A Forgotten Relation

One thing is certain, Indian mornings are always chaotic. While the kids and their dads get ready hurriedly, the mums rush in all household chores. If this is not enough for the nerves, well then you have an irritant ‘the constant buzz of the door bell’ - The newspaper person, then the car cleaner, then the cleaning ‘bai’ etc. Much has not changed from my days as a kid, but I do miss one individual amongst this frenzied morning atmosphere the ‘doodhwala’ or the milkman.

He was always peculiarly dressed. Clad in messy and about to tear apart dhoti, a contrasting sparkling white kurta and black mojries adorning his feet. A red cotton cloth called gamcha was always with him, the most multipurpose apparel I had seen. He would sling it around his neck while pouring the white liquid in the container and then tie it around his head when he was ready to leave. This could wipe Spilled milk efficiently and sweat during peak summers. Rajdoot was the official carrier of all the milkmen in town, with noise loud and clear to make us all aware of the arrival. Our milkman’s education level was rudimentary but he still applied the laws of physics very well by balancing the level of milk in each container stationed either sides of his bike to prevent any fall. A daily ritual he used to pour a fixed amount of milk in the container and if we wanted any change in the quantity prior notification was must. Mum used to take the milk and dutifully write the amount taken adjacent to the date in the calendar hanging in her kitchen. In the end, the doodhwala’s bill was tallied with the jotted readings on the calendar. While this was checked, his words were enough to accept the purity of the milk poured. It was the most peculiar relationship where trust and suspicion went in tandem.

The quality of the milk was never questioned on seeing the viscosity of the liquid or the cream it produced on boiling but by any deterioration of health or delay in the increase of height in the household kids. Another constant threat to the precious milk was that did the milkman mix water in it and if yes hopefully not tap water. To this, the milkman in his theatrical best use to tell ma that he shall give up milking cows and go to the himalyas if water was ever found in his milk. In addition, if one day the cow was sick or the milk man got late in milking it we had to do away with powder milk that came in the most repulsive package and was equally repulsive in taste. We shared Joys and sorrows with him. He got new kurta and mithai on festivals and joyous occasions and a lending ear for his sorrows. He brought special ghee for us sometimes stating it was good for the brain during exams.

Today, I see a completely new milkman emerging, he no longer runs pillar to post to sell his milk. He has contracts with dairies and large corporations who buy his cow’s entire yield. In addition, we have succumbed to convenience by having tie ups with the nearby grocer to provide us packaged pasteurized milk. 24 hours availability, improved quality and convenience are felt, but the bond between the household and the doodhwala, two entities from completely different lifestyles, has dwindled away.

SHARP

Hardly a day passes by when the morning dailies are not carrying the news of road accidents in various parts of Jaipur and its periphery. Sad but true every household in Jaipur has a horrifying tale to tell about a road accident. Worse still the number of households who have seen a death of a near and dear one due to this is rising at an alarming rate. The time has come when quick and efficient measures must be taken to curb such mishaps. It’s a common practice whenever such incidences take place on roads Hue and cry is generated, Blame game is played, court cases run for many years altogether and ultimately maybe or maybe not compensation is given to the grieving party. Is this right? Is this justified? How about a different course of action taken altogether? How about learning from these misfortunes, Taking corrective and effective measures to make the roads safer? Making our city’s roads harbinger for connecting people with one another and not paths of tragedies and sorrow. Just like multivitamins can build resistance from various viruses, in a similar way precautions taken before embarking your journey on roads can lead to you creating antibodies for your self to fight the dangerous virus called ‘accident’. What I write further are probably things which is known by all but I repeat them in this article with an aim that the reader inculcates them not only in his/her knowledge repository called mind but also in daily practices while driving. The practices I pen down have been given a sobriquet as SHARP. I strongly feel that these small tips can sharply swing you to a safer path and avoid disasters. S (Seat Belt) H (Helmet) A (Alertness) R (Rules) P (Perfection)

Seat Belt - Seat belts and car seats save lives if they are used properly and at all times. Statistical data empirically verify that people killed in most of the fatal accidents were unrestrained. Seat belts must be used all the times, not just when you see the police round the corner. They are for your protection and safety and can be your savior if god forbids a crash takes place. Mostly it is seen that people wear seat belts on the city road for the fear of a fine than for the fear of an accident. Highways were there is no check, the seat belts are immediately removed on the contrary this is the place where their usage is a must.

Helmet - Jaipur city is hometown for many two wheelers and during road accidents where a two wheeler is involved the head usually succumbs to injuries. Wearing a helmet has been shown to decrease the risk and severity of injuries among motorcyclists. Its benefits are tremendous and the only detriment that I see in it is that it spoils your hair. But it is far simpler to brush your hair than injuries. Helmet is not only essential for the driver but also the pillion driver who is equally at risk when an accident takes place.

Alertness - Drinking and driving do not go hand in hand at all. With this combination you are not only risking your life but life of other people as well. Its proven medically that your senses and reflex actions slow down when there is alcohol content in the body. Alertness is very essential on the road as anything can happen anytime. Next time you take a drink make sure you have some non drinker to take you home.

Rules – Jumping traffic lights, ignoring stop signs, exceeding the speed limit is done casually by us. In the urgency to reach our destination we forget the importance of adhering to traffic rules and the serious ramifications this can have. Traffic rules are simple to follow and help in organizing the traffic, as well as prevent accidents. Next time when you are jumping traffic light think of your own safety you will never bend the rule then.

