Brand Equity Quiz 2008

The stage is on fire. The audience is in splits. The quiz master walks away with the applause. That’s a typical Brand Equity Quiz from The Economic Times which takes your IQ few notches up. If not, at least makes you feel that way. Whatever, one finally walks away from the venue with his head in the sky and with a feeling that the day is made. That’s precisely what happened at The Taj Deccan in Hyderabad on 28th March 2008, when Derek O Brien struck hearts with his perky remarks. I am an ardent fan of Derek, because he has a deadly sense of humor that catches people off guard. Or throws them off guard. Either way it’s hilarious to watch. Incidentally, I regret missing out on the last two years Brand Equity Quizes 2007 and 2006. By the time I realized the quiz was actually happening , it was over and gone! So, this time I kept track of it, and nailed it. I was there even before the quiz began, and was the last person to leave the venue, ensuring that I didn't miss out on the high voltage excitement.

With Derek, the excitement simply never stops. He comes up with lines that can slit one’s personality to ribbons while the audience is on the floor rolling with laughter. Of course, the guy who is getting whacked by his humour feels the other way. But then, what’s life if one can’t take a joke on himself every now and then? Besides, the rewards that kept flowing to the ones with the right answers in the audience would make anybody’s jaw drop. Talking of flowing…well there were bottles of Scotch, Whisky…etc as winners’ gifts apart from gifts like Nokia cell phone worth Rs. 15,000, a free air trip to anywhere in India, etc. Simply mind-blowing!

Every year, Derek, has a theme for the quiz and dons his dress in synch with the theme. This year, the theme was Hindi movies. The participating teams too were given names like “Sholay’ “Caravan” “Saudagar” “Anand” etc. Derek as always was dressed to kill aka the old Hindi filmi hero - Jitendra. He donned white Jeans; running through the loops was a three inch silver-studded belt. Along with it he wore a dazzling red shirt, which had red sparkling discs clinging. Moreover, tied around his neck was a huge polka-dotted handkerchief, that stuck out like a sour thumb, just like it did with the old actors. You can literally see Jitendra clinging on to Derek. Or maybe vice versa. Moreover, with the old songs like Dum Maro Dum….Mehabooba Mehabooba… being played in the background… The evening literally transported everyone into the late 70s.But the quiz brought us back into 2000s. So, it was like watching the past for sometime. And the present for sometime. The switch, however, was seamless. I knew most of the answers in the quiz. Then, I was wondering why I didn’t ever think of participating. Maybe I should. Maybe I shouldn’t. I guess I need time to think on that. Time like one year...Until the next Brand Equity Quiz

Businessworld and Outlook at Reliance Fresh

Shopping for vegetables has never been on my agenda. But marriage sure can change priorities in men. Moreover, men are not courageous enough to complain or skip the shopping routine. One glance from the lady and the husband could freeze in his tracks. And mind you, that’s not because of the air-conditioning but the cold stare that could be anything from -5 degrees to -200 degrees.

As for me, I am still in the process of mastering the skill of avoiding that gaze. Anyway if the wife is a good cook and asks to tag along to Reliance Fresh, one shouldn’t mind hopping there to pick his choice of vegetables- which later could turn out to be a delicious dish at home. Since my wife is a good cook, I don’t mind tagging along.

But what took me by surprise at the Reliance Fresh is the wide assortment of products. The name is rather misleading. Anybody would think the store offers only fresh vegetables. But there are lots of other things too at Reliance- if not fresh. From cooking pans to bone china to kitchen towels to shaving creams to magazines…you have everything.

Yes, you have heard it right. Magazines. I was surprised too! In fact there are all kinds of magazines. The girlie ones and the macho ones. Femina, FilmFare, Wow, Outlook, Businessworld… Besides, I like the way Businessworld is written. I was a regular subscriber of it. Of late, the subscription expired and I was not able to get it renewed for the simple reason that I lost the contact number of the person who renewed it last year. So the reminisces of old times hit me hard whenever I go there. And I immediately buy a Businessworld for old times sake. Now, even if the onus of accompanying my wife to Reliance Fresh does fall on me, I wouldn’t mind because I have a hoard of magazines at Reliance to lean on.

