Hands on the hips!

I disagree with Amy Cuddy's 'hand on hips' being a power posture to give you confidence and excel.

I'd advise her to come to India and understand that it is considered a posture of the unsophisticated. You find many standing like that in many places. Men. Women. Not because they're confident and ready to take on the world, but because they do not know any proper way of standing. They do not know to keep their feet close to each other and what to do with their hands. That's the only way their know to stand.

And in a country like India where there are lots of people and market places are overcrowded, imagine if each one displays 'power posture', what would happen! A few people standing like that is a nuisance, anyway. While others might disagree and think it's still a sign of power, I personally find it very annoying. If it's a lady, I sometimes lightly tap their elbow if they are blocking the way, standing like that!

Of allowing women inside mosques and shrines (dargah)

There's a lot being said by non Muslims about women not being allowed in mosques. Also, there is an agitation at Haji Ali and some shrines for getting entry for women right up to the graves. I've been to Haji Ali and I feel women are allowed sufficiently inside. Only there is a small barrier on woman's side right till grave. But I wonder why women want to touch the grave?

Haji Ali dargah at Mumbai, India

First of all, there is a difference between a dargah (shrine/tomb) and a masjid (mosque), which we will discuss later. Let us first try to know if Muslim women are allowed in mosques. The answer to that is that there is no such ruling in Islam which disallows women in mosques. Women are allowed as long as there is an arrangement in it for them to pray. There are such mosques across the world. I've heard of a few such in Kerala too. The arrangement is for women's dignity and making it convenient for us to manage prayers with home responsibilities. The Quran states that it's better for women to pray in house and that it's better for men to pray in mosques (masjid). There are more brownie points for the 'better' aspect. It does not state that women are disallowed in masjids. Nor are men disallowed to pray in house in case of emergency or if no time to go to masjid. The procedure is the same. Only in mosques, we pray in a group behind a 'imaam' (one who leads the prayer) and repeat after him. At home, you follow the same process on your own in solitude. And what are masjids/ mosques? It's just a place to gather together and pray (offer namaz) and disperse till next call-to-prayer (azaan). There's nothing in it that you need to view / bow down to. Nor candles or incense sticks to light. People gather in mosques just to offer namaz after call to prayer (azaan) is made. There are 5 calls throughout different times of day, till one last in the night. And mosques could be of small areas too and a simple structure without the fancy walls and entrances. In fact, I knew of a relative living in a joint family in a big house, where they had a prayer room and the head of the family used to call out the azaan and be the imaam also. And the family used to pray behind him as per procedure. So there's no big deal about it as is being made out. Women usually hear 'azaan' and offer namaz (Salaat) in house itself. It's so much convenient that way. After all, we Muslims have to face Kaaba (whichever part of world we are) and pray 5 times of day. Not go to the masjid once in a blue moon.

Another thing which many non Muslims confuse is 'dargahs' with mosques. Both are totally different things. Dargahs are tombs of saints. They are not places of worship. Those saints are called Walis (friends of Allah) and each has his own miracle circle/ blessings from God. Muslims never pray to them. Those who do are wrong. They are a medium. So you either go to dargah to pay respect to them or ask them to pray to Allah for you. This is called Tawassul or Wasila. Using someone's proximity to God as a medium to achieve one's own goal / prayer. Interesting thing which many non Muslims do not know is that there are two schools of thought in Islam regarding this. There is one school which does not recognize the dargahs at all.

Another important thing to note is that many of these saints abstained from women in their lives and lived a life of piety. Quran states indirectly that walis never really die. So in some dargahs, women are not allowed right up to the graves. One needs to respect that. If they stayed away from women or did purdah from women (yes, there is purdah for men from women too), then why would someone not want to honour that after a person's death? It's literally making him turn in the grave!

Those women who really want women to have public places of worship, should come together and pool to form a masjid (mosque) for women. Or root for arrangement for women in masjids as well. I don't understand how touching a grave is considered worship? 

Why is no one agitating for building women's mosques? Because mosques are the real places of worship and we want to shy away from real prayers. Mosques means having to go 5 times daily to offer prayers. So praying at home seems to be convenient for ladies instead of having to dress up 5 times to go to mosques. We need to be presentable while venturing out of house and while praying, a certain dress code is followed. And building a mosque and not going will be disrespectful. Some people are purposely creating issues to put Muslims down. 

