Habit of Reading!

[This post is originally published in my Blog Yuvazone]

 

In my earlier blog post, I was talking about reading magazines and Newspaper. Yes, I love to read them. When I am going to finish this post another day and not on the day, I started writing it, The Hindu is before me. I guess you all know my fascination and my like of The Hindu. It is the best newspaper in India not barring its several flaws and drawbacks.

In this blog entry today, I wish to talk about my fascination of reading books. I am not that avid reader. But, I keep on reading them. Books on all subjects and if they are interesting, I love to read them. I have only one bad habit is not to complete the books once I start to read. I need to make a resolution now in life that I read a lot of and many many books and make sure that I compltete each of them. It is not the first time that I am making resolution but I need to implement them is what I think now.

Regarding books, I am reading two books simultaneously. One is Godan by Premchand in English. I knew that Premchand was a great writer in India where he wrote hindi novels and depicted the plight of poor peasants, n farmers who suffered from British rule. As I understand that Premchand’s most of the stories and novels are based on the rural India’s life where British Rule coupled with rich and mighty Indians exploited their own Indian brothers and sisters. N Premchand’s Godan is also in that background.

I bought this book in 2008 May when I went to Delhi, Cannaught Place with one of my foreign friends. She was not from native english speaking country. So, she bought there some grammer books for children which she wanted to use while teaching primary kids in her country. I have this habit that whenever I go to any book place I bring something with me; for me. 

When I saw that ocean of books there, could not resist myself from buying the book. I took Godan. now, I kept that book for a long time and thought in last October that I should read that. I started reading in October and it’s not over yet. I think it is only 51% of book that I have read.

Meanwhile, My friend varun gave me some good books. N I have started another Book now. It is by Sashi Tharoor where he writes about emerging India, where compares India as a gaint elephant and wants to make it a Lively Wild Tiger.

There is a contrast in both these books. One is about rural poverty, and mendicancy of Indian poors before government authorities in North India. Another is about dream of emerging nation as a superpower and economically sustainable. Of course, Mr. Tharoor knows the ground reality of India and makes reader concious of the fact that India owns even the many many poor people in this world and not only the 20-30 millioners in top fifty list. But, we can sense the optimism that sashi has through his writings.

Whaever!!!!

By reading two books on contrasting topics, I look forward to reading more in future….

That’s all for the day!!! You guys keep on reading!!! My blog.

Work sucks but I do not mind!!!

[This blog article is published in my another blog Yuvazone.]

Hey Dude!

Wat’s up man?……Vineet says, a new friend. I have seen him often in the office corridor, but had never spoken with him. He speaks with me yesterday in loo. I said, Hey Man. I am good. how r u? He says, fine………he asked me, is there work till late night? It was about six in the evening. I said not that much but one assignment is still there. And it was saturday as well which is supposed to be an off day but I was in office from morning to evening. I reciprocated him and his answer is they (He and all people in his service line-Transaction Advisory Services) treat every saturday as a working day. I understood.

So, U work in direct or indirect? “I am in Indirect tax”, was my reply. So, U work with R? again another question. He was asking about my manager. I answered no, I am with BA, my manager’s name.

HUh….
Okay, So, what are you? an intern or associate? His question was little demeaning n i think by my look on face and youthness, either he underestimated me/underrated me or deleberately asked this question. or May be he did not ask the question deliberately……it was just his way of asking to know about me.

I said, “I am a Consultant”. Good, he said. So, When did you qualify? His intention was to ask when did i become a ‘Chartered Accountant’? I said, I am a lawyer, a B.A;L.L.B (Hons.)’.

As where I work is a firm by/for CAs, most of them think that I am a CA. n now, my turn to throw him flurry of questions. n the same questions- like in which service line you work? what’s ur qualification? how long u are here? how long u are here in this city? n this and that- all in Wh or yes/no question form.

He answered all, of course, as i said above, that he works in TAS and an MBA. Rest of the answers are immeterial now.

After this initial introductory session, now, questions about real work that we do. N he is there to ask another question, “How is work?”

I looked at him, and slowly stared at him, maintaining silence. He waited for my answer. and finally after a little longer pause, I answered, “It sucks.”

and again a silence, n then, I add, “But, I do not mind.”

hahahha…….hehehe………laughter from both sides. R not you enjoying it? another question there.

No, absolutely not, was my staright forward answer. I look at him n he is looking at me, is in a real difficulty whether to smile or not. He is in his half smile, and I futher add his difficulty by saying ” But, I am getting used to it.” I flash a broad smile and he understand that it’s moment to smile.

Yes, of course. All moments in life are fpor smile. We should be cheerfull all the time should be able to laugh at our failures and adversity so that stresses can be put at bay. 

Of course, smiling and cheering up life does not mean that you should not take work seriously. In fact, we should always be serious in life at work but tension and pressure because of work should not be there. Anyway, after this initial on and off of laughter and smile, he asked me general nature of work. Then, I started explaining him that I am replying a show cause notice where stakes are very high. Only the service tax demanded by government is more than 100 Carores and I gave some gyan about my kind of work. N we headed to our respective service line compartments.

He headed to west and I headed to east to be more serious in work and to get more ‘used to’ of it.