IndianMaze

The readers of this blog get to know of all the malaise in the society and rest through the eyes of others. I happen to be one of them till recently. I fell ill (no big deal) and went to an upmarket hospital where I was treated with respect, comfort and a long list of tests and medicines. The total cost of well over Rs 2,500. Problem increased and I got H1N1 test done. It came positive. Now there was no way but to go to a "Government" hospital and I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised with the efficiency, professionalism and the attitude of the staff. There were no queues ( at a time when most patients dare to go out and private doctors asleep) and the doctor on duty was very courteous. Apart from a routine check, he asked if I was a registered patient and hearing that I had not, he politely pointed me to the registration counter and showed me the kind of form to be filled. On reaching the counter, I was guided properly, offered a pen and the person behind the count...

One of the common references made by people of upper youth (40+, a la upper ground floor) for kids (25 years old) is that they are short of hard work and irresponsible. Is it perception or is it a reality? End of the day reality is nothing but a perception seen with coloured glasses. Today's youth is in fact far more responsible than ever before. The key difference, as I see it, is about the attitude to life and living a full life. Unlike earlier times, where opportunities, resources and exposure were low, the time was largely spent in office/college and at home. Look at options today and the affordability quotient. Today's youth want all that without compromising on the content of each of the part played in life. Work hard is turning to work smart. Party hard is turning to party and network smat and so on. Professionals would have had limited ambitions a couple of decades ago. Dream would be to be a GM or at best a VP before retirement. Todays young want to be there by mid thi...

News on 377 has created not only a huge amount of interest in a large number of people but thankfully has also generated a huge amount of humour. Post Bush and tired of Santa/Banta this is a good relief. Meetings burst into laughter when similarities are made with same gender sex for business situations. Are we finally accepting this socially? At least in some sections of society that is becoming larger day by day.

Over the last couple of weeks I had a chance to travel by road in five north Indian states. What a pleasure? The road network is becoming really fantastic. I started on National Highway 8 and then on to NH 1, 21, 22, 70,72 and 88 apart from many state highways. It is not the roads only that impressed me but also the new flourishing enterprises it has generated alongwith is the key to the trip. Many a voillages and towns that were cut off from nearby larger places are now well connected. Movement of people and goods is leading to a greater economic involvement and is helping in the inclusive growth mantra. I was also witness to an amazing incident - towns of Rahon and Samrala are barely tens of kilometers apart but could take upto 5 hours by road a few years ago and now less than half an hour. I could see a stretch limousine (a genuine one and on top of it a Lexus) in a small village wedding in the prosperous "Doaba" region of Punjab. On being generously invited (despite being...

It has been quite some time that I penned any thoughts. It has been a busy schedule, some real rest forced and sometimes meaningless. On to other things. I am just back after a four country tour and have realised how lucky we are in India not to face the real heat of recession. I am going to stick my neck out now. Worst is behind us. Talent shortage still exists. All the companies that went overboard will have serious answers to give as talent hunting is going to be a real pain. Worse than before the dreaded R word hit us. Fear will prevent people from taking "logical" decisions. दूध का जला छाछ को भी फूँक फूँक के पीता है. (Once bitten twice shy) I feel sorry for those who lost their jobs and those freshers who could not manage a placement from campus but I can safely say that they will be first ones to encash the change. The real HR work will start now. Finally, sticking my neck out further, I think it all will start happening by September/October. I will write again on this ...

I may not agree on some points of the author but a worthy reading none the less. Sandipan Deb Fri, Feb 6 04:35 AM What does it feel like to be on the way home from work one evening, preparing yourself to tell the family that you don't have a job anymore? I have friends who have been through this, yet I can only vaguely imagine what goes through a man's mind in the moments before the inevitable confession to wife, child, parents. No one who hasn't gone through that moment possibly can more than vaguely imagine the feelings: the anger, helplessness, guilt, shame, fear. If one had a choice, one wouldn't want anyone to go through that experience. But I am also a person who has personally sacked perhaps two dozen people during my career. In the last three months, I have let three people go, on grounds of incompetence. But today, we know what the reality is, what the rules that run a market are. I have known young software engineers switching jobs thrice a year just for...

I could not but put this great quote that may have been heard a number of times but as relevant now as anytime before. Yesterday is a cancelled cheque; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have, so spend it wisely. - Kim Lyons Good luck