On the afternoon of 23rd December 2010, K Karunakaran, the former chief Minister of Kerala and one of the most visible Congress leaders of all times of the state, passed away. He was 93 years old and lived a life full of actions and events, political or otherwise. At an average, when a Malayali man lives about 73 years, Karunakaran outlived him by 20 long years! And that tells the story of endurance and longevity. His self-confidence, even when was down, used to be very high and probably that enabled him to live longer, not to speak of the marvels of modern medicine and healthcare, the best of which was available to him at all times.
Reams of newsprint and gigabytes of media space had been taken to describe his life and times. Thus, it would be out of place to write about it. However as a blogger from Kerala, it would definitely be improper of me not to register the impact of K Karunakaran on the Malayali and to some extent, the Indian.
As a chief minister, his contributions to the development of Kerala were the highest. Rest of the CMs pale into insignificance, when compared to him. In a state, the political fortunes alternated between the Congress and Communist led Governments, when one government tries to undo the previous government was the highest of priority, his was the times of chief minister-ship where the maximum progressive development of Kerala ever took place. One of the shining examples of his vision has been the Cochin International Airport.
He had a very strong will. Once he took a decision he always worked hard to get it implemented, come what may! With more than one third of India reeling under Maoist violence now, Keralites should everlastingly be grateful to him for nipping the naxalite menace from the state right in the bud when it erupted some 40 years back, as Kerala was the very first state of India to get attracted to the ism of it. Some of the treatments meted out to the naxal guys had been very harsh indeed. He personally had to bear the brunt of it in the form of ‘Rajan’ episode. But he took that responsibility on himself and never moved away from his focus of eradicating extreme political movements such as Maoism/Naxalism from the state.
Three women had played significant role in his life. First, of course, was his dear wife Kalyanikutty Amma, who though always lived the life in the background, looked after him so well, knowing his every mood and need. She passed away some 18 years back and the death had a major impact on him. The second was Mrs. Indira Gandhi, whom he revered and followed to the word T. Madam Indira Gandhi also returned the feelings abundantly on him and as much as he stood by her, she reciprocated enough to ensure that every move of him had her weight behind it. Mrs. Gandhi’s death shook Karunakaran and he was never the same person after it. The third woman was his daughter Padmaja. For close to 20 years, she looked him after, at the cost of her family life, and it is another matter that she developed very high political ambitions during the time.
He did have a hand in national politics too. On the installation of the very inexperienced Rajiv Gandhi as India’s Prime Minister, soon upon his mother’s gory death by assassination, Karunakaran played a significant role. He was also one of the decision makers in the selection of Narsing Rao, who by then was practically on political sanyas, as Prime Minister of India in 1991. He was the mover to make Mrs. Sonia Gandhi as the numero uno in the Congress Party hierarchy. All these individuals had remembered his contribution but however, were vary of his antics from time to time.
He followed the principle of looking after those who depended on him very well. In this, for he followed his deity Bhagwan ‘Guruvayoorappan’ on whose abode he always reached by the first day of every Malayalam month, wherever he was. The God looked after his disciple Karunakaran and Karunakaran looked after his disciples and dependents. No wonder much early in his life, he got addressed by everyone as ‘LEADER’ and the word stuck him for good. He was truly leader to all.
A proverb says; ‘one should stop singing at the peak of his voice’. This is something he forgot to follow. The last 10 years of his life did not have anything much to write home about. He simply loitered. Everyone, including the ones he picked up and developed, tried to distance from him. He was blinded by his paternal love for his children, Murali & Padmaja, and played many a political game to bring them to the forefront, while it is a mute question whether they deserved it at all. He fought with Sonia Gandhi, strayed out of the Congress Party, only to return to it later as a prodigal son. Actually his only flaw was that he though he could play the games over and over. He didn’t see the changing times. He did not know how to retire gracefully.
His funeral procession from Trivandrun to Trichur had seen people braving the cold night for long hours, waiting at the roadside to see the last glimpse of his body. There had only been two similar instances in the past, that being the death of former Communist Chief Minister Nayanar and the death of Panakkad Shihab Thangal, the head of Muslim League. It is indeed a matter of his greatness that in spite of losing popularity at the last stage of his life, he still had the respect of majority of the denizens of the state which got displayed in their act of laying the last respect to his departed soul.
With the death of Karunakaran, a political era, that almost spanned a century, ended.
So, what is in store for the Mallus now?
Let the times tell!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
OF WIKILEAKS & RADIA TAPES
Julian Assange and his website; WikiLeaks had done it again. To expose the big brother countries, who tells one thing and does the opposite. Once upon a time, all these dichotomist big brothers thought they were the invincible ones. All that is gone! First, young terrorists indoctrinated by religious extremists exposed their vulnerabilities. And later now, their diplomatic wires are hacked and tapped for information on what they did, against what they said.
It has been major embarrassment for USA, UK and many big nations. For whatever they had said and done (or not done), the leaders of these nations have lots of explanations and clean up to do, lot of angry faces to face and plenty of regrets to send.
Through Wikileaks, we have learnt the diplomatic wire confirmation that there is rampant corruption in Afghanistan; that the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a characterless character; that majority of Islamic nations of the world that follow the Sunni tradition is more scared of their Muslim Shia brother Iran than Israel because of Iran’s nuclear capabilities; that contrary to the assurances made to the world, Syria's government had maintained very close ties with Hezbollah group and many more similar information.
These leaks could weaken up the Pakistani leadership; it could slow down the anti-terrorism efforts of Yemen. Many nations and its leadership will not want to communicate with the Americans and most of the Europeans. Countries may think twice before handing over secrets to the big brother nations. From now on, information would be difficult to come by. It could create anti leadership feelings within the public of many nations. Thanks to WikiLeaks, many leaders could lose their next election.
So what do the big brother nations do? They are trying to silence the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange through cheap charges such as rape, coercion etc. What a pity?
By the way, who is this person Assange? This Australian is reputed to be an excellent computer network hacker. He is also a journalist, a writer, a self-styled Internet’s freedom fighter, a self-taught scientific genius, a friend of open and free software and so many things rolled into one. More than anything else, he considers himself as the founder and spokesperson of a web based organization that exposes the wrongs of the power that be. He fights for the suppressed and has adopted novel methods to bring to open, the super powers and their deeds, something that the powers that be never thought possible. Assange is also against the giant corporations that act as virtual nation states without accountability.
"The more secretive or unjust an organization is, the more leaks induce fear and paranoia in its leadership and planning coterie," Assange wrote. "Since unjust systems, by their nature, induce opponents, and in many places barely have the upper hand, mass leaking leaves them exquisitely vulnerable to those who seek to replace them with more open forms of governance." This is his philosophy too.
Has he done the world a favour or by the leaks, made the world affairs much more complicated? Who knows, but one thing is clear to me, if whatever he exposed is the truth, he has my vote.
That takes us to the local affair, La Radia tapes.
One has heard of penetrating all powering lobbyism employed by people and organizations in countries such as USA, UK, France, Japan etc. One had always seen it at a distance. Now that one sees the monstrous face of it at the closest quarters, one shudders to think and face the consequences of its activities.
What is therefore Nira Radia? She runs a most powerful PR company in the country. She interfaces with the press, media, politician and government and among others, works on behalf of two most powerful industry houses of India. She lobbies to make ministers and break ministers, who directs the so called stalwarts of the press and leaders of chambers on what to write, what to do, what to speak, whom to recommend and the like. The arm of her company reaches out to the rulers and the opposition alike, to the bureaucrats and NGOs. She is capable of white washing some people and companies and darkening out opponent and their organizations. She was getting to be the most powerful, by attaining Godly powers to create and annihilate. Who is she, Radia the Devta, Radia the Durga or Radia the Kali? All said and done, she uses money to speak, bend and obey.
Thanks to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence having taped lots of her conversations with the powers that be, and all the more thanks to the leakages of the same through news media and websites, the common man today is preview to what is happening in the corridors of power. Now he knows that his beloved country is not moving in the right path and when he gets the stink of the corruption employed by these people, he knows that many people are bending the rules and making money without lifting a finger. He realises that hard work, efforts, truth and ethics have no value and the power brokers get away with murder in which ever form.
This is something that I dreaded. Lots of my post in the past had been on this subject.
Is it possible for man to live a decent life in this country, following its laws, rules and regulations? Can every Indian be trated the same in the eyes of law? Or do we need a supreme court every time to correct and direct the erring minsters, government and bureaucrats? How long and how far will the country go in the present manner? Where will it all end?
There can be no answers, I know. The only way is to keep praying and keep hoping for the best.
Mera Bharat Mahan………………………
It has been major embarrassment for USA, UK and many big nations. For whatever they had said and done (or not done), the leaders of these nations have lots of explanations and clean up to do, lot of angry faces to face and plenty of regrets to send.
Through Wikileaks, we have learnt the diplomatic wire confirmation that there is rampant corruption in Afghanistan; that the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a characterless character; that majority of Islamic nations of the world that follow the Sunni tradition is more scared of their Muslim Shia brother Iran than Israel because of Iran’s nuclear capabilities; that contrary to the assurances made to the world, Syria's government had maintained very close ties with Hezbollah group and many more similar information.
These leaks could weaken up the Pakistani leadership; it could slow down the anti-terrorism efforts of Yemen. Many nations and its leadership will not want to communicate with the Americans and most of the Europeans. Countries may think twice before handing over secrets to the big brother nations. From now on, information would be difficult to come by. It could create anti leadership feelings within the public of many nations. Thanks to WikiLeaks, many leaders could lose their next election.
So what do the big brother nations do? They are trying to silence the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange through cheap charges such as rape, coercion etc. What a pity?
By the way, who is this person Assange? This Australian is reputed to be an excellent computer network hacker. He is also a journalist, a writer, a self-styled Internet’s freedom fighter, a self-taught scientific genius, a friend of open and free software and so many things rolled into one. More than anything else, he considers himself as the founder and spokesperson of a web based organization that exposes the wrongs of the power that be. He fights for the suppressed and has adopted novel methods to bring to open, the super powers and their deeds, something that the powers that be never thought possible. Assange is also against the giant corporations that act as virtual nation states without accountability.
"The more secretive or unjust an organization is, the more leaks induce fear and paranoia in its leadership and planning coterie," Assange wrote. "Since unjust systems, by their nature, induce opponents, and in many places barely have the upper hand, mass leaking leaves them exquisitely vulnerable to those who seek to replace them with more open forms of governance." This is his philosophy too.
Has he done the world a favour or by the leaks, made the world affairs much more complicated? Who knows, but one thing is clear to me, if whatever he exposed is the truth, he has my vote.
That takes us to the local affair, La Radia tapes.
One has heard of penetrating all powering lobbyism employed by people and organizations in countries such as USA, UK, France, Japan etc. One had always seen it at a distance. Now that one sees the monstrous face of it at the closest quarters, one shudders to think and face the consequences of its activities.
What is therefore Nira Radia? She runs a most powerful PR company in the country. She interfaces with the press, media, politician and government and among others, works on behalf of two most powerful industry houses of India. She lobbies to make ministers and break ministers, who directs the so called stalwarts of the press and leaders of chambers on what to write, what to do, what to speak, whom to recommend and the like. The arm of her company reaches out to the rulers and the opposition alike, to the bureaucrats and NGOs. She is capable of white washing some people and companies and darkening out opponent and their organizations. She was getting to be the most powerful, by attaining Godly powers to create and annihilate. Who is she, Radia the Devta, Radia the Durga or Radia the Kali? All said and done, she uses money to speak, bend and obey.
Thanks to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence having taped lots of her conversations with the powers that be, and all the more thanks to the leakages of the same through news media and websites, the common man today is preview to what is happening in the corridors of power. Now he knows that his beloved country is not moving in the right path and when he gets the stink of the corruption employed by these people, he knows that many people are bending the rules and making money without lifting a finger. He realises that hard work, efforts, truth and ethics have no value and the power brokers get away with murder in which ever form.
This is something that I dreaded. Lots of my post in the past had been on this subject.
Is it possible for man to live a decent life in this country, following its laws, rules and regulations? Can every Indian be trated the same in the eyes of law? Or do we need a supreme court every time to correct and direct the erring minsters, government and bureaucrats? How long and how far will the country go in the present manner? Where will it all end?
There can be no answers, I know. The only way is to keep praying and keep hoping for the best.
Mera Bharat Mahan………………………
Thursday, December 2, 2010
AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
The subject of my post is “THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE”. A little unusual subject, this is. Once you read me full, I strongly feel that you will find it relevant.
You will see the line, THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE, in Bible in the New Testament under John, Chapter 8 Verse 32. Upon the question of his identity, to the Jews, Jesus uttered these words. The full sentence was; “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. It was his reassurance to an audience who doubted him.
In ancient India too, there was a very strong allegiance to truth. In BC 250, in Saranath, King Ashoka engraved these words on the Lion statue that he had erected. It said, SATYMEVA JAYATE, which meant ‘Truth alone Triumphs’. Today, for us Indians, it is our national motto.
All of us have heard of Mahatma Gandhi and his pursuit of truth. His autobiography is titled, MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH. For the father of the nation, only truth was the ultimate. He lived the life of truth and he gave us a strong value system, something very eternal, very sublime and very everlasting.
I am a Rotarian for the last 14 years. My association with the Rotary movement began just along with the beginning of my entrepreneurial days. What attracted me the best in Rotary was the 4 way test. And it said that in whatever things we think, say or do, please ask:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
What noble thought s indeed! I had never seen such a practical wisdom anywhere. But how many Rotarians had internalized these words and follow it in their thoughts, words or deeds?
Incidentally, it was Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor, Rotary International President in 1954-55, who coined the 4 way test. During a business crisis in 1932, he wrote the Four Way Test as described above. It was adopted as part of Rotary International in January of 1943.Actually he wrote these tenets when he was undergoing a crisis? He used the 4 way test to overcome his crisis.
Today whenever crisis comes to us, we set aside the truth and the ethics!
We now see lots of untruths around us. We see people, societies, companies, and groups indulging in acts and deeds that are far from the truth. Our aspirations, our ego and our greed are pushing us away from the truth. Many a time, we are forced to think, is there truth at all? We, therefore, feel that things have come to pass and truth is unnecessary.
But whenever things have come to pass, truth had prevailed and truth had triumphed. You have seen companies such as Enron, WorldCom, Satyam, Baring Bank, Lehman Brothers etc. withering away when there was no truth in their existence. We have seen many greedy organizations and individuals going down when they deserted the truth. Progress without truth is a mirage. Whatever you see in a mirage is unreal, it doesn’t exist and therefore, it is untruth.
Then, what is truth? Many of us tend to believe that whatever we perceive is truth. Is perception the truth? One’s perception is whatever one believes. This need not necessarily be what others see. You know the story of the definition of an elephant by a group of blind persons. One said elephant is a trunk, the other said it is a stump and the third said it is a tusk and so on. Perception is what you see and what you feel. Many times, perception is far from the truth. A rose flower to some would be the smell that it delivers; it would be the beauty of its color to someone. To a cat, it could be the thrones and for the bees, the rose flower may be the nectar it gives. So, the rose flower is many things to many beings. Each one’s perception of rose flower is different. So, what is the truth of a rose flower?
Great Western thinker Immanuel Kant said truth is whatever that is felt by a being about itself. So truth of a rose is what the rose feels about it. Simply said, truth is the DNA of the things. It is the core of whatever. It really needs some good understanding to understand the truth.
It is important for us to have a value system. It shows our character. Values lead us in our life. In addition to truth; ethics, morale, and other value systems such as love, compassion, charity, harmony, dharma, peace, happiness etc .give a purpose to life. People who lived their life with these value systems are everlastingly remembered. There are so many examples to show. Socrates, Lincoln, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, many wonderful, truthful leaders!
