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Cabinet reshuffling is just an image cleaning exercise

2011-11-30T10:24:00.000+05:30

Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri Dean Business School IIPM

Politics cabinet reshuffle: Musical chairs...

The future of a nation is at stake when its political parties fail to reach consensus on issues indefinitely – especially when the government is made up of coalition parties. India has been more than a victim of this. While the Indian National Congress enjoyed undisputed majority when it had clear agendas – gaining Independence, reconstruction of India after Independence, the Nehruvian period – from Indira Gandhi's era, the pace of changes and generations within not only opposing parties but also the electorate ensured that the Congress slowly but surely had to accept the inevitability of ruling (or supporting) through coalitions – an amalgamation of parties that agree on much and disagree on some. The present Congress leadership under UPA-II seem to be thoroughly barbed due to a strange combination of two factors – one, coalition demands; two, opposition logjams. With party and coalition members accused of corruption, and the leadership further accused of deliberating ignoring corruption, the heat has been obviously right at the top for the ruling UPA.

And what's the best method then to ensure a fresh perspective and focus for the government? We have the tried and tested resort of a solution – cabinet reshuffling. Delve deep into the history, and one realizes that cabinet reshuffling exercises have always been more of image cleaning exercises than truly for matching politicians' competencies with respective ministries. And the recent one is no exception. At a time when the image of the UPA-II government has been taking quite too many hits, it has quickly reshuffled the cabinet to clean up its image.

But a quick recap of the entire reshuffling makes no sense – if that was done in order to counter present problems and their solutions. There has been no change in the key ministries including Home, Finance, Defence and External, which have the core party leaders in the leadership. Salman Khursheed (minister for water with additional charge of minority affairs), Jaipal Reddy (petroleum and natural gas minister), Vayalar Ravi (civil aviation ministry) are the gainers who have been promoted at the cabinet level. Among allies, NCP leader Praful Patel got the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. M S Gill has been removed from ministry of sports and youth affairs. Ministry of food and public distribution as well as consumer affairs, which were under Sharad Pawar, has now been given to K.V Thomas. And Kapil Sibal retains two important ministries including HRD and Communications and IT.

Ironically, the Congress leadership didn't remove ministers from power for non-performance and irregularities; it only shifted them to other less important ministries. This clearly proves the political back-calculations. Still, if resolving inflation rate was the final objective, then the government should have also ensured that Pranab Mukherjee was shifted to a lesser important ministry. Even that didn't happen for whatever it was worth. Then what exactly did happen? You missed the beginning – image cleaning.

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Koffee banter with the wedding planner!

2011-11-27T11:21:00.000+05:30

IIPM Mumbai Campus

In a candid tête-à-tête with subhash k jha, karan johar speaks on why he s destined to remain a wedding planner all his life why kids call him koffee uncle and why he s launching new talent this year…

So many hats. Recently you were a wedding planner for Imran Khan?
I am proud to be one. I was very happy in helping Avantika and Imran with their wedding. They’re friends. And considering there’s no wedding in my own life, helping others with their shaadi is my way of living that experience.

So are you one of those sad wedding planners with no life of his own?
No, I am an aspirational wedding planner. I live out my own wedding vicariously. Let’s once and for all put all my marriage rumours to rest. There’s no marriage in my kundli.

Why the finality?
I love my single existence. I love living with my mother. I feel I am married to her.

In 2011 you are launching three new actors?
Yes, can you believe it! For the first time I’ll be directing newcomers in Student of the Year. Two of them, Aliya Bhatt and Varun Dhawan are industry kids. And one of them, Siddharth Malhotra has no connections with the industry at all. He had come in to learn the ropes of filmmaking. Siddharth and Varun were assistant directors on My Name Is Khan (MNIK). In fact that’s how I discovered they had star-potential.

What do you mean?
Our cameraman on MNIK Ravi Chandran made Siddharth and Varun stand in for Shah Rukh and Kajol for lighting. I saw them in the monitor and I knew they had the ‘it’ quality.

So you mean if they weren’t caught in that particular light, you wouldn’t have cast them in Student of the Year?
It’s all destiny. But let me tell you all three of them had to go through audition, reading, screen test and a whole lot of classes. It was wonderful dealing with them. I believe in all three of them. But there is the anxiety. I hope I live up to their dreams. I feel like a parent to three bright students. Earlier, I had no plans of directing the film. But now I’ll direct it myself.

What is it going to be?
A commercial Hindi picture with songs. There’re lots of songs.

But no Shah Rukh ?
What do you mean, no Shah Rukh? He is the co-producer of Student of the Year along with me. Shah Rukh and I both feel that launching talent is the way forward for our cinema. Then he suggested I direct it.

Is Shah Rukh going to make a guest appearance in Student of the Year?
Wait and watch. Kuch kuch to hota hai!

Shah Rukh and you got very sentimental on Koffee with Karan…
He is more than family to me. The one-on-one made us very comfortable. We both expressed ourselves with our head and heart. It was Koffee with a different taste. I also shot an episode with Hrithik Roshan and his wonderful wife Susanne.

Your chat show Koffee With Karan got into a bit of a controversy when Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor took pot-shots at Ranbir Kapoor…
It has been controversial; sometime the show gets tabloid-friendly. I do the show with good intentions. I never meant to cause any distress or discomfort to any of my guests or their loved ones. The Deepika-Sonam episode created unnecessary controversy. That was much ado about nothing, if you ask me. Enough has been said about it.

It upset you greatly?
When I invite a guest on Koffee with Karan, I treat them with the warmth, love and hospitality that I extend to my guests at home. If my comments or my guests’ comments upset someone, then all I can say is that it is never my intention. There is an inherent sense of humour in the show. Sadly, we as a nation cannot take jokes at our expense. I can take jibes in my stride. When on my show Anil Kapoor said MNIK was the shocker hit of 2010, it was the first thing I put on the promo. I found it funny. I wish everyone else too would get a sense of humour. My intention was not to topple any applecart.

Are you going to continue doing the chat show?
Not when I am directing. But Koffee with Karan will always be a part of my life. It’s a part of me I love and enjoy. I am probably known more for my chat show than my films. On some level that’s flattering. But on another level it’s shocking.

I think that’s ridiculous.
You’ve no idea. Kids call me ‘Koffee Uncle’. Have I started looking like a beverage?

You look fine…
Thanks. But in some ways I am like a beverage. I can be served hot or cold.

What were the most exceptional aspects of 2010 for you?
For me it was MNIK that made the year special. Koffee with Karan is just an extension of my personality. It’s a hobby that pays me well. And it has done a lot of good for my brand. MNIK was a creative forward-movement from me. Its worldwide acceptance meant a lot to me and Shah Rukh.

I believe MNIK was one of the contenders for nominations for the Oscars. Did that make MNIK a competitor to Anusha Rizvi’s Peepli Live?
I don’t think so. Peepli Live was India’s official entry to the Oscars. I am not sure of the modalities. We are happy to be considered after apparently 400,000 fans of MNIK from all over the world petitioned that MNIK should be considered for an Oscar entry. Whether my film is a contender or not is immaterial. That it has found such a high level of acceptance means much more than awards to me.

Back home your name is missing in the directors’ list of some popular awards…
It’s basically just one platform where MNIK has not been nominated for Best Film and Best Director. What can I say? ‘Screen’ is a jury award. Most of the jury members are senior and respected members of the film fraternity. If they feel my film is not worthy so be it. However, I don’t think a film-awards jury from within the industry is a good idea. They’re bound to come on board with a certain level of bias. The Oscars comprise of an academy of 5,000 members, where the biases are offset by the sheer large number of opinions. I am personally not happy with a 7-member jury judging my film. However, I’ve the highest regard for all awards and organisations giving them.

Do awards still excite you?
Yes! Any accolade excites me. I like the applause. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the trophy gleaming on my table. Javed Akhtar saab once said something very relevant about awards. He said, ‘Take the awards seriously during the year that you get them’. I love being nominated and winning.

Your line-up of films for 2011?
Besides my own film there’s the Imran-Kareena untitled film. Everyone calls it Short Term Shaadi or Stand by Me. Then there’s the sequel to Dostana and the remake of Agneepath. Punit Malhotra, Siddharth Malhotra and Ayaan Mukherjee are working on their scripts.

How do you manage to do so many things?
I am blessed. The only thing predictable about my activities is that they’re unpredictable.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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Dhobi Ghat: Dim city lights

2011-11-24T10:15:00.000+05:30

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Technically chic, but jarred storytelling muddies the canvas

Dhobi Ghat is like an abstract painting – it can mean a lot if you think you have read the layers, and can be nothing but a splash of colours if you can’t decode it. Dhobi Ghat has nothing new to say. It is a film made by a person who is smitten by the city. It is a passionate but very indulgent kind of cinema where the director’s muse (Mumbai) becomes larger than the characters and story telling.

Shai (Monica Dogra), Munna (Pratiek Babbar), Arun (Aamir Khan – interestingly the biggest and unfortunate liability in the film) and Yasmin’s (Kriti Malhotra) paths cross in the narrow bylanes of Mumbai. I wouldn’t want to give away the story to you – there isn’t much, anyway. They all live in different Mumbais while living in the same Mumbai – a city of contrasts where sprawling seafacing homes dot the chawl filled streets. And yet, when their inhabitants meet, they shed their differences and walk hand-in-hand. While Shai’s Mumbai is clean, swanky and lonely, Munna’s is dingy, dreamy and lonely; Arun’s Mumbai is crowded, colourful and lonely and Yasmin’s is new, promising and yet lonely. Perhaps it’s this melancholy that binds these four characters together. Kiran uses an innovative technique in narrating Yasmin’s story to us. Her entire life unfolds before us, when she is never really there. Her video diaries mirror Arun’s solitude beautifully, right in the heart of the bustling Mohammed Ali Road. Yasmin’s immigrant point of view Mumbai is heart wrenching. Sadly, her’s is the only natural, genuine story that tugs at your heartstrings. The other characters, somehow, never manage to succeed in making you feel for them. And therein lies the problem. A film that counts so heavily on its characters to reach out to you and connect, fails to create characters that you really want to feel for. Even when the film ends you are left indifferent towards the characters.

Dhobi Ghat is not a bad film. What it lacks is a real story that wants to scream and reach out to you – a must for every good film. In Dhobi Ghat, unfortunately, neither are the characters very interesting, nor are the circumstances.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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Tangled: Old tale, new tricks

2011-11-21T10:14:00.000+05:30

Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri Dean Business School IIPM

The razzle and dazzle of Rapunzel with a dash of Disney magic

Disney for a brief while seemed to have lost its magic touch of breathing new life into classic tales but with Tangled it looks like they are back at doing what they do best – make you laugh, smile and even cry without missing a beat.

So, you have the story of long haired Rapunzel locked in her tower by Gothel, the woman she believes is her mother. But little does the princess know that her hair has extraordinary powers and the woman has kept her in the tower after kidnapping her as kid. Rapunzel longs to be out there in the world and when her chance arrives via Flynn, a thief who seeks refuge in her tower she embraces it bracing herself for adventure.

The rest of journey is trademark Disney fun filled stuff but with a new found spunk that is brought out well by Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) and Zachary Levi (Flynn). The humour is spot on drawing in children and adults alike, and the supporting cast of Maximus (the horse) and Pascal (the chameleon). The animation work is superb (the 3D version is totally worth it) as seen in the acting just the facial expressions of Maximus and Pascal do (the two characters have no lines in the film). Tangled is a triumph of good old Disney family storytelling with a bit of fun and adventure for everyone.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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That’s what we call ‘Robbed by choice’

2011-11-18T11:12:00.000+05:30

Arindam Chaudhuri is Delhi franchise holder for i1 Super Series

In less than three years India has seen some notable multi-billion tax evasion cases. While the archaic tax laws are helping MNCs to indulge in tax evasion and walk out without any hassle, the government still lacks the desired motivation to bring in the most required radical changes to hit back hard at them.

A large section of the country got shocked in August 2009, when Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam in a communiqué disclosed the amount that country’s top 100 tax defaulters owed to the exchequer. Cumulatively the amount stood at a mind-boggling Rs 1.41 lakh crore – over three times the amount that the government spends every year on National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. But then it was just the list of people who defaulted their payments in a country where the largest segment believes that tax evasion is their birth right, be it legally or illegally. And the latest name that has surfaced in this regard is US-based confectionery giant Kraft Foods.

It all started when a Delhi-based law firm acted as whistleblower and filed a public interest lawsuit late last year citing irregularities in terms of tax liabilities related to sale of shares and other assets in the event of Kraft’s $19 billion acquisition of Cadbury. While the law firm, Kanth & Associates asserts that it is a clear case of tax evasion resulting into substantial loss to the economy, Kraft is yet to speak on the issue. In the meantime, a letter written by Salil Mishra, Under Secretary, Ministry of Finance, to Gaurang Kanth, Managing Partner, Kanth & Associates, indicates that “action has been initiated in the matter under the Income Tax laws”. However, irrespective of the outcome of the investigation and the long legal battle to follow, the fact that cannot be ignored is that the company managed to escape the eyes of the tax department without any hitch.

But then, this is not the first of its kind in India. Vodafone has already become a case study in this regard being found liable to the Indian exchequer for nearly $2 billion in capital gain taxes related to its $11 billion takeover of Hutschison Essar in 2007. So the question remains, how does these MNCs manage to skip the eyes of law causing a loss to the exchequer? Focussing on the backdrop in discussion – acquisition and capital gain taxes – Gaurang Kanth answers, “India lacks a strong legal framework in this context. For example, while other key countries (even China) have a franchisee law in place, India has no specific legislation to regulate franchisee arrangement in the country... and on most occasions such regulatory gaps end up helping these companies to evade tax.”

Though Vodafone and Cadbury are two multi-billion dollar cases related to takeovers, there are numerous other examples of tax evasion by MNCs operating in India under various other clauses. In 2008, soft drink major Coca Cola and German airline Lufthansa were slapped with demand notice from the Anti Evasion Wing of the Commissionerate of Service Tax. While Coke was said have to evaded Rs 8.55 crore in terms of service tax on the out of pocket expenses (expenses over and above the contract amount), Lufthansa was given a ticket of Rs 6.16 crore for allegedly evading service tax on full value of the fare it received. For that matter Nokia, the largest mobile handset player in India, had faced a penalty of Rs 1.14 crore in 2006 for furnishing inaccurate income particulars in financial year 2001-02 with an intention to avoid income tax. Going by experts, the number of cases where companies get caught and pay penalty is just the tip of an iceberg if we consider the number of companies that evade tax and move on without getting caught.

Adding another view point to how the MNCs manage to escape Indian taxmen, Dheeraj Malhotra, Director, MPartners, says, “They (MNCs) are deriving benefit from the mismatch between domestic legislation and sovereign treaties and taking advantage from the fact that treaties take precedence over law and exempt non-Indian source income of residents of certain jurisdictions from Indian taxation. Each transaction that has hit the limelight has been structured within such a framework.” To avoid such a scenario, the best way forward, perhaps, would be a proactive legislature that assists the revenue department and closes such loopholes to address these issues in the correct way.

However, the root cause of all these problems is the complex and archaic tax laws prevailing in the country. Irony is that time and again global companies have blamed these laws as a deterrent, yet they have used them beautifully to pocket more bucks by avoiding tax. Though Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has been promising radical reforms in tax laws, simplification of laws related to M&As and stricter norms related to compliance, it just doesn't seem to take off. What can be a better example than the New Direct Tax Code that is now expected to be implemented from April 1, 2012 despite Finance Minister’s high hopes at Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, 2010 where he had said, “We are working on tax reforms. I am hopeful that the Direct Taxes Code will be implemented from April 2011.” Thus, it’s not only the laws that needs to be changed. If the government wants to check the number of corporte tax evasion cases, the system as such needs to go through a complete overhaul with radical changes infused at all steps, be it the laws, or the execution of it. And that can only be possible if ample support can be mustered from both the lawmakers and the executives. Else, while India will continue to struggle with widening deficits, MNCs will continue to be rich with window dressed profits.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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A market sans money

2011-11-15T10:10:00.000+05:30

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Money counts for nothing as commodity exchange on the barter principle is the norm at the historical Jonbeel mela of Assam which binds different tribes from the state and Meghalaya together

At a time when the money market is controlling the entire economy of the world, a unique market, operating on the barter principle, is still held once every year on the first Thursday after Makar Sankranti. Jonbeel mela is held at Jagiroad of Morigaon district. Gova King Deepsing Deoraja inaugurates the fair. When the King takes part in a community feast on the first Wednesday after Makar Sankranti, the mela is considered to be open.

Tribal people of the erstwhile Gova kingdom come down from the neighbouring Khasi and Karbi hills to the mela with their harvest of crops and fruits to exchange them with fish, traditional pitha and sandah and other commodities that are locally produced in the plains.

While the British took over the reins of Assam on February 24, 1826, after the Yandabu Treaty, the Gova kingdom came under British Rule in 1835. But traditional practices continued without any break. The Gova people select the King, abiding by the rule of hierarchy. The present King is a 17-year-old boy from Nongphu in Meghalaya who is studying in the tenth standard.

Hundreds of Khasis, Karbis, Jayantias and Tiwas walk down the hills with loaded bamboo baskets hanging from their forehead. Meanwhile, the people from the plains also gather. They exchange commodities throughout the day. The Tiwa people of the Gova kingdom are busy fishing while the market goes on. Guests are served fresh fish caught in the four beels (lakes) of the Gova King: namely Jonbeel, Arambeel, Khamrangibeel and Thakurdovabeel. There is another lake in the Gova kingdom where the local people do community fishing as the Assamese new year breaks in April.

The Jonbeel mela is a symbol of unity among the people of the plains and the hills. Both these communities address each other as "mama-mami" (maternal uncle and aunt). At a time when even the most remote corners on earth are not insulated from the effects of globalisation, the barter system of exchange gives Jonbeel a unique character.

Though the Gova kingdom obviously does not have any political significance today, it works as a cultural institution of the Tiwa tribe with a 51-member strong royal courtier group. Some of the portfolios are Borbarua, Jela (priest), Bhitarmazi, Bormazi, Muchi, Komar, Kumar Arandhora, Ranua, etc. Actually, these positions were meant to help the King to run the various functions of the Gova kingdom in the older days. Today, the royal courtiers are mainly responsible for organising cultural celebrations like Kharbeel mela in April, Gosai Olowa mela and Lakhimi puja (once in five years) on the bank of the Jonbeel lake.

At the Jonbeel mela, the King collects ‘tax’ from the tributary kings and traders coming to the mela. The tax is taken in the form of money or material.

According to one of the courtiers, Jursing Bordoloi, also a relative of King Deepsing Deoraja, the main problem of the mela is that they have no land of its own. For years, the fair is being held on rented land. “It is the most unfortunate situation,” he laments. The newly formed Tiwa Council has decided to dig a part of the historical wetland, the Jonbeel, to construct a cultural auditorium and a gate carved with traditional Gova designs.

On the last of the three days of Sankranti, King Deepsing Deoraja visited the mela. He arrived in a car and not on the elephant. The tributary King Bhadra Singh Deoraja also came to mark the festival. Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Musahari, Member of Parliament Rajen Singh, former president of Tiwa Sahitya Sabha Tulsi Bordoloi were other prominent dignitaries who graced the market with their presence. The Meghalaya Governor said that anthropologically, Lalung, Kachari and Karbi tribes descended from one mother and such a celebration can help strengthen friendly relations among the different tribes.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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IIPM Mumbai Campus

Dalit students at a government-aided school study the language of the vedas

2011-11-12T11:04:00.000+05:30

Sanskritisation turned turtle

Dalit students at a government-aided school study the language of the vedas at a time when it has been shunned by the Brahmins and upper castes who were supposed to be its sole custodians

Kumbakonam is a historical temple town in Tamil Nadu. Situated on the banks of the Cauvery, this small place had garnered national headlines way back in 2004 when 83 students were burnt alive when a school was ravaged by a massive fire. Today, the town has put the episode of horror behind. And a school, by imparting traditional teaching, has acted as a major vehicle of social change.

