Engineering Colleges in kerala

Government and Aided colleges under the Director of Technical Education (DTE) College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram 695016. Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram 695035. Government Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Vellore P.O, Pampady Kottayam 686501. Government Engineering College Thrissur, R V Puram 680009. Government Engineering College Palakkad, Sreekrishnapuram 679513. Government College of Engineering Mangattuparamba, Parassinikadavu P.O, Kannur 670563. Government Engineering College Kozhikode, West Hill P.O Kozhikode 673005. Government Engineering College Painavu, Idukki 685603. Government Engineering College Wayanad, Nalloornad P.O, Mananthavady 670645. TKM College of Engineering, TKM College Post, Kollam 691005. N.S.S College of Engineering, Engineering College P.O, Akathethara, Palakkad 678008. Mar Athanasius College of Engineering , College P.O, Kothamangalam, Ernakulam 686666. Engineering Colleges under the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) College of Dairy Science and Technology, Mannuthy P.O Thrissur 680651. Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur P.O, Malappuram 679573. Self-financing Engineering Colleges under the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) College of Engineering, Manakkala P.O, Adoor 691551. College of Engineering, Chengannur P.O, Alappuzha 689121. Model Engineering College, B.M.C Post, Thrikkaara, Kochi 682021. College of Engineering, Karunagapally, Pada.North P.O, Karunagapally 690518. College of Engineering, Thekkekara P.O, Poonjar 686582. College of Engineering, Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram 695101. College of Engineering, Thrikkannamangal ETC P.O, Kottarakkara 691531. College of Engineering, Pallippuram P.O, Cherthala 688541. College of Engineering, Kallooppara, Kadamankulam P.O, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta 689603. Self-financing Engineering College under the Bahadur Shastri Centre for Science and Technology L.B.S College of Engineering, Kasaragod, Povval, Muliyar P.O, Kasaragod - 671542. L.B.S Institute of Technology for Women, Poojapura P.O, Thiruvananthapuram 695012. Self-financing Engineering College under the KSRTC Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering, Pappanamcode P.O, Thiruvananthapuram 695018. Self -financing Colleges under the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE) College of Engineering Kidangoor, Kidangoor South P.O, Kottayam 686583. College of Engineering Trikaripur, Cheemeni P.O, Cheruvathur, Kasaragod 671313. College of Engineering Eranjoli P.O, Thalassery, Kannur 670107. College of Engineering Perumon, Perinad P.O, Kollam 691601. Co-operative Institute of Technology, Mandarathur P.O, Kurunthodi, Vadakara, Kozhikode 673105. Self - financing Engineering College under the Mahatma Gandhi University Mahatma Gandhi University College of Engineering, Muttom P.O, Thodupuzha, Idukki 685587. Self-financing Engineering College under the University of Kerala University College of Engineering, Golden Jubilee Building, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695581. Self-financing Engineering College under the University of Calicut Calicut University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kohinoor, Thenhipalam P.O, Malappuram 673636. Self-financing Engineering College under the Centre for Continuing Education College of Engineering, County Hills Munnar P.O, Idukki 685612.

Self-financing Engineering Colleges under Private Management Al-Ameen College of Engineering, Pattambi, Palakkad 679122. Amal Jyothi Engineering College, Kanjirapally, Kottayam 686518. Adi Sankara Institute of Engg. & Tech., Kalady, Eranakulam 683574. AWH Engineering College, Kuttikatoor, Kozhikkode- 673008. Baselios Mathew II College of Engg., Sasthamcotta, Kollam 690520. Carmel Engineering College, Koonamkara, Ranni, Pathanamthitta Federal Institute of Science & Tech., Mookkannoor, Ernakulam Ilahia College of Engineering & Tech., Mulavoor, Muvattupuzha I E S College of Engineering, Thrissur Jyothi Engineering College, Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur K M C T College of Engineering, Manassery, Kozhikkode K M E A Engineering College, Alwaye Lourdes Matha College of Science & Tech., Kuttichal, Trivandrum Mar Baselios Christian College of Engg. & Tech., Peermede, Idukki Mar Baselios College of Engineering & Tech., Nalanchira, Trivandrum Marian Engineering College, Kazhakuttom, Trivandrum Musaliar College of Engineering & Tech., Kumpazha, Pathanamthitta Mohandas College of Engg. & Tech., Nedumangad, Trivandrum M E A Engineering College, Chemmaniyod, Malappuram M E S College of Engineering, Kuttippuram Met's School of Engineering, Mala, Thrissur M G College of Engineering, Thiruvallom, Thiruvananthapuram. Saintgits College of Engineering, Pathamuttom, Kottayam Mangalam College of Engineering, Ettumanoor, Kottayam Mary Matha College of Engineering, Olathanni, Thiruvananthapuram Matha College of Technology, Manakappadi, North Pravur, Ernakulam Muslim Association College of Engineering, Venjaramoodu Mount Zion College of Engg., Pathanamthitta Nehru College of Engg. & Research Centre, Thiruvillwamala, Thrissur P A Aziz College of Engineering & Technology, Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram Royal College of Engineering & Technology, Akkikkavu P O, Thrissur Rajagiri Schooll of Engg. & Tech., Kakkanad, Ernakulam Sree Buddha College of Engineering, Pattoor P O, Padanilam, Alappuzha. SCMS School of Engg. & Tech., Ernakulam Shahul Hameed Memorial Engineering College, Kadakkal, Kollam Sahrdaya College of Science & Tech., Kodakara, Thrissur Sarabhai Institute of Science & Technology, Kattakada, Vellanad, Nedumangad. St. Joseph's College of Engg. & Tech., Palai Sree Narayana Guru College of Engineering & Technology, Payyannur, Kannur Sree Narayana Gurukulam College of Engineering, Kadayiruppu P O, Ernakulam Sree Narayana Mangalam Inst. of Mgmt. & Tech., Maliankara Travancore Engineering College, Aayoor, Kollam T. K. M Institute of Technology, Ezhukone, Kollam Toc H Institute of Science & Technology, Mulamthurutthy, Ernakulam Vidya Academy of Science & Technology, Thrissur Veda Vyasa Institute of Technology, Ponnempadam P O, Karadparamba, Malappuram. Viswa Jyothi College of Engineering & Technology, Vazhakkulam, Ernakulam Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Chemperi, Kannur Younus College of Engineering & Technology, Vadakkevila, Kollam. Tags to this topic : Counsilling,Kerala engineering examination, Engineering colleges in kerala, Engineering colleges,how to go for counsilling,self financing etc.

Flag this message MAKING MIRACLES IN LIFE…THROUGH LOVE-Corporate real life stories

MAKING MIRACLES IN LIFE…THROUGH LOVE
By Mr. Vivekananda Sahoo

An alumnus of Sri Sathya Sai University, Mr. Vivekananda Sahoo joined the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School in 1996 and went on to do his Bachelors in Commerce in the Brindavan campus of Sri Sathya Sai University in 1998. After completing his graduation there, he moved on to the Prasanthi Nilayam campus to pursue his Masters in Business Management during the years 2001-03. He has worked in leading IT Multi National Companies managing the organizations’ corporate strategic efforts. Currently he is the Head, Business Development and Strategic Initiatives at RuralShores, an organization which is a socio-economic venture to bring job opportunities to rural youth in the BPO sector. He is also a Director of a Non Government Organisation, “Prem Daan Sansthan” and Founder member of Sai Anandam Trust (an orphanage for small children), Orissa.

