Readers’ Choice Post of the year 2007

I invite all my readers to pick 2 posts from this blog, published during the year 2007, one post you think the best and one post you feel the worst.
It’s quite simple. Pick one best and one worst post from my 2007 archive and drop a comment.

To simplify your task, I’ve listed five posts below which got highest number of comments and received quite a number of hit and good visibility on search engines.

1 Club Mahindra (164 comments, top 3 for Club Mahindra keyword)

2 Public Toilets can be made free (21 comments)

3 Skanda Giri Hills (17 comments)

4 Domino’s Pizza (17 comments)

5 Hyderabad-Bangalore by Bus (16 comments)

You need not select from only above fine. Feel free to select any post published during 2007.

Similarly below are some posts which didn’t receive a single comment, though I felt they did deserve some.
1 If Dell sells motorcycle

2 Holy water in whiskey bottle

3 16 Rules for happy life

4 Patronize your customers

5 MS discontinues office assistants

Please select one post you liked the most and one post you liked least. This will help me make a note of likes and dislikes of my readers identify where I can improve. Thanks in advance. Use anonymous comments if you wish.

Open till 15th Feb.

Promoting few good causes

What better way to start blogging on own domain name than promoting few good causes?

Kiran Bedi’s new mission- Safer India

India’s most respected lady police officer Kiran Bedi’s new initiative is called Mission Safer India. - The vision India foundation headed by Kiran Bedi can step in if your local police station doesn’t register your complaint or doesn’t act on your complaint.

Sridhar Heggod needs your help.

Sridhar N. Shanubhag, popularly known as Sridhar Heggodu, an author, translator and theater personality, met with a freak road accident in April, 2006. He was treated at KMC, Manipal; life was saved but the spinal cord couldn’t be rejuvenated. Sridhar, once the nerve centre of NINASAM,(A prominent Kannada Theater training institute) Heggodu, is paralyzed down the neck. A new ray of hope for him and his family is Stem cell Therapy, the cost of which his family is not able to bear. It will be great if you can extend a bit of help by contributing a little for his treatment. Refer this post for further details. You may mail to aasthe-subscribe@yahoogroups.com if you're willing to help

Dream India Project
Dream India project appears to have lots of aspirations in it. Spend some time at the site and see if you can join hands with the team members.

Why blame Tata Nano for impending traffic mess?

I’m little late to write about Tata’s small car (people’s car) NANO. You’ve seen it already, read about it in detail in newspaper and other media, bloggers have contributed their part by blogging about it. While everyone appreciated Ratan Tata’s efforts in making dream come true for millions of middle class families, they also raised serious concern that soon we’ll run out of space on our roads and a traffic nightmare is unavoidable once Nano hits the road.

In this post, I do not aim to write about NANO or traffic jams it may create or about people who are on their toes to buy this car. Instead, I wish to give you a different perspective over the fact that everyone is blaming NANO for impending Traffic nightmares.

Argument: When Nano hits road in large numbers there’ll not be any space left to drive or park our vehicles.

My perspective: Why are we holding common man and NANO responsible for traffic jams? Buying a car is a lifetime dream for millions of people and I feel it is totally unfair that we’re holding poor man, who hardly used any space on road till date, accountable for the possible traffic jam even before they get to drive their car. Because they are poor the rich people have NO authority to dictate that poor people shouldn’t get an opportunity to realize their dreams.

Few points:
We say roads will be jam packed once Nanos start plying. But traffic jams are not caused because Nano is coming, but because we already have huge number of vehicles than our roads can bear. Roads do not belong to rich and powerful. If one who owns a Merc is entitled to use the road, so is a NANO owner. A Merc owner can’t say “hey, why did you buy NANO? There’s no space on the road for my Merc since you bought Nano”. In other words, a poor man shouldn’t be denied of his privileges just because it will cause inconvenience to rich person. Why the expectation is from a poor man (that he should not buy a car so that rich people can continue to drive around comfortably? Why the blame is shifted to Nano, while it is responsibility of the government and society to ensure equal opportunity to all? It is a collective responsibility and everyone together should bear their share.
Let us ask ourselves a few questions:

What are we-government in particular, society in general doing to discourage rich people stop using their Mercs, BMWs etc and start using public transportation instead?

