Tuesday, May 1, 2012
SourceMantra Offers Great Careers: Shridhar Dandu
Participates in NYIT Fair
New Jersey, April 22, 2012:
SourceMantra, an IT consulting firm, headquartered in New Jersey has participated in career fair at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). The fair, which was participated by plus 100 companies, was held at Old Westbury campus. A global, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 14,000 students on campuses in North America, China, the Middle East, and online.
SourceMantra’s representatives were present at the venue to highlight the career opportunities that would be made available to students in the fields of BFSI, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, technology, telecom, utilities, transportation and aerospace. Students from various backgrounds received first hand information from the company.
Participating in the fair, Mr. Shridhar Dandu, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, said, “SourceMantra’s participation in this career fair is yet another manifestation of the company's corporate policy of involvement in activities promoting direct contact with students. Our main focus was to create awareness among the student community about the company and its projects, with the expectation that they might one day be a part of the organization as employees. Many of the students were very enthusiastic about the career information they were getting. Several expressed a sincere interest in our business."
SourceMantra currently has 100 consultants working for various clients. It has a target to reach to hire 200 consultants by 2015. Work at SourceMantra is an amazing combination of fun and competitiveness. It believes in the power of technology and so encourage the latest from the tech scene to be used – thus empowering its people to be the most productive and so that the end results are a product of smart work and smart application of technology.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Terror attacks in Mumbai, over 100 killed, 900 injured
By agencies
Thursday, November 27, 2008
MUMBAI: Over 101 people are reported to have been killed and more than 900 are reported injured as unidentified groups of gunmen opened fire in at least four places across south Mumbai on Wednesday night.
Terrorists used heavy machine guns, including AK-47s, and grenades to strike at the city's most high-profile targets - the hyper-busy CST (formerly VT) rail terminus; the landmark Taj Hotel at the Gateway and the luxury Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point; the domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard -- killing at least 80 and sending more than 900 to hospital, according to latest reports.
The firings, which is reported to be still continuing, have taken a tragic toll on the city's top police brass: The high-profile chief of the anti-terror squad Hemant Karkare was killed; Mumbai's additional commissioner of police (east) Ashok Kamte was gunned down outside the Metro; and celebrated encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar was also killed.
The attacks appeared to be aimed at getting international attention as the terrorists took upto 40 British nationals and other foreigners hostage in three hotels - Taj, Oberoi and Trident. The chairman of Hindustan Unilever Harish Manwani and CEO of the company Nitin Paranjpe were among the guests trapped at the Oberoi. All the internal board members of the multinational giant were reported to be holed up in the Oberoi hotel.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Ghafoor said the attacks were suspected to be "coordinated terrorist acts", and added that automatic weapons like AK-47 and AK-56 and semi-automatic rifles were apparently used. Most of the injured were policemen.
It appeared that small groups of heavily armed terrorists sneaked into busy public places, mostly in south Mumbai, leading to a scare in the metropolis that has been a target of terror attacks in recent years.
Police official said suspected terrorists opened fire at police and paramilitary forces outside the Hotel Taj Intercontinental in south Mumbai between 10.15 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.
The police officials, who refused to speak on record because it was too early to confirm anything, said firing was on near the five-star hotel where around 2,000 guests and staff were stranded. The body of a foreign woman guest was recovered from the Taj Hotel and two terrorists were holed up inside the building, a police official said. At least 90 percent portion of the 22-storey building was plunged into darkness as authorities cut off power in a precautionary measure.
Minutes later, bullets were fired near the Hotel Trident (previously known as Hotel Oberoi) - another five-star hotel barely a kilometre away from the Taj. At least 1,000 tourists were inside the hotel, which is in a high-security zone and lies just behind the Air India and Maharashtra legislature buildings. Suspected terrorists also opened indiscriminate firing near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (previously known as Victoria Terminus), the headquarters of the Central Railway, which is a world heritage building and remains crowded almost throughout the day.
A terrorist was hiding inside the railway terminus where thousands of people have been evacuated. As a precautionary measure, authorities suspended suburban and other railway services.
Later in the night, two bomb blasts, one in Vile Parle, a residential suburb in north Mumbai, and another in Mazgaon, also injured an unspecified number of people, the police officials said. The blast in Vile Parle occurred in a taxi, which was blown into pieces. There was a firing reported from the Bade Miya Street behind the Hotel Taj. All roads linking south Mumbai with the rest of the metropolis were barricaded. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh urged people to maintain peace and calm even as a Red Alert was sounded across Maharashtra state.
