Skandagiri night trek - A night to remember

After a lot of contemplation about a three day trip to Karwar island, we dropped the idea and planned for a trek. Since, Ramit is also coming to Bangalore we wanted to organise something challenging enough for him and thought about a night trek.

A lot of planning was required since it was a night trek and most of us are doing it for the first time in life.And, of all it is an illegal trek.Yes, Skandagiri night trek is banned by Police. Ashwath and Murali have worked a lot on contacts, to rescue us just in case we end up in the police station.Though they did not tell anybody much about that.Everything was in place, torches, snacks and medical kit.But ,there was a lot of discussion on Daaru. Finally, everybody agreed that we are not going to carry Daaru.

We set off at 9:00 PM, late in the evening in two cars.This time, the allocations in the car happened on the basis of weight.All the heavy weights were in Murali's car which included Hari, Murali, Ramit,Ashwath and TJ. Ofcourse, the racer car was occupied by Shameen, Charan and Mr.Flirt Kanhaiya enjoying in the back seat with two ladies Sangeetha and Subha going by his line 'Kya Faraq Padta hai'.

We stopped for dinner by 10 PM at Bhagini, and since all of them were already advised to have light dinner it did not take us much time to finish. Sangitha, the new lady in our team was targeted this time and people pulled her leg every time she tried to say something.We finished dinner and are heading back to the car while people spotted the Daaru shop. As a team ,daaru entices us more than anything.We bought some and started from there.

It is 12:15 AM by the time we reached the place. The place is desolated and Murali started off with his ghost tricks frightening all the girls.We spotted a guide but his eyes were so red, pretty apt to the place.After negotiating with him, we started to trek.The silver shine of the moon is so fascinating, and the landscape got better with the altitude as we trekked.

As we trekked higher, the things we were carrying got heavier. Girls luggage was transferred to the poor guys who carried the bags all along.We finished the breezers and some of the oranges along the way.Moaning and groaning,we still continued the trek.As we climbed higher, the temperature dipped and it got colder and colder.

Team being very supportive to each other, somehow we reached the summit.But it was so cold that we could hardly speak without stammering, for sometime. Deepak was running here and there collecting twigs for the camp fire. But whatever we do, the fire just does not stay.It blew off all the times we tried lighting it.We gave up and then, daaru time started.The drinks we carried were hardly sufficient for any person.Almost everybody was trying to snatch the drinks from each other.

Murali came up with a solution for the daaru problem.he said whoever is going to come and perform to whatever he asks would get daaru. As we all expected, Shameen was the first one to go.She was asked to propose to Kanhaiya, which she did in her unique way, made Kanhaiya accept her proposal and got her quota of daaru.Next, in line was the most placid of the team, Charan. He was asked to dance for a song where he asked Sangeetha to join him to perform a duet and they performed in the chilling cold and both got sips of alcohol.

The entertainment continued for sometime but the temperature got worser.We all sat tight for a few minutes, and some were too tired so they dozed off.The time slowly passd by and it 5:40 AM, where we could notice the colour change in the sky.But also, the wind blew heavier.We stood there at the sunrise point closely hugging each other calling out for Suraj mama. I think that was the only day in my life where I desperately waited so much for the sun to pop up. But every few minutes the sky had variations in colour proportions.Finally after a long wait, sunrise happened around 6:30 AM.I cant describe the beauty of sunrise that day in words.It was worth more than all the pain we took in reaching there. Ofcourse, we posed for a lot of pictures.The sun got brighter, we realised we had to start from there before it gets too sunny.

The way back, the route was longer and took us more time to reach back.We had a typical south Indian breakfast and set back home.Obviously, while coming back in Murali's car it has to be Murali's 'gyan time'.We reached home and fell asleep for a long time forgetting completely about the run we registered for, next morning.

Key learning of the trek which applies to our team anywhere and everywhere which is quoted by Mark Udall"You don't climb mountains without a team, you don't climb mountains without being fit, you don't climb mountains without being prepared and you don't climb mountains without balancing the risks and rewards. And you never climb a mountain on accident - it has to be intentional".

Ghatikallu - Kya faraq padta hai !

