On Communication skills...

It’s no surprise when many people talk of communication skills, especially when you are in college or in the Job. The placement cell of many college would be eager to indulge in training for its students. English, being the virtual universal language, demands such respect. To learn proper English has become a basic requirement today. Not only because it’s the flood gate of getting a good job and a better life, but to open up to the deluge of ideas and thoughts. However, I am certain that it’s NOT the only condition for the same.

Understanding the essence of communication.

I do understand, there are many pressure to learn English, and for many vernacular background student, English has been a nightmare. Sometimes, it’s because of the outward pressure, and sometimes it’s a fear created by the predecessors. People can learn Sanskrit, and even talk in Sanskrit, but when it comes to English, they just falter. It’s NOT because they can’t or incapability of their language skills but the inherent fear – it’s more of the psychological denial. When one understands that it’s just a medium to communicate one’s ideas, thoughts, and feelings, it becomes easier. When the big world of grammar is nothing but a set of largely accepted rules, to make the language simpler, so that there is no problem in common understanding or minimizing otherwise unending complexity.

Why we need to understand and follow good grammar of a language? One technical example may help. We have so many different phones today. Every manufacturer is free to have their own design, layout, and user interface. But when we send an SMS, they can NOT be one brand specific. As they can be sent to any device that supports SMS, so there has to be some standard that everyone understands, that’s why we have 3GPP and ITU standards for telecommunication. If you are familiar to computer programming, ANSI C is a standard to write and run C program in all different computers and operating systems - which is someway similar to English grammar.

My lessons in understanding the importance of communications

I have heard and read all the theoretical aspects, and I tried my best to learn and improve my English, and I do pursue the same even now. But when I was in college it was more of learning curve. Though I understood its importance, it was like a theoretical one. Because what you need mostly is Odiya, to communicate in Odissa. But once you are out of native state, you have to learn a new language. Initially, when I talked to people from South and North India, they have a different ascent, and  sometimes, few words would not be understood, that’s where the importance of learning the “right” pronunciation comes into play. And, when I started working with people from different regions of the world, it became more difficult. I had to talk to people from China, Japan, Europe, and US (Afro-American ascent is more difficult to understand) for different project requirements or working together for some project. There I had to try my best to understand their ascent, and I had to be more careful of my ascent. Then I felt, there is no universal standard of English pronunciations, however, one should learn the way so that majority can understand. It’s NOT as difficult as people think. It comes over practice. And, no matter how much you learn, one can’t be error free. I have seen it even from “so called perfect elite”. So one should never be afraid of making mistakes. Yes, committing them again and again is, of course, a crime, and learning from the mistakes is a gain.

Communication skill is not just limited to English!

At times I was ashamed of my ascents, but today I am not. Because, that’s my identity. As long as, what I speak is understood to quite many people from different regions of the world, I don’t need to change my ascent to US or British! I can be what I am, and improve over learning the “right” or “majority” way of speaking or pronouncing the words.

One more thing - learning good English never demands to forget the existing one. Learning good English or speaking good English never demands the sacrifice of “no learning” of a native language. They can be cultivated simultaneously. It is true that English language is a flood gate to ocean of knowledge. If I compare English to languages like Hindi or Odiya, they are not far behind. The beauty of every language has their own identities. The literature of every language is a mine of information of its lineage, history and often the cornerstone identity of a human race. Every language is a precious resource of humanity. And, good communication skill is NOT limited in just writing and speaking good English, as it is often interpreted  - for it has a vast  meaning. By understanding the essence, following the guidelines and continuous practice, it can be mastered. It takes time, but with some effort it surely can be achieved.

My first international journey!

