Modern Technology Vs Traditional: Learning from Japan

The topic is wide and in next 500 words I can not cover the positives and negatives of Modern vs. Traditional ways of engineering. The idea of writing this blog came from my continuous follow up with the Japan’s recent 9 Richter scale tremor followed by the dangerous Tsunami claiming thousand of life in the country, and the failure and explosion in the modern engineering Nuclear Reactors.

Nuclear Reactors are established in Japan to generate energy, Electric Energy. Japan was one of the pioneers in setting up these reactors and using them with high efficiency. Nuclear reactors are actually one of the modern ways for generating electricity, and the older is Coal Plants which is still in use. The cost of setting up a Nuclear Reactor over Coal Plants is way high, at the same time it demands high quality in process and people.

After the melt-down of couple of Nuclear Reactor resulting leakage of radiation in Japan a huge outcry is noticed around the world especially in the developed country to shutdown their Nuclear Reactors of the good of people. These outbreaks are the result of the emotional decision making of the people. Electricity is very important in our day to day life and if the most modern way of engineering is refused by the world we have the option of going back to Coal Plants and Energy from the other fossil fuels. One more alternate ways will be to develop the renewable source of energy like Wind Mills, Solar Energy and Water Energy (Dams) but cost implication is again huge and with many limitation. We can not overlook these natural sources of energy however we are still under development phase, and it’s very difficult to adopt these ways of energy generation as the supply of the capital equipments for renewable power generation is very less. I know about the supply as I am closely working with one of my client who is the biggest exporter of Solar Panels from India, and ask me how we are managing their supply chain. Costs of these panels are very high so they keep controlling the cost at supply chain, and demand is huge causing the restless work environment inside the office and factory.

So, I am going to consider Coal Plant (Traditional) vs Nuclear Reactor (Modern). The point is can we go back to Coal Energy because of the people’s outcry over the world? And my answer will be logically “NO”.

Nuclear power is one of the most efficient way to generate the energy vis-a-via Coal Power. Despite of high capital and operational cost, per unit cost of the energy remain very less in Nuclear Power. I agree that we have seen few instances where Nuclear reactors has put the life of people in danger, however if we see the long term effect of Nuclear energy on people, it is much safer then Coal or compared to any other fossil fuel energy. Burning of coal emits many GHG (Green House Gases) contributing hugely to the global-warming resulting many catastrophic issues. Also procuring Coal is a dangerous process with thousands of people’s life in stake, also mining cost, transportation cost, manpower cost, environment implication and many more. Though the similar process is also used to procure Uranium (mining, conversion, enrichment to the correct uranium, and transportation) however the final cost-benefit analysis rates Nuclear Power generation way ahead than Coal Power.

It’s pretty understood that Nuclear Reactors come with many perils but we have to consider all those risk areas, and ensure that we have every solution ready if any such incident happens. If we take the example to Japan, Japan is a seismic zone and they were pretty much ready to handle any earthquake related problem, however they were not much prepared for tsunami danger.

This is big learning for the world, they should learn from what has happened in Japan. Japan one of the most technology driven country with all the process followed with almost 100% compliance, if that can happen with them it can happen anywhere. We just have to be prepared.

For all the developing countries energy is the biggest challenge, India and China is already looking Nuclear power as one of the ways to keep their momentum up and running. We should take many learning from Japan Nuclear Reactor meltdown, and ensure that we handle the upcoming perils very sensitively.

And as the Picture shows, Pound for pound Uranium provided 16000 time more Electricity than Coal !!! (Source: http://newenergyandfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Uranium-vs-Carbon-Poster.jpg)

Shivendra Singh

Mar 22, 2011

Friends !!!

Friends !

How beautiful is the feeling of being friendly with someone. It’s like chatting, laughing, teasing and off-course pulling legs. Beautiful is this relationship too.

Imagine a world without Friends!!!

Now friends doesn’t just mean people who are nowhere related to us, like the people we met in school, college, during our visits to different places or in office and became friendly. We have many people who are related to us from our birth, and who we call “relatives”, some of them are friendlier with us than the others. They though are in first place relative, but we share friendship with them too. We are friendly with them and they are our friends too.

Friendship comes from anybody, and it doesn’t ask for religion, cast, race, country, time zones, sex or age, and I would call it the real bonding between too people based on their interest, likeness and future plans.

When we friend with somebody we generally give great value of our friend’s priorities, we spend time for them, we get happiness when they are happy and feel bad when they are sad. We generally share honesty, we empathize and sympathies each other, and trust a lot.

One day when we grow old and look back to our lives, we will see our best moments are the moments spent with friends. We will remember them, treasure them and we will cherish them always.

Shivendra Singh
Mar 13, 2011

Brain Malfunctioning !

Ideas, Thoughts and Creativity !!!

...and I am missing all these lately, actually from last couple of months. I remember there was a time when every moment used to give me some or other point to ponder and express my views, but now I am completely into something which is not allowing my brain to think out of the box, or think about anything which is not directly related to me.

