TAKE IT EASY

 

                                         TAKE IT EASY

                 To be Stress free, adopt ‘Take it Easy’ Policy

‘Stress’ has always been with mankind.

Stress is a complex physical and psychological response of an individual to any challenging or intimidating stimulus.

Stress, on the positive side, enables us to step up our efforts to survive and fight back. If there was no stress you would become lazy and remain in your comfort zone forever.

Stress, on the flipside, jolts us, threatens our cheerfulness, overwhelms our psyche and unless managed effectively ends up in inflicting several bodily and mental disorders.

Today, we are perpetually fatigued. Our mind is muddled. We have meagre resources to fight back, as we have to content with an unfriendly environment, natural disasters, polarisation, fragile and distant relationships and a workspace that demands success at any cost.

Though we can blame external factors for the mess we are in, we have to admit that stress is our inner response to the issues that pin us down. Stress, in most situations, can be effectively managed if we understand our discontent and learn to rewire ourselves.

There are two steps to manage stress.

First, disconnect ourselves from information, tasks and worries that are unimportant. Employ your time, energy and mental resources judiciously. Tell yourself, there are tasks that can wait, there is a lot of information you need not be aware of and there are worries that would never be life threatening.

Second, never carry a profound wish to bring about a change in people close to you. Perhaps they may not vibe with us. Please accept that in real life, some things will remain out of our control and will never match with our vision. Let go of them. Focus on what we can do to make our life more peaceful, meaningful and fulfilling.

De-stressing becomes a way of life when we learn to take it easy and discard superfluous baggage.

For, feelings of peace and happiness are not dependent on what is happening beyond us, but are based on how we feel within us.

 

Condensed from an article, in Times of India of 30^th November 2023, by Pulkit Sharma, Clinical Psychologist, Puducherry.   

 

ON DEMOCRACY DEBATE AND DISSENT D Y Chandrachud CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

 

ON DEMOCRACY  DEBATE  AND DISSENT

D Y Chandrachud

CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

 

The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud  says that a society that does not encourage its citizens to critically think, question powers that be and engage in non conformist democratic discourse will fail to progress because it will fail to create dissenters.

He elaborates, “Dissents emerge not from thin air but from a democratic culture of fierce debate. Abolition of slavery, annihilation of caste, emancipation of gender minorities and religious harmony were all once dissenting opinions.” “Social harmony in a democracy should not be achieved by flushing out dissent. In a democracy the majority will have its way, but the minority must have its say. A society is often known by its great dissenters because dissenters inform us of the location and direction of a democracy. The beauty of a democracy is the sense of moral status with which all citizens can participate in a country and the consensus in its decision making.”

THOMAS VARGHESE. C

 

C  THOMAS VARGHESE

Effective management of finance is paramount in all institutions and organizations.  It is a tough call.  It requires total commitment, dedication and self-sacrifice.  Late C. Thomas Varghese, former Honorary Treasurer of K.U.T. Seminary, Kannammoola, Trivandrum was all that and much, much more.  In fact he had excelled in the exercise all through his life. Hailing from Panikaredathu family, Kodukulanji and born in June 1926, Thomas Varghese (Baby – Babychayan) was a contemporary of late Rev.Dr.Jacob Verghis at S.B. College, Changanassery.  He joined the State Government Service after finishing his education.  He retired as Senior Joint Director, Department of Statistics, Government of Kerala in the year 1985.  Soon after retirement, he was appointed Honorary Treasurer, K.U.T.Seminary,  Kannammoola where he continued till 2005.  It had been 20 years of unblemished service.  The beauty is, he had never sought a position at K.U.T. Seminary.  But Rev.Dr.JacobVerghis, fully aware of the potential of Thomas Varghese, visited him with the appointment letter inviting him to be an integral part of K.U.T. Seminary.  True to Rev. Dr. Jacob Verghis’ vision, Thomas Varghese endeared himself to the K.U.T. Seminary in the role he was assigned.   The Principal, faculty and students respected him for his altruism.  None of them could ever forget him. To him, his tenure in K.U.T.S. was just an extension of what he had been earlier as a Government servant that was highlighted by intensive perseverance and loyalty.

Thomas Varghese was an astute judge of people.  He never deviated from the mandate he was assigned.  He never raised his voice.  But he was courageous to adhere to the rules and regulations.  It meant, during his long tenure, K.U.T.S. never encountered any financial upheaval. He ensured that stability prevailed at the institution on the fiscal front.

