Not Being Sarkari

Most people approach their work in one of three ways: as a job, a career, or a calling.

• If you see your work as a job, you do it only for the money, you look at the clock frequently while dreaming about the weekend ahead, and you probably pursue hobbies, which satisfy your effectance needs more thoroughly than does your work.
• If you see your work as a career, you have larger goals of advancement, promotion, and prestige.
• If you see your work as a calling, however, you find your work intrinsically fulfilling you are not doing it to achieve something else. You see your work as contributing to the greater good or as playing a role in some larger enterprise the worth of which seems obvious to you. You have frequent experiences of flow during the work day, and you neither look forward to “quitting time” nor feel the desire to shout, “Thank God it’s Friday!” You would continue to work, perhaps even without pay, if you suddenly became very wealthy.

Smiles followed the run...

Yesterday, I ran my second full marathon in Chandigarh. It was absolutely fun while I was running.

First things first...Weather was perfect for running. It was little cold in the beginning and more pleasant once I crossed 10 KM mark. Track was flat, air was clean as we were running around one of the most beautiful areas of Chandigarh.

I was impressed by my improved timing.

I was slow for first 21 KM but picked up my self in later half. For last fifteen kilometers there was an ongoing battle between body and mind. I am glad that it was mind which won in the end. I was able to finish my run under 5 hours and 30 minutes, which is an huge improvement (according to me) from my last timing of 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, my battle did not end at the finish line. In fact, I realized that real battle has just began. After I reached finish line, I found out that they have removed time-recording chips and there is no way to know my time. When I asked for some guidance, one volunteer came with a piece of newspaper and started writing my time on that. A newspaper which would soon find a place in dustbin or road (considering this is India), was used to record my 'hard earned' time. It was disheartening and showed the extent of nonprofessional. It also revealed kind of inexperience for handling such events where efforts of every runner (long distance and short distance runner, fast and slow, young and old) is special to himself and needs a much better way to record those efforts.  

Then I decided to speak to one organizer, who turned out to be some 'sarkari' guy. His attitude can be summed up as if-you-have-bouquets-you-are-welcome-but-incase-you-have-brick bats-get-lost. He plainly said "if you are going to complete so late, we are not responsible for your time". He was happy to brag (that too while shouting) about his presence in the event as if without his presence nobody would have cared to run and the whole show would have crashed. Organizers should have announced in the beginning that any runner finishing after 4/5 hours is on his own and things would have been simple as I would have no grounds to complain. But these sarkari people want participation also and then do not want to take care of participants.

Though couple of other volunteers did come to help me out from this fiasco. But I have little hope of this getting resolve now as Indians truly believe in raat gayi baat gayi.

Anyways, I learnt something important. Next time either I will run in a marathon where there is some respect for slow runners or I improve myself enough to run marathon at fast pace. And while living in India, I am bound to encounter sarkari chamachas and bureaucrats who will make me feel like shit after my all efforts, so I have to learn running marathons at fast pace. And also quitting is not an option especially because of useless fucktards called as sarkari afsars.

Another typical sarkari thing, refreshments were in aplenty for all sarkari naukers and their families, other chamchas but not for runners. I know atleast four runners who were clueless about getting refreshments. Couple of did request some sarkari chamcha for the same and I am not sure what happened to their requests. Did not have any patience and strength left to face these fucktards.

But in the end, I was glad that I improved my timing and intend to do better in future irrespective of the fact whether I have any record to prove that or not.

Note to myself - no more running for certificates. It is only for myself.

     

Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed a life away from hustle and bustle. Apart from exploring various aspects of village life, I did what I am good at - looking for running tracks and exploring standard of customer service. There are few things which left me in awe most of the time while staying with my extended family in village.   Relationship building - People working in farms do not know me but they were always ready to help me with anything. Ready to give things smilingly. Ready to go to any lengths to make me feel at home. I was demanding at times but nothing was big enough to make them frown. Everyone knew everyone. Everyone knew my grandfather and people preferred to address me as his grandson and not by my name. I think all MBA students should spend one semester in village so that they can learn some basics in relationship building which holds a prominent place in any business.

Resilience - Apart from doing physical hard-work, they are extremely resilient. Once my professor told me that an Indian farmer is probably the biggest risk taker in the world. He invests everything he has in his farming when he knows that the end result depends on a lot of other factors like monsoon, some crop disease etc which are beyond his control. But his spirits are never down. He is resilient enough to rise above all obstacles and still able to keep a smiling face. Simplicity - Everything they use, everything they do, every transaction they make has only one thing common - simplicity. If it is simple to use and fits into their need, it will be adopted without any effort. From ploughing fields to kitchen, from kids to oldies, simplicity is one common thread which binds them.   
 These points I just thought of and this is definitely not the comprehensive list. I am glad that I
started my decade in this kind of ecosystem. As this new decade has come, I hope to inculcate few things in my life style as well.

