Allahabad

Been out of action for the past one week. My granny was really unwell. Went to visit her. Thankfully, she is recovering now. Here is an article I wrote before I went - http://theviewspaper.net/allahabad-the-holy-city/

Allahabad, also known as Prayag, is one of the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on an inland peninsula, surrounded by the rivers Ganga and Yamuna on three sides. It is one of four sites of the Kumbh Mela, an important Hindu pilgrimage. The ancient name of the city is Aggra (Sanskrit for “place of sacrifice”), as it is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. The name ‘Allahabad’ is derived from Ilāhābād – the name given to the city by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. ‘Ilah’ is the arabic for ‘god’ and ‘abād’ is Persian for ‘to create’. Allahabad is thus the ‘God’s creation’.
Allahabad was the first city that I explored on my own and in my four years stay there, the city never ever failed to surprise me. I was initially overwhelmed by men who seemed to have no qualms in staring blatantly at each passing female, sometimes not even bothering to close their mouths. I felt alienated in this city away from the busy Mumbai life. I missed the obscurity that Mumbai offers to each one of its fourteen million inhabitants. Here, people cared about everything and everyone. However, as I gained confidence and started blending in the colors of the city, I started loving every bit of its quite and peaceful life.
Allahabad’s star attraction is Sangam – the confluence of three rivers. This is one of the most sacred spots for all Hindus. Every year millions of people travel to Allahabad to take a dip in the holy waters. However, don’t be surprised if you can’t find the third river of this confluence. This is the point where the Yamuna, the Ganges and a mythical river of knowledge and intellect called the Saraswati meet. At a very nominal rate, one can hire a wooden boat with a canopy and be rowed up to Sangam. You can also buy bird food and feed hundreds of migratory birds that come to Allahabad in the winter season. The best time to take this trip is around sunset. When the last rays of the sun touch these holy waters, a strange calmness seems to descend on the city.
From the Sangam are visible the towering walls of the Allahabad fort. The Mughal emperor Akbar built this magnificent fort. The Indian army currently occupies it. However, a small portion is open to visitors. In this section are situated the Patliputra temple and the Akshaya Vat. Patliputra, is a multi level, ancient underground temple and it houses the Akshaya Vat or the ‘immortal tree’. This is one of the oldest trees in the country. It has religious significance as it is believed that Lord Rama himself visited this tree. It is also believed that the leaves of this tree bring good luck. I still have one of those tucked away between the pages of my favorite book.
It is hard to be in Allahabad and not visit one of its ghats. There are a number of ghats on the river, each having its own offerings. They have attractions like children’s parks, or boat clubs or clean grass lawns to relax in. The most visited of these ghats is the Saraswati Ghat. The city has numerous temples out of which the ‘Lete Hanuman ka Mandir’ (Temple of the reclined Hanuman) is the most famous. This temple is near the main Sangam and gets flooded every year when the river rises. The temple as the name suggests, has an idol of God Hanuman in an unusual reclined posture. Another temple worth a visit is the ‘Bada Hanuman Mandir’ (Big Temple of Hanuman) in Civil Lines.
The city is not just a religious center. Allahabad boasts of being a renowned center for education and politics. Seven out of India’s first 14 prime ministers have had associations with this city. The Allahabad University campus is a site in itself. Spread over hundreds of acres, the magnificent main building is a mix of Victorian and Mughal architecture. It is one of the most imposing college buildings I have ever seen. The university was once considered the best in Asia, and its alumni include some of India’s greatest leaders and nationalists. Once the breeding ground for the Indian freedom struggle, the campus now witnesses active student politics.
The Chandrashekhar Azad Park or the Alfred Park is where the legendary Azad shot himself on being surrounded by the Britishers. This park has sprawling lawns, a museum, a library and grape gardens, all within the same compound. Here one can find obscure species of trees as well as obscure volumes of Indian Literature.
The Civil Lines area in Central Allahabad, initially constructed under the Colonial rule, retains its air of prosperity. This area has the classy hotels, restaurants, cafés, malls, shops and pubs of the city. In the evening the place is a bustle of activity with youngsters and adults flocking to its various hangouts. The other parts of the city are a mix of old and modern construction. One of the must visit sites boasting of modern construction is the Naini Bridge of Allahabad which is India’s biggest cable-stayed bridge. Beautiful rose farms on one side with cement aqueducts flank this bridge with its numerous columns. During the Kumbh Mela and the Maha Kumbh mela, one can stand on top of this bridge and see miles and miles of riverbed covered with pilgrim tents and temporary pontoon pulls.
The city has a thriving sports culture as well. There are a number of multipurpose sports complexes, the prominent one being the Mayo Hall. Others include the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium, Amitabh Bachchan Sports Complex, an international standards swimming pool and the National Sports Academy. The city has produced several outstanding cricketers like Mohammad Kaif and Hyder Ali. Others prominent sportsmen from Allahabad are international badminton player and Arjuna awardee, Abhinn Shyam Gupta; gymnast, Vikas Pandey and athlete, Pramod Tewari.
The best time of the year to visit Allahabad is in the winter season. The weather in the months starting from December to February is pleasant with the minimum temperature around 12 degrees Celsius. I used to love the dreamy winter morning walks in Alfred Park amidst the slight fog. Allahabad is well connected by rail and road. One can reach Allahabad from Delhi via an overnight train journey. Within Allahabad, cycle rickshaws are the most convenient public transport. For a mere 5-6 rupees, you could also get a ride in the local tempos between fixed spots in the city. Hotel accommodations range from Rs. 500 per day to Rs. 10,000 per day. Ajay International, Milan Palace and Kanha Shyam are among the most famous hotels in Allahabad. Most of the new restaurants are located in and around Civil Lines. The Chicken Biryani at Spicy Bites is absolutely mouth watering and the Tandoori Chicken at Tandoor is a must try. I would also recommend North Indian food at Connoisseur and El Chico in Civil Lines. However, no meal is complete without the sweet and tender Maghai Paan from Civil Lines crossing! Allahabad is a city that can magically transport you to the pre independent India where life moves at its own leisurely pace; and at the same time provides all modern amenities for comfort and leisure.
Allahabad was the first home that I discovered away from home during my four years of college that I spent here, and I feel it is a part of my personality. Thinking about the city will always bring back a flood of bittersweet memories.

