1. Being happy is a choice.
2. When we stop the chatter of the mind and expel our worries and fears , we will find that happiness surfaces from deep within us.
3. Happiness is not something far away and unattainable, neither does it depend on circumstances.
4. Happiness is one of the most important treasures. It is within our precious soul. All we have to do is dig it out and enjoy it.
5. There is no need to search for happiness or to create it. There is no need to undergo all kinds of outer experiences in order to feel it. On the contrary, everything has to be dropped in order to experience it.
6. Happiness is always here, but covered by thoughts, desires and fears.
7. Happiness is a state of mind. More correctly put, it is the state beyond the mind.
8. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy.
9. Our thoughts and worries hide away our happiness.
10. If we smile while we talk, we spread happiness.
11. A calm and detached mind is the gate to true happiness.
12. Happiness is often experienced after a problem has been solved a fear has disappeared or after realising a desire. When the mind is released from it fears, worries and desires and becomes quiet letting the happiness emerge.
13. Look at the positive side of life and we will surely develop the happiness habit.
14. Learn to laugh this will make us feel better.
15. When we focus our mind on everything that we do, it will increase our control over our mind and make it easier for the inner joy to manifest.
16. Our inner nature is bliss and joy. If we clean our mind we will realise that this treasure was always within us!
17. When we wake up from deep sleep we feel happy. This is because the mind was quiet. If we therefore learn to quieten our mind in waking hours,we will experience happiness.
18. Each day we must do something that makes us feel happy, until it becomes a habit.
19. Cheerfulness is contagious; choose cheerful people for our friends.
20. Sharing and accepting other people's happiness increases our own happiness.
21. When we choose or concentrate on happiness, we will find it everywhere.
22. Let the joy in our heart overflow and ‘shower’ everyone we meet.
23. Pleasure comes from the outside but Happiness from the inside!
24. Ultimately it's up to us whether we choose to be or not to be... happy!
STRESS MANAGEMENT TIPS
STRESS MANAGEMENT TIPS
1. Go to bed on time.
2. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
3. Start the day with a prayer.
4. Smile!
5. Get organised so everything has its place....and everything is in its place. Simplify and unclutter your life.
6. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule.. or that will compromise your peace of mind.
7. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
8. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time, don't lump the hard things all together.
9. Delegate tasks to capable others.
10. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
11. Take one day at a time.
12. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what Baba/God would have you to do..... then let go of the anxiety. If you feel you cannot do anything about a situation".. forget it.
13. Live within your budget ......do not use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
14 Have backups. An extra car key in your wallet.....an extra house key
buried in the garden...... extra stamps, etc. etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the ˜kid in You".. everyday.
16. Carry a book with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. While driving, listen to something inspirational ...... that can help improve your quality of life.
20. Write a daily journal .. put your thoughts and inspirations down.
21. Every day..find time to be alone and silent.
22. Having problems? Call on Baba/God immediately! Try to nip small problems
in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
23. Make friends with Godly people.
24. Keep a folder of favourite quotations, articles & pictures on hand.
25. Remember! the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a heartfelt "Thank you, Beloved Swami/God!"
26. Laugh.
27. Laugh some more!
28. Take your work seriously. But yourself.. not at all.
29. When people make mistakes.....develop a forgiving attitude. Remember .... everyone is doing the best they can.
30. Be kind to unkind people .. after all.. they probably need it the most.
31. Sit on your ego.
32. Talk less..listen more.
33. Slow down.
34. Remind yourself that you are not the ˜general manager" of the universe.
35. Every night before bed, think of one new thing you're grateful for that you have never been grateful for before.
36. Thank Swami/God for always being there! Remember "if He has brought
you to it..He will take you through it as well!"
1. Go to bed on time.
2. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
3. Start the day with a prayer.
4. Smile!
5. Get organised so everything has its place....and everything is in its place. Simplify and unclutter your life.
6. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule.. or that will compromise your peace of mind.
7. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
8. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time, don't lump the hard things all together.
9. Delegate tasks to capable others.
10. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
11. Take one day at a time.
12. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what Baba/God would have you to do..... then let go of the anxiety. If you feel you cannot do anything about a situation".. forget it.
13. Live within your budget ......do not use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
14 Have backups. An extra car key in your wallet.....an extra house key
buried in the garden...... extra stamps, etc. etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the ˜kid in You".. everyday.
16. Carry a book with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. While driving, listen to something inspirational ...... that can help improve your quality of life.
20. Write a daily journal .. put your thoughts and inspirations down.
21. Every day..find time to be alone and silent.
22. Having problems? Call on Baba/God immediately! Try to nip small problems
in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
23. Make friends with Godly people.
24. Keep a folder of favourite quotations, articles & pictures on hand.
25. Remember! the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a heartfelt "Thank you, Beloved Swami/God!"
26. Laugh.
27. Laugh some more!
28. Take your work seriously. But yourself.. not at all.
29. When people make mistakes.....develop a forgiving attitude. Remember .... everyone is doing the best they can.
30. Be kind to unkind people .. after all.. they probably need it the most.
31. Sit on your ego.
32. Talk less..listen more.
33. Slow down.
34. Remind yourself that you are not the ˜general manager" of the universe.
35. Every night before bed, think of one new thing you're grateful for that you have never been grateful for before.
36. Thank Swami/God for always being there! Remember "if He has brought
you to it..He will take you through it as well!"