Why do our netas need to commute with a convoy of 25-50 vehicles wherever they go?

If you take a cab for official travel, your office would reimburse the expense on producing the bill. But if you say “I was entitled for a cab ride but didn’t take any and I walked all the way and have saved Rs 500 for the company, give me 250 Rs without any bill”-No company will agree. In other words, we’re not encouraging those who choose not to use some of the privileges.

Why our traffic cops seldom stop any Mercedez or BMW or other expensive cars to check the license and documents, while a two wheeler driver is often harassed for mildest offence (or without any offence)?

Assume a scenario where water becomes scarce resource. Is it fair to say “If all poor people start drinking water we won’t have enough water-ensure that only rich people can get water” That is not fair right? It is a collective responsibility and whatever we have we should share with others, instead of complaining that new entrants are taking away our share.

Why not the governments bring in a law such that all those who own Mercs and BMWs and other luxury cars should use only public transport for next 2-3 years allowing first time car owners to drive around comfortably the town in their Nanos? I know this will never happen…

Related post:
1. How can you call i10 car of the year 2008?
2. Hyundai gifts 100 Accent cars to Chennai Police
3. Fancy Number plates
4. Predict trajectory of this car accident

Brokers are scared too-restrain from giving any tips

Stock Brokers and brokerage houses usually give trading tips to general public occasionally (such as BUY, SELL or HOLD particular security. This week’s Sensex fall has thoroughly scared not just retail investors but brokerage houses as well. Yesterday BSE SENSEX reached a bottom of 15k and obviously it was best time ever to divert all your funds to stock market and grab quality stocks as they were available at such a cheap price. However I observed that not a single broker dared to give a BUY call on any of the securities yesterday (22nd Jan 2008) and only one call was issued on 21st. (Probably they are busy buying now and once they are done they will release a BUY call so that everyone starts buying and prices go up)

If I were in their shoes I would have given BUY call on almost all fundamentally strong companies. This has reassured my belief that it may not be a best practice to trade purely based on calls given by brokerage houses and rely more on one’s personal analysis and instincts while trading.
Above: Screen shot taken today (23rd Jan 08) morning from Rediff Money which showed that no broker tips were issued on 22nd Jan 08. Below: Image taken same day evening showing newly issued BUY calls.

Updates: Now recommendations have started flowing in, a little late, in my view.

Market Analyst’s job is very easy

Looks like it is one of the easiest jobs on planet earth. If you’re a market analyst your job is very simple-
If SENSEX is at around 21500 you’ve to say “Sensex has support at 21000 and resistance at 22500”. When it falls to 20800+ you’ve to say “market has strong support at 20000”. It falls below 20k; lower the support level to 19k, then to 18k, next at 17k. Tomorrow if it falls below 17k say “Strong support at 16000”

If round figure sounds unprofessional use 16255, 17872 etc to get an impression that you’ve done some deep analysis to arrive at that figure. Have some phrases (sub prime crisis, Reliance Power IPO, Recession, global trends, market correction, profit booking, FIIs etc ) handy to throw in occasionally.

I was of the opinion that astrologers have an easier job (they just need to keep a collection of 10-20 paragraphs containing generic statements (such as you will have a happy day today, trouble expected from close corners, good day to express your opinion, chances of loosing valuable things etc) and randomly map one paragraph to one zodiac sign and publish. But recently market analysts have beaten them…

No offence to both professions. Post written on humorous note.

Related: Working as an independent consultant

CRM at Provision Stores (humor)

This is an old joke which I happen to recall recently. All names are fictitious. Original author unknown. Kannada version first and english translation below
ಶೆಟ್ಟರ ಅ೦ಗಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ರಾಹಕ ಸ೦ಪರ್ಕ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ

ಮ೦ಜುನಾಥ ಭುಜ೦ಗ ಶೆಟ್ಟರ ದಿನಸಿ ಅ೦ಗಡಿಯ ಖಾಯ೦ ಗಿರಾಕಿ. ಆತ ಗಮನಿಸಿದ ವಿಷಯವೆ೦ದರೆ ಶೆಟ್ಟರು ತಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸದಾಳನ್ನು ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಹೆಸರಿನಿ೦ದ ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದು, ಕೆಲವು ಗ್ರಾಹಕರೆದುರಿಗೆ ಶೆಟ್ಟರು "ಗಣೇಶಾ, ಶ್ಯಾನುಭಾಗರಿಗೆ ೨ ಕೇಜಿ ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಕೊಡು" ಎ೦ದರೆ ಇನ್ನು ಕೆಲವರಿದ್ದಾಗ "ಕುಮಾರಾ, ಇವರಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಧ ಕೇಜಿ ಆಲುಗಡ್ಡೆ, ೧ ಕೇಜಿ ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ ಹಾಕು" ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಮ೦ಜುನಾಥನ ಸರದಿ ಬ೦ದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ " ಗು೦ಡಾ, ಸಾಹೇಬರಿಗೆ ಈ ಸಾಮಾನುಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ಯಾಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೊಡು" ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ಯಾಕೆ ಹೀಗೆ ಎ೦ದು ಎಷ್ಟು ತಲೆ ಕೆರೆದುಕೊ೦ಡರೂ ಮ೦ಜುನಾಥನಿಗೆ ಹೊಳೆಯಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ಒ೦ದು ದಿನ ಶೆಟ್ಟರ ಹುಡುಗ ಮಾರುಕಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ. ಮ೦ಜುನಾಥ ಅವನನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಕೇಳಿದ-"ನಿಮ್ಮ ಶೆಟ್ಟರು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಹೆಸರಿನಿ೦ದ ಏಕೆ ಕರೀತಾರೆ?"

ಹುಡುಗಃ "ಅದಾ? ಅದು ನಾವು ಅಭಿವೃಧ್ಧಿಪಡಿಸಿದ ಗ್ರಾಹಕ ಸ೦ಪರ್ಕ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ ತ೦ತ್ರಾ೦ಶ."
ಮ೦ಜುನಾಥ: ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಹೇಳು.
ಹುಡುಗಃ "ಗಣೇಶಾ ಎ೦ದು ಕರೆದರೆ ಗಿರಾಕಿ ಬಹಳ ಘಾಟಿ, ಏನೂ ಮೋಸ ಮಾಡದೆ ಸರಿಯಾದ ತೂಕ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟದ ಸಾಮಾನು ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಕಳಿಸು ಅ೦ತ ಅರ್ಥ. ಕುಮಾರಾ ಎ೦ದು ಕರೆದರೆ ಆಸಾಮಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ತಿಳಿದವನು, ಹೆಚ್ಚೇನು ಮೋಸ ಮಾಡದೆ ಸಾಗ ಹಾಕು ಅ೦ತ"
ಮ೦ಜುನಾಥ: ಮತ್ತೆ ಗು೦ಡಾ ಅ೦ದರೆ?
ಗು೦ಡಾ ಅ೦ದರೆ ಗಿರಾಕಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಲೂಸು-ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಟೊಪ್ಪಿ ಹಾಕಿ ಕಳಿಸು ಅ೦ತ.


Customer Relationship Management at Provision store

Manjunath is a regular customer of Mr. Bhujang Shetty, who owns a provision store in the village. Mr. Shetty has an assistant in his shop who executes his orders. Every time Manjunath visits Shetty’s shop, he usually have to wait, due to presence of other customers. Manjunath observes that Shetty calls his assistant by different names for various customer. For few customers he would say “Hey Ganesha, give 2 kg rice to Mr. So and So,” for few others Shetty would shout-“Kumara, pack 1kg potatos for our customer”. When it comes to Manjunath, Shetty would always say “Gunda, give Manjunath so and so items”.

Manjunath always wondered why the servant being called by different names.
One day Manjunath happened to meet Shetty’s servant somewhere outside the shop and asks him: “Why is that your boss calls you with different names?”

Servant: “That’s our in house Customer Relationship Management Solution”

Manjunath: “I didn’t understand”

Servant: See, each name signifies specific importance to be given to the customer. For example, “Ganesha” signifies “Do not cheat the customer-give right quantity and quality of goods”… Kumara means “Customer is not that careful-Cheat him lightly by weighing little less”
Manjunath: And Gunda means?
Gunda means “Customer is an idiot-cheat him thoroughly”

Related: Work Phone- a serious joke

Bicycle Canteens of Hyderabad

Bicycle canteens are the cheapest source of food in Hyderabad serving a specific segment of customers comprising of daily wage workers and other low income group population.

