Ajith Nair

I felt the same intense anger that cricket fans all over felt when I learnt about the ball tampering incident. After the “brain fade” in India, Steve Smith did not leave much love on the table. We always knew he was not the most honest guy around. And then on Thursday, he broke down at the Press conference. Those tears were real. One felt sorry. Which Steve Smith is the real Steve Smith- the one who cheated or the one who cried and repented? Both. In my last blog I wrote about how narrow definitions of growth confine and stifle us into spaces that we don’t necessarily enjoy but end up being in. While doing so we suppress and submerge those parts of ourselves which are truly ourselves- our core selves which make us feel truly alive. Steve Smith was probably caught in such a place- the part of him that wanted success at all costs and could not take failure was dominant and active. Infact it was the dominant part that put on Whites and walked on to the field. This was the part...

Have been in a few conversations recently where career growth, progression etc. have been the hot topic of discussion. Realized at the end of it that we as a society have started to place too much value and hence focus on external validation of growth. Titular growth, accompanied by material markers of success seem to be inextricably linked to conventional definitions of growth. This is leading to conflict because two distinct individuals might want to grow towards the same title, and more importantly and sadly it is taking away from a more individualistic model of growth which is anchored in individual identity as a starting point.  Needless to say, for the latter to take place, individuals need to take charge of their own growth and development. What does this look like (or not)? Let’s first start with a rudimentary definition of growth which I lay no claim to on authorship but identify very strongly with Individual Growth=  “Being a better version of onese...

“Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains”- Jean Jacques Rousseau, “The Social Contract” In the book Man’s search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl talks about how you can take everything away from a man but hope. Confined to a concentration camp by the Nazis, seeing death and distress around him every day, Viktor Frankl managed to get in touch with something deep within himself that helped him cope with the fear and suffering that was all around him. Mind you there was much to fear- Fear of death, fear of torture, fear that he will never be able to see his beloved wife who was in a similar camp elsewhere. Viktor Frankl managed to outlive the concentration camp, become a famous psychologist and author, while many of his friends and colleagues at the concentration camps died, even before they were gassed by the Nazis. How did Viktor Frankl survive? He did not lose hope. He found meaning within the fearful existence of a concentration camp. He says in his book “Everything ...

It’s exam season. Everyone around seems tense, there seems to be so much at stake, for children and more so for parents. One feels sad and pitiful. It could be so different. I was fortunate to be raised by parents who for some reason did not pressure me ever over academics. I do not recall any instance of an altercation with either my mother or my father over studying, how many marks I got, why did I lose marks carelessly etc. In retrospect, maybe this is why for me, the process of learning has been an enjoyable one. I do not feel nervous around it or hate it; in fact I look forward to the intellectual stimulation that comes with it. Those of you who know me will also know that I didn’t do too badly at academics in school and college (Engg being a different story altogether though!) When I reflect back now, with some grey hair, and a better understanding of human behaviour, I realize that there was something that my parents did then which was quite right. They balanced respon...

BCCI booting out Harsha Bhogle summarily reeks of the mindsets of Kings and Nobles of medieval Europe and India who would have you beheaded just because they don’t like your face. And in this case, on recommendation of a Bollywood actor who prides himself on being a gentleman, apparently. There is also the suggestion that Harsha had an argument with some powerful BCCI personnel and rubbed them the wrong way. In India power gets you what you want, money makes it easier to get to power or power centers. The BCCI is run as a fiefdom of the powerful where the moneyed have to queue up to have their shot at being considered to be part of the inner circle. The common man who makes Indian cricket what it is and therefore lends all the clout to BCCI is at best playing usher to the Badshahs who control the game today and those who feed their fiefdoms in exchange for a share of the power. In this context, Harsha’s achievement has been two fold. One, entering a commentary box which has bee...

In God we trust is a very powerful line. Trust is the basis for all human interaction and while we might not think overtly about it, it is a constant companion to who we are, who we meet, who we deal with, who we keep in touch with, who we call friends, family, lover etc. An essential element of trust is the trust that you have in your own self. An ability to imagine oneself being able to live up to promises made to oneself and made to others. This trust is fundamental and determines how we trust others or if we trust others at all or not. Trust is a deep dialogue within, sometimes in feeble voices, often in angry retorts and sometimes in woe struck laments. There is a voice within that either trusts one’s own identity more often than not or doesn't trust as much. This forms an essential part of identity, who I am, how I interact with society, family and the others in my life. Trust is that voice of identity; it’s not your conscience, in the sense that trust is probably a ...

Many of us grew up hearing the story of Rama, the righteous king who lived his life through dignity, sacrifice and high sense of ideals, protecting what was right, till the end. His kingdom was perfect. We also heard stories in moral science classes about honesty, humility, sacrifice etc. These stories were meant to be imbibed, inculcated, understood and practised.  And then we met the real world, which was anything but. The conflict confused us and our parents too who seemed to have answers for everything, shrugged and asked us to be practical. Ideals are fine, but there was a life to live. The two seemed incompatible. Something died within us as we quickly adapted to the ways of the world which meant ego, greed, false pride, short cuts, jugaad…. And then a diminutive young man entered our lives in the early 90s.  It was almost like a Yuga had begun, and it truly was, as we’d realise later. An era which would tell us, Mumbai, India and the world that the pursuit of excell...