Perfection – Driving is an art which should be known very well before you venture out. Go thru the proper channels to get your license. Give proper test and make sure you are at the right age before you sit behind the wheel. As a Parent discourage amateur drivers on the road. These simple things if kept in mind and in action by all can make our roads safe and our ride pleasurable. Next time when you hit on the road bear these in mind.

Log on to the site http://www.muskaanonroad.org/

At Home Working

When work from home (WFH) came my way. It brought along a series of mixed reactions. My Parents thought this was a subtle way of the company to make me redundant. Work from home will gradually become work for home was their fear. The educationalists in my circle were thrilled, as they saw an opportunity for me to prepare for higher studies. The newbie mothers, were jealous, they so wanted this option. As for me, I was too busy adjusting to the new working environment for thoughts to prevail.

WFH is an extremely prevalent concept in the west. The idea behind this is that the employee stays at home and logs in the companies network using a mobility client. Once in the network one is able to do work in the same way, as one would have done sitting on the office desk. Myriad of tools, supporting web dialogue providing audio, video and desktop sharing options help create a virtual conference room. The beauty of these virtually created meetings is this that the interaction seems face to face. The web enabled tools and applications allow you to login from anywhere and at anytime. Online trainings and seminars help you to be up to date with all the recent advances in your field.

It is a win-win situation for all. While the employer saves on office space, the employee escapes from the travails of long commutes that have become inevitable in today’s metros. On personal grounds, even after clocking in 9-10 hours a day for work and sometimes more, time is no longer a constraint for me. I have ample of time at my disposal to pursue my personal interests. The best outcome from this is, that the parameter to rate me as an employee is solely my performance and my timely results. Sycophancy, long ideal work hours to impress the boss and indulgence in office gossips no longer come into picture. Of course, I do miss the water cooler talks and the team lunches but the pros overshadow the cons in this situation.

An idyllic condition as it seems, definitely has its own teething problems and gives occasional hiccups. Power cuts, fluctuating bandwidth, slow upload and download speeds, insufficient backups are the main deterrents. If, we overcome these problems then it will be a blessing for millions. IT industry would be able to increase its reach in the interiors of the country without much investment on space. The job market will open for many women professionals, who left their budding career to start family. Opportunities will arise for the physically challenged who find it tough to commute on a daily basis. The power of work from home is available to all; it is on our discretion to unleash it.

Parallel Thinking

While I was growing up in the neighborhoods of Delhi and Jaipur, there was one common advice ‘Get into a professional course, it guarantees a decent job’. My juvenile mind could not figure out the complete definition of the term ‘professional course’, it seemed from further elaboration of the advices that these courses were the ones centered on subjects in the fields of medicine and engineering. These pieces of advices were justified, because of the fact that my growing years were also the years where our country embarked on the most successful revolutions of its time the IT revolution, of the truth that those were the days when extensive privatization of health care was taking place and hospitals and clinics were mushrooming all over.

Amidst these counseling sessions the counselors forgot that they were giving suggestions to the generation who dared to dream, who wanted to chase their passions, even if it meant challenging the traditions, facing all the odds and keeping everything on stake. Success and failure was not in their mind but fulfillment of childhood dreams was of paramount importance. This sudden awareness of ones career path could be the result of the foundation laid by our forefathers, who put the stepping stones for an economy with opportunities, the credit also goes to the newbie entering the professional arena who had the guts to deviate from the routine path and create corridors in the economy which were not only chic but became the source of inspiration for many.

A feeling of pride creeps in when I see the bright guys and girls from my school becoming entrepreneurs, rubbing shoulders with corporate giants while striking a deal. It gives me pleasure to see my handsome and pretty ex-classmates advertising products, playing a character on popular shows or movies, enjoying their moments of fame. I enjoy watching plays crafted on low budgets from my friends who are determined to make theatre as popular in India as Broadway is in USA. My head bangs and foot taps to the beats of a band whose inception took place in the garage of our colony and now have an album to their credit. I am in awe when I go to visit an art exhibition displaying the talent, hard-work, creative genius and the rebellious nature of my friend whose passion is her profession. My body is in a state of bliss when I eat out in a restaurant offering cuisines never tasted before, started by my peer. I salute the ones who entered civil services and armed forces from our batch not for the lure of power but to do something for the society and the nation. I respect the social activist amongst us, contributing subtly but effectively to the society in general. My admiration for the ones, who ventured in alternative sources of energy and are finding effective, eco friendly and innovative ways of generating energy for our ever growing demands.

The perfect blend of opportunities innovative thinking and the dare to dream passionately has resulted many to take the alternative route. Of course it is not always hunky dory in these parallel routes but the main principle these classmates of mine survive on is the fact that the biggest risk is not to take the risk.

It is very important for such alternative professions and professionals to thrive in an economy it not only allows variety to the palette but also helps give a wider spectrum for the economy and the nation to grow on the whole. In these days and times, jobs and services are defying political and geographical boundaries in their movement. This movement is not driven by compassion or credentials and creditability, but by labor cost and profitability. With such radical changing nature of jobs, offbeat professions, innovation, adaptability, collaborating and risk taking individuals should be promoted.

Finely, efficiently and gradually these individuals are creating a niche for themselves. This fact gave me the confidence to smile back when a cab driver in US of A asked me ‘Are you a software engineer from India who is coding the whole day?’ True the smile was an affirmation to his query it also in its own mysterious way said out loud that give some more time you will have clients from India from varied professions.