Verity 24 - Unlocking RTO (IT companies in Bangalore)

Covid begining: Let us go back to the initial covid days. There was a chaos of this new viral fever; everyone was running for their lives to their native places from Bangalore. Everyone was worried about their future and their businesses. 

Real estate, small businesses and the IT companies were hit badly as they needed to quickly adapt to this change. The latter did well in handling this by allowing its employees to do work from home / connect remotely. They started to push their employees to toil and kind of inflicted that, the work from home is a natural phenomenon and greatly started convincing that in future this would be the norm.

Most impacted were the local businesses, real estate and almost everyone who worked for daily wages. Whereas for IT employees, this was a new thing which they wanted to adapt working remotely. No traffic chaos and importantly they started to save big on their daily expenses. This was a loss to the government where in the flow of indirect taxes was hit majorly with the drop in money transactions. 

Moonlighting : Few of the employees found a new way to increase their income by starting their own businesses or working simultaneously for other companies or as a freelancer.

Post Covid dilemma: With the success of vaccination and the central government effectively handling Covid, there was a dilemma in everyone's mind that whether to return to the pre-covid days or to continue the good WFH culture? Even IT companies were saving lots of cash in terms of rent and maintenance at that time.

With the savings, most percentage of employees were able to invest their money in land/new house or in buying a new vehicle. It was a blessing in disguise that they were able to meet and stay with their parents / family during covid.

Kids schooling was happening through mobile phones and now every parents or most of them wanted their children to attend the schools to meet up with their friends/classmates in order to improve socially. But, on the other hand, they wanted to continue to work remotely, may be to continue with their side businesses (if any) and mainly to avoid the traffic / commuting problems and to save on additional expenses. 

2023 August: Most IT companies have mandated RTO - return to office and started forcing employees to come to office atleast 3 days a week (Hybrid Model). The same employees who were helping during a major pandemic efficiently are now being asked to prove their efficiency! This is mainly due to the diminished visibility on what exactly an employee was doing and to stop moon lighting. There could be some enforcement from the state government too in order to improve the small businesses and cash flow. 

What's going wrong? : Employees trust in the IT companies is greatly diminishing with the change in their interactions and enforcement of RTO.

Promotions are being stopped, employees are being asked to upskill by taking up external certification or else being threatened to get their variable pay cut.

This also has opened the door for job change. Attrition has increased, rather than that, the mindset of that attachment with the employer is being affected now for the IT companies, more than anything.

One time bonus or may be a timely hike or issuing promotions to those who deserve might bring back the internal rapport for sure in this greedy world, but you know currently the situation is bad. 

From an employee perspective: Employees have to face the traffic issues in their daily commute to office which was not the situation when they were doing WFH. It's human tendency to get frustrated because one obviously feels why he or she needs to go  through this on a daily basis when he or she can provide the same sort of service from home connecting remotely! And it's not the only issue they are going through now!

Demand for Housing: With the IT companies enforcing strict RTO, the rents have gone very high. A small one BHK with 600sqft area costs you 10k-12k or even more now a days in Bangalore. 2BHK is churning more than or close to 20k now. Huge demand for housing has made average earning employees concerned. They are not ready to pay such a huge rent. The rent in July being 13k is now valued at 20k is a huge concern for the tenants who have not seen 20% hike in the last 2 years! 

Expenses on everything is on a higher side and employees are not getting paid well by their companies - this is another pandemic like mental trauma most IT people are facing currently. 

IT companies are looking for young blood and those who have the right skills or experience are being pushed to the corner by not providing any help for their above issues. Forget hike or promotion, they are being asked to prove their worth indirectly. 

If this situation continues, Organisations start to lose its trust of it's own employees and force itself into it's downfall. Management has to take firm steps in controlling this and have to understand that RTO is no more a solution now for everything. 

Final words: It is important for a company to keep it's employees trust. A wrong foot can mark its downfall in the market. Life is a struggle, employees should not feel this while working for their company. Time fleets and doesn't wait for something to happen.

Verity 23 - Endangered Productivity

Glad that we are living in the era of smartphones. Every now and then new technology arrives and with new specifications, improved processors and cameras, we are addicted to thinking of buying a new phone. Satisfaction with current one diminishes with every new product launch! Still, to save money, people tend to wait for a while for even better specifications. After a while, when the new phone with better configurations makes its availability, the wait reaches a point where you can not wait further. This is the story with most of the people now a days. Nothing wrong - when you want to upgrade your smartphones. But, there is another dark side to this.

