Make your own mistakes

All of us make mistakes. Yes we do...almost in every walk of our lives. Remember what Dhoni quoted in one of those ads? He said, "Make your own mistakes yaar...why copy others?" :) In the induction ceremony in Yale, one of the professors told my brother's batch, "It is all right if you are the dumbest in the class. But you need to keep making sure that you are learning." The earlier you make them in your lives, the better. This is because, as you move to the second quarter of life, your number of mistakes will come down considerably. Experiences play a very important part of our lives. Nothing teaches us better that one strong dose of good/bad experience. During one of my very few "nothing to do" afternoons, I had come up with this :)

The biggest mistake I made yesterday? I mishandled my CAT scratch card. The result: I had to go down to the bank, stand the longest ten minutes of my life so far, in the queue and repeat the whole process of application. The fact the I had to spend another Rs 1400/- was what made those ten minutes even longer. The carelessness in my attitude that I had yesterday was missing when I woke up today morning :)

Elections-2009

The profile of the 15th Lok Sabha to many may come as a pleasant surprise. Let me give you the statistics. It will have the highest number of MPs below that age of 40 years ever. A lot of young faces indeed. Added to that India might even witness dynamism combined with wisdom and an appreciable level of integrity when the decision making capability is targeted on these young leaders. The fact that most of them belong to the Congress is refreshing, not because of the fact they belong to a powerful side but because they are all together and aspire to bring about a change together. The fact that there are a lot of young achievers among these young leaders is pleasantly comforting . Moreover only one person is illiterate in the Lok Sabha which indicate clearly that the levels of education have been elevated. The parliament had the women's reservation crossed off but India had voted the highest ever women to the parliament with the percentage crossing 10%. With 59 women members on one side, a different point of view will be pleasantly entertained and will provide as a good source of an interesting debate on issues that would otherwise have remained dormant.

This time the number of parliamentarians below that age of 40 is 82 which is double the number in the 14^th Lok Sabha. They may lack in experience but quite a few of them have neatly stacked pack of cash safely stored away which in a way gives a sign of assurance that the level of corruption might come down. The house has 300 crorepatis when compared to the 154 in the 14^th Lok Sabha. Coming back to the number 82, we have a quite an interesting mix of dynasts, lawyers, political wives and professionals. To add to the drama we even have a couple of actors thrown in. The diverse backgrounds is what interested me the most. Their levels of compatibility is what I would like to keep a watch on. These young parliamentarians are dynamic and mentally strong. They have a clear cut picture in their heads when it comes to the developments that they would want to bring about in the country five years down the line.

After the 26/11, our faith in the system had come down but I guess we are willing to give it a second thought now that the elections have shaped up satisfactorily. The Indian Politics has certainly entered a new phase. Is this a good news? Well, all we can do is wait and watch closely.

Manjeeram Academy of Fine Arts----ODE: July Issue 2009

In the year 2004 Archana established Manjeeram Academy of Fine Arts. Manjeeram is a distinctive derivative from Manjeera which is a synonym to Lord Shiva’s ankle bells. Manjeera produces a rhythmic tinkling sound whose pitch varies according to their size, weight and material of their construction. Manjeera is a basic component without which the art form of dancing is incomplete and unimaginable.

Manjeeram – an institution inspired with the greatest traditions already set in this field has come into being in Hyderabad fully conceiving the notion – “some expressions have no words” and established with the profound aim of being the torchbearer of the rich Indian traditional art form across boundaries and to uphold the flame flare continuously.

Manjeeram’s terpsichorean journey commenced with Classical presentations in Fusion music. The Institute currently focuses on displaying its commitment to artistic excellence through Classical presentations, Lecture Demonstrations, and expounding Management philosophies through Dance.

I happened to catch with Archana and the first question I asked her was if she would like to say anything about herself before I continued with the interview. This is what Archana had to say.

