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Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tricks of the trade
Amit Kumar was trained as a Mechanical Engineer with specialization in thermal engineering from the University of Roorkee (now Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee) where he was awarded the University Gold Medal. Post his graduation, he decided to pursue a career in renewable energy, a novelty in the early eighties. He had retired from TERI in July 2021 whereas Senior Director, Social Transformation, was responsible for initiatives focusing on energy access, holistic rural development, and community engagement. There he had also led research activities in the fields of renewable energy and resource-efficient process technology applications. As Dean (Distance & Short-Term Education), TERI University between 2014 and 2016, he was responsible for the development and outreach of the University's online courses, management & faculty development programmes, and skill enhancement initiatives. LESS ... MORE Let me clarify at the outset. This piece is not about trade and tariffs being played out by the only superpower in the world, simply because that is out of comprehension of lesser mortals like yours truly. Rather, this is about those tricks that we all witness day in and day out, in ads and in apps. The most ubiquitous ones must be terms 'up to' and 'T&C apply' so much so that it appears that businesses would have come to a halt had these addendums were not there. Actually, because of these seemingly innocuous terms in fine prints, anybody can get away with any lofty claim. In use since 1930s, the new incarnation of 'up to' can be seen in many apps, especially when promising cashbacks. Recently, while paying my restaurant bill through a popular dining app, it prominently showed a credit card discount of 20%: catch was, you guessed it right, 'up to Rs.150'. Effectively, 20% of Rs.9500 – my restaurant bill – worked out to be Rs.150! A mathematical equation worth JEE-Advance. Even a founder of one of India's most popular online restaurants aggregators admitted on record this sleight of hand (an IITian himself, naturally he is deft in maths) but defended it nonetheless in the face of competition. Then there are new age suffixes and prefixes like 'Real' etc. that let you believe about the genuineness of the inherent product quality. But again, there are fine prints with disclaimers that these are just brand names/trade marks and do not represent their true nature. Every day we come across glossy advertisements of magnificent real estate projects promising the moon. But yet again, it's fine print that may need magnifying glass that divulge wealth of `real' estate. 'All the information including but not limited to all designs, layouts, specifications, plans, services, facilities and infrastructure are illustrative and subject to change, without notice. This advertisement is purely conceptual'. An upcoming seven-star property tom toms the brand associated with one illustrious businessman and president – in that order – and what it has to say: 'The name and mark is used under the license, which may be terminated or revoked'. In these times of everything quick, food or groceries, finding detailed bills for the items ordered is nothing short of treasure hunting; so well camouflaged they are kept amidst a lot of random merchandise information. And they certainly are treasure trove of multitude of hidden charges. Sample these: handling charges, small cart charges, processing fees, and surge charges etc., to name a few (it appears that there is something known as `cash handling charges' if the delivery happens to be cash-on-delivery). These charges including hefty packaging charges may well be hidden under `GST and other/restaurant charges' that you can access only by clicking on it. Reportedly, q-commerce players have justified these charges towards ensuring `proper' handling and `quality' delivery. Going by the recent reports of FSSAI's observations around the storage practices, one can surmise that the much-acclaimed properness is limited to handling only, not in the storage. But here one cannot blame them, right from the beginning, these hyper-local warehouses were called `dark stores.' I wonder in what condition the items would arrive if the consumer had an option not to pay `proper' handling charges? Maybe we will get to know the real import of the term 'conditions apply'! One thing is clear; it is time to brush up one's mental maths to be able to total up the actual bill amount – in minutes. Afterall, not everyone is an IIT alumni. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Beauty in our backyards
Amit Kumar was trained as a Mechanical Engineer with specialization in thermal engineering from the University of Roorkee (now Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee) where he was awarded the University Gold Medal. Post his graduation, he decided to pursue a career in renewable energy, a novelty in the early eighties. He had retired from TERI in July 2021 whereas Senior Director, Social Transformation, was responsible for initiatives focusing on energy access, holistic rural development, and community engagement. There he had also led research activities in the fields of renewable energy and resource-efficient process technology applications. As Dean (Distance & Short-Term Education), TERI University between 2014 and 2016, he was responsible for the development and outreach of the University's online courses, management & faculty development programmes, and skill enhancement initiatives. LESS ... MORE While scorching heatwaves are par the course during this time of the year, April to June is also a period when several places in India, including Delhi NCR, get awash with colours deep chrome yellow and scarlet. It is joy to watch ordinary streets transforming in to tunnels framed by golden chandeliers that the Amaltas flowers look like or by flaming flamboyance of Gulmohar. Almost as if by magic, the neibhourhoods turn fairytale like. Yet, we hardly take a pause to savour these things of beauty that come free of cost. Or perhaps that is why we do not attach much of a value to them. While we cross seven seas and cover long distances to be able to witness cherry blossoms, our indifference to equally compelling, if not more, local spectacles around us remain a mystery. Maybe it's the difference between holidaying and passing by as a matter of routine that blunts our sense of appreciating local beauty. Or maybe it's a case of `ghar ki murgi daal barabar' (meaning we don't value what we have even if it is so valuable). But it is not a failure at an individual level alone. Cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Washington DC, Copenhagen, and Stockholm, etc. celebrate flowering of cherry blossoms with the cultural events, pageants, food and picnics. And that's how over time these have become `must visit' places for witnessing cherry blossoms. The closest we come to that are the cherry blossom festivals in our north-eastern states like Meghalaya and Sikkim. On the other side, in the northern plains we steadfast remain immune to the natural beauty being proffered to us to enjoy. The harsh weather around these months, at best, could be an excuse. But certainly, our cities must put in efforts to make things conducive for the citizens to be encouraged to absorb such colourful phenomenon. How about to start with roads that are pedestrian-friendly and footpaths that are walkable? Reminds me of now popular tulip season of our own in an around New Delhi and my dread to cross-over to those very beautifully decorated roundabouts among never-ending traffic of vehicles zipping around. As an American musician, Queen Latifah said very aptly, `I don't have to take a trip around the world or be on a yacht in the Mediterranean to have happiness. I can find it in the little things, like looking out into my backyard and seeing deer in the fields.' What it takes is just a brief pause from the humdrum of life and instead colour it up with nature's wizardry. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Senior citizen: Scourge of airlines?
