Sanjay Raval

Web Designer - Bangalore, India

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Don’t Be Serious, Be Sincere

Today someone sent me the following excerpt of a speech made by Chetan Bhagat at Symbiosis, one of India’s top business schools. The New York Times has called Chetan the ‘the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history’. Thought I’d share it with you.

Don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One thing about nurturing the spark – don’t take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up?

It’s ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices.

Don’t be serious, be sincere.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

What killed Ranjan Das and Lessons for Corporate India

A month ago, many of us heard about the sad demise of Ranjan Das from Bandra, Mumbai. Ranjan, just 42 years of age, was the CEO of SAP-Indian Subcontinent, the youngest CEO of an MNC in India. He was very active in sports, was a fitness freak and a marathon runner. It was common to see him run on Bandra's Carter Road. Just after Diwali, on 21st Oct, he returned home from his gym after a workout, collapsed with a massive heart attack and died. He is survived by his wife and two very young kids.

It was certainly a wake-up call for corporate India. However, it was even more disastrous for runners amongst us. Since Ranjan was anavid marathoner (in Feb 09, he ran Chennai Marathon at the same time some of us were running Pondicherry Marathon 180 km away), the question came as to why an exceptionally active, athletic person succumb to heart attack at 42 years of age.

Was it the stress?
A couple of you called me asking about the reasons. While Ranjan had mentioned that he faced a lot of stress, that is a common element in most of our lives. We used to think that by being fit, one can conquer the bad effects of stress. So I doubted if the cause was stress.

The Real Reason
However, everyone missed out a small line in the reports that Ranjan used to make do with 4-5 hours of sleep. This is an earlier interview of Ranjan on NDTV in the program 'Boss' Day Out':
http://connect.in.com/ranjan-das/play-video-boss-day-out-ranjan-das-of-sap-india-229111-807ecfcf1ad966036c289b3ba6c376f2530d7484.html
Here he himself admits that he would love to get more sleep (and that he was not proud of his ability to manage without sleep, contrary to what others extolled).

The Evidence
Last week, I was working with a well-known cardiologist on the subject of ‘Heart Disease caused by Lack of Sleep’. While I cannot share the video nor the slides because of confidentiality reasons, I have distilled the key points below in the hope it will save some of our lives.

Some Excerpts:

· Short sleep duration (<5 style="font-size:130%;">Ideal Sleep
For lack of space, I cannot explain here the ideal sleep architecture. But in brief, sleep is composed of two stages: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM. The former helps in mental consolidation while the latter helps in physical repair and rebuilding. During the night, you alternate between REM and non-REM stages 4-5 times.

The earlier part of sleep is mostly non-REM. During that period, your pituitary gland releases growth hormones that repair your body. The latter part of sleep is more and more REM type.

For you to be mentally alert during the day, the latter part of sleep is more important. No wonder when you wake up with an alarm clock after 5-6 hours of sleep, you are mentally irritable throughout the day (lack of REM sleep). And if you have slept for less than 5 hours, your body is in a complete physical mess (lack of non-REM sleep), you are tired throughout the day, moving like a zombie and your immunity is way down (I’ve been there, done that L)

Finally, as long-distance runners, you need an hour of extra sleep to repair the running related damage.

In conclusion:
Barring stress control, Ranjan Das did everything right: eating proper food, exercising (marathoning!), maintaining proper weight. But he missed getting proper and adequate sleep, minimum 7 hours. In my opinion, that killed him.
If you are not getting enough sleep (7 hours), you are playing with fire, even if you have low stress.
I always took pride in my ability to work 50 hours at a stretch whenever the situation warranted. But I was so spooked after seeing the scientific evidence last week that since Saturday night, I ensure I do not even set the alarm clock under 7 hours. Now, that is a nice excuse to get some more sleep. J

Unfortunately, Ranjan Das is not alone when it comes to missing sleep. Many of us are doing exactly the same, perhaps out of ignorance. Please forward this mail to as many of your colleagues as possible, especially those who might be short-changing their sleep. If we can save even one young life because of this email, I would be the happiest person on earth

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Is Baar Nahin - A poem Prasoon Joshi wrote after the Mumbai terror attacks





Is baar nahin
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

(This time when that little girl comes to me with her bruises, I will not blow gently at her wound, nor distract her, I will let her pain grow.
Not this time.)


Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

(This time when I see pain on faces
I will not sing the song that eases pain
I will let the pain seep in, deep�.
Not this time.)

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

(This time I won't apply any balm
Nor will I ask you to shut your eyes
and turn your head
While I gingerly apply medicine
I will let everyone see the open, naked wounds�
Not this time.)

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

(This time when I see difficulty, uneasiness
I will not run to solve the problems
I will let them become complicated�
Not this time.)

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

(This time I won't pick up my tools as a matter of duty
I will not make a new beginning
Nor will I stand as an example of one dedicated to my job
I will not let life easily return to normalcy
I will let it descend into muck, on the twisting paths
I will not let the blood on the walls dry out
Nor will I let its colour fade away
This time I won't let it become so helpless
That you can't tell blood from paan-spit
Not this time.)

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se
Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

(This time the wounds need to be watched
Carefully
For a long time
Some decisions are needed
And then some brave moves to be made
We have to begin somewhere�
This time this is what I have resolved)

... Prasoon Joshi

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Typical Conversation Between Lovers

Note: The Conversation in the brackets {} contain the words which the guy is daring to speak but only with himself!!!


She gives a missed call to him … and He calls her back…

She: Hello!
He: {are yaar...Raat ke 10 bajte nahin ki iski 2-2 second waali missed calls shuru…pata nahi aaj kya bore karegi}
Hi ...kya baat hai..?

She: kuch nahi...bas aise hi phone kiya...
He: {Aise hee ??? Yeh kya Radio Station hai ki aise hee ...!! Aur Call kahan kiya ?... khali missed call to diya hai, roz ki tarah...}
oh...ok ..kya kar rahi thi ??

She: abhi abhi dinner khatam kiya...tum kya kar rahe the?
He: {mai to lunch karke utha hoon na}
Mera bhi abhi abhi dinner khatam hua.. ab...."Ladki Kyon Najaane Kyon" sun raha hu FM par....

She: nice song… (And then she hums a line from the song "Hum Tum")
He: {Yaaaaaaaaarrrrr …kyun bola gaane ka naam .. Ab ye Madonna saare raag gaa degi yaheen}
Hey!!!! Tum itni achchi gaati ho? mujhe pata hi nahi tha ..

She: *giggles*
He: {Ohhhho kya hansti hai .. aisa lag raha hai koi gaadi start kar raha hai}
Hey ek aur baar gaao na pls!

She: Yehan sab so rahe hai... Agar main gaaongi to sab uth jaaenge…
He: {Ekdum Correct...woh yehi samjhenge ki koi paagal, kisi baat par naraaz ho gayi hai ...}
Come on! Please!

She: Hattt ...I don't sing that well
He: {Yeh to saari duniya ko pata hai... paka kyun rahi hai}
It was really sweet. Please gaao na dear …

She: Mujhe kuch ajeeb sa lagta hai jaan …
He: {mujhe tujhse jyada ajeeb lagta hai, dekh phir bhi shaheed hone ko tayaar baitha hoon}
Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai jaanu...gaao na
He: {mere ko doosra raasta nahi hai....is liye bola}
Abhi tum gaaogi ya nahi ?

She: kyun pareshaan kar rahe ho?
He: Acchha ! Ok Nahi karta

She: I don't have that great a voice ... ye to aise hee gaa diya tha ... warna mai nahin gaati
He: {Fir aise hee ??? bada ehsaan karti agar nahin gaati … kaan mai se khoon nikalne waala hai... saala gadha bhi sharma jaaye
teri awaaz sunke…}
hmmmm

She: Theek hai... jab itni zid kar rahe ho... sirf ek stanza gaaungi theek hai??
He: {Abbe teri !!! fas gayaaaaa ... shittttt … aur kya kya jhelna padega malum nahi…}
Great!!!!

She: kaunsa gaana gaau ?
He: {Tum kuch bhi gaao... meri to aaj by default neend haraam hai…}
Hmmmm… 'Mahiya' from Awarapan?

She: Nice song. But mujhe lyrics yaad nahi hai
He: {Thank God ... Text book chhodke tujhe aur kya pata hai bol ...}
Dhoom Machale?

