• To those jails that were once filled by the parents on account of freedom struggle, the children go in; convicted for corrupt deals and crime.
• The quantum of corruption had ballooned exponentially. Bofors scandal was worth just seventy odd crores of Rupees and it cost the person his prime minster-ship. Now it is thousands of crores, and still the PM chair is very much intact.
• One of the most powerful persons of the world is a prisoner to her own security services. Even if the bird is a golden cage, it is nothing but captivity that it undergoes.
• Is leadership a way to amass wealth and power?
• If one nation has really problems of plenty, it is India. Truly it suffers on account of a huge population.
• After a person takes oath in a court to be truthful in his deposition and is found to be guilty later, then why is he not jailed for contempt of court for being untruthful at the first place?
• The crux of every known religion is love and compassion. Then why does religion fight each other?
• If nirvana is liberation from the sensory pleasures and finding the true self/God within, then why do we fanatically go after external Gods/God men for salvation?
• How many crores of Rupees will give you the peace of mind?
• Why do some make rules and regulation for everyone to follow but themselves?
• Who is the culprit that causes your emotions to burst; others or yourself?
• Is it worthy not to act because every action produces equal and opposite reaction?
• When leadership is full of thornes, is followership bed of roses?
• Who will bell the cat? You or your neighbour?
• Are you doing the right thing when you don’t tell someone because it will hurt him?
• Who is most powerful, Jesus Holy Christ or the Pope?
• Countries get rich by selling arms and war goods to others. They progress while humanity kills each other and destroy everything around. Is that what you call progress?!
• What goes around, will it come around? What about that goes to Swiss bank?
• What is true money, the white or black?
• When Buddha was an atheist, why is he called Bhagwan?
• Buddhism teaches Maitri Bhavana and defends it with Karate and Kungfu!
• It is very seldom that we find the words from someone matching with the true meaning of it?
• God is said to be ‘nirguna’, niramaya’ and ‘nirakara’. Then why does God look like human being in our thoughts?
• What is truth and how do we achieve truth?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
BHARAT RATNA FOR SACHIN TENDULKAR
For long, Sachin Tendulkar has been the toast of the nation. Beautifully put by the young but thinking Virat Kohli to the commentator on the night that India had won the World Cup 2011, ‘he has been bearing the cross of the entire nation for 21 years’. Every single Indian, even if he is not a cricket fan, is in awe of Sachin and is concerned of his welfare. For all mothers, he is the son; for girls, he is the brother; for every sportsman, he is the role model; for dreamers, he is the manifestation of ultimate achievement. He is the darling of the nation. He simply cannot do anything wrong. When Greg Chapel told him to prepare for retirement, whole nation wanted to kill Chapel and suck his blood. ‘How dare he bring such a thought’ was the nation’s cry!
How did he protect his reputation this long? For a nation of 1.2 billion people, whose only obsession is cricket, he is the SUPER HERO. And this person maintained his image without a dent for long 21 years. He is well behaved, very even keel and still maintains the same levels of humility as in the past. For a player who hasn’t had academic accomplishments, we consider him as the ultimate master. Players say that he is a great team mate. He still practices for longer duration than any other player and has the discipline of his life and career intact. He is a good mentor for the junior players. While they respect him, they are so protective of him. The most valuable player of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh consecrated all his achievements of this World cup, to Sachin.
There are only minimum examples all around the world of a sportsperson who had achieved the stature that Sachin had grown into. From his game, there was Sir Don Bradman; in the field of athletics, there is a Carl Lewis or a Sergei Boobka. There is a Michael Jordan in Basketball, A Pele in Football; very few to count. Though Cricket is not a game played by all the nations of the world, in terms of followers, Sachin will have more followers than anybody. Just see how many Indians are there in the world and you will understand it.
How many records can a person really hold? Sachin Tendulkar keeps practically all the records of the game with him. In some areas, he has gone beyond any one’s reach. Even in this world cup, he is the second largest run getter. The Indian team dedicated this world cup to Sachin for, that was the only achievement that had eluded him in his long career.
Going with the wishes of the nation, Sachin hasn’t yet started to think about retiring from the any forms of the game. Though he is not partaking in the 20-20 world cup matches, he is still the captain of the Mumbai Indian team for the IPL 20-20 matches. We would continue to see Sachin Tendulkar chugging along, at least for another couple of years as he still has enough cricket juice left in him. He would know when to call it a day. But for now, he is still enjoying the game and doing a great job of it.
Maharashtra government passed a resolution in the assembly in the week of World cup win to recommend Sachin Tendulkar for Bharat Ratna Award, the highest civilian award that the country bestows on a person. Getting Bharat Ratna is a rare honour. Only very few had the privilege of getting it. This darling of the masses has now been officially nominated by his home state for the same.
