Msgs from Friends 13

Msg from Fay Kelly

All is not gloom and doom
How about some good news from time to time

Thanks for your interest, Fay,
Actually because elections are near, I am trying to awaken the people to see the type of people representing us.
It is my small effort.
You know, India would have been a much better place, minus these politicians of whom I write.
Let us hope this elections throws up better people although I do not have much hope.
I hope to see a new reawakened India after the next elections, not this one.
Swami Ramdeo, of whom you may have read on our blog, is attempting to inculcate the high values for which India was once famous for.
I put on our blog whatever our friends send me.
Those pieces do bring some cheer.
Why don't you too be more active and some peices for the girls of Loretto.

Radheshyam

A letter sent to Swami Ramdeo

Respected Swami Ramdeoji,

I had written earlier to you but have not received any reply.
I have no complaints as you are a busy man.
I do pranayam everyday from 6.45 to 7.30 am while watching your programme on Aashtha Channel .
While I appreciate and support most of your views, there are some to which I disagree.
I had mentioned some areas of disagreement in my last mail to you.
This morning I heard you speak of Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram.
We have been singing the Jan Gana for the last 60 years and consider it our national item. We respect it.
Please do not raise a dispute over it.
You are working towards uniting India against corrupt politicians, please keep that goal in mind. Don't raise topics which will arouse debate and divide the people. As it is, the corrupt politicians are a strong bunch and you shall require everything in your power to defeat them. Please do not divide the people on the basis of National Anthem.
These are topics raised by the BJP and its other sister organisations
I am giving below a link to a blog which has raised such a dispute.
The debate can go on endlessly with no result but to divide the people.
Some things should be left as they are.Don't try to change everything.
Another point you raised was Nehru's affair with Lady Mountbatten.
This was distasteful.
Without mentioning names, somethings should be left unsaid.
The link http://www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2004/09/national-anthem-throwdown-jana-gana.html

Yours respectfully,

Radheshyam Sharma

Respected Sharmaji
we will consider your suggestions in future.

Rajeev

Msg sent by Keith Hayward

Hello Radheshyam,
Would this Info be of any interest for the boys?
I read it,to me,very good

Regards,Keith.
Honey and Cinnamon

Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around.~

Hello Keith,

I have not posted your piece on Cinnamon and Honey as it has already been posted just a few weeks back. Sorry.
Thanks anyway.
Do keep sending
We have started getting the summer heat.
For you, cold weather must be starting.
Hope you and your family are well.
Yesterday, we had Annaprashan. My granddaughter was fed Khir (a type of rice pudding) for the first time.
She is developing well, what you would say apple of our eyes.
Every stage of her development is a wonder for us .
The present age has allowed us to photograph and keep as memory each stage.
We missed this in our school days and so have so few photographs, those too black & white.
JK is in Kolkata.
We (JK,AK,DK,SP and myself) had met at SP's place last Saturday.
JK may be coming to my place today.
Bye for now.
Cheers

