INFORMATION IS NOT KNOWLEDGE

                    21st January 2011, when I ended my speech, for which I had thoroughly prepared for 15 days, thunderous audience gave me a lukewarm applause! That too it was not for my speech, but for ending it. The same audience, consisting 250 people, had given a long standing ovation to the previous speaker, who had spoken impromptu!   

That day as I was entering Hotel Bangalore International, I was set to become a celebrity. In an hour I had to address members of Lions Clubs in Bangalore, Lions we are called, on ‘Global Warming: What Lions can do’. I remembered how the speech had come my way.

“Sharath, we want you give a 20 minute speech at our Regional Meet.” asked Lion Suresh Jain, the event coordinator, with wrinkles forming a question mark on his tanned face. 

“Prof B.M. Hegde will be the Guest Speaker. Kannada film actress Hansika Poonacha will be there too.”

I had heard neither of their names. But I agreed, after all I was a Toastmaster.

“Around 350 people will attend the event. I suppose that’s not a problem for you.” asked Suresh Jain. 

I replied “I never have problem with any audience. But they often do!”. He had not got the pun.

I had spent next 15 days thoroughly researching the topic. I searched and downloaded every picture of Hansika that was available on internet! She had done just one movie in Tamil and had a Kannada movie to be released soon. Prof Hegde was a Padma Bhushan awardee. I decided to focus my speech on what Lions, as an NGO, could do to tackle Global warming. Google gave plethora of points and I noted important ones, without concerning myself with basics. I would end my persuasive speech saying: “When we Lions act, things change. Let us be the leader the world needs so badly today." You all know what an amazing persuasive word, ‘leader’ is. 



When I reached the hall, I noticed that stage was huge. I could unleash all body language tricks I had learnt. The huge event poster, which included every speaker’s picture, except mine, brought a certain aura to the hall! 



Though I was disappointed, I told myself “Every dog has its day!”



The poster picture looked very familiar. That day I learnt one important lesson: Never ‘research’ from page 1 of Google result. 



When Hansika arrived people eagerly rushed to take picture with her. I did not meet her. I told myself “Her time will come….after my speech.”  

Prof Hegde, short, bald headed, when requested to address, asked the MC, what he should be speaking on. The MC told “Sir, theme of the event is Global warming.” 



He started by saying “I am surprised that Lions are now interested in Global warming”. I instantly realized we had something in common: we both spoke in ‘Kannada accent English’.  



What followed was a miracle. He never moved from lectern. His body language was limited to bare hand gestures. But his words had magic. He was not a speaker. He was a hypnotist who entangled the audience to his thoughts. He quoted several scientists, research papers, formulas. He explained chemistry, biology, economics and politics of Global warming. He recalled humorous incidents and audience did not know they were laughing and even I did not know those jokes were available on internet! He quoted Upanishads and explained its relevance to Earth and Global warming. He connected them all beautifully.
 

I had learnt another lesson the hard way: Never bring your girl friend where your reputation may be at stake!



In between the Mr. Hegde’s speech my friend, Vignesh, whom I had got to move my slides, signaled: ….  It didn’t mean “Sharath, You too can rock the floor” but meant “Let’s quit”.

Prof Hegde, in his 50 minutes impromptu address, had argued that Global Warming was a hoax. As people rose to give him a standing ovation, they were convinced that need of the hour was not any action on Global Warming but a peg of whiskey!



Then MC called out: “Welcome Lion Sharath Pandeshwar to speak on Global Warming: What Lions can do!”



Though I had points of action for Global Warming, I did not have knowledge behind that information  or wisdom to apply that knowledge to refute Prof Hegde. I learnt the lesson: Information is not knowledge. We have more information today, than any point of time in the history. Only if we can deliberate and reflect to understand their patterns and their implications, that information becomes knowledge. Only if you understand the principles behind knowledge, it turns into wisdom.

My first Kiss that went to a Wrong Lady!

(Note: names and dates have been changed)

July 5th 2007 I joined this team. From next day "recession" started. And it is still on.

When I joined I had a dream. I had a dream that I would quit XYX Corporation at least before this Somanna Palya flyover opened up!(Context: Somanna palya flyover comes just before the tech park where XYX is situated.) That flyover is almost complete and they have long since opened up from one direction. Its a close call who is more lousy? I or BBMP. I think my friends here will vote for me because they are tired of hearing me say: "I will quit ..... soon".  3 months ago someone was saying: 'Sachin Tendulkar's 100th century! It's like Sharath leaving XYX. Both just don't happen'. Many are eagerly waiting for my last working day. You know there is queue of people waiting for a seat to be allotted. Sandeep has been counting days ever since I stopped counting!

