Arun Pudur in Top 10 Under-40 Rich List

SOCRATES

Socrates was a famous Greek philosopher who is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy and is renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics and epistemology (knowledge).

 View this great selection of Socrates Quotes.

His Saying on various Aspects

Wisdom - " Wisdom begins in wonder."

Death - " Death may be the greatest of all human blessings."

Courage - " He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy."

Life - " It is not living that matters, but living rightly. "

Prayers- " Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. "

Appreciation - " He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have."

Prosperity - " He is richest who is content with the least."

Fortune and misfortune- " Remember, no human condition is ever permanent. Then you will not be overjoyed in good fortune nor too scornful in misfortune."

Life and Death - " The hour of departure has arrived and we go our ways; I to die, and you to live. Which is better? Only God knows."

Change -  " Let him that would move the world, first move himself."

Nature - " Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue-to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak."

Unemployment- " They are not only idle who do nothing, but they are idle also who might be better employed. "

Education - " Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for."

BILL GATES

Bill Gates is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is founder of Microsoft which is one of the most successful computer software companies in the world.

Here is a selection of great Bill Gates Quotes.

Leadership - "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."

Customers - “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning."

Success and Failure - "its fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure."

Patience - "Patience is a key element of success."

Problems and Solutions - "I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act."

Global View - "I do think this next century, hopefully, will be about a more global view. Where you don't just think, yes my country is doing well, but you think about the world at large."

Information Technology - "Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without the talking about the other."

Technology - "The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency."

Today 5th April : BABU JAGJIVAN RAM BIRTHDAY

About Babu Jagjivan Ram in Brief:

Babu Jagjivan Ram was born on 5th April in 1908 in Chandwa a small village in Shahabad district now named Bhojpur in Bihar State

Father : Shobhi Ram was in British army where he learnt English and became proficient in it.

He had one Elder Brother Sant Lal and Three Sisters

He was married Indrani Devi on June 1 1935

Son: Suresh

Daughter : Meira

Babu Jagjivan Ram endearingly called Babuji was a Freedom Fighter and a crusader for Social Justice.

In 1937 he elected to Bihar Legislative Assembly

In 1946 he beacme the youngest minister in Jawaharlal Nehru Governemnt , the first Union Cabinet as Labour Minister after Independence.

On 24 January 1979 he became Deputy Prime Minister of the country in addition to charge of Defence Minister.

Last Breath : July 6 1986

download BABU JAGJIVAN RAM BIOGRAPHY

In Memory Of Srinivasa Ramanujan

 Dear All,

             Greetings!

Today is the birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan, considered o be the greatest mathematician of India. Here is a brief biography of Ramanujan. 

A few facts to backup the very scale of his unique mathematical genius:

• By the age of 13, and based entirely on self-study, he discovered his first, original mathematical theorems of own.
• By the end of his short life (he died on tuberculosis at the age of 32), he has compiled an incredibly large number of mathematical results – about 3900 (!) – the analysis, proof and elaboration of which others are spending a lifetime with.
• Although self-taught, only a small fraction of his results were false. And as if this wouldn’t be achievement enough:
• Although self-taught, the vast majority of his (already impressing number of) results have been unknown before. His work’s been absolutely original. (His theorems have been successively proved correct posthumously.)

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)

Jawaharlal Nehru  जवाहरलाल नेहरू Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindi: जवाहरलाल नेहरू), (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964). Chacha Nehru, as he was popularly known, was the first Prime Minister of India. His love for children's gave him name Chacha (paternal uncle). Born to Motilal Nehru, an early congressman and once a president of the Indian National Congress, Nehru was destined to lead India. His education, charm, scholarship, and vision is rarely equaled in modern political history of the world. The son of the wealthy Indian barrister and politician Motilal Nehru, Nehru became a leader of the left-wing of the Indian National Congress at a remarkably young age. Rising to Congress President under the mentorship of Mahatma Gandhi. Serving as Congress President, Nehru raised the flag of independent India in New Delhi on 15 August 1947, and served as Prime Minister. His daughter Indira and grandson Rajiv would both also serve as Prime Minister and President of the Indian National Congress, as would Rajiv's wife Sonia. His long tenure was instrumental in shaping the traditions and structures of independent India Born            14 November 1889(1889-11-14), Allahabad, United Provinces, India Died            27 May 1964 (aged 74), New Delhi, India Nationality   Indian Spouse        Kamala Nehru Children      Indira Gandhi Profession   Barrister Religion      Agnostic or atheist

The 7 Secrets of Inspiring Leaders

Very few people look forward to going to work.  And no, providing free coffee and fruit in the company kitchen isn’t going to change their minds.  It’s a sad observation about the state of American business today.  According to a Mercer consulting survey that I quoted in an earlier column, one-third of U.S employees are so unhappy they are thinking of leaving their jobs.  Let me ask you – how is it possible that unhappy, unmotivated and disengaged employees could possibly offer exceptional customer service or develop exciting, innovative products that move your brand forward?  They can’t.  That’s why it is up to you as leader to satisfy what Emerson called a person’s “chief want:” someone who will inspire us to be what we know we can be.

