IIPM makes business education truly global

Digressing from the mainstream and exploring ostensibly tabooed themes is a momentous risk if you are an Indian filmmaker.

2011-11-12T10:13:00.000+05:30

Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri Dean Business School IIPM

Subhash Jha speaks to Kaushik Ganguly, a director who has done just that with his forthcoming “Arekti Premer Galpo” (Just Another Love Story)

“Just Another Love Story” is anything but just another story. What made you go into the dark area of alternate sexuality?

You call it ‘dark’ perhaps because sexuality in any form, other than what we deem normal, is taboo, discussed judgmentally, despite an apparent air of openness in our conversations. Those who do not conform, are marginalised. Which is why the term ‘alternate sexuality’ is commonly used.

This is precisely what haunted me… for years, actually, and “Just Another Love Story” was born. The life of the erstwhile Jatra Queen, Chapal Bhaduri (Chapal Rani), was my inspiration. My film does not see any kind of sexuality as dark, or alternate. It is just another love story.

Gay love stories are still not considered mainstream cinema. How do you think audiences will react to “Arekti Premer Galpo”?

I wasn’t focused on making mainstream cinema when I made “Just Another Love Story”. The subject is a social crisis that had made me think and rethink, and the film is an expression and extension of just that. My film moves according to the needs of Chapal’s instincts, insecurities, questions, his vulnerability and loneliness.

When I made “Ushno-tar Jonyo” (Longing for You) way back in 2002, I must say I was apprehensive about audience reaction. And I must also say, that our audience did not fail to surprise me. The response was overwhelming. Hopefully, this time too, “Arekti Premer Galpo”, which is a take off from the film above, will get my audience thinking and, at the least, re-considering their take on same sex bonding. The response in Berlin, London, New York, Delhi and Goa was positively over-powering.

There is an added responsibility for you as a filmmaker since the film also marks Rituparno Ghosh's debut as an actor. Did that burden your creativity?

What is remarkable about Rituparno Ghosh is that all along, he allowed the subject to rule. And he trusted me. I would say that the pressure of delivering loomed large when I had to write a screenplay that would be good enough for a brilliant scriptwriter like Rituparno to agree to debut in the film made out of it. Later of course, his inputs as Creative Director and Production Designer made me understand and know him more as a person.

How do you rate Ritu as an actor? Was it easier/tougher to direct him as he happened to be a filmmaker himself?

Ritu is tremendously hard-working, involved and particular, as an actor. He went in for a makeover, worked out in the gym, took dance lessons. He opened himself to me like a book, which is not easy for one of Rituparno’s stature. He even had his costumes planned out, bought and packed in huge packing boxes more than a month before we went on floor. What more could I ask for of an actor?

Though he had claimed that he was not technically sound, he turned out to be very sure of the technical details that he required to keep in mind as an actor. It was a pleasure.

What do you think about the recent gay films from Bollywood like “Dunno Y...Na Jaane Kyun” (DYNJK), and earlier “My Brother Nikhil” (MBN) and parts of “Jhootha Hi Sahi” (JHS)?

DYNJK, I feel, does not focus effectively on this sensitive issue. Onir has his personal style and honesty and that has made MBN an appreciable film. However, I have not seen JHS, but I certainly will, and give you my feedback if you’re still interested… I’m surprised you did not mention “Dostana”.

Do you think there's a lot of dormant homosexuality in the entertainment industry? Do we need to get more mature in our attitude to same-sex love?

Sexual preference is a personal matter. I feel that there is dormant homosexuality in almost any field. In most cases it lies dormant because of the fear of unacceptability.

I like it when you call it ‘same-sex love’. Perhaps we need to realise that each same-sex bond is also a bond of love. And that each such journey is just another love story.

What made you choose Ritu? Is it true you wanted to offer the part to Karan Johar and Onir?

Very many reasons, actually. First, I was making a film on Chapal Rani, none other than the Queen of Jatra. So I needed an actor who could more than match up to that stature. Second, I could think of no one else who could move, talk, think and feel with the splendour and dignity of a woman. Rituparno Ghosh has a nimble gait, he talks softly, and has a deep understanding of human psychology. The film would lose its honesty had my actor been inhibited, or insensitive. Ritu was in fact my only choice. I hadn’t for once thought of offering the part to anyone else.

Your mention of Karan Johar and Onir has got me thinking… Onir would have been too young for the part, And Karan would have been more suitable for the part of Uday, the wildlife photographer from Nice.

Is conservative Bengal ready for the sexual revolution? How do you think the audience that grew up and grew old watching Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Gautam Ghose would react to your film?

Believe me, I was brought up in the campus of an extremely conservative institution. If I could work on this subject for years, and feel free to make this film in Bengal, with the support of a Bengali producer, a Bengali cast and crew, without any hassles, qualms or unnecessary curiosity from anyone here, why would I be wary of the Bengali audience? The conservative Bengali is perhaps much more open to change and much more tolerant than they are thought to be. Hasn’t Bengal been the seat of many a revolution – political, social and religious?

What would your next film be? Will you go deeper into exploring human sexuality?

My next film is “Rang Milanti” (The Queen of Hearts), about a modern-day swayamvar.

It explores comparison, choice, tolerance. It’s also just another love story.

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Like a spy thriller should be – tightly packed suspense against a backdrop of stark reality

2011-11-09T11:11:00.000+05:30

IIPM Mumbai Campus

The spying game

Can a female spy thrill minus the car chases and rooftop leaps a la Angelina Jolie in “Salt”? One look at Naomi Watts as CIA agent Valerie Plame in the opening sequence in Doug Liman’s “Fair Game” and your answer will be a resounding yes.

Liman tells the true story of Plame, whose covert status as a CIA agent is revealed by officials looking to discredit her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson after he, in an op-ed piece in The New York Times, accuses the Bush Administration of manipulating intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to invade Iraq. The story unfolds Bourne like across three continents – Asia, North America and Africa as we find Valerie cornering sources in Iraq while Joe travels to Niger to find out the facts behind an alleged Uranium deal. Liman did a terrific job of reinvigorating the good old spy thriller with the Bourne series and he keeps the energy going here, fuelled primarily by the familiar premise and superb performances from Watts and Sean Penn. Penn as Wilson is his usual self assured, pensive and intense self while Watts superbly brings to life the grace under pressure and strength of character a mother (who also happens to be a spy) should possess.

“Fair Game” is both an intelligent and exciting watch. So what if the crash boom action is missing here; it crackles with the energy of the lead pair.

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No One Killed Jessica: Bringing down The Elephant

2011-11-06T10:45:00.000+05:30

IIPM Mumbai Campus

A heavy dose of untempered reality

In one of the scenes of the film we see Sabrina (Vidya Balan) walking, and the next moment getting blocked by an elephant. This fleeting moment in the film sums up the film like no amount of dialogue could, for “No One Killed Jessica” is about how Sabrina Lall was pitted against political behemoths in her struggle to see her sister Jessica’s murderer punished. What in the

beginning seemed like an open and shut case was twisted such that the murderer managed to go scot-free, as India watched in wide-eyed astonishment and horror at how the people in power had hoodwinked the Indian judiciary.

The two protagonists suit their roles to a T, while Vidya Balan in her loose tees and massive specks gives a restrained yet powerful performance, Rani Mukherjee, as a hardened media person, shows us after a long time just why she is one of the leading ladies of Bollywood. Myra Karn as Jessica puts up a spirited performance while Rajesh Sharma as the tough cop, who wants the killer behind bars yet doesn’t shy from accepting Rs 70 lakh in return for not hurting the accused, is simply superb.

“No One Killed Jessica” was a difficult film, for while the makers hold that it is a fictional take on the case, the audiences in the theatres do already know the plot and even the climax. Given that, director Raj Kumar Gupta creates a film with great pace, suspense and emotions, however, it does not manage to strike hard enough. Ruminate and reflect, yes, but it does not make one tremble with rage or curse hard enough at the sordid state of affairs in our capital. After “Aamir”, Gupta had set his bar rather high, and while he does succeed in creating a very good film, it stops short of being excellent.

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Farah In The Madding Crowd

2011-11-03T11:40:00.000+05:30

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Be it calling the shots or taming the beats, Farah Khan knows how to play it to the gallery like nobody’s business. Spriha Srivastava in an exclusive interview with the alpha female of Bollywood…

You were a student of Sociology. How did movies happen to you?
MJ’s 'Thriller' inspired me to take up dance. But I had never thought dance would take me to Bollywood. I often thought of being a director, but a choreographer, never! In those times, the choreographers had this old-school style and one had to be a dancer first and then after 20 years or so one would get a chance as a choreographer. So that way, I was lucky; one has to be in the right place at the right time.

If you look back, what was a bigger high: your first outing as director or the first song that you choreographed?
First directorial venture, definitely. There’s no high like that. I still remember the feeling I had while doing “Main Hoon Na”. It’s like your first love. I can never forget that excitement and those little details… getting hypersensitive about someone talking about your movie or hearing those praises… nothing can match the feeling of your first film.

You cast Shah Rukh Khan, who was a well-established actor/star, whereas it was your first time as a director. Were there times when there were creative differences?
No, no! I think with Shah Rukh, all was fine. I mean, common, we started our career at the same time. I’ve also been choreographing songs for so many years. So it wasn’t like I was a new person who didn’t know anything about direction. And Shah Rukh, I’d say, has been much more than supportive in every way.

You worked with Deepika who was a first-timer and now Katrina who is also relatively new in the industry. How was it different?
With Deepika, we had to teach her everything because it was her first time in front of the camera. We had to teach her how to look, how to talk, how to turn, how to wave… and other things. I think she’s a quick learner and did a fabulous job. Katrina had been around so I thought it was a different kind of a challenge to make her undo what she’d learnt till now.

Why Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif for “Tees Maar Khan”?
It’s written by my husband Shirish and he had written it keeping Akshay in mind. When one reads the script, one would know that Akshay fits in perfectly for it. When I wrote scripts, I would have Shah Rukh in mind and then I would write my script. This script was written in such a way that I could only see Akshay. Katrina and I have worked together before. I had been planning to take her because I thought she and Akshay have done lots of movies together; besides, she also suited the role perfectly. Also, I thought I’ll take it as a challenge to make her look very different and make her dance like she has never done before. That bit has really worked in our favour. It has surprised people.

How do you respond to criticism?
I think criticism affects everyone. In fact, I think I’m doing better now. I remember with my first film, I was really hyper. I would cry and all, but later I realised that if the movie does well and people want to see it again and again – that’s what counts. “Main Hoon Na” was a big hit and is almost like a cult film among children now, but at that time it got very bad reviews. And only I remember those reviews. Today, I feel that it’s a great movie because even now when it comes on TV, it ends up grabbing great TRPs. During “Om Shanti Om”, I really didn’t bother. But of course, if somebody criticises you, it’s human nature to feel bad.

Whose opinion matters to you the most?
Umm… no one, actually. My opinion matters the most to me!

So when film critics talk or write about your movie, do you not take it seriously?
I do, of course, but you want good things to be said and written about your movie. I like it when everyone watches my movie and everyone likes my movie. But after a point, it’s a personal opinion. Some critics might not like the kind of movie I make; some might like to watch festival cinema etc. I make hard core Bollywood movies. I don’t copy any Polish Cinema or French Cinema. I make true-blooded Indian Bollywood films. So, if that does not match somebody’s taste, that person will give a bad review.

After a release at the start of the year, what are the expectations from the year ahead?
I’ve decided to leave all negative energies behind. I don’t want any negative thoughts to enter my mind. I believe that whatever you want to happen, you can make that happen. I’ve done that, including the fact that I have three babies! (laughs). Also, I think detachment from worldly things in a way is good.

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LPG is set to weigh down on your budget

2011-10-31T16:37:00.001+05:30

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With the existing government mechanism having failed to provide substantial relief to the common man from inflationary pressures, the expected hike in LPG prices will hurt household budgets more than ever.

Gone are the days when onions were a regular ingredient in Vinita Sharma's meals. There are fewer eggs for breakfast, pulses are no more a staple diet in this household and the children have to spend their winter vacations at home instead of their planned new year extravaganza in an outstation. “The steep escalation in the prices of daily food items has left us with no choice but to revamp our monthly budget and scale down little luxuries to the bare minimum,” says Vinita, a Noida-based housewife who moved to the national capital after her husband, a bank executive, relocated last year.

Like Vinita, if the recent increase in prices of food items (and of course, the petrol price hike in December) burnt a deep hole in your wallet, then get ready for another body blow as price of the all-essential Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is set to go the same way. Reportedly, the government is planning to increase cooking gas prices by anywhere between Rs 15-40 per cylinder, a move bound to fuel the existing inflationary pressures. With an escalation in the prices of most household products as transportation costs rise further, this move to hike LPG prices will deeply hurt the common man.

The impact, once all these factors are taken into account, is by no means going to leave an average consumer financially comfortable. Monthly household budgets will need to be considerably revamped. Add to that the possibility of EMIs rising further with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) looking to raise interest rates to counter inflation. This leaves the common man with no option but to cut down on luxuries like travelling and spending on a decent meal with family on a weekend. To put it bluntly, the hole in your wallet is set to get deeper!

Curtailing small luxuries is something that might help the so-called upper middle class to deal with the current situation, but it is definitely not a liberty that families in the lower strata of society have. Take the example of a household that lives on less than Rs15,000 per month. For such families, where geysers are not a feasible luxury, partly due to low income and partly due to a poor power scenario in their towns, LPG is the only source of hot water during winters. A hike in LPG prices will hurt this strata the most as a replacement (such as solar power) is absolutely unaffordable. “What do we replace LPG with? How do we cook, what do we eat? Cooking on firewood is also a costly affair these days. What is the other option...” asks a distressed housewife from Darbhanga, Bihar.

But then it's just not about household economy. On a broader front, there is a bigger threat lurching around. Rising interest rates, food prices and of course LPG price willl certainly shrink Indian consumers' purchasing power ultimately making consumer demand fall, which in turn will force companies to defer planned investments leaving growth rates in a limbo.

The Oil Minister Murli Deora maintains that his ministry is not in favour of raising the prices of domestic LPG and diesel prices following the spurt in prices of global crude oil (currently hovering around $90 per barrel) on the ground that the move will add to already high inflation rate. But then considering that Deora wants the government to compensate at least half of the Rs 72,812 crore revenue loss that state-owned oil firms are likely to incur this fiscal on selling diesel, LPG and kerosene below cost, the government looks set otherwise, and by the looks of it, there isn't much choice either.

The price of LPG in the international market has jumped by over 66 per cent over the past two years, which will certainly translate into a proportional increase in the subsidy that the government provides. This, as experts say, is something the government cannot absorb anymore and let state-run oil companies bleed. Considering that India currently imports nearly three million tonnes of LPG a year at prevailing international prices, subsidising it beyond a limit is not a sustainable option. As such, with prices soaring in international markets, the subsidy component per cylinder has already leaped to a whopping Rs367 per refill, higher than the actual price of a cylinder, which costs about Rs 350. As per Petroleum ministry figures, oil firms lose as much as Rs 272.19 per LPG cylinder (14.2 kg). Oil marketing companies, including Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) currently lose over Rs 225 crore per day collectively for selling domestic LPG, diesel and kerosene below their imported costs.

A meeting of an empowered group of ministers (EGoM), which was scheduled for December-end, to consider raising prices of domestic LPG and diesel was deferred indefinitely at the last moment. While the hike seems imminent, the quantum of the increase and the timing of the hike is what the government looks to be deliberating upon. According to Nidhi Dhruv, Associate Analyst, Corporate Finance Group, Moody’s Investors Service, “By deferring to raise domestic fuel prices to market levels, the government has stayed the inevitable and dealt a setback to reformers calling for market deregulation. The government though seems to be committed, however, complete deregulation is unlikely for now given the social and political pressures to maintain subsidies for cooking fuels.”

While unexpected steep price escalations have become a regular feature now, the least that the government could do is to plan things in advance, initiate timely steps to control retail prices, inform masses in advance of the problems in store and try and implement effective administrative measures, both short- and long-term, to be able to manage such a crisis in the future. Agreed that such government attitude would be Utopian, something that few would even term unrealistic, but then the country is also awaiting for a time when the government shows some accountability towards its citizens.

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Tale of a mutilated mermaid: The art piece adorned the University lawns for 20 years

2011-09-01T11:38:00.000+05:30

IIPM Mumbai Campus

In another act of moral policing, a few unknown people destroyed a piece of art in the campus of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kerala. The art piece in question was an 18-foot mermaid carved in earth and covered with grass artistically pruned. It added to the beauty of the University's administrative office lawns and was a centre of attraction to the art lovers for 20 years that it was there. Then it dawned on some people, including a highly placed University official, that the grass structure went against the campus ethics. And hence the artistically pruned bust of the mermaid was chopped off brutally.

It is said that this act was done as per the instructions of CUSAT Registrar N. Chandramohanakumar. The Registrar had been receiving complaints from some women organisations and individuals about the grass mermaid stating that it was obscene and should be removed. However, Chandramohankumar said that he was against mutilating the artefact. As an administrator, he was supposed to consider the complaints from Women’s Welfare Association of the CUSAT and a few other employees objecting on the nudity of the mermaid. He also referred to a Supreme Court order discouraging educational institutions exhibiting such kinds of nude artworks.

There was hue and cry from many quarters against the mischief. Art lovers, students, teachers and even state's ministers criticised the action. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said, “The obscenity is not in the art but in the minds of the viewers. There are so many such murals and sculptures in various temples of the country but no one sees immorality and obscenity in those artistic expressions.” There were protest marches. Many people felt the action was derogatory to the establishment. The artwork in grass was the brainchild of Varghese, a former CUSAT employee. Education Minister M.A. Baby, too, condemned the incident and ordered a probe into it.

Earlier, when a huge nude Yakshi was sculpted in Malampuzha Gardens in Palakkad district, there were protests from orthodox groups. On hearing about the vandalism at the University campus, Kanai Kunhiraman, the renowned sculptor of Yakshi was furious. “There are still some people like the ones who tried to beat me up in 1969 when I sculpted Yakshi. Education on a campus that does not inculcate appreciation of art would be purposeless,” he said.

V. Santhakumar, Associate Professor, Centre for Development Studies said the CUSAT incident showed a trend of "re-moralisation" in the state. Nevertheless, better sense prevailed and the University Senate held an emergency meeting and decided to take action against the vandals. It was also decided to reconstruct the mermaid. The role of the Registrar will also be probed. Proper action will be taken against all the people behind this incident, CUSAT Vice-Chancellor Ramachandran Thekkedath said.

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Teachers playing truant: Many teachers double-crossing the education department

2011-08-29T12:23:00.003+05:30

IIPM Mumbai Campus

While the state run schools in Punjab are reeling under a shortage of teachers, those working are playing truant by taking long leaves. According to the sources there are about 1100 teachers who have gone on a "foreign trip" and have not returned even after their leaves have been exhausted. The absentee teachers include 250 primary teachers, 190 senior secondary school teachers and four principals.

Some of these teachers had faxed applications for extension of their leave but most of these were rejected. However, they have not resumed their duty as yet. According to the reports, many teachers who go abroad on long leave actually work in foreign countries, while drawing salaries from their existing jobs in India. When they return, they use political pressure to get arrears. This has been going on for years. Surjeet Singh Dhiman, Principal, Government High School, Jalandhar told TSI, “I have repeatedly written to the education department about a teacher in my school who has been in England for about a year on visitor visa. But it has fallen on deaf ears.” The state education department has of late woken up to the problem and is busy collecting data regarding the absent teachers. According to sources, the department is contemplating to sack all the teachers who have not resumed their jobs even after the exhaustion of their leave.

A primary school teacher in Ropar district told TSI on the condition of anonymity, “There are four teachers in our school which has a strength of 200 students. One of the teachers has gone abroad on a long leave and has not returned even after his leaves have expired. One of his friends told me that the said teacher is working there and earning Rs.50,000 a month.” It is learnt that many absentee teachers are in no mood to return to their jobs because they are earning much more than the salary they get here. Some teachers are even planning to take their families abroad.

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Guzaarish: Dying to live!

2011-07-02T10:33:00.000+05:30

IIPM Excom Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri's Profile

It is said actions speak louder than words. If one were to look at Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s body of work, “Khamoshi,” his first film, had a deaf and mute couple among the lead players and in his “Black” he went a step further and made the main protagonist blind. All these characters relied on just actions and never had the benefit of words to express themselves. With “Guzaarish” he does a complete U-turn with the character of Ethan Mascarenhas.

Ethan, once a great magician, is confined to bed for the last 14 years due to a tragic accident that cripples him for life. He continues to remain in public memory through his radio show which talks of positivity and hope. Sophia, his dutiful nurse, takes care of his every need. The story takes off when Ethan expresses his wish to end his life legally. The frustrations and the spirit with which he deals with his condition and the way people dear to him and society react to his strange Guzaarish (request) are what the movie deals with primarily.

Talking of performances, if the only means one had to express himself was just the face and nothing else, chances are one would run out of expressions in a matter of seconds. Imagine doing the same thing over the span of more than two hours and you will see why Hrithik Roshan deserves to win each and every award out there for his performance as the paraplegic character Ethan. In the brief flashback portions of the movie we are also witness to sequences where Ethan the magician performs some extremely graceful, fluid and almost magical moves. Interestingly, the entire flashback episode is devoid of any dialogues. This is where the brilliance of the director emerges; he beautifully juxtaposes these two extreme states of the character between the past and the present, in the process narrating a very sensitive story.

In contrast to the extreme limitations that he binds his characters with, Bhansali does the opposite where it concerns the world in which his characters reside. There is opulence and grandiosity even if the subjects are living in penury. The world Ethan inhabits is a curious mixture of art and architecture that is hard to be classified into a certain time frame or region. The way the camera, lighting, costumes and music are used, looks as if poetry meets painting, creating a rare art form that seems to be a brilliant departure from the conventional.

While the filmmaker and the lead get to do all the experimenting, the character of the nurse Sophia, played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, essays her character with the right measure of composure, compassion and confidence, providing solidity and weight to the proceedings.

