Can Left and Congress align again?

As a answer to an ET debate:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4049709.cms

The left and Congress can have a walk in the park only and only if BJP is lurking around in the bushes. The idea i am putting across is, the politics of anti BJP is the only commonality between these two parties. All earlier Congress + Left coalitions have been only studies in convenience and way for Congress to garner Lok Sabha numbers.

I am not debating that Congress is bad or BJP is. The point i make here is that, being the largest two parties in the largest democracy in the world, Congress and BJP should have an active agenda, a plan for progress, which ought to be shared with junta. More and more, these developmental agendas will decide the fate of political parties in the elections. The case in point is Kashmir, which inspite of being strife torn and terrorism plagued voted for Bijli, Sadak and Paani! After elections, in case of a simple majority eluding the winner, post election alliances can be sort with regional parties on the agenda of development as set before elections already.

As far as the political spectrum is concerned, let the Left be "Left". Personally i dont see any leadership, perspective,coherence and vision in Left. From being anti 123 to Singrur fiasco to Achutanandan's comment on "stray dogs" at martyr Unnikrishnan's house to allegations of corruption, Left has not made any significant inroads anywhere in terms of a vision for a unified and developed country.

As an end note, I was impressed by L K Advani's blogs and website. Its very Obamaesque! Congress and BJP need to take a leaf out of Obama's campaign. Both Congress and BJP will have to draft their developmental agendas with or without the Left.

Subhiksha: A Perfect go Bust (Part II)

When i blogged the first time on the unsustainable business model at Subhiksha (September 5th, 2008), which would cause it to go burst, i had not imagined, that i will be doing a second blog on that story.

This is the First Blog Link:
http://newspaper-posts.blogspot.com/2008/09/subhiksha-perfect-go-bust.html

6 months later, my predictions are born true. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4053575.cms
http://www.livemint.com/2009/01/30180828/Subhiksha-on-virtual-collapse.html?h=A4

The Interesting bit about Subhiksha's roll out strategy is somewhere R Subramaniam, Founder CEO, also believed that if the retail model didnot live upto his expectations, he had make money on the real estate of the 1000 odd outlets. The Recession and the Real estate meltdown has now seen to it that he wouldnot be making as much money in reselling the stores as well.

I also find the statement by the company official on zero credit being the reason for the fall to be difficult to comprehend. Till not so long ago, Subhiksha had 1/2/3 months credit running from vendors who eventually then, turned off the supply taps. I have been privy to Vendor management systems in Subhiksha to bear out on the same. Subhiksha employees had not been given 2/3 month salaries even during the times of festival months. It has shut all expansion plans in east India! Majority of employees are out of their jobs and demanding salary arrears. In fact the Delhi Head office of Subhiksha has been locked by the owners of the property on account of non payment of the rents!

A convenient bet gone wrong and a business which never ran right for the lack of adeherence to fundamentals. I give Subhiksha another1 month before it goes belly up!

So long Mr Subramaniyam!

Are we heading towards a socialistic/ communist form of governance / economy now? With bailouts we would see governments’ involvement in running varie

In reply to a debate on Linked in, http://www.linkedin.com/answers?viewQuestion=&questionID=407839&askerID=6067402&browseIdx=0&sik=1233147316767&goback=%2Easr_1_1233147316767&report%2Esuccess=vfLh7ZiQxNtkwQoO3efsNN1zAgQ8WXmCT24lKBBmlHq_pfcN7JydQUoVP_zdv4b8

Disagree.The current crisis shouldnot be seen as fall of capitalism. Capitalism idealogically is more than just "GREED".Nothing lasts infinity. Not even greed. That is as far as i understand the current meltdown. There can be no mastery over risk and no escaping the economic/business cycles.Common sense prevailed over bubble optimism with this burst. No mortage was too absurd, no leverage too great, no structured product too reckess when risk spreading models were so brilliantly engineered. Thats a conception which has been blown away. The business cyle is real. There is a very real relation between supply and demand. You cant sustain a market based on lending when the borrowers dont have the resources to pay back the loans. Thats pretty basic. Misadventures against these axiomatic truthisms is what we pay for.AND YET THAT IS NOT THE FALL OF CAPITALISM!In spirit Capitalism is free enterprise. While 1929 saw a meltdown which was as bad or even worse, that didnot end capitalism. Entrepreneurial endeavours and capitalsim made the world the way it is in terms of achievements despite 13 depressions since 1929. As far as, the state control on business is concerned, Keynes or any other economist didnot limit themselves by saying the government cannot limit itself to being a stakeholder in Capitalsit economies. I wholly agree that presently the government is the only crutch failing banks and businesses are holding on to.Well that is the result of slack governance on the part of the state in the corporate sector. It appears that the US economy didnot learn from its Enron and WorldCom and was waiting for Lehmann brothers to happen.From the sweat shop in Burma to the clouds in the web world and heavy machines, i see capitalist endeavour everywhere. The state has played its part by picking up a 1 trillion dollar penalty for not roping in GREED. Thus i again make the point, Capitalism is one thing, Greed is another.

