Happy Deepawali 2014

Courtesy : Google Images

The flicker the glimmer the sparkling skies,

Everything bathing in colorful lights.

The festival filling hearts with delight,

Giving us so many reasons to rejoice.

Mood is upbeat and smiles all around,

Joys bubbling with effervescence abound.

Kids running helter skelter making sounds,

Enjoyment with family and friends well found.

Spread sweets , share gifts and gesture kind,

Renew the ties between the hearts inclined.

It's all about relishing the moments combined,

Finding meaning to life with festivals to remind.

May this Diwali be brighter than ever,

Rewarding you for all your endeavor.

Ganesha's favor remain with you forever,

Goddess Lakshmi's abundance to pamper.

I wish you and your family the festivals of lights,

Make it big with blessings of the divine.

May you be happy, healthy and prosperous

Your life is a plateful and sumptuous.

Happy Deepawali 2014 !!

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A happy kid makes a healthy home

It seems like the entire fulcrum of my happiness has shifted to my toddler who is going to be three soon. His ways are innocent, charming, fresh and full of love for the two people he has started relating as mom and dad.  Our world is small, yet so expansive with this beautiful gift of god and he is the binding force, source of energy, bundle of joy and the passion that keeps us going. The short description that I gave about my family would hold true for so many nuclear families and even extended homes. Consider for a moment that this precious little falls sick or stop his/her activities that have become inseparable part of our daily lives. God forbid this happens but the truth is such events inevitably do happen.

Courtesy: Indiblogger

Relating from one of the very recent experiences we have had I can tell you how excruciating it becomes to pass each moment when the child has taken ill. We reside in Northern part of india that sees extreme weather conditions, be it high temperatures in summers or chilling winters.The entire year even sees whimsical weather conditions owing to global warming and imbalance in the nature’s cycle. Add to this pollution and bad quality of air and you have a perfect case for respiratory diseases and infections. My son has been a victim of air borne infections and frequent seasonal changes which I learnt has become very common in kids in this region.

It started with the usual running nose, slight coughing and aggravated into high temperature, cold and uninterrupted coughing. Within few hours my otherwise active and naughty son was in bed suffering with high fever and cold. At first I thought this too will pass but as the hours passed by, his condition refused to correct. My wife kept on raising an alarm and pushed me to hurry up to the doctor. We visited a reputed hospital and took a set of prescriptions to bring my kid out of the current bout of illness. Things did not pick up at the pace as we expected and contacted another child specialist to get faster relief. Same medicines with higher power were prescribed and even a hint was dropped to get our kid admitted to the hospital. My wife was in tears and all I could do is hold back my emotions and handle the situation. God willing my son was back to normal in 3-4 days and we felt a bit relieved. The entire atmosphere had become so tense and monotonous in these days that we always dread facing it again.

I am of the opinion that seeing an allopathic doctor is not right and I don’t want to put my kid on Anti-biotic, Anti-allergy, Antipyretics and Analgesics. This cycle of infection, cough, cold and fever has become so repetitive and same medicines get prescribed again and again. Though I am not a medico but do understand that these allopathic medicines give temporary relief but do not provide a long term solution. The crucial aspect of treating this cyclical illness lies in improving immunity and making the kid lesser and lesser susceptible to infections. We as a family took some simple steps in building a healthy atmosphere at home for our kid. Honey , Ginger , Tulsi leaves , Chawanprash , Aamla , Herbs  etc have become an integral part of our daily lives and a deep thought goes in what we eat and how do we eat.

The closer to nature we stay more the healthier our lives becomes.  As parents we have the responsibility to provide a healthy environment to our kids and happiness will naturally follow. If the kid is healthy the entire home is cheerful and happy!

Dabur Chyawanprash’s magnificent brew of Ayurvedic herbs strengthens the body’s natural defence mechanism by stimulating your NK cells* (Natural Killer Cells). NK cells assist in fighting with virus and bacteria in your body, thus giving us increased immunity from various infections . 

For more info please visit  https://www.liveveda.com/daburchyawanprash/.

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The Summer Tale

Summer Holidays - Google Images

I remember waiting for summers as a kid,
End of school and holidays in bulk
TV , Indoor games ,Comics to start with,
Morning jog , cricket and movies
Grand plans to visit far off cousins,
Excitement doubled up now and then
The days were scorching and hot ,
Yet we had loads of fun.

Summer Holidays - Google Images

Rasna , Icecreams and Cold drinks,
I even won't forget savoring watermelon
Hobby classes and pursuits considered idle,
All became important as none
Clothes of bright colors and light feathers
Had never been fancied more before,
The mercury always headed north,
The hot sun showing lots of tantrums.

