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Book Review - The Doer

 


Title - The Doer
Author - Rekha Nair
Genre - Spirituality
Publisher - Olympia Publishers
ISBN - 978-1804394953

The book begins with a powerful note - "Everything we do is Spiritual". I couldn't agree more since most of us believe in GOD who is called by different names under different religions. We also believe that there is "Unseen Power" above us which decides our fate and Karma.

The book is divided into 12 chapters namely:

1. Have we forgotten? 

2. What have we forgotten? 

3. What is Love? 

4. What is the nature of the soul? 

5. God is? 

6. Why is freedom important? 

7. What is the relevance of cyclic events and things that exist in pairs? 

8. What is the toughest thing to overcome? 9. What is a choice, and does it exist? 

10. What does connecting mean? 

11. What do you value the most? 

12. You rather experience and know or do you want to know and then experience. Also, why?


Each of these has a powerful message to convey. Author focuses majorly on EGO which she explains beautifully "Act of cosmic energy that determines input and output and NOT the EGO".

Letting go of ego can bring lot of good results. How true are these lines.


Author amphasises on Path laid down by the cosmic force and we all travel in that.

What do you give and what do you get in return?


When there was a mention about handwritten letters, it was a Rewind of the past. “So, anytime a person walks into your life, understand the purpose they are here for”.

A purpose is a purpose. When I read statements like these, I felt I was reading a book which is not only spiritual but also a guide that reiterates aspects that were laid/preached by our ancestors.

Suffering is an indicator that someone’s life is going to change”. - This is a motivating factor and should be used in the right sense as it is intended to be.

Love and freedom are complimentary. If you love, you are free. If you are free, you love” - a statement one needs to be retrospect 

There is an interconnection between each chapter which you will realise when you read this book. These are universal concepts that will apply to one and all irrespective of race, religion, culture and place. 

What is ego?

Often ego is looked upon as the bad guy. If used and tamed properly, ego can be the biggest instrument to show you the depth of who you truly are. Realization is a relative process”. How true this statement is :)

Don’t seek validation which is also a form of divide. Use this at your workplace to see how it transforms your otherwise unpleasure work in a pleasure.

Right and Wrong - both are needed to progress in this strange process called Life. Agree?

Purpose was a thoughtful chapter. 

How life played across various stages of the author and how it shaped her up of what she is today. Though this book is a quick read, the message it conveys and the crux it has will travel with you for life.



This book is available on Amazon

Revamped menu at MKC at The Westin




Madras Kitchen Company at Westin, Chennai has revamped its menu. Right from the interiors to menu card to dishes, everything wears a new look.


I had been there today with my family and had a good time with regards to food. Staffs were courteous, as always. Ambiance was perfect with LIVE Music.


Newspaper themed Blinds and Menu Card


Variety of options for Veg & Non-Veg


In-House Bar


Must try dishes:


Starters:

Millet Salad

Paanagam


Veg

Jackfruit Cornetto

Skewers of Thai Red Curry flavoured Baby Corn ๐ŸŒฝ 

Dakshin Combo - Podi Idli, Sambar Vada served in tiff in box with coconut chutney and ghee


Non-Veg

Crab Cornetto

Malaysian Sambal Chicken Wings

Manathakkali mutton Varuval, Coin Parotta & Appalapoo

Sindha Mani Kari Kattu Soru, Chinna Vengaya Pachadi, More Milagai & Vadam

Kari Satti Soru, Mutta Thokku, Mutton Varuval & Era Perattal 


Drinks:

Cold Pressed Juicery - Orange 

Inji Malli Martini (alcohol)

Annaci, Pineapple (alcohol)


Desserts:

Gulkhand Kunafe with Vanilla Ice Cream

Coorg Coffee Tiramisu, Baileys Macerated Savoriodi & Berries


What more do we need? #TheWestinChennai #Velachery #MKC #RevampedMenu

 

National Creators Award - an event to remember

 

Where should I begin?


It still looks like a dream for me that I was there. Yes. I'm speaking about the #NationalCreatorsAward which is the first of its kind in the world. This is an initiative by @mygovin which is doing lot of innovative things in various fields.


