Creative Corner - Robinson Raju

Composition

(on the day when facts will have no implicit meaning and music is no more mere vibrations)

vain thoughts

tumble about

neural affinities

charge opposite

forth and back

cortically swum

whispered with each-

the -other

mumbled mysteries

free radicals proclaimed

memories fecund forlorn 

within gamuts of wheels

where time is lost

& space unfound

yoked in infinity 

on packaged pages

of bound curation

published

recited

cited

sung

begun

in

vain

Out of the Cubicle Performer

Prakash Sachan, Customer Experience Executive, Journals

“Prakash has been an active member of the journals and online resources team ever since he joined T&F Group. His customer focused approach helped both sales team and external customers. Prakash has contributed  in launching, specialized usage training sessions both on-site and off-site aimed at increasing product awareness and usage of our digital resources.. All these sessions were engaging, and useful for end users of T&F’s resources. Prakash is working closely with sales team, helping them with usage building denials data on regular basis. Which is helping sales to gain new customers and sustain existing users. At Bangladesh, he worked with various universities to get recommendations for our Archives; he had also helped in guiding the universities in India for selecting TandF as library resource for the ESS consortium. As inside sales and customer experience executive, his job is to keep the customer engaged and user aware of  TandF digital products and enhancements.”

- Onkar Verma, Manager, Customer Service and Sales Support, Journals

Out of the Cubicle Performer - Anju Agrawal

Anju Agrawal, Assistant Manager, Human Resources

Anju joined in April last year and is about to complete a year with Taylor & Francis. She brings with her an experience of working with different online systems, and more importantly a practical and realistic way of looking at situations. We have valued her efforts in streamlining processes, working on backend operational systems and overall support. She has been closely working with different departments and understanding and helping staff with recruitment, onboarding and performance issues. I appreciate her maturity and sensitivity in dealing with difficult circumstances. She is great fun too, and is my go-to person for help on phone and gadget queries.

I wish her the very best for her journey ahead with T&F.

-Anjali Maggon

Manager, Human Resources

Out of the Box Performer - Oonati Bhola

Oonati Bhola, Assistant Manager, Executive / Administration

"Oonati in her role as Assistant Manager – Administration, has brought in tremendous amount of effectiveness and dedication to her work. She has always ensured efficient daily functioning of the office and had brought in visible changes to the office environment.

She adds a personal touch to the work she does and has carefully thought out detailing to things – such as placing paper napkins on cafeteria tables and the beautiful flowers at the reception – is much appreciated by all. The colleagues who have travelled for work in the last few months would agree to her efficiency in arranging everything and confirming/reconfirming to the last minute of travel. Her hospitality towards guests is highly acknowledged. Oonati makes sure to utilize her experience in coming up with resourceful solutions and approaches all tasks that come her way with the same fervor and commitment. She is extremely friendly and positive towards colleagues." - Anand Goyal, Head of Finance and Operations

Baaton Baaton Mein..

With Anjali Madan

If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?
Go back to being a 1-year old whose sole aim in life is to smile and sleep
If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?
Maria in The Sound of Music

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?
Good food, books, and a nice bed
If you could only choose one vacation destination where would you pick and why?
Disney Land because it is Disney Land

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would the slogan be?
Find happiness in your own company

If you could meet any living person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?
Brien Weiss, the famous hypnotherapist. I wish to discuss with him his work and experience
If you could choose one hobby that now seems out of your reach either financially or time-wise, what hobby would you take up and why?
I would want to do many: learn Madhubani, resume my piano lessons, take up a foreign language, etc etc.

Ashish Purwar on benefits of cycling

I was a fitness freak from the beginning of my college days and I was regular to gym. However, eventually after joining job, I gradually stopped most of my physical activities. Back in 2014, I was diagnosed with high level of triglycerides. This made me re-start my fitness regime. But this time gym was not a feasible option because of hectic schedule. Cycling rescued me, and I joined Noida cycling club, and since then I cycle to keep myself fit.

Benefits of cycling cannot be explained in a small article but broadly speaking, it’s the best cardio exercise. It improves joint mobility; increases muscle strength and flexibility, decreases stress levels etc. The list is huge. As far as environment is concerned, it’s the only form of exercise where you save not only environment, but also your money. Instead of fuel you burn your fat. So dual benefits.

