PLANNING RUNS PARALLEL WITH SUCCESS

                                                                - MILAN K SINHA

"Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing". - Thomas Alva Edison.

We all know where there is inadequacy of resources - may it be time, money, energy, goods, minerals, machines or whatever, vis-a-vis its requirement, management of resources comes into play and with management planning runs parallel as an integral component. Planning has been at the core of any big or small projects, particularly in our professional world, where everyone is beset with plethora of assignments to be completed within a time limit and as per the quality specifications. Even in our domestic matters, planning plays an important and comforting role.

Paul "Bear" Bryant, famous football coach asserts this in these words, "Have a plan. Follow the plan, and you'll be surprised how successful you can be. Most people don't have a plan. That's why it's easy to beat most folks".

Interestingly, planning in itself is a unique and thoughtful task which requires lots of inputs as it is regarded as one of the important time and event/task management technique. In fact, it prepares the road map with requisite details for reaching the desired goal. The planning process incorporates various strategies such as organizing, deputizing, supervising, recognizing, rewarding etc. with necessary check and balances to be reviewed periodically in totality.

Moreover, every planning process does have cushion for effecting last minute changes, if at all warranted. It also keeps alternatives ready in case some course correction becomes imperative, because we know absolutely well that every time everything does not go strictly as per the planning due to its dependence on both controllable as well as non-controllable variables.

It is undoubtedly correct to say that perfect planning takes care of unforeseen and unplanned as well, in such a fashion that for onlookers it looks like a very smooth and planned activity. Undoubtedly, planning is basically a proactive and dynamic process full of suspense and certainties, which we all experience and enjoy in our life in varying degrees.

When I thought of writing on this subject, I did plan to share with you two excellent quotes before signing off. Here are those:

"Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true". - Lester Robert Bittel, Author and Management expert.

“Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” - Warren Buffett, American business magnate and investment wizard.

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

          Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published in Patna daily.com

# Do visit my site, milanksinha.com

THE ART OF MANAGING STRESS TO ENJOY LIFE

                                                 - MILAN K SINHA

The world is changing fast - socially, economically, technologically, politically and culturally, and so is our country. The pace of this change has been faster in corporate world with the advent of the famous concept of LPG -Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization.

It is simply interesting to find many Indians, even those who don't understand fully the meaning of GDP talk in terms of this term. Ironically, however, very few of us talk loudly in public about improvement in quality of human life with GDP growth.

Young professionals seeking remedy for stress malady talk straight against creating a compelling work environment purposefully for achieving, at times even seemingly unachievable, business targets more by crook than by hook. Unfortunately, this is becoming the order of the day in many companies, more noticeably in Indian IT as well as Financial Sectors.

As a corollary, the natural character of our daily routine undergoes changes for the worse, more particularly for our urban working population. The reasons may be many and may also seem to be genuine and compelling, but in the bargain we are confronted with stress, stress and more stress.

Obviously, changing the natural course of life at will or worse under compulsion, doctors opine, creates a highly stressful situation which affects not only our health but also the health of our family at large since it has multidimensional impact on our life. Believe it or not, it is a very big and serious issue for all progressive HR managers and wellness consultant across the world.

Yes, the stress level has been going up, everyone agrees, if not talk openly. But, except visiting a doctor and taking sleeping pills, is there any easy and doable solution to begin with? Can effecting a change in our lifestyle, behavior pattern and thought process help in this regard? Definitely, there are a few we can discuss here.

The first thing we should do is to avoid imitating others blindly. Making our life a copy-paste version will not lead us to a happy and contented life. On the contrary, we should sincerely try to know ourselves. And, in turn, find ourselves and be ourselves always endeavoring for further improvement in one’s personality by positive thoughts, actions and engagements.

Instead of being submissive or aggressive in one’s behavior, it is desirable to be assertive since assertive behavior encompasses the qualities of being confident, mature, frank, balanced, objective, dynamic, decisive, competent, humorous, relaxed and logical. The assertive attitude must be backed by an honest, transparent, and committed approach.

The human tendency, you will agree, has been to think and worry about what we haven’t rather than think what we have, even though; generally most of the things in our lives are right. In fact, we have been in the habit of counting our curses and not the blessings. Undoubtedly, this is the greatest tragedy and it has probably caused more misery than all the wars and diseases in the history. Adopting and practicing ‘Think and Thank’ philosophy in our day to day life helps mitigate avoidable stress significantly.