She: Nahi main wohi gaana gaaungi
He: {Aye tere nakhre ... mai to jaise mara jaa raha hoon teri awaaz sun ne ke liye Shakira … koi bhi gaana gaa....mere kaan to pakne waale hai}
Cool

(She clears her throat, hums a line and then)
She: Nahi jaan… I am feeling very shy!
He: {Tu shuru kyun hoti hai … ek bar shuru hokar khatam kyun nahin karti jaldi jaldi... ab kya Eden Gardens book karun, tab gayegi}
Gaao na...pls gaao na....teri awaaz ki samundar me main doob jaana chahta hoon

She: dekho...ab tum mujhe naaraaz kar rahe ho …
He: {Achchha ab tujhe manaane mai poore sheher ko phool leke bhejun kya}
No no... Tum shy feel kar rahi ho na... is liye... Trying to make u comfortable …

She: Hmmm…
He: {Ye makkhi ki tarah kya shuru ho gayi}
Please gaao na darling...

She: Main kal gaaun?
He: {Haaaaaannnn...jaaan bachi... nikal leta hoon...abhi mauka hai}
Theek hai jaisi tumhaari merzi

She: Hmmm
He: Good night

She: Good night
She: Sweet Dreams… Take care...
He: Sweets dreams to u too... {kaahe ke sweet dreams .. sone degi tab na ayenge dreams …abhi 2 minute mein fir call karegi}

After a while She calls Him (sorry...that never happens, she gives only a missed call)

She: Hey… so gaye the kya?
He: {Nahiii...current ka aavishkaar kar raha tha...}
Nahi jaan

She: kya kar rahe ho?
He: {Raat ko kya gili danda khelna hai...}
Match dekh raha tha

She: Theek hai tum match dekho
He: {phone rakhegi to dekhunga na... ya tu running commentary sunayegi}
Hey it's ok... purana match hai

She: Did u feel bad I didn't sing?
(Since it is a tricky question, He thinks for a while)
He: {Bad eh? Crazy girl... this was the luckiest day in my life, since you didn't sing}
Bad toh main nahi keh raha jaanu. But I want you to be comfortable first.... tumhi ne bola ki main kal gaaungi.....
So, me waiting… {maine to socha tha ki aaj bach gaya... dhatttt tereki L}

She sings 1 stanza from the song

'Jiski aankhon me meri hi nami.....'

He: Wow. Too good!

She: jhoot....mujhe maloom hai ki meri awaaz itni achchi nahi hai
He: {Saamne aa jaa, fir bataata hoon... pagal kar diya... chalo shukr hai self realization hai ... J}
Nahi darling you really sing well

She: nahi..mujhe maloom hai tum bas aise hi keh rahe ho
He: {Very good.. aakhir tumne pata laga hi liya.....kyun bhagwaan kyun !! mere saath ye julm kyun}
Cheee! Cheee! teri voice agar itni buri hoti to main kya ab tak na sun raha hota

She: Hmmmm...theek hai.. good night.. ab tum bhi so jaao…
He: {Achcha mil gayi permission ... waise tera gaana sunne ke baad neend kahan aayegi ab ...}
Good night!

She: Take care
He: You too

She: Hey....
He: {Arrre yaar.. aaj ye nahi chhodegi} kya hai sweety?

She: sach bataao honey..meri voice achchi hai ya nahi...
He: {Tu apni voice record karke sun kyon nahi leti ek baar !! dimaag ka dahi kar rakha hai .. lassi banaake peeja mere dimaag ki}
sachchi... Of course.

She: sirf jhoot
He: {Iski toh... !! jab pata hai to mujhse kya singing sensation ka award legi !! phata dhol…}
Not at all. You sing very well…

She: Hmmm.... tum keh rahe ho to theek hi hoga. Good night.
He: Good Night!!{If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right..}

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Nanna Naughty - My son Hiten










Friday, July 22, 2005

Car for Sale

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Babbar Sher - Radio City

aap kitne aachhe ho....

background music: tung

aap kitne aachhe ho....
aap kitne pyare ho....


background music: tung tung

aap kitne aachhe ho....
aap kitne pyare ho....
aap kitne sundar ho...


background music: tung tung tung


aap kitne aachhe ho....
aap kitne pyare ho....
aap kitne sundar ho...
aap kitne saache ho...


background music: tung tung tung tung

aur ek hum hai ki jhoot pe jhoot bole hi ja rahe hai !!!
audience: !!!!!


