We had a great party season that ended with our traditional “Undhiyu” party on the 25th January. A common questions that friends, keep asking -

Q How do you manage to host so many parties successfully?
Q Is it difficult? Time consuming?

Besides the fact that I have a supportive wife & now daughter - both who are of great help, over the years have learnt & now follow those points that ensures the success of the evening.

So, all of you who have been asking, here goes, for whatever it is worth:)

A) Make sure enough starters, some are always more hungry than others - We normally have 2 dry/cold - peanuts, chips kind & 2 hot/prepared starters.

B) As the Host, ensure they are well taken care of. Top up the drinks, starters coming enough, juices & soft drinks, everything from ice, lime, lemon, juice, soda, olives & right enough glasses. Whilst, mostly parties do end with dessert, we always ensure that there is coffee or liqueurs to end the night

C) Music - soft - This is one point where there have always been ambivalent feelings, since mostly at our place, we end up switching it off as there is enough to catch up, meet, discuss that at times, it starts intruding.

D) Invite people from different professions, that’s one way to make sure party not office - This has been the mainstay of our parties. Whilst there may the usual close group, however a couple of new people get rotated which acts as a lubricant to great conversation.

E) Make space in your house - When you invite people, you have to accept that kids would need to sit separately, watch TV etc. so space would need to be made.

F) Rules - Avoid passionate debates about Politics & Religion. If it feels getting out of hand, ease somebody out. Yeah yeah, bad taste and all that but, has to be done.

So, Go on Party!

2009 ended with a healthy me, however continuity, consistency, constancy are the key & decided to continue it whole heartedly. Made some points that I would update once a quarter, so here goes:

1) Start a health file
January - Completed & decided that would opt for Bi annual checkup beginning this year.

2) Enhance Health Insurance
January - Evaluated & decided to enhance when it comes up for renewal in April, though luckily have not had to make use of it.

3) Have yogurt daily
January - Am a bit of lactose intolerant, however have begun trying it out at least 2-3 days a week.

4) Maintain a food diary
January - This is happening post the discipline my doctor enforced from November & hope to continue it.

5) Snack more
January - This is happening, quantity is going down, whilst number of times has come up to nearly 4-5 which is a good sign.

6) Get a new haircut
January - Quite a good idea, however let’s see how things go

7) Drink 2 litres of water a day
January - Am practically there, if not everyday, at least 5-6 days a week. The target being 3 litres a day by 31st march.

Exercise for 30 Minutes 5 days a week
January - For the past month, have just found excuses, however am convinced that cannot avoid/delay it any longer.

9) Cut 100 Burn 100 calories
January - Cut is happening, Burn is where the problem lies.

10) Junk old Stuff
January - Thanks to the weight loss, the wardrobe is looking spacious, plan to do that to the other storage place also.

11) Add olive oil to kitchen cabinet
January - Done & at least 50% of the cooking is in olive oil.

12) Spend 15 minutes unwinding after work
January - A practice that is happening, but at a slower pace then would have wished for.

13) Spend more “ME TIME”
January - At least one day in the weekend, this seems to be the case.

14) Master a new skill
January - This requires thought.

15) Count to 5 before reacting
January - Once upon a time it was 10 & now it is 5, guess am improving:)

16) Avoid brooding over losses
January - The most difficult to do & probably needs the most priority.

FINAL CLOSURE UPDATE October 20,2009 3.30 pm :

Personal Details - (Personal+ Professional+FB+Linkedin etc)

Email    500 x .50

Texts 300 x .50

Blog & Calls 180 x 5.00

Gifts 8 x 100

Total Rs. 2100/- Rupees Two thousand one hundred only.

Tuesday October 20, 2009

Mission Accomplished. #deepwish finally raised Rs55,000 for Goonj. Rupees fifty five thousand only. Say it again. Rs55,000. Wow.

43 people. 36 hours. 64.75 per wish = Rs 30,821. On Twitteristan. Those were the effort of 42 people on per tweet basis.

Then there are some silent do-gooders, who prefer not to reveal their names. They have given a lumpsum of Rs24,179 for #deepwish.

Read the rest of this entry »

It had been quite a long time since we had gathered, so on popular demand we kept 28th & 29th of August as party days with mine & mehul’s houses as the venue, so that it could be a long innings so to speak.

