ARISE Summer Camp : Summary

Context: Summer Camp conducted in the Sneh Sadan.
The camp was shortened due to an administrative problem and lasted only 10 days unlike the planned 20 days. To compensate for lost time we doubled up the time spent, some highlights include



Computer Classes taken by Ryan, he came every day for the whole week and he brought in some learning software. Children learnt a lot of geography and GK in a very short time.
Class on Leaves proved that children knew much more about leaves and plants, as in Sneh Sadan has an excellent farm like environment. Each child bought 10 different types of leaves to class and we had a small quiz on the same.
Alpho and Naveen from MindTree took a class on Astronomy and taught the children about planets and gave them an idea of size of each by making a model in class. Children affirmed the learning by making an animated presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint the next day (with the help of Ryan).
Alpho and Divya took an excellent class to improve English using games. (Word Antakshari, Pictionary, Building Words from Big Words)
Rahul Mohandas from MindTree shared with the children his fascination of cars and his curiosity to find out how things work. How did he teach this? By simply opening the car’s bonnet!!
Srivatsa from MindTree came down and took a class on Painting and Origami.
Cricket Match was played on one evening. Team was captained by Santosh and Prem. Prem came up with class shots and Alwin did some cool spin bowling but Santosh and Father Roy’s team beat our team 2-1.
Apart from this some other classes on History, Science and Maths were also conducted
The children daily played with toys (on loan) brought in for this camp which included 3 blocks set, 2 train/track sets, 3 animal and birds set. (Seeing the way kids enjoyed and came up with really out of the box design I think one day I will open a Toy Library)
Rahul’s son and my two children came down on last day. The youngest group took them around their home and showed their bunk beds, classroom, dining halls, animals in the farm, different types of fruit trees and they loved playing with the baby rabbits.
Trek to Savandurga has been postponed to July as the schedule turned out to be very tight.
Overall it was an enjoyable and enriching experience for one and all. Father Roy did a lot of running around to coordinate the whole event, playing cricket and making sure all who came felt “very welcomed”.
Special thanks to the cook of establishment who sacrificed her 10 days vacation to make this event happen.

Finally three cheers for these wonderful children who inspite of their difficulties are able to share their joy and enthusiasm in even studying in the summer holidays. Overall the children are very bright and what was pretty evident was that they are very sensitive and soft at heart and not all that tough as they like the world to believe.

We have just scratched the surface, we will need to spend much more time with these children in a similarly planned manner if we are to make a positive impact on their careers and life in general. As of today I am sure the children have taught us more than we have taught them !


Thanks for one and all who contributed in making this Endeavour a success.

ARISE Summer Workshop

I am conducting a Summer Camp for children of Sneh Sadan. There are 30 students in this home , the age is ranging from 6-15 years. They understand English (otherwise with my Language Barrier this would not have been possible) . Two MindTree minds have shown interest, but more help is definetly required. This would be a great oppurtunity for you to give back something to the system !! . It could be as simple as 2 hours on a particular day !!

Arise

Context: I am organizing a summer camp for the children of Sneh Sadan (off Bannerghatta Road). The returns in conducting any program with children has so much returns that to put a dollar value to the ROI is simply not possible.
So are you interested in spending time with these children and to make your time count?
On 8th March 2009 I conducted my first workshop with the permission of Father Roy in the premisis of the Sneh Sadan. There are currently 30 children here for whom this is their home.
We divide the group into three batches, each class one hour and the agenda was
Group 1: Ages 6-10 years
· Ice Breakers: Spinning the Top
· Book Appreciation: Book of Buildings around the world
· Building Tallest Tower (Using Jenga Blocks)
Group 2: Ages 10-13 years
· Ice Breakers: Spinning the Top
· Book Appreciation: Book of Buildings around the world
· Building Tallest Tower (Using Jenga Blocks)
· Implementing their own design (House/Apartment/Church/Monument etc)
Group 3: Ages 13-15 years
· Ice Breakers: Number 1- 50
· Book Appreciation: Book of Buildings around the world
· Implementing their own design (House/Apartment/Church/Monument etc)
· Team Building Game : Tap Tap

The children seemed to enjoy the games and said they are looking forward to the full fledge summer camp. I was completely exhausted by the end of it but did enjoy playing with the children. I plan to conduct these introductory playing sessions on the remaining Sundays of the month of March. Summer Camp is scheduled to start in the first week of April.