“Guzaarish” only proves once again that there is absolutely no director in this country who can beat Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the art of film making. He makes a painting out of each of his frames. He did that even in the film that went all wrong – “Saawariya”. And trust him to invariably take out the finest performances out of all his actors. From Rani to SRK to Big B, they’ve all given their best performances under this magician’s wand. Thank God that Aishwarya Rai, who never really got a camp of her own – with Yash Raj and Karan Johar both virtually staying away from her – got Sanjay Leela Bhansali to show the world her immense acting potential and timeless beauty. And what Hrithik does – and Bhansali makes him do – has to be seen to be believed. He is not just the best looking man in Bollywood, not just the best dancer and the man who must be James Bond sooner or later, but also the man who is unparalleled in the acting department. For direction and for Hrithik and Aishwarya’s acting, we give this film eleven stars out of ten. The other departments become insignificant in front of these.

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The superbike segment in India is beginning to open up as incumbents and new entrants fill up gaps in the market

2011-06-29T11:04:00.000+05:30

Bussiness & Economy: Rewing it up on the new normal

Outrageous is what defines these mean machines – be it their pricing, their power quotient, their cool factor, or even their target customers. Superbikes have always enjoyed a cult position among those who have them, and have never failed to get noticed by those who don’t. And India has been no exception. Bikes like Yamaha R1, Suzuki Hayabusa and Kawasaki Ninja have been painstakingly beckoning the creed of rich, young and style conscious Indians of late. And they are not getting disappointed, despite being high on the price factor. Otherwise, it is more of a smooth ride for them since Indian home-grown manufacturers like Hero, Bajaj and TVS are still to manufacture a genuine superbike.

The market for superbikes is open with rising share of two wheeler sports segment becoming 17% in FY 10 from earlier 14%. Yamaha initially disappointed bikers as it didn’t give the owners the ‘Yamaha’ brand experience. But bygones became bygones with the launch of the R15, which helped Yamaha rebuild its sporty image. Interestingly, when Yamaha came to India with their global favourites R1 and V-Max, they sold a surprisingly high 50 units in three months. Soon, other global players realised that the Indian market has matured enough to take on these high-end machines. Players like European major Aprilla have already announced big plans to re-enter the market with their product line up. Ducati opened its second showroom last year in Gurgaon with bikes ranging from Rs 1 million to Rs 4.5 million in the portfolio. “We have received a positive response from all bike enthusiasts and it’s good to know they are excited about the Ducati brand. We feel honoured to be a part of the evolving motorcycle industry in India,” said Mirko Bordiga, CEO, Ducati, APAC.

Bajaj has also understood the markets and has tied up with European major KTM Motors. Kawasaki also brought in the famous Ninja and received an enthusiastic response. Suzuki introduced the Hayabusa with proper service and spares parts availability. Never too late Harley-Davidson announced its much awaited cruiser bike entry by launching 12 bikes in the portfolio ranging from Rs 6.75 lakh to Rs 3.5 million. In fact, their recent plans to open up the CKD plant in Haryana showcases the rising demand in the industry. “There were around 1000 super premium bikes sold in 2009 and 2009-10 is going above at the rate of 20%," says Sanjay Tripathi, Director of Marketing, Harley-Davidson India. The latest buzz is that BMW would be announcing their motorrad luxury bikes by the end of the year, which will start with a price tag of whopping Rs 1.8 million. Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director, BMW Motorrad, commented, “We are confident that our motorcycles will swiftly become established in timely preparation for the growing market.” BMW is reentring into the luxury bike market after the failed launch of BMW Fundaro 650. The luxury market currently stands at 1% of the overall market. A spokesperson from Honda 2-wheelers comments, “Last year we sold around 70 units across India with only two operational setups in Delhi and Mumbai. This year, we plan to sell 100 units.”

Most of these superbikes are at such hefty prices that the rational minded would prefer buying quality four wheelers for that kind of money. But superbikes are not expected to sell on the rational appeal in India as much as they would for the thrill and the oomph factor, to those with huge disposable incomes. Globally, the scenario is different as bikes are only used for special occasions or sports. But in India, motorcycles have become a regular mode of commuting. One would doubt that the masses would actually be able to enjoy the experience of these bikes. But fanatics have gone through thick and thin to get them nevertheless – be it by paying heavy import duties of about 113% for unregistered bikes and about 153% for registered vehicles.

On another front, while traditionally, Indian players have offered bikes in the 90cc to 250cc range (with Enfield the exception with a 500cc offering), the next level starts only with an 883cc Harley-Davidson or a 1000cc CBR. Recently, the gap has been filled by Garware Motors, which announced Hyosung’s re-entry in India with a 650 cc superbike, which is currently under Homologation process. “Beyond the 250cc segment, only the Royal Enfield was available with 350cc and 500cc and after that, the only models available are one-litre plus. So, we thought we would fill in the gap,” predictably accepts Diya Garware, MD, Garware Motors.

With Aprilla, MV Augusta and BMW Motorrad currently in talks with local importers and companies like Harley and Hyosung planning their CKD units, it seems that the sector is well on its way to opening up and more such gaps should be filled, taking the superbike exhilaration to a larger audience. Like other sectors, players would ultimately learn to adapt to Indian price sensitivities and penetrate deeper in the market. And then the next big demand from this growing superbike community could well be relaxation of speed limits on Indian roads. That may take quite a while though.

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Kate Middleton's obstacle course

2011-06-25T16:39:00.007+05:30

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No one has put in harder training to become a royal bride than the glossy-haired Kate Middleton. The eight-year wait has been fraught with tests she had to pass.

First, discretion. Prince William’s smiling hostility toward the press is his non-negotiable core value. I am told he is so protective of his privacy that he has been known to plant false tips with friends he distrusts and watch the media see if they play out. William went ballistic at Christmas last year, when he suspected that Kate might have been aware that the tabloid snapper Niraj Tanna was lurking near a tennis court where she was playing on the Duchy of Cornwall estate – and that she graced the interloper with a camera-ready smile. Even her family has kept mum, with no unruly relatives going rogue. The only telltale sign of possible impending nuptials has been the sudden suspicious determination of Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, to shed poundage on a prawn and cottage cheese diet.

Second, virtue. The delicate issue of premarital experience has been managed by Kate with quiet dexterity. Her one known boyfriend before William at university, 22-year-old gifted cricketer Rupert Finch, never talked. Thirty years ago, Prince Charles had to go as young as 19 to find, in Lady Diana Spencer, something almost extinct in post-feminist times: a girl with a history and no past. But Diana’s shy virginity concealed a time bomb: her wounded, insatiable need for love.

There is nothing wounded about Kate. She’s from wholesome middle-class stock. She’s great ballast for William who, beneath his royal aplomb, is wounded too. She’s mastered the art of being what seems a contradiction in terms – appropriately edgy; the odd flash of midriff or nocturnal thigh in a too-short skirt for a nightclub excursion, sexy but solid; middlebrow, not elitist. The only controversial thing she has ever done is wear sequined hot pants and take a spill with her legs in the air at a Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco charity event in South London, for which she did about two years’ penance. In the couple’s wedding interview, you could see the outline of their successful dynamic. William said that he tried to impress Kate with his cooking, but the food would start burning and “Kate would come to the rescue and take charge.”

Third, patience. It’s taken close to a decade to reel William in. Kate has had to endure the ridicule of being Waity Katie even among the royals themselves.
“They have been practicing long enough,” Prince Charles said heartily at Poundbury, his model village in Devon, where he was when the news broke.
“It’s brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time,” commented Queen Elizabeth, who, in her businesslike way had tried to get this over and done with last June before the impending calendar crush of Prince Philip’s 90th birthday, her Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.

In order not to fuel rumours as the perpetual princess in waiting, Kate rarely emerged with William in public of late, unless it was one of those innumerable country weddings of all the mutual friends. What could she possibly have been doing all those years of trying to look busy? As she put it in the engagement interview, “working really hard” at the family business that sells children’s toys and paraphernalia based in Ashampstead, near their home in Berkshire in southern England.

Now that she’s engaged to be married to the second in line to the throne, her life is about to get more boring still. The palace machine will take over. The portcullis will come down. William is a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley on the Isle of Anglesey, off the northwest coast of Wales, and the happy couple will live in a remote farmhouse in North Wales, where there is 33 inches of rain a year. There she can tend to the urgent priority of royal wife, the speedy manufacture of the heir and the spare.

But that’s “appropriate” too. In the dire mood of the upcoming austerity cuts, England needs the joy of a royal wedding as badly as it did 30 years ago, when we watched enthralled as Charles and Diana tied the knot. But she needs it on a budget. The fact that Kate’s a “commoner” is suddenly a public-relations boon for the royals. With an Old Etonian prime minister and a savage round of economic cutbacks, a pedigreed royal bride would be a hard message to sell to a grumpy press and the Parliament. Now all the royals have to do is make the wedding of the year look thrifty – perhaps the Guards’ Chapel, where William and Harry held a service to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death, instead of Westminster Abbey – and preferably green.

Most important, Kate’s perseverance and resilience has persuaded the Queen that her future granddaughter-in-law is nothing at all like Her, like Diana, the golden-haired Rebecca of the Royal House of Windsor. When William chose to bestow on Kate his mother’s 18-carat oval blue sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring, it was not only a token of love but a thrilling gesture of confident daring. After Diana’s death in 1997, the 15-year-old Prince told his father that he wanted the ring for his future engagement. He said on November 16 that the ring represented a time when his parents were happy. Now, after all the years the royal establishment has spent trying to erase that magical disruption known as Diana, England’s future king showed the world in the strongest, most personal way he knew how that he was determined to bring his mother back.

(Tina Brown is the founder and editor in chief of The Daily Beast.)

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Manpreet Singh Badal's rebellion is a severe jolt to the ruling Akali-BJP combine in Punjab

2011-06-23T10:43:00.000+05:30

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

When a Badal took on the Badals

Calling for a 'Second Freedom Movement', the ousted finance minister of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal, has announced his Jago Punjab Yatra from November 24 to sensitise people about the problems of the state. Manpreet was really excited to see the large gathering in his support in Amritsar which was beyond his expectation. It has proved to be a serious cause of concern for the ruling Akali-BJP combine. He may announce the launch of his own party after gauging the response of the people during his Punjab tour.

While there was a lot of hue and cry over Manpreet Singh Badal’s bitter comments about Punjab’s sagging economy and especially his relations with deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Akali circles, the media was busy speculating about the fate of Manpreet. A section said that he would be treated the Tohra way. It needs to be mentioned here that Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra remained the president of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for a record 27 years. Tohra’s differences with then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had led to his expulsion from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). And finally, Tohra had to accept Parkash Singh Badal’s pre-eminence in SAD. Though Manpreet Badal might be treated the Tohra way, he seems to be in no mood to bow his head in front of Badal like Gurcharan Singh Tohra had done.

His intentions were clear when he stated, during a press conference a few days ago, that he would not leave his fight midway and would keep on working for the overall improvement of the state. Addressing a large gathering of his supporters in Amritsar last week, he announced his Jago Punjab Yatra from November 24. Though political analysts were expecting that he would announce the launch of his party, Manpreet, instead, chose to tour the state to gauge people's response. Nitin Garg, professor of political science, says, ‘‘Manpreet Badal has made a good decision to tour Punjab. While he would obviously understand the problems of the state better, he would also be able to gauge popular response to his Punjab yatra. If he gets an overwhelming response, he can undoubtedly announce the launch of his party.”

About the possibility of emergence of a third front, he explained, “There is no possibility of emergence of a third front in the near future. Though the six-point agenda of Manpreet Badal can well suit parties like the CPI and CPI(M), there are serious differences too. The communist parties would not like his neo-liberal stance while some Panthak leaders are insisting that he should first appear before The Akal Takht. It may be mentioned here that some senior Akali leaders had urged the Akal Takht to summon him for violating the norms by trimming his hair.'' However, the former finance minister has expressed his readiness to appear before the Akal Takht for trimming his hair or any other religious misconduct in case the Takht Jathedar summoned him.

An Honour’s graduate from St Stephen's College in Delhi and influenced by Marxism, Manpreet Badal's rising popularity, especially among the youngsters, has become a cause of concern for the ruling Akali-BJP combine. Though the government machinery left no stone unturned to fail the Amritsar rally of Manpreet Badal, it turned out to be a hugely successful one. Manpreet himself was excited about the large gathering. His popularity among youths can be gauged from the fact that about 60 per cent of the rallyists were youngsters. A young girl named Manpreet Kaur had come straight from London just to attend the rally.

The ghost of the former finance minister seems to have left the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership in the doldrums. The panic in the SAD ranks is evident from the fact that a special meeting of the core committee on political affairs was convened in Chandigarh on Thursday. This is the second such meeting summoned during the last one month to analyse the impact of Manpreet Badal’s exit and chalk out a strategy to defuse the situation. The core committee, however, seems to be wanting in its attempts to resolve the crisis. Chief minister and chief patron of SAD Parkash Singh Badal is learnt to have conveyed his displeasure to the core committee over the manner in which the party is handling the issue. Badal who remained present in the core committee meeting has asked party leaders to fan out in the field and establish contact with the cadres. The core committee has also discussed the Jago Punjab Yatra.
Badal has recently announced to restart the Sangat Darshan programme from November 19 to narrow down the wedge between the government and the general public. Badal has also started an exercise to bring party dissidents home. This move follows after some senior party leaders started joining hands with Manpreet Badal. Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, district president of Youth Akali Dal, has sided with Manpreet Badal apart from the two MLAs, Manjinder Singh Kang and Jagbir Singh Brar. Some of senior Akali leaders from Mukatsar have also attended Manpreet’s Amritsar show of strength.

Various Akali Dal leaders are busy issuing statements criticising and deriding Manpreet Badal. A senior leader of Akali Dal has also called him a Congress agent. This indicates that Manpreet is proving to be more than a handful for the Akali leadership to deal with. The slandering seems to be more out of frustration than anything else.

In a fresh development, former deputy speaker of the state Birdavinder Singh has joined hands with Manpreet Badal. Birdavinder said during a press conference, “Manpreet intends to stamp out serious problems like unemployment, poverty, illiteracy from the state. I am totally in agreement with his six-point agenda. I would join him in his Punjab yatra. Political analysts are viewing the union of Manpreet and Birdavinder as a fresh jolt to the Akali-BJP combine. A senior journalist, who extensively covers political affairs in the state, commented “The Akali-BJP combine should take the activities of the former finance minister seriously. It would be a mistake to ignore them.”

The government may have decided to ignore the former finance minister’s posturings but the large gatherings in his support in the towns and villages of Punjab indicate that he may be destined for higher things when the state goes to polls soon.

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Land Acquisition: People's land stays with the people

2011-06-20T11:38:00.000+05:30

Dhrutikam Mohanty revisits the villages where the Vedanta varsity was going to come up till the High Court stepped in

Nearly 50,000 inhabitants of 22 odd villages near Puri in Orissa are now assured that they will not be evicted from their ancestral homes and agricultural lands anymore. The once tense populace is today joyous. The check gate, which had been restricting outsiders from entering the villages for years, was open and no volunteer of the Vedanta Vishwavidyalaya Sangram Samity (VVSS) was on vigil. The Orissa High Court’s recent verdict has come as a lifeline for these villagers as the court quashed the process of land acquisition for the proposed Vedanta University which was to be come up on 6,298 acres, belonging to the villagers and the Jagannath Temple of Puri. This judgment came at a time when the Anil Agarwal Foundation had already acquired about 4,500 acres of land allotted to it.

“We had faith on the judiciary and it was not misplaced,” said Uma Charan Pradhan of Beladal village. Pradhan and a few other villagers were sitting in a pan shop at Beladal bazaar on the Puri-Konark marine drive, just five km away from Puri. VVSS activists took us to a small hall in the first floor of a cyclone shelter centre where we met a few office bearers.
“The last time when you had been to our village, your magazine had published a bold report in English,” one of the office bearers recognised me and photographer Arabinda. Our sister publication Business & Economy had carried a cover story on this issue in June, 2010. Managing editor Sutanu Guru had travelled to the proposed Vedanta University area and unearthed the reality behind Anil Agarwal’s 'biggest act of philanthropy'. The report had also highlighted how a 95-year-old villager, Benudhar Pradhan, had launched an agitation to save Puri of Lord Jagannath fame from falling into the clutches of the Vedanta empire.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Uma Ballabh Rath, VVSS convener and former MLA from Puri, in 2008, a bench of Orissa High Court, comprising Chief Justice V. Gopal Gowda and Justice B.P. Das said acquisition of government land as well as land of Lord Jagannath for the university was invalid as it violated the Land Acquisition (companies) Rules, 1963. As the Anil Agarwal Foundation was a company under Section 25 of Companies Act and not a public limited company, the bench also ruled that any acquisition of land for it under Land Acquisition Act, 1894, is illegal. Out of the 4,500 acres land acquired for the company, 1,300 acres were of Amrutamanohi category i.e the land belonged to Lord Jagannath and crops grown on these lands were used in the Lord's kitchen. The land managed by the Puri Temple administration could not be traded, said the bench and ordered that the land be returned to the original owners.
Incidentally, in March this year, Justice P. K. Patra, Lok Pal of Orissa, had expressed similar views while acting on a petition questioning the le gality of land acquisition for the Vedanta University. Petitioner Uma Ballava Rath adds, “The HC bench not only quashed the land acquisition process but also expressed concern over environmental issues. The court also said that the university project would be a threat to the wildlife at Balukhand marine sanctuary as it was situated just about 30 meters away. As per law, no construction can be allowed within five km of any wildlife sanctuary.”

Though this verdict came as an embarrassment for the state government, intellectuals, political leaders, activists of the state and the common people of Puri welcomed it. Taluchha Bhagawan Mohapatra, a sebayat of Jagannath and former member of Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, tells TSI, “All the sebayats of Lord Jagannath are extremely happy that the temple’s land will be returned. The decision to sell temple land was totally wrong. It’s now the responsibility of the state government to return the land.” On the other hand, P.K.Mohapatra, RDC of Central Range and chief administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration, says, “I can’t comment on anything at this point. So far, I have not received a copy of the judgment. I can speak only after going through the document.” Parsuram Pradhan of Beladal claims, “It’s not our victory, but a victory for Lord Jagannath. Some hundred years ago, people had donated these lands to Jagannath as a token of their devotion towards the lord. But our government acquired the Lord's land at the instance of a private company like Vedanta. How could you sell the Lord’s land to a private company at a throwaway price? At last, the Lord’s wish prevailed.”

People living in these 22 villages are delirious at their victory over billionaire and metal trade tycoon Anil Agarwal. A jubilant Benudhar Pradhan seemed a lot more energetic and active as compared to six months before when we had met him at his Beladala residence. “We demand the resignation of the chief minister after the high court verdict as he had made false promises. I remember when we met Naveen Patnaik at his secretariat chamber in 2008, he had given us a very patient hearing and assured us that as we have already approached the high court for redressal of our problems, the government will accept the court’s decision, whatever the verdict be. But now, on the contrary, he is saying, ‘the government would study the order before taking any further decision.’ Is it not a breach of promise? As per Naveen Patnaik's promise, the government should accept the verdict as it is,” claims Benudhar.

Benudhar’s mission is accomplished. He and his fellow villagers have been able to thwart the might of Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Group. People seem to have been emboldened by this judicial intervention. The villagers are now readying themselves to push for more. “We will gherao the Legislative Assembly and will demand the resignation of the chief minister (Winter session begins on November 23). The government should accept the high court verdict unconditionally since its own erroneous decision has caused a lot of harassment and misery to us over the last three years,” says an eloquent Damodar Pradhan, working president of VVSS.

However, this instance of exploiting the state’s natural resource for private companies to make money is nothing new in this state or country. The Orissa High Court verdict, experts feel, has surely etched am indelible black spot on Naveen Patnaik’s clean image. It’s high time that political leaders and bureaucrats, who are used to unilateral decision making, understand that the masses today are fully aware of their rights and won't let things go unchallenged.

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Assembly Polls: NDA wins battle for Bihar

2011-06-17T10:31:00.000+05:30

Rajan Prakash reports from Patna as the JD(U)-BJP coalition scores a landslide victory, the Congress cuts a sorry figure and the Lalu-Paswan duo is vanquished

Advocate Pramod Ranjan has mixed expressions on his face as he watches the NDA's march towards a decisive victory in the Bihar polls on TV. Pramod hails from the Yadav clan and his two close relatives were
contesting elections from the Tirhut area on RJD-LJP tickets. Although they lost, Pramod does not look dejected. He says, “I am sorry for my relatives but I am also happy that ultimately the right person is going to form the government in the state.” After a pause he adds, “It's a myth that all Yadavs blindly support Lalu Prasad. It should be dispelled.” Perhaps thousands of other voters in Bihar would have similar sentiments.

Outside the state BJP office, two rickshaw pullers dash towards the TSI team. They want to know if Nitish would again become the chief minister. Finding the answer, they start walking towards the BJP office to see Nitish Kumar. The poor fellows are unaware that Nitish Kumar is from Janata Dal(U) and not from the BJP. But why are they so anxious about Nitish? “Sir, we are rickshaw pullers. The bad roads, till a few years ago, made it very difficult for us to pull the rickshaws. We had to toil like animals but now the road has been repaired and we are happy,” says a middle-aged Jeetan Pasi. The state Opposition refuses to accept good roads as a measure of development. But the same roads, which Nitish got repaired and built, have taken him straight to 1, Anne Road. By the same roads, Nitish has succeeded in denting the rock solid vote bank of Lalu Yadav. And the dent is so deep that neither Lalu nor Paswan can repair it, at least for the time being.

Deputy chief minister of Bihar Sushil Modi says, “We were expecting around 160 seats for the NDA. But the voters have surpassed all our expectations. There is a message here for all public representatives: If you take one step for public welfare, the public would come three steps ahead to embrace you.” Perhaps nobody could disagree with this statement. Not even Lalu's supporters.

Nitish Kumar has systematically dented the state Opposition's vote banks during the last five years and has widened his vote base. While Lalu had given a voice to the downtrodden, Nitish gave them government jobs and employment and won them over. Most backwards were given 20 per cent reservation. On one hand, the most backward among the Muslims were provided with the benefit of reservation. On the other, women were showered with perks by the Nitish Kumar government.
Women have got 50 per cent reservation in Panchayat. But it was the “cycle and dress” scheme that proved to be the icing on the cake. About one crore dresses and 27 lakh cycles have been distributed over the last five years. In every nook and corner of the state, one can find hordes of girls going to schools on bicycles. Five years ago, this was unimaginable in Bihar. The improvement in law and order situation has boosted the morale and confidence of the girls that translated into votes for Nitish.

