My existence in the virtual world

We have once more the honor and great pleasure in welcoming Imai Masaaki the Japanese top management guru and his team in Mauritius to lecture on “Survival of the fittest- STRATEGIES OF A LION”.

Should you have the time I would highly recommend that you attend this lecture which will be held at the cyber Tower on the 6^th March from 17.00- 19.00.

The Kaizen Institute has chosen Mauritius to conduct their worldwide meeting this semester and we are benefiting of this event.

During the days I was still active in business, a few Gemba Kaizen workshops and programs were run in some of the units, I used to manage. The Gemba Kaizen exercises gave excellent results on the overall performance fast and at almost no cost.

Elimination of wastes ( MUDA) and running a continuous improvement system in any business unit have worked and is still working miracles all over the world. I recall with much pleasure that in May 2001, SEBNA a bottle plant situated in the Rogers industrial zone were the first unit in Mauritius to contract the program which was brilliantly conducted by Jayen Murthy of the Kaizen Institute.

More so, in today’s difficult times, lean management is the way to remain competitive. This system of operation is often also called the Toyota way as most of the tools proposed by the Kaizen Institute were originally inspired by Toyota manufacturing methods.

This year 2007,today we celebrate at the same time the Chinese Lantern festival and the Indian Holi Festival.In Beau Bassin,this afternoon, I could continuously hear the drumming of the Chinese Lion dances and the firing of the crackers.
Whilst the meanings and traditions of these festivities abound on the web, I would like to highlight what aroused me on the Holi festivities:

Social Significance
Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colourful and joyous festival.
Also, the tradition of the Holi is that even the enemies turn friends on Holi and forget any feeling of hardship that may be present. Besides, on this day people do not differentiate between the rich and poor and everybody celebrate the festival together with a spirit of bonhomie and brotherhood.
In the evening people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings. This helps in revitalizing relationships and strengthening emotional bonds between people.

Biological Significance
It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways than providing joy and fun.
We also need to thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi at such a scientifically accurate time. And, also for incorporating so much fun in the festival.

As Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. To counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body.

Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.

There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.

The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.

Some also believe that play with colours help to promote good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

People also clean-up their houses on Holi which helps in clearing up the dust and mess in the house and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies.

I have the feeling that our dear country needs to live more of the spirit of the Holi Festivities…..more so within the goverment majority.

C’est avec une grande joie, empreinte de signification, que j’accueille ce saint dimanche aujourd’hui. Premier jour ensoleillé après une semaine post Gemede maussade. Dieu soit loué ! Le 2 Mars 1947, jour de ma naissance était également un dimanche et la liturgie de la 2eme dimanche de carême, proposée par l’église ce jour là est la même d’aujourd’hui. Pour mémoire la lecture de la messe était dite en latin en 1947 et que peu de fidèles lisent la traduction. Merci chers parents, Papa et Maman, pour m’avoir donne le jour et de m’avoir bien éduqué et tout donné. Ils étaient bien parmi ce peu de fidèles choisis !

Maman dans une lettre qu’elle écrivit à son frère aîné, Ignace pour qui elle avait une affection particulière et une immense gratitude fit allusion à ma naissance en ces termes : « mon fils est né a l’hôpital de Moyen, tenu par le religieuses allemandes le jour de la célébration de la Transfiguration ». A cela Tonton Ignace lui répondit : « Heureuse soit tu car le fils que tu as donné vie, fils du premier fils de la famille, transformera ta vie et les relations avec la belle famille ».

Vraiment, ces paroles échangées à mon sujet, transmises plus tard, par Maman sont restées ma moto pour la vie. Cette transfiguration de Jésus continue de signifier pour moi : « quand on se laisse inonder par la présence de Dieu, Il nous rend blanc et éclatant comme neige et nous ne pouvons que rejaillir transformer de Sa lumière ». Ainsi ma mission dans la vie est d’être un catalyseur, qui au contact, avec la force reçu de Lui transforme positivement les êtres.

Do you know who is Yan Kwok?

I propose that all Mauritians bloggers and all those who has some interest in the internet and related technology should know of Yan KWOK. I only met him a couple of times in 1997. Hats off to him for what he has done when he was still a student in Cape Town. If I am not mistaken all of you who are using the .mu are contributing to Yan KWOK’s  wealth.

Through linkedin, I managed to trace him up.

The question I am asking myself is: Does Mauritius need persons of his competence and experience? Why have the authorities of Mauritius acted in such a manner to keep  Yan KWOK away from Mauritius?

Yes indeed, we need brains and drive for our country to prosper. So Mauritius needs the competency and experience of people the like of Yan.

I am of opinion that the authorities have been unfair to Yan. He was foresighted enough during his university days to see potential in making some money out of the then upcoming ICANN whilst all the government authorities ,I presume were completely out of the picture.Should Yan be penalized for his business acumen  and initiative?

I move that the authorities in spite of the ego and arrogance that they hold would do well to recognize Yan’s deeds and publicly welcome him to put his knowledge to the service of the nation. Perhaps, then. the action could be set as an example for our bright stars evolving in the world to come home to set up shop.