Before moving to the darker side, let's see the brighter ones:

Apps: With Android Google play apps life has become easy. For example: apps for storing your expenses gives you handy information on your expenses. It won't cut your expenses though, but knowing the money outflow would always help you to plan better. You don't need to spend time on thinking where your hard earned money is going! Only work is to log them whenever it happens. 

There are many useful educational apps, which can give you pretty required information beforehand. And there are advanced games which keeps you busy and makes you engaged erasing the lonely feeling. If you are alone and feeling bored of life, smartphones gives you a fresh lease of life, provided you get involved with it. There are VR apps as well to take you through pseudo world.

Connectivity: Social media apps are enough to connect with anyone you wish to and exchange your feelings. There are online multiplayer games to keep you involved and connected. Apps for everyone, available in abundance enhances your creative skills if used properly.

Camera: With advanced camera, any one can click beautiful images which earlier only professional photographers used to take. Instead of enjoying the beauty with eyes and capture it in our hearts, people tend to capture it in cellphones and eventually forget. A click and an appreciation, a facebook like from your friends gives you more joy.

Music Apps: Keeps you entertained and you can spend ample time in training yourself to become a better singer through multiple - easy and free apps.

Fast processors: Very quick processes and increased random access memory units wont let you down and that old words like lagging or hanging are no more. Quick processors also produce the results in real quick time.

Google: Who doesn't need a smart Google assistant? Whatever you say once will be recorded and repeated whenever you want. It also gives you the luxury of getting any answers for a relatively complex question. You feel like a boss enjoying the fact that your work is being done by Google assistant.

WhatsApp Messenger: Nowadays even IT companies, their projects are tempted to use WhatsApp groups inorder to pass quick information. You can keep connected with anyone using texting option avoiding unnecessary calls and disturbance. Basically you can reach to anyone by leaving a text message.

Facebook: According to a study conducted an year ago, a person logged into Facebook spends 20 mins time dwelling  there. Needless to say you can peep into others life, know more about them remotely and exposing yourself looking for a like or a word of admiration.

Internet and Email facility: You can always be online, check your emails and book a flight ticket, movie ticket on the go. Download any important document and keep it and so on.

Online Shopping: Shopping made easy by Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Snapdeal, BigBasket, ShopClues, etc. One can sit at home and get his desired product at his doorstep for free. Now a days, the delivery facility is being extended to some part of rural areas as well.

Banking: With a tap, you can transfer money, create a fixed deposit, break it. And also get loans. Knowing your bank balance is just a second away.

Twitter: You can send your message, opinions and even connect with celebrities. An example, following Sachin Tendulkar and if he likes a tweet of you, then it is like you are on top of the world. 

Let me end it here, it will be a never ending story of benefits...

Let see the darker side of it:

Money outflow: A Chinese company claims it's smartphone models sales reached to 5million in no time. 50 lacs * roughly 10000 means 500,00,00,00,000 (fifty thousand crores) money has flown to China from India. I'm not an expert to tell you the outcome, but definitely understand that money is flowing outside which would be in circulation but not your 5million smartphones which hardly are used for 2-3 years!. It's not only 50,000 crores, it is much much higher than you imagine.

Addiction: If you are a smartphone user, just keep that phone aside and keep counting whenever you unlock it or touch it, may it be for any reason. You would be astonished to see that you are already addicted to it. Thus dependent on it. At any point of time if you want to come out of all these and think of downgrading it to basic phones, then do that please, for your sake.

Brain fade: This is relatively an exaggerated word. But still, this is going to happen and you stop thinking creatively since you know that your phone can produce much more creative results.

Isolation: With a companion of your choice in your hand, you stop caring and start ignoring the near ones without knowing about it, and become isolated. Your much life is spent on smartphones alone. If you don't believe, take a look back.

Productivity: Most importantly, if you are a working individual, it affects your productivity badly. In turn it affects company's productivity. And all and all it leeds to a sense of insecurity. Company's should take strict actions to curb this. Smartphone usage needs to be very limited to phone calls. Otherwise, they end up losing projects as well.

Online shopping: This is like you are in a virtual physical store. The more time you spend there, you end up buying more than required. Do you think, yourself as a smart buyer? Just take a look back on your order history page!

Adult sites: Most viewed sites, by cellphone users as per a study. Not good for anyone if they are addicted to this. Most of these sites leeds to online frauds.

Privacy: You are online, and your privacy has gone for a toss. Google records all your activities. Which video you viewed on you tube and everything. Your emails are read and your bank balance text messages too. Hang on. And there are hackers. You are just online! GDPR is nothing but a joke. Online frauds, hackers have intrusive codes to steal your data and ultimately your money and harmony.

