Wild Mushroom

 In a symphony of the heart

A string that unwinds 

Tunes to the heart 

To a smile that killed none but

Silently stole the secrets long unknown 

Surrender to the hesitation 

As we breathe together 

In a strong hold

My travel Map to this day

 The countless blessing includes my passion for travel and the job that allows to me to see more places than i could have imagined. I have lately been thinking about documenting and marking the places I go to with my runs. It's been a few years now exploring this thought, but I am finally taking a plunge to draw a map of words around the places I have been to and what better way to start than from the extreme tip of the south Asian continent Srilanka. 

Sri Lanka Travel Log

1. Basic Information

• Name of Place: Sri Lanka
• Country/State/City: Sri Lanka (Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya)
• Date of Visit: December 2019
• Duration of Stay: 10 days

2. Travel Experience

• Reason for Visit: Vacation & Cultural Exploration
• Mode of Travel: Flight to Colombo, then road trips within the country
• Accommodation: Mix of hotels, beach resorts, and a homestay in the hills

3. Highlights of the Trip

• Top Attractions Visited:

  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • Temple of the Tooth (Kandy)
  • Tea Plantations in Nuwara Eliya
  • Galle Fort & Unawatuna Beach
  • Yala National Park Safari

• Memorable Experiences:

  • Climbing Sigiriya at sunrise for breathtaking views
  • Taking a scenic train ride from Kandy to Ella
  • Seeing wild elephants up close in Minneriya National Park
  • Relaxing on Mirissa Beach and watching blue whales
  • Exploring the colonial charm of Galle Fort

• Food & Cuisine Tried:

  • Traditional Sri Lankan Rice & Curry
  • Hoppers with spicy sambol
  • Fresh seafood in Galle
  • Ceylon tea tastings in the highlands

• Cultural Insights & Local Traditions:

  • Learned about the significance of Buddhism in Sri Lankan culture
  • Witnessed a traditional Kandyan dance performance
  • Experienced the warm hospitality of locals in homestays

4. Reflections & Learnings

• What I Loved Most About This Place:

  • The mix of history, nature, and beaches
  • The warmth and friendliness of the people
  • The incredible variety of landscapes in a small country

• Challenges Faced:

  • Humid weather in coastal areas
  • Some long road journeys between destinations

• Would I Visit Again? Why/Why Not?
  ✅ Yes! Would love to explore Jaffna and the northern parts next time.

5. Photos & Souvenirs

• Best Photos Taken:

  • Sunrise from Sigiriya Rock
  • Elephants in the wild at Yala National Park
  • Colorful tuk-tuks in the streets of Colombo
  • The picturesque tea fields of Nuwara Eliya

• Souvenirs Collected:

• Handcrafted wooden masks
• High-quality Ceylon tea
• Batik fabric from Kandy

• Hong Kong Travel Log

  1. Basic Information

  • Name of Place: Hong Kong
  • Country/State/City: Hong Kong SAR, China
  • Date of Visit: October 2018
  • Duration of Stay: 5 days

  2. Travel Experience

  • Reason for Visit: Vacation & City Exploration
  • Mode of Travel: Flight to Hong Kong International Airport, local transport via MTR, trams, and ferries
  • Accommodation: Stayed in a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui

  3. Highlights of the Trip

  • Top Attractions Visited:

    • Victoria Peak (The Peak Tram & Sky Terrace 428)
    • Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha) & Po Lin Monastery
    • Avenue of Stars & Symphony of Lights Show
    • Disneyland Hong Kong
    • Temple Street Night Market
    • Star Ferry ride between Kowloon and Central

  • Memorable Experiences:

    • Watching the skyline from Victoria Peak at night
    • Exploring the bustling streets of Mong Kok and its vibrant markets
    • Taking the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to see the Big Buddha
    • Experiencing the thrilling rides at Disneyland Hong Kong
    • Enjoying a traditional dim sum meal at a local tea house

  • Food & Cuisine Tried:

    • Dim sum (Har Gow, Siu Mai, BBQ Pork Buns)
    • Egg waffles from a street vendor in Mong Kok
    • Roast goose at a famous local restaurant
    • Pineapple buns & Hong Kong-style milk tea
    • Seafood dinner at Sai Kung

  • Cultural Insights & Local Traditions:

    • Learned about Feng Shui influences in Hong Kong’s architecture
    • Experienced the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations with glowing lanterns
    • Noticed the balance between modern skyscrapers and historic temples

  4. Reflections & Learnings

  • What I Loved Most About This Place:

    • The dazzling skyline and harbor views
    • The efficiency of the public transport system
    • The fusion of Eastern and Western influences in the city

  • Challenges Faced:

    • Crowded streets and busy tourist spots
    • Humid weather and occasional rain showers

  • Would I Visit Again? Why/Why Not?
    ✅ Yes! Would love to explore more islands like Lantau and Lamma, and try a junk boat experience.