Random afterthoughts of Easter

Belated Happy Easter! Another year has passed by. What have I done to appease my Savior? The heart sincerely craves to do more for the lord. But the flesh insincerely gives in to the worldly pleasures. Torn immensely between these two, I hardly have the assuring peace of god at heart. And when I read Oswald J. Smith’s book, The Man God Uses… it’s like the Lord’s booming voice asking me, “Where are you?” as it did to Adam when he ate the forbidden fruit. Here’s a poem by Oswald J. Smith that keeps knocking on my heart’s door and keeps reminding me of God's call.

Have you heard the Master’s Call?
Will you go, forsaking all?
Millions still in sin and shame
Ne’er have heard the Savior’s name.

Some may give and some may pray
But for you He calls to-day;
Will you answer: “Here am I,”
Or must Jesus pass you by?

Have you heard their bitter cry?
Can you bear to see them die,
Thousands who in darkest night
Never yet have seen the light?

Soon ‘twill be too late to go
And your love for Jesus show,
Oh, then quickly speed away,
Tarry not another day.

What if you refuse to go?
Someone then will never know
Of the Saviour kind and true
And the blame will rest on you.

Will you, then, forsaking all
Gladly heed the Master’s Call,
Answer quickly, “Lord, send me!
To the lands beyond the sea?”

Jeffrey Archer’s 36 Collected short stories

The other day when I was at Abids, I struck a bad bargain. The book, The Collected Short Stories of Jeffrey Archer, which I could have bought at fifty rupees I bought it for seventy rupees. After I struck the deal, there was remorse written all over my face. How can I make such a foolish mistake? Then I pondered over what the lost twenty rupees could have bought me - four Reader’s Digests! And moreover you don’t go to Abids every other day to buy books. The thought was recurrent. But the penalty seemed final.

Anyway, when I completed reading four or five stories, I didn’t actually mind losing that twenty Rupees. I felt the book truly deserved it. The book was a treasure chest of stories that carved a special place in my heart. Each story was a masterpiece. Each story was written with a flow that good writers would burn with envy. Jeffrey Archer sure knows how to take you through a thick maze of mystery without hurting your emotions. Even if he does, it is in a class of his own!

With his story in the book like “The Steal” where the two professors both husband and wife go on a hunt for a carpet in Turkey and finally end up with two rich clowns countering their every move, or in the story, "Just good friends" where the ending takes you by complete surprise…Jeffrey Archer knows the pulse of the reader. He can make it race faster or make it stop... I mean for a short time, it depends on his mood! And you are at his mercy!

Sidney Sheldon - The master story teller

Honestly, nobody writes like Sheldon. His plots are so tight and so enticing; reading his works is like going on a roller coaster ride. One moment you are tumbling down at great speeds towards gravity, the other moment you are climbing up against it. Sheldon plays with your emotions, literally. Once he has your attention, he becomes the master who commands your emotions; while you become a slave willing to obey master’s each command. At the end, you can’t but marvel the skill and the expertise of the writer. Few writers match his style.

But still, I wonder why many don’t consider Sidney Sheldon a good writer. In fact, the movie, The Fugitive, in which Harrison Ford plays a lead role, is based on one of Sheldon’s book, The Naked Face. The movie went on to become an international blockbuster. But only few know who’s behind that gripping script. What’s more, we are all familiar with the TV series “I Dream of Genie” and marvel at the brilliant genie, who by the blink of her eyes, does wonders for her master. But how many of us really know that the script is actually done by Sheldon?

Sheldon, with his inimitable style of writing, has in fact given the world some finest literary pieces. His name will forever be frozen in time. Just like his classics The Naked Face, Windmills of God, Master of the Game and The Rage of Angels.

Although he has left this world, his works - in the hearts of millions of his readers - will remain as vibrant and as alive as they have been before . Hats off to the master story teller!

Reader’s Digests at throw away prices

I was planning to pay a visit to Abids on a Sunday (Where one finds books at shockingly low prices) but was unable to do it because of my hectic Sunday schedules. But last Sunday, was one of those rare ones where I had plenty of time on hand. So, I decided to pay a visit to Abids. For a booklover like me, going to Abids is like a glutton going to a feast. The books make me salivate!