I had applied and completely forgotten about it. Few days ago, I received a call from the landline wherein the caller says he is calling from the office of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, MEITY & Communications checking for my availability of the program which was due on Friday & I needed to be present on Thursday in New Delhi. I immediately agreed. That same day, I received an official communication from IRCTC asking for my details. I had filled it up. Applied for off in my office and on Wednesday, I received ex my flight ticket details. Flight was on Thu noon from Chennai Domestic Airport.


I reached airport well before the designated time and met my friend who is an IB officer there. After having a hot cup of coffee, I proceeded for check-in and boarding. I landed in Delhi around 5:30PM and at the exit entrance, I was welcomed by the IRCTC team who was co-ordination with others and arranging accommodation. I was given an accommodation at The Alpino Hotel which was bang on the main road - Mahipalpur which is just 2.5kms from the airport. Room was super good. In the mean time, I met few creators CA Shubham Maloo, Sandeep of Telugu Travel Vlogger, Mitesh Patel of MeetPoser, Cooknjoy among others.


Tasty dinner was arranged in the hotel. After venturing out for an hour with CA Shubham, I returned to my room and retired to bed since we were told breakfast will be served next day early morning. I was given a call at 4AM mentioning breakfast will be served at 5AM and bus will arrive by 6AM. After having tasty breakfast at 5, we boarded the bus which took us to Bharat Mandapam inside Pragati Maidan. In the bus, I also met Neha and Ishita Sharma.


We followed the protocol as advised since the event will see the presence of PM himself. After collecting the pass at the entrance which took some time, I proceeded to the Plenary Hall. Since I was one of the first to enter, I sat just behind VVIP/HODs row. 


PM entered the hall at around 10:15PM and one could feel his aura and the electrifying presence. He was given a roaring welcome. After settling, PM distributed award to the winners including beerbiceps, aiyyoshraddha, technicalguruji , curlytales and others. His presence of mind was amazing as he kept us captivated until he was there for little over an hour.


We were dropped back at hotel post the event and I had to rush up since my return flight was booked at 5:15. In the flight, I had also met couple of educators - An HOD from Dept of Geography and The Principal of an arts & science college. I landed in the airport at 8PM. 


Felt truly blessed and my heartfelt thanks to the GOI, IRCTC and all the officials who made this event a memorable one for few hundreds of creators. 

Book Review - The Ideal Entrepreneur : An Idiot's Guide to Building a 300 Crore Company!

 


Title - The Ideal Entrepreneur : An Idiot's Guide to Building a 300 Crore Company!
Author - Rahul Agarwal
Genre - Autobiogaphy
Publisher - Future
ISBN - 978-9351201311


A truly inspiring autobiography whch would ignite the aprk in the minds of the entrepreneurs in the making. Rahul Agarwal had seen the ups and downs before he went on to establish himself as a force to reckon with in the insurance industry.

To start with, what I liked the most is this mention "Story more relatable, more believable and more doable". You could find out where this was used and in what context once you read the book.

The book emphasize on 

1. Team Building
2. Fund Raising
3. Focus
4. Networking 
5. Standrad Operating Procedures aka SOP and
6. Brand Building

There is no surprise that Rahul himself was the Founder of Kokata Chapter of BNI since he believes in Networking and is the pioneer in hosting the launch party in the Insurance sector which saw the presence of many industry stalwarts.

There is a saying/belief that business runs in the blood of Marwaris. Rahul is no exception to this.

Autor has mentioned his family members which includes his parents, wife, kid, siblings, uncle and cousin who stood thick and thin right from the start. 

As an Insurance agent myself(back in 90's), I should appreciate the fact that Rahul has made it to the prestigious MDRT just at the age of 20 in the Country for Max New York Life Insurance. It is not a mean fact to achieve this. His age wasn't a deterent to achieve this which got him the opportunity to be introduced by the then CEO himself among the 3,000+ MDRT's from across the globe. The fact is, there were only 25 of them from India and from Kolkata, he was one among three members who got qualified for this event.

How he achieved this is another interesting story which you can find out by reading the book.

