Category Archives: Celebrities
Pranav Mistry – making India proud!
Almost few years back, while we were stuck in a traffic jam, the little one was getting restless. Reason - We will miss her favorite TV show. To keep the cool, I was telling her that how nice it will be if we have some technology where we can get to just beam the TV rays on any surface and we can watch TV anywhere. That idea kept the conversation interesting and saved the day. It was long still I forgot about this - and then, one of the days I saw the details of the project by Pranav Mistry - Sixth Sense. You can watch the video here. I was amazed about his innovation and felt that what I discussed with my kid may become a reality sooner than I thought. I was very impressed by this Indian researcher’s innovation quotient.
The last 2.5 years, I have been following randomly about Pranav Mistry’s projects. They were very interesting. The latest one was Sparsh which he presented in the Nasscom‘s India Leadership Forum last week. As always, Sparsh was also equally impressive - a technology which conceptually transfer media from one digital device to your body and pass it to the other digital device by simple touch gestures. Watch the video here.
But this post is just beyond Pranav Mistry’s innovation quotient - It is about his Social Awareness and his thought about giving back to the society. Pranav is very open in sharing his ideas and even technologies for free. In the current world of commercialism where every company plan to make money with every new version of their gadgets (ipad 2, 3 and so on of Apple is an example!), it was very unique that he is doing this. I was very curious about this part of Pranav - how is he going to get his fundings for future research if he is going to give his ideas/technology for free. I was more than convinced when I read his response to almost same question asked by a reporter……..this is what Pranav says
Yes, many people tell me that I can make lots of money if I sell the patented technologies I have helped create. But my goal isn’t to be the richest person in the world. And this also has to do with the way I grew up in Palanpur, my hometown. I realised early in life that no one remembers you post death just because you were a rich person. Do YOU remember such a person? We now know the richest when they are alive. But do you know the top 10 richest of 18th century? But we all do know Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, so we do remember those who make a change in history. We always remember those who contribute to society. And money shall come and go, I shall have enough to be happy but not necessarily want so much that I don’t know what to do with it.
I was amazed by this clarity!! Here is one Indian in the new generation who not only is a great technical wiz kid, but the one who thinks of society…………makes us proud.
Congratulations and all the best, Pranav!!
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Yuvraj! – Yes, You can!
When I follow cricket as a news and live my life with two ardent cricket fans, it is inevitable I know Yuvraj to some extent - I identify his name with these adjectives – young, energetic, loving son to his parents, raring to make more of life and cricket………… and ofcourse, he is known in the Bollywood circuits also!
It was such a shocking piece of news when I heard it – ” Yuvraj has Cancer”
Knowing as much (actually, as little) as I know about Yuvraj and his family with my as much knowledge about the “big C” disease, I can certainly empathize with what he and his family are going through. While it makes it challenging for anyone to go through the deadly big ‘C’, it is even more challenging to be in the prime of your life and being knocked down by this big C for no fault of his! Especially, knowing how his mother will be feeling now…………….I was really sad. While I completely appreciate the philosophical “Life is just a journey”, this news still left me with an uncomfortable feeling.
And today morning, I was looking into Yahoo news and this is the link I got…………….the Cricket Vs Cancer ………made me feel positive and hope that for Yuvraj, the ONLY big C in his life will be the C in Cricket - if all the cricket fans and their family across the world can wish him and support him with their prayers for a minute - there definitely will be a miracle.
So, here is the wishing from me and the sincere hopes - “Yuvraj, Yes! You Can!” !! The Big C in your life is ONLY the BIG Cricket!
Join me in taking this HOPE statement (Yuvraj, Yes You Can!) across the globe to Boston!
Related Posts: Sean Maloney - Inspiring || What is Right?
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New Age Americas!!
Many a times it happens in the history - a simple photograph unfolds a greater story about the changing world. This is one such picture (thanks to my classmate who shared it with me) - amazing one!!