“I always promise much less than what I can deliver,” says Nitish. The kidnappings, that had become an industry of sorts, have stopped. During the last five years, perhaps not even on one occasion Section 144 was imposed anywhere in the state.

Now, one can find doctors in government hospitals, though the present government has not appointed new doctors. Nitish has shown that wise management of resources can go a long way in overcoming hurdles. When conditions at the hospitals improved, doctors came back to work. There have been marked improvements in the field of education too. New school buildings came up and students were encouraged to carry on their studies.

In an interview given to TSI about a year ago, Nitish had said that his first priority was to encourage more and more children, especially girls, to join schools. He said that it could be done only when the atmosphere was conducive and proper infrastructure was in place.

During the Lalu-Rabri regime of 15 years, education infrastructure in the state had totally collapsed. Higher education institutes like colleges and universities had slipped into the throes of the mafia and musclemen. Degrees were cheaper and easier to find than candies. Now people with the same degrees have been appointed teachers and it gave the state Opposition a reason to criticise the government. But Nitish argues that Lalu has no moral right to criticise his government as it was the latter's regime that gave the state such “incompetent” graduates.

Nitish says that in 2005 he had got the mandate, but in 2010 he has got “overwhelming mandate”. The distance between the mandate and the overwhelming mandate has not been easy for him to cover. On one hand, his party MPs were nagging him. On the other, the upper caste voters turned against him on the issue of giving land to landless peasants. Consequently, the NDA faced big defeat during the Assembly bypolls in 2009. The defeat in bypolls gave Nitish a chance to review his strategy.

The upper castes' disillusionment with Nitish gave the Congress a chance to revive itself. The upper caste voters could not go with Lalu or Paswan. So, the only option they had was the Congress. In the beginning, the upper castes even warmed up to the Congress but soon Rahul Gandhi's experiments frightened them away. Besides, there was no popular face in Bihar Congress. To top that, the high command kept changing leaders in the state and coming up with new formulas. The voters realised that the Congress could not offer them an alternative of Lalu. Far from it, the old party was indirectly supporting Lalu.

Nitish kept telling the public that there was a tacit understanding between Lalu and the Congress. This aligned the upper castes in favour of the NDA. As a result, the Congress, that seemed in a good position at the beginning of the polls, has lost big time and managed to win only four seats. Rahul Gandhi's strategy of giving full credit of development in Bihar to the Centre did not help either. Congress's loss is BJP's gain. It contested 102 seats and won 91. It means 90 per cent success. In the last elections, the BJP had 55 seats. The upper castes simply had no other option. The BJP has also succeeded in shedding the image of JD(U)'s sidekick. This mandate for the BJP will have a far-reaching effects on the state's politics in the future.

Lalu and Paswan, who seldom looked beyond their families, have lost big time. The common people have rejected them. Presently, Lalu has another acid test before him in the form of the election of the leader of state Opposition. The results show that people's expectations have gone up. In the last term, Nitish worked for 15 hours a day. This time around, he may have to extend his working hours further to meet people's expectations.

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The Dalai Lama on Why peace has a lot to do with karma and why violence is not such a bad thing after all...

2011-06-14T11:27:00.001+05:30

It is the oppressor who needs compassion far more than the oppressed

51 years in exile is a long time, but not long enough to break the convictions of this man. His Holiness The Dalai Lama, in an exclusive interview with Prashanto Banerji, holds forth on why peace has a lot to do with karma, and why violence is not such a bad thing after all...

So, is this really the sexiest man in the world?’ I was sitting across the 75 year old Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, religious and secular leader of the Tibetan people and their government in exile – a celibate monk, and this rather impertinent question kept swimming around in my head like a goldfish on Gatorade. It wasn’t a question I had prepared for my interview with His Holiness, but as events transpired, it did seem a rather valid question though….

National Geographic’s Naked Science, in an answer to the question ‘What is sexy?’ came up with three pointed answers – physical attractiveness doesn’t hurt and wit sure can turn things on, but what apparently really gets them all jelly-kneed as they crawl towards you with breathless passion is an over-abundance of that most human emotion of all – compassion. To be able to empathise and love without expectation, or “attachment” as His Holiness might put it, is ostensibly the sexiest virtue of all. National Geographic said it, social commentators on late night TV repeated it and I believed it… in desperation. But if all that were true, then indeed this twinkly-eyed monk had just blown every man, from a Bieber to a Bachchan, right off the ‘sexiest man alive’ list.

I had been advised to reach on time by his representatives for the interview. And though I was meeting a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, The Dalai Lama had freely admitted to ‘feeling anger’ during interviews and so for a change, reached the lobby of his guest house in an elegant corner of South-Delhi well before time. Since I had the time, I began leafing through the pages of his book ‘An Open Heart’ and asked myself the question – is he really the ocean of benevolence that popular media makes him out to be, or just a little boy who had greatness thrust upon him which has now become a cross he often finds too heavy to bear? Or is he the shrewd smooth-talking politician and Kalchakra (a sect of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism) Master with an agenda that conspiracy theorists make him out to be? I would soon find out.

At the appointed hour, I was ushered into His Holiness’ suite and there he was, waiting. A taller man than what his photos might suggest, His Holiness was nursing a slight sniffle and was wrapped in his customary maroon robes. What struck me as I greeted him was his youthful bearing, and the colour of his hair. You could blame it on the lights in the room if I’m wrong but his eyebrows were a deep shiny black. Ditto for the downy stubble on his shaved head. He had a strong handshake and didn’t look a day older than a man in his 50s. It was a warm but formal welcome but he looked like a man who didn’t suffer fools happily. So I waved the usual disclaimer at the start… “I’m new to this… do forgive me if I happen to make mistakes”. He smiled and then with air of an indulgent grandfather, said “Don’t worry, ask what you must, but if you get nervous I’ll beat you…” and then looked at his aides and let out a happy little laugh. They smiled back politely at the two of us… Ah well, that helped...

We needed a safe start and hopefully one that made a good impression. After all, the 14th Dalai Lama must have been giving interviews since his early teens. I sought refuge in a question I had often thought about – Why did a land supposedly as spiritually blessed as India or Tibet have to suffer and submit to invasions and oppression and dire poverty for so long? Is spiritual power no match for economic or military might? A good start I thought, but not so the Dalai Lama. “Frankly speaking, your question is due to ignorance… you are unaware of the law of karma. Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism… these are Indian religions that believe in the law of karma… karma means action. If you neglect performing the right kind of action or do the wrong thing, you have to bear the weight of the consequences of your actions… cannot escape it. In India there was a long period of prosperity during the time of Ashoka for instance; leadership had vision and commitment to the people, and so the nation prospered but after that there was disintegration. The rajahs (kings) had no sense of responsibility for the people, serving selfish interests… and so invaders took advantage of that. Historians say that Tibet too, during the seventh and eighth century, had become a powerful nation in Central Asia and its reign had spread (from Bengal) to Kyrghystan and Afghanistan, but then there was too much devotion and prayer… not enough right action.

But you need right action. India too got its freedom through the efforts of Gandhiji, not through prayer alone. Recently at an event in Patna, the Chief Minister said that due to Buddha’s blessings, the state had progressed a lot. I replied,” and here His Holiness had a naughty glint in his eyes “…if the Buddha’s blessing were all it took, progress should have happened long long ago. It is the state where Buddha found enlightenment.” His Holiness was laughing like a little boy sharing his favourite joke. Then he gave me a conspiratorial nod and said “I told the Chief Minister that Buddha’s blessings depend entirely on the Chief Minister’s action”. And we all laughed to that…

But if the right action is so important, then what of the nations that have been the oppressors. Those that are, as we speak, incurring bad karma? “Oh yes, they will face the law of karma. That is why it is more important to feel genuine compassion and concern for the oppressor, it is they who need it far more than the oppressed… because the victim has already endured one karmic cycle… but for the perpetrator, the wheels have just started moving.”

Speaking of oppression, the Dalai Lama had surprised me once by saying in an interview that he believed that though democracy was ideal and desirable in China, it should be very gradual and staggered. Her vast and uneducated population has been used to a strong and centralised authority figure for far too long and would take time to adjust to a new sense of freedom and responsibility. But if a massive uneducated population was the bugbear of democracy, then didn’t India have the same problem as China? And I did remember school teachers from the 80s bandying around topics like ‘India needs a dictator’ and ‘Should we have martial law?’ with a fair degree of enthusiasm at that time. Of course India was in many respects a different country then, and yet even today, we’ve got to admit that our democracy is handicapped by the lack of education amongst the electorate. So aren’t we both in the same boat? Well, His Holiness didn’t think so. In fact he was a little miffed. “Silly question! India’s been a successful democracy for far too long…” Uh oh… silly or not, it was insensitive for sure. I couldn’t expect him to compare the democracy that protects him with the autocracy that sent him into exile.

By the way, speaking of miffed responses, His Holiness is known for his brutal honesty, especially amongst friends. His friend and follower, Hollywood superstar Richard Gere had invited the Dalai Lama for his photo exhibition – a collection of black and whites that he had experimented with. At the exhibition, when Gere’s friend, philosopher and guide, the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion (there, that word again) saw the pictures, his response was “these are really poor quality pictures, Richard!” In his own words, Richard Gere was “dying inside” when he heard the feedback. I got off lightly in comparison, I’d say.

Such honesty demands courage for it takes a brave man to tell a nation of Jews that though Adolf Hitler was a bad man who did a lot of bad things, he too must have had the seed of goodness inside him. Even an evil man can one day transform into a good man, and that’s the battle worth fighting. But it is the look in his eyes that lets him get away with it for in those eyes you see earnest compassion and a total and conscious surrender to the Buddhist ideals of love and forgiveness. You know that he would happily say the same, and more importantly feel the same way about his own enemies, those who want to pull him down for his political activism and even those who want to destroy him because he stands in their way. So if love, kindness and forgiveness are the guiding principles of an ideal life and if looking for goodness in even one’s worst enemy is a greater ideal than pulling him down, then whether it is India or Tibet, why bother with freedom? Does it matter that one is an oppressor and the other the oppressed? Couldn’t we all learn to live, love, accept and accommodate each other? While His Holiness answered this question, I began to see how one man was wearing many crowns; there’s one with thorns that must hurt and then one so heavy that it must surely weigh him down. And then there’s his light yellow hat which he is the happiest wearing…

He gave the ceiling a wistful look and then said “In the beginning everybody was equal, sharing all they had. Then came ambition and that created leaders. That led to exploitation between people (and nations). In the beginning, both the Bolsheviks and the Chinese communists were sincere and dedicated to the cause of the people but later insecurities and fears crept in… there was tighter control and suppression. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chinese leadership feared losing power as well and started relying more on the use of force. That’s unfortunate…”

So if I’m being oppressed and victimised do I respond with ahimsa or do I fight back? “That depends on the situation,” His Holiness responded. “Sometimes some limited use of violence is the only choice… that’s (he seemed to search for the right word) permissible. Once, there were 500 merchants on a ship and the leader was the reincarnation of a Buddha. Now one of the merchants wanted to kill the other 499 and take possession of all the riches and the ship. The Buddha warned him and told him not to, but when the evil merchant still persisted with his plans, the Buddha killed him. It was violence committed to save the other merchants as well as the evil one to protect him from incurring bad karma.”

So he saved that person by killing him? “Yes, since the intention was non-violent, the action was justified, like parents scolding or even rapping a child for his own good. Though even the Buddha would pay for his actions, he undertook bad karma for the greater good. On the other hand one could talk sweet and plot to cheat – here the action is non-violent but the motivation is violent and so karma too is violent. This, however, is a Buddhist point of view”. So I wasn’t the only one waving disclaimers.

It was time to go. His Holiness seemed to enjoy the conversation and wanted to continue. And the man’s sincerity and clarity of purpose was overwhelming. There was so much I had to ask. Unfortunately, there were others waiting for an audience. But before I left I had to ask him what it was like to have a whole way of life thrust upon him. He too must have felt attraction and lust. Did he feel it was wrong? How did he control it? I wasn’t sure if the question would offend him but His Holiness had a way of making you feel that he had nothing to hide and was as open to your feelings and thoughts as your best friend might be. And no matter what you say, he looked upon the world with enough compassion for any of our barbs, intended or not, to ever touch him. And his response? A very candid “Oh yes, of course (one feels it), but (I control it) with training. And when I watch a couple, I think it is nice, but then I feel there are too many problems. You first worry about finding the right partner. Then if no children, you worry. If you have children you worry about their health, education, marriage and then the same with grand children. I tell the monks and nuns this story as a consolation and I say that there’s too much worry… a monk does not need it. In the long run, a celibate’s life is very useful (laughs).”

And is that the secret of his robust health and youthful bearing? “Yes (smiles some more), and I think my mental state is quite calm and peaceful…” Then he holds my hand with such warmth and his eyes, they peered right into my soul and I was convinced he is no God, but a mere man, but what a good man and such a kind soul.

In my library there’s this forgotten book by Sam Keen called Fire in the Belly – On being a Man. It had this survey at the back where I’d spend most of my time. It had two lists of Ideal Men – one based on responses from men and the other from women. Both lists had different names all through except at the very top where both had listed Jesus and Gandhi as the ideal men, because they had virtues like love, compassion, honesty and moral courage. Now if that was the criteria, then indeed there are few in these times to hold a candle to Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. The bad news is that the top spot’s taken but the good news is that it’s time to get inspired, for these qualities, unlike wit or good looks, can be cultivated. So start giving some love and compassion… and who knows you could grow sexier yet…

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The Dalai Lama: The Ides of March 1959

2011-06-10T11:14:00.002+05:30

When the exile continues, you can't even wish away history'

His Holiness The Dalai Lama is one of the most enduring symbols of peace in our world, but imagine him as a 24-year old with a rifle slung over his shoulder. It was 1959, and as the Chinese military thrust itself on the Tibetan lands and people, and showed increasing impatience with the 14th Dalai Lama – the spiritual and political leader of Tibet – he had no option but to make his escape to a neighbouring country that he hoped would give him refuge.

Five years into the Seventeen Point Agreement signed in 1951 – the one that affirmed Chinese sovereignty over the Himalayan plateau, and later claimed to be signed under duress by the exiled Tibetan government – the friction between communist China and the traditionally feudal society of Tibet had spilled into a full scale uprising. Starting from the eastern reaches of the state, significantly Amdo and Kham, the resistance rippled through Tibet and came to a head in the capital city of Lhasa, not without some overt and covert help from the CIA. In the midst of ruthless chaos unleashed as the Chinese military hunkered down on the dissidents, came a worryingly strange injunction requiring the Dalai Lama to attend – unaccompanied by his security personnel – a theatrical performance at the Chinese army headquarters in Lhasa. Fearing abduction/assassination attempts on the Dalai Lama, the Tibetans picketed outside his summer palace on March 10, 1959, to restrain any movement of their beloved leader. Chinese troops and artillery packed into Lhasa, and as the rumble of tanks rolling into the city permeated his heavily guarded palace walls, His Holiness made the painful decision on 15th March of leading the struggle for his people from exile.

On the dark, stormy night of 17th March, the Dalai Lama dressed as a soldier, and with an entourage of 38 people comprising family, well-wishers and high-ranking officials, sneaked out on horses. Through bone-chilling weather and treacherous terrains of the Himalayas, and across the swirling Brahmaputra, the group slipped past the gauntlet of the Red Army. Meanwhile upon receipt of the news, the incensed Chinese razed the palace down and left nearly 80, 000 more civilians dead back in Lhasa.

The 15-day long epic journey paid off when The Kundun (‘The Presence’, as His Holiness is referred to) crossed Khenzimana Pass to enter the Indian border safely on 31 March, and rested in the Towang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh. Shortly, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, announced the decision to grant asylum to the Dalai Lama, at the obvious risk of jilting Indo-China relations.

While the Chinese instated the Panchen Lama as the acting head of the region, His Holiness the Dalai Lama set up Government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamshala, in Himachal Pradesh; many Tibetans have since followed in the footsteps of their God-king to what is now known as Little Lhasa. The world waits for the Dalai Lama to lead them back home.

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Indian Innovation Mantras: Economic growth is not enough to invite and nurture ideas

2011-05-29T10:51:00.001+05:30

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The National Innovation Council of India has proposed a $1 billion innovation fund to boost innovation for India's inclusive growth. Although India witnesses exponential growth, it has been grossly underperforming when it comes to innovation in technology, method or structure. India ranked abysmally low in innovation rankings 56 out of 132 nations in the 2010 Global Innovation Index published by business school INSEAD in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry. India's ranking has actually slipped from 41 in 2009. In another index by the Economist Intelligence Unit, it ranked 58 out of 82 nations.

While such rankings are not entirely flawless, there are scopes for India to improve when it comes to incorporating adequate policy initiatives to encourage innovation. Firstly, almost 90 per cent of the workforce is in the unorganised sector. They are involved mostly in unskilled or low productive jobs. Though half of the Indian population is still young, around 17 per cent of them have just completed their secondary education. Secondly, in-service training remains very poor in India. Merely 16 per cent of the manufacturing firms provide on-the-job training to their employees while 92 per cent of employees in China and 42 per cent employees in Korea get on-job-training. Third is the unsystematic and inadequate information flow. According to a report by IBRD/World Bank “average enterprise productivity of finance, insurance and real estate companies is 23 times higher than that of agriculture.” But these sectors employ rarely 1.3 per cent of the total workforce while 60 per cent of the workforce depends on farming. The fourth is investment in R&D. Investment in R&D has never exceeded 1 per cent of the GDP.

Thus, there is a need to revolutionise the information flow across the nation. Mobile and broadband connections have reached 700 million and around 10 million respectively which are still very low compared to US, Japan or China. In addition, there is need to encourage competition. Competition encourages innovation. It is essential to motivate private players to invest on R&D. Moreover, we need organised efforts for in-service as well as Government initiated skill development programs. ITIs never proved to be adequate. So, the $1 billion is a nice proposal. If the Centre approves, it can be a nice beginning — provided there is least leakage. But just a right beginning is not enough!

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Resource war: Rare earth elements

2011-05-25T10:38:00.002+05:30

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Rare earth elements can fuel the next war among nations

There seems to be a new entry in the catalogue of war for resources. After oil, gold and water, the latest addition are the rare earth elements. Rare earth element is a collection of seventeen chemical elements like scandium, yttrium and the fifteen lanthanides. They are the key minerals used in green technology and precision weapons production — from iPads to electric cars, precision weapons to electronic goods.

China gained monopoly after mines of rare earth elements across the world were closed down owing to low cost exports of the same by China. When China instituted an export ban on rare earth elements to Japan on Sept 22, 2010, it intensified concerns on worldwide production of major electronic products and defense equipments. China today controls 36 million tons of the world's 88 million ton rare-earth element deposits, more than the combined deposits of the US and Russia. It also supplies over 97 per cent of rare earth elements to the world. According to surveys, over 1,24,000 metric tons of rare earth elements were produced in 2009 while the global demand was more than 1,34,000 metric tons. This demand-supply gap is encouraging black marketing and illegal trading; more so, as the worldwide demand is expected to rise to 1,80,000 metric tons by 2012. The global trade in rare earths is estimated to reach $3 billion by 2014.

These elements are so diversely spread that mining alone would fetch no economic benefit. Even the US for the last 15 years, is completely relying on imports. In spite of other countries crafting policies to make their rare earth elements mines more economical, the monopoly will be there with China — at least for next few decades. Since rare-earth mining produces radioactive waste and discharge of such waste calls for strict guidelines in developed countries, China seems to be the best option. The country has allotted billions into basic and applied research on rare earth elements; China also has two state laboratories exclusively for R&D on rare-earth elements and own two journals dedicated to rare earth metals. Japan has come out with an innovative alternative that can alter the rules of trade in this sector but unfortunately is expensive and calls for huge investment as of now. This Japanese alternative will extract rare earth elements through recycling. It is estimated that around 3,00,000 tons of rare earths stored in unused electronics can be tapped after recycling.

China since July 2010 has reduced export quotas of rare earth elements by 72 per cent, thus inflating prices by six-folds which will make a major dent on global availability and pricing and eventually jeopardize defense and electronic goods production. What is worse is that mines across the world would take a minimum of 10-15 years before they become operational. Hence it makes more sense for countries to go the Japanese way as it can guarantee both economic and environmental benefit.

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As Jamiat contends that Kashmir is an integral part of India, it is a bold first initiative taken by any Indian Muslim organisation

2011-05-21T10:30:00.000+05:30

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Troubled valley: Deoband ruffles Kashmir's separatist feathers

"Not only Kashmir but Kashmiri people are also an integral part of India," was the one-line message that came out of the Kashmir Conference convened by Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind in Deoband recently. On the need and purpose of the conference, Rajya Sabha member and leader of Jamiat-e-ulema Hind Maulana Mehmood Madni told TSI, "It is the history of Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind that it has always raised its voice against injustice and oppression. This conference is also a voice against the injustice being meted out to the Kashmiri people." He further added, "Excessive use of force is not a solution for any problem. It further complicates the problem."

The largest Muslim organisation of the Sunni school of thought, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, took an unusual decision of holding a Kashmir Conference in Deoband, thousands of kilometres away from the troubled Valley.

People in Deoband raised questions over this conference but the organisers were upbeat about the response. Kamal Farooqui, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said, "The decision to hold this conference was not a spontaneous and sudden one. We deliberated at length and even sent a delegation comprising several people including Swami Agnivesh and Mazhar Hussain to know the ground realities and get the feel."

He told TSI that "It is a very bold step of Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind because Indian Muslim organisations have always feared to take up the cause of the Kashmiri people." He further says, "The situation in Kashmir is totally different from the past because earlier there was the involvement of Pakistan-based ISI but now things have changed. There are certain issues which can be addressed within the framework of Indian Constitution."

On the question of the Kashmiri people having not welcomed the conference and that Valley people talk of nothing less than independence, Kamal Farooqui said, "The reaction that is coming from Kashmir with regard to Deoband conference is very positive. As far as the question of independence is concerned, the meaning of autonomy is nothing but independence only. The government has already given them some autonomy which means there is a scope for further negotiation. Thus, the things can be sorted out within the framework of the Constitution of India".

Throwing light on Jamiat’s role in the country's freedom struggle and praising the latest initiative, senior journalist M.J. Akbar, in his address, warned, "Any further partition of the country would be very dangerous for Indian Muslims because it is the Indian Muslims who have suffered maximum due to partition." Noted scribe Aziz Burney said, "This conference would send a message that atrocities on Kashmiri people should end." Former BJP leader Dr J. K. Jain said, "Every patriotic Indian is concerned about the developments in Kashmir and the Kashmiri people should not talk of a separate homeland because Kashmir is an integral part of India and Kashmiri people are our brothers." Secretary of Jamiat-e-Islami Hind Mujtaba Farooq said, "There is a need to win the hearts of the Kashmiri people without which this issue cannot be addressed."

