Quite a disgusting way we treat visitors at christ church

Quite a disgusting way we treat visitors at christ church

My granddaughter has the sunday school exam. I left her at the Centenary Hall. Came up to church's porch. Sat down reading.

Two British ladies came to me. They had a picture of Emperor Hailie Selassie with them. One lady said she was working in the Hailie Selassiie museum in England. She wanted to see the Hall the emperor helped to build. She said the museum she worked was earlier the british residence of the emperor. The other lady said she was working in a university in England.

The church was locked. They said they wished to see the interior of the church. No way. There was an official of the church here. I enquired who had the key. He rang up some one. Then he told me to ask the ladies to speak to another official. 

Then I found the sexton. When quizzed if he had the key he asked me to speak to another official.

When I talked to him he I felt was furious about the foreign visitors. He came up and interrogated them. Finally he said he was satisfied about their credentials. He asked them to go around the tombs and take photos of the exterior of the church. He said further he would get the church opened, but they do not encourage photography inside. The dichotomy surprised me. There had never been any bar on photography inside the church when events took place.

As I found the treatment not to my liking I quietly slipped away. 

Suddenly I find the church open and I think they are inside the church along with the official.

Fine hospitality

 They just came out. They said this is a cute church. Thanked me and left. 

For my part I invited them to KUTS and gave my contact in case they wished to visit KUTS

Gukesh Dommaraju's parents

 Gukesh Dommaraju's parents are both doctors: 

Dr. Rajinikanth

An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon who gave up his practice to support his son's chess career. He traveled with Gukesh to tournaments around the world. 

Dr. Padma Kumari

A microbiologist who managed the household while her husband was away. She provided emotional support for Gukesh, sharing motivational stories and quotes from famous people. 

Gukesh's parents' decision to support his chess career was unconventional and challenging. Padma says that her husband's sacrifice was the biggest a father could make, and that he helped Gukesh reach his level.

The Marwari Psyche

 The Marwari Psyche

Marwaris have business in their blood. 

Failure in business is not perceived as a stigma.

It is seen as a rite of passage for future success!

AB de Villiers, former SA Captain on Virat Kohli

 AB de Villiers, former SA Captain on Virat Kohli.

I think the thing is to reset your mind every time. Virat loves the fight, but when you are not in the form of your life, it's best to get rid of those things. As a batter it is to reset every single and understand every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler.

Yes, you have to take things in life one at a time as they burst upon you

PAT CUMMINS

 This is an adaptation from cricket with the credit going to Pat Cummins, the Australian Skipper.

When you are behind, a lot of things get questioned, fairly or unfairly. It shows the strength of the group to stay strong, know that we weren't at our best but can get better, know we won't get caught up in the external noise and clutter, and just focus on what makes us good players and a good team.

It's about what you don't change more than what you change.

THE TRUE LEADER

 He must be a guide through the challenging times.

He must possess the wisdom passed down through ages. 

He must have the ability to think clearly, counsel sagely and work tirelessly.

He must be the rock of Gibralter for his followers.

He should never settle for less.

His dedication and sense of duty should permeate to his people.

He should have expertise in negotiation and strategic planning.

He must approach everything with an unwavering conviction

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.

FAMILY TIME

 To be successful you need to be organised and disciplined. 

You need to have perfect work - life balance.

You need to prioritise family time.

If you have important assignments work around those commitments and never let them intrude into the space set apart for the family.

A home is a reflection of the people that inhabit it. Your dream home would represent what one can achieve with hardwork, determination and drive. 

Your home must be more than a house to you. It will be a place filled with memories, love and the essence of your journey as a family.

It must have serene spaces where you'll discover inspiration and clarity

LALITHA ACT

 LALITHA ACT

Geography lesson was in progress in the ninth grade class room of a Chennai School

The teacher was asking questions on National Capitals 

He first asked Ramaswamy, "What is the capital of Denmark?

Ramaswamy didn't know the answer. He was suitably admonished.

Then he asked Govindan who was also clueless and was promptly rebuked.

Next it was poor Rajamani's turn. He looked totally blank. By then the teacher lost his cool and shouted, "Stupid idiot, you do not know anything. You are a disgrace to this School. Stand up on the bench!"

Rajamani complied and stood up on the bench. (Standard punishment those days)

Next tbe teacher turned to Lalitha, the class beauty.

He asked Laltha gently, "Lalitha, do you know what is the Capital of Denmark?"

Lalitha looked innocent and kept quiet.

He continued, "My dear, I am sure you know, it is Cop, Cop...."

Lalitha replied "Cop, Cop.." and stopped.

The teacher gently continued, "I know it is in the tip of your tongue - Copen, Copen"

Lalitha answered parrot like "Copen, Copen..." and stopped.

The teacher then said Copenhagen!" and Lalitha responded triumphantly with " It is Copenhagen, Sir!"

The teacher beamed and said "See, see, I knew that you always had the answe."

He then turned towards Rajamani and warned him that it was time that he got his act together and improved his knowledge!

The writer continues. He says in almost all organisations, some people who silently toil hard are treated badly and are ignored as the lowliest.

There are equivalents of  hounded Rajamanis and pampered Lalthas in all organisations.

He concludes, "It is time we spare a thought to the backroom boys who keep our systems going and give them the respect they deserve.

