Success and Failure

An important learning from 2012

God does not assure success;
but he helps us to accept and understand failure.

God on our side need not mean we will win every time;
it means His presence will ensure that we never feel dejected or depressed by failure.

IOCL Program on MaNAGERIAL sKILLS

13.12.2012

Conducted a program on Managerial Skills for the Executives of Indian Oil Corporation. It was quite well received. 98% of the participants rated my program as excellent. The rest gave Very Good.

Here are some pics:

Friends Forever Forum

I was invited by the Friends Forever Forum to address them on 9^th June 2012. The meeting was at The YWCA at Egmere. They were a small group of like-minded intellectuals who come together every second Saturday to discuss matters of common interest, interact with each other, have a nice dinner over further sparkling conversation and part with a sense of friendship and companionship. The members take turns to host the dinner. The speaker is either one of themselves or a guest like me is roped in to deliver a brief speech and lead the interaction.

  My good friend Dr. Radhika Nanwani is a member, and on 9^th June it was Dr. Radhika’s turn to be host. I was asked to speak on the topic Transformation. I explained how transformation at an individual level is possible by truly applying the fourth habit, Think Win/Win and the fifth habit Seek First to Understand and then to be Understood. When a person is willing to Transfoorm he automatically improves relationships and bondings as he is able to see things from a holistic perspective rather than the tunnel-vision that is induced by self-interest or obsessions. He also overcomes weaknesses like anger through a process of self-introspection.

I shared experiences from my own life when I had failed in relationships and how I used the Seven Habits to help me transform myself to become something somewhat better than my earlier self. But as we all agreed personal transformation is a continuous and never-ending journey.

Here is a gist of what I spoke. My actual speech was a longer and we had numerous interactions that took us down diverse paths.

Transformation means a change from one state to another state. It is preferable that the change should not be merely cosmetic or external but rather internal. In fact, transformation should be through growth and evolution. That is to say, it must be a positive movement from a lesser state of existence to a better and more preferable one.

Transformation becomes possible only if we accept that we are imperfect and are willing to listen to feedback about ourselves. Once we understand the expectations that others (especially our near and dear ones) have about us, we can attempt to transform into something better. We must accept that our current behavior is unacceptable; thereafter we may find approaches to transform ourselves.  In fact a willingness to transform proactively can result in better relationships with other people. We can become a better spouse, parent, employer, employee, friend and so on.

According to C S Lewis, growth is better than change. He says, “a tree grows by adding rings to itself; a train does not grow by going from one station to another.”

To quote the Bhagavad Gita:

“vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya  navani grhnati naro 'parani  tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi”

This translates as follows:

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.

Transformation is truly like the development of a bright and iridescent butterfly from an ugly caterpillar through the stage of being a chrysalis or pupa. Those of us who have read Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach can understand this.

As constant practice of thinking and contemplating on life continues, one would come to the unerring conclusion that this life itself is but one state and that death is merely a transformation from a gross to a subtle state of existence of the spirit.

Our lives should, thus, be a series of transformations. Each transformation should take us to a higher plane of existence. The ultimate goal of these successive transformations should be realization of God and becoming so luminous as to merge into his effulgence.Every religion has a name for this like Paradise, Nirvan or Moksh.

The Friends Forever Forum is open to all. The stress is on Friendship, so the atmosphere is non-judgmental and supportive. While divergent views are expressed, the tone is always polite and friendly. The idea is to learn and grow rather than influence others. I like the Friends Forever Forum and strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to spend an evening every month in relaxed intellectual conversation with friends. It is better not to go with an evangelistic motive. Your can  share your knowledge and views while at the same time you should be perfectly willing and able to listen, understand and value the inputs given by the other person.

Are bookshops going to become redundant?

Sitting in Hyderabad Airport doing something I always love to do. I am just outside the Airport Bookshop ordering books online. What astounds me is that the very same books that I could have bought at the shop for huge cover prices are available online at 40% below the cover price. It takes about a week for the online bookshop to supply my order. So what? I have saved so much money. I already have books to read on flight. These are books I would love to read; but not so desperately and immediately.

Browsing in bookshops is definitely cool! But buying there is definitely uncool!

Actually the online browsing experience is awesome as every title is at your fingertip and a search away! At Landmark you have to request the sullen and surly TATA employee for the title you want and wait pathetically while he asks around apathetically and returns with the usual, "sorry sir or madam (as the case maybe! Because he's too busy to notice anyway!) It is not available.

Online book shopping allows you to search different editions and compare prices If you don't want to buy you can put it on your wishlist and later buy it.

Finally, the payment can be made on delivery! (At least on Flipkart and Homeshop18 it is possible.)

Odyssey has suspended its 360 website! In fact I was an Odyssey customer online till my 14 year old son put me on to flipkart. Then I discovered Home Shop 18 and put him on to it!

Landmark is the same snooty entity online too and the prices are not at all competitive. No wonder they are forced to sell books at discount by putting them in 3 for 2 and 2 for 1 bundles. Why don't they simply accept that the book selling business is going online and work on a friendly on line presence.

Finally as of now and for the record Homeshop 18 is the cheapest in India! Check it out! May be they are cutting their own throat!

But why should we care! Happy online book shoppuing!

Beyond Auditing

CA G Narayanaswamy’s Autobiography was released yesterday at a function at the Sivakami Pethichi Auditorium. Usually at most book releases, the function starts as and when enough people arrive. For Beyond Auditing, the hall was packed about half an hour before the appointed time! The function started exactly on time. This, by itself, was an indicator of the tremendous importance of the event.

