Delhi (Under)Belly

A movie which dares to calls Arse, गांड and not a sanitised पिछवाडा, has to be credited with honesty....and the movie is most honest in its subliminal exposure of its social underbelly....whether the dyed blonde prospective mommy-in-law or the gun brandishing brat chasing in a SUV on the National Highway....from the brothel visiting kinky but compassionate landlord to the exploitative jweller of Chandni Chowk....these are all typical Delhiites, replete with their asthetic sense, like the lipstick red Santro (a car produced by crossing an Ass, (the animal and not the anatomical reference here), with a cycle rickshaw). This city of opportunistic exploitation, no wonder can compel an aspiring serious journalist frustrated with Crime and Glamour, to look for some serious news, even if it interrupts the cunnilingus he is subjecting his girlfriend to, who in turn is surely enjoying it.

The movie itself takes the male bonding at a level different from the ultra HNI social circle of Dil Chahta Hai and academic preachery of 3 idiots to a closer to life frustrations, hardships and sensibilities of three educated working immigrants in the city, which gives them their equal space, without creating a xenophobic backlash....something the proverbial commercial capital of the country is guilty of harbouring. And of course, the fresh attitude towards physical passion as well as manipulation of Generation Y, especially the non-chalance of the female protagonists about it, without looking slutty.

Although one very naturally comes to expect people like Vir Das, Kunal Roy Kapoor, Vijay Raaz or even Shenaz to be part of such a tale, but Imran, given his lineage and school of film making he comes from, is a welcome change....May be it is a movie which his more illustrious uncle couldn't do himself and has made it for his heir apparent...or may be it is along the footsteps of another illustrious Khan who 20 years ago made villainy the main protagonist...

Hangover II: Hanging on Ribaldry

‘Never Cheat Your Audience….give them what they expect from you’….A maxim Manmohan Desai lived by…using his immortal lost & found formula….with mother in centre and Amitabh Bachchan everywhere else….and audience lapped it up again and again and again….but why am I talking about MKD when writing about one of the most ribald comedies I have come across. Hangover II delivers exactly the same fare as did Hangover I, but with different ingredients and needless to say a lot more spice.
It is the same story of a member of the ‘wolfpack’ getting married…a bachelor party….rather a pre-marriage bonfire drinks going wrong…and the protagonists piecing the jigsaw together, not under the glittering skyline of Las Vegas, but the seedier underbelly of Bangkok. The charm of the movie is not about the plot but the ingenuity the writers and directors have employed to unfold the same sequence of events with the same set of core protagonists. The plot is so identical….that the final piece of the jigsaw for the missing character and even the cathartic outburst at the climax is by the same character as in the first movie. Hangover is a classic example of a comic thriller genre….and takes the concept of ribaldry to a greater heights…though not as subtle as the Carry On Series did….but then subtlety is a British art….not an American sensibility. Although Hangover II managed to reinvent its staleness of a concept by increasing the grossness….it would surely be interesting to see if it develops as a franchise, without altering its basic premise of revelry going wrong and hanging on to its characteristic bawdiness.

Miracle on River Han: Soul of Seoul

For a country which is still technically at war with its northern sibling....they can only be called siblings...India and Pakistan may be cousins but Koreas are siblings divided by self aggrandising Geo-politics, than ethno-religious chisms...it is amazing to see how the country has galloped ahead economically looking beyond the insecurities of a conflicted situation, especially when one considers the deplorable conditions that the Republic of ...yes, that’s what the official name is, not South Korea...started its journey as a modern nation state...as a victim of the first of many skirmishes of the erstwhile and an impending superpower….its story is a miracle indeed.

An opportunity to visit this modern incarnation of an ancient city came knocking last year, as the first ever DTZ Asia Pacific Valuation Conference was graciously hosted by DTZ Korea. The Incheon airport, which is the international gateway of the country...and it seems Japan and China aren’t considered international, since some flights to these countries continue to operate from the old Gimpo airport which serves the domestic traffic...just overwhelms by its sheer size, as indicated by the fact that to move from the boarding platforms to the terminal building, one needs to take an underground Metro.