All confirmations were received, plans in order, when in the evening Sonal calls that I have left from Santa Cruz & need to buy a cake. For a while puzzlement hit me, since the menu already had sweet dish some lovely kulfi from Taj Kulfi before it struck me that 30th August was her birthday & Tushar was coming straight from Delhi by 11.30 pm

So, off we went to search for a cake - dark chocolate only -  at 9.30 in the night….AND it is for no reason that I am good organizer….managed it, asked them to deliver & reached the venue.

The Party began…shall be described elsewhere in detail….And finally the Cake came, but could not be delivered since One phase of electricity had gone, so no lift & he refused to climb 16 floors (even I would). So the cake waited down till an hour later Tushar came from Delhi.

When he finally reached the venue, he was zonked on learning that the lifts do not work & it would be a couple of hours before they would work….BUT the Love overcame…..AND Tushar climbed 16 floors with the Cake so as to reach 3-4 minutes before the dreaded 12 midnight so that he was the first person to wish Sonal…..Kya love hai itne saal ke baad bhi yaaron…..Some photu to celebrate that….God Bless!

An article written by Namita Bhandare forwarded by Kapil Joshi set me thinking.

• Even today more than 85% households in India still believe that a male child is preferable.
• So called Reservation in education takes care of everything including girls, but where is there a followup.
• Politicians appointed as HRD ministers have no clue about what to do? Yes, talk about IIM/IIT & remain in the news is right there on their agenda.
• Yup Girls schools, colleges, are great photo op, after which we meet next year.
• Earnings, Savings are decided by the father & later husband even though they may have no clue of finances.
• They need to constantly thank their father, brother, husband…..is this a trade off to allow them to study? work? In which case why not their mothers, sisters, daughters??
• Can we not portray girl with her mother in advertisements that are relevant & not cosmetic.
• And to top it all, the regressive serials that enjoy high TRP

Expecting Manmohan Singh to do something about it is pathetic. It has to be initiated from every home, every individual for it to gather momentum.

Having worked 80% of my life with lady bosses and enjoyed working with them; superbly supportive wife & daughter (who always join forces to keep me in control) I can say that the first couple of times it is difficult, then it becomes a way of life.

To begin with try supporting www.goonj.info

With the wishes rolling in, time having passed, age creeping up, no longer have the fascination or energy to make resolutions which are normally broken within a month of the new year; hence decided for the first month to pass by before I pen down some thoughts….for the new year.

The last year with a lot of time spent with self, family, friends led to quite a realization & thanks to that, am beginning the year on a focused note.

1. Clean up - Having done so in the last 6-9 months, have seriously decided to continue doing so in the coming year.

Life - try and continue keeping it simple. It shall always consist of Paradox, Humor, Change.

Mind - forsake - anger, worry; respect others; work hard; honestly; be grateful - All of this just for today!

House - keep it clean, rid it off old things that may be of use to others, gives you more satisfaction.

Wardrobe - clean it every 60-75 days. Do not hoard, you will always find a better use for things.

2. Negative People - Avoid them like the plague, ignore them if that does not work or be upfront, brutally honest to them once.

3. Remove the confusion between friends; business contacts; acquaintances. Make time to connect with friends & those who matter. Besides the SMS, brief birthday calls; catch up for a coffee, drink, movie, dinner.

4. Increase the % of reading, the more serious kind, whilst still enjoying fiction.

5. Spend less time online surfing & more reading, writing about what you love.

6. Stop trying out all the Fad diets; start work out (after all the wife’s given you a birthday gift - gym membership).

7. Decide where you wish to go professionally this year & over the next 3 years & implement.

With the year having already passed……and a month more, I know this is late but the meeting of friends after 30 years, did not realize the time flying past!!!

Another year has come to an end, the last week more hectic then ever, with a full month of fun frolic, friends lined up.

Some thoughts stray & otherwise that made 2008 what it was…..

January, a month that I normally look forward to with zest, started quietly enough. An article Essential Skills for 2008 written served the tone for the year.

February, begins with my daughter quietly, silently, pointedly, & finally stridently, pointing out her birthday. It was also a month spent in Ahmedabad, an old haunt for a family occasion, where besides meeting old friends, reviewed a lot of restaurants. It was also a month of cold evenings & hot manoos creating a ruckus.

March, a month of sadness, when quietly, professionally finally parted ways with my employer, though there were a couple of battles still pending.

April came soon enough. I also decided to take some time off…with the personal thought “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same as making a ‘life’”. A lot of other thoughts, words of wisdom, mottos, followed that still bring a smile. There was also the No Honking Day which as a concept is alien to Mumbaikars and Strike that soon fizzled out.

