I never complained or complain about people who did those things I stopped doing.

Few call me an atheist and few call me agnostic.

What am I?

My Alter-ego : I am fine man. Long time, no see?

Me : Hmmm, I was kind of out of my mind for sometime now.

My Alter-ego : Oh I see. What’s that you want from me today?

Me : What’s the difference between a businessman, carpenter, a dancer, a doctor, a driver and an IT(Information Technology) professional?

My Alter-ego : Only way is by the skills required by the profession. No one person in particular is superior or inferior.

Me : If so, why is there a huge difference in the individual salary or money these people make? Why is that people degrade others based on profession?

My Alter-ego : Tough questions to answer. I don’t know. May be you can ask people about it.

Me : Do you know why?

Vinoth – Life is loss invited forever.

Ashu – Life is destiny.

Sai – Life is all that is other than what we think, imagine and comprehend.

Sabaree – Soonyam (zero).

Priya – Life is confusing. When you are young you wanna be like your mom and dad. When you grow up, you wanna be like a child.

Sarayu – Time span between birth and death.

Me – Life is nothing but nothing.

What do you think life is?

Me : ” I am not pro poor and at the same time I am not pro rich.

I am poor when I am really poor and I am rich when I am really rich.

I know to live like poor and I know to live like  rich. “

A and B are working for a company and A terms B a GAP. Given below are the reasons for it.

a) Personal – Sometime back, B passed a sportive comment about A in front of others and A did not like it. A resorts to passing degrading personal comments about B in front of others. B was sportive enough to brush them off subtly. A becomes furious and the grudge volcano in him starts boiling.

b) Professional – B reports to A and A is the authoriative person to take decision in his project. B suggests certain changes to the process and substantiates the same with necessary facts and details. A does not understand this and snubs B. After a while, A finds that B is correct and makes changes and takes credit for the same. A also thinks that B may overtake him and by this time, the grudge volcano in him is ready to explode.

c) Cheap - A commands B to do a personal job for him. B refuses it. A explains B how one should do all this to climb up the corporate ladder et all. B listens patiently and says to A that he does not want to climb up the ladder at all if he had to resort to cheap ways. The grudge volcano explodes and the climax is, B is termed a GAP.

My Questions

• Has B taken the right decision?
• Is it possible to tackle people like A?
• What does Attitude problem really mean?

Disclaimer :  This short management story is a child of my fiction and in no way represents any individual or any group or anyone in person. The acronym GAP is coined by me for this story and in no way degrades any trademarks or any other acronyms with the same name.

A : Man! What have you planned after studies?

B : My dream all my life is to land up in a company like Infy. Need to get settled soon man.

As a spectator in the conversation between two relatives,

He : Heard that you are planning your daughter’s marriage by this year end.  How far is the groom search going on?

She : Yes! We are. The problem is, not all grooms are settled. We are looking for someone who is settled in life.

He : oh! Settled?

She : Like someone who works in companies such as infy, TCS, CTS and who has a good salary, bank balance, a car, etc.

He : oh I see! My wishes for your daughter to get a settled soon.

This time around, I asked my dear friend my alter-ego about getting settled,

Me : What does it mean to be settled and how to tackle these questions?

My Alter-ego : Boy! It’s a good question which everyone in life has different notions and opinions. It can be answered in many ways. I am giving a sample here.

Emotionally (you may lose the person’s acquaintance if this way is approached) : Do you think getting a job in Infosys or TCS or any other company means that one is settled? If so half in the world are not settled. Stop preaching wrong notions and move away!

Philosophically (The person at the other end may think that you have gone nuts)  : If I think that my life is settled, it is. If I think that I am not settled in life, then I am not settled.  :-)  It all depends on the individual. There’s not a benchmark or hard written rule in life which defines the word settled. A few of us have started to attach our lives to the materialistic world so much that one who has a good bank balance, big company, a own house, marriage at the right time etc makes one feel settled. For others this may not work out and it may seem ridiculous. The truth is, neither of the two is right nor wrong. Money, is both a beautiful and shabby tool to which we have attached our lives so well that it leads to the questions like getting settled and feeling happy etc; The fact is that we are all running a big marathon named life for which the end point is a big zero with few of us thinking that the way we chose to run is the correct one and the others have chosen the wrong path. People who are settled or not settled are defined on these terms. The othrs may feel it the opposite way.The irony is that when everyone is running towards a big zero in life, does it matter which path one chose?  ;-)

So, got my point? Now answer me! Are you settled?

Me : Guruji! I am already running and I am not going to think about the paths. As far as I feel that I am happy, I will run.

