Business with A Conscience

Tata companies are known for their unique way of doing business with a conscience. Is this approach relevant in the current global scenario?

Natural rights philosophers aver that the primary role of governments is to protect the rights of its people. However, throughout history, governments have deprived people of their rights more often than they have protected them. We are living in an age when governments believe that it is their duty to do what is politically expedient, even to the detriment of what is morally right.

There is ample evidence indicating that, even in civil society, the rich minority has been getting richer while the poor masses have slumped deeper into poverty. Probably the primary reason for this trend is that the rich have access to privileges that the poor do not. But public eruptions from New York to Cairo to Shanghai are a visible manifestation that we have reached the tipping point.

Against this global backdrop, it has been convenient for business leaders to follow the government’s lead and adopt an ‘every man for himself’ approach to doing business. And look at the ramifications: Corporate bullying prevails, with small firms being at the mercy of larger ones. The blatant disregard of consequences has led to Mother Earth being ravished for fleeting gratification. With economic activity playing an increasingly significant role in our social fabric, such an attitude in business threatens the orderly existence - nay, the value system itself - of the society that we live in. The pursuit of wealth has become the raison d'être, outpacing the pursuit of happiness by a wide margin.

There is a compelling need for an alternate paradigm: business with a conscience – always doing what is morally right despite the obvious temptation of what is financially lucrative.

Which business organization would steadfastly stand by its stakeholders when they gain nothing monetarily by doing so? Which company would choose to do the right thing, when doing otherwise would make it twice as large? Nowadays, which company goes beyond mere adherence to law on matters of environmental conservation and labour rights? Wait, those were not rhetorical questions. That’s how the TATAs do business - with a conscience!

Don’t get me wrong. Profits are as important to the TATAs as nourishment is to a human being. But just as food is not the primary reason for living, profits are not the be-all and end-all of business.

What exactly do we mean by business with a conscience? It actually extends well beyond the spectrum of moral dilemmas that ethical organizations are frequently faced with nowadays. It means treating employees as humans, and not mere resources; it involves nurturing your employees for their own sakes. It includes giving back tangible and intangible wealth to the communities that we serve. It encompasses helping the underprivileged. It means giving fair consideration to all your stakeholders. It is in evidence when you give your small supplier a fair deal when a less conscious buyer could have squeezed him dry. It includes addressing the needs of those at the bottom of pyramid. It necessitates reducing your ecological footprint. The TATA way means doing the right thing, come what may.

In short, it is a way of doing business while simultaneously playing your part (as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it) “to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition”. And isn’t that approach more relevant today than ever before?

(This essay was one of five prize-winning entries in the essay writing competition of TATA Quotient.)

Internet Banking

Many commercial transactions that earlier necessitated a visit to the bank can now be completed at the click of a mouse. Internet Banking has thus simplified people's lives by bringing banking into their homes and offices. If automated teller machines (ATMs) brought banking to the neighbourhood, internet banking brought banking home!

However, internet banking is not an unmitigated solution to all banking problems, far from it. Some of its drawbacks are:

1. There are security issues when transacting over the internet. Anyone who gets hold of your password can perform all of the transactions that you can.
2. Not all transactions can be done over the internet - deposits and withdrawals of cash, for instance.
3. The range of services is necessarily limited because human intervention is missing; often, investment decisions are better taken in consultation with a a banker.
4. By taking over some of the activities that used to be done by humans, it deprives people of employment - a critical factor, as people in the West are realizing.
5. The 'human touch', which forms such an important element of our social lives, is completely lacking in in internet banking.

Due to these drawbacks, internet banking will never completely replace conventional banking. However, it is safe to conclude that internet banking is here to stay.

The Old Cherokee's Lesson

One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said: "My son, the battle is between 'two wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, contentment and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute, and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied: "The one you feed."

(Courtesy: Ravi Bhatia)

'Bits of Crushed Crayon' by Maria A Munaff

Surely, I had seen this picture before.....two hills with the sun rising between them, birds flying in the bright blue sky, a river curving down the hill, and at the top of the hill, a house. Was I asleep and dreaming or awake and gone back in time, through the pages of the drawing book I had when I was seven?

