Shubh Deepawali !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deepawali is nearing and so it’s enthusiasm is touching sky high. All sorts of sales and discounts have swarmed the market to lure the customer. Whenever Diwali arrives we hear the story of how residents of Ayodhya celebrated this festival of lights on the occasion of returing of Sree RAM.

But in my school days I read a fantastic essay about Diwali. It was by Hazariprasad Dwivediji about the nature of Diwali. Till date I have not come across a more better explanation. Diwali is one of the most auspicious days in HINDU religion. Many readers must be knowing that Hindu’s have 3 ½ most auspicious occasions and Diwali is one of them. But it falls on Amavasya which is considered unholy.

Leaving that apart, what Dwivediji’s argument was that on diwali, Lakshmi puja holds a special significance. It is not only worship but it is a tryst with goddess of wealth that one will strive to acheive equitable distribution of wealth. Quite in line with what our economist strive for. ISLAM has a similar concept of ZAKAT in which well to do muslims donate money so that their poor brethren can celebrate Id. A nice food for thought for the coming DIWALI.

So SHUBH DEEPAWALI to all of you.

Moreover some thoughts on 2 issues….first one about recent spat between Murthy and Devegowda. Well that shows what thoughts our Netas have about IT in 21st century. No doubt INDIA lacks on all the development indicators and China is catching up fast even in this forte of us.

The other about musings of Iranian president about Israel and wiping it off the map. Leaders have come and gone with this dream in their eyes. Just after establishment, Israel was attacked by 5 nations and still it was not wiped off but emerged victorious. Even if Israel becomes endangered we should extend our support against one common enemy and i.e Islamic terrorism. These words from president are just an indication that even leaders share the same thought about so called “infidels “.

Let me end with “Long live India, Long live Zionism”

A tale of TWO Indias ???????

The title is similar to one of the most famous novels from one of the most famous novelists. But the blog is about two different Indias which co-exist here……one which is being challenged and the other which is challenging the world…..

First about the challenger……which is growing at an awesome pace of 6-8% annually inspite of lethargic governance. It is giving rise to a new clout of Indian companies with Indian professionals who are scouting the globe for opportunities. Today DNA carried headlines of a professor from Nagpur, Dr Asha Zadgaonkar who has commercialized the process of creating fuel from plastic waste. Since I am a Nagpurite…I had heard about her 3-4 yrs ago. But then there was a silence and now it is said that she has perfected it and is now being wooed from many countries for technology. She is planning to scale it up for the phenomenal demand. We are going to see more of such challengers in every field ,and India needs them in all fields. Be it Mr. Rajendra Singh for water conservation…or Dr Shanta for cancer treatment or Dr Asha for technology. This India is what we hear about a lot and tend to believe that.

The other India is being challenged by terrorism,violence,casteism….Recently muslim organizations have formed a “United Democratic Front” in Assam. You would say nothing great in that everybody is free to form institutions at will. But the inspiration behind this comes from “Jamait-e-Ulema-e-Hind” whose student wing was SIMI which was banned by then NDA government for anti-national activities. The president of UDF is the person who also heads JUH in Assam. These organizations have always been supportive of the illegal influx from Bangladesh. They can influence results in 40/126 assembly seats.

Muslim population has grown by 20% according to last census in Assam. No state is growing at this rate..so there is a clear case of illegal immigration. But still Mr Gogoi (CM of Assam) says there is no immigration. Don’t get awed by the response it is a shameless act of vote-bank politics. These immigrants are voters of Congress so they are being protected by them (Even in Mumbai, Sunil Dutt supported them for votes). Jinnah had a unfinished dream of integrating Assam with Pakistan but all our politicians seem to be working towards it. This India is not growing but is actually degrading.

North-East can be a great money spinner because of it’s access to China,Bangladesh and Burma. It is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world and can be a rice bowl of India. Tourism can be another million dollar business. Opportunities are immense if our so called ‘Janata ke Sevak’ see national cause and not vote banks. If this India is not integrated with the other one no body can continue for long.

“ASK NOT FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, BUT IT TOLLS FOR THEE…..”

SALAAM to the BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My day begins with encounter with the best…I go to the nearest bus stop catch the bus at a particular time and reach my workplace. Well you will say nothing great in that,everybody does that. But what we don’t notice everyday or rather take it for granted is the on time availability. (exceptions do exist)
But seeing the condition of Mumbai roads, rising traffic BEST still makes a mark. Buses still arrive within 5-10 mins of their schedule. Along with it the level of customer service is amazing. Most of the conductors, carrying this volume of traffic, still ensure that everybody buys ticket, change is returned and this with amazing efficiency and politeness. (there have been very few instances when altercation erupts)
BEST everyday carries 4 million passengers…but still incurs a loss. Causes are many…now rising fuel costs have added to the woes. But this blog is not about this. For people like me who come from the hinterland…..BEST & Local services are simply amazing.
So what’s the big deal?

Unleash them…….Form a company for BEST & Mumbai Urban transport….not like the one currently exisiting…but with more autonomy and ones which can follow their commercial interest ,and not take order from some MLA/MP who most of the times don’t understand B of business.
The result will be organizations who have behind them decades of experience of running public transport and can provide such services in other part of India as well. They might compete with state or private entities if required.

