Materialism

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Are you single or do you have a girlfriend?
Which party shall you attend this weekend?
How many calories in a week do you burn?
Hmm…by the way… how much do you earn?

How do you travel towards your workplace?
How often do you work on happening Saturdays?
What is the latest thing that you’ve got to learn?
Never mind; just tell me how much do you earn?

Do people respect you for the person who you are?
Do people consider you an ethical superstar?
How much output have you managed to churn?
Brushing all things aside… how much do you earn?

Are you a cricketer, poet or a software engineer?
Are you a writer, singer or a trivial ALTO driver?
Are you happy, satisfied….Are you having fun?
Only thing that matters is how much do you earn?

--Jay

No work

No work…

-Jay

Five months ago, three young and enthusiastic people joined my project. They had just finished their initial training program in the company and were really looking forward to work in our project. They had graduated just a few months ago. When they joined, they had dreams in their eyes which were eager to prove their mettle in this world. They were energetic and raw… ready to be molded. I was in the same scenario a year ago. I could really see the will to excel in them. However, they weren’t as lucky as I was.

When I joined the project, I practised my technology and within no time, I was doing work for the project. In effect, I was never on the bench. However, the current batch has no work. I have been pushing them to learn new things, work on mock applications, come up with new ideas…but I cannot create work. Somehow, I cannot become the client. All the tactics worked till a certain period of time but now these people are tired. I could see their transition from restlessness to frustration and now they are in a state of helplessness.
Somehow, I can’t say anything to cheer them up. I have a really big fear that due to their inactiveness, as and when they do get work, they may be low on confidence. I know multi-nationals always operate in this way. But seeing ineffective utilization of national resources makes me sick. No matter how much ever money one may be paid, but a feeling of being on the job but still not having the work can really make people irritable.

Recession has crept in. I can see recession eroding the new batch of people who have joined the company. In fact, even the massively experienced people are feeling insecure. Today, I read through the news of SATYAM computers. Howsoever I may try to neutralize the fact that recession is harsh by saying that recession will separate the men from the boys, I have to admit that recession has the potential to eliminate millions of visions if it stays for a few more years. The world is fighting hard. Yet again we have an opportunity to unite and weather the storm…for I am extremely optimistic that one day sun will shine. One day the newly joined people will get a lot of work and loads of opportunities to prove themselves in this practical world…

Whitening the blog

Whitening the BLOG

Today is 26th Dec. Today is the Boxing Day. Exactly a month ago Mumbai was witnessing one of its worst night. Ten terrorists managed to wreck havoc in the city and the rest is history.

I was angry like any other Mumbai citizen. I protested on 3rd Dec at Gateway. I have prayed consistently every day since the blasts that the families of the people who have lost their dear ones, somehow muster courage, strength and energy to move ahead in lives. The entire month I was thinking of what can I write to “re-whiten” our BLOG. What great things can I write about and manage to bring out any emotions, which are somehow not connected to 26-11 blasts? Answer is I can’t. In fact, I won’t be surprised if hundreds of other similar BLOGS like ours are going through the same situation. But the way the city is slowly getting back on track, I am also trying to get our BLOG on track. The black color is somehow getting to me. No longer does the black signify our mourning and condemn. Now the black is signifying our incapability to lift ourselves.

So, today I am re-whitening. As many of you are aware that I have applied for TEACH FOR INDIA program, the news is that I have the telephonic interview with those people on 28TH Dec. I shall keep people updated about my progress. Hopefully, sooner rather than later Sangeetha and me shall start churning our creative wheels and come up with some food for thought for our readers.

Cheers.

For Mumbai..

15 hours... i have been following ibn news... feeling soo crappy!!
Everyone is tired but this is still not ending...
Blackening out our blog to condemn the attacks...
Hoping we will have peace soon and we will return to our original white...
hoping, praying and wishing we could help...
Now is the time to show the power of Knowledge, Love and Smiles... Spread the light and help to fight the darkness... Woh savera aayega!!!
Love
Sangeetha

Boundry

As pitiful as it may seem to be,
In our own vibrant mother country
Regionalism is outcome of regional boundary.

Winds, sky and rains are free
So is the animal and bountiful tree.
Is humanity a burden which we carry?

Navigating in our home is migration,
Earning our livelihood is competition.
Are we refugees in our own nation?

Our opportunities are reserved.
Returns for our merit are undeserved.
Has equality ever been preserved?

Air is divided and so is the sea
Minds are narrower than ever they could be
Are we independent…Are we free?

Jay