The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project" is an upbeat, quirky, impertinent gem of a read. As the novel makes its logically irrefutable progression, readers will become enchanted by what may well be the world's first rigorously evidence-based romantic comedy.

Graeme Simsion has created an unforgettable and charming character unique in fiction. Don Tillman is on a quirky, often hilarious, always sincere quest to logically discover what is ultimately illogical--love. Written in a superbly pitch-perfect voice, "The Rosie Project" had me cheering for Don on every page.

Don Tillman has got his love life planned out. He knows exactly who he wants, but is it who he needs?

Love isn't an exact science - but no one told Don Tillman.

A thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don's never had a second date.

He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

So he devises the Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie - 'the world's most incompatible woman' - throwing Don's safe, ordered life into chaos. On a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

'I couldn't put this book down. It's one of the most quirky and endearing romances I've ever read. I laughed the whole way through'

Second Thought

Marriage is no bed of roses alone. It got thorns too.. There's limit to being nice, giving, adjusting, understanding.. literally everything! In a relationship if only one does it all then it is exploitation that's in long turns to rebellion. One is bad if she start raising voice. A friend is on the verge of exploding, some of my best friends are going through challenges in life due to reasons ranging from addiction, financial issues, adultery, domestic abuse etc. Every other woman I know is silently managing.

We all get our own share of pain. Some mistakes can't be rectified and we live through. But it is never a choice to perish along with all your dreams. Truth is you can't keep everyone happy and be happy. To be happy you must do what makes you happy & not others. If it is called being selfish then be it! Being selfless has only made people unhappy.

”Who decides the expiry date of a woman’s dreams?”

For argument’s sake you may counter it’s not just for the woman. Maybe. But the fact remains that more often than not, the moment the knot is tied around her neck, she is expected to instantly reincarnate herself into a capable, efficient and obedient home maker. You may argue times have changes, however the norm remains more often than not. There are modern minded men, of course. Most of them are like those husband, though, who takes pride in moving with the times realizes late that

‘her freedom was always with his acquiescence.’

Wish men understand that marriage is not an institution for women to take care of faulty guys. And husband's don't expect their wives to earn and look like Priyanka Chopra cook and clean like domestic servant both at the same time. Wondering when today, they say wedding to be a partnership how can they be so biased? One-sided? Selfish?

Like it or not, there is a Lakshman Rekha for mostly every married women, still in India.
My lovely ladies have fun and don't restrict yourself to the boundaries of someone's expectations. A little adjustments retain peace but too much of it leads to unrest and rebellion.


The primary cause of unhappiness is never a situation but your thoughts about it... Quote in office today👍👍

Amit Modi Jodi - Fevicol Khi?

What one person cannot do, two can; and what one person can do, two can do still better. This has been proved time and again; and the latest being Amit Modi Jodi. "They know each other's secrets, theirs has been a relationship of mutual trust, and gains from the association."



The Beginning:

Both Modi and Shah emerged from the cauldron of politics in their western home state of Gujarat. It is said that Amit first met Narendra Modi in 1982 through Ahmedabad RSS circles. At that time, Modi was an RSS pracharak (propagator), working as in-charge of youth activities in city. Amitji joined BJP in 1987, one year before Modi joined the party. He campaigned for Lal Krishna Advani in Gandhinagar during the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. In 1995, BJP formed its first government in Gujarat, Modi and Shah worked together to decimate Congress in the rural areas. Modi, who had become a general secretary in the party's state unit by the early 1990s, used his influence to get bigger roles for Shah. After Shankersinh Vaghela and some other leaders complained about Modi's growing clout in the Gujarat government, the party leadership moved Modi out of Gujarat, to the BJP headquarters in Delhi. During this time (1995-2001), Shah served as Modi's informer in Gujarat. In 1997, Modi lobbied to get Shah a BJP ticket for the Gujarat Legislative Assembly by-election in Sarkhej. Shah became an MLA in February 1997 after winning the by-election. He retained his seat in the 1998 Assembly elections.

Top Notch in Gujarat:

In October 2001, BJP replaced Keshubhai Patel with Narendra Modi as the chief minister of Gujarat, following allegations of inefficient administration. Over the next few years, Modi and Shah gradually sidelined their political rivals. During Narendra Modi's twelve-year tenure as the Gujarat CM, Shah emerged as one of the most powerful leaders in Gujarat. At one time, he held 12 portfolios.It is said that Politics is the last resort of the scondrels; and also that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. There have been various cases and encounters, to name a few 2002 Gujarat – Godhra riots and they have managed to outlive them.



National Politics:



After his election as prime minister, Modi resigned as the chief minister and as an MLA from Maninagar on 21 May 2014. Anandiben Patel succeeded him as the chief minister. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP, Shah's influence also increased in the party. Shah was appointed as a BJP general secretary, and was given charge of Uttar Pradesh (UP). In July 2014, BJP's Central Parliamentary Board unanimously approved Amit Shah's appointment as president of the party. Amit Shah led BJP to victory in the Indian general election, 2019, becoming the most successful BJP President ever, in the process. Shah took oath as Cabinet Minister on 30 May 2019. He took office as Minister of Home Affairs on 1 June 2019.



“Chote Mann se khoye bhada nahi hota, Toote mann se khoye Khada nahi hota.”



“That I am Narendrabhai's right hand man is a media perception. There is no special relationship between us. Narendrabhai has taught me that if you persevere in spite of the most adverse circumstances, you are bound to reach your destination. He has restored the confidence of the people in the multi-party democratic system and proved in Gujarat that good governance is possible within the existing system. The principles of governance he has developed will deliver excellent results at the national level now.” So said Amit Shah in one of his interview.


Interesting things to look out for is will he end up being what L.K. Advaniji was to Atalji or will this Chanakya of Indian politics today, have a bigger role in future? Will their Gathbandhan make or break India and the future of BJP with the present stardom?

For now it looks like They are husband and wife...husband taking care of international things, wife managing the domestic course.

All the lives we never lived - By Anuradha Roy. (Rukun Advani)

Ah what a book! There is no black and white - each character beautiful in their own sense, all love in their own ways. So much of friendship and versions of freedom.

At its heart, All The Lives We Never Lived is an examination of the roles that define and constrain an individual, tempered as these roles are by the expectations of others.

Set in a small town called Muntazir, literally “to wait,” the novel evokes a bygone era. The chapters set in Muntazir begin with ‘Muntazir’ written in Urdu, while the chapters set in Tjampuhan in Bali begin with a word in the Balinese script, which I guess must be ‘Tjampuhan’.


Motherhood and nationhood are intertwined in our country, and Gayatri’s husband wants her to be both — the woman who will fight for her country on the street, and also stay home and look after her child. Her own needs and desires are dismissed by him as trivial.


Myshkin’s life is filled with Separation – first mother and then father. Myshkin is a horticulturist, preferring plants and animals over humans, and Roy describes his solitude in moving words – “People think of my solitude as an eccentricity or a symptom of failure… It is hard to explain to them that the shade of a tree I planted years ago or the feverish intensity of a dog fruitlessly chasing a butterfly provides what no human companionship can” – and this novel feels like an ode to memories – “We have no precise recollection of how long things took: a few days, weeks, a month?” – and separation: “Is this how partings happen? No word, no preparation, it is over and you didn’t even know it.”

Roy’s attention to the period setting and the detail with which she draws real people from history is admirable. There are at least five actual people making cameos in this novel: Walter Spies, Beryl de Zoete, Tagore, the singer Begum Akhtar, and the horticulturist Alick Percy-Lancaster.

He is lonely even when you are surrounded by people. Overall the characters evokes lot of row emotions. It’s an ode to memories and separations
Though the narration is effortless, Roy’s research and imagination in recreating a bygone era shine out. This is an excellent, unputdownable book.

_______________________________________
A Compelling Story of A Woman who Rebels Against Tradition for Her Artistic Freedom
Freedom of a different kind is in the air across India. The fight against British rule is reaching a critical turn. The Nazis have come to power in Germany. At this point of crisis, two strangers arrive in Gayatri's town, opening up for her the vision of other possible lives. So what was it exactly that took Myshkin's mother from India to Dutch-held Bali in the 1930s? Excavating the roots of the world in which he was abandoned, Myshkin comes to understand the connections between anguish at home and a war-torn universe overtaken by nationalism.

_____________

From another blog:

”"Who decides the expiry date of a woman’s dreams?”

For argument’s sake you may counter it’s not just for the woman. Maybe. But the fact remains that more often than not, the moment the knot is tied around her neck, she is expected to instantly reincarnate herself into a capable, efficient and obedient home maker. You may argue times have changes, however the norm remains more often than not. There are modern minded men, of course. Most of them are like Gayatri’s husband, though. He, who takes pride in moving with the times realizes late that

‘her freedom was always with his acquiescence.’

