Retire, before you tire?

During a chat at a marriage reception few hours back, a close friend of my wife was saying "who has time for health checkups. When the health protests, we will look into that". Though my wife put up a worried face as the friend was in her early fifties that demands regular attention, she did agree that it requires multiple visits to the hospital and consultation , which should really be challenging when you are still at work.

On a recent tour, there were occasions to climb some small hills with steep and irregular steps to reach out to some prominent places of visit. An accompanying friend said had it been some years earlier, he would have done it with ease and rued his decision to wait for his official chores to complete before turning this way!

My relative couple who were both in a mad man's working world until recently, eased out to focus on their only daughter's marriage and also performed it with all grandeur. The lady haunted by the daughter's separation after her marriage was wondering whether she should have quit her job early and spent more time with her daughter. It was pathetic to hear her lamenting "when she was here, we didn't have time and when we are free, she is not around"and the regret was palpable.

During our periodic meet, my friend who is in a very senior position in a flourishing industry said he was ready to hang the boot but was only wondering what to do with the time, as he felt that there is 'enough steam left in him to chug along' for a couple of more years !

Last of the above words seemed to suggest a solution to the dilemma of 'when to hang the boot' !

It is when you are 'still left with energy' to chug along.

When one is officially expected to work putting in his best foot forward and with full energy until the stipulated age, it is well known that care is taken to maintain these resources well for optimum usage  at least until that milestone.

By hanging the boots a couple of years early, one could not only use those officially available energy but also use that to recoup the lost energy to extend the fitness levels for some years ahead ! When you are in the zone of 'expected working of around ten hours a day', tasks such as long travel or climbing small hillocks should not be a big ask. The renewed energy could enable one to focus more on the forgotten priorities like more family time, planning for family events and travel round the country which would have so far remained only as desires. And more importantly to concentrate on your own health-  which so far is the most sacrificed item on one's agenda and is always a candidate for the place at the sacrificial altar for any other priorities. This is a serious neglect as one could pay with a fat purse and more nerves, should the tiring body choose to revolt at the sunset of your life, when you are planning to put your feet up and enjoy life.

As for post retiral activities, believe me there are any number and yours truly is reasonably qualified to dwell on the same. Given the demands of the prevailing challenges of industries, it is not unfair to expect any person to slow down at least, if not stop working, by his mid-50s. So, it is imperative to start the planning exercise around by forties and a very small monthly savings through your occupational years could see one through these rainy days of early retirement !

Before you choose to retire do remember to list down the things you have been wanting to do or get involved but could not as your work was felt to be the stumbling block. It could be more quality time with family, periodic family outings, places to visit, small treks, music, reading or exploring any other hidden talent in you that could be easily converted as hobby, in the later years.

One can afford and allowed to enjoy unplanned hours in the early days of retirement, but not for long. Plan your day, if not on the same rigorous lines of official days but on a reasonable measure, as an extended unplanned period could easily invite ennui to set in , which is not the purpose of early retirement. If one desires, it is within everyone's reach to wake up some of  the sleeping talents within you, that will be your companion towards the retired sector of your life circle.

The catch is planning, timing and enjoying, when you are still left with the steam and things are on your side ! Its more important to hang the gloves, before a gentle reminder is given, so that you could enjoy an unrestricted field before you, to kick around .

 " There are many breeds of dog that just needs to be working, and useful or have a job of some kind, in order to be happy. Otherwise, they are neurotically barking, scratching or tearing up the sofa".

Its no wonder , everyone's wish is not to end up with a dog's life !!

Fraud out of Greed !

Today's THE HINDU has reported an incident as 'Vishing' wherein a woman has been defrauded by promising to send an expensive gift, as her phone number was selected in a lucky draw.  After she  sent   Rs 2000/- as courier charges, the 'gift'  received contained  not an iPhone but just few hundred rupees worth of cheap cosmetic items. The cyber crime police investigating this has said  ' there are many such complaints 

 received with similar modus operandi'  !

This is an age old trick and despite the communication and media channels available, its a pity that people are still falling for it.

Though it certainly falls under the category of a fraud, can we do anything to refrain from becoming a 'Victim'? The answer is certainly a big 'Yes'.

