An Offer I refused!!!

In life, we quite often make decisions based on unknown rules and theories. Life is so complicated to have a pre-defined output with given circumstances and effort you put in. Its equally true with you career, especially in the current world - where no one stays in a job for ever. A year back or so I was in such a situation - I decided to change my job, and what should be my choice? There was a offer I have turned down during the time, which could be the worst decision I made at that juncture. It was from one of my ex-colleague, Naman to join with him at a start-up - FindYogi.com. It was just a couple of months old at that it and was time of forming the initial team. Later based on reassessment of priorities, I decided to join somewhere else. Its a tough decision to define how good the opportunity was, until something the results are visible. 

To tell about FindYogi, it was purely based on emerging E-commerce culture (was targeting initially India). If you are already aware of the isbn.net.in, you are aware of the business of FindYogi. FindYogi was a product comparison based on specification - which was already available in lot many site- and the feature to get the E-commerce website where you get the product(mobiles) for the cheapest price. It searches across various E-commerce sites selling a product and get the cheapest price among all sites along with the coupons/offers available for each of them. The website was so well suited to Indian crowd where people try to save single paise possible. And finally, the recommendation engine, which was/will be the most complicated part ( from a developer's point of view). To provide the best recommendation - we need to consider what he search across multiple website, his choice of brand and price range and other factors. 

How FindYogi Prove  I was wrong?

After launching their first version a week after last year Diwali, over the period they have provided a great logo and index page. It give a lot cool feel in the blue theme with the mascot(whatever be its name). A good UI - in terms of look and feel and usability - sells half the product. It can cover lot many issues in the back-end as well. And in less than 8 month time - by last June or so - their next puzzle was also solved. The mobile search functionality with comparison or price and product was available. May be, the better  customized recommendation still on the way , FindYogi has already provided with a reasonably good recommendations on my search.  Feature Score and Value for Money were the two indexes the provide a fair enough knowledge on whether I should buy it or not.

How FindYogi Prove  I was right?

The speed of growth might be one alarming factor for key members of the team. In a web-based world with a Start-up tag, a year might be too long for initial versions, especially when there is some is competitor for you. The success of web-based product is mostly based on the popularity you have in the world also. FindYogi is not that famous till now - as they are only 2-3 months from the first stable release - things might change by this year end or so. 

When looking from developers point of view, UI is good, but an extra bit is missing. For example, in a product details page, it looks like too many text and images and overload the data. Also UI is an ever-evolving process and will be better and better over time.

What I would have asked for ?

One big feature missing is registered usage. Facebook or Google plus log-in is an easy to implement feature which opens up for lot many features like user votes, reviews etc. The success of review from public has been already proved by Zomato, IMDB.com etc. Also a social network based log-in can provide you with more publicity as well. Another index I would have added will be reliability of vendors in the list. There are so many sites selling the fake products and its very important to ignore them in future.

I am not sure how I should look as FindYogi proceeds to success - to be happy about my friends growing or to be sad about a opportunity I kicked away. I will be keep on monitoring the growth of FindYogi to feed my sadistic mind, but hope FindYogi team will have the final laugh. Best wishes guys!!

Stranger Host

Last Saturday, that is what exactly true of me. 

It was first Holy Communion of my sisters kids and I was travelling to Cochin for the weekend. Anytime I wanted to reach early, by bus would be late. But this time I never thought I will reach in time for church which was beginning at 8:30. In the same bus, during my earlier trips I have never reached even Thrissur(which is 80km before Cochin) before 8:30, but its a special day and I was getting to a trap, so how can my bus be late!!

Trap

Once I have reached early, plans got changed. I was the one who will receive the guest while everyone else except by bro and bro-in-law(had to pick some food) were going to church. So I was left behind with the maid at house with an instruction - "Just make sure everything is well in place". I have never seen that maid before and I still dont know her name even now either. She went on with her sweeping while I just placed couple of things in place.