When I had been invited to take up the onerous responsibility as the Hon. Treasurer, KUTS, and even before I had committed myself, I had a phone call from Thomas Varghese Sir.  He said he knew I had been offered the post he had earlier held and he added I was the right choice and that he knew I could manage the challenges the job entailed very well.  He further told me, when he was working at K.U.T.S. he reached the office in the morning and had stayed on till evening, taking lunch from a hotel at the Kannammoola junction.  Well, that was true commitment. He had no complaints at all. He was happy he could serve KUTS.  He assured God would be with me during my tenure at K.U.T.S.

 Thomas Varghese Sir, lost his wife in the year 2011. It was hard. Together they had raised their children inculcating in them precious values of life and breathing God’s love and affection into their souls.  Though life alone was difficult from that point he had managed himself well with the support of his loving sons and their families till he was called back by God on 11^th October 2023.

 It was indeed a life of fulfilment. It is said, “When you touch the lives of others and lead them to a better life, you would be identified by what you have brought around.” It defines him.

We praise the Lord for his blessed life of 97 years that had been an inspiration to all those who knew him and to all those who had come into contact with him.

 

Amitabh Chaudhry MD& CEO Axis Bank

 

                          Amitabh Chaudhry 

                        MD& CEO Axis Bank

 

Amitabh Chaudhry has been helming Axis Bank from 1^st January 2019. He was 54 when he took over. It has been 5 years. He is the passionate, focussed and measured banker with a clear agenda.

 

As he had turned around HDFC Life and was basking in the success of its IPO with the most successful listing, no one had ever thought that he would move over.

 

He says, “In the last five years, I’ve constantly reminded myself that if there is a choice between something short term and long term, let’s go with long term, and if there is a hit which happens because of that, it’s okay.”

 

He has the technology background with his stint as MD&CEO Infosys BPO.

 

He articulates, “I worked for a foreign bank. I left it and was out of banking for a long period of time.” “Diversity helps because you have questions which don’t have easy answers. You can bring perspectives from outside which people who have been working within the system for long lose because they are in it every day.” “You have to watch your risk and react. You have to be seen as the crouching tiger that seizes every opportunity.” “Scale will come easily if I am giving the best customer experience in the industry.”

 

 An avid reader, he takes to his hobby only after he’s done catching up with e-mails. “I do read my e-mails, and I don’t let anyone else do it, especially because there are customer complaints.”

 

His team reveal he’s up to date with every customer complaint, and won’t let go till it’s sorted.

 

He concludes, “I came with my eyes and ears open and knew there will be challenges. Covid, obviously did not help. But going through this journey and working with a wonderful set of people has been a great journey, and I have no regrets whatsoever.’

 

Condensed from an article in BusinessLine, 4^th December2023

HUGE TALENT POOL

 

HUGE TALENT POOL 

Too much of a good thing can be dangerous

The retirement age for Govt. Employees was 58 or 60 when the state of Kerala came into being. I believe the latter is correct. In 1957 the Govt. brought it down to 55. It was raised to 56 in 2012 by the Oommen Chandy led Govt.

 Retirement age for Central Govt. employees is 60.

In Kerala the entry point to Govt service is 36 in General. It is above 40 for special categories. I could be wrong here.

When people are retired at 56, they are at their peak performance level. Sending them home with pension serves them well, but not for the state or the people. The pensioners have the fire in them. And life span has gone up over the years.  The Govt. pays the pension to former employees for doing nothing. Certainly one can argue that pension is the deferred payment of wages.

When the employees serve the Govt. there is value for money. Once they become pensioners the Govt. or the people get no value for money. It makes no economic sense.

Added to that the ever-galloping inflation forces the Govt. to revise the Salaries of Govt. servants and consequently the pension periodically. No harm there. It is natural justice.

The contention is that when people have nothing to do, they become Lotus Eaters. The question is, is it right? Transforming creativity to laziness is the worst any Govt. in its right senses can do.

Pay Pension by all means. Enhance it from time to time. People have to survive and lead a decent life. But make use of the huge talent pool that is unwittingly converted to the status of Lotus Eaters.

There is no harm in raising the retirement age to 60 in Kerala. Why do we hesitate to fall in line with the Central Govt. pattern? It could be that there is an ocean of the unemployed waiting to get into Govt. service to secure their lives. But how many are really getting in? A miniscule minority. The real function of a successful Govt. is to generate alternative opportunities for its people.

The pensioners too have to be employed to get the best out of them. And do not send them home at 56 when there is still fire in them. Idling away  creativity at the prime is the harbinger of economic disintegration.