Four major terrorist attacks have occurred in India's financial capital Mumbai in the last 15 years. Following is a chronology of the major terrorist attacks here:
* Nov 26, 2008: Several killed and many more injured in seven terror attacks targeting mostly foreigners' hangout places.
* July 11, 2006: More than 200 people killed in seven blasts on suburban trains and stations.
* Aug 25, 2003: 46 people killed in two blasts including one near the Gateway of India.
* March 12, 1993: A series of bomb blasts left 257 dead and around 700 injured.
Buildings attacked included the Bombay Stock Exchange, hotels, theatres, passport office, Air India building and Sahar Airport.
However news reports in Thursday afternoon, citing A N Roy, Director General of Police, said that all the hostages held in Taj Hotel were rescued by Indian forces.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
MUMBAI: Over 101 people are reported to have been killed and more than 900 are reported injured as unidentified groups of gunmen opened fire in at least four places across south Mumbai on Wednesday night.
Terrorists used heavy machine guns, including AK-47s, and grenades to strike at the city's most high-profile targets - the hyper-busy CST (formerly VT) rail terminus; the landmark Taj Hotel at the Gateway and the luxury Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point; the domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard -- killing at least 80 and sending more than 900 to hospital, according to latest reports.
The firings, which is reported to be still continuing, have taken a tragic toll on the city's top police brass: The high-profile chief of the anti-terror squad Hemant Karkare was killed; Mumbai's additional commissioner of police (east) Ashok Kamte was gunned down outside the Metro; and celebrated encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar was also killed.
The attacks appeared to be aimed at getting international attention as the terrorists took upto 40 British nationals and other foreigners hostage in three hotels - Taj, Oberoi and Trident. The chairman of Hindustan Unilever Harish Manwani and CEO of the company Nitin Paranjpe were among the guests trapped at the Oberoi. All the internal board members of the multinational giant were reported to be holed up in the Oberoi hotel.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Ghafoor said the attacks were suspected to be "coordinated terrorist acts", and added that automatic weapons like AK-47 and AK-56 and semi-automatic rifles were apparently used. Most of the injured were policemen.
It appeared that small groups of heavily armed terrorists sneaked into busy public places, mostly in south Mumbai, leading to a scare in the metropolis that has been a target of terror attacks in recent years.
Police official said suspected terrorists opened fire at police and paramilitary forces outside the Hotel Taj Intercontinental in south Mumbai between 10.15 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.
The police officials, who refused to speak on record because it was too early to confirm anything, said firing was on near the five-star hotel where around 2,000 guests and staff were stranded. The body of a foreign woman guest was recovered from the Taj Hotel and two terrorists were holed up inside the building, a police official said. At least 90 percent portion of the 22-storey building was plunged into darkness as authorities cut off power in a precautionary measure.
Minutes later, bullets were fired near the Hotel Trident (previously known as Hotel Oberoi) - another five-star hotel barely a kilometre away from the Taj. At least 1,000 tourists were inside the hotel, which is in a high-security zone and lies just behind the Air India and Maharashtra legislature buildings. Suspected terrorists also opened indiscriminate firing near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (previously known as Victoria Terminus), the headquarters of the Central Railway, which is a world heritage building and remains crowded almost throughout the day.
A terrorist was hiding inside the railway terminus where thousands of people have been evacuated. As a precautionary measure, authorities suspended suburban and other railway services.
Later in the night, two bomb blasts, one in Vile Parle, a residential suburb in north Mumbai, and another in Mazgaon, also injured an unspecified number of people, the police officials said. The blast in Vile Parle occurred in a taxi, which was blown into pieces. There was a firing reported from the Bade Miya Street behind the Hotel Taj. All roads linking south Mumbai with the rest of the metropolis were barricaded. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh urged people to maintain peace and calm even as a Red Alert was sounded across Maharashtra state.
Four major terrorist attacks have occurred in India's financial capital Mumbai in the last 15 years. Following is a chronology of the major terrorist attacks here:
* Nov 26, 2008: Several killed and many more injured in seven terror attacks targeting mostly foreigners' hangout places.
* July 11, 2006: More than 200 people killed in seven blasts on suburban trains and stations.
* Aug 25, 2003: 46 people killed in two blasts including one near the Gateway of India.
* March 12, 1993: A series of bomb blasts left 257 dead and around 700 injured.
Buildings attacked included the Bombay Stock Exchange, hotels, theatres, passport office, Air India building and Sahar Airport.
However news reports in Thursday afternoon, citing A N Roy, Director General of Police, said that all the hostages held in Taj Hotel were rescued by Indian forces.