The Agenda of the camp would include (5 days a week, 1 hour a day, 3 batches)
Team Games
Individual Motivation Games
Presentation Skill
English Speaking Skills
Subject Appreciation
Astronomy / Maths / Physics / Computers / English
History / Geography / Zoology / Biology
Book Appreciation
Loads of fun

Leadership Traits

Jibrael Jos, Ash Wednesday 2009

Context: What are leadership traits, Steven Covey puts forward seven traits. The people mentioned are all whom I hold in high regard and what I put here is only my perception with my limited interaction and my limited understanding.
Leadership and Followership are connected, if you do not believe in the system, your company, your practice how do you expect your team members to believe in you.
If you do not follow the strict path ( I do not think we need to) but then why do we expect others to toe the line we draw.
If you do not stand up to change the things you want changed you should not expect your team members to take onus.
Leadership is 90% Action and the remaining 10% is thinking what else to do.
Steven Covey puts forward seven traits of a leader
They are continually learning:
Subroto Bagchi, a major percentage of the books in the library are from his collection and the collection is not random one, it shows the person is a thinker and innovator (or is striving to be one). Closer home there is our very own Srikanth, Derick and Senthil who show the same trait. Learning is not just from books it comes from experiences, people you meet and concepts you develop. It is from both eyes and ears !!
They are service oriented:
Leaders see life as a mission. Ashok Soota comes to my mind but my favorite is definitely Mahatma Gandhi, people followed him by the thousands not for his oratory skills or for his style or for his looks. I believe a good leader needs to be closer to reality (real world) rather than lofty words and high altitude have to the point words and positive attitude.
They radiate positive energy:
Krishnan is a very good example as when he is around rarely does one feel any negative vibe. I remember once I approached with a serious problem of something which I thought we have “committed and we could not technically deliver “. I had been fretting on this problem along with the team for more than a month. But talking to him I was able to abstract the problem and within next couple of days had a meeting with customer and they agreed that yes this same problem was definitely not in scope!!
Siva Vajjala is another person who has impressed me a lot for those who have interacted with him I do not need to elaborate and those who have not I do not think my words can be the paint or this document a canvas to capture the person.
They believe in other people
This according to me is the key to Radha leadership style, she puts immense trust in the people who work under her and once she gives the task she is not trying to guide them, check on them or show them the way. She intrinsically makes the person in front believe he can do it.
They lead balanced life
I have not come across many who does this ! The best people who comes close to this in my experience in MindTree is Suresh H P and Raju Dani
They see life as an adventure
Some people may think that I am a maverick who does 18 trips in 18 months fits the bill but actually Steven Covey is talking about people like Sanjoy Roy. He is my role model when it comes to this trait as I chickened out with TPM role he has moved from Manager to Pre Sales (US) to Operation to Pre Sales (Proposals) to Account Manager. What a journey and behold the trail he set ablaze.


They are synergistic
This is closer home to what I see myself as a leader, I have found that a team of ‘n’ minds are much-much stronger than ‘n’ independent minds and once you get the chemistry going miracles are sure to follow.
They exercise for self renewal
Exercise four dimension of human personality
· Physical
· Emotional
· Mental
· Spiritual
Most of us are playing the role of leader but I am sure none of us can say we are there yet
Why don’t you get the feedback from your team (anonymously) working with you on these seven points and see where your rating stands against theirs. If you are married get it from your spouse and you may discover a new dimension to leadership and followership
On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is Excellent, Rate the following for Mr. Zing Wing
· Learner
· Service Oriented
· Radiate Positive Energy
· Lead Balanced Life
· Synergistic
· See life as an Adventure
· Exercise for Self Renewal

Paddy and Passion

(Bangalore, 1:04 Am, 1st Feb)
Rajesh Padmanabhan and I have a lot in common
We joined CMC on the same day
We are Graduates from Delhi University
We both had love marriages (even got married the same month)
We love programming
We believe in dreaming and taking it a step more,
We both have faith in our abilities to convert our dreams into realities.

