TQM
Building your house in Kerala- An overview
Building your house in Kerala- An overview
Are you thinking of building a house in Kerala? Have you found a plot and need more information… or, are you halfway through your project, and hoping to check out the latest products for your new home?
Through this House Construction Guide, Askin Architecture & Construction Management gives you an overview of what all to expect at various stages of home construction to prioritize your time and effort more effectively.
We will be taking a quick look at the following topics-
1. Financial Advice and Home Loans
2. Finding and purchasing a plot
3. Deciding on what to build
4. Employing a local builder
5. Building Permit from Authorities
6. Foundations
7. Window/Doors/Roofing
8. Interiors/Home fittings
9. Bathrooms/Kitchens
10. Flooring and Tiling
11. Lighting
12. Landscaped garden
Please feel free to contact us at http://www.keralaarchitect.com/message.htm for more clarification on any topic.
Source: http://keralaarchitect.blogspot.com/2007/11/overview.html
Excellent information – visit and read more to get detailed information on several topics
Buying a 2nd house? A checklist
Buying a 2nd house? A checklist
Urmila Rao and Sunil Dhawan, Outlook Money
Even a decade ago, owning one house was seen as quite a financial achievement, a to-do item ticked off life’s list. But these are times of plenty and now more and more people are seeking to be owners of their second homes. If you look around, you will find many people who have bought a second house or are thinking about doing so.
The buzz around you is becoming so loud and conspicuous that it is veering your thoughts as well in the same direction. But before you get tempted and decide to jump on to the second-home buyers’ bandwagon, you need to go through a financial reality check.
Looking at your current and future financial responsibilities, are you in a position to afford a second unit now? And how do you judge your capability of passing the affordability test whilst maintaining financial discipline austerely?
The answer lies in whether you can bear the two costs — down payment and loan.
Outlook Money’s affordability index could be the starting point of your evaluation of the viability of a second home. This table shows you how the two factors work, and would help you decide on affordability by focusing on two pertinent questions.
The first is, how much time gap do you need between the first and second houses for an asset build-up for down payment. The second, if you have bought one house recently, then the wherewithal for the second house goes down substantially for quite a few years. So, a high-budget house of your liking may just be out of reach. Should you then drop the idea, or, alternatively, look around for investing in a tier II/III city where your affordability level is comparatively high?
Down payment
You have to contribute a minimum of 15 per cent of the value of the house as down payment. So, if you are contemplating a house worth Rs 30 lakh (Rs 3 million), you will have to shell out Rs 4.5 lakh (Rs 450,000) from your own kitty as the initial payment.
With your additional inflow of income, you may be buoyant on your ability to match the EMI challenge month after month for years (at 9.5 per cent interest rate spread over 20 years you will have to part with Rs 23,770 per month for this Rs 30-lakh house), but if your concern is just the down payment part, then it’s a disturbing one.
You need to check if you have sufficient liquid investment that can be used for down payment without disrupting your long-term financial goals. It’s best not to meddle with your retirement savings or even the amount kept for kids’ education. Most people end up tapping their emergency funds in order to pay the down payment, as these are the most liquid funds.
But once you use it, you need to have a scheme to rebuild it. That’s because without it you are vulnerable in uninsurable emergencies. Ideally, use a windfall gain as down payment for your second home.
If you have taken a loan for the first house (for self-occupation), it is most likely that you will take a loan for the second one as well. Ideally, you should give a time gap of four to five years to replenish your cash reserves before you go in for a second house if you already have a home loan.
Unless you have witnessed a windfall profit in form of ESOPs or stockmarket gains or other saving assets having performed exceptionally well or received a gift from munificent parents, this time factor should not be ignored.
Gurgaon-based Rajneesh Malhotra, general manager at Park Plaza, Gurgaon, and his wife, an IT professional, both 40, currently jointly earn Rs 2 lakh (Rs 200,000) per month. They recently invested in a second house in Gurgaon.
“We bought our second house six months after an increase in our salaries,” says Malhotra. The couple bought their first house in 2001, also on loan, when their joint salary was Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) per month. Before homing on to the second unit, the couple waited for four years refurbishing their repository. After they were comfortable with their capital reserves and an enhanced EMI paying capability, they felt safe enough to go for another house. “We paid the down payment for the second house from our savings in the last four years,” elaborates Malhotra.
