Worlds Most Expensive Blog Sold for $15 Million Dollars!!

Found this really interesting piece of news on the net!!


Dont get surprised its not April Fools day and iam not kidding, its a real truth that a 600 pages wordpress based blog has been sold for a real surprising figure of 70 Crore [15 Millon Dollars]. Lets read more about this blog which should be given a Guiness World Record!

Blog Name : Bankaholic

You can read more on the same here:

http://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/worlds-most-expensive-blog/

The 3 Mistakes of my Life - Chetan Bhagat - Reviewed

The 3 mistakes of my life

A Story about

business . cricket . religion

Publisher: RUPA & CO.

Category: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 280

List Price: 95.00 INR

Release Date: May 2008

This long awaited book of one of the newest ‘surprise’ finds of the Indian literary community was released last month. And I, being a self-proclaimed ‘avid reader’ immediately lapped it up and finished it on the trot.

No soon was I done with it, I took up the famed pen (the keyboard and a word processor in the 21st century) to give vent to my thoughts on the latest ‘exploits’ of Chetan Bhagat. And so ‘here I am’, blogging again.

Prologue

‘the 3 Mistakes of my life’ is the third novel by Chetan Bhagat - an investment banker by profession and a writer by choice. An IIM Ahemdabad alumnus, he recently shifted base to India. His previous works were ‘One Night @ the Call Centre’ and ‘Five Point Someone’.

‘Five Point Someone’ became one of the highest selling English novels published in India, and has remained on the bestsellers list until 2007 since its release in 2004. It was adapted into a play by the theatre group Madras Players, and is soon going to be converted into a Bollywood movie. The same goes for ‘One Night @ the Call Centre’.

Comparisons to previous works are almost always inevitable, but they should not form an evaluation criterion. I have tried as much here. But the point of contention is that ‘3 Mistakes of my life’ is similar in more aspects than one to the previous works of Chetan Bhagat. I nevertheless have tried to do justice.

Narration

The ‘Chetan Bhagat’ style of writing emerged with ‘Five Point Someone’. It can be described as plain, simple, easily relate-able way of presenting a seemingly believable story with a happy ending. Needless to say that his writing is full of vim and vigor. And, the narrative is consistent.

Plot/Characters

What strikes you first about Chetan Bhagat’s novels is the fact that he is an Indian who writes about Indians and for Indians. His characters are all simple, young, ambitious and passionate and have the same moral, social and religious dilemmas as many of the young Indians today. At the same time their context and sensibility too is unabashedly Indian.

“In the year 2000, in Ahmedabad, a young boy Govind dreamt of owning a business. For this he needed the support and help of his best friends; Ish and Omi. He alone has the business acumen. But, the other two are vital support as they are pillars to the foundation of Govind’s dream. Together they open a cricket shop. However, nothing comes easy in India. To realise their goals, they have to face it all – religion, politics, earthquakes, riots, traditions, unacceptable love and above all, their own mistakes.”

With this new book of his, Chetan Bhagat has once again demonstrated that he has perfected the art of story writing for the Indian audience. His books have all that it takes to be a successful writer. He writes books which reach out to the common man and exhorts the youth to read the book.

The plot is akin to a typical ‘Masala Bollywood Movie’ plot. That is to say that all his books have the following ingredients, one way or the other:

1. Typical Small Town setting

2. A poor - intelligent person (his life is fraught with trouble; now how many movies we have on this theme àcountless)

3. A wealthy - unapproachable beautiful girl

4. A couple of very good friends (remember the ever successful theme: ‘yeh dosti hum nahin chodenge from Sholay’)

5. Love, Romance, Sex (the perfect Bollywood movie masala)

6. A tragedy (Suicide to be precise)

7. A happy ending (after all, all’s well that ends well)

Language

This has always been ‘Chetan Bhagat’s’ forte. All his books use simple, ‘common man’s’ words. They are aptly supported by simple sentences. All this brings an ease of reading for the poorest in terms of vocabulary.

This is where the universal appeal of his books springs from. This coupled with the growing positive sentiments about India’s economy had probably given rise to a craving inside Indian people for books that had an Indian protagonist and not an anglicized one. This is captured by Chetan Bhagat and presented in the best possible manner. Kudos to him for this.

Underlying Theme

With this book Chetan Bhagat seems to be carrying on from his previous work. In fact now that I’ve read all his books, i’m of opinion that he is stuck in the days of his college, where either he himself underwent struggle or was a witness to the struggles of a dear friend. The underlying theme is the biggest disappointment as far as this book is concerned. The same theme was clearly evident in the other two books by the Chetan Bhagat. The only difference here is that, the three 'five pointers' are not in an IIT but strugglers in the real sense of the word - running a small business of their own in Ahmedabad.

Value for money

Like all his earlier books, this book too is priced at INR 95, which at the prevailing inflation rate is a certain steal.

The pricing of the book also shows a win-win strategy. He shows his acumen for business by pricing his books at a meager 95 INR, which is less by any standard. By doing this he has obviated the risk of piracy.

Final Verdict 7/10

The book is certainly not an excellent literary work. But it is nevertheless, a definite page turner and a ‘recommended’ read for all ‘Chetan Bhagat’ fans. The success of Chetan Bhagat as an author goes to the numerous cords that he has touched with a common Indian.

