INDIAN POLITICS

India is characterized as a land of politics and authoritarian dictatorship. The base of Indian politics and judiciary reflects old norms and policies which do not find its apt implication in today’s world. India is slumping deplorably, and the sole reason for this declivity is the lugubriousness growing among the people of the society due to the country’s instable economic growth, which leads to a state of unrest and destabilization. Indian political system is debauched with biasness, individual sovereignty and self interest. There is no zeal, verve or willingness to make a difference visible in any segment of the Indian political ambit including the two significant political parties- BJP and Congress. Following a fossilized bureaucratic system has led us nowhere, but to deprivation. Hence, its time that Indian politics adapts a new direction to cope up with the modern world and change its stagnant course.  The growing animosity between the political parties only makes things severely drab in the country, making the common man suffer their wrath with increased rates and prices for daily necessities.

The regional parties act accordingly with the national parties, hence, their mere existence can be termed as simulation. They follow the national footprint, and their influence have slugged mainly due to quondam ideologies and principles. Thus, to avoid a bleaker future, India needs a great political thinker and leader like late Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who can brush off all the grime adhered to the Indian political system and can ameliorate it with their earnest attempt.

The “Evergreen” Dev Anand: R.I.P – End of an Era

We have just lost one of the greatest stalwarts of the Bollywood film industry last week. True to his autobiography, Romancing with Life, Dev Anand lived the life of a proverbial Jon Duan immortalized by Miguel De Cervantes and who was an incurable romantic at heart.

Dev was born as Dharam Dev Pishorimal Anand on 26^th September, 1923 in the Gurudaspur district of Punjab. His father was a well-to-do advocate. After graduating in English literature from Lahore he left for Bombay. His first brush with the thespian world began when he worked alongside his elder brother, Chetan Anand in ITPA (Indian Theatre Peoples’ Association).

Dev almost gatecrashed into the tinsel world when he rushed into the office of Babu Rao Patni of Prabhat film studios. Mr. Rao inducted him immediately because he was carried away by his boyish grin and scintillating confidence. He was instantly offered the lead role in Hum Ek Hain. Very soon he would team up with Guru Dutt and make a pact that if anyone of them became very successful as an actor, he would help the other to come up.

As he moved up the ladder of success, he got romantically involved with Suraiya, a singer-actress who was more infatuated with Dev. Suraiya was a very successful star and Dev considered himself fortunate enough to be paired opposite her. They starred in seven films together. Suraiya’s love for Dev became more firmly entrenched after he saved her from drowning when the boat they were shooting together in, capsized.

But since this clandestine affair was divided along religious lines, they had to part ways.

Later on, he was offered a break in a film called Ziddi, produced and directed by Ashok Kumar. In this film Dev Anand came to be associated with Kishore Kumar, who sang a duet with Lata Mangeshkar ( their first duet ). This association was to last for the next four decades. Eventually, Dev Anand went to form his film production company called Navketan. Dev Anand has produced 35 films under this banner.

His trademark style of nodding his head sideways while delivering his dialogues in a rapid fire manner made him stand out as the quintessential Dev Anand. Innumerable films have scenes where his eponymous styles have been caricatured by lesser known thespians. It was his inimitable style as a romantic hero that made him amenable to any actress who paired opposite him. His style was lapped up by the audience and he had a string of box office successes in films like Kala Pani, Bat Ek Raat Ki, Guide, Solva Saal and so on. Waheeda Rahman was the lead actress in these films.  His pairing with Waheeda Rehman was very successful, professionally speaking. The government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 2002. His career has spanned more than 110 films and he has acted in the lead in almost 112 films.

Dev Anand acquired a romantic image in the sixties with films like Manzil, Tere Ghar ke Samne, Kinare Kinare , Jab Pyar Kisi se hota hai. His first colour film was Guide with Waheeda Rahman based on the novel with the same name by R.K. Narayan.

Dev Anand has also been politically active. He vehemently protested against the proclamation of   Internal Emergency by Indira Gandhi. He also found a political party called “ National Party of India” which he later disbanded.

He has often been compared with Gregory Peck but he was not very forthcoming and accommodating with the comparison as he famously said that “as you grow, you make idols but when you grow out of that phase, you develop your own persona.”

Dev Anand has directed 19 films and produced 35 films out of which 7 directorial ventures and 18 films produced were commercially successful respectively.

In September 2007, Dev autobiography “Romancing with Life” was released at a birthday party in the presence of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Dev Anand has of late, lamented the fact that actors today demand and draw huge sums for acting where as he still remembers getting some 350 rupees for his first film, which was just enough to buy him a car. He drove the car at a very high speed to his next shooting sequence. He is credited with giving breaks to several actors like Jackie Shroff, Tabu and Richa Sharma. He also discovered Zeenat Aman, Tina Munim , who later on married the Reliance scion, Anil Ambani and is said to have highly encouraged, music director, Rajesh Roshan.