Insidious effects of the Cultural Cold War

Excerpts of how the philosophy of hatred within masses can damage attempts at peace.

1. Hotel Mohenjo - daro, a Pakistani play has been cancelled in India.
2. January 14th, MNS activistsbarged into a studio where a Pakistani comedian was recording for a TV show.
3. Book stores in Mumbai have had to pull out Pakistani writers works dreading MNS activism and arson.
4. 10 - 15 major shows by Pakistani musicians have been cancelled.

This kind of low grade people to people conflicy can be more corrosive than all out ways.. Insiya Amir, Correspondent.

Culture plays a big part in helping overturn stereotypes asnd providing alternatives to official narratives. When you muffle these voices, you are increasingly left with governments pointing figers at each other, which only increases jingoistic attitudes .. Pakistani writer, Kamila Shamsie

Cultural excahnges build bridges which no amount of politics can achieve. Artists need to travel, they need to introduce their world to new worlds... Fahid Hamid Ali, Pakistani Painter.

People to people conflict, can hieghten tensions as each person will feel targeted individually, leading to more hostility and unreceptivness... Mehr Hussain, Freelance Journalist

It was 2004, when the Indian cricket team went to the friendship cricket series in Pakistan. To me, that series did more good to India - Pakistan than a decade of bus diplomacies! Pakis and Indis are same people from the same cultural seed. We appreciate sufi, Begum Abida Parveen, Ghulam Ali and Junoon as much as they love Amitabh Bachchan, SRK and Indian movies. By erecting embargoes arround cultural exchanges, governments are killing the little ray of hope that we may harbour, one that we call culture.

Fighting the enemy within

According a ToI survey, 26% of Indians believe that a war on Pakistan is the way to be for India. Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief had also spoken about "iron to attack Pakistan". Most of us today have a face to our enemy or at least a geography to our enemy. It is Pakistan. It is Al qaeda, Lashkar e Toiba, Zardari, Geelani, Kiyani and others in the Pakistani leadership. I truly believe that this is misplaced Jingoism.

That there is threat to our nation is a gospel truth. However, is it just Pakistan and a bunch of religious islamic bigots? A bunch of gunmen blinded by religious zeal, will never threaten history. A nation's history is made by its economic, social and cultural developments and conquests. In this respect, there are those within India, who we call elected leaders of the masses who have greater impact on the way this nation proceeds in future. Amongst this group, there are few who have an agenda and lead on that basis. Unfortunately there are more who have no agenda and lead on the basis of caste, community or simply corruption. The Mayawatis, Amar Singhs, Shibu Sorens, Raj Thackerays and A R Antulays of the world have more profound impact on the nation than terrorists. It sometimes occurs to me that Sheila Dixits win at the Delhi elections was a true and significant one in terms of economic developmental projects winning over divisive vote bank politics. These internal demons are the more difficult ones to fight and win against!

As far as Pakistan is concerned, i believe that the diplomatic offensive launched by India is the best strike. By alienating and isolating Pakistan, India would and could resolve the issue is a far better manner than an all out aggressive incursion into enemy territory. Already, Barrack Obama has sounded of his views on "aid" to Pakistan against results! Economic sanctions and trade restrictions are far more advanced weapons of war than we think them to be.

'Cos need to make the shift from ideas to execution'

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Corporate_Announcement/Cos_need_to_make_the_shift_from_ideas_to_execution/articleshow/4009479.cms#write
A comment on the main story in TOI

Slightly differing and consider-all-factors view on this story..

An idea whose time has come is the roll out of 3G and WiMax telecom networks in the country. 3G will be essential in giving the technology edge to executives and managers. WiMax has the power to take broadband connectivity to distant villages. 2G will continue to service the bulk of population.

2009, being an election year, will see a spate of populist measures. Money will be spent on meaningless pursuit of "free to the population". In face of that Government, is considering hiking up the licensing fees of 3G networks from 1650 cr to 4040 crores. Similarly it is considering hiking up the licensing fees of WiMax to 2020 crores from 1000 crores. All to meet the CA deficit. All too well, except that such prohibitory fees will find no takers. Companies will have brilliant ideas, but no policy measure and prohibitory measures will impede execution. In terms of 2G networks, India has commisioned a paltry 6 Mhz to telecom open market. In most of the countries this is 12-15 Mhz. This impairs call quality and causes congestion. Many ideas do not see execution because of this crunch.
Point I make here is, governance is the third and a very critical bit. Idea and execution is internal to companies and a company not doing well on these counts will fail in the market by its own doing. However, where is the space for execution of novelties when governance limits the base functions in the first place.

Thumbs up for China, Thumbs down for India

I start this blog with 2 widely believed and unproven hypothesis. You would probably get to hear them more in the corporate boardrooms specially MNCs which have invested and done business with India.

Hyp. 1: India discounts it GDP growth by 2% on account of infrastructure unavailability. Whether be the lack of proper roads, or electricity, or governance, or airport infrastructure or just the red tapism in the bureaucracy. It is a significant deterant to the global super power dreams of India.

