Indian Super Heroes

We have grown up listening stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata.I belong to the generation who remember the empty roads when these epic serials were aired.

But then there came a time, we got engrossed in the likes of Archies,Superman and Spiderman.The facts that made them popular were-
1. They belonged to the western culture.
2. They were lot more humane then our mythological super Heroes.
3. There were no moral values attached to them,our grand parents were not forcing us to read them.
4. They lived in Contemporary world,they used the same gadgets and lived in the same settings we live in. 

Thus,there started a time in the lives of middle class Indians,where the western super Heroes found a way to our homes,if not through Comics but through television.
It seemed that ten years down the line,the likes of Spiderman will become the bed time stories.Our very own Amar Chitra Katha,Twinkle failed to fill these void.


Then suddenly,a  Company decided to make the most of it when it brought out the animated version of Hanuman in 2005.This was the time ,Bollywood and Indian Animation studios were making big money.They decided to experiment and came Animated movies and television serials of Indian mythological Heroes Hanuman and Ganesha.Taking a step further,the story tellers brought them  in our present lives.Children could associate with a Hanuman who goes to school and secretly save the world too.This was also the time,there was a big influx of Chinese cartoons,some of them were wicked and most of them were not "Good Looking"

 
                                                        





For parents like me,it seemed there was no respite from this cross cultural attack.But market dynamics were at its best.As a pleasant surprise came serials like "Chota Bheem".He belongs to our contemporary lives,he conveys high moral values and is shown in English.As I parent,I could not have asked for better.So even though my son sees the all time favorite Tom & Jerry,he also watches Chota Bheem and believe me, it is an interesting watch.I even saw CD of Chota Bheem sold in the market.The Indian Super Heroes(at least for the children) have finally arrived.

Innovation at Work

It’s about time that most of us would have joined work. We would have got used to the processes at work and probably even started getting frustrated seeing some of them. We might have even cursed ourselves that how we are a tiny fry in a big organization.


We have also heard the tales of how some organization are innovative and entrepreneurial in nature while others have none of these qualities. People would go all lengths to be part of these organizations. So is innovation restricted to only the likes of Google or 3M. We can delay it into eternity by thinking that our time for making the changes will come when we reach the place of CXO’s.



Alternately we can do something which is being advocated by Robin Sharma in his latest book” Leader without Title” and try to make small but incremental changes in our work place irrespective of our position. Well appears easy but is it difficult to implement?



I found a live example of some one trying innovation from unexpected corner. Every day while going back from office to home, I would face a traffic jam at the Hope farm circle. It is not due to heavy traffic but a specific reason.

All along the square are four lane roads except for the one going to Chanshankara, which is two-lane road. There are no free left turns at the square. Just on the beginning of the road is the assumed bus stop for passengers who wish to board the bus going towards Chanshankara. Since this road remains narrow throughout and has heavy traffic there is no space for making an alternate bus stop ahead of this one. As a result when the buses going towards Chanshankara stop, to take the passengers, traffic behind them going towards Chanshankara comes to an absolute halt, most of the times on the very square itself. So even when the light turns green for the other sides of the square the vehicles cannot move due to blocked square. Many fellow commuters and I have seen this scene, honked in agony and many a times curse the people who travel by bus, as if they had a bus stop choice. The traffic policeman standing there would turn a blind eye to this episode which plays itself many times over in the day.

It is here that I saw an example of ingenuity and leadership at grass root levels. Some of the policeman tried a novel idea. Since shifting the bus stop was not in their power they devised a solution keeping it a “hard constraint”. They started halting the traffic coming from Chanshankara much before the traffic signals equivalent of two buses length from the signal. Under this arrangement the bus would stop at the bus stop at the beginning of the road. However other vehicles would move from the side of the bus, traveling in the opposite lane for a while before they would cross the bus and reach ahead of the bus and follow the normal lane. Incidentally, keeping the traffic light of their side green for an additional 10 seconds compensated the traffic, which was halted much short of traffic signal. Though the solution defies the traffic laws (of moving in your lane), it offers the best solution under the given set of constraints. I was really amused with this simple solution, which was put forward and implemented by just two things – Common sense and a willingness to make a difference.

