BOBKANNAN BLOGS

While returning from the morning walk I found that in the nearby auto stand there were drivers readying a stool with garland and a large framed photo of Dr. Kalam. When I asked what it is, I got a reply "we have to be like him" and hence this memorial he said. This summarizes what Dr. Kalam stood for. Simplicity in public life with stupendous achievement without the pompous normally attached with it and making the most common man speak about it. I have heard of Dr. Kalam from a couple of scientists and colleagues and have known the benefit the country got by his deeds. Yet it was a joy when the man in the street acknowledged his value and conveyed his respect.  Last year when Dr. Kalam expired I was on a flight from Hyderabad to Chennai and the elite in the flight expressed as much awe for the man and sorrow for his death. As I landed at Chennai and was on my way back home I saw so many shops/establishments closed with huge posters of Dr. Kalam with a h...

      "Rupees eight hundred penalty for an improperly presented cheque?" This is the beginning of an argument between a customer and the bank clerk. The customer had forgotten to sign the cheque and it bounced though all other things were correct and the bank charged Rs. 800/- for the mistake treating it as an offence.      A car worth eighty lacs was bought with bank loan where the delivery of the car was delayed beyond the auspicious month for want of full payment by a mere Rs. 400/- which the bank deducted from the loan amount as part of processing fee with the explanation 'though processing fee is waived this fee is compulsory'. In both the cases the customer service was behaviorally very polite, courteous, friendly and even sophisticated in words in that Private Bank.  Garden Silk Mills in early eighties signed an Agreement with their Union a couple of months before Diwali that resulted in payment of huge arrea...

It actually became a war between Tape recorder Vs entire electronic world. The tape recorder was the first devise that brought smiles in the face of people when they could listen to their own voice again and again. It also helped listen to evergreen film songs of the sixties and seventies repeatedly without cost. Since the record players were costly, and the records brittle, the middle class felt the tape as safe luxury.  1984 was the year watching films ceased to be a luxury with video cassette recorder making entry in the drawing room. The tape started losing its face as the songs that it could play were available with the video thro the VCR. The growth of television robbed more charm out of the tape recorder and the VCR and VCP together hastened the downfall. It was still useful as a mobile devise as people on tour used to carry the tape recorder to listen songs while in picnic. The CD was yet another devise that devoured the charm of tape. Today with the ad...

"Trust is a bigger compliment than love." This statement in the early days of my career was made by a boss who trusted me to the core. Yet trust based largely on belief and faith runs counter to the basic tenets of administration that advocates a mild dose of skepticism with one and all. Leaders who handle people more than wealth that too in a power situation all the more practice it to perfection. Doubt for them is not suspicion but absence of trust in entirety. Leaders accept integrity as a virtue and respect people to enhance their recognition and credibility, yet hold the ace of counter check to ensure that no failure happens for want of control. It is not just financial integrity but also sincerity, reliability, fairness, loyalty, commitment and all of them with consistency are demanded by leaders as they work thro people. To ensure that it is maintained and not tampered by personal ambition, forces leaders to maintain a dose of skepticism. In leade...