We shifted to our flat on the 4th this month. I've moved my stuff to one of the bedrooms, Pavan's are in the other. The hall is an empty room except for a stack of newspapers on the left side. Most of the things that we've bought after shifting were for our laboratory: the kitchen! Stove, cooker, non-stick pan, utensils, spoon and many more things. You can expect new additions into the hotel menus soon. :P
Two sundays back, there was an ad on The Pune Mirror regarding a workshop on continental dining etiquette. I, often confused when given the flatware, decided to go for it. So I registered for the workshop and paid them the advance. It was gonna be on sunday, the 12th of july.
When I reached the place, Mrs. Nirmala Lalvani was there to welcome me into her house. There were 3 more guys inside for the workshop; Tanpreet, who works for Bajaj Auto Ltd and two boys doing their second year at graduation, Jaiveer and Shashwath. Mrs. Lalvani is an etiquette trainer and has held classes for employees at different companies. She was now conduting these workshops to collect money for the two girls whose education she was sponsoring.
She first showed us how to hold the cocktail glass, a small plate and a napkin on the left hand, leaving your right hand free for shaking hands. Now that needs some practice, without which you will drop them for sure while walking. Then we learnt to set the table; and then to read the menu, looking at the table setting. She taught us to make the fork and knife look like appendages. We learnt small details to be taken care of while drinking soup, we learnt to eat on the back of the fork, to signal some things to the waiter without speaking to him and few other things. She had prepared a delicious 4-course meal for us and we did take sometime to finish having our lunch keeping everything she taught in mind.
Before leaving I learnt that her daughter-in-law conducted workshops on eating using the chopsticks!:D I have already spoken to her, but she will be out of station for sometime. So thats the plan for another weekend.
PS: Does anyone know how chopsticks got the name?You cant chop anything with it, can you?! I guess it is because it is from the land of martial arts!
Dining etiquette workshop
Nandan Nilekani's first day at the pariament
I came across Nandan Nilekani's briefings on his first day at the parliament in an email forward.
I thought you might wanna go through it; so pasted it here.
The House was in pin drop silence. I was brimming with anticipation andexcitement!!!! Manmohan had informed me that my introduction was one ofthe important points of the agenda. I hoped that I will be able to makemy speech properly. After so many interviews and conferences, I was nervous today!!!! After the Speaker indicated that the proceedings of the House could begin, Manmohan formally introduced me to the entire House. He mentioned that as the head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, I was responsible to ensure that each and every Indian had a digital smart card as a proof of his existence.
Manmohan spoke about why I was selected and also some references to the various projects executed by me in Infosys were mentioned. The House listened with rapt attention. I was asked to say a few words and I did exactly the same!!! I thanked the Government of India for having givenme this opportunity and I assured the House that I would strive to successfully deliver this project. The Speaker then formally inducted meinto the House and before the proceedings could move any forward, there was a small commotion on the other side of the hall.
It was Minister of Textiles who had a comment to make before the next point on the agenda. He made a request that I should be attired in a more austere way instead of a flashy suit. It did not go well with the image of a minister who should live to serve the common man and should be less ostentatious in his habits. I stood up to reply. I offered my apologies to the Honourable Minister and assured that I shall be in amore acceptable dress next time. I felt that he was right. We also used to have corporate dress code in Infosys. So it's here as well!!!!
I sat down and felt somebody nudging me. I turned around and to mysurprise; it was the former Indian skipper and one of my favourite batsmen Mohd. Azharuddin. I remembered that he had recently won the elections. I smiled at him and mentioned to him that I used to like hisgame very much, shaking his hand. No Rolex, I noticed. Azhar told me that he would "fix" me an appointment with an Italian designer who had designed his dapper Kurta suit. An Italian designer in Milan doing Kurtas!!!!! I made a note of this and reminded myself to give this example to Friedman for his next book," The World Markets are flattened".
Since there was no doubt about the "Fixational" capacities of Azhar, Itold him to give me the details and I would consider. The proceedings ofthe House went on with numerous bills being debated and passed as I satas a passive audience waiting for my project's turn to come up. After the lunch break, it was the moment for me!!!!
MY PROJECT"S FIRST REVIEW CAME UP FOR PRESENTATION.
I was at sea. My laptop did not have any reserve power. I went to Manmohan and apprised him of the situation. I was sweating. He calmly replied that this would not be a cause of concern. I was flummoxed!!!!The Speaker asked me to explain to the House on what were my plans forthe Unique Identity Project. I replied that I have a plan prepared for30-60-90-120 days' milestones and I have presentation to make for whichI need a power socket, a projector and a screen. I had no idea what was going to happen after this.
The next couple of minutes were a complete jolt for me. I was completelyin a tizzy. Let me just summarize what happened. A Joint CabinetSecretary Committee was set up to judge the feasibility of my request.The Under Secretaries for the Ministries of Power, IT and Broadcasting will prepare a Viability Report after scrutinizing National Security threats to my request. This was because the power socket comes under Power, laptop comes under IT and projector comes under Broadcasting. I have also been told to reconsider my timelines of 30-60-90 days and start thinking in terms of years. Probably, they are right. I did not have the foresight in this matter.
The summary of the issue is that I need to come up with a more inclusive, democratic, comprehensive long term plan for this project tobe executed over the next five years. I have also been given a presentation slot 3 months from now (by which the issues related to the power cord etc will also be resolved). I am filled with mixed reactions.I was planning for a quick resolution; the management wants a strategic solution. I come out of the House and text Murthy.
"You won't believe it but these guys work just like us. I am on a NATIONAL BENCH for the next three months!!!!!!!!"
PS: Steve jobs' commencement address at Stanford
