Sunday, December 1, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
This is it- the highest it can get !
What can one expect on a morning Delhi to Calcutta flight on a Saturday
morning ?
The feel of calcutta, straight from the boarding gate itself.
But that is not unusual. That is something that one gets on every flight or
train to calcutta.
What is unusual is that a little while after take off, the captain
announces please look outside from the left, thanks to a beautiful day,
you get a crystal clear view of the mighty Himalayas. In all splendor.
Imposing and awe inspiring they always have been, and they made this a
morning like never before.
Just when I thought it can't get better, Captain comes back on radio again,
`Ladies and gentlemen, On your left, the one, and only- MOUNT EVEREST !
The oohs and aahs give way to a pin drop silence as everyone who is awake {
and only a few lucky ones on this plane are } is leaning left, could even
have shifted the plane`s center of gravity.
The view lasts a good ten minutes, and makes the entire effort of the
morning flight worth it.
Thank you life, for yet another wonderful present !
morning ?
The feel of calcutta, straight from the boarding gate itself.
But that is not unusual. That is something that one gets on every flight or
train to calcutta.
What is unusual is that a little while after take off, the captain
announces please look outside from the left, thanks to a beautiful day,
you get a crystal clear view of the mighty Himalayas. In all splendor.
Imposing and awe inspiring they always have been, and they made this a
morning like never before.
Just when I thought it can't get better, Captain comes back on radio again,
`Ladies and gentlemen, On your left, the one, and only- MOUNT EVEREST !
The oohs and aahs give way to a pin drop silence as everyone who is awake {
and only a few lucky ones on this plane are } is leaning left, could even
have shifted the plane`s center of gravity.
The view lasts a good ten minutes, and makes the entire effort of the
morning flight worth it.
Thank you life, for yet another wonderful present !
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Indore: An outdoor culinary journey
To most of my friends and acquaintances, i eat very little.
Only some, though, know of my fondness for good food; especially of the street variety.
In the Central Indian city of Indore, when jewelry shops close down in the Sarafa Bazar, a metamorphosis takes place and the whole area converts into a food paradise. And it metamorphoses a small eater like me into someone who hogs as if there is no tomorrow.
Vendors converge from all over the place, and set up shops guaranteed to provide an experience for the taste buds one is unlikely to forget in a hurry.
Interested ? Walk along, for a multi multi course meal (and a bigger experience)
1) Start local- with the Dahi Khichri (tastes best with sabudana vada)
2) Head to the continent- with Honey Pizza
3) Let's get back to India with the 10 flavour Pani-Puri / Golgappa / Puchka. And dont worry, its with Mineral water.
4) Let's go up the Himalayas, onto Tibet- for some Momos (with a dash of Punjabi Paneer)
5) And get to Bombay, and down south- Pav Bhaji alongwith Masala Dosa (special note- with Butter)
6) Right across to the United States- for Hot Dogs
one too many, perhaps
7) Too hot to handle- cool it, with Thanda Thanda, Cool Cool, Ice gola
8) And just in case you need some H2O
9) Let's get started again- with some Kulfi and Falooda
10) And some Lassi, shrikhand and shikanji
11) And head to a place that combines China with Southern India
12) Head on again, for some healthy food
13) And On to the piece de resistance, Jumbo sized jalebis (these are 250 grams each, the guy said he could make one weighing 1.5kgs if i was keen)
14) Somehow, i need to digest this all- i am falling. Thank God for this meetha Paan
15) Having gone the distance, i was worried about the gastrointestinal effects the next morning.
Only some, though, know of my fondness for good food; especially of the street variety.
In the Central Indian city of Indore, when jewelry shops close down in the Sarafa Bazar, a metamorphosis takes place and the whole area converts into a food paradise. And it metamorphoses a small eater like me into someone who hogs as if there is no tomorrow.
Vendors converge from all over the place, and set up shops guaranteed to provide an experience for the taste buds one is unlikely to forget in a hurry.
Interested ? Walk along, for a multi multi course meal (and a bigger experience)
1) Start local- with the Dahi Khichri (tastes best with sabudana vada)
2) Head to the continent- with Honey Pizza
3) Let's get back to India with the 10 flavour Pani-Puri / Golgappa / Puchka. And dont worry, its with Mineral water.