Cycling to office

Well after driving in Bangalore and driving crazy about it,I just renteed a place as close to the office as possible..I would have given a arm if my office basement had a 2 bedroom set but that was not to be...So I decided to use my cycle to go to office.


Buying a cycle is  yet another story.I always thought that I will be able to exercise and live healthy if I owned a bicycle.But with new cycles costing around 3000 Rs..I just could not risk buying it and not using it.fortunately while in XLRI my dear friend Dr Kailash dediced to dispose it off-i decided to turn my dreams into reality.And the hassles it took me to transport it from Jamshedpur to Bangalore ensured that I really had to make use of it.


So when I started driving cycle to office..I relaized that initially I always had a reson to avoid taking it to the office-telling myself that I will be late ..even when there is no fixed time to reach the office.



I suddenly realized that once you are on cycle..the other motorized vehicles treat you like dirt..they would actually want you to become part of it..I mean  move down the road or worse will be short of running over you.If you do not have balance on your cycle,you might just fall on the gr

But still cycling is fun,once you drive it in the evening,you can feel cool evening breeze of bangalore.You see new shops,signs..why I managed to see a cyber cafe and a gas agency both of which I wanted to visit but could not found while I used to drive to office.And talking about the office..Once you come to offfice in a car you are just amother person..unless you own a ferrari but noy many people can come to office on a cycle.At first it seems odd ..cycling in formals to office but what the heck..if CEO of Fortune 500 company can do it..I guess there is no reason for me to mind either.One I make it to the A list...people will not say that he started driving cycle only when he became a CEO.

.Well and among all thousands of people who come to office it is you the security staff looks with some recognition.


Well another time when you feel the power is once you grt stuck by a bus which just stops in between..among all vehicles behind her honking..its the cycle which finds space to overtake her.Also on the numerous speed breakers on the roads,I would find a luxury car
luxury car slow down  ..even slower than the cycle (well literally each one needs to watch his back) .But the cycle cruises along..same speed.

Now there are some lows too..once you are on a downslope enjoying the momentum and some vehicle in fron make you stop..thats not a happy feeling.

Another good part of going to office with a cycle is you just cant miss your daily exercise,at least for 5 days a week.So it helps in setting a routine too.

The best part of it is that I actually relate to the woes of the other cycle drivers..whatever i exercise is the bonus.So now that I have spoken so much for the cycle publically..I guess i just need to continue with the cycling for some time.

Car driving in Bangalore

It is not that I have not experienced the traffic of Bangalore before.But experiencing it while being in the driving seat is a different feeling.Some observations/lessons for driving car in Bangalore based on my learnings from driving my car from Airport road to ITPL-

1. If you thought only small creatures were nimble(And you have not seen the Elephant ad of Accenture),you need to see the Bangalore city buses in action.The drivers will cut your path with such precision,you will bite your nails.

2. While driving in Bangalore on a 4 lane road-2 lane for each side of traffic, drive as indicated in the picture.At many a places where there is a U turn facility available, the vehicles get stuck for a long time as they are unable to turn due to high speed traffic coming from other side.In case you are driving at the outer edge of the road,you will get stuck behind this traffic awaiting U turn.The bus drivers of Bangalore would keep changing lane to at the bus stops,in that case too you will have the best chance to speed up in the gap.

3. Consult for one ways lest you will find yourself running around in circles.There is no scope for consulting while on the move as there is no place where you can get your vehicle to a side and ask for directions.

4. If you are going to some destination in town,find the location of the nearest mall where you can park your car and with that as base use the auto for commuting.There are just no parking slots in Bangalore.

5. Dont feel happy ,if you jumped a traffic light and are not apprehended by the cops.He would have noted your number and will either send the notice home or pass information on the walkie-talkie to the cop at next square.

6. And for each car journey you think of taking,evaluate whether you can avoid that by a combination of daily or monthly bus pass as with the air conditioned volvo..u can avoid driving atleast for office.

