An acquaintaince of mine, has landed in a peculair problem. After a bitter divorce battle with his first wife, who did not understand him as a husband or father. She suspected her own husband listening to her father and mother, who were utmost greedy because of her steady income. The in-laws went to the extent of stealing money from the business he was running. When they got caught red handed, they started a rumour that the son-in-law was having an affair with the secretary. Ultimately being the only son to his ailing parents, who had a huge property base, decided enough is enough. He packed up his bag and baggage and took his two children along with him. He told his ex wife to pack up and take a transfer and leave along with him. His wife under the tutlage of her parents decided to lodge a police complaint for kidnapping the children, who refused to stay back with mother.

In the ensuing drama the cops arrested the husband and children and jailed them for no solid reason. Luckily he was rescued by his helping neighbour who bailed him out. I was away from the place and could not help him. The drama unravelled by the in-laws was a cruel pot boiler, which included black magic against the son in law. My friend had to face the fury of the black magic, he fell from his bike 3 times in during the day time. He resorted to firm prayers and decided to file for divorce, which was granted in 4 years time with substantial expense. The judge realised that the wife was stupid not to live with her husband and she chose to live with her greedy parents.

I tried my best to negotitate reconciliation in the initial stage, but on her own she agreed to think over and rejoin her husband, but her parents being greedy poisoned her mind stating that her husband will ill-treat her. Better take possession of one of the son and let him keep possession of the other son. Both the sons hate the in-laws so much they are ready to undertake voilence physically.

Under the above circumstance after divorce, the eldest sons education is getting affected due to frequent interference from his mother. She wanted to meet him in the school, wherein the eldest son got violent and wanted to stone his mother to death, such was the fury, because of the bitter impression created in his mind, maybe because of jail experience. The sons are rebellious. They refuse to even see her. It has been a constant battle.

Now the son has joined a professional college, friend has re-married and is in the process of becoming a father, but the ghost of the past is still haunting him. Maybe now the mother may have reformed to some extent, only god knows. But the son's career or education is under stake. If she once again comes back the son may totally loose track of his sense and interest in studies. He had a humiliating experience in school times, now after spending huge amount of money on donation and fees, the ghost from the past seems to haunting him once again. The names of the character and place is deliberately with held for want of privacy and confidentiality.


Any suggestions from mature Msians how to handle the issue delicately so that it does not boomrang further creating once again stress to the son and father, who had struggled for the past 7 years. This is one of the rarest true life example of how a happy family is destroyed by the girls own parents for sake of money. I can vouch for my friends love for his ex wife and children. But it is too late for a re-union.

I am happy that Ganguly has announced his retirement from Indian cricket at last. After announcing his retirement Ganguly has started wagging his tongue like nobody's business, stating that previous selection committee has targetted him unwantedly. I think he should be thankful to Vengsarkar and Pepsi to bring him back into Indian cricket after More had thrown him out.

Ganguly should be sportive enough to accept the swan song series, if possible he could request for one more series with the present selectors. But the Aussie formula makes it very clear that even if you score a century one should hang up his boots for good. Greg chappel was one such victim or beneficiary i presume of the golden handshake. I hope Ganguly learns from his tormentor as to how he should take it on his stride. He can probably converse with Greg for his advice on the subject matter.

I believe he has lot of options in front of him as a career, with restaurant business, sports management, commentators post, third umpire, or he can start a cricket academy like what More and Modi have begun. I won t be surprised if ganguly dawns make up and gets into Bengali cine field too. He can be a legend in his own right. Good bye dada thanks for serving Indian cricket.

The trail of Hoysala temples architecture may be an eye opener in many ways for lovers of heritage. Except for Belur and Halebid temples many of the other edifices built during the era, is crumbling and requires initiative from the Govt, NGO’s and other charitable trusts to protect the rich heritage. The scale of isolation and neglect of the monuments at Kalyani Hulikere, Korvangala, Javagal, Harnahalli etc speaks volume. They must be heaven for smugglers and anti-social elements to make a fast buck. However Hegde’s of Dharmastala & Shravanbelagola mutts have done their might in restoration and maintainence of the temple at Anekere, which is really appreciable.

Statues and artifacts littered and installed in the villages.

Stones from the monument or forts used for household construction.

Vandalism of the valuable art, and probably smuggling or sale to outsider for a small price.

In accessibility or improper directions for reaching the heritage sites.

Main Door Keys of the temples are handed over to priests staying nearby or to a watchmen who are most untraceable or unconcerned about tourists.

Absence of security to protect the monuments.

Monuments are in various stage of collapse due to lack of proper maintainence.