“Love in speech is truth. Love in action is righteousness. Love in thought is peace. Love in understanding is non-violence.

Of these five vital principles, Love is the foremost. It is Love that flows as the under-current for the other four values. How does it flow this way? When Love is associated with our thoughts, it manifests itself as Truth. When Love is associated with feelings, it produces Peace. When Love animates actions, it results in Right Action. When Love is combined with understanding, it becomes Non-violence. Therefore, whenever you feel angry, think of love, develop thoughts of love in your heart. You will have peace.”

~ Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

What has appealed to me most about Love is its aspect of being unconditional and needing no requital. It is that aspect of the universe which connects us back to every strand and fibre of the universe; it is this unconditional state of human nature, and a form of knowledge that is always there for us. It is, in fact, inherent in every man.

Over a period of time, living with this eternal value and expressing it in my daily life has been my constant endeavor. Of course, there have been challenging and difficult times in the process of practicing this, but I have experienced that as we continue to send out love, the energy returns to us in a regenerating spiral. Be it in the workplace or home, if we can tap into this huge reservoir of energy in our day to day existence, it keeps one in perfect balance and harmony.

Love is not a mechanical force, which like a software programme, runs our life; it takes lots of effort, constant awareness of our true being and loads of practice.... The entire universe is the playground that allows this practice. Everyone we meet in our life is either a coach or a teammate presented to us to help us better the game. In this exercise, Love is the tool, and what is more, love is the end product too.

Love is not a mechanical force, which like a software programme, runs our life; it takes lots of effort, constant awareness of our true being and loads of practice. It’s just the way I learnt riding my bicycle and doing gymnastics. The entire universe is the playground that allows this practice. Everyone we meet in our life is either a coach or a teammate presented to us to help us better the game. In this exercise, Love is the tool, and what is more, love is the end product too.

Love in Speech Is Truth

Soon after my Masters in Business Administration from the Sri Sathya Sai University, Puttaparthi, I joined a UK-based IT Multi National Company as a management trainee. We were a team of 8 people responsible for providing all support to the top executives of the Company in decision making. We prepared key reports which were used by the finance department as input for billing the clients. Along with another senior colleague, I used to access a common system to communicate with the onsite client and receive the relevant documents from them.

Once, unfortunately owing to a communication gap, we missed a mail that contained vital information about the billing details of an important customer account. And as expected this had a major impact on the entire billing cycle; there was a discrepancy of Rs. 2 Million in the books.

Only a few days later when I came across the above mentioned mail, did I realize this omission. I was aghast and very nervous imagining the possible consequences it would have on all of us. I shared this with my senior colleague and his first reaction was to sweep this under the carpet and feign complete ignorance.

I was feeling very uncomfortable with the way we were dealing with the situation. I mustered all courage and told my senior that we should go and explain everything in detail to our manager and seek his guidance to address the entire issue.

He looked at me and said, “I have been working here for the past 7 years and you joined just a few months ago. It will be foolishness to go to the manager and open our mouths; we will simply lose our jobs. So, just keep quiet about this whole episode and it will all resolve by itself.”

It seemed a very logical way of survival but I knew that there was something fundamentally wrong in this approach; I was unable to bring myself to accept this suggestion. I tried reasoning it out with him but he almost threatened me emotionally, and said that I had no right to jeopardize his career along with mine. I spent a sleepless night. I was sure that if I don’t deal with this situation right now, my other team mates would be affected adversely. And the biggest impact will be on my manager. He will be held accountable for this entire mishap.

I prayed and introspected so that I have the courage to do the right thing. And at that particular moment a wave of energy flooded my being; it was a strong wish for the well being of my managers and other team mates. If I look back now, I know it was a trickle of that unconditional love which gave me inner strength and permission to be who I was and express myself without any fear. The next day the first thing I walked into my manager’s cabin and disclosed to him the entire fiasco. He was exasperated and shocked. Controlling his fury, he blurted out, “How can you all be so irresponsible? This is very disappointing.”

However, we then got into damage control mode and first communicated to the concerned authorities at all levels about this lapse. Then we started working to make sure that the data was processed and sent across to the required department. And sure enough in the next few hours what looked like an impossible task was done. All it required was a little courage, presence of mind and love.

I prayed and introspected so that I have the courage to do the right thing. And at that particular moment a wave of energy flooded my being; it was a strong wish for the well being of my managers and other team mates. If I look back now, I know it was a trickle of that unconditional love which gave me inner strength and permission to be who I was and express myself without any fear.

Later, my manager called me and said, “I was initially very disappointed with the negligence, but I am extremely happy that you had the courage to admit it and take accountability for what had happened. And the management has decided to entrust to you with one of our most important and biggest customer accounts from here on.” It was unbelievable that this most coveted customer landed on my lap despite the fact that I was the junior-most person in the entire team.

My stint in this company played a significant role in living the values that I had learnt during my stay at Sri Sathya Sai University. The entire team expressed a lot of confidence in me and my abilities. The people, who a year back were of the view that I was completely ineffective, were now freely sharing their personal and professional thoughts with me. I was their confidante partly because I believe I just listened to them without any judgment and biases in my mind. This is what I had learnt from my Master, Bhagavan Baba.

In fact, the Director of HR went on record to say “I do not know why, but the students from Sri Sathya Sai University are so unique and completely different. In my entire corporate life I have come across many professionals, but never witnessed the display of a sterling character like you boys have. Parents like me have a vision for our children and it’s a comfortable life, success and money. It’s a conglomeration of consumer durables, all comforts that modern life can offer, a great career and the citizenship of a developed country. Success, to start with is, academics: ranks, stars, medals, and the work, soon followed by career options. But after seeing the students of this University it has made me realize that I would be a proud mother if my son possesses a character like you all. “

“After seeing the students of the Sathya Sai University, it has made me realize that I would be a proud mother if my son possesses a character like you all.”

Love in Action Is Righteousness

It was during the summer holidays, of my final year Bachelors of Commerce degree in the Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya Sai University. The exams had ended and the holidays had begun, but the majority of us had decided to stay back in Brindavan as Bhagavan Baba was there. This was until one fine evening. We were seated around Baba in Trayee Brindavan that day when He asked our warden “Why are these boys here? They should go home.” Then He looked at us and said, “All of you leave for your home towns by tomorrow.”

“One can never digest the money earned in this adharmic (or unrighteous) way.... Any money which has been earned in an unscrupulous way can never be relished; it would get spent in meeting the expenses of sudden illness, accidents of loved ones or such other unexpected circumstances. This cash will spell more troubles in the longer run for you than anything else. When you protect dharma (righteousness), dharma protects you.”