Tulsi
the bad side effects of Steroids are overcome by taking Thulasi. The proceedure is, Take forty leaves of Thulasi, clean them well, put them in a vessel and cover with boiling water and cover the vessel. After thus steeping the leaves overnight, next morning throw the leaves away and drink the water on empty stomach. This will eliminate the undesirable side effects of Steroids.
I wish our scientists will do some research on the house hold herbs like Thulasi, Turmeric, Ginger, Pepper, Methi Jeerakam etc to find out their medicinal properties and patent them, for the benefit of our nation.
read on and find more about this holy plant of India..
Sibi Sukumar
Why do we consider Tulsi sacred?
Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum, belongs to the family of Labiatae. The classical name, basilicum, from which "basil" is derived, means "royal or princely." Hindus know the plant as Tulasi and Surasah in Sanskrit, and Tulsi in Hindi. Other commonly used names are Haripriya, dear to Vishnu, and Bhutagni, destroyer of demons.
Tulsi is Divinity. It is regarded not merely as a utilitarian God- send, as most sacred plants are viewed to be, but as an incarnation of the Goddess Herself. Thus, when one bows before Tulsi, one bows before the Goddess. Of course, denominations differ in their approach. Generally, worshipers of Vishnu will envision Tulsi as
Lakshmi or Vrinda; devotees of Rama may view Tulsi as Sita; while Krishna bhaktas revere Her as Vrinda, Radha or Rukmani.
A plethora of Puranic legends and village stories relate how Tulsi came to grow and be worshiped on Earth. The classic Hindu myth, Samudramathana, the "Churning of the Cosmic Ocean," explains that Vishnu spawned Tulsi from the turbulent seas as a vital aid for all mankind. More common are legends that describe how the Goddess
Herself came to reside on Earth as Tulsi.
A complex legend in Orissa views the plant as the fourth incarnation of the Goddess who appeared as Tulsi at the beginning of our present age, the Kali yuga. The tale
continues with intrigue and deception among the Gods, typical of the Puranic stories, culminating in Vishnu's transforming the Goddess Tulsi into a basil bush to be worshiped morning and evening by men and women in every household in the world.
The Tulsi is the most sacred. In Sanskrit that which is incomparable is called Tulasi. Impressed by her devotion and adherence to righteousness, Tulasi the wife of a celestial being was blessed by Lord Krishna that she would be worshipped by all, offerings would be incomplete without the offering of Tulasi. She also symbolises
Goddess Lakshmi. Those who wish a righteous life also worship Tulasi.
It symbolises,
1)Kalyani - Normally poisonous snakes and mosquitos do not come close to it due to some smell that it emits. That explains why it is a must in every house. The leaves as well roots are a cure for several diseases like malaria, cold, fever. The wood of this plant is used for Mala, ie a rosary for worship of Lord Vishnu and when worn in the neck it prevents diseases of the throat.
2) Visnu Priye - Tulsi has been described as the beloved of Lord Vishnu since he is the creator and Tulsi helps the health of human beings and animals, prevents soil erosion.
3) Moksa - prade - By keeping the body healthy, it keeps the mind healthy and free of worries enabling us to concentrate on worship of the Ultimate Reality in comfort.
Tusli, along with all other species of basil, possesses remarkable physical and spiritually healing properties, as author Stephen P. Huyler summarizes, "Aside from its religious merits, Tulsi has been praised in Indian scriptures and lore since the time of the early Vedas as an herb that cures blood and skin diseases. Ancient
treatises extol it as an antidote for poisons, a curative for kidney disease and arthritis, a preventative for mosquito and insect bites, and a purifier of polluted air. Generally prepared in medicinal teas and poultices, Tulsi's widespread contemporary use in India as an aid to internal and external organs suggests these traditions are based upon practical efficacy." One finds descriptions of basil's health benefits in any of the books on herbs and ayurveda readily available
today.
Tulsi is also extensively used to maintain ritual purity, to purify if polluted and to ward off evil. A leaf is kept in the mouth of the dying to insure passage to heavenly realms. During an eclipse, leaves are ingested and also placed in cooked food and stored water to ward off psychic pollution. Funeral pyres often contain tulsi wood to protect the spirit of the dead--as Bhutagni, destroyer of demons.
tulsi leaves and sprigs are hung in the entryways of homes to keep away troublesome spirits, and the mere presence of the Tulsi shrine is said to keep the entire home pure, peaceful and harmonious.
Sources : http://www.hinduism -today.com/ 1997/3/
and http://www.hindunet .org/forum/ discus/messages
I wish our scientists will do some research on the house hold herbs like Thulasi, Turmeric, Ginger, Pepper, Methi Jeerakam etc to find out their medicinal properties and patent them, for the benefit of our nation.
read on and find more about this holy plant of India..
Sibi Sukumar
Why do we consider Tulsi sacred?
Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum, belongs to the family of Labiatae. The classical name, basilicum, from which "basil" is derived, means "royal or princely." Hindus know the plant as Tulasi and Surasah in Sanskrit, and Tulsi in Hindi. Other commonly used names are Haripriya, dear to Vishnu, and Bhutagni, destroyer of demons.
Tulsi is Divinity. It is regarded not merely as a utilitarian God- send, as most sacred plants are viewed to be, but as an incarnation of the Goddess Herself. Thus, when one bows before Tulsi, one bows before the Goddess. Of course, denominations differ in their approach. Generally, worshipers of Vishnu will envision Tulsi as
Lakshmi or Vrinda; devotees of Rama may view Tulsi as Sita; while Krishna bhaktas revere Her as Vrinda, Radha or Rukmani.
A plethora of Puranic legends and village stories relate how Tulsi came to grow and be worshiped on Earth. The classic Hindu myth, Samudramathana, the "Churning of the Cosmic Ocean," explains that Vishnu spawned Tulsi from the turbulent seas as a vital aid for all mankind. More common are legends that describe how the Goddess
Herself came to reside on Earth as Tulsi.
A complex legend in Orissa views the plant as the fourth incarnation of the Goddess who appeared as Tulsi at the beginning of our present age, the Kali yuga. The tale
continues with intrigue and deception among the Gods, typical of the Puranic stories, culminating in Vishnu's transforming the Goddess Tulsi into a basil bush to be worshiped morning and evening by men and women in every household in the world.
The Tulsi is the most sacred. In Sanskrit that which is incomparable is called Tulasi. Impressed by her devotion and adherence to righteousness, Tulasi the wife of a celestial being was blessed by Lord Krishna that she would be worshipped by all, offerings would be incomplete without the offering of Tulasi. She also symbolises
Goddess Lakshmi. Those who wish a righteous life also worship Tulasi.
It symbolises,
1)Kalyani - Normally poisonous snakes and mosquitos do not come close to it due to some smell that it emits. That explains why it is a must in every house. The leaves as well roots are a cure for several diseases like malaria, cold, fever. The wood of this plant is used for Mala, ie a rosary for worship of Lord Vishnu and when worn in the neck it prevents diseases of the throat.
2) Visnu Priye - Tulsi has been described as the beloved of Lord Vishnu since he is the creator and Tulsi helps the health of human beings and animals, prevents soil erosion.
3) Moksa - prade - By keeping the body healthy, it keeps the mind healthy and free of worries enabling us to concentrate on worship of the Ultimate Reality in comfort.
Tusli, along with all other species of basil, possesses remarkable physical and spiritually healing properties, as author Stephen P. Huyler summarizes, "Aside from its religious merits, Tulsi has been praised in Indian scriptures and lore since the time of the early Vedas as an herb that cures blood and skin diseases. Ancient
treatises extol it as an antidote for poisons, a curative for kidney disease and arthritis, a preventative for mosquito and insect bites, and a purifier of polluted air. Generally prepared in medicinal teas and poultices, Tulsi's widespread contemporary use in India as an aid to internal and external organs suggests these traditions are based upon practical efficacy." One finds descriptions of basil's health benefits in any of the books on herbs and ayurveda readily available
today.
Tulsi is also extensively used to maintain ritual purity, to purify if polluted and to ward off evil. A leaf is kept in the mouth of the dying to insure passage to heavenly realms. During an eclipse, leaves are ingested and also placed in cooked food and stored water to ward off psychic pollution. Funeral pyres often contain tulsi wood to protect the spirit of the dead--as Bhutagni, destroyer of demons.
tulsi leaves and sprigs are hung in the entryways of homes to keep away troublesome spirits, and the mere presence of the Tulsi shrine is said to keep the entire home pure, peaceful and harmonious.
Sources : http://www.hinduism -today.com/ 1997/3/
and http://www.hindunet .org/forum/ discus/messages
Drive your innovation...
I take this as a reflection of our collective outrage. I want it to positively energise us - spread, inspire and motivate us. I want that spark to become a rage for excellence amongst our lot and I don’t mean any hostilities by saying this.
Let’s save it for competition as and when it comes.
Why does the word `disruption’ come to my mind…? I mean disruption of the status quo in everything – education, healthcare, quality, technology, ideation, execution and so on. Keep raising the bar many times over. Let’s see how much they can catch up. Well, if they do, make sure the bar goes up again.
We all know that the power of an idea is only as good as its execution. So we can’t leave it half baked - let’s figure out ways to take this rage for excellence
forward. For starters - let’s innovate.
So what do we do as individuals to drive innovation….?
Recognize that the biggest sin of all is inadvertence, of not being fully awake. The future descends equally on everyone, yet some notice it faster. That’s because they are always pushing the limits of their knowledge, asking questions and picking up on weak signals.
Yet again, you have to be willing to place intelligent bets, give up the smoothness of predictability for capturing the upsides of intelligent risk taking. Not all bets will lead to success but there’s hardly any safety in passivity either. People are safe back home, but would we settle for that…? We need to have the self confidence to set a direction but not the arrogance to fight the need to change if conditions so require. We must not restrain our ambition and allow self-imposed limitations to make us aim too low.
