To Syed

To Syed…

It’s still sinking. I’m finding it hard to believe my own eyes.

It’s ironic to say back your trademark words “Perseverance pays”. Even if it does, you wouldn’t be around to see that happen. Dude, you let us down.

Many a times, I was awestruck by your grit and determination. What made you do this cowardly act? If you ever thought your pain ends with your episode, you were wrong. All you did was to pass it to your close ones. Do they deserve this?

When things were falling in place and to your favor, you could have faced a few hours of solitude and melancholy with a mighty heart. Happiness was just a few yards away mate.

Sleep in Peace.

Khuda hafiz,

Srikrish

On crimes and punishments!!

Interest rates may get slashed, home loan rates may get slashed but crime rate in India is always on the rise. If we ponder for a few minutes, we can squarely blame our punishment system for this trend.

The very second page of any Indian news paper is perpetually packed with rape incidents to pedophile on the prowl to gun running gangsters to traffic violators to pimps and brothels. A stringent yet "Non-capital" punishment will certainly bring down these atrocities. 

A rapist should forcefully undergo sex-change operation and get tattooed on the forehead "once a rapist". 

A pedophile needs to be forcefully used in a bomb disposal assignment without basic protection.

A corrupt official will have to give away his entire assets to PM relief fund and left to start all over again.

An eve teaser should be forced to clean toilets of a women college for a day. 

A traffic defaulter's vehicle should be punctured.

Repetitive defaulter's vehicle's fuel talk should be injected with sugar syrup.

A gangster should have his thumbs cut off.

The crime may be different. However, if we award the right kind of "TREATMENT" to these weeds; I foresee a much better society in the making. 

More suggestions on well thought punishments are welcome!!

srikrish

Why can't I??

Well... here's a short poem/tribute for one of my friends who has started a small venture. I wish him the very best in all his future endeavours.

Best of men have proved it right
All you need is grit to fight
Falling down is not a sin
That’s the start; closer to win

If you care to see them all
Their starting days were filled with falls
Hadn’t they fought to stand again
Wouldn’t have known the waiting gain

There’s nothing that comes free of cost
Thinking so would get you lost
Luck would favour those who try
Success ahead; so don’t you cry

Those who made it big and high
Endured the pain; but not a sigh
They marched ahead and aimed the sky
Shouting; If they can do.. why cant I??

srikrish

Executive What... Part II

For those who have read prologue of this post (http://srikrish.blogspot.com/2008/06/executive-what.html) .. know what pain a recruiter could go through, if he or she fails to explain what executive search is to their respective moms / moms-in-law(new inclusion)! There are many more such seemingly innocent questions that moms have about this (**marked altruistic) profession that leaves one spell bound!

Well.. I managed to explain to my mom that though Govindan and I do similar work.. they are DEFINITELY not the same. So my mom now can explain what "executive search" is!! She can probably talk about retained /contingent / exclusive assignments!! Whoaaa... now that’s a rocket science!

** She now goes out of the way to explain my role to people who make a mistake of asking my whereabouts!

We all live with assumptions. My mom is no exception.. She thinks that her son walks with “free-to-distribute” jobs in his pockets and “Please him… and walk out with a brand new job offer”.

Yet another tele-con transcript: (I’m a silent audience)

Mom: Hello xyz… blah bhah…..

XYZ(My Aunt): blah.. blah… Arun(my cousin) is looking for a job. Ask Sri get him a job. (Arun is a fresh BE grad from Bannariamman Institute of Technology and Science : Read BITS ).

Mom: No problem.. I will ask Sri to get him a job at the earliest!

I wanted to say : (Boing!!!!!!!! Mom.. Also ask her to send her father-in-laws CV too… he is just 74 and can still be placed by Sri).

Aunt: Ok.. I will ask Arun to send his CV to Sri. (after multiple corrections she got my mail id right).

--- End of Call---

Me: Amma… I cant find myself a job if my boss kicks me out and you are propogating me as a job minting machine. I’m no PC Sircar and cant get jobs for ppl from nowhere.

Amma: Sri… you are being mean. I see that you get good jobs for people with huge salaries and you cant even get a job for Arun who almost grew up by your shadow.

I made her sit on the couch and started explaining things again..

Me: Amma… look… I want to redefine my work a bit. So.. erase the previous definitions.

Mom: Now what??

Me: See… I’m like a cashier at a bank. OK??? I have loads of money in my box. I even can count it … but cannot give it to everybody just because they asked me or I’m sitting over a trunk of piled up cash. That how it is!

Mom: Ahh.. I see. But I still cant believe that. You say you placed a CEO the other day. Wont he absorb Arun if you ask that gentleman to do so??