From

A Captain In Corporate Wonderland 

by

Captain N S Mohan Ram

Santha Bakery

 It is said, every good thing comes to an end some day.

Yet, it is sad after 84 years, it is curtains down for the iconic Santha Bakery of Trivandrum.

The products of Santha Bakery had set an elevated benchmak for bakeries in Trivandrum. They were much in demand. There were no left overs for the next day. Whatever was on the shelves were gobbled up by the clientale as soon as they went on display.

It was a Bread, Bun, Biscuits, Cakes, Puffs show all the way. They were all created at Santha Bakery. The irresistible quality was its showpiece. 

We have not seen the kind of bread anywhere else except at the Queens Bakery that withered away many decades ago. They were worthy competitors. But Santha Bakery was inches ahead.

Time does not stand still for anyone. 

We hope the quality of Santha Bakery's products is replicated in the large number of Bakeries Trivandrum abounds in.

MANU BHAKER

 Sumedha Bhaker, mother of Manu Bhaker, winner of two Paris  Olymipics 2024 Bronze medals in shooting.

"I want to tell all parents to leave their kids alone and give them freedom. Let them pursue what they want. Just support them. You should not push them too much.

Manu had it inside her. That crazy obsession to do well. That quality helped her to do well in her game. 

Mothers should be there for their daughters and should help them flourish. They have a lot of potential but should be left free."

Sumedha had left her passion, teaching, to be with her daughter and accompany her. She had relocated to Faridabad, Haryana to be close to the shooting range and be with Manu.

She concludes, " I believe if a mother accompanies her daughter it gives her a lot of confidence."

TVS SCOOTY

 When TVS launched the SCOOTY in 1994, it had captured a respectable share of the market.

The company discovered a potential problem with the exhaust system after thousands of vehicles were sold. 

The design was modified to eliminate the flaw.

The company honchos pondered over what was to be done with the vehicles in the hands of the customers.

The consensus was to attend to the complaints  on the exhaust system  quickly and do nothing if there were no complaints.

The MD Venu Sreenivasan was furious and put his foot down.

He said that the person who did not complain might be cursing TVS and telling others that the Scooty was a disaster. On the other hand the man who complained was really TVS's friend. The man who did not complain might be quietly fuming and was a potential enemy. He instructed that the company should contact every customer who had bought a vehicle with the defective exhaust system and  ensure that the defect was addressed at once.

He had further directed that the company should give the customers temporary vehicles for use during the exercise to spare inconvenience.

The replacement was quiet expensive for the company at a time when its profits were down.

However the care the company exercised for the customers made the Scooty a resounding success. It placed TVS firmly as the leaders of the small scooter segment

The Harsh Boss

 You may feel bad when your boss is harsh and demanding and is correcting you anywhere and  everywhere. However please remember you can do very well and climb higher and higher only when you become a glutton for absorbing punishment and in turn  nurture an eagerness to improve yourself  day by day

Why IAS is a hot pick for IITians

 Why IAS is a hot pick for IITians

1.The best way to pursue important public sector projects is through working within the Government.

2.It gives you tangible satisfaction. 

3.There is diversity in roles.

4.It commands respect.

5.While it takes 20 years to become the CEO of a company, as an IAS officer, you are holding a leadership position at a very young age.

6.There is a domino effect at play. When the seniors clear the exam, the culture trickles down to the junior batches.

 As we bring up our children, we must deglamourise certain professions and broaden the narrative around the vast opportunities available. They should be oriented on the immense opportunities in entrepreneurship, innovation and emerging technologies. They must be made aware that every sector has enough opportunities and that  diversity in expertise would lead them to greater achievements.

JALAJ SAXENA

 JALAJ SAXENA

Jalaj Saxena, 38,  is a Spinner - all rounder in Cricket. He plays for Kerala. Though the most consistent performer in domestic cricket an India call up has eluded him.

He says, " I still have a dream to play for India, so it's a big motivation. 

I don't have any expectation I will get a call tomorrow. Nothing like that. It's a part of my process that in the off season I think what better I can do. I need to do my hard work and I need to play for India, that's what keeps me going..."

Though unrealistic he believes as a professional he has to keep turning out for the country as the ultimate aim.

He believes he cannot survive if he doesn't have it in him.

Darkness cannot be removed by another form of darkness. It must be dispelled with light.

Bad Nauheim Marketing lesson

 Bad Nauheim

Marketing lesson

Elvis Presley was the king of rock'n'roll in the 1950's and '60s. Even today, 50 years after his passing he has a cult following across the world.

Bad Nauheim is a small spa town with a population of 33000 in Germany.  It is the only place Elvis had ever lived in outside America. 

He arrived at the place in1958 to do his mandatory military service. Afterwards he lived there for two years at Goethestrasse 14 from 1959 to 1960. This is the home where he met Priscilla and fell in love with her.

Bad Nauheim has converted this brief historical sojourn into a tourist gold mine showcasing meticulously every spot in the town Elvis touched. He is unmissable in the whole place. Every August around the death anniversary of the singer the town organises the European Elvis festival.

Elvis Presley may have stayed in Bad Nauheim only for two years. But because of the brilliant marketing programne the town has created he continues to live on here forever, attracting a continuous stream of tourists, that hugely benefits the local economy

THE LAW OF INCREASE

 

 THE LAW OF INCREASE

The law of increase states that that which we truly appreciate and are grateful for will increase in our life.