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

                Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.
# Published in Patna Daily.com 

# Do visit my site, milanksinha.com

JP AND LOHIA : TWO GREAT SONS OF MOTHER INDIA

                                                                                 - MILAN K SINHA

Today every Indian is feeling thoroughly agitated on unprecedented price rise and incidence of large scale corruption mainly due to fast deterioration in standard of Indian polity.

Politics of power has overtaken politics of service, high standards of morality and high principles in public life have very little place in Indian politics now. Corruption, favoritism, nepotism, regionalism together with money power, muscle power and manipulative power are recognized as basic requirements for a person wishing to go up the political ladder. No means are too debased, no methods too degrading and no tricks too mean. Actually, the end justifies the means today.

Obviously, the toiling masses of the country are pained and disgusted to see all these changes. Their hardships have been mounting and mushrooming over the years. To say the least, the impact of this worsening political situation is noticeable in every sphere of our public life.

Naturally, at this critical stage the name of two great sons of mother India, Ram Manohar Lohia and Jai Prakash Narayan comes to our mind. We pay tribute to JP on his Birth Anniversary on 11th October and to Lohia on his Death Anniversary on 12th October.

Before moving further to discuss the life and works of both JP and Lohia in some detail, it is pertinent to share particularly with our 550 million youths that a number of famous present day political leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav are known well for claiming to be the true disciple and follower of JP and/or Lohia who are, naturally, making headline news for taking his legacy and political philosophy forward. Political analysts and research scholars may be requested to examine the claims of these present day socialist leaders in right perspective to enable the masses to know the reality.

Both of JP and Lohia always laid emphasis on moral values in all our affairs, private as well as public, on means and on ends, also on democratic institutions and individual freedom. They left memorable impression on the Indian political scene because of their fighting spirit, moral stature, rugged personal integrity, tremendous sacrifices and their remarkable honesty. They were great revolutionary both in thought and action, who worked tirelessly for the country without any lust for power or fame, although both of them were far more eligible and deserving than many leaders who occupied the highest offices in the country.

During the course of Total Revolution Movement JP said, “Since Independence there has been a steady decline in political, public and business morality. If we take social and economic development, the picture is frightful. Population growth goes racing forward. Poverty is also growing: more than 40 per cent of the people are below the poverty line. The barest necessities such as drinking water, man-worthy and not cattle-worthy housing, medical care, apart from food and clothing, are not available. Schools are few and the teaching is bad. The papers say today that Bihar is the richest State in the country in minerals. Bihar also has good land and perennial rivers. Why then is Bihar the poorest State in India? Well, one could go on adding to that list..."

Indeed both JP and Lohia were persons who during their life time continuously and indefatigably fought for the well-being of the poorest of the poor. They gave a clarion call to the people to rise in protest against all sorts of tyranny and dictatorship. Time and again they voiced the demands of the poor to make the rulers realize their duties towards the nation.

In this context, speaking on a resolution in Lok Sabha on 4th August, 1967 Lohia said, "Today if we do not share the hardships of the people arising out of scarcity of essential commodities in the country whether it is due to drought or flood or famine or to any other cause, then how can we ask the people to build and make the country strong. Those who are rulers and in whom people reposed confidence of building the country, live in comfort and luxury, then it is beyond their moral capacity to ask the people to sacrifice their life for the nation."

Continuing his speech he furnished the details of the expenditure incurred on privileges and facilities MPs, Ministers and the President were enjoying , he said, "My pay is only Rs. 500/= per month but if the cost involved in providing me all the privileges and facilities be taken into consideration then it will come to Rs.2500/- per month. Using the same yardstick in the case of ministers, it comes to about Rs. 8 lakh annually. And to say the least, this figure for the Prime Minister and President goes up to Rs.100 lakh per year. Therefore, I say that first search out the sources of expenditure and then devise the methods to stop all the unnecessary expenditure."