Unauthorized constructions particularly close to monuments such as Korvangala temple premises financed by Canara Bank surprisingly.

Lack of parking facility in most of the monuments.

Guideline for guides and their charges are lacking along with a composite formula.

ASI & STATE TOURISM CO-ORDINATION :

It is vital that ASI and state tourism act in unison with a single purpose of preserving the monuments of Hoysala heritage from being smuggled or used for construction of local buildings. In case ASI is falling short of budget, they can always invite private institutions of repute to contribute and maintain the sites for 99 years, with free and unlimited access for their corporate promotion. There is an urgent need for protection of such monuments which are lying in distraught condition. The monuments are located not only in Hassan district, but also in Bijapur district near Aihole, and other places.

Police posts or beats are essential in all such monuments, which will protect the monuments from further vandalism. All monuments which are lying in ruins at Hulikere, Korvangala should be immediately taken possession and stored under strict vigilante. A proper record of all the recovered statues, pillars, and important décor items should be maintained.

No fresh constructions near the heritage sites should be allowed within 500 meters, so that adequate space for landscaping, parking and tourist facilities can be installed in future.

A co-ordinated effort to promote tourism of Hoysala heritage can be organized by improving road access, widening of road on one side by relocation, proper marking with sign boards.

Holiday packages to develop awareness of various other destinations of hoysala heritage along with nominal fees levied for guide, parking, shoe stand, toilet facility, drinking water and entry which should not be more than Rs 20 per head. So in effect a family of 5 members spend only Rs 100 maximum.

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In this age of Kaliyug where do we go to seek solace and guidance ? It is a question which haunts many a parents, who would like their wards to be groomed in the right atmosphere gaining the right proportion of IQ, EQ & SQ. A blend of all the three quotients are essential to develop a well rounded personality in a professional.

I was lucky to undergo Focus orientation program of Iskon, along with its Yoga retreat 1 program. The lectures by the faculty drills into a student irrespective of religion or prejudice one call attain the desired success of becoming a well honed professional.

The regime recommended by the peers in Iskon through their programme FOLKS, Friends of Krishna is commendable. The importance of the Lord Krishna is beautifully potrayed by a 2 D animation film, which has won an award at Kahn film festival. How Lord Krishna single handedly rescues his disciples against the wrath of Lord Indra. How the Lord subjugates Lord Indra into submission of Krishna ’s fold in an ordinary cowherd form. How the Lord acts as a cheerleader and wins the heart of the multitude, produced in association with Reliance group. This definitely reminded me of wordsworth's quote " child is the father of man"

How individuals can overcome stress, worries and achieve their goal in life requires a guiding force, and that guiding force is the Lord. To sing praise of the Lord is difficult for a non-author but to experience the magic of the Lord……………one should definitely try to associate in some form or the other ISKCON………..There is no religious bar.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,

Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare,

Hare Rama, Hare Rama,

Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PN : There is a vigourous selection process for being absorbed into Folks hostel

A strange title for an article in TOI today. The full form may be difficult to guess. Let me reveal the suspense, Condoms Vending Machines @ call centre. Oh Unholy camel in spirited words.

Prevention of HIV & AIDS has taken a precedence over the subject of encouraging promiscuity and pre-martial sex. The time has come to move away from A B C concept. Abstainence, Being faithful has given way to condomnisation. Despite survillence cameras installed in call centres Managers agree to the fact if there is consensual sex nobody can prevent them. And it is none of their business too, if anything takes place beyond the working hours or before the working hours. It is a matter of privacy invasion.

The installation of Condom Vending Machine @ call centres is a great leap ahead of times. As it is I pills are freely dispensed in pharmacy shops. Along with CVC, a dispenser for I pills will be in order.

I know that it would seem outrageous for moral brigade that such a step is being initiated by prevention of AIDS committee. But we can t ignore the fact AIDs epidemic is fast spreading in India among the literate class rather ill-literate class. Earlier drivers were having the highest incidence of AIDS now they are well educated regarding the usage of condoms due to sustained campaign and impact of Shilpa shetty kissing campaign.

I am sure it is welcome move for the generation next to have their share of fun and prevent pregnancy more than AIDS. Kudos to the AIDS committee for devising such a wonderful concept, to make condoms available " at arms length of desire "

At last TATA has officially announced the bad news on the occasion of Durga festivity. Nano project has officially pulled out of Singur. Now it is good lesson for the political leaders when they announce projects, they should ensure that public and farmers should be taken into confidence and than an announcement is made.

It is a lesson to all the leadership, either go by consensus or don t initiate any project. I feel the best way to go about is to conduct a referandum and than proceed with bargaining on the compensation package.

