Yeah, even I think what the title suggests is pretty weird!
I've always heard/read of old times' India, seen it a little bit during childhood. One thing that has not changed ever is the passion for the sport of cricket. If I speak about love for cricket in India, it'll be like underlining for billionth time!
While growing up I used to watch Indian teams that were king at home on dusty pitches with outfields resembling nothing but deserts.
Those were the times when one dive on Indian grounds could risk your bones, when most of the players who could be best described as 5'5" 50 kg bodies which spoke of malnutrition & poverty in India, when tours were just meant for holidays & shopping, when all media could talk was margins of victory - Indian victories if we played home or other country's if we played away. Yes, those were the times when Indian commentators used to lambaste Indian batsmen for showing even minuscule sign of aggression, when Indians saw nothing but Miandad's sixer or Imran Khan's yorker in their nightmares!
Aah, those were the days when India played the Gentleman's Game Gently!
Not anymore!
Dhoni's team is full of hefty youngsters - they don't look frail or weak when standing with an Aussie, they don't get intimidated, they're not scared, they can kick A**es with bat/bowl/words!
They never take anything lying down, they give everything back perhaps with more vengeance!
And mind you it's not just the aggression - it's aggression with talent and performance.
What made a guy like Sehwag be so arrogant in batting like the way he does? Has anyone seen a front view of his bat?
In a country that still treats 'sex' as a taboo, how come Zaheer Khan acknowledges the 'best chest' award by Mumbai girls? How can Yuvraj be so confident of having the 'best ass'? (are we talking of India here? :O)
Why wasn't Ganguly ashamed of ripping off his shirt on Lord's balcony where anything less than a coat is 'indecent'?
Why doesn't Dhoni treat Sachin, the god, special? Why such a 'senior' person covers the boundary in death overs? Did anyone ever even think of anything like that before in Indian cricket?
How come the captain of the Indian cricket is cool under pressure? Where's all the burden of billions of Indians' expectations?
This bloody team beats other teams in their backyards, they're not afraid of traveling, they're not afraid of Murali's, Warne's, Akhtar's!
Mumbai crowd harasses Andrew Symonds till he gets away, Indian cricket pressurizes 'white' nations to play according to their conditions, 'whiter & richer' cricket countries form a union against India & still fail to affect: Isn't that unusual for India?
What happened all of a sudden?
If people still think this is limited to just cricket: look around again, see Indians around you if possible.
Every youngster today relates to this Indian cricket team, we have come far & beyond!
Bollywood & cricket have inspired India a lot, but this is the time when India has affected Cricket!
Look at this team: they're not guys from Mumbai or Delhi, they're from a small UP village or a Maharashtra small town or from a very poor Muslim family in Gujarat town. They have not had their childhood dedicated to cricket.
On the same veins, look at Indian youngsters - they're no more like their parents. Many of them are not even dependent by the time they turn 21. In the country that taught 'save-when-you-earn', they buy things they want when they want. Where pubs/discs are a no-no, the new India makes plans for parties every weekend. In a country where holidays meant visiting a religious place with family, they go holidaying with friends. - is only money & spending capacity (or technology) responsible for all this?
Not really.
India's truly going places and this may just be that time of metamorphosis. Look at the attitude shift, Indians are no more ashamed of their color or even their habits.
And just like the cricket team, this is not just the outlook - but there's talent to back it up too.
Ofcourse, there are problems just like Indian team's losses. However, what strikes you the most is how India handles these losses/failures these days?
Isn't Dhoni someone who truly represents the new India? The India my generation belongs to?
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
India to have next Silicon Valley: Yes
There isn’t much when it comes to difference between business scene anywhere in the world today. It has not remained special that we live in a totally globalized village called the world.
Whatever India has done, achieved is fantastic & India is definitely one nation that can keep it up – recent statements by Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister have re-iterated the beliefs that India has always been & will always pursue balanced growth.
India probably has the best talent set in the world & with Silicon Valley facing the heat due to economic slowdown, reverse brain drain could lead to more local talent in India.
