Governance and the "E" in it.

I got this by email from Venky who received it from Deepak, his message is given below;

Can you imagine this happening in INDIA?

Government of India has an online Grievance forum at http://darpg-grievance.nic. in/

The government wants people to use this tool to highlight the problems they faced while dealing with Government officials or departments like Passport Office, electricity board, BSNL/MTNL, Railways etc etc.

I know many people will say that these things don't work in India, but this actually works as one of our colleague in CSC found. The guy I'm talking about lives in Faridabad. Couple of months back, the Faridabad Municipal Corporation laid new roads in his area and the residents were very happy about it. But 2 weeks later, BSNL dugged up the newly laid roads to install new cables which annoyed all the residents including this guy. But it was only this guy who used the above listed grievance forum to highlight his concern. And to his surprise, BSNL and Municipal Corporation of faridabad was served a show cause notice and the guy received a copy of the notice in one week. Government has asked the MC and BSNL about the goof up as its
clear that both the government departments were not in sync at all. So use this grievance forum and educate others who don't know about this facility.

This way we can at least raise our concerns instead of just talking about the ' System' in India. Invite your friends to contribute for many such happenings.

Thanks for the tip both!

The Speaking Tree

Suddenly the saplings and trees in the housing complex have sprouted a black tag with a number. It may be part of the tree census in Mumbai. Even as I am horrified at how last week as part of a tourist beautification drive at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, almost all including many 60-year-old large trees were chopped and rammed down.

Pamela has given more details in her blog at interact.newint.org/blog/pamela-nowicka/the-price-of-tourism.

When did it happen, the journey from a country that accords trees status of worship and celebrated vanamohatsav to short sighted selfishness? Many years ago the members of the chipko movement were derided for being impractical tree hugging idealists -a term that has stayed on - when they opposed commercial logging in the Himalayas.

I am not part of any movement but I have been a passionate gardener when we had one, have always planted trees wherever we lived (once even in the complex where I worked) and with V, had prepared and implemented a tree- planting project in a part of Navi Mumbai when it was only a bare complex of housing blocks to what is an oasis of greenery now.

I think that if Asterix characters were based on real people who lived,then in some life I must have been Dogmatix. I want to yowl in miserable anguish when I see a tree destroyed. A tree in my line of vision, inspires, comforts and makes me happy.

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree”

These are lines from Joyce Kilmer's most famous poem, "Trees". It is read at arbor day celebrations in the USA; it has been set to music several times; and it is taught in elementary schools around USA. It is loved, but also mocked by critics as a simplistic poem, lacking in substance. Each year at Columbia University, there is a Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest.

From Wikipedia:

The Philolexian Society hosts this open-to-the-public event in honor of Alfred Joyce Kilmer (Class of 1908), vice president of the society and the author of "Trees." Contestants get up and read their wittiest and worst original poetry, hoping for cheers and a shot at winning the title of Poet Laureate.

Kilmer born in 1886, lived most of his short life in New Jersey. He was killed in 1918 in France. Before he enlisted in the army, he was on staff at the New York Times, and wrote Trees in 1913.

As is normally done, the first and last lines are used and I had seen it inscribed on the top of Dodabetta peak in Tamil Nadu where for some reason, it was attributed to anonymous.

Mumbai does have its share of tree lovers- Friends of Trees, Flower and Vegetable shows, the Mangrove supporters and as a hobby and interest- individual terrace and kitchen gardens and bonsai lovers. But the average citizen in India, and in Mumbai has either blissful ignorance or utter disregard for trees,the flora and fauna, and environment in general, its upkeep and its welfare without realising that, that which we sustain, in turn, sustains us.

Ekta Chalo Re

A friend who enjoys reading my posts called me to say so and enquired about my day-I responded with what I was doing at that moment- throwing way some stuff from a wrong furniture decision taken earlier. The next query was why my blog does not contain all such stuff. Isn't that what is a blog? What you ate, people you met, where you went and what you did during the day- an online diary?

I smiled at the comment as I explained about it being a publishing tool and the various tools and techniques of the blogger community, comments, networks, links, technorati. At the end of it I got a...gosh- sounds a little like a cult !

