Personal Finance
The global economy is in shambles, so is the state of our national finances. The Centre has ‘monetised’ Rs. 66,946 crores this year due to the rising gap between revenue and expenditure. In simple terms, the UPA Government is facing falling tax revenues and huge election expenditure this year. Hence, it is printing currency notes like crazy – Rs. 66,946 crores to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure.
During my attempt to understand the current situation, what I could retrieve is that with so much money sloshing about in the economy, the net result is often higher inflation after a lag. So, the dramatic drop in inflation from nearly 13% in August to over 5% now will not be a reason to celebrate. The inflation dragon has presumably gone into hibernation and will return with an enormous thud.
At this juncture, the investment avenues for a salaried person have drastically reduced. The real estate companies have posted their worst quarterly results in December, 2008, with an aggregate 71% fall in net profit. The sector has declared that the old projects are not selling, new ones will bring cash only next year. This provides with us with limited returns in the infrastructure sector.
It is necessary to understand that money has a time value. The notion that a rupee today is preferable to the same rupee in future is intuitive enough for many to grasp. This brings in the concept of “prudence”. The simplest tools in finance are often the most powerful. It is imperative for an individual to feel financially secure at any stage in his life. A simple question like, how perfect is your financial planning will raise eyebrows of many. Majority of the working youth don’t have investments, savings or planning on their priority list. The banking and finance sector, though suffering a sub-prime crisis offers a plethora of investment vehicles: Mutual Funds, Stocks and online Trade, Debt instruments, Fixed Deposits and Personal Insurance.
The basic purpose of investment is to ensure that your money grows at a rate greater than that of inflation, that’s how you can create wealth. An investment choice is made by taking into account the considerations on the basis of which is evaluated your risk profile:
If you belong to the age group of 25-30 years, your risk taking capability is relatively higher than the others. Your areas of investment can be Equity, Stocks and Mutual Funds. These sectors require taking a high risk but provide for higher return on your investments. In general, the formula governing an individual’s share of investment in the Equity sector is:
% Equity = ( 100- age of the investor )
It is advisable to get a Pension Plan in the very first year of you permanent job. This ensures accumulation of a corpus which will meet your monetary requirements post the retirement age. When you start investing early, the accumulation ( or vesting period ) phase of your money increases. The second phase of a Pension Plan is Annuity, wherein you start receiving the accumulated amount as per your choice i.e. in the form of monthly or annual installments.
If you are a novice in the investment market, refrain from stock trading without proper guidance. Mutual Funds can be a relatively safer alternative to predict the capricious stock market. A Systematic Investment Plan ( S.I.P ) is the best choice to begin with. In the recent times, MFs come with an insurance cover and don’t charge any entry load ( the fees to enter the trade market ). Hence 100% of your investment goes into buying the units of the Company as per the NAV ( Net Asset Values ) which differs every month. MFs are generally open-ended i.e. an investor can enter the market any time. In the close-ended schemes, the Company declares the NAVs of the units and declares a deadline for the investors to file in their folios. The investor is granted a fixed number of shares / units as per the Company’s discretion. These schemes are also called as Initial Public Offerings ( IPO). If you have a limited corpus, then opt for mid-cap fund as compared to small or large-cap.
For a person above 30 years of age, children’s education, family, health becomes a priority. Hence, the risk-taking capacity is substantially reduced. An insurance is now recommended at this stage. It is again of two types:
1. Traditional Plan: It assures guaranteed low returns ( about 8% ) and premium payment commitment for the entire tenure in which insurance cover is provided.
2. Unit Linked Insurance Plan ( ULIP ) : they are similar to Mutual Funds except that they come with an insurance benefit. They serve the dual purpose of security + investment. Yet, various charges ( Premium Allocation Charges, Fund Management Charges (FMC), Mortality Charges ) are something to watch out for. A company provides for various under funds under this scheme in which the investor can invest his annual premium. The funds vary in the percentage investment option of the investor in sectors like debt and equity. The premium payment term is generally for 3 years and the insurance cover can be sustained over a longer period as per the selected tenure on the payment of yearly charges.
Health, Children’s Education and Pension Plans are available under the ULIPs. Premium can be paid as a singly or as yearly installments for the fixed tenure.
Insurance also gives you the advantage of tax-rebates at the time of filing your IT- Returns. The revised slabs for annual taxable income are :
Females : above Rs. 1,35,000/-.
Males : above Rs. 1,00,000/-
Senior Citizens : above Rs. 1,85,000/-.
The tax rebate is applicable under section 80C.
It is important that you have an access to your money in the time of need. This brings in the concept of “Liquidity”, wherein assets are converted to cash. Gold is a preferred liquid asset for its time-value. MFs and ULIPs also offer you flexibility as far as withdrawals are considered.
To conclude, I would say that financial planning needs to personally undertaken by every individual. It provides us the much needed security during crisis. My only suggestion to one and all – invest wisely and live well!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Civic Duties
CIVIC DUTIES
They form a set of “do’s” and “donts” which are conveniently ignored by a majority of citizens. The attitude is a result of the current generation never being exposed to captivity and bonding. They have over the years breathed the free air and thoroughly exploited the privileged rights delineated by the Constitution. The efforts required to turn overleaf and understand the basic and the simplest of duties, were never put in.
