Corporate Musings

The recent announcement of Tata Sons withdrawal of the banking license led to an outburst of expectations, questions and anxiousness all poured in together! General public opinion said that the Tatas were meant to become a bank one day. Over a century of existence, but it’s no exaggeration to talk about the amount of trust and faith of the masses, the Group beckons. Such a trusted entity to venture forth in the financial sector as a bank rather than a NBFC would have only done the country and its people more good than harm. The evening the news went public, as a Tata Employee I was asked a lot of questions starting with friends to parents, as to the reasons for this withdrawal I would be privy to besides the once quoted in the press release.  Few even believed that the withdrawal will create more pressure on RBI with respect to its existing regulations and norms than on the operating NBFCs in the Tata Group. The morning post the announcement, the MD & CEO of Tata Capital addressed the employees of the corporate office settling all their questions, appeasing their disappointment, encouraging their good work and requesting their support for the decision taken by the Group

As I anxiously stood there amidst reasons, arguments and disappointments, I saw so much hope and energy in the leader’s words! The frankness with which any employee questioned the CEO of the company and the honesty with which he responded made me realize that the group has come a long way to truly absorb the open door policy. The Group has evolved to be aggressive yet discerning, profitable yet considerate and ever expanding yet ethical to the core! The unquestioning commitment that the Group has shown for its people have made the Tatas industrialist in the truest sense than just an aspiring business house of the country. 

It’s been more than 6 months for me into the system, and the pride of being a Tata group employee only swells with every passing day!

A step in life…

This is how my mother feels. I know she feels a lot more…

This is just a sincere attempt to put words to her thoughts…

It was only yesterday, that she lisped a sweet shrill…

Today her conversations delight me with immense thrill!

I remember her raising her hand to hold my finger…

Today I watch her move with grace and splendor

How she struggled to rise up and peep above the plank!

Now I feel proud to see her reach for the stars!

With an anxious face she had stepped into the school van!

Years later I stand at the airport waving her a loving bye!

As she takes a new step in her life,

I pray to God to always be by her side…

May success & glory touch the shores of her feet,

May with beauty & and grace, her soul be replete…

THE STORY OF EVERYDAY

The morning dawns and the clock strikes again,
To begin a trail that maddens the sane

The typical bus and the familiar train,
Begins the monotony that ceases to wane

The targets are high and ambitious,
The concerns immense and conspicuous

Another meal skipped scrambling by the desk,
‘Won’t join you guys for lunch’ came the reluctant text

Three cups of coffee were the saving grace,
To brush off the fatigue of his weary face

That evening again, he missed the shuttle,
Reached his home after braving the bustle

The kids were fed and fast asleep,
His wife kept waiting in her thoughts so deep

The reckless struggle would just not relent,
Deep in his sleep, he chose to lament

What is this life, so full of care!
There is no time to stop and stare!

Love is...

Love is…
When you get back home tired and weary,
And he gets you hot tea with your favorite snack

Love is…
When he takes the back seat and lets you
Get your hands clean on the steering wheel

Love is…
When he loses the match and is drenched in sweat
And yet you feel proud showing him off to your friends


Love is..
When you see him walking with someone else
Yet you smile because you know he is happy...

Love is…
When you take half the dairy milk back home
Just to watch your sister lick the last remains of it with delight!

Love is…
When your best friend wakes up when you have reached the outside of the office
And yet you wait for him to decide to get marked late together

Love is…
When your mother calls you up on your beach holiday
And advices you to not take the plunge because it’s not very safe!

Love is…
When your dad smuggles in some cash in your pocket
To make sure your date is perfect and your mom doesn’t know about it!

Love is…
When you cuddle up in your granny’s embrace and ask her to tell you a story
Even when you know you have outgrown in size!

Love is…
Simple yet profound
Sweet and always found
Love more and live more…
Life is worth more than just the crores!

I was waiting for so long...

It had been a few years,

All the while she waited in fear,

Worrying if the bullets abound,

Would hit him hard and shoot him down

The infant had now turned one,

Spending time with the mother and none,

Lisping words just out of the blue,

Giving out to her the mystical cues

The morning dawned and yet again,

A telegram lay at her door frame,

Dissonance prevailed in her heart and mind,

She prayed to God, for once to be kind!