Looking at many a woman who have passionately gone after their dreams, their journey seem to have been a lone path. There are some who have spread their wings after years of keeping them tied down, some willingly, most with a seething defiance within. And the ones who break free, their journeys were never smooth. Life was tougher by all practical means, much different from the ‘protected’ life they were used to. But if you ever get to ask any of them whether they would have gone back to what was, I’m sure the answer would be a resounding no. For they know the past would have been far worse than anything that came after."

----

*Why Women Need a Husband?*
A Woman goes to a Psychiatrist and complains: “I don't want to marry. I am educated, independent, and self-sufficient. I don't need a husband. But my parents are asking me to marry. What do I do?”

The psychiatrist replied: “YOU, undoubtedly will achieve great things in life. But somethings inevitably will not go the way you want. Somethings will go wrong. Sometimes you will fail. Sometimes your plans won't work. Sometimes your wishes will not be fulfilled. Then who will you blame?
Will you blame Yourself?”

Woman: “NO!!!”

Psychiatrist: “Yes... That's why you need a husband “

Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame is the world's second-highest-grossing film of all time. Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers -- Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner -- must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos -- the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe. In theaters April 26, 2019! The Avengers take a final stand against Thanos in Marvel Studios' conclusion to 22 films. Avengers: Endgame is a 2019 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. When the whole world was ga-ga over it, can you belive, I dossed off in the theater when watching, and would be suddenly awake hearing the clapps and shouts; could be because it was my first experience and I had not seen any before.

Uyare - Malayalam Movie

Uyare is a great film that conveys optimism with a lot of nuances. Directed by Manu Ashokan, the film stars Parvathy, Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali in lead roles. Screenwriters Bobby-Sanjay has written a film that can transcend a social issue-based thread into the medium of story, where characters and plot are written around the theme.

Uyare conveys the trials and tribulations of Pallavi Ravindran (played by Parvathy), an aspiring pilot, whose dreams get totally shattered by an abusive relationship. But the universe conspires in her favour as she encounters personal and professional battles. Uyare set the events into motion with a prelude that is set in an airport control room where the crew receives the message of an airplane's technical glitch. The scene was completely free from expositions and we can see some focused and less spoon-fed writing right from the film's initial moments.

The film delves much more into the composite shades of patriarchy, where we see Pallavi's boyfriend Govind (Asif Ali) silently sulk as he fails at a job interview and can't bear the presence of an successful woman like her. Pallavi's characterization is driven by ambition, which makes her more grounded, yet, less ordinary.

The scenes portraying an acid-attack victim's mental agony might break our heart, we see Pallavi rebuild herself. The film gradually builds a beautiful support system around her through her classmate Saria and the flamboyant businessman Vishal Rajasekaran (played by Tovino Thomas), a complete opposite of Govind.

The film consistently carries its uplifting tone without divulging into heavy-duty melodrama. In the latter portions of the film, we see Pallavi emerge victoriously amidst setbacks. The film becomes slightly predictable at the end, but the issue is compensated by the feel-good, idealistic portions without giving you a feeling of change happening overnight.

Uyare really takes off when an innocent pallavi inside a flight asks air-hostess,"Cockpit onnu kaanan pattuo".Then Bobby-Sanjay establishes Pallavi and Govind individually .In a scene, Pallavi explains her father about her boarding life and attachment to Govind. That scene contained life and enough depth for the audience to connect to. Script also conveys why Govind is so rough & tough (about parenting) and the motive behind the acid attack. In another scene where Govind's father asks Pallavi's father to withdraw the case,Pallavi does nothing,but sit in front of him which is far effective than words. Dialogs are sharp. For example:Pallavi at a point says ,"Sathruvairunnengil polum pirake povillairnu". Pallavi mocking Tovino initially being son of a rich father, and Tovino asking her in the flight, if he could help her in any way, and she telling him if he could give her the job of air-hostess; Tovino’s out of way support for her, and his birthday celebration, and finally the boy giving the rose to Parvathy are all touching.

The pre-climactic sequence is breathtakingly shot and edited, where we see moments of turbulence being intercut by reaction shots and close-ups of faces that witness the impending doom. Like the earlier movie Traffice we have reluctant individuals take charge of extraordinary situations (or driver seats, for that matter). But unlike Traffic, the vehicle used in Uyare is not a car, it is a ton-sized airplane.

Overall Uyare leaves you at an emotional high.

Movie Review :Kalank

Karan Johar's 'Kalank' was undoubtedly one of the much-anticipated films of this year, however, it left audiences unimpressed post the release not me. I was thrilled, mesmerized. Helmed by Abhishek Varman starring Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapur in lead roles the film couldn't create magic at the box office. Even though individual performances were praised the film failed to attract more footfalls at the theaters.

The film is a romantic drama set during the Partition, which also forewarns us about the bittersweet story of love and betrayal. The story is based in a town called Husnabad, near Lahore, a few years before the Partition of India and Pakistan. At the heart of this visual extravaganza, is the story of how eternal love goes beyond the norms and rules of society, the trappings of religion, all other physical and man-made boundaries. It is the saga of six lives against the tumultuous times of the partition.

Set in 1945, in Pre-Independent India, the elite, opulent and solemn world of the Chaudhry family, and the wild, mysterious and musical underbelly of the town, Hira Mandi, clash when Roop Chaudhry encounters Zafar, a daredevil from Hira Mandi, unleashing deep-buried truths, secrets of betrayal and affairs that threaten to bring the both worlds crashing down.

Many of my friends felt it boring. Loved the costumes and the extravagant sets. Songs and Dances were amazing. Loved some of the dialogues as well:

Jab kisi aur ki barbaadi apni jeet jaisi lage ... toh humse zyada barbaad aur koi nahi hai is duniya mein

Kuch rishtey karzon ki tarah hote hai ... unhe nibhana nahi, chukana padta hai

Umeed sirf intezar karati hai ... sachai nahi badalti

Mohabbat aur nafrat dono ke rang laal hai ... lekin fark yeh hai ki nafrat se duniya barbaad ho jaati hai ... aur mohabbat mein khud barbaad hona padta hai ... phir bhi kalank aksar mohabbat pe lagta hai

For me, it was a visually stunning film, topped with great performances.

The Secret of Teams - Mark Miller

The Secret of Teams - Mark Miller

The key to building great teams are universal. A team can’t really be a team if its members don’t know what they’re doing. You team will never perform at the highest possible level if the members of the team don’t exhibit genuine care and concern for one another. Practice is how we build skills, speed and consistency. One can’t be an effective leader without measurement. Measurement tells us where we need to improve, it lets us know if our improvement efforts are working or not; it helps us stay focused; it brings out the best in us as a team; it presents a tangible challenge. This fuel continued improvement. It’s a great tool that helps us refine our skills. If our success is contingent on our physical presence, we will become a prisoner of our business.

Big Ideas from:

• The General: Selection, Training, Esprit De Corps
• NASCAR: Fit, practice and doing life together contribute to high levels of performance.
• The Restaurant: Family, Good Process, People
• Thus, to build a team that can generate great performance over the long haul, you must…

Get the right people on the team

• Help them grow
• Create an environment in which genuine care and concern are the norm
• So the key elements of a high-performance team are:

• Selection, Fit, People, get the right people - Talent
• Practice, Training, Good Process, Help People Grow - Skill
• Life together, family, Espirt De Corps, Environment of care and concern - Community

What we have discovered is not really three things – the secret of teams is the power of combining three things to create one. It’s like making lemonade – you need to have lemons, water and sugar all together. Never stop looking for ways to do life together.

Disengagement is the manifestation of something, it’s a symptom, not a root cause. Attitude is difficult to coach.

What is a team? A team is typically a small group of people working together towards a common goal. Effective teams are characterized by trust and mutual accountability. Working together, they achieve more than they could working as individuals.

What is a High-Performance team? In addition to phenomenal numeric success, these teams also enable their leaders to increase their effectiveness and foster significant growth among the individual team members.

The Secret of High-Performance teams: They focus on talent, skills and community.

• Talent – We need good fit people who want to be on a winning team as opposed to being individual contributors
• Skills – It is the deployment of both individual and team skills that enables sustainable progress and improvement.
• Community – Turbocharges their performance.

High-performance teams is a strategy – a means to an end. It is not the goal. Results are the real objective.

The ultimate goal is a movement.

To bring about change you need Motivation + Information + Assistance.

Ongoing senior leadership support is important.

Issues with failing teams are:

• Irregular/Infrequent meetings
• Lack of role clarity (specifically the leader)
• Unclear on the big idea behind the team
• Command and control approach
• Leader readiness
• Team readiness
• Inadequate learning resources
• Lack of understanding regarding the up-front investment.
• Having the right talent starts with having the right leader. When you select talent for your teams, make sure to help your team members build the necessary skills and create a strong community. So

• Evaluate your current reality - facts, performance, trends, future, quality,
• Assess your team’s talent – Functional diversity, commitment to life long learning, will to be part of something bigger than themselves.
• Assess your team’s skill – Priorities. Teach, Need not do alone. Seek help to close gap.
• Build genuine community – Requires ongoing attention. Create opportunities for team to better know each other; Serve, Celebrate.
• Lead at the next level – Cast vision, Delegate real responsibility – not just tasks, teach, encourage, set boundaries, provide resources and set the expectation that the team will manage their own work.

