Timeless....but attempting to restart!

There was a time when there was time in one's hands - one could talk for hours on end with friends sitting in front of you or at the other end of the mobile, one could listen to one's fav compositions without any fear of time being lost and most importantly, one could spend as much time as one wanted to dig out the necessary info for one's blogpost and post a post. Wah!! Kya times dhe woh!! But now, 3 months into the first job, yours truly is truly bewildered by the pace at which time is flying away. Yours truly is horrified to find no blogposts being made for a considerable period of time. Most importantly, this blog has completed a year, but there's no time to review and ruminate about the same either!

Rupee continues to rise, stock markets are dancing to some unknown tunes, inflation is low but still a threat, elections to ICWAI council are over with not much noise after that, the government is dilly-dallying with the N-deal, attacks against Reliance Fresh stores in some parts of the country, everything in Kerala is worse than ever, ARR's 'Sivaji' music continues to rock and he completed 15 years in the industry - but, this blog missed all those.....

But now, an attempt is being made from today - to rejuvenate this blog and to continue my ruminations on issues that interest me......

Book Review: Ignited Minds

Being away, off the cyber world, resulted in my not being able to blog...The following is a book review that I was asked to do while being away from home.....At the outset, it needs to be disclosed that I'm not very good at reviewing books; again, the book that I got to review, fortunately (for me) and unfortunately (for the readers and the stature of the book as well as its author) is Ignited Minds, by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam - one of the finest sons of India. This is the first book review I did and yes, I'm loving it, too.....Read the review and give your valuable feedback....All mistakes and shortcomings are mine and mine only.......

//Born in 1931 in humble backgrounds, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam rose to become the President of India in 2002. The post of Indian President got a new meaning during his incumbency. In many ways, he was a ‘hands-on’ President and thus came to be rightly called the ‘People’s Prez’. It’s not that Presidentship alone is his claim to fame; even before assuming the highest office in the country, he had held several high-profile posts in ISRO and DRDO and was also the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, holding the rank of Cabinet Minister. He is the ‘missile-man’ of India and was the driving force behind India’s second nuclear test in 1998. He is also the recipient of the highest civilian award in India, the ‘Bharat Ratna’.

Ignited Minds: Unleashing The Power Within India continues the trajectory of thought taken up in two of his earlier works, Wings of Fire and India 2020: A Vision For The New Millennium. The object of this work, according to him, is to ignite young minds so that India turns into a developed nation by the year 2020. Dr Kalam places enormous trust on the power of India’s youth to make a difference and fulfil his vision of a developed India. The narration is in the first person and the language, simple and lucid for everyone to understand. The book is organized into nine chapters and is peppered with Dr Kalam’s own rich experiences, which makes it all the more delectable.

The book opens with the statements that Dr Kalam makes every youth he interacts with take as a sort of pledge: "Dream, Dream, Dream; Dreams transform into thoughts; And thoughts result in action". In a way, this is the essence of what he wants to convey to his readers and his countrymen at large. He talks about the power of dreams and says that spirituality has to be integrated with education, focusing on self-realization.In the second chapter, he recollects the interactions he had with children in different parts of India. He reiterates the need for the right kind of role models for the youth of India. A role model can provide answers to many questions children have as they grow up.

It is a vision that inspires minds and fires action. In the third chapter, Dr Kalam devotes considerable space to discuss the vision and achievements of illustrious sons of Mother India in fields as diverse as astronomy, mathematics, physics, space science and entrepreneurship. He briefly touches upon the lives of Aryabhatta, Brahmagupta, Bhaskaracharya, Ramanujan, Sir C V Raman, Prof S Chandrasekhar, Dr D S Kothari, Dr Homi J Bhabha and Dr Vikram Sarabhai. He also fondly recalls his association with Prof Satish Dhawan and Prof H A Yefremov and his meeting with the milkman of India, Shri Varghese Kurien. Certainly, all of these personalities have served as role models for Dr Kalam. In this exercise, he shows remarkable awareness about, and respect for all of them. In between, he also shares an interesting anecdote about how he and his team were able to get the necessary space to locate the rocket launching centre at Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram, buttressing the fact that science and religion are not mutually exclusive.

It is then a smooth take-off to the next chapter where Dr Kalam impresses upon the reader, the importance of spiritual development. An important observation he makes here is that the unification of science and spirituality is essential to take the benefits of science and technology to the mankind. He recounts his visits to, and meetings with, Pramukh Swami Maharaj of Swaminarayan Sanstha at Ahemedabad, Dargah Sharif of Sufi mystic Kwaja Moinuddeen Chishti, Mata Amritanandamayi, Ramakrishna Mission, Kanchi Shankaracharya and Sri Sathya Sai Mission and shares his learning and experience from all these visits and meetings. According to him, the vibes and mental peace one gets at these places is one and the same. Dr Kalam says that we must draw upon our heritage and wisdom to enrich our lives.

