Two friends

Two friends story ............

A story tells that two friends

were walking

through the desert

During some point of the

Journey they had an

Argument, and one friend

Slapped the other one

In the face.

The one who got slapped

was hurt, but without

saying anything,

wrote in the sand:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

They kept on walking

until they found an oasis,

where they decided

to take a bath.

The one who had been

slapped got stuck in the

mire and started drowning,

but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from

the near drowning,

he wrote on a stone:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SAVED MY LIFE.

The friend who had slapped

and saved his best friend

asked him, 'After I hurt you,

you wrote in the sand and now,

you write on a stone, why?'

The other friend replied

'When someone hurts us

we should write it down

in sand where winds of

forgiveness can erase it away.

But, when someone does

something good for us,

we must engrave it in stone

where no wind

can ever erase it.'

LEARN TO WRITE

YOUR HURTS IN

THE SAND AND TO

CARVE YOUR

BENEFITS IN STONE!!!

They say it takes a

minute to find a special

person, an hour to

appreciate them, a day

to love them, but then

an entire life

to forget them.

Send this phrase to

the people you'll never

forget. If you don't

send it to anyone,

it means you're in a

hurry and that you've

forgotten your friends.

Take the time to live!

Do not value the THINGS

you have in your life. But value

WHO you have in your life!

Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while ,you might miss it.

Have a Nice Day ...

 Anonymous said...

Superbb..!!

December 20, 2011 12:36 PM 

An autobiography of a middle class man - chapter 4

I received a mail from my daughter in law enclosing an interesting article appeared in New york Times, The link is given below.

www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/automobiles/collectibles/25COBRA.html?_



I was remembering how my parents were doing things to inspire me, particularly my mother. My father was always busy with his work and our interaction with him were very limited, except on the subjects which my mother may not be having expertise.

As I narrated earlier, whenever I was feeling like writing, my mother was not giving me any gifts. Giving gifts were not known on those days. The best gift on those days from my mother was her encouragement to, what I used to do, and appreciate my writings. Whether it is a letter written to my faraway cousin, or a story written in note book papers, she used to read it first and tell everybody "Hari has written a nice letter, Hari has written a nice story" etc to all those people she met.

When I started a handwritten magazine, in our village, she never discouraged me by saying,"doing everything, except studying" etc. On the other hand she used to sit with me, when I work on its design, plan page set ups, drawing the wrapper etc., and used to suggest me the changes if any to present it in the best way possible.

I rarely found any mother , like her, even in this modern age, who encourages a child in its extra curricular activities. Whether it is singing, staging dramas, or circulating the hand written magazines. She never discouraged me, and she never said even once, " You are not reading properly: but doing all these sort of things"

It does not mean that I was excellent academically. I was always an average student in my studies and even failed once in my S.S. L.C examination. But she understood, that I always had interest in the extra curricular activities, and always used to appreciate such activities. Even for my failure in Board examination, she told the typhoid fever I had before six months of the examination, was the cause for the failure.

Once I wrote a reception speech to one of the Congress leaders who visited our village. On those days, it used to be very important to read a reception speech written, print it, frame it and then hand it over to the chief guest. When this gentlemen came to our village, a meeting was organised to felicitate him for winning an election as District Board Chairman. I wrote a reception speech in chaste Tamil with Red and Blue ink and pasted in a cardboard and then read it in the meeting. I was only eleven or twelve years of age at that time. I neither remember the incident nor remember what I wrote. But nearly after 50 years, I was surprised, when a friend of mine, came home after a long time, and started discussing our activities in the village on those days, my mother was quoting certain titles I gave to every paragraph of that speech to him.

I felt, somebody remembering and quoting what I wrote fifty years back, that too an insignificant affair in our life, was the best gift for my talents at that time. Only a mother can do that and my mother was very special in this connection.

Even though, she could not extend the same encouragement to me, when I started a magazine at the age of twenties, at Hyderabad, due to various reasons, such as our economic background, our commitment to the family welfare etc., she never failed to read them and I I used to see a light of glow in her face when she read the articles in that magazine. When I wrote an excellent article, about a girl who won the elocution competition, my mother was telling everybody, the flow of language cannot be so nice, unless there is 100% involvement not only on the subject but also with the girl(!)

