Every Bag Has a Story to Tell

Charmi agreed to be the model
and promote this bag

There is a bearded, well mannered old man in Madurai. He has inherited the art of making cloth canvas bags. For three generations he says, his family has survived on this business. His bags are not for the very rich, but for the traders who need a strong companion to carry their stuff.

He goes to the cloth market and sources good quality canvas cloth. He is worried as the price per kg of this cloth has shooted above Rs.200. This old man in his early fifties brings the cloth home in a cycle (the cycle looks half as old as him).  He carefully cuts it and stitches to make awesome bags like the one shown in this picture.

He carries couple of dozens in his cycle. Hangs them in the front handle bar. He has made it the right size so that the bags can swing , but not touch the front wheels of the cycle. It is a customer expectation for him. His customers will not buy if it is long and could touch the front wheel. Now, he says it is a market standard size for these bags.

His place of business lies about 9kms from his house. He does not ride his cycle. He just walks with the cycle. Walking with the cycling slows him down, but attracts the passers by and shop keepers. He could sell 1 or 2 bags on the way to his place of business. He reaches his place of business by 9.00am. He makes sure he is ready to be there till 7.00pm. It is an old and dynamic trading spot. You could see people selling everything from onions to ornaments. The sellers and the buyers would need a bag. His bags are not sold in super markets or in the shops. They all have moved on to plastic bags. Those who see the value of Rs.120 in his bag are his customers. They negotiate and he will be happy to sell it at Rs.110.

Once the sale is made, he makes a value addition. He says, "I can attach rivets to the handle. My bags are strong enough , but the rivets will make it stronger for ever". If the customer is convinced with this sales pitch, our bag maker earns Rs.10 extra.

At the end of the day, he is happy to sell 4 or 5 bags. I asked him, "Why not 40 or 50 bags a day?". He replied "These are expensive bags, do you expect to sell 40 or 50?". I saw the business-man missing in him, but I could see a man who loves his livelihood. He has to now walk back the 9kms home. I asked him, why not leave the goods and cycle somewhere nearby. He says, that will cost me Rs.25 a day. Why spend that when I can make some extra money by walking my way back.

Do you want to meet him? You should  go to Thermutti in Madurai. You could locate a cycle  on the platform near the first Ther (Temple Car).  You might see a cheerful, bearded old man with colorful bags near that cycle. He says, I'm open 9.00am to 7.00pm every day.

Such wonderful people, makes us believe further in our www.theyellowbag.org initiative. Happy to be the messenger.

மாற்றுத்திரனாளிகள் உலா வரும் வீதி, சாத்தியமா?

நமக்கே இங்க நடக்க நடைபாதை இல்லை, இதில் மாற்றுத்திரனாளிகளை பற்றி கவலை பட முடியுமா சார்? நமக்காவது உடைந்த குறைந்த நடைபாதை இருக்கு. அவங்களுக்கு அது கூட இல்லையே. அவங்களுக்கு சாலையை சரி பண்ணி கொடுங்க, நமக்கு தானாகவே நல்ல சாலை கிடைக்கும். அமெரிக்க பயண சிந்தனை வரிசையில் இன்னொரு ஒலிப்பதிவு இதோ. பேசுவோமா?

Me, Madurai and Mock Interviews

I belong to a culturally rich city called Madurai in Tamilnadu, India. It has been 10 years since I moved out of the city with a B.Sc degree. Going back to my roots is an idea I am nourishing ever since I moved out. I have been working with people in various capacities over these years. As a specialist in Training and Development, my primary job with Corporates is to develop people and make them skilled for the Job they are expected to perform.

I learn from experiences. When I look back, I am amazed at how I have acquired the required skills in the last ten years. I think, developing others have helped me grow as a Professional. I would sincerely love to take back these skills to my native and work for the development of the student community there. When I was a student in 2003, I would have loved to have someone like the current me as a mentor. I didn't get any. In 2014, I should give that opportunity to the students who would love to make use of me. I can mentor, guide and help them to get a good launch pad.

