Out of the Blue - Saturday Night

Had a quiet Saturday dinner with my teetotaler room mate, who decided to go and check out the Carter Road crowd and then decided for a sumptuous dinner at Out of the Blue. He had a visitor from his hometown, Jodhpur. Out of the Blue is located in the quiet and tidy bylanes of Bandra. A huge place lit up with candles and there’s minimal use of lights. It provides a nice cosying atmosphere with dim lights. Out of the Blue has chic ambience with low tables which making eating a little pleasurable experience. The only problem in Mumbai restaurants is tables are stuck together so close to each other that there’s hardly any place to move around. It has both the options of air-conditioned and a big place for open air restaurant. Nevertheless the open space was covered with the tarpaulin sheets due to rainy season.

The good thing about swish restaurants is that they can serve anything and make good money. I had Jodhpuris along with me so only could only order vegetarian food. I personally feel it does not make sense to go for a vegetarian dinner outside your home. Yes, vegetarians can raise there point and prove it, but will discuss it some other day. Out of the Blue had a thick menu with dishes from different continents, but still it lacked the depth.

The vegetarian soup was just a bush of some vegetable dropped in hot water. At least they could have added some cornflour in the water to make it seem or appear like a soup. Maybe I don’t have taste for all these global and continental dishes because of my Punjabi upbringing where we eat earthly food and spicy and thick gravy dishes which ribtickles your senses from inside.

He said why not we try Fondue? Fondue, what the fuck is that? Try it, you will like it, my friend suggested. We ordered Desi Fondue, wherein Fondue is made as per the Indian’s tastebuds. They had given us a nice two spiked fork to eat Fondue. O man, this seems to be something different. My friend blinked his eyes, “it is dude”.

Then the dish came.
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It was thick gravy served in porcelain serve bowl with charcoal fire beneath it and a basket of bread crumbs with a small plate of vegetable. Stick the break to the unique fork and then dip the same in the gravy. There I was cursing my friend over dinner. You fucker, you always come up with bull shit. He tries to calm me. I know it is very own Pav Bhaji served in continental style. I told him, “I always insist on food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you made me eat this bull shit”. He was fast this time, “you cannot have proper food at all such places and just fillers. Why the hell do people come to such places for dinner time?” There are number of boring reasons to justify the same. We had one, he had one of his fiance’s friends visiting him for the first time, so he wanted to take him to a different kind of place, one he has not seen. I suggested, “Dance bar is better”.

Out we came in an hour’s time, normally people come to lounge for two-three hours to such place and eating is the last thing on their to-do list. We crossed the whole street on foot to enjoy the evening hullaboo of Carter Road at the main crossing. Then we spotted in a shady building Hakin Aalim’s Hair & Tattoo Lounge. Of course, now he has a chain of his hair and tattoo lounges across major cities with client list who’s-who of India from Bollywood celebrities to political stars to cricketers.

We told my friends’ in-laws friend about Hakim Aalim. He said, “what’s the big deal, rahenga to voh barber hee na”. You all thought the barber’s trade became fancy after Billu Barber, phew. The typical middle class mentality of a small town guy. I don’t blame him, some years ago I also felt the same.

I said, “No man, its not about barber. Its not about the fact that you are show cobbler, tailor or whatsoever. Look at the way he is minting money by just being a barber, as you like to term it.” Then he replied, “is it all about money”.

I calmly replied, “its not about money either. It is about the respect you command for the activity you are undertaking. You may do whatsoever. He is charging Rs. 5000 for a haircut and you get your hair cut for Rs. 50 only. It is this authority by which you can charge 100 times money from your client without their blinking the eye. Its difficult to achieve what he has achieved in his field.”

He again replied to my horror, “yaar, whats the big deal? Kainchi le kar, cut cut hee karta hai, there are lots of fool in this world to pay him 5 grands”.

I was exasperated and threw my head in dismay. He was pushing me to the corner, so I told him, what is the great thing that you do, just making tick marks in the book to tell that this entry has been doubled checked, knowing that he was a Chartered Accountant. Few years down the line, “you’ll be suggesting your clients on how to convert black money into white money or keep black money under covers”. I know that is also creative but then that is also wrong.

He has some sense of knowledge about what his doing? There must be something going in his head when he takes those pair of scissors in his hands. You need to understand that. He makes you look confident, handsome and sexy with the black mask you are carrying on your head. Every job is creative, every profession requires certain level of art and science that we need to understand and feel from deep within.