"I do not have students, as I am a freelance trainer (Leadership Skills and placement Fit and other soft skills) and also give training programs under Leadership through Dance, I am hardly left with any time to concentrate on classes and I do not believe in imparting knowledge under pressure"

Here is how our short chat had shaped up.

What is it that Manjeeram has and the other academies dont?
----Vision - And the necessary actions taken to translate objectives in to goals. Credibility, Wholesome understanding of learning, As I am post graduate in both Dance (Bharatanatyam) and management I give a practical orientation to every thought translated in to dance which might not be there with other academies. I can teach and counsel simultaneously. manjeeram believes in Team work, It gives credit to everyone to what ever contribution done and it is the team that gets projected thus propelling me indirectly.

Tell us about the ethical structure that strongly supports the academy and more importantly your beliefs?
----It begins with the last line of previous answer, manjeeram believes in Team work, It gives credit to everyone to what ever contribution done and it is the team that gets projected thus propelling me indirectly and it hence ends with one word TRANSPERANCY.

How do you see yourself, the form of dance and the the academy five years down the line?
----I begin with the Academy, Will definitely get my business plan ready to establish an Integrated school in andhra Pradesh, Dance form (bharatanatyam) - through manjeeram it would get a renaissance that Bharatanatyam is not only for Connoisseurs but also for laymen and it would begin reaching the interiors (Rurals) and it would definetely prove that dance is a subject in itself that enables in a childs wholesome development and deserves a status to be made a compulsory subject in the curriculum in schools and not an extra curricular activity. one inch broader chest with the sense of accomplishment in trying to get closer to my vision :-)

Archana has numerous significant performances up her sleeve. As a student in Kalakshetra, Archana participated in most of the dance productions of the institute. She has also performed at the prestigious Natyanjali dance festival in Perur. Apart from being a magnificent dancer, Archana also donned the roles of conceptualizer and co-choreographer for ‘Tatvam’ – a dance ballet on the five elements of nature, staged at Hyderabad. Owing to her flair for writing, Archana penned the narratives for ‘Sujalam Sufalam’ – a dance performance on the theme of water conservation. Archana also bagged the opportunity to perform at The International Dance Alliance (IDA), Bangalore and at the colossal fest organized by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for ‘Secunderabad 200 years celebration’. Archana has also staged remarkable dance performances for innumerable shows held at Thiygaraja Gana Sabha, Hari Hara Kala Bhavan and Ravindra Bharati – the art epicenters of Hyderabad.

A danseuse, par excellence, Archana has an equally impressive corporate dossier to her credit, as she has successfully rendered myriad performances to top notch corporates. Using her management degree to her advantage, Archana carved a niche for herself, by composing and presenting various innovative themes, which were a blend of dance and corporate philosophies.

Archana indited the concept dance - a language, an expression and walk of life, which she performed for ITC, one of India's most valuable and respected corporations and received immense appreciation. She also had the opportunity to perform for ‘Colours of India’, a show organized by ITC that brought together different styles of dance on a single platform.

Archana’s dance performance - ‘Leadership in Dance’ brought her immense acclaim at Satyam’s School of Leadership. Not only was this concept well appreciated, but Satyam also integrated this as a part of their training curriculum for almost all the training programmes that followed. As a pioneer in conceptualizing ‘Leadership in Dance’, Satyam’s School of Leadership honored Archana, with the FLCL (Full Life Cycle Leader) Award.

Ashoka was a dance ballet that was presented by the group. To effectively and successfully present a dance ballet on Ashoka, their first effort towards this creative task was to firstly understand how this Monarch earned the name of Ashoka the Great.

"Art and culture are inseparable aspects of human life. Art is the reflection of human culture and it lives through the ages tracing human developments. So, art is vital to human existence and through this it speaks the history of mankind. Believing that Art is for noble actions and the power it has to influence people in conveying even the strongest and pivotal message with ease, we attempt taking this message of Ashoka the Great through this presentation", is what Archana has to say when I had asked to emphasize on her vision and the drive that led her to compose this dance ballet.

