Oh so "Intolerant and insensitive" ..

Last couple of days I have been in a "All Women" conference. Driven by the new age HR initiative across many companies - I&D. Inclusion and Diversity !

One of the key proponent of I&D, wanted to have my opinion on initiating tracks on "LGBT" networking within companies here in Bangalore, India. Support groups. Prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation in the MNCs.

My honest opinion was "Why solve something that is not even a problem ?".

She said - In India, people who are coming to work in IT companies, all in closet. With all the support structure they may come out of it. And the society here is not very tolerant, as good corporate citizens we need to support them.


My opinion was still the same - "Why solve something that is not even a problem ?"

if they are in closet, they are not being "discriminated" in work place. And if we know, society here is intolerant and we are afraid that people may be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, then why put them on spot light by supporting them to come out of the closet ? Won't we endanger them more ?? What service will we do as good corporates ?

Of course I got the LOOK - "Oh so intolerant and insensitive - YOU !!! "

Ok - go ahead ! in the name of inclusion and diversity, differentiate certain people and keep them outside the circle, so that they can struggle to be inclusive !! huh !!!

"Longitude" - A poem !

Naughty grin, stuck to the face
Been a while since you left
shuffling you in my mind
Forward, backward, wind, re-wind

The magic allures
The taste lingers 
Scent scintillates the senses
Can't  you leave me,
Just for a few moments ?

Go ! Far far away
I want to miss you -

say "My friend! so long !"
and wish like a parting soul mate -
"May you never get to cry alone" !!


- Betaal, A Rainy Sunday of November 2011

Superstition !

All of us have some of the seasoned believes, backed by mental statistics and correlations to results - good or bad !

If I wear the blue dress, the presentation will be good.
The old wrist band for a few free aces in the game.
Enter home with left foot in first ? Ok... that's too much !


But all of have some form of superstitions. And when we rationally think about them or especially when we advice others, we frown up on superstitions ! We know, logically,  they have no relevance to reality.

However, superstition can be very very useful in many cases. Most athletes have strong superstitions. When they are not in form, superstition comes handy is getting out of it.

How ?

When an athlete goes through a bad patch, which is not because of physical injuries, it is because of a mental block, self doubt, cluttered thoughts etc.

And if a pair of socks form two different sets, makes him feel lucky and get over all the above what's wrong ?

We can certainly make it a tool to break some degenerative cycles.

PS: Personally tried and tested :)

A week of change

India story turns to the page of "Formula 1", "Lady Gaga", "Metallica" - all in the same week.

The youth has moved on from "I am Anna".

From fighting financial and political corruption, to inviting moral and cultural corruption.

From the demand of inclusive growth, to showcasing capitalistic-porn !

The priorities have changed. The focus has moved to more comfortable subjects.

Nevertheless, change is good and the only constant ! And its cyclic in intention too :) That part is new discovery for sure.

Diwali Greetings !!

Diwali - the festival of lights !
The victory of truth.
Awareness over ignorance.

My very dear friends !
      While you must already be getting tons of best wishes from all around you, let me wish all of us just one thing - "To be aware of what exactly we wish for in our life, family, friends, society, country,  planet and universe. Let just be aware of that."

And  old drop of wisdom "Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram".

Seeking truth will lead to God up on attaining whom we will be beautiful !!

Appreciate beauty. Stay beautiful !

Happy Diwali !

Something for the weekend ..

"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
 
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
 
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.
 
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity." - Lao Zhu

whodunit ???

I often turn to kids to tap in to some fresh, pure, un-cluttered, uni-dimensional, courageous thinking.
Its interesting to watch them analyze grave subjects and come up with probable solution.

They are not too sensitive to feedback (one saying other "what a dumb idea! you shut up !") neither they are afraid to accept others' idea ("cool didi .. thats a great idea !").

Today morning, the kids of the apartment complex I live in got a really grave subject to discuss. Theft !

Last night, between 3AM - 4AM, 3-4 apartments within the complex were burgled. The thieves were confident climbers, as proficient in sneaking in through high rise balconies, as our security guards are proficient in sleeping through the night ! They have just taken cash from all the wallets left in living rooms and had time to remove the SIM Cards before taking all the mobile phones too. 

So in the morning, when the residents are all in a state of nervous excitement, all pointing fingers to security guard, police doing some investigation etc. kids started their parallel analysis.

- "The apartment complex has just one gate, where security office is there. All other sides are apartments. So it has to be insiders. Not people from outside"

- "Police should go look for people who are sleepy now in the morning time. If some of them are sleeping with cash and mobile, then they are the theives"

- "lets just call the mobile phone they have taken and ask where are you? "

- "Some people become thief because they did not study when they were kids. Lets put a poster, if you are a thief, we can teach you math for free"  

- "our karate teacher should stay here in the night. He can kick all the thieves"

And many more. Agreed, most of these have been shaped by the TV they watch and other stuff, but the focus and team work is exemplary.

Adults simply have forgotten this level of team work, while developing their ego over the years, somewhere ! Who stole that from all of us  ???