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.

Saying it in "brief" Happy Valentine's day..

My friend from Bangalore, called me last night warned me to keep stock of Pink Chaddis. The Bangalore city is running short to Pink Chaddis..the shopkeepers are running out of stock. I got a lot of warning from my close friends and colleagues not to peep out on Valentine's day after the threat from Shri Ram Sena Leader. Good times to all the undergarment manufactures, even during this economic shut down globally, the production of Pink Chaddis have contributed to rise in economy..

Our country is in threat of terrorist, riots, corruption, all of us are not sure if we would really go back home after a long days work. Not sure if our friends and relatives who are away, are really safe and there is always "if tomorrow comes". Why not St.Valentine's cast his magic on all of us. We need to exchange lot of love, friendship, warmth and of course hard work to mark our country on top of the globe.

Well!! Valentine's need to happen amongst all the politicians, in the real healthy sense, have one common ruling party, supported by team of various capacity and this could transform to healthy civic sense. As the saying goes Love begins from home...

I took an effort to list down very important people who always contributed in my day to day happening, and wished them on the Valentine's day.. My watchman who sincerely wipes my car, feels happy when I tell him he has done great job, a 70plus old thatha, always felt I should drive in style, my second help at home, a 18 yr old girl bharathi, I can live without my husband, but not her... she is as dynamic as Kiran bedi. Of course Sekar, who supplies water can to our house, "water water everywhere water but not a drop to drink...." Few years back he had a small auto to transport his water can, and today he moves in a mini lorry, lot of hard work. Manju akka, (I have learnt to call people with respect)she cleans our apartment, wipes the stair case, draws kolam at the entrance, this is how she earns to support her daughter who is doing an Engineering degree..Walks in with a smile every day morning, deliberately arranges my shoe rack, teaching me not to throw my shoes as soon as I reach home, in the evening. Evening Pookaramaa.. She resembles a lot of yester actor Saroja Devi, her customer service is what impresses me.

They did not understand why I wished them, but realised I really care and love for them. This was beginning to share our love to our fellow beings irrespective of caste, creed, status.. Let's not miss even one opportunity to tell someone how much we care and love for that person, and it is a great feeling.

Thanks to Ram sena Leaders, for anti- promotion campaign of ST. Valentine's day, it has created a lot of impact and in brand building the concept of "love" . Waiting for the next Valentine's day-year to come. My valetine's day was different this year, not like the one's in my earlier days, one in Dasprakash ice cream parlour, Drive-in-woodlands hotel, inside the car or at my workplace.

saa.ree.gaa maa...ANTAHEEN Endless....

AMI THUMAKI BALO BHASHI... this is my sign- off -note, with people I am very close to.A beautiful phrase in Bengali, one of my oldest "friendaa" taught me during my days at KJ Hospital, doing my master in Hospital Management. He was a Bong Doc who took classes on Anesthesia.

My childhood memories go around the Lake market, Chowranghee lane, eating softy softy ROSGULLA and MISTY DOHI, SINGRA, wearing muslin dress with lot of KADAI AND BHUNAI. Well, also hear from people that Bengalis inherit trait in MUSIC, being the janam bhumi of RABINDRANATH TAGORE.

A Surprise call from one of the team member of SAREGAMA Chennai to attend Video Press Conference for the Music Launch ..."Antaheen" was a MISTI NEWS... the much awaited Bengali film directed by Aniruddha Roy with a virtual galazy of stars starring Sharmila Tagore, Aparna Sen, Rahul Bose, renowned Cinmotographer Avik Mukhopadya. Shantanau Moitra's debut as a Music Director in Bengali Film. Shreya Ghosal, Shaan, Babul Supriya are few to name,. It was indeed an honor to be a part of this conference. The team shared all their niche, sweet experience in making of the music. Listening live, on web to Shreya Ghosal's number in the movie, was a real treat . The entire music is composed with five instruments, Keyboard, Base guitar, Guitar, acoustic trumpet, Madolin and tabla. Nice to know that recording was done with all the crew member of the movie, but not just by joining in bits and pieces of antaras and mukaras of the song. Listening to the audio, feel the instruments more than computers working on it, reminds of yester years Viswanathan Ramamurthy music composition in South. Not sure if these numbers would end with a remix after 10yrs.