As it is true with most of the newly built Airports of these proverbial Tiger economies...the connectivity to the capital city of Seoul is multi-modal and supremely fast, however, the best way is to take a bus or if the overseas travel allowance isn’t a concern, then a taxi is suitable, too. This gives an opportunity to view and admire the entire riverfront of Han through the hinterland to the bustling metropolis, which is one of the most densely populated capital cities of the world. The serenity of open fields and desolate heights suddenly gives way to the clover-leaved bridges and streams of automobiles jostling to enter Seoul... all reminders of what the miracle on river Han is all about.

The city has multiple business centres, and not just the PBD/SBD variety, but very distinctly known by its administrative division. The pride of Central Business District going to area between Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall to Namdaemun, the old city gate, which like our CBD of NCR, is home to government offices as well as global and domestic companies, including financial institutions. Followed by the CBD, is the Gangnam Business District (GBD), known for offices of IT companies and large retail malls and flagship stores. Lastly, the Yeoido Business District (YBD) is the newly developed financial district, where the Seoul International Financial centre is being developed.

The trip to CBD is just not about the tall skyscrapers and the economic might of Korean Chaebols, rather two instances of the esteemed value in which the cultural heritage and history is held by the Korean society and administration. The amazing conservation work on the 600 year old Gyeongbok Palace, belies the massive destruction it had to endure at the hands of Japanese occupation forces during the early part of 20th century, with 40% of its original buildings having been restored by the end of 2009, a result of a 40 year restoration programme launched in1989 to rebuild structures destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

However, the rebuilding programme is not confined only to elimination of the signs of colonial exploitation but also correcting the excesses of economic growth, as evident by the restoration of the Cheonggyecheon stream. This 14th century drainage system got lost under concrete while developing the new elevated highway by 1976, a tell-tale sign of the rapid industrial growth and modernisation that Seoul witnessed on its way to becoming the proverbial economic miracle. The stream was restored to its lost glory and is now a sought after tourist attraction, with guided tour along the stream highlighting each of the twenty bridges, and the themes associated with them, like butterfly in flight and harmony of the past and future. All these in stark contrast to what we have allowed our Red Forts and Chandni Chowks to become.

The essence of restoration of Korean history goes beyond the sheen of a guided toruist destination to conservation of its spiritual heritage, too. In the bustling business district of Gangnam, next to the COEX mall and flanked by the manifestations of accentuated consumerism in form of casinos and luxury goods stores, lies the Buddhist temple of Bongeunsa, housing nearly 3,500 Buddhist scriptures. Every morning there is a stream of devotees who kneel down in one of the numerous prayer halls, chanting the scriptures in a rhythmic trance and meditating with the sole objective of connecting with the enlightened self. Just a mile away from a street famous for its cosmetic surgery outlets offering the Nips and Tucks of Pamela Anderson variety and the Korean version of Silicon Valley, the Tehran-Ro, boasting investment of more than half of Korea's venture capital approximately $200,000,000, presence of such a serene and spiritual island could come across as a perverted dichotomy, but this is what, may be, Seoul is all about....

....the soul of a city, uncorrupted by the glitz and glamour of a 21st century consumerist metropolis, deeply rooted into its cultural and spiritual heritage.

कभी कभी

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है ...
के जिंदगी तेरे जुल्फों की नर्म छाओं में
गुजरने पाती तो शादाब हो भी सकती थी
ये तीरगी जो मेरी जीस्त का मुक़द्दर है
तेरी नज़रों की शुवाओं में खो भी सकती थी

अजब ना था के मैं बेगाना-ऐ-आलम होकर
जमाल की रानाईयों में खो रहता
तेरा गुदाज़ बदन तेरी नीम-बार आंखें
इन्ही हसीं फसानों में माहो रहता

पुकारती मुझे जब तल्खियां ज़माने
तेरे लबों से हलावात के घूँट पी लेता
हयात चीखती फिरती बरहना-सर,
और मैं घनेरी जुल्फों के साए में छुप के जी लेता

मगर यह हो न सका और अब यह आलम है
के तू नहीं, तेरा गम, तेरी जुस्तजू भी नहीं
गुज़र रही है कुछ इस तरह से ज़िंदगी जैसे
इसे किसी के सहारे की आरजू भी नहीं

न कोई जादा न मंजिल न रौशनी का सुराग
भटक रही है खलाओं में ज़िंदगी मेरी
इन्ही खलाओं में रह जाऊँगा कभी खो कर
मैं यह जानता हूँ मेरी हम्नाफास, मगर यूँ ही

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है....