6) Right across to the United States- for Hot Dogs
one too many, perhaps
7) Too hot to handle- cool it, with Thanda Thanda, Cool Cool, Ice gola
8) And just in case you need some H2O
9) Let's get started again- with some Kulfi and Falooda
10) And some Lassi, shrikhand and shikanji
11) And head to a place that combines China with Southern India
12) Head on again, for some healthy food
13) And On to the piece de resistance, Jumbo sized jalebis (these are 250 grams each, the guy said he could make one weighing 1.5kgs if i was keen)
14) Somehow, i need to digest this all- i am falling. Thank God for this meetha Paan
15) Having gone the distance, i was worried about the gastrointestinal effects the next morning.
I can proudly say i have lived to tell this tale. Safely, Happily. And on my way back to Sarafa.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Jamalpur and Jamalpur
All those who have lived at Jamalpur need no introduction to it.
For all those who haven't, it is very difficult to explain what Jamalpur is. I have tried it twice in my lifetime:
(http://www.jamalpurgymkhana.co.in/index.asp)
( http://jamalpurgymkhana.tripod.com/jamalpur.htm )
Not being very successful with the 'web' endeavour to explain Jamalpur, i have decided to take a cue from a wise young politician of our times. I believe, like the wise politician does, that Jamalpur can be explained as a 'State of the mind'.
The impact of Jamalpur on the 'state of the mind' can lead one to look for it in the minutae of trite.
For example, finding out how many Jamalpurs are there in the world. Through my research in the pre Google days, i was able to find out there were three more Jamalpurs (pretenders to the name of THE Jamalpur). One in Burdwan district of West Bengal, one in Bangaladesh, and one in Punjab. More than 14 years after Google came into my life, i still haven't been able to figure out a fifth Jamalpur.
Today, i was able to do something which perhaps no one from (THE) Jamalpur has done before. This was about getting close (a few kilometers) to two Jamalpurs within a span of an hour and being conscious about this momentous achievement.
I can understand you being on the edge of your seat. Stay there. And have a look.
All this while i was on my way to Taiwan- little did i realize a few hours ago that i would get kicked up about this all.
But then, this is what Jamalpur does to you- Creates an invisible, irrational, irreversible, incredible state of the mind.
Enjoy !
For all those who haven't, it is very difficult to explain what Jamalpur is. I have tried it twice in my lifetime:
(http://www.jamalpurgymkhana.co.in/index.asp)
( http://jamalpurgymkhana.tripod.com/jamalpur.htm )
Not being very successful with the 'web' endeavour to explain Jamalpur, i have decided to take a cue from a wise young politician of our times. I believe, like the wise politician does, that Jamalpur can be explained as a 'State of the mind'.
The impact of Jamalpur on the 'state of the mind' can lead one to look for it in the minutae of trite.
For example, finding out how many Jamalpurs are there in the world. Through my research in the pre Google days, i was able to find out there were three more Jamalpurs (pretenders to the name of THE Jamalpur). One in Burdwan district of West Bengal, one in Bangaladesh, and one in Punjab. More than 14 years after Google came into my life, i still haven't been able to figure out a fifth Jamalpur.
Today, i was able to do something which perhaps no one from (THE) Jamalpur has done before. This was about getting close (a few kilometers) to two Jamalpurs within a span of an hour and being conscious about this momentous achievement.
I can understand you being on the edge of your seat. Stay there. And have a look.
(Pic above is a real time view just as i crossed Jamalpur- a mere 11 kms away, vertically)
(Click on the picture to get a full view)
(This is how Jamalpur looked like, from the 11 km distance)
(Click on the picture to get a full view)
(Moving on from Jamalpur, but living the moment)
(Click on the picture to get a full view)
(And getting 'close' to the 'second' Jamalpur in a few minutes, this one in Bangladesh)
(Click on the picture to get a full view)
All this while i was on my way to Taiwan- little did i realize a few hours ago that i would get kicked up about this all.
(Click on the picture to get a full view)
But then, this is what Jamalpur does to you- Creates an invisible, irrational, irreversible, incredible state of the mind.
Enjoy !
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Fathers Day
Dearest Papa
Wish you a very happy fathers day.
It is the first time in all these years I have come to know that 16 June is Fathers day.
Not that the date matters, as every single day, every single moment, from the time i was born, I have been fortunate to bask in the glow of your love and your affection.
And from that day onward, all the millions of things, no matter small or big, easy or difficult, important or trivial that you have done, for me have been driven by your unwavering passion to have the very best for your children.