When we can focus on something and appreciate it with all our heart and the gratitude for having it in our life wells out and overflows, we will find that more and more of it will automatically appear in our life.

Stay completely in the moment as you speak with another person. Look them in the eye. Observe their facial expressions.

Do things unhurriedly. Unhurriedly, not slowly.

Defeats teach a lot of lessons

 Defeats teach a lot of lessons

Failures help you discover 

Where you go wrong

Where you need refinement

Failures are not 

The end of the road

They make you 

Fight on

Learn from your failures

Do not harp on

Your successes

That are there anyway

The True CEO

The CEO has to bat for the company. But if things are not working he must get rid of the baggage. 

He must ensure that the company breaks out of the formal, hierarchical mode. Then he has to  transform the brand strategy. Let people choose.Make what sells rather than letting  people buy what you make. 

Do something you are really interested in. Have the courage to make bold decisions and go all in on it. There will be moments in your life where you will have to make super big decisions. Never hesitate.

Innovation has multiple roles. Serve unmet needs. Expand the universe. Look for salience around big ideas. But when you have more ideas than work you can be certain you are reaching nowhere. You have to decisively act and discard the flab.

EDUCATION VERITABLE QUOTES

  Rabindranath Tagore

"Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."

 The idea that stress in education is inevitable needs to give way to the understanding that real learning thrives in nurturing environments.

 Swami Vivekananda

Education is the manifestation of perfection already present in man

 Each child blossoms as per his/her talent.

 The role of educators is to nurture the unique talent of a child leading to his/her excellence in chosen field

Life's path may not always be linear but zigzag.

 Make learning a joyful undertaking rather than a burdensome obligation

Create spaces where diverse talents can find their spark and flourish

Benchmark against the finest

 

The Hindu 11February2025

See the title. Relevant anywhere and  everywhere.

This was  my advice to  Anoop when he was in school. It was to benchmark himself against the finest in the class.

Anoop is my son.

Yes one can benchmark against anyone of choice who may be equal to you or slightly lower than you and be happy you are better off. 

But you wiil then be  nowhere in the world, you have to bear in mind.

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

 

It was the time  when our family was in dire straits. Papa had retired on 31stJanuary1975. Laji and Leela were students at Thumba Trivandrum and Kottayam. They were in the Hostel. I was scouting for a job and was in the wilderness. The family income was zero. 

I never thought I would join a bank. 

16thSeptember1975, The Bank of Cochin Ltd took me on as an Executive Trainee at a princely stipend of Rs.400.00 per month.

The family survived on that.

I am here now.

But what is described in the archived news is absolutely true. 

Man mangement was the toughest job while I was in the Bank.

It holds true even today.

Rich History of Hyderabad Secunderabad StAndrews Marthoma Church

 Rich History of Hyderabad Secunderabad StAndrews Marthoma Church

This was the Church where my cousin's son's wedding took place on 21December2024 that necessitated our trip to Hyderabad.

My cousin was telling me when Scots left India they had handed it over to the CSI, MarThoma and Orthodox groups. The CSI membership was low at that time. There was a stage when the Churches had to contribute together for probably the 99 year lease, the CSI people didnot contribute and had exited from the united  group, leaving the Church to the Orthodox and MarThoma. 

They worshipped at the same church at different hours for sometime. Later the Orthodox built their own Church in the compound. The property  is in a prime location. 

MarThoma after this had rebuilt the Church. 

Both the Churches look majestic leaving the CSI to rue the opportunity it had squandered.

Saji, my cousin, MarThoma, posts from Hyderabad

Since the CSI squandered their golden opportunity then, it took them almost 74 years to build their own church. The lapse of time and inflation only permitted construction in a relatively remote part of Hyderabad.

KARUN NAIR

 KARUN NAIR

Karun Nair has experienced the glorious uncertainties of cricket, and life, more than most players.

He scored a triple hundred in his third test. He was promptly dropped for the next test as he had stepped in for an injured Ajinkya Rahane.

Karun was disacrded in 2017 after participating in three more tests.

He represented Karnataka though he was from Kerala.

He was dropped from all Karnataka teams in 2022.

A heartbroken Karun tweeted, "Dear cricket, give me one more chance."

Cricket did. 

Karun has made the best out of it.

He moved to Vidarbha where he commands respect with his prolific scoring.

 Work doesn't feel like work when you have the right tools

Versatility

 The best companies reinvent themselves multiple times. 

They make fundamental changes across all aspects of business.

Risk is not external. It is self  generated.

The ultimate test of leadership is for teams to harness the opposing forces of humility and relentless drive.

Harness market intelligence.

Versatility is most essential in managemen

DREAMS and SUCCESS

 To be successful you don't have to be Ivy League educated. 

Normal people with normal backgrounds and difficult childhoods can achieve their dreams.

t

EVANA / SNOOPY

 

Snoopy breathed his last at 11pm on 27thMarch2025. Cause unknown.  Healthy, he was very active till 9.45pm. We have no idea what happened in between. He  couldn't get up when Ashwin came at 10.30pm. We could see he was struggling.  And he just faded away.

We grieve. 

Inconsolable. 

He was the perfect watchdog. 

