Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Again, another year is coming to a end. It is time for a new beginning.

Personally for me, 2008 represented a successful completion of a journey commenced in 2002, and 2009 was a new beginning. Foundation is being built yet for my new dream, and realization of that is a long journey; a journey that may probably take about 10 years. Therefore, 2010 represents a continuity for me personally rather than totally a new beginning

Yet it make sense to look back into the times gone by and then look ahead. Year 2009 started on a gloomy note with the world in the grip of recession. As we see the world gradually wriggling out of recession, the coming year 2010 promises to be better.

2009 was a mixed bag, in general. As I look back into 2009, what comes to the top of my mind, on a positive note, is Oscar awards coming to India for the first time. What I recall on a melancholic note is the unexpected loss of an icon of our times 'Michael Jackson'

Professionally, software development is poised for further challenges with computing set to scale new horizons in collaboration and natural user interface. Software engineering has undergone severe churning under apparently conflicting pulls from visionaries, theoriticians, methodologists, practitioner and tool vendors. It seems now that world of software engineering is ready to be settling into a dynamic equilibrium centered around delivering value to success critical stakeholders in a healthy business environment

Future beckons and that seems to exciting!

Happy new year!

Country roads, Take me home

Almost into the fag end of the year 2009, world is set into a festive mood. It is also time for looking back as we move into 2010

I am all set to go back to Kerala for a short vacation. As usual, my vacation is a combination of pilgrimage and connecting to the past, visiting my friends and relatives.

This time around. it is a visit to attend 'Pattamudayam' celebration at Chirakkal Kovilakam, Kodungallur, starting with short visit to Tattamangalam, Pazhayannur, Guruvayur and Paambum Mekkad

A part of this is pilgrimage and a part is connection with the past as always

'Pattamudayam' is an important celebration both as a family get together and religious function. 'Pattamudayam' translates to mean 10th dawn and is celebrated on 11th day of the month 'Dhanu' in Malayalam calendar. As often, it happens to be on December 26th in this year.

I have been to 'Pattamudayam' celebration, a couple of times in the past, both as a child and grown up. I am feeling a greater sense of significance this time around.

My father Sudhakara Raja used to associate a great deal of importance to this celebration and used to religiously attend this celebration. His elder, and only, brother Dinakara Raja has played an instrumental role in reviving 'Pattamudayam' celebration to instill a sense of belonging within the family, a big joint family at that. Now, my father is old and ailing, and is far away in Delhi and his elder brother is no more



I feel a sense of importance in this time now to connect to the past. I am afraid if I do not connect now, I may never be able to connect back.

I am connecting now to one of the last vestiges of a joint family system; a basic structure of social system of yesteryears. All of that is lost in the new world order of nuclear families, threatening to go even into a state of plasma.

I do not believe in holding on the past. Sure, life goes on and the show has to go on. Everything about the past is not good either. Old social order is getting lost and new order is yet to set in

To me, the past, present and future are inexplicably interlinked. I am connecting to the past now to revitalize myself and move into the future

Be the change!

This blog post is inspired a blog from my friend 'Are we losing a long term Vision'

I do not think this is a recent happening. This tendency used to there and will continue to be. It takes conviction in oneself to be different; determination will follow. Conviction, determination, observation, and perseverance are critical to success.

I agree that there is visible mediocrity and lethargy even highest echelons in corporate hierarchy. In my observation, it is intentional rather than accidental. It is a lack of application rather than a lack of skills. It is a matter of convenience, riding the wave created by some other leader in the past.

Well, it happens at the cost of the company. Is any one bothered? Patient is under close medical supervision while admitted into hospital, and under very close monitoring in the ICU. Routine sets in, after being discharged from the hospital. Do we take care even after that? How many of us do strictly follow medical instructions for healthy living? Personal health is one's own priority and responsibility. If that is compromised, there is surprise that organization health is compromised

As many times in the past, this brings me back to Mahatma Gandhi to say 'Be the change you want to see in the world'

Time to go back to Gandhi

Reality check: Brazil and China have been praised, but India criticised, in a new report that evaluates the efforts of developing countries to tackle hunger

Is this what we call progress? Have we forgotten Gandhiji's Talisman?

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?

Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhiji in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.

Leadership and Character

Life, and business, comes with good times and bad times. Anyone would sound great in good times. Only a strong character takes you through tough times gracefully. Leadership is as much behavioural as much as it is character.

A case for inclusive growth

India has been basking in the glory of new found riches of new generation Indian entrepreneurs and professionals.