The Jayendra Saraswati Oriental Higher Secondary School, a government-aided academy, has turned the prerogative of upper castes to learn Sanskrit on its head. Here, learning of the language of the Vedas is imparted to students from Dalit and backward communities.

The school was started by Swami Chandra Shekarendra Saraswati, the then Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt in 1966. By the 1990s, the school was tottering; the building had fallen apart, there was little or no funds. Then stepped in Sri Jayendra Saraswati, the current Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt. Normally, the Sankaracharya will come, bless the pupils and leave. But on a visit, he called a student from the seventh standard and asked him to recite some slokas. That boy incidentally turned out to be a Dalit student. He recited the Sanskrit slokas so beautifully that Swamiji was impressed.

He spent an hour in the school and the school survived. The Sankaracharya arranged for funds up to Rs 60 lakh. The building was restored and soon the school was back on its feet. 1966, when it started out, the Jayendra Saraswati Oriental Higher Secondary School had just ten students. Today, that strength has gone up to 450.

When the TSI team entered the Jayendra Saraswati Oriental Higher Secondary School, tucked in one corner of the Karna Kollai Agraharam area on the bustling Big Bazar Street, the school was abuzz with recitation of students.

''When our school was in a very bad shape, Swami Jayendra saved us. He has told us that we should not collect higher fees from the students. Here up to the tenth standard, we teach Sanskrit like Tamil and English. Poor and backward class students study this language with a lot of interest. We don't say no to anyone. We admit all. For further studies in computer and to know Hindi, Sanskrit will come very handy. We devote more time to Sanskrit classes," says J. Baskaran, headmaster of the school. While the teachers' salaries are taken care of by the state government, the Kanchi Mutt looks after the administration.

Mostly, the students come from poor backgrounds. They are mostly children of fruit sellers, railway platform vendors, daily labourers, masons.

Thirumalai, a teacher of Sanskrit in the school, is himself an old student of this school. He has done his Masters and M.Phil in Sanskrit as well. He was teaching students of the sixth standard when TSI caught up with him. ''We teach everything, starting from Akshapyasa up to grammar. From the seventh standard onwards, classics are taught. It includes Raghuvamsa, Rathnavali, Kumarasambhavam, Krajathajunya, Kaumudhi, Dharkkasangakaraga, Dhasakumara Sarita, Prathabha Rudriayam," he said.

“These young students are like clay, they can be moulded with ease. They learn quickly,” Thirumalai shared his experience with us.

Vaishnavi, a seventh standard student, is brilliant enough to manage her class while her teacher is away in Chennai on official work. Vaishnavi is a Dalit student, her father sells fruits. She was reading out a line from Raghuvamsa and explained its significance to her fellow classmates: “This means that the Kings of the Raghu clan earned only to give away to the poor.”

Praveen Kumar from the sixth standard secured 72 marks in Sanskrit out of a possible 100 in the recently held half-yearly examinations. His father is a carpenter. Valarmathi, another Dalit student whose father is a daily labourer, is also fond of Sanskrit. Sandhya's father is a labourer; the tenth standard student has got 82 marks in her last examination.

N. Ramakrishnan, secretary of the school, tells TSI, ''Generally, you would not find students from higher sections of the society studying Sanskrit. Mostly, lower class students study the language. We don't differentiate on the basis of caste or religion. Last year, a Muslim student scored the highest marks in Sanskrit. By the way, we just don't teach Sanskrit. In other subjects also, our school students are doing good. They are passing the board examinations with flying colours."

How ironic, once considered the language of the Gods which the sudras (lower castes) were not even allowed to hear, today Brahmins and other upper castes have completely shunned it, leaving it to the Dalits to keep the mother of most Indian languages alive.

''E. V. R. Periyar, the great social reformer of Tamil Nadu, vehemently opposed the systems of caste hierarchy and Brahmin superiority. In the course, he also opposed Sanskrit. Tamils are known for opposing Hindi language when in 1937, it was made compulsory in the schools. Anyone who knows the social history of the Dravidian movement would really wonder about what is happening in this school. It highlights a social change that perhaps the keepers of this language will not necessarily be Brahmins," says Thenuga, an art and social critic from Kumbakonam.

Sanskrit, almost a dead language in India, is being revived at many levels. Perhaps making it a mass language would help it to live longer. May be this school has a bigger lesson for the people of this country.

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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"Thorns to Competition" amongst the top 10 best sellers of the week.
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The UPA-II ship is caught in a vortex and it is doubtful whether Dr Singh can steer it to safety

2011-11-09T12:39:00.010+05:30

Arindam Chaudhuri is Delhi franchise holder for i1 Super Series

World Cup fever is gradually reaching a crescendo and I am sure Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must be wistfully humming ‘De Ghoomake’ in solitary splendour at 7, Race Course Road as he grimly contemplates the prospect of facing a belligerent BJP in the soon-to-start Budget session of the Parliament. As cricket competes with sleaze and serendipity for headlines, it may be time to turn the clock back a while and revisit the Cricket World Cup of 2007.

At the helm of the team was the celebrated duo of Indian Rahul Dravid as Captain and Australian Greg Chappell as Coach. Dravid was Mr Nice who sometimes surprised us with uncharacteristic flourishes of decisiveness and assertiveness. Chappell was the strategist who pulled strings (often from not behind the scenes) as the partnership between the affable Dravid and the abrasive Chappell promised to take the Indian team right to the top of the heap. For a while, in the early days of their partnership, things looked great as the team under Dravid notched up 16 consecutive One Day victories. Early misgivings about the unnatural and unsustainable nature of this partnership were swept aside as rants of frustrated fans. And then it happened. India was humbled, humiliated and hooted out of the World Cup. Sounds naughty but you can’t help wondering if the Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi partnership is not heading for a similar denouement.

Please remember, it was India that offered the job to Greg Chappell. And surely all of us know the Congress party virtually forced a deeply reluctant Sonia Gandhi to accept the thankless job of being the Congress president. Of course, beyond this, it would be churlish and insulting for India to draw any parallels between the innate dignity and maturity of Sonia Gandhi with the often comical cockiness of Chappell. Yet, as in the arena of cricket, it is both perceptions and results that matter more than intentions in the arena of competitive politics.

No one doubts that Dravid was brimming with good intentions. No one would dare question his ‘personal’ integrity. No one could even gossip about his pedigree and class and his deep understanding of the game. We all knew he was perhaps the best read Indian cricketer, erudite, knowledgeable and a thinker. And yet, many of us couldn’t help wonder if he was the right man to be at the helm of the Indian cricket team. Such strangely similar, sad and haunting thoughts have gripped many while thinking about the erudite, knowledgeable and thinker Dr Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of India.

It would be tempting to look at recent past and scoff at the comparison between Rahul Dravid and Manmohan Singh. After all, hasn’t the partnership between Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh proven to be one of the most durable and successful in contemporary history when instability and uncertainty were the order of the day? After all, did the duo - despite all criticism and cynicism - not work electoral magic in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when all those who harangued and harassed Dr Singh - Prakash Karat, Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav - were humiliated at the hustings? After all, hasn’t Manmohan Singh been at the helm as Prime Minister longer than any other politician in India except Jawaharlal Nehru?

All that was true in the summer of 2009 when the Congress and the UPA looked invincible. But in less than two years, those heady days of euphoria have evaporated, leaving behind a haze of sleaze, scams, rising prices and a sense of drift that is unnerving. The latest survey of Indians carried out across 21 cities by CVoter for this magazine has much that should unnerve Dr Manmohan Singh and cause him deep anguish despite the fact that most Indians still seem to be convinced that he is a good guy. Almost two-thirds of Indian voters are convinced that Dr Manmohan Singh was a better Union finance minister than a Prime Minister. A majority think he is not doing enough to tackle corruption and many more are convinced that he cares more for the rich than the poor. But the sucker punch for Dr Singh is this: three out of four Indians think that he is more of a puppet now than he was during the first term of UPA.

Of course, we all know that much as she respects and trusts him, Sonia Gandhi is not looking at Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister beyond 2014 - perhaps even earlier. We know she has to look at the long term interests of her party and the cringing desperation of Congressmen to see Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister of India. Politics is not about being nice and Mrs Gandhi would request Dr Singh to step aside in a heartbeat if she was convinced that a replacement ‘partner’ would be a better bet for the Congress in 2014. She has reasons to worry on this count. A majority of Indian voters say they have no idea who could be a better Prime Minister now. But the sucker punch for Mrs Gandhi is this: close to 40 per cent of voters say they would vote for the NDA if elections were held today while just 34 per cent opted for the UPA. Clearly, the astute Mrs Gandhi must be aware of the clear and present danger that confronts her party.

Is all looking lost then for the ruling establishment as it lurches from one crisis to another? Lets stretch the cricket metaphor a bit. After the World Cup debacle, a new look team of youngsters led by M.S Dhoni zapped the world by winning the inaugural 20-20 World Cup. If wishes were horses…

Shahana Mir, Housewife, Mumbai

Mitti ke khilaune bhi na saste the mele me/MaaN, baap bahut roye ghar ja ke akele me (Even Earthen toys were not cheap in the fair/Mother and Father cried upon returning home). Government policies in India mean more or less the same for the poor and the middle class, whether it be a Congress government or that of BJP. Today, the most important issue is food price inflation that has wreaked havoc on majority of the people of the country. Only a few rich people, who are getting richer by every passing day, is happy with the situation. Since the UPA always claims to work for the welfare of the minorities, the government must do one more thing for the welfare of the majority of people in India. Print and paste photographs of fresh fruits and vegetables so that the poor can remember their names to live happily ever after.

R. M. Pitchappan, Scientist, Chennai

India is a country of many variations and has many problems. But we get by as our family values are strong. Of course, episodes of corruption, price rise and mismanagement affect us. I hold the conjunction of various international and national factors responsible for price rise. But as much as government policy is aimed at helping the poor and the marginalised, the practice of giving things for free does not make sense. It kills the motivation to work. It will eventually lead only to a western farming model where big farm owners and corporates can only afford to till the land. Perhaps the government should devise a system so that it supports only those who work. In my field of science, the quality of teaching is abysmal. There is no pride in teaching. I suggest more emphasis be given to quality. There should be no compromise on quality at the point of entry.

Dasharath Pali, Local trader, Ahmedabad

I just cannot fathom what our leaders are doing nowadays. The people are struggling hard to fulfil the needs and requirements of their families. Grains, pulses, milk, vegetables, fruits, petrol… prices are going up. The common man's household budget is going out of hand. Even onions have become unaffordable. How can a person survive? Every year the government assures us that the needs of the common man are being considered in the Budget. Only concerns of the big corporate houses are factored in, leaving the aam aadmi to suffer. I hope that the government eases the tax rates because these taxes make commodities more expensive. Why should we pay Education Cess when billions of rupees are allocated each year for education? Time has come for the government to realise the situation. Otherwise, the public will make sure you are out in the next elections.

Nemai Adhikari, School Teacher, Kolkata

I expected the UPA-II to take steps for qualitative upgrade of education but it has disappointed me. The ‘education for all’ programme and change in the evaluation system have compromised quality. Being half-educated is more dangerous than being illiterate. I am also disappointed with the high rate of corruption and the government's failure to control price rise. Economic disparity is reaching an explosive stage. I think the budgetary allocation for education should be hiked to 10 per cent of the total Budget. The interest rate on PF should also be increased as this may give the inflation-hit commoner a little respite. Retired teachers and government employees depend on the interest accrued on their limited savings like PF and other funds. Having failed to arrest price rise, the government should at least provide succour by hiking interest rates on savings.

Arun gogoi, shopowner, guwahati

I am hopeful about some reform processes that have been kickstarted by the Centre such as online documentation by various government departments which would gradually help in eradicating the role of middlemen in business. Speaking on the leadership quality of Manmohan Singh, I will say he has not been a strong PM. But at the same time, he does not suffer from dictatorial attitude and Singh is running the government in a democratic way. I hope that the government becomes more transparent. In case, people and agencies are found guilty of corruption, the culprits are brought to book. The government should also ensure mechanisms so that such scams do not take place in future. The price hike of essential commodities and fuel price hike has definitely affected me and my family. The government should show prudence to address the issue without any further delay.

Dhruba sahoo, Govt Employee, Bhubaneswar

We can definitely blame the Union government for the optimum rise in prices of essential commodities. And this has created a scope for unscrupulous businessmen to hoard commodities and make money. Though the state government machinery is trying its best to control black marketeers but it has no effect. I think, artificial shortage of essential commodities is the main cause of this price rise. The people, who are responsible for this artificial shortage, should be dealt with most stringently and the harshest punishment should be reserved for them. Both the Centre and the state should adopt a long-term strategy to increase agricultural output to face this grim scenario of food shortage and the resultant price hike. At last, I have to say that the state government has a greater role in curbing price rise as compared to the Union government.

H. K. Abhishek, Software Consultant, Bangalore

I guess two consecutive terms give more time to a government to unveil a plan and implement it. Well it seems inflation has been their plan and it is never going to end. The PM said that we had a stable economy during the global recession. Well, I would agree with that for a while when compared to other countries. Today all prices - fuel, basic food, transportation – are on the rise. This government did or said nothing credible when US talked about cutting down on outsourcing and reduction in number of VISAs. They conceived several plans but I think there was no critical introspection on subjects like 123 Agreement, NREGA etc. To top it all, so many appalling scams have kept the UPA busy and people in constant wonder. I just hope they work for common people sometime and come up with real leaders rather than building up the image of Rahul Gandhi.

Pawan Kumar, Engineer in MNC, Noida

There should be more stringent laws to deal with corruption in the country. Merely enacting laws will not ensure eradication of corruption and the government should make sure that these laws are implemented too. Thanks to the UPA government's performance and rampant corruption, one is unable to live through one's salary these days. Prices of commodities have touched the sky. To top it all, if some fraud or scam is exposed, then the government tries to save the culprits instead of bringing them to book. Our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has proved to be a weak leader on one hand and on the other, Rahul Gandhi is busy promoting himself to keep the dynastic flag flying. The government is indulging in caste and religion-based politics. It seems that the bureaucracy is running the country instead of the elected officials.

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Chinese to be taught in IIT Bombay soon

2011-07-09T13:33:00.001+05:30

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Forget Spanish or Italian, students at the (IIT-B) will now learn to speak Mandarin. The premier institute at Powai is planning to offer a course in the language for its students. Not only will they learn the language, but also about the social set-up and work culture in China. Universities from China are showing interest in collaborating with IIT-B and the institute sees a growing opportunity for its students in terms of higher education, placements and business opportunities. The international relations office in IIT-B is finalizing the course in collaboration with faculty from a university in Beijing. The dean of international relations, Subhasis Chaudhari, told TOI, "Opportunities in China are emerging both in terms of academics and placements. Chinese universities are looking forward to collaborate with our institute. The increasing dynamism between the two countries will create opportunities for students in future. Some of the students from the institute have already shown a keen interest in learning the language. We have decided to offer to a course in the language."

He added that for students at any level, if they are interested in moving to the country, the language course will be helpful. "Knowing the language and culture of China will also help in setting up business ventures there. Students will not have to face any linguistic barrier to try out any kind of opportunities there," he said. According to an official from the international relations office, the focus will not just be on learning the language. "Students will be taught about the Chinese work culture, the society, its customs and traditions. The course will help them adapt to their culture and language if they migrate there," said the official. Usually, teachers training students in foreign languages at IIT-B also screen movies for them as part of the course. The language will be offered in two modules and will be a year-long course. The faculty for teaching the course would be called in from Beijing Jiaotong University. The university is seeking visa for their teacher to teach in India.

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Locals throng Rajghat to support Hazare's fast

2011-06-08T17:52:00.000+05:30

Thousands of people have gathered at Rajghat here to take part in the day-long hunger strike called by Anna Hazare to protest against police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.

Anna Hazare will begin his day-long fast at the Rajghat at 10 am. A number of youths wearing Gandhi caps and elderly people were seen at the spot waving the tricolour amidst a heavy posse of security personnel.

A man dressed like Mahatma Gandhi was the centre of attraction as he sang Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'. With Delhi Police refusing permission for the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Hazare had decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.

Civil rights activists had contended that denial of permission to hold peaceful protest was against the basic Constitutional rights of citizens.

The Hazare-led protest will be accompanied by an all-religion prayer meeting and a debate on Lokpal Bill.

A senior police official said on Tuesday that they have refused permission for the fast at Jantar Mantar due to prohibitory orders at the site after the police action against Baba Ramdev in Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

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Domestic violence has been a silent relationship killer since time immemorial. and the recent court ruling in the UAE

2011-05-31T09:45:00.000+05:30

legalising 'wife beating,' has only rekindled old wounds.

A French proverb translates to ‘He who loves well, punishes well.’ In the light of the recent ruling by the Federal Supreme Court of UAE, that deemed it a man’s “right to discipline his wife and children provided he does not leave physical marks”, one is bound to ponder if love has probably crossed the line. The court’s judgment came in a case which might sound paradoxical – a man who’d beaten his wife was held to have breached the law, but not because of the act per se, rather the severity of it. The court invoked the Quran talking about the man having the right to ‘discipline’ his wife. The larger question this raises is, why despite wide condemnation of domestic violence in the mainstream, it seems more prevalent than ever?

Aggressive religious practices like the Hindu caste system, Sati and the right to discipline one’s wife in Islam have stirred the masses many a time, but despite claiming to have expanded our horizons of thought and achieved exponential growth in almost all aspects of life, we fail to let go of certain practices.

“There is religious orthodoxy in Islam and religious superstitions in Hinduism both of which are detrimental for the country. Although Islam talks about equality for men and women, one might find a slight contradiction in the statement which talks about “mild beating”, even though it has been used very cautiously,” says Dr Miratun Nahar, who has addressed issues related to society, state, women and education on various television programmes.

Whatever the rule of law is held to be, it is certain that Prophet Muhammad did not want to see the wives beaten without cause and he wanted successful marriages. It is unfortunate that his message got distorted like in the game of Chinese whispers, where some uninitiated practitioners hardly understood the depths of the message and twisted it to their convenience. “In my opinion a husband has no right to punish his wife. A husband can only suggest his wife about right and wrong. Practically, he has no right to punish her. According to the Quran, a husband cannot punish his wife; he can refer the case to the court only,” says Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Islamic Scholar and President of CPS International. He adds, “A husband can show his resentment to his wife but he has no right to give her any kind of physical punishment. Presently, Muslims have adopted a wrong stand that an individual or group can punish on his own but it is wrong. This is against the spirit of Islam. You can not single out any crime. All crimes without any exception will be referred to the court.” This verdict by the UAE apex court shows the strong influence of Islamic law in the Emirates, which in fact is less conservative than Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, where women are forbidden from driving and travelling without male company. For overall development and growth of a society, it is necessary that human community and religion should adapt and evolve to make human life more meaningful and dignified.

Pseudo purists with pseudo values exaggerate and go overboard with their demarcation of right and wrong. On one hand, women are not allowed to interact with other men or show their faces, and on the other, there are highlighted facts like right to polygamy, the growing rate of promiscuous men and their keen interest in the oldest profession on the face of earth: prostitution. “It is a patriarchal society that we live in. And some men think they have the right to dominate women. Cases of domestic violence are aplenty in the rural as well as urban areas. The main reasons for such behaviour are frustration, extramarital affair and alcoholism. And the reasons why women don’t raise a voice are because they are financially dependent on their husbands and secondly, the societal pressures deter them. In very rare cases in the urban areas, where men and women both are independent, some women raise a voice against such brutality only because they are self reliant. Most cases are referred for counselling and there is an effort to save the marriage. But in absolutely severe cases where injury is serious, cases are referred to the police,” says Nupur Sanyal, Hon. General Secretary, Institute of Social Work.

Ironically some women are too timid to exercise their rights and the others suffer from clouded decision making. “A slap or two in a span of three to four years is normal. It is obvious that sometimes people are overworked and they need to vent out. But what would one do if someone gets abusive with your family or is just not ready to listen to what you have to say?” asks Divya (name changed), who gave herself the same reasoning and made the mistake of marrying a divorcee who turned out to be an abusive husband. Luckily, realisation struck soon, and she’s now safely out of reach of the wife-beater. Only in severe cases girls resort to drastic measures such as divorce or legal separation. “There was a case of a love marriage in which the husband threw his wife down from the third floor. And she has been bed ridden ever since. It was hard to believe that someone you love resorts to physically abusing you. In my own case, my husband hit my head against a wall several times and I had a wound which required seven stitches. Being a relationship expert, we have had cases of domestic violence from couples who have been in live-in relationships to those who have been married for the past 30 years or more.

