Monday, June 12, 2006

I have joined the Schenectady Wargaming Association. They seem to arrange games regularly during the week ends. I am off to see and if possible play one this saturday.It turns out that the studio is just about 2 miles from my home.
On another front i bought The Power of Gold : The History of an Obsession . It appears to be a real page turner. This seems to be the right season for History buffs. History Channel has been telecasting a lot of interesting programmes of late. All this seems to add fuel to fire and i am eager to attend the Historicon this year.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Mr.Jack Welch and Capt Jack Aubrey
I was reading WINNING by Jack Welch over the weekend and also watched the movie Master and Commander.
Mr. Welch in his book,has listed 8 rules of leadership. While watching the movie, quite naturally i started to look for these traits in Capt Jack Aubrey (enacted by Russel Crowe) who was out hunting for the french Man-O-War "Acheron".

1. Leaders relentlesly upgrade their team, using every encounter as an opportunity to evaluate, coach and build self confidence.
Capt. Jack Aubrey is shown mentoring his subordinates. In one particular scene he severely reprimands one of his midshipmen for tolerating insubordination and tells him about earning the respect of his subordinates and enforcing discipline. He talks about walking the fine line between befriending the foremosts jacks and being a tyrant. He also entrusts junior officers with important tasks and motivates them to succeed.

2. Leaders make sure people not only see the vision, they live and breathe it.
The Captain is shown as a fine orator who tells the crew that England is under invasion and though they are far away from land, the ship is no less than their country. He eggs them on telling anecdotes from the days he served with Lord Nelson in the Nile. The crew seemed to well understand that they were not merely fighting a ship to ship battle , but were part of a larger campaign to defeat the Bonaparte and to stop him from conquering Europe.

3. Leaders get into everyone's skin, exuding positive energy and optimism.
The Captain can be seen climbing up the Mast, talking to the carpenters, the lieutenants and other members of the crew in a very friendly manner and keeps them focussed on their tasks.

4. Leaders establish trust with candor, transparecy and credit.
Captain Aubrey is shown discussing strategies with his officers and also allows them to disagree with him and put forth their points.

5. Leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions and gut calls.
The public flogging of a popular crew member for not showing obeisance to a senior officer is one example.

6. Leaders push and probe with a curiosity that borders on skepticism, making sure their questions are answered with action.

7.Leaders inspire risk taking and learning by setting the example.
The plan to attack the Acheron is the best example of display of brilliance and risk taking. The crew calls him "Lucky Jack" and appears ready to follow him anywhere.

8. Leaders celebrate.
On several occassions,Capt. Aubrey rewards his team members with an extra ration of grog or rum for their efforts.

"Master and Commander" is based on one of the 21 novels that form part of the Aubrey–Maturin series, also known as the Aubreyad by Patrick O'Brian, set during the Napoleonic Wars and centering on the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and his ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin, who is also a physician, natural philosopher, and secret agent. The 21st novel of the series, left unfinished by O'Brian's death in 2000, was published in late 2004.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Freedom of Expression :

When the actions of a nation are at variances with its professed values, is it unfair to call it a land of hypocrites ? When a Government stays in power even after thousands of innocent men, women and children perish in a state sponsored pogrom, when the state is eager to ban movies and books simply because they represent the suppressed views or do not kowtow to the wishes of the manipulators, When 60 years have proved insufficient to pull more than 70% of the population out of poverty, the fattest constitution in the world has failed us. Where are the provisions to prevent criminalisation of politics? where are the rules to recall wimpy representatives? where are the principles of freedom of expression and speech ? Have they morphed into mere ink ?
Why are we scared to face the truth ? Why is it that we read only one side of the story ? The sign of a civilised society is not to shut out counter arguments. On the contrary, a civilised society should encourage debate on controversial topics, It should listen to both sides of any story. It should be through the clarity that emerges out of such a healthy debate that the society grows. Muffled screams can only sow seeds of dissent.
Reading the preamble of my constitution, i wonder how many words are there to whom we have shown true justice,


WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

Are we truly socialist?? If not why keep that word in the preamble ?

Are we secular ?? Does secularism stand for appeasement of religions?? Pandering to religions ?? I believe secularism should be equal distance from all religions. A condition of State and Religion being divorced. Why did we disgrace Shah Bano?

Justice ??? "Justice delayed is Justice Denied". How many innocents languish behind the bars, How many criminals (read politicians) roam scot free ?

Equality ?? What is this hue and cry about Reservations? Why do i have to write my religion and caste in almost every application form that i have to fill? Is it because we all are equal but some people are more equal than others ?

Fraternity ?? The damage is already done ! Having placed "Caste" and "religion" on the center Stage and having played Vote bank politics, what kind of Fraternity have our leaders established ? "A Fraternity for the Cynical" ??

Unity and Integrity of the Nation : Yes !! If a nation is a geographic area with countless people, roads, bridges, forests, lakes, houses and skyscrapers...we have united them, we have built on them....But if Nationalism is something that stems from an admiration for a set of values that the people of that land hold, a set of principles that one believes is so virtuous that it should outlive everything else, a set of ideas that one places above himself and pledges to die protecting them....then i wonder how many of us feel that emotion in our bones !!!