When I was young I thought Ayodhya had the largest concentration of monkeys for historical and mythical reasons. Whe I grew older I realised it was my native town, when I came to Delhi as a young person, I had no doubt that north block was most monkey-dense place in the world (I do not intend any pun here, and mean the real monkeys). For the imbecile, North Block is the office block on nothern front of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan which has the offices of senior ministers and bureaucrats.
Going back to the issue of monkeys in my middle age now, I am very confused. I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and seen several concentration of monkeys in various parts of the country. I have also known with age that monkeys no longer come with long tails, there is an equally prevalent variant with two legs and no tail. In fact far more prevalent than the orignal version.
It was during the mental turmoil of locating the highest concentration of monkeys in India that I chanced upon my answer. It came in a flash, like Newton and the apple, or Archimides and the bath tub. It came one late night when I was surfing news channels in the mute. In a flash I had my answer. Since then I have been very happy to discover that television in India does provide unadulterated entertainment of the highest type.
If you still do not know what I mean, try watching news channel in the mute. You will be treated to the most unadulterated entertainment you have ever had.
My take: I am sure none of the Indian newscasters will be able to speak if you tied up their hands and held their heads steady at one point.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
City of Shopkeepers
In a shocking incident a couple of days back, two kids were killed when police opened fire on an unruly gathering in east delhi which was protesting the sealing of shops. Police firing, 2 kids getting killed, government looking ham-handed, politicisation of shopkeepers protest: real good stuff for new hungry electronic media. Little doubt it hit the national prime time news in all channels with the rather sane and sober and efficient Chief Minister of Delhi defending her government's action. The take on national tv generally was why did the police fire, isnt the CM concerned that a 8 and a 16 year old boy were killed in the firing? Of couse she was concerned. Of course all of us were. But the footage also showed how mercilessly the mob had stone the policeman (I am no supporter of Delhi police, but it was clear that the policemen were beaten blue with stones). Also, none mentioned thought for a moment what a 8 and a 16 year old boy was doing in a shopkeepers' agitation? And more important, are our shopkeepers equally adept at hitting back at policeman as they are grabbing footpaths and fudging accounts? For the record, we had seen similar chaos in Delhi while the new CNG norms for public transport were being implemented by the government following a Supreme Court Order. For a few days things were chaotic but the government was strict [Supreme Court was sitting on their heads], and now I am proud to say Delhi has one of the least vehicular pollutions anywhere in India.
My take: Please save Delhi from becoming a city of shopkeepers.
My take: Please save Delhi from becoming a city of shopkeepers.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Blog Shlog
Shlog is not a word in the english dictionary. Rhyming it with blog just make you look and feel COOL. Who does not want to be cool? There was a time, not so many years back, when people wanted to look hot. How things change!
Not to digress too much, I hear that Indian corporates are taking to blog like fist to water. Good news? No it is not good news to me personally! It feels like a large corporate is taing up the green spaces in Delhi and Mumbai. But then.. in this age of high capitalism, corporate involvement in blogs is a welcome step I guess.
But what is the charm that is bringing corporates to the "underbelly" of internet? I guess desire to connect with consumers. Corporates can not be driven by anything else! Of course, there is the added desire to create loyal communities around their product and services and a realtime feedback mechanism.
But I fear beyond these business motives, there would be OR could be a larger desire to create a knowledge community whose knowledge and IPR would be immediately avaialable to the corporates whose site you are blogging on.
This would be true especially of tech, pharma, design and other companies which suvives on ideas. And more alarmingly it is true in a country where people flout their "knowlegde" without bothering too much about who appropriates it. Also, in a country like India where there is a lot of local knowledge.
This is what looks slight frightful to me. We need to look closely at the blogging platforms that the corporates are building and must read the fine print that is there before we sign up.
But the good news is that internet being a democratic platform, everyone can share everyone's knowledge [without the narrow intention of appropriating and monetising it] AND more importanly, it means that Indian corporates are looking at Internet seriously.
But if they are looking at internet seriously, one of things that they could do to help internet penetration in the country is to open up inernet use in their offices, not put too many firewalls, not put too much restrictions on their staff on "productive surfing only". This would certianly give a boost to the number of people who actively use internet in India.
My take: Leave the green spaces on the internet for common use
Not to digress too much, I hear that Indian corporates are taking to blog like fist to water. Good news? No it is not good news to me personally! It feels like a large corporate is taing up the green spaces in Delhi and Mumbai. But then.. in this age of high capitalism, corporate involvement in blogs is a welcome step I guess.
