Don’t be a “mugger”-much !

Education is what you make of it !! I have been an academic topper for most of my student life. Till 4th standard, I cried each time I stood 2nd in my class. I did average in 10th (85%) and horribly underperformed in 12th (69%).  But then, Lady Luck shined I and topped Mumbai university in final year of Arts. Luck continued to bless me as I was awarded “the best student” honour in my post grad Public Relations course @ XIC. And then began my downward spiral, figuratively speaking. Don’t get me wrong, I had some of the best years of my life in that phase. In terms of learnings and relationships. I was always weak in logic and application of knowledge, while my ability to regurgitate chapters via creative writing seemed to be a strength. So “mugging up” was my style of learning. Probably that explains my academic scores. A negative fall out of that approach was my inability to apply classroom learnings to my work. Because I couldn’t remember what I learnt beyond a point.  And that’s the crux of my write up today. My entire network – be it classmates or ex colleagues, or even my students from various colleges, who weren’t “academically sound” – are all doing so much better in their careers than I ever could. On reflection, I concluded that all of them:

– applied street smartness to their jobs or work

– built fantastic work relationships and robust business networks along the way

– chose careers that played to their strengths

– didn’t just mug up and become academic toppers, but internalized their classroom learnings to become more effective professionals

Please don’t misconstrue this post as an attempt at passive-bragging. It’s meant to be introspective and self-deprecating. I felt it was imperative to reflect upon my shortcomings and analyze the reasons for my “unsuccessful” professional journey. Academic results are good for ego boosting or at best in giving us a “head start”, but your life skills and application of knowledge is what will take you to greater heights of personal satisfaction and professional glory. #Note2Self: Don’t be a mugger-much… 🙂

 

Thank you #HappyNewYear: a 21 gun patriotic salute from Indiawale’s!

We, the Indiawale’s (noun: A plural, nationalistic culmination of all Indian professions – bhajiwale, machhiwale, doodhwale, cigarettewale, PRwale, socialmediawale – that are symbolic of the indomitable Indianness; patented by Farah Khan and shared with 1.2billion Indian audience for their wale-dation) have never been proud of our Indianness. Our demi-god, broom-wielding Prime Minister and emotionally transparent Aamir Khan have made inspiring efforts to rekindle that hitherto dead Indian spirit. But they can now go, and take a hike into the wilderness of defeat. We have a new, undisputed winner – the team of #HappyNewYear (the 300 crore Bollywood blockbuster), who has not just redefined Indianness, but also diagnosed a psychoanalytical gem about Indians. Nothing is impossible in our country, we are the Indiawale’s! The film achieves the following with envious ease… (No spoilers ahead, as I do want all of you to experience patriotism in a PVR Recliner, just like I did)

• It’s all about loving your parents: A common thread that binds our countrymen, is ailing and wronged parents. If a dad has been cheated or murdered, or if a mom has tumour, it is a good enough reason to join forces and plan the world’s most “dangerous” heist.
• Age no bar, childhood definitely no bar: We must practice equality, and not discriminate between adults and kids. The latter must understand the deeper, philosophical nuances of life. “Kismat badi kutti cheez hai, kabhi bhi palat sakti hai” is a lesson that kids will remember till their graves. (Dad, what’s kismet kutti….? A stupid kid sitting next to me actually asked his dad…. Welcome to the real world, buddy. This is the new age family entertainer.)
• The Indian Superhero: Who said India can’t produce super heroes? The movie is brimming with them – a six pack Boston topper turned con artist, a Parsi safe-cracking genius, a looser hacker, an ex bomb-squad specialist and an English-smitten bar dancer (rightly called “bazaaru aurat” by SRK. We are bold, we are Indians! Yeahhh…) . But my personal favourite is a marvellous avenger who can give the Iron Man a run for his iron…. The Vomit Man. This crotch-scratching best-of-the-street can distract any human by… hold your breath (pun unintended).. Vomiting on them, at will.
• The land of Aryabhatta: We are referred to as the land of inspired innovators. Which is euphemistically stating that we can’t innovate. But this movie again proves them wrong. Quick examples of (some of the infinite Nobel-prize-worthy) innovative sequences include…
  • A new judging system. You save a kid on stage from falling, and you shall be rewarded with an entry into the finals of the World Dance Championship.
  • A new dance step. So little is know about Epileptic seizures, so a creative way of spreading awareness about this vibratory disease is to mock it as a dance step.