When the country is passing through extremely difficult time, shouldn't we ask our present day top leaders to stop pretending to be the followers of these great souls? Garlanding the statue, releasing a book or souvenir and speaking well about JP and Lohia on this occasion have little meaning for millions of have-nots in the country. Rather it would be another wasteful expenditure of public money. Doing consistently well, instead will actually make the difference and prove the real worth to qualify to be called the true disciple and follower of leaders like JP and Lohia.

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

           Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.
# Published in Patna Daily.com 

# Do visit my site: milanksinha.com

UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG EDUCATED YOUTHS

                                                              -By MILAN K SINHA

It is an irony that Indian economy grew at about 9% per annum during the period 2004-09, the first term of UPA Govt. at the centre, but it could generate only one million jobs, whereas during the preceding five years, the rate of GDP growth was although relatively lower, yet it generated 58 million jobs.

The report card of UPA–II Govt. so far in regard to job creation is not perceptibly better either. That’s one of the major reasons why social scientists call these nine years of UPA rule at the centre a period of jobless growth.

It's a common knowledge that unemployment, both full time and part time creates multidimensional social problems that has the potential to erupt into a serious national problem.

With mushrooming number of Management and Engineering colleges - MBA seats in India alone grew almost four-fold from 95,000 in 2006-07 to 3.6 lakh in 2011-12. As a result, the number of MBA and B.Tech degree holders has gone up many folds in the meantime. Unfortunately, however, job opportunities for these job seekers have grown grossly inadequately in the same period.

Earlier this year, Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) came out with a paper on the status of B-schools and Engineering colleges vis-à-vis job opportunities and employability issues which also revealed following startling facts:

1. Since 2009, the recruitments at the campus have gone down by 40%. Consequently, the B-schools and engineering colleges are not able to attract students, more than 180 B-schools have already closed down in 2012 in the major cities Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Dehradun etc. Another 160 are struggling for their survivals.

2. The quality of higher education in India across disciplines is poor and does not meet the needs of the corporate world.

3. There is no quality control, the placements are not commensurate with fees being charged, the faculty is not good enough and there is no infrastructure.

4. The business schools promote their brands only on placement and by boasting about high salaries. They offer theoretical courses which lacks practical skills required by the corporate sector today.

5. The need to update and re-train faculty in emerging global business perspectives is practically absent in many B-schools, often making the course content redundant.

To put it precisely, all the surveys and studies conducted during last few months about the status of Degree Delivery vis-a-vis Job Delivery to the ever growing educated youth population of this largest democracy of the world point out clearly that there is a definite and serious flaw in the whole system which neither the ministry nor the UGC (University Grants Commission) and AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education) could appreciate, if at all, they know well about the malady at the first place, and then address it suitably.

In fact, there has been serious disconnects between the policy decisions being taken at the apex level and the actual ground realities. As far as increasing the seats in technical colleges is concerned, either it is effected by according sanction for opening new colleges without proper need assessment or by allowing existing colleges to have additional seats to bolster their revenue without reviewing their present academic performance and their adherence status of basic promises made to run such colleges.

It is interesting to note here that there were one million seats in engineering colleges of the country in the year 2008 which rose to 2.5 million by 2012 but during the same period even the major job provider, the IT sector, offered lesser jobs - it offered 3.40 lakh jobs in the year 2008 whereas it was 2.35 lakh in 2012. The figure of job offerings by other sectors of economy was not encouraging as well due to general slowdown in growth.

Isn't it very unfortunate for majority of students who pursued their management and/or engineering education by availing large amount of loans which as per the agreement is to be repaid in accordance with the repayment schedule after the completion of said course whether the student gets the job or not? The parents of such degree holders do suffer a lot both because of their sons or daughters not getting employed in time and also due to pressure from banks for timely repayment of the loan amount. The possibility of such loans becoming NPA in banks’ books is another dimension of this issue which deserves pointed discussion separately.

All these aspects and some more give credence to the allegation that the authorities in HRD ministry, UGC, AICTE etc. failed to monitor the quality of education being imparted by majority of these institutions throughout the country. Can't it be termed as another well thought off racket by education mafias to play with the future of millions of students so blatantly? As such, this calls for an in-depth investigation by an independent expert committee without further delay. 

Hope the HRD ministers/authorities at the centre and states are listening.