This conversion of Imagination into Action is what God defines as Passion in the Book "Conversation with God". The reason my good friend Paddy is my role model is for the reason that he spells Passion with capital P.
I have not an iota of doubt that
I am smarter than him but he is the one working for Microsoft
I am the one who has clear cut PM skills but he was PMP three years before me
I am the one who is more athletic but he is the one who ran a marathon

Paddy would have himself vouched for the statements if not for his ego. So how does this guy who is 2 years younger than me achieve targets 3 years before me ? Must be "Luck By Chance" (which by the ways guys is a good movie ... see it if you get a chance)

Our conversation is limited to maybe once in six months but I do not believe that has any negative impact on our friendship because we do catch up each and every time (btw: this friendship is 12 years old). My wife always commented that after our sporadic conversation I would always be bubbling with energy to try and do things.
This article is also triggered by the conversation we had today just a few hours back so I have no qualms in sharing that this guys has been my role model for the last six years.

Last year we had gone cycling together in Seattle and as soon as I was back I purchased my 21 gears Octane NV and have taken my kids out cycling most weekends. Though I have done a lot of cycling back in Delhi, UK and US .... Reigniting the flame is credit to Mr Passion Paddy.

Friendships are special and there are strings of memories that one holds on to, may it be the trip to Nainital (1997) or Seattle (2007). The beer in Rishi flat in Janak Puri or the orange bar we used to eat on the return from movies at midnight. Though we both are into Data Warehousing we never ever worked together except for a ping pong game we made on his PC in his flat in Paschim Vihar.

The beauty of the thing is that there has never been any jealousy between us whether it was when I went to abroad first or when he got into Microsoft. When I got my Master in UK or when he did his PMP back then. When I was travelling all over Europe or when he travelled all over US. Today when I left my lucrative career in IT for a stint in teaching, I know he understands and appreciates my passion. When I did the Road Trip to Delhi he applauds my success and on the same hand brutally frank and truthful if I make some mistake or if I am on an ego trip.

I am sure you all have very good friends and understand where I come from.

There are some who only see things with their 'Scaly' eyes as "Peer Pressure",
for them everything is relative.
But I for one see my good friend "Passion Paddy" as my inspiration,
for me its is always elative

Goal Setting for Year Two Thousand Nine
A marathon which would be mine
Inspired by my friend who blogs about Wine

Aditya’s Birth Story

Aditya’s Birth Story
(Written in 2005 when Adi was born)
(Narration by Daada, Emotions from Mama, Elations from Didi)
Contractions kick up on the eve Hospital Bag packed and bursting at its seam
Everybody standing on their toes
Because after all only God Knows
This comes to pass when the child is about to be born
At midnight after Anu Didi went to sleep
The contraction reached its peak
A dash in the car was in storeWith pain difficult to endure
This comes to pass when the child is about to be born

Water broke on the hospital door
Hospital Staff rushed us indoor
Medical Staff ready at hand
And Mama in a determination to withstand
This comes to pass when the child is being born
Emotions swell up
Cup of Joy overflows
Across our heart there is a brand new dawn
This came to pass when Aditya was born

A silent prayer was on our lips
To hold the baby … O what sweet bliss
The last two years with our princess has been ecstatic to say the least
Now with this prince our family feels somehow very complete

Born on Dec 30th the day Rudyard Kipling and Tiger Woods were born
6.12 pounds and 20 inches long
With a nose like Anu is very clear to see
We ask you to pray that he grows to be
Outrageously happy whatever the case may be

Our Princess

Our Princess
(Written in 2003 when my daughter Anu was born)

Well there may be many thrills in life,
but we doubt whether any can better this.
Out of 24hrs this ladysleeps for 14 hrs (and make sure we don’t sleep more than four)
feeds for 6hrs (and does not care an iota about our woes)
cries almost an hour a day (and keeps us on toes)
expects us to toil for her as she soils her clothes.

But
Her 1 yawn
Her 1 smile
Her 1 stretch
Takes us to cloud nine
And Fills us with pride

Gazing at her is peace
Holding her is success
She is what makes us feel complete.

We never understood why our parents love is so unconditional
But we have an idea now why.
So much emotions in the last 10 days
Labour,Birth, Jaundice .. smiles and tears.
Bless and Pray for herUncles/Aunts/Grandpas/Grandmas/Bros and Sisters

This is our princess … as you may have yours.
This is our bundle of joy … which knows no bounds
This is our baby – “Anukriti”Our life from now on.

Statistics
DOB 11.12.03
Weight 2.9 Kgs
Delivery : Normal
Looks like: …. Ummm can’t say yet
Had Jaundice but is now fine.