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Of Student Migration, Separation & Lost Cultures

- November 11, 2019

Dilpreet Singh with his Grandmother Another boy from the neighborhood is going abroad. He is going to study in a far-off country and if things turn in his favour, he’ll probably settle there. Thinly populated countries with a large aging population need an able workforce to bolster their economy. Equally eager are the young to embrace a better quality of life offered by affluent countries. Global migration is an undeniable reality. Travel has become easier and so has adaptation to new cultures. But in the wake of it, families are experiencing forced separations. Separations by law as well through gaping economic imbalances in the very competitive new world. In such times, one either floats in the ocean or sinks into oblivion. Much like ‘survival of the fittest’, the younger generation has to grab the opportunity to break the rut arising of a stagnant economy in their country of origin. When globalization wasn’t as pervasive, families stayed together. Tradition and c

Pareto at Play: How Can We Get More Out of Life

- August 15, 2019

allef-vinicius_unsplash As life events happen around us, Nature seems to be busy churning numbers. It’s almost like one giant data science machine that’s working on the predictability of situations - dropping hints for course correction. Consider these examples from the new age world: 1. 80% of wealth in the world is owned by 20% people (and vice versa) 2. 90% of Warren Buffet's wealth is from just ten most paying investments 3. In a business, roughly 20% of the customers bring in 80% of the revenue 4. I n sales, typically 80% of the deals are closed by 20% of the sales staff 5. Financial gurus suggest 20% allocation of income towards financial goals, and the remaining 80% for everything else 6. 80% of the total healthcare expenditure happens in the last 20% of a person’s life 7. 80% of road traffic accidents happen due to 20% of the most common reasons 8. 80% employees reach late to the office due to 20% of the most common reasons

This is Why Poor People Remain Poor

- August 08, 2019

Standing at a bus shelter recently, I was witness to an interaction which had me thinking deep. An able bodied young man in frayed clothes, requested Rs. 50 from his acquaintance to take care of a necessity. The latter, after a sermon and some mockery, handed him the loan. Swallowing disrespect, the young man moved away. Sermons on hard work are easier given, I thought. A Scenario Let’s call this poor young man Moh. His shabby appearance suggested that he came from a cramped, smelly, and heavily shared accommodation. He must be looking for a decent job. My mind tried to piece together reasons for the young man’s poverty, in an extreme way. "Moh must have come from an unsound home with an abusive/alcoholic father, an illiterate mother who probably didn’t understand his emotional changes as a growing teenager and an insensitive community around him. The child might have gone to a school that had inadequate infrastructure and teachers; or worst, a teacher who must have hu

Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain

- August 03, 2019

kelly-sikkema-BcErkVtF0as-unsplash Oh, listen to the falling rain Pitter pater, pitter pater Oh, oh, oh, listen to the falling rain Pitter pater, pitter pater A lilting melody by The Cascades celebrates the beauty of a wondrous phenomenon called rain! This golden oldie hums in my mind as the monsoon arrives in the month of July every year. On the stage plays a giant rhythmic orchestra pittering and patering in synchronized chorus, announcing relief. The parched earth gets liberated from the tyranny of a long hot summer. Sitting in my verandah, sipping a steaming cup of fine Assam tea, it was a pleasure to watch the rain drops fall unceasingly on the tree leaves, the flower pots, the window sill, the garden furniture, the porch, the thirsty earth and all others that were deprived of hydration since many days. The accumulated rain water meandered in tiny rivulets in the kitchen garden making puddles. The earth reciprocated in gratitude by emitting merry little b

The Fine Art of Being Economical; Not Miserly

- July 27, 2019

josh-appel-QSipy5RFcSA-unsplash Some years back, I was at the mall with my son for apparel shopping. As he was half-way in his teens, I took it upon myself to teach him the difference between being economical and being miserly. Pertinently, the line between the two is not that thin for these two lines of thought to seem indistinguishable. As my son went through one shirt to the other and then another with a confused countenance, I asked him if the navy blue shirt with a small print in white on it was what he wanted?! He had held this shirt longer and had eyed it temptingly. But something was holding him back. It was the steep price tag he said. It was an expensive shirt as it had a wonderful trendy print. Its tag flaunted a wrinkle free promise and fabric superiority. This shirt I’m sure would render my son’s next free photo-shoot by a generous friend a good outcome. He looked at me for the signal. I gave in considering his sentiments. I wasn’t economical this time

And Trust Flew Out of The Window…This is What Happens When You Are Constantly Watched and Tracked

- June 15, 2019

sebastian-molina-fotografia-100061-unsplash James Bond movies introduced us to the first smarty-pants spy who sneakily recorded evidence. He used a micro camera enabled with voice recording cleverly embedded in his fountain pen to relay back information. His impressive use of secret gadgets made him stylishly invincible. In modern times, everyone is invincible! Courtesy, easily accessible and affordable high-tech gadgetry. Spying is no longer a matter of intrigue. The smartphone is the single most potent tool to encourage the spy within us. Screenshots, voice recordings, geotracking, confirmation of messages seen and a million apps have unconcealed human activity . Add to this, the all-powerful CCTV with microphones that not only capture every single movement and expression of the employees at workplace, but capture their audio conversations too. Its a matter of debate if this prying has added to increased transparency in our relationships or depleted mutual trust. A

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