Calamity or Opportunity?

In a post titled "From Post cards to Chappatis"  I had mentioned about how marketing opportunities are en-cashed by the wizards who lead by examples. Another such stalwart who is a role model for budding entrepreneurs was one who converted calamities like epidemics and wars into business opportunities to give a thrust to his marketing forays and built a business empire of his own.

A calamity is defined as a great misfortune or disaster, especially one that causes extreme havoc, distress or misery. Epidemics in the form of dreaded diseases like Plague and Cholera have consumed millions of lives in the early part of 20th century.  Wars are no less severe in bringing such distress and pain. Opportunity is defined as an appropriate or favourable time or occasion for an attainment of a goal. Is it possible to convert such epidemics and wars into an opportunity? Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi has showed that calamities of epidemics like Plague and Cholera as well as wars can be converted into opportunities, with foresight and hard work. Acting smartly during such adverse times, from a penniless hotel clerk he rose to become a pioneer in luxury hotel industry. His life story makes an excellent case study for students of marketing. It is true that every salesman who reads his case cannot become another Oberoi. But the case can motivate them to think out of the box and see an opportunity even in calamities.

Mohan Singh Oberoi was born on 15th August 1898 in village Bhaun, near Rawalpindi, in the undivided Punjab.  He used to mention his birth year as 1900, two years later, and it was believed that this was because he did not want to be seen as dating from 19th century. He could study only up to Matriculation due to family financial constraints and worked in a shoe factory as a supervisor. The factory too closed down due to losses but taught him to always wear shining shoes. He was forced to move out of his village due to the deadly Plague that hit Punjab and killed thousands. Recently married, he moved with his wife to Shimla. He chose Shimla because it was the summer capital of the Britishers who were ruling the country. His knowledge of typing and shorthand skills and well-knotted tie and shining shoes got him a job in Cecil Hotel in Shimla. Some years later when his boss wanted to sell the Hotel, by then known as Clarkes Hotel, he mortgaged his wife's jewellery to buy his first hotel. From then he went on adding more hotels and at his death  his empire comprised of 35 hotels spread over India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Australia and Hungary.

Calcutta's famous "Grand Hotel" was closed down in the aftermath of the Cholera epidemic in 1933. More than a hundred foreign guests died in the outbreak of the disease. The hotel remained closed for five years due to fear of the epidemic lying latent in its water supply system. M S Oberoi found an opportunity here and took lease of the hotel by raising funds from relatives and friends. When hotel owners talked of Goodwill, he silenced them by arguing that he be paid compensation as the place only carried Ill-will and not Goodwill due to its history of deaths due to Cholera! He got the entire water supply system thoroughly cleaned and yet guests were unwilling to arrive. He promised incentives like cheap or free boarding facility to attract customers. 

By that time Second World War had started and Calcutta was the pooling place for troops to fight on the eastern borders. The government had the authority to acquire any building for war purposes. He apprehended  that the hotel could be a potential target. He improvised 1200 beds at the hotel and approached the authorities with an offer to provide accommodation for the soldiers at rupees ten per soldier per day. The offer suited the war managers as they were free of the botheration of managing rations and food supply. The losses in room rents were made up by charging extra for other facilities provided to the soldiers. This ensured full occupancy of the hotel during the war period as well as avoiding losing control of the hotel. British Government honoured him with the title "Rai Bahadur" in 1941. In 1943, he started to secretly buy the shares of Associated Hotels of India Ltd. They were the days of  "Share Certificates" (Demat was not yet born) and he walked into the Annual General Meeting  of that company with canvas bags full of share certificates and presented them to directors. Controlling interest passed into his hands from Spencer & Co and his hotel chain expanded further. 

M S Oberoi is also credited with bringing many changes in the hotel industry and providing comfort to his guests at the hotels. His introduction of chambermaids in 1957 with vacuum cleaners in their hands raised a furore and was debated even in Parliament. Probably this led him to try his luck as a parliamentarian and he won a seat in the Rajya Sabha 1n 1962. He won an election to become a member of the Lok Sabha in 1967 and returned to Rajya Sabha in 1972. He lost four Hotels in Pakistan during the 1965 war, but raised money in Saudi Arabia to invest abroad in new hotels. He chose this route due to tight money controls in force in India then. His partnership with Inter-continental group in 1965 started the Oberoi Intercontinental. From then on, he specialised in spotting and refurbishing run down and undervalued properties and expand his hotel chain. His service to the industry was recognised by his peers by making him as the President of Hotel and Restaurants Federation of India. He was awarded Padma Bushan in 2002.