Despite an intelligent student he is with a score of 99.23% in CAT, he could not get the placement in the IIM's he desired but still got offers from 2 IIMs and SPJIMR and he decided to join the later.

How the life in the Corporate works was portrayed vividly by the author where in the presentation he did for a top brass in Wipro did not give any mention nor credits to his name. This was a turning point in his life that made him to decide to venture into the business.

He has also done MFAB - Management of Family Business in Indian School of Business(ISB).

His golden tip to those who wanted to start a business is to float the company as a Private Limited Company.

Author emphasise on a good name and logo for the brand and details the process of how the name Ideal was arrived at and the date of registration - 13.1.2005.

He also goes ahead in saying not to trust anyone blindly and needs to have a back up. An agreement in writing and not oral is desired to avoid any consequences in the future.

There are few prominent names which has found the mention in this brilliant book which includes but not limited to:

a. Amit Agarwal
b. Saroj Sripathi
c. Goutam Dey
d. Ravi Kothari
e. Rahul Mohata
f. Arvind Kajaria( Founder of 123greetings.com)

He also mentions why PR is important for any firm.

There is a full dedicated chapter for BNI (BNI members would love it for sure).

What makes a company successful? This is where ESOPs comes into picture.

There are references of Allan Mullaly of Ford, Narayanamurthy of Infosys. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book since the content was compelling and motivating and would surely recommend this for those who want to venture into business.

I wish Rahul and his team a very best on their vision of achieveing Rs.1,000 crore business by 2025.


This book is available on Amazon


Book Review - JUUHHHUUUU

 



Title - Juuhhhuuuu

Author -Manoj Kumar Sharma

Genre - Fiction

Publisher - Notion Press

ISBN - 979-8888156131

This is a collection of 3 short stories. I loved the creativity and the approach of the author. If you have read his previous book MIRRRO, you would have realized that his writing is unique and captivating. The same has happened here. The previous book was a novel but this one isn't.

Each of the three stories was intriguing. The first story is all about an accident and how it connects all the characters in the story, the second one is tenser as it involves characters from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan but happening in India. The third one was a unique love story that is not only terrifying but had a pleasant ending.

I do not recommend books usually but this one certainly needs to find its place in your shelves, if you love reading stories and stories with a difference.


This book is available on Amazon

6  Best  Winter  Destinations to Visit  With Your Friends

6 Best Winter Destinations to Visit With Your Friends

Thick alpine forests are blanketed, with fresh powdered snow, the high-altitude lakes and waterfalls freeze down, the lush green landscapes turn white, and the surroundings feel like a wonderland. Himachal Pradesh is undoubtedly one of the top snow destinations for a splendid winter vacation.

Explore the outdoorsy Rohtang Pass with the Himachal Tour Packages as its favourite among those who want to marvel at its magnificent natural splendour. Rohtang Pass is only accessible by vehicle and is nearly 51 km from Manali. Mountain riding is an exhilarating sport that one can indulge in here. Ride your mountain bikes off the beaten path onto the less travelled trails.

The picturesque Sangla, also known as the Baspa Valley, is situated in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Lush forests of pine trees encircle it, majestic Himalayan mountains, vibrant orchards of apples and apricots, and exquisitely constructed low-lying houses are its prime attractions.

Kufri is a hill town where one gets to immerse in the splendour of nature and can be explored with your journey to Shimla. It is a trekker’s paradise and a centre for sports like skiing and bogging. This popular winter destination is one of the best places to experience snowfall.

Conclusion: Himachal Pradesh, when touched by the winters takes on a whole new identity. Snow adds an extra shine and beauty to the forests and mountains in the region, making the visit worthwhile.

