Manage Talent/ Career or Handle Home Politics?

Years ago, I happened to read the former Editor of Femina, Ms.Vimla Patil's famous quips- As a career woman she was any time a success handling office problems. But when it came to home politics, she was a total failure.

Today after many years, I couldn't agree with her better.The words comes to my mind, morning & evening. I am not ashamed to say that when it comes to home politics, I am a total failure in every way.

In fact, all my life I have been a victim of taunts & nasty remarks. And  instead of  replying back aptly, I have ended up tongue-tied for lack of words- much to the consternation of my husband and children. First of all, handling 3 languages- English, Hindi & Marathi at the same time is difficult any time. But my son is forever unforgiving. Often, he likens me to Karna of Mahabharat who forgot his knowledge just when he needed it most. Of course, Karna was a great man. And that has made me feel miserable all the more.

But recently I discovered that women who succeed in giving back, do nothing but spend their precious time preparing themselves for war of words. And, that's sure a waste of time.

Imagine, a fortnight ago I learned that a distant relative of mine was actually a Sangeet Visharad (Degree/ Diploma Holder in Hindustani Music) who sacrificed her talent in a bid to counter malicious remarks. Gosh, what a huge price to pay for a bunch of silly women!

No, I would never do it. Not for any price in the world. I mean, does it really matter if a few frustrated & disgruntled women enjoy some good moments at my cost? For all their victory, they are barely even noticed by the world!

Really, I think I should remember this, the next time I become a target of ridicule. I'll just have to take it sportingly & get on with my work.

PISA, India & Me!

Ever since, PISA (Program for International Students Assessment) hit the headlines, a lot has been discussed and said. As a Visiting Faculty for almost 12 years, I have something to say too.

First of all, I am really not surprised at the dismal performance of the students. There are several factors responsible.Government's decision of not failing anyone up to class 10th is one of them.Teachers going on election duty, no proper guidance at home, lack of discipline in general are other accompanying factors. And over that, we Indians are still living in our glorious cultural past that stops us from thinking that all is not well right now.

The computers have contributed to it further. Sitting in the library and making notes is now a thing of  the past. There were 2-3 students in MBA class last semester who because of  shaky hand could barely write a word-be it Hindi or English.

In fact, I must say that a new language has emerged in our country. It's writing ... I mean, typing Hindi expressions in English- phonetic writing to be precise. All thanks to cell phones and computers. Naturally the students neither know Hindi or English. 

I have had enough of teaching.I am back working in the Ad agency. Basically because you can't teach reluctant students.The truth is - It's only when we touch rock bottom that we understand why we have to climb up.

So, next 50 years, I don't see India anywhere. Things may improve after that. Just that my generation will not be there to see the great change!

I conquered my fears and insecurities.

Coming bag and baggage to Indore in 1996 was quite a challenge!

Much to my chagrin, there were 2 kinds of women in Indore. One, who did not know driving and also did not work. And the other, who worked and also knew driving. At 38-39, I was neither a hard core professional nor someone who knew driving. The only redeeming feature being that I had cycled a lot as a lilliputian. My husband, (a man of few words as compared to me) had probably anticipated this. He made me practice driving his Kinetic Honda before we left Mumbai for good. He would scold and I would protest. That's how it was. And then after landing in Indore one fine morning on August 14 to be precise, my husband took me to a showroom and bought me a Sunny. But, that was not all. He then told me to drive it back home alone, as he was getting late for work. The showroom was roughly 5-6 km from home. Fortunately, I was on the other side of the traffic. It was a very important moment of my life. Had I wanted, I could have stopped my husband from going. But then, I would have never learnt driving. On an impulse, I accepted the great challenge. With prayer on my lips, I rode all the way home.I remember filling petrol too. YES! I learnt driving that day. I proudly showed the keys of my 'Sunny' to the kids when they returned from school that day. They were so mighty impressed. It's really sad that in the year 2000, my Sunny got stolen and I perforce purchased a scooty. The memories of my copper sulphate MP09-621 however remain till today.

I soon joined an ad agency as a senior copywriter. A bigger shock awaited me there. The people of M.P., particularly Indore, spoke chaste Hindi. For instance, while I preferred saying"Yeh zara mushkil hai", I found the localites saying"Thodi asuvidha ho rahi Hai". But that's not all. Here we had a lot of press releases to write which I had never written in Mumbai. Thus, the very second day, I was told to write a press release for Maheshwar Dam. For those who don't know, there is a fundamental difference between writing an ad and writing a press release. One is a hard core marketing where we use words of the target audience to sell a product, service or idea. The other is mere reporting of facts in the plainest of plain words. My shortcoming was well- noticed by the Directors and the 'so called rivals' at work who lost no opportunity in using it against me. Naturally, I payed heavily for this drawback. But, there was something that stopped me from calling it quits. Soon I found myself reading Hindi newspapers ardently and learning the jargon so commonly used in press releases. It was certainly a matter of great delight when I found my press releases appearing without a single change.

The reason for writing all this is that today a 'difficult piece of work' is especially saved for me in the agency.I too enjoy doing it. Thus from "being a no good, I am being looked upon as a Press Release expert!" I have come a long way indeed. Nothing succeeds like hardwork, I guess! And that's the bottom line.