Even as I am still smiling at the memory of the conversation and it may seem to be very back to basics –I thought I'd post this entry on all about blogs for some readers are not members of the "cult”. (One man's community is another mans cult! )

Meanwhile I walk alone. But we are all connected - by technology and in consciousness. Vasudeva Kutumbam - we are the world.

Things that will destroy us

The things that will destroy us :
politics without principle;
pleasure without conscience;
wealth without work;
knowledge without character;
business without morality;
science without humanity; and
worship without sacrifice.

- Mahatma Gandhi

It's not cricket

Cricket has always been known as a gentleman’s game. Unlike its boisterous counterpart football or elitist golf or even tennis. So much so that the phrase, It's not cricket, came to denote anything that is not fairplay. And who does not know of Don Bradman who personified everything good and great about the game.

I do not know about the world teams and I definitely don't wish to comment on the sub-continent teams. But in India, over last many years, the media has clearly brought out the fact that the betting "industry" is almost as vast as that of the defence budget of the country. Match fixing and ball tampering is open knowledge and yet the game is patronised by common citizens and business and HOW!

Coach Woolmer was poisoned and killed. Time and investigations will bring it out or bury it as it may be. But it is a fact that the circumstances are mysterious. In such a case, instead of a two minute silence and on with the game, what really should have happened and been done is declare the world cup null and void- or whatever it is. Like a mistrial.

Continue the matches, so that the people who bought tickets and administration is not thrown out of jeopardy.But no prize, no money and definitely no cup. This should be part of the International Sports Rule or some such law that makes it binding on all participants. Even smaller mid- afternoon and print quizzes have disclaimers.

Cricket is not show biz. There is no need for show must go on. The show part of the game can go on but the soul of the game cannot be held to ransom. This world cup- Coach Woolmer, next world cup- who?

This to my mind is the ONLY way to clean up the game and ensure that it doesn't happen again.

What about all the money riding on the game? Well, too bad. Economics and Ethics, the eternal debate. Till such time, we should refrain from giving sound bites on cock fighting being illegal and bull fighting being gory.

Murder of a coach- it's a crime.

Getting on with the game as if it is unfortunate incident - it’s just not cricket.

From Knowledge to Action

The Learning organisation is a phrase only too well known in the Knowledge Management sphere. In 1996, more than 1,700 business books were published in the USA. Each year, more than $60 billion is spent on training in and by organisations, particularly management training. With so much education and research, management consulting, books and articles, why is it that the little change that does occur often happens with such great difficulty?

Researchers & authors, Pfeffer & Sutton asked this question and discovered in their four-year programme of research that this is because knowledge of what needs to be done, frequently fails to result in action or behaviour consistent with that knowledge. This is what they termed the Knowing- Doing Gap. The real reasons businesses fail to compete successfully are the major obstacles to action that confront people in organizations-from CEOs to entry- level professionals.

In their book they examine how smart companies turn knowledge into action and their study analyses how some organisations consistently are able to turn knowledge into action while others fail. Their findings reveal that it is management practices that either create or reduce the Knowing -Doing gap.

KM is not just a set of techniques or tools. If that were so, it would not have been difficult for other manufacturers to copy the Toyota Production System (TPS) even though the details have been given in books and Toyota actually gives tours of its manufacturing facilities.

The difference is in the philosophy and perspective and about things such as people, processes, quality, continuous improvement and other things that represents not just the surface but the "soul".

Mobile Mania

I carry a mobile phone that by no stretch of definition is cutting edge. Strange how our perceptions change isn't it, considering when I got my first mobile phone, a phone with FM radio and camera was the ultimate - not just the next frontier. It was the wonderful Nokia with the jutting out aerial, sturdy and proven reputation for surviving any number of drops. It's innards would be all exposed and lie in shambles on a dusty Mumbai road and my heart would thump painfully with a OMG feeling, yet a quick assembling of the parts meant it just chugged on with no fuss. Though both features are available in my current phone, it lacks the gleaming looks of the new(er)models and sits quietly amidst it's more shiny peers, as now people judge you by the phone you own like earlier they'd measure you up by the amount of diamonds you wore on your fingers.

