Childhood Memories Flashback

 Not very often do i remember my child hood days .But ,when i do ,i reach to another world ,which belonged to me,and yes ,it will always belong to me .

Although ,the memories are getting fainter with passing years ,but they begin to recur when i see a young girl playing ,or walking by her parents side .I relate myself to every little girl who looks innocent and shy ,because that she is the reflection of my childhood.


I have always been a quiet girl ,who lived in her own world ,and was happy in her own musings .Those summer days ,summer holidays ,which were invested in cutting and pasting work . i had my notebook full of pictures of animals, flowers ,paper cuttings of foods such as cakes .Then turning the pages of the notebook ,to get the smell of that fevicol ,is something i don't miss much today,but definitely feels like ages have gone by  .
Stealing sketch pens from my sister's shelf and writing headers with it ,after all ,we had just one sketch pen box to be shared .And once the session got over,i would re check my own notebook with the red pen ,pretending to be a school teacher. 

Using the same course books ,that were passed on from generations ,from first sister ,to the second and finally to me.

School used to get over by 12 pm and back home ,i would sit in front of the tv ,to watch the afternoon transmission for kids .And ,every Sunday ,there was the cartoon series Wizard of Oz .I don't remember the characters now ...there was this Dorothy ,scare crow , a lion  ..forgotten the other names though . 

Around 4 o clock ,i would wander around the backside gardens to pluck flowers or play with a few selected friends..but did not have much friends of my age .I dont know ,why ,i have always enjoyed more in my own company ,than with others .Probably ,that gave me the freedom to explore the nature around .

Going to the vegetable market with dad / mum ,and amused by the variety of vegetables that were there ...little did i know, that once i grow up,there would be nothing special in those veggies to look at.Waking up late in the morning at 11 am ,when it was almost time for lunch .

Playing with dolls ,adorning them with jewelry's and having the first teddy bear 'gobu' made by sister ,from an old piece of winter cap .Those free flowing frilly frocks ,which always got shorter by the start of the next summers ,and i wondered ...that why the clothes are getting shorter .

That dependency on parents was good enough ,because ,it never gave the thought  ,that one day we will have to earn for ourselves ,and we would not be required to seek parents permission to buy a new thing .Today , i wish for same kind of bondage .i wish ,i were not so independent ,and still had to give explanation to my parents ,about where i am spending money ,what i am buying,where i am going...because that way..i would not have to bear the brunt of the wrong decisions that i took in my life ..

Studies were always good ,since i always scored the highest ,and never realized ,that a day would come,when i would be complaining why my hard work doesn't pay .Worry and stress were non existent in my dictionary .That mental maths book ,that i always tried to keep at the bottommost of the stack of books .
The 5th class mathematics book ,which was based on the space theme ,and word problems had aliens and UFO characters from a different planet .One name i still remember --Mandy moon bought pens at a Cost price of .....Dad teaching the maths sums ,and scolding,when i didnt get them right ...miss those days..


Today ,i feel that the young girl is lost somewhere. That girl is not me ,but someone else who is lost in those Childhood days ..and i m searching for her ...the image disappearing in the smoke of time...with silent footprints ,it keeps walking away .And i search for her ..as if she is my baby ...when the reality is ..that she is me ,in the time that went by ...

Random Clicks -- Delhi ,On a drive

Boddhi Stupa

Old Fort

Old Fort Walls

Old fort Entrance

Monkeys Near central Delhi 

Rasthrapati Bhavan

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Rashtrapati Bhavan

Akshardham Temple

Cricket World Cup 2011 finals- management , strategy and Human Factor

2nd April 2011 was an eventful day,when the entire nation ran into high fever.The students took a day off from their studies,the office goers with no saturdays off ,drove to their homes quickly,the others kept their eyes glued to the large projector screens , the ladies,for once ,sacrificed their daily dose of melodramatic soaps ,and the young adults gathered in their fav bars and clubs ,with face painted ,waving the tricolor ,blowing trumpets , to enjoy the World cup finals ,which has managed to create a history again ,after a drought period of 28 years.

It was a day ,when the entire nation united,irrespective of caste,language or occupation .Even the newbies in cricket ,exclaimed in joy with every Indian Shot on field ,and the hearts that almost skipped a beat ,with every catch that was missed by the Sri lankan Fielders .

The match which started with the Sri Lanka team opting to bat first ,but progressed slowly ,with two wickets already down before the first hundredth run .Everything looked in the favour of Indian team when Sri lanka lost 6 wickets with just 187 runs in the kitty ,until the last 10 overs which fetched more than 60 runs and and gave India a formidable target of 275 runs. 