In the next chapter, Dr Kalam notes that unfortunately for India, historic forces have not given a common memory to all communities by taking them back to their roots a millennium down the ages and that not enough effort has been made in the years since independence to foster that memory. This has led to divisive forces rearing their ugly heads at times. He calls for a patriotic fervor that transcends politics and religion. He cites A R Rahman’s Vande Mataram as an example for this.

In the chapter aptly named ‘The Knowledge Society’, Dr Kalam puts up a strong case for India becoming a knowledge society and regaining the status it had enjoyed in the ancient past. He puts forward the idea of PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) for rural development, which is the need of the hour. In the next chapter, Dr Kalam lays down five areas for integrated action viz., agriculture and food processing, power, education and healthcare, Information Technology and the strategic sector. According to him, action in these five areas, properly integrated, would lead to food, economic, social and national security. The rest of the chapter is about how to align and co-ordinate action in these areas for the nation’s development.

The need for value-addition in the activities performed in our country is very well brought out in the next chapter, wherein Dr Kalam cites the case of beryllium diaphragms. This is relevant in current times too, where the rising Rupee has made the stakeholders realize the need for value-addition in our exports. Again, he calls for integrated efforts in mission mode for rapid development. In the last chapter, as in the first chapter, Dr Kalam urges us to dream and work towards making India a developed country. He prays to God Almighty to give us Indians the willingness and ability to toil hard. He ends the book with a Song of Youth, the theme of which is "Small Aim Is A Crime".

In this book, Dr Kalam laments the fact that despite all our skills, resources and talents, we Indians often tend to settle for mediocrity in everything. He also firmly believes that Indians have the potential and wherewithal to rise and realize the dream of a developed India. He has tried to show a way to fulfil this dream, by taking up different themes and tying them together with success stories to serve as motivation to everyone. Through this book, we see in Kalam the ideal Indian citizen – one who is proud of India’s glorious past and traditions and works in the present to make the future bright and exciting. Ignited Minds is a book that should be read by all self-respecting Indians, especially the youth who are the future of India and for whom it has been written. Definitely a must-buy!!//

Organised Retail - Again

Yours truly had written about the sunrise sector of organized retail twice before (here and here). It wasn't a complete account in any case, but what has prompted this entry is the discussion on the same on the Management Accountant Blog and the strike on June 27 by the organization of small traders (the Vyapari-Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti) in Kerala against the entry of retail giants [Interestingly, the processions by striking traders in Kochi were led by the same {leftist} politicians who inaugurated the new Reliance Fresh stores in Kochi; so much for commitment to a cause!!].

 

The grouse of small traders against organized retail, as outlined before, is this: the small traders will be forced to close shop due to low prices and once that happens, the big malls will start fleecing the customers by charging exorbitant sums. That the small traders will feel the heat of competition is a fait accompli; some of them will have to exit, as has been the experience around the world. The question is, is that a reason enough to resist the biggies. Let's look at it this way: the malls are not manned by robots; they too will be creating a lot of jobs for the burgeoning young population of India. And, more importantly, they will be working in a better environment. Why is everyone talking only of job losses and not about job creation?

 

Again, it is not that there is no way out for small traders - they can come together, form a single brand and put up a fight against the biggies [It has been outlined here and, therefore, is not repeated]. There were reports, some months back, about how some kirana-wallahs in Gujarat /Maharashtra were going about doing just the same. [How long will it take for all to realize that trade unions are not for confrontations with the government / people, but to serve each other for mutual benefit keeping in view the larger interests of the society?]

 

A pertinent point raised here relates to the low scope for tax evasion by organized retailers. Everyone knows that not many traders issue invoices and can well imagine the loss  - of both indirect (sales tax)and direct taxes (income tax) - the government incurs due to this. Thus, the government too will be a big beneficiary of organized retail taking root. Also, since almost all big retailers will be - and can be only - corporate entities, there is scope for ensuring compliance with different regulations aimed at preventing defrauding the consumers. The pet peeve of critics - higher prices due to cartelization once the small players exit - can be addressed effectively through mandatory Cost Audit.

 

Forget the low costs to consumers, forget the benefits that will accrue to the agri-sector; one aspect sorely missed by all seems to be this: the unorganized retail sure provides a lot of employment opportunities, but at the end of the day, it is just that - unorganized. Remember, the trade unions cover just about 10 per cent of the total workforce in India. The rest  - mostly in retail sector - are unorganized; not for them, the employee protection / welfare schemes like PF, Bonus, Insurance, etc. Don't we need to offer them these? Do they not deserve to receive such benefits? In a way, by opposing organized retail, the traders' unions and the politicians who support them are preventing the coming together of the unorganized workers (By aligning with the shop owners, isn't the Left betraying its own cause?). With organized retail, better employee treatment will result and this will help in covering an important step towards a social security cover - at least a semblance of the same, the kind which exists in India now - for all.

