Competing With The Chinese

The last few days have been great.

Since Mae and I returned from our holiday, I have had some good thrills. I am reading a book called "2 States" by Chetan Bhagat (kindly given to me by Pankaj Arora, our colleague and THE MAN in Vietnam), and I'm enjoying every page. Infact I did precious little in Saigon and Vung Tau (Vietnam), other than having a short meeting, giving a bossy lecture on what we should be doing for the next quarter, eating lots of food, drinking plenty of Hieneken with our managers and reading the book. I did find some time to see Rocket Singh on my portable VCD player.

Then a friend sent me this joke which had me in stitches for 2 days. I share it with you now:

You might like this. It's so hilarious... ..even an Englishman could not construct sentences using numeric, which is exclusive only to Malaysians and Singaporeans. Here it goes...

Ah Lek was asked to make a sentence using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10. Not only did he do it 1 to 10, he did it again from 10 back to 1.This is what he came up with.....

"1 day I go 2 climb a 3 outside a house to peep. But the couple saw me, so I panic and 4 down.The man rushed out and wanted to 5 with me. I ran until I fell 6 and threw up. So I go into 7-eleven and grabbed some 8 to throw at him. Then I took a 9 and try to stab at him. 10 God he run away. 10 I put the 9 back and pay for the 8 and left 7-eleven. Next day I called my boss and told him I was 6. He said 5 , tomorrow also no need to come back 4 work. He also ask me to go climb a 3 and jump down! I don't understand. I am so nice 2 him but I don't know what he 1."

There you are... You want to compete with the Chinese??

Forget it! I have a thoroughbred at home. I gave up 20 something years ago.

The Clerk Who Knew Too Much...

I once used to work for a Singapore based company which had an office in Rotterdam (in The Netherlands or Holland). Somehow, my boss had hired people there who were either incompetent, or pretended to be so, so that they can pass the dirty jobs to others. Result, all problems were in the lap of yours truly. Thank God. It gave me opportunity and experience.

Since I am a qualified and INTERESTED Pharmacist, I could talk and make sense to our MNC clients who wanted hard core chemistry solutions rather than a sales pitch. But it was a tiring and frustrating exercise.

So, I found a way to solve the problems and have some fun along the way, literally….. Since I had to be in Rotterdam or Milan every other month, I decided to land in Zurich on Fridays and travel to Amsterdam on Monday mornings. I would then take a train to Rotterdam or a short flight to Milan and be in time for work (say 10 am) in the office.

This went on for 3 years. Result? Yours truly has had more holidays in Zurich than in India!!!

But that was all for taking a break from my exhausting travel schedule. I never really saw Switzerland. Yes, I have visited many times. But never really arrived…..

My travels were long and very frequent. Once a very dear friend of mine (Dr. George Varghese) asked if I came back home (to Singapore) only to change my boarding pass. That hurt me, so like an idiot….. I replied with something stupid to hurt him back. I regretted the minute I opened my mouth. Like a true friend, he smiled and let it pass… George is a rock that any friend will be proud of. I wish him and his family well, always…..

Anyway, on with the story…

Mae and I went to Switzerland, were there for 10 days and returned last week. We were expecting 5-6 degree centigrade. We were wrong, we got minus 5 to 7. But, for a change, I was not there for a break from my busy schedule as in the past. I was there for a real holiday.

The highlight of the trip for me was a visit to Bern. We visited the home of one Patent Office Clerk. He had a hard time finding a job. He failed his exams and was refused entry to schools and colleges. He could not get a job as an assistant teacher in the local University for years. He managed to at least get an apartment to live in. He tried for 4 more years and finally got a job as an assistant teacher in Physics.

His name was Albert Einstein. The Patent Office Clerk who knew too much.

I stood by the desk on which he wrote his Nobel Prize winning work on Photons. The same desk on which he later formulated the Theory of Relativity. I took photographs in his single bedroom apartment. I admired the fact that in those times, there were 4 kids and two parents in one bed room, and they had to live with about 10 liters of water per person per day which had to be delivered to the 2nd floor (3rd story) from streets below.

We also visited the University of Bern. 21 Nobel prizes have been awarded to people who have worked there. What an achievement!

