Sub Mission

If she’s up there might have sure observed

What happened and is happening down here...

To see if there has been any progress at all

After she left for good-some good time back.

Did her plans work, did I reform,

Did that loan clear? Did I sell that house?

Does she figure in our daily routine?

In deed, conversation or say just in thought?

If the dead stay dumb, the dumb play dead.

I’ve now gone numb being neither dumb nor dead.

If she’s reborn again can I find her somewhere?

Build new bridges and the weak repair?

Confide in her now all knowing ear

All that happened in every passing year...

Will I get another chance...just that one...

To undo the done and do the undone?

AND HOW THEY ALL MATTERED...

In conducting the wedding of my daughter Prat there was divine intervention and this was manifested in the form of several looming personalities whose presence made all the difference.... as the three days of extravaganza unfolded. 

Harish and Deepa, the invincible couple who stormed in and out daily with a task sought, a few more accomplished or under execution.... more dependable than a hundred event managers; Kannan, my cousin, doubling up as my man-friday, coming in and taking physical charge clearly a week before the wedding; Vidya for her flawless counting and accounting; Aruna and Harish, the dependable duo, for all errands that mattered, clothing included; Sharan, Manju, Shreyes, Govind, Shivu, Sharat, Khaleel and his boys for all events leading to the wedding; Prasanna with his assortment of musical instruments and talent; my brother Murli and my nephews Kannan, Prabhu and Anand who chipped in and broke records of chemistry, commerce, compassion and contribution; my lovable Chandru Anna and Bhabi for their sheer inspiring and soothing presence; Latha for her immeasurable customary involvement from start to finish; Murthy athimber, the Bheeshma Pithamaha of this family for his ever-in-store blessings; my sweet saalis Bhavani and Ramya in catalysing all preparatory work; Durga Devi my Milaw, for her advisory role; Sand, my selfless wife, who patiently spearheaded the wedding in content and quality; and many many others who were all there in some form or the other to see the wedding through to its clockwork precision-photo finish!. Thanks Baba for waving that wand of yours just in time to enable this discovery of such wonderful people around me! 

I am blessed in abundant measure! Let me unburden myself soon from this heavy load of piled up gratitude. 

Thanks ONE and ALL. 

Om Om Om! 

On a lighter vein... 2007

Off the cuff on 29th May2012-a quiet recall

Marketing and positioning an off-shoot of a renowned name in the retail and commercial sector needs a broader vision to comprehend on how to arrive on the scene. Analytical thinking and perhaps a sensitivity analysis could provide some clues! On a crowded, me-too sector like the Residential do we tom-tom aloud our past glories and achievements or resort to gently prodding the public intellect with the quiet distinguished ease of a leader high on confidence and low on flaunt factor…? Do we shake or stir them up? I am in deep thought and am writing what comes to my mind and pondering at the same time. Please bear with me if you are in a hurry because I am not…

A great location! A premium development! Unheard of proximity to places that matter! An international place of worship for a backdrop! Catchment of a kind not easily seen before! Back all this with an irresistible offer? And palm off the lot soon? Or take measured steps punctuated by intelligent pauses? Move gracefully like a ballet artiste and reach a crescendo and let the curtain come down? Leaving a hush in the aftermath of the sensation called ONE BANGALORE WEST…?

One Bangalore West, arguably so, offers itself as one of the rarest subjects for a seldom done case study in a high-end Marketing B School! Even before arriving on the scene! Like a blockbuster movie in the making by a celebrated production house! While anticipations run high everywhere any long wait heightens, deepens and finally dampens the curiosity element. Making it all the more mysteriously enigmatic and truly wait-worthy in every manner and respect!

And now when the same tongues that wagged will soon go speechless in awe at the very mention of the word LAUNCH, the team that worked hard behind the scenes all these years will create another masterpiece as effortlessly as they did their empire and move on to unravel other mysteries in their relentless pursuit to perfection.

I am still in thought when I am beginning to enjoy the agitation in me as I toss and turn in my bed trying to bring in visions of the several hundred people that I will soon be talking to with my team following me closely…. the animated expressive faces that will listen to me in fascination when I will have got them a place to stay and will also have earned one for myself in their hearts…! Like in the past when I sold certain things….which I sold to myself first…!

I truly feel like a newly married, immensely excited husband whispering sweet-nothings endearingly to his patiently waiting bride…. If these raging thoughts (or the foreplay) are any indication of the shape of things to come I am well on course to rocking….!

Standby for the explosion…!

Woo-Woes

She is my only daughter. She was brought up and educated in Bangalore. After her graduation she took up her Masters in Mass communication and soon after that she was to intern at CNN IBN channel in Chennai. During these four months she got an offer straight into print journaIlism and joined The Economic Times as a journalist handling features for a good year and a half. And as was her ambition she got into NDTV - a metro Channel that was launched in Chennai and she fitted the role like a glove and then there seemed no going back. It is over two and a half years now and she has risen to become the unopposed, unannounced deputy head of the Features division doing anchoring, hosting, producing her shows that have reasonably good TRP ratings in a fiercely competitive market. Innovative and thus constantly ushering in change she is known to bring a sense of déjà vu to her colleagues and the viewers alike.

Despite her being constantly in the Media glare she is a very homely person and ideally blends her professional and private life with a flair that is seldom seen. Her innate nature to merge her modern learnings with her traditional leanings is a remarkable quality. Her limbs mystically conjure a mythological sequence in Bharatnatyam with the same ease with which they can swing and sway imaginatively to Michael Jackson's classic.... not to mention the gravity and speed- defying bone-crushing gyrations that liven crude rustic gaana numbers churned out in scores down south. Her social obligations notwithstanding she brings a rare charm when in the company or even in the thoughts of her family and friends. Her characteristic traits openly disclose an artistic bent of mind that reflects clear objectives, ideal goals and truly noble pursuits.

She lost her mother at the tender age of sixteen just when a mother's love and care would have mattered the most for any growing child stepping shyly into the intriguing world of adolescence. Her maturity to stomach this irreparable loss was a revelation to all family and friends. She turned a new leaf in her academics with reinforced nerves...emboldened by this loss. Her soft and seemingly mellow exterior hid an uncontained aggression in her that slowly surfaced and manifested in the form of her several bold initiatives that surprised all around her. Simple, distinctively belonging to a different mould altogether with a mastery over matters not seen before she metamorphosed into a woman with a no-nonsense approach to her pursuits... be it dance, music or her career. She needed neither a mentor nor an idol to emulate. She set her own invincible path and made bold, confident strides ahead. Fearless and with a matter-of-fact manner she gate-crashed into areas that opened newer and bigger opportunities her way, not in the least concerned about the results or rewards. She has chosen a path for herself unlike most other girls of her age.

When I confront her with the proposal of getting her married she raises an eyebrow that mocks me with the unspoken statement.."Now what Dad ?” And as for me I know that there aren't enough of her ilk out there to be worthy of even wooing her leave alone marry.

That brings me to the abject reality of her marriage. Making it difficult to even remotely visualise a suitor next to her holding her dainty hand. Is he out there...anybody worth his salt?

If she is the yet-to-be crowned Princess where is the ugly fabled frog that her gentle touch alone will transform into a Prince in shining armour????