Dachshund. 

Nothing  could pierce the line he drew except his mentors at home.

Snoopy, one year old, came into our lives in 2021. His  obedience was flawless. Affectionate, he would wait for us  to touch him and play with him as we returned home from our assignments or sojourns. 

Evana drew this picture when he passed away. She loved him  and he in turn  reciprocated. Elvin was enamoured by his voice and he loved to watch him through the glass window.

We placed the picture on Snoopy as we buried him.

 Ashwin was devastated as he placed Snoopy in the grave along with Evana's picture that captured what we all felt deep within us.  Tears flowed down his cheeks in torrents.

We were no exception.

Lila, who took good care of Snoopy all this while from 2021 could not absorb the shock.

Life, we know, is short. But this departure was so sudden we are unable to cope with the loss.

All we can say, it was unfair.

A HEARTWRENCHING TRUE STORY

 

A HEARTWRENCHING TRUE STORY

Koliyoor

ARUN RANI (35) expired. daughter of Gopi and Baby, Pappanamcode Vettikuzhiyil. Husbnd:Sarath

Children: Aditya Sarath, Anamika

I put it here to make people aware the extreme agony many suffer quite unknown to humanity

Malayala Manorama 26March2025

Rani passed away on 24thMarch. She was working at a shop till January. She left when she was in the advanced state of pregnancy. She was a patient at W&C Thycaud for the past few months. However the hospital asked her to move on to SAT for better care.

She gave birth to a baby girl last week. It was C.section. She was discharged after four days from delivery.  At home on the 24th she developed breathing difficulty. She was at once shifted to Al Arif, Ambalathara. However she was declared DOA at the hospital. 

She is survived by her husband for whom family came first, a 9 year old son and an eight days old daughter.

Her father who survived a stroke is being looked after by her mother who suffers seriously from cancer.

The joint family had survived on the earnings of Rani and Sarath.

Rani was a bright girl who had been conscientious in her work. She was willing to learn all the time. Her character was impeccable.

The child is now looked after by her sister in law who herself  has been going through hard times the past couple of years

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Babu Mathew comments:

Very sad 

Remember and acknowledge her service even during covid period

EVANA 6years

 

Mallus' Mind

 

The College had taken great pains to Aircondition the hall where examinations were conducted. Funds were short. Yet we wanted to ensure the students wrote their examinations in comfort.

Treasurer is my role there.

As I was stepping out I saw a few students coming out of the exam hall. 

I enquired whether the AC was functional. They said AC was there. There was no answer to the question whether it was comfortable. The answer was a sullen, "It was cold inside, but it's very hot outside."

We are moored in negativism. Good is a word that will never come out of us, I thought.

When I forwarded this to the apex authority of the College, the reply was just two words.

"Mallus' mind!'

"Exact coinage,'' I responded.

K R Srivats

 1.K R Srivats, who wrote on all matters related to finance, economy and banking in The Hindu Businessline for 28 years passed away in the wee hours of 25thMarch2025. 53 is not an age to go. But the great man went off. He left behind a staggering body of work that could be  instructive to economists, journalists and students.

2.In an age when knowledge is a WhatsApp forward and ethics are for losers, his professionalism, scholarship and value system were a class apart.

3.He possessed a youthfulness that put reporters half his age to shame.

4.He read the Budget documents and Company Balance Sheets with as much enthusiasm as he figured out the nuances of the Brazilian Football team's strategy in the World Cup or the hidden meanings in Donald Trump's executive orders.

5.Nothing was insignificant to him.

6.His brand of  journalism traced its rigour to a more ethical and pristine age in the profession.

7.Monetary gains never tempted him. He lived frugally in a rented flat and travelled by public transport. 

8.There was no egotism in him.

9.He was the exemplary journalist and scholar without ever seeming to be one.

10.Ordinary material aspirations simply escaped him. His ethical framework was strong and incorruptible.

11.The joy he consistently and spontaneousl brought to routine work was infectious.

12.No one could remain immune to his boundless capacity for learning.

13.The depth of his understanding was encyclopaedic.

14.You could turn to him for anything and garner the answer in a few minutes.

15.He wrote in an absolutely lucid language.

16.His griefstricken colleagues bemoan,

"We are proud and privileged to have worked with this brilliant journalist even as we are devastated by his loss."

Source. The Hindu Businessline 26March2025

The Husband

 

The Husband

In the normal scenario the husband would be earning more than the wife or he might be the sole earning member. Apart from the family responsibilities he has to shoulder, the demands on his job would be taxing him inexorabaly.

How does he manage?

He knows how to compartmentalise. It makes him switch on and switch off and juggle his responsibilities with no overhang. He multitasks at so many levels. He shuts off one side of his brain and focusses on the other  and then goes back and forth.  He knows the family revolves around him. It makes him create quality time for the family. Though he could not be physically present at all  important events in the family due to his heavy  work load he would compensate for it with the quality of attention  he  provides when he is with the family.

He supports his wife and encourages her to realise her own potential. The transformation would be unbelievable to those who knew her earlier.

His children know he would be there when they need him most though he may not be able to be with them all the time.

He inspires every one around him. He  wins their trust. He makes them raise their level of performance higher and higher.

The family too.