Archana further says, "All that it takes to realize Ashoka’s Dhammapada is ATTITUDE which is not trainable. However, we promise to alter the minds of the people by altering the attitudes of the minds of the people through our Ashoka to achieve a world where every living being lives in happiness, contentment, peace, and perfection because attitude determines altitude"

"Dancers are the athletes of God" is what Albert Einstein had once quoted and quite believably too. For Archana, its been many things but her vision is one thing that has remained and if not already she is definitely incing closer to her goals that she had set years ago.

Gagan Narang----ODE: July Issue 2009

Gagan Narang, who is fourth in the 10-metre air rifle, sixth in the 50-metre three position and ninth in the 50-metre prone, according to the latest rankings of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), the sport’s governing body, to me came across as a sharp yet a warm person who believes in the no nonsense policy and quite comfortably pulls it off with ease. To a few questions that I had shot, Mr. Narang had indeed very patiently answered each one them. This is how our short chat had shaped up.

25 years done and your most prized asset is the gold in the world cup. When 28 years are done you would have?
---May be an Olympic gold medal and all that life offers three years down the line

A normal life; computer graduate and an assistant manager with Indian Airlines. How did the sport fit in all this?
---Sport had been an integral part of me every since I was a teenager. The rest of me revolves around my sport. Being a computer graduate and the job with Indian Airlines came along the way

With just 5 years dedicated to the sport, you think that’s enough for a sportsman to win the accolades?
---It does not depend on the number of years put in but essentially the quality of effort that has gone into those formative years. As a professional one ought to believe that he can win medal in every competition he shoots

Since when have you informally been acquainted with the sport?
---I took to the sport since I was in my teens. It has been over 12 years now

Your success is highly coveted. Any hardships faced to reach so far?
---In adversities one finds opportunities and it has been tru in my case so far. I have had a lot of hardship from getting my first gun when my parents had to sell a plot of land to getting coach, training, sponsorship and ammunition

A famous quote says, “it’s the journey that should be important and not the destination”. You agree?
---It is very important for the journey to be as fulfilling as the destination

You had once said, “I was fit during the games(Olympic) but maybe with a bit of luck I would have made it” You believe a tiny bit of luck can make a difference?
---Yes for a sportsman it makes a lot of difference. It is fifty percent perspiration and fifty per cent luck that one got to rely on

The best or rather a wise lesson you have learnt in your journey as a sports person in this field.
---Never give up because there is always light at the end of one dark tunnel

“If all the time I am proving myself of my capabilities then when do I improve?” is what you had once quoted. Does frustration affect your performance?
---A person goes through several phases in one's life. This was a phase when I had felt such. Today the priorities are different and so is the mindset. But I do not allow frustration to eat into my psyche

How much would rate yourself on the scale of ten as far as the mental strength is concerned and why?
---I would rate myself ten on ten because I have the ability to control my emotions and thereby chanalise my energies in the way that is beneficial to my sport

Keeping the government issues regarding the financial aid and the hardships aside, what was it that kept you moving on? Any inspirational figure?
---My mom is my biggest inspiration. I have always wanted to win for her

To make it fun for all you readers, here is a set of blanks that I had requested Mr. Narang to fill and like I had mentioned it earlier, he had very patiently obliged to my request. These set of facts are all that you need to know about Gagan Narang, the gold medalist and one of the very few witty sports persons that I have come across. Have fun!

• Gagan Narang in school was...SHY
• Most prized asset personally was....MY TEMPERAMENT
• A fact that most people miss out on when you are being talked about is....I AM A PRODUCT OF THE SYSTEM
• Apart from shooting, anything else you that you have or have already mastered is.....SHOOTING WITH THE CAMERA
• If not in this sport then you would be a ………..PILOT
• The most difficult time in your career was when ……….MISSED HITTING THE BULL'S EYE IN BEIJING
• Your goal for the next five years is …………………….TO WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD
• Family to you is………..AN ASSET
• ‘Belief’ to you is…..FUNDAMENTAL
• A normal day for you would go like…….NORMAL IS BORING
• The quote or saying that keeps you going during those nail biting scenarios is……..CARPEDIEM
• A sound temperament; your say on that as far you are concerned would be……..AN ASSET
• If not today, tomorrow you aspire to…….OWN A FERRARI
• The first thing that comes to your mind when I say India is…….RICHLY DIVERSE

