Maturity: A factorial of “Age” or “Experience”??

Since childhood one has heard it from their elders that you are not “mature” enough to do this, or understand that as you are not “old” enough. However, having come of age and become elder to others in the world, this question now baffles me to the extent that it seems to be an illusionary thought.

Age may play a role in becoming “mature” as they say “, experience come with age” however, in today’s world when one is not untouched with the happenings in others life and learning from them. This in itself is not the only thing. As more and more young people come in contact with the outside world as they start early in their life, the reason for “age” being a factor in gaining “maturity” has diminished to an extent of being relegated to the background.

The experience a person has in interacting with others and the understanding they gain from it makes them more evolved in handling various situation, be it personal, professional and public.

An example of a small town girl comes as a fresh fodder to send the age factor to the background of maturity process.

Born and brought up in a village in a satellite town near Delhi, in a conservative yet forward looking Punjabi family this is a short story a girl who has taught me a lesson for the life time.

Maturity comes from experience, learning and self-determination and not just age.

Having done her schooling in the village, where she has been amongst the top students, this girl is equally deft in all the household chores. Came to Delhi for graduation and have been here since then staying with her extend family.  Having had a close association with her, gave me insights to the ever evolving human nature and values. Listening to every bit of her conversation brought the intricacies of human relations and their impact on one’s life out in open.

An ever changing persona of her, not negatively, however, as a part of growing interaction grew me as a person with a different view on similar happenings. How to look at things from other angles not necessarily the way you have been experiencing it throughout your life till date was one of the things learnt. The purity in relation, to stand tall in adversity and come out winner against every odd are the qualities however, the strength needed to achieve this is innate and requires a strong will and belief in self/self-control. This is the virtue on which the life of this person is built on.

I thank her for the teachings in such a short span of our interaction. I have been humbled time and again. However, I look at this as my step towards maturity which I believe was lacking these teachings in life. And all these came from her experiences, gained from living in an extended family and going through the various ups and downs or to say perils of staying with them.

Long live her, her spirit and her zest for life.

What you throw, comes back and that too with a BANG!!!!

Boomerang!! It’s a good old game however, is very much true in real life. The age old adage which goes like, “As you sow, so you reap” is a sort of equivalent of this game.  Observing the happenings around and the ones in my own life and analyzing them over a period of time, increases the belief in this adage and forces one to see life afresh and re-engineer it to smoothen the curves out.

It really is eye-opening to see and how you behave with the people in your life and how it impacts others attitude towards you. To be honest in admitting, the way I used to and is speaking to a person (which is not a good way too per my own taste), the same way I have been treated by another person without a common link between the two.

As they say, heaven and hell are both there on this earth, and what you give is what you get, I have had a real life experience of this in past few days or months if I say. It really is shocking to see however, on the other hand is relaxing that one has got this experience and can in due course learn from it and correct it. It gives solace that though it may have damaged the relation a bit however, not beyond repair.

Having had this experience at this stage of life, I’m feeling like having got enlightened to the various facets of human behavior, relations and impact of irrational behavior which is uncalled for in most of the situations.

This seems to be coming from perceived perceptions and an additional learning from the previous post on perceptions.

Paan Singh Tomar: A feeling of Gratitude

It pays to procrastinate, sometimes. I was just about to move out of my office yesterday when I thought of soak in some sun before deciding to go to mall for a movie or come back home. As I was just about to move out to come back as I didn't get the showtimes of my suitability, a group of my ex mates came out and asked for what I was searching for. Let’s go and watch: Paan Singh Tomar.

Having read some rave reviews about the movie based on life of the person of the same name, it was simple excitement to watch it. 

It was easy to find the tickets on the last row and with popcorn and Coke in hand, we sat down to watch the offbeat yet discerning story of a gentleman cadet and a future baaghi.

By now, most of the readers of the blog would have watched or read or listened to about the story, however, after watching it, it really felt painful to watch the state of affairs in our country. Though it’s not hidden from any that we are a cricket crazed nation, however, it is a fact that not every cricketer is the super god that one is made out to be. They are a lucky few who are the in the eyes of the national public. Rest, are mostly fringe players who never get to don the national cap.

The story of Paan Singh’s life is the reflection of the value the society gives to the sportspersons. They may be right in saying that the sportsperson gets what they work for. Like the police inspector said in the movie “Dauda to uske liye ye medal mile nahi kya tumhe” (You have got medals as reward for you running). Yes, it’s that coveted medal that the athlete or a sportsperson is after; however, they also have to eke out their living. And it is our duty to give that to them. Not everyone has the best of financial health after achieving something for the country in national or international arena.

Paan Singh battled this throughout his life be it in village, the army or again back in his village. His cruel death as an outlaw for the police or courts however, it’s a slap on the face of the society he was part of and us, who still don’t care more than a clap for the sportsperson who tirelessly work hard to earn their medals.