You know how hot it is in Cochin during these days - and its not easy to be in your jeans for long hours. So I went upstairs to change to shorts. When I took of my jeans, I thought, its only matter of an hour before some else will come and why should I wear my fresh pair of shorts before taking bath and moreover I like to walk in my boxers. I decided against my comfort - its at home, people look skeptically at boxers(my uncle even asked me how is it inside-does it have some protection like swimming suit) and put on my shorts. Probably the best decision I took in recent days.

Mishap Begins

Within 5 mins after changing, there comes a call on my bro-in-laws mobile. It showed name as "Restin" and I thought it could be someone from his company - may be named something like reception or something. But it was a man asking the way home. Before I could get to the door, they were at the gate. It was a Tata Sumo. Once the doors opened after confirming the house, I started to look for a familiar faces. All I could find was a face, which I doubted I have seen before - I am not sure yet. It had more than 10 people in it, but just one man and 2 boys(not even 7years ) in it!! But the male-female ratio was even better in the other Tata Sumo that came earlier morning. Only male in it was my bro-in-law's brother. Who the hell said female foeticide has alarming - they should see these families. 

Even before they entered the house, I turned to be "the best host" ever. I told them Church is only 1KM away,  it was only 10:00AM and the church will go on atleast to 11:30(in fact everyone including kids reached back home after snacks and photo-session by 11:00). I couldn't win it at all. They have started by 7AM or so from their native and had to refresh themselves. And there came a quick question from one of the ladies - have we arranged break-fast. Luckily I have seen many packets of bread in kitchen. Soon they were inside house, I dint have to guide them to any room. They all actually made it home. Kids went upstairs and took all the toys within in their reach. Ladies invaded everywhere including master-bedroom and kitchen. Then the same lady asked, have the made coffee/tea. She soon turned out to be the lady of the house. All I did was fetched 2 packets of milk from fridge. I dont know how or from where she got rest of the things, she started making coffee - which turned out to be tea at the end as none knew where is coffee powder and fresh packet of tea was in view.

Things didn't get better. Now to have break-fast, all I could find was some 6 plates which are kind of for daily use. I dint have any idea, where the rest of the plates are. But the guests was compromising in that too. The shared plates - I mean to say, one person holding the plate and both having food from the same plate and that too with hands. My only way to share a common plate is after couple of beers with spoon and after two more without spoons. 

My guests were asking more questions than I could answer. Finally, the man in the group told me, he was - my bro-in-law's uncle. And he was speaking my bro-in-law's parents name and related details. So atleast I can confirm they were somehow invited for the day. No one knew my name but some knew my sister has a brother(in fact she has two) and even better was the people who knew I was away from home.

But, I should never miss out to say this, these people where actually doing things right way. They gave maid also a cup of tea and made sure she had it. In fact, when I came back to kitchen after some time, maid was sitting at the table and "the lady" was washing the plates.

Car No:2

There comes another car. Luckily only 3 people in it. And more interestingly, it was bro-in-laws paternal relatives(the man is in the car looked very much like bro-in-law's dad; safe deduction they could be brothers). As these two set of people dint know much about others, i made another deduction, the first set was his maternal relatives. 

Now things are totally out of control. I called my brother, "Help me Help me" was my tone. He wanted another 15-20 minutes. I was in getting in deeper and deeper ****.

Rescue

When next car came in, I looked out half-heartedly. No more strangers, please. It was a rescue car. It was my aunt and kids. Even before she got out of the car, I ran to her. You need to help me, I have lot of strangers at home, please entertain them. My aunt dint have to do much, by 10:45 the guests decided to go to church. (They were back home in another 15-20 minutes with others. I dint talk to anyone in that group once they were back home.)

