SatyaM - a falsified truth

While I was in school, Physics was my favorite subject.
Nuclear physics even more so. Read about an interesting concept of particle and anti-particle.
That when a particle and its anti-particle join, they annihilate each other and a lot of energy is released. An anti particle is defined as something identical to and with equal mass and opposite charge to a particle.
I know it might sound boring. I apologize if you were not a Physics students and had to bear with me. But there is a reason why I mentioned this.
You all must be knowing about the story of Satyam trying to acquire Maytas and the whole story that unfolded later and which now threatens to vanish Satyam. Or annihilation...when Satyam tried to join with an entity promoted from same source (people) and having opposite name Maytas. Quite metaphorical...!

The whole Satyam saga can make for a very sensational thriller. Even John Grisham or Jeffery Archer probably would be stunned by how reality can probably be more strange than fiction.

I am in Hyderabad, the city of Nizam and one of the IT hubs of Modern India, and a city which a few weeks back was proud of being the epicenter of an Indian IT gem known as Satyam.
So I get to read and listen a lot about the Satyam fiasco. Hyderabad TOI covers every nerve related to the incident.

From what I have read, quite interesting though unfortunate repercussions are happening because of the Satyam fallout.
- Image of Hyderebad has been hit. (earlier also some corporate frauds) have taken place in the city.
- Satyam being India's Enron. PwC is also under the scanner. PwC may face the fate of Arthur Anderson, one time among big five auditors. Not complete fall, PwC might be at least banned in India.
- Satyamites are flooding job portals
- Some self-styled leaders in Satyam are volunteering for pay cuts. Obviously others are not happy about it.
- Some Satyam engineers are desparate to get into MBA despite not-so-good CAT percentiles.
- Infosys has said it won't hire Satyam employees. Bit harsh and unthoughtful decision. I wish NRN and team understand all Satyamites are not tainted. Moreover it is in the larger interest of India and IT industry if other capable leaders help rescue Satyam.
- Satyam clients want to exit. Companies like Patni and others are trying to make hay by offering to help those clients dissociate from Satyam and join other companies.
- IT stocks investors, other than those who probably liked the name Satyam, are making good money.

Some non-IT related effect
- Satyamites might not be preferred in marriage market. I guess grooms would be more effected than the brides.
- Restaurants are stopping serving Satyam employees on credit basis. 10% discount only on cash payments
- Hyderabad's highly-greedy and worthless houseowners are worrying that they can't milk money as much as they used to earlier from Satyamites. I wonder chances are they can probably start looting more from IT people in anticipation that when they can pay, extract the share of their salary.
- No more corporate discounts for Satyamites at Hyderabad's pearl and jewellery shops.
- People are shying of displaying their Satyam ID cards
- In an odd but a really shameful incident, a Satyam employee who used to give talks on management and team work in social circle is now being considered inappropriate for the purpose.

IT sector in India probably is viewed in same light as our cricket team. Both are talks of the drawing rooms. Both get revered in good times and criticized to the lows in bad times. During 2001 IT slowdown, I think almost everyone single person (unrelated to IT) in my parents social circle warned them of their son's wrong career choice!! A few years back, getting into Satyam, despite of it being not such a great company, was considered a great achievement in Hyderabad and AP state. Some families even criticized their children for not joining this company. Am sure, now the same people would look down upon and give career advice to those engineers who probably would not even have got the opportunity to see Mr Raju in their whole career!

I think the 'mystic' minds of Indians should also be part of Incredible India campaign.

Hope Indian IT and job market don't suffer because of the mistakes of a few!

Slumdog Millionare

I don't watch many hollywood movies. Agree they have terrific performances and complex plots that cannot erase themselves from your memories. But Slumdog Millionaire is much more than that. It is a movie about a guy's search for his love interest. However, the action he takes takes him down the complete memory lane and finding solutions to the questions that have the potential to change his materialistic life which he cares the least. An elder brother who is more business oriented, yet loves his brother but can almost kill him (probably for a revenge, am not sure) and a 3rd musketeer who has surrendered to the circumstances so many times that she does not know what to do next.
The answer to each question asked to the protagonist lies in various instances of his life. The instances that are plainly terrific probably highlight the lives of slum people in Mumbai. Each and every incident mirror the lives of common or below common man in modern day India...be it living in slums or communal riots or Indian BPO industry or the rackets of begging/prostitution or simple human emotions such as jealousy or love.
Slumdog millionaire is all about the survival and the numerous challenges that come in the way to live a life of almost no goals except one that is also not certain. But everything is "Written".