Amit Kumar was trained as a Mechanical Engineer with specialization in thermal engineering from the University of Roorkee (now Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee) where he was awarded the University Gold Medal. Post his graduation, he decided to pursue a career in renewable energy, a novelty in the early eighties. He had retired from TERI in July 2021 whereas Senior Director, Social Transformation, was responsible for initiatives focusing on energy access, holistic rural development, and community engagement. There he had also led research activities in the fields of renewable energy and resource-efficient process technology applications. As Dean (Distance & Short-Term Education), TERI University between 2014 and 2016, he was responsible for the development and outreach of the University's online courses, management & faculty development programmes, and skill enhancement initiatives. LESS ... MORE Very recently when I boarded a non-stop flight to the land of liberty, I was surprised by extra suffusive welcome being accorded by the flight attendants to a senior citizen like me, which even by their standards appeared phoney. But it was just the beginning. Unlike the earlier journeys, this time an attendant came promptly to put my carry-on in the overhead bin. I sensed as if she gave a once over to my bag. But I brushed that aside as a figment of my imagination. However, one thing could not have been more conspicuous. The crew was extra attentive in tucking me in my blanket with focus on the blanket, naturally. As I had to visit lavatory a number of times on due to my age; this time whenever I got up, one of the crew would silently come and accost me there and in guise of helping me out, would open up the door and be there till I locked it from the inside. I was really touched by this level of courtesy unheard of in the economy class. So impressed was I that upon reaching the destination I must have narrated it a number of times. At home as I was glancing through the old newspapers, I noticed a news item about the return of a flight on account of the choked toilets. Tucked away in that new article was some quotes, which read like: 'A former pilot requesting anonymity said, 'Flights that have more senior citizens and kids are the ones that encounter such issues.' Now the reality dawned on me. I recollected those strange sightings that I ignored during my earlier long-distance flights. At times I noticed – particularly when the cabin lights were dim and most of the passengers were either dozing off or busy with their inflight entertainment systems, if they were working, that is – that some senior citizens would get up and surreptitiously take out some clothe-like items (some distinctly looked like rags) from their carry-on bags and shuffle to lavatories. Some rather old passengers actually were going to toilets very frequently, always with their hands full while going but coming back empty-handed. Only now, after reading the observations of that former pilot, I realised that those senior citizens were paying through their nose just so that they could undertake long flights to dispose off their old clothing and rags that they must be collecting for such journeys. What was thought off as old-age issue took a sinister turn all of a sudden. Or perhaps they were showing their appreciation for airline's 'notch apart passenger experience' by shoving such articles down the toilet. Or could there be a simple explanation? Considering that such an act would require quite a bit of physical exertion for a senior citizen, was it a way to let the body do some in-flight cardio? Whatever maybe the real reason, the outcome was fast and furious. On one hand, senior citizens are now required to fill-in a self-declaration form at the time of booking that they will not undertake such an unlawful activity while aboard; some of the airlines have already started retrofitting the aircrafts such that senior citizens sit in clusters under constant electronic surveillance. If they want to go to lavatory, they must request a flight attendant to escort them. In addition, blankets are now being firmly secured to the seats. Rather than the concessional fares, it's time now to charge more from the senior citizens for all their mile-high follies! The only mystery is that why, statistically speaking, most of such incidents are happening on long-duration flights coming to India and not in the outgoing ones (repercussions of jet lag?), that too in the Indian carriers (too homely?)? And presumably those who emptied their bladders on their co-passengers too must have been the senior citizens. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Deccan Herald
30-04-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
57th Convocation: 293 doctors graduate from St John's Medical College, Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A total of 293 doctors, including 147 MBBS students, 112 postgraduates, 31 super-specialty postgraduates, and three PhD scholars, received their degrees at the 57th annual convocation and college day of St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, on this, 35 doctors secured university ranks. Thirteen of the PG students ranked among the top 10, with 10 in the top five and three securing the University Gold Medal for the first rank. Six of the 31 super-specialty postgraduates obtained university first Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, in his presidential address, congratulated the graduates, calling them an asset to the nation and mankind. He said graduates must show concern for their patients and not become commercial or exploit them, stressing that the public sector is pivotal to healthcare in the country. He urged them to practise medicine ethically and stay updated on the latest developments in the field of Yogesh Jain, founder of Sangwari (People's Association for Equity and Health) and Jan Swasthya Sahyog (People's Health Support Group), was the chief three types of doctors — those who do the bare minimum, those who go beyond to address public health issues and the causes of diseases, and those who focus on policies and advocate for causes — Dr Jain urged the graduates to make a choice about the kind of doctor they want to Fr Jesudoss Rajamanickam, Director of St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, urged the graduating doctors to always remember their promise to serve the underprivileged and the poorest of the poor in rural areas with courage and compassion.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Time of India
