Joe

Please visit: http://onamcolours.blogspot.com/

another culture

no matter how much you read or how much you see on the TV about another country, you will never get the feeling of actually going to another country and experiencing a different culture. Nigerians are ranked the most happiest people in the world. though this country has many positives, it is the negatives that few people commit, which over shadows all the positives.

watching the international news channels from this country, for me, India seems to be in a messier situation than Nigeria.

Okada in Nigeria

Every country has something unique to themselves. Nigeria has Okada. In India we have 3 wheelers plying the roads as Taxi carrying people to their destination for a small charge.

Here in Nigeria, there are 2 wheelers, which are used as Taxi. You have 2 wheeler taxi (called Okada) stand at different places in the city. You will find anywhere from 5 to 50 of them waiting for customers.

my Father

this one is for my father. one person who let me "live", though in many ways, in my early days i was a failure. he was never critical but always supported me for any request i had towards improvement. the most important quality he had was to tell me, "Son, you know, that what you are going to do now is very difficult and that very few, or probably just one person out there wins. you are trying among many out there. just remember that, it is ok to fail. dont worry." my father always told me this every time, in fact literally before every test that i have given, every competition that i have taken part in, every difficult situation that i had chosen to go through, every single time, my father has reminded me of this: "it is ok to fail; dont worry."

i just saw the movie, "Taare Zameen Par" and i was wondering, how similar my dad was to Nikumbh. had it not been for my father i would have been like Ishan, if Nikumb would not have come along.

Thank you Dad !!

Nigeria

On June 25, 2008, morning at 5 am, my Qatar Airways flight took off to Doha. My plane was racing against the break of dawn as it took close to 2 hours for the Sun to appear. That is when I realised that i was flying away from the sunrise - towards west.

My next flight from Doha was immediately after I landed in the Airport - within 20 minutes. In the flight more than 95% of the occupants were from Nigeria. Thus though I had not reached Nigeria, geographically, I was already there.

I landed at the air port in Lagos, Nigeria on the same day at 5 pm local time (9:30 pm IST) and I was promptly taken to the company guest house.

First time out of India !!

Laura

Please visit: http://eastercandle.blogspot.com/

ICICI Lombard

Though I had the capability, it is ICICI Lombard that gave me the platform, rather demanded from me to utilise all my capabilities and perform to my best abilities. I have written about my experience in ICICI Lombard in detail in this article: http://thomasrekha.blogspot.com/2007/11/change.html Please also find my farewell mail that I sent on the penultimate day in ICICI Lombard:

From: thomas

To: TARUN MISHRA /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/BLR

Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 12:51 PM

Subject: Re: My life takes me through a new Journey

Dear Sir,

Thank you. Hope time proves that my decision was correct.
__________________
Thank you and regards,
Thomas.
09387831411

----- Original Message -----

From: TARUN MISHRA /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/BLR

To: PRASHANT D /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; THOMAS JOHN /MOTOR/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM

Cc: SHINU RAJ /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/VIZAG ; VINOD PHILIP /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/BLR ; NOBY THOMAS /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN ; ANISHKUMAR G /BSG/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; JAYASURYA V /BSG/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; LIBIN RADHAKRISHNAN /EXT/OPS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; KRISHNAKUMAR J /CS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; SUMESH P /CS/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN ; KRISHNA KS /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/CALIC ; VARGHESE K /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/KTYM ; RAJEES M /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/KLM ; DINKAR KINI /BSG/ICICILOMBARD/KLM ; VINESH VIJAYAN /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; HUMPHRY ANTONY /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; VINOD B /MOTOR/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; NEETHA LUKE /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN ; KIRAN PS /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; JAYAKUMAR S /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; JOJI SEBASTIAN /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM

Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 11:11 AM

Subject: RE: My life takes me through a new Journey

good luck thomas....

