Unmuddlings!!

April 20th onwards we are used sweat and heat in bold and large fonts – it starts getting ‘summer-ily’ uncomfortable, aint it?. But here we go! Its not sultry weather to be wary of, its time get protected of the cold and time to enjoy the abundant snow and the slopes of McCall. Hurray!! By the time we left McCall, everyone was crying for more. Junta was prepared the junk the rest of the GSE and settle down at picturesque Ski-ing resort. We really couldn’t have asked for more. Again some awesome people, great affection that we received. Our hosts took the special care to see us comfortable – at times almost making us a bit embarrassed. Special thanks to all involved – Dr Ed, Dave [David], The Batchelors, Richard, James & family, Jodie, Irwin & Uma and everyone else connected directly and indirectly to this trip. Each one of us, has taken away special memories from our short 2-3 days stay [Apr 22 afternoon to Apr 25 morn] at this small town of under 5000 people. It was the first...

Our GSE travel to RID 5400 has completed one hell of a week. Couldn’t have asked for more really. Great hosts, unbelievable camaraderie & new friendships, lotsa travelling, insightful vocational visits [espl. IT cos and universities/schools for me], a good dose of good dining and endearing fun activities. On the whole a fine blend of purposefulness and partying. And where did it start all. @ Boise, on the 18th of April as we touched down via an Alaska / Horizon Air flight. The walk from the Aircraft to the Terminus sparked with that of Bhubaneshwar and, in a sense, set the tone of what to expect. As we stepped into the terminus we had the fully attired policewoman Shelli [Michelle] of the RID 5400’s GSE team to RID 3260 [i.e Orissa, Chattisgarh and parts of MP], greeting us in the security arena. A relief to have a familiar face in the uniform!! As we trooped in to the lounge / public arena, there was a rousing welcome in store. The coronation with the cowboy hats sp...

This piece was conceptualized in the mind around 6pm, March 29th 2011. The time Blue vs Green flannels were tensing it out at Mohali, amongst the oxymoronic raucous raptures. Towards the early evening, as I checked the score, I felt were not in a great position and hence dropped the idea of watching the last 10 overs of the first innings. Instead, I thought I ll venture out and run some errands and maybe drive around a bit. Wow! OMG!! Crazy Country!!! These and such like exclamations spurted out as soon as I got behind the wheel. The roads were all empty. Like a war deserted town. Just that this war was going on live in present tense a couple of thousand kilo metres away. And as I drove around a bit more – as the India position looked worth a grin or a grinner - I saw traffic posts being deserted. Shops either totally empty and full house [with the entire neighbourhood glued to the tele]. Such is the power of the religion Cricket in this country. Such is the emotional drama associated ...

Like a normal human being I have a self image. It is this self-image which gets me going, smugly. Here I am not going into the different layers of inner fears which afflict our self-image. My perception of the self image is the simple and innate justification which I [like everyone else] have for my self-dignity, sound sleep and the general feeling that I am doing quite ok. Well, coming back to the main track. I have gotten to realize my self-image is not based on my actions. It is at best linked to my intentions & aspirations, and most likely it is more based on my perceptions of what should be my intentions & aspirations. As I talk stock objectively, I realize that there is a huge gap in my self-image and in terms of past outcomes. This is very interesting. The self image is protected or often amplified based on what I want to do; but in reality there is gap based on facts. This takes me back to my sociology class in my b-school. We learnt, that if an affliction is with one p...

Every leader is an entrepreneur, in the same way as every entrepreneur needs to be a good leader in more ways than one. Similarly, as I see every leader needs to be a visionary; in the same as every visionary needs to be a good leader to channelize her/his vision. Being an entrepreneur – in the sense being enterprising and resourceful, or for that matter being a risk taker – and being a visionary – in the sense of demonstrating foresight and ideating the map of tomorrow – have significant overlaps with being a leader. But more I delve of on the topic of leadership, the more it seems obvious is that a leadership is distinct from entrepreneurship and being a visionary. There are definite overlaps, but they are different. Both the entrepreneur and the visionary, need to focus – as an end in itself - on the leadership dimension to live up to their entrepreneurial skills and vision. I am defining leadership as continuous alignment and re-alignment. Aligning the energy & mental make-u - ...

As I write this piece, India has already qualified for the quarter-finals but the final Group B league match is yet to be decided. That match will decide whether India will finish 2nd or 3rd in the group. And whether we will face Australia or will we meet Sri Lanka in the quarters? Going back to mid Feb and the run-up to the world-cup, India was touted as the run-away favourites by the media. Despite the fact the hosts had ever won the world-cup and also despite the fact that India had lost the one day series to South Africa from a winning position. Also, media found it convenient to forget Australia were the number one team in the ICC ODI rankings. So here we go silly media hype, pandering to the emotions of Indian public or may getting swayed by road-side gully cricket emotions. Or maybe Mindless Media is more apt because of the quasi alliteration. A month down the line. It’s the demons that are out. [Methinks – thankfully, though. That reigns in a crescendo of expectation to saner l...

The dismantling of the Mubarak legacy in the Arab world, with the implied or inevitable [whatever the case maybe] support of the US with the run of the events marks a stunning acceptance of the changed geo-politics. It preceded by the Tunisian change of guard and followed by stiff uprising to the Libyan ‘strongman’ Gadaffi. Clearly, democracies – led by Mr Obama [I really don’t think this change of stance from USA would have been as unequivocal – albeit a bit delayed – had it been a different President there] are learning that the dichotomy of propping/supporting autocrats outside, while swearing by democracy at home will no longer seem credible. Neither would double diplomacy – one equation with the families/rulers of non-democratic countries and another posturing with the people [of home country, the citizens of countries ruled by autocrats and international community at large], like the one practiced by US governments of the past [incl George Bush Jr, post 9/11] – escape the notice ...