I was little excited and nervous when I started off from my office at 2PM. Most of the packing was done. Finally got a taxi and reached at the RGI airport, Hyderabad after an hour.  I entered through the domestic terminal though it was not off much a difference. I was waiting for Sandy, my colleague and co-traveler to San Diego in the same flight . One good thing in any airport is - finding information is never difficult. On my first visit I could get information on what all things to be done. I did my luggage weighing  and made sure that these are under the limit and finally all settled. I was waiting for Emirates counters to open. Sandy arrived in time. After all the formalities, like issuing boarding pass, luggage check,  security check etc, were over we went to the waiting lounge.  Finally at 9.15PM, it was time to get into the flight and that was a good experience. However, the best was the city view from the sky in night. On a black canvas, there were dazzling golden and diamonds arranges in pictorial manner…The roads were more like the golden necklace with the flood lights and the housing lights were, short off, like the glittering diamonds…it was such a wonderful picturesque scenery to remember. I did try to capture in my phone camera but in futile.

Hyderabad - at night - from the sky

And, after 4 hours of journey, with some good food and drinks of Emirates, we neared the skies of Dubai. it was just approaching to be the new year 2011, and we witnessed all the fireworks from the sky. That was a great moment indeed – celebrating new year on the sky. We landed on time, 11.59PM, local time. It was quite a big air port with so much of dazzling shops advertizing “duty free”. The epitome of material luxuries all around, and citizens of all over world hovering here and there. Then the tragedy stuck, and it marred the happiness we had for some time. It was a three hour wait in the airport and my flight was at 3.15am. I couldn’t find a place to seat in the waiting lounge. But me, and Sandy settled somehow. At around, 2.15 AM the countered opened for the Emirates flight to Log Angeles. But Sandy was missing, and he came back around 2.45am. We proceeded to the check-in counter. I went first and sandy was following me. After I checked in and waiting for him, but he was stuck - he missed his passport! After a lot futile search we couldn’t find it. He quickly left in search of it, or for an announcement. It was then 3.05AM, the security staff advised me to proceed, and I did that. I was desperately waiting for him to come aboard before the flight took off, and I alone had to travel my longest flight journey.

In Dubai Airport

I was already feeling tired for no sleep, and this nightmare, came jostling to aggravate it. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. As I got a window seat, I looked outside, and Dubai was asleep, yet it’s roads from the sky were all active. The garlands of lighting, on the black hovering city was just amazing. The towers were all silent after those crackers and lighting were vanished into the darkness of night. For it doesn’t know if that is of a new year or not! And, there I met my co-traveler from Uganda. He was travelling back to join his classes for his under graduate studies. We conversed for some time, and found that he was a national football player, and got a scholarship for his higher studies. One peculiar thing is, all the hours, it was just night. The journey was like 24 hours of night, and I travelled through the night zone as we are moving from east to west, with 12,000KM that we travelled, with three full movies that I watched (social networking, the wall street, Udaan)and scores of song to accompany, and only a few hours of sleep… 16 hours just seating in the same position was not a very comfortable thing, but thanks to the modern innovation, they provided the best that could provide some impetus - at least to meet such requirements.

Next challenge was making sure that whatever food served is vegetarian. Thankfully, they did serve Indian dishes. And, I had to make sure that none of them had egg flavor. It was really confusing, asian-veg-mean, Indian meal etc. I took, ample amount of waters, fruits, and fruit juices. I kept an eye on my watch, to find the Indian time. So finally, it dawned before we reach into Log Angeles. By then, it was mostly traveling on the pacific, and I could see nothing but the ocean, and on the horizon the purple colored sky was yawning. It was one hour more to go, and life was back in the flight. Everyone got back, as we had to fill those immigration forms. I was told to be careful of this. And I was. Finally, we landed in time, exactly at 7.15AM at L/A. I was amazed for the punctuality. I wondered, while comparing with Indian railways, they don’t have air stations or traffic problem in airways, that could be the reason for such punctuality!

