March 3rd is celebrated as the founder’s day at all TATA concerns and is no different at IISc. On that day, the TATA premier visits IISc and also participates in the IISc council meeting that decides on the list of students who are to be conferred the Doctorate degree, in addition to many items on the agenda.
The TATA premier also makes it a point to visit one or two of the departments and learn about the latest research that is taking place there. It was the turn of my department that year, to be blessed by Tata’s visit. These are not announced earlier and are chosen on the fly by Tata himself. I was in the last year of my research and was in the process of writing my thesis. I was off for lunch and had left some unfinished work on the desk hoping that I will be back in an hour and would resume work.
During my absence, i.e., during the lunch hour Tata paid a visit to our department. After having a look at the experimental labs he asked for visiting the research students’ work area. When he came over to that place, he observed that many of the desks had no books or research material on them and that one of them was unusually cluttered. He enquired about the number of active research students and found to his dismay that there were more than one in the finishing stages.
Looking at the cluttered desk he commented saying that that particular student was very organized in the brain and could multitask with ease. He also told the others around that a clean desk only proves that the person is doing research like an office job – 9 to 5 and not fully involved in it. He further expounded on the cluttered desk and said that one could pick any paper from the desk and pose a question and that the particular student would probably provide explanation instantaneously. He also mentioned that it would be possible for only those who are very systematic in their thought process.
He left the department and went over to the next one. I just returned from lunch and there was all praise showered on me by the Head of office staff who accompanied the other professors when Tata visited our place. I sought further explanation for the praise and she explained to me all that Tata said while looking at my desk.
After this incident, I really don’t take it an insult when someone tells me that my desk is cluttered!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Self Worth
After my PhD from IISc, I was to go to University of Tokyo for my post-doctoral work. The professor who had examined my thesis had recommended me for the JSPS Fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Japan. After having learnt that I will be going to Japan (very unusual), I began to collect information on Japan. Would like you to visualize the difficulty because it was before the search engines and internet made their presence.
One such data point that I collected and one that was reinforced by all, including my knowledge of geography), was the fact that it is a land of earthquakes and that it could happen anytime. Little did anyone know of the advancements that Japan has made in this regard!!
This had raised enough of concern in me that I decided to insure my life before leaving for Japan. Accordingly, I met a LIC agent and took an endowment policy for RS. 50,000/- and paid the first premium and informed my husband that he should pay the second premium without any delay. At that point of time, I thought it was a large amount and was even convinced that it would be useful to my family, in case something happens to me while at Japan.
A few days, later, just before the final departure to Japan, I received the health and life insurance offered to me by the government of Japan as part of the fellowship. I casually gazed through the pages and stopped at a figure that took me some time to comprehend. I could not believe my eyes when I learnt that the Government of Japan had insured my life for 3 crores ( do not remember if it was in Rupees or in Yen, either way it is a large amount). It took me a while to understand the whole concept behind insuring one’s life because I was not convinced with that figure as I thought it was too much for someone like me who had no explicit value. I did not have a job and earned nothing and so had seen myself only as a liability and not as an asset.
But that number kept haunting me and I somehow started believing that the probability of imminent death was proportionally high. Little did I understand the insurance business, those days!!!!
One such data point that I collected and one that was reinforced by all, including my knowledge of geography), was the fact that it is a land of earthquakes and that it could happen anytime. Little did anyone know of the advancements that Japan has made in this regard!!
This had raised enough of concern in me that I decided to insure my life before leaving for Japan. Accordingly, I met a LIC agent and took an endowment policy for RS. 50,000/- and paid the first premium and informed my husband that he should pay the second premium without any delay. At that point of time, I thought it was a large amount and was even convinced that it would be useful to my family, in case something happens to me while at Japan.
A few days, later, just before the final departure to Japan, I received the health and life insurance offered to me by the government of Japan as part of the fellowship. I casually gazed through the pages and stopped at a figure that took me some time to comprehend. I could not believe my eyes when I learnt that the Government of Japan had insured my life for 3 crores ( do not remember if it was in Rupees or in Yen, either way it is a large amount). It took me a while to understand the whole concept behind insuring one’s life because I was not convinced with that figure as I thought it was too much for someone like me who had no explicit value. I did not have a job and earned nothing and so had seen myself only as a liability and not as an asset.