I gave up some time ago about owning newer & latest phone models -I thought of other things I'd like to spend the extra cash on. For a large part of the time a phone is just what it needs to do- connect me to people or web as the need may be. Just as a car is something that takes me from point A to B in some comfort -occasionally the cream leather interiors, wood finish dashboard and soft purring engine makes the journey special.

So it is no more a social and fashion statement. Even as I wish the blackberry owners would give up their attitude. In my experience it is slightly more when they qualify the statement with, Oh that...I have one cos my boss has given it to me and I am expected to be available 24X7- busy hence important and vice versa thingy. Is it as if a blackberry given by management places you on a slighly higher scale and a personal buy of the instrument is slighly lower on the social scale. Oh well-if I had one, I'd blog on the move maybe?

Phones now engage me for the mind boggling possibilities they offer in convergence and for someone who carries an old fashioned pudgy one, I read about them a lot and avidly follow Abhimanyu on gadget guru or the likes. It puzzles my family who don't understand my interest when it is not connected to shopping for it and alienates me from my more gadget groovy friends when I don't share their excitement on the "latest deals".

Seriously, Phones that allow you to answer the doorbell from wherever you are in the world, are girls spending more on gadgets or shoes, an Indian farmer who operates the water pump in his field with his cell phone- such and more stories are covered by the UK based web site which has information on mobile phones, industry news, discussion forums and more, but of course I just explained- I really enjoy the news most. National Geographic and their camera phone book; Pillow phone; Phones for the elderly- the excitement never ends! I hope you catch it too.

Mad about mobiles? It depends.

Letter from man's best friend

Dear Human,

Welfare of stray dogs has a web site devoted to us as they are constantly asked questions about the stray dog issue, both by people who think dogs a nuisance and by dog-lovers. These are the most common FAQ's - to read if you are ignorant or would like to inform any other ignoramus.

With a woof, a lick and a wag of tail,

Yours faithfully ( literally you know)

Dog

Peru and Nandigram

As tension prevails in Nandigram, West Bengal, I am reminded of the works of Hernando de Soto, Peruvian economist who sees property rights as a solution for global poverty.

His globally acclaimed work on land issues presents many issues and provides many perspectives to the issues.

Land whether it is for building, personal use and asset, construction, government projects, issues of urban squatters or others, is one of the most valuable resource simply because of it's supply being finite in nature.

One of the cornerstones of managing knowledge is the underlying principle of re-use and not re-inventing the wheel. Has anyone else done it elsewhere and what have been the lessons learnt from success or failure.

De Soto's work too like any other has it's share of admirers and critics.

If knowledge is expensive, try ignorance

Common Knowledge- How companies thrive by sharing what they know is a book by Nancy Dixon on Knowledge Management with examples, illustrations and case studies on ten organisations from Bechtel to US Army. She begins by stating the three myths about Knowledge Management :one, build it and they will come. two, technology can replace face to face and three, that first you have to create a learning culture.

The reality however is that collecting and storing is not the focus but reuse is the ultimate goal. Technology can only enhance sharing, hence needs to be married to face-to-face interaction; and lastly, bet on exchange impacting the culture rather than waiting for culture to change. The book includes debate on What’s in a name? For it really matters what you call your initiatives for instance, "Lessons learned" was interpreted as mistakes (e.g. of Bechtel-construction sites). The suggestion given is find a term that signifies what is to be accomplished rather than delineating the type or quality of knowledge to be shared. It is better if the emphasis is on outcome rather than the process, where "lessons learned database" means-input what you have learned. Peer Assist says, if you need assistance try this. The theme is- don’t call it knowledge management but link it to business.

“One size does not fit all” hence in KM, who is the intended receiver of effort?; what is the nature of the task? what is the type of knowledge being transferred? Five types or models of knowledge transfer with examples and case studies gives a good idea for people who are building KM processes which serve as a good guideline to which one or which combination will suit the business best. The models of Serial Transfer, Near Transfer, Far Transfer, Strategic Transfer & Expert Transfer are all technical terms hence reading in detail is required. The book provides sufficient questionnaires and guidelines within each section with case examples of companies actually engaged in the task. What I liked best about the book is its structure, it has a prologue-epilogue kind of approach, where the author begins by stating the structure of the book and ends with a kind of wrap-up. And everything else fits neatly within, which I felt made it seem more like a presentation rather than reading a book.

