ICE Awards 2015: Top Honour for COMPASS, House Journal of India Cements

16.8.2015

COMPASS, House Journal of India Cements gets top

Recognition from Shailaja Nair Foundation, Mumbai

V Balasubramanian ( visbala@gmail.com)

It was really a proud and memorable  moment in my life when COMPASS, House Journal of The India Cements Ltd, received a top honour from Shailaja Nair Foundation at the ICE awards 2015 ( in house communication excellence) function held at the conference hall  of  Mumbai Cricket Association on June 6, 2015.

In the competition held among house journals, published by private, Govt and PSU organisations in the country, Compass was among the three top journals picked up as nominees in the  best ICE coverage category by the Jury headed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi.

As I was keenly awaiting the outcome the award ceremony, Compass was announced as the  first Runner up in the best ICE (in house communication excellence) coverage category for 2015 from the Foundation, which instituted the award seven years ago.

At the 7^th ICE Awards function organised by the Foundation in Mumbai on June 6^th, 2015,  Myself,  V Balasubramanian, Vice-President, Corporate Communication, The India Cements Ltd and Editor, COMPASS, received the award.

In the pix,I am seen receiving the award on the occasion. In the other pix, I am with Mr Pratap Nair, Chairman of the foundation.

Appreciating the participation every year by Compass, Mr Pratap Nair, Chairman,Shailaja Nair Foundation, said the Jury had a tough time in selecting the nominees as the competition was stiff ( with  more than 600 participants including on line journals) and the quality of magazines par excellence.

He said  the  Foundation had  instituted ICE Awards for encouraging and celebrating internal communication . The House journals played a prominent role in forging a strong bond between the employers and employees as well as their respective families.

Compass has been regularly taking part in the awards in the prescribed application format and sending the journals published every year.

While expressing my sincere  thanks to the Foundation for the Honour, i said it was due to the excellent support   received by Compass from the management of India Cements and the active participation by employees and officers of the organisation.

I am grateful to Shri N Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman & MD, India Cements and the top management for giving an wonderful opportunity to serve the organisation in the last two years.

Every day, Myself and wife, Mrs Malathy rejoice with gratitude the Great Life, MD, Shri N S had given me after my long stint in Journalism. It is all due to the Divine Blessings of Almighty and Sri Kanchi and Sringeri Acharya Gurus.

When I shared the good news of our House Journal,   Compass receiving the prestigious Honour with our MD and top officials, they all greeted me and conveyed their best wishes for getting more honours. 

I was also  moved by the generous greetings received from my colleagues in our cement plants across the country.  The award is featured as cover theme in June 2015 as advised by our management.

I conveyed my thanks to them and said I look  forward to their continued support and participation for getting many more  Honours for Compass in the coming years.

I am humbled by the Honour received for Compass. I consider it a big reward for the passion and dedication I have in whatever work I do, be it writing a story, feature, communication, organising a function or meeting.

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Tuglak Tamil Weekly nails forces opposing N Srinivasan

17.12.2014

Tuglak Tamil weekly's fair and objective views on IPL case

V Balasubramanian

English version of the Edit in Thuglak dated 24.12.2014 titled " Warning-2”

Widely read Tamil weekly, Thuglak (circulation exceeding one lakh per week) in its latest issue – 24.12.2014 has referred to  the  ongoing  IPL case and said how Mr N Srinivasn ( MD, India Cements) as BCCI President is being targeted by media and influential groups notwithstanding his contribution to the Game and Cricketers.

Thuglak, whose Editor is Veteran political analyst, Cho Ramaswamy,  saidBCCI Chief facing legal hurdles  has made lot of people happy, especially TV channels. In general in our country if one supports the rich, it is termed a big crime,  giving room for doubts. That way,  now anything said in favour of Mr Srinivasan, will be construed as a mistake. That is why, arguments on his behalf are not in the minds of cricket fans.

However, in private conservation, ex cricketers acknowledge the due  recognition and financial assistance they had received after Mr Srinivasan came to power in BCCI. State units, which are weak, are also getting good support from BCCI. Even now, there are no charges of betting and fixing against him. By making him responsible for the alleged mistake by his son in law,  his opponents ranging from Sharad Pawar to TV Channels are hell bent on preventing him from coming to power again.

As the prevailing situation is such that if elections are held, he will be re-elected, the forces opposed to him feel, the  only way to prevent him is by preventing him from contesting. Thuglak concludes by saying Mr Srinivasan’s is a classic case to show  that if media, money power and political power come together, it will not be possible for an individual to get an opportunity to present his case. This is once again demonstrated through his case.