You also need to take into consideration that besides the down payment there would be other closing costs: stamp duty, registration, builder transfer charges, legal costs and property tax (a second house is subject to wealth tax).
Besides, you need to keep funds for setting up basic infrastructure if you intend to rent it out. The maintenance and operating expense should also be taken into account. Unless you have gained enough financial strength, and that includes not tinkering with the marathon monetary funds, you are not ready to join the race.
Loans
It is quite likely that you would go in for a loan to foot the bill for the second house. A house valued at Rs 30 lakh will mean that you have to pay Rs 23,770 per month for 20 years, at an interest rate of 9.5 per cent. Interest rates are likely to move northward.
So, be ready to dish out more as and when new monetary policies force banks to revise home loan rates. Also, it’s prudent to keep a buffer period in instances where you end up paying EMIs for many more months when the builder over-runs the actual possession date in case of newly constructed houses.
There may even be some additional charges that you had not anticipated. It is advisable not to financially expose yourself enormously to EMIs if you are dealing with an ongoing long-term debt of products such as another house or a car, unless of course, you are sure of a regular or increased ingress of income.
Debt-ratio checklist
The debt-service ratio helps you assess to what extent you can take financial risks. For every Rs 100 earned, your EMI should not exceed Rs 40, and that includes EMIs taken for other purposes. Maintaining this ratio is important as it helps you deal with other expenses easily.
Banks, based on their calculation and judging your repaying capability, may provide higher amount of loans, but it is for you to decide how much to expose yourself financially and how much to keep as emergency funds.
While a second home could prove to be a fantastic investment decision, due diligence is required before you take the plunge. You should buy a second house only if it makes financial sense to you, no matter how easy your friends and family make it seem. When it comes to houses, even two could be a crowd.
What to look for in the Area when you buy a Property
What to look for in the Area when you buy a Property
It’s very important to spend some time thinking about the area that you are planning to move into – and why you want to move there. By considering these factors, you are more likely to understand what it is that you need out of an area.
Here is a list of things that you should take into account when it comes to choosing an area to live in. Prioritize these factors according to how important they are to you. By looking at your requirements, you can better focus your research and your actual property search – and it may even highlight areas that you had never considered before.
Schools
If you have children, you need to look at what types of schools are in the area and what their reputations are like. Find out about their strengths, be it academic or in sport. You also need to consider what your options are if they need to move on to the next level of education in the future.
Transportation
Do you have your own means of transport, or do you rely on public transport? If you own your own transport, you need to look at how easy it is to travel to work, considering the routes that you would take and what the traffic is most likely to be like.
In terms of public transport, find out what is available to you. Check out timetables and routes and ensure that you the walking distance to major transport points isn’t too far away from your new home. It’s also important to get a feel for how safe these places are, especially at times when they are quiet.
Security
Visit the local police station or Neighborhood Watch and find out what is happening in the area in terms of criminal activity. They should also know which spots are targeted and what the most common crimes are. This will help you to assess which security measures are compulsory and how your home security is going to affect your lifestyle.
Talk to Your Real Estate Agent
Don’t be afraid to discuss the area you are looking at buying in with your estate agent – he or she is your best source of information about what is currently happening with the suburb and what the future trends may be. They may also be know a thing or two about future developments in the area that haven’t been widely publicized – and could easily affect your buying decision.
Budget
Set a clear budget according to how much you can expect to sell your home for and (if need be) how much you can borrow from the bank. From there you need to look at the budget in relation to what is available in the area. This brings you to the most important question: Are you going to find a suitable home that fits your basic requirements in that area for the amount that you are willing to spend?
Home vs. Location
Often people are faced with a simple dilemma; get a grotty home in a nice area or a nice home in a grotty area. As a rule of thumb, prioritize the area over the house (as long as the house is in a habitable state if you can’t fix it up immediately). You can renovate the house, but it’s less easy to revive the suburb. You are also faced with the added extras of what comes with a bad area – like crime and litter.
Make Your Own Criteria
These are just a few suggestions of things to look out for, but everyone has certain needs when it comes to looking for the right area to look in. Think of other elements that might affect your lifestyle when you move into an area so that you know that you have covered all the bases.