Health issues: Talking over phone for extended duration results in killing of cells, brain cells - a study says. Next generation kids addicted to cellphone are playing with their eyes and becoming physically inactive.

So, in this gadgets and smartphone era, try to live simple and take some positive steps to curtail its usage. Know your responsibilities and have control on what you use. Have safe search on and antivirus installed. Don't click on any suspicious link and have suspect on everything. No one would love to give a strange person a lottery or free money.

Finally, I would just say - keep only  one  smartphone and use it wisely and smartly. Try to reduce its usage to increase your productivity.

Thanks for reading. Hope you understand! It's your life and your wish. ;-) 

Verity 22 - ಸಿದ್ಧ ಸರ್ಕಾರ

ಒಂದಾನೊಂದು ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ಒಂದಾನೊಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ, ಅತ್ಯಂತ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯಿಂದ ಜೀವಿಸುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಓರ್ವನಿದ್ದ. ಅದು ಹೇಗೋ, ಆ ರಾಜ್ಯವನ್ನಾಳುವ ರಾಜನಿಗೆ, ಈ ವಿಷಯ ತನ್ನ ಬೇಹುಗಾರರಿಂದ ತಿಳಿದುಹೋಯಿತು. ಆ ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ ಹೇಗೆ ಕೆಡಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವೋ ಎಂದು ಯೋಚಿಸಲು ತೊಡಗಿದ ರಾಜ! ಮುಂದಿನ ಕಥೆ ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ. ನೀವೇ ಊಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ರಾಜನಿಗೆ ಇದ್ಯಾವ ಲೆಕ್ಕ. ಆತನ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ ಕೆಡಿಸಿ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ರಾಜ. 

ನಮ್ಮ ಸಿದ್ಧ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕೂಡ ಜನರ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯನ್ನು, ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಳುಕೆಡವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಎತ್ತಿದ 'ಕೈ'. ತಮ್ಮ ವೋಟಬ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ರಾಜಕಾರಣದಿಂದ ಕೋಮು ಸೌಹಾರ್ದತೆಯನ್ನು ಕದಡುತ್ತ, ಇತರರ ತಲೆಗೆ ಕೋಮುವಾದಿಯಂಬ ಹಣೆಪಟ್ಟಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿ, ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಗಂಜಿ ಕುಡಿಸುತ್ತಾ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. 

ಪಟ್ಟಿಮಾಡಿದಸ್ಟು ಸಿಗುವ ಜಾತಿ ರಾಜಕಾರಣ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಈ ಸಿದ್ದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ. ಒಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ, ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳೆಂದು ನೋಡಬೇಕೆ ವಿನಃ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ, ಹಿಂದೂ, ಲಿಂಗಾಯತ, ಕುರುಬ, ಗೌಡ, ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ ಎಂದು ಜಾತಿಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ನೋಡುವುದು ಎಷ್ಟು ಸಮಂಜಸ? ಬಡವರಿಗೆ, ಇಲ್ಲದೇ ಇರುವವರಿಗೆ ಭಾಗ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಕರುಣಿಸಿದರೆ ಸರಿಯೋ? ಅಥವಾ ಒಂದು ಕೋಮಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಭಾಗ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಕರುಣಿಸಿದರೆ ಸರಿಯೋ? ಈಗಿನ ಹೊಸ ಸುದ್ದಿಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರ, ಒಂದು ಶಾಲೆಯ ಅನುದಾನವನ್ನು ಆ ಶಾಲೆ ಹಿಂದೂ ಮುಖಂಡರೊಬ್ಬರ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಗೆ ಬರುವ ಕಾರಣ ಕಿತ್ತುಕೊಂಡ ಸರ್ಕಾರ, ಈಗ ಬರೋಬ್ಬರಿ ೨೦ ಕೋಟಿ ತೆರಿಗೆ ಹಣವನ್ನು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ನೀಡಿದೆ. ಇದು ಯಾವ ಸೀಮೆ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ? ಹಿಂದುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವ ದ್ವೇಷಾನೂ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರಿಗೆ ಕೂಡ, ಹಿಂದೂಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವ ದ್ವೇಷಾನೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅವರವರ ಪಾಡಿಗೆ ಅವರಿರುವಾಗ, ಶಾಂತಿಯನ್ನು ಕದಡಲು, ಓಲೈಕೆ ರಾಜಕಾರಣ ಮಾಡಿ, ಕೋಮು ಸೌಹಾರ್ದತೆಯನ್ನು ಕದಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾ?