Echoing similar sentiments, AIMPLB spokesman Dr Qasim Rasool Ilyas, said, "The beautiful face of Indian democracy has been tarnished in Kashmir." He added, "We are proud that we live in a democratic country and the Kashmir issue should be resolved through negotiations." In his address, Maulana Aijaz Ul Hasan Qasmi of Kashmir asked the audience: "What is the fault of the Kashmiri people? They only want which was promised by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, at various forums. Prominent activist Swami Agnivesh demanded that an enquiry commission should be set up to probe the deaths of 110 people in the recent violence in the Valley. He further demanded, "Troops should be withdrawn from the Valley. If the number of police personnel in the state is less, then recruit local Kashmiri youths."

On the question that how fruitful this conference would be in restoration of peace in Kashmir, a resident of Delhi, Iqbal Zafar, said, "It is a complicated issue but it is a welcome initiative." He further said, "Instead of demanding independence, Kashmiri youths should ask for development, better educational facilities, more job opportunities and welfare of the common people."

At the end of the conference, an 11-point resolution was passed demanding restoration of peace in the Valley. An appeal went out to Kashmiri leaders and protestors to abjure the violent path and instead adopt peaceful democratic means for voicing their grievances. Jamiat sent a very strong message to the Kashmiri people that it stands with them and supports their lawful demands.

Though the Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, which enjoys the largest following among Indian Muslims, played a very important role in India's struggle for freedom and is always ready to take up Muslim issues, it has always steered clear of commenting on Kashmir. Two years back, the organisation condemned acts of terrorism but like other Muslim organisations, it was scared of speaking on the Kashmir issue. That way this initiative is indeed a bold one. They have already started feeling the heat because anti-Jamiat voices from the Valley have already started making themselves heard.

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The elephant death toll in Orissa has risen alarmingly in recent Years with the state government ignoring the warnings of wildlife activists

2011-05-17T11:07:00.003+05:30

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Elephant deaths: Corridor of death

The rulers of Kalinga were once called 'Gajapati' because of their formidable army of elephants. But in contemporary Orissa, the pachyderms are under such severe threat that the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has been constrained to caution the state government.

MoEF, which disallowed Vedanta’s mining plans in Orissa’s Niyamgiri hills while giving Andhra Pradesh the go-ahead for the Polaveram project, has accused the state forest department of apathy. The Union ministry has sought the Orissa chief minister’s intervention to stop elephant deaths in the state.

Official records have it that in the last 19 years in Orissa, 231 elephants fell victim to poachers, 166 were killed in accidents and 173 died due to natural causes. Worse still, in the last 10 years, 155 elephants have died due to electrocution. Most of these accidents have taken place in Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Dhenkanal districts.

The recent death of three elephants due to electrocution in Keonjhar compelled Jairam Ramesh, Union minister for environment and forests, to write a letter to the Orissa chief minister requesting immediate attention. The letter reads, "I am told that occurrences of such incidents are very high in the state and 22 elephants have been electrocuted in the period 2008-09 to 2009-10. You will agree that it is a matter of concern…" Gajah, the annual report of MoEF’s elephant task force, has also identified electrocution as one of the principal causes of elephant deaths. High-tension electric lines passing through forest areas, specifically in elephant corridors, is a major threat. The electricity poles supporting the wires are placed far apart, causing the wires to hang low. An elephant passing under the wires often accidentally touches it and gets electrocuted. Though such incidents happen in North Bengal, Karnataka and many other states as well, nowhere is it more rampant than in Orissa.

Biswajeet Mohanty, secretary of Orissa Wildlife Society and member, National Board of Wildlife, says: "Immediate steps are required to protect the elephants. The animals are dying due to lack of proper official measures. We have written letters to power transmitting and electricity supply companies to find remedies as soon as possible. But the state forest department has not done little though this problem is a very old one."

The situation is so alarming that elephant deaths have occurred even in sanctuaries. Last April, poaching of 12 elephants came to light when wildlife activist V.M. Acharya and the honorary wildlife warden of Mayurbhanj Sanjukta Basa got to know of elephant killings inside Orissa's famous tiger reserve, Similipal. Initially a local forest staff reported the death of only one elephant, which prompted wildlife activists to investigate. During their field investigation inside the tiger reserve, bones and other remains of dead elephants were found. The carcasses were stinking.

Biswajeet Mohanty avers, "There were definite attempts to hide the bones. The investigation team found them concealed under huge rocks. Initially forest officials tried to cover up the incident but when the situation went beyond their control they accepted their complicity but didn’t confirm the exact number of elephants that were killed."

"The way elephants are dying is really alarming. The central as well as the state governments need to take urgent measures to protect these mammals," said S.N.Patra, working president of Orissa Environmental Society. The irony is that while the experts regard the situation as alarming, the government turns a blind eye to the gravity of the problem and furnishes conservative figures. "According to the latest census, Orissa is home to 1,886 elephants. In the last 10 years, 50 elephants on an average have perished every year. While six to seven elephants die from electrocution, six get poached every year. Accidents are causing more elephant deaths than poaching. Besides being electrocuted, elephants are sometimes mowed down by trains or fall into pits, said Priyanath Padhy, chief wildlife warden of Orissa. When asked about the Union Minister’s letter, he said, "I have not yet received a copy of that letter. I can only comment when I get it."

But state energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has taken this issue seriously. He told TSI, "We have taken initiatives to increase the height of high-tension lines in the elephant corridor. But this is only a temporary solution to the problem since the movement of elephants is increasing in human habitation zones. I think a joint effort of the energy and forest departments is must. As this
endeavour requires a huge investment, it cannot be done without the Centre’s
active participation."

Sadly, the state government machinery has done little so far. The State Board for Wildlife, a high-power body chaired by the chief minister, has not met even once in the last two years though at least one meeting every six months is mandatory. Moreover, there has been no meeting of the honorary wildlife wardens in the last two years. What makes matters worse is that offenders are rarely convicted in wildlife cases even when caught red-handed. Many cases are pending for more than a decade.

There is the famous case of Ganesh Jew, an ivory trader who was arrested in 1991 at Baripada town of Mayurbhanj district after a raid on his house. The accused has yet to be chargesheeted even after 19 years! "This clearly reveals the abject apathy of the forest department to engage with wildlife experts and conservationists who can provide valuable inputs and advice for protection of wildlife in the state," said Mohanty.

The threat to wildlife in Orissa isn’t, however, limited only to elephants. The tiger population of the state dwindled from 226 in 1993 to 50 in 2008 as per the national tiger census done by Wildlife Institute of India. More than 1, 40,000 turtles have been killed during the last 14 years. Crocodiles, water monitors and snakes are trapped and killed for their skins. Lakhs of birds are poached and sold every year around Chilika lake.

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UPA hopes there will be no trouble but is leaving little to chance

2011-04-26T11:02:00.000+05:30

After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May

North block moves

The ghost of Ayodhya is looming large on the minds of the ruling coalition. In the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the Prime Minister, home minister P. Chidambaram was briefed about the possible deployment of paramilitary forces to handle the turbulent situation in J&K and to tackle the Maoists.

Someone raised the question of possible deployment of security forces in the wake of the upcoming verdict of the Allahabad High Court on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. The meeting was unanimous that the government could not afford to repeat the mistake of the Narasimha Rao government. Caution was the need of the hour. During the meeting, Chidambaram briefed the CCS members about preparations of the home ministry to tackle any sort of situation that might arise after the court verdict.

The government has listed 35 sensitive cities where communal harmony could be jeopardised. Therefore, an additional secretary-level officer has been deputed to monitor the situation particularly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. The Centre has sent an advisory to these states to be on their guard.

The Centre has assured Uttar Pradesh of all help in case things threaten to get out of hand. Though the government has clearly stated that it is not possible to send 400 battalions keeping in view the tight security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games, it would try to do its best to provide all the support that the UP administration might need.

Sources in the UPA reveal that the government has conducted a survey through local Intelligence agencies. What concerns the Congress think tank is the political battle that will be fought. The party has sought parallel reports from state Congress units. On the basis of these reports, Sonia Gandhi has advised the government to make foolproof arrangements to handle any eventuality.

The BJP and RSS are understandably hopeful of making political capital out of the issue once more. The Congress believes that if the verdict goes in favour of the Waqf Board, then it would be easy to handle the situation. UP Congress has cautioned the party high command about the political tactics that might be adopted by the BJP to cash in on this emotive issue. The BJP might try to polarise voters in ensuing election in Bihar. Pressure is mounting on the government to act in a decisive manner. The Congress is of the view that if peace is disturbed, the BJP will try to derive political mileage. The ruling coalition is already worried over alleged failure of the government in tackling inflation and it does not want to concede any more political ground to the Opposition. The onus now rests on Chidambaram. Intelligence chiefs have warned that Azamgarh, Mathura, Kashi, Bhopal, Indore, Raipur, Delhi, Nagpur, Gorakhpur and Ranchi are among the more sensitive areas. The Prime Minister wanted to know about preparations of the home ministry regarding UP's demand for 400 battalions of paramilitary forces.

The home ministry, in its reply, has said that it is ready to send 40 battalions of paramilitary forces and 15 units of Rapid Action Force. The government has also sought reports from home secretaries of different states. They have been told to remain vigilant and be ready to handle any situation.

Amid all this, the RSS has already started chanting of Hanuman Chalisa in temples across India. The chanting will reach a crescendo on September 16. The BJP has called off its planned Jammu conference.

However, the apex body of the BJP is not in favour of a direct confrontation on the issue of building a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. It has even advised its front organisations such as VHP and Bajrang Dal to maintain peace even if the court delivers a verdict in favour of the Waqf Board and allots Hindus a piece of land near the disputed site. They have also sent overtures to Muslim groups to consider giving up their claims on Mathura and Kashi.

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Awaiting the verdict, TSI analyses why religion and caste do not pay in the long run

2011-04-23T10:36:00.000+05:30

After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May

Gainers turn ultimate losers

Will the Allahabad High Court's verdict on the more-than-century-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute put an end to the matter? Most possibly no. No matter which way the verdict swings, the aggrieved will most definitely appeal to the country's highest court. The procrastinating judicial process, though none can beat the Liberhan Commission in this regard, will definitely make sure that years down, a new generation of Indian Hindus and Muslims wakes up one fine day and disdainfully looks at newspaper headlines, wondering: 'What is wrong with these people? Why are they obsessed with something that happened so many years back?'

The people of India have moved over from 1992. I just wish I could say the same about BJP. The Ram Mandir agitation has served the Saffron political front well. L.K. Advani's momentous Rath Yatra traversed the length and breadth of the country, drawing support from Hindu religious leaders and common people swayed by religious fervour. His opposite numbers like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav similarly reached out to Muslims by projecting their avid anti-mandir stance. The Mandal guarantee of lower caste votebank was already there. It was time to ride the wave. The Temple Movement culminated in the gathering of 1,50,000 frenzied kar sevaks in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, the disputed structure was brought down. While the act led to riots in parts of the country which claimed 1,000 lives, it consolidated the BJP's conservative Hindu votebank. The party swept the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1995. In the parliamentary polls of 1998, the BJP-led NDA attained a thin majority. In the interim elections of 1999, the NDA increased its tally.

An issue as vague as the Ram Mandir could bring BJP to power but could not perpetuate its stay. BJP failed to understand this. The Kandahar hijack fiasco and the Gujarat riots of 2002, coupled with the extreme negative publicity that the NDA's 'Shining India' campaign generated, made sure of its defeat in the 2004 elections. If 2004 was shocking, 2009 was tragic. Its tally was reduced to 159 seats, factionalism engulfed the party. Today, the party is at its wit's end to re-brand itself. A section still feels return to the old Hinduvta will pay dividends. But that section is marginalised today. The new leadership has a serious predicament. Neither can it abandon the mandir cause. And sticking to it is making the party look more ridiculous.

With the BJP threat receding, Lalu and Mulayam have also had their Muslim vote bank slip. When you toss a coin into muck, both sides get dirty. Eighteen years have passed since 1992. An entire new generation has started exercising its right of franchise. They are not bothered about mandirs and masjids. They are bothered about unemployment, development, equitable distribution of wealth, access to quality education and healthcare. The BJP had a lemon to juice. They squeezed it to its bitter end.

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Syed Khurram Raza finds that the Muslim voice can't be heard as a monolith

2011-04-18T10:18:00.000+05:30

After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May

Bracing for judgment day

The Muslim community is very often considered a monolith. But on the eve of the Babri Masjid verdict, different voices from the community are echoing different thoughts.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Jalaluddin Umri categorically states that nearly all Muslim organisations have already announced that they would respect the verdict of the court. He is of the opinion that 'Muslims should respect the decision and there is no need to react'. In case the verdict is not in favour of the community, he thinks that Muslims should appeal in the Supreme Court.

Speaking to TSI, the Shahi Imam of Shahi Jama Masjid, Delhi, Maulana Ahmed Bukhari, says, 'Muslims have the fullest faith in the judiciary and that is why for the past 60 years, Muslims are fighting the case in the court. The other party does not believe in the judiciary and that is why they regularly say that it is question of faith (aastha) and it cannot be settled in a court of law.' On whether the verdict may lead to communal disturbances, he tells TSI, 'It will not be from the Muslim side, it will be Hindu communal forces who could pollute the atmosphere and it is the responsibility of the government to keep an eye on all such elements. As far as Muslims are concerned, they are the citizens of this country and they will not live under fear or pressure'. He further adds that Muslims were cheated in 1992. Asked if there was any scope of negotiations, he says, 'The question of any negotiation does not arise because there cannot be any solution through negotiations. The solution will come through the court only.' He also appeals to Muslims that they should respect the court order and should demonstrate maximum patience and restraint and should not get provoked. Veteran journalist Zafar Agha says, 'Indian Muslims cannot live imprisoned with one incident, there was a period in which the tragedy of demolition took place which was unacceptable in any society. But that period is over and now Muslims should see beyond this tragedy.' He stressed that 'Masjid and Mandir are the two realities and identities of our country and secularism is the essence of this country. Demolition of the mosque was not only an unconstitutional act but it was against the culture of this country.' He said, 'There is a need to marginalise the former players and start a fresh initiative to resolve this issue.'

Senior scribe Nafees Ahmed says, 'If the verdict goes in favour of the Muslims, they should demonstrate largeheartedness and take a decision which could marginalise the communal forces'.

Navaid Hamid, member of National Integration Council, says, 'There is no other solution but to abide by the court's verdict.'

Lecturer in Kirori Mal College Khalid Ashraf says 'Both Muslims and Hindus should respect the verdict of the court and it is the government who has to see to it that the court order is implemented in its true spirit. It is high time that leaders of both the communities understand that education, peace and development are more important than these masjids and mandirs. If there is no peace and no welfare, then the basic purpose of the mosque and temple is defeated. If human beings live in peace and harmony, then the purpose is served whether the mosque or the temple exists or not.'

Syed Shahabuddin is very categorical that once a masjid is always a masjid. He says, following the Hanafi school of thought, that a masjid's place cannot be given to anyone nor can be used for any other purpose. Shahbuddin does not blame Rajiv Gandhi and says that the late leader was misled. He says, 'When I met Rajiv Gandhi, he told me that he was misled by two persons and he named them.' Shahabuddin says 'If the title suit is decided in favour of the Muslims, then in my view Muslims need not build a mosque at the mosque site. But they should not also give it to anyone else as the Islamic law does not permit anyone to sell or gift masjid land. But they can give the adjacent land to the Hindus.'

However, there will be few takers of this formula as hardliner Hindus will stick to the Garbh Griha demand.

There are some other Muslim leaders who are in favour of giving the land to Hindu organisations but with the condition that the land goes to Shankaracharya and that the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena is kept away. One leader, who does not wish to be identified, says, 'We want to restore the glory of Shankaracharyas and keep these elements out. We are having talks in this regard.'

Two senior members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board fully endorse Shahabuddin's viewpoint of not building the mosque in case the verdict goes in favour of Muslims. They are of the view that this issue should be buried once and forever.

During the monsoon session, several Muslim parliamentarians sat together when one MP got an information that inputs from Intelligence agencies suggest that the verdict can go against the Muslims. One of them immediately called up Zafaryab Jilani to get the exact feedback. When Zafaryab Jilani assured them that there was very little chance of such a thing happening, they were relieved. However, they have decided on the immediate need to ensure that Muslims take the verdict humbly and do not celebrate or hail the verdict.

Muslims born after 1992 are not even interested in this issue. They are more interested in social networking sites, big money, football or Shah Rukh Khan.

According to sources, the Centre is already drawing contingency plans. There is a feeling at the Centre that some stray incidents could take place. It does not apprehend anything major as the losing side will have the option to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Mayawati, has already asked for more forces from the Centre. A strong message has gone out to the DMs and police officials that if anything untoward happened in their areas, strong action will be taken against them.

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Whither Pakistan

2011-04-14T10:16:00.000+05:30

After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May

Relief efforts are in full swing in Balochistan and Sindh but the flood victims continue to face many insurmountable adversities

Pakistan has suffered an estimated loss of about 500 billion rupees due to the worst flooding in its 62-year-old chequered history. The disaster is essentially man-made and a result of climate change.

The losses have occurred because standing crops of sugarcane, paddy and cotton have been badly damaged by the floods. 'Fifty per cent paddy crop has been submerged,' says Kaiser Bengali, an eminent economist and adviser to the chief minister of Sindh. Mr Bengali said that besides cash crops, water courses have been damaged severely and they will have to be built again.

As many as one million houses have been damaged in Sindh, adding up to a loss of about 200 billion rupees. About 30 per cent of these houses have been in urban and the rest in rural areas, Mr Bengali said. Similarly, roads have been badly damaged and the exact estimate of the damage could be made only after flood water recedes completely.

However, livestock has not been damaged to that extent because farmers shifted them to safer places after a flood warning. Sadly enough, there was colossal damage to livestock in Shikarpur in Sindh and Jacobabad in Balochistan because a timely warning could not be issued there, the economis said.

The schools, already in a pathetic condition, have been damaged so badly would remain closed for at least six months due to flooding.

In Balochistan province, the worst damage has been done to Kohlu area because of its height. However, since it is mainly inhabited by people of the Marri tribe, the military establishment tried its level best not to allow relief operation to reach that area, according to a source in a non-governmental organistion (NGO) that wished not to be identified due to security reasons.

But Mohammad Siddiq Aftab of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Balochistan rejected the notion that Kohlu area has been ignored.

'On July 22 when I reached my office in the morning, the deputy commissioner of Kohlu was already sitting there. In fact, he was the first person to reach my office,' Aftab said.

'He informed me that 30 villages in Kohlu area have been washed away, while 20 were at risk, and about 1500 families have been displaced,' Aftab continued. Mr Aftab said that as many as four trucks laden with relief goods were immediately dispatched to Kohlu. The relief goods included food items, tents, clothing, among other things of daily use.

He said that in the adjacent district of Bakhran, the civil bureaucracy coordinated with the army and dispatched three trucks laden with relief goods. The very next day, four more trucks were sent there, he said. Aftab also rejected the allegation that NGOs were not allowed to freely operate in that area. There is no truth in this notion, he asserted.

'As a nation, we are not good enough,' he said. 'In the beginning, the military ordered the NGOs not to operate in that area without seeking prior permission, but when I went to the chief minister of Balochistan and showed him the circular that had been issued by General Nadeem, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, the chief minister said it was of no value,' Mr Aftab said.

Mr Aftab said that his department did everything it could to coordinate the relief operations that were launched by the NGOs, but made sure that these well-meaning initiatives did not overlap with the main rescue effort because a large number of NGOs were active in Balochistan province.

Shahbaz Khan Barozai, the Risaldaar Levies (Federal) of Sibi District, endorsed Mr Aftab's view. He asserted that if anybody was stopped from going to Kohlu area, it was strictly for security reasons. The step, he insisted, was taken in good faith because the situation in that area was far too dangerous to allow for free access for everybody. To a certain extent, Mr Barozai was right because the situation in Balochistan is extremely tense at the moment and Punjabi and Urdu-speaking people were leaving the province in great haste fearing for safety.

Asiya Asif, 30, general manager, NCBP, an NGO, said that she had lost her younger brother Atiq Ahmed some two years ago in a bomb blast at the court. As many as 17 people, including several judges, died in that blast.

'It's true that Punjabis are being systematically targeted here. My brother was only 24 years old and was a source of strength for me,' she said. Asiya said her grandfather had migrated from Amritsar, Punjab in 1947 and settled down in the city of Quetta.

'Now we are facing the music. Many of my family members have already migrated to other places.

But 'target killing' is not taking place in Balochistan province alone. It is equally rampant in the 18-million-strong megalopolis of Karachi. Nobody knows who are the people that aree behind these target killings. There are only assumptions at best. However, the land mafia in this part of Pakistan appears to be a major player in these target killings. Islamic fanatics also have had a role in these target killings despite the fact that the government has imposed a ban on such violent organisations. Despite relief goods being distributed by national and international NGOs in Balochistan, the situation is pretty unsettling in the camps that have been set up for the flood-affected. The people there are suffering from diarrhoea and other communicable diseases.

'The World Health Organisation (WHO) works as a part of the government. We don't work separately and independently. The provincial government had forwarded to us a demand about medicines and we met that demand as early as in the month of July,' said Dr. Tahira Kamal, the WHO spokesperson in Balochistan.

But visits to the flood relief camps show that the affected people are still facing innumerable problems on a daily basis. The main issue here is that they do not trust the governments, whether provincial or the federal. The opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Tehreek-e-Insaf led by former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, besides the media, are openly apprehensive about the tall claims that the government has been making regarding the rescue and relief operations being conducted in the flood-hit expanses of Pakistan.

There is a general perception among the populace that the assistance given by donors, whether international or national, will evenbtually be misappropriated by the government. Some people are going to the extent of looking for military intervention to allay these fears.

But this perception seems to be somewhat far-fetched, firstly because the Americans are in favour of a civil government in Pakistan and secondly because the army is unlikely to intervene in such a difficult situation after the 10-year mess left behind by the former military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf. Yeh hai Sibi!

