Thursday, May 28, 2015



                                           Version 2.0  Upgraded ...

         Loosen the shackles, unfasten and do a factory reset of life
         Born again on Mother India subset planet Earth to the same humble souls,
                        bound hard do not want to disengage, but untie the miseries, 
                        a fresh lease with no agony and anguish,Never to expire,
         unravel the journey all over again, no melancholy
         To fix the wrongs and actions that made me guilty 
                        Reboot and reload the friends and family, its love and affection
                        Not in any time to lose the snuggle of warmth, 
         to expunge the defective part, retain the virtues
         The same magical charm albeit with alterations to make it flawless
                        Impeccable surroundings beyond compare 
                       Turned around in reverse gear to contemplate and change
         A mobile format to make it ingratiating, 
         expel the motley mix of joys and sorrows
                        holding on to the worthy flashes of ecstasy
                        To make brio unblemished, culminating 
         In  new version upgraded format
         That is unparalleled and utopian! 


This is a post written by my father Mr.N. Krishnan, some months ago and I deem it a proud privilege to re blog it here.


Comprehending and negotiating Gen Y learners

Before going into my observations on the experience with the new generation students, let me introduce myself as a ‘Johnny who came in late’ to this profession.  I took up full-time coaching assignment only in the year 2006 even though I was a faculty for the commercial trainees way back in the 1970’s and also a part time trainer of executives on the subject of ‘Finance for non- finance executives’ in the Management Development Centre of FACT     For the past 7 years  I am now  in the midst of  youngsters who are pursuing the ACCA ( UK) course after their Plus two/Commerce degree,  as a Senior faculty ( Finance)

Our students , the archetypal conservative brood of the GEN Y where ‘Y’ heralds the tech savvy , hands on, interactive and collaborative  set , hail  mainly from affluent background     ( most of them sons/daughters of expatriate Indians) The calibre of the students, who have enrolled for the programme range from ‘average’ to ‘good’. The challenge before us is to mould them as professionals in the finance discipline and this indeed is an onerous task.
The “WHY” and “Young” pupils are  well  disciplined and their behaviour is quite good and we have not encountered any problem with them all these years on that front.
The positive attributes of my disciples are that they are very friendly and submissive  There is no rebelliousness on the part of the students  Many of them (not all )are hardworking and focussed, with the full realisation of the demands of a professional course  They come to the class in their uniform, usually well turned out. These achievers live up to the image of gen y in attitude and they are natives of the digital world, are very computer savvy and conversant with the gadgets and gizmos. The greater number submit their assignments on time and attend classes regularly and take the monthly tests and model exams without fail Quite a few of them  have a penchant for the arts and are well versed in music, dance and other cultural activities. The Onam festival was a grandiose affair put up by the aspiring financial wizards   ( dance, music and drama etc.) which was appreciated by everyone Their inherent and latent talents are out in the open, once they set their heart, for which lot of coaxing is required  and this miniscule population do get involved in extra-curricular activities  A bunch of students had their   formative education in foreign lands with a good background in English medium schools. Others woefully lack communication skills- verbal and/or written
 A section of the student prodigies are completely new to the field of commerce and finance (with +2 qualification in the science stream) and surprisingly they out- perform the BCom students One of the factors responsible for this phenomenon, is that they have undergone four more fundamental papers conducted by ACCA, before being put at par with  B Com The curriculum for these papers are intense and undiluted, more focussed and in tune with other higher level ACCA papers. Perhaps they are also more determined than the B Com students
In the midst of mediocre students , from among the crumbling ruins, rising like a phoenix are  ‘fliers’ like Ms Rinchu Paul (Who completed the ACCA course creditably and was awarded a gold medal- Ms Janani, who went through the course in the shortest possible time - Shri Ashutosh Kumar ( hailing from Bihar and the son of a Navy officer, at Cochin Naval base), who won the Rs100,000 prize instituted by us for the best student. There were other shining gems, who won accolades and shared honours in the top on the world stage having been  placed among the top scorers in the ACCA papers globally.     
Having enumerated  the plus points, let me turn my attention to the flip side  As mentioned  earlier, the students, a vast majority, are very submissive This has a corollary in that the students are too timid/tongue-tied  to respond to any questions nor do they seek any clarifications, clearly defying the essence of GEN Y ,who are the decisive questioning individuals. So the two-way communication which is the sine qua non of any meaningful learning process is totally absent .One is left guessing as to whether they have assimilated and absorbed what has been taught .Even non-academic informal   questions like ‘where do you belong to’ what is your father’ etc. do not elicit proper or audible response ( sometimes ‘a shake of the shoulders’ or in extreme cases ‘batting of the eyelids-! a trademark insignia so typical of even grown up people in this part of the country!)- The purport of which leaves you clueless! ) It is again a Herculean task to draw them out of their shells and make them more communicative.   
Some of the students are very lethargic and do not exhibit any enthusiasm. They seem to lack energy and that is why, perhaps, they are not aggressive in pursuit of knowledge Many of them are woefully wanting in health and frequent absence is the bane of such students Punctuality is another casualty- with the usual excuses -that the bus in which they travel from their residence to the institute was caught in a traffic jam and was delayed ( which is an integral part of chaos in traffic, often witnessed in Kochi!)- That there was delay in getting breakfast in their hostels- over slept!- had medical check-up Etc.) The reasons given for absenteeism   also include attending to sick parents and attending social functions( in our student days – may be, because of the larger family set up- we were not required to do this duty or perform social responsibilities like representing the family for marriages, deaths etc.- the focus and responsibility were entirely on pursuing studies to the exclusion of all other distractions )
Lack of interest in reading English newspapers, particularly those on economics and finance is another drawback of the students The teachers are trying to get over this problem by prescribing a ‘10 minute’ time capsule, at the start of every day, for reading out the important economic/financial news of the day by each one of the students by turn  Efforts are also taken to persuade the students to give presentation on economic/ financial issues  and participate in group discussions.

