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The art of writing letters is being relegated to the oblivion.
Chairman, Luxor Pen Writing Instruments Pvt Ltd Principal, S.D.College, Barnala
This letter was sent to Mr Bill Gates. The reply from Microsoft was accompanied by an autographed photograph of Mr Gates. 13th December 1998 "On
the holy and sacred occasion of Christmas,
I wish to convey my greetings to your goodself. I
love to see your name here and there everywhere. My friends say in lighter vein
that I am having billache. Whatever
they say, I certainly feel inspired to hear even your name alone. I
know that your time is precious and you have still gigamiles to go on The Road
Ahead. However, I shall feel obliged if you may kindly arrange to send me
your autographed photograph. Namaskar
to Milinda ji and love to babe Jennifer Katharine.
This letter was replied by Mr Jain personally along with the pens duly replaced.
Wednesday, 25 October, 2000 Mr.
D.K.
Jain Chairman Luxor
Writing Instruments Pvt Ltd. 5, Okhla
Industrial Estate NEW
DELHI-110 020 Mr
Chairman, Sir, with your kind permission, I seek some of your precious moments
to ponder over some of the facts mentioned below which otherwise seem to have
skipped your young but mature attention. Sir, with
the entry of MNCs, there is stiff competition in almost all consumer commodities
and durable. Though profit is the main driving force behind every business,
competition compels survival to be thought on the top of the agenda. So it has
become more than natural for organisations to pay their utmost attention to the
customers. Caveat Emptor i.e. ‘Let the Buyer Beware’ though still exists to
some varied degrees in different business and consumer segments, centuries if
not millenniums old ‘Customer is the King’ is also coming back on the track,
gaining currency and speeding up day by day. Roti, kapda aur makaan were but
everything that is to say basic needs, comforts and luxuries in yesteryears. The
Customer-is-the-King dictum signifies not only the abundancy of choices and
alternatives available to the Kings (read: customers) but also their kingly
propensity to spend. It is only up to producers to grab the market share,
customer loyality and build its brand image. Tata Tea’s purchase of Tetley
Brand for US $ 270 million (it seems albeit difficult to count suffixed zeroes
if the sum is converted into INC) clearly shows the idiomic rock-solid
confidence of the customers in the
brand. Which soap
you use? Which dental cream you use? Make these questions to any Tom, Dick or
Harry in this good India and there are a plenty of chances these to be replied
with Pears, Lux, Colgate, Close Up or any other reputed brand for that matter. So we can
safely assume that in the present era, companies are focussing their energies on
brand building and customer satisfaction. Let me
come on ball pens and refills. Those were the peaceful days when people
generally used to purchase local made ball pens and refills. Then Reynolds’
arrival changed the whole scenario. But nowadays Gel pens are trying to rewrite
the history. These are very comfortable scaling up its selling price index.
While switching up from Re 1 local-made refill to Rs 5 Reynolds refill was
somehow sturdy, Diamond Roller of AddGel and your products do not seem too
uncomfortable even at three digit figure or so but subject to and without
prejudice to some observations made in this communiqué. Who
bothers to pay for purchasing the buzz and silent (seems contradictory, of
course, I agree) word ‘satisfaction’ so long the product is really
satisfying one. It becomes most painful when one does not get satisfaction from
the products like Parker. The main pain is not of paying the dangerous price but
because of the unfortunate breach of faith put in the product / producer. Some
people may take it in lighter vein. But it is my serious and earnest request and
suggestion to your goodself to not to take it so lightly else in turn the
customers may start taking your products with the corresponding and similar
lightness. We always
use quality products whatsoever and howsoever the costly they may be. We
switched from Luxor products to ADD products to Parker expecting a still better
and longer love of ink with our papers. Alas! The life was not so easy. Roller
is behaving as if there is some speed-breaker in her way. Her cousin, the
ballpen, too have some quality problems. Cap cracking cannot be overlooked;
perhaps. It was used in routine office hours. No overtime really. Fearing
further pre-mature and untimely injuries to them, we are pained to stop
purchasing these world-class pens. I am enjoying the pleasure of sending two of
them for your R&D wing. A report be submitted to the undersigned after
proper inspection and checking. May its counterpart inkpens be tougher ones. Red
colour ink certainly seems very unattractive and unsober. Further it has been
brought to my notice that Parker Ink in all generally used colours is not
available at Barnala. Why don’t you think of introducing a new colour (using
RGB or CYMK, of course) in the market? Your
learned friend AddGel’s claim of precision components from OHTO, Japan clearly