This experience, perhaps, might have motivated me to similar attitude towards my son. When he was born, I was an officer in the Bank and my wife was also an officer in the Bank. I never induced my son to succeed in any field and never offered any bait for that. I used to purchase gifts ( mostly books) for him without any demand from him, and used to present them to him without any condition. There are certain gifts, which was beyond our capacity on those days, and I never used to tell the cost of the gifts to my wife, or used to tell her only 50% of its cost. But, our son was excellent in all his activities, and was brilliant academically. Even though he studied in one of the best school in Madras, we never spent any money for his education until his Masters in computer Science at USA ( Amherst).

I am writing this so that the parents in the middle age need not induce there kids to achieve certain things offering certain baits. On the other hand give them the gifts, they need at every given opportunity, and they will automatically respond to your expectations. Do not give gifts, which can spoil them and divert them from their goals.

Daily motivation

Language has power. Based on the way you choose to name and describe people, you send different messages.
-- Leslie C. Aguilar

Think of your Parents

This was a mail received by me from my cousin's daughter Shrilaxmi. Since I thought it needs widespread readership, I am posting this here. Please make as many youngsters to read it.

This was narrated by an IAF pilot to IIT students during a Seminar on

Human Relations:

Venkatesh Balasubramaniam (who works for IIT) describes how his gesture

of booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden flight, brought

forth a rush of emotions and made him (Venkatesh) realize that how much

we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the

airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air

before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same.

In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on

Jet Airways. The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was

surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very

apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school

boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the

airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage

check-in and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly for the

security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I,

too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to

me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and

it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant

a great deal to him.

When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But

later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As

a child, how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without

understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats, dresses,

toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have

catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they

had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks

for all that they have done for us? Same way, today when it comes to our

children, we always think that we should put them in a good school.

Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have

to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to

forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us

happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are

realized and what they failed to see when they were young. It is our

responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life

is complete. Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I

have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me

something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they

would have felt at those moments.

Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take

care of our children, the same attention and same care needs to be given

to our parents and elders. Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I

would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small

dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do

my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.

Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up

everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have

wishes, too.

Take care of your parents TOO. THEY ARE PRECIOUS.

Affectionately,
Shri :)

Read it again and again

This was received from my nephew. Very thought provoking. I suggest you read it again and again whenever you get time. Request your friends and relatives to read this.

GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...)

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

The coffee story

THE COFFEE STORY - DON'T MOST OF US DO THE SAME THING?

Something true which we do not realise.

"The happiest people in the world are not those who have no
problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than
perfect."

* A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got
together to visit their old university professor.
* Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and
life.
* Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and
returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups
-porcelain,
plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some
exquisite- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
* When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said: "If
you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up,
leaving behind the simple and cheap ones.
* While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves,
that is the source of your problems and stress.
* Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.
* In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even
hides what we drink.
* What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you
consciously went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each
other's cups.
* Now consider this:
- Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society
are the cups.
- They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of
cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.
- Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the
coffee God has provided us. Enjoy your coffee!."

* The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
* They just make the best of everything."

1. Live simply.
2. Love generously.
3. Care deeply.
4. Speak kindly.
5. Leave the rest to God.

You are the miracle, my friend;
Your life either shines a light OR casts a shadow!
Shine a light & Enjoy the Coffee !!!

Carnatic Music Raagas- Aabheri, Bhimplas and Karnataka devagandhari - 2

I am posting some songs in this raaga again, under mediafire, because many expressed their difficulties in downloading from rapidfire and they are also removed after 90 days if not downloaded by anybody. Please let me know your experience with mediafire.

Please also read this link
http://seetha-narayanan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2002/07/great-ragas-abheri/comments.htm

1. http://www.mediafire.com/?jyltdxyxtmn Bhajare maanasa - Sikkil Gurucharan
2. http://www.mediafire.com/?zo2und8yx2z Chandhanamum Javvadhum - K. J. Yesudoss
3. http://www.mediafire.com/?mdegtn1xn1d Nagumomu - T. M. Krishnaa
4. http://www.mediafire.com/?uxn4dyy9wry Nagumomu - Nithyashree
5. http://www.mediafire.com/?o23mzwo2n32 Bhajare - Bombay Jayashree
6. http://www.mediafire.com/?w6b3ezzn1q4 Nagumomu - Balamuralikrishna
7. http://www.mediafire.com/?wxnw1wmoovt Nagumomu - Maharajapuram Santhanam
8. http://www.mediafire.com/?smvoxzpnsym Nagumomu - M. S. Subbalakshmi
9. http://www.mediafire.com/?dwmbgxyy12x Nagumomu - Sudha Raghunathan
10. http://www.mediafire.com/?otc2dv3ymv3 Piththan endraalum - Sudha Raghunathan
11. http://www.mediafire.com/?umy0tw4j3vy Veenaberi - M. S. Subbalakshmi
12. http://www.mediafire.com/?tlengnujsm3 Vellai Thaamarai
13. http://www.mediafire.com/?wpob2ynt1ld Bhajare - P. Unnikrishnan
14. http://www.mediafire.com/?swqy1kcvoyn Bhajare - T. M. Krishnaa
15. http://www.mediafire.com/?an2runighwz Nagumomu - S. Janaki
16. http://www.mediafire.com/?tjkzjdmctym Nagumomu - Nithyashree
17. http://www.mediafire.com/?qa3dmueuhaaNagumomu ( Aalapana) - Madurai Somu
18. http://www.mediafire.com/?sie7pvno7woNagumomu ( Violin ) - Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
19. http://www.mediafire.com/?4iguzgkuqfeNagumomu - Madurai Somasundaram