Awaken the rage in us. Take your work a little too seriously bordering on the obsessive. If you are a salesman, never take `No' for an answer. Sense your
customers squirming yet don't leave without asking for the order and get it. If you are into software, never go to bed with that bug in your code. A graphic
designer ? Feel the physical pain when something is two millimetres out of place. Drive hard till you get it right.
Between knowledge power and a burning ambition, we have the potential to be the leaders in innovation.
Let’s get set to conquer.
Let’s save it for competition as and when it comes.
Why does the word `disruption’ come to my mind…? I mean disruption of the status quo in everything – education, healthcare, quality, technology, ideation, execution and so on. Keep raising the bar many times over. Let’s see how much they can catch up. Well, if they do, make sure the bar goes up again.
We all know that the power of an idea is only as good as its execution. So we can’t leave it half baked - let’s figure out ways to take this rage for excellence
forward. For starters - let’s innovate.
So what do we do as individuals to drive innovation….?
Recognize that the biggest sin of all is inadvertence, of not being fully awake. The future descends equally on everyone, yet some notice it faster. That’s because they are always pushing the limits of their knowledge, asking questions and picking up on weak signals.
Yet again, you have to be willing to place intelligent bets, give up the smoothness of predictability for capturing the upsides of intelligent risk taking. Not all bets will lead to success but there’s hardly any safety in passivity either. People are safe back home, but would we settle for that…? We need to have the self confidence to set a direction but not the arrogance to fight the need to change if conditions so require. We must not restrain our ambition and allow self-imposed limitations to make us aim too low.
Awaken the rage in us. Take your work a little too seriously bordering on the obsessive. If you are a salesman, never take `No' for an answer. Sense your
customers squirming yet don't leave without asking for the order and get it. If you are into software, never go to bed with that bug in your code. A graphic
designer ? Feel the physical pain when something is two millimetres out of place. Drive hard till you get it right.
Between knowledge power and a burning ambition, we have the potential to be the leaders in innovation.
Let’s get set to conquer.
BUSINESS LOGICS
BUSINESS LOGICS
Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice
Son: "I will choose my own bride!"
Father: "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."
Son: "Well, in that case...ok"
Next Father approaches Bill Gates.
Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"
Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president. "
President: "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"
Father: "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"
This is how business is done!!
Moral: Even If you have nothing, You can get Anything. But your attitude should be positive
Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice
Son: "I will choose my own bride!"
Father: "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."
Son: "Well, in that case...ok"
Next Father approaches Bill Gates.
Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case...ok"
Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president. "
President: "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"
Father: "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."
President: "Ah, in that case...ok"
This is how business is done!!
Moral: Even If you have nothing, You can get Anything. But your attitude should be positive
Thr Road to Success..
The road to success is not straight.
There is a curve called Failure,
A loop called Confusion,
Speed bumps called Friends,
Red lights called Enemies,
Caution lights called Family.
You will have flats called Jobs.
But, if you have a spare called Determination,
An engine called Perseverance,
Insurance called Faith,
A driver called Krishna,
You will make it to a place called Success.
There is a curve called Failure,
A loop called Confusion,
Speed bumps called Friends,
Red lights called Enemies,
Caution lights called Family.
You will have flats called Jobs.
But, if you have a spare called Determination,
An engine called Perseverance,
Insurance called Faith,
A driver called Krishna,
You will make it to a place called Success.
Listen to your heart
Horror gripped the heart of a World War I soldier, as he saw his lifelong friend fell in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his Lieutenant if he could go out into the "no man's land" between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.
"You can go," said the Lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away." The Lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.
Miraculously, he managed to reach his fiend, hoisted him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company's trench. As the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend. "I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "You friend is dead and you are mortally wounded.
"It was worth it, Sir," said the soldier.
"What do you mean by worth it ?" responded the Lieutenant. "You friend is dead."
"Yes Sir," the private answered, "but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I got the chance to her him say....."JIM. ......... . I KNEW YOU'D COME."
Many times in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not, really depends on how you look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do, so that you may not regret not doing it later in your life....
"You can go," said the Lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away." The Lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.
Miraculously, he managed to reach his fiend, hoisted him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company's trench. As the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend. "I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "You friend is dead and you are mortally wounded.
"It was worth it, Sir," said the soldier.
"What do you mean by worth it ?" responded the Lieutenant. "You friend is dead."
"Yes Sir," the private answered, "but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I got the chance to her him say....."JIM. ......... . I KNEW YOU'D COME."
Many times in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not, really depends on how you look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do, so that you may not regret not doing it later in your life....
The inspiring rags-to-riches tale of Sarathbabu
The inspiring rags-to-riches tale of Sarathbabu
When 27-year old Sarathbabu graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, he created quite a stir by refusing a job that offered him a huge salary. He preferred to start his own enterprise -- Foodking Catering Service -- in Ahmedabad.
He was inspired by his mother who once sold idlis on the pavements of Chennai, to educate him and his siblings. It was a dream come true, when Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy lit the traditional lamp and inaugurated Sarathbabu's enterprise.
