SRI'S Blog

    Post joining my articleship, the next 12-14 months passed quite fast. I continued to relish my day job and the evening college. Weekdays were action packed - Office from 10 AM to 5 PM and College from 5:30 till 8:30 PM .Saturday had only office (what a relief it was get home early rather than 10 PM daily) and Sunday was about all play and no work. I used to be an active cricketer and so there would a match for sure. As time passed like this so joyfully, it was time to face the intermediate exams of the Chartered Accountancy Course in Nov 1985 and that meant curtailment of all sorts. Once again, my Principal Mr. B Gopalakrishan granted me two months leave to prepare. However, I had to go to  college every day during the study leave. There were three of us who prepared for this exam, gratitude to K C Narasiman (Natchu) who took on the role of guiding us through the journey. Preparation was intense. My schedule was just crazy - get up at 4 AM , follow the ti...

  I completed 40 years of being employed  continously recently - That was a long period of time and many others  like me would have crossed this milestone in their careers. I wanted to use this milestone to thank so many people who have helped, provided me with opportunities, supported me, trusted me and wholeheartedly wanted me to do well.  My first thanks of course goes to the Almighty for his abundant blessings. My first full time employment started in Aug 1984 enrolling myself as a Articled Assistant to pursue my Chartered Accountancy (CA). Before getting to this point, my whole career was shaped up by one of my mother’s cousins who I took as a role model  and got in to  Commerce Stream - V S Kumar or Kumar Anna to me was the guiding force for me to get into the commerce stream. He spoke to me a lot in my younger days, in deciding what one wants to be and what your liking was and was fierce in advising me to make decisions on my own. ...

    The two finalists had a very different path getting in the finals South Africa They   struggled , narrow victories but they got there with a clean slate. However they had one tag to defend – they were the team “ that never crosses fhe final hurdle “   -- In the semis , they just ran over the Afgans who did incredibly well to get to the semis. SA   was a balanced side and except their captain everyone was contributing. India They   went in to the finals without any defeat – They were mostly unchallenged and except for brief periods against the Aussies and the English , they were in command . One worry was   from the last final ( ODI World cup finals )—they came in undefeated but lost steam in the finals –Again a balanced side and they has three left arm spinners who used the   conditions in US and the West Indies extremely final . They loved batting first , setting up a target and defending it successfully.   Everyone was contri...

  This Sunday ( 3/2/24 ) , I was at a Federation that supports the needs of People with Disabilities ( Diverse abilities ). It was their District conference and I went there to make connections for my organization and leverage their federation .  While the meeting went on desired lines   and as it was about to close formally , a young man who had lost both his hands got up on stage – He insisted that he had to speak – I did not recognize him instantly but as I stared at him . a little more intently , i told myself—Wow – I know this   person.   I rushed up on to stage and gave him a tight hug .           now   wind back seven or eight years back ……. ------------------------------------------------ Flash back but no music as in movies--------------- Venkatesan the person who lost both his hands in an accident was the person on stage. I got to know him through a Rotary event.   I took an instant liking for him ....

  I post this on the eve of the start of the Fourth test between India and England ,   knowing fully well that England is not going to change its approach to playing test cricket away from the Baz ball approach .   Having gone one up in the series   in the first test with a win that was possible due to the   aggressive approach to go after the bowling , England suffered two reverses in the following tests . While the test at Vizag was fought closely , the one at Rajkot , England lost the match by well over400 runs ( 434 to be precise ) .. That is like being beaten hollow to say the least. Now what caused this heavy defeat ?   To me , it was playing the way they did without understanding the match situation and being relevant in the approach that led to Eng losing by such a huge margin. India scored 445 runs in its first knock and England responded with 319 – Not bad at all – But close to 50 % came from the bat of one player..   Ben Duckett – Du...

  The Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team   popularly known as Alert   has instituted   The   Alert Awards   honouring Unsung heroes with   Alert Being Award – I get excited to go to this award function every year ( This edition is the 7the edition   ). Reasons for me wanting to be present are : You get to watch and hear about simple people who do extraordinary acts of selfless service These heroes have no or limited access to resources – be it people or money or material—they simply excel in adversity Through the award function as you hear the   heroic deeds, the eyes are always moist and the emotions that   one goes are hard to describe. But it is positive . The award function is conducted in the most efficient way and so you know it will start and end on time ( some delays but does not lag ) The process of selection   -- calling for nominations including self nominations , an eminent jury evaluating each nomination...

  To a sports lover , this   entire   day could have been spent just following some intense but exciting sports action in the field of Cricket and Tennis. First , West Indies Cricket team did the unthinkable in the second test being played in Australia—In the first test   , West Indies were outplayed   and that was expected . But there was some light .. An unknown Shamar Joseph emerged . He bowled well , picked up a test wicket of the first ball he bowled and ended with five wickets in the first innings he bowled.. Nothing to be excited   but Shamar let everyone know he existed.   The second test turned on its head for the Aussies. And everyone knows the Pink Ball does its bit in the way the entire match goes. It   was a low scoring match ( I am sure we all remember the 36 India made ) and   the Aussies had   just 215 to chase down to win the series 2-0 . However Shamar Joseph with a sensational spell of fast bowling   ( Consist...