Book Review [169] : Rework

'Rework' is a beautifully written work by Jason Fried and David Hansson. It's such a lovely read that you can finish it within couple of days if not in a day.

There are pretty good few lessons from this book.

Workaholics are not Heroes - It sounds pretty logical today, but I was kind of one 10 years back and I consider to be that even today. In my first job way back in 2005 I used to consider those people who leave office by 0630 PM as losers and mediocre and whose who burned midnight oil as actual geeks. This is pure poison and basically it kills good office culture. It should be avoided and this book underscores this point really well.

We should take responsibility of bad news and failures. We should not let the rumour mongers decide our response to failure.

Don't be a fake. No body likes plastic flower. Be natural and be spontaneous.

We need to know how far we can push some one. This is the thing I read few decades back from some Australian Cricket player when he talked about Steve Waugh leadership. He wrote that if Steve asks us to hit our head to the wall, we will do it without thinking twice. This is one of the most fundamental traits of a good leadership.

Perfect time never comes so don't defer your decisions waiting for that moment. Every decision made is a progress.

The single most important thing that is killing our productivity is interruption - Calls, Social Media etc. The one who can get long slot of free time can immensely improve one's productivity. 

Almost every point in this book is common sense and we all know about it but we hardly follow it. This book is about reworking on those points.

Highly Recommended (10/10)

Book Review [168] : The Almanack Of Naval Ravikant

I joined Hardoi on 14th July late evening and it took me close to three months to get things rolling and to create a kind of morning schedule. It rained quite a lot in Hardoi this monsoon and it stopped only in Sept.

I started with 'The Almanack Of Naval Ravikant' by Eric Jorgensen last week. Naval Ravikant has become a cult figure in modern techno pop culture and has been immensely popular and successful in different segments.

This book has been a refreshing read after a long time. Pithy book of ancient, medieval and modern wisdom packaged in a novel way. There is nothing new in this book but still it's a must read book for all of us specially for those who are in their mid thirties or forties. I am kind of an avid reader though I suffered kind of a lag in last half a decade mainly because of my demanding work engagements. This is my kind of a book. 

For the readers of this ancient blog I am putting here points that I like most:

• Reading/learning are the ultimate meta skill. One should never stop it.
• Distraction is a big killer and it makes your mind heavy and confused.
• Meditation every day is a must.
• Anger means loss of control over a situation and its suicidal.
• Work out every day is a must.
• One day should be kept free every week from mundane work.
• Inspiration is perishable. It should be acted upon immediately.
• Intentions do not matter, actions do.
• Become the best in the world at whatever you do. Keep refining yourself.
• World as hard as you can.
• Give more time on decision making.
• If you can't decide, then the answer is No.
• Criticise generally but praise specifically.
• Don't waste your time living some one else's life.

A highly recommended book (10/10).

Land Between Two Rivers, Bandits and Soldiers

To trace footsteps of one's ancestors is always fascinating. Whenever i find time, i do that.

 

On 22nd September i was really fortunate to get an opportunity to visit my first homeland in Uttar Pradesh (as per the available records of my family from primary sources). This is my only third visit to this great place. I am still more inclined to call Naurejpur (District Jalaun) - the village of my grandmother as my village.

 

Shri Kesari Singh Ji migrated from our ancestral village Binega (District Karauli, Rajasthan) to Pura Baghraj village on the bank of Chambal in Bah region of Agra district. He was married to a lady from Bhadoria Rajput family. His son Shri Jawahar Singh Ji was my great grandfather. My grandfather Shri Kammod Singh Ji was born in 1938-39 in this village.I had never met my great grandfather but my grandfather is responsible for whatever i am today. He left me just before my UPSC CSE 2014 mains exam in Nov 2014. In 2019 i visited Binega (Karauli, Rajasthan) during Mundan ceremony of Rajyavardhan at Kaila Devi Temple.

                                             

 

The entire village came to the main Chauraha to receive me on 22nd Sept afternoon. There were DJs, bikes, flowers and garlands. I was so overwhelmed that i cant express in words. It was really a touchy moment for me. My brothers, uncles and entire village were so happy with tears welling in their eyes. It was a life time kind of a moment. After paying my regards to all of them and attending Shrimadbhagwat Katha ceremony organized by Lt Col (retd) Shri Gajendra Singh Ji i took the tour of the village and its surroundings.