For these vendors too Sundays are like festivals. It colors their lives -- as the Sunday market throngs with booklovers for whom cost is not an inhibiting factor if the book of their choice is on the racks. These vendors know this fact and play their cards close to their chest. Furthermore, they are well-versed with almost all the good authors and won’t part with a book from a good author easily. The reader has to pay a price (which is usually less than what you pay at Shoppers’ stop or other big bookstores) before deciding to take home the prized possessions. Since it is usually a win-win situation nobody is complaining.

Actually, the thought struck me quite late in the evening to pay a visit to Abids. So I hurried to net my catch before the sun went down. I was walking along the pedestrian path when my glance fell on a Reader’s Digest. It was the latest issue February 2008. Hoping that it would cost a bomb I asked the vendor, “How much?”. He said, “Dus rupai” I was taken aback. A 50 Rupee magazine for 10 Rupees? Then, trying to stretch my luck a little further, I picked up an old issue of Reader’s Digest and asked him, “How much for this?” He said “Panch Rupai”. I silently took out a wad of ten rupee notes and handed him sixty five rupees for twelve Reader’s Digests books. Once the deal was struck, I went all the way laughing to my home. I guess only Hyderabad can offer so much..... for so little.

A book by Mark H. McCormack

I don’t know what I did to deserve a fabulous book like “What they don’t teach you at Harvard Business School” by Mark H. McCormack. But still someone gifted it to me. At first, I thought this must be one of those run-of-the-mill books which try to gain publicity by taking digs at Harvard Business School. But once I read the book, I realized I was wrong.

Mark H. McCormack comes across as an amazing business strategist in book and otherwise. He didn't study at Harvard Business School but wrote a book, the Harvard students would die to write. If not the Harvard students, at least I would die to write a book like that. This book packs in absolutely invaluable tips on handling and improving business. With practical examples he proves the effectiveness of his business approach. And one cannot ignore his advice on crucial business issues.

Related to this, I would like to share a business issue he so deftly handled. One of his staff was ready to leave McCormack’s agency to join another. Everyone was worried that with him, this employee would take important information concerning certain clients since he had access to all office files. The situation was more like the devil and the deep sea. Nothing could have been done without hurting the sentiments of someone. But McCormack’s cleverly sent him off on a tour to some other place for two days. While he was away he changed the locks and put in new locks restricting access to the files. Then, carefully ensured that all the important information is kept away from this employee’s reach. On returning, the employee was fired.

That is Mark H. McCormack for you. Shrewd as a wolf.

He goes on to give many such tidbits of good advice which can be easily implemented while conducting business. So, if you are a business head or an entrepreneur, you simply can’t miss out on this business savvy individual’s book. Go, buy one today!

O. Henry – An author with an unusual twist in his plot

If I were to coin a phrase I would coin it as, “If you haven’t read O. Henry, You haven’t read anything at all”. Of course, and would have dedicated the phrase to this same, wonderful writer. I came across this genius writer when I was in school. Fortunately, one of his works with the title, “The ransom of the Red Chief” crept into our English text book then. After I read his work, I fell in love with his fascinating sense of humor, especially, with his unexpected endings. The more I read his works, the more I liked the author. Although his English seems to be quite outdated when compared to the present times yet it doesn’t fail to deliver the rib tickling, creative, power-packed punch.

Furthermore, not all his stories are laced with humor; some have a very touching, tragic ending. Besides, his stories had such a profound affect that some of the 60’s and 70’s bollywood directors shamelessly copied them. I still remember an incident from – I don’t know which movie it was - where Rakesh Roshan sells his only guitar to buy a shirt for Rishi kapoor and Rishi kapoor sells his only coat to a buy the guitar’s string for Rakesh Roshan, this is a straight lift from one of O. Henry’s stories. No wonder plagiarism seems to be an inherited trait with the Indian directors.