But where will the funds come from ?.Already India spends 25 billion $ on fuel bill…..taxes collected through them can be pumped into such entities and the return can be not only in monetary from but also in cutting down the bill.

There are several such examples of state PSU’s which instead of selling off should be made more independent and commercial. Take the example of MSEB now unbundled into 4 entities.
It has been ridiculed for bad customer service and power failures….but few people know that it has second largest generation capacity after NTPC.(NTPC has m-cap of 68000 crs) It has PLF (plant load factor) a measure of efficency, comparable with best in INDIA. The same logic can be applied here….unleash it. Let there be a autonomous board responsible for MSEB which can decide the policy matters and execution part can be left to the engineers. The result one more power company which can compete within India for operating power projects and deliver power efficiently.

But we are so much obsessed with disinvestment that we can’t see any other way of reviving the public sector. Ultimately once disinvested, the property which has been created over 30-40 yrs of diligence, is sold off instead of which private sector can be encouraged to create more capacity which India desperately needs be it in transport, electricity, petrochemicals, heavy industries etc.

Don’t believe me….even Lee Iacocca in his autobiography had severely criticized American co’s intention of M&A’s. Which only leads to larger co’s and does’nt create new technologies or new capacity. The same logic can be extended to disinvestment as well.

SO what do you say?????

BLOG
My last blog might have seemed ridiclulous, but similar article appeared in INDIAN EXPRESS suggesting of strategic tie up with Vietnam to counter China. But today I would like to discuss about 2 topics-:

AMERICA & TRIPURA ??????

The title might be contradictory suggesting of the sole superpower and one of the most troubled states of India. But connections do exist. Recently in a Human Right conference in USA, activists ridiculed India for it’s poor record in stopping atrocities against Dalits. The activist were members of Senate who expressed concern over the sufferings of Dalits. But the greater concern was that conversions of these backward people leads to their progress. And Indian constitution does not grant the same benefits ( read reservations) as Dalits on their converted brethren. Also so called communalists (read RSS and other NGO’s) try to revert the progress by reconversion of these Dalits. The writing on the wall is clear, American Senate members supporting the mass conversions carried out by missionaries with force or money.

Now coming to TRIPURA, everyone knows Durga puja has a large following in Eastern India and even in North East. But many states like Tripura have seen massive conversions to Christianity and rise of terrorist organizations supported by Church.

So during Durga puja these outfits make a declaration that Puja is banned in the state and who so ever defying the rule will meet the consequences. Although the connection seems weird , but when one sees the strategic location of N-E, it is perfectly located between China & India. It is also a door to South East Asia, one of the regions with most frenetic economic growth. Most of the missionaries are funded by Europe & US who then carry out the holy mission in India and also foster secessionist movements.

Fortunately this year some clubs have decided to defy such orders and carry out puja in a large scale.

CEASEFIRE
Terrorists organizations have declared a ceasefire seeing the massive destruction caused in Kashmir due to quake. Their leader Salahuddin has gone far in suggesting that they must offer a helping hand to suffering people. Nothing can be described a better farce than this ploy. Terrorism has lost it’s glamour in J&K. Pakistan has been trying desperately to rekindle the local support for this movement. But every time it has faced a bitter defeat.

Now in case of such a calamity where even the cruelest of being will lend a helping hand, Pakistan is playing tricks by trying to win local sympathy. The best helping hand can be shutting down the terror network and fighting against a common enemy i.e POVERTY.

Dump the SECURITY COUNCIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
It might sound insane because of all the hoopla going on this subject. Some claiming that we are very close to getting a permanent seat while others claiming that we do not stand a chance. But is it worth that we should surrender everything just to sit as a permanent member in that council which has achieved so little in last 50 years of it’s existence.

Time and again it has been proved that “POWER RULES”. Remember that America continued it’s attacks on Bosnia even when Security council did’nt ratify it.(Remember Chinese embassy was attacked). Invasion of Iraq was carried out even without it’s consent. It could’nt do anything on the Kashmir issue even when Pakistan and China were clear aggressors.
But people obsessed with it will say that we will get a veto power which we can use in case of Kashmir. But then every member has it, so neither can it harm nor can it advance our interests.

Even if we see what have we surrendered for just getting that seat which still seems elusive.
1) We voted against IRAN which has been our sole supporter in OIC against Pakistan.
2) We signed that shady Nuclear co-operation treaty which nobody is clear what it’s gonna deliver.
For past 5-6 yrs our policy has been clearly pro-US even when it means surrendering our interests just for this seat.
The solution is simple, get your basics right. Stop contributing for peace keeping forces of UN. Why should a poor nation like India spend it’s valuable resources on these battles which in no way benefits us?

Go on modernizing your forces so that we can be major power in the Indian ocean which controls majority of crude oil flows to China & US.

Destabilize Pakistan & China by giving support to their dissidents and clearly showcasing our offensive strategy by not accepting any misadventures like Kargil or China claiming Arunachal.

Engage in more & more business with EU,US & ASEAN so that commercial interest force these powers to be on good terms with India.

There is no possibility in future of a war between US & India because everybody knows that defeating a nation of 1 billion people is near to impossible.

So our motto should be the one liner
“THERE ARE NO PERMANENT FRIENDS OR FOES BUT PARAMOUNT NATIONAL INTERESTS”