Breaking News or just broken

There are certain stories and news that just seems to disappear from the media as if it never existed, almost as if we imagined it -sometimes the power of google god helps track it but it is a chase. Let me explain. A couple of months ago, all the media channels both TV and print were all splashing the incident of the temple in Orissa, where the devotees were refused entry and the Supreme Court had to intervene- after which the priests shut the temple the next day. Do people of all strata of society now have entry and worship rights? Nothing since Jan 2007 on that. Then actually exactly on Mar 8, there was this report on a TV channel about a woman who was raped by four members of the law in Karnataka and her husband mishandled by them too. That too seems to be blanked out since. And Nithari? - overshadowed by the rogue dogs that mauled the child, who later died, in Bangalore? In the Madhur Bhandarkar movie Page 3, Konkana Sen, as a conscientious journalist story has her story, an expose on powerful men indulging in pedophile behavior, scuttled due to pressure of money and power on the editor. I agree it is a fine line between exposing the truth and responsible journalism that should be maintained, but I am sure no school of journalism recommends the way stories are left unfinished and reporting is left mid-way.

The power of love

I've been asked why I didn't include Mother Teresa in my list of post on womens day.

Maybe because I think of Mother Teresa as a saint first and not merely a woman, maybe not even human. India is a blessed country that she chose it as her karmabhoomi. In the debate that abounds around teaching a man to fish v/s giving him a fish, I am deeply influenced by Mother Teresa who reportedly told when asked her view on the topic, let me feed him, then you can take him for teaching. This is true specially when it concerns the poorest of the poor and who society has rejected, discarded, left uncared and unloved - the need for a missionary zeal.

Yet another one of her many gems of wisdom, a quote which inspires me greatly at work and out of it is- We may not do great things, but we do small things with great love.

Six fallacies which still obtain

1. The delusion that individual advancement is made by crushing others.
2. The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or corrected.
3. Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it.
4. Refusing to set aside trivial preferences.
5. Neglecting development and refinement of the mind and not acquiring the habit of reading and studying.
6. Attempting to compel other persons to believe and live as we do.

Set forth some two thousand years ago by Roman Philosopher & Statesman Cicero.

A tale of two cities - II

There is this magazine Stardust or Society I think, that had a section they called Rah Rah and Bah Bah or another with the same concept - where they use a 'crown on the head' or 'a kick in the rear' headline for people or incidents to admire or criticise.

Last week the headline of culling stray dogs in Bangalore made me so sick to my stomach that I immediately put the paper aside with alacrity comparable to an orthodox puritan brahmin who would put aside a plate of meat.

Today the Bombay High Court has suggested that housing societies in Mumbai adopt a stray dog or two, to look after them including their sterilisation. This was in response to petitions as a solution to the stray dog issue. A full bench is hearing various petitions for and against this issue. I thought it was an original, creative, lateral, compassionate suggestion as an alternate to knee jerk reaction of culling. If we have even a few souls with such intellect, India is in very very good hands. (Will it be adopted/implemented ? I don't know )

So Bah Bah Bangalore, Rah Rah Mumbai. Mumbai IS the better city. Just as bricks and walls only make a house but people make a home - the governance is tarnished, the infrastructure is damaged, but the people - they make Mumbai. And they are mostly OK. Warning : No room for complacency though!

Meanwhile I carefully avoid even eye contact with the black, mostly quiet, largely surly, bad tempered stray at the entrance of our complex where he sits alienated by the other more friendly ones within the complex and keep my fingers crossed he doesn't decide he doesn't like this person today.

I do wish though that the other two aspects of Mumbai would also improve- otherwise it is like someone saying, so what if I am smelly or my hair is unkempt, I am a handsome person beneath it all!

If that happens it'd be really so much easier to be proud of Mumbai meri jaan.

Of guns and some roses

If you watched the budget caravan feature by CNBC, the business channel, as it toured the interior and hinterlands of India, you'd have had an idea of the cities, towns and villages of India it covered on it's journey.