India’s poor infrastructure & poor healthcare facilities actually add incentives to business growth – it opens up that many opportunities for businesses to penetrate Indian markets across segments. Lacking on basic amenities front also makes India an easy market ‘customers don’t expect the highest quality’
Though we have always had cultural barriers & produced out-of-the-shell, conventional IIT/IIM scholars, the radical shift in Gennext India’s thinking is significant. India’s set for a big attitude change. On the same lines, it is in fact great that ‘face of India’ is very young, there has been a constant shift of leadership powers from typical ‘old is gold’ category to ‘young & blunt’ psyche.
Nice to see so many young Indian CEOs & business leaders who are flexible in thought process & much quicker to adapt to changes – something that’s very critical in technology world. Though cultural trend shifting could take many years, it’s nice to see signals that India is on the brink.
Indians do crib a lot: may be they care more. It is necessary that criticism is directed to good channels & utilized. Even on that count, culture is taking a sharp turn in India.
Surging economy is another factor that’s driving investments in India – which has probably the most optimistic market today. Low-costs of entering, low-cost talent available in abundance could really gel well with friendly business environment to create next Silicon Valley in India.
Some of the related articles I would like you to read:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/17/beware-the-reverse-brain-drain-to-india-and-china/
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2009/tc20090228_990934.htm
Whatever India has done, achieved is fantastic & India is definitely one nation that can keep it up – recent statements by Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister have re-iterated the beliefs that India has always been & will always pursue balanced growth.
India probably has the best talent set in the world & with Silicon Valley facing the heat due to economic slowdown, reverse brain drain could lead to more local talent in India.
India’s poor infrastructure & poor healthcare facilities actually add incentives to business growth – it opens up that many opportunities for businesses to penetrate Indian markets across segments. Lacking on basic amenities front also makes India an easy market ‘customers don’t expect the highest quality’
Though we have always had cultural barriers & produced out-of-the-shell, conventional IIT/IIM scholars, the radical shift in Gennext India’s thinking is significant. India’s set for a big attitude change. On the same lines, it is in fact great that ‘face of India’ is very young, there has been a constant shift of leadership powers from typical ‘old is gold’ category to ‘young & blunt’ psyche.
Nice to see so many young Indian CEOs & business leaders who are flexible in thought process & much quicker to adapt to changes – something that’s very critical in technology world. Though cultural trend shifting could take many years, it’s nice to see signals that India is on the brink.
Indians do crib a lot: may be they care more. It is necessary that criticism is directed to good channels & utilized. Even on that count, culture is taking a sharp turn in India.
Surging economy is another factor that’s driving investments in India – which has probably the most optimistic market today. Low-costs of entering, low-cost talent available in abundance could really gel well with friendly business environment to create next Silicon Valley in India.
Some of the related articles I would like you to read:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/17/beware-the-reverse-brain-drain-to-india-and-china/
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2009/tc20090228_990934.htm
India to have next Silicon Velley: No
From being a nation of snakes and Sadhus (priests), we’re now known for our brains & confident outlook. Soon as I (or my looks) tell people that I am from India, I see respect & an assumption that I must be into software (which actually is not wrong).
The change was brought about when Bangalore happened to India, much read, much written so am not gonna talk on that anymore.
As usual, I will stick to my policy of not bombarding readers with data.
Of course the following thought process + analysis stems from the recognition that India has arrived on the world stage & achieved BIG time. Is India really there? Is Bangalore anywhere close to Silicon Valley? Definite NO. Still feel India has got the last mile yet to travel & seems as if that’s gonna be the most critical part of India growing.
The perennial Indian problems: dilapidated infrastructure, poor transport, heavy pollution levels have plagued Indian IT cities equally. Bangalore suffers from pollution, bad traffic & poor waste management. Pune has issues with transport, roads. Pune also suffers due to non-availability of an international airport (which is already at least 15 years late). Less talk the better about Mumbai. Hyderabad & NCR have performed much better on these counts however these cities struggle on security due to communal tensions and high crime rates.
