Gifts from my secret Santa

Most organizations secret santa during Christmas, where in every employee of the organization will get a chit, which will contain his / her secret santa. They need to get a gift for that person during the duration of the game. The gift needs to be placed secretly, so that nobody finds it out, till the finale date.

In Summit office also we played this game of secret santa, 1^st day I got a key chain with a chocolate in the first half of the day, during the second half I got an idol of ganesh ji. People in office were like, lucky guy got 2 gifts on the same day. Even I was wondering who the person was. I knew one thing for sure, that this person knows me well.

I started looking out for my secret santa and the first clue was in the gift wrap, that person’s handwriting. Handwriting was good and the ink used was black, then what, I did a surprise visits to all the desk to check the handwriting and the ink. 5 people were shortlisted but it was difficult to pin point, so waited for the second gift to come.

2^nd gift was a chocolate and a lip balm, in whole office there was only I person who knew that I use lip balm and the brand preferred by me. I started checking his office notebook to verify my doubt, my doubt was kind of confirmed by now but still wanted to take a chance.

3^rd gift told the story it was he only, I got a pen and a thump ring. I don’t like pens with rubber grip, he was the only person who knew about it because I had spent one full day in getting a pen without rubber grip and had told him about it. The pen was without rubber grip.

I was happy that my secret was one of my colleague with whom I spent most of my time in office and we share the same cubicle as well. Before identifying his identity I used to discuss with him my doubts about my secret santa. He used to change his strategy accordingly in terms of placing the gift timings. He knew I have full doubt on him.

But his 4^th gift was beyond my imagination, it was a customized coffee mug. He took picture from my facebook account, selected some best, my family. That mug had pics of my full family, my parent and my wife. All office pals liked the gift and said this person knows you very well and has put in effort and time in gifting it to you.

My secret santa was Anirban, I will call it sheer luck that he got my name.

How safe are India’s metropolitan cities for women?

India is known to the world for its diverse culture, nationals from across the globe come here to witness it. Women in India are worshipped as “Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), Durga, Kali to name a few. It’s shocking to see incidence of violence against women at large scale in India. It’s a shame to India’s diverse culture as well.

Registered rape cases in India are at all-time high. In a week we can easily read 1or 2 rape cases in newspapers. What happened to the victims or the convicts in the case in never told or covered? Reason could new case is ready to focus attention on. Where are we heading toward? When we live in a civilized society, should we not behave in that manner?

I feel rape is an inhuman act which can’t be tolerated in human society. It’s a shame to our society at large. Today’s women has proved to the society that, they are nowhere behind men in any ways. They have conquered all the places which were once held by men only. Despite all these developed they are not treated well. 

Women have to face uncomfortable situation wherever they go, be it workplace, public transport, shopping malls. No place is safe for women, even their home in some situations. What should they do now? Sit at home or be victim to harassments. Rape leaves an unhealing wound to the soul of the victim. It is very difficult for them to come out of it.

Recents case of delhi is the most cruelest to the victim, where she was thrown out of the bus, as if she was a commodity and not human being. Delhi is the capital of India, situation is no different in Banaglore, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Pune. Women who leave their home early in the morning to earn bread for their family have not surety , that they will reach home safely. These cities are best known of their development and the standard of living it offers to the residents.

Police arrests the convicts and court grants them bail. Despite doing such grievous convicts roam free in the society, adding terror to female population. In think government should come out with some stringent punishment for the convicts in rape cases. The fear of the punishment should deter people from even thinking about it. Until and unless it is brought in practice, rape cases are not going to end. We can read about it every morning.

Only solution to this problem is to implement the same law, which is followed in countries like Saudi Arabia.

Prabhu’s birthday in Summit office

Prabhu our office boy is an integral part of Summit. If he doesn't come to office a day, our life is at toss. Most of us will have to step out of office that day for getting lunch. If Prabhu is there, he will take order from us and deliver it to us by lunch time. He even suggests places from where we can order food and delicacies as well.

At any given point of time we can approach Prabhu and ask him to get what we want in office. He never say to NO to anybody, always takes our requirement with a smile.

It was Prabhu’s birthday last Friday, he came to office in full white dress including shoes, except a black half  coat. The moment I entered office and saw him, it reminded me of filmstar Jeetendra, he used to wear such clothes. I told him the same, then Prabhu told me its his birthday today. After some time, he offered sweets to everyone in office.

