Measure of wealth...

I am SORRY!!!

I happened to come across a beautiful and small yet powerful story on "Appreciation".

We take it for granted and seldom appreciate the efforts, sacrifice and emotion our closed ones would have gone through...  We do not appreciate the small or big gestures done by for us by our parents, wife, brothers, sisters, kids and the list can go on...  

Saying thank you, sorry, apologize etc in true sense is very difficult. I have deceived (intentionally and unintentionally) in the past those close people who believed in me, who stood with me and who appreciated me what ever be the case and who are with me even now.

Now when I think about it, I feel that more than they feeling let down, I have been a Fool, I have deceived myself, I have let down myself, I have cheated myself and more than all, I have failed to recognize and correct my follies and actions.

What have i gained...  NOTHING....    What have I lost...     Their unconditional trust on me...  that too for ever...

I AM SORRY... Thank you for giving me a chance to regain and put my life back on track. Without U, I would have been completely lost and lost for ever the chance to correct myself.

Achan n Amma in Brisbane

Achan and Amma have reached Brisbane for being with Ashokettan and family. They propose to stay there for about 6 months.

They arrived into Brisbane by Malaysian Airlines on 12th October'12.

Knowledge Management...

This is a very interesting article, sure it is long and will take time, but never the less worthy… It should have been ideally placed in my CaPrIcIoUs...   blog, but the contents of the article made me to post it here...

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An article by Devdutt Patnaik...

IN BOTH THE GREAT epics of India, Ramayan and Mahabharata, war ends not with celebration of victory but with transmission of knowledge. In the Ramayan, Ravan lies mortally wounded on the battlefield and the monkeys are celebrating their victory, when Ram turns to his brother, Lakshman, and says, “While Ravan was a brute, he was also a great scholar. Go to him quickly and request him to share whatever knowledge he can.”

The obedient Lakshman rushes to Ravan’s side and whispers in his ears, “Demon king, all your life you have taken not given. Now the noble Ram gives you an opportunity to mend your ways. Share your vast wisdom. Do not let it die with you. For that you will be surely be blessed.”

Ravan responds by simply turning away. An angry Lakshman goes back to Ram and says: “He is as arrogant as he always was, too proud to share anything.” Ram looks at his brother and asks him softly, “Where did you stand while asking him for knowledge?” “Next to his head so that I hear what he had to say clearly.” Ram smiles, places his bow on the ground and walks to where Ravan lies.

Lakshman watches in astonishment as his brother kneels at Ravan’ s feet.

With palms joined, with extreme humility, Ram says, “Lord of Lanka, you abducted my wife, a terrible crime for which I have been forced to punish you. Now, you are no more my enemy. I see you now as you are known across the world, as the wise son of Rishi Vishrava. I bow to you and request you to share your wisdom with me. Please do that for if you die without doing so, all your wisdom will be lost forever to the world.”

To Lakshman’s surprise, Ravan opens his eyes and raises his arms to salute Ram, “If only I had more time as your teacher than as your enemy. Standing at my feet as a student should, unlike your rude younger brother, you are a worthy recipient of my knowledge. I have very little time so I cannot share much but let me tell you one important lesson I have learnt in my life. Things that are bad for you seduce you easily; you run towards them impatiently. But things are actually good for you fail to attract you; you shun them creatively, finding powerful excuses to justify your procrastination. That is why I was impatient to abduct Sita but avoided meeting you. This is the wisdom of my life, Ram. My last words. I give it to you.” With these words, Ravan dies.

There’s similar knowledge transmission after the Mahabharat war is over and the Kauravas are all dead. As the victorious Pandavas are about to assume control of Hastinapur, Krishna advises them to talk to Bhishma, their grand uncle, who lies mortally wounded on the battlefield. As a result of a blessing, death would elude him for some time. “Make him talk until his last breath. Ask him questions. He has a lot to tell,” says Krishna.

Sure enough, when prompted, the dying Bhishma spends hours discussing various topics: history, geography, politics, economics, management, war, ethics, morality, sex, astronomy, metaphysics and spirituality. Bhishma’s discourse is captured in the Shanti Parva (discussions of peace) and Anushasan Parva (discussions on discipline) that makes up a quarter of the Mahabharata. After listening to their grand sire, the Pandavas have a better understanding of the world, and this makes them better kings.

Long has this knowledge drain been recognised. Over the past decade, a whole new business process known as knowledge management has evolved that seeks to harness, store, transmit this knowledge. Every CEO agrees that it is a valuable business process, that investment in it is critical. Policies have been made, people have been hired and systems have been deployed. Unfortunately, for all the initial enthusiasm, implementation has been lacking. Unlike retrieving cash, retrieving knowledge from employees, both current and future, is not easy. Often because they are like Sahadeva.

