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.

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