At this juncture, when the lapses of the Government, breakdown in Parliamentary and Constitutional machinery are so evident and coming to the forefront, its easy to realize that youth awakening is the need of the hour. As citizens of the nation, as members of a Constituency ( assuming that many of us have bothered to get ourselves enrolled and are going to exercise the less exploited “Right to Vote” ) , it is duty to repay the society which allows us to live freely ( though not securely, kindly forgive me for the pun ). Now, there is no need brooding over security lapses which are inevitable in a country which houses a substantial fraction of the world population.
“Easy” Steps that we can take for the betterment of a Nation, so worthy of our love and concern, are enlisted below:
• The most important one, forgive the Government. Stop cribbing about its policies, price-hikes, politics, etc.
• Voice your opinion and make sure you are heard. The media is at your disposal – press, radio, the blogosphere and Viewspaper ofcourse!
• Vote for the impending elections. Atleast get your documents ready to procure your voter-identity card; so that you don’t miss out on voting for the elections henceforth.
• The next time you see over-zealous / jilted lovers painting the walls with their love in vermilion red ( scribbling heart shapes with arrows to depict pain), kindly stop them. Request them to exhibit their art-work in their homes, so that even their parents get to know of the same! Let your city walls and city-transport look clean and enviable.
• Be a diligent traveler. If you find anything suspicious about a fellow passenger, do inform the security personnel. The helpline numbers are on display in most of the public places.
• Take the efforts to register police helpline numbers in your phonebook.
• The government has empowered you to stop a fellow from spitting or littering on roads. P.S. This stunt to be performed only if the fellow in question is not more that three times your size and you are not held off-guard!
The next set comprise of “duties” which can be graded as moderate on a scale of difficulty.
• Casting your vote doesn’t serve your purpose completely. Pat your back for realising the importance of voting. But now its time to pass on this realization and create awareness. Spread the word of “duty” by joining public rallies and online forums.
• As an educated individual, understand the importance of learning. Be a part of community service programmes undertaken by various Non-Governmental Organizations. They train college students to take lessons in BMC Schools.
• Donate blood and save lives. Blood donation can be done by a healthy individual over 18 years of age, once in every three months. The Government recognizes this noble action of yours and certifies you for the same.
• Take tuition classes for your maid’s child. Donate books, clothes and toys to the underprivileged children of the society.
• Close that tap when you are done with brushing your teeth. Switch OFF the lights when not in use. It is not that difficult! Just realize the need to contribute to power saving when we are facing a crisis in the supply of the same.
Having successfully performed the above set of duties, it will be easy for you to execute these most arduous tasks.
• Respect every fellow being in the society, be gentle person in the truest sense. But do raise your voice against violence and injustice.
• Help your needy neighbour.
• In this world ravaged by war, hold out your hand to embrace the philosophy of brotherhood and fraternity.
• Practice the religion of Humanity; and I assure you that the world will be a better place to live in!
If the above duties are thoroughly performed by majority of the youth today, we will realize that we are a part of an alert and responsible township. Taking the strings of the governing system in your able hands is the next best step to be taken.
The list of duties is amended greatly to answer the hour’s calling.
Dear Citizen,
Perform these simple duties.
Be a part of the Renaissance.
The Nation beckons you……
They form a set of “do’s” and “donts” which are conveniently ignored by a majority of citizens. The attitude is a result of the current generation never being exposed to captivity and bonding. They have over the years breathed the free air and thoroughly exploited the privileged rights delineated by the Constitution. The efforts required to turn overleaf and understand the basic and the simplest of duties, were never put in.
At this juncture, when the lapses of the Government, breakdown in Parliamentary and Constitutional machinery are so evident and coming to the forefront, its easy to realize that youth awakening is the need of the hour. As citizens of the nation, as members of a Constituency ( assuming that many of us have bothered to get ourselves enrolled and are going to exercise the less exploited “Right to Vote” ) , it is duty to repay the society which allows us to live freely ( though not securely, kindly forgive me for the pun ). Now, there is no need brooding over security lapses which are inevitable in a country which houses a substantial fraction of the world population.
“Easy” Steps that we can take for the betterment of a Nation, so worthy of our love and concern, are enlisted below:
• The most important one, forgive the Government. Stop cribbing about its policies, price-hikes, politics, etc.
• Voice your opinion and make sure you are heard. The media is at your disposal – press, radio, the blogosphere and Viewspaper ofcourse!
• Vote for the impending elections. Atleast get your documents ready to procure your voter-identity card; so that you don’t miss out on voting for the elections henceforth.
• The next time you see over-zealous / jilted lovers painting the walls with their love in vermilion red ( scribbling heart shapes with arrows to depict pain), kindly stop them. Request them to exhibit their art-work in their homes, so that even their parents get to know of the same! Let your city walls and city-transport look clean and enviable.
• Be a diligent traveler. If you find anything suspicious about a fellow passenger, do inform the security personnel. The helpline numbers are on display in most of the public places.
• Take the efforts to register police helpline numbers in your phonebook.