Coming back to O.Henry and his works, here are some of the stories I liked the most: The Ransom of the Red Chief, The Last Leaf, After Twenty Years, Compliments of the Season, The Romance of the Busy Broker, From the Cabby’s Seat and The Cop and the Anthem. Go ahead, buy yourself O. Henry’s 100 selected stories (which is easily available in any boookstore) and have a relaxed and enjoyable reading.

The blog that struck a nervous chord in me!

It was an amazing blog. I won’t mention whose it is, but would give you a clue – he is a prolific Indian writer whose works at times feature in top Indian magazines. Earlier, he was with The Indian Express, I am not sure whether he still works for it or not (I got to check this one out). But whatever, one should read his blog; his style is simple yet lively; philosophical yet downright silly; uncomfortable yet lovey-dovey.

Besides, he has an excellent knack of bringing to life mundane things that we tend to forget once the sun sets over the horizon. Like meeting a child on a street. Or a conversation with his ex-flame. Or explaining the way Bengalis live . He pokes fun, but educates. He also scripts poems! That too in a style that is completely arresting. With an ending that is totally unsuspecting.

After going through his blog I got nervous. Nervous to an extent that I am now fearful of writing anything. With such big fish in the waters, who needs a small fry like me?

A visit to Crossword at Shoppers’ Stop

I have heard a lot about Crossword – the book store at Shoppers Stop – but I never actually found time to visit it. Yesterday, I have been to Begumpet on an office assignment, and could squeeze just enough time to pay a visit. But I was surprised. I thought the store would be a huge one with tons of books from this end to that end. What I found in fact was a small corner inside Shoppers’ Stop visibly marked with black and yellow stickers on which was written Crossword. Surprisingly, the collection too was very limited. The write-ups and advertisements sure have fooled a lot of innocents like me into believing Crossword to be a big bookstore. Nevertheless whatever collection was there, was pretty good.


There were books by Paul Theroux, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pico Iyer, Salman Rushdie, Wilbur Smith, Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Jefrrey Archery and more. Of late, I have become a big fan of Paul Theroux whose travel writings have inspired many a writer’s soul. Another book which seems to be making ripples in the market and on which I would like to lay my hands is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I heard the book is applauded across the world and is now being shot into a movie. It’s a story about friendship between a wealthy Afghan youth and a servant’s son. Talking about Afghan, I am half way through Frederick Forsyth’s, The Afghan, and find it quite gripping. Maybe, if I complete it today, I will go and purchase The kite runner tomorrow.

Salar Jung Museum – Anybody’s favorite tourist spot

The other day I had another good opportunity to visit Salar Jung Museum. No matter how often I visit this place, my eyes are hungry for more. The rare collection, the unmatched sculpting, the amusing ivory works…will leave anyone thinking. Thinking hard as to how Salar Jung III managed to collect so many articles? And what really ignited his passion do this?

In fact, some inside stories have it that the collection has greatly dwindled down because of few unscrupulous elements in the museum who sold some items for personal gains. Even I have noticed that there were some small daggers with gemstones on the handles on my earlier visit, which I found missing on my recent visit. I wonder if someone is responsible for it or if they have been simply sent somewhere else with the museum’s permission. Anyway, it was truly a heartwarming experience for me to watch the ancient splendor carefully stocked for public viewing. Apart from the sculptures Rebecca’s veil and Mephistopheles, what caught my interest was the Ivory room. I was completely surprised to note that there was an ivory mat. I mean a mat woven out of ivory. Amazing, isn’t it? At Salar Jung Museum, one will never fail to notice such trivial but unusual things, which later gently gnaw one’s imagination.

Another added attraction was the food court. Maybe it was there when I last visited the museum, but I didn’t notice it. This time, as I was famished to the bone, I ventured into it to grab a bite. It was a neat place with seemingly piping snacks, where I, along with my stomach, indulged fully, caring nothing for stuff like B.P, Sugar etc.

Unlike other places, where the security personnel rough you up caring two hoots about you, the museum security guards were very polite. The premises were well-maintained with proper electronic surveillance in place. If you have any foreigner visiting you in Hyderabad, the first thing you must show the foreigner is - Salar Jung Museum so you can have a definite impressive head start.