Hello friends. I am back again. This time I am here with a controversial topic for sure. Its almost end of April. If you are in an IT company, it’s end of a financial appraisal, and it’s time of your appraisal. Anyway, due to recession, they have told before itself in most of the companies (except a few lucky ones) that there will not be any hike this time. But they still want to carry on this appraisal process to assess our personal development and growth. There are lots of stories and incidents linked with this, and I am hell bound to share those with you people. Recently there is a blog being circulated, full of cricket gossips, by some Fake IPL Player. That’s a super duper hit. One of the awesome characteristics there is the use of pseudo names for players whom we know well. I want to take that feature, hope it’s not under his copyright. Those who can configure the real faces behind the pseudo names enjoy it; rest all please try to take the fun part of it.
First I will start with my own first appraisal. Around July, 2007 we were going to complete 1 year in the organization, and with that a confirmation process too. We had joined as a trainee in BT band, and we were supposed to be confirmed to B band. ‘We’ means here, a big chunk of around 20-30 people who had joined together. We all were scattered in different teams. In our team we were 8 people together, working on different projects but. Very first year, I was never a brilliant performer, but I was a decent performer for sure. I had never done this buttering process ever in college also (there lecturers and my classmates all used to call me rowdy) and was fully unaware of that in corporate world. My few colleagues did use this path (sorry I am not trying to blame anyone, maybe they had better luck), and few were very lucky to achieve it by default. But I was lacking in it. My close friends still approve that in me. :)
Anyway, this appraisal was a method in which a person was assessed by immediate supervisor; he will give the scores out of total of 57 in seven different criteria’s, and then it was in hands of the big guns to give us final ratings, which will decide our level and thus the hike. L1 means, u are the best and L5 means that you need to quit. Similarly L2 as above average, L3 as average, and L4 needed training and at the end of it if still found not eligible, quit it. I was very much charged up for this. I had handled 2 big items in the project release, on completely a new technology; don’t know when last I had used that in engineering. After all I was a fresher, and I had done more than expectation. My two items had yielded just three bugs, during testing, which were fixed too, while average for each team member was minimum 9. So I was happy that I have done a brilliant job, and might get a good appraisal. When I was in college, our seniors, used to visit our college in between, and used to tell that if you work well in private companies, you will get acknowledged very fast, not like in a processed way in government jobs. Hard known that it was all illusion, and it’s going to break off soon. Coming back to that D-day, the day when I had my first appraisal. I filled the self appraisal form in the given format and had sent across my TL. My TL was no other than Bhanu Chacha. My friends in my team had already been appraised and they had all got in the range of 41-44. But still I had not lost hope. I was sure that I can see the face of half century and maybe will be able to raise my bat. :)
45 minutes after I had sent that doc, I got a call from him that we can go ahead for a discussion regarding my appraisal. I went in the meeting room, and there he showed me the print out of my appraisal he had taken. I directly turned to the page where they will put score. And I got the shock of my life. I had got 39. Ha ha ha. Over that I heard a dialogue, “Are you happy with what you have got?” I really didn’t know what I should answer. I just looked at his expressionless face, and then noticed for first time, the hair popping out from his ears. It was looking so odd in that small meeting room’s bulb light. I felt like laughing aloud, but controlled myself with just a smile. He took that smile in a positive sense, and asked me to read out his comments nicely, before putting my signature. I read them out; everywhere he had praised my work, except my documentation skills (lazy boy). But I never understood why the comments were not reflecting in the marks given. I feel the only hint I got then, was because I didn’t know the language, which was his mother tongue. Believe me, this is one of the necessity in corporate world. You and your head should be on speaking terms, and in same language and best if mother tongue. Anyways, I was fully pissed off by then. He again asked if I was satisfied with my marks. My reply – “It’s more than enough in fact, I had wished for only 35 only.” I think my reply was followed by a sarcastic smile, or maybe someone inside him forced him and he told that, no it’s very less for you, and I should increase little bit. He took the form, increased 1 point, made it 40, and gave a big grin to me. I was lost in some other world, still watching the flying hairs from his ear, and came back to reality, when he asked if we can wind up. He told he will take another print out after modification, and then I should come and put signatures. While leaving he added that don’t be disappointed, as this is for freshers, and we will get a flat hike. From next time I will get even better. The story was over before it could start. I was declared run out, while trying a cheeky single.