  5. Photos & Souvenirs

  • Best Photos Taken:

    • Panoramic night view from Victoria Peak
    • Giant Buddha at Lantau Island
    • The neon-lit streets of Mong Kok
    • A bustling dim sum table full of delicacies

  • Souvenirs Collected:

    • Lucky cat figurine for good fortune
    • Hand-painted Chinese fans
    • Traditional Chinese tea from a local shop

From Strangers to being Strangers !!

It all Started on a way to a cycle to nowhere

On a morning, I knew nothing about. 

There you were on, starting a journey, to become unknown

A string here and a string there

Tangling like a rope, over time

Bond was like I had never known

Shared every morning lost in the due

Like it was a dream not wanting to be Woken 

Then came the summer and all it went 

Into the dust like wind swept on the shores

Bellows of memories nothing to hold

I know I cannot Sail

But who can stop for a cycle to nowhere

what began on a morning ended like a storm

In that I found my soul and lost it too

For the journey was never to be alone 

But lost in it were the two, holding but a hay!!

Trying to put together a Journey to the unknown 

From strangers to behaving like strangers

I have come a long way, looking for no one but you again.....

Wandering on the road

 On a quiet start to a distant melody

The heart pounds to the roaring breeze

You ask why I love the fleet

The solo ride on a winding street

To what has the melody has the song

The words are missing but not the thoughts 

On every turn there are memories 

Some more cherished some left desired

Today the warm sun bracing my path

Showered Light to show me the path

One step at a time syncing to the rythme of my walk

Know not what I find but to be found

Rise again says the birds in the Sky

Turn to me as I take flight

Cherish my color as I blossom on the plant

Says the flower brimming to me

Of Growing up and Growing wise

 The last few years have been tough for me as an individual, growing older you are either assured of who you are or you have doubts on who you have been. This divide has not been very different for me either. Its a good time to look at the last few years which is a journey into health, heart & healing. Not that i have had issues with either but i wanted to better myself at all three. 

Health: What you know about your health, is it really in your control like everything else. To a certain degree it is. Focused on what I can do like a discipline and focus on aspects where I can become better. I do believe in moderation and injury free workouts. I am not looking to be like someone but be someone. My journey is mine alone and cannot be replicated simply because my habits are different and unique to me. I work out or stay active for at least 45 minutes to 90 minutes or more everyday 365 days. The more important reason for me to be healthy is that I gracefully age and not be dependent on anyone else for anything. The uncertainty with health and health matters comes from mental status, preparing and working on your mind was and will always be just as important as your physical health. I have struggled with the mental aspects, I did meditation everyday for about an year and now struggle to get back on the mat on a regular basis. I know the benefits and have experienced it but not able to get back to the routine. Mental health is slow but significant to your health. Health is also what you eat, what goes in your body is what makes you.. Often tempted by the easily available unhealthy food I give in more often then I would like. However, having disciplined the body to eat mostly two meals and some snacks every now and then has some benefits. Also, learning about supplements that work for me. what and how much to take. Not over doing anything is the key.  

Chasing Life through small runs

 In aspirations, the thought flourishes losing track of time. What do you want to achieve is not dependent on what you set out to but what you keep at it despite the challenges. 2024 has been a year of absolute madness. I am not complaining nor regretting anything about it. I have challenged my being many times this year in the sense that I had to fight the demons in my head like never before. Self-doubt, loneliness are creations of your own doing and not someone else. I began this new journey somewhere middle of March chasing life through small runs. The idea was to keep at it without thinking too much. Just simply do it, and now I see myself advocate about it in the strangest of ways. I have been on the fitness path for some time now but haven't felt like this or worked out a schedule like this for myself so I feel proud in a way. Focused on simple goals to achieve two things really 

1. Physical Wellness 

2. Emotional Wellness 

Physical wellness, very loosely put to me meant being able to walk, run, cycle, gym, move without pain and reduce time to recovery. Yes, I feel the reduced time to recovery is the key in my view of how we are progressing in this journey. It still continues to evolve, one day at a time. I have become more aware of when to stop, when to read the signs of the body. In all this eating has also evolved, I have reduced number of meals, reduced intake but time and time I fall back into eating and drinking junk. Sometimes I just allow myself to drift away without being too hard on myself. I have got to my best BMI of around 15 and VO2 Max of 47 recently and I feel great about pushing myself. 

Emotional Wellness, bouts of feeling lonely, desperate at times, anxious or anxiety from different events in life continues. I have tried a few things and have progressed definitely in the right direction. Being able to sync and realise that your journey in life is about how you behave when you are alive. So how do I behave cannot be dependent on how people treat me but how I treat myself despite the situation. Do I have the answers to getting there where I want to me may be not at this time, but I will get there. I will not beat myself to it. 

