Do Nice guys matter in the corporate world?

Last updated on: March 30, 2008 at 4:16 am By Desh Kapoor

Turning the other cheek - has been the wisdom. But is it practical? Why not give someone back just what you have got? Specially in the cut throat competitive world of corporates. What is the worth of this wisdom then? A lot! According to a Harvard University study, nice guys - who do not "hit back" but cooperate with their enemies despite nastiness from the other side, do finish up at the top. This game has been played across years and has been tested 8000 times. The tool for punishment and reward are dimes. The normal game of prisoner's dilemma gives two players two options: cooperate or defect. If both cooperate, each ends up winning a dime. If both defect, each gets nothing. If one cooperates and the other defects, the cooperative player loses 20 cents and the defector wins 30 cents. Read more

Inner Space

Last updated on: March 29, 2008 at 7:11 pm By Desh Kapoor

As great as the infinite space beyond is the space within the lotus of the heart. Both heaven and earth are contained in that inner space, both fire and air, sun and moon, lightning and stars. Whether we know it in this world or know it not, everything is contained in that inner space. Read more

Award winning corn

Last updated on: March 29, 2008 at 2:55 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is a very nice and interesting story sent by my dear friend, Jeshi. It has a great learning principle, which is also enshrined in the 9th principle of the Arya Samaj (and a good lesson for kids and adults): "Each should not be content with one's own welfare but should seek and regard own progress as part of the progress of those around oneself." There was a farmer who grew superior quality and award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honour and prizes. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learnt something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked." Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn." Read more

Singularity and the Ego

Last updated on: March 27, 2008 at 9:40 pm By Desh Kapoor

At the beginning of the world was a singularity. Volume had no meaning and the mass, energy and time had collapsed into one singular "existence". This singularity when it expanded, big bang or otherwise, gave rise to what we have come to call creation. Singularities like the beginning of the world occur even "today". Scientists now call them Black Holes. Most form because of a gravitational collapse. When the pressure of their own gravity cannot be resisted. It is not how another body affects them or how they affect that other, but how their own power collapses on itself after reaching a crescendo. Apart from collapse of all matter into a mass represented by dense energy state which reaches levels that are infinite and where any observation or theory breaks down, another strange phenomenon possibly occurs. The Black Hole information paradox. This paradox suggests that any physical information of that state or the collapsed star disappears. No cause or effect relationship remains any more. Ego, the learned sages tell us is what we need to get rid of. In favor of? Atamic existence. Material existence of ego is to be replaced with energy of Atma or Consciousness. So, the traditional wisdom goes, get rid of the ego. How? Sacrifice. Sacrifice uptil the point that there is no ego left. As if to mock the argument, the Yajur Vedic Rishi declares "Aham Brahmasmi" - I am the Brahman. If there was a single statement of the highest most ego, then this would qualify as that. As much as its pithiness leaves opportunity to myriad interpretations, it is a very direct and simple statement. This is its beauty and its downfall. Krishna explained it in his own way. He went on to list all that Arjun knew of - things, emotions, people, positions - and said I am all of those .. and more. In these verses (Chapter 9, verse 16, 17, and 18 - see image), Krishna finally declares that "I am the indestructible seed". If ego was the hindrance, then Rishis and Krishna were clearly not on the same page with the proponents of such a sentiment! They were egos of the highest order. Not just any ego - but ego of cosmic and gargantuan proportions. How does a student of Vedanta explain this paradox? Until there is matter in a cosmic body there is a pull and push - a constant interplay of gravitation between any body around each other. The force is related to the size of the matter and this matter cannot be easily wished away. Those of denser matter are stars and those whose internal energy cannot withstand the strength of its own gravitation anymore, collapse into a singularity. This is a simplistic way of articulating the more complex theories and science. However, at the root of the neutron-degenerate or electron-degenerate matter or the singularity of a black hole is the matter losing its existence to nothingness or dense energy - the basic foundation of creation. This loss happens when the matter exerts its highest force - specifically within. All the internal energies that were hitherto in the way of the collapse can no longer withstand the tremendous implosion and matter loses its existence. Ego becomes its own killer. Read more