The question is, has Sachin reached up to it, to the extent of being the Bharat Ratna recipient? Going back at the history, if one looks at the roll of honour of The Bharat Ratna recipients, you will see that a majority of them received it very well past their prime. Some of the well deserving personalities (such as Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel) got it posthumously. There is not even one person who had received in his thirty’s, forty’s or the fifty’s. No sportsperson has ever received this recognition. It looks like sports persons are not included in the category of Bharat Ratna recipients. An award such as Bharat Ratna reaches a person at the fag-end of his/her life and career. Look at Personalities such as Lata Mangeshkar, Bhimsen Joshi, Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Amartya Sen, Abdul Kalam and M S Subba Lakhshmi. All of them got the recognition after they went past their prime. They were all maestros in their field but they had to wait long to earn it. The pertinent question therefore is, has Sachin reached that stage?
Looking at the stage of life of all the above personalities, they had received the Bharat Ratna recognition after they had gone beyond the stage of self-actualization to that of SELF TRANSCENDENCE. Has Sachin reached the stage of self-transcendence in life?
There is still a lot of cricket left in him. He is much more of a commercial brand proposition now than that of a transcended person. There are some more milestones for him to reach. I feel the Bharat Ratna will taste him better when he receives the same after he retires from the game or at least at the very last stage of his career.
There is another question. If he is given Bharat Ratna now, what else will we give him at a stage when he really completes his accomplishments to become a transcended person?
A mute question it is, I believe. Though I know for sure, every emotional Indian will want it to happen now.
How did he protect his reputation this long? For a nation of 1.2 billion people, whose only obsession is cricket, he is the SUPER HERO. And this person maintained his image without a dent for long 21 years. He is well behaved, very even keel and still maintains the same levels of humility as in the past. For a player who hasn’t had academic accomplishments, we consider him as the ultimate master. Players say that he is a great team mate. He still practices for longer duration than any other player and has the discipline of his life and career intact. He is a good mentor for the junior players. While they respect him, they are so protective of him. The most valuable player of the tournament, Yuvraj Singh consecrated all his achievements of this World cup, to Sachin.
There are only minimum examples all around the world of a sportsperson who had achieved the stature that Sachin had grown into. From his game, there was Sir Don Bradman; in the field of athletics, there is a Carl Lewis or a Sergei Boobka. There is a Michael Jordan in Basketball, A Pele in Football; very few to count. Though Cricket is not a game played by all the nations of the world, in terms of followers, Sachin will have more followers than anybody. Just see how many Indians are there in the world and you will understand it.
How many records can a person really hold? Sachin Tendulkar keeps practically all the records of the game with him. In some areas, he has gone beyond any one’s reach. Even in this world cup, he is the second largest run getter. The Indian team dedicated this world cup to Sachin for, that was the only achievement that had eluded him in his long career.
Going with the wishes of the nation, Sachin hasn’t yet started to think about retiring from the any forms of the game. Though he is not partaking in the 20-20 world cup matches, he is still the captain of the Mumbai Indian team for the IPL 20-20 matches. We would continue to see Sachin Tendulkar chugging along, at least for another couple of years as he still has enough cricket juice left in him. He would know when to call it a day. But for now, he is still enjoying the game and doing a great job of it.
Maharashtra government passed a resolution in the assembly in the week of World cup win to recommend Sachin Tendulkar for Bharat Ratna Award, the highest civilian award that the country bestows on a person. Getting Bharat Ratna is a rare honour. Only very few had the privilege of getting it. This darling of the masses has now been officially nominated by his home state for the same.
The question is, has Sachin reached up to it, to the extent of being the Bharat Ratna recipient? Going back at the history, if one looks at the roll of honour of The Bharat Ratna recipients, you will see that a majority of them received it very well past their prime. Some of the well deserving personalities (such as Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel) got it posthumously. There is not even one person who had received in his thirty’s, forty’s or the fifty’s. No sportsperson has ever received this recognition. It looks like sports persons are not included in the category of Bharat Ratna recipients. An award such as Bharat Ratna reaches a person at the fag-end of his/her life and career. Look at Personalities such as Lata Mangeshkar, Bhimsen Joshi, Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Amartya Sen, Abdul Kalam and M S Subba Lakhshmi. All of them got the recognition after they went past their prime. They were all maestros in their field but they had to wait long to earn it. The pertinent question therefore is, has Sachin reached that stage?
Looking at the stage of life of all the above personalities, they had received the Bharat Ratna recognition after they had gone beyond the stage of self-actualization to that of SELF TRANSCENDENCE. Has Sachin reached the stage of self-transcendence in life?