Summer Holidays - Google Images

Long spell of afternoon nap,
Coolers running with water up to the brim
Mom made so many dishes,
Friends invited for parties with small funds
Relatives visiting our homes for long stay,
Counting every day and enjoying together
Our world was small and summers large
The summers were indeed pleasure some.

Summer Holidays - Google Images

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ASUS Transformer Book T100 is a good bet

There were days when we as students had a dedicated computer lab with workstations that had big protruding monitors along with CPU's that had slots for 5 and half inch floppy device. Increased Processing Power, Memory, Flexibility of usage, Low Consumption, Compact and lighter hardware was on our wish list and technology has taken big leaps to hand us over the gadgets that are designed for the future. The concepts are modular, the approach is highly flexible, the inter-connectivity is seamless and the whole concept of technology has become all pervasive yet leaving space for round the clock innovations. The rate of technology obsolescence has forced the market to create gadgets which can capture the imagination of the users and let them define how they want to make the fullest use of it. This phenomenon of bidirectional dialogue and delivery has changed the business models and if put it rightly, it is “Time to Transform".

ASUS Transformer T100

ASUS has come up with a new product Transformer Book T100 ‘to transform’ user’s expectations about technology. The ASUS Transformer Book T100 comes with a detachable touch screen, a two-part dockable design, long enough battery for all-day computing, productivity features of a laptop with the portability of a tablet. The Transformer Book T100 is a combination of notebook and tablet experience bundled in one single machine with the following specifications:

Type                             2-In-1 Ultraportable Laptop with 10-Inch Tablet Operating System

CPU                              Intel® AtomTM Processor Z3740 (Up to 2.3GHz, 2M)

OPERATING SYSTEM     Windows 8.1

SCREEN                        25.6 cm (10.1) HD Glare Touch Panel

VGA                             Intel® Gen7 Graphics

RAM                             2 GB LPDDR3 1067 MHz

STORAGE                      32 GB EMMC

WIRELESS                      WLAN 802.11 b/g/n + BT 4.0

CAMERA                       1.2 Mega Pixel

BATTERY                      2 Cell

Weight                         0.54kg (Tablet) and 0.54kg (Dock)

USB 3.0                        1

My Impressions of Transformer Book T100 and how it fits my Personal & Professional lifestyle:

Aesthetic Design and light weight:   With individual weights of the Tablet and the docking station being 0.54 Kg each carrying it around is not cumbersome. The look and feel of the device gives this a perceived value higher than its cost.

I won’t mind flashing my T100 at airports and public places or even during client meetings while using it as a tablet.

Screen: Since this is a tablet as well, positioning it at different angles without any discoloration makes it better than a conventional laptop. A 10.1 inch screen is any day better than a phablet and unless once is bent upon viewing objects in a 14 -15 inch screen T 100 will work good.

The distinct advantage of a small screen with portable tablet serves my purpose of playing Subway Surfer and Temple Run.

Performance: A comparison with a full blown laptop might not serve a purpose because the comparison is between a convertible and a conventional device. It depends if one is ready to adapt to the hybrid model and in that case the performance will sound good in this price range. Multitasking, high definition games, development work is not what T 100 is good for but this should be comparable in performance to the high end note books of today.

I am yet to test if Microsoft Outlook, MS Office Suite and other necessary Software will run smoothly but looks like they should and I am happy doing that trade off with the built in portability and flexibility.

Memory: The 32GB of storage will get consumed by Windows OS and any programs that need to be installed. Additional memory will be required for media and 32 GB specification works well only if viewed as a tablet. I would think internet browsing and gaming is best suited for this memory. 

Camera: 1.2 Mega Pixel is weak and this needs to at least go up to 5 or 8 MP. Since I would be using it as a tablet, video call is definitely a feature I would like to use and need a more robust camera.

Battery: The features tell me that T 100 is capable of supporting for 10 hours of internet browsing and that is good enough any day.  This is definitely a differentiator for this product and supports mobility big time.

Priced at Rs 32,000 the Transformer Book T100 is definitely to be recommended because of its price. If comparing with Android and iOS tablets, Transformer T100 will be a distant third but as laptop it is a good bet in the same segment. When compared with conventional laptops T100 will again lack features but as a hybrid of Laptop and a Tablet T100 works. I would definitely use the gadget for its convertible docking set up , battery life , connectivity and light weight. 

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Lok Sabha Elections 2014 Update from Delhi /NCR

Lok Sabha Elections 2014

1. Very recently there was an article in Times of India on the demographic change in voter's profile of Noida , pointing at addition of new residents who did not exist in 2009. I along with wife applied for new voter id card to be able to vote in Noida since going back to my hometown is not possible and i see a similar trend in other residents here. The underlying current points at awareness about these elections and how important it is for everyone to exercise his or her ballot. A positive and encouraging sign.