Richard Branson

In a recent article about Richard Branson, I outlined what I believe are the 7 qualities that all inspiring leaders share.  The list was compiled with the help of dozens of the world’s most inspiring business leaders for a book I wrote in 2009.  Since then I have never seen a leader considered to be “inspiring” by his or her team who did not possess each and every one of these qualities.  So here they are.

Suze Orman

Ignite Your Enthusiasm. I once asked the famous financial guru, Suze Orman, for the secret behind her success. You cannot inspire, she said, unless you’re inspired yourself.  She’s speaking about passion. Every inspiring leader is abundantly passionate—not about the product itself, but what the product means to their customers.  Steve Jobs is not passionate about computers.  He’s passionate about building tools that help people to unleash their personal creativity.  Big difference.
Navigate a course of action. Nothing extraordinary ever happened without a leader articulating a vision, a course of action.  We’ve seen this throughout history (think John F. Kennedy challenging a nation to land a man on the moon) and it works for building brands as well.  When I interviewed Teach for America founder, Wendy Kopp, she said that her ‘vision’ as a college student was to “eliminate educational inequities.”

Wendy Kopp, Teach For America

That vision remains as strongly in place today as it did when she started the non-profit that trains college graduates to teach in schools across America.  Bold visions create excitement and inspire evangelists.
Sell the benefit. Your employees don’t care about growing sales by 10 percent this year.  That’s a goal—or a result—of achieving a vision.  But it’s not inspiring.  One CEO of a major retailer once told me that his “goal” was to double his company’s stock price in one year—a goal most people thought was impossible to achieve.  He did it with the enthusiastic help of his employees who bought in to the plan.  They did so because in every conversation he talked about what it would mean to them – job security, stability, new flex time policies, more day-care for working mothers, etc..  Your employees are asking one question, “What’s in it for me?” Don’t leave them guessing.
Paint a picture. Our brains are programmed more for stories than for abstract ideas.  Stories can include the real stories of how your products are improving the lives of your customers.  Stories can also include personal anecdotes, helping to establish a closer connection between leaders and teams.  Recently I spent time with a top executive of a very large, global energy company.  He had very personal, touching stories of what the company and its safety record meant to him.  I urged him to begin telling the stories in his public presentations, especially with employees.  After one talk an employee approached this leader and said he felt more inspired than ever.  Stories make connections.  Tell more of them.

Marissa Mayer, Google

Invite participation. Google Vice President Marissa Mayer once told me that she keeps a sign-up sheet outside her door for “office hours” that are held each day at 4:00 p.m.  She gives team members 15 minutes to voice their opinions or pitch new ideas.  People want more than a paycheck.  They want to create meaning.  Invite them in.

Dr. Karsan Bhai Patel

Founder,

Nirma Group

The name 'Dr. K.K. Patel' may not instantly ring a bell for many of our generation. And, for obvious reasons: because it represents a person who has always relied on industry and simplicity. But, if one were to dig a little deep, one will be amazed, in fact almost intrigued, to know that it is none other than the man who has to his credit the remarkable achievement of single-handedly, literally, starting a venture, Nirma, which went on to become a house-hold name for a quality yet affordable detergent throughout the country in very little time since its inception. Dr. Patel is an example, in flesh and blood, of what one can do with a little window of opportunity if one puts together one's vision, education, hard work, determination, and of course -being at the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing.

 