He believed that "too often efficiency and high standards once established are taken for granted" and hence made personal checks of how his hotels were run.  Called "Conrad Hilton of India", his belief in business is summed up in his statement "You think of money and you cannot do the right thing.  But money will always come when you do the right thing". He lived a full life and died on 3rd May 2002, at age 103. Even by his admission of year of birth as 1900, he lived for 101 years and was active throughout his long life. An active life this long is itself a great achievement, even if other successes are not counted.

From Post Cards to Chappatis

The Kumbh Mela at Allahabad last month (January-February 2013) was one of the biggest religious congregation in the history of mankind. Taking a holy dip in the Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati sangam at Allahabad on these auspicious days during the fortnight is considered as a life time goal by many shraddalu persons. That the holy river waters which are expected to wash away the sins are themselves declared unfit even for bathing does not really matter to them. An estimated 30 million people were in the city of Allahabad at the peak of the Mela. The congregation was higher than the entire population of Australia and close to the population of Canada! The infrastructure, or the lack of it, to handle such a huge crowd naturally collapsed and yet the Kumbh was highly successful.

This Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, made news for two issues. The first was the death of 38 people in a stampede at the Railway Station on the "Mauni Amavasya" (New Moon day) on February 10th. Indian Railways carries an average of 23 million passengers a day on its entire network throughout the country. The number of people at Allahabad that day was in excess of this number and the rush at the station could be gauged from these numbers. One can easily talk of crowd control measures. Physical control of such huge crowds is an administrator's nightmare.

The second issue, which probably overshadowed this tragedy, was the distribution of over 2.5 million rotis or chapatis in the Mela. The distribution of rotis itself is no big news; it happens in every Kumbh and many charitable and philanthropist organizations do such things regularly. Only that distribution of 2.5 million chapatis by one entity was a bit large enough. But the catch was actually embedded on the chapatis.  Each of them was branded with a message in the form of a question:  "Lifebuoy se haath dhoya kya?" in Hindi, meaning "Did you wash your hands with Lifebuoy soap?".

Unilever, manufacturers of the Lifebuoy soap wanted to utilise the opportunity of such a big gathering in one place to advertise its soap and reach out to millions on the occasion. Its advertising agency initially considered putting up stalls to display some games centered around health and hygiene. This idea was given up as Kumbh is a religious affair.  But the agency believed in reaching out directly to the millions and wanted to ensure that the message reached out each of them. After sifting and sorting through over 200 marketing ideas and dropping them one by one, the agency selected the "Chapati" approach. A tie up was made with over 100 Dhaba owners around Allahabad for making the chapatis. Each of them were given specially made "heat branding machines" with this message.  The chapatis so made reached more than 2.5 million hands and most of them cleaned their hands before eating the chapatis. The campaign was a big success. What will be impact on the cash registers remains to be seen.

The advertising agency for the campaign was "Ogilvy Action". A company bearing the name of David Ogilvy, considered as "The Father of Advertising".  Born in 1911, Ogilvy's  early childhood coincided with the Great Depressions of the 1920s. The brilliant young boy won a scholarship at the age of 13 to study in an Edinburgh college. He got another scholarship five years later to study at Oxford. Unsuccessful at his studies, he went to Paris, France and worked as an apprentice chef in a hotel there. His mind was cooking something else and he came back to Scotland a year later and started selling the AGA cooking stoves. This door-to-door sales provided him an opportunity to learn about consumer behavior and his sharp brain recorded every small detail. His success as a salesman prompted his employer to commission him to write a Sales Manual for use by other salesmen on similar duties. The manual he prepared titled "The Theory and Practice of selling the AGA cooker" was considered by Fortune magazine as the finest sales instruction manual ever written. That was thirty years later.

David Ogilvy later moved to London as a junior employee in one of the well known advertising companies. When  a client wanted to run an advertising campaign for the opening of his new Hotel, none of the senior executives were ready to take the job as the budget was only 500 pounds. David took the challenge and purchased post cards for the entire amount. He wrote on each of the cards about the Hotel's opening and mailed to whatever name and address he found on the London Telephone Directory. This hand written card campaign generated unprecedented attention and the Hotel opened to a full house! He had found the secret of successful selling - that of direct selling.