Once again, dargahs are shrines/ tombs. Respect the person resting in peace there. If it's a lady's tomb like the one opposite Haji Ali, then women are welcome there. I don't know if anyone has felt it, when whenever I have visited a dargah, I can sense the wali's presence and automatically feel very conscious. In fact, I found it very shocking many years back when we were allowed to touch the tomb at Ajmer Sharif. Some special people are allowed there. And if you get a high profile khadim, you are given straight entry. It happens so fast, you can't think. Please respect the walis, ladies. 

Next we know is that we will want to enter graveyards and built tombstones of our family members there. Slowly, we will want bigger structures and introduce practices that are prohibited in Islam. In a place like India, where there are billions of people and many Muslims too, space has been an issue. Those who do not know, most Muslim graveyards in India follow the recycling process. Suppose, some is buried in a specific area in a graveyard, after some years (considering decomposition cycle), that same point is re-used to bury someone else. This last part is only for information as there seems to be a lot of misinformation about Muslims amongst many.

In exchange for what?

It's really sad and disgusting to watch people bargaining with small vendors selling small things with a little profit margin.

Bargaining is good and applicable on certain things and the seller will also tell you his limits. But when you buy and last moment refuse to take your stuff just for a question of Rs 10/-, which might mean nothing to you, is pathetic!

What will you do with that Rs.10/-? Nothing much, I guess. Even minimum fare by auto is more than that! You might buy a packet of chips for your kid just like that. And that amount packet will have 6-7 chips at the most. Or buy a chocolate. But all this not out of necessity. While the vendor, to him every extra penny counts.

I would even understand if the buyer was not financially well off, but big people acting petty really pisses me. And these very people have some business where they sell things at fixed prices.

Yesterday I saw a well off woman with a daughter/ daughter-in-law in tow (who was in expensive clothing) and had a kid on her waist. They were buying crockery from a roadside vendor selling stuff from haath gaadi. The small cups were available for Rs.120/- a dozen only which was a decent amount. But importantly she had agreed and even packed what she bought and then started bargaining over 10 rupees. The look of pain in the vendor's eyes when she dumped the cups while he kept saying that she shouldn't do that after buying, I cannot forget. I could see tears almost waiting to roll out. He did agree eventually to reduce 10 bucks, but in exchange for that Rs.10/- the lady got his pain and unhappiness. Was it worth?

Every time I see people hurting, causing inconvenience, fighting, I think - 'what are they getting back in return'? You are getting back something which you would never want. For every illness, discomfort we face, God sets things right for us. He forgives us. He gives us a bargain. Mostly from the person who hurt us. The Lord's mathematics are perfect.

Intolerance - A Danger Phrase

Danger Phrases and Power Phrases is now my favourite topic, thanks to Dan O'Connor (check his videos on the topic and his book 'Say This -Not That!')

And I've seen how using danger phrases can ruin things or make a message ineffective. It can also cause a stir.

Sensitive as we Indians are, every word we speak should be with care. We know how the word 'intolerance' caused a furore in the nation. Of late we have seen a number of people use that word. However, it remains a negative/ danger word. And while speaking or giving feedback, people like to be associated with positive words.

I have been wondering about a suitable Power Phrase for the word Intolerance. And this is what I think fits the bill : 'Being more accepting of others'. 

So if you want to point to someone that they are being intolerant, the better way to say it will be 'You should be more accepting of different viewpoints as well'. This sounds much milder than telling someone 'You are intolerant'. If you say that, be prepared for a bashing. It will stem out of the thought 'okay, so I am intolerant, let me show you how far I can go with that'!

A powerful communicator is one who speaks positively and effectively and avoids danger phrases. Everyone should make a Danger Phrase list from our experiences and find a Power Phrase for it and incorporate it in our communication.

Intention (Neeyat)

Everything in Islam is based on intention (Neeyat), which is clearly stated before any act. Marriage, prayers, any act. 

Even if you are fasting for Ramzan, everyday when you wake up for suhoor, and you finish your morsel, you have to state your intent to fast for the coming day. It is in the form of a one line prayer for uniformity. Or at least say in your mind. If you are fasting and never say your neeyat and deep in your heart your intention is to lose weight, then your fasting is not for God. No one except you and God will know that.