I am not even able to think what's that ??? and why am I behaving so differently.

I lost touch with blogging after my accident, and that's it from that day onwards I am so laidback for everything. Though the accident has taught me many things but yeh I can figure out it has slightly changed the way I was trying to live my life.

My atleast one blog per month is a very well-to-do target however I am not even able to achieve that.

Completely Wild !!!

Shivendra Singh

No blog long time

...this is this the blog where I hardly write anything about me but more about my ideas and views, however this time I just want to have me in the blog... reason... nothing specific.

19 Apr. 2010 day when I started my Swingers Dance work shop with Salsa first, never thought I will be joining second workshop even but I did. Yesterday was our performance and believe me it was just rocking. All seriousness put for dance in last 30 classes melted down in a fun and frolic environment. Truly enjoyed the evening yesterday... made friends and hope they will remain friend for at least quite sometime. Facebook is definitely playing a great in finding, and keeping in touch with people.

Now, time to get back to some serious work as some important trainings and obviously Audit is approaching. Being the Quality rep of the branch is not allowing me to leave office early everyday.

and what.... that's it...!!!

Shivendra Singh
31 May 2010

A Fish in a Fish Bowl

I am lonely, I have no one to play, I have no friends, I have no relatives, I am alone... I am just one fish in a fish tank with nothing but water all around me, where I can't even enjoy swimming. I sleep with open eyes, between people's voice, I move up, I move down, I move round, I move somehow, I can't do anything else I am a Fish in the fish bowl. - The little Fish of the little Fish-Bowl.

I keep seeing this fish lonely in a small spherical fish-bowl on the next of my desk in my office. I often go there, and try to be 'that fish' for sometime. I just try to notice what the fish is doing all alone all the time. What is this fish's life, how does she manage to keep herself alive, I better have killed myself if ever kept in such an asylum. What keeps her going, what keeps her living, what keeps making her energetic all the time ?

This fish is my mystery... why can't we live without people if a fish can do? May be, because we are a social animal, We like to make friends, like to chat, like to play, like to laugh, like to empathize and like to enjoy...!!!

We can't be like that Gold Fish, who is serving a life sentence in that fish-bowl.

Shivendra Singh
16 Apr. 2010

Leader Vs. Leading Follower

Risk benefit analysis always tell us what is the benefit that we are going to get after taking some risk. "Be a leader" is the most common quote we are listening from many companies these day… creativity and being innovative is one of the best way to survive in today highly competitive environment, but how about the risk-benefit analysis of being creative and innovative - HIGH RISK, HIGH BENEFIT and HIGH Value, but at the same time you never know when your creativity will get obsolete for the world.

I have the great regards for the companies and the people who live the motto of being leader in creativity and innovation, but at the same time if I get a chance, I will surely not choose for it as I am not a risk taking individual. I would rather go for something called "being leader in adapting the innovations creatively", and if luck favors across my establishment (some day). Now what does the Risk-Benefit Analysis says for "being leader in adapting the innovations creatively"... Yes, definitely Less Risk and High Benefit and More Values. So my preference is different, but more important to know is how can one be leader in adopting the innovations creatively. If you are leader in adopting innovations, it means you got to really work on the positive and negative aspects of the innovations, need to judge the future viability and prospect of the innovations, and surely have to consider the scope of development in the innovations.

Blindly following an innovation is like digging a grave, and that too not just for yourself but even for the people who are closely associated with you in the venture for which innovations are adopted. So being a leading follower also takes high stakes, but I will still prefer it over "Being a Leader".

Shivendra Singh
30 Mar. 2010

What this blog is about ?

The two primary reason why I am writing this blog is, I have written just one blog this month and Second, I got a good stuff to write.

In pursuit of a great reading I keep going to one or other book stores in Chennai, One of my favorite hang out destination is Landmark, especially the one that is near to Gemini Flyover, but this time it didn't excite me, and I moved to Oxford book store in Nungambakkam, which is on Haddows Road. BTW this blog is not about my quest for book or knowledge it's all about something else...!!!

I bought "Go Kiss the World" by Subroto Bagchi expecting some great learning from the book for the young professionals of India, again this blog is not about this book. I had taken a "Chennai Traditional filter Coffee" at CHA bar which is there in the Oxford book store, which was quite savoring and devouring, but this blog is not even for that. I bought the book, settled the bill and picked up the Paper Bag given by the Store-Guy which contains the book I just purchased, and unexpectedly this blog is all about that "Paper Bag".