I wanted to write an audience review of the movie however, the feeing has gone overboard. I totally agree with the director and the message he has sent across through this very true biopic. We, as a new and vibrant country need to value our resources in every walk of life and these sportspersons are one of them.

If any reader has any clue how we can do something for the forgotten ones, please do leave a comment and lets collaborate in whichever way possible to help them.

Perception: How fast and how wrong!

Since our childhood, I only read that nothing travels faster than light. However, having grown up, it seems people’s perception about others and happenings are formed even faster. I’m not exclusive to the club. Everyone seems to be a part of this. However, most of the time, we are wrong.

Whatever it is, everyone has his/her own opinion about it. Just yesterday while traveling in Delhi Metro, for the first time ever in my life I saw a male asking two young ladies to vacate a seat for him. Don’t start perceiving anything right away, there’s more to it. He was a holy man, aged around 70 covered in black robe. Eyes covered by sunglasses, he was asking the ladies to vacate the seat reserved for “Old and Physically Challenged”. 

Even though it will not look good to ask ladies to vacant the seats, however, he was in his full rights to do so. Perception! It did not take even a second to be made about this man. But was it right is a matter of debate.

A second example of incorrect perception: This place is same, the man is same. However, this time the situation is different. Another man of same age group as our first protagonist enters. As all the seats were occupied by the respective reserved categories, (I mean ladies, old, challenged etc...) he did not ask anyone to stand up nor did anyone offered a seat to him.  However, our holy man on seeing the plight of this new man offered his eat to him and forcefully made him to sit as he looked unwell.

This is how our perceptions are made and broken in the flash of second. This man, who may have looked to many as a villain, especially to the two young ladies, was looking like a hero the instance he offered his seat to the needy. He was always right by the rule book in asking the ladies to vacate a seat for him, however, as per societal norms this move of his may not have gone down well with some other occupants. His other action though changed my perception about him.

This is a lesson. Making perception is as easy as it gets however, one should never do it till they are more than hundred percent sure of what they think is right.  

Thank you holy man for the lesson well taught!

A Dream Come True

They came and went. Again they came and went. Did this 60 times in close to 1 hr 40 minutes and whew, gave everyone present there an experience of the lifetime. The view was literally breathtaking and the sound is still reverberating in the ears. I’m talking about none other than the maiden Indian F1 Grand prix. 

Having watched it on TV for close to 20 years, the excitement was at its peak to have the first glance of one of the grandest, expensive, thrilling and enthralling sport of the world.

Ever since it was announced almost two years back that India will be hosting the F1 Grand Prix, it became the most anticipated event for us. With all the apprehensions in mind and with some controversies raising their heads time again, it made one skeptical how will we host such a big event?

Well, that was not a question at all in the mind of the organizers and dear, what an event it was. The organization was perfect n to the international standards. 

Right from the approach road, one can see the perfect arrangements. The circuit, the parking, the stalls everything was well organized. No doubt, the event in itself was a grand success.

Right from the drivers, the teams, the media and the spectators everyone enjoyed the experience of watching the first ever Indian Grand Prix.

India has arrived..way to go..and a big thank you to the organizers for the great show!

User's review of Nokia E6 - A really smart phone (A word of Caution)

In continuation to my previous post on review of Nokia E6, an advise to the uninformed user. Please take care not to talk for long on this phone without the earphone or Bluetooth device, as this phone is not a water proof one and long talking can wet the inner circuits and parts which can cause phone to malfunction. This can be heavy to your pockets as any damage by the liquid is out of warranty per Nokia Rules. Happy calling.

THORNS to Competition - A Reader's Review

Reading books is a good habit. Reading books on your interest is a bit better one. However, what would one say if you read books totally out of curiosity and that too on myriad topics? 

It was with the same instinct that I picked up a book on Marketing, called “THORNS to Competition” by Arindam and Rajita Chaudhuri. 

The book by this husband-wife duo is no less racy than the best of Fast and Furious series and no less spicy than a Bollywood masala movie. No doubt then, the Praise page has thoughts on the book from the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan himself. 

Well coming back to the book, it starts with preface from each of the authors and this sets the tone of the book right from the start. 

To start with the chapters, the first one is dedicated to the readers giving out in a simple, fast and lucid language what is there to come in the subsequent pages of the book. 

With ample examples from various walks of life, like history, sports, music, politics, consumer goods etc. from Gandhi to Lady Gaga, cricket to football, Hollywood to Bollywod all relating to various aspects of marketing, this book presents to its readers a simple way to understand the nuances of marketing. It doesn’t teach, but leaves it to you to explore what you learn from it. It makes you aware on various aspects of marketing without directly telling about them in into-the-face-manner.

This is not a text book on marketing, and not even a saucy material on it. It lets you sit in the middle while unfolding the Marketing world around you. 

A good read in the end. You will not get to know when it is finished.