I saw this coverage of one town where people were cheerfully riding on scooters with rifles slung over their shoulders in choc- a- bloc traffic in full view of the camera. I rubbed my eyes so I am sure I did not imagine or dream it.

Is it only a question of time before gun toting becomes a routine sight in any Indian town or city? If yes, then we all have to seriously fear the future. Maybe that is why industry is realising and pressurising the government and FM 60 years after independence to invest more in social sectors such as education and health. Is there no law against owning and carrying arms in public ? and more relevantly, an enforcement of the law. How and why do two India's exist and that too when it is shown on national television (so no one can pretend that the other India that is not shining does not exist). Villages, cities and towns untouched by development and progress and basic amenities of water, power and education even as they are bordered by National Highways on which latest models of vehicles zoom past.

The bright spots were the villages where NABARD is financing small farmers to do projects such as bee keeping and other micro projects thereby bringing some relief of extra income to their lives.

In certain places, the budget caravan reminded me of the wild west movies with scenes from a fistful of dollar- heat and dust with the stark beauty of the country in the background. No sheriff, but many guns.

Just (between) friends

Stuffed Tiger Insight

I try to keep the blog light and not have images. But, today is speshull. This one is for you t. If there was a gold standard in friends, you'd be it - enuf mush. Happy Birthday. You rock!

Vive le difference

High point on Women's day - a song dedication....though a lil off key it made me smile, even laugh... Low point- the whole idea of a women's day.

But an opportunity as good as any other, to take a moment to list the women I admire, inspire, provoke thought, remember, and such. As evident it is a random list, with no thought to classification, timeline, living, dead or anything... just... musings and memories

TPachi, grand mother/aunt, godmother et.al. Childhood memories of spending summer vacations at her house when dinner would be (only) custard and fruit. She still preserves an handmade diwali card I made when I was ten. She taught me all my housekeeping skills to be a good "housewife' while mom ensured we were bold & beautiful.

Mrs.V, school principal, a lady of untiring energy, who straddled strict and sensitive effortlessly to build characters and an insitution. I think I owe her most for speaking on my behalf to my mom when I wanted to choose arts stream, over science or commerce, when what in those days was a sacrilege for a SSC ranker to do. Tpachi did the same when I wanted to marry a person of my choice-- so anyone who took up for me with my mother you understand why they top the list.

Mallika Sehrawat - actress known for her sexy image- for her in your face attitude and making it on her own guts. I once read an interview or article where she said that she comes from a village where female children are killed even before they are born, or soon enough and buffaloes have more higher status than women. For surviving death & escaping indignity and for having smiled and looking sexy through it all. More on female infanticide here.

Asha Bhosle, singer- in her eighties and holding the torch of Indian popular music high with international singers. I read the cover feature on her last year in HT brunch feeling ,wow - what a life, what a woman!

Shweta Nanda, just another gal, even with an heritage of her famous family - What a fine example of a young female educated urban Indian. I just feel nice when I see her picture in the paper or glossy. She will be on TV too soon.

Ila Bhatt, social worker and leader of SEWA - who worked tirelessly for micro-finance and women self help groups long long before it was "in".

Ulka- from my batch. She took up a rural posting immediately after studies and till I last heard was dedicated to her life and work in a village on the outskirts of Mumbai. Her example closes the debate on whether social work is a vocation or a profession.

My mom. r.i.p amma -I'm sure you rock in heaven too. A few words, lines will not suffice. maybe a book some day.

Mrs.D- yoga teacher, a nurse by training, a teacher by profession, a dean by office. Mrs. D is an angel in disguise who sees with her "mind's eye".

Ma Sarada Devi- spiritual figure- for inspiration on humility and self-effacement and Meera Bai- poet saint of India. I often try this mental exercise of trying to picturise a what if situation of Meera Bai lived today and my brain gives out. There is a time-out error. It is mind-blowing.

Mahashweta Devi, Writer & Jyanpeeth award winner- I don't know why. After I made this entry in my list, I checked up wikipedia and now understand the meaning of phrase, the heart has it's reasons.

