Corporate Citizen T he Co ol Side Of Bu sine ss
Young Citizen National Survey: Check out how messed up India’s urban youth is
Volume 1, Issue No. 5 / February 16, 2015 / `50
Cradle of Leadership:
Prof. S. Parasuraman, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
Dynamic Duo 5
Sporting Spirit Uma Chigurupati and c.Krishna Prasad
Dr. Pradeep Chopra on how he captured Germany’s tombstone market What led to the SpiceJet Imbroglio?
From the desk of Editor-In-Chief
Brutus vs The Benevolent After my dreams of starting a world class management institute became a reality, with a humble beginning in a school premises, I was determined to get the best faculty in order to build up good quality management education. While the AICTE, levied stringent norms for recruitment of faculty, I was in a rebellious mood, to thwart bureaucratic-demanded qualifications for such appointments, in order to get the best teaching staff. Anyone who had good academic qualifications and was passionate about teaching was appointed as faculty. I engaged one such engineer for teaching QT (Quantitative Techniques). An advantage was that he was available for lectures for the entire day and so he not only taught the Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM) which was called Indian Institute of Modern Management (IIMM) in those days but also at the other three sister management institutes. He received a handsome monthly remuneration and we shared a very cordial relationship. One fine day, he approached me for admission for his nephew. I went through his CV and found that the boy did not fulfill the minimum requirement of 50 per cent marks, required for admission into the post graduate management programme. Although I do not give importance to ‘marks’, and believe that maintaining the quality of students is more important, it is mandatory for me to comply with the required norms. I expressed my inability to consider the candidate and the matter ended there; or so I believed. However, this gentleman who was teaching in almost all classes began a vitriolic campaign against the institute, during his lecture periods. This cunning retaliation by him, put confusion in the minds of students, leading to a few students even leaving the institute. I had an insight into the depth to which he had stooped only when a parent came to meet me. He was visibly agitated and said to me, “Sir, my three children have studied in your institute and all of them are doing exceptionally well in the industry. However, my fourth daughter who has now taken admission, is in a dilemma and so she has called me here. On the one hand, her brother and sisters are saying that she is in the best institute, which I also whole-heartedly endorse; but if your own faculty is degrading the institute and is encouraging students to leave it, what should I do as a father?’’ I was shocked at what I heard and carried out some inquiries. It was confirmed that the gentleman has been maligning the institute for quite some time. I removed him from teaching assignments instantly. Thereafter, he continued his mud-slinging campaign against the institute and filled
peoples’ ears with nasty stories. I chose not to react, keeping in view my position and because of my principle in life that actions should speak louder than words. Recently, last year, we organised an Alumni Meet and invited Ms Kiran Bedi as chief guest. A few student managers went to the airport to receive her. This gentleman happened to be at the airport and identified my students by their uniform and by the placard they were carrying for her. When Ms Bedi landed at the airport and was being received by the student managers, this gentleman had the audacity to call out to Ms Bedi and take her aside, away from the crowd. Claiming to be an activist, he spoke a few harsh words about the institute and demanded that she should not keep the engagement. He even threatened to protest in case she did not do so. The student managers were naturally agitated and worried. When Ms Bedi sat in the car along with them, she comforted them by saying, “Please don’t get disturbed. I know Bala Sir. When I accept any invitation, I do a thorough research. I will be there tomorrow at the scheduled time, for the function.’’ When my student managers informed me about this incident, I thought I should not embarrass Ms Bedi by receiving her when she comes to the institute and yet I realized that I cannot avoid the function, as I was the one who had invited her. She was received by all the directors and as she climbed up the staircase leading to the auditorium, I stood there along with others, in an insignificant position. She noticed me and called me towards her and enquired about my health and we got engaged in a discussion on many other issues. When we reached the auditorium I maintained the protocol by taking the corner seat on the dais. She insisted that I sit next to her. The function went off very well and I appreciated her for her dignity and the faith she reposed on me, without even broaching the topic of the gentleman in question. This incident is a good introspection for students and researchers of behavioral science. One personality rises above pettiness and embraces magnanimity. The other, develops a vicious mindset and turns against the person who provided him the golden opportunity to pursue his passion of teaching; in effect, turning against society. I was happy to note that Ms Bedi was chosen for political leadership, as politicians should possess such qualities in order to win faith of the people. So what if she could not win the election in Delhi? That she was considered for leading a national party is a big honour in itself.
Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian editor-in-chief
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 1
Contents Volume 1 Issue No. 5 February 16, 2015
5
then and now How Netas and Celebrities somersault on their own statements and are not the least embarrassed!
6
collywood Chatpata Chatter from the Corporate World
10
drive in Obama’s car that came to India
12
business mavericks Dr. Pradeep Chopra on how he captured Germany’s tombstone market
14
investigation What led to the Spicejet Imbroglio?
16
Young Citizen National survey Check out how messed up India’s youth is
26
cradle of leadership An interview with Prof. S. Parasuraman, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
32
spouse hunting How to shop for IIT/IIM grooms and brides
34
offbeat career Know more about the business of bouncers
20
2 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Dynamic Duo 5 Cover story
SPORTING SPIRIT
C. Krishna Prasad, CMD, Granules India Ltd, and his wife Uma Chigurupati, Director of the Rs 1,200-crore pharmaceuticals also run marathons, world-wide
36
ordinary lives An insight into the challenges faced by security guard, Sunita Godse
38
corporate history Nike: Strides of excellence
52
40
CSR initiative The art of adopting villages by Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd
14
44
beyond the headlines Mood Gallery on Obama’s visit to India
46
women achievers Dr Anju Jain, founder of ‘Chai Pe’, a platform to enhance talent and enable women to persevere
48
health Importance of Vitamin B12 for your health
26
50
48
44
bollywood biz Clamour gets better of glamour
52
indian derby A Race Par Excellence
54
38
pearls of wisdom Sadhguru on Yoga can bring better bliss
57
Change of career Bharath FC footballer Ravanan, quit a cosy bank job to become a full-time footballer
58
beyond the bottomline Worriers have above average verbal IQ
59
manage money Good Financial Management – Rule 1
50
46
61
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 3
10 Editor-In-Chief Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian Editor Dr Suresh Chandra Padhy Consulting Editor Vinita Deshmukh Assistant Editor Joe Williams Chief Marketing Officer Subash Krishnan
58 16 42
Design & Art Direction Kiyan Gupta, The Purple Stroke Graphic Designer Anil Walunj Senior Business Writer Mahalakshmi Hariharan
60
featherlite Tweets from the Corporate World
61
mobile apps Best Apps for a Best You!
62
astroturf Fortune favours the bold and the lucky
57
64
citizen claps & slaps Our bouquets and brickbats for the fortnight!
Be A Corporate Citizen
How do you like this issue of Corporate Citizen - The Cool Side of Business? Send in your views, news, suggestions and contributions to corporatecitizenwriters@gmail.com We would love to hear from you! 4 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Senior Sub-Editor Neeraj Varty Writers Delhi Bureau Anuradha Shukla Pradeep Mathur / Swati Kumari Mumbai Bureau Vidyut Kumar Ta Bangalore Bureau Priyadarshini Nandy Geeta Rao Pune Bureau Suchismita Pai Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar Kalyani Sardesai Photographers B Vijay Kumar (Cover Pic) Yusuf Khan Ahmed Sheikh / Prithviraj Mallick For Advertising and Marketing queries Email: subash.krishnan@corporatecitizen.in (Corporate Citizen does not accept responsibility for returning unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All unsolicited material should be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage) Tel. (020) 30631075 / 30631076
Then and Now
How Netas and celebrities somersault on their own statements and are not the least embarrassed! On illegal money holders in Swiss Banks Then: “Nobody has ever suggested that the names should not be made public. They should be made public in accordance with the existing due process of law. If that process is violated, you will never get to know the names in future.” Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, 18th October, 2014, at a press conference NOW: Just names are not enough for legal action, we need evidence…No action was taken since 2010, which gave an opportunity to these account holders to take away the money 9th February, 2015 to India Today
BJP leaders on Black Money Then: The whole country is worried about black money. It is an anti-national activity. There are two types of black money. The black money in the country is a parallel economy. While black money
Republic Day THEN: Republic Day does not mean people enjoying tableau at Rajpath... It means the rule of people. Rajpath on 26th January, will be thronged by lakhs of people, and not the tableau if my demands aren`t met Arvind Kejriwal, on 21st January, 2014 to media NOW: I am a former CM of Delhi and I wanted to attend the R-Day function. I haven’t been invited. We are proud of our country, Republic Day and Constitution. I want to tell the government to not politicize this event at least Arvind Kejriwal on 24th January, 2015, to media
abroad is another challenge for us. I can assure my countrymen once we come to power at Centre, we will bring back every single rupee of black money stashed abroad. This will be the prime responsibility of the new government in Delhi Narendra Modi, 12th February, 2014 Then: If the Bharatiya Janata Party forms the government at the Centre, it would bring back all the black money stashed in foreign banks within 100 days. “The money brought back would be spent on the welfare schemes Rajnath Singh, 21st April, 2014 NOW: We are not so immature to say we will bring back entire black money in 100 days. The process of bringing back black money will be put in motion.
Venkaiah Naidu, After BJP formed government
THEN: India were the favourites to win the world Cup 2011. Mahindar Singh Dhoni and company were placed at 2:1, while Australia were second 3:1 odds. South Africa (4:1), England 4.5:1 and others were longer odds. In all over `4000 crores exchanged hands in the last edition, according to Maniklal, the president of Western India Bookies Association. The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and (for the first time) Bangladesh. Pakistan was also scheduled to be a co-host, but after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) cancelled. India played their first match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 19 in Dhaka. The tournament was played between 19 February and the final was on April 2. NOW: Australia are the favourites to win the cup, They are available at 2:1 while South Africa are the next best if the punters are to be believed. India after their poor outing against Australia Down Under are in number ten position and bookies have placed them at 10:1 odds. In all there are 14 teams divided into two groups. According to the bookies over `10,000 crore to likely to exchange hands during the World Cup. The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, will feature its first match, between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India take on Pakistan on February 15 at Adelaide, Oval. The Championship is jointly co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand which begins on February 14 and the final to be played on March 29.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 5
collywood
People in the news
Celebrity Gold Ambassadors
Vidya Balan for Ranka Jewellers; Minisha Lamba and Aftab Shivdasani for Godwin Jewellers; Madhuri Dixit for PN Gadgil Jewellers…. our uber glam movie stars, without a doubt take to jewellery ambassadorship as naturally as duck to water. Obviously, their instant recognisibility, pan-Indian appeal, and charisma have something to do with it. At a closer look, however, deeper thoughts go into selecting a celeb to represent a brand. As in the case of…hold your breath… Salman bhai who PN Gadgil Jewellers have tied up for, for their impending debut in the Dubai market. While bhai is a shoo-in for everything to do with muscle power—what does this Alpha Male—have to do with something as delicate and pretty as gold? But Saurabh Gadgil, Director, PNG knows just what he is doing. “The Dubai market is cosmo and upmarket, and attracts shoppers from the world over. Salman with his mega-stardom, and his secular image (the man keeps Ganpati at home), to say nothing of his passion to give back to society with his Being Human Foundation has takers everywhere. He is an icon everyone adores. Given all this, he was a natural choice for PNG in the Dubai market,” says Saurabh.
Lucky employees Sometimes we all wish that we had a boss like him! It seems Infosys CEO, Vishal Sikka, played Santa Claus to top performers in the company during the holiday season. He gifted iPhone 6s to 3,000 employees, an unusual gesture for the company and perhaps part of an effort to stem the high attrition rate. The gift was accompanied by a mail from Sikka, where he addressed the employees as friends. The mail read: “Thinking back on 2014 feels good, doesn’t it? There was so much you wanted to accomplish with seemingly so little time to do it all. Now, as you stand on the brink of the New Year and look back, there is the satisfying realization that a great part of it actually got 6 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
done. This feeling is not unlike the one Kahlil Gibran evokes in his lyrical commentary on work -- `When you work, you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music’.” Sikka said achieving what Infosys had “took your boundless energy and extraordinary effort”. “And I believe it’s not enough that we simply recognize it, we must celebrate it. That’s why I am so happy that we are presenting you with a Holiday Bonus -- the cool new Apple iPhone 6. A gift that’ll always remind you and your teammates of the exceptional value you delivered for Infosys,” he said. Well, Sikka apne employees ke liye kuch bhi karega!
New outfit for Team India Did you know? Nike, the official apparel sponsor of the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI), has unveiled Indian team’s new One-Day International kit. The new lightweight kit combines high performance innovation with sustainability. Each kit -- jersey and bottoms -- is made out of an average of 33 recycled plastic bottles. Nike crafted the latest uniform in a bold new design with some of the company’s latest global apparel innovations to help the team perform at their best. The uniform was designed keeping athletes’ needs in mind
New opportunity! Did you know that Sandip Das, one of the two managing directors of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, has quit his position in the telecom company and has moved to a mentor-ship role in Reliance Retail Ltd? Sanjay Mashruwala, Reliance Jio’s other managing director, will however continue to head the network roll-out division of the firm. An email sent by Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Ambani to employees of Reliance Jio and Reliance Retail said, “The LTE (long-term evolution) ecosystem for devices in India is nascent. It will take deep conviction and substantial expertise to launch such LTE device ecosystem. Reliance Retail is pioneering this LTE device ecosystem by building sales and distribution channels including retail stores.” Sandip Das, the email added, “With his vast knowledge of marketing and sales, particularly in telecom, is uniquely placed to mentor this exciting and valuable strategic initiative”. Das’s new role comes just months before a June deadline by when Reliance Jio is required to meet its minimum roll-out obligation pertaining to 2,300 MHz broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum that it won in a 2010 auction. Way to go…
and collecting data on the form and movement of today’s players on the field. Following extensive research and athlete driven insights, Nike designers created a new dynamic fit using a unique four way stretch fabric ideal for cricket, enhancing comfort for the players and allowing the body to move naturally within the kit. The Nike Dri-FIT technology and Nike Pro Baselayer help regulate a player’s body temperature through increased venting and breath ability for players to stay focused on their game. Well done, Nike!
Way to go, lady! We truly admire Pune girl, Dipika Damerla, who is now the Minister for Long Term Care (Health of elderly people and those suffering from terminal illnesses) in the cabinet of Ontario provincial government in Canada. She was invited to Vibrant Gujarat event as a member of the Canadian government delegation. She gave the keynote address on Long Term Care and took part in various other seminars and explored possible avenues for business investment by Canada in India and by Indians in Canada. She visited a unit of the Shalby Hospitals in Ahmedabad to explore possible cooperation. Later, she was invited for lunch by the mayor of Ahmedabad. The PM of India met her as the only Indian-Hindu elected politician (among other elected Indian origin politicians) from Canada. We truly respect you, lady! February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 7
collywood Akki leads Global Action 2015 launch For once, all those critics who go on and on about celebs not using their razzle-dazzle to support a good cause, stand silenced. Just recently India’s leading A-listers including movie stars, directors, authors and various public figures led by none other than the Khiladi aka Akshay Kumar, came together in a fabulous show of solidarity, to show their support via social media like Facebook and Twitter towards the Action 2015 campaign. The campaign, billed as one of the biggest global outreach initiatives in history to address world-changing issues of climate change, poverty and inequality, saw a massive backing from various celebs. Leading the way was actor Akshay Kumar, who was the first major celebrity to tweet his support for the campaign reaching over 7.2 million Twitter followers and over 14 million users on Facebook. Soon, colleagues like Sonam Kapoor, Mohit Marwah, Malaika Arora Khan joined the gang; along with author Chetan Bhagat, producers, Ashvini Varde and Ritesh Sidhwani, sportstars Yuvraj Singh and Vijendra Singh—to name only a few.
The unusual queue We all know that aam aadmis in India keep waiting in the queue for everyday needs like ration, public transport, getting a driving license or passport and so on. However, what happens when top notch industrialists of the country are lined up in a queue? It made sensational news and the photograph went viral on the social media. The occasion was the US-India CEO Forum Meet in New Delhi which was addressed by US
8 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
President Barrack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, those lined up in the queue before the function were industry stalwarts like Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Gautam Adani, Anand Mahindra, Sunil Mittal, Narayanamurthy, Kiran Majumdar Shaw, Ratan Tata amongst others. Cyrus Mistry and David M Cote had co-chaired this meeting. The photograph shows how patiently and eagerly they all waited!
Good news for mango farmers
India’s mango exporters can now heave a sigh of relief. The European Union (EU) has decided to lift a ban on the import of Indian mangoes, which it imposed last year after fruit flies were found in some consignments. A European Commission observed during a unanimous vote on January 20 that there had been “significant improvement” in India’s mango export system, reports BBC. Import restrictions, however, will continue for Indian aubergine, bitter gourd, snake gourd and colocasia leaves.“We have been working closely with our Indian and European counterparts to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and I am pleased that trade in mangoes will resume,” British Minister for the Natural Environment, Lord de Mauley, told BBC. He emphasised that these standards need to be maintained for trade ties to continue. Europe is a major market for Indian mangoes. According to M Rafeeque Ahmed, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, the ban on mango had affected the country’s exports of fresh fruit. “Exports fell from US $307.4 million between April and November in 2013 to US $291.4 million in the same period last year,” he told BBC. No wonder farmers in the mangoproducing states are overjoyed at the lifting of the ban.
Unsurprising plot developments!
Well, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to appoint S Jaishankar as the new foreign secretary thereby replacing the current Sujatha Singh, has definitely not come as a surprise to the nation. While the replacement of Sujatha Singh may seem abrupt and unceremonious, but it has been in the making for some time — almost since Modi came into power and plunged into the oceans of foreign policy. News reports suggest that Modi clearly trusts Jaishankar — until Wednesday, India’s ambassador to the United States — as the officer who can push the MEA to up its game. This move by Modi Sarkar is also seen as ‘anti-women’ by some. Well, it’s worth remembering that Manmohan Singh, too, wanted Jaishankar as foreign secretary…Its time to wait and watch if this move will help in the betterment of the nation!
It’s an Ace! Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has all reasons to be mighty pleased as her dynamic organisation has been ranked 17th among a global listing of top environmental think tanks. CSE also features on the top of the chart among environmental think tanks in the developing world, after the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The rankings have been published in the Global Go To Think Tank Index, which is compiled each year by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania in the US. The ranking acknowledges the contribution of an independent voice that articulates perspectives and priorities of the global South. Sunita Narain stated, “This recognition for CSE comes at an important period in global environmental policy making and climate negotiations. CSE being acknowledged also indicates that our voice counts and it must count more. The challenge will be to go higher in this list.” February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 9
Drive in
Beast
Beauty of the factfile
Price : `9 Crore Length : 18 ft. Height : 5 ft 10 in Weight : 8 Tons Engine : 6.5 Litre Diesel Top Speed : 60 mph 0-60 mph : 15 Seconds Seats : Maximum 7 people including the President. The two front facing rear seats are reserved for the President and another passenger and can recline individually
BODYWORK
Military grade armour at least five inches thick. Combination of dual hardness steel, aluminium and titanium and ceramic to break up potential projectiles.