Complete mouth watering randomness

This week was truly a toast in the form of treats.
We three roomies had treats among us. Started with Italian, slowed down at Rajasthani-Gujrati, stopped at B-bqu'd delicacies.

Wednesday took us to swanky and posh Little Italy. A veggie restaurant in hilly roads of Jubilee Hills. great ambiance, great menu consisting of a long list of items. Heard that most of the ingredients are imported from Italy. True or not, food was in any case yummy....but since it's pricey, so yummy is a softer word. Better I'd say sumptuous.
Broccoli soup, Mediterranean pizza, one of the best pastas I've ever had. And believe it, pure veg restaurants are also great. Those who don't believe, try this one.

Came Thursday and we were in "Rajdhani" - a Rajasthani-cum-Gujrati resturant in Ameerpet area. They serve a large-really-large thali with lots of starters, main course dishes and sweets.
All unlimited. The service-super fast. In fact if go for first time, chances are you won't realize when you are done and it's time to pay the bill.
So take my advice, don't get overwhelmed. Relax and enjoy the food quite slowly.
and yes, price...quite nominal. INR 199/- per person...inclusive of taxes :-)

Today's Saturday and the third treat was in Barbeque Nation on Road#1 Banjara Hills. Really a nation of b'bques. You barbeque the dishes yourself in front of you. Yes, they keep a small furnace in the middle of the table and place all varieties of things in sticks and hang them there. You are given all kind of sauces to make you own delicacies. The service quality is no less than that of 5 star hotels. Quite prompt and sophisticated.
The main course buffet is also great with some ghar-ka-khana type dishes such as capsicum, paneer bhurji et al. But yes, have patience at main course coz really tempting dessets are lined up next. Price...upscale types. But worth it when you get 5 star kind of hospitality at lesser the price.

There's no secret ingredient

"There is no charge for awesomeness or...attractiveness" aptly summarized KungFu Panda!!

Last Dushehra, my friends and I celebrated by watching this must-watch animated movie in Prasadz IMAX. The effect of the big screen was no doubt awesome. Plus the nice, sweet, inspiring, funny, lively tale of "the" big fat Panda.

"There are no accidents". Remember this in life...that's what I truly believe.
Plus more important is believe in yourself. or as Panda's father said "There's no secret ingredient...(for noodles :-) )"

Nonetheless, really there is no secret ingredient. Just believe in yourself and have your conviction clear. Take an action and whole universe will conspire to make it happen (this is from alchemist :-) )

Otherwise, chances are either you won't know what are you looking for or you'll not be able to put your best efforts. It's a different thing that you may not even realize that you are not putting your best effort. So if you fail, don't say, it was bad luck. Try again and again. You'll succeed like the king of Scotland did. If you still don't and lose the charm then it may not be your destiny but luck is not bad. So better enjoy life and chillax...

Sensibilities lost in senseless competition

Normally I do not watch any reality shows very religiously (I mean, with keen interest). But over a dinner, just happened to see the latest episode of "Ek khiladi ek haseena" telecast on Colors. In this episode, the performance given by Harbhajan Singh and Mona Singh was on a romantic song "You're my love" (from the movie "Partner"). So far no issues...but, what was it? They played on some completely unthoughtof and just distasteful idea! Bhajji and Mona enacted as holy Ramayana characters "Ravan" and "Sita". It is highly offensive in respect of the Indian culture. More so, in the auspicious days of Navratri.

How can someone presumably use the highly respected character of Sita from one of the world's most sacrosant epics in such a way?? Shame on everyone associated with the performance.

To show the protest, my friend and I have written to editors of CNN-IBN and TimesNow.
Let's see if they take some action.

I do not expect them to play the clips from the episode on TV.