The Delhi rape is a shocker. Every rape is a shocker. Every rape is one rape too many. It’s an insult to our culture, our past, our nationhood and the defining values of our society. Yet, we cannot negate a rape because it wasn’t done by people like us or daresay it didn’t happen to us. Am sorry, that is a convenient sidestep that we the Indian middle class have perfected. We can’t afford to do so any longer or any more. I am not linking this to just the Delhi rape. I am linking this to all incidents in the recent past, that were supposed to shake the foundations of our morality, most of them did, yet we accepted and move on- EMIs to pay, promotions to earn, movies to watch. Some of us at least stood up and said “enough is enough”, held up candles, organized protests, sent texts in support, signed petitions. Well done. But not enough done. How is this inaction acting on all of us? Are we feeling guilty, many of us are! We wear the guilt strongly in words, justify lack of action...

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha writes in the Mint Lounge about the Fate of Public Libraries in India, how they are dying a slow death (Read here http://www.livemint.com/2012/07/13214936/Libraries-a-reminder-of-how-l.html ) I have been a Librarytard. Though the last time I visited any library was about 10 years ago if not earlier. The reason being, there aren’t any public libraries around where we live. The only Public Libraries that I am aware of, in Mumbai, are the British Council and the Asiatic Library. I have been a member of the former in the past; have never had a chance to explore the latter. I am now part of a book club called Librarywala, cataloged online, have borrowed two books in the last one year, never returned them. A poor substitute to not having a large public library around, has been buying books oneself. It is an expensive hobby to cultivate and when space is at a constraint it can make your room look ugly too. Ask me. I feel guilty often about buying a lot of books,...

Among many things that vie for our attention and sometimes do manage to get it is our breakfast and of course our kids. They really have to fight hard to win over the ipad or the handheld device that has kept us engrossed, across apps, tweets, FB messages and instagrams. This morning was no different, staring at the many green buttons that emerged on my FB chat window, some of who also were parts of the Gmail chat app as well. Each of those green buttons meant something, a need to connect a need to feel connected. Yet, none of them were possibly really connected to anyone. This is the biggest paradox of the times that we live in, we have more ‘friends’ than any past generation ever did, we have more means to talk, chat, scream, dialogue than any past generation, yet we are bereft of any emotional fulfillment that these should bring. For most of us, this is an addictive companion who you want to have by your side, but don’t want to engage too much with. The makers of social med...

Looked like it will be yet another Saturday of household chores, family and then catching the world cup final at home from the confines of one’s couch. A tweet offering last minute tickets was bait, a huge one. It not only meant paying a bomb but also getting out of the couch getting to Wankhede in no time, no time for mental preparations, if you know what I mean. Time was running away. In 60 minutes, I had the decision, the tickets in place and that nervous feeling which said “What am I headed to” A suburban local train ride in Mumbai always puts things in perspective. It was ‘me’ time, almost like I was preparing for the game. Bat first get to 300, if we chase we lose, will Sachin get to 100, who’ll play Malinga, what if he does a Kenya to us. I looked around and everyone in the compartment seemed on their way to work or some such, I seemed out of place, why weren’t these guys excited, nervous, chatting about the game. I had to talk to myself; there was no one around who seemed inter...

Air Force One avoided precisely four bird hits, and three misguided diwali rockets from Kurla to land on some loose sand and gravel at CSIA Mumbai. In a major security breach that could possibly embarrass all Indians and Americans alike, President Obama received a call on his BB even as he had just landed, offering to sell him Insurance, Auto Loans, Home Loans, personal loans and a car loan. Sensing it to be an Al Qaeda Trojan call, the Secret Service urged him to continue the call, while they put a quick trace on it. President Obama took the call from his secret chamber inside Air Force One even before he stepped out to wave and greet India. A brief transcript of the conversation is available exclusively with this newspaper and exclusively with 200 other newspapers too Telecaller (TC): Good morning, kya mein Barack Obama ji se baat kar sakti hoon? BO: WTF!!! Telecaller (TC): My apologies sir. Can I speak to Mr. Barack Obama? BO: Yes this is Barack Telecaller: Sir this is Sally calli...

In a strange turn of things, the President of the US, Barack Obama landed at an undisclosed location one day before schedule on Diwali Day and met with a host of undisclosed Indians in a show of solidarity. 1. Bal T: While Obama insisted on using a translator into Marathi, this meeting was short-lived because most expletives uttered by Bal T were beyond the comprehension of the interlocutor. It is reported that Bal T provided a one sentence suggestion to Barack O to get rid of the Taliban “Burn their taxis and beat them up and they will go back to where they came from” 2. Rakhi Sawant: In a special episode of Rakhi ka Insaaf called Raakhi ka Insaaf v/s Guantanamo Bay Rakhi taught the President and the CIA how to use verbal torture and killer looks to neutralize opponents. It is said that the President himself seemed absolutely awestruck by Ms Sawant’s candidness in laying it bare in more ways than one 3. Big Boss: In what could be called TV History, President Obama met the Big Boss in ...