Radheshyam

Msg from Abhishek Kumar


The following is a transcript of chat Abhishek had with Ajay to discuss some doubts. I have posted it after asking Abhishek
Abhishek: hello sir ...
how are you
This is Abhishek from GMS
BATCH 2002
me: Hello Abhishek, where are you located?
Abhishek: sir I am in Delhi
you in Kolkata?
me: Very good, one of my school mates, J K Ghosh also live in Delhi. Yes. I live in Kolkata
Abhishek: sir could you please spare 2 minutes of your time for me/
I need some advice from you
me No problem, go ahead
Abhishek: thanks you sir
sir I am currently doing a postgraduate diploma course from IFBI
Institute of Finance Banking and Insurance you must have heard of it
me: No, I have not heard of it, but go on
Abhishek: so it is a joint venture between ICICI and NIIT
they are offering jobs after 7 months of training with the partner organisations I will be completing the course in the next 3 to four months and they are now asking for an area of specialisation
I am all confused because right from the beginning I had planned to get into operations and these ppl are saying that sales is a better option which one should be better considering the pros and cons?
me: Go ahead, ask fully what you want, my son is with me, he may be able to help you
Abhishek: sir right now I am responsible for my family and having passed out of Goethals I have high dreams
And don’t know which will be a better option to choose if I were to gain respect money and job satisfaction as all the 3 are very important
me: hello Abhishek.. This is Ajay
Abhishek: hi ajay
me: was reading the transcript of your conversation with dad, what exactly is the diploma in?
Abhishek: its called PGDBO that is banking operations
me: ok..and what have they trained you on till now?
I mean your subjects
Abhishek: its basically kind of a mix to be very honest
Retail banking
Indian financial system
financial products and services
overview of banking
That's what’s been covered so far
me: and now is the time to elect a specialization?
Abhishek: no sir that will be in the next semester
that's a month's time
me: what are the options?
Abhishek: operations and sales just these 2
operations in the sense branch banking
and the latter is the normal sales
me: and they're encouraging you to go for sales?
Abhishek: yup
me: did you ask them why?
Abhishek: yup they say that looking at the current scenario
sales is what the banks are looking forward to and not operations
and their logic is that today banks need ppl who can generate revenue for them and not those who just sit and slog doing the back office work
me: thats true to a certain extent especially in the current environment where financial institutions are not doing that well.. did you do a B. Com. prior to this?
Abhishek: no sir I’ve done B.A from DU had commerce till 12th
me: do you have any inhibitions with going into sales?
Abhishek: sir honestly while doing graduation
I worked with the BPO's I was into outbound sales
and was able to perform and earn incentives to an extent
but here it would be face to face so it's different from what I had done
me: thats right.. its a different experience
Abhishek: you may say that I am not confident and more confused
as of now Today while discussing about the specialisation with one of the faculty members we were informed that operations job is not as good as that of sales because in operations promotions happen rarely and your efforts are not recognized... money is also not there whereas on the contrary you get promoted within a year in sales although the first year in sales is pretty tough but the benefits later on are worth it
me: I can understand.. I've been in your shoes
Abhishek: what do you recommend sir/
me: Go for Sales, if you work hard the returns will come..
Abhishek: sir, is it true that god forbid if one is not able to perform good in sales he can be shifted to operations.... our teachers have approved that sir but I wish to know if that actually happens or not?
me: later on you can even work independently as a consultant if you grasp the products that are in vogue and can provide solutions customized to people's needs
Abhishek: sir forgot to tell you something
we are also being prepared for the AMFI exams
that is association of mutual funds of India we would be certified and be able to sell mutual funds
me: that is very good...should help you later
Sales will be tough in the short term but will get easier with time as you get to know more people and build your network of acquaintances. It might seem its not a respectful job.. but on the contrary it can get you recognition that operations will never get you...
Abhishek: do promotions really happen faster in sales as compared to operations sir?
me: see promotions depend on your performance... but from my point of view the promotions are not what you should be bothered about..
Abhishek: hmm
me: at least initially the focus should be on learning as much as you can about financial products, the way the financial institutions operate, and talking to people and getting to know their needs and how you can satisfy those needs with the products you serve them with
Abhishek: agreed sir
me: if you can do that.. Promotions will automatically follow
Abhishek: considering the worst case scenario if one is unable to perform in sales... does he have an option for operations?
can he be shifted sir ?
me: boss... the opportunities in sales are huge.. you don't even need to think about having to come back to operations...
but someday if you want to
and the market has improved. there will surely be opportunities..
Abhishek: hmmm
me: how old are you now?
and is your family completely dependent on you financially ?

I'll have to get going now.. let dad know if you've further questions

Hello Sir,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss my problem with Ajay sir. I must say that he sounded very genuine and logical and best of all has cleared all doubts that i had. Incase i have any doubts i shall get back to you.

Thanking you and Ajay sir once again ,

Best wishes,
Abhishek Kumar

Hello Abhishek,

I am happy that my son has been able to guide you.
I understand your problem as I too had to take certain decisions based on my family responsibility.
Actually, if you are an introvert, you will be having problems in sales. But that can be overcome by training. Elocution and debates help a lot.
Your institute too may be teaching you.
Actually, if you know your subject thoroughly
Sales is a very paying profession.
If you know your subject, you should not have any difficulty
in explaining yourself in Sales.
There are also umpteen books on Sales.
But first of all you will have to overcome your fear of speaking.
Hope we have been useful.
I have kept the transcript of your chat with Ajay, which I am attaching.
If you agree, I could put it on the blog for helping and guiding other boys who may be facing the same problems as you.

Radheshyam

Respected Sir,

I really appreciate your advice as I was given the same suggestion when I got my problem discussed with my family members and others who had experience in the said field. Yes sir, if at all my discussion with Ajay Sir could possibly help our boys in any way it would be great. So please feel free to paste the transcript on our blog to guide our friends who may need it.
Thanks and Regards,

Abhishek Kumar

Msg from Ravi Sinha

Sir,

I received ur test mail.

Hope you all are doing well in Kolkata. I had left my job at RS Software in May 2008 to pursue an MBA.
I am currently doing a one year MBA from a US based B School's Dubai campus.
Will graduate in Aug 2009 and then return back to professional life.