I came back and was almost shattered. Another story gave me confidence to stand back. One of my closest friends had also completed her appraisal discussions. She had got 41 or 42 I think. She had worked hard too. And the hint which she got for getting fewer score was even more interesting. Never in writing, but by attitude she was told, that she got less because had she converted to Christianity from a Hindu family, and that too she and her lead were from the same place. Till this was not known to him, he was very good, and the day he came to know, he became the biggest demon available. This guy was our Royal Tiger.
As usual with that score I didn’t expect much rating, and was happy to get L2. But then understood first that how we were fooled. They had not given appraisal, telling its flat hike, and appraisal had no effect, but ratings were based on this appraisal. And those who had got more achieved L1 and few more bucks too. Their heart was empty and so was our pocket. :(
Completed another year, and the second appraisal came. This time had controlled my josh and emotions a lot. The same doc which I had sent last year, modified and sent. This time my lead was different. Vastav ka Naujwaan was my TL. He also gave me ratings and called me for discussion. He showed the print out to me, and again it was the same expression for me. After a complete year, I was shocked again. I went to check hair from ears, it was missing. He had given me 51. Huffff. I never dreamt of that after what I got last time. He gave me a small lecture filled with tips. At the end one sentence which he typed in communicator and sent was so precious for me. First time I felt that I was appreciated. He told – “You have done brilliant work, and it is not in my limits to give more, or else I would have given more. Thanks.” This was enough for me, and I started dreaming again for the best rating, the L1.
The entire process takes around 1-11/2 months for this. And finally when we got our action letters, there was a new drama; mine was missing from the lot. After a search of another week, I got mine. Hey, what the **** (hell). I got L2 again. He he he. They told I got this because of normalization process. Something they explained I never heard. As if I was some abnormal, so I was not picked for normalization. It takes just a statement for your dreams to be shattered. :(
That appraisal time is back. And I don't know this time who is doing mine. Ha ha ha. I am not expecting anything. Anyways there will be no hike this time, so drop it down the hell. How supervisors will come to know what one has worked for whole year, if they don't get involved. It’s so disgusting. The supervisors are assigned to check only through appraisal, what we do for the entire year? I have sent a long 1, copy-paste again to my TL. But this time I have raised my voice too, telling I am not happy with how things are going around me. Let’s see what is the verdict. :) Last word is, it hardly matters how you work for good appraisal. What matters is, if you have a godfather in organization, or if you know your boss personally. Boss kaun hai? Malum hai kya? Ha ha ha.
Disclaimer - ******All the facts stated above are fictious[paradox]. Any match with anyone will be purely coincidence and their bad luck. Please ignore circulating this. Circulating will be hazardous, and circulators will be prosecuted under IPC.*****
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Desh ko chalane ka Job
The most populous democracy of the world, is going under the tantrum of the ministers, who come and show their face only once in five years. Yeah people, election time has come, and the Dance of Democracy (courtesy TOI) is on. 543 seats, 2 big parties with a number of regional and small parties, with innumerable independents, all trying their luck, singing the tune of what good job they can do, if elected to power. They try to create a vibe across the voters by taking up the sensuous issues among them. Secularism, a word which was later added in the Indian constitution, has become a drop of nectar for these politicians. Every potter is praising its own pot, telling that it’s the best buy, so please buy.
Let’s discuss about two big parties here. I am trying my best not to be inclined to either of them in my discussion. Congress, our rulers for more than 40 years, out of 60 odd years are the front runners. They are currently in power and that’s the only concern for them. People remember well what they have done in last five years. For older governments, its older stories, and people here forget things fast. So the short comings they incurred in this tenure are more highlighted by their oppositions. While their step towards development, employment, rural growth, nuclear deal was appreciating, but their approach towards internal and external security, playing with CBI to an extent, rising prices, and inflation turning to deflation, which is equally harmful have poured water on their hard work. Their ignorance towards the black money in tax havens and avoiding this topic, as well as no mention of health issues like global warming and others all in their manifesto is a strategic weak link. Manmohan Singh is even termed as a weak leader, which he accepted also in a conference, and also jeered as a puppet in hands of Sonia Gandhi.
