Food for Thought...

'Small Business enterprises big businesses' was one of the chapters dealt today in my MBA Class in Business Management Session. With little knowledge gained in 2 hrs of gruelling session, my brains were well fed but my stomach needed hot spicy food to compliment my brains. My car knew where to go..steered straight to the Corporation Complex in R.A Puram, thanks!!! found a nice parking place.


I always believed that corporation complex in Mylapore would have something GREAT to offer.. the birth place of 'Mylapore Times Newspaper', 'Nair Tea Kadai' offering bread omelette's right before the branded food joints came to town, Home Video services from 'TIC TAC' serving Mylporeans more than a decade..definitely an inspiration for today's big players like BIG FLIX and CINEMA PARADISSO, and not to forget the 'Evergreen Florist', who was first to introduce -home delivery services.

Yes! this place has given birth to yet another 'NEW BORN" entrepreneur, Ganesh's "JUST ORIENT". A year back, I was introduced to "Just Orient" a small joint in Corporation Complex in RA PURAM. My first day's experience has made me a regular 'dial-in' customer of this little joint. A young man neatly dressed, personally opening the doors , greeting customer with a big smile, and initiating to understand the client's need showed all qualities of a 'Manager'. He handed over a short and simple print out of the Menu's he would offer with nominal pricing. My eyes gleamed with real surprise when the Menu Card had bold Print saying only "HOME DELIVERY" orders. A boon to all working women, and a family who loves food. My order was very little and simple, as I wanted to try before I added this number to my frequent caller list.

More than the food, I admired his multi skill-set, working style and was confident that this place is going to go great heights in the future.


Future was not after 5 yrs but just an year later.., this day, taking a chance not to order through phone but visiting this place personally brought me to lot of good surprises. 'Just Orient' had glossy Menu card with multiple pages,4 sets of fancy table and chair with 100% occupancy, clients hogging the food listening to old Tamil Melodies of yest er-year legend singer Shri.PB. Srinivas. A small addition to his little growth, he had a college going boy servicing the clients on the phone. My waiting period for half an hour,observed that he had more than 25 home delivery orders to service. Wow!!! 'Just Orient' is all out to "orient' Mylaporeans. "Just Orient" also had offers for 'AADI' no cash discount on bills,but one get to upload more than 100 Tamil Melody songs of PB Srinivas to their pen drive and IPOD. Good!!! I was lucky to avail this offer.
This reminded me of the Drive-in restaurant, once the most busiest place in Chennai.. people drove in not only for drive-in services, but also to get to see Shri. PB Srinivas, in his glittery turban sipping his coffee and chatting with his fans. I was wondering may be Ganesh earlier had a connection with Drive-in Restaurant, group.

Added to more surprises, my little chat with Ganesh's, I came to know his hospitality, service, and etiquette is from his association with the TAJ Coromandel - Chennai. Ganesh has earlier worked in TAJ as a Chef and today an enterprising entrepreneur. WAH TAJ!!!


My note is not complete if I don't mention, that 'Just Orient' caters to both Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian food lovers. Very important 'Just Orient' can be trusted during Cricket seasons, 'Dine and Sport' just sitting in the drawing room, watching sensuous Mandira Bedi's commentary, munching 'Just Orient' Paneer and Fish Tikka starters, is a real treat to eyes and stomach,,works out great.!!!


With both my brains and stomach full, I drove back home listening to PB SRINIVAS!!!. Thanks to you Ganesh..
Just Orient can be reached at 91763 32555.

'Amul Girl' Loses her Father Today...

Amul Butter would always top my grocery list every month. Though my fitness regime says a 'Big NO" to butter and Cheese, not a single day goes without my crispy bread toast with butter for breakfast.

More than the butter, since ages I would definitely make an excuse to pass through the Mount Road, which is now called the "Anna Salai' in Chennai just to see the huge hoarding, above the Qaide Millat College hosting 'Amul Butter' Advt campaign. A fat little polka dot cartoon girl boldly posing in-trend issues with butter. I was very sure to take a smile with me, passing by.