I can probably author a book, as a token of my gratitude, on how this movie has resurrected my Indianness. The world shall no longer mock this great nation. Future generations shall bow to the film’s creators for conveying this message to the world –

Hamsey kabhi panga na lena Saale, Kehte Hain humko pyaar se Indiawaale !!

Jai Hind.

Maximize your international vacation: an unconventional checklist

Postcard from Budapest

Thanks to my travel-obsessed wife, I’ve had an opportunity to cross-off a few international destinations in the last couple of years. There are articles galore on how to plan that perfect vacation to Europe or Australia. I have read some of those well-crafted travel discourses. By now, any person who has access to the Internet can create a regular checklist of items required for a stress-free holiday – international chargers, theplas (if you belong to the Gujju clan), laddoos (if you are a Punjabi descendant), tea bags, coffee powder, and the works. You may also be advised to stay  at friend or relatives place, ensure your tickets to popular monuments are booked in advance to beat the queues, and travel with an Indian contingent if possible to cover as many destinations as possible with minimum fuss.

But I have learnt over the years, that there are some less-commonly explored avenues that can truly maximize your international vacation; especially Europe. Here are some of them…

Shape those legs: Like my wife captured it succinctly.. “You’ve got to extract the most out of Europe. Europe will not present itself to you.” I learnt that any European country (throughout the blog, I may use Europe as an example. But I am sure it applies elsewhere too) is best experienced by foot. What we underestimate is the strength in our legs. Ensure your legs (and lungs, if I may add) are in best shape to truly enjoy an experiential vacation. You will encounter multiple “ viewing towers” (places that guarantee you the best panoramic view of the city) that may require you to climb 300 odd steps on an average.

Chill out with the animals: In our quest for being photographed at the popular places, we miss out on places like the Zoos. Most international zoos are beautifully maintained, and you will enjoy being up, close and personal with some of the world’s most gorgeous animals in their natural habitat (recreated, of course).

Choose your accommodation well: One doesn’t only have to stay in hotels while traveling. If you are a group of 3 or more people, I’d strongly suggest one of the Bed & Breakfast places (www.airbnb.com) for a cozy living experience. Hostels are my favourites. Nothing beats the excitement of sleeping in bunk beds with complete strangers of varied international nationalities, and guzzling subsidized alcohol in the most youthful environment. You can indulge in some couch surfing (https://www.couchsurfing.org/) if you wish to get a little more adventurous.

 

Signing up for walking tours: Personally, I never liked guided tours. But I erroneously undermined the importance of joining a walking tour. You will find free walking tours (nominal charges, at best) in most international cities (even Mumbai has one now). It adds an informed dimension to your expedition by foot, rather than aimlessly gallivanting on the streets with a camera. We discovered during our trip to Munich, than even the footpath we walked on, had a rich historical significance.

 

Get behind the wheels: It can be intimidating (have to read about the local traffic regulations), it can be a bit risky (esp. driving a fully automatic left hand sedan along the Adriatic coast, like we did)… but the pure thrill of driving in a foreign land outweighs any potential challenges. We could have never enjoyed Croatia the way we did, had it not been for our Renault Fluence. Just get your international driving license well in advance, and if possible, take a few classes in your home country.

 

It’s called Super Market for a reason: The best alcohol, chocolates, sandwiches… you name it and it is available in one of the local supermarket chains. You cannot beat the extravagance of eating in an open café facing the mountains, but if you are on a budget trip, make supermarkets your second home. (TIP: if you wish to buy goodies for your friends & families, do not wait to pick them up from the duty free shops at the airport. These supermarkets offer much better variety, especially of the local kind, and at amazing prices.)