So why Chase life through small runs. These thoughts become so loud when running that to cut it out you really need to push yourself harder every day. Counting the steps, the breath, pushing your boundaries to realise something that would mean nothing to anyone else other than you. So, what that you run 10kms everyday who the fuck cares. No one Cares about the goals you have set and what you have achieved as it does nothing for anybody else other than you. It's a reminder that you don't need to do anything for anybody and do not need to things in a way that it pleases others. You simply do it, keep at it, one step at a time. You start changing bit by bit. You know there is no better place than where you are. And to reach the destination or not is never decided, never certain. You do not have to be hard on yourself to and definitely do not work to please someone else. The discipline of getting up and doing something as a ritual is prayer like to me now. Sometimes you pass by a temple or a fellow runner and you feel the same energy, even push yourself to better yourself. While I hope I will wake up in the morning and find the courage to go for the run like I did today. I continue to chase life through small runs.

Reflections

Off the winding roads on to the dirt,

A path still to be carved, 

an adventure still to be explored,

The unknown and the fear of the known, 

Life is an explorer and your choices the driver. 

Destination unknown.

Live with the excitement of the explorer, 

Trade with the caution of a keeper, 

Surrender to the sail only to trust the wind, 

Sensibility and sensitivity be the guide, 

No matter how choppy the tide, 

Destination unknown. 

Never for the shore nor for the city, 

The explorer is for the journey. 

Living for it and lost in it, 

Only to start one thinking many more to come, 

It's not how you reached but how you traveled, 

Destination unknown. 

Traveled but not accompanied, 

Found only to be lost, seen but forgotten, 

A meaningless tryst the greatest explorer, 

Not without a compass but with a story teller, 

To share the twist without the turn, 

Destination unknown.

Not to be alone but only to be cherished, 

Paddle on the wheel,

Not to be pushed but only to be guided, 

Holding on to the road only to be closer to the

Destination unknown 

Europe Vacation with a todler & a 6 Year Old - An Indian Family Saga : Part 1

Family Vacation to Europe

There is a lot written out to there to help plan an itinerary to places to visit and I am sure they will have done a far better then i ever will. This is my first trip to Europe add to that the first trip with my family on such a long journey.

We are traveling with a 2 year old and a 6 year old. You can imagine the butterflies and the excitement. While I am relatively frequent traveler and so is my family. This by far would be our longest journey. Am I sounding anxious definitely I am.

Let me begin with my planning, I booked myself on JetAirways from Bangalore to Paris via Abu Dhabi carefully using all our miles returning London to Bangalore via Delhi again JetAirways. I preferred the Indian Airlines over the other options purely from the fact that they might just understand Indian Travellers better but it remains to be seen. I booked the rest of the trip mostly for hotels and Visa through a travel agent Trip Factory. I think i could have done a better job than they did but guess didnt want to take the risk and responsibility to make sure everything is right. I realise that its only better that you do things on your own and talk to people you might know who have traveled to plan your trip then these agents. You definitely cant plan everything and you definitely dont think you can research it all. But as they say some plan is better than no plan.

UK Visa has to be first if you are planning Europe with London. For the Visa make sure that you have enough documents and make sets of at least two. VFS offices make a killing out of even photocopying papers and documents. There is absolutely no use of paying to them for an SMS service. Thats water down the toilet DO NOT OPT for it. Once done apply for Schengen Visa again there is no SMS and tracking charges for the Schengen Visa, they keep updating you on the status and its very fast. You get the visa in less than 4 working days. But again carry multiple sets of insurance, tickets and other paper work to ensure that the process is smooth.

We are a vegetarian family add to that my wife is very particular about food. We are carrying one bag of ready to eat meals for the trip easily upto 23 kgs. The anxiousness is only growing as we draw close to the travel dates. First the luggage, you are allowed only 2 PCs of checkin luggage per person and it cannot be more than 23 kgs each. I thought I could carry 83 Kgs and it would a breeze. Pack everything in one bag and  carry two smaller bags for everything else. Guess what you cant do that. You have to carry 2 pc of luggage for each passenger and keep it under 23 kgs. This only means that you will travel with more number of luggage and a stroller for your young one. The plan from an original 3 suitcase (1 large, 1 medium and 1 small) all gone for a toss. We had not add two more pieces which means that now my travel is already very exciting given that i am traveling on Thalys from Paris to Amsterdam, a high speed rail experience. They have very little information on stoppage time and they close the gates 2 minutes before departure so you need to be ahead of schedule but
you cant reach the station too early because track and other details are displayed only 20 minutes prior. But I guess you need to face what comes. Manage kids and load everything on the train and guess that you don't be anxious. My neighbor who travels frequently to europe threw a last minute spanner saying you need Car seats or you wont be able to travel by cabs as it is mandatory for travel. I freaked for one I dont have one and even if I did have one how do I carry the car seat a monster in itself. The kept me awake through the night, researching. Finally to conclude that public transport is the answer and wherever you are using cabs you need to request for family vans rest I can tell you only once I have completed my travel. Indian Kids used to jumping around in the car no seat belts this is going to be interesting. I am preparing myself mentally to keep calm and believe this will be one hell of a team building activity for my family. We are in the final moments of packing and to set off on this memorable journey. 