"Paper Bag, that's great", these are the exact words that came out from my mouth the moment I saw that paper bag and grabbed with my fingers. This is the latest trend or practice by many grand retailers in India. This is not the first instance where I was holding a paper bag , I did it many times in past but now I was more able to understand the importance of these kind drives from the organized retails across the globe. One more great things about "this" paper bag was that it was fully made by the newspaper and not from the recycled papers... and that's why the pic is been uploaded. There was a small slip at the bottom of the bag reading "This is a product of Mentally Challenged Persons... 'ANANDALOK...', Welfare center for the mentally handicapped"

Now there are two things that come in mind, 1. Employment of the Mentally Challenged People and 2. Eco Friendly drive. Well the former can not be neglected, but the question is; Is it actually eco friendly to use paper bag... after all we are using paper and that means we are cutting trees indirectly. The answer is yes, Paper bags are generally made up of recycled paper which encourage recycling of paper, which a good thing. In India recycling of paper is still not happening at great level, and not much importance is been given by the civilians. Once the recycling industry will grow to an organized level it will bring-in more and more visibility to the positive aspect of paper recycling and a positive drive from the people.

Second great thing is "Avoid using Plastic", using paper bag can limit the usage of plastic bag up to a great extent. Plastics are not good for environment as it is non-degradable and recycling of plastic is not very eco-friendly, burning of polythene emits lots of pollutants. So avoiding the usage of plastic can be taken care well if it can be replaced by a eco-friendly substitute and that at present is "used paper".

There is one more advantage of using paper bags for corporates, I learned from some of the training conducted at my office that "Trust" is a product of "Competencies" and "Character". Today every company is competent enough in providing a great product and rendering a superb service to their clients, but how can they over do the marketing and build a better character. Simple, build a positive image or character of the firm in the mind of their customers, and how can they do that, by doing better things for the society. Using a paper bag is something that will give positive impression on the customers, the way it did for me, surely it would have worked for many.

Corporate play an important role in spreading awareness about the good things in the society. It eventually helps the society to improve and to be better. I love some of the great initiative taken by Tata Tea, Idea, Aircel etc.

Anyway, as I stated earlier in this blog that this is only about "the Paper Bag" and nothing else, so I don't want to drift to anything else. Let's stop it here... and encourage using recycled paper bags for better Environment, better Earth and better Future.

I will again buy few books from "Oxford Book Stores" before I will finally say goodbye to Chennai.

Shivendra Singh
28 Feb 2010

Eco Eco Eco

Eco Eco Eco...!!! Every where you see people are talking about Eco. Some people take it very seriously and some just show "Chalta hai" attitude, and keep doing what they were doing.

I always had some or other doubts about this eco-system or eco-logical balance, and these doubts I often found mushrooming a lot of sceptical ideas on our actions and reactions about the eco-related development happening across the globe. There are many volatile themes continue to strike my brain, stays there for some time, and then dissappear, and it has become a very normal pattern these days.

Of late I attended some trainings on GHG (Green House Gases) and Eco related subjects in the organization, and even outside, all trainings with the same theme of reducing the carbon footprint. Now how can we reduce carbon emission where now carbon is almost considered as the by-product of the energy. We want more energy but reduced carbon discharge... pretty tough to answer, or may be very easy to answer but rather tough to implement.

Why it is so tough to setup a new rule to reduce carbon footprint ?, May be because we are no longer following the Nature's theory of evolution. Now I am definetely now talking about the exact theory of evolution but yes something related to that. The reson is simple human being has development so many thing that he has the power to challenge the enviornment, and survive at most unmanageable circumstances anywhere in the world, but don't forget it's not because of the evolution inside the human body but outside. Today our life is completely in the hand of the technologies and latest innovations. We will die the very next day, it's been taken from us.

I remember when first time ALL OUT launched it mosquito killing machine where there was no smoke and odour. It was so effective leaving no mosquito unkilled. We see mosquitos feeling drugged, and falling on the floor, it became the choice of every household in short span of time, as if they have got the "bramastra" to get rid of these small, fying skeeters. It worked for a couple of years very well but gradually mosquitos evolved and developed the partial resistance for it. They evolved... they built up new bearing power in their body to fight with their enemy's weapon. But in our case, we are not evolving but we rather change the enviorment around us and make ourselves comfortable. If we are actually evolving from anywhere then it's from brain, we are developing sharper and sharper brain, every century we have better brains taking birth who keep working on old brains theories and methodlogy to develop stuffs that can make us more comfortable and reduce our workload. And that's the world we are living in. In this world it's quite difficult to reduce the usage of carbon footprint unless our sharper brains won't turn their attention towards this eco-crisis we are heading towards and start working on better solution to use the natural and recyclable energies like, wind, sunlight and water. Unless we stop using the fossil fuel for generating energy we can not cut down the emission of GHG upto a great extent, which is the need of the hour and era.

GHG must be controlled, and if GHG emission is not controlled in a big way, we are not much far in destroying this lovely planet called "Earth". I love the below quote which was the part of one of training, I attended and I loved it...!!!

"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children"

So people, lets save Earth for our children... It's a responsibilty.

Shivendra Singh
20 Feb, 2010

Mean means a lot

Quite a funny world is this, and the people here. We just think about ourselves and for nobody else. We even never think about the earth, the motherland where we have taken birth and enjoying our time. We never think about how we are spoiling it. We, human being are so mean at times as we never give a damn about others.

We critise people, but never see what's the foul smell for under our arms. We spend lavishly on ourselves but never think about the donation of petty cash for the needful ones. We are so mean, we are human being.