What should have been a matter of national pride has unfortunately been only a privilege of a few. This privilege sometimes finds expression bordering on unabashed arrogance as exemplified in "cattle class" remarks of the "elite".

For a nation professing democratic, socialistic ideologies and inspired by simple living style of Gandhiji, we need more than a lopsided growth. Trickle down effect has not yet reached the common man. If you are not convinced, take an open ticket and travel in unreserved compartment in any of India. You will get to see the face of India that you do not want to see. Hard to describe, hard to believe but yes, that is a hard fact.

Concern for common man is expressed as a ritual during the times of National celebrations but soon forgotten. We have almost ignored that the true strength of India lies still in our villages. Our true strength is the silent, tolerant, simple common man of India.

I would have been happier to read from Indian media But I am glad to see this is reported somewhere at least. Fortunately, drive for inclusive growth seems to be slowly gathering momentum, off late.

Well, I am not against technology, I am not against growth but I am for is inclusive a growth... A social relation which is truly win-win for all stakeholders. I believe, only such growth is sustainable in the long run


I do not want my house to be walled in on sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any

Gandhiji

Character, Integrity and Reputation

I came across an interesting write up on the subject. This was pointed to me by one of my friends in facebook

I like the analogy. Taking it further, I would say that integrity is part of character. Character is part of being oneself, being true to yourself to the people around you, and to the world at large. Reputation and respect are fruits of the tree, that is yourself. Character is the seed that grow into making you.

Character determines your behavior. Behavior and performance earns you reputation respect. Interestingly, visibility is in the reverse order. Reputation and respect is the most visible properties of the lot. Character is only visible who cares to see, and it takes time to understand. Character is the true strength, and it is internal; not an item for demonstration. It makes itself visible in a subtle manner through behavior

Well, what it takes to have character? I believe, it is partly nature and partly nurture; nurtured by experience with parents, friends, ..

Back from yet another pilgrimage to Sabarimala

I am just back from yet another pilgrimage to Sabarimala.

I have been going there almost every year since 1992 so far. Every trip has been an experience in itself; a humbling and learning experience. Learning about work and life. It helps me to resolve conflict of theory and practice, maintaining ideological balance in the midst of diverse pulls of daily living.

Every devotee calls each other Swami (master) or Ayyappa (God himself). The spirit is to see God in every one and every where. All of us are unique in how how we feel, how we perceive and how we think. But, we are not in competition with each other. One does not need to perish for another to survive. Success of human race is not based on competition within the race but rather with collaboration of human efforts.

Journey is pleasure or pain, just as life is, depending on how you take it. Problem as big and formidable as mountain is crossed with self belief. Faced with problems, we often get overwhelmed by that with hardly any time to look around.

When we look around, we see that there are many who are even less privileged that we are, going about it easily. Difference between problem or pleasure is only a perspective. What is perceived turns out to pleasure when you learn to enjoy it. Choice is with all of us to curse, lament, keep moving or enjoy every moment.

You also realize that what you are seeking for (call it God, happiness, power ...) is not external. It is within you, yourself. That Tvam Asi which translates to read 'That are Thou'. It is belief in the self that takes you to heights irrespective of challenges ahead.

It also reinforces the power of now. Irrespective of your background, you are in the time now. Past may have been hauntingly attractive or future may be enticingly bright. You can reach out to the future only through the time now.

Focus on goal, working towards goals undeterred by hurdles moving forward as a team, respecting and helping one another, irrespective of power, position, money or education, are a few of the lessons that the pilgrimage

Do we discriminate against Indian in India?

We cry foul when an Indian face discrimination in another country; issues that Indian students had to face in Australia being most recent of them as I can recall.

I did not face any kind of discrimination or animosity specifically against me as a person in the countries that I had been to. My experience, may be limited but I believe is indicative, is that they expect us to respect their personal space and culture. That is only natural.

But I am alarmed when we discriminate against Indian in India.

I wish this is only an aberration, or are we compromising on fundamentals blinded by money?

Employees don't change the company, they change their Boss

Following are my thoughts on question “Employees don't change the company, they change their Boss.?” in in Linkedin

Job shift is a personal decision influenced by curious combination of background, personal needs, skill sets, aspirations, and environment. Environment includes the organization, boss and team. Attributing to just one of the factors is too narrow perspective.

My view and experience is: Organization stands by (and should) its vision, culture, values and goals. Individual stands by (and should) its vision, culture, value and goals. That is fair as well, as these are not matter of convenience but rather goes into the core of being. After all, I think, most (if not all) of us have been in both the roles, right?

I have not seen bad people but I have seen them appearing bad due to circumstances.