Domestic violence exists in all societies irrespective of religion,” says Nisha Khanna, Relationship Expert at UTV Bindass “Emotional Atyachar 2”.

“Thank God we are in a country like India which is secular and so we have the liberty to voice our opinion. If you notice, the Quran has been misinterpreted by men, conveniently interpreted to their benefit but not for the opposite sex. It’s sad that men resort to such ruthless means and the only way to get out of this torture is to speak up,” says renowned social activist Nafisa Ali. Pearl Buck once said, “A good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love.” Indeed, if it is so, it’s not the time to point fingers at what prevails, but to make conscientious choices in life.

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In the lap of the hills

2011-05-28T12:50:00.000+05:30

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After a rough flight on one of the smallest aircrafts – the remains of a second World War fleet – I finally landed at the Bhuntar airport; Manali is a mere two-hour drive from here. I was soon on my way to the Queen of Hills in a cab. En route to Manali are various handicrafts shops, as well as the Hanogi Mata temple where every traveller stops to pay respects, and I followed suit. The entire stretch was dotted with small hamlets, eateries and vistas of terraced farming on the mountain slopes. After a 50 km drive, we arrived at a bridge, signalling my entry into Manali. Hundreds of birds chirped happily as the vehicle drove past the red bridge over a hurrying Beas splashing against thousands of rocks. I was trying to make friends with the mountains when I was informed of our arrival at the hotel.

A quick shower later, I was out and about. The valley had weed growing all over, which explains the growing hippie population in the town. Trekking through the tough terrain all by myself, I could soon feel my tummy seeking some digestible company. With a little help from the locals, I headed out in the direction of the nearest eatery, and sipped on hot coffee amidst snow clad mountains – it was pure bliss. A man sitting at an adjacent table perhaps realised how smitten I was with my surroundings, and chose to remind me, in his thick Pahari accent, “Switzerland in India, this.” The world-weary grey on his head suggested he knew what he was talking about. After exchanging notes of courtesy, I headed to the Hadimba temple. The temple with its four-tiered pagoda roof and impressive architecture is tough to miss.

Next on my itinerary was the Vashisht temple in Old Manali. In Vashisht, traditional houses stood interspersed with newer dwellings; the unhurried small town is a stopover duly recommended. Set at a distance of about 22 kms from the Mall Road is the Naggar castle, attributed with a construction that has withstood many an earthquake. The art lovers could spend quality time at the Roerich Art Gallery, housing works by Nicholas Roerich.
Across Kullu and atop a hill crest is yet another famous temple of Bijli Mahadev. Legend has it that the stone lingam (Lord Shiva’s phallic symbol) in the temple is occasionally shattered by lightning. The priests of the temple then use pure butter as an adhesive to reset the structure.
It was probably part divine benediction and part timing that landed me in Rohtang Pass at that time of the year when it was open to visitors. The road to the Pass is all about steep and sharp turns, but the journey is as rewarding as it is tiring. Pit stop at Marhi, the last human settlement before Rohtang Pass, treats you to the sight of Beas at its calmest flow. Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 4311m, was covered with sheets of snow till where the eyes could see; the air was thick and moist and the sun felt a little too close. From Rohtang Pass – the place bursting at the seams with tourists – I legged it to Rohla Falls where the fluid vigour of the Beas was for all to witness once again.

Manali is a year round magnet for backpackers and nature junkies, but despite its tourist trappings, there’s plenty of space to lose yourself in, as also to find yourself.

DESTINATION DOSSIER

STEERING THE COURSE
Hop on a Volvo or take a car ride from the capital. You may also consider a flight till Bhuntar, but at your own risk; there are many delays and cancellations.

COSY CORNERS
The Ambassador Hotel is invariably the top choice for those seeking a luxurious stay. The Manali Inn offers a cozy stay too, with great service and 24 hour entertainment within the hotel.

THE ‘SEASON’ED TRAVELLER GOES NOW
Summers are good, though everybody and his brother is in town too. One could also consider a visit during winters, but at the peril of having your plans altered by landslides and snowfall.

‘SAVOUR’ FAIRE
The local cuisine is rich in dairy. Do try momos and thukpas off the street. The German Bakery deserves a visit.

GET TO WORK
State tourism buses start from various junctions on Mall Road; hop on and let them show you around. You could also hire a cab or trek your way around with some local advice.

WHAT’S THE WORD
The locals understand Hindi and are happy to converse in it. But when they talk in a language that sounds Greek, it actually is Pahari.

KEEPSAKE COURTESIES
Kullu shawls and apples are two items tourists want to stuff their bags with. Do pick pine cones from the roadside.

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Russia's foreign policy shift sends strong messages

2011-05-25T10:38:00.000+05:30

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The recent news that Russia has accepted NATO’s invitation to join the upcoming NATO Summit has not only surprised many but also shaken the world. The Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has confirmed to attend the next NATO summit scheduled on Nov 19, 2010 at the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Does this mean that Russia is witnessing a tectonic shift in its foreign policy under President Medvedev’s leadership?

Certain actions of Medvedev are indicative enough. Firstly, Obama’s state visit to Russia followed by Medvedev’s visits to Washington was a rare phenomenon during the Cold War, and even during Vladimir Putin’s tenure as a President. Secondly, Russia’s decision to impose sanctions on Iran to please America which is equivalent to the 1929 sanctions imposed by the UN was not only surprising but also considered to be a diplomatic disaster by experts. And now, Medvedev’s participation in the NATO Summit. It’s no more a secret that the US created NATO to restrict Russian military movements, and Europeans joined NATO to defend any possible threat from Russia. And For Russia, NATO’s presence in Europe is nothing other than military provocation.
Often, there were wars of words between NATO and Russia. For example, NATO criticised Russia for waging war against Georgia, saying "A peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia must be based on full respect for the principles of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity recognised by international law." Medvedev was definitely not silent. He clearly conveyed that “NATO's decision to hold the exercises in Georgia is seen among Russian military and political ranks as a provocative move... I think this is a wrong decision, a dangerous decision.” Surprisingly, Medvedev now finds NATO to be more friendly as he says, “there is the sense that NATO is some kind of aggressive element. This is in many respects a mistake.” And NATO, which generally excludes Russia from any kind of discussions, invited it to join to discuss common European security concerns.

However, Russia's pro-investment policies to integrate with the global economy is logical enough at a time when it is facing some economic hurdles. But pro-America policy shift of Medvedev will serve his personal interests more than that of the nation. It can be a strong anti-Putin message in his 2012 Presidential election campaign. But will that alone ensure his second term as problems like decline in industrial production, unemployment, economic stagnation and poor foreign investment are looming large over Russia?

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Shortage of IAS officers can be filled by introducing technocrats

2011-05-21T15:34:00.001+05:30

Time to exploit the flaws

Couple of months back, Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor, Infosys in a seminar asked the government to “abolish the system of generalised administrators under the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and replace it with specialists under a new "Indian Management Service." India bureaucracy was even ranked the least-efficient by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy which further stated that “working with the country's civil servants was a slow and painful process.” Corrupt practices not only hamper effectiveness and productivity of an officer but also delay numerous projects and schemes they handle. These further lead to huge economic and even bigger social loss.

Along with corruption and low productivity, the Indian administrative staffs suffer from extra workload and shortage of manpower. According to official figures, around 1,155 posts are vacant in the IAS on January 2010 at the national level. This not only increases the work pressure on the present strength of IAS officers, but also leads to inefficiency in work. Take for instance, in West Bengal, 59 out of 296 IAS posts are currently vacant which is expected to swell further by at least another 40 within a year. In Orissa, the government has recalled at least eight of the 34 IAS officers who have been on central deputation to fill the gap while Maharashtra has asked the Centre to allot 15 more IAS officers as around 50 IAS posts are vacant in the state. Under such a situation, the pressure on an officer increases manifold and the projects under them also get delayed. Such situations allow corruption to flourish as accountability and scrutiny in such situation is mostly low and weak.

The proposal of allowing technocrats to handle administrative work is not new. Allowing technocrats and people with expertise to enter Indian administrative services will not only fill the current vacancies and thus lower the work pressure, but would eventually increase the efficiency and productivity of the department. In the long run, this practice will inculcate accountability and professionalism in the system and also motivate industry experts to enter such services. DMRC and UID projects are a case in point. An IAS officer can then be treated as a professional and the whole system of promotion and increment can be based on performance based pay.

But then, bringing such reforms at a national level will not be very easy. As the IAS officers form a powerful lobby at the national level, they will definitely oppose such proposal and movement. The current nexus among politicians, industrialists and bureaucrats won’t allow the government to implement any such plan that would threaten their position; even though the objective is to make the system accountable. Presently, IAS officers receive enough immunity from Constitution and thus a dismissal process is still very difficult. Technocrats should be allowed into the administrative system and replenishing the demand would be the best excuse; the whole system would otherwise lose its raison d’être.

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KERALA LOTTERY MESS: Sheer gambling

2011-04-29T10:50:00.000+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

New rules aim to make the murky lottery business transparent

Kerala once led the nation in pioneering the state-run lucky draws when the late PK Kunju Sahib, the then Finance Minister in the EMS Ministry started lotteries under the Department of Lotteries in 1967 for resource mobilisation for development. It is an irony that the latest row over lottery sales erupted in Kerala, that too, when the Left Democratic Front is ruling. Lottery mafia has been minting money for long. 'Craze for other state lotteries like a disease is eating into the vitals of the state,' Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said. 'Under the pretext of official approval of Sikkim and Bhutan, a big gambling business is going on in the state. A large chunk of labourers are lured by its temptation and ruined,' he said on the Independence Day.

The Kerala High Court has on August 30 directed the state government and the Secretary, State Taxes Department, to conduct a probe into the Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries marketed in the state and to take immediate action against them. The court directed the promoters of the Sikkim and Bhutan lotteries ' Megha Distributors ' to pay advance tax for one draw a week while considering two petitions submitted by S. Sulfikar of Palayam, Kozhikode and M. Suresh Kumar of Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram, for a ban on the sale of lotteries of the Royal Government of Bhutan and Sikkim State Lotteries.

The issue is getting murkier by the day. Megha Distributors is run by Santiago Martin. It is learnt that many party projects have his financial backing. Not long back, the CPI(M) was compelled to return Rs.2 crore collected from Santiago Martin as bond for Desabhimani, the party's mouthpiece. Hence it is but natural that people felt something fishy when the name of Santiago Martin and Megha Distributors came up in the latest controversy.

Currently, the Chief Minister has added an amendment that advance tax should be collected only from lotteries running as per Rule 4 of the Act to the Lottery Ordinance proposed by Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac. CM's step is to rein in other state lottery mafia. The amended ordinance may be promulgated soon. Meanwhile, the State Lottery Department has issued orders canceling all its lotteries except Win-Win and Thiruvonam Bumper. Till recently, there were six weekly lottery tickets, two bi-weekly and six bumper tickets.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the United Democratic Front was opposed to the move to ban Kerala lottery and viewed the Finance Minister's statement on this as blackmailing of three lakh people engaged in selling them.

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TAMIL NADU LIQUOR: State concerned about revenue, not moral responsibility

2011-04-25T10:48:00.001+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 business of the booze

The one area where sworn rivals DMK and AIADMK would not mind sharing a common platform is liquor sales through the government-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets. Thanks to the golden eggs laying goose that the corporation is (it generates a whopping Rs.12,500 crore annually for the state exchequer), the DMK led government is able to go for various free schemes. From free colour television sets to rice at one rupee per kilogram, the government is on a populist path. It has also announced free concrete housing scheme recently for the poor.

Recently it was in the news that 39 new brands will be introduced and six new licenses would be given for setting up breweries. So when the government goes on adding more brands to its kitty by giving clear. The tipplers have every reason to rejoice. However, Kannan, the general manager of TASMAC, while talking to TSI gives a different view point. 'The government has given many licenses for production of liquor brands. As of now, 352 brands of whiskey, brandy, wine, gin, vodka and beer are sold through our outlets. But of them only 110 brands are in existence. Companies introduce new brands every month and based on their sales, these brands thrive in the market. But I do not agree by the newspaper reports that about 39 new brands will be coming. The number may vary'

Tamil Nadu has 6700 retail shops where around 30,000 employees work. When recently these employees went for a strike asking for permanent jobs and other benefits, the government took serious measures to ensure that the tipplers were not affected. It made sure the liquor shops were opened. At many places the police were seen regulating the otherwise unruly crowd and helping in the sale.

After a few days the government also announced slight pay hike for the employees of TASMAC. But the increased sale of liquor in the state has also attracted public criticism. There are incidents of school children caught drunk. After requests for bringing prohibition from political parties like the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and other organisations, the chief minister decided to revise the timings of the shops. Recently, when the employees of TASMAC announced a strike, Karunanidhi threatened to bring prohibition in the state.

The debate whether to bring prohibition or not in the state and the ethical question of the state itself selling liquor to its masses is perennial. The tipplers have their own worries about the unhygienic conditions in the makeshift bars attached with the retail shops. But as long as the cash counters are busy, the government doesn't seem to worry about this.

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FOREIGN RELATIONS: US-CHINA

2011-04-21T10:44:00.000+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

China persistently refuses to succumb to the US pressure and tactics.

The Obama administration's foreign policy started on a hopeful note especially vis-a-vis China. Efforts to infuse new life into military and economic cooperation, buttressed by the much hyped presidential visit to Beijing raised expectations. However, this initial exhilaration soon fizzled out, and today these two nations can't seem to agree on any issue including sanctions on Iran, arms sales to Taiwan and nuclear proliferation of North Korea! No matter how much the US wants 'strategic reassurances' from China and no matter how much the US Deputy Secretary of State, James Steinburg, emphasises on the areas of cooperation, the two countries converge in viewpoints only on cooperation in economy and in taming terrorism.

China is at odds with the US on a number of issues. The US strategy to persuade its allies in the Middle East to augment their oil exports to China in order to make it less reliant on Iran (read ' to force China to move away from Iran) will undermine this bonhomie. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have already done that at America's insistence. China is unlikely to buckle under these indirect pressures from the US, as it has its own long term interests in Iran. The Chinese investment in the energy sector of Iran is $40 billion with booming bilateral trade worth $21.2 billion.

The confrontational postures between the US and China on climate change ensured that Copenhagen summit was a failed mission last year. These two nations between them account for about 40 per cent of the total global gas emissions, making them the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the world. Since they could not come to terms, no constructive legislation could be passed, much to the frustration of many European nations that were serious for a breakthrough. China was infuriated by the termination of climate change aid' which the US provides to all developing countries. The citation provided for this was that China had the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world, and thus was ineligible for such aid.

The US and its allies have been quite candid with their criticism on China's close ties with North Korea, and its unwillingness to leverage the position in persuading Pyongyang to regress to talks. China on its part maintained that North Korea is not a Chinese stooge. China's worst fear is the economic collapse of North Korea and its consequent political subversion' an opportunity that the US will grasp along with South Korea to set up American military base in the Korean peninsula! Therefore a strong and stable North Korea is in China's interest who is the lone provider of foreign aid to Pyongyang.

Another bone of contention between the two countries is the arms sale to Taiwan by the US. In spite of the fact that arms deals worth $6.4 billion struck between the two allies is defensive by nature, China reacted angrily by suspending military exchanges and imposing sanctions on weapon manufacturers that traded with Taiwan. The initial euphoria that Obama brought into the Sino-American relationship has evaporated. What remains is acrimony, aggravation, opportunism and, of course, a bitter struggle for regional hegemony.

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ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM: EXPERTISE NEEDED

2011-04-18T11:08:00.000+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

We need to make space for technocrats in our administrative league.

A year back, a survey and a report by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) stated India's bureaucracy was 'suffocating' and further concluded that 'working with the country's civil servants was a slow and painful process.' The report also mentioned that the powers-that-be are quite reluctant in bringing in structural reforms and changes in the system. This report should not come as a surprise to any Indian, especially those who have had a first hand experience interacting with the civil servants ' aka babus.

The leverage that these babus have is primarily because of the communication link they are able to monopolise between India Inc. and politicians/government. Not only does such a bureaucracy help in smooth 'execution' of corrupt activities but also helps in diverting funds (meant for development schemes) to their and politicians' own treasures. The whole aura of ineffective bureaucracy has actually intensified during the last couple of decades ' while the influx of well experienced technocrats fell to a large extent.

Entry of technocrats from various professions to handle administrative jobs (or ministries as secretaries) would reduce the inefficiency that is rampant across all departments to a large extent. This will not only allow ministries to function as Strategic Business Units but will also make the entire hierarchy more efficient and productive. Take for instance the DMRC project. Had this project been headed by some legacy bureaucrat, the project wouldn't have been such a success. It was all thanks to a technocrat' E Sreedharan, a former professor and engineer ' that DMRC could meet the deadlines. On similar lines, the UID project is running on fast track largely because a technocrat, Nandan Nilekani, chairs the initiative.

It goes without saying that when a novice heads a ministry that calls for technical knowledge and years of experience, the result will be what this nation is facing with almost all development projects ' from cost overrun to time overrun. Yes, there're exemplary exceptions like Maruti (even the current Chairman, RC Bhargava, is the 1965 IAS topper). But in general, these exceptions remain, well, exceptions, with a growing demand that technocrats be put at leadership positions in our defence, railways, agriculture and other ministries.

In most of the developed countries, the head of the government comes to power along with his team of experts (derived from think-tanks, experts, economists and so on) who have had impressive career records. For example, most of the members of the Obama Senate Transition Team are exemplars in their areas of work. Similarly, China adopted a technocratic economic model since its reforms period. The same goes for UK where Political and Economic Planning, a think-tank, assists the government. Similar are the cases with Germany a nd Russia. Presently, even European countries (especially the eastern ones) are experiencing a massive technocracy movement. Just pumping in money for development projects won't suffice, unless these are headed by people who know how to deliver efficiency. The conclusion to be drawn from these examples is that the existing politico-bureaucracy nexus needs to be broken and a conscription started where the nation's top executives, management graduates are compulsorily made to work for a few years in government companies and ministries.

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In High Spirits: IIPM

2011-04-14T11:24:00.001+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 next stop of the HT City Fresh On Campus was The Indian Institute Of Planning And Management (IIPM) on September 24. Students participated in full strength , showing excitement for finally being in college! The party started with the hunt for the Most Fashionable Fuccha of the college.

After a ramp walk and a dance round, Nandita Mahajan and Nitish Sharma were announced as the winners of the title. The Speed Dating round added fun to the party. Boys and girls were paired opposite each other, and after flirting around and dancing together, Kanav Sharma and Bhavana Gupta were declared winners.

The Daredevil round stole the show. Both boys and girls arm-wrestled for the tag. They were also made to do push-ups. Emcee Aditya entertained the crowd with his comical gigs and DJ Vicky made the fucchas groove to hit Bollywood numbers.

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As New START bill hangs in Senate, Moscow accuses America of violating non-proliferation treaties

2011-03-04T10:28:00.000+05:30

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

From Russia with Love
For a nation that keeps on accusing other countries of reneging to the commitment of non-proliferation, this has come as a bolt from the blue. Russia has accused the US of reneging to its non-proliferation commitment under mutual nuclear arms diminution treaties and dealing in debarred technologies with Israel and other American allies in infringement of its commitments.

American firms continue to deliver a range of missile-technologies-related supplies and savoir faire technologies to other nations, many of which are not even signatories of the Missile Technology Control Regime, including Israel, Kuwait, Egypt, the UAE, Taiwan, Oman and others, the Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed.

In the same statement, the External Affairs Ministry also put out niceties of infringement by the US. "Questions are raised in Moscow in connection with the American bomb and missile supplies to Israel in the Middle East conflicts. The actions of the US run counter to the basic provisions of the Wassenaar agreements and the OSCE arms supply principles," the Ministry was reported to have told.