Nostalgia

As its widely believed, a Christian celebration can never end without liquor. True for the particular day as well. It was vowed by all the parents of kids for First Holy Communion that, none will serve alcohol for the party, and we had to wait till every left except for us. It started-off at the garden. When last one also left, everyone came out to say a farewell. Once he left, my second bro-in-law sat down in the road, saying he felt like doing so. My uncle said, these are nostalgia and he too sat down. Remaining people had to choice but to join. Being the youngest one, I had to shift the camping from garden to road. It was a small road devoted for not more than 10 houses in the colony and it was well passed 10pm. 

Soon my sister came down to us with their trophy(her 2year old baby) and wanted bro-in-law to sleep her. My niece lay down on him for some time and then sister took her back inside. But niece could not sleep. She was murmuring at sister's shoulder- "Appan roadilla.. vandi muttum"(dad is laying downing on the road, some vehicle will hit him). By 11:30 we went back inside and continued with all types of topics - including how my uncle and took photo with Mohanlal during their honeymoon which eventually could not be processed, to horoscope, to whatever you can imagine of.

It was a fun weekend as on proceeding day, I met couple of my friends who just came back for vacation from abroad. When you wait for fun, it might be fun, but its more funnier when you dont forsee it.

My Views On Jesus

Time to time there had been controversial publications about the existence of Jesus, character of Jesus, real life of Jesus and so many. In past two weeks, I came across couple of movies like “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “The Man from Earth”. The movies has reminded me well of the time of reading the books “The last Temptation of Christ” and “Da-Vinci Code” years back. Also to rethink about how Jesus should be. In the prologue of “The Last Temptation of Christ”, I still remember author mentioning like the whole book as his imagination of how Jesus would have lived – a pure fiction. During the peak days of “Da-Vinci Code”, there was one priest who mentioned in the interview something like – these are kind of sieve to filter our true-believers as they would not be wavered by it. I would rather look at this as a chance to re-define the beliefs.

Jesus – God or Human

I am not a person who likes to look at Jesus as God. I would prefer to look at Jesus as human, with all human senses and emotions. If Jesus was God, there is no point in calling him as one among us; His crusification is nothing big. Probably, “The last Temptation of Christ” is all about that – author considers Jesus as human, being tempted to all the worldly pleasures. When you look at Jesus and then look at things he has done, it makes more challenging worth making him God.

Last Sunday during church, I just came across a weird thought. According to church, it’s a sin when you are not doing something good you can to others. Then, during his first miracle of his life (during marriage at Cana), Jesus was reluctant to do anything claiming it was not his time yet. It was Mary who forced him to do it. Can’t we look at it as human, procrastinating? So also we read in bible about Jesus whipping the money changers from the temple. So Jesus too had emotions, he too cared for his feeling and values. If Jesus has not taken it personal, he would not have lost his anger.

Even during the last hours on cross, of the last 7 sayings on Christ, Jesus speaks emotionally of personal life, which has nothing to do much with God during - “Behold your son: behold your mother” and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”. These makes more human. Jesus cared about his mother and he too is showing full trust on God. These all shows to me Jesus as a man just like one of us, who has everything just like us, but he was at the end able to move to win most of them.

Mary Magdalene

From the movie: The Last Temptation of Christ

Her name was not referred as many times as number of controversial books published on linking her with Jesus. Everyone was interested in hooking Jesus with her. I still don’t know the reason. But I would definitely like to see Jesus as married – be it to Mary Magdalene or any other woman. That makes him so human. There is something I dislike to Buddha – when he went in search of getting enlightened, he decided to run away from all his responsibilities including as a son, husband, father and king. Buddha just walked away one day in search of his happiness breaking the heart of everyone around. But Jesus was emotionally attached to people – Mary Magdalene was with him during last moments of Jesus whatever was their relationship was. It makes Jesus much more adorable if Jesus could marry a whore knowing she is one.

Judas

In bible, we don’t see much good about Judas but can see only miserable statements about him. Judas was even identified as the betrayer in bible. So it’s clear that, even the apostates were not able to forgive Judas – one among them. So I don’t think Bible will give true personality of Judas. Bible describes Judas mostly as greedy and as man of no qualities. There could be definitely some reason even if Judas was so and again “The Last Temptation of Christ” has given the best possible character for Judas – the best companion of Jesus, who loves Jesus and betrays Jesus as his duty.