Source:
http://keralaarchitect.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-to-look-for-in-area-when-you-buy.html
Askin Architecture & Construction Management
http://www.keralaarchitect.com/
Kerala Real Estate Investment Checklist
Kerala Real Estate Investment Checklist
Last few years – Kerala, the beautiful south western state of india is going through a real estate boom. Kerala is one among the third worlds longest-lived, healthiest, gender equitable literate region. Its human development index and standard of living are best in the nation. The hardworking, educated skilled people migrated to different part of the world just for work is adding over 20% of SDP through their remittance. Lion share of this amount is invested in the real estate business and it has resulted in a total revival of the economy. This investment goes mainly on construction of houses and few spend it as a long term investment. Nowadays real estate investment is the most profitable with stability and security. As I mentioned people buys properties for building houses, business, for agriculture and as an investment. In any case the following check list must be a matter of consideration while buying properties. They add value and comfort to you and your property when years pass by.
A) Accessibility
Access to the property is critically important. In kerala it is common that to find an affordable property with no direct road access. Quite often the only access may be through other properties. The access to the property may be permitted by the adjoining holders. But this may invite problems in the future, which will eat most of your time, peace of mind and money. There are different types of access from public road to pavements and it is common in villages having foot path to the property not segregated with fence or walls. Before buying the properties you have to make sure that it has deeded access to the property. If there are no properties between yours and the public road the fewer problems will arise. Without a deeded access you can expect this investment making good margins in the future. Also you may find difficulty in selling off when you are in need of money.
B) Water availability
Kerala has 44 rivers and a network of inter connected canals, lakes, ponds and other small streams. We depend on water for granted and more than 50% of keralites rely on wells for drinking and irrigation water. Though kerala gets good rainfall through out the year it faces acute water scarcity in the summer season. In towns the piped water also available along with the wells. In villages only very few properties are hooked with piped or treated water supply. Depending on your investment plan you may need to make sure that the property will have continuous and adequate water supply. If the property has a well you may need to test the quantity, quality and availability of water. The quality of the water must be checked before you buy the property. This is particularly important when you are planning to stay in a congested place, since in villages the sewage disposal is through the septic system which in most cases may not be properly cemented. If there is no proven water supply you may need to consider digging well or bore well which costs thousands of rupees. It is better to have a study or consult and expert to know about the ground water availability and check the ground water levels in the adjoining plots through the year. This is very important if you are planning to live in that property.
C) Power and Communication Connectivity
Nowadays we cannot imagine a life without power and communication connectivity’s like landlines or mobile phones. In kerala, scores of places still doesn’t have power and communication connectivity. While buying the property you may not foresee a need in the near future, but still I suggest that it is better to have a research on the cost to get it connected before you buy the property. It is not uncommon that the property owners claim that the electricity lines and phone lines are available in the nearest properties and you may get it through their plots. But remember we have hundreds of petitions in the court on this issue and may be you never get permission to take the lines through their property even if you are ready to bear the costs. Again it is costly if the connectivity is far from the property.
D) Sewage Disposal
Malayalees usually gives less attention to sewage disposal when buying a property, though they face different health hazards. Kerala is going through many deadly epidemics like chikungunya, dengue, cholera and other seasonal epidemics which took many lives. As we all like to live and brought up our kids in a hygienic environment it is necessary to give necessary attention on this issue. In Almost all places sewage disposal is through the septic tank system. Most cases the sewage is absorbed in the ground. It is a health hazard and may contaminate yours and your neighbor’s water supply. If wells are around, it is always better to have a test done. This is not a joke; since there was a report recently which claims that most of the wells in kerala are contaminated. You can have a visual inspection of the site for obvious leaks and have a test done on your well water.
E) Boundaries and deeded access to other properties.
In kerala, you can see many of those property advertisements specifies areas like between 10-12 cents, more than 20 cents etc. Most of the properties are not properly surveyed. And if you ask them on the corners they may say like it may be some where here or there. There are no fences to identify the borders. These types of issues have lead to fierce battle among the neighbors. So it is better to confirm the boundaries and corners of your land before you purchase the property. Also you may need to check issues like deeded access to other properties through the specified property which may split this property in to two.