Even during this hard times our country is facing, wondering the fate of press meets, events, branding opportunities, and this press meet on Video conference, from various part of India covering this exclusive launch, is Value for money and time. But, bad times for Event Managers.

ART, MUSIC, DANCE is the only medicine to pep up during HARD TIMES. ANTAHEEN, a full fledged melody collection is a real medicine for all us during this RECESSION ERA. chk out the audio from SAREGAMA .

Good, bad, ugly 2008..

All the leading Newspaper had a pull out of 2007-2008 flashback info on sports,music, dance,events, just about everything. On the contrary, with a PR as profession, end of every year, I clear my telephone book and chk on my new additions,and transfer the numbers to my new year Diary..this has been mine godly routine welcoming and preparing for the next year to come. Honestly, there are no deletion on numbers or contacts,with a smile I proudly pat myself on my shoulder for my PR skills.

This year, thro this blog, I list down very few great meetings I had. My meeting with these people purely based on my initiative to write to them, trace them in a public event, thro close associates and final gate crash...not a bad idea though.

The year started with SUKANYA RAMGOPAL the first Women Ghatam artist. A versatile artist to play 12 Ghatam at a time creating a unique fusion music. Not to mention, she is the great grand-daughter of U.Ve.Swaminathan Iyer, my dad said he is called ."Tamil Thatha. I did a small research too on this Thatha, Very interesting.

Women make their presence everywhere, proved with the second meeting of mine. ZOE SHERINIAN SHERINIAN An associate Music Professor from Univ of Oklahama, living in interiors of Madurai to research on THAPATARAI a brand music of DALITS. This is played only during Procession for the last rites. A English Women clad in Indian attire Pyjama Kurta drinking masala tea, and talking about Indian music. Very astonisining. This music reminded me of my teenage, when I used to imitate street dancers dancing to this particular beat.. great feeling.

My previous association with Animation and Special effects, helped me talk the same language, when I Met Mr.BRIAN JENNINGS, won multiple Oscar Awards for Hollywood special effects and also recently lay hands in making of tamil DASAVATHARAM. Thanks to Arena Animation Academy for giving me an apportunity to learn about special Effects.

The Times Pullout carried a slot on Indian sports wizards, my joy had no ends when I shouted PANKAJ ADVANI!! winner of WORLD Title for snooker. My meeting at Chennai Andhra Club,strictly for 10mnts allotment, drag to 45 mnts. I mentioned to him about my expert playing skills with "goli" or "kanche" a exciting game on streets. I used to play quite well with boys, when I was in teens...

Thanks to Mr.HARICHARAN, sir that's how I address him, I met Mr.CHANDRASEKAR , a national, international TT Player who won the ARJUNA AWARD. He taught me to live my life, and do what I like.. To know more about him log on to http://chandra.bigadda.com.

This year ended well, DRUMS SIVAMANI gave me just one hour prior notice to meet him at Green Part Vadapalani. First time, my car driving skills were tested. A very simple human being. I deliberatly took a picture, Iam a great fan of him.

A very bad and ugly times, when I did not get a parking space for my car in the office, but to walk a km up and down. When I picked up a fight in middle of RK salai signal with a fruit vendor trying to cross on wrong side. Fighting with my ADMIN manager for a petty issue - I never got along with Administration personnel right thro my career. They are too slow and lethargic.. Im sure it is the case everywhere.
Felt too upset, when one of my best friend at mumbai office was given a pink slip - RECESSION.

Hoping 2009, I get the best and also the once I have lost last year...

Usha Uthup of Carnatic Music...

Top U.S. honours for Aruna Sairam
It was a concert-cum-felicitation ceremony organised by Shri Vari Foundation in New York.

"The U.S. national flag was flown atop the Capitol building and handed over to Aruna Sairam and a special Congressional proclamation recognising her musical contribution was issued by the U.S. House of Representatives at a function held in New York.
It was a concert-cum-felicitation ceremony organised on August 16 by Shri Vari Foundation, an organisation to promote spirituality, music and dance, at Francis Lewis Auditorium in Queens, New York.
"Margazhi Mahotsavam, music fete in Chennai. Surpised to see and feel the same spirit, even after major natural, humane and economic calamity our nation is facing. But our culture and tradition is very closely linked to Music, Dance and Art, and we strongly believe that our unity is based not on religion but purely on Music, Dance and Art.