What do Christians lack as a community

What do  Christians lack as a community

Rev Alex P Oommen, Pastor CSI Tholassery on transfer after three years was given a send off on 12^th may2024. We followed that on YouTube. It was fantastic.

 

What surprised me was how Tiruvalla has been transformed. Many, who spoke, expressed themselves in chaste English, something invisible in the 1960s.

 

Nevin, from Mundiappally, a rural village with minimum infrastructure, had recently succeeded in the civil services examination with rank 225. He did his Schooling at the Believers School at Kuttapuzha, yet another village. He did his degree Hons at St Stephens, Delhi and was doing his PG there when he attempted the Civil Services exam.

 

When I had joined for my Pre degree, after a month, a close relative had enquired whether I was having any religious activity in the College. I did wonder whether I was going to the college for that.

 

Well, I have often wondered why Christians rarely aspire for the Civil Services. True, an IPS officer had once told me it offers the finest job and opportunity in India. But one had to invest four years of life into it, he said. The crux is here. Christians long for immediate results. It is either the Gulf or the US or Canada or Europe or Australia or New Zealand they set their eyes upon. Money is the motive.

 

Banks are, today staffed with Engineers both in the clerical or officers’ cadre. Once I came across an Engineer employed by TCS who left it to join banking service. What is unfortunate is those engineers mostly belong to communities other than Christians. They have the practical approach to diversify whereas Christians stick on to the notion an engineer has to work as an engineer alone. They are not prepared to go for a crack at Civil Services because it involves hard work and probable uncertainty. Each year, when the results of the Civil Services list come out, one doesnot find many Christians there.

 

I believe Christians in India are in need of a shift in their focus.

V-Guard Industries Founder Kochouseph Chittilappilly

 

V-Guard Industries Founder Kochouseph Chittilappilly

Hailing from a well off  family of agriculturists, his ambition was to join ISRO as a scientist. With that in mind, he did an MSc in Electronics. But he had some learning disabilities that left his dream unfulfilled. He worked for three years after post-graduation in a small-scale unit at Trivandrum that manufactured Voltage Stabilizers. He felt he could design a better product while servicing stabilizers brought in by the customers. The V-Guard saga began when he was 27 with a capital of Rs.1 lakh raised from his father.

His hiring philosophy – giving a chance to average students worked wonders. The guiding principle was,” Ordinary people are doing extraordinary things in our company. I was just an above average student and if I could achieve this much, anybody can.  I value common sense more than technology knowledge.”

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

 

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.   

 

Spirituality Binds

 

Spirituality Binds

Jesus came into the world to save mankind and rid them of the evil that was stalking them. It was never his intention to proselytize or establish a religion or a cult.  His teachings were simple and eloquent. Through the Lord’s Prayer he taught people how to pray – a prayer, not a literary masterpiece or not a rambling narration.  He fought against the injustice meted out to the indigent. He fought against corruption in high places and especially corruption in the church. The outcome was predictable. When their hegemony was under threat, the inconvenienced crucified him. They thought that was the end of Jesus. However God had other ideas.

Jesus had exhorted his followers to propagate his vision to the entire world. Christianity as a religion came into existence when the followers of Jesus Christ were identified as Christians. The early Christians suffered at the hands of the Romans. Though the Roman persecution was stringent, Jesus’ followers propagated the teachings of Jesus branching out into the world. Christianity prospered amidst unimaginable persecution. Today, Romans are nowhere. The Roman Empire that ruled the world has been eclipsed.  And now, Rome is the capital of Christianity. Look how God acts.

India that is Bharat has a 5000 year old civilization and tradition. Spirituality is at the core of the nation and spirituality is the chord that holds the country of vast diversities together.   Hindu religion has survived here despite multiple onslaughts by invaders from all over the world. They had enslaved the people. They had pilfered the riches of the country, invasion after invasion. But India has survived. Hinduism has survived. The Hindu religion is the world’s most tolerant religion. It advocates inclusion.

Christianity arrived in India 2000 years ago. So did it in our part of the world too.  If forcible conversion or proselytisation had been the agenda Christians would have been numero uno in India. But they constitute hardly two percent of the population. Yet Christianity has survived in India solely due to the phenomenal tolerance of the Hindus.

Christians of our era have been handed everything on a platter. Most of them enjoy a prosperity that is the envy of the rest. They could say they had been immensely blessed by the Lord. But what has it done to them? Except for the picture of Jesus Christ that invariably adorns the walls of the Christian households, Christ has no place in the hearts of quite a number of Christians. Jesus has become an ornament here.   I had often wondered a long while back,  wasn’t   it time the picture of the crucified Jesus in Christian homes had been replaced by a Rupees One thousand bank note, that however is no longer in existence now.   Yes, money power has the upside over faith today. If we mourn another religion reigns over vast tracts of land parcels where Christianity had held sway, we don’t have to go far to search for the causes. Corruption and money power that Jesus had fought against have made their mark once again in the Christian Church. Our God does not like the sheep straying from the chosen path.  And he punishes.  How?

It was in 2011 a preacher, an evangelist, from New Delhi had delivered messages in the convention held at Christ Church, Trivandrum. He spoke on general terms. He was pained at the materialistic tendencies prevailing in the Church in India that was taking people away from God. He said, he had a feeling some persecution might be good for the Christians in India so that they would stay closer to God. According to him persecution brings out the best in man. I do not subscribe to his view that is self effacing. But it is true, faith has to score over materialism

Yes, faith in God alone pulls us through the thorny, stony track.  If you think you are somebody, God would make you understand you are nobody.