Sahadeva was the youngest Pandava and, in the South Indian Mahabharata, he is described as an expert in many predictive sciences such as astrology, palmistry and face reading. But he is cursed: if he ever gave any information voluntarily, his head will split into a thousand pieces. That is why he is silent throughout the epic. He knows every fortune and misfortune that his family will go through, but he can never use his knowledge to forewarn anyone. When Yudhishtira finally learns of his brother’s prowess he is furious. “Why did you not tell me all that you knew?” All he gets in response is Sahadeva’s silence. Most employees in an organisation are Sahadevas.

Sahadevas are of two types: either they are unwilling to share their knowledge or they don’t have the means to do so. The former category knows that knowledge is power and will not give it away under any circumstances. The latter category is willing to share knowledge but either no one asks them for it or there is no system where they can make it available for others.

Knowledge Management is leadership driven. Only a Ram, not a Laskhman can do it. He must first believe in it. He must respect the fact that everyone in his organisation, even those who he does not particularly like, are repositories of great wisdom – not only knowledge of things that work but also knowledge of things that do not work. He must make conscious efforts to capture as much of it as possible.

The simplest method is talking to people, while they are on the job and especially when they are leaving the organisation. An exit interviews must never be a ritual. Neither must it be an exercise to just get the venom out nor an exercise to expose the underbelly that has prompted the resignation. It must be a concerted effort to gather what was the knowledge acquired between joining and leaving the organisation. Interviews work if the organisation is small. As the organisation grows in size one needs a more formal system, at the very least a simple archival system managed by a clerk or secretary but on a larger scale, a sophisticated knowledge repository, a kind of electronic cupboard where at least the final version of presentations, documents and spreadsheets of key business events can be stored.

This sounds very logical but most organisations do not do this. The effort involved is huge and the rewards are neither immediate nor tangible. A brand manager joining a reputed FMCG company, for example, once discovered that they did not have the brand deck (plans, tools, research, messages) of the past five years of a key product. What the organisation did have is the financial numbers – but not a clear history of marketing messages it had put out before the consumer. Previous brand managers had handed over all documents to someone and it was kept somewhere. But no one knew who that someone was and what that somewhere was. In the absence of a simple archiving system, the new brand manager had to collate all brand related background information from scratch so that he could define the future brand positioning; a fully avoidable waste of energy and resources.

Every organisation has a very powerful Finance Department that works round the clock to keep an eye on money flowing in and out of the organisation. Internal and external auditors, controllers and

accountants keep a hawk’s eye on every bill and purchase order. But not even a fraction of that energy is used by companies to manage their knowledge. This indicates that most organisations do not believe that Lakshmi follows Saraswati: they do not believe that existence of knowledge systems improve efficiency and effectiveness and can provide raw materials to provoke new ideas or prevent

old mistakes. Unless a leader believes that Saraswati is critical, he will end up with an organisation of Sahadevas.

Take a step back. Check if you are creatively shunning this rather tedious matter of knowledge management. If you are, then remember the wise words of Ravan: it must be actually good for you.

The Big Rocks Of Life

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz?”, and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.

He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”.

Everyone in the class yelled, Yes! The time management expert replied, “Really?”. He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not”, one of them answered. Good! he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.

Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, Good! Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.

He looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager student raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”.

“No”, the speaker replied, that’s not the point. “The truth is, this illustration teaches us that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.” 

“What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life, time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others. Remember to put these ‘big rocks’ in first or you’ll never get them in at all.” 

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question - What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life Then, put those in your jar first.

Stay focused with a vision!

In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia. -  (unknown)

Positive Quotes...

Surprise Dance to celebrate India's Republic Day

Thank you Finnair for this simple yet thoughtful gesture, You are indeed special!

Takeoff to Bollywood! A Dance Crew surprises passengers after boarding of a Finnair flight to Delhi to celebrate India's Republic Day on January 26th 2012.

"Okay, I didn't WIN 2011 the way I intended to but it was not a failed year too. But what a learning experience it was! I'll practice another approach and then try again."


2011 was one helluva year!

Uncertainty is the only Certainty. - adasia 2011

Nothing will grow forever... a good article

A superb article, worth reading and giving it a thought...










"NOTHING GROWS FOREVER. . ., WHY DO WE KEEP THINKING THE ECONOMY 


WILL?" 