Let us come to leadership. Leadership has many attributes combined. Leadership can be defined by the excellence in you, it can also be the quality that you show and it is about the progress that you are capable of making. It is the mentoring, fostering and coaching that you are capable of. There are so many attributes to leadership. But more than any of the attributes mentioned above, Leadership depends largely on the attribute of principles. And it is the principles that make a true leader. Principles in you ensure that your name stays much beyond you going away from the face of earth. As in the case of Gandhi, Lincoln, Socrates and many like them.
That brings me to Mahabharata. At the end of the war the five brothers along with Draupadi decide to leave the mother earth. They take their walk towards eternity. They are followed by a dog. Yudhishtir saw one by one behind him falling. It was Draupadi first and then Sahadev, Nakul, Arjun then Bheem. Only he and the dog were left, and they reach a plane that was waiting to take them to heaven. When the dog was not allowed to emplane, Yudhishtir refuses to board the plane and soon the dog take the shape of Yama, the king of life. He asks Yudhistir three questions before he is allowed to board the plane. One question was, “what accompanies death”? And Yudhishtir replied,” it is the fame”.
Yes, it is the fame that accompanies a person’s death. Now it is up to us to find what fame we want to leave behind. Fame is called Prassidhi in Sanskrit. It is up to you to have Suprassidhi (Positive fame) or Kuprassidhi (Bad, negative fame).
The famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow, through his theory of the Hierarchy of Needs, gives us an excellent growth profile of every man. In the beginning, the man is only worried about subsistence and once that is taken care of, it is the security of life that he is bothered about. Once that is taken care of, it is his need of being part of a society and thereafter, he looks for recognitions and finally, every one of us comes to the need of self actualization. Self-actualization or atmasashatkaram, allows you to do what you always wanted to do. And enjoying whatever you do. It could be anything. It could be social service, it could be mentoring youngsters. It could be spirituality; it could be travelling…… whatever it is. It is what you enjoy. By doing so, you derive your bliss and e by virtue of it, your moksha.
And when we attain our moksha and leave the face of the earth, it is all about the fame that we leave behind. When others speak about it, even when we are not around, we would want them to speak good about us. And if that has to happen, we need to ensure that we lived a principle centered life in the earth, thru which we had added value to society, and left behind the fame.
Among all the qualities, the only quality that can give us the highest fame is TRUTH. And the truth allows us to attain our moksha that is all about setting us free.
And here is wishing you all that bliss, that moksha, thru the Truth.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A CRY FOR THEE, MY MOTHERLAND..........
I had posted earlier on how businessmen make direct connect with politicians and government by becoming Member of Parliament (MP) through the Rajya Sabha route. By doing so, they cut down the middlemen who used to operate in the scene earlier. After becoming the MP and after getting directly connected to the powers that be, how grossly they misuse their position as the Member of Parliament, to take care of their selfishness and greed. The 2G Spectrum scam is a great example, for you all to know.
A Raja, the minister of telecommunication, totally submitted himself to these men of greed and flouted all rules of the country and evaded the best advice, even coming from his Prime Minister, to blatantly accommodate these businessmen.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had now spilled the beans to show us the citizens, the extent of loss to the country’s exchequer. It could be anywhere between INR 60,000 Crores and 1,77,000 Crores, whopping figures indeed! The opposition touts this as the largest bribery scam of independent India.
The CAG cites that the biggest beneficiary of the scam is Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), headed by Anil Ambani, the second son of Dhirubhai Ambani, who himself had been a master manipulator of the government and its machinery, in his times. Like father, like son. Anil Bhai has to prove his lineage. So he found routes that are direct. He manipulated politicians to get himself nominated to the Rajyasabha so that he could be the closest to the power centres directly, so that he is preview to the country’s planning process at the drawing board level, to identify projects and schemes that are related to the industry that he is part of, well in advance. Dhirubhai must be smiling in his grave as his son outdid him. What more reason is needed for a dad to be proud of his children?
Most of the leading players in Telecom sector benefited with the help of minister Raja, the crook of a number one order. The majority of the bidders whose applications had been passed, did not have any experience or qualification to bid. Most of them were real estate companies. The story of Swan telecom using which ADAG manipulated the spectrum allocation in its favour and the way in which it got licence for combined dual technology (CDMA & GSM) operation well before government policy on it was framed, puts India to shame. Such was the blatant disregard this minister had shown to the rules and regulations of the country. Most of the bidders got the sanction at throwaway prices. Later, they all sold off this license to international companies at huge margins. There has been a flurry of collaborations, tie-ups and M&As in the Telecom Sector, post the allocation. This allowed Telenor, Etisalat, MTN etc. come to India. While the competitive scenario hotted up, the Country became pauper by lakhs of crores of Rupees!
One group that really lost out on the deal was the TATAs. Any company doing business by adhering to ethics and value system at this point in time is only expected to lose out and that is what happened to the TATAs. It is another matter that the group would make it out over a period of time. But on comparative note, it is indeed sad to see the leading business group of the country that had played immense role in the development of independent India , getting completely sidelined.
As a citizen of India, I feel distressed at the way in which things are happening in our country. Everyday we wake up to hear one scam or the other. The country is rocked by the CWG scam, the Adarsh Housing scam, The DoT scam, the Yediyurappa land gab scam and the like.
What is the point in saying that we have a clean Prime Minister? Right under his nose, look at the level of indulgences that are happening on a day to day scale! He is not able to take action on any of the perpetrators. They resign from the post for the time being only to surface again later. No one gets prosecuted for the heinous crime that they do against the nation.
All these talks of inclusivity will come into effect only when India becomes a clean nation. Looking at the way by which things are going on, I have my doubt that inclusivity is not going to be anywhere near.
However, let us keep hoping.
A Raja, the minister of telecommunication, totally submitted himself to these men of greed and flouted all rules of the country and evaded the best advice, even coming from his Prime Minister, to blatantly accommodate these businessmen.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had now spilled the beans to show us the citizens, the extent of loss to the country’s exchequer. It could be anywhere between INR 60,000 Crores and 1,77,000 Crores, whopping figures indeed! The opposition touts this as the largest bribery scam of independent India.
The CAG cites that the biggest beneficiary of the scam is Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), headed by Anil Ambani, the second son of Dhirubhai Ambani, who himself had been a master manipulator of the government and its machinery, in his times. Like father, like son. Anil Bhai has to prove his lineage. So he found routes that are direct. He manipulated politicians to get himself nominated to the Rajyasabha so that he could be the closest to the power centres directly, so that he is preview to the country’s planning process at the drawing board level, to identify projects and schemes that are related to the industry that he is part of, well in advance. Dhirubhai must be smiling in his grave as his son outdid him. What more reason is needed for a dad to be proud of his children?
Most of the leading players in Telecom sector benefited with the help of minister Raja, the crook of a number one order. The majority of the bidders whose applications had been passed, did not have any experience or qualification to bid. Most of them were real estate companies. The story of Swan telecom using which ADAG manipulated the spectrum allocation in its favour and the way in which it got licence for combined dual technology (CDMA & GSM) operation well before government policy on it was framed, puts India to shame. Such was the blatant disregard this minister had shown to the rules and regulations of the country. Most of the bidders got the sanction at throwaway prices. Later, they all sold off this license to international companies at huge margins. There has been a flurry of collaborations, tie-ups and M&As in the Telecom Sector, post the allocation. This allowed Telenor, Etisalat, MTN etc. come to India. While the competitive scenario hotted up, the Country became pauper by lakhs of crores of Rupees!
One group that really lost out on the deal was the TATAs. Any company doing business by adhering to ethics and value system at this point in time is only expected to lose out and that is what happened to the TATAs. It is another matter that the group would make it out over a period of time. But on comparative note, it is indeed sad to see the leading business group of the country that had played immense role in the development of independent India , getting completely sidelined.
As a citizen of India, I feel distressed at the way in which things are happening in our country. Everyday we wake up to hear one scam or the other. The country is rocked by the CWG scam, the Adarsh Housing scam, The DoT scam, the Yediyurappa land gab scam and the like.
What is the point in saying that we have a clean Prime Minister? Right under his nose, look at the level of indulgences that are happening on a day to day scale! He is not able to take action on any of the perpetrators. They resign from the post for the time being only to surface again later. No one gets prosecuted for the heinous crime that they do against the nation.
All these talks of inclusivity will come into effect only when India becomes a clean nation. Looking at the way by which things are going on, I have my doubt that inclusivity is not going to be anywhere near.
However, let us keep hoping.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
MUMBAI,MUMBAI.......
Nearly two years back, I posted a blog about Mumbai after having taken my family there to experience one of the largest Metropolises of the world. The action city of Mumbai has always been very fascinating, for the right and for the wrong reasons.
What comes to my mind whenever I hear of Mumbai is the title song in the old Akbar Khan movie (Hadsa), which goes something like this:
Eh Mumbai shahar, ek sundar Shahar hai
Yaham roz roz kahi mod mod par
Hota hai koi na koi
Hadsa, hadsa………
Translating the same in English, it reads:
This Mumbai city is a beautiful city
Here everyday, at some places
Something continues to occur
A new incident or a mishap…
One couldn’t agree more!
Mumbai is again in the news. President Barrack Obama had landed there yesterday. He, of course did all the right things to appease the Mumbai crowd. Visited the Taj Hotel where the 26/11 carnage took place, went to Mani Bhavan, the museum on Mahatma Gandhi, met with the industrialists to sign billion dollar deals for the business houses of his country whose chieftains had travelled with him to India, so on and so forth.
Day before yesterday, Mumbai Stock exchange celebrated the bullish high of crossing the Sensex mark of 20000 during the famed ’Diwali Trade’. Mumbai, the financial capital of India, would not have a better reason to rejoice.
A week back, the Adarsh Housing society scam exploded in the news in Mumbai shaking up the political bosses, not to mention the Military brasses. As a result, the Chief Minister is counting his days in the office and the Army Chief is sulking after returning the ownership documents of the flat to the Housing Society. Two or three former chiefs of Army and Navy have come into the news for ‘unnecessary’ reasons, as they say. The funny party is that the plundering and loot of government land and the defying of all building laws of the country, was to bring up private housing society named as ‘ADARH’ meaning IDEALS, the highest virtue that man can have!
As is said, Mumbai is a happening city. It is also a city very famous for crime. Most of the Indian mafias have its head quarters in Mumbai. Many of the Bollywood flicks had eulogised crime and made those villainish heroes the sweet darlings of the masses, worthy to be emulated. The city which is the engine of growth of the country, because of its loose social controls and due to the indifference and anonymity of its denizens, spew out many criminals. So congested is the place that lack of social and recreational support systems give births to many gangs of the underworld.
I had always seen Mumbai as a city of slums. And the shanties are only growing rapidly, to the extent, the Mumbai statistics shows that sixty percent of the population of Mumbai city live in slums and chawls! What a quality life that is……
Many historians and sociologists had termed India as a land of contrasts. Mumbai manifests this thought at the highest level. A city, where unequitable growth in wealth continues to flourish with the rich and the famous, the chasm between the rich and the poor is widening every day. Inclusivity is the last thing that can happen in Mumbai.
However, with all its contrasts and vagaries, the city continues to be a bewitching urban sprawl. To experience it, one has to be in Mumbai, to live it out. With all its ugliness, no mumbaikar would ever want to trade place with any other city of the country or the world.
And that is the charm of amchi Mumbai!
What comes to my mind whenever I hear of Mumbai is the title song in the old Akbar Khan movie (Hadsa), which goes something like this:
Eh Mumbai shahar, ek sundar Shahar hai
Yaham roz roz kahi mod mod par
Hota hai koi na koi
Hadsa, hadsa………
Translating the same in English, it reads:
This Mumbai city is a beautiful city
Here everyday, at some places
Something continues to occur
A new incident or a mishap…
One couldn’t agree more!
Mumbai is again in the news. President Barrack Obama had landed there yesterday. He, of course did all the right things to appease the Mumbai crowd. Visited the Taj Hotel where the 26/11 carnage took place, went to Mani Bhavan, the museum on Mahatma Gandhi, met with the industrialists to sign billion dollar deals for the business houses of his country whose chieftains had travelled with him to India, so on and so forth.
Day before yesterday, Mumbai Stock exchange celebrated the bullish high of crossing the Sensex mark of 20000 during the famed ’Diwali Trade’. Mumbai, the financial capital of India, would not have a better reason to rejoice.
A week back, the Adarsh Housing society scam exploded in the news in Mumbai shaking up the political bosses, not to mention the Military brasses. As a result, the Chief Minister is counting his days in the office and the Army Chief is sulking after returning the ownership documents of the flat to the Housing Society. Two or three former chiefs of Army and Navy have come into the news for ‘unnecessary’ reasons, as they say. The funny party is that the plundering and loot of government land and the defying of all building laws of the country, was to bring up private housing society named as ‘ADARH’ meaning IDEALS, the highest virtue that man can have!
As is said, Mumbai is a happening city. It is also a city very famous for crime. Most of the Indian mafias have its head quarters in Mumbai. Many of the Bollywood flicks had eulogised crime and made those villainish heroes the sweet darlings of the masses, worthy to be emulated. The city which is the engine of growth of the country, because of its loose social controls and due to the indifference and anonymity of its denizens, spew out many criminals. So congested is the place that lack of social and recreational support systems give births to many gangs of the underworld.
I had always seen Mumbai as a city of slums. And the shanties are only growing rapidly, to the extent, the Mumbai statistics shows that sixty percent of the population of Mumbai city live in slums and chawls! What a quality life that is……
Many historians and sociologists had termed India as a land of contrasts. Mumbai manifests this thought at the highest level. A city, where unequitable growth in wealth continues to flourish with the rich and the famous, the chasm between the rich and the poor is widening every day. Inclusivity is the last thing that can happen in Mumbai.
However, with all its contrasts and vagaries, the city continues to be a bewitching urban sprawl. To experience it, one has to be in Mumbai, to live it out. With all its ugliness, no mumbaikar would ever want to trade place with any other city of the country or the world.
And that is the charm of amchi Mumbai!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
INDIA - THE DYNASTIC DEMOCRACY
Recently, I had an opportunity to be with the former Chairman & Managing Director of FACT Ltd, one of the largest fertilizer manufacturing companies of the country, located at Cochin. We were together at the office of the Head of BPCL - Cochin Refineries, related to a function being organized by the Cochin Chapter of Indian Society of Training & development which I am chairing this year. At the reception of the corporate office of the Refineries, we saw a photograph of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, inaugurating the company. Seeing this, the former FACT CMD said that at his corporate office, there is an unique photograph of four Indian PMs in one snap, taken during the inauguration of FACT Ltd. Upon my checking up, he said it was Pandit Nehru, the first PM of India who inaugurated the Factory and on that occasion, he was accompanied by his daughter Indira Gandhi and grand son Rajiv Gandhi (both of whom became Indian Prime Minister later). Of course, the fourth person on the photograph was Lal Bahadur Shastry, who became PM after the demise of Nehru. Shastry was the Agricultural Minister then under whose purview came the fertilizer manufacturing.
This sets me thinking. We have had a father, daughter and grandson as our Prime Minster. And of course the fourth generation (Rahul Gandhi, son of Rajiv & Sonia Gandhi) is soon to take over. He is already being projected within and outside the Congress Party as the heir apparent. In fact, if he wanted, he could have become the Country’s PM during the beginning of this Lok Sabha in 2009, but he chose against it.
