Time to Introspect

The nation-wide movement against corruption and support to Anna Hazare movement is great. After the protests during the emergency, this is perhaps the largest mobilization of people across the country for a common cause. Kudos to the media for helping this cause. The Government had really gone over-board with corruption with no sense of shame, guilt or conscience. This was just waiting to happen. Frustration and misery of the people has limits and these limits seem to be breached now.

But, we need to understand something very fundamental. While protesting for eradication of corruption (Root cause of all evil) is great, are we really ready for change? We need to answer a few questions. It is time we introspect.

Everyone lauds populist measures. Everytime budgets are presented in the Parliament, tax cuts etc. and other populist measures are lauded. Stock markets zoom, people's sentiments are positive. We are not concerned at that time, if this is really good for the country and our economy.The Government usually presents such measures at the time of elections. All that has gone wrong is forgotten, the authorities are appreciated and this is retained in people's psyche at the time of elections. Similarly a more realist budget will draw frowns from all quarters. Case in point would be the situation in Tamilnadu where election are won by handing out goodies to the people (TV, Fridge, Mixer, Grinders etc.) and not merely on merit and good governance.

FOR EVERY CREDIT THERE IS A DEBIT. Who is going to bear the expense of this "Plunder". Tax payers, finally. And if taxes are also cut due to populist measures, then the government borrows!!. Thus begins a vicious cycle.

Coming back to the topic of change, I believe that change will truely come when we change ourselves and not just by change in the government. Some questions that we need to answer:

1) Are we willing to stop bribing officials and follows rules and regulations?

2) Are we willing to drive in a straight lane and follow traffic rules and not cut corners, break signals, lane-cutting etc?

3) Are we willing to stand in a queue patiently and not jump them at stations, theatres etc.?

4) Are we willing to follow rules diligently?

5) Are we willing to stop spitting/throwing garbage on roads and public property?

The above list is not an exhaustive list but an illustrative one. If we can do all of the above when we are in a foriegn country, why cant we do it here in our home?

The point I want to drive home is that protests are not the only way of weeding out corruption. We will have to change ourselves fundamentally as well to effect this change. "Taali ek haath se nahi Bajti hai" is an apt saying in this case. Are we willing to swallow the bitter pill?

The Garbage Truck....

Hi Friends

At long last, I am back to blogging. After a gap of almost 2 years....

The topic that I would like to write about today is a phenomenon known as the "Garbage Truck".

I recently read a wonderful article on the Garbage truck. Some of you may be wondering why someone would spend some time writing and reading on something as stinking, horrible, as a Garbage Truck...Well read on..

Everyday, in our lives, we come across all sorts of people exhibiting a range of emotions. Some are happy, some are sad, worried. When one interacts with these people, a range of emotions are felt and given. Interacting with happy people, brings about a feeling of positivity and happiness.

On the other hand, interacting with people who are sad, worried only brings feelings of negativity. These people will dump their emotional garbage, worries, tensions onto you and make you feel negative as well. They turn you into a "Garbage Truck". This will just have a snowballing effect and create more garbage trucks everywhere. You will tend to get upset over a range of issues and the response to issues will be more than what is warranted. This may be due to presence of your own negative thoughts and issues which are further supported and motivated by the "Garbage" that gets thrown on you through the day.

The point in question is how does one tackle such issues? Well, I am no expert on human psychological matters, however, one thing which I've noticed that works most of the times, is a simple positive response to a negative person. Negativity thrives on negativity. Negativity seeks more negativity. Unlike Mathematics, two negatives, will not turn positive!

One should offer a kind word, lend a shoulder to cry on, or any other positive response to a person who is affected by negativity, but one should remember that you should never let that negativity affect you. A simple illustration - Your boss just called you for a Monday morning meeting. A simple error committed by you results in a huge reprimand from your boss. You then get affected by this and spend the entire day brooding over it. You meet other colleagues during work and pass on this "garbage" to others. They in-turn may pass it on to their other colleagues, friends etc. This has a domino effect and has a huge impact. We should begin by understanding what went through the mind of the boss on the morning? He may have had a fight with his spouse or may be his senior may yelled at him etc. This led to an entire chain of negative thoughts and actions throughout the organization.