There is still a lot of cricket left in him. He is much more of a commercial brand proposition now than that of a transcended person. There are some more milestones for him to reach. I feel the Bharat Ratna will taste him better when he receives the same after he retires from the game or at least at the very last stage of his career.
There is another question. If he is given Bharat Ratna now, what else will we give him at a stage when he really completes his accomplishments to become a transcended person?
A mute question it is, I believe. Though I know for sure, every emotional Indian will want it to happen now.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
TSUNAMI
What name have you
Unpleasant, complex and strange
Other name of gory destruction and death
Always unkind, cruel and unwanted
Mother earth heaves for you to happen
Of the loads assimilated while moving
And the inner plates rubbing each other
The undulations, vibrations and the mighty roar
As if having hurt the inner conscious
And of the soaring sign wave of emotion
And then the exit, forceful, to all direction
Unreigned, wild and a violent aftermath
Then you begin the sea, with it withdrawing first
To return with furious tidal waves
That climb the trees and houses on way
The battering annihilation of life inside
Nothing is spared, man or matter
Leaving huge colorless imprints
Of merciless killing and death
And yes, the suffering, for years to come
You are nature’s time bomb
The avenger who takes all of life away
Leaving near ones to dread to live
With crestfallen thoughts of meek destiny
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A PERSPECTIVE ON INDUSTRIALIZATION OF KERALA
We need a simplified Industrial policy for the state for (1) Facilitating investment in the state (2) Employment generation and employability enhancement (3) Adherence to high quality standards.
Kerala per say is not a business friendly state. The attitude of the policy makers, bureaucrats and the citizens of the state to business men and entrepreneurs within Kerala is not very positive. In their eyes, business men and entrepreneur are manpower exploiting, tax evading and PROFIT making people who are not welcomed.
In Kerala entrepreneurship is not celebrated or recognized.
The policy makers and executives conveniently forget the economic principle that Entrepreneurship is the foundation stone of economic progress. Any society which is not entrepreneurial will not grow and the present economic ambience of the state is a testimony to this fact.
When the Revenue Minister and Finance ministers of the state use public podiums to castigate businessmen and entrepreneurs publicly, who will dare to start a venture here?
For a state like Kerala with limitations of space, with no major manufacturing industries around, with people aspiring for white collar jobs, with so many NGOs and people clamouring to maintain the pristine nature of the state, the only call is to focus on SERVICE sector as the major industrial activity.
With this in mind we should make Kerala a centre of technology and skilled economic activity so as to give fillip to Service sector.
Kerala state government must support skill development and other promotional measures to set up Knowledge based industries in Kerala.
Though the Technocity and other district based information parks are there in the making, our Techno parks are slated to establish small companies within. This will not boost employment in large numbers in the state.
We need to take into account of the fact that every year Kerala state produces about 30000 fresh graduate engineers, 10000 diploma engineers, 10000 MCAs and another 30000 graduates who aspire to make it big through white collar employment. For close to 75000 employment seekers per annum, do we have world’s top IT companies present in Kerala for providing jobs? Sadly, no.
Infrastructures like Smart city, Techno city etc. must persuade big time employers like IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP etc. in IT development area and large BPO companies such as Accenture, IBM, Sodexho, Cap Gemini etc. in the BPO sector to set their base in their infrastructure. These companies will take care of the large employment requirement of the state, year on year.
People working in new generation companies aspire for enough of entertainment facilities around the place of working. Attitudinally the policy makers turn their eyes away from these realities. The requirement is genuine and by closing our eyes from this, we only forbid the arrival of such companies from setting base in Kerala.
Other major business segments to be focussed are Financial Services, Hospitality and Healthcare. The state must promote institutions of excellence in these areas for training the job seekers for these sectors.
Next in line could be Educational services, Biotechnology, Media, R&D and Design services.
Industries based on Ayurveda and Food processing also needs encouragement of the state.
Major hindrance to our growth is the lack of infrastructure, particularly roads and transportation facilities. The State has to take up the widening of roads and getting the roads into good shape, of the existing highways and the roads inside the city corporation limits.
Better transportation facilities round the clock are required for cities such as Cochin & Trivandrum. Both the cities also must plan for MRTP system now itself. The authorities and policy makers are neglecting the need of Cochin for a metro. Alternate transportation facilities such as water transport for the city of Cochin must be immediately implemented. It could be on a PPP model so that the state is not burdened on the capital expenditure required for them.
In a state like Kerala where large industries are not favoured due to constraints of space and population, Small and Medium Establishments (SME) must be focussed.
A new Industrial policy should be incorporated for specific interventions for the development of Small & Medium Enterprises which undoubtedly contribute significantly to the economic growth of any state.
SMEs must get interest subsidy, loan disbursement, quality certification, marketing assistance and awards and recognition.
