Indian English

A Quora question about some English phrases and terms commonly heard in India but rarely used elsewhere had lot of good answers. But the best was so hilarious, I want to share it with you. Here it is:

Let me revert back to you on the same after I have done the needful. I will be out of station this weekend as my cousin niece is passing out from college. All her mugging and all the coaching classes paid off for her I guess. The ceremony is at a hill station. It will be good time pass.  It is also my native place so all our near and dears will be there. Definitely worth using up all my casual leaves.

Soon, her mother will be looking for a suitable boy as she is of marriageable age.  Unfortunately, her father expired recently. Her mother wants a foreign-returned or NRI bridegroom. Someone convent-educated from a status-family. Wheatish complexion highly desirable. Caste no bar. But, my niece says she will be going for a love marriage only. I think she likes her lecturer. Issueless, innocent divorcee. Sorry case. Long story. Her mother says that will be a big nose-cut for the family. She wants an arranged marriage. She refuses to discuss about it. She has already put in a matrimonial in the leading dailies.

But I am suggesting my niece to seriously give the GMAT and CAT papers instead. Because, see, there I am having no pull and we can not afford the capitation fees for the private colleges. And nil chance of paper leaking and the invigilators are very strict. But she says her chance of getting in is too less. But I say, always some chance is there, no?

My niece is having PG-accommodation only so I will be putting up at the Taj hotel. Although, the staff there acts very pricey. But more better to avoid dicey food and the loose motions, and the gentry there is good only.  Their mutton curry is majorly tender.  Fresh baby goats. Order with curd. Portion size is too huge so we always order one into two. Plus, never any load-shedding. Cent percent full value. Why take tension? It is bang opposite to the airport. One just has to cross the flyover. Ask anyone for directions if you are having your own conveyance, but the auto-wallahs and taxi-wallahs who ply there are knowing it very well. It is easier to find a parking slot if you enter from the backside. All the Page 3 type people go there. Last time I was staying there, I met a Bollywood starlet. Very tip-top. Her item numbers are heavenly. I had a good mind to.. ok,ok, no non-veg jokes.

As it turns out, the manager there is also my college batchmate. You can use my connection there. Just give your good name. We were both backbenchers but he was actually rusticated for ragging and bunking. The final straw was when he was caught eve-teasing the dean's daughter. But, he did some jugaad and palm greasing, and got himself a license to manufacture Indian-made foreign liquor. Rags to riches story. Now he is a mover and shaker. For a while he was under the scanner of the IT authorities and they chargesheeted a disproportionate-asset case against him. I think he may have been doing some hawala transactions. The whole official machinery was after him.  He tried to file a grievance but there was no redressal mechanism for such cases. Ultimately, he went on an indefinite fast. Some local politicians and godmen came to his rescue as he is also from the same minority community. Vote bank politics. Soon the whole city was in a bandh. Hartaals every day. Even on gazetted holidays. Miscreants took advantage of the situation and it spiraled out of control. The police ordered a lathi charge. Then there was air firing. Many MLAs defected. The assembly was adjourned every session. President's rule was imposed in the state after many ultimatums by the high command. Finally there was some seat-sharing agreement and the impasse was resolved. After that he was given a clean chit. The CM even held a felicitation function for him. Many many VVIPs. Of course, at the very same Taj.  Later that CM was caught up in the 2G telco scam. Too good, yes?

That reminds me, I should get my pre-paid converted to post-paid to make sure there is no hassle with roaming. The operator tells me that under the current scheme roaming is free but always the possibility for screwup is there. But the paperwork for updation is too great. Every time wanting same to same KYC. Limited timings, phones always engaged, very much difficult. They trouble you like anything but never answer any of your doubts. Tell me, what is one to do yaar? They are like that only.

I need to prepone some meetings to arrange for the trip so I need to rush due to the same, but not to worry,  I will keep you initimated of my progress. Will give you a missed call when I deplane upon returning back.

Reblog: Releasing our First MVP

Today was a big day. We launched our first MVP(Minimum Viable Product) as a Group. We launched CollegeDiveIn to our college. We have been working on this for over a month and getting all things together, making them work, and then watching them break every time and then again building the whole was exciting. We first talked about the structure of  the website and the things which we will cover. We brainstormed on everything we could think that can appeal to college students in any way.

Read More at Codesters Blog

Indians more Innovative than Britishers, but lag behind Chinese

The global economy has been jolted by a sharp recession in 2008 and sovereign debt crisis in 2011 – and there is hardly any industry which has escaped from the widespread effects of an acute slowdown in the economy.

Industrial recessions often results in slowdown of spending on research activities and innovative quotient within an organization. But, in this highly competitive business world, where change is the name of the game – nothing strikes the chord better than ‘innovation’ in continued sustenance and achieving future organizational goal.

Optimism from Innovation in India

Inevitably, most creative streaks ought to falter while innovating in an uncharted territory. But then, failures can be starting point for new innovations; and if creativity is blended with proper execution – it forms a perfect recipe of success.

On this note, a global research report on innovation has surveyed 2800 senior business executives directly involved in the innovation strategy with their company to gauge the impact of the financial crisis on business’ ability to innovate.

The Countries with Best Innovation Reputation

Interestingly, India has been ranked as sixth most innovative country by GE Global Innovation Barometer survey. While 64% of the global respondents identified USA as top-most innovation champion, developed economies like Germany (48%) and Japan (43%) followed the suit on the Innovation Barometer 2012.

On being asked as to how the economic crisis has affected business’ ability to innovate – 77% of the global respondents indicated a change in culture with firms reassessing current risks, whereas almost 65% surveyed pointed towards crunched access to private and public funding.

In order to promote innovation in businesses, a country requires a right blend of environment such as level of government support, trade regulations, efficacy of public-private partnerships, support of private investors and ease of partnership with academia for R&D.

How business perceive their home country’s innovation environment

For India, the report indicates a ‘balanced  perception’ on the Innovation Environment Index that illustrates how satisfied businesses in each market are about the environmental elements that promote innovation.

However, 66% of the 200 senior executives from India that participated in the survey were reserved in their approach when asked how optimistic business is that innovation will successfully convert into improved quality of life for the citizens.

The desire for innovation needs to come out from inside – it can not be bought. Innovation is not something that only large companies can afford; it’s a mind game, at the end of the day it’s about creativity eve in smaller organizations.

Almost 84% of the Indians surveyed quipped that harnessing the innovative potential of the SMEs and individuals can be as innovative as large companies; and this could as well be through localized initiatives and combination of players partnering together.

India's Unique Innovations

Someone once told me that Innovation isn’t thinking about bright new ideas but using ideas from one section and applying it to another. Several innovations that I came across in India truly fits the description. Let’s see some of them and how they impact our society.

Mobile – Shops:

(I am not talking about cellular shops here :)

Nothing new, but I always thought they are fascinating element in India’s business ecosystem which is missing in metros and most countries abroad. In today’s super-busy lifestyle, I find it awesome if someone can come to my house for fixing my gas stove or to sell vegetables. Hats off to these innovators (like one below) which meet my needs and also figured out an innovative way to sustain.