Posts

Showing posts from 2016

The Ethical Doctor, by Dr Kamal Kumar Mahawar- A Book Review

Image
“Honesty and Ethics” are talk of the town (or India rather) these days after PM Modi’s surgical strike on black money. Corruption and dishonesty has gone into the roots of Indian systems and cleaning the system is not going to be an easy job. Yet PM Modi has demonstrated that when there is a strong will backed by action, nothing is impossible. The book ‘The Ethical Doctor’ (by Dr Kamal Kumar Mahawar) also talks about cleaning and improvising the Indian medical system. The book has a fine balance between diagnosis and treatment. It goes into the details of what ails the Indian medical system and what actions are required to treat the system of its ills. Right in the author’s note in the beginning, Dr Kamal points out, “Declining values and corrupt practices are eating the heart of Indian society and its institutions. Doctors subscribe to the same value systems.” Here are some of the key topics discussed in the book:- Cuts and Commissions - The book takes a detailed look into the cut

There is a lot in the NAME!

Image
(The story by Dr Nidhi Chaudhary won the 1st prize in "Social Entrepreneurship Storytelling Contest" organised at School for Social Entrepreneurs India , Gurgaon by AL Services) Guest Post by  Dr Nidhi Chaudhary- A Moving Story When Shakespeare wrote “What is in a name”, clearly he was blinded by Romeo and Juliet’s romance and did not have the Indian subcontinent in mind. Had he for a minute thought about it, knowing the genius he is, he would not have penned the famous lines and would have rather  agreed with me on this. In the scorching heat of May 2006, I had been visiting the villages around Lucknow as an enthusiastic Routine immunisation Officer posted by UNICEF. On one such typical morning, I happened to visit a village hardly 30 minutes drive from the city in my chauffeur driven Indica taxi. The purpose was to monitor the vaccination sessions that were to be organized by the area Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) in the village Anganwadi centre. Luckily, the A

Ashamed Of Asking?

Image
(The story by  Nageshwar Panchal  won the 2nd prize in "Social Entrepreneurship Storytelling Contest" organised at School for Social Entrepreneurs India, Gurgaon by AL Services) Guest Post by  Nageshwar Panchal- A Success Story Once upon a time, yes, every story I heard in my childhood started from this phrase and mine also. So once upon a time my niece came to my village from a city along with my sister. We were enjoying Rakhi festival and I was studying my last year of engineering at that time. It was time for her periods and she often forgets to carry Pads. I thought it would be easily available in the village so I went to a shop then another shop and then another. I found that there are no sanitary pads available in the village. Some women are selling cloth patches used during menstruation cycle. It was unbelievable for me initially. Yet I was so away from the truth.  I started Google search and community visits to understand the reality. Whatever facts I found

Twitter's Pleasant Shocks and Sweet Surprises

Image
The Story of 6 Years on Twitter It was November 2010. I had been reading a lot about Twitter  (in Indian newspapers)  especially what celebrities were tweeting. Twitter had captured my attention and I decided to “ Join the conversation ” as Twitter calls it. “Wouldn’t it be a great idea to learn from the most successful people in India and abroad and that too straight from the horse’s mouth?” I wondered. Learning from the best I was right. From the best journalists to the most influential authors, speakers and coaches across the globe, almost everyone is active on Twitter. Twitter turned out to be the platform of the smart people. It was neither the kiddish Facebook nor the ultra formal LinkedIn. It was semi-formal, concise and was like an ocean in terms of the mystery and learning. I had always been blessed with a mentor at the workplace and I had realised that the fastest way to grow professionally is to learn from the best brains in the industry. As I evolved from social me

"Young and Foolish" and Other Mini Stories on Wisdom and Life

Image
   Mini Stories on Wisdom and Life “Young and Foolish” “I want to become young and foolish once again”, she told him. “Young and foolish? Everyone wants to be young again but why do you want to be foolish?”, he smiled. “Because I was young and wise. I only made mistakes and hardly made blunders . I have nothing to regret in my old age”, she joked. “Now I understand”, he began to laugh. ----------------------- "Swaying from one Extreme to Another" "Master what is the most important thing in life?", he asked the master. "Humanity is often bipolar in its behavior. People keep swaying between love and hatred, euphoria and depression, grudge and guilt and so on. The most important thing is to strive for balance as long as you live", he replied. "And how does one find balance when your own mind gives you foolish advice at times", he asked the master. "Inner imbalance reflects in outer imbalance. Breathe deeply to think wisely.