England cancels India tour: reports
Updated at: 1134 PST, Thursday, November 27, 2008 NEW DELHI: England has canceled its cricket tour of India in the wake of terror attacks that have killed at least 101 people in Mumbai. While the English squad remained in Cuttack, where it lost Wednesday night to go 5-0 down in a seven match limited-overs series, England and Wales Cricket Board officials met Thursday morning with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.The Indian news agency reported that the tour, which still had two limited-overs internationals and two test matches remaining on the itinerary _, had been canceled.A high-ranking BCCI official, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to comment to the media, told the media that the tour had been canceled and a formal statement would be released later Thursday. The Champions League Twenty20 tournament, due to start next Wednesday in Mumbai, could also be scrapped. Officials were not available to comment, but Australian and English provincial clubs had already postponed leaving for India.
Recession fears hit Bollywood
1 day ago
MUMBAI (AFP) — Bollywood is tightening its belt in the face of the global economic downturn, as Indian cinema-goers prefer to hold onto their cash and corporate backers look for guaranteed returns for their money.
Producers and analysts say that although the Indian economy has been spared the worst effects of the banking collapse, negative sentiment and fear of contagion have still affected the 2.1-billion-dollar film industry.
That means more financial scrutiny, particularly after two recent big movies -- sci-fi fantasy "Drona" (Saviour) and the thriller "Kidnap" -- bombed at the box office.
"Some corporates have suffered huge losses and are feeling the cash crunch," said Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahta in his magazine Film Information.
"Coupled with this is the recession abroad. That's why the practices of paying unjustified prices to stars and producers and of trading in films are likely to come to an end."
Big name players in Hollywood have been taking an increasing interest in Bollywood in recent years, with Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox and Disney all signing tie-ups with Indian studios.
Major Indian conglomerates have also tapped into the fast-expanding market, especially lucrative television rights, DVD and video sales and other marketing spin-offs.
But producers are having to think again if they believe funding for their projects will be unlimited and revenue from cinema ticket sales guaranteed, said Nahta.
"Corporates have slowed down and are now going to be extra particular about the films and the heroes they back," he added.
"Some corporates are reportedly going back on their contracts and relinquishing the rights of films they had acquired when the market was booming. After suffering heavy losses, it's time to become accountable."
Indranil Charkraborty, head of Mumbai Mantra, the film arm of conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra, said the current atmosphere in the industry was one of "wait and watch".
"The fresh funds that were coming into the film industry have stopped now. They (companies) want to see the outcome of the films that they have invested in before going on with the new projects," he said.
Film producer Mukesh Bhatt said the recession fears had been exacerbated by the inexperience of many companies that dived into the film industry with little knowledge of its workings.
"The recession is for those new entrant corporate companies in Bollywood who jacked up the prices of actors without understanding the business and spoiled the market," said Bhatt, who runs Vishesh Films.
"Now many of their films have bombed so they are ducking for cover. They don't know where to go. All their future projects are in limbo.
"Every film has its own audiences and economics. These corporates didn't understand this simple business idea. Now the recession is hitting badly and they have no clue what to do," he said.
MUMBAI (AFP) — Bollywood is tightening its belt in the face of the global economic downturn, as Indian cinema-goers prefer to hold onto their cash and corporate backers look for guaranteed returns for their money.
Producers and analysts say that although the Indian economy has been spared the worst effects of the banking collapse, negative sentiment and fear of contagion have still affected the 2.1-billion-dollar film industry.
That means more financial scrutiny, particularly after two recent big movies -- sci-fi fantasy "Drona" (Saviour) and the thriller "Kidnap" -- bombed at the box office.
"Some corporates have suffered huge losses and are feeling the cash crunch," said Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahta in his magazine Film Information.
"Coupled with this is the recession abroad. That's why the practices of paying unjustified prices to stars and producers and of trading in films are likely to come to an end."
Big name players in Hollywood have been taking an increasing interest in Bollywood in recent years, with Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox and Disney all signing tie-ups with Indian studios.
Major Indian conglomerates have also tapped into the fast-expanding market, especially lucrative television rights, DVD and video sales and other marketing spin-offs.
But producers are having to think again if they believe funding for their projects will be unlimited and revenue from cinema ticket sales guaranteed, said Nahta.
"Corporates have slowed down and are now going to be extra particular about the films and the heroes they back," he added.
"Some corporates are reportedly going back on their contracts and relinquishing the rights of films they had acquired when the market was booming. After suffering heavy losses, it's time to become accountable."
Indranil Charkraborty, head of Mumbai Mantra, the film arm of conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra, said the current atmosphere in the industry was one of "wait and watch".
"The fresh funds that were coming into the film industry have stopped now. They (companies) want to see the outcome of the films that they have invested in before going on with the new projects," he said.