My Alter-ego : Good my boy! How do you define happiness then?

Me :  $#&^**$$ (started running)

My Alter-ego : (like Vadivelu) They call me nuts if I say this!  :)

அய்யோ!அய்யோ! இத்த சொன்னா நம்மள பைத்தியம்னு சொல்றாங்க.  :)

P.S. :- The person named My Alter-ego is not a reknowned pyschologist or philospher. He does not write any coumns on leading magazines. He is another nut like Mr. Karthick Raghavan and he is currently working on winning the gone case contest. :)

I would not say that I am a communist or someone who supports egalitarianism. I am one who does not stand by any “isms” as of now. Will delve into my political stance in another post. The song is composed so well by Vidhyasagar. Adding to good music is the powerful lyrics which wakes up the communist in every person. This post is for those who have listened to the song but did not understand the lyrics much to enjoy the message delivered by the song. Thanks to Shikha for inspiring me to write this, whilst her posts on lyrical love creating waves.

The song is a street play by a group of communists who are protesting against the lower wages paid to workers in the local factory and how they are exploited et all. The english version of the lyrics is given first followed by its translation in bracket. Enjoy!

Communist Leader : Naatukkoru Sethi solla, Naagariga Komaali Vanthenunga
(To deliver a message to the country, I have come in the form of a cultured clown)

Aatam Aadi, Paattu Paadi Azhagaaga Katha Solla Vanthenunga
(I have come to narrate a story beautifully by dancing and singing)

Kottu paatta paada Naanum Vanthenungo , Kodara Paata Paada Naanum Vanthenungo
(I have come to sing song with Kottu and Kodara. {not sure about what these mean exactly})

Thollayiraththi pathu roova kathaya kelungo
(Listen to the story of Rs.910)

Thozhilaalargal tholla padum kathaya kelungo
(Listen to the story of workers’ pains)

Ayya Kelungo, Amma Kelungo
(Listen Sir! Listen Madam!)

Anna Kelungo, Akka Kelungo
(Listen brother! Listen sister!)

kaelunga… kaelunga…. kaelunga!……
Listen……. Listen…….

Thachchom kizhichchom sariyae, un pattu en pattu kizhinjithu po..
(We tore and mended our silk)

Seththom pozhachchom thenasari en thala un thala uruluthu po..
(We died and lived daily)

Communist Leader : AAh ho! Periyorgalae,
(All you gentelemen)

Athaagapatthahu kathayin aarambaththilae, namathu kathayin naayagan
Athavathu thollayiraththi paththu roovai sambalakkaaran
(That’s at the beginning of the story, our story’s hero who is Rs.910 salaried person)

Saga thozhilaalargal ellaam Factory gateil irunthu sambalam usaththi keattuk kondu aarpaattam seithu kondu irukkaiyilae,
Avargalukkellam kadukka koduththu vittu midukkaa poguraan……

(When the rest workers are fighthing near the factory gate for a salary hike, he escapes from them all and goes out.)

Communist lady : Enga Poraan?
(where does he go?)

Communist Leader : Pogum pothey enga poraannu kaettaa urupudumaa?
(Here they are mentioning the Indian superstitious belief. Belief is that when a person goes out and if somone asks where he is heading to, the work will not be fruitful.)

Communist leader : Avan….

Daavu Adikka Oodi Poguraan.
Kaathaliyai thedi poguraan

( He goes in search of his girl friend)

910 Saleried Man : Maanga Moonjikku manja poosi mayakkura ponnu
Un Muzhi rendum parapputhadi en kannana kannuMaanga Moonjikku manja poosi mayakkura ponnu
Un Muzhi rendum parapputhadi en kannana kannu(The 910 salaried man sings to his girl friend. He describes her as a girl who attracts her with her eyes. Her mango like, turmeric clad face also attracts him.)

910 Salaried Man : Town Bussu poguthadi kaaliyaa
Naama Cinema kotta poi varalaam jollyaa

910 Salaried Man’s girl friend : oai…..

910 Salaried Man : Town Bussu poguthadi kaaliyaa
Naama Cinema kotta poi varalaam jollyaa

(He tells her that the town bus is empty and calls her out to a near by cinema house for which he refuses and advises him.)

910 Salaried Man’s girl friend : Vaanguratho Sambalam thollayiraththi paththu
Kudumba Baaram sumakka unakku yethayya saththu?

(You are a person whose salary is Rs.910 and I doubt whether you will be able to run a family with this salary).

Unna pola thozhilaalai……
Hey! Unna pola thozhilaalai, theruvil nikkiraan, Poraatta kodiya pudikkiraan
Sambalaththa usaththi Kaekkuraan

(Workers like you are in the street, fighting for salary hike.)