• The government has empowered you to stop a fellow from spitting or littering on roads. P.S. This stunt to be performed only if the fellow in question is not more that three times your size and you are not held off-guard!
The next set comprise of “duties” which can be graded as moderate on a scale of difficulty.
• Casting your vote doesn’t serve your purpose completely. Pat your back for realising the importance of voting. But now its time to pass on this realization and create awareness. Spread the word of “duty” by joining public rallies and online forums.
• As an educated individual, understand the importance of learning. Be a part of community service programmes undertaken by various Non-Governmental Organizations. They train college students to take lessons in BMC Schools.
• Donate blood and save lives. Blood donation can be done by a healthy individual over 18 years of age, once in every three months. The Government recognizes this noble action of yours and certifies you for the same.
• Take tuition classes for your maid’s child. Donate books, clothes and toys to the underprivileged children of the society.
• Close that tap when you are done with brushing your teeth. Switch OFF the lights when not in use. It is not that difficult! Just realize the need to contribute to power saving when we are facing a crisis in the supply of the same.
Having successfully performed the above set of duties, it will be easy for you to execute these most arduous tasks.
• Respect every fellow being in the society, be gentle person in the truest sense. But do raise your voice against violence and injustice.
• Help your needy neighbour.
• In this world ravaged by war, hold out your hand to embrace the philosophy of brotherhood and fraternity.
• Practice the religion of Humanity; and I assure you that the world will be a better place to live in!
If the above duties are thoroughly performed by majority of the youth today, we will realize that we are a part of an alert and responsible township. Taking the strings of the governing system in your able hands is the next best step to be taken.
The list of duties is amended greatly to answer the hour’s calling.
Dear Citizen,
Perform these simple duties.
Be a part of the Renaissance.
The Nation beckons you……
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Telly-Tales
Telly – Tales
Watching the television can be a strenuous activity at times. This can be essentially experienced if you are not a diligent follower of the prime time soaps aired on Hindi channels.
When you are on a vacation, the time in hand to scan through the 110 channels provided by your cable T.V. operator ( or CAS, Tata Sky, etc,etc..), is conveniently large. During one such endeavours, I managed to catch a high-end claim – Star One was swelling in pride to declare that their serial “ Dil Mil Gaye”..( please forgive the spelling errors, if any..) is back on air. Now, if you stand to be a complete stranger to the novel concepts which come ‘back’ as sequels, without having a fair understanding of the events that took place earlier , you are bound to develop an instant misconception ( as instant as the instant idli mix ). It is justified if you seem to believe that Dil Mil Gaye would be a rosy romantic affair scripted to run for a minimum period of 18 months. This average run-time of T.V. serials is greatly enhanced by the relentless “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi”. As far as my memory goes, I remember ‘Mihir Virani’ melodramatically dying when I was in my Std. 7. This nation-stirring event occurred almost two years after the serial was a high TRP grosser with ‘Tulsi’ becoming a household name. Next year, I will become a first attempt Engineering graduate..( this information relayed just to ease the process of evaluating the run-time period of this benchmark epic.) Today, the ‘Virani family’ contains almost 5 generations with a minimum of one person belonging to every era. I cease to believe that ‘ Ba’ is a real human being, she is an eternal heavenly body. Well, I don’t know what happened post Mihir’s death ( he came back to life in the subsequent years without the super-natural forces playing any role.) as I discontinued my viewership. As per grapevine, he is believed to have one legal wife, one extra-marital affair and about 3-4 children whose biological roots remain a mystery to one and all ( including Ms. Ekta Kapoor ). Aforesaid are the declared assets of Mr. Mihir Virani. Trust the viewers to have lost track of a soap which is forced to continue to lather for a massive period of some 7,8 or 10 years.
Back to ‘Dil Mil Gaye’ , it is about interns practicing in a plush hospital called ‘Sanjivani’. It is unfair to judge a serial after watching just one episode, but I couldn’t help myself from drawing the following conclusions. The interns don’t look as if they have really cleared any medical CET to get into a medical college. Its again unwise to judge someone by their looks, but its difficult to imagine them as medical professionals who have been rigorously trained over a period of 4 years. Their topics of discussion include – how to get some nurse hooked up with a senior doctor, or which colour suit to gift to a prospective girlfriend. They loiter around the hospital corridors releasing red and white heart-shaped balloons, the excuse for the celebration being Valentine’s day. I wonder if KEM and AIIMS have such recreational facilities for their students. The small town girl ( the ideal protagonist- ‘chote shaher ki ladki’) wears the most lavish salwaar suit and the trendiest make-up. None of them read books, or discuss a patient’s case. Probably all of them have profound knowledge to tackle any case that comes their way and so don’t have to revert to books time and again. Their presence in the cafeteria is far too obviously long than that in hospital wards. Occasionally they hold a thermometer in their hand, otherwise a writing pad and a pen is all that the doctors at Sanjeevani need! You might as well mistakenly take them to be reporters..but they are interns ( would-be doctors in the truest sense!).The stethoscope is perennially wound around their necks, which could have been aptly replaced by headphones. Most of the time they hold the X-Ray reports high up in their hand pretending to understand something, other times they engage themselves in frivolous activities. They don’t utter names of medicines or disorders either.