Believe. Just believe in God. And discover where it leads you to.

Abraham Jacob

7^th February 2024

 

SIMPLE YET POWERFUL LESSONS IN MARKETING

 

SIMPLE YET POWERFUL LESSONS IN MARKETING

 

1.    When a brand is perceived as the benchmark in its category, discerning consumers begin respecting it. They seek  varied ranges of products from the brand. Sustained success for the brand arises from the expertise the brand builders pick up over a long period of time.

2.    Brands gain significantly from staying true to their heritage even as they launch contemporary ranges of products.

3.    Consumers happily pay a premium for an unbeatable combination of heritage, expertise and high quality.

SILVERLINE

 

SILVERLINE

I have been thinking of writing this ever since the controversy erupted over Silverline. Kerala, a city state like Singapore, is bursting at the seams. Villages, towns and cities overlap each other from the north to the south Unlike most states in India, Kerala has no unutilized space. Since opportunities were limited the people of Kerala had to emigrate or migrate for survival.

Mumbai or Bombay grew because of industrialization. The city was networked by good roads and suburban railway that made it easier for people to commute to work. Similar is the case of Chennai and Bangalore.

What does Silverline propose? It is an ambitious project to cut the travel time between the north and the south of Kerala. It aims at making it possible for everyone to stay at his own place and yet commute to work. It would curb the need for cross migration. The Gandhian concept to make the village self-reliant would finally come true. Development becomes holistic.

What happened to Gandhiji? We know.

The planks of opposition to Silverline rests on several contentions – it divides the state into two halves, it annihilates agriculture, it destroys nature and more and more.

They forget that the roads we travel and the railway line that has become the lifeline of Kerala had been built much earlier splitting the state into two halves. They forget that whatever scanty development that has occurred in the state has been a product of the roads and the railway line that exist today.

Then why the objection?

It is nothing but politics. To come to power keep on throwing mud at everything that the ruling Government brings forth. Malayalis are perfectionists at this game. It is not the State that matters to them. It is the acquisition of power at any cost. Add to this the machinations of the Corporates or the merchants or manipulators of power who know very well the danger to their empires if Kerala becomes an industrial hub. It is an existential issue for them. 

We have a host of examples. We did not have enough institutions for higher education or professional courses at one point of time in our history. Our students had to go in search of institutions elsewhere for higher learning or education. Why no one saw, the ridiculousness was draining the resources of the people and of the state, needs a lot of introspection. The animated fight against computers had delayed their introduction by a good number of years slowing the pace of our own development. The icing on the cake was the abandonment of the Pre-degree Board that was soon replaced by the Plus Two. The institutionalization of corruption too had a role in our failures.

Perhaps there is an element of Don Quixote in us.

But if we have no other interests than structuring Kerala to where it ought to be or if we have  nothing but the good of the people and nothing but the development of the state at heart we have to accept that Silverline would do wonders for the state and the people of Kerala once it becomes operational.

SHAPE YOUR PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE, IN THE WORKPLACE, IN BUSINESS

 

SHAPE YOUR PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE, IN THE WORKPLACE, IN BUSINESS

Mithun Sacheti, 46,  shot to fame in August 2023 when TITAN acquired his and his family’s stake in Carat Lane, the Jewellery firm he had founded,  for a whopping Rs.4621 Crores. He sits in his office just off Mount Road, Chennai. It’s a new building he jointly owns. He had relocated to Chennai in 2001 to start a branch of the family’s Jaipur Gems business. His wife, Anjaly, is from New York. But they have made Chennai their base.

Mithun is attired mostly in casual dress. He does not wear any Jewellery or watches (though he runs a Fifteen Store multicity Swiss luxury watch business, Art of Time). He does not use a lap top, but works from his phone.

Mithun Sacheti’s philosophy in life, in the workplace and in businesss:-

1.Obstacles do not block the path. They are the path.

2. You need tenacity and luck in business. And the third is obsession.

3. Love the sea. Love the tranquility of the ceaseless waves. It is therapeutic.

4. Indulge in hobbies. Partake in sports and games. Watch live sports.

5. Family time with wife and children nurtures your personality.

6. Never switch off family time.

 

To the question how he manages his multifarious businesses he replies:-

 

Find somebody who is smarter than you to run what you are doing. The guy who is in his 20s is certainly more exposed, than you are, to the world.

 

And to develop the business:-

 

The need is to improve the quality of products sold. If you are way behind in the quality of products on your shelves, the path to solve that is not by becoming the brand that sells it, but by improving the quality of the product itself.

 

READING MAKETH A FULL MAN; CONFERENCE A READY MAN; AND WRITING AN EXACT MAN Francis Bacon

 

READING MAKETH A FULL MAN; CONFERENCE A READY MAN; AND WRITING AN EXACT MAN

Francis Bacon

 

This was written a long, long time ago. But it holds true forever.