To promote Venture Capital Funding for SME projects, adopting innovative technologies such as Nano technology, Information Technology and Bio-Technology, the Government should provide funds to FIs/Banks who have the necessary expertise in operating Venture Capital Funds. The minimum amount to be given to any such funds should be Rs. 100 Crores.
Though these are perspectives on the focus areas or areas of business, the basic aspect of the attitudinal change required in Malayali on entrepreneurship and companies is something that needs immediate attention. Unless that comes through, any plan that we make in Kerala to elevate its industrial output will not come about.
So, who will bell the cat?
Kerala per say is not a business friendly state. The attitude of the policy makers, bureaucrats and the citizens of the state to business men and entrepreneurs within Kerala is not very positive. In their eyes, business men and entrepreneur are manpower exploiting, tax evading and PROFIT making people who are not welcomed.
In Kerala entrepreneurship is not celebrated or recognized.
The policy makers and executives conveniently forget the economic principle that Entrepreneurship is the foundation stone of economic progress. Any society which is not entrepreneurial will not grow and the present economic ambience of the state is a testimony to this fact.
When the Revenue Minister and Finance ministers of the state use public podiums to castigate businessmen and entrepreneurs publicly, who will dare to start a venture here?
For a state like Kerala with limitations of space, with no major manufacturing industries around, with people aspiring for white collar jobs, with so many NGOs and people clamouring to maintain the pristine nature of the state, the only call is to focus on SERVICE sector as the major industrial activity.
With this in mind we should make Kerala a centre of technology and skilled economic activity so as to give fillip to Service sector.
Kerala state government must support skill development and other promotional measures to set up Knowledge based industries in Kerala.
Though the Technocity and other district based information parks are there in the making, our Techno parks are slated to establish small companies within. This will not boost employment in large numbers in the state.
We need to take into account of the fact that every year Kerala state produces about 30000 fresh graduate engineers, 10000 diploma engineers, 10000 MCAs and another 30000 graduates who aspire to make it big through white collar employment. For close to 75000 employment seekers per annum, do we have world’s top IT companies present in Kerala for providing jobs? Sadly, no.
Infrastructures like Smart city, Techno city etc. must persuade big time employers like IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP etc. in IT development area and large BPO companies such as Accenture, IBM, Sodexho, Cap Gemini etc. in the BPO sector to set their base in their infrastructure. These companies will take care of the large employment requirement of the state, year on year.
People working in new generation companies aspire for enough of entertainment facilities around the place of working. Attitudinally the policy makers turn their eyes away from these realities. The requirement is genuine and by closing our eyes from this, we only forbid the arrival of such companies from setting base in Kerala.
Other major business segments to be focussed are Financial Services, Hospitality and Healthcare. The state must promote institutions of excellence in these areas for training the job seekers for these sectors.
Next in line could be Educational services, Biotechnology, Media, R&D and Design services.
Industries based on Ayurveda and Food processing also needs encouragement of the state.
Major hindrance to our growth is the lack of infrastructure, particularly roads and transportation facilities. The State has to take up the widening of roads and getting the roads into good shape, of the existing highways and the roads inside the city corporation limits.
Better transportation facilities round the clock are required for cities such as Cochin & Trivandrum. Both the cities also must plan for MRTP system now itself. The authorities and policy makers are neglecting the need of Cochin for a metro. Alternate transportation facilities such as water transport for the city of Cochin must be immediately implemented. It could be on a PPP model so that the state is not burdened on the capital expenditure required for them.
In a state like Kerala where large industries are not favoured due to constraints of space and population, Small and Medium Establishments (SME) must be focussed.
A new Industrial policy should be incorporated for specific interventions for the development of Small & Medium Enterprises which undoubtedly contribute significantly to the economic growth of any state.
SMEs must get interest subsidy, loan disbursement, quality certification, marketing assistance and awards and recognition.
To promote Venture Capital Funding for SME projects, adopting innovative technologies such as Nano technology, Information Technology and Bio-Technology, the Government should provide funds to FIs/Banks who have the necessary expertise in operating Venture Capital Funds. The minimum amount to be given to any such funds should be Rs. 100 Crores.
Though these are perspectives on the focus areas or areas of business, the basic aspect of the attitudinal change required in Malayali on entrepreneurship and companies is something that needs immediate attention. Unless that comes through, any plan that we make in Kerala to elevate its industrial output will not come about.
So, who will bell the cat?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
INDIA: YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW
At many places I hear of India reaching the economic super power status. Has India really reached the level of a global economic super power? I am not sure about it! But one thing is sure, India is moving forward to become a global economic super power.
The rate at which it is growing, India, currently a fast developing nation, is expected to become a global super power. Of course, there are others in the race too. China for instance, is ahead of us and may be, there are Brazil and Russia. A leading consulting company had even coined a word BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) to be the global economic giants by year 2025. If everything is going well, that is.