साहिर के यह अशार शायद किसी महबूबा की जुदाई के लिए लिखे गए हों....फ़िल्म में तो खैर उसी कैफियत के मानिंद था...लेकिन यह नज्म किसी बिछदी हुई महबूबा के नाकाम आशिक के दिल का हाल भर नही है। हर टूटे सपने के बिखरे टुकडों की आवाज़ है यह नज्म....और यह नज्म तब तक गूंजती है जब तक एक नया सपना, एक नई ख्वाहिश फिर से नही पनपती उन्ही टुकडों के बीच से...फिर से टूटने के लिए...फिर से इस नज्म को गुनगुनाने के लिए....

Solitude

इस शहर ने बहुत ज़हीन शायर दिए हैं...और उनकी इस सांझी विरासत का, ख़ुद को भी एक हिस्सेदार समझता हूं...इसलिए ऐसे ही एक शायर, गुलज़ार की एक और नज्म को यहाँ पेश कर रहा हूँ.....जो शायद मेरी अब तक की ज़िंदगी की कहानी बयान करता है....

जिंदगी यूं हुई बसर तन्हा ,काफिला साथ और सफर तन्हा
अपने साए से चौंक जाते हैं, उम्र गुज़री हैं इस कदर तन्हा
रात भर बोलते हैं सन्नाटे, रात काटे कोई किधर तन्हा
दिन गुज़रता नहीं है लोंगों में, रात होती नहीं बसर तन्हा
हमने दरवाजे तक तो देखा था, फिर न जाने गए किधर तन्हा

Solace

हफ्तों पहले, यारों के बीच बैठकर एहसास हुआ...दिल ढूँढता है फिर वही फुरसत के रात दिन, बैठे हुए तस्सवुर-ऐ-जानां किए हुए... बस फिर क्या था, गालिब के इस ख़याल को मुक्कम्मल करने की तमन्ना से निकाल लिया अपना कारवां। इरादा यह की दीन-ओ-दुनिया से दूर होकर ख़ुद के करीब आ सकें...और इसके लिए देवभूमि ऋषिकेश से बेहतर पड़ाव नहीं सूझा। एक मजमा ज़िंदगी की दौड़ में बेतहाशा भागते जंग्जुओं का...दो दिनों का युध्ह विराम मनाने पहुंचे गंगा किनारे...जहाँ पहली बार गंगा पहाडों और छत्तों से लड़कर मैदानों के आगोश में आकर साँस लेती है। ख़ैर, दिन का काम ख़त्म कर, पिछले जुम्मे के दिन यह कारवां रवाना हुआ...सुबह जल्दी उठने के खौफ से शायद कोई रात को ठीक से सफ़र में सो भी नहीं पाया...जैसे तैसे, पौ फटने से पहले, हरिद्वार उतर कर भागे, आगे की सवारी लेने। मुह अंधेरे शीशम झाडी गेस्ट हाउस पहुँच कर लगा, जैसे रामसे बंधुओं की फिल्म सेट पर पहुँच गए हों...रात का सन्नाटा चीरती हुई सनसनाती हवा...कमी तो सिर्फ़ सफ़ेद साडी ओड़कर एकलालटेन हाथ में पकड़कर गाती हुई प्रेतात्मा की!
मगर जब आंखों से खुमारी गयी तो एहसास हुआ उस वादी की खुबसूरती का जिसके आगोश में अपने आपको पा रहे थे। कमरे से झाँका तो लगा पहाडियाँ अपनी बाहें पसारे न्यौता दे रहीं है, वहीं खो जाने को। खैर इस खूबसूरती को आंखों में बसा कर...गंगा की सतह पर बहने से अच्छा और कोई जरिया नही पूरे एहसास को अपने रगों मी उतार लेने का। फिर कारवां चला नागिन सी बलखाती सड़कों से होते हुए उस मुकाम पर जहाँ एक बिन पतवार की कश्ती इंतज़ार कर रही अपने माझीयों काअपने। अपने चप्पू हाथों में ले कमर आधा दर्जन माझी, गंगा की अरदास लगा कर रवाना कर दिए अपनी कश्ती को...पहाडियों के बीच से गुज़रते हुए..एक ऐसी नदी का दामन पकड़ कर बह रहे थे जिसने अपने किनारे दुनिया के सबसे पुरानी तहजीब को पनपते और फलते फूलते देखा और शायद गवाह भी रहेगी इसके नेस्तोनाबूद होने की। लेकिन कुदरत के इन नज़ारों के बीच से गुज़रते हुए सिर्फ़ ख़ुद को खुशकिस्मत ही महसूस कर रहे थे...फूलते हुए दम और चड्ती हुई साँसों को सिर्फ़ यह नजारे ही तो मायने दे रहे थे। इसी गंगा के किनारे देखा...मुल्क और तह्ज़ीबों की बंदिश से परे, साधना करते हुए कुछ मलंग योगी...घाट पर एक कुटिया बना कर और एक चट्टान पर धुनी रमाये एक साधू...ज़हन के किसी कोने में एक टीस जगा गया...शायद कभी ऐसी हिम्मत कर पाएं के जिनके इर्द गिर्द ज़िंदगी का ताना बाना बुना है, उससे अलग हो, ऐसी ही किसी पहाड़ की चोटी पर ख़ुद में ही खो सकें। ऋषिकेश के घाटों के किनारे किनारे आखिरकार अपनी मंजिल पहुँच गए...अधूरी नींद ने थकावट को दुगना कर दिया था और मुहीम शुरू हुई भूख मिटने की...पर देवभूमि में आकर इससे बेहतर क्या होता, के सुदामा के दोस्त के घर पर ही हमें भी तृप्ति मिले।

