An Ideal Boss.

Several years I have spent in many organizations. I worked in Govt. sectors (obviously on contract bases), in a manufacturing unit, in couple of CA’s office, in a construction firm in the Capital of India, with an electrical contractor and finally I have been working with a publishing firm in Mumbai (actually working at my dream place with a dream organization but with different designation). As I changed several jobs, I have found many types of bosses and experienced various things.

How should a boss be like? Hmmm.. Yeah, very tough to answer but we always desire to have a good boss, don’t we? In my years of service, I was directly involved with my boss with my last job. Everything was going well with him. He was a good human being from South India and so he would often visit his coconut farms there in Mangalore and involved in that business. His son took charge of the office and all went wrong for me. When I resigned, my boss not even considered my resignation but I have got opportunity to work in bigger firm and the dream job I was waiting for. When it was my last working day at that office, my boss told me, “I have lost a very talented boy.” (And I was amazed; he couldn't find any talent during my working days and last day suddenly I became talented! So strange!) And then I came to JAICO PUBLISHING HOUSE. Four interviews were conducted here and I got call after almost one & half month later finishing all rounds. I was interacted with my boss in the last session of my interview Mr Ashwin Shah.

WhatApp DP of Ashwinbhai

This blog is all about Mr Ashwin Shah, who is my boss and I have found the most impressive amongst all I have worked under the previous ones. There are so many things to describe him but I don’t know how I should do. But let it be simple and sweet. When I saw him for the first time, I knew that I was about to have a good time in this organization. I call him ‘Ashwinbhai’ instead of ‘Sir’ (When I am personally interacting with him, I use only ‘Sir” while addressing him. He has always). He has completed 70 years and he still looks young (even younger than me for sure). I may get tired but he never does. There is brightness on his face that shines his personality. He becomes even more impressive with a light smile he always keeps on his face. With trimmed beard & executive wardrobes he ends up himself with a complete gentleman. I have yet never found a person like Ashwinbhai in any organization ever. He is not only a mentor but also a good friend. I’ve interacted with him several times during my service in the organization but I have always found him discussing the things very gently. He has never felt proud of the things around him. He is more a successful human being and a well known personality all over the world but he is as simple as he is. From walking on live coals in BKC Bandra to attending a late night book launch at the ITC, he has always inspired me to be young and energetic, no matter how old you are. I would like to dedicate few lines for him as I end my blog here…

“There is no limit in this huge sky

This is the way how life passes by

We sometimes fall and we rise

But we always do what is right

From darkness we come out

& we feel that brightness all around

Success is always hard to earn

& to digest it, is even harder to learn

Man often starts to fly in the high sky

Watches below on earth & forgets the past

But he is different amongst all

He never feels that anyone is small

He treats everyone equally

& he even talks very gently

His personality speaks the truth

In all the ways he is good

I wish he remains young forever

& we all stay here together

He keeps rising like a skyscraper

& I wish he takes JAICO even higher”

"The one that got away"

I never knew about Katy’s movie ‘Part of Me’ but I have found it very touching and inspirational. This is a journey of her life from bottom to top, her struggle during her success, her love life and a broken heart. I really love Katy Perry (even more than Barrack Obama does). You can also see I have mentioned “अनुगच्छतु प्रवाह” in both my Facebook and Twitter profiles. It means that no matter how the condition is; you have to flow yourself with the time. Even I am planning to get it tattooed on my hands too. It is truly inspirational thing for me as I have been dumped by several people in the past and recent times. I often hear her albums ‘Teenage Dream, the complete confection’ and ‘PRISM’ along with Demi Lovato (I am a Lovatic first) and Selena Gomez.

