jobs in fields like Electronics, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical etc. So we haven’t really seen the best of leaders. So whatever we learnt from them on leadership is really questionable.7 years down the line we are now in the mid management level where it’s expected that we will lead the pack. The problem is not only there are too many such people but also most of them are not well groomed. If you think this is the only problem then you are missing the point, the guys who were your leaders 7 years ago have become managers now.

So the scenario is we are getting bright and enthusiastic fresher’s who are managed by half baked leaders like us who is turn is reporting to people who once was discarded by the booming industries during their hay days. This is creating a huge gulf between expectation and outcome in all possible ways. I have observed the side effect of this situation:

• There is lack of trust and faith on leadership as we move up the pyramid

• Lack of self confidence and self belief among fresher’s who does not have many to look up to

• People changing job at the drop of hat

• Lack of vision and direction in governance

• HR under pressure to retain talent

• Management working behind closed doors like some secret society
• Lack of transparency and vision

• Lack of innovation and growth opportunity

Although I have seen people who have stood out and made a good example of themselves and have been leaders whom we can look up to. But their efforts are often overshadowed by the many who have failed to deliver. Companies are determined to make profit and maintain their growth rate so they push the managers who in turn push their subordinates and ultimately its bottom layer of this pyramid who are crushed. We are not in a sugarcane industry that by crushing more we will get better sugar!!

The companies have formulated policies to ensure that this situation does not arise but often those policies are flaunted to suit the benefit of few and eventually it harms everyone in the long run. The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed in these two: common-sense and perseverance. Problem is today the mantra have been changed. There is nothing called common sense people goes by the rule-book wherever required and flaunts the rules for his/her own benefit. Today perseverance pays you nothing unless you are smart to show off your perseverance. It’s all about marketing. It’s all about blowing your own trumpet and keeps the show running. Leadership skill or no Leadership skill if you are making profit you will be there. You PR and Communication skill will help you project as a great person whose project is making huge profit and the metrics number shows great improvement over the months. Your management will kiss you even if your team members are showing traits of being suicidal or depression.

I know there is no point writing these already known facts. There is no point raising the questions which is already known. There is no point discussing problems as I may not be able to solve the problems. I have tried to work my way out through certain situations so that I may be able to share the solution with all but not always I have succeeded.

But few things that work are:

• Accept and be indifferent

• Never be loyal to your company but be loyal to your work

• Learn as much as possible from the right people.

• Lead by example not by power points.

• Don’t try to change the system either adopt or be adopted

We can’t change but we can make a difference. Difference that may change the way our future welcomes us.

Fir Mile tum mera tumhara-is it??

I have been planning to write on this topic for a long time now. But thought to ignore it thinking how it matters. Today when the entire TV channels has been showing the new edition of the song “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara” I just could not take it anymore. The earlier edition of the song brought out the Indian integrity and sense of national belonging. This song shows India has 60% television stars, 25% singer’s 8 % sports stars and rest few second for army men. This pathetic version of this song features a Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra or Deepika Padukone whose contribution to the nation is perhaps greater than an APJ Abul Kalam or a Saurav ganguly or a Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Narayana Murthy – this is an insult if the maker of the song thinks it in this way. They did not even feature a Sachin Tendulkar but after public hue and cry they included him but that does not end the pathetic appeal of the song.

If these people define Indian independence and integrity then god save the country. Does our country comprise of these people or have these people taken up the onus of serving as the face of nation. The earlier song had people from various fields like literature, art ,music, sports, movies just to name a few…This version has Bollywood written all over it. I question the presence of many celebrities in this song. I question the song being played on Independence Day. This is a nation you are talking about not a fictitious world like Bollywood.

Peepli [Live]

The best way to describe the movie “Peepli Live’’ is that it’s different. Coming from a first time director the movie is a wonderful dark movie coated with humor. Although the movies looses its way into predictable format in the second half but yet it highlights serious issues plaguing journalism, media ,politics and how government schemes are misutilized. The ending would perhaps make you feel disappointed but the first surely lives up to the expectation. It’s more like an art-house movie promoted like a commercial one.

 
The strength of the movie lies in the characterization. Each character in the movie is realistic and one can relate to their pathos. The main character who has few dialogues in the movies yet his mannerism and expression invokes a sense of sympathy throughout the movie. His elder brother, his wife, his mother all adds up to a wonderful example of poverty in India. The local politician, the chief minister, the agriculture minister all falls into perfect shape. The journalist and the TV channels activities shown across the movie only show the knowledge of the director coming from the same background. Finally the rivalry between Hindi and English news channel are brought to open.

 
The movie also questions journalism and role of media in building up nation. It has shown how news is manufactured from events which are sale-able as per TRP while the real news gets sidelined. Poverty is highlighted with power pact humor for the very first time. When the protagonist Nattha is tricked into committing suicide by his own brother one feels their funny bones tickled. There are few moments which according to me keep the movie alive.

• The discussion of the local journalist with the journalist of the English movie channel brings out the reality of news reporting done today. Its disturbing but commercially practical.
• In another scene a farmer who lost his land and made his living my digging clay, dies in the same hole dug by him.
• A particular Hindi news channel reporter actually creates sensational news out of faeces left behind by the protagonist of the movie.
• A lower caste political leader tries to turn the suicide into a caste related and issue.
• The 'Lal bahadur' scheme actually turns out to be a hand pump which is of no use to a poor farmer and which highlights how government schemes turns out to be such a waste for the needy.

 Over all the music and back ground score supports the story all along and the satirical tale ends with Nattha leaving the village and coming to work as a daily laborer in the town. It ends as abruptly as it begun…so the name ‘Peepli Live’ is probably an appropriate title.
If u are in sulking mood due to rain and keep complaining about government and media for your misery you can go and enjoy this movie. For all those who see movie as a medium of entertainment go at your own risk to watch this movie.