What is the environmental cost of a smart light?

 https://anatomyof.ai/

Mindboggling essay! 

Book Review: Road to Gangtok

It was quite by accident that I got this book in my hands. Mothi Jacob George sir, the Director of the school, was kind enough to share this book of stories written by their students with me. 

It is such a pleasure to review this collection of short stories. 

The highlight of the collection, of course, are the four biographical essays written by sir. Between them, they are the Guide To A Well-lived Life. These essays have been shared with other parents as well, and with the children one knows. Each essay teaches through sharing life experiences without being preachy. For me, it was also the realisation that various elements of a person's life come together to form the tapestry of their personality. 

The children's stories are as varied as the authors. From outer space to ghosts, the collection features everything. 1:99 is a shocking sci-fi story from the future - shocking because it is not entirely impossible, and warns us of a small mistake with big repercussions. 

The Moon is made of Cheese is a very heartwarming story. 

The Birthday Wish made me cry. 

Some of them betray the innocence of the authors. Most of them, definitely, are proof of solid talent. 

I enjoyed this book very much! 

Rishte Mildeyaan De

 #RishteMildeyaanDe 

Can three words change a person? 

Years ago, I was reading a book of Punjabi proverbs. A simple, 3-word proverb was: Rishte Mildeyaan De – A relationship needs to be nurtured through constant contact. 

Until that moment, I believed in “Picking up where we left off”. Of course the proverb was wrong! Or, for a different time. 

But somehow, I started thinking about all my relationships – the ones in which we stayed in touch (mostly because the other person made the effort) and ones where we “picked up where we left off”. And realised that there was a distinct difference in the quality of these two kinds. Where we met consistently, the relationships were deeper, easier. Even though we picked up where we left off, these friends, who were once my closest confidantes, did not know about the large events in life.  They weren’t there when it happened and then later, it made no sense to bring it up. 

The change was not overnight. But slowly, I became the person who calls up. The person who says, “It’s been a while. Let’s meet!”. The person who organises group parties, group meetups. The person who calls to wish Happy Birthday, instead of texting. 

As an introvert, I expected the change to be painful. Surprisingly, it was the exact opposite. Each of these friendships was dear to me. Therefore, every touch point (stroke), every meeting, was a source of happiness rather than stress. There was no ‘coming out of one’s comfort zone’. Intimate conversations with close friends WAS my comfort zone.  

When a friend does not make time to meet, I still give it three shots before respecting their decision. 

Without exaggeration, this one change has, I think, made the most difference to my happiness. When people talk about the loneliness epidemic, I feel very grateful to the person who compiled that book of Punjabi proverbs and put that simple proverb there. 

Did one phrase or sentence, ever lead to a transformative change for you? Do Tell. 

That day when we decided to make couplets on drinks...

Hona ho gar zindagi ke ras mein geela

All you need is just 2 shots of Tequila

Le le aaj shots of vodka

Kya bharosa agle mod ka

Chahe kitte bhi drinks ho, agar na ho Nimbu Pani

Saari baatein, saari cheezein, Lagti hain bemaani

चाहे कितने भी ड्रिंक्स हों, अगर न हो नींबू पानी 

सारी बातें, सारी चीजें, लगती हैं बेमानी! 

- Avijit 

Beer bhi toh hai dear 

Kidney stone ko bhi karti hai clear

बियर भी तो है देअर 

kidney स्टोन को भी करती है clear 

- पूनम 

Rum mein doobein saare gham 

yaari zyada, kharcha kam

रम में डूबें सारे ग़म 

यारी ज़्यादा, खरचा कम 

Whisky aaj tak hui hai kiski... 

andar gayi aur tabeeyat khiski

व्हिस्की आज तक हुई है किसकी 

अंदर गई और तबीयत खिसकी 

*********** 

Credits: 

Avijit: For starting the thread 

Poonam: For contributing Tukbandi 

Me: For Rum and Whisky 

Esha Research project - Co-Lead Wanted

So, it has happened. 

I have started a very ambitious research project at Esha and am now realising that one is short on capability. 

This year, we are trying to understand the social and professional integration of blind professionals at the workplace. 

The research is being guided by Dr. Amit Jain, Faculty at SPJIMR, in his personal capacity. 

My role is to execute this research well. 

Help Needed: Someone senior to join as the Head of Corporate Relations for this project. 

What this means: 

A. Get in touch with the employers who have inclusive workspaces (we have this information and will get an introduction to the right person at the organisation.) 

B. Get their approval to participate in the study as an organisation. 

C. Co-ordinate with the research team (me) to schedule the interviews and the research event. (We are doing a free Theater Workshop at each entity to say Thank you. The interviews will happen after the workshop at the venue itself. We have researchers in all cities where we want to conduct this research.) 

D. Ensure that the event completes successfully. If some interviews need to be taken later, ensure that the loop is closed. 

E. Thank the organisation formally for their participation. 

F. When the report is ready, ensure that it reaches everyone who participated in the study. 

Ideal person: 

If you are: 

A. Able to devote about 2-3 hours a day on all working days 

B. Feel the need for good research in the disability space 

C. Want to make connections with corporates, esp stakeholders in the CSR space. 

D. Are good at communicating - both oral and written 

- this should be a good thing to consider. 

Location can be anywhere, so long as the person is able to do good virtual collaboration. 

I expect the role to continue for 2-4 months, depending on the pace of data collection. 

While there is a small honorarium for this role, our means are limited and honorarium would not be the right reason to consider this role. 

Please get in touch! I am at nidhi@clabil.org and 98118 24024 for Whatsapp. 

Startups that work directly with farmers and artisans...

Startups that work directly with farmers and artisans: 

How is it that your products, which come directly from the farmer/artisans are more expensive than similar products that follow a much larger supply chain? 

Answer: We ensure that farmers/artisans get their due in terms of higher prices. 

Ok, then can you transparently put on each price tag how much of this price is going to the farmer/artisan? 

Answer: Errmm....... 

This is not to belittle the work of great startups that are truly trying to make a change. But I have always asked for this transparent pricing, and not received it. Sometimes, the prices are clearly good, and we pick up things. 

But if I am getting Irani mamra for 2400 rs, and you are selling me Gulbandi sized Kashmiri Mamra at 2000 rs, boss, no prize for guessing why the market is hard to develop, no? The customer that buys this kind of produce knows their produce. You have to educate a California almond buyer about Gulbandi and Mamra. But a mamra customer knows their mamra. 

The Small but Ultimate Book of Online Safety - My second book is finally out!

Am so, so happy to share this piece of news. My second book was facing a lot of issues because it was just 40 odd pages. 

Finally, it was released this week! 

 https://www.amazon.in/Small-Ultimate-Book-Online-Safety/dp/B0CZTVY87X