Now, these problems can be overcome by political positive will which needs to be aroused by people & businessmen.
Towards more subtle & may be more critical issues in building a business hub:
1. India scores low on ‘risk-taking’. Many factors like traditional brain-drain, political apathy towards research & business, culture that discourages failures – have contributed to Indian talents riding safer boats, always!
Cannot remember exactly who said it recently, I came across an article lambasting Indian culture for not being able to encourage failures: I agree with the thought & strongly feel that overall culture, the ecosystem that we’re brought up in determines the risk-taking capabilities of a person which is one of THE most crucial factors in business (majorly during starting up)
2. Something that plays a major dampener in India’s growth is the behavior of the talent pool: many people sitting in India are trying to solve problems faced by the US. Globalization is very welcome but there must be a stream of people focusing on India’s local problems too.
Aren’t we missing out on ideas and business opportunities that lie in our own backyards?
Indian IT is far far away from the rural India & it’s an irony these guys expect the government to come to them. The e-growth is not reaching the lowest levels yet. Reaching rural India doesn’t mean philanthropy or charity: treat it like business, pure business.
For an example: Microsoft (and other Silicon Valley giants like HP, IBM, Intel) enabled American small towns to utilize teachnolgy for growth, these firms not only strengthened the technology base of common American citizen they also ripped off huge benefits out of it. ‘Make people use what you make.
If they can’t, teach them how to use what you make – even better’ India IT is still to realize the importance of ‘creating’ a customer base. Indian software giants are falling behind & they are still concentrating on existing (and saturated) US markets. Probably one of the reasons why Infosys, Wipro, TCS can’t be what Intel, Cisco, HP are.
3. Another amazing difference you can notice between cultures: Indians complain a lot more. It is a trend in India – to complain & crib about governments. It seems Indian society has not reached a level of maturity. Experts complain, celebrities complain, businessmen complain.
You’d see a much better attitude in Silicon Valley where everyone upbeat and brimming with confidence – a characteristic exuberance that makes Silicon Valley what it is Today.
The negative cribbing leads to people getting away from India’s causes, it hampers health & harmony of the society. As it turns out, Bangalore is far away from drawing a line between criticism & cribbing. (I had talked about this in one of my last posts as well - http://therigidandnimblepartofit.blogspot.com/2009/10/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html)
4. One more factor that could well spoil India’s party is social disparity across the country. In my opinion, India has the highest delta in the world between the rich & the poor – which results in consistent communal unrest every now and then – also, this kind of imbalance is responsible for producing many upstarts & pseudo-intellectuals. Recently seen an example of this divide - http://therigidandnimblepartofit.blogspot.com/2009/12/as-amazed-as-i-am-right-now-not-sure.html#links
5. As if to congregate these factors, India’s blessed with an immature and biased media that relies on igniting the emotions to earn every Rupee they can (I have followed Indian media quite consistently but haven’t been much impressed: http://therigidandnimblepartofit.blogspot.com/2009/10/media-religion.html)
6. Also of paramount importance while setting up a global industry is to have a good ecosystem of business that contains good technical schools, research labs - fronts India under perform on. Very little percentage of India's budget is directed towards the R&D, something that needs to be stepped up in order to control brain-drain (if it at all exists in this not-so-optimistic job market) & to encourage reverse brain-drain (something China's doing to great effect). R&D in India is as good as nothing - it hardly gets any support - it hardly contributes anything!
Wish India to travel the last mile!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
2 States
As amazed as I am right now, not sure about what? Another state in the making or the reactions that I have read/heard?
Telangana has gone beyond as an issue only for people of that region, I view it having much deeper consequences than it seems.
However, people blindly condemning is not acceptable (at any time, I'd say).
For starters, Telangana is probably the oldest movement for a separate state in India; much different than Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & Uttarakhand.
The new states I just mentioned did not hold such strong demands, creation of those states was more political than people-felt.
On progress & development, J'khand, U'khand & C'garh have done much better than their respective parent states Bihar, UP & MP. Why can't the always-poor Telangana do the same?
Smaller states are always easier to administer!
