A state of quiescent

Mark Twain said, "I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting"

... and I agree with him in totality. Have you ever felt like not waking up in the morning and just going back into deep slumber? Hmmmmm... the thought itself is making me drowsy. A quiet, peace loving person like me, finds the fiends of brutality and aggression awake when somebody rings the door bell early in the morning. As our ancestors have said, the morning time is the best time, So, why should we waste this beautiful moment in doing mundane chores. I am not saying this 'coz I am lazy. I am a visionary. I want to achieve great heights and do wonders for my country. And my sleep has been inspired by the words of our People's President, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam, "Dream Dream Dream...Dreams result in Innovation and Creativity and this results in action". Well, thats why it is very necessary that we sleep like logs for a better tomorrow.

Not just for the sake of nation, sleep is very important for a healthy body.As Thomas Dekker said, "Sleep is the golden chain that ties our health and body together". So, why break this golden chain and be victims of ill-health?

Scientifically speaking, sleep is the resting state in which an individual becomes relatively quiescent and relatively unaware of the environment. During sleep, which is in part a period of rest and relaxation, most physiological functions such as body temperature, blood pressure, and rate of breathing and heartbeat decrease. However, sleep is also a time of repair and growth, and some tissues, e.g., epithelium, proliferate more rapidly during sleep.

And before you dismiss this, there is more science for you. Sleep occurs in cyclical patterns. There are stages to it:

1)Stage 1: low-frequency, low-amplitude theta waves characterize brain activity. The stage usually lasts only several minutes, before the individual drifts into Stage 2.

2)Stage 2: the brain moves into low-frequency, high-amplitude waves.

3)Stage 3: signals an increase of low-frequency, high-amplitude delta waves.

4)Stage 4: delta waves account for more than half of all brain wave activity.

Stage 1 is also the "Dream" stage, where rapid eye movement occurs. And, yes, non-humans have the ability to sleep standing as well as lying down. But they don't see dreams while standing. Hence, it becomes very important to lie down on a bed and sleep so that you can be the architects of modern India.

Enough of wasting time, let me now go back to ignite my creativity and innovation and if any one of you calls on my mobile... GRRRRRrrrrrrrrr!

Power Sector Scenario

Power is a critical infrastructure for economic development and for improving the quality of life. Today the nation is facing an Energy deficit of 8.8 % and a Peak Demand deficit of 14 %. India now is bubbling with a lot of Economic activity with a GDP growth rate of more than 9 %. The catalyst to sustain this growth rate in future will be none other than the availability of Power. To meet the projected GDP growth rate of 8-9 % in India, we may need a growth rate of not less than 20 % in the Power Sector.

The Power sector scenario in India is now facing a new kind of dynamism. A sector that was earlier monopolised by State Electricity Boards as well as select few Public Sector companies, has now seen the rapid entry of so many private players, who all wish to have a piece of the delicious cake. The "Power for All by 2012" slogan of the Indian Government has created a frenzy among these Power honchos.

A sector that is highly capital intensive, but also promises of assured returns. It doesn't have a product life cycle which prophecies a decline after some time..... Power will be required for generations to come or until our future progeny comes up with some radical source of energy. Till then, Electricity (the class of phenomena arising from existence of charges) is here to stay.

The Public Sector companies, till now had nothing to fear about. They never even bothered about strategic management or long-term planning. Thanks to the entry of competition, these companies have now opened their eyes to a new scenario , where nothing is assured and for everything, you have to be better than the rest, especially, in keeping the right people at the right place.

An attrition rate that was hitherto in decimals, has now seen a jump and has reached single digits. Not worth mentioning if compared to the booming IT sector, but dangerous enough if compared within the industry. The mantra now is not maximum power generation, as most of these companies have already achieved operational excellence. The maxim to be followed is "Talent Management". I am sure, when McKinsey coined this term, they had no idea that this will take the shape of a religion in itself. The buzz words have now shifted to "Creativity" "Innovation" "Fun-place to work" ....... all these terms which were till now considered shallow in Public sector companies. And now, every food grain is garnished with them.

Consider the case of one of the state owned Nuclear Power Company in USA. With a mammoth increase in the percentage of working cadre retiring in the next 10 years, and the fact that Power Engineers are in great demand everywhere, they literally had to turn a new leaf. A new talent model itself, which gives importance to the grooming of Power Engineers from school .An industry academia tie-up which will ensure the continuous flow of Power soldiers into the company's battalion. The idea was borrowed from German companies as well as the Japanese firms like Toyota, the target is to entwine the talent pool in the culture of the organisation so that they breathe the company itself.

Its high time that the Indian Power companies took a cue from their counterparts and strive hard to maintain their treasure - People!


(Will come back with strategies to attract and retain talent)

:O

I really have no clue what I am about to write ..... Ever since Hub-e has gone to his new place of work, my mind has been in rambles.... especially when the weather here is so splendidly beautiful. Rains, cool breeze, a lazy air all around........ Hmmmmmmmm... What more do i need? Him!