Though we have had other Prime Minsters (Except for A B Vajpai, other Such as VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narsingh Rao, Deva Gouda, Inder Gujral etc had very brief stints), Nehru & Indira Gandhi ruled India for the longest duration. Rajiv Gandhi was PM for only one term. He could have continued for more but the LTTE decided otherwise by assassinating him.
India is a country touted as the largest democracy in the world. But in this democracy, we have no problems in appointing father, daughter, grandson and great grand son as its Prime Ministers. Do we know of any other democracy which had done this in the world? For a country which holds one sixth of the population of the world, do we have dearth of personalities and leaders who could head our democratic system? Are there not better, credible leaders within Congress party and outside who could be groomed to take over? Why is it that we are so happy to have the same family rule the roost? How could India, a country which had hundreds of local kingdoms before the British took over, which had plethora of languages, varied geographical culture, with so many indigenous and outside caste and creed inside, still accept one family to control its democracy? So many questions pound my mind……..
One reason is the subservience mentality that the Indians display. He is happy to have a God father controlling him, be it the King, Queen, the head of the family or the Mafia Dada. Though so many monarchies had given way to democracy in the world, and with so many of the democracies display matured norms in its election process, Indians are yet to mature to start doing a kind of ‘stand alone’ independent thinking. It could also be that many Indians are yet to understand democracy and are still on the State/Raja/King as the ultimate accepted choice to rule over him. The ‘Raj’ mentality is yet to go away from our mind and thoughts, that is.
Secondly, with so many sects and sub sects of religion, caste, sub caste and their hierarchies strongly existing continuously, our political system does not want to upset the apple cart by having new upstarts to take over the polity. Though there are so many such upstarts coming up now as regional political parties based on the caste/geography/language hierarchical system, they are yet to get the country’s mandate. By retaining the same family to head our country, the Indians are trying to keep the status quo which they feel will not splinter the country. Good thought, I must accept.
Above all, our attitude is that of ‘chalta hai’. The average Indian is not unduly bothered if the family rules or regional parties rule. He has so many things to bother about, including his own very existence. He doesn’t have any time for indulging to think of maturing the democratic norm of the country. He has no interest to control things. He is happy to be what he is. For him, ‘sab chalta hai’.
On this thought, I rest the case!
This sets me thinking. We have had a father, daughter and grandson as our Prime Minster. And of course the fourth generation (Rahul Gandhi, son of Rajiv & Sonia Gandhi) is soon to take over. He is already being projected within and outside the Congress Party as the heir apparent. In fact, if he wanted, he could have become the Country’s PM during the beginning of this Lok Sabha in 2009, but he chose against it.
Though we have had other Prime Minsters (Except for A B Vajpai, other Such as VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narsingh Rao, Deva Gouda, Inder Gujral etc had very brief stints), Nehru & Indira Gandhi ruled India for the longest duration. Rajiv Gandhi was PM for only one term. He could have continued for more but the LTTE decided otherwise by assassinating him.
India is a country touted as the largest democracy in the world. But in this democracy, we have no problems in appointing father, daughter, grandson and great grand son as its Prime Ministers. Do we know of any other democracy which had done this in the world? For a country which holds one sixth of the population of the world, do we have dearth of personalities and leaders who could head our democratic system? Are there not better, credible leaders within Congress party and outside who could be groomed to take over? Why is it that we are so happy to have the same family rule the roost? How could India, a country which had hundreds of local kingdoms before the British took over, which had plethora of languages, varied geographical culture, with so many indigenous and outside caste and creed inside, still accept one family to control its democracy? So many questions pound my mind……..
One reason is the subservience mentality that the Indians display. He is happy to have a God father controlling him, be it the King, Queen, the head of the family or the Mafia Dada. Though so many monarchies had given way to democracy in the world, and with so many of the democracies display matured norms in its election process, Indians are yet to mature to start doing a kind of ‘stand alone’ independent thinking. It could also be that many Indians are yet to understand democracy and are still on the State/Raja/King as the ultimate accepted choice to rule over him. The ‘Raj’ mentality is yet to go away from our mind and thoughts, that is.
Secondly, with so many sects and sub sects of religion, caste, sub caste and their hierarchies strongly existing continuously, our political system does not want to upset the apple cart by having new upstarts to take over the polity. Though there are so many such upstarts coming up now as regional political parties based on the caste/geography/language hierarchical system, they are yet to get the country’s mandate. By retaining the same family to head our country, the Indians are trying to keep the status quo which they feel will not splinter the country. Good thought, I must accept.
Above all, our attitude is that of ‘chalta hai’. The average Indian is not unduly bothered if the family rules or regional parties rule. He has so many things to bother about, including his own very existence. He doesn’t have any time for indulging to think of maturing the democratic norm of the country. He has no interest to control things. He is happy to be what he is. For him, ‘sab chalta hai’.
On this thought, I rest the case!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
COMMONWEALTH GAMES (CWG) NEW DELHI 2010
And finally the CWG is on! It got inaugurated on the third of October jointly by The Prince of Wales, Charles (representing his mother, The Queen of England) and The President of India, Madam Pratibha Patil. My family and I sat through to watch the full inauguration on the TV. The organizers had worked hard to make the inaugural function colorful. To a large extend, they had succeeded in it.
CWG New Delhi 2010 has been the major news item for the last few months for all its negative (majority) and positive (Minimum) news. Probably, the good show at the inauguration will rub off some of the negatives. The smooth conduct of the games during the next fortnight would probably take away all the bad publicity that the organizers had been receiving from all quarters. Finally, everybody had been forced to involve in the project, the PM, the Council of Ministers, the Bureaucrats and the Army; in addition to the sports administrators who were originally handling the affairs.
As an Indian, I am happy that Indian could hold the Commonwealth games. It is after 28 years that an international sports extravaganza of complex nature is coming to the country. The only nation outside England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand who hosted CWG had been Malaysia. Slowly, Indian aspirations are coming to the fore. With this, maybe now India could aspire to hold the Olympics in the near future!
One of the Special Director Generals of the CWG, while presenting the games to an invited audience in Cochin months ago, had said about the opening ceremony of the games that the ceremony itself would be a INR 200 Crore function. Since then on, as a citizen of India, I had been feeling guilty of the lavish ceremonies being planned in the name of the prestige of the nation. Two hundred crore Rupees is too much of money. Spending the same on a single function is quite ostentatious, I felt. In a country where a substantial percentage of people are living below poverty line, with so many Indians going hungry every day, I felt it as criminal to throw away such huge amount of money. No doubt, CWG is a prestigious thing but does it call for spending this huge a sum for the inauguration? The function was akin to our rich politicians or corporate leaders spending lavish amount of black money for the marriage of their children.
There is also another side to the story. And that is about the rampant corruption that the organizers had been indulging during the makeup of CWG 2010. If the media reports were to be believed, more than fifty percent of the allocated amount had gone into the pockets of the organizers, middlemen and their cronies. Does that include the Chairman of the organizing Committee? Who knows?
With such rampant corruption and ostentatious spending, the question to ask is whether India really deserves to hold the CWG 2010. If we reduced the splendor of opening ceremony by half, would we have received flaks? Can you belive, it costs INR 40 crores to fill Helium in that floating platform!
It is not that growing India should not take up such projects. We must and we should show the world our capabilities. The only thought is whether we could get the projects done without cost overlay and without corruption and of course, by applying experience, wisdom and with cost optimization in mind. Many often, these things are camouflaged to amass wealth by the concerned. Only recently have we been reading about one Lait Modi and his rag to riches story through the IPL league. As India progresses, one is saddened to see the color and quantity of corruption also going up.
There must be accountability. Today, that is the last thing to come by in India. And so long as accountability takes the back seat, whatever we saw and heard about CWG, IPL etc would continue to happen.
And that indeed is very shameful for growing India!
CWG New Delhi 2010 has been the major news item for the last few months for all its negative (majority) and positive (Minimum) news. Probably, the good show at the inauguration will rub off some of the negatives. The smooth conduct of the games during the next fortnight would probably take away all the bad publicity that the organizers had been receiving from all quarters. Finally, everybody had been forced to involve in the project, the PM, the Council of Ministers, the Bureaucrats and the Army; in addition to the sports administrators who were originally handling the affairs.
As an Indian, I am happy that Indian could hold the Commonwealth games. It is after 28 years that an international sports extravaganza of complex nature is coming to the country. The only nation outside England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand who hosted CWG had been Malaysia. Slowly, Indian aspirations are coming to the fore. With this, maybe now India could aspire to hold the Olympics in the near future!
One of the Special Director Generals of the CWG, while presenting the games to an invited audience in Cochin months ago, had said about the opening ceremony of the games that the ceremony itself would be a INR 200 Crore function. Since then on, as a citizen of India, I had been feeling guilty of the lavish ceremonies being planned in the name of the prestige of the nation. Two hundred crore Rupees is too much of money. Spending the same on a single function is quite ostentatious, I felt. In a country where a substantial percentage of people are living below poverty line, with so many Indians going hungry every day, I felt it as criminal to throw away such huge amount of money. No doubt, CWG is a prestigious thing but does it call for spending this huge a sum for the inauguration? The function was akin to our rich politicians or corporate leaders spending lavish amount of black money for the marriage of their children.
There is also another side to the story. And that is about the rampant corruption that the organizers had been indulging during the makeup of CWG 2010. If the media reports were to be believed, more than fifty percent of the allocated amount had gone into the pockets of the organizers, middlemen and their cronies. Does that include the Chairman of the organizing Committee? Who knows?
With such rampant corruption and ostentatious spending, the question to ask is whether India really deserves to hold the CWG 2010. If we reduced the splendor of opening ceremony by half, would we have received flaks? Can you belive, it costs INR 40 crores to fill Helium in that floating platform!
It is not that growing India should not take up such projects. We must and we should show the world our capabilities. The only thought is whether we could get the projects done without cost overlay and without corruption and of course, by applying experience, wisdom and with cost optimization in mind. Many often, these things are camouflaged to amass wealth by the concerned. Only recently have we been reading about one Lait Modi and his rag to riches story through the IPL league. As India progresses, one is saddened to see the color and quantity of corruption also going up.
There must be accountability. Today, that is the last thing to come by in India. And so long as accountability takes the back seat, whatever we saw and heard about CWG, IPL etc would continue to happen.
And that indeed is very shameful for growing India!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
THE ANATOMY OF AN ENTREPRENEUR
While getting connected to an old business associate of mine who is an entrepreneur in US now, I happened to read his blog wherein he had recommended for reading a report of the Kauffman Foundation on entrepreneurship, Kansas city, Missouri, USA. Titled, The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur, it centers on the entrepreneur’s family background and motivations. Researched and prepared by Vivek Wadhwa, Associate Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Duke University and Senior Research Associate, Harvard Law School, Raj Aggarwal, Dean and Sullivan Professor, College of Business Administration, The University of Akron, Krisztina “Z” Holly, Executive Director, USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, University of Southern California and Alex Salkever, visiting Researcher, Masters of Engineering Management Program, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, the report through structured data, had given deep insights into entrepreneurs and their family back ground. I reproduce below the conclusions from the last page of the report:
“The core findings of this research are straightforward and contradict some prevailing stereotypes. In the industries we researched, entrepreneurs are more likely to come from a middle-class or upper lower- class background, and very few come from backgrounds of extreme wealth or extreme poverty. These entrepreneurs are usually well educated, with only 5 percent reporting having less than a bachelor’s degree. They also are likely to be better educated than their parents were, with half their fathers and a third of their mothers having at least bachelors’ degrees. They performed well in high school and in college, with the vast majority ranking average or above in their respective institutions. Entrepreneurs don't always come from families of entrepreneurs; slightly more than half of the samples were the first in their families to launch businesses. On average, entrepreneurs tend to be the middle child in a three-child household. They are significantly more likely to be married and have children when they launch their first businesses. Entrepreneurs are far more likely to have worked for an employer for more than six years than to have quickly launched their own businesses. Their primary motivations for launching a business are to build wealth, to own their own company, and to capitalize on a business idea they had. The findings perhaps provide some clues about what conditions might be helpful in supporting entrepreneurs and helping them become successful. Entrepreneurs typically are well-educated and experienced. In other words, they largely come from the existing workforce and not from college. They have ideas they want to commercialize, are motivated to build wealth, and like the idea of being their own bosses in a startup. These observations are based on initial analysis of the data. But these observations could perhaps be useful guideposts for the next round of inquiry that attempts to understand not only the background and broad motivations of entrepreneurs but also the deeper formative factors that influence this select and incredibly important class of individuals.”
A full report of the same can been viewed at http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedFiles/ResearchAndPolicy/TheStudyOfEntrepreneurship/Anatomy%20of%20Entre%20071309_FINAL.pdf
What I immediately did was a comparison of their findings with that of mine and almost 95% of my entrepreneurial odyssey matches with their findings. I felt it necessary to do this post with the executive summary of the Kauffman report so that it can motivate and guide young budding entrepreneurs. They could find the critical success factors from this report and plan their entrepreneurial journey accordingly.
Happy reading and all the very best?
“The core findings of this research are straightforward and contradict some prevailing stereotypes. In the industries we researched, entrepreneurs are more likely to come from a middle-class or upper lower- class background, and very few come from backgrounds of extreme wealth or extreme poverty. These entrepreneurs are usually well educated, with only 5 percent reporting having less than a bachelor’s degree. They also are likely to be better educated than their parents were, with half their fathers and a third of their mothers having at least bachelors’ degrees. They performed well in high school and in college, with the vast majority ranking average or above in their respective institutions. Entrepreneurs don't always come from families of entrepreneurs; slightly more than half of the samples were the first in their families to launch businesses. On average, entrepreneurs tend to be the middle child in a three-child household. They are significantly more likely to be married and have children when they launch their first businesses. Entrepreneurs are far more likely to have worked for an employer for more than six years than to have quickly launched their own businesses. Their primary motivations for launching a business are to build wealth, to own their own company, and to capitalize on a business idea they had. The findings perhaps provide some clues about what conditions might be helpful in supporting entrepreneurs and helping them become successful. Entrepreneurs typically are well-educated and experienced. In other words, they largely come from the existing workforce and not from college. They have ideas they want to commercialize, are motivated to build wealth, and like the idea of being their own bosses in a startup. These observations are based on initial analysis of the data. But these observations could perhaps be useful guideposts for the next round of inquiry that attempts to understand not only the background and broad motivations of entrepreneurs but also the deeper formative factors that influence this select and incredibly important class of individuals.”
A full report of the same can been viewed at http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedFiles/ResearchAndPolicy/TheStudyOfEntrepreneurship/Anatomy%20of%20Entre%20071309_FINAL.pdf
What I immediately did was a comparison of their findings with that of mine and almost 95% of my entrepreneurial odyssey matches with their findings. I felt it necessary to do this post with the executive summary of the Kauffman report so that it can motivate and guide young budding entrepreneurs. They could find the critical success factors from this report and plan their entrepreneurial journey accordingly.
Happy reading and all the very best?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
THE BUSINESSMEN POLITICIANS
Lately we see that many prominent businessmen had joined politics and had become elected members in Lok Sabha, Rajysabha etc. Names such as Anil Ambani, Vijay Mallya, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Suresh Kalmadi, Naveen Jindal are very prominent among them.
The question that one would like to ask is whether these personalities have joined politics and became MPs, MLAs etc to satisfy the last of the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need theory;viz. Self actualization? One would like to believe so. However the experience and observation of these people tell a different Story.
No doubt, Businessmen need to represent themselves in the parliament. They could lobby for the Industry and Commerce; they could share their experience and get an empathetical view of things on Industry and Commerce from the law makers. They could contribute their learning, experience and resources for the welfare of the country. There goes the list.
