Youth v/s Experience

It’s a tricky proposition. If you are leading an initiative, who would you go for – youth or experience? Would you prefer someone who has been there and done that but with relatively lesser innovation capabilities? Or will it be someone young, innovative and eager to do something but with no experience of the initiative? Experience knows the usual pitfalls involved and possible work-around. Youth will bring in innovative and cost-effective ways to tackle pitfalls. 

For instance, experience will tell you how to make a bill payment, where to go, when to go (to avoid queue), whom to meet. Youth will simply open an app and 2-3 clicks later, bill payment’s done. Both have their own merits and demerits. And both are prevalent in our country. Your grandparents may not even know the meaning of “app” and will still prefer the traditional mode of payment. Your parents will be open to both, but deep down will prefer the traditional mode. You will obviously opt for the “app” mode and will always be in the lookout for faster options.

I was in Kerala this April. It’s usually very hot at this time of the year. Add to it the fact that the electricity runs on its own whims and fancies, you are at your "perspiring" best. Especially in my ancestral home, to get to that one line of network connection, you need to roam around your back yard and literally freeze at a place where you find that much needed line on your smart-phone to check your mails / WhatsApp messages. So, practically, there’s nothing much to do while in Kerala but to just sit anywhere and chit-chat with your family / relatives (now that I think of it, isn’t this how we were supposed to communicate in the first place? – direct and personal media rather than social media).

image courtesy - apsltd.com

One day in Kerala, I was sitting in the veranda with my grand-mom. We were discussing about the happenings in Kerala and the updates of our relatives from my grand-mom’s perspective. Then suddenly, she said it’s going to rain. I was sweating like hell. Just to be sure, I glanced towards the sky. The sun was beating down and there were no sign of clouds. How the hell is it going to rain, I wondered? I confidently told my grandma that it won’t rain. She remained adamant and suggested we go back in the house. My explanations were being rudely ignored. She went back in and I remained in the veranda sweating even more. After barely five minutes, I heard thunderstorms and before my brain could gather this new information, it started pouring. 

I ran back in and humbly sat beside my grandma whose face was filled with modest pride. I didn't ask for an explanation and she didn't initiate either. The moment passed. On that day (at least), youth lost!

PhotoBlog: Praying Mantis captured in Kerala..

It took me sometime to recognize that I am taking pictures of a "Praying Mantis". This is what I believe even now. Do let me know if its some other species.. Always good to learn new things!

Praying Mantis on the candle - 

Praying Mantis actually praying - 

Praying Mantis front view - 

PhotoBlog: Green Butterfly in Kerala..

Found this beautiful butterfly on our entrance wall. 

Tried the zoom feature to get a closer look using my Canon Powershot SX-150. It didn't work. Then somehow managed to climb the wall and used the macro feature. It worked!

PS: I am trying my hand at Photography. If you feel I can improve on something (or everything), please let me know in the comments section. Criticism will be highly appreciated. :D

PhotoBlog: Legal thief in our own backyard!

It happened in Kerala. In our own backyard (yes, we have Jack-fruit trees). And we couldn't do anything to stop him!

I tried capturing close-up images of him (I assume, he's a him). But somehow he came to know about it and flew away. I wonder, if they are smarter than humans! Are things changing in God's own country?

New Phase in my life..

This is easily my most special pic. That's me bonding with my new born daughter! 

She was born on 18th October, 2012. Time for me and my wife to enter a new phase in our lives - Parenthood!

Shopping Observations in Kerala.

Shopping is one of the favorite words and activities of the fairer sex. There's no denying this fact. Lack of patience, being unproductive and the feeling of wasting your time (and eventually money) is what men hate the most (I guess - No wait, I am sure). Hence, it's always fun (for others) to watch a couple shopping.

I went shopping with my better-half in Kerala.



Image: spiderkerala.net

Now, before you jump to any conclusions, let me tell you that this post is based purely on my observations and is not my personal experience. Not that it will make any difference, but still.

When you go shopping with your wife (or your girlfriend, whichever is applicable in your case) and especially when it's during a festival, you always have 2 options: one is to support your partner through thick and thin and try to understand the difference between a pink colored clothing and a slightly - and I mean slightly - light pink colored clothing!! Option 2 would be to be a little rational and understanding and let her take control of her core competence. It's her territory - don't interfere!! Option 2 gives you an opportunity to sit back and observe people and the patterns in which they shop. And that's where this blog was born.

