Just like mary parts of the world have he cherry blossom festival, Bangalore should have a festival on it's flowering trees. I think it is unique in the number of varieties of flowering trees and the colours.....
Just this morning I counted quite a few
The red Gulmohurs
The purple Jacarandas
The yellow Tabubias
The white Frangipanis
The light green Pongamias
The orange / pink Rain Trees
etc etc.
However, I still miss the fragrant roads that Bangalore used to have. There were a few roads (eg. Sampige road in Malleshwaram with the eponymous Sampige trees), the road near Ulsoor lake with the Akash mallige (a tree that, as kids, we used to call - Peepi mara : Peepi being a whistle in Kannada) that used to smell like a treat whenever one'd go past.
Now, I guess the only tree that I've smelt while driving is probably the Neelgiri (Ecalyptus).
Maybe we shoud get a "tree walk" organized where we can go into say Cubbon Park, Lalbaugh and be able to see all flowering trees in a row ?
A throwback on that old rhyme - Mary, Mary, quite contrary....
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Ugadi : The start of a new year
Today is Ugadi (or should I write Yugadhi ?) the new year for people from Karnataka and Andhra (primarily the south Indian / deccan lunar calendar followers). It is the day when we mix the bitter and sweet combo (Neem buds and Jaggery) as a symbol that life is full of ups and downs and we need to face both with equanimity....
While all this is fine, I wonder about the new-year significance and it's origin. The reason being, this day is a new year for a few other far-flung communities (eg. Sindhis ...).
Is this just a coincidence ? Or is there historical reference that we have not figured out ?
Neighbouring states in India (eg. Tamilnadu) follow the Solar new year and this is usually a week later ? How come there is this level of diversity in a few hundred kilometers, while there is equivalence in communities far spread ?
I'm told it is also celebrated as new year in a few eastern european communities ?
Maybe it cab be traced to tribal origins before religion(s) were born ?
While all this is fine, I wonder about the new-year significance and it's origin. The reason being, this day is a new year for a few other far-flung communities (eg. Sindhis ...).
Is this just a coincidence ? Or is there historical reference that we have not figured out ?
Neighbouring states in India (eg. Tamilnadu) follow the Solar new year and this is usually a week later ? How come there is this level of diversity in a few hundred kilometers, while there is equivalence in communities far spread ?
I'm told it is also celebrated as new year in a few eastern european communities ?
Maybe it cab be traced to tribal origins before religion(s) were born ?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Education standards : How can we get the State model inclusive ?
This post is more a reflection on the essential issues we face in the areas of primary education.
For those who want an overview of the current model in India, you have to start with 3 major bits of the process
1. Primary Education is a State issue and responsibility and not a central (federal) issue / responsibility
2. Primary Education has a state allocation of budget - mostly in the form of wholly "owned" / run government schools and partially aided other schools (aid is mostly in areas like mid-day meal, examination process etc). However, this is only for the state run syllabus schools ?
3. Outside of the state syllabus - India has 2 main (not counting the elite education models of IBC) syllabus models : The ICSE and the CBSE
The question I have for myself is...
Can we ensure that the state model (for example SSLC in Karnataka) has common bits that is borrowed as mandatory in the structure.
Things that I'd like to see
- Focus on India as a country and culture with the state covering **ONLY** the local bits
- Inclusion of topics like "Civic Sense" instead or as part of Civics
- History that covers local regions while dis-passionately describing the caste issues ?
- Science that includes environmental science related to conservation (Energy, water, power etc)
I'm afraid that unless we establish a common national "minimum" structure for coverage, we'll continue to talk about the north-south divide etc.
The basic process should be to bring in more PRIDE into the system both as a nation and then as a local community ?
Maybe the pride will help people improve (and want to improve) their own backyards ?
For those who want an overview of the current model in India, you have to start with 3 major bits of the process
1. Primary Education is a State issue and responsibility and not a central (federal) issue / responsibility
2. Primary Education has a state allocation of budget - mostly in the form of wholly "owned" / run government schools and partially aided other schools (aid is mostly in areas like mid-day meal, examination process etc). However, this is only for the state run syllabus schools ?
3. Outside of the state syllabus - India has 2 main (not counting the elite education models of IBC) syllabus models : The ICSE and the CBSE
The question I have for myself is...
Can we ensure that the state model (for example SSLC in Karnataka) has common bits that is borrowed as mandatory in the structure.
Things that I'd like to see
- Focus on India as a country and culture with the state covering **ONLY** the local bits
- Inclusion of topics like "Civic Sense" instead or as part of Civics
- History that covers local regions while dis-passionately describing the caste issues ?
- Science that includes environmental science related to conservation (Energy, water, power etc)
I'm afraid that unless we establish a common national "minimum" structure for coverage, we'll continue to talk about the north-south divide etc.
The basic process should be to bring in more PRIDE into the system both as a nation and then as a local community ?
Maybe the pride will help people improve (and want to improve) their own backyards ?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Adrenaline level : Post go live "downs"
One of the largest US implementations on ERP done by Inatech just went live over the weekend. It was good to see the various aspects of people behaviour over the last few days.
There were the usual split in individual reactions (What I call as the BELL curve set). There were individuals who were very proactive and prepared to do anything to take the system live. There were the middle players who went with the team spirit and chipped in with whatever they could. Then, there were the few (fortunately only a few) who were waiting on a reactive mode to be told to do things.