Verity 21 - ತೀರಿಹೋದ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು (Reader's response to an article)

ದಿನಾಂಕ ೯, ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ ೨೦೧೭, ವಿಶ್ವವಾಣಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿನ 'ಮೌಢ್ಯ' ಎಂಬ ಲೇಖನಕ್ಕೆ  ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ.

(ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಲಿಂಕ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೌಢ್ಯ ಲೇಖನವಿದೆ)

http://epaper.vishwavani.news/bng/e/bng/09-08-2017/7
(ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಲಿಂಕ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ)
http://epaper.vishwavani.news/bng/e/bng/11-08-2017/7

ಮೌಢ್ಯತೆ ಮೀರಿ

ತಮಗೆ ಸರಿ ಅಲ್ಲ ಅನಿಸಿದ್ದೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಮೌಢ್ಯ ಎನ್ನುವ ಈಗಿನ ಯುವ ಜನತೆಯ ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿ ಹಿಡಿದಂತಿದೆ ಈ ಬುಧವಾರದ 'ಮೌಢ್ಯ' ಎಂಬ ಲೇಖನ .

ಹಿಂದಿನ ವಾರ ಟೀವಿ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ಮಿಲನ ಎಂಬ ಚಲನ ಚಿತ್ರ ಪ್ರಸಾರವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಒಬ್ಬ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನಿಗೆ ಅವನ ಪ್ರೇಯಸಿಯನ್ನು ಕುಟುಂಬದ ವಿರೋಧದ ನಡುವೆಯೂ ವಿವಾಹ ಮಾಡಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ ಹೀರೋ. ಹಾಗಂತ, ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಅದನ್ನೇ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಮೂರ್ಖತನ. 

ಟೀವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಯೋತೀಷಿಗಳು ಏನೋ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ, ಅದನ್ನೇ ಆಚರಣೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು, ಇಲ್ಲಾಂದ್ರೆ ಕೇಸ್ ಹಾಕ್ತೀವಿ ಅಂತ ಯಾರಾದ್ರೂ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರಾ ಶರಧಿಯವರೇ? ಅದನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸೋದು ಬಿಡೋದು ಅವರವರ ಇಷ್ಟ. ಕಷ್ಟ ಅನಿಸಿದರೆ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷಿಸಿ. 

ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಆಚರಣೆಗಳ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲದ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಒಂದು ತರಹ ಮೌಢ್ಯ. ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ೬ ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಸೂರ್ಯೋದಯವಾಗುತ್ತೆ, ಏಳು ಎಂದರೆ, ಸೂರ್ಯ ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಇರ್ತಾನೆ, ಭೂಮಿ ತಿರುಗಿದರೆ ನಾನೇನು ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕಮ್ಮ, ೧೦ ಗಂಟೆ ತನಕ ಎಬ್ಬಿಸಬೇಡ ಎನ್ನೋ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ತಡ ರಾತ್ರಿ ೧ ಗಂಟೆಯವರೆಗೆ ಫೇಸಬುಕ್ನಲ್ಲೋ, ವಾಟ್ಸಾಪ್ಪ್ನಲ್ಲೂ ಬ್ಯುಸಿ ಆಗಿರೋದು ತಾಯಿಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತದೆ? ತಪ್ಪಲ್ಲ. ಅವರ ಜೀವನ, ಅವರ ಇಷ್ಟ. ಎಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ ಪರಿಮಿತಿ ಇರಲೆಂದೇ ಈ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಆಚರಣೆಯ ಅರಿವು ಅಗತ್ಯ. 