But is that what we see them do really? One is forced to think that these people are there only to further their own personal and business interests. Most of these people are not very service minded, nor are they very charity oriented. Mostly, the parliament has now become a place for these previleged people to share the plunder of the country. These businessmen by virtue of their abilities and resources can loot and plunder more. Needless to add that in Parliament, they can mend relationship with the political animals and by virtue of being the MP, they are privileged to get all information prior to anyone in the country, so much so that they could prepare their plunder/loot plans well before it becomes public.
Look at L’affaire de Kalamadi. If one believes the reports that have been appearing in the Media and Press, in the name of sports and games, he had been able to amass huge wealth for himself and for his cronies around!
None of these people had resigned from chairmanship of the companies that they own before becoming MPs and MLAs and they fully indulge in their business while getting the best of both worlds.
Our Prime Minister, while being a honest person is a lonely man indeed. In any case, he has no political base. He had become PM only because of the benevolence madam Sonia Gandhi, the powerful Chairperson of the Congress party (he shows his everlasting gratefulness to her at all times). Though he is the third longest serving PM of India, one hasn’t seen a meek Prime Minister as him. Though from time to time, he keeps on uttering inclusivity of all Indians in the affairs of the country, the sad fact is that the chasm between rich and Poor is only increasing. The total blame of the same must go to the country’s opportunistic politicians and the canny businessmen who use these guys for their betterment. What about the country and its people? Oh, they can go to hell, of course…
Most of the Sports organizations in India are either headed by wily politician or shrewd Businessmen. The nexus between them is so deep. What is the result? The country is yet to produce a gold medal winning athlete or take the top position in any of the popular games (Except for Cricket, but isn’t it a game played by only 12 commonwealth nations!)
How can Man Mohan Singh control and lead such cunning bunch of politicians and businessmen? He is simply not able to command their respect, particularly when the real power is not held by him in any case. All these look like a big tamasha. One is eternally grateful to the nature for holding the equilibrium of country in such a manner that nothing untoward happens to India.
What if it happens?
God save the country…………
The question that one would like to ask is whether these personalities have joined politics and became MPs, MLAs etc to satisfy the last of the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need theory;viz. Self actualization? One would like to believe so. However the experience and observation of these people tell a different Story.
No doubt, Businessmen need to represent themselves in the parliament. They could lobby for the Industry and Commerce; they could share their experience and get an empathetical view of things on Industry and Commerce from the law makers. They could contribute their learning, experience and resources for the welfare of the country. There goes the list.
But is that what we see them do really? One is forced to think that these people are there only to further their own personal and business interests. Most of these people are not very service minded, nor are they very charity oriented. Mostly, the parliament has now become a place for these previleged people to share the plunder of the country. These businessmen by virtue of their abilities and resources can loot and plunder more. Needless to add that in Parliament, they can mend relationship with the political animals and by virtue of being the MP, they are privileged to get all information prior to anyone in the country, so much so that they could prepare their plunder/loot plans well before it becomes public.
Look at L’affaire de Kalamadi. If one believes the reports that have been appearing in the Media and Press, in the name of sports and games, he had been able to amass huge wealth for himself and for his cronies around!
None of these people had resigned from chairmanship of the companies that they own before becoming MPs and MLAs and they fully indulge in their business while getting the best of both worlds.
Our Prime Minister, while being a honest person is a lonely man indeed. In any case, he has no political base. He had become PM only because of the benevolence madam Sonia Gandhi, the powerful Chairperson of the Congress party (he shows his everlasting gratefulness to her at all times). Though he is the third longest serving PM of India, one hasn’t seen a meek Prime Minister as him. Though from time to time, he keeps on uttering inclusivity of all Indians in the affairs of the country, the sad fact is that the chasm between rich and Poor is only increasing. The total blame of the same must go to the country’s opportunistic politicians and the canny businessmen who use these guys for their betterment. What about the country and its people? Oh, they can go to hell, of course…
Most of the Sports organizations in India are either headed by wily politician or shrewd Businessmen. The nexus between them is so deep. What is the result? The country is yet to produce a gold medal winning athlete or take the top position in any of the popular games (Except for Cricket, but isn’t it a game played by only 12 commonwealth nations!)
How can Man Mohan Singh control and lead such cunning bunch of politicians and businessmen? He is simply not able to command their respect, particularly when the real power is not held by him in any case. All these look like a big tamasha. One is eternally grateful to the nature for holding the equilibrium of country in such a manner that nothing untoward happens to India.
What if it happens?
God save the country…………
Monday, August 2, 2010
K M MATHEW
K M Mathew, Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama, the doyen in the field of Journalism, passed away at the ripe age of 93 in early morning of the 1st of August 2010. Respected by both friends and foes, he was a sincere newspaper editor and an astute business man. Under his leadership, Malayala Manorama grew multi fold, spreading its tentacles both at the vertical and horizontal space around it. His was a Midas touch, for whatever he started, grew into huge success.
I have had some interactions with him. When I was the Honorary Secretary of Kerala Management Association (KMA), we chose him for the KMA Management Leadership Award for the year 2001. I remember hearing from the Award Committee Chairman Mr. KT Chandy (Founder Director of IIM Calcutta & Former Director Hindustan Lever Limited) who was speaking very high of Mr. KM Mathew. “He excelled in all forms of Leadership, more so in man management” said Mr. Chandy. It is indeed true, in this extremely competitive journalism field, the loyalty displayed by Manorma employees is something exceptional. Only a true, selfless, considerate leader could rise to the level of commanding this organizational loyalty from its employees.
While receiving the award from the then Kerala Chief Minister Shri. A K Antony, he simply said that he did nothing but allowed people to work. He nostalgically remembered himself starting the career in Bomaby as a Balloon salesman (balloons were manufactured by his brother’s fid gelling company; Madras Rubber factory – Presently, the well Known MRF Ltd.) and the circumstances that lead him to come over to Kottayam to assist his Brother Mr. K M Cherian in the running of the Newspaper and later taking over the mantle in 1973, when his brother passed away. Yes, by simply allowing the people to work and by utilising their creativity, he grew the Malayala Manorama Group into a great newspaper empire. Heavy dose of application of technology gave the group unattainable leadership – It is known that Manorama group was the first Asian media company to have implemented SAP ERP solution, more than a decade back.
Later when I became the President of KMA, I requested him to be the Chairman of KMA’s Management Leadership Award Selection Committee for the year 2004, which he agreed. With the nominations in hand, along with the other committee members, I went to meet him at his office in Kottayam. Though we were to meet him at 9.30 AM, we could only reach his office 15 minutes late. I knew his reputation to be a person who keeps perfect time. To my apologies of delay, I remember receiving a minor chiding from him “yes it is always the traffic or the roads, but the fact is that you are late”. However he did not carry forward the irritation in to the job of evaluating the credentials of the candidates to choose an appropriate winner for that year.
In my interactions with him he came through as a simple, straight forward and considerate person. I found it difficult to take that he is the one who grew the enterprise many fold, because his attire and actions defied any businessman propositions. I realize now that perhaps his success was in keeping everything very simple. And being considerate must have attracted people towards him. In the simple attire of a white dhoti and Jubba, there existed a splendid human being whose discipline and work ethics must have invigorated the thousands around him to work hard and take the organization to still greater heights. And that indeed was his success.
Journalism, the mighty forth estate, is at the cross road today. The lure of visual electronic technology is very tempting. There are the challenges such as paid news etc. The specific agendas of the News barons in other forms of business are another greater challenge (Compare a News Editor having a diversified area of business interest, say, real estate!). In this melee the essence of people like KM Mathew is extremely significant. He was the Colossus in the field of Journalism. He maintained values and discipline. Five to six decades of legacy that he had created in the organization will stay put for ever, one is hopeful.
Here is final PRANAMS to him. May the noble soul rest in eternal peace.
I have had some interactions with him. When I was the Honorary Secretary of Kerala Management Association (KMA), we chose him for the KMA Management Leadership Award for the year 2001. I remember hearing from the Award Committee Chairman Mr. KT Chandy (Founder Director of IIM Calcutta & Former Director Hindustan Lever Limited) who was speaking very high of Mr. KM Mathew. “He excelled in all forms of Leadership, more so in man management” said Mr. Chandy. It is indeed true, in this extremely competitive journalism field, the loyalty displayed by Manorma employees is something exceptional. Only a true, selfless, considerate leader could rise to the level of commanding this organizational loyalty from its employees.
While receiving the award from the then Kerala Chief Minister Shri. A K Antony, he simply said that he did nothing but allowed people to work. He nostalgically remembered himself starting the career in Bomaby as a Balloon salesman (balloons were manufactured by his brother’s fid gelling company; Madras Rubber factory – Presently, the well Known MRF Ltd.) and the circumstances that lead him to come over to Kottayam to assist his Brother Mr. K M Cherian in the running of the Newspaper and later taking over the mantle in 1973, when his brother passed away. Yes, by simply allowing the people to work and by utilising their creativity, he grew the Malayala Manorama Group into a great newspaper empire. Heavy dose of application of technology gave the group unattainable leadership – It is known that Manorama group was the first Asian media company to have implemented SAP ERP solution, more than a decade back.
Later when I became the President of KMA, I requested him to be the Chairman of KMA’s Management Leadership Award Selection Committee for the year 2004, which he agreed. With the nominations in hand, along with the other committee members, I went to meet him at his office in Kottayam. Though we were to meet him at 9.30 AM, we could only reach his office 15 minutes late. I knew his reputation to be a person who keeps perfect time. To my apologies of delay, I remember receiving a minor chiding from him “yes it is always the traffic or the roads, but the fact is that you are late”. However he did not carry forward the irritation in to the job of evaluating the credentials of the candidates to choose an appropriate winner for that year.
In my interactions with him he came through as a simple, straight forward and considerate person. I found it difficult to take that he is the one who grew the enterprise many fold, because his attire and actions defied any businessman propositions. I realize now that perhaps his success was in keeping everything very simple. And being considerate must have attracted people towards him. In the simple attire of a white dhoti and Jubba, there existed a splendid human being whose discipline and work ethics must have invigorated the thousands around him to work hard and take the organization to still greater heights. And that indeed was his success.
Journalism, the mighty forth estate, is at the cross road today. The lure of visual electronic technology is very tempting. There are the challenges such as paid news etc. The specific agendas of the News barons in other forms of business are another greater challenge (Compare a News Editor having a diversified area of business interest, say, real estate!). In this melee the essence of people like KM Mathew is extremely significant. He was the Colossus in the field of Journalism. He maintained values and discipline. Five to six decades of legacy that he had created in the organization will stay put for ever, one is hopeful.
Here is final PRANAMS to him. May the noble soul rest in eternal peace.
Monday, July 12, 2010
WORLD CUP FOOTBALL 2010
The curtains came down for World cup Football 2010 with the finals played between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City, Johannesburg in South Africa. Spain won the match and became the World Champions for the first time. It is third time disappointment for Netherlands in the World cup football finals. An extra time goal almost at the very end of the match by Andres Iniesta sealed the fate of Holland in a match where physical supremacy took the lead over football skills. Holland had eight of its players booked for foul on the opponent, with one of them getting the red card. Without being partial or judgemental, while both teams had ample chances to win, one felt that Spain deserved to win the match as they were clearly the better of the two (in football terms) having kept the possession of ball with it for close to sixty percent of the time, through short passes.
Personally, though I did try several times, I just could not fully see the last matches of the day of the tournament for the whole season, except for the finals that got over yesterday. Starting right atthe middle of the night, to be fully awake for the next two to two and half hours had been an arduous task. However I could make it yesterday. Though the match did not rise to high level, it had its own charm as the finals.
Football had changed a lot. It had gone through various phases of its growth. From total football to percentage football to possession football, every edition of world cup sees a new avatar in the methodology of the way the game is played. One remembers, in the olden days, it was long passes that thrilled the audience. Thereafter, it was short passes and then short passes combining with high speed. The game had become quite defensive now with high percentage of mid field paly. Rather than attack, it is the counter attacks that yield more goals now. The fear of losing looks to be more paramount than the happiness of winning in the minds of players of the nations. In the whole match yesterday, there were no long shots tried at the goal by both parties. The goals looked more ‘opportunistic’ than power goals. Also, a team like Spain scores the minimal goals and then spends the rest of the time to defend it – all through its matches. Like in Tennis where touch play had given way to powerful and quick, serve and volley game (which one finds really boring), in football it is now the boring mid field oriented possession football. For people who are ageing, it may not give any happiness watching such games.
This edition of World cup finals saw the real end of Super teams and Super stars. Brazil, Italy, France, Argentina and Germany bit dust. Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Robinho, Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and Torres went away as nobodies. Youngsters came up to show their mark but did not rise to high level of excellence (Except may be, Muller, Villa & Suarez). Some countries made a mark in this edition and caught the imagination of the people around the World. (Ghana & Uruguay).
From players of the World cup 2010, my vote goes to Xavi of Spain (What an incredible playmaker!) and Forlan of Uruguay (for the never say die spirit and his ability to score from any angle). I am sure we will hear more about them in time to come.
The host country South Africa proved that in spite of all its problems of lawlessness, political upheavals within and poverty, it could conduct the highest universal spectacle of an event on the planet earth with the gaiety and élan that the show required. Full marks to them! The country of Spain proved that in spite of great internal rift between the regions inside it, the players of competing regions could play in unity as a well oiled machine. The coaches of Spain and Holland proved that you do not have to be high profile individuals but need brains to do the job.
Yes, despite all its shortcomings, Football is getting richer and richer, in every term (not only financial, that is).
I will say cheers to that!
Personally, though I did try several times, I just could not fully see the last matches of the day of the tournament for the whole season, except for the finals that got over yesterday. Starting right atthe middle of the night, to be fully awake for the next two to two and half hours had been an arduous task. However I could make it yesterday. Though the match did not rise to high level, it had its own charm as the finals.
Football had changed a lot. It had gone through various phases of its growth. From total football to percentage football to possession football, every edition of world cup sees a new avatar in the methodology of the way the game is played. One remembers, in the olden days, it was long passes that thrilled the audience. Thereafter, it was short passes and then short passes combining with high speed. The game had become quite defensive now with high percentage of mid field paly. Rather than attack, it is the counter attacks that yield more goals now. The fear of losing looks to be more paramount than the happiness of winning in the minds of players of the nations. In the whole match yesterday, there were no long shots tried at the goal by both parties. The goals looked more ‘opportunistic’ than power goals. Also, a team like Spain scores the minimal goals and then spends the rest of the time to defend it – all through its matches. Like in Tennis where touch play had given way to powerful and quick, serve and volley game (which one finds really boring), in football it is now the boring mid field oriented possession football. For people who are ageing, it may not give any happiness watching such games.
This edition of World cup finals saw the real end of Super teams and Super stars. Brazil, Italy, France, Argentina and Germany bit dust. Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Robinho, Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and Torres went away as nobodies. Youngsters came up to show their mark but did not rise to high level of excellence (Except may be, Muller, Villa & Suarez). Some countries made a mark in this edition and caught the imagination of the people around the World. (Ghana & Uruguay).
From players of the World cup 2010, my vote goes to Xavi of Spain (What an incredible playmaker!) and Forlan of Uruguay (for the never say die spirit and his ability to score from any angle). I am sure we will hear more about them in time to come.
The host country South Africa proved that in spite of all its problems of lawlessness, political upheavals within and poverty, it could conduct the highest universal spectacle of an event on the planet earth with the gaiety and élan that the show required. Full marks to them! The country of Spain proved that in spite of great internal rift between the regions inside it, the players of competing regions could play in unity as a well oiled machine. The coaches of Spain and Holland proved that you do not have to be high profile individuals but need brains to do the job.
Yes, despite all its shortcomings, Football is getting richer and richer, in every term (not only financial, that is).