Has one not heard about the Nigerian and other scams promising jobs and luring the potential victims to send only the postal charges?

Realistically, can you think of any organisation awarding you with a very expensive gift, for nothing? 

If the org was going to give such an expensive gift, won't they also bear the accompanying courier charges? 

There are many such instances of Emails, short messages and phone calls luring people to part with their personal details such as address, phone numbers and IDs, only to make money out of them rather than parting with any gift. 

In my opinion, such frauds are happening only with the involuntary connivance of the victim! Yes, though the victim has not directly contributed, his/her greed has made the victim also an accomplice.

Let us remember that all those blinking advertisements in the websites you visit, 'click here for a pot of gold' like messages are all meant to lure the gullible.

Understand that not only the innocents are targeted but also the tech-savvy, who in a momentary lapse of mind and act of foolery or more out of persistent annoyance of emails or advertisement, could press that fatal link. 

I am reminded of a huge hoarding outside an erstwhile finance company in Royapettah (Chennai) which proclaimed " Nothing in this world is for free;  the worm at the end of the rod is, after all, a bait and not food for the fish" !!

That the said company also went bust with depositors' money is of course a different story !!

Resist the Unknown

In those days, most of the parents used to advise their kids 'not to venture into unknown areas' when they go on a school / college excursions. This singular advice appears to stand true despite the passing of decades.

Gone are the days, when people had to experiment and innovate always, even despite the criticism that curiosity may kill the cat.  These days in the current scenario, the cyber jungle though fraught with myriads of lurking dangers, often lures one to experiment and venture in to the newer areas in the cyberspace.

When one opens the personal email, at times there are many more emails in the spam folder than the Inbox! It could be a claimed ‘official looking’ email from the highest bank of the country announcing your selection for receiving some unclaimed balances in a non-operative bank account! There could be an email from an African country announcing that you have won a million dollar lottery! There could be one just with the single word 'Congratulation' as the subject. There may be others which could warn you that a virus has been detected in your laptop and to click to rectify the same, 'absolutely free of cost'! These are absolute bombs waiting to electronically explode, invade and make away with your data, on a momentary madness of a click on an innocuous looking link.

When one chooses to run away from the email threats into the waiting arms of his friends through social networking sites, there are multitudes of blinking invites awaiting attention on both sides of your operative areas offering more information on the cheapest flight to a destination you were looking for last week. There will be any number of groups , which will be suggested to befriend, courtesy the analytical potential of your own social networking site, which has voluntarily undertaken to (mis)use your data to make an analysis and offer you suggestions. There will be dozens of alternates to a mobile phone you have 'like'ed and at a comparatively cheaper cost than the one, you propose to buy.

Looking to get some peace by closing the laptop, there are any number of phone calls offering you unsolicited advice on a potential purchase for the approaching festival season and requesting you to share your credit/debit card details for further processing of higher loans and incentives.

The unsolicited intrusions into one’s personal life is on the increase and days are not far off when your personal doctor could advise you to stay away from your electronic gadgets for a day of your weekend to regain acceptable levels of your pressure and vitals.

In all the above, there are baits thrown, for the unsuspected, ignorant, greedy and morons. As Mark Twain says “There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.” 

If one could not sight the twirling worm at the end of the rod, it is not far off before he himself hangs there as a bait at the end of the pole. Nothing in this world comes free. The worm at the end of the rod is not for your appetite but to lure you off information.

One is forced to have a day of upavas and to practice the focus of the legendary character Arjuna sighting only the target, so that one is not distracted, one is not tempted and one does not fall a prey, only to rue shortly thereafter.

Please be informed and educate your near and dear ones - not to click on unconfirmed or unknown links and not share information on callers claiming to be from your bank and air your requirements in the Net.   

For, there lies a jungle with deadlier snakes and man-eaters, waiting to pounce on your purse and personal information, devour everything and strip you naked, before you log out and close your system.

Remember “The problem with temptation is that you may not get another chance"

NOTE: Above is my contribution as Editorial, for the eZine of Cyber Society of  India , an abridged version of which has been published in the ezine released today through the website www.cysi.in

Women- Truly Liberated?