 

Finally, the kind of opposition seen now in Kerala carries with it a deep sense of deja vu. It was the same leftist politicians who waged a sort of war against computerization in the late 80s and early 90s, resulting in other southern states prosper in IT business; just a few months back, a bullet was seized from the laptop bag of CPI(M) state secretary - my point is not about the bullet, but the 'laptop'! The same vitriolic spirit was in full display when the previous government sought a loan from ADB; soon after coming to power, the present LDF government silently signed the dotted lines the ADB showed them! They opposed the 'Smart City' project when in opposition and a year later signed the agreement with the same people. Who knows, a few years later, we Keralites may even see a mall owned by CPI(M)!!!!

It Happens only in India

I found a few of the recent happenings to be really amusing....In my view, these kind of things can happen only in India......Read on...

 

The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, in a speech made at a CII function, asked India Inc to have a check on CEO & promoter salaries. He feels that they are paid in excess of what they deserve! He also came down on conspicuous consumption. More importantly, he said that corporates should show moderation in their pursuit of profits. Really interesting and amusing views, coming as they do from the architect of reforms - L, P and G -  which has made India achieve nearly 10 per cent GDP growth [9.4% in 2006-07], far far above the Nehru rate of growth of 3 per cent! The strong growth India is witnessing now was made possible only because of doing away with the licence-permit raj that was in vogue prior to 1990s. As an economist, the PM should well know that salaries in the corporate sector are a function of demand and supply. Money is a good motivator for most people and higher salaries are to be paid if the companies need to retain people. What is wrong with it? Then again, the message about profit maximization is clearly in line with those 1960s' ideology which totally screwed up India's growth and the ill-effects of which continue to haunt us even now.

 

The PM's message may be borne out of the realization that the 'trickle-down' theory is taking time to work in India. But, take a hard look and it will be clear that development has bypassed only those sectors where reforms were not initiated, most notably agriculture, which employs more than 60 per cent of India's workforce. In fact, no reforms have been undertaken where they are needed the most. And, this inability to call the spade a spade comes with a cost - that of losing elections - as people who are yet to get a taste of what reforms entail, will definitely be wary of them. Add to this the continuous barking by the Commies and their allies who believe in the equal distribution of poverty and it's no wonder that the reformer himself has to take a stance like this. In which other country can you see the PM putting forth such views? It is all the more ironic, since (I believe) the PM himself does not hold such a view!! It is also a pointer to the fact that even after three years in office, he has still not been able to assert himself (Just the other day, I saw on TV a clipping of some public function and you can clearly see that the PM sits down only after Sonia Gandhi is seated. Shameful!!). It's indeed sad to see a fine economist being made to dance to the tunes of petty Leftists and miserable scums like Arjun Singh and TN CM MK.

 

The second development is the Gujjar unrest in Rajasthan which held almost all North Indian states to ransom for 7 days. There were violent protests and it left many people dead. The Gujjar community - which is classified as OBC in Gujarat - wants themselves to be reclassified as STs, since they feel that recently-included-in-OBC-list Jats (who have more members than the Gujjars) will take away a good chunk of reservation benefits. But the Meena community - classified as STs - opposes any such move, as they are afraid they will lose out in the race. Even without going into the causes of this agitation or the merits of the arguments of both parties, it can be seen that this unenviable situation amply demonstrates the pernicious nature of reservation as is being implemented in India. As I have outlined before, 'Caste' is being equated with 'Class'. From Gandhiji's non-violence we have reached the other extreme of indulging in violence to prove a point. When one more caste is considered to be eligible for reservation (on the basis of their political power, what else?), those already in the list will face competition; it is perfectly 'logical', given the way reservations operate in India. Why should there be a hue and cry over that? When will people start appreciating the fact that it is in fact 'economic power' that is important these days and therefore, if at all reservations have to be there, it should be based on objective economic criteria? India will probably be the only country where people fight with each other to be called 'backward'!!

 

Then there is the curious case of a person becoming implicated and later being let off when there is a change in the government. The latest such instance is the one in the Taj corridor case. The case was registered on the directions of the Supreme Court which found there was a prima facie case against the accused. Look what has happened now: UP Governor has refused to grant permission to the CBI to prosecute Mayavati, since he believes there is not enough evidence against her! It is clearly a politically-motivated action, and it becomes even more evident when we read it together with Mayavati's statement about presidential elections. Presumably, to get her support in the race to Raisina Hills, the Congress has soft-pedalled her involvement in the case. Unfortunately, the Governor has again proved that he is just a pawn!!

 

All these happen only in one place in the whole world. It's our India, sadly!!!