Too much of a good thing can be dangerous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bone marrow Transplant

 

 What does one do in Kerala when he goes jobless for years together? Especially when his family is in penury.

He tries to migrate or emigrate. It is not that he is after riches. The intention is to land a job abroad and ensure a better lifestyle for the family with his earnings.

Rajesh just did that.

Vilayasserril Rajesh went abroad with great difficulty. A native of Kunthirical, Thalavady in the District of Alappuzha, Kerala, India, Rajesh had limited options. He could have stayed on in his native place performing odd jobs. But abject poverty drove him to distant shores.

He found a job in Dubai, the paradise or the land of promises or the land of milk and honey for all Keralites.  The compensation wasn’t mind boggling. In fact it hardly sufficed. However, the family in India was sustained by inward remittances of. Rajesh. Family meant, Rajesh’s parents, his wife and his son.

Alas, everything went topsy-turvy when Rajesh collapsed at the work place. There was medical intervention at once. The diagnosis stunned Rajesh as well as his family. He was in need of Bone marrow transplant to save his life. Rajesh returned to India as the cost of treatment abroad was beyond his means.  It meant he rejoined the ever-swelling ranks of the jobless of our country. He was admitted to Believer’s Church Hospital in Tiruvalla.  The Hospital has estimated the cost of the treatment as Rs.20.00 lacs.   

Rajesh and his family know they are outwitted. The family resides in an apology of a house – a ramshackle contraption -  in a 2 cents’ plot in Kunthirical, Thalavady. For the uninitiated it is Kuttanad, the granary of Kerala, but susceptible to waterlogging and heavy flooding that occurs without notice at any point of time.  Even if they sell the property,  Rs.20.00 lacs. would remain a distant dream as property prices have not sky rocketed there. Further, the disposal of the property would transport the family to the homeless, jobless status and abject penury where the recent trend or fashion in Kerala is ending it all on a whim. Well, Rajesh and his family do not subscribe to that philosophy. They are battle scarred but not battle weary. Hope leads them. They believe the impossible is not their destiny. 

The trials and tribulations of Rajesh and his family raises questions upon the whole humanity.

We have to immerse ourselves in empathy. It is imperative, when we are well off even on a constricted scale, we lend a hand to assist those in need. Who knows what tomorrow holds for us. 

How wonderful it would be if people think of Rajesh and his family for a moment and act decisively to make the world a better place for them as well as us.

 

 

 

 

 

PALANIVEL THIAGA RAJAN

Finance Minister, Tamil Nadu.

 

Lineage

Grandson of Sir P.T. Rajan, former Chief Minister, Madras Presidency

Son of PTR Rajan, former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker and Minister

Qualification

B.Tech(Hons) from NIT Trichy

Masters and PhD from State University of New York

Formerly an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and Standard Chartered in New York and Singapore.

 

Attributes his sense of inner stability to two major events – a miraculous escape during 9/11 attacks (his office was in the basement of the twin towers) and his job with Lehman Brothers during the 2008 freefall.

“You realize nothing is permanent”, he says.

In a corporate set up you strive to add to your own value. In public life you have to add value to society.

Inclusive growth – everybody has access to everything within the boundaries of social and economic fairness.

“I do not need to name drop. I am who I am. And, yes, every chance I get, I invoke my ancestors because it is our Tamil culture to pay respect to our forefathers”

“My sons are young at 16 and 11. I am not going to put any pressure on them. I want them to study well, see the world and do what interests them.”

“I am fortunate to have been blessed with a strong partner. Margaret and I met at university. She has adjusted well to life in India. She keeps the sons grounded. Though it hurts, we deny them certain luxuries because we want them to understand that we are instilling certain values.”

“I love to spend time with my family. They are my lifeline and laughter is our medicine. Our pets bind us. The five dogs and a kitten at home are my best stress busters. . 

In a corporate set up you strive to add to your own value. In public life you have to add value to society.

Inclusive growth – everybody has access to everything within the boundaries of social and economic fairness."

“I do not need to name drop. I am who I am. And, yes, every chance I get, I invoke my ancestors because it is our Tamil culture to pay respect to our forefathers”

“My sons are young at 16 and 11. I am not going to put any pressure on them. I want them to study well, see the world and do what interests them.”

(Excerpts from a 40 minute slot seamlessly transcended into a 140 minute off beat conversation with Soma Basu, published in The Hindu Magazine of 10 October 2021)