---

From: PRASHANT D /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:59 AM
To: THOMAS JOHN /MOTOR/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM
Cc: SHINU RAJ /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/VIZAG; TARUN MISHRA /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/BLR; VINOD PHILIP /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/BLR; NOBY THOMAS /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN; ANISHKUMAR G /BSG/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; JAYASURYA V /BSG/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; LIBIN RADHAKRISHNAN /EXT/OPS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; KRISHNAKUMAR J /CS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; SUMESH P /CS/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN; KRISHNA KS /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/CALIC; VARGHESE K /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/KTYM; RAJEES M /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/KLM; DINKAR KINI /BSG/ICICILOMBARD/KLM; VINESH VIJAYAN /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; HUMPHRY ANTONY /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; VINOD B /MOTOR/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; NEETHA LUKE /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN; KIRAN PS /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; JAYAKUMAR S /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM; JOJI SEBASTIAN /GEO/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM
Subject: Re: My life takes me through a new Journey

Dear Thomas rocker ,

Tasks well undertaken always & well executed in lightning way .

Wishing you all the very best ahead .

God Bless . .

Regards

Prashant

----- Original Message -----

From: thomas

To: 'ANISHKUMARG/OPS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM' ; 'JAYASURYA V /OPS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM' ; 'Libin' ; KRISHNAKUMAR J /CS/ICICILOMBARD/TVDM ; SUMESH P /CS/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN

Cc: 'PRASHANT D /MOTOR/ICICILOMBARD/CCHN' ; SHINU RAJ /BANC/ICICILOMBARD/VIZAG

Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:42 AM

Subject: My life takes me through a new Journey

It is my turn now. Been in the system for over 20 months and did cherish every single moment during this time. Let me take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you, especially the BSG and CS Team for facilitating all the achievements that came my way. Trivandrum M1 was doing an average booking of 7 lakhs net premium, when I joined the system and we together, more than tripled it to a range of over 25 lakhs every month. It was a dream to beat the other locations like Kottayam, Calicut and Cochin. We had overtaken Kottayam and Calicut very soon and Cochin had seemed to be a far fetched dream. But with all your self less support, even that was made possible. It was a pleasant surprise for me that last month Trivandrum M1 had booked over 29 lakhs, where as Cochin came second to us, by booking only around 16 lakhs.

Here is wishing Shinu all the best in taking the M1 business of Trivandrum location from strength to strength in the days to come.

Once again thank you for all the support you have extended, during my brief but memorable stint at ICICI Lombard.

My personal Email ID : thomasjohn_1980@yahoo.com
Orkut Profile Name : Thomas John

Please keep in touch.
_____________________
Thank you and regards,
Thomas.
09387831411

Rekha

Chasing behind success and the mad rush to gain more knowledge and more experience in the worldly matters, I had missed out to give a pause and smell the roses. That is when Rekha came in my life. We got married on August 25th, 2005. With many opposites in opinions earlier on, we over the past years have found a perfect blend between us. One completes the thought for the other and we are a perfect compliment to each other.

Atlas Copco

I whole heartedly admit that I am very fortunate to have been placed in Atlas Copco from the Campus selection. It was more rewarding to me because it was the time when the Atlas Copco group in a whole was concentrating on India and implementing various plans to accelerate the growth process in India. A true and unrivaled world leaver in all sense of doing business - staying at the forefront of technological innovations and constantly sustaining itself in the Fortune 500 companies of the world. It values its employees the most. It was truly a feather in the cap for me.

We ManEdge

This was the most serious and most hard working group that I have ever been in. The groups website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wemanedge_ibs/ But my membership in the group did not continue for long, however I enjoyed each of the session as it was always packed with abundant knowledge and diverse views to be shared.

The SAP Program

All about SAP is in the following blog: http://thomasrekha.blogspot.com/2008/07/sap-program.html

Eloquent Creaters

This was my first self development group and over the years I have found out that it was the best among all as it still survives after 7 years of its inception.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eloquent_creaters/

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2008						48	10
2007											1
2006	4	1	6	3			2	1		2
2005	34	40	30	77	26	15	18	42	48	6	9	3
2004	16	24	37	43	25	28	36	43	11	10	31	25
2003	42	34	34	46	18	39	34	26	17	35	45	50
2002	25	59	26	22	13	6	9	16	68	53	68	38
2001										18	7	17

Computer

Computer has played a major role in my life. It has been a part and parcel in every major task in my life.

It joined me when I was 18 years old.

ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad

While VCE had educated me on the Technical front, ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad, honed my skills on the commercial front. Ranked among the top 10 B-Schools in India, I could not have asked for a better experience than this.