A simple response to the above would be to take the reprimand from the boss in a positive way and work around to resolve issues. The negative train stops then and there!!

The above is easier said than done. However this is required for a peaceful and a healthy mind. The above is just an illustration. Garbage can come from anywhere. What is important is how we respond to it.

Like negativity, positivity attracts more positivity. A positive mind will help clean out garbage from our minds and help us focus on what is important and what is not.

Water Woes in Mumbai....

Hey all

Its been a while since I wrote my last blog..

I believe all my co-Mumbaikars are closely following the current water crisis in the city. Our blessed lakes going down to extremely low levels, talks about cloud seeding, fixing water pipes to avoid wastage etc.

I cannot help but imagine how helpless we are against nature. Last week it rained so much in the city but hardly rained in the lakes. All that fresh water, logged in our roads, rail tracks, going down the drain. We are completely helpless.

I was thinking about the phrase, "Water Water everywhere, not a drop to drink!" Very true saying indeed. Water was everywhere. People were wading through water, Vehicles were wading through water.....But then the taps ran dry.

We are helpless.....

Mumbai - The best city in the country (I am a biased Mumbaikar...my non-Mumbaikar Friends, please dont mind :-D). We have roughly 1% of India's population. We are surrounded by the seas. We are an island city. There is water everywhere! So what is this non-sense that we are short of water??

I have a feeling that de-salination of seawater is the best option. I read in the newspapers recently that Dubai, Chennai etc employ de-salination plants since they have acute water shortage. They do not have fresh water sources like we do. But then, Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Mediterrainean coast employs de-salination...not only for fresh drinking water, but also irrigation. I have heard Dubai plans to triple its de-salination capacity in the next 8 years.

The Indian Coast is surrounded by great seas and oceans. So what water shortage are we talking about? We need to focus our tax payers money not only on ground infrastructure, but also on creating infrastructure, which will provide the basic necessity of life - Water.

I sincerely believe that we should focus our efforts on such processes to end the water woes not only in Mumbai but also the rest of the country.

Blogging...a beginning....and lots of questions!

Hey friends...

After seeing so many of my friends join the blogging community...i decided...why not try it myself.....so here goes...

I am sitting here...thinking...its sunday evening....8:57pm...then its gonna be 8:58pm....very soon 12:00am....n then monday....

There is this horrible feeling slowly and steadily creeping up my head....Its gonna be Monday tomorrow....work...

A particular phenomenon called Monday Morning Blues....

The very fact that this phrase is so very well known is because people all over the world have experienced it. Come Sunday Evening, can you can feel the dullness in the air, all around you!. I have known people who get Monday Morning blues on a Friday! 

This is where I ask a question to myself. Why do people get Monday Morning Blues? Why am I getting Monday Morning Blues? Is it because of work? If Yes, How does one cure a Monday Morning Blue feeling??

So many people all around hate going to work so much?? Why do people hate to go to work? Is it the work they do? Is it their boss? Is it the colleagues? Is it the culture...What is it?

It could be one of the above, or it could be a combination of two or more of the above reasons. Or it could be some reason other than the above...

I have met very few people, who find Monday Morning exciting. They are so happy and eager to back to work. I have a friend of mine. He works in a media company. We've discussed his work. He has the most horrible boss...bitchy colleagues...but he is still happy to go back to work. I asked him what is the one thing that excites him in his job. He blunt reply was "I love my work, I love what I do. It excites me and keeps me happy"

This got me thinking....

Instead of constantly thinking whats bad about our jobs and bringing out an entire list of short comings in our work, the best way to deal with the issue is to draw up a list on whats good about our work. It could be anything.....Anything that makes you feel happy and puts a smile across your face....

I believe this exercise must be done by all. We are all in different professions..Why are we in these professions? Noone forced us to take up our jobs....Noone is forcing us to stay on...There is a particular reason why we are there...

Positive attitude and positive mindset towards work can help us in the long run...