DAY 0 - 6th Dec,2014 - Just drive

The day started with a lot of enthuse, about the overnight journey. We  were planning for this offsite for a month but confirmed it only a week back. Fortunately, there were no last minute drop outs and we set off according to the plan.

The most excited of us all was Ms.Saba. She shopped, also visited the beauty salon to look her best in the photographs. The journey started with Deepak’s favorite song Baby doll played on a repeat mode in his car. Subin, who is most heard of but less acquainted, travelled all the way from Bombay to join this trip.

We set off in three cars, the fastest being Deepak’s followed by Murali and then Hari, whose car was the safest since it consisted senior citizens Hari, Anvitha, Aswath and Sree. Senior citizens dozed off ,Baby doll in the highest volume was played in the racing car, while weird stories from childhood to teenage to adulthood were forcefully narrated  in Murali’s car during the drive.

The hot tea served in the pit stops, biting cold weather added to the list of best moments. Every toll gate where we stood in the line to pay the toll, the air force car speedily passes through, and waited the other side to mock. Guys in Murali’s car started off narrating weird moments in life, love stories to music.  After driving for eight fun filled, sleep deprived hours we reached the destination, Ghatikallu Home stay.

DAY 1 - 7th Dec, 2014 - Trek and Daaru party

Some thought they could rest but the others dragged everybody for a small trek to explore the home stay. Of course, our senior citizens joined us for  few minutes and then gave up. We came back had breakfast. We got into a jeep, and set off for a thrill filled journey through the valley to reach a scenic beauty spot and posed for pictures. The dread started for some, when we came to know that we had a 3Km long stretch to trek. The beginning was better, but started getting worser, panting got common, and girls were afraid of skin tan. With a lot of each others motivation we reached the pinnacle. The feeling that we succeeded was as if we reached the Mt.Everest peak. Deepak trekked down with bare foot sacrificing his shoes for our princess Subha whose shoes were worn out during the trek.He cited a perfect example of a lead.

                                                                                                                                   

Fortunately, we got back to the jeep in good shape and started for the waterfalls nearby. This time, the valley was much deeper, it was like a roller coaster ride on the jeep.  We fell on each other , tamped foot, gave support and reached the waterfalls. We put on life jackets and got into water. The water was chilling cold in the afternoon, but it was so soothing that we got rid of our tiresomeness. It was as if the water pulled away all the physical pain we took for trek. We splashed water and enjoyed like kids.While the senior citizens including Murali were relaxing on the banks.

We got back, had lunch, did a bit of bird watching and relaxed for a while where time just passed by and the most awaited time of the offsite, Daru time started. There was campfire, Daaru and spicy food. What more could anyone ask for? A dozen bottles of colorful alcohol were all poured into one can and served. The evening started with a great news that Subha would shortly be converted as an FTE ensued by Swayamvar programme for girls, all the eligible bachelors had a say where the light, action and cut were managed by Murali.  Followed by a truth and dare game, which lead to confessions. Then, the “Murali Gyan” time started. He was high, but was talking about the togetherness and the bonding of the team he built and molded so carefully. He expressed his gratitude to all the team members. Lot of group hugs happened since morning but the most significant one was after Murali put in his two cents to the team.This was followed by the after effects of Daaru. Murali throwed up and went to bed but Shameen started banging her head to the wall, threw up and then started “Abhi toh party shuru hui hai”.

Tired and tucked up in bed, I am sure everybody in their senses would have thought what a wonderful day it was!

Day 2 - 8th Dec,2014 - Temple and set back

Murali and Shameen had a complete black out of previous night. We spent time narrating drunken tales of the preceding night. Got ready, checked out and set back home. On the way, we visited an ancient temple and revisited the history of Chollas. 

Post that, palmistry sessions were taken by Murali, where he predicted Subha would have twin babies, Shameen would marry twice and TJ would have a complicated life ahead.

Post lunch, guys in Murali’s car had a Q & A session on leadership. The fun and thrill filled trip ended with the evening, but a lot of amazing moments and memories are struck with us for lifetime.

Kya faraq padta Hai - "The bonds are stronger, the feeling of connectivity is larger, and the oneness as a team is beyond the horizon"

Her....!

7th Jan,2014.I met her. Within minutes, I thought she is the perfect example of dumbness. Only later, I could realize how dumb I was to have such a perception. Her beauty lies in her simplicity. Her awesomeness in her words. Entertainment in her actions.