Ravi

Ravi,

Very good, and congratulations.
Hope you are successful in your endeavours.
Cheers
Radheshyam

Msgs exchanged with Amarnath Banerjee

Hari Om Sharmaji,

I agree with everything else you say (though both LKA and MMSingh are likely to be corruption-free personally), but expecting Swami Ramdeo to give us a clean government is too far-fetched. Even GOD could not do it!
One can depend on Swami Ramdeo for spiritual healing, maybe even physical cures, but he alone cannot form a government. When you talk of "his organisation", the same people who make up other corrupt political parties and hooligan groups will be members of this too. And maybe.., Swamiji will have to give tickets to people like Shahabuddin and Chara-Chor Lalu out of political compulsions!

Who can save our country? NOBODY

Amarnath Banerjee aka John Manipadam

Hari Om Amarnath,

What an inspiring name yours is.
My younger brother has the same name as you.
I agree with you that Manmohan and Advani are not personally dishonest in the same league as Lalu.
However, Gandhiji used to say, the ends do not justify the means.
MMS took the help of crooks like Mulayum to remain in power. Mulayum imposed such shameful conditions and MMS agreed. You see the result, he has been ditched.
LKA used and is still using Ram Temple to win votes.He does not want to solve it. He wants it to be a pestering sore so that he can bandage it every election time.
Both of them use criminals and make them MPs and MLAs.
As far as the capability of Swami Ramdeo is concerned, do not be deceived by his frail figure.
Remember, Gandhiji too was a frail figure but he galvanized the whole nation under him to drive out the British.
I would suggest you watch Swami Ramdeo's programme on Aastha Channel for one week from 5.30 to 7.30 am.
If you want, you can do pranayam as he explains or just listen to him
If at the end of the week, you doubt his capacity, let me know.
I have no personal interest.
I haven't even become a member of his "Bharat Swabhiman" movement. I however support the principles.
I feel sad on how these unscrupulos politicians are looting the country.
By ourselves, we cannot do anything.
He holds up some hope. I am like a drowning man clutching at straws.
He has said he will be able to change the system by the next election.
I am willing to give him the chance and support his effort.

Cheers

Radheshyam

Hari Om Sharmaji,

And thank you for your complements on my name. BJP once said, ... "Sabko azmaya, ab hamein bhi ek mauka do", or something similar. So the country obliged, and they turned out to be no different from the others! But I personally feel that had they achieved majority by themselves(or with others of the Sangh Parivar), Atal B Bajpai and L K Advani would have achieved something different. Political compulsions made them take criminals in their folds, or forced them to make peace with lunatics like Mamata B. and J Jayalalitha ... with disastrous results.

I hold Swami Ramdev in high esteem, but again I emphasise, HE alone cannot give us a clean government, in a country of this size. The same rascals will flock to his side/party/group/organisation and soon his efforts will go to waste as the rape of our democracy will continue under a different banner.
But I hope I am being extremely pessimistic and you turn out to be right.

Regards,

John Amarnath

Hari Om Amarnath,

Yes, you are right.
Anybody would feel disheartened with the BJP's performance.
They had raised so high hopes.
You are also right when you say they failed because they had to compromise to form the government.
But we cannot lose hope as then we can never improve.
I have high hopes that Swami Ramdeo will be able to deliver. He is starting from the grass roots and building the organisation so that when he gives the call he will have a vast army of supporters.
He himself is not interested in power.
However, he will support any person standing who is honest and has the nations good in his mind.
I would suggest all the good independents who are standing to approach him for his support.
I will again suggest you watch his programme continuously for one week and then let me know whether you agree.

Cheers

Radheshyam

Thank you Sharmaji,

I will try to watch Swamiji's programme, in fact I have been meaning to since you first suggested it, only problem being that I can not get up by 0530! If I do, I have to sleep in the afternoon! So first I must repair my biological clock. I get up around 0700 and have to take my dogs around, then tea, newspaper and toilet follow. Breakfast at 0900, and off to work.
Nevertheless, I must find a way to change my schedule.

Amarnath Banerjee

Hello Amarnath,

Try to get up one hour earlier.
If you get up by 6.00 am, you will be able to complete your toiletry by 6.30 of 6.45 am.
You should empty your stomach before sitting for pranayam and also not take anything.
Then you can watch him for 45 minute.
It will benefit you immensely.
You have to prioritize your time as you seem fit.
We should all go back to our basics.

Cheers,

Radheshyam

Hari Om Sharmaji,

Thank you for the suggestion, but easier said than done. Re-scheduling biological clock not easy, but I shall try to start on a weekend. Would be helpful for my insomnia and lower-backache, at least!

Amarnath