 

 

I visited the place where Sunil Dutt and Wahida Rehman starred film 'Mujhe Jeeno Do (1963)' was shot. The shooting of this film was done in this region (Bah and Muraina) and it shows the lives of Bandits (also called Dacoit/Daku) of that era. I have heard so many stories of bandits since my childhood - Man Singh, Madho Singh, Lakhan, Roopa, Malkhan Singh, Pan Singh Tomar etc. Nirbhay Gurjar was the last bandit of this area and was neutralized in a Police encounter in 2005. Bollywood did dis service to this region by showing bandits with horses. There are no horses in Chambal ravines. Bollywood created image of Texas cowboys in Chambal. The only film that was close to reality was 'Pan Singh Tomar (2012)'. Chambal is couple of km from my village. It is full of crocodiles and my family relatives and my village people are closely associated with Operation Crocodile.

 

 

 

 

 

This entire region surrounding Chambal covering parts of Madhya Pradesh (Bhind and Muraina districts) and parts of Agra district is locally called Bhadawar land (i.e. land of Bhadoria Rajputs). Two great rivers Yamuna and Chambal flow through this region. This land is also known for giving great soldiers and officers to Indian Army as well as to Police. So many sons of this soil have sacrificed their everything in the service of Bharat Mata. The last great Officer being former Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadoria (2019-2021). Now the bandits are history and Indian Army/Police is present and future appears to be brighter.

 

 

Subedar (retd) Dal Singh made a huge contribution in changing the landscape of this region from the land of bandits to the land of soldiers. Shri Dal Singh served in Army and he fought in World War 2. He donated his entire land and helped in establishing a Junior High School with a big playground in Pura Baghraj. He died in 1954 but he left behind a great legacy. This ground gave hundreds of Soldiers/Officers. I inaugurated a Volley ball tournament in his memory during my visit.

Bateshwar Dham is a great religious place close to my village (about 15 km). It is a collection of 101 temples dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv. Yamuna Ji flows touching the steps of these temples. These were built about a 1000 years back and have played a great role in shaping the religious and cultural outlook of the people. I was so blessed to get a chance to pray in these ancient temples.

 

Its been my honour to be associated with this great land full of chivalry, rich cultural heritage and two mighty rivers.

Bijnor Diaries

On 13th July afternoon i got the news that i have been transferred to Hardoi district as SP Hardoi. Transfer is a routine process in the life of a Police Officer. I enjoyed each and every second of my stay in Bijnor. Its a fabulous district full of greenery and large-hearted generous people. I joined Biinor Police as SP on 14th of March 2023 and i completed 16 months of tenure to be precise.

Shrimadbhagwadgita - Finally I read It

'Shrimadbhagwadgita' is the most seminal knowledge ever revealed to humankind. Many great people from the likes of Shankaracharya to Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Radhakrishnan and many others had written commentaries on this great text. 

I was a kid when Maharabharata serial used to come on Doordarshan and I still remember the massive crowd that used to gather in to watch this great serial. Then for the first time I heard about Gita. Since then I wanted to read it, memorise it and to follow it.

I bought my first and only Gita in 2001 when I was in first year of college life. This was Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan translation/commentary on it. I started reading it but could not pass through the first few shlokas. I made many such attempts but could could not pass through first chapter itself.

During my 19 months stay as head of Baghpat Police (2021-2023) I was gifted multiple copies of Gita by Dharmic people of Baghpat. For the first time I attended functions to celebrate Gita Jayanti Diwas in Baghpat but my attempt to read Gita was not successful.

2024 Lok Sabha election was held in first phase in Bijnor on 19th April 2024 and immediately after that I started reading it as first thing in the morning. I must say Robin S Sharma's seminal book '5 AM Club' has a great role in it. This book inspired me to wake up before 5 AM. Since April 2024 I have been waking up between 0430 AM - 0450 AM without single break and I feel so good about it. So because of this book I got time in morning to read Gita.

In last three months I have read Bhagwad Gita two times. Shrimadbhagwadgita Yatharoop by Bhaktivedant Swami Prabhupad is a profound and easy translation of Gita. Such is its brilliance that I can't start my day without thinking/reading about it.

There are 18 chapters in Bhagwad Gita and about 700 Shlokas. Every Shloka is a highly profound text of wisdom ever revealed. I like few of those Shlokas very much.

There are about 700 Shlokas in Gita and every Shloka gives us directions/advise/wisdom to solve our dilemma and to do our duty. To do duty against all kinds of challenges without fear or favour, without greed or grief is the ultimate lesson from Shrimadbhagwadgita.

To those who have still not read Shrimadbhagwadgita I request them to please read it. I was late by 23 years you should not be late by even a day.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भुर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