People tend to ask me whether we had a love marriage? I guess our comfort level with each other as well as the love that sparkles in our eyes make them feel so.... and why should i deny it, ours is a marriage bound in love, hence love marriage :)

"Ospedale"

I don't understand why this topic has been looming in my mind these days ... maybe 'cos, I was a guest to the hospitality provided by them. Spital in Romania, Sjukhus in Sweden and हस्पताल in India ... as per dictionary, all three of them are institutions where sick or injured persons are given medical or surgical treatment.

As a child, I was always perturbed by the smell in hospitals and also the fact that the "evil" nurses would mercilessly stick a needle into me and take gallons of blood from an already anaemic person. My theatrical skills were best displayed and developed during such visits.

Me and Hub-e had a small honeymoon package arranged by one of the premier hospitals in the city. They were kind enough to arrange a nice, private, AC room, with TV and fridge (I still don't know why that Refrigerator was there since both of us were under the dictatorship of the dietician there and were provided healthy, bland, tasteless food by the hospital canteen). It really was a sweet experience. That’s the day I understood how much my Hub-e loved me and wanted to share and take part in my life. Both of us would cry out loudly when they inserted needles into our hands for IV. Admonished by the staff nurses on being such babies, we always had a competition going on about who was more babyish.

And yours truly won the contest hands down!

How can I forget the fact that we were the “Joke of the Day” for the hospital. Maybe it was for the first time they had seen a couple lying on adjacent beds making eyes at each other, or the fact that the young nurses found my Hub-e irresistibly cute. We had hordes of visitors every 15 minutes or so, 5-6 nurses will peek into our room, start blushing and smiling and then go off. Everytime this happened on the first day, me and Hub-e will look at each other with big eyes and asking the same question, “Were we doing something naughty? ;)”

The second day, we got the better of them. The moment they opened the door, we would beam our best Colgate and Pepsodent smiles at them. Omigosh, it didn’t work either. Their blushes grew pinker and smiles so wide that we could actually see their gums. Poor Hub-e had to bear the brunt of it since all our uninvited visitors were girls and the poor, tired, unwell me, asked him where he had met them earlier. A good cricketer that he is, he batted well and I had to concede the game to him.

The third and final day arrived. By this time, the room had become our second home. We felt so sad leaving it. Me more so, ‘cos for three days, I didn’t have to bother about cooking, cleaning or the maid. Everything was taken care of and I was the queen of Room no. 408. The PR person arrived and handed over a feedback form to me. I asked her the question me and Hub-e were dying to know the answer of. Why so many peeping visitors? And she said ……

“(blushing)…. Actually, you two are such a cute pair …. (blushing further) … and the complete staff room is abuzz about how nice you both look … (a blushing and furtive glance at Hub-e) … so, that’s why they all wanted to come and see you once. He He He!. Hope you had a comfortable stay at Yashoda Hospital”

Ahem! Any comments?

A story to share .....

I never used to understand why some people were so crazy about their pets... "It's just a dog for god's sake" ... I never wanted to have a pet. But, maybe I was destined to. Spock entered my life and it has changed forever. I now understand what it feels to be loved like crazy and unconditionally, to be welcomed with licks and hugs as soon as you enter home.

Today, I heard about a very heart touching story and wanted to share it with one and all.

Our vet has a boy working for him. Very simpleton looking. Cannot be more than 14 or 15, well, he looks that much only. Someone you won't give a second glance to. Yet, in his simple ways and shy nature, there lies someone who is much above all of us. He had a pet dog and was very fond of him. One day the dog ran into a speeding car and was smashed badly. The boy rushed with him to the hospital. The doctors said that a small surgery will be required. The fee : Rs.4,000/- only. How does a poor boy like him manage that? But do you know, what he told the doctors, "I don't care how much money it requires, just make my dog alright. I will bring in the money". The doctors had astonishment as well as deep respect in their eyes when they saw this lanky boy leave the hospital to bring the money.

He went from one door to another in his slum area, begging for money for his beloved dog. People couldn't ignore the sincerity and love visible in his streaming eyes. He managed to accumulate the required amount. With a light heart, a smile on his face and sprinting legs, he reached the hospital, only to be told ... "Your dog died!"

And now, his face doesn't go away from my eyes. Now I understand his gentle ways with Spock and the yearning in his eyes whenever he sees a dog. I have been told that tears start pouring whenever he sees someone mistreating their dogs ... Well, not all can be as devoted to the dogs as they are to us. But this boy deserves my highest respect for being able to achieve that.

I so wish I knew his name!

D new Entrant!

24th March: The day I conquered my prejudice and fear............................

Since I have been married, there is one thing that has been bothering Hub-e. He is a HUGE fan of pets (read ferocious looking dogs) and his lovely wife, well, she is literally scared of them. Months of slow brainwash finally worked. The fateful day, 24th March, finally arrived. Hub-e had a big Grin on his face which couldn't be removed even with a magic potion. So, we went out on Mission Puppy, with our neighbours in tow, who already have a GSD and wouldn't mind window shopping.

Heart beats running fast, drops of sweat-dew forming on my forehead and nape of the neck..... we ventured out.