On language & culture, if there can be more than one state speaking Hindi,Bengali,Marathi (counting Konkani spoken in Goa as a Marathi dialect) why can't there be more than one state speaking Telugu?
Now, the way that was used to influence this decision was fasting & non-co-operation: two of the means used by Gandhi for India's independence. I agree comparison with Gandhi may be wrong but the section that supports Telangana would definitely hail this as one similar. Looking at Indian netizens' tirade against KCR & a separate Telangana, isn't it double-standard to blame fellow Indians for such uprising? Don't we Indians fail to understand other Indians many a times?
That poses another question to me: if we can get so easily affected by whatever media publishes (considering major part of the media blamed Telangana), do we have the right to speak against jobless youths who vandalize public properties?
Who really understands plight of Telangana that always been hit by Naxalism, the region that has always seen prosperity from far away.
Another subtle fact worth noticing is that Hyderabad is too rich for Andhra Pradesh. For an overall poor state & less literate state (FYI - Andhra Pradesh is the only non-Hindi major state that has literacy below India's average), Hyderabad grew too much.
Andhra Pradesh's grounds could never match itself with Cyberabad's skies!
Difference between Hyderabad & small towns of Andhra has always been too much to be retained on the same level. Andhra doesn't even have another tier-2 or tier-3 city. Such mismatch would always lead to social restlessness. This is why we need balanced growth.
This is why we need common social vision.
If this makes you think I support Telangana, it's not so.
There are implications too:
1. This could become a trend & people could start blackmailing the central government with protests + hunger + strikes + bandhs
I expect a lot (and a lot more) maturity on handling this division, it could be delayed or scarce chances it could be canceled as well.
But, this is the testing time for the UPA government, need to set an example!
2. BJP's 'divide the states & rule' policy should not be propelled. BJP (or any party) will definitely try to gain political mileage from such issues. Great that BJP doesn't have significant presence in Telangana or Andhra!
The 'cause' of Telangana should not be misinterpreted as a political move ...
And on the final note, I would like to applaud the Congress government for taking the decision BEFORE much damage happened.
For those who don't know, there was a clear intelligence warning that Naxalites may used Telangana students to create unrest in the entire state which may have resulted in a serious damage to peace of the region and further law & order problems.
Wish Telangana all the peace they ever deserved!
Telangana has gone beyond as an issue only for people of that region, I view it having much deeper consequences than it seems.
However, people blindly condemning is not acceptable (at any time, I'd say).
For starters, Telangana is probably the oldest movement for a separate state in India; much different than Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & Uttarakhand.
The new states I just mentioned did not hold such strong demands, creation of those states was more political than people-felt.
On progress & development, J'khand, U'khand & C'garh have done much better than their respective parent states Bihar, UP & MP. Why can't the always-poor Telangana do the same?
Smaller states are always easier to administer!
On language & culture, if there can be more than one state speaking Hindi,Bengali,Marathi (counting Konkani spoken in Goa as a Marathi dialect) why can't there be more than one state speaking Telugu?
Now, the way that was used to influence this decision was fasting & non-co-operation: two of the means used by Gandhi for India's independence. I agree comparison with Gandhi may be wrong but the section that supports Telangana would definitely hail this as one similar. Looking at Indian netizens' tirade against KCR & a separate Telangana, isn't it double-standard to blame fellow Indians for such uprising? Don't we Indians fail to understand other Indians many a times?
That poses another question to me: if we can get so easily affected by whatever media publishes (considering major part of the media blamed Telangana), do we have the right to speak against jobless youths who vandalize public properties?
Who really understands plight of Telangana that always been hit by Naxalism, the region that has always seen prosperity from far away.
Another subtle fact worth noticing is that Hyderabad is too rich for Andhra Pradesh. For an overall poor state & less literate state (FYI - Andhra Pradesh is the only non-Hindi major state that has literacy below India's average), Hyderabad grew too much.
Andhra Pradesh's grounds could never match itself with Cyberabad's skies!
