Shaking hands with Mukesh Ambani

Its not everyday that you get to see Mukesh Ambani. The best way to meet and greet him is at the Reliance Industries Limited's (RIL) Annual General Meeting (AGM). Having attended lots of AGMs in Bangalore, this one was my first AGM at Mumbai.

Its an altogether different atmosphere. The company holds its AGM at Birla Matushree Sabhagraha at Vithaldas Thackersay Marg at Marine Lines. The hall holds around 1500 people (Its too small given RIL' s shareholder base of over 20 lakh shareholders). No cameras are allowed inside. Don't try to take pics, for you may be picked up by plain clothes policeman, says a heavily built man donning a RIL badge. Needless to say, there are around 200 people from RIL who cover every nook and corner of the auditorium and add to it the security personnel. I had to keep my bag with camera at a STD booth in front of the auditorium to enter inside.

The attendance is good and the hall is full, but its small when compared to my favourite Infosys' AGM. The first 2 rows are full of old RIL shareholders who stood by the founding chairmain Dhirubhai Ambani.

But its Mukesh's show all the way. He enters the auditorium with a Namaste to the first 2 rows, talking to few old and loyal shareholders. Then he starts his walk till the back of the auditorium with namaste and shaking hands with enthusiastic shareholders for whom its a once in a year (or should i say, once in a lifetime) opportunity. He thanks everyone for attending the meeting. When he comes near our row, the person next to me, tells him that we (thats me and another couple, Mr & Mrs Pai) are from Banglore. In his typical style, he shakes hand and thanks us for coming down.

The Q & A session is well controlled. Unlike Infy's AGM where anyone can go and raise questions, RIL shareholders have to pass on the slip to Company secretary who then calls the name who come and speak. It goes on for an hour. Though I couldn't stay on till the final proceedings, its was worth a visit (though, I wont say its worth visiting again)

So whats the feeling after the handshake with one of the world's richest man ??

Just hoping that Lady Luck rubs some of her charm she bestowed on Mukesh on me too..;-)

Black & White..

While we Indians shout loud about racism based on colour, the happenings of the last week made me wonder whether we still live in a medival world, despite ours being an educated society.

The biggest evidence of discrimination of basis of colour comes out at the time of scanning marriage proposals. A fair skinned guy is expected to marry a girl who matches his skin colour.

The trip to my native last week was of great fun. It must be, after all its the Car festival and the time when uncles, aunts, cousins came from wherever they are to attend this function. As always there are umpteenth numbers of items to gossip around when there is such a big gathering at home.

There was no dearth of such stuff this time either. As the news spread just last week that one of my cousins was struck by cupid's arrow and even got a go ahead from his parents for his marriage, we knew that the young brigade was in trouble, for he had found a match for himself and stepped intot the domain of his previous generation, after all we are expected to marry a person whom our parents choose for us. To make the matter worse, he quitely recused himself from the event due to his busy schedule. This meant that we had to defend our turf, for we are branded as a generation who never listen to their parents. Though no one had seen the girl till then, somehow they got to know that the girl was dark skinned and was infact no match for our "fair and handsome" guy.

"So you knew about this, din't you ?" an aunt fired the first salvo inviting me into discussion with the gangs of seniors. I nodded the head in affirmation. So I hear the girl is dark skinned, said another. The family debates are tricky, you need to diplomatic yet not give up. Well, that showed he dint fall for her beauty, she must be a real good person, i retorted. But he could have got a better match, said another. I guess that "better match" meant brighter colour. One person feared about the colour of their unborn children. For such a foresightedness, I thought the person must be put into our planning commission panel right away and plan the next 50 year plan. None of them bothered to ask if she mingled with us well or spoke well, all were left wondering what made him say yes to that girl. Needless to say all people in the previous generation were well educated and work with the finesh organisations in the country.

The discussion left me wondering whether education took us back or forth in time ?