He died at the age of 88, in London on 3^rd December in a hotel of a cardiac arrest.

In Dev Anand, we have lost one of our greatest thespians whose vacuum cannot be filled.

      

Penning Creations

With our new brand, lovingly dubbed as Penning Creations, we have taken a headlong plunge into the media services as well!

Primarily made of our content team, Penning Creations breathes the same spirit and gives off that same SPARK that we are so synonymous with. Fresh, innovative and thinking…are the words that define us and as for our hallmark attitude- we just love challenges!

At Penning Creations, we have done a wide range of projects related to media and advertising. Event coverage, press conference, film review, articles for the web media…we’ve done it all and with élan. Best known for our infectious enthusiasm and creativity, we have worked for some of the big players in the media industry.

  

So connect with us to add the SPARK to your ideas!

Corporate Social Responsibility: An Idea, a Strategy and a Way of ‘Work’ Life……

While the fundamental value behind Corporate Social Responsibility remains the same, the approaches differ, but what strings together the collective efforts of the diverse businesses is their unwavering focus on being a responsible corporate citizen.

It is about creating value for the stakeholders of a corporation by contributing towards the sustainable development of the society and environment. And, the methods of doing so can include aiding in the efforts of a not for profit organization or even having their own department or committee, dedicated towards achieving a set target towards philanthropy.

The Tata Group’s, Tata Council for Community Initiatives (TCCI) an initiative by the Chairman, Ratan N. Tata, is an excellent illustration in this point. Integrating the efforts towards community development taken by all the core businesses, TCCI has indeed set an example for others to follow. In this, the all the philanthropic activities are measured by the Tata Index, which not only provides the entire structure with a policy guideline but also performs regular measurement and review programs for implementing the necessary changes.

Another brilliant example is the ‘Sustainability in Action’ program by the ITC, which prides itself in being the only company in the world to be a ‘POSITIVE’ in Carbon, Water and Solid Waste Recycling, energy efficiency being the watchword during the entire process. Microsoft’s, HEART or the Humanitarian Empowerment and Response through Technology program, also deserves a mention. In this, technology is the fulcrum which supplements the humanitarian efforts to bring about changes in the lives of the beneficiaries.

Inspite of all these efforts CSR activities are often misinterpreted as veils to keep off strict government regulations or a brand building exercise. But all these criticisms haven’t stalled the corporations from fulfilling their share of responsibility. In fact they have, over the years, gone out of their way to contribute towards a better and healthier planet. And the onus is not upon the established brands only, but on all those who are a part of the industry and wish to make it among the most trusted brands in the world.

And, as they say, Charity begins at Home! So, the first step to get on a CSR strategy is definitely to make the workplace more comfortable and secure by ensuring that the employees (who are in a way the first customers of an organization), are satisfied with their work environment. Bearing this in mind, employers are making sincere efforts to improve the overall Quality of Work life of all their employees, whom they have come to regard as their most important brand ambassadors.

Just to summarize the thoughts and make way for the initiatives, which are yet to become a proud part of the CSR campaigns, here’s something that Martin Luther King, Jr. said long back, “The time is always right to do what is right.” It’s not important to do something big, it’s rather more important to do something worthwhile for sustainable development of the society from which a commercial holding sources, so that the mutual coexistence of both remains peaceful and beneficial for the years to come.

WITCHCRAFT AND WOMEN- TRACING THE TRADITIONS OF SABOTAGES.

       

            Silas Marner, the protagonist in George Eliot’s novel by the same name was a strange man. Set in the 19^th century England, this novel tells the story of a man called Silas, who had come from an unknown place (which we know is Lantern Yard) and who had settled in the quiet hamlet, Raveloe for long sixteen years. He was a weaver who worked incessantly through out the day. He stayed inside his house for most of the time and hardly spoke with anyone from the village. Moreover, Silas had a curious “fit” which completely made him go blank. For some time, he became completely unconscious. Only he became unconscious and with his eyes open. Some said that these fits were actually his soul travelling to the devil and back. We are told that Silas also had learnt the “science” of herbs and their medicinal use. However, when he helped a villager for her disease and cured her, he was said to be a definite messenger of evil who had sold his soul to the devil. Most of the people were very scared of him.  

            Now, imagine the similar thing happening to a woman in a similar situation. A spinster, a loner who lives all by herself and who has knowledge of a mysterious wisdom. She would most definitely have been marked as a witch and burnt like so many women of her kind. The truth behind the witch burnings were simple. Kill all the women who knew and who understood. The term “witch” comes from the word “wizard” which literally means a person “who knows”.