Film producer Mukesh Bhatt said the recession fears had been exacerbated by the inexperience of many companies that dived into the film industry with little knowledge of its workings.
"The recession is for those new entrant corporate companies in Bollywood who jacked up the prices of actors without understanding the business and spoiled the market," said Bhatt, who runs Vishesh Films.
"Now many of their films have bombed so they are ducking for cover. They don't know where to go. All their future projects are in limbo.
"Every film has its own audiences and economics. These corporates didn't understand this simple business idea. Now the recession is hitting badly and they have no clue what to do," he said.
22 U.S. banks collapsed this year
By IANS
Monday, November 24, 2008
New York: As many as 22 American banks have collapsed this year so far, even as the banking giant Citigroup, led by Indian-American, Vikram Pandit, struggled this week to save itself from becoming number 23 in this fast growing long list.
On Friday, three US banks collapsed with two of them being in California and the third one in Georgia.
The two California banks which were shut down Friday are Downey Savings and Loan of Newport Beach and PFF Bank and Trust of Pomona. The 12.78 billion Downey, The Wall Street Journal, said is the third largest bank to fall this year. Topping the list is $307 billion Washington Mutual.
In Georgia the Community Bank of Loganville closed down.
With little signs of improvement, The Wall Street Journal said regulators expect more failures during the remaining part of this year and next year, as "rotting real estates and other loans continue to weigh down bank balance sheets."
The deposits and some of the assets of the two collapsed Californian banks were bought by US Bancorp, which now has emerged as one of the strongest US banks during the current financial turmoil. Deposits and assets of the Georgian bank was acquired by Bank of Essex from Virginia.
Among other banks, which collapsed this year - reflecting the deep trouble in which the US economy is in - include Franklin Bank (Houston), Security Pacific Bank (Los Angeles), Freedom Bank (Florida), Silver State Bank (Nevada), Columbian Bank and Trust (Kansas), First Priority Bank (Florida), First National Bank of Nevada, ANB Financial (Arkansas), IndyMac Bank (California).
The largest number of bank collapse has been reported from California.
Collapse of such a large number of American banks, despite a $700 billion bailout package reflects the deep turmoil of the US economy. From 2003 to 2007 only 10 US banks were reported to have collapsed. In 2008, the figure has already touched 22 and still more than a month to go.
Monday, November 24, 2008
New York: As many as 22 American banks have collapsed this year so far, even as the banking giant Citigroup, led by Indian-American, Vikram Pandit, struggled this week to save itself from becoming number 23 in this fast growing long list.
On Friday, three US banks collapsed with two of them being in California and the third one in Georgia.
The two California banks which were shut down Friday are Downey Savings and Loan of Newport Beach and PFF Bank and Trust of Pomona. The 12.78 billion Downey, The Wall Street Journal, said is the third largest bank to fall this year. Topping the list is $307 billion Washington Mutual.
In Georgia the Community Bank of Loganville closed down.
With little signs of improvement, The Wall Street Journal said regulators expect more failures during the remaining part of this year and next year, as "rotting real estates and other loans continue to weigh down bank balance sheets."
The deposits and some of the assets of the two collapsed Californian banks were bought by US Bancorp, which now has emerged as one of the strongest US banks during the current financial turmoil. Deposits and assets of the Georgian bank was acquired by Bank of Essex from Virginia.
Among other banks, which collapsed this year - reflecting the deep trouble in which the US economy is in - include Franklin Bank (Houston), Security Pacific Bank (Los Angeles), Freedom Bank (Florida), Silver State Bank (Nevada), Columbian Bank and Trust (Kansas), First Priority Bank (Florida), First National Bank of Nevada, ANB Financial (Arkansas), IndyMac Bank (California).
The largest number of bank collapse has been reported from California.
Collapse of such a large number of American banks, despite a $700 billion bailout package reflects the deep turmoil of the US economy. From 2003 to 2007 only 10 US banks were reported to have collapsed. In 2008, the figure has already touched 22 and still more than a month to go.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Straight from the Gut: A rags to riches story of two techie brothers
Friday, November 7, 2008
Bangalore: From the humble environs of the village in which they were born to the sophisticated corporate world, successfully breaking the shackles of poverty that ruined the mirth of their boyhood, the two brothers - Kumar Srinivasan as the General Manager, Vice President of Technology and Head of Amazon Bangalore Center and Kalyan Raman as the CEO of Global Scholar - today reign the corporate world.
The Cost of Being Poor
On Diwali morning in 1987 Kumar Srinivasan woke up just as he did every day. His biggest Diwali gift was waiting for him. "My brother gave me Rs. 10 and he was budgeting this for the last 3 months," r ecalls Kumar.