10 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
DRIVERS WINDOW
Can withstand armour piercing bullets and a .44 Magnum. It’s the only window that will open – By just three inches- so that the driver can pay the toll or talk to secret service agents.
T
his Republic Day, India went gaga, not just over the presence of US President Barack Obama at the parade, but also the spectacular presidential car he arrived in. And why not There is perhaps no vehicle in history which is more aptly named than the official security car of The President of the United States (POTUS) of America – the Beast! Equipped to withstand nothing short of a nuclear bomb, this virtually impenetrable vehicle is a fully armored tank in its own right. When President John F Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper bullet while riding in an open top Lincoln Continental, the United States has left no stone unturned in ensuring that every subsequent Presidential vehicle is practically indestructible. The Beast boasts of an eight-inch thick body armor plating along with five-inch thick bulletproof windows
which safeguards the President from bullets, missiles and other forms of grounded or aerial attacks. Weighing over eight tonnes, the beast has doors which are identical to doors on a Boeing- 757 aircraft. The car runs on shred and puncture resistant Kevlarreinforced tyres with steel rims underneath which ensure that the vehicle can go on even with all its tires blown out. Even the petrol tank is covered with a special type of protective foam which guarantees against any possibility of an explosion. For Indians obsessed with the ‘Kitna deti hai?” question, the Beast is a massive disappointment, delivering a very humble 3.4km per litre average. As President Obama arrived for a very memorable Republic Day celebration in the capital, everyone, especially kids, thronged to get a closer look at the President and his spectacular car, and who can blame them?
DOORS
Armour plated, eight inches thick and the weight of a cabin door on a Boeing 757 jet.
CHASIS DEFENCE ACCESSORIES
Equipped with night vision cameras and pump action shotguns. Also armed with tear gas cannons. Bottles of the President’s blood kept on board in case he needs an emergency transfusion.
President Obama
REAR COMPARTMENT
Seats President and upto four passengers with glass partition.
Reinforced office inch steel plate runs under the car to protect against guns or grenades rolled underneath.
FUEL TANK
Armour-plated and filled with a specially designed foam which prevents it from exploding even if it suffers a direct hit.
TYRES
Run-flat tyres reinforced with Kevlar. Shred and puncture resistant, with steel rims underneath, enabling the car to escape, even if the tyres are blasted away.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 11
business mavericks
Tombstone Milestone Versatility is a word people throw around lightly. On meeting Dr. Pradeep Chopra, that is the word that first springs to mind. From real estate, the monuments business, all the way to writing books, he has done it all with remarkable success. In his own words, Dr. Chopra tells Corporate Citizen the fascinating story of how he single-handedly earned control of Germany’s tombstone manufacturing business, and the lessons we can learn from it.
I
n the 1990s, when I was in Germany, I noticed that there was a huge demand for tombstones in Germany. There was also an acute shortage of granite, which led to a spike in prices for the headstones. Once, while taking a stroll, I noticed a lone monument vendor store. I walked in and noticed an elderly lady at the counter. I struck up a conversation with her, and casually asked her what price she pays suppliers for the headstones. “1000 Deutsche Mark (DEM) (approximately `36,000 today)”, she replied. I asked her if she would be interested in purchasing tombstones, imported from India. She replied in the positive. I said I would get back to her in some time. I quickly called up my friends back in India, and asked them to make some enquiries. They found out that a good quality headstone would cost about 300 DM. I calculated that the cost of importing and other overheads would not exceed another 100 DM, which still left me a good 600 DM as profit. I went back to the lady and asked her for an order. She said that she would place the order, but she wouldn’t give me an advance. This posed a significant risk. What is she refused to accept the order, once it arrived? But then, what kind of entrepreneur is one who cannot take a risk? I accepted the order. It took me a few months to acquire, polish and import the gravestones from India to Germany. On the night before the delivery, I felt very nervous. What if the lady refused the 12 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
By Neeraj Varty
“To young entrepreneurs, I will say that if you can sell something even if you don’t have it ready, go ahead. You will get thousands of people who will be happy to provide or build it for you”
“When we started, there were 596 factories making headstones in Germany. Today, almost all of them have closed down. Over 90 percent of the tombstone requirements in Germany are now imported from India, and my firm controls over 60 percent of this business “ delivery? I had invested almost all my savings in the project. With these apprehensions, I went to meet the lady the next day. I asked her how she found the products. She said a word I will never forget. “Wunderbar”! She promptly made out my cheque, and placed a further order for a much bigger shipment. And this time, I even got my advance. That is how I entered the monuments business. To young entrepreneurs, I will say that if you can sell something even if you don’t have it ready, go ahead. You will get thousands of people who will be happy to provide or build it for you. Selling is the most difficult part and you have cracked that. There was an incident a few years later, which I vividly remember. I took an order from a customer in Berlin, and I was to deliver it by June of that year. This order was for headstones of some very specific colours. Headstones are natural stones, and they can’t be artificially coloured. I faced a lot of problems from my suppliers in India, who were not able to locate the specific coloured stones, for a
long time. By the time I managed to complete that order, it was June of the next year. The customer was livid, and refused to accept the order and called me to Berlin. I went there, and let him vent. After a while, he calmed down, but refused to accept the order unless I gave him a discount. I offered him a 30% discount, much higher than he was expecting. Not only did he accept the order, he also placed an additional order with me right away. The most important aspect of your business is your customer. If you provide a good customer experience at the end of the day, they will surely come back to you. By this time, I wanted to seriously expand in the monuments business. The major obstacle in this plan was quality. There is a notion worldwide that Indian goods are inferior in quality. There was some truth to this perception. I knew I had to change this. I employed a talented stonemason from Germany, and sent him to India for six months, to train my workers. At the end of the training period, we were able to match and even exceed the German
quality standards. When we started, there were 596 factories making headstones in Germany. Today, almost all of them have closed down. Over 90 per cent of the tombstone requirements in Germany are now imported from India, and my firm controls over 60 per cent of this business. To anyone who says Indian good are inferior in quality, I say this – India is the lowest cost producer in the world. If we can (and quite often do) match global quality standards, nobody can match our price.
neeraj.varty@corporatecitizen.com
CC Tadka
Land Record Archives Pune is home to the country’s only Land Record Archives. These archives hold historic data on land ownership, geographical boundaries, and prices at various points in time, from all over India.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 13
investigation
What led to
The SpiceJet Imbroglio? The crisis that SpiceJet is now in is a culmination of a combination of factors, including poor financial management, unclear government policies, and an inefficient and opaque regulatory regime. Corporate Citizen traced the chequered path of the Indian aviation industry. The question now is, will SpiceJet survive, or will it face the fate of numerous other airlines that succumbed and vanished? By Ameya Joshi
A
s SpiceJet filed the outcome of its board meeting with the Bombay Stock Exchange at the close of market hours on 15 January 2015, the media quickly flashed the news: “SpiceJet board decides to handover management control from Marans to investors led by Ajay Singh”. Trading on this scrip was halted the next morning as it breached the upper circuit – the first in many years. SpiceJet had got itself into an unprecedented situation but unlike Kingfisher Airlines, had managed to bail itself out. Liberalisation of Indian aviation: When the economy was liberalised in 1991, the aviation sector too got liberalised – hitherto the monopoly of the state, which ran Air India, Indian Airlines and Vayudoot. Newer airlines started operations in quick succession – this included Jet Airways, East West , ModiLuft, Air Sahara and NEPC, of which only Jet Airways continues to be in operation today. While the industry was nascent, the country also lacked regulations, talent and appetite for growth in the early days of liberalisation. This led to the failure of most airlines even when they had foreign support–like ModiLuft, a joint venture with Lufthansa by the Modi Group and Jet Airways which saw investments from Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways. The lack of regulatory awareness, government support and regulations which defied logic led to the fall of smaller 14 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
groups which had entered aviation in this phase. Second phase: As stability returned to aviation, only Jet Airways and Air Sahara had weathered the storm and continued operations to see the next decade. The second phase of growth in the Indian skies started in 2003 with the start of the country’s first low cost carrier Air Deccan. At the same time, the Tatas tried clubbing with Singapore Airlines to form a new carrier, which was apparently thwarted by Jet Airways and led to the cancellation of FDI in aviation. Naresh Goyal, the chairman of Jet Airways bought out the stake held by foreign carriers and soon listed the airline. The airline also lobbied for the start of international operations and successfully managed to influence the government to open up international routes for private carriers. This came with a caveat of requirement of five years of domestic operations and a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft – a rule which popularly is known as 5/20 and still exists. This phase saw the setting up of airlines by leading industrial houses and Air Deccan, SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines, Go Air and IndiGo were born. Consolidation: While some airlines consolidated others floundered – Air Mantra, Paramount, Indus Airways, MDLR and Archana Airways all failed leading to a situation where lenders, employees and airport operators did not manage to recover their money. The consolidation phase did not help the airline indus-
The crisis started in June 2013 when it deferred statutory dues to the Income Tax department, just a month after it posted a record yearly loss of ` 1003 crore in the previous financial year
SpiceJet Timeline 1993: Starts as ModiLuft – a joint venture between Modi group and Lufthansa 1996: Stops operations 2003/4: The Kansara family along with Ajay Singh buy Modiluft’s license and look to launch operations May 2005: SpiceJet starts operations 2010: The Marans invest in SpiceJet and are now the controlling partners. CEO Sanjay Agrawal departs and joins rival Kingfisher. The airline later ropes in Neil Mills as its CEO 2011: The airline places orders for the now controversial Q400 aircraft 2013: Neil Mills departs after trying to implement a new ‘blue oceans’ strategy at SpiceJet 2014 May: Record losses in history of over 1000 Crore
try. Kingfisher’s acquisition of Air Deccan, primarily to start international flights and Jet Airways acquiring Air Sahara to shore up market share did not go well for both the airlines. SpiceJet crisis: Analysts warned, the airline denied but everybody knew that all was not well at SpiceJet. From a December to remember it was a December to forget. December 2013 was filled with hope while the one in 2014 was filled with despair. The airline came a full circle, with over six quarters of continuous notes by the auditors highlighting that the airline would have problems continuing as a “going concern” – a term used in finance to say that the company is operational -- and the last two quarters in which the auditors also highlighted the net worth of the company being lower than market capitalization. The crisis started in June 2013 when it deferred statutory dues to the Income Tax department, just a month after it posted a record yearly loss of `1003 crore in the previous financial year. However, the very next month, on the back of rapid sales, the airline became No.2 by market share. With constant nudging from the tax authorities the company had to pay its dues in September and this led to loss of cash flow. The lessors started knocking at the doors in October and the spiral continued till 16 December, when the operations came to a full halt for most of the day. Government role: Was SpiceJet too big to let it fail or was the government too new to let an entity fail? This is a
June: TDS is cut from employees salary but not paid to the tax department July: Gains market share on the back of aggressive pricing September: Pays money deducted as TDS to the government October: Lessors start sending notices to get their aircraft back December: Salaries are delayed, more aircraft leave fleet 5 December: DGCA stops the airline from selling beyond 30 days 15 December: The airline approaches DGCA and the government and informs that it would suspend operations if help is not extended. A high level government action committee set up to ensure operations continue 16 December: All flights are cancelled till 1600n hours
difficult question to answer, but it is certain that the government did play a role in the SpiceJet crisis and helped it see light of this day. SpiceJet represented to the government that it was unable to operate with the existing cash flow since Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had put up stringent measures in place including restricting of booking to a maximum of one month. The airline informed the regulator and the ministry that it would have to proceed and shut shop if the airport operators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and banks did not extend a credit line. As the crisis unfolded, the government stepped in. SpiceJet, with a market share of 20% over the last few months and a network reach across the country, was too large to fall and would have raised serious questions in the minds of investors at a time when the government was trying to show that it is pro-business and attract investments for its Make in India campaign. Road ahead for SpiceJet: The new owners may make changes in the top management and have a new leadership team in place to steer the ship. There already are talks of retrenchment and only time will tell what decision the new management takes to ensure that the ship is afloat and the airline does not land up in another crisis later. The road ahead will see a resurgent Jet airways, flush with cash from Abu Dhabi based Etihad and newbies Air Asia India and Vistara making inroads into SpiceJet’s network. The airline will need a combination of low fares, stable network with good timings and a robust sales force to attract passengers back and start clocking profits at the earliest. Road ahead for the government: The SpiceJet crisis is one of many crises which this government has to handle in the much neglected aviation sector. The country is currently rated Category II by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the United States, at par with countries like Ghana, Indonesia, Bangladesh and seven others. This was on account of the DGCA not having adequate infrastructure and inspectors to regulate flying in the country. The government has to work overtime to get the states on board to declare aviation as part of the infrastructure industry so that taxation issues are resolved with a 4% flat tax on fuel across states, where currently it ranges from 4% to 30% and is a state subject. There has to be a stable policy on international flights, route dispersal guidelines and domestic operations. While the demand in India may not be as much as airline manufacturers predict to sell their products, it certainly is a lot more. With cheaper oil, an expected economic boom, the airline industry should find a strong hold now. (The author is a Transportation Solutions Consultant with experience across Aviation, Railways, Public Transport & Express Courier). ameya.joshi@gmail.com CC Tadka
Science day in Switzerland dedicated to APJ abdul Kalam The father of India’s missile programme had visited Switzerland back in 2006. Upon his arrival, Switzerland declared May 26th as Science Day.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 15
Check out how messed up
India’s urban youth is
The Young Citizen National Survey, called the Yuva Nagrik Meter shows that youngsters disregard law and generally think that women’s prime role should be to look after the house. Find out more
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rban Indian youngsters have terribly low respect for the rule of law. Their attitudes towards gender stereotypes and violence is also rather disturbing as they seem to think that there is “no choice but to accept a certain degree of violence”. These are some of the major findings of a survey of 10,542 girls and boys studying in high schools and colleges in 11 state capitals of the country and aged between 15 and 19 years. The Young Citizen National Survey, called the Yuva Nagrik Meter conducted by the Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness and field research was conducted by Socia Research Institute, IMRB in 2014. Here are the major findings of the survey.
Over 40 percent of high school and college students thought that it was all right to break the law because one could always get away with it by paying off the right people: giving a bribe.
16 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
by vivek moka | http://vivianspencil.deviantart.com/
Young Citizen National Survey
Urban youths attitudes towards women is appalling, and the girls fare only slightly better than the boys. Although on the surface the majority of them agreed that women can do as well or even better than men at work, half of youngsters seemed to think that the main role of a woman is to take care of the house and children.
The report says that the findings suggest that children learn certain civics subjects such as the meaning of fundamental rights and duties, citizenship, only for the purpose of passing examinations. College students seem to fare worse than high school children, suggesting they may only be learning these ideas for the sake of it.
Slightly over half of young people seem to feel that a few years of military rule would do India some good. These responses simply raise doubts about their understanding of the idea of democracy in terms of social life, rather than just a political system.
(Courtesy: www. thenewsminute.com)
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 17
Young Citizen National Survey Close to half of all respondents thought that construction workers and domestic workers simply did not have the right to demand fair working conditions such as toilets and proper housing or pay.