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

                  

          Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published in Patna Daily.com dated 24.09.2013

# Do visit my site : milanksinha.com

PURSUE YOUR PASSION PASSIONATELY

                                                                                                    - MILAN K SINHA 

"One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.”- E. M. Forster

Vadim Kotelnikov writes, "Steve Jobs was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our generation. His success story is legendary. Put up for adoption at an early age, dropped out of college after 6 months, slept on friends’ floors, returned coke bottles for 5 cent deposits to buy food, then went on to start Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios."

Steve jobs went through vagaries of life of all sorts from his early childhood till his death due to cancer on 5th October, 2011, at the age of 56. But, Steve was Steve - an icon of passion who loved himself thoroughly all through and tried to do what he used to profess, ''Do what you love to do. Find your true passion... The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

Absolutely correct! Anthony Robbins, speaker and author says it this way, "There is no greatness without a passion to be great, whether it’s the aspiration of an athlete or an artist, a scientist, a parent, or a businessperson. In fact, passion is the genesis of genius."

Take the example of one of the greatest sons of soil who lived on this earth only for 39 years, but his contribution has been unparalleled and unmatched. He is the man widely known all over the world as Swami Vivekananda. He was full of passion to know himself, his motherland and the rest of the world with a view to serve the humanity at large in his own inimitable manner.

As a young man of 25, he started his Bharat Darshan and travelled through length and breadth of the country like a wandering monk for five years. Swami Vivekananda's speech at the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago in September 1893 when he was aged only 30 has been the true testimony of his great passion for making this country and in turn the world a better place for every human being, irrespective of religion, region, class, color or country.

One of the world's greatest military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte who said that there was no word like 'Impossible' in his dictionary, was extremely passionate about his mission in life. He built one of the strongest army in Europe with five lakh trained soldiers that used modern tactics and strategies to win the battles even in the most difficult situations. Napoleon used to motivate his forces and people as a passionate leader. On one occasion he said, "I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it... All men are equal before God. Wisdom, talent, and virtue make the only difference between them.”

We find such inspiring examples in different fields of activity ranging from literature, singing, dancing, cooking, mountaineering to administration, agriculture, space science, film making and whatnot who made us extremely proud by their creed and deed to be imbibed and emulated.

Very interestingly, pursuing one's passion is replete with moments of suspense and pleasure worth experiencing and enjoying. The American children's writer, T. Alan Armstrong puts it nicely in these words, "If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you."

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

                   Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published in Patna Daily.com on 17th Sept.2013

# Do visit my site : milanksinha.com

DO YOU HAVE A REAL HERO AROUND?

                                                                - MILAN K SINHA

In 1933, the legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand was playing a match in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan. The match was between Dhyan Chand's team '14 Punjab Regiment Team' and 'Sappers & Miners Team'. From the beginning, Dhyan Chand mesmerized the spectators by his splendid game which however, was not liked by the opponent team's Centre half and out of sheer desperation; he played foul and injured Dhyan Chand. Everybody was surprised and angry. The game was stopped for a while.

Dhyan Chand was given the first aid and he returned on the field with bandage on his nose. He went to the Pakistani Centre half and told him with a smiling face to play well not to injure him (Dhyan Chand) again. Interestingly, Dhyan Chand then scored six goals in a row against the Pakistani team thereby proving his real calibre in a most dignified and positive manner even under a difficult and trying situation. Undoubtedly, the true hero of the match was none other than Dhyan Chand.

Before moving on to next real life story, I have this small poem for you:

Let others cheer the winning man,

There is one I hold worthwhile:

This is he, who does the best he can,

Then, loses with a Smile.

Beaten he is, but not to stay,

Down with the rank and file:

That man will win some other day,

Who loses with a Smile.

Have you heard of Lawrence Lemieux, the Canadian sailor? He was one of the very few Olympic Stars who was awarded a medal, although he finished 22nd in his game in 1988 Seoul Olympics. The reason was: During the event, when Lawrence was near the halfway point and was in 2nd place in a seven race event, he noticed that the boat of fellow competitors from Singapore, Joseph Chan and Siew Shaw Her had capsized and were thrown into rough water with injuries. Without thinking of winning the Olympic medal, Lawrence took a turn to rescue Joseph and Shaw at his own personal risk and did the needful to finally hand them over safely to the official rescue team.