Spiti

Spiti Valley ( also known as Middle Land), in Himachal Pradesh, is one of the least densely populated areas of the region and is best explored with the Spiti Tour Packages. It is abode to some of the highest altitude attractions and landmarks, featuring on every traveller’s bucket list. Spiti Valley is a barren land with rugged terrain, during summertime it is an absolute favourite to visit the Valley of Adventures. But the same valley turns into a white beauty, as the land gets covered under thick sheets of snow, making Spiti in winter an absolute delight. Besides the snow-capped mountains, Spiti Valley in winter allows you to witness the beauty of the frozen rivers and frozen waterfalls. In winter Spiti Valley offers different charm and beauty, with a wide range of winter sports activities for adventure enthusiasts. Some of the most popular activities that one can participate in include Skiing. As the valley has myriad ski resorts, and ski schools, where you can rent equipment and take skiing lessons. The slopes are ideal for beginners and experienced skiers alike. Snowboarding and Ice skating are exciting activities that excite adrenaline. The valley abodes some of the most ancient monasteries in India, which are an integral part of the region’s cultural heritage. They become more enchanting, with snow-covered landscapes adding to their beauty. As interesting as it sounds, spotting a snow leopard in the Spiti Valley is a matchless experience that will leave a lasting impression.

Manali

For anyone who yearns to witness snowfall, Manali in winter is a perfect time to plan a trip. The winter months make Manali magnanimously beautiful and let you enjoy snow sports and dance in the snow showers. The entire Manali looks no less than a wonderland after getting decked with a thick snow blanket. Whether you are up for a family vacation, a honeymoon, or a solo sojourn, your trip is going to be a magical one. Right from exploring the temples to indulging in hiking to shopping, there are so many places that will leave you wonderstruck by their beauty on your visit to Manali. If you are in Manali in winter, then you can not miss out on Solang Pass. The whole place receives snow showers which makes it look even more beautiful. Being a hub of adventure activities, it offers opportunities for the daredevils to endeavour skiing, snowboarding, sledging, and tobogganing. Gulaba is a quaint hamlet and an off-beat location on the snow-covered route from Manali to Rohtang Pass. It is for its snowy landscape and the snow points during winter, and also for various adventure sports like snow scooters,  trekking and hiking. Beas Kund trek takes one to the source of the majestic Beas River. The trekking path is covered in snow, and the sight of the frozen lake at the end is rewarding and worth the effort.

Parashar Lake

Parashar Lake is, located in the beautiful Himalayas range of Himachal Pradesh about 50 km North of Mandi. During the snow season, the lake freezes and looks like a living painting. The deep blue and enchanting lake lies in a saucer-shaped valley at an astounding height of 8,960 ft and is surrounded by thick forests and snow-capped peaks. The temple located near the lake is in reverence of Parashar Rishi, which makes it more religiously important. Winter is a good time to visit if you enjoy the snow. Tourists come here to enjoy sports like ice skating on the frozen lake, building a snowman, and snowball fights. A very interesting fact about this lake is that there is a floating island in it, and its actual depth is unclear.

Barot

Barot is a hill town nestled on the bank of the Uhl River and is encompassed by the Dhauladhar ranges. It is among the top coldest places in Himachal Pradesh. Every inch of the town gets covered with snow in winter and intensifies its charm. The high-altitude town enjoys heavy showers making this place a paradise for nature lovers as well as adventure enthusiasts. It also draws groups of families and couples with plenty of great options such as fishing, camping, and trekking through the valley. Uhl River is the only naturally occurring body of water, which rises from the Thamsar Glacier in the Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas. It is one of the best places to engage in outdoor activities like camping and fishing. Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the other side of the Uhl River and is a habitat of various animal species like the Himalayan Monal, Black Bear, and Ghoral.

Narkanda

Narkanda is a tiny town 63 km from Shimla and is surrounded by tropical forests, majestic hills, and woodlands. This hill station connects Shimla to the valleys of Kinnaur and Spiti and receives snowfall in abundance during winter making it popular for skiing. Located at a height of nine thousand feet, the town lures tourists for its natural beauty and its beautiful apple orchards. It is a popular trekking spot known for its Hatu Peak Trek. Hatu Peak is the highest peak in the entire Shimla district located 8 km from Narkanda. It is surrounded by majestic mountains and covered in a dense blanket of green,sky-touching cedar and fir. The forest comprises a varied population of deodar, fir, and spruce, but mostly its colourful apple orchards. Narkanda situated at an altitude of 2708 m on the Hindustan Tibet Road gives a beautiful view of snow ranges. It is famed for Skiing and Winter sports and is among the oldest ski destinations with scenic views of nature. The slopes perched at an altitude of 8100ft, of the hill town are perfect for the skills of beginners as well as experienced skiers.