Ippo unakku Kaathal Ethukku?
Ada, Ippo unakku Kaathal Ethukku?
Vazhivittu othungu, Union Aaaloda erangu,
Poraada Theruvila erangu
Poraada Theruvila erangu

(Why should yo turn towards love, join with the worksers and fight alongside them.)

Narrator’s Voice : Kaathaliyidam ubathesam petra nam kathayin naayagan,
thaanum poraatta kalaththil irangugiraan

(Our hero, hearing the advise from his girl friend, changes his mind and gets into the battle).

Kurainja batcha koolikkenru sattam irukkuthu
Athil paisa kuraikkalaagathendru thittam irukkuthu

(There are laws to define the minimum wages and there are restrictions that the minimum wages are not to be lowered).

Satta thittam nooru nooru iruntha pothilum
Silar ishtam pola oothiyaththa korachchi vazhanguvaar
Yezhaiya kadichchi muzhunguvaar…

(How many ever laws might be there. There are people who reduce the minum wages and cheat the poor).

Communist lady : Ivlo kammiya sambalam thandhu
thoilaalikki Nombalam thandha periya manusan yaarappa?
Atho angae paarappa…….

(Who is the big shot who pays lower wages and cheats the poor?)

Kamal who is dressed like the factory owner enters the scene…

Yes Men : Aayathanam ji vo, Aayathanavaan Bhavathi….
Velludai Venthae Vaazhga, Pala thozhil Arase Vaazhga…
Pan thozhil munaiva vaazhga, Vyaabara Kaantham Vaazhga…..

(Group of yes men are praising the factory owner with flattering words.)

Factory Owner : Athu innada athu Vyaabara Kaantham?

Yes Men : Business Magnettunnunaan

Factory Owner : Podraa onu thalaila

Yes Men : Thalaivaa Vaazhga!

Communists : Vaazhga Vaazhgavendru Vaai kizhiya koovi koovi vaazhthu paadi aanju oonjittom
Vaazhththum naanga eppo vaazhvathu?
Vaazhththum naanga eppo vaazhvathu?
Vaazhvatharkku engae povathu?

(the group of Communist actors are singing together to show their anger on the people whio cheat them. The meaning is, we are tired of singing and praising people to live long and when will we live long? Where do we go to live?.)

Factory Owner : Dei! Ennannu poi keludaa?

(to his yes man, Go and ask what they want)

Yes man : Avangalukku, Naama Kooti kodakkanumaam!

Factory Owner : Adi Seruppaal!
Yes Man : Ayaayaya, athu ille. Avangalukku sambalaththa kootti kodukkanumaam

(They need a hike in their salary).

Factory Owner : Oh! Kodukka mudinthathu thollayiraththi paththu thaan.Kodukka mudiyaathini oru paisa seththu thaan
( We will give only Rs.910 and not a paise more than that.)

Yes Man : Ivangala epapdi samaalikka poreenga mudhalaali?(Sir! How are you planning to tackle these people).

Factory Owner :
I have planned a new venture, Our problems will be resolved in the near future….
Oh Oh Oh! It’s under news at this juncture….
Joint Venture…
Multi National CompanyoodaHahahaAvnaga Naatula irunthu raw materials namakku anuppuvaan
Yes Men :Yes
Factory Owner : Erakkumathi Panrom
Yes Men :Yes

Factory Owner : Refine Panrom
Yes Men :Yes

Factory Owner : Pack Panrom
Yes Men :Yes

Factory Owner : Market Panrom
Yes Men :Yes
(sings like a POP star and explains that he is planning a joint venture with a multi national company).

Yes Man : Markettukku Scope illana Vaanguvom othai
Erakkumathi panna povathu yethai?

( We will not be able to win if there is not scope to the product we are going to market. What are we going to market?)

Factory Owner : Teaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…….. Tea……..

Yes Man : Ennathu?(What?)

Factory Owner : Theyilai
(tea in tamil)

Yes Man : Athu Sari!
(Oh! Ok! (in loud voice))

Factory Owner : hsssssssssssssh!

Yes Man : Athu Sari
(Oh! Ok!( in feeble voice))

Yes Man : Profit margin yevlovu?
(What’s the profut margin?)

Factory Owner : Antha muli National Company kaaran Kaaka kadi kadichi tharuvaan
Naaappathu percent namakku, aruvathu percent avanukku.
( We will get 40% and he will take 60% – Raises the voice for 40% and lowers the voice for 60% – satire)

Yes Man : Appo ulloor theyila vevasaayingalooda kathi?
(What will happen to the local tea planters?)