The IPL is the biggest private party that anyone’s ever had in India. While we can debate who the host is, who’s serving drinks, who’s invited and gate crashing, the party is here to stay. It is a metaphor for the raunchiness that pervades a society’s mind that is coming to grips with its identity caught in the time warp between hallowed ideala and a materialistic identity. It’s about the collective subjecting itself to a sin, knowing in its conscience that this is wrong The layering makes the case very interesting. The nomenclature of the teams has an aggressive tone to it; battle cries adorn all their team songs. Every team has a either a glamorous owner or a ravishing ambassador, the late night parties being the story of legendary exploits of players off the field. There are skimpily clad cheerleaders, being treated as feminine objects, meant to prance about in a gladiatorial setting. Every inch of space, on the ground, in the mind has been sold, franchised commercialized labeled. R...

The ideology space in society is constantly shifting and changing. As we go global and create the Indian way of doing global things, the debate on what we are all about is hitting us, sometimes in a rather shallow manner. The idea that one can have multiple identities yet be an Indian, seems to put uncomfortable question marks on some faces, the numbers of these only increasing. Not to say that PLU (People like Us) have got it all right. Our ideology stems from conveniently shaping a world around us as we deem fit. So this might mean displacing farmers, getting rid of slums, marginalizing the poor and sanitizing the city. This might also mean thrusting upon society a model of progress that is marked by greater material gain, a wider global footprint and a more liberal outlook, as we see it. Our acceptance of alternate spaces, lifestyles, points of view is limited, and is paid lip service to in debate forums. Real data if measured might reveal that our understanding, empathy and drive t...

Three idiots was entertaining and thought provoking. It seemed easy to stand at the sidelines and label those who follow curriculum as boring. Conversely, it seemed fascinating that one day everyone would find their calling if they followed their hearts, and become inventors, artists, thinkers and geniuses. The world would become a great place to live in with everyone doing what they’re essentially good at. The problem with this chimera seems to be, how can one reliably know that this is it. How do we figure out that this is what we are made for and there isn’t anything better to do out there? The simple answer is one probably can't and this has its own perils. Look no further than Mumbai where a spate of suicides has taken place in the recent past by children who’ve been rejected by a system that suddenly seems to be thrusting children into all kinds of talent exploration. Some children have given up at not having won a talent contest or not having been selected for another. One c...

Mumbai has just released its ‘fines’ data. Most fines have been levied on people peeing on roads (65%) followed by those spitting. The fines have been levied by special beat marshals who’ve been recruited to reprimand and levy fines from citizens for various reasons. There are 120 odd marshals which essentially means one marshal for 1.5 lakh citizens! The equivalent cop ratio is one cop every 50000 citizens. These beat marshals have been assigned wards within which they’re supposed to operate. I head out every day to work but haven’t seen these Marshals ever, not surprising given the ratio above. If we try and analyse how the average Marshal might work, the truth is simple. There are certainly more number of people peeing than chewing paan and spitting. Everybody needs to pee but not everyone needs to chew paan and spit. If we did then we might have bigger industry players in the paan business than just the nukkad panwala. The fines for spitting and peeing are the same. Anyone who’s li...

Am glad the old sardar finally spoke on the Tharoor controversy. Never one to be forceful but saying “it’s a joke” sent enough of a message I guess to the holy cows. But then the damage has been done. The elephant’s in the room isn’t it? Tharoor wears his personality on his ministry, totting a blackberry, frequently a mundu (traditional Malayali dhoti) and twitting through the day. Followers of his posts will vouch that while the secrets of Sharm Al sheikh haven’t been shared yet but there’s been enough to feed to curiosity of an eager intelligent polity. No wonder he has more followers now than Priyanka Chopra. Tharoor is seen as the firang in the current cabinet, suitably under the ‘Foreign minister’ label. In a party where innumerable chants of Gandhi and immeasurable measures of sycophancy might land you at best a front row seat in a rally, Tharoor is clearly an outsider. He is considered an upstart who managed to get to the corridors of power because someone sensible pushed his ...

One of my favorite brands is passing through tough times. Jet Airways, is yet to sort out the pilot mess that it has walked into. From a service perspective, pilots have always been a given in the scheme of things. Except a comment or two on the quality of landing they make, and the announcement that is made at the beginning of the flight which mentions who’s at the helm , the pilot is considered to be on auto pilot, a given. He is a bit like those faceless auto and taxiwallahs who ferry lakhs of passengers to from their destinations in Mumbai. The airline experience is defined entirely by his other colleagues, who check you in, board you, serve you and take care of you in the aluminum cabin. It’s also defined by employees who man the call centers, the ticketing offices and other touchpoints. It’s on these counts that Jet Airways has been delightful. Having flown the airline for the last 8 years fairly frequently, I can bet my last dollar on its service being on time, crisp, no nonse...

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