Author: Alka

Beverly Hills, Park Avenue, Eton, Stanford….., Cambridge……. I see these names while traveling in the heart of the capital or in and around Delhi. Have we lost all self respect? Doesn’t it prick our conscience a bit? If anyone is buying a flat in Gurgaon, whatever I chose to name that apartment, it will never… Continue reading Imperialism

Why VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena keep harping on Hindus and Hinduism? They target MNCs, McDonald’s, Pizza Hutts, KFCs, Valentines, MF Hussains, Fires, Waters, Earths …… Why not they give a closer look to any hep and mod crowd. Be it models, film stars, industrywallahs, socialites. They all adhere strictly to the norms of Hinduism.… Continue reading Hinduism in Danger?

Moisture threatened to gather in my eyes. They became more ominous, because water drops were about to spill out. I had seen a handcuffed man, escorted by two uniformed men, for the first time in my life. I was thinking about all the things written by great philosophers, thinkers and the French Revolution and what… Continue reading Similarity

Everybody knows Primary education in India is in a dire state. There are lots and lots of primary schools without any building and teacher. They only exist on paper. And money sanctioned by government for these schools beeps in the bank account of government officers as their hearts leap for India. Then I hear this… Continue reading Winner or Rat Racer ????

I was watching National geographic. Its awe inspiring when you see any natural setting in its full glory. Suddenly the screen showed big majestic elephants in desert. An old couple was filming them. That couple was together for 35 years spending major chunk of their lives in wilderness. Suddenly my mind reeled back to all… Continue reading Legendry Love Stories

I remember a small girl. Exceptionally bright and naughty. I think in every primary school’s exam they follow the same pattern of sitting arrangement. One junior and one senior on a single bench. That naughty girl was in fifth class. Beside her, another tiny tot of third standard used to sit. The naughty girl often… Continue reading Maintaining First Rank in the Class

I died in the prime of my youth. It was just a road accident. Within one week my soul clamored for a visit to dear earth. I was longing to see my near and dear ones. My spirit drifted to the earth. My mind was taking a trip down memory lane. I was a star… Continue reading Devotion:

I was reading in Thelosthighway, how a winner of Nobel Prize in literature in 2001 and his wife were having identity crisis with a kid who might be in the age bracket of his great-grandson. He was visiting IIT-Delhi for some convocation. I remember one more incident, where the same Nobel Laureate was shouting on… Continue reading Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Since independence, India was neither fortunate enough to have a charismatic leader like Turkey’s Mustafa Kamal Pasha, who could have taken the nation to the path of development single-handedly, nor had we inherited the sound infrastructure, robust economy or institutions from our previous rulers which could have led us to development automatically. We had build… Continue reading Emergence of Middle Class

An Indian guy working abroad was looking for a would be bride in US and was lamenting their headyweightedness so much so that he posted his grief to a public messageboard. I found an interesting response to his rant and raves. ======================= I was reading views posted in the coffeehouse. I am sorry, I can… Continue reading 95 % of Desi Girls in US : Why so much Headweight?

Relax and enjoy: I was reading about Nalanda university and its ancient glory. How this university had introduced astronomy as a separate branch from mathematics. It was the world’s first residential international university. It functioned uninterrupted for 700 years. The Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang was awe struck with the size of its library. The university… Continue reading Nalanda – Ocean of Knowledge

I was reading Amar’s blog today. He has given pretty interesting insights into experimenting. His blog sets me thinking too, though on entirely different lines. I narrowed down my thinking on those who experiment with hearts! Not with their own hearts but with others. When I am in the mood, I keep on experimenting with… Continue reading Experiments

It means, He respects your principles as his, And never plays with them. It means, He honors your faith, Without tempering with it. It means, He gives his soul to you, To guard it. It means, Not losing your self respect, But giving your self respect to him, And He will never abuse it. It… Continue reading Love

I have specially set aside the “The Asian Age” of 17th & 20th January 2004 for writing this post. “The Asian Age” recently collaborated with “The New York Times”. I have read one statement made by the wife of the presidential candidate Howard Dean. January 20th 20004, carried this screaming headline:- “Dean’s wife joins him… Continue reading President’s wife

Last year I was coming back home after work It’s a normal routine for any working female (at least that is what I think). But for a few its god send opportunity for an alternative employment or maybe side business for entrepreneurial bend of mind. Two guys riding a scooter first tried to come near… Continue reading Entrepreneurship on Scooter

Few days ago I have posted extracts from a book called “Maverick” by Ricardo Semler. I was impressed with the author (he had gone to Harvard Business School not to learn their management skills but to teach them his management skills. I like these kinds of people for whom life is beyond Harvard, MIT, IAS,… Continue reading Totally egalitarian, self-organized, self-managed companies

I read this deeply disturbing news of Prof. Stephen Hawking suffering mysterious injuries for the past few years. Here I don’t want to discuss the person behind his injuries, BUT the sheer act of audacity the attacker possesses. We all know that Professor is one of the greatest surviving intellectuals on this earth. This severely… Continue reading Stephen Hawking

Warning: Long post. Read at your own risk These days, I am reading a book “Maverick” by Ricardo Semler. A few samples…… =============================================================== Every Wednesday afternoon dozens of men and women file through the front gate on their way to a third floor meeting room at Semco, the company I lead in Sao Paulo, Brazil.… Continue reading Capitalism Or Socialism?

Sending cards, instead of writing letters always saves time. Whenever need to write a letter arises, time always seems a precious commodity. What a high it is for me when I while away time in any card shop or hip and happening places. The feeling never leaves me that I have arrived! O yes, I… Continue reading Balance Sheet