Chanakya's Quotes - Worth reading a million times…

"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are victimized first."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC -275 BC)
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"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)
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"The biggest guru-mantra is:
Never share your secrets with anybody. !
It will destroy you."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)
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"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)
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"Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions -
Why am I doing it,
What the results might be and
Will I be successful.
Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)
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"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)
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"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
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"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction...”
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
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"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
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"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
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"Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
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"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)

Helping Hands are Sometimes Recognized Late -After Taj Terror Attack in India

This is a forwarded email I received from one of my friends. Really thought to share with you.

Every organisation will have some issues but how it reacts during the
crisis throws light on what their priorities are.


LORD SAYS- HANDS THAT HELP ARE BETTER THAN LIPS THAT PRAY.

October 10, 2009

Meeting with H N Srinivas – Senior Executive Vice President, Taj Group of
Hotels


He narrated the 26th November 2008 terror attackon Taj Mumbai and there
were some important points.

A. Terrorist entry


1. They entered from the Leopold Colaba hotel entrance and also
from the northern entrance – spraying indiscriminate bullets on the Taj
security personnel and guests in general.

2. Though Taj had a reasonable security – they were surely not
equipped to deal with terrorists who were spraying 6 bullets per trigger.

3. The strategy of the terrorists was to throw chunks of RDX in
an open area that will explode and burn – creating chaos so that the
guests and staff run helter skelter so that the terrorists could kill
them. The idea was to create maximum casualties.

4. There were several critical gatherings and functions
happening in the hotel on that day – a Bohra wedding, global meet of
Unilever CEOs and Board members and 2 other corporate meetings were being
held in the hotel – besides the usual crowd.

5. The firing and chaos began at about 8.30 p.m. and the staff
including employees on casual and contract basis displayed exemplary
presence of mind, courage and sacrifice to protect the guests who were in
various halls and conference rooms.



B. Stories of Staff Heroics



1. A young lady guest relation executive with the HLL gathering
stopped any of the members going out and volunteered 3 times to go out and
get stuff such as ice cubes for whiskey of the guests when the situation
outside the hall was very explosives and she could have been easily the
target of the bullets

2. Thomas Georgea captain escorted 54 guests from a backdoor
staircase and when he was going down last he was shot by the terrorists

3. There were 500 emails from various guests narrating heroics
of the staff and thanking them for saving their lives

4. In a subsequent function, Ratan Tatabroke down in full
public view and sobbed saying – “the company belongs to these people”. The
wife of Thomas Georgewho laid his life saving others said, she and the
kids were proud of the man and that she did not know that for 25 years she
lived with a man who was so courageous and brave

5. The episode happened on 26th November, a significant part of
the hotel was burnt down and destroyed – the hotel was re-opened on 21st
December and all the employees of the hotel were paraded in front of the
guests

6. It was clearly a saga of extra-ordinary heroics by ordinary
people for their organisation and in a way for their country. The sense of
duty and service was unprecedented

7. The young lady who protected and looked after the HLL guests
was a management trainee and we often speak of juniority and seniority in
the organisation. She had no instructions from any supervisor to do what
she did

a. She took just 3 minutes to rescue the entire team through the
kitchen

b. Cars were organised outside the hotel as per seniority of the
members

c. In the peak of the crisis, she stepped out and got the right wine
glass for the guest


8. People who exhibited courage included janitors, waiters,
directors, artisans and captains – all level of people



C. The Tata Gesture



1. All category of employees including those who had completed
even 1 day as casuals were treated on duty during the time the hotel was
closed

2. Relief and assistance to all those who were injured and
killed

3. The relief and assistance was extended to all those who died
at the railway station, surroundings including the “Pav-Bhaji” vendor and
the pan shop owners

4. During the time the hotel was closed, the salaries were sent
my money order

5. A psychiatric cell was established in collaboration with
Tata Institute of Social Sciencesto counsel those who needed such help

6. The thoughts and anxieties going on people’s mind was
constantly tracked and where needed psychological help provided

7. Employee outreach centers were opened where all help, food,
water, sanitation, first aid and counseling was provided. 1600 employees
were covered by this facility

8. Every employee was assigned to one mentor and it was that
person’s responsibility to act as a “single window” clearance for any help
that the person required

9. Ratan Tatapersonally visited the families of all the 80
employees who in some manner – either through injury or getting killed –
were affected.