Words can't say this, it is an injustice to the words themselves. All that I can do is to thank God for blessing me and my sister Rinky with you and Ammji, making us the most blessed and fortunate children in this world.
Your love is the thing I was born with, and is the thing that will always continue to be my most cherished
possession.
Yours.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Go Indigo
After more than a decade of listening to several speakers of all hues and shades, it was an extraordinary experience listening to Aditya Ghosh, the President of Indigo Airline.
Jotted down below is what all i remember from the speech, as he shared the incredible story of India's fastest growing airline. It also is perhaps the smartest in the business (and my favourite too).
(A) Context- India a huge opportunity
1) GDP growth matters, and typically in an airline industry, the passenger growth rate is 2x of GDP growth rate. So a 5% GDP growth rate in India should translate into a 10% growth in the passenger traffic.
2) The number of potential Indian fliers is a fraction of the population, but growing steadily. From ~ 5% (of population) in 2006 to ~ 25% in 2015 to ~ 40% in 2025.
3) Among all major countries in the world, India has lowest airplane departures per capita and has the lowest aircraft density. There are ~ 390 commercial planes in India, while there are ~ 7000 in the US.
(don't bank on the numbers, but the point is that it is a huge difference)
4) The Indian Railways carries 8 Billion passengers per year. All airlines flying in India, put together, carry a total of 60 Million passengers per year.
5) Reinforcement of the hypothesis that India is a huge and growing market
(B) The Indigo story
First flight took off in 2006, more than a year after getting the permissions to do so.
A lot of time spent on preparation.
Driving objective was that Low cost need not be equal to Low Quality.
Focus on lesser routes; get in there, increase depth, increase frequency. Then go to newer routes. (Start A to B. Increase depth of this route. Then start B to C. Increase depth. Then think of connecting A to C. Or D. )
Top 3 things, and the only 3 things they said they will focus on-
- ON TIME
- LOW FARES
- COURTEOUS AND HASSLE FREE SERVICE
These created a strategy around all operations:
- On time did not only imply on time landing or take off. It became a culture of on time everything- salaries, promotions, documentation, meetings, reviews.
- Low fares implied keeping costs under control. But it also meant where one would spend MORE than competition to get a competitive edge. There are things that are beyond control- crude prices, Forex. 55-60% of costs are fuel costs. More efficient the airline, more will be the % of fuel cost in their total cost. It also means innovation. Innovation to create structural advantages (like long term maintenance contracts, supply of planes to capture demand)
- Courteous and hassle free service not just for passengers, but for all employees too. Keeping the whole experience simple was the key.
Ordered a huge number of aircraft (100, to be delivered over a 10 year period. Then again, 180 for the next decade period, the largest order in aviation history. Here, the lead times for supply are several years, 4-5, so early ordering is a competitive advantage) . All same type (A-320). All consistent configuration. Economies of scale. Easier for technical maintenance. Easier for operations. Easier to impart training on.
Invested in long term (15 year) maintenance contracts with manufacturer.
Leased out some of the aircraft to guys like GE, so that keeps cash circulating.
Kept the core on the top 3 things, and doing it again and again, consistently, to make it consistently boring. Leverage the power of CONSISTENCY.
What does the top management track-
Fares, revenues, cost, People
and not stuff like market share
(C) Challenges on the way-
Fuel costs
Ultimate cost of travel to the passenger
Efficiency of the infrastructure, most notably the Air traffic control structure
But the bigger challenge, now that Indigo is the largest airline in India is dealing with COMPLACENCY and ARROGANCE
and most importantly, KEEPING THE EGO UNDER CHECK.
easy to say- go after market share, be the biggest airline, be the best airline. But focus on the stuff which matters, not the ego boosters.
(D) Risks -
- The risk of there being enough demand. In India's case, this seems to be irrelevant, as there is a huge demand, and a massive latent one.
- Technological obsolence- an altogether new tech. of aircrafts comes in, which changes cost structures.
- Re-lease model of planes
(E) Innovation-
Not the one innovation that would give a Billion dollars
BUT
The Billion innovations that would give a dollar each
Examples-
Ramp instead of stairs
Smart branding- 6E, Cut the red tape, Girl Power,
Good, clean food, which itself becomes a USP. Smart names, smart branding on packaging of sandwiches (stories, airwich)
No spend on ads (just smart words / tourists as free models)
(Indigo spend on marketing is <1 11="" against="" as="" kingfisher="" of="" p="" revenues="" s="">
- Driven by a very open to ideas culture. People are never fired, except in the following cases-
a) Wilful negligence
b) Misconduct / Integrity issues
All ideas are met with 'WHY NOT' instead of 'WHY' or 'HOW'
- Driven by a very high focus on Training.