2 idlies (1 plate) costs Rs 25 inside Prasad's iMax while few meters away, on tank bund road, these bicycle canteens sell as much as 5 idlies for just five rupees. That's an idly a rupee.

I do not intend to make any positive or negative remarks about the hygiene factor or quality of ingredients used because I haven’t cross checked the same. But it appears there’s no such compromise on these parameters and these vendors operate on wafer this margin. I did eat once at such a shop and taste was decent. The same food will cost 10 times more inside iMax (or other posh malls/hotels) mainly because of overheads (rent, electricity, advertising, tax, salaries etc besides higher profit margins).

They are quite self sustained and eco friendly. They do collect all waste papers and leftovers and take them back home to dispose at proper place. I haven’t found them spoiling the environment except customers washing their hands..

Haven’t found such canteens (operated on cycles) in other cities like Chennai or Bangalore, though we get to see canteens on four wheeled carts in all cities.

Each cycle is fully loaded-with two containers carrying chutney in front, one big drum in the back (on luggage carrier) containing idlies, dosas and vadas, a big plastic bag hooked to left side which is to be used as dust bin, a plastic can hung to the seat carrying water (a mineral water bottle will be refilled from water in this can-and water is all purpose- for drinking, for washing hands and to dilute the chutney if required :) ) There can be additional bags and facilities to keep paper sheets (which serve as plates) and other accessories.

Not sure how much profit they make. With very low inventory carrying capacity, I think they can serve around 100-150 customers max with the food they can carry at once. Assuming a 10% profit (10 paise on Re 1 idly) they probably make around 100 rupees per session (assuming each customer spends around 5-10 Rs). Not sure if the sell lunch and dinner this way.

Similar: Rice, in its most nutrient form

Flaws in HP Recovery Manager

This posts shares some major drawbacks I’m experiencing in Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ) Recovery Manager software. (Recovery Manager is a software shipped with computer systems using which it is possible to retrieve your files when a system has crashed and you’re unable to boot)

This is how HP recovery manager works:

1. Insert Recovery disc you might have created for your new laptop

2. You may opt to take backup of the files existing in your HDD or proceed and restore the system to factory condition.

Now,

If I choose to take backup of the files, the application asks me “what all type of files you want to take backup”. I can choose out of a set of options like photos, videos, songs, documents etc. Once I select my preferences (like “retrieve all documents and photos, ignore other contents” it asks me to insert a USB device into which the data can be backed up.

Theoretically that looks fine. But this entire process just didn’t serve my purpose last time when my system had to be reset to factory condition. Besides other files, I had a word document, in .docx format (Microsoft needs to stay in Business by bringing in new files extensions ;) ), on which I had spent nearly 7 days of effort.

Problem starts here:

One: The application doesn’t tell you what all files it is backing up and what all it is ignoring. It doesn’t allow you to select a specific file.

Two: It doesn’t tell how much space the USB device in which contents are being backed up should have. I inserted 2 GB pen drive, it said there’re not enough space. I could proceed with backup only when I connected a 120GB USB hard drive. (120GB HDD to backup a 20kb word file!-Not everyone will keep a 120GB HDD on standby)(Total backedup files measured around 30GB space, due to the format in which backup files were created by the recovery manager. The contents I could make use of, was less than 1 GB- All I was interested was one single .docx file sized less than 150 kb)

It doesn’t recognize many of the file formats. For example it didn’t recognize .docx as a word document and didn’t back up the same. I just lost it forever. Similarly I’m sure it wont backup several other formats crucial for certain people (You might be working on specific files depending on your work. If HP RM cant backup those files you’re at risk of loosing them)

Is it not possible to design a recovery software which gives me access to the directories and lets me select what files I need and what I don’t? (Instead of blindly saying “backup all music files”)

Since this is a recovery software and I can create recovery disc only once, I’m stuck with this incompetent utility for rest of the life of my HP laptop. (I.e. it is not possible to fix this problem by means of patches, updates etc)

Anyone has got any work around?

I’m not sure how recovery softwares of Sony, Dell and other notebook vendors work. Someone using those products please write your observations.

Update: This review, cross posted on Mouthshut was identified as review of the day on 7th Feb 2008.