signifies the brand image of Japan. Yes, it is definitely the brand image though
not of a product but of a country consisting of good producers. We assume
everything manufactured in Japan to be of good quality because of
our mental make up for Made-in-Japan label. So in the same way, companies
at home in India should try and endeavour to build that kind of ever-lasting,
unalterable and indelible image. Though various information is legally required
to be printed on the title or wrapper, even a distant and casual look of
organisation’s logo or brand should be sufficient to have the recognising
glare, confidence and patronage of the customers. The
undersigned is fully aware about the legal actions that can be taken against
your Organisation under Consumer Protection Act and, Monopolies &
Restrictive Trade Practices Act. However, at heart I certainly feel that actions
like these or news reports in media can certainly be harmful for your business,
which is never ever our intent or desire. So I am
dropping this tiny communiqué just to give you this bowing feedback which you
may or may not be receiving from your other well-wishers. I have not even an
iota of thought in my mind to point out your shortcomings or ills or to claim
damages for the money and time wasted by me on your otherwise nice products, but
this is just a very very humble submission to suggest your good offices to
improve the quality of your products and win the customers lest and else your
competitors will do it. I would be
grateful to have your kind response along with a catalogue containing complete
range of your products. You may also arrange to send name and address of CEO of
Parker Pen Products, U.K. for our reference and records. With sweet
and ever-lasting memories,
Before your leaving here from home, you had to give your address along
with phone & fax numbers. But you could not do so perhaps because of paucity
of time. I have loved the details and style thereof given briefly by you. I
always like these type of very informal ‘chatting’ letters. I expect this
tete-a-tete frequently. As I know people from western countries sometimes feel tired of
money-chasing and they come to India in search of some spiritual ideas and for
peace. But people from India prefer to go America because they do not feel
satisfied with the system of working here. So we cannot make a clear-cut
demarcation as to we should stay in which one particular country. It is a
subjective matter and depends upon and varies with person to person. However I
must confess that almost everybody thinks States as a fascinating dollar-rich
country free from corrup. I also believe that the virtues of honesty are got
imbibed in them at grassroot level. Not all the people are corrupt here in
India. They have to follow the system. If somebody gets himself appointed at
some senior post with the aid of cheque and jack, fees and feast; it is but
natural he will seek ‘refund’ of his money. And the people refunding will be
genuinely interested in the refund of their own money. So it is the vicious
circle, almost everybody is involved in it one way or the other, a good
membership of around 100+ crores. Anyway, tell me more about the States and your routine there. What do
you do all the day. Internet and TV are O.K. and what about the rest of the
time. Life must be comfortable there from the worldly possessions point of view.
What about religious activities there? Are there any other religious places
besides Churches? Somebody has told me that our body is the ‘most’ religious
place and we should not seek Him from outside. As
Prince of Wales, Edward VII was known by his friends for his sense of
humour.
One intimate, relying on the prince's joviality, declined a dinner invitation
with the telegram: "Sorry cannot come. Lie follows." Edward was
immensely amused.
25th
June (Y)2K To: M/s Volplane Adbenture Club
Mein
taan bus guilt di kit vaare he
pucchheyyaa si ……, par tusin
mainu desi samjh baithe…. I
was desily trying to imitate your much
talked about style and rhythm. Hor
ajkal tusin kee kar rahe ho. Kade phone bone hi nahin aaiyyaa. Kidher de tour
taar kadhi jaande ho? Vaeise tusin ho bande jugari. Koi na koi dhahbhann karde
hi rehnde ho. Khair,
Barnale kadon aa rahe ho? Vada yar loki sonu ithe yaad karde nein. Kade koi
tour-taar di yaa phir koi aisi-vaisi gall chaldi hai tann soda reference
invariably aa hi jaanda hai. Captains,
yesterday I was reading Khushwant Singh’s ‘S.., Scotch and Scholarship’.
Excerpt:
Mandir dhah de, masjid dhah de,
dhah de jo kuj dhehnda
ik kise da dil naan dhahin
Rabb dilan wich rehnda. Now
let’s try some masala in Punjabi also:
Now
some serious matter (above was also serious of course). As regards your
suggestion to explore the possibility of English Speaking Course at Barnala, I
have to submit that people here are very much interested to learn how to speak
English. People are willingly ready to pay the fees whatever it may be, but the
problem is that people want it by magic wand. They cannot afford to take the
labourious pills of lessons and try grinding the Eng themselves. Whenever
somebody sees somebody else speaking Eng, everybody gets impressed irrespective
of what one is saying or how is saying or what is the grammatical structure.