(All images courtesy of Yuva Nagrik Meter)
As samples, the report includes the kind of questions that were asked to the respondents of the survey. Questions were designed to measure knowledge and understanding as well as attitudes towards rights and responsibilities, democratic form of government, adherence to civic values, environmental conservation, gender equality and social justice. Here are some questions provided as illustrations in the report:
18 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
In an unsurprising find, urban youth have a high level of environmental consciousness and believe that water needs to be conserved and steps need to be taken to reduce wastage.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 19
Cover Story Dynamic Duo 5
Sporting Spirit
C. Krishna Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director, Granules India Ltd, and his wife Uma Chigurupati, who is also a Director on the board of the `1,200-crore pharmaceuticals manufacturing company in Hyderabad, do everything together. They run marathons around the globe, raise their son and twin daughters, and nurture their new baby, KRSMA Wines. Corporate Citizen finds what makes them – and their wines – sparkle By Sekhar Seshan
20 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 21
Cover Story
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anufacturing pharmaceuticals. Growing grapes and creating an exclusive range of wines. Running marathons around the world and making it to the Guinness Book of World record. C Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati have been there, done that! Krishna Prasad’s father, a doctor himself, wanted the boy to study medicine too. He didn’t – but what he does comes close: he runs a thriving pharmaceuticals company that manufactures the ingredients that go into medicines of all types. “Right from my childhood, I always had a fascination for doing something different,” he grins. “So after finishing my B.Sc, I left home in Guntur, moved to Madras and started a business.” It flopped. But young Krishna was unfazed – and set up something else. Over the next eight years, he ran a number of businesses, some of which succeeded while others failed. Eventually, he returned to his home state and founded Granules India Ltd in Hyderabad. Here, too, he stuck to his philosophy of ‘doing something different’. At a time when most other Indian pharma companies were manufacturing bulk drugs, he got into pharmaceutical formulation intermediates (PFIs). This did well – and having set it squarely on its path to the `1,200 crore-plus company that it is today, the restless rebel started looking for something else to do differently. What? Why not wine? He didn’t think of it, but the medicinal properties of wine too are legend. That was not as random a thought as it seems. Growing up in Guntur, Krishna had seen the British and other European tobacco planters having a drink every evening. That was usually Scotch whiskey, but a visit to the local Bishop yielded an offer of a glass of wine. The then 17-year-old tried it, and was hooked. He decided that he would make this elixir, and he would make it differently - and better! The bachelor boy had a two-bedroom flat. He was using one bedroom, but the other one was unoccupied – so that would be his winery. It was easy enough to buy the apparatus of glass demi-johns – but how to get them bubbling to make wine? He got some yeast on a visit abroad for Granules India, and began fermenting grapes in acid bottles. He liked the wine he produced, and moved on to sparkling wine – but what would he put it in? “I went to a five-star hotel, sat in the restaurant and ordered a bottle of champagne,” he recalls. “After I’d finished it, I asked the head waiter if I could take away the empty bottle.” That dignified man must surely have thought that his customer was crazy – but he didn’t demur. Krishna carried his trophy home. On his next business trip to the UK, he bought a cork sealer. In 1981, he bottled his first wine – and was on the road to a new business. Around that time, Krishna’s father – who was a member of the Nagarjuna University Syndicate - met a young lady at the university convocation, when she was being awarded a gold medal, and he thought she would be the perfect bride for his son. So he approached Uma’s parents with the proposal. “It was all very traditional and of course, we met - and decided to get married,” she says. It was after the wedding, when Uma Chigurupati moved into the flat, that she got her big shock when she saw the state of the spare bedroom. Her new husband, who she knew was chairman and managing director of Granules India, was operating a winery at home! But after that first shock, Uma decided that she would help in her husband’s hobby. For wine was still a hobby, not a business. She was a great help in the pharma company, too, and became a Director. Between them, they have led the company forward to achieve phenomenal success, with a presence in over 60 countries today. In 1984, they had their first child: a son, whom they named Harsha; five years later came twin daughters, Pragnya and Priyanka. While Harsha and Priyanka work at Granules India, Pragnya has fulfilled her grandfather’s vision for her father and become a doctor. 22 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
They went on to participate in some of the toughest marathons on the planet - through the grasslands of Kenya with wild animals on both sides, in the searing heat of the Gobi desert and the Australian outback at Ayers Rock – and earned themselves an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 when they ran marathons across all 7 continents – including Antarctica through freezing winds and in the North Pole at -34 degrees Celsius Between Granules India and the wine-making, the couple travelled – all over the world. Everywhere they went, they visited wineries, meeting oenologists and viticulturists, and bought different, newer wines. They also amassed an amazing collection of wines which they thought tasted good. But because they couldn’t bring all those excellent wines back to India, they built and stocked a At the North Pole marathon huge cellar in the USA. With every sip, they began noticing the finer nuances more and more: the different colours, aromas and tastes took on new meaning, and they began understanding the delicate differences in wines from different regions. All this led to them developing their own unique palate, which helped them in their oenophilic venture. As this happened, their desire to make world-class wine themselves grew stronger. At one point of time, they seriously considered buying a vineyard in the South of France and resettling there. A pharma customer in Italy had set up small vineyard, and Krishna offered to buy a 50-per-cent stake in it. “I was prepared to pay any cost!” he says. “But he said he couldn’t sell, because he himself was planning to retire and take up wine-making as a full-time occupation.” Back home, they visited India’s famed ‘wine capital’, Nashik in Maharashtra. “But we didn’t feel that it was the right place,” Krishna says. “We also didn’t find any of the other places we went to in India suitable, including Himachal Pradesh.” Finally, he heard of a farmer in Hampi, Karnataka, who had failed in his attempt to grow wine grapes, and was ripping up his vines because he was in financial difficulties with his bank foreclosing on his loans. He travelled from Hyderabad to meet him. “I liked the soil,” he says. So did Uma, who is a qualified soil microbiologist and plant pathologist. Krishna made an offer for the farm on the spot, cleared the bank dues and took over the 12-hectare property. In 2007, husband and wife replanted the first four hectares of their new vinery. In between running the pharma company, the wine-making and
raising their three children, Krishna and Uma also found time to discover another shared passion - for running. It began with a 10-km race in 2003, to inspire their people in Granules India to live a healthy lifestyle. “The experience was exhilarating,” Uma says. “We started running half marathons, then full marathons.” And then, they went on to participate in some of the toughest marathons on the planet - through the grasslands of Kenya with wild animals on both sides, in the searing heat of the Gobi desert and the Australian outback at Ayers Rock – and earned themselves an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 when they ran marathons across all seven continents – including Antarctica through freezing winds and in the North Pole at minus 34 degrees Celsius. But of all their runs, the one that stands out vividly in their memories is one that brings their two diverse passions together: the Medoc Marathon, which passes over scenic vineyards of Bordeaux and through fabled chateaux that produce some of the best wine the world. Back to the wine: Krishna and Uma launched their own wine in the market, merging their names to create the brand KRSMA. There are no recipes to make this wine, they explain - each vintage is different from the next, because the grapes make the difference. The Chigurupatis believe in letting the grapes narrate their story through the wine. Not surprisingly, the four varietals they have created, and plan to stick to, have all won awards. The Chardonnay of 2013, Cabernet Sauvignon of 2012 and Sauvignon Blanc of 2013 bagged the double gold, gold and silver medals respectively, at the China Wine and Spirit Awards 2013; the Sauvignon
The Chigurupatis believe in letting the grapes narrate their story through the wine. Not surprisingly, the 4 varietals they have created, all won awards Blanc of 2012 got the bronze at the New Zealand International Wine Show 2012; and the Chardonnay was commended at the recent International Wine Challenge 2014. Krishna, true to his established belief in not treading any beaten path, used technology that was radically different from the traditional ones. Having physics for his B.Sc, he had no experience in chemistry. “That was an advantage!” he grins. “I didn’t have anything to unlearn.” The wine venture got into trouble, and he almost went bankrupt; but his technology gradually started proving itself and picking up pace. But neither of them is doing this for the money. “That will always come,” Krishna says. “Both of us just love good wine!” Uma, who first developed an interest in viticulture and then in tasting, has over the years developed a discerning palate. There is a market for good wines in India, Krishna says; he believes firmly that with more and more Indians understanding the difference between what is generally available and what they could be savouring, there is a ‘need’ for premium wines here. According to a Technopak report, the overall Indian wine market can be estimated at 9.75 lakh cases or `175 crore at wholesale price. Though low penetration has resulted in low per capita consumption, February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 23
Cover Story the market is steadily growing at a CAGR of 20-25%. India’s wine consumption has increased drastically and it constitutes 45% of sales of alcohol in India. Domestic and imported markets account for 70% and 30% respectively. While imported wines have traditionally managed to attract customers, a slew of Indian winemakers and national brands are catching up. Karnataka grows over 330,000 tonnes of grapes and has over 17 wineries which produce 3.5 million litres of wine annually. The state comes second in the list of wine producers. Uma, who is a late ‘convert’ to the pleasures of wine, has now become more attached to the farm The ideal couple strikes a perfect pose at sunset than her husband who started it all. “I go as often as I can, and spend 15 days in Hampi every season. But Uma is there for 45 days – she drives six hours every weekend to go there and taste the grapes on every row of vines to make sure they taste just right,” he says.
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either time nor effort has been spared in creating the vinery: regulated deficit irrigation has been used to make up for the lack of rainfall and an organic-specific fertigation (fertiliser + irrigation) regime. In the firm belief that “the best fertiliser for the vineyard is the owners’ footsteps”, every step has their personal touch, from deciding the time of pruning the vines to harvesting the grapes – on New Year’s Day, finishing by 9 a.m so that the temperature does not rise too much as the sun goes up, and putting the wine into fine-grain French oak barrels for ageing. The bottles are imported from France, natural cork from the USA. The logo for the label was created by a specialist design house in Australia, with art that captures the rich heritage of the Vijayanagar Empire to reflect its Indianness. ”Mera joota hai Japani..” The tiny vineyard is nestled amongst the rocky terrain in Hampi, 70 km from the World Heritage Site. “We took one look at it and fell in love,” Uma says. “There was something in the place that reflected our own personalities – passionate and pioneering. We had found the perfect place to realise our new vision.” Another pharma customer, who has a winery in Australia, came to his assistance, bringing with him the Chairman of the Australian Wine Research Institute, and arranged for a viticulture expert from that country to visit the farm. He checked it out, and said it was ‘great’. The terroir of Hampi Hills is unique. Its rolling hills have iron-rich schist type soils, the weather is dry with minimal rainfall, and the nights are cool, especially during ripening. Add to it the rich history of the Vijayanagar Empire, and you have a region that provides endless opportunities. However, the terroir contributes only half the magic. It’s the personal touch that counts for more. The Chigurupatis use expertise from around the world, but the yeast is personally selected after trials on test ferments. All their wines are single varietals, made from only the best grapes from each harvest. As a result, only a limited number of bottles are produced, ensuring what comes out of the winery is always the best. Krishna Prasad and Uma have invested close to `7 crore in KRSMA over the years, most of it in establishing a world-class vineyard with an 80,000 litre high-end boutique winery. They have also been careful 24 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
The medals and the Guinness Book of World record speak for itself
about other aspects of production including importing equipment and machinery. “We want to place Hampi Hills on the world map and gain recognition for India as a producer of high quality wines,” says Uma. In February 2014, KRSMA Estates formally announced its entry into the Indian wine market, with the launch of its first range of its super-premium boutique wines - the Chardonnay 2013, Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Sangiovese 2012 and Sauvignon Blanc 2012, priced at between `750 and `1,500 per bottle. This was the first time KRMA was available on shelves, despite having crushed five harvests already. To maintain exclusivity, only 2,000 cases of the world-class wine was produced and made available in the Bangalore market initially, partnering with premium outlets to retail its first range before it was offered at restaurants and hotels across the city. Why Bangalore? Besides the fact that it is geographically convenient, it is the third biggest home of wine drinkers, after Delhi and Mumbai. How has it been, balancing two businesses – of which one overlaps with a passion – and a second passion, running, with bringing up three children? Have the parents made their children follow in their own footsteps? “Right from their childhood, I was very particular about the children playing games. Even during their exams, I used to insist that they take a break and play for some time,” says Krishna. “Not only for physical health, but for mental alertness too, I consider that fitness is
Pic: b Vijay kumar
They also amassed an amazing collection of wines. But because they couldn’t bring all those excellent wines back to India, they built and stocked a huge cellar in the USA confused between them – look, Pragnyas face is shaped like this, her nose is like this, and so on. In fact, Priyanka was the one sitting next to her and Pragnya was not around!”
B Krishna and Uma Chigurupati taking a stroll in their vineyard
very important. They definitely give a lot of importance to being fit, and have done a few 10-km runs and half marathons too.” Adds Uma: “I can’t say that running is a passion for them right now. Pragnya never misses the 10-km runs in Chennai as far as her schedule as a post-graduate surgery student permits. Priyanka was forced to slow down due to injuries. But I never insisted - our lifestyle must have influenced them to run with us.” Both the parents believe in giving a lot of freedom to their three children in their thoughts and ideas, studies and careers. “Priyanka wanted to study fashion marketing after doing her undergrad in business studies. Later, she worked in that line for some time and then she herself came and joined in the marketing department of our pharma company. It is totally her decision. Even for Pragnya, pursuing surgery is her own decision, even though I suggested that after MBBS, she should go for higher studies in clinical studies,” Krishna says. “We are more of friends to our children than parents.” Uma differs slightly: “I think that with the girls, we have a friendly relationship; but with Harsha it is always more like parent-child. I can’t say how it happened. He complains that we are a bit strict with him compared to the girls.” The fact that the girls are identical twins has caused a lot of hilarious mix-ups among family, friends and others, though Uma thinks that there is no problem with their friends. “A few years back, my mother-in-law (their paternal grandma) told her husband, why do you get
ut even though they are identical, Uma feels they are totally different individuals, growing like any other siblings growing together. “I must say that they think alike at certain times, but that is coincidence. Especially now, they are totally different in their thought processes, because of the different exposure and environment they have chosen and the careers they are in. Pragnya has been in the Medical school in Chennai for the past eight-and-a-half years, whereas Priyanka was in the USA for six-and-a-half years, including two years in New York studying fashion marketing.” Yes, Krishna Prasad admits: managing a pharma company, a vineyard and winery and marathons are quite diverse and time-consuming, and also require a lot of travelling. “Granules keeps me busy with travelling. For my marathons and practising for them, I have to forgo an extra hour of sleep: instead of getting up at 5 a.m, I get up at four and practise when I am preparing for marathons.” But the plus point is that he is much more disciplined with his lifestyle after getting into this regime. Vineyards and wine making, even though they are time consuming, he considers more of a holiday than work, and getting involved in winemaking and studying more about wine and wine making are a relaxation and stress buster. Adds Uma: “Family and marathons, and organising runs in Hyderabad make time management difficult. I felt the difficulty especially during the seven-continent runs we have done. Doing extreme marathons in one month on one continent, I felt exhausted. But during this time I learnt the importance of time management and prioritising things, and became more organised. I am totally fine now.” “We are both quite adventurous and nature lovers right from childhood. In our respective families, we are both rebellious. We share quite a lot of things in common,” Uma says. “Being nature lovers, believing in having healthy lifestyles - which lead to marathons - passionate about wine making- because of all these activities we spend a lot of time together and we share a friendship that has grown stronger over the years, Krishna adds. When Krishna Prasad decided to leave home to do his own thing in life, he started a marathon race that he’s still running. And Uma is by his side in this, too. “If I take up anything, I give it 100 per cent,” she says. Neither of them is tiring, but continuing to find something new and exciting at every step. (The author is a senior business journalist of India). sekharseshan@gmail.com February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 25
Cradle of Leadership-4
Building Skills Bettering Lives The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has made significant contribution to civil society and the development sector through its education and research projects. TISS has built up a heritage of excellence and earned recognition as an institution of repute from Government of India ministries, state governments, international agencies such as the United Nations and the non-government sector, both national and international. Prof. S. Parasuraman, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has over 25 years of experience as a teacher, trainer, activist, administrator and a development worker. With a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Pune and a Ph.D. in Demography from the University of Mumbai, he has also been conferred Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) by the Assam University. He has also held key positions in international organisations as Asia Regional Policy Coordinator, Action Aid Asia; Senior Advisor to the Commission and Team Leader of the Secretariat, World Commission on Dams and as Programme Director, Oxfam GB, India Programme. In a tête-à-tête with Corporate Citizen, Prof. S. Parasuraman spoke about the richness of the institute, students, faculty, plans ahead for the future, while also touching upon his personal world By Mahalakshmi Hariharan 26 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Prof. S. Parasuraman, Director, TISS
Corporate Citizen: TISS is a pioneer, premier institute of social sciences, very well-known and reputed. Can you take us through its rich history and the changes it has gone through over the last seven-odd decades?
Prof. S. Parasuraman, Director: During the 1930’s there was a serious economic downturn. The world was under deep recession and Mumbai was also going through a rough patch. The industrial hub was collapsing and lots of people were out of jobs, lots of them in poverty. During this time, the Tata Group decided to carry out a project to see how people in difficult times can be supported. So they invited a professor from the University of Chicago and asked him to study the situation of the people from this industrial hub, and how they can be supported. After five-six years of work, he proposed that this country needed human service professionals who can work with the people and identify the ways to support them.
Pic: Ahmed Sheikh
TISS is truly a research university where one-third of our students are doctoral students, working for their PhDs and MPhil. Our research grant is much higher than our maintenance grant. We have about 600-700 research projects happening at any given time. We work with the people,for the people That’s how Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work was established in 1936. In 1964, the institute was recognised as a ‘Deemed to be University’ and since then it has been fully supported by the government of India, centrally funded. Currently we have four campuses, Mumbai, Tuljapur, Guwahati and Hyderabad. Mumbai is the oldest campus, established in 1936. In 2012, during our platinum jubilee celebrations, we established campuses in Guwahati and Hyderabad. It is a multi-campus university, a separate autonomous institution. The idea is to reach out to areas where you need education in social sciences. We have a common admission test for all campuses. All candidates are taken in through the all India entrance test. The recently held admission test for 2015-16 saw about 42,000 applicants writing for 1,200 seats, for the master’s and post graduate programmes. In March, we have a separate test
for doctoral programmes. It is truly a research university where one-third of our students are doctoral students, working for their PhDs and MPhil. The institute has a strong research component. Our research grant is much higher than our maintenance grant. We have about 600-700 research projects happening at any given time. In addition to these campuses, we have field centres in Ladakh, Leh, Port Blair, Ranchi, Delhi, Chennai and Kozhikode where training and research happen. The idea is to go closer to the field. So the institute does research projects across all parts of the country and wherever there is large scale or more engagement, we set up a centre there.
What is the current background of students?
Currently, we have 2600 students pursuing their master’s, and 800 their doctoral studies. We do not run any undergraduate course from Mumbai. UnFebruary 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 27
Cradle of Leadership-4 dergraduate courses are only run from Hyderabad, Guwahati and Tuljapur. These are five-year integrated programmes in social sciences. Students who are admitted for social science also study other subjects like mathematics, logic and philosophy so that when these students graduate they are not only good in social sciences but are also sharp in analysis. This programme is only three years old. At each location, we have about 250 undergraduate students, which will grow significantly in the years to come. By 2017, TISS will have 6,500 Master’s students, 2,000 Doctoral students and a large number of undergraduate students. With the social sector opening up, there will be demand for well trained professionals in the areas of health, education, water, sanitation and rural development programmes. When I came here in 2004, there were 400 students (all included). So, much of the growth has happened in the last ten years through working with the government and industry and reaching out to the masses. Talking about our students, it’s a mixed bag. Twenty-five per cent of our students are engineers, 20 per cent are doctors and the rest come from various streams like arts, science, commerce, agriculture and law. The problem is that our education system pushes students to get into engineering though they may not be interested. There is pressure from parents, society. So there are instances where the best of the students leave and come and study here.
TISS has a 100 per cent placement record across all programmes, how have you achieved it? In which sectors are the students placed?
Currently, we have 2600 students pursuing their master’s, and 800 their doctoral studies. We do not run any undergraduate course from Mumbai. Undergraduate courses are only run from Hyderabad, Guwahati and Tuljapur. By 2017, TISS will have 6,500 Master’s students, 2,000 Doctoral students and a large number of undergraduate students
Yes, we do have a 100 percent placement record. All students from management school go to the industry. Students from the health sector get employed in hospitals and health ministry departments. Some of them also get into international organisations in health research. So hospital administration, health administration, finance and economics of healthcare are some of the areas where our students get placed in. Many are medical doctors who get into the health field. Disaster management students join state disaster management authorities and NGOs. Counselling students work as counsellors for the government, service and civil sectors. So it is a combination of government, industry, the civil and service sectors, and international organisations where our students get placed in.
TISS plans to make its campus more accessible to differently-abled students. How are you going about it?
This campus (Mumbai) was built in the 1940’s and 1950’s when such awareness was very low. Our Guwahati and Hyderabad campuses have been made friendly to the differently abled from day one. If you look at this place, you cannot have a wheel chair going place to place, because we have several steps everywhere. So we did a comprehensive audit of the entire place to see how the differently-abled students can reach their classrooms and offices easily. Several parts of the campus have already been made friendly to the differently abled. By next year we would have passages wherever there are steps. We have put in brick pathways where the visually impaired can walk their way. Our focus in the next one year will be to make this campus disabled friendly. TISS is a role model for many other institutions and universities so we try to do the best. We have a Master’s program called Disability Studies and Action where students who have done the audit here as part of their work and studies. 28 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
You plan to raise `500 crore by the end of this year. How would you go about it and what will it be utilised for?
Yes we need this money to build a larger hostel for our Mumbai campus. We have about 1,500 students who stay outside the campus. Again, our programme is very demanding. Our library facilities are open 24/7 so the students spend most of their time in the library working on their projects and studying. At present, we need `250 crore for 2,000 students. This money will also be used to improve the infrastructure in other campuses. If you see, it is easier for other leading MBA schools to raise the money because their students are placed with leading corporates but with us, the majority of our students work with people. When you work with people, you aren’t paid well, whereas if you work with corporates you are always paid well.
Do you think social enterprise is gaining ground and will the educational programs of TISS help in better prospects for students who get into the corporate world?
