A close encounter with “Beauty & Brains”
Many a men crave to have a woman in their life who has “Beauty & Brains” and more still crave someone who meets both these criteria. I am no different either. I have met a few girls with both these criteria’s and also worked with a few of them. But today was the best of all of them because she not only embodied “Beauty & Brains” but also was a renowned celebrity and a prospective Tollywood Actress.
I had been to Hyderabad to attend the 16th National HRD Network Annual Conference and also to participate in the Best of Breed HR Practices competition being conducted by NHRDN (incidentally we-Schneider Electric won the first prize in the competition). The conference was spread over 3 days and many a eminent speakers largely from the HR fraternity spoke and shared their thoughts and experience mostly revolving around the theme of “Energizing for Excellence”. For most part it was not so much energizing as most of what was shared was old wine in old bottle. Personally I didn’t find much of new ideas or Next Practices.
However we were really energized by 2 speakers who surprisingly were not from the HR fraternity. One of them was our former President Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam and the other was the women with “Beauty & Brains” and a renowned celebrity.
Many of us were wondering what would Ms. Vasuki Sunkavalli, Miss Universe 2011 pagent from India, would speak on and what relevance it was in bringing her to speak to an august gathering of leading HR professionals in the country. She proved us wrong.
She was asked to speak on Corporate Social Responsibility and Socially engaging Leaders.
She first feigned ignorance on the subject but came with a prepared speech and she held the audience with bated breathe for the next one hour or so. To my mind her was the best part of the 3 day conference and she really “energized” all of us with her “Beauty & Brains”.
For the beauty part she was a tall girl (wont be surprised if she is near 5’10), surprisingly not the fairest celebrity (wheatish complexion) and she made no effort to artificially hide it, slim with a perfect figure (otherwise she couldn’t have been a Miss India Universe representative) exuding with confidence, grace and humility (unlike many others who crave for attention). There was an air of unambiguousness about her and she was extremely approachable reaching out to all who wanted their share of her attention – posing for photographs or autograph or shaking hands.
In 2002, Vasuki enrolled at the Symbiosis International University in Pune, India for her Bachelors in Law degree. While in India, Vasuki did a series of internships at local law firms and at India’s National Human Rights Committee. In 2007, she moved to New Delhi to pursue a Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights from Global Institute of Intellectual Property. It was during this time that Vasuki was approached by members of the Indian fashion industry and she also started her modeling career. In 2009, Vasuki enrolled at New York University School of Law as a recipient of the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship to study International Law and Human Rights and graduated with an LLM degree. Upon graduating from NYU, she interned at the Human Rights Watch in NYC and went on to work as the Third Committee’s Research Assistant at the United Nations’ Permanent Mission of India.
A lawyer by profession. Specialises in International Arbitration. Which means she helps countries to arbitrate and settle disputes. Wow……
Here intellect part was greatly exposed when she started speaking and later on handled with aplomb the many questions that were fielded to her.
She said that we should not feel guilty about making profits- reminds of me what my uncle, late Dr.CK Prahalad told me. You need profit to share. Without money how will you share – Corporate Social Responsibility. However she said that how you make money is as much as important on how much of money you make. You needn’t feel guilty of how much money you make but you could feel guilty of how you made those money.
So she exhorted Corporates to work on the nuts and bolts and work towards maximizing profits. However she said that there is a Joy of Giving and hence corporate, the wealthy should also share a part of their gains with the have-nots. She said the giving / sharing should be voluntary and driven from within and no efforts should be made to make it mandatory or compulsory. She was referring to the proposal from P Chidambaram ,Finance Minister for leving a CSR Tax of 2% to make it compulsory for Corporates to earmark some part of their profits towards Corporate Social Responsibility program. She said the moment it becomes compulsory, people will find a way to beat the policy and reporting and will become a sham.
She said that instead we should make it fashionable for the wealthy to raise funds and take part in fund raising programs for charity, which mostly happens in the western world. She said we should create situations where the wealthy would be shamed and morally embarrassed to partake their wealth.
She quoted late Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, who once said that out of every 1 Rupee that is spent by the Government, only 15 paise reaches the people or the reason its intended for. The remaining 85 paise is either siphoned off or frittered away due to in-efficiency (no wonder all these scams). She said that last year the Government of India has spent 2 Billion USD on Rural Development programs and around 4 Billion USD on Urban Development programs. As per Rajiv Gandhi’s formula, nearly 5 billion dollars out of 6 Billion dollars has been siphoned off or frittered away due to inefficiencies in the system. If that be the case, she argued the Government should rather plug the leakage rather than taxing further the people. She argued that it’s the job / responsibility of the Government to take care of the needs (housing, education, healthcare, infrastructure) of its people and not the responsibility of the Corporates. If all the taxes were well spent and in its entirety (without any leakages), we would have plenty of money to address the needs of the downtrodden and the have-nots.