I would say Judas should be a man who heard his inner voice. For whatever reason he betrayed Jesus – money or whatever it is. But when he knew what he has done was a mistake, he had the courage to admit that in front of the counsel before he committed suicide. May be Judas, never knew Jesus will be crucified because of his act.

Bible

Bible is a holy book but I would firmly believe there were some adulterations done on it before publishing it as it. Even if there was minor references which could result in questioning Jesus as God could have been removed due to the political and religious situation at that time. And once the bible got published and Christianity was popular, Church had never an option to correct anything as it result in questioning her own existence. Even Church has admitted, she was corrupt and lost it track during different times of history and for the same reason John Paul II had apologized.

Whatever be it, Bible like any other holy book just repeats the same thing - “Do unto others as you would have them do to you”. It’s not important to make Jesus God or not, it’s not about whether Jesus did miracles or not, it’s not about having a final judgment or not, it’s not even about being atheist or theist. It’s about keeping yourself happy and also making your fellow being too happy.  

Whatever it’s there in bible, whether Jesus is God or not, or was he married or not, doesn’t make much difference to me. My belief is all about being good to others and be happy about being so.

I would like to quote my friend’s way of defining the life after- “Don’t live too good, as in case there is no life after; don’t live too miserable, as in case there is a life after. So take a middle path”. Safer option when Christianity offers a purgatory.

Hunger Civilized Man

It has been long time since writing something other than code and some signing some official papers. The though of writing a blog has been In my mind for a while but could not think of anything and even ended had to scrap after writing one. My brain works best when I am alone – bath, walk to office and best of all sleep. There were even nights on which I woke up in the middle of night to do work as I came across some solution.

This time bathing time helped me to get something to write. Long back - back to school days – the first things on which I have written ever for myself was on HUNGER. Though I don’t have the copy of that, I would like to recollect that one and how I feel now on the same. 

Man and his Past

In the beginning of man history, I could consider human as no different from some stray dogs we see around every day. All it has to think of fight for its food and sleep somewhere where rain never hit them. Human should not be much different from them either. Wandering through forest eating what ever they got – may be from vegetarian, may be meat, may be I don’t know. Might be human, being social animal, should have stayed together and remained in the same place as long as they had hunger was overcame. At some point of time or other, they might have wanted to remain in some place and remain in the same place longer. That could be the beginning of cultivation. I cant even give a possible reason how they knew rice or wheat was for main-course which has to be cooked compared to fruits and vegetables.

Obviously if you decide to stay in a place long and grow your own food, the second basic need of man also needs a betterment. Caves wont be anymore enough. A better place to stay and more importantly to store your food was inevitable. And human started with the construction – starting with easy wood -palms to later mud-clay to more and more. This should have civilized people much more. Just like any organization of 10 people not needing rules but as it becomes bigger rules and laws are inevitable. The hierarchy comes in. Distribution of work comes in. This settled life has brought in the virtues and vice. But resulted man in making lazy not to travel anymore or and killed the love for adventure.

Once started to settle down and doing farm, the life was much easier. He was less bothered about food or shelter. He started discovering and inventing things. Religions, industrialization and now digitization have taken up the world over the years.

And Now

I would like at it as, hunger being the base reason for his development. But most people on earth doesn’t spend their time to feed their hunger or any of his basic needs. I don’t even spend 20% of my salary on food, so would be most of the middle-class or better family. And we don’t our hunger, its more of obsession towards food. If not, all these restaurants, KFCs, McDs would have risen up. Then it was scarcity of food but sharing mentality and now its other way.

And most people live our social-status not life. They don’t know why they do what they do it. I am also belonging to same group of humans, but neither will me nor do you change. Because we love comfort. Because we love comfort.