Bhimplaas

1. http://www.mediafire.com/?lfszdd04mo4 Kannan Madhura- Nithyashree
2. http://www.mediafire.com/?yigp2ntezjv Maname kanamum - Aruna Sairam
3. http://www.mediafire.com/?rdz4xj8zlg0 Vellai thaamarai - P. Unnikrishnan
4. http://www.mediafire.com/?fhdiygjxjej Palukathe - Sudha Raghunathan
5. http://www.mediafire.com/?tmxgfkt9zdg Vellai thaamarai - Rajkumar Bharathi
6. http://www.mediafire.com/?ade5znwi9dz Kandhan Karunai - P. Unnikrishnan
7. http://www.mediafire.com/?nxzzmkwtnmw Maname Kanamum - P. Unnikrishnan
8. http://www.mediafire.com/?zz1z1r5n2h9 Maname kanamum - Nithyashree
9. http://www.mediafire.com/?xysqiwhyts2 Amruthaavum - Sudha Raghunathan
10. http://www.mediafire.com/?njqn9mzfi0w Yeppadi Paadinaro - Sudha Raghunathan
11. http://www.mediafire.com/?tgiuumjxzfz Kuyile - Sudha Raghunathan
12. http://www.mediafire.com/?xxtx2nyzhn1 Paahim madhana - S. P. Ramh
13. http://www.mediafire.com/?wv1bz4ez3sy Nandha thanaya - Nithyashree
14. http://www.mediafire.com/?in0d1jfnvwe Raama Naama - Priya Sisters
15. http://www.mediafire.com/?94drixzmm9y Vellai thaamari - Nithyashree
16. http://www.mediafire.com/?tidtryntejz Vellai thaamarai - Maharajapuram Santhanam
17. http://www.mediafire.com/?zgxzegd2ddb Maname kanamum - Sudha Raghunathan
18. http://www.mediafire.com/?mmd3dxgynxr Yentha chaluvake - Sankaran Namboodhri
19. http://www.mediafire.com/?tvzy425n2mz Vellai thaamarai - Radha Jayalakshmi
20. http://www.mediafire.com/?mn02jbttuf1 Vellai thaamarai - Sowmya

Kanataka Devagaandhaari

1. http://www.mediafire.com/?tyd1xkxq4tb Kaayaarohanam - Nithyashree
2. http://www.mediafire.com/?qhu29nve0yf Panchashatpeeta - Maharajapuram Santhanam
3. http://www.mediafire.com/?ylve4mb1zcu Evaru manku - Ranjani & Gaayathri
4. http://www.mediafire.com/?nmincv9yr20 Panchashatpeeta - Radha Jayalakshmi
5. http://www.mediafire.com/?n0z4mw3vdzu Yeppadi paadinaro - Aruna Sairam
6. http://www.mediafire.com/?mzdwbyyndmj Kaana aayiram kann - Nithyashree
7. http://www.mediafire.com/?dgx5mzddyyn Kaayaaroganesam - Maharajapuram Santhanam
8. http://www.mediafire.com/?lnxnwvex2by Bhajare - Maharajapuram Santhanam
9. http://www.mediafire.com/?maqp3t24yel Yeppadi paadinaro - Ranjani Gaayathri
10. http://www.mediafire.com/?zuxgty2hxda Yeppadi paadinaro - Maharajapuram Santhanam
11. http://www.mediafire.com/?tegm4u9n0cm Yeppadi paadinaro - P. Unnikrishnan

Naveena dhasaradhagal ( Modern Dhasaradhas)