For the purpose of an analysis, we will have to put India in three time zones. And that is the past, the present and the future.
Of course India has had a glorious past. Let us look at India in the 17th Century. Up till then, India was one of the richest nations in the world. Every other nation, particularly those who had sea travel power, wanted to reach India somehow, to trade with her and to be connected to her. Lots of armies from far beyond and from the neighboring nations invaded and that included Alexander from Greece, Timur from Mongol, The Genghis Khan, The Lodi’s, Khilgis, Mughals etc. Then came the Europeans, the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch and later, the British. Under the British, India got plundered, squeezed hard and left high and dry as a very poor nation. By the time she gained independence in 1947, India has had everything sucked out of her by her invading rulers.
For close to two hundred and fifty years, India remained as one of the poorest of nations. It had lost all its sheen and the height of its helplessness got exposed in 1991, when the country’s foreign exchange earnings dipped as low as seven days’ worth of Import, economically, we were almost on the brink of death.
With no choices left, India had to take the diktats from the World Bank and International Monitory Fund to follow the reform process. It was at this point a South Indian Prime Minister (Narsingh Rao) combined his strengths with a Punjabi Finance minister (Manmohan Singh) to reverse the trend. India got opened up. It started getting liberalized and it started understanding the power of Private sector. From a ‘Hindu growth rate’ of two percent, the country started growing steadily, initially at rates higher than four percent and that moved up to 7 to 8 percent. Over the last two decades, the country had been growing economically at above 6% in a compounded manner. And that has been a phenomenal growth indeed! We have only one country to beat in the growth rate and that is China. So, at present, the India Juggernaut is rolling forward, steadily.
So, now is the future to be looked at. Where do we go from here?
Many predict that India could make it to being one of the top three nations of the world, along with China and United States, in future. Let us see what will make that come true.
Currently we are adjudged as a soft power. A soft power is that has technology power. Yes, India had become an IT super power for the last 10 to 15 years. Information technology, particularly software and India are very synonymous. We now need to bring technology into the country’s governance soon. This is expected to improve efficiency of bureaucracy, not to speak of annihilating the rampant corruption that we are in today.
But now, we need to improve our infrastructure drastically. Infrastructure would include road, rail, power, ports etc. No nation had ever progressed without roads. Transportation is the lifeline of any growing nation, that includes road, rail, air and water transportation. There is plenty of scope for that to improve in our Country. How is it possible? It can only happen through regulated public private participation (ppp).
We need to give much more attention to education particularly the higher and vocational education. Our learning centers had become quiet archaic. For a country which boasted of Nalanda and Takshasila centuries ago, our present education system is nothing to write home about.
India is one of the most populous countries of the world. Every sixth person of the world is an Indian. With more than 1 billion people of whom 30 percent are middle class, we offer one of the largest markets to corporations of the world. In fact, our middle class alone will be bigger than the markets of America and Europe respectively. And again, more than forty percent of the Indian are of the age group of less than 25 years. Only India has this youth power advantage which is now globally called as ‘demographic dividend’. How effectively we could deploy this youth power across the world needs to be seen. The future global opportunities should give our youth a big boost to meet their aspirations.
Our political system really needs to mature to catch up with our growth. The country, though a democracy, is not politically very mature. Local parties and the coalition government is not a boon to our growth. So is dynastic politics. More and more educated people should get into politics and the governance of our nation.
India’s growing malady is corruption at the high places. Today we hear about corruption cases that had deprived the country of wealth to the tune of Rs.1,76,000 crores in 2G scam, Commonwealth Games (Rs.8000 crores), Adarsh Housing, Bangalore land scam etc. Unless we put a check on it, we could disintegrate into a worthless nation soon.
The corporates of our country currently is only running after profits. For them, the motto is profits at whatever means. For this, they form unholy nexus with ever corrupt politicians. Year on year, the size of the corruption is increasing heavily. It is time the corporates also started thinking about is social responsibilities. The rules of the country and their political allies must not allow crony capitalism to be formed to plunder the nation.
Inclusivity is another challenge that the country is facing. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing very rapidly. Unless we are able to bring all the people of the nations, be it rich or poor, dalits or upper class and touchable or untouchable, we have to bring all to the umbrella of governance and financial independence as much as possible. Inclusivity has to the nation’s highest priority.
As a nation, over the last 15 years, we never had it so good. While we had grown economically, we also could elevate 10 more percent of the population out of poverty. There is much more to be done. If we are governed well, there is every chance for India to emerge as the Global Economic Super Power.
On to this dream, I rest my post.
