What is your online footprint?

When you hear a name about a person whom you don't know personally, what is the first thing you would do? To me it totally depends on the context, and when the intention would be to know little more about the person, based on the context would issue a SEARCH online. If the context is at your work place, probably do a people search available in your intranet. If the context is outside your work place but in the vicinity of your work related arena, the search would be on Linked In. If the context is more personal my be a Social Search with mediums like Facebook and Orkut to see how well you are separated or to find the six degrees of separation between you and that person. And if the interest level is more, a search on the GOOGLE would give you more results. Based on the online foot print, to a certain extent you can gauge the personality of the person, be what ever context it might be. This consolidated foot print shall enable you to get going on how well you can connect with the other person. The new age social media has brought in a revelation where you could come to certain level of under standing about a particular person of interest. However what about people whose online foot print is very minimal, well we should resort the age old conventional models and it would be an intensive exercise on its own, and until the person meets face to face even the minimalistic judgment cannot be arrived at. My online foot print seems decent which encompasses the social collaboration networks (orkut,facebook,blogs,twitter), Work Place Network (Linked In, Oracle.com) and google in general highlighting my stint with various NGO's and other Social Sector Organizations. What is your online footprint?

A Decade gone..so much learnt yet so much still to offer.

With in few hours a decade would have passed by and wouldn't even realize how so many years have been gone. If i look back and see what this decade has given me, its been an overwhelming experience so far. I have got the best people around me who can always stand by me in any kind of situation and the kind of influence they had on me is paramount. I can't imagine if hadn't met these people how life would have been otherwise. Every moment spent with these guys has been a phenomenal. The fun time i have had, the good things we did, the knowledge that was exchanged, the ideas that were brain stormed, the initiative that took shape were truly a great learning experience. Carrying forward this experience I am for sure the new Decade has more to offer. Taking a leaf out of in the company of a good friend over the last six years " I want to keep the life Simple and Follow "BE GOOD, DO GOOD" and would want to stick it for the rest of the life. Thank you friends for always being there for me and I want the New Year for all of Us to be more Purposeful with loads of Fun.

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Encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai

Suvendu Roy of Titan Industries shares his inspirational encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai

Last Sunday, my wife, kid and I had to travel to Andheri from Bandra. When I waved at a passing auto rickshaw, little did I expect that this ride would be any different.

As we set off, my eyes fell on a few magazines (kept in an aircraft style pouch) behind the driver's back rest. I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel. My wife and I looked at each other with disbelief and amusement. In front of me was a small first-aid box with cotton, dettol and some medicines. This was enough for me to realise that I was in a special vehicle. Then I looked around again, and discovered more -there was a radio, fire extinguisher, wall clock, calendar, and pictures and symbols of all faiths - from Islam and Christianity to Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. There were also pictures of the heroes of 26/11- Kamte, Salaskar, Karkare and Unnikrishnan. I realised that not only my vehicle, but also my driver was special.

I started chatting with him and the initial sense of ridicule and disbelief gradually diminished. I gathered that he had been driving an auto rickshaw for the past 8-9 years; he had lost his job when his employer's plastic company was shut down. He had two school-going children, and he drove from 8 in the morning till 10 at night. No break unless he was unwell. "Sahab, ghar mein baith ke TV dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega." (Sir, what's the use of simply sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn some income, then it will be useful in the future.)

We realised that we had come across a man who represents Mumbai - the spirit of work, the spirit of travel and the spirit of excelling in life. I asked him whether he does anything else as I figured that he did not have too much spare time. He said that he goes to an old age home for women in Andheri once a week or whenever he has some extra income, where he donates tooth brushes, toothpastes, soap, hair oil, and other items of daily use. He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that read: "25 per cent discount on metered fare for the handicapped. Free rides for blind passengers up to Rs50?. He also said that his auto was mentioned on Radio Mirchi twice by the station RJs. The Marathi press in Mumbai know about him and have written a few pieces on him and his vehicle.

My wife and I were struck with awe. The man was a HERO! A hero who deserves all our respect. I know that my son, once he grows up, will realise that we have met a genuine hero. He has put questions to me such as why should we help other people? I will try to keep this incident alive in his memory.

Our journey came to an end; 45 minutes of a lesson in humility, selflessness and of a hero-worshipping Mumbai - my temporary home. We disembarked, and all I could do was to pay him a tip that would hardly cover a free ride for a blind man.

Some Pictures:

He has got a first aid box on the left and a newspaper box on right (which had all hindi-english- marathi-gujrati and economic times)

He has got a tv on the top with cable (I was watching colors channel) and below tat is the tissue box. on the left is the mandir types and dont miss the "Only gandhigiri" written there , below tat is the calender and a notepad and pen along with a blue fan (which is blowing towards the customer who sits)

Its amazing there are ppl still alive like him in this world!

I hope, one day, you too have a chance to meet Mr Sandeep Bachhe in his auto rickshaw - MH-02-Z-8508

Urgent appeal for millions affected by Cyclone AILA in India

As of Wednesday, 27 May 2009, more than 200 people are reported dead and an estimated 3 million displaced from their homes by Cyclone Aila that made landfall in eastern India on Sunday, May 25.

Please visit AID's site for regular updates from the ground. Rs. 10 Lakhs (Rs 1 million) has already been approved for Baikanthapur Tarun Sangha (BTS) working in the Sundarban region to provide food, water and temporary shelter to the affected.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), 13 districts in the state of West Bengal have been hit. However, the islands in the ecologically diverse Sunderbans delta have borne the brunt of the cyclone.