Such a showcase of behaviour by the doctors treated to be only next to God in our society, only helps you realize that your initial conclusions are absolutely flawless. The script of the story nowhere revolves around the life of an intern who at times has to face Ramadoss and has no time to breathe, forget the frequent lovey-dovey encounters. The patient’s ‘dil’ or case seems to be the last worry for the doctors at Sanjeevani.
“Jassi” amidst the saas-bahu operas brought a new lease of life to the small screen. Yet, having being inspired by “ Ugly Betty” , it did lack originality. If originality comes in form of ‘Dil Mil Gaye’, then I would pray that our authorities resign from the arduous task of thinking and just be inspired!!!!
Watching the television can be a strenuous activity at times. This can be essentially experienced if you are not a diligent follower of the prime time soaps aired on Hindi channels.
When you are on a vacation, the time in hand to scan through the 110 channels provided by your cable T.V. operator ( or CAS, Tata Sky, etc,etc..), is conveniently large. During one such endeavours, I managed to catch a high-end claim – Star One was swelling in pride to declare that their serial “ Dil Mil Gaye”..( please forgive the spelling errors, if any..) is back on air. Now, if you stand to be a complete stranger to the novel concepts which come ‘back’ as sequels, without having a fair understanding of the events that took place earlier , you are bound to develop an instant misconception ( as instant as the instant idli mix ). It is justified if you seem to believe that Dil Mil Gaye would be a rosy romantic affair scripted to run for a minimum period of 18 months. This average run-time of T.V. serials is greatly enhanced by the relentless “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi”. As far as my memory goes, I remember ‘Mihir Virani’ melodramatically dying when I was in my Std. 7. This nation-stirring event occurred almost two years after the serial was a high TRP grosser with ‘Tulsi’ becoming a household name. Next year, I will become a first attempt Engineering graduate..( this information relayed just to ease the process of evaluating the run-time period of this benchmark epic.) Today, the ‘Virani family’ contains almost 5 generations with a minimum of one person belonging to every era. I cease to believe that ‘ Ba’ is a real human being, she is an eternal heavenly body. Well, I don’t know what happened post Mihir’s death ( he came back to life in the subsequent years without the super-natural forces playing any role.) as I discontinued my viewership. As per grapevine, he is believed to have one legal wife, one extra-marital affair and about 3-4 children whose biological roots remain a mystery to one and all ( including Ms. Ekta Kapoor ). Aforesaid are the declared assets of Mr. Mihir Virani. Trust the viewers to have lost track of a soap which is forced to continue to lather for a massive period of some 7,8 or 10 years.
Back to ‘Dil Mil Gaye’ , it is about interns practicing in a plush hospital called ‘Sanjivani’. It is unfair to judge a serial after watching just one episode, but I couldn’t help myself from drawing the following conclusions. The interns don’t look as if they have really cleared any medical CET to get into a medical college. Its again unwise to judge someone by their looks, but its difficult to imagine them as medical professionals who have been rigorously trained over a period of 4 years. Their topics of discussion include – how to get some nurse hooked up with a senior doctor, or which colour suit to gift to a prospective girlfriend. They loiter around the hospital corridors releasing red and white heart-shaped balloons, the excuse for the celebration being Valentine’s day. I wonder if KEM and AIIMS have such recreational facilities for their students. The small town girl ( the ideal protagonist- ‘chote shaher ki ladki’) wears the most lavish salwaar suit and the trendiest make-up. None of them read books, or discuss a patient’s case. Probably all of them have profound knowledge to tackle any case that comes their way and so don’t have to revert to books time and again. Their presence in the cafeteria is far too obviously long than that in hospital wards. Occasionally they hold a thermometer in their hand, otherwise a writing pad and a pen is all that the doctors at Sanjeevani need! You might as well mistakenly take them to be reporters..but they are interns ( would-be doctors in the truest sense!).The stethoscope is perennially wound around their necks, which could have been aptly replaced by headphones. Most of the time they hold the X-Ray reports high up in their hand pretending to understand something, other times they engage themselves in frivolous activities. They don’t utter names of medicines or disorders either.
Such a showcase of behaviour by the doctors treated to be only next to God in our society, only helps you realize that your initial conclusions are absolutely flawless. The script of the story nowhere revolves around the life of an intern who at times has to face Ramadoss and has no time to breathe, forget the frequent lovey-dovey encounters. The patient’s ‘dil’ or case seems to be the last worry for the doctors at Sanjeevani.
“Jassi” amidst the saas-bahu operas brought a new lease of life to the small screen. Yet, having being inspired by “ Ugly Betty” , it did lack originality. If originality comes in form of ‘Dil Mil Gaye’, then I would pray that our authorities resign from the arduous task of thinking and just be inspired!!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Paunch
Paunch
Stand with your back straight and push your neck very slightly forward, look down at your feet, by moving your eyeballs. If your vision is not eclipsed by the protrusion of a nasty mass in the abdominal region, then you have prevented yourself from acquiring the ownership of a ghastly disgrace- “the Paunch”. I say this because the world today is taken by a storm by the concept of ‘thin is in’ and it isn’t a juvenile crime to bear a full-fledged paunch. Believe me friends, having a noticeable paunch can be more shameful than being caught red-handed in drug-trafficking !!
