General Motors- An Empire Set to be rebuilt

Today is one of those different days where all my thoughts profoundly are centred on a single subject. Today the world is looking at a Corporation that's heading towards its humble turn. General Motors. The auto-industry pioneer which ruled US markets and accelerated the economy for exactly 100 years so far is all set to take its new turn. I would not want to call it an unprecedented or a worst turn for I as an economic analyst is sure of one fact that this day will bring in. General Motors will re-emerge as a small and focused company and slowly rebuild its past glory. It is not just a company where nearly 5,14,000 employees worked in 1950, and the industry which catered to the defense and domestic US markets, General Motors in its own right have added value and wisdom to the US economy at large. The dependent and ancillary industries that relied solely on the revenue that GM generated is huge and unparalleled in Detroit even today. Michigan and the entire North America once glorified GM's existence with Pride and Decorum. Today, over decades of unexpected twists and turns, calculated risks that avers ed beyond repair and the recession hit Nation that is not able to make any difference with calculated administrative support. But GM will scale up again with new vision and focus, resetting its goals and objectives and soon become a viable auto-maker bringing in a new paradigm of change. What ever may be the end result of today's Chapter 11 filling of a global giant, GM will for ever remain as the only largest automaker who made America's History a glorified one. No other automaker in the near future will be able to recreate the History, that GM had strongly left on the shores of Detroit. The pride and passion of the brand GM will remain intact in the books of American History for ever!

Rahul Gandhi

My eagerness to follow what Rahul does in life began in 1984 when the little boy was held tightly in the hug of his dad as the tragedy stuck the family in the name of Indira Gandhi assassination. A little toddler with specs was seen crying silently amidst the chaos of the fall of National Leader who was synonym to the woman power and iron leadership. Those were the first pictures of Rahul in my memory.
It was in 1991 May 25th that the same boy, then in his early twenties stood bravely consoling his mother as the funeral possession of his dad was happening. This time, there was little more matured adult seen in the screens of Indian television. His composed self with Priyanka Gandhi gave me lot of courage as the same tragedy of losing my dad stuck me just few months after that gruesome assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. I know, somewhere inside me I am following the moments of Rahul, silently but inspiring little Gandhi.
It was once again in 2004 during India General Elections, emerged a silent Gandhi from his usual composed self. This time, not holding his mother's hand but walking in parallel. In spite of all the woes and cries against dynasty politics in India, there emerged a true leader, born in a family that is grown amidst politics, national leadership, freedom struggle and which played a major role in drafting the Indian History ever since its Independence in 1947.
Rahul though compared alot with his dad, is definitely a different specie. Rahul is a sure strategist, and handles politics as entrepreneurship. He is slowing getting in the corporate way of handling things to manage micro-level participation of his party and activities in the growth process of Emerging New India. Like Rajiv, Rahul also had got a very high charisma that attracts general public very easily, and he got a style of handling things and most importantly he knows how to touch people's hearts. Unlike Rajiv, Rahul is a more confident politician who was made slowly and steadily and not pushed into politics by force like in case of Rajiv, as it happened twice during Sanjay's death and Indira's assassination. Rahul took his time to understand the real political scenario and also analytically approach the grassroots problems of the common man. The best part of this young hero is his approach to re vibrate the youth energy in the country. Near to 70 MPs today are below 40 years of age and near to 10% of Parliament is Women. Politics for the first time, came within the reach of the common man.
Recognizing of education, value system and most importantly, the political objectives were more clear than making politics just a platform to earn money.
Rahul and his brigade will change and transform the way the various government institutions function today. It is not just a hope but a plan put in action and will be executed. It is not easy to bring a 100 Crore population to one single thread of understanding, and this time, Rahul with his ability to convert his charisma and integrity to vote bank proved that it is possible. He brought in a voter consciousness in the 2009 general elections and proved that Congress is a capable National Party that can provide good governance, stability, integrity and aim at overall National growth and security. Its just a matter of time, that this young leader will become the leading star of Indian Politics and become the Nation's most sought Prime Minister.
Its just a 4 years exposure into National Politics that made a lawyer become a renowned President of United States and Obama-mania has hit the world positively like never before. Here we have a boy born in a politically- rich family, have seen politics and governance all his life, grown as a responsible Youth leading the energies of this vast diversified democratic Nation and a matured adult who is a keen politician, best orator, a self grown strategist and the new face of Gandhi Family, who emerged amidst adversities of tragic assassinations, political battles, threats and dilemmas but truly towards one single long term objective- to lead this Nation one day. No wonder, Rahul-Mania will overgrow and become more charismatic than obama-mania!

