PMs calculated risk - Reforms in India

Dt : 15 Sep 2012

So finally the Congress government has decided to take some policy decisions which will help it to shrug off the tag of a non active government and also help in winning back investor confidence.The effect of the reforms announced have already been felt in the Sensex with the markets responding favourably to the governments decision.

                              

First in a sequence of bold steps announced by the government is the hike of diesel and LPG .Fuel is a commodity which directly affects the cost of living for the common man .It can be clearly inferred that this would not go down well with the public.Yet the government which is already losing people's faith decided to take this tough decision.

Secondly allowing FDI in multi brand retail and in the aviation sector.Again this was a crucial reform which till date was stuck as almost all the allies of the government were against this decision.On FDI there has been a debate that it may kill the small retail shop owners.But the other side of the argument is that it will create employment and infrastructure which is much needed for the growth of the nation.Though this has the potential to affect a few people at the base,but  overall FDI in retail is only going to bring in competition and thus reduce the prices .It is a good thing for the consumers.The government has to take care that the suppliers and retailers are not unfairly treated in this.

                                   

Getting Indian government to approve FDI may also be seen as a  resounding win  for the Obama administration who might have otherwise been struggling to convince the American business houses to support their reelection.As far as Indians are concerned we can only hope to get more work visas approved now :-) .This move has shown that India has always been supportive of free trade unlike some of the developed nations of the world .
 

So coming back to the discussion on reforms, the government has taken these bold steps knowing pretty well that it may fall tomorrow due to these decisions.These decisions though have proven for the first time in 3 years that this indeed was a majority government and that Congress indeed has the numbers unlike some of the previous Non-Congress governments.

They could not get black money back,could not cancel all coal allocations neither accept responsibility for the 2G scam.It was almost certain that the government would not comeback to power in 2014.But by taking these bold decisions , the government as a whole and the Congress in particular have taken a chance to win back the trust of the nation.

It might be too late in the day .But just for attempting these changes the prime minister needs to be given a pat on his back.You cannot always ridicule him .For this brave move you have to say 'Well done Prime Minister'.

The Volkswagen AD

Dt: 11 Sep 2012

So after almost one year another there is yet another innovative ad from Volkswagen.This time they attached a vibrating device which uses the concept of a photo diode to create the energy for the vibrations .

Dubbed as ‘Feel the shiver of excitement?’, the new campaign promotes the recently upgraded variants of the Polo and Vento which feature new headlights with black bezels, new alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a navigation system, reversing camera, Bluetooth phone pairing and steering-mounted controls. 

It fails in comparison to the talking newspaper ad though which literally became the talk of the town.But anyways its good to see some innovation if not in the cars then at least in the ads.

 

A strange coincidence

Dt: 8 sept  2012

I was travelling to work as usual .Normally the trans would be jam packed during peak hours .But today I was a bit late and this being a non working saturday there was some breathing space.

As the train stopped at Airoli,two women with a small dholak like instrument in their hands  entered the train .They were accomapanied with two small kids .The kids were supposed  to dance to the beats of the drum which was meant to entertain the travellers.

                                                  

My attention was caught by this kid .She looked like the girl from Swades in the song 'Ye tara wo tara'.She was not interested in doing this stuff and clearly showed her disappointment.By this time one of the women  started hitting the kid with the same stick she was using to beat the dholak..She dealt a couple of blows which literally shook the kid.Before I could stop her she started beating the drum and both the kids started their dance.Its the same thing that madari asks his monkey to do.i felt disgusted .

Luckily they didnt extend this for too long.I felt bad for the kid and decided to give her a coin.(which I normally dont do).Unfortunately she went the other way and the other kid came to me.I though had decided that I would give the coin to the first kid and would also ask the women  not to hit her the next time.I pulled out a 5 rupee coin to give it to her. But when the kid eventually came to me the train had already reached Ghansoli.Within seconds the entire group got down and ran for the next bogey.It hurt that I could not do anything to help this child from this misery.

As I was travelling back this evening by the same route I saw a similar group of a women and a kid.I checked a couple of times to see if it was the same girl.It wasnt her .

