Madhosh Kiye Jaa

Thought Leadership vs. Incrementalism

Reaching the moon in a few years- Kennedy's dream.

Just in Time or JIT from the Japanese.

Miniaturised electronics, from many American and Japanese firms. Sony Walkman, an example.

All examples of thought leadership. Including the mobile phone, and the internet. But why is it that governments largely lack big ideas? The last one I heard was from Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh when he introduced e-seva, saving people from long lines to pay their own electricity or phone bills, and much more.

Many government services need decentralisation and more contact centres- these can be outsourced where skills needed are minimal, creating huge employment opportunities, and serve people better.

Just one big thought for now, but you may get a dozen a day, if efforts are made. Why don't governments do this?

Every Once in a While...

Every once in a while, I hear a song which I cannot get out of my mind for days. It has happened recently with the following songs, which I heard after a fairly long gap, but they stayed in my mind.

Tum apna ranj-o-gham, apni pareshani mujhe de do.Sung by Jagjit Kaur, the wife of music director Khayyam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Yr1OOeOT8

Man gaaye woh taraana jise sunke chale aana..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-_S4GBf-Go sung sweetly by Suman Kalayanpur for a forgotten movie called Chalaak. Music by Ganesh.

Pyar hua hai jabse mujhko nahin chain aata. Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from the film Abhilasha. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToO-PkucJac

Kabhi tanhaiyon mein yun hamari yaad aayegi, andhere chha rahe honge, ke bijli kaundh jaayegi. Sung by Mubarak Begum, music by Snehal Bhatkar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gi8ggmtACg

Gore gore o baanke chhore. Lata and Amirbai Karnataki in a song tuned by C. Ramchandra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuCtgwQ0_Ks

Hai apna dil to awara na jaane kis pe aayega..Hemant Kumar sings for Dev Anand in Solva Saal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K8TH8LBs-w&spfreload=5

TV Artists That I Remember

I have mostly stopped watching TV these days, as it generally has asinine programs. But once upon a time, I actually watched it, and recount with fondness some shows and artists.

The entire cast of Hum Paanch led by Ashok Saraf. It had a girl 'dada' among his kids.

Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak, Sumeet Raghavan ...of Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai

Rajit Kapoor of Byomkesh Bakshi

Rajni, starring Priya Tendulkar

Surbhi, with Siddarth Kak and Renuka Shahane

Karamchand with Pankaj Kapur

Tehkikaat starring Vijay Anand

Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi with Rakesh Bedi, Satish Shah Swaroop Sampat and Shafi Inamdar

Creative Answers to Common Interview Questions

These may not get you a job, but you will enjoy the interview process- it's the journey and not the destination that's important, right?

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Vacationing in Goa every month under the guise of a sales meeting. I shall hold all meetings there.

Q: In 10 years?

Flying to my beach villa in the Bahamas in my private jet, all charged to the compay account (I'd have hired a creative accountant to do the needful).

Q: In 15 years?

In a log cabin writing books like all the MBAs these days seem to write- there are many Indian scriptures to choose from and turn into modern fables, a la Vayuputra.

Q: In 20 years?

I will run an organic farm where I will grow grapes and tomatoes. The grapes will be turned into wine and the tomatoes will be thrown at unwanted visitors.

A Pictorial Journey

Guns and Mothers-in-law. Charleston, USA. 1988.

Paella at Amsterdam conference. 2008.

IIM Indore jailbirds. recent.

Desert Moon hotel room. Jaisalmer. 2015.

Another gun (tope), another time.

Lovey times, IMT Nagpur.

Feeling festive at IMT Nagpur.

Prarthana and Pooja. Daughters' love.

Parents, brother, sister in law and wife..family pic, Clemson. 1989.

Naturals at fancy dress, IIMB classmates. 1983.

Om Puri Obituary

He proved that good looks are not mandatory for an actor to succeed. He was far from good-looking, but played many memorable roles. Some films that I can remember are Aakrosh, Jaane bhi do yaaro, Ardh-satya, Gupt. He had an excellent voice, and emoted well on screen, whether it was as a hero or any other character. He had a hilarious role in Janne bhi do yaaro, along with Satish Shah and others. I still remember a few of his scenes and dialogues..

Along with Naseeruddin Shah, he brought many themes to life in the so-called parallel cinema of Govind Nihalani, Shyam Benegal and so on. He also starred in commercial cinema, and some Hollywood productions, though I did not watch any of those.

His personal life was mired in some controversies, but professionally he was one of the best. I remember watching him on the Anupam Kher show along with Naseer, his classmate at the film institute, and they were fun to watch, quite candid about things they did. There is also a fond mention of him in Naseer's autobiography that I read a couple of years ago.

Will miss him.