Russia indicates that the US industrial security monitoring service in the first six months of 2008 alone identified close to 75 illicit export supplies of military and dual-use items and expertise. Ironically, much to the chagrin of the Americans, these were supplied to countries, including China, Iran, Syria and Libya which have been also included in Washington's so-called blacklist for decades.

The incident also indicated to the non-observance of bilateral arms cut treaties by the US, putting across apprehensions over non-fulfilment of provisions of the 1991 START-1 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. "Russia has more than once expressed its concerns in connection with the unsanctioned re-equipping of five ICBM launch facilities for intercontinental ballistic missiles at a testing ground at the Vandenberg with interceptor missiles, something that goes against the terms of the treaty," the Foreign Ministry said.

US had indeed converted a few nuclear missile launchers into interceptor missile launchers; retrofitted B1 heavy nuclear-capable bombers to transfer standard weapons; and declined to make available telemetric data on Trident-2 submarine missile launches by arguing the missiles belonged to the UK. Also, for example, the US facilitated Israel in building the Shavit three-stage solid fuel missile and has been developing mutually with Israel the Arrow-2 missile interceptor. And if that was not enough, sources claim that US has technically also gone against the Biological Weapons Convention by working on new germ agents and turning down to impart information on a system of its military bio-centres in Indonesia, Thailand, Peru and Egypt. These revelations have come on the heels of a similar, but less damning, report published by the US that claimed that Russia was violating the norms of START-1 regime. And since the violations on the America's part vastly outnumbers that of Russia's both in numbers and in magnitude, the issue is bound to bring embarrassment for the regime,' said Sergei A. Karaganov, a foreign relations expert based in Moscow, while talking to TSI.

The Senate is taking into consideration endorsement of a fresh nuclear weapons treaty, called New START, signed in April by President Barack Obama and President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia. Its endorsement necessitates sanction by two-thirds of the Senate, which means at least eight Republican votes. Republicans are busy debating the nuances of the deal and are hell-bent on not allowing Obama any political victory before the Congressional elections.

On the other hand, the New START treaty has broad-based backing from diplomats and high-ranking officials who have served in different administrations. Nonpartisan supporters of this treaty include almost every past and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former Secretaries of State George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, James Baker, and Colin Powell, and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It's supported by former Secretaries of Defence James Schlesinger, Frank Carlucci and William Cohen and Current Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.

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Rabindranath Tagore: Losing sight of Gurudev

2011-02-28T10:17:00.000+05:30

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It's the 150th birth anniversary year of Rabindranath Tagore, but are we doing enough to preserve the legacy of India's Renaissance man
If you were looking to map out the life and times of Rabindranath Tagore, then Kolkata and specifically his ashram Shantiniketan ' 136 km away from Kolkata ' are definitive stopovers. In the 150th birth anniversary year of the Bard of Bengal (who passed away on August 7, 1941), Kolkata is swathed in posters reminding the world of the contributions of one of our greatest sons. He, who was a poet, author, playwright, painter, educationist, and social reformer rolled in one, has left behind a legacy that resounds in his words oft-repeated around the world, as much as it does in the alleys and portals of Shantiniketan & Visva-Bharati University founded by him.

Apart from these landmarks, many looking to get acquainted with the world and vision of this cultural and literary giant would also be expected to make a beeline for the houses that he spent his years in, but considering the derelict state of these homes of heritage value, neither the state government nor Visva-Bharati has given it any thought.

Walking down the lanes of Kalimpong ' a small hill town in the northern part of Bengal ' one can't but notice exhaustive instructions directing you to the tourist traps of the city; conspicuously missing is any mention of Tagore's house. After enquiring of about a dozen locals, we finally met an old man who guided us to Gauripur House, one of the favourite places of the poet. Picking our way through a dingy lane and past a broken gate, we found ourselves in front of what was Tagore's summer retreat and where he's known to have stayed for more than a couple of occasions in his lifetime. Losing sight of Gurudev? The portico and the main door particularly fascinated the Nobel laureate who considered the entrance his bridge with nature. Inside, hangs a marble plaque commemorating the day ' April 25, 1940 'Tagore recited his poem Janamdin live for radio over telephone. Apart from that, there's little in this weathered abode to suggest it was here the poet-philosopher penned ten poems and short-stories and a drama. Instead of consecrating the address as a haven for seekers of Rabindranath Tagore, it is reduced to a shack frequented by junkies and urchins. 'Every evening we can hear hooligans shouting and abusing in this house; we don't even know how they manage to enter the place,' laments Praful Singh, a neighbourhood resident.

The situation isn't any better at other erstwhile shelters of the poet in towns like Kurseong, Darjeeling, Mongpu etc. The precincts that can well claim to have shaped much of Rabindranath's outlook on life now lie utterly out of shape for want of maintenance.

In "Mongpu-te Rabindranath", written by one of his dearest students, Moitri Devi, she illustrates how the place lent itself to Tagore's inspiration. It is even evident in several of the thinker's compositions from Mongpu. Reminds Shirshendu Mukhopaday, renowned Bengali author, 'The scale of Tagore's work is not only limited to Kolkata; his intellectual legacy can be witnessed in several other places.' According to Mukhopaday, there are countless fans of the Nobel laureate across the world and they should take the initiative to protect these houses. A classic example of this is Charles Dickens' home in Russell Square, London, which has been converted into a museum. Located on Doughty Street, the place is exceptionally maintained; the house mints its own maintenance cost by selling merchandise and entrance fees to the visitors. Sketches and paintings of Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist remind us it was here the master writer had produced the eponymous works.

'Knowing and understanding Tagore is an exciting journey for me and I strongly believe he can be connected best with in many of those peaceful places where this legend had set his feet,' says Shabana Azmi. The journey to know Rabindranath Tagore, the prolific and multi-faceted culturist who will forever remain relevant in India and to Indophiles, is not limited to Kolkata, or Shantiniketan, or even these destinations mentioned, for as Gurudev said: 'The journey is long, and the destination far..'

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Lisa Ray - Ray of Hope: Lisa is trending'

2011-02-25T10:05:00.001+05:30

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Lisa Ray is coming to town. No film right now; a book is next. Subhash K Jha catches up with the cancer beater'
Lisa Ray arrives in India soon, though she hasn't set a time frame for herself. 'I am in no rush and in no set schedule. I expect to travel to India shortly for Rado who have been steadfast in their support of me during this time. I will also probably be promoting '1 a Minute' (the film on breast cancer awareness by Namrata Singh Gujral) in India, with a view to donate some of the proceeds towards Multiple Myeloma research.' At the moment Lisa is not signing any films. 'I'm in no hurry. I don't want to spread myself too thin as I'm getting offers to appear as a speaker across North America and I use this as a platform to raise awareness for Multiple Myeloma. I have already made an appearance in LA to support the screening of my new film 'Cooking with Stella' at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. The proceeds from the opening night screening went towards Dr Berenson's Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research in LA.' Having proved herself an able warrior in her fight against cancer, Lisa Ray is now all set to write a book on her experiences. She admits the book would be an integral part of her career.

'I'd also like to raise a lot more awareness for cancer, Multiple Myeloma and stem cell technology. That will be an integral part of my career. As well as writing a book,' says Lisa and adds, 'I don't believe in a swinging career. I believe in living my life to the fullest and career is just one small aspect of this. I think I sacrificed a lot of my life for my career to date, and it's time to balance it out now. Cancer is a huge wake-up call.' Having survived, Lisa is in an exploratory mood. 'I'm exploring new creative opportunities. The point is to chase joy. I've also had some unexpected honours recently. I was invited to be the Master of Ceremonies at a luncheon for Queen Elizabeth here in Toronto and I was also seated at the head table. It was a great experience.'

Lisa's life is getting back to normal, though it's not quite there as yet. 'I am not back to a normal life, but an extraordinary life because of the insights I've got and the changes I've made to my lifestyle. In one word, my life is 'simplified'. My disease, Multiple Myeloma, is in remission. We don't take the attitude that it is ever gone completely, but we monitor regularly and now I'm leading a particularly healthy life. However, that's why research is so important in the field of Multiple Myeloma ' the next drug could be the one that saves my life. Someone told me, 'healing begins when you realise there's no cure'.

She admits her pace has slackened, but the fierce fighter is determined to re-discover her groove. 'I am engaging with the world, but with a different quality now. I do my best not to get stressed or over-extend myself, as was my habit earlier. I don't think there's such a thing as - the various shades. So, I'm doing a variety of things, but on my own terms. And I'm trying to invest in the things that I enjoy. I'm also still recovering from the stem-cell transplant, so I have to take it slow at times.'

Lisa recently blogged about the shock of her premature menopause because of the cancer. 'What I'm going through is not unusual; so many people go through similar experiences post-cancer. I don't want to sensationalise any of it, but perhaps just to share and raise awareness. I also think it's wrong to expect that everything will roll out in the manner we want. I'm learning a lot and mostly about how to practice compassion with myself. I'm coping as anyone does. I have good days and bad.'

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Judicial process - Speeding up the system

2011-02-22T17:00:00.000+05:30

INDIA'S BEST COLLEGES, INSTITUTES and UNIVERSITIES

Better court management, efficient work distribution and curb on frivolous PILs can be starters

MSA Siddiqui,
Former Registrar General of Supreme Court of India
An efficient legal system is the foundation stone of a vibrant democracy. In a country of more than one billion people, the judicial system gets a lot of attention. Whether our country will be successful in facing the challenges of the 20th century largely depends on how our legal system works.

The huge pendency and backlog of cases are indeed shocking. They are increasing at an alarming rate. Today there is a pendency of more than 2,000 cases on each judge. As a judge, I got an opportunity to observe the legal system from close quarters. When I was the Registrar General of the Supreme Court in 1992, during the tenure of Chief Justice of India M. N. Venkatchalliah, total pendency of cases was 1.51 lakh. The CJI had instructed me to look into the growing pendency. I acted on it by bringing down the pendency to merely 28,000 cases. It was a golden period and Venkatchalliah worked with missionary zeal in order to provide faster justice to the Indian people. CJI J S Verma also actively worked to reduce the backlog of cases.

I think pendency can be reduced to a great extent through better court management. Work distribution should be proper. If a judge is an expert in handling tax related matters, he should only be given that task. If he is assigned to look into criminal cases, he will obviously take time. He will not be at ease with it. This is happening in our courts. If we want to expedite the process of disposal of cases, we must first recognise which judge is capable of doing exactly what. Thus the role of the listing authority in courts becomes extremely important.

There was a time when the bar was highly respected and many top leaders joined this profession. This trend is now passe. The first layer of the bar plays no role in the process of delivery of justice. Now, even the second and the third layer of the bar do not play any role. This has an impact on quality. Earlier, talented advocates, after enjoying successful stints as professional lawyers, used to join judicial service. Obviously, a person who has spent decades as a successful lawyer will deliver quick results. The other problem is that only 25 per cent of the judges in high courts work hard and really understand their responsibilities. If a judge understands his or her responsibilities then s/he will dispose of cases quickly. I have seen that judges take more than 2 years in delivering a verdict in high courts. This is ridiculous. If I can recall correctly then in 1993, the Supreme Court had to order a judge to dispose of a case quickly. Court management is a science. There are always vacancies in courts. The pile of the cases is increasing rapidly on the judges. The situation is even more critical in lower courts. I can say that lower court judges put in more hours of work. But it is not helping in addressing the problem. Of late, service-related litigations are increasing. The government is also responsible to a great extent for this situation. Bureaucrats do not deliver as they have inflated egos. If they want, they can solve the problem at their level. Besides, they are not sensitive to the needs of the people. When they don�t solve the problem, it goes to the court. Public money is wasted on litigations. On the other hand, government law officers are not so efficient.

It is not that our judges are not competent. An average judge in America handles 600 cases every year. Some of our judges dispose of more than 600 cases in just 3 to 4 months. The government should take such steps so that the second layer of bar is attracted towards the justice delivery system.

Besides, there is an urgent need to curb on frivolous litigation. Many unnecessary PILs are being filed these days. Now, the time has come to impose a check on these PILs. The new CJI has given some tough indications towards curbing the number of PILs and this is a welcome step. Another matter of importance is that higher courts should intervene in only those matters of lower courts which have some merit. Lower court judges are overburdened. They are not paid properly and lack basic amenities. Judges are forced to deliver justice in dark, dingy and cramped rooms of high courts. Obviously, they become frustrated and start taking their work non-seriously. Their pay structure should be improved. Even a senior high court judge does not get Rs 40,000 per month after income tax deduction. The government can enhance the Income Tax rebate limit which will attract many talented individuals to join this profession.

A judge should be strict while granting adjournments. My experience says that there are bench-seekers advocates, who keep on procrastinating the case. Advocate has the right to convince and confuse the judges.

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Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU): Students' Unions can not be banned
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Role of Media in the moulding of youth

US MILITARY SPENDING: US Defence Champs Unmatched

2011-01-12T22:41:00.002+05:30

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

Extreme superiority of the US defence over the rest of the world
United States' supremacy as the sole superpower is not without its reasons. According to Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, an adherent and credible US based research organisation, an overwhelming 48 per cent of world's defence spending comes from this one country alone. What is more surprising is that 46 of the highest defence spending nations cannot match the budget of this lone superpower! The base budget of US for 2009 was a staggering $680 billion up from a $607 billion of 2008. Though Obama suggested a curtailment after winning the election, it was actually $16 billion more than what he advocated. But above all, the projection for 2010 is more astonishing. The proposed expenditure includes a $33 billion additional bill to be used in Afghanistan and Iraq war, apart from $216 billion that could also be used, and another $361 billion spending for Department of Defence (DoD), which makes the grand total in 2010 to be an astounding $1.03 trillion. This figure is a sharp escalation from the 2001 budget of $432 billion. The DoD accounted for 19 per cent of total federal budget and 28 per cent of tax revenue, and if we consider the additional amount of non DoD expenditures, the figure turns out to be 25-29 per cent of the federal budget and 38-44 per cent of the tax revenues.

Such colossus figures are way ahead of the rest of the world. The US is followed by Europe (including NATO and non-NATO countries) with 22.43 per cent of the total world military spending, Middle East with 7.03 per cent, Latin America with 3.69 per cent, and sub-Saharan Africa with a meagre 0.77 per cent. US' spending is approximately 5.8 times of China (that spends 5.31 per cent of the global budget), 10.2 times more than Russia, and 98.6 times that of Iran. More interestingly, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute raised another perspective. Even though China and Russia come right after the US in the defence budget, it is Western European nations that are leading the way in arms sales and enjoy a competitive edge in high technology available to them. British giant Aerospace Systems, a state-owned manufacturing enterprise leads the world in arms production, while Russian Ahmaz-Antei is the only non-NATO country's arms manufacturer in top 20. Centre for Arms Control and Non Proliferation's study reveals Gulf Cooperation Council Countries increased their military budget in recent years in response to Iran's nuclear programme, a reality that has threatened even Israel compelling it to step up its defence expenditure.

Despite the recession looming large over the entire world, including the US that is experiencing high level of debt and budget deficits, and despite Obama's centre-left posture along with Democrats' suggestions about reining-in military spending, the government could not do all this in reality because of various pressure groups, especially the arms contractors. Defence spending is relevant but US' gigantic budget is maddening. After all, it is the global cop with a headache for the entire world.

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

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INDIA HONOUR KILLING: A real crime!

2011-01-10T00:35:00.001+05:30

Prof Rajita Chaudhuri follow some off-beat trends like organizing make up sessions

Supporting honour killings is most shameful

India is clearly burning. From terrorism, internal instability, and the separatist elements' movement to the price rise and much more, the country has more reasons to worry about today than ever before. However, behind all these, the issue that is silently becoming a grave concern is honour killing. It is such a concern not because it kills 100 people every year, but because it shows the primitive mindsets we still carry. During the last few months, incidents of honour killing have grabbed enough space in Indian media. The issue got special attention with the inhuman punishment that one girl Imrana was given. She was set on fire inside her house by her brothers because she was accused of befriending Irfan, before she was finally rescued by neighbours. The most recent case of honour killing that has garnered enough attention concerned the deaths of Monica, her husband Kuldeep and cousin Shobha by her own brother and his friends Mandeep Nagar, Nakul Khari and Ankit Chaudhury. Even on July 5, when the media was busy covering the "Bharat bandh" and its consequences, three cases were reported in a leading English daily. Uttam Kumar and Anju, who met at Safdarjung Hospital and wanted to marry against their families' wishes, were ruthlessly murdered allegedly by Anju's family members. Umesh and Jyoti who got married against their families' permission in Delhi, reported that Jyoti's family has allegedly beaten up Umesh's father and had threatened to kill the couple. Two more teenagers in love were allegedly tortured to death for breaking barriers of religion in Fatehabad district of Haryana.

Although, the issue of honour killings is a big concern globally, especially in the Middle East, Europe and South Asia, it is unique in India. A country with huge diversity in terms of caste, creed, community and religion is bound to experience resistance when it comes to inter-caste or inter-religion marriages. Surprisingly, honour killings are rare in South India, Maharashtra and Gujarat. What is more surprising is that no honour killing has been reported over the last 100 years in West Bengal, perhaps, because of the teachings, hard work and contributions of reformists like Vivekananda, Ramakrishna, Vidyasagar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Only northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Bihar and parts of UP witness severe cases of honour killing. Reasons are diverse. Strong community sense of Jat, Gujjar and other communities and insecurity of keeping their race pure and separated is one of them. Poor representation of women at local level and women's negligible engagement in socio-economic development is the other. Religion is another prominent reason behind such brutal killings. Over 100 killings take place every year in India as against over 5,000 globally. Surprisingly, honour killings have increased in educated and rich families indicating that it is not a result of poverty and illiteracy. The increase in the income and migration to metro cities is leading young people to find their partners by themselves rather than going by their parents' choice. This is threatening the social trend that the parents have inherited since years.

India has no specific laws to deal with honour killings. Though the government has promised that it will pass a Bill in the Monsoon Session, little has been undertaken at the policy level to curb this heinous crime. This also needs stronger participation of government and the NGOs. More importantly, the constructive engagement of the community is very much required!

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Arindam Chaudhuri GIDF Planman Consulting Business & Economy 4Ps Business & Marketing The Sunday Indian The Human Factor The Daily Indian Kkoooljobs.com Amaze, New Delhi IIPM Old Brochure IIPM 4Ps Quiz Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Alternative Budget For IIPM Students

THE STORM WARRIORS: Kicking up a kung fu storm

2011-01-06T14:30:00.002+05:30

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

TSI Five-O: Ordinary special effects and tough to follow story arc ruin some good kung fu

If you are one of those who have been fed well on Hollywood SFX and CGI action, 'The Storm Warriors', a follow up to 'The Storm Riders' will not only be underwhelming (let's face it, no one does action as grand as a big ticket Hollywood studio) but also a bit annoying. The film is a well intentioned sequel picking up the story of two warriors Wind and Cloud, who after battling the evil warlord Lord Conquer in the first chapter, this time find themselves up against Lord Godless, a Japanese warlord who wants to invade China. In a time of kung fu and mystical battles, the story traces the adventures of the two warriors.

An adaptation of the comic book series Fung Wan, the problem for the film lies in connecting with the audience with its complicated story (you'll find it a little difficult to follow if you, like me, never heard of the comic books) and the action is not mind blowing enough for you to just watch the film for a visual treat alone.

The Pang brothers (Oxide Pang Chun and his brother Danny Pang direct the movie) are no Wachowski brothers, but they do pack a punch in their action scenes, of which there are plenty. But the mind numbing amount of kung fu laden action will jade you little if you are not quite following the story arc. Unless you happen to have read the Fung Wan series, I suggest you not to get yourself caught up in this storm.

Left isn't right

2010-12-27T14:09:00.001+05:30

IIPM Prof Arindam Chaudhuri on Our Parliament and Parliamentarians' Work

Its 'secular tactics' may not save LDF from an imminent electoral rout. The 'tactical policies' it adopted in the last elections will return to haunt the front, writes K. Sunilkumar

Left parties, especially Communist Party of India (Marxist), always flaunt their 'secular' credentials. In every election in Kerala, the main leftist propaganda is that they never dilute their anti-communal stance.