What goes wrong is getting a honest communication taking place. If it does, know for sure that you are on a slippery ground.

Time is now

I had expressed concern on collapse of belief systems of yesterday and emphasized need for new ones for tomorrow.

Ardent devotees of respective ideologies may not fully agree with me and would rather try to conjure up the same old wine in a new bottle. Many lives are built on these ideologies and shattered by the same edifice. I am seeking a scientific analysis

Laws of science are expressed with assumptions on validity. Laws of science are continually re-validated based on current observations and assumptions are revised, as happened with newtonian challenged in the context of quantum physics.

I am glad that Debate is on. I am no economist to comment on. But, I hope scientific spirit will prevail because human lives, and heart, are involved, because I am one of them concerned about every one of them; a compassionate human, because world is my family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)

Killing me softly...

Health care is social service or a business opportunity?

I believe it is both. It used to be more of the former; now, it is getting to be more of the latter.

I fail to understand why it should be one at the cost of the other. It is naive to expect individual practitioners, business houses or industry at large to work purely on altruistic notion. But when it is translated into life as service restricted to a social segment, it raises fundamental questions to a society built on democratic, socialistic principles.



Question is are these principles are ideals that we revert to at our convenience, or guiding principles? Is it too early for a social equilibrium? or we lack political will? or it is a convenient social hypocracy?

Gandhi's talisman

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.

Happiness

Discover the child in you to discover happiness

Happy Independence Day!

Yet another Independence Day has come.

Independence Day is a birthday for our nation. Independence Day is a celebration time. This is one of the few occasions we pause to ponder.

60 plus is old for a man but young for nation. As a young nation, when we retrospect there is a lot to be proud of. We have come a long way in science, technology, agriculture, economy, etc. When we grow, and leaving our brethren far behind, is it a growth that we desire? For what good is growth, when my neighbor is starving? Is it morally right? Is it socially sustainable growth?

Tactics are made from short term perspective, strategies are made from long term perspective. Values are hallmark of character, whether it is an individual or a nation. Values help us in decision making; be strategic or tactical. Values need to be evaluated from assessed with logical reasoning, internalized and consolidated. As the world looks up to Gandhi, is it not time now to return to our fundamental values that our father of nation advocated; not just for independence day, republic day and Gandhi Jayanti;

Or do we need to wait till the west teaches how to?

Democracy must in essence, therefore, mean the art and science of mobilising the entire physical, economic and spiritual resources of all the various sections of the people in the service of the common good of all.
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Anti-patterns of disaster management

Initial signs of impending crisis, denial of indications, debates in media, onset of crisis, media hype and official denials, knee jerk reactions and downplaying the extent of crisis, acceptance of crisis into mainstream and living with crisis. This have been patterns of disaster management in India for long; be it terrorism, recession, monsoon or now swine flu in recent times. So called preventive measures have only helped to give hardship to people, in the name of protection.

Otherwise, why has swine flu spread to India, with all these preventive measures. Unlike US which was caught unawares, we had sufficient time to gear up. If those measures were not enough, why did we put people through the hardship? Not to talk about isolation that many were put through. This is not the first time a pandemic has reached us from abroad.

I am glad that I live in a democracy. Democracy is a socio-political system, responsive to concerns of its citizens. When democracy is not able to protect its citizens for whom it stands, it is time to ask fundamental questions.

It is not about the party in power. Story is the same, irrespective of party in the power. I would not like to blame a political party or group. I believe, issue is more fundamental. In democracy, we choose the government and get the government that we deserve. I believe, Indian democracy has stood the test of time and come to stay.

B believe, issue has more to do with a generally laid back attitude. Attitude of expecting good things happen. Attitude of accepting rubbish, be it from government, media, or any other source for that matter. Attitude that it does not hurts till it hits me (when it hits me, then, I am all alone).

I would love live in India that care for its people and its people caring for one another, rather than an India that is policing around as a superpower for its own sake. We need comprehensive, sustained action rather than knee jerk reactions

Bane of demigods!

Strange to see that Indian cricketers has refused to abide by norms of World Anti-Doping Agency Code, stating security and privacy concerns. By no means, these are not concerns applicable to Indian cricketers alone.

Unfortunately, cricket and cricketers have become so popular. Sentiments are similar to a nation in war with another. Nothing short of clean victory is acceptable, because national sentiments are involved. Worse, this is unabashedly encouraged by both print and electronic media so much greater achievement like woman to rowing solo across the Indian Ocean hardly finds a mention.

