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.

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.

The Ultimate Lingua Franca

Eric Fernando, who took some amazing photographs, and I visited many interesting places along the coast, witnessing how people had rebuilt their lives after the tsunami. We handed over the 32-page booklet to the printers yesterday – and I am pleased with the effort…! Five hundred copies of the report will be ready in about a week’s time.

As you are probably aware, I am also writing a book - the biography of a Sri Lankan Navy Commander... When I have the time, I also write reports for the Financial Times on Sunday.

When it comes to communicating in English, I seem to be at a slight advantage here. When compared with urban India, written and spoken English skills are mediocre in Sri Lanka. However, among the educated elite (especially the older generation), there are many excellent authors and orators. And such people have reached very senior levels as a consequence of their typically-foreign education. Without intending to sound condescending, I have come across many bloggers who have an excellent command of the language. (I wonder: Do they use those skills to earn some pocket-money, like I do?)

Sri Lanka had a good head-start, having been part of the Commonwealth. But the rulers frittered that advantage away, just as they have done to the many natural advantages that this country had. On the subject of language, for example, they had a short-sighted and chauvinistic policy called ‘Sinhala Only’. This worked to the detriment of all other languages that existed – although the Tamils justifiably claim that it was to subvert their nationhood - and finally to the detriment of the country's BPO potential!

Marina to the Rescue

Marina visited New Delhi last week and met with the decision-makers in the Ministry of Home Affairs. They managed to trace my file and my wife explained the case to them in intricate detail. After that, they finally seem to have seen reason and have promised to push things along. Marina has been asked to call again on Monday… It’s like waiting for exam results all over again!

As an employer, Titan has been fantastic, extremely supportive during these difficult times!

Choices: Dubai, Bangalore or Colombo?

Turning Turtle Conservator

We watched batik, pots and bricks being made… But the highlight was when, on the deserted Rekawa beach, we watched by torchlight as an endangered 250-kg Green Turtle laid its eggs.

Fortified by a couple of beers - and string-hoppers cooked by a hospitable ‘Daisy Akka’, we had trudged through miles of soft sand to observe this miracle of creation. With bated breath, we counted 106 ping-pong ball-sized eggs that will hatch in seven weeks. The nest protectors of Turtle Conservation Project (an NGO) had done it again!

We then returned to a rustic dwelling by the lagoon, where waves lap softly against the shore and creepy-crawlies do their number...

Consular Section: “Bureaucracy”

For all intents and purposes, my visa tangle does not seem to have got unraveled one bit. The embassy here promptly sends a reminder to the ministry in New Delhi every month. They then wait – until the next month - for a response; this has been going on since August 2006..!

Titan seems to be losing hope and patience on my case, after having tried – completely ineffectively – to cut through the jungle of red tape. Marina (my better half) is planning a last-ditch mission to Delhi next week to try and make them see reason. If that fails, it would be time to activate ‘Plan B’ - securing alternate employment.

This Winner Will Never Quit!

About my quitting - I am trying to prevent that eventuality. I know that it’s just a matter of time before these bureaucratic bunglers finally get their act together and correct their mistake. I am absolutely clear about what I want to do – get back home - and I am determined to. In the meantime, I will continue to treat this as a mid-career retirement and work on my book.

I expect that I will be able to submit my manuscript to the publisher by Q1 of 2008. If accepted, we would be targeting to release by end-2008. They apparently need that kind of time for editing and tying up the international contracts.

V K Karthika is Publisher and Chief Editor of HarperCollins and is based in New Delhi. She is amazingly prompt in responding to mails from even non-entities like me - and is very encouraging too – just the kind of professional that a budding writer needs!

PS: To hedge my risks, however, I am also planning a trip to Dubai next month - to check out opportunities there first-hand.

Another Day Has Dawned...

Early mornings in Colombo are divine; the temperature and humidity are comfortably low. The wind rustling through the palm trees outside my window seems to whisper, “Rise and shine”, and I am inclined to obey…

At precisely 5:30, unseen exotic birds begin an impromptu jugalbandi while the crows, buffeted by the breeze, fly an erratic path – like revelers after a night of indulgence. High above, more than a dozen geese drift across the lightening skies in perfect V-formation; 'unflappable' is the word that comes to mind..!
"God's in his Heaven –
All's right with the world!”

Tiring of their exertions, the crows begin their raucous cacophony, ending the jugalbandi as effectively as the moral police breaking up a rock concert.

Another day has dawned… Day 424...

Life Sucks, Sometimes

AM (May 31): I have decided that I would be willing to commit to serving one year – at least - with the Taj Samudra in Colombo.

We would also need to examine the feasibility of the Indian Hotels crediting my emoluments to Titan Industries. Such an arrangement would mean that I would technically be ‘on deputation from Titan’. This arrangement is merely to ensure that (a) my family in Bangalore is taken care of and (b) I can continue following up for an employment visa. The question of whether I will continue with Titan or Indian Hotels after June 2008 could be deferred to a later date.

If crediting my emoluments in the manner described above is not an issue, I would be eager to join Taj Samudra at any time you may decide.

SR, General Manager (June 1): I don’t think I can commit the same to you as the decision has to be taken by the corporate office. I will mark you mail to Jamshed to seek his inputs and see if this is possible.