What would we be without the pioneering work of these people who dared to think out of the obvious? Can you imagine a life without Science? I thank god for all that these pioneers have given us.

Einstein is GOD for every Science student.

I have been to The Vatican, to Mathura etc. But never to Mecca as I am not allowed to enter that city because I am a Hindu.

BUT, I have been to the greatest temple for students of science… I have been to the home of ... Albert Einstein!!!

My homage to all the GREATS who have made our lives so livable and so very enjoyable. May you all be remembered for ever for your contribution to humanity.

To Prof. Albert Eienstien : Sir, Mae and I were honoured to be in your home. We felt your presence. We were amazed that you achieved so much with so little. You have proved that a mind is stronger than any machine.

I bow to you sir.

Sincerely…Humbled…..VK

Culturally Bankrupt ?

I have the good fortune of having the best of two worlds. My wife is (Malaysian) Chinese and I am (an Indian) Indian. Together our races constitute a good 40% or more of humanity. So, please dont fight with us. You can't possibly win. (We may fight with each other but that doesn't concern you lah !!!). We also have more festivals and celebrations than any other race. Of-course we spend almost 3 months celebrating some festival or the other but then we deserve it....

Yesterday we had the good fortune of having a few friends visit us at our new home in Melaka. Thanks to all of them for joining us on the 7th day of Chinese New Year which is considered extremely auspicious. I will not name names out of fear that I may miss out some unnamed. Mae and I send our gratitude to all who came to our humble home. Two cultures coming together. Wonderful !!! May you and your family have a wonderful year of the Tiger. Help the Tiger this year, whichever way you can. You will be helping the World. Cong Xi Fa Chai.

When I returned from Melaka, I was watching a Youtube video of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing "Is Karam Ka Karoon Shukr Kaise Ada?". This was a 4 part video and since I consider the man a giant in talent, I watched each moment of the video. To my horror, I saw that in the 4th part, a man walking to the stage and throwing Pakistani rupee notes in front of the master and his troupe as if he is tipping shoe shiners or lower beings. Imagine throwing money at Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan !!! I consider this sacrilage of the highest order.

Then, the video shows the audience, sitting like dumb ducks while the great master is singing the ode to his God in full emotional fervor. The audience had no emotion, no movement, all were like statues. Some were even looking sullen and disgruntled (what may be the reason? I don't know)..

What has happened to the "Subcontinent"?

Are we so culturally bankrupted that we cannot even appreciate the warmth, the richness and the depth of our own culture? Do we have to treat our best artisans like thrash? Throw tips to them like they were beggers?

No, you will say....These were Pakistanis that I mentioned. Indians are different.... Are they, really?
Well, when was the last time you actually saw a live performance and paid for it? Most probably you "enjoy our culture" in the cozy surroundings of home on TV. Paying only for the cable channel or tape/CD. That is not a crime, mind you, but if you really saw a cricket match in a stadium rather than on TV, you will know the difference. The energy is different. You are a part of "THE" event....If you are in a stadium, you are in the action, not just a "cable" spectator".

Artists have to eat too, you know? And should they not get paid well for their talent? Who do you think is more talented? Sandra Bullok who charges USD 20 million a movie or Amir Khan "The Idiot"?

We happily pay 100 USD for a Broadway show if we are around there, or GBP 70 for a Victoria Theatre show in London. That is a hell of as lot of money if you count in Indian Rupees. But that is different. Isn't it? Then we can make small talk but big boasts to our friends?" Oooh , you know we saw that play and so on and so forth...."

I ask you, as an example,...did you ever see Jagjit Singh performing live in Siri Fort Delhi ? My sister Lakshmi gave me this privilage. Bless her God. Fact is we have experienced a lot together. I also love to hate her. Mind you, Love is stronger than hate.

If you have experienced something like the live performance of Jagjit Singh or other great artists..., you will know what I am talking about... The artist gets his energy from the audience. The audience cheers the artist. One plus one becomes eleven. It defies logic but it is real. It is the same with culture...

If we claim that we have a "Culture", we should learn that there is a price to pay to claim ownership of it and to retain it. A price worth paying.