The house was yellow with a blue door, and the walls were slightly crooked. The roof was covered with red tiles and green creepers. Flowers of every hue studded the grass - red, crimson, magenta, yellow, golden, blue, purple, and white. A lazy dog lay at the bamboo gate and watched as schoolgirls passed, chattering and licking sour fruit out of leaf cones.

Three of them push open the gate, and it creaks. The dog wags its tail and follows them into the house. At a rickety table, they sit down to have their tea. It smells of wood-smoke and is served in enamel mugs as they munch on crusty bread and margarine. The table has the marks of the wood grain on it, like ripples and waves. Two red shoe flowers in a green bottle rest on its centre. An old ceiling fan whirrs overhead. Wooden shelves and cabinets are full of glass dishes and silver cutlery. Kettles and ladles, pots and pans line the kitchen. Onions and spices are frying for the evening meal. Women are laughing at the well as they rub and scrub with frothy yellow soap. The well is cool and deep and has green ferns growing in the cracks inside, and the bucket goes down with a loud splash. In between the banana trees around the well, ducks waddle in the mud.

As darkness falls, golden lights begin to shine here and there in the darkness, and fireflies flit about. The smell of the jasmine bush blows through the verandah. Burly uncles stop by on the way back from work, demanding tea and telling jokes. The men sit down to talk as the women scurry about. Little children gaze adoringly as the adults talk, waiting to be noticed or chasing the beetles on the floor. Their eyes light up as the conversation shifts in their direction. Aunts and uncles ask how they are doing at school and sometimes hand out coins.

From the house next door, the sound of hymns being sung; from the verandah, the buzz of the transistor as grandfather listens to the news - things happening far away; and a drunken man pedals by on his bicycle, singing sad songs to his long-lost love. The smell of steaming rice from the kitchen and of wax candles being lit for family prayers; the feeling of the scratchy jute carpet where you can rub your feet when red ants bite and the maroon velvet cushion under your cheek as you fall asleep; the touch of your mother's fingers as she runs them through your hair.

Was the world ever really like this? Were people ever this contented? Did single mothers always have to struggle alone and young children give up on life because they felt that nobody cared? Wasn't your brother supposed to live next door so you could pass hot bowls of chicken curry over the fence? And your sister sleep next to you at night so you could always see that she was warm enough? Didn't grandfathers sit in easy chairs wearing blue drill shorts, sipping Horlicks and telling you stories?

What happened to that picture? When did bonds become about investment and support what we provide at call centers? When did caring become about customer service and attachments about our e-mails? Where are the days when messages were sent by two children and a dog, with a slice of yesterday's birthday cake and bits of news to share?

Wish I could pick up my box of twelve crayons again to change the picture of this world we have made by our indifference and greed!

Temporary Loss of Momentum

Not having got any response from my publishers for over a month, I called them up recently. The Chief Editor’s feedback was encouraging and discouraging at the same time. While our story itself has potential, she said, we needed to infuse more excitement into it. She indicated that the book reads too much like a report and that we needed to make it as gripping as an adventure story. “Fictionalize it”, she said.

I think we have ignored peripheral aspects (like descriptions of surroundings/ what people were wearing/ how the protagonist felt) while focusing excessively on getting the facts right... I do not think my publishers are interested in the book in its present form. The situation called for a decision:

Should we invest more time, do a major re-write - and continue to pursue them? Or should we approach a second-rung publisher and get the book out this year? The main things to be considered were time and timing.

So, I asked the protagonist what he thought. Here are his views:
“The Chief Editor indicated her interest in the story but the Head of Sales may have made her think again… In any case, it’s up to us to make it as gripping a story as possible. I feel it’s always better to go with a recognized publisher than a second-rung one… So, let’s invest some more time and then convince them to publish the book.

“As far as the timing is concerned - going by the prevailing situation here, it’s okay even if we delay the release till next year. It all depends on your availability to do it all over again. I am in favour of a re-write if we are to hit the top shelf. But get a second opinion if you feel the need to.”

So, what do you think?