BJP, the party in opposition, had already gained the default battleground. As I told before, being in opposition is always a positive for forthcoming elections. But they somehow received an initial jolt, because of hate speech given by Mr Varun Gandhi. The only good thing the leaders of the party did, that they sidelined themselves from this controversy, and never supported Varun’s comments, even though went ahead with Varun. Another good thing they did was to declare L K Advani as the PM candidate for NDA. At least people know whom they are voting for. Not like, UPA where they still don’t have a consensus, on who is the person to sit on the most valuable chair. Godhra incident, attacks on parliament, kandhar hijack (this issue was never discussed in 2004 elections) were few to put a dent on BJP’s image. Advani can be booed too because of his statements made in Pakistan and his hands in demolition of Babri Mosque.
In short what I meant was both the parties are going through almost the same phase. Little good work followed by lots of responsibilities. But neither of them will be able to reach the magic figure of 272 alone, that’s the prediction in the house. They will have to take support of the smaller and regional parties to come into the power, and they will be the biggest beneficiaries. Generally, these regional parties are limited to 1 or 2 states and they claim vote on the basis of caste, creed, race or religion. Rural people somehow seem to be ignorant of these people’s games. They think that their own people can protect and help them well than anyone else. Instead if they keep account of what people have done in past and vote, then I am sure most of these regional parties will be down the drain, and the independents will have a higher value. But their emotional atyachaar always brings them a rich dividend.
Anyways my piece is not for discussing the politics. That’s a very dirty game, and I don’t want dirt on my blogs. So stay away wise people. Elections are happening in four phases this time, and Bangalore was scheduled to go under the knife on 23rd April. Continuous ads from jaagore and a firm push from my mother forced me to register myself for this election. 25th march was the last day for submitting the form, and that very day I was standing in the queue to submit the Form 6, form for enrolling your name in the voter list. For those, who are new, and still waiting for elections, Voter ID card is not mandatory for voting, but you must have your name on the electoral rolls. This form 6 is related to that itself. Then finally one fine morning around 3-4 days before the scheduled election, I got a mail telling that my name has been included in the rolls. Unfortunately the rolls were written in Kannada, and it was looking as if they have spread ink on the blotting paper. Then I took help of one of my colleague, and got her read out that it was Gaurav Kumar written there. :) Here I am coming on the D-day, to make my 1 vote count.
This was my first legal voting. Before this I have voted once in 1999 elections. I was in my +2 then in Ranchi. I was staying in a PG, and a polling booth was there just next to it in a school. We had leave on that day and we were enjoying it. In the late afternoon, around 4 pm, our PG owner came and asked us If we want to vote or not. Then he gave us an offer. If we all go out and vote for BJP nicely, we will get a great treat in evening. Ramtahal Chaudhary was the famous candidate. We were 7 people then in the PG. We all went there, entered and started putting vote. There was no EVM then, you have to put a stamp on your choice of candidate, fold it and keep inside the box. It seemed as if all the polling officers were bribed as they were not objecting at all. Till 4 pm there was around 20% turnout on the booth. Within 30 minutes, we seven had put around 600 votes together. One of my friend and me were leaders with 150 each. Till last time I was in touch with him, he used to claim that he had voted 4 more than me, but truth is 150 each. The turnout was marked as 72%, record for the entire Ranchi then. We were willing to do more, but we were restricted to, as then it would had got cancelled. That evening there was a big party in our PG, chicken was the common dish as usual, but we enjoyed it lot. Next day when we saw in paper that this booth has witnessed the highest turnout, we had a hidden satisfaction. But still that was an illegal act, and I can still be put behind bars. He he he.
But this time it was all legal. I was authorized to pick up a candidate. I got up early that day, and since election process had started as early as 7 am, I didn’t waste much time and was out for it at 8.30. As soon as I reached near my polling booth, I saw many tents put up by different parties. They were calling me, so that I can furnish my details, and they can give me the token to get inside the booth. I had seen this setup in my previous voting experience. It was like a déjà-vu. I went to one stall, belonging to JD(S). I told my name, and I knew my name was in last page, so like some Kannada expert I told him to go to that page, and pointed where my name was. He would have surely thought that I am some Kannada expert. Anyway, he saw my name, since photo was not there in the rolls; he asked if I have identity proof with me. After my positive nod, he wrote the details on the token, and I headed towards the booth, another 50 meters from there.