Only flow and fluency rather than Eng words matter. People even do not know
Punjabi in perfect order. General talking is also not impressive. People find it
inconvenient to say Varinder Agro Chemicals Ltd (a local factory) as ‘Varinder
Agro’. Khaad Factory is easy and actual for them. One more factory here is
Geeta Threads Ltd which is owned by Dr. Bhim Sain Garg. You cannot believe, once
I had seen a bill addressed as ‘Bheem di Factory’. I
think you will kindly forgive me for presenting a discouraging but the real
story before you. But I strongly feel that whatever you wish to do you should do
it among the educated (not necessarily qualified) people and your efforts should
be aimed at creating brand image especially at teething stage though profit
motive cannot be overignored. This will give you mental and internal
satisfaction and moreover it will be beneficial to you in longer run if our
thoughts are pure. Whatever we deserve will naturally come to our way like our
shadow and nobody but nobody can deprive us from that. Some
are wise and some are otherwise. You surely be coming in first category. So I
cannot dare anymore to tell you something else. It
is said that best moments with friends are those of departure (not from this
land). S. Joga Singh ji has found the best of words from his heart:
Nothing else to pen…
This letter was sent in 1995 when I was studying in B.Com. II year and my age was 19 years.
June 12, 1995 Sh H.S. Attri Principal BARNALA-148 101 Respected Sir, I have had the pleasure of attending Annual Convocation
& Prize Distribution Function ("function" or "the
function")held on 19th May,1995 in college premises. The function was a
grand and magnificent success. I take this opportunity to convey my heartiest
congratulations on this occasion. As a Principal, it was your first ever function. The
function had been held after a long gap of 11 years or so. Even then, there was
no irregularity or deficiency in the whole arrangement. Everything was well
arranged. There was a good sitting arrangement. This all credit goes to your
good self, under whose guidance and supervisory control an history has been
made. It is an very old maxim that history repeats itself. I am sure that this
history will be repeated year after year. Sir, with your kind permission, I intend to give
following suggestions: 1) PRIZES: The prizes had been distributed to first three toppers in
every subject. I beg to differ. These should be given away only to the students
securing first position in any subject. In the case of aggregate marks, the
prizes should, of course, be given to the students securing three top positions. Moreover, students should be informed well in advance
that the Prize Distribution Function will be held barring unforeseen
circumstances, so as to create some interest among them and also to have the
spirit of competition and self-motivation. - : 2 : - 2) HOUSE EXAMS: It has been noticed that the Lecturers themselves
demoralize the students and advise them not to care for house-exams. They advise
that house-exams are just a formality. What can be expected from students in
such a state of affairs. I remember a teacher's words that teacher's comments
should be more exhaustive than students' answers. The real purpose of
house-exams should be to let the students know about the style of writing and,
of course, to let them know their deficiencies. So that these mistakes and
deficiencies may not be repeated in final exams. Nevertheless, the answer sheets
of final exams are not checked properly and thoroughly, yet the students should
be advised to do their best and not to boast. I think that it would be better and brighter if our
teachers would dwell on making the students mentally sound, intellectually high
and all rounder best student. A cheerful teacher is like a sunny day, shading
brightness of all around; and it depends upon him to make the college either a
paradise or a prison. 3) NOTICE BOARD: `Profs. on Leave' column remains unattended for many a
days. Names once entered there become the property of the Notice Board. These
are not updated daily, but at random. I would like to suggest proper and timely maintenance of
Notice Board. Furthermore, Notice Board may be got decorated. 4) COLLEGE CANTEEN: The standard of college canteen should be upgraded to
comparable with other colleges/universities of repute. This should be done on
priority basis. 5) DISCIPLINE AMONG STUDENTS: There are tremendous changes in discipline among students
after your becoming Principal. This discipline is self-discipline and not
discipline by force. I think that this type of discipline (self-discipline) is
more effective, long lasting and result oriented. It is a matter of great satisfaction and pride that now the students have
complete self-discipline and 100 per cent confidence and respect towards your
good self. 6) COLLEGE LIBRARY: Libraries have to promote and spread knowledge by
providing exposure to the world of books and the wisdom contained in them. - : 3 : - The debt we owe to books was well expressed by Rechard de
Bury, Bishop of Durham. According to him, "These are the masters who
instruct us without rods and ferrules, without hard words and anger, without
clothes or money. If you approach them, they are not asleep; if investigating
you interrogate them, they conceal nothing; if you mistake them, they never
grumble; if you are ignorant, they cannot laugh at you. The library, therefore,
of wisdom is more precious than all riches, and nothing that can be wished for
is worthy to be compared with it. Whosoever therefore acknowledges himself to be
zealous follower of truth, of happiness, of wisdom, of science, or even of the
faith, must of necessarily make himself a lover of books". Imagine in the words of Aikin, that we had it in our
power to call up the shades of the greatest and wisest men that ever existed,
and oblige them to converse with us on the most interesting topics-what an
inestimable privilege should we think it! - how superior to all common
enjoyments! In books we have the choicest thoughts of the ablest men in their
best dress. Cicero described a room without books, as a body without
soul. But most regretfully, our College Library is regarded
just as a store-house of books and these are meant for preservation and
exhibition. The librarian is just a custodian. The students are not encouraged
to read, rather they are harassed. Thus books are not easily accessible.