This poem impressed me like any thing. Perhaps it is the voice of many in Chennai.
I have given the transiliation and translation as best as I can. But this is certainly not to hurt our children who are far away. Just enjoy the poetic expression

அடே ....அசட்டு தசரதா , ( Ade ..asattu dhasarathaa) Oh idiotic dhasaratha
உன் அருமை ராமனை (Un arumai raamanai) Just because you are separated for just 14 years
பதினாலு வருடம் பிரிந்ததற்கே( Padhinaalu varudam Pirindhdharke)from your beloved Raaman
அவசரப்பட்டு உயிரை விட்டாயே(avasarappattu uyirai vittaaye)You gave your life in a hurry.
நாங்கலெள்ளாம்( Naangalellaam )We are
நவீன தசரதர்கள்!( Naveena dhasaradhargal) Modern dasarathaas
நடுத்தர வர்க்கத்திலேயே( Naduththara varggaththileye)In middle class life
நாளும் நீச்சல் போட்டு( Naalum Neechchal pottu)We suffered every day
நெஞ்சு நிறைய ஆசையுடன்( Nenju niriaya aasaiyudan)With lot of expectations
வங்கியில் கடனுடன் - எஙகள் (Vangiyil kadanudan)with loans from banks
கண்மணிகளின கல்வியை( kanmanigalin kalviyai)after completing
கச்சிதமாய் முடித்துவிட்டு( kachchidhamaai mudiththuvittu) our dear's education,ு
"அக்கடா " என நிமிர்ந்தால்( akkadaa ena nimirndhaal)when we rest at home
கம்ப்யூட்டர் படித்த எஙகள( computer padiththa)our dear raamans
கண்மணி ராமன்கள்( kanamani raamangal)who completed computer courses
கை நிறைய காசுடன( Kai niraiya kaasudan)have becaome
அமரிக்க வாழ்விற்கு( america Vaazhvirku)slaves to american life.
அடிமையாகி விட்டார்கள்!( adimaiyaagi vittargal)
இரு வருட இடைவெளியில - ஏதோ( Iru varuda idaiveliyil - Yedho) In between two years
எட்டி பார்க்கும் மகனை - அவனது(etti paarkum maganai)they just come for a week or two, but we are
அரைக்கால் ட்ராயரிலும( araikkaal drawyerilum)not able to recognise our children
அமெரிக்கப்பேச்சிலும - எஙகளுக்கு( amerikka pachchilum)who are in shorts and different accents.
அடையாளம் கூடத் தெரிவதில்லை( adaiyaalam kooda therivadhillai)
பதினாலு வருட பிரிவிற்கே( Padhinaalu varuda pirivirke)You cried just for fourteen years separation
புத்திர சோகம் என்று ( puthtira sogam endru)and gave your life
புலம்பி தள்ளினாயே!( pulambi thallinaaye)stating that I cannot live without my son.
முதுமை முழுதும் தனிமையுடன்(Mudhumai muzhudhum thanimaiyudan)Had you seen us, who are living
முகம் தெரியா வியாதிகளுடன(mugam theriyaa viyaadhigaludan)our entire old age with unknown diseases
முட்களின மேல்(mutkalin mel)pushing the days as though sitting on thorns
நாட்களை நகர்த்தும(Naatakali Nagarththum) You would not not have given up your life!
எஙகளை கண்டிருந்தால்Yengalai kandirundhaal)
ஓரு வேளை நீயும்(Oru velai neeyum)
உயிரை விட்டிருக்க மாட்டாயோ் (Uyirai vittirukka maattaayo)

( This was published in Kalki some time back, and the author was Meenakshi Suryanaaraayanan)

Life coach

Please click and see whether this can be of any use to you.

http://www.10SuperCoaches.com/cmd.asp?a=778990

Is not India Shining?