Difference between Hyderabad & small towns of Andhra has always been too much to be retained on the same level. Andhra doesn't even have another tier-2 or tier-3 city. Such mismatch would always lead to social restlessness. This is why we need balanced growth.
This is why we need common social vision.
If this makes you think I support Telangana, it's not so.
There are implications too:
1. This could become a trend & people could start blackmailing the central government with protests + hunger + strikes + bandhs
I expect a lot (and a lot more) maturity on handling this division, it could be delayed or scarce chances it could be canceled as well.
But, this is the testing time for the UPA government, need to set an example!
2. BJP's 'divide the states & rule' policy should not be propelled. BJP (or any party) will definitely try to gain political mileage from such issues. Great that BJP doesn't have significant presence in Telangana or Andhra!
The 'cause' of Telangana should not be misinterpreted as a political move ...
And on the final note, I would like to applaud the Congress government for taking the decision BEFORE much damage happened.
For those who don't know, there was a clear intelligence warning that Naxalites may used Telangana students to create unrest in the entire state which may have resulted in a serious damage to peace of the region and further law & order problems.
Wish Telangana all the peace they ever deserved!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The media religion
Had a chance to go through some of the news coverage websites & TV channels lately, most of them focusing on Maharashtra assembly elections.
It's not surprising that Raj Thackeray was the biggest villain for almost all of the Indian 'national' media, most of them stayed focused on the Thackerays & hardly anything was noticed against a poor performing Congress government.
The Congress party has once again utilized the media very smartly to their advantage, which in fact, is quite a good political quality.
However, what I saw in the media under 'Reactions against Raj' was appalling & disappointing to say the least.
Some people called him Jinnah, some called Maharashtra a new Pakistan (WTF, WT big F)! Many of the online readers comfortably used the F*** word against him, there was no dearth of online abuse for MNS & no level of decency while using this 'freedom of expression'.
Even more shocking is that none of the 'national' media houses bothered to stop this cheap level of anger-venting.
And not for just supporting what I like, but honestly, all the MNS fans (at least in my view) have maintained that decency and honored the 'right' expressions, which is heartening to see.
Has Indian media divided us? Aren't they biased?
I say again & again that Raj Thackeray has been misinterpreted. He's the only politician I have ever listened to or read who has the balls to talk against SLUMS.
I dare any of India's national parties talk against hazards and threats from Slums, can you guys come forward and speak?
Anyway, let me not further get into MNS, their agenda & Mumbai-Maharashtra's problem.
Indian media comfortably influences the literate of India, it has made pseudo-intellectuals borne everywhere.
Most of Indian internet users are literate, since India's not so much used to the internet yet.
Look what 'most educated' people talk? Doesn't that sound as a 'verbal abuse'?
Consistently failing to play any constructive role over the time, Indian media has developed itself into a hypocrite phenomenon.
Is Indian media a new religion in India?
Why blame extremists, look at Indian Media ... they have made the most educated group go crazy!
Literate (let me just use the term 'India literates' henceforth) people follow blindly what's presented to them through this media (you can't blame them ... sorry, you can't blame us ... for that).
We're driven by media conclusions so much that we don't wanna verify anything for ourselves.
We very well know the rule: once a Madness/Religion is followed by many, it multiplies rapidly.
Isn't this the same media that projected Narendra Modi as modern day Jinnah few years ago? (who, IMO, is now the best Chief minister in India)
Isn't this the same media that caused a major embarrassment to India, reporting false against China? (and later, not disclose it). It went on to be labeled India's fear.
I came across some videos claiming tampering with Varun Gandhi's remarks too (not very sure on that, though)
These guys are the first to report 'famous' side of the story and suppress the other.
Same happened to MNS protests, same happened to doctors & pilots on strike, students from AIIMS-Delhi protesting against reservations.
I wonder why don't we ever listen to what our Congress government is up to? (not that am against or for them)
Or a recent one, projecting the India-born Nobel prize laureate so much that he was irritated by Indians.
On the issue of staying fair and notwithstanding other aspects of media, let's just hope we become a better media, rather than an emotional & igniting one.