In Dubai Airport

Being the new year, it was rush hour in the airport. As it was the port of entry, there was a long queue for the immigration checking. I was little worried as my next connecting flight to San Diego was at 10AM, and I had to go through, emigration and baggage checking. I was asked few question like the purpose of the visit, and then stamped on the VISA. Followed on which, I had the find my baggage, and there was no security or checking to confirm that right bags are collected by the concerned owner. I carried the luggage to inspection counter, as I did tick that I had food items. Somehow it got cleared without much ado and checking. I rushed towards the domestic terminal which is 400 mts away. I had to leave my baggage in the connecting flight counter and rushed towards American Airlines terminal. Again one more security check, which off course, is an irritating process in any air port. Though it can’t be avoided, few of those newly added process were gifted by few persons of high desire and caliber – but for so called wrong reasons! And, finally I landed in San Diego after forty minutes. I had to wait to collect my baggage there, and finally at 12.45PM San Diego time (2.15AM Indian time), I have finally arrived at my destination, with so many unanswered questions - what happened to Sandy, to his passport and his luggage?

The Bird's eye view of Log Angeles in an early morning

Barack Obama - An Outstanding Orator

From the central hall of parliament when the applauds were reverberated to that passionate speech of the Barack Obama, the US president, on a winter evening of November 8^th 2010, a generation of the politicians, spanning most of the age group, must be feeling the goose bumps in appreciation of the orating skills of the Nobel laureate.

There have been great orators who make you feel and imbibe every word they speak, they make you soak with the passion they deliver, and just leave you awestruck. Unlike many other political leaders who read few lines written by someone, as if they lend their voice to someone’s ideas or words. That never inspire or create an impact as few lines from Barack Obama could do so.

I heard him speak live multiple occasion during his visit to India, the first one in St Stephen’s college speaking to the ignited minds of future India, the other at parliament in front of leaders of the biggest democracy. The aura and conviction that he had, to make his point, was crystal clear, so was his confidence and gestures. I must admit, I wish, there will be a few reflection of this great orator in my future public speeches, if any!

The changing face of my village in a decade!

It was yet another Puja vacation in the years. After quite some time I was in my village in a Durga Puja vacation. It was the longest in-school vacation for school or college going kids after the summer one. Undoubtedly, one of the best festive time in my village. I stayed longer this time. The demography and geography has changed a little, since I visited more than a year back.

Street view

Few positive developments:

-          From Brahmapur to my village I rode on motor bike and it took around an hour, that it-self  certifies the improvement in the roads, which is close to 40-45KM in length. I didn’t have to face a single path-hole or a stretch of rough road/kaccha rasta. It is off course an important development in last 10 years.

-          I saw a good concrete road inside my village, which otherwise used to be a muddy one. Though didn’t notice overall major changes in sanitation habits, the developments were positive.

-          The major part of improvement was 12 million allocation to repair the irrigation project. There was a small dam near my village for the irrigation. It used to be the most happening place for the kids since my childhood. Many hours were spent there in swimming and watching people fish. Possibly it was the most talking point of my village in recent years.

-          There is a 500% increase in the number of motorcycles. Every other household has multiple numbers of motorcycles. I remember there was only one “bullet” with our village headman, who used to be the richest among us. He had the only tractor as well. But today there are around 3-4 tractors in the vicinity of 50 meters.

-          There was/were only one or two telephone connections in 2000. Now every household had more than one cell phone. The telecom revolution has just surfaced in my village in just a year or two.

-          There are more students in science stream than arts post class 10^th. Few are  studying engineering. School kids are more aware and alert than my generation. But in the equal note, I couldn’t measure the moral character… I don’t know if it has increased or declined….

-          Meteoric rise in the number of televisions – for there used to be one or two a decade back. The only serial Mahabhart or Chandrakanta used to watched by all the kids, crowding and hence causing inconvenience to the household. I remember, when we used to visit, other villages, we evaluate the richness of it by counting the number of antennas erected. Today, situation has changed, even hardly I saw any antenna, thanks to the satellite television penetration!

-          Though didn’t count number of houses without electricity, but mostly, the number has reduced a lot.

-          “Indira awas yojana” has changed the look by helping people with concrete roofing, where there used to be roof made up of “straw”, and quite a painful moment during rain season. Though there exists a couple of asbestos roofing. 