This kid had more or less accepted her fate and was going through the routine.I reached my pocket and again fetched a coin .It was the same 5 rupee coin that I had thought of giving the kid in the morning train.I gave that coin to this little girl and wished in my heart that someone could rescue these kids from this plight.

Why Raj Thackeray could be the best man for Maharashtra.

Dt: 8 Sep 2012

Today I had the fortune of sitting through an entire Arnab interview.Now normally Arnab would not let anyone on his show speak for more than 2 minutes.But today he was interviewing Mr.Raj Thackeray, leader of the youngest upcoming polticla party in Maharashtra.

                              

Now I have never ever missed a Raj Thackeray interview.It is because though I may not be totally in sync with his ideologies I do admire him as a brilliant orator.His command over the subject of discussion and his attacking style of putting his thoughts across has gained him significant fan following.

This is one thing that the politics of the nation is missing.Apart from a Sushma Swaraj ,Arun Jaitley,Chidambaram(even hes floundering nowadays) there aren't too many eloquent speakers out there.A good orator can manage any organization with his oratory skills ,Pramod Mahajan was one with tremendous command over his words.The speakers of some of the top political parties are no better than the stand up comedians when they speak.

But coming back to Maharashtra ,the state genuinely requires a leader of Raj's caliber ,who has the capability to command respect with his words,Unfortunately for Raj his PR machinery is not that strong to have an influence on media(especially the Hindi channels).And as I went through his interview I indeed felt that his words are often potrayed in a negative manner to make  a villain out of him.

The aggressive style of oration is a tried and tested move in politics of the world.Hitler was known for his aggressive speeches.As far as the speeches arent inflamatory to provoke someone they might  as well be beneficial for the people of this state.It is sad that the media has not highlighted the work done by MNS workers.Recent example of monitoring the toll nakas was one which was completely ignored by national media.

The current government has left the state in a mess and the state needs an alternative.Raj did not hesitate to point out that the state govt and police are both under pressure to maintain the North Indian vote bank.I feel that this elections will be a make or break situation for his party .It would be interesting to see how Raj responds if he is given control of the state.I  have got a feeling that he may be another Modi is in the making and if news reports are to be believed then the both have already spoken greatly of each other.

But rather than having him as a minority leader he has to be trusted completely by the Marathi speaking public atleast.It is difficult to see MNS emerging as a single largest party in Mahrashtra but it would be better of for Raj to cut out other votes than eat into the Sena vote bank.A lot of decisions for the MNS to take before 2014.....

Marathi Asmita.

Dt: 3rd September 2012.

I am taking a risk by writing something on this sensitive topic,Who knows someone may threaten to throw me out of the state for writing this.But such are the rights bestowed upon by the Constitution of India to every citizen that I am compelled to write out and lash out against our so called guardians  of prestige and honour.

It hurts me deeply to see that how low has governance gone in my state of residence .Firstly you allow scores of people to assemble at the nerve center  of Mumbai and allow them to go beserk with weapons in their hands.You defend yourself by stating that you did not anticipate the crowd to go out of hand.

Within a month despite there being a court order to prevent people gathering in groups to avoid riot like situation, you allow a gathering of people and you allow a speaker who has a history of delivering sensational speeches a platform to go about his antics.

Today you allow the same people to question people coming from another Indian state and threaten them Why cant you take action against these people.By keeping silent arent you endorsing these people and their thought process.

In the past few days there has been a lot of talk about Marathi Asmita.It is amazing how their Marathi pride rises whenever there is an election date nearing or it is time to gain some political vendetta.

Today the city has seen the first major rainfall of the season and the entire public transport  has literally surrendered to the rain Gods.You have stayed for so long in this state,in this city.How much does it hurt your pride when the city comes toa standstill year after year due to heavy rains.Where is your pride when farmers of our state commit suicide?Where is your pride when the state gets hit by terrorists year after year?

You win a couple of elections and then put up huge posters declaring yourselves the baadshahs of the city/state.The question to you is what have you done in so many years to put the state on the roadmap of development.You question everyone who hurts the Marathi Asmita.Point is what have you done in your life time to enhance it?

My earnest request to my fellow Maharashtrians .Vote sensibly.Don't fall for gimmicks.