By shahid husain

Quetta: Journalists, especially Urdu-speaking and Punjabi-speaking ones, are scared to visit Balochistan. Even if some TV channels are covering the disaster, they are doing so under the army's protection. Sources in NGOs claim journos are not allowed to go to Kohlu. The reason: nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bux Marri holds sway there.

When I reached Quetta I was asked not to speak Urdu on the way to Sibi. I speak only Urdu and English. If I kept mum how would I interview Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have arrived in Sibi from the interior of Sindh?

On my way to Sibi, I noticed that all the sign boards were in English and Urdu. Advertisements and graffiti, too, were in Urdu. Even the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) chalking on a wall and a mountain against Punjabis was in Urdu!

The distribution centre of Church World Service/Pakistan-Afghanistan (CWS/PA) in Sibi was established in the Divisional Public School. The District Coordination Officer (DCO) kindly permitted CWS/PA to carry on its distribution from here. It seemed to be a good school with clean classrooms, a computer lab, spacious playgrounds, two staff rooms and a tidy principal's room.

However, Sibi is one of the hottest places in the world. Everybody was perspiring, especially the labour force that was shifting goods for distribution from warehouse to the spacious playground.

"In hathoon ki tazeem karo" (Respect these hands!), I recalled a line from a poem by eminent Urdu poet and one of the founding members of Progressive Writers' Association (PWA), Ali Sardar Jafri. Who says Balochis are lethargic people?

I remember Sardar Jafri. Tall and handsome! He had a firm grip when he shook hands. I met him in Karachi in the early 1970s when he came to Pakistan from India probably to make a documentary on great Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib whose centenary was then being observed across the world.

Waheedullah of CWS/PA told me the relief goods his organisation was distributing to 750 families had 40 kg rice, 80 kg flour, 8 kg daal (pulses), 4-1/2 kg oil, 10 match boxes, 4 Safeguard soups, 1 packet of salt, ' kg tea, 1 plastic sheet that could also be used as a tent, and 1 tent.

Ahmed Nawaz, CEO, National Capacity Building Programme (NCBP), partner organisation of CWS/PA in Balochistan was fasting. So was Aysia, the cool-headed general manager at NCBP.

I was not fasting but had slept only for one-and-a half hours the previous night. The rising sun was making me mad. I interviewed Shahbaz Khan Barozai, Risaldaar Levies (Federal), Sibi District and a couple of IDPs in a nearby camp. Exhausted and drained I found it difficult to work..

On our way to Sibi, we saw Mach that reminded me of Tarek Fatah and Intezar Zaidi, my student day's friends who braved imprisonment in Mach jail.

We also passed through the mountains of Bolan that reminded me of a poem by eminent Baloch poet and natinalist leader Gul Khan Naseer and of course Chakar Khan who was hanged by military dictator Gen. Ayub Khan. Also saw IDPs on both sides of the road.

I was escorted in Principal's room. An impressive room, indicating that it was surely the office of a dignified person. On the wall behind principal's chair were portraits of Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Mohammad Iqbal. I asked the young peon Mian Khan if there was an ash tray in principal's room. He brought a waste paper basket. He also brought cold drinks and water for me. Yet I was perspiring profusely.

"Kitni garmi hay!" (How hot it is!), I said. Khan replied: "Yeh hai Sibi!" (This is Sibi!) reminding me of the song: "Ye hai Bombay meri jaan! (This is Bombay my darling.); Sadly, there were rains in the area and when I visited Sibi two days later, the goods distributed by the NGO had been washed away.

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The Real Watergate

2011-04-09T10:53:00.000+05:30

After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May

The frequent grim calls to 'Save Water' are not coming from the prophets of doom; they may be Voices from the Waters... indira parthasarathy joins chorus for protection of this very limited resource'

Is the quest for the 'elixir of life' still on? I daresay one needn't look beyond the glass of water perched at the far end of your table. What the chemists call H2O in what is a case for oversimplification, is that which is believed to be one of the cardinal five constituent elements of the universe, and that which is the most critical lookout in the hunt for extra terrestrial settlement. Celebrating water then, as did the Voices from the Waters (VFTW) Festival in Bangalore between the 27th and 30th of August, is a fine way to remind us how precious this unique gift of nature is, and how exigent is the need to protect it.

In what has been a long time coming, the United Nations recently declared clean water a fundamental human right, but the move is only a step towards acknowledging the problem, and not quite a solution in itself. According to the UN World Water Development Report, 2009, an estimated 90 per cent of the three billion people who are expected to be added to the population by 2050, will be in developing countries, many in regions already in water stress where the current population does not have sustainable access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Increasing urban migration and resultant industrial and municipal contamination only compounds the crisis. Says Ganesh Pangare, IUCN's Water Coordinator for Asia, 'Strategies for investment to reduce the vulnerability of cities will need to include maintenance and restoration of watersheds, wetlands, rivers and coasts.' Outside the environment conference halls however, investments can only be found in places like Alberta, the centre of Canada's oil sands industry. 'H2Oil', screened at the fifth edition of VFTW, the largest international film festival on water, highlighted how River Athabasca in Canada, which is the biggest energy satellite of the US, was being sucked dry considering extraction of one barrel of oil from the tar sands used up to four barrels of fresh water. With the government firmly behind the industry, incriminating evidence of explosion of cancer cases in the community owing to carcinogenic effluent discharge leaking into the river amounts to nothing. On the subject of bureaucratic complicity, director of 'Goa Goa Gone', Kurush Canteenwala stated that nearly 38 of the 40 legislators of Goa hold mining leases directly or indirectly. Mining across the small state threatens to cut off rivers flowing from the western ghats towards the sea, as also induce saline water intrusion in the hinterlands. As The Stockholm International Water Institute puts it, the world's water crisis is not related to the physical availability of water, but to unbalanced power relations, poverty and related inequalities.

Inequality is the mildest word that comes to mind when one talks of 'private water rights'. The subject of 'Life on Sale', Chile's model of a water market where private individuals own quantities of water as big as a small European country could have been stuff for satire, if it wasn't for real. Needless to say, the poor local communities in a land that is home to the driest desert on earth ' Atacama ' are condemned to thirst and more poverty. Hopefully, with water reforms underway to reclaim it as a public resource in the country, and with the UN Declaration in place, the model won't find any more takers.

With global warming turning on the heat in the polar ice caps which are the storehouse of 70% of our fresh water supplies, and with states choosing to look the other way as indiscriminate Environment Clearances render our lands barren and dry, there might soon be a time when we see no meaning to Bruce Lee's iconic words 'Be water, my friend..' Water, water'

Anil Naidoo, coordinator, blue planet project, and a key figure in mobilising support for the un resolution for fundamental right to water, talks about proactive measures to address the impending water crisis'

97% of the planet is water. Is science and technology doing enough to make more and more of it usable as fresh water?

It is a fantasy to think that we can actually use science to create more fresh water in anything but emergency and critical situations. Desalinisation technologies, for instance, require massive energy at a time when we are dealing with a global energy crisis as well as leaving a legacy of toxic effluent. This is only a stopgap in the wealthiest countries and is not a sustainable solution for the global water crisis.

The mining industry uses up tremendous amounts of fresh water in many parts of the world. What, short of closing all mines and revoking all leases, is the solution to preserve our fresh water sources?

Simply, we must demand a water conservation and protection plan before the licensing of new mining operations, and alongside this a plan for watershed restoration. It is impossible and not productive to demand closing of all mines, but there will certainly be areas where mining should not be allowed as the damage to the ecosystem and the people and life which depend upon those ecosystems.

If these companies are allowed to exploit the water without consequence and leave it heavily polluted, then they will not invest in a different way of managing their need for water and their ecological footprint. There needs to be global governance structures to ensure a strict level of accountability and compliance.

The pro-water rights lobby defends privatisation as the only way to highlight its scarcity, and price signals being indicative of its valuable status. Some cite increased hydropower development in Chile following privatisation as an example. How do we refute this?

The so-called economically productive uses of water will certainly be increased through price signals. By charging for water, users will be chosen based on their ability to pay and their ability to out compete rival users. To acquiesce to a society where human life and ecological integrity is allowed to be traded away with water rights, or where the thirsty are left to struggle as water goes to less critical uses is abhorrent to most people.

Water is a human right and these rights must be progressively realised which requires us to be vigilant against mechanisms, such as markets and pricing for profit, which exclude people and violate their human rights.

Distribution of water is often a political conundrum too, as in the case of River Cauvery in India. How do we ensure equitable distribution of water?

By engaging the people who depend on the water to live and by factoring in the needs of the natural environment' More than a political process, we would benefit from a democratic process which fosters community participation in decision-making. Water discourse is often about power and acknowledging and redressing power imbalances in all communities must be at the core of water distribution mechanisms.

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Resurrecting the Indian pharma growth saga

2011-02-27T09:36:00.001+05:30

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While the big guns of Indian pharma struggle to get going, an interesting clutch of mid-sized players are showing the way towards future sustainability and growth. By steven philip warner, Amir Moin & Jayant Mundhra

While industry watchers view with dread a trend of sorts where Indian pharma companies capitulate in front of the competition (with Ranbaxy, Piramal Healthcare, Shanta Biotech, Dabur Pharma and Matrix going for sell off), rise and success of mid-sized Indian pharma seems to provide a welcome sign of relief. But the question remains, what is it that has suddenly catapulted these companies into the limelight? And is their success story sustainable?

To answer this, we first need to look into what's going on with India's big daddies. Further consolidation is anticipated in the Indian pharma industry as even some of the larger players view stake sales to global giants as a very lucrative option. There are a number of reasons for this on either side. Firstly, given the limited growth opportunities in their home markets and the slew of patent expiries, global pharma players are looking for opportunities in the international domain and are willing to shell out the dough quite generously if needed. Moreover, Indian pharma players have been strong competitors for Big Pharma in the past; both in the markets and in the corridors of law. Secondly, given the patent regime that came into power in 2005 and the fact that the big Indian pharma companies have expanded in a crowded market, there is little room to grow. Also, the growing competition has driven margins down to quite discomfiting levels in the generics space; particularly in the lucrative American and European markets. On the R&D front too, the cost of inventing a new molecule is anywhere between $1.5-2 billion and 12-15 years, and Indian companies haven't achieved much success in this area either. They did make some attempts at growing faster, including sizeable overseas acquisitions, but the lure of the exit route seems to have been too strong to resist ultimately.

So where and how did the good times for the mid-sized players begin in this scenario? It all started in 2005 when the patent regime was enforced in India. At that point of time, these companies were small entities and found the going even tougher. On one hand, they were battling the patent regime and on the other, they faced stiff competition from global and Indian giants. Some went into oblivion but others decided to fight hard and reinvent themselves. Necessity ultimately became the mother of invention and these companies began to develop smart business models that thrived as the best were faltering. For example, Arch Pharmalabs became a Rs12 billion entity by manufacturing just three APIs. Similarly, another success story is that of Acharya Chemicals. This outfit was founded in 1974 with an initial capital investment of Rs 40,000 and now it has transformed itself to a company with a turnover of over Rs 300 million and a cumulative production capacity of around 200TPM of Chemical Entities. Aurobindo Pharma is another such case to be discussed. Ever since the company has entered into an agreement with Pfizer in 2009 for contract manufacturing of 39 drugs, it has grown in leaps and bounds. As of August 2010, Aurobindo Pharma expects its revenues from the US to go up to $350 million as compared to the $200 million last year. The crux was that these players carefully chose their areas of competence and pursued them with unbridled aggression. Resurrecting the Indian pharma growth saga Going forward, however, mid-sized pharma companies will now have to leverage on factors such as geographical expansions, foray into different therapeutic areas and optimise operational effectiveness by bringing down costs.

The healthcare sector in India currently stands at $35 billion. It is estimated that the future potential would take it over $75 billion by 2012 and an estimated $150 billion by 2017. A senior analyst at IDFC-SSKI told TSI, 'With the scope of penetration and a wide range of drugs in their portfolio, mid-size pharma companies can increase the momentum of their supply for further expansion in India, but the chances for the same in regulated markets are a bit difficult."

So, while overseas markets have to be viewed cautiously, penetration in the Indian market has to be done with immense vigour and zeal. One of the successful mid-size pharma company, Mankind Pharma, is quite bullish on that front. R.C. Juneja, MD & CEO, Mankind Pharma comments, "We have 6000 people on the field. The variable incentives that they get are the best in the industry. I believe that a highly motivated sales force and strong distribution networks are sure keys to success.' Mankind, which posted a turnover of Rs12 billion last fiscal, is targeting Rs16 billion for the current financial year.

Apart from this, getting into Contract Research and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS) continues to be a viable option for these drug makers. According to a report by 'Tata Strategic Management Group', the CRAMS segment was worth $605 million in 2008 and is expected to grow by $1 billion by the end of this year. The API segment is also poised to be worth $12.75 billion by 2012. In an exclusive conversation with TSI, Satish Menon, Associate Vice President, Advisory, Corporate Finance, KPMG said, 'Increase in the spending power of the Indian middle class coupled with increase in lifestyle-related and other diseases and the growing elderly population are the factors that will fuel demand in the healthcare sector. This will, in turn, lead to demand for quality medicines at affordable prices. This is where the potential for small and mid-sized pharma companies lies."

The classic Darwinian theory of evolution appears to be getting replayed in the Indian pharma sector in the current time. Through a combination of enterprising ability and the sense to operate within their limitations, these players could well represent the future of India's pharma industry.

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On the e-governance front, rapid strides have been made around the country. but the story still remains rather uneven

2011-02-23T10:12:00.000+05:30

INDIA'S BEST COLLEGES, INSTITUTES and UNIVERSITIES

Sidhu Ram was sweating profusely. The ageing resident of Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district was trying to get an appointment with the district magistrate. His grievance: alleged irregularities in the state government's old age pension scheme. But reaching the official concerned was easier said than done.

A disconcerted Sidhu met this writer around two months ago. I suggested that he should send an e-mail to the DM. I logged on to the UP government website and went to the Ballia administration homepage. I then sent a mail to the district magistrate and the superintendent of police. It bounced within minutes. The message read: 'Delivery Notification ' Delivery has failed'. Par for the course!

In order to ascertain whether this was a one-off or the norm, I sent more than 100 test mails to government officials of Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, UP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Over 95 per cent of the mails bounced. Though many e-mails sent to Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra went through not a single response was received from anybody. Bridging the digital divide Ranjit Goswami, a research scholar at IIT Kharagpur, hit a similar wall and wrote about his experience on his blog. He sent e-mails seeking clarifications regarding the Employees Provident Fund. Three-fourths of the mails bounced. He says: 'I pose a simple question to you. Which is the official website of the government of India ' sarkaritel.com or parliamentofindia.nic.in? I can bet the first answer that hits your mind is sarkaritel.com.' He is, of course, right.

The Web information company, Alexa, ranks sarkaritel.com at 8336 among all Indian websites. The Parliament of India website is way behind ' close to 35,000. Ramesh Kumar, chief technology officer of Bangalore-based Human Search Engine, analyses the websites of various tourism ministry sites. He says, 'Royalplaceonwheels.com is a good website. Incredibleindia.org is cluttered. Keralatourism.org is many times better. The Tamil Nadu tourism website is average.' The problem with most Indian government websites is that they do not use a proper 'Content Management System' and have static pages.

A strong presence on the web is the first step towards digital empowerment. However, very few government departments have made efforts to enhance their web presence. These websites usually lack attractive content and user-friendly features. However, the MEA website can be touted as a rare success story.

The railway ministry has a feature on its website that enables passengers to easily track the status of an RTI application. The railway ministry site is indeed one of the topmost Indian sites. Alexa Web information database ranks it seventh.

The income tax department, which is used by the public for filing online returns, is high in the rankings. The income tax website is ranked 341st and its tax e-filing website ranks 483rd. However, compare that with the online tax filing site of a leading business newspaper ' it is ranked 13th despite being a paid site. Bridging the digital divide E-governance started late in Bihar. The attitude of the Lalu Prasad government regarding e-governance was best reflected in his statement: 'E-governance aur phi-governance ka hota hai? E sab samanti ke hathyar hai (What is e-governance? It's a tool in the hands of capitalists).' This attitude slowed down the progress on the e-governance front in Bihar. The first official website of the state could only come up in the year 2000.

The current Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar understands the power of information technology and has taken steps to put every department online. Two years ago, the Bihar government launched an SMS service for the monitoring of the NREGA programme. The Rajasthan government has now turned to Bihar for help in the domain of e-governance.

However, states like Bihar, UP and MP have always been derided for poor governance. But the Nitish Kumar and Mayawati-led governments have made considerable headway. According to Alexa, Bihar's official webpage rank is 3270, surprisingly ahead of Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

However, many ambitious e-governance projects in Bihar are facing delays due to the tardiness of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Subhash Kumar, a former trainee in NIC Patna, says, 'I was told to work on a project of the panchayati raj ministry. I worked there for 3-4 months and when I left the work was still unfinished. Then a new batch of trainees came and they started the same work from scratch. This is why no progress is made. Employees here simply do not want to work.' Many states have provided their MLAs with laptops but they are hardly used. In Bihar, grandsons and granddaughters of MLAs have been found using these laptops.

States like Karnataka, Goa, Rajasthan, Orissa and Tamil Nadu have made all land records available online. Karnataka has one to the extent of establishing bhumi kiosks in the villages for the purpose. However, land records in many states are not available online yet.

Nitish Kumar
Chief Minister, Bihar

"We had earlier tried to put the janata darbar applications online. But due to the lethargic attitude of NIC, it was not successful."

Dinesh Trivedi
Union Minister of State, Health

" Being a government department we have to first take the help of NIC. If we do not take care of NIC, then its fate will be similar to that of Railtel."

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The Congress faces many challenges in Bihar

2011-02-19T09:47:00.000+05:30

but with Rahul Gandhi leading the way, the party could spring a few surprises in the coming Assembly elections

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Will the upcoming Bihar Assembly election culminate on the note that Rahul Gandhi wants it to ' with a victory for the Congress? Having presided over a dramatic turnaround for the state, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is on a firm wicket. But with Rahul bent upon ensuring a Congress comeback, the Janata Dal (United) leader has a fight on his hands.

Elements within the Congress are still trying hard to improve the party's prospects in Bihar, especially in the light of the need for strengthening grassroots preparations. Rahul's Mission Bihar may have raised some storm and dust ahead of the Assembly polls, but for the exercise to reach its logical conclusion, the Congress organisation in the state needs another big push.

When did the Congress kick off its new Bihar electoral strategy? It started with the dismissal of state Congress chief Anil Sharma and Bihar in-charge Jagdish Tytler. However, this move did not help the Congress organisation as much as it wanted. The high command realised that instead of strengthening the state unit, the step triggered factional rifts. A damage control plan was quickly put in place: veteran leader Moti Lal Vora dashed to Patna for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. Vora's report acknowledged that factionalism was rampant in the party ranks and that the scenario was aggravated by the inability of senior state leaders to stem the infighting. After a tour of the state by Rahul Gandhi in February, It was decided that booth-level party workers would be trained in the intricacies of the electoral process by March end. But a formal strategy for the same still has to be finalised.

With the election only a few months away ' scheduled for October ' the Congress high command realised the urgency of injecting fresh life into the Bihar unit. As part of Mission Rahul, Union minister for social justice and empowerment Mukul Wasnik was appointed the new state in-charge whereas minority leader Mehboob Ali Kaiser was named state party president. Kaiser, who was born and brought up in a conservative Muslim family and a Congress environment, is a soft and tactful leader ' some say he needs to be tougher to unite the Congress in the state.

The Congress is going ahead with its plans to formulate a strategy for all Assembly constituencies in Bihar. It is said that men like Sadhu Yadav and Pappu Yadav as well as Bhumihar leaders like Moti Lal Sharma, Mahachandra Singh, Vishwa Mohan Sharma and Vinod Sharma have quite a hold on Kaiser. It is difficult to predict at this point whether the Congress will benefit from the likes of Sadhu Yadav and Pappu Yadav. However, it is a foregone conclusion that the Bhumihar votes in the state will go only to Bhumihar candidates. Litmus test The Congress party's search for a stick to beat the Nitish Kumar government with ended with the unearthing of the treasury scandal. Irregularities have allegedly been detected in the execution of numerous development schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) and the mid-day meal scheme, between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2008. The Congress accused Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi, the state chief secretary and several ministers of misappropriation of funds.

Another issue that the Congress has raised pertains to people dying from hunger in Bihar. At least 15 people have died of hunger in the past four years in Bihar, asserts a Supreme Court-appointed official after extensive surveys. Nitish Kumar talks about good governance in Bihar whereas some of his fellow JD(U) leaders say that Nitish is a trite more arrogant now. Locals feel that the bureaucracy is so unbridled that there is no respite for the layman. Nitish claims that the right place for criminals is in prison. However his friendship with people like Anant Singh, Dhumal Singh, Munna Shukla, Sunil Pandey and Anand Mohan Singh belies his stated stand.

The Congress plans to select its candidates and draw up its electoral strategy in accordance with the central and local observer's reports. The most important point in the central observer's report was that the people of the state are losing patience with political thugs. People are rejecting candidates with muscle power.

Now people believe that candidates with an immaculate image should join politics. During his February visit, Rahul Gandhi indicated that the Congress will give tickets to educated new faces in the Bihar elections. The central observer's report suggested that in Bihar the Congress should keep caste equations in mind and should focus on caste groups that are traditional Congress supporters (Brahmins, Rajputs, Muslims and Dalits). The observer's report had played down the problem of factionalism. The high command believes that this report was inadequate and is, therefore, likely to go by what the central observer has recommended.

Bihar Congress workers are optimistic about the impact that Rahul Gandhi will have on the coming elections. However, Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav says: 'Where is the Congress in Bihar?' He told TSI, 'The Congress exists only on paper and their leaders are paper tigers.' Yadav claims that the Nitish Kumar government is about good governance and it would be difficult to dislodge it. However, the Congress is looking through the prism of Rahul Gandhi and might wrestle some power in Bihar. Having emerged from Lalu Prasad's shadow, the party is trying to find its own feet again. Rahul Gandhi's commitment to get clean candidates has elicited a positive response from the people. Bihar Congress spokesman and political thinker Muktinath Upadhyay thinks that Rahul Gandhi has organisational skills and ability to convince the younger generation which makes them confident that they can achieve any target if they honestly work hard. He thinks that it is because of Rahul Gandhi's initiative that the Congress has succeeded in ridding itself of Lalu Prasad. This, says Upadhyay, has led to a new buoyancy in the party rank and file. Litmus test Brahmins and Muslims are favouring the Congress openly. People are hoping that under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Bihar will witness a new dawn. It is believed that after the October Bihar Assembly elections, there will be a new political scenario in Bihar. Nitish is trying to retain power with the slogan of good governance, whereas Sushil Modi wants to become the next CM. That is one reason that BJP leaders did not create any uproar on the Narendra Modi dispute. Despite Nitish Kumar's stubborn attitude, Arun Jaitley and Anant Kumar were trying to bridge the gap. Nitish also realised that JD(U) is not in a position to win the election on its own. Maybe that's why he may ban a few outlaw candidates for this election.