शाम को सोचा चलें गंगा आरती देखी जाए...लेकिन हमारी किस्मत में नही थी गंगा की इबादत में शरीक होना...तो राम झूला पर कर के गंगा किनारे एक घाट पर डेरा लगाया...सन्नाटे की जुम्बिश को महसूस किया...अँधेरा गहराया तो वापिस हो लिए...बाकि की शाम पैमाने में डुबोने के लिए। जब महफिल सजी तो एहसास नही था के गुलज़ार के एक पुखराज से अनगिनत मोती निकले जायेंगे...मै से ज़्यादा नशा तो अशारों में था...हर एक नज्म जैसी किसी न किसी की ज़िंदगी के कुछ लम्हों, कुछ एहसासों को रवां कर गयी। बात चली और जैसे जैसे अंधेरे के साथ सुरूर गहराया...परतें खुली और मौका मिला एक दूसरे दिल में झाकने का। कुछ दूसरों की सुनायी और अपनी बहुत कही...नशे की आड़ में दिल की कौन कौन सी गाँठें खुली, इसका हिसाब नही रख पाया...लेकिन एक ख्याल अभी तक साथ में है...तेरे मेरे नाम नए हैं, यह दर्द पुराना है...

अगले दिन सुबह, भरी सिर लेकर पहुंचे मालिश कराने...पिच्च्ली रात दिल के दर्द निकले थे, अब जिस्म की बारी थी। मालिश कर कर नाहर आए तो पता चला की यारों का गंगा स्नान तो हो गया, और फिर से तैय्यारी है माधव के मन्दिर जाने की...जैसे तैसे कूदते फांदते गंगा के किनारे पहुंचे, एक फक्त डुबकी के लिए...काम तो बन गया लेकिन दिल को सुकून नही आया...सोचा इसके लिए जाकर गिरिधर के अनजान में ही पनाह लेनी पड़ेगी...लेकिन जब किस्मत ही साथ न दे तो क्या किया जाए...पहुचते पहुँचते मनोहर ने अपने किवाड़ बंद कर लिए थे। थोडी देर वहीं ध्यान लगाकर खुदा से आस और मांगकर...एकादशी का भोग लगाया। उसके बाद कवायद शुरू हुई वापिस अपनी दुनिया में लौटने की...उसी जद्दो-जहद में, जिससे दूर आए थे सुकून की तलाश में...और सुकून मिला भी...इतना की एक वादा कर के आए, के इस सुकून की तलाश में यह कारवां फिर से आएगा...

Lead(Act)or!!!

Last couple of days gave an opportunity to revisit some basic skills of presentations through a simulated environments....under two extremely skilled and wonderful coaches. A number of exercises, especially the ones we did today brought back the childhood, rather teenage memories, of my initiation into the craft of drama and theatre...something, which I have not been able to revisit since 2004. The exercise on congruence of actions and voice...the voice modulation etc. It brought back the memories of practicising नवरस during acting workshops. Well, the camaradrie that got developed with the rest of team is definitely bonus and something I shall I always cherish as long as I remain part of my current organisation.