Even when we offer our salaat (aka namaaz), we begin with the intention (Neeyat) - 'neeyat karta/ karti hoon main teen rakaat namaaz Farz (depends on type of prayer) waqt Maghrib (depends on time of prayer) waaste Allah Taala ke muh mera kaaba shareef ki taraf. Allahu Akbar'. Of course you can say the neeyat in any language.

For those who don't know Urdu or Hindi, the above means 'I intend to offer 3 parts of obligatory prayer of time maghrib for God's sake while I face the kaaba shareef. God is Great'. Every Muslim in the world faces the Kaaba while praying wherever he/she is located. We have a compass with us to know the direction. There are even special kaaba indicator compasses, which show you location of kabaa from where you are located. 

Rakaat means parts of prayer complete with bowing down on your knees and head touching ground (called 'Sajda'). The types are farz, sunnat, nifil, waajib. All acts of Islam are divided into category. Some are obligatory (farz), some non obligatory but preferable (mostly acts of sunnah). Actually all laws are of 4 types. Will not go into those details in this topic. Times of prayer are Fajr (before sunrise), Zohar (when the sun is overhead), Asar (the time between the sun going down -late afternoon/evening), Maghrib (just a few minutes prior to sunset), Eesha (to be offered at night).

Misconceptions about Islam and Muslims

Currently there is too much hatred for Muslims going on and too many misconceptions. Let me clear some.

MISCONCEPTIONS :

• Mohammed (Peace be upon him) is not our God. We do not worship him. He is a Prophet and Messenger of God.
• Muslims believe in all Prophets from Adam to Abraham to Solomon to Moses to Jesus to final prophet, Mohammed. There have been more than a lakh messengers of God with a message for the people. Only about 25 relevant ones are mentioned in Quran.
• Allah is the same One God of the Universe. When we say Allah, we do not have a separate God. He is the Lord of the Universe. So if you insult the name Allah, you are also insulting your own God, your Creator.
• Prophet Mohammed did not write the Holy Quran. He was an illiterate man. The Quran was revealed to him little by little by Angel Gabriel over a span of approximately 23 years. This started when he was about 40 years.
• Mohammed used to memorize the verses revealed to him and repeat them to his learned companions. These companions used to learn the verses by heart and jot them down. Since he had many learned companions, they compared notes and decided to write the entire text after it was revealed in entirety.
• The teachings and life of Prophet Mohammed (SAS) are documented through Hadiths. This again he received inspiration from God through dreams and revelations of Quranic Verses. These hadiths have been documented again by his companions And scholars of his times whom the prophet interacted with. Again these hadiths have been cross referenced through chain of narrations of all those who documented them and then the ones with maximum matches have been classified as Saheeh (accurate). 
• Quran is in the same state as it was from beginning. It is a practice amongst Muslims and is considered great to memorize the entire Quran. These people are called Hafeez. So, if God forbid, all copies of the Quran present today were to be destroyed also, it can be easily reproduced from the memory of the Hafeez (don't know the plural).
• Islam treats men and women equally. Just covering head is not an indication of suppression. A few Asian countries where one sees discrimination stems from broader local customs.
• Muslims believe that Jesus will come back on Earth to save mankind when it is in the worst stage.
• Only 30% Muslims live in the Arab world. There are number of Christians and Jews in the Arab world who keep Arabic names. Majority Muslims live in South East Asia and Indonesia is the single largest Muslim country in the world.

This is what Islam and Muslims are all about. 

Some relevations... for pregnant women

It's interesting to know that St Elizabeth (wife of Zechariah and mother of John, the Baptist, known as Prophet Yahya to Muslims) is considered to be patron saint for pregnant women, while Muslim women look up to Maryam (Mary) during pregnancy and difficult times.

Some years back I had got to know of Maryam phool (flower) which some keep in water at home while some lady is delivering. It is supposed to bloom. And is believed to ease the pain. Though there are no actual religious references to such a practice in any religious texts. Still I consider it amazing. 

But yes, it is recommended to read the verses of Surah Maryam when in difficulty. That verse is elaborate on the pains Mary went through during her pregnancy. 

While on Surah Maryam, another amazing thing is that the verses about Gabriel Angel delivering the news of birth of Yahya to Prophet Zechariah is similar to some verses in the Bible. Only thing different is that Quran mentions that when Zechariah asks for a sign, the Angel tells him that he will not speak for 3 days. While Bible mentions a longer period.