I will say cheers to that!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT
A mini story
The just born baby girl was left in the cradle in front of the orphanage in early morning by someone. May be by an unwed mother or some relatives, who knows. Here, nobody asks……
As usual, the orphanage took care of the baby. Registered her in the books. Took her to the doctor and got the certificate. Gave her a name. She became part of it. Like in any orphanage……
As her luck would have it, within six months, a couple, a south Indian husband with a north Indian wife, issueless for more than ten years, adopted her, of course, through legal means. Her name was changed again as per the wishes of the couple. The man was an upcoming entrepreneur.
Years went by. The business boomed. The baby lived in full opulence with an ostentatious lifestyle, for, her dad had become the biggest industrialist in the country in the business vertical that he was in.
She did her schooling in Mayo School, the undergraduate studies London, and the MBA from the world’s top university in the US.
By then her dad’s company had grown on to become a transnational organization, spreading all over the world.
The baby, who was orphaned and destituted when born, went on to get listed by the leading world finance magazine as one of the topmost heiress of the companies of of the World……………
Yes, as luck would have it………
TEST YOUR STRENGTH
A mini story
On an evening, I was at the shop that sells most of duty paid imported stuff, to buy the blade cartridge for my shaving set. Just near me, I saw this lady, a fair one but with careless dressing. Her face said something, a sad look with a hazy expression. She way buying nylon rope and was checking with the salesman whether the rope is strong enough.
“Madam, you can even hang yourself in this. Will not break, very strong imported nylon,” the salesman reassured her.
Everyone in the shop had a hearty laugh at the comment of the salesman.
“Oh I see, It is that strong. Then give it to me” said the lady, who was indeed embarrassed.
We both went our ways after the purchase.
Three days later, while reading the local daily in the early morning, I saw a photo of a woman who died by hanging on the previous day. A strong tremor spread through my body. I wanted to vomit.
It was her………… The fair lady in the unkempt dress with a hazy sad look……………………………….
On an evening, I was at the shop that sells most of duty paid imported stuff, to buy the blade cartridge for my shaving set. Just near me, I saw this lady, a fair one but with careless dressing. Her face said something, a sad look with a hazy expression. She way buying nylon rope and was checking with the salesman whether the rope is strong enough.
“Madam, you can even hang yourself in this. Will not break, very strong imported nylon,” the salesman reassured her.
Everyone in the shop had a hearty laugh at the comment of the salesman.
“Oh I see, It is that strong. Then give it to me” said the lady, who was indeed embarrassed.
We both went our ways after the purchase.
Three days later, while reading the local daily in the early morning, I saw a photo of a woman who died by hanging on the previous day. A strong tremor spread through my body. I wanted to vomit.
It was her………… The fair lady in the unkempt dress with a hazy sad look……………………………….
Friday, June 11, 2010
AN EXPERIENCE OF A TRAIN JOURNEY
Day before yesterday while travelling between Cochin and Chennai by train, I came across this couple. They looked sufficiently old (to be in their seventies) but there was this aura of positivity around them. I saw them talking between each other on various people (it seems, about relatives). Though it was not prudent to listen to the conversation between people, inquisitiveness got the better of me and listen I did. In as much as the conversation that I overheard, I haven’t heard them speaking anything negative about people. I found it strange, as normally in such personal conversation about people, particularly by Malayalees, one always hears some comment about others that is not always positive, to say the least. I liked them instantly but did not get across to them as it was dinner and sleep time inside the train.
Next day morning I did have an opportunity to talk to the couple. It was one Mrs. & Mr. Simon, Malayalees, originally from Kunnamkulam, Trichur but settled in Chennai. They went to Kottayam to attend the marriage of the son of Mr. Simon’s younger sister. Some references to Kunnamkulam warmed up Mr. Simon to me and we talked.
Mr. Simon is an Engineer who had worked both in India (Chennai) and Sharjah, UAE. He has two daughters, one a doctorate in Biochemistry and the other, a Teacher by qualification. Both are employed in UAE where they stay with their husbands, who are also well employed. Two of their grand children are in Chennai studying for Engineering while staying at the hostel and they visit the Simons on every week end.
Mr Simon is about seventy Five years old and Mrs. Simon, two years his junior. They are in Chennai for close to half a century staying in the same apartment but on rental. Mr. Simon looked always in control of situation. Asked why he didn’t build a home his answer was simple. Having two daughters, he didn’t deem it fit to build a house. If he had a son, he would have done so. Being daughters, giving them a house is unnecessary, as girls would go away to husband’s home. Whatever saving he has, would go to them eventually. He is very happy to stay continuously in the rented apartment particularly because his land lord was very co-operative and didn’t want them to move out.
I was surprised to see him working still. He works as an engineer consultant to 5 hospitals looking after the instrumentation in the hospitals. It is his responsibility to keep the hospital equipments, particularly testing and monitoring instruments in proper working condition. He works for 3 hours in one hospital per day. He earns sufficiently to make a living and still drives the car to work. He says he is very happy. He doesn’t want to disturb anyone and do not want anyone to disturb him either! Life is peaceful for him and he is yet to be troubled by any major geriatric diseases.
Mrs. Simon on the other hand is a diabetic. She has other troubles of Blood Pressure, Joint pains etc and takes plenty of medicines everyday. Things are generally under control but with occasional bouts of illness, sometimes necessitating hospitalisation. She had been a home maker throughout and is happy and contented. Children are well settled. Life went as per their plan and what more can she ask for? God has been kind. She reads her Bible everyday, goes to Church every Sunday and keeps writing something or the other on Bible thoughts, only for her own consumption.
Mrs Simon was more talkative that Mr. Simon. “One day soon, we will go away. We have no regrets. God was good to us” was her parting statement. When the train reached Chennai, I helped them alight. Mr. Simon shook hand and they went away. We never exchanged any addresses or phone number but simply were happy to have met each other and talked. We may or may not meet again; as nothing is sure in this world.
I was very impressed by their attitude to life, their independence, their positivity and of course, their non-complaining nature. In this materialistic world where people are never satisfied with whatever they had earned, here is a couple with such a value system being happy about whatever they had achieved.
No wonder nature had been extremely kind to them and let them live their life with happiness intact.
I was very happy. It was a good, simple learning. May God be with them…
Next day morning I did have an opportunity to talk to the couple. It was one Mrs. & Mr. Simon, Malayalees, originally from Kunnamkulam, Trichur but settled in Chennai. They went to Kottayam to attend the marriage of the son of Mr. Simon’s younger sister. Some references to Kunnamkulam warmed up Mr. Simon to me and we talked.
Mr. Simon is an Engineer who had worked both in India (Chennai) and Sharjah, UAE. He has two daughters, one a doctorate in Biochemistry and the other, a Teacher by qualification. Both are employed in UAE where they stay with their husbands, who are also well employed. Two of their grand children are in Chennai studying for Engineering while staying at the hostel and they visit the Simons on every week end.
Mr Simon is about seventy Five years old and Mrs. Simon, two years his junior. They are in Chennai for close to half a century staying in the same apartment but on rental. Mr. Simon looked always in control of situation. Asked why he didn’t build a home his answer was simple. Having two daughters, he didn’t deem it fit to build a house. If he had a son, he would have done so. Being daughters, giving them a house is unnecessary, as girls would go away to husband’s home. Whatever saving he has, would go to them eventually. He is very happy to stay continuously in the rented apartment particularly because his land lord was very co-operative and didn’t want them to move out.
I was surprised to see him working still. He works as an engineer consultant to 5 hospitals looking after the instrumentation in the hospitals. It is his responsibility to keep the hospital equipments, particularly testing and monitoring instruments in proper working condition. He works for 3 hours in one hospital per day. He earns sufficiently to make a living and still drives the car to work. He says he is very happy. He doesn’t want to disturb anyone and do not want anyone to disturb him either! Life is peaceful for him and he is yet to be troubled by any major geriatric diseases.
Mrs. Simon on the other hand is a diabetic. She has other troubles of Blood Pressure, Joint pains etc and takes plenty of medicines everyday. Things are generally under control but with occasional bouts of illness, sometimes necessitating hospitalisation. She had been a home maker throughout and is happy and contented. Children are well settled. Life went as per their plan and what more can she ask for? God has been kind. She reads her Bible everyday, goes to Church every Sunday and keeps writing something or the other on Bible thoughts, only for her own consumption.
Mrs Simon was more talkative that Mr. Simon. “One day soon, we will go away. We have no regrets. God was good to us” was her parting statement. When the train reached Chennai, I helped them alight. Mr. Simon shook hand and they went away. We never exchanged any addresses or phone number but simply were happy to have met each other and talked. We may or may not meet again; as nothing is sure in this world.
I was very impressed by their attitude to life, their independence, their positivity and of course, their non-complaining nature. In this materialistic world where people are never satisfied with whatever they had earned, here is a couple with such a value system being happy about whatever they had achieved.
No wonder nature had been extremely kind to them and let them live their life with happiness intact.
I was very happy. It was a good, simple learning. May God be with them…
Thursday, June 10, 2010
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
And finally the Bhopal gas tragedy case came to a verdict. After some 28 years of trial and after some 18 judges presiding over it, one after the other. Mind you, this is only a lower court. All the accused are big and powerful enough to appeal against it and probably capable of influencing the judgement at the higher courts or at least prolong the case in the higher courts for another quarter century. By then, all the accused would be dead and gone! What a speed at which justice get delivered in our country! Looking at it, It was very evident, as way back in 1994, the Supreme court was involved in diluting the case by registering it under reduced charges of Section 304 A of IPC instead of Section 304.
Now coming to the sentence. For killings thousands of innocent people overnight and for deforming another ten of thousands later, the accused had been sentenced for TWO years. Glory be for Indian justice!
Touted as the biggest industrial disaster of the last century, that had happened due to the absolute callousness of the management of the company; Union Carbide Ltd, that made many families lose its breadwinners and the near and dear in Bhopal, this sentence underwrites the power of money and muscle in Indian Polity. It is found on investigation that the tragedy was waiting to happen for year as the safety standards of storing the killer Methyl Iso Cynite gas (MIC) was absolutely below par.
The Worldwide Chairman of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson went out scot-free from India when he visited the country soon after the tragedy. His name was not in the accused list and it never figured anywhere in the verdict. The Indian Chairman of the company Keshub Chandra Mahindra and Vice Chairman Gokhale got the lightest sentence possible of two years and so was the case of another six senior managers of the company. Thus, the verdict of the tragedy finally whimpered off. And the MNC practically came out unscathed by paying paltry compensation to the victims (another matter, if it ever reached them?) for having caused the damage, much to the chagrin of the victims concerned.
Public memory is normally very short. However in this case it wasn’t that short. So many agitations, representations, complaints and sit-ins had happened in this case across Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and the rest of the country. But what is the result? Money and Muscle power won, eventually.
Some left and other political parties raised hue and cry after the judgement, but even that was half hearted. Looking at it, one can understand as to how deep money would have gone into to silence the political parties, whether left, right or centre.
Whether they empathise with the victims or not, the verdict had now become just another sensational story for the media, particularly the electronic one. We now see statements from former bureaucrats, officials and ministerial authorities on how Warren Anderson got scot-free and on how Ministry of External Affairs decided not to seek his extradition from United States etc. There will be some more breaking news, debates and accusations before everything get forgotten, soon.
And proudly we say, ‘equal justice for all’ which is guaranteed by our constitution. How many politicians and industrialist had gone behind bars so far in India for the heinous crimes that had committed?
You don’t even need to count your finger tip!
None, practically……………
Now coming to the sentence. For killings thousands of innocent people overnight and for deforming another ten of thousands later, the accused had been sentenced for TWO years. Glory be for Indian justice!
Touted as the biggest industrial disaster of the last century, that had happened due to the absolute callousness of the management of the company; Union Carbide Ltd, that made many families lose its breadwinners and the near and dear in Bhopal, this sentence underwrites the power of money and muscle in Indian Polity. It is found on investigation that the tragedy was waiting to happen for year as the safety standards of storing the killer Methyl Iso Cynite gas (MIC) was absolutely below par.
The Worldwide Chairman of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson went out scot-free from India when he visited the country soon after the tragedy. His name was not in the accused list and it never figured anywhere in the verdict. The Indian Chairman of the company Keshub Chandra Mahindra and Vice Chairman Gokhale got the lightest sentence possible of two years and so was the case of another six senior managers of the company. Thus, the verdict of the tragedy finally whimpered off. And the MNC practically came out unscathed by paying paltry compensation to the victims (another matter, if it ever reached them?) for having caused the damage, much to the chagrin of the victims concerned.
Public memory is normally very short. However in this case it wasn’t that short. So many agitations, representations, complaints and sit-ins had happened in this case across Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and the rest of the country. But what is the result? Money and Muscle power won, eventually.
Some left and other political parties raised hue and cry after the judgement, but even that was half hearted. Looking at it, one can understand as to how deep money would have gone into to silence the political parties, whether left, right or centre.
Whether they empathise with the victims or not, the verdict had now become just another sensational story for the media, particularly the electronic one. We now see statements from former bureaucrats, officials and ministerial authorities on how Warren Anderson got scot-free and on how Ministry of External Affairs decided not to seek his extradition from United States etc. There will be some more breaking news, debates and accusations before everything get forgotten, soon.
And proudly we say, ‘equal justice for all’ which is guaranteed by our constitution. How many politicians and industrialist had gone behind bars so far in India for the heinous crimes that had committed?
You don’t even need to count your finger tip!
None, practically……………
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
THOUGHTS AROUND THE C E R N EXPERIMENT
The Scientists at CERN are back at it again. The Hadron Collider has been repaired to resume the experiment. Yes, to know more of the beginning of the universe. To simulate the Big Bang and to understand what all happened post big bang, including beginning of life, to understand matter and antimatter, understanding the unification of waves and particles…. So many intricacies can come to light.
There are many sets of belief about the genesis of the world. Major religions ascribe that the earth is only around 10,000 years old and God created Life in it where as the big bang theory postulates that it happened eons ago (some thirteen billion years at that!). The findings of CERN can question the religious beliefs with much more authenticity and proof. How faith and science can co-exist with minimum level of understanding, will be a question that one seriously asks.
Inspite of so much of explorations and investigations, we are yet to find a planet or a Galaxy where some form of life exists. The more we try to know about the origin of life, the more intriguing it becomes. The dividing line between science and philosophy vanishes at some point. Things become very hazy and confusing on what is right and what is not. Science more or less stops there and philosophy takes over. The CERN experiments will move the cause of science forward. How far? Difficult to predict but one thing is sure, there will be more clarity.
The VEDAs says that before genesis (srushti), there was nothing, No earth, no water, no air, no atmosphere, no nothing…. Then it all starts (the big bang?), Light (agni) comes, then water, single cell life, then multi cellular small beings. Then there is the ‘dashavatara’. First the fish, then the amphibian, then the strong animal, then the man animal, then the small man, thereafter the strong man, then the refined (cultured) man, then the God man so on…
Something similar is said and predicted by Aurobindo Ghosh. He called the new being as supra mental beings, a being which will put all the intelligence and the technologies together into it. A cyborg sort of a being, with very high intelligence that can communicate huge input in relatively small time frame, swiftly. Looking back at the evolution, there is a possibility for all these to happen. And, there is miles to go……. And eons to go.
There is this theory of Adwaita, a situation of no two ness but oneness. All into one. Everything will go into one. The God and his prajas (his creations) unite, man and woman unite, matter and antimatter unite, wave and particle unite, and everything will converge into the oneness. Into the bindu, the dot - he smallest of thing that one can visualize. Everything will go into it. Then it will be Shunyata! Sheer nothingness, simple vacuum……..