David Ogilvy worked for the British Intelligence Service in the British Embassy in Washington. His study of human behavior came in handy and he used it effectively to develop what was subsequently called as "Consumerism to Nationalism". It is said that Eisenhower's Psychological Warfare Board used some of his ideas successfully during the war. David Ogilvy's exploits as a advertising man have been recorded extensively. His advertisement for Rolls Royce car - "At 60 miles an hour, the loudest noise in this new Rolls-Royce car comes from the electric clock" - is considered as a masterpiece even today. When he temporarily retired and lived near the town of Bonnes in France, the volume of mail handled by the post-office increased manifold and the post office was upgraded! His mail flow was responsible for raising the salary of the post master.

There is no wonder that the mantra of "Direct Marketing" propounded by David Ogilvy has been taken to an altogether different plane by his successors, at the Kumbh Mela. It can actually be called "Campaign from Post Cards to Chapattis"!                                                                                                              

Veda Vyasa's Executive Summary

Some have the habit of saying "Where is the time?" at least a dozen times in a day.  They have no time for anything.  If you observe them carefully, they are too busy.  Too busy doing nothing most of the time.  Some busy people truly have no time for certain things.  They always manage to find time to do things they want to do.  All of us have no time to do what we are not keen to do.  Time Management is the subject of many training sessions and workshops.  Expert trainers in "Time Management" are themselves found to be poor managers of their own time.  That is quite understandable.  They teach others; not themselves.  As Laurence J Peter mentions in his famous book "Peter's Principle", "They saved others; themselves they could not save".

The real pressure on time is on the housewives or home makers.  Their peak time arrives much before or just before their children leave for school and other members of the family go for work.  If they themselves are also working in some office or establishment, the pressure is even more.  They do not even have time to eat a proper breakfast.  They could be seen eating their breakfast in the buses or vehicles while commuting to office from home.

There is true pressure on time in many work situations.  Persons occupying high positions have to attend to many important things at the same time.  They are required to read, understand, evaluate and act on voluminous reports and proposals and decide in quick time.  Over and above this, meetings eat away most of their time.  In order to remedy such situations and aid in fast decision making, the concept of "Executive Summary" is put in place.  It has become customary to prepare an executive summary, sometimes also called "Management summary", with every report or proposal.  Preparation of such a summary needs skill and experience.  Otherwise, instead of putting things in nutshell, the nut will remain in the shell - the big report.   

An "Executive Summary" is a short document that summarizes a longer report or proposal to enable the reader to understand a large body of material without having to read it in its entirety.  It differs from an "Abstract" often used in academic research, that helps the reader to decide whether or not to read the document.  An executive is condemned to read the  "Executive Summary" and decide on the underlying issue based on it.  Even if the final decision is not to decide or return the file with some queries that aid in postponing the decision.  As one of our former Prime Ministers said, not deciding things is also a decision.  It works many times; issues get solved before a final decision is taken.  Thus rendering decision making redundant.

In my post titled "Learning and Teaching" (Please click on this to read it), I had made a mention of the contributions of Maharishi Veda Vyasa to the cause of universal knowledge.  It may surprise many, but the original author of an Executive Summary is also Veda Vyasa himself!  In fact, a reference to Veda Vyasa's executive summary came up in the Constituent Assembly discussions when the various articles of our constitution were discussed and voted by the Assembly.  The discussions in the Constituent Assembly held on 19th May 1949 was presided over by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.  Those who took part in the debate included illustrious names such as Prof. K T Shah, H V Kamath, Tajamul Hussain, Nazimuddin Ahmad, T T Krishnamachari, K Santhanam, Dr B R Deshmukh and M  Ananthasayanam  Ayyangar.   Dr B R Ambedkar was replying to the debate and intervening as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee.  While moving an amendment to Article 80, H V Kamath mentioned about the bulkiness of the draft Constitution and referred to Veda Vyasa.  He mentioned about the famous Veda Vyasa's statement as under:

श्लोकार्धेन प्रवक्ष्यामि यदुक्तं ग्रन्थ कोटिभिः |  परोपकारं पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम् ||


Shlookaardhena pravakshyaami yaduktam Grantha Kootibhihi
Paroopakaaram Punyaya Paapaaya Parapeedanam!