Education in India is increasingly getting privatised. In a country where we have the largest youth ratio coming from diverse economic situations, the state must take responsibility for education and health or else it will only be the privileged who will get better education and the poor will get left out. Here’s where educational institutes like TISS and IITs play a major role. Our investments need to be supported. We need to keep the existing institutions healthy. Education is way too expensive today. It should be made affordable. We tell the students that they can come here only if they are interested in working with the people, only if they are committed. We have about 60 master’s programmes. We also tell our management students that just because they end up with hefty salaries, they are no different because the fee structure here is the same for all. I have some of my best students working
TISS TALK n TISS was awarded a 5-star rating by NAAC in 2002. In 2009, the NAAC re-accredited TISS and placed it in Grade ‘A’ with a score of 3.88 out of 4 – the second highest amongst all universities accredited by NAAC till now n The Special Cell for Women and Children, a Field Action Project of TISS, completed 25 years of work in 2009 on ‘Violence Against Women’ as a programme/service located in the police system. At present, 7 States have established Special Cells and efforts are on to establish Special Cells in the remaining States and Union Territories of the country
on daily wages for as low as `100 per day. If they don’t work on one single day they don’t get paid. There are students who go to the industry and get an annual salary of `20-25 lakh..it’s their choice. For me, the job done by this person who goes into the interiors of Chhattisgarh, working for and with the people is far more valuable.
Can you take us through your vocational courses?
We have set up a school of vocational education. In a country where 18 per cent of the students attend universities and colleges, 82 percent of the students get dropped out during school. Some never go to school and some drop out after the eighth standard. Some of them study till the XI Standard and those in college are not all employable. Out of all those who graduate, less than 20 percent find employment, while 70 percent do not find employment in the areas where they have studied. They take up any job. So, there are a large number of dropouts, and while some manage to study, they do not have the requisite skills. So we are working on building the skills of a large number of students who have not got formal education, like those in agriculture who do not have proper jobs and those who have dropped out. We offer certification and diploma courses. Everyone who comes here is linked to the industry so that they get practical training. This is one part of the project. Here we are trying to demonstrate how a university can help building the skills of people who are otherwise illiterate or have less education to make sure they get productive employment. AICTE is funding this project. The second part of the work we do is to enhance the work-skills of university graduates. We work with 11 universities across the country. We work with all those students who have enrolled for their Bachelor’s in commerce, science and arts. In the first year, we train them on soft skills. In the second year, they can opt for any domain of their choice like construction, service sector or computers. In the third year when they continue with these subjects, they get a diploma. In most of the colleges, students do not have classes throughout the day. They have classes in the morning and are free in the afternoon. So we organise these skill development programmes in the afternoon. Here, we try to demonstrate how computer literacy, financial literacy,
n TISS is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in a countrywide project for capacity-building of higher institutions of learning in HIV/ AIDS Counselling n As a part of post-tsunami reconstruction in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, TISS has embarked on a programme of capacity-building of local communities in sustainable development
n TISS is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a collaborating Centre for Health, Policy Research and Training. n TISS won the inaugural round of the Obama-Singh 21st Century award for research on leadership development in higher education n TISS has established collaborative research and student exchange programmes with over 25 universities and consortiums in Africa, Asia, the United States and Europe n TISS has become a partner in a Consortium of 12 European Universities and 8 Indian Universities n TISS has been ranked No.1 among the country’s best social work professional colleges by Outlook-MRDA, continuously since 2009. n TISS Tuljapur Campus undertook a study of farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra in 2005. The report has been appreciated by the Court, for providing valuable insights into the rural livelihood crises and its policy recommendations.
alumni TISS has, over the years, been known for its unique ways of combining management principles with social awareness. This has ensured that TISS students have left an indelible impression on the corporate world as well as on the social front. Over the years, many of its distinguished alumni have scaled the heights of success and have been a source of inspiration and support for the students. A few of these illustrious alumni are listed below.
Dr. Dinesh Nair
Sr. Health Specialist, World Bank
Dr. Somil Nagpal
Sr. Health Specialist, South Asia Region, World Bank
Cyrus Engineer
Sr. Research Assistant, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, USA
Medha Patkar
Social Activist, National Alliance of People’s Movement February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 29
Cradle of Leadership-4 digital literacy, and English communication can substantially help students to find jobs. When these students get a degree, they also have a certificate in soft skills. This is done with the support of the government of India. The third project is on how you can strengthen the capability of men and women in rural areas and make them entrepreneurs. In the village, one can carry out a number of small businesses like providing food, transport, setting up small processing units and so on. Thus we cover a whole set of people and skill them. That’s the beauty of this place. We help create high quality professionals with Master’s and Doctoral degrees but we also have a responsibility to reach education and skills to people who otherwise do not have the opportunity to come to the university. Our Skill Development Programme is supported by JP Morgan Chase, some Tata companies and the Government. This programme is entirely linked with the industry. Our training hub and skill knowledge partners are industries. For example, if a person is learning plumbing then we put him on to builders so that when buildings are being constructed, he can learn how the plumbing work is done.
Any plans to open campuses in other regions of the country?
Most of the State Governments keep asking us to come and set up a campus in their region. West Bengal has recently approached us to open a campus in Kolkata. In 2010-11, of all the requests that came, we decided that we would go to the North-East and South, and opened a campus in Guwahati and Hyderabad. Because we are a government funded University, we need government sanctions. The Guwahati campus was funded through allocation in the 2013 Union Budget by the then Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram. The Hyderabad campus is funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. My immediate concern is to consolidate what we have started before we start something new because it’s tough and we don’t get money out of our education programmes because 49.5 percent of our seats are reserved for SC/ST/OBC category and education in TISS is completely free for them. So our income makes for about 10 percent of our total maintenance grant. If one gets admission here, their family status should not be a constraint to graduate from here. We help students from the general category too by giving them scholarships. We raise funds through government funding, projects and consultancy.
The youth today needs to understand that making money and profit is not the only way of being a productive citizen. One of the missing links is the level of empathy and understanding others. The society as such is losing the ability to empathise and that is getting reflected in the youth
Can you also throw light on how TISS is working with corporates to strengthen their CSR programmes and the vocational courses run for corporates?
TISS works with industries to help them strengthen their CSR programmes through the CSR hub where all public and private sector companies are advised on how they can spend their two percent profit on CSR activity. We work with some of the large companies, both public and private such as Coal India, GAIL, BHEL, and HPCL in the public sector, and L&T, Tata companies, Adanis, Tech Mahindra, etc., in the private space. This programme is also available to the employees of these companies. So these companies not only spend two per cent of their profit on carrying out the CSR activity but they also have a volunteers programme. Here, their employees can volunteer to work on the weekends. Employees can also take leave for, say, three or six months and work on social projects. We devise programmes where they can work. If there is good work happening somewhere, make it known to others, that’s the best way to share information and 30 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
knowledge. We are planning a large number of vocational courses with corporates. At the end of the day most corporates of this country don’t engage in skilling the people. They porch from one industry to the other. So what happens is that you don’t have skilled human resources to provide for all kinds of services. We are trying to engage the corporate sector to come on board so as to make high quality personnel available. We are continuously working with the corporate sector to broad base their training programs.
What do you think of companies in India that are not keen on CSR initiatives?
They will take time because there is not much clarity in the corporate sector on what needs to be done in this space. In the next few years, as more and more information becomes available on what others are doing, most of them will fall in line. All companies are doing something or the other to support the communities around them, whether big or small. Eventually most companies will adhere to CSR norms, because that is the space where they will get value.
Does TISS also have courses for non-graduates?
Non graduate courses are available to all. For example in the Nicobar Islands, we run a three month programme on leadership development. In Ladakh, we run a six month course on environment management. In the Nicobar Islands, when the tsunami hit, most leaders died. So the youngsters there needed to acquire leadership skills to manage the society. Ladakh has a fragile ecosystem. So we decided on these crash courses ranging from a few weeks to a few months. Women empowerment programmes are run in remote villages across the country to help Self Help Groups (SHGs).
You have been coming up with interesting research reports/surveys on various issues affecting the society. Can you throw light on some of the current work happening and your teams who carry out these research projects?
month. So whenever we came back, we just plugged in our laptops on one of the vacant workstations and worked. We didn’t have a fixed desktop. In fact my secretary had the best office there because she was stationed there and was always working from her desk. Your status and position are not determined by how your office looks, but what you actually do. Ten years later when I came back to India, it was difficult getting people to understand new ways of working. So I created opportunities for faculty members to go out and work at various universities so that they know what it means to work in a competitive environment.
Was it a tough decision to come back?
Well, previously when I came back from Honolulu to Cape Town, I had the choice of either going to Washington or Nairobi -- either to the United Nations Programme in Nairobi or World Bank in Washington. But I decided to come to Bangkok. I always wanted to come close to my own place. But you need to have that in your mind that you belong somewhere so it was a conscious decision. Again, I wasn’t keen on staying outside on a permanent basis and money was not the motive for me.
Please take us through your family
Students at TISS
We have excellent work happening in the M (East) slum ward on improving the living conditions of the people such as sanitation, water problems and other issues. About 50-60 researchers work there on a continuous basis. We also continuously raise resources to support people. We work in the development of Maverick affected districts where we conducted a significant amount of research. Since 2011, we are running the Prime Minister’s Rural Fellowship Programme, with a team of 25-30 candidates. We have large teams working on different projects. Some researchers work in sync with other campuses. Our work on the Global Fund Project has been running for the past ten years. Every year the number of researchers on the projects keeps increasing.
Tell us about your alumni
We produce a different set of alumni. While IIMs produce people who go to the corporate sector, our people get into the social sector, which is the toughest thing to do because here you have to fight against all sorts of forces. You need a different level of commitment and dedication here. We don’t work for the market; we work with the people, for the people.
Tell us something about yourself in terms of your education and career. Since the time you took over in 2004, how has the experience been? What were the challenges involved?
I was a faculty member with TISS, with a PhD from IIT and Mumbai University, from 1981-1995. I then went to Delhi for two years, from there I went to Honolulu, Cape Town for a good three years and then came down to Bangkok. My last job was with the UN. After that I came back to India in 2004. It was a crazy decision then. When I was resigning from my job at the UN, they asked me what I would be drawing in India. I said maybe $1000$1500 (`60,000-70,000) then. My salary at the UN was $14,000 per month, so they were wondering that my monthly salary was higher than the annual salary (in India). But it’s not money… I had no interest continuing as an international bureaucrat…I think the job of a teacher is very different. These are choices one makes. I have enjoyed my work at all these institutions. See, they are extremely professional organisations, where each one knows what they should be doing. People there are not worried if they have a cabin, if they have an office and so on. Interestingly, in one of my earlier jobs, directors did not have separate offices, because we travelled nearly 20 days every
We are a small family, I have one daughter who is married and settled in Bangalore and my wife is a statistician. My daughter did her under-graduation from Cardiff Business School and came back. She too was not keen on living outside. She decided to come back and work here in India. I really don’t know what is so fascinating about going away.
How were your childhood days like?
I come from a small village in Tirunelveli district, which is a draught prone area where children are taught from day one that if you want to live here, you will have to work in the field. We had a school up to the fifth standard in our village. From the sixth standard onwards, we had to walk three kms to reach the other village for our school. It was hard. I had to fetch water before going to school, come back and take the buffaloes for gazing, but it was fine. Luckily I always got scholarships so I could go to the university and got fellowships after I finished my education. The beauty of this country is that to come to this chair, you don’t need Godfathers and Godmothers… you only need good qualifications and work hard. This is what I keep telling my students as well. Work hard, it will pay off.
Did you have it in your mind that one day you would be the Director of a leading institution?
No, I never did. In fact my father wanted me to be a constable. For a small farmer in a village, being a constable is a big thing. Also, he never understood what I was doing, studying for so many years. We didn’t have the luxury of having an ambition because we didn’t know what kind of obstacles would come our way, because life wasn’t easy. I just studied, just worked hard. I never thought that I would become anything in life because all I wanted was to get a job, but then you know life just took me the way it went.
How do you see the youth of today? Your advice to them...
The youth today needs to understand that making money and profit is not the only way of being a productive citizen. One of the missing links is the level of empathy and understanding others. The society as such is losing the ability to empathise and that is getting reflected in the youth. But still there is great opportunity for youth in this country. They are focused, it’s just that if they get a good environment they will do well, but then we can’t blame the youth for all the problems today...society is equally to be blamed. My advice to the younger generation would be to be focused, work hard, focus on what you do, what you are doing…there is nothing called failure or success…you will anyways move on but you must try and there are no shortcuts to success. Hard work and perseverance is very important. Mahalakshmi.H@corporatecitizen.in February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 31
How to shop for
IIT/IIM grooms and brides
Here’s how the “better educated” can go shopping for husbands and wives. Just log on to http://iitiimshaadi.com/ By Anisha Sheth
A
rranged marriages have always been about love and feminism. A girl deserves the best, right? So in our glorious past, this is what the best looked like. But, lets be fair and include the men as well. So... Both sides had just two items
on the list, and one of them was common. Family background suitable? (Read caste and class) Tick. Money/ Job? Tick. (applicable to men) Can she look after the house? Tick (applicable to women) Pretty short right? But that’s all in the past. Let’s move on to GenNext, where you have a
32 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
dedicated website for “Alumni of Premier Education Institutes” who “deservedly desire companionship of similar experience and expectations. This portal has fixated on the tailor-made needs of this segment.” Spot on. So, we have a carefully chosen name: IITIIM Shaadi (for those with bad eyesight, it’s IIT and IIM Shaadi.com). They want to ensure
their prospective customers have no doubt about what they are getting. Sorry, who they are getting.\ It’s all very organised. So you register, and here’s the “eligibility criteria”. Males: Alumni of Indian and International Premier institutions in Engineering & Architecture, Medicine, Finance, Law, MBA, Master of Social Work, Master of
Spouse Hunting
The site, http://iitiimshaadi.Com provides high search quality using pre-set filters, such as tolerance to late working hours, frequent relocation, & willingness to attend office parties. Profile display has been designed to optimise your time
pic: Yusuf khan
Media Communication, Fashion Designing and Senior Government Administration. (Well, it’s all for the women, see? They’re already emancipated. They get to specify exactly what sort of a man they want to settle down with.) Females: Country-wide reputed graduation institutions onwards. (See, the criteria for women aren’t that specific coz everybody knows that women are divine creatures who need no superficial education to make them better, right? I mean, what’s a PhD, really? No big deal. Graduation is all women need. Men need a lot more to make em smart, right? Wink.) And this little bit here, is helpful to both parties: “This site provides high search quality using pre-set filters, such as tolerance to late working hours, frequent relocation, & willingness to attend office parties. Profile display has been
designed to optimize your time.” The women really do have a lot of choice. More than the options mentioned above. When you sign up, you can even specify what occupation you would like your partner to be in. Ooh, you can just imagine walking on the arm of a pilot in a fancy uniform; someone in the defence services, also with the fancy uniform. Then there’s also the civil services; no uniform, but the official car will do just as nicely. The men get to show off too. When you sign up as someone in the government services, you are promptly asked to specify: IAS, IFS, IRS, Class I, Class II, Class III... and so on. Go ahead and impress the ladies, you studs. Well, it also has the boring details: annual income, family details, permanent address, caste (but, since its GenNext, you can choose the “No Bar” option). So! Getting down to the nitty-gritty of it all, (why leave anything to chance?) the website asks the “bride” if she is ready to: l Relocate l Accept late working hours of the groom l Join the groom in his office parties
You go girl! Show him who’s calling the shots. It’s like walking into a shop, where the salespeople tell you what’s on display, what its features are and you get to choose. And just to make sure no one is taking anyone for a ride, everyone has to upload some of their certificates. It’s all very professionally done. No hovering beside you country bumpkin astrologer as he pores those over those indecipherable scrawling on your children’s kundli. That is so old school. And just to let the users know the website’s promoters are oh so in awe of the West, they get to fill out their ZIP code. So cute. Someone forgot to tell them India has PIN codes. That little slip aside, Rural Management Consultants needs to be lauded for this noble effort to facilitate matchmaking among better educated section of the society. But before congratulating the website, simple folks who are not Alumni of Premier Education Institutes and who only just knowhow to do a basic Google search, found something rather interesting. Speaking to The Wall Street
Journal , the website’s founder Ajay Gupta said that the site’s eligibility criteria for women is set at the degree level so as to give “a larger pool of choice to the men.” He elaborated: “It is not a chauvinistic discrimination, but some highly-educated men, in terms of practicality, like women who also consider taking care of the home a task as good as a job.” Well, this is perhaps beyond the comprehension of us simple folks who are not Alumni of Premier Education Institutes. So, on that note, let’s wish the website every success and all the high-flying people who sign up, a very happy married life. After, all, it’s all for love. (Article Courtesy: www.thenewsminute.com) CC Tadka
Kabaddi teams have won all World Cups India has won all six men’s Kabaddi World Cups held till now and have been undefeated throughout these tournaments. The Indian women are not too far, as they have won all the three World Cups held till date.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 33
Offbeat career
Business of
Bouncers
Bouncers are possibly some of the least understood professionals in the world. For anyone who has visited a bar, nightclub or concerts, encountering a bouncer is a pretty common sight. These imposing individuals are there to ensure that aggressive behaviour is kept in check, people don’t drink and get out of hand, and overall order is maintained. The security of the venue is completely their responsibility. By Neeraj Varty
U
nfortunately, despite having a long and storied legacy starting from being trusted lieutenants to the Roman aristocracy to their current day modern avatar, bouncers are often viewed as ‘jock’ stereotypes who are quick to anger, and who won’t hesitate to pick up a fight with patrons at the slightest provocation. There is a shroud of mystery around them, as not much is known about the profession. Corporate Citizen pulls the veil on one of the world’s most fascinating and closely guarded professions, in an exclusive feature. Sanjay Shelar is a very busy man. He is the founder and chief enforcer of Bouncers Club,
34 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
one of the top private security firms in Pune, employing over 50 regular bouncers and over 200 part time ones. When we left to meet him for an interview, we had no idea what to expect. Despite being physically imposing, the first thing that came across when we met him was his warm smile and impeccable manners. “Bouncers are often viewed as rude and arrogant, but nothing could be further from the truth”, he says. “Most bouncers are shy and private people, but once they open up, you can get along like a house on fire.” What made him want to become a bouncer, we ask, to which he quips, “I have been in the health industry for over a decade now. As a professional trainer, moving to the bouncers
business was a natural transition. Over 70% of bouncers start off as gym instructors or as bodybuilders, and then move to the bouncers business” So what are the requirements to be a bouncer? “In addition to being physically fit, bouncers must be proficient in some form of martial arts like Judo, Karate or Krav Maga. They have to be at the peak of fitness to ensure the safety of their patrons. They also need to acquire a government mandated ‘Security & Bodyguards’ license. We have to follow a rigorous routine to maintain peak body condition. When training aspiring bouncers, we make them trek three to four times a week, do strength training three times a week, cardio training every other day
pic: Prithviraj Mallick