There are lots of Chapters which cover Moses. Musa Alaihissalaam has been mentioned 136 times in the Quran. Whereas Jesus (Isa alaihissalaam) is mentioned 25 times. Since the Quran was revealed to an illiterate man, Prophet Mohammed over a span of 23 years by Gabriel Angel, so Mohammed's name appears only 4 times. Mary is the only lady to have a whole Chapter on her. She is considered one of the 4 best ladies (others being Aasiya, wife of Phiraun, Fatima, daughter of Prophet Mohammed and Khadeeja, first wife of Mohammed).

Yaum-e-Ashura (the tenth day of Muharram)

What is Ashura and what is it's significance in Islam?

As per Islamic calendar, today (Ashura) is the day when...

the world was made;
when Adam (AS) was created (years later);
when Abraham (Ibrahim) (AS) was saved from Nimrod's fire;
when Noah's (Nuh) (AS) ark was delivered from the floods;
when Joseph (Yusuf) (AS) was reunited with his father Jacob (Yakub) (AS);
Jonah (Yunus) (AS) was saved from the fish's (probably whale) belly;
Job (Ayyub) (AS) was cured of leprosy;
the kingdom of Solomon (Sulaiman) (AS) was restored;
David (Dawood) (AS) was forgiven;
Jesus (Isaa) (AS) was born;
Jesus was taken up to the heavens by replacing him with a lookalike who was crucified;

And not to forget, the martyrdom of Imaam Hussain (grandson of Mohammed SAS) in the battle of karbala by the evil King Yazeed who proclaimed to be God-like). This battle was fought so that Islam would not be diluted by wrong practices, which Yazeed wished to introduce after proclaiming himself as Islamic leader. It could have also led to editing of Quran by individuals. Though Hussain was killed when prostrating in prayer (offering namaaz) in battle; his martyrdom was in fact a victory. Cause after that there was awareness against Yazeed and clarity in the religion.

From the events over the ages, it is evident that God loves the day of Ashura (10th day of Muharram) and He even forgave many Prophets and gave mercy to those He was testing on this day (this is God's way of saying that everyone is capable of error and tests, including Prophets). So keep praying and keep seeking forgiveness on this day.

And yeah, like my Dad always says Never Work on Ashura. Since has been the norm since ages, even before the advent of Islam.

The Arabic word Ashura means 'tenth' and is derived from Hebrew word Asarah or Asharah.

What we call Yaum-e-Ashura (Yaum meaning Day, together meaning 'tenth day') is similar to Yom-e-Kippur (Day of Atonement) in Judaism. This is the tenth day of Jewish month of Tishri. So for many years before Islam also, this day had a lot of significance due to it's glorious history. 

Muhammad SAS used to fast on the day of Ashura, (10th of Muharram), in Makkah. When Muhammad SAS led his followers to Madina, he found that the Jews of that area likewise observed fasts on the day of Ashura. At this, Muhammad affirmed the Islamic claim to the fast, and from then on the Muslims have fasted on combinations of two consecutive days including the 10th of Muharram (e.g. 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th) to differentiate between the practices of the two faiths. Due to minor differences in a day or two in months due to moon, these days might not been occurring on same dates now is my understanding. 

So while the fasts of Ramzan are compulsory, the fasting of two days around Ashura are 'recommended' and to be done in combination of two.

My risotto with curry please!

Today I happened to go KFC while coming back from some place as I was hungry and thirsty. 

While I was placing my order, a woman in the parallel line was placing her order for rice bowl with chicken popcorn (same order as me). The funny thing was that like all curry loving Indians, she was insisting that the rice bowl to have extra curry. And the cashier didn't know what to do. Every chain food restaurant follow their unique style and recipes and this rice bowl has a unique continental style and is filled with one layer of masala sauce in between, which is like a gravy. But that gets absorbed in the rice. Indians love for curries is well known. It's really funny when certain people even insist on gravy or extra masala with even biryani. Maybe that's why the Hyderabadi biryani comes with some thick gravy as an accompaniment And then there are some who eat fried rice with overflowing wet manchurian. Then some who want their food wet and can't find curry, will buy curd and smear their pulaos, biryanis, risotos, fried rice, tawa rice and what not with it, else food wouldn't go down their throats.

I am fine with my food being dry. Else as long as the food is well flavoured, I can savour it. I love fish curry though and yes, jhinga (shrimp) curry.