We replied prayerfully, “Swami, this is our home.” He said, “Yes, this is your home…. but you must also go and be with your parents, serve them and make them happy too.” Then He again looked at the warden and said, “Make sure all these boys leave home tomorrow.“ Later, our warden called us and said that we must leave for our home towns immediately as per Swami’s directions. “Please book your tickets immediately and make the necessary preparations,” he told us.

There were no confirmed tickets available. I boarded the train and approached the Train Ticket Examiner to confirm reservation for my ticket from the next station, since a few seats were getting vacant. The Ticket Examiner said, “Sure, but you have to pay Rs.300”. I was surprised, and asked him as to why I should pay this amount, when I already had a ticket”.

He was irked at my statement and, looking at me irritably, said, “I don’t have time to waste. Do you want a seat or not? If yes, then better pay the price and you will have your seat right now. If not, don’t bother me and ruin my time.”

I looked at him straight into his eyes and told him, “Sir, do you think your life will be wonderful with this extra money? You think you can live with many more comforts? One can never digest the money earned in this adharmic (or unrighteous) way. I am not hoping anything bad for you or your family.

"I am genuinely concerned about you, and hence I want to tell you the way nature reacts. Any money which has been earned in an unscrupulous way can never be relished; it would get spent in meeting the expenses of sudden illness, accidents of loved ones or such other unexpected circumstances. This cash will spell more troubles in the longer run for you than anything else. When you protect dharma (righteousness), dharma protects you.”

I said with confidence and no fear. For a moment, there was absolute silence. And then I don’t know what exactly happened, but this gentleman just took out the ticket receipt and gave me my confirmed seat berth. It did not stop here; he did the same for every other passenger without taking a single penny more than the official fare.

Looking back I now realize that he might have felt a glint of that love and concern that I had for him and his family, which would have clearly reflected in my eyes.

Our true identity is to love without fear and insecurity

Our true identity is to love without fear and insecurity. Our higher potential finds us when we set our course in that direction. The power of love and compassion transforms insecurity. For me, life in the Sri Sathya Sai Hostel was all about getting to know people and trusting them to be what they are. And the valuable lessons of life that were instilled in me during my stay there have brought forth beautiful virtues in my characters which were always there, but hidden. And these have now become powerful assets in my personality.

Many a time in life, we judge or form opinions about everything and everyone. And at those times, it looks like nothing else but the truth. When I was working in my second organisation, there was an individual, in my team, who had the reputation of messing any work that was allotted to him. I called him near one day and said, “You are going to play a major role in this entire session. And I genuinely feel that you are the perfect fit for this job. All the best.” That day, his performance not only surprised everyone, but was also way beyond anyone’s imagination. He excelled at the job.

There is a wonderful law of nature. The three things we crave most in life - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are attained by giving them to others.

Later in the evening, as I was about to leave after the program, he came over and held my hands. There were tears in his eyes, and he said, “I will never forget what you have done to me and my life. Whatever I did today was just because you had expressed your confidence in me.”

Life will have amazing and extraordinary results, provided we do things which are beyond the rationale of our views and opinions. There are miracles waiting to happen. There is a wonderful law of nature which states that the three things we crave most in our lives - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are attained only by giving them to others.

Love in Understanding Is Non-Violence

In my previous company, I was involved in a lot of strategic initiatives. One day, all the employees received a common mail from an anonymous email id. This letter, which can be termed as very vindictive and venomous, was directed against me and some other key people in the organization.

It clearly looked like the work of a frustrated employee whose designs and expectations were thwarted. Later, accidentally, I stumbled upon some evidence which clearly pointed towards the person who was involved in this malicious work. That individual was actually a friend and colleague with whom I shared a very good rapport and relationship.

I had the urge in me to confront this person and take him to task, but I never did that. I knew that if I brought this to the notice of the management, his career would get ruined. He would be blacklisted as our company would file a legal suit against him and no organisation would give him a job.

On this occasion, I chose love over vindictiveness.

It was not easy to overcome the feelings to humiliate him and pay him back in his coins. The only thing that I kept repeating to myself was “I am in the image of my Lord – an image of unconditional love and joy. And no matter whatever be the provocation I will allow only this possibility of love to be expressed to all around me.” Whenever I met this colleague of mine, I just allowed myself to love him without any bias or revulsion.

I think, this unexpected behavior of mine dissolved the hatred or complaints that he nurtured in his heart. On one occasion, he came and expressed his gratitude to me, and shared with me how I had shaped his career and supported him. Even though he never acknowledged or owned up his misdemeanour, he hugged me and emphasized that I should always consider him as my younger brother. We both still share a wonderful relationship based on transparency and trust.

“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”

It was again summer vacation time. I was waiting on platform 1 of the Bangalore Railway station waiting for my train to arrive. It was early morning, around 6 a.m. and there weren’t many passengers in the station. It wore quite a deserted look. As I was munching a sandwich, I noticed two elderly ladies walking past me. And then, I heard a sound of an anklet falling on the ground. I noticed that it was a silver anklet and looked quite expensive too; it lay behind in the trail. As I was about to rise and collect the precious belonging and give it back to the owner, I saw a railway sweeper quickly picking it up.

He looked at the two ladies and walked towards them. I thought that he was going to return them their jewel, but to my utter dismay, he slipped the anklet into the huge pocket of his overcoat, and nonchalantly walked past the ladies. Soon, another person joined him. He was very well built and looked intimidating. I got up and walked up to these two men and told them to hand over the anklet to me. The guy growled at me and looking at me menacingly, said, “What do you want?”

“What I want from you is very well known to you!” I said, without getting perturbed.

The crisis, as well as the opportunity, of our time is to surrender our ego and conditioned fear mechanisms to the primary torsion energy of unconditional love that is seeking to evolve us and is calling us, as a species, home.

“Do they belong to you?” he asked, and continued, “You better mind your own business.” Without flinching a bit, effortlessly I replied, “Yes, the anklet belongs to my mother. Hand it over right now.” The man was then taken aback and pulled out the silver from his pocket.

When I walked over and handed back the jewel to the ladies, they were surprised! Only then she realized that indeed an anklet was missing from her left leg. They thanked me profusely, and as I was about to leave, she asked me, “Are you a Sai Student?” Now, it was my turn to be taken aback! They said, “We are Sai devotees, and I just felt that you must be His student.”

The crisis, as well as the opportunity, of our time is to surrender our ego and conditioned fear mechanisms to the primary torsion energy of unconditional love that is seeking to evolve us and is calling us, as a species, home.

Love in Thought Is Peace

I was on a business trip to Munich in 2007. My company deployed me there to perform the due diligence for the acquisition of another company.

Our team would have food together, which would usually spill over to drinks. I was cordial and always had food with them, but would never indulge in liquor. One evening, the Chief Technology Officer, who had a reputation of being quite a boisterous and demanding person, joined us for dinner.

During the few days that I had worked with him, I found that he was always very dominant in every conversation. During this particular dinner, he told me, “You have come to Germany and if you don’t drink beer, it’s a personal insult to me.” He insisted that I drink as he said he cannot stand teetotalers. I replied, “I will do so, but you have to answer a question of mine.” He nodded amusingly.