Yes, I was a bit late, just 15 - 20 months late. I must say everyday here was an incredible experience. Somedays ago, a short tempered friend of mine, who works for a struggling startup said: 'Today I felt like hitting my manager again man'. 
'Again?' I asked.
'Ya. Last month I punched him because he delayed my salary'
I replied 'Today, I felt like hitting my manager, again'. 
'again?' he asked.
'ya. I feel like hitting him everyday!'

Keeping aside managers, XYX has given me a great platform. I cannot imagine another company, being part of which I could have performed one full year of Secretary and Treasurer of an NGO, Full two terms in Toastmasters Club as VP and President while being a freelance aptitude trainer. More than that I have tried running a business, rather unsuccessfully, for one year.  

Thanks to XYX. Sorry in fact thanks should go to unfortunate friends. 

A manager was once asked how many people worked under him. He told 'half of them!'. If the same question was asked to my managers they would have told 'everyone except one'. I never worked here as much as others did which is diplomatic way of saying 'I did not work enough!' I have a proof for it.

I started with Testing where my team lead was Sumathi. Seeing my work she decided to leave technical field to take up MBA. I think she felt she needed an MBA to handle someone like me. Then when I was put onto maintenance where PTK was my team lead. After just one month he made his own team started calling it '180nm development' though our team was doing same work: more or less! But hats off to Sumana who took really long time but finally threw the towel and shifted to AIX team. I am really indebted to Sumana for bearing me so long. She doesn need an MBA! Even my last manager entirely abandoned the technical management. But my current manager does not want to take a chance. So he always stays in meeting rooms.

I have learnt a lot in last 4 years. I am not sure how much I can retain. I should have made an LLD(lessons learnt document) before my LWD(last working day) as I will be OOO(out of office) from today and there won't be GRs (ground rules) for life. 

(What is S-H-I-T? Sorry honey it's Thursday)

Talking of lessons, I feel like sharing 2nd and 3rd most important lesson I learnt here.

Third lesson is the story of power of words:

In my last appraisal, my manager asked  'Bharath... What is your biggest contribution this year? what is that thing which you are most proud of?'
 
I thought for a while and honestly replied 'I happily saw 8 people out of the team this year itself! And people fondly call me welfare manager!' 

What I had meant was 'I oversaw 8 people going out happily'. (Context: Bharath was organizing farewell meetings)

During the results time he demonstrated back the power of words: 'Bharath ... You have done an outstanding average work.' He did not say that directly. But he said 'Bharath ... You have done an outstanding work and your rating is 2'. I guess you will agree with me both are same.

These words have amazing power.. They make difference. There is a difference in saying 'I did the work' and saying 'I did THE work'. Abraham Lincoln became America's president just by recognizing the power of words and working on it. If not to that extent, I think we can get better appraisal rating at least.

Second is the story of Power of addiction.

There was a person, who was addicted to visit prostitutes. He got married one day. After his first night he went straight to His Best Friend And Started Crying. 
"Man you just had your 'first night'. Why are you crying?' asked his friend.
'You know yaar, as per my habit, I woke her up in the morning and gave a five-hundred-rupee note'.
His Friend exclaimed, 'So what! Plead her to forget your past andlead a happy married life'.
'That's not the problem' he said angrily. 'My Wife returned two hundred rupees back!'

I was getting addicted to easy paychecks without doing something that counted to me. So I decided to quit,though I am not very sure of way ahead. My honeymoon period is over. Everything should work out fine. Else I will try for some manager role in XYX.

Any one interested to know what's the most valuable lesson? 'Never do Today what will be someone else's work Tomorrow!'

We have come a long way. There was a time when team outing ended in planning discussions itself. We have progressed and now outing starts as a treat but then becomes a Dutch outing. But at least it happens.
Now we can proudly say to our new joinees and say 'you know what? We used to get even envelopes for free'. I am sure we will move on, like how we moved on from free tea and coffee! (Context: In XYX, envelopes, Tea/Coffee was no longer free)

I will always remember XYX as 'my first kiss that went to a wrong lady!'. It might have gone wrong but it will still be the first kiss. 

Random Thoughts

It is better to have materialistic desires propelling you than not being propelled at all....

Don't declare War until it is won!

