WiCamp Gurgaon: The theme revolved around inovation, with what the big guys have done to become big, and what they do to remain big. The buzz words were: innovation, creativity, efficiency…

A great start, with me being slightly late thanks to the ‘awesome’ number allocation of plots at Udyog Vihar.

The start was from Shailesh Mehta, he being the one who has hit the road, with the aim of becoming the next door Google by deeper penetration into our local ecosystem. A Search engine for providing the local search, this would be a content distributor along with being a content creator. The concept of providing a space for users to write their reviews, might actually help in making the search better, and more intuitive. Although there are several other players in the market, the claim stood that it is the user community will make the venture perform better in the market in due course of time.check this link out at: http://www.onyomo.com/ they call it ‘on your move‘ <- personal note: I have used Sulekha for long, thinking of trying my luck on each of them(got something to work on over the week-end ;)- >

This whole thing seemed just like another lecture untill David from The Innovation WorkGroup came up and organized the group into a single discussion. Now is what we call ‘the shape for discussion’. It was only then that the minds began to think and mouths began to pour.

Next on the list: Two individuals have finally removed the N from non reliable indians NRI and have come back to their nation, to fill colours of prosperity with their venture called RangDe.org, these were Smita Ram and Ram NK. A cool name inspired by the bollywood block buster hit Rang De Basanti - RDB. A peer2peer non-profit micro-finance company with the aim of providing small amounts in the multiples of 1000 to the needy. The deviation from the normal track has been to promote women of the villages as money lenders. The philosophy driving them is: ‘women are more proactive in returning the investment’, I would add ‘more often’ and make is more subtle for the men. So they often lend money to the women which in turn shall distribute it further. A great awakener for us as youngsters who have put their benchmarks for life as packages, in Rs. a.k.a $ ,  and not as ‘change’ in the society a.k.a innovation. My fi’e for the couple for this social innovation

The brain storming session comprised of loads of statements of what innovation is and what is means to companies big and small. I for innovation and innovation for I, a quote by Pavan from Wipro provoked each one of us. The adrenaline for innovation comes from the need for it. The need in the individual to get recognition. The need for the company to earn more. The need creates and the need drives. The thought was opened by Anand from Wipro and towards the end it was unanimously agreed upon. I would like to add, that for eras man has innovated to improve his way of living, and is constantly doing just that. <–(boring though, try something new. something which is just the opposite. like much more of bioweapons, missiles….)–>. Dissatisfaction for the current situation,mentions a need for change and a change is innovation. And as a lady mentioned it can either sustaining or a breakthrough innovation.

The debate between creativity and efficiency was the one I loved more. We believe that both efficiency and creativity need to go hand in hand for a organization to survive. I concluded with the mention that: creativity is a galloping horse, with the reigns of efficiency controlling it. The rider falls off due to  bad ROI (Return on Investment) if the efficiency levels are not reached.

Big-brotherly treatment of the bosses are great killers of innovation, cited with an example of the man who proposed first aid kits for Maruti cars back in 1980’s was suppressed for the idea.Today he has a venture which supplies these kits to several auto mobile manufacturers, mentioned Pavan from Wipro. Illiteracy was cited as another good cause. But it was the society which was killing it much before it ould mushroom out. and was killing it for good, said a gentleman. Since birth we are asked to act Good, a Good son, a Good brother, a good husband (daughter, sister, wife). And we are asked to be on the track, and if we just walk on the track, we folllow. By following there is no new track, no innovation. A great conclusion indeed.

I just forgot to mention the new media devices from Vmedia which might as be a great way to watch movies. These are blue-ray optical disks smaller than a credit card, perhaps the smallest optical drive. And this drive fits nicely into an mobile phone. Plug in and Plug out into a HD experience with the latest blockbusters on the move. This was Anuraj from Vmedia.

Innovation was becoming such a cliche in these 4 hours. with all these high end statements. I found this last real life narration quite joyous. A node-netwrok was setup in a matter of 5 months at this engineering Institute, by few IIIrd year students with old computers (PI, PII and 386’s) along with old hubs and switches. Linux was the savior of these garbage boxes, who saw the light of the day in a ’server’ room. The room soon became a high profile dare-not-enter area, mentioned Sanat from IIT Delhi

It was filled with old junk and great minds, ‘beware we bite’

Lalu Prasad Yadav has been known for his prowness at work. He seems like a wicked mind under a thick skinned dumb exterior. From kullhars for drinking chai inside the trains to maximizing space utilization at railway stations, he has shown his unpredictable behaviour. The idea of setting up 24 hour restraunts at railway stations of major cities of India seems like a novel thought. With the aim of space utilization, money generation and facilitation of good food at cheap prices, comesum s have hit the market serving food at night real hard. Whether it is kadai paneer to pizza, and gulab jamun to milk shakes all is available under one roof. What else do you wish for at 3 am !

I have been visiting comesum for couple of years now, it seems like a great outing, when you have spent the night wacking your brains on some project. With each visit I have witnessed a change in the crowd. From a destination for night train travellers to a good-snack-cafe for call center employees and now as an after disc hang out for youngsters, the transition seems little too drastic.

Earlier, I seldom used to find any one properly dressed. With people in their night chaddies with a T-shirt on top or with a pair of shabby jeans it seems like a cool-cool place. But now its seems, Sun never sets at ‘comesum’, its hot in here. Wearing shades at 3 AM seems a possibility here. Its now filled with yankies with minnies and halters and yunkies as Men in BLACK. Its a hot place to be. Surely ,being a witness to this drama at 3 AM is worth the travel.

After all its only the pizza that drove me to nizzamudin tonight, with a smile on my face, and pity for Lalu I return to my cozy home.

Little did Lalu know that his ‘milking’ restraunt shall serve as a hang out for hang overs.