Provoke some...

Corporate Lala... does it sound like an oxymoron? How can a Lala be corporate? The way we differentiate companies in India is on the basis of whether it is a "professional" company or a "Lala" company? The moment we get an answer we immediately "assume" about the way that particular company would be running. Does it mean that Lala companies are NOT professional? Or a professional company CANNOT be a Lala company? What exactly comes to our mind when we think of a "Lala" company or a so-called "Professional" company? What are the myths & realities that reside in our minds when it comes to differentiating the two? Do we see any similarities or do we believe these are two extremities? Will the twain ever meet or will they continue to co-exist to complete the balance in the enterprise universe? Who exactly is a Lala or a Professional? Can a Lala be professional or can a professional have Lala traits?  So many questions... I am...

Most of us, during the drinking session which followed our graduation ceremony, made either of the two statements in a state of drunkenness or otherwise: (a)     I can’t imagine myself working my entire life. I want to enjoy. I will retire the day I make XYZ amount of money (The XYZ varied between lakhs to at max a crore of rupees.) (b)    I can’t imagine myself working my entire life. I will slog my butt off during the initial years and worst case I will retire when I turn 45. Was I one of the many who said either of the two statements as mentioned above? You bet I was. This year I will turn 45 and by God’s grace have been able to exceed the monetary goal that I started off with (Just to think of it, was the goal too unambitious? Didn’t seem at that time though. After all those were the days when even the grandeur film villain Ajit was smuggling gold worth 5 lacs plus minus) but am I even remotely close to hanging my boots? So what happene...

In March 2011, Delhi businessman and Congress MP Kanwar Singh Tanwar created a record of sorts of 'The Most Expensive Indian Wedding' by spending a colossal  250 crore on his son's wedding. The big, fat Indian wedding was attended by more than 15,000 guests and  included performances by Bollywood actors. More than a thousand staff served over 100 delicacies including more than 30 different types of kulfis. Presents for wedding guests included an expensive shawl, safari suit,  2,100 in cash and a silver coin each. The groom arrived in a top range BMW, and was gifted a Bell 429 helicopter, valued at more than Rs 29 crore, as a wedding gift along with not one but two private jets. Similar weddings, to name a few, include the wedding of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal's daughter Vanisha, at the Palace of Versailles costing  220 crore; Socialite Kajal Fabiani's marriage with Gaurav Assomull, the CEO of luxury purveyor Marigold G...