I was indeed very curious and jealous of the dad who has created this, for us.

12Th March 2010, my first sms was a obit message from one of my closest friend. He had been in advt agency for quite some time. A very shocking news which dropped off my toast with the butter. It read " Amul Girl's dad passes away today' chk out!!!.
Thanks to the technology, I quickly checked my Internet to confirm the news.

Eustace Fernandes the creator of the blue hair, oranged face girl, dressed in polka dots has ruled the hearts of millions of Indian. A small research about this creator says, that he was best remembered as a cartoonist who was given to handle the 'Amul' Account since 1966. With a team of Sylvester da Cunha, Usha Katrak, and Marie Pinto together - created a magic to this product.

After handling the account for 3 yrs the team started RADEUS advertising in 1974. The agency had names after Radha and Eustace and rest is a history. 'Sir' Fernandes passes this day, at the age of 75yrs.

He always wanted his daughter to bring in smiles and thus he modelled her to all creative which had humour, but with strong message. I would not be surprised that after this model was born, she gave "heart attacks and pains" to lot of people, who were on strict NON cholesterol diet .

Even after 44ys of age 'Amul Girl' still stays young and fresh in many of the hearts which speaks all about this creator's creativity. With due respects to him, I'm not sure how many of us knew whose daughter this girl was. A great brand building exercise!!!!

Hoping that this advertising world would create a special place for this creator,in the future to come. Wish that there is a nice story incorporated about 'Sir' Fernandes which would be a great learning for the upcoming aspirant creators in advertising media.

I'm sure after 44 yrs of modelling, Fernandes's 'Amul Girl' would have all strenghts to take this brand in leaps and bounds.

World Toilet Day - A big squat Marathon'

My usual morning routine starts up at 5 am in the morning and ends after a
Tom and Jerry ' race to finish few deadly household chores.. at 8am, my steaming hot Kappi and reading thro the news, and gupshups in News paper really makes my day. Today, my large eyes popped at an advertisement in 'The Metro Plus' Domex sponsoring the 'World's toilet day' which is today the 19th November.

Immediate reaction was to call couple of my close friends and wished them. Well this was exactly at 8.30 in the morning, also sent sms wishes to many. I was sure most of them would be in their wash room/toilet at this hour getting ready to work.

Thanks to WHO to have found a day for this special action, a day to create an awareness on hygiene and sanitation. This is indeed an issue which is as serious as Terrorism and corruption prevailing in our country today.

A quick search gave me a insight about this issue it is proven that 2.5 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation, which risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people, mostly children, a year.Because even the world's wealthiest people still have toilet problems - from unhygienic public toilets to sewage disposal that destroys our waterways.

There has been various issued raised on this in many local and neighbourhood papers, it also reminds that one of the issues of Mylapore Times carried a picture of a man using the temple corner to urinate and just after a week the entire corner turned to a nice garden.. Lots of controversies, debates on sanitation and hygiene, but it is an effort by itself which has to come within all of us.

Chennai is now going strong with Marathon and walks on beach to campaign various social causes, sponsors flooding their funds, Media going all out for coverage. Why not a marathon to create awareness in Sanitation and Hygiene.

Just a thought ran through, wish I had lot of support and funds, would definitely hold a 'Big Squat' Marathon. A thought process, if all of us could join hands on the Marina beach , the most wanted venue for walks and marathon today, squat for 5 minutes all together holding tissue papers with slogans printed on.

This could be definitely a good exercise though, but also unity in common posture to create awareness. Definitely my sponsor would be Manufacturers of Toilet cleaning detergents, Tissue papers, Sanitary ware stockists. Every 'Squat er' participant need to register with a fee of Rs. 50 each... (hot soup is served after the event to mobilise the intestine)

I'm sure with my experience in Fund raising and Pr, I would be able to collect a large sum, which is ultimately donated to the government to install clean toilets in public places, conduct forums and educated people on personal sanitation and hygiene.