ಈಗಿನ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ಕೈಗೆ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಬಂದಿದೆ, ಜೇಬಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಸು ಓಡಾಡುತ್ತ ಇದೆ. ಕೈಲೊಂದು ಕೆಲಸಾನೂ ಇದೆ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಆಚರಣೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಯಾರು ಸಮಯ ವ್ಯರ್ಥ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ? ಅದೇ ನೆಪದಲ್ಲಿ, ಕಂಡಿದೆಲ್ಲ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಮೌಢ್ಯ. ಸಾವಿರಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಅಪಾರ ಬುದ್ದಿಜೀವಿಗಳಾದ ಋಷಿಮುನಿಗಳು ಕಂಡು ಹಿಡಿದ ಜ್ಯೋತೀಷ್ಯ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಮೌಢ್ಯ! ಇಂತವರಿಗೆ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಗುಡ್ ಮಾರ್ನಿಂಗ್ ಹೇಳಿದರೆ, ಊಟ ಆಯ್ತಾ ಅಂತ ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ಅದು ಮೌಢ್ಯ, ಯಾಕೆ ಆ ರೀತಿ ಹೇಳಿದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಆಗುತ್ತದೆಯೇ? ಅದೊಂದು ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಅಲ್ವಾ?  ಊಟ ನಾನು ತಿಂದಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ನೀನು ಹಾಕ್ತೀಯ, ಇಲ್ಲ ತಾನೇ, ಮತ್ತೆ ಯಾಕೆ ಕೇಳೋದು? ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದಂತಿದೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಲೇಖನದ ಹರಿತ. 

ಮೊನ್ನೆ ಪಾಪ, ಧರ್ಮಸಿಂಗ್ ತೀರಿಕೊಂಡಾಗ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸಂತಾಪ ಸೂಚಕ ರಜೆ ಘೋಷಿಸಿದಾಗ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಗಿತ್ತು ಈ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮೌಢ್ಯ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆ? ಸಾವು ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಅಲ್ವಾ? ಹಾಗೇ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹೋದರೆ, ಮಂತ್ರಿಯೊಬ್ಬರ ಪುತ್ರವಿಯೋಗದ ಶೋಕವೂ ಒಂದು ತರಹ ಮೌಢ್ಯ ಅಲ್ವಾ? ಪುತ್ರವಿಯೋಗದ ಶೋಕ ಹೆತ್ತವರಿಗಷ್ಟೇ ಗೊತ್ತು, ಈ ರೀತಿ ಹೇಳಿದಕ್ಕೆ ಕ್ಷಮೆ ಇರಲಿ. ಭಾವನೆಗಳು ಸತ್ತು ಹೋದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಈ ತರಹದ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು ಸುಳಿಯುತ್ತವೆ. ಅವರವರ ಬುಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅದು ಬೆಂಕಿ, ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಇದ್ರೆ ಅದು ಚಳಿ ಕಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು, ಬೇಳೆ ಬೇಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇರುವ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಆನಂದ. 

ಮೌಢ್ಯ, ಮೌಢ್ಯ ಎಂದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನೂ ಮುಚ್ಚಿಹಾಕಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ, ನೋ ಪ್ರಾಬ್ಲಮ್, ಆದರೆ ಬೇರೆಯವರ ಭಾವನೆಗಳ್ಳನ್ನು ಚುಚ್ಚದಿರಿ. 

Verity 20 - L for Life, L for Lesson, L for Learning!

ತನ್ನ ಮಗನಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಆದ ಸುಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಕೂಟರ್ ಖರೀದಿಸಿದ್ದ ಟೋನಿ. ಹೋಂಡಾ ಆಕ್ಟಿವಾ. ಡಿ ಎಲ್ ಆಗಿ ತುಂಬಾ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರ ಅದರ ಉಪಯೋಗ ಶುರುವಾಯಿತು. ಮೊದಲನೇ ದಿನ ಈ ಟ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ಕಿರಿಕಿರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಗಪ್ಪಾ ಗಾಡಿ ಓಡ್ಸೋದು ಅನ್ನೋ ದಿಗಿಲಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಸ್ಕೂಟರ್ ಓಡಿಸಿದ್ದ ಟೋನಿ..

ಅದೆಲ್ಲ ಮೊದಲನೇ ದಿನದ ಓಲ್ಡ್ ಸ್ಟೋರಿ. ಅದಾಗಿ ಈಗ ಸಾವಿರ ದಿನಗಳು ಮರೆಯಾಗಿವೆ. ಟೋನಿ ಸ್ಕೂಟರ್ ಓಡ್ಸೋದು ಎಬೋವ್ ಆವರೇಜ್ ಸ್ಪೀಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ . ಟ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ ರೂಲ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ಬೆಲೆ ತೇರದೆ, ಬೆಲೆ ಕೊಡುವ ಹವ್ಯಾಸ ಬೆಳೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಟೋನಿ ಒಬ್ಬ ಸೇಫ್ ಡ್ರೈವರ್. ಆಗಾಗ್ಗೆ ತನ್ನಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಅಂದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ ಟೋನಿ - ಈ ಫಿಯರ್, ದಿಗಿಲು ಅನ್ನೋದು ಒಂದು ನೆಪ ಮಾತ್ರ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಅದನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋದರೆ ಅದು ನೆನಪು ಮಾತ್ರ. 