Lawrence Lemieux finished 22nd in the game but the International Yacht Racing Union unanimously decided to award Lawrence Lemieux 2nd place, his position when he left for rescuing the Singaporean pair. He was also awarded one of the most prestigious Pierre de Coubertin medal for his sportsmanship, sacrifice and courage in the best spirit of Olympic Ideals.

Lawrence might not have expected in his wildest imagination to get the medal after formally not qualified for it. But, he must be full of contentment and real joy for having done the right thing he could do at that moment.

There are always a few such examples in and around us who remain engaged in doing something exceptionally worthwhile without expecting any medal or commendation. They just listen to their own call of duty and feel the unbounded pleasure of accomplishing that job. Don’t they actually qualify to be the Real Hero?

As always, I am keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post Comments to share your views and experiences.

         Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published in Patna Daily.com dated 09.09.2013

# Do visit my site : milanksinha.com

CELEBRATING TEACHERS' DAY

                                                                                  -By Milan K Sinha

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge - Albert Einstein, the Great Scientist and Nobel Prize Winner.

It is truly so. Teacher plays the most crucial and definitive role in making and shaping the life of every child. Whenever and wherever we find a society and finally a country developing in a qualitative manner, it is primarily because of thousands of teachers assiduously involved in teaching and guiding children with the sole goal of producing millions of good citizens. 

Swami Vivekananda writes, "The real Guru (Teacher) is the one through whom we have our spiritual descent. He is the channel through which the spiritual current flows to us, the link which joins us to the spiritual world..."

In his famous book, "Wings of Fire” our former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam narrates beautifully his experiences about his early formative day teacher. He writes, “Once I settled down at the Schwartz High School, Ramanathapuram, the enthusiastic fifteen-year-old within me re-emerged. My teacher, Iyadurai Soloman, was an ideal guide for an eager young mind that was yet uncertain of the possibilities and alternatives that lay before it. He made his students feel very comfortable in class with his warm and open minded attitude... During my stay at Ramanathapuram, my relationship with him grew beyond that of teacher and pupil. In his company, I learnt that one could exercise enormous influence over the events of one’s own life… He (Solomon) instilled in all the children a sense of their own worth. Solomon raised my self- esteem to a high point and convinced me, the son of parents who had not had the benefits of education that I too could aspire to become whatever I wished... By the time I completed my education at Schwartz, I was a self-confident boy determined to succeed…"

The important place of a teacher in everyone's life was emphasised nicely and forcefully by the great mystic poet, philosopher and saint, 'Kabir' in the following lines:

गुरु  गोविन्द   दोउ  खड़े  काको  लागूँ  पाँव

बलिहारी गुरु आपने जो गोविन्द दियो बताय.

Now, a very inspiring real life short story of Alexander the Great and his renowned teacher, Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and polymath:

In the course of a journey both Alexander and Aristotle found a river to be crossed to reach the other side, but none of them had the idea how deep was the river. As such, there was risk in crossing it. Aristotle marched forward to cross the river first, but Alexander stopped him and insisted instead to let him cross first with his extremely touching and inspiring argument. He (Alexander) said, “You are my teacher and I am your student. Even though I die, you can produce hundreds of Alexanders, but if you die, I can't produce another Aristotle.”

It filled Aristotle with unbounded pride and made him speechless. That was the level of respect for the teacher. May be that was the reason Alexander the Great asserted his feeling in these words, "I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well."

Today is the birth anniversary of a great teacher, philosopher and statesman, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice President of India and the second President of the Indian Union.

We celebrate his birthday as Teacher's Day (5th September) in our country. Whatever little has been discussed on this occasion will prove worthwhile only if we heartily salute such good teachers and bless all such promising students who are still in large numbers in our society. This day also provides us with an opportunity to introspect, ponder and act to make our country illiteracy-free and wisdom-rich by doing the needful individually and collectively, either as a teacher or a student or a common citizen thereby fulfilling the dream of Dr. Radhakrishnan as he used to say, "The end-product of education should be a free creative man, who can battle against historical circumstances and adversities of nature."

                     Will meet again with Open Mind. All the Best.

# Published on Patna Daily.com 

# Do visit my site : milanksinha.com