Digital Storytelling Formats

Image
Digital Storytelling Formats ________________________ Brief Profile Dr Amit Nagpal, PhD is a Business Storyteller, Keynote Speaker and Digital Storytelling Coach. He is one of the pioneers of digital storytelling in India. After working for more than two decades in academics, and corporates (including publishing, television and digital marketing), he realised  teaching is meditation  and storytelling is his Nirvana. He is also Chief Inspirational Storyteller at AL Services. AL Services has co-created stories of some of the most inspiring people in India and abroad. He tweets at @DrAmitInspires. To connect / follow on social media, visit  about.me

"Style wins over Substance" and Other Stories on Wisdom and Life

Image
  Mini Stories on Wisdom and Life "Style wins over Substance" "What is more important in your view- style or substance?", she asked him. "I am not a Guru. I can share my experience only. Perception is the only reality because most of the people look at the surface. Only few have the wisdom to dig deep. Therefore style often wins over substance", he shared the gist of his experience. "I am in a profession which focuses on style. Yet I have more substance than style", she continued. "When substance develops style, it becomes unbeatable like you. I used to sing for you- I am in love with you I like your style", he replied. "So men fall in love with style not substance? And I don't have substance perhaps?", she asked. "I had seen your 'style' only in those days. Now I need to add 'substance' to the song's lyrics", he smiled. --------------------------------- "Unless" "T

“Computers can’t learn humour” says President NASSCOM at NDIM campus

Image
In the race for professionalism, state of the art technology and success, one thing has gone missing in our world-the human touch. Our business world is divided into B2B, B2C and now C2C, but isn’t something critical being left out in this classification. Perhaps H2H or Human to Human element in our interactions is what is often missing in our world. So when I met Mr VM Bansal, Chairman of NDIM, his warmth and human touch took me by surprise. When we talked in detail about the unique features of the institute, he especially emphasized about his open door policy for parents and students and the warm welcome they get every time. He also shared with pride, "MBA at NDIM is internationally accredited by the International rating body, ASIC (UK) with Premier College Status," a rare international recognition. R. Chandrashekhar, President NASSCOM visits NDIM The kind of exposure students get at NDIM is certainly a class apart. Recently NDIM had invited Mr R. Chandrashekhar,

"You are Made up of Lights and Stars" and Other Stories on Wisdom and Life

Image
"Of Lights and Stars" "Oh WOW you look so soulful in this photo as if", he said and paused. He liked creating mystery and suspense. "Ahaan as if what", she sounded restless for sure. Nothing troubles a woman as much as an incomplete compliment does. "As if you are not made up of flesh and blood. As if you are made up of lights and stars", he continued. "You know the art of complimenting so very well", she replied shyly. Brimming with joy inside. Trying hard to hide her smile outside. ----------------------------- Sweeter than Solitude "It seems every handsome hunk already has a girlfriend and every beautiful girl already has a boyfriend. I am the only idiot around who is single", she told her cousin. "You know you can never find the right relationship under peer pressure and competition. You first have to love yourself and then find someone who is sweeter than your solitude. Someone who

"Emotional Rock" and Other Stories on Wisdom and Life

Image
Mini Stories on Wisdom and Life Moods "You have two very contrasting moods. I wonder which one you are in today", he pulled her leg. "And what are those two moods?", she wanted to know. "One is as if you want Dating. The other is Intimidating", he replied in a mischievous tone. -------------------------- The Chaos Magician "Leave me alone today. I am in a state of emotional-mental-spiritual chaos", she told in a feeble voice. "Then you have the right friend next to you", he replied. "And what does that mean?", she asked. "I am a chaos magician you know", he replied trying to cheer her up. "And who is that?", she questioned again. "Someone who can channelize the chaos into order with magic. Someone who can move the wrongly positioned stars into the appropriate places", he answered. "You just placed one misplaced star at the right place perh

"Magic happens to you when you do it to someone else" and Other Stories on Magic

Image
Mini Stories on Magic   Magic happens to you when you do it to someone else "You know that you have become my magic, my savior, my Aladdin", he told her. "WOW. And I thought you were the magic in my life. Tell me the story", she asked. "The day you had come to me and asked for help in decluttering your mind, I was somehow inspired to do magic to your life. My guidances to you were my outpourings of affection. Later I realised that magic was being cast in my life too", he sounded calm and grateful. "Oh. This is the power of unconditional love perhaps", she was touched indeed. The biggest secret of life is magic requires generosity. Only when you become generous enough to cast magic on someone else's life, you find the side effect has been that magic is happening to your own life suddenly. -------------------------------- Never at the surface, Magic lies deep "I have experienced many beautiful aspects of li