For Chetan Bhagat fans:

Die-hard Chetan Bhagat fans will not be disappointed. This book has all the ingredients that Chetan Bhagat is loved and lapped up for. Simple characters and seemingly believable storyline one can relate to. So I won't discuss the plot - read the book if you like the ‘Chetan Bhagat style’ of storytelling, keep away, if you don't.

For all others:

It certainly is not as thrilling as five point someone’, but makes for a good, compelling read nevertheless. I’d say at Rs 95 for a book, this book makes for a ‘light’ read and is a fine time pass. The biggest disappointment comes in the form of the climax along with the reason cited for suicide. The impetus for writing this novel is one of the lamest excuses I’ve ever come across. is the biggest cliché.

To be honest I’ll say that I am disappointed with this book. It is not that there is anything in this book that I dislike in particular. It’s just that I expected too much.

But overall, the book packs enough punch and of course the price is just perfect (Rs 95). We have another winner.

No posts for far too long!!

I've not been able to post content for a variety of reasons. I will do better in times to come and will certainly not ignore this unique online identity that i have.

Cheers!

Keep the Spark - Chetan Bhagat's speech at Symbiosis

This is the speech deliverd by Chetan Bhagat an author, a businessman, to BBA students at Symbiosis, Pune. It makes for a good read. The same is posted on his blog at http://www.chetanbhagat.com/blog/

Good Morning everyone and thank you for giving me this chance to speak to you. This day is about you. You, who have come to this college, leaving the comfort of your homes (or in some cases discomfort), to become something in your life. I am sure you are excited. There are few days in human life when one is truly elated. The first day in college is one of them. When you were getting ready today, you felt a tingling in your stomach. What would the auditorium be like, what would the teachers be like, who are my new classmates - there is so much to be curious about. I call this excitement, the spark within you that makes you feel truly alive today. Today I am going to talk about keeping the spark shining. Or to put it another way, how to be happy most, if not all the time.

Where do these sparks start? I think we are born with them. My 3-year old twin boys have a million sparks. A little Spiderman toy can make them jump on the bed. They get thrills from creaky swings in the park. A story from daddy gets them excited. They do a daily countdown for birthday party – several months in advance – just for the day they will cut their own birthday cake.

I see students like you, and I still see some sparks. But when I see older people, the spark is difficult to find. That means as we age, the spark fades. People whose spark has faded too much are dull, dejected, aimless and bitter. Remember Kareena in the first half of Jab We Met vs the second half? That is what happens when the spark is lost. So how to save the spark?

Imagine the spark to be a lamp’s flame. The first aspect is nurturing - to give your spark the fuel, continuously. The second is to guard against storms.

To nurture, always have goals. It is human nature to strive, improve and achieve full potential. In fact, that is success. It is what is possible for you. It isn’t any external measure - a certain cost to company pay package, a particular car or house.

Most of us are from middle class families. To us, having material landmarks is success and rightly so. When you have grown up where money constraints force everyday choices, financial freedom is a big achievement.

But it isn’t the purpose of life. If that was the case, Mr Ambani would not show up for work. Shah Rukh Khan would stay at home and not dance anymore. Steve Jobs won’t be working hard to make a better iPhone, as he sold Pixar for billions of dollars already. Why do they do it? What makes them come to work everyday?

They do it because it makes them happy. They do it because it makes them feel alive. Just getting better from current levels feels good. If you study hard, you can improve your rank. If you make an effort to interact with people, you will do better in interviews. If you practice, your cricket will get better. You may also know that you cannot become Tendulkar, yet. But you can get to the next level. Striving for that next level is important.

Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born. To be happy, we have to accept it and make the most of nature’s design. Are you? Goals will help you do that.

I must add, don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

You must have read some quotes - Life is a tough race, it is a marathon or whatever. No, from what I have seen so far, life is one of those races in nursery school. Where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One last thing about nurturing the spark - don’t take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said - don’t be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It’s ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.

I’ve told you three things - reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.

Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don’t go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you.

But it’s life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember - if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that’s where you want to be.

Disappointment’s cousin is frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don’t know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release.

Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts , having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life - friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.

Unfairness - this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you.

In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty darn lucky by Indian standards. Let’s be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don’t. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don’t get literary praise. It’s ok. I don’t look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It’s ok. Don’t let unfairness kill your spark.

Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. . And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.

There you go. I’ve told you the four thunderstorms - disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.

I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, you eyes will shine the same way as they do today. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying - I come from the land of a billion sparks.

Thank You.

Ever heard of S.W.I.T.C.H???

What does Satyam, Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant and HCL Technologies have in common? And, more importantly what has this got to do with a certain SWITCH. Read On!

The top six India-based offshore service providers are collectively referred to as the SWITCH companies. They include - Satyam, Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant and HCL Technologies – the SWITCH.

The latest Gartner report says that the market share of SWITCH has gone up to 2.4 percent of the total worldwide IT services market in 2007, from 1.9 percent in 2006.

TCS was able to hold on to its position as the largest of the India-based IT services vendors worldwide in 2007, rising from a ranking of 35th in 2006 to 28th in 2007 on revenue growth of 34.8 per cent (in terms of $). What is remarkable here is that, this high a growth rate was still slightly below the average for this group of vendors which stand at 38 per cent in 2007, it grew more than three times the growth rate of the total market on revenue of $3.8 billion in 2006.

This collectively and individually growth rate of SWITCH companies have surprised many by outpacing the rest of the market. The Big Blue IBM still leads the market share ranking of these companies worldwide.