Does being a bouncer pay well? we ask bluntly. “I’m not complaining,” he replies. “For every gig, we get paid anywhere from `1500-5000 per person, and there are around four to five events every week, so that comes to a very decent amount.” Ajinkya gets a call, and requests to be excused; we thank him for his candour as he leaves. As the head of a successful security company, we ask Sanjay what it takes to succeed in the business. “The bouncers business is a lot like any other business vertical. You need to supply a wellhistory of equipped training facility for your employees and health professionals who monitor 800 BC their health regularly. Initially, Handpicked- doormen decided I invested about `10 lakh. The who would be allowed entry to the chambers of the Greek most important requirement royalty to succeed in the business, however, is having good con30 BC-400 AD tacts. You need to network a In ancient Rome, the lot and pitch your company to aristocracy had a position party organizers, hospitals, ceknown as ‘Ostarius’, who lebrities and politicians, every guarded doors and ejected opportunity you get.” explains unwanted people Sanjay. “Today, Bouncers Club 1875 is a well known company, and Bouncers Club founder Sanjay Shelar (center) flanked by his team In a novel by Horatio Alger, organizers come to us with asa character tells a doorman signments. You need tenacity to ‘bounce’ a boy who was and martial arts and kick and a whole lot of persevercreating a ruckus, thus boxing three times a week. ance to stay in the business.” coining the term ‘Bouncer’ They have to pay special Asked if he has any plans attention to their diet as well, to expand, he replies in the Early 20th Century which includes eating over positive. “Definitely. Today Bouncers were ‘guardians of 16 egg whites a day, eating we are a big name in Pune, morality’ who were employed over 1 Kg of chicken (if they and breaking new ground to check that ballroom dancers did not get too close eat meat), maintaining a high in Mumbai. We have tied up to each other while dancing protein low carb diet, and with many training facilities staying off fattening foods as across Maharashtra to provide 21st century well as alcohol. Sometimes, all our services in key markets Bouncers are employed we want to do is have a slice of like Nagpur, Latur, Kolhapur in bars, parties, corporate chocolate cake, but we have to and Sangli. In the next two events, hospitals, political control ourselves for the sake to three years, we are looking rallies, and practically any of our health. This profession to set up base in Goa as well, other place or event which requires tremendous disciwhich is a very lucrative requires a security cover pline and self-control. market due to its vibrant party As we are talking, another culture. well-built individual walks in One often hears incidents with tea and snacks for us. Sanjay introduces where bouncers get into trouble for misbehavhim as Ajinkya Kulkarni, one of his best bouncing or excessive use of force. We prod Sanjay ers. We ask him whether he loves his job. “It’s a about any skirmishes he might have had during lot of fun,” he replies. “We get unrestricted entry his tenure as a bouncer. “Sometimes, use of to the biggest parties, we get to travel and meet force is inevitable.” He replies seriously. “There so many people, and best of all we get to work was once an Incident at a high profile party in with top celebrities and big shots. A few months Pune, where a group of rowdy men started a back, I provided security to Honey Singh for bar fight. If we hadn’t acted swiftly and interhis concert in Pune. He is quite a relaxed guy to cepted them, a lot of people could have been hang out with. It was a lot of fun.” hurt. As a bouncer, sometimes you have to take
Bouncers
We get unrestricted entry to the biggest parties, we get to travel and meet so many people, and best of all we get to work with top celebrities from all over the country - Ajinkya Kulkarni, Bouncers Club the call about how to handle the situation, and over time, we have learnt to trust our instincts. When the bouncers’ trend started in India in the 1990s, the police were wary of us. They looked at us as more of a hindrance than an asset. Today, mindsets have changed. The police are already stretched thin, and can’t provide security at every venue. They have, over time, come to respect us as people who strive for the same thing that they do – to maintain peace. We ask if the bouncers business is a boy’s only club, a statement which he vehemently denies. “This is another myth about bouncers, that it is misogynistic and for men only. In fact, there are many events which primarily require women bouncers. For example, hospitals, women’s political events, etc, where it is more comfortable to have lady bouncers. Earlier, not many ladies would have considered this profession seriously, but mindsets have changed for the better. We decide to conclude by asking him his financial targets for FY2015. “This promises to be an exciting year,” he says. “With the World cup and IPL season around the corner, there will be many sports themed events, which is peak season for us. We hope to do booming business this year” neeraj.varty@corporatecitizen.com CC Tadka
Dhyan Chand was offered German citizenship After defeating Germany 8-1 in the hockey finals of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Major Dhyan Chand was summoned by Hitler. He was promised German citizenship, a high post in the German military and a place in the German national side. Dhyan Chand however declined the offer.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 35
ordinary lives
I am Patient Forty-four-year-old Sunita Godse stands guard outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Ruby Hall Clinic. An experience, which despite her daunting challenges, she wouldn’t want to swap for any other
Pics: Ahmed sheikh
By Kalyani Sardesai
36 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
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or someone who earns `10,000 a month, I sure get to see, hear and learn things that people who earn much more aren’t privileged to experience. I say this, despite being exposed to so much tragedy and sorrow during my duty hours outside the ICU. I am not a gyaani—to not be affected by all of this. But at the end of the day, the sheer trust reposed in me by fellow human beings makes it all worthwhile. The main thing about my work is this: no matter what problems I may be facing at home, I tend to forget about them. This is not a conscious decision; it just happens. The flow of the day is such. There are irate relatives to
be persuaded not to crowd around the patient; simpletons from villages who trust us to help fill forms; rules to be enforced and lots more. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is the highest possible care available in a hospital, and till today it amazes me how people—even the educated ones---argue over the rules. There is no mela going on inside; besides, no one is supposed to stand closer than three feet around the hospital bed, to avoid infection. It is indeed a challenge to request relations to depute no more than one or two people to enter the ICU. Their emotions are understandable, but most of the times, the patient is unconscious. So why make a crowd? The argument they offer is strange, considering we are dealing with big, big saheb log who really ought to know better: We are paying so much, they say. So why can’t we come and go as we please? To which I want to say: Because you want your loved one to get better, don’t you? What is the point of spending lakhs of rupees on a surgery, and then spoiling everything for a silly infection—that can prove fatal for the patient? My responsibility and that of my co-workers is to make sure that these people who are already suffering so much, don’t suffer more due to carelessness. Hence the do’s and don’ts. To our pleasant surprise, several people apologise for their treatment of us when their patient gets better. They realise then that we are only doing our job. And then there those who write a nasty comment while leaving. I can only let it go. It goes with the line. The ICU is an exposure to life unlike any other. You see distraught parents and families struggling to put the bill together by selling land, gold and other assets. Young lives cruelly cut short due to an accident or critical illness. New mothers weeping for babies born without vital organs….you are so humbled by all of this that all your problems seem nothing in comparison. And then there are those wonderful, wonderful moments when patients—whom the doctors had given up on—suddenly seem to come back to life. This just goes to prove there is indeed a supreme power who decides who will recover, and who will not. Even so, the extent of human courage is something you can’t measure easily. Like this 20-year-old boy who was with us for four months. He had a cancerous growth in his brain, and it was not something the doctors could risk operating on. Eventually he did die. But not before teaching us a lot.
“Yes, there are those nasty moments when people threaten you when they don’t get their way. I just tell myself this, they really are not as great as they claim to be, for if they were, they wouldn’t have behaved thus”
All through his hospitalisation, he was cheerful and happy. He insisted on laughter and gossip, and wouldn’t allow any sadness near him. He was an intelligent boy. He knew what was in store for him, and wanted to enjoy whatever few moments were left to him. When he died, his parents thanked us for making him comfortable in his last moments, and assisting them in so many ways. It’s hard holding back the tears at moments such as this. The best part about my work? Being able to help people. From little, little pointers on how to make life simpler while waiting on a patient to big things such as being entrusted with huge sums of money while they run errands. Many a times, patients come back: to invite us to their wedding, or with a packet of sweets to celebrate an achievement. Unknowingly, we become a part of their lives—and it feels good. My life is not easy, but it is rewarding. I wake up at 4 a.m. to cook and clean, and report on duty by 6 a.m, in a crisply ironed saree, belt and cap. I come to work on my two wheeler from Dhanori to Sassoon Road. I finally get off at 4 p.m. —and it’s time to drop my six-year old daughter Anjali off to tuitions. She studies in an English medium school—and never mind the expense. My husband (who is also a security guard at a corporate set up) and I want her to become an army officer. She is fit, agile and bright. I am sure she will make a good officer. If only these opportunities were available to me as a child, I would have been able to make more of my life. Still, no regrets because this line gives you respect and discipline. Yes, there are those nasty moments when people threaten you when they don’t get their way. I just tell myself this: They really are not as great as they claim to be, for if they were, they wouldn’t have behaved thus. I shrug it off and move on. For at the next moment there is another person who needs assistance. If I had a wish-list for the government it would be: medical insurance for every single person in this country. And free health care for senior citizens, who are a neglected and deprived lot. Also, bigger subsidies on expensive medicines. When this happens, it would be a huge step forward for us as a nation. kalyanisardesai@gmail.com CC Tadka
Indians discovered Water on the moon In September 2009, India’s ISRO Chandrayaan- 1 using its Moon Mineralogy Mapper detected water on the moon for the first time.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 37
corporate history
Strides of excellence The ‘swoosh’ symbol of Nike that embodies the winged goddess of victory according to Greek mythology has inspired leading athletes to dizzying heights of success. And the rest, as they say, is history. Some written, some yet to be... By Kalyani Sardesai
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ust do it—says the Nike slogan. And some of the world’s greatest athletes like Michael Jordan, Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Rafael Nadal to name but a few—did just that. At a time when some of the biggest fish in the corporate ocean are struggling to swim, Nike shoes and apparel are on a solid footing—even as inventories for NIKE Inc. add up to an impressive $ 4 billion—up 14 per cent from August 2013, on the backdrop of strong demand for Nike models. “Fiscal year 2015 is off to a strong start. Our connection to consumers and ability to innovate, combined with our powerful global portfolio is a complete
offence,” Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike Inc. posted on the website. “Nike has never been better positioned to realise our tremendous growth potential.” Born in Oregon USA, in the 60s, the Nike brand has traditionally manufactured lightweight shoes associated with sporting icons across the globe, but affordable to regular folks too. Think comfort, agility, performance and full support to your foot, and its Nike for you.
Nike history (as seen from the trunk of a car!)
Nike, originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS), was founded by Philip Knight, a track athlete at the University of Oregon and his coach Bill Bowerman in January 1964. The company initially operated as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka
38 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Tiger making most sales at track meets out of, hold your breath, the trunk of Knight’s car. Nike was the fruit of two men’s vision: Bill Bowerman’s determination to make lighter, more durable shoes for his athletes, and Knight’s long-standing dream of combining a livelihood with his love of sport. Bowerman was the coach, Knight was one of his charges. While Bowerman was the innovator who made the first shoe with his waffle iron, Knight was the business brain. Between them, they sold and sculpted not just a shoe---but scripted a whole new definition for performance, status and success.
In short, all things uber cool
By 1971, the relationship between BRS and Onitsuka Tiger was coming to a finish. BRS prepared
Nike at a glance n Nike manufactures a wide line of sporting equipment and apparel for a wide range of sports including track and field, ice hockey, football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and cricket. n Nike’s chief marketing strategy is to sign up with celeb athletes, professional and college athletic teams n In 1982, Nike aired its first national television ads, created by newly formed ad agency Wieden & Kennedy. They were the ones who created the ‘Just do it’ slogan n In 2012, its revenues were over $24 billion, with over 44,000 employees worldwide. (Sources: Nike website, Wikipedia, assorted published literature)
Nike: #Bleedblue: India
Think comfort, agility, performance and full support to your foot, and its Nike for you to launch its own line of footwear, which would bear the Swoosh symbol designed by Caroline Davidson, a freelance artist. She made Phil Knight the now world-famous logo, he handed her $ 35. Soon, BRS was Nike with the Swoosh and the Just do it spirit. According to social commentators, the company was an inseparable part of the newly arrived fitness age. Exercise was not just fun; it was a status symbol. Sporting accomplishment set you apart from the rest, and defined you as
unique. Nike shoes cum apparel were something to covet. It did not hurt to sign deals with the biggest stars in the sporting galaxy. Oh, and the logo designed for the goddess Nike who supposedly sat next to Zeus, the ruler of the Olympic pantheon in Olympus. Anybody would want Nike to visit them; she was, as Greek legend put it, present at all victorious occasions. “Advertising Age” proclaimed that the Swoosh was more recognized by customers than any other
The company initially operated as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger making most sales at track meets out of the trunk of Knight’s car
On desi shores, Nike sportswear— shoes as well as apparel--- is associated with sporting celebs like The Indian Cricket Team (for which it has been the official kit sponsor in 2005), movie star Deepika Padukone (thanks to her badminton days) talk about how they “Bleed Blue”. The imagery and colour palette is deliberate: Blue is the official colour code of Indian sportsmen, while bleed talks of passion—the kind that demands the utmost of every athlete. As per reports, India has traditionally seen lower levels of interest in activities that constitute Nike’s main product portfolio. Some of this is is due to lower promotion and sponsorships for sports in the country. While activities like cricket, badminton and chess lead in popularity in India, Nike’s core segments like football, basketball, and running often take a back seat. Nike’s India sales constitute just about 1 per cent of its total sales, with Reebok and Adidas leading ahead, but given the changing tastes and demographic it shouldn’t be too long before Nike catches up. After all, like one of its latest ads (linked to cricket) says: “Make every yard count.” sports brand—arguably any brand.
Controversy comes a-calling
It took a while for Nike to establish the fab name they have today. Indeed, it’s not been without a struggle. In the eighties many people complained about how Nikes were not made in the United States. Activists pointed out that Nike shoes were made in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia where the people are paid poorly. This led to boycotts of Nike products. Allegations of child labour being employed at factories in Cambodia and Pakistan kept getting louder. Although, this was a major issue to some people it didn’t stop Nike from gaining new ground. Despite the severe criticism of its working conditions, Nike is known to be one of the world’s
most environmentally friendly companies. A milestone in the Nike journey was when the world’s greatest basketball player signed up with the company . Think Michael Jordan’s ‘Air Jordan’ shoe, think win-win for all. Michael Jordan changed the game and it took Nike to another level with the popular “Air Jordan” shoe along with the apparel. kalyanisardesai@gmail.com
CC Tadka
Most expensive home in the world Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s home, Antilla, costs $1 billion to construct, making it the most expensive home in the world.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 39
csr initiative
Cybage `Asha’ adopts villages If 2015 woke up to PM Narendra Modi’s Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana of building ‘adarsh’ villages, the government’s directive on CSR mandating companies to allocate 2 per cent of their net profits also directed companies to shape proposals and salvage a village or two. But, can such CSR initiatives rise above cursory ‘acts of giving’ and work around creating viable and scalable CSR models? CybageAsha, the philanthropic arm of Pune-based Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd seems to have come closer with its rural development initiative that began in 2008 and successfully turned around the prospects of its pilot village at Karnawadi in Maharashtra’s Bhor Taluka. With the handover of its second village at Rajewadi (Khandala Taluka) in 2014, CybageAsha’s village adoption ‘model’ is raring to go. By Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar
“C
hanging lives, but not temporarily….,” says Deepak Nathani, COO and Executive Director, Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd and Trustee of the company’s philanthropic arm, CybageAsha. An impromptu adage perhaps; but comes with a sincerity that thrives to ‘spread smiles’ as the Pune-based offshore service provider rolls on to gather momentum on ‘adopting’ its ninth village in Maharashtra. An act that goes beyond donating money, blankets or conducting ad hoc health camps -- the trade-in here is achieving long term happiness as against evoking temporary or oneoff change. What began as voluntary participation by the company’s employees (fondly referred to as ‘Cybagians’), to work for causes related to AIDS afflicted kids in an around Pune under the CyberAsha mantle since 2003 has now transcended to include involvement in alcohol de-addiction programmes, social welfare and Go-Green initiatives, besides its now tested model of rural infrastructure development. Village ‘adoption’ for CybageAsha primarily focuses on infrastructural development and awareness programmes that seek to infuse a sense of complete engagement with villagers and local civic bodies in bringing about necessary improvements in the living standards of those residing in backward villages (ideally a population less than 2000 inhabitants). The idea is to initially hand-hold villages during the developmental stage and hand it over aka a loosely structured build-and-transfer mode once the villagers become self-reliant in managing their affairs themselves.
‘For’, ‘Of’ and ‘By’ the People
“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch,” this popular adage could well be seen as the stepping 40 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Arun Nathani, CEO,Cybage in model village Rajewadi (Khandala Taluka)
stone to Cybage’s village adoption model. Unlike a Christmas candy handed over to villagers in the form of concrete (pucca) roads, smokeless chullahs, sanitation and water harvesting activities, community farming or de-silting projects, funding for these is appropriated on a ball park 50:50 financial sharing basis that plays on the ‘psychological’ positioning of ownership of these projects by the villagers themselves. “The actual financials are negotiable and depends on the particular infrastructural need – also on how much the respective Gram Panchayat, ZPs and other civic groups are able to fork out at a given time,” explained Nathani.
The Pilot Run
The 2008 pilot project at Karnawadi in Bhor Taluka, exemplifies an ideal private-public partnership with the local authorities, when initial resources and infrastructure for education at the local school was at low ebb. But, with encouragement from the Cybage team, villagers did manage to collect around 40% of the funding which unfortunately fell short to meet ends. Cybage then offered to channelize the balance amount (`5 to 10 lakh in tranches) and helped build additional classrooms and a new block to the school building. This step evoked a sense of responsibility from the then governing civic body who then provided the school with playground equipment – a win-win for the children definitely! Thereon, the company involved itself in parallel projects that ensured building toilets, concrete roads, at times also paying up for electricity bills for running pumps for soil irrigation. “While we employed a consultant to design appropriate toilet facilities and helped supply material for the construction, the villagers provided the labour (‘shram dan’) to actually construct these,” said Nathani. “About 50-60 homes in and around Karnawadi today have identical toilets in the area. At a cost approximating less than `10,000 per toilet, the idea is to see many more such versions of toilets coming up in different geographies and this is what every model village should have,” he added.
The Cybagian Grassroots
The village development model works its linkages via issues identified by fellow Cybagians who act as POCs (points of contact) with their respective local village communities. The process begins with nominations received from employees twice or thrice each year. These Cybagians are either natives of a particular village or have kith and kin residing in the nominated villages. Nominations are vetted based on the demographics, population count and distance of the chosen villages from Cybage’s Pune head office (ideally located 60-80 Kms from the campus).
Street play for alcohol de-addiction
A village baseline survey is conducted to understand public opinion. Sometimes, villagers from nearby hamlets who have gained from Cybage’s past initiatives too accompany the CSR team to start in a new village “This enables employees and the CSR taskforce to visit the adopted villages and monitor their respective work-in-progress regularly, until they are ready for handover to their respective civic bodies,” explained Pushpa Darekar, CSR executive at Cybage. Once a village is nominated, due diligence is done that takes into account surveyed data, followed by talks with villagers and the Gram Sarpanch. A village baseline survey is also conducted to understand public opinion on identified developmental projects. Sometimes, villagers from nearby hamlets who have gained from Cybage’s past initiatives too accompany the CSR team to start in a new village. “It is the responsibility of individual POCs (who could be a nominee or native of the selected village), to check on the progress of any initiative, especially if it has been nominated under his or her recommendation. Engagement is for a minimum 7-8 months or even longer depending on the intricacy of the projects undertaken,” said Sandeep Mhaske, a young System Analyst at Cybage and a POC for CybageAsha’s initiatives at Nawali village in Purandhar Taluka. In his individual capacity, Sandeep has further created a sub-task force at the village level comprising of villagers and other interested groups who have the “passion and dedication” and are available regularly for participating in the process of ‘change’. “The grassroots village team in fact have been recording the progress of our on-going projects along with photographs in the village I represent, and this on their own initiative,” added Mhaske. “I have personally gained from engaging with such projects on how to interact with people at all levels, the capacity to understand problems related to rural development, dealing with specific challenges and gaining the trust of stakeholders
at all working levels, besides the satisfaction I derive from ‘doing good’ and gaining a ‘can do’ attitude as part of the larger CSR initiative,” Mhaske concluded with a sense of pride.