Unfortunately, the new gen is not interested in reading. Recently, a girl with a basic degree came to my office. She said she was trying for PG admission. She was also trying to find a job. She was the daughter of a non teaching staff at the office. I told her, for both the pursuits she has to develop her skill in communicative English and above all she has to be well versed in General Knowledge. For a starter I asked her who Biden was. She blinked. She didn’t know. I asked her whether she was reading any newspaper. Deshabhimani, she replied. I suggested, it would be better if she read one more news paper, preferably an English newspaper. She agreed. I never saw her again.

 

Papa had been subscribing to The Mail, an English newspaper. I grew up watching him read newspapers, both in Malayalam and English. I was a child. But I used to take a comic strip in the English newspaper to him and ask him to explain it to me. I didn’t know any English at that age. My grooming began there. When The Mail stopped publication, Papa subscribed to the Indian Express. By that time I could read English haltingly. I read the Sports page with interest. With the years passing by I became infatuated with the editorials and articles of Frank Moraes.

 

When we started residing in Trivandrum, I continued with Indian Express.

 

Then, one day, we were on our periodical visit to Thalavady. Laji, vehemently told us to switch to The Hindu. He said it offers the finest language.

 

Back in Trivandrum, we switched to The Hindu. It has stayed with us ever since. It has improved our language manifold.

 

Why do I put it here? It is obvious. I would advocate everyone especially the young to read an  English newspaper every day, if they are not doing it till now, to equip them address the challenges they are bound to come across in life.

 

Abraham Jacob

17^th May2024

In Service Lies Success HDFC Bank / L&T

 

In Service Lies Success

HDFC Bank / L&T

In an online Cholakathu family meet Anoop said, “I have been with the HDFC Bank for the past 22 years. Banking is the only career I know.” Anoop is a Cluster Head at HDFC bank. He hails from the Cholakathu family, Kerala.

HDFC Bank, India’s top private sector bank began functioning in the year 1995. What it has accomplished in 29 years is astounding. Its growth parallels with the phenomenal growth of L&T over the years.

A M Naik said, “My life is L&T. My legacy is L&T”, as he handed over the reins of L&T to his successor. He had joined the company as a young man. He had worked hard. He had risen to helm the major corporate entity.

L&T was founded by two Danish engineers, Henning Holck-Larsen and Soren Kristian Toubro. They named the company Larsen & Toubro when it was formed.  They did not give it any fancy name as had been the general practice during the time. They believed, for an organization to grow, people mattered most.  L&T is ultimately its people.

A key word in the Vision Statement of L&T is ‘Trust’. You need to earn it. You need to build the trust of the people you interact with. You win trust by caring. It is, Caring for your own people, Caring for your customers, Caring for the community around you, Caring for your own country. The relationships you build are for the long haul.

The founders taught, “Truth is the best salesman.” They insisted L&T should not sell a product overstating its features. For them, integrity was primary. The tradition lingers on.

The first tagline of L&T, ‘In Service Lies Success’, underlines its customer focus.

L&T began functioning in 1938. It was importing Danish equipments. When the Second World War erupted a year later, German naval blockade had choked the trade line. The innovative founders, instead of waiting for the restoration of imports, went on to manufacture what they earlier imported.  

There are no full stops in an innovator’s mind. One successful innovation leads to another and yet another. Innovation keeps L&T on the path of growth and success.

Indeed, HDFC Bank and L&T have so much in tandem.

Abraham Jacob

November 4, 2024

How to turn failure to success Learn from achievers who failed and failed and succeeded

 

How to turn failure to success

Learn from achievers who failed and failed and succeeded

 

The Civil Services exam, conducted by the UPSC, is the toughest call in India. The aspirants have to invest a minimum of four years of their life to make it. (an IPS officer told me this in 2006)

 

Please listen to the toppers who had in 2023 improved upon their own results of the previous years.

 

1.       Throughout my preparations, my basic focus was on identifying mistakes I committed that lowered my score and rectifying it in order to up my score. I approached friends who had scored higher in these subjects, picked up things that I missed during preparations.                                 

                                    Aditya Srivastava, reached rank 1 from previous year’s 236

 

2.       I attempted the exam with more focus. He attributed the success to meticulous analysis of previous years’ question papers.

                                    Ayan Jain, reached rank 16 from previous years’ outstanding 87

 

3.       I worked more on bringing in my personal opinion and experiences in the optional subject (Political Science). I also made use of data sets wherever possible, instead of just quoting theories.

                                   Sameer Khode, reached rank 42 from previous years’ 551

 

4.       He underscored the importance of fine tuning study methods and bolstering confidence.

                      Ashish Patil, reached rank 147 from previous years’ 563

 

5.       Be honest with yourself while preparing

                      Bhavesh Khayalia, reached rank 46 from previous years’280

 

6.       Her mother kept her motivated to keep trying. She never let go of her dream (IAS).

                      Medha Anand, reached rank 13 from previous years’ 311

 

7.       His journey, though marred by challenges, was propelled by family support. Even with less effort due to my illness, I secured a good rank this time, which I believe is due to the foundation I had built over the years.

                    Yogesh Dilhor, reached rank 55 from previous years’ 633

 

8.       He took a lot of online mock interviews, attended coaching classes. He used to refer to NCERT’s syllabus. Peer groups helped him a lot.