On the other hand, Lalu Prasad, who realises that his dwindling political stocks has something to do with his support to undesirable elements, has decided not to nominate any criminal in the next election. He dumped Sadhu Yadav like a sack of hot potatoes. He has also advised Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan to follow the same course of action. Lalu Prasad has, however, inducted JD(U) leader Prabhunath Singh into the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) despite his suspect antecedents.

The Congress, after studying the emerging political scenario in Bihar, has prepared a road map. Mission Rahul hinges on:

Foolproof planning to get hold of the empty spaces left by Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan to make use of the second line of leadership so as not to repeat the mistakes of the senior leaders of Bihar nominating educated new candidates with an unsullied image and keeping Bihar caste equations in mind The party believes that people voted for Nitish because they were fed up with Laloo-Rabri's jungle raj. In 2005, when Congress hits its worst patch in Bihar, JD(U) lost 51 seats out of which their candidates lost their deposits in nine. Even BJP lost 47 seats and could not save the deposits in nine constituencies.

Paswan and Laloo's party was defeated in 193 seats and 141 candidates lost their deposits. However things have changed in five years. The Bihar byelection results were startling. Nitish Kumar's candidates lost seven seats whereas Congress won two seats and there was an increase in the Congress vote percentage. If we talk about caste and community equations, Muslims openly supported the Congress whereas Brahmins and Rajputs are scared of the current government's zamindari elimination programme and are looking up to the Congress for succour.

It was suggested that Congress should announce its candidates well in advance so that they get ample time for campaigning. Mukul Wasnik accepts now that there are new challenges but also claims that Congress will do well in this election.

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In four years, K. Chandru, the people's judge from Tamil Nadu, has passed 54,000 judgments, N. Asokan writes

2011-02-15T15:10:00.002+05:30

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An Indian courthouse is possibly the last place you would associate with casual behaviour. The usually buzzing corridors suddenly go silent, lawyers in black coats make way as the court staff emerges with a mace in hand, followed by the judge. People perched on both sides of the walkway convey their respects with folded hands.

But Justice K. Chandru of the Madras High Court is in a different league altogether. It is exactly 1.30 pm, i.e lunch recess, and he exits court hall no. 24. The exit is anything but ceremonial ' the door hurriedly opens and a court staff comes out with some case papers in his hand. Following him comes Justice K. Chandru, his gait casual and fast. The scene is conspicuous by the sudden fall of eerie silence and the absence of the mace bearer. In the words of someone who almost lives in the corridors of the court, 'As soon as Justice Chandru became a judge, he did away with this colonial mace carrying. He also notified the advocates not to address him as 'My lord' in the court.' For a man who has spent his whole life fighting against oppression, doing away with stuff reminiscent of colonial hangover has come naturally. Justice K.Chandru has attained an iconic stature as a people's judge, loved by the masses and hated by the establishment. This is not new to him. In his three-decade-long career as an advocate, he was loved by the masses and was a thorn in the flesh of the establishment.

Not only has Justice Chandru been objective and impeccably righteous as a judge, he has created sort of a record by delivering as many as 54,000 verdicts in four years as a single judge and part of benches. Looking at the speed at which the Indian judicial process usually moves, Justice Chandru seems to be light years ahead of his times.

On June 9, 2010, a crowd had gathered in court hall number 24 of the Madras High Court. It rained judgments on that day. Justice Chandru delivered 75 verdicts. To meet the need of advocates, eager to know the outcome of their cases, three extra notice boards were put up where the results were announced. Justic Uninterrupted In April alone, Justice Chandru pronounced 1,780 judgments. The average tally of this judge has been over 1,500 verdicts for every month this year. As in charge of appeal suits, he has asked the staff to list at least 100 cases daily. Legal experts are often left dumbfounded as many judges can't even deliver 54,000 judgments in their whole tenure.

Justice Chandru has always been a rebel. Even when he was very young, he always had the motivation to fight for a cause. In his college days, he was running the Students' Socialist Forum (SSF) before joining the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] where he and his friends were absorbed into the SFI (Students federation of India).

As an active member of SFI, he travelled across the length and breadth of the country. He participated in a huge rally in Chennai demanding minimum wages for farmers. When studying in Loyola College, he was expelled from the college in the second year as he joined a strike to protest against irregularities in the college hostel.

He joined to continue his third year of studies in the Madras Christian College (MCC), during which he faced 15 days of imprisonment and expulsion from the college. The reason was that he had spoken at a meeting organised by the Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) employees who were locked in a dispute with the management. As the MRF management members were in the MCC board, expulsion was a natural consequence.

A small incident can be mentioned here. Those days P. Chidamabram, now the Union home minister, wrote a story on students leaders of Chennai in a quarterly magazine. He wrote about Chandru as a student leader in his formative years as 'innocent of any ideology'. Chandru said in a rare interview to the Dalit Murasu magazine when he was an advocate in 2004, 'I was shocked to read it and was angry. I wanted to change this opinion and started to read books on politics and started friendship with intellectuals." Later life presented some occasions in which Chidambaram and Chandru would work together in public interest.

It was a turning point in Chandru's life. In 1972, in Annamalai University, protesting students were lathicharged by the police. After this, Udayakumar, a B.A. (Mathematics) second year student's dead body was found in a water tank in the university. As an active leader of SFI, K. Chandru was instrumental in organising statewide protests condemning the incident. It forced the government to set up an enquiry commission under the Madras High Court Additional Judge N.S. Ramasamy. The then government held the view that the dead body was not of Udayakumar. But Chandru was struggling hard to establish the fact before the commission. Noticing young Chandru's skills, Justice Ramasamy sent a word to him through his staff. The message was clear: Chandru should study law.

So Chandru joined the Madras Law College which during those days was an SFI citadel. After finishing law in 1976, he started practicing in the Madras High Court. He joined the Rao and Reddy law firm under Barrister V.G. Rao who was a London-educated leftist and a famous trade unionist in Chennai. Chandru was associated with the firm for eight years.

Chandru's name became famous even before he completed one year of practice when he appeared on behalf of his party, the CPI(M) before the Justice Ismayil Commission that was formed to inquire into the atrocities committed on political leaders arrested in MISA during Emergency in Chennai Central Jail. (The political leaders included M. Karunanidhi's son M.K. Stalin who was brutally attacked inside the jail along with other senior DMK leaders). Justic Uninterrupted While practising as an advocate, Chandru was always there for every labour union inside and outside the court. Human rights, fight against oppression were the issues close to his heart. In 1990, he wrote in Junior Vikatan, a Tamil weekly. It was titled Order.. Order... He wrote for 28 weeks. The writings shattered the general perception that those connected with the judicial process are above public Scrutiny.

In 1988, on a Pongal festival day, Chandru was expelled from the CPI(M). Thiagu, leader of Tamil Desiya Viduthalai Iyakkam, a pro-Tamil organisation and once a member of CPI(M) remembers the incident: 'Like everyone in Tamil Nadu, Chandru was also drawn towards the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. Chandru conducted meetings and protests condemning the genocide and economic blockade imposed on the northern part of Sri Lanka. When he participated in a human chain, Chandru was asked for an explanation. He simply replied: 'Marxism and love for humanity are not two different things'. The party cited the following in the party newspaper as reason for his expulsion: 'Chandru's behaviour was anti-labour'. Chandru was upset. He told me, 'In what anti-labour activities was I involved? They should have spelt out the real reason that is my expression of solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamils'."

Thiagu, who had spent many years in jail for ultra-left activities, had the opportunity to see Chandru from close quarters. 'In jail and outside, Chandru would always come to fight for me in the court. He would refuse any money and would spend from his own pocket to pay even the court fee etc. Not only for me, for every social activist, he appeared free of cost. Whether it was Nedumaran, Vaiko, Suba.Veerapandian, Kalyani... in all cases ranging from pension to Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), he has appeared free.'

Chandru has been a staunch unionist. He had a policy that he would never appear on behalf of any employer against employees. When Thiagu started a Tamil medium school, he asked Chandru to be his legal adviser. Chandru refused saying that in future if there was a problem between Thiagu and his school teachers, he would be with the employees only. Justic Uninterrupted As an editorial team member of Lawyers Collective, a journal from Mumbai, he wrote many articles in English. Noted among them was one in which he wrote about the irregularities committed by Supreme Court Judge V. Ramaswamy while the latter was the Chief Justice of the Chandigarh High Court. After this article, the movement for impeachment of Ramasamy started. Chandru spearheaded it along with noted advocate Indira Jaisingh.

When POTA was invoked on Vaiko, Pazha. Nedumaran and few others, Chandru took up their cases and got some important judgments. He refused fees. A friend of Chandru told me how, after his release, a political leader arranged a special dinner for Chandru in which the leader himself served Chandru food.

When Justice Subashan Reddy was the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, he wanted to start a new high court bench in Madurai. People from the southern parts of Tamil Nadu had to travel for 14 hours to reach Madras High Court. It was for their benefit that the bench was mooted. The advocates in Chennai opposed the move for obvious reasons. Justice Subhashan reddy held a public hearing to know the opinion of lawyers. People remember Chandru as the one and only advocate from Chennai to speak in favour of starting the bench in Madurai.

''Chandru sir was the tallest figure in the Bar. After his elevation as a judge, his place in the bar is still unfulfilled... there remains a huge vacuum,' reminisces an advocate. How did lawyer Chandru become a judge? One has to hear this in the words of the man himself. He has recorded this in his preface to a Tamil book on Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer written by Mehbood Batcha. 'Everyone knows that Kusela, (poor friend of Lord Krishna) went to Dwaraka to meet Lord Krishna seeking help. But in my case, this Krishna, leaving aside all his pride and self-respect, asked a Chief Justice to elevate me as a judge. I was there to hear it all. It is my duty to record this: In a function, a Chief Justice and V.R. Krishna Iyer participated. While the chief justice spoke, he praised Krishna Iyer. He called Krishna Iyer Lord Krishna and described him as his Guru. After his speech, he came and sat by Krishna Iyer. Krishna Iyer asked the Chief Justice, 'You said that I am your guru. Where is guru Dakshina?' The Chief Justice replied, 'you can ask for whatever you want.' Immediately, Krishna Iyer said, 'Elevate Chandru as a judge.' Here Lord krishna became a sevak. It happened in my life.' The official residence of Justice Chandru too has an interesting story. Few years back, a security person of a judge shot himself in this house. After this incident, no one wanted to live there. It was Chandru who broke the norms and started living there. Chandru has refused the police security provided to judges.

Mehboob Batcha of Soco Trust in Madurai, a longtime associate of K. Chandru, narrates an incident as a testimony to Chandru's simplicity and humility. 'Last year Justice Chandru came here for a marriage. He did not use any official vehicle from the Madrurai High Court bench. He travelled in an auto to the bus stand from where he took a government bus to meet a friend in Theni. He was traveling around these places for three days, all in government buses. Think of a high court judge travelling in public transport...Only Justice Chandru can do this.'

Justice K. Chandru was elevated as a Madras High Court Judge on July 31, 2006. He became a permanent judge in 2009. On the day of his swearing November 09, 2009, he created a flutter by submitting the assets and liabilities of him in a sealed cover to Madras High Court Chief Justice H.N. Gokhale. 'I want to create a convention of judges declaring their assets on the date of their swearing in,' he informed a gathering of judges, court officers and advocates. In fact, K. Chandru was among the first three high court judges of India to have submitted their assets.

As per the statement of Union law minster Veerappa Moily, 30 million cases are pending in India. Going by the current pace, 400 years are required for resolution of all these cases.

In Tamil Nadu alone, as of December 31, 2009, there were 15,26,287 cases pending in all courts of which the share of Madras High Court alone stood at 4,31,390. One man defies numbers and that is Justice K. Chandru who has contributed much to decrease the backlog by speedy disposal of cases. The pending number of cases, when compared to 2008's figures, has decreased for the first time after a number of years by 30,000.

When Chandru registered himself as a lawyer in 1976, Ms Mythili Sivaraman, a well-known women's movement activist, gave a note to K. Chandru. The words written in the note were: 'Mr dear Chandru, I don't want you to be a lawyer. Be a spokesperson of the people.' Lawyer K. Chandru followed it to the hilt. And as a judge, he continues to do so.

AN APPRECIATION

Justice K. Chandru ' the name is brief but his heart is large. As a judge, he is a liberal with large commitments. I know him for years when I was in Chennai. He is a young man of integrity with commitment to leftist principles. He is so independent that he broke away from the CPI(M) because of his fundamental disagreement on one principle. This is true ideological independence. Justice Chandru's commitment to the poor made him an effective instrument of legal aid to the poor. His conviction, as far as I know, is rich and profound, bound as he is to the ideology of swaraj in all its implications. As our country is going colonial and more ably downhill, weakening its spirit of swaraj, we need more Justice Chandrus so that the Constitution, which declares, as a fundamental pledge, to every citizen the delivery of justice, social, economic and political, is to be fulfilled. Yes, this country needs more Chandrus who remain loyal to the basic structure of our Republic in being socialist and secular and absolutely independent in its performance.

Independent, industrious, intelligent, hostile to arrears, happy with early disposals in plural numbers and facile to giving access to the humblest, he is a forensic success in justice, justices and justicing. Carry on Chandru. I salute you as a fine judge.

August 9, 2010
justice v.r. krishna iyer,
Former Judge,
Supreme Court of India

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444 years after Nostradamus

2011-01-10T00:51:00.001+05:30

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John Hogue

Author and world authority on Nostradamus and prophetic traditions of the world

The world's perhaps best known prophet died on 2 July, four hundred and forty four years ago, yet his name is still familiar to many, and his prophecies intrigue to this day. John Hogue, author of 16 books ' his latest, 'Predictions for 2010', speaks of India's destiny ' is an authority on Nostradamus and has written two well-known books on the seer, namely 'Nostradamus: The Complete Prophecies', and 'Nostradamus: A Life and Myth.' John Hogue, in an exclusive interview with TSI's Anu Gulmohar, demystifies Nostradamus, his life and his prophecies'

Is Nostradamus for real?

Nostradamus is quite real, but because he used a cryptic and nebulous form of language to convey his prophecies, he will forever be cast in the shadow of being a charlatan. He knew this would happen and said as much in his writings.

Certainly many of his 1,500-plus prophecies are obscure and open to interpretation, yet hundreds are not. You find him in 1558 describing the calendar created by French Revolutionaries in the year 1792 ' and it happened. He dates a treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Persia for October 1720 with intimate details of lands exchanged ' it happened. He described people walking on the moon, inventing radio, submarines, and ultimately leaving a world destroyed in the year 3797 to then live in the constellations of Aquarius and Cancer. You find him describing a future invasion of France "through the Forest of the Ardennes", and it happened in 1940. You find him describing a trench fortification, built by the French in their eastern frontiers with Germany to prevent such invasions from happening, which would be dissected in 15 places by rivers. Try to find such a fortification line in history dissected by water that many times and there's only one, the Maginot Line. He said it would fall to the enemy in "lightning" war strikes. The Maginot Line fell to the Nazi "Blitzkrieg" (Lightning) war strategy. I could go on and on.

The idle skeptic or browser of Nostradamus lazily seeks a brush-off of his prophecies. They are mediocrities that have fallen into his consciously set trap. The reason being, that such mediocrities, when their fragile egos are exposed, seek to crucify the mystic. Nostradamus thought it better to give such dangerous and often politically and theologically powerful fools a reason to laugh at him as a charlatan, not to be taken seriously. To those initiated, there is something else going on with Nostradamus.

Did Nostradamus predict events in his life correctly?

Yes. It is not a well known fact in popular interest in Nostradamus, but he far exceeded others who predicted contemporary events while alive, such as Edgar Cayce. In my biography on the prophet, 'Nostradamus: A Life and Myth', I detail a number of successful prophetic hits during his life time that made him ' as the archive records show ' the talk of the courts of Europe. Indeed his successful forecast of the death of his king in a jousting accident as well as naming and describing in intimate detail what later became called the Conspiracy of Amboise (a protestant attempt to overthrow the Catholic Royalty). There was also his detailed prophecy about the Siege of St. Quentin, not only named years before it happened, but the unique abandonment of one of the garrison's commanders thorough a swamp was described in detail. There were also a number of clear and constantly dated descriptions of the oncoming French Wars of Religion that made him famous and infamous in his own time, leading to his temporary persecution. He suffered a kind of calumny that gifted seers of any time do suffer. They aren't punished for being wrong, but for being too accurate. Rather than learn from accurate forecasts how one can prevent dire futures, people persecute and even kill the prophetic messenger. If it weren't for Queen Catherine de Medici's devotion to Nostradamus, he might have been arrested, tortured and burned as a heretic.

If what Nostradamus did was science then are there others who can correctly predict the future too?

Science comes from the root latin word meaning "to know." To "know" the future is to know possibilities not yet made actual. One of Nostradamus' most important empirical legacies is the evidence in his writings of alternative future timelines we can all tread. For instance, he gave his contemporary King Henry II of France two timelines in his prophecies, and no doubt explained them to the king during his first royal audience in August 1555. One would find the king killed in ritual combat ' his life and glory cut short. The other saw him unite French Catholics and Protestants and conquer northern Italy as part of France as the Second Charlemagne. Four years later, Henry's actions during a jousting tournament triggered timeline one. He died in a jousting accident, thus negating his alternative destiny. Which leads to my answer to your final question:

Is the future like a loose plan, which can be modified according to our actions today, or is it a bound script which is meant to be, no matter what'

Nostradamus often revealed how open the future can be to those aware enough to foresee the trends and incline tomorrow towards a destiny that is better by living better, and more lovingly and consciously in the eternity of the present. The present is the womb of infinite possible future's unborn.

What future would you conceive, the future you set in motion by your actions or inactions?

Let prophecy be a servant of your good karmic choices. Make good karma, all of you.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Rajan Tiwari

2011-01-07T00:03:00.001+05:30

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

A trip to the jail can also become a boon for someone. Rajan Tiwari is a classic example. It has brought good fortune to his family. As of today, his kin are filthy rich and their contract and transport business ' chief income source - are running good. While Tiwari won the election from inside jail in 2006, his mother Kanti Devi was elected Block Head from the local block and continues to hold the post.

Rajan Tiwari, son of Vishwajiwan Tiwari of Gorakhpur, made a wrong choice in aligning with dreaded criminal Shri Prakash Shukla. Later he came in contact with one Devendranath Dubey of Areraj Block of East Champaran and settled there permanently. The city was also his maternal home. And as luck would had it, following the murder of Dubey, he took the command of his gang. But shortly, he and Shukla got implicated in the murder of ex-minister Brij Bihari Prasad and he landed himself in deep trouble. He was also named in the murder of Ajit Sarkar. In both cases, he has been sentenced for life and he has moved petitions at the high court He was arrested in Delhi in 1998 from the house of a BJP MP. He is cooling his heels in Beur Jail since then. In the first election following his arrest, he won as an MLA in 2000. Following his election, his parents shifted to Bihar. Tiwari gave away his property in Gorakhpur to his kin. However, Tiwari lost the 2005 election when he contested on a LJP ticket.

Following his extended stay in jail, his elder brother has taken over his political affairs. Younger brother Ratan Tiwari takes care of the businesses. There are other economic interests as well. On his part, Rajan Tiwari seems to be very active even inside the jail. Numerous cases of abduction and other crimes has been filed against him. Abduction of Dhanbad Businessman Jalan, Lohia's abduction in Champaran and Ramesh Todi's abduction are some of the cases he has been named in. Tiwari divides his time between Dhanbad and Beur jails these days.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Bihar's political ganglords are all behind bars

2011-01-03T14:01:00.001+05:30

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Will this have a major impact on the state Assembly polls?

The strongmen of Bihar suddenly don't appear in a position of strength. No one in Bihar would have believed this could ever happen, at least not the bahubalis themselves. The same political ganglords who used to bring life to a standstill in their hay days are now cooling their heels behind bars.

Politics and strongmen were never strange bedfellows but things between the two became intimate like never before in the 90s. Long peeved at being merely a henchmen of the politicians, these strongmen decided that it was about time they took matters into their own hands. In a state where nothing seems to surprise anyone, this appeared to be a temporary phenomenon. What political pundits failed to see was that they were here to stay. The ground was prepared, the environment ripe. When you are a strongman willing to join politics, there are tens of red herrings that you can use. In Bihar, your options increase manifold - caste, religion, class, sub-caste.

So started the deluge. And it was a pan-Bihar phenomenon. Names like Siwan, Saharsa, Purnia, Ara, Aurangabad, Motihari, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali became synonymous with political goondaism, or rather goonda politics. But today, filing this story from the heart of Bihar, it seems as if those years never existed. The era of misplaced bravado and red herrings has started to fade.

The law has started taking its own course. And by doing this, it has not only managed to salvage whatever faith people had in it but has also managed to salvage itself. Law, it appears now, is competent enough to deal with law-breakers. The only assistance it needs is political will. Nitish Kumar provided oxygen to the terminally ill law and order situation and it has managed to find its feet. Speedy trials have put many strongmen in the jails. Some have been turned too invalid to matter. Several of these political ganglords have also been awarded death or life sentences. The law has taken the pyramidal course. Why waste time rounding up petty henchmen and hangers-on. Hit the top and the pyramid crumbles. And since the fief is missing, how long can the fiefdom survive? The crowd outside their citadels is missing and so is the pomp and the show inside. Nobody comes for the quintessential 'Pairvi' (curry favour) these days. Why should they, their erstwhile benefactors have themselves turned 'Pairokar' (favour-seeker).