I am an extrovert, I make friends easily. I am proud of it. I had friends all through my life. But this one is the most special of all. She understands my expressions, before I can communicate, my actions before I can explain and my thoughts before I can express.

I have never shared my room, my stuff before. I thought it is going to be very difficult when I move in with somebody. But this pretty lady makes every day of mine easier than the day before. She is the only reason why I don’t get homesick.

She shouts, makes a hell of noise but all that would just add much more to the fun we have together.

She fights over silly things but never expresses her anger. She possesses the skill to mend anything, she can probably make any relationship right.

She comes from a village, I have never had any friends who belonged to a village. I always stayed away from people who come from small towns as I thought they have a narrow approach, their attitude towards life is disappointing. Wrong perception again. She is a dreamer. She dreams to achieve. Her determination surprises me.

 

She is pragmatic. She is not the one who you can party with but she is the one who you can talk to for hours. She does not know big things, but excels in everything she knows. She does not try to impress anybody, it is just that people fall for her.

Innocence toned with intellectual is Bhavya Amathi. She is nerdy, witty and an entertainer. My journey in Genpact would not have been as smooth as it is now, without her.

She is my best friend and I fell for her, the way she is.

'Work is worship' practitioners still exist.

For them who are wondering what am I  going to write about, under such a weird title, I am writing about DABBAWALA. Dabbawalas , a group of people who are employed only to deliver the dabbas in  one of the most busiest cities of India, MUMBAI .They were in the news all time but I came to know more about them,only when I had an interaction with Dabbawalas, at the first session of Jagriti Yatra, 2012.

In a TED talk I have been to, the Dabbawala started his talk with the line saying, we are a group of committed people who practice and preach that 'Work is worship'. Most companies today say that. Hardly, we can find anybody practicing it.May be that is the reason we find so many switching their jobs too often. The most surprising fact is, till date, none of the Dabbawalas had ever left the job due to any reason like, in sufficient paychecks, work pressure etc. There is no retirement for them, no age bar.They could work till their body can co ordinate properly.

Dabbawala collects the Dabba or the box,in the morning from the residence of the employee, hands it over to him before the lunch time, in any case. By hook or by crook, the box reaches the employee before lunch. In Mumbai, people cannot carry their own boxes, as they have to travel by the local trains which are heavily crowded.Pragmatically, they cannot carry their own boxes.That is the reason Dabbawalas come into picture.

Started in and around 1880, Dabbawalas served the Britons also.Every year, we see hundreds of companies applying for being certified by Six Sigma.Dabbawalas is the only concept which has been certified by Six Sigma without applying for it ,with an error rate of 1 in 16 Million deliveries.Most of the Dabbawalas are not well educated. They are probably done with 10th grade.

My previous article, which says technology is our best friend does not imply here.They have achieved everything without integrating technology into their system. They follow the traditional old way of marking scheme.They have found a unique marking method, using which they coordinate the entire process of picking the dabba, delivering it to the office, picking it again and delivering it home.

Our dear Indian government does not recognize anything indigenous.As a result, Dabbawalas were recognized in India, only after Prince Charles personally came and waited to meet them at Church Gate, Mumbai.They were in news, all over after that.

This day where every department including software engineers strike for their demands to get approved, Dabbawalas is one of the few organizations where there is no strike record till date.Only once, they did not work, as they went to support the Anna Hazare Movement.Also, there is no legal department for the organization, and they claim that they do not want to have one.

Dabbawalas follow ethical values in business, unlike the corporate world which preaches but never practices.There are so many unending facts about their work culture, sincerity, management principles.

Technology is your best friend !

I was texting this Kannada friend of mine who does not have a smart phone in my mother tongue Telugu.He asked me what does the text mean. Simplest and the most redundant answer of mine was use the GOOGLE TRANSLATE app. Only,then I remembered he does not own a smart phone. Something which I want to point out here is technology has crept so much into our blood that we know nothing with it. Gone are those days when we used to refer The Oxford or The Webster to look up for words not known to us. We carry a portable dictionary on our phones everywhere.