Enjoy the Journey!

Future Shock - Alvin Toffler

Part one: The Death of Permanence:

The first great break in historic continuity was the shift from barbarism to civilization. Last 50,000 years if man’s existence will equal 800 lifetime of which 650 were spent in caves. The nearest historic paralled today is not the industrial revolution but bigger, deeper and more important, rather the invention of agriculture in the Neolithic age. With the effect of technology, automation by itself represents the greatest change in the whole history of mankind.

Today agriculture, the original basis of civilization has lost its dominance; even the non-farm labor forces ceased to wear the blue collar of factory or manual labor, and are outnumbered by the so called white-collar occupation. The world’s first service economy was born in about 1956.

No longer resources limit decisions, it is the decision that makes the resources, most revolutionary change man has made. There is astonishing expansion of the scale and scope of change. The boundaries have burst. The network of social ties is so tightly woven that the consequences of contemporary events radiate instantaneously around the world. We are caught in time skip. How do we adapt or alter these imperatives? To understand this, we must focus on the twin forces of acceleration and transience.

ACCELERATION: Today new ideas are put to work more quickly. Discovery, Application, Impact, Discovery – Is a chain reaction. A long sharply rising curve of acceleration in human social development. This mandates us having to cope with faster flows, and novel situations. Once must become more adaptable and capable than even before.

TRANSIENCE: The concept of transience provides a long-missing link between sociological theories of change and the psychology of individual human being. Transience is the new ‘temporariness’ in everyday life. It results in a mood, a feeling of impermanence. Things, places, people organizations and ideas plus time are the basic components of all situations. It is the individual’s distinctive relationship to each of these components that structures the situation.

Pace of life draws a line through humanity, dividing us, triggering bitter misunderstanding between parent and child, between Madison Avenue and Main street, between men and women, between American and European, between east and west.

Part Two: Transience:

Things: The Throw away society: We are moving swiftly into the era of the temporary product, made by temporary methods, to serve temporary needs. Turnover of things in our lives grows frenetic. We face a rising flood of throw-away items, impermanent architecture, mobile and modular products, rented goods and commodities designed for almost instant death. From all these directions, strong pressures converge toward the same end: the inescapable ephemeralization of the man-thing relationship. Foreshortening of our ties with physical environment, stepped up turnover of things, viz The paper wedding gown, the missing supermarket, the economics of impermanence, the portable playground, the modular ‘fun palace’, the rental revolution, temporary needs and the Fax machine.

Places: The New Nomads : Distance means less now. Man’s relationship with places are numerous, fragile and temporary. There is a joke saying IBM means I’ve been moved. The economy demands mobility. Disruption might be agonizing for some. Commitments are shifting from place-related social structure to those that are mobile, fluid and place-less thus bringing about a demise of Geography and place relationship.

People: The Modular Man : We form limited involvement relationships with most of the people around us. It gives a sense of freedom without responsibility; creating disposable person: The Modular Man. Rather than entangling ourselves with the whole man, we plug into a module of his personality. The decline in the average duration of human relationships is a likely corollary of the increase in the number of such relationships. We will have just a handful of Long-duration relationships that of immediate family if not lifelong cause of guilt attached with break off. Then there are medium and short duration relationships, Monday to Friday friends, renting persons. We need to learn the art of How to lose friends, how many to keep. Is Fort Lauderdale the future?

Organization: The coming Ad-Hocracy : We are witnessing the arrival of a new organizational system that will increasingly challenge, and ultimately supplant bureaucracy. This is “Ad-hocracy”. Here man will find himself liberated, a stranger in a new free-form world of kinetic organizations. Organisational structures spring up and then disappear. People instead of filling fixed slots move back and forth at a high rate of speed. This process alters loyalties of people involved, shakes up lines of authority and accelerates the rate at which individuals are forced to adapt to change. There is a shift from vertical to lateral communication, resulting in speedier communication. Skills in human interactions will become more important, due to the growing needs for collaboration in complex tasks, there will be a concomitant reduction in group cohesiveness…, develop quick and intense relationships on the job and earn to bear the loss of more enduring work relationships. Need is adventurous souls, hungry for novelty…not at all alarmed at change. So today we find, people commited to their career, and own self fulfillment; and organisations have Associative man coping with rapid change.

Information: The Kinetic Image : The entire knowledge system is undergoing violent upheaval. We need to form and forget our images of reality at a greater pace. Man’s potential for re-education are unlimited. We need to learn, unlearn and relearn. Transience both internal and external, demand a new level of adaptability.

Part Three: Novelty

The future will unfold an unending succession of bizarre incidents, sensational discoveries, implausible conflicts and wildly novel dilemmas. It will erase hunger, diseases, ignorance and brutality. It will radiate new opportunities for personal growth, adventure and delight; vividly colorful and amazingly open to individuality. The problem is whether we can survive freedom. People will start mining and owning parts of ocean, cloning of people etc. being the scientific Trajectory.

The Experience Makers Super Industrial revolution will not only challenge the means of economic activity but also the ends as well. Not merely the “how” of production but the “why”, thus transforming the very purpose of economic activity. It will lead to psychologization – of all production, beginning with manufacture. After service, we need to improve physical environment and quality of life. We will manufacture, Human experience.

The Fractured Family Family is racing towards oblivion; it may break up, shatter, only to come together in weird and novel way. We have moved from traditional joint families to nuclear families to free to function individuals. There would be new birth technologies, communal or corporate families, Bio or Pro parents, Trial or Temporary marriages,. The family cycle has been one of the sanity-preserving constants in human existance, this too is breaking/changing.

Part Four: Diversity

The origins of overchoice It was expected that with standardization man will progressively lose his freedom of choice eg Hiltonization of hotels, Standard coca-cola everywhere, but the super-industrial dilemma is overchoice. Automated equipment’s permits mass production in short run. A good deal of education will happen at home at the choice of hours. Material, cultural and social choices are expanding, turning into overchoices and unfreedom.

A surfeit of subcults Subcults multiply at an every accelerating rate, and in turn die off to make room for still more and newer subcults.

A diversity of lifestyles Faced with colliding value systems, confronted with a blinding array of new consumer goods, services, educational, occupational and recreational options, the people of the future are driven to make choices in a new way. They begin to “Consume” life styles the way people of an earlier, less choice -choked time consumed ordinary products.

It is the final convergence of transience, novelty and diversity, that sets the stage for the historic crisis of adaptation.

Part Five: The Limits of Adaptability

The Physical dimension Those who can adapt can survive. We are a biosystem with limited capacity for change.

The Psychological dimension Responses to widespread, high speed change are outright denial, specialism or obsessive reversion.

Part Six: Strategies for survival

Coping with Tomorrow Could be direct coping, creating a personal stability zone by not mixing too many changes together, crisis counselling,

Education in the Future Tense Expand adaptive capacities. Once must learn to anticipate the direction and rate of change; make assumptions about the future. Consistent direction and a logical starting point is needed. Include in curriculum only what is needed for future. Identify data and skill needed in three crucial area Learning, relating and choosing.

Taming Technology

The strategy of Social Futurism We need to revolutionaries the way we create social goals

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert T Kiyosaki with Sharon L Lechler

The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them. Enriched by Kiyosaki’s personal experience and the teachings he received from his rich dad and poor dad, the book highlights different attitudes towards money, work and life. Robert T. Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective from two very different influences - his two fathers. One father (Robert's real father) was a highly educated man but fiscally poor. The other father was the father of Robert's best friend - that Dad was an eighth-grade drop-out who became a self-made multi-millionaire. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his poor dad pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his rich dad. Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. Guideposts that will assist you to grow wealthier are:

The Rich Don’t work for money; they make money work for them. See what others miss. There will be many opportunities right in front of you.
Know Financial Literacy – The rich get rich because their asset column generates more than enough income to cover expenses, with the balance reinvested into the assets column. Never buy luxuries on credit.
Mind your own business – Means to build and keep your asset column strong.
Know taxes and the power of corporation
Rich invent money – Two vehicle help achieve financial growth are real estate and small stocks.
Work to learn – Don’t work for money.
Financial literacy is the ability to read and understand financial statements. Financial IQ covers accounting, investing, market and law. Rich buy asset. Poor only have expenses. Middle class buy liabilities they think are assets. Wealth represent how much money your money is making. Person’s ability to survive so many number of days forward if you stopped working today. Asset column of balance sheet generate enough income to cover expenses and reinvestment. Asset is something that puts money in my pocket. Liability is something that takes money out of my pocket. Financial IQ is made up of knowledge from four broad areas of expertise viz. Accounting, Investing, Understanding market and Law.