But that number kept haunting me and I somehow started believing that the probability of imminent death was proportionally high. Little did I understand the insurance business, those days!!!!
Trust and Trustworthiness
After my PhD from IISc, I was to go to University of Tokyo for my post-doctoral work. Prof. Toshio Yamagata who had examined my thesis had recommended me for the JSPS Fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Japan. He had even made all necessary arrangements for my stay.
Just before leaving for Japan, I was asked by the JSPS officials as to how I would like to receive my relocation and initial settlement expenses and the choices given were - deposit into an international bank account; collect it at their office after arrival in Japan; and collect it from the Professor to whom they would have paid, if one chose that option. It was the year 1993 and we had no concept of international bank account and as I would require money as soon as I land I chose to collect it from the professor and responded saying so.
I landed there in Tokyo on a Saturday afternoon, spent the Sunday brooding and went to the university on Monday morning along with a co-researcher from the same residential complex. Met the professor and his secretary and began working on all the formalities that needed to be completed, the most important one (according to the professor) being opening of a bank account and depositing the money given to him by JSPS.
After a few days, when our acquaintance improved and we were more friendlier my professor told me that I was the only one who has placed so much trust on him. I could not understand the context and so asked him for explanation. He pointed to the choice that I had made and explained to me the importance that Japanese place on trust and trustworthiness. He also said that by this simple act I had won his trust. I could visibly perceive this in all our interactions.
While I had not paid any attention to that aspect until then, I took note of it. As I observe myself, I trust everyone to begin with. It is only when someone breaks the trust that I re-think about my indulgence with them. Many have advised me in this regard and have requested that I change my way, but this single incident reinforces my belief in trusting people and building trustworthiness.
Just before leaving for Japan, I was asked by the JSPS officials as to how I would like to receive my relocation and initial settlement expenses and the choices given were - deposit into an international bank account; collect it at their office after arrival in Japan; and collect it from the Professor to whom they would have paid, if one chose that option. It was the year 1993 and we had no concept of international bank account and as I would require money as soon as I land I chose to collect it from the professor and responded saying so.
I landed there in Tokyo on a Saturday afternoon, spent the Sunday brooding and went to the university on Monday morning along with a co-researcher from the same residential complex. Met the professor and his secretary and began working on all the formalities that needed to be completed, the most important one (according to the professor) being opening of a bank account and depositing the money given to him by JSPS.
After a few days, when our acquaintance improved and we were more friendlier my professor told me that I was the only one who has placed so much trust on him. I could not understand the context and so asked him for explanation. He pointed to the choice that I had made and explained to me the importance that Japanese place on trust and trustworthiness. He also said that by this simple act I had won his trust. I could visibly perceive this in all our interactions.
While I had not paid any attention to that aspect until then, I took note of it. As I observe myself, I trust everyone to begin with. It is only when someone breaks the trust that I re-think about my indulgence with them. Many have advised me in this regard and have requested that I change my way, but this single incident reinforces my belief in trusting people and building trustworthiness.
Dressing Sense
It was a dull Thursday afternoon on Commercial Street when there wasn’t much crowd and more than half the shops closed for lunch. A young man and a lady in their mid twenties walked into one of the shops and asked to show gift articles. The staff in the shop were reluctant to do so and kept showing something very trivial and uninteresting. The two walked out of this shop and entered another to try their luck. The treatment meted out to them was exactly the same. After similar experiences at a few more shops, they stopped to figure out the reason for such an apathy being shown by the shop owners. They then happened to get a glimpse of themselves in the mirror in front of one such store. It struck them immediately that they both looked like rag pickers and such people are obviously not welcome in such places.
The people in the story happen to be me and my colleague in the year 1987. We were both carrying out research at IISC, Bangalore. One of the staff members in the department was getting married that day and we were given the responsibility of bringing the gift for the RS. 1500/- that was collected. We had set out to Commercial Street on my colleague’s bike and sped fast. As a result our hair was all messed up and we weren’t in great clothes suited for the people who tend to shop at that location.
Some of you might be aware that the dressing sense in most academic / research institutions is one that receives the least attention. You could see people walking around with old faded, sometimes torn, clothes with slippers and most notably – a sling bag to their side. They are a class onto themselves who give higher priority to intellectual capability and do not mind the appearance.
