Who am I?

I attended a leadership session some time ago organized by my company. As part of the session, we were asked to write on the above topic in just 5 minutes. This is what I wrote:
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Who am I?

If I know this, I wouldn't be here.

I would like to be a human being, fun-loving, respecting elders, correct as much as possible in whatever I am thinking and doing. But am I all these?

I don't know.

I thought I was a kind person. But some people whom I have to discipline think that I am unkind.

I thought I was fun-loving. Many of my friends thought that I am a spoilsport when I didn't join them in their 'kind' of fun.

I thought I was respecting elders but there were occasions when I had to speak against their wishes.

I thought I was very good in my profession but there are people who think I am not good enough.

I thought I found what I wanted but I soon find it quite boring.

I thought I was very good at some sports but I did not count on aging and becoming slower.

I thought I was a good family man but then, why the hell there are differences within the family?

I know I cannot be everything to everybody but at least I would like to be what I want to be.
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What do you think?

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I'm a blogaddict!

Yes, I have become a blogaddict!

I discovered blogs recently. In a very short time I have become so addicted. Most of my time is spent on reading desi blogs, commenting on them and writing my own blogs.

I have blogs in blogger, wordpress, blogtext, Sulekha and MSN. It's like writing syndicated columns to a variety of newspapers! I'm a modern-day Art Buchwald!

I'm constantly trying to find topics to write. I'm also careful not to repeat the stuff between the blogs. I face writer's block quite often! I read my newspapers more closely now than ever. I'm under the impression that the whole blogosphere is waiting for my comments on all and sundry topics.

At least my writing style is improving!

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Inimitable PGW

I am currently reading PG Wodehouse's Jeeves Omnibus Vol1 that contains 3 Jeeves novels.

I have been a die-hard fan of PGW ever since I laid my eyes on one of his novels. In the early 70s, when I was in college, there was no exam in the first year of the degree course. I spent the entire holidays to read about 70 PGW books! I ran through the stack in the library as quickly as I could.

Considering the books were written in 1920s and 30s, the language was remarkably simple and quite hilarious. I never read one of his books in public places, lest I would be considered a crackpot by others who see me laughing loudly at a book.

Since then I have read the books many times. I have avidly collected the ebooks from Gutenberg and other sources for my reading pleasure.

The prose reminds me of Kalki's writing. I'm sure that Kalki would have read him and appreciated him. I must check Kalki's biography by Sunda.

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Desi Blogs!

Recnetly I have been going through some of the popular blogs by desis. I just wanted to find out how our desis have been using this new medium that gives them a platform to write and publish.

There are different types of bloggers, I found. One type just writes about what they feel, what they read and what they think about the happenings in the world.

Another type devotes their blog in vilifying other bloggers! They pass outrageous and irreverent comments and the comments were really in bad taste. It was shocking to find that there are camps supporting the warring factions. They constantly instigate their principal bloggers to write badly about their rivals(!?). Is this the desi mentality of not allowing anybody to rest in peace? What right do they have to take potshots personally on another person? You have every right to comment on their writings. This is what healthy criticism is all about. But calling another fellow-blogger an idiot! That's the limit! Idiot is a mild term compared to the filth these bloggers write about each other. They have a free and powerful medium. They should write responsibly and try to improve their styles and contents.

There are very serious bloggers who religiously write regularly on technology, literature etc. Their contents were very good and highly stimulating intellectually. It's a pleasure reading them and would love to comments on those blogs.

I also found a growing number of women on the blogosphere! Quite a few of them literally inclined. Pavithra is translating Kalki's novels. Quite a few write poetry. Many write nostalgically about their 'maruthani' days. Some live in the US.

Blogs are everywhere. Many are available free. Let's use the medium responsibly. If you want to use this forum to vilify others, go take a break!

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தமிழில் மேலும் செய்தி

இன்று தமிழில் எழுதப்பட்ட பல உள்ளீடல்கள்('ப்லாக்') படித்தேன். மிக மகிழ்சியாக இருந்தது. ஆங்கிலத்துக்கு அடுத்த படியாக தமிழில்தான் உள்ளீடல்கள் அதிகம் இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.

எத்தனை நகைச்சுவையான எழுத்துக்கள்! நகைச்சுவை இன்னும் செத்து விடவில்லை என்று நன்றாகத் தெரிகிறது.