 

Skip the museums: Okay, I now some people may kill me for this provocative statement. But I for one get bored at museums, not because I don’t enjoy museums, but because I have not chosen the right ones at all times. The larger suggestion is to go beyond the regular sight-seeing (those must-do lists can be dangerously misleading) and create diversity in your itinerary (http://www.travellikealocal.org/en/, http://www.likealocalguide.com/). Invest time in researching the local culture, eating joints, history, etc. For those monuments will guarantee you the best photographs, but living the local life, will guarantee you an experiential vacation that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

 

I have attempted to capture my #Notes2Self for the benefit of all. Sorry if they sound too pedantic, pedestrian or radical… the intent is to emphasize a few learnings that may make your trip as unconventional as possible! To quote Sanjay Austa from Mumbai Mirror… “Be a traveller, and not just a Tourist.”

 

Bon Voyage !!

Announcing industry’s biggest birthday bash! Incredibly Awesome (IA) style…

 

Interactive Avenues – the birthday boy !

 

Who doesn’t like a birthday party? The ritual of celebrating one’s “day of existence” with family, friends, well-wishers and the accompanying paraphernalia dates back to our childhood. With passage of time, the significance of a birthday rarely diminishes, what changes, though, is the modus operandi – Monginis cake is replaced with exotic branded-versions, the quintessential birthday song is drowned under EDM, soft drinks make way for Beers & Tequila shots, and well… the candle no longer remains as the only smoke emanating object in the room.

But there are birthday celebrations, and there are BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS! Interactive Avenues (IA), what I describe as the agency that taught me the “Art of Digital Living”, turns 8 today. History bears testimony to IA’s legendary birthday bashes. Though, being only 14 odd months into the system, my inference is derived from the madness I have experienced on other occasions, across IA offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. A bunch of uber-enthusiastic colleagues, who love and live digital, but can don the hat of qualified partyholics, with equal aplomb.

And it’s this reputation that has set my expectations and enthusiasm soar, as 200+ Interactive Avenues-ians get read to descend on the royal land of Jaipur, in less than 5 days. I know our HR Boss will intervene to put this into perspective… “It’s the IA Conference 2014, of course we shall party hard, but do not overlook the workshops & sessions that are an essential part of the Jaipur off-site”.

In a few days, over 200 digital mavericks will unleash their madness in Jaipur. Till such time, I wait in eager anticipation for the industry’s biggest birthday bash ever.

Happy Birthday, Interactive Avenues !!

For random chatter, catch me on @ASShishism on Twitter ! 

The Curious Case of 2 Bharat Ratna’s… Sachin & Satya!

 

 

4^th February 2014 will make a pit stop in the annals of history as one of the turning points in India’s transformational journey. A landmark event that witnessed India’s most iconic sports star reach newer, stratospheric heights of superstardom, and the emergence of India’s most successful human export to the business and technology globe-sphere.

Yes, we are talking about the legendary Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and the soon-to-be-legend Satya Nadella.

It was probably more than a mere coincidence, that the same day that Sachin Tendulkar was bestowed India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, that Microsoft – the $78bn technology super powerhouse, announced the appointment of Satya Nadella as the successor to Steve Ballmer.

So why transformational? Sports has always underpinned India’s unity in diversity, especially the sporting religion of Cricket. But despite it’s incredible following, no sportsperson before Tendulkar was conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Something people don’t realize, that just like Sports, Technology and IT have been the unifying force in India’s socio-economic and cultural history. The country has exported many-a-technology geeks and visionaries to the silicon valley, and with Satya’s elevation, a new chapter has been written in our metaphorical book on “India’s Invaluable Tech Contributions” to the world.

And that’s when it struck me, that there is so much common between India’s 2 Bharat Ratna’s. Here is an attempt to find some seemingly disconnected connections between these Persons of Indian Origin…

Preordained birth places

Both Ratna’s were born in cities respectively known for their career excellence. Mumbai has given birth to some of greatest cricket exponents in Indian history, while Hyderabad is one of the meccas of technology and IT/ITES companies. They seemed destined to leave a mark, globally.

Long career spans

Sachin, though younger than his Microsoft counterpart, spent 24 glorious years as an active cricketer. While Satya has been a Microsoft veteran of 22 years.

Records galore

Though a complete cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar created over 50 world records with his MRF bat. Satya too, while dabbling with the entire spectrum of Microsoft services, carved a niche for himself in the cloud infrastructure space, rising to the level of SVP of the $20bn Microsoft Servers and Tools Business.