We fall in love and spend time for love running back and forth of our lover, but never give that much time to our family, even parents. Aren't we love with them ? We love them because if we won't look like loving our parents the society will hate us. We are again mean, we are human being.

We love the company we work with, the establishment that provides us living income, we love it and never like to hear anything against it but when we won'r perform, and when shown the exit door we start hating it. Nothing great, we are again mean.

We just think about us, we just think about what I have, what I am, what I need, what I love, what I eat, what I use, what I wear.

We are mean, and why can't we...!!!
Being mean means a lot... atleast you are thinking about yourself.

Shivendra Singh
Jan 13, 2010

The Ethical Drive - Begins

"Madam, How can I get sleeper ticket from Korba to Bilaspur. I already have a confirmed berth from Bilaspur to Chennai in Korba Trivandrum express". I was in front of the railway ticket counter of Korba Railway station. I booked my ticket from Bilaspur to Chennai but because of 'Alternator Fan Belt' problem with my vehicle, we had to drop the idea of catching the train from Bilaspur and diverted the Bolero to Korba. Now I was standing infront of the ticket-counter to buy the ticket from Korba to Bilaspur and asking the lady my doubt who was sitting happily on the other side of the broken window.

Listening to my question the counter lady looked at me, obviously with a dumb stare, and asked me to check with the next counter. I jumped to the next counter which was 'Informations and Inquiries', one gentleman was sitting there doing something which I wasn't able to anyway understand. I asked the same question, and he asked me to buy general ticket from the previous counter and then come to him. He told me he will change the ticket to sleeper couch. Next minute I was again at the old counter to buy general ticket from the same lady. I reached back to gentleman's counter and showed him the ticket with a pride, but what was that pride for even I didn't know. He looked at me as if he is going to deal with a moron ass, and finally he spoke after 10 second of silence, which he also took to come near to counter window. ''See the charge is Rs. 80 and I will make this for you however you can still save money'' said the gentleman. I did know how but didn't ask him still his face was expressing "how to", which he immediately said without a breath interval, ''Sit at your couch and when the TT will come, give him maximum Rupees Fifty, they will not charge more than fifty'.

This guy who is getting salary from Railways is suggesting the some good practices to the passengers who are ready to pay the right charges. These practices are not just seen here in Korba but across the country, only degree keeps changing... Wah mera India. Waise the offer was quite luring. Though the difference was just Rs. 30 however it forced me to give a second thought before going for a legal ticket. I thought for a moment and evaluated the cost of ethics which was a petty amount, this was a great oppurtuntiy to start my ethics drive which I was actually trying to start from a long time. This time the cost to start the drive was mere Rupees Thirty... Not a bad deal, right? I looked at the gentleman again and asked him to make the legal ticket for me, he gazed back with a surprising and stunned look, and frowned as if he wanted to hear once again what I said, I repeated, 'make me the ticket with Rupees Eighty', to which he replied "Are you sure ???" that too with a smile which was definitely a sarcastic one. He turned back and quoted the the antique example to his colleagues with a goose like grin pointing at me with his eyes. Everybody across the glass window started staring at me like some unwanted creature has just escaped from any zoo and landed right in-front of the railway ticket counter. I snapped the ticket from the gentleman's hand the moment he came back, dropped the exact sum of money with a lightening speed, and hurried towards the platform to board my train which was yet to arrive at Korba Station.

While waiting at the railway station to board my train, I was just thinking about the level of corruption we have in our country, and how deep are it's roots. It starts from the very bottom of the pyramid... it start from us...!!!

Shivendra Singh
Wrote it on Jan 02, 2010
Posting it on Jan 10, 2010

An Instance

Waiting List ticket not allowed me to board the train today... I was sad.... but at the same time I was trying to be normal. Went to Kapaleshwar Temple when I went to buy sankha in the evening after knowing I am not going to board today's train.

I bought a Sankha there at Giri Trading, and came back to take my bike. Suddenly an old guy came from back side, and stood in front of me and my bike. He was not less than 60-70 Yrs, white bearded and haired. He came nearer to me and said something in Tamil. I thought he is a beggar and asking for some monetary help, so I replied him... Tamil Teriyaad... "I don't know Tamil" so that I can neglect him and move on, but to my reply he came back asking me in very good english lingo "Do you know english?". I was surprised and shocked to see him speaking in such a sophisticated and decent style... he asked for a favour in very formal way... "Can you drop me to Sangeeta Hotel ?, My friend is coming to pick me up there" which was hardly 300-500 Meters from that the temple location where I was standing, but I didnt know where it was. I certainly had doubt... I started getting many thoughts about the prospective victim I was going to be. But looking at his age I accepted his request however I was still not very keen to help him. While sitting back side on my bike's seat he was addressing me as "baba" multiple number of times and trying to speak to me with is sober and soft gentle way. He was asking many questions about me like Where do I stay?, Where am I from?, What do I do?, Where am I going now etc etc. which again started cropping more doubtful question marks in my mind. He was showing me the way as I was not aware about the route in that area. Finally I got a relief when I saw Sangeeta hotel infront of me... He got down from my bike... I don't know why But I said "Thank You" to him... And I really don't know why I thanked him.... to which he replied... "Thank to God..., He is the director, we are just actors"... He looked at me and smiled, to which I smiled back and he moved on, however I was still looking at him.