Come March every year, people across the world, the high and mighty, from schools to board rooms clamor and vie with one another in eulogizing the values of women, their strength, their contribution to the world and how far they have come. As the International Day of women wanes, so does the thoughts seem to as they were not from the heart but from the shallow grounds!

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella could have found fixing of the myriads of bugs in their software releases easier than trying to extricate his foot so firmly inserted by him into his mouth.  

His utterances of 'quite frankly, women who don't ask for a raise have…It's good karma. It will come back."...' came almost true. But its only that the 'karma' came back to haunt not the intended women employees but himself, when the pressure generated forced him to apologize in a memo to the women employees of the Microsoft, as reported in www.inc.com

The normally mellifluous voice for once sounded jarring when the popular singer Yesudas, wandered out of his comfort zone to comment on the practice of women wearing jeans.  The backlash was so forceful that there were appeals from some of his ardent fans in popular newspapers to spare the singer for his faux pas!

I feel, and it is apparent that , despite the lip services paid on such 'celebrated' days, the male dominated society is yet to come to terms and accept the fact of the distaff side clawing its way up the ladder and trying to taking over the reins, demanding their legitimate place in the society ! They are refusing to accept the fact that women assuming positions are on the rise and it appears their minds are clouded with confusion, unable to distinguish between uplift and authority.

 A 2008 Harvard Business Review research report says, "... 41 percent of the young people in science, engineering and technology are women.... " but goes on to add that ".... 63 percent of women in these industries have experienced some degree of sexual harassment..." So the Hippocratic while accepting the ascendancy due to the societal pressure, also seem to make their survival difficult by constant pressures and pin pricks. 

We have been ushered into an era in which woman have started traversing into outer space, drive auto rickshaws and locomotives, manage the financial world , perform complex surgeries as life savers and even adorn  gubernatorial positions. To be frank they have pervaded and are all over with stunning results. Whether one likes it or not, they are here and have come to stay, at times with even better performances than their distractors.

When the world is fast forwarding into a different arena, it is distressing to hear such discerning voices. One may well understand such non-acceptances from morons and minions, but to hear such discordant notes from the high and mighty, one is reminded of the adage "an Athenian blockhead is the worst of all blockheads"and be sensitive to the developments.

It is time women liberation is not confused just with populist rhetoric and lip level support but understood as extending beyond with whole hearted support in all their reasonable deeds.

Doctors under scanner

Ever since the talk show on the Doctors, their investigations, their advices and their motives were put under a public microscope and rubbished, rather uncharitably,  few weeks back in a popular TV channel, the social networking community is abuzz with claims and counter claims. There are those in public who identified with the counter-examples given and the Doctors seething with the general verdict given on their integrity without fully hearing them- the sole aim of the talk show was achieved resoundingly - its TRP (Television Rating Point)  sky rocketed and the talk show has become the talk of the town! As for the channel is concerned , the objective has been reached and its time to look for and move after another 'raw nerve'. After all such shows are openly described as between 'you and me' and it will be a free for all for some time until the identified 'experts' could deliver 'their' verdict.

Enough exchanges were made amongst 'friends' in social networking websites and it is a revelation that our people have so much to say - its only a pity they don't express themselves in a tone that could be heard by all.

Even while attempting to digest these exchanges, I was also shared with two recorded versions of senior practicing doctors, from YouTube.

The first one was from Dr. Praveen Raj of Coimbatore (http://youtu.be/HCCOKKWfGpM ) True to his profession, the doctor without going overboard and in a calculated tone, which was maintained throughout the session , goes on to decimate the claims made in the talk-show. Wondering on the motive of a programme that started off with an accusation rather than a debatable point, he explains that medicine is not maths to follow a set of formulae and how every decision goes not only with the investigations but also based on the experience of the attending Doctor. He further adds that Master Check ups are not prescribed by Doctors and out-rightly rubbishes the statement "Medicines are given to keep the disease alive". Without caring to conceal the hurt and anger he counters it saying that " If medicines are not given the patient will not be alive". He has no hesitation to trash the 'well sounding " report quoted by another participant and easily points out as to how it is irrelevant to use that report which is more applicable to countries like US and European states.