Those displaced are suffering acutely due to lack of food and clean water. "There is water everywhere. We could reach aid to only 10 percent of the affected population. We could not even airdrop food packets because of the flooding," Kanti Ganguly, West Bengal state minister for Sundarbans, told Reuters, as quoted in the Washington Post.

This is an hour we all must come together and show our wholehearted support for the cyclone victims. It is critical that the immediate needs such as food, clean water and medicine are provided to those affected.

AID is a volunteer movement, and a registered non-profit charitable organization. All donations are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and receipts will be issued. For online donation please click here.

Thanks to the support of the community AID has helped support relief and rehabilitation work following natural and human-made disasters, in various parts of India, including Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Assam. We worked with the flood relief in Bihar in 2008 and with the Tsunami relief effort since 2004.

Right now AID is actively working with several partner organizations in West Bengal for relief and rehabilitation of the survivors. It is committed ensure that the funds get dispatched at the earliest.

We hope you will help us maximize the support we can provide as quickly as possible. The need is dire and we all must act with the greatest possible urgency to rush aid and relief to those affected.

For further information on Cyclone Aila, please visit the following links:

AID INDIA Relief Work: http://aidindia.org/main/content/category/36/281/407/

The Hindu: http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/27/stories/2009052759951000.htm

The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/world/asia/28cyclone.html?r=1&hp

Believe in being the Change!

Not many people seem to understand the importance of being involved in the development sector at a grass root level or being involved in multiple activities which we are passionate about. Hope this blog posting is an eye opener for all those individuals who don't dare to be different rather lead a conventional life without any challenges and yet feel proud. The triggering point for this posting is a discussion i have had with couple of elderly folks recently with whom i shared my thoughts on the different things i am involved like theater group, working with NGO's focusing on life skills among children, a group involved in creating a clean environment, an e-magazine focusing on social-sector, helping individuals connect to organizations for volunteering - all these besides work. I appreciate few people asking how come i am involved in so many stuff, simple answer stretch my selves that extra bit which gives me greater sense of satisfaction and at the same time keeps me motivated and deliver 100% at Work and being a responsible son and carrying out all the house hold activities that i am supposed to. However i am extremely pissed off with the people who think that all we have to do is be involved in the company we work for and the people at home, and don't be bothered about anything else. These are those self centered cocoons who are 9AM-6PM office slaves who can never think BIG and never realise the potential that they could have to transform the society they live in into a much better place and these are the same crowd who will crib about the system of not doing anything for them or for the public at large and think too many times when they think of getting associated with the other end of the spectrum. Well i place these people in the narrow minded buckets who can never think out of their sphere and be speculative about other people who do such things.

Imagine if this has been the thought that people thrived up on when civilization started and we wouldn't have had so much progress if we haven't thought about the community we live in or the society that needs us. And i don't consider myself to have influenced the society to that great extent or belong to league of social workers and not even after i was featured in a mumbai based magazine couple of years back on the eve of 50 years of independence (zoom to see the adjoining scanned cut out) , however i feel myslef to be lucky to get a chance to atleast influence few lives in whatever i way could. I always believed in Being the Change to actually see the change and never be a narrow brainer instead attack the problems at the grass root level more strategically if it means devoting some time to those organizations on a consistent basis and be a change maker. If you still feel that i am into too many things and appear confused, i pity for not looking at the Big picture as I am Well Mixed and this sentiment is well reflected in all my blog posts so far and its time for those who think otherwise to introspect the true meaning of a being a Human...

Chicken a la Carte

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I wan't to be a PM!

I remember winning an essay competition in school on "What you would do if you become a PM?". When i look back the topic seems so funny, yet it has instilled certain thought process on what are things that needs attention and has to be improved. However with the 15th Loksabha elections underway it seems like there are way too many people who wants to be the PM yet not knowing whats the importance of this honour of being the PM of a vibrant democratic country. The congress has fielded the best candidate who time and again has proved the world he is best for the job, and the BJP has the candidate who has been waiting for quite a considerable time, However with the Third and Foruth Front emerging who seem to have too many backs without any proper and everybody claims to be a PM candidate. Starting from DeveGowda, Mayawati Ji, Chandrababu (If his "Mahakootami" which seems to make all kinds of noise wins a considerable LS seats) , Amma, Sharad Pawar and now to add this List Mr Lalu, i wonder why the left brigade's the Karat's and yechuri's 'aren't thinking to be in the race so that they can make thinks progress backwards in the coming times. Probably the first time in the history where we get to hear so many names and wonder if the inspiraration is "Obama" or the hunger for "Power". Are these third, fourth, fifth front candidates worth to lead the nation? Do they have any sense of purpose in filling the candidature? Have they contemplated on what are the reforms they are going to bring in if they become PM rather just thinking to be a PM? What is the ultimate objective behind aspring for such a post? This is not an essay writing stuff where everybody want's to be a PM(even that had what would you do if you are a PM) instead they should think do they fit the bill or what they are going to do if they are going to be a PM. Just because the policitcal parties can play some foul games of post poll alliances everybody is aspiring for that, but we have seen in the past how well they can justify their job or atleast for how long can they withhold the job? For all we know all they would list 10 backs with all the fronts and lead the nation 6 months each and may be transfer another 50K Crores to their swiss bank accounts, No wonder every a$$ wants to be a PM in the era of a Coalition Politics...