There is no one to run the fiefdom. Those who are left are either busy saving their skin or are running helter skelter to secure bails for their strongmen. Gone are the courts and courtiers. And if that was not enough, their past too is eagerly catching up with them. Their detractors and opponents have sniffed blood and are mounting relentless attacks. Such is the fear that not one of these erstwhile Gods are taking the risk of letting the whereabouts of their siblings and progenies known. Most of them have been sent far away from the reach of the prowling fiends.

But it will be premature to say that these hoodlums have bowed out. Many are willing to stay put. They are waging a desperate battle to save their fiefdom that their ancestors and they themselves have so painfully carved out. So, as they see the sands beneath their feet shift, they are pulling out all stops for one last desperate struggle. Their mothers, sisters and wives have been forced to take to the pitch. Since most male members are either inside the jail or waiting to go there, there is hardly any other option left. They continue to say, 'He will come out. He is innocent.' But the voices are increasingly getting muted. A few really close courtiers will halfheartedly nod to this refrain. But deep inside, even they know that the chances are slim. Relentless media scrutiny is adding to their hopelessness. Those who are a bit level-headed speak off the record. And in their voice one can not miss the tone of pessimism.

Making actions speak

2010-12-27T13:48:00.001+05:30

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Mime artist Moinul Haque can claim to have put back the 'act' in action. The founder of Mime Academy has resuscitated the art of pantomime, at least in the northeast'

Back then, he was a very popular stage artist; a mono actor and a dubbing artist much adored in the state of Assam. And then came the mime chapter of Moinul Haque's career. Haque's journey with solo mime has taken him to countless venues ' national and international ' over the last 30 years, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for mime acting early this year was just another milestone in his perseverant pursuit of this marginalised art.

After he found his calling in pantomime in the seventies, Moinul Haque formed a group called 'Sound and Comedy' through which he conveyed mime to the masses. It was at a time when exposure to the creative and artistic movements in the rest of the country was the privilege of a lucky few in the Northeast. Three decades of commitment to this art form, he is recognised as the undisputed pioneer of mime in the Northeast of India and can be credited for creating much awareness about it.

As the years progressed, Haque used the versatile and sensitive nature of this beautiful art form to convey many important and relevant issues of society. He has given thousands of performances throughout the country proving that mime is a universal language transcending the barriers of caste, creed and colour.

Moinul Haque is a self- taught artist. During the late 80s, a Cherry Blossom television commercial on Doordarshan, the one showcasing pantomime by actor Paintal, had influenced Haque. 'I drew inspiration from various incidents of my life. After all, it is the small things which add meaning to our life,' Haque says. The 'small things' include the pond near his house, to the games he played in his childhood.

It was at B. Borooah College that Haque was noticed by his teachers for his stage skills. 'At that time I did not know anything about mime. My teacher Bhupen Lahkor (at B. Borooah College) suggested I should hone my mime skills. He recommended a book, Mukabhinay Tottar Bidhi, by Shyam Chakraborty, which I ordered from Kolkata,' Haque recalls. There were minor setbacks, but he continued with his rigorous practice sessions. His hard work paid dividends the day he attended a workshop organised by the National School of Drama in Guwahati, where he happened to meet an artiste from Kolkata who appreciated his talent. 'It was a turning point of my life. That artiste referred me to the cultural circle of Kolkata and in 1988, I was called to perform there in the National Mime Festival,' says Haque. It proved to be the beginning of his journey as a mime artiste, for his audience was greatly appreciative, and he went to win many more invitations and accolades. Over the years he has given numerous performances all over the globe with his winning acts that include 'Moinul and the Dog', 'Boxing Champion Moinul', 'Childhood of Moinul', 'I love you Moinul' etc. In his performances, Moinul says, he attempts to get in a universal touch to the act so that audiences everywhere can relate to it. 'When I enacted 'Childhood of Moinul' in London, everyone in the crowd enjoyed the performance and many of them said that they could really identify with the character' After all, everybody goes through some common experiences in our lives,' Haque relates.

Felicitated at locations far and wide including New Delhi, Port Blair, Allahabad, Udaipur, Dubai etc. by various organisations, Haque has worked as a senior resource person in Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), New Delhi and a faculty member for Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 1991, he had founded the Mime Academy in Guwahati, which is the only recognised institution of its kind in the Northeast. Having also acted in various plays, films and television serials, he has been one of the few to live his passion and be successful at it too.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Jharkhand: Stuck In a state of limbo

2010-12-11T16:30:00.001+05:30

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The state has never had the stability that is needed to take the development agenda forward

Prayag Rai
Veteran journalist and
ex-Tata Steel employee

It is truly ironical that Jharkhand, a state flush with mineral and forest resources, is still waiting for a clean and development-minded government. As self-seeking politicians continue to trifle with the people, there seems to be little hope of the scenario changing for the better anytime soon.

Tangled in a maze of political instability and widespread corruption, the state is in the grip of a sort of paralysis. All development-related work has come to a virtual standstill. Jharkhand has been in existence for less than ten years but has already seen seven Chief Ministers and as many Governors, a fact that bears testimony to the extent of the political instability that plagues the state. It is hardly any surprise that real development has remained just a mirage and the issues concerning the people and their needs have hardly been addressed.

Jharkhand, which was part of Bihar, came into being as India's 28th state on November 15, 2000, and Ranchi was chosen as its capital. BJP's Babulal Marandi formed the first government in the state. The government got coal, uranium, gold, brass and mica as natural resources. In fact, the Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana regions, which previously constituted what was known as South Bihar, had huge reserves of these and other minerals.

Jharkhand primarily comprises Chhotanagpur plateau and the forest region of Santhal Pargana, and has a rich and unparalleled culture heritage. The topography of the state is such that it will never run out of natural resources. But having said that, one must also not forget that Jharkhand got more than its fair share of troubles as well. The foremost challenge was, of course, Naxalism. Governments came and went but the problem of Naxalism stood where it was. Not a single day passes when you don't hear news of attacks on police stations or police contingents, and that too with deadly weapons like bombs and landmines.

The railway infrastructure in the state that is such a necessary a lifeline to support the mining industry is perpetually under threat of Maoist violence. Several incidents of the railway system being disrupted by Maoists and its property being damaged have been reported in the last few years. The culmination came this year when Naxals actually 'hijacked' the Rajdhani Express and held its passengers 'captive' for a number of hours. When Babulal Marandi became Jharkhand's first chief minister, he pushed the state down the path of development. His government did a lot to improve the basic infrastructure of the state, including roads, water supply and electricity generation and supply. However, the internal squabbles in the BJP eventually led to the removal of Marandi as chief minister. He was replaced by pertyman Arjun Munda on March 17, 2003. The development work that Marandi had initiated during his tenure suffered because the priorities of the new government changed. Jharkhand hasn't quite recovered from that reverse.

Two years later, on March 2, 2005, the Arjun Munda regime was replaced by a Shibu Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government. The government fell on March 12, merely ten days after he was sworn in. Arjun Munda once again assumed the reins of power. He somehow managed to survive at the helm of affairs till September 18, 2006. The Munda government fell when several Independents members of the Vidhan Sabha withdrew their support.

The next man to take charge of Jharkhand was Madhu Koda's Congress-supported government that came to power on the same day. Heading a government with only five Independents behind the chief minister was a tough act to pull off. But Koda had other surprises in store.

Corruption and embezzlement of public money were sort of institutionalised under his regime. He was personally charged with felony and amassing property worth Rs 20,000 crores. He went to jail and is currently fighting dozens of cases. His tenure as chief minister was a blot on the state.

The Congress withdrew support and the Madhu Koda government fell on August 27, 2008. The next day, Soren was again sworn in as CM. This time around he survived longer than he did in his first stint ' until January 18, 2009.

The next Jharkhand Assembly election was held under President's rule. The result, as expected, was fractured. Another round of horse-trading ensued and the BJP and JMM cobbled up a coalition government. That too fell a few days ago. In short, political instability has continued to be Jharkhand's principal bane. It has prevented the development clock from ticking since the very day of state's inception.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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It Pays to Unbelong

2010-11-22T17:01:00.001+05:30

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West’s shifting of the goalpost on Iran and its disregard for the Turkey-Brazil brokered Nuclear Swap deal has jeopardised the legitimacy of the UNSC, says Saurabh Kumar Shahi
SAURABH KUMAR SHAHI

Just a week before the Turkey-Brazil brokered Nuclear Swap deal, I, like many other Iran watchers, was pretty optimistic about its outcome. We had info that the deal will cover all the aspects of the previous deal that the West offered last October. However, a European diplomat friend of mine pricked my confidence just a night prior to the announcement. Casually, he put forward a question which I was not prepared for. “What if we shift the goalpost?” he said, with a smirk on his face. I did not take it just as another bout of cynicism which many diplomats suffer from. I, at least, was sure what fate awaits the deal. As the week unfolded, both I, and over and above, my diplomat friend, were right.

As it happened, the US had yet again shifted the goalpost on Iran in order to warrant that the face-off wasn't resolved even with Iran’s concession on the Uranium swap deal. And also, by doing so, the US has abandoned its own Uranium swap deal bid. Now, this should come as no revelation since experts have long maintained that Uncle Sam's present stance, like its earlier stands, was purely intended to drag out the confrontation rather than resolve it. The matter is now pretty clear: the US still persists on zero enrichment in Iran, a presumably unattainable touchstone proposed to avert a resolution.

Several of the pro-western analysts decrying Turkey-Brazil Swap deal--popularly called Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) deal--are harping on the fact that Iran never stopped producing enriched uranium since the Americans put forward the first version in October last year. This, according to them, means that albeit some of the low enriched uranium goes to Turkey, “the residual would be adequate to produce a theoretical nuclear weapon if Iran ever wished to exercise Article X of the NPT and broke out of the NPT regime. This analysis, nonetheless, completely discounts the fact that the initial offer by the US never reflected that Iran should stop enrichment. So, discontinuing the enrichment was by no means a part of the bargain. “Actually, this aspect was the real disclosure of the initial proposal, for it was broadly understood as an implicit US acceptance of Iran’s right to enrich Uranium. It was, in effect, LEU generated at Natanz that was to be swapped over for new fuel cells,” says noted Iranian watcher and proliferation expert Cyrus Safdari, while talking to TSI. Moreover, the alarm of Tehran achieving “breakout capacity” is hogwash and relies merely on pretexts as, technically speaking, any nation with a nuclear programme could hypothetically produce bombs. Going by the IAEA’s own assessment, presently 42 nations can swiftly make nukes if they so desired, which essentially means that it is not an Iran specific issue. On the posturing front, the regime in Washington has suffered a credibility setback of biblical proportions. Therefore, understandably, the US is acting swiftly to reclaim the initiative and summon up the impetus. And to do that, Washington will need not merely to unravel the deal, but essentially discredit the whole idea of parley and negotiations with Tehran. However, above all, the regime will do whatever possible to badly humiliate Turkey and Brazil and show them their “right place”.

“Two confident and growing economic powers, from what the world once referred to as the ‘Third World’, have now asserted critical political sway on a prestigious global security question. Turkey and Brazil, thus, have signalled that Washington can no more unilaterally characterise conditions for managing such matters,” says Flynt Leverett, noted Washington based Iran analyst, while talking to TSI.

Therefore, the unfolding excitement of the deal and the knee-jerk reaction of the Obama regime to quickly move a draft sanctions resolution in the United Nations Security Council will have long-term consequences on the texture of international relations. For those who still question the viability or the possibility of the post-American world, the deal is a wake-up call.

Also, by countering Brazil and Turkey’s astonishing diplomatic coup by an egotistical show of the Big-5’s power, the Obama regime has taken an itinerary that could not only inflict serious damage on America’s reputation but also on the legitimacy of the Security Council itself. It Pays to Unbelong And as coming weeks will unfold, getting the P-5 to see a common ground on a considerably diluted and deficient draft resolution in UNSC is far easier than managing the mandatory nine assenting votes to pass it. In all probability, even though Washington is able to hammer in new rounds of sanctions through an extremely fractured and divided Security Council, the initiative will profoundly damage its credibility. By now, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has already started questioning the UNSC’s “credibility” to resolve Iranian impasse. And if the US torpedoes the TRR deal before giving it a chance, as it will do in all probability, expect Turkey and Brazil to dent UNSC’s legitimacy with a generous help from “non-aligned” nations. As it happens, NAM is not dead as of yet.

So, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s announcement of the text of new draft of sanctions before even officially going through the nitty-gritty of the TRR deal reflects extensive disrespect, to say the least, for Brazilian and Turkish diplomatic pains. But what has the US achieved? Merely a watered down text.

To bring the Russians and the Chinese on the table, the US had to drop any idea of a prohibition on fresh ventures or other ideas that could have hampered Iran’s capability to generate and export hydrocarbons.

Secondly, Washington, on the insistence of Jewish lobbies, had asked for a wide-ranging, all-inclusive stoppage on arms sales to Iran, but it will have to be content with restrictions on sales of a few definite types of weaponries. It had also asked for a complete embargo on fiscal transactions with the Revolutionary Guards and its subsidiary entities. However, it settled for the enforcement of earlier endorsed asset freeze and movement curb to specific elements from Guards’ ranks.

Clearly, with a masterstroke, Turkey and Brazil have changed the rules of the engagement in particular and the game in general. Rami Khouri, a Middle East expert based in Beirut sums it up well. “Iran and Turkey symbolise something new and potentially momentous in the region: Muslim-majority nations that are politically poised and have guts to stand up to the US and Israel. Washington and Tel Aviv stay perplexed on how to deal with such a phenomenon.”

Now, a deservingly short comment on Indian foreign policy. While we harp on the same string of being the next superpower, Turkey and Brazil, political non-entities till not very long ago, stole the show from under our nose. In Tehran, our position as a lackey Third World nation was reinforced. That Ali Ardashir Larijani gave 20 minutes to S M Krishna after literal pleadings reflects our stature in the region.

Given the hyperbole our media and MEA indulge in, it should have been India that brokered the deal. Krishna, on his part, later came up with obtuse-sounding and ad nauseam repeated maxim of every-nation-has-the-right-to-see-its-interests, but he, his entourage, and his maxim all appeared to be completely out of sync and out of place.

It is not surprising that Iranian experts consider India’s recent overtures to Iran as merely a bargain-chip for India’s relation vis-à-vis America. Krishna’s, probably insincere, reaction got a second page mention in Tehran Times and, god forbid, third page snippets in Iran Daily. That explains everything.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Castaway: An island’s plight

2010-10-21T15:58:00.001+05:30

IIPM B-School Detail

The river island of Majuli in Assam is buckling under the recurring onslaught of floods and erosion. Would it be too late before we wake up to revive this pristine hub of nature, wonders Pranab Deka…

It’s the same old story. As the monsoons come to Assam, there resurfaces news and concern for the world’s largest river island Majuli (which has now reportedly lost its ‘largest’ status to Brazil’s Amazon island). Regarded as a holy centre of Baishnavite movement founded by Srimanta Sankardev, one of the leading exponents of Assamese culture and literature, Majuli is famous for its Satras or centres for spiritual and cultural learning. There are 22 such centres in Majuli now. But Majuli is not devoid of its woes. Geographically, its situation is such that every year floods and erosion caused by the mighty Brahmaputra eat away a remarkable portion of its land. Now Majuli is reduced to half of what it used to be. It even failed to get the world heritage status owing to the state government’s apathetic attitude. To top it, the government of Assam and the Brahmaputra Board are still busy passing the buck of responsibility to save Majuli from the yearly ordeal.

It is the people who love Majuli and wish to preserve its unique heritage who are passionately working away for its conservation. “The Brahmaputra Board is merely taking some temporary protection measures to save Majuli,” says Manoj Bora, a local social activist. “We demand the construction of permanent rock spurs round Majuli, but the Board wants to get away by constructing some wooden pickets in some places. Besides, the board plans to start its work in the rainy season which is not workable,” he added.

The people of Majuli are losing their agricultural land every year and are forced to live on the streets and by the dams temporarily. The Satras of Majuli had also to be relocated following threats of erosion. “The government is arranging land for the Satras in other places in the state. But what about the local people” wonders Demi Gum, a renowned poet and local resident of Majuli.

Though Majuli remains synonymous with Satra sanskriti – as centres for practice of classical arts such as Borgeet, Ankia Bhawona, Satria dance, mask making etc. – there is more to Majuli beyond the Satras. It is also home to many unique tribes of Assam like Mishing and Deuries, who are known for their closeness to nature and traditional lifestyle. “Majuli can become a major tourist attraction if we showcase the unique tribal culture of this area to the rest of the world. With its natural beauty and geographical uniqueness we have so much to offer,” says Haren Narah, a local entrepreneur who runs a Mishing heritage cottage in Majuli named Mepo Okum.

Ravaged by annual flood, backwardness and government indifference, Majuli might find recourse in tourism, but the conflict between development and conservation is likely to stay. “We are opposing a government plan to build a bridge over Brahmaputra to Majuli from Jorhat. We fear that it will open up Majuli for other activities and Majuli will lose its uniqueness and tranquility. People visiting Majuli are excited by the boat journey to reach here. The government should thus take steps to develop the boat and ferry service instead of constructing a bridge,” say Demi Gum and Haren Naharh.

“We want government to give us geographical security, without which we cannot survive. People of Majuli are used to annual floods; our lifestyle is adjusted to it, but our biggest threat is erosion. The river is changing its course and Majuli is a delicate eco-system. Everybody should look for a conservation effort sustainable over long term,” says Manoj Bora.

There are notable efforts including petitions, seminars, demonstrations and delegations in process for Majuli's future. Arun Sarma, an ex-MP from Assam raised the issue in Parliament too. Eco-tourism can prove to be saviour for a region that is nature’s very own lair. Whether Majuli gets World Heritage status or not, the onus to preserve this fragile eco-system is a matter of survival, and not of choice.

Pranab Deka

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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It is widely acknowledged that NGOs have played a vital role when it comes to the development of the society

2010-09-21T14:48:00.001+05:30

IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm - Planman Consulting

The arguments are many. The facts are unproven. The time period is unknown. Even the existence is under a clutter of clouds including both belief and disbelief. Yet, people remember the King of Thieves, Robin Hood, and unanimously believe in what he existed for, “Robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.” Centuries have passed since then, but this thief from Sherwood is still alive; not in person, but certainly in the faith of a breed, more reckoned as NGOs or the not for profit organisations. With time, these NGOs too have devised their own version of the Hood theory: “Raising from the rich and giving to the poor.”

But then, they say there are no free lunches in this world. Thus, while a for-profit organisation can raise loads of money from the market, investors and other fund providers without any hassle, a non-profit organisation goes through a lot of hassle to raise every single penny. From lack of funds to lack of faith (on part of donors) to the kind of response they get from the society; problems are their mistresses at every step. Result: Some die, some stay alive. But alive, in today’s world, is not half enough if one wishes to succeed. For however much they hate it – or even love it – NGOs have to prove their mettle as great marketers and learn the art of fighting competition. Yes, you got it right. No matter what the real situation may be, but as the competition for available funds gets tougher than ever, non-profits too are now using conventional marketing tools to grab attention.

But then, the question remains: How? Going deeper, does branding and advertising really play a role in an NGOs fund-raising strategy? Or is the quality of work enough? Weren’t NGOs supposed to simply be virtuous upholders and implementors of social work, while the government was supposed to automatically give them money? Or has the No Logo generation been truly and surely dispensed with? Hard as it may seem, the fact is that money has become scarcer, and NGOs many the merrier. With some of the world’s largest donor agencies like UNDP, SIDA, Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation even auditing their funds usage quite critically, the NGO world is becoming as similar to the intense rivalry shorn corporate world as never before seen.

Says Sarah Durhum, Founder, Big Duck (a US-based communication agency for non-profits) to 4Ps B&M, as she writes in her book Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart Communications, “In the for-profit world, corporations place a high value on marketing. In contrast, non-profits rarely provide budgeting or staffing for communications... But in the past few years, the conversation has shifted as non-profits of all sizes see more and more examples of how branding and marketing build value relationship with donors, clients and other key constituents.” Harmala Gupta, Founder-President, CanSupport (an NGO that works for cancer patients) disagrees, “Branding and advertising do not play much of a role, unless one finds a sponsor. As this is an expensive exercise, therefore, we rather prefer to spend every single paisa on our programmes.”

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Affordable Handsets

2010-08-03T15:18:00.000+05:30

The new way of connecting people: Year 2009 saw a slew of ‘cheap’ handsets being rolled out in the country. Be it the relatively new entrants like Micromax, Karbonn or the established players like Intex and Fly, all of them showed immense interest in this segment of the market. By launching QWERTY handsets in a range of around Rs.4,000-5,000, these mobile phones sold like hot cakes and gained the much-desired acceptability in no time. Moreover, as the customers have been rested at great advantage to possess the most high-tech mobile models without shedding big bucks, these handset makers are expected to give a tight fight to bigwigs like Nokia and Samsung in the long-run. As someone rightly said ‘Change is what makes the present generation click’, this change in the handset market has surely empowered these companies to click in 2009 but there is still a long way ahead to be covered before these companies can reach to the top.

Pawan Chabra

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Double or Quit

2010-06-22T17:43:00.000+05:30

IIPM enters into media education

Experts believe that the firmly entrenched popularity of cruisers in targeted developed markets have contributed to Enfield’s success overseas, but volume play on the home turf may require some mass marketing measures from the niche bike maker. Not that the core team at Royal Enfield have been twiddling their thumbs. They are already expanding their target segment from the present 25+ age group to bring more of youngistan into their brand franchise. Analysts say that Bullet’s club activities, which will give the youth a sense of belonging, are set to play a significant role in expanding the Enfield brand promise for India’s youthful demographic. Proactive marketers at Enfield have already started capitalising on this asset. Their latest activities like ‘Log Out’ (focused on corporate sales) and ‘Keep Riding’ (wherein Bullet riders go on a small tour together) are specifically designed to bring a new set of young consumers under the Royal Enfield umbrella. So is there a plan to launch a two-wheeler version of Maruti’s Raid-de-Himalaya?

“Not really. Our intention is to promote Enfield riders riding together, rather than competing with each other,” clarifies Chavan.

Apart from expanding its consumer base, Enfield also has a portfolio line up to achieve the proposed doubling of its sales turnover. The company that has recently rolled out its Classic 350 and Classic 500 models (with single spring-saddle seats and vintage body coloured bumpers), will soon be launching its new and much-awaited Machismo in the Indian market. With its latest UCE technology (introduced in the Classic range), Enfield has narrowed the space for its critics to crib about Bullet’s engine issues. The new technology offers a host of advantages to the consumer namely, engine oil change after 6,000 kms instead of the earlier 3,000 kms; little or no engine adjustments, et al – changes introduced to make more heads turn in Bullet’s direction. “The company will also be launching concept models and variants at the Auto Expo next year which will make consumers more familiar about benefits of UCE technology,” avers Ravichandran.

