"The Fall of Advertising and Rise of PR" by Al and Laura Ries

I came across this book when I was looking for some tips regarding marketing and sales for my company. This book is very readable and for those who are unfamiliar with the area of marketing can also understand what the author wants to say. Though it would have been better if they had given some kind of introduction to the terms used in the beginning itself. Using examples of faltering companies through-out the book showcases the hard work and research done by the authors to support their idea.

The power of public relations has been brought into focus through this book which has amazing anecdotes and examples of companies who bet big on advertising to generate sales.

Businesses have traditionally thought that advertising budget is directly proportional to sales generated. The authors argue and prove otherwise. They contend that public relations has extremely effective at building brands. The authors show that advertising focuses more on being creative. Using various examples, the authors show that advertising has historically been ineffective in generating sales for the product/ service showcased. On the contrary, public relations have worked in favor of a product/ service and helped in creating long lasting brands.

I wish the authors had given more recent examples. There are more relevant examples in the last decade that could have validated the idea. All in all, the book delivers on its title and is a good read.

On a personal note, it makes sense for companies to take a relook at their advertising spend and check whether they are getting returns for every penny spent. In the current times when 'Digital Marketing' is the buzz word, it is extremely important to have the right public image than a creative advertisement.  

Weekend Trip to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram

Yep you read it right. Bangalore to Mahabalipuram to Kanchipuram to Bangalore. All In TWO days.

Started early on a Saturday morning armed with the usual stuff and directions.

Hosur onto NH7 via Krishnagiri (take left. Do not go towards Salem) - Vaniyambadi - Vellore - Wallajah - Kancheepuram - chengalpattu - Mahabalipuram

Beautiful drive. Mostly 6 lane with some detours. Got to stop at quite a few places for toll. Started at 6am, stopped for breakfast at Vellore and reached Mahabalipuram at 1pm (just in time for lunch at Hotel Mamalla Heritage). Post lunch we went to explore the ruins and spend time on the beach. Must see places are listed below. Got to take a ticket of 10/- which gives access to all the places listed below.

Shore temple: Amazing view are you are approaching the ruins. Very picturesque. Not very large structure but landscaping has been done for tourists. There are shrines of Vishnu and Shiva.

Then we had a gala time in the beach. There are hawkers all along the beach. One can buy beautiful show pieces and jewellery made of sea shells and colored stones for bargain.

Five Rathas: These are five chariots built out of stone known as Pandavas Rathas.  There is Ratha dedicated to each of the Pancha Pandavas and also Draupati. These are built in Dravidian architecture style.

Durga's Cave: This is on a small hillock near the light house. There are three shrines: Shiva, Parvathi and Skanda. One can climb all the way up to the top of the temple and get a view of the surroundings. One can also climb up to the top of the light house to get a view of the sea and ruins. 

There are many shops that make and sell amazing stone sculptures (especially black stone) in all sizes. All the tourist places close by 6pm and no one is allowed near the ruins post sunset.

We started at 5.30pm from Mahabalipuram tired and reached Kanchipuram at 7.30pm. We stayed overnight in Kanchi and woke up energized. The stay was decent in Hotel Sakthi Residency. What is worth mentioning are the Dosas we had in Sangeeta Restaurant in ground floor. The service is out of this world.

We went to Kamakshi Amman temple first. The main gopuram is large with beautiful sculptures. This is one of the three main shakti peetas. The main diety, Goddess Parvati, has shakti yantra or Chakra in front which is supposed to be source of power. 

Next we went to Vamana temple which was right behind Kamakshi temple. There is a huge black stone idol (over 30 feet height) of Vamana with the right leg on Bali's head and the left leg pointing towards the sky. This temple is special to Kanchi and Lord Vishnu in this incarnation is not worshiped anywhere with an idol matching this size.

Varadaraja Perumal temple is more famous for its golden and silver lizards which are carved in the roof of the holy sanctum. People stand in queue for hours to touch those and believe that all their sins will be washed away.

Other prominent places to visit in Kanchi are:

- Kailasanathar temple which is the oldest Hindu temple in existence

- Ekambareswara temple which is the largest temple in the city with one of the tallest gopuram in India at 59 feet. It has a long corridor with thousand pillars and inner walls are decorated with 1008 lingas.

- Kanchi Mutt established by Sankaracharya

Post lunch we started off our journey back to Bangalore at around 2pm. We reached city by 7pm.

Tiresome but amazing trip. Wonder where our next trip will be to....

Whom should I trust?

Everyone has similar opinion on the Delhi gang-rape case. It has touched most of us and got us into thinking. But personally it got me scared. The profile of the rapists has rattled me. I used to think that I am safe inside four walls of home/ office. But I realized that there is a hidden monster in those who are seemingly harmless. I now dread to interact with my milkman, paperboy, postman, courier guy, security guard at home and office, vegetable vendor, shopkeepers, auto/ cab/ bus drivers, etc. The fact is that women are surrounded by men at all places. The incident has induced prejudice in my mind against all those men I interact with usually. Who knows what thoughts are lurking behind their smiling facades?

Most of them are illiterate. They don't read newspapers every day. They might not have televisions at home at all to know what is happening around them. They have least knowledge and regard for laws. I am not sure how amending laws would change their psyche. Even if laws are made, what respect does anyone have for them if one is sure to get away using loop holes in the implementing system? Literate eve teasers have little respect for any lady on the streets. Some of them come from affluent families as well. It is not that they are unaware of their deeds. It is just that they are unafraid of the outcome. Strict and quick implementation of whatever the law is the one of the major ways to bring fear into those who think that they can get away. There will always be those extreme cases against which women need to guard against.

A broken trust is difficult to mend. No law on paper would bring back the trust in a hurry. Everyone in the society should work towards making every woman feel secure and safe no matter what time/ place she is in. Passers-by (including us) should have the concern for strangers and come forward to help. The web of 'I, me, myself' that we have built around us should be broken to include those in our surroundings. That, I think, is a huge task which is not going to be completed in a hurry. It will take a generation time for that awareness to come.