The Tea-Master's Column

So many years in the South and havent seen the Queen of Hills - Fie ! So, if it has to be, it has to be this time only. Finally Friday came. As usual the Onsite call early morning was enough to ruin one's day. No exception this time as there has been some change in requirements and no extra time given for the same. My team-mate declared that she is coming on weekend to work. God no please no - not again ! It was been just about a week that Strategy got over. So, this Friday morning was feeling kinda empty. So did a quick TOWS analysis to find out what are the opportunities-strengths versus the environmental threats-weaknesses. I found that the opportunity costs of not going were far too great and that I would need this trip to 'sustain competitive advantage'. So, without further ado, was off to 'Oooooooooooty'. As the bus started uphill - I took in the cool air - my placid heart was gasping for oxygen. My soar eyes got soothed with the greenery around. I let the col...

You do anything in the world to gain a reputation. As soon as you have one, you seem to want to throw it away. It is silly of you, for there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face." It is better not to be different from one's fellows. The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live--undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet. They neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it from alien hands. When I like people immensely, I never tell their names to any one. It is like surrendering a part of them. I have grown to love secrecy. It seems to be the one thing that can make modern life mys...

No wonder why the entire nation salutes this man. An ordinary man with etra-ordinary vision. Yes, thats NRN for you. He has done it with the software industry and he envisages the same vision for another highly profitable industry thats the Film and Entertainment industry . http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/08murthy.htm Very aptly he has laid down the points to organise the Film industry, find, award talent and meritocracy and make it profitable. "To have a global mindset, you need to produce where it is most cost-efficient, source capital from where it is the cheapest, and sell where it is the most profitable." I believe its most cost efficient to produce in India and East Asia. Icredible India is the most beautiful place to be in - with seas, deserts, mountains and every natural thing available. By picturising in India, we would be able to sell India to the world by showcasing the exotic locations. Not only that, 500 years of history is still preserved in places lik...

The Tiger and the Dragon have reared their heads and it seems that the World has heard their growl. Consider this: ASEAN GDP at $735b - Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos .. SAFTA (SAARC Free Trade Agreement ) from 01-01-2006 RTIA (Indo-ASEAN Regional Trade and Investment) to touch $30b by 2007 China-ASEAN - FTA: Biggest Free Trade Zone in the World Biennial East Asian Summit - China, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Aggrement) with Indo-Sing Indo-Sri, Ind-Thai, Indo-Nep FTAs in place Asian Development Bank predicts Asian economy to grow by 7 %. India's GDP to exceed France in 2020, Germany in 2025, Japan in 2035. India-China trade - $10b India-EU - $28b India-US - $16b India-ASEAN - $13b Asian Highway being built to connect India, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malayasia, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to facilitate land-based merchandise. India's Strength: 1). Auto Components and assembly: Foreign ...

Of last, the 3 Silmarillos, prserving the light, fire and glory get scattered in the air, the earth and the seas. Fashioned by Feanor, lost through guile and hatred, retrieved by oath and might, the jewels finally went beyond the possession of any living being. Created as a flowing thought of music, JRRs epic consisting of The Silmarillion, The Hobbits, the Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and the Return of the King shall remain unequalled in the choice of names, characters and dynasties, surpassing even the Mahabharata. Ideas conceived and intermingled with fairy tales and history to give England an Epic that they can call its very own. The creator Illuvatar, the 7 Ainur, the immortal Elves, the mortal Men, the Dwarves and the Hobbits make this a fantastical reading, that takes one beyond imaginations, and posthomously honours the creative-genius called Tolkein. Unlike the other epics of yore, none of the characters save Morgoth live till the end. While infighting, treachery...

Few of us who have been plagued by the snarling traffic on Hosur road would squirm by the thought of a bridge from Silk Board to Electronics City(9 km long). Man .. I would never like to live in Blore when this happens ? What now takes over an hour, would probably take more than 2 hrs. It was then like a lightning from a blue that the idea of a rope-way struck me. Why cant we have one from Silkway to E. City ? And then from E-City station to various companies here - Infy, Wipro, Siemens - wow !! People can just get up on Silk-board and get down at the respective buildings. It will be hassle-free, eco-friendly and less problematic for the existing traffic. Only thing is that initial investment might be more. But if one has to do a cost benefit analysis, one would find that - it is much better than the hours of pain that thousands of people have to go through for years together - given the record of Karnataka govt in getting bridges built !!

Of late having been watching a bit of TV or rather what they call the 'Reality shows' - Indian Idol, Harsha Bhogle ki Khoj etc etc. I was really impressed by the tremendous enthusiasm, response and participation at these events. And so it just struck me if we could something similar in our club meetings. Following are my thoughts: 1). Currently roles like MC and TTM are handled by members.Instead these roles will be handled by a guest member 2). Instead of 1 MC, we will have 2 people who will compare the whole show. Similarly, instead of 1 TTM, we will have 2 people. They will still talk on the theme set by the Edu committee. 3). Now, if we have this over a period of 2 months, 4 meetings that means 16 guests will get a chance to anchor a TM meeting. The final meeting will have the winners of these 4 meetings and the final winner will get his TM joining fees sponsored by the club or anything deemed fit by members. 4). If we have more than 16 guests willing...

As I see, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mysore emerge as the Hot-spots of the South, my eyes turn east. Can we not have a similar map in the East of India ? I believe we can. We can something like Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Jamshedpur and Siliguri linked together, it can serve as a the Eastern Corridor. Linking I would mean, by fast-trains that take between 6-8 hours of travel or good bus service. Superfast highways and roads connecting these cities. Wow !! Kolkata could be the financial centre of east and given its proximity to East Asia like Bangkok, Tokyo, Manilla, Hong-Kong, Kuala Lumpur - it can serve as the gateway to these economies. Jameshedpur, promoted by the Tatas can be the industrial capital. With Infosys Bhubaneshwar has emerged as a IT destination. Given its proximity to rich cultural places like Konarak and Puri - it has huge untapped potential. Siliguri is important as it is the gateway to the North-east. Now, one would ponder as to why its important to develop these p...

Hello Friends, Am a little tea-leaf ! Everyone from an old man, a poor man, rich man, fit man, stressed man needed me at sometime of his day. I have this unique capability of giving them the much needed energy and rejuvenation. I am the cause why they take a little break from their monotonous work. I have often eavesdropped into so many interesting conversations but believe me if one had implemented even 1% of those creative and innovative ideas, this world would have been a different place to be. Not to mention, the little rumours and chit-chats I get to hear from those lovely ladies when they come together after their siesta :-). "Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.Live the actual moment.Only this moment is life." So, Tea Masters while drinking that ' cup of life' if you come across a thought or idea, share it with us. It can be anything on earth - innova...