The second one was from a Padma Shree awardee Dr Bhaktha Vatsalam( http://youtu.be/Z7k6RzMD0pc ), again from Coimbatore- well, this town seems to have its antenna up and focused while their fraternity in other cities did not bother to respond ! He goes on to say that no Doctor enters the profession to make money and pleads to the people to appreciate and praise them. While his claims of only the Doctors working on holidays and weekends to save lives and that they are demi-Gods could evoke another talk show, his points on most of the ailments are man made and invited by ourselves are interesting.

There are substance in both the learned  Doctors' appeals - No doubt- when we are in great pain, when our kin has met with an accident, when our heart takes a breather - we look upon these as Manna from heaven to deliver and relieve ourselves from pain. They do play God in instantly relieving us of the pain and suffering and goes on to even define our lifestyle for the rest of our life for a trouble free run. The struggling baby and the hopeless mother with excruciating pain is many a time saved by the deft hands of an obstetrician, through a timely Cesarean section and the whole effort is forgotten by all concerned on seeing the mother and the kid, without even bating an eyelid for the efforts and timely decision of the Gynec.

But, to claim that the Doctors also approach this without monetary consideration, as claimed by one of the doctors  is also hard to accept. Perhaps what the learned medico would have meant was 'no doctor comes to this profession only for money'.

Every profession has some black sheep and these sheep invariably drive the decision making , more because of the wrongs caused by them on the innocent public.

We describe a bank as the best in service based on one employee who always attend to you with a smile, but this impression will change the moment he is replaced by another with a shorter fuse.

We decide on the quality of service in a hotel by the solitary waiter who always attends on you.

We give verdict on a school /college by the teacher you get !

Similarly, people decide based on the type of services they receive. After all, one also cannot brush aside the confession of a participant from the supporting profession in the show, that indeed there are pressures from some medical  practitioners to misdirect the patients into incorrect and unnecessary tests and investigations. But then it will be uncharitable to paint all with the same brush, too.

Unfortunately, since all the eggs are stacked  in the same basket, the rotten eggs have started polluting the good ones. It is for the true professionals to work with the regulators, stakeholders and others 'who cry foul now trying to hold the flag aloft for this noble profession' , to sift the wheat from the chaff , identify the black sheep  and weed them out.

Doctors, by the services rendered are very unique in nature and need to be appreciated, encouraged and nurtured with. I agree the world will become more painful in the absence of this rare and valuable professionals.

But then to equate them with the Almighty, say there are no blemishes and spare them the 'at times' deserving rod could also spoil these practitioners !!

This will be as unreasonable as the talk-show's attempt to paint  all medical practitioners black with the same brush !!

Dress code

A  hue and cry has been raised about denying entry to a judge into a club in Chennai, reportedly because he was wearing a Dhothi, the traditional dress of South India. 

Of late the 'dress code' is more in the news due to its insistence and also when it involves some high profiles. 

An instance of an invited guest speaker being turned away from a city college was also reported sometime back, when he was found not complying with the dress code of the College. At that time , the invitee raised a question whether such codes are applicable to the guest too!

When my friend visited a city college where his ward was studying, he was denied entry as his attire was not in conformity with dress code of the college! Here, the anguished parent quipped whether the dress code is meant for students or visitors too.

Every place has a right to be bound by the rules of the land and the owner of the particular piece of real estate cannot be blamed for insisting on his expectations at his place. But then, its also in line with the expected discipline and etiquette that the hosts apprise the guest on the expectations upfront, to avoid untoward embarrassments and avoidable blushes.

This particular incident, analysed on the following  lines, could provide more clarity on the intent :  

1. Was any dress code prescribed in the invitation extended for the occasion? 

2. Did the invitee choose to ignore the code despite the same being advised sufficiently in advance ?

 I feel a case is being made out that ' Dhothi, the traditional dress of the state is being disrespected'. It needs to be probed whether he was denied entry due to the wearing of a Dhothi as is made out to be or not adhering to the prescribed dress code. I feel there is room for mischief here, which could be exploited for sensationalism. 

I find nothing wrong or unusual in prescribing a dress code and also the invitee deciding on complying with it.

In Amritsar, when I visited the Golden temple, I was asked to cover my head with a piece of cloth given and I had to yield.

In Guruvayur temple no one is allowed with a shirt on and when a serving President of India was reluctant,  he politely refrained from a visit, thus skirting an avoidable embarrassment.