Signing off on a winning note

                                  

The Faculty led by Prof Sengupta threw a challenge to GMP batch for a football match.The timing for GMPians could not have been better.With fourth term coming to a fag end, there was little excitement in the routine.GMPians took the challenge.What followed was a break from the late nights and some "Forced" practice sessions in the morning.Sourav Samtani led from the front,even if it meant giving morning wake up calls to the team members.Eventually colleagues used to avoid meeting him at dinner time fearing that he will coax them into a morning session next day.

To pull the rest of the batch to the field,Suraj fired his salvo by his mail...which served both as an invitation and a warning.

Extract reproduced below.

"They were not educated like the learned Romans;  Only thing they could read were the ferocious eyes of their opponents. They did not belong to the noble blood, but they tasted blood to entertain the nobility,
When elite Roman studied astronomy and geometry, they learned the language of swords, arrows, dust and blood.
They were the Gladiators ……the entertainers of the elite.
 2000 years have passed…………………………but the legend continues,

So as the elite GMPians will busy themselves with books, Some would be fighting for the pride of GMP on the football ground.
They don’t enjoy Grades, they don’t cherish Ranks,
What they enjoy is bruised knees and bleeding elbows.
Coming to cheer them is not the matter of Choice; It is the matter of Guts."

     

The mail did the trick. With GMPians coming out in big numbers, the stage was set for the big show.

  

As the Sun dropped a few degrees to welcome a hot evening, the XLRI football field heated up with an excellent football .The standard of play was expectedly high. Faculty team produced a performance in the first half that saw them levelled at 0-0 despite the GMP capturing the ball for 80% of the time. This first half included intense attacks by the GMPians, strong defence and some excellent airborne goalkeeper enabled saves by the faculty team. 

Half Time- GMP- 0………………Faculty- 0

On the risk of a little digression, it should be pointed out that the referee was also feeling the intense competitive heat, but made his all time best efforts to keep up with the fast paced game. There were a few controversies regarding referee deciding against giving offside on two occasions but the high voltage drama continued with the right sportsman spirit. It was a fun filled game with spectators from all age groups. Adults, children, extra players and refreshment serving staff all cheered for their favourite side. The huge number of onlookers ensured enormous vocal output. Photographers with their variously sized cameras clicked every detail of the match.

 The second half saw the introduction of young blood from the faculty team. These kids were campus residents and threatened complete demolition of the tiring GMPians. It was this half that saw increasing attacks from the faculty team. However GMPians led by their captain drew the first blood and scored two goals in quick successions. GMPians produced their best display in the past few weeks and proved too strong for faculty team, progressing to the final whistle with a couple of goals more. Thus the lead stretched to 4-0 and XLRI GMP team won the match with a BIG-BANG.

End of the match- GMP- 4…………………Faculty- 0

The agility of our professors and staff members showed their fitness and commitment level. The camaraderie amongst players was evident throughout the game and the post match handshakes and appreciation of each others’   game added to the healthy playing atmosphere. XLRI, we would miss so many things related to you and this match would certainly be one amongst them. 

Photograph courtesy- Durgesh,Omkar,Hemant and Venkat

Article composed by Pracheesh and Ankit

Spice mobile:After sales service takes out all its spice

Some wise man said "You can fool some people some time,but you cannot fool all the people all the time"

I realized that I got fooled immediately after I took a Spice mobile 1.5 years back-it was the only company offering dual SIM handsets at that time.I had told the shopkeeper that I wanted the mobile for using as a modem for internet connection.I also told him that I had Tata indicom and BSNL SIM and I will be using them for internet.He told me that the mobile will connect with all service providers.The mobile booklet did not give any information on the same.My first shock came when I found that Spice mobile cannot be used for accessing internet via modem/GPRS in both Tata indicom and BSNL.The vendor told that to find out whether its a mobile issue or not,the mobile will have to be sent to Delhi.As Spice has limited own service centers in India and none in Nagpur.After using all my sources it was not a issue with handset but of Spice's tie up with service providers.

Before the warranty got over the keypad of the mobile got  stuck.That is I could not not use any of the keys.Luckily the problem resolved on its own in 24 hours.

