Jalebi and Jangry
Dr.Sundararaman Chintamani
Business Storyteller | Bus. Storytelling Coach | Empowering Leaders to Inspire & Transform | Professional Speaker | Corporate Trainer| Author | Oil & Gas Consultant | Distinguished Toastmaster | Cyber Security | Humorist
Jalebi and Jangry
Last year, I visited my uncle’s house to wish him on his birthday. My aunt brought some hot Jangries, which were mouthwatering, and I couldn't resist the temptation to ask for more. I wholeheartedly appreciated my aunt for such lovely Jangries.
“Sundar, those weren't Jangries; they were Jalebis,” my aunt corrected.
“So what? I guess both are the same,” I replied.
“No, Sundar. Jangries are made of Urad dal, while Jalebis are made of Maida dal. Jangries are orange in color, while Jalebis are yellow. Jangries are slightly soggy, while Jalebis are crispy. Jangries have symmetrical curves, while Jalebis lack proper shape.”
“Oh my God! I never knew there were so many differences between Jalebi and Jangry. Thank you for educating me on this,” I exclaimed.
Allied Ragas
This incident reminded me of a conversation with my friend Kumar at the Music Academy canteen during the last music season. Kumar began appreciating the bhajan sung at the end of the concert.
“Sundar, did you enjoy the Hindhola piece? It was lovely,” he remarked.
“Yes, I did. But that was not Hindhola; it was in raga Soorya,” I corrected him.
“Oh, I see. I was wondering if it was really Hindhola or Chandrakauns,” he pondered.
“Kumar, there is a subtle difference between these ragas. Hindhola, Soorya, Chandrakauns, and even Varamu look alike. These are known as allied ragas. When one swara changes, the raga's flavor and color change entirely,” I explained.
“Sundar, you should be an expert in identifying ragas,” Kumar remarked.
“Yes, Kumar. I can identify nearly a hundred ragas. My pleasure lies in identifying closely allied ragas and understanding their subtle differences. When I explain these nuances to others, somehow my ego gets satisfied,” I admitted.
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Expert at Quora
The following Saturday, I met Kumar at the Gandhi Nagar club. As we chatted, I recalled our conversation at the Music Academy canteen and asked him to share his experience with Quora.
“Yes, Sundar. When you started differentiating the subtle differences between allied ragas, I was reminded of my explanations on Quora and the positive feedback I received as an expert. I explained the difference between poison and venom on one occasion and between Hurricane, Tornado, Typhoon, and Storm on another. My Quora followers started calling me an expert, and it was quite elating,” Kumar shared.
“That's interesting, Kumar. Could you tell me the difference between poison and venom?” I inquired.
“Sure. The difference lies in the delivery method. Venom must be injected, typically through a stinger, fangs, or a barb, while poison must be absorbed, which can happen through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact,” Kumar explained.
“Ah, I remember learning about that in school,” I remarked. “And what about the difference between Hurricane, Tornado, Typhoon, and Storm?”
Kumar explained, “The only difference lies in the location where the storm occurs. They are all the same weather phenomenon, but we use different names for these storms in different places.”
“I couldn't agree more with you, Kumar. When we explain subtle differences, our expertise shines through, enhancing our clarity and making us subject matter experts,” I concurred.
The Far East Project
Twenty years ago, I was involved in an Operator Training Simulator (OTS) project for a Thailand-based oil and gas company. The project was initially awarded to a Norwegian company, which subcontracted it to a Korean company for plant erection and commissioning. The plant automation project was then assigned to a Singapore-based company, which involved a Japanese company in designing the OTS. Eventually, we, from India, worked for the Japanese company. Initially, everyone from the Far East seemed the same to me, but as the project progressed, I learned to appreciate the subtle differences in each nationality's culture and way of working.
Activity to Improve Clarity
In essence, seeking clarity not only fosters expertise but also cultivates a leadership quality indispensable in navigating complexities
Leadership and Communication Coach supporting individuals and organizations in making their leadership potential come alive
10 个月Great article on the importance of clarity in leadership Dr.Sundararaman Chintamani. A key aspect here for leaders is being able to communicate that clarity to themselves and their team members. A good leader is responsible for bringing in that clarity in multiple areas; breaking down and interpreting the larger vision, ensuring team members are clear about their values and expected behaviours and getting and providing clarity on client expectations to various stakeholders are just a few examples.
Wholesale Business
10 个月Dear Sundar. I personally feel “Life as Boolean” in any given situation (like in your examples) there is always 2 sides as we branch out we will come to know more pairs of answers. As you rightly concluded, seeking clarity is one of the top priority leadership skill also get us the best optimal solution.