“How was your relationship with your father? If I am not wrong, I feel he probably would have never allowed you to express yourself. He would have been very dominant and now, you behave with everyone around you, the same way your father used to behave with you. Is this the case?”

For a moment, he was stunned and tongue-tied. He said with surprise in his voice – “How do you know this? Yes, my father was very overriding and never allowed me to do what I wanted to do in life. And I bear a grievance against him. Whenever I interact with someone, I just am the way he was to me. And because of this I have had a failed marriage; my children don’t love me and my colleagues don’t like me. To me, my entire life has been trying to impose myself on others in every sphere of life – at office, home, be it anywhere. I am sorry I tried to force you into something that you did not want to do.”

Even today when I think of this incident I don’t think I did anything magical. All I did was relate myself completely with the person and listen to him, and allow myself to reach out to him without any preconceived notions or view points. Shouldn’t we lead a life that is lived in the joyous expression of our divinity which is absolute awareness and unconditional love. Any other life is utterly missing the point of being born in His Image."

A tranquil mind, truth-filled speech, and a body dedicated to love and service - one who has these three qualities is described as the embodiment of ‘Triputi’ (the Triple purity). Such a one is the noblest of human beings. ~ Baba

Making Life aMiracle of Love

“I separated myself from myself to love myself…” This particular declaration of Bhagavan Baba is very dear to my heart and gives me all the inspiration to strive in living a life suffused with love. Whomever I meet, I know it will be Him and Him alone – my Beloved Lord.

Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” And truly every episode of our life would turn into something absolutely fabulous if only we maintain our focus on this supreme virtue – Love.

We can love all and serve all, as Bhagavan Baba always advises us, if we are pure; if we strive to be egoless; and learn to allow the inner power within us to work for us. If we care for conscience, we can be sure we will always be pure, and our life will be a wonder - a life that is the expression of His love.

The Win-Win-Win Formula-corporate real life stories

The Win-Win-Win Formula

By Mr. Krish Venkatasubramaniam

A Chartered Accountant and CISA (USA), with nearly 18 years of experience in Indian and Multi National Companies, Mr. Krish Venkatasubramaniam is the CEO of Anantha Consulting Pvt. Ltd., Chennai. Additionally, he is also currently pursuing a Masters in Psychology and is engaged in Research in the field of Human Excellence. More importantly, Krish has been a devotee of Bhagavan for more than three decades and is a member of the Sundaram Bhajan Group, Chennai.

June 2005. It was then almost four years since I had taken up a job in the Maldives, a cluster of a thousand tiny islands on the Indian Ocean. Many around the world have been fascinated by that tiny country for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs, no wonder, making it one of the preferred international tourist spots. And I was the Group Financial Controller of a resort group. But to me, it was like living in a spiritual desert.

Being a Sai devotee for more than thirty years, I longed to feel His Presence there. And I did whenever I snorkeled on the beautiful reefs. Who else can create such wide variety of beautiful and colorful fishes, I thought to myself, but I was still missing Him and the company of Sai devotees. I prayed and wished if I could return to India and decided to update my resume.

What Can an Honest Resume Deliver?

As I sat preparing my resume, I felt that I should mention only those details, which were entirely true in all respects. That way I would be pleasing Him and my conscience. It was not that my resume earlier had fabricated facts; but in the quest of making it attractive, I had added ‘flavours’, which ideally could have been avoided. And so, I deleted, altered and trimmed the document until it was hundred percent true, and then confidently posted a copy to Bhagavan before circulating it to my friends and contacts.

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Within a few days, I received a call from an old friend of mine from India. After confirming my preferences, he said that he would pass on my resume to Deloitte, a leading Multinational Consulting and Auditing Company.

He also said, ‘You know, your prospective boss’s name is the same as your God’s name’. This sent a shrill of joy through me, because even though my friend was not a Sai devotee, he did not hesitate in the least to use the word ‘God’ to refer to Bhagavan.

In any case, I sent my resume by email to Deloitte and expressed my willingness to travel to India for an interview at any time, as is the normal procedure. In the next few days, just after a phone call from a Senior Manager of Deloitte, the Chief (with ‘my God’s name’!), sent an email stating that he is dispensing with the requirement of a direct interview. He straight away sent the offer through email, agreeing to all terms I had requested.

This was truly a great lesson for me; it convinced me that sticking to values would surely bring the desired benefits. A fellow Chartered Accountant like me would know how difficult it is to shift a career back to India after a four year stint in a country like Maldives. But here was a case where a crucial career shift was made to look as if it were like going to the next room! That is the power of values!

The wise and moral man
Shines like a fire on a hilltop,
Making money like a bee
Who does not hurt the flower.

The Pali Canon

My employer at Maldives wanted me to continue for a few more years, and hence refused to give me a relieving letter and the experience certificate. I was in a fix since such a document had to be handed over while taking up the new job. My friend offered to help me by printing a letter head and ‘cooking up’ the necessary documents for this purpose.

Again, I thought of my principles and teachings of Bhagavan, and firmly decided that I would not do such a thing. Instead, if asked, I decided I would honestly tell them the fact. Wonder of wonders, I was not asked for such a letter or certificate! My boss did not even want a reference from any of my previous employers in India, even though I was ready to get the required references.

The True Power of a Corporate

A few months ago, when a Business School invited me to give a lecture, I spontaneously chose ‘The Power of Ethics and Governance’ as the topic. I went on to explain during my presentation that following ethics is not just one’s duty; neither is it a statutory compulsion. It is, in reality, a Power. Many corporates and individuals have thrived on values, etching a name on the sands of time. While many businesses have failed due to flawed strategies or faulty execution, not a single enterprise in the history of the world has failed because the promoters chose the ethical path!

There are times when a professional takes over new responsibilities in the corporate environment and faces the task of correcting age old unethical practices that have cemented themselves. I have always believed that, the individual should intelligently alter the course, rather than approach the issue emotionally. With confidence in himself and faith in the invisible power of the Divine, he has to smoothly transform people and practices.

As far as possible, without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others…

Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

- Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

Positive Pressure – Solution to Corporate Malpractice

When I took over as the Manager, in charge of Corporate Taxation at a Multinational Retail giant in 1999, I faced the above issue. The earlier Head and his team were used to the system of bribing the government departments for almost everything. There was very poor internal documentation of such pay-offs, which were numerous, since it was part of the Shared Services catering to five fairly large Companies.

My first line of action was to act on those areas which could be immediately changed internally, that is, operations that were within our control. I ensured transparency by involving the Treasury Department in such shady deals. Whenever cash was paid to any external person, an employee from the Treasury would accompany the Taxation staff.

Internally, the information was candidly documented. My colleagues were unhappy and angry with me. ‘Why should we ourselves bring in such tight controls?’ they asked me. I calmly went ahead with the proposed improvements. The Management was extremely happy with my voluntary governance initiative.

The point here is, instead of worrying about those things that are beyond one’s ambit or which cannot be changed immediately, a professional has to keep doing the little things which are very well within his control. And more importantly, once he leads by example, he either inspires or at least creates positive pressure on people around him.