Perhaps, there is not enough incentive for students to become dynamic, to read
books, to be familiar with current topics. Library is tended to be passive and
archival institution. There should be no feeling of monopoly, rather than
active as a controller, the librarian should be a mediation in the process of
imparting knowledge in her own sphere. A librarian should be a book of vast
knowledge himself giving rather than keeping; unbiased, unprejudiced to all its
readers, and rather be a source of comfort, solace and happiness. Since library is a growing organism, the librarian should
keep on introducing new books currently published from all walks of life to make
the dictum that knowledge is a power and, pleasure as well. Library is a treasure of books, books are the treasure of
knowledge and knowledge is the key to success. I would, therefore, like to suggest that the library
should enhance its value in the whole system. - : 4 : - I understand that better sitting arrangement in college
library has been made by providing good number of chairs. I have seen many
students busy in praising your good self. 7) AD-HOC LECTURERS: Certain number of lecturers are appointed on ad hoc
basis. I would like to suggest that only experienced and specialized teachers
should be appointed. Educational qualification should not be the only criteria,
but exposure power, interest to teach, interest to learn and behavioural nature
should also be given due weight age. 8) ENGLISH MEDIUM STUDENTS: Students of English Medium have no option but to study in
Punjabi. They have to face undue difficulties. The teachers should, therefore,
be advised to teach in English to the extent all the students may understand it. 9) ENTRANCE TEST: Now entrance tests are held for almost all courses.
IIT,
National Talent Search Exam, NDA, CDS, Engineering colleges, Medical colleges,
UPSC, SSC, Banks, LIC, MBA, RBI POs, SBI and other bank POs, Recruitment Boards,
Railway, Income Tax, India Army, GMAT, Hotel Management are a name to few. These
tests consist mainly Test of Reasoning, Comprehensive
Intelligence, Advanced General English, Numerical Ability Test, Objective
Arithmetic, Quantitative Aptitude, General Knowledge, Personality Test etc. The
students should be advised to make it their habit to read, grasp and sharpen their skills in solving these problems, so that it may be
less-difficult or difficulty-less for them at the time to test. There is enormous increase in number of students joining
commerce faculty. The college may introduce the practice of Entrance Test to
have only result oriented students. 10) ATTENDANCE OF STUDENTS: Some of the students do not attend the class regularly.
They think that their attendance will be marked as present after paying some
fine, say Rs 30. This makes an impression on the minds of the students that it
is the money around which everything clusters. They suppose that anything can be
had by paying money. This does not seem to be a healthy practice. Therefore,
attendance should be marked on actual basis. However, in case of any genuine
difficulty, students may take leave after the special permission of the
Principal. 11) STUDENT OF THE YEAR: A sincere compliment is one of the most effective ways to
motivate someone. To motivate the students, every year the college should select
one "Student of the Year" like Miss
India, Miss
World, Miss Universe, Miss Punjab. The student
so selected should be the All
Rounder Best Student. Caste, Creed, Age, Sex etc should not be the criteria for
selection. Marks in college/university exams should also not be taken in consideration to a greater extent. Rather he
or she should be selected on the basis of his/her interest in Religious and
Cultural activities, manners, deportment, facial expression, General Knowledge,
Intelligence Quotient, Ability to grasp, Art of Public Speaking, His/her
relations among his/her fellow students, relations with Lecturers, general attitude to life, knowledge/interest in computer
science, Interest in Hindi, English, Punjabi and, any other extraordinary
activity. 12) DEBATES: The purpose of debating is to create a speaker and
sharpen the knowledge to students in various subjects. Regular participation in
the debates conducted by the society and/or the college compels students to read
widely on the subject on which he or she has to speak and gather information.