The Air hostesses training of 90 days has only 10 days on customer service. Rest is all on safety and operating proicedures. Every crew has the ability to evacuate a 180 member airplane in 90 seconds in case of water landings. Lot of emphasis on safety and procedures.
This leads to focus on the core.
- HIgh diversity
7200 employees. 40% women. 1/3rd of top leadership women.
Asking every employee the question- what is your dream ? Every one. About themselves. And how hte org can be a medium for enabling it to come true.
- NEVER LETTING EGO COME IN THE WAY OF WISDOM
(F) To summarize-
Have a purpose.
Keep it very very simple.
Relentlessly execute to the extent of having consistency which is BORING.
And
you will suddenly see luck smile on you
:-)
For now, just Go Indigo Go !
Jotted down below is what all i remember from the speech, as he shared the incredible story of India's fastest growing airline. It also is perhaps the smartest in the business (and my favourite too).
(A) Context- India a huge opportunity
1) GDP growth matters, and typically in an airline industry, the passenger growth rate is 2x of GDP growth rate. So a 5% GDP growth rate in India should translate into a 10% growth in the passenger traffic.
2) The number of potential Indian fliers is a fraction of the population, but growing steadily. From ~ 5% (of population) in 2006 to ~ 25% in 2015 to ~ 40% in 2025.
3) Among all major countries in the world, India has lowest airplane departures per capita and has the lowest aircraft density. There are ~ 390 commercial planes in India, while there are ~ 7000 in the US.
(don't bank on the numbers, but the point is that it is a huge difference)
4) The Indian Railways carries 8 Billion passengers per year. All airlines flying in India, put together, carry a total of 60 Million passengers per year.
5) Reinforcement of the hypothesis that India is a huge and growing market
(B) The Indigo story
First flight took off in 2006, more than a year after getting the permissions to do so.
A lot of time spent on preparation.
Driving objective was that Low cost need not be equal to Low Quality.
Focus on lesser routes; get in there, increase depth, increase frequency. Then go to newer routes. (Start A to B. Increase depth of this route. Then start B to C. Increase depth. Then think of connecting A to C. Or D. )
Top 3 things, and the only 3 things they said they will focus on-
- ON TIME
- LOW FARES
- COURTEOUS AND HASSLE FREE SERVICE
These created a strategy around all operations:
- On time did not only imply on time landing or take off. It became a culture of on time everything- salaries, promotions, documentation, meetings, reviews.
- Low fares implied keeping costs under control. But it also meant where one would spend MORE than competition to get a competitive edge. There are things that are beyond control- crude prices, Forex. 55-60% of costs are fuel costs. More efficient the airline, more will be the % of fuel cost in their total cost. It also means innovation. Innovation to create structural advantages (like long term maintenance contracts, supply of planes to capture demand)
- Courteous and hassle free service not just for passengers, but for all employees too. Keeping the whole experience simple was the key.
Ordered a huge number of aircraft (100, to be delivered over a 10 year period. Then again, 180 for the next decade period, the largest order in aviation history. Here, the lead times for supply are several years, 4-5, so early ordering is a competitive advantage) . All same type (A-320). All consistent configuration. Economies of scale. Easier for technical maintenance. Easier for operations. Easier to impart training on.
Invested in long term (15 year) maintenance contracts with manufacturer.
Leased out some of the aircraft to guys like GE, so that keeps cash circulating.
Kept the core on the top 3 things, and doing it again and again, consistently, to make it consistently boring. Leverage the power of CONSISTENCY.
What does the top management track-
Fares, revenues, cost, People
and not stuff like market share
(C) Challenges on the way-
Fuel costs
Ultimate cost of travel to the passenger
Efficiency of the infrastructure, most notably the Air traffic control structure
But the bigger challenge, now that Indigo is the largest airline in India is dealing with COMPLACENCY and ARROGANCE
and most importantly, KEEPING THE EGO UNDER CHECK.
easy to say- go after market share, be the biggest airline, be the best airline. But focus on the stuff which matters, not the ego boosters.
(D) Risks -
- The risk of there being enough demand. In India's case, this seems to be irrelevant, as there is a huge demand, and a massive latent one.
