Gandhigiri works!

GANDHIGIRI EXPERIENCE

Of course, Gandhism or Gandhigiri as it is now better known works even if it does not have anything to do with values!! (Thanks to Munnabhai)

My experience with Gandhigiri relates to chaotic traffic and driving on Bangalore roads especially on the IT Corridor. I used to travel from my home near Brooke Fields to office in Nrupathunga road. Driving on Airport-Whitefield Road means you are in the stream of white Indicas/Sumos/Qualis cars ferrying call center guys in a tearing hurry. Most drivers have absolutely no idea of lane discipline.

Now, suppose you are moving in the left stream of traffic and chugging at 10 kmph and find a parked car obstructing you then have to somehow get into the next right lane to move ahead and for this thrusting out your hand or signaling by indicator will definitely invite aggressive looks & honking from the driver behind.

The Gandhigiri trick, for taking a U Turn, I have now learnt from some clever cab drivers is to put on the indicator and at the same time stick out your hand but all the fingers have to be joined together facing the sky like how you would originate flying kiss from your lips! This is similar to the action some pedestrian would indicate to you that your mobike lights or on during daytime. Now open and close your fingers. This signifies to the guy behind "Hey, please man please" in an imploring way and if need be reinforce the action with a quick reverse peek meek smile and note that guy would definitely allow you to enter the lane in front of him!!

The Gandhigiri trick also works when you have to take a U turn at a median gap but the opposite stream is continuously streaming past not giving you a chance. Seeing you waiting will also trigger a slow driver behind in the stream to accelerate just to get the pleasure of not allowing you!! What you have to do is to keep inching forward and when you notice a slightly bigger gap just nudge forward sticking out your hand over the hood all the while with your fingers performing a double action of opening and closing. And when you finally make it just allow the guy to overtake you and flash a smile. In all probability he will smile back!!

The Gandhigiri trick is to convey somehow to the other guy that you are subjugated and the other car is more important!! Try it out man, it works!!

Thomas Cook Experience!

We left Bangalore on 4th Oct 2010 on a trip of Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore. The tour besides Pattaya, Genting, Batu Caves, KL Towers, Petronas Towers, Golden Buddha Temple,Reclining Buddha Temple also had a two day cruise on Star Virgo the luxury liner in Singapore. The entire trip was well conducted and we thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. In Pattaya we stayed at Hotel Nova Platinum. While shifting from there to Bangkok airport, we left behind a wallet containing Indian Rupees/International Credit Card & a few dollars. On reaching Kuala Lumpur, we noticed the loss and informed our Tour Manager of Thomas Cook, Mr Sean D'Souza.

I would like to share with all of you that he took great efforts to trace the wallet. He made sure that his contact at Thailand traced the wallet and ensured that it reached us safely in Bangalore with the contents intact! We have decided that whenever we go abroad our tour operator will only be Thomas Cook India (P) Ltd. 3 cheers to Mr Sean D'Souza of Thomas Cook! (in yellow shirt cutting birthday cake at The Hilton, KL)

Quit smoking cigarettes...

Quit smoking the easy way! From Passing Show, Panama, Cool, Berkeley, Number Ten, Wills King (all the varieties) Navy Cut, Camel, 555, Charminar without "filter",Charms, Scissors, Gold Flake cigarettes to beedies from Ganesh bidi, Sadhu beedies, & Cigars from Havana, I had smoked not forgetting the pipes i constantly experimented for variety! Oh yes, I used to roll my own cigarettes from a pouch for making a style statement!! When the tobacco pouch was not available at Spencers, I used to scout the whole of Bangalore on my Bullet! And over the years, I started including cartons of cigarettes in our monthly grocery list! My wife was scandalised . In the Bank where I worked ....I was a source for cigarettes and match boxes...later designer lighters!! And friends of mine who went abroad brought loads of cartons as gifts!It even went to the extent, that I would judge a guy by the brand he smoked!! How ridiculous!!!! I really spent a big fortune on cigarettes, cumulatively...Yes...you could'nt find a more refined and polished smoker than me...smoking more than 40 cigarettes a day and relishing it too!

There comes a time when the shirt you wear, however clean and white, stinks...and over time the whole house stinks of cigarettes!

You are aware of the negative effects of nicotine an addictive chemical which takes over our senses & plays havoc on our continued craving for cigarettes. Yes, cigarettes were such a relief for me. One for the morning loo, one after coffee, one after breakfast, one after this that and another & if you are the one who boozes in the evening you know better than me.

The inhalation of smoke as it descends into our lungs and the feel good factor it brings are the greatest inventions for soothing the frayed nerves and whatever "problems" we encounter.Even now, 18 years after quitting smoking...i can relive the days of euphoria while inhaling the smoke...but friends...the life after quitting is something u have to experience. Its like a new flyover opened up from your mouth to the larynx down to your lungs...and earlier it was clogged with the jams of the traffic caused by tar build up. Experience the new "breathe easy" highway!!

We have all been conditioned to believe that it is really really very difficult to stop smoking. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM. Believe me, if you honestly believe that you can quit, you can quit! Please believe me even though I sound like a pompous self help Guru - YOU CAN QUIT -if only you ============================================================= the mantra which got me to stop smoking. Now in 2011, 18 years later after I quit in October 1993 smoking millions of cigarettes for over 27 years, I really feel nice & happy that I have to climb the stairs if the lift in our apartment is not working !! :) . Earlier with my heavy smoking habit, i was short of breath for everything...climbing stairs / light physical work / etc etc.....:)

Its quite easy to quit smoking, but I did not know that it was easy, because I had been conditioned to believe that it was very very difficult!!!!

I will share with you the nitty gritty nuances which will help you get over the habit. Frankly, I can take only 5 or 6 smokers at a time for full fledged counselling...for a period of 7 days. As of today...6th July 2011 there are 24 mails from pals/smokers/in inbox who have a desire to quit smoking. I will surely respond to each and everyone. Hundreds of my smoker pals all over the world have quit following my free simple method. I guarantee 100 percent that you can also quit smoking!! Just mail me with the subject line "quit smoking" to ajitlakshmiratan@gmail.com

The U.S-India Partnership: It Matters

The US - India Partnership: It Matters
It matters most because a happening country is partnering with a Country, which is suddenly taking giant strides in contrast to the slow cautious treads they were making all the while! While innuendos replete with diabolical and sinister moves thwart the coming together of technology and sharing of information for betterment of lives in this Universe-it is indeed a challenge to take up the matter and transgress the unique threshold shown to both Countries like a beacon of hope. And the bridging between the clashing of ideologies will come to an impasse when realization dawns that the ultimate aim is progression of progressing Countries thereby cementing a relationship devoid of any perceived hidden agendas.

Despite the global financial crisis, which began in 2007, impacting most emerging market economies, 7.1 per cent rate of GDP growth in the current year, makes India the second fastest growing economy in the world. There is undoubtedly no dispute that in the trajectory of modern economic history, each phase of global growth has been driven by a small set of countries…and India fits the bill of donning the colors of an ensemble resplendent with all hues. At this rate India is expected to pick up the mantle of global growth poles by its horns and demonstrate that these emerging growth poles will generate self-sustaining, internally-driven growth.

The GDP of US - the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 5.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the"third"estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

India is also forging ahead and has emerged unscathed by the meltdown thereby indicating its strong financial position.A cross section of Indians not only spearhead big organisations in the US but also work for the Government. Similarly in India too many Americans are on the board of many organisations as advisors and key planners. Yes indeed, US- India partnership matters!