Sarathbabu was in Chennai, his hometown, a few days ago, to explore the possibility of starting a Foodking unit in the city and also to distribute the Ullas Trust Scholarships instituted by the IT firm Polaris to 2,000 poor students in corporation schools.
In this interview with rediff.com, Sarathbabu describes his rise from a Chennai slum to his journey to the nation's premier management institute to becoming a successful entrepreneur. This is his story, in his own words.
Childhood in a slum
I was born and brought up in a slum in Madipakkam in Chennai. I have two elder sisters and two younger brothers and my mother was the sole breadwinner of the family. It was really tough for her to bring up five kids on her meagre salary.
As she had studied till the tenth standard, she got a job under the mid-day meal scheme of the Tamil Nadu government in a school at a salary of Rs 30 a month. She made just one rupee a day for six people.
So, she sold idlis in the mornings. She would then work for the mid-day meal at the school during daytime. In the evenings, she taught at the adult education programme of the Indian government.
She, thus, did three different jobs to bring us up and educate us. Although she didn't say explicitly that we should study well, we knew she was struggling hard to send us to school. I was determined that her hard work should not go in vain.
I was a topper throughout my school days. In the mornings, we went out to sell idlis because people in slums did not come out of their homes to buy idlis. For kids living in a slum, idlis for breakfast is something very special.
My mother was not aware of institutions like the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, or the Indian Institutes of Technology. She only wanted to educate us so that we got a good job. I didn't know what I wanted to do at that time because in my friend-circle, nobody talked about higher education or preparing for the IIT-JEE.
When you constantly worry about the next square meal, you do not dream of becoming a doctor or an engineer. The only thing that was on my mind was to get a good job because my mother was struggling a lot.
I got very good marks in the 10th standard exam. It was the most critical moment of my life. Till the 10th, there was no special fee but for the 11th and the 12th, the fees were Rs 2,000-3,000.
I did book-binding work during the summer vacation and accumulated money for my school fees. When I got plenty of work, I employed 20 other children and all of us did the work together. That was my first real job as an entrepreneur. Once I saw the opportunity, I continued with the work.
Life at BITS, Pilani
Sarathbabau. Photograph: Sreeram SelvarajA classmate of mine told me about BITS, Pilani. He was confident that I would get admission, as I was the topper. He also told me that on completion (of studies at Pilani), I will definitely get a job.
When I got the admission, I had mixed feelings. On one hand I was excited that for the first time I was going out of Chennai, but there was also a sense of uncertainty.
The fees alone were around Rs 28,000, and I had to get around Rs 42,000. It was huge, huge money for us. And there was no one to help us. Just my mother and sisters. One of my sisters -- they were all married by then -- pawned her jewellery and that's how I paid for the first semester.
My mother then found out about an Indian government scholarship scheme. She sent me the application forms, I applied for the scholarship, and I was successful. So, after the first semester, it was the scholarship that helped me through.
It also helped me to pay my debt (to the sister who had pawned her jewellery). I then borrowed money from my other sister and repaid her when the next scholarship came.
The scholarship, however, covered only the tuition fees. What about the hostel fees and food? Even small things like a washing soap or a toothbrush or a tube of toothpaste was a burden. So, I borrowed more at high rates of interest. The debt grew to a substantial amount by the time I reached the fourth year.
First year at BITS, Pilani
To put it mildly, I was absolutely shocked. Till then, I had moved only with students from poor families. At Pilani, all the students were from the upper class or upper middle class families. Their lifestyle was totally different from mine. The topics they discussed were alien to me. They would talk about the good times they had in school.
On the other hand, my school years were a big struggle. There was this communication problem also as I was not conversant in English then.
I just kept quiet and observed them. I concentrated only on my studies because back home so many people had sacrificed for me. And, it took a really long time -- till the end of the first year -- to make friends.
The second year
I became a little more confident and started opening up. I had worked really hard for the engineering exhibition during the first year. I did a lot of labour-intensive work like welding and cutting, though my subject was chemical engineering. My seniors appreciated me.
In my second year also, I worked really hard for the engineering exhibition. This time, my juniors appreciated me, and they became my close friends, so close that they would be at my beck and call.
In the third year, when there was an election for the post of the co-ordinator for the exhibition, my juniors wanted me to contest. Thanks to their efforts I was unanimously elected. That was my first experience of being in the limelight. It was also quite an experience to handle around 100 students.
Seeing my work, slowly my batch mates also came to the fold. All of them said I lead the team very well.
They also told me that I could be a good manager and asked me to do MBA. That was the first time I heard about something called MBA. I asked them about the best institution in India. They said, the Indian Institutes of Management. Then, I decided if I was going to study MBA, it should be at one of the IIMs, and nowhere else.
Inspiration to be an entrepreneur
It was while preparing for the Common Admission Test that I read in the papers that 30 per cent of India's population does not get two meals a day. I know how it feels to be hungry. What should be done to help them, I wondered.