Rocket Singh : Salesman of the Year

Wrote this one for Viewspaper too. Original here - http://theviewspaper.net/rocket-singh-salesman-of-the-year/

Have you ever felt that your potential is not being utilized fully in your job? Are there some processes in your organization that you don’t approve of? Have you always dreamt of starting your own venture where working will be fun and fulfilling? If your answer is yes, this movie is a must watch for you! If your answer is no, this movie will surely leave you thinking.

Produced under the Yash Raj Films Banner, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year has been directed by Shimit Amin. Shimit Amin who has previously directed award-winning movies like ‘Chak De India’ and ‘Ab Tak Chhapan’ has etched the characters in Rocket Singh very craft-fully. The star cast of the movie includes Ranbir Kapoor as the main protagonist, Gauhar Khan, veteran actor Prem Chopra and the the much-awaited debut of Shazahn Padamsee, daughter of critically acclaimed theatre personality Alyque Padamsee and pop diva Sharon Prabhakar. Ranbir Kapoor as always is indistinguishable from the character of young Harpreet who always follows his heart. Gauhar Khan’s role as the office receptionist Koena, who handles customer relations, is impressive. She represents the discrimination that pretty women face in some offices being judged more for looks than their work potential. Prem Chopra plays Harpreet’s father. Shazahn Padamsee has a minor role in the movie as the owner of a design firm, which does not give much room to evaluate her performance. However, she does look absolutely stunning. Other characters whose roles credit a mention are D.Santosh as Giri – a computer engineer addicted to pornography; Naveen Kaushik as Nitin – an industry hardened sales manager, and Manish Choudhary as Puri, the shrewd owner of AYS.