My friend told me to stop arguing. I told him, “its not an argument man, its just a point of view. Believe me, I rarely say it, ‘Mine is more acceptable’. Not because it caters to the masses but because it is right in its spirit.”

Nandan Nilekani's experience in Parliament - Hilarious :-)

Got a forward....... which is worthy of putting up here

From an INFOSCION to a POLITICION - Nandan's Chronicles - 2

Continuing my tryst with capturing the life and times of Nandan Nilekani in his new avatar as a Cabinet Minister, here is what he had penned after his first day in the Parliament. The last entry stopped when the House was just about to begin. Let’s see what happened thereafter….
The House was in pin drop silence. I was brimming with anticipation and excitement!!!! Manmohan had informed me that my introduction was one of the important points of the agenda. I hoped that I will be able to make my speech properly. After so many interviews and conferences, I was nervous today!!!! After the Speaker indicated that the proceedings of the House could begin, Manmohan formally introduced me to the entire House. He mentioned that as the head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, I was responsible to ensure that each and every Indian had a digital smart card as a proof of his existence.

Manmohan spoke about why I was selected and also some references to the various projects executed by me in Infosys were mentioned. The House listened with rapt attention. I was asked to say a few words and I did exactly the same!!! I thanked the Government of India for having given me this opportunity and I assured the House that I would strive to successfully deliver this project. The Speaker then formally inducted me into the House and before the proceedings could move any forward, there was a small commotion on the other side of the hall.

It was Minister of Textiles who had a comment to make before the next point on the agenda. He made a request that I should be attired in a more austere way instead of a flashy suit. It did not go well with the image of a minister who should live to serve the common man and should be less ostentatious in his habits. I stood up to reply. I offered my apologies to the Honourable Minister and assured that I shall be in a more acceptable dress next time. I felt that he was right. We also used to have corporate dress code in Infosys. So it's here as well!!!!

I sat down and felt somebody nudging me. I turned around and to my surprise; it was the former Indian skipper and one of my favourite batsman Mohd. Azharuddin. I remembered that he had recently won the elections. I smiled at him and mentioned to him that I used to like his game very much, shaking his hand. No Rolex, I noticed. Azhar told me that he would “fix” me an appointment with an Italian designer who had designed his dapper Kurta suit. An Italian designer in Milan doing Kurtas!!!!! I made a note of this and reminded myself to give this example to Friedman for his next book,” The World Markets are flattened”.

Since there was no doubt about the “Fixational” capacities of Azhar, I told him to give me the details and I would consider. The proceedings of the House went on with numerous bills being debated and passed as I sat as a passive audience waiting for my project’s turn to come up. After the lunch break, it was the moment for me!!!!

MY PROJECT'S FIRST REVIEW CAME UP FOR PRESENTATION.
I was at sea. My laptop did not have any reserve power. I went to Manmohan and apprised him of the situation. I was sweating. He calmly replied that this would not be a cause of concern. I was flummoxed!!!! The Speaker asked me to explain to the House on what were my plans for the Unique Identity Project. I replied that I have a plan prepared for 30-60-90-120 days’ milestones and I have presentation to make for which I need a power socket, a projector and a screen. I had no idea what was going to happen after this.

The next couple of minutes were a complete jolt for me. I was completely in a tizzy. Let me just summarize what happened. A Joint Cabinet Secretary Committee was set up to judge the feasibility of my request. The Under Secretaries for the Ministries of Power, IT and Broadcasting will prepare a Viability Report after scrutinizing National Security threats to my request. This was because the power socket comes under Power, laptop comes under IT and projector comes under Broadcasting. I have also been told to reconsider my timelines of 30-60-90 days and start thinking in terms of years. Probably, they are right. I did not have the foresight in this matter.

The summary of the issue is that I need to come up with a more inclusive, democratic, comprehensive long term plan for this project to be executed over the next five years. I have also been given a presentation slot 3 months from now (by which the issues related to the power cord etc will also be resolved). I am filled with mixed reactions. I was planning for a quick resolution; the management wants a strategic solution. I come out of the House and text Murthy.

“You won’t believe it but these guys work just like us. I am on a NATIONAL BENCH for the next three months!!!!!!!!”

Nano Furore

Flashback - December 14, 1983

Indira Gandhi hands over the key to the proud owner of first Maruti 800 rolled out from the Maruti Suzuki plant at Manesar, Gurgaon, then an upcoming industrial town outside Delhi. The idea of a small people’s care was christened by the late Sanjay Gandhi, son of Indira Gandhi. Those days only politicians were allowed to dream and fulfill the same. A common man, big or small could dream but not dream of fulfilling the same. Sanjay Gandhi came with the concept of people’s car (Maruti), who were apprehensive about owning big boxy Ambassador or Fiat. The two cult brands of its time which were washed away by the people’s car of 1980’s.