More illuminating was the post go live structure.
The former set (the extreme chaps) were actually the ones who were beavering away at the system to ensure all issues were closed.
For some reason, the middle bits tend to drop back and this is I think primarily to do with the Adrenaline levels.
The folks at the end of the curve dropped even further back.
The next challenge is going to be to establish the post go live team. This will almost need a different set of skills & people. What is the next target ? How can we set new goals that are focused and progressive ?
There were the usual split in individual reactions (What I call as the BELL curve set). There were individuals who were very proactive and prepared to do anything to take the system live. There were the middle players who went with the team spirit and chipped in with whatever they could. Then, there were the few (fortunately only a few) who were waiting on a reactive mode to be told to do things.
More illuminating was the post go live structure.
The former set (the extreme chaps) were actually the ones who were beavering away at the system to ensure all issues were closed.
For some reason, the middle bits tend to drop back and this is I think primarily to do with the Adrenaline levels.
The folks at the end of the curve dropped even further back.
The next challenge is going to be to establish the post go live team. This will almost need a different set of skills & people. What is the next target ? How can we set new goals that are focused and progressive ?
Monday, March 31, 2008
MAFA : The various "avatars" of a generation of paper pushers
One of the oft quoted acronym to describe Indian bureaucracy's inaction is MAFA : The quote itself is attributed to Narayanmurthy, Vagul and a host of others, however, the symptoms of the issue are very apparent. Depending on who is quoted - the acronym stands for - Mistaking Articulation for Action or Mistaking Articulation for Accomplishment
The problem IMHO is not restricted to the bureaucracy - it is more widespread and is almost cultural. We LOVE to talk. The more articulate an individual, the more credit we give to the person - almost as if we are equating articulation with wisdom ?
In Inatech, we have some individuals who "talk the talk" very well. If one were to listen to the individuals at a superficial level, it would be very impressive. They always know what is missing, what should have been done etc. They are always saying the "right things". Actioning them is an altogether different matter !
While I've explained time and again that we need higher ownership to the issue and not just the right mouthing of words, it does not seem to sink in ?
Maybe it is to do with our schooling ?
Maybe it is to do with the fact that we are shown the "wrong" set of individuals within the community as we should emulate ?
Maybe we need to change all designation that has the word "manager" or "director" with "owner" or whatever it takes to get them to action bits.
What other words would be appropriate ?
Actor if it is going to imply Action ???? :-)
The problem IMHO is not restricted to the bureaucracy - it is more widespread and is almost cultural. We LOVE to talk. The more articulate an individual, the more credit we give to the person - almost as if we are equating articulation with wisdom ?
In Inatech, we have some individuals who "talk the talk" very well. If one were to listen to the individuals at a superficial level, it would be very impressive. They always know what is missing, what should have been done etc. They are always saying the "right things". Actioning them is an altogether different matter !
While I've explained time and again that we need higher ownership to the issue and not just the right mouthing of words, it does not seem to sink in ?
Maybe it is to do with our schooling ?
Maybe it is to do with the fact that we are shown the "wrong" set of individuals within the community as we should emulate ?
Maybe we need to change all designation that has the word "manager" or "director" with "owner" or whatever it takes to get them to action bits.
What other words would be appropriate ?
Actor if it is going to imply Action ???? :-)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Restart, Renew and ReUse on Global hour day ?
After a long hiatus, I've found the time or more importantly the inclination to blog again.
What better way to start than to pen a few thoughts on Earth Hour Day ?
As I write this while sitting in a hotel room in the US, it is "TIME" in India. Time for people to switch off for an hour as a gesture to energy conservation. Pity is, it seems to be a very "high brow" campaign.
Not sure how many see this ?
Maybe we should do this on a working day when the schools are in and all the kids are told about this and then they can convince their parents, peers and the public ?
The important factor is to impress upon people and bring in peer pressure. Let me illustrate the point with an example.
In Inatech, I've seen on numerous occasions that systems (PCs) are left on, lights are left on etc while winding up for the day. All opportunities to drill down the message seems to have had very little long-lasting effect. Things simmer down for a while and then cropup again (epidemic mode ?).
As an experiment, we now have BIG laminated notices that are left on each desk when we find the PC left on. This notice remains up during the day just to let the neighbours know that somone has forgotten (again !) to turn off equipment.
It seems to work !
What can we do at a global level for this kind of peer pressure ?
What better way to start than to pen a few thoughts on Earth Hour Day ?
As I write this while sitting in a hotel room in the US, it is "TIME" in India. Time for people to switch off for an hour as a gesture to energy conservation. Pity is, it seems to be a very "high brow" campaign.
Not sure how many see this ?
Maybe we should do this on a working day when the schools are in and all the kids are told about this and then they can convince their parents, peers and the public ?
The important factor is to impress upon people and bring in peer pressure. Let me illustrate the point with an example.
In Inatech, I've seen on numerous occasions that systems (PCs) are left on, lights are left on etc while winding up for the day. All opportunities to drill down the message seems to have had very little long-lasting effect. Things simmer down for a while and then cropup again (epidemic mode ?).
As an experiment, we now have BIG laminated notices that are left on each desk when we find the PC left on. This notice remains up during the day just to let the neighbours know that somone has forgotten (again !) to turn off equipment.
It seems to work !
What can we do at a global level for this kind of peer pressure ?
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