Looking back over the events of last two days...meant essentially to sharpen our skills as business presenters/leaders...and recalling its similarities with our dramam classes, from some recess of mind flashed the following quote:

...All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts...

As you like it (Act II Scene VII)

Such an oft repeated phrase...made memorable by Anand and his babu moshai in the eponymous movie by the common man's director...Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Anyway, it relevance in management and leadership has been brought out by contemporary as well as yesteryear's thinkers and writers. Couple of such thinker and writer are dear ol' Willie from Avon aka William Shakespeare and much maligned political scientist...Niccolo Machiavelli.

Though Shakespeare didn't intend write any treatise on leadership, unlike Machiavelli's 'The Prince'...he did created characters of kings and conquerors...the only manifestation of leadership during his time. Definitely, something that neither of them thought at the time of creating their respective works...is the resonance and relevance of their work in today's corporate/business organisations. What these two writers conveyed...may be inadvertently...is the ability of good leaders to be good actors...not merely playacting, but using the words and wisdom to play with the audience.

...how they go about doing...I shall continue it in next blog...

Re(a)putation anyone...

Continuing from my last post about politicking within organisation...an activity which requires building strong symbiotic relationships and entail exercising certain influence within the network of relationships. Refering to my earlier post, the currency of the practitioners of this art is credibility, which along with the competence and confidence invariably leads to reputation. As a matter of fact it is a two-way relationship...a strong and generally postitive reputation establishes one's reliability, generates trust and indicates the competence within the work environment. Without a favourable reputation, the ability to influence and consequently the ability to foster a positive political environment gets constrained.

Apart from the demonstrable indicators of a reputation like proficiency in a particular skill set or domain knowledge, there are myriad subtle and emphatic means of establishing and perpetuating one's reputation. Another interesting thing about reputation is that it is hardly dynamic and here perception almost becomes the reality. It is a trap that any self-conscious and even mildly politically aware organism within an organisation should be wary of. It is all very fine to be able to say "I give a damn"...but no one is an island, neither in professional set-up nor in personal lives. It is however much easier to build and maintain one's professional reputation without being viewed through the prisms of various stereotypes that are generally used by society at large.

Though maintaing certain reputation is important for every member of the organisation, it becomes mission critical for the leaders within the organisation. Through the chain of command these leaders have the formal authority to influence the decisions and working of the organisation, any adverse perception (which is as good as reality, especially in their case) can severely erode this ability, thereby creating a conflicting environment, jeoperdising the overall organisational objectives and invariably creating opportunities for politically vicious activities to germinate.

When the positions of leadership within an organisation gets filled by people through a genuine meritocratic process, the reputation of the individual concerned just needs to be maintained, which though is not a stupendous task, requires only attention and not any significant incremental effort...but there is always a grave risk of losing one's reputation if adequate attention is not given. However, for leaders who are inducted from outside the organisation...and it happens in many cases when an incumbent leader leaves without an indentified successor or a new business line needs to be developed...the leader has to work that much extra to build the reputation and maintain it subsequently. Unless, a careful cultivation of one's reputation is carried out, the leader loses the ability to influence people within the organisational network and subsequently compromise the authority that goes with the position.

Rishta

मुझको भी तरकीब सिखा कोई यार जुलाहे,

अक्सर तुझको देखा है कि ताना बुनते
जहाँ कोई तागा टूट गया या ख़त्म हुआ
फिर से बांध के
और सिरा कोई जोड़ के उसमे
आगे बुनने लगते हो
तेरे इस ताने में लेकिन
इक भी गाँठ गिरह बुनतर कि
देख नही सकता कोई

मैंने तो इक बार बुना था एक ही रिश्ता
लेकिन उसकी सारी गिरहें
साफ नज़र आती हैं मेरे यार जुलाहे



गुलज़ार के इन अशारों को जिए जाते हैं...

Vijay Perth!!

For all the connoisseurs of test cricket and ardent followers of the fortunes of Indian cricket, today has been a great day for cricket as a team game. The joy of being an Indian cricket follower today did not merely stem from the fact that victory has been achieved after a demoralising defeat...the vanquished are a champion team of all times...and the venue reamined unpregnable for last decade and definitely not breached by anyone from the descendants of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

This victory did not come about due to precociuosness of the prodigal son, who attempted the first breach nearly two decades ago, nor did it come from the single minded resolve of the Wall...neither from the silken stroke of the God of Off-side nor from the guile of Jumbo or any Very Very Special Innings. This victory emphasised the fact that cricket, too is a team game...it needs eleven to tango.