With no breakfast, he used to walk 10-12 kms everyday to go to school. Luckily for him, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.G. Ramachandran had introduced Midday Meal Scheme for school children in the state. "That's why my mom always voted for MGR's party," quips Kumar. While he looked forward to the much-needed meal-sambar bath with a few pieces of carrot and tomato, Kumar would stay back after all students had left to wash the vessels. This would earn him an extra plate of meal, which he promptly packed and brought home. Sometime he would give it to his younger brother in whose school the scheme was yet to be introduced, and sometimes the morsel of food would be lunch for his sister next day. His childhood memories still bear the imprints of a household bonded by the pressures of poverty.
Kumar's family lived in such abject poverty that they reached a point when they had nothing left in the house that could be sold to meet the next day's expenses. It was then that his mother decided to sell the only ceiling fan left in the house. Selling the fan would buy them food for another one full week. "The situation was so miserable that I remember my mother selling our stainless steel plates, in which we would eat, for 50 paise," narrates Kumar.
"I still remember passing down the clothes to my younger brothers. The trousers that the youngest one used to wear to go to school had more white patches on it than its original blue color because of the stitches," nostalgically says Kumar's elder brother Kalyan Raman (Kal). His energy and passion are very obvious in his words. And it is this energy and passion that were a common trait amongst all the siblings. He says, "We never felt we were poor. Even though we weren't all that happy, we were peaceful because we always lived on hope. The beauty of hope is that when you have nothing else left to lean upon, you get used to be peaceful. You wait for miracles to happen. Waiting for miracles helps remain hopeful," says Kal.
Their mother made a bold call early on saying, "I want every kid to be educated to the best of their abilities. Nobody is going to discontinue education and take a job for a short term gain. If we have to suffer for a few years, so be it." Many of their relatives thought otherwise. They saw no need for all the kids to go to school. Her stubbornness to send children to school only meant that relatives would stop helping. It didn't matter much to her.
Later on in life, Kal steps into Anna University. Best students from elite schools across the state used to come there to study, and here was a kid from the village trying to compete with them. "It was not daunting, but it was excitin
g to me," says Kal. However, it was not a happy sign to see his classmates coming to college on bicycles, bikes, or cars. Some were wearing double bull shirts and the latest branded jeans or shoes out in the market. Kal couldn't get the money to buy or do whatever he wanted. "I struggled," he notes.
While he was in Anna University, like other hostel students, he would need money for his basic expenses. A postman would come to the hostel block during lunch break, sit in a prominent place and read out names of students who had received money orders from their parents. "Senthil...Rs 500; Arasu...Rs 200; Chandra...Rs 1,000; Selvam; and so on." The students would walk up, collect the money, and tip the postman with Rs 5 or 10, as they pleased. The postman would never ever call out 'Kalyan Raman'. After the roll call, as the happy students dispersed, the postman would silently walk up to Kal and handover the Rs. 2.50 money order his mother would have sent with love. "Receiving such a meager amount would look bad for an engineering student. The postman was so thoughtful that he would not call my name as it would hurt my self respect. Even if I offered 25 paise as a friendly tip he would not accept it," recalls Kal. The thoughtful postman would only pat on his back and say, "Kalyan, study well." But the money order his mother sent him reminded Kal of a number of things and kindled his spirits, and perhaps was one of the main reasons behind what Kal has achieved today.
With almost zero money, Kal became the biggest defaulter for not paying the mess fees. The cook in the kitchen had learnt about Kal's poor condition. He would say, "I know I am not supposed to give you food but come after everyone is done with." There were several days when Kal had no food to eat. He would be eagerly waiting to grab food when day scholars at college offered him a portion of the food that they had brought from home. "It was a survival game," says Kal.
Kal is today the CEO of GlobalScholar.com, which offers an online tutoring platform, where parents and students can safely connect with trusted educators who provide one-on-one tutoring, homework help, or self-paced learning.
Kumar Follows Kal
Meanwhile Kumar completed his B.Sc. in Physics, and on his brother's advice he landed in Chennai and joined SSI for Diploma in Computers. He then went to the U.S. to join his brother. He is currently is the General Manager and Vice President responsible for a business unit, while being the head of the India center. However, Kumar doesn't agree to the fact that he has achieved a lot in a short span of 10 years of his professional life. "Go, look at the Facebook CEO, he is just 23. I am 13 years behind already. Everyday I think I am very much behind and need to catch up with the rest of the world," he says. In Kumar's spirit and daring attitude to perform you cannot fail to see a mirror image of Kal.