The rounder the belly, the wealthier the man, is now a bygone. Today, the global citizens call themselves health-conscious. There is more than just a marginal difference between health-conscious people and health freaks. The most dreaded activity of these health freaks is standing on the weighing scale. A slight deviation ( in the +ve direction ) from the subsidized number of kilograms might traumatize them for perhaps the next 13 days. If they wake up in the morning to realize that they have lost 650 gms or more, they get a high which an avid drinker will not relish even after several pecks of the finest vodka. It is difficult for me to picture them further losing weight in the measure of kilograms, as that may result in their total disappearance from the face of the earth. That reminds me of ‘anorexia’. Now, the difference between anorexia and malnourishment is that, the former is a health statement ( analogous to fashion statement ) and the latter one is a health disorder. Models, who walk the ramp…( lets call them the ‘classy dahlings’) are anorexic and street children (..the regular earthlings ) are malnourished.
Having a paunch has its own set of limitations. You have to safely ignore the ‘looks’ of the ‘toned’ elements of the society. Loose-fitting clothes suddenly become the must-haves of your wardrobe….a measure taken to prevent some major faux-pas. Figure-hugging clothes are meant for those whose figures are not disfigured!! Next, remember that when posing for a picture, avoid a side profile of your complete self. It will only make you appear less attractive ( greek god that you are!). If you are used to taking deep breathes and then holding onto them, till your tailor registers your ‘vital-statistics’ for assembling your new wardrobe, then BEWARE,,, it can be a gruelling task to squeeze yourself in those clothes ( stitched in accordance with the misleading waistline ). It can also give you an impression of having expanded by an inch and a half more since the time of your visit to the tailor and the delivery of your new clothes with an improved size!! So, just whole-heartedly accept the paunch…and be yourself.
After all, it gives you a chance to revamp your style…( now that the tee’s don’t fit you, …kurtas have to cover up ). Having a paunch (already) enables you to crash all your calorie counters without feeling guilty. It also allows you to curtail expenses on footwear, as anyways the feet are nowhere to be seen.., thanks to the paunch coming midway. So, why splurge on boots??? Instead buy belts that can be wound around your larger circumference, that vividly stands out. The paunch makes you look less vulnerable and can help you in making space for yourself while taking the public transport. It is understood that there is no scope for a fourth seat if 2 out of 3 people sitting on a bench in a train compartment, have a fair sized paunch.
But, that does not mean you disregard the bitter fact that “YOU” are gaining weight (extra weight….to be precise ). The paunch cannot be a belonging you will long to behold, caress or treasure. A bit of exercise and a controlled diet can restore the ‘make-up’ of your stomach. It is essential to realize the importance of healthy living because a toned and fit body along with a razor-sharp mind does give you a true sense of well-being.
Nevertheless…..the jubilation of playing ‘tabla’ on that very paunch is inexplicable!!!!
Stand with your back straight and push your neck very slightly forward, look down at your feet, by moving your eyeballs. If your vision is not eclipsed by the protrusion of a nasty mass in the abdominal region, then you have prevented yourself from acquiring the ownership of a ghastly disgrace- “the Paunch”. I say this because the world today is taken by a storm by the concept of ‘thin is in’ and it isn’t a juvenile crime to bear a full-fledged paunch. Believe me friends, having a noticeable paunch can be more shameful than being caught red-handed in drug-trafficking !!
The rounder the belly, the wealthier the man, is now a bygone. Today, the global citizens call themselves health-conscious. There is more than just a marginal difference between health-conscious people and health freaks. The most dreaded activity of these health freaks is standing on the weighing scale. A slight deviation ( in the +ve direction ) from the subsidized number of kilograms might traumatize them for perhaps the next 13 days. If they wake up in the morning to realize that they have lost 650 gms or more, they get a high which an avid drinker will not relish even after several pecks of the finest vodka. It is difficult for me to picture them further losing weight in the measure of kilograms, as that may result in their total disappearance from the face of the earth. That reminds me of ‘anorexia’. Now, the difference between anorexia and malnourishment is that, the former is a health statement ( analogous to fashion statement ) and the latter one is a health disorder. Models, who walk the ramp…( lets call them the ‘classy dahlings’) are anorexic and street children (..the regular earthlings ) are malnourished.
Having a paunch has its own set of limitations. You have to safely ignore the ‘looks’ of the ‘toned’ elements of the society. Loose-fitting clothes suddenly become the must-haves of your wardrobe….a measure taken to prevent some major faux-pas. Figure-hugging clothes are meant for those whose figures are not disfigured!! Next, remember that when posing for a picture, avoid a side profile of your complete self. It will only make you appear less attractive ( greek god that you are!). If you are used to taking deep breathes and then holding onto them, till your tailor registers your ‘vital-statistics’ for assembling your new wardrobe, then BEWARE,,, it can be a gruelling task to squeeze yourself in those clothes ( stitched in accordance with the misleading waistline ). It can also give you an impression of having expanded by an inch and a half more since the time of your visit to the tailor and the delivery of your new clothes with an improved size!! So, just whole-heartedly accept the paunch…and be yourself.