The Funding Panacea
“Funding is not an issue but execution is,” said Mr Nathani. He explained that funding under the CybageAsha trust now follows a rough master plan where voluntary contributions from company employees account for a monthly collection of approximately `20,000 while the company also sets aside around `1 crore annually for projects that have a gestation time span of five years or so. Cybage has ambitious plans to continue its forays into building water reservoirs and de-silting activities. “We are striving for a permanent change in people’s lives that can outlive our responsibilities, going beyond another 20-26 years, maybe,” signs off Mr Nathani. And as Pushpa quips, “We are looking at making our village at Nawali in Purandhar Taluka our second model village and are scouting for opportunities to embrace the inhabitants of Kiwale in Khed Taluka under our wings.” If change be permanent, CSR for Cybage says, “the next village ahead”! sangeetagd2010@gmail.com
CC Tadka
Shampooing is an Indian concept Shampoo was invented in India, not the commercial liquid ones but the method by use of herbs. The word ‘shampoo’ itself has been derived from the Sanskrit word champu, which means to massage.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 41
My campus placement experience-5
Stay Calm, Be Positive Suman Peswani, a bright young girl who got placed with a large conglomerate at Udaipur, spoke to Corporate Citizen about her first break
I
t has indeed been a long journey! My journey with this leading B-school that lasted for two years was like a boat sailing on a perfect river under a full moon night. Coming all the way from Bhopal to Pune to take up an MBA, specialising in Human Resources as my career choice, started from the first semester itself. I have done my B.Com (Honours) from Bhopal. In the first year of college, while we were made to study all seven days of the week without holidays during that year, I enjoyed the rigour and discipline. In fact, I used this as an opportunity to groom myself. We are truly blessed with world class faculty here. My college provided me with immense opportunities to make us realise our own true self. Right from brochure presentations to various assessment centres to internship, every student here is shaped in a mould demanded by corporates today. In fact, the two months of internship when we started working in the corporate world taught us a lot, We learnt about the various aspects of corporate life like punctuality, professionalism, work culture, and so on. I have always been an extrovert with a large social circle and
Suman with her friends
participated in numerous extracurricular activities like debates, drama, sports and other events. I have always believed that life will present many opportunities before you to move up the ladder, it is you who has to grab it at the right time. I specialised in the HR field. My internship with a leading IT firm helped me understand the various aspects of an HR journey such as the induction process, employee engagement programs, punctuality, corporate culture. I was all set for my campus
42 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
l After going through my CV and knowing I was from Bhopal, I was asked in and out about the Bhopal gas tragedy. l Tell me something about yourself, where do you see yourself five years down the line in this company? l Tell us about the HR lifecycle in any organisation, what do you mean by competency mapping? l How is a training program carried out? l Importance of orientation I answered nearly all the questions fairly well and was appreciated by the HR manager. Later, while I was anxiously waiting for the results, I was called in and told that I was selected. I was thrilled, and couldn’t control my emotions. My hard work had paid off. All you have to do is be positive at all times. Today, after having spent a few months in my company, I realise that it is very important to strike a fine work-life balance. I strongly believe that if something is not working the way you wanted it to, change it or live with it, instead of complaining.
Pic: Prithviraj mallick
All you have to do is be positive at all times. Today, after having spent a few months in my company, I realise that it is very important to strike a fine work-life balance placements. I was excited to go through the process with the first company that came to our campus. While I wasn’t selected in the final round, I was quite satisfied with my performance. Some of the questions that I was asked were about myself, my hobbies and achievements, the company that I was interviewing for, need for an HR set-up in any organisation, mentorship programs, importance of orientation, my internship program and so on. The next company to come was this large conglomerate where
I am placed in today. All the HR students were called for a briefing. Interestingly 18 students were shortlisted. I will never forget this day because I was in a theatre the very previous night watching a night show, with a fractured leg. I was completely mesmerised after seeing their presentation. The company offered a thick salary and good work culture and I had goose bumps thinking, “How will this company shortlist me?” Subsequently we were divided into groups of five for the group discussion round.
My topic for discussion was “Eve teasing -- who is responsible, girls or boys?” While speaking on this subject, I stayed confident throughout and also put forward some examples. I spoke for roughly 7-8 minutes after which we were asked to wind up with individual conclusions. They shortlisted eight of 18 students. Personal interviews began and I was the first one to be interviewed. Below are some of the questions that were asked:
Tips to juniors: l Prepare well. l In the GD round, try not taking an extreme stand unless required l Listen to others and then respond l Be confident l Try and calm down, don’t be too nervous Above all, enjoy. Enjoy the little things in life. One day you will look back and realise those were big things. Have faith in yourself, stay healthy and keep smiling! (As told to Mahalakshmi Hariharan) CC Tadka
The wettest inhabited place in the world Mawsynram, a village on the Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, receives the highest recorded average rainfall in the world. Cherrapunji, also a part of Meghalaya, holds the record for the most rainfall in the calendar year of 1861.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 43
beyond the headlines
Obama visit’s sidelights
Mood Gallery: The three–day Obama rendezvous was a kaleidoscope that saw the media and onlookers privy to the cool side of activities – peppered with linguistic diplomacy, fashion mileages, security upheavals, hiprofile delegate platter, personal chemistry, re-defined protocols and billionaire businessmen in queues! The interpretations might differ, but the message - a wee bit clearer for mutual, IndiaU.S. open dialogues Compiled by Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar 44 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
ASHION IESTA
Bibhu is Michelle’s designer
When First Lady Michelle Obama endorsed his creation – a geometric printed black and white knee-length dress with blue-floral motifs for the inaugural day of her 3-day sojourn in India – it was a day of rooting back to his soil for New York based designer, Bibhu Mohapatra. Orginally from Odisha’s Rourkela, Bibhu, also a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), is not new to Mrs Obama’s signature style file for floral outfits and has designed for her on other occasions too. Closer home, Kareena and Sonam Kapoor share Bibhu’s design space with stunners-Hilary Swank, Gwyneth Patrol, Glenn Close and Jennifer Lopez. But, Bibhu who seems quite smitten by PM Modi’s impeccable dress sense harbours a
The COOL SIDE OF OBAMANOMICS
Bollywood to Capitol Hill
Connecting with the youth brigade and masses was not an ordeal for President Obama. Spunky references, borrowed from Bollywood cult made a mark on the ‘desi’ audience. The U.S. President’s choice of celebrities - Shah Rukh Khan, Milkha Singh, Mary Kom and Nobel Peace prize recipient, Kailash Satyarthi, was a smart stance in showcasing his informed references to India’s unity in diversity. And, basking on this moment of glory was actor Shah Rukh Khan, who promptly ‘twitted’ in to thank the U.S. President for his inclusion in the President’s now famed gender and religious equality speech. In fact, media savvy King Khan went on to suggest gyrating to the beats of his popular dance number ‘chaiyya chaiyya’ for the Obama couple’s next visit to India – a response to Obama failing to schedule a dance routine with First Lady Michelle in his current itinerary. Imagine the marketing and media bounties that could draw the two Badshahs together – from Bollywood to Capitol Hill!
Lend us your ears! It is perhaps the first time that any PM in India indulged his might on AIR as Modi did in his special broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’, with President Obama. The 35-minute program focused on issues of the girl child, personal and other social causes. As a perfect RJ could do, PM Modi with good inputs from his special US guest, attempted to answer listener’s queries as they poured in for various regions. Talking technology, education, equal opportunities, the two also took cognisance of their individual humble backgrounds (the grandson of a cook v/s the son of a tea seller) yet, spoke about their extraordinary opportunities in working towards nation building . The talk of a proposed hotline between the two dignified RJs could perhaps help strike a chord or two for more ‘Mann Ki Baat’ platforms!
secret desire to ‘dress up’ Modi. So, fashionistas, make way for iconic Modi ‘kurtas’ and customised NAMO-engraved lapels and designer weaves of shirt or trouser lengths in days to come. Is the PM listening?
Brocade jacquard dress
Michelle Obama probably created fashion photo history when she flaunted her Carolina Herrera navy brocade jacquard dress at the State dinner, hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It was said she pulled off a great pose with the men in their fineries while her dress practically synced in with almost everything in the room –black and navy did combine well this time as it matched attires of 14 individuals, 2 mirrors and 2 chairs, 5 flags and a few drapes…intelligent fabri-nomics this!
Shying off Michelle’s Obama’s 100 saree gift hamper by PM Modi, nonspicy Indian food for President Obama and a respite from monkey menace (which was feared), led to the final countdown as Michelle Obama restricted herself to fewer outings this time (compared to the earlier trip). Nonetheless, the impact was larger than life – au revoir for now.
Ministers’ Fashion Parade The gloss was evident in the smart images that marked President Barack Obama’s recent India visit as Union ministers flashed their attires on the grounds of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Almost everyone from Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in his white full sleeve shirt paired with a dark Nehru jacket, looked dapper from their original regular ‘avataars’. Minister in Waiting, Piyush Goyal in his formal dark brown ‘bandhgala’ and Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who abandoned his white dhoti this time for a pair of trousers and a Nehru jacket – added an upbeat mood to the Obama-Modi surrealism. But adding charm to the picture was External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her red and white golden hue sari. Here’s hoping the sheen of the U.S. – India political glamour does not wear out too soon! sangeetagd2010@gmail.com February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 45
women achievers
‘Chai Pe’ Discussion with Anju Jain (R)
Powering Up, Chai Pe Women exit mid-career, buckling under the twin challenges of home and office. The loss accrues to them as well as their organisations, but organisations rarely help to resolve their dilemma. Such a predicament inspired Dr Anju Jain to set up ‘Chai Pe’, a one-stop platform to enhance talent and enable women to persevere By Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar “The journey begins with me or you, the woman professional”, a mantra that Dr Anju Jain, founder of Chai Pe, strongly advocates. What began as an informal idea over a cuppa tea with friends has shaped up as a platform to expedite aspirations for women professionals. Chai Pe is framed around educating women and helping them to hone their beliefs and skills, as prime foundation stones for garnering leadership skills. The Bangalore based outfit is a fallout of An46 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
ju’s observations as an HR professional in her 20 years of working across academia, Business Intelligence & Strategy, Market Research, Six Sigma skills, Customer Loyalty- Design and Analytics, Vendor Management, and Strategic HR. Brewed Over a Tea Cup A chat with some close knit friends in 2012 made Anju note that there was a need for ‘Reverse Transformation’ of cultural and social conditioning that often rendered women less aggressive in
taking decisions for themselves. The thrust was to understand how successful women managed their affairs, and the feasibility of translating this learning for all aspiring women in their respective career niches. “Women have the ability to change and manoeuvre existing working models for realising their respective goals,” noted Anju. “My observation then was that organizations were unable to help women resolve their dilemmas and women too were confused about their
dual careers of home and office. They exited career paths without recognizing the consequences. This predicament inspired me to set up ‘Chai Pe’, which aims to function as a one-stop platform enabling women to persevere”, she said.
Chai Pe has also explored the role of creative movements and dance forms in building workplace confidence through workshops. The idea is to bring out the power of body language by applying dance techniques to reinforce latent confidence within all of us. In a chat with Corporate Citizen, Anju shares her thoughts on managing the dwindling talent pool of women managers through skill enhancement, work-life balance and integrating men as equal partners for women’s success, both at work and home.
‘Chai Pe’ Charcha, of a Different Kind The concept of ‘Chai Pe’, which literally means ‘over tea’ in Hindi, was modelled specifically for women in middle-managerial roles. While the channel is open to all women professionals to find their bearings in their respective journeys, What is the philosophy of ‘Chai Pe’ as a the focus is skewed towards middle career levels, ‘for-profit’ organization? which Anju relates to as the ‘leaking pipeline’ in It challenges the very thought an organisation. process of “I am a victim of While there are actionable programs for women in senior Taking Charge – how I was raised”. It reinforces the notion that human developmanagement, such efforts are The ‘Chai Pe’ Way ment is characterized by plasrare for women in mid-career, ticity. Irrespective of the workeither due to social conditionIndividuals Gain By: ing models she was socialized ing or lack of concrete goals. l Meeting, interacting, for, a woman can change herDeficiency in skill up-graand learning from senior self, if she wants to. My model dation or perseverance to ‘stick business leaders. emphasizes on the woman herit out’ also pushes women to l Exploring individual self as the individual who has a quit organisations or avoid sesituations based on mind and darn good capability nior positions in favour of famrelevant case studies of changing things for herself ily or parenting compulsions. adapted from Harvard and those around her. “For a thorough learnBusiness Review and ing experience, we at Chai Pe the impending solutions Who are your Chai Pe’s target transform relevant Harvard through these. audience? Business case studies which are l Participating in Undoubtedly the individual adaptable to the Asian context. ‘hands-on’ immersive women, specifically; the men This form of learning recounts workshops on ‘how-to’ who work with women; and of common dilemmas which are topics. course, organizations that face then designed for debate on l Following a structured challenges in retaining them. issues that recognise that there mechanism for achievWe cater to women with work are more than one ways of dealing and measuring experiences of about five years ing with a particular situation,” career progression. or more from the corporate and explained Anju. public sector, which includes Partners Gain By: entrepreneurs too. Chai Pe’s vil Comprehensively underEvoking New Synergies sion is to be the “one-stop place standing the ‘life cycle ‘Chai Pe’ evokes dialogues via to develop a pipeline of women of women’, at work. events and forum discussions leaders.” l Familiarizing with conframed around conversations stituencies dealing with with a blend of cognitive and What is the working model of women, their familial creative factors through first‘Chai Pe’? hand experiences of business demands, organizational Our principle is worked around leaders. challenges and their four consecutive sequential levWill you be comfortable atmodes of interaction for els of generating awareness, untending a session called, ‘Blow career, or life goals. derstanding the dilemma that Your Own Trumpet’? Such a l Developing deeper stops women from continuing session conducted earlier this connections and or achieving their goals, bringyear attempted to explore the gaining access to all ing them on to a workshop fact that women hesitate to stakeholders, including level and finally mentoring or self-promote themselves. This academia and corporate handholding them for further often results in women either networks. value addition for expediting getting passed over for promol Focusing on measuretheir goals. tions or receiving an averaged able outcomes and 18% lower compensation than accordingly leverage Since it is a paid service, isn’t men in equivalent job scenarimpact on their benefiit a deterrent for women with ios. ciaries.
limited resources in trying to get back to work via ‘Chai Pe’? There is no free lunch for anyone of us. Every good thing, and especially when it comes to professional development has and should have a tag. My target audience draw good salaries so they should be able to pay for upgrading themselves through the skills offered in our various programs. Having said that, for women with limited resources there are many NGOs who can help provide life skills and other attributes to them. Have you seen any vital changes as regards women-friendly company policies and workplace facilities in the recent past? Undoubtedly, women are respected and valued in organizations. Yes, there are great policies in place, but the key is to note how many organizations are actually comfortable in implementing them. Can you suggest parameters which can help retain more women in the workforce? Constant learning by individuals. Organisations should seek mechanisms for firming up women in terms of ‘what she wants’ and ‘how she can achieve them’. Additionally, exposure to role models, access to mentors, relevant skills-development and policies that empower them to manage both home and work effectively, are essential for women in the workplace, which is also remedial for their retention. What are your views on flexi-working? Is this profitable for organisations? Flexi-working is a must for both men and women. Given the 24X7 lifestyles today, a flexible arrangement is a dose of oxygen! I believe it is profitable both in the short and long term as employees are more engaged, more loyal and exhibit higher productivity as they are able to manage life and work well. Do you think women have it all these days? The definition of “all” is subjective.. neither men nor women can have it all. It depends on individual life-work choices made to achieve goals. sangeetagd2010@gmail.com CC Tadka
Can you die of laughter? Death by laughter, though a rare, yet possible phenomenon refers to a rare instance of death, usually resulting from cardiac arrest or asphyxiation, caused by a fit of laughter. In 1989, Ole Bentzen, a Danish audiologist, died laughing while watching A Fish Called Wanda. His heart was estimated to have beaten at between 250 and 500 beats per minute, before he succumbed to cardiac arrest.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 47
health
The Vital
Vitamin
B12
As per study by University of Maryland Medical Centre, Vitamin B12 is very essential for your body to combat major illnesses and all round growth but needs to be taken with doctor’s advice and caution
V
itamin B12, also called cobalamin, is one of 8 B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body use fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly. All B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them. Vitamin B12 is an especially important vitamin for maintaining healthy nerve cells, and it helps in the production of DNA and RNA, the body’s genetic material. Vitamin B12 also works closely with vitamin B9, also called folate or folic acid, to help make red blood cells and to help iron work better in the body. Folate and B12 work together to produce S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a compound involved in immune function and mood. Vitamins B12, B6, and B9 work together to control blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine are associated with heart disease. However, researchers aren’t sure whether homocysteine is a cause of heart disease or just a marker that indicates someone may have heart disease. It’s rare for young people to be deficient in vitamin B12, but it’s not uncommon for older people to be mildly de-
48 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
ficient. That may be because their diets are not as healthy or because they have less stomach acid, which the body needs to absorb B12. Low levels of B12 can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nervousness, numbness, or tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. Severe deficiency of B12 causes nerve damage.
---Others at risk---
l Vegans, vegetarians who also don’t eat dairy or eggs -vitamin B12 is found only in animal products l People with problems absorbing nutrients, due to conditions such as Crohn’s disease, pancreatic disease, and people who have had weight loss surgery l People who are infected with Helicobacter pylori, an organism in the intestines that can cause an ulcer. H. pylori damages stomach cells that make intrinsic factor, a substance the body needs to absorb B12 l People with an eating disorder l People with HIV l The elderly Folic acid (vitamin B9), especially when taken in high doses, can mask the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. The danger is that without symptoms, someone with a vitamin B12 deficiency may not know it, and could run the risk of developing nerve damage. Anyone planning to take more than 800 mcg of folic acid should talk to their doctor first, to make sure they do not have a B12 deficiency.
Vegetarians who do not eat any animal products should take a vitamin B12 supplement with water, preferably after eating
Medications that reduce levels of B12 in the body include Anti-seizure medications - including phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline) Chemotherapy medications - particularly methotrexate Colchicine - used to treat gout Bile acid sequestrants used to lower cholesterol; include colestipol (Colestid), cholestyramine (Questran), and colsevelam (Welchol) H2 blockers - used to reduce stomach acid; include cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid AC), ranitidine (Zantac) Metformin (Glucophage) - medication taken for diabetes
--- Is used for Pernicious Anemia ---
Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia that happens when stomach cells are not able to make intrinsic factor. Without intrinsic factor, your body cannot absorb vitamin B12. Symptoms include weakness, pale skin, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet, loss of balance, confusion, memory loss, and moodiness.