I also read about Infosys and Narayana Murthy, Reliance and Ambani. Reliance employed 20,000-25,000 people at that time, and Infosys, around 15,000. When a single entrepreneur like Ambani employed 25,000 people, he was supporting the family, of four or five, of each employee. So he was taking care of 100,000 people indirectly. I felt I, too, should become an entrepreneur.
But, my mother was waiting for her engineer son to get a job, pay all the debts, build a pucca house and take care of her. And here I was dreaming about starting my own enterprise. I decided to go for a campus interview, and got a job with Polaris. I also sat for CAT but I failed to clear it in my first attempt.
I worked for 30 months at Polaris. By then, I could pay off all the debts but I hadn't built a proper house for my mother. But I decided to pursue my dream. When I took CAT for the third time, I cleared it and got calls from all the six IIMs. I got admission at IIM, Ahmedabad.
Life at IIM, Ahmedabad
My college helped me get a scholarship for the two years that I was at IIM. Unlike in BITS, I was more confident and life at IIM was fantastic. I took up a lot of responsibilities in the college. I was in the mess committee in the first year and in the second year; I was elected the mess secretary.
Becoming an entrepreneur
By the end of the second year, there were many lucrative job offers coming our way, but in my mind I was determined to start something on my own. But back home, I didn't have a house. It was a difficult decision to say 'no' to offers that gave you Rs 800,000 a year. But I was clear in my mind even while I knew the hard realities back home.
Yes, my mother had been an entrepreneur, and subconsciously, she must have inspired me. My inspirations were also (Dhirubhai) Ambani and Narayana Murthy. I knew I was not aiming at something unachievable. I got the courage from them to start my own enterprise.
Nobody at my institute discouraged me. In fact, at least 30-40 students at the IIM wanted to be entrepreneurs. And we used to discuss about ideas all the time. My last option was to take up a job.
Foodking Catering Services Pvt Ltd
My mother is my first inspiration to start a food business. Remember I started my life selling idlis in my slum. Then of course, my experience as the mess secretary at IIM-A was the second inspiration. I must have handled at least a thousand complaints and a thousand suggestions at that time. Every time I solved a problem, they thanked me.
I also felt there is a good opportunity in the food business. If you notice, a lot of people who work in the food business come from the weaker sections of the society.
My friends helped me with registering the company with a capital of Rs 100,000. Because of the IIM brand and also because of the media attention, I could take a loan from the bank without any problem.
I set up an office and employed three persons. The first order was from a software company in Ahmedabad. They wanted us to supply tea, coffee and snacks. We transported the items in an auto.
When I got the order from IIM, Ahmedabad, I took a loan of Rs 11 lakhs (Rs 1.1 million) and started a kitchen. So, my initial capital was Rs 11.75 lakhs (Rs 1.17 million).
Three months have passed, and now we have forty employees and four clients -- IIM Ahmedabad, Darpana Academy, Gujarat Energy Research Management Institute and System Plus.
In the first month of our operation, we earned around Rs 35,000. Now, the turnover is around Rs 250,000. The Chennai operations will start in another three months' time.
Ambition
I want to employ as many people as I can, and improve their quality of life. In the first year, I want to employ around 200-500 people. In the next five years, I hope to increase it by 15,000. I am sure it is possible.
I want to cover all the major cities in India, and later, I want to go around the world too.
I have seen people from all walks of life -- from the slums to the elite in the country. That is why luxuries like a car or a bungalow do not matter to me. Even money doesn't matter to me. I feel bad if I have to have food in a five star hotel. I feel guilty.
Personally, I have no ambition but I want to give a house and a car to my mother.
Appreciation
I did not expect this kind of exposure by the media for my venture or appreciation from people like my director at the IIM or Narayana Murthy. I was just doing what I wanted to do. But the exposure really helped me get orders, finance, everything.
The best compliments I received were from Narayana Murthy and my director at IIM, Ahmedabad. When I told him (IIM-A director) about my decision to start a company, he hugged me and wished me luck. They have seen life, they have seen thousands and thousands of students and if they say it is a good decision, I am sure it is a good decision.
Reservation
Reservation should be a mix of all criteria. If you take a caste that comes under reservation, 80 per cent of the people will be poor and 20 per cent rich, the creamy layer. For the general category, it will be the other way around.
I feel equal weightage should be given for the economic background. A study has to be done on what is the purpose of reservation and what it has done to the needy. It should be more effective and efficient. In my case, I would not have demanded for reservation. I accepted it because the society felt I belonged to the deprived class and needed a helping hand.
Today, the opportunities are grabbed by a few. They should be ashamed of their ability if they avail reservation even after becoming an IAS officer or something like that. They are putting a burden on the society and denying a chance to the really needy.
I feel reservation is enough for one generation. For example, if the child's father is educated, he will be able to guide the child properly.
Take my case, I didn't have any system that would make me aware of the IITs and the IIMs. But I will be able to guide my children properly because I am well educated. I got the benefits of reservation but I will never avail of it for my children. I cannot even think of demanding reservation for the next generation.
When 27-year old Sarathbabu graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, he created quite a stir by refusing a job that offered him a huge salary. He preferred to start his own enterprise -- Foodking Catering Service -- in Ahmedabad.