After all, it gives you a chance to revamp your style…( now that the tee’s don’t fit you, …kurtas have to cover up ). Having a paunch (already) enables you to crash all your calorie counters without feeling guilty. It also allows you to curtail expenses on footwear, as anyways the feet are nowhere to be seen.., thanks to the paunch coming midway. So, why splurge on boots??? Instead buy belts that can be wound around your larger circumference, that vividly stands out. The paunch makes you look less vulnerable and can help you in making space for yourself while taking the public transport. It is understood that there is no scope for a fourth seat if 2 out of 3 people sitting on a bench in a train compartment, have a fair sized paunch.
But, that does not mean you disregard the bitter fact that “YOU” are gaining weight (extra weight….to be precise ). The paunch cannot be a belonging you will long to behold, caress or treasure. A bit of exercise and a controlled diet can restore the ‘make-up’ of your stomach. It is essential to realize the importance of healthy living because a toned and fit body along with a razor-sharp mind does give you a true sense of well-being.
Nevertheless…..the jubilation of playing ‘tabla’ on that very paunch is inexplicable!!!!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Biased load-shedding
Biased load-shedding
No, this one does not reiterate the fact that Mumbai is exempted from a torture called load shedding, the regularity of which is commendable!! It throws light ( and not power, as we are deprived of it ) on a different subject for contemplation.
Thane and the stations that follow ( lesser known to most of the Mumbaities ) and Navi Mumbai are subjected to a daily ritual of “load-shedding”. It is a fancy term coined for the power cuts which are executed at a frequency which is greater than that of a peculiar novel song played as a “fresh hit” on Zoom. Interestingly, Mulund ( the princess of suburbs – as per the claims ) and Bhandup are conveniently set apart from Mumbai when it comes to power cuts. So, these localities are not excused even though they belong to the island city. Now, I’m done with the geographical details.
Let me come to the point. The duration of power cuts can be anywhere between 3 hours to 9 hours depending on the closeness of the location to Mumbai: eg. If thane has it for 5 hrs, then Kalyan will endure it for about 7-8 hrs on a daily basis. But still, this is not the bias about which I want to complain. I believe that the power cuts are chauvinistic in nature, their target victims being the ‘housewives’. The husband leaves for his work-place by 7, the children are off to school or college and our dear housewife ( victim of male chauvinism )is busy arranging hot water for everyone’s bath. With all the appliances running on electricity, how is she expected to grill, toast or knead the dough when the power is gone at, as early as 6 in the morning??? It is widely proclaimed that Science and Technology have paced up the life of a housewife. I’m sure that she would take this with a pinch of salt. Next, in the afternoon, when the October heat scorches and pierces into every household, the lady is left sweating and struggling in an effort to beat the heat. The exhausted soul cannot even peacefully take a nap for an hour or two, as the rising mercury makes it grossly uncomfortable. Now, with the refrigerator disconnected for 3 running hrs, she has to re-heat the cooked food to avoid the dismay over the spoilt food in the following evening. Imagine the piteous plight of the female standing in front of the burner, facing the flaming sun and no fans ( exhaust or ceiling ) to move the heated air particles…. To top it all, if you house lies facing the east-west direction ( believed to be miraculously beneficial to your health and wealth, as per Vaastu-Shaastra ), then the intensity of the incoming sunlight can be strong enough to shrivel you down.
Business failures, and financial losses seem to be the only complaints that always surface everytime the concept of load-shedding is argued upon. No one really bothers to consider the plight of the housewife who has sworn to refrain from whining…
So, thank your stars if you are a student ( attending colleges in Mumbai ONLY ) or a husband who can relish his lunch in the air-conditioned room. The contents of this lunch are wrapped in aluminium foils…with tender care and concern of the diligent woman who has been preparing it in the blinding darkness ( as there is no blinding light, or any kind of light at that point of time in the morning!!)..in anticipation of a cool breeze to soothe her soul…..
No, this one does not reiterate the fact that Mumbai is exempted from a torture called load shedding, the regularity of which is commendable!! It throws light ( and not power, as we are deprived of it ) on a different subject for contemplation.
Thane and the stations that follow ( lesser known to most of the Mumbaities ) and Navi Mumbai are subjected to a daily ritual of “load-shedding”. It is a fancy term coined for the power cuts which are executed at a frequency which is greater than that of a peculiar novel song played as a “fresh hit” on Zoom. Interestingly, Mulund ( the princess of suburbs – as per the claims ) and Bhandup are conveniently set apart from Mumbai when it comes to power cuts. So, these localities are not excused even though they belong to the island city. Now, I’m done with the geographical details.