Publisher's Reaction to TAKEN ALIVE

"I have read it all, and enjoyed it throughly. The narrative is so distanced yet immediate that I found myself constantly checking my own response as I went along.

"I have passed on the manuscript to our Head of Sales, to get his assessment of potential numbers... I presume we are talking about marketing the book in India as well as Sri Lanka?"

PARENT - Job Description

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Papa, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team-players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24-hour shifts on call
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed
Extensive courier duties also required

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life, must be willing to be hated - at least temporarily - until someone needs Rs 200
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 100 kmph in three seconds flat in case - this time - the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst
Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
None
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent
When you die, you give them whatever is left
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right

(Courtesy: Gopi Krishna Madhavan)

Cost Management: Thoughts from Titan

1. The emphasis of cost management should be on rationalizing costs, not on cutting them indiscriminately. We need to question each major outflow and ask, “What returns will I get from this expenditure/ investment? Can the money be used more productively? Can the desired results be obtained at a lower cost?”

2. A greater focus on costs can be achieved by cross-functional teams (CFTs) – consisting of enthusiastic influencers. Such teams work best when the members are empowered and motivated. One way of accomplishing this is by factoring the results of cost management into participants’ Key Result Areas.

3. Demonstrate organisational commitment to cost management. For example, Titan’s Managing Director recently launched “WOW” (War on Waste) and conducts monthly progress reviews with CFTs. During the initial meetings, participants brainstormed and generated initiatives with potential to save costs. These are then discussed and the initiatives with maximum saving potential are selected. Later, responsibilities and timelines are assigned, and results are reviewed on a periodic basis.

4. Cost reduction is not ‘Finance’s baby’; it is an organisational priority. Nevertheless, Finance professionals must be involved in operations to be able to enhance cost consciousness. This can be achieved by focusing attention on costs, analyzing cost data and sharing relevant information with CFTs.

5. Accountants can also help focus attention on costs by interpreting them intelligently. Examples from Titan’s watch manufacturing plant in Hosur:
(a) The Machine Hour Rate of Precitramme equipment was high because it was not fully utilized. The fixed costs were spread over a lower number of hours. This pushed up the cost and retail price of Titan Edge (“the slimmest watch in the universe”), thus suppressing demand for the watch. After we adopted a ‘variable cost MHR’ for costing and pricing decisions, the watch became an overnight success.
(b) In-house vs outsourced decisions: Similarly, the Manufacturing team used to outsource certain watch components because the in-house manufacturing cost appeared higher. However, when one looked only at relevant costs, it made sense to utilize existing machinery to manufacture those components in-house. Our cash outflow was thus reduced.

6. Even ‘Overheads’ need to yield some benefit: Before Tanishq’s business picked up, diamond-setting capacity (a labour-intensive process) was surplus, classified as ‘employee cost’ or overheads. Hence, the cost of stone-setting was not factored into the price of jewellery. We were losing a big opportunity. Later, realizing our lapse, we rectified prices and also looked at cheaper mechanized processes. This improved our gross margins on studded jewellery significantly.

7. Constantly review your assets and, when times are good, clean up your Balance Sheet… Release cash by liquidating non-moving/ slow-moving items. Tanishq’s retail businesses achieved this by constantly reviewing its current assets. Slow-moving jewellery designs were redeployed to other Tanishq showrooms. We also had road shows, exhibitions and ‘Best Deals’ counters - wherein jewellery was sold at attractive discounts. Many of Tanishq’s promotions were a resounding success. When all else failed, we even melted jewellery!

8. Identify the core problem and explore every opportunity to solve it: Initially, Tanishq used to buy gold bullion - 80% of our material cost - on spot basis, resulting in outflow of scarce funds and exposure to price risk... In the early 2000s, Titan was a cash-strapped company. We gradually started buying gold on credit from foreign banks (lower interest, open price) and operating on the forward market. These mechanisms reduced the company’s net capital employed and interest cost, boosted Return on Capital Employed, and helped hedge the gold price risk.