          Christianity has been a male dominated religion since its very inception. The pagan religions before the beginning of Christianity were mostly necessarily matriarchal in nature. The worship of Mother Nature was the basic element of all these religions. Women were the epitome of power and were considered to be as great as any other creation in the entire world. Any concept of hierarchy was absent from this religion all together.

           But once Christianity started spreading its wings, every thing pagan was propagated to be despised. The concept of women being the all comprehensive power was directly opposite to the Christian beliefs of man being the supreme entity.

           In some Roman Catholic churches of the strictest orders, women were not even let to enter. Others had two different passageways, one for men, which was the main entrance. The other was for women. Those entrances were in the backsides of the church, through dingy narrow alleyways. All this was to show the women their rightful place in society.

          In the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, all women were sub-humans. They were nothing but catalysts that are responsible for the downfall of, otherwise virtuous men. The women were beings of utmost carnal desires. That is why most of the legends of witches were marked with sexual connotations. The Forbidden Fruit was first tasted by Eve. She was the one who tempted Adam, to have the fruit and finally commit the Ultimate Sin. It was of course always the women who instigated sexual behavior in the otherwise harmless man.

Take Da Vinci Code for example. The concept of Holy Grail is rightly captured by Dan Brown in this highly controversial novel. If you look at the Last Supper, the world famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, one would notice a Great “V” created between Christ and his immediate neighbor. Brown says that this neighbor is no one but Mary Magdalene and the Great “V” is nothing but the symbol of the Holy Grail, which contrary to popular belief is not a chalice but a woman. This is the symbol of woman hood, where the V stands for the woman’s reproductive organ, The Ultimate chalice. While the manhood is represented by an inverted V. It is like the two divided parts of a single puzzle, one incomplete without the other. This again was a pagan belief that man is incomplete without the women and vice versa. They were supposed to complement each other. In traditional Christianity, the man of course was a supreme creation of God who didn’t need any compliments. He was an all powerful entity.

The idea of Jesus Christ being married was not a threat to the Christianity but the concept of him indulging himself with a woman, who is an inferior being, was a bigger threat. Unfortunately, the controversy of Christ’s bloodline got better of the question regarding the gender politics. Interestingly in the times of Christ, in the language he spoke, there was no word for the term unmarried. It was an unexciting thing, a kind of a taboo, not to be married. It is obvious logic that a person of such a high stature and influence would be guilty of committing any kind of unsocial activity. The secret society, The Priory of Sion resorted to sexual activities in order to respect womanhood and to give her the respect she owes.   

Coming back to the concept of witchcraft, it is closely associated to the concept of broom. There is also hegemony in this. In those times, women were essentially beings who were meant to be residing only inside the kitchen. There is also a notion of gender politics behind a witch riding a broom and flying away. The witches were women who were more learned and scholarly. They would not be confined into the walls of a mere kitchen. So, the broom became the sign of freedom. It became the symbol to break free the barriers of the society and be independent.

In short, Witchcraft and wizardry, in Wiccan traditions are the celebrations of woman hood and knowledge. This knowledge goes beyond the traditional teachings of the church. Pantheism is one of the major belief systems of Wicca. The notion to respect the entire humanity and the Mother Nature was most important. This is the reason that any woman who had knowledge and was a free thinker was taken in as a witch. Under inhumanly tortures they were compelled to admit almost anything that they were convicted of.

The witch-burnings had killed millions of women in Europe and went beyond it. The Sabbath trials of America are again an example of such deadly concepts travelling beyond the shores of Europe. In India, there has been examples of witch killings too. Every where, histories of women being killed in the suspicions that they are witches are laden with ugly gender politics. It is difficult to trace the beginnings of this kind of superstitions in the Southern Asian, but it is obvious that the witch huntings of Europe had a significant impact upon these nations. However, it is generally believed that India is a nation bound by the shackles of superstitions. No one bothers to examine the reasons for that. Before the Colonial rule, India had always been a sexually liberated nation. It was under the concept of the “ideal” British womanhood that the women in India began to suffer because of similar concepts related to the inferiority of women those were so predominant in Europe at that time. It is ironical that the flag bearers of the ideal Indian woman and Indian culture have imbibed their notion of the shame and ideal womanhood from the British.

   It is also noticeable that the earliest traces of witch killings in India were heard only after the instances of witch trials and burnings of Europe became famous.

       Tracing the traditions and hegemony it is remarkable that in all these countries, women were the most prominent victims. Witch burnings may have reduced significantly, but the traditions and trails of sabotages remain. Mostly the trails are marked by blood and gags of the innocents.