தேவனைப் பற்றிப் பலர் எழுதி இருந்தார்கள். உண்மையான வார்தைகள். கல்கியும் சற்றும் சளைத்தவர் இல்லைதான். நாடொடியின் கட்டுரைகளும் அப்படித்தான். சாவியின் 'வாஷிங்டனில் திருமணம்' நகைச்சுவை எழுத்தின் உச்ச கட்டம்! பாக்கியம் ராமசாமியின் சீதாப் பாட்டி, அப்புசாமி தாத்தாவை மறக்க முடியுமா?

என் ஒரே வேண்டுகோள்: நிறைய எழுதுங்கள். எளிமையாக எழுதுங்கள்.

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Another gem of a book

Recently I came across a book called "McKinsey Way" and read it quickly. What a book!

I am always an admirer of Mckinsey as I had a chance some years ago to work with them for a couple of months on a project for my company. I was quite impressed with what I saw. I had spent as a senior level executive in a Govt. owned company for over 21 years before I moved on to my present position. Management was nothing new to me. Working on projects also was nothing new, having worked on many important projects.

But what I saw at McKinsey blew my mind away.

When I read the book, I recalled those days vividly. I could immediately see why McKinsey is so successful. I had visited their NY and London offices and learnt a lot from them.

Go ahead and read it. It will tell you what consulting is all about.

If you can't buy the book, try in esnips. There is a copy as an ebook.

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Holiday Musings!

I had been on a family vacation for the past 10 days. Been to Tirupati, Kancheepuram and Then-Nangur and Uthiramerur.

You can call it a temple trip. We saw nothing but Perumal temples, but no one Perumal looked like another.

They have fancy names and are located in lovely surroundings.

Perhaps I will post some photographs soon.

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Kalki's ebooks

I found my favourite author Kalki's ebooks in the net.

http://www.chennainetwork.com/kalki/kalki.html

All you need is a unicode font in your machine and you can enjoy the novels and many short-stories of the great Kalki.

Earlier, I had already downloaded novels like Ponniyin Selvan, Sivakamiyin Sabatham, Parthiban Kanvu and Solaimalai Ilavarasi. Now an additional bonanza.

Many other rare literary works from Kambar, Avvayar and others are also available.

Enjoy.

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தமிழில் ஒரு செய்தி

நேற்று நான் தமிழில் எழுதப்பட்ட செய்திகள் படித்தேன். மிகவும் கடினமான நடையில் எழுதப்பட்டிருந்தது. சாதாரணமாகப் படிப்பவர்களால் எளிதாகப் புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியாது போல் தொன்றியது.

இப்படி எழுதுபவர்கள் அவசியம் தேவன், கல்கி, சாவி ஆகியோர் எழுத்துக்களைப் படிக்க வேண்டும். மிக எளிமையான நடை. எழுதுவது எல்லொருக்கும் புரிய வேண்டும். இல்லையென்றால் எழுதுவதை விட வேண்டும்.

நான் படிக்கும் காலத்தில் ஜயகாந்தன் முதலியோர் மிகவும் புரியாத நடையில் எழுதினர். அவற்றைப் படிக்க ஒரு கூட்டம் காத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும். வாய் வலிக்க அலசும்.எளிமையான எழுத்துக்களை அலட்சியமாகப் பார்க்கும்.

தயவு செய்து எளிமையாக எழுதப் பழகுங்கள். அதுதான் தமிழை வளர்க்கும்.

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Semler, the Maverick!

Another author whom I admire is Ricardo Semler. He owns Semco, a company in his native Brazil. His management style is hitherto unheard of. He has already written two books, describing his management philosophy.

One is "Maverick" and the other is "The Seven-Day Weekend". They have sold millions of copies the world over.

I personally think that the outlandish ideas work only in Brazil and not anywhere else. Many others think so too. But it didn't stop them from visiting Semco and interact with its people to understand things better and see with their own eyes.

Where else the workers set their own hours and salary , evaluate bosses and generally take far-reaching decisions? Sounds crazy.

Read it!

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Kalki

Kalki is and will remain for ever my favourite author. Ever since I learnt reading, I read Kalki with avid interest.

I must have read Ponniyin Selvan at least 100 times! No joke! I love the book. I love the way in which Kalki weaves the story.

Even now, every 'Pathinettam Perukku' I remember the start of the novel where Vanthiya Thevan enters into the story.

No movie can ever capture the picture as painted by the one and only Kalki. I wish the movie announcements stop with announcements only.

I am very happy to note many others have the same book as one of their favourites.

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I think it is a wonderful idea to publish an electronic diary to general public: to read, to comment and even slam!

I am an aspiring writer who has sheltered a dream to write for many years. I hope this attempt will help me to realize the dream.

I will try to post as much as possible and will give interesting links.

Happy reading!

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