Village Pond

There is a historical lineage to its formation as a “Brahmana Shasan”, a place donated by the king for Brahmin’s to stay. Today, with the advance of time, it’s villagers not only depend on priesthood, but an array of occupations starting from agriculture, teaching, to business.

A fisherman near a rivulet

Those lash paddy fields

That old banyan tree - a resting place

Coconut trees inside village 

Politics has it’s own share. I don’t remember if there was any major conflict in the past. Possibly today it’s more democratized with true multi party support. I don’t know how healthy is this democratic process as compared to the past unity, where it was known as a loyal supporter of it’s queen !!!

paddy fileds

Overall, it was a refreshing vacation, without the pollution or the traffic chaos of cities. For those environment were pristine with natural surroundings - evergreen paddy fields, multiple rivulets, the canals, near-by hills, and rich natural flora and fauna. The recent development just augurs to it’s strength.

Happy State Formation Day

I got up late today, and was on time for my cab at 8.30AM in Motinagar....and started reading the daily dose of Hindu in cab...But surprisingly there was not much traffic and roads were little deserted and reached office early around 9.10AM. Momentarily I forgot that it's Nov 1st...and if you live in Hyderabad or Bangalore, you must have enjoyed holiday on this day. Our's is NOT a holiday...That's fine...but the sorry state of affair was reading that article, where a section of people object on this day casting it a black day.

I just got couldn't fathom, the idea, which was converted from a glorious day to a black day....with due respect to those, who have a genuine sentiment of a new state...no arguments to their sentiments, as there is a commission to decide...but if we can't understand the basic premises on which these celebrations stand, I believe, it's better to remain silent than voicing the anger which is NOT good for any one...

ON that light, sometimes, I wonder, what's patriotism and nationalism really means....Fortunately, got an answer yesterday while reading, Nayantara Sahgal's interview and book review on Nehru... No great and true leader ever said, only my countrymen are great, and only my country deserves to prevail... Proud to be of my faith which Preaches, universal brotherhood by declaring "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"...May humanity be the guiding factor for all our political activities......May truth and honesty prevail!

Independent day-2010 celebration: A unique experience

It's been a long time since I attended a school celebrating the independence day. Once out of the high school, there was no much of compulsion to celebrate august 15. The enthusiasm of the NCC parade practice, preparing for those debate competition or sports days. Gone are those days, when we were so keen to pluck flowers and make garlands to adorn the national leaders. At least, to sought "Bharat Maata ki Jaai" slogan, amidst those street processions.

We didn't have mandatory independence day celebration in pre-university or college. It was just a holiday from the regular hectic class days. A relief with some parade watching and patriotic movies on television.

Then came, work life. Here holidays are most wanted from hectic work days. By then, the wireless telecom revolution has taken our lives to SMSing in every occasion. So most of the days are celebrated by forwarding "feel-good" patriotic messages. Even, celebrating Independence day as Happy B'day to mother INDIA!

But this year it was a little different then all the previous ones I had encountered. This time, I went to a school, sang the national anthem with quite a few folks, ages ranging from 5-50, and belonging to every strata of contemporary India. Yes, it was in the MV foundation's Residence bridge school. Qualcomm sponsors for operations of the same. So we went to celebrate August 15 with the school kids. The kids are mostly picked from the slums or how have been working as bonded laborers. This school helps and prepare these kids to join government schools to mainline their schooling.

Finally, I was on the other side of a award ceremony. We distributed the prizes to the kids. And, I could sense the happiness they had in their face. It's a reminiscence of those juvenile moments - holding trophies and certificate, with pride and satisfaction of achievement. Which, of course, fosters and motivates one to walk an extra step - towards excellency. This celebration was for a cause, towards helping those little souls, to shower them with the light of knowledge. Not to mention, a self-fulfilling experience.

I wish, after a few years, some of these kids will go to such camps to distribute prizes. These initiatives off course can bridge the gaps we have between India and Bharat. Congratulations to all those who have been part of it.

The whole world will be with you when you want to conquare against all the odds to reach the destination. Run a marathon, it will provide you all the nourishment to have feel of real achievement!