Pravin Kamath is among few very popular people we interviewed on flockpost.com, Pravin who knows as Pravin Da which means elder brother in his social circle is known for his never to give up spirit, up-to-date knowledge of events and news around him and for his friendly and helping nature. This interview will flash the light on a very simple yet extra ordinary person who born and brought up in a middle class Indian family. Owner of many good communities on orkut including Marathi Mitra Mandal( Maharasthrian Friend’s Circle) and moderating communities like Bombay “Mumbai”.
I successfully convinced Mr Pravin to share his life and his thoughts in this interview, thanks to Pravin da for answering my questions.
Welcome Sir!
Hi
First of all I thank Zazo to consider me for this ‘Orkut hall of fame’ and all the best to his great work that bring simple persons like me to limelight of fame.
Thank you Sir for your kind and appreciable words. Now, let me start the conversation which I was waiting for so long, here goes my first and very common question.
Please tell us about yourself, your birthplace, family, education and profession. How was the journey of life till here?
My name is Pravin Kamath , Born and brought up in Bombay (now Mumbai) , we are 4 siblings one elder brother 2 younger sisters. My father was a semi govt employee and with his hard work, single man earner in family , gave priority to education for us .Now we all are married and well settled in life , one of my sis is Doctor , other a PG, Brother a graduate and banker.
Now my family is small me, me wife (a home maker) and only son who is Doing 1st yr Food engineering .
Me a post graduate in Analytical chemistry from Bombay university Kalina Mumbai, Graduated from Ruia college Mumbai , also did PG Diploma in Management while working.
I work in MNC Pharmaceutical company for last 22 yrs , started my career immediately after PG -1982 , in Indian leading Pharmaceutical company worked for 3.5 ys then moved to current organization.
I started as Analytical chemist worked in Method development section of Quality Assurance department , handled sophisticated analytical instruments like GC , HPLC , Autoanalysers etc for 10yrs , had mastery instrument handling , solving trouble shootings etc. then moved to middle management , worked in various section of QA and now as Assistant Planning Manager, got opportunity in ERP project (BPCS) implementation in 2001 ,completed many projects later , gone to Philippine for some days for project related work , now as an administrator , help desk and also planner , working in Planning Department.
The Journey Of life was never smooth for me (and never will be in future since I take challenges) Its hard work , dedication , taking responsibility , helping others and adapting to change in surroundings and bringing changes in me.
I have an analytical mind , can analyze difficult situation better than others , have problem solving ability , was always ahead of my time in my approach , people some times used to get confused by my approach and my advice but later it comes out to be a good advice (with feed back from them).
Your above replies shows, you saw many ups and downs in life. I wont ask you that do you think you are successful or not but can you tell me that from where that energy of fighting the challenges comes to you?
First of all I can tell you, you should have faith in your self (of course faith in god also) to fight challenges when it comes to you.
Secondly its your upbringing and parents sacrifice struggle to bring you up in life (educate you) makes your strong base and
Lastly Passion – of ‘can do attitude’ – ‘want to help’ attitude – ‘I can solve’ thoughts , Optimism ,positive attitude and approach gives energy for fighting challenges.
I never keep quiet and am well informed person, since I chat with different types of people both online and offline. I don’t have ego problem while mixing with people. I make friends easily. I have big friend/fan circle of different ages and genders and appreciation, encouragement from them keeps my energy getting recharged.
As you put emphasis on “upbringing” how much value do you give on up bring of children in school and in family. What is more important in your view? I asked this, because nowadays children hardly get time with parents as both mother and father works and rest of the time of an average child spent in television or homework.
Yes , upbringing , Its most important factor and its foundation of future generation.
If you make strong foundation it will create strong values in society and human approach otherwise life will be robotic and machine like. For a good human being one need strong emotions and these emotions develop from strong bonding of parents and child and spending value time with them when they need and not as you need.
Now a days parents give time to children when they are free not considering what they need, thus they spoil both relation and emotional supports and bonding and children look /search outside for that gap! One should know channeling child energy in proper way giving moral supports , other wise will waste or end up in bad habits.
Sir, you certainly agree to this that children from any country are future of that particular nation, same for India too. But, today’s internal political and social condition of India is not praise worthy. The caste, religion and rich and poor difference is making a wider and strong lines between each other. How do you react on this? any solution in your mind to come up with these issues?
When was internal political and social condition of India was praise worthy you tell me.
(I will be happy to think on those days going flash back!)
We are used to it and has to live with it , changes will come but will take time ,if we humans cant take decision to correct it then some times nature or situation takes care of everything and I strongly believe in that. My solution is once people are educated no one can fool them, and the technology of communication has greater power and roles in future shaping caste , religion and rich poor diff. and social network like Orkut will be one of them where interacting with diff type of people will make understand others better (see I am already ahead of time of my generation people , I am on orkut since 2004).
The problem about religion and caste is based on not understanding people and their caste and religion. People want one up-man-ship on others that creates problem. Once one understand ‘what it is’ everything will be solved!
You are very popular among your friends and fans on orkut. Most of your fans are very young from your age. How you make that balance of age and thoughts? Didn’t you ever felt a generation gap sort of thing?