He was inspired by his mother who once sold idlis on the pavements of Chennai, to educate him and his siblings. It was a dream come true, when Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy lit the traditional lamp and inaugurated Sarathbabu's enterprise.
Sarathbabu was in Chennai, his hometown, a few days ago, to explore the possibility of starting a Foodking unit in the city and also to distribute the Ullas Trust Scholarships instituted by the IT firm Polaris to 2,000 poor students in corporation schools.
In this interview with rediff.com, Sarathbabu describes his rise from a Chennai slum to his journey to the nation's premier management institute to becoming a successful entrepreneur. This is his story, in his own words.
Childhood in a slum
I was born and brought up in a slum in Madipakkam in Chennai. I have two elder sisters and two younger brothers and my mother was the sole breadwinner of the family. It was really tough for her to bring up five kids on her meagre salary.
As she had studied till the tenth standard, she got a job under the mid-day meal scheme of the Tamil Nadu government in a school at a salary of Rs 30 a month. She made just one rupee a day for six people.
So, she sold idlis in the mornings. She would then work for the mid-day meal at the school during daytime. In the evenings, she taught at the adult education programme of the Indian government.
She, thus, did three different jobs to bring us up and educate us. Although she didn't say explicitly that we should study well, we knew she was struggling hard to send us to school. I was determined that her hard work should not go in vain.
I was a topper throughout my school days. In the mornings, we went out to sell idlis because people in slums did not come out of their homes to buy idlis. For kids living in a slum, idlis for breakfast is something very special.
My mother was not aware of institutions like the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, or the Indian Institutes of Technology. She only wanted to educate us so that we got a good job. I didn't know what I wanted to do at that time because in my friend-circle, nobody talked about higher education or preparing for the IIT-JEE.
When you constantly worry about the next square meal, you do not dream of becoming a doctor or an engineer. The only thing that was on my mind was to get a good job because my mother was struggling a lot.
I got very good marks in the 10th standard exam. It was the most critical moment of my life. Till the 10th, there was no special fee but for the 11th and the 12th, the fees were Rs 2,000-3,000.
I did book-binding work during the summer vacation and accumulated money for my school fees. When I got plenty of work, I employed 20 other children and all of us did the work together. That was my first real job as an entrepreneur. Once I saw the opportunity, I continued with the work.
Life at BITS, Pilani
Sarathbabau. Photograph: Sreeram SelvarajA classmate of mine told me about BITS, Pilani. He was confident that I would get admission, as I was the topper. He also told me that on completion (of studies at Pilani), I will definitely get a job.
When I got the admission, I had mixed feelings. On one hand I was excited that for the first time I was going out of Chennai, but there was also a sense of uncertainty.
The fees alone were around Rs 28,000, and I had to get around Rs 42,000. It was huge, huge money for us. And there was no one to help us. Just my mother and sisters. One of my sisters -- they were all married by then -- pawned her jewellery and that's how I paid for the first semester.
My mother then found out about an Indian government scholarship scheme. She sent me the application forms, I applied for the scholarship, and I was successful. So, after the first semester, it was the scholarship that helped me through.
It also helped me to pay my debt (to the sister who had pawned her jewellery). I then borrowed money from my other sister and repaid her when the next scholarship came.
The scholarship, however, covered only the tuition fees. What about the hostel fees and food? Even small things like a washing soap or a toothbrush or a tube of toothpaste was a burden. So, I borrowed more at high rates of interest. The debt grew to a substantial amount by the time I reached the fourth year.
First year at BITS, Pilani
To put it mildly, I was absolutely shocked. Till then, I had moved only with students from poor families. At Pilani, all the students were from the upper class or upper middle class families. Their lifestyle was totally different from mine. The topics they discussed were alien to me. They would talk about the good times they had in school.
On the other hand, my school years were a big struggle. There was this communication problem also as I was not conversant in English then.
I just kept quiet and observed them. I concentrated only on my studies because back home so many people had sacrificed for me. And, it took a really long time -- till the end of the first year -- to make friends.
The second year
I became a little more confident and started opening up. I had worked really hard for the engineering exhibition during the first year. I did a lot of labour-intensive work like welding and cutting, though my subject was chemical engineering. My seniors appreciated me.
In my second year also, I worked really hard for the engineering exhibition. This time, my juniors appreciated me, and they became my close friends, so close that they would be at my beck and call.
In the third year, when there was an election for the post of the co-ordinator for the exhibition, my juniors wanted me to contest. Thanks to their efforts I was unanimously elected. That was my first experience of being in the limelight. It was also quite an experience to handle around 100 students.
Seeing my work, slowly my batch mates also came to the fold. All of them said I lead the team very well.
They also told me that I could be a good manager and asked me to do MBA. That was the first time I heard about something called MBA. I asked them about the best institution in India. They said, the Indian Institutes of Management. Then, I decided if I was going to study MBA, it should be at one of the IIMs, and nowhere else.
Inspiration to be an entrepreneur
It was while preparing for the Common Admission Test that I read in the papers that 30 per cent of India's population does not get two meals a day. I know how it feels to be hungry. What should be done to help them, I wondered.