But what is the charm that is bringing corporates to the "underbelly" of internet? I guess desire to connect with consumers. Corporates can not be driven by anything else! Of course, there is the added desire to create loyal communities around their product and services and a realtime feedback mechanism.
But I fear beyond these business motives, there would be OR could be a larger desire to create a knowledge community whose knowledge and IPR would be immediately avaialable to the corporates whose site you are blogging on.
This would be true especially of tech, pharma, design and other companies which suvives on ideas. And more alarmingly it is true in a country where people flout their "knowlegde" without bothering too much about who appropriates it. Also, in a country like India where there is a lot of local knowledge.
This is what looks slight frightful to me. We need to look closely at the blogging platforms that the corporates are building and must read the fine print that is there before we sign up.
But the good news is that internet being a democratic platform, everyone can share everyone's knowledge [without the narrow intention of appropriating and monetising it] AND more importanly, it means that Indian corporates are looking at Internet seriously.
But if they are looking at internet seriously, one of things that they could do to help internet penetration in the country is to open up inernet use in their offices, not put too many firewalls, not put too much restrictions on their staff on "productive surfing only". This would certianly give a boost to the number of people who actively use internet in India.
My take: Leave the green spaces on the internet for common use
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Lage Raho Lalu Bhai
India's irrepresible Minsiter for Railways and former Chief Minister of the province of Bihar, known for his rustic humour and lifestyle (there were more cows in his bunglow in Patna (Capital of Bihar) than cars; honoured the formidable "manager making factory" - the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad by speaking on the turnaround story of Indian Railways. There are quite a few of these "manager making" factories in India (I think 5 in all).
It is still doubtful if Mr Prasad was honoured at the opportuity or IIM (A) was honoured to have him as a Speaker. I think it was a bit of both.
This incident can be looked from various angles. Some of these are below:
1. The academic level of IIMs has come down so dramatically that Indian Railways (a paragon of failure) will soon become a case study. I think Mr Prasad should send all his senior officers to Mr Pathak who runs the cleanest public toilets in India (Sulabh Sauchalaya). For Indian Railways at time when most of the stations look, feel and smell like badly kept toilets, Mr Pathak is the right man for Mr Prasad to talk to. I think they come from the same state.
2. Railways have shown a good turn around. But none of that is because of Mr Prasad's efforts. This has been done by the previuos minister and some good officers (IRCTC is a good example of what a few officers can achieve). So why is he taking the credit? His only credit is to introduce Khullars (earthen cups) in the railways (which did not work).
3. The third take is Mr Prasad is "sanskritising" himself. That looks like a good explanation to me. Patna was different Delhi is different. And Mr Prasad knows how important it is to behave like romans in rome! In the company of such urbane and sophisticated colleagues such as Messers Sibal, Nath, Chidambaram, Patel, and others, Mr Prasad is speaking and acting Roman.
My take: Lalu was propagating the biggest management mantra at IIM (A): "Boss always takes the credit"[we will wait for Mr Prasad to talk about railway safety perhaps]
It is still doubtful if Mr Prasad was honoured at the opportuity or IIM (A) was honoured to have him as a Speaker. I think it was a bit of both.
This incident can be looked from various angles. Some of these are below:
1. The academic level of IIMs has come down so dramatically that Indian Railways (a paragon of failure) will soon become a case study. I think Mr Prasad should send all his senior officers to Mr Pathak who runs the cleanest public toilets in India (Sulabh Sauchalaya). For Indian Railways at time when most of the stations look, feel and smell like badly kept toilets, Mr Pathak is the right man for Mr Prasad to talk to. I think they come from the same state.
2. Railways have shown a good turn around. But none of that is because of Mr Prasad's efforts. This has been done by the previuos minister and some good officers (IRCTC is a good example of what a few officers can achieve). So why is he taking the credit? His only credit is to introduce Khullars (earthen cups) in the railways (which did not work).
3. The third take is Mr Prasad is "sanskritising" himself. That looks like a good explanation to me. Patna was different Delhi is different. And Mr Prasad knows how important it is to behave like romans in rome! In the company of such urbane and sophisticated colleagues such as Messers Sibal, Nath, Chidambaram, Patel, and others, Mr Prasad is speaking and acting Roman.
My take: Lalu was propagating the biggest management mantra at IIM (A): "Boss always takes the credit"[we will wait for Mr Prasad to talk about railway safety perhaps]
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