She said that charity must be driven by an inner need and drive and not thro compulsion or regulation. Giving back to the society need not necessarily be in the form of cash, it could also be in the form of service. When she was a student she used to offer her services to the Gates foundation, the Human Rights watch society etc. So she urged that if cant afford to pay, then offer your service – voluntary service for a social cause. She said that there are many fortunate women in India who don’t have to go to work because of rich husbands and exhorted them to offer some bit of their time for some social work / social cause instead of sitting before the idiot box – TV.
When asked about Need vs Greed, she said that it’s a Human tendency to be greedy and there fore people hoard. But she said may be people hoard because of insecurity or the need to live the same high standard of lifestyle till their death and in many cases ensuring that their children, 2nd and 3rd generation also should maintain the same standard of living. Hence they hoard for generations to come. She said that may be the Government could consider levying an Inheritance Tax to prevent people from hoarding.
When asked what she would like to be remembered – as a lawyer or a Miss Universe / Model. She said “why not both”. She said that she will continue to pursue her profession as an International Arbitrator and also walk the ramp as a Model and endorsing brands. She said that long after we would want her family and children to remember that she was a Miss Universe India and will have a story to tell. She concluded by saying that every one of us must live a multi-faceted life and should have stories to tell to family, friends and the society. So she urged people to work towards building stories to be shared.
All in all it was a very fascinating session and an encounter with a celebrity with Beauty & Brain. Will cherish this special encounter and not sure if I will be able to meet another one at close encounter.
May be there is one in the making in my home and only time will tell……
Winning the Hearts & Minds of employees— An Internal Communication Strategy.
You can access this @ http://www.nationalhrd.org/quarterly-journal.php?year=2012.
Hope you find it interesting to read and would value your feedback.
Game of Discounts – Do you know that you are being taken for a ride ?
All about the b…..tter half ………..
I am dying
“Hi, what r u doing Darling?”
Husband jumps with joy but types “Sweet Heart, how can I live without U?”
Wife: “U idiot! I’m dying my hair..”
Husband: “Bloody English Language!
Angry wife to her husband
An Angry Wife To Her Husband 0n Phone:
“Where d Hell Are You …?”
Husband: Darling You Remember That Jewellery Shop Where You Saw The Diamond Necklace n Totally Fell In Love With It n I Didn’t Have Money That Time
n I said “Baby It’ll Be Yours 1 Day … “O:)
Wife, With A Smile & Blushing: Yeah I Remember That My Love!
Husband: I ‘m in the Pub Just Next To That Shop
A Special Package for Business Men.
An Airline Introduced A Special Package For Business Men. Buy Ur Ticket Get Ur Wife’s Ticket Free. After Great Success, The Company Sent Letters To
All The Wives Asking How Was The Trip.
Husband was seriously ill
Husband was seriously ill. Doc to wife: Give him healthy breakfast, be pleasant & in gud mood, don’t discuss ur problems, no tv serial, don’t demand
new clothes & gold jewels,
Do this for 1 yr & he will be ok.
On the way home.. Husband: what did the doc say ?
Wife:- .No chance for u to survive
”An Intelligent Wife Is One Who Makes Sure She Spends So Much
That Her Husband Can’t Afford Another Women”
New SIM to surprise her husband
Woman Buys A New Sim Card Puts It In Her Phone And Decides To Surprise Her Husband Who Is Seated On The Couch In The Living Room. She Goes To The
Kitchen, Calls Her Husband With The New Number: “Hello Darling”
The Husband Responds In A Low Tone: “Let Me Call U Back Later Honey, The Dumb Lady Is In The Kitchen..
Wife treats husband
A Wife Treats Hubby By Taking Him To A Lap Dance Club For His Birthday ..
At The Club: Doorman Says: Hi Jim How R You?
Wife Asks: How Does He Know You?
Inside Barman Says: The Usual Jim ?
Jim Says To Wife: Before You Say Anything, He’s On the Darts Team in My Local
Next A Lap Dancer Says: Hi Jim
Do You Crave Special Again?
The Wife Storms Out Dragging Jim With Her & Jumps Into A Taxi..
Driver Says “Hey Jimmy Boy, You Picked Up An Ugly One This Time..”
Jim’s Funeral Is On Sunday
Cool message by a wife
Cool Msg by a woman: Dear Mother-in-law, “Don’t Teach me how 2 handle my children, I’m living with one of yours & he needs a lot of improvement”
Sweet demand by kid
A Sweet demand by a kid.
A kid was beaten by his mom. Dad came n asked – what happen son?
Kid said-I can’t adjust with your wife anymore, I want my own.
Lion bounced on wife
In an African Safari, A LION suddenly bounced on Santa’s wife.