I could proudly mention, that I hail from a music background family, my maternal grandmother, a direct disciple of yester year VEENAI DHANAMMAL. She was also an AIR Veena player. A small portion of her gene has made me a great Bathroom Singer, and also learnt VEENA from popular VEENAI JAYLAKSHMI. Surprisingly I played very well and used my Granny's antique veena to practise at home. But today, the fingering on VEENA strings have trained me to use my laptop with style.. Also thanks to KUTCHERI BUZZ, and my professional teacher MR. VINCENT, my interest to sit through 3 hrs of long concert, and waiting to meet the artist and sell space for the famous "KUTCHERI BUZZ GUIDE" had made me write this blog on music.

7th Sunday, evening, I had to typically dress like a mylapore mami to listen to live Concert of Aruna Sairam for JAYA TV margazhi Mahotsavam, at 6.30 pm. Wanted to find a place in one of the prime rows in the front, like anyother rasika. The catch for most of the rasikas to chose the first three rows is to show their face on the camera.. of Jaya TV. My previous experience in the college to get into a running bus for a seat, really helped me. I got the third row, from the dias.

Wow !! sharp as schduled, curtain raised, and the sight was very godly. ARuna Sairam in a typical south Indian attire, with Kharthik Ghatam,( who has recently got Doctorate in percussion instrument - Ghatam)as one of the accompanist. Her choice of music was on OOTHUKADU, my favourite. Her tone, body language, selection of songs, interaction with the audience, always reminded me of pop singer USHA UTHUP. Also my observation, about her, right on the third song, she would promiently remove off her golden bangles, finger ring to feel at ease. That is her involvement to singing. Her feel at HOME -DIAS, has really made the rasikas very comfortable.
Her famous number - 'kalinganarthanam and "vishama kara Kannan' literally made the mami, and mamas to dance. She also had a remix of all oothukadu numbers.

Very surprisingly, my little knowledge on Oothukadu, was specialised composition on Lord Krishna, but this concert had songs on lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga and Goddess Durga.

The compere and the organisers literally had to drive the crowd and I saw god's creation in one hall. so many different faces, emotions, background jointly clapping hands and dancing to the music. Thanks to the singer for bringing this unity amongst us. More that 1000nos were the audience count.

Chennai not a good plot for Terrorist..

Chennai was flooded with rains during the last week of Nov.08. I explored walking from Nungambakkam to Mylapore after a long day's work. Of course, with my ipod on. Trying to reach "zerofigure". Passing by X drive-in- restaurant, one of my favourite hub, which is now a haunted place, Gangotree, on Cathedral road, I normally hang out with friends, Hot breads which is now renovated, owned by Mr. Mahadevan whom I really respect for his achievements, the old Music Academy, and of course, ARena Multimedia, my earlier office ....yes a long walk. I had to hide this trip of mine to my husband, who would start his series of advices, but with lot of concern for me. Huge tree falling on RK mutt road, and corporation labours trying to clear them off, barely equipped, torn clothes, barefoot, scarce road lights and not to forget open MANHOLES.

Rikshawpullers on move for their livelihood. Cursing our government and the politician, reached home , the entire family sitting in the drawing room, with folded hands watching WAH TAJ!! torn by Human Terrorist...saw a bigger picture of politician's inefficient management of our Country. By and large, today every body speak about this issue. On the contrary, related to this incident, my observation was on how Chennai'ts reacted to this... well!! I drove down to TAJ Chennai, burst out laughing when I saw 2 dark policemen, typical fat bellied ones guarding, Marriot, had a huge lock outside, of course the traffic police trying to stop trespassers, Two wheeler riders. At the end all of them escaped parting with Just Rs.50/-. A 50/- rupee note in Chennai would prove a great deal for the terrorist, would also have festival offers!!!. Of course, if the terrorist chose, Ranganathan street, by the time they enter the lane with armed forces, stinking crowd would sent them to hell. Well if the target was Valluvarkottam, Railway station, the pungent aroma would be a treat for the nostrils putting them to coma.. Not to mention, if the plot to enter Chennai thro KOOVAM river...

These few things really put me to a safe zone, and next day I woke up telling my daughter she is lucky to be reared in place like "Chennai"

Your comments please... Best entry, would enjoy a boat ride at KOOVAM RIVER.