Birth of the Spark It is, may be, the power of humble beginnings that quite often spurs people on to greater things, who without much care or concern for the outcome, just go about their chosen path and create their own space and shape their destiny. Dr. Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel's saga -it is no less than one- is one of the most cited examples of the spirit of enterprise which brought him unprecedented success, and which has since become a part of entrepreneurial folklore. Dr. Patel was born into a farmer family from north Gujarat in 1945, and by the time he was 21 years of age he had already taken up employment, after having finished his B.Sc. in Chemistry. His first stint was to work as a lab technician in the New Cotton Mills, Ahmedabad, of the Lalbhai group, and then at the Geology and Mining Department of the state Government. Perhaps it was scripted that the son of a farmer, instead of treading along in the family occupation, saw beyond the limitations of a middle-class life and the vagaries therein, and willed to make it big -not just for himself but for hundreds and thousands of others- in a field that was under the monopoly of giant multinational companies. The thought of quitting a government job which was to secure livelihood for himself and his family for something which had the makings of a very costly adventure if things didn't turn out as planned, especially for a man whose family had never been into anything like that, was fraught with fear of failure. But once he was sure of what he wanted to make of himself, and was clear of his vision, he never so much as even wince after that. He had a keen eye, and was quick enough to analyze the scenario and gauge the potential of the field. But, however courageous one may be, one still requires exercising prudence. That is exactly what Dr. Patel did. He continued with his job, and proceeded with his entrepreneurial instincts only as an after-job activity. He started it off with selling about 15 -20 packets of handmade yellow detergent, door-to-door on a cycle in the neighborhoods (Kishanpur) and, eventually, in the bustling lanes and by-lanes of Ahmedabad. He was testing the waters and was only hoping that he sold some of his produce. But he was secretly confident of the success of the detergent powder, with quality at a low price as its USP, and its indigenous formula which was phosphate-free, thus making it environment-friendly too. It has to be said that though knew that this was what distinguished his product from others, he could not have imagined that his product was soon going to revolutionize the detergent industry and even fire the imagination of the multinationals. At Rs. 3 per kg, it was priced at only a fraction of the popular brands of detergents that were available in the market back then. It was an instant success. Consumers welcomed with open arms a product that offered the quality of the other brands yet was considerably cheaper. And it went on like that for quite some time, and in 1980, when he was reasonably confident, Dr. Patel started a small workshop in a suburb of Ahmedabad, naming it after his daughter Nirupama, as 'Nirma.' Nirma soon established itself as a brand to reckon with in Gujarat, and started spreading its wings into the neighboring state of Maharashtra. The journey It would be very easy to jump the gun and say that with a top quality product at the lowest possible price, it would have been a cake-walk for Dr. Patel and his team to penetrate the market countrywide. But then, in the midst of such competition as was prevalent, it required some thinking and smart moves. Dr. Patel quickly seized this fact, and soon came up with a marketing strategy to connect with the psyche of the Indian middle-class housewives. The adverts with catchy and striking jingles also helped Nirma make its way into the hearts of the millions of women who comprised this very important target segment and, within a decade, became the largest selling detergent in India. It was able to create a new market segment in the economy for detergents. The success and popularity of Nirma, and indeed its market penetration, had caught many MNCs unawares. So much so, that they found it difficult to contend with so much competition coming from such an unexpected and, unknown entity. They had to buck this trend. So what they did - come up with so-called economic brands of their own, seemingly to wrest back the market hold. But such endeavors did not succeed greatly, as Nirma had deeply and firmly embedded itself in the minds of Indian women as the best 'Indian brand.' It would have been naïve to think that this position of strength in the market will hold good forever. A lot of effort had to put in to sustain its growth and success. Dr. Patel was conscious of this fact and so he led the company onto a path of consolidation. This was to come from newer and target-specific line of products in the premier segment, which were -admittedly- not intended to eat into the market share of the competing brands, but rather to stay true with the traditions of the Nirma group - that of top quality at the most affordable prices. So, came about Super Nirma detergent, Nirma bath and beauty soaps, which have been able to, slowly but surely, make their presence felt in the super-competitive beauty soaps segment. It must be recorded here for posterity that, although the Nirma-effect seems to be waning in the 21st century, the flutter and the accompanying euphoria it created while the Nirma-revolution was in full-swing across the country, was unprecedented, and hasn't been matched by any other brand or product even, since. It wasn't as if Dr. Patel met with success all the time. When the group was into expansion mode, it also ventured into the shampoo and toothpaste segment along with the salt segment. But, the market, in connivance with time, so-to-say, has its own way of keeping its equilibrium. So, while Shudh, the Nirma brand of salt, has been able to stay afloat reasonably well, the presence of Nirma in the other two segments is nothing much to write home about. Despite such minor failures, nevertheless, Nirma is now one of India's leading consumer products and chemical companies; the company which has 6 manufacturing units sells its soaps and detergents through a network of 400 distributors and about two million retail outlets across the country. In 2004, showing a keen sense of strategic thinking, the company under Dr. Patel's astute leadership, diversified its operation into other segments like linear alkyl benzene, soda ash, and pharmaceuticals. Its foray into pharmaceuticals kicked-off with the acquisition of an IV fluid factory in Ahmedabad. It also went on to acquire the U.S.