It's not surprising that Raj Thackeray was the biggest villain for almost all of the Indian 'national' media, most of them stayed focused on the Thackerays & hardly anything was noticed against a poor performing Congress government.
The Congress party has once again utilized the media very smartly to their advantage, which in fact, is quite a good political quality.
However, what I saw in the media under 'Reactions against Raj' was appalling & disappointing to say the least.
Some people called him Jinnah, some called Maharashtra a new Pakistan (WTF, WT big F)! Many of the online readers comfortably used the F*** word against him, there was no dearth of online abuse for MNS & no level of decency while using this 'freedom of expression'.
Even more shocking is that none of the 'national' media houses bothered to stop this cheap level of anger-venting.
And not for just supporting what I like, but honestly, all the MNS fans (at least in my view) have maintained that decency and honored the 'right' expressions, which is heartening to see.
Has Indian media divided us? Aren't they biased?
I say again & again that Raj Thackeray has been misinterpreted. He's the only politician I have ever listened to or read who has the balls to talk against SLUMS.
I dare any of India's national parties talk against hazards and threats from Slums, can you guys come forward and speak?
Anyway, let me not further get into MNS, their agenda & Mumbai-Maharashtra's problem.
Indian media comfortably influences the literate of India, it has made pseudo-intellectuals borne everywhere.
Most of Indian internet users are literate, since India's not so much used to the internet yet.
Look what 'most educated' people talk? Doesn't that sound as a 'verbal abuse'?
Consistently failing to play any constructive role over the time, Indian media has developed itself into a hypocrite phenomenon.
Is Indian media a new religion in India?
Why blame extremists, look at Indian Media ... they have made the most educated group go crazy!
Literate (let me just use the term 'India literates' henceforth) people follow blindly what's presented to them through this media (you can't blame them ... sorry, you can't blame us ... for that).
We're driven by media conclusions so much that we don't wanna verify anything for ourselves.
We very well know the rule: once a Madness/Religion is followed by many, it multiplies rapidly.
Isn't this the same media that projected Narendra Modi as modern day Jinnah few years ago? (who, IMO, is now the best Chief minister in India)
Isn't this the same media that caused a major embarrassment to India, reporting false against China? (and later, not disclose it). It went on to be labeled India's fear.
I came across some videos claiming tampering with Varun Gandhi's remarks too (not very sure on that, though)
These guys are the first to report 'famous' side of the story and suppress the other.
Same happened to MNS protests, same happened to doctors & pilots on strike, students from AIIMS-Delhi protesting against reservations.
I wonder why don't we ever listen to what our Congress government is up to? (not that am against or for them)
Or a recent one, projecting the India-born Nobel prize laureate so much that he was irritated by Indians.
On the issue of staying fair and notwithstanding other aspects of media, let's just hope we become a better media, rather than an emotional & igniting one.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
When India talks business
Constant unyielding comparisons:
I happen to attend few of the startup events (in person or over the web) recently. Most of them were related to doing business in India or just say business in India. India, one of the biggest markets, probably one of the few of the balanced ones in terms of the range of products and services, stands as one of the largest growing economy of the world. Many other nations and investors would be interested in India. As in any typical Indian business event, I saw lots of promise and pretty active hope with beaming confidence of the investors as well as the entrepreneurs.
Getting inspired is very common and sometimes natural in India. We look at others’ examples for learning; which in some carefully limited sense, is good and preferred. However, I at every time during any discussion on business, could not help listen to the US (and sometimes, European or Chinese) examples more than India-centered conversation. Do we compare too much?
Comparison plays a very important part of lifestyle in India which was sadly seen on business stage as well. Do we have to follow the US or China or some other nation on development?
Lack of emphasis on our strengths:
Dependant and comparative attitude has already driven us away from our strengths. Despite having huge cultivated land for agriculture, we could not bring science and technology at the core inside of the agro business. It is not very surprising that farming, agriculture, fruit and flower cultivation techniques, water and land related innovations have emanated from US and European nations (notably, Switzerland, Netherlands and Israel from Asia). Have we forgotten our strengths all together? Despite an amazingly big market for vegetables/dairy/farm products in India, we rarely see green startups.