Mind your own Business. Build Assets – Diverse like stock, bonds, Mutual Fund, Income generating, real estate, Notes/IOU’s, Royalties.

Know history of takes and power of corporations. Will help generate Tax advantage and protect from law suit. Rich with corporation earn, spend and then pay taxes; while people who work for corporations earn, pay taxes and then spend.

The rich invest money. Investment will be bought or create professionals who help create. They ( I ) Find opportunity that others have missed (ii ) Raise money (iii ) Organise smart people.

Work to learn; Don’t work for money. Get out of rat race. Play the game. You need to know about a lot, even if a little. The main management skills needed for success are:

The management of cash flow.
The management of systems (including yourself and time with family) – i.e. personal time.
The management of people.
The most important specialized skills are sales and marketing. This needs communicating to another human being, which is the base skill of personal success.

Beginning: Why financially literate people face roadblocks to become financially in depended – 5 reasons:

Fear - Start early. To make progress (i) first go unbalanced, just look at how you make progress walking. (ii) Be focused : Put a lot of your eggs in a few basket. Don’t put your few eggs in many baskets.
Cynics – Never Win. Unchecked doubts and fears creates a cynic. Cynics criticize and winners analyse. ‘I don’t want’ hold the key to your success.
Laziness – Busy people are often the most lazy. Cure for laziness ‘Greed’. Forbid – ‘I can’t afford it’. Guilt is worse than greed. Do what you feel in your heart to be right.
Habits – Our lives are a reflection of our habits more than our education. Asset column is far more important than the government. Pay yourself first.
Arrogance – Is Ego + Ignorance. Have absolute no idea of what they are talking about. These people bluster their way through their discussion. To overcome ignorance, Educate. Find expert and take advice or read a book.
Getting Started :-

Need a reason (combination of ‘wants’ & ‘Don’t wants’) (also known as purpose) greater than reality.
Choose daily richness and happiness. Invest first in education. It is the only real asset and most powerful tool.
Choose friends carefully, there is a great power in association.
Master a formula and then learn a new one.
Pay yourself first.
Pay your brokers well.
Be an ‘Indian Giver’ – Get back faster, what you give.
Assets – Buy luxuries. To be the master of money you need to be smarter than it.
Have role models/heroes.
Teach/Give and you shall receive.
Some to Do’s:-

Stop doing what you’re doing
Look for new ideas
Take Action :-

Find someone who has done what you want to do
Take classes and buy tapes
Make lots of offers – Just offers – someone may say yes – use escape clauses – ‘I need to consult’
Know what you are looking for; then go look for it.
Consumers will always be poor. As they run away when there is crash or correction.
Look in right places.
Think Big. Look for people who want to buy first and then look for someone who want to sell.
Learn from history. Everything big started small.
Action always beats inaction.
Important words are ‘done’ and ‘do’. Take action before you can receive the financial rewards.

Take Action!

Two great gift – Mind & Time.

Money spend – Foolishly – you become poor.

Money spend on Liabilities – you remain middle class.

Money spend on Mind in acquiring assets – you become rich.

Share this with your children. Prepare them for the world that awaits.

Future is determined By CHOICE.

Income can be generated in three ways:

Earned by way of salary
Passive from real estate investment.
Portfolio from paper assets.
The key to becoming wealthy is the ability to convert earned income into passive income and or portfolio income as quickly as possible.

Taxes are highest on earned income and least on passive income.

it 's a great lesson on how we should transmit the best financial values in our children's lives and how we can escape the rat race. While the advice in “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” — and from Kiyosaki himself — has garnered some controversial attention, the book does offer a handful of power lessons that can be useful to anyone looking broaden their views on money.

Here are some essential takeaways:

The rich buy assets, not liabilities
Financial literacy can only be learned through experience
Learn to sell
Fear and self-doubt are your greatest barriers to success
Always think in terms of opportunities.

How to win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Principles – Fundamental techniques in handling people:

Don’t criticize, condemn or complain – If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the behive.
Give honest and sincere appreciation – The big secret of dealing with people.
Arouse in the other person an eager want – He who can do this has the whole world with him. He who cannot walks a lonely way.
Six ways to make people like you:

Become genuinely interested in other people – Do this and you’ll be welcome anywhere.
Smile – A simple way to make a good first impression.
A person’s ‘name’ to him is the sweetest most important sound in any language – If you don’t do this, you are headed for trouble.
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. – An easy way to become a good conversationalist.
Talk in terms of the other persons interest. – How to interest people.
Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely. – How to make people like you instantly.
Win people to your way of thinking:

The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it
Never say ‘You’re wrong’. Show respect for the other persons opinions.
If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
Begin in a friendly way.
Get the other person say yes immediately – “Socratic method,” by which one asks another person questions with which they have to agree..
Let the other person do a great deal of talking – The safety value of handling complaints.
Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers. – helps get cooperation.
Try honestly to see things from the other persons point of view. Formula that will work wonders.
Be sympathetic with the other persons idea and desires – This is what everybody wants.
Appeal to the nobler motives.
Dramatize your ideas.
Throw down a challenge. When nothing else work, try this.
Be a Leader – Change people without giving offence or arousing resentment.

Begin with praise and honest appreciation – If you must find fault, this is the way to begin.
Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly – How to criticize and not be hated for it.
Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
Ask questions instead of giving direct orders – No one likes to take orders.
Let the other person save face.
Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise – How to spur people onto success.
Give the other person a fine reputation to live upto.
Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
Make the other person happy about doing the things you suggest.
On criticism

Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment. …. Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain—and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.

On dealing with people

When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.

The only way we can get a person to do anything is by giving them what they want. What do most people want?

Health, food, sleep, money, sex. Most of these wants are usually gratified, but there is one longing, almost as deep and ingrained as the desire for food or sleep, that is seldom gratified: the desire to be important.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.

Flattery comes from the tongue; appreciation comes from the heart.

On influence

The only way on earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it.

"Of course, you are interested in what you want. But no one else is. The rest of us are just like you: we are interested in what we want."

To keep a disagreement from becoming an argument, we can:

· Welcome the disagreement. If the other person is raising a point we haven’t considered, we can be thankful it’s brought to our attention. It may save us from making a mistake.




· Distrust our first instinctive impression. Our natural reaction to a disagreeable situation is to become defensive. We should keep calm and watch out for how we first react.




· Control our temper. Only negative outcomes result from a bad temper.




· Listen first. We can give our opponents a chance to talk without interrupting, and let them finish without resisting, defending, or debating.




· Look for areas of agreement. Surface those first.




· Be honest. Look for areas where we can admit error and apologize for our mistakes. This helps reduce defensiveness.




· Promise to think over our opponents’ ideas and study them carefully. And mean it. Thank our opponents sincerely for their interest. If they’re taking the time to argue with us, they’re interested in the same things we are.




· Postpone action to give both sides time to think through the problem. In the meantime, ask ourselves honestly if our opponents might be right, or partly right.

Next time you find yourself in a disagreement with someone, don’t respond with criticism or a negative email. Instead, sleep on it. You’d be surprised how much perspective you can gain by giving yourself a bit of time to think the situation over.

"The information we are imparting or the request we are making takes on a special importance when we approach the situation with the name of the individual. From the waitress to the senior executive, the name will work magic as we deal with others."

"If we are so contemptibly selfish that we can’t radiate a little happiness and pass on a bit of honest appreciation without trying to get something out of the other person in return - if our souls are no bigger than sour crab apples, we shall meet with the failure we so richly deserve."

If we’re angry or frustrated at someone and we go to them with our temper flaring, we’re sure to have a fine time unloading our feelings toward them. But what about the other person? Will our belligerent tones and hostility make it easy for them to agree with us?

If we approach the other person with our fists doubled, this will only lead the other person to double his fists twice as fast. If instead we come to him and say, “Why don’t we sit down and talk this through so we can understand why we disagree,” we’re likely to find that we’re actually not so far apart after all, that the points on which we differ are few and the ones on which we agree are many.

When a person feels negatively about us, we can’t win him to our way of thinking with all the logic in the world. We can’t force someone to agree with us, but we can lead them in that direction if we are gentle and friendly with them.

When you find yourself about to scold your children, act as a domineering boss, or nag your husband or wife, try softening your approach by opening with a friendly conversation and keeping a calm tone.

Have at least five minutes of pleasant conversation before you bring up the issue at hand.

When talking with people, we should never begin with the points on which we disagree. We should start by emphasizing the things on which we agree, and be sure to convey that we’re both striving for the same result - our differences are in method, but not purpose.

What we want to do instead is get the person saying “yes” as soon as possible. This starts the person moving in the affirmative direction where no withdrawal takes place.

One of the fundamental keys to successful human relations is understanding that other people may be totally wrong, but they don’t think they are.

Don’t condemn them; try to understand them.

Being Sympathetic we can say, “I don’t blame you at all for feeling the way you do. If I were you, I would undoubtedly feel the same way.”