Me: Hmm… I wish I could… but it still doesn’t work that ways.

Me: OK. Let me put it this way. I’m like a Pizza delivery boy. I can carry jobs; smell jobs but cant keep it to my self or give it to my near ones. I need to deliver it to the right door. Else, I loose my job (that too within 30 mins)!!

Mom: You confused me too much… are you a Search guy OR a cashier OR a Pizza boy?

Me: All of them! That exactly what a recruiter is!

Srikrish.

Executive what???

I'm not sure how many moms know what their sons/daughters do for their living. I mean... the profession of "their kids". They might know in a broad perspective as to where it falls but not about the designation or the complications involved. Heres what transpired between my mom and me when I tried explaining my job.

Rider:

************

I work for a leading Search and Selection firm in India - assisting big MNCs and niche start-ups find leadership talent. (At least, thats what I'm supposed to say to ppl for a briefer).

************
My mom has a faint idea that I did my masters specializing in HR.. and hence of the belief that her son is shooting down stars in that arena. Well... that’s more than what she needs to know for a peaceful life. Good.

One fine day, I saw my mom talking to her long lost friend over the phone... exchanging pleasantries, old time memories, recent gossips and about their respective kids. *Question from the other end of the phone: So.. whats Sri doing. Was a puny little thing with a red "chaddi" and running nose when I saw him last. (Gosh!! the colour "RED" + runnign nose - Did I ever exist??)

Well... he is a grown boy.. sorry.. young man... married with a daughter. "HE IS WORKING IN SOME / AS SOME HR".(what does that mean). The all understanding blessed soul at the other end reports about her side of story and manages to hangup.

Mom asks: Shall I serve dinner??

Me: Yes Ma... by the way... do you really know what I really do at my office??

Mom: Yes.. some HR stuff!

Me: Ma... I'm into "executive search"

Mom: executive WHAT??

Me: Search... We scout for senior people in the industry and connect them with suitable opportunities/organisations.

Mom: That sounds like what Govindan does..

***Govindan is a marriage broker. hooks up prospective bride and grooms.

I didn't know what to say.. I paused for a couple of seconds and said... amma... konjam sambar oothu (Serve me some sambar).

srikrish

An angel disguised?

Oh my own…What pains more?
Sting of a bee or the words so sore?
How could you bear my venomous tongue?
For all that crap and rotten dung

You proved then and yet again
You loved me more when I gave all pain
I squared you and saw you flamed
Oh my own… I’m ashamed!

Not a word or sigh came out
Patient lady; you heard me shout
You let me finish that entire roar
Oh my own… a sounding board??

Angel face with a heart to pardon
You made me realize what I’ve done
With no harsh words but a hug to cheer
I heard you whisper “I’m here”.

Your touch was true and love so real
It turned me sane or so did I feel..
Are you my wife or an angel disguised?
What did I do to get you in my life?

Should I write an ode (on you)
Or should I take an oath
But..Whatever I do
I’ll never hurt you.

srikrish

Trance of transition…

Saturday, 23 October 2004: Its midnight and Man Utd takes on Arsenal… 2 Crates of Beer Cans, Sri with a bunch of boys, a dozen Packs of cigarretes and a bucket filled to its quarter to serve the purpose of a mammoth ashtray.

Sunday, 21 October 2007: Its midnight and My Boss would take on my Arse if I don’t finish the report before 10 AM Tomorrow. By the way, set alarm at 4 AM to feed the baby.

…!!

Everybody goes through some transition or other… and they go through it at regular intervals. I think that’s life’s protocol. Come to think of it… the initial part of any transition is a state of trance. You feel like a Zombie… i.e. you don’t get to know that you are in a transition mode until the fag end. Suddenly, world looks different, priorities change, thoughts crystallize (foot smells, nose runs..) and you feel you are a “different you”.

Today… I care a damn if Man U wins or it’s Arsenal. I don’t even know if there’s a match happening tonight or if Thierry Henry nets it for Barca. Not that I have lost it for the game. Its like… my priorities have changed…. I know Aditi has her next dose of booster on 2nd of November and she weighs 12 kgs. We are majorly contemplating this idea of changing her solid foods from Dal Palak and Wheat Apple again. Should we be increasing Aditi’s intake of “NAN-2” from 4 Oz to 6 OZ?? Myriad questions and answers. The father in me takes the precedence…

From a Zombie to a Daddy… in 1000 days flat. Now.. that’s what I call transition. Or should I call it “trance-ition”.

Hang on… Somy’s calling….

What??? How much… 4 Ounces???



srikrish