Hriedaya - Gia - My Heart & My Soul

This has been stuck in my head for a while now but I couldn't get around to write it. Thinking of where to begin.

Gia, I am not sure how should I be as a father. I read many things and get many advice from people on how I should behave around both of you. Then I have my own conflicting Views on my way of handling in my head. I  just want you to know that i am trying hard. I aspire to be a reasonable, loving and most importantly a father you are proud of. Hopefully you see my anger as my inability to control my emotion and not your failure. I Love you and I know that I am hard on you at times in trying to bring positive impact. Not sure how successful I am. You are very good at expressing your views and often my voice scares you but you know that I am not shouting at you but at myself for not being able to control those anger pangs. I am trying hard and would continue to try and do better than I did yesterday. We have all seen changes around us and one of them is your little sister. I have seen your love for her but her health demands us to work together. I am asking a lot for my 6 year old but we have to now show care for each other and look out for each other. Hopefully in years to come you would be able to see the care and love for each other and not a bias for one over the other.

Hreidaya, my darling, your doing pranam every now and then and your throwing tantrums every now and then melts and boils me at the same time. We have to all learn new way of living one that has more control on our emotions and one that can help us all to be together stronger than ever. Would always want to see you smile .... 

2015- New Milestone year in our life

As the calendar changes to reveal, a new year, its so many memories that go to the books this year. We started the year expecting a new member to our family. And there she is a beautiful angel "Hriedaya" born in March.

Life came a full circle, it just seemed yesterday that Gia was so small and now Hriedaya she reminds me of Gia as a new born. This feeling is very hard to describe Gia & Hriedaya both truly represent my heart and Soul. Though we never planned their names to be like that but Now that it is. I so like to say its Nature's way to show you how it conspires to get you what you want. With its bag of happiness this year also brought in mixed share of worries, fights & opportunities. As a couple we both are beginning to act stupid certainly all signs of an aging wine. Some bitterness and awesome flavors when it settles, but we sure are getting there. The whole Oracle Incident still haunts my memories. Petty organisational politics and no respect for loyalty is increasingly becoming a norm. What's the point in this bickering when I know that there is no ears to employees no matter what the truth.

I loved our Family Photographs this year, we have to do this every year. Its such a feeling, Cant wait to get the next one when all of us are together.

Natural Justice & Fair Treatment: A Case of wrongful treatment to an Employee J

TCS Firing: A news that questioned a lot of unfair practices and poor employee grievance redressal systems in the Indian Corporate scenario. We might be part of the educated and organised job scene but the treatment we face in the case of termination and/or unethical treatment in case of disputes within the organisations in India; is no where close to any employment standard anywhere in the world. Even global MNC's with offices in India make the most of the current loop holes in the system.

Even though most companies have ethics helplines and Grievance redressal sytems in some form or the other but it is only because of compliance and not to actually any resolve issues. There are hardly any statics on how many cases have been reported and how many been have been resolved and its any body's how many are in favour of the complainant, that are being published. I dont think all complains are genuine. But there are a few cases that I am sure we all know or have heard which deserves the merit of a fair treatment, before being decided in favour of the management, however out of the fear of retaliation most of these cases have never even see the light of the day.

Recently, a very close friend of mine narrated the plight he went through in his organisation and how scapegoats are found to save a few on top. There is no question of fair treatment. I will let you decide and hope that some day sense would prevail and there would be some logical answers and punishments for those abusing the position of strength.

THE CASE

An impromptu Career discussion meeting (Calendared 30 mins before the meeting with CDM as the subject) is called for with all the stake holders (reporting manager, Group Manager, HR and the person. During the meeting it is informed (not discussed) to the person, that the business has decided that he would be best suited for a role which is at a lower level than the one currently being held(same level as he was 7 years ago and to pacify him they add its not a demotion). This decision is based on feedback from the team and previous engagement and other inputs and that the concerned person needs to accept the role effective immediately. On seeking specific reasons for this decision and requesting for documenting the Minutes of the current meeting it is mentioned that there was no need for it. (Its a business decision so we wont need the minutes documented and its to inform). On insisting for reasons and basis which the decisions was made vague reasons are highlighted and an corroborated by the HR (in the form of some due diligence conducted by them) without taking into view or giving an opportunity to the affected person to explain or defend their position. Lets for a moment look at the reasons on which  the so called decisions was made to get rid of the person.