Then, it will start all over again, the dot will burst. Another Big bang, another universe, another form of life. Its manifestation in multitudes……
The creation and destruction thus, will continue….. Eternally.
Famous Malayalam poet, Ulloor Parmeshwara Iyer wrote;
“Anantam ajnatam avarnaneeyam, ee lokagolam tiriyunna margam
Atingelangandoridatirunnu nokkunna martyan kathayenthu kandu?”
(Infinite, unknown, indescribable is the way the world moves. To what extent can the man, who is sitting on a far of corner of it, understand the story?)
Is it the truth or Illusion….. Who knows?
There are many sets of belief about the genesis of the world. Major religions ascribe that the earth is only around 10,000 years old and God created Life in it where as the big bang theory postulates that it happened eons ago (some thirteen billion years at that!). The findings of CERN can question the religious beliefs with much more authenticity and proof. How faith and science can co-exist with minimum level of understanding, will be a question that one seriously asks.
Inspite of so much of explorations and investigations, we are yet to find a planet or a Galaxy where some form of life exists. The more we try to know about the origin of life, the more intriguing it becomes. The dividing line between science and philosophy vanishes at some point. Things become very hazy and confusing on what is right and what is not. Science more or less stops there and philosophy takes over. The CERN experiments will move the cause of science forward. How far? Difficult to predict but one thing is sure, there will be more clarity.
The VEDAs says that before genesis (srushti), there was nothing, No earth, no water, no air, no atmosphere, no nothing…. Then it all starts (the big bang?), Light (agni) comes, then water, single cell life, then multi cellular small beings. Then there is the ‘dashavatara’. First the fish, then the amphibian, then the strong animal, then the man animal, then the small man, thereafter the strong man, then the refined (cultured) man, then the God man so on…
Something similar is said and predicted by Aurobindo Ghosh. He called the new being as supra mental beings, a being which will put all the intelligence and the technologies together into it. A cyborg sort of a being, with very high intelligence that can communicate huge input in relatively small time frame, swiftly. Looking back at the evolution, there is a possibility for all these to happen. And, there is miles to go……. And eons to go.
There is this theory of Adwaita, a situation of no two ness but oneness. All into one. Everything will go into one. The God and his prajas (his creations) unite, man and woman unite, matter and antimatter unite, wave and particle unite, and everything will converge into the oneness. Into the bindu, the dot - he smallest of thing that one can visualize. Everything will go into it. Then it will be Shunyata! Sheer nothingness, simple vacuum……..
Then, it will start all over again, the dot will burst. Another Big bang, another universe, another form of life. Its manifestation in multitudes……
The creation and destruction thus, will continue….. Eternally.
Famous Malayalam poet, Ulloor Parmeshwara Iyer wrote;
“Anantam ajnatam avarnaneeyam, ee lokagolam tiriyunna margam
Atingelangandoridatirunnu nokkunna martyan kathayenthu kandu?”
(Infinite, unknown, indescribable is the way the world moves. To what extent can the man, who is sitting on a far of corner of it, understand the story?)
Is it the truth or Illusion….. Who knows?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
ACTION REACTION
Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Though he meant it the realms of physical science, I am more inclined to think that this is very true in metaphysical terms too.
Many philosophies stress on the theory of Karma. Karma is the basis of all results, that is. One’s own action or attitude manifests in a way the universe reacts to it. I call it action-reaction. In the olden times the reaction used to take time. Things are much swifter these days, going well with the nanosecond times of the present.
I would like to list some cases to bring the point home:
Let me take you all back to times when India produced a Miss Universe and Miss World the same year. It is said that Miss Universe has a better edge than Miss World in the global rating. The candidates to these pageants are selected thru the Femina Miss India contest. In the last round of the same, Sushmita Sen outwitted Aishwarya to win the Miss India Crown; this facilitated her to contest Miss Universe title and relegated Aishwarya Rai to the Miss World pageant. Throughout the Miss Femina contest, which is long drawn process of grooming the girls, everyone associated with it had decided that it would be Aishwarya who would win the title. In the end it turned out to be Sushmita. How come? It was said that throughout the Miss Femina grooming process, Aishwarya held an attitude of disdain on the fellow contestants and showed cocksureness of winning the title. The universes around it did not like the attitude of Aishwarya and lo, she lost the Miss India Crown.
I had already made a post here earlier on Tiger Wood, the legendary Golfer. It is a typical case of action reaction. For quiet some time, he had been cheating his wife and had been having affairs with many girls. He had an attitude of invincibility about whatever he was doing, morally wrong though. The universe didn’t like it and, you all know, he practically lost his family.
I recall an action reaction that had occurred to me, in a positive way. Having scored close to ninety percent marks in CBSE plus two, my daughter earned to study in Stella Maris college at Chennai. We attended their interview call but due to whatever reason, did not make it to the first list. The marks were more than sufficient and she had attended the interview well but alas, she didn’t make the cut. I was with her there and was quiet shocked of the results. I stayed back to see what could be done to get admission for my daughter in this prestigious college. As I was standing on the premises the next day full of disappointment, I got a call from a friend at Kottayam thanking me for the help rendered to his niece to get her an admission to the YWCA hostel in Cochin. Ten minutes later, we were called by the admission office asking us to enrol. What a pleasant action reaction!…..
I have a close friend who had now settled at Cochin after living out side Kerala and India for long. Though they are well meaning people, my friends wife has some unexplainable traits hovering around confusion, non acceptance combined with a persecution complex. That has been bringing quiet a bit of tumultuousness to her life. However, she still has not realized the necessity of changing this attitude and later went into heavy physical distress too that came in the form of skin allergy. She is still fighting it.
A very senior person that I know for a long time, an accomplished one, both in work and professional front, recently landed in a major career mess up that had resulted in him resigning the job and getting lots of negative publicity. While I have high respects for him I have not been very comfortable with his attitude of ego and mistrust of people. The reaction of the universe could be pretty terse too. He may have to do years of mending before he gets back to normal level of living, socially and professionally.
I have been a recipient of many actions reactions that the universe had bestowed on me. It had been both positive and negative. Whenever I had dwelt on it to understand it, the learning had been very solid. With change management properties, one took the message and worked on removing the attitude or undo the actions that were done. I had several times seen positively changed results.
Let us complete this with an exercise which I will leave as a home work for the reader.
The very famous Amitabh Bachchan, who was elected as the actor of twentieth century, legend of his times, revered and liked by people, particularly Indians, all over the world is also a person who had undergone highest levels of tragedies and difficulties in his life. By the simple theory of action reaction, will you be able to decipher as to why he underwent all these tests in his life?
Yes, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction and these days the reactions are pretty instant. Cheers!
Many philosophies stress on the theory of Karma. Karma is the basis of all results, that is. One’s own action or attitude manifests in a way the universe reacts to it. I call it action-reaction. In the olden times the reaction used to take time. Things are much swifter these days, going well with the nanosecond times of the present.
I would like to list some cases to bring the point home:
Let me take you all back to times when India produced a Miss Universe and Miss World the same year. It is said that Miss Universe has a better edge than Miss World in the global rating. The candidates to these pageants are selected thru the Femina Miss India contest. In the last round of the same, Sushmita Sen outwitted Aishwarya to win the Miss India Crown; this facilitated her to contest Miss Universe title and relegated Aishwarya Rai to the Miss World pageant. Throughout the Miss Femina contest, which is long drawn process of grooming the girls, everyone associated with it had decided that it would be Aishwarya who would win the title. In the end it turned out to be Sushmita. How come? It was said that throughout the Miss Femina grooming process, Aishwarya held an attitude of disdain on the fellow contestants and showed cocksureness of winning the title. The universes around it did not like the attitude of Aishwarya and lo, she lost the Miss India Crown.
I had already made a post here earlier on Tiger Wood, the legendary Golfer. It is a typical case of action reaction. For quiet some time, he had been cheating his wife and had been having affairs with many girls. He had an attitude of invincibility about whatever he was doing, morally wrong though. The universe didn’t like it and, you all know, he practically lost his family.
I recall an action reaction that had occurred to me, in a positive way. Having scored close to ninety percent marks in CBSE plus two, my daughter earned to study in Stella Maris college at Chennai. We attended their interview call but due to whatever reason, did not make it to the first list. The marks were more than sufficient and she had attended the interview well but alas, she didn’t make the cut. I was with her there and was quiet shocked of the results. I stayed back to see what could be done to get admission for my daughter in this prestigious college. As I was standing on the premises the next day full of disappointment, I got a call from a friend at Kottayam thanking me for the help rendered to his niece to get her an admission to the YWCA hostel in Cochin. Ten minutes later, we were called by the admission office asking us to enrol. What a pleasant action reaction!…..
I have a close friend who had now settled at Cochin after living out side Kerala and India for long. Though they are well meaning people, my friends wife has some unexplainable traits hovering around confusion, non acceptance combined with a persecution complex. That has been bringing quiet a bit of tumultuousness to her life. However, she still has not realized the necessity of changing this attitude and later went into heavy physical distress too that came in the form of skin allergy. She is still fighting it.
A very senior person that I know for a long time, an accomplished one, both in work and professional front, recently landed in a major career mess up that had resulted in him resigning the job and getting lots of negative publicity. While I have high respects for him I have not been very comfortable with his attitude of ego and mistrust of people. The reaction of the universe could be pretty terse too. He may have to do years of mending before he gets back to normal level of living, socially and professionally.
I have been a recipient of many actions reactions that the universe had bestowed on me. It had been both positive and negative. Whenever I had dwelt on it to understand it, the learning had been very solid. With change management properties, one took the message and worked on removing the attitude or undo the actions that were done. I had several times seen positively changed results.
Let us complete this with an exercise which I will leave as a home work for the reader.
The very famous Amitabh Bachchan, who was elected as the actor of twentieth century, legend of his times, revered and liked by people, particularly Indians, all over the world is also a person who had undergone highest levels of tragedies and difficulties in his life. By the simple theory of action reaction, will you be able to decipher as to why he underwent all these tests in his life?
Yes, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction and these days the reactions are pretty instant. Cheers!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
THE U.S. HEALTHCARE REFORMS BILL – A HISTORIC LANDMARK
Though he had been facing a plummeting popularity amongst his countrymen and though he had not been able to carry the entire political spectrum of US along with him, President Barack Obama had achieved what he had set out to during his election campaign. He could get the US Health Reforms Bill passed by the houses of American Parliament. This is a great achievement! He had succeeded where many high profile Presidents of the past had failed. The most significant aspect of the bill is that more than 32 million poor Americans, who were not part of the health insurance coverage, either due to their incapability to pay the hefty insurance premiums or not able to comply with the conditions laid out by the American insurance companies; will now come into the coverage, thru subsidy of the state. Additionally, children will get covered for health insurance with their parents until the age of 26 years. There are many more provisions in the bill, but suffice to say that this is a landmark decision.
It had always baffled the world on how American health system came to be this complicated. As the most developed nation of the world, one expected health for all for American, without it is being completely dictated by agenda centric Insurance companies. There are very good examples of better health policy for citizen in United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries. The fact is that in the US, money swallowed health. Being a cruel capital economy, money came to control things such as health, social welfare etc. And then, there has not been any escape from the ‘chakravyuh’ created by the money power, despite the best try by well meaning leaders of the past. This is where the efforts of President Obama must get lauded. He knew that things were not going the way he planned. He had so much of opposition from his own party Senators – more than thirty of them!- The entire Republicans stood against the bill. (He thought he could convince many of them but failed). The usual tactics of bringing fear and racialism into the public was adopted by the opposition. Historic events such as “Tea Party’ etc was organised y the opposition to defeat the bill. In spite all strong opposition, President Barack Obama carried the bill through, yes, with some cuts here and some chopping there. A significant achievement indeed!
As one watches the United States of America From a distance, one cannot but feel uncomfortable of the fact on how thoughtless had been the US citizens. It looks like a majority of them had lost the ability to think rationally and had gone under the impact of emotions created purposely by politicians who only stood for commercial establishments with strong money and muscle power. The power of discrimination had left the Americans totally, lest how could the nation not look at the merit of the bill and help passing it in unison than being a deeply divided nation?
One feels that long ago, the Americans had lost the sense of objectivity. As a very self centred nation, subsequent to 9/11, the emotion of fear played a significant part in average American’s life. Emotion indeed takes away objectivity. Lately, even the sense of fairness had deserted them. They had started going into the cocoon than opening up to understand the reality around them. So long as they stay put in the cocoon, there is no escape. In the meantime, nations that have a sense of reality and that try to progress through the challenges of facing reality, will come into the forefront. What we see in China and India is this progress through the sense of reality.
The fact is very simple, if you don’t understand what it is, there is no way you can take up the challenge related to it. It is time the Americans realized this….
It had always baffled the world on how American health system came to be this complicated. As the most developed nation of the world, one expected health for all for American, without it is being completely dictated by agenda centric Insurance companies. There are very good examples of better health policy for citizen in United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries. The fact is that in the US, money swallowed health. Being a cruel capital economy, money came to control things such as health, social welfare etc. And then, there has not been any escape from the ‘chakravyuh’ created by the money power, despite the best try by well meaning leaders of the past. This is where the efforts of President Obama must get lauded. He knew that things were not going the way he planned. He had so much of opposition from his own party Senators – more than thirty of them!- The entire Republicans stood against the bill. (He thought he could convince many of them but failed). The usual tactics of bringing fear and racialism into the public was adopted by the opposition. Historic events such as “Tea Party’ etc was organised y the opposition to defeat the bill. In spite all strong opposition, President Barack Obama carried the bill through, yes, with some cuts here and some chopping there. A significant achievement indeed!
As one watches the United States of America From a distance, one cannot but feel uncomfortable of the fact on how thoughtless had been the US citizens. It looks like a majority of them had lost the ability to think rationally and had gone under the impact of emotions created purposely by politicians who only stood for commercial establishments with strong money and muscle power. The power of discrimination had left the Americans totally, lest how could the nation not look at the merit of the bill and help passing it in unison than being a deeply divided nation?
One feels that long ago, the Americans had lost the sense of objectivity. As a very self centred nation, subsequent to 9/11, the emotion of fear played a significant part in average American’s life. Emotion indeed takes away objectivity. Lately, even the sense of fairness had deserted them. They had started going into the cocoon than opening up to understand the reality around them. So long as they stay put in the cocoon, there is no escape. In the meantime, nations that have a sense of reality and that try to progress through the challenges of facing reality, will come into the forefront. What we see in China and India is this progress through the sense of reality.
The fact is very simple, if you don’t understand what it is, there is no way you can take up the challenge related to it. It is time the Americans realized this….
Saturday, March 20, 2010
BUY AN OCEAN AND USE A POND
I have been watching the proliferation of ERP solutions in enterprises in an around the country. ERP solution is something like an idea whose time has come. It is selling well. The companies dealing with the same in India have never had it so good.
After a little wait, in Kerala also it had started happening. Leading PSUs and Corporates are going for this solution in the state.
By the way, what does an ERP solution do? It is an application software solution that integrates all the functions of an enterprise. Functions mean manufacturing, sales & marketing, distribution, maintenance, Production planning, HR, Finance & accounting etc etc. Earlier, enterprises used to go for disparate solutions for each function that never used to talk to each other. ERP integrates all these. All data will be in one single database engine and different users of different functions will have there own front-end screens (for data entry & retrieval). In between the database and the front-end, there lies the rules and the tools. Rules are standards & benchmarks and tools are software technology. Using tools you apply rules between the database and the front end. In addition to being integrated, another advantage of ERP is that you get all global benchmarks along with the solution so that the user can look at applying global standards in his company and that gives companies the possibility of doing business with global practices.