Angadi Theru - Tamil movie review. . .

Director Vasantha Balan has dared to venture where no other director has until date dared to. The raw and sometimes brutal side of the ever popular shopping malls is showcased.

A very bold script with realistic scenes that is very close or just like real life situations. The movie is shot in Ranganathan Street of T-nagar, Chennai with large departmental stores with the likes of saravana Stores and others.

The reality behind the script is worrying for many. The realization that the ever popular One-stop shops in Ranganathan street,  that attract thousands of shoppers and spin the wheels of commerce are actually woven by the sweaty and sleep-deprived hungry youth of Tamil Nadu villagers. The exploitation  of these desperate young boys and girls with jobs that allow them to send home desperately-needed money, their working conditions are pathetic. But the young sweat it out, despite lacking fundamental rights and comforts, including the freedom to fall in love, let alone dignity of labor or even the basis consideration that they are humans.

The story unfolds through the lives of newcomer Mahes and his close friend Pandi who are brought to Chennai from their humble homes. The harsh working atmosphere and the rude Managers is by itself difficult to digest.

The heroin’s role is done by Anjali who gives a very strong performance in this movie.

While the first half races past, the second gets entangled in unnecessary sub-plots, but overall it does bring about the strong emotions and compulsions behind every person working in the store. However, all the actors have pulled off convincing performances.

The music by Vijay Antony and GV Prakash is worthy too and is of the right blend and is very much tiein with the theme and spirits of the movie.

The next time you visit a shopping mall, vignettes from the film will pop up, like spam mail, in your memory.


Check out these videos:

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A haunting song;

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"Engeyum Eppodhum" review. - A must watch!

Is a movie from a debutant director M Saravanan and produced by A R Murugadoss and Fox Star Studios India.

The movie conveys a strong yet simple message “Speed kills” and deals with the value of life.

As for the story, it is kept simple:  two separate romantic tales, one set in Chennai, the other in Tiruchy, intersect at one point, and then some heart touching scenes which people working abroad can relate to, especially from the Middle East.

Clever story writing, simple dialogues, powerful and engaging acting and sound effects make this movie a must watch.

The two main stories First being between Ananya and Sharvanand, set against the back drop of Chennai is very refreshing with some subtle emotions.

The next story is just a contrast to the first one. Jai and Anjali (Angadi theru fame) is set against the back drop of Trichy. This story is very well shaped. The love-track easily becomes the more interesting of the two, as the "lovers" progress through a most intriguing form of courtship.

While Ananya, Sharvanand and Jai have all done well, it's Anjali who clearly walks away with the honors. She plays the role of a Nurse who is aggressive and she practically leads her lover (Jai) by the nose, but the extent of her feelings emerges only at the end, and carries you away.

Another noteworthy performance from Anjali…

Music of the film is engaging and blends well with the movie. The special effects sounds and back ground score form a key part in this movie.

This movie too has its minus sides --  too much focus on the bus as the movie starts breaks the suspense and felt a bit dragging, a few dialogues seem quite out of place and context the scenes but the overall product is what matters and the director has achieved this.

Engeyum Eppodhum is a genuinely heart-warming story, not just about romance, but about the fabric of life itself.

Trailer of Engeyum Eppodhum

May the divine light spread into your Life peace, prosperity,
happiness and good health!

Fear! .

From childhood, it’s the Fear element that dominates our lessons; parents and elders at home, teachers in school use this sense of fear to instill discipline - “do this or else”….its always threats with a fear of punishment… not knowing better and more effective ways to win over the young minds.

Besides such instilled fear, there is this natural fear…. fear of monsters, fear of Ghosts….. Well, what is true, is not the existence of a monster out there to catch you, or ghosts out there to scare you, but the sense of Fear…. monsters may not be real, but the fear IS real.

Similarly small minded people use religion to scare and instill fear; bordering on “religious pornography”; Why should a person be God Fearing?? Why can’t one be “God Loving”? Why can’t the religion teach the followers to ‘love’ God rather than ‘fear’ God?? We often attribute acts of nature to God….God is Loving…. but Nature is Blind….

received this as part of shared thoughts from Mr. Mohandas K P

Fear!

Fear is greatest cause of misery in the world.

It is the greatest of all superstitions.

It is the cause of all our woes.

The moment you fear, you are nobody.

ende bakshanam!

I just love food and so I thought of making a blog with recipes of food that I like or tasted. My wife is also contributing to this cause...


Check it out on:   http://endebakshanam.wordpress.com/


Do not waste food as it is a SIN...