The Choice is yours----ODE: April Issue 2009

How often in a day you happen to overlook things that concern the development of the society on the whole? When was the last time you bothered to take the responsibility to fix the main drainage pipe of your colony? How many times in a day do you throw away the coke can you just had on the road or made an effort to aim at the trash can on way while you were driving and missed but never bothered to get back and throw it inside the trash can? How many times have you cursed the government for carrying out political rallies in the middle of a main road that had got you stuck in a traffic jam? When was the last time you actually bothered to read the circular that was being circulated from flat to flat(or house to house) in your apartment(Colony) by the president of the colony/apartment organization and signed it blindly just because your beloved lappy was calling out to you?

Too many questions you think? I have a lot more but decided to stop here because the list would then go on for ever. As years pass by and with the responsibilities dominating our lives, we have ignored our most important responsibility; the responsibility as a citizen of the country. We complain and curse but then adjust ourselves to what is imposed on us. We point out the flaws in the policies but never put forth the plausible solution to them. `Just think for a minute, if not YOU then WHO?

The result we have is right in front of us. Corruption, poverty, illiteracy, forgotten promises and unsympathetic government which was made for its people but forgot to acknowledge them the minute it came into power.

You can either choose to not do anything about it or join hands to bring about a change. Its all about the attitude, you can either be the change or remain forgotten by the world around you.

Do you know what happens if a frog is put into a can of boiling water? It does not die immediately, in fact it does not even realize that its environment has changed and thus does not bother to jump out of the can. Its body tries to adapt to the temperature but alongside a part of it dies every moment. After a few hours of observation, you will watch the frog die a painful death. Slowly and steadily.

There comes a turning point in everyone’s life, when destiny places a few distinct paths in front of you. For every path that you may choose, the destiny has its own plans. But the ultimate decision of choosing which path, lies completely in your hands. Its your life that is being talked about, take the decision that seems the most appropriate to you. But all this will happen only when you decide. Vote and watch the transformation of the word ‘ME’ to “US’. The impact of this transformation will be huge rather tremendous but only if it at all does happen.

SHRUTI KURIEN KANETKAR-THE EPITOME OF WILLPOWER & PERSERVERANCE--ODE: February issue 2009

With her feet firm on the ground, a smile that makes anyone comfortable and an attitude that rips the court apart, Shruti Kurien Kanetkar talks about life, her family and her profession.

I have often heard that when people reach the top, humility is one of the things that they identify themselves with very strongly. The other day I experienced the same, not with myself but with Shruti. While I got comfortable sipping the coffee that Mr. Kurien had made me, it was quite a treat talking to Shruti about her life so far. Why badminton was the first thing I had asked her. She ponders over the question for a while and then says, "I have been playing badminton since the age of nine, and it’s been so long that it’s difficult to imagine life without it. The question why badminton seems totally irrelevant because it has become a part of life now."

It is not very often that people go for what they believe in and definitely not very often that you get to meet people who stick to their beliefs until they identify themselves with it completely. Shruti is one amongst these very few. She has loved her journey so far and says very confidently, "Absolutely no regrets", when I asked her if there was anything she would want to change in the past.

To her, little things matter in life. She says “When you see someone your age performing so well, its drives you to think that why can it not be me? “Simple and grounded thoughts such as these have what kept her going and living a life that she would not trade for anything. Since she was young, there has always been someone who has guided her to move an inch closer to her destination. She gets her inspiration from watching her seniors play and is thankful to her playmates in the stadium for helping her get better in the game. She says, "Arif Sir is very inspiring and I am grateful to him for supporting me all this while". She is also grateful to her company, Bharat Petroleum, for their constant support Everyone has their ups and downs.