Family Men

Marriage maketh a man – ok nobody said this, but the non-existent truism did seem to have a positive effect in the lives of Satya and Sachin. Happily married for over 20 years to Anupama and Anjali, respectively, and a happy family, is another common trait between these two giants.

A generation inspired

Like they say, Sachin Tendulkar has been and will continue to be worshipped as the undisputed God of Indian cricket. The little master inspired an entire generation of cricketers, sportspersons and Indians at large, with his records, fitness, genius and humility. Cricket was no longer just a sport, but a preferred career option that commanded respect and earned you a million bucks. Admittedly, I wasn’t too aware Satya till last week, but his well publicized elevation and India story, is bound to inspire a new generation of technology entrepreneurs and IT professionals.

Brand India evangelists

Every few hundred years, there came an Indian that created or added a new dimension to India’s incredible talent on the world stage. We have been a land of many facets, despite our challenges and short comings. The motherland has given to this world freedom fighters, corporate visionaries, sportspersons, authors, scientists… the list is endless.  Ratna’s like JRD Tata, Mahatma Gandhi, Sabeer Bhatia, Leander Paes, CN Rao (the other Bharat Ratna awardee and one of the world’s foremost scientific minds) Sachin Tendulkar… and now, Satya Nadella, are just random names from a long, long list. Now Cricket and Technology are no longer seen as the exclusive preserve of the “developed nations”.

And yes, both their names begin with “S”. Yup, absolute force-fit. And on that ridiculously embarrassing note, I am signing out with a hope in my heart that this is just the beginning of what promises to be an India-take over of the world.

Jai Hind!!

Dedh Ishqiya: A must watch poetic masterpiece. Huma is a work of Art

Be it Rahul Gandhi making a critically acclaimed political speech, Indian cricket team winning a match on foreign soil, SRK not winning a specially-created-for-him-award at an Awards nite, or a Bollywood film so beautifully crafted that you leave the theatre with characters and moments etched in your memory….. they are all RARE.

And then comes along a celluloid work of art that is “Breaking Bad” (yup, force-fitted that to show off my Walter White hangover) in every possible Bollywood way….   A film based in a little-known town of Mahmudabad, almost archaic in its settings with haveli and the works, chaste Urdu as the primary medium of conversation, heavy doses of Urdu poetry, a soundtrack that may not rank high on your mental charts, almost linear narrative style and a leisurely pace that may test some people’s patience.

Despite challenging the conventional wisdom of film making, Dedh Ishqiya will leave you spellbound  and wanting for more…. More of Arshad Warsi, Much More of Madhuri Dixit and Incredibly Much Much More of Huma Qureshi. For whatever my pseudo review is worth, do yourself a favour a catch one of the last remaining shows of this commercially engineered art film. Here are some of the many motivating factors….

The Honesty… of the film’s script and character portrayals is its biggest strength. The director and (uber talented) writers have taken a big risk by not succumbing to any commercial pressures.

The Heart-warming performances… Be it Arshad’s “ Babban” (adorable as the goofy gangster), Naseeruddin Shah’s “ Iftekhar” (not a challenging role for this legend, but amazingly dignified portrayal as the mature thug), Madhuri’s “Shahi Begum” (it’s impossible to take your eyes off this ravishing goddess) or Vijay Raaz’s “ Jaan Mohammad” (this man can never disappoint, though hope to see him stretching his immense talent to newer limits). The characters will stay with you for long.      

The Perfect Late night film… Not often when you can unwind in the arm chair of a movie hall, completely drowned in the divine sea of Urdu poetry and transported to the artistic world of a dilapidated and lawless town.

The writingand screenplay… is at its immersive best. It’s one of the best pieces of sarcastic humour written in recent times. There is a Mexican stand-off in the middle of a jungle, that will leave you laughing and weeping with its screenplay brilliance.

The Huma factor… and I had to leave the best for the last. Not many actresses have been blessed with a screen presence and charm, so powerful that they continue to play on your mind much after you’ve evicted the cinema hall. Huma Quereshi is one such gifted artist. “ Munira” does not have too many nuances worth Huma’s acting abilities… but if I felt Ishqiya for her in Gangs of Wasseypur, it’s grown to Dedh Ishqiya within 2.5 hours. 