Essentials of an effective meeting

Client meetings and business gatherings are an integral part of the corporate life. These form the vital media through which a company extends its image and conveys its message either to its staff or the representatives of the market outside. In this context choosing the right venue and deciding upon its ambience for such meetings is critical as clients or potential clients and even for that matter company’s own staff must get a glimpse of the best services to be offered by the company. The venue then becomes an important criterion to cast impression and subsequently win over the participating members.

A company conducts meetings either to update its staff about the new launches, discuss business strategies etc. or to sell the products to its clients. The meetings hence are essential marketing tools and marketing can succeed when the audience is satisfied and convinced. Providing comfort and a warm ambience makes the task easier. In this regard, a venue for an important meeting can contribute immensely in clinching the deal. The process of selecting an appropriate place depends primarily upon the nature of the audience. For example, if the management holds a meeting for its own staff then arrangements can be made in the regular conference rooms within the office premises. When outsiders such as business partners, visiting officials, delegates, existing or potential clients are involved then the scope of choosing a proper venue further widens. Off-site venues like specialised conference halls, hotels, gardens etc. are multiple options available to choose from. However, what remains essential in all cases is the setting, the room size, lighting, catering, ambience, technology etc. State of the art technology and modern equipment prove beneficial in delivering a better presentation and creating a lasting delightful visual impact. When a warm and relaxed ambience coupled with great infrastructure is ensured then the battle is already half won. A venue that offers Media coverage and a good press can carry the cause further.

A checklist of tiny yet significant details is important while confirming the venue for a particular meeting. The place should be easily accessible and it should have proper parking facilities. On the lavish side, the company could offer valet parking which would boost the image of the company. If the participating members of the meeting are from out of station then accommodation facilities could also be provided. In case there are multiple halls within the complex then proper direction arrows should be put up in appropriate places to help people reach the right venue. In the meeting room intensity of lighting is most essential. Moreover, the seating arrangement should be such that every member has a clear view of the screen in case any visual message is to be displayed. Snacks or meals to compliment the meeting are most welcome. Corporate gifts serve as great promotion tools and they can be distributed at the end of any business meeting or promotional campaign. The items must bear the company logo or a catchy slogan which helps in creating the brand image and enhances public relation.

A venue well-chosen and a meeting well executed is a gateway to success. Investing in carefully selected venues that provide first class amenities are sure to impress the clients or the customers and will reap dividends in the long run. A number of event management companies are thriving on this particular trade as they take care of everything- right from cost cutting to suit the company’s budget to selecting the best venue from the available options and arranging all that is required while conducting the meeting. Overall, one can say that the venue selected and the services provided definitely influences the judgement of the clients. In today’s scenario when aggressive marketing is the order of the day and customised services to please the consumers have become the norm, one can adopt the same method while communicating to members during a meeting. Making the right choice for the venue and feeding the senses of the members of the meeting will definitely aid the company in executing a successful meet and achieving the objective of the same.

Outsourcing - A business strategy that plays a catalytic role in attaining the objectives of optimum utilization of resources and focusing on core capabilities, with an eye on cost savings and another on future challenges.

Around two decades ago, this term was quite unfamiliar to our intellect. But now, the changing times have brought with it a totally different set of dynamics. A business is expected to grow, develop, sustain itself, and reach the zenith of success, while constantly interacting with its internal and external environment, and creating its competitive advantage in the process. This is where outsourcing of the secondary business functions comes into play. For instance, the ITES based companies often outsource HR and Data Entry processes to specialized firms, who employ professionals capable of dealing with these issues in a more effective manner.

Focusing on core competencies and outsourcing the support functions is in perfect alignment with the well accepted business maxim of doing the right things as against doing things right.  Hence, when a company uses outsourcing as a growth strategy, it is being effective in its operations. What this means is that apart from being efficient in its utilization of resources, the business entity is also ensuring that the efficiency necessarily leads to effectiveness or desired results.

A relatively novel concept is that of multisourcing where entrepreneurs outsource to more than one firm in order to save the fixed costs of starting a new venture. But more often than not, only the non-core business functions are contracted out to outsourcing providers. 

With proper implementation, outsourcing can truly lead to a beneficial situation for all the entities involved. The outsourcing firm can channelize its resources for innovation, while the service provider creates employment for the qualified professionals. To be able to reap the benefits from outsourcing, strategic evaluation and selection of the specific function to be outsourced is extremely important. What follows this is the formalization of the process with legal and operational terms and conditions.

To conclude, a flexible approach, correct decision making and complete organizational support is what an outsourcing plan needs to be supported with, in order to play a multi dimensional role in augmenting the competitive position of a firm in the today’s marketplace.