Mr. Harpal Singh features in news item again. The only thing he could be proud of in his lifetime was the day he was handed over the key of Maruti, the first person in India. In 2008 when Maruti completed its 25 years and Nano launch at the Auto Show in Delhi. Nano brought the old forgotten history story into your drawing room. No other name features, the designer, the idea-maker, none but Mr. Harpal Singh. Or perhaps he is the only living man from those times. I do not know the reality to it. But Mr. Harpal Singh is a reality and living.

Back to Year 2005
Mr. Ratan Tata expresses his desire to produce Rs. One Lac for the Indian market. Mr. Jagdish Khattar, then MD of Maruti Udyog Ltd. scoffs at the idea saying you can sell Rs. 1,00,000 car. Its not an uphill task but to produce a car in Rs. 1,00,000 and make profits out of it is an extremely challenging proposition. Mr. Tata had a dream to see every Indian on a four-wheeler. So he said Tata Group has to take the lead to offer such product to Indian people. Mr. Tata was moved to look at an Indian family husband-wife with two kids driving on a scooter, so he said it and has done it by 2009 by offering Nano to Indian public.

In 2009, Mr. Raghunath Vichare goes down the history books, when he is handed over the keys of Tata Nano to be proud owner of first Tata Nano in the country. Dr. Manmohan Singh does not hand over the keys of first Tata Nano to Mr. Vichare but Mr. Ratan Tata as these days people dream to fulfill it which earlier was the right kept only with politicians.

Can anybody figure out, why on earth Rs. 1 Lac Car is generating that much interest, when there are all ranges of cars available in Indian market, all the big and small brands of global cars are available in Indian market ranging from Hyundai, GM, Ford, Mercedes, luxury cars like Lambhorghini, Rolls Royce, you name it and it is there at your doorsteps. My father told me the days when first Maruti was launched, it was the biggest achievement of life for people who were lucky to acquire one. Letters would fly from PMO for buying a Maruti car and that too after paying a black market premium. Huge political influence was required to buy one Maruti car. For marriages, the only consideration groom’s family demanded was a Maruti car, not because of the money but because of the quintessential societal reputation attached to it and acquiring one was a painful process stretched over months.

Well if you ask Mr. Ratan Tata about the financials of the project, it would prove to be a big drain on Tata Motors numbers. Market analysts are not happy with the launch of Tata Nano. For Tata to break even on the Nano project, they need to manufacture and sell 3,60,000 cars per year. That’s a huge number. I don’t know if the furore is upto its mark or not? But for those who cannot afford a car. Nano is the definitely the car for them to fulfill their dream to own a four-wheeler.

New York - Thought Review

A lot has been said and written about the movie New York. I know I am late, I got to watch New York three weeks after its release and that too, after three months of lockout on multiplexes. All of us know it’s a good movie, amazing story, direction, cinematography. Finally a good movie from Yash Raj productions after boring and disappointing audiences for two years.

I knew John could act and everyone gets better with experience. John fits the bill for intense roles. Remember Jism and its power packed dialogues, monosyllables. As always Irfan Khan was brilliant but somehow I am not convinced with the dialogues written for him. Neil Nitin Mukesh needs to work harder. He was very different from Johny Gaddaar.

Getting back to the issue of the terrorism and the way America has approached this issue. Irfan does tell about the magnanimity of the Americans, the American culture. No doubt, he was right about it. That’s why ‘Barack Hussain Obama’ is their President. But 9/11 also brought the shallowness, double-standards, diplomatic, hypocritic attitude of the Americans in the open. Bush always said, “we can and we always will are committed to fight terrorism and ensure no evil forces touch the American soil in future”. Inspite of the fact that USA may become the only country on this earth with living population.

Kabir Khan has wonderfully portrayed the shallowness and non-intelligence of American intelligence forces and offices. Anybody who would or could have taken the photographs of WTC was taken under suspicion. It seems they had implicated all the Muslims, who went on that street in past ten years and must have framed the person even if he was standing with his back to WTC.

Look at the way, Kabir disguised the full name of Sameer from the audience till interval. Sameer didn’t belong to a religion like most of us from our generation. Our generation belongs to a genre of ideas. Religion is a myth or a belief. Well that’s another long debate? Sameer was made to feel his religion, Muslim in that detention centre. Just before entering one, his name is revealed to the audience, “Sameer Sheikh”. Americans felt the threat in the name.