Rocket Singh is the story of an average Indian student. It is the story of Harpreet Singh Bedi, a fresh BCom. graduate who just about manages to pass in his final exams. Unfazed by his academic performance, Harpreet, confident in his ability to negotiate with people, chooses to become a salesman. After a number of interviews, he lands himself a job at AYS computers, which is the market leader for assembled computers. Harpreet’s interview at AYS is interesting too (I will not spoil it for the readers by divulging details!). Soon the story takes a turn as Harpreet finds himself in the midst of corrupt corporate practices, unsatisfied customers and hostile colleagues. He however does not believe in giving up. He fights his way through all odds and in the process, discovers the key to running successful organizations and a lifetime of happiness.

The movie is about following one’s dreams and fighting against all odds, giving high priority to customer satisfaction, valuing people and their skills, standing up against corruption and dishonesty at the workplace and believing in oneself. Cheers to the writer Jaideep Sahni for packing so much wisdom into such a simple story line. Although a comedy, the movie subtly addresses a lot of serious issues and stereotypes. “Number kam hain, Dimaag nahi” (My marks may be less, but my brains aren’t) – a simple dialogue that aims to shatter the mindset of linking a student’s intellect to his marks. “Superman ko bhi risk lena padta hai, Main to phir bhi ek salesman hoon”(Even superman must take risks, I am only a salesman) – inspires us to take risks in life. The movie also tries to romanticize the job of a salesman by exploring its challenges.

Rocket Singh seems to have a number of product placements, inline with the current industry trend. Products like Apple Mac Books, a Chroma store, a red TVS Scooty, and a lone Pepsi Can stand out but at the same time gel well with the script. Maggi seems to be a likely sponsor too as Shanzahn can be seen with a Maggi bowl in three different frames! All said, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, is a feel good and entertaining comedy, which is very well written and directed. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking forward to three hours of fun.

The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay

Wrote this article as part of my internship with Viewspaper. You can view the original here - http://theviewspaper.net/the-lost-flamingoes-of-bombay

Finished reading “The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay” today.

Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi, the 32-year-old author of the book, has been compared to the likes of Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith and Vikram Seth. He is an Indian who holds an MA in international Journalism from the University of Westminster and an MS in Mass Communications from San Jose State University. He has worked in the past as a chef, a storyteller and even a kennel boy. Shanghvi has been voted as one among the “Fifty Most Powerful Young Indians” by India Today; “The Next Big Thing” by the Sunday Times, U.K.; “Fifty Most Stylish People” by Elle; “Ten Most Creative People” by Hindustan Time; “Ten Best Dressed Men” by La Stampa, Italy and “Fifty Global Indians” by The Times of India.

Lost Flamingoes is Siddharth’s second book. The first book – ‘The Last Song
of Dusk’ has been translated into ten languages, won the Betty Trask Award (UK); the Premio Grinzane Cavour (Italy); and was nominated for the IMPAC Prize. The book is a mesmerizing tale of love and loss. The prose has a lyrical quality to it. The author has developed extremely fascinating characters in this book. I was truly intrigued by the mystical character of Nandini sketched as an overtly ambitious girl who has “the blood of a leopard in her veins”.

Siddharth’s second book struck a chord in my heart as well. With this book, the author has again proven his knack for revealing the most intense human emotions without any brush-ups. It portrays our survival instinct as human beings, amongst the utter chaos and futility of life. It grips the political and social events, which we read about in newspapers as distant occurrences happening in an unreal world far away; and brings them to reality. Lost Flamingoes is a bold, gripping and powerful account of the contemporary events and issues; ranging from the Mumbai floods, shooting of a young model in a crowded pub, a menacing monkey, the failing Indian legal system, AIDS, homosexuality to politics.

The book is the story of Karan Seth, a naturally skilled photographer who moves to Bombay to work for ‘The India Chronicle’. He has a passion to capture Mumbai in his camera. During one of his assignments he meets Samar, a failing celebrity pianist and Zaira, a successful Bollywood actress. While finding the ‘Bombay Fornicator’ in Chor Bazaar on Zaira’s suggestion, he meets Rhea Dalal, who is a homemaker, passionate about pottery. The story starts with the problems Karan faces in adjusting to his new lifestyle and forgetting his troubled past. It moves on to unfold a series of events that take place in Zaira, Samar and Karan’s lives. Karan falls in love with Rhea but this relationship like all the others is also a roller coaster ride. Zaira’s murder and the trial put Samar and Karan through a lot of struggle. They fight a desperate battle amongst a biased judiciary, retracting witnesses and false allegations.