Factory Manager : Avanga yekkedu ketta namakkenna? Namkku namma Veli naattu mudhalinga thaan mukkiyam. Avangalaala kedaikkira laabam mukkiyam.( We are not bothered about the local planters. We are bothered only about the well being of our foreign masters and the prfit they yield for us).

Communist lady : Sathuranga AAtathilae mudhalaaligal Kaai Nagarththa, thozhilaaligal kaigal enna poo parikkumaa? illai Kaai porukkumaa?(In the game of chess, when the owners make moves, will the worker sit quiet picking flowers and fruits?)

Communist leader to his fellow communists : Karaigal urnga virumbinaalum alaigal viduvathillai(The waves does not let the shore sleep)

Communists : viduvathillai
(Will never let that heppen)

Communist leader to his fellow communists : Marangal Ooyvai virumbinaalum Kaatru viduvathillai(Air never lets the trees to rest)

Communists : viduvathillai
(Will never let that heppen)

Communist leader to his fellow communists : Oodi Oodi olintha pothum vaazhkkai viduvathillai(Life will not leave you if one tries to run and hide)

Communists : viduvathillai
(Will never let that heppen)

hearing this , all the workers intense their fight against the owners. They are caught and whipped.

Background voice : Sodikki vittaan engiruntho saataya…
Surutti vittaan bambarama naattayae…
(Someone has guided local owners to use violence and is trying to make the country dance to his tunes).

Background voice : Sutchuma kayiru engirunthu neeluthu?(Where is the rope coming out from?)

MNC Partners : Americavilae, Engilanthilae, Franceley, Germanyilae..
Namkku oththaasaikku Aal irukkiraan

Naama thani maram illa Thoppu
Vekka Porom paaryu Aapu

(We have people in America, France, England, Germany and we are not single and we are a big team.)

The play ends and the communist leader addresses to people….

Namakku thevai nallathoru mudivu. Intha Naadakaththila mattum illa. Nalla mudivu venumnaa Naadagakaaranga naanga mattum manasu vechchaa pothaathu. Naan, Nee, Avaru, Ivaru, Avanga, Ivanga, Atho! Naadakaththa keduthuthukittu Caarla horn adichchittu kurukkula poraangale ivanga. Naama ellaarum manasu vekkanum, mudivu edukkanum(We want a good solution to this and it can be achieved with help from all the people. inlcuding the person who is trying to ibstruct the play by honking.)

Then the police starts beating the communists for enacting the play in the road. The communists try to explain the poilce and some are get hurt

badly with blood oozing out. Below revolutionary lines end the play and the song.

Background chorus :
Puthu Paattu Paadiduvom puthu paattu
Tholai thoora payanaththin vazhi paattu
Puthu Paattu Paadiduvom puthu paattu
Tholai thoora payanaththin vazhi paattu
Kanniyare, Kaalaiyare Nam paattu
Karam korthu saernthisaippom vaa paadu
Kanniyare, Kaalaiyare Nam paattu
Karam korthu saernthisaippom vaa paadu
Puthu Paattu Paadiduvom puthu paattu
Tholai thoora payanaththin vazhi paattu
Un paadu en paadu oor ulagam padum paadu
ithil kanneerikkidam illai ena paadu
ithil kanneerikkidam illai ena paadu………….

The title is no way related with the community website myspace.com. My space is nothing but the boundary or space I am concerned about. I draw a boundary around me in my day to day life. I enjoy my space within this boundary.

Can the boundary be seen?

No. It is virtual one that does not have any thick lines or ropes.

What does this boundary signify?

My boundary gives a space around me which I can enjoy. Which means, I draw boundaries within the greater boundary to have healthy relationships with people. For example, there is a certain boundaries around me for my friends, relatives, people from family etc. That is, anyone I interact with comes under one of these categories will fall into the respective boundary. I expect them to keep at keep a check at the boundary line they are in. If someone crosses the limit and tries to invade into other boundary, either of the two things may happen.

a) I consider the person’s behaviour and his relationship with me and I may let him cross the boundary and fall into the next category.

b) I may not like his invasion to the other boundary and may stop him then and there politely.

What if the other person does not stop invading or switching boundaries?

I try to be polite and say that the other person is crossing the limits which I do not like or expect him or her to do. If it still does not work out, I try to stay away from the person or evade the questions.

I like this concept very much that I relate it much with my colleagues or my relatives. As much I yearn for my space, I respect other person’s space. At least I try to avoid getting into others’ boundaries. I ain’t a master when it comes to the concept of boundaries and space. I am trying to master it out so that my life becomes easier.

