I know, I have been rather sporadic in this space, but work has kept me busy. Speaking of work, this post is going to be a rant – not about the work itself but the kind of people and their attitude that I have been noticing of late.
The area that I work in is a niche area and people who have expertise in this field are not too many and naturally there is a good demand for them. Our organization was one of the initial few to step into this space and we’ve done some good work and we’ve had some really good people working with us. It’s another matter that many of these good people have moved on looking for greener pastures as more players have come into the market and the competition has increased. But of late, after the slow-down and the subsequent recovery in the markets and the industry, this trend has seen a sudden spike.
This is not about the attrition problem or anything of the sort – in the past few months I have seen people who are juniors in the practice with as less as 1.5-2 years experience putting down their papers without a second thought. I know looking for a new job is each person’s own choice and right, but these are just kids. They haven’t been in this area for so long to actually gain the expertise which they think they have. Even though I and others have been here for longer than that none of us can claim to be experts, because the space and technology is so vast and so complex that you will find very few experts in this field.
These guys are fresh in the corporate world, they were just out of college and were absorbed into the practice, trained and worked on projects and learned along the way. They have been given the opportunity to be a part of this select group of people working in this space by this organization which makes them a prized catch. They do not stop to think about any of these – all that they are interested in is the money. Their list of complaints never end – from the work being monotonous and tiresome to there being a lack of onsite opportunities to the remuneration not being upto the market standard to everything else that they can think of.
It is the attitude that makes me angry and sad… there is a serious lack of interest to learn and gain domain knowledge, there is absolutely zero concern/ loyalty towards the project or the company – their first ever place of work, which gave them the independence to be on their own for the very first time in their lives. Am I being a sentimental fool? Or has the tide turned and I belong to an ‘older’ generation? Call it what you want but it has left a bitter taste and a sense of deep disappointment in me about this generation.
Aren’t they still like fledglings stepping out into the wild – don’t they realize that they haven’t seen it all? They don’t know that the world and this industry can be cruel – the markets are surging now but it doesn’t take much to bring it down as we’ve seen so often in history. I just hope they don’t end up learning their lessons the hard way!
…the people of Karnataka are not left with much to cheer about. The final few days have only taken away some of the most-loved doyens of the Kannada film and music industry – first C.Ashwath and now Dr.Vishnuvardhan. While it was difficult enough to come to terms with the fact that Ashwath – a truly one of the kind singer whose kanchina kanttha is unmatched, is no more going to be heard; the very next morning brought an even bigger blow – the news that Dr.Vishnuvardhan – one of the most charming and versatile actors of the Kannada film industry had passed away at the mere age of 59.
Whenever Ashwath took centrestage he would literally set it on fire with his exuberant and passionate performance. His voice is to be heard to be believed – loud, melodius and reverberating with energy, it would give anyone listening goosebumps. Though I never had the opportunity to witness any of his performances live, I have dearly loved so many of his songs. His contribution to Kannada sugama sangeetha and film music is immense, but he was also one of the people who had a hand in resurrecting the bhaava geetha genre of Kannada music and made it as popular and favourite as film songs. He popularized so many of the poets’ compositions by bringing out song collections in the voices of promising voices of veterans and new-comers alike, thereby encouraging the infusion of fresh blood into the music world. He has also composed music for dozens of movies and tele-serials – all of T.N.Seetharam’s much-loved serials ranging from Mayamruga to Manvantara to Mukta-Mukta owe some part of their popularity to their excellent title tracks composed and sung by Ashwath. He has composed music for some unforgettable tracks like Raayaru bandaru, Deepavu ninnade, Balegaara chennaya from Mysoora Mallige and also songs like Nammoora mandaara hoove from the movie Aalemane…songs of Santa Shishunaala Sharifa and TS Nagabharana’s Naagamandala the list just goes on and on. Singers of his kind are rare and his demise has left a huge void in the music world.