Tears of distress rolled down her cheek,

Caressing her toddler, she felt fragile and weak,

She read those words feeling high and low,

Keeping abreast with the thoughts that flowed

“The ceasefire is called,

and the war shall be done…

Two more months

and I will be home…

It’s a matter of time,

till then just behold,

I will soon be by your side,

have faith in the One!”

Wondering if ever did her fate went amiss,

Down came her tears of agony and bliss,

Then she wept and wept for so long…

Life for her never seemed like a song…

BREAKING NEWS: Popeye to desist SPINACH and drink BOURNVITA instead!

Scene: Popeye’s house.

Doorbell rings. Popeye opens the door (Slightly annoyed because of an early morning visitor on his day off the shores)

Me: Good morning sir! I am…

Popeye: No, thank you. I don’t want insurance. You see, I eat spinach every single day. Coupled with this I say ‘I love you’ to Olive 5 times a day, it makes me younger each day! You bet, even the alien aging machine will not be able to guess my age on this date. Why the hell will I need insurance?!…and for your kind information I have left 6 botanical gardens which grow spinach, in the name of Olive, Swee’Pea, Peepeye, Poopeye, Pipeye, Pupeye. They will live happily and healthily ever after.

Me: May I say something? I am sure you will not regret at the end of the conversation.

Popeye: Ahh! You typical salesguy! I know you know how to walk the talk! Anyway, chip in. You better be quick, I need to have my serving of spinach soon…and I love it only in the company of my lovely Olive.

Me: Sir, I present to you Bournvita, the drink which comes from the house of Cadbury. This malted drink has been endorsed by the Indian super hero Krish. It is responsible for endowing health and intelligence amongst young adults like YOU!

Popeye: Don’t give me this! I mean, I am Swee’Pea’s father!

Me: This has been working wonders since 1948. It was conceived 19years after your thimble appearances first made way. Probably, your energy was the reason Cadbury thought of coming up with a product like this!

Popeye: So, you are trying to sell me something that I have inspired! Fella, you need to work on your selling skills!

Me: I am trying to make a point sir. The only reason that I have dared to come to you with my drink is because I believe it has something to offer that you currently don’t have. 19years of research sir! I am sure, it gives you a lot more than a basic dose of vitamin A through K, calcium, protein, dietary fibre and niacin acids.

Popeye: You are missing out on the magnesium, zinc and phosphorous!

Me: I realize that sir. But I bring you something more than and besides all of these.

Popeye: …and that would be??

Me: An irresistible taste of chocolate, a variety of flavors to choose from, tested results of better growth and holistic development and the RDA

Popeye: RDA??

Me: It’s the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Medical research has proven that 2 cups of Bournvita adequately cater to your daily energy needs. It’s a unique assurance that comes from the makers, Cadbury.

Popeye: I am no regular guy! I need super-human energy …do you understand that I am a hero for the million kids the world over?!

Me: Yes, Sir. I do realize that. Hence I would recommend 3 glasses of the drink, every single day. The third one you can have it with your dear lady-Olive. I am sure she will join you too.

(Silence…after 8seconds)

I must say, this will strengthen your bond…physically, emotionally and literally too…and in a very tasty and a routine manner.

Popeye (contemplating): Hmmmm…(Olive, my love…)

Me: And a fourth glass with SweePea can be the best you can ask for! It will give you all the iron in the world and knocking off the likes of Brutus will be cakewalk for you!

Popeye (getting a little emotional): This Brutus, I tell you! Every time he tries to take Olive away I feel like I've had all I can stand, I can't stands no more!

Me: Bournvita will certainly help you deal with Brutus. I also think it’s time you adapt a new source of energy. You have been carrying the Fleisher’s sword all through the Segar’s comic strip. Just a humble suggestion though, I hope you dint mind.

Popeye: Ahh…I…

Me: Why don’t you try the drink? I will just make one for you.

Popeye drinks. He feels revitalized instantly and loves the taste.

Popeye: It’s taski !!(tasty)

Me: and in case you just fail to stock milk, 2 teaspoons full will work the same magic.

Can I ask you a question?

Popeye: By all means!

Me: What is the capital of Ghana?

Popeye (instantly): Accra!!

(How did I get to that answer in a split second? It was never even my home-town!)