Not a bad idea though, this was really passed on to couple of my close friends who promised to squat with me on this deal... Well there are also some interesting criteria to participate in this special event.

A BIG NO to Elders above 60 Plus, and children below 5 yrs.
Special guests and celebrites would be provided special ramp to squat.
'Hum Honge Kamyab' song would be played loud to cheer up the participants.
Each participant would carry a memento of a WC sponsored by House of Parry Ware' as token of participation.

This is a issue which is common to all irrespective of caste, creed, sex, or status, and one which brings all of us together universally, is indeed a special occasion today, to talk about this.

Happy Toilet day... I need to wind up, all set to clean up my toilet this day.

All souls day - A soul from Mylapore

Nowadays, my focus's is more on 'Zero Figure' project. Going back to my good old hub for a workout is really very solacing. My earlier experience with 'Dimenssions' fitness studio, as an employee and today as a member, is an experience of seeing two sides of a coin. Ageing fear is already set in me so my body is being pampered to the fullest extent and my degree as a Dietitian is getting handy now.

Driving back home after a healthy schedule from 'Dimenssion' gave me a different Dimensions to life when I passed the most narrow road of Myalapore. The 'St.Mary's road'which is always under repair, couple of drive would directly lead to the Mortuary which is located there.

Mylapore for that matter apart from turbulent streets, water clog, is a place of religious unity.. Just within a cir cum of 2kms radius is located the most famous and oldest Shiva Temple, Catholic Church brushing the sea side, and the Mosque, which I always wanted to get in and see for myself. Populace of each religion celebrate their respective festivals and so far no differences is seen.

2nd Nov, the younger genre immediately think of Bollywood star SRK's birthday, and my family think of my daughter's birthday which falls of the same day but on this same day, the Christians in Mylapore throng the Mortuary to mourn on "all souls day' in other words, the day of the dead..

My eyes turned, when I saw street hawkers selling flowers, fruits, trinkets, balloons, tea and coffee stalls. Now the RTO office being shifted just opposite to the mortuary indeed added to the number of vehicles parked. Families dressed to their best walked in groups to pay homage to the dear and near departed souls. My curiosity killed me, and just parking my two wheeler - (astonishingly there was a parking assistant also collecting parking fee)I joined the crowd but did not have a clue what to do. Dressed in my work out clothes did turned many heads on me. The whole mortuary was dressed beautifully with flowers, cleaned thus gave this deadly place a lot of life. Lot of families also met there to exchange pleasantries.

A nice thought, though to remember departed ones universally. I was visualising on all mortuaries at one go to get a make over. Driving back home through Mada street, I saw mamis and mamas dressed in their best walking with pooja items into Kapali Temple. Quite an odd and extensive crowd, not sure what was happening. My sweat did not allow me to get into the temple, and checked with one of the traffic police on the occasion. This day, lord Shiva is given a special Abhisekham of food 'Anna Abhishekam'. All kinds of fruits, vegetables, cooked food, sweets offered by devotees is poured on Lord Shiva. Should be a great treat to the eyes and the nostril.

Only thought crossed into my mind, what ever the religion be it, at one end of the street is people thinking of departed souls going to heaven and the other end god is worshiped in a different form. It is irony that every human being is thinking and worshipping god in different forms, whether it is departed good soul or a stone figure like Lingam.

Hoping one day, there would be just one universal god, a day to think of all departed ones who have had contributed to this world in some form or the other. All those who are lying silent in the mortuary would have been human to have given their best to this society and fellow beings, and now being the messenger of god.

Wishing lot of peace, love and friendship amongst people in the years to come. Doing good to human, wishing good for people, helping needy and fellow beings, is getting near to god, and not thronging temples, mortuaries for a day and occasion.