How many times have a test match been won, without a single century or a pfeiffer, that too against the well entrenched opposition, playing to the opponent's strength.

Given what happenned on and off the circket field in last fortnight, it wouldn't have been out of place if Kumble exhorted his troops on the eve of the Perth Test using the following words of the Bard of Avon...

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

-King Henry V

This band of brothers....let the glory be theirs....Amen!!

Time Well Spent...

Couple of decades ago, as a schoolboy, the idiot box beckoned...and a certain Siddharth Basu helped us understand that this box isn't as idiotic as it is made it out to be. Well that was well before Derekisation of quizzing scene and it commercialisation. Some relics of that bygone era, who got initiated into quizzing for the love of quizzing decided to get together and revive the quizzing culture in the City of Djinns, which was losing out to traditional leaders like Kolkata and Hyderabad and upstarts like Pune and Bangalore.

Kutub Quizzers, a motley group of people including a practising Army Doctor, a Management Consultant on sabbatical, one of the country's quizzing dinosaurs, an academic and couple of graduate engineers, keep organising open quizzes...sometimes oriented around a theme. Their last session at IIT-D, lived up to the expectations of high quality quizzing and trivia hunting ...Sample this:

1. Rohan Wijeweera started which radical organisation in late 60's, which got financial and logitical support from countries across the ideological spectrum?
2. Which Central Asian country's capital is a distortation of Sanskrit word for "two days after Saturday"?
3. What is the state motto of NY state, which in Latin means "High or Super"
4. Which brand of lingerie, started by Vivien Westwood's son, means a troublemaker in French?
5. Which word comes into the English language from the joisting competitions of the medieval ages?

And there were connects, meta connects and mega connects...It was indeed time well spent and it didn't hurt that I was paired with a तोडू quizzer, which helped us nose ahead of the team of veteran quizzers to win this round.

How the Poli (really) tics at Workplace?!

R. N. Iyer's column posted by Eternal Rebel, touched or rather emphasised the issue of building and fostering relationships...something which is the heart of any constructive political process within an organisation. The practice of such a process actually requires understanding the dynamics of these relationships at the workplace and then involving oneself into it in a manner, which makes this web of symbiotic relationships work for individual and organisational goals/objectives.

It is not necessary that one needs to get involved in a political process, constructive or otherwise and at the workplace there would be people who would be keeping themselves inert from all these. Like it happens in every case, there is a spectrum, where at one end there are people who are politically inert, those who either don't have the inclination nor do they find it important to actively participate in such a process. At the other extreme lie politically vicious people who would like to perpetuate and propagate a political environment by manipulating people and situations for self-aggrandisement at the cost of organisational goals. In between these two extremes lie the politically aware, who get involved in this political process by exhibiting an ability to influence the actions of the individuals in the web of organisational relationships, in a manner, which enables the individuals involved to achieve their goals in tandem with the organisational goals.

This ability to influence can create a constructive and positive political environment only when the practitioners have the following:

• Competence: The ability to carry out the tasks assumed or allocated efficiently and effectively, which may arise through functional expertise or experience or both. Without competence no one is taken seriously at the workplace
• Confidence: It is not only important to know the task and carry it out well but the consciousness and self-belief that the work can be carried out, which is necessary to assert one's competence at the workplace
• Credibility: This is the currency of the politically aware practitioner. Without credibility the ability to influence does not arise and this credibility gets established not only with competence and confidence but through myriad inter-personal interactions with other individuals involved in this political web of the organisation
• Trust: Finally, competence, confidence and credibility establishes trust

Without the above, the politically aware can't practice the art of constructive politics at the workplace or worse would end up at the politically vicious end of the spectrum.

B - Schools & Man Management

I say Chaps ! This is my first contribution and is directly attributed to the very cause of the unanimity that binds us together. Its a pleasure being a part of this and we shall raise a small toast to this effect at American Diner soon (drinks are to my account till 8.00 pm)

Apropos to 'Poli-tics' (a thought - would 'Poli-toxic' been a better headline ?).