It says more about Obama as a leader - one who appreciates the dignity of labour and respects his fellow human being. The worker looks like a Mexican origin!! It definitely takes some compassion towards fellow human being to recognize our support staff - starting from the maid in our homes till the office support staff. I think this says much about the new age Americas….Well done, Mr.President! You are leading by example!
ps - Ok, for those skeptical minds who think this is part of Obama’s political image building exercise considering the impending US elections…..so what? atleast he is projecting this as a good leadership gesture….. You should still remember the other white house picture when the US hunted Bin Laden…….
ps 2 (only for Bollywood and Kollywood followers ) - Remember the scene in Munna Bhai MBBS / Vasool Raja MBBS where the hero hugs a cleaner and makes his day!!! ………our Indian movie makers probably are much ahead in times!!! 
You may also like: God, Have that Skirt Longer || Free Hug Day
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Adoption & IVF
It sure is a big sensational news (read here)!! Aamir khan - super star in Bollywood and his wife Kiran Rao (known for her intellectual brilliance as a director - Dhobi Ghat is a sample) went for IVF and Surrogacy to become parents of a baby boy!
While I was reading the news and once again wondering at the advancement of medical sciences (any new-born is a wonder for me and makes be believe in some supernatural power), I could not resist a query which popped up in my mind.
“What made Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao consider IVF/Surrogacy option over the option of adopting a needy child?”
Given what I read about both of them, they are intelligent enough to consider adoption as a good option……
Adoption process in India has come a long way. It has moved from a family affair/hush-hush activity to a much more professional process - it is well accepted by the modern Indian society - people who have adopted kids are open about it and they share the details with the kids also - I have couple of my close friends who have adopted kids in India and have shared their experiences with me, which makes me confident that it is now a well-planned process.
So, what made Aamir and Kiran look for IVF/Surrogacy?
The only reasonable explanation I could think of - Aamir/Kiran couple may have thought that a biological child (even though it is using surrogacy) will be much easier to bond and may stand as a representation of their married life. The reason I think so is based on an input from one of my friends. My friend’s spouse wants to adopt a child as a sibling to their first biological child. My friend is not very comfortable with this option and has refused the adoption option. My friend feels that when the children grow together, it may be very tough for the parents to be neutral to the children - one being a biological child and the second being an adopted child will bring in a bias…..I can appreciate this fear of future and the need for a very stable outlook about adoption…
I think it is much easier emotionally to accept a biological child (Even if it is through surrogacy) than an adopted kid.
A tough topic to mull over!
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Steve Jobs……….1955-2011
I never realized four weeks back that you really are going to go away in a matter of weeks, when I posted on Steve Jobs lessons http://ireach.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/steve-jobs-lessons/
When one of my close family member faced the big C disease a decade back, I have witnessed the challenges she went through http://ireach.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/what-is-right/ sure would have fought the big C so much, but at times, it is too much to handle!!
You lived your life well and achieved well!!…………..One of the most admiring comment which i read about you was “Steve did not mind being a pain in the neck to people till he gets want he wants them to do to achieve what he wanted to!!” It is one of the toughest traits to have!
God bless!!
With heavy heart, I say…………..RIP, Steve Jobs!!
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Steve Jobs – Lessons!
Here is another leader - one who created value and made many of us feel “AHA”…………I truly believe that it is a great story to tell your grandkids that “I lived during the times of Steve!!…who made those ipads….”
While many would have read his speech 2005 Stanford commencement speech, this article below in Forbes magazine reiterates his uniqueness……….
My order of top ten lessons from Steve’s life goes here………
- Never fear failure
- Listen to the voice in the back of your head that tells you if you are on the right track or not
- Find the most talented people to surround yourself with
- Expect a lot from yourself and others
- Stay hungry, Stay foolish
- The most enduring innovations marry art and science
- To create future, you can’t do it through focus groups (believe in yourselves!)
- Anything is possible through hardwork, determination and a sense of vision
- You can’t connect the dots forward, only backwards
- Don’t care about being right. Care about succeeding
Here is the article………The Top Ten Lessons Steve Jobs Can Teach Us – If We’ll Listen
ENJOY reading and INTROSPECT how much applies to us!
Sean Maloney – Inspiring!!
I could not resist sharing this article with many - It is a truly inspiring story and I am amazed on how much the human will can take control of one’s life……….This is an article in CNN’s money about Sean Maloney – head of Intel China.
