Entrepreneurship is like college life

Well though I haven’t been an entrepreneur as yet but my dear friend Nirav Manek is currently one and the idea of comparing the college life and entrepreneurial experience was given by another of my dear friends Sanjog.... And as I promised her I would write a blog about the topic, so here is the same........

Yes its true, staring your own set up is very much a journey like a college, the only difference is the college life ends while in most cases there is no end to entrepreneurial journey.

When we start our college life, there are a mixed set of feelings amongst us varying from fear, anxiety, curiosity to excitement about the new stage of life that we are supposed to enter, same is the case with our own venture, there are a mixed set of feelings and we hope of sailing through the tough times and be successful at the end of the day.

In college the first month goes the toughest and also at the same time we learn many new things during this period, while the learning continues throughout the college life, the tough period seems to settle down as we get more acquainted with the schedule of the education, knowhow of the things and off course the friends we make during the journey. Same is with starting a business, the staring part is the toughest as everything is new and unexplored and a lot of challenges and hurdles are faced by us and slowly and steadily as we move forward we are in the groove of the things and then we start taking control of the situations and ultimately sail through the tough weather of tensions and problems.

During college we get accustomed to freedom as we don’t have any responsibility on our shoulders and studies are just a part of the college life with most of the time being spent with friends and other group activities. Entrepreneurs are also free in the terms that they are responsible only for themselves and not anyone else, they can work as per their wish and do what they want with hardly anyone to question their logic, they again do not follow any strict time frames or schedules and enjoy their work life like their college life.

While the major difference as I told you earlier is that college life ends at a certain point of time, but the entrepreneurial journey is a never ending process and we keep on learning some new things on each day of our experience that is valuable for future.

One of the irony amongst the two concepts is most of us have to enter college lives as a way of living to move forward and don’t want it to end but have no control over it as it has to end, while entrepreneurs select their path by their own choices and passion and they also don’t want to end their journey.

A Brief about Anna's movement

The Lokpal bill was not passed since the last 42 years by the upper house ie the Rajya Sabha in parliament, however it was introduced ten times but not cleared.

A group India against corruption was formed in 2010 that comprised of social workers like Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi etc. they drafted a new Jan Lokpal bill with the help of Justice Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhusahn and advocate Prashnat Bhushan and had demanded from the government that this bill should be passed.

While Anna Hazare had declared his fast for the implementation of the bill government didn’t paid heed to the same. The group also met Prime Minister but the PM only said that till 13 May nothing could be done as assembly elections would be going on in 5 states. The group was disappointed and decided to go ahead with their protest.

Just before the fast the group also met National advisory council under the chairmanship of Sonia Gandhi, but they offered that the matters above rs 10 lakh should only be considered under this act, Hazare refused for the same.

As he sat on fast on April 5, he received a mammoth support throughout the country especially metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi , Banglore, Hyderabad, Kolkata etc. Many people had sat on indefinite fast along with Anna to show their solidarity and support.

On the second day itself Sharad Pawar who was in the Group of Ministers formed by the government to check corruption had to quit the seat due to public pressure.

The electronic media picked up the issue from the first day and Anna became a celebrity adding more weightage to his points. He was the topic for the country to talk for almost four days of his fasting and he finally broke his fats on April 8.

Print media also supported ably and as a result of the media and public pressure government had to bow down and a committed of 10 members – five from government and five from civil society was formed to discuss the bill and it was promised that the bill would be passed till 30 June.

Many Bollywood celebrities like Anupam Kher, Amir Khan, Shabana azmi, Urmila Matondkar joined the protest and visited Anna Hazare.

Anna has also threatened that if the bill is not passed till 15 Aug he would go on a hunger strike again.

Committee members form civil society

Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan

Committee members from government side

Pranad Mukharjee – Chair person, Kapil Sibal, Salman Khursheed, P.Chidambaram, Verrapa Moily

My 22nd grand amazing and surprising birthday

It was 22^nd birthday. The gift was not a surprise as I had already expressed my requirement. On 23 night I had to forcefully attend a marriage ceremony at Raghuleela. As a result of which I reached my place at exactly 12 am. Pooja had called me once and told that Prathik was waiting for e near my place. As I reached home I called him but he said he was in Vasai and was not coming. Then suddenly Nirav and Patel came to my place which I had not expected though was a pleasant surprise. As they entered my room they gave me as surprise gift. A chocolate flavor on the suggestion and choice of my gf. Soon in the night and Nirav was dozing off leaving me and Patel. We however fought with sleep till about 4 am and then our eyes finally gave in. the highlight of the session was advices given by Patel to use the chocolate flavor gift.

So that was the first session of my birthday. The next session saw the entry of other people like Sanjog, Anky, Prathik and Pooja. So that was it Pari had missed out due to her unplanned Gujarat trip and Nicky had missed out due to her late sleep. We cut pastry; I really don’t remember the flavor as I had not liked it. Then there was some photo session and then we headed for hunting for a roadside Idli-wada vendor. I suppose luck was not in my side and the regular vendor had not appeared on that day. After a discussion we went to Rujuta restaurant for a light breakfast, however some people mistook t for a heavy one leading to a bill of Rs 225. In the meanwhile hints from everyone meant that I almost knew my day plan, mostly I and my girl friend were going to a resort for the entire day. This was the end of second session.