1. Skills Set  - (No area specifically mentioned apparently a skill set check was conducted across the org and the person did not fit the job requirement. The effected person has never taken any skill assessment as claimed)
2. Unable to Handle Stress (How they came to this conclusion again the basis is not shared)
3. Feedback (From different people against the person)

On asking specific questions.
Why does the change have to be made immediately ? As there are timelines to meet it has to be immediately come into effect
What is the new assignment/options does he have for the new role? Nothing has been thought and it has to be explored and something will be assigned shortly.

Assume for a moment that all the accusation made against the person are true, even then Nature Justice and fair treatment would recommend that a fair warning is issued, a memo raised, Skills reinforcement done, regular course correction and review done on the progress. If the person fails to meet the criteria inspite of all the efforts taking the business decision or even firing makes a lot of sense. NO, none of it is followed. All that is done is that the person is told that it is decided take it or leave the organisation (the ultimate goal, which could not be accomplished because of lack of paper work to support it).

I dont want to influence the above scenario with my own observations but its important to highlight that this person has been with the organisation for almost 9 years. Managed several responsibilities, excelled in previous roles and now almost after close to a decade with this company they decide without giving an opportunity to explain or even correct the wrong, take whatever is thrown at you or get out.

What should be the Natural Justice ? What would be a fair way to handle this situation ?

Does the employee stand any chance when the entire management gangs up against one person? How do you let the truth prevail?

Disciplining a Todler

In a bid to discipline to our child or to get her comply with what we are saying we fail to get her to execute what she has been asked to. This mean we often loose our cool and end up shouting, raising hands (not hitting but no less either) and actually spanking. How do we find a middle ground and discipline our child without having to hit or scream or yell at the child. She is not an obtuse but my fear is we would end up making her one with the way we are dealing with her. I dont want her to end up with a low self esteem or become a rebel.

There is no denying the fact that we have failed miserably in trying to get to a common ground as a couple. Our fights have become even more painful and louder than it ever was. I cannot bear the thought of someone hitting my child. I wont say that I have never been tempted to hit my child because of her non compliance and often ignorant behavior. The anger always gets the worst out of us. I stop at showing her a slap and nothing more than that. But when i see her cry and sob I break into millions of pieces inside and the pain is louder and shreds sharper then nails to prick the hell out of me.

I am feeling so helpless at this moment and wondering how can I find a solution that all of us can agree and live with.

Corporate Licenses: A thought on STM Sales model for Corporates

With a few years of content selling experience in India to both academic and corporate I thought this is a good time to pen some of my thoughts and experience of selling scientific literature and tools in India. In this blog I wanted to capture some of my experience and challenges in selling content, specially to corporate in India. These are my experiences purely based on interactions with the companies that we have been working and trying to capture. In my role today I manage corporate sales across India selling into pharma, semiconductor, IT & Manufacturing companies. From PSUs to contract research companies. In my contact rolodex you would find Product Engineers, Scientist, Solution architects, HR L&D, Training heads & CTOs.

Let me present my perspective of Research by Corporates in India? Who is research in Corporate India? What does research mean in India?

In India Corporate research can easily be compared with re-engineering, Low cost engineering, reduce cost engineering. If its pharma except for a couple of pharma companies most pharma companies are API, Bulk drug or doing contract research. When it comes to selling content to them its a story to tell and I hope I am able to do justice to this.

For starters lets look at life in a day of an Engineer at a R&D Centre, this is a typical captive R&D in India, these guys work on projects with a very specific task assigned and leaving very little to his imagination except for doing what he is told. This though is changing as Engineers are not willing to give in to the tasks alone, you see increasing number of patents filed from India as a testament to this but a lot more is desired. The other end of the spectrum is Indian Engineers are very happy doing what they are doing and not really worried about reading or staying update, most people not willing to invest in themselves to keep themselves updated and often ending up doing job below their skill level. People seem to become so comfortable with the 10-15% hikes they get every year that they dont want to even look beyond. At the far end of the spectrum is the Management, so what do they want. They want people to take initiative yet they dont want to give them any freedom. For every idea to be selected you have an internal bureaucracy to win and there is very little scope for failure. They want to maintain the control on who is doing what without cutting any slack. Cant blame them we are not very disciplined when we are left free ?

What happens in Pharma is even more fun to highlight, I like to quote a very senior chemist/scientist once who said "When you mix two chemicals the reaction will automatically happen whether you know chemistry or not. We really dont need to read a lot but know what we shouldn't do. And to do this we look at who else has done it and how. Hence we rely on patents and molecules that we have been told to identify and work". I understand this do what sells dont worry about the unknown someone will find a solution we will try to find an alternate and do it cheap.