9. Contrary to popular logic, paying creditors late is not good business: When Tanishq approached diamond merchants to negotiate prices, we realised that we had been short-sighted by delaying their payments. The suppliers’ interest cost (higher than ours) had been loaded onto their normal prices, based on our longest-delayed payment… By agreeing to pay suppliers in time, we got significantly lower purchase prices, which helped us to further improve our margins.

10. When Excise Duty was introduced on branded jewellery, it came as a big burden in a low-margin business. We were already at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the local jewelers. To mitigate this risk, Tanishq established a manufacturing unit in an excise free area (Uttaranchal).

11. Advertising: Some Marketing people lack business acumen but they do have an important role to perform. Tanishq faced a three-fold problem:
(a) The proportion of money spent on producing advertising was excessive, relative to mass media spends
(b) Product ranges were launched without proper cost benefit analyses and
(c) Service providers’ rates had not been adequately negotiated down.
We needed to encourage the Marketing department to spend on advertising that reaches the customer rather than on production costs.
We also used Public Relations and press releases judiciously; these are a lower-cost and more credible medium than advertising.

12. People drive businesses... But when salaries are undifferentiated, good performers have no motivation to give off their best and they will seek more remunerative opportunities. Titan faced such a situation that also resulted in a costly attrition problem. So, the company revamped salaries, paid rates closer to best-in-market and demanded superior performance. Titan also introduced a package wherein 30% of earnings (even higher for retail staff) was linked to performance. This improved morale, efficiency and output.

13. This was preceded by an attractive VRS package that eliminated ‘deadwood’/ redundant employees, who had been a drag on the organisation.

14. Challenge employees to justify their existence, to measure cost savings relative to their salaries. For instance, I once negotiated with a credit card ‘acquirer’ (who placed electronic data capturing machines at our stores) for a reduction of 0.10% (10 percentage points) in their commissions. This resulted in savings for Tanishq that were more than my annual earnings.

15. One radical rule introduced in Tanishq was that domestic air travel could only be on discounted tickets, which were available for nearly 50% less than normal prices. This is a small item, but it resulted in lowering costs and better planning of activities. The most significant benefit was that people became aware that such cost-saving opportunities exist.

16. For greater involvement across the organisation, invite ideas from employees and announce rewards for suggestions that are successfully implemented. When ideas and winners are recognized (intranet, public felicitation), it could motivate others to come forward.

Learn To Love by Ralph Marston

Learn to love challenge, and you'll fill your life with accomplishment.

Learn to love effort, and your skills will grow more valuable with each passing day.

Learn to love making a difference, and doors will quickly open for you wherever you go.

Learn to love giving freely of yourself, and you'll receive more fulfillment than you ever could imagine.

Learn to love being the authentic person you are, and everything you do will be infused with integrity.

Learn to love whatever work you're doing, and that work will bring abundant rewards.

Learn to love beauty for beauty's sake, and you'll discover a wealth of it in places no one else would even think to look.

Learn to love unconditionally, and there will be no limit to what your love can accomplish.

Learn to love life just because it is, and each day will be a grand new adventure.

Learn to love the moment you're in, and you'll find richness in every direction.

Learn to love the possibilities, and you'll make your way to whatever you seek.

Learn to love no matter what, and you'll discover what a miracle you truly are.

Courtesy: Mario Motha

When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go

Obtaining an Employment visa to the UAE, which ought to have taken ‘three or four days’ (according to my sources in Dubai) ended up taking all of eight weeks… If that sounds like I’m grumbling - No, I’m not … I have found a new kind of peace that is helping me to ride out this situation.

The High Commission of India has taken twenty months now – and there is no end in sight. It’s amazing how much lack of responsibility and empathy exists in the corridors of bureaucracy there! As was frequently mentioned when the Indian Government refused to condemn the Myanmar junta: “India does not necessarily do what is morally right, but what is politically expedient.”

Back to my scene… Until Wednesday, I was twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the UAE visa, which – as I mentioned - took a long time coming. I used the opportunity to wrap up matters with the bloke I am writing about… He has checked all the facts and spellings and given me a carte blanche on creative work.

I have asked to be booked on the December 21st flight to Dubai – to rejoin the country’s community of migrant workers before Christmas.