Mr.Lewis, the quintessential dog-lover, who wouldn't stop even for a fleeting moment from talking about all the dogs he had, he has and is about to have. My mind went into a tizzy. With literally 7 huge dogs barking away to glory and 11 "cute" puppies who were trying to make some bizarre sound, Hub-e's huge grin, neighbours nodding their head in pleasure and Mr.Lewis' rendition, I had no idea what I was doing. And when consciousness regained, I was in my car. Lo and behold! with a puppy in my lap, sleeping peacefully, looking like an angel. Is this what I was always so scared of???

(By the way, the breed is BOXER! Hub-e couldn't settle for anything that didn't look ferocious or was friendly)

And about "Mr.Spock" ......................... I'll be back!

Sweet Justice... finally!

As a guest-blogger at my wife's blog it did not take me much time to decide what should go first. Justice, though long pending, should never be denied. And today I have decided to do justice to that poem, the very first and the last, that I sent my beloved during our courtship days. I sent her this poem but did not get any response, nothing more than mere acknowledgement of receipt. The reaction, or rather the lack of it, did baffle me then (having heard from friends that girls were mightly impressed by emotional artifacts like poems) and so one day, well into our marriage, I did pose the question, as to why she did not seem to be too happy on receiving a poem from me. "Ya riiiiight...", she said, still busy folding the freshly washed clothes and tucking them away into neat piles in the almirah, "I remember that poem. It was really beautiful. I did wonder what website you downloaded it from".

If this belongs on the web then so be it:

To my Rose, With Love…
-------------------------------
The night was young the hearts were young,
The moon on her midnight stroll, unsung
Romeo and Juliet in the winter-night chill
Holding hearts to a dream’s fulfill…

“The more it flairs the more I suppress
It’s etched in my eyes for thee to see
No thoughts, no words, no acts'd express
My love for a rose, my love for thee…”

“Romeo... a million thorns may scald your hands
This rose may wither with the hour-sands…”
“For thee, Juliet, thorns couldn’t outsmart
Nor fiendish swords right through my heart”.

The blood-bath would stop at the threshold of their Eden
She, thus, spake with the joy in her heart a-laden“
Then love me, for eons and eons it may take
But don’t break my heart before it breaks…

Now go, my beloved, though my heart it’d kill
Lest the men find thee at my window-sill”.
“So long my Rose, I’ll live by thy dreams”
And he kissed her sweet lips, as time stood still.

-Anand Menon

Tribute to the Women

An ideal wife is portrayed in Sanskrit as:

"रूपेशु लक्ष्मी,
कार्येशु मंत्री,
कर्मेशु दासी,
भोज्येशु माता,
शयनेशु रम्भा,
क्षमया धरित्री"

A woman should have the looks, be a wise counsel, a devout servant, should provide like a mother, be a seductress and have patience like Mother Earth, all bundled in one. Many personae indeed! But what about the ideal husband?

I recently read an article about the plight of women in today's society. It made me cringe. And I launched the herculean task of attaining answers to loads of questions whizzing in my mind like bumble-bees. Here's what I unearthed.

I was enthralled to know that in Ancient India, women were considered far more superior to men, a culture whose only words for strength and power were "Shakthi". A woman is depicted as the Creator, Conserver as well as Destroyer of Evil. Literary evidence suggests that kings and towns were destroyed because a single woman was wronged by the state. For example, Valmiki's Ramayana teaches us that Ravana and his entire clan was wiped out because he abducted Sita. Veda Vyasa's Mahabharatha teaches us that all the Kauravas were killed because they humiliated Draupadi in public. Elango Adigal's Sillapathigaram teaches us Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas was burnt because Pandyan Nedunchezhiyan mistakenly killed her husband on theft charges.

Women were treated equal as far as education and religion was concerned. They could also receive the sacred thread and could read and practice the Vedas. Women enjoyed far greater freedom in the Vedic period than in later India. She had more to say in the choice of her mate than the forms of marriage might suggest. She appeared freely at feasts and dances, and joined with men in religious sacrifice. She could study, and like Gargi, engage in philosophical disputation. If she was left a widow there were no restrictions upon her remarriage.

Education for girls was regarded as quite important. While Brahmin girls were taught Vedic wisdom, girls of the Kshatriya community were taught the use of the bow and arrow. The Barhut sculptures represent skillful horsewomen in the army. Patanjali mentions the spear bearers (saktikis). Megasthenes speaks of Chandragupta's bodyguard of Amazonian women. Kautilya mentions women archers (striganaih dhanvibhih). In houses as well as in the forest Universities of India, boys and girls were educated together. Atreyi studied under Valmiki along with Lava and Kusha, the sons of Rama.

Thousands of years later, when our country is on the threshold of being called a Super Power, the "Shakthi" of yesteryear is in a predicament. Be it house, office or society in general, the respect for women has reduced drastically. Because she is a woman, she has to make unusual attempts to succeed. If she fails, no one will say "She doesn't have what it takes". They will say, "Women don't have what it takes".

The history of every country is carved by the hand of man, while the hope and love of humanity, is born of a woman's soul.