There are many other such examples of what are we researching and to produce what. From most of my interactions I hear very similar lines. I have only 12 hrs of work time and in that most of the time goes in fire fighting where is the time to read? So then how do we sell content?? Is no one reading? I would very wrong if i remotely indicate this. We are..and if we have to go by footfalls on website and number of unique visits to publishers website I am confident that India ranks among the top 3. But what needs to be understood is that numbers do not mean anything in India. We are a 100 Billion plus and counting so numbers dont matter to me. What matters is out of the number of visits how many finally continue to return and bring more with them. I am sure that the returning numbers to website would be a relatively smaller number and in that if we are looking at regular visits that number might still be the smallest (as it would be in any other country as well but when you look at the ratio it would certainly be smaller than all others). What I am trying to get is the model in which most content is being sold in India to corporates. Buy pick n choose or buy collection of articles with minimum spend or enhanced licenses. If you ask any Content sales person in the industry today he/she would simply say corporate selling is challenging.

Why this view, yes it is challenging but the selling model is also questionable. For an engineer on the ground he has cost pressure and asking for any resource that will help him in his work would also mean adding cost to the product which neither his manager or his management is very keen on. Why spend on a notebook if you have give an ROI on every page utilized by the end user. People will start find new places to write if you ask them to explain the ROI on every page used. We cant ration everything if we do that people will find ways to steal and thats exactly what happens in content sales. My understanding of the industry and academia collaboration is my engineer will come to your library let him use the resources. My engineer friend is doing Mtech i will take his help to get the paper. Lets find if they have individual membership one of the team leads will become member and if we need one or two papers we will use his ID. All manifestation of a wrong model. We cannot have an ROI on a notebook.

So what do we do ??? Apart from the fact that most of the content, like this blog is becoming free, open source and that people are unwilling to buy new content whatever be the reason. While there must be millions of discussion out there on open source and not so open source I strongly believe that the sales model has to evolve.

Here is what I think may be the future sales model for most STM publishers. Tools to deliver tangible research or Sell reusable content at premium (similar to Standards/compliance reports). I have to believe that the content itself will become irrelevant but the outcome from the content would be Gold and that has to be charged. You cannot use all open source content and make millions from others. Just like in software if you make money you have to share the fruits with others (Android). If I am publishing and the company wants an affiliation sure why not.. The fees for company affiliation will be different and will be defined by the technology in question. I want to file a patent and the patent refers my papers, the patent is owned by the company so the company has to pay for the referral. What will be the pricing model ? How will you identify the opportunity and demand money from companies? This is the next billion dollar answer

Gia is now 3 and a growing Girl

This is much delayed what must have been published on 7th Jan is being written and published now.. No excuses..Sorry Beta!!

Where do I start "Gia Mera Beautiful" or "Tum hi ho Meri ashuqie tum hi ho meri Zandagi" I have never loved a song more than now when i hear you sing this song. I can really see the girl in you grow up every day!! Your love for all things girlie the sandals, the Bindi, the saree and the whole playing i am your mumma. Each day is blessing with you!! I love you so much and love to hear you say that you love me!!

I am growing with you honey and see you change. I hope i am able to keep pace with the changes you bring in. I honestly will try but will need all your support and love to understand you better with every passing year. I realise as you are growing impatient and learning many things. I am getting older, slower in learning and more irritable then before. I hope you forgive me for all the times i have lost my temper and as you say "Please dont scold me Dad" I want to say sorry for all those instances. My impatience and loss of temper is only when i am unable to communicate with you in a manner you understand what is important for you and help you do the right thing. I guess this battle will continue all our lifes and we just have to learn to deal with each other in the most loving manner possible. Today it is for eating your lunch on time, getting dressed on time, not sucking your thumb, washing your hands, some trivial things. Which i know time will heal but worries me everytime is when I see you fall sick. Its those times that i see you lying in the bed with Fever, i feel helpless. It is that helplessness that triggers some of the Anger. But honey please trust my love. I love you so much. Your smiling face is the biggest treasure I have found in my life. Love you tons!! Love you forever!! Papa

Volkswagen Vento Buying Experience

I am not only disgruntled but feel cheated, by the way, Volkswagen dealership (Elite motors) have conducted themselves during the Purchase process. I had inquired, test driven the Vento Comfortline Preferred edition 2013 model with Elite. I had agreed on the sales price and even signed the sales contract with them. Lucky for me before i was making the payment to them I thought of checking the details once again. On my re-check your dealer was cheating with 2014 pricing while giving 2013 car. They were miss leading with the choice of colors available and facts about the car. Today I feel that there is no audit or check by Volkswagen on their sales process and allow cheats like them in the market. I have enough reason to believe that Volkswagen is colluding with the dealers in trying to clear its old inventory at the cost of innocent buyers. I intend to take this to the court if I do not get proper clarification. From Volkswagen all I hear is a pathetic Sorry. I wonder if it was Germany or US will these dealers or can these authorized dealership get away just like that.