I also read about Infosys and Narayana Murthy, Reliance and Ambani. Reliance employed 20,000-25,000 people at that time, and Infosys, around 15,000. When a single entrepreneur like Ambani employed 25,000 people, he was supporting the family, of four or five, of each employee. So he was taking care of 100,000 people indirectly. I felt I, too, should become an entrepreneur.
But, my mother was waiting for her engineer son to get a job, pay all the debts, build a pucca house and take care of her. And here I was dreaming about starting my own enterprise. I decided to go for a campus interview, and got a job with Polaris. I also sat for CAT but I failed to clear it in my first attempt.
I worked for 30 months at Polaris. By then, I could pay off all the debts but I hadn't built a proper house for my mother. But I decided to pursue my dream. When I took CAT for the third time, I cleared it and got calls from all the six IIMs. I got admission at IIM, Ahmedabad.
Life at IIM, Ahmedabad
My college helped me get a scholarship for the two years that I was at IIM. Unlike in BITS, I was more confident and life at IIM was fantastic. I took up a lot of responsibilities in the college. I was in the mess committee in the first year and in the second year; I was elected the mess secretary.
Becoming an entrepreneur
By the end of the second year, there were many lucrative job offers coming our way, but in my mind I was determined to start something on my own. But back home, I didn't have a house. It was a difficult decision to say 'no' to offers that gave you Rs 800,000 a year. But I was clear in my mind even while I knew the hard realities back home.
Yes, my mother had been an entrepreneur, and subconsciously, she must have inspired me. My inspirations were also (Dhirubhai) Ambani and Narayana Murthy. I knew I was not aiming at something unachievable. I got the courage from them to start my own enterprise.
Nobody at my institute discouraged me. In fact, at least 30-40 students at the IIM wanted to be entrepreneurs. And we used to discuss about ideas all the time. My last option was to take up a job.
Foodking Catering Services Pvt Ltd
My mother is my first inspiration to start a food business. Remember I started my life selling idlis in my slum. Then of course, my experience as the mess secretary at IIM-A was the second inspiration. I must have handled at least a thousand complaints and a thousand suggestions at that time. Every time I solved a problem, they thanked me.
I also felt there is a good opportunity in the food business. If you notice, a lot of people who work in the food business come from the weaker sections of the society.
My friends helped me with registering the company with a capital of Rs 100,000. Because of the IIM brand and also because of the media attention, I could take a loan from the bank without any problem.
I set up an office and employed three persons. The first order was from a software company in Ahmedabad. They wanted us to supply tea, coffee and snacks. We transported the items in an auto.
When I got the order from IIM, Ahmedabad, I took a loan of Rs 11 lakhs (Rs 1.1 million) and started a kitchen. So, my initial capital was Rs 11.75 lakhs (Rs 1.17 million).
Three months have passed, and now we have forty employees and four clients -- IIM Ahmedabad, Darpana Academy, Gujarat Energy Research Management Institute and System Plus.
In the first month of our operation, we earned around Rs 35,000. Now, the turnover is around Rs 250,000. The Chennai operations will start in another three months' time.
Ambition
I want to employ as many people as I can, and improve their quality of life. In the first year, I want to employ around 200-500 people. In the next five years, I hope to increase it by 15,000. I am sure it is possible.
I want to cover all the major cities in India, and later, I want to go around the world too.
I have seen people from all walks of life -- from the slums to the elite in the country. That is why luxuries like a car or a bungalow do not matter to me. Even money doesn't matter to me. I feel bad if I have to have food in a five star hotel. I feel guilty.
Personally, I have no ambition but I want to give a house and a car to my mother.
Appreciation
I did not expect this kind of exposure by the media for my venture or appreciation from people like my director at the IIM or Narayana Murthy. I was just doing what I wanted to do. But the exposure really helped me get orders, finance, everything.
The best compliments I received were from Narayana Murthy and my director at IIM, Ahmedabad. When I told him (IIM-A director) about my decision to start a company, he hugged me and wished me luck. They have seen life, they have seen thousands and thousands of students and if they say it is a good decision, I am sure it is a good decision.
Reservation
Reservation should be a mix of all criteria. If you take a caste that comes under reservation, 80 per cent of the people will be poor and 20 per cent rich, the creamy layer. For the general category, it will be the other way around.
I feel equal weightage should be given for the economic background. A study has to be done on what is the purpose of reservation and what it has done to the needy. It should be more effective and efficient. In my case, I would not have demanded for reservation. I accepted it because the society felt I belonged to the deprived class and needed a helping hand.
Today, the opportunities are grabbed by a few. They should be ashamed of their ability if they avail reservation even after becoming an IAS officer or something like that. They are putting a burden on the society and denying a chance to the really needy.
I feel reservation is enough for one generation. For example, if the child's father is educated, he will be able to guide the child properly.
Take my case, I didn't have any system that would make me aware of the IITs and the IIMs. But I will be able to guide my children properly because I am well educated. I got the benefits of reservation but I will never avail of it for my children. I cannot even think of demanding reservation for the next generation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
