Thursday, March 15, 2007

One of the forward mail I received...

An interesting reflection : Slow Down Culture
It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.
Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.
Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.
The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think? Imagine my face.
Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing.
Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.
Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".
This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time.
Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.
It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.
It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.
Many of us live our lives running behind time, Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said,
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".
Credits: Arun

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Presence of Small changes, makes things impressive..
  • A small letter saying "Sorry to miss you.. we came to this 'address' at 'time' "- Service provided by Blue Dart couriers when they couldnt find the recipient. Keeping informed is really important, at all instances in our life.
  • After two wheeler service, a small tag pasted in front saying "Lets next meet to service your vehicle on 'day' " - By a vehicle service company.. Being absent minded, I really liked and needed that. :)
  • One of my acquaintance shared his experience about his flight journey in KingFisher. As he was tired, he asked one of the stewardess to get him warm water. Later after some hours, when he needed water again and asked another stewardess, the previous stewardess was watching it. For his surprise, without he mentioning the 2nd stewardess that he needed warm water, she brought him a glass of warm water and normal water, and asked for his preference. This might seems to be very petty, but the care really makes difference. Also, I appreciate my acquaintance's effort to pass feedback to KingFisher administration mentioning 1st stewardess's name. In this speedy world, where people do anything for recognition, these small but impressive acts needs to be acknowledged and appreciated.

Absence of Small changes, make things lose credibility...

  • Ignoring/Neglecting small changes can be a cause of butterfly effect. Instead one can always say "No or Cant"

We come across such little things every day, seeming to be insignificant, but not so...

Look out for them, and with a little more insight on little things, will let us know how astounding they are! Please do drop in your inputs.. lets share the "Beautiful small things..."

Words from me...

Vidhya scribbles,

Being Modest... is not refraining from action
But, doing the action to best and
Saying its done by Me - a tool!

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Musical Harmony
Chennai Sangamam... Thiruvizha, Namma theru vizha - a series of art & folk performances in a week, was a real gift for the people in Chennai.. I was one among those who enjoyed the show.. Applaudes to the Tamil Maiyam and Tamil Nadu Tourism who organised it.. A good effort taken to promote Tamil arts, literature and culture. The Mozart meets India event was awesome, an effort to present Indian Ragas integrated with Western symphony. Also the folk performances, Sudha Ragunathan concert were good. Lastly I attended UnniKrishnan's concert and startled to see a scene when I was listening.. A Christian Sister was beside me and she was enjoying Alaypayuthe kanna, Theeratha Vilayatu pillai songs with devout interest. I could see from her face, how well she gets united with the music that the lyrics does not bother her at all.. Perhaps she might be so broadminded that she could see Jesus in these songs. I was wondering why there are religious rivals, when we have people like her...

Tuesday, March 6, 2007



Shes a granny who inspired me the first day I saw her on my way to have lunch.. She was preparing broom sticks from dry coconut thatches on the road pathway. Intrigued by her work at that age and wondering who will be her customers!! I had a chat with her once...
Snippets from the chat... She is of age 75 and wanted to make her own living. Seeing the dry coconut leaves in the surrounding, she started preparing brooms out of it. The astonishing thing is that she go around houses, collect the thatches, prepare brooms and you know what, throw the waste into the nearby dustbin!! The last thing she does, made me feel great on her social responsibilty and was awe-struck to see the granny walking slowly to throw the waste into dustbin.. She says with contentment, that she prepares around 10 numbers everyday and people cleaning roads and houses nearby buy from her at the rate of Rs.6 each.. The nearby watchmen were her chat partners..
As I always believe in work at any age and doing it at our best, I conveyed my profound regards to her. I bid her adieu and on my way back, 2 things striked my mind..
Before favouring a beggar, think of her..
And, I could see myself at an age of 75 in the granny... I will be pursuing my passionate work or hobby with social responsibilty and ofcourse with utmost contentment.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