The rate at which it is growing, India, currently a fast developing nation, is expected to become a global super power. Of course, there are others in the race too. China for instance, is ahead of us and may be, there are Brazil and Russia. A leading consulting company had even coined a word BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) to be the global economic giants by year 2025. If everything is going well, that is.
For the purpose of an analysis, we will have to put India in three time zones. And that is the past, the present and the future.
Of course India has had a glorious past. Let us look at India in the 17th Century. Up till then, India was one of the richest nations in the world. Every other nation, particularly those who had sea travel power, wanted to reach India somehow, to trade with her and to be connected to her. Lots of armies from far beyond and from the neighboring nations invaded and that included Alexander from Greece, Timur from Mongol, The Genghis Khan, The Lodi’s, Khilgis, Mughals etc. Then came the Europeans, the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch and later, the British. Under the British, India got plundered, squeezed hard and left high and dry as a very poor nation. By the time she gained independence in 1947, India has had everything sucked out of her by her invading rulers.
For close to two hundred and fifty years, India remained as one of the poorest of nations. It had lost all its sheen and the height of its helplessness got exposed in 1991, when the country’s foreign exchange earnings dipped as low as seven days’ worth of Import, economically, we were almost on the brink of death.
With no choices left, India had to take the diktats from the World Bank and International Monitory Fund to follow the reform process. It was at this point a South Indian Prime Minister (Narsingh Rao) combined his strengths with a Punjabi Finance minister (Manmohan Singh) to reverse the trend. India got opened up. It started getting liberalized and it started understanding the power of Private sector. From a ‘Hindu growth rate’ of two percent, the country started growing steadily, initially at rates higher than four percent and that moved up to 7 to 8 percent. Over the last two decades, the country had been growing economically at above 6% in a compounded manner. And that has been a phenomenal growth indeed! We have only one country to beat in the growth rate and that is China. So, at present, the India Juggernaut is rolling forward, steadily.
So, now is the future to be looked at. Where do we go from here?
Many predict that India could make it to being one of the top three nations of the world, along with China and United States, in future. Let us see what will make that come true.
Currently we are adjudged as a soft power. A soft power is that has technology power. Yes, India had become an IT super power for the last 10 to 15 years. Information technology, particularly software and India are very synonymous. We now need to bring technology into the country’s governance soon. This is expected to improve efficiency of bureaucracy, not to speak of annihilating the rampant corruption that we are in today.
But now, we need to improve our infrastructure drastically. Infrastructure would include road, rail, power, ports etc. No nation had ever progressed without roads. Transportation is the lifeline of any growing nation, that includes road, rail, air and water transportation. There is plenty of scope for that to improve in our Country. How is it possible? It can only happen through regulated public private participation (ppp).
We need to give much more attention to education particularly the higher and vocational education. Our learning centers had become quiet archaic. For a country which boasted of Nalanda and Takshasila centuries ago, our present education system is nothing to write home about.
India is one of the most populous countries of the world. Every sixth person of the world is an Indian. With more than 1 billion people of whom 30 percent are middle class, we offer one of the largest markets to corporations of the world. In fact, our middle class alone will be bigger than the markets of America and Europe respectively. And again, more than forty percent of the Indian are of the age group of less than 25 years. Only India has this youth power advantage which is now globally called as ‘demographic dividend’. How effectively we could deploy this youth power across the world needs to be seen. The future global opportunities should give our youth a big boost to meet their aspirations.
Our political system really needs to mature to catch up with our growth. The country, though a democracy, is not politically very mature. Local parties and the coalition government is not a boon to our growth. So is dynastic politics. More and more educated people should get into politics and the governance of our nation.
India’s growing malady is corruption at the high places. Today we hear about corruption cases that had deprived the country of wealth to the tune of Rs.1,76,000 crores in 2G scam, Commonwealth Games (Rs.8000 crores), Adarsh Housing, Bangalore land scam etc. Unless we put a check on it, we could disintegrate into a worthless nation soon.
The corporates of our country currently is only running after profits. For them, the motto is profits at whatever means. For this, they form unholy nexus with ever corrupt politicians. Year on year, the size of the corruption is increasing heavily. It is time the corporates also started thinking about is social responsibilities. The rules of the country and their political allies must not allow crony capitalism to be formed to plunder the nation.
Inclusivity is another challenge that the country is facing. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing very rapidly. Unless we are able to bring all the people of the nations, be it rich or poor, dalits or upper class and touchable or untouchable, we have to bring all to the umbrella of governance and financial independence as much as possible. Inclusivity has to the nation’s highest priority.
As a nation, over the last 15 years, we never had it so good. While we had grown economically, we also could elevate 10 more percent of the population out of poverty. There is much more to be done. If we are governed well, there is every chance for India to emerge as the Global Economic Super Power.
On to this dream, I rest my post.