You are a leader or not a leader depending on where you set the bar for yourself.

These big networking organizations have made at least one contribution: Making celebrities out of people who would otherwise be just common people.

'Management through Meetings' is probably the biggest problem with Corporate Management today.

It's wrong to assume that 'the great people' who made rules and processes knew better than you.

Losing face in the first time should only make you desperate for doing it the best next  time.

What the World currently needs is not great Leaders, but great Characters. In this Western led world, nobody emphasizes the latter.

Which man is Happy: The story of Croesus retold

Which man can be termed happy?

This deeply profound question has baffled philosophers over the ages. I think even some of us would have pondered about it: Who can be called happy? Today, I want to tell a story which sheds some light on this question.

Once upon a time, long before Christ was born, lived a King by name Croesus. He was short and stout. Croesus ruled the Kingdom of Lydia, which corresponds to modern-day Turkey, between 560BC to 547BC. He was an extremely wealthy King, which he showed off by adorning himself with gold. His palace, at his capital Sardis, was made of Gold. The old expression "as rich as Croesus" originates in reference to him.

When Croesus was ruling, there was a famous Athenian traveler by name Solon the Wise. He was lean, had a long beard and lived simple. Solon had traveled extensively throughout Asia, Egypt and Lydia. After years of travel, Solon arrived at the palace of Croesus. Croesus was overjoyed to host such an illustrious visitor and proudly showed off his wealth to Solon the wise.

He finally asked “Oh Solon the wise, you may have met umpteen number of people in your travel. Who do you think the happiest of them all?”

“Tellus of Athens.” solemnly replied Solon.

Croesus was upset that he was not named and asked 'why Tellus'?

“Tellus had lived ordinary but peaceful life, had a beautiful family, and had died gloriously in a battle.” answered Solon.

Conceding this was a good life, and hoping he would at least be named second, Croesus then asked Solon who else he would consider the happiest of men he had met.

“The brothers Cleobis and Bito because they lived a good life and good death.” replied Solon.

Croesus was infuriated. He yelled: “You ordinary man of Athens, am I not the happiest man in the world? You count my happiness as nothing?”

Solon replied calmly: “Your Majesty, in truth, I count no man happy until his death, for no man can know what the gods may have in store for him. Often God gives men a gleam of happiness, and then plunges them into ruin. He who unites his strengths, and retaining them till his last day, dies peacefully, that man alone, is entitled to bear the name of 'happy.'"

Croesus sent Solon away, thinking his reputation for wisdom overrated.

Years passed. Everything was going fine for Croesus until one fateful day, when his son Atys was killed while hunting a boar at Olympus. Croesus was grief stricken and grieved for his son for two years until he was alerted that Persians under the King Cyrus the great were gaining power. Cyrus was tall, dark and well built man. Croesus decided that he should check them sooner than later. He sent his emissaries to the great Oracle at Delphi to know whether he should go to war against the Persian Empire. An oracle was a person who acted as wise counsel or prophetic predictions of the future, inspired by the gods. The Oracle answered that if Croesus attacked the Persians, he would destroy a great empire. Pleased by this answer, Croesus went out to fight against the Persian army at the Halys river.

A terrific battle ensued for days. Halys river, now filled with blood and floating dead corps, looked red. But it was a draw and Croesus marched his force back to Sardis where the army was disbanded for the winter. Croesus expected Cyrus to do the same, as this was the custom. But Cyrus instead pressed the attack, massacred Croesus’ remaining cavalry and captured Croesus. For daring to raise an army against the Persian Empire, Cyrus ordered Croesus to be burned alive. When Croesus saw the orange flames of the pyre lapping towards him, he remembered Solon’s words and cried out, "O Solon! Solon! Solon!"

Cyrus was startled by this. He asked his interpreters to find out why he said these words with such resignation and agony. Croesus told the story of Solon’s visit and told “Now I know how no man can be counted happy until after his death. O great King, I was misled by the Oracle at Delphi. When she said 'he would destroy a great empire' it was my empire that would be destroyed and not yours. Kindly pardon me and grant me lease of life.”

Cyrus was so moved by this story that he ordered Croesus to be released and kept him as his wise counselor.

Often God gives a gleam of happiness, and then plunges us into ruin. Challenge is to combine our strengths, live a meaningful life and aim a peaceful death!

Life of Guilt

"Raj... He spoke.... He spoke for the first time. Come fast... Your son called out 'Mummy'.." joyously shouted Rajshekar's wife from the bed room.