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MD, NS Sir is always Great and a King

Pix Captions:  Compass Page being Presented by me to MD at the Function
                        MD with Bouquet of Flowers which I presented him on becoming ICCChairman

 N Srinivasan , ICC Chairman is Crowning Glory for India
V Balasubramanian

Soon after our Company Vice Chairman and MD, N Srinivasan assumed charge as First Chairman of World Cricket body, International Cricket Council, senior Company officails organised a Felicitation function  on 2.8.14 to Honour MD. I had the rare fortune of sharing my thoughts on MD on the occasion.

Following is my address:

Respected MD, Directors,  Spl Advisor, Bala Sir, my esteemed Colleagues, I am really touched and humbled for the rare opportunity given to me to speak about our MD.

He is an embodiment of achievements and difficult to list them in a short time. Indeed, he has come a long way in his historic journey from TNCA to ICC, the world’s most powerful cricket body. He is India’s Crowning Glory.

Even those Media which were unkind to him, have said" ICC is Srini, Srini is ICC and  BCCI rules world of cricket, Srini to be King". Sir, You are always a King. I convey my best wishes to You and sincerely pray to Almighty for continuing your  long years of service to the world of cricket.

  I am fortunate to have known MD for over 24 years and as a Journalist I had  written several articles on him and about India Cements. In fact, when I was working in Financial Express ( 1981-89), I was given the task of getting a HC order relating to MD's fight with the other promoters and I managed to get the order.

Later in the early Ninites, when I was in ET , Dhun Bldg,  HQ of India Cements  used to be my regular beat. My task in ET every day was to find out which company MD had acquired and break the story. I am grateful to you Sir for helping me in  breaking a number of exclusive stories. Some of them would have caused him discomfort but he used to take them in his true sporting spirit.

As a Journalist, I had moved with a number of business leaders. MD is one of the few  leaders I have come across in the conservative south  who have the courage, conviction and tenacity to pursue and achieve big goals, and  mastered the art of   managing turbulent times. Above all, he is very humble and a kind hearted leader.

He has a knack of facing all odds and has been able to overcome setbacks and bounce back with ease. He once told me in an interview “ Balu,  When you have to survive, you will find a way to survive pointing out that victory and defeat are two sides of the same coin.

In another interview, MD told me, “ Balu,  We are fortunate to have an excellent team at all levels. I have people who will even even go and fetch Tiger milk ( Puli paal) for the company”. 

After joining India Cements, I could see lots of such people working here and I am craving to be one among them.

In a nutshell, MD has been a low profile man doing a high profile job. He is a man of few words and man for all seasons. 

I would like to conclude by recalling the apt words of famous Author, Keshavan Nair

“With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity”. That is our MD. Thank your Sir.

                                                  

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Udaiyalur Kalyanaraman contact details

Dear Friends,

I am sharing  contact details of Shri Udaiyalur Kalyanaraman, a leading Bhagavathar and expert in Nama Sankirthanam:

Shri Udaiylaur K. Kalyanaraman, Chennai 87, Phone 044-24866990, Mobile 94444 62526,E mail: udaikalyan@gmail.com

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My exciting career in India Cements

17.4.2014

My one year career in India Cements:  A great learning experience with a human touch

V Balasubramanian

When my long time good friend and ex ET colleague, Shri T E Raghavasimhan presented me a Novel 2012 Diary with wonderful quotes,  I noticed a thoughtful quote in the beginning, “ In times of change, there is no incentive so great, and no medicine so powerful as hope for a better tomorrow”. Immediately, I wrote in that page, “ Wonderful for me”. That is what  precisely happened in my life.

One year down the line, I was to retire from my long innings in journalism. I had no clue about my future after Mar 31, 2013. I had a warm send off by my colleagues and friends. Reached home that day evening ( Sat). My dear wife, Mrs G Malathy, working in SBI,  who  is always a great source of strength for me, warmly received me and said, “ You have worked a lot. Take care of your health and lead a peaceful life; Let us be content with what we have and continue our simple life”. Indeed, a  rare gesture in today’s world. That day night, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I started recollecting my 30 year long journey in journalism, the kind of stories I have broken, great interviews done, my turbulent times in my job , good things I have done in my life, etc etc.

Next Day, Sunday, we all visited temples and Sri Kanchi Mutt to get blessings of our Gurus.   I started informing Corporate leaders, PR contacts and friends about my retirement. All of them wished me all the best and said nice words about me.   Only one  Great person, Sri N Srinivasan, MD, India Cements immediately contacted me and invited me to join his organization. Like other leading businessmen, I had known him for over 20 years and done a number of stories  capturing the growth journey of his company.