SR, General Manager (June 6): I have discussed this with the corporate office and have to regret that, given the peculiar circumstances that you are presently in, we will not be able to employ you at Taj Samudra.

AM (June 10): Although it certainly came as a disappointment to me, I do understand the decision. In fact, I am grateful that I was even considered.

Comment: I wish they had checked first, instead of getting my hopes up... Since it came through the Tata Group, I assumed that they would have known the background...

SS: Lifeline in the Samudra

I don’t understand why it is so difficult to get into India. Clearly, the Tata Group thinking is that your papers are in order and there's something wrong with the diplomatic process between the two countries. Is there some problem with the diplomats? I mean - that could be one reason why the papers are not going forward.

It’s nice of the Tatas to try and keep you employed. It goes to prove, once again, the benefits of working with the Tata Group as compared to working with any other group in India. I’m sure, if something like this had happened to someone in UBS, they wouldn’t even bother to hire a lawyer… They’d just get on with their lives.

If they offer you a position like Finance Head in the Taj Samudra, it should be some learning. Who knows what life has in store? Come back to India and open your own hotel - It makes sense with the kind of tariffs in Bangalore..!!

First Signs of Pessimism

“I have a feeling it’s likely to be longer haul. The relatively better exploration would be to try and seek an employment opportunity outside India, which we are also trying.”
– Manoj Chakravarti

And The Living Is Easy

My immediate reaction - on seeing Mr BB’s mail on ‘Divisional Manager’ promotions - was, “I would probably have been on that list had it not been for this unfortunate episode”. For the time-being, however, I am just happy to be alive…

Frank Sinatra put it nicely:
“Regrets, I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.”

Marina, Chris and Jonty are scheduled to arrive in Colombo on May 8th. They will be here for two weeks, during the children’s summer vacation, and we will be staying at the Ranveli Beach Resort in Mount Lavinia.

I will not be able do much writing until their departure on until May 22nd.

Gadgets and Biz Intelligence

AA: Read about the air-raid… Hope all’s well with you.

AM: The air-raid seems to have served its purpose - there is a fear psychosis in Colombo. The LTTE has been behaving like a yuppie with a new gadget, eager to show off its newly-acquired air power. They are by no means a spent force, despite the territorial losses that they have sustained on the ground.

Your mail implies that you were at Phuket… Did you have a fun time? Was it too good to write home about?

When I pressed the memory recall button for ‘BI’, I got ‘business intelligence’. I thought that was inappropriate in the DTC context.

Marina Writes To Bhaskar Bhat

Our family would not have survived this ordeal had it not been for God’s grace and Titan’s support. This brief note is to express our sincere gratitude to Titan for the support and assurances that you have given to our family over this period.

In a sense, Titan has always been an extension of our home because Antony and I got married soon after he joined Titan! He continues to be as loyal an employee as he has been over the past sixteen years.

As you can imagine, being without their father has been difficult for the children... Despite the odds, I am happy to inform you that our children have done us proud.

A Book & Some Great Company: JA

I don't think the book will see the light of day till next year – or even later. I am fairly confident that it will do well. Let's see… HarperCollins has evinced interest – and I am in touch with the same individual who handled Anita Pratap's Island of Blood.

Fortunately, the Tata Group has been incredibly supportive during this period... They are trying two parallel routes: liaison and legal. Something should click in the near future… Keep praying. The fantastic thing is that Titan is continuing to pay my salary. I have no clue how they propose to recover the amount, but – for the time being – it suits me fine not to ask.

Work? A Pleasure??! VL

It has been one year since I left Bangalore…The experiences of the past year have made me even more aware of how precious life is, how important relationships are, and how grateful we should be to God for all the blessings that he has given us.

Overall, I think I have become a better human being, more attuned to the sensitivities of those around me. For instance, I will never again say, “If work was supposed to be a pleasure, why would they pay you to do it?!”

NMM: The Influence Shows

It is nice to hear from you, despite the fact that you are a castaway of sorts onthe Emerald Isle. It does not surprise me to hear that, despite your strange and uncomfortable circumstances, you still have retained your sense of humour.

Your statement about the rain and the leakages seems straight out of a P G Wodehouse book… "In the summer, the river is at the bottom of my garden, and in the winter, my garden is at the bottom of the river.”

Enter the Legal Eagles: SRD

April 7th: I appreciate the intervention of the Tata Group’s Legal Department. The department’s involvement would also be useful if we intend to file a case (for wrongful action and/ or compensation) against the authorities...

The authorities at the HCI have suddenly turned sympathetic/ apologetic and have been assuring me of a speedy resolution to this imbroglio. In private, they admit having made a “mistake”.

April 15th: I have sent the documents by Registered Express Post, which typically takes less than a week. However, there could be a delay of upto three days because yesterday was Sinhalese New Year’s Day in Sri Lanka. In my estimate, these should be reaching you during the course of the week commencing April 16th. I would suggest that you retain a copy of this set with you.

The Two 'R's: SV

I spend a lot of my time reading and writing, to keep my mental faculties in working condition. Did I tell you that I am writing the true-life story of a navy commodore who was held in captivity for 8 years?! He does not appear to have been traumatized too much by the experience, and has some interesting stories to tell.

That’s the best I can do – reading and writing - as I wait for New Delhi to resolve its dilemma… I can’t take up a job because that would mean resigning from Titan – and then, New Delhi would have no cause to give me an Employment Visa…!