When Arnab Goswami frankly spoke with Rahul Gandhi

(image courtesy: http://blogs.wsj.com/)

Some may call it the most epic twoment (twitter moment) of 2014. The reclusive Rahul Gandhi comes face to face with the conclusive Arnab Goswami. Where else, on the super prime time “The Newshour” (TN). Not surprisingly, the internet has already gone abuzz with speculations, innovations and castigations.  The news channel has bombarded the newsfeeds with the epic “first time in 10 years” opportunity to meet the “Shehzaada”, for Indian viewers. And satire sites like Faking News have crystal gazed to create howlariously imaginative content. (checkout RG’s interview with AG).

My respect for RaGa has grown multifold. Not because I am suddenly enamoured by his economic vision for the country, but because… by appearing on TN, sitting face to face with the most feared television anchor on earth (he is referred to as the Super Chief Justice Arnab Goswami, for nothing), requires guts. So Mr. Gandhi’s courage cannot be questioned by opposition parties. Exposing himself to an incisive AG, may be labelled by some as a PR disaster. While the most optimistic commentators may laud the efforts of RG’s PR agency, by pulling off a coup of sorts. Especially, if the interview can be conducted in a “controlled” environment.

It may not surprise me if Monday, 27^th Jan 2014, 9pm creates a new TRP milestone for Times Now. That’s because every Indian would want to witness history. And yes, there is sarcasm loaded in my last statement. That’s because people will tune-in to watch AG take on RG, but not necessarily for platonic or nationalistic reasons. Here are a few that I can think of…

• Congress kaaryakartas / disciples / followers / etc. – These hand-walla people are looking for some ray of hope from the Gandhi scion. If he can manage to “out-answer Mr. Goswami”, the social media and PR brigade will have a field day positioning RG as India’s most deserving PM. Needless to mention, by out-answering AG, RG would have created a new Guinness Record of sorts. Something that no man or human or animal or table or chair.. has ever done before!

• BJP social media warriors / spokespersons:  ok, now these lotus-people are on a mission. Termed operation “Pappu”, their mission involves leaving no congress stone unturned to deride RG, and convince the world that “om NaMo Shivay” is the universal mantra for 2014. They would be hoping that AG succeeds in doing what he does best – call guests home, and then starve them to metaphorical death through supersonic vibratory bodily movements, deafening sound decibels and intimidating hand gestures. And of course, their fingers would be tweeting at a million characters per second. They may lose their salaries if “PappuOnNewshour” does not trend…

• AAP brigade:  These well-meaning guys are already under too much stress, so they may be looking out for opportunities to deflect the attention from Binny Kumars, Kumar Vishwases and Somnath Bhartis of the world. So expect them to stay glued to TN for any iota of an RG faux-pas.

• The average Indian:  The real mango people of this country. Who under media, peer and social media pressure, will have little choice but to sacrifice their prime time soap, for this super prime time political soap-opera.

So you see, the whole country will be watching history in the making… Live. Which side the tide will turn, only time will tell. And the time is between 9pm to 10pm… unless RG walks out, or succumbs to AG, or just Survives!! Frankly Speaking…. The Nation does want to know the outcome…

Aap ka Tharooor … latest romantic single on Twitter

So a certain love story is playing out on Twitter since last 2 days. Every media outlet has suddenly got a fresh lease of life, and in fact, are having the time of their life. Dissent in Aam Aadmi Party (Binny’s press conference), and now this love triangle….

So I thought of creating a short, very short limerick to celebrate this amazing (personal) outburst of a wife (not so personal considering it was tweeted to over 2 million fans of her husband) turned into a social media circus…

THE AAP KA THAROOR HIT SINGLE BY HIMESH RESHAM AND HIS MAIYA

O begum Mehr Tarar
Kyun daaley hai unnecessary daraar…
Kya Shashi se sach mein hain tujhe pyaar
Toh Sunanda se Twitter par mat maan haar!

O Sunanda! tuney husband ke account ko kiya hack
Kyun maasoom Tharoor ke life ko karey hai black…
Oye hindustani naari aisa zulm tu mat kar
Control kar, Sunanda Pushkar, Twitter par khudko Pull-kar!!!!