'Signs' - Night Shyamalan ....

Few days back, taking my usual walk at night on the terrace of my house, the day Chennai saw lightning and showers was indeed a great night, just catching up with my sister about our old days together, discussing everything on earth. Our topic covered gossips, relationships, music, Movies and also about famous Hollywood Movie 'Signs'. Directed and Written by Night Shaymalan starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix in the lead.

The movie conveyed a very sabbatical message about life, "that nothing happens by chance, and that everything that happens has a reason to connect in the future'

At this time of my life there is been quite a lot of changes happening both in my personal life and career wise. Getting back to my old acquaintances, is what has brought me to pen few thoughts in this blog.

Ms. Dwaraka who just dumped me into IIT - Madigras to sell Greeting cards for Vidyasagar saw my marketing acumen 10 yrs ago. She was the PRO of the Special School which was then called Spastics Society of India. A Fresher from college, had no clue what sales and marketing was all about, but my attitude to collect funds for the special children's need taught me Marketing skills. I never knew selling cards some day would make me an advertising Manager for a Newspaper.

My first step into Mylapore Times, and my first learning was to design an advt for a client is a nighmare even now. Mr. Vincent- editor, just made me sit next to him when he was handling a client, and next moment I was asked to handle 'Surya Sweets' Advt which had to appear on the front page. I quitely sneaked to Raji,my oldest friend briefed me on paper layout, advt design, Sizes. I was dumped into the process and servicing a sweat meat shop Advt this was a strip advt 5 colu with 7cm on the front page, gave me nervous breakdown.

Numbers make me dizzy, would always walk with a calculator and scale. Took notes from the client and co-ordinating with my technical team and taking approvals was a big process then. On the day of the the print, I forgot to add on the telephone nos of the client, and had to make an addition just one hour before it went to print.

Next day, first thing in the morning my Techie Man took lessons on Photoshop, coreldraw, with a indirect thought to convey that doing a layout is like building a dream house and correction in the last moment is like unfolding the structure. There after, I dare make such a SIN. All my advts would go a through content check.

Going dizzy about my first experience on layouts, designs, design software, almost took a decision to call it my last day at this company. My dad with a pat said,there is a sign that this profile is going to be my future and I need to show lot of attention. He was not Night Shyamalan, but a very sensible man who had come in a hard way in life and knew how to handle me.

Every day began with client servicing, marketing, and layouts..gradually I was thrown into organising an event, which is now popularly called Mylapore festival. My editor just picked up my sense of PR and alliances and cultivated my skills in event Management. Every time I get spanged by my Editor, Raji was always there to mother me. Thanks to him and Raji, who fine tuned my mistakes and grew me up.

My days in Arena, my paper Insert layout design was a cake walk interacting with layout artist talking about size, photo shop, client servicing, yeah!! my dad's 'SIGNS' were right.

Graduating from advertising Manager, to Business development head in Arena Animation Academy, needed just not layouts and photo shop knowledge, but in house counselling techniques, number games, analysis ... Again wanted to take a back seat, thought I would never fit into this role. Each day would start with tuff tuition, a whole lot of exercises to do, and everyday my meeting would start with number games.

My five year journey with the team, was indeed a maturing phase in my career. Web-designing courses was most sought after by students 7 yrs back. To sell a package, I had to learn about color codes, font, 2d animation and all tools that went into making one. Mr. Deepak earlier my client at Mylapore times, and my HOD now, had a real challenge to tune my raw marketing skills to match the profile of a Business Head.

Had, I ever thought that today I would be handling a online portal services for Reliance. My contribution in terms of writing and sourcing content for film portal Bioye and Bigadda is definitely a sign from the past. If I had neglected the signs not learning to make advts, client servicing, alliances, and PR, not sure If my blog would exist today.

Looking back it is really astonishing that my past was holding my future.