Annapurna Devi- sitarist, also sometimes better known as the reclusive ex-wife of Ravi Shankar and daughter of his guru -for choosing her life and staying (sticking) by it. For an example that there is life after pain and it can be any one you choose.

Deepa Mehta, film maker- for her calm integrity. She sticks to what she believes in, does it silently, and in the process gets others in her team to believe in her dream too! If you exclude the word, silent, from my sentence it comes close to the definition of a leader in the corporate world

Indira Gandhi- politician & PM of India - one of the great leaders of our country, but my inclusion is also a personal memory. I met her when I was a school girl. She had to pin an award I won in painting- a medal to my dress and she turned to the organisers to gently chide them, why didn't you fix it on a ribbon? Bacchi ka dress kharab ho jayega. I was wearing a wollen knitted dress and she noted the pin on the medal was pulling the fibre out. Prime Minister of a country of a billion people concerened about the dress of a girl she would never see again! What a memory to have and to hold. Like wordsworth's daffodils-it flashes on my minds inward eye, and does more for me in terms of learning on leadership than any two year course in the best business school could have done.

Then there is K, a mother of three - we live on two opposite side of the town and I haven't met her in some time now, it is not as if we are childhood friends, we spent just one year of study together- and yet, I know she is the 2 a.m person I can call-figuratively of course. On the fateful 26/7 her call was the first I received- Deepa- are you ok, where are you? K is the kind of person who keeps my faith in human nature just as V is the one who chased it away. There are some horror women stories too I have, but Womens Day is not for them, but for those who you wish to celebrate.

I thought about names from the world of business and media, but could not think of any one to include in my list. I thought international and only one name I could think of is Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, in house arrest since 1989. The day she is released may qualify for womens day at least for me.

Mixed bag

My sister, S. A loving, giving person who gives of herself as wife, mother and member of an extended family to all in her life at any time. But as a qualified engineer and a member of women's scientist association, I feel sad she is not an entrepreneur providing employment to women. I feel the same about some other close friends too who can do more for women's cause. I feel that about myself too- about ANY cause.

Meera Borwankar- Head of Mumbai Police, crime branch. I was so happy when she was appointed but I feel disappointed at no special thought given to women/women's issues at all. Even something small and simple as say, self-defence classes in evening. Meanwhile I came across this blog Blanknoise. If by next year this time, they can persuade and work to implement something on this issue at least in Mumbai, my vote would go to both the blog and to Ms. Borwarkar. This is triggerred by the fact that there are many "vote for women acheivers" going on in the media for womens day.

All women of style, substance, strength, serenity, sweetness and soul.

I am proud of all of them including Ms. Borwankar, but if women don't do something for women, then do we pray for Mahatma Phule and Raja Ram Mohan Roy to be born again?

A tale of two cities

There was this chartered luxury bus trip we took to a nearby resort. A German colleague on his first day, first visit to India was gazing intently at a neat little plate with a list of rules fixed at the entryway to the bus near the driver. It said, Do not spit, Do not litter, Do not put head out of the window etc. Do people need to be told /reminded of such things, turning to me, he enquired in a very puzzled manner. Of all the memories of shame in the lack of civic sense in India, this one refuses to go away. Then there was this other friend new to Mumbai, driving on Mumbai roads for the first time many years ago and later every time, someone broke a traffic rule, he'd mutter, and there goes, "Main Dilli hoon" which for some reason would send me into a fit of giggles. If I am honest, the reason for my mirth was nothing but the pride of being in the "better city". It is not funny at all anymore. In a recent survey, Delhi emerged as the city most favoured for driving. It has more green cover than it did a decade ago and Delhi Municipal Corporation recently won an award for being part of the growing network of local governments that are committed to building sustainable communities.

Learning from nature

"One secret of success in observing nature is capacity to take a hint; a hair may show where a lion is hid. One must put this and that together, and value bits and shreds. Much alloy exists with the truth. The gold of nature does not look like gold at first glance. It must be smelted and refined in the mind of the observer. And one must crush mountains of quartz and wash hills of sand to get to it. To know the indications is the main matter." (John Burroughs)

Sounds like KM, huh?

