Consider this IDEA sarjee :)

Loved the latest IDEA ad. 4 youngsters get job offers in various parts of India..totally alien culture. They wonder how to align themselves to their new location when AB's baby's idea comes to their rescue. Its a cute ad and interestingly picturised. And very apt in current IT scenario.

Few years back..onsite opportunities..working from client locations meant by default either US or some place in Europe (at the worst). People used to get thrilled to hear these terms and would prepare themselves mentally to struggle for decent food and other basic amenities which they wud've taken for granted while growing up in their gullies.

Cut to the present, with more and more Indian companies flexing up their financial muscles and domestic market looking rosy for opportunities, what was once considered as TCS domain, is now under heavy competition from all and sundry. Move over the metros, which have already become as costly as any other world city, has become the mantra. Grab the second tier cities before someone else does, is the watchword nowadays. Places which would've only figured as a blip on your way during some vacation travel are fast becoming daily destinations. And people are forced to migrate within the country left right and center.

A Bihari in Saidapet, Bong in Madipaakam, Mallu in Tambram and a Sardar in chengelpet. I just explained a portion of my team here :) There was a training conducted in our office to learn scottish culture. For interacting with a client, which obviously is the most important thing, with whom we might end up talking for say..half hour a day or probably even lesser for many people, the org is willing to spend lakhs. No issues on that investment as client is the king. Similar sort of orientation program is given to people who travel abroad for long terms. I was wondering why not something similar for people who are relocating to various places within India?? It would definitely be cheaper than any other training i guess and people would be more than interested to learn about their own country too,i suppose, considering the difficulties they undergo in interacting with the localities. I guess it would be a smart investment if the resources are trained to understand and gel with the local culture.

Many people grumble a lot when they've to relocate within India..the main fear being..ADAPTABILITY. I have a team mate who is from Manipur and he claims it would take him 3 days one way to reach his native from chennai!!!! India IS really BIG!!! There are some really good resources from places as far as Himachal and Delhi..who want to relocate back because they find it tough to settle in chennai. The reason they opted to come here in first place was the lucrative job offer. But more than that the challenges in settling to a new place..new culture..drives most of them back. I am not saying that by giving them training about local culture these issues can be plugged. But it might be a good start towards that i guess.

Firstly it might create job opportunities for people who specialise in their local languages and culture.
If found acceptance, BA and MA might become hot shot courses, as lucrative as their Science counterparts.
An additional domain of opportunity which might benefit in shoring up our unique culture.
Employee retention - the very basic reason why i am suggesting it.

There are so many trainings conducted to learn German, spanish, French etc. May be Indian languages are left to be learnt by themselves through trial and error. But if there can be certified courses for learning any Indian languages too on par with the foreign ones..well..hmmm.

Disclaimer: This post is not meant for the Raj thackeray's and Doctor aiya's :)