• Swatch is considered to be an affordable premium brand. 
• Watch was beautiful. 
• It worked well. 
• Onlookers admired it. 

Weekend was fruitful. It was busy, little hectic but full of meaningful conversations. Listened to one of India's most revered speaker, met some interesting people, got insights from some entrepreneurs and made some new friends. On Saturday, I got a chance to listen to Former President of India, Dr APJ Kalam. To me, He is an intelligent man who accomplished many great things without compromising on integrity and values (Dr Manmohan Singh is another such rare Indian). I always dreamt of listening to his speech and having some cool conversations with him. First half of the dream is fulfilled.  As usual speech was inspiring. It was full of stories and conversations which Dr Kalam had with great visionaries and personalities during his lifetime. From his speech it was evident that he has a great vision for our country. He passionately shares that vision with everyone, especially students. He ended his speech with a question which every Indian should ask from himself. How I wish to be remembered (in terms of one's contribution to growth of country)? I think this is a question which one should keep asking himself because if answers, followed by actions, are missing to this question than there is problem. Thanks Alma Mater for this opportunity. On Sunday, I had an opportunity of meeting some entrepreneurs. Couple of them have already made it big, some are small but doing good for themselves, some who has just jumped on this bandwagon and lot of aspiring entrepreneurs like me. Discussions were related to practical aspects of launching and doing 'the own thing'. There were no fairy tale stories or inspiring stuff from them but focus was on difficulties one face while trodding this less travelled road. Lot of insights, sharing, conversations and guidance.  An interesting point resonated by almost everyone, try to keep your customers happy and satisfied while your business is gaining momentum. Hey, opportunities for people like me. Cool!

On Sunday, I ran my third half-marathon of the year and was fully satisfied with my timing as well. It was fun and the whole environment was lively. I have always dreamt of running on road leading to India-Gate and te dream was fulfilled with this run.



However, I found the whole place extremely crowded. By the time I crossed starting line after crossing a sea of people, I was already behind by 5 minutes. My official photographer, Zoobie, got lost in crowd somewhere, hence not much photographs to share.



Another thing, as I was nearing finish line, it was very hot. Not an ideal environment for running.  Now I am waiting for the Gurgaon Marathon on December 6. I am sure it will not be crowded and weather will be cool enough to make this marathon a cooler one. Another thing, onus will be on runners and not on celebrities standing on the periphery.  If you happen to be in Gurgaon on December 6, do come to run, walk, cheer and have fun.  Moreover, you never know whom you may run into. You can find details about the run here.

It was the month of April in 2009. Economic downturn was at its peak (downturn and peak...what an irony). Increments were not in sight. Incentives were not given because of bad overall economic situation. In fact, holding onto a job was luxury for some.

I was sitting in a restaurant watching an IPL match and waiting for friends. With few pegs of alcohol inside me, I scribbled something on a piece of napkin. Soon, friends arrived, more alcohol went in and napkin got lost somewhere in the mayhem. But the idea remained with me.

I started to visualize certain characters. As I am not good at drawing/painting, I tried to do something simpler. Learnt little bit about cartoon drawing softwares, took sometime to learn about their basics etc. I cannot ignore the guidance given by Sid, a blogger friend. Sid a cartoonist himself, helped me in giving some raw knowledge on drawing cartoons. I also stumbled upon wonderful sites of two cartoonists - here and here.

The name 'Aloo Kachalu' stuck to me for a couple of reasons. I personally feel, Aloo which means potato is a highly non-bureaucratic vegetable. It can be cooked in any form - baked, boiled, roasted etc. It can be eaten in numerous forms - stuffed paranthas, in any curry, in rice, in snacks etc. Aloo can be put into anything and it makes a difference in every dish it goes into.

The other character, Kachalu (arbi/Colocasia Root), is also a vegetable and I feel this is highly bureaucratic. It usually leave a sticky layer or lace like thing, if not cooked carefully. Very difficult to cook. Means, highly bureaucratic. Cannot be easily modified according to customer's need. Both of them gelled very well with the overall philosophy of this blog.

And, yes they rhymed well.