Till now I have rode around 7000 KMs which is something around one round trip from Srinagar to Kanyakumari. I am an admin of Noida cycling club which is the biggest cycling club of North India. My longest ride till now was 110 KMs, which was at one go. I have organized many cycling workshops and events for kids and adults of which our office - Cyclothon is an example.

Every form of exercise is good for health but other forms like gym and running can get monotonous. Cycling is an interesting exercise as you can keep visiting different places of interest. It’s even better if you ride in group. It feels more like a friends outing rather than exercising. Also the best part is that you can have a guilt free second breakfast! My co riders include people from age between 11 years to 82 years, so age is not a barrier!

Read more about benefits of cycling here 

Baaton baaton mein- Arijit

Arijit Khasnobis, Senior Publishing Manager

Journey with T&F

I started at Taylor & Francis in 2009, and it's been eight years of working alongside talented and exciting colleagues in Europa and the wider company. There's been a lot to learn! In these years I've seen the company grow and grow, with processes and systems evolving and improving all the time. The move to the new offices was a big and positive change! 

T&F's employee-friendliness and apolitical working culture are to be cherished. I've enjoyed the challenge of new responsibilities and the freedom to decide how to get the job done. Every November, when we complete Europa's annual publishing cycle, is a milestone. With so many bright and eager people pulling in the same direction across global office locations, there is lots to learn, many ideas to exchange, and diverse cultures to share. It's been an incredible eight years!

Let’s know him better!

If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?

Anywhere in the teens would be fine. You can get away with almost anything at that age!       

If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?

Batman. Am a terrible actor so it’d have to be a movie in which the face is covered most of the time    

What are your 5 favorite foods?

• Tiger prawns in a coconut curry 
• Galouti kebabs from Aminabad
• Steak with lots of mash and greens
• Hot gulab jamuns in vanilla ice cream
• India Pale Ale, to wash it all down.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?

• A Kindle full of favourite reads
• Lots of cold lager, and 
• Bear Grylls to take care of the logistics of survival and an eventual escape. 

What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own?

A shotgun. Would be very handy in Delhi traffic.

If you could only choose one vacation destination where would you pick and why?
Jamaica, with a Test match going on. A cricketing holiday in the West Indies is very much on the to-do list. 

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would the slogan be?

Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

If you could meet any living person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?

Donald Trump, just for a chance to discover what really goes on in his mind.

HERITAGE BYTES: JAMI MASJID

WHEN THE DUSK DAWNS AT THE JAMI MASJID DURING THE RAMADAN, the congregational mosque—the crown jewel of the 17th century Mughal city Shahjahanabad—becomes brighter, livelier, and warmer.  

Also known as Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa ('mosque commanding view of the world'), it was literally built on highest point in the city then and formed the largest mosque in the Mughal Empire. 

The area around the mosque has always been teeming with layers of livelihoods, habitations and commercial activities besides cultures and cuisines.  

Apparently built by 5000 masons working daily for a period of 6 years (1650-56), the mosque was located at an angle between the two main streets of Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s capital—the first running from Lahori Gate (main public entrance now) of the Qila-i Mubarak (Red Fort) through the Urdu Bazar and Chandni Chowk & Jauhari Bazar to Fatehpuri mosque. 

The second bazar called the Faiz Bazar (‘Bazar of Plenty’) connecting Akbarabadi Gate (Delhi Gate) of the Red Fort to the Akbarabadi Gate of the city (Delhi Gate) now forms the present day Daryaganj. Both streets were lined with a canal known as the Nahar-i-bahist (the ‘Stream of Paradise’) shaded trees and the life around. 

There was a third bazar connecting the Jami Masjid and the palace-fort which was inhabited by dancing girls, medicine men, jugglers, story tellers, and astrologers. 

Dear All,

Sharing a short piece that resonated with me. It’s an obituary but it isn’t about endings rather it is about enduring. It isn’t sad, it’s uplifting. It is about an ordinary life rendered extraordinary by faith, family and a sense of self-worth.