Victory comes to those who have graciously learnt from these experiences and make an attempt of not repeating the mistakes made in the past. These are not my thoughts but Shruti's and I second them. The match she cherishes the most was her first international match that she had won at the age of seventeen. "Everything went right that day", she says. When I asked Shruti if there was any lesson that she learnt from life, professionally or personally, the hard way, she says very honestly, "I have had a few encounters on the personal front and there were times when I had to make very difficult decisions. I am glad that I have stuck to them all this while and have come out strong". Whether one takes a right decision or a wrong one, it does not matter as long as you take one.

Being mentally strong is one of the attributes of a sports person for sixty percent of the match is won if you think you are going to win this one. On asking Shruti how she kept herself mentally fit, she says quite honestly. "That is one thing I am trying to work on. I am just a step away. Once I cross that step, everythiing will fall in place". She adores her family. She says with a twinkle in her eye, "All four of us are very different. My mother is a teacher. My father works with the income tax department and my sister is in media. We all have different attitudes and humour and its fun when we sit down at weekends on the dinner table. All we do is laugh!". On Nikhil, her husband, she says while grinning broadly, "I am very possessive though I am not very vocal about it". When I asked her about her biggest triumph on the personal front, she continues, "I am going through one right now. With me training here and my husband in Bangalore, it is very testing. Living apart is very difficult and I am just waiting for this period to get over and living together".

Nothing comes easy in life. Every achievement is weighed with an equal amount of hard work on the other side of the scale. For Shruti, things have not come easy and she has worked hard to achieve the success that she has today. ODE wishes her all the best in all her endeavors!

The speaker speakes to the Youth of our Nation---ODE: March Issue 2009

With a perspective that has been well nurtured over the years, beliefs that are well rooted and patriotism like that of a true Indian, Suresh Reddy, speaker of the AP Legislative Assembly and President of AP branch of Commonwealth Parliamentary, addresses the youth of India and gets candid while expressing his views on taking up politics as a career, Family and more...

India at this point of time needs leaders with a vision and Mr. Suresh Reddy fits in perfectly. He believes that politics fundamentally is not only a career but a responsibility towards the nation. He continues saying that this profession is not as murky as it seems; in fact is the best platform to translate ideas into programs and serve the deserving poor. ”The majority of India is the youth so they have every right to rule”, he says. The Youth of India has tremendous amount of energy and is capable of channelizing this energy into good actions. India right now craves for principled and dedicated leaders. Mr. Reddy says, "It is because of the youth that we got independence. It was the initiative of Gandhi that millions of youth followed his path. And here we are with India 61 years old and all independent." He urges the youth, while saying that it is their responsibility yet again to rebuild the country.

"Some people look at things the way they are and say why while some people look at things they should be and ask why not?'” are the words what Mr. Reddy strongly believes in. Probably this is why some people win and the others lose. We asked Mr. Reddy if there was anything that he would like to change in India as an individual. He replies plainly yet convincingly saying that it is the mind set of the people here that he is not happy with. He continues saying that for a person to accomplish anything in life, he should first believe in the fact that he can do it. Most of us give up at the 90 percent; the last ten percent which he calls 'the lack of finishing power' needs to be worked on seriously.

The best way to learn in life is from one’s experiences, though it is also one of the hardest ways. We asked Mr. Reddy as to what was it that changed his perspective to look at things that made him get into this field. The hard life that he had lived showed clearly in his eyes as he explained that in spite of him coming from a political family, one instance that really moved him was the assassination Mr. Rajiv Gandhi who as a young man went on to become the prime minister of India and urged the Youth of India back then to support him in his efforts to rebuild the country. He is proud to say that he was one amongst the million people to support him.