While recording with Capitol Records, Katy was often compared with Ashley Simpson & Avril Lavigne. She is also seen annoyed once and throwing all things in a studio when people call her second Ashley or Avril. She just said, “I don’t want to be second Avril or Simpson. I just want to be the first Katy Perry. And look, today she has been a Katy Perry, a successful singer who is even ruling little kids. Have you seen that video of a little girl who stops crying listening to Katy Perry’s Dark Horse? That was too cute! I really respect Katy from the bottom of my heart and I really love this blonde very very much <3 Oh! I wish she could be my Valentine this year! The most important part of her life I saw when she was in Brazil and about to perform on her stage where she was facing the largest crowd ever during her tour. She was going through a heart break. She was crying backstage and people were anxiously waiting Katy to come on stage. They were roaring Katy…Katy…Katy …. But Katy was in pool of tears and so the tour members were too worried whether Katy would make it possible or not? At the last moment, she prepares herself and goes to the stage and performs tremendously!

She becomes a successful singer even with a broken heart. The reason behind her broke was too even strangest. Her husband wanted a baby and wanted to settle down with Katy. But Katy wanted to live her life; she wanted to be the Katy Perry. She says, “I am still a baby and babies can’t have babies.” This was truly inspirational. In the path of success, she even sacrificed her love of her life! Who can ever do it and become such stronger every day? Her sister is everything to her. She has helped her in all situations; her staffs in the tours are really great guidance for her. Do you know what I really think about Katy Perry? I wish she will never ever get older and keep entertaining people all around the world for many many years with her beautiful songs, with her wonderful art and with the kindest heart.

God saves Western Railways...

With the construction going on full swing in both Nallasopara & Virar, the other side, commuters are facing lots of inconvenience to commute towards Churchgate early morning. There has been a complete chaos early morning during pick hours. All trains come after a hault at Vasai Road and Nallasopara and so people from both station abroad the local. For a person residing in Virar cannot even enter into the rake when the local becomes Virar-Churchgate Fast. Anyhow he manages to enter the local, he will have to stay in standing position until Mumbai Central or Charni Road when local gets emptied. All the regular passengers would say to their friends,

"BHAU.. YA NA.. 

IKDE BASA NA.... 

BHAU. PUDHE SARAK NA.... 

MI BASLO. BASA TUMI...... ARRE BASA NA."

Superwomen of Bombay

And we cannot even protest them as they are locals and we become weak. There is no planning by Indian railways to control crowd of Western Suburbs. The new bombardier local which was to be started on 26th January has still not come on tracks. There is no further announcement on it. The Churchgate- Virar elevated railway plan has been put on hold. It looks like the plan will be cancelled. The 6th line between Mumbai Central & Borivali where WR was planning to run 10 locals during pick morning & evening hours has been put on hold after slum dweller protest.

The thing is that the condition of people communicating between Virar & Churchgate has become even worse than cattle. Numbers of people die everyday we don't know, their relatives are compensated or not we don't know and when will we meet with an accident, we don't even know. The life is always on the edge and the Western Railway's role is more like a Kumbhkarna who is taking a nap, waiting something to be happened....

Changing times

The time has been changed and it changed really fast. Everything has come under a single smart phone that has affected people's lives the most. Around 2008, when I started travelling in trains from Valsad to Surat, it was a time when people used to listen songs loudly in their china made phones which might have 8 to 16 in built speakers. Then came Bluetooth, by which small media was transferred from one device to other. Later came 3gp video format. I still remember many people used to have desi porn content carrying in mobile and discussed with each other,

"Arre woh Kosamba wala kand dekha kya? Nahi? Bluetooth chalu kar abhi bhejta hoon."

Just like this life was anyhow running in public transport. Later I went Delhi where people in metro are not allowed to play songs. So I forgot how the people behaved in trains in Gujarat. When I came back from Delhi spending 2 years, China made phones were replaced by android devices (we call them smartphones). These phone has got MX player that has the ability to play all types of video formats. So people downloaded movies which were available on sites and kept on watching them. As the time was running, the technology in android devices has even become more friendly.