For Rajshekhar, a BPO professional, it was a life of struggle. From the time he had landed in Bangalore, barefooted, without a penny in his pocket, without a spare dress, he was fighting against odds. But he was a survivor. He had a happy marriage and his son was now almost a year old.

His son uttering first word 'mummy' did not make him ecstatic. It should have. He tried to feel elated. He failed. Instead he felt numb. He wanted to run to the bedroom taking his camcorder. Instead he was slowly slipping to a corner of the balcony. He remembered what had happened one fateful evening 25 years ago, when he was 8 years old.

It was a small village in Bidar. Though everybody could see him walking on the road, nobody could see him sobbing and weeping. The heavy rain had dripped him wet. He continued to walk, mindlessly, without knowing where he was going. Just one thought was in his mind: "Why did my mother stop loving me?"

He had been recently shifted to a convent school from his old Kannada medium school. Like usual he had rushed back from his school, with his arms wide open to hug his widow mother, shouting.... "ammmaaaaa", Kannada word for mother. Her hug that day was cold.

"Raja.... From today you will call me Mummy and not Amma.."

"No Amma..why .... I don want to..."

"Raja, from now you will call me Mummy. All your friends call their mothers' so. "

"No Amma.. Please.... I will do anything else you ask."

His mother had remained silent.

"No Amma.. I can't"

"Go.. Your mother will not love you."

His mother had not replied to his sobs. He had not realized that it was raining for long time after he had walked out of his house. Some stranger shouted out "Hey boy, get under a roof. Else you will catch fever". He had not answered.

Rajshekhar could not remember what had made him get onto the bus. He was tired, had caught cold, fell asleep. When he got up, he was in a city, which he found out to be Bangalore, much later.

When Rajshekhar came back to present, his wife was beside him, with the baby. He could neither hear what she asked, nor hear what he answered. His past was haunting him now. It had always haunted him. Was the reason for leaving his mother serious enough? In the hindsight it had always looked trifle. He could never justify himself. He knew his mother would have been breathing grief every breath. Somedays when he was alone, the world would shout deep in his ears that he was the cruel most son ever born on earth. But he had never muttered enough resolve to go back to see his mother. He thought he did not deserve to see his mother again. He thought he deserved a life of guilt.

But today he felt as though someone had squeezed his lungs from within. He decided to go to his village and meet his mother. If she forgave him, he would see to it that she is happy for rest of her life.

The next day Rajshekhar located his old house after great trouble. It was dilapidated and seemed forsaken for years. He feared if his mother was dead. He enquired the neighbor who told: "oh the woman, whose son had fled her? She was never happy with her middle class status. She got married to a filthy rich old man within a year of her son leaving. See .... we never came to know why her son left or where he went. That woman never seemed to care, you know, because she was only his stepmother. She shifted to a new place with her new husband, who I heard passed away long time back and she is living a luxurious life. By the way who are you?"

A cold wave of resentment engulfed Rajshekhar, as he headed back, and then began a life long search.

Renounce the thoughts of Fruits

Once upon a time lived a very ambitious young man. 'One day I shall rule the world' he had owed. He was brought up by his poor widow mother who had always told him stories during his childhood. One story always remained in his mind. The story of how their kingdom was rescued by a powerful Yogi, from the verge of defeat in a war, using his yogic power. So the young man decided to practice yoga to aquire special powers using which he could conquer the world. He travelled to a distant forest where he meditated, worshipped and practiced Yoga rigorously. He ceased to eat, tenuously controlled mind and material desires, did not even look at women and reduced breathing to bare minimum. As his 'tapasya' or penance became more severe over the years, so did his thirst for power.

Meanwhile in the country it was third consecutive year without rain. All the stock of food and grains were empty. The land looked dry and sky held no promise. The legend had it that, if the King made paada pooja to a sacred Yogi, in an auspicious place at an auspicious hour, it would rain immediately and end the drought. Paada pooja ritual involved washing legs with sacred water. The King heard about this young sannyasin and requested him to see the country out of drought. The young man was mightily pleased and accepted the invite.