Kal remarks, as he narrates couplets in Tamil: Kodithu Kodithy Varumai Kodithu Athaninum Kodithu Illamayil Varumai. It says: Poverty is very cruel; more cruel is the poverty in youth. "Poverty and richness can either be a catalyst or
could be a burden to get better. It all depends on the mindset. It has everything to do with the fire in the belly or having the wings of fire. There are examples of people getting repressed and depressed by poverty and unable to get anywhere. Willing to do whatever it takes and wanting to prove a point, wanting to make a difference, wanting to be known for something that's what differentiates. Poverty just pushes the goals farther and makes the struggle to achieve interesting, from the view point of others. It creates its own challenges. I don't think, it either hurts or helps if the person doesn't have that fire within him."
When Kal's dad passed away, he used to tell his mother, "Don't worry mother. Some day we (children) will make so much of money that you wouldn't even know what to do with." She did believe in his words. "Neither of us had any clue as to how it will come to pass," quips Kal. And he definitely kept his promise.
To read the full story, please check http://www.thesmarttechie.com/magazine/fullstory.php/WIOB985704495
Bangalore: From the humble environs of the village in which they were born to the sophisticated corporate world, successfully breaking the shackles of poverty that ruined the mirth of their boyhood, the two brothers - Kumar Srinivasan as the General Manager, Vice President of Technology and Head of Amazon Bangalore Center and Kalyan Raman as the CEO of Global Scholar - today reign the corporate world.
The Cost of Being Poor
On Diwali morning in 1987 Kumar Srinivasan woke up just as he did every day. His biggest Diwali gift was waiting for him. "My brother gave me Rs. 10 and he was budgeting this for the last 3 months," r ecalls Kumar.
With no breakfast, he used to walk 10-12 kms everyday to go to school. Luckily for him, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.G. Ramachandran had introduced Midday Meal Scheme for school children in the state. "That's why my mom always voted for MGR's party," quips Kumar. While he looked forward to the much-needed meal-sambar bath with a few pieces of carrot and tomato, Kumar would stay back after all students had left to wash the vessels. This would earn him an extra plate of meal, which he promptly packed and brought home. Sometime he would give it to his younger brother in whose school the scheme was yet to be introduced, and sometimes the morsel of food would be lunch for his sister next day. His childhood memories still bear the imprints of a household bonded by the pressures of poverty.
Kumar's family lived in such abject poverty that they reached a point when they had nothing left in the house that could be sold to meet the next day's expenses. It was then that his mother decided to sell the only ceiling fan left in the house. Selling the fan would buy them food for another one full week. "The situation was so miserable that I remember my mother selling our stainless steel plates, in which we would eat, for 50 paise," narrates Kumar.
"I still remember passing down the clothes to my younger brothers. The trousers that the youngest one used to wear to go to school had more white patches on it than its original blue color because of the stitches," nostalgically says Kumar's elder brother Kalyan Raman (Kal). His energy and passion are very obvious in his words. And it is this energy and passion that were a common trait amongst all the siblings. He says, "We never felt we were poor. Even though we weren't all that happy, we were peaceful because we always lived on hope. The beauty of hope is that when you have nothing else left to lean upon, you get used to be peaceful. You wait for miracles to happen. Waiting for miracles helps remain hopeful," says Kal.
Their mother made a bold call early on saying, "I want every kid to be educated to the best of their abilities. Nobody is going to discontinue education and take a job for a short term gain. If we have to suffer for a few years, so be it." Many of their relatives thought otherwise. They saw no need for all the kids to go to school. Her stubbornness to send children to school only meant that relatives would stop helping. It didn't matter much to her.
Later on in life, Kal steps into Anna University. Best students from elite schools across the state used to come there to study, and here was a kid from the village trying to compete with them. "It was not daunting, but it was excitin
g to me," says Kal. However, it was not a happy sign to see his classmates coming to college on bicycles, bikes, or cars. Some were wearing double bull shirts and the latest branded jeans or shoes out in the market. Kal couldn't get the money to buy or do whatever he wanted. "I struggled," he notes.
While he was in Anna University, like other hostel students, he would need money for his basic expenses. A postman would come to the hostel block during lunch break, sit in a prominent place and read out names of students who had received money orders from their parents. "Senthil...Rs 500; Arasu...Rs 200; Chandra...Rs 1,000; Selvam; and so on." The students would walk up, collect the money, and tip the postman with Rs 5 or 10, as they pleased. The postman would never ever call out 'Kalyan Raman'. After the roll call, as the happy students dispersed, the postman would silently walk up to Kal and handover the Rs. 2.50 money order his mother would have sent with love. "Receiving such a meager amount would look bad for an engineering student. The postman was so thoughtful that he would not call my name as it would hurt my self respect. Even if I offered 25 paise as a friendly tip he would not accept it," recalls Kal. The thoughtful postman would only pat on his back and say, "Kalyan, study well." But the money order his mother sent him reminded Kal of a number of things and kindled his spirits, and perhaps was one of the main reasons behind what Kal has achieved today.