Most people have an innate desire to achieve. Along with that desire often comes a fierce sense of competition - everyone wants to outdo others and be the best.

Avoid delivering negative feedback in front of others

On the secret of success

If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.

Goal Setting and Self Motivation

Courtesy David Nair - June 2010

Rappo Building – Connectivity is important – Network with right people.
Ask ‘W’ questions.
NLP – Neuro Linguistic Programme – Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory (smell) and Gerstatory (taste), VOG is external and AK are internal.
Cutting Edge instruments are – empowering communication, empowering attitude, Stretch – challenge yourself. Remember 3E’s – Exposure, experience and Education.
CCP – Cut, copy, paste – Benchmark.
DMP – Define Major purpose.
BAR – Behaviour affect results – Have Enthusiasm.
Stretch – Practise everyday – Fight self.
Conceive – Believe – Achieve. Determine – do.
To sharpen your edges – (i) get your corner stones right. (ii) Steps to change – a) Raise your standards. B) Get rid of limiting belief. C) Execute (Go do it – Act)
Introspection – fix emotional baggage that you carry and go back in the time line.
If it is to be, it is up to me.
Have objectives and goals that are Precise, specific and time bound for family/Career/Spiritual/Recreational.
Be the change you would want to see around.
Leadership know what paddy field to sow.
Make Aura – Team Bonding – Clap.
Information contaminated - If there are too many people in hierarchy.
Improve auditory skills – use words like – correct me if I am wrong, paraphrasing/asking back questions.
HOPE – Help Other People Evolve.
To attract attention – Command respect. You need to be a Human Volcano.
Energy Level – The four 3’s
3 Deep breath every hour
3 days of exercise every week (minimum 10,000 steps a day)
3 Balance meal a day
3 liters of water a day
FEAR - Action conquers Fear. – Feel Energetic and act for results/False evidence appear real.
JFK – By the end of this decade on Moon – Neil Armstrong – One step 4 me, Giant leap for mankind.
Never lose sight of fundamentals.
Self Performance model.
4 Elements – water – Thani podeda. Star Fish – Make difference to one.

The Secret -Rhonda Byrne

The great secret of life is the LOA and remember Power of Universe(POU)
‘Is this a friendly universe?’
That a man can change himself and master his own destiny is the conclusion of every mind who is wide awake to the power of right thought.
Love and Gratitude will dissolve all negativity in our lives, can part seas, move mountains and create miracles.
Three magnificent power in operation. The power of gratitude to heal, the power of faith to receive and the power of laughter and joy to dissolve diseases in our body.
I will never attend anti-war rally, if you have a peace rally invite me.
Begin your day with ‘Thank You’…Spread peace and Blessings.
Ask – Believe – Receive (Act – Do it now)
The Secret Revealed:

LOA says like attracts like, so when you think a thought, you are also attracting like thoughts
Thoughts are magnetic, and have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are of the same frequency.
If you want to change anything in your life, change the frequency by changing your thoughts.
Your current thoughts are creating your future life.
Your thoughts become things.
The Secret Made Simple:

The LOA is a law of nature. It is as impartial as the law of gravity.
Nothing can come into your experience unless you summon it through persistent thoughts.
To know what you’re thinking, ask yourself how you are feeling. Emotions are valuable tools that instantly tell us what we are thinking.
It is impossible to feel bad and at the same time have good thoughts.
Your thoughts determine your frequency, and your feelings tell you immediately what frequency you are on. When you feel bad, you are on the frequency of drawing more bad things. When you feel good, you are powerfully attracting more good things to you.
Secret shifters, such as pleasant memories, nature or your favourite music, can change your feelings and shift your frequency in an instant.
The feeling of love is the highest frequency you can emit. The greater you feel, and emit, the greater the power you are harnessing.


How to use the Secret:

Like Alladins Genie, the LOA grants our every command.
The creative process helps create what you want – 3 steps: Ask – Believe – Receive
To lose weight, don’t focus on ‘losing weight’. Instead focus on your perfect weight, and you will summon it to you.
It takes no time for the universe to manifest what you want.
Powerfully intend to attract something small. As you experience the power you have to attract, you will move on to creating much bigger things.
Create your day in advance by thinking the way you want it to go, and you will create your life intentionally.
Action – Act now.
Powerful Process:

Expectation is a powerful attractive force. Expect the things you want.
Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have and you will attract more good things.
Give thanks for what you want in advance – Thank You.
Visualise enjoying what you want. The LOA then returns that reality to you.
To use the LOA to your advantage, make it a habitual way of being, not just a one time event.
At the end of every day, before you go to sleep, go back through the events of the day. Any events or moments that were not what you wanted, replay them in your mind the way you wanted them to go.
The Secret of Money:

To attract money focus on wealth.
It is helpful to use your imagination and make -believe you already have the money you want. Play games of having wealth.
Feeling happy now is the fastest way to bring money into life.
Make it your intention to look at everything you like and say to yourself I can afford that.
Give money in order to bring more of it into your life. When you are generous with money and feel good about sharing it, you are saying ‘I have plenty’.
Visualize checks in the mail.
Tip the balance of your thoughts to wealth. Think wealth.
Life is meant to be abundant – in all areas.
The Secret of Relationship

When you want to attract a relationship, make sure your thoughts, words, actions and surroundings don’t contradict your desires.
Your job is you. Unless you fill yourself up first, you have nothing to give anybody.
Treat yourself with love and respect and you will attract people who show you love and respect.
When you feel bad about yourself, you block the love and instead you attract more people and situations that will continue to make you feel bad about you.
Focus on the qualities you love about yourself and LOA will show you more great things about you.
To make a relationship work, focus on what you appreciate about the other person and not your complaints. When you focus on the strengths you will get more of them.
The Secret of Health

The placebo effect is an example of the LOA in action. When a patient truly believes that tablet is a cure, he receives what he believes and is cured.
Focusing on perfect health is something we can all do within ourselves, despite what may be happening on the outside.
Laughter attracts joy, releases negativity and leads to miraculous cures.
Diseases is held in the body by thought, by observation of the illness and by the attention given to the illness. If you are feeling a little unwell, don’t talk about it, unless you want more of it. If people talk about their illness change the conversation to good things, and give powerful thoughts to seeing those people in health.
Beliefs about aging are all in our minds, so release those thoughts from your consciousness. Focus on health and eternal youth.
The secret of the world

What you resist, you attract, because you are powerfully focused on it with emotion. To change anything, go within and emit a new signal with your thoughts and feelings.
You cannot help the world by focusing on the negative things. You not only add to them by doing so, you also bring more of it into your life.
Give your attention and energy to trust, love abundance, education and peace.
Life is meant to be abundant.
Tap into the unlimited supply through your thoughts and feelings and bring into your experience.
Praise and bless everything in the world and dissolve negativity and discord and align yourself with the highest frequency – Love.
The secret to you

Everything is energy. You are an energy magnet, so you electrically energize everything to you and yourself to everything you want.
You are a spiritual being. You are energy and energy cannot be created or destroyed. It just changes forms. Therefore, the pure essence of you has always been and always will be.
The universe emerges from thought. We are the creators not only of our own destiny but also of the universe.
An unlimited supply of ideas is available to you. All knowledge, discoveries and inventions are in the universal mind as possibilities, waiting for the human mind to draw them forth. You hold everything in your consciousness.
We are all connected and we are all one.
Let go of difficulties from your past, cultural codes and social beliefs. You are the only one who can create the life you deserve.
To manifesting your desire is to see what you want as fact.
Your power is in your thoughts, so stay aware. Remember to Remember.


The secret to Life

You get to fill the blackboard of your life with whatever you want
The only thing you need to do is feel good now.
The more you use the power within you, the more power you will draw through you.
The time to embrace your magnificence is now.
Let go of limiting thoughts and we will experience humanity’s true magnificence, in every area of creation.
Do what you love. If you don’t know what brings you joy, ask, “What is my joy?’ As you commit, you will attract an avalanche of joyful things because you are radiating joy.
What you do with ‘The Secret” the power is all yours.

InnerEngineering

Self-transformation is achieved by experiencing the limitless nature of who we are. Knowing this is yoga. One who embodies this is a yogi and who guides you is guru.

Part One maps the terrain

Born in Mysore, Karnataka, at the age of 10, Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji taught him yoga asanas. At Chamundi Hill sitting on a rock, he had a spiritual experience which changed his life.

Don’t allow your thoughts and emotions to take instructions from out. Do the right things, right things will not happen to us. Being peaceful, joyful, loving – have become ultimate aspirations because we are living without paying any attention to the life process. Life is not accessories but the process itself. Access and organize the inner nature of your being.

Destiny is a consoling word, but disempowering. To mold situations know who you are. You are not the body, you are not the mind. Everything in this existence is happening naturally according to a certain organic law. Know the nature of life within you, take charge of the way it happens, but within the broad parameters set by the laws of nature. Your destiny is written by you unconsciously. With Mastery over physical body, 15 to 20% of life and destiny will be in your hands; mind it would be 50 to 60% and with life energies 100%.