The qualities of Assertiveness, Intelligence and Humility are very essential for a professional in the course of ensuring ethical practices around him or her. Isn’t it often that an individual faces a situation where he or she is not able to question the unethical act happening in front of their eyes? And what really stops the person from doing anything? It is just the lack of assertiveness.

Taking Stock of the Truth

While auditing leading corporations during the stint with Deloitte, I used to find young professionals having an aversion towards simple tasks like stock counts. They view such activities as too mundane considering their professional qualification. But they fail to notice that these are the opportunities for young professionals to get exposed to situation management, where they can hone their assertiveness and presence of mind. It’s very much akin to a young and budding sportsman who is willing to play only in the big league. But there are a lot of things that you learn by playing the smaller games, where you sharpen your skills for the tougher games ahead.

On many occasions, these young auditors would actually not be satisfied with either the arrangement or the segregation of a particular stock. Still, the client would press them to certify, and they would meekly accept the quantity and sign the Stock Sheet (each stock item would value a few lakh rupees or more). Sometimes, it was just the tendency to ignore these issues as trivial. We used to hone their ability to assertively, at the same time humbly, refuse things that were incorrect or unsatisfactory (you need not oblige, but speak obligingly!). With a smile on your face, with softly spoken words, you can still create a powerful impact! And more importantly, unless you are able to exhibit these traits while doing the smaller tasks, you would not be able to do it while performing the ‘bigger’ tasks.

The Superior man thinks of virtue;
The smaller man thinks of comfort.

- Confucius

Finding ‘Win-Win-Win’ Solutions

One needs to apply one’s intelligence to decide what stand he or she should take in a given situation. Actually, in difficult situations, a prayer could bring the needed guidance! On one occasion, while inspecting a chemical factory, we noticed one of the Managers using his mobile phone very near the highly sensitive production area. Using a mobile phone was expressly prohibited, with sign boards all around, since it was identified as a ‘Very High Risk’ activity. My team member noted it down as one of the critical reportable points.

The Location Head came to me and requested me to remove that from the report, since he felt, the Corporate Office would definitely take serious action, which would most probably result in the termination of the employee. I was in a fix. I thought of his family and did not want him to lose his job. But I was doing my duty of reporting key issues to the Corporate Office, and I thought I would fail in my duty if I did not report such a critical issue.

Therefore, I explained to the Location Head that I cannot remove it from the report, but would talk about this issue personally at the appropriate level in the Corporate Office. I called the concerned person at the Corporate Office and also met him on my return to the City and discussed this issue. He appreciated my gesture and ensured that sufficient warning would be given to the concerned staff, but he would surely not lose his job this time.

Whether it is earning money, or accomplishing one’s task, the secret is to look for a Win-Win-Win situation. You win, the other person wins and you win God’s Heart in the process! A mere win-win without winning the Lord’s Grace is still a failure. When we are tuned to His teachings and follow our conscience steadfastly, there is always a benefiting and beautiful end. It is, actually, the safest and surest path, but unfortunately, more often than not, many take to the more complicated and highly risky path, out of delusion and wrong perceptions.

In the words of B.C. Forbes (founder of the Forbes magazine), ‘He is a wise man who seeks by every legitimate means to make all the money he can honestly, for money can do so many worthwhile things in this world, not merely for one’s self but for others. But he is an unmitigated fool, who imagines for a moment that it is more important to make money than to make it honestly.’

WEDDING VALUES TO THE BUSINESS OF WEDDING

WEDDING VALUES TO THE BUSINESS OF WEDDING

The powerful story of Mr. N. Prabhakar as told to
Mr. Krish Venkatasubramaniam

After building a business for over 20 years and having established himself as a successful wedding planner, he decided to quit a few years back. He was only in his mid-forties, but had grown to become contented with the money he had earned. Instead, he wanted to pursue his personal spiritual life. His quest for spirituality was so sincere that he even changed all his phone numbers, including the landline number that he had been using for more than 20 years! And all this was done to just make sure that he stayed completely disassociated from the business.

But his customers just wouldn’t allow him to do that. Quite a few of them enquired about his whereabouts and came to his house in person, obviously the disconnection of phone lines failed to dissuade them! And every one of them had only one thing to say. “Please perform just one more wedding – that of my daughter. I am not going to allow you to retire before that!”

Some of them even kept a bundle of currency notes – a considerable amount - on the table before they left, giving this wedding planner no second choice! He was obviously over whelmed by their love and had to return from his retirement!

This is the story of Mr. N. Prabhakar, from Chennai, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, who started his career as an Apprentice with the Simpson Group in 1977, and rose phenomenally to what he is now – a very successful entrepreneur and a philanthropist. And no prize if you have guessed that he is a Sai devotee.

But this account is not about the success of this individual, but about the Power of Values.

When our writer met him at his residence, simplicity was very obvious in his demeanor, his speech, and of course his sparsely furnished home office. One cannot help but notice that when Prabhakar talks about his core strength, he is very confident. In a powerful tone, he confides, “Honesty is my greatest strength, which I imbibed from my father. My father taught me ‘Just practice this one thing – be honest. Do not lie under any circumstance.’”

And he explains that in a simple way. He says that if one does not lie, he would always hesitate to do anything that is evil. This is because he will accept his fault if the situation ever warranted him to. But, if a person has the habit of lying, he would not hesitate to do any evil act, since he would anyhow bury it under a bundle of lies, one after the other!

One of his brochures has the title “Know Our Specialties” and lists 11 specialties. The very first one says “Truth and Honesty Are Our Watchwords”! And the fact that his clients have forced him to cancel his retirement reiterates that these are not just fanciful words printed to promote his business.

The Ideals of Punctuality and Efficiency

Prabhakar started his career in Addison Tools Ltd., a Simpson Group Company, in Chennai. He joined as a Commercial Apprentice in 1977 drawing a salary of Rs.130 per month. Yes, you read it right – a hundred and thirty rupees or an approximate equivalent of US $3 (at today's exhange rate) per month! Those days, Commercial Apprentices were not confirmed as per the usual employment contracts since the company’s Managing Director had sent a circular to all managers that no Commercial Apprentices would be confirmed. He had further said that no recommendations for the same should be sent to him.

But Prabhakar’s manager literally fought against this rule. So much so that the management made an exception to this rule and Prabhakar was taken in as a full time employee!

When the writer quizzed him as to what really made the Manager fight for his cause, he says, “I worked for Addison Tools for 11 years and not a single day I was late to office. Only on one occasion, that too when I cancelled a pre-approved leave, I went late by 2 minutes!

“Also, the other apprentices were deliberately slow in their work, to avoid being dumped with more work. But I used to complete any given task on time and was always ready to do any additional assignment given to me,” he says.

When Prabhakar resigned from this job to kick start his wedding planning venture, his Manager, Mr. P.S. Narayanan had told him that he would entrust his daughter’s wedding only to him. Three years later, the manager still remembered that and as promised went on to entrust his daughter’s wedding planning to Prabhakar! During this wedding, Prabhakar had requested Mr. Narayanan to appoint his representative to have a count of the number of people, to ensure mutual satisfaction of the accuracy of the billing, since the final billing was based on the actual number of people attending the wedding. For this, the Manager had replied, “I am going to entrust this work to my representative, an honest and reliable person and that is you!”