WIFE: Shoot him! Shoot him!
SANTA: Yes, Yes. I’m changing d battery of my camera..
Throwing knives on wife’s picture
Husband was throwing knives on wife’s picture. All were missing the target!
His honest reply, “MISSING U”
When a married man says “I’ll think about it”,
What he really means that, He doesn’t know his wife’s opinion yet..
Habbit of talking in sleep
A Lady to Doctor:
Dr: Give him an Opportunity to speak wen hez awake
Part & Art of living
Having “WIFE” Is A Part Of Living…
But Having “GIRLFRIEND” Along With The “WIFE” Is Art Of Living.
Head & Neck of the family
It is said that Husband is the head of the family, but remember that wife is the Neck of the family & the Neck can turn the Head exactly the way she
wants.
Wife: Do you want dinner?
Husband: Sure, what are my choices?
Wife: Yes and no.
What is the Difference between Mother & Wife?
What is the Difference between Mother & Wife?
To whom do you owe your success as a millionaire
Interviewer to Millionaire: To whom do you owe your success as a millionaire?”
Millionaire: “I owe everything to my wife.”
Interviewer: “Wow, she must be some woman.
Interviewer: “What were you before you married her?”
Millionaire: “A Billionaire”
I look at your picture and the problem disappears
Wife: You always carry my photo in your handbag to the office. Why?
Darling: When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and the problem disappears.
Darling: Yes, I see your picture and say to myself, “What other problem Can there be greater than this one?
Wife: honey what r u looking 4?
Wife: honey, what r u looking 4?
Husband: nothing
Wife: why have u been reading our marriage certificate 4 an hour?
Husband: i was just looking 4 the expiry date
Husband asks: Do you know the meaning of WIFE? It means…
Without Information, Fighting Everytime!
WIFE says: No darling, it means:
With Idiot For Ever
Wife wish 2 be a newspaper
Wife: I wish I was a newspaper so I would be in ur hands all day.
Husband: I too wish that u were a newspaper so I could have a new one every day.
Can I make a call to my wife?
A man in Hell asked Devil:
Can I make a call to my Wife?
After making call he asked how much to pay.
Devil: Nothing, Hell to hell is Free.
WIFE IS DANGEROUS
LIFE IS WIFE
WIFE IS KNIFE and
KNIFE IS DANGEROUS
What if you don’t see me for 2 days?
A man came home late at night after a party.
His wife yelled:
“how would you feel if you don’t see me for two days?”
The man couldn’t believe his luck: ‘that would be great’!
Monday passed and he didn’t see her……
Why women starts with W
You know why women starts with ‘W’…
because all questions start with “W”.. !
Who ?
Why ?
What ?
When ?
Which ?
Whom ?
&
Finally Wife..!!!
NATURAL DISASTERS JUST HAPPEN
Nobody teaches Volcanoes to erupt, Tsunamis to devastate, Hurricanes to sway around & no one teaches How to choose a Wife,
NATURAL DISASTERS JUST HAPPEN.
Difference between Friend & Wife
Difference between Friend & Wife
U can Tell ur Friend “U r my Best Friend”
But Do u have courage to tell to ur Wife “U r my Best Wife?”
Message of the year
Message of the year:-
Women live a better, longer & peaceful life..!!
Why? Very simple…
Husband to a newly wed wife
Husband to a newly wed wife: I could go to the end of the world for you.
Your husband needs rest
Congress had the last laugh – thanks to the Indian Crab syndrome
The BJP which was licking its fingers and itching to go in for an election was caught on the backfoot and not the Congress. To Congress, Mamta’s exit is a blessing in disguise and to BJP a huge embarassment.
Why and how did the Congress suceed in turning a calamity into an opportunity. The reason – Indian Crab syndrome. It is said that Indian crabs, if left in a basket, are never able to escape. Each time one crab tries to get out of the basket another one would pull him down! This is the Indian crab syndrome!
Is there a hope, only time will say……….
Is the word “GRATITUDE” missing from todays dictionary
Similarly with friends, school mates etc.
Or has the word “GRATITUDE” disappeared from the dictionary.!!!!!!!
To Retire or not to Retire….. Sachin
Well will the Little Master pay heed…… only time will tell………..
VVS Lakshman bids adieu ……. Age doesnt matter in Sports
There has been an undue haste to dissolve the Fab Four by Dhoni and his cronies. Saurav, Rahul and VVS could have played for some more time and could have had a graceful exit. Saurav was in the peak of his form in the last year of his career and yet he was forced to wind up.
Mary Kom, Rogerer Federrer, Andre Agassi have all shown that age doesnt matter and people can maintain peak performance well beyond their age…………
Tyranny of Justice
Isnt it a tyranny of justice that “justice delayed is justice denied”. Its time that our Judiciary woke up and stood up……….