The worst part is that there is very little that we as customers can do. The sorry seems such a throw away word with people/companies in India


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: VWVI R: Pune, Customercaresales 
Date: Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 12:06 PM
Subject: RE: Contact Details on volkswagen.co.in

Dear Mr. Taparia,

Good afternoon!!

This has reference to your following email.

We are deeply concerned to note your feedback on the recent interactions with the dealership, Volkswagen Elite and apologies for the inconvenience caused to you in this regard. We are sensitized to your concerns expressed and  assure you that the same has been shared with the concerned as appropriate. We have also taken immediate note of your feedback put forth during your call to ensure errors of this nature are not repeated in the future.

We  understand that you have spoken with our Volkswagen representative, Regional Manager, Mr. Harish Babu, who admitted that there was an error that occurred on the part of the sales consultant.

We are also given to understand that you have now cancelled your booking with Volkswagen Elite and booked your vehicle with Volkswagen Palace Cross.

We thank you for your valuable feedback and would request you to kindly contact us incase of any further assistance.

Kind Regards,

Customer Care - Sales

Volkswagen Passenger Cars, India

CIN:U50401MH2007FTC168439

A tribute to great: Lalchand Somani

Today Morning my brother called me. He was crying and his painful voice was deafening what followed was an even worse news. My Uncle whom i have always looked up to as my Godfather and who has always been there for us passed away. Its a day thats been hard to describe, the intense sense of helplessness.
Not sure what i am greving about he is no doubt invaluable to all our lifes but just as painful as his loss is the thought and feeling that my cousins in Delhi are going through is even more painful. There is this feeling of being orphaned and a thought for my other mother. A mother who has been living for her husband serving him all her life.
I cant imagine what she is going through I dont know if there is anything more painful than this sudden and rude shock. No Goodbye no sorry no words. All words resonate uncertainity. We live with hope and imagination. Tomorrow morning she would wake up and suddenly she would realise the sudden emptiness a sense of loss and it would be like this for a few days.
I cant imagine how she would deal with it. I hope God gives her the strength and us the courage to stand by her and tell her that she has us and that we need her more than ever before.

As for the Man!! What can be said about him. He was an incredible family man. Lived all his life helping people setup families, business. A believer and a very loving father. He has been the pillar of strength for so many. His word and will is examplary. He will live in our thoughts always.

Jai Shree Krishna!!

Scrambled thoughts

Dear Blog,

Its been a while since I last wrote to you. I sure missed writing. When I started thinking about writing I really couldn't think of what I would write about or where do i start...

In the last few months I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel and travel to all parts of India. Everytime I have been to Mumbai I have always ached to meet friends but just could not. Feel bad to have lost a few friends in life. Then there are some friends who are always there for you unconditional support. Diwali is just a few days from today, I want to wish those lost friends and everyone a very happy diwali. Wish that we can connect again someday. Wish you and your family are happy and successful at everything that you do.
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Our lifes are so tough and twisted that we often forget how and where we store our energies and use it for the right purpose. In science they say energy is neither created nor destroyed it transforms from one form to the other. The Earth at its core is a molten mass of gases and hot lava which when finds its exit to the surface in its raw form creates a path of destruction (Volcano) the same core is a source of this unending energy when mixed with water gushes out in the form of steam providing for energy that can be used to power our homes, industry everything we need. Our heart and thoughts are the same in its raw, uneducated, undisciplined form and can think of using everything it possible can to destruct ourselves or those whose life we touch (terrorist, robbers, rapist, murders, cheats, etc) and when channeled in the right direction, educated and disciplined allows us to create new things, ways in which we create an enable ourselves for better living. At the core we all are the same all that changes are the situations, the conditions and challenges we face (ironically though we feel our problem is unique most of the problems in the world are common and so are the solutions to it). We would so easily blame everything around us for our volcanoes to burst but forget the other possibility. A possibility that allows inner peace and isolation from the disturbance around and to channel it for constructive work. We are often pressured at work and get irritated at some failures or dissatisfaction so much so that we are ready to throw away years of hard work and dedication or quit for want of something that is not going to be any different than it is here and now. The larger question is how can we channel this energy in to something meaningful and spare ourselves from the anxiety, depression, anger, etc.

I have believed that the answer is within and choice is ours. There are somethings in life that we cant change like the sun rise or sun set we have to learn to live with it. I am not suggesting one bit to give up and do nothing but learn to adept rather than react. The challenge most of the time is we react instead if we stopped for a moment and put things in perspective helping both ourselves and the person we work with. This will not only help the other person realize the cost of his behavior but also give us the results that would be far more satisfying and lasting. This path though longer and tougher because we inherently are built to defend ourselves need far more practice and belief. We are a source of undying power for ourselves and for those whose life we touch.

Happy Diwali!!