It can sometimes be shocking to see reality up close and the characters in these stories as people – as actual human beings – with feelings, sorrows, dreams and hopes. The amount of pain, hatred, betrayal and loss a person could withstand and still go on to live is unbelievable. With the pages of this book, I took a ride out of my dream world into the naked, hissing reality – the delicate thread that life is – and the futility of it all. “Only the end of the world is the end of the world”.

Algae Biofuels

Wrote this article as part of my internship with viewspaper. You can view the original here - http://theviewspaper.net/algae-biofuels/

Algae biofuels are alternatives to fossil fuels. These carbon neutral fuels are cheap and easy to use. In a world of rising oil prices and increasing concern over environmental pollution, algae biofuels are gaining a lot of momentum.

Algae are unique species that are neither classified as flora nor fauna. These organisms use photosynthesis to transform atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy. There are more than 30,000 known species of algae. They reproduce tremendously fast and can effectively double their weight several times a day. Algae can grow in salt water, freshwater or even brackish water, in sea or in ponds, and on land not suitable for food production.

As part of the photosynthetic process, the absorbed carbon dioxide and sunlight are used to produce sugars and lipids. Excess of these lipids are stored as fat inside the algae cells. This fat can be used to produce vegetable oil, which is further distilled to produce many other forms of fuel. Different species of algae can be used to produce different varieties of oils. Algae can generate 15 times more oil per acre than other plants used for biofuels, such as corn and switch grass.

There are many small companies producing algae biofuels around the world. Some of them are GreenFuel Technologies, Solazyme, Blue Marble Energy, Inventure Chemical, Solena, Live Fules, Solix Biofuels, Aurora Biofuels, Aquaflow Binomics, Petro Sun and Bionavitas. In India, a Kerala based company; Enery Microlgae is producing algae fuel commercially. Last year, in a unique experiment, jet algae fuel was used to power a two-hour test flight of a Boeing 737-800 of the Continental Airlines. These fuels are absolutely carbon neutral, which simply means that the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the algae is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide produced while burning the fuels. Hence, they do not increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, in turn slowing global warming.

Scientific interest in producing fuel from algae has been around since the 1950s. Most previous and current research on algae biofuels has used the open pond system. In this system, the alga is allowed to grow in open water bodies with just the naturally occurring inputs of atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight. This approach results in a rather low yield of oil – about 1 percent by weight of the algae and also prone to contamination by unwanted species. As opposed to this, scientists are now proposing the helix photo bioreactor, which is a closed indoor system. This however increases the cost of production and moves away from the use of natural sunlight. Some other scientists prefer the ‘Vertigo’ technique, in which the algae crop is vertically oriented and controlled.

The greatest benefit of algae biofuels over other alternative fuels comes from the fact that they can be used in cars and airplanes without any modifications to the currents design of the machines.

However, only a few studies are publicly available on the economic viability of algae biofuels. It is estimated that algae oil would only be competitive at an oil price of $800 per barrel. The cost of production varies according to the specie of algae used, the system of production, the method of harvesting and even the amount of sugars and carbon dioxide fed to the crop. Some entities have reported capital costs as low as $10k/acre, while others have shown costs approaching $300k/acre.

The problems in accurately determining the economic viability are accentuated by the fact that there are no large-scale commercial algae biofuels production systems with which to develop and substantiate data. The companies that are developing new technologies and architectures are very protective of their detailed financial data.

One acre of algae can produce enough oil to make 5,000 gallons of biodiesel in a year. It is estimated that an area equal to half that of the state of Mexico, would be enough to meet the energy demands of the entire USA. The potential of these biofuels cannot be overlooked. It seems too good to be true. For the time being, scum powered cities do seem to be overpowering my imagination. Algae biofuels might prove to be the clean and scalable energy solution that we have been looking forward to for so long.