We were very curious to know, what is it that drives Mr. Reddy to work harder as each day passes by and so we asked him about it. He replies with the same zeal that he probably had 25 years back when he had first started his career, "Every win in the election drives me to work harder as each day passes by. It doesn't make me complacent; it makes me all the more competitive. I have won four elections till date. It was very tough. Doing better motivates me to move further and makes me all the more competitive."

When life is lived as a journey, you begin to value the little experiences and tend to learn from them. The journey for Mr. Reddy so far has not been easy but very tough and challenging. He was not totally from rural. In fact in his college days he was called the urban cowboy. As a normal urban Kid, the challenge to serve the rural was very demanding emotionally and physically, but one thing that kept him moving closer to his destination in spite of the blocks and hurdles was the acknowledgement, appreciation and blessing that the people showed whenever he put even the slightest of efforts to help them.

We asked Mr. Reddy, as a youth, 25 years back, how he would describe himself as. Sir says he was young and very enthusiastic back then. There is a lot of difference between the youth back then and the youth of today. Today opportunities are many but the competition is very grim. Survival of the fittest is what today's conditions demand.

Mr. Reddy is very close to his family. With kids growing up, he says it will further expand. Mr. Reddy is totally in when it comes to freedom of speech and expression. He totally respects his children's views and gives them all the necessary freedom. He guides them whenever needed and makes sure that they remain rooted to the culture and traditions that they have grown in all these years. With his guidance he believes that they will turn out to be good citizens. We asked him further if he anticipates his children taking him as their role model and decide on taking up a career in politics. He says quite modestly, "I don't know if I am that motivating to my children but yes, they can get motivated but not overwhelmed. Their creativity should not be affected."

From what the current scenario projects, India is in need of young leaders. For India to lead the race, we need to be equipped with the right attitude, the right conduct and of course the ethics which we have deep within us but don’t tend to acknowledge. Whatever it is, we need to do it together. Nobody wins unless everybody wins!

John Ruskin once said,” Every great man is always being helped by everybody; for his gift is to get good out of all things and all persons." Mr. Suresh Reddy is one among those very few who have stuck to what they believe in and has come out strong. We wish Sir all the best in all his endeavors!!

Louder Dj…. Louder!!----ODE: March Issue 2009

So, are you guys bored of the regular bollywood mixes? Well, I sure am! The other day I managed to get hold of dr.dub. He may not be a doctor, but he for sure knows his music real good!

“Being to Tilos Radio (Hungary) changed things and everything else was just destiny. Though, destiny still needs to unfold a lot of surprises because I have not yet reached the end", is the answer we got from this dude when we asked him how he became a DJ. dr.dub(as he prefers to be called). He has come a long way and has finally come back to Hyderabad, his hometown, to get the hyderabadis move to the beats of what he calls “WORLD MUSIC”. This “world music” is a word that he has coined for himself, as the music that he composes is a conglomeration of the several kinds of music from around the world .

His first break in Tilos Radio (Hungary) gave him what he always wanted, the right kick! We asked him if he knew from the start that his kind of music will be totally different from the regulars. This is what he says.


"Initially, I was playing any thing and everything that I liked in the Indian music. Very soon I realized that I was looking for a different sound altogether and my hunt began”


When he came back to India, to Hyderabad, he tried to introduce the hyderabadis to the music that has rocked his world. The response he says was not very overwhelming for the hyderabadis were not familiar with the concept of his kind of music. Though he then adds very positively, "They will learn slowly and will soon move to its beats"

On asking him pointedly as to how he would define his music, he says plainly, "I will call it world music". His music styles sport Indian Underground which has a blend of western underground music with a touch of Indian instruments, like tabla, sitar and human vocals as a twist, laid with heavy electronic instrumentation. He mixes it up with underground hip hop, break beat, drum, bass and ambient Electronica. You may find a touch of the different Jamaican styles of music like Reggae and dub.

When I had asked him if there is anything that he would want to accomplish in the coming years, he promptly says, "I want to set up my own radio station that has the freedom of speech and music”. So while you guys chill out and check dr.dub out, I will check out the CD he had burnt for me that has his beats!!