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

Where does sleep goes on holiday?

Getting out of bed early morning is tough task for anybody, we strive to sleep for 5 or 10 more mins. We wait eagerly for weekends when we can sleep for long hours. But on weekends we tend to wake up early than expected. I don’t know if it happens with most of us but it happens with me and few other people whom I know.

On weekdays I get up by 7.30 or 8.00 am max that also either through alarm or someone needs to call me. But on weekend without any alarm my sleep breaks by 6 am and them lie on bed till 8 or 9 depending upon the schedule of the day. But after lunch feel sleepy and take a nap for 2 -3 hrs.  

Despite my best attempt to find out exact cause for this strange behavior no remarkable success has been achieved so far. If my weekends are going to be hectic I feel like sleeping for long hours. Today I had no plans scheduled for the day, I was awake by 6 in morning. It was not the case last week, when the schedule was tight. 

I think its a psychological factor, Mon-Fri we have no option but to get up early to reach office on time,  we look forward to sleep more and wait early for an off. But on weekend we know, have ample time to sleep and get up on our time but tend to get up early.

Do you have any other better suggestion for this strange behavior?

Memories of Valentine's day

Valentine day memories take me to my school days, when our full batch was asked to stay back after assembly and our principal told us “strict action will be taken against students who were found exchanging roses in school”. First thing we did after entering class room was to exchange roses before our class teacher could enter the room.

Then during college days wearing red or black combination dress, even shoes need to have the combination. Hiding roses in bag giving to the person concerned far from everybody’s eyes. Most important things was to know “What happened to the people who were found celebrating Valentine’s day on TV?”.  Couples were beaten up, their face were blacked. It was all violence then. It actually forced couple to celebrate it, than today when the level of resistance has come down.

This was our 1^st valentine’s day after wedding.  I had not planned for it, y brother in law who asked me “what are you planning to gift your wife on valentine’s day?” .  My instant reply was “it’s only for bachelor’s not married couples”.  It happened when we were entering a mall. Mall was fully decorated with Valentine ’s Day gift.

All of a sudden my eyes fell on teddy’s decorated at one of shelves. Athira has been asking me to buy her a teddy for sometime, hence decided to buy it for her.  Wanted to buy and gift it as surprise but couldn’t do so since it was a big teddy and finding a place to hide it would have been tough task. So gifted it to her in advance. Since it was spontaneous she was too happy about it.

On 13^th evening I enquired in my office about any florist shop close by. They guided me but couldn’t find anyone, finally close to my house found a florist shop and got a red rose for Athira. Had hidden it in my bag, so that nobody could see it.  14^th morning I gave the rose to her and wished her valentine’s day and started getting ready for office.

The moment I came out of bathroom after taking bath, saw 3 gifts one another with the teddy close to it.  Above the gift was a paper with Valentine’s day wishes in it. Didn’t knew how to react to it but was too happy about it. Decided to come from office early today, and spend some time with her.  First gift was a hand cream, other was a small idol of “Krishna ji in a jhoola” and the final one was a coffee mug with I Love you engraved on it.

Left office early after finishing the work, wanted to go out for dinner. We were yet to decide where to go when Athira received a call from her friend. She told Athira that they are at jayanagar 4^th block.  . Athira wanted to meet this friend of her for long time, hence we decided to head towards Jayanagar. Athira was too happy to see her friend after spending close to an hour, we moved to Athira’s favorite food point to have our dinner.

By the time we finished our dinner it was 10, we had 20kms to be covered for reaching home. Finally reached home by 11 and went to bed with sweet memories of the day.