Related: HP vs Dell vs Sony vs LG vs Lenovo vs Acer vs Sahara vs other notebooks

ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ (Bhagyada Balegaara) Lyrics & Translation

Bhagyada Balegaara is a beautiful Kannada poem written at a time when there was no telephones and emails for communication and people travelling from one place to another were the sole medium through whom news could pass from one place to another.
In this folk song a women who is newly married asks the Bangle seller (Bangle seller used to keep travelling across the land selling his bangles) to visit her parents house and convey the message that she is fine. Bangle seller says he doesn't know where is her parents home or how to get there. The women describes in poetic lines how to get to her parents home. I found that lyrics and translation of this song is not available anywhere on net (atleast I couldn't search it out) so took trouble and writing on my own. Read on.


ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ, ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ, ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ,ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ,
Woman: Bhagyada baLegaara hOgi baa nan tavarige (Dear Bangle seller, please go to my hometown.)


ನಿನ್ನ ತವರೂರ, ನಾನೇನು ಬಲ್ಲೆನು,(2) ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಎನಗೆ, ಗುರಿಯಿಲ್ಲ ಎಲೆಬಾಲೆ,(2) ತೋರಿಸು ಬಾರೇ ತವರೂರಾ..
Bangle seller:Ninna tavaroora naanEnu ballenu, goththilla nanage, guriyilla ele baale, tOrisu ninna tavaroora (How am I supposed to know which is your parents' home? I dont know the directions. Show me how to get there.)

ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ,ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ,
Woman: Dear Bangle seller, please give a visit to my hometown.

ಬಾಳೆ ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಡು, ಸೀಬೆ ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಡು,ಬಾಳೆ ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಡು, ಸೀಬೆ ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಡು, ನಟ್ಟ ನಡುವೇಲಿ ನೀ ಹೋಗು ಬಳೆಗಾರ, ನಟ್ಟ ನಡುವೇಲಿ ನೀ ಹೋಗು ಬಳೆಗಾರ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಹುದೆನ್ನಾ ತವರೂರು..
Woman: BaaLe balakke beeDu, seebe eDakke beeDu, naTTa naDuveli nee hogu baLegaara, allihudenna tavaroora (You'll see Banana plantation at the right, Guava plantation at the left. Please take the road which lies in between these two, it takes you to my home.)

ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..(2)
Bangle seller: Muttaide Ele Henne tOru baa nin tavarora...(Hey newly married women, please show me your home)

ಹ೦ಚಿನ ಮನೆ ಕಾಣೋ, ಕ೦ಚಿನ ಕದ ಕಾಣೋ, ಇ೦ಚಾಡೋ ಎರಡು ಗಿಳಿ ಕಾಣೋ ಬಳೆಗಾರ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಹುದೆನ್ನಾ ತವರೂರು..
Woman: Hanchina mane kaaNo, kanchina kada kaaNo, inchaaDo eraDu giLi kaaNo baLegaara, allihundenna tavarooru..(The home is built with red tiles and the door is made from Bronze, there'll be two parrots singing, that's my home.)

ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..
Bangle seller: Hey newly married women, please show me your home.

ಆಲೆ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಾವೆ, ಗಾಣ ತಿರುಗುತ್ತಾವೆ, ನವಿಲು ಸಾರ೦ಗ ನಲಿದಾವೆ ಬಳೆಗಾರ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಹುದೆನ್ನಾ ತವರೂರು..
Woman: Birds will be singing, Oil wheel will be rotating, peacocks will be dancing-that's my home town.

ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..
Bangle seller: Hey newly married women, please show me your home

ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಹಟ್ಟೀಲಿ ಮುತ್ತಿನ ಚಪ್ರಹಾಸಿ, ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಹಟ್ಟೀಲಿ ಮುತ್ತಿನ ಚಪ್ರಹಾಸಿ, ನಟ್ಟ ನಡುವೇಲಿ ಪಗಡೆಯ ಆಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ, ನಟ್ಟ ನಡುವೇಲಿ ಕಬಡ್ಡಿಯ ಆಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ,ಅವಳೇ ಕಣೋ ನನ್ನ ಹಡೆದವ್ವ
Woman: The tent decorated with pearls-my mother still plays game of dice inside it. (Signifies that the celebrations of marriage is not yet over and the temporary constructions erected for marriage related functions is still fresh)

ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..ಮುತ್ತೈದೆ ಎಲೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣೆ ತೋರು ಬಾ ನಿನ್ ತವರೂರ..
Bangle seller: Hey newly married women, please show me your home

ಅಚ್ಚ ಕೆ೦ಪಿನ ಬಳೆ, ಹಸಿರು ಗೀರಿನ ಬಳೆ ನನ್ನ ಹಡೆದವ್ವಗೆ ಬಲು ಆಸೆ ಬಳೆಗಾರ, ಕೊ೦ಡ್ ಹೋಗೊ ನನ್ನ ತವರೀಗೇ...
Woman: My mother loves Dark red bangles and green bangles with cross lines... Please take them there when you go there

ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ, ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ, ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ,ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಬಳೆಗಾರ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಾ ನನ್ ತವರೀಗೇ,
Woman: Dear Bangle seller, please go to my hometown.

There seem to be some confusion about the author of this folk song-Is it K S Narasimhaswamy? or author unknown? If anyone has any authentic info please share.

You may download mp3 of the song from Cooltoad (registration will be required). Music and lyrics copyrighted to respective owners, this post is written only to explain the beauty of this song.
Related: My favourite lyrics line | Krishna nee bEgane baaro|

SEO tips for regional language bloggers

This article shares few simple suggestions and tips which if implemented, will increase the visibility of your regional language posts.

Why special attention is needed (from SEO perspective) while writing in non english languages? (Hindi, Kannada. Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali and so on)

1 Prospective visitors searching for regional language text will be using English characters instead of Hindi or Kannada script.

For example, your article is a review of “Tare Zameen Par” movie, 99.99% of users will type “Taare Zameen Par” in Google instead of “ तारे जमीन् पर ”. (Search engines do have the intelligence to identify that what you wrote in Hindi and identify relevant blogs but just that readers usually do not take the trouble of typing it in Hindi) and your blog is unlikely to even get showcased infront of prospective readers who use english.

2 Perma link or full URL of your post plays a critical role in SEO-Do not waste it.

If you type your post title in Kannada (say ಗಾಳಿಪಟ ಚಿತ್ರ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ) or Hindi (तारे जमीन् पर) or other regional languages, blogger will create a permalink something similar to http://yourblog.blogspot.com/blog-post1.html.

Had that URL contained some keywords (say http://yourblog.blogspot.com/gaalipata-kannada-movie-review.html it would have got better visibility.

So what can be done to make best out of the given situation?

1 Type title in English first.
First type the title in English – say “Movie Review-Taare Zameen Par” and publish the post. This will generate the permalink http://yourblog.blogspot.com/movie-review-taare-zameen-par.html Once this happens edit the title and replace with तारे जमीन् पर (Taare Zameen Par). If keywords are present in URL search engines will give it higher preference.

2 Write an introductory para in English describing the content: like “This post is a movie review of Taare Zameen Par movie written using Hindi script”.

This is essential for two reasons-Few readers will have problems with non English fonts in their systems and will not be able to make anything out of your post if it is full of regional language text. One line in English will tell such readers what they can expect from the post. Those who do not know that regional language can consider exiting the page and those who can understand that language but unable to read anything can work on how to fix the display issues w.r.t regional language fonts.

This intro para can also help search engines indexing your post, which otherwise would have totally ignored the non English characters.

3. Repeat keywords in English (Excessive usage of this tip will irritate your regional language readers-Use only when apt, may be only once)

ಗಾಳಿಪಟ (Galipata) ಯೋಗರಾಜ ಭಟ್ಟರ (Yogaraj Bhat) ಹೊಸ ಚಲನ ಚಿತ್ರ . ಇವರ ಹಿ೦ದಿನ ಚಿತ್ರ ಮು೦ಗಾರು ಮಳೆ (Mungaru Male) ಭರ್ಜರಿ ಯಶಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಕ೦ಡಿರುವುದರಿ೦ದ ಗಾಳಿಪಟ ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ಜನರು ಭಾರೀ ಕಾತರದಿ೦ದ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

Feel free to add your tips.
Related posts: SEO Fundamentals | Writing for search engines vs Writing for humans