Honestly friend, I thought I didn’t know the answer

Me: You see sir; it’s the power of intellect that gets typically casted on you when you have a glass full of the drink. Let me tell you a little secret. These magical effects aren’t transferrable. They are unique to your Bournvita and you. They will only pass to any one of your nephews or SweePea as per your choice. You now have something unique to leave in your legacy I believe!

The door bell rings. Brutus is waiting at the door.

Me (from behind): Sir, I request you to not have a firm handshake

Popeye (holding his hand out): Come on in Brutus!

Brutus quivers in pain because of Popeye’s strong grip.

Popeye feels the peculiar music ring in the backdrop. Additionally he sees the image of himself having a good time with Olive and a bruised Brutus fallen behind.

Brutus leaves without saying a word. He is in great pain.

Popeye (delighted, holding out his glass): One more friend!

Me: May I place the pack of your new Bournvita on the shelf?

I believe the spinach boxes may need replacement; you won’t need your spinach serving that’s been pending for a while now!

Popeye (relishing Bournvita): Aye!

Me: I hope you have no regrets at the end of this conversation!

Popeye (hugs): No, no! Thanks a lot friend! You have given me a treasure!

(Wonders how I was not hurt despite the hug)

Hey! How come you are not hurt? Was my brace that weak??

Me: It’s the intellect sir! Even in your most energetic moments, you clearly understand whom to hurt and who not to! Enjoy your Bournvita! (smiles and leaves)

Popeye (sips the Bournvita and gazes in the mirror): “I yam what I yam!”

Environment

This definitely isn’t a cry of a die-hard environmentalist. I am not going to point out to the alarming number of mature trees being felled year after year, thereby exposing Mother Earth in the most sorry state. It’s just another day called as the Environment Day celebrated (supposedly, though I doubt people are aware that 5th of June every year is coined thus) globally to create awareness about the environment; that reminded me of my environment. The lush greenery of your plush residential complex situated in an uptown area of the suburb is not the only thing that qualifies as environment. It’s surprising to see how the builder’s get away by instituting townships by clearing huge acres of forest land and compensating for the green cover by planting a few shrubs in the boulevard. Who really cares about the wild life that loses its habitat? Is there a need to wonder when one finds a cheetah in the middle of a highway or a snake crawling in your bathroom? Of course the cheetah isn’t directing the traffic! Where are these poor creatures supposed to go and dwell when their living places are wiped away mercilessly? Scores of environmentalists have expressed concern about the depleting green cover, the declining number of endangered species and they fear extinction of many of them very soon. Village Forest Committees are working with the Joint Forest Management agency to restore millions of hectares of the degraded forests. But our efforts are being out-paced by the rate of destruction of the environment. Our honorable environment Minister finds it unrealistic to get 33% of the country’s area under the green cover. Planting 2 crore saplings (government target) in a year and then further strengthening the Politico-Builder’s nexus can never really be a solution to our green problems (or green becoming grey problems)!

The problem with our country is that green means different to different people and हरी पत्ती still has an over-powering colour-based influence on the Indian mindset. People still fail to realize the true meaning of being in the civil society environment. It’s a lot beyond the trees and saplings; it extends to your behaviour and civic sense. If you don’t throw your bus ticket when you get off the bus, you are contributing to the environment by not littering. If you are using the public transport in the first place instead of your personal car, you are firstly doing more good to the road blocks and then to reducing green house gas emissions too! If you avoid getting printed slips of your ATM transactions and you work towards going the e-way, then you are preventing the cutting of trees by saving paper. If you switch off the lights and fans when not in use, you are conserving energy. If you redress a broken tap with urgency, you are valuing the resource of water. If you are not smoking in public, you are able love your lungs and be concerned about the air the others breathe too!

It’s fairly easy to love your environment. India is a beautiful country, landscaped very scenically and crafted with care. It deserves to be valued and nurtured and not be left in a state of neglect. Don’t dirty the beaches, don’t the paint the walls of ancient monuments in the colours of your jilted love, don’t spit on the road (it makes you look more detestable than anything else) If you can’t go on hunger strikes when government claims huge acres of land in the name of development, you need to realize that you can contribute by doing a few things right. It goes to the grass root you see, where every small step counts!