Surfing with smartphone or suffering with smartphone? :)

Nowadays you can transfer any size files from one device to other in a blink of an eye. The technology has made phones smarter but see on the other side, people have lost smartness. Just before all these stuff, there was a different atmosphere in trains, especially in Mumbai local, people used to play cards, have gup shup until their destinations, they sang bhajans etc etc. But now everything has been changed. Everyone has the expensive smart phone that has maximum features. Today, if the movie is released at 11 am, it's copy arrives in market by 2 am. And it is even free on cost. By 8 am, the file has been copied thousand times! People do not talk to each other, the keep looking into devices. Candy Crush, WhatsApp, Facebook and other applications never allows one person to look above. Necks are always down and so the attitude is higher.

A good friend is the best gift :)

Sometimes you think you'll be fine by yourself
'Cause a dream is a wish that you make all alone
It's easy to feel like you don't need help
But it's harder to walk on your own

You'll change inside when you realize

The world comes to life and everything's bright
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you define the beauty you are
When you open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend
The gift of a friend

Screenshot from the song "Gift of a friend"

Someone who knows when you're lost and you're scared
There through the highs and the lows
Someone to count on, someone who cares
Beside you wherever you'll go

You'll change inside when you realize

The world comes to life and everything's right
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you define the beauty you are
When you open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend

And when your hope crashes down
Shattering to the ground
You, you feel all alone
When you don't know which way to go
And there's no signs leading you home
You're not alone

The world comes to life and everything's right
From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side
That helps you to find the beauty you are
When you open your heart and believe in
When you believe in
You can believe in
In the gift of a friend...

In case you're single this Valentine :)

I always think when Valentine is near that I would have my Valentine this day but I have always remained single. But this day never distract me seeing other lovers. This is the day not just meant to be for the lovers but this day is for all. Singles can celebrate with joy rather than being jealous seeing your friend and crush in a relationship. I have an idea for all you people who are single and worried about Valentine Day. Here are the best ways how you can celebrate it alone.

1)      If you have a car or bike, you can go for a long drive and visit your favorite spot (excluding lovers point). There should be immense peace or surrounded with greenery or visit a temple if you are having faith in God.

2)      Pick up a book. I must recommend a book that will inspire you except the novels. There is a particular time to read novels but you must have to read inspirational literature in order to decrease the anxiety of a Valentine day.

3)      Find Children. Children are gift of god. When they are around, you can easily overcome the unnecessary worries and pains. When you see a child smiling around, I bet you can’t stop yourself from being satisfied.

4)      You have an idiot box at home. Now LED Tvs have USB Port too. You can easily play your favorite stuff on TV and enjoy it. This is one of the best ways to throw out all your worries.

5)      If you have got cute pets, more like a puppy or kitten, you can take it out and spend time with those innocents. Animals are truly best friends of human beings. Your girlfriend might cheat you on 15^th Feb after she receives a gift but animals won’t.

These are simple five steps to enjoy V’Day if you are single. But be happy and free. Don’t worry about anything. You will definitely get your Valentine very soon. Remember mother Gothel of Tangled,

“ALL GOOD THINGS TO THOSE WHO WAIT”

Hope, Pray, Faith (Poem dedicated to Nirbhaya)

“I closed my eyes and found myself in heavens,

Away from a cruel world, now I am falling here

This is safer and more secured,

I’ve been an angel and staying near the lord

Now I am the part of his family,

Where no one is jealous of my beauty

I am free and I am careless,

This place is full of kindness

I can run here and there,

I sing a song that makes me brave

My tears have been wiped up,

I am once again growing up

Oh there is no one here to stop

There is no one here to be the boss

I am more independent,

And I am no more dependent

Now look at me I am smiling anyway,

‘Cause you people pray for me everyday

But there is something that pains in my heart,

As my poor parents have forgot to laugh

I promised them to come back very soon,

But I succumbed to my wounds

The scars I got, I never forget,

The ‘promise’ I made them, I’ll always regret

Nothing is changed even with the revolution,

My sisters are dying and being a ‘thing’ of ‘celebration’

How many brave ‘Nirbhayas’ in this country will be lost?

Who will melt the people’s hearts those are under deep frost?"