Sushant Chaudhary’s World

“They will be from state called India”, said the last line of Epilogue of Chetan Bhagat’s new book, “2 States“.

Chetan’s earlier 3 books were nice stories. But, I am still of the thought the first book by an author is the best book he can do. “5 point someone” of Chetan remains still the best fiction work for me. I read 2 states like a fiction as Chetan wanted its readers to do.

“2 states”, a nice little story of cross culture battles, for their loved ones. It does give big social message, called “INDIA“. India is notion, rather than nation that we live in now. We proudly as kids said, “I am from INDIA”, till the time we grow up we end up saying, from Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, north India, South India, east etc. The wave of discrimination creeps in each individual, while schools and colleges never taught us that. Then where does it come. It’s our home, relatives, clan etc. Of course, not to forget our political leaders, who woo masses with their irrational speeches doing brain washing?

Chetan quit his international investment banking career in 2009, to devote his entire time to writing and make change happen in the country. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Anusha, an ex-classmate from IIMA and his twin boys Shyam and Ishaan.

His story shows turmoil eh went through to unite just few people from 2 states. His dedication is seen in above line. Imagine contribution we need to put in for our dream (at least mine) “India – the one”. We don’t have to start marrying cross culture. But respect the other cultures equally as your own. Not just we but our upbringing to our kids should be towards India and nothing else.

 This still remains the dream to have a single state called India, and all 35 states in one.

Book review, Issues, general

I have finished reading Sidney Sheldon’s “Tell me Your Dreams” novel. Novel was published in the year 1998. I am a late starter, on this it has been more than 10 years. I was recommended this novel by my colleague, when she found me reading Sidney Sheldon’s another work, “The Other Side of Midnight”. With the first book itself I had interest in reading all the novels of him. And I started reading them one by one. This is third book of his which I finished.

I started reading this some where in the middle of a week. Week was full of activities and lots of commitments. First day I started reading it on my way home, and sooner I found myself continuing it till midnight before I actually dozed off while reading the book. With each passing chapter in the book, I was fully into it. I was not willing to do anything but just read the book, and find out what happens to Ashley Patterson’s life. Sidney’s writing had the immense power to keep me involved till very last page of the book.

All the above is just a praise of book, let me come back to the point, ever since he has started reading this book, he has started paying attention to me. He calmly listens to every word that I say. Every act I want to do, and cause behind it. He says, “I listen to my heart”. ”Bakwasss”, he just listens to me. Haven’t you all noticed a change in him?

The book gives a light on MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). MPD is still, a controversial topic among the world’s psychiatrists. Staying in the mega-polis, I have seen people acting weird at times. And as always I pass by with the comment, “he has lost his senses”. After reading this book, it made me feel the pain that one goes through. It gave me feeling of a Caccon (shell) that one develops to protect himself.

Now he got to the point, you see there is pain in each ones life so is in his life. You see the smile on his face, it carries a mask. A mask of which he himself is afraid to take off and face it. Last night I remember he was dreaming of having made the greatest decision of life. When I asked him “Tell Me Your Dream”, he just said, it’s not going to happen. If I let you know it will never happen. It has been so till date. I remember him. He has never finished any good thing he has thought off and told me.

Sidney’s unique way of writing the dark side of oneself has really inspired me to write this post. I think book has made a mark. This is one of those that I will remember for really long time.

See he still didn’t say it, he will remember this book for long time only because, it help him know me (sunny) better. Now that he knows all those inner voices, his gut feelings, his heart felt decisions are mine, he has stopped thinking. He has not even asked me to write this post and introduce me to you all. It’s nice to meet you all. Ah! Before he steals away credit all those beautiful blog posts he has written till date are dreamt by me.

Do write back and let me know, who do you “Tell your dreams”.

Book review, Thoughts, Views dark side, Dreams, Sidney Sheldon, Sunny, Tell me your Dreams

This week I got a free time, and read this book, “If GØd Wa$ a Bank€r“. Title of this book attracted me. Short description at back cover raised my expectations from book.

I was expecting book to give me some strategy into bankers life, their way of corporate. I was expecting story based on management concepts put into practice, and how money runs.