--- Heart Disease ---
Many studies suggest that people with high levels of the amino acid homocysteine are roughly 1.7 times more likely to develop coronary artery disease and 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke than those with normal levels. B complex vitamins -- especially vitamins B9, B6, and B12 -- help lower homocysteine levels. However, researchers don’t know whether high homocysteine levels actually cause heart disease.
--- Fatigue ---
Fatigue is one of the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. One preliminary study indicated that people with chronic fatigue syndrome might benefit from B12 injections, although more research is needed to know for sure.
--- Breast Cancer ---
Although there is no evidence that vitamin B12 alone re-
Proton pump inhibitors - used to reduce stomach acid; include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), rabeprazole (Aciphex) Antibiotics, Tetracycline - Vitamin B12 should not be taken at the same time as tetracycline because it interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medication. Vitamin B12 should be taken at different times of the day from tetracycline. All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should be taken at different times from tetracycline. In addition, long-term use of antibiotics can lower vitamin B levels in the body, particularly B2, B9, B12, and vitamin H (biotin), which is considered part of the B complex vitamins.
duces the risk of breast cancer, population studies have shown that women who get more folate in their diet have lower risk of breast cancer.
--- Dietary Sources ---
Vitamin B12 is found only in animal foods. Good dietary sources include fish, shellfish, dairy products, organ meats -- particularly liver and kidney-- eggs, beef, and pork.
--- Available Forms ---
Vitamin B12 can be found in multivitamins (including children’s chewable and liquid drops), B complex vitamins, and individual supplements. It is available in both oral (tablets and capsules) and intranasal forms, softgels, and lozenges. Vitamin B12 is also sold under the names cobalamin and cyanocobalamin.
--- How to Take It ---
If your diet includes meat, milk, and other dairy products, you should be able to meet the recommended daily requirements without taking a vitamin B12 supplement. Vegetarians who do not eat any animal products should take a vitamin B12 supplement with water, preferably after eating. Elderly people may need larger amounts of vitamin B12 than younger people because the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the diet goes down with age. If you are considering taking a B12 supplement, ask your health care provider to help you determine the right dose for you.
--- Precautions ---
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider. Taking any one of the B vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, you may want to take a B complex vitamin, which includes all the B vitamins. Taking folic acid at high doses can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency, so these vitamins are often taken together. Talk to your doctor before taking more than 800 mcg of folic acid.
--- Possible Interactions ---
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications (see box), you should not use vitamin B12 supplements without first talking to your health care provider. Source: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin), University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/ vitamin-b12-cobalamin#ixzz3R6ucfmEA
CC Tadka
Snakes and Ladders originated in India Earlier known as Moksha Patamu, the game was initially invented as a moral lesson about karma to be taught to children. It was later commercialized and has become one of the most popular board games in the world.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 49
Bollywood Biz After decades of mediocrity coming out on top in Bollywood, quality films are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Tired of being dished out old wine in new bottles, film viewers are now giving offbeat films a chance. Even Film Award shows, which have always been more about style than substance, are now recognising the mavericks in cinema. This year’s Filmfare Awards, for example, came across as a breath of fresh air. Corporate Citizen takes a look at the shift in focus from the mainstream to critically acclaimed cinema in today’s fast adapting Bollywood
Clamour gets better of Glamour By Neeraj Varty
L
et’s begin with the Filmfare awards. After receiving a royal snub at most award functions, Vikas Bahl’s coming of age drama Queen finally received the recognition it deserved at the Filmfare awards held earlier this month. The film garnered six awards in total – best film, best director, best actress, best editing to Abhijit Kokate and Anurag Kashyap, best cinematography (Bobby Singh and Siddharth Diwan) and best background score for Amit Trivedi. Vishal Bhardwaj’s take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet also wowed the critics and audiences alike. Haider bagged five wins including best actor for Shahid Kapoor, and best supporting actors for Tabu and Kay Kay Menon. It also won in technical categories, including Dolly Ahluwalia winning best costume designer and Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray topping the best production design awards. The Filmfare awards came as a strong contrast to other award shows this year, which were not as
discerning in their selection. For example, the mass market comic caper Happy New Year won the Best Film award at the Stardust Awards, and Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone picked up the best actor and best actress awards respectively. While Happy New Year was definitely a box office blockbuster, opinion as to whether it was the best film of the year, is certainly negative. Most film award shows in India are more about the glamour quotient and driving TRPs than the actual celebration of cinema. Top stars are usually ‘awarded’ trophies, just for showing up, or performing for the show. This is the very reason why seasoned actors like Aamir Khan and Kangana Ranaut never attend award shows, calling them rigged. As a result, most of their films rarely win any awards. For example, despite being a critics’ darling and the most successful film in Indian cinema, Aamir Khan’s PK has barely won in any category, except for best screenplay and best dialogue categories. It’s not just the award shows that have chosen a better class of movies. The ever fickle audience, too, is slowly changing its taste from no-brainer entertainers to thought provoking cinema.
50 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Most film award shows in India are more about the glamour quotient and driving TRPs than the actual celebration of cinema
Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda in HIGHWAY Promotional image of UGLY
The Filmfare Awards came as a strong contrast to other award shows this year
Shahid Kapoor dazzles in HAIDER
Movies like Ajay Devgan’s Action Jackson and Salman Khan’s Jai Ho failed to woo the audience last year, becoming major box office duds. Despite having humungous star power and huge production values, they were rejected by the masses and the classes alike. On the other hand, indie films like Imtiaz Ali’s Highway, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider and Vikas Bahl’s Queen garnered critical and commercial success. While hardcore entertainers like Kick and Happy New Year were successful as well, 2014 was definitely the year of the critics’ darlings. “We are tired of being fed the same old drivel time and time again,” says Rohit Joshi, an avid cinema lover. “When India is capable of producing brilliant movies like Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly which swept the Cannes jury panel off its feet and received a standing ovation, we as film lovers should encourage such movies. If you look at it, mainstream Bollywood is stuck in the 80s, with the same hackneyed
plots and clichés. It is the indie film circuit which is keeping up with the modern times”. In 2014, rebel filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj, and Imtiaz Ali ruled the roost. 2015, by the looks of it, seems no different. The first Blockbuster of the year is the Akshay Kumar starrer Baby, which is an intelligent covert operation movie, which has successfully managed to appeal to the audience’s intellect. Baby has set the pace for the year, and it is only a matter of time before other filmmakers sit up and take notice. The days of taking viewers for granted are now over!
neeraj.varty@corporatecitizen.com CC Tadka
The world’s largest producer of milk India recently overtook the European Union with production reaching over 132.4m tonnes in 2014.
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 51
Indian Derby
A Race Par Exc
All time high stakes, glamour and fashion makes the McDowell Signature Indian Derby an annual event to anticipate eagerly, and the 31st edition of the championship held at the Mahalaxmi race course this year was no different: Marked by unparalleled glamour, power dressing and adrenaline pumping horse racing with a whopping `3.25 crore given away as prize money, it had it all... By Joe Williams
E
very sport has its pinnacle of glory. And when it comes to Indian horseracing it cannot get bigger than the McDowell Signature Indian Derby. This race attracts the highest attention throughout the nation, bringing along the highest footfalls and eyeballs, and is one of the few events where non race-goers outnumber racing regulars by a distance. Sponsored by the United Spirits Limited (USL) since 1985, the association with this premier horse race has been steadfastly maintained, making it the longest sponsorship 52 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
(L-R) Vijay Mallya, jockey Suraj Narredu, Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut, trainer Mallesh Narredu & Khushroo Dhunjibhoy
association in the history of sports sponsorship in India. The race, held on the first Sunday of February each year at the Mahalaxmi race course in Mumbai, has brought in high-end performers from across the globe providing riveting entertainment that adds enormous fanfare to this racing extravaganza. It is believed that the fashion trend for the year is usually on display on the Derby day at the Mahalaxmi race course. The entire section of the crowd in the Members’ enclosure is dressed to the hilt making the Mahalaxmi racecourse the only sports venue in India that has an entire collection of the best dressed
people in the Grand Stands. Men donned in traditional suits and jackets (many with hats) offers a pleasing sight and the women dressed smartly right to the stilettos lends an aura of supreme panache making the Sunday a Funday. If it’s the first Sunday of February, it’s got to be destination Mahalaxmi racecourse. The first ever Indian Derby dates back to 1943. Over the years, the race has got richer and has held its pride of place ever since. The winner of this race is conferred the topmost crown and hailed as the year’s National champion. The McDowell Signature Indian Derby is the richest individual sport in the country in
Miss India Konkana Bakshi (left) designer Pria Kataria Puri
Ranaut, the ‘Queen’ of Bollywood was in attendance. She charmed the crowds with her impeccable style and glamour, making an impression with the masses. When asked about her association with the sport and this prestigious event, Kangana Ranaut said, “The Signature Derby is one of the most prestigious racing events of the year. As everyone calls it, it’s the ‘ultimate race of the land’. It feels great to be a part of it.” The glamour quotient at this year’s event was at its peak with personalities like Atul Kasbekar, Pria Kataria Puri, Konkana Bakshi, Natasha Poonawala, Michelle Poonawala in attendance, lending their charm to the event, Delna Poonawala giving the star-struck crowd a lot to cheer about. “It’s a very happy occasion for us at the RWITC to have witnessed one of the greatest horses of our times. Be Safe won like a true champion. I would also like to thank Vijay Mallya and United Spirits Limited for the long horses owned by Vijay Mallya) being the official association of over 30 years,” said Khushroo cocktails. Popular food court offering a range Dhunjibhoy, Chairman, Royal Western India from chats to assorted cuisine dishes guarantee Turf Club (RWITC). delicious meal courses. A specially erected gijoe78662@gmail.com gantic AC hangar ensures comfort with minute by minute entertainment from global artistes over the weekend. CC Tadka This 31st edition of the much awaited glamorous sporting event of the year, the Diamonds were Signature Indian Derby (Gr 1), was won by Be first mined in India Safe, the proud colt of Dr. M M Ramaswamy Initially, diamonds were only found in the alwho took home a prize purse of `1.62 crore. luvial deposits in Guntur and Krishna District The winner was ridden by champion jockey of the Krishna River Delta. Until diamonds Suraj Narredu and came from Malesh Narrewere found in Brazil during the 18th century, India led the world in diamond production. du’s stable. A passionate horse lover herself, Kangana
ellence terms of payouts on offer. The total stakes this year breached the three crore rupee mark. And at the end of 2400m race this year, Be Safe was crowned as the champion of the McDowell Signature Indian Derby 2015. A well built, highly talented colt, Be Safe is currently seen to be on an all-conquering mission , having dealt eight knock-outs in nine battles in the run up to the race. What makes this performance even more impressive is the fact that Be Safe set the record time without actually firing on all cylinders, winning the Indian Derby and getting hailed as one of the all-time greats in the annals of Indian horseracing. This race provides a must-watch extravaganza for anyone who’s game for some high-octane drama. Besides the engaging battle on the turf, spotting of popular Bollywood personalities and actually rubbing shoulders with some of them is sure to keep the star-struck excited. Members of the famous Kapoor Family make it a point to attend the Indian Derby without fail, as did the Khan’s of the previous years. Feroz Khan was a regular at the racecourse for many years and owned several horses. His brother Sanjay Khan also has the distinction of owning Prince Khartoum who won the Indian Derby, making Sanjay the only Bollywood star to have won the Indian Derby. And when it comes to spirits, there are specially created cocktails served as drinks of the day, Saddle Up & Set Alight (the names of the
This race provides a must-watch extravaganza for anyone who’s game for some high-octane drama. It attracts the highest attention throughout the nation
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 53
Pearls of Wisdom
Yoga can bring better bliss Sadhguru looks at the root cause of addiction, and how yoga can create such a hugely blissful experience that addiction can fall by the wayside Q: Sadhguru, I work with addicts, and in America, there is this concept that addiction is a disease and once an addict, you are always an addict. I am struggling with this idea. Addiction may be a medical condition at some point, but is it a permanent disease? Sadhguru: It depends on what kind of addict you are talking about. There are food addicts, drug addicts, alcohol addicts, sex addicts, suffering addicts, gossip addicts – so many compulsive types of behaviour about a variety of things. Gossip addicts for example – do you think you can heal them? You can only make them change the subject. If they gossip in a way that is harmful to someone, you can make them gossip in a way that could benefit people. So is addiction a disease? Any compulsive state that takes away the ease from you is a disease. Is it permanent? No. Even your being alive is not permanent – so where is the question of addiction being permanent?
54 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
An individual mess Those who say that addiction is a permanent disease and treat it accordingly are themselves in a state of addiction – they are compulsive about doing something in a particular way. Each individual has gotten into this mess in his own way. There can be a common treatment only to some extent, but not entirely. You need to look at each human being and treat them the way it is necessary for this individual. Do we have the care and concern to attend to each one of them the way it is necessary? That is something we have to check. And above all, is it people’s right to always get into problematic situations and expect others to treat them? This also has to be looked at. A whole lot of people in that country (United States) think it is their right to mess themselves up and expect the government to fix them. If individuals do not take responsibility for their own well-being, no power on earth or in heaven can fix them. If they did not think it is better than whatever else is available around, they would not do it. In their perspective, it is good. The most important thing is to establish that sense of responsibility for their own lives and to show them a better option. Otherwise, you will not get them off alcohol and drugs. Right now, this is the biggest experience in their lives. They are not going to give it up because you ask them to come to Sunday school or whatever. You have to show them something better. If you teach people a way to come to a bigger experience than what they have known so far, they will drop this rubbish. Look at my eyes. I am always stoned, though I have never touched a substance in my life. Everyone can be stoned in such a way all the time. It does not cost anything, neither money nor health. If you want, you can be super-alert, so alert you do not even have to sleep for days and nights. Unless you teach them something better, they are not going to give up what they have found. It may damage the body, but they feel they have a bigger experience than people who work through the day, come back home, eat, sleep, and go back to work again. They think that is rubbish, and what they are doing is better. When they become helpless, when they get broken, you may be looking down upon them, but when they are high, they are looking down upon you. If they did not think it is better than whatever else is available around, they would not do it. In their perspective, it is good. Only when things go bad, when the body is broken, they come to you. If someone comes up with a drug that does not damage the body much but keeps you in a hallucinatory state all the time, the whole population will go on it. In some way, human societies have failed to make the experience of life worthwhile for a whole lot of people, so they are taking all kinds of deviant ways to find something. We have to offer something that is more powerful than any drug and that leads to everyone’s wellbeing. (Sourced from: http://www.ishafoundation.org)
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 55
book review
More fiction than fact? The reasons why there is a big fuss over ‘The Red Sari’, Sonia Gandhi’s fictionalised biography
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nglish version of The Red Sari, Spanish writer Javier Moro’s ‘dramatized biography’ of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, will now be available in Indian bookstores, seven years after it was first published in Spain. The publishing of the book in India was strongly opposed by the Congress then, and the book was published in several languages overseas. According a report by The Telegraph , Sonia Gandhi’s lawyers and aides accused Moro of distorting facts and misinterpreting details in the book. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi in 2010 had issued a defamation notice to Moro contending that the biography is “full of untruths, half-truths, falsehoods, defamatory statements, completely imaginary and invented conversations with quotation marks and narrations of nonexistent situations in the first person”, a 2010 India Today report states. The book, which was unofficially banned in India, is finally being published in India by Roli Books. Pramod Kapoor, publisher of Roli Books, told The Telegraph, “I don’t see why anybody should have a problem with the book. I read the book three times. It is a well-researched book, written in a fictionalised style like most biographies in the West are written.” Outlook , in a recent report, published excerpts from the book, one of which reads, ‘Delhi society was conventional and small – it seemed as if everyone knew each other. Most praised Sonia’s beauty, but others alluded to her lack of pedigree: “She’s a nobody” or criticised her way of dressing, “She wants to attract attention.’ Another one reads, ‘Sonia got up, wrapped her robe around her, and went into the living room to answer the phone. Amid all the interference, she recognised the nervous voice of one of her mother-in-law’s secretaries. Now she was certain that it would be very bad news. “Madam… Sanjayji has had an accident…He’s dead.” Sonia’s hair stood on end when she heard that. She was about to shout “No!” loudly, but she stopped herself. She knew they would try to persuade Rajiv to fill the 56 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
The red sari author
Javier Moro publishers
Roli Books pages
513
price
`166
book review
TheNewsMinute Team
vacuum his brother had left. Sonia knew this would mean the end of their happiness. She was prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent that from happening.’ UK ‘Telegraph’ reported in 2010 that Sonia Gandhi ‘had taken strong exception to her portrayal in ‘The Red Sari’ as a snob who wanted to leave India following her husband’s 1991 assassination. The book also portrays her as a central figure in Indira Gandhi’s 1975 imposition of emergency rule.’ Moro’s book, however, is not sourced on direct information from the Congress President herself or those close to her. “My sources were secondary — books, articles published in the Indian press, etc. The only sources I had were people who had befriended the Gandhis, and Sonia’s neighbours and friends in Italy, Moro told The Tehelka in an interview in 2010. In the same interview, when asked if his book is a fictionalised biography or non-fiction, Moro replied, “I wanted to write a biography of Sonia Gandhi, but I couldn’t get access to her or her family. I did not invent any characters. I’ve invented dialogue for necessary reasons, but whatever I’ve written should not surprise Indians.” (Courtesy: www.thenewsminute.com)
changing career
He’s having a ball of a time!