Knowledge is the fair runner of speaking and a person cannot speak unless he has
knowledge of the subject. Regular participation in debates equips a student wide
knowledge outside college books and teachers' lectures. This knowledge is
acquired through students's own initiative and personal interest. The habit of
reading and gathering knowledge inculcated upon a person in the early age can
make a person stand in good stead when engaged in the life struggle. It is like self advertising through speaking. Nobody
becomes aware of the merit of a student who is habitually reticent except
through exam results. But his influence and prestige enormously increases if he
is also a good speaker. In today's environment of corruption and alteration in
marks, a good speaker can express his intellect and in many examinations, now
the university marks are not important but written test and personal & group
discussion are emphasized and the good speaker can only be marked as excellent performer as he has met to tremble for words. Whatever may be the profession in life, a good speaker
takes the foremost position by expression of his intellect. I, therefore, strongly recommend that the College should
hold debates, especially on current topics, bi-monthly. It would not be out of
place to suggest here that there should not be 6-7 days wastage on making
arrangements for debate on the part of the lecturers. This should be done in
normal course just as a routine. Papers should be prepared by students
themselves and not be Lecturers. Students may, of course, take help from
Lecturers or anybody else. But there should be constructive and original
thinking on the part of the students. - : 6 : - 13) EDUCATIONAL TRIPS: Educational trips are very beneficial for students. The
trips help the students to gain and sharpen geographical knowledge of the
Country and also to become more familiar with our cultural, religious and social
activities. While on trip, being physically away from parents, the students
learn self-help, team-spirit, co-ordination et el. This also
enhance their self-confidence, devotion, loyalty, unselfishness, toleration,
mutual confidence, mutual sympathy etc. Furthermore, this helps the students to
develop their communication skills. As Bacon rightly put it, "Travelling is
the best part of education." Thus this is undoubtedly the maximum and meaningful
utilization of vocations. 25% of the journey expenses have not been provided by the
College since 1978. The students had not bothered / complained (or they were
helpless!) showing their confidence in the Management. This year, there were plans to go out for trip in South
India side. The lecturers go with students for their guidance and supervision.
They have to take a lot of pains in arrangement of trip. They have to pass
sleepless nights for the comfort of the students. I would especially like to
mention Sh Jai Prakash ji, under whose parental guidance most of the trips go
out to different parts of the country. But regretfully, now the college has refused to bear
T.A./D.A.
of lecturers thus making it impossible for the students to go out for a trip.
Excuse me, Do you think is it an healthy practice? 14) FEE CONCESSION: It would not be out of place to mention here that some
approach-minded students tend to borrow text-books from college library, though
they belong to fairly rich families. I would like to suggest that the text-books should be
lent only to poor and needy students keeping in view the limited stock of
text-books. Similarly, fee concession should be granted only to the
poor and needy students. 15) QUOTATIONS: An adage is a traditional maxim, a proverb of common
experience, a short statement based on long experience. I have a good collection of quotations. I give herein
below some of them, hoping that the thoughts and quotations in which I have
myself found most comfort may perhaps be of use to others also. Every notice to be displayed on Notice Board may have one
quotation appended. - : 7 : - 1)
Dream what you dare to dream
Go where
you want to go
Be what
you want to be. 2)
Believe in yourself
and
others will too. 3)
One of the great pleasures of life is doing
the
things that others say you cannot do. 4)
You do not know what you can do until
you try. 5)
Nothing ventured,not gained. 6)
There is no limit to what you can achieve- provided,
you do not mind who gets the credit. 7)
You can achieve anything you want- if
you help enough people get what they want. 8)
People will remember what you achieve- not
what you promised to achieve. 9)
When you have achieved you goal, satisfaction
will be your reward. 10)
Earn a reputation for achieving by meeting
deadlines and getting things done. 11)
You can if you believe you can. 12)
Saying is one thing, doing another. 13)
Hesitate about giving advice unless
you are asked. 14)
Don't offer advice unless you
have gained it through experience. 15)
We can offer advice but we
cannot give the wisdom to profit from it. 16)
Advice tells you much about the person giving it. 17)
The supply of advice always exceeds the demand. 18)
What you want to be is more important than
what you are. 19)
ANGER:People who fly into a rage overheat
their engines and
make bad landings. 20)
ANGER:People like pins, are useless if
they lose their heads.
- : 8
: - 21)
Attitude: It is your attitude, not
your aptitude that
determines your altitude. 22)
Look backwards with gratitude, upwards
with confidence and, forwards
with hope. 23)
You expression is the most important thing
you wear. 24)
Smile and the world smiles with you- cry
and you cry alone. 25)
Happiness is not something you find- it
is something you create. 26)
BUDGET: A budget is a method of worrying before
you spend instead of afterwards. |