Vyasa is the author of voluminous literature that includes the four Vedas, eighteen Puranas and many other works.  Someone like the modern day executive went to him and told him that he does not have time to read and understand them.  He wanted Veda Vyasa to summarize all his works in a "Executive Summary".  Veda Vyasa said he would do even better than that.  Why only his works?  He would summarize the writings in millions or billions of books in half a verse.  The executive summary given by him reads thus:

Whatever is done for the benefit of others (meaning the general community) are good deeds (Punya).  Whatever is done to harm others are bad deeds (Paapa).  Simple Executive summary of a billion books!

Executive summary is not an invention of the west.  It is truly an Indian art and science.  Panini's "Shivasutras" sums up entire Grammar in some formulae that can be easily remembered.  Amarakosha or "Naamalingaanushaasana" is a full dictionary that was known to every child by heart.  "Brahma Sutras" summed up the essence of  Indian Philosophy.  These were easy to remember and retrieve.  Come with you wherever you go.  No need to carry the physical books.  No cartage or taxes.  No threat of termites and mice; no fear of a friend borrowing them and never remembering to return!

Painter meets Musician

In the post titled "Ovation for over 15 minutes" (click HERE to read it) I had mentioned about the encouragement given by the audience to the performers in a ballet show at Opera De Bastille in Paris, France on 13th July, 2008.  The ballet was titled "Signes" in French, meaning "Signs" in English.  It was a delightful show and the Director and artistes won the hearts of the audience.  The show itself  was wonderful in concept, design and on-stage execution.  The director and artistes who performed on the stage received standing ovation for over 15 minutes by an appreciative full house audience.

In a music concert, each performer uses a different instrument that has its own characteristics and special features.  A number of instruments, say five violins or trumpets, may also be used to provide enhanced sound effects.  There may be moments in the duration of the concert when the individual  brilliance of an artiste may be savoured by the viewers or listeners, but the emphasis is on the overall impact of the blend of the output of various instruments as planned and executed.  Likewise, when there is a confluence of two or more forms of fine arts, their collective impact gives out an exhilarating experience.  A layman would certainly derive some pleasure out of such concerts, but a trained mind would be able to appreciate the finer aspects even better.

Literature and forms of Performing and Fine Arts like Music, Dance, Painting and Sculpture have their own intertwined relationship, though each one of them have their own domains and individuality.  There are innumerable instances where a piece of literature has inspired a host of artistes like dancers and painters to convert words into visual form of expression.  This enables the content of the literary piece to reach a far wider audience who may not know the original language of the literature or may even be illiterate.  A combination of two performing artistes in different disciplines has often enthralled the audience by their expertise in the fields chosen by them.  One such attempt called "Geeta-Chitra" is very popular in our part of the world.  In such an exercise, as a poet recites his poem, an artiste starts painting the theme of the poem on a canvas in full view of the audience.  Just as the poet completes a poem in five to six minutes, the painting bringing out the essence of the poem is also ready!  Similar attempts are also made in other parts of the world.  The versatility of such artistes often leave us dumbfound.  A standing ovation is probably the only possible way in which we can appreciate their talents.

As we entered the Opera de Bastille auditorium for the ballet titled "Signes" and collected the tickets booked earlier through internet, we were given a booklet with each ticket.  The booklet contained all the information about the show and included details about the artistes and the director.  We were led into the auditorium five minutes before the show to allow us sufficient time to find our seats and settle down.  The  2,703 seat acoustically consistent hall is a magnificent sight.  When we go to concerts and shows, we often pray that a short man or woman should occupy the seat in front of us to save us from the prospect of moving our heads in the alternate directions every time the person in front of us moves his head for his convenience!  There is no such problem in Opera de Bastille.  Even if all the seats are occupied by Amitabh Bachans, there is no need to squirm in our seats since all spectators have a clear view of the entire stage.  The entrance doors were closed one minute before the show began and there was no disturbance from late entrants.  There were no announcements and the show started on schedule, continued and ended as planned.  Not a soul stirred and coughed during the entire period of 90 minutes   

The ballet "Signes" is the result of the efforts of three artistes, musician Rene Aubrey who designed the music, choreographer Carolyn Carlson and painter Oliver Debre who designed the sets and costumes. The effect of the paintings was transformed into visual and audio treat to the viewers.  The ballet is divided into seven paintings on the theme of smile, as under:

1. The sign of smile
2. Loire am
3. Guilin Mountains
4. Monks of the Baltic
5. The Spirit of the blue
6. Colors of Madurai
7. Victory Signs