I discovered this article randomly surfing Rediff and would like to share, its the eternal paradox that one can find one's self to be and we are no different in our (in)signifcant ways.

"Goals, strategy, mission, numbers, methods, profits, so on and so forth -- B-school education teaches you a lot about these and other business jargons.
Of course, it is good to impart management education through a systematic and syllabi-led approach -- based on the learning and experiences of many management thinkers and practitioners.
This obviously manifests into a better understanding of the business environment and the situations you may encounter while shouldering responsibilities in a real environment.
Having said that, have you ever wondered why good leaders are always able to handle complex situations involving far complex people, creating a win-win situation, balancing all the coordinates?
The essence of running a business -- large, medium or small -- is actually being able to drive the most valuable resource, that is, its people, in a cohesive and synergistic manner for the growth of the organisation and also the individuals that make the organisation.
This is something that can never be taught in any B-school -- since managing people will never have time-tested, fixed and structured formulae as against most of the other business issues.
The issue of managing people percolates right from within the organisation to the multitude of external stakeholders. It is crucial to establish the right relationships necessary for any business to survive and foster, having to deal with many constituents such as customers, investors, bankers, government and society among others.
The role of relationships can never be ruled out in any corporate environment, be it internal or external. Growth of any organisation is directly proportional to the ability to forge and manage suitable relationships by the personnel at the helm in the organisation.
And this is something that B-schools may not be able to teach through their curricula, however, rigorous and thought out they are. I believe it can be achieved by a lot of practice, keen observation and understanding of people, and one's ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Beyond the good groundwork, grooming and grilling of an individual to make a successful business manager by any B-school, factors such as gaining continuous insights into the human mind and striking a right chord on the relationship front plays a major role in creating leaders."

(R N Iyer graduated from IIM, Ahmedabad, in 1991.)

Why Poli-tics in Office !!

What a topic to start the year with, but homo sapiens is as much apolitical as (s)he is asexual (see what I mean!!!)...


We encounter politics everywhere...the society we live in, the workplace and even in immediate and extended familial relationships. Remember as children when we used to squeal about our sibling to our parents, so as to make ourselves good in their eyes...what's this if not politics. Perhaps, that's the reason, why we look at politics through a Machiavellian prism (though it isn't as negative as it meant out to be...but that's for another blog) oriented towards pursuit of power through crass manipulation. But this is only one aspect of it and we tend to lose our perspective over this because this is what get projected through formal and informal media of communications. The truth is that wherever humans interact, a political phenomenon exist...the workplace being no different...and so does a choice, whether to remain inert or be pro-active by participating in a constructive political process.

Now, how does one define a constructive process?...not an easy answer but simple nonetheless. A process which facilitates the alignment of individual goals towards effective and efficient achievement of organisations goals..(phew!!).

Next logical question is what does it take to partake in this process? Simply put, the following:

• an understanding of the web of professional and inter-personal relationships existing at the workplace, which to a large extent is driven by the formal hierarchical structures, but also gets developed through innumerable non-professional interactions amongst various individuals
• identification of symbiotic (as opposed to synergistic) relationships, which one can develop with each individual in this web of relationships.

Finally, what is the outcome of this process (well, the alignment of individual & organisational goal being at its place...) or rather what does this process entail...

1. Networking across departments, divisions, geographies to create these symbiotic relationships
2. Reinforcement of one's own capabilities and worth without attempting to blow one's own trumpet...be confident not arrogant
3. Being professional... a seemingly vague expression, but then certain things are better understood than explained
4. गीता का सार - कर्म कर फल कि चिंता मत कर (as opposed to इच्छा) This is a critical aspect...offering any support, advice, help or favour may not get returned in the same coin, but it creates goodwill and credibility, the currency of this process

How to work through these process and the things to keep in mind...well that would need a series of such blogs...

Adieu'07

हमको ग़ालिब ने यूं दुआ दी थी
'तुम सलामत रहो हजारों बरस'
यह बरस तो बस दिनों में गया

-गुलज़ार

आज कि कैफियत...

आज छुट्टी के दिन सुबह से कुछ लिखने की हसरत से यह पन्ना खोल कर बैठा था...इस उम्मीद से के बीते दिनों में यारों के साथ बिताये हुए लम्हों के बेतरतीब हर्फों को सलीके से सजाकर एक ख्याल की शक्ल दे दूं... मगर शाम ढले तक जब लफ्जों के गुच्छे नही सुलझा पाया तो गुलज़ार के इस पुखराज ने आज की कैफियत बयाँ कर दी...