May began with a Reunion, IPL, some thoughts on Time Management & ending with thoughts on Inflation. A month of driving down to Baroda & Ambaji, meeting friends again. It was also a month, when health problems reared up its head, with torn ligament and others scheduled soon…..

June was a month of frustration, with health leading the way….the torn ligament ensured 3 weeks of complete bed rest, followed by a small surgery. But the good thing was catching up with friends who have been doing well for themselves, glad to be in Bombay. Besides this my daughter participated in Shiamak Davar & Terrence Lewis Shows for the umpteen time:)

July was a month of rest & recovery, but the fuel prices went up, received email on comparisons & thoughts about fuel, India’s Sam Bahadur died, a close friend turned 50.

August, regaining a bit of mobility, started off with a couple of consulting assignments, that left enough time for my family responsibilities & living life. Amongst observations on business, retail, retrenchment & finally iPhone the month flew by.

September saw me spending some more time on my assignments, where a fair amount of discussions & execution led to some thoughts, views on Loyalty & CRM; Brand Ambassadors; building value for a brand; the real winner. There were also the Retail Jewelers awards. Amongst all this managed to catch A Wednesday, finding it refreshing.

October - an extremely eventful month, full of festivals of course. After a long time had a MNDFCK meeting. Enjoyed the Highs of travel to Baroda, Ahmadabad, by train after a decade. Catching up with friends there, having friends over, attending TiE with Bela. Amongst the Lows, Havoc in Indian Markets, Recession, Retail in Gujarat, Lehman Brothers, Stock Market, bad meetings et all. There was a flurry of emails, text on everything related to this. However my musings, more particularly post Divali says it all.

November came with its share of Post Divali Blues. With doomsayer predicting severe Recession; refreshed the mind watching movies - fashion, EMI, buying books on the net, reading Rashmi Bansal’s Stay Hungry Stay Foolish . An interesting finding on Branded Jewellery finally ended the debate with a client this month. And whilst I wanted to conclude the month with Warren Buffet’s thought & India is still shining; the events of 26th November overshadowed everything.

December, normally a month of enjoyment, with whatever little chill Mumbai has, parties, waiting for the year to end began with a lot of passion, anguish, fervor, cries, texts, rally, demands, questions against terror, voting rights ; with assistance from Media of course. Listening, thinking about all this, melancholy creeping in supported by my birthday, absence of wife, but supported by friends as always.

The NDTV initiative amongst other aspects that I personally felt strong about led to meeting of like minded souls, initiating Citizens4Change with no particular insistence to begin with but try to be the change in your own small way. Come 20th December & everything was normal, party plans were being made albeit not high profile, the word resilient was bandied around as usual, whereas the fact is “We are resilient by force not choice” and the year wound down to an end. A small note in Business India made me happy as one of my idols had agreed to my thoughts.

2008 was a good year, extremely eventful & a CORRECTIVE year. I wish that 2009 is exciting in a more positive way, with India’s GENext leading the charge & focusing on implementation of their myriad dreams!

Jai Ho!

Dear Teachers,

I write on behalf of probably all my friends, classmates, present & absent on the 10th January 2009!

It was an occasion that brought about old warm memories, anecdotes that shall sustain us over the years. It was a privilege to have studied under all of you, gather knowledge, punishment for our/someone Else’s crimes and warm wishes & blessings from you.

As Deepak our peon reminded me about how someone else was caught when I disappeared after ringing the school bell; how Major Kaul had followed us around the school compound one day, whilst we were struggling to eat the samosas, tuck in our shirts, put the tie on, gather books from where we had stashed them, all the while praying for the bell to ring for recess:)

Having shifted from Bombay then…..Gujarati was an alien language to me….IT STILL IS……our teacher Mrs. Haathi despaired trying to teach me….till in disgust almost every period (at least the ones I attended) she used to throw up her hands & tell me “I doubt about your future” This refrain was echoed by the maths & science teachers also. However the same Mrs. Haathi was one of the first ones to congratulate me on the 10th std result, having scored the 2nd highest in stream…..but then she realised 11th & 12th were still to be completed; so the refrain began again…….

Finishing school, college, work began……the final time I met her was when down from Calcutta, I went to visit the school and met her. She was delighted & gracious when she learnt what I had achieved in the short time I had begun to work. She asked me “Was I too harsh on you?” and the answer came from within ” No Thank you Mam; I would not have reached here without all of you”

So here goes THANK YOU once again to at least all of those who made time for us in the past & on the 10th January.