What they have done to protect America is very disappointing? Radicalizing the Islamism to its extreme, a person is not born terrorist from its mother’s womb. Its only the surroundings which make a human being. They have made them reach a point where only the true path is terrorism.

Everywhere in the world there are mistakes to fight a menace like terrorism. I know I belong to Punjab and grew up during the years of intense terrorism in Punjab. There were mistakes, tortures, innocents became victims. But then the Govt. of Punjab and its law and order forces, that they have to uproot this menace from its underground level. At one time, police was killing more people in Punjab than terrorists. It was painful but then it was the ultimate strategy to restore peace in my homeland.

America (read Bush) acted like a smuggler in a suit. When you let lose the goons (read FBI) in the open market in the name of protecting yourself, that day you are harming yourself more than others can do to you. There have been articles when people were terrified to finding armed cops and agents around everywhere.

The most dramatic thing about movie ‘New York’ is that earlier when Sameer (John Abraham) had not done anything. He was caught and kept in detention centre for nine months. But when he was really planning to do something and FBI was sure of the fact. They could have caught him and could do anything. But don’t know why it was not. I guess then the movie could not be made.

Just read this Story

Suvendu Roy of Titan Industries shares his inspirational encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai

Last Sunday, my wife, kid and I had to travel to Andheri from Bandra. When I waved at a passing auto rickshaw, little did I expect that this ride would be any different.

As we set off, my eyes fell on a few magazines (kept in an aircraft style pouch) behind the driver's back rest. I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel. My wife and I looked at each other with disbelief and amusement. In front of me was a small first-aid box with cotton, dettol and some medicines. This was enough for me to realise that I was in a special vehicle. Then I looked around again, and discovered more -there was a radio, fire extinguisher, wall clock, calendar, and pictures and symbols of all faiths - from Islam and Christianity to Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. There were also pictures of the heroes of 26/11- Kamte, Salaskar, Karkare and Unnikrishnan. I realised that not only my vehicle, but also my driver was special.

I started chatting with him and the initial sense of ridicule and disbelief gradually diminished. I gathered that he had been driving an auto rickshaw for the past 8-9 years; he had lost his job when his employer's plastic company was shut down. He had two school-going children, and he drove from 8 in the morning till 10 at night. No break unless he was unwell. "Sahab, ghar mein baith ke TV dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega." (Sir, what's the use of simply sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn some income, then it will be useful in the future.)

We realised that we had come across a man who represents Mumbai - the spirit of work, the spirit of travel and the spirit of excelling in life. I asked him whether he does anything else as I figured that he did not have too much spare time. He said that he goes to an old age home for women in Andheri once a week or whenever he has some extra income, where he donates tooth brushes, toothpastes, soap, hair oil, and other items of daily use. He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that read: "25 per cent discount on metered fare for the handicapped. Free rides for blind passengers up to Rs50?. He also said that his auto was mentioned on Radio Mirchi twice by the station RJs. The Marathi press in Mumbai know about him and have written a few pieces on him and his vehicle.

My wife and I were struck with awe. The man was a HERO! A hero who deserves all our respect. I know that my son, once he grows up, will realise that we have met a genuine hero. He has put questions to me such as why should we help other people? I will try to keep this incident alive in his memory.

Our journey came to an end; 45 minutes of a lesson in humility, selflessness and of a hero-worshipping Mumbai - my temporary home. We disembarked, and all I could do was to pay him a tip that would hardly cover a free ride for a blind man.

Some Pictures:

He has got a first aid box on the left and a newspaper box on right (which had all hindi-english- marathi-gujrati and economic times)

He has got a tv on the top with cable (I was watching colors channel) and below tat is the tissue box. on the left is the mandir types and dont miss the "Only gandhigiri" written there , below tat is the calender and a notepad and pen along with a blue fan (which is blowing towards the customer who sits)

25% discount for handicapped !! who on this earth can expect somethin like this from a rickshawala yaar!!

Its amazing there are ppl still alive like him in this world!

I hope, one day, you too have a chance to meet Mr Sandeep Bachhe in his auto rickshaw - MH-02-Z-8508

Budget 2009

India’s new Finance minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee gave a historical budget speech under the guidance of Dr. Manmohan Singh. Critics may have expected more and wanted more. But the fact is it is one of the most balanced budget in last few years. As the economy progresses and gets into the development phase, the Budget is an annual exercise and not phenomena. In current times of coalition Govt., the Govt. deliberately keeps the critical issues off the Budget speech to come for criticism from its allies which can be taken care off during the year. The current brouhaha of the global economy has swept across the bigger and smaller nations, India is one of the few nations in the world whose GDP target has been revised in the upward direction by World Bank. Take notice of it.