The unique stage facilities of Opera de Bastille were fully exploited to provide a product of exceptional quality.  The 45 meter high and 30 meter wide stage with its 25 meter depth and the scenery turntable were used to provide continuity without break as well as breathtaking viewing of change in scenes with least disturbance.  The 9 elevators used in creation of several levels in the show and the three main elevators fetched the required scenery up from below stage to provide the sequence. The effortless movement of the hundreds of artistes was like movement of hundreds of parts of a complex machine; each doing only its part by own rotation and yet providing the ultimate effect for which the machine is designed.  The orchestra pit that accommodated as many as 130 musicians gave a wonderful audio support to the great show on the stage.  The circling and floating artistes and their many complex movements was a visual treat.  The sixth painting titled "Colors of Madurai" was a bonus for us and India's contribution to the ballet made us proud.

The combined effect on the audience was reflected in "Standing Ovation" for over fifteen minutes and was indeed well deserved.

Visit to historic Bastille site, view of the Bastille building and sitting through the Ballet "Signes" was a memorable experience and is still fresh in our minds, even after five years.   

Are you really Born?

If someone confronts us and asks "Are you really Born?", what is the answer? We may not answer the question and instead think that the one asking the question is really mad.  "How can I be standing here if I am not really born?" could be the counter question.

"The Day of the Jackal" is a famous novel written by Frederick Forsyth and was made into a highly successful movie by the same name with Edward Fox playing the role of "The Jackal". The story revolves around an attempt by the French dissident group, OAS, to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle by hiring a professional killer. Lt. Col. Mark Rodin of OAS and his two deputies meet the contract killer in Italy and agree on the code name "The Jackal". The code name is known to only these four. The assassin obtains a legitimate British Passport  under a false name and embarks on his mission. Two efficient police officers, Superintendent Bryn Thomas of the Scotland Yard at the UK end and Deputy Commissioner of Police Claude Lebel of the Paris police on the France side, attempt to trace the identity and track the movement of the assassin. London police raid the house of one Charles Calthrop suspecting that he is the hired assassin and find his passport there.  The first three letters of the words in his name CHA-CAL in French or Spanish translates to JACKAL in English. Jackal's attempt fails and he is killed by Claude Lebel.  As the coffin of the Jackal is being lowered in an unmarked grave on the outskirts of Paris, Calthrop, who was holidaying in Scotland, walks into his house and demands to know from the British Police why his house is being searched. The identity of Jackal is never known.  The officers are left wondering, "If  Jackal was not Calthrop, then who the hell was he?". The Jackal  was buried as "an unknown foreign tourist, killed in a car accident". As per the records, Jackal was neither born nor died as his identity was never known. His identity was never known since he did not have either a birth certificate or a passport with him!

A few decades ago, one could take birth and die, and lead a happy life in between, without any problem. That is not the case today. We need a proper document for everything.  And passwords for almost everything. A person cannot be treated as actually born unless there is a Birth Certificate. Death cannot be accepted without a proper Death Certificate. Life between birth and death cannot be recognized without a Passport, for most of them. Thus a proper Birth Certificate and Passport have become the documents on which a smooth life floats. As regards Death Certificate, the dead body cannot be buried or cremated without a death certificate.  It may not make life any different for the dead man, fortunately. In many cases, a proper death certificate for the dead is very important for smooth life of the living, especially if the dead has left behind some property. It is, therefore, necessary for us to understand how to obtain a proper, legally accepted and valid Birth Certificate and Passport.

Gone are the days when a child could be admitted to a school based on a horoscope given by the friendly neighborhood astrologer. A Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths is required for admitting a child to school. In the context of our custom, a child is usually named on the 11th day after birth and sometimes even later. Hospital or Nursing Home authorities are duty bound to inform the Registrar about the births (of course, death also) taking place in their place every day. They do their duty and the birth of the child is duly recorded in the registrar's office. A birth certificate issued based on such information does not, naturally, carry the name of the child. Added to this is the practice of writing names with multiple spellings.  (One of the finest All India Radio Drama producers, who later retired as Director of one of AIR's stations, had a letter head with a note:  Wasant Kawli - please note the spelling of my name!  He used to receive letters addressed to him mostly as Vasantha Kavali).  It is very common to find names being spelt differently. Such a birth certificate is incomplete and creates many problems during the course of education, employment and other stages of life. In western countries, it is mandatory to give two names for the arriving child well before the time of delivery, one name each for a boy and a girl. The name of the child is recorded in a tag attached to the arm or leg of the new born. Reporting to the registrar will include the name of the child and mother. A birth certificate issued based on such information automatically includes the child's name.