Education?

I believe that our education system has a pressing need to undergo a complete redesign.
The present education system was developed in the 19th century with the dawn of the industrial era to churn out academi-cians, engineers, doctors and managers. Formal education thus got created as an agent to aid the growth of capitalism. Our schools hone the ability of individuals to memorize information and reproduce it. However, they also destroy our ability to think beyond the obvious and to innovate.
Contemporary education needs to focus on developing the creativity in individuals such that we can nurture entrepreneurs, environmental scientists, space engineers, art directors, social activists, and sports players. We need to transform the rote learning culture to one that fosters imagination, compassion, peace, leadership and self-expression.
“The future of our world lies in the hands of our children”. We have heard this over and over again. It is the truth! It’s high time we step back and question the capability of the schools, to where we push our children for 18 years of their lives. Are these revered centers of learning really preparing our children for the world that they live in? I think the answer is very clear. We just need to acknowledge its existence.

People over the World

I think a lot about people. I feel that people are the most dynamic variables in the equation of my day-to-day life. I have a lot of opinions and theories about people. However, this topic still never fails to surprise me. Every day I learn something new about someone. In my world, I have created certain kinds of people. This classification however, is not objective enough to be based on their caste, religion, creed or nationality. It is based on how they react to situations in life.
Everyone is distinct. There are people who think so creatively that sometimes I just can’t decipher how their brain could come up with such ingenious ideas. There are people like my mother, who manage to love their children no matter what they do. Their commitment surprises me. Also, there are some who fight adverse circumstances so bravely and with a smile that their presence in this world leaves me feeling stronger.
To understand this diversity and uniqueness, I created a classification for people –
1. The people who don’t care about anyone – These are the people who will do only what they want to do. Re-belling is their favorite pass time. Staying away from people is their natural protection against the complexities of human interaction. They are inconsistent in their relationships. They love to spend their time with themselves.
2. The ones who firmly believe that they are not good enough – These are the people who are always bent on proving that they are good for nothing. Even if they could land on the moon, it may not be enough for them! They are extremely difficult to please and the easiest ones to blame.
3. The people who need attention and have a constant need to fit in – These are the ones who need to be-long. They need to surround themselves with friends at all times. They talk loudly, they laugh out loud and they spend hours in front of the mirror. They usually possess excellent interpersonal skills. They have a need to be extra sweet all the time. These people can do well in jobs involving client interactions.
4. The ones who are always trying to prove themselves – These are the hard workers who need to get things done. Sitting idle is such a waste of time! These people are usually successful in life, but then there is always the next big thing to be achieved of course. These people can be really painful managers and very promising employees.
5. The people who have a major superiority complex – “Oh my god! He is so dumb!” These are the people who firmly believe that their point of view is supreme. People around them exist to make them happy. They are usu-ally very assertive and possess a strong opinion about everything.
This is my effort to classify the people in my world. I know that it may not be perfect and applicable to all. But then there is one advantage while developing your own theories. You can always change them! Most of the times these traits are apparent in the people I meet. Some people could also be compounds showing a combination of two or more of these traits in varying proportions.
In spite of these similarities, everyone is unique and that’s what makes it all the more interesting. People are special. They are the fighters. They are the ones who survive in this world while learning, adapting, pretending, enjoying, fighting, trying, car-ing, hating, loving and living continuously. Its amazing how they manage to do all that and yet some more.

On Wings of Eagles

Read the book "On Wings of Eagles" by Ken Follett recently. It is an incredible real life adventure story, the story a group of highly successful executives of EDS corporation who went beyond the obvious, to save the lives of their collegues. It left me really touched. It showed me another side of Americans - a brave side, a side where each and every life is valued and treasured. It relates the values that a huge and great company should stand for. It relates how Ross Perot, the inspiring leader stands for his employees. A true leader is not the one who has a great vision and who can get the work done, but the one who also lives the lives of his employees - who relates to employees as his own. Ross believes that he is lucky, and will always be - If before doing a task, I sit and think about all the things that could go wrong, I would never complete my task. The book is gripping, full of thrills and entirely true! Loved this one!