F) Natural hazards and pollution
Kerala have good rainy season with a moderate summer season. In some of the areas both goes to extreme and on worst it affects many peoples daily life. Geographically kerala can be categorized into three like highlands, midlands and lowland. The highlands have gorges and deep cut valleys resulted in many mudslides in the past and have lost many lives. Relatively flat costal belt is frequently facing floods in the rainy seasons. Because of mining and draught of the Bharathapuzha River its basin seems to be little prone to seismic activity, and it is reported to have few tremors in the last decade. Since kerala lies in the center of indian tectonic place most of the state less prone to seismic and volcanic activity. Also a lot of unnatural phenomena’s are reported from many part of kerala recently like sliding wells down to the earth, changing color and smell of the water in the well, colored rains etc… Its cities are much polluted because there are only few measures to check the pollution level from the vehicles and industries. Though in most cases these issues may not be directly affecting your property value but still there are chances.
G) Others
Soil test: – If you are planning to use the property for agriculture you should do the soil test before you buy the property. Also you must verify the continuous water supply through the year as I mentioned earlier. Enquire on the neighbors, since they are the ones who contribute value to your property in the future.
Source:
http://www.totallyproperty.com/india-property/1733-kerala-real-estate-investment-checklist.html
Muhammed Najmi Thayyil
Proprietor of Kerala Real Estate property advertisement, List FREE- House, Flats, Villa, Shops, New Apartment-Builders, Land, Plot for sale and rent.(Kerala-re.com offers free real estate listings for sale and rent in kerala.)
Digicam: Perfect those candid shots!
Digicam: Perfect those candid shots!
TIMES OF INDIA/IANS
Love taking extempore pictures? Pictures without those model-like poses. In fact, many people start out in digital photography taking ‘candids’ — pictures of people in their environment when they are not posing.
However, unfortunately, most of those pictures end up being rejects — unflattering or just plain uninteresting. But the good thing in digital photography is that there’s no penalty for trying. It costs nothing to download the pictures on to your PC and view your results, and you are not compelled to print out anything that’s not worthy.
The trick, however, is to hone the art of shooting candids. Here are some simple techniques that will help you improve your candid pictures.
Get the context right
When you’re shooting people in unposed situations, it’s easy to get tunnel vision, concentrating solely on your subject. But an interesting picture consists of more than just your subject.
It’s a combination of subject and context – and that context includes what’s behind and around your subject. If in your photograph you unintentionally capture distracting or unattractive poles, concrete, or people engaged in distracting activities, the impact of your photo will be diminished.
Go for natural surroundings
Try for uncluttered, natural backgrounds, if possible, or make sure that any people behind or around your subject are part of the story that your picture is telling.
Sure, posing goes altogether against the idea of candids. But the fact is that getting people in the mood to be photographed and in the right environment for a compelling shot often results in photographs that we end up keeping around – and that, after all, is usually the point of taking pictures in the first place.
Focus on eyes!
A rule of thumb in all people photography is always to focus on the subject’s eyes, since that is the natural focal point of the viewer. If your subject’s eyes are out of focus, the entire photograph will be perceived as “off”.
So use the focus point selector on your digital camera to ensure that the main subject’s eyes are where you focus. The only exception to this rule would be if you’re intentionally trying to achieve a special effect through a less conventional method of focus.
Shoot unusual angles
Saying something like, “hey, would you mind moving over here so that I can take your picture” is not that hard, and people often respond favourably, giving you the type of shot that you want.
To make any candid pictures of people more interesting, try shooting them from unusual angles. Instead of shooting people always at eye level, see what happens in your viewfinder when you move to the left or right, crouch down, or stand on a stool.
Try to get your subjects looking up at you a bit rather than straight on. This is especially effective for older people. With children, on the other hand, get down on their level rather than shooting them from above.
Taking a picture of a toddler amid a sea of adult legs can be effective – and draw out an expression from the toddler that’s special.
Lighting does matter
Even if you’re a very experienced photographer, you won’t gain any friends if you show them candids of themselves that aren’t flattering. So don’t spare the delete key.
Lighting is critical to any good photograph, and that includes candids. Try to get your subjects in light that is flattering to them. Harsh sunlight that makes your subjects squint isn’t the best, nor is taking a picture of someone when the sun is at that person’s back, since your camera will be overwhelmed by the light from the back and your subject will end up looking dark.
To compensate for difficult lighting situations, consider using your camera’s built in flash – or an accessory flash – even when you’re outdoor. Flash will fill in any shadows in an unevenly lit scene, and it will enable your camera to better adjust the colours in a scene, which will result in more pleasing skin tones.
Not mouthful please!