Once everything was in place, I made a couple of Aloo Kachalus and showed to my friends. They found them cute.

I decided to go one step further. I started sending a weekly Aloo Kachalu to my team members. Couple of them came back to me saying 'they liked it and are looking forward to it'.

Then I started publishing it on my blog. Some of my blogger friends also said some wonderful things about it.

And I decided to stay with it and hone this new found passion more. As they say in Punjabi, panga le leya.

Just thought of sharing with you guys. As usual, keep giving me your feedback.

1. Switch off the engine of my car while waiting on lights
2. Will make my house free of paper napkins
3. When outside will use handkerchief more to clean my hands
4. Will gift a tree
5. Will plant a tree
6. Will switch off lights/fans/appliance when not in use
7. Will look for new ways to care about environment
8. Will pray hard (last but not least)

 
I am not sure how much I will succeed in doing above things. One thing I am pretty sure of is that, after an year, while standing in front of mirror, I can look into my eyes and say comfortably 'I played my part'.

 But then there are some which are trying to do few things which might improve things in the long run. There are two businesses whom I know personally, are doing things which are good for environment and trying make this world a better place to live. First one is EYEC (website not fully functional) is a startup company founded by one of my college mate. This company is doing very simple thing - asking customers to gift a tree. Gift a tree for any occasion - anniversary, birthdays, festivals etc. In case there is no occasion, make it an occasion by gifting a tree. Initially, I was not sure about the viability of this idea but it is gradually picking up. In its journey of five months, this company is presently gifting close to 40 tree in a day. I think number is not bad for someone who trying to make this world a better place to live. Second is RunningandLiving.com which inspires people to run. Again, a kind of first in India. They organize monthly runs in and around Delhi with Gurgaon runs being their flagship run. In last one year, this company has organized two runs in which runners get an opportunity to plant saplings enroute their 10 KM/15 KM running distance. Plants were sponsored and pits dug by State Government's Urban Development arm. Runners get to do some good by planting saplings in those pits. RunningandLiving.com was enabler in this whole process without which this might not have been possible. I feel lucky that I am associated as customer with at least two businesses which intend to do some repair patch work on this bruised environment.  

 I think it would be good idea to read through thousands of opinions and voices on environment. We can get lot of ideas on making this better place to live. We may get to know about potential dangers we are facing because of deteriorating environment. Though,we all know bullet points, details will not harm us.
 I am also participating in a hope that I will change some of my habits which may help in improving environment.

I usually start my runs at a slow pace as I do not want to spend all my energy on first few miles. This run was also no different. I started slowly and for the first 6 KM, I ran at a slow pace. Few downhill slopes in the begining, followed by uphill slopes helped me in warming up. 

The run between 6 KM and 15 KM was most enjoyable for me. I was warmed up, momentum was with me and I was running at a speed which was not tiring me. Scenery was breathtaking, road was completely free of any traffic, I could hear birds chirping, serenity was my only company and few downhill slopes, where I could run faster than my usual speed, helped me in getting my timing better. There was only one uphill slope and was steep enough to leave most runners panting. Except for that slope, it was a runner friendly terrain.   After 15 KM, major part of the track was uphill and it soaked up most of my energy. To be frank, I covered most of my last 6 KM walking. But walking, was also no small effort (shameless self-patter in me taking over). Last two kilometers were easy, difficult and most exciting. Easy because of steep downhill which helped me to run little faster. Difficult because I have to climb the same slope up. Exciting because it was last lap and after that only thing left was posing for cameras ;-)
 At last finished Shimla HM in 2 hours and 50 minutes. I guess, not bad for someone who is just one HM old.
One gone. Another one in Delhi on November 1, followed by my first full marathon in Gurgaon on December 6. There is not much time for rest. After all most of marathoners are a breed in their own and they enjoy doing what others think is a cynical activity. 

I have prepared myself for this HM (Half Marathon) little bit harder than my last one. I have put in close to 20 hrs and ran close to 125 kilometers in last 40 days. Running includes runs on plain, runs on hilly area, fast runs, slow runs, long runs, easy runs etc. Training was fun (otherwise I would not have done it) and it came with an advantage also - weight control.

Organizers are promoting this HM as a pretty-tough marathon. Pretty because of beautiful locales and hills covered with pine trees. And, tough because running at 7200 meters above sea level requires some stamina, strength and will power.

As the D-Day is approaching, there are some butterflies in my stomach which, I guess, is normal. But I know I am well prepared to handle this difficult terrain.

Will post some interesting experiences from HM and Shimla.