IndianMaze

"Where is Blue Lake? Is it on this train journey? How can I fit it in my very tight sight seeing schedule?" asked an enthusiast 20something youngster on a holiday to Switzerland. These questions were directed to the train conductor. I, sitting next to the couple, was in the hear of the conversation. Next came out a a four folded notebook paper that had a few scribbles on it and a few ticks against some lines. "We have seen 11 of the 14 we are supposed to see today" exclaimed the enthusiastic partner. Conductor was very helpful and explained that there was nothing special about the blue lake that was different from the lake we were passing by in the train at that time. But the insisting went on as to how to see, even if from the train's window, THE BLUE LAKE. All 14 "things" must be ticked. It was an eye opener for me. How many times do we make a list to enjoy/complete the tasks giveing the due importance to each one? Is ticking against all a m...

This is an article written about 2005 by me. It is amazing that our responses to new technology remain the same despite moving miles ahead. Reproduced here. Business - India;TV and the waves of change Dinesh Jain Every now and then, men of great wisdom have paused and looked upon their world as it existed then and made one of two pronouncements; condemning emerging technology to the realm of the 'useless' or declaring mankind's attainment of all that had to be attained, the peak of technological advancement by the human race. In 1977, Ken Olson, Founder President of Digital Equipment Corp said, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home". There is no evidence that people want to use these things," said the San Francisco Examiner in 1984 on an experimental pointing device called 'the mouse'. In circa 1991, cable TV arrived in our homes, and it opened up a whole new wonderland to the 'Desi Alices'. Most cond...

Its a rich (wo)man's world! Life is all cosy for the rich. They live in large mansions, have limousines at their disposal, servants all around, top brands and what not. Eat in top hotels and restaurants, Caviar and Champagne is their regular choice. Absolutely right.... ummmmm Going beyond stereotypes, rich are not after all the EXPENSIVE things all the time. They tend to seek a self satisfaction. On a recent visit to one of the richest countries in the world, Switzerland, I felt a completely different world of the RICH. It started with the research on various blogs and travel sites. Was amazed at the flurry of advise the the RICH people as to how to save money. The advise ranged from using 2nd class in trains as the benefit of 1st class does not commensurate with the price you pay to the fact that one should take "picnic" in trains includig own wine as most Swiss do. It was quite a surprise to see that actually most Swiss do so. The reasons vary but large...

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...