But the people of Kerala cannot forget the image of Abdul Nasar Madani, chairman of People's Democratic Party (PDP), sharing the Left Democratic Front (LDF) campaign platform in Ponnani with CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. It was a joint 'secular' campaign for Dr. Hussain Randathani, the Independent candidate of the LDF in the last Lok Sabha election. Madani was imprisoned for eight years in connection with the Coimbatore blast that occurred on February 14, 1998. He is now listed as the 31st accused in the Bangalore blast case. Madani's party whole-heartedly supported LDF in the election and campaigned for the victory of Left candidates. But Madani was not alone in his support for the comrades. Indian National League (INL), which broke away from Indian Union Muslim League, has had an informal alliance with LDF for 14 years. Jamaat-e-Islami, the Muslim 'fundamentalist' organisation (as portrayed by the CPM leaders) also supported the left 'secularists'.

Moreover, the Sunni Muslim organisation led by Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, an orthodox leader who publicly opposes the entry of women into politics and even education for Muslim girls, clandestinely helped the leftists in Kerala. This 'secular circus' was played out with an eye on a possible victory in some Lok Sabha seats in Malabar area.

Kerala Congress (J), led by P. J. Joseph, infamous in a case of molestation on board an aircraft, represented the Christian sections in the state. Unfortunately, voters sabotaged these calculations. LDF could win only three of the 20 Lok Sabha seats. Within the next six months, in byelections to three Assembly seats, voters rejected LDF's 'secular agenda' yet again. These electoral setbacks and pressures from in and outside the CPM forced the party to alter its election tactics and strategies. Factional fights in the party and the departure of allies from the Front have severely trimmed the LDF. The Janata Dal (S) led by M.P. Veerendra Kumar, a theoretician of anti-globalisation politics, broke away from the alliance thanks to differences with the CPM leadership during the Lok Sabha elections. The party has now joined the United Democratic Front (UDF), which favours globalisation.

A few days ago, Kerala Congress (Joseph) walked out of LDF and merged with Kerala Congress (Mani), led by K. M. Mani, a senior political leader in Kerala. KC (M) is a UDF constituent. INL has also snapped its ties with LDF and is now in negotiations for return to the mother organisation, IUML, the second largest party in UDF. Following the Central leadership's inference that the alliance with Madani had damaged the party's image in the LS polls, CPM has been showing disenchantment with it.

After police action during an agitation against mass eviction for a four-lane road to Kinaloor (Kozhikode) organised by Solidarity (youth organisation of Jamaat-e-Islami) and political parleys with Muslim League leaders, the Jamaat has turned into a 'class enemy' for the Marxists. Now CPM and LDF are trying to make new allies to cover the losses and improve their prospects in the coming elections. Two crucial polls are ahead for the Kerala CPM and LDF in the next 11 months.

As Muslim and Christian minority parties shun the comrades, the latter have begun to move in the opposite direction and are wooing Hindu votes. CPM has already started its new strategic shift to woo some major communities in the Hindu fold. The party leadership has started a blame game against minority organisations and are molly-coddling Hindu outfits like NSS and SNDP.

An indication of this shift is evident from statements and writings of top leaders of the party. The first shot was fired by from Pinarayi Vijayan through his categorical allegation that Christian bishops were responsible for scuttling the merger of Kerala Congress factions. And V. S. Achuthanandan, chief minister of Kerala, jumped to the conclusion that 'Muslim and Christian communalism is on the rise in the state.' He accused the Congress of backing such communal elements.

Congress and UDF leaders have alleged that Achuthanandan and CPM are trying to play the Hindu card for the next election. K.M. Mani, leader of Kerala Congress, has questioned the CM's statement on legal grounds because 'it is against certain communities.' Senior Congress leader and Union overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi, too, alleged that the CM's statement blaming the Congress for the growth of Muslim and Christian communalism was "a political ploy to appease the majority community and the RSS'.

After the CPM politburo issued a clarification in this regard, the party's stand vis-a-vis this new strategy was finally out in the open.

'The politburo noted that various communal and caste forces are being mobilised against the LDF government. These forces are sought to be consolidated behind the Congress-led UDF. The increasing intervention of religious and communal bodies in politics does not augur well for the secular polity in Kerala,' said the politburo statement issued after its meeting held in Delhi on June 5 and 6.

According to some political observers, the shift in the CPM stand is a move to make new alliances or whip up Hindu sentiments against the minorities. 'In the last two decades, CPM has tried to woo minorities in the state. They succeeded to some extent. But after the last Lok Sabha elections proved that it cannot derive any gains from the minorities, the party began to woo Hindus,' says B.R.P. Bhaskar.

He also argues that the CPM in Kerala is a party that is dominated by Hindu members. 'The minority population in the state is 44 per cent, but only 20 per cent of CPM's membership is made up of people belonging to the minority communities,' Bhaskar explains.

The Sangh Parivar, especially BJP, which has been trying to make headway in Kerala politics, have also come out strongly against at the new 'duplicitous' strategy of the CPM. 'Christian and Muslim fanatics who stood with CPM for a while ditched them at a time when they were needed the most. All of a sudden, the leftist forces are now desperately trying to project themselves as the sole secular face in a bid to win back the trust of the Hindu voter,' Haindava Keralam, a pro-Hindu website, recently wrote.

However, political observers in the state believe that the new 'secular tactics' may not save LDF from an imminent electroal rout. The 'tactical policies' that it adopted in the last elections are still quite fresh in the minds of the people and these memories are likely to return to haunt the Kerala Marxists and their allies in an election that, like the recent municipal polls in West Bengal, will be a litmus test.

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

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Economy: Is us facing great depression

2010-12-11T16:50:00.001+05:30

Prof Rajita Chaudhuri follow some off-beat trends like organizing make up sessions

American families are about to lose unemployment benefits, health insurance, or both

Paul Krugman
Economist and NYT Columnist

What's the greatest threat to our still-fragile economic recovery? Dangers abound, of course. But what I currently find most ominous is the spread of a destructive idea: The view that now, less than a year into a weak recovery from the worst slump since World War II, is the time for policymakers to stop helping the jobless and start inflicting pain.

When the financial crisis first struck, most of the world's policymakers responded appropriately, cutting interest rates and allowing deficits to rise. And by doing the right thing, by applying the lessons learned from the 1930s, they managed to limit the damage: It was terrible, but it wasn't a second Great Depression.

Now, however, demands that governments switch from supporting their economies to punishing them have been proliferating in op-eds, speeches and reports from international organisations. Indeed, the idea that what depressed economies really need is even more suffering seems to be the new conventional wisdom, which John Kenneth Galbraith famously defined as 'the ideas which are esteemed at any time for their acceptability.'

The extent to which inflicting economic pain has become the accepted thing was driven home to me by the latest report on the economic outlook from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, an influential Paris-based think tank supported by the governments of the world's advanced economies. The OECD is a deeply cautious organisation; what it says at any given time virtually defines that moment's conventional wisdom. And what the OECD is saying right now is that policymakers should stop promoting economic recovery and instead begin raising interest rates and slashing spending.

What's particularly remarkable about this recommendation is that it seems disconnected not only from the real needs of the world economy, but from the organisation's own economic projections. Thus, the OECD declares that interest rates in the United States and other nations should rise sharply over the next year and a half, so as to head off inflation. Yet inflation is low and declining, and the OECD's own forecasts show no hint of an inflationary threat. So why raise rates? The answer, as best I can make it out, is that the organisation believes that we must worry about the chance that markets might start expecting inflation, even though they shouldn't and currently don't: We must guard against 'the possibility that longer-term inflation expectations could become unanchored in the OECD economies, contrary to what is assumed in the central projection.'

A similar argument is used to justify fiscal austerity. Both textbook economics and experience say that slashing spending when you're still suffering from high unemployment is a really bad idea ' not only does it deepen the slump, but it does little to improve the budget outlook, because much of what governments save by spending less they lose as a weaker economy depresses tax receipts. And the OECD predicts that high unemployment will persist for years. Nonetheless, the organisation demands both that governments cancel any further plans for economic stimulus and that they begin 'fiscal consolidation' next year.

Why do this? Again, to give markets something they shouldn't want and currently don't. Right now, investors don't seem at all worried about the solvency of the U.S. government; the interest rates on federal bonds are near historic lows. And even if markets were worried about U.S. fiscal prospects, spending cuts in the face of a depressed economy would do little to improve those prospects. But cut we must, says the OECD, because inadequate consolidation efforts 'would risk adverse reactions in financial markets.'

The best summary I've seen of all this comes from Martin Wolf of The Financial Times, who describes the new conventional wisdom as being that 'giving the markets what we think they may want in future ' even though they show little sign of insisting on it now ' should be the ruling idea in policy.' Put that way, it sounds crazy. Yet it's a view that's spreading. And it's already having ugly consequences. Last week conservative members of the House, invoking the new deficit fears, scaled back a bill extending aid to the long-term unemployed ' and the Senate left town without acting on even the inadequate measures that remained. As a result, many American families are about to lose unemployment benefits, health insurance, or both ' and as these families are forced to slash spending, they will endanger the jobs of many more. And that's just the beginning. Even conventional wisdom says that the responsible thing is to make the unemployed suffer. And while the benefits from inflicting pain are an illusion, the pain itself will be too real.

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

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THE LOST STATE: HOW AND WHY JHARKHAND IS IN A HOPELESS MESS

2010-11-24T13:51:00.001+05:30

IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board

At the mercy of Guruji

As politicians fiddle while Jharkhand hurtles out of control, hopes of a long-term turnaround for the beleaguered state have all but vanished into thin air

When, on November 15, 2000, the state of Jharkhand was carved out of nearly half of Bihar’s geographical territory, about a quarter of its population and all of its mineral wealth, the new entity had much going for it. Of the annual revenues of Rs 10,000 crore that Bihar generated at that point, Jharkhand got 65 per cent.

Having had a clear headstart in terms of industrial development thanks to initiatives in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad and being enviably rich in mineral and natural resources, Jharkhand had economic indices that were all positive. Observers predicted that the new state would prosper and Bihar would sink further into impoverishment.

Since then much water has flown down the Subarnarekha – the river got its name because legend has it that gold was once mined at its origin in a small village near Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. But a goldmine is the last thing the state can hope to strike given the ham-handed way it has been run all these years.

The hope and excitement have abated. Today, Jharkhand, as it begins its second bout of President’s rule in six months, is in danger of being written off as a failed experiment, a stinging riposte to those who argue in favour of smaller states.

Jharkhand has been in existence for a few months shy of a decade. Its progress report is abysmal. Stagnation has stalked it at every step, and the purpose for which the state was set up – improving the lot of the tribal communities that inhabit its forested areas – has not been served. Jharkhand is lost in the woods.

While Bihar, driven by a new-found political will, is in the process of scripting a remarkable turnaround story, Jharkhand languishes at the very bottom of the development index heap, unable to tide over the severe distortions of a political system controlled by those that are blinded by the thirst for power.

Is the repeated fractured electoral mandate that the people hand out the real bane of Jharkhand? “Don’t blame the voters,” says Shivanand Tiwari, JD (U) national spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar. “It is a crisis of leadership in Jharkhand. The state does not have a credible political force that the people can trust and whole-heartedly support. It simply hasn’t emerged.”

Indeed, it is Jharkhand’s political leaders and administrators who have let the state down – very badly and repeatedly. The frequent body blows have left Jharkhand in a complete mess. There are no signs that might indicate that things are about to get better. More than half of Jharkhand’s population – around 27 per cent of which is tribal – live below the poverty line. Corruption is a norm, opportunism the guiding mantra. Shibu Soren, the man who led the movement for a separate Jharkhand for several decades, could have made the difference. But he found himself embroiled in a series of political scandals, including one that stemmed from a murder charge and another that was related to a bribes-for-votes deal in which Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs were paid hefty sums to support the P.V. Narsimha Rao government at the Centre in a no-confidence motion in 1993.

Guruji, as Soren is known to his supporters, has lost ground owing to his unpredictable ways, both in the state and at the national level. He is but a pale shadow of the tribal rights crusader that he once was. As his son, Hemant Soren, jockeys for a position of strength in the state, the image of Jharkhand’s first family, pretty much like that of the state itself, is in dire need of refurbishment.

The result is that a state that was formed essentially to serve the interests of its indigenous communities is today in the grip of intense tribal disaffection. The political process has been hijacked by vested interests. The threat of Maoist violence hangs heavy over the state as the government barters away forest land to big industrial players that are looking to exploit Jharkhand’s huge reserves of iron, coal, bauxite, copper, mica and limestone, among other minerals.

Everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong in Jharkhand. Large-scale industrialisation has led to extensive environmental degradation and rapid depletion of the state’s forest cover and water resources. Moreover, the growing avarice of the people in power has unleashed corrupt commercial and political practices, unbridled exploitation of the tribal communities and a process of slapdash urbanisation.

The anomalies have multiplied. The indigenous people of the state are now in a majority in only a handful of the 22 districts of Jharkhand. Dwindling water resources and botched-up irrigation projects have placed the tribals at the mercy of the elements. Even if the state does receive a good monsoon, no more than a single harvest a year is currently possible. For the rest of the year, the Adivasis, including women and children, are forced to work on daily wages in mines, quarries and civil projects in abominable circumstances.

It has been all downhill for Jharkhand because the state has never quite managed to wriggle out of its political limbo. The state is once again back to square one. After 11 months of President’s Rule last year, it went to the polls in the hope a getting a new government by Christmas. It did. On December 30, 2009, Soren took over as chief minister for the third time with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JD(U).

A crisis was triggered when the Jharkhand chief minister voted in favour of the Congress in a cut motion in the Lok Sabha in April. The BJP withdrew support. But sensing an opportunity of heading the Jharkhand government on a rotational basis, the party decided to get into negotiations with the JMM. A deal was struck. The two parties agreed to form a government, with BJP taking first strike and then vacating the CM’s post 28 months on for the JMM. But when push came to shove, Soren refused to step aside. The deal fell through. With no party in a position to form an alternative government, Jharkhand is under central rule once again. Plagued by greedy self-serving politicians, corporate entities out to dip into the state’s mineral reserves and make a killing and mounting tribal unrest, the state is fast hurtling out of control. “It is really shameful that Jharkhand can't a government that lasts,” says social activist and student leader Uday Shankar Ojha. “This is a complete travesty of democracy.”

Jharkhand has seen seven governments rise and fall in less than ten years and now an eighth attempt to cobble together a new dispensation has also come unstuck. Says veteran journalist Hari Narayan Singh: “The greed for power among politicians has become so overwhelming that expecting real development to happen would be asking for too much. The men who lead Jharkhand are terribly myopic – all that they are interested in is the reins of power so that they can siphon off public money for themselves and their parties.”

It is free-for-all season in Jharkhand. Where else could an Independent MLA turned chief minister, the son of a Ho Adivasi mine worker and himself a one-time welder, have spirited away Rs 4,000 crore and buy mines for himself and his cronies in Liberia and Thailand?

Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda may now be cooling his heels in a jail along with four of his one-time Cabinet colleagues, but the grab-whatever-you-can-while-you-can spirit that he represented continues to make its presence felt in the corridors of power in Jharkhand. Over 100 MoUs have been signed for industrial and mining projects in Jharkhand and there is no way of knowing with any degree of certitude whose pockets are being lined in the bargain although the needle of suspicion does point to the men who call the shots – the ruling establishment and the bureaucracy.

Bihar JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari is aghast at the plight of Jharkhand. “No state in India can claim to be as rich in resources as Jharkhand, but show me one state that is worse off than Jharkhand today. Who would have ever imagined that Jharkhand would come to such a pass? The people’s hopes have been completely dashed,” he says.

Says academician and Rajya Sabha member Ram Dayal Munda: “Ten years certainly isn’t a long time in the life of a state. Jharkhand is going through a difficult phase and this is not be the end of its woes. Worse might be up ahead. The trouble is that the political leadership here does not seem to have the will to do something about changing things for the better.”

The brief history of the state of Jharkhand is littered with broken dreams, squandered promises and shattered hopes because its politicians have never been able to rise above their petty interests. They have proven to be a bunch of opportunists who simply cannot see beyond their own noses – and coffers. The state has repeatedly been witness to the sorry spectacle of horse-trading of the most shameful kind, quick-fix coalitions forged to serve narrow political ends and brazen embezzlement of public money. The state bleeds in every which way. In the nine and a half years of its existence, Maoist violence has taken a toll of the lives of nearly 3,000 police personnel and others, including two legislators. But in the five months of Shibu Soren’s third tenure as chief minister, Jharkhand saw a marked lull in Maoist depredations.

The JMM supremo’s Maoist sympathies are well known – he gave party tickets to six Maoists in the last Assembly elections and is alleged to have won his own seat with the help of the extremist elements in the state. Now that he is out of the saddle, there are fears that Jharkhand will be hit by a renewed spurt in Maoist violence.

The people are at the end of their tether. Corruption is almost a stated official policy in Jharkhand – it gets worse by the day even as the bureaucracy – which, too, has its hands in the till – continues to be completely unresponsive to the grievances of the people. The Jharkhand populace has nobody to turn to for succour. Since the founding of Jharkhand, Maoists have forced parts of the state to observe 700 days of bandh, which adds up to a total of almost two years.

Hari Narayan Singh holds the national political parties equally responsible for the state of affairs in the state. “The national parties haven’t been able to go beyond politics in Jharkhand. As a result, things have floundered here without let,” he laments.

All the four men who have held the chief minister’s post in the state – Babulal Marandi, Shibu Soren, Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda – are from tribal communities. After the latest Assembly election, the BJP did toy with the idea of propping up a non-tribal politician – either senior party leader Yashwant Sinha or Jharkhand deputy chief minister Raghubar Das – as the leader of the state government, but was eventually compelled to stick to the tried and tested Arjun Munda. But with Soren and his overly ambitious son, Hemant, putting the spanner in the BJP’s works, the proposed coalition based on a power-sharing arrangement proved a non-starter.

“It is important for the big national parties to come forward and play a constructive role in building Jharkhand,” says Harivansh, chief editor of Prabhat Khabar. “For democracy and the process of development to take proper roots here, the rule of law has to be re-established.”

The worsening Jharkhand scenario has obviously given the state’s intelligentsia, or whatever is left of it, no cause for cheer. Ram Dayal Munda blames the situation on the fact that Jharkhand hasn’t still been able to cut its “umbilical cord” with Bihar. “I feel that Jharkhand never quite managed to break away in the real sense from the mother state,” he explains. “It is still very much under Bihar’s shadow. Bihar is beginning to move on but Jharkhand is unfortunately still trapped in a time warp.”

Intellectuals in the state point to the fact that much of the state’s woes might have stemmed from the fact that the tribal leadership has failed to carve out its own identity. They have chosen to mimic the discredited political ways of the outsiders (locally referred to as diku) who constitute nearly 70 per cent of Jharkhand’s population.

Says Harivansh: “On the parameters of administration and development, Jharkhand has been a complete disaster. No wonder the state is now looking for its eighth chief minister in a period of less than ten years.”

The search for stability is still very much on, but hope is clearly on the wane. Jharkhand came into being nearly ten years ago on Adivasi icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary. Both the legend and his dream have all but been forgotten.

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.
Run after passion and not money, says Arindam Chaudhuri
IIPM BBA MBA B-School: Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize To Irom Chanu Sharmila
IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri: The New Age Woman
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The bone of contention

2010-11-02T17:46:00.001+05:30

IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri: The New Age Woman

My recent columns might suggest that I have become a bit of a grave-hugger but fear not dear reader, it is but chance and coincidence that this piece follows the one that went before. But here’s a letter that I just had to deliver…

To the Nobel Committee (And whoever else cares to listen)

Dear people of the Prize, greetings from the land of the dead…

I’ve been dead for long… one month and seventy four years to the day, to be precise. And yet, not a day slips by when I don’t toss and turn whatever remains of me in my grave… for I just can’t RIP.