With your digital camera in hand, you’ll no doubt be tempted before long to take pictures of people while they’re eating. Casual get-togethers, company events, sporting events, and other situations in which candids are commonly shot often involve food – and new photographers are tempted to snap those pictures when their subjects are chomping down on something tasty.
Avoid that temptation. The reason is simple: people are often in unflattering positions when they’re eating, and they’re generally not in a mood to be photographed then.
They’ll be concerned that they have food on their chin or hanging out of their mouths – and in the worst cases, they actually will. Unless you’re photographing a bride and groom sharing a ceremonial piece of wedding cake, let people eat without the flash bulbs going off.
Courtesy: IANS
How to cool your PC!
How to cool your PC!
Times of India/IANS
Computers hate heat. So this summer, be sure to think about keeping your computer cool. Computer components themselves run hot, and yet they’re not designed to operate above a certain temperature.
When the temperature outside gets uncomfortable for humans, you can be sure that your computer isn’t liking the situation any better. So for a trouble-free summer of computing, take steps now to ensure that your PC stays cool.
Clean the fan!
In a sense, fans are a computer’s most important component. Without them, your computer’s processor, memory, and other vital parts would overheat and eventually fail or cause your computer to slow down or to start behaving erratically.
So at least once a year – and the beginning of summer is a good time – you should inspect the fans in your computer to ensure that they’re operating, and you should also clean them, for all fans collect dust and function less efficiently as a result.
Notebook computers typically have a fan that vents to the back or side of the computer. The fan generally kicks in periodically, when the computer is doing lots of work or when the temperature outside is high.
Desktop computers often have several fans: one or more on the back of the PC that vents to the outside, one inside the computer on the central processing unit (CPU), and often one on the graphics card.
Each of the fans on your computer should be vacuumed out and cleaned. Turn the computer off, vacuum, and then use cotton swabs moistened in water to clean the fins. Also, make sure the fans are still functioning.
With desktops, turn the computer on while the case is removed, and see whether the fans spin up. With a notebook, listen closely to determine whether the fans spin up from time to time. If any fans are no longer functioning, have the computer repaired before continuing to use it.
Avoid overclocking!
Overclocking is the term used to describe attempts to run computer components at higher voltages or speeds than they were designed to support.
In many modern computers, the basic input output system (BIOS) – typically accessible by pressing Del or F2 when your compute r boots up – contains settings that allow enthusiasts or experimenters to overclock the CPU, memory and graphics card.
Unless you know what you’re doing and have taken steps specifically to provide extra cooling to your computer, avoid the temptation to overclock. If your cooling fails, your components will overheat much faster than otherwise – and may even be damaged permanently.
Give your PC the right seat!
Where you place your computer is important when it comes to keeping your computer cool. Place desktop computers on the floor, if possible, since it’s cooler down there – and move them close to an air conditioning vent, too, if one is available. Do not place them close to other heat-generating devices.
With notebook computers, there’s often less choice about where to place them, but try to keep them off your lap, which will make both you and your computer less comfortable.
Switch off, when not using!
“Always on” computing is great in principle, but computers that stay on constantly in the summer are more susceptible to failure, if the heat rises or cooling fails. So turning your computer off when you’re not using it will save not only electricity but potentially your PC as well.
Monitors, too, generate a lot of heat when turned on – even when they’re not displaying an image. Just put your hand near the back of your monitor – CRT or LCD – to find out. Get into the habit of turning off your monitor when you step away from the computer for extended periods of time.
Cool utilities
These days, many computers come with software programmes that allow you to monitor the temperature of your computer. These utilities can also come handy.
As even if you don’t know what temperature is considered acceptable, the utilities will display warning signs when components of your PC get too hot.
Indian arrivals
Indian arrivals
By Nilima Pathak Published: June 13, 2008, 00:03
Get to know Bob Hoekstra, former CEO, Philips Software Centre, Bangalore, India.
I believe in living for the moment.
My motto has been to enjoy life. Things may not work out my way all the time, but I believe in at least trying.
I like action and have the passion to take up anything and pursue it wholeheartedly. If you act out of fear, you tend to make the wrong decisions.
During my eventful seven-year journey through India as part of my 37 years with Philips, I was inspired by the eagerness and motivation levels of the locals. Indians are also very good at accepting things as they are.
India’s extremes of dire poverty and IT success compelled me to write two books: An Exemplary Family in Bangalore and Other Short Stories, which contains vignettes of life in Bangalore, and Our India, which details my impressions of India.