Indian cricketers have given iconic status here in India. There is a cost of being a popular figure as well. While one enjoys benefits of being popular figure, having to pay the cost is only natural. You cannot take one and leave the other. They should either fall in line or else if privacy and security concerns are so height, they could quit playing cricket for India and IPL, which makes them popular.

It is time they start behaving like an Indian who are with other Indians in the first place; not the ones to be revered and pampered

Insurance to cover a risk, or a risk in itself?

Reading "Health Care Realities" reminded me of my own personal experience with an insurance company.

I had taken insurance cover for my car earlier, from a private owned insurance company, on the promise of "quality" service. I kept renewing insurance for a couple of years, no incidents.

After a couple of years, vehicle had two accidents and I had to make claim twice. Not any significant amount, by the way. To be fair to the insurer, I must say that money was paid and paid on time.

Generally, call for insurance renewal starts a month before the period expires, Surprisingly, neither that company, nor any other private insurance companies, were available for renewing my insurance. I went back to good old Government owned insurance company. Year or two passed without any incidents and then, I sold the car and bought a new one a couple of years back. Now the same old private owned insurance company is behind me to take insurance from them, and I have no motivation to go back to them or any other private insurance company, no matter what "quality" service they offer.

By extension, I have learned to trust good old Government owned banking and financial institutions with my hard earned money. That is when I started respecting the balancing act of Nehruvian mixed economy.

Back again!

It has been about a month since I blogged last. A lot has happened on personal and professional front, and has been very hectic.

I am getting into a new interesting assignment on building a new software platform where much of what I had been working with all along (like Knowledge engineering, Device computing, Open Standards, Quality standards, Artificial Intelligence, Software
Engineering etc) converges.

I shall be mum on that being extremely sensitive and business critical. But I shall be back on other topics as usual

A sigh of relief

Yesterday, With result declared for class XII by CBSE, marks completion of schooling for my elder daughter, and I am glad that she has performed reasonably well.

I had kept myself and my family away from the typical rat race, including studies of my kids. I have asked for only justifiable effort and reasonable performance.

I am pretty happy with her performance in XII. Our life have been through a tough period for the last few years, and this performance is despite that.

This would not have been possible without help and prayers from many. In particular, Words are not enough to describe support extended by the management and teachers of the school Chettinad Vidyashram. They have focused on allround development of the student, not just academic marks. True to the spirit, they stood by us through the tough times guiding, mentoring and motivating the child

Long live Indian Democracy!

In what is arguably the biggest democratic event in the world, people of India has decided in favour of continuance of policies of current governance.

Generally, anti-incumbency factors works against the ruling party/alliance. However, results of general elections 2009 have favoured continuance, and outrightly favoring positive image of growth and development, rather than negative notions of religious fanatism, self indulgence and self pity. This, in itself, is a strong and clear message to the country's political class.
This is the first time since 1957 of Nehruvian times of nationalist euphoria that the same leadership who ruled full term is being re-elected. Those were times of national heroism and euphoria, and very early days of Indian democracy. Credible alternatives had not yet to emerged challenge congress party leadership, most popular leadership behind Indian independence struggle.

Especially at a time when the world is reeling under unprecedented, for independent India, economic recession, stability and continuity is of paramount importance and people of India, often called gullible masses, have favored the same. Consideration for national governance change with time and context, and Indian populace has shown consistent maturity to respond to the call time and again.

Time now requires professional governance and administration. Government headed the economist Dr. Manmohan singh would continue now. Dr. Manmohan singh happens to be a professional, rather than a politician, to head the country. Politician is typically overloaded with the task of party administration and biased by political and ideological perspective. Professional, in contrast, is characterized by scientific knowledge and analytical decision making. While both has its merits and demerits, time now calls for professionalism in politics and governance moving away corruption and votebank politics, and that is what people of India had decided for.

Center-right and center-left forces are not eliminated but only marginalized for now, and that is important balancing force. It is not a brute majority or a unilateral victory as the winners would like to present it as. Fact is, people of India have considered and weighed myriad of current issues, and sent a decisive signal for now

While it indicates largely return to government for Congress party, and rejection of communist parties in their bastions Kerala and West Bengal, it is significant in that ruling party of the state cutting across political spectrum is elected to massive victory for in Delhi, Gujarat, Orissa and Bihar. This rules out typical considerations of anti-incumbency factor, religious fanatism, factionalism, etc.

Key differentiator in each of them appears to be image of development oriented governance; be it political combination of local governance or opposition promising change. This clear mandate for growth and development in laudable where leftist trends seem to be raising its held in many traditionally capitalist parts on the world