In the same way ,we can see children handling the most expensive gadgets ever.In fact ,they even know how to make the best use of them, compared to us. Street vendors also use mobile phones to calculate the amount to be received.These are just some instances to show how the entire human race is dependent on an external artificial mind to get their work done. Technology, a boon or a bane is one of the hottest GD topics everywhere. I am not going to put up the old argument saying that it is making us lazy and all that.Let us just cut the crap and make it our best friend.

I remember my father often used to gift Swami Vivekananda's books, and tell me that books are your best friends.Because, there was nothing better to do. I want to rephrase it today , making it 'Technology is your best friend'. Master it , you could make your life, work, times easier.

Well, sometimes I think this is done, we have everything in the world. Yet, something better comes up.The innovation and the creation of technology is just awesome. And indeed for the future generations it is their best friend.

My obsession for IIT/IIMs !

Right after finishing my grade 8, I decided I would go ahead and take up the coaching for IIT .I always aspired to be an engineer from one of those premier institutes.Alas , I had not taken my work very seriously .I flunked the IIT-JEE exam and could not make it into any of those grand institutes.I have joined a local university.Took up IT as a major and graduated with a good GPA.

But all through these years, my obsession for being a part of those flamboyant institutes did not decrease rather started increasing.Upto that extent ,at a certain point of time I almost decided I would marry an IIT or an IIM alumnus.Its like I have done a research in which I think I can differentiate IIT/IIM grads from the normal population.The way they think,the shrewdness they expect and the less amount of time they want to invest on trivial issues.Well, I think they are trained that way ,which is something I really like.And, I think this must be the reason that MNC's offer them such huge packages.

And , if I have to comment about them turning entrepreneurs,they work too hard for their baby i.e their venture.Especially, after working under an IIT turned entrepreneur I realize that the committed attitude they have towards their baby is pretty impressive.They just do not take anything for granted.This includes employees also.May be this is why people advise us to work with smaller firms to gain experience in the beginning.

People keep asking me why am I working for such a start up ,when I can have a great vacation and then join the MNC which has given me an offer letter.Some random relatives keep boasting about their kids working in redundant firms.And I just simply smile.As,I am well aware of the fact that an average package would not give me the experience of working with a group of IIT's and exchange  my ideas.This constant process of upgrading myself  through observation would definitely go missing.I keep admiring my boss while the other employees talk about how strict he is.They get pissed off when I say he is absolutely correct on his part because he is a businessman and not our relative to keep cajoling.

Tomorrow I may or may not end up being an entrepreneur or a student from premier B-school but this obsession for the top institutes will always be on.

Random Thoughts

I am ready.Pretty much ready to face the world. To break the protective shell , which my parents, family created and protected me for the last 21 years. I am moving to Bangalore for work.I do not think I am going to return any soon.

I belong to this city of destiny where most of my mornings are calm and pleasant.My day starts without any hurry.The calm and cool attitude is carried. I was born ,studied, pursued under graduation here.I relate to it so much.But, today is just not like every other day.From tomorrow everything is going to change.I have to take care of myself .Run for food.Work for money.

Today for the first time ever, I thought why should I ever work.My dad earns good enough that he can satisfy all my needs for life.If I do not work today also nothing will change in my life.My luxuries and comforts will be there.Then , why work? Right from my childhood , I was taught to that every human is born to achieve . To achieve something or the other.Trained in a way that cannot make them sit idle.We are taught to experiment on stuff.

Its been a month I finished my graduation.Not a single day passed without thinking what I would do next.I have every option .I got a job offer, pretty good GRE and TOEFL scores.A decent CAT score which motivates me to take it again so that I can crack it. But the point is, I am unable to decide.I am unable to decide what I want in life.I want money,degree but I do not know will these give me happiness ten years down the lane.What is that I want ,to just say that THIS IS IT,I DO NOT want ANYMORE.I do not know.

This is eating me up from inside.When I was in my pre-final year of UG,I remember one of my senior friends often telling my the age of 21-22 is the most difficult phase.Every day you have so much to think about .One wrong decision would turn our lives up-side down.

In this busy world of entrepreneurs,engineers,doctors, artists and most successful people I feel lost somewhere.

I hope I would feel better from tomorrow,since I would start working,stop sitting idle with random thoughts flickering in my mind.