The proceeds of the book go
to two Indian NGOs: The HOPE Foundation and Freedom Foundation, which focus on education and health issues respectively.
Second thoughts
I had to ask myself if I was making the right decision at the time. When I landed in Bangalore in 1999, I almost took the first return flight out of the country. I only stayed because my wife, Geraldine, thought we should treat it as an experience.
It was all so shocking to find stray dogs and cows at Bangalore’s international airport, but Geraldine insisted that we take it as a challenge. We checked into The Taj West End Hotel.
To our surprise, the surroundings of the hotel were in total contrast to what we had experienced a little while earlier.
I remember going to my luxurious office the next morning.
Gazing out of the office window, I saw a neighbourhood that was very poor. At an intersection outside, the traffic – including bicycles, autorickshaws, cars and buses – was honking away and danger was lurking all around. Inside my office there was nothing but world-class professionalism.
The staff was disciplined, results-oriented and
time-focused.Over the weekend, Geraldine and I would do a bit of exploring and go for walks on Race Course Road. Initially it was difficult to get used to people intruding.
Many Indians, without meaning any harm, are quite inquisitive by nature. Since we didn’t speak Hindi, it was difficult to make people understand that we needed space, but we soon hired
a driver who spoke good English and we were then able to communicate.
On weekdays I would initiate company programmes to address rural markets. And since cycling has been a hobby, on weekends I would go to Nandi Hills (about 55 km from Bangalore) to interact with families. That interaction made me understand and empathise with the less fortunate.
I developed a different perspective towards life. The technologies we applied to serve the people in the villages made me very hopeful that India would thrive.
Early life I was born in Eindhoven in southern Netherlands on April 11, 1945 and raised in The Hague. I spent the best years of my life in school. My elementary school was close to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, in the middle of the fields. I remember walking through the potato fields with my classmates.
We would often steal potatoes and corn, build a campfire and bake them. I still remember that taste!
My family stayed close to the Peace Palace in The Hague on the coast of the Netherlands. During summer, I loved doing my homework on the beach and carried my books along
and had fun. At one time, I wanted to become a forest ranger, then later, a pilot. It was all a part of growing up.
I was quite good in mathematics, physics and chemistry. In those days one could easily buy sulphuric acid and all kinds of chemicals. We had a storeroom in the house and I did my chemistry experiments there. I’m lucky that I never burnt the house down.
I graduated with a Masters in Physics in 1968 from the Technical University, Delft in the Netherlands and received offers from the best industrial research laboratories, including Shell and Unilever.
But Philips seemed like a logical choice because both sets of grandparents and other family members had worked with Philips and it was considered the best laboratory in the Netherlands.
The meaning of marriage
Geraldine and I met in 1962 when we were 17 and 16, respectively. We got married in 1967 while we were still
in college. When I was working at Philips Research, opportunities came along and I got an offer to go to Bell Laboratories in the US on an exchange programme in 1976.
We had two children by then and since our daughter, Marieke, and son, Tim, were still young, we stayed there for over a year before returning to the Netherlands. Geraldine has always been extremely supportive; marriage certainly helped me evolve as a person.
She took care of the children and looked after the house. Later she earned her degree. Back then it was difficult to find a job unless it was in the teaching profession. So she worked as a private English tutor. We made many right decisions in that respect.
I remember a remark made by an Indian friend much later in life. He was explaining that the reason the Indian service industry was doing remarkably well was due to the fact that most Indians opted for arranged marriages. “Indians have to try to make relationships work,” he said. This made a strong impact on my life and gave our marriage a new meaning.
Once our children grew up, we decided to explore the world. In 1992 we went to Knoxville, Tennessee, while still with Philips. In 1996, we went to Taiwan and I worked as the chief technology officer for Philips computer monitors business. This was another great and new experience, as the large computer companies like IBM, HP and Dell drive this business.
Being out of my home country widened my outlook. All countries have their own distinct living style, but as an expatriate one has to decide about one’s biases and count on everything as a new experience.
Having travelled to several places, I observed various cultures, customs and habits. I found that in the US, drivers invariably had a tendency to be polite.
In Los Angeles, they readily gave way to pedestrians. India was absolutely different.
A driver in the US had once warned me, “In India, you need only three things to drive: a horn, a brake and courage.” Even my father, who had been to India, remarked that traffic in India was “not normal”. I remember wondering what he meant
by “not normal” at the time, but I found out for myself soon enough.