Homes, towns, barracks and borders rest in easy peace because of me, and yet I know no peace… for here I lie, all forgotten in my grave.

I concede I was no statesman, no diplomat of name, who flew around the world, brokering war and peace. I admit I was no evangelical do-gooder trying to heal the world nor fought for the rights of those wronged, and yet I feel that the “the world’s most prestigious prize” – the Nobel Peace Prize could’ve been mine.

You sneer and snigger and wonder why I, Max Von Stephanitz, a veterinary student and a mere captain in the king’s cavalry, ought to be rewarded thus for the fact that I bred a dog… but my word, what a dog!

Rural Germany of that time had a variety of intelligent canines, some herding sheep, others protecting homes. While each had its strengths, I wondered if I could blend all these qualities to create a super dog. With my experience in veterinary sciences I set about the task of unifying these varied breeds and creating what came to be known as the Deutscher Schaferhund or The German Shepherd Dog - a task that in terms of vision and difficulty rivaled Bismarck’s attempts to unify Germany.

Once the breed had been created, it was a picture of beauty and strength, and loyalty, devotion and intelligence that was supreme amongst the canine race. The first registered GSD was a dog called Hektor (later renamed Horand) and he epitomised all these qualities. The GSD was a companion and a colleague that shepherds were glad to have by their side.

However with the Industrial Revolution, the sheep and their pastures disappeared and even this great super dog started losing relevance in the rapidly developing industrial economy of Germany. It was at that point that I realised that the GSD, with its versatile intelligence and tremendous physical capabilities, could be just as much of a trusted ally in the city. And so, I recommended the breed to the local police force. Here the breed’s ‘kampftrieb’, its desire and ability to be protective of those and that it considered its own and that acute ability to use its nose and have the steadfast courage to follow the scent to the ends of the earth made the GSD into an instant hit. Police stations around the country wanted them. I was thrilled with the success of my dogs. But a dark cloud loomed over Europe. The First World War erupted in the summer of 1914 and yet, even this unfortunate event couldn’t blight the glory of the GSD. The dog was an able comrade for soldiers in battle, as a sentry, as a search and rescue dog who sought and saved wounded soldiers and as a brave messenger who let neither bullet nor shrapnel deter it from its mission. And before you point a finger at me for seeking a ‘Peace Prize’ for creating a war weapon, keep in mind that the GSD was committed to saving lives not taking them… a canine version of the Red-Cross.

Like Bob, for instance… Germans Shepherds won numerous gallantry awards but even amongst them, Bob was special. During the war, many wounded soldiers would’ve bled to death or of their wounds if Bob hadn’t found them in the dead of night. Red Cross volunteers would search through the night but they could never be sure that they had rescued all from amongst the corpses. That’s when Bob would be pressed into action and this big German Shepherd, regardless of the soldier’s nationality, would find the wounded that the volunteers had missed, thus saving countless lives.

The GSD won fans across nations and enemy lines. And soon it became the most popular breed in the world. I was elated and I died a happy man.

From my final resting place, I observed the rise and rise of the GSD. It has busted crime by capturing drug smugglers; become eyes for the blind and ears for the deaf and given them freedom and independence; protected homes and people from violent crime; kept our streets safe by sniffing out criminals and acting as a deterrent; rescued sleeping families from poisonous gasses and fires; saved lives and limbs of men women and children from Afghanistan to Angola by detecting bombs, explosives and land-mines around the world, making our world a safer place for you and your children and rescued people buried rubble.

Tell me Committee, aren’t these achievements comparable even to an alarmist IPCC, a two week old American President, a scam riddled UN or the contributions of leaders with blood on their hands like Kissinger and Arafat. And just in case you are considering, I know that you don’t dole out posthumous prizes. But you see I’m not asking for it for myself. You could give it to the SV(Society for the GSD). It would mean a lot to the people and their dogs who took man’s best friend and made it better…

Until then I’ll haunt these halls, watching you as you anoint others and suffering silently in my grave, along with those thousands of GSDs who died violent deaths so that you may live and know peace…

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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ROBIN HOOD MARKETERS

2010-09-21T15:38:00.000+05:30

Though all their efforts, both in terms of branding and advertising, might bear fruits, the key to long term success for an NGO is still held by the level of transparency it maintains in its operations. Anibrata Pramanik, Network Co-ordinator, Griha Adhikar Mancha (a Kolkata-based NGO) explains, “If we are not transparent, we can not function at all. True governance, transparency and accountability are our main flanks.” In fact, going a step further, NGOs are now increasingly adopting new transparency measures like social accounting and audit to establish higher credibility. So much so that over 240 NGOs have published their annual reports for the last year, and all these were actually published voluntarily. As per Sanjay Patra, Director, Financial Management Services Foundation, “Governance is another issue that plays a critical role. Earlier governance was not given much importance, but the time has changed. Today an NGO can also promote itself in terms of having good governance.”

Despite all, there are still many who believe that if NGOs go down the marketing path, they will lose contact with the grassroots in favour of formulating strategies and campaigns, which are geared towards the country’s middle classes. “NGOs should stick to their roots and do what they do best – focus on empowering the disenfranchised, and encourage mass mobilisation to hold the government to account,” says Nicola Macnaughton, a volunteer with Voluntary Service Overseas (an international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries) in her blog. This perhaps might be the reason that many NGOs in India still shy away from using marketing tools due to its links with capitalism. Still, one cannot deny the fact that most of them are now increasingly drawing on marketing techniques, be it paid advertising, branding, celebrity endorsement programmes, and audience profiling, to project their messages and to raise funds.

As more NGOs mushroom within the country, the time has arrived when a mere tag that one is operating in the social sector is not enough for subsistence. This clearly calls for the creation of a positioning statement (both in the minds of the donors and the beneficiaries), be it in terms of branding, recall, transparency, or governance. And that can only come if these modern day Robin Hoods start embracing innovative marketing tools in their fund raising strategies and acting more like cutthroat marketing corporations than like pure and simple social service organisations. Clearly, Sisters of Charity – however committed – is not necessarily an example of what other NGOs today wish to become. A war was never won on an empty stomach... neither was social transformation.

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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The best advice I HAVE EVER GOT

2010-08-10T12:08:00.000+05:30

AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN
“My best is the most recent advice that I got from my Paa (Amitabh Bachchan) and that is never to mix professional and personal life. For starters, I have implemented that by absolutely NOT discussing work once I am home.”

RAGHAVENDRA RATHORE
FASHION DESIGNER
“My wife always advised me to be more systematic and well planned. I never listened to that and I learnt my lesson. Today, I am involved in so many things and this has been possible because of proper planning and through effective execution of various plans.”

RANA KAPOOR
FOUNDER & MD, YES BANK
“The best advice I got was from Ashok Kapur, non-executive chairman of Yes Bank, who played a significant role in my life. I learned from him the concept of corporate governance and he advised me to always utilise time properly.”

CHETAN BHAGAT
“Never let success make you over confident and always be yourself. This was told by my mother and I follow it to date.”

PETER KRONSCHNABL PRESIDENT,
BMW INDIA
“Never start celebrations before reaching the finish line and this advice was given to me by my mentor.”

ROD WALLACE
MD, PORSCHE CARS INDIA
“My mother adviced me to be a patient listener. Always listen to your people she said and I stand by this guruspeak!”

DILIP CHHABRIA
CAR DESIGNER
“I learned from my father to never give up whatever the situation. In the beginning of my career when I was struggling, this advice influenced my moves a great deal.”

K.VENKATARAMAN
MD, MAHINDRA RETAIL
“My best advice came from the novel ‘Illusions’ by Richard Bach, which talks about the adventures of a reluctant Messiah and says that you will have to believe in your potential. The book inspired me a lot in my professional career.”

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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ICICI Bank is finally out of the woods it went into last year. But, the resurgence needs more push to regain its lost ground, says Deepak Ranjan Patra

2010-06-28T14:57:00.000+05:30

October 10, 2008 was no less than a ‘Black Friday’ for India’s second largest lender, ICICI Bank. It was the day when the bank’s stock price nose-dived by a mind boggling 28% amid rumours of the bank’s potential exposure to the global financial turmoil, particularly to the collapsed global financial giant, Lehman Brothers. The situation had turned so critical that the bank’s Joint Managing Director (Chanda Kochhar at that point of time) had to announce in a television interview, “If people have fears around us, I’m re-clarifying these are small exposures considering our size and profitability.” Not only that, the bank also filed complaints with the regulators about some conspiracy going on to drag its share price down.

Those events looked big then, but in reality they were nothing more than a few short term glitches and their remedies were not difficult to find. The real damage, however, for the bank came in the form of a steep fall in its brand value. The bank responded to the crisis with a series of image makeovers within the next few months. Today, when one can safely say that the worst part of the global financial turmoil is over, the moot question is whether ICICI Bank has been able to rebuild its brand value to past levels?

Before understanding ICICI Bank’s brand value re-creation one must first understand what it has lost. ‘Brand Finance Global Banking 500’ report for year 2009 (published early this year) indicates massive erosion in ICICI’s brand value as compared to 2008. As per the report, ICICI Bank’s brand value plummeted over 60% (to $939 million) from $2.6 billion a year ago. Moreover, the bank’s ranking (in the list of top financial brands across the globe) has gone down from 64 to 108. Avers Unni Krishnan, MD, Brand Finance India, “Brand ICICI has faced a substantial erosion of value after the financial crisis. This is certainly a source of concern for the bank and it needs a strong hand to recover.” No doubt the bank has actually responded to the situation with a very strong hand, but with a soft voice.

Since November 2008, ICICI Bank has hit the accelerators in terms of its campaigns. Data available with AdEx shows, between November 2008 and October 2009, the bank’s ad volume has recorded remarkable growth, with a higher focus on television media as compared to the industry average in the BFSI domain. In terms of TV ads, while the volume of the BFSI segment has gone down by 24%, the duration for which ICICI Bank’s ads met the audiences’ eyes was 64% higher than it was for the year ago period (November 2007 and October 2008). Similar is the case in print media. Although ICICI’s ad volume has registered a 5% fall in print media, it’s still better than the industry average, which witnessed a 14% fall.

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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Clutter-breaking advertisements from insurance companies are helping them push child insurance policies to a new high.

2010-06-14T13:08:00.000+05:30

The fad is only just beginning to pick up with consumers. Gyanendra Kumar Kashyap wonders how this beginning will pan out...

As customised insurance plans are catching the fancies of Indian life insurance companies, the idea of alluring parents to think about their child’s future seem to be bouncing on everyones’ courts. And why not, sector analysts peg the child plan market in India to be around Rs.350 billion (approximately 20% of the entire life insurance market). In the segment, where product differentiation is tough, what the players have tactically resorted to are clutter breaking advertisements. Agrees Rahul Agarwal, CEO, Optima Risk Management Services, as he says, “There is not much of product differentiation; returns and features are more or less similar; all the difference comes in how well have the companies used the emotional plank as a brand and marketing strategy.” Who would have missed the brilliant ads from Max New York Life, Aegon Religare, Bajaj Allianz, LIC, ICICI Prudential, Aviva, HDFC SL, et al?

Considering the fact that most of the child policies offer similar features, the challenge for them lies in the fact how well and how differently the individual insurers market their product. Undoubtedly, the child insurance policy advertisements on air these days do carry a realistic feel and drive home the message without beating around the bush. Yet, there are brand analysts who feel that branding in the insurance domain (a serious business arena as they put it) has not taken off till now. However, considering the number of advertisements enticing the parents to opt for child insurance plans, the branding aspect of the insurers is certainly taking the centre stage. Consider the latest ad from Bajaj Allianz, “Papa mere future ke bare mein kya socha hai…” or, the one from the stable of Max New York Life, “…Bolo beta Chekoslovakia…” and you will agree how suavely they have used children as their focus to target the parents. Yet the moot question remains as to whether these advertisements have been successful in convincing the parents and have their best bets paid off?

It is estimated that in India over a third of the population comprises of children under the age of 18 and half of the household expenditure goes towards providing for education. It is therefore imperative for them to get a reliable source of funding the particular need. Says Rishi Mathur, Vice President, Product Development & Customer Management, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, “In India, even today, given that children are considered a source of retirement income, parents desiring a secure future for their children are more of an emotional requirement. However, with the cost of ‘quality’ education growing exponentially, parents, especially in mass market segments, are finding it increasingly difficult to fund the best learning for their children and to provide a sound footing for the child’s career post-education.” While these indicate that need for such products actually exist, it is crucial for the insurers that while planning a child benefit product the timing of benefit must coincide with the key milestones in the child’s life.

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.
TSI exposes b school ranking scamsters Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Premchand Palety of C fore. - For Complete Sting Operation Video Click Here

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It’s about promoting experimental cinema

2010-05-27T14:48:00.000+05:30

Pioneer Exposes the fraud called Mahesh Sharma and Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Barbel Schwertfeger of mba-channel.com

The recently concluded 11th Osian’s film festival held in Delhi created some extra zing this year. And the reason were popular Hindi movies like Dev D, Oye Luckey, Love Aaj Kal et al which made it to the list of those presented in the film festival. This is the first time that the festival has included mainstream Bollywood movies. Neville Tuli, Chairman, Osian’s said, “It is important to include Bollywood when you are having a film festival in India. You can’t ignore such a huge industry and only promote foreign language cinema.” But to ensure that the inclusion of Bollywood movies does not overshadow Osian’s objective of promoting experimental cinema, movies that attempt a new style of cinema in Bollywood were chosen.

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.
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...OF STATUES & STRATEGIES

2010-05-07T16:44:00.000+05:30

Mayawati, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh

The four-time CM of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, may be a Dalit by birth, but Behenji’s truculent nature is no less well-known. One who knows how to translate prospects into capitalised political business, this angry (young?) woman, who once championed the cause of the Dalits in pink chiffon suits, has now started playing realpolitik on a national level. Be it the act of transferring, suspending or sacking IPS officers in her state or whipping organised retailers, Mayawati has become a brand with the USP of having a ‘forceful’ power to convince. Despite her term being plagued with controversies including Taj Corridor and Yamuna Expressway cases, she has continued to gain wider acclaim in her home state, which by virtue of its population, plays a vital role in national politics. Some believe that her hold is growing weaker (thanks to Rahul Baba’s campaigns in UP), but brand Mayawati has the masterful knack of staging a comeback when you least expect it.

“If one were to use a metaphor for Mayawati’s politics, it could be almost likened to a luxury item now converted into a ‘necessity’. But like all products, I feel, over-supply is bringing down the brand value of Mayawati,” says Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, Dy. Editor, The Hindu. Until then, perhaps most of Lucknow and Noida would have given way to still more parks and more Maya statues...

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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IS THE FEMALE CONSUMER STILL IGNORED, NEGLECTED & UNDERVALUED?

2010-04-09T12:59:00.000+05:30

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

While each person’s perspectives are different, there are four broad areas where any sane marketer and company would be well advised to look – and tap. They comprise food, fitness, beauty and apparel. Financial services and health care are also businesses worth zeroing-into. The challenge is to offer easier and more convenient ways to make purchases in an environment where – unlike Indian husbands, 71% of who pitch in on household chores – they get no support from their spouses.

It is believed that when the recession slowly moves out, women will occupy an even more important position in the economy. Then seat belts that cut into the neck, pedals that the woman driver can’t reach, badly designed seats, nothing for women who wear high heels when they drive; kitchen shelves so high that only men can reach them, low security inside apartments should be closely reviewed. Also, in this age of working women keeping long hours in unsafe metro cities, how about a phone that has alarm buttons, instead of the corny colour pink? Or a free beeper with every working moms phone so her kids could just beep and she could call back, pronto? These points apparently were mooted, but cell phone manufacturers found them unimportant and trivial and instead concentrated on pink/floral glitter phone!

It’s time companies and marketers wake up to this new reality, cast aside chauvinistic blinkers and convert these challenges into opportunities. There is a whole slew of commercial opportunities in women’s social concerns. Women seek to buy products & services that do good for the world and hence brands that resonate physical and emotional well being, provide care and education for the disfranchised of the world and encourage love and connection, will benefit. It’s time to recognise the power and equity of the women customers. They will no longer take crap, increasingly trash male-specific selling patterns, resist being stereotyped, segmented by age or income or worse – lumped together into a ‘one-size-fits-all’ woman club.

Beyond looking at them as ‘geographical market’, they should be viewed as intelligent, respected and cherished target groups, with their very own wants, needs, apprehensions, insecurities, dreams … and of course, [sometimes] deep pockets too! That would be the best way to gain breakout growth, loyalty and market share for a sublime and undervalued fraternity who occupy half the sky.

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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GILLETTE MACH 3

2010-03-25T13:14:00.000+05:30

Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

AGENCY: MEDIACOM

OBJECTIVE: To increase Mach 3 razor trials & increase market-share.

SITUATION & IDEA: Despite being present in the market for more than a decade, Gillette Mach 3’s sales were flat due to premium pricing. Research said that consumers thought highly of Gillette Mach 3, but not about shaving per se. But they did enjoy arguing. And so the ‘India Votes: To Shave or not’ idea was born, giving a chance to argumentative Indians to do just that.

EXECUTION: A first of its kind shaving survey was commissioned with questions like ‘Are clean-shaven men more successful?’ and ‘Does the nation prefer clean-shaven celebrities?’ The survey results were bombarded across TV, radio, print & online media. Actors Milind Soman and Kunal Kapoor were roped in to shave off their beards to entice consumers.

RESULT: Not only did the trials for Mach 3 increase 400 times after the campaign, the market share of the brand went up by 25%.

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
Don't trust the Indian Media!
IIPM exposes Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam
IIPM - We will change your outlook : Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam is exposed

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Why Mad. Avenue loves sweet deals?

2010-03-04T12:06:00.001+05:30

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Will the ad world soon be mourning the death of brand Cadbury? Or perhaps Irene has a more ‘Krafty’ plan...

In a bid to create a “global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery & quick meals,” Kraft Foods CEO Irene Rosenfeld has laid siege to one of the crown jewels of corporate Britain. Irene’s bold move to acquire Cadbury for $16.7 billion has shaken other confectioners like Nestlé & Hershey out of sweet reverie. After all, if Irene (who is sixth on the 2009 Forbes list of most powerful women) pulls off this coup, Kraft will become number one in the global confectionery market, creating a $51 billion company and its market share would touch a cool 14.9%, toppling the apple cart of Mars, which currently rules the market with a 14.5% share.

The advertising world too has been shaken out of its reverie. Even though the deal is far from done, Madison Avenue is already salivating at the prospect of the $2.7 billion advertising monster that the acquisition is likely to create. As per Ad Age, in case of a marriage, in the US alone, the merged entity would together spend close to $1.5 billion in marketing (See table for details).

With Mars’ acquisition of Wrigley last year, further consolidation in the industry was expected. And Cadbury being the second largest confectioner, it was perhaps ripe for the picking. Irene has said that Kraft is “eager to build upon Cadbury’s iconic brands & strong British heritage.” Irene’s altruistic vision notwithstanding, as it happens more often than not in such cases, the acquired brand gets absorbed into the host brand. In this case that will mean the end of Cadbury as we know it. Says Rob Frankel, Branding Expert “Chances are that Cadbury’s entire history and brand value will slide into oblivion, as Kraft absorbs it.” We have our fingers crossed. Do you?

Vareen Ray

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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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“We will change your outlook” - The Sunday Indian on B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED! A must read...
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Digest this!

2010-02-22T12:21:00.000+05:30

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

Are you leading a healthy lifestyle? Too much of healthy food is actually unhealthy for you...

You may have been intrigued by friends who follow the Kareena Kapoor diet, eating every two hours in order to obtain the hourglass figure, and some other friends who “claim” they eat nothing at all during the day to lose weight yet you see them eating junk from others’ plate every hour or so. While there are certain others who cannot let go of their soups, salads and protein shakes and other healthy meals come what may. And when this becomes a fixation which they cannot let go, there certainly is something to be worried about.