Lets learn this simple lesson and act accordingly. Ownership of culture comes with a cost/ price and responsibility. You want to have it and lay a claim to it? Then don't just talk but walk the talk. Pay for it. Not just in art but in everything that you call cultural !

Otherwise we will suffer a bankruptcy, worse than we can imagine..... Riches will be lost with time...

"Bada Hua to Kya Hua? Jaise Paed Khajoor, Panthi Ko Chayaa Nahin, Phal Lage Atee Door"...... Sant Kabir...Sufi Poet of India (who had no surname and therefore no caste, creed or religion). One of my favorite Indians of all times.

Translation....You may be big like a palm tree but so what? No shade for travellers and the fruit are too far up (to be of use to any one)??

So much wealth is in our culture and so little that we imbibe ? That joker who threw a few notes in front of the Great Ustad may be thinking that he is doing a favor..to whom?..

What bankruptcy is this ???

Cultural or mental ?

The Tiger Roars Again...

For me the Chinese New Year usually brings my Mother in Law from Australia, my wife’s family to our home, a barrage of Cantonese talk at the re-union dinner and some expenses for dinner and angpows. I take it all in my stride and actually enjoy the occasion as it is rare that our’s and my wife’s family gets together.

But I used to be scared of the Year of the Tiger.

24 (lunar) years ago, on Chinese New Year eve, I was returning to my home in Bangkok after dinner, driving a new brand Toyota Corolla which my company had bought for my use just 20 days ago. It was the start of the Year of the Tiger. I had stopped at a traffic signal. The light turned green and I had just started shifting into the first gear when another car came from the opposite side, at a speed which must be a hundred kms an hour, lost control and banged into my car.

It took me a while to understand what had happened. I tried to open my door but couldn’t. So I moved to the other door (passenger side) and got out of the car. Police was at the spot in minutes and took me to a hospital as I was bleeding profusely. A few stitches on my chin which was badly bust (and left a permanent scar), some very painful internal bleeding in my neck and two cracked ribs resulted from the accident. The car that I was driving was a near writeoff.

I later heard from the police that I was lucky. In the other car were 5 drunk teenagers. The driver had both of his legs crushed on impact, the front passenger did not use seat belt (in those days it was not mandatory to wear seatbelts as only few new models had them), so he went head first through the wind screen and had brain haemorrhage and was in coma when I last enquired, the passenger sitting behind the driver died on the spot and the other two passengers had broken bones.

While I was cleared of any mistake/fault of mine or traffic violation, I lived in physical and mental pain for days. The shock of the accident and resulting deaths, not to mention the necessary trips to the police station every other day wore heavy on me.

For years I was afraid of Chinese New Year eves and especially the Year of the Tiger.

Rationality has prevailed since then. The fact that I survived relatively unhurt as compared to those other unfortunate people who were involved in the accident forces me to think that I got a lucky break, even if I broke a rib or two.

I think life is what you make of it. This episode can either be considered a lucky escape by me or I can say that I was unlucky to be involved. The cup is either half full or half empty. We can decipher issues either way. It is our choice.

I now choose to consider myself lucky. I am still happily around, enjoying Chinese New Year goodies, with family and friends. I hope that my colleagues, friends and family also count their blessings and look at the positives of life rather than the negatives.

Another Chinese New Year of the Tiger has started on 14th Feb 2010. I am not scared anymore.

I wish you all have a wonderful Year of the Tiger. May you and yours be blessed with Health, Happiness and Peace. May you have roaring Prosperity this year and many more to come. Cong Xi Fatt Chai.

Please also pray for this magnificient animal, the Tiger. We have precious few left in the world. Please do all that you can to sustain this and all other wonders that God gave us. Blessings on those who act...Love to all.

Does India Respect Diversity ?

Is there really Unity in Diversity?


In Between Here and There….

I just saw a disturbing but very well made Hindi movie called Darmayaan (In Between) on TV at my home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The movie is about transvestites in India. It is a "not to be spoken about" subject in India. My congratulations to the Producers and Directors. Very well made movie and one that should make us sit back and contemplate. We should also give credit to all these people who had the guts to address a difficult issue.

Ms. Kiron Kher made her mark as an actress with the movie Devdaas. In this (Darmayaan) movie she deserves an Oscar if there was any in India.