The luminaries on the dias included Dr. M S Swaminathan, The Father of India’s Green Revolution who released the book. Mr. B.S.Raghavan, IAS (Retd.) presided over the meeting. Mr. Era. Sezhiyan, Ex-MP, Mr. K. Vaidyanathan, Editor, Dinamani                          and Mr. S. Gurumurthy, FCA, Columnist felicitated. The function was organized by the Rajaji Centre for Public Affairs and D Rangaswamy Academy for Fiscal Research.

On returning from the function I went out for dinner with my wife. On return, being an insomniac I decided to dip into the book which I had purchased at the stall immediately after the release. Believe me, I was enthralled by the book! It was a page-turner that kept me going and suddenly I found I had travelled with GN, the author from his school days in Kumbakonam to his taking up practice in Madras! The book is as gripping as a Jeffrey Archer novel. The story of an impoverished kumbakonam boy who goes on to become a highly influential Chartered Accountant and Public Figure is endearing and interesting. I kept turning the pages eager to know what happens next as GN relates anecdotes involving his contemporaries who were all men of influence and reputation in their respective fields. If this book had been written as a novel in Tamil it would need a writer of Balakumaran’s skill to tell it!

But GN tells his story like a true accountant. Without a trace of hyperbole! The words are so matter-of-fact yet, they evoke emotions that strike at the very root of one’s soul. Every one who believes in the value of values will find themselves relating to GN’s story.

GN says, “one need not boast of one’s poverty striken past, nether should one forget or be ashamed of the same.” This is a classic example of the balanced approach that epitomizes the profession of accountancy.

This is not mean self-congratulatory retelling of GN’s achievements. It is a veritable chronicle of our times and a vital document that historians in furture times will rely on to get a better understanding of the events described by GN from first-hand experience.

The book should be a must-read for every Chartered Accountant. Every page will make everyone of us proud to belong to the same profession that can count this colossus in its list of members! GN is truly the Charteres Accountant’s Chartered Accountant!

 In fact every Indian who wants to make meaning out of this mindless morass that our country has become should read this book to get their bearings straight on their journey through life. GN is a beacon light standing tall and proud showing us both the way ahead as well as the dangers that will beset greed and falsehood.

Here is a giant among men who shows the way not by command but by example and a quintessentially Gandhian humility that is gentle yet strong!

The Here and Now

Verily the Cosmos resides in the Flesh

The Flesh is inside the Cosmos

Thus intertwined and oft intersecting

All that we have is the HERE and NOW;

It is ALL that we can OWN

Sum of ALL that we can KNOW.

Sreesri

Rose of Ridwan

1st May 2012



I was invited to be the Chief Guest at the Ridwan celebration of the Locakl Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i s of Chennai. Ridwan is the Birthday of the founder of the Baha'i Faith  known as the Ba'b.


Bahai'sm is a new religion founded in Iran that promotes Unity of Religions and Manifestations.
The Baha'is are a peaceful community that does good to society and promotes tolerance.

The Lotus Temple in New Delhi

Baha'u'llah (1817-1892) is the Prophet of the Baha'i Faith. He is regarded by Baha'is as the most recent Divine Teacher in the line of the Messengers of God that have enlightened the peoples of the earth with their divine teachings. These include Divine Teachers such as Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. The central theme of Baha'u'llah's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification into one global society. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth, as perceived by Baha'u'llah, is to accept their oneness and, to assist the processes of unification of the entire human race and to thereby carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. For more information on Baha'is in India visit www.bahai.in 

The LSA of the Chennai Baha'is gives the Rose of Ridwan Awards to people who have served the community. This time the Awards were given away at Satyalok, Porur, Chennai. I was the Chief Guest. The Awards were presented to the following:

• Mr. V Arun for his efforts in saving Oliver Ridley Turtles on the East Coast Road stretch of beach. (An unassuming youngster who was silent yet smiling throughout the function.)
• Ms. Aparna Nagesh for her contribution to dancing and culture. (An elusive lady who, like Cinderalla, had to rush immediately after receiving her award.
• Mr. P R Krishnamachari for his contributions through the Single Teachers School. (A great Philanthophist. We discovered many links through Freemasonry and Lionism)
• Mrs. Jalandhara a famous telugu writer for her contribution to literature. (Her daughter Dr. Madhavi and her troupe performed an exquisite dance drama on the Science and Religion.)
• Mr. Ramasubramaniyam a social activist and founder of Samanvaya who is engaged in promoting eco-friendly technology. (He is famous for his info-talks on food safety and danger of fast food culture.) To know more visit www.samanvaya.com
• Mr. Saify Saria for his service to society through his zero violation of Mind concept. To know more visit zvmworld.com
• The Rolling Shield went to  Ekam Foundation represented by the humble and ever-smiling Dr. Sailakshmi. To know more  visit www.ekamoneness.org

I delivered a talk on Bahai'sm and my experiences right from 1987 when I had heard Mr. L Rasheed. One thing that impressed me about this religion is its extreme tolerance and willingnesss to accept the Truth in all Religions while rejecting falsehood and superstition wherever it is. 

The Dance Drama that followed showed how ScIeNce can become SIN and REliGiOn can become EGO!

The ambience in Satyalok gardens was so nice and the gentle evening breeze made the open air arrangement cool and comfortable. Our lungs could enjoy the expanding influence of the fresh air and pure oxygen of the open spaces.