Thousands of villagers had gathered in the place where miracle was set to happen. In an auspicious timing the King made paada pooja to the young man and let the water flow. People anxiously waited for rain. But there was no trace of Varuna, the rain God. Everyone was dejected because their last hope was shattered. Just when King was about to leave, he slipped and fell at a woman's feet knocking down her bindige, a traditional water container, full of water, she had carried from distant place for her household chores. There was a miracle and it was raining in no time. The villagers and King fell at women's feet and declared her a true Yogi. The young sannyasin felt insulted and was wondering how the women could have more power than him. Just then the women answered to him 'Boy I do not know your yoga or your practices. I am a common everyday woman. I was carrying water to nurse my ill husband. All my life I have struggled to do my duty. Before marriage I did my duty to my parents and after marriage I do my duty to my husband. I do not expect anything in return. That is all Yoga is for me." He was surprised that women could read his mind too.

He wandered in the country not able to fathom how an ordinary woman could have more power than him inspite if his austere yoga. Finally a wise man explained him what had gone wrong. He said "look my boy, the woman gained power because she did her duties very faithfully without expecting any return, and thus was a true yogi. Though your chosen path was also correct, you were more intent on results. No one can gain power without renouncing the thoughts of fruits. Even a fool can rule the world, if he waits and works restraining the idea of ruling the world. Ma karma-phala-hetur bhur buddhau saranam anviccha krpanah. Let not fruit of action be your motive. Pitiful are they whose motive is fruit."

As Dark as My Heart: Story of a Date

"One day she will be a big sexy bomb macha". 

As I rode my bike, these words of Arun, my schoolmate, mixed with evening breeze of BTM layout and kissed my face. I thought why did I always choose to monitor class 6th when I was in 10th? Would that mean she will be 3 years younger to me? How were I and Arun so sure that she would be sexy when she matured? The initial contours had said it all. Didn't it?

"Man.. what is making you this desperate this time? This won't be your first relationship"

"Far from the first" said the speedometer of my bike which seemed stuck at 12 Km/h. "I want to enjoy the  Saturday evening weather, so I am riding slowly" I told myself but I knew it was not true. It was not I riding the bike, but it was the bike mercilessly dragging me towards Jaynagar though I wanted to take Koramanagala's route.

I had a faint hope that she would relent to meet. On the very last night she had denied saying 'it is too soon'.

Like pale orange pre mansoon sun rays were being sucked by my black ray ban glass, Anusha's thoughts again sucked me into fathomless oblivion.

"Unknown people used to send me friend requests on Orkut. So I did not join Facebook" I could never explain that delightful jealousy her SMS reply had ignited in me. I had asked her 'Why linked-in and not Facebook'. Did that inexplicable jealousy meant I was falling in love? "ganta" I had replied to my roommate. "Who wants to marry a babe man. I want a simple homely girl". 

"drrrrr" "drrrr" vibrated my mobile in approval. She finally agreed to meet me at Jaynagar 4th Block CCD.
 
My heart started pounding intensely. Never had it worked so fast. Never. It had only been 4 days since I had accepted her linked in request. Her profile had not carried her picture but had mentioned our school name. Only after I had immediately sent a message "you were my junior right?" had I realized that it would have been difficult for me to recollect all my teachers names.

The place around 4th block CCD was spiritual. 3 huge trees had successfully fought the sun and rendered such a serenity to the place that I only grew more tensed. I had reached the place early.

Only in my work place it could have happened. Using up all 200 free messages in a day was tough, not because I had work in office, but because I had a qwerty keyboard mobile then. But the hope on the other side had promised to be voluptuous enough to take the pain. But it was only after two days of google chatting and texting I had got her upload her picture on gtalk profile. The picture, though too small to be discernible, had said that two days of hard work was worth it.

"Who is the other girl with you in the picture?" I was pondering why she had to put picture of her with a rather unkempt, grotesque girl.

"That's my besssteeest, cuteeee friend :)"

In the next two days messages had became more intimate, intimate to the level of skin. Was she falling in love? "She better not be. Love is like a paste" and I slipped when a sweet voice called out "hey white T shirt and black ray ban!"

I turned back and met with a shock.

That night as I lay on my bed trying desperately to recollect what had happened, I remembered the meeting, or should I say the date, had lasted full 30 minutes, thanks to te waitress who seemed to avenge me by taking ad infinitum to serve two coffees. I was trying my best to be my usual even when I knew it was her fault to put her picture with that "cuteee" friend of hers. But her face, her body and everything had repeatedly needled me that I hadn't noticed that this Anusha had matriculated a year later than the Anusha who had clogged my mind, my brain and moreover my work.

As I was trying to hard to fall asleep, a sweet voice repeatedly kept whispering to my ears "I did not know one had to look like Aishwarya Rai to be someone's friend". It was dark all around, as Dark as my Heart.