Elections Fails! Forgotten Realities of India

No matter who wins this election and who rules the Nation. Somethings are frustratingly real and do not change even after 6 decades of independence. There are no fundamental things made possible in the Nation by any politician who is away and afar from the so called political manifestos that can never understand the need of a common man in India. India is diversified nation with largest democratic setup, millions and millions of people divided by language, region, caste and education, society, status, employment and there is no common thread on which the entire nation can be brought under one parlance. I am ashamed and troubled to see hundreds of different color flags and party symbols all around and fail to locate even one National Flag flying high along with the party flags or the Ashoka Chakra or the National Emblem getting its predominance. As an angry young Indian, I am frustrated on the system that cannot bring in a sense of patriotism and a wave of Indian-ness in my country.
Some Disturbing Facts:
POVERTY LINE definition, as per Government of India, at Rs. 10 per day, per person, approx- all you need is Rs 300 per month to maintain yourself. But even this is not available for about 300 million (30 Cr.)
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320 million people work in the Unorganised sector- where are their taxes going?? Swiss accounts can be seized and black money in foreign banks can be brought in, but how to tap in the in house hidden money that is rightfully needed for the Nation Building.
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Around 700 million people are below 35 years of age and at the same time, nearly another 300 million people do not have any kind of employment. There is a need to create near to 10 millions new jobs every year in India. Is the government hearing???
Remind you, there is no social security network that provides compensation against unemployment in India
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Number of people, in India, who work in the organized Public Sector, i.e. with the Central and State Governments are only 19 million and another 8 million work in the organised private sector. So imagine the tax payers income?
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Corruption Kings are no where as vast as in India. From the birth certificate to the issuing of a death certificate, everything goes with the UTT?? (Under the Table) transactions. It is not easy getting a gas connection, ration card, election card, electricity connection, a phone line and above all a SCHOOL ADMISSION. Corruption in the form of Building Fund, Donation threaten the best of education systems in India. Colleges are far above all this, with each medical or engineering seat having its own price tag.
To get a building plan approved, get a three phase EB connection, to get a driving license, to get a community certificate, to get the marriage registered, to get a water connection and finally to even get a sewage connection, you have to take care of the corresponding government servant,,,sorry sorry government lords of the Nation.
For your pension to get approved after 30-40 years of work, you still have to bribe your people. To get the government posting, or even a transfer or deputation, you have to pay that extra tip. For even getting a contract daily wage posting of a bus driver for Rs 240 a day, you have to pay nearly Rs 2 lakhs as UTT....
Traffic police uncles are known for collecting those little tit bits and second is our RTO brothers, competing in who gets more on the so called Kimblam ( Add on to Sambalam (Salary))...
Gosh, I forgot the medical fraternity. Two types of loooooti- one in the name of C-section deliveries and other in the name of Fertility Clinics. Heights of tolerance.
Hospitals are no more live savers, from a medical emergency they push you to a financial turmoil.
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Sarath (IIM-A) contesting this General Elections from Chennai South, said on Mom's day proudly - " I know what hunger is all about" . Millions of my breather en in India knows it including me. But our so called obese politicians may not know it. There are two bigger segments- one is people who do not have enough food and people who do not know how to have enough food ( getting obese with too much of junk food and wrong eating habits spending so much on VLCC etc)... Hmmmm.
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Illiteracy- Though measures are taken to bring in 100% literacy, we still have our charts showing only 70% of literacy rate in India. States like Bihar, Jharkand are lagging behind where as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and few north states are getting closer to the literacy objectives. Still a long way to go!
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Rural Underdevelopment, Communal ism, Pollution, Crime, Population explosion, Water scarcity, brain drain are other threatening factors for our nation to become the world's best Super Power.
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Making our Nation the Super Power
We have abundant natural resources, fertile lands, rivers that need proper integration, abundant human intelligence, hardworking professionals, committed manual labour, empowering women, entertaining media and press, educating organizations, self less NGOs, leaders with a vision, men who dream big, children who aspire skies and a Nation which has got rich heritage, centuries of civilization, history that shows abundant tolerance and acceptance, commerce and trade that is universal, wisdom and enlightenment that is world's spiritual destination and India as such is a Prideful Nation with high level of confidence to defend its borders, army that is selfless and strong, and young energy that is making difference world over. All we need is a fine leadership at National Level that will take India towards a much strong and supreme level hood amongst the world nations. Dr Manmohan Singh as an abled economist and Prime Minister had given India, its much needed financial edge since the times of P.V Narsimha Rao regime and irrespective of dynasty politics or controlled leadership, Dr Singh proved to be an efficient leader. We need such intellectual brilliance, economic understanding and young and capable leadership to continue, and people like Dr Singh can guide them being the Nation's backbone to the leaders who are energetic, young and visionaries.

