On Saying No

16th Jan 2013. I was called to my boss' chamber just after half-an-hour in the office. I was asked to carry the baton of a special assignment in addition to my responsibilities, with a note that I have been considered so special to handle this additional part. The job ? To be the Nodal Officer for OBC &  Physically Challenged employees in the power station of NTPC Korba. I agreed, apparently assuming that I too had become an important part like the other important parts of the same office. A sense of entering into a Hall of Fame suddenly engulfed my subconscious? I agreed albeit with a note, that somebody belonging to the community could be a better option anyday. There was no need to explain further the mileage of the belongingness. The ball had a perfect return shot by then.

18th Jan 2013. The lady reporting officer who had been part of the earlier 'Assignment Fixing' was this time sweetly cribbing before the boss that I should also represent the department in super-boss' (Project Head) darbar (deptt. review meeting) since I was good at Saying No. By that time I had already denied to dispose my assistant to get a book gift-rapped from the nearby market which was to be presented to one outgoing senior executive on the pretext that both of my assistants were busy in more important official stuff.

By then, I had also expressed my dislike for the book, which was something like 10 commandments to be a best CEO. I had offered my logic why we won't think of giving a book on how to be a great subordinate? Because anyday, he can't be a CEO in this company.  Instead of giving a book on Positive Thinking, which for me a West-fixated culture imported to India, we should rather give him a book on Saying No to people around as this should help the fellow from Finance department run his show better.

When the lady was bent on getting the things done, I had an idea on the table that mementos like books should not be rapped as they create a better impact without the shadow. The idea was accepted amid laughter of all present there.


Tail Piece : Yet to finish the book, The Antidote by British journalist Oliver Burkeman. The subtitle _ Happiness for people who can't stand positive thinking _ should help in some soul searching. Insecurity is the result of trying to be secure, that's how it begins.

CSR sans Sound

A 23-year-old visually challenged Karan, a native of Dipka mines area in the tribal belt of Korba in Chhattisgarh, cracks this years CAT exams with over 97 per cent and bags interview calls from IIMs irrespective of their suffixes. How often do you get to see such a lead when you wake up to your morning newspaper? That way, it was a kind of refreshing for me yesterday.

Once in office, I casually asked one of our fellow colleagues, also a visually challenged, if he also read the story. To my surprise, he not only read it, but he had nurtured partly the story to happen.

Mukesh Jain, an assistant in our legal section of HR Department in NTPC's Korba Super Thermal Power Station, has been the eye-witness to the story of Karan since the latter was in his high school at Dipka.

"It was almost 7-8 years back that he met me while in his mission to gain some technological assistance to perform better in his study. The nearby computer shop in Jamnipali that he landed up to obtain some software had apparently tipped him to meet me as I was known to be having regular updation on technological innovations such as Jaws, scanning software etc which are quite helpful for the visually challenged," adds Mukesh.

Subsequently, Karan learned to use technology and dumped the earlier method, when his mother used to read his study material aloud and record everything for her son to follow. On meeting the NTPCian, the recording on tape became redundant, thus helping the school-goer to come out as a topper in 10th Board. He was so happy with the result that one fine day he landed up to thank his mentor with a branded pair of apparel, inviting some words of wisdom from the otherwise shy and reticent Mukesh.

"I told him not to feel the baggage and rather move on with lots of positive feelings and keep on sharing the knowledge in future,"  sumps up Mukesh with a sense of satisfaction.

Today, when I revisit the entire episode, I too feel some sense of belongingness. There are opportunities when we can help our society in small small ways, which may in the long run translate into Karan-like success stories. Corporates should also follow the same sense of belongingness in order to translate their much-hyped CSR briefs into some success stories, even in bits and pieces.

Sadly, according to a recent survey by Charities Aid Foundation and market research agency IMRB (as reported in Business Standard), we Indians believe in giving, when it matters to the cause of Religion than anything else. Giving for the sake of giving is a big No, even today.

The thinking must change. There is no confusion in me that we all must take care well of ourselves, our families, our parents, spouses, sons and daughters, brother and sisters, our neighbours, then our extended neighbours. If I am not sensitive to the sorrows of my neighbour, shame on me, my profession, my organisation, my education....!!!

If we all at our individual level take care of such little little things, the company, the society and the nation can do wonders, in CSR, collectively.

Tail piece : Always remember, "Thy need is more," said my schoolteacher in one occasion.

Between the Lines - II

First someone said, almost in a filmy style, that it happens only in India, and not in Bharat. But over a week or so after the Delhi gang rape incident, one can shamelessly measure the quantum of our collective duskarma which has much deeper roots in many pockets of this Bharat.

For example, Kanker, a place in the state of Chhattisgarh where I presently inhabit as part of my 30-year-license of Bharat Darshan, has got the attention of national media for all the wrong reasons. Girls in a tribal hostel being raped by warden and security staff for two long years and some local daily broke the story for the entire nation to talk.

To top it all, the state Home minister blames the rise in duskarma to some planetary positions.

Obviously, it happens only in India!!..

In a lighter vain, if there was no Delhi on that sad evening, it was a complete bore. Paypal's obsession in building a city in Mars, that to only for vegeterians, was something that offered a good read throughtout the fortnight, if I remember correctly.

To one of my favourite writers, bores may put you to sleep but they are necessary as they make our universe a safe place to inhabit. After reading his piece earlier this week, respect for bores has got such a jump in me that I would no more consider myself a bore anymore!!

So what if I could not sing a song, I could not mingle, I could not giggle, I could not love, I could not mimic. So what if I was not even considered an excellent rating in my profession.

Life is simply a distance of a few years travelled between a womb and a funeral spot.

Between the Lines - I

Good that the world at our feet didn't come to an end as predicted by some believers in the US. Those who had spent on buying bunkers to retaliate the "calamity" as reported in some international media could have done a better investment in an otherwise challenging financial times!!

Apparently, there was a big sigh of relief, allover the West. They had taken terrorism to a somehow logical conclusion, then the return of Obama had some solace to offer. Those non-believers of Democracy and  Human Values, be it Egypt or Miyanmar, are gradually being uprooted to pave the way for democratic way of life.

The one story that stands out in the whole of 2012 is what started in Cairo and ultimately reached the streets of Delhi. The snatching of the voice by the youth armed by social media. That could be the reason why newspapers are floating stories on finding their next partner,  in the Fifth Estate.

But we had a sad end. All our efforts from Safdurjung to Elizabeth went in vain. We all should mourn in our own way. I did switched off my cell phone for almost the entire day in a symbolic protest and to pay homage to the departed soul.

Things have reached such an extent that writing poems, sitting quiet or even marching with candle lights won't  do much in this country. To bring in change, we need to be the agents of the same change. In a recent article in Outlook, the celebrated author Arundhati Roy pokes fun of the civil society groups, a la Aam Admi Party, saying those trying to bring in change in the political rut have ultimately become part of the rut. Theoretically right. But, may be that's why, some do sympathise with Kejriwal & co instead of being critical about them.

Or if they prove terribly wrong and end up getting elected to either of the Houses somehow, we can then have a live case study on how to be an MP in a scheduled duration. Fooder for our B-school grads!! A sort of self- help guide patented by the Fifth Estate and for the facebook-loving India to follow!!!