Making things happen your way in any field is the mantra to reach new heights, says Bharath FC footballer Ravanan, who quit a cosy bank job to switch to full-time football. The I-League kicked off in the last week of January this year By Joe Williams
A
re you so passionate about sports that you’d like to make a career of it? Not everyone has what it takes to become a professional sportsman. Even for those who do, a back-up profession is usually needed. What better way to ensure you’ll always be involved in something you love than by choosing an occupation that will keep you close to the playing field? But doing things what one wants can bring out the best of oneself. This is the mantra of a former employee of the Indian Bank in Chennai, Dharmaraj Ravanan who quit his cosy bank job to turn professional footballer. But he would not have made to where he is today (Bharath FC, Pune) but for the move he made in the year 2004. From a nine-to-five job in the bank to a five-tonine with football, Ravanan has made it big in this beautiful game which has given him everything he needs, and most importantly, lets him do what he loves. “Yes, people look at me and I also hear some saying, ‘this guy has left a bank job to play football -- how stupid’, but they are not aware that I am doing what I want to do and am happy. My passion for the game has multiplied in leaps and bounds, and what more can I ask for?” asks Ravanan. “It has been a tough call, but my parents have been very supportive. I come from a family where education has not been at the forefront of things. Neither of my parents are educated, nor are my grandparents. There was celebration in the house when I made it to college, the first one to do so in the last four generations,” he reminisces. “I had answered my first year exams and I got a call from the bank. Again, all my relatives were happy, as everyone is aware that getting a bank job is like hitting the jackpot. And it was because of football that I got the bank
“I am sure anybody can achieve any milestone if they do what they want to do with a set goal”
Ravanan (right) is challenged by rival player during the I-League
job. I was happy again. It was not the end for me; I wanted to be a professional footballer. Playing for the bank and getting paid for it did sound cosy, and again people around me were very happy. But, I was not, as I was in my early 20’s and wanted to make the most of it in this game. Within a year of my tenure with the bank job, to my total surprise, I got a call from Sir Armando Colaco, the coach of Dempo Sports Club, one of the top professional teams in the country. This happened in the year 2004,” he explains. Since then, this Tiruchirappalli defender has become a household name in Indian football. “I am sure anybody can achieve any milestone if they do what they want to do with a set goal. I have done that and have started my journey for more success,” he adds. “This was the turning point in my life. I thought to myself, what if my parents are against it? But they asked me to take the call. I grabbed the opportunity and since then have been walking up the football ladder,” says Ravanan. “I have changed five jerseys, now I am with Bharat FC for the I-League this season. The Indian Super League (ISL) has given a new hope to Indian football. I am sure if the trend continues, football will reach new heights,” says he, his face lit with hope. “I would say football has changed in many ways. It was the Indian League which lifted up the game to a different level, and ISL making its debut has added many a new flavour to the sport. I am sure in our country where every kid wants to become Sachin Tendulkar, the days are not far when we can see a David Beckham or Wayne Rooney on the Indian soil, and we will also have some of our fellow players making their way into the English Premier League. So football is shaping up well. Football has given me everything, and now I want to give back to the game,” says Ravanan. “My message to budding players, do what you want to, never do something to please others, but yourself,” he sums up. joe78662@gmail.com
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 57
Beyond the bottomline
Worriers have above average verbal IQ Worried about picking just the perfect communicator in your line of work? Just hire the most anxious person you can find and worry no more! By Suchismita Pai
A
ccording to new research published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, chronic worriers tend to have a higher-than-average verbal IQ (intelligence quotient). Verbal Intelligence can be defined as the ability to analyze information and solve problems using language-based reasoning. In a research survey conducted at Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada, Dr. Alexander Penney and his team discovered a strong correlation between how much people tended to stress about the everyday events in their lives and their Verbal Intelligence quotient. The more worried and anxious the respondents were, the higher their Verbal Intelligence. Also called linguistic intelligence, it is rooted in problem solving, critical thinking, and abstract reasoning. Verbal reasoning skills are 58 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Verbally intelligent individuals may be able to consider past and future events in greater detail, leading to more intense rumination and worry, but this might also mean communicating their wants better next time required in every walk of life as most business goals have to be articulated prior to being understood and worked upon. Be it through speech or writing, these tools give a person the ability to communicate effectively with the intent of achieving a specified goal. Even in everyday life, Verbal Intelligence impacts the ability to listen to and recall spoken information and also understand the meaning of written or spoken information. In the age of emails, texts and phone calls, verbal intelligence is very desirable, especially in jobs that need people to interpret words in the
absence of non-verbal cues. Verbally intelligent individuals may be able to consider past and future events in greater detail, leading to more intense rumination and worry, but this might also mean communicating their wants better next time. So if you want someone to put together a business proposal, a power point presentation, a speech, handle your public relations, direct a team or just raise the best toast at the next retirement party, go find a worry wart and your worries just might be over! paisuchi@gmail.com
manage money In the previous issue we had discussed what a Profit & Loss Account is, what it contains. In this article let me dwell a bit on the Balance Sheet. By Dr Anil Lamba
Good Financial Management – Rule 1 Rule 1 of Good Financial Management
As per the first rule, you must never invest your money in any opportunity where you cannot generate a return which is at least equal to your cost of capital. Every businessperson, entrepreneur, and key employee must be constantly aware of the cost of capital applicable to the organization so that everybody can then, collectively, strive to generate a return that justifies the cost. My experience, however, is that many are absolutely ignorant about their cost of capital. They are constantly engaged in trying to generate income. Now stop and think about this for a minute. Unless you know what your cost of capital is, how can you possibly know whether the returns you are so busy generating are sufficient or not? Unless you can earn in excess of your cost, all your activity and effort will be futile. You would never lend your money on a return of 10 percent when your funds cost you more than 10 percent … provided you know what your funds are costing you. The truth is that most people are unaware of the cost of their capital. I have interacted with many thousands of highly placed and highly successful individuals. When I ask a group of assembled entrepreneurs in a training session, “How many of you know your cost of capital? Do you know how much your funds are costing you?” very few hands go up. I find this lack of knowledge about cost of funds very alarming. Perhaps you don’t believe that the situation is quite as bad. Well, in that case let me put the same question to you. Are you aware of your cost of capital? Whether you are an entrepreneur or a CEO, if you cannot answer this question immediately, if you start humming and hawing, there is cause for worry. Let us now understand how cost of capital can be calculated.
can assess how much the capital itself is. In case you are not able to do so immediately, please don’t worry. When we do this exercise in my trainings, I invariably get a range of different answers made up of various combinations of the numbers that appear on the Liabilities’ side of the Balance Sheet. Let me try to clarify. In this Balance Sheet, and for the limited purposes of this discussion, 1,000 must be considered as the capital. Rule I tells us that we must ascertain what the 1,000 on the left hand or the sources side costs us so that we can ensure that the 1,000 on the right hand or the uses side generates a return which is equal to, or greater than, this cost. But the 1,000 on the left hand side is composed of four items. The first is capital. This is the contribution of the owners. The second is reserves. Reserves is a term which represents the undistributed profits which have been ploughed back into the business. The third is a loan taken at a rate of 12 percent interest. Finally we have the creditors. These are usually vendors to the organization who have supplied goods on credit and have to be paid back within a specified period, usually the next few weeks or months. Before you read any further, stop for a minute and examine each of these figures and ask yourself how much each of these sources costs the organization. One of the most common answers I get is that, of the four sources, it is only loans that have a committed cost. In this Balance Sheet, loans of 400 have been taken at a cost of 12 percent. The total sources are 1,000 and the cost is 48. So it appears that the average cost of capital is 4.8 percent. Anyone with a perception that the cost of capital is 4.8 percent might refuse an investment opportunity that brings a return of, say, 4 percent, and grab another with the potential to earn 6 or 8 or 10 percent, and feel satisfied that they are taking sound investment decisions. However, this perception of cost of capital is flawed, and can lead to big trouble! In the next issue we will take a re-look at this calculation and discuss the correct approach to be adopted to understand cost of capital.
You would never lend your money on a return of 10 percent when your funds cost you more than 10 percent... provided you know what your funds are costing you
Take a look at this Balance Sheet:
Balance Sheet Capital 300 Fixed Assets 750 Reserves 200 12% Loan 400 Creditors 100 Current Assets 250 1,000 1,000 Looking at this Balance Sheet, can you tell how much its capital is costing this business? But first, before you work out the cost of capital, try to see if you
Dr Anil Lamba is a practising chartered accountant, a financial literacy activist, and a corporate trainer of international repute on finance management.He is the author of the bestselling book Romancing the Balance Sheet. He can be contacted at anil@lamconschool.com February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 59
Featherlite
Corporate Twitterati The who’s who of the country filled the Twitter space after AAP’s historic mandate in the Delhi elections. Here’s what they said
Omar Abdullah @ abdullah_omar If there is lesson for the #Congress in this it is that Modi & BJP aren’t unbeatable if you take the fight to them, don’t wait for mistakes.
ashutosh @ashutosh83B Delhi result will be the turning point in Indian political history,will be the beginning of new politics-Clean politics, affordable politics.
Shekhar Kapur @ shekharkapur Its time to accept the young Indian voter is far more sophisticated Individual who thinks clearly about local n national issues #KiskiDilli
Mamata Banerjee @ MamataOfficial This is a victory for the people and a big defeat for the arrogant and those who are doing political vendetta & spreading hate among people
Kiran Bedi @thekiranbedi Full marks to Arvind. Congratulations. Now take Delhi to the heights it belongs to. Make it a world class city..
Chetan Bhagat @chetan_ bhagat An apology from the PM for losing touch with the people would go a long way. Followed by major anti-corruption reforms and changes in BJP.
Narendra Modi @ narendramodi Spoke to @ArvindKejriwal & congratulated him on the win. Assured him Centre’s complete support in the development of Delhi.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw @ kiranshaw I must confess I never imagined such an #AAPsweep - congrats to @ArvindKejriwal n everyone at #AAP for this spectacular victory.
Ajay Maken @ajaymaken I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal and his party for massive victory in Delhi. Wish him all the best for the future!
Madhu Kishwar @ madhukishwar These days when even wives don’t like to be taken for granted-- BJP made the fatal mistake of taking voters for granted.
Shashi Tharoor @ ShashiTharoor Today is @ AamAadmiParty ‘s day in Delhi. Congratulations @ ArvindKejriwal . All the best in making India’s capital a gr8place for all Indians. 60 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
Devendra Fadnavis @Dev_ Fadnavis Congratulations @ ArvindKejriwal ji.You have won a decisive mandate. I hope your Government will concentrate on development of Delhi.
Laugh Aloud A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man’s hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed, “And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention….” ----------------------------------------------A stockbroker was cold calling about a penny stock and found a taker. “I think this one will really move said the broker, it’s only $1 a share.” “Buy me 1000 shares.” said the client. The next day the stock was at $2. The client called the broker and said, “You were right, give me 5000 more shares.” The next day the client looked in the paper and the stock was at $4. The client ran to the phone and called the broker, “Get me 10,000 more shares said the client.” “Great!” said the broker. The next day the client looked in the paper and the stock was at $9. Seeing what a great profit he had in just a few days, the client ran to the phone and told the broker, “Sell all my shares!” The broker said, “To whom? You were the only one buying that stock.”
MobileApps
Best Apps for a Best You!
2015 has begun in full swing. The New Year brings with it a sense of optimism and determination to achieve goals. This is the time to improve yourself in whichever way you desire. Corporate Citizen brings you a list of 5 great apps you must download, to make the best of the season. By Neeraj Varty
Runkeeper– GPS Track Run Walk
Fooducate
By Fooducate Ltd. Price: Free Every year, we make a conscious decision to eat healthier, but it’s hard to know what’s in the food you are eating, especially if buy a lot of packaged goods. This is where Fooducate comes in. Fooducate scans the barcode on a food product to tell you exactly what is good, bad and even ugly about the product. It will present information in a variety of ways including calorie information, possible side effects, and it also presents some healthy alternatives which you can opt for.
Custom Calendar
By Extentia Information Technology Pvt. Ltd. Price: Free Why stick to the same old boring calendar year after year, when you can make your own? Custom Calendar is a cool new app that allows you to customise a calendar, using the images of your loved ones. You can also mark special dates, set reminders and send personalised calendars to your friends for any occasion. You can use the calendar both digitally, as well as take a print out and hang it on the wall.
Duolingo
By Duolingo Price: Free One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to learn a new language. Duolingo is the best app for that job. Duolingo supports dozens of languages like French, German, Spanish, and English. The app offers a range of short, easily digestible lessons which lets you target the areas you want to improve most like speaking or reading or comprehension. With interactive text, images and even lesson in accents, Duolingo is all set to make learning a new language a breeze.
By FitnessKeeper, Inc Price: Free While fitness requires commitment throughout the year, the start of the year is usually the best time to ease into a good habit. Jogging improves your cardio-vascular strength, improves stamina and also keeps you in good shape. Unfortunately, people give up this habit after a few days due to a lack of motivation and no real way to gauge progress. Unless you use Runkeeper, that is. RunKeeper is an app that uses your phone’s GPS to track your runs, including the distance covered, calories burned as well as your route taken. The app will then synchronise this information with your PC, and keep a daily log of the progress you make. It will remind you to try to beat your previously set records, as well as suggest scenic routes for you to run on.
Evernote
By Evernote Corporation Price: Free The New Year is the best time to get your act in order. Time to do away with the clutter and start afresh. There’s no better companion than Evernote to get you organised. Evernote is hands down the best smartphone and tablet app to help you take notes and organise your schedule. This handy note taking apps takes handwritten notes, voice notes, and organises your digital files at the touch of a button. It also helps you make and adhere to appointments with timely reminders. All in all, not bad for a free app, wouldn’t you agree?
neeraj.varty@ corporatecitizen.com
February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 61
astroturf
Fortune favours the bold and the lucky
Your attitude is your altitude says Dolly Mangat our renowned Astrological Expert and believes she helps people create their own prophecies rather than live predictions
Aries
Mar 21- April 20 Your financial intuition will be sharp and accurate. If you are working towards investments better listen to sharp sixth sense. Financial doubts should be cleared with experts. This month is all about making money from various sectors. Indulge in your creative thinking or writing. Love opportunities come through social gatherings.
TAURUS
April 21 - May 20 This month too holds importance on the career front. You can safely downplay your domestic front for the time being. Your family members will be supportive of whatever decisions you take. Be prepared for some glitches and delays happening involving finances. Yet in the end everything will work out in your favor. Avoid making major purchases or investments or taking important financial decisions during this period.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 21 This is a period of personal power for you and you can do what you prefer and the way you prefer. Your life is what you make off
it, its important that you work on making yourself comfortable before you think of others. Pursue your interests and work towards corrective measures which means you can make those changes now for the smooth operation of your personal or professional goals. Your career clearly sees a progress and you can push all your plans through comfortably.
CANCER
Jun 22 - July 23 Even though overall prosperity is reflected in your sign yet its important for you to take care of the financial aspect of your life. Make efforts and put in extra time at work you will eventually see the rewards coming back double fold for you. It will benefit you if you learn to cut the waste and redundancy from the necessary. Take stock of your finances and investments and make necessary changes where needed.
LEO
July 24 - Aug 23 Â Your health needs to be carefully nurtured and monitored. Even though your self confidence and self esteem is much better and stronger, yet a downside of health can shake you up. Continue to let others have their own way, while you have yours. Paying
62 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015
attention to your personal life will do wonders for your own psyche. Be cautious with finances as you need to be careful while getting into any kind of tight spot. Careful planning will help you in the long run. Avoid any kind of major purchases or investments during this time.
VIRGO
Aug 24 - Sept 23 Balance your work routine and ensure that you get enough and proper rest in between. Reviewing your health chart and by doing your yearly check ups everything can be kept in check. By raising your energy levels small little niggling problems can abate. Though health remains a case of worry, relationships strengthen both personally and professionally. Romance blossoms and could also urge to take steps forward and proceed to the altar.
LIBRA
Sept 24 - Oct 22 Excellent time to start a new business or project. You are in a period when family well being is off paramount importance that also includes earning and securing the future for them. You need to build and strengthen your psychological foundations for potential success. Learning to adapt to situations is good when steering your way upwards and your goal is the ultimate.
SCORPIO
Oct 23 - Nov 22 You need to work harder and in a more innovative way if you are interested in raking in more money. There could also be fair chances of the need to review your output and input of your expenditures and deposits. Its important that you take stock of your situations at the beginning of new financial year and make appropriate constructive changes to live a happy life the year around.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 23 - Dec 22 Earnings look good but you need to worker harder to overcome challenges that are being foreseen in the coming days. There could be some financial disharmony between your elders professionally or personally. If you are convinced and sure of what you have done then there is no need to worry. You must have all your answers ready in order to win over arguments.
CAPRICORN
Dec 23 - Jan 20 Career remains all time high, and you need to still give it more attention. By mid of the month you could perhaps think of a breather. Focus on your inner conditions as its the strong psychological infrastructure that actually makes success easily attainable. This is also the time to indulge your personal affairs and concentrate whole heartedly to your love life.
AQUARIUS
Jan 21 - Feb19 Excellent period for starting the projects you have in mind. All your new ideas should be executed and put into action. Finances finally look upward especially after the stressed out period. Money comes from different directions and sources.
PISCES
Feb 20 - Mar 20 Career remains all time high, and you need to still give it more attention. By mid of the month you could perhaps think of a breather. Focus on your inner conditions as its the strong psychological infrastructure that actually makes success easily attainable. This is also the time to indulge your personal affairs and concentrate whole heartedly to your love life. Health needs to be build up with a strong regime of diet and exercise.
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February 16, 2015 / Corporate Citizen / 63
Claps & Slaps Corporate Citizen slaps the discriminatory attitude of McDonalds wherein recently a staffer threw out a street kid Corporate Citizen gives a thunderous clap to Narendra and Neha Thakur who overcoming their personal grief donated the organs of their son, Abhishek, who was rendered brain dead after a tragic accident In an unfortunate incident, Abhishek, an upcoming cricketer, who was studying in his first year BCom at Wadia College, was riding his two-wheeler when he met with an accident on the Pune-Bengaluru highway on December 1, 2014. He was admitted to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH). He suffered brain haemorrhage and was put on life support, which was removed on the fourth day after he began breathing on his own. Sadly his condition worsened on December 8 and the doctors declared him brain dead as there were no chances of recovery. The couple has donated Abhishek’s two eyes, two kidneys and liver that gave a new lease of life to three persons. In a country where the awareness about organ donation is pretty low, people have very strange myths like one won’t get salvation if organs donated or one will be reborn without organs, sound very hollow at the backdrop of this magnanimous gesture. We salute Narendra and Neha Thakur who have donated their son’s organs thereby giving new life to three persons. They were recently presented the ‘Bhakti-Seva Puraskar’.
Wasn’t McDonald’s quite known for serving up fast, convenient, and affordable meals to millions of people all over the world every year? But this one incident where a street child in Pune was thrown out of the McDonalds restaurant when he entered to buy a Fanta float is so inhumanly and simply not done. It is truly disheartening to know that this poor boy was accompanied by a lady, who wanted to buy him some food. The story goes like this-- the woman, along with some of her friends, had gone to the fast food outlet when they met the child. Curiously looking at the Coke floats that she and her friends had bought, the child in sheer innocence asked if he could have some. The woman went inside the restaurant with the child and asked him whether he would want to stand in the line with her to which he agreed. The McDonalds staff, however, was pushed away. A worker from the restaurant took objection to the street child being inside the outlet and said that “these kind of people are not allowed inside.” Such kind of insensitive and unruly treatment is completely unacceptable. The popular food chain has now come under attack for such insensitive treatment. In its defence, the restaurant said that they are investigating internally an issue that has been reported on an incident involving a street child, adding that they treasure and respect everyone in equal measure and do not support any form of discrimination. McDonald’s seeks to provide all our customers a safe and welcoming environment and will always ensure that our guests feel comfortable, safe and looked after, it says. Well, post this incident we really doubt that!
Printed and published by Suresh Chandra Padhy on behalf of Sri Balaji Society. Editor : Suresh Chandra Padhy. Published from : 925/5, Mujumdar Apt, F.C. Road, Pune - 411004, Maharashtra. Printed at Magna Graphics (I) Ltd., 101-C&D Govt. Industrial Estate, Hindustan Naka, Kandivali (W), Mumbai - 400067.
64 / Corporate Citizen / February 16, 2015