People say I’m obsessed with Indian culture and customs. That might well be true! Sometime back, I held an elaborate Indian naming ceremony and gave Indian names, Kavitha and Bhaskaran, to my grandchildren, Merel and Tobias.
I am going back to the Netherlands with some great experiences. I’m glad I didn’t turn around and go home on that first day I landed!
– As told to Nilima Pathak, a writer based in India
Making the right choice
Making the right choice
9 Jun 2008, 0347 hrs IST, Dr Poonam Devdutt for TIMES OF INDIA
A career decision is one of the most critical decisions of one’s life. Yet it is surprising how many young people stumble into a career by chance, not choice. It is a decision which influences one’s entire future lifestyle, the kind of people one associates with, one’s prestige and status in society and the amount of money one earns. A career is important not only for earning a livelihood but also for realizing one’s ambitions and getting a feeling of self worth and self esteem.
About quarter of a century ago, the number of careers available to the educated youth was limited. The commonly sought after were law, medicine, teaching, engineering, administrative services, army, business and government jobs. Today, the scenario is drastically different. With liberalization and globalization, the job market has changed beyond recognition. Trade and commerce have expanded phenomenally. With the burgeoning of different industries, jobs in the management field have become very popular. This is accompanied by a tremendous growth in the services sector and Business Process Outsourcing. With a growing middle-class and it’s ever increasing spending capacity there is an upsurge in the area of entertainment, travel, hospitality, aviation, advertising and mass communication.
Traditionally, the choice of a career has been determined by the advice and ambitions of parents, the convenience of a family business or by the dictates of glamour, hero worship and money. Or else, simply by what was available. It was, therefore, not surprising that a large number of youth found themselves stuck in careers that were neither satisfying nor fulfilling leading to boredom, frustration and stress.
It is important to realize that a career is an integrated lifelong plan of earning a living. Therefore, career planning necessarily involves meticulous thought as well as adequate information.
So how should one go about choosing the right career? Selection of a suitable career has two aspects – self analysis and information about available job options. Self analysis includes awareness of one’s aptitudes, personality and interests as well as one’s goals and expectations from the career of one’s choice.
Aptitude may be defined as one’s inborn talents, abilities and potential. The fact is that each person possesses a range of abilities and talents. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of their gifts and therefore make limited use of them. So the first step is to ask oneself –“What am I good at? What do I do well?” Some indication can be obtained by school marks. For example, some students excel in languages, some in Math and Science, others in Art and yet others in Sports. Many children are born with a mechanical aptitude, others with an aptitude for the performing arts. An aptitude in a particular field coupled with the right kind of training can lead one to heights of success. Also, given an inborn aptitude, a moderate amount of labour can produce excellent results. Whereas, if the aptitude is low, much more labour would be required and even then the same level of success may not be achieved.
Along with aptitude one requires awareness of one’s personality. Our personality is the sum total of all our qualities and traits. As common experience shows us, every individual has a unique personality. Some are born extroverts – their energies are directed outwards, they are sociable, like to meet others and make friends. Others are introverts. Their energies are directed inwards and they are happy being alone, by themselves. Other personality traits like aggressiveness, cooperation, sociability, leadership and dominance have major implications for career choice.
Another important aspect is one’s area of interest. If one’s career fits in with one’s interest it will be more fulfilling, if not it will lead to unhappiness and stress. Imagine an electronics and computer buff, forced to become a lawyer; or a shy, home loving introvert forced to become a traveling salesman!
One’s motivation for work is also an important factor to be considered. Are you working for money, status and prestige, power or intellectual satisfaction? It is important to choose a career which will satisfy your fundamental motive.
Identification of a suitable working environment is also desirable. What is the environment in which you will be comfortable – business, government, a non-profit organization or the corporate world? Are you attracted to the high-profile, glamorous world of media and entertainment, or the more conservative field of academics or medicine? Would you like to work for the security of a regular salary or would you prefer to be self employed? Women also have the choice of either seeking full time employment or working part time.
Having analyzed oneself the next step is to obtain information about the vast range of job options available and the courses of study leading up to them. The correct matching results in the right person being in the right job, which is the formula for lifelong success and satisfaction.