Let me come to the point. The duration of power cuts can be anywhere between 3 hours to 9 hours depending on the closeness of the location to Mumbai: eg. If thane has it for 5 hrs, then Kalyan will endure it for about 7-8 hrs on a daily basis. But still, this is not the bias about which I want to complain. I believe that the power cuts are chauvinistic in nature, their target victims being the ‘housewives’. The husband leaves for his work-place by 7, the children are off to school or college and our dear housewife ( victim of male chauvinism )is busy arranging hot water for everyone’s bath. With all the appliances running on electricity, how is she expected to grill, toast or knead the dough when the power is gone at, as early as 6 in the morning??? It is widely proclaimed that Science and Technology have paced up the life of a housewife. I’m sure that she would take this with a pinch of salt. Next, in the afternoon, when the October heat scorches and pierces into every household, the lady is left sweating and struggling in an effort to beat the heat. The exhausted soul cannot even peacefully take a nap for an hour or two, as the rising mercury makes it grossly uncomfortable. Now, with the refrigerator disconnected for 3 running hrs, she has to re-heat the cooked food to avoid the dismay over the spoilt food in the following evening. Imagine the piteous plight of the female standing in front of the burner, facing the flaming sun and no fans ( exhaust or ceiling ) to move the heated air particles…. To top it all, if you house lies facing the east-west direction ( believed to be miraculously beneficial to your health and wealth, as per Vaastu-Shaastra ), then the intensity of the incoming sunlight can be strong enough to shrivel you down.
Business failures, and financial losses seem to be the only complaints that always surface everytime the concept of load-shedding is argued upon. No one really bothers to consider the plight of the housewife who has sworn to refrain from whining…
So, thank your stars if you are a student ( attending colleges in Mumbai ONLY ) or a husband who can relish his lunch in the air-conditioned room. The contents of this lunch are wrapped in aluminium foils…with tender care and concern of the diligent woman who has been preparing it in the blinding darkness ( as there is no blinding light, or any kind of light at that point of time in the morning!!)..in anticipation of a cool breeze to soothe her soul…..
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Getting into the queue
Getting into the….queue ( …and not groove )
One of the major reasons for large-scale mass gatherings posing a potent threat to human life is the failure to regulate the participating crowd. The onus of the regulation of the people gathered in colossal numbers does not lie on the police alone. It makes sense to discipline ourselves whenever we are a part of a crowd; rather,
one may ask why make the appearance of a crowd as an eyesore?? Cant we Indians learn the laws governing the filing of queues and abide by the same?? In a country where probably our mother was waiting in a queue bearing the anguish of her labour before delivering us, I see no reason for bearing an inherent apathy towards this institution of queue.
The unfortunate incident of stampede at Nainadevi which was replayed a few days ago at Chamunda devi temple is a result of mismanagement of a crowd which does not give human life its due
worth. Another major factor contributing to this ruckus is
rumour-mongering. It once again portrays the typical Indian brain which shoots to action without giving a rational thought to a volley of disarrayed ideas thrown on them. If one person ( who has had an adrenaline rush ) decides to react to a rumour as per his whims, he has an entire “herd” of thoughtless individuals following suit.
Such incidences need to avoided as they CAN be prevented. In places bearing religious significance, special methods need to be adopted to avoid the stir of the devout’s sentiments. The access to the shrines and their pathways should be under constant patrolling so as to avoid any kind of rumour mongering. Last but not the least, it is the discipline that the devotees should exercise which can make a remarkable difference and facilitate ease of governing to the patrolling police.
To sum up I can say that eventually it rests with the mortals to make their journey to seek the divine blessings, safe and systematic…
One of the major reasons for large-scale mass gatherings posing a potent threat to human life is the failure to regulate the participating crowd. The onus of the regulation of the people gathered in colossal numbers does not lie on the police alone. It makes sense to discipline ourselves whenever we are a part of a crowd; rather,
one may ask why make the appearance of a crowd as an eyesore?? Cant we Indians learn the laws governing the filing of queues and abide by the same?? In a country where probably our mother was waiting in a queue bearing the anguish of her labour before delivering us, I see no reason for bearing an inherent apathy towards this institution of queue.
The unfortunate incident of stampede at Nainadevi which was replayed a few days ago at Chamunda devi temple is a result of mismanagement of a crowd which does not give human life its due
worth. Another major factor contributing to this ruckus is
rumour-mongering. It once again portrays the typical Indian brain which shoots to action without giving a rational thought to a volley of disarrayed ideas thrown on them. If one person ( who has had an adrenaline rush ) decides to react to a rumour as per his whims, he has an entire “herd” of thoughtless individuals following suit.
Such incidences need to avoided as they CAN be prevented. In places bearing religious significance, special methods need to be adopted to avoid the stir of the devout’s sentiments. The access to the shrines and their pathways should be under constant patrolling so as to avoid any kind of rumour mongering. Last but not the least, it is the discipline that the devotees should exercise which can make a remarkable difference and facilitate ease of governing to the patrolling police.
To sum up I can say that eventually it rests with the mortals to make their journey to seek the divine blessings, safe and systematic…
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wanted an MBA groom for my Engineer daughter
Wanted an MBA groom for my Engineer daughter
This very articulate demand uncovers the true purpose of educating the girl-child. The value of MBA or Engineering education has been reduced to a mere game of figures established at the end of the placement of a student pursuing these courses.