10. The dependents of the employees were flown from outside
Mumbaito Mumbai and taken care off in terms of ensuring mental assurance
and peace. They were all accommodated in Hotel President for 3 weeks

11. Ratan Tata himself asked the families and dependents – as to
what they wanted him to do.

12. In a record time of 20 days, a new trust was created by the
Tatasfor the purpose of relief of employees.

13. What is unique is that even the other people, the railway
employees, the police staff, the pedestrians who had nothing to do with
Tatas were covered by compensation. Each one of them was provided
subsistence allowance of Rs. 10K per month for all these people for 6
months.

14. A 4 year old granddaughter of a vendor got 4 bullets in her
and only one was removed in the Government hospital. She was taken to
Bombay hospitaland several lacs were spent by the Tatas on her to fully
recover her

15. New hand carts were provided to several vendors who lost
their carts

16. Tata will take responsibility of life education of 46
children of the victims of the terror

17. This was the most trying period in the life of the
organisation. Senior managersincluding Ratan Tata were visiting funeral to
funeral over the 3 days that were most horrible

18. The settlement for every deceased member ranged from Rs. 36
to 85 lacs in addition to the following benefits:

a. Full last salary for life for the family and dependents

b. Complete responsibility of education of children and dependents –
anywhere in the world

c. Full Medical facility for the whole family and dependents for rest
of their life

d. All loans and advances were waived off – irrespective of the amount

e. Counselor for life for each person



D. Epilogue

1. How was such passion created among the employees? How and
why did they behave the way they did?

2. The organisation is clear that it is not something that
someone can take credit for. It is not some training and development that
created such behaviour. If someone suggests that – everyone laughs

3. It has to do with the DNA of the organisation, with the way
Tata culture exists and above all with the situation that prevailed that
time. The organisation has always been telling that customers and guests
are #1 priority

4. The hotel business was started by Jamshedji Tata when he was
insulted in one of the British hotels and not allowed to stay there.

5. He created several institutions which later became icons of
progress, culture and modernity. IISc is one such institute. He was told
by the rulers that time that he can acquire land for IISc to the extent he
could fence the same. He could afford fencing only 400 acres.

6. When the HR function hesitatingly made a very rich proposal
to Ratan – he said – do you think we are doing enough?

7. The whole approach was that the organisation would spend
several hundred crore in re-building the property – why not spend equally
on the employees who gave their life?

Laws of Success

Clear ambition:
Be crystal clear about your ambition, if not, you will try travelling in all possible ways and success will be delayed

Grow your knowledge:
Always keep yourself updated. Not only Good Books and Techers help you acquiring knowledge , also environment at home, even parents helps gaining knowledge.

Dedication:
You must always try and keep working hard in all the ways to achieve the ambition with dedication

Balanced approach:
It should not be like all of a sudden working hard, then getting depressed and stagnated at one point. One should constantly keep working hard towards achieving the ambition.

Some Ads that Inspired me to promote some Social Thoughts

Spectator Today - Don't Turn Blind Eye to Accidents

Forestestion - Plant More Trees


Breast Cancer - For 1 Million Indian Girls, This is where life ends.Each Year.

Aids Awareness Program - Wake to the Threat of AIDS - Stick to One Partner

Education Insights in India, Just for you to think......

Nowadays there has been a stupid thing that is being followed as rule in the school. The rule is nothing but, most of the English medium schools they wanted the parents should have been literates and should hold a degree to get their children admitted in a matriculation school. I was wondering, then what for the teachers are, and majorly was worried about people who don’t have a graduation degree, and wanted their children at least to get a degree and come forward in life. But as the schools has put the rules that parents should have a graduation degree, most of the parents dream are ruined and shattered who don’t have an degree to get their children admitted in matriculation schools.