Fatima English School was my center, which was a booth for three different wards. Mine was ward 201. I asked one police person there, and he showed me the way. In the queue, there were jus 4 people standing there. I stood behind them. One person on duty confirmed with my token, and they were allowing 1 person at a time. Outside, they had displayed the structure and positioning of candidates on EVM. I glanced that nicely. I would have waited for around 3-4 minutes, when he asked me to go inside. One lady asked my serial number, checked that and asked for my identity proof. This was the first time my passport came into any use. If not for travel, let it be for voting. She verified it and asked me to go ahead. Next came, a person with a book, where I had to put signature that I am exercising my voting rights. Then next was a person who was supposed to put ink on my left index finger. I was so excited that I could feel little shiver inside me. After all I was going to be the part of electing a person for next 5 years. He had put that ink nicely on my finger, that even after 4 days, its still in tact. Then I was headed to a corner, where EVM was kept, covered by cartoons from all 3 sides. The person who had put the ink was too much desired to see what I do, and he was peeping. But my stare drove him back straight in his seat. I pressed the desired button, and it flashed a red color, stating that it was successful, followed by a small beep. It was all over. The fun ended. He asked me to leave the room from the other door.
At times, we are very blatant while complaining about the system and the law. But we forget that we are the people who initiate the process of formation of the entire system. Without complaining about them, if we spend little time on enquiring about the right and eligible candidate and go out and vote for him, we can secure our next 5 years. There is no guarantee that a party is good, or the party person will do the development work only. But we need to find the better person among the bad people and encourage him to do well. Staying back at home, enjoying a day’s leave and later complaining against the system is a cowards’ practice. So it’s time to wake up. Let’s go out and vote. If at all we have missed this time, let’s pledge that next time we will go out, and encourage our friends and neighbors too, to select our own government.
Let’s discuss about two big parties here. I am trying my best not to be inclined to either of them in my discussion. Congress, our rulers for more than 40 years, out of 60 odd years are the front runners. They are currently in power and that’s the only concern for them. People remember well what they have done in last five years. For older governments, its older stories, and people here forget things fast. So the short comings they incurred in this tenure are more highlighted by their oppositions. While their step towards development, employment, rural growth, nuclear deal was appreciating, but their approach towards internal and external security, playing with CBI to an extent, rising prices, and inflation turning to deflation, which is equally harmful have poured water on their hard work. Their ignorance towards the black money in tax havens and avoiding this topic, as well as no mention of health issues like global warming and others all in their manifesto is a strategic weak link. Manmohan Singh is even termed as a weak leader, which he accepted also in a conference, and also jeered as a puppet in hands of Sonia Gandhi.
BJP, the party in opposition, had already gained the default battleground. As I told before, being in opposition is always a positive for forthcoming elections. But they somehow received an initial jolt, because of hate speech given by Mr Varun Gandhi. The only good thing the leaders of the party did, that they sidelined themselves from this controversy, and never supported Varun’s comments, even though went ahead with Varun. Another good thing they did was to declare L K Advani as the PM candidate for NDA. At least people know whom they are voting for. Not like, UPA where they still don’t have a consensus, on who is the person to sit on the most valuable chair. Godhra incident, attacks on parliament, kandhar hijack (this issue was never discussed in 2004 elections) were few to put a dent on BJP’s image. Advani can be booed too because of his statements made in Pakistan and his hands in demolition of Babri Mosque.
In short what I meant was both the parties are going through almost the same phase. Little good work followed by lots of responsibilities. But neither of them will be able to reach the magic figure of 272 alone, that’s the prediction in the house. They will have to take support of the smaller and regional parties to come into the power, and they will be the biggest beneficiaries. Generally, these regional parties are limited to 1 or 2 states and they claim vote on the basis of caste, creed, race or religion. Rural people somehow seem to be ignorant of these people’s games. They think that their own people can protect and help them well than anyone else. Instead if they keep account of what people have done in past and vote, then I am sure most of these regional parties will be down the drain, and the independents will have a higher value. But their emotional atyachaar always brings them a rich dividend.