To conclude, the Gen Y learners are a mixed bag of ‘good’, ‘bad’ and the ‘ugly’ and it is our endeavour to bring them all up to the ‘good’ category level -not only in academics but also in soft skills (which will stand them in good stead in their careers) It is an uphill and daunting task and whether we triumph  in this earnest attempt, is a moot point and only posterity can judge us !   

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Oh....to travel and to write to the heart's content!

Back pack...and off you go..to the favourite destination to be one with nature. Adore the mountains with rain filled clouds kissing their tops, the gurgling streams with soft white pebbles glowing in the sun, the cascading waterfalls that roars and thunders its way in the ravines, the golden sandy beaches beckoning with open arms or an exotic ride in the snake boats in the breathtaking waters of the sea...nothing matches the beauty of the creator, away from the mundane of daily life with all its madness such as traffic, hectic working schedules, garbage everywhere, drains overflowing, black smoke billowing, the barren concrete city bereft of the green trees with myriad flowers, greedy mortals trying to earn a fast buck hook or by crook...oh...the list is endless..

Feelings pouring out, carefully recorded in the diary to read and re read and enjoy the serene surroundings to the heart's content...record the beautiful birds, the fulsome flowers, the caressing carpet of green, the beckoning blue of the sky and the sea and the spectacular show coming to an end with the rainbow in all its hues and the golden sunset!

I am already living in the world of utopia...please read them down here!

http://www.specs-buffy.blogspot.in/2013/07/blog-post.html

 


Sunday, May 17, 2015

 Expectations…….Unlimited
                         
            Avarice for unsatiated love and affection
                    with a begging bowl, always asking for more
                    Solitary, wandering here and there
             Deserting inner, outer circles fashion


              Burden of expectations weighing down
                      Spectre of desires, needs and wants
                       Rat race, peer pressure and family taunts
              Education in a dazzling convocation gown
                         

              Chagrin only, as eagerly anticipate
                         Disillusioned and doleful with regret
                           Never to bargain for, nothing to fret
               Churning out our destiny and fate


                Dipping esteem, reality bites, face fact
                           Twisted and awry, euphoria amiss
                          Yearning relinquished, diving into an abyss
                Bonding disconnected, no more sacrosanct
           

                Excursion, jaunt, journey and picnic
                            Dwindling by the day, a life cocooned
                            Lost in oneself, uncaring and marooned
                 Self centered, in an island, agonizing sick


                Fervently praying, morrow a better day                                 
                              No more exodus to depths of despondency
                               Believe, long for and the flight to ascendancy

                 And the hope train chugs in making gay

Thursday, May 14, 2015




                                                      Smart, Smarter, Smartest...



http://www.airtel.in/myairtel


see what wonders the airtel app can do ...
https://twitter.com/airtelindia #MyAirtelApp

                                    
                    


                                           To the human eye, the Red colour with the maximum wavelength is the most attractive of the colours and that is why this logo of Airtel is simply eye catching and to match the brilliance of its logo, is the newest application called My airtel app which is indeed a class apart! 
                       