Just for you to think, I know a family of five, with three children (Elder Son, Sister and Brother) whose parents are illiterates, whereas the father has studied till 5th standard in a Tamil medium school, and his mother doesn’t even know to read or write, got a seat in a Matriculation school. Inspite of heavy fee and other study materials the father somehow managed to pay it (always late fee, but still paid the fee before the last date). And something interesting is that the youngest son, when doing his 7th standard started working in company in the annual holidays with a salary of Rs.120 per week and then will save that money for buying something that interests him and also to buy study materials. But still he managed to study and then later while he was in college was working as a part time employee in an internet browsing centre and use to have the salary to pay the college fee. Meanwhile, his brother who completed the degree also helped out his brother and sister to pay their college fees as there is shortage of money. Later one the younger boy finished his college he joined in a BPO and then a software company, where he was giving lot of presentation in front of 500+ students in the college on behalf of the company and started getting good names in front of all. And now he is confident that he is growing in life, and now posted this story by himself here, it’s none other than me – the boy I am referring to.

Wonder, My parents did not study, but I have now completed my degree including the master, then why is this educated teachers, say they will admit only if the child’s parent is educated, then what for is the teacher. I asked one of the teacher why is there a sudden rule like this, her reply was simple, now the studies are too complicated, so students parents need to educated to teach them in home. I simply said, then what for are the teachers there, if they are unable to feed the child easily with such complicated subjects. I guess I am right. So it’s in the hands of the teacher and student to learn things, whereas parents should motivate, and teach discipline to the children. I think the rule that tells parents should be educated to make the children admit in the school, should be made inactive.

In the meanwhile, there are government schools in Tamilnadu, which tells the major importance, should be given to Tamil. Just think, if person knows only Tamil, and goes to north India, will he/she would be able to sustain. If a person is unable to sustain in India itself, will he be able to sustain in foreign countries. I am not against, but I say, we need to give importance to Tamil as well as Hindi, and English. Tamil is our regional language, and most of their mother tongue, so first preference to mother tongue, Second to Hindi – the national language and third to English the international language. If we knew all this for sure there would be a bright future for the really talented people.

Also, I happen to see a guy who always tells that everything should be in our regional language, but the sorry state is that his child always talks in English. J So what can be done in this case?.....
Always remember Mother Tongue is First, National Language is Second and International Language is Third, and then comes the other languages.

Chennai Traffic Jams and Roads......

It was since 5 years that I travel via my two wheeler from Velachery to Spencer Plaza for my office. All these days, there were so many people inculding me who have complained about bad roads i.e. with path holes, and improper road works to the corporation and highways department. Some 2 weeks back I am really surprised to see that overnight the road was made with some patch works, and was really happy to drive. But later only I realized that the Chief Minister is coming via Velachery to open an Automobiles Showroom. And was wondering for a single person, they laid a road within one night, whereas thousands of people have been complainging to the corporation, which felt in the deaf ears and was making my way to the office. But later I again realized, that the road is laid just for a formatilty, which barely did not even stand for more than a week.


There are many such un-laid roads all over Tamilnadu, though complained, no action is being taken. Simply I feel 1 out of 100 queries is alone answered. Daily we complain about heavy traffic jams but ever get the right reason for why chennai had got traffic jams. The reasons would be simple

1.) The population of Chennai has grown due to the development of IT companies
2.) Increase in number of vehicles due to population growth
3.) Public buses are over crowded in the peak hours
4.) Improper Roads.

Improper Roads! Yes! because think you are travelling in car,and many vehicles coming behind you and you see an man hole in the road, you apply your breaks and slow down your vehicles, obviously the people who come also slow down their vehicles, the vehicles which comes behind comes in a speed and try to overtake the other vehicles, and wanted to cross the manhole, which leads to make the vehicles stand for long time. So the vehicles which come at the back start moving slowly. And sometimes, due to sudden brake's two vehicles kiss with each other, I mean to say meeting with accident. So if the roads are maintained good, expanded, with proper signals placed, we can reduce the traffic jams to 50% for sure.

So I have decided not to wait for the Government to work for me, instead, I am going to do my contribution, by filling up a man hole in road with some stones, and sand, so it would look flat atleast to control the traffic and accidents. Even I have started doing it, when I go via bike in the noons - as its the right time, where we won't be disturbing the traffic, as well as doing our contribution. I felt we need work hard to keep our City good and clean. Right? :)

Also see Travel Blog

Hands That Help Are Holier Than the Lips That Pray

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