I was in Jamshedpur this time.While I tried to use my dual SIM for the first time in six months,I found the phone not registering the GSM SIM.I finally found the service center of Spice. .The service center of Spice in Jamshedpur is "Care Point" which is a combined service center of Sony Ericssion and Spice. 

 

Filthy staircase & stinking corridor to center

                                             
The  service center  is on the first floor of a old building.The stairs leading to it are dingy and foul smell greets you.I could have thought of it as a norm in mobile service centers in Jamshedpur had I not visited Nokia service center which is just 500 mts from the Spice service center.While the Nokia one is spacious,clean and has adequate space for customer along with mobile charging point and water facility..the Spice one has three chairs and has 80 Sq feet for both customers and staff.There is just a fan which cannot even circulate air there.The technician works in a area which is 20 sq feet in area without a fan.You can actually see then working on your priced phones while clearing the sweat on their brow simultaneously.As soon as I showed the phone to the technician he told me that it was a software problem and will take 100 Rs to fix it.While I was apprehensive about the fact that he was telling me the solution before opening the phone,he assured me that he has seen enough of Spice phones to know their problems.However it comes only with a one month guarantee.My second shock came when the dealer did not even make an attempt to give me any bill.Seeing the rush of customers I too did not bother to obtain it.

Little did I knew  that I would have  to visit the same dis-service center again.Luckily or unluckily it was for a different problem.My mobile key pad had got stuck again.I  cursed myself for not rectifying it under warranty.The scene at the service center was of utter coarse.Customers were on top of each other in an attempt to deposit the handset.The service center was making manual bills taking more than extra time.The reception team had little idea of the instrument problems and kept calling the technicians to explain the same to customers.After 45 min of my handing over the mobile,the technician informed that the keypad needs to be changed and the warranty on the new keypad will be for one month.In an age when all mobile phone manufacturer gives warranty of at least six months(on even battery) post the limited warranty period,one month's warranty is like cheating the customer.This causes doubts on the quality of Spice mobiles. The third shock came when the service center refused to give me the old keypad. I was told that they need to deposit the old keypad back to the company.I have my concerns that the old keypad(if it was actually replaced) could find its way in some other customers mobile.

                          Unorganized reception / Insufficient waiting area

Nokia is quite concerned about electronic waste.So they have bins in their service center urging customers to put their E-waste in locked boxes(which can be opened by company reps) in the service center.They do not keep the customers replaced part with them.As usual,this time too the service center was reclusive in handing over the bill.But I finally took it ,to protect me for at least a month.

In an era when even the likes of Nokia are fighting Chinese and now Indian mobile players like Lava mobile,Spice seems to have lost the story.Even in the dual SIM technology it pioneered,new mobile manufacturer are beating it.Talking about service P's-the concepts of Physical evidence,Process,product....has no meaning for the company.Spice probably thinks that a customer's life time value is the cost of the one mobile handset he brought of Spice.The power of Word of mouth and the benefits of valuing the customer's life time seems useless to the company.It's about time,Indian companies start treating the customers with more respect.

Drops of Joy

One of the best sights if one gets up early morning..and early means real early..even before the sun has risen is to see drops of dew on leaves and flowers.They are fresh and pure.You might think that they are in love with the morning sun..smiling to them as the sun rises.The happiness they bestow to us is contagious, while their beauty  eternal.

While we were working in the placement office today, we felt the same joy.With another month to go before the course finishes we have some people to be placed.Even those who are placed understand the anxiousness of their colleagues.So much so,there are no parties being thrown by those who have got the job.So when today we heard news of job offers for two of our colleagues coming in,the environment in the placement office was that of ecstasy.All present there immersed in their joy.It was no longer the confined to the happiness of the two getting placed but the moment belonged to us too..all those there who were there when this news broke in.

As some wise man said,the real joy comes from  seeing and sharing the happiness of others.Well today was one such moment.It was like an adrenaline injection to those working there, rightly timed to pump them for future efforts.

It no longer mattered who was getting placed but the fact that we could all immerse in the joy of that moment.One had to be there to experience it and guess what, no amount of  money in the world can give one this opportunity ever again.