Some people eat food to live, while certain others live to eat but what about those who live to eat right? While we may agree that to live a healthy life you must eat right but what when this “eating right” becomes an obsession? Steven Bratman, a Colorado M.D., coined a term orthorexia nervosa which means excessive focus on eating healthy foods. This focus might turn into an obsession, which may result in severe malnutrition or even death! Orthorexics or people suffering from orthorexia nervosa are very particular about what they eat. Sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, yeast, corn and dairy products are completely off-limits. In fact, products that have been chemically treated or have artificial flavouring too have to be avoided. This leaves them with few options to choose from and thus they end up looking, and being, malnourished.

Dr. Shikha Sharma rightly says, “There are some people who have obsessive personalities. It has nothing to do with eating healthy. They can be obsessed about their boyfriends, their children, their looks. It’s a sequence that has an inherent psychological disorder of obsession, only the subject changes. So, I would say the eating part is not as important as the psychological aspect or the kind of personalities they have. Any obsession affects relationships more than anything else because people who are obsessed become very difficult to live with. Kids find it difficult to live with such parents, relationships break down, and the person himself might go through depression or anxiety.

Basically, these are personality disorders. Even while giving a diet plan, we try and make sure to not give them extremes of diet plans. For example, we don’t tell them to avoid sweets altogether. We’ll tell them to always try to eat healthy things. So, instead of giving them a list of do’s and don’ts, we tell them to opt for healthy options. I have come across patients who would measure every calorie, they were very obsessive about everything including the way they would look. Even if they did not look alright for one day, they would crib. They were very demanding as patients as well. Ideally, they should see a psychological counsellor and side by side do yoga, particularly pranayam, because that helps people to unwind and de-stress.

But frankly, suggesting someone to see a psychological counsellor is out of question in India because people take it as an offense. But we still recommend yoga and pranayam to clients with behavioural problem because more than the physical weight loss benefits of yoga, it is the internal balance and positivity which is required, so we try and encourage that.”

Similarly, some people are obsessed with exercising and scientists believe that excessive exercise can trigger a reaction in the brain, which is similar to the reaction caused by drugs like heroin. And once a person stops exercising, he would tremble, have drooping eyelids and jabbering teeth, which, might we add, are also the symptoms of a drug addict. But as is often said, excess of anything is bad, even if it is healthy eating!

Aakriti Bhardwaj

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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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Brands that bombed

2010-02-16T12:47:00.000+05:30

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

• Apple iPhone
• ICL
• Hyundai Elantra
• Maruti A-Star
• Motorola

Just like any other Apple product, this one was ushered into the world on a wave of obligatory gushing. Billed as “your life in your pocket,” the Apple iPhone did not revolutionise the mobile market like the legendary iPod, which redefined the meaning of digital music industry. Motorola too could not impress upon the consumers much. After its last hit MotoRazr, Motorola has been struggling to deliver compelling applications. Its highly anticipated music software on the MotoRokr phone flopped miserably.

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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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The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
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‘Push’ing growth...

2010-01-20T15:51:00.000+05:30

Despite the cat-eat-cat competition, Motorola is quite confident about its upcoming Android OS based smartphones. “Motorola has figured out a way to push updates from social networking websites directly to a user’s phone; and it’s tied to the belief that folks want to stay connected to their social networking site real time much like they do with mail, SMS, and instant messaging,” reasons Rob Enderle, President and Principal Analyst, Enderle Group. He also believes in it “to be the most advanced of its type.” And why not? Neither Google’s Android phones, nor Apple’s iPhone support such a feature, despite their sophistication in many aspects. Though, the idea sounds great, it might have to face few challenges from players like RIM, who use a similar combination of software and a NOC to deliver email to Blackberrys. But then, there’s always that first mover advantage. What say?

Arun Roy

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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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A Cannes metal does add weight to your profile

2010-01-15T11:43:00.000+05:30

Sagar Mahabaleshwarkar, Chief Creative Officer, Rediffusion Y&R, who already has three Cannes under his belt, bluntly refuses to give the haloed status to winning a Cannes Lion. “It’s certainly not a career defining moment,” he says. Incidentally, when Sagar was felicitated at Cannes the first time around, he was merely an Art Director. Today, he proudly wears the hat of Chief Creative Officer at Rediffusion Y&R. But, Sagar says that it was only post his transfer to Mumbai that his career zoomed. “So my career defining moment came when I was offered the coveted transfer from O&M Bangalore to O&M Mumbai.” That was the first time Sagar came face to face with his idol Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman, India and South Asia, O&M. At that meeting, Piyush asked him whether he (Sagar) was a batsman or a bowler. Sagar replied that he is an “opening batsman” and a delighted Piyush gave him the nod to relocate to Mumbai.

Oh! And winning at Cannes seems to have become still another of those proud moments for Sagar, even as he just bagged a bronze for his Airtel campaign at the 2009 awards!

Take Rajiv Rao, now Executive Creative Director, O&M, South Asia, who has picked up three of these precious metals till date. He walked the red carpet for the first time in 2002 for his work on Cancer Patients Aids Association and collected two golds for the same. But the work, which he feels gave his career maximum momentum, was the one he did for telecom brand Orange in Mumbai and which never even made it to the Cannes shortlist. “The work that we were doing for Orange was mainly outdoor and the communication helped the brand to become Mumbai’s most loved brand,” explains Rajiv. It is this equity, created by Rao & team, that prompted Hutch to retain the Orange brand in Mumbai, even as elsewhere in the country, the brand was changed from Essar to Hutch. The latest feather in his cap has been the most-talked-about Zoozoos campaign for Vodafone. Interestingly, even Hutch’s pug and Vodafone’s Zoozoos have not managed to impress the jury at Cannes!

The Cannes saga has been a little different for ad-man Emanuel Upputuru though. Emanuel has bagged three Cannes Lions till date (the most recent being a Bronze Media Lion in 2009 for the Let ‘Gandhi Talk’ campaign). It was in 2004 that Emanuel (then Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi) bagged the award for his work on Sony Handycam. Two years later, when he was felicitated again, he was still a Creative Director, this time with O&M. Clearly, winning a Cannes Lion did not add much to his profile, at least in terms of designation. “My goal is to be incharge of an agency that is the coolest and hottest to work for. Designations don’t really matter to me,” exclaims Emanuel, presently in a cushy position in the industry as the National Creative Director, Publicis India.

Look carefully and you realise that winning awards is a different high, yet what works better in pushing your career graph is an opportunity to work on big-ticket brand names. You only have to glance across at the Who’s Who of ad-land to see the rewards that consistent “brilliant work on great brands” have reaped for the likes of Piyush Pandey (Bajaj, Fevicol), Prasoon Joshi (Coca Cola, Happydent) and even R. Balakrishnan aka Balki (Idea Cellular. Tata Tea Jaago Re). Preeti N. Chaturvedi (Surf Excel), K.V. Sridhar (RCOM, Thums Up) and more recently Rajiv Rao (Hutch, Vodafone) who are treading a similar path.

Ask Amit Akali, Group Creative Director, O&M Bangalore. He believes that while “a Cannes metal does add weight to your profile,” it’s the portfolio of work that counts. He reasons that the work he has done for ITC’s snack brand Bingo has been in many ways more satisfying (for him personally) than the creatives that helped him win at Cannes. Agrees Nandini Dias, Chief Operating Officer, Lodestar Universal (she and her team recently won a Cannes Bronze for Tata Nano). “Working shoulder to shoulder with the client to achieve a marketing goal is always more satisfying than winning an award,” she says, adding that these days instead of agencies, it is the clients that more often crave awards.

Echoes Sagar, “More than winning the award, I think walking that red carpet along with Piyush Pandey, Pushpinder Singh and Dan Wieden was the most defining Cannes moment for me.” Even Rajiv Rao grins as he adds, “more than the work (for Cancer Patients Aids Association) that got me my first Cannes, I remember screaming Bharat Mata Ki Jai with fellow ad men post the victory.” Joono Simons, Exec. Creative Director, South, Mudra (whose tally at Cannes runs into one gold, a couple of silvers and four nominations till date) believes that more than anything else, a Cannes metal boosts the morale of any agency. “I believe that my role as a play maker should now produce more winners and thereby multiply the success many fold.”

Oh sure, the kind of instant gratification that winning at Cannes can bring is unmatched. But as the Lions become more ubiquitous in India’s ad-land – a far cry from the days when India was not even invited for entries – their pre-eminence in the overall scheme of things is fast decreasing. An international award – that too the most prestigious in the business – may count a lot for first time winners at the vibrant festival. But for old-timers in the industry, it’s the day to day that counts more, quite apart from the quality of work and of course the brands that you have in your kitty. This does not mean that the gutter bar at Cannes is not cool. In fact, it’s still the only place that India’s ad-land forgets its rivalries and in a rare show of fraternity sings the jana gana mana in unison, even creating minor roadblocks. After all, the numbers at Cannes are swelling, both of Indian delegates as also of winning entries!

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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DEATH-ON-SALE!?

2010-01-06T15:52:00.000+05:30

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The media also crashes in on the party. You simply have to look around at all the ratings-boosting coverage of MJ’s death for current evidence. TIME magazine has been particularly quick on the uptake. While the figures for their recent special commemorative issue on Jackson are still not available, a similar special issue on Princess Diana’s death by TIME sold more than 1.1 million copies. Natmags is releasing a commemorative 132-page Michael Jackson tribute magazine and a total of 200,000 copies of the glossy A4 title will be on sale for a month, priced at £2.99 per copy.

Memorial events too are going strong, where fans are ready to pay $50 to vendors for a picture next to a cut out of the King of Pop. Jackson’s funeral, in fact, has been the biggest in entertainment history, even bigger than Diana’s death and at par with the event of Obama’s presidential speech. Jackson’s cremation event was viewed by more than 750 million people. Going by Nielsen data, Princess Diana’s funeral saw 33.25 million viewers, while former President Ronald Reagan’s mid-day funeral drew 20.8 million people only.

Not to be outdone, even merchandise licensees from around the world have successfully tuned into manufacturing and distributing products using celebs who have passed away. In 2008, Elvis Presley Enterprises was sold by Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie, for $100 million. It should not come as a surprise therefore if tomorrow it is Michaels’ images and stamps. In the past, Diana dolls had become icons of the Princess after her death. They can still be bought for $188.95 from the Society for the Preservation of History. Franklin Mint’s porcelain portrait plate sells for $29.95 and Solid Silver Memorial Coin for $55.

If we are talking of legendary celebs, we can’t miss out on Marilyn Monroe. More than 40 years after her death, licensing her famous poses and pout have made more than $30 million in fees for Anna Strasberg, the wife of Ms. Monroe’s former acting coach, and her business partner, a professional peddler of dead peoples’ images. Marilyn Monroe’s images alone have pulled in more than $30 million since her death and $8 million in 2007 alone. In 2004, Robert Sillerman (a wealthy American businessman who deals in building and selling media companies) paid Lisa Marie Presley $100 million for an 85% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. And not to miss out on the Monroe frenzy to entice potential consumers, Mercedes-Benz still features Monroe (along with James Dean) in some of their ad campaigns.

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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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GUNNING FOR THE SUN

2009-10-19T15:19:00.000+05:30

Sun Pharma’s two-pronged strategy – of making low-priced acquisitions and its cost control mechanisms – enabled it to run effortlessly ahead when others in the sector were panting during FY09!

DILIP SHANGHVI, MD, SUN PHARMA

Once considered ‘destined for greatness’, Wockhardt and Ranbaxy are bed-ridden today when it comes to operational excellence and India’s pharma sector, once considered immune to downturns, stands battered. So is it all bad for the bigwigs in the sector? Not really. Sun Pharmaceuticals has surprised everyone with its mind-boggling performance even in a recession- hit FY09!

Here are some numbers that stand testimony – while most players saw a dip in revenues and profits, Sun Pharma grew its topline by a smashing 27.3% y-o-y to garner Rs.4,272.3 crore, and its bottomlines by another handsome 22.2% y-o-y to touch Rs.1,817.8. So what enabled this $4.5 billion giant to take control in a situation when goliaths around the world were crumbling to the ground? We asked Uday Baldota, VP – Investor Relations, Sun Pharma, about the most critical strategies that help Sun Pharma beat the beatdown and he outlined two of them, “Success at acquisitions and cost leadership…”

True. In the recent past, Sun Pharma has proven critics of M&As wrong, having acquired 14 distressed assets over the years (at low prices) and turning them into profit-churning machines. And these turnarounds, which helped Sun to diversify into new drug segments, are showing signs of being the key drivers of revenues for the pharma major today. For example, when it laid hands on Dadha Pharma (Tamil Nadu), Sun entered the oncology space. With purchase of Milmet Labs, they acquired expertise in the opthalmological space and with Valeant, gained entry into the controlled substances niche. And if its $454 million Taro deal comes through (as per Baldota, “The deal is still on, with some court decisions awaited.”), Sun will get another headstrong entry into the dermatological market.

Besides, Sun has always remained a cost leader in the generics drugs platform. As Baldota reveals, Sun’s net operating margin is a tremendous (43%), which for the other top ten pharma players, is only a modest 10%! Sun also doesn’t believe in over investing in R&D (its R&D budget allocation is only 8% of revenues, while that figure for the industry stands at a much higher 14-15%)! Further, unlike major drug majors, it faces no danger of patent expiry, as Baldota clarifies, “We don’t have any problems of patent expiries as ours is a generics company…” Yes, one can claim that cost-control has been a key reason for Sun’s ultra-superior bottomlines even as the slowdown monster was gobbling-up profitability all around. “Focus on costs has remained a top priority for us (even) in good times…” confesses Baldota. For some, the year gone by looked duller than ever, but we guess that for others, the ‘Sun’ just didn’t stop shining!

Steven Philip Warner

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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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Painting the skies red...

2009-08-28T13:45:00.000+05:30

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When it comes to ‘services’ offered by an aviation company, there’s undoubtedly the ‘red bird’ that scores heavily over the rest... Steven Philip warner talks about what makes this a ‘best service’ reality...

You might have heard tales about the many ancient Indian kings being fanatic proponents of polygamy; and as noted by many historians, these ‘many beautiful ladies’ often became a status symbol for these kings – a sign of great services rendered to the monarchs!

Allow us to move away from ‘all’ matrimonial implications here, but even today, beauty and numbers go hand in hand; take Kingfisher Airlines for instance. The airline, which serves 77 destinations, with its battery of 75 aircrafts, has today become the symbol of top-class (read ‘Real First-Class’) service in the Indian aviation industry.

Type in “Kingfisher Air hostesses” in Google Search, and the first link that comes on your screen reads thus “India’s beautiful Air Hostess leads us to the Promised Land...” That is how closely, this airline associates glamour with service. [And its brand ambassador Deepika Padukone is a living example.] But is it just their charm that helped this airline to make it to the top of the ‘Best Services’ list in the ‘Aviation’ category? Certainly not. 4Ps B&M caught up with Sunaina Paul [name changed on request], who has seen there, done that, when it comes to living to deliver the top ‘Kingfisher service’ promises, made by the ‘king of good times.’ And what we learnt was actually surprising... “For us, ‘safety’ is more important than ‘service’... and even in the final exam [which we have to clear to become a Kingfisher hostess], about 80% weightage is given to safety,” says Sunaina. Moreover, while on one hand, ‘safety aptitude and physical’ tests are conducted externally [by IATA], on the flipside, all tests related to ‘service learnings’ are conducted internally; therefore it is but natural that more importance is attached to safety standards.

Today, Kingfisher prides itself for being a totally service-oriented airline, and has various cabin classes on-flight. On its domestic flights, it has three categories, Kingfisher First, Kingfisher Class and Kingfisher Red. The Kingfisher First category seats are nothing less than a treat, with 48-inch thick soft seats and a comforting 125 degree seat recline. Laptop and mobile phone chargers, steam ironing service and Bose noise cancellation headphones were phenomena unknown in the domestic aviation arena... until of course, Kingfisher Airlines was born 4 years back! Doubling on this, Sunaina proudly recalls, “Kingfisher was the first domestic airline to have an In-flight Entertainment system on every seat, including economy class...” Indeed, there is no dearth of service when it comes to delighting the consumer aboard a Kingfisher Airline. Large DVD screens, latest movies, 16 live TV channels and 10 channels of Kingfisher Radio are what makes for the complete audio-visual package.

So they provide best service, but do the consumers complain still? To this, Sunaina avers, “Well, most of the complaints that we receive are for food types... whereby a non-veg customer has to be handed over a veg platter. And though the catering department is to be blamed for this, we speak out the sorries...” Very frequently, pre flight, the In-flight Manager (IFM, who is the senior-most hostess) ensures that the other hostesses are up to it when it comes to revising their service manuals, and if there arises a service issue on-board, the IFM discusses the problem(s) with the hostess(es). “We are taught to be polite and stern at the same time with passengers,” states Sunaina.

Of course, these service agents have no time for personal life, and the only thing that Sunaina remembers after she’s back from a flight schedule for the day is “crash”! “Also, we are given rosters for 15 days at a time, therefore any plans beyond that will call for a casual leave,” reveals Sunaina. Such is the life behind that charming mask from whom you expect alertness and the very best of service, every time you step onto a Kingfisher flight. No fixed work timings (you could have a reporting deadline at 4 am and you might land back at 12 am the next morning), close to zero social life, and absolutely nil vision beyond 15 days... and yet, they manage to give you the ‘best service’ amongst all other domestic airlines in the country as the survey proves...

Before we exited, we noticed that Sunaina’s charming smile hadn’t faded by even one degree, despite having invested more than 3 hours in incessant expression of her life as an air hostess in a most vivid manner. Perhaps that’s why Kingfisher Airlines is numero uno when it comes to service, for its folks never forget to serve even goodbyes with heartfelt smiles!

Steven Philip

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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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Mentos zindagi: the way of life

2009-08-10T12:42:00.000+05:30

IIPM Best B-school

Brand: Mentos
Agency: O&M

Ever since its launch in 1999, Mentos campaign has been clutter breaking and hard hitting. Being a youthful and metro-centric brand, the campaign “Aam Zindagi, Mentos Zindagi” induced a tinge of humour and wackiness and inculcated a“Think Different” attitude amongst the youth. Says Namita Gupta, Group Product Manager, PVMI,on the online inititiatives:Mentos Helpline & Mentos Friendsline (which focussed on Mentos Zindagi proposition), “These initiatives were calculated steps toward tapping online audience and building a loyal brand community. The response to both these initiatives has been fantastic & repeat visits to the site have been higher than 50%.”

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

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Brand: Chiclets

2009-07-25T13:58:00.000+05:30

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Agency: Contract
Chew, err, hum the chewing gum!!
When Cadbury hiked the prices of Chiclets from l0 paise to 25 paise, it anticipated a decline of 50% in sales volume. Unfortunately, the brand sales dipped by 90%. After such a shocker, the company came out with a smashing commercial, which succesfully steered the company through choppy waters. Says an FMCG analyst, “The campaign was brilliant as it turned around the notion of chewing gum as a product...” The commercial, which showed two boys wooing two girls, bagged the MTV ad of the decade award. Its jingle is still very popular.

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

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Sutanu Guru wonders why ‘financial’ years start in April and end in March – not counting for the Ides of March followed by April Fool’s Day...

2009-07-21T12:22:00.000+05:30

IIPM only B-school in India to be Ranked Ahead of The IIMs in so Many Parameters! Regularly!

Memories have a habit of fading into indulgent nostalgia. And in this age of villains and betrayals, charismatic heroes are so hard to find that nostalgia becomes a handy substitute for a reality check. Detroit feels nostalgic about Lee Iacocca. Microsoft feels nostalgic about Bill Gates as a nerd. Republicans feel nostalgic about Ronald Reagan. Congress workers feel nostalgic about the glory days of the dynasty in India. GE feels nostalgic about Jack Welch. Wall Street feels nostalgic about unbridled greed. And this April, many Americans feel nostalgic about John F. Kennedy (with due apologies to Barack Obama)

And yet, when it comes to fool proof strategies for April, John F. Kennedy will arguably go down as one of the worst examples in history. His Camelot administration was responsible for the notorious Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in April, 1961 which ended in both military and propaganda disaster. Fidel Castro ruled Cuba for more than one generation after Kennedy was assassinated and Americans are still trying to count the costs of that April strategy of combating communism with a steel fist. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi too will always remember April as a month she should rather shrug away in embarrassment. For, it was in April, 1999 that her trusted strategic advisors prompted Sonia to stand in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan and show a sign of victory. That ‘strategic’ victory turned out to be chimera. It was an alliance led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee that swept the marketing sweepstakes and won decisive market share in the 1999 General Elections. Of course, unlike Americans with Cuba, Sonia Gandhi didn’t have to wait for ages for redemption and recovery.