2. Interestingly i had an opportunity to meet Booth Level Officer (BLO) for my area and she shared that this time people are pepped up to vote for performance , economic growth and most importantly 'Change'. No prizes for guessing who is the pick of the lot 

3. I have been engaging in discussions with family, friends , strangers; online as well as offline to catch the pulse and the mood of the nation. Again the same sentiment for change is getting echoed , resentment for Congress and equal dislike for small regional parties (that very much includes AAP) is being reflected.

4. ICC world cup is underway and the creative ads by BJP have found many takers. Very simple messaging yet very powerful and effective.

5. The ads on Radio FM (Delhi) are fresh and hit a chord with the masses. I must say BJP is doing everything possible to get closer to the magic figure of 272 and this is getting clearer and clearer.

6. There are mobile vans in my area canvassing for BJP and using NaMo as the face of it, yet another marketing initiative but is getting eyeballs. The general perception is that there is battle being waged but the only man in arms is Modi and rest all party leaders are hiding in their closets. They seem disinterested , insecure , skeptical and fearful .

7. People who supported Kejriwal and AAP are feeling demoralized and cheated and have taken extreme positions which will surely reflect in their voting. Interestingly no one is discussing Congress and the entire debate is on how will Modi lift fortunes of India.

8. There are no billboards in Delhi or even Noida highlighting UPA's achievements, no ads in Radio and no effort to woo voters. Similar is the case with Mr. Kejriwal who was very vocal couple of months back but is not being seen anywhere. I don't understand why UPA has chosen a defeatist mindset.

9. In local markets more and more people are seen wearing NaMo caps where as few months back it was AAP cap. It seems that there is no secrecy left for ballot and people have taken extreme positions.

I must say the environment is heating up and we will witness a change of guard on May the 16th ,2014 . Friends please update your observations from which ever city you are in. 

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Knowledge is Great - London Business School Calling

Studying in UK

‘Knowledge is Great’ and if acquired in Great Britain it is greater. When I set this premise for myself there has to be a sound argument to validate and substantiate my decision. To set the context right I will throw some light on my profile that reads 7 years in shipping, 2 Years in a top notch B School in India and then 7 years of Sales & Marketing in world’s best IT companies. For more details of my work experience and employment details please feel free to check my Linked In profile. Owing to my two stints each, of 7 years in different segments I realized that there is something called ‘A seven year itch’. All the qualification and experience can serve us good for next 5 years or at the max 7 years (as in my case) and then we have to reinvent ourselves. Acquiring new knowledge is always great and to do so why not go back to the classroom where it all originally started.

Why MBA?

In the next stage of my career I want to explore newer industries, work in newer geographies and pursuing a MBA at London Business School (LBS) aptly serves my purpose. The academic rigor, the extraordinarily talented classmates, the world class faculty, the exposure to a curriculum that meets global business needs is what LBS promises and I would like to go for a MBA degree from this reputed and prestigious institution.

Class profile of MBA 2015 at London Business School

The 400+ students in the class of MBA 2015 were hand-picked from more than 2000 applications.

Class of MBA2015		My Remarks
Number of students	409
Average age	28.6 years
Age range	23-39 years	I am 34 and a good time for me to pursue a 2nd MBA
Average work experience	5.5 years	I have 7 years of relevant Work Ex after graduation degree.
Work experience range	2-12 years
Average GMAT score	695	Should be able to make a cut
GMAT score range	600-790
Percentage of female students	32%	Inclusive participation
Nationalities represented	69	Diversity
Percentage of international students	89%	Healthy Mix

Why MBA from London School of Business?

I have been enamored by London Business School (LBS) and have always dreamt of doing MBA in Marketing from here. LBS needs no introduction and is recognized amongst world’s top business school with finest of the teachers, best in class amenities and distinguished alumni. London Business School has been ranked number one internationally for its two year MBA programme by Forbes, for the third time running.  

Source: http://www.london.edu/newsandevents/news/2013/10/London_Business_School_tops_Forbes_MBA_ranking_1705.html

A small video clip from You Tube to showcase ‘Why London Business School’ makes sense.

Benefits and Career impact

Recruiters recognize a degree from an international institution very positively because it gives the candidate a chance to acquire ‘global outlook’. This quality is very important for prospective leaders as they need to manage the businesses across geographies and will need skills like critical analysis and reasoning skills, initiative and creativity, flexibility and diversity. Moreover qualifications earned in UK add lots of weightage to the resume, help in getting salary hikes and also in taking up leadership roles. To realize our own career potential as a world-class business leader we need an investment, a commitment, a determination, an ambition to pursue knowledge. Once we reach the pinnacle of our trades we will certainly agree that ‘Knowledge is Great’.

This post is for the contest on Indiblogger sponsored by British Council to promote studying in Great Britian. For more information please visit http://knowledgeisgreat.in/

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