The next thought came to me... Was he God....???
My brain started working very fast but my nerve were relaxed... I was calm and had some sense of satisfaction...!!!

Shivendra Singh
23 Dec 2009

The time works... more...

Many things to do in life and I am occupied with some stuffs which are least important. I am also engaged with few affairs which are very important. “Making the work fun” is motto given by many…. But what is work?

For me playing cricket is fun but not for Sachin, it is his profession. For me riding a car may be just to pass the time, freak around or travel, but may be for Narain Karthikeyan it’s a work life. So the thing that provides me living, or commercializes me... is work, in brief all other are just hobbies, interests or a sidelines... or whatever you call it. The job which I am doing, and selling to people is my work… and the one who is buying is my consumer... the one who buys my traits that I am selling.

Whatever I sell in my life, I always keep selling my time along with that… my time. Actually as per my view we all sell our time only… what matters is how effectively we commercialize our time… how can I make my time costlier than others… what should I do? How should I find who is my target consumer, and will they buy my time and pay me better?

Micro-Economics, Theory of Micro Economics: Demand and Supply. If Demand is more and supply is less the price increases, and price reduces when it’s opposite. What I am selling via my time is the product and if the demand is higher and supply is less I will get better deal for my time. For instance I am working in a company as a quality representative, if I got to increase my time-price I have to find out the quality area where there are very few people exist as I can not change the demand of the market, I can only work on supply. If I am able to be the part of that niche group for whom the demand is huge I will be able to quote myself at very high price level, and If I remain at the same place where there are lots of people available I have no margin for negotiation.

Micro Economics is something that is applicable at many places, and economics is something that is actually driving the world and providing it a great equilibrium to stay in peace with billion and billion of human master minds. May be the above mentioned fact is not quite clear, as the perception differs from person to person, and you will always find an exception for everything however I was just giving generalized thought of my mind boggling ideas which I keep getting while ideating.

I may be right… you never know.

Shivendra Singh
29 Nov. 2009

Bad words first

"Learn the Bad words first..."


This is the common thing I heard from the people whenever I have been to any place where I was not familiar with the regional language. I was in Andhra for a long time, and then in Tamilnadu but believe me I still don't know any bad word in Tamil except "Adda Paavi" and that too is not bad, it's in fact used in general conversation here. The logic behind learning the bad words first is too find out if somebody is abusing you... but the question is why should I know if somebody is abusing me. I feel that if I know the abusive words I will definitely react to that, and will put myself in a self generated problems. If I don't know, the matter will end then and there, and I will not have to carry a guilt or stress to back to home with me.

It happens very often to us that we hear something bad about us but can not react because of some or other reason, we are angry but can not do anything, we grind our teeth and keep the anger inside, we carry that ire with us to home , and eventually that leads to many problems. Ignoring something that will ignite a rage in you is the best thing one should do, but how to ignore. Simple, don't learn what you don't want to hear from people.

I have been definitely abused by many Autowalas here many time but I don't know what they are talking about. Whenever they show me a frustrated, raged face and abuse me I react back with a gag and long loud laugh... when they try to insult me I find that very moment very funny and I don't know why it forces me to laugh out louder. Ha ha ha...:) and rather than insulting me they feel utter shameful for what they have done.

They must be taking that insult back to home. I move on wearing a relaxing smile even after a great argument with Autowalas, and that's because I don't know what they were talking about....!!!

Shivendra Singh
07 Nov. 2009

The Crush

She was looking at me and my eyes were completely focused on her. She was unceasingly coming nearer and nearer. No blink, no noise, no feeling, no heartbeat even, everything was just static, no sense at all, I was numb. It’s been long since I have seen such a elegance and beauty, and the typical human habit of staring at the beautiful affairs is something I was quite used to. The seconds were quite countable as I was still gazing into those beautiful black circular points inside her eye balls. It seems “now this is just the life and nothing else”. Felt the first heart pulse after a long time but a harder one, blood started moving again over the arteries, reaching its destinations, collecting carbon mixed impure stocks over veins and circulating through the blood system of the body and the body sensed a sudden aliveness, but eyes were still dead on its mark and no flashes. She approached nearer just few foot across, and I was confident that she got the same numbness what I was experiencing. The eyes were looped and she was coming closer and closer, the heart was motioning slower and slower, and I was counting the milliseconds. I was actually standing just in front of my College notice board on the very first day of my Post Grads studies, and was looking for section B time table. She came more closer, was just few inches away from me, kept looking at me. A feeling that she is counting my heartbeat stuck me, she was not just beautiful, she was gorgeous and graceful. But then something happened unexpected, she smiled, (Me: why is this smile, I am not at all smiling) and a sudden chuckle whacked me out of all my fantasies “Aye Hi… Is the section B timetable published”? Lightening struck to all over my calf love feeling which just broke out a few seconds earlier, I was still staring those beautiful eyes but with my just transformed more widely eyelids and the feeling of “shock-laga”, had no answer for her sudden inquiry. She shrugged, and was scarcely looking at me with all "question mark" gestures and shrunken forehead. “Oye Hero…” one more giggle, and on the spur of the moment I realized that I was living a fake moment.
The feeling was sudden, strong and striking. It was like I have seen the life in the a split second under the flash of the instant lightening strike. This was the moment that demolished my heart, the moment that blown my feelings, the moment that made me so light and drifted me above the ground, and the moment that taught me what is called "Love at first sight".