Monday, January 24, 2011
LEARNING 2011 – THE INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CONFERENCE @ COCHIN
Indian Society for Training & Development (ISTD)- Kochi Chapter which I chair this year, in association with Lifelong Learning Foundation (LLF) Kochi organized an International Learning Convention; “Learning 2011” on 14th & 15th of January 2011 at Pastoral Orientation Centre, Kochi, Kerala.
The objective of the Convention was to introduce effective learning methods and processes to corporate facilitators, educationalists, trainers and teachers in this part of the world. From the archaic teaching process, the emphasis has to shift to learning process and the convention’s goal was to reiterate that learning is the responsibility of the learner. Methods like Theme centred Interaction (TCI), Open Space Technology (OST) etc. has brought in an effective experiential learning process for the seekers of knowledge. Once the learners undergo these methods, we expect the landscape of training to change for the better. Therefore, the learning convention was to play a catalystic and pioneering role to explore innovative ways in which individuals and organizations could learn and grow. In the process, our interest was to change and better the landscape of training and learning.
The 'Living Learning' experience
Learning is an integral part of our lives. In the conventional education and training systems, focus is more on the teacher and trainer. Humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers who had contributed much to the philosophy of learning, relates learning to personal change. He says that learning facilitates when the learner participates responsibly in the learning process.
Self-initiated learning which involves the whole person of the learner—feelings as well as intellect –is the most lasting and pervasive one. Independence, creativity and self-reliance are all facilitated when self-criticism and self-evaluation is primary and evaluation by others is of secondary importance.
Ruth Cohn, founder of 'Theme-Centered Interaction' (TCI) introduced the 'living learning' system. To her, the intended process of learning, the subjective learning experience of the individual as well as the shared goal in learning are expressed as equal components. Living learning emphasizes careful perception of oneself and others in both private and professional areas. It strengthens individual autonomy and interdependence. Living learning nurtures mutual respect.
In the living learning system, main role of the facilitator is creating opportunities for people to learn. This means providing congenial climate for learning, by establishing and maintaining appropriate structures and methods. Living learning is a natural process similar to organic farming as against those using chemical fertilizers. Living learning may lead to change through a slow, yet steady process unlike the conventional teaching and training promising quick remedy. Living learning system may not provide fast food type solutions to quench the thirst of the learner. Yet it could lead to robust, stable personal growth with due respect to her unique style. Such a change will help the learner to achieve her purpose in her life-leading to self-actualization.
At the 'Learning 2011' participants got ample opportunities to experience the fascinating journey of learning, triggering reflections and insights, that would last very long.
The facilitators of the “Learning 2011” came from over all over Europe. Names such as Hans-Georg Vom Berg, Hermann Eppler, Christa Reppel, Bernd Krock, Christiane Bieker & Thomas Abraham (he is from Kerala) are torch bearers of this learning tradition and we were fortunate to get them together for “Learning 2011”. It was for the first time that a convention of this order ran on parallel multiple tracks. At all point in time during the convention, 6 parallel sessions were running simultaneously.
About one hundred and fifty delegates from corporate establishments and teachers from professional institutions, Schools, Business schools and Colleges took part in “Learning 2011”.
A project of this magnitude with the facilitators from Europe needed funds and this could not have come from the delegates alone. Canon India, Kochi Refineries BPCL, BSEL Infra Projects Ltd, Manappuram Finance Ltd, National Textile Corporation, IBS Software Services, Petronet CNG Ltd, Muthoot George Group, HLL Lifecare Ltd, Synthite and Kitex Ltd chipped in with sponsorship.
The Convention was inaugurated by Mr. Prashanth Bhattacharya IAS, National President of ISTD. Mr. Mohan, Director-HR of Bharat Petroleum delivered the keynote address. After this, the delegates were split to different tracks (breakout sessions) upon their own choice and six parallel sessions ran concurrently for the next two days.
In the evening of the first day, there was an entertainment program in which Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad, an NGO of intellectuals, did a street play based on the concept of learning. Additionally, ‘System of Thoughts’, a band consisting of the students of TocH Public School Cochin played before the audience.
Before the Valedictory function on the second day afternoon, the participants of the training did a poster exhibition displaying the details of their learning during the convention. After this in a truly interactive valedictory function, participants paid encomium for the trainers and the trainers expressed their views about the process. The volunteers were acknowledged and mementos were given away to participants along with participation certificates.
As you see, this was truly a pioneering endeavor. A training of this nature never happened in Public domain in Kerala before. Efforts were put to bring the best of the facilitators, who were leaders in their field. It was the first time in Kerala that a training seminar has 6 track training sessions running parallel. Above all, the training methods that are learnt will help the delegates to employ international methodologies in their training efforts to make the learning process simple, effective and long lasting.