Recently, I realized it much when a colleague of mine was asking about my week off plans. I tried to avoid answering and but he persistently talked about the movie I was going to and he was curious enough to know the group accompanying me. I was polite enough and tried avoiding it again. He did not realise my subtle responses and went on and on. The emotional part of my mind tried to take precedence to show the outburst in an emotional way. Fortunately, the rational part of my mind took precedence and analyzed the situation and guided me accordingly. This made me think and I subtly informed him that he was trying to invade into my boundaries which I did not like. I hope he understood it. He did not ask me again.

So, I am trying to watch my space and respect others’. What do you think on this?

In September 2004, Stephanie was killed on the road by drunken youths. Chennai was shocked by the incident. And since then the police has tightened the security measures a bit more and is a bit harsh on the night clubbers. In a way, it is good as it guarantees a safe environment for people to live. I have seen myself a few of these drunken youths, who race at Marina and Besant beaches in their modified bikes and cars. It is really difficult for the citizens to walk or drive on the roads when these unruly youths go crazy and do all the stunts on roads.

Bike, car stunts in movies and TV ads also inspire young people to try them on roads. Young people fall into the trap that they are super cool if they are involved in any of these.
A lot of examples include the movie Ghulaam, Rang De Basanti, The recent Apache, Pulsar ads and the list goes on. Not only the media, the parents of these young people are also to be blamed. If they were careful enough in drawing the line of control at certain point, these kind of incidents can be avoided.

One more month, when all the media attention starts to move away from this case, the rich kids will be let out free and they will start clubbing again. The poor as always will hold demonstrations and will go quiet as they cannot stand and fight for their rights.

Where is justice?

Will the rich kids be punished for this gory act?

Will the police tighten up more security and punish drunken drivers?

I have a few suggestions for the police and the people to stop these kind of incidents from happening.

1. On every major road, have check posts and conduct regular checks on people for drunken driving. Especially, near pubs and night clubs, have more people to check. If a person is caught for drunken driving, put him under bars for that whole night and leak the news out to the dailies. This should be done irrespective of the status the person has in the society.

2. A lot people get away by using their high profile contacts when they are caught for drunken driving on the roads. If a person tries to boast his influence by saying Do you know who I am ? , He should be smacked at least ten times in the back and put under bars. The next time he will dare to think of using it.

3. Close all the pubs and night clubs at 11.00 PM.

4. Canceling of licenses for the joints who serve liquour for minors and are open after the stipulated time. The owners of these joints must be put under bars for at least ten years.

5. Seizing the bikes and cars that are modified or tuned for racing and stunts on road.

6. Curfew for bikes and cars to run after 10.00 PM on New Year’s eve. This way, all the drunkards will shut indoors and gory incidents can be avoided.

In this way, we can build a healthy and safer society. What ya say?

News 1

In the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2006, Australia were roped into a controversy that they nudged Pawar out of the podium during the prize distribution ceremony. When Pawar brushed aside the issue as nothing serious and unintentional, NDTV aired the footage at least a hundred times. It hyped the issue with opinion interviews from current and yesteryear cricketers, politicians et all. A few days later, Australian captain Ricky Ponting offered to apologise for the team’s action. He wanted to speak to the BCCI president Pawar and find whether the latter was offended or the media was making a mountain out of a molehill. Today, Pawar calls the nudging action as uncivilised.

Did Pawar change his mind after watching the footage for hours?

News 2

With much controversy surrounding the Delhi sealings, NDTV is into it again and is trying to make most out of it with its exclusive coverage. Apart from playing footages of the Delhi sealings, it is showing tickers which have the latest list of places that are sealed. An example which I saw in the ticker goes like this, The Haldiram’s restaurant in some part of Delhi is sealed . It has been running this ticker all day today.

Wouldn’t this spark violence among people if they are shown a thing over and over again? I have read somewhere that it is easy to influence people’s mind by playing a footage over and over again.

News 3

Ace Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akthar gets into controversy for disciplinary issues. This is again a NDTV Exclusive. Already into trouble for being accused of using performance enhancing drugs, Shoaib Akthar is getting into more trouble with news that he slapped the Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer and involved in a disco brawl and mis-behaved with Indian coach Greg Chappel’s wife. NDTV has got a news to chew for several days. Already it has started airing opinion interviews about this and is creating a controversy out of this.

I don’t understand where NDTV is heading with this. Either they are trying to become the more popular channel featuring controversial news or they are doing this for commericial things. Whatever, If this hyping continues, I may think of switching over to some other news channel.

What do you think?