Never wanted to recall this day in my life, that all 12 yrs of my learning in layouts, content writing, I had to use it to design my dad's 1st Anniversary Obit Advt. Yet again 'SIGNS' showing this special advt should have my touch.

My family had so much trust in my creativity, and I indeed kept up to their expectations.

Appa! just got lot of appreciation for the content which went in the advt, and I need to really thank all my previous employers who graduated me to this level.

Very confident today, that each day is a good 'SIGN' to my Future.

toostep.com - Just a step foward to network

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A thought to pen down few experiences and analysis on social networking site, geared up when one of my ex-colleague sent me a link to a professional- Social networking site- toostep.com. My curiosity, jumped up to register and found great interaction happening on issues on various parameters. This site is still in alpha stage,but it is happening.

Coming a long way from writing letters, sending postcards,calling people, meeting on occasion is gone by gone, but today one can just connect with an old long lost friend, from Tibet to Europe jsut at the touch on the computer.

Travelling from a sales and Marketing executive profile to business development Head, and as a thorough professional handling Content & Alliances, Pr and CRM for a social networking site has given a lot of insight to read the different faces of networking and value.,

Today, the Internet space share more than 500 networking sites which categories on just casually connecting with people, making friends,upload personal photos, videos, clips of interest, forwards, posters anything we capture and link on the site. Face book and Ibibo is one which comes to my mind right away. Ibibo in the chart which is more a entertainment site, but now become serious which is morphed into serious site to increase members. Portal which scouts professionals to find jobs, in total, has more than 7 million user. While facebook is more on entertainment profile and is very casual and personalised sharing parties, dates and weekend happening. There are even artist, celebrities who are members on this portal and open to chat with fans and members.

Of course, Bigadda a new entrant to this profile is still at stages to get its way through. Bigadda.com has music to hear, mobilink facility and blogs by eminent artist. Surprisingly, celebrities have chosen this platform to interact and share experiences with fans and internet viewers. This is more a diary or medium to avoid controversy but still be open to interaction with public.

My collegue Deepak would suddenly scream, when he gets a link to chat with Bipasa Basu. It would sound very easy to get Bipasa on to our working table. Wish this was true...

On the contrary, I would see my HR head chating and surfing on social networking site to check out potentials for recruitment, well this is definitely 4 months back. Now she would avoid her name appearing on the chat list. From the serious, professional site, I would list Linked-in in top chart.

Linked In a popular professional networking site would have all members and names found. It would approximately have more than 40 million registered users over 200 countries. I would not wonder that if there is a member signing every minute, in a day.

At this juncture, when employees given off pink slip, and recession on cards, there is more networking happening and thus have increased viewers. My instinct analysis would be jobs posted on Naukari/any job search portals is getting lost amongst tons of resume being posted, instead professional search thro a professional social networking site would have more impact and for quick results. This is for basic few reasons, 1. This links and has a data base of all professionals posting and interacting directly. 2. References; The employer is able to make a decision on the candidate based on number of references and comments he has got for his posting. 3. There is no boost happening to hike the profile which is one of a marketing parameter in Job search portals.

It is definitely going to be a very healthy medium in the future to come, and also going be a one of the medium to offer for branding and advertising by the advertising professionals. Reports from sources recalls that there is definitely an increase to 81% from the previous year in the traffic and is a healthy note for advertisers.

Well, there are lot of features which adds to the traffic like blogs, plogs, discussions, photo feature..etc.

I am very surprised about this analysis of mine and also very amazed about being Internet savvy. Lot of lessons from colleagues, spl mentions would be Sandy, Udaykumar and of course my previous employer who fine tuned my analytical skills. Hey Sharon, you are there in the list too, she gave me long distance coaching to upload images, and was a great experience, Initially I would upload Namitha upside down on the site, but sure to have more hits...

Chk out these site, please register as members and get going. Log on and on, till you find the right match...

