The top view!

When I first flew in India in the 1980's I was generally first in to check in just to get myself a window seat away from a wing, this to look at the scenery below as we took off and landed, at various airports. One exception though was Mumbai. It was the depressing sight of the large Dharavi slum that greeted you as you slid into the city.
The other day, when Ratan Tata, called Mukesh Ambani new mansion, as 'sad', it struck a chord. The point that Tata was trying to get across was, are the rich and powerful morally entitled to ostentation in a a land that still has the poorest of people on this planet. Is it business Dharma?The 'Reliance' group is definitely not a shining example as far a charity is concerned and it is a cause for concern, when you consider that they are a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs in India.
It is interesting to think of the view that the portly Mr.Mukesh Ambani would have from his top floor? Shining Mumbai or a slum swept landscape?
To say that the well to do got that way, due to their sole efforts is perverse and is arrogant and on most occasions it is a fair piece of luck that got them the riches. One Mr.Bill Gates, readily admits, that his tiny town had one of the early computers in the US and as a youngster he got an early shot at it, which started an enduring journey to success. Chance it was!
Post my early experience with flying in/out of Mumbai, I opted for an aisle seat. This, at least, allowed you to chat with the air hostess and make less inhibited trips to the toilet...........

Thank God Its Friday!

A couple of days ago, I met up with colleagues of mine from my sailing days. Time having taken its toll, there wasn't a single one of us not having lost hair or with a distended paunch. The re-union ended fairly late and I stepped on the gas to get home pronto, after much bonhomie.

The only hitch was that, I was stopped by the police for an alcohol check and had to go through a breath analyzer. As there was no alcohol consumed at our party, I got through the test without issue, which was not the case with many of the other folk hanging around, mostly youngsters in the mid twenties to early thirties. Most sulked, having consumed unacceptable levels of alcohol. Many argued, in polished English, with the few cops present, who looked tired and trying their best not to lose it.I have not seen cops having TGIF parties. Can there be a better reason to get drunk than to celebrate the weekend? Thank God Its Friday!

I was impressed with the way the much maligned police dealt with the reckless and irresponsible louts who are educated enough to speak polished English, but ignorant to the traffic rules in Bangalore.It only goes to show that education has become domain specific rather than holistic and many of us miss the larger picture.

In the group, there was this rather affluent looking girl, who was mooting the idea of bribing the cops to avoid the fine. This when we rally behind a gent called Anna Hazare, to root corruption out.The cancer of corruption and the ability to take the shortest cuts to get what we want, has seeped so deep, that it is going to take more than Anna Hazare and a Lok Pal Bill to get it out of our system.

What we need are tougher laws, more cops, greater fines and less parties!

Dock Death!

In a tragic accident yesterday, the 'Casion' or gate at a Navy dock in Visakhapatnam gave way, allowing sea water to rush in to the dock, killing four Indian Naval personnel. The dock union has alleged that contract workers have also been killed, an allegation that the Navy has denied thus far.
I have seen work at many a dock and can unhesitatingly state that Indian docks have the worst standards as far as safety is concerned. A few years ago, I saw a man killed right before me, when a steel pipe fell on his unhelmeted head from about a 100 feet high.Tragic again beacuse safety had been flouted at every turn.
These days, as part of my HR course, I teach safety to young students, for about two hours, in a class room. Many times the kids, have a look that suggests, 'Why are you telling us all this crap?' Unfortunately it is this disinterest that transfers to the workplace, resulting in accidents and death and a huge loss in operational efficiency, time and money.
Safety is a habit and like all good habits needs discipline and effort to inculcate. In most Europe based organizations that I have seen, unsafe people are sacked, without any remorse. There is zero tolerance and is probably the reason why, more people return home to their families at the end of the day, than in India!

Bhangra from Bhatinda!

On a visit to Punjab if you see a traffic cop, atop his pulpit,gyrating to a Bhangra beat, you need not be surprised.

Naunihal Singh, a young Indian Police Service officer posted at Bathinda, a south Punjab district, introduced the Bhangra as a unique exercise regime for obese, overweight and pot-bellied policemen.

Those police personnel who need to shed weight take part in the exercise, including dancing to Bhangra numbers, every morning for over one hour. One could probably see pot bellied cops, sweating it out to get back into shape.

In just a while, the personnel undergoing the weight-loss regime have collectively lost over 2000 kgs. For the uninitiated, that is what a fair sized Indian elephant weighs and is a stupendous result.

The Punjab police is mulling implementing this program for all its policemen to balance the rich Punjabi diet which is generally preceded by copious amounts of alcohol.

The Bhangra, is a traditional dance form of the Punjab and is a wonderfully energetic dance, which while being easy on the eye need not impress purists who swear by Indian classical dance forms.

The young police officers quest to get his force back into shape is to be appreciated and shows uninhibited thinking!