During lunch time, someone suggested to buy a gift for Prabhu.  All were ready to contribute and we started thinking about the gift for Prabhu. Deepak (colleague) made a wonderful suggestion that we buy a cake for him and celebrate his birthday. Our discussion concluded in buying a wrist watch with a cake for him. We decided to think about the cake on the basis of the money collected and the cost of the watch.

Collection was done immediately as everybody was ready with the money. All these started post 3 pm. By 5 pm I left office with a colleague (Lokesh) to get the gift. We asked Archana (office admin) to ensure that Prabhu doesn’t leave office before we reach. Luckily we were able to get a watch and a cake for him.

No sooner we reached office we celebrated his birthday and gifted the watch to him. He was too happy as he didn't except any such thing from our end. The smile on his face was more than enough for us.

Deepawali at home with parents

It was a sweet delight to be with my parents this deepawali  after  8 years.  Last time I celebrated deepawali was with my parents in Varanasi (which I still miss). My first one in Kerala, since we settled here.

Deepawali in Kerala was quite different from that in Varanasi. Beginning of the day was as usual, early morning wake up with loads of work on head. After breakfast I was assigned my task, to clean the area near ceiling and high end corners of the house (best reward for being the tallest member of the family). Mom was the commander in chief, who would assign task to people with stipulated time period.We had to complete our work on time to ensure evening pooja is done before its too late.

Once cleaning of house was over, I had a new task in hand, make battis to be put in the diyas. I actually ended up making lot more than what was expected. I was doing it by watching TV, because it was a boring task. You can give me any boring task with an access to watch TV and I can do it.

It was 5 by the time battis got over now I had to put diyas all around the house and helped mom in pooja arrangement. Dad and my wife poured oil to the diyas and got dressed for the pooja.  Mom did pooja in pure north Indian style, myself, dad and wife was sitting around here.

After pooja it was time for celebration first task was to lit the diyas, then firewoks, we didn’t buy much crackers, health issues and no interest in bursting crackers. It reminds me of my childhood days, when I used to request dad to get me more and more crackers for 2 days (in north deepawali is celebrated for 2 days). As I grew up, my interested got shifted from bursting crackers to watching people burst crackers.

My wife and dad were busy bursting crackers, me and mom were looking at them enjoy the fun of festival. Then it was time to enjoy sweets, 2 types of laddo and kaju barfi, dad just loves it. Suddenly power went off, it was a spectacular view to watch the house with bright light being

It was good to be at home with parents to celebrate deepawali. Being with your loved one, makes any festival special and brighten their life as well. Looking forward to celebrate more such festival with loved ones in the days to come.

Skyfall Review

Bond series is the most awaited action movie from James Bond 007 series. People wait eagerly for the movie to hit multiplexes. Main attractions of James Bond movies are the gadgets, cars, storyline, mission and the action packed stunts.

Beginning of the movie was average, where Bond is on a mission to retrieve vital information about their undercover agents, which has been taken over by terrorists. Its a chip, which contains all vital information. In the process of getting the chip, Bonds assistant shot him accidently. As we know Bond can’t die, he comes back but takes his own sweet time to report to work.

His mission still remains the same to get the chip for the safety of agent and integrity of the nation. Q gives him only 1 gadget a radio transmitter and a gun (which Bond couldn’t use in the movie). Bond leaves for the mission, till this point of time movie is able to retain your attention.

Post interval movie becomes is damn slow and confusing. Bond’s discovers his real mission now. For the first time gay factor was introduced in movie, where as a guy try to seduce Bond. But he shows he loves women more than men.

Bond’s real mission is to save M from an ex Bond agent, who has become psychopath by now. He wants to kill M at any cost to settle his personal scores. Suddenly M becomes the main attraction of the movie on one hand her life is at stake on the other her professional credibility and efficiency.

Bond takes his mission seriously to save M all alone without any gadgets or assistants. Climax of the was totally unpredictable not expected from Bond at all.

I had lot of expectations from Skyfall but it didn’t meet my expectations. After watching Skyfall I feel “Casino Royale” was much better than this. I don’t know but somehow I feel Daniel Crag is not able to maintain the Bondism in Bond series.  Pierce Brosnan’s action scene are still fresh in our memories, he had the charm and elegance to do justice to every shot whereas Daniel  action or romantic scene both are same without much expressions.

Am not sure will I ever go to next bond series featuring Daniel. I feel its high time production house focus on getting a new bond. Movie was total disappointment, with wastage of time and money.

