The Hyderabadi Series - Lessons from Traffic

Many of the Hyderabadi's deepest desires are exhibited in the way he behaves in traffic. In fact this behavior reveals more about him than having him lying on a couch in a psychiatrist's room deep under hypnosis. There is a distinct perversion, a kink in the mind that kicks in when the Hyderabadi steps into the traffic that shows him up for what he truly is, or what she truly is too! Forget social strata, education, wealth, type of vehicle, age and...

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The Happiness Hypothesis - John Haidt

Read John Haidt's 'The Happiness Hypothesis' (Basic Books, US$16.99) for a longish time now, which has been recommended by Ram and passed on to me by him. Haidt is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia and has authored 'The Righteous Mind' earlier. Obviously he is concerned and interested in matters concerning the mind and fine matters that too - where he engages with the greatest minds and philosophers, religions and gods of all...

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Interview with a 4 and a half year old

I decided it's high time I interviewed Anjali again and got to know what she is thinking about the world around her. So with her permission we got down to the interview one afternoon a couple of weeks ago. Most of the time she was running around the sofa where I was sitting, pausing only to gather her thoughts or to make a forceful point.What do you like most?Food. Chicken. Not spicy chicken. Games. Princess games. Dressing up games, King and Queen...

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The Devil Wears Prada - Movie Review

Finally saw this movie that has long been on my list, as most Meryl Streep movies are. I think my love affair with Meryl Streep began when I first saw her in 'Out of Africa' and later 'Falling in Love' back in the 80s in Sangeet theatre as a college kid. Ever since I have watched most of her movies and have loved watching her in all of them, 'The Bridges of Madison County' especially. So watching her performance as Miranda Priestly, the demanding...

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Fine Advise by Prof. Shiv K. Kumar

I met Prof. Shiv K. Kumar, famous poet and writer of 33 works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry and Padmashri awardee, and he gave me two pointers to good writing.The beginning must be absolutely powerful and drag the reader into the story immediately. In the first two pages you must have the reader and editor hooked, he said. You must put in much thought and effort to get the perfect beginning.When I told him my next book was about discomfort, he was animated. He told me to keep the discomfort, the discomfiture, the questions going on within...

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The Hyderabad Series - The Way of the Hyderabadi

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Poem by Zen Master Sen-ts'an on Nonjudgmentalism

I loved this poem by Zen Master Sen-ts'an on nonjudgmentalism as a prerequisite to following the 'Perfect Way' in 8th century B.C."The perfect way is only difficult for those who pick and choose;Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear.Make a hairbreadth difference, and Heaven and Earth are set apart;If you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against.The struggle between 'for' and 'against' is the mind's worst disease."I...

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Bro. K.M. Joseph - The Beloved Cricket Brother of All Saints High School Heads to Rome

It was a pleasant surprise to hear from Denzil Balm, the committed coach of All Saints High School for so many years, a few days ago. The surprise got even better when Denzil told me the news. 'Bro. K. M. Joseph has become Assistant General in Rome,' said Denzil. A wonderful elevation for our 'Cricket Brother' from my alma mater All Saints High School. The first thought that struck me was one of sadness - oh God, I'll miss having Brother around I...

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The Paradoxes of Our Life - You do well what you have to learn the most

We do what we wish to learn the most all our life. In ways that appear most paradoxical. But the experts in those areas are those who seek and respect what they appear to do the opposite of.Pic courtesy Pooja (Horsely Hills)The teacher teaches well only when he seeks to learn.The warrior fights well only when he seeks peace.The musician makes music well only when he seeks silence between the sounds.The doctor performs surgery well only when he seeks...

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Thought for the Day - Leadership, Expectations and Support

When we expect something from someone we place them in a situation where they try to fulfill our expectations. It's rather funny but its a human need almost. As we know expectations can place a severe burden on the one on whom they are placed. But if used well, they can push people beyond their boundaries to achieve big things. Exactly the kind of things that leaders wish for.Ordinary leaders expect people to fail or not to match up to a standard,...

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Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy - Partha Bose

Rajesh recommended this book by Partha Bose highly (Penguin India, 264 pages, Rs. 295) and I read through it with great interest. One one hand Partha Bose takes us through Alexander's life and on the other, he intersperses the story with modern day examples in the world of business to show how these strategies hold good even today. Strategies of war, especially used by someone who conquered a large part of the globe, from the Ionean Sea to the Himalayas,...

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The Paradoxes of Our Life - What we do not grasp stays

What we do not grab at or grasp tightly, stays. What we try to grab, spills out. Like water in a palm. Like a catch in the slips.Pic SatishTo have, let go....

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A Whole New Mind - Daniel H. Pink

Continuing the learning from Rajesh's library this week, I read 'A Whole New Mind' (Marshall Cavendish Business, BR 9.99, 246 p) by Daniel H. Pink. The book comes with a tag line that says 'Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future' - which explains it all. Pink talks of the future and the emerging world where the almost forgotten right brainers - the supposedly creative ones and the arty ones - will have an advantage. Pink makes a case that rather...

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