I was left alone with my gf at Malad and then begun one of my most liked, interesting and frustrating session. To start with my gf was red with anger as I knew about her surprise. Then we went to Marve beach and committed what I can easily call one of the most stupid mistakes I have committed for a longer period of time. We purchased ferry tickets for 70 rupees (35 per head) and sat in the ferry going towards Essel world. After a brief photographic session we realized we were in the wrong ferry. Till the time we spoke to the helper in the ferry it was too late and the only thing left was to alight at Gorai and then take a ferry back to Manori. But as we reached Gorai my gf was excited to visit the Pagoda and I had to give in to her demands. What I thought was a 15 minute visit turned out to be a one and a half hour tour. My frustration level had already gone up till the time we sat in the ferry for Marve. An inquiry call to Manoribel resort made me realize the cheapest room which we were looking for was already occupied.

Mf gf to calm me down by offering another resort number. As we reached Marve the ferry to Manori was already about to leave. We got in the ferry and alighted to Manori. The expense of the ticket was just a meager 2 rs per head. That was a straight loss of 70 rupees during a cash-strapped period. We took an ST bus from Manori jetty and finally decided to go to Manori beach. But that was not our destiny and we alighted way ahead of the beach making it logically impossible walking from the stop to the beach. That left us walking in the jungle and my mind had given up on all the hopes of any privacy throughout the day. But then like an oasis we saw Palm Beach resort and inquired about the rates. They were a paltry 735 for 10 am to 6pm. We reached there at around 2.30 pm and the host showing his generosity allowed us to stay there till 9 pm. To add to it I took a membership card which would provide me a 10 percent discount during my next visit.

After a walk of 2 minutes we finally entered our room where we would be alone for the next 6 hours. So that was the destiny we had achieved. Though it was not easy but as it is said great things are never easily achieved and this was one of it.

What happen inside the room is not a thing I would like to publicly mention in this blog, so we would fast forward the day to 9 pm and our exit from the resort. A great place, which would definitely see me visiting it in the future.

So this was about it, as far as my 22^nd birthday is concerned. Thanks a lot to the entire Polla group for making my day and life wonderful…………..

So close yet so far meeting Bal Thackeray face to face

I still regret about the only chance destiny had given me to see and meet the Shivsena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. No I am not a big fan of his that I would do anything to meet him, but still no one would be a fan of Dawood Ibrahim or for that matter our Prime Minister but would be interested to meet them if given an opportunity.

It was the case with me, opportunity was provided, as I had to cover an assignment of interviewing Suhas Khamkar a body builder from Mumbai who had won gold at Mr. Asia Championship. Fortunately he was a Sena fan and decided to visit Matoshree after coming to Mumbai. I along with my photographer were waiting outside Matoshree at Bandra and we had planned to get in with them as individually we would not have been allowed.

And then was the moment, I had entered Matoshree with my photographer after Suhas Khamkar's car went in. Many people haven't had this opportunity even after two to three year of their journalistic career but I was living it in the first six months of my career. After getting in I was talking to Suhas as he was waiting for the boss' call to meet him at his room on the second floor.

But then an incident that would make me regret for I don’t know how much time to come took place. As everyone was leaving a security guard told me to wait down and I like a stupid followed his suggestion/advice/order whatever it was...........

I was in two minds whether to go or no after everyone left, I even went to the first floor but then returned to my original place thinking that this is my first visit to the place and I must do whatever ordered.

I thought about it and forgot it, but as I reached office my seniors and colleagues made me feel like I have done a grave error and I should have called them or even the photographer to go upstairs. It was then that I had realized that this was an error and I could easily have got a page one story and some questions with Balasaheb Thackeray

This was the small journey of my opportunity and the missed chance that will haunt me for a long time. Again I would like to clarify that I am not a big fan of his, in fact I am a critic but it would have been great if I had met him.

An unusual Conversation

The following I had written for one of my friend's college assignment.... Its a conversation of a girl and a Police inspector, the catch here is the girl wants to confess her murder but the policeman takes her lightly......

Me – hello, hello
Ins – kandivali police station, who is speaking
Me – I am… I am…
Ins – yes please tell me beta who you are and what do you want.
Me – actually uncle I want to tell you something, i…
INS – yes dear speak out, first tell me your name
Me - I am Pooja, Pooja Domadia
Ins – okay now tell what you want to tell me
Me – actually uncle (takes deep breath)
Ins - yes dear say, don’t be afraid.
Me - I want to tell you something
Ins - so please say it fast I have other work also
Me – actually I have seen a murder
Ins - what! (Shockingly) what are you talking about?
Me - yes uncle I am not lying. I have witnessed a murder and that too…
Ins - hey kid see now I don’t want to listen to this non sense
Me - uncle (starts crying) please I am not lying.
Ins - okay so you are telling the truth
Me – yes uncle please believe me, I have myself seen the murder
Ins - okay so can you please describe the scene (in a sarcastic and joking tone)
Me – actually they both entered our house in the afternoon and attacked us, I went to the bathroom and hid in the bathtub and they didn’t came to know that there were two people in the house. So they…
Ins - okay so the murder has taken place at your residence. Sounds interesting, hmm… then?
Me – they wanted to loot our house but my mom didn’t allow this to happen so easily, so they…
Ins - so they killed your mom right?
Me – yes! They killed her with a knife; it was a sharp edged knife. Then they fled taking our jewelry and I don’t what other things
Ins – hey!!! (Angry and frustrated) enough is enough now I am not going to listen to this crap anymore, now stop it or else I will come and give you such a tight slap that you will forget to call anyone in your entire life. Stupid fools. The stupid parents just give phones to their kids and they keep on troubling us. If the next time you call me then I will catch you and put you behind the bars. (inspector hangs up the phone).
Me – okay then don’t believe me you rascal.
(Girl hangs up the phone)

Finally she laughs holding the knife filled with blood in her hand. Seeing the dead body lying near her she haves a sigh of relief. May be she was suffering from a mental problem and may the police inspector should have heard her.