A Chennai city popular club also denied entry to a guest of the member, when the guest was wearing a collar less tee shirt, which was prohibited there!

It is for the host to make it abundantly clear sans ambiguity the rules of the event, premises and occasion so that there is no confusion and last minute sensation of a  'denial of admission'. The guest may choose to adhere to the norms or skip the invitation.

I cannot escape nursing a thought  whether the same hue and cry would have been raised, if the person involved was an ordinary citizen without a high profile!

Tryst with Seva !

After my visit to the passport office at Sastri Bhavan , Chennai few years back, I was weary of  a re-visit, but I had little choice , as my passport is due for renewal. But, the experiences this time around, proved to be entirely different and pleasant.

For the first time, I applied online and the process was fairly simple. I wonder why only the Internet Banking of the State Bank of India is provided and for using non-SBI account a fee was also charged - avoidable. At least all the Nationalised banks could have been listed.

The process tested the nerves of the applicant as it logged out with some errors repeatedly , after accepting the payment terms and after multiple trials, it was done. Also, there was no choice of date or time and when the system allocates them , the applicant 'shall' accept them.

I opted for the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at Saligramam and it was fairly decent, with good paid parking facilities. The always crowded waiting hall badly requires air-conditioning, as the symbolic fans installed were serving little in this sweltering Chennai summer. Some boards or directions on the subsequent stages of activities could help the applicants as people were seen standing at the wrong line only to realize it after lapse of considerable time. Fortunately, when once you are admitted in to the PSK from the waiting hall, the whole place has AC and it was a relief.

First stage was the initial screening of your application and it took me a while to figure out what to do with the file folder thrust into my hands, at the end of that interaction.. After a two second body-search , I was led into a more spacious hall, seating about 300 people where I was  asked to wait for the issue of a token. Though the hall was cool, work wise it was in a mess. A lone guy sitting at the farthest corner of the huge hall kept calling names and people have to run to him to collect the token. The hall was so noisy with the children playing around and the coffee vending machine trying always to raise itself above the voice of that official. They could use a Mic for better reach.

Not sure as to why old people, mothers with babe-in-arms and small kids could not be prioritized and given preference. At least for me, just few tokens behind me , a kid kept wailing inconsolably and it was a pity to see that mother struggling to manage the kid. Since, it was behind me , I was kept this company through out my entire sojourn at PSK for the day !

It was then things started moving more smoothly though the typical 'anarchy' still persisted wherever possible. The three step process of moving through counters was fairly well managed though not all the entrants could get seats. Either they could provide seats for all admitted inside or regulate the entry according to the seats available. Otherwise, people were seen everywhere obstructing even the view of the TV Monitors which one has to follow closely to track one's token. It was a relief to come out after collecting the acknowledgement from the loquacious security who delivered unsolicited advice on why one should not approach the touts and agents !

Passport delivery was a breeze. On the same night of my personal appearance at the PSK, I received an email about the Police verification details. The next day I was informed that my passport has been couriered along with all details and within 48 hours of my tryst with PSK , I did receive the passport , hand delivered at home by Speed Post !!

Compared to my previous experience where there was no chair to sit, no proper directions and the chaos around, the experience this time was far more improved and pleasant. Tracking system, guidance  and the use of technology has brought considerable relief to the public. There is room for improvement, but I am not complaining as they are towards betterment. Things appear to be promising and I am confident we are in for better Seva  at these Kendras!

Here are my one rupee worth tips:

• Online booking is straight forward and simple. No need to go through any agents.
• It is enough if you are at the PSK 15 minutes before your reporting time. Otherwise, you will unnecessarily be undergoing the torture of waiting in undesirable environment.
• Go through the instructions and carry all the documents required. Though there is a photo copying machine placed, its not worth standing in that long line. Better carry everything in advance.
• The security check at PSK is a joke and I was cursing myself for not carrying my iPad. Some reading material is a must considering the waiting time at every stage!
• Total time inside the PSK though specified as two hours, could go up to three. Be armed with water/juice and some snacks. These are also available inside but could cost you a small fortune. 
• Be vigilant as many seem to drop their passport or vital documents in their anxiety and excitement.
• Remember to collect the acknowledgment, before you leave the Kendra.