A group of managers are given an assignment to measure the height of a flagpole. So they go out to the flagpole with ladders and tape measures, and they're falling off the ladders and dropping the tape measures. The whole thing is just a mess.
An engineer comes along and sees what they're trying to do, walks over, pulls the flagpole out of the ground, lays it flat, measures it from end to end, gives the measurement to one of the managers and walks away.
After the engineer has gone, one manager turns to another and laughs: "Isn't that just like an engineer? We're looking for the height and he gives us the length!"
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Day India Burned
Last weekend I watched a BBC documentary on India's Partition titled "The Day India Burned" on YouTube. I was deeply touched and disturbed on the plight of people on all sides(Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs). The partition is considered as on of the largest human migrations, and the number varies from 12.5 million to 20 million. The number of deaths is between 200 thousand to over a million. Apart from these, millions were looted, women raped, people beaten up and forced conversions. So many people got affected because of the decision of few. And its a shame on those few for not planning on such a mammoth event and not taking care of the people they said they were fighting for. Also, it is a disgrace for the British empire for not thinking through on the partition and preparing a blue-print for it. A few more months of their troop deployment could have saved so many innocent lives.
At the same time, its bizarre to imagine what got into people's mind when they started this pandemonium. They went about committing these crimes in their neighborhood, their community, their cities. Shame to the leaders, political and religious, from both sides, who did not take enough actions to minimise the chaos.
Imagine being born in those times, not knowing whether you will live to see another tomorrow, enmity prevalent all over the streets, seeing your loved ones going through pain or all your wealth and materials being looted or burned in front of helpless you . How painful and difficult would it have been to leave your native place and move to a new one and in all probability being empty handed.
I am so lucky to have not seen any of the partition horrors and being born in a free democracy. I thank my previous generations to have come out of revulsion and building a strong and progressive nation.
At the same time, its bizarre to imagine what got into people's mind when they started this pandemonium. They went about committing these crimes in their neighborhood, their community, their cities. Shame to the leaders, political and religious, from both sides, who did not take enough actions to minimise the chaos.
Imagine being born in those times, not knowing whether you will live to see another tomorrow, enmity prevalent all over the streets, seeing your loved ones going through pain or all your wealth and materials being looted or burned in front of helpless you . How painful and difficult would it have been to leave your native place and move to a new one and in all probability being empty handed.
I am so lucky to have not seen any of the partition horrors and being born in a free democracy. I thank my previous generations to have come out of revulsion and building a strong and progressive nation.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
How Each One Of Us Can Change The World
The title of this blog is borrowed from the book "Giving" by Bill Clinton. I just finished reading it and it has been a fantastic read. I am not qualified enough to write a review for a book, so please dont consider this post as one. I decided to write about this book since I feel each one of us should read it. The book is aptly titled "Giving". Bill talks about how each one of us with whatever resources we have, can make a positive contribution towards hundreds and thousands of causes that might be close to our heart. In the book he highlights a lot of causes including HIV/AIDS treatment, child education, women empowerment, environment improvement, community tutoring, general hygiene, old age support and many more. Alongwith each of these, he also gives many examples on how common people like you and me have made significant impact and continued to contribute against all odds. I salute each one of those mentioned and otherwise for their dedication that is making the world a better place to live in. The book also mentions certain "do's" and "dont's" when contributing so that they can have the maximum bearing. After reading the book, I also realized that there are so many in need and there are so many areas we can contribute, we are lucky to be in a position to give. It doesn't matter how small or big our contribution is, what really matters is that we do.
I thank and congratulate Bill Clinton for writing a great eye-opener and his own personal efforts including the Clinton foundation for lots of positive contributions to the society. I would end by qouting him "We all have the capacity to do great things".
I thank and congratulate Bill Clinton for writing a great eye-opener and his own personal efforts including the Clinton foundation for lots of positive contributions to the society. I would end by qouting him "We all have the capacity to do great things".
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