The staff at Addison used to contribute a fixed monthly amount from their salary into a common pool to fund their outstation tours. Prabhakar was usually given the task of visiting the places a few weeks before so that they got a feel of the place and its facilities, and to also book the accommodation in advance. Prabhakar always spent his personal money for these trips and was transparent in accounting for all money that was passed through him.

Little did he know at that time that these colleagues would later entrust their family weddings to him just for this transparency and honesty.

Accept Your Faults – That’s a Strength!

Prabhakar confided that the second wedding assignment that he took up in 1989 proved to be a test of his strength. Due to his inexperience and the fault of his cook on whom he had heavily depended, there was a shortage of some items for the last batch of guests during lunch. The client was upset and lost his confidence in Prabhakar. “I just accepted my fault and did not try to hide behind excuses,” says Prabhakar.

The customer told him, “You cannot manage the reception in the evening. So, I will better arrange for food from a hotel.” Prabhakar accepted this humbly. But no hotel could provide it in such short notice and the customer had to come back to him. “Can you somehow do it?” he asked.

For the reception, one of the key items was the vegetarian pulav, for which basmati rice is generally used. But the Chief Cook had told him that he would manage with the ordinary rice, and hence basmati rice was not purchased.

When the customer asked Prabhakar about the rice used, he told the truth that basmati rice was not used in the preparation. Incidentally, the cook happened to come that way and the customer casually asked the same question to him too. “Yes. We have made sufficient preparation with basmati rice.” The chief cook lied. The customer then realized that his wedding planner was honest even if he was inexperienced.

It was 4 pm and was already too late since preparations for the evening feast had begun as early as 11 in the morning. Prabhakar’s face brightens up as he recollects that all items were ready by 6.30 pm in spite of the huge delay! “A real miracle”, says Prabhakar, “something which only God could have accomplished!” A reward for being honest!

400 Not Out!

“And since then, I have not turned back or failed in the last 20 years. I have been performing wedding, one after another, and the number has now touched 400. Some of my friends jokingly call me Nithya Kalyana Perumal, the Hindu God who is believed to bless the unmarried with marital bliss.

Even when he had started the venture, he was not willing to promote himself in any dishonest manner. A very difficult proposition since any prospective customer would invariably first ask him ‘How many weddings have you performed?’ But it came as a pleasant surprise when he heard his first customer tell him with excitement “We have heard a lot about you”! Not only that, the customer was even ready to assign the task to Prabhakar! Prabhakar still wonders what and from where they ‘heard a lot’ about him!

Always Speak Obligingly

“One trait which is very crucial for success, especially in this business is to ‘speak obligingly’ as Swami says,” explains Prabhakar. He recollects how a particular customer had been very unreasonable in his demands during a wedding. “But I was patient with him. Even though I could not oblige to whatever he demanded, I followed Swami’s message ‘You need not always oblige, but you can speak obligingly.’

“And after that event, the same person recommended me to his acquaintances on many occasions,” amuses Prabhakar.

The Importance of Professionalism

“Along with honesty, I have also built in lots of systems and procedures to ensure utmost efficiency in whatever we do and that is very crucial,” warns Prabhakar. Over the years, I have built templates, using which we methodically know the sequence of the events, akin to a professional project management.

“We have a chronological list of activities to be focused right from several weeks before the actual wedding. We have a check list of all the things to be taken to the wedding premises. We know what to buy, in what quantities, their proportions, etc. thoroughly - everything that is needed for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

This writer confirms that he has not obtained a Diploma in Hotel Management. And, it is only in recent years, that he has learnt the art of cooking!

"Good Corporate Governance is a necessary condition, but it is not a substitute for performance. You still have to go out into the market and make customers happy."

Mr. Narayanamurthy, Infosys

The Inter-weaving of Business and Spirituality

“For me, Business and Spirituality is closely inter-woven. While I apply the spiritual principles to my business, my business has indirectly brought me to Swami,” says Prabhakar.

His earlier partner, a devotee of Bhagavan Baba had invited him to their house for bhajans, many years back. The Sai bhajans mesmerized Prabhakar and he was drawn into the lap of Swami!

He says that every single time he starts his work by surrendering to Swami ‘It is not me, but You who is performing this event’. But in spite of all earnest intentions and systems, there are situations that go beyond his control.

On at least three occasions, he remembers, while the family had estimated about 300 people to attend more than 600 had actually attended. On each of these days, there was sufficient quantity of every single item! ‘I just don’t know how that was possible!’ he says with wonder and joy.

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the Bread and the Fish to the disciples to give to the people.

They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of left overs!”

Luke: 9:16 & 9.17

“I always prepare sufficient quantity of food for the number of people agreed upon as per the contract and I don’t try to make hidden profits by cooking less and stretching it,” he says. “In turn, God helps me out from difficult situations like the above.”

Listening to God’s Voice

“I always start with a prayer and never rely just on my own intelligence alone. I always pray, ‘I don’t know anything. I just want to be honest and do good deeds. You control my thought process and make me do what YOU want me to do’. He helps me by giving the right intuition,” says Prabhakar, narrating an interesting incident that happened.

He had a wedding to be performed on 23 May, 1991 . The place was booked by the customer only from 22nd afternoon. But some intuition made him request the bride’s father to take the premise from the 22nd morning itself. And all his staff and the items reached the premise on the night of 21st.

On 21st midnight, the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated. And because of this national tragedy all the shops and establishments had closed their shutters the next day. No public transportation was available and because of the tension prevailing then even private vehicles were not plying on the road.

The groom was brought in a ‘Luna’ (a tiny 2 wheeler), the Nadaswaram (auspicious music) was played mildly from the kitchen to respect the public sentiment, and the wedding went on as planned, while all nuptials in the surrounding areas were cancelled!

“It was not me who did it. It was Him,” asserts Prabhakar.

Threat of Severe Consequences!

Once, a retired Colonel from Saugor, Uttar Pradesh, had approached him for his daughter’s wedding that was to be conducted in Chennai. During the initial discussions he asked the wedding planner ‘How do I know that you would perform this wedding well?’

Prabhakar had replied that he would give the references of some people for whom he had coordinated weddings earlier. The colonel had refused saying that this way Prabhakar would give the references of only those contacts who he was sure would give only a positive feedback!

The Colonel then said that he would give the assignment to him but warned him that “If you are dishonest or don’t keep up your word, I’ll punish you severely, and I’ll do this even to my son, if he does not stick to principles!”

The wedding went on well and the Colonel, used to the discipline of the Army, in the end appreciated his meticulous planning and organisation. A man who had almost threatened him had now placed him on a high pedestal!

Prabhakar says that his only intention before any wedding is to do it exceedingly well and not to maximize profit. “But money automatically comes,” he says. “When the intention is good, the outcome will only be good.” And when he says this you cannot miss the confidence on his face.