As I had mentioned earlier, critics will later laud the efforts of the Indian Govt. to prevent global crisis from reaching the shores of Indian nation. There can always be argument for doing it better probably, but then the way it has been handled is remarkable, it could have gone otherwise.

Industry experts and players are always expecting more and more tax cuts from the Govt. Take the case of IT companies they enjoyed tax holiday for ten years, extended by one year in 2008, extended by another year in 2009, they wanted a straight five year holiday. The industry has taken its share of benefits from the tax holiday. We have Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Mahindra Satyam and couple of other mid-tier IT companies to boast of. The Govt. performed its part. Now let this benefit to be passed on to some other space to create another exceptional story out of India.

After two stimulus packages, they want more tax cuts. Then from where the Govt. is going to meet its expenditure. The revenue has clearly fallen, the fiscal deficit has shot through the roof and even jeopardizing the FRBM Act. But it is not new to India especially in 1990’s revenue target not being met. But the golden moments went to the expenditure which always went way above the targets as if your mistress has taken charge of your purses. We managed to check our expenditure.

Mr. Mukherjee very rightly mentioned, let the global economies recover then we will definitely look how to tackle the issue of revenue and fiscal deficit. We are aware of the same.

I strongly believe with my little knowledge that it is indeed a very balanced Budget in such times of economic globally.

The media questioned Mr. Mukherjee, Sir why did the market went into tizzy when you concluded your Budget speech.
I guess because Markets are inverse function of knowledge.

DHONI - Keep lovin him

Riding high on the IPL fever, Indian fans expected some firing tadka of cricket or rather an extension of IPL in T20 World Cup. IPL is always interesting to watch when you see Indian faces. Indians can always able relate to them. I know they cannot? Then why T20 lost its viewership after India exited from Super 8 stage. Because Indian faces are taken over by Indian flag and everybody expects Dhoni, Rohit, Yuvraj, Gambhir, Sehwag, Raina, Tendulkar to hit sixes, but the same was missing in T20. While in IPL, you will find one of them everyday. If India team exits early, it throws heart palpitations to ICC, ESPN, Star or Sony (or whosoever is the broadcaster) and last but not the least the sponsors. Fanfare will continue to stick to Cricket, not an issue. Moreoever India is a poor country where people lack the time or the knowledge to understand more intelligent sports than cricket. Next time, Dhoni and his team will stay longer and girls will still be glued to the TV screen, who don’t even understand Cricket but to watch the uber cool hunk, MS Dhoni.

All the fans and cricketing experts had put their bets on Indian team because Indian team has maximum experience in T20 because India mat not be the birthplace of T20 format but definitely the nurturer of the same.

Too much of work always burdens a human mind and takes its toll on the body. Before getting on the ground, so much of work goes into preparation for the same. Strategizing, preparing your players (mentally and physically), knowing opponents weaknesses. To play one day of cricket you need one day of rest and two days for preparation, where do we have that much time? Reebok, Nike, Pepsi, Coke, MRF, CEAT, Airtel, LG, Samsung, Kingfisher and so on and so forth want to see their logos round the year on screen. So players have to set their profile status according to the same. Players have to work hard. But a human body has a tendency (mentally and tendency). He has emotions, desires, feelings and aspirations, no matter how big the personality is.

Dhoni is no different and our Indian team also in the same breath.

Dhoni has got to endorse more than 30 brands in a year. Although there contracts limits the number of video shoots, photo shoots and public appearances for the brand. But he still he needs for cricket, practice, strategic, promoting brands and where have you left the time for his personal life. Think of yourself as a human being. He is a genius, intelligent and an extremely lucky person. But then he is not a super human being. Please guys give him a break.

Now the bull shit media is speculating that he may lose his designation as Captain of the GREAT INDIAN CRICKET TEAM. Who is going to lead the team, Sunil Gavaskar? Ask Sunil Gavaskar, he was match winner for how many matches in his career and what his record as Captain was? Please for God Sake, all the critics, keep your fucking mouth shut. If Dhoni, a simple lad from a small town can make his own way to the top with nothing definitely to boast off and his sloppy batting technique. But he still has the aura and the personality to carry the Indian team. Don’t forget the way, he made us win the First T20 World Cup with the gully cricket team. This guy has something which he can pull off. Just give him and his brothers a break.