TMC & CPM have come out as bitter rivals and there is partisan attitude. The interests of the general public has been sacrificed. Millions of jobs are on stake. Livelihood has been affected to a large extent. There will be repurcussions, in the form of Infosys, Wipro, Haldiram Bhujiwala, HCL, and all others will pull out in unison.

It 100% a black day for Bengal economy. This was the last chance for the Bengalis to recoup in industralisation.

In the early hours of October 3, a joint search operation was conducted by D.K. district police, Anti Naxal Force and Mumbai Police at several places in Mangalore city.

Following persons have been picked up during the raids.

Mohamed Ali, aged 56 residing at Mukkachari, Ullal PS limits, construction/ real estate agent.

Jawed Ali, aged 20 years, s/o Mohamed Ali, Student of Quranic Studies in Ullal.

Naushad, aged 25 years, s/o Irshad, r/o Subhashnagar in Mangalore South PS limits. Engaged in construction work.

Ahamed Bawa, aged 33 years, s/o Abubakker, r/o Haleyangadi, Mulki PS limits. He is engaged in petty business.

The articles recovered from the house of Mohamed Ali included Computer Hard Disc CD’s containing Jihadi literature, Religious Books on Islam, 2 active mobile handsets.

On the information provided by Javed Ali, Naushad was picked up from his house and one Pulsar motor cycle, 2 mobile sets (active), Diaries and computer Hard disc was recovered.

Later, Naushad took the search party to Ahamed’s alias Riaz Bhatkal (Mangalore South PS) house and live bombs(5), mobile hand sets (12), several SIM cards including Jihadi literature was recovered. Ahamed could not be traced in the house.

On the information provided by Naushad, the locked house of Mudassar (24 years), associate of Ahamed was opened and one lap top computer, one Hard disc, Rs. 11.39 lakh cash, 5 mobile hand sets including SIM cards, Jihadi literature, Passports, CD’s etc. were recovered.

A team of police officers has been dispatched to Bhatkal to check the whereabouts of Ahamed. The interrogation of the suspects is continuing. The investigation so far is in continuation of the leads provided in the Bomb blast cases reported in recent months.

Imagine the world comes to a stop on one day, for a man who practiced Non-violence to the core. Our own Mahatma was deprived of the Nobel Prize, by the committee stating that Nobel pize is awarded to the living and not dead.

The man who gave Indians freedom almost six decades back with various non-violent agitation. He propelled the nation single handedly. He abhorred joining political leadership. He could have been awarded honorary post of the President. If he had accepted he would have still be bare chested representing the majority. Will any Indian dare to emulate his style in modern India. Maybe if someone is ready we would definitely like to pack him off as insane.

Brothers and sisters if we were to really respect our Mahatma and if lip service is avoided and if we were to really respect the mahatma. Let us pause and stop all modern economic activity on one day. This will be literally pausing the world for one day, it will be greatest gift or shraddanjali to the great Mahatma.

Imagine no vehicles on the road,
Imagine no mechanised transportation in air or rail,
Imagine there is no noise pollution,
Imagine there is no smoke emission,
Imagine you and me cut off from each other,
Imagine spending time with family to sort out differences,
Imagine walking on empty roads without traffic lights,
Imagine whom will the terrorists target,
Imagine HEAVEN ON EARTH,
Imagine such a tribute to our own Mahatma.

I am no great poet, but I feel Mahatma should be honoured world over for such an everlasting motto of Non-violence. Don t you think international day of NON VIOLENCE should be celebrated in the above fashion, for a man who died an unsung hero and went un-rewarded by the Nobel Committee.

The real breakthrough in sales curve came with our newspaper advertisements. I found that front quarter page newspaper advetisement costs only a paltry Rs 1200/- per insertion. With the local promotion budget I started splashing. This triggered panic in a leading dealers mind, he hatched a plot with our exclusive dealer and bought his showroom at 14 lakhs. He approached me for dealership. I told him boss my price of dealership is 1 lakh deposit and advance cheques. Just imagine the brand strength shot up to 15 lakhs for a dealership of Kurl-on. It was an ultimate downer and he had to take it lying down but to get back strongly later. ( with my successor)

We deployed outdoor hoardings, which was spread across the entire city. This included on participation basis with dealer sharing 50% cost. It made the unknown brand in the market place, known overnight in the entire belt. It cushioned us from two local units, Ramacoir and Aerocom, who want to topple us out of the market place.