Prana and Electricity

Last updated on: March 27, 2008 at 4:30 pm By Desh Kapoor

When the Kundalini is aroused, and enters the canal of the Sushumna, all the perceptions are in the mental space. When it has reached that end of the canal which opens out into the brain, the objectless perception is in the knowledge space. Taking the analogy of electricity, we find that man can send a current only along a wire, but nature requires no wires to send her tremendous currents. This proves that the wire is not really necessary, but that only our inability to dispense with it compels us to use it. Read more

CIA, Dalai Lama and the Chinese threats

Last updated on: March 27, 2008 at 4:15 pm By Desh Kapoor

Richard Bennett discusses in an article on how the Tibetans have been funded and backed by the CIA and the Indian intelligence to fight the Chinese all these years. Benett is a intelligence and security consultant, AFI Research. Kenneth Conboy and James Morrison in their book The CIA's Secret War in Tibet disclose that the CIA and the Indian intelligence services cooperated in the training and equipping of Tibetan agents and special forces troops and in forming joint aerial and intelligence units such as the Aviation Research Center and Special Center. According to him, its a war that has continued since the 60's by proxy. The US has reassessed the positions post 9-11 to see how China fits in the new world and how it can use the TIbetans to fight their war. According to Bennett, Dalai Lama has been a CIA operative for many years. All this may be true. But my only spanner in this work is - if indeed two strong intelligence units have been backing Tibetans, then they have precious little to show for it! China has virtually played with the TIbetans at will. They kill them, execute then Nazi style as and when they want. In fact, if anything THEY have used others for their proxy war. The Maoists in Nepal, Pakistani Army and Burma have been used profitably by the Chinese against India. What goes on in public domain and for public consumption is many times not true reflection of the sentiments of the Governments. For example, Pakistan's Government has all these years sworn by their Kashmir brethren, but had no qualms in handing over a substantial part of Kashmir land in its hand to China for their own benefit (large part of POK given to China) Politics is not about emotions, but power and money. Read more

Madhubala's story in her sister's words

Last updated on: March 26, 2008 at 7:17 am By Desh Kapoor

I had earlier written a post on Madhubala. Today I read her younger sister's interview on rediff, where Madhur Bhushan (real name Zahida) discusses the three important relationships in Madhubala's life: her Father, Dilip Kumar, and Kishore Kumar. You then realize how egotistic and full of themselves the big stars have been. Entry into movies: My father, Ataullah Khan, was working in the Imperial Tobacco Company in Peshawar, Pakistan, when he lost his job and decided to come to Mumbai. Madhubala was seven at that time. Her real name was Mumtaz Begum. We called her Mazliappa, as she was the fifth child. My father started looking for a job. He also took Madhubala to film studios. She got work in Basant (1942) at the age of nine. The leading lady's name was Mumtaz Shanti, so Madhubala was called Baby Mumtaz, when she was a child actress. She got her first break in Kirdar Sharma's Neel Kamal. Kirdar's wife was supposed to play the lead role but she passed away. As Madhubala knew the dialogues, she became a heroine at the age of 13. From this film onwards, she was credited as Madhubala. The film did not do well, but her work was appreciated. Madhubala shot to fame in 1949 with Mahal. She was 16. At that time, no one realised that she was sick, not even my father. Madhubala was a healthy child, and very bubbly. Her illness: Madhubala first vomited blood when she was in Chennai shooting for S S Vassan's Bahut Din Huwe (1954). She was treated, and she resumed shooting. Nobody thought she was sick until she fainted on J K Nanda's sets while shooting with Raj Kapoor on Chalack (1957). The film never got completed. That's when the doctor said that she had a hole in her heart. She was 24 then. Read more

Eternal Calmness with activity

Last updated on: March 25, 2008 at 6:00 am By Desh Kapoor

Inactivity, as we understand it in the sense of passivity, certainly cannot be the goal. Were it so, then the walls around us would be the most intelligent; they are inactive. Clods of earth, stumps of trees, would be the greatest sages in the world; they are inactive. Nor does inactivity become activity when it is combined with passion. Real activity, which is the goal of Vedanta, is combined with eternal calmness, the calmness which cannot be ruffled, the balance of mind which is never disturbed, whatever happens. Read more