Shimla

Shimla is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts and looks mesmerizing during the winter season and offers a myriad variety of thrilling activities for tourists to indulge in. The natural beauty of this capital hill station is elevated more in the cold season, making it a favourite among honeymooners. Moreover, one gets a pollution-free environment where you can breathe fresh air. Shimla welcomes you to indulge in recreational activities by becoming part of the Winter Carnival. It organizes snow-playing games like ice-skating, skiing snowball throwing, and making snowman figures. Mashobra located amidst the Reserve Forest Sanctuary of Shimla is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in winter. It turns into a haven for everyone looking for solace and captivating views. Mashorba is famous for skiing, rappelling, and trekking. In winter months the Ridge Road gets covered with snow, making it awe-inspiring. The shops here sell mufflers, caps, mittens, and wooden items that are worth it. Ice  Skating at Circular Road is one of the best activities to enjoy as it has a sizeable open-air skating rink and is maintained by the Ice-Skating Club.

Conclusion: Winters are alluring and the very best season to travel to Himachal Pradesh and experience captivating scenes of valleys, snow-topped mountains, frozen lakes, and delightful winter sports activities. So, if you want to walk amidst snow, and experience snow showers, it is the right time to book your tickets.

 

Book Review - Leadership Chronicles: My Experiments With Globalizing Indian Thought


Title - Leadership Chronicles: My Experiments With Globalizing Indian Thought
Author - Debashis Chatterjee
Genre - Education, Analysis & Strategy
Publisher - Penguin Books
ISBN - 978-0670098651

This is certainly a book that anyone who wishes to make a difference in any sector, especially in education should read. More than anything else, the book has captured in great detail how IIM-Kozhikode has been steered to the path of prosperity and growth by Prof Debashis Chatterjee.

The author describes how he got admitted to St.Xaviers and how the spelling of CIRCUS played a vital role in one of the institutions. His meeting with Tenzing and getting an autograph is another memorable one. Though one may not use the Indian Rupee Note for any purpose other than tender, I too had the same thought when I was a kid, considered taking the autograph from a celebrity but then remembered and decided otherwise.

Prof clearly gives a description of what a Leader should be - to be both aspiring and desperate.

The half-boiled egg story that has found its mention is an eye-opener.

The connection between Management and Music is something unexpected but yes, no one can deny, it after going through this book.

It was really a great accomplishment to improve the corpus of the institution - IIM Kozhikode - from INR66.47 crores to a little over INR700 Crores which shows his ability, dedication, and skills. The accreditation of AMBA's to IMI, Tie-up with ICSI, and Proposed ITS(Indian Teaching Service) similar to that of IAS definitely needs applause.

The soft power of Education:
Drew Faust
Susan Hockfield &
Renu Khator

The accomplishments of the author is way too many to be documented in words. The change this has brought is beyond comprehension. IIMK has excelled in various programs which stands as a testimony to the Director’s dedication coupled with the collective work of all. EQUUS accreditation is a jewel in the crown. On mark to a third triple crown. 

It was heartening to see that one of the prominent writers of India, Shri Amish Tripathi was his student.

Arriving at Kunnamangalam in 2009 from Singapore in his early 40s, interviewed by Metroman E Sreedharan - Chairperson of the Selection Board

4 important qualities of a Leader:

Authenticity 

Productivity 

Connectivity &

Possibility 

Do not miss to read “The Voice of Hope”, a thought-provoking poem by the author on Page no.109

As against the national average of 26% of women in IIMs, IIMK had 54%. The faculty ratio improved from less than 5% in 2009 to 10 to 11% during his first term, to 26% in 2023. Programs specifically designed for women entrepreneurs, managers & leaders. 

The LIVE center, CESI is another accomplishment.


All I can say about this book is, that "Accomplishments of a great personality spread over few decades is given in a nutshell. Prof has put in a lot of hard work which cannot be described or captured in words. The one who accomplished it is sitting there silently without boasting but leaving his actions to speak"



This book is available on Amazon