Gia, Turns 2 in a few days

Gia Honey,

As you turn two in a few days from now, I have been grappling with my toast and I thought while I will write and raise a toast on your birthday but I am sure you would hardly remember so I am putting it in black and white for you to read when you grow up. I write this with a lot of love and to tell you how much you mean to me and you always will.

On a starry night on 7th of Jan, I first held you in my arms with a tear in my eye. I was an anxious to be father and as I see you grow I am still an anxious father and guess that would remain with me. You are this incredible burst of energy with the most mischievous, naughty and intense eyes. It's such a joy to see you even when you are screaming and bringing the roof down. Honestly I try and be calm and I know its just a phase and shall pass. I want to say sorry for all the times I have yelled at you or lost my cool. I only do that out of my limitation to understand you and keep your tantrums in check. The only intend with this is to help you grow up polite, respecting and disciplined. Love you and love you so much dear. Wish you a very happy, healthy and a great learning year ahead. Like you say LAAB YOU :)

Lessons in Enterprenuership

It's been a while since I have been thinking about it but I finally got the time and the thought to may be keen a few things I learnt from my new venture. Oh yes!! For those who did not know I now have a small business while I am working for another company as well. What this allows me to do is find aspects of myself that I never knew exist.

Let me think !! It all started one evening sitting with a friend in my balcony when he had this idea about a property he came across through his work. The idea is plain and simple take the building from the owner and sublet it make money by the difference. What involved in it was not simple and it never is.

This is first business venture, though I have been brought up in a family business and have done some form of business and too me it all seemed natural and easy progression. But it never seems to amaze me when you get into something how different and how much you learn in such small time. The facets of your characters that get overhauled it simply beautiful.

For me I am naturally averse to conflicts and try and resolve things by waiting on it or running away from it. Yeah you read it we often brush things under the carpet when its not in our comfort zone. That's what has changed ever since I started my own business. Conflict and differences are a part of the daily business. Whether it is with your employee or with your customer or with your partners. Unless you take them head on you are not going to resolve any issue.

1. First learning for me, be clear on your vision. Spend that extra time to notice the details, the pine print of the agreements, partnership deeds, dealing with customers.
2. Take a decision, notice the pros and cons. Most importantly stick to your ground and be prepared for the consequences. they are not going to be limited but that's the difference. The key difference in success or failure.
3. Never rely only on word, everything should be document and detailed. With no eye for detail it will be impossible to win customers or partners.

My job allows me the freedom to fund my business but its a big risk the money that could have repaid your home loan, funded your dreams are riding on a partnership, a risk that we all believe in. It could very easily go down the drain and with it will come despair. So its imperative that you safeguard yourself with all eventualities. No exit plan, no crash landing, no limit tables are an invitation to doomsday.

This adventure has allowed me to learn so much and respect whatever I have earned so much more that I really feel lucky to have the luxury of a job and at the same time do business. To me business is more about character and vision. Without these I don't think anyone would ever be able to create something out of nothing. A good idea could very well go down the drain without the vision and the strength of your character, the leadership and discipline. You have to be honest to your vision.

To be continued.....

Being Father to a One year Old

This the period of my life I reckon as the most exciting and challenging at the same time. I have been blessed with time that I can afford with my little Gia very early in her growing years and I am hoping I am able to do justice with the time that I have got. From feeding her to taking care of daily chores it has been a journey to remember.

Watching her starting to crawl to walk and now run have been moments I will always cherish. Her playful laughs, her fake laughs and the tantrums I seem to be growing with her. Every now and then I will glimpse of me as a child. Man I was a wreck for my parents I must say. In any way I write this my days have been such a bliss, oh yeah, but it is very challenging. It really takes a toll on your energy levels and on your patience. I have been praying everyday, "God give me patience", I do not want to be rude or raise my voice to this innocent little baby but it can be really trying. The problem is communication...Yes it starts this yearly...communication gap/generation gap all starts very early. They try to explain what they want to do, we dont understand what they want. We are happy as long as they do things according to our comfort and the moment there is a deviation tempers are tested.

Ironic isn't it we have all been through this and now we experience this with our kid...No wonder they say when you will have Kids you will understand what we have been through. Honestly, I am not trying to complain but just contemplate ways in which I can handle her tender years better..Yeah I know there are tons of website guiding you about ways in which you can do it better then you are...This is more self realization and also an attempt to pen down feelings that i experience today and everyday over the last few months. Some day I know when my baby will read all of this together we shall both laugh about it.

Gia Taparia, you are a bundle of joy and as I grow older with you I want to see myself grow out of being a father to becoming a friend that will be there for you whenever you need me. I wish I can be a father that you are amazingly proud of. I will try my best to do what I can to see that you are able to achieve whatever that you aspire to be. Hoping that I would be able to equip you to fight your fears, your pains and inhibitions. Love you always honey and sorry for losing my temper every now and then..will try and better it..I love you and I love you tons..