Will such an argument hold good for the corporate sector? Am sure all are aware of the answer.
Circumstances apart, one is required to be dressed for the occasion. That is to say, one is not welcome with a gorgeous outfit, with all the finery and associated accessories, at workplace nor is the reverse acceptable. Every situation and every event has an unwritten dress code and it is imperative that one abides by it so as to avoid being the odd person out. It is to be remembered that this dress sense and the implicit dress code is different across different cultures. However, if suffices to say that, one needs to keep the situation and the others in mind while choosing an apparel, the ground rule being – simple and graceful.
While I have given the ground rules, it is necessary that the same is perceived by all. One is even expected to dress as per one’s social status. Would like to share a story to that effect.
After my successful completion of PhD form IISc, I was awarded the JSPS Fellowship at the University of Tokyo by the Department of Science and Education, Government of Japan. This was the year 1993. While on my way to avail of this, I presented myself at the Business Class counter of the Singapore Airlines at Chennai airport. The airlines guy at the counter very politely showed me to the economy class counter. I was the only one in the queue and so it was obvious that he was indicating to me. However, I stood my place and waited for him to issue me a boarding pass. He gestured about thrice to me and finally took notice of the color of the pouch that held the tickets in place. He was totally embarrassed when he realized his mistake. The fellowship entitled me to travel business class. He quickly covered up his wrong estimate and did the needful. He even accepted 40 kgs of my luggage, though the official limit was only 30. He then walked me down to the recreation space for the raffles’ class members and ensured that someone attended to me immediately. He went out of his way to cover up the embarrassment that he had caused. In this case, I was very neatly dressed and very presentable, unlike the earlier episode. However, one travelling business class is expected to be very modern and exhibit their economic status very explicitly, which I learnt after seeing the other business class passengers. In this case too, I failed to meet the expectations. Probably, I would never!!!
The people in the story happen to be me and my colleague in the year 1987. We were both carrying out research at IISC, Bangalore. One of the staff members in the department was getting married that day and we were given the responsibility of bringing the gift for the RS. 1500/- that was collected. We had set out to Commercial Street on my colleague’s bike and sped fast. As a result our hair was all messed up and we weren’t in great clothes suited for the people who tend to shop at that location.
Some of you might be aware that the dressing sense in most academic / research institutions is one that receives the least attention. You could see people walking around with old faded, sometimes torn, clothes with slippers and most notably – a sling bag to their side. They are a class onto themselves who give higher priority to intellectual capability and do not mind the appearance.
Will such an argument hold good for the corporate sector? Am sure all are aware of the answer.
Circumstances apart, one is required to be dressed for the occasion. That is to say, one is not welcome with a gorgeous outfit, with all the finery and associated accessories, at workplace nor is the reverse acceptable. Every situation and every event has an unwritten dress code and it is imperative that one abides by it so as to avoid being the odd person out. It is to be remembered that this dress sense and the implicit dress code is different across different cultures. However, if suffices to say that, one needs to keep the situation and the others in mind while choosing an apparel, the ground rule being – simple and graceful.
While I have given the ground rules, it is necessary that the same is perceived by all. One is even expected to dress as per one’s social status. Would like to share a story to that effect.
After my successful completion of PhD form IISc, I was awarded the JSPS Fellowship at the University of Tokyo by the Department of Science and Education, Government of Japan. This was the year 1993. While on my way to avail of this, I presented myself at the Business Class counter of the Singapore Airlines at Chennai airport. The airlines guy at the counter very politely showed me to the economy class counter. I was the only one in the queue and so it was obvious that he was indicating to me. However, I stood my place and waited for him to issue me a boarding pass. He gestured about thrice to me and finally took notice of the color of the pouch that held the tickets in place. He was totally embarrassed when he realized his mistake. The fellowship entitled me to travel business class. He quickly covered up his wrong estimate and did the needful. He even accepted 40 kgs of my luggage, though the official limit was only 30. He then walked me down to the recreation space for the raffles’ class members and ensured that someone attended to me immediately. He went out of his way to cover up the embarrassment that he had caused. In this case, I was very neatly dressed and very presentable, unlike the earlier episode. However, one travelling business class is expected to be very modern and exhibit their economic status very explicitly, which I learnt after seeing the other business class passengers. In this case too, I failed to meet the expectations. Probably, I would never!!!
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