The Hindu Chennai Super Mom 2009

Hats off to the beautiful mothers who participated on 10 May 09 in the Chennai Super Mom contest. It was a exhibit of natural abilities, talents, confidence, intelligence and lot more. Congrats to the three beautiful winners and a big pat to Srimathi for walking away with the most deserving title for her all round personality.
The Prelims had a very beautiful physco-analysis questionnaire for 30 questions assessing your ability to handle various life situations, second was a photo shoot and third for the panel of judges assessing your personality. Beauty, Richness or education did not matter here. Personality, Intelligence and over all confidence is judged.
Semi-finals was just a wash-away kind with one question response bringing down the final number to 15 and then assessment made on multi tasking, creativity and quiz.
Quiz round was horrible with the first runner up not knowing First President of India...she went on buzzing without giving any correct answers and at the same time not letting others get a chance. Her selection was not genuine.
In the Talent round, Srimathi was really excellent, the way she enacted the transformation of a woman at various stages was marvellous. Victoria who was the second runner up and as a teacher showing her oratorical skills, she deserved the best.
The whole day saw whole families enjoying cookery contests, talent shows, junk art contests and lot of goodies and entertaining performance from Srilekha. Srilekha thanked Times of India in an event hosted by The Hindu... embarrassing the organisers for a moment.
Our anchor DD was lively and beautiful, but the same time, madam needs toning up on science exhibit in public when she said E=MC TWO instead of calling out square:-) slip of the tongue:-(
The final judges Akila Srinivasan, Uma Riyaz Khan and Neena Reddy were gracious and cool.
Having a chance to hear Sarath Babu and meet his mom was an addon value of the show.
As one of the semi-finalists I thoroughly enjoyed contesting despite the fact that I was equally disappointed for not having made it to the final five. In the process it taught me two things, that there are much better talents and of course you need something called luck, as your stars need to shine on you, and secondly, a strength that should be there to handle failure. 72 of the 75 semi-finalists had to face this situation and imagine the disappointment for the final 2 who lost amidst the final five. To me it was really an enriching experience that taught me lot to look forward

Bring Jobs Back from Bangalore to Buffalo

I had a neighbour in my village who owned acres of farm land. He used to cultivate rice, cereals, vegetables and also had coconut, mango, guava trees and lot of other things he needed to run his family. Flowers blossomed in his backyard. The by-products helped them fuel their kitchen and bring home oil. Cattle maintained gave them milk and also helped them get some good money along with adding nutritional values to the family. The whole family toiled in hot sun, rains and winter to make the best of every season. Songs of the ladies in the farms and bull-fights and other local games entertained them for most of the day. Peaceful life with no much of pollution or chaos made them work from dawn to dusk and have a good night sleep at the call of sunset.
This is what is called actual Self- Reliance. We do not dependent on others for the most part of our day to day activity. 70% of agricultural India was like this in pre-independence era and nearly 30% of the rural India is still the same. But today, the whole scenario changed. The transformation from a self sustained community to a global village made every one of us depend on the other person for meeting our day to day needs. Today we don't wear home spun cotton, instead buy import brands which are nothing but made in Tirupur and Erode and re-imported with a brand and price tag. Today we don't cultivate our own food, instead depend on nutritional aids with so many competing brands with actually no idea of what it is made of. Today we have hundreds of channels but actually nothing impresses us and keeps us entertained all the time. Today we don't have time to talk to our families, attend all religious and communal functions, participate in social events, and hardly interact with our neighbours. The more and more we became global, we lost what we had as a small self sustained society- the basic ingredients of life called happiness, peace and contentment. Despite knowing all this, how many of us would really dare to go back to our good old golden days of simple living. That's just next to impossible.

Then how will this new policy of Barack Obama which he calls as "International Tax Policy Reform" will work.??. India gave the world the benefit of human intelligence, hard work and perseverance and all economies of scale. People toiled forgetting day or night. The 8 hours shift was just a name-sake and people worked with commitment on deadlines. We gave the west what they wanted before their sunrise. The cost benefit of low labour cost, exchange rate, educational advantage, commitment of hardworking employees actually made the commercial markets of US flourish with prosperity as their customer service and technical support needs were taken care with low budgets and high turnover. Creation of jobs was in the Obama election promises and he is surely keeping it up thinking of where he would stand at the end of his 4 year term. This will encourage America's confidence in its leader and bring in more of opportunities within. But overall, this protectionism cannot be the way of life for a long time for any country under the global scenario. Curtailing trade opportunities world wide would in turn become counter-productive for US in the long run and only wish the end result is a win-win situation for all, especially for China, Philippines and India who have high percentage of bilateral trade relations with United States. There is no harm in Obama's ideology of making his home as described in my farmer's story, but the same time, the world has to remember that the times have changed. As an analyst, my summary of this is that here we have a leader in United States who does what he promises and we surely need to wait and watch on the results!