ಆಕ್ಟಿವಾಗೆ ಈಗ ೩ ವರ್ಷ. ಅದರ ಟೈಯರ್ ಗೂ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ವರ್ಷ. ಆಗಾಗ್ಗೆ, ಹಾಗೆ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಮೊಳೆಗಳು ಹಿಂದಿನ ಟೈರಿನ ಒಳಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಒಳಗಿನ ಗಾಳಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊರ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ಹಿಂದಿನ ಟೈರನ್ನೇ ಯಾಕೆ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು ಈ ಹಾಳಾದ ಮೊಳೆಗಳು ಎನ್ನೋದು ಟೋನಿಗೆ ಯಕ್ಷಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ. ಬಹುಷಃ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಸ್ಟ್ಯಾಬ್ ಅಂತ ಇದಕ್ಕೇ ಹೇಳ್ತಾರೇನೋ?.

ಟೈರಿಗೆ ತೇಪೆ ಹಾಕ್ಸೋದು ರೂಟೀನ್ ಆದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಏಳನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಫಿಕ್ಸ್ ಮಾಡಿದಾತ ಟೋನಿಗೆ ಉಚಿತ ಸಲಹೆಯೊಂದನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದ. " ಟೈಯರ್ ಚೇಂಜ್ ಮಾಡ್ಸಿ ಸಾರ್. ಆಗ್ಲೇ ಮೂರು ವರ್ಷ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಶೋರೂಮ್ನವರು ಹಾಕಿದ ಟೈಯರ್ ಚೀಪ್ ಕ್ವಾಲಿಟಿದು, ೧೫೦೦ ರೂಗೆ ಜೆಕೆ ಟೈರ್ ಹಾಕ್ತೀನಿ".

ಓಕೆ. ನೆಕ್ಸ್ಟ್ ಟೈಮ್ ನೋಡೋಣ, ಎಂದಿದ್ದ ಟೋನಿ. 

ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ, ಹಾಗೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಸಾರಿ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆದಾಗ ಆಫೀಸ್ ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಶಾಪ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಫಿಕ್ಸ್ ಮಾಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಟೋನಿ. ಅಲ್ಲಿನವನೂ ಒಂದು ಉಚಿತ ಸಲಹೆ ನೀಡಿದ. "ಫ್ರಂಟ್ ಟೈಯರ್ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಯೇ ಇದೆ. ನೀವು ಹೂ ಅಂದ್ರೆ, ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಟೈರನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ ಹಾಕಿ, ಫ್ರಂಟ್ ಟೈರನ್ನು ಹಿಂದೆ ಹಾಕೋಣ. ಹೊಸ ಟೈಯರ್ ಹಾಕ್ಸಿದರೂ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆಗೇ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ".

೧೫೦೦ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಉಳಿಸಬಹುದಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ದೂರಾಲೋಚನೆಯಿಂದ, ಇಷ್ಟು ಸಿಂಪಲ್ ಐಡಿಯಾ ತನಗೇಕೆ ಹೊಳೆಯಲಿಲ್ಲ? ಎಂಬ ಮುಜುಗರದಿಂದ ಟೋನಿ ತನಗೆ ತಾನೇ ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡ - ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಎಷ್ಟು ಓದಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರೇನು - ಕಾಮನ್ ಸೆನ್ಸ್, ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಇರಬೇಕು. " ಸರಿ. ಈವಾಗ ಲೇಟ್ ಆಗಿದೆ ನೆಕ್ಸ್ಟ್ ಟೈಮ್ ಮಾಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ತೀನಿ" ಎಂದು ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದ ಟೋನಿ. 