What is the solution for such a problem? How can we get a proper and valid birth certificate that can save the child and us from unwanted problems later in life? The following  steps can help us to obtain a proper Birth Certificate:

• Be ready with a name for the expected baby - one boy's name and one girl's name.  (If you are able to find a name that can be used for both, even better!).  If twins are expected, have two sets of names ready. This takes care of a contingency if both are boys or girls!
• The name chosen should have three parts; first name, middle name and surname. This facilitates issue of a proper passport later.  If the family does not have a surname, invent one!  (This will avoid a visa later on with a name such as NIL NIL KUMAR.  One Kumar with his name as just "Kumar" and no surname was issued a visa with the name NIL NIL Kumar). 
• Have a sheet of paper on which the father's and mother's name are also written in Block Capitals so that they are not spelt wrongly. These should be as you want them on the Birth Certificate.
• Have the full postal address of the parents written on this sheet, with PIN Code. Admission of the expectant mother is usually done by a close relative or friend. They should be advised to handover this sheet to the Hospital/Nursing Home at the time of admission.
• Mere handing over such a sheet of paper does not suffice.  Hospital staff are experts in messing up these details. Make sure that the details are entered properly in the computer system or registers, if done manually. The entry in the records of the hospitals should be seen and checked, even if the new born baby is not seen properly. Earning the displeasure of the hospital should not really matter. It is better than facing multiple problems later on.
• Visit the Registrar's office without delay, apply for a Birth Certificate and verify the details in the certificate very carefully. More carefully than you count and check cash when receiving it from a bank cashier.
• Apply for multiple copies, say five copies, and keep them in at least two different places.

What about the certificates that are already obtained and does not have the child's name on it or details are not correct? There is a simple procedure to rectify the deficiencies. Simple to explain but often complicated to execute.

• An application for amendment is to be made to the Registrar in the prescribed form giving details of amendments to be made.
• The existing certificate has names of parents but not of the child. Hence an acceptable document linking the date of birth of the child with parent's name is to be produced. A School Leaving Certificate or SSLC marks card would suffice.
• If the names of parents are wrongly spelt or details are incorrect, an affidavit is to be sworn to before a Magistrate and original affidavit is to be produced. An affidavit before a Notary Public is not acceptable. 
• Meet the Registrar, explain the case, persuade him by producing suitable documents and  advancing logical and reasonable arguments, and obtain an amended certificate.
• Certificates are now issued with digital signatures and are not signed manually.

Issue of Passports is now done only on production of a Birth Certificate. Hence ensuring that your child has a proper Birth Certificate is of paramount importance. A valid and proper Birth Certificate is the first gift from the parents to a new born child !    

She won't cry, again!

It was a challenging posting and his authorities had told him that he was being sent there with very high expectations.  Posted as the head of a large Region in a distant state, he left his family behind and moved alone to that place to take charge of the new assignment.  After landing in the new place and assuming charge, he set out to see the flat allotted  to him as official quarters.  The residential complex had many flats and the bank had hired some of them to house its managers and executives.  Other flats were occupied by local residents, some owned and some rented. The flat allotted to the Regional Manager was compact yet adequate, required amenities available and the locality was also good.  A comfortable place to get back after a grueling day's work is what every one looks for and having settled down in the furnished quarters, he felt relaxed and retired for the day.

He was woken up suddenly early in the morning due to the shouting and fighting in the adjoining flat.  There was continuous shouting in a high pitched voice of a man and the crying of a woman.  This continued for some half an hour and and there was no use in attempting to get some more sleep.  He got up and and went on with his daily routine and left for the office, looking forward to another long day at the office.

The flat was quite comfortable, but the shouting and crying in the adjoining flat was indeed very disturbing.  It would start every day early in the morning without fail.  He observed that residents of other flats too were unhappy with this disturbance, but were taking it as an unavoidable nuisance and tried to ignore it.  Having put up with it for about a week, one day he asked the security guard who were the residents of that flat and what was the reason for the regular fight in it.   The guard told him that the flat was occupied by a man and his mother.  The son was about thirty years old, tall and well-built man.  The mother was about sixty years old and there was regular shouting and crying in that flat from the time they moved into the flat a few months ago.  Some neighbors tried to intervene but were shouted down by the man.  They were strictly advised that it was a matter within the family and others had no business to interfere in it.  The matter ended there.  What continued was the shouting, crying and disturbance to others.  The security guard even advised the Regional Manager that it would be better for him also to forget the whole thing!