May 15, 2008 Ashutosh Gupta, shortly after graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, left for America holding a "one-way plane ticket" and little else. "At that time, in the early 1990s, America was still very much the land of opportunity," he says. "You studied at IIT, went on to a school like Stanford or MIT, and then hoped for a green card." He, like thousands of others from his generation and before, achieved this dream, and eventually settled down to a career as an investment banker with financial heavyweight Goldman Sachs. He seemingly had it all: Offices in Manhattan and London, a hefty salary, and the chance to earn United States or United Kingdom citizenship -- in short, a fairy-tale ending. Today Gupta, age 38, sits atop the crest of a new trend: IIT graduates either coming back to India for employment, or never leaving in the first place; a "reverse brain drain", he calls it. Gupta is currently head of the private equity group and chief transition officer for Investment Research at Evalueserve, a Gurgaon-based company. Early April, his company released a study that examined this phenomenon in depth --the seemingly magnetic power of India to retain today's batches of IIT graduates. The study's author Alok Aggarwal, himself an IIT graduate and recent India returnee, says India's best and brightest increasingly see the home country as the most advantageous place to live and work. A quick peek at the numbers shows that between 1964 and 2001, 35 percent of graduates from the seven IITs moved to America for work or studies. But, at around the time when India's economy achieved near double-digit annual GDP growth rates, the number of IIT graduates leaving for the States dropped sharply. From 2002 onwards, only 16 percent have opted for 'one way plane tickets', and as Gupta's case demonstrates, many who left India earlier also now feel the call to come home. The reasons for this are nuanced, and Gupta hesitates to pinpoint any one specific cause. Still, he agrees that post 9/11 visa difficulties, the slowdown of America's economy, and the emergence of India as a major world player have all coalesced to bring about the recent trend. "The H1-B visa process has become increasingly difficult," he says. "Today's graduates see the hard evidence that it may not be the best option. They'd rather work two years for a Google or a Microsoft in Bangalore, or even for Indian companies like Tata and Bharti, and then later go for an MBA degree at the Indian School of Business, in Hyderabad, or one of the IIMs." Gupta's own case is an exemplar of the advantages: in terms of luxury and amenities, his new home in Richmond Park, Gurgaon, on the outskirts of New Delhi, rivals the exclusive communities that house most high-income Americans. It has good schools, good infrastructure, well-paved roads, peaceful gardens, watchful security, and a consistent supply of water and electricity. "Plus, there are certain comforts you get in India that you just can't find in America: Food you're familiar with, music you love, etcetera," he asserts. "And of course, now I can spend time with my parents; that was a huge factor." He is not alone -- Gurgaon houses about 10,000 families, a number of whom are recent returnees. For Parajit Garg, an IIT Bombay topper (class of 2007) who earned his five years integrated Masters Degree in Computer Science and Engineering, the decision to stay in India wasn't difficult at all. Garg, with due concession to modesty, says he could have gotten an education or job placement pretty much anywhere in the world, but opted to work for a hedge fund in India, and locate himself in Gurgaon. "It made sense, just looking at the way the market has grown in the past five years. Of course, ten years ago, it was different. But things have changed. Even if you opt to stay in India, most companies offer international internships and assignments, for two or three months, so that you don't miss out on the experience of working internationally." In the case of Gaurav Kwatra, a 2003 IIT Delhi graduate who worked in Financial Services in the US for three years before moving back to India in May 2007 to work at the Public Health Foundation of India, it was "a personal decision." He enjoyed his time in America, and was thrilled to have had the experience. "I travelled a lot throughout America, and did a lot of things I otherwise wouldn't have: I sky-dived, I went trekking. But in the end, I wanted to be where I was most comfortable." What about Indian food and music, was it the same in America? "No," he laughs. "I really missed my daal chawal." Then there are people like Karthik Narayanaswamy, an IIT Bombay graduate who is working in management consulting in Delhi. "I was raised in Kuwait, so my experience is a little bit different," he explains. "For me, after studying at IITD, it just wasn't enough. I wanted to see more of India. It's funny, when I was in America, older Indians were telling me, 'I wish I could go back. You're lucky; now I'm too tied down here.'" He says he saw the writing on the wall, and "didn't want to miss the boat." Where it once was a great asset to boast international experience, "Now, everyone works in India for at least a few years," Narayanaswamy points out. "If you haven't done it; it can actually be a problem (for career development)." He believes further that this trend will only gain momentum. "Take my sister, for example," he says. "She passed up a job with an investment bank in England in order to stay in India. Also, this is happening in India, our homeland; if it was Brazil or Russia where the world was focused, perhaps it wouldn't be such an easy decision (to work those countries instead of the US)." Whatever the reasons, and despite the few hang-ups such as the frequently bemoaned traffic of India's major metros, the research is clear: in the minds of IIT graduates, the US no longer holds the same allure. Asked to predict which country would 'hold the most promise for success ' in 10 years' time, 72 percent of the 677 IIT graduates surveyed named India, with only 17 percent citing the US. Given the overwhelming evidence, both anecdotal and empirical, perhaps it's time to sound the death knell of the much-abhorred, ever ubiquitous, Indian brain drain, in favour of the highly fashionable 'reverse' brain drain.

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