Are things getting better?

Well it seems like they are if this article in Mint by S.Mitra Kalita is to be believed.

At the onset, this one also seemed like a silly idea like many others from the autocratic monarchy that rules IITs. But something really drastic was needed to bring back the people to lounges, TV room, canteen, football field, gaali fights, and all other things that make men out of boys (and of course women out of girls). And "LAN Ban" was drastic by any measures. It was like choking someone out of air because one's mind tend to get so addicted to that information pollution floating around. Generally bitter medicines work more effectively.

I had already left when this happened. But I do feel the pain responsible for this regulation, the pain that kids went through initially and the joy that this promises to bring. Let me hope that it works this time, that students and teachers can trust each other once again. My fingers are crossed. Amen!

The Art of Presenting

Have you ever wondered Why Business People speak like idiots? or Why most PowerPoint presentations suck? If yes, then read on.

The answer is not very straightforward but some hints can be located in the books by the same name. I personally have been very interested to figure out how to avoid death by PowerPoint. Strangely enough, not many people are aware of the simple fact that a good presentation will not just be appreciated by the audience (whose deafening cries during pathetic presentations indeed fall on deaf ears) but will also result in higher visibility with upper management and faster career growth for presenters. If only people can realize that they are questioning the basic intelligence and skills of their audience by reading through enormous matter in their slides, situation will improve drastically.

I would consider myself fortunate enough that within a couple of months of my professional life I came across Garr Reynolds. An ex-Apple design executive and currently a Professor in an Osaka University, he was invited to give a talk on Effective Presentations at our office. I still cannot get over with that one-hour presentation. We were showed around 300 slides (as per Garr at the end of the talk) which is still difficult to believe. His narrative captured my imagination and probably of everyone present in the hall. It was one of the most impacting presentations I ever sat through and since then I'm obsessed to improve upon my presentation skills.

Garr maintains a website called Presentation Zen. Apparently, it is one of the most visited presentation design websites in the world. It features his blog and tonnes of advice on how to communicate well. Based on the recommendations I purchased a few books (like Beyond Bullet Points, Presenting to Win, and Show me the numbers) which really made me look at how I was doing things and how I can do them better. However, the books published so far mulled on how to DO things better but not essentially on how to THINK better. Given that presenting is at least if not more an art and not only science, there has to be an element of creativity, philosophy and spiritualism to it. That's where Garr's new book (suitably titled Presentation Zen) fills in the gap. The moment I heard about its launch, the order was placed online. And I was not disappointed. Besides being very beautiful aesthetically, making it a pleasure to read, it works! It is not only about how to prepare better, design better, and deliver better. It is also about how the whole process can be thought through more holistically and how you can look for inspiration in the most unusual places (eg. comics, martial arts etc.). It also enlists numerous resources online which can help you with the content.

So if you are looking for some good advice and inspiration, buy this book. If Rs.1250 is a little too much for you, at least visit PZ website along with the ones like Duarte Design, TED, SlideShare and get enlightened.

An Enigma called Delhi

I always get scared to death as soon as my flight lands in Delhi. I'm scared of sitting in the taxi for the driver might take me for a ride (in the other sense). I'm scared of going out alone in the streets even during broad daylight for I may be mugged. Can't even think of doing this in the night after hearing so many first hand horror stories from my lady friends in the city and from numerous printed articles.

However, this morbid fear of the city seemed unnatural to me as it never resonated with the image of the city I had in mind since childhood. Delhi for me was synonymous with history, politics, food, and beautiful damsels. Somehow I could never get time to go around and reassure myself that the city is indeed where fine etiquettes were born and which the great Moguls called home.

Thanks for the wedding season and for insensitive friends who scheduled their weddings during weekdays, I was finally able to get one whole day in Delhi. Also, I was able to find someone who can spend the whole day with me and drive me around (thanks Puneet!).

First stop - Akshardhaam Temple

I think you simply have to see it to believe it. Something that is so beautiful and so magnanimous that anything I write will sound hollow. So let me not waste my and your time. Best thing - they don't allow cell-phones inside so no annoyances. Not so good - You need a whole day to really appreciate the effort that went into it. Unfortunately, I didn't have that much time.

Second stop - India Gate

As soon as you park your vehicle close to this great monument, you can spot millions of ice-cream, papad, jamun vendors doing great business here. It just seems to be an institution for Delhi-ites (age, wealth no bar) to come here for a stroll, let their kids go loose, and enjoy some chaat.

Third stop - National Gallery of Modern Art

Situated at a stone's throw from India Gate is a wonderful repository of Modern Art, both Indian and International. Inside you can find very old to very contemporary works of art, photography, and sculpture. Again, we were really short of time and despite our best efforts to glance at what's on display, we were mercilessly kicked out at 6 pm sharp. I was not even able to absorb half the exhibits. This gives me reason enough to visit it again in near future but I guess by then everything would have changed again.

Fourth stop - Connaught Place

CP is like London - "If you are tired of CP, you are tired of life". Amazingly happening, it offers a plethora of choices for everyone under the sun, preferably with money! After Bangalore, it was very refreshing to find drinking holes like Q'BA, The Host, TGIF etc. where you can actually sit, grab a drink and have a meaningful conversation without being deafened by the cacophonous music in the background. Then of course you have tonnes of eating joints, swanky offices, and apparel stores.

Final stop - Karim (Old Delhi)

Well now its dark, both outside and inside (my stomach). And we felt that it was worth going to the wildly famous Karim in the dingy streets of Old Delhi and try the great Muslim grub that everyone (from Nat Geo to BBC) has talked about. Given that its kind of inside a gully, it was not straightforward to locate it. However, everybody in the 5 km radius exactly knows where the place is. We had to wait for a few mins before we could locate a table. The waiters were extremely rude and made sure that it is they who are doing us a favor by serving the great Karim's food. Now the food - book a ticket to Delhi now, go to Karim, eat and fly back! Though the food is so oily (they say that the chicken is soaked in oil before being slaughtered :), it is simply heavenly. I can bet that you'll not find better Sheekh Kababs in Afghanistan. Mutton seems to be God's gift to mankind through their hands. DON'T be foolish to try any veg grub there as it almost disgusting.

Overall, what a great day in a great city! It is indeed "Dil waalon ki Delhi" with great character and richness. Looking forward to more excursions there else I'll be missing quite a bit.