Hasya Kavi Sammelan

Yet another must-not-miss part of Holi ..!!...

Desh ki Unnati ke liye

Markets were in the red in response to global melt down, Wall Street traders arrested for fraud and insider trading but I watched bemusedly as the various business channels reported how "the fine print is just sinking in "about the service tax on rental and leased commercial space. There was one view on how renting is not "service"- it isn't? oh come on... and another that even refered to the FMs directive as "unconstitutional". At some point everything is if there is a smart attorney who can pull rabbits out of the legalese hat. Car companies quietly raised prices, banking on the great Indian middle class aspirations that would absorb it. The rest of budget discussion space was taken up by the topic of cement companies raising prices in response to the FMs differential rates of excise. I'd have thought the Harvard don expected business and industry leaders to put their heads to issues of how to bring and keep costs lower but that may be too much burden for organisations that have access to technical and intellectual capital. It is so much simpler to pass on the extra costs to the end user, blame the government, throw it out of power ( never mind the cost of mid-term polls ), create more price cartels and price control regimes, choose confrontational approaches over other options, and never mind Desh ki Unnati.

Even as I was ruminating these, I gave up when I discovered in a newspaper report that there are people in India paying Rupees 3.5 cr. (35 mn)for a sofa set!- Edra or studded with Swaroski crystals and some such - imported from Europe. No wonder the people who can make a difference with their voice- the rich are not complaining about the budget or the price rise or the poor state of social development. They are not aware of any of them as they are busy giving their interior designer orders for latest furniture. Good heavens, where are the tax authorites and is the FM reading his daily newspaper? Overseas travel, cell phones and purchase of vehicle is so last year (and middle class too). Luxury brands and Designer Imported furniture is what is "IN". How about asking for PAN in this catgory and monitoring these transactions.

Plight of the Aged

Hindustan Times carried a feature last week on the plight of the aged and how large numbers of senior citizens were either abandoned, neglected and victims of violence and fraud by their own children, siblings and family too if I may add. Every aged person interviewed spoke about how they would never take their children to court even if any of them had the energy to do that. I wrote last time about how legislation like the bills on domestic violence and child labour were much awaited. But I am very confused about the one on protecting senior citizens. It is good that it raises the awareness of neglect that the aged population face in India, but it is like expecting the anti-dowry law to give women a better status in society. How the weaker & vulnerable sections are treated in a society, whether children, women, handicapped, the ill, aged or even animals, is the real indicator how culturally advanced the society is.

We've come a long way from the tale of Shravan Kumar in the Ramayan to the last hindi movie on the topic of filial responsibility, Baghban which took this up but the main theme got lost in the babel about how young and glamourous Hema Malini looked, her designer sarees and Amitabh singing Holi Khele Raghuveera. The story line where Amitabh as the neglected parent, has the last laugh when his memoirs become a best seller, simply took the movie into a realm of romanticism, by potraying it as an individual persons triumph over circumstances instead of a grave social issue. But it had it's heart in the right place, especially as it potrayed an adopted son and friends who do more than blood children. The plight of the aged in India only brings home the fact that the primary challenge of parenting today is teaching children values and how to make right choices.

Spring is coming, spring is coming

We had this poem in school that was meant to capture the joy of spring.

But what better way to celebrate than Holi! Of all Indian festivals, Holi tops the list as my favorite because it celebrates two things I love more than anything else,the joy of colours and mera bharat mahan -India. Diwali is a close second with its many little lamps and triumph of good over evil significance. But Holi captures the vibrant joy and celebration that is so uniquely India.

With the growing awareness in recent times on use of non-toxic colours it will hopefully revert at some time in the near or distant future from the hooligan & rowdy behaviour to it's pristine roots of water, colours, food, songs and a time to celebrate spring or Basant Ritu. Down the ages, holi and spring have inspired poets and painters in Indian thought, whether as a raaga, a chota khayal, dance or as themes for miniature paintings. In recent times, every self-respecting commercial movie has had one if not all of the top three formulas-a rain sequence, holi sequence and a dream sequence. Even an off beat movie like Hyderabad Blues had a very contemporary take on Holi.