The quality of our lives is determined by our ability to respond to the varied complex situations that we encounter. When you move into the fundamental dimension of who you are, you are beyond all polarities, master of your own destiny. Responsibility does not mean taking on the burdens of the world, accepting blame for things you have done or not done, living in a state of perpetual guilt. It means ability to respond, be conscious, freedom. Reactivity is enslavement. The choice is respond consciously to the present or react compulsively. With ‘I am not responsible’ attitude; you can’t even get along with yourself. To be loving is a willingness to respond freely and openly, we can extend this ability to embrace the entire world. Recognize consciously: “My ability to respond is limitless, but my ability to act is limited. I am 100% responsible for everything I am and not, for my capacities and my incapacities, for my joys and miseries. I am the one who determines the nature of my experience in this life and beyond. I am the maker of my life.”

If you desire is for the limitless you arrive at yoga. The science of yoga is being in perfect alignment, absolute harmony, complete sync with existence. We are composed of five ‘Sheaths’/’Layers’/bodies viz: the physical body-the annamayakosha (hardware); the mental body- the manomayakosha (software); the energy body – the pranamayakosha (power) – each more subtle than preceding like lightbulb, electricity and light. The fourth is transient state called vignanamayakosha or the etheric body means ‘extraordinay knowledge” – that which is beyond the sense of perception. It is link between physical and non physical. The fifth is anandamayakosha, indefinable dimension, producing overwhelming experience of bliss. Work is only with the first three bodies, yoga is the science of aligning these three dimensions to reach ecstatic union with life itself. If your employ your physical body to reach this ultimate union, it is Karma yoga, employing intelligence is gnana yoga, employing emotions is bhakti yoga or yoga of devotion and if you use energies, it is kriya yoga, the yoga of transforming energies. Yoga is not about being superhuman; it is about realizing that being human is super. There are two fundamental ways in which spiritual journey can be approached; slow step by step, or by taking inward leap. We are free to choose our path, balance between the two is the best.



Part Two offers a way to navigate it.

Our body is the ultimate machine, complete and self-contained. There are two forces, one of self preservation, compelling you to build walls around for protection and the other to become boundless. Separate the two, avoid conflict. Yoga talks only about the barriers that you have set up as these resistance needs to be attended. We need to know life beyond the senses as they are relative. The human predicament is the very seat of experience is within us, but perception is entirely outward bound. The science of using body to hasten evolutionary process is hatha yoga. Ha denotes the sun and tha denotes the moon. Hatha is bringing balance between these two dimensions within human system understanding the mechanics of body, creating certain atmosphere and then using physical postures to channel or drive energy in specific directions known as yogasana. Listen. A painful body will want us get rid of the pain so a compulsive body (hunger, lust) will not allow you to look beyond the physical. Asanas help level the physical body. Annamayakosha is the morsel of the earth. Earth, water, air, food, are organic parts of life process and not just commodities. Food is the fuel, your body knows what it needs best.

Once your intellect gets identified with something you function within the realm of the identity is called ahankara. Mind is an express train that cannot be stopped. If you are able to disentangle, dis-identify yourself from everything that you are not – the mind turns just blank and empty like death. Employ your intelligence and make an attempt to reach your ultimate nature i.e. gnana yoga/ yoga of knowing. The mind has sixteen dimensions falling into four categories. There is the discerning or discriminatory, the intellect (buddhi), the accumulative dimension or memory (manas), which gathers information and what is called awareness (chitta), which is beyond both intellect and memory. The fourth dimension, ahankara you derive your sense of identity. Soak your intellect in your awareness, you enjoy liberation. Don’t leave your intellect in the sack of memory and identification you will draw conclusion about life that are completely distorted. Awareness is aliveness. This means that ones you distance yourself from the compulsiveness of your own genetic and karmic information, life becomes unburdened, flexible, incredibly effortless. Knowledge is accumulated, knowing is transmitted it does not need thought, like beehives. Every aspect of life is a manifestation of a greater intelligence than minuscule intellect. All that is considered to be negative in the world actually springs from limitation ‘me’ versus ‘others’, in this space all crime and negativity is born. Move from limitation to liberation. Your mind can be in five different states. It could be inert not activated at all; rudimentary state. energize it, it becomes active but scattered. Further energies starts oscillating; further, it becomes one-pointed and further, it will become conscious. If it is conscious, it is magic; miracle; bridge to the beyond.

Everything in the universe can be seen as one energy/kundalini, the formula E=mc2, also confirms that. Per yoga system the anatomy of the human energy body has been mapped to seventy-two thousand channels (or nadis)in the energy system The prana, or energy, moves through these channels. These springs from 3 basic channels – on right pingala symbolized as masculine or sun, left ida symbolized as feminine or moon and central sushumna independent of other nadis but fulcrum of the whole system. The chakras are powerful centers in the physiology where the nadis meet in a particular way to create energy vortex. There are 114 chakras, 3 active. There are seven fundamental chakras:

The muladhara, located at the perineum, between the anal outlet and the genital organ if dominant then food and sleep will be dominant;
swadhishthana, just above the genital organ if dominant pleasure will be dominant;
manipuraka, which is 3/4th of an inch below navel if dominant you are a doer;
Helps keep body stable and rooted associated with earth and self preservation – Survival Instinct

anahata, below the point where the rib cage meets the diaphragm if dominant you are creative;
Middle Anahata is a balance between two, transition symbolized by two interlocking triangles, one pointing downward and another upward, forming star.

vishuddhi, at the pit of the throat makes you powerful person;
agna, between the eyebrows - intellectually realized; and
sahasrara/ brahmarandra, at the fontanel on top of the head makes intellectually realized.
Draws you away from the pull of earth, concerned with longing for the infinite liberation instinct,

Spiritual path is a journey from muladhara to Sahasrara.

Take charge of own destiny and be in a state of joyful inclusiveness. The way out is in, create a world of love, light and laughter. Let us make it happen.

Narendra Modi - New India - Election 2019

Courtesy: An article in The Wire.in

Among the many reactions on social media to the victory of the National Democratic Alliance were tweets and posts pointing out that while Atishi Marlena of the Aam Aadmi Party had lost her seat in Delhi, Pragya Singh Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party had won in Bhopal. The former is Oxford educated and had worked to improve government schools, the latter is an accused in a terrorism case and is currently out on bail-their respective electoral performances were contrasted with each other.

Atishi lost to Gautam Gambhir, who in his short pre-poll political career has shown he can be as hyper-nationalistic and aggressive as anyone else in his party, while Thakur defeated veteran Congress politician and former chief minister of the state Digvijay Singh. What did these results suggest about India, asked these posts.

The comparison is a bit off the mark since the voters of Delhi and of Bhopal are not the same and other local factors may have played a role, but the point is well taken. Neither did Atishi’s commitment to education impress voters nor did Thakur’s controversial remarks about Gandhi’s killer bother her constituents. While voters disregarded Thakur’s hate-filled statement, and they showed no interest in Atishi’s achievements. Atishi weakly tried to invoke her caste, thinking it would help her, but no one paid the slightest attention.

It is a sobering, even troubling thought that Thakur is going to be in the Indian parliament, the symbol of the country’s democracy; she will swear allegiance to the constitution, which stands for a secular India which she and her fellow party leaders object to. What other views will she express as a representative of the people?

On a broader level, this contrast parallels with the battle between the BJP and the opposition, mainly the Congress. The BJP has made no secret of where it stands on the question of minority rights, on Hindu dominance, on patriotism; the Congress, with its allegations about corruption and crony capitalism, its constant attacks on Narendra Modi, found no takers. Nor did its well-thought out manifesto with a plan for the future impress anyone or indeed the ‘soft Hindutva’ that the party’s brains trust came up with as a strategy to take on the BJP on its own turf. Modi’s success shows that he had the measure of the voter’s pulse, whether he asked for a vote in the name of Indian soldiers or talked loosely about the nuclear weapons. Growth, development and jobs were nowhere mentioned. Yet voters gave him a thumping majority. What indeed does it say about India?

More than the systemic problems in the Congress and in the regional parties — lack of money, poor candidate selection, weak messaging, lack of alliances — the key learning from these election results is that the emergent Indian voter is looking for something that no other party but the BJP has to offer. The BJP not just articulates this new Indian’s thoughts – often in ways that must alarm anyone concerned with the values that have been central to India so far – but is part of that new narrative. It emerges from the very social order it speaks for – the BJP is emblematic but also a product of that mindset that has taken root in modern India.

The Congress during its heyday wanted to mould the nation in a particular way; the BJP is a product moulded by the nation. Those who have voted for the BJP – and mainly for Narendra Modi – don’t merely think he will bring them whatever he promised, but also because they see themselves in him. He is not just their representative, he is one of them because he has risen from among them. The chaiwallah story, true or not, is a compelling one, because it not just inspires, it exemplifies the feeling that a humble man has shown the privileged their place.