I liked the rice bowl with chicken popcorn just like it is. The basmati rice used in it made it fragrant and flavourful. And I love the crushers. Especially the chocolate one. And since KFC serves Halaal chicken, that's one place I can eat without worries. McD and Burger King make no sense to me as I don't understand burgers. I know only the Indian burger, vada pav. And that also I prefer the batata vada without the pav.

She Lets Kids Creativity Soar by Giving them Wings!

As I walk into the office of Supersonic Aeromodelers at Bandra, I am greeted with a broad smile and warm welcome. That's Dilshad Ahmed for you. With a vast banking experience behind her, she is now a successful entrepreneur and give wings to kids' dreams!

Dilshad- giving kids wings!

Having worked for 5 and 1/2 years in Andhra Bank, 7 and 1/2 years with Societe Generale, 10 years with DBS Bank and 2 and 1/2 years with IBM, she decided to leave banking behind and try something new. For a while, she worked with 'For She', a car rental company, which taught women to drive and be self-reliant. The company changed the life of many women. Even men brought their simple housewives to learn driving. Dilshad told me about an autorickshaw driver who brought his shy and soft-spoken wife to their organisation and requested them to make her smart and independent. And so she and her team did. Though, For She is defunct now, many women who learnt driving are doing well for themselves, while some are plying for a women's car rental company.

When ForShe closed, Dilshad wanted to do something on her own. She went through various business options, including franchisee businesses. That's when the idea of aero modeling came to her mind. I asked her, 'Why aero-modeling? It's something very off-beat and was a risky business option.' She told me that she realised that in India, children had very little access to develop their scientific minds and abilities. There were not many options and avenues available for them here. So, she decided to fill the gap. And set out to learn aero-modeling. Once done with that, she then moved to taking classes of her own. It began with her house, where kids started to come to learn the art. Slowly, she started conducting workshops at schools and eventually now has her own office and has also started her own line of aeroplane model DIY kits. Some of these are flying airplane models while some are not. For the younger kids, she uses foam cut-outs to make the aeroplanes. She now operates under the name of Supersonic Aeromodelers and is happy with what she started and where she has brought it.

A few aeroplane models hanging at Supersonic Aero Modelers office

She told me that the kids enjoy making these aircraft models and ensure that they complete making it whenever she holds sessions for them. She even sells other science DIY kits for kids. And yes, why only kids, Dilshad points out that even older people can learn from this art and buy her models. She is also assisted by her sister at times.

Supersonic Aeromodelers will soon come with an exclusive website to sell their aeroplane DIY kits and also other science kits. It is now sold exclusively through her only. Online selling will give people outside Mumbai and Pune also the opportunity to buy the Aeroplane kits. This she hopes will help develop childrens' scientific minds. And I hope so too and wish her all the best.

To have more insight into the activities of Supersonic Aeromodelers, you can check their website: http://supersonic.net.in 
and facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/SupersonicAeroModelers

Go, give wings to your kids' dreams. Maybe it will inspire him to be a pilot one day.

Stop Hate. Spread Love.

Being born and brought up in a multi diverse country, till few years back I never even saw people from religion point of view. We went to school and college and had friends from all communities and liked to learn about their food and culture. Never once looked at people with religious glasses. Accepted them for who they are. Religion was a personal thing. And outside of my house, it was just a name. It meant a person with different beliefs. The only thing that really was evident was different language and different culture of various states. Suddenly, the hate mongers are creating so many differences and giving everything a religious fervour. 

Until now we saw criminals are criminals, terrorists as terrorists, good people as good people. Now anything happens we classify them. One name of person from targeted religion comes up, the hate spreaders will isolate it and circulate and recirculate the news. 10 names of any other comes up, then it's like they are majority so their name will pop up somewhere. You won't find foreigners committing crimes here kinda attitude. Hatred spreading has gone so far now that in Indian media also we are showing what's happening in another country also with a religious tinge. The other day I saw a news about a marks goof up in Egypt. How Indian media (some of which is controlled by some group through some company) shows such an irrelevant internal news of a country? A bright Christian girl fails because of being a non Muslim in Egypt or some crap to that effect! The people who had commented below the article had probably read the entire news and were quick to clarify that it was a goof up which was rectified. Everything we are see from religious angle? Follow your faiths. But at work and in society you are just an Indian. 