ಕುಂಬಾರನಿಗೆ ವರುಷ, ದೊಣ್ಣೆಗೆ ನಿಮಿಷ ಎನ್ನೋ ಗಾದೆಯಂತೆ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದಿನದ ನಂತರ, ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಟೈಯರ್ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆಯಿತು. ಈ ಸಾರಿ, ಗಾಳಿ ಸ್ಲೋ ಆಗಿ ಹೋಗ್ತಾ ಇತ್ತು. ಟೋನಿ ರೆಗ್ಯುಲರ್ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಶಾಪಿನತ್ತ ಹೋದ. ತಲೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಸಣ್ಣ ಮೊಳೆ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಟೈರನ್ನು ಸ್ಟ್ಯಾಬ್ ಮಾಡಿತ್ತು. ಪ್ರತೀ ಮೂರು ದಿನಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಏರ್ ಹಾಕಿಸಿದರೆ ಹಾಗೇ ಓಡಿಸಬಹುದಿತ್ತು. ಹಿಂದಿನ ಟೈಯರ್ ಮುಂದೆ ಹಾಕಲು ಹೇಳಿದ ಟೋನಿ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಈತ ಈ ಸಲಹೆ ಕೊಡದೇ ಇದ್ದುದರಿಂದ ತುಸು ಕೋಪನೂ ಇತ್ತು. 

"ಯಾವ ಗುಬಾಲ್ ಸಾರ್ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದು? ಆಲ್ ರೆಡಿ ಡ್ಯಾಮೇಜ್ ಆಗಿರೋ ಟೈಯರ್ ಮುಂದೆ ಇದ್ದರೆ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆದಾಗ ಏನು ಮಾಡ್ತೀರಿ? ಮುಂದಿನ ಟೈಯರ್ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆದರೆ ಗಾಡಿ ಓಡ್ಸೋಕೆ ಆಗೋಲ್ಲ. ಹಿಂದಿನ ಟೈಯರ್ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆದರೂ ಗಾಡಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರ ಓಡಿಸಬಹುದು!"

ಟೋನಿ, ಸಂದಿಗ್ದದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಲುಕಿದ. ಈ ಇಬ್ಬರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಸರಿ? 

ಆತನಲ್ಲಿ ಟೈಯರ್ ಸ್ಟಾಕ್ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲವಾದುದರಿಂದ ಟೋನಿ ೩-೪ ದಿನಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಏರ್ ಹಾಕಿಸಿಕೊಂಡೇ ಗಾಡಿ ಓಡಿಸತೊಡಗಿದ. 

ಈ ನಡುವೆ, ಮಗನಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಬೈಸಿಕಲ್ ಕೂಡ ಬಂತು. ಅದರ ಟೈಯರ್ ಗಾಳೀನೂ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಆಗದೆ ಕಾಲಿಯಾಗುತಿತ್ತು. ಇದೂ ಒಂದು ಯಕ್ಷಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಆಗೋ ಮೊದಲೇ ಒಂದು ಏರ್ ಪಂಪ್ ಮತ್ತು ಅದರ ಜೊತೆ ಆಫರ್ ಇದ್ದ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಕಿಟ್ ಖರೀದಿಸಿದ ಟೋನಿ. ನಿನ್ನೆ, ಮತ್ತೆ ಸ್ಕೂಟರ್ ಟೈಯರ್ ಗಾಳಿ ಹೋದಾಗ ತಾನೇ ಟ್ರೈ ಮಾಡಿ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ ಟೋನಿ. ಏರ್ ಪಂಪ್ ನಿಂದ ಗಾಳೀನೂ ಹಾಕಿದಾಗ, ಏನೋ ಗೆದ್ದ ಖುಷಿ ಟೋನಿಯಲ್ಲಿತ್ತು. 

"ಟೈರಿಗೆ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಹಾಕೋದೇನು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಾಧನೆಯೇ?", ಅಂತ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. 

ಟೋನಿಯ ಉತ್ತರ, ನೇರ ಹಾಗೂ ಸರಳವಾಗಿತ್ತು. "ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ವಿಷಯಗಳೇ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ. ನಾನು ಟೈರಿಗೆ ಪಂಕ್ಚರ್ ಕಟ್ಟುತ್ತೀನಿ ಅಂತ ನೀನು ಯಾವಾಗಲಾದರೂ ಅಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ಯಾ?". 

ನಿಜ. ತಲೆಯಾಡಿಸಿ ಹರ್ಷ ವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಪಡಿಸಿದೆ.

ಟೋನಿಯ ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿನ ಖುಷಿ, ನನಗೂ ಖುಷಿ ನೀಡಿತು. ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿಯ ಸೆಲೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾದರೇನು? ಜೀವನ ಎಂಬ ನದಿ ಹರಿಯಲು ಅದೇ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ.

Verity 19 - Respect your Life and respect those who have Life!