                    PK Sidharth Ramkumar, reached rank 4 from previous years’ 121

 

9.       Working as an Income Tax Officer, I carried on with my studies.

                    Shivam Kumar, reached rank 19 from previous years’ 309

 

10.   The emphasis was on a shift in focus towards presentation and precision in answers. I used to do meditation and yoga to avoid distractions

                  Ayushi Pradhan, reached rank 36 from previous years’ 334

 

11.   There is no secret ingredient. With each attempt, the aspirant gets a better perspective of the pattern of questions and is better equipped for the interviews. In my case, I focussed on the basic books, but devised answers on my own for the mains

                      Atul Tyagi, reached rank 62 from previous years’ 145

 

Source: The Times of India, 18 April 2024

 

Abraham Jacob

20^th April 2024

TWINS by EVANA

 TWINS

by

EVANA

6years

Evana says the elder is on the right

TUVALU

Tuvalu is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Australia and Hawaii. It's made up of nine coral islands, including four reef islands and five atolls.

 Tuvalu's economy is small and relies heavily on foreign aid, remittances, and subsistence farming and fishing. 

Economy overview 

Tuvalu is one of the world's smallest independent nations.

It has a narrow economic base and few natural resources.

Tuvalu's GDP per capita is low.

The country's economy is highly dependent on foreign aid.

Economic activities 

Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities.

Tuvalu also exports a small amount of copra.

The government sells stamps and coins.

The government collects fees from foreign fishing fleets.

Trade and aid

Tuvalu imports most of its food, fuel, and manufactured goods. 

Tuvalu's major trade partners include Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. 

Tuvalu receives aid from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, and South Korea. 

Employment 

Most Tuvaluans are subsistence farmers.

The formal employment sector is very small.

The government is a significant employer.

Remittances from relatives working overseas are a major source of income for families.

 The Ocean may consume the islands in the days to come because of  rising ocean levels caused by  elevated temperature  and the melting of ice caps.

 We have to be aware that the existential threat faced by  Tuvalu may be upon us too one day

Transformative Journey Prayer to the Almighty

Transformative Journey

Prayer to the Almighty

1. Almighty and Everlasting God, You have called us to be the light of the world, reflecting the radiance of Christ in everything we do. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we may shine with humility, love, and truth, embracing all as a welcoming and witnessing community. Transform us, that we may go forth as beacons of Your grace, drawing others into the warmth of Your presence. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.

2. Lord we understand that we have miles to go. We understand that we are nothing, but your ambassadors. We have nothing as our own but you. We can’t do anything without you. Your wisdom leads us. Your grace accompanies us. Your love showers upon us. Bless us to witness and radiate God’s love. Amen.

3. Let us go forth as a radiant people. Let us  reflect the light of Christ in all we do. Let us go with humility as the grace of God is our sole strength. Let us go with boldness as the love of Christ has called us to be witnesses. Let us go with open hearts. Let us embrace everyone in Jesus’ name. May the good Lord uphold us. May Jesus Christ walk beside us. May the Holy Spirit shine within us. Amen

EVANA ABRAHAM 6 YEARS

 EVANA ABRAHAM

6 YEARS

PARENTING Mother’s perspective

 PARENTING

Mother’s perspective

1. Parenting is like cooking without a recipe, hoping it turns out right.

2. Raising a pet is easier than parenting a child.

3. Never be hesitant to go for workouts during pregnancy. Of course, with the consent of the doctor. The child in the womb may wonder if it has signed up for an action movie.

4. When the child grows up, time passes by so quickly like the blink of an eye.

5. You feel you had him yesterday even as he starts earning.

6. Life couldn’t be much better when you have a child.

7. If you say it’s the most amazing time of your life, it’s just a lie. Your life is totally chaotic. You won't’ remember the last time you slept for four hours straight without waking up to feed the baby. You acquire a new personality where to everyone else you are a zombie.

8. Motherhood is definitely not easy. You wish someone ought to have handed you the fine print before you signed up, “Warning – may cause extreme sleep deprivation and sudden crying (yours, not just the baby’s)”

9. But when the baby comes you see that the baby is the cutest thing ever and just one of his little smiles makes it all worth it.

10. You have to take it one day at a time figuring out how to juggle motherhood and work. It will never be easy. But you get paid when the baby giggles and spits up.

11. Frustration dwarfs you while you spend thirty minutes to get the baby to sleep and yet you have to start all over when the doorbell rings once.

12. Raising a child is like cooking a dish without recipe, guessing, adjusting and hoping it turns out right.

13. You can see that no one appreciates your effort and that the world is laughing at you.

14. You need to raise the boys right to make the world safe for girls.

15. Home is the first place where kids not only learn but also observe their parents. Parents have to set the example by loving and understanding each other. They have to inculcate fine values in their children.

16. Having a pet teaches you to share responsibilities and to care for someone other than you.

17. Raise your children in a way that encourages them to always try their best in whatever they do in life, but never obsess over results. Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride with its sharp ups and downs.

18. Aim at parenting with love. Raise the children in a kind and gentle way empowering them to solve their own problems. Never push your ways on to them. Never impose anything on them. Nurture them. Guide them. Help them. Make them independent.

19. Teach the child to be kind and grateful.

20. Raise the child with good manners and an inquisitive mind and love in the heart towards everyone.

21. Finally, raising a child is not the mom’s job alone. When the dad becomes equally involved, it brings the family closer.

Sourced from 

Sunday Times of India 2March2025