Vishnu as he was lovingly called, was one of the most-loved actors the Kannada filmdom has seen. Setting the screen on fire with his power-packed performance as the chiguru-meese Ramachari in Puttanna Kanagal’s Nagarahaavu, he went on to achieve great heights and carved a niche for himself, in spite of always being in the shadows of the larger-than-life actor and icon of his times – Dr.Rajkumar. He has acted in movies like Hombisilu, Gandhada Gudi, Saahasa Simha (which also got him the title Saahasa Simha Vishnuvardhan), paired up with the lovely Suhaasini in the tragic-love-story Bandhana, played the part of a musician with aplomb in MalayaMarutha which had some excellent classical compositions, was the lovable happy-go-lucky-guy in Suprabhaata, romanced Jayaprada in the remake of Baghbaan – Ee Bandhana, was a part of the hugely successful Aapthamitra and had just recently wrapped up work on its sequel Aaptharakshaka which was going to be his 200th film too. Vishnu with his trademark right-hand kada and left hand antics and immaculate acting has left behind a mark that will be very hard to replace.
The people of Karnataka as usual have been rowdy and disgusting in their behaviour in paying homage to these icons. Pelting stones, breaking glass and shops, rousing mobs, torching public vehicles, forcibly shutting down shutters – everything that would’ve made the dead people turn in their graves. Shame on us – that we cannot in the least give a respectful homage to the departed souls and cannot let their families rest in solitude and peace. I wonder when we will ever get to see such a day, when the so-called fans will realize that they are not helping anybody’s cause by indulging in such henious acts?
I just want to say - you have entertained us all till your last breath and you shall live forever in our memories. May your souls rest in peace!
Here’s the meme I did last year… now adapted for 2009. I find myself at a loss to write something original… thought this was a good way to sum up the year that was…
* what did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
- stayed all by myself at home for a fortnight
- took up a managerial kinda role at work
- moved my blog to WP!
- attended a yoga course
* did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
- I never make any new-year resolutions
* did anyone close to you give birth?
- Yup. 1 in the family and a couple among friends
* did anyone close to you die?
- Yes 
* what countries did you visit?
- France!
* what would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
- some dreams turning into reality
* what date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- Jun 6th – I became a chikamma
- Jun 18th – we moved out to be on our own
* what was your biggest achievement of the year?
- leading a team at work
- moving out and setting up a home
* what was your biggest failure?
- maintaining work-life balance
* did you suffer illness or injury?
- just the usual bout of the flu when the seasons changed
* what was the best thing you bought?
- a cozy comfy winter jacket
- lots of stuff for the house which make it a home we love
* whose behavior merited celebration?
- both on different occasions
* whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
- oh, all the usual suspects!
*where did most of your money go?
- EMIs and premium payments
* what did you get really, really, really excited about?
- the picturesque train ride to Shimla
- celebrating Deepavali with lights at the new home
- the work-trip to Paris which also turned up a chance encounter with a close pal!
* what song will always remind you of 2009?
– all of Sonu Nigam songs in Kannada, which he seems to be belting out relentlesly these days
* compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? a leetle bit happier
- thinner or fatter? a leetle bit fatter
- richer or poorer? richer
* what do you wish you’d done more of?
- Reading, traveling for more holidays, blogging, learning to let go
* what do you wish you’d done less of?
- worrying, being affected by people’s behaviour
* how will you be spending new year?
- At home
* did you fall in love in 2009?
- yeah, I only seem to be falling in it deeper!
* do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
- No
* what was the best book you read?
- An Equal Music – Vikram Seth
- To Sir with Love – ER Braithwaite
* what was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
- Some classical numbers
* what did you want and get?
- the chance to visit Paris
* what did you want and not get?
- oh several things actually… mmm
* what was your favorite film of this year?
- Luck By Chance, Wake up Sid, 3 Idiots
* what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
- 28. Didn’t do anything much… it was a holiday, paid a temple visit, sulked a bit, went out for dinner I guess (can’t remember too well!! 
)
* what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
- if only a few dreams were realized…
* how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
- not very different from the previous years… I did buy some trousers and skirts to prep-up my formals wardrobe
* what/who kept you sane?
- hubby
* what political issue stirred you the most?
- the downfall of the BJP
* what did you miss?
- Pluto and ajji
* who was the best new person you met?
- the guy whom we worked with while in Paris
* tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
- Juggling home, life and work will only become more difficult as one goes up the ladder – one has got to find a balance somehow!
* quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
- Zindagi pyar ka geet hain, isi har dil ko gaana padega
Zindagi gham ka saagar bhi hain, haske us paar jaana padega…
Wishing you all a very happy new year and a lovely holiday season! Hope the new year brings lots of new and happy changes in its folds! I am hoping that 2010 will usher in some much-desired cheer in my life – both personal and work-wise… and I hope to be more regular on the blogging front as well!
Cheers and happy hols to all you folks out there!! 