O chanchal aur handsome HR ke minister
Agar biwi ho twitter par, toh baki sab ko bolo sister…
Dil toh aakhir dil hai, rahega aadat se majboor
Himesh bhai bhi aapke honour mein, gaa rahe hain Aaap ka Tharooor!!

So what’s my inspiration for this rubbish limerick? Read the backstory here… http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trio-s-tangle-shashi-tharoor-s-personal-life-becomes-twitter-gossip/article1-1173433.aspx 

Management Soliloquy: Leadership on a Bus

Leadership on 8 wheels

Traveling in Mumbai’s mysteriously famous BEST buses is a learning experience. The Bus conductor for example, displays uncanny Leadership qualities. He practically controls the 8-wheeled metallic giants.

If these aren’t awesome leadership / managerial skills, then what is?

• Taming the unpredictable Mumbai crowds – people management
• Taking tough and moral calls on when to stop – decision making
• Issuing tickets of accurate denominations – work delegation 
• Maintaining bodily balance in high speed and treacherous roads – physical fitness 
• Ensuring every passenger reaches his destination under all circumstances – strategic roadmap & dedication

The “Best” leadership crash course in the new year. Pun intended! 🙂

image courtesy: http://www.mid-day.com 

Damn you Farhan Akhtar – a painful tribute to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag!

Farhan Greek God Milkha Singh! (pic courtesy: Mumbai Mirror)

First an admission – I had little knowledge about one of the greatest sporting icons even born in this country. As per my understanding, an athlete of such Himalayan repute that he became synonymous with running for Indians. So if any film maker chooses a subject that takes you on a historical journey of an individual who has inspired millions, and packages it with dramatic earnestness, you cannot help but applaud… with a few tears in your eyes.

That’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – definitely one of the most prolific biopic ever made in Bollywood. Sir Milkha Singh – even if 50% of the film is based on reality, you deserve every ounce of our respect for rising to international stardom, and etching Indian athletics on the global map, despite your personal tribulations.

I feel so much more literate about Milkha Singh, and that’s an indirect way of suggesting that the film was scripted beautifully. I could feel the pain of a Sikh boy who had witnessed the brutal killing of his parents during Partition – the world’s greatest exodus ever. His journey from an orphaned coal thief to the Indian army is depicted with amazing detailing. Never before, has any actor endured  (unedited) 100 pushups on camera, gulped down 2 cans of ghee (a disgusting sight for some I am sure J), but made it look so convincing and worth the madness. Only Aamir Khan has enjoyed my respect in this regard – of believing in unconventional plots . And now the ever dependable Farhan Akhtar joins the league.

The songs are liberating. Havan Karenge  (still not sure about the lyrics) is a foot tapping number, choreographed with delightful innocence. Zinda can effortlessly be the next anthem of the sporting worlds, after Chak De. I loved song, but I thought if it were picturized on an older Milkha (and not the kid), the impact would have been multiple times over.

I wanted this film to be a classic. I wanted Bhaag Milkha Bhaag to create new benchmarks in biopics. But to my surprise, the film flies like the Flying Sikh… but just… just marginally falls short of taking off into the stratospheric heights of perfection.

Damn You Mehra. Damn you Farhan Akhtar…. For the following:

• I hate to cry in theatres. But once again, you made my eyes moist against my wishes
• You created unwanted baby speed breakers in the film – especially in the form of loose songs
• Did Milkha Singh actually start singing and dancing in an Australian pub in an inebriated state?
• Why did all scenes of partition come attached with deafening cloud bursts, thunder and loud VFX (VFX per se, rocked. The context seemed abrupt)
• And finally… damn you Farhan Akhtar for sporting an enviously chiseled body at 39. You looked so divine with those six packs, long wavy locks  and groomed beard… that I hit the gym the next day trying to pull-off a 100 pound shoulder-press. As I write this… I am writhing in extreme pain with fresh smell of Relispray emanating from my body. But to hell with it… it’s worth many more doses of pain, if I can look even 10% of what you did in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag!

A standing… sorry, flying ovation Mr. Akhtar !!!