Hyp 2: India's growth has been powered more by its educated citizenry with government being a by stander in the growth. If any thing, the neta giri and the babu-dom have shackled the Indian executives and business more than giving them head room and leg room to grow. Mani Ratnam's Guru, had a 4 minute monologue by Abhishek Bachchan on the fetters that governance is putting over capitalism in this country.

India ranks a lowly 122 amongst 181 economies in terms of "ease to do business index", a reportpublished by the world bank group. Only African nations and war torn economies are more difficlut than India in terms of ease to do business! So much so for an economy whihc is the second fastest in the world in terms of growth.

Vodafone’s global CEO Vittorio Colao made his point clear in the CII conference on 19th January 2009, that India must offer increased clarity on its foreign direct investment across sectors. The(FDI) policy in India is complex and lends to multiple interpretations. Companies work on their legal interpretation of the policy and sometimes, find that they have tripped onto the illegal side of things as per policy.

What ever interpretation we give to the Indo - China ascendancy, whether be the tiger or the elephant and the dragon; policy makers in India should understand this clearly as anything else, we are in the competition of global investment. Better products, better services, better jobs are only possible if, suitable climate is provided to businesses to perform. As a first hand, i am aware of the "gifts" that lobbies and corporates bestow on the Babus in the state and union to see that the businesses continue unhindered. Bribes form a part of the deal, right from the CEOs office to the ground of action where the municipal clerks and the policemen are "taken care of". I was not wonder struck, when one of these opinion polls revealed that Indian corporates are least averse to paying bribes for smooth functioning of their operations.

Even China is state controlled to a very large extent. However, the difference is stark. The Dragon's speed, growth and efficiency is a product of the state governance. It is top down , while for India it is bottom up. Without a doubt, in the long run, a bottom up is more beneficial. However, in the present circumstances, it is dragging the resurgence down below.

In an earlier blog, i had mentioned, 2009 being the election year will mean a plethora of populist measures. The exchequer is going to bleed and the onus for making up on the losses will be laid squarely on the shoulders of corporate India. Already, i believe that the upward revision of 3G licensing fees from Rs.1650 crore to Rs.4040 crore makes it a untenable option for business houses. Unviability will lead to slower roll outs impacting services standards in the country. But really, does any one care?

The Best Ad Campaigns in India

A chronology study of advertisement campaigns is a very interesting thing. Be it Coke Or United Colours of Benetonn. However, this blog post is to commemorate, what i would call the beacons of socially relevant advertising in India.

My earliest memories of ad campaigns are that of Lalitaji in Surf campaign, Phillips, Bajaj, Maaza Mango Taaza Mango and Jalal Agha in Pan Parag's "Aur mere Liye". However, the ad industry in India took a major step ahead with the Pepsi commercials starting with Remo and Juhi in "yehi hai right choice Baby". There on the ad camapigns have never been the same again. Today cricketers and film stars make as much money from ad camapigns as they make from their main stream jobs. Ad world today is a glitzy, glamorous multi billion dollar industry in India.

In a recent weekend trip to Nainital and beyond, i met a very senior banker with whom i struck a conversation on businesses, monies and investments. Off hand, he asked me, which was my favourite campaign. It has taken 2/3 months rumination to figure out my favourite campaigns. I find socially relevant advertisements to have the highest connect. in this context, the Abhishek Bachchan starrer Idea ads are one of my new favourites. They are rooted in real issues of the country and its masses and Telephony/Connectivity as a means to answer these issues. Thats the brilliant idea. Thats Idea (the brand)! What makes it endearing is its feel of the social issues and obviously, Abhishek brings these images up very well!

However, Idea is still not my favourite ad campaign. You Guessed it right.. my bests are Amul and the Common Man, by R K Laxman.

Amul's ads focus on the most happening topic every week and is able to blend their "utterly butterly delicious" tagline into the scene. My generation has grown up on those ads. Even today, i get mailers from my friends with Amul ads, the latest being "Satyam Sharam Sacandalam". The ease at which these ads communicate is a brilliant. Lucid in delivery, choice of topics, candid presentation and the brand message woven through them. It is a stroke of genius. A sign of times, and a timeless brand. Yummy!

R K Laxman has been there for 50 years now. That man deserves a bharat ratna for his contribution to the neo socio-economic and political sign posts. The Common man and his travails. A difficult topic, an endearing image. (Though i believe that L K Advani is very close to our Common man in terms of looks!). Laxman's cartooning is timeless, his style is simple, his message powerful and yet not malicious. Captain Gopinath, the founder of the Air Deccan, with his vision to let the common man fly did well to choose, the Common man as his mascot. Sadly however, Gopi lost his way some where, and there is little that is "common man-ish" left after his merger with Vijay Mallya's bikini and two piece culture laden Kingfisher. However, the common man lives on. The sign of our times, the beacon of our generation. I hope Laxman plans to immortalize his timeless creation by passing on his art to a torch bearer!