Disclaimer: This work is fictitious in nature and any resemblance to any person or event is merely coincidental... :)

Shivendra Singh
25 Oct. 2009

Wake Up Siv...!!!

Date: 08 Oct. 2009, Day: Thursday

Huffing Puffing reached home at 7:30 Am... thought of having a minuscule nap... A/C was on... Amit was on his bed in deep slumber... the environment was a perfect relaxing... and I started ZZZ....!!!

Alarm.... 8:00 Am... Buzzz Buzzz... who cares... let me have for 5 more minutes.. snoozed... Buzz Buzz again in 5 minutes.... oh ho... what the hell... swithched off, and dived into the dreamland.

Got up with puffy eyes and shocked hairs... what's the time man... 8:26 Am...!!! OMG.... and what's my office time 9:00 Am.. Oh no...!!!

The best thought was to fall back and doze again as nothing can happen now... late for 1 minutes or 30 minutes gonna be same... my half day's salary was going to be a bad debt... and will be written off from my salary slip for next month...!!! emotion: Confused

The brain was running so fast... every second was generating thousands of ideas... and my body was not responding to any of them... It's 8:27 Am now.

Finally only two option running around... left side... give up.... right side... don't give up... give up... don't give up... give up... don't give up... don't give up... don't give up... the last push can make a difference... don't give up... and finally zeroed down at 8:28... 8:29 was inside for shower... 8:30 rubbing soap all around... 8:32 rinsing the soap before it could yeild enough lather... 8:35 out... time check.. in 5 Minutes... what an efficiency... but quality was missing...!!! emotion: Tensed, thought: Why have I bought my new Deo... the addidas one.

Ran towards the "God & Deitie" - picture's prayer corner (Puja Place) in the apartment... lit agarbatti... murmured few mantra... thought: God, Forgive me today, I am late, ...what's the time now... 8:40... noooooo...!!!

Raju... I am not going to have my breakfast... parcel it to me.... instructed to my cook...!!!

8:45... was dressed up... shirt, pant, belt... badge... wallet... hanki... mobile... shoes... with socks obiviously... anything missing... yupp... Tie... yupp... Tie pin... no no no... opened the drawer picked up the tie without giving any thought of the match... put it into my shirt's pocket, picked up the tie pin... slipped it inside my pant's back pocket... time check... 8:47...!!!

Rajuuuuu, where the hell is my tiffin... put a spoon there along with Daliya and also put some Ghonghura Pickel... 8:48... got the tiffin.... rushed for my bike...!!! emotion: Strained

8:50... Swithched on... pressed the ignition, gear, took a steep U-turn and throttled... must have yarn-dyed at least few girls of the hostel if somebody would have been looking. Clutch, Gear, Throttle... Honk... Repeat - 1,2,3,4.......!!! First Square cleared... green light.... time check... 8:54.... oh.. traffic... thought: hell these guys don't know how to drive... driving like a lazy buggers in the morning, look here this is how one should drive... Clutch, Gear, Throttle... Honk... gear up... gear down.... speed up... brakes... gear up/down... boom... boom...!!!

Approaching second square.. time check...8:57... oh... green light... thought: if I miss this green light... I gonna miss my salary... noway... throttle... maximum...green remained green...reached before red... steep U-turn again.... steep left turn... in the parking... time check 8:58...2 more minutes to go...!!!

Rushed to catch the Lift... out of 4 just 1 was working... thought: "things go worst when you actually need them" except the traffic lights today... what saved me...!!! 1 Lift.... 8 people waiting... all office colleagues... lift no-way gonna work... took the stair... for 7th floor... Time check 8:59... and 30 Seconds...!!! Avg. 5 seconds for one floor...7 Floors... 35 Seconds... on-time... thought: I will manage even if I reach before the clock show 9:01.

Reached office...time Check... Wrist-watch... 9:00... Office wall clock... 8:59... safe.. safe...safe.... saved the cents...!!!

Relaxing... scratching the head, forehead and face... why is it rough... beard.. oh... forgot to shave...!!! emotion: Traumatized

Company Goal Element: Quality in People, Supporting Culture: Appearance, Supporting Instruction: Must shave daily.