Oh that’s a good question! I am also wondering same!
My thoughts though they are faster than my words or talk never gone with my age! I am the same Pravin of say 20yrs back! Same on cracking PJ’s , witty answers and same sense of humor. These friends don’t call me ‘old’ instead they call me ‘young at heart’.
I join them at meets; go for trekking and some even called for their wedding which I have attended, though some I have never met before! It’s a fantastic experience which I can’t explain when they introduce me as a friend to their would be partner and their parents of my age!
The sense of humor is such thing which has no age barrier; though there is generation gap I never felt so on talking or chating as I keep space to take care of that!
Only on seeing my hair line gap and greying hairs I feel there is a generation gap !
What is your experience on orkut since you joined? How much it improved or widened your social group, in short, I mean to ask what are your prime activities on orkut?
I joined orkut from an invitation by one of my chat friend Carla, a Brazilian chat friend who is now our family friend too (online).Initially I was reluctant to join orkut but she explained me how it is beneficial to a person like me. So I joined in around sep-oct 2004 and there is no looking back. The experience I got is not comparable and can’t get from any other mode sitting at one place having friends, chat with them, discuss in forums and that too being with family also at the same time.
I had a big off line social group but since Bombay /Mumbai being a vibrant city people have no time and also traffic jams and all so traveling becomes hectic. Orkut has introduced me new set of social groups of different in many ways, caste, religion region, culture etc in one platform. Previously my interaction was limited to small sects of people whom I know and what ever appreciation or critics they used to say was limited to my circle so never able to explore my potential since it may be biased opinion of them.
But when I started getting appreciation for my views comments or advices on some subjects , problems I felt I can contribute more , its their (fans) demand , to give them feed back ,to help them , which made me addicted to orkut which I have no regret.
My activities on orkut is mostly Sharing knowledge , experience , helping , giving moral supports ,counseling , motivating , moderating communities which I am moderator (no games allowed) and if some personal problems or need counseling I do call on private chats or at my home if they stay nearby. Most of my roles were as a facilitator and motivator.
How much time you give on orkut everyday, by looking at your involvement in various communities and friends I think most of the time you are surrounded by friends, Did you ever encounter any problem from family or work?
I have kept separate time for orkut , mostly early morning or between 7-10 pm not at a stretch! Intermittently after doing all my home work or house work. If my opinion is needed I take extra time other wise just browsing reading and posting and logoff!
From work I mostly avoid orkut , but may be during tea time or lunch hrs. I have broadband connection at home and is comfortable with that. My son and wife are also on orkut , but my involvement is more , mostly on forums. My wife reads my post some times or checks my scraps (rarely) but she only reminds me if I don’t sit on orkut so that she can comfortable watch her favorite channels without disturbance from me!
I take her to orkut friends meet too! I also took my son for trekking with them. So no problems!
What are your favorite activities other than being on orkut?
I go to gym (fitness) after office hrs , I like long walk on week ends , meet friends (college friends 4-5 of them still we meet every month) .When at home help my wife , I can cook also when in need , read news papers (2 -3 diff news papers I buy).
I write ( e mail with pics some times) to news paper or any govt agencies (transport etc) regarding problems and give solutions also what to be done. I do get reply from them; some gets published in paper on small columns. I attend social function if I am invited and if its nearby.. I am on chat otherwise while login orkut simultaneously, yahoo chat/Gtalk where people come online and discuss.
Any person whose life touched you deeply or you got inspired by his or her character?
From net , whom I never met personally , ya , Carla from brazil who used to chat with me on yahoo regularly and introduced me to orkut.
She was/is multitasking high energetic woman.
Offline I like many big personalities from whom I get inspiration.
What would be Praveen Kamath if not what he is today?
What would be Praveen Kamath if not what he is today?
I am same Pravin Kamath and will remain same for the people. I am happy for myself , no regrets.
But on net I prefer to be called ‘Pravin DA’ which gave me so much attention affection and appreciation from Friends and Fans
Thank you for spending your precious time and making this interview marvelous. It was pleasure talking to you Sir. With best wishes, I would like to end this conversation here.
Thanks again,
Best Regards,
zazo.
I thank you also for all your valuable time spent, all the best to you
{ 6 comments }
Pravin da is a great character and can bond well with people from all age groups and communities. He deserves this honour
Hey nice interview how with middle class value you can still build on relationship.
I liked the emphasis laid by Pravin on the values that have to be inculcated in kids, especially in todays busy world where both the parents work.
Smita
Pretty good interview… keep it up guys!!!
GURUJI…(pravin da for me)…..is a wonderful person….i am glad to have met him…and known him since 4 yrs now….he is the best !!!!!…cheerz !!!!
Good Interview Da !!
U r getting famous !!
Keep it up !!
Congrats Praveen Da…
Its a nice interview… Good to see people i know, becoming famous and also reading about them… Well i just wanted to say one thing other then biological age there is nothing like generation gap…. because now a days every one has to change with time or perish….
Wish you many more years of good work…
Cheerz!!!!
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