I don’t think the producers will any make money on this movie but they have made a point. The world of transvestites is worth looking at. Thinking about India and thinking as Indians....

Consider the numbers....maths....

Knowing that India has 1.1 billion people we should look at everything rationally and mathematically. Isn’t India about numbers anyway?

After all, Aryabhatta was born in India. India gave the world zero (0) and decimals too. My fellow college mate at BITS Pilani, Sabeer Bhatia made HOTMAIL. Before that DNA, and therefore the science of life was discovered by Hargobind Khurana. Vinod Dham invented Pentium processor which powers most of the computers in the world. Now we have an Indian born scientist who has “discovered” the chemical structure of Mitochondria and how cells get energy and therefore how we survive, and this was done with the help of the pentium processor invented by Dhamm.

(I cannot understand how Obama got the Nobel Prize??? My prizes go to Bhatia and Vinod. Khurana already has a Nobel Prize. These other two guys changed the WORLD) !!!

Khurana will be worshipped as GOD someday as stem cells become the treatment of the day, but that is a different issue.

And, all this sh*t comes from India….

But how does India treat it’s citizens who are so called “different” from others??

Let me decipher this for you.

1.1 billion people: That is 1,100,000,000 people.

1 percent of that is eleven million .

0.1 percent is one million and another hundred thousand.

Assuming that 0.1 percent of India’s population is gay/transvestite, we are talking of nearly the entire population of some small countries. And my friends, these are INDIANS!!!

Should we not treat them as Indians and with respect as we feel we ourselves deserve??? Why should they be marginalized. Do you want them out of your "system" ? Ignore them or let them suffer and die ?

One million (or more), Indians may be in need of your help or just your understanding.

I am going to stand by them. What about you ?

The Problem With Dreaming...Or Not Dreaming

Ek din maine soucha,
Sapno ka hisaab banaoon,
Kyaa paaya kyaa khooya maine,
Is ki ek kitaab banoon…..(Accountancy)

Dekhaa…

Kuch sapne paida hote hee mare hoowey they…
Kuch Zindaa they magar darey hoowey say…
Kuch ke liye main zindaa houn..
Kuch muzhko zindaa rakhte hain magar zara say…(Reality Check)

The above poem was written by me for my son Abhay (in a minute) when he questioned if I really wrote poetry for my college magazine "DISHA" of BITS Pilani in India. That is history, not to be debated, but just to be acknowledged for what it is.

Come to the poem now....

The fact of the matter is that we need both, dreams, as well as reality. If we don't have dreams we cannot fulfill ourselves. If we don't have reality we are not in this "real" world and so dreams will never be fulfilled anyway!!! Dreams are like a painting which needs a canvas of reality to be painted upon.

This (poem writing) was a couple of years ago... What I wrote still makes good sense to me. I hope that the New Year brings dreams closer to reality for all whom I know.

2009 is coming to an end. I pray that all whom my family and I know, friends and foes alike, do well and "May God's Blessings Be Upon You and Your's for ever..."

PS: Please don't call me before 3pm on 1st January. It will be some time till I recover from the hangover......

Happy New Year And May The Good Lord (whomsoever you may worship) bless you with Health, Happiness and Prosperity. Cheers, Let the party begin !!!!

Ignorence Is Not Innocence But Sin

The heading comes from a book "NIGHT SINS" by Tami Hog.

I am not a fan of the book or of the Author. The book is a good attempt but not a masterpiece. But then, who am I to judge?

However,the heading reminds me of what (Mahatma) M.K.Gandhi said once. It was in Hindi. The translation of what he said is (approximately) as follows: "If you don't condemn and oppose injustice, then you have agreed to accept it" (and hence you are a co-accomplice to the injustice).

This means that you are now a partner in the injustice....wherever and however it is being perpetrated.

Let's now get to the business/ management world.

Truth not told may mean supporting a lie!!!

Shoot! that is a terrifying thought....

Guys and gals, Managers..., please understand the difference between truth told and truth untold. The difference will make or unmake a situation or even a company.

Remember, The Truth Will Set You Free......If telling the truth gets you sacked, the company and the boss don't deserve you.

Satyameva Jaite ! (The Truth Will Win In The End) ....