RTI

This is not about the Right to Information but about a book called Return to India, written by Shoba Narayan. I first discovered her when I began reading the Saturday Mint Lounge recently. She writes a column in it, a pretty nice one.

The book is about THE GREAT DILEMMA that every immigrant faces at some point, or at many points- to return to your native country/home country or not. One begins to empathise with Hamlet when faced with the question, as every true-blue immigrant will tell you. Shoba writes a very honest account of her urge to get out of India and its domineering relatives' circle around her in Chennai, her transformation from a psychology student to a sculptor and a journalist (something that could only have happened in the U.S.), and her subsequent 'arranged marriage' to an NRI, love for her parents and theirs for her.

She does not pull any punches about her longing for America in the face of all the 'evils' she faces back here in her growing up years (like ultra-conservative parents). But slowly, unknowingly, she starts missing things Indian as she grows older and has children. Then this desire to return becomes an obsesssion, and she convinces her husband into taking up an assignment that brings them closer- to Singapore, and eventually to India.

The story is well-told, and will be of interest to anyone contemplating a trip abroad, a stay abroad, or a return - an RTI. Or to those with friends facing such a dilemma.

Matrimonial Ad for Self

Once bitten always shy. There were times when one would have written a matrimonial ad for self with all the wrong characteristics- beautiful, smart, earning a six-figure salary, not to forget decent  background, and so on- and got bitten. But no more.  If one were to put an ad out today, it would read as follows-

Good cook, with an even better attitude- as in willing to cook and feed a (potential) family of four, day in and day out.  Work tirelessly to clean the surroundings, care for inmates and guests, expected or otherwise, asking for nothing in return, except occasional outings or small tokens of gratitude. Must be adept at juggling tasks, giving back or limb massages on demand, smile at me when I return from work. Willing to make tea/coffee  every few hours, at least five times in a day.

 Watching serials at home is acceptable, provided there is no attempt to imitate the villainish women appearing in them. Should be willing to attend PTA meetings of (future) children. Appointing maids and supervising their work is an important and necessary qualification. Should not expect husband (me) to conjure up handymen such as plumbers at short notice.

Important: Should not be fond of gold, silk sarees or silk anything expensive, except maybe  chocolates.

Pia (no) Milan ko jaana

I had promised avid readers (what, you?) that I would come up with a piece on piano songs from Hindi films. I generally keep my promises (unless I break them), and here is proof. I delved into my (fading) memory, did some research with the aid of that great gift to researchers (starts with a G) and compiled a list. I think it is about 95% right (5% error is permissible, remember?).

1. Chalo ek bar phir se ajnabi ban jaayen...from Gumrah.

2. Patthar ke sanam, tujhe humne ..title song from the movie.

3. Pyar diwana hota hai mastana hota hai...delight from Kati Patang

4. Dost dost na raha...Sangam..there is a hilarious scene in the film (not related to the sombre song sequence), where one of the characters leans at an acute angle for a prolonged length of time.

5. Kaun aaya ke nigahon mein chamak jaag uthi..Waqt..a female on the piano in this case.

6. Dheere dheere machal ae dile beqaraar..Anupama, with a wonderful tune. What a song!

7. Khwab ho tum ya koi haqeeqat,  kaun ho tum batlao..SD Burman tune from Teen Deviyaan..Dev Anand on piano..khallas!

8. Uljhan suljhe na, rasta soojhe na, jaoon kahan main, jaoon kahan,..so sang Zeenat in Dundh, a neat murder mystery.

Some Original Thoughts

Sometimes, an original thought enters your mind, without being influenced by your friends, colleagues, bosses, et. al. The media are exempt, because they influence everything from the food you eat to the deodorant you use (if you use one). The media also relentlessly enlightens you about the world's bad eggs, making you feel good that you are not one of them. However, I am digressing. Here are the thoughts- I admit they are small in number, but it is a start towards a new dawn.

1. If one were to write the complete story of the Italian Prime Minister, it would be titled 'The Full Monti' aka Full 2 Disclosure.

2. Some countries have had a 'meteoric' rise. But Russia is different.

3. CTRL-ALT-DEL refers to the Altitude which Dell once reached and fell from, with Michael (Dell) losing Control over his company.

HR Analytics

Can human beings be analysed? There are jokes galore about men being an open book and women being difficult to figure out. But seriously, HR analytics is an idea whose time has arrived. In line with analytics of customers (marketing analytics) and Financial analytics (analysis of anything financial, such as instruments, investments, companies or what have you), HR analytics- both explanatory and predictive, has the potential to improve HR strategy and its impact on the organisation.

IMT Nagpur today launched its centre of excellence (a research centre) on Human Resource Analytics in style- at Hotel Airport Centre Point, Nagpur. It brought in HR experts from corporates in Pune, Delhi, Bangalore and of course, Nagpur. There was a good gathering of all HR faculty and some others, student managers with interest in the area, and faculty research associates. An old friend, Mr. Vijay Phanshikar, who had launched my autobiography in Nagpur a year ago, was also there.

We hope many good things will come out of this initiative.

Love in the Air- and in Print

Here is a selection from a book that I am reading in order to appear witty- I mean, The Big Book of Wit and Wisdom. That's my way of escaping from buying chocolates.

W.H. Auden- Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can; all of them make me laugh.

David Frost- Love is staying up all night with a sick child- or a healthy adult.

Robert Frost- Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.

Lord Tennyson- 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Just to add some spice, a couple of quotes about marriage.

Rodney Dangerfield- My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.

Agatha Christie- An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have; the older she gets the more interested he is in her.

Richard Pryor- I believe in the institution of marriage, and I intend to keep trying until I get it right.

Orange County

Don't know where it (Orange County) is, probably in California, but the name sticks to my mind, for some reason. But my reason for titling the post thus is more Indian than Californian. I am back in the centre of India (if not the universe), in my previous role as Director of IMT Nagpur, at least for a while.

This time I am experimenting with living on campus, unlike the previous time. I get an extra hour to blog that way- readers should be scared! With an upcoming convocation to be addressed by the WIPRO chief, and all the excitement of students graduating (bidaai of a sort), it is probably the most exciting time of a campus, perhaps only rivalled by the first few weeks of the new batch's entry.

The greenery and peace are unrivalled, however, and the anticipation of something new (in spite of the fact that many of the faces are actually old- old colleagues, students) is always in the air.

Looking forward to the second innings here, and wishing everyone at Nagpur well.