Share to Multiply

He believes strongly that when you share, you get back more. And this, he has been doing in two ways:

He has transferred his knowledge about the business to quite a few people, who have successfully launched their own projects. He does not hesitate or feel insecure in sharing the ‘secret’ to anybody who has a good intention of building wealth through fair means.

The second is charity. A few years into this business, he and his partner decided to compulsorily spend a percentage of the profits on charitable causes. And they experienced that the more they gave, the more they got back. Though they did it without expecting anything in return, their business and the profits grew by leaps and bounds!

This is the real life tale of a self-made multi-millionaire, who never forgot to hear his true Self - his conscience, and in the process not only found prosperity but also has become an inspiration to many. Who says one cannot be successful in the present world if he or she strictly adheres to principles? If we look around, they surely would be many such Prabhakars who light up both others lives and their own. It is because of Prabhakar and the likes of him that the world is still such a beautiful place.

Arranged marriages: A bride's perspective........, Please dont miss Arranged marriages: A Groom's perspective coming

The concept of arranged marriages has changed. And, not just for men. As a woman, ideally, your life partner should be someone with whom you can share interests and who will encourage your independence. As with any relationship, friendship is the key. Good communication from the beginning will help ensure that yours is a lasting, loving partnership.



Let's take a look at how to go about looking for these characteristics in the context of an arranged marriage.



New avatars:



Arranged marriages are not like they were, say, 20 years ago. "It is now more like meeting someone through your family or like being set up for a blind date," says Rachna Shukla, 25, a Web designer who had an arranged marriage earlier this year. "Parents or friends introduce the couple and let them talk via phone or email, meet a couple of times, and then ask for a decision. If the couple says No, it's a No. However, when parents are involved, there will inevitably be some pressure as they can't help but give their opinion and advice," she adds.



These days, couples often initiate the dialogue themselves, through matrimonial sites (as parents may not be familiar with computers) and end up being the ones introducing each other to their parents.



"I call it an 'arranged introduction', as the choice is solely left to the couple. I feel this is the natural direction in which 'arranged marriages' are headed," says Chetna Johari, 27, a computer engineer who is presently on the manhunt.

"Another difference is that it is no longer only the guy who decides first. Girls have an equal prerogative to do so. Also, as women are now more career-oriented and financially independent, they are usually not in a hurry," continues Chetna.



What are you looking for?



The first thing to keep in mind is to make a list (at least mentally) of attributes you would want in your life partner, so you can focus better on your search. Depending upon your preferences, some factors that might be taken into consideration (not necessarily in this order) are -- job, salary, educational qualifications, appearance (looks, height, weight, etc.), caste, horoscope, values (traditional, liberal or moderate), habits (drinking, smoking, etc.), location, family background, social standing, etc.



Inform your parents:



It's best to spell out any preferences beforehand, so your parents can search accordingly and the list can be narrowed down. This way, you will save your parents' time as well. "As I have a non-transferable job in Delhi, I would prefer a Delhi-based match," says Shalini Srivastava, 24, who works with an NGO and is looking for a life partner.



Meeting your 'could-be':



Deciding to marry someone is one of the most important decisions of your life. If you are confused, unsure or awkward, don't fret -- so is the other person. Just a few things you can keep in mind when you meet your could-be significant other:



Do's:



Wear something that is both flattering and comfortable. Try meeting away from relatives. Choose a neutral venue like a coffee shop. Pretend that you are on a blind date and try to enjoy yourself.



Don'ts: Don't approach the meeting with the mindset that you have to marry this person. Don't think you'll be sure to hate him either.



Before, during, and after:



Before meeting, try getting in touch with the person over the phone or through e-mail to prepare you, to some extent, for what to expect. During the meeting, keep an open mindset. Relax and just be yourself. Don't hesitate to discuss important issues. Afterwards, think calmly and give yourself time to assess. Although this meeting may not indicate if this is 'the' person you should marry, it can certainly tell you whether you want to get to know the person better and take a step forward.



If, at any time during the meeting, you realise it won't work, keep your cool, be polite, and try to keep it as short as possible. "Trusting your gut feeling is the most important -- if you feel something is not right, it probably is not," advises Rachna.



Ask away!:



It's perfectly okay to ask any questions you have in mind. But remember, timing is the key. For example, it can be outright insulting and offensive if the very first question is 'How much do you earn, both net and gross?'



"Sometimes, information is not offered voluntarily and one hesitates to ask. But, if the answer to a question is important in taking matters further, there is no harm in asking. Maybe the person you ask will feel offended. But, when you are taking such an important decision, you have to take that risk. Isn't it better that they feel bad now, rather than you feeling worse later?" asks Rachna.



General questions that could be asked once you get familiar:

• Are you ready for marriage?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How do you like to spend your free time?
• How do you feel about smoking and/or drinking?
• What are you looking for in a spouse?
• How much time do you want to decide?
• What are your preferences, in terms of food (non-vegetarian or vegetarian)?
• How do you feel about pets?
• What is your family like?
• What are your likes and dislikes?
• How do you act when you get upset?
• How often will we visit our extended family (if staying apart from them)?
• Do you believe in sharing housework?

Appropriate questions on the profession front:

• What are your future career plans?
• How much time do you spend at work?
• Are you looking for a working wife, housewife, or is it immaterial to you?
• What would we do in the situation that I get transferred?

Background research:



Although researching the boy's background might seem painstaking, it is very important. "My friend got married to a very charming boy with a very good job. As he was from a reputed family too, they didn't bother to ask about his habits. It was only after marrying him that she found out he had a drinking problem," says Shalini.

The difficulty of researching goes up a notch when the boy is abroad, especially if you don't have any friends/relatives to help you out there. This was the case with Asha (name changed), who married an NRI in the US only to discover, when she got there, that he had a live-in American girlfriend.



Thus, it would be wise to make discreet inquiries outside with the help of relatives and friends, with respect to his job, family background, age, education, habits, financial condition, medical history, lifestyle, etc.



"You can get an employer verification to find out if he is working there or not. Definitely check the visa status. You may also ask for a proof of employment letter, request a medical test, etc. Try calling discreetly at an odd hour to see who picks up the phone at night. You can hire a detective to do a background check (this is expensive, however). If you have friends and family abroad, ask them to meet him and find out more," says Chetna.

Additionally, communicate regularly through email, phone, chat, etc. to get a better idea about the person.



Previous relationships:



"These days, it is not uncommon at all to have had a previous relationship. If my partner had a previous relationship, I would try and be reasonable and objective about it. It depends on many factors like the type of relationship, duration, feelings, etc. As long as it is a thing of the past and he is now committed to his marriage, I would probably not mind," says Shalini.



"However, finding out about a potential partner's previous sexual history is next to impossible. Asking such personal questions will seem too embarrassing," says Rachna. "Arranged marriages involve the whole family and private information coming out in the open could have severe repercussions, so some may not openly disclose this aspect," says Dr. Bhaskar Gupta, 29, a pathologist who had an arranged marriage last year.



A medical checkup?