During festivals, Onam - in my case, retailers have an interesting strategy to literally force people to shop till they drop. They introduce what we can as a "lucky draw" system. This is how it works - for every Rs 500/- (for example) you will be getting one ticket. You have to fill up the ticket and keep it in the drop-box. Now, to increase your chances to win the prize, you have to have more tickets, which you will get if you buy more from this shop. This translates into more sales for retailers, more hope for shoppers but only 3 lucky winners. Simple?

I was waiting near the payment counter. I saw one family paying their bills and based on the amount, they got some tickets. After filling all the details, they went towards the drop-box. That's when they met another family (relative, maybe). They asked about the lucky draw tickets and this family, somewhat embarrassed, mentioned this process as a formality and that they never go for such lucky draws. Just a few minutes ago, the family was very particular about filling the correct details and rechecking everything. The family I observed were very interested in the draw, but they didn't want to show it in front of others. 

This observation sums up the shortcuts people want to take to fulfill all their desires. And you can't blame them, can you? The lucky draw system is such. Everyone wants to take shortcuts in life, but no one wants to show it. Eventually, when you turn 50, you will boast about all the trials you faced to reach where you are, but you won't mention the places where you were just plain lucky - being there at the right place at the right time!!

Anyways, when my turn came to pay the bills, I got some tickets myself. I (carefully) filled up the form and submitted it, hoping against hope that none of my relatives were around. So much for observations and commenting about others!!

10 and a half hours of absolute carnage...

... in the mind, that is..

It's understood that Indian Railways will be late for some reason or the other. And honestly, they cannot be blamed for this. India's climate changes as frequently as the people in India shouts for change !! And planning against such a climate is extremely difficult. It was on one such occasion that I decided to avail Indian Railway's service to go to Kerala from Mumbai...

Image: ME

Date: Sometime in September.

Location: Thane.

We reached the station 1 hour early (eternal optimist, I know). The moment we reached, we were greeted with an announcement. It seems the guy informing us through the public address system was talking to himself or to someone near him. No one could hear a word of what he was saying !! But as they say, we Indians never give up. We tried to make sense of the announcement and after discussing it with fellow passengers, we came to the conclusion that the train is late by 5 hours. 

Here's how we concluded: I asked a passenger about the announcement. He said he couldn't understand anything but definitely heard 'five hours'. I said, I heard the word 'late'. And trust me, this is the ONLY way we made our conclusion. Here's something the Indian Railways should improve. We then went back to our house. Some were unfortunate though. Travelling all the way back with their luggage and coming back is more tedious than waiting 5 hours for the train to arrive.

Anyways, we reached the station for the second time; and that too 1 hour early (Ohh yeah, eternal optimist again). That's when we heard another announcement - the derived conclusion was that the train is again late by 4 hours (that's a total of 9 hours already). By the way, are all the announcements negative in context?? Can we have a positive announcement for a change?? Ironically, there were positive announcements, but I was not part of the happy lot !! This time we decided to stay back in the station. Its not as if we didn't have any option. Air travel was one of them. But then I came to know that the Mumbai runway was closed till 11pm that day !! (when its not your day, its just not your day). 5pm crawled to 6, then 7, somehow reached 8. After 8, people were somewhat positive to realize that their wait was about to end. At about 08:55pm, we heard another announcement: Key words heard were 'Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla - starting station), 'not left', 'will inform', 'when it leaves'. I am sure now even you can derive a proper conclusion using the key words !!  

This information kept on repeating itself after every 15 minutes. I personally had given up. I lost all hope I had in the railways. There was a time, during my school days, when I used to wait for summer vacations to travel to Kerala by train. I used jump onto the top berth, and stay there for most of the time, used to even have my lunch / dinner over there !! All those moments were fading away thanks to one bad experience.  

And finally, the fat lady sang.. Or was that the fat guy... How will I ever come to know who is announcing?? Anyways, that one announcement of good news finally came.. After around 10 and a half hours of tiring, cursing (not vocally though), despair, hopelessness, here I am.. Finally inside the train..

One wish that might never be answered: Wish there was no politics in allotting new trains in parts of India other than the Union Railway Ministers' constituency.

My journey had just begun...