Fed Up of Procedures? Go, DIE!

The process of renewing a Sri Lankan passport is simple and fast. This morning, we discovered exactly how fast - when Uncle and I decided to get the validity of his passport extended by five years. We visited the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) in Punchi Borella.

The approach to the offices was like a bazaar, with colourful shops and restaurants in which to while away the waiting hours. We entered the building at 11 o’clock sharp.

Having obtained a form from Jetwing Travels and filled it up at home, there was no time lost. It was a simple matter of getting a signature, paying the appropriate fees (LKR 500 for a five-year extension) and waiting for the renewed travel document.

Signboards posted all over suggested that the passport would be ready “within two hours”. The dynamic gentleman behind the counter provided us with entertainment and kept us posted on the status.

Exactly an hour after we had entered the office, we were out – with Uncle’s passport having been renewed till April 2013! Considering that this office frequently handles more than 1,000 renewal requests on a single day, the experience was like a breath of fresh air.

Go, DIE!

...Madison County, Anybody...?

When I was younger, I used to get my literary kicks reading books by Alistair MacLean. His descriptions blended fact with fiction and captured my imagination. I still recall how, in Fear Is the Key, I think, he describes how a fugitive evades arrest by climbing a tree... He then explains the role of the protuberance above the eye and how it prevented the pursuers from seeing the fugitive.

…I lost my reading habit when I started working. I preferred spending my non-working hours with some interesting friends, I guess.

However, in 2000, I met with a car crash in which I almost lost my left arm. While recuperating in hospital, I started catching up with reading. I started with John Grisham and got hooked on his story-telling style. I was a die-hard Grisham fan, still am. The Firm was my first book followed in quick succession by A Time to Kill and Runaway Jury.

I prefer the Grisham books to the movies that they have been made into. Give me a good book any day… Books spur the imagination, while movies generally tend to be damp squibs, especially after you have read the book.

I generally like the books that have been recommended to me. One memorable book was Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair – for the insights the book gave me into the feminine psyche. One exception was Lolita, which bordered on soft pornography at times but made for heavy reading.

The Bridges of Madison County must qualify as one of the best books that I’ve ever read. The treatment of the theme is sensitive; it touched a chord somewhere deep down inside me. ‘…Madison County’ takes story telling to another level, drawing on the finest human emotions. Few authors can draw pictures with their words and portray characters as realistically as Robert James Waller does.

So, what’s the book about? I’m not telling, but I am willing to lend the book to anybody who appreciates a heart-warming love story. The only condition is that you lend it forward…

Just Motherhood, No Apple Pie

The young mother set foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked.

And her guide said: “Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it… But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.”

And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I've given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather.

And at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence..."

Your mother is always with you… She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space... not even death!

Courtesy: Charmaine Webster

"This Too Shall Pass"

When I first met Uncle at Veeranna Gardens more than twenty years ago, I spent a lot of time with him. I needed to… because I was courting one of his daughters and I had to impress him before I could even begin to impress her.

He told me how mischievous his daughter had been when she was younger – but that did not dissuade me.

Uncle and I spent a lot of time together, drinking endless cups of tea together as he regaled me with stories of British Army life. We discussed everything under the sun: politics, sport, religion and life in general. I recall with fondness his sense of humour and his happiness despite the adverse circumstances during those days.

What impressed me most about him was his sense of history. He seemed to know everything that had happened in the past. By all accounts, he had already lived a life that was full.

In his later years, after the stroke that he suffered, I remember Uncle for his resilience. Against all odds, he soldiered on and was there with a welcoming smile whenever we visited him.

We still have vivid memories of my sister’s wedding reception, at which Uncle and Aunty surprised us all by doing an impromptu dance. That picture will be embedded in our minds for a long time.

My father-in-law was a good man who did his best for his family. He is in a better place now and life goes on for the rest of us. Looking down at his wife and children - his pride and joy, he would want them to be strong. I think he would want them to be comforted by the words of this song:

“The Father knows the tears you cry before they fall
He feels your pain, His heart and yours are one
The Father knows that sorrow's heavy chains are strong
But with His strength, you'll overcome.