ERP had evolved very well over the last two decades. Initially, there were many global players in the market. SAP, Oracle, BAN, JD Edwards, Navision, Axapta, Peoplesoft, Mfg.Pro were some well known global ERP solutions. These products have consolidated and now there are only 3 / 4 global companies vending it. About 60% world market rests with three companies now and they are SAP, Oracle and Microsoft (Surprising.... Microsoft !…). In every nation, there are some local brands as well.(e.g. Indian ERP solution called Marshal from Ramco Systems)
Now, how does a company progress to become an ERP user? Surely it would have had three to four times of application software changes within a corporate before it starts using an ERP solution. It looks like companies grow up to become ERP user. So, ERP usage is a part of a corporate growth. The more mature a company, the more the chances of it being an ERP user. From simple Financial accounting thru business accounting to integrated enterprise planning, at an average, a company would take 15 to 20 years to become a big time ERP user.
Originally used only by large enterprise such as the Tatas, Reliance, Birlas, Mittals, Dalmias etc in India; ERP usage has now penetrated into the SME segment. Indian SME is big, for it forms 40% of our manufacturing, 30 percent of our exports, in addition to being the second largest employer in the country.
These solutions are expensive. 40 to 50 times higher than the original FA solutions (e.g. Tally). Funnily, ERP solution is an ocean and seldom an enterprise get an opportunity to tap its functions fully. A complex enterprise such as Reliance Corporation must be using its ERP to about 50 to 60 % of its capability, whereas SMEs must be using 20 to 30 percent of the capability of the ERP system that they buy and implement.
Let me now come to the marketing tactics played out buy the most leading ERP brand. It is from Europe. It is the 'crowned king' of all ERPs of the world. All most all leading enterprises of the world are its customers. Having saturated in that segment, it has now moved down to medium enterprises and even smaller ones. The company shows the leadership in its marketing. First of all, it shows its un-assailed (so far!) position by playing the premium nature. Its price is more than double of its nearest competitor (which is the second largest software company in the world). It creates the aspiration and the pride of ownership very well in its buyer (after all, which crickter doesnt want to become Sachin Tendulkar). Playing upon the aspirational emotion of the buyer, it then fixes up specification of the users very systematically around its proprietory functional technologies. Such an RFQ coming from a user can never be matched by any competition and thus it wins the order, thereby leaving the competition far far behind. I am seeing company after company in Public sector falling victim to this strategy. Frankly speaking all the competing companies have all the funcionalities that is there with the leader. May be the leader is about 15 percent more when one compares the functionalities betwen each other. But it uses its leadership and its proprietory functional technologies to win the orders at very high prices. Organzations shell out 15, 20, 30 crores of rupees upfront for buying this software. Later, the maintenance contract per annum would come to almost 25 to 30 percent of the buying cost. Companies have to really work hard to pay back the investment.
Lastly, would such an ERP have brought double or triple level of growth in the corporation? I am not sure. Candidly speaking, I doubt it (that is in spite of being an IT evangelist for close to three decades!).
I have seen many organizations spending lavishly to own this mother of all ERP but not getting the paisa fully vasool. They buy an ocean and use it as a pond! Why should companies go for such an expensive solution?
Why would every man want to marry Aishwarya Rai? The answer is the same!
After a little wait, in Kerala also it had started happening. Leading PSUs and Corporates are going for this solution in the state.
By the way, what does an ERP solution do? It is an application software solution that integrates all the functions of an enterprise. Functions mean manufacturing, sales & marketing, distribution, maintenance, Production planning, HR, Finance & accounting etc etc. Earlier, enterprises used to go for disparate solutions for each function that never used to talk to each other. ERP integrates all these. All data will be in one single database engine and different users of different functions will have there own front-end screens (for data entry & retrieval). In between the database and the front-end, there lies the rules and the tools. Rules are standards & benchmarks and tools are software technology. Using tools you apply rules between the database and the front end. In addition to being integrated, another advantage of ERP is that you get all global benchmarks along with the solution so that the user can look at applying global standards in his company and that gives companies the possibility of doing business with global practices.
ERP had evolved very well over the last two decades. Initially, there were many global players in the market. SAP, Oracle, BAN, JD Edwards, Navision, Axapta, Peoplesoft, Mfg.Pro were some well known global ERP solutions. These products have consolidated and now there are only 3 / 4 global companies vending it. About 60% world market rests with three companies now and they are SAP, Oracle and Microsoft (Surprising.... Microsoft !…). In every nation, there are some local brands as well.(e.g. Indian ERP solution called Marshal from Ramco Systems)
Now, how does a company progress to become an ERP user? Surely it would have had three to four times of application software changes within a corporate before it starts using an ERP solution. It looks like companies grow up to become ERP user. So, ERP usage is a part of a corporate growth. The more mature a company, the more the chances of it being an ERP user. From simple Financial accounting thru business accounting to integrated enterprise planning, at an average, a company would take 15 to 20 years to become a big time ERP user.
Originally used only by large enterprise such as the Tatas, Reliance, Birlas, Mittals, Dalmias etc in India; ERP usage has now penetrated into the SME segment. Indian SME is big, for it forms 40% of our manufacturing, 30 percent of our exports, in addition to being the second largest employer in the country.
These solutions are expensive. 40 to 50 times higher than the original FA solutions (e.g. Tally). Funnily, ERP solution is an ocean and seldom an enterprise get an opportunity to tap its functions fully. A complex enterprise such as Reliance Corporation must be using its ERP to about 50 to 60 % of its capability, whereas SMEs must be using 20 to 30 percent of the capability of the ERP system that they buy and implement.
Let me now come to the marketing tactics played out buy the most leading ERP brand. It is from Europe. It is the 'crowned king' of all ERPs of the world. All most all leading enterprises of the world are its customers. Having saturated in that segment, it has now moved down to medium enterprises and even smaller ones. The company shows the leadership in its marketing. First of all, it shows its un-assailed (so far!) position by playing the premium nature. Its price is more than double of its nearest competitor (which is the second largest software company in the world). It creates the aspiration and the pride of ownership very well in its buyer (after all, which crickter doesnt want to become Sachin Tendulkar). Playing upon the aspirational emotion of the buyer, it then fixes up specification of the users very systematically around its proprietory functional technologies. Such an RFQ coming from a user can never be matched by any competition and thus it wins the order, thereby leaving the competition far far behind. I am seeing company after company in Public sector falling victim to this strategy. Frankly speaking all the competing companies have all the funcionalities that is there with the leader. May be the leader is about 15 percent more when one compares the functionalities betwen each other. But it uses its leadership and its proprietory functional technologies to win the orders at very high prices. Organzations shell out 15, 20, 30 crores of rupees upfront for buying this software. Later, the maintenance contract per annum would come to almost 25 to 30 percent of the buying cost. Companies have to really work hard to pay back the investment.
Lastly, would such an ERP have brought double or triple level of growth in the corporation? I am not sure. Candidly speaking, I doubt it (that is in spite of being an IT evangelist for close to three decades!).
I have seen many organizations spending lavishly to own this mother of all ERP but not getting the paisa fully vasool. They buy an ocean and use it as a pond! Why should companies go for such an expensive solution?
Why would every man want to marry Aishwarya Rai? The answer is the same!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
PROF. K.N.RAJ
Prof. Dr. K.N Raj, a doyen in the field of economics and planning, passed away on Wednesday the 10th of February, of heart attack at a hospital in Trivandrum. He was in his late eighties.
Being part of the professional and management scenario of the state for some time, I have been hearing of Prof. K.N. Raj and his contributions to the state and the country. Though I did not get an opportunity to meet him and talk to him, in my mind I had always nurtured a very high respect for him. And I was always deeply impressed by the way he kept himself off the limelight. In a state where everyone tries to act as God (is that why Kerala is called as God’s Own Country?), in his qualities, here is one person who was God like; to his students, fraternity and the fellow beings.
Around ten years back, I had attended a Rotary club sponsored seminar on Science, Technology and Information and the main speaker was Prof. MGK Menon who, at every step of his speech was reminding the audience of his role in building India (may be, as a non resident Keralite, he might had thought that the resident Malayalis do not know much about him and that would have led him to blow his own trumpet!). The ‘I’ factor of his speech was so annoying that I couldn’t resist walking out. When I was telling this experience to a past president of Kerala Management Association who had been part of the industrial development of the state for long time, he said that may be Prof. MGK could learn a thing or two from Prof. K N Raj. That said it all and my respect for Prof. Raj doubled instantly.
Yesterday and today, I had read many obituaries and memoirs on Prof. K N Raj that had appeared in the news papers. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (who is no less an Economist of world repute), Defence Minister AK Antony, students, colleagues, son, newspaper editors, state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen; all had written in glowing terms about his contributions to the state and country. Briefly putting it, K N Raj did his post graduation and doctorate in Economics in London School of Economics. After working for a news paper in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a while, he joined Reserve Bank of India in its research. It was soon after India had undergone its ‘tryst with destiny’ (independence of the country, as beautifully put by Pundit Nehru). As an RBI professional, KN Raj got plenty of opportunity to be part of Indian Economy build up. He had had many interactions with the then Prime Minister Nehru and that landed him in the country’s Planning commission as its first Economist. It is said that he was the originator of India’s five year plans. Later, he moved to Delhi School of Economics as its head and converted it into a world famous institution. Then he became the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University. It was when Achutha Menon was the Chief Minister of Kerala. On his invitation, Prof. Raj moved to Trivandrum to build up another world famous institution; the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). He had been economic advisor for all Prime Ministers of the country (except for AB Vajpayee).
The most important element of his career was that of an excellent teacher and that stood out in all memoirs written by all eminent people. When we have Gurus like him, it is only natural that quality students will get developed. His students dwell all over the world in very important positions, both in corporate and in government. He was a true Guru.
Another very pertinent aspect of his character has been him shunning publicity at all costs. The earlier example mentioned will give an indication of the ego that people carry. Personalities of one tenth of importance of KN Raj must be dwelling in cloud nine with head held high. They would be dropping the names of people in power that they have helped (?) to carry out their functions. Here is a person; the originator of India’s Five Year plan, Excellent Institution Builder (DSE,DU & CDS), Trusted Advisor (to the Prime Ministers and world leaders) and yet wanting not to be known around. Never wanting to carry his weight around! In our scriptures, it is described about people who are Stita Prajna (permanent equanimity of the mind) and Prof. K N Raj is an absolute example of the same. It has been said that he never accepted any award or recognition. When the Nation bestowed him its second highest civilian honour of Padma Vibhushan, he was unwilling to accept it. It required the personal persuasion of the then President of India for Prof. Raj to receive it. Is there anybody like him?
Prof. KN Raj was not only a great Economist, he was very good individual too. Seldom have we come to know of personalities of this rare combination, such as Prof. K N Raj.
May his soul rest in peace!
Being part of the professional and management scenario of the state for some time, I have been hearing of Prof. K.N. Raj and his contributions to the state and the country. Though I did not get an opportunity to meet him and talk to him, in my mind I had always nurtured a very high respect for him. And I was always deeply impressed by the way he kept himself off the limelight. In a state where everyone tries to act as God (is that why Kerala is called as God’s Own Country?), in his qualities, here is one person who was God like; to his students, fraternity and the fellow beings.
Around ten years back, I had attended a Rotary club sponsored seminar on Science, Technology and Information and the main speaker was Prof. MGK Menon who, at every step of his speech was reminding the audience of his role in building India (may be, as a non resident Keralite, he might had thought that the resident Malayalis do not know much about him and that would have led him to blow his own trumpet!). The ‘I’ factor of his speech was so annoying that I couldn’t resist walking out. When I was telling this experience to a past president of Kerala Management Association who had been part of the industrial development of the state for long time, he said that may be Prof. MGK could learn a thing or two from Prof. K N Raj. That said it all and my respect for Prof. Raj doubled instantly.
Yesterday and today, I had read many obituaries and memoirs on Prof. K N Raj that had appeared in the news papers. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (who is no less an Economist of world repute), Defence Minister AK Antony, students, colleagues, son, newspaper editors, state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen; all had written in glowing terms about his contributions to the state and country. Briefly putting it, K N Raj did his post graduation and doctorate in Economics in London School of Economics. After working for a news paper in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a while, he joined Reserve Bank of India in its research. It was soon after India had undergone its ‘tryst with destiny’ (independence of the country, as beautifully put by Pundit Nehru). As an RBI professional, KN Raj got plenty of opportunity to be part of Indian Economy build up. He had had many interactions with the then Prime Minister Nehru and that landed him in the country’s Planning commission as its first Economist. It is said that he was the originator of India’s five year plans. Later, he moved to Delhi School of Economics as its head and converted it into a world famous institution. Then he became the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University. It was when Achutha Menon was the Chief Minister of Kerala. On his invitation, Prof. Raj moved to Trivandrum to build up another world famous institution; the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). He had been economic advisor for all Prime Ministers of the country (except for AB Vajpayee).
The most important element of his career was that of an excellent teacher and that stood out in all memoirs written by all eminent people. When we have Gurus like him, it is only natural that quality students will get developed. His students dwell all over the world in very important positions, both in corporate and in government. He was a true Guru.
Another very pertinent aspect of his character has been him shunning publicity at all costs. The earlier example mentioned will give an indication of the ego that people carry. Personalities of one tenth of importance of KN Raj must be dwelling in cloud nine with head held high. They would be dropping the names of people in power that they have helped (?) to carry out their functions. Here is a person; the originator of India’s Five Year plan, Excellent Institution Builder (DSE,DU & CDS), Trusted Advisor (to the Prime Ministers and world leaders) and yet wanting not to be known around. Never wanting to carry his weight around! In our scriptures, it is described about people who are Stita Prajna (permanent equanimity of the mind) and Prof. K N Raj is an absolute example of the same. It has been said that he never accepted any award or recognition. When the Nation bestowed him its second highest civilian honour of Padma Vibhushan, he was unwilling to accept it. It required the personal persuasion of the then President of India for Prof. Raj to receive it. Is there anybody like him?
Prof. KN Raj was not only a great Economist, he was very good individual too. Seldom have we come to know of personalities of this rare combination, such as Prof. K N Raj.
May his soul rest in peace!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
BETTER KOCHI RESPONSE GROUP (BKRG)
On Saturday the twenty ninth of January happened the official inauguration of Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG). BKRG is a group consisting of discerning Kochi-ites from various vocations. Having been very successful in their professions, the variety of expertise of the group is phenomenal. There are doctors, architects, journalists, chartered accountants, advocates, town planners, former civil servants, teachers, entrepreneurs, bankers, consultants and similar professionals in BKRG. Currently it is small group of about twenty five people. The group has been meeting for more than two years now. The objective of the group is to help Kochi become a world class city by improving its infrastructure and other facilities by bringing in cohesion between various governmental agencies who are working at it and make available its expertise to find better solutions for every day problems being faced by Kochi-ites. The ultimate goal of BKRG is to have a better Kochi for all of us, the inmates and for the travellers.
Architect Gopakumar, a well known Kochi socialite is the brain behind the group. Having seen Kochi from very close quarters for more than four decades, he understands the maladies of the city not only as a citizen but also as a visionary architect. Having worked under a colossal personality such as Sir Charles Correah, it is no surprise that this man is always brimming with wonderful innovative ideas to resolve the city’s infrastructure frustrations. Among many other personalities, yours truly also is a member of the group (the Charter Secretary at that).