Now, the Magic Wheel for smooth ride to office
Now, the Magic Wheel for smooth ride to office
Saturday June 7 2008 17:44 IST ANI
LONDON: Going to work will now be made easy with the portable “Magic Wheel,” as it will not only provide relief from those long irritating hours spent in heavy traffic, but will also be eco-friendly.
This black and red wheeler is lightweight and businessmen can easily carry it on the train or into the office.
The machine consists of one large 26-inch wheel and a smaller, stabilising wheel behind, and can take riders weighing up to 19 stone. It is a sort of modified bicycle without a saddle or handlebars.
The rider has to place one foot on a platform on one side of the wheel and push himself using the other foot in a scooter-like fashion. After attaining momentum, riders can easily bring the pushing foot up with the other foot.
Created by Soma Ungar, a Hungarian inventor, the Magic Wheel is being distributed in the UK by Northamptonshire based firm Parker and Johnston. And is available online for 80 pounds.
“The Magic Wheel was originally aimed at commuters travelling to work. It’s perfect for living somewhere like London where so many people travel to work on the train. Once you have mastered it, it’s also great for weaving through crowds of people,” The Telegraph quoted Kevin Johnston, 29, of Parker and Johnston, as saying.
For a smooth ride, one has to practice on the Magic Wheel for around two hours.
Mr Johnston added that the machine was not only ideal for businessmen, but also the skateboarding fraternity.
“At first it is not that easy but once you do get the hang of it, it becomes like riding a bike – you never lose it. The average user takes a couple of hours practice before they can comfortably ride the Magic Wheel with both feet on the board.
“We have found that it’s actually much easier the faster you go. We have had plenty of interest in the wheel in the UK but I think that once it starts to be spotted on the streets it will really take off. It’s ideal for businessmen on the go but it’s also proving popular among teenagers who are into skateboarding.”
Revving up on an engineering model
Revving up on an engineering model
Thursday June 12 2008 10:38 IST Siri Srinivas for Express News Service Bangalore
THE students of RV College of Engineering (RVCE) unveiled a prototype of a hybrid vehicle which uses both electric and bio-diesel mechanisms. Project Chimera is an environment friendly biodiesel-electric hybrid vehicle based on the electric car Reva.
The project, handled by the final year students of RVCE, culminated in a ceremony presided over by industry big-shots such as Mohandas Pai, member of board, Infosys, Chetan Maini, chairman of the Reva Electric Car Company, Gowrishankar Hosakere, manager R&D, National Instruments, and Friedel Pickard, MD of Bosch E&S.
The prototype, intended to bridge the gap between electric cars and gasoline-driven models, was entirely developed by the Project Chimera team; backed by RECC, Bosch, and National Instruments.
“It is an indigenously developed vehicle,” a proud Karthik Bhaskaran, team leader of Project Chimera, said.
The car runs on a Lambordini diesel engine and a motor acquired from Agni motors in Gujarat. The hybrid provides a mileage of about 40 kms per litre and can attain a maximum speed of 90 kmph.
To accommodate the diesel engine, the engineers added an additional load of 70 kgs at the front thereby making it a vehicle for two passengers from the original capacity of four of the Reva. Another interesting design aspect of the car is that it has the feature of on-board charging and does not necessarily need an external power socket.
This is due to the presence of a supplementary power source. The use of a bio-diesel blend facilitates the reduction of harmful sulphur emissions to a great degree.
The members of the project, who come from Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial and Computer Science streams, teamed up to work on the planning and development of the model.
They designed and fabricated a separate bed to house the system and programmed the motor controllers as well as the hybrid controllers which form the brain of the car.
“Chimera is a mythical creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent. It’s a hybrid in itself and so the name,” explain team members Arun Nedungadi and Siddhartha Saraogi.
Mohandas Pai welcomed this partnership of industry and academia and emphasised the need for innovation. Chetan Maini urged more students to think out of the box, as the enterprising team had, and spoke of the importance of nurturing engineering talent in the country.
Pickard lauded the project by saying, “Success stories don’t just happen, they’re made.”
The senior students of RVCE, who will be graduating this year to better things, were optimistic that their successors would give the project new dimensions.
“This can now be made into a fuel-solar hybrid vehicle or even further improved upon. The possibilities are endless,” says Arun.
While a certain industry big-wig not so discreetly expressed his displeasure with the new airport’s infrastructure to a fellow corporate head before the event, the buzz clearly pointed at the industry’s hope and interest in tapping young engineering talent.
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