-based Searle Valley Minerals, thus becoming one of the top producers of soda ash in the world. The company that started-off, in 1969, as a one-man operation, today has 14000 employees and a turnover of Rs. 2500 crores. It is no wonder then that, despite the ever-increasing competition in an evolving market-economy, Nirma, which listed on the Indian Stock Exchanges in 1994, has a 20% share in soap cakes and about 35% in detergents markets, besides running successful operations in neighboring countries (Joint Venture with Commerce Overseas Ltd., of Bangladesh being just one example). Strategic Thinking One of the major decisions of the Nirma Group under Dr. Patel's leadership was the backward integration approach to be adopted by it. So, the group set-up two raw materials manufacturing companies, one in Baroda, and another in Bhavnagar, whose institution was completed in record-time and well within the estimated budgets. In addition, the company also embarked upon applying latest technology for its manufacturing plants with technology sourced from the USA (IOP Inter Americana for paraffin) and Holland (Akzo Nobel Engineering for soda ash) respectively. It also went in for in-house printing and packaging as opposed to outsourcing the processes. This, coupled with the acquisition of Kisan Industries at Moriya, Ahmedabad, definitely gave a fillip, at the time, to the growing revenues of the company. This phase also saw the company relying heavily on an effective and wide distribution network and eliminating some intermediaries who were believed to be surplus in the scheme of things. Other ventures Dr. Patel had, very early into his entrepreneurial activity, recognized the significance of having on board top talent in order to continually keep up the company objectives. Therefore, to withstand global competition as also to meet the need for quality professionals, he founded the Nirma Institute of Technology (Ahmedabad) in 1995, which grew into a leading engineering college of Gujarat. Soon an Institute of Management followed, with the entire structure being consolidated under the Nirma University of Science and Technology in 2003. The Nirma Education and Research Foundation (NERF) was constituted in 1994 to oversee the smooth functioning of these institutes as well to ensure conformity to the long-standing ideals of the group. Thereafter, in 2004, the group came out with an education project, Nirmalabs, that was aimed at training and incubating entrepreneurs. These initiatives are nothing but an extension of the self of Dr. K.K. Patel, who has imbued his values into everything that the group undertakes: the unflinching resolve, determination, self-reliance, diligence, business acumen, being sensitive to the market-dynamics, and innovation. The group business is always driven by one fundamental principle - 'value-for-money.' These institutes of higher learning have furthered the cause of education in Gujarat, and have been churning out top professionals not only for Gujarat but the Indian industry as a whole. In recognition of his ability, acumen, and wisdom he was entrusted to lead many an organisation of national importance. And he hasn't disappointed in that sphere as well, and has rendered services in various capacities to the best of his ability, and invariably, to the satisfaction of one and all. Some of the roles he has assumed in addition to being the inspirational leader of the Nirma group were that of being the Chairman for two terms to the Government of India's Development Council for soaps and detergents, as a Member of Bureau of Indian Standards Committee for Soaps and Detergent Industries, and the President of Gujarat Detergent Manufacturers Association. Family incumbents Dr. Patel has two sons, Rakesh K Patel & Hiren K Patel, and a son-in-law, Kalpesh Patel, to carry forward his legacy. Mr. Rakesh is an MBA and looks after procurement and logistics, while Mr. Hiren Patel has a chemical engineering as well as an MBA, and heads the marketing and finance departments. Mr. Kalpesh looks after the human resources as indeed the healthcare segment (Nirlife) of the group. Philanthropy Besides the several educational institutes and research labs which are run under the umbrella of the NERF, the Nirma Group also runs the Nirma Memorial Trust, the Nirma Foundation, and the Chanasma Ruppur Gram Vikas Trust as a part of their efforts as a socially responsible corporate entity.

Dr. Karsanbhai Patel is a recipient of various awards and accolades. He has been bestowed with 'Udyog Ratna' by Federation of Association of Small-Scale Industries of Gujarat (FASII), New Delhi. 'Outstanding Industrialist of the Eighties' by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ahmedabad' (in 1990). 'Gujarat Businessman Award' in 1998 by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ahmedabad. 'Excellence in Corporate Governance' Award by the Rotary International District in 2000. Inducted into the A&M Hall of Fame, 2000. Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Florida Atlantic University, Florida, USA in the year 2001, in recognition of his exceptional accomplishments as a philanthropist and businessman. Was conferred with PadmaShri Award for the year 2010. Honorary Doctorate by Devi Ahalya University, Indore.

Quotes "The lack of any such precedent in my family made the venture fraught with fear of failure. But farmers from North Gujarat are known for their spirit of enterprise." "Dar ke age Jeet Hai (Beyond the fear lies the victory)." "We have talent, money power, and yet we suffer because we are not united." "If Sardar Patel was alive today, he would have felt sorry to see such a weak society. There is no need for anyone to be afraid of anybody."

 

Hope viewers caught up the spark...