In the world of business and marketing, such ‘foolish’ foolproof strategies probably do not change the course of history. But then, they at least end up making history involved in such foolproof strategies. Just think about it for one moment. Have you seen a single new ad on TV, print, outdoor or web of Pepsi. Sure, there was that one about ‘Youngistan’. But honestly, it is already more than half of April, 2009 and have you seen any new Pepsi slogan? Don’t you wonder if it is a deliberate strategy of the soft drink giant? And what could that foolproof strategy be when Coke is going to town with high decibel pitches? read more..

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

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Hold on tight, brother!

2009-07-06T15:32:00.001+05:30

IIPM : One of the leading and most respected business schools

According to official traffic data released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, overall passenger traffic in January-February 2009 declined by about 8,00,000 – certainly not great news for the two largest players in the industry (Market shares for the two players in February 2009 stood at 27.6% for Kingfisher & 25.1% for Jet). Then there was the momentary joy that stabilisation in ATF prices gave the two players (which account for upto 40-70% of their total bill). Global recession played the spoilsport, as Hatim Broachwala, Aviation analyst, Khandwala Securities Limited points out, “The economic slowdown and sharp decrease in domestic air traffic has negated the fall in ATF prices and has thus severely hit the revenue base of both the players...”

Despite the handshake, operating cost-cuts still remain a far cry, as the two carriers own different aircraft types and source from different suppliers in many cases. Experts from the industry have thus reduced the duo’s cost saving estimates by a disappointing 56% to just a modest Rs.800 crore. Experts claim that both airliners have been able to save just a puny 3 to 5% in operating costs, which is easily negated by the sharp decline in passenger traffic and appreciation in other input costs. Even Srirupa Sen, Spokesperson, Jet confessingly explains the delay in results, “...it would definitely take time, as it is a big operation to produce desirable results.” There are also other problems that stare hard at the combine, radical route withdrawls being one. Surely, as many would agree, all strategies adopted in the name of route optimisation definitely don’t fall in the category of ‘route rationalisation. For instance, Jet withdrew its Amritsar-London flight, which was simply a photocopy of the Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco route withdrawal. Kingfisher on the other hand, has put on hold its Mumbai-London plan as Jet is already present on that route. Thus this walk down the aisle currently appears marred with problems, one that could also lead to misunderstandings in the future! But having said all that, clearly, the game is not yet over for the kings of the Indian skies. ‘Seeing it through the current ungovernable times’ however, remains the only remedy; but of course, at the risk of having to sell-off even their clothes for lack of working capital!

“Just because we don’t announce everything does not mean the deal is not working. It takes time to work things out,” is how Vijay Mallya, Chairman, Kingfisher justifies the (non)achievements... Yes Sir! We can all raise a toast to that spirit, and we’re willing to wait, for the love of brotherhood (Mallya-Goyal Inc.?)! [By the way, do tell us about your new JV & please, do announce it this time!] We’re holding on tight too, brother!

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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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Why has IIPM always been opposed to B-school rankings?
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Vitamin ‘C’ means Vitamin ‘Cola’; right?

2009-06-17T11:41:00.000+05:30

The Most Revolutionary Concept In Education PLANMAN CHE CENTRE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, Supported by IIPM India’s Leading B-School

The total size of the Indian beverages industry (including both carbonated & non-carbonated drinks) is Rs.7,500 crore. While a majority of it (80%) is dominated by the carbonated drinks segment, with fruit-based drinks being worth Rs.1,000 crore, the remaining Rs.1,500 crore is accounted for by the non-carbonated segment. Hence for drinks like PepsiCo India’s Nimbooz, Coca-Cola India’s Fanta Apple and Parle Agro’s LMN and Appy Fizz, there exists immense potential in the marketplace considering there aren’t many national players competing on this front. Elaborating on the potential this category holds, Alpana Titus, Executive Vice President-Flavours, PepsiCo India told 4Ps B&M, “The market for fruit beverages is too under-developed with not many players. If volumes go up, investment will automatically drive in the segment.” Interestingly, both Fanta Apple and Nimbooz have been launched under a strong parent brand – Fanta and 7UP respectively. Both these products (Fanta Apple and Nimbooz) have been pitted against Parle Agro’s Appy Fizz and LMN. Both LMN and Nimbooz are positioned as ready-to-drink, convenient and hygienic nimbu pani.

However, while Nimbooz is targeting the ‘on-the-go’ audience by thriving on the ‘Ekdum Asli Indian’ positioning; LMN is being promoted as a healthy drink for both youth and adults by highlighting the medicinal benefit of Vitamin-C in the drink. Commenting on the positioning of LMN, Nadia Chauhan, Joint Managing Director & Chief Marketing Officer, Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd told us, “Imagine LMN as a beverage that is found on business class of some of the most premier airlines of our country and the same beverage you find in the most rural markets of our country.” Both Fanta Apple and Appy Fizz are positioned as a youthful drink. Where on one hand, Fanta Apple compliments the bolder and expressive shades of the youth; Appy Fizz, on the other, is a drink for those fun-filled moments youth enjoys with friends.

But having a distinct positioning would not alone help these companies to capture a fair share of this price-sensitive market. Carbonated drinks have always lied in the low-involvement impulse buying category. Hence it is imperative that PepsiCo India, Parle Agro and Coca-Cola India get their pricing strategies right. The starting price point of Fanta Apple is Rs.8 and Rs.10 for 200ml and 300ml returnable glass bottles (RGB) respectively; Appy Fizz starts with Rs.18 for a 300ml stock keeping unit (SKU). Such pricing may prove to be a big blow to Appy Fizz, which although is a front-runner in the apple flavoured carbonated drinks segment, yet there isn’t much customer loyalty to the brand because the audience for the drink is niche and limited. Secondly, Fanta Apple carries the legacy of brand Coca-Cola India, which is the market leader. Fanta Apple also scores high with its 600ml PET bottle (Rs.22) as compared to Appy Fizz’s 500ml (Rs.25) and one litre (Rs.45) SKUs.

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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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Monojit Lahiri examines the face-off that continues to plague adville and attempts to play ‘referee’!

2009-06-02T12:04:00.000+05:30

The Most Revolutionary Concept In Education PLANMAN CHE CENTRE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, Supported by IIPM India’s Leading B-School

Whether advertising drives reality or reflects it remains a ball-breaker, hot-potato and one of life’s enduring and unsolved mysteries. Ad-bashers vociferously insist that the adfrat – like Bollywood – continue to get away with blue murder, invariably falling back on that old, moth-balled ghisa-pita line – “Why blame us? We are only reflecting the times…” – each time an ad of dangerously dubious nature screams into focus. The ad guys beg this lot to shake off their Rip Van Winkle robe, wake up and look around. In a globalised, youth-driven world, firmly in the embrace of new-age attitudes and aspirations, this brand of stone-age thinking, they believe, is both regressive and ridiculous.

Okay, so what gives? Is ethics in advertising really an obsolete word in the age of Britney Spears and Rakhi Sawant... or despite all the new-age blah-blah, do basic human values remain unchanged and a hit in that direction spells doom… or are both sides just over-reacting to this issue and in the process, missing out on the much-needed perspective, focus and main plot?

Eminent media commentator and author, Uma Vasudev fires the first salvo. The veteran writer believes that in these irreverent and youth-driven times “it is a fashionable thing – by shallow, self-proclaimed intellectuals and liberated spirits hysterically anxious to get their posturing right by sounding young – to trash anything that is solid, wholesome, traditional or conventional.” While she heartily agrees that some people tend to get too touchy and hyper to some ads [Sprite, MotoYuva, Axe, Virgin Mobile, Colgate], she suggests that some kind of moral policing must happen. “Remember, one man’s humour can be another’s tumour!”

Ex-Motorola and presently Tata Telecom’s Lloyd Mathias – whose (earlier) MotoYuva TVCs feature strongly in this debate – reacts in his usual, laid-back fashion. “See, advertising is about dramatising, blowing-up and exaggerating slice-of-life moments to make them interesting, appealing and engaging to the readers/viewers, while triggering the purchase intent. This has to be done keeping the sensibilities of the target group in mind. A total connect with them is a given.” Mathias points to the ad where the father raves and rants at his son’s shabby room and sloppy everything, while the kid, with earplugs, rhythmically nods to the song he hears on his audio. “It’s a hugely today’s situation and totally identifiable by most parents of teenagers and also the kids themselves. The ad emerged from human insight and was a light-hearted social commentary on the parent-child scenario of the day. It is not and was never meant to promote parental defiance or disrespect. It’s a tongue-in-cheek take on everyday, real-life face-offs between baap-beta!” Same is the case with all the cheeky MotoYuva ads blitzing the ad space, he insists.

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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.
Detail of all IIPM branches
1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
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The Boomerang Karma!

2009-05-20T16:25:00.000+05:30

The Most Revolutionary Concept In Education PLANMAN CHE CENTRE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, Supported by IIPM India’s Leading B-School

According to a report by FICCI and KSA Technopak on fuel retailing, the size of non-fuel retailing sales in countries like United States stands at a huge 39% of gross OMC sales! Even in Europe, countries like France have a non-fuel sales contribution of a smashing 35%! Compare that with India, where non-fuel retail contributes a measly figure of only 2% (Rs.1,000 crore). Just imagine the potential!

But to their credit, Indian OMCs are not acting blind. Market reports do now suggest that some Indian OMCs are working double time to cover up. Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Company Ltd (HPCL) have already made it compulsory for petrol pump owners to have a part of the land for retailing. The above mentioned report does suggest that if Indian OMCs can exploit the segment optimally, the market for non- fuel retailing at petrol pumps is going to stand at a whopping Rs.7,500 crore by 2013, registering a minimum 50% y-o-y growth for the next five years. “Petrol pumps in foreign countries are actually developed as standalone shopping destinations in their own right. India has mid-to-long term potential for the success of these retail models, depending on how well it adapts to actual consumer requirements and psyche,” states Sanjay Chugh – National Head-Retail BD, JLLM.

Till now, among the major three fuel retailers in the country – i.e. HPCL, Bharat Petroleum Company Ltd. [BPCL] and Indian Oil Corporation [IOC] – BPCL is one that has been able to make a healthy net profit (with a whopping 25-50% margin, depending on the outlet) from non-fuel retailing mainly because of its own In&Out stores. At the same time, HPCL has recently announced that the company will provide retail space to Vishal Retail. “HPCL has a chain of around 8,000 outlets across India and according to the MoU, we will open our stores or set up warehouses at some select HPCL outlets,” says R. C. Agarwal, CMD, Vishal Retail. Some other Indian OMCs have now entered into exclusive tie-ups with many companies like Nirulas, Dominos, Café Coffee Day et al and even with various banks for their ATM usage to provide retail space at their petrol pumps.

Strangely, while OMCs are generating a lot of interest, airport retailing is still not getting the expected response from the companies, despite non-aeronautical revenues already hovering around 35% of gross airport authority’s receipts. According to the results announced (in mid-Jan 2009) for the bids of the world duty free shops at the six relatively small (if compared to global standards) international airports in India, there were no companies interested in four of these airports – Jaipur, Lucknow, Amritsar and Thiruvananthapuram. However, Coimbatore received two bids; one from a renowned Dubai based airport retailer Flemingo International Ltd. and the other from the state-owned Indian Tourism Development Corporation. At the Pune airport, Flemingo was the only bidder.

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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.
Detail of all IIPM branches
1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
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IIPM INTERNATIONAL - NEW DELHI, GURGAON & NOIDA
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM : EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

PINING FOR PINT-SIZED WHEELS!

2009-04-24T13:06:00.000+05:30

IIPM set to beat economic slowdown

Yeah... this too is about the US financial metldown and its after effects; but there’s more to the Indian consumer’s yearning for compacts than just less money in their back pockets...

After years of oohing and aahing over luxurious sedans, high-nosed SUVs and adrenalin-pumping sports machines, compacts are once again the flavour of the season. If the hype around the imminent launch of Tata’s Nano is anything to go by, there is more at stake here than meets the eye. Even as naysayers were talking about the demise of the Indian small car market, the year 2009 began with the launch of Hyundai’s premium compact i20 and estimates suggest that of the 50 car launches this year, a majority would be in the compact category. Some 563,398 (SIAM) compacts were sold during April-Nov. 2008 alone and every car maker wanting a bigger slice of the Indian market has a plan for the compact segment. Toyota Kirloskar is setting up vast networks throughout the country in line with launching a Yaris derived compact in India in response to archrival Honda Siel’s plans with the Jazz. Both Honda and Toyota are investing massive capital for the same. Last year, with its new plant, South Korean car maker Hyundai also romped up production from the erstwhile 300,000 units to a whopping 600,000 units for its small car designs. When asked about the company’s plans for compacts last year, Heung Soo Lheem, CEO, Hyundai Motor India told 4Ps B&M, “As soon as our new plant comes up, we will bring in a sibling to the Santro.” He followed up his promise with the new i10 and there could be several new compacts in the offing. General Motors India–despite its plight globally–is also basking in the success of its Spark compact in India. Not to be left behind, premium player Skoda has unleashed the Fabia–positioned as a high end mid segment product.

However, according to Indian small car parameters, a car is justifiable as a small car only if it is within proscribed length limits. But the new generation launches will hardly meet these specifications, given that they are substantially larger. Most car makers have to be content with B+ positioning for their products–a segment that’s out side the purchasing purlieu of most buyers upgrading from a two-wheeler. But market dynamics are gradually changing. A mere look at compact sales figures show that the ‘A’ segment is on a gradual decline, while there’s a steady shift toward large compacts. It all began with the Suzuki Swift (in the B+ segment), which intoxicated the nation with its looks and competitive pricing, just as its sibling did in 1982 (in the A segment). Now, first time buyers are becoming more carefree about cost differentials and are rather driven by brag value. A look at the fast rising sales charts is enough to motivate car makers to bring in substantially larger, new generation compacts (almost like a saloon), proving government rules obsolete. After the launch of the Fiat Palio, Indians got a taste of large roomy perceived small cars that were affordable, comfortable and surprisingly easy to drive in congested cities.

Sure, the financial meltdown and liquidity crunch are the key persuaders for consumers opting for compacts instead of copious four-wheelers; but as the market stabilizes, chimeras like the Mercedes-Benz A-class and that lovely Volkswagen Golf GTi (premium compacts) are just as capable of giving a new flavour to the power of small.

Karan Mehrishi

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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.
1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers
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FROM CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA, HE IS EVERYWHERE

2009-04-03T14:59:00.000+05:30

1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers

FROM KHATRON KA KHILADI TO SINGH IS KINNG, BRAND AKSHAY KUMAR IS RULING BOLLYWOOD, THE IDIOT BOX AND THE AD WORLD!

His is a classic tale of beginning from scratch and making it big on the silver screen! After all, it’s tough for a man with no filmi background to make it so big in the cat-eat-cat world of Bollywood! But Akshay Kumar (or Akki, if you please) with his impeccable charm and effervescence has made it happen. With his no compromises attitude, this Dillii lad has established himself as a brand to reckon with over the last two years.

“Akshay has been in his true element since last 3-4 years. But the major reason for him being a brand is his great looks and modesty, as he represents the great Indian dream, equalised in true sense without any godfathers,” agrees Atul Kasbekar, Chairman & MD, Bling! Entertainment Solutions. True, but the one thing that has worked wonders for Akki is his single minded Khiladi positioning over the years – certainly an evolutionary brand rather than a revolutionary one. No doubt the former grows slowly but stays in action for a longer time. Moreover, Akshay has not just been a top-rung actor in films, but is also among the top grossers as far as endorsements go, with brands like Thums Up, Grasim, Microsoft Xbox and Levi’s already under his belt. But marketers are demanding more. Avers Jagdeep Kapoor, CMD, Samsika Marketing, “Akshay is one brand that has many more years to go. He is definitely incomparable when it comes to core values.” From selling food at a stall in Bangkok to selling pedigree brands, Akki has indeed come a long way. Agrees Kashmira Chadha, Director Marketing,

Coca-Cola India, “As a brand icon, Akshay Kumar has all throughout demonstrated his adventurous skills and has truly brought out the attitude of an Indian male. Action, attitude & adventure are qualities which one closely identifies with Akshay Kumar.” Akshay Kumar has been the brain behind building his own brand and has re-written the rules of the Indian movie business. He embodies the values of originality, sexiness and rugged masculinity that christened him as the global ambassador of Levi’s. “Akshay has lived his life unbuttoned... on his own terms, not dictated by box office norms, industry godfathers or stereotypes. He has challenged conventions throughout – just when the industry gave him the title of ‘action hero’, he demonstrated his forte in romance and comedy. And now when he is being appreciated for his comic roles in his recent blockbusters, he is going back to action movies,” avers Rajesh Gangwani, Sr. VP, JWT.

Even film critic, Taran Adarsh gushes, “Chandni Chowk to China looks promising as Akshay is on a roll these days with successive hits. Hopefully the year 2009 would also have something in store for him.” Now that’s what we call a simple story of a ‘King’ who pays homage to the classic formula of Bollywood movie ‘masala’ magic and that too from Chandni Chowk to Bollywood!

Neha Saraiya

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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.
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
IIPM Admission Detail
IIPM Programme :- SUPERIOR COURSE CONTENTS
IIPM INTERNATIONAL - NEW DELHI, GURGAON & NOIDA IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM : EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

And the final dope for 2009

2009-03-24T11:42:00.000+05:30

1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers

Will number of movies reduce? Yes! But more because of worthless ones not even being planned. Will actor fees reduce? Yes! But more because they were anyway inflated till date. Will collection figures go down? Here comes the true blue Iacocca analysis from Shubho Shekhar of Planman Motion Pictures, “In simple and straightforward terms, if the movie is – simply put – good, and if there are no negative factors (like terror attacks) working against it, then recession or no recession, low budget or big budget, the movie will gross above average, if not better.” If Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has grossed over Rs.60 crores till date (trade reports confirm Rs.25 crores domestic and Rs.8 crores overseas in the weekend itself) despite having an average storyline, we should be perhaps paying Lee Iacocca his rightful due, an apology. Oh yes, Iacocca never made a movie in his lifetime. And the company he ran – Chrysler – is about to file for a billion dollar bankruptcy...

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
IIPM Admission Detail
IIPM Programme :- SUPERIOR COURSE CONTENTS
IIPM INTERNATIONAL - NEW DELHI, GURGAON & NOIDA
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM : EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
IIPM’s 36th Glorious Year of Academic Excellence
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

On improving affordability...

2009-03-13T15:49:00.000+05:30

IIPM Admission Detail

What reasons do you attribute to the prevailing slump in the auto sector?
Though the auto industry is witnessing a slow growth, but so far it still looks positive. It is a cyclical industry and is used to such downturns in the past. The overall economy is slowing and sentiments are weak, thus customers are postponing their buying decisions. With low penetration level and growing middle-class, the auto industry in India has a bright future, both in the medium and long term. Most manufacturers are betting on their future in India & China, where this industry is growing at its fastest. This is also evident from the fact that some more manufacturers are setting up base in India, taking advantage of the low production costs and growing domestic market.

So can we expect the end of this dark tunnel soon?
This is the time to tighten seat belts and increase efforts in terms of marketing and reach out to customers instead of waiting for them. It’s the right time for manufacturers to review their network strength, and build upon it, look at supporting the network to improve efficiency and financial health. This strong network will come handy as the situation improves...

What should the companies do to attract more buyers?
The companies need to focus and concentrate on small car production. India being a price sensitive market the manufacturers need to make cars more affordable...

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Programme :- SUPERIOR COURSE CONTENTS
IIPM INTERNATIONAL - NEW DELHI, GURGAON & NOIDA
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM : EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
IIPM’s 36th Glorious Year of Academic Excellence
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!