खाली डिब्बा है फ़क़त, खोला हुआ चीरा हुआ

यूं ही दीवारों से भिड़ता हुआ, टकराता हुआ

बेवजह सड़कों पे बिखरा हुआ, फैलाया हुआ

ठोकरें खाता हुआ खली लुड़्कता डिब्बा

यूं भी होता है कोई खाली-सा बेकार-सा दिन

ऐसा बेकार-सा बेमानी-सा बेनाम-सा दिन...

Conflict of (whose) interests?!!

Service Industry is primarily based on a client and agent relationship. Existence of such a relationship, as a corollary would mean representation of the service consumer (the client) by the service provider (the agent)....covering all form of service providers ranging from lawyers, bankers, brokers...and property agents. Closely associated with this relationship is the issue of remuneration of the agents, which is the primary driving force for the agents to get into this relationship.

This right and responsibility to represent is conveyed to the agent based on the premise that the agent shall be able to protect the client's interests or serve the client's interests in best manner. One can safely assume that for this end, the agent is expected to undertake all the endeavours possible...permissible under the acceptable and applicable legal and ethical framework. The endeavour to serve the best interests of the client, may not be an outcome of a single event or a collection of discrete events...it is a process, wherein the agents are expected to intitate, build and nurture those relationships. Another important aspect of this 'interest protection' phenomenon is a fact that this is rarely a zero sum game...unless one is in litigation or at hustings...thereby making the solution an outcome of not a maximisation function, but an optimisation function. Simply put, the interests of the client is best protected only when the interest of the counterpart doesn't get damaged.

Now, there is a school of thought that accepting any form of 'gifts' from any of these counerparties, who by the way are legitimate business associates of the agents, compromises the agent in question. Superficially, it does appear to be, however, the things are not as simplistic as it appears to be on the face of it. When one looks at the premises mentioned above, the agents' greatest interest lie in getting the 'best' deal done. This best deal can' t be concluded unless both the parties...and one of them being the client...get away with the optimised situation. As long as this optimised solution is not achieved, nobody's interests gets served...best or otherwise...leave alone that of the agent.

Hence, compromisation (if at all such a word exist!!!) of the agent's position arising out of any pecuniary benefits, by way of gifts, being derived from any profesional/personal relationship with any of the counterparties to the client's agents, is not so much in conflict of the interest of its client but with its own interests and thereby damaging to it, too.

As can be expected of any rational individual, one does not indulge in activities which damages one's own interests or is in its conflict.

(P.S. For an insitutional agent, there are some other areas where the real conflicts lie, but that's the topic for another blog!!!)

Friends !?!

बे-यारों मददगार ही कटा था सारा दिन
कुछ खुद से अजनबी सा, कुछ तनहा सा उदास सा
साहिल पे दिन बुझा के मैं लॉट आया फिर वहीं
सुनसान सी सड़क के इस खाली मकां में

दरवाज़ा खोलते ही मेज़ पर किताब ने हलके से फरफारा के कहा
"देर कर दी दोस्त!"


Last night while returning home after a hard day's work, a strange sense of lonliness was creeping up through the nerves...then I found this collection of Gulzar's 'नज्म' peering out of a dust laden book shelf, as if offering to share my loneliness.

It seemed to be part of some larger scheme of things, when the first verse I read was the above one...indeed got very late in picking up this treasure trove

Sree Ganesh

Indian Civilisation has a concept of सांझी विरासत which verbatim means "Common Inheritance". This comon inheritance or common heritage makes me an equal claimant on the heritage bequeathed by the thinkers, scholars and poets of this land.

One such common forefather of all Delhiites like me is an old resident of बल्लिमांरां from a bygone era who became known as मिर्ज़ा असदुल्लाह खान 'गालिब'. As a tribute to him I would like to start my blog with this famous couplet of his...

हज़ारों ख्वाहिशें ऐसी के हर ख्वाहिश पे दम निकले,
बहुत निकले मेरे अरमां लेकिन फिर भी कम निकले...

More so, because this blog is a medium to express many of those ख्वाहिशै and also to share them with some रहगुज़र of my ज़िंदगी.