Beating the Heat in Surangani

My morning at work starts with logging on to my mails, smile at all the forwards sent by my friends, and replying them back. Few days back, my inbox had a very interesting mail reminded me of my past.. A e-map sent by my brother of a beautiful place in HImachal Pradesh, where we spent our childhood and teens.

"Jadu" 300 kms up Mountains from pathankot, passing thro Chamba with more than 100 Hairpin bend roads, surrounded by Pine and Devadaru trees, sleek noisy small water falls after every half a kilometer, and of coure beautiful Himachali Dogaria walking down with herds of Cattle, and my dad driving with a cigar, trailing thro this roads reminds me of the those cool days, today living in this hot Chennai.

More than 20 yrs back, the government of Himachal proposed to generate electrcity thro RABI River, flowing thro Pathankot, chamba,Khajjiar, Tissa, Baniketh, Dunerah, and Surangani. Huge penstocks were erected to pump in water from the river to generate electricity. The entire project was planned for min 7 yrs. Technically, mountains had to be geared and shaped to hold these huge pipes and this mammoth task was assiged to my dad.. an engineer who was in charge of entire planning and execution and completion. Reminds me of sharukh Khan of Swadesh.. now. His labour was hired from all parts of India and also had to deal with localities who were naive but hard core labours.

Few other companies who have come to this small village called "jadu' had a temple, ramleela ground, max 500 houses, sweet meat shop, market place selling shoes, warm clothes, a sardar tailor, 5 bed ed hospital, Bus stand, a quite guest house for government officials to come and stay. Amongst all these, a convent built for the engineer's Children to study. The school hired teachers who were educated wives of the engineers, and few hired professionals for higher classes.

This school was manned by Mr. Vasudevan who had come all the way from Kerala, very strict military disciplined Personnel and had all military rules imposed in the school. Well the academic year would be from DEC to DEC,with CBSE board syllabus, is closed for winter to enjoy the snow season. We had a nice library, auditorium, science labs, and music and art rooms.

Our houses were built of wood, asbestos sheets, partitions made of wood panels, cement flooring but a great soil for plantation. Our garden had all variety of English vegetables,including onions. Had a small poultry farm for eggs, and my little brother would lay his hands on growing a chick into a hen, but his over feeding would kill most of them.

Rosy was another addition into our family, this was stray pup which followed us from the school and became a part of the family. After 7 yrs of staying in Jadu, Rosy breathe his last and was buried in Rabi river. His death was mourned for 1 mnt silence in our school prayer. Even today, my family has lot of liking for pets. After Rosy, was ammu kuttan and now Jolin and Mantoos.


Every morning we would wake up looking at MOUNT KAILASH. white as muslin, with silver streaks. But no Lord shiva, as he is in down south, in Chennai , the hottest city in India. He is not lucky though. The beautiful himachali Dogaria in groups singing folk song, walking down the fields, early morning is a real treat. One of the songs I still shout at home is "bala sipaiah dogariah.. rasliya rasliya Jhanna...., this is about the dream of young girl to marry a sipahi. Wish I could produce an album.

During Dusserah, the entire village is seen in Ram leela grounds watching the 10 day stage drama of Ramayan - Ram leela, the artist are hired from pathankot whose boarding and lodging was shared by the residents of the village. Sweets, food is distributed to all the people irrespective of caste or creed.


Weekends, there is screening of Movies of all Regional languages in open air, mostly in our school playgrounds. Traditional projector, screened on a white muslin cloth with basic speakers. Then watching a tamil movie would remind us of our home town, our grandparents, friends and cousins. No Mobile phones, internet, but so called BSNL lines. We need to book a STD call and most of the time the phone lines are worn out due tress falling, snow fall, or too cold weather. Totally cut off from world.

Today, when I think of technology, when my brother could send me a e-map of the place where my childhood was spent is really amazing, but on the contrary, not a safe place to visit now - with technology growing, people have also created arms and distructive tools to make this heavenly place a terrorist haunt.

Thanks appa!! for showing this wonderful land to us.