Experiential, immersive, and unstoppable
Amit Kumar was trained as a Mechanical Engineer with specialization in thermal engineering from the University of Roorkee (now Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee) where he was awarded the University Gold Medal. Post his graduation, he decided to pursue a career in renewable energy, a novelty in the early eighties. He had retired from TERI in July 2021 whereas Senior Director, Social Transformation, was responsible for initiatives focusing on energy access, holistic rural development, and community engagement. There he had also led research activities in the fields of renewable energy and resource-efficient process technology applications. As Dean (Distance & Short-Term Education), TERI University between 2014 and 2016, he was responsible for the development and outreach of the University's online courses, management & faculty development programmes, and skill enhancement initiatives. LESS ... MORE From curated to experiential to immersive, the world seems to be full of superlatives nowadays. Gone are the days when the annual holidays meant travelling to ones' maternal/paternal places and spend summer vacations with near and dear. More likely than not, journeys were through trains in unreserved compartments – the luxury of having reservations in sleeper class came much later – journeys tedious but still enjoyed by all (not maybe, by the parents). Indeed, the whole vacations were all about experiencing something or the other. Be it the close bonding among the relations or simply the local offerings. In fact, one of the popular topics for post-summer vacation essays in schools used to be on the benefits of tourism (called Deshatan in Hindi) and not surprisingly, we all wrote about the experiences that we gained through travel and tourism. Ironically, when travel has become so commonplace as any extended weekend, travel companies now have to design packages offering experiential (or is it immersive?) holidays. Naturally, it is no more tailor-made or custom-designed but curated. And at times, not just curated but curated `carefully', never mind that the term curated itself means `chosen carefully'. But then in these highly competitive times can we fault such immersive marketing? It's not as if superlatives are reserved for recreational activities alone. Certainly not. Take out any advertisement for popular educational institutions or courses and more likely than not, those would be peppered with the superlatives. While someone is busy in `redefining education through innovation' others are `re-Inventing teaching and learning' with teaching methods to suit `visual or auditory or both' types of learning, whatever that means. Programmes are designed to help students to be `future-ready' or `grow their leading edges'. On the other hand, some others are promising one's `leadership potential to be unlocked' or enabling `one's career path to go to next level' – levels of course are left vague because that's how those very careers are `elevated'. Lest you assume that such programmes are meant for yesteryears' professionals, we are helpfully told that on the contrary, these `contextually designed' programmes are meant for 'modern-day professionals.' But what takes the cake, perhaps, is this phenomenon of `Active learning', which include such active activities e.g., group discussions and hands-on projects; something that we used to engage in even under passive learning mode. But even that Active learning is so yesterday because now it is, yes you guessed it right, AI powered. Incidentally, what is an investor in a company? According to Cambridge dictionary an investor is `a person who puts money into something in order to make a profit or get an advantage'. But wait, there is a class within this community too: a `strategic' investor, and apparently that magic prefix makes all the difference nowadays in the startup universe. And if you think that a solution is meant to address some problems to begin with, you are so behind the times. Today, it must be `problem-oriented' solution, no less. A few days ago, I bought a smart fan and connected it to Alexa. As an aside, I prefer Alexa because I can converse with Alexa easily in Hindi, being a Hindi-medium person – in those days one was either Hindi-medium or a convent educated. But more importantly, calling `Hey Goggle' does not gel with my old Kanpur upbringing where some honorific or the other was de rigueur (for instance it would always be Sharma ji, Gupta ji, Saxena ji, or Mathur Saheb) and not some indecorous Hey or Tu; Lucknow-wallah's pretensions notwithstanding. However, having installed this smart fan I am experiencing a big problem because I am unable to stop this fan. I should have known better because the ad for the fan says it upfront: Built to be Unstoppable. That is the power of superlative marketing. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