With almost zero money, Kal became the biggest defaulter for not paying the mess fees. The cook in the kitchen had learnt about Kal's poor condition. He would say, "I know I am not supposed to give you food but come after everyone is done with." There were several days when Kal had no food to eat. He would be eagerly waiting to grab food when day scholars at college offered him a portion of the food that they had brought from home. "It was a survival game," says Kal.
Kal is today the CEO of GlobalScholar.com, which offers an online tutoring platform, where parents and students can safely connect with trusted educators who provide one-on-one tutoring, homework help, or self-paced learning.
Kumar Follows Kal
Meanwhile Kumar completed his B.Sc. in Physics, and on his brother's advice he landed in Chennai and joined SSI for Diploma in Computers. He then went to the U.S. to join his brother. He is currently is the General Manager and Vice President responsible for a business unit, while being the head of the India center. However, Kumar doesn't agree to the fact that he has achieved a lot in a short span of 10 years of his professional life. "Go, look at the Facebook CEO, he is just 23. I am 13 years behind already. Everyday I think I am very much behind and need to catch up with the rest of the world," he says. In Kumar's spirit and daring attitude to perform you cannot fail to see a mirror image of Kal.
Kal remarks, as he narrates couplets in Tamil: Kodithu Kodithy Varumai Kodithu Athaninum Kodithu Illamayil Varumai. It says: Poverty is very cruel; more cruel is the poverty in youth. "Poverty and richness can either be a catalyst or
could be a burden to get better. It all depends on the mindset. It has everything to do with the fire in the belly or having the wings of fire. There are examples of people getting repressed and depressed by poverty and unable to get anywhere. Willing to do whatever it takes and wanting to prove a point, wanting to make a difference, wanting to be known for something that's what differentiates. Poverty just pushes the goals farther and makes the struggle to achieve interesting, from the view point of others. It creates its own challenges. I don't think, it either hurts or helps if the person doesn't have that fire within him."
When Kal's dad passed away, he used to tell his mother, "Don't worry mother. Some day we (children) will make so much of money that you wouldn't even know what to do with." She did believe in his words. "Neither of us had any clue as to how it will come to pass," quips Kal. And he definitely kept his promise.
To read the full story, please check http://www.thesmarttechie.com/magazine/fullstory.php/WIOB985704495
Monday, November 3, 2008
Many NRIs think of return, but see no prospect
By IANS
Sunday, November 2, 2008
New Delhi: Ajit Singh, an investment adviser in Boston working for one of Europe's largest commercial banks, had it all good a year ago. Engaged to be married later this year, he now finds that his big fat Indian wedding has been called off, while his great American dream has come crashing down.
"The girl's parents called off the wedding when they heard about people losing jobs in the US. They were no longer sure about the stability of my job," Singh told IANS over phone from Boston.
His situation, perhaps, isn't as bad as it was for Karthik Rajaram, a Los Angeles-based financial adviser, who recently killed five members of his family and himself after his finances were wiped out in the stock market crash.
There is no place like home - this is a cliche that is appealing to a host of non-resident Indians in the US and Europe these days as they look for prospects back home, fearing large-scale job losses in the lands of their dreams.
But the opportunities in India are no brighter.
Kunal Banerjee, chief executive of headhunting firm Absolute HR Services, says cases like that of Ajit Singh were not isolated, as the number of jobless people in the US touched 9.77 million in September, the highest in 16 years, and has been worsening with each passing day.
"The number of resumes from people wanting to come back has doubled. The hardest hit are the ones employed in financial and IT services," Banerjee told IANS.
"It is too early to comment on whether we will witness a mass exodus. The actual picture, I guess, will get clearer by mid-November or so when companies start to gauge the real impact of the meltdown."
Kris Lakshmikanth, chief executive and managing director of the Bangalore-based staffing agency Head Hunters India, also feels that non-resident Indians will start coming back to India in droves.
"We have seen a more than 100 percent jump in NRI resumes since July," he said.
"The US and other Western economies are in bad shape and jobs will continue to disappear. The US unemployment rate, which is around six percent currently, could reach double digits by the first quarter of 2009."
Top executives at headhunting firms said the type of visa, especially to the US, was also a determinant of how quickly or in what desperation people will make that trip back home.
