Republic Day

January 26 is a special day. We celebrate the anniversary of the day India became a Republic in 1950. The day starts with the Prime Minister leading the nation in paying homage to those who gave up their lives in the service of the nation. A formal wreath is placed at the cenotaph where the Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the Immortal Warrior) burns forever. Then follows the famous Republic Day parade with all the fanfare and ceremony. We enjoy the sight of marching troops, the latest fighting equipment and cultural tableau. A magnificant spectacle- managed immaculately year after year.

Equally magnificent is the Beating of the Retreat three days later. This solemn ceremony brings back visions of the past when fighting stopped at sunset. It is a feast for lovers of martial music with the massed bands playing traditional favourites for this function like Abide With Me and Saare Jahan Se Achcha.

I am proud that we have maintained these traditions and continue to provide a treat each year which all of us in India look forward to keenly.

What’s Your Health Quotient?

“Most of us know how intelligent, emotional and maybe even how glamorous we are. But how many of us really know about our own health?

The stressful and unhealthy lifestyles we lead today can cause much concern. Addressing these concerns, the Health Quotient Test offers a quick and effective way to measure one’s health. On the basis of your lifestyle and habits, the test lets you know exactly where you stand on the health meter. Take the test and you might be surprised at the results!”

Check out the Health Quotient Quiz at the website of Tata AIG Life Insurance Company Limited.

Heard about this in an ad. over RadioCity 91.1 FM. Easy to locate and take the test. Apparently, the quiz/test has been put together in collaboration with the Mumbai Branch of the Indian Medical Association.

I won’t tell you my score but it came under the category of “Fairly Healthy”!

Bangalore In The News For Wrong Reasons

It’s sad that for the last few days, my city of Bangalore -or Bengalooru if you will -has been in the news for quite the wrong reasons.

On Friday, Jan 19, a veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister organised a procession to condemn the hanging of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain. The fact that the former Iraqi President was actually hanged on December 30 did not seem to deter them. A report in The Times of India describes what followed.

In many parts of Bangalore, life came to a standstill. Many lost property. A young boy of 12 lost his life. Many were hurt. The situation is better today and the city limps back to nomalcy.

The “leader” who triggered the events lives happily. He could not care less for those who lost life and limb. Why do people like him succeed amidst all the progress? This is 2007 and not 1947. It has to do with their ability to keep thousands of their followers in relatively abject poverty with poor levels of education, who thrive on rumour and emotion, who are cannon fodder for their political masters.

How unfortunate that political leaders in our country take advantage of our “democracy” to further their own ends.

There’s More To Blogging

Read a very informative piece today by Kavita Kukday in The Times of India. She writes of how blogs can be made to reflect your personality and further your business.

The blogosphere is growing at an exponential pace. Apparently there are 63.2 million blogs on the internet!!According to Technorati almost 175,000 new ones are being added every day!!

Use of podcasts can enhance the value of your blog. A podcast being a small audio snippet that one uploads to one’s blog/website.

Others have used videos using Google Videos to enhance the visual appeal in their blog. It is said to be fairly simple without having to need a web developer to upload the videos.

Another service is the use of Leafletter which lets you create smaller versions of your website or blog which you can then distribute to your social/business network.

Very exciting stuff for the independent business professional wanting to make a statement about their expertise and interests.

Misplaced Priorities

Yes, it’s good that Aishwaria Rai has got engaged to Abhishek Bachhan or vice versa depending on who you like more. But does this deserve so much hype? Every TV channels went overboard trying to get exclusive footage of the event. Astrologers, tarot card readers and fortune tellers were at a premium. Different forecasts followed.

Momentarily, even the “Baddies” like Bitti Mohanty, son a Orissa DIG of police, absconding following a rape case where he is the prime accused and the nefarious duo of Noida, were forgotten.

I don’t mind the baddies being forgotten, but I do feel strongly that the Army Day celebrations of Jan 15 did not get adequate coverage/reporting. Good old Doordarshan was the only TV channel that covered the program. Officer and soldier followed each other to receive gallantry awards at the hands of the Army Chief. Most of them were for operations against terrorists. Many awards went to widows of brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.

I was happy to see that today’s Indiatimes Poll says that 88% felt “undue hype is being given to Ash-Abhishek”.

Spare a thought for the brave Army personnel who are risking their lives every day in some parts of India so that we can live in comfort.

Work Life Balance Tops New Year Wish List

Read in DNA that striking a better balance between work and play, taking more exercise and avoiding disastrous relationships top resolution lists around the world this New Year.

Global research group ACNielsen surveyed consumers in 46 countries and found from the United States to Vietnam that more than half of those interviewed wanted work to play a lesser role in their lives in 2007.

One in three US consumers — who have the highest rate of obesity in the developed world — also planned to go on a diet.“Consumers have realised a healthy lifestyle is not about the latest celebrity diet or trendy exercise fads, but is simply about having a balanced diet and lifestyle,” ACNielsen Europe President Patrick Dodd said.

Smoking bans passed in 2006 in countries from Spain to Uruguay looked to be bolstering the global health trend with one in five smokers polled admitting they were aiming to cut down or quit next year.

Exercise was also in the spotlight, with Filippinos, Australians and Singaporeans most committed to being more active.

The drive to detox also stretched to more intimate parts of people’s lives. One in five consumers globally said they wanted 2007 to be the year they avoided “disastrous relationships.”

Regrettable Quotations!

Reading ” Dictionary of Regrettable Quotations” by David Milsted. Good fun with hundreds of gaffes over the years.

A few samples:

• “There’s Neil Harvey at leg slip, with his legs wide apart, waiting for a tickle” Brian Johnston, BBC Commentator
• Glenn Turner looks a bit shaky and unsteady but I think he’s going to bat on…one ball left”. Brian Johnston, BBC Commentator after Turner had been hit in the “box”
• “The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history- no, not in our nation’s histroy but in World War II. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century, but in this century’s history”. James Danforth Quayle

As Hubert Humphrey said” I say some things and….. gosh I wish I hadn’t said them!”

One Resolution That Remains Unbroken

The New Year is the time to make resolutions and promptly break them. For many, breaking resolutions made with New Year around the corner – is but a matter of time.

I am happy that I have not broken a resolution made, not during the New Year, but on April 4, 2003. American Independence Day. The resolution was to quit smoking.

I am glad to say the resolution stands unbroken today. Quitnet informs me that I have stayed smoke free for: 1279 days, 21 hours, 7 minutes and 45 seconds !

I found Quitnet to be of great help when I started being smoke free. Very happy to commend it strongly to those who may want to quit smoking.

Can it be done? I have been smoking for so long? How can I manage without a cigarette? These are questions that come to mind. Ask me. It can be done.

I quit after smoking for more than 35 years. I believe ( and my old friends and family will testify to this ) that if I could do it, so can everybody else.

As we say to sign off in our community: Stay Quit!!