Anyways my piece is not for discussing the politics. That’s a very dirty game, and I don’t want dirt on my blogs. So stay away wise people. Elections are happening in four phases this time, and Bangalore was scheduled to go under the knife on 23rd April. Continuous ads from jaagore and a firm push from my mother forced me to register myself for this election. 25th march was the last day for submitting the form, and that very day I was standing in the queue to submit the Form 6, form for enrolling your name in the voter list. For those, who are new, and still waiting for elections, Voter ID card is not mandatory for voting, but you must have your name on the electoral rolls. This form 6 is related to that itself. Then finally one fine morning around 3-4 days before the scheduled election, I got a mail telling that my name has been included in the rolls. Unfortunately the rolls were written in Kannada, and it was looking as if they have spread ink on the blotting paper. Then I took help of one of my colleague, and got her read out that it was Gaurav Kumar written there. :) Here I am coming on the D-day, to make my 1 vote count.
This was my first legal voting. Before this I have voted once in 1999 elections. I was in my +2 then in Ranchi. I was staying in a PG, and a polling booth was there just next to it in a school. We had leave on that day and we were enjoying it. In the late afternoon, around 4 pm, our PG owner came and asked us If we want to vote or not. Then he gave us an offer. If we all go out and vote for BJP nicely, we will get a great treat in evening. Ramtahal Chaudhary was the famous candidate. We were 7 people then in the PG. We all went there, entered and started putting vote. There was no EVM then, you have to put a stamp on your choice of candidate, fold it and keep inside the box. It seemed as if all the polling officers were bribed as they were not objecting at all. Till 4 pm there was around 20% turnout on the booth. Within 30 minutes, we seven had put around 600 votes together. One of my friend and me were leaders with 150 each. Till last time I was in touch with him, he used to claim that he had voted 4 more than me, but truth is 150 each. The turnout was marked as 72%, record for the entire Ranchi then. We were willing to do more, but we were restricted to, as then it would had got cancelled. That evening there was a big party in our PG, chicken was the common dish as usual, but we enjoyed it lot. Next day when we saw in paper that this booth has witnessed the highest turnout, we had a hidden satisfaction. But still that was an illegal act, and I can still be put behind bars. He he he.
But this time it was all legal. I was authorized to pick up a candidate. I got up early that day, and since election process had started as early as 7 am, I didn’t waste much time and was out for it at 8.30. As soon as I reached near my polling booth, I saw many tents put up by different parties. They were calling me, so that I can furnish my details, and they can give me the token to get inside the booth. I had seen this setup in my previous voting experience. It was like a déjà-vu. I went to one stall, belonging to JD(S). I told my name, and I knew my name was in last page, so like some Kannada expert I told him to go to that page, and pointed where my name was. He would have surely thought that I am some Kannada expert. Anyway, he saw my name, since photo was not there in the rolls; he asked if I have identity proof with me. After my positive nod, he wrote the details on the token, and I headed towards the booth, another 50 meters from there.
Fatima English School was my center, which was a booth for three different wards. Mine was ward 201. I asked one police person there, and he showed me the way. In the queue, there were jus 4 people standing there. I stood behind them. One person on duty confirmed with my token, and they were allowing 1 person at a time. Outside, they had displayed the structure and positioning of candidates on EVM. I glanced that nicely. I would have waited for around 3-4 minutes, when he asked me to go inside. One lady asked my serial number, checked that and asked for my identity proof. This was the first time my passport came into any use. If not for travel, let it be for voting. She verified it and asked me to go ahead. Next came, a person with a book, where I had to put signature that I am exercising my voting rights. Then next was a person who was supposed to put ink on my left index finger. I was so excited that I could feel little shiver inside me. After all I was going to be the part of electing a person for next 5 years. He had put that ink nicely on my finger, that even after 4 days, its still in tact. Then I was headed to a corner, where EVM was kept, covered by cartoons from all 3 sides. The person who had put the ink was too much desired to see what I do, and he was peeping. But my stare drove him back straight in his seat. I pressed the desired button, and it flashed a red color, stating that it was successful, followed by a small beep. It was all over. The fun ended. He asked me to leave the room from the other door.
At times, we are very blatant while complaining about the system and the law. But we forget that we are the people who initiate the process of formation of the entire system. Without complaining about them, if we spend little time on enquiring about the right and eligible candidate and go out and vote for him, we can secure our next 5 years. There is no guarantee that a party is good, or the party person will do the development work only. But we need to find the better person among the bad people and encourage him to do well. Staying back at home, enjoying a day’s leave and later complaining against the system is a cowards’ practice. So it’s time to wake up. Let’s go out and vote. If at all we have missed this time, let’s pledge that next time we will go out, and encourage our friends and neighbors too, to select our own government.
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