The group had taken up many projects at the right earnest. The Vyttila Mobile habitat project is one of the major projects that it had associated from the genesis. South Over bridge widening, Public toilets, Bus shelters, Road signage, Water transport, Biogas plants for solid waste management etc. are some other initiatives that the group is actively pursuing. Being part of it, one really gets enamoured by the sheer bureaucracy that prevails in the working (or not working!) of the government departments in coordinating the activities. Having seen it all, one remembers the ‘doha’ of Sant Kabeer; “Dheere Dheere re mana, Dheere sab kuch hoi” (Oh mind, go slow please, for everything happens very slowly only). It is sure, in Kochi nothing can get created all of a sudden, it can only be evolved that too very slowly, slower than anywhere else in the country!
Coming back to the inauguration function, the inauguration was done by Prof. K V Thomas who is not only our Member of Parliament, but also a Union Minister. One must say he is a genuine person concerned about the progress of the city. Others who graced the occasion are the worshipful Mayor or the city and her Deputy. It is no mean task to be the Mayor and Deputy of the deeply corrupt Corporation of Cochin. To add to that, there is the ego of the individuals that acts as the bane for city’s progress.
Among others, the comments of two Public Sector CEOs who spoke at the occasion require merit and immediate attention. Mr. Ramachandran, the Chairman of Cochin Port Trust warned the attendees about the vehicular traffic challenges that the city and state would face when the International Transhipment terminal will come alive at Vallarpadom in the coming four years. Imagine six thousand huge container trucks moving out of the terminal every day! (It can create traffic jam till Coimbatore from Cochin, with the current highway infrastructure!)
The Chairman of Cochin Shipyard Ltd spoke about the aversion that Malayali particularly Kochi-ite has to Water. Not only that we are wasting all the rain water we receive but also we hardly put to use the inland water ways that we have in the form of rivers and backwaters for transportation, he said. If we use the water transport, the traffic of Cochin can be brought down by fifty percent, he opined. How true he is! Yes, while Malayali is averse to water, he is so fond of the other water (the inebriating one) to the extent that we are the largest per capita consumers of the same in the country!
Surprisingly, a function like this which was organised for the city’s welfare and progress, was least covered by the press and media. And herein lies the irony. When the press and media thinks that it is their (selfish) agenda to work for the welfare of the city, and as fourth estate, it is their bounden duty to be the flag bearers of city’s progress, how can they bear the idea of a small bunch of people (howsoever experienced or eminent they are) coming together to work for it?……………….
Un-digestible and really un-acceptable for them, is it not? It looks as if it is their raison d’etre for Kochi to remain as it is!
Architect Gopakumar, a well known Kochi socialite is the brain behind the group. Having seen Kochi from very close quarters for more than four decades, he understands the maladies of the city not only as a citizen but also as a visionary architect. Having worked under a colossal personality such as Sir Charles Correah, it is no surprise that this man is always brimming with wonderful innovative ideas to resolve the city’s infrastructure frustrations. Among many other personalities, yours truly also is a member of the group (the Charter Secretary at that).
The group had taken up many projects at the right earnest. The Vyttila Mobile habitat project is one of the major projects that it had associated from the genesis. South Over bridge widening, Public toilets, Bus shelters, Road signage, Water transport, Biogas plants for solid waste management etc. are some other initiatives that the group is actively pursuing. Being part of it, one really gets enamoured by the sheer bureaucracy that prevails in the working (or not working!) of the government departments in coordinating the activities. Having seen it all, one remembers the ‘doha’ of Sant Kabeer; “Dheere Dheere re mana, Dheere sab kuch hoi” (Oh mind, go slow please, for everything happens very slowly only). It is sure, in Kochi nothing can get created all of a sudden, it can only be evolved that too very slowly, slower than anywhere else in the country!
Coming back to the inauguration function, the inauguration was done by Prof. K V Thomas who is not only our Member of Parliament, but also a Union Minister. One must say he is a genuine person concerned about the progress of the city. Others who graced the occasion are the worshipful Mayor or the city and her Deputy. It is no mean task to be the Mayor and Deputy of the deeply corrupt Corporation of Cochin. To add to that, there is the ego of the individuals that acts as the bane for city’s progress.
Among others, the comments of two Public Sector CEOs who spoke at the occasion require merit and immediate attention. Mr. Ramachandran, the Chairman of Cochin Port Trust warned the attendees about the vehicular traffic challenges that the city and state would face when the International Transhipment terminal will come alive at Vallarpadom in the coming four years. Imagine six thousand huge container trucks moving out of the terminal every day! (It can create traffic jam till Coimbatore from Cochin, with the current highway infrastructure!)
The Chairman of Cochin Shipyard Ltd spoke about the aversion that Malayali particularly Kochi-ite has to Water. Not only that we are wasting all the rain water we receive but also we hardly put to use the inland water ways that we have in the form of rivers and backwaters for transportation, he said. If we use the water transport, the traffic of Cochin can be brought down by fifty percent, he opined. How true he is! Yes, while Malayali is averse to water, he is so fond of the other water (the inebriating one) to the extent that we are the largest per capita consumers of the same in the country!
Surprisingly, a function like this which was organised for the city’s welfare and progress, was least covered by the press and media. And herein lies the irony. When the press and media thinks that it is their (selfish) agenda to work for the welfare of the city, and as fourth estate, it is their bounden duty to be the flag bearers of city’s progress, how can they bear the idea of a small bunch of people (howsoever experienced or eminent they are) coming together to work for it?……………….
Un-digestible and really un-acceptable for them, is it not? It looks as if it is their raison d’etre for Kochi to remain as it is!
INDIAN PADMA AWARDS - HOW GENUINE ARE THEY?
The announcement of Padma Awards prior to the Indian Republic day has its own usual share of controversies behind it. It is nothing new. However it requires some debate if its importance and relevance need to be carried forward further.
The newspapers questioned the selection of a hotelier who had figured in the Padma Bhushan category. In fact he had five criminal cases against him in the past of which, three got dropped by the agencies in the middle of investigation (!) and in the other two, the courts acquitted him. And he receives the third highest civilian honour of the country! I guess he is close to the chief executive of the country for I had seen him asserting the same when his hotel was inaugurated in Cochin.
Then there is this businessman of Kerala who profess that business is charity for him and the company. In his business vertical, there had been many doyens who, in addition to doing business the ethical way, had also done plenty of charity. They did not qualify but our man did because he was very vociferous about it, not to mention about his connections with the people associated with the party chief of the biggest political party in India.
I know about an eminent person who, after having won the Padma Shri is now managing the power that be, for getting the Padma Bhushan. To this effect he is now into some ‘visible’ activities that would give him sufficient score to get it!
We now read about a world champion in an even of sports, who had written to all and sundry including Mr. Rahul Gandhi MP about the humiliation meted out to him, by not considering him even for a Padma Shri! He may have a point regarding the selection criteria but asking for a Padma Award as he had done, seems the height of it. I am sure there are many more deserving cases who never got it, right?
Two famous Ayurvedic physician of traditional yore from Kerala got selected together for Padma Bhushan this year. I am sure it must have been tough decision for the mandarins of Cultural ministry to make, for they are used taking favours from both Ayurvedic houses for their wellness treatment. So instead of selecting one and disappointing the other, it was decided to give the award to both! What a win-win situation!
And then there is this Pravasi whose full page advertisement hit the newspapers on the very next day of the announcement of the awards of him being selected for the Padma Awards (much before him getting it from the President of India! can there not be a slip between the cup and the lip?). It is an open secret in the state of the millions that he spent on politician belonging to the ruling party to get the Pravasi award, a couple of years back. This route could also be none other!
I have read about a senior bureaucrat of the state government being revered by the cultural and social leaders of the country, particularly those resident in Delhi. It is a fact that he had long stint in the Centre at the Cultural Ministry and its was his department that sat thru the Padma decisions for many years. The cultural & social mafia loved him so much that they gave him such a fantastic farewell when he reverted to his home cadre on promotion!
A friend of mine who is a farmer based at Palghat, who had done some very innovative agricultural practises, to the extent of getting GIS patents and Awards from Agricultural ministry, out of sheer curiosity once asked me in passing as to how Padma awards are decided. Maybe in the back of the mind he may have this desire to own one. But poor him, doesn’t he realise that Padma Awards are not meant for poor humble farmers!
So, what is the sanctity of Padma Awards? Is it a sham show? Or is it half genuine and half nepotic? Should it be continued? Is it right for some visible ones to receive it and other deserving people to get ignored? Should the authorities tighten the selection criteria by having a re-look at it?
There are many questions. Will they ever get answered?
The newspapers questioned the selection of a hotelier who had figured in the Padma Bhushan category. In fact he had five criminal cases against him in the past of which, three got dropped by the agencies in the middle of investigation (!) and in the other two, the courts acquitted him. And he receives the third highest civilian honour of the country! I guess he is close to the chief executive of the country for I had seen him asserting the same when his hotel was inaugurated in Cochin.
Then there is this businessman of Kerala who profess that business is charity for him and the company. In his business vertical, there had been many doyens who, in addition to doing business the ethical way, had also done plenty of charity. They did not qualify but our man did because he was very vociferous about it, not to mention about his connections with the people associated with the party chief of the biggest political party in India.
I know about an eminent person who, after having won the Padma Shri is now managing the power that be, for getting the Padma Bhushan. To this effect he is now into some ‘visible’ activities that would give him sufficient score to get it!
We now read about a world champion in an even of sports, who had written to all and sundry including Mr. Rahul Gandhi MP about the humiliation meted out to him, by not considering him even for a Padma Shri! He may have a point regarding the selection criteria but asking for a Padma Award as he had done, seems the height of it. I am sure there are many more deserving cases who never got it, right?
Two famous Ayurvedic physician of traditional yore from Kerala got selected together for Padma Bhushan this year. I am sure it must have been tough decision for the mandarins of Cultural ministry to make, for they are used taking favours from both Ayurvedic houses for their wellness treatment. So instead of selecting one and disappointing the other, it was decided to give the award to both! What a win-win situation!
And then there is this Pravasi whose full page advertisement hit the newspapers on the very next day of the announcement of the awards of him being selected for the Padma Awards (much before him getting it from the President of India! can there not be a slip between the cup and the lip?). It is an open secret in the state of the millions that he spent on politician belonging to the ruling party to get the Pravasi award, a couple of years back. This route could also be none other!
I have read about a senior bureaucrat of the state government being revered by the cultural and social leaders of the country, particularly those resident in Delhi. It is a fact that he had long stint in the Centre at the Cultural Ministry and its was his department that sat thru the Padma decisions for many years. The cultural & social mafia loved him so much that they gave him such a fantastic farewell when he reverted to his home cadre on promotion!
A friend of mine who is a farmer based at Palghat, who had done some very innovative agricultural practises, to the extent of getting GIS patents and Awards from Agricultural ministry, out of sheer curiosity once asked me in passing as to how Padma awards are decided. Maybe in the back of the mind he may have this desire to own one. But poor him, doesn’t he realise that Padma Awards are not meant for poor humble farmers!
So, what is the sanctity of Padma Awards? Is it a sham show? Or is it half genuine and half nepotic? Should it be continued? Is it right for some visible ones to receive it and other deserving people to get ignored? Should the authorities tighten the selection criteria by having a re-look at it?
There are many questions. Will they ever get answered?
Friday, January 1, 2010
NEW YEAR MUSING
How time flies! The year 2009 is gone. One feels it was just yesterday that we welcomed it, soon to be gone. Twelve months went by like twelve minutes. Time moves so fast, really.
By the end of every year, one just wants it to go by. Seldom will you find anyone who doesn’t want to bid adieu to the year going by. And with lots of expectations, he looks forward to the New Year. He indeed celebrates its arrival, of course, with fond hopes. It is another matter that the year that he bid adieu was the year that he welcomed sometimes back with plenty of fanfare. Truly, herein lies the contrast of life.
World over the Year 2009 was a difficult one. The global meltdown showed its highest intensity in the year. To add to that, there were sufficient violence, terrorism, accidents & deaths. The world didn’t soften a wee bit last year. It was trying times indeed for majority of its inhabitants!
Into the fag end of the Year 2009 was the Copenhagen summit. It was one event leaders of every country were involved, one way or the other. The Western front, spearheaded by the host country of Denmark, drafted very strict laws on carbon emission to be promulgated and put to effect during the summit for every nation to adhere to it. Nations headed by China and India resisted it due to the simple reason that all these laws were forced being put to effect due to the carelessness and irresponsibility of the very developed nations during yester years in the matters of carbon emission, global warming and Ozone depletion. It is indeed confounding to find who is right and who is not. End of the day, the summit really did not succeed in its endeavors. So, there could be another time and another place to continue the debate on and arrive at decisions that concern the future of mankind.
How would one rate Year 2009, good, bad or ugly? It simply was not a good year and stood somewhere between bad and ugly. A very eminently forgettable year that it was.
It is in such junctures that the expectations on the coming year really go up. Therefore, every body is looking forward to the Year 2010 to be a glorious one. On matters of Economy, Environment and Peace, every one wishes the year to make profound positive changes for the betterment of mankind. Let us just hope the Year 2010 delivers!
While I have been receiving many email and SMS wishes from yesterday onwards, the first phone call of the new year day to wish me well came from a good friend of mine for long. While the pleasantries were exchanged, he very casually said that this year would be good for me. I then reiterated that it better be and thanked him for the wish. It was then that he realized that he REALLY predicted that this year is going to be good for me. Then he added that simply because it just came out of his mouth as a very innocuous statement, the year would indeed be good to me. ‘Let your tongue be golden’, I sincerely wished him in return.
On that profound hope let me end this post. Like last year, this year too would fly by. I am sure I would get the time to review it in the end.
Let the time reveal what is in store.
By the end of every year, one just wants it to go by. Seldom will you find anyone who doesn’t want to bid adieu to the year going by. And with lots of expectations, he looks forward to the New Year. He indeed celebrates its arrival, of course, with fond hopes. It is another matter that the year that he bid adieu was the year that he welcomed sometimes back with plenty of fanfare. Truly, herein lies the contrast of life.
World over the Year 2009 was a difficult one. The global meltdown showed its highest intensity in the year. To add to that, there were sufficient violence, terrorism, accidents & deaths. The world didn’t soften a wee bit last year. It was trying times indeed for majority of its inhabitants!
Into the fag end of the Year 2009 was the Copenhagen summit. It was one event leaders of every country were involved, one way or the other. The Western front, spearheaded by the host country of Denmark, drafted very strict laws on carbon emission to be promulgated and put to effect during the summit for every nation to adhere to it. Nations headed by China and India resisted it due to the simple reason that all these laws were forced being put to effect due to the carelessness and irresponsibility of the very developed nations during yester years in the matters of carbon emission, global warming and Ozone depletion. It is indeed confounding to find who is right and who is not. End of the day, the summit really did not succeed in its endeavors. So, there could be another time and another place to continue the debate on and arrive at decisions that concern the future of mankind.
How would one rate Year 2009, good, bad or ugly? It simply was not a good year and stood somewhere between bad and ugly. A very eminently forgettable year that it was.
It is in such junctures that the expectations on the coming year really go up. Therefore, every body is looking forward to the Year 2010 to be a glorious one. On matters of Economy, Environment and Peace, every one wishes the year to make profound positive changes for the betterment of mankind. Let us just hope the Year 2010 delivers!
While I have been receiving many email and SMS wishes from yesterday onwards, the first phone call of the new year day to wish me well came from a good friend of mine for long. While the pleasantries were exchanged, he very casually said that this year would be good for me. I then reiterated that it better be and thanked him for the wish. It was then that he realized that he REALLY predicted that this year is going to be good for me. Then he added that simply because it just came out of his mouth as a very innocuous statement, the year would indeed be good to me. ‘Let your tongue be golden’, I sincerely wished him in return.
On that profound hope let me end this post. Like last year, this year too would fly by. I am sure I would get the time to review it in the end.
Let the time reveal what is in store.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