The Non-Money, Unstructured Finance Economy — Part II

Last updated on: March 25, 2008 at 5:45 am By jessicafick

This is the second part of Mr. Lobo's essays on economy. The first one can be read here. Please do share your thoughts and comments in the section below. by Mr. Francis Lobo Mr. Francis Leonard Lobo is a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Poona. His education has been in prestigious institutions in Poona like St. Vincents High School, Ferguson College & College of Engineering. He is also a Life Fellow of Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering & a Member of All India Management Association. He has over 50 years of industry & business experience as a planning engineer, company executive, in-company counselor, company director, mentor, consultant, trainer, & CEO. He has written several books like "Getting Things Done --- Strategies for Success"; "Strategies & Techniques for Successful Selling --- The Sales Mission" etc. The Free Market vs Regulation and Control The present market conditions of a struggling credit situation, bank failures, slumping stocks, sliding dollar, rising prices, especially of energy, are the result of those qualified in finance, economics and management advocating the loosening or complete withdrawal of regulations and giving a free hand to the market. Yet the common man, who constitutes the free market, is being kept out of determining the corrective action immediately necessary and the financial market re-structuring that is required --- These are the subjects reserved for the specialists, who should have seen the tsunami coming, raised early warning signals and avoided the crash! What are required are Rational Thinking, Public Debate, Dialogue and People Participation. As a common man I find that there are just a few basic principles which are being ignored. These are: - The Power of Compounding - Money flows upwards to where the returns are highest. - The availability of finance grows faster than GDP - The Power of Education - The Compounding Effects of Corruption The Power of Compounding Steady growth can suddenly reach the point where the balloon bursts. If we start at a low level of say 10 with a 10 % / year growth it will take more that 16 years to reach 50. But, to go from 50 -100 will be done in less than half the time i.e. in a little more than 7 years. It has come as a surprise that global financial assets in the form of bank deposits, government and corporate debt securities, equity should have jumped to $ 167 trillion in 2006 from less than half this figure just 10 years ago. Normal growth has been interpreted as a surge in the emerging markets like the adult failing to appreciate that the young boy of yesterday has been steadily growing and is now suddenly emerging as a grown man. The demands of compounding are a doctrine to be obeyed in the corporate world where quarter-on-quarter, year-on-year profit growth is expected. It is also seen in inflation where increase in prices, on an on-going basis, is considered a natural phenomenon where nothing can be done. The power of compounding is seen in the salaries being paid today. As salaries increase the growth is also accelerated. A 10 % increase in a monthly salary of Rs. one lakh is Rs. 10,000, which was the total monthly salary for that position not so very long ago. Unfortunately, this compounding doesn't apply to the unorganized, unstructured world, where most of humanity resides. The earning levels are static while costs rise. Even executives, who get year-on-year increases don't think it necessary to give similar raises to their domestic help. The net result is that the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer and more into debt. Read more

Fusion of Animals and Humans and our "Morality"

Last updated on: March 25, 2008 at 4:53 am By Desh Kapoor

Humanity has always been curious about mixing breeds and species. First it was the horses and dogs and just some species of plants like roses etc. Then people got adventurous and brought in creatures like Liger - a mix between Lion and a Tiger, which some people term as the "ultimate killing machine". Since the last decade, scientists have been getting closer to creating human clones. So, obviously the next question would have been - what about animal and human? There are enough legends in that area - of Mermaids and Centaur. The Indian stories are full of monkeys and other animals talking and fighting with the humans. So, was it part of human history ever? Are we coming a full circle or is it the fructifying of human desires? Whatever the truth be, it might be happening soon. DK Matai discusses the three streams of such experimental creatures being thought about. 1. A Chimera is produced when a human embryo is fused with an animal embryo; 2. An Hybrid is produced when a human female egg is fertilised with animal sperm or vice-versa; and 3. A "Cybrid" is produced when an animal cell's genetic material is removed and replaced with human genetic material. DK says "...after 10 years of stem cell research, scientists are now facing difficulty with cell therapy from the present human embryonic stem cell experimentation. The next phase involves human-animal combinations via Chimeras, Hybrids and Cybrids." He cites two examples when attempts have been made at fusion: - Soviet Union's top scientists, Professor Ilya Ivanov, tried to impregnate female chimpanzees with human sperm in Africa in order to create a human-chimpanzee hybrid - In August 2003, Hui Zhen Sheng of Shanghai Second Medical University, China, announced that rabbit-human 'cybrid' embryos had been created. Researchers fused adult human material with rabbit eggs stripped of their original genetic material and created rabbit-human hybrid embryos which developed to approximately the 100-cell stage, after about four days of development. Read more