And who I am... the Quality Rep of the Branch...!!!
thought/emotion: &%^#@*&%^$#%&^#@

Shivendra Singh
08 Oct. 2009

India is my country

The term Gandhi and Gandhism is again accented by our filmism a couple of years back... Yes, can't forget the flick Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Bollywood is more creative and offbeat these days, and we have seen more and more un-conventional works...!!!

02 Oct. is recognised and remembered as the b'day of our Father of Nation, but it's also the birthday of our former prime-minister Mr. Lal Bhahadur Shastri. Father of nation has overshadowed everybody else in the country, but we still see that the Young Generation (Yo-G) regards Mahatama Gandhi less than the other Garam Dall (Hot Blooded) Leaders who fought for the independence of the country. Yo-G of India with hot-blood and vibrant ideas feel that, the peaceful and somber path choosen by Mahatma Gandhi has actually delayed our war, and held back the freedom by a couple of decades. How correct is this ? and who are the people spreading all this grapevines into the minds of our Yo-G that Gandhi Ji was not right? Why is that a significant percentage of our Yo-Gs don't pay the required degree of respect for Gandhi Ji what he actually deserves ?

Gandhi Ji was not leading a set of immature civilized countrymen, but he was spearheading a movement consisting of matured and grown Indian. He was not a dictator who drove people by forcing them to be the part of his movement, instead it was the decision of the people to participate in the peaceful crusade and cause visualizing a free and democratic India. Then why do we at times blame the right person for the wrong reason.

Critics is required, but it's the most easy thing a man can do... when a person can not do anything he does criticism. It's so easy to pick apart the ideas and themes thrown by Gandhi jee instead of following it.

A man is always born with good things and bad... the personality has the mixture of fair and unfair stuffs. The ratio of this combination keeps changing person to person but it can never be 0 : 1 or 1 : 0, Nobody is perfect positively or negatively, we just keep reducing and keep increasing the weight of either side but we still want to see others complete.

Gandhi is the biggest, greatest and handsomest brand ambassador personality of our country. He is the one who taught world the impact and significance of peace. A gray spot on the image of the brand ambassador of any product impacts hugely on the product. We have made Gandhi Ji our brand ambassador, and thriving the ikon from last more than half century, now there is no turning back. Gandhi Jee is the part of depiction of the nation, he is the father of nation, and now we YO-Gs should come together to enhance the persona of our country by heightening the images of all that is the part of fancy of our nation.

A nation is nothing but an envision... let's improve the image.
Start giving more value to MG than to MJ...!!!

Shivendra Singh
04 Oct. 2009

Man, it's Common Sense

"Common sense is not so common"

It's been told very often... Use you common sense. We have been hearing this whenever we do mistakes... well it's different thing that we never intend to do mistakes... it just happens.

Is Common Sense is really common or most uncommon is a part of discussion from a long time. And what exactly is this Common Sense.. let's understand this word Common Sense... Common (Public, means that with everybody) Sense (Feel or Sensation). So it is something that is perceived right by public... it is actual the obvious thing. So if you have common sence it means you are actually taking care of the most obivious stuffs while taking your decision.

Contrasting to the above I also assume that Common Sence differs from level to level. What can be Common Sense for somebody, may be intellect thinking for me. I mean knowledge seems a part of Common Sense at times... and we keep working hard to improve our Common Sense by adding more and more knowledge, experience and exposure. Sometimes it is again different, considering common sense a basis sense of taking decision while if we add knowledge to Common Sense it empowers us take decision more wisely as it generate greater wisdom in us. At the same time even if we have a strong knowlege of subject and not using our basis obvious thinking it may lead to greater stupidity.

I think we have started increasing the scope of Common Sense and bugging out logical thinking also as part of it, but may be it's actually the ability to use native intelligence with logic and proper reasoning is Common Sense. Now I can see that Common Sense is becoming so tough to understand and at the same time it is not a common thing for all for sure. So to execute common sense we need to consider and interrelate surroundings, do logical calulcations, give a big damn to obvious stuffs, involve our native intelligence, acquired knowldge, experinces and exposures.

The Sense is common to everybody however the degree of usage is different and depends on person to person. Somebody is able to utilise it more, however some people may hardly be. The magnitude of common sense keeps changing generation over generation, and the gravity keeps increasing.

Henry Ward Beecher... The Philosphy for one century is the common sense of the next.

Shivendra Singh

30 Sept. 2009

Keep the Change

Change... for the better... for the future... for the fitter...!!!

We all know change is the only thing that never changes... it is a fate... and we can not run away.

We sometimes, actually most of the time make ourselves standard and want people to change accordingly but to the highest degree we are not correct. Things around me is anyway going to change but what "I" have to do to keep altering "the situation" or "me", and that's the Bramhastra.