Despite these subtle overtures to woo new target segments, Enfield is careful about not over stepping the mark in any way that could hurt its intrinsic brand association with cruise biking. Little surprise that they are sticking with their traditional media plan and continue to opt for their regular niche marketing channels. “We have no plans to turn our products into mass appealing ones. Enfield will continue marketing activities via niche media channels only,” explains Ravichandran, emphasising the company’s need to not upset the brand’s apple cart anytime soon.

Our Take: Royal Enfield’s efforts to net in India’s youngistan franchise via its clubs may fetch long-term returns. Their short term plan of netting 60,000 unit sales in 2010 are also well in sight. But, with every bike maker in India hungering to expand their target segment, doubling Bullet sales by 2013, without any major tweaking of marketing strategies, may not be the best bet for this niche player.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

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Repositioning & beyond...

2010-06-07T14:43:00.000+05:30

Anuj Sungh,
National Marketing Head, Red FM

4Ps B&M: Why is the repositioning exercise only limited to Delhi?
AS: Listeners in different markets have varied preferences and it would be unwise to assume that what works in one market will work just as well as well in another. For instance, listeners in Kolkata show a stronger affinity for songs belonging to the older era than listeners in Mumbai or Delhi and hence in Kolkata our playlist includes songs from the late ‘90s as well.

4Ps B&M: How has been the initial reponse of the listeners to the new Red FM?
AS: The response has been great so far. listeners are appreciating our revamped playlist and all the innovation we have done so far. A 50 year old man called us up saying he feels 20 years younger listening to the new Red FM. Testimonials are being aired on the station where people have confessed how exciting and refreshing the new Red FM is also vouching they would never want to go back listening to other boring radio stations in the city.

4Ps B&M: Will you also be looking at repositioning your channels with the same positioning (‘Aaj ke Zamane ka channel’) in other regions as well?
AS: With the recent rebranding exercise (38 SFM stations were rebranded to Red FM in August ’09) we have extended our funda of playing superhit music throughout the day to 41 cities now. Radio is a local medium and audiences in different parts of the country. For instance, the difference between the audience in North East India and the audience in Andhra Pradesh is same as the difference between chalk and cheese. So while the repositioning will work with listeners in Delhi, it may not achieve the same amount of success in other markets. However, if our research leads us to believe that such a repositioning may work in other markets we may revisit our strategy.

4Ps B&M: What are the other initiatives the company is taking to ensure growth in the listenership?
AS: We have couple of more programming initiatives lined up for the near future but it will be a little premature to talk about it

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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AT YOUR SERVICE, SIR!

2010-05-26T16:49:00.000+05:30

For M&M and Dabur, it’s not only about selling their products in rural India but also building a positive image around their brand

When it comes to brand building, customer service is often the last and most-ignored piece of the puzzle. This is a big mistake and a big missed opportunity. And not wanting to miss this opportunity, Mahindra &Mahindra (M&M) embarked on a brand-aligned human-assisted service through Project Bhoomi. M&M partnered with experiential marketing company, RC&M with an objective to facilitate farmer’s return to profession with the promise of prosperity, and thereby reap the benefits in the form of customer retention. Says Priya Monga, Business Head, RC&M, “The need of the farmer is to know the condition of his soil and get counseling on various inputs whereby he can enhance soil productivity. Mahindra Bhoomi offered technology based solutions, at the farmer’s doorstep, to assess his soil condition and offer specific solutions to restore/enhance the productivity of the soil.” A fully-equipped, real time, Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory landed at the farmer’s doorstep. Static soil testing laboratories, affiliated to Mahindra Tractor Dealerships, offered its services round the year. More than 30,000 farmers were contacted and briefed on the importance of soil test for their land holding and more than 1,860 soil samples were done along with report generation and counseling the same day. Project Bhoomi in a very short span of time managed to create a lot of buzz around brand M&M. The activity created a strong brand recall in the mind of the consumers as footfalls increased by 4-5% at the dealership. What’s more, 600+ enquires were generated for brand M&M.

This innovative value offering has helped M&M to foster a lasting emotional bond between the brand and its customers. While M&M took the emotional route to connect with the consumers, FMCG major Dabur moved beyond traditional media options like radio, TV and cinema, and entered into a direct engagement with the rural consumer with special initiatives like the rural beauty & talent contest with Dabur Amla Hair Oil. Christened Dabur Amla ‘Banke Dikhao Rani’, this rural beauty & talent hunt recognises and rewards facets such as sundarta, susheelta and yogyata amongst young girls. The contest will be held across 52 districts in three states – UP, Madhya Pradesh & Bihar – covering 2,000 villages. “The aspirations of women across India, particularly in rural India, are changing. They are increasingly seeking tools to enhance their beauty and confidence. Dabur Amla, we feel, offers these consumers the ideal tool to enhance their beauty and confidence. With this initiative, we will generate beauty awareness among rural women, educate them about the benefits of Dabur Amla Hair Oil vis-à-vis loose mustard oil, and offer the rural women a platform to showcase their beauty & talent. We are now taking Dabur Amla’s association with beauty a step further with this rural beauty pageant that also seeks to empower women in rural India,” reveals a Dabur insider.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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INDIA’S HOTTEST POLTICAL BRANDS

2010-04-30T15:15:00.000+05:30

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

Barack Obama was not a man. He was a package – crafted to take on the all white prejudice of American politics. His branding strategy ensured that right till D-day, hardly anyone was talking about his policies or opinions, instead Obama’s ‘charisma’ and the ‘hope’ he offered America’s terror-scarred public, were the focal points of any Obama discussion. He was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Obama’s Indian counterparts are not far behind. Getting their branding right is the perfect armor for India’s new age politicians, faced with a demanding electorate, 24X7 media attention and personal digital engagement with their target audiences. If Rahul Gandhi’s image is perfectly crafted as the silent but smart worker who delivers on his promises; Lalu Yadav has laughed and joked his way into his voters’ hearts. In fact, behind-the-scenes pR and communication tools have ensured that not just individuals, even issues, policies and schemes are now becoming hot-selling political brands. 4Ps B&M consulted with some of India’s noted brand gurus, columnists, social and political commentators to get this list of India’s 20 hottest political brands in place. Read on to find out what makes em’ tick…

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

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It’s a girls’ Night out

2010-04-09T12:33:00.000+05:30

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

Hard Rock Café joined hands with popular men’s magazine Maxim to launched its Wednesday Ladies Rock Nite, celebrating the spirit of women. Sizzling Bollywood beauty Amrita Arora, announced this caffeine induced rocking nights especially for women. Hard Rock Cafe has partnered with many marketers for exclusive promotions at the cafe on these ladies night. A chance to be Maxim & Hard Rock’s Hottie of the Month will be another compelling attraction of these ladies nights.

Pallavi Srivastava

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

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WHEN WINNING MATTERS

2010-03-25T12:56:00.000+05:30

Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

Everything requires planning, especially when the stakes run into the multi millions that goes into making a marketing programme succeed. Starting this issue, 4Ps B&M bring you some of the hottest media strategies that have pushed brands to another high altogether. It’s all in the plan, you see!

No slick 30-second TV spots; hardly any print adverts and neither are Tata Nano billboards splayed across cities. Yet, Ratan Tata’s Nano dominated public discussion and discourse around its launch last year. Given the cluttered market, where car makers spend tens of million to ensure that their new model is noted and recalled, wouldn’t you call that a bit of a dichotomy? Sure the tag of ‘the world’s cheapest car’ speaks for itself, but surely the Nano needed an extra something to nudge public response? You bet! And that’s where media agencies come in – to provide a solution to any marketing problem. Marketing honchos talk for hours about their big idea, great creative and how it enhanced their brand’s personality. Yet, without an effective media plan, it would all have come to a naught. Good creatives rock. But a bad media plan can destroy the best creative messages. While a good plan can overcome even a bad message. Starting this issue, our new series celebrates those smart media insights that have contributed to sales, market share or the buzz around brands. To flag off the series, aditi prasad and savreen gadhoke bring you some intelligent innovations from Madison Media, Lodestar Universal and Mediacom. Here’s hoping you learn as much from this new series as we hope to do…

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

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...and the shakers

2010-03-04T17:11:00.000+05:30

IIPM 3-year full-time Integrated (MBA BBA) Programme

l Crayons Advertising, one of the 15-empanelled agencies of the Incredible India account has been awarded the creative duties of the domestic campaign (in print media), earlier handled by Span Communications. As per Ranjan Bargotra, President, Crayons Advertising, the campaign will continue till year-end and will highlight the rich heritage of India. A budget of Rs.60 crore has been earmarked by MoT for the domestic campaign covering all forms of media.

l The Delhi wing of ZenithOptimedia has bagged the media duties of Unitech wireless (JV between real estate giant, Unitech Ltd. and Norway-based mobile services provider, Telenor Group), in a multi-agency pitch. The campaign will break pan-India using the traditional media to communicate the salient features of the brand. Leo Burnett will handle the creatives of the account. l Harley Davidson Motor Co. India Pvt. Ltd. has roped in The Republic as its advertising partner, following a multi-agency pitch. Harley-Davidson plans to launch its bikes in the Indian market by 2010.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

“We will change your outlook” - The Sunday Indian on B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED! A must read...
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Indian entrepreneurs still seem to be laggards when it comes to create a pan-India standalone restaurant brand.

2010-02-20T12:54:00.000+05:30

But, is there a trick that could work for them?

Jiggs Kalra
Gourment Hall of Fame, The International Food & Beverage Forum

India is a country where on an average consumers spend about 51% of their total personal expenditure on eating out, but still we can see only a few standalone restaurant brands creating the real buzz. So, why can’t we create a brand like McDonald’s in India? There’s no answer to this question as there are actually very few who have tried to create a standalone restaurant chain across the country. I have consulted and worked with about 68 restaurant brands across the globe and that makes me say that in India no entrepreneur has ever thought of creating a standalone brand in the restaurant industry. Either it was a part of their brand extension strategy or they looked it as a short way to make money.

Walking with chefs and restaurant-owners across the globe I have realised that most of the Indian entrepreneurs fail to have an in-depth understanding of the target audience. Like in any other business, marketing in the restaurant industry too has to be targeted on the right audience. You might be a great chef like Sanjeev Kapoor, but if you are launching a brand you have to be very clear on whom are you targeting it. For instance, McDonald’s targets family. In fact, when I was working with Oberoi Group of Hotels, I made sure that their restaurants precisely targeted the global leisure tourist.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

Outlook Magazine's B School Ranking Scam Exposed
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Most Innovative brands

2010-02-12T15:25:00.000+05:30

• Tata Nano
• Tata Sky
• IPL
• Hero Honda
• Microsoft

“A promise is a promise,” is what Ratan Tata had said when he launched the Tata Nano. And despite encountering problems (read Singur), he did manage to launch the Tata Nano last month. This Rs.1 lakh car is all set to fulfill the dream of millions of Indians of owning a four-wheeler. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is another name for innovation. From contests to computer and mobile games, from a break of 7½ minutes after ten overs of every innings to various other promotional activities, the second edition of the IPL has seen the introduction of several innovative initiatives to keep viewers engaged with the tournament.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Motorised... though Indianised!

2010-01-19T16:47:00.000+05:30

The web may change the way things work in the used car market in India. And Udit Bhandari, CEO, Indimoto already has a plan in place to ride on the back of this lucrative opportunity.

The online space has always provided new opportunities for start-ups and India, the nation of entrepreneurs, has thrived on this opportunity. The love for the dot-coms continues in its high spirits and the interest is not just limited to the social networks, mailboxes and the Indian Googles (search engines). The last five years have seen a slew of entrepreneurial ventures being rolled out in the country using internet as a platform for selling/buying used cars & bikes. Udit Bhandari, CEO, Indimoto, is one of the lucky members of the club who have been able to encash this opportunity and have carved a niche for themselves in the online space. Indimoto, started in 2006 is primarily an auto classifieds website but the reason behind its huge popularity is the carpool initiative. Headquartered in Gurgaon, Bhandari started Indimoto after his short stints at Genpact and GM (6 months each), following his passion for entrepreneurship and the automotive industry. In a candid interview with 4Ps B&M, he explains the journey of the company so far and the secret behind the carpool initiative.

4Ps B&M: How did the idea of the carpooling initiative come up?
UB: It came up when our office was in Qutub View Apartments in Delhi and as I stay in Gurgaon, I used to travel daily via M.G. road towards my office and used to see same people almost daily commuting through the same route, that’s when I thought why not kick off an initiative, which will give people a platform to carpool and reduce the number of cars on the road.

4Ps B&M: How do you take care of the security issues involved in the carpooling initiative?
UB: Our primary objective is to connect commuters. However, there is a process, which we recommend to the interested carpoolers to follow before they get going. But on the responsibility front, we don’t take any as we are a free service. In terms of use we clearly state that we are just a platform like a newspaper classifieds.

4Ps B&M: How has been the auto classifieds business doing so far?
UB: It’s a service, which we charge for and it has been doing pretty well. In fact, we work very closely with many local car dealers. Our research shows that almost 10,000 used vehicles have been sold using Indimoto since 2006. We have 35,000 users who have tried Indimoto to sell their used vehicles.

4Ps B&M: How many dealers in total are you connected to at the moment?
UB: We are working with dealers in Delhi and Gurgaon for the past nine months. We have a set of around 50 dealers and going forward, we would like to take this model to other cities. We will be entering Mumbai in another 3-6 months and then Bangalore and eventually the other metros.

4Ps B&M: Which one of the two makes more money, the two-wheelers or the four-wheelers?
UB: The four-wheelers, simply because of the reason that a four-wheeler is a more high involvement purchase as compared to a two-wheeler. However, with so many used bikes around, we are able to generate considerable traffic but in the long term four-wheelers is a segment, which is more lucrative.

4Ps B&M: You started Indimoto as a self-financed venture, is it the same till now or have you raised money from the market?
UB: I started Indimoto with an initial investment of around Rs. 1,50,000 but it’s now bootstrapped i.e. whatever the company earns goes back into the business. We also do some content writing for International auto publications like Auto Express (UK), Auto Middle east. But it’s for the short term, i.e. till the time the other verticals become self-dependent.

4Ps B&M: Are you looking at a new revenue stream for the company? Your vision for Indimoto?
UB: Not as of now, may be new cars in the future. But firstly, we would like to be known as the country’s largest auto classifieds company.

Pawan Chabra

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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CANNES LIONS

2010-01-14T17:49:00.000+05:30

Management guru Arindam Chaudhuri’s latest blockbuster book, Discover The Diamond In You

Ashish Naik, Associate Creative Director (Art) at O&M, is another guy who got lucky at Cannes this year. He won two silver lions for his Marbels campaign for confectionery giant Perfetti. Like the guys at Good Morning Films, Ashish too is on cloud nine. Although cost cutting at O&M deprived him of the pleasure to walk the red carpet at Cannes (the news of his win was broken to him by a friend attending the ceremony), yet the pleasure has been no less, says Naik. The feel of the Cannes metal in his hands is all the more poignant now because he had missed the bus in 2002, despite being nominated. “But back then, even getting a nomination in the prestigious Cannes was a big thing,” explains Naik, basking in his present glory. His expectations are also running high post this first win at Cannes. “I now dream of winning the Grand Prix and then eventually get into Bollywood film direction,” he says.

A Grand Prix, Bollywood ambitions, potential superstar status… sounds downright chic and hip, right? Well, the reality of this quaint city in the French Riviera is far from glamorous. Oh sure, the glamour of Cannes can never be doubted, not even for a minute. There is the beach, blue sky, yachts, beautiful people, picturesque little villages and the eventual biggest celebration of great ideas and brilliant craft. The problem comes once you strut back home, the exalted metal in tow, with matching expectations to boot for the future. Hey guys, this is not 1994, when the only Indian delegates at Cannes were Piyush Pandey, Pradeep Guha and just a couple more (perhaps the smallest contingent from any country); and there were zero entries from India. This is 2009, with 70 Indian delegates and 982 entries from the country. And even these numbers belie reality having gone down, thanks to the slowdown. The numbers in 2008 were far higher–140 delegates and 1,109 entries. The real reason we are telling you all this is to say that sure, winning a Cannes Lion is great stuff but surely not as big a rarity for India’s ingenious ad men.

Needless to say, winning a Cannes does fetch amazing accolades and possibly even makes the winner’s career graph soar faster. But can the Cannes euphoria alone take them to the top? Talk to some Cannes winners over the years and they say affirm, “Yes, suddenly we are loaded with all these offers from rival agencies, thinking that if we’ve cracked it once, we can crack it twice or even thrice for them,” but then when the dust settles, there is life beyond winning at Cannes.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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BACK TO THE FUTURE?

2009-12-30T12:17:00.000+05:30

It’s not the king of India’s advertising jungle yet, but this Leo is loving the slowdown. Why? Well, no one’s trying to poach their key people, that’s why!

“It’s a mistake to change your existing strategy because of a downturn. A better thing is to sharpen your existing strategy,” exclaims Arvind Sharma, MD, Leo Burnett (India). And it is this strategy, Sharma says, which has helped Leo Burnett grow by 10% even in a tough environment. At a time when most marketers are trimming their ad budgets or expecting their agencies to deliver more for less, Sharma is glad that his agency’s clients (except financial and tourism clients) are doing relatively well. Of course, he is quick to take some credit for it. “Our brands like Mazaa have been growing at 50% and Thums Up is an undisputed number one in its segment.”

So, while news about loss of accounts and retrenchments are hogging most agencies, market watchers believe that Leo Burnett has been bearing the slowdown storm quite well. Not only have they not lost a single account, they have also bagged new accounts, including Tata Capitals, HPCL and Samsung Touch phones.

So, was it possible to achieve this with no real change? Says Arvind, “The change was brought by the environment. For three years’ preceding the slowdown, our best people were getting an offer a month. That has now stopped. So our best people have been able to focus on our clients’ businesses. It is a joy to see what a difference a little focus can make.” But since that would have been true for most agencies, what makes Leo Burnett’s dream run special? We asked Rajeev Sharma, National Brand Planning Director, Leo Burnett (India) and here’s his take: “First, our senior-most people have always been closely involved in our client’s businesses. Secondly, we’ve always had a culture of proactive consumer contact and interface by our planners. It’s not uncommon even for our senior management to actually meet consumers. And now even clients are realising the importance of these things.”

Another learning that clients have had amidst the current turmoil is that there is no magic wand that works for all. While TV may work for some, innovating and experimenting with new age media could be just the push that another brand may need. On this front, Leo Burnett has done some interesting work for HPCL at their petrol pumps. Similarly, the Jaago Re campaign for Tata Tea has done well on television, as also directed considerable traffic to their website. As a matter of fact, Leo Burnett’s marketing services division, Arc, has been doing some path breaking work in the digital space. It brought home India’s first Cyberlion last year. This year, Arc’s work on Jaago Re even won a webby. Consequently, the agency’s digital revenues are up sharply. No wonder, Sharma is keen to continue investing in the high-potential marketing services division, Arc as always. About 30% growth – that’s Sharma’s personal target for Leo Burnett in this fiscal. This Leo is certainly roaring in India’s advertising jungle...

Surbhi Chawla

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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We won’t be surprised if your answer is a big “NO!”, for you only know this company as HTC !

2009-10-13T16:33:00.000+05:30

Surbhi Chawla debates on the strategic & branding issues of HTC...

After a long lull of six months, the smartphone category has once again become the talk of town, with a slew of high profile launches. First, it was Samsung Star and Star 3G. They were followed by the Nokia N97, and now, HTC plans to get back at competitors’ heels with its first Android-based handset in India – HTC Magic. So what prompted such enthusiastic acts on the part of the smartphone manufacturers? Well, despite the fact that consumer spending on mobile handsets dried up during the first quarter of 2009 (it fell by 19% as compared to the same period in 2008, according to Gartner), the smartphone category recorded a swashbuckling growth of 25% during the same period, all thanks to the terrific market performance of the Apple iPhone, BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Storm and of course, the HTC’s Android phone – G1. That was global, how about local? The story is no different for the smartphone market in India too, where sales in this category is currently growing between 20-25% (a trend expected to continue till 2010). And of all the ‘smart’ brands, perhaps the least discussed of late has been HTC. But does that mean that all is silent and still behind the HTC wall. 4Ps B&M decided to pay a visit to HTC’s Indian headquarters, to uncover strategies that it has drawn-out, to run through competition in India.

We begin with the HTC Magic. Surely, there are some ripples that this so-considered ‘magic’ device from HTC’s stable is causing, but of course, minus the loud marketing efforts made by Apple during the launch of its iPhone in India, about a year back. Of course, the unavailability of the handset model currently makes it a tad difficult to make predictions about its future, but some issues are as apparent as they can get, and the trouble starts right where its strength lies -the Android mobile OS on which HTC works. The USP of an Android is that it is open-source which enables one to install a host of applications on their handsets as per one’s needs. The problem is that Android’s application store is not functional in India yet, therefore customers who buy the Magic would have to play around with the existing applications that come pre-loaded with this handset or develop something for themselves. Simply stated, a hurdle that stands between HTC and the success of its latest Android-based handset.

So aren’t officials at the company worried over the same? Not really, as Jack Tong, Vice-President, HTC APAC states, “I think the response that Android mobiles have received worldwide was at times even beyond expectations and we expect something similar in the Indian market.” Of course, a spokesperson in the company acknowledged the fact that, “availability of an application store would have sweetened the offering.” However, he goes ahead and optimistically opines that there would be plenty of early adopters willing to get their hands on HTC Magic, despite the roadblock.

Moving on, apart from the HTC Magic, the company is currently offering 11 handset devices (10 GSM and 1 CDMA) that fall in the price range of Rs.10,000 to Rs.42,000 and is now looking to move beyond just touchscreens. “HTC has already become synonymous with touch phones and large screens in the Indian market and from now on our focus would be to go beyond the same,” explains Ajay Sharma, Country Manager, HTC India. As far as the company’s belief runs, it is only through provision of some differentiating and interesting factor (like a feature which enables the user to switch off the phone’s ringer by just turning the phone upside down) that consumers in the country can actually be attracted; ‘differentiation’ is the word here!
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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