While VCE helped me to spread my wings, IBS helped me to take flight like an eagle.

Those were (2002 to 2004) the busiest days of my life.

Friends

Most of the important decisions in my life, were taken with the help from my friends, even without they realising it.

I am highly debted to each of my friend for all the good things they have brought to my life.

I am happy that I am in touch with most of them through group emails and social network sites.

Thank you all !!

Vasavi College of Engineering

Thanks to the wonderful coaching that Vidhwan had offered, I received a good rank in Eamcet - 2149 - and was fortunate to get a seat in the prestigious, Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad. This is where my future took a definite direction. My career from here had narrowed down to the field related to Mechanical Engineering.

Ranked among the top 100 Engineering colleges in India, this college is an epitome of holistic education one can receive.

This college opened all doors for me and had created many platforms for me to hone my skills and was groomed well in the technical sphere of my life.

These were my initial days of socialising. My window to the world was opened during these 4 years. All barriers, mostly psychological, were subsided here and my wings were allowed to spread and let me soar in the skies of this world.

My +2 college

Though the photo does not literally depict my college - Siddhartha Junior College, Chandanagar - it definitely highlights the atmosphere that my college had created for me, especially for my future.

It was during the 2 years of mine in this college when the steering of my life in to a different direction began.

I went for a year long program of Diploma in Electronics Engineering from ITI and also joined the Vidhwan Eamcet Coaching center. The institute that defined all my success that came my way till date.

This college introduced me to our Principal and Math teacher, who though portrayed signs of a terror figure, was very good a heart and only wanted the best out of each student - this helped me a lot.

From this time forward I was always among the top in studies (usually 3rd).

Susan and Sajan

My glimpse to the social world. They are every thing to me: friends, brother and sister. We have shared many moods, both good and bad; but we have always passed through and have had wonderful times together.

Parents

This should have been the first post as they are elementary for my existence in this world. My parents have laid a strong foundation for me. They had constantly sacrificed many things to give me a better future. Their impeccable character has made them a perfect role model for me. Always supportive, always encouraging, always forgiving, always understanding and much more - what else could I have asked for?

MIG Colony

This was where i spent most of my youth., made most of my friends and took drastic steps which changed my entire life. This brief it can be called my transformation phase.

Went for the computer course from here. Went for typing from here. Went for the science exhibition from here. Went for the maths tuition from here. Went for the Diploma in Electronics (ITI) from here. Went for the C Programming from here. Went for the Java coaching from here. Went for the EAMCET (entrance exam) training from here. Completed my schooling when i was here. Went for my intermediate college from here. Went for most of my Graduation from here. Started reading big books when i was here. Started the first self development group when i was here. Played lot of cricket with friends when i was here. and much more ...

We had a very good garden - a cute small one. There were many vegetable plants also. The plant that i most adored was the Gauva plant - it was a hybrid variety with soft seeds and used to have fruits almost every month.

Jyothi Vidyalaya High School

This is where my journey called education began. Though I had not aligned this juncture of my life with the complete episode (now what is that - who knows) it was where i made many friends and was taught by many good teachers. Most of them were very nice excepting a few - who did not focus on developing the child but on being perfect on lecturing.

Initially, school was just a km from home. Later it was 3 kms and I had to ride my bicycle.

I am happy i am in touch with few of my friends from school through a Yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tenthh96

I had joined a computer course in my 9th class. With few of my friends we had participated in a science exhibition - "Robo Fire Extinguisher." I was the captain of our cricket team. Was the row leader and the class monitor few times. I belonged to the Granite group.

BHEL - Part 01

Adventures in my life started at the township of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) in Rama Chandra Puram, Hyderabad.

It was a heaven - especially having had lived in 9 different places after that. Everyone is good to you there. It was a self sustained towship with park, stadium and community center. It was more than what any one could ask for.

It is the place where I first went to jog with my best friend, Ravi Kanth. We went to Zilla Parishad School every day in the morning at 6 am. Most of the time we used to play than Jog.


He taught me how to ride a bi-cycle at the same school ground - Zilla Parishad. This school was just 100 meters from my home. 425-A was the number of my home. It had a mango tree on which i used to climb very often and eat mangoes sitting on one of it's branches. We had a tiny garden. We used to take turns in watering those plants - very few of them.