The repeated instances of shouting and crying did not provide any chance to forget the trouble.  Something should really be done, thought the Regional Manager.  Being one to always take the bull by the horns, he was not ready to compromise with the situation.  He decided to act firmly and see the outcome.  Next Sunday morning he walked casually past the open door of the other flat when the shouting and crying was in progress.  The door was open and he could see the six feet tall giant standing before a frail looking lady crouched in the corner of a big sofa, crying and trembling.  He would shout at her again and again and her only response would be crying and more crying.  Unable to contain himself, the Regional Manager barged inside the house and queried: "What is going on here?".  The giant had his back to the wall and had not seen the intruder.  He whirled around to see a stranger who had not only entered his den without permission but also had the temerity to question him!

"Who are you and why did you enter my house?  What happens here is a family matter and you have no business to interfere.  If you do not go away immediately, I will physically throw you out.  This is not a mere threat and I have done it before.  Neighbors will confirm it, if you so desire", shouted the giant.  This is no time for thinking but for action, decided the Regional Manager.  But what action?  That was the big question.  Years of experience in deciding things and acting swiftly came to his aid.

"What did you say?  Is it a family matter?  Who says that?  This is an "Affray".  If you do not know what is affray, it means "When two or more persons, by fighting in a public place, disturb public peace, they are said to commit an affray.  In terms of Section 159 of Indian Penal code, such an act is punishable with imprisonment of either description up to one month, or fine or both.  I will file a police complaint, get you arrested and put you in Jail",  said the Regional Manager.

The giant was taken aback as he had not anticipated such a response.  He did not want to yield ground to the intruder.  "What you say may be true if it happens in a public place.  But this is my house and a purely private place.  Your law is not applicable here",  shouted the man.

"If you are under such an impression, you better know some more law.  It is a private matter as long as it is confined to your house.  But this is a residential complex where many people live.  The moment your shouting voice crosses your doors and windows, it becomes a public nuisance as this is a residential complex.  A public nuisance is causing annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the vicinity, as defined in Section 268 of Indian Penal code.  Continuance of such nuisance is punishable with imprisonment of up to six months, says section 291 of IPC.  I am not interested in providing free legal advice.  This is not just an advice to you.  If this nuisance continues, I will ensure that you are behind bars, using every provision in the IPC".  Having said so, Regional Manager walked away from the scene without providing an opportunity for the giant to respond.

There was no shouting and crying on the next day.  Or on the day after.  For the next few days.  Next Sunday morning Regional Manager heard his door bell ring.  When he opened the door, he was surprised to see the mother and son duo.  The mother asked for permission to come in and permission was duly granted. The mother handed over a small packet of sweets and said:  "Sir, thank you for finding my lost son.  We live on the savings of my late husband and the family pension that I get from the Government.  My son is unemployed and for the past several years has been blaming me for the bad turns in his life.  Your intervention has made him realise his mistake.  Three days back he fell on my feet and cried like a baby.  He has promised me never to treat me badly again.  He has now secured a job now in a private firm.  It is a low paying job, but he is determined to work hard and come up in life.  I am satisfied that he will live up to his promise."

The giant spoke only a few words:  "Sir, I assure you I will treat my mother like I should have done all these years and as a grateful son behaves with his mother.  She won't cry, again."

As he watched the mother and son leave his flat, the Regional Manager was satisfied that she would not cry again, in her life.                 

Can you help this Boy?

We come across many people occupying positions of authority, during our life time.  Some evoke contempt and are remembered only for the arrogance they exhibit while dealing with the general public.  There are some others who are remembered for their humility and the distinctions they earned for the seats they occupied.  Powers conferred on many holding public positions is wasted, misused and abused.  But the society is also fortunate to have at least some who use their powers judiciously and their actions benefit vast sections of the community.

Forty years ago, a child could be admitted to a primary school at the age of four, unlike 5 years and 10 months now.  There were also exceptional cases of "double promotions", meaning that a student could jump two classes in one year.  There were some cases when a student could pass SSLC or 10th Standard when the child was not even 14 years old as against the norm of 16 years.  This is the true story of one such boy.