With this in mind, I scheduled a mock interview session for students in Madurai. A mock interview will provide students with a real experience of an interview. It will help them evaluate their strength and weakness. During my MBA days in Gurgaon, I have benefited extensively through such interventions by the college.

17 students from various colleges in Madurai signed up for the mock interview. I was feeling extremely happy and fulfilled after meeting them all over a period of three days. I spent about 30 to 40 minutes with every student. Asked them questions to understand their logical thinking, basic technical and communication skills. The small house that my Dad built long back helped us as a free venue. My Alma mater, Sourashtra College gave their classroom for one of the interview days.

Here is an analysis of their performance:

Here are the shockers:

1. The quality of students have not changed in the last 10 years. Most of them sounded like me and my friends ten years back. We were under-qualified to get a Job then.
2. Even today,listening to movie songs is their primary Hobby. They do not have any other hobby.
3. Most were unable to answer basic technical questions from their specialization.
4. Huge vacuum in their ability to relate concepts to practical applications

There is one good news too:

1. Everyone showed great interest in improving their employability. Unfortunately, those who are supposed to guide them(Teachers,Parents) do not have the required exposure. Hence, students alone can not be blamed.

What would they need:

I will have to spend more time with them to be precise at explaining their need. Till that time, I think they will need the following:

1. Someone to mentor them on choosing a career path

2. Exposure through practicing professionals

3. Self development interventions on communication skills

4. Freedom from their parents and the society to think as they wish
5. Better teaching staff who can create an interest than just cover the lesson plan

I am determined to work on the first three needs. Have to make better use of my time to be able to do that. Hope I can, as I want to...

Here is the next Mock interview schedule(24th to 26th April) and registration form. If you are a student or know of a needy student, please use this opportunity. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Tjghb12ycGONwQvUrxPjCG1t7fErSrkmHY60ZKHhMVM/viewform

Raping Drug Sold by Government

Selective insanity towards Women is the reason behind sexual abuse. Government can not go to each Individual and plead to maintain sanity. Education is expected to do it, but it is happy making products for the corporate. Society is expected to teach this, but it is constantly brainwashed by the greedy capitalist. Judiciary is expected to threaten it, but it is already safe inside the pocket of the rich and powerful. I do not see these change agents work in favor of Women in the next 10 years(optimistic?). So, Insanity within a sane man will prevail till we see a dramatic change in the way we perceive Women in India(every part of it!).

On the other hand, alcohol leads to insanity. The same insanity which led to the sexual abuse and murder of a 24 year old girl in Chennai this month. Can this be controlled? Can this be abolished? Can this is systematically reduced?

Yes, it can be; If the Government takes over the sales and distribution of this insanity tonic. The Tamilnadu Government led by ADMK Chief Selvi Jayalalitha Amma did this part well. They took over the sales and distribution of this insanity tonic. After taking over, the Government tasted the revenue out of it and was addicted to it. On top of it, the capitalist who control (manufacture) this legally illegal business are from the two top parties in the state. They contribute heavily to the monitory upliftment of these draculian political parties. Now, the Government is in a dilemma on whose interest to protect. The interest of its society and safeguard the people(We)? The interest of the Government and safeguard its unethical revenue? The interest of the alcohol manufacturers and safeguard the revenue to their Parties?

Unfortunately, we know that "We" in Indian democratic Government these days does not include "We- The People". It just includes "We-The Ruling Party", "We-The Capitalist who feed the Party", "We-the Families of these Politicians".

When what is possible/practical is not right, we got to defeat it and make the right thing possible/practical. Many good souls are fighting to abolish Alcohol from this State. The event conducted on 1st March led by Gandhian Ayya Sasiperumal is one effort to fight it. He is already fasting for last 30 days to abolish this. I went with my wife and daughter to support this cause. Because, no Husband, likes his wife to walk down a road full of drunkards; no father likes her daughter to be married to an alcoholic.