Modi, over the last few years, has not let go of any opportunity to talk about how he has broken through the ranks of those who have controlled power – political, social but also cultural – in India and how he has breached those elitist citadels. Phrases like Lutyens Delhi, Harvard educated or even Khan Market gang, all signal the same thing – what do these insular, refined and deracinated big shots think of themselves? I will show them. And he has shown them.

In this image, the elite is Left-liberal, secular (i.e. pandering to the minorities) and remote from the masses, i.e. the ‘real’ Indian. To this real Indian, the Muslim, the Dalit and the poor in general are needlessly asking for too much instead of working hard and making a good life for themselves. They need to be kept in their place, even if this means occasionally lynching or killing a few. The real Indian craves for order, not chaos; a powerful Centre, not noisy regionalists and structured caste hierarchies where each one knows their place. Merit is the way to rise up in life, which these Indians think they have in large measure.

It is no surprise that Modi enjoys such support even among educated professionals, especially in the cities and overseas – they all see themselves as people who have achieved everything on their own without help from anyone, by sheer talent and diligence, and not through well entrenched family networks. The possibility that they may have class and caste privilege simply does not strike them.

The successful businessman will boast about how he came from a humble background and worked day or night, ignoring how community networks may have played a role in his success; the IIT graduate who made it big in the US has no time for homilies about subsidised education in institutions of higher learning set up by Jawaharlal Nehru or the fact that he may be from the upper caste where education and access were taken for granted. Modi strikes a chord with him when he talks about his own journey from being a tea seller to becoming the prime minister–they see themselves in his image. In contrast, Rahul Gandhi looks to be a man who has done little in his life except being born into a powerful family.

Resentment is a powerful emotion and Modi not just channels it but also owns it. He speaks for the resentful because he is one of them; he – like many in the BJP and the larger Sangh parivar – has always harboured a grudge against the Nehru-Gandhis not merely because of their policies but because of their privileges. The patrician Nehru is contrasted with the earthy Sardar Patel – it is not merely their political differences but their socio-cultural ones that matter–the first went to school and university in England and mingled with the high and mighty, the second was a trade unionist who wore Indian clothes and remained in touch with his modest but ‘Indian’ roots.

This sense of alienation from the old order and the feelings of inferiority is garbed in religion. Simply being against something or someone cannot unite people; the binding factor has to be a higher cause which can provide direction and sense of purpose. The Sangh’s Hindutva project fits the bill, because it evokes something that is familiar to everyone in India. To be Hindu is the natural order of things – those who are not, are not real Indians. Decades of hammering home this point has finally borne fruit, as newer generations have grown up with no sense of history or the country.

Modi has cleverly exploited this, because he understands this sentiment. His own upbringing in the Sangh environment means he heard such propaganda from an early age. Add to that his communication skills and the crafty shaping of his persona. The optics of his meditation in a cavein Kedarnath was carefully crafted – Modi portrays the ascetic who does not want anything for himself, who is ready to live an austere life without craving from material goods and who goes back to India’s great religious traditions; At the same time he can bomb the troubling neighbour Pakistan and take on the Gandhi family. It is all fake, of course, but for his followers, blinded by devotion, it is real. There is nothing, but nothing, that Rahul Gandhi, with all his talk of Rafale or his promise of a universal basic income, can offer as a counter to this level of symbolism.

The new Indian has spoken. In the coming months and years, he – and in many instances, she – will demand more and more. Their own man is the prime minister; he instinctively knows what they want and he will deliver. The minorities, already crushed, will be completely sidelined and their citizenship and loyalty will be questioned; dissenters will be punished and every institution will be suborned for the higher good – the greater glory of Mother India. They have a dream for India, and Modi, one of them, is the implementer of that dream.

The old order is vanishing. It had a lot of weaknesses and had become distorted, but it held true and at least held out a promise of a just and equitable society. The new India wants to discard it in toto – and from among these new Indians, Modi has arisen to take them to their true destiny

The Best Life Ever - Aditya Shroff

Forward by Milind Soman say like a whiff of breeze with this book, Malgudi days have returned.

The stories are written in first person narrative, and that makes it an experience more than just a book. Inspired by real-life experiences, by the magical landscapes of India, by beautiful people with hearts of gold and miles and miles of running; this book is a brilliant piece of read with 13 beautifully written different true life stories. The author himself say, it’s difficult to place it in fiction or nonfiction. Because these stories are based on real life experiences so they aren’t fictional. But still non- fictional writing isn’t usually like this. So he himself is trying to figure it out. Nevertheless, thought of including this as it would be a separate kind.

As far as you can see – Lost in a village in Kerala, he decides that he would never go out far on unknown roads, and he remembers his childhood promise to his grandfather that he would never be afraid of the things he can’t see. Just because he can’t see them.
The price of A coconut – In few years time price of a coconut has gone up from Rupees four to Rupees nine, and in city its thirty-five rupees, wonder where the rest of the money go? One day two guys come and steal them as they were hungry. Which was a bigger sin? Denying food or stealing?
Of Himalayan Wildflowers - When unwell he realizes, anyone can start the race, what decides the winner is how strongly you run the final kilometer, when your body is giving up, when you want to quit, when you are in extreme pain, even when you are dying.
Gone - Bruno was probably the angel in disguise who had come to teach him some simple yet indispensable life lessons, how beautiful place the world would be, if we could but for a moment, treat the people around us like they were - gone.
Dhanyavaad! – In the city of Meerut, on Diwali and on a day of strike he realizes the far-reaching advantage of Thank you/Dhanyavaad. There was only the cleaner on the street, and on Thanking him he says nobody has said that to him before. Once when the city is shut mourning the death of a leader, he could run the empty street but soon there were 8 men following/chasing him, and it was the sweeper who saved him.
The Left – What would you do, if you meet dead people on the road? You become part of a strange, eerie, supernatural world. They become a part of you and you become a part of them. Life is much easier when you don’t believe in ghosts.
Song of the Champions – Few years can make you go apart in a relationship. Time must move on. Good memories can make even death memorable. As a child during his visit to Mumbai Nana-Nani’s house he had created sweet memories with kaka especially the Vijeta Geet: The song of the Champions.
A midnight Boat Ride – Mantez given him life changing advise in the middle of the sea when the words ‘Genetically weak legs’ were echoing his ears. “ You are born to run free. You were born to climb mountains and catch the magical sunrises. To play with the wind. To fall asleep under the canopies of rain trees. You were meant to work hard. To fall. To get back up. To laugh through it. It is the experience that counts, everything you collect in life.” “Define your own success for that is where true happiness lies. Let the world point at you and laugh. You play your part”. “We are indeed minuscule, Sometimes, we need the roar of the blue sea, the vastness of the limitless sky, and the crashing waves at the shore to remind us we are just the speck of sand on the beach…and sometimes, we need them all to remind us that perhaps we are the roar of the blue sea, the force of the crashing waves and as limitless as the sky. “
A glass of milk – In Saurashtra they say, A glass of warm milk each day can cure any illness. All you need is a bit of love. When you sow rice, and it doesn’t sprout, you don’t blame the grains. You simply water it with a few drops of kindness. A cow-header Jeeven from drought-stricken Saurashtra made him realise this by taking care of Amar the mad beggar under the banyan tree, who saved his life.
‘Draw A Chair, Munnu!’ – All that will remain is the happiness from the memories you build in the sands of time. You would want to tell them to someone. So please do listen to someone today. Dadhaji and Bhalu’s story and the rive made him ponder over this.
The Bull-tamer – Everything is perfect the way it is. There is an inexplicable connect amongst all of us. Rustling of the leaves, the breathing…all resonate with the harmony of the universal frequency. It is a beautiful feeling that everyone in the world is a friend and a well-wisher. That the whole world is home and there are no enemies. There is nothing to fear. But sadly it isn’t. Communal disharmony caused him his Sarfraz.
The Cup of Life – When it is raining outside, resting his tired head against the cool glass of the window, he see the reflection of the landscape outside in every single droplet. The whole world in one drop. And then they slide down the window. Is it a metaphor for life? A world inside each one of us, until we hold on. But soon it will be time to go. And then we must simply slide away. Just pour yourself a cup of life, Nanaji breathes in his ear, and disappears into thin air.
The Best Life Ever – Whenever you want to spit at the world, swallow up your anger and if you must spit, first spit at your own self a hundred times over – A Gujarati saying. Mountains were teaching the same. There is ambition and there is ego. Land of ego, is also the land of self-sabotage. When you are lying on the rock, beneath the mountain gasping for life, dying before them, they simply observe. The mountains do not bother, world do not care, even a grain of sand will not move to cover body. Clouds will not cry even one drop of rain. You don’t ever conquer a mountain, you are merely permitted to stand on it. To cower like a mouse before the majestic mountain. Belief they say, is empowering and faith moves mountains. It is the stories we live for, and it is the stories we shall die with. This moment – this life – fortunate enough to live is beyond a shadow of doubt….the best life ever!