In a day’s time, I shall major to what some people calls “age d’or”. Yes, I shall be entitled to the special treatments given to senior citizen: a government pension, free traveling on the public bus and reduced fare for air travel. Tom Peters, one of the business management gurus who I have been reading for years, also turned Sixty a few months ago. On the occasion he published a book which is a compilation of things he believes. “In search of excellence” was the first book I read from Tom Peters. Through the years I kept on reading his books and watching the videos of his seminars I could lay my hands on. Up till now I read his blog regularly. Like him I am still thriving and am still in search of excellence.Wow!

Article paru sur le journal il y a quelques jours.

Le même message évoqué par J Michel Billaut. Il nous faut se battre pour que les tarifs permettent le développement.L’ avenir de Maurice est en jeu.

Je suis d’opinion que les tarifs de l’inter connectivité ne sont pas d’ordre économique mais de l’ordre politique et de vision de l’avenir du pays. Comment faire pour bouger la politique ? Avez-vous une idée ? Une lettre ouverte aux autorités ?

Today,with such a lousy weather,post Cyclone Gamede, sticky,warm and humid, I have spent most of my day browsing on Thorium Reactors.

For those of you interested in “greener” source of energy,this might be one of the solution. I believe, India is well advanced in the search and deployment in this field. May we in the future, could look towards “mother India” for some help!As a matter of fact India is working very hard to find renewable source of energy to cater for its explosive demographic expansion. India is the 3rd world largest producer of energy from wind powered generators and very advanced in solar power generation too…

By the way,does anybody got any idea of the progress being made in the experimental wind turbine installed at Grand Bassin? We are great at launching project, also great at not following through and concluding the project. Is it a typical Mauritian trait?
I shall be discussing with my brother on this matter as soon as he lands in Mauritius this week. He had been involved with building one of the Candu(Canadian atomic energy) Nuclear power generator in Korea a few years ago and should be better informed than me.

Are you for or against Nuclear reactors in Mauritius?

I just love cars. In today’s world could you live without the use of a car?

Ever since Henry Ford, who had the vision of making the automobile affordable to a bigger number of consumers, the world has been pushed forward in the era of the automobile.Mankind has thus gained an accrued mobility with the car.This break through is compared by some anthropologists as a leap similar in impact to mankind as the invention the wheel. Mobility cuts through time. That is why the automobile was called time machine at some stage in its development.

Suburban living,hypermarkets and shopping malls found their birth & growth with the advent of the larger ownership of cars.
I invite you to a virtual tour of AUTOWORLD which is presently being held in Brussels.I took pleasure in going through the website to see at a quick glance the evolution of this industry.

With much nostalgia, I plunged back in the days when I had the burden of looking after the automobile sectors of Rogers Group. “How to reconcile the exigencies of financial performances(Economic Value Added) with the needs of the workers?” was my dilemma. Another chapter of my rich and varied working life to turn over the leaf. Yet another page where I drew so much joy and learning from the people I interacted with.

For the entrepreneurs, the lessons I retained were; love and respect your fellow co-workers;through sincere communications together you will travel a long way and producing economic value for the shareholders is never in opposition with workers welfare in spite of what the unions may seem to push for.

PS: For those interested to earn a living from the auto industry try out the website

Christ Médecin

Une faute ordinaire parmi nous, c’est que nous voudrions bien avoir quelque chose en propre avant de venir au Christ ; nous pensons que les pardons de Dieu ne sont pas entièrement gratuits, et que nous devons en apporter le prix dans nos mains.

Vous savez que l’appel de Dieu est conçu en ces termes : achetez sans argent, c’est-à-dire venez sans aucune bonne qualité quelconque, car il nous est ordonné de venir et de prendre gratuitement de l’eau vive. Ne dites donc pas : « J’ai une disposition au péché et un cœur dur, et je ne peux pas m’affliger de mes péchés comme je le devrais ; ainsi je me tiendrai loin jusqu’à ce que j’aie pu le faire, »

C’est comme si vous disiez : « Je devais m’adresser au médecin ; mais auparavant il faut que mes blessures soient cicatrisées, et que je sois guéri de ma maladie ; alors j’irai vers le médecin. »Dans quel but dois tu aller vers le médecin, si ce n’est pour être guéri ? En vérité dans les deux cas, la folie est la même. Christ est ton médecin, n’attends donc pas la guérison avant de venir a lui.

Anonyme Antérieur au XIX Siècle

“Where the east meets the west” is perhaps an overused slogan. Mauritius lives it in its reality.The metissage has given us a new breed of people and a somewhat strange and confusing culture.

Are we Mauritians real Chinese or real Indians or real French, Europeans or Africans? Through the years and living in an environment off the mother base, we have evolved into a new hybrid. We have become Mauritians.

Would a Singaporean be a Chinese on asking any one in Singapore? He would bluntly reply , I guess I am a Singaporean. Same for a Thai!
This confirms my thesis the metissage has produced a new hybrid. Let us be proud of our Mauritian upbringing. I used to qualify myself to people who inquired about me, during my extensive traveling days, as someone who would : firstly speak English with a French residual accent and speak French using English idioms yet be proud of the fusion;secondly look Asian from my features yet almost westernized in my education; thirdly lives on a continent which is neither Europe nor Asia. The person who I would be talking to would be in confusion.

You will recall that the color green comes from the mixing of the yellow and blue colors.

A proud “Green” happy fusion Mauritian, I am and pray that we all were.

I recommend you to read Sanderson Beck from where I regular source for a wealth of knowledge at no cost.