As I had always believed, learning is the constituency of ISTD. We had done our bit to enrich this constituency by bringing in the best of global practices. It was an experience that I would never forget.
The objective of the Convention was to introduce effective learning methods and processes to corporate facilitators, educationalists, trainers and teachers in this part of the world. From the archaic teaching process, the emphasis has to shift to learning process and the convention’s goal was to reiterate that learning is the responsibility of the learner. Methods like Theme centred Interaction (TCI), Open Space Technology (OST) etc. has brought in an effective experiential learning process for the seekers of knowledge. Once the learners undergo these methods, we expect the landscape of training to change for the better. Therefore, the learning convention was to play a catalystic and pioneering role to explore innovative ways in which individuals and organizations could learn and grow. In the process, our interest was to change and better the landscape of training and learning.
The 'Living Learning' experience
Learning is an integral part of our lives. In the conventional education and training systems, focus is more on the teacher and trainer. Humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers who had contributed much to the philosophy of learning, relates learning to personal change. He says that learning facilitates when the learner participates responsibly in the learning process.
Self-initiated learning which involves the whole person of the learner—feelings as well as intellect –is the most lasting and pervasive one. Independence, creativity and self-reliance are all facilitated when self-criticism and self-evaluation is primary and evaluation by others is of secondary importance.
Ruth Cohn, founder of 'Theme-Centered Interaction' (TCI) introduced the 'living learning' system. To her, the intended process of learning, the subjective learning experience of the individual as well as the shared goal in learning are expressed as equal components. Living learning emphasizes careful perception of oneself and others in both private and professional areas. It strengthens individual autonomy and interdependence. Living learning nurtures mutual respect.
In the living learning system, main role of the facilitator is creating opportunities for people to learn. This means providing congenial climate for learning, by establishing and maintaining appropriate structures and methods. Living learning is a natural process similar to organic farming as against those using chemical fertilizers. Living learning may lead to change through a slow, yet steady process unlike the conventional teaching and training promising quick remedy. Living learning system may not provide fast food type solutions to quench the thirst of the learner. Yet it could lead to robust, stable personal growth with due respect to her unique style. Such a change will help the learner to achieve her purpose in her life-leading to self-actualization.
At the 'Learning 2011' participants got ample opportunities to experience the fascinating journey of learning, triggering reflections and insights, that would last very long.
The facilitators of the “Learning 2011” came from over all over Europe. Names such as Hans-Georg Vom Berg, Hermann Eppler, Christa Reppel, Bernd Krock, Christiane Bieker & Thomas Abraham (he is from Kerala) are torch bearers of this learning tradition and we were fortunate to get them together for “Learning 2011”. It was for the first time that a convention of this order ran on parallel multiple tracks. At all point in time during the convention, 6 parallel sessions were running simultaneously.
About one hundred and fifty delegates from corporate establishments and teachers from professional institutions, Schools, Business schools and Colleges took part in “Learning 2011”.
A project of this magnitude with the facilitators from Europe needed funds and this could not have come from the delegates alone. Canon India, Kochi Refineries BPCL, BSEL Infra Projects Ltd, Manappuram Finance Ltd, National Textile Corporation, IBS Software Services, Petronet CNG Ltd, Muthoot George Group, HLL Lifecare Ltd, Synthite and Kitex Ltd chipped in with sponsorship.
The Convention was inaugurated by Mr. Prashanth Bhattacharya IAS, National President of ISTD. Mr. Mohan, Director-HR of Bharat Petroleum delivered the keynote address. After this, the delegates were split to different tracks (breakout sessions) upon their own choice and six parallel sessions ran concurrently for the next two days.
In the evening of the first day, there was an entertainment program in which Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad, an NGO of intellectuals, did a street play based on the concept of learning. Additionally, ‘System of Thoughts’, a band consisting of the students of TocH Public School Cochin played before the audience.
Before the Valedictory function on the second day afternoon, the participants of the training did a poster exhibition displaying the details of their learning during the convention. After this in a truly interactive valedictory function, participants paid encomium for the trainers and the trainers expressed their views about the process. The volunteers were acknowledged and mementos were given away to participants along with participation certificates.
As you see, this was truly a pioneering endeavor. A training of this nature never happened in Public domain in Kerala before. Efforts were put to bring the best of the facilitators, who were leaders in their field. It was the first time in Kerala that a training seminar has 6 track training sessions running parallel. Above all, the training methods that are learnt will help the delegates to employ international methodologies in their training efforts to make the learning process simple, effective and long lasting.
As I had always believed, learning is the constituency of ISTD. We had done our bit to enrich this constituency by bringing in the best of global practices. It was an experience that I would never forget.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
DEATH OF K KARUNAKARAN – END OF AN ERA
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