It's mother's day! A lot of wishes, snaps, selfies floating around; also critics saying every day is a mother's day! I have seen lots​ of people who are worshipping their parents and lots of people who are disrespectful to their parents and vice versa. Of course, you can not expect everyone to be good in this world. There could be many reasons for that. You can't​ judge who is good or who is bad. Circumstances might have brought them to such a situation. I believe it's a part and parcel of life to respect and disrespect others. But, being human, one should avoid that circumstances or the situations that might arise to disregard their own parents/children. A simple misinterpretation or misunderstanding might lead to a broken relations for a lifetime. Avoid or forgive if such situations (for God forbid) occurs in your life. It's not the question of who is right or who is wrong. Even at the cost of losing an argument or losing your ego or self respect, you will win other's heart and save the relationship, which also will strengthen you from within. I know, it is very easy to preach and very difficult to achieve. It's not a one day task, one should grow the tree of happiness and respectfulness from within. 

Ok. Since it is celebrated as mother's day I would like to cherish an incident which happened several years ago. Probably during the summer of 2000 or 2001.

I used to read lots of story books as a kid and most of them were moral stories. Thanks to my uncle and my parents for providing me an opportunity like that. It was a wonderful childhood to cherish. Anyways, time waits for none. I was enjoying a summer vacation during my college days at home.

Being a house wife, my mother was cleaning the kitchen floor herself. She had put a little phenyl in a cup earlier to use it while cleaning, which she forgot. That was not a mistake, but it lead to one mistake, which she thought that phenyl as her regular medicine (another syrup which doctor had suggested her to take since few days).

I was sitting outside and my mother approached me with a great fear and anxiety and said that she had consumed phenyl by mistake. I knew, ours being a remote village, we were at least 8 km away from a doctor. Father not seen around, I had to take immediate action.

With a great maturity (I would thank God for keeping me with such a genuine calmness during that kind of situation) I told my mother to mix salt, ghee with water and to drink as much as possible. That was my immediate response to my mother which she followed word by word. And then I asked her to try vomiting and repeat that till I bring back my father from the near by village (1 km away). 

I ran till I saw my father and since there were other people with him, I told him without any panic, in his ear that some police officer looking for him and asked him to go immediately. Then I went to my grandmother's home near by and only returned after 3,4 hours to see my mother returning safely from the hospital. 

The doctor had told my mother that since she had already vomited most of the poison nothing to worry. She asked me - how did I know that a mixture of ghee, salt and water can make someone vomit? I told her the story of Birbal who asked one of the worker to drink a cup of ghee before being punished by Akbar.

With that incident I realised that the stories I read came to my rescue. I would always ask kids to read more and more stories, especially Indian moral stories like Panchatantra, Mahabharata, Chandamama etc. 

There were many situations, elders mocking me for reading Chandamama, Balamitra during my college days. It never bothered me because I knew  that those people do not know that how thankful I'm for those kind of books! 

Happy mother's day!

Verity 18 - Intent to enjoy

Friends, I'm just putting my formula (thoughts) here. Try this if you are low on your confidence.

I used to play lots lots of cricket during my school and college days. As I remember it all started when I was just 8, watching my elder brother and neighbor playing cricket with a cork ball ( which felt like a rock). When I told them that I also wanted to bat they gave me a chance immediately. I wanted to play as much as possible, so I started counting the balls I faced. Initially they took me easily, but I was determined. Slowly it became tough. Finally I got out on the 31st ball. I remember, I used to tell my brother proudly whenever I got chance to highlight that! I enjoyed it. Well, soon I started to play regularly (practice). It gave me the confidence. I never under estimated any bowlers (but sometimes used to make fun of them! Example Anuroop, my classmate). Regular practice gave me that confidence and in my entire cricketing days, I never feared any bowler or feared about the failure. At times, I got out for duck, at times I scored some runs, but the intent was clear. I started to enjoy it; I started to believe that I've moulded myself as a a good batsman. Ofcourse, there were many better batsman, but, I always believed in my ability as a batsman. This all ended when I completed my post graduation and started working. Hardly used to get any chance to play cricket.

Eventually, with lack of practice, I also lost interest and that intent to play cricket. I got some chances to play cricket after 3-four years, but I terribly failed due to lack of practice and that hand and eye coordination became very difficult to manage. When I look back at my corporate career, I realized that I have been walking on a similar path. Now, as a manager, I am more matured at work and I have that confidence and belief that - come what may be the situation, I can handle. I've a clear intent - Enjoy the work. I always believe that I'm doing good and the effort I put gives me that confidence. Of course, there are better managers around, but why compare?

So, believe in yourself, practice, put sincere effort and you will succeed. At times you might fail. But, that is just that phase of life. As long as you don't give up, you are still in the race. Cheers!