(I feel after writing the whole of this, it was bit boring. Sorry for those who felt the same )

Life in a Start-Up

One year back, I was working in a well established Software firm which was as old as me and most known name in the domain. As most in the industry, I wanted a switch after working for almost 3 years due to xyz reason. After long pursuit, I cleared an interview and soon a second one – both Start-ups. Now it was time to make the big decision - whether to join a Start-up. Positives like best time to take risk as a still a bachelor , would be great chance to learn things and obviously better financial benefits while the risk factor and delay in higher studies made the decision hard. Its funny when you ask others about opinion – “You might not get salary for some months”, “It will be great experience”,  “Be ready for everything” and so on. My best motivator was brother who gave his verdict - “You go and join. But if something goes wrong everyone including me will blame you alone”. So that’s it, go for your gut-feel and I joined a START-UP!!

First day

I reached by 9:30 at office and I was the only one over there. But my first day memory is mostly about the lunch. As a senior-pro recommended we went in search of a restaurant “Unde ka funda”. We had to walk around the streets to find it and after taking 2-3 wrong roads we reached there. It was a “thattu-kada” – which can’t accommodate more than 2 tables and you were actually in the kitchen. Luckily for me, someone decided to move to another Chinese hotel. And there is something special about my date of joining – it was my birth day too. So I had my cake cutting ceremony also.

But in long run terms, office was a house and in I sat in all men’s room, 4 bachelors and CTO- who was crazier than us. It looked like a room of friends rather than a bunch of professionals sitting around. I was the only one in the team who worked on my domain and there was a guy to help me who wont be in office more than 4 hours in office a week. For a person who had set up Php just once in my life, it was a difficult days.

Funny Days

Soon I too was part of the “family” and family was growing fast. It turned out like when we plan for a release - it was discussions, lunch and table tennis at office and coding from home at night. Usually my days were from 6:30am to 11-12pm had soon changed 8am to 1-2am. Best part was, every discussions always had an objective and will achieve it unless a lady cries. In an office of 12 people, you can see people reaching from 9am to 12am and leaving from 5:30pm to 9:30pm on a normal day. But will have lunch always together. Partying was so frequent that you can expect 4 in every month.  My roommate had asked me couple of times even, “So when to you guys actually work, you have party every other day”. It doesn't matter how much you are drunk or what time you reach home, everyone will be online for next hour. There are times I reached home after 2am on consecutive days - first after party and second after release(not the other way).

But when you come to work, there is no compromise either. Sometimes a requirement comes to you and will have to be delivered overnight. You can expect a call at anytime of the day or night and have to be available. I was luckiest one the engineering team to get the least of those calls at midnight. One of the guys had to resolve an issue at midnight just 2 days after his marriage!!

Each one of us had learnt a lot during the period. As there is zero-politics, everyone one is ready to help and co-ordinate. You can pass your work to someone also very easily but will have to accept when someone passes to you too. 

Professionally you can trust anyone, but as in any friendship if someone calls you and say there is a serious issue when you are busy, you can be sure that a false call because he would have solved the issue earlier.

Tough Days
If you ask me about the tough days in last one year, I dont remember a single one. During last release done on a Saturday night, I decided to do it from office and was the only one left at office. But when CTO has sms-ed and called me multiple times asking for the status in the night even when he was in for a movie his wife. And after movie he came to office just to drop me home. He had to wait for another 1hour before getting everything stable. There was also a lady  to test everything throughout the night from home. On worst of releases, when you are backed-up so much, you will never feel the pressure or being cornered.

There is another phase which most Start-ups usually have. When a serious issue comes, employees saying - we are in trouble and we made a wrong decision joining here. Very next day, when looks good the same guy could be saying we are going to be Millionaires soon. But for us, it was smoother compared what many of friends had - there are moments of anxiety but always looked like, we could fix it.

Its all fun to work with people who care for each other and is ready to complement each other. I always believe, I am quite often granted more than even what I wished for and after one year in the start-up, I am its is top on that list.