- Technological obsolence- an altogether new tech. of aircrafts comes in, which changes cost structures.
- Re-lease model of planes
(E) Innovation-
Not the one innovation that would give a Billion dollars
BUT
The Billion innovations that would give a dollar each
Examples-
Ramp instead of stairs
Smart branding- 6E, Cut the red tape, Girl Power,
Good, clean food, which itself becomes a USP. Smart names, smart branding on packaging of sandwiches (stories, airwich)
No spend on ads (just smart words / tourists as free models)
(Indigo spend on marketing is <1 11="" against="" as="" kingfisher="" of="" p="" revenues="" s="">
- Driven by a very open to ideas culture. People are never fired, except in the following cases-
a) Wilful negligence
b) Misconduct / Integrity issues
All ideas are met with 'WHY NOT' instead of 'WHY' or 'HOW'
- Driven by a very high focus on Training.
The Air hostesses training of 90 days has only 10 days on customer service. Rest is all on safety and operating proicedures. Every crew has the ability to evacuate a 180 member airplane in 90 seconds in case of water landings. Lot of emphasis on safety and procedures.
This leads to focus on the core.
- HIgh diversity
7200 employees. 40% women. 1/3rd of top leadership women.
Asking every employee the question- what is your dream ? Every one. About themselves. And how hte org can be a medium for enabling it to come true.
- NEVER LETTING EGO COME IN THE WAY OF WISDOM
(F) To summarize-
Have a purpose.
Keep it very very simple.
Relentlessly execute to the extent of having consistency which is BORING.
And
you will suddenly see luck smile on you
:-)
For now, just Go Indigo Go !
Monday, June 3, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
A Twenty-Twenty with the romance of a test match
I write this from 40,000 feet above the ground. But this is no regular
trans-Atlantic crossing. My mind has taken me far away from here. I was thinking
about the B-school pass out reunion I just had, celebrating 10 years of passing
out. It was good fun, and everyone around had put in a lot of effort to make it
happen and happen well.
That got me to contemplate things that have happened to me besides B-school.
As I tried look for things in life altering perspective, I was conscious of not
trying to be too journalistic, of not trying to label every other event as an
epoch making one. Of calling every little twist as a turning point in the annals
of history. Or closer to now, calling every li'l new feature in an Apple iphone
design a paradigm shift.
Of all the things my mind took me through, it got stuck at something that
started twenty years ago: that fateful day on the Ides of March, 1993.
The day I landed in Jamalpur and the day Jamalpur Gymkhana became an integral
part of my life.
It set about the transformation of a pretty routine, straightforward,
academically oriented life to the experience of being a Gymmie boy. It gave me a
massive amount of exposure to stuff I had never known before, it made me self
sufficient and independent. It got me loads of confidence. It got me into a very
strong network, with extremely well laid out operating principles.
The rationalist in me poses a set of counter questions. Would I have been a
different person had I not been a part of Jamalpur Gymkhana? Wouldn't I have
achieved financial independence and a confident outlook anyway? Would I be
looking at Jamalpur with a different lens had I still been on the railways, with
a possibility of getting posted there. Doesn't everyone say the same thing about
wherever they spend this stage of life in ?
So, what's different ? Or is there anything different ?
It's not that red building, it's not that playground, and it's not the
impressive portals. Most of the people with whom there are a large set of shared
experiences are also not a part of Jamalpur Gymkhana anymore. Nobody at JG
these days even knows about, leave alone look at, the three different Jamalpur
Gymkhana websites I had created in the 90s which spoke about life @ Gym in those
times.
( http://jamalpurgymkhana.tripod.com/ )
( http://www.jamalpurgymkhana.co.in/ )
So what is it ?
I think it is the feeling of home. The feeling that this is a place I can always
go back to,. A place where I will always have stories to share. And listen. A
place where I can feel comfortable just being myself. A place where I need not
have to put on pretence {as long as I follow the club rules ;-) }
I like this. I feel good at my answer.
What of the future? I further the question. Is Jamalpur Gymkhana still relevant
(for me)? Will it remain relevant?
its a question almost akin to asking "Do your parents remain relevant to you
after you become an adult". Just as one does with parents, I derive a lot of
strength from my association with JG. And I always live with the feeling that
Gymkhana is home. A place where I will always be welcome.
I look out of the window. The ocean below never looked nicer.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
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