Why do we call today's world so fast, furious and fiery, it's possibly because the interval between the changes is quite short and rather frequent. One can not stay at the same level for long time to keep oneself at top, though the position is same however the efforts, energy and inertia keep changing. In spite of the fact that change will be there, we fear change, we avoid change and we try to flee from it. We have the fear of something that sometimes even we don't know. We have the resistance to change since we are comfortable now, we don't want to change as we don't need it. We have thousands of view points about "why to change"... sometimes it becomes an ego issue.

There are two angles that need to be considered when there is a change. First, how do we comprehend the change and second, are we actually prepared for change. Perception is all about our attitude, and preparation is all about our vision and pro-active behavior. Developing a good attitude towards changes and being agile will make life pretty easy in this electrically moving world. So don't change for change, but change for change.

I remember somebody said, If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change. So Change is Inevitable but yes, it is Manageable.

Shivendra Singh
18 Sept 2009

Bear an Advantageous Comparison

We have been told many times to not compare ourselves with others. Luckily I read a similar article in ET yesterday under the one segment I love to spend time and muse around my thoughts,"Cosmic Uplink". It says that why should we compare ourselves with other? Each human being is different and has the different capability, skill, knowledge and traits, then why should we compare? May be there are many who like to go ahead with this logic however I don't find it very compatible to my thought process. In fact I think that comparison is required, it should be there and comparison only adds spices in life, it actually makes life more interesting and easy.

Now the million dollar question is how the hell comparing is better than not comparing?

Comparison is required as this world is full of billions of competitors. Every human being is competing with other on the grounds of some common skills, knowledge and traits. Comparison provides us the areas or scopes we need to work on, it provide us the update on how far the light is at the end of the tunnel. A smart comparison helps us to improve from our present level, and a stupid compare lead us to envy, jealousy and dire strait state. A comparison full of simplicity and common sense is what we need to work on to derive the correct leading or lagging edge. Now it’s all about your attitude how you take the out-come of the comparison… either cry for what you don’t have or strive hard to get the same. Don’t compare richest man with the poorest man, don’t compare lion with a mouse, and don’t compare earth with sky. Use your common sense and compare with the proper comparability.

I am a live example who believes in comparing and love to do the same. When I feel good after achieving something, I enjoy the moment but at the same time I compare my self to somebody who is superior than me to set my quick goal. When I am depressed and not happy I compare me with somebody who is not performing as good as I am, or not having what I possess, this gives me a quick relief from my pain, hurt and anguish.

Life shapes up with the decisions we take, and decision is taken on the basis of some facts, logic and vision. Most of the time comparison also comes into picture while taking some decisions, so it is required to do a smart comparison. When I feel high I should not be complacent as that may create hindrance to my growth, at the same time when I feel low I should not further depress myself. Comparison will help us to jump out of our entire problems and taking the right decision at right time. Mix right attitude with the right comparison and see the difference…!!!

So, the only bind we have to keep in mind,
That…We have the intelligent and smart…
Comparison shop…!!!

Shivendra Singh

11 Sep 2009

Happiness is Inevitable

I love driving my bike on the traffic-free roads. It gives me a great feeling of silence and peacefulness, unless some guy comes back and starts honking for pass or just because he got that habit to do so. I just hate the people who honk without any reason.

Anyway I am not writing this to tell what I hate but to tell what I love to do.

Driving back from office in the late evening always makes me to think exorbitantly. I think about my day, I think about my life, I think about helluva things and deep dive into my thoughts. It's just 10-15 minute drive between the office and apartment however this short duration is a sort of meditation for me. Each day I think about lot of new things, and whenever I think about something I always plan for writing those thoughts in my blog. I generally don't update all my ideas and opinion, as most of the time I end up sitting late over social networking sites chatting with friends.

Today while driving back to home I was pondering about "Happiness", I was thinking about me... Am I happy or not? Of late I am working late in the office, and most of the time found myself struggling around quite a lot of things, all the same I never found it boring, or something that is screwing my happiness. Happiness is not what we perceive happiness is, it is something else and what is that I really don't know. Some people find happiness in their daily work, some people give more value to the small happiness they are experiencing every day, some people love to find happiness in breaking the iceberg. If I talk about me, I am a person who loves to enjoy any moment that has any possibility to make me happy. I am happy being late in office, I am happy being busy, I am happy when I do some mistake thinking I learned something, I am happy when I get more work from my boss, I am happy when friends call me up, I am happy when I write my blog, I am happy when people support me, I am happy when I get up early in the morning and go to gym, I am happy when I speak to my family members, I am happy when I buy gifts for loved ones, I am happy praying to God everyday. So, I have various reasons to be happy. These reasons may bring happiness for few moments only, but they bring smile in my life. Smile does not mean we are literally smiling, literal smile does not entail we are happy and a sad face never says that we are sorry. Sometimes we are happy with a sad face, and sad with a smiling lips.

Happiness is something which is hard to define as it is not universally measured with the same standard and norms. It is different for different people, country and culture. It differs from person to person.

For me happiness lies in small things, it's inevitable and I create it for myself. For me happiness lies in self satisfaction.

You may check, what is your Happiness Quotient...!!!

Shivendra Singh
02 Sept 2009