IndianMaze

The title of the blog says it all. I get surprises everyday but still surely the maze many a times goes unrecognised. We are too close to it to find out what it is really. All that you see about India is true and all that you hear about India is equally true. The reality, reportage, stories, myths and all else actually is true. Living here. Living now. It is an ecosystem that has contrasts living in harmony without any "observed" effort by her children - own or adopted. This has been beautifully captured by an external pair of eyes. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/mad-for-mumbai/story-e6frg8h6-1225934717682 Reproduced below in text Living in India is like having an intense but insane affair, writes expat Catherine Taylor TONIGHT, as I waved my high heel in the face of a bewildered taxi driver, I thought suddenly: I am absolutely nuts in India. It's a thought I have often. Someone or something is always going nuts, and quite

Just did a small survey in my bathroom (shared with my wife). Total no of movable items - 113 Branded - 64 No of brands - 51 MNC brands - 32 More on this soon.

I have heard this phrase in many forms from a variety of people. Teachers, executives, housewives, writers and many more : Indians seem to be comfortable in any circumstances and environments. Is it evolution or constitution (physical and mental) that they are so? I have delved into this over last many a years and often not believing the words. Is it true? Must be, as so many people of a diverse background are saying. But I do not see it as such! Then it strikes. Most of the times, something that we are used to turns us into a blind. We do not realise what we are. I have a hypothesis that perhaps throws some light to it. I can broadly classify the reasons of my hypothesis into three parts as effects of - food - surroundings/micro society, and - faith I would touch these three in 3 different posts. First, my favorite, FOOD. Each society is proud of its food. Italians have Pizza and pasta, Chinese have noodles, middle east has biryani, Germans have potato and beer, Scots hav

Having flown on more than 2,500 flights in India and overseas, there is one thing that has amazed me. The first thing that Indians (irrespective of gender, age, regionality and presumable religiosity as well) ask for the flight steward is a glass of water followed by .... another glass of water. I find it so different even in the meetings held across the globe, it is Indians who are more likely to go for water (still and unflavoured) than their western couterparts. Also interesting is the way Indians (including me) drink water - never sipping but kind of gulping. One could say that this could be because we live in warm weather but that is not so. This habit is equally prevalent in the hill states of India. Yes, they would drink more warm water and even tea than normal water but the amount of still unflavoured water consumption is many times over any French or German. No wonder India's bottled water business is the largest in volume terms globally. I must hasten to add that t

Meeting academics is always an eye opener for me. Everytime, they make me see another shade of life. This morning was no exception. I happen to go to my alma mater to see some academicians selecting candidates for the next batch for a different course and institute. This institute is not well known in this part of the country and is perceived to be a traditional, conservative place. However, the response is great from the candidates who come to seek admission through a series of exams, group discussions and finally interview with a panel. The institute was concerned about it's low awareness scores in North India and were debating whether to build awareness, should they not use advertising. No brainer one would say. Advertising is used so very effectively to increase awareness and in the process build value for the brand/offering. But consumer has a mind of her own. Lot of potential students gave a feedback that the fact that institute does not advertise gives a lot of credib

I was on a drive to wilderness with my grown up children and they were amazed to see the change in the lifestyle just 100 kms from Delhi, a metropolitan city and we got talking about old times. Later I realised that old times have not been such old times at all. In the history a time of 25 years is not too much but still within the same time how much has changed. It got me to sit uptight and count that how many things have kind of vanished from a metropolitan life in Delhi in the last 25 years. The list surprised me completely. Read for yourself ( in a random order) - coal stove (अंगीठी ) - kerosene stove - electric water heating rod - mercury thermometer - traditional weighing scales - horse carts (तांगा ) - audio spools - audio cassettes - video cassettes - floppy disks (of all sizes) - fax machines - film cameras - photo processing labs - wet photocopying machines - carbon papers - slates and chalk -  rotary dial phones - mechanical hand wound alarm clocks - f

A discussion in the room with a few friends from travel industry and automotive industry got me really splitting my hair. They were agonising that why people walk in the car shoroom asking for a car for same/next day delivery invariable with a demand whose stock is not available or asking for a last minute airline booking and cribbing about rates. Why do we decide to act at the last minute? I have written about it earlier than Indian and Chinese are great value hunters - possibly or rather definitely looking for discounts on a Breguet or a few greenbucks off on a Four Seasons just as much as getting extra chutney in a restaurant... However, it's importance in business was not understood as much in gravity as I understand now. Everyone knows that booking seats in advance on a flight get better prices and getting the right choice of a car (colour, variant, model etc) can be guaranteed once the decision is made well in advance. However, it is observed that Indians love to g

There is something unique about Laddoos (a popular Indian sweet that is round and is made of chick pea flour and bound together with sugar syrup) . It struck me just last evening when I was served a laddoo by a friend whish was gifted by his friend on the occassion of buying a new swanky SUV (more on that later). First laddoos: - these are round in shape - three ingredients required are basic in nature, available all across India - chick pea flour (besan), sugar and oil/ghee (clarified butter) - the units are small single portion - are most common sweet for distribution - are a common sweet with acceptability across all income segments (very poor to stinking rich) - sweet for all good things/occassions Poor make laddoos with no frills. Richness is demonstrated with its own customisation with ingredient additions (nuts, spices like saffron, quality of ghee etc). Super rich will add silver or gold foils on it. Even more money is used to add "visible" ingredients to de

I was reading an article and the phrase"Feed the Chicken and starve the Eagle" was used to describe the managerial behaviour in managing teams. The article referred to managers spending disproportionate time towards weaker team members than otherwise. This immediately struck a cord somewhere that as consumers also we fall the same prey. Most consumers look at what is missing in their experience/possession rather tha look at what they enjoy and therefore should have a variety of. I remember a person who used to be very fond of tea but would order coffee once out of home. On asking why, his answer stumped me - "I don't get good coffee at home". But doesn't he claim to like tea greatly. Is there something common in human behaviour? Do we build on our strengths rather than correcting on our weaknesses? Are we striving to be average at many things than experts at a few? What happens if we apply Pareto's principle other way round? Thoughts cloud