“This too shall pass
Like every night that's come before it
He'll never give you more than you can bear
This too shall pass
So in this thought be comforted
It's in His Hands
This too shall pass.”

When Will We Ever Learn?

Emmanuel Ratnajothi Rajaratnam passed away in Bangalore this morning, after an 81-year stint. My father-in-law was a good man.

In the days when I used to court his daughter with moonlight and roses, I remember him singing this song by Pete Seeger:

"Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

"Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

"Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

"Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

"Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?"

On Horns of Bullish Dilemma

I visited Bahrain earlier this week for a round of interviews with a small (US$ 16 million) company called Al Zain Trading Co WLL. I have been short-listed and am expecting them to make me an offer over the next couple of days. I am very excited about this assignment because I see potential in the company that I can help unleash.

The designation would be Group Financial Controller and I didn’t hear a gulp when I quoted my price over the phone. In fact, they went ahead and booked my tickets after that (Emirates via Dubai while going, SriLankan direct while returning).

If I accept their offer, my predecessor will be asked to resign. Yes, the company follows a hire-and-fire kind of policy and I am aware that it could happen to me sometime. But I think I can live up to the expectations of the Managing Director.

Bahrain seems to be a better place to live in than Dubai, with greater savings potential thrown in for good measure… The only negative factors would be:
1. That I would have to say ‘Bye-bye’ to the TATAs and give up that employment-till-you retire safety net.
2. That it would be unfair to Titan after they have been so kind to me… even though they will take their pound of flesh from my final settlement.

Therefore, I am grappling with my conscience and my sense of security on this decision. What do you think?

On Dates and First Impressions

My overall impression of Dubai is that it’s a great place in which to experience a new and alien culture. However, when it comes to living, I’d prefer Colombo, Bangalore or Goa any day… The fast pace of life in Dubai cramps my style, which probably indicates that I am not as young as I used to be.

The traffic is certainly fast but, thankfully, orderly. The public transport sucks - Taxis are expensive and unpredictable. Buses are predictable: You can consider yourself fortunate when the bus you are waiting for arrives in less than 45 minutes.

Like the Yanks, the Arabs drive on the wrong side of the road – I mean the right hand side. On my first day in the Middle East, I looked right while stepping off the kerb, into the path of an oncoming car. Luckily for me, the driver braked and waved me across. “Another Indian,” he must have assumed.

These Indians are everywhere. I asked a young man managing an Internet café whether he was from Tamil Nadu. “No, from Kerala,” he replied.

I ordered a parota and kurma at an Indian restaurant. They were good, but the uppuma that my Aunt ordered smelt better. The buffet lunch and ginger beer at ‘Chef Lanka’ nearby was worth the price (AED 14) for nostalgia value.

Unlike housing, electronics is reasonably priced. Uncle bought a desktop - complete with web cam and Internet access - for AED 2,200 (LKR 66,000).

Dubai’s malls and departmental stores are a browser’s delight. The chilled buttermilk in cartons (brand: Laban-up) and unlimited variety of fruit juices were delicious.

In BurJuman, there was a shop specializing in date products - including date wine and ‘chocoDates’; these were a gastronomical experience. My personal favourite was dates stuffed with marzipan, probably because it was after a long time that a lady was offering me a free date!

Taking Stock of My Life

Over the past nineteen months since I left my home In Bangalore, I have learned the meaning of words like ‘hope’. And ‘frustration’.

I revived a hobby – journalism - and have even made significant progress on writing a book.

Rather late in life, my family learned to truly appreciate all the blessings that we had hitherto taken for granted. Along the way, we also learned some important lessons about life and values. We have become stronger - mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

We have survived the ordeal thus far... This would probably not have been possible without the steadfast support of Titan’s senior management. And we are immensely grateful to them for propping us up when they could have turned away... Through this experience, I discovered that God exists and that he works through people.

But this state of uncertainty could not continue indefinitely…

I needed to explore opportunities beyond Titan, even beyond India. That was a major step, but – with no alternative in sight - one that had to be taken. Accordingly, I arrived in Dubai during September 2007 to explore opportunities there, but got the timing wrong: it was the holy month of Ramadan, when companies work shorter hours.