Bachelor of Technology ( BTech ) or Bachelor of Engineering ( BE ) is considered as a fairly affordable degree for graduate studies ( as compared to Health Science courses ) and the best one to sustain a good life ahead. Somehow, an engineer finds means easily to earn a decent livelihood as compared to his counterparts. Even wondered why the demand for engineering students is ever increasing inspite of various other disciplines in the stream of education?? These faculties also provide for multiple opportunities and nurture talents. Then, why the bias?? The engineering syllabus is holistic and coherent. It trains a student to identify and judge a
problem, find not one but multiple solutions to the same and apply the best one to get it redressed at the earliest and also in the most economical way.
The four year course is designed to rigorously test the student through
projects, assignments, practicals, biyearly semesters, internships and
threatening deadlines. The technical exhibitions and festivals provide the
opportunities to the budding technocrat to get a brush with the pioneers of the industry. The course provides multifarious aspects for personality development. This probably explains as to why more number of engineers are becoming efficient managers. This statement in no way implies or claims that Engineers are better Managers or MBAs for that matter. The Engineering syllabus definitely equips us with the technical aspects of management. The courses are rigorous and professional in character. We are under an illusion of management education being associated with better designation, salary and most importantly – a pompous status. Though
statistics reveal the stunning figures of salaries being offered to a MBA
student, the management education has a different perspective which is entirely value-based. The gospel fact remains that management
education is more of introspection and being thorough with oneself – ones interests, confidence, calibre and credibility. Only then one can be judged on the basis of what he/she has to offer to the organization. An MBA gives you the confidence to veer off the treaded path; pursue your dreams and gives an impetus to innovation and experimentation. The course makes you
acquainted with all the aspects of running a company, which is priceless for an innovative entrepreneur. It provokes you to think of the state of country’s economy, understand the investment options and reap the benefits. It teaches you the path to create wealth rather than just make money. It grooms the person to serve the best to oneself – only then can he be an asset to an enterprise. An MBA course prepares you to face the realities of life while you are still in the process of shaping your dreams. Doing away with your graduation is no reason to get into a MBA course. The management course gives you a chance to figure out your strengths, weaknesses, passions and harness them. It leads you to the path of illumination, innovation and self-recognition. The course is more spiritual than professional, because its truest form is about self-realisation.
So, all my dear mothers, its time you realized that your daughter is no longer a “Material Girl”. She belongs to an elite class of educated
professionals, and is willing to be tried and tested by challenges. Her
education has lent her the confidence to trust her independence………….and an MBA husband is not the only thing on her mind…….
Dear mothers,
your daughters are really
reaching for the stars……..
This very articulate demand uncovers the true purpose of educating the girl-child. The value of MBA or Engineering education has been reduced to a mere game of figures established at the end of the placement of a student pursuing these courses.
Bachelor of Technology ( BTech ) or Bachelor of Engineering ( BE ) is considered as a fairly affordable degree for graduate studies ( as compared to Health Science courses ) and the best one to sustain a good life ahead. Somehow, an engineer finds means easily to earn a decent livelihood as compared to his counterparts. Even wondered why the demand for engineering students is ever increasing inspite of various other disciplines in the stream of education?? These faculties also provide for multiple opportunities and nurture talents. Then, why the bias?? The engineering syllabus is holistic and coherent. It trains a student to identify and judge a
problem, find not one but multiple solutions to the same and apply the best one to get it redressed at the earliest and also in the most economical way.
The four year course is designed to rigorously test the student through
projects, assignments, practicals, biyearly semesters, internships and
threatening deadlines. The technical exhibitions and festivals provide the
opportunities to the budding technocrat to get a brush with the pioneers of the industry. The course provides multifarious aspects for personality development. This probably explains as to why more number of engineers are becoming efficient managers. This statement in no way implies or claims that Engineers are better Managers or MBAs for that matter. The Engineering syllabus definitely equips us with the technical aspects of management. The courses are rigorous and professional in character. We are under an illusion of management education being associated with better designation, salary and most importantly – a pompous status. Though
statistics reveal the stunning figures of salaries being offered to a MBA
student, the management education has a different perspective which is entirely value-based. The gospel fact remains that management
education is more of introspection and being thorough with oneself – ones interests, confidence, calibre and credibility. Only then one can be judged on the basis of what he/she has to offer to the organization. An MBA gives you the confidence to veer off the treaded path; pursue your dreams and gives an impetus to innovation and experimentation. The course makes you
acquainted with all the aspects of running a company, which is priceless for an innovative entrepreneur. It provokes you to think of the state of country’s economy, understand the investment options and reap the benefits. It teaches you the path to create wealth rather than just make money. It grooms the person to serve the best to oneself – only then can he be an asset to an enterprise. An MBA course prepares you to face the realities of life while you are still in the process of shaping your dreams. Doing away with your graduation is no reason to get into a MBA course. The management course gives you a chance to figure out your strengths, weaknesses, passions and harness them. It leads you to the path of illumination, innovation and self-recognition. The course is more spiritual than professional, because its truest form is about self-realisation.
So, all my dear mothers, its time you realized that your daughter is no longer a “Material Girl”. She belongs to an elite class of educated
professionals, and is willing to be tried and tested by challenges. Her
education has lent her the confidence to trust her independence………….and an MBA husband is not the only thing on her mind…….
Dear mothers,
your daughters are really
reaching for the stars……..
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