From a small village in Kerala to the Himalayan peaks enroute his home town Umarsadi, author makes us want to run and view the amazing landscape as he pass the forests, mountains, wildflowers, sea’s and rivers; at times all alone, and other times with a companion teaching us simple life lessons interwoven in 13 stories. As rightly mentioned in the Foreword by Milind Soman, we were missing the Malgudi, and Umarsadi would be the new Malgudi for the coming generation. A book for all ages though.

Straight from the Heart - Kapil Dev An Autobiography

Life is all about learning. Working single minded and focused, under guidance of coach Desh Prem Azad; he progressed as life changed with ages. His ideology was live a simple life, and do own things. Lot of hard work and not comparing with anyone else, realizing everyone is unique helped him. When charges of match-fixing cropped up, had filed a defamation suit, but withdrew after a month, realizing it was not worth spending time and money on something not very positive. Our beginnings never know our ends and one is still learning.

Sanctity of Memories. Kuckoo for family was born to Ram Lal Nikhanj, a prominent timber merchant who passed away when Dev was seventeen. For his mom, her family was religion; he had 4 sisters and two elder brothers Romesh and Bhushan. A student at D.A.V. School, his brother Bhushan introduced him to cricket at the age of 12 in 1971. Azad gave him three points to remember mental toughness, unrelenting effort and not being intimidated by the opponent. In the 1977-78 wills trophy Gavaskar gave him an important, pragmatic lesson on bowling technique. For batsman, it’s difficult to play two balls – one is the outswinger and the other if ball is bowled close to the wicket. He owes his future to five years of slogging between 13 to 18 going between stadium and being totally consumed by cricket. Dev made an impressive debut for Haryana in November 1975 against Punjab with a 06 wicket haul, restricting Punjab to 63 runs and helping victory. He finished the season with 121 wickets in 30 matches. As a tribute to father, Dev wanted to make a mark.

Passion is the operative word. He had never seen a Test match even on television before he played his first international match in Faisalabad, Pakistan on 16 October 1978. It was only after attending the training camp and playing for Ranji Trophy that his passion grew. Bedi said he would not try to follow anyone and will be original. Amarnath taught him how to wash cloths and save money. In the 5th test in Delhi he accomplishes his first century in Jan 1979. In his career he has never been run out as he was alert in his head had eyes and ears open. Guts is vital, you need talent to arrive at a certain level, so both are complementary. The more people expect of you, the harder you work and set your own goals. In 1982-83 he was made captain for the West Indies tour. Learning to lead the flock, he realized that he had to be assertive without being aggressive. At Albion Sports complex, on 29th March 1983, on holi, the foundation for winning the world cup was laid, learning to adjust to the West Indies pace who were the winners of the previous two world cups. He had a record of sort with 200 wickets and 2000 runs at the age of 24. Match against Zimbabwe during world cup was the most remarkable day of his life and career. Scored 175 runs out of 266. In cricket till the last ball, any cookie can crumble. It’s easy to be wise after the event. The team decide to give their best in the finals for the next 6 hours against West Indies but begin with a measly score of 183. ‘Catches make matches’ and it was truly a breathtaking skier, Richard after hitting seven spectacular fours in a mini-masterpiece of 33 , was caught on a ball by Madan. India’s world cup victory was splendid. The team continues to win all the internationals against Pakistan in 1983-84. Then it turned out to be a bad season, except the win in the Asia cup in Sharjah in 1985. He would not have been the best person to deal with media as a hi-fi savvy guy, since he was not a glib talker. But on the field, he leads the flock and deliver goods. Captaincy changed his personality and added to his perspective. He was said to be too headstrong and inexperienced and not having the ability to lead India. BCCI sends him abroad for knee surgery, bearing the expenses. There was a tug of war between facts and fiction, regarding the Delhi Test fracas, when he thought of resigning. At that juncture Pataudi asked him not to retire against the interest of the team. Both Gavaskar and Dev was summoned to meet N K P Salve where they clearly aver that they have no ‘difference of opinion’. In 1985-86 Gavaskar retires from captaincy, and he gets a chance again.

Records are made to be broken. Bowling his 4576th over in the 130th Test he beats Sir Richard Hadlees record with the 432nd wicket at Ahmedabad stadium in early 1994. With determination, dedication and strength in resolve – for success in life, he moved on. He retired playing against the West Indies at Faridabad in Haryana, in October of 1994. He pulled his thigh muscle while running on the ground and felt great strain. He felt it to be a latent message to call it ‘quits, as body could not take any injuries. As he was not a good orator he did not like being commentator, but volunteered to do that for rest of the test in the series as ‘Thanksgiving; to spectators across the country. Then he started playing golf. He felt that young cricketers must pursue golf as the concentration level really gets enhanced. He played 131 Tests, with just one break on non-cricketing grounds. He was the only player in the world to capture 434 wickets while amassing 5,248 runs.

Love makes you go round. Romi was a great influence. Having met her before the tour to Pakistan in 1978 at Bombay Cricket Club, through a common friend Bablu, their romance bloomed under the prying eyes of five friends and finally tied the knot on May 6 th 1981 amidst many oppositions from family members. Romi got hyper about them not being able to raise a family, both believed that things happen when they are meant to happen and not essentially when you want them to. They are blessed with a daughter Amiya in 1996.

Rearview renders the mirror image. BCCI helped Kapil to be in the game, but he did have fights with them for laundry allowance, flying economy class and question of captain and captaincy. In 16 years of his test cricket, he has seen 8 captains and seven of them had played under him when he became the captain twice. Life for cricketers earlier were tough, they did not have money even to pay medical expenses, and most of them had to work on other jobs. Modelling was turning point of his life. He was never touchy about what people had to say. Post 1996 Indian cricket economy drives 60-70 percent of world’s cricket business and players getting due share. In 2003 we were into finals of world cup but slipped against Australia. We had best talent but needed professionalism. There is no politics for top players, 99% complains come from borderline cases. Cricket administration in India (BCCI) should be in the hands of professional cricket players and not Honorary persons. Sport has the power to change the world.

Fatalism of fame. Fame and infamy both come under harsh public scrutiny. Press has a great role to play. He was annoyed that BCCI would not give permission to voice his opinion, but his rival captain could use column. He has no regret of not giving 100% to studies, but believe basic education is important. It was tough handling business but he had strong business instincts, eg. When he started sports lighting business it was very small company, ten years down the line, it is a big business as all over the world, sports are changing into night sports. He works 18 hours a day to make money, some people even called him ‘money making machine’. In 2000 he was alleged to be involved in match fixing. Bindra interviewed to Outlook that Kapil had offered Manoj Prabhakar 25 Lakhs to underperform in 994. He was the coach of India team in 2000. After this an income tax raid was done at all his residences and offices. The investigation code named GCI (Greatest Cricketer of India) but, he was harassed by the raids. He had to stop modelling, except for Action shoes. Only Subrata Roy of Sahara India Group, continued business deals with him. His administrative staff slogged for two years to appease the authorities looking for loopholes. His Bharat Darshan for Sony Max has been a rediscovery with gully cricket. Conferred the Wisden honour by Sir Vivian Richards, at the Wembley Conference Center in London remains the most cherished moment of his life. He wish to stay rooted to the ground and retain sanity.



Few teachings:

A bowler should have superb rhythm
A batsman should have a fantastic technique
A fielder should be alert and eagle eyed
A captain becomes a great captain, when he can make the best use of limited talents in times of stress and strain
An all-rounder is a complete cricketer
Stamina is all about endurance
Talent, perseverance and self-esteem form the trinity of success.

Farewell Message

*Journey of Life starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience.. *

*The goal is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck gets empty.. *


I Believe:



The most important resource available to any organization is the relationship among its people, it’s stakeholders; of the three assets viz: physical, financial and human, Humanity is the biggest and most important team you’ll ever be on. Be an awesome member of Team Humanity…You will be an awesome member of team you. A big Thank you to one an all for all the support and guidance. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life...



" It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. "

A - Appreciate, Acknowledge, Accept

I Realise:



The key thought leadership contribution of our time is crucial conversations. Trust me! The most popular lie, nowadays, is ‘trust me’ and though we know, sometimes, it’s just a lie, but we believe it.



For the growth of an enterprise we need to Target Appropriate Growth, take appropriate risk and make transparency in dealings and statements. Of course, it can be accomplished only with hardworking employees, sincere and loyal leaders most important of all TEAM work.

B - Believe, Become, Bounc

I Acknowledge:



We are the books we read, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, the people we spend time with, the conversations we engage in. Choose wisely what you feed your mind.



Everything in life comes with an expiry date. And gradually I am here at this phase of life, looking forward to embrace what is in stored next, wishing all the very best to everyone both personally and professionally.

C - Change, Chose, Challenge

Live and Let Live, Love, Lead, Learn, Leave a Legacy