The nerve wrecking excitement started with the Indian Innings and when the most powerful wickets of Sehwag and Sachin fell,the whole nation sank into despair and hopelessness.

The real test of courage,determination and self belief started thereon ,when the target of 275 runs,which looked like a dream impossible ,was chased ball by ball.Slow and steady wins the race ,is an idiom that we learnt in primary school ,but was witnessed in the finals ,when Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli ,batted with poise and patience ,despite of mounting pressure.

With the Indian Captain taking the charge ,the game which initially looked out of our hands ,fell right into the lap ,and there by making the Indian Win almost close to reality ,and the rest is all history .

Although ,World Cup 2011 ,has been one of the most prestigious tournament ,the bigger picture is that ,Determination and self belief always lead to success.From management point of view ,it was a game of well planned strategy like (keeping it low ,when the markets are sluggish equivalent to Gautam and Virat not taking chance from Malinga's balling ) ,it was a game of superior leadership under Dhoni ,it showed that risks are to be taken in every sphere ,if you have the courage to strike big (Dhoni took the risk to take Sreesnath in the team ,and come in fourth batting position ),it was a game of complete teamwork (where each player performed for some personal motive but at the same time played for the country).Every player had a dream which translated into reality .It also shows that never underestimate your competitor (Sangakarra ,never realized that small runs from Gambhir ,could turn the game other way round ).

And what a moment it was when the final sixer ,took India to fame and glory,the World cup that filled the players with tears .That happiness that showed on every Indian's Face ,which made them forget all enmities and  dance and rejoice together.It was a moment of emotional high ,as the Indians took on to the road to celebrate .

What made the world cup 2011 so special ? The fact that it created a series of world records. India became the first team to win the world cup in its home land .India became third team to win world cup for the second time,and the win is almost a generational leap for the all .It also fulfilled Sachin's dream of winning the world cup (2011 is supposedly the last world cup he played for) .

This is India ..Which can do great wonders,given the Challenge .

Here's Salute to all the Indians ,because we can do it as long as we are united and determined . 

Sparrow the Wings

The tiny little sparrow,perched upon the tree,
She sat ,her eyes waitng for the beloved,
Who has set her free .
He,the one who gave her wings to fly ,
Sparrow the wings ,is the name
She wants to be known by.

Corporate Restructuring strategies

The recent global business environment has seen a monumental change ,especially in terms of Mergers and Acquisitions.Every other day ,there is news about another company buying stakes or acquiring a big brand from the parent company.Such moves are not sudden,but are often followed by an indepth analysis and involve a strategic masterplan ,and an intricate string of calculations by the investment bankers for valuation of the firm / business .
Such actions are categorized under Corporate Restructuring strategies ,as they involve decision making on the part of management ,regarding which business to divest and where to invest,without jeopardizing the shareholders' interest .
Some of the very basic yet complex business restructuring strategies are :

Mergers : When two companies agree to combine and work as a single entity with a single identity.Eg Warner and AOL .To find the value of the merged firm ,swap ratio is calculated,which is the ratio of the stock price that the shareholders of the individual entities receive after the firms are merged.

Acquisitions : When one firm takes over the business / control over the management of the other firm .This can be either forceful acquisitions ,without the consent of the acquired company,or it could be when one company wants to sell its business arm to another ,for a price.Eg TATA acquisition of Corus .
The valuation of the target company is based on P/E ratio and DCF techniques.

Reverse Merger : When an unlisted / small company acquires a listed company which may be under poor profit situation or limited assets.This way ,the private company gets an opportunity to raise funds publicly.

A common trend seen these days is that instead of buying the entire company ,the acquirer buys stake / management control ,only in a brand or business arm .The latest to be seen is Henkel India acquired by Jyothy laboratories , acquisition of Marico's Sweekar brand by US based Cargill .
The deal may be an all cash deal or all stocks deal ,depending upon the strength and decision of the management .
Sometimes ,an ailing company or a debt ridden company may also look out for a corporate bailout ,without getting acquired or merged with another company .
The underlying objective for acquisition is Profitability ,Market expansion ,establishing a strong footlold in a given product category ,geographical expansion and economies of scale.
The target company may also benefit out of it ,as it may decide to divest its loss making business or product and focus on core competency or stronger brand ,by investing the price received from the acquirer .
The key to establishing a successful association is Synergy,that is the shortcoming of one company covered by the other in such a way that 1+1 is 3.