Agree to high extent that we have been blessed with some of the best Tech brains too, Indians are probably one of the most competently techie personalities. What concerns me is that despite a section in our nation being so strong, technology penetration into ordinary households is poor. The tech creamy layer has failed (Or just say, is not inspired enough) to spread it around India. Secondly, gradient of difference between people ‘attracted’ to tech startups and green startups is alarmingly steep west. On the top of my mind, it seems that this scenario has led India to an imbalance: despite high foreign currency investments, technology advancements and the IT, India’s still way behind the world in infrastructure (poor communication, poor networks and pathetic handling of emergency), pollution control, damage control due to natural hazards or calamities, and resisting the global warming.
Personal point in case: when I talked to investors and VCs about these issues needing to be addressed, few of them turned away blaming it all on Indian government while few just surrendered admitting their failures or impatience to deal with the Indian government.
Media negative propagation, not using media well:
Can media pressurize the government positively? Has the business community failed to focus on pressing (but equally potential) issues and spreading it across? Is the Indian media biased or just lagging behind the era? Has the term ‘constructive medium’ of communication vanished and Media’s now defined as ‘something that reports what happens around’?
Ignoring whichever the reason and whatever that has happened so far, India to become a strong nation needs its Business community and Media to focus constructively on long (or very long) term internal buildup [and not just look at short-term financial and strategic gains]
Not using the Indian Diaspora well:
Before I start on this, I must appreciate all startup incubators to make conscious efforts towards getting the ‘Rich and Investing’ Indian Diaspora around the world attracted to new business setups.
India is nation that commendably utilizes the outside currency earned by its citizens for growth. Reportedly, India has the highest incoming remittances which must be appreciated by even the most ardent critiques of the nation.
However, these incoming funds (except the notable exceptions of FIIs and FDIs and some VCs) are not majorly directed towards India’s growth in a balanced direction; SMBs which form India’s core of business. To attract investors, we must give them Value and nothing else.
Government restrictions:
The Indian government also plays a spoilsport and is most responsible for too many restrictions in every sector related to business. Weak internal security is blamed on technology, speedy growth of Telecom and Internet is always checked with numerous restrictions. India is still not a business friendly nation. What’s worse is that there has been no explicit attempt made to move forward in the direction. Any proposal to start a business is met with thousands of paper licenses which take almost an era.
Indian government, it seems, likes India to remain a nation of Snakes and Sadhus (with weak and poor villages). Not just the internal security (actually, sheer lack of it) but India’s ignorant attitude towards healthcare, education and layered social structure make it difficult for core development issues to be concentrated upon. Every election in India is still ruled by issues on castes and religions.
It is however astounding to see Mumbai as one of the major financial centers of the world and as one of the most optimistic markets at this time. Can’t help but imagine only if the government was a little more supportive!
There’s need to attract outsiders (not related to India) to come and invest and do business in India; many pillars of this structure; majorly infrastructure, security and the society need to change.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Healthy way forward
Reading about Swine Flu and H1N1 every day has made me ponder on diseases and then communicable diseases. Cannot help but feel the reason that India performs poorly against Communicable diseases has most to do with its society and the social culture. India ranks amongst one of the worst in the world when it comes to checking the spread of communicable diseases. Staying in Pune, the swine flu capital of the nation has made me take all sorts of precautions and heed to what not every day.
Not caring about others comes very naturally to us. Unless someone is your relative or friend, there is no responsibility towards that person. Even the great Indian culture does not teach anything about strangers too (there could be some random texts which are always forgotten).
Waste management:
The clumsiness, untidiness, waste on roads, social areas, public places is a perfect example. All we wanna do is keep our (narrow) surroundings safe and that is it. And don’t be mistaken, it is never an honest mistake.
Poor record against communicable diseases:
People regularly go out and teach their children to go out even while sick. Cough and cold are just not considered disease enough. You could see as much as around 10-15% of crowd at social places sick. This has apparently become one of the major reasons India has one of the worst health facilities in the world.