The boy was intelligent and sharp. He was put in school early and passed his SSLC with excellent marks.  The problems were with his age and height.  At fourteen years of age, he was four feet tall and thinly built.  With the Marks Card in his hand he went to a leading college in Bangalore for admission to Pre-University course as a prelude to a Graduate degree.  He was given admission in the initial round, but when the issue of age cropped up, the official handling admissions in the college directed the boy to the Principal.  The principal gave a patient hearing to the boy but could not admit him due to reason of age.  The request was politely declined and he was advised to seek admission next year.  The young boy was not the one to give up easily.  "Please tell me who can help me to get admission to the college.  I will meet that person", said the boy more out of confidence than out of defiance.  The principal was impressed by the energy exuded by the boy.  "Vice Chancellor is the only person who may be able to help you" said the Principal.  That lead was sufficient for the young boy.

Once he went home, the boy's father advised him to wait for one year and learn typewriting and short hand during the period.  The advice was in line with the practice in those days.  But the boy had his own different plans. 

Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University used to function from Central College premises in those days, the late 60s.  The boy resided with his parents in Jayanagar.  Next morning he took a bus to Mysore Bank circle and went to the Vice-Chancellor's office around noon to meet him.  Vice Chancellor's assistant told the boy that the VC was away on some work and is expected only around 4 PM.  The boy wanted to wait but he was advised to return later in the evening.  The boy was not the one to give up.  He decided to wait till VC returned to his office, whatever time it may be.

The Vice-chancellor returned around 5PM in the evening.  He saw the boy near his office and asked his assistant why he was waiting.  The assistant briefly mentioned about the case.  Putting his arm on the shoulders of the boy, the VC took the boy with him to his chambers.  The boy was ready with his marks card and eager to put forth his case.  VC asked him to wait and made him to sit on the chair opposite to him.  The boy could get into the tall chair with some effort and sat down, his marks sheets in his lap.  VC smiled at the boy and gently asked him, "Would you like to have some coffee?".  The boy had not eaten anything since the time he left the house in the morning.  He answered in the affirmative.  VC took out a thermos flask from the basket, poured hot coffee into two cups and handed over one to the boy.  While enjoying his own cup of hot coffee he stared at the young boy.  After relaxing for a few minutes, he asked the boy to tell his story.  The boy narrated his case, showed his marks card and insisted that he be admitted to Pre-University course.

VC sent for the Registrar of the University.  Registrar arrived and the boy repeated his case to the Registrar.  VC asked the registrar, "Can you help this boy?".  The Registrar thought for a moment and replied; "There is one provision under which we may consider the case.  If the boy can satisfy us that the rigors of the course do not burden his mind and he will be able to stand up to the requirements of the course, he could be admitted as a special case".  "How to test that?", was the next question by the VC.  "May be we can conduct a test and then decide after that", said the registrar.  "If we conduct a test like that, why not we include all such other cases and finish it in one go?" asked the VC.  Registrar agreed.  The VC took the boy with him in his car and dropped him in front of his house before proceeding to his residence in Elephant Rock Road near south End Circle.  A test for 206 students was conducted next week, covering all such underage students who had passed SSLC.  120 students cleared the test, including our hero, but only 30 could get through the interview that followed.  These 30 were permitted to be admitted to the Pre-University course!

Prof. Vinayaka Krishna Gokak, popularly known as V K Gokak was the Vice-chancellor. A noted poet and winner of Bharatiya Jnanapeeth award for his epic work "Bharata Sindhu Rashmi", Gokak was an Oxford scholar and taught English in various places like Sangli, Dharwad and Bangalore.  It is said that he took up writing in Kannada at the behest of Shri D R Bendre, noted kannada poet and Jnanapeetha award winner himself. V K Gokak later on became the first Vice-Chancellor of Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Puttaparthy.

Shri Tribhuvan Prakash Issar, popularly known as T P Issar was the registrar.  A highly respected IAS officer, he rose to the post of Chief Secretary of the Karnataka Government later on.  Being a painter himself he studied the architecture of many buildings in Bangalore.  He was the Chairman of Bangalore Arts Commission during 1976-1988.  His books, "The City Beautiful" about Bangalore and "The Royal City" about Mysore give an insight into his scholarly as well as artistic mind.  His book, "Blossoms of Bangalore", is about the flowering trees of Bangalore.  The "Flowering trees" whose near total destruction is nearly achieved by the next generation.

As for the boy himself, after a bright academic career, he served as a senior executive of a premier public sector bank with distinction.  He continues to train a new generation of bankers after his retirement.