This is an article in CNN’s money about Sean Maloney – head of Intel China.
When he lost his words due to stroke, he had only his will power to get back - “I’ve trained the right side of my brain to take over speech, normally a function of the left side. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done.”……….so, you can train your brain to do what you like….:)
His advice to all…..”Never give up,” he says. “No matter what anyone says, you can attain your goals if you never give up.”
Inspirational! Makes us take responsibility of our life!
Intel’s Sean Maloney: The man who couldn’t speak
Rajnikanth – NDTV’s entertainer of the decade!!
Rajnikanth is awarded the NDTV‘s entertainer of the decade award!!
I already was more than 100% convinced on his unique skills to keep his feet firm on the floor, irrespective of the soaring heights he reached in his life and career!! - refer my earlier posts Simply (super)star! and Rajni&ARR – success factor. So, when Prannoy Roy highlighted Rajni’s humbleness during the session, it was not a surprise at all for me!
NDTV’s presentation ceremony (watch here)
What surprised me was - Rajni is the unanimous choice between two generations, even with the famous ladies of Bolly wood - Vidya Balan and her mom, Katrina Kaif and her mom and the south indian beauty Trisha and her mom!! Ofcourse, stardom is not about looks and age - Rajni proves it is the capacity to be what you are all the time!! Kudos!!
SM Krishna – Is it his fault?
I some how did not feel so shocked - I felt as though it is feasible for someone as old as SM.Krishna to make this mistake - I am referring to Mr. SM Krishna our own External Affairs minister, who inadvertently read out the speech of his Portuguese counterpart at a UN Security Council meeting.
While the press is criticizing so much on this slip of 3 minutes, I feel there is a root cause to this slip. For a minute, look at Mr. Krishna as an individual –
He is 75+ years old (born 1 May 1932) - the age of a grandfather! He had a long political career – goes without saying that it is a stressful career!!. While as dutiful individuals, we strive to take care, give enough rest to our parents/grandparents!!. On the other hand, we have elected a truckload of Indian politicians who are 75+ and running some important offices for our democracy!! I honestly feel sympathetic towards them - at this age, when they need to relax and have a calm life and purse their self interests in life, they are holding such critical posts which needs an alert mind !!
As citizens of the world’s largest democracy we have all the rights to criticize anything which happens in India and we also have equal responsibility to set things right - probably, we need more youngsters who can take politics as a career with alert minds!!
‘God,have that skirt get longer’
Ofcourse, it was a catchy title for a short article in Times of India - When i finished reading this article, I could not hide my smile ….World’s most powerful president , Mr. Obama of United States is like any other father of a growing daughter!
While we had multiple discussions between colleagues (over our energetic lunch sessions) on this topic of our growing girls and their dress sense, we actually never found a solution - Most of us used the cold weather as a reason to justify why our girls should wear a longer skirt or a jacket over that figure hugging tops!!!…But nothing creative beyond this!! 
And that is the reason I smiled when i read that article. Personally, I felt it is too silly a request to the ALMIGHTY…but, if Mr.Obama is reaching out to GOD, probably we should all join!!
Ok, letz get serious!! In a related note, one of my friends who handles some special language classes to teens, notes that children get very upset with parents when they dictate on their dresses. In a class discussion about conflicts with parents, the Indian children asked a logical question “If a Chinese immigrant parent can allow their kids to wear what the kids like to wear, why is that my parents are not ok?”.
Now, this is a tough question - I was wondering probably my friend gave a long lecture about Indian culture and etc…..I was curious to know and checked on the answer, but was pleasantly surprised on the answer.
” Your dress impacts the way you present yourself and plays a very important role on your self-image. Dress should suit the occasion and should consider the group of people present, culture, climate and situation. While no one will question Mr.Obama if he chooses to make great speeches with his jeans and tee, he takes the effort to come in formals – this is to create the respect for the audience, to communicate in a subtle way that he is serious about his speech and he respects the forum. So, you – as intelligent children should choose the right dress for right occasion – if you practice this, you will see the difference and understand why your parents insist on some things”. - Great answer, is it not?
If you have 22 minutes and 41 seconds, you can watch Obama’s National prayer here