This year I also found short easy tips on making non-toxic colours in The Hindu of which my dad would say, if you have to read only one newspaper read, The Hindu - but it does not make much sense unless everyone is using the same:). Sweets are another very important facet of the festival and the traditional one in Maharastra and south is Holige or Puran Poli which you can buy or make. Like me, if you are in the mood to cook then you can find recipes here to make delicious holi sweets.

Holi has its roots in the story of Bhakta Prahlad, who takes on his father,an asura king by professing complete faith in the Lord Vishnu. Angered by his perceived betrayal,King Hirayakasipu, tries to have him killed and when he fails challenges by taunting the child. As legends go, Lord Vishnu in his 4th avatara of half-man, half-lion kills the king and saves his devotee. Bhakta Prahlad is one of the interesting story quoted to depict how for the sake of Dharma even near and dear ones, in this case a parent may be opposed, even forsaken, otherwise an heinous wrong. But I really don't know of anyone who reflects on roots or symbolism anymore,especially on Holi that is a complete cause for celebration. I am not sure how it jumps generations to then symbolise day two of the festival of Krishna and Gopis playing holi by throwing coloured powder and water, but it does so in what I guess is a social statement. Holi is signified by a ritual the previous night with a ceremonial bonfire to mark the story of Prahlads aunt, Holika who tries to kill him by fire. On the next day people spray coloured water and powder on each other, eat, drink and generally make merry. As all Indian festivals go, there is always a religious, a social and symbolic significance. I like to make my own and here is one which my friends like. Burn all your negativity one by one by throwing them in the Holi fire and fill your life with the colours of love!

It is Basant Ritu, the season of spring. Everything in nature is fresh and new. Filled with colour and love. Even in the urban concrete jungle that is Mumbai, one can see blooming gulmohar trees and hear the warbling of the koel. Spring is here!

Thinking together

Many topics in strategy, learning, leadership, innovation, motivation etc. relate to the heart of Knowledge Management. On the HBS site, a new discussion is on the topic of how important is "Know Why" in business and about establishing purpose to achieve transformation. I enjoy reading and occasionally contribute to such and similar posers in his forum, What do YOU think? by Prof. Jim Heskett, Baker Foundation Professor, and feel the same happiness even now, as I did when my contribution was published for the very first time!

Fill in the blanks

They say when something does not make sense, sleep over it. I did, it is the day after and the budget still does not make sense - may be because for most parts of the FM's speech I dozed off. I woke up everytime a snippet here and a snippet there caught my interest or intrigue. For instance he did mention something about beefing up ITI's and that too via a Public -Private partnership model.Then there was this token gesture to Munnabhai MBBS when he announced some grants for four Gandhi Ashrams. Then again I caught the word, "Green" and some reference to CFC and how India does not contribute to global warming but I must have again dozed off, cos I have no idea of the larger context or reference - just when I had perked up enough to see if was he going to announce some sops for environment, alternate energy sources etc. But nope. And as for the pet food story that has caught the nations fancy. Well for the most part at least in our house pets are members of the family and we feed/they eat the same food cooked for humans. With an odd pet food or dog biscuit reserved for a treat or the occasion for token gestures.(you know which involve self esteem issues like "I am a dog and hence priviliged to have my own packet of food, Neighbour Rufus has it, why can't I", etc kind of situations that may run the risk of causing grave psychological damage).But seriously may be I will work out the economics of the Rs.50 per kg biscuit,once I figure out which one it is, and pet food rebate, and see which wins. Yawn. Between watching the FM in the morning and Bani and Jai Walia romancing over Holi ke Ladoo in the evening a la Readers Digest article on- Does your marriage celebrate romance in everyday life?- my TV watching time was a complete washout. Pretty much like the budget.

P.S. The govt didn't need a budget to announce the MIN (Mutual Fund Investment number) so why did it need this forum to announce that PAN would be used. And by making rental and leased property costlier, does it encourage small businesses and budding entrepreneurs to relocate to SEZs or go out of business? What about the retail industry? "That" word did not come up, did I miss it too? So many gaps to figure out. That is why the teachers used to say don't sleep when the lecture is on.