Teenager bachon ki chinta tab satane lage,
Teenager bachon ki chinta tab satane lage

Jab munni hothon pe lipstick lagane lage,
aur munna hothon se lipstick hatane lage


Use pane ki koi aas nahi hai

audience : lagta, hai gaheri chot khayi hai....

Ki Use pane ki koi aas nahi hai

Vajah yeh bhi hai, woh dikhne mai kuch khas nahi hai

audience : wah wah...

Use pane ki koi aas nahi hai
Vajah yeh bhi hai, woh dikhne mai kuch khas nahi hai

aur gold medalist hoti to shayad chal jata,
kambakht woh ek bhi subject mai pas nahi hai..............


Durakht ke paymane pe chilman E husn ka furkat se sharmana...
Durakht ke paymane pe chilman E husn ka furkat se sharmana...

Ye line samajh me aaye to mujhe zaroor batana


Aur bhi cheezain bahut see lut chuki hain dil ke saath
Ye bataya dooston ne ishq furmane ke baad;
Is liye kamre ki ek ek cheez "check" karta hoon main"
Ek tere aane se pehle, ek tere jaane ke baad"(wah-wah)


Kash mere dard ki tujhe aise saja mile,
Kash mere dard ki tujhe aesi saja mile,

audience : ghahere jakhm lagte hai

Kash mere dard ki tujhe aise saja mile,
Kash mere dard ki tujhe aesi saja mile,

Tujhe aayi ho bade jor se SUSU,
Aur kanhi karne ki jagah na mile


Book khulti hai...exam ka sama hota hai.
Aise mausam me hi to dimag kharab hota hai.
Dimag ki baate paper par nahi ati..
ye fasana to MARKSHEET par baya hota hai !!!


Agra ka Tajmahal,delhi ka kutubminar dekha hai
Kuch is tarah se Haseenon ka pyaar dekha
hai Unhe khilane pilaane main hui hai yeh haalat
Kasam khuda ki,Cinema bhi udhaar dekha hai


Taarif k kaabil hum kaha,
charcha to aapki chalti hai,
Sab kuch hai aap k paas,
Bus 2 seeng aur 1 pooch ki kami khalti hai.


tuje kya pata gum kise kahete hai?
are tuje kya pata gum kise kahete hai?
are tuje kya pata gum kise kahete hai?
tune to celotape ka hi use kiya hai.


upar wale ne jub tuje banaya hoga,
ek surur sa uske dil mein chhaya hoga,
phele to sochha jannat main rakhlu,
baad main use circus ka khayal aaya hoga.


Khuda kare tera mobile kho jaye.
Mile mujhe aur mera ho jaye.
Karu SMS ladkion ko naam tera aae.
Maar tujhe pade aur kaleja mera thanda ho jae.


Tumhare liye main chand taare tod du,
Honda city,opel,mecedez tak chod du,
Darling itna kaafi hai ya,
do char jhuth aur bole du!!


Woh Aayi Main Aaya
Woh Baith Gayi Main Bhi Baitha Gaya
Par Woh Hasi Toh Main Bhag Gaya


koi gam nahi,phir bhi mann udas hai,
koi rasta nahi,phir bhi ek aas hai,
kehne ko hai bahut apne,par tu hi 1 khaas hai,
Zyada senti mat ho,ye sab bakwas hai! Wah wah!


wo to aaj bhi hume dekh ke muskurate hai,
wo to aaj bhi hume dekh ke muskurate hai,
ye to unke bacche hi kamine hai jo mama-mama bulate hai.


Dark were those days, without your sight.
When I was in darkness, you gave me light.
You gave me strength 2 make life bright.
Thank you so much PHILIPS TUBELIGHT


dil do kisi ek ko,kisi nek ko,
jo smajhe ishq ki nazakat ko,
jab tak saccha dildar na mile,
try karte raho har ek ko.