Corporate Social Responsibility from Summit HR

Every individual has his/her responsibility towards the society where they live. Most of us keep cribbing about the wrong practices followed by the members of the society but only few have the courage to take corrective measure because it takes lot of courage and patience.

Many MNC today are actively promoting CSR in their campuses and encourage their employees to participate in it actively. Nobody is forced for such activities people do it voluntarily. CSR activities could be visiting old age homes, no plastic day, using public transport to commute to work on a particular day, marathons to name a few.

My office Summit HR took us to a school for giving a session on importance of Hygiene in an individual’s life.  Session was for students of class IV & V. When we were heading towards the class for the session, students started greeting us with “Good afternoon sir”. It was a pleasant experience for us.

Students were highly enthusiastic about the session as they has 3 new faces (myself, Badri & Nikhil) apart from their regular instructor. Students wanted us to introduce our self before starting the session and requested our active participation in it. We obliged to it. We wanted students to speak more and share their views on this topic rather than us making the first move. 

Students were brilliant and responded very well to the topics covered in the session. As part of the program, students were divided into groups and asked to enact a skit on any one of the topics covered during the session. Within a span of 3 min, students were ready with the skit and performed on themes beyond our imagination. 

Then came the most exciting part of the session a game about which me and badri had no clue but Nikhil was aware about it. Students wanted us also to be a part of the game, we participated in it actively. This game took us to our school days. Finally it was time to say bye to kids, they has requested us to visit them for the next session, we will try our level best for it.

It was a mind refreshing session for all of us. We laughed to the fullest keeping all tensions at bay. For some moments we became kids with the students. 

Would like to thank Dream a Dream and Nikhil for organizing the session for us and hope it continues near future as well.

Small act of bravery by Madhuri

We recognize people for their good deeds but very rarely try to do things by ourselves. Anyone can do it,  if we stop thinking about “what people will think about us”? We should listen to ourselves and do the right things at the right time than waiting for others to take the first step.

A real life incident from Madhuri from our office

Bangalore metro has been introduced only in some areas, some use it for daily commute while other use it for firsthand experience.  One of my office colleague(Madhuri) decided to try metro for coming to office for a change. During lunch break she told, “I cleaned Metro train today”. Our expression- What? Because Metro is well maintained, then she narrated the story.

She got into Metro from her station, next station some first timers including kids got into Metro and started talking loudly, disturbing the peaceful environment inside the train. Everybody was quite, soon kids started hanging on the support rod of the train, people accompanying them were least bothered by these ruckus. 

Commuters were annoyed but no one was willing to take the first step to stop them from creating nuisance in public transport. Suddenly someone from the crowd spit at the doors of the train. He was chewing pan, white colored door had red patches on either sides.

Everybody was quiet, this was the time when Madhuri took a tissue from her bag and started cleaning one of doors of the train. People were looking at the brave act undertaken by her. Soon one girl came to Madhuri and asked if she has more tissues, Madhuri gave that girl some tissues and together they removed the red patch from the door.

Entire gang of people, who did it, had suddenly become quiet. Kids took their place, no loud voices nothing. Peaceful environment of the train was restored by a small act from Madhuri.  I feel everybody would have appreciated Madhuri for her act, but nobody came forward to do it.

But we appreciate her act, I asked why did you do it? Her reply was I couldn’t see Metro train dirty.

Are parent’s burden on their grown up children?

Satyamev Jayate’s revelation was shocking for me and many like me looking at the treatment meted out to parents at the hands of their children.  For parents children are their world and they are ready to do numerable sacrifices for them at any given point of time. Parent’s affection can be understood well only when you become parents.  Teenagers & grown up children keep nagging that their parents don’t understand them and they don’t know “what to do next?”

It’s difficult for kids to understand why parents are harsh on them at time but by the time they understand the things, it’s too late in some cases. Parents spend their entire life in our upbringing thinking that in their old age we can be with them as their support system.  Very few parents are fortunate to fulfill this dream.

Today’s money savvy economy has made children so selfish that they don’t even hesitate to kill their parents for money. How can one do it? Doesn’t his /her conscious stop them from doing such things? Our parents were there with us when we needed care and support, then why can’t we be with them?

It’s the first time that I turned off TV when Satyamev Jayate was on air. 2 incidents from the show forced to do it. 