Sales skyrocketed and colleagues started becoming jealous and some hatched conspiracy to plot my downfall too trying to encourage in sub-ordination from my juniors. They taught my junior how to do undertake artificial billing etc. Then subsequently cancel the invoice next month and show stock returns etc, Further he had completely disregarded the company policy of supplying stocks in the beginning of the month and billing by the end of the month and thereby allowing cash discount to dealers. The same dealers denied that they have received stocks as soon as he got transferred. Stocks amounting to 50 lakhs were missing. The branch accountant was sacked pending investigations. I wasn’t surprised, the very same invoicing practice landed my counterpart in jail after I left the company. The company published his name in the newspaper as a criminal offender.

When one take’s bull by its horn one has to invite wrath of the opponents, I had to suspend supplies to a leading dealer who was involved in substituting our brand enquiry into Kurl-on sales. One consumer went to consumer forum for cheating, but the dealer with his clout in Nagpur threatened and won the case ex-parte by appointing a leading lawyer. He turned his wrath on me by filing a defamation case through a leading criminal lawyer. Just imagine claiming 5 lakhs during 1994 from the company. The next week newspaper headlines Devani and Brothers arrested for raping a servant and killing her. This put the dealer in an embarrassing position. He withdrew the case against me and the company. The same dealer threatened to finish me off, luckily I had a witness and he could not do anything.

Next an MRTP case emerged out of no where, accusing the company of not donating for the cause of earthquake and trying to take advantage of Latur earthquake. We had donated Rs 500/- in the absence of profits from the exhibition.

After 3 hectic years, I decided I had enough and took a transfer to Mumbai, which was another exciting phase of spearheading institutional sales. We cracked big orders from Central Railway, INCS, Shipping corporation, Holiday Inn, Raheja Residency, Vikram Ispat, etc. Many a corporates started viewing Kurl-on as a mega brand, when exchange scheme was offered. It really catapulted Kurl-on as a superbrand.

I am happy to be still associated with such a wonderful company as a shareholder. After a brief set back the company is back on tracks with its marketing HQ based in Mumbai. When I went to meet my ex-colleague Mr Sadanand, He gifted me with a double bedsheet on my birthday. I saw the fire in his belly to achieve 500 crores turnover. I am sure now company is progressing in the right path.

Imagine joining a mattress company and getting married within 6 months and enjoying the honeymoon phase with a company mattress. It is a dream come true to begin career with a sweet company and than switch to mattress company. Well I was just on a casual holiday visiting my parents, when I got a call to attend an interview for PM, in olden days Brand mangers were known as Product Manager.

My father’s old car broke down near TV tower, Blore. I just took it coolly and parked the car by the side of the road, locked it and rushed by auto and reached the office on time 12 noon. The MM’s secretary Cauvery exclaimed what a timing. So I was called in after 10 minutes and the interview went on for about 45 minutes. It was friendly and professional, and MM was impressed by my credential, he introduced me to the MD and hurray selected in the first attempt. Just the third day all India conference was organized at Taj Gateway. My Boss suggested that I attend the conference informally, if I like the team than I was welcome to join. What an opportunity I thought I will extend my leave and attend the 3 day conference at the Taj.

I was sort of rejected by MM as PM and he offered me ASM post because it Brand management was superfluous for a reputed brand in the market place and moreover they had reached the peak of production capacity. In the conference I got introduced to all colleagues from all over India. After I resigned and joined Kurl-on officially, I was asked by my boss to take charge as PM but to my horror I found that I had no work load. I just went to my boss and told him that I am wasting my time, please post me to Ahmedabad or wherever in India. He said one colleague was getting married so I could proceed to Nagpur. I thanked him and proceeded to take independent charge of Nagpur branch and warehouse.

To switch from an FMCG to durable industry was quite painstaking experience; I had to slog to understand the dealer psychology and trade practice. The brand was generic so all rubberized coir mattresses were sold under our brand. The short supplies added to our woe, there was lot of substitution taking place at the dealer counter. Many a dealers were arrogant in their approach. They felt the brand is moving because of their counters. In fact one leading dealer had challenged my colleague, that his showroom is worth more than my company’s brand. It was a real insult which we had to digest.

Meanwhile the production ramped up in the factory within 9 months. We started receiving stocks more than we indented for, our godown was getting flooded with stocks. I had to go for a bigger warehouse a 4000 square feet instead of 800 sq feet. Since mattresses are voluminous in nature and it cannot be piled up horizontally, it had to be stacked vertically.

We adopted a strategy of increasing the dealer network on the ground level, at each and every taluk level in Vidharba region. Next strategy was to participate in exhibitions, Happy Home was the most popular exhibition, and our ultimate coup was exclusive comfort exhibition with MONSOON BONANZA & WOW Comfort exhibition.