Whilst as with Life, with good things, you take the bad also…..

Please accept our abject & sincere apologies for the way we treated you on this day where……

1)   We just invited you, instead of making arrangements to bring you.
2)   Some of you had to change 2 buses, walk a kilometer to make it to the venue; whilst some braved their way on scooter.
3)   We did not recognize you, but gave away hastily wrapped flowers, nay they were not bouquets.
4)   We did not realize that age has caught up with you, making you walk out again for dinner, instead of having a sit down service for you.
5)   We did not make arrangements to drop you after the long evening.

In short, we have not changed….still INCONSIDERATE, BOORISH, FULL OF SELF IMPORTANCE, ATTITUDE & EGO.

Whilst you have remained the same CONSIDERATE, HELPFUL, KIND, GENEROUS, CARING, GIVING….

With abject apology, I on behalf of all my friends & class mates request you to FORGIVE US our transgressions once again with the same warmth.

We remain yours,

~@naggh~ & all BHS class of 77-79

Once upon a time long awaited day; now any other day except for the fact that it brings a lot more wishes & memories.

AND you need to “Take care of your memories, for you cannot relive them.”

With the wife away to Tirupati, all celebrations in abeyance, though the day, nay night started with a text from a gentleman whom I respect extremely for his business acumen & the way he has lived his life Mr. Mahesh Sarda.

And then the flood began, birthday bumps.

Curiously, Mehul called early, Naren followed up with a personal visit; whilst Hemant just sent a message. Of all Prithviraj(cookie) did not call, text wish on FB also; thoughts swirling in my head, but do not expect everyone to drop what they have on their plates to wish at my time.

The afternoon, lunch, a simple affair, with my daughter, parents & in laws! Soon the wife called & all was right with my world.

Come evening, waiting for Mehul, who surprisingly had been insistent on picking me up for couple of drinks, bachelor style. My daughter had gone off for a friends treat, so that was it.

Started for the club, with plans to visit the Bar, which is done up in old British style, a personal favorite. Closer to the place, knowing my aversion to Chinese food, I was guided to their restaurant.

AND the penny dropped ~~~ People who matter to me had made time; my daughter had grown up, using her Mehul uncle, Dharti had organized a small party. Nivedita & AD (anjali) were already seated there, with Naren & Meena expected to join. However, the biggest surprise was Hemant the Gajjer, all the way from Ahmedabad, who had been unable to keep his promise to come for the anniversary, had come the previous day & stayed back on Mehul’s insistence!

Now it did not matter, whether chinese, bar or wherever — favorite scotch was ordered; bottles of wine opened with the food ~~Wine Bottle 1Wine Bottle 2

Starters
Dim Sums (Chicken & Vegetarian - need to do something about the veg)
Chilly potato (surprisingly different than the one at holiday inn)
Lamb fry (good)

Soup
Mon chow - universally good

Main Course

Assortment of Noodles; Fried Rice; Veg Manchurian; Hunan Chicken

By the time Prithvi, Naren, Meena joined, everyone was enjoying themselves so much, that no photographs were taken further.

Gave dessert a mis in favor of a last one for the road along with the lovely cake, that my daughter had organized! She has certainly grown up.

What more could one want in life??? of course the wife, but there is always a next year….. And for friends Thank you: two small words to convey the infinite feeling in my heart & for all the memories past, present & future. God Bless!!

As you grow older, stop counting years, wrinkles… comes the day which you awaited once with bated breath for the wishes, presents it brought; now with fear for the year gone by, fear for the future that is unknown and you seem ill equipped to deal with.

BUT all this is for another day……..tomorrow and there after because today I counted my blessings with friends, relatives, well wishers reaching out to touch & wish me.

With the electronic medium - text, email, facebook, no book, every book it turns to a virtual party……and the variety of wishes, each one precious as the other; but a couple that shall be remembered more

Forget things that make u sad, And remember those that made u Glad, Forget Trouble that passed away, And remember Blessings that Come each day…..Have a great birthday!

You will receive a lot of good wishes, profound gyaan and unconditional love today … Sit back and soak it all in, of course but also during the course take time to make new resolves and new rules for yourself that start from this day forward. Have a great day, my friend!

For all this love, goodwill, wishes showered on me through the personal calls, text, facebook, emails by everyone

I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks for the memories past, present & future. God Bless!

And I pray to the almighty, that this continues in times to come…..particularly for me who counts wishes as wealth!