WALK ANSWERING A BLIND FAITH
That night was special for me,not because of the walk I had, but because of a wonderful lesson it taught me. Being crazy on taking photos with my camera, somehow I forgot to take camera that night. Instead of worrying about it, I thought of capturing the scenes within me and describe it vividly. So here it goes..
I was accompanied with two of my friends and we joined along with people from TREE foundation. There were few journalism students too..
All set we went to Nynar Kuppam along East Coast Road. The sea was glittering under full moon light. The walk is organised by TREE foundation which actively works on protecting Sea Turtles. Yes we were heading towards a Turtle Walk!!!. We were also accompanied by some fishermen belonging to Kadal Amai Pathukavalar (KAP) by Tamil Nadu Govt.
In Brief... TREE organisation founder Dharini briefed us about the walk. Sea turtles, an endangered species comes to the coast to lay eggs(nesting) from January to April. There are several threats both for the eggs and the turtles which come to lay them. The eggs get stolen and some eaten by dogs. These sea turtles have flippers which are like paws in tortoise. One of the differences between a tortoise and turtle is that the latter cannot withdraw its head & flippers inside its body. This poses a severe threat when it comes near coast for nesting. They get caught in one type of nets(which is banned!) and die when their flippers get cut.
Our Walk... The belt we covered is around 2 kms. Soon after we covered few 100 meters we found a dead turtle. Dharini mam showed us its damaged flippers & head and told that it might be around 25 years. The turtles which comes to this shore belong to Olive Ridley variety and have a life span of around 100 years. We felt sad to see such a huge creature died entangled in nets. These died turtles will be buried by KAP members.
We continued our walk and saw died crab, octopus etc along the shore on our way. After an hour we completed our stretch and thought of walking our way back.
Chat abt sea turtles... Sea turtles become adults by 15 years and then starts nesting. The most astonishing fact is that the turtles hatched from eggs in a shore comes to the same shore for its nesting.. A research project has been started by placing an antenna on its body to track its travel path. These turtles come to the surface of water every 40 minutes to breathe. The antennas will then provide information to the satellite. It seems the Sethu Samudram project crosses the same path, as the turtles coming to this shore take their way back to sea.. Hence might be another threat to them..
Wow... At some distance, we could then see that a turtle has come for nesting and started digging a hole. A good thing was, once they started digging a hole and lay eggs they wont go back in the middle. Hence our presence dint disturb it. :)
It digged a hole of 19 inch depth and 12 inch wide aesthetically with its flippers. Then it started laying eggs.. These eggs were rubbery & hence dint break when laid one over another. You know how many eggs they lay?? 1,2,3.. 10,20.. hmm. its still more.. 150 eggs!! in a nesting. As it lays eggs, since it stays at shore for a longer time, their eyes started lubricating.. It tooked around 45 mins for it to dig hole & lay eggs. Then it covers the hole with sand and presses it so well that no one can figure out that a hole had been digged there.. It then starts its journey back to sea. Unlike crocodile which stays in water near shore till the eggs hatch, these turtles does not return back to see their eggs. They merely believe that their eggs will be hatched and their small ones will come home to sea.
What next??? Now comes the important part, perhaps answering what for a turtle walk??!! Protecting eggs... The fishermen were skilled and diligently started removing the eggs from the hole and safely placed them in a secure hatchery nearby. These eggs has to be replaced within 4 hours from it been laid., otherwise it will get spoiled. So everyday they walk twice during night and early morning. The temperature each egg experiences determines whether it will become male or female. At the end of the season around May, many eggs will become boiled & get spoiled.
After 48 days they will get hatched, small ones come out and start their journey towards sea...
This was a scintillating experience with full moon light & beach adding to its beauty.. It also threw me 2 thoughts...
1. Blind faith the turtles had that their eggs laid on the shore will be hatched.
2. How do the small ones knew that they have to go towards sea & not towards shore.. perhaps a silly question, but thinking it deeper will let us know, that we dont have answers to many whys??
I too dont know the answer for either of them. But I find happiness in answering its blind faith by protecting their eggs. And the second question taught me a lesson that every species including us are doing what we are ought to do. Nothing more or less to be proud of...