I had vowed a year n half back that in Office or in public places, I will never discuss religion or politics. When a discussion comes up, I go some other way or ignore or get busy with something else. I am entitled to my opinions and it's not necessary that I share with all unless they're friends or family. Eventually many discussions lead to fights. Because many people do not understand 'right to opinion' nor are accepting of others' opinion. We are not good debaters. We expect to say and then shut our ears to others points of view.

Stop hatred, spread love.

An Honest Doctor

Hey, it's hard to come by honest and humble doctors. One such is Dr Siddhesh Shirke. He is my new dentist. He will never tell you to go for any extra treatment or implant just like that. He will try to save the teeth, even it means by a fluoride filling. He charges so little saying honestly that he just did a little filling. I feel embarrassed to pay him that much. A little part of my teeth broke some days back, after my last filling and today I went to tell him that. And he charged me nothing at all, thinking that the part of the filling fell off. I tried to tell him that it's another part of the same tooth. But he insisted that for a pinch of fluoride and minor job, it was not necessary to pay. I was too embarrassed and left saying 'Thank You'.

I know of other dentists, who will try to make a little cavity sound like a crater and advise you to go for metallic filling. In the bargain, they will make the cavity bigger so that soon you will go back to them after few months for root canal and eventually they will end up putting an dental implant there and finally a cap. It's like they say in Hindi, 'topi lagaya', means he made a fool out of you. 'Topi lagaya' literally translated means 'to put a cap'.

Marathi people are quite sincere and honest and I have a special respect for them.

I recommend Smita Dental Clinic for your dental woes, if you happen to be living near Mira Road.

Sheldon, oh Sheldon!

Last year I attended my first Comicon in Mumbai. They've just arrived in India a couple of years back. I was sooo fascinated by this Sheldon figurine. I kept coming back to the stall where it was kept, to check. Finally gave up on it as I had other things identified to pick -Sherlock poster, comic coaster, spoof superhero desk calendar and Tintin digest. 

While talking about Sheldon, I feel it's actually because of him and Penny that 'The Big Bang Theory' works. Sheldon plays his part perfectly and Penny is effortless.

I've discovered this new dabba/ Tiffin service called Yummy Tiffin. Got so bored with my previous tiffin service, which served me for 3 years. Does healthy have to be boring? Sometimes taste weird too? Agree, I did get pleasant surprises as well. But some of them look good and packaged so well, everyone in office drools over it while you know how it tastes. 

Starting the new dabba on trial basis for five days. They have an online wallet system where you fill it with an amount and then choose fixed meals from types or customise it on daily basis. One month's menu is posted in advance. I've chosen food I'd never tasted before like mayo sprout sandwich, Mexican minestrone, Bengali style bhindi with a difficult name and much more... I hope they taste as good. They're cheaper than my previous health food provider. And no paying dabba wala separately. It's their headache. And no money wasted on food you don't want to eat. Another good thing is that I don't have to tell them 'No Tindli' 'No capsicum'. These are marathi dishes I do not like. Capsicum is good as accompaniment or as a flavour. Never as a bhaji by itself! While tindli is good for pickling.

Say the Right Things - Be a Savvy Communicator!

Good speakers, authors and people whose talks / videos make a difference to your lives are hard to come by. A good book or good video on business communication always interests me. And one such person whose communication videos, online training lessons and books have made a difference to my life is Dan O'Connor.

Dan O'Connor is an eminent speaker, communication trainer and an author. His videos on YouTube under the banner of Online Communication Training are well known and followed by many. When I started watching them, I was a changed person. His style of training is easy and humorous and loved by many. His style got me hooked. And I went from one video to another, got hold of the books he's written and also downloaded some online courses. And everything was worth it. I have been following the speaker-cum-trainer-cum-author for quite some time now. His dealing with negative people tactics, his power phrases v/s danger phrases and his energy vampire slaying techniques are well known. They have changed the lives of many. It made me more confident, assertive and ready to take on the world.

What would be more exciting than knowing than Dan O'Connor has now made his presence in India. His books are being launched in India through Intellifox Designs. The first book of his to be available in India at local rates is "Say This-Not That!" The book is available in India through Amazon.in and Flipkart. And reasonably priced at Rs. 299, though currently available at promotional rates. And this is just the beginning, as is obvious from the attached video. So, what are you waiting for, guys? If you are a resident of India and have not been able to afford good business communication books from across the seas OR are Dan O'Connor's fan too OR just want to be a savvy communicator, get your copy of 'Say This - Not That!' It is a book you can add to your collection, if you have one.