BUT,

The book covers story of 2 bankers, Sundeep and Swaminathan. Both management graduated from reputed institutes battle their way to position of power in same organization. Book gives detailed description of paths each followed. The decisions they took.

I was much more surprised, when some where to a very fag end of the book, author introduces himself.

Book portraits Sundeep a many with aggression, and in rush. Sundeep being ambitious, has taken all means to reach top of ladder. Exactly opposite is character of Swaminathan aka referred as Swami, all the time in book. Swami is shown to be a very calm and passionate about work. He never took a decision that breached compliance policies. In this hussle and tussle for power and to reach apex of organization, their paths often crossed. It was just how better one got other one out off competition.

Ravi has managed to describe scenes, very well. Scene of intimacy were described in-such a way, as if he was watching it happen and making note out of it. What all could come with power, position and wealth? Deceit, women, ambition, frustration, pressure, success and failures interfere in the lives of these two youngsters. Notwithstanding these, they surge forward to success and how they manage it is narrated by Ravi Subramanian lucidly.

Two young management graduates, with nothing similar in family backgrounds and temperament, join the New York International Bank on the same day and take two entirely different routes to success. Both rise up the ranks at breakneck speed: the fast and aggressive Sundeep, who would stoop to anything to get ahead, and the mature and sensible Swami, with a high regard for good old ethics. The racy narrative set in the high-pressure milieu of competitive banking carries the undercurrent of a clash of values, in the intermeshed realms of the personal and the professional. It’s a story peppered with ambition and frustration, deceit and malevolence, love and lust, and the desperate struggle for status and power. And, above all, there is a top-notch banker who plays the benevolent God whenever crisis looms over the young guns…

An insider’s fictionalised account of  how Indian professionals experience the world of foreign banks, the story spans three continents.

He has also managed to keep surprise till very end. Book ends more like Hindi stories, happy ending.

Overall a good book to read, but title is totally misleading. A must read for every individual working in a corporate environment

If GØd Wa$ a Bank€r , by Ravi Subramanian , Rupa & Co. (pp260); R.195

Book review banker, Book review, god

We all must have  seen advert, from kodak where toddler steps are captured by mother. Each single step has baby takes, gives a mixture of caution and joy on face for mother. She is happy to see her baby take stpes towards life. At very sametime she is worreid about her kids safety and in-experience to walk a distance. Because over months, holding her hands you start taking steps. One step at a time.

Now that if you go back and take a look in life, taking one step seems so easy. I have done it millions of times.

Remember that a journey of thousand miles begin with a single step.

I read a note from Dr. Richard Carlson (Ph. D.). He tried to relate single step/action is responsible for all that you acheive. From what I read and understood, he says, “Its a matter or single step to convert your dreams to reality”.

What we hear most from others is :

1. I am going to …
2. I was about to …
3. I am planning to ..

All the words are either part of desire that are yet to be fulfilled, or dreams to be lived. There are many examples which i could bring up, where taking first step and reapting over and over again leads you to what you desire.

I once wanted to read, Taslima Nasrin’s contraversial book, “Lazaa“. With my busy schedule I ended up always saying, “I am planning to read Lazaa“. days went by and even couple of months. I was not able to start a book, which was frustrating. Till then I was used to like reading book in sittings at calm place. With few precise sittings, I would finish reading book. ”Lazaa” was  dry for me in starting, and I could barely start reading and give up in first few minutes of  a reading.

Then I tried method of single step at a time. Read a scene, narration or a episode from the book at a time. I read 1^st episode, it was fine. 2^nd was ok, 3^rd was good, 4^th managed to keep exictment for coming episode.  and within a month, I finished reading book I was “planning to” read for long time.

R. Carlson empasizes on taking one small step towards your prolonged activity. Repeat it over and over again, and you will reach your goal within no time. If one wants to see his bank balance in 6 figures, needs to go and take a step of creating/opening a acount and keeping minimum deposit amount. Then a reapeated steps of depositing small amount. Within no time, there would be good amount balance in your account. And it will be jsut a race to 6 figures, there on. It works.

When we take decisions those are condition based. Carlson emphasized on not to wory about conditions, and start taking steps. Because with every changing condition you will left with opprotunity.

At that very moment, One needs to take a step in direction to imporve condition in favour of what one desires/plans to acheive.

Book review Experience, steps, thought