I told him, Sir I have no big ambition in my life. Please, just help me in engaging myself with some assignments.  But to my pleasant surprise , as a very kind hearted and generous person, NS appointed me as VP Corporate Communication . He asked me to continue the good work done by late Sri P Ramchander, who was editor, Compass Journal of India Cements. He was instrumental in reviving the journal after MD regained control over the company in 1989. Since then, Chander has made Himalayan contribution to the organisation and brought out several issues of Compass and special editions.

  On receiving the order from ICL, me and wife were touched and moved very much by the kind gesture of MD. My joy knew no bounds and every one in my family felt happy for me. I said God has always been kind to me in several ways and this time, His incarnation came in the form of NS. I assured him my best effort to continue the good work of Sri Chander.

 One thing, I must tell you all. Even before the offer came from ICL, our son, Sree Kumar wrote in his school diary In the parent column that I am working in India Cements. When I asked him how he knew in advance, he simply said I know you will join CSK company. Oh God. So great feelng.

This day, April 17, 2013, I joined India Cements. It has been a great, warm and refreshing change. Everyone, including top officials warmly welcomed me  into ICL family. I am getting their best support and guidance. I am touched by their faith in me.  I  am fruitfully engaging myself with works. There is absolute work life balance.  Lot of my friends liked my shift and greeted  me. It came as a pleasant surprise to others, especially PR and corporate communication. Perhaps,  this is the first  time, a Journalist has joined a traditional industrial house in Chennai. 

A month later, media trial of our company and MD began with unfair coverage almost every day.  I had no clue how to manage the war like situation. I could only pray God for good outcome and justice.  Some friends  started commenting and critcising me. I remained cool doing my job.

 I used the time to redesign and launch  our website, redesign our in house journal, Compass, visiting our T S Narayanaswami college, cement plants , meeting analysts,  organizing events, quarterly press meets etc. I also engaged myself in updating  top officials on economy and industry  developments.  I also used my time to reach out to  the Tamil Media.When Tamil Journalists showed interest in meeting MD, he readily agreed to meet them and shared the developments in the cement industry.

My long time media friends who also know MD, are aware of what is happening and the unfair treatment to our MD.  I am sure the clouds will clear soon and truth will prevail. I  only tell my media friends not to undermine and gloss over the great contribution of MD and company to industrial development,  sports, cricket, community development, social welfare, education and healthcare. They could visit our website as well as go through the latest affidavit filed by MD before SC.

  When so many corporate houses have  tumbled and struggled to stay afloat in the terrible economic slow down and began  downsizing their business and manpower,  here is an organization, a dynamic kind hearted  leader with a  committed team  running the business well and taking care of thousands of  people depending on him and the company. It is hard to find such a caring organisation and business leader.  Day is not far off when they will realize the truth.

It is time for media, print and mass, to look beyond sensational TRP driven news\bites and play a constructive  role in nation building by joining hands with corporates, entrepreneurs, industry bodies  in highlighting the burning issues facing our economy and industries and creating more income and  jobs. Luckily,It was good – golden times for journos like me when our economy was just liberalized in 1991 and so many industries\new gen entrepreneurs were blooming that we could capture their success stories. I wish we get back to those exciting time so that a new future heralds for media.

Best Wishes

Balu

My School days Experience

Hilarious incidents in my school days

The  Bear  hug I gave  to my teacher

V Balasubramanian

I would like to recount some interesting incidents in my school days. One hilarious incident, which is still fresh in my memory and makes me laugh every time I think about it, took place when I was in the primary class at the school in my village ( Vilangudi) near Kumbakonam. One day, as  the teacher was taking class, suddenly there was a commotion outside and people were talking in hush and hush tone about the entry of a stranger for lifting away children ( It is called Pillai pidippavan in Tamil). Soon, kids started running here and there in panic. 

Sitting on the front row, I ran towards my teacher and hugged him crying loudly. In the din that followed, the poor teacher could do little  to comfort the rattled children. The class room looked like a battle field and I was in no mood to give up my  “ bear hug”to my teacher. Finally, it happened to be the visit of a medical staff to administer injection to students for prevention of malaria and other viral fever. Looking at the plight of scared kids, he dropped his plan bringing a big relief to all of us.

The other funny incident took place when I was studying 8^th standard at the school in Neyveli township. I have the habit of imitating like others from my childhood and fellow students used to enjoy that. I used to play the role of MGR in in the film Kudiirunda Koil and my friend, Ramanathan the role of Villain, Nambiar. I used to yell at him and we both would roll on the floor much to the amusement of class mates.

On another  day, during Lunch time, playing  the role of our class teacher cum head master, B Y Sundarajan. I was seriously adopting his body language and teaching them. Suddenly, there was a total silence. I saw, our HM watching my actions through the window. He quietly entered the class and asked me  to continue my action. I obeyed him thinking he was going to pat on my back. Instead, he gave me a big thrash and asked me to concentrate on studies.

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