                                           Gone are the days of standing in long winding queues to make payments or to book the cinema ticket or to make reservations in hotels and trains and no more shopping woes in crowded supermarkets and malls! Welcome to the new era of mobile services, an application that makes all things easy at the click of a button or a swipe. My smart phone is becoming smarter by the day and the newest application from Airtel is mind boggling, one cannot but admire the million services it has on offer and that too for greenhorns like me it's interface is seemingly effortless and uncomplicated. The interconnection between me and the system is simply plain sailing with navigation that is smooth and the least bit cumbersome. Embark on the voyage with me as I set sail on this brilliant application and the widest array of services coming with it!
                   The personalized interface, which is so very spontaneous needs to be experienced to feel the magic of maneuverability and manipulation. Blending with the unlimited boundaries of operation, we can switch, hop and jump into the sections of our choice all at the blink of an eye!
                   The three incredible and outstanding features of this app are listed below and I am sure the reader cannot agree with me more on why I have highlighted these three:-

1) As easy as 123... Sit back and take a deep breath as your nimble fingers navigate through the seemingly effortless pages allowing you to interact instantaneously. It is very user friendly and virtually anyone and anybody can cruise along quite comfortably. Starting from recharging your phone and internet balance to making payments without the bother of remembering debit and credit card pins is the icing on the cake. We can book tickets to movies, arrange for air, train and bus travel in a matter of minutes. Come with me as I take you to the numerous online stores for all the shopping requirements, an experience that is smooth and hassle free. No more sweaty waits in any queues! The services on offer are limitless and awesome. A professionally managed application that comes from the trusted home of Airtel is extremely customer friendly and indeed makes you feel like king, a satisfaction that is sure to please you and last long! The platform is very responsive to all our diverse demands making the navigation extremely rewarding.The features incorporated are par excellence and the initiatives rolled out are revolutionary in nature. We can give it a big thumbs up for the vast scope of operation with easy set of instructions. We don't face any glitches as we steer from one course to another!
2) Virtual fortress...The application is very safe and secure and impregnable by any means of fraud. It is not vulnerable to any danger of mismanagement of funds. Moreover as the payment takes place within the confines of your phone balance, there is freedom from the drudgery of using debit and credit cards with all its associated pins and charges! Now, we are safe even if our wallets are picked!!This remarkable feature of safety and security puts us at total ease and comfort of doing everything from our palms. The cash back facility on many of the services is an attractive bonus that adds jingle to our pockets. So the more we spend and use, the more we save and earn!
3) One touch internet...A truly amazing feature on the My Airtel App is this one touch internet. Airtel has taken the world wide web to the nook and cranny of India, to the rural masses and made them tech saavy! Now each and every Indian is part and parcel of the Internet revolution and the operation at ONE SINGLE TOUCH!  Can it get better than this? My granny is on seventh heaven to be able to see her great granddaughters' photographs, talk to her over skype, message her on Whatsapp and what not! All this has been made possible only because of the most user friendly application available today! 
                        Folks, my smart phone is the smartest with the airtel app and heavily loaded wallet too!

  

Sunday, May 10, 2015

http://godrejexpert.com/single_used_pack.php




                                               Umbilical cord....
                                    
                                          From inception in the womb
                                     Cocooned and nurtured, the foetus
                                        Growing by the minute, the hour
She’s there, each time, everywhere
Out in the world, to suckle, to giggle and cry
Firmly snuggled in the lap of luxury
Overcoming every fear, with a lullaby
She’s there, each time, everywhere
The artist instils in me to clasp, to sit and crawl
And the first step to independence and separation
The guiding light ever watchful, and ready to embrace
She’s there, each time, everywhere
Inculcating habits, culture, religion and prayer
To sing, to dance and to emote
The craftswoman sculpting and moulding me to shape
She’s there, each time, everywhere
Me, the convoy just followed the escort,
Like a shepherd herding and tending
To study, to perform and act and enact
She’s there, each time, everywhere
The pied piper of my life, a ready reckoner
In the manual of life for all things good
To emulate, to follow and reproduce
She’s there, each time, everywhere
Creator, bearer, nourisher, protector,
Supporter, saviour, upholder and vindicator
The Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient
She’s there, each time, everywhere.