I would love to hear what you think of it!

http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/21721353-oldest-person-world-was-117-obituary-emma-morano-died-april-15th

Best,

Nitasha

Walk the World, 7 April 2017

Walk Destination: Gyarah Murti, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi

The Gyarah Murti is a famous sculpture depicting a very famous movement in Indian history known as the Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi. It is to pay tribute to a group Indian freedom fighters and social reformers. The sculpture, by Devi Prasad Roy Choudhary, depicts the famous Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 against oppressive salt taxes imposed by the British regime.

The complete walk crossed 5 major Delhi Landmarks – Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, the Gol Dak Khana, Talkatora stadium, South & North block of the parliament leading up to Gyarah Murti Sculpture.

8th April 2017 was also the World Health Day, and 16 colleagues ran together till Gyarah Murti to symbolize the importance of healthy lifestyle. This was followed by a healthy, nutritious, low calorie breakfast.

Highlights of Walk the World 2017:

• 103 colleagues from T&F India contributed 10-km each to the WTW Challenge; including 13 outstation colleagues. We walked a grand total of 1030 Kms.
• We clocked a total of 120 minutes each and a grand total of 12360 minutes.
• For the first time, the WTW team created a documentary podcast on the heritage buildings that we crossed during the walk. Connaught Place, where we have our office is a heritage area. The documentary narrative was recorded by Dr Shashank Sinha, Publishing Director, Routledge India Originals, and a historian.  The podcast was sent to all the colleagues a day before the event. A record 100 people downloaded the podcast, and listened to it.
• We raised INR 61,000/GBP 750 for the charity – READ INDIA.
• We walked for READ INDIA!

The Day:
We wanted to create an inclusive environment where each colleague felt a part of the walk. Therefore, we choose a route that would keep our colleagues enthralled with the heritage of Delhi, crossing 5 landmarks, ending the walk at a very popular heritage point – Gyarah Murti. We further created a documentary podcast that all the employees plugged in and listened to while crossing various buildings. It was a great success!

Since it was also the World Health Day, a group of runners ran ahead of the walk, with placards on health, lifestyle modification being used.

Warm up before the walk

Happy Colleagues

The walk was concluded with a Townhall in our cafeteria, which was an event in itself:

• The WTW India champions (Nitesh Singh, Khalid Ansari, Dimple Francis, Navin Khosla & Sonali Bhardwaj) presented video testimonials and interviews of the colleagues talking about the Walk
• They also presented difference between WTW 2016 and 2017 vis a vis charity amount raised, participation increase, a special quiz on WTW and the podcast the employees has listened to while doing the walk etc.
• One of our colleagues Tenzing Toper Bhutia prepared a rap on WTW along with a video recorded poem, which was met with whistles and much enthusiasm.
• Puja Kumari was our official photographer. 
• A grand prize of INR 1100 Amazon Voucher towards the lucky draw winner was announced. 
• A healthy breakfast was served to end the Walk, courtesy Informa. 

Md. Khalid Ansari lightens the session

Walk the World 2017 - India Team

Colleagues taking the pledge to walk & stay healthy by signing WTW t-shirt

Tenzing performing live - a rap on WTW

Colleagues winning prizes

Testimonials from colleagues:

• Walking along history with podcast by Dr Sinha was the best part of the walk. Surabhi Srivastava - Europa Directory.
• Very interesting & great walk . looking forward to next year walk. KirtRaj Phagna, Journals Sales.
• A delightful walk through the historical paths of Delhi. An excellent initiative pleasuring all senses yet enriching through its great planning & execution. Bhawna Chauhan, Books Marketing.
• The walk, the curator and the breakfast everything was perfect. Deepak Chhabra, Graphic Designer.
• Informa Walk the world 2017 was a great experience for me. What made it special that we did it on World Health Day with a historic tour of New Delhi (the idea of the podcast was really good)  and did it for a cause ( Read India)!!!  Antara Ray Chaudhury, Development Editor, Routledge.
• An excellent event that some great enthusiasm, active participation and wonderful team bonding. It was a delight to be a part of walk-the-world 2017. Anjali Maggon, Manager – Human Resources.

Here is the link to the pictures and videos:  https://flic.kr/s/aHskSLptL9