"A lot of them to the US, for example, have gone on H1-B or L-1 visas. Software companies typically sponsor these visas. But since their margins are under severe pressure, they have started laying off people," he said.
"For H1-B cases, the visas stand null and void and the person would have to come back un"
Among the Indians expected to return are students. Typically, they are allowed a year-long period to work in the US or Britain once they finish their graduate or postgraduate studies. But with no jobs around, they may not have much of an alternative.
Yet, there are many who still favour the US over their homeland as they have bought houses, raised families and have come to believe in the American dream - like the New Jersey-based T.K. Sebastian, an executive in the finance department of a medium enterprise.
"There are no takers for my house. I can't sell it for less than what I bought it for. I still have loans to repay. Going back to India doesn't make sense to me, anyway. I hope the crisis will not last for ever."
But the situation is no better in India. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), in fact, said seven key industries, including banking and IT, would see companies shed as much as 25 percent of the workforce.
Although the chamber later retracted the analysis, it clearly reflected what the underlying sentiment was in the country's corporate sector which has been reeling under a liquidity crisis and a lack of demand.
"There is a clear danger of fresh investments, incremental employment and additional exports getting affected in the months ahead," Rajeev Chandrasekhar, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), had warned.
"Companies do not want to admit yet. A lot of them who had hired staff in large numbers are asking candidates not to join," said Banerjee. "This is especially true for IT firms that earned considerable revenues from financial services."
Sunday, November 2, 2008
New Delhi: Ajit Singh, an investment adviser in Boston working for one of Europe's largest commercial banks, had it all good a year ago. Engaged to be married later this year, he now finds that his big fat Indian wedding has been called off, while his great American dream has come crashing down.
"The girl's parents called off the wedding when they heard about people losing jobs in the US. They were no longer sure about the stability of my job," Singh told IANS over phone from Boston.
His situation, perhaps, isn't as bad as it was for Karthik Rajaram, a Los Angeles-based financial adviser, who recently killed five members of his family and himself after his finances were wiped out in the stock market crash.
There is no place like home - this is a cliche that is appealing to a host of non-resident Indians in the US and Europe these days as they look for prospects back home, fearing large-scale job losses in the lands of their dreams.
But the opportunities in India are no brighter.
Kunal Banerjee, chief executive of headhunting firm Absolute HR Services, says cases like that of Ajit Singh were not isolated, as the number of jobless people in the US touched 9.77 million in September, the highest in 16 years, and has been worsening with each passing day.
"The number of resumes from people wanting to come back has doubled. The hardest hit are the ones employed in financial and IT services," Banerjee told IANS.
"It is too early to comment on whether we will witness a mass exodus. The actual picture, I guess, will get clearer by mid-November or so when companies start to gauge the real impact of the meltdown."
Kris Lakshmikanth, chief executive and managing director of the Bangalore-based staffing agency Head Hunters India, also feels that non-resident Indians will start coming back to India in droves.
"We have seen a more than 100 percent jump in NRI resumes since July," he said.
"The US and other Western economies are in bad shape and jobs will continue to disappear. The US unemployment rate, which is around six percent currently, could reach double digits by the first quarter of 2009."
Top executives at headhunting firms said the type of visa, especially to the US, was also a determinant of how quickly or in what desperation people will make that trip back home.
"A lot of them to the US, for example, have gone on H1-B or L-1 visas. Software companies typically sponsor these visas. But since their margins are under severe pressure, they have started laying off people," he said.
"For H1-B cases, the visas stand null and void and the person would have to come back un"
Among the Indians expected to return are students. Typically, they are allowed a year-long period to work in the US or Britain once they finish their graduate or postgraduate studies. But with no jobs around, they may not have much of an alternative.
Yet, there are many who still favour the US over their homeland as they have bought houses, raised families and have come to believe in the American dream - like the New Jersey-based T.K. Sebastian, an executive in the finance department of a medium enterprise.
"There are no takers for my house. I can't sell it for less than what I bought it for. I still have loans to repay. Going back to India doesn't make sense to me, anyway. I hope the crisis will not last for ever."
But the situation is no better in India. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), in fact, said seven key industries, including banking and IT, would see companies shed as much as 25 percent of the workforce.
Although the chamber later retracted the analysis, it clearly reflected what the underlying sentiment was in the country's corporate sector which has been reeling under a liquidity crisis and a lack of demand.
"There is a clear danger of fresh investments, incremental employment and additional exports getting affected in the months ahead," Rajeev Chandrasekhar, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), had warned.
"Companies do not want to admit yet. A lot of them who had hired staff in large numbers are asking candidates not to join," said Banerjee. "This is especially true for IT firms that earned considerable revenues from financial services."
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