Salutations to my mother.....the mother of all mothers!

                     
                 The verses tumbled out of my heart like a torrent, unstoppable and breathless. As my mother carries my heart always, I am in her academy of learning life’s lessons forever. She is a bank’s vault where in I have safeguarded all my thoughts, worries, hatred, sorrows, regrets and anxiety and in return have earned rich interest in the form of joy, happiness, courage, protection, intellect and vindication. A mother’s affection and endurance cannot be described in words and at each and every walk of life I feel it and look up to her in awe and admiration. Through thick and thin, my mother has faced it all but each time emerging stronger. She fought cancer like a warrior and came out victorious teaching me the meaning of will and determination in the process. My mother has an “expert’s” understanding and approaches life physically, mentally and spiritually. A typical day starts with reverence, bowing before the almighty and the Supreme Being, to make her day meaningful.
                     “Matru”, the Sanskrit word for mother has lent the word “mater” to Greek and “mother” to English, and thereby, the world has acknowledged the sanctity of the word and the source and glorified her presence in all texts. To describe my mother in a nutshell would be:-
 “Strong” which means she effectively encapsulates tenacity and resilience  
“Beautiful” as in exciting and admirable
“Intelligent” as she is able to understand and comprehend and make judgement
“Gentle” for being kind, caring and amiable
“Classy” as she is having the air of sophistication and refinement
And
“Sacrificing” for giving up so much so that her child could have as much!
I am what my mother made me and I am thankful for that!!!








Wednesday, May 6, 2015

http://www.eknayileague.com/
Follow the grand unveiling of the league on twitter
https://twitter.com/eknayileague  #EkNayiLeague


                                                  Wah kya league hai!!!

        Kapil da ka jawab nahin....as always he has come up with  a brilliant idea of a league that is stupendous and out of the world. Mind boggling is the incredible idea of a celebrity league comprising of all avenues that take us on a journey of truth and life. A brand new avatar  to showcase talent and vivacity in all its vibrant colours.
I believe this new thought is for those who squirm in their seats as Kapil corners them and puts them in a fix...a spot of bother!
My mind conjures up various images on what could be the league all about? Let me take a few shots, I guess it is wild and wacky but all the same here  they go...
It is a game show with a difference, a game where one can never play from the heart...which means we have to give the wrong answer or the answer that is not true! 
Or is it for the celebrities in different walks of life to open their hearts and minds and get screwed?
None of these...now my heart says think different...common...think...
Maybe it is a game for all in the services???? Yes...that could be for all our saviours of the land from the army, the navy and the air force.. a league which opens up the might of the services in cricket fields, a hunting ground for the protectors of our land!
But dil se khelo to googly...what does that mean to an honest upright officer?? I am sure a services man will not lie then how will he be a part of the group?
Wrong answer...think again...
Maybe one for all the Government babus and netas ...who are known for their corrupt ways?? Yes..yes...it has to be a league for the puppeteers and the yes men of this country.
The game of cricket will be tweaked to suit their lifestyle in such a manner that they cannot play "dil se"!!! It is never going to be easy for them and there comes the cliff hanger!
Again I have my own doubts about this guess...let me try something else..
A premier league for all ex players...
All the wonder men and women who made the world proud could be part of this league....yes this is possible...we will have the likes of Kapil paaji himself along with Srikkanth, Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri...and so on and so forth...the list is endless with all great legends who will actually wield the ball and bat and take a stand to face the wrath and fury of Kapil's swingers and cutters and also the sultans of swing!
I just can't wait for the grand unveiling of the nayi league...a nayi soch on playing with Kapil "not Dil Se"!
I am sure Mumbai along with the rest of India is on cloud nine and euphoric and  going gaga over the new league, drooling over the all new surprise awaiting us !
Paaji...sirji aapka to jawaab nahin!!!