Rumors:
Then, we love to spread rumors, every day, every moment. There’s a severe lack of social responsibility all around. Information floats on a needless basis. We never care if any of what we talk or spread spreads myths or panic.
After all, we use our government as a scapegoat and run away ourselves. It is time we identify the pillars of social->healthcare->hygiene pyramids and start acting responsibly ourselves. We need a major upliftment in our societal (and cultural, too) psyche.
Are we even ready to change?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Pune Panic
· Hitting the panic button
With second probable swine flu death occurring in Mumbai, Maharashtra, even I did feel a sense of scare about swine flu. Staying in Pune (the swine flu capital) these days is much about receiving phone calls from home, friends, relatives inquiring about health, asking to take ‘due’ precautions.
There’s definite sense of panic in the pleasant Pune air; people rush to testing centers at the drop of hat, some suffering from headaches directly ask the docs if they are suffering from swine flu. Number of masked people has gone up around the city (P.S. I read this somewhere; I haven’t really stepped out much unless really required). You can’t criticize them though. No harm in taking precautions.
But really, who is/are responsible for this panic? Government, hospitals, media, entirely?
· Private & Public hospitals handling (in Pune and quite the same, around India)
Government has put a stubborn face not providing private hospitals with Tami flu medicines which could cure the Swine Flu. That has, in the most negative way, caused the private hospitals to turn down almost every sort of patient showing even the mildest forms of Flu symptoms (sometimes, not even, those).
Is it totally government’s fault? Aren’t private hospitals irresponsible themselves? Haven’t they done enough to lose the credibility not to be trusted to serve the real needy in such times?
Government hospitals have their own woes. In India, they are supposed to be only for the poor. With severe shortage of staff and space, some of the Hospitals in Pune have failed miserably to counter the spreading epidemic.
· Lack of Dissemination of information
Some doc just said in a TV show on CNN IBN (the Pune debate) that he still gets calls from people asking what are the symptoms of swine flu? I got an information pamphlet from a nearby hospital just today (till now, there have been 160 cases on Swine flu in Pune with a death).
There has been decent amount of awareness in upscale and middle class suburbs. However, a lot has been desired in slums and industrial workers’ colonies yet.
Someone said that Pune Municipal Corporation needs to follow Pune police pattern of regularly sending SMSes/emails to alert or spread awareness among citizens: this, IMO, is a compliment to Maharashtra’s home department that gets bashed every now and then, after every terror attack.
· Healthcare facilities and infrastructure
Despite several planning from India and Maharashtra governments, healthcare remains a highly vulnerable sector. There has never been a focus on ‘total and all round’ development. India, due to its lack of intent and efforts alongwith political apathy has emerged as a high danger destination for almost all kinds of diseases.
There has never been an active promotion of cleanliness and greenery in India (although on a respectable note, I find a few tiny groups supporting the cause).
Probably no one’s aware that there’s a more serious epidemic of cerebral malaria running through Bihar right now, which has already claimed 10 lives amongst 1500 cases found so far.
Thankfully, swine flu hasn’t yet spread much in villages and rural parts of the nation. It is imperative the epidemic be controlled.
· Solution: The Mexico pattern?
Mexico kept itself totally shut for a few days and overcame the flu. Can Maharashtra (and or even, Delhi) ever take such step? Can an Indian state ever be so bold, protective and strong?
If not, what are other ways of restricting swine flu now and such diseases in future?
As in my earlier writes, I again question India’s political willpower (earlier it was about tackling the terror). We, Maharashtra, need to show the way. We have highest number of foreign visitors alongwith highest number of foreign visits. If we cannot protect ourselves against terror and epidemics, how can we attract foreign visits and businesses in future?
There needs to be another ’93 where Maharashtra displayed exemplary handling of riot control and post-earthquake rehabilitation.
Delhi needs to come up with something similar in order to keep the interest alive in 2010 C’wealth games. It has constantly suffered from epidemics.
· Link for helpline/information
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