"Both partners getting a blood test is absolutely a must. If the boy's side feels offended, help by telling them that you are convinced about getting it done yourself too," says Chetna. "Actually, it is difficult for the girl or the girl's side to ask this, but I wish every person going through an arranged marriage would have the courage to insist on such tests. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?" she continues.



"There are cases where, out of hesitation, marriages have taken place without such insistence, based solely on the goodwill of the family. The boys have been discovered to be HIV-positive later," says Dr. Bhaskar.

"A blood test should be made compulsory for couples before marriage. Today, more boys and girls are choosing to go together to a clinic and get the test done before marriage. Some experts advise on making a thalassemia test mandatory before marriage too, for couples in high-incidence states, on the lines of the Goa Government's plan for compulsory pre-matrimony HIV screening," he continues.



Is he the one?



Finally, there should be mutual consent and understanding from both sides; only then can a marriage be sustained. "It is important that you like your prospective partner enough to marry him," says Rachna. Good arranged marriages occur when the parents support and help their children find life partners





*************************



Some of the Inspiring Quotes which tell not to give up in life so you can learn something from these Quotes



1) Never expect things to happen..struggle and make them happen. never expect yourself to be given a good value..create a value of ur own



2) If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity.But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shine like a pearl.so choose the best place where you would shine..



3) Falling down is not defeat...defeat is when ur refuse to get up...



4) Ship is always safe at shore... but is is not built for it



5) When ur successful your well wishers know who you are when you are unsuccessful you know who ur well wishers are



6) It is great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him/her



Never take some one for granted, Hold every person Close to your Heart because you might wake up one day and realise that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones." Remember this always in life.

for more visit >> www.Punchapaadam.Com

Perfect Makup

Perfect makeup in Minutes
By Joanne Elliott
No matter what time of day it is, or how busy you are, there are certain golden rules when applying your makeup. Here is a short guide to getting your war paint right every time!
Laying The Foundations
Foundation should be the perfect match to your skin tone. Nobody looks good when they have skin the color of a pumpkin! And worse yet, beware of the tidemarks at the jaw line. Always make sure that your foundation is well blended if you want to avoid looking like you’re wearing a mask.

* Top tip - if you use a shimmering mositurizer before you apply your foundation then your skin will absolutely glow!

Dark Circles?
No way! There is a huge range of products on the market for different tones and textures of concealer. Don’t be tempted to go two shades lighter than your natural color, as it will make the darkness of your skin more gray and muddy. And be careful not to lay it on too thick. Apart from the fact that it looks like you’re wearing too much makeup, it may also damage the delicate skin beneath your eyes. Remember, you want to tint the discoloration, not mask it.

* Top tip - Have a good look at the actual color of your dark circles. If your darkness is gray, lightly apply a soft pink eye shadow to the circles before applying your foundation. If your darkness is more of a blue hue, use a light peach color first instead.

Powdering Up
Keep your powder application light by using loose powder and a big brush for application. Less is definitely more here. Make sure that you buy a good powder that will sink into your skin, rather than visibly lie of the top of it.

* Top tip - before applying your powder, try blotting your foundation with a tissue. This will remove any excess oils, and help to stop you from getting ‘shiny’.

Blushing Beauty
Only apply your blush to the apples of your cheeks, and build up the color layers slowly. Next, blend the blush in so that the color looks natural. Remember, you’re just trying to enhance the facial definition that you already have. No matter how much we may want to, it is impossible to draw on fantastic cheekbones. Just be yourself!

* Top tip - if you make a mistake and put too much blusher on, don’t panic! You don’t need to start over. Instead, just moisten a sponge and gently dab your cheeks with it. This will dilute the color and return your overall look to something acceptable!

Luscious Lips
Whatever lipstick you use, there is one golden rule to follow... just make sure that it is right for your skin tone, hair and eye coloring. Go vampy for the night time with darker shades, and keep it calm and cute with tinted lip-gloss during the day.

* Top tip - if you want great looking shimmery lips try applying sparkling eye shadow over the top of your lipstick to create a new shiny shade, absolutely free!

Powerful Peepers
So long as it’s applied in a constant, unwobbly line, your eyeliner can be as bold as you wish. Use lighter shades of eye shadow during the day, and go darker at night. A shimmering highlighter applied just beneath the eyebrow gives even the most tired looking peepers a lift. And always apply your mascara in thin coats, building up the length and thickness slowly. This helps to avoid that terrible clumping which can happen it you try to apply too much, too soon.

* Top tip - blend your eyeliner with a thin layer of eye shadow. This will make your eyes look absolutely magnetic!

Panchaarayadi Ningalude Kaazchappaadil

Friends,

Panchaarayadi Oru sugamulla Arppaadaanu annathil aarkkum samshayam ella annu karuthunnu. :smk:

Ningalude kaazhchappadil Panchaara adiye kurichulla abhipraayangal evide Rekappeduthuka.

Snehathode

CB

HAir nanakku, mudi pozichil tharan ennaveyaye mattu...!!!

HAIR COCKTAIL - Hair Recipes

Yes eggs

Lightly beat two eggs mixed with some milk and run throughout your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes, rinse and you'll see a shine instantly. The same can be done for your dog once a month, except just put an egg over their food.

Aspirin for Dandruff

No problem, dissolve 2 aspirins in your dandruff shampoo and watch how it clears up. Use a good moisturizing conditioner afterward.

Hair Cocktail

Splash a little vodka in your shampoo if you have thick or product-build-up hair. Don't use on a regular basis.

Hair Static

This isn't meant to be funny. Use static guard. Use about 7 inches from your hair lightly. Don't over do it.

Greasy Hair

Powder. Most come in hundreds of fragrances, brands, and unscented selections. Put a little at the root of your hair before straying. If it is a serious problem, put the power on heavily for 15 minutes wash completely, condition lightly, and style.

Frizz-Off

Quick fix for curly hair frizz, always the lucky ones. Use a little, did I mention LITTLE bit about the size of a dime and rub in into your hands before applying it to your frizzy ends. Instant results without buying a product at the Salon.

Lemon-Boost

Lemon juice mixed with natural sunlight will lighten any hair. Just make sure you don't go a sour red head.

Sweet Shine

Honey in your tea, snack or applied as a small amount in the hair will give you shine.

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Bus yatra cheyunna penkuttikalkkai


Accessories needed


1.Safety pin - 1 big
2.Mulakupodi- 1 small tin



Innathe saahacharyathil nishkalangakalaya penkuttikale kantu kittan prayasamanu ennalum avarkkai- itha kurach Tips to bus journey.

Thirakkulla busil vallayappanmar muthal cheruppakkar vare chakkarayile eecha pole vanitha ceatinod arikil nilkkum- Arinju kont avar namme thallukayanenkil Aadyam onnu kannurutti pradishedham prakadippikkuka appo avarkk manasilayillenkil avarodu parauka angott doore maari nilkku nn chila kurutham kettavar athu kontum maarilla appol oru safety pin eduth kaiyil vech irikkuka saftey pin open aaki vaikkane. Ennittum maariyillenkil itha oru ottamooli unt k ta. kurach mulak podi oru tinn

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