Incident 1 – A son orders his mother to vacate the house by evening, if she doesn’t do so he will consume poison in front of her. Mother was left with no other option but to leave the house. Even at that point of time, mother was thinking about the well-being of her son and his long life. Son had taken her entire savings before throwing her out like a penny less beggar. 

Incident 2- A remote village in Tamil Nadu kill elder people who are either bed ridden or can’t do their day to day activity. Doctors help them in their act by injecting elders by poisonous injection. People who do it are happy and tell about it proudly.

Despite all the incident parents are still in with love their children and are waiting to unite with them before they leave the world. Parents don’t want our money they only want our unconditional love. It’s the same thing which parents had given us when we were kid. Bringing up a child a tough task when they were ready to take it, why can’t we take our responsibility of being with them. 

Our existence today is because of them, had they thought that bringing up a child is a tough task and said to no baby? Giving birth to a child is like defying death because of the painful process but still women take the decision to become mother. 

India is known in world for its rich culture and tradition. Couples from foreign destinations are coming to India to tie nuptial note thinking they could have a happy married life ahead. We teach world how to respect our elders but we are forgetting it ourselves. Parents are visible god, then how can one harm them so brutally.

My wife’s surprise revealed before time

We all love surprises, some are pleasant while others are unpleasant. But surprises enable us to capture some beautiful expression of an individual, which can’t be seen normally. We plan for surprises keeping certain things as constant and evading uncertainties attached to it. Have you ever thought how an individual would feel, when surprise doesn’t go as planned? I have no idea about it as till date none of my surprises has been spoiled. Would like to share an incident here on, “how my wife’s surprise was revealed before time?”

My B’day is on 8^th july, it was my first b’day post marriage. I had done my bit in advance, by booking a table for us, in one of the restaurants she has been willing to go for a long time. On 7^th we went out for grocery shopping, after coming back had dinner and I went to bed. Saw my wife was busy reading a magazine, it was 11.30 pm then. After 10-15 mins she came to room. Suddenly realized I left my water bottle on the dining table. I got up to get it, the moment I touched the door to open it, my wife enquired the reason. I told her, left my water bottle outside, going to take it, she told “I will get it for you”. I told no its fine and came out of the room.

There I discovered the surprise which she had planned for me. On  dining table “a small cake, 2 neatly wrapped gifts and a burning candle”.  All I could do that time was to laugh loud and nothing else. Athira was telling – “I waited for 15 mins so that you can settle down but this water bottle, it spoiled my plan” . She was annoyed and I could see it. We headed towards to bedroom with my water bottle (surprise spoiler).

Lying on bed I was laughing like anything while she was cursing herself, as things didn’t go the way it was planned. We were waiting eagerly for the clock to strike 12 to cut the cake. At 12 Athira wished me and we headed towards the dining table for cutting the cake.  I cut the cake, gave her the first bite and then hogged on to gifts (I love gifts).

I know some where Athira was disturbed, as she was not able to surprise me the way it was planned. But its ok, you can’t be successful everytime.. Right 

She had surprised me beyond my expectation on valentine’s day. These are wonderful memories to be cherished upon.

Latha’s Birthday at Summit HR

Latha is one stop solution for all problems in Summit HR. If she is not in office for a day, we feel like missing something at Summit HR. She takes care of everything from system to office maintenance. Meet everybody with a smiling face and always ready to help people at work with the best of her knowledge.

Latha helped me a lot when I joined Summit sometime back. Daily she used to wish me in morning and checked if I needed anything? Would like to share a small incident-“ One day she was suppose to hand over office laptop and few other things to me but I left office early that day due to fever.  Next day I was bit scared to counter Latha but she welcomed me with smile and felt sorry for my ill health, then handed the laptop to me”. I said sorry to her for the inconvenience caused to her due of my absence, to which Latha said “Its okay, you didn’t do it intentionally”

Latha / Karthik used to send B’Day greetings to all Summitian on their Birthday. Yesterday was Latha’s Birthday, since Karthik is no longer with Summit, we were wondering who would send her B’Day greeting.

I along with Badri and Rashmi decided to do something different for Latha, we decided to celebrate her B’day by cutting cake. Since cake had to be eggless, it was difficult to find it but with Hari’s help we were able to figure out a shop and got the cake for her.

When we requested Latha to come and cut the cake, she was very happy at the surprise we planned for her. The cake was yummy, everybody liked it a lot. 

Sometime small surprises can do wonders and make people happy. Looking forward to share more such happy moments at Summit