I am back in Colombo after having spent a good five weeks in Dubai, looking at alternate career options. Of the jobs on offer, I have zeroed in on one with Voltas… as ‘Manager – Finance’ with their International Operations Business Group. The compensation package itself is nothing great, but at least it’s a bird in the hand. The silver lining is that I would continue to be employed by the TATA Group... with the prospect of returning home to India at some later date (after the bureaucrats in Delhi get their act together).

Let’s see what happens… I have not yet resigned from Titan and I certainly hope that the India visa comes through first… But from present indications, I expect to be moving to Dubai during the next fortnight.

Fast Cricket and Slow Beaches

Because it was the holy month of Ramadan, there was no way I could eat, drink or smoke in public between sunrise and sunset. That was certainly out of respect for the locals’ customs. Besides, taking such liberties would have resulted in instant censure... However, I did manage to quaff a glass of chilled water in the pantry of my uncle’s office – and felt guilty at the transgression!

The Twenty20 World Cup was in full swing… Desiree Premachandra, SriLankan Airlines’ Country Manager for the UAE, invited the diaspora to watch Sri Lanka playing New Zealand at the Marco Polo Hotel. We watched the match on a big screen, while hogging cashew nuts and short-eats (washed down with Bacardi and coke). When Sri Lanka won by seven wickets, party-poppers were distributed to celebrate the victory.

On another evening, Mark Pillai, HR Manager – Middle East of Halliburton Ltd, treated me to a few rounds of the brew that cheers at The Seamen’s Club, while we watched India beat Australia by fifteen runs. The Indian expatriates celebrated, as only they know how! We adjourned to an Arabian diner to sample the cuisine – dishes that are easier to digest than to pronounce.


The white sands of Jumeirah beach are nice, in a tame sort of way... That’s the problem with artificial beaches… One is so accustomed to the force and power of nature, the waves crashing dramatically against the rocks of Mount Lavinia… In Jumeirah, the sea laps against the shore with small waves that belong more to a lake or lagoon than to the majestic ocean.

The redeeming features of Jumeirah beach were the jogging and cycling tracks that run the entire length of the beach. I did manage to put in a fair amount of walking at sunset, but not enough…

Dubai: What’s the Buzz?

The buildings in Dubai have character… Towering over the landscape like an irreverent finger is the Burj Dubai - at 150 storeys and 555 metres already the tallest in the world.

The flyovers are amazing, as are the underpasses and floating bridges. The traffic whizzes past at breathtaking speed. While the mandated ‘minimum speed limit’ on the highways is 60 kmph, the fancy cars go twice as fast. The occasional motorbike and bicycle that one sees on the road are an aberration, a rarity that is probably explained by the ridiculously low price of petrol, which retails at AED 6.25 per imperial gallon or LKR 42 per litre.

Probably because the average Dubai resident can afford his own car, the public transport system sucks. The flow of traffic is – by and large – orderly… Jams are rare and tooting your horn is more an expression of extreme annoyance than anything else.

In this alien land, the diversity of spoken languages is amazing… While walking the streets, it is normal to hear a lot of Hindi, some Malayalam, a little Tamil and even a smattering of Sinhala.

Housing is Public Problem Number One. To describe it as expensive is putting it mildly. One can expect to shell out AED 3,000 (LKR 90,000) per month for shared accommodations comprising a room, a kitchen and a bathroom. That's par for the course; thankfully, I stayed with an aunt and uncle in the upmarket residential area of Jumeira.

Most Internet cafes charge AED 3 (LKR 90) per hour because they come equipped with a web cam and headphones. These are frequented by hordes of Filipinos, who carry on their chattering conversations with friends and relatives back home. One would be lucky to discover those cafes that charge AED 1 (LKR 30) per hour; these are preferred by the South Asians.

During my visit in September, I was pleasantly surprised to note that churches are air-conditioned. The diversity of the city’s culture was evident when, during the church service, we could hear the mullah’s call to prayer, emanating from the mosque next door.