Oct
14
Peep Peep Don’t Sleep: My second book is out
Filed Under Travel | 3 Comments
My second book, Peep Peep Don’t Sleep, just came out and I am pleased to share this news with you.
It is a collection of funny road signs and ads I have been collecting on Indian highways over the past one year, with a bit of my own commentary thrown in. It is a high quality picture book, printed in all colour on 170 gsm art paper. It came off the press only two days back.
You can check it out for images and sample chapters at http://ajayjain.com/peep-peep-dont-sleep. Links to order the book can also be found here.
Happy to receive any orders for the same. 
Do feel free to ping me at ajay@ajayjain.com or +91.99100 44476 for more info.
Oct
13
Has your pillow ever doubled up as a guitar? Or your hand shower as a mike? Or, for that matter, your room as the city’s most happening dance club with only you present?
Sure, right? And did it all set you free, elevating you to another world where doing it is more important than how you doing it? Here’s a piece of advice: Let the pillow be a pillow, and go pick up a real guitar.
Or a set of drums, a flute or any other musical instrument you like. Or go buy a pair of dancing shoes. And sign up for classes. For learning to play a musical instrument, or dancing or crooning. Anywhere. Does not matter. As long as you know it is convenient enough for you to go there regularly. Out of the way, and you will have a zillion excuses to miss classes. Read more
Oct
9
Make higher education expensive
Filed Under Think About It, Public Interest | 2 Comments
Need to start charging a high fee to pay for quality education, while ensuring those in need are guaranteed financial aid from the Government.
The title of this column is no doubt going to ruffle a few feathers amongst the student community, and not without reason. After all, how many in our country can afford to pay high fees for education?
No doubt our system of higher education, with virtually no fees being charged from students, has given us a large number of degree holders. At least in our country meritorious students are not denied education for lack of money.
But barring a few, our institutions are statistically churning out a huge quantity of degree holders, and most of it, simply of poor quality. How many of them are really capable of doing jobs that generate intellectual wealth for the country? Read more
Oct
8
Want to write a book?
Filed Under Think About It | 8 Comments
A few years ago, when I was publishing a youth newspaper, The Campus Paper, one of the student journalists working with me came to me for guidance on writing a book. She did not have a theme in mind, but just wanted to write one. Her enthusiasm was definitely very impressive.
At that stage, I did convey that I am not exactly the right judge of what goes into the making of a good book. I started jogging my mind to see if I knew any suitable editors or publishers, but could not think of any who might have been willing to help out.
But a thought struck me the other day. There is a person who can be writer, editor and publisher all thrown into one. That person is YOU. Yes, I am not kidding. Let me explain. Read more
Oct
8
Whenever I get a promotional mail from German Tourism, I can’t help feeling a little amused and irritated at the same time. On the one hand they are trying hard to attract tourists to their country, and on the other hand they are the most painful embassy in western Europe to get a visa from.
For one, they love to call you again and again - to submit papers, for interviews etc etc. And then expect you to have everything in order including air tickets, hotel bookings, insurance, itinerary etc. First question: Why do they need me to have an air ticket? Once I get a visa, won’t I buy one anyway? Or if I decide to swim all the way, does it matter to them? And then, why should I book a hotel? Surely they will not let me sleep on the streets there. Once I have paid for these, and my visa application is rejected, won’t it all be such a waste? And I may want to stay in hotels I cannot book in advance - like small ones and hostels who take in walk ins only? Only the more expensive hotels have online bookings. Even when the smaller ones do, I would rather see the state they are in before booking it. Credit to USA and UK who do not ask for these. Read more
Sep
22
If The World Could Vote - who would be the next president of the United States of America?
On November 4th 2008 the American people will choose a new president, a person who will become the most powerful person in the world, a person that will influence the whole world. Americans are debating, but it seems that almost every single person in the world has an opinion on who should become the next president of the United States.
To find out who would be the next president of the United States of America - if the world could vote, three guys in Iceland created a website, www.IfTheWorldCouldVote.com. On the site people get one vote for the next president of the United States. The results are then displayed where you can see how many from each country have voted, and who each country has voted for. Read more
Sep
14
Delhi Police parks potential bicycle bombs closer to people
Filed Under Public Interest | 3 Comments
Many of the bombs going off in Indian cities in the recent past have been discovered to have been left behind in bicycles. After the bomb attacks in New Delhi on September 13, 2008 the Delhi Police have been, as expected, keeping a watchful eye on everything in crowded places like markets. Click here: You must read on
Sep
11
Journalists and Communications have always had a close relationship; with the recognition of Blogs as an important form of media in society, the time has come to connect news sources and these independent publishers too.
PR and Corporate Communications have had a close working relationship with traditional journalists and media companies for a long time now. However, the media landscape is undergoing a change with the emergence of blogging as a new and independent form of media.
Being early days, PR and Bloggers have not yet got a total handle on how to engage with one another. For instance, bloggers are in the need of news and information which may be different from the what a newspaper would seek, but not always. This means PR has to send releases drafted differently, and arrange interaction with people who may not be the spokespersons in the traditional sense. The CEO or Marketing Head may not satisfy the blogger as much as the Product Manager who is more hands-on and will speak with greater passion and authority than even those higher up in the organization. Continue reading about this unique service
Aug
31
Is Muslim population growth in Ladakh a part of a plan?
Filed Under Kunzum, Social Issues | 6 Comments
A major concern of the Buddhist Ladakhis is the population increase by Muslims in Ladakh, where the latter are in a minority, as part of a plan to disrupt the existing demographic patterns. If true, the consequences could be socio-economic as well as political in nature.
And for those indulging in such practices, the law helps them too: in India, polygamy for Muslims is allowed but not for other communities. As a result, large Muslim families are not a surprise with each wife bearing more than a couple of children. The Buddhists feel Muslims are spreading their influence in the mostly Buddhist areas of Ladakh by consciously having many more children – some men have been said to father over 20 – and buying property. The Buddhists believe the money to buy such property and support football team size families comes from the rich benefactors in the Middle East. Read more
Aug
20
There are enough companies who take care to make their employees and customers feel good on their birthdays. It could be in the form of a cake or a day off for the birthday boy or girl at office, or a card sent to a customer. How about making these occasions more memorable?
Plant a tree. And ensure provision is made to ensure it is nurtured over the years. No point having dead saplings and half trees lying around, right? Read more
