India @ 60

A very happy independence day to me and every Indian !!

India has tunrned 60 and its getting younger and better with every year passing by. Though I am not that old and havent seen the old era by myself, but I can say lotta things have changed over all these years..the pace of reform and change is debatable though..we could have done better..

Being a holiday each of us get some time to ponder about lotta issues pertaining to onself, society and nation as well... all news channels are flooded with documentaries and interviews and panel discussions..which is a nice meaningful change, movie channels and newspapers everybody is paying their part of tribute and some food for thought for each one of us.

Walking down the memory lane....

I saviour those memories of school days - going in white uniform attending march past, participating in other extra curricular acitvities and the best part - sweets and choclates at the end of ceremony. All during my school days I have participated in group song(patriotic one). We used to prepare almost a week in advance for the same mostly by staying a little late in school or during lunch time. As the group mostly consisted of students from different class or section, it was not possible to utilise any particualar free period, but it was real fun. We have delivered some real good group song performance during those days, I remember. I have always believed and realised that me and my bunch of friends where-ever I go have been pretty reasonably patriotic. Mostly it has been passive patriotism in which we discuss a alot about issues, India, history, Gandhi ji, bhagat singh, current political scenario, things which are not right, how we could have done better etc etc. We sing national anthem with great zeal and if everything goes right on this day, an atmosphere is created in which every zestful song which is slightly patriotic makes us a little bit sentimental, may be for a few seconds only.

I believe that this virtue is present in almost every Indian. We are sentimental by nature and that distinguishes us from every other society anywhere else in the world. One can get the glimpse of our sentiments in almost every thing we do be it festivals or family functions, arts or sports.Over a period of time I believe that formats & category of our sentiments have undergone a ocean of change. We have become selfish - now is that good or bad - a debatable point !

A Tribute to Freedom fighters

Being born in independent IndiaI never had to struggle for any form of independence. I have always adored the freedom fighter who have sacrificed their lives, families and everything for India. I salute their sacrifices, their passion and love for this country. A lot of them always knew that they might not be alive by the time India gets independence but they continued their mission so that coming generations can breathe in free India. Their sacrifices for the good of future generations is simply amazing and difficult to comprehend for my generation. Are these fighters getting the recognition and respect which they always deserved in present day scenario.

Unfortunately within 60 years, our generation (that includes me as well) has started taking this freedom for granted and has started forgetting the sacrifices our freedom fighters have made to certain extent. I dont doubt the feeling of patriotism but I think its more of passive kind and momentary. We Indians always feel in back of our minds that we are most cultured, intelligent & patriotic people on this planet. Are we correct in our assumptions...

The New Freedom !!

The world has changed so much especially in past 15 years or so. We are living in a globalised economy..where co. from any country can do business n any country...till it can do tht business profitably ( thts the bottomline) providing value to the customer !!

After opening of our economy in early 90s, we have seen hell lotta MNCs entering in Indian mkts from all walks of life. Directly of indirectly Indian businesses and consumers have learnt so much from them, in terms of doing business professionally, ethically and profitably !! Competition has always been good for consumers...as it brings prices down..improves efficiency and provides hell lotta choice to the end user !! It gives consumer freedom to choose from vast array of options. Now a days we hear lot of Indians heading prestigous positions in these MNCs worldwide..making India proud !!

All this has thrown so much choice for our generation in every walk of life, be it deciding for studies (school or college), job avenues, arts, sports or culture eveything has been affected by this wind of globalisation ! Indian youth is confident like ever before. We can now dream big and achieve even bigger !!

Pros & cons of this Globalisation are once again debatable but I feel that over long term the anamolies tend to get corrected and adjusted so as to suit the local conditions, society and culture !! That I feel has been THE most important quality of Indian culture and civilization !! We have adjusted ourselves with time and accomodated changes as they come !! I guess Darwin's theory applies equally well for cultures and civilizations as well !! Once again pros & cons of this quality are debatable !!

A lotta questions are in front of us, which our generation and society should seek answers for in a very honest manner. I have some thoughts on debatable points/questions referred above which I will write about next time...

Happy Independence Day !!

Jai Hind

Views abt PSUs

Heavy weight...ONGC - white elephant...but is it worth your money..read the article in Business Today (apr 2006)..which clearly shows the money laundering going on on ONGC which can be safely generalised to other PSUs like IOCL, BPCL etc etc...there is so much wastage of resources...manpower something really dangerous...ONGC has made no significant gas find ever after Bombay High...ONGC is heavily over paying for various machines..rigs..and other equipments..as compared to common sensical market price !!!few months back i read another article...tht (with no disrespect to profession) - peons...floor clearners in these PSUs are earning Rs.20000 p.m ( m not against equality of wages but wat abot merits) and above because of the simple reason tht thy hanged thr for 20 years or so, Privatisation is the only way to save these co.s other wise god only knows...how much of shareholders wealth...govt resources..money..will be spent on these monsters !

Network 18 - a media conglomorate in the making !!
According to the 2007 PricewaterHouse Coopers report on the Indian media and entertainment industry, film entertainment is estimated at Rs 84.5 billion and projected to grow to Rs 175 billion by 2011.

Network 18, the holding company of TV 18, Global News Broadcast, Web 18 and Studio 18, is investing $10 million in a new entertainment company - The Indian Film Company, to be listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange by mid-May 2007.

The point is whether -Network 18 will be holding co only all the time - or does it plan to enter into any real business as well that will be a key issue which co. will decide upon!!

Wats the point in making holding co a listed one - just to raise funds onli !! a knidda SPV !!its like VSNL and MTNL n Infy having prime land - at cheap rates !! but thy will never/rarely sell those assets !! similar wud be the case with holding co.s as well - thy mite never sell those holdings and due to no business - even if thy sell wat will thy do with tht cash/asset neways - re-invest in holding business again !! so its the business whichs growing - so why the holding co - Mcdowel Holding, UB Holding, JSW Holding, NW18 fincap etc etc !!! merely to create value and keep business within family and hence wealth for Promoters !! So, there has to be game plan which will unfold slowly n steadily !!

Lotta MFs n FIIs are already into this stock, which reduces the liquidity to certain extent (June 2007)!!Oflate the movies produced by NW18 has not been doing good either !!Yatra n Homeshop are very tiny business as of now with fierece competition n unless something really good turns out for studio18 or IFC, NW 18 mite hover ard these levels, its still 20% lower thn its all time high whereas Indices are near all time high !!

Overall the best part if -Management !! n thts the most imp aspect rather than EPS growth or FII holdings etc. Because its the people who run the business and if they are convicted, no matter what mkt conditions are they will survive all odds and will deliver results !! thats what i expcted from TV 18/Nw18 group in next 2-5 years !!

Its part of me……..

Sometimes it’s all about giving
Sometimes about forgiving;
Sometimes it’s about speaking, without speaking
Sometimes about listening;

Sometimes it’s all about caring
Sometimes about sharing;
Sometimes its about quarrels n arguments,
Sometimes about complete understanding;

At times it’s like truth, purity,
Sometimes like holy divinity;
Sometimes it’s like oasis in the desert,
At times like desert in the oasis;

Sometimes I feel, I never knew about it,
At times I feel, I can live without it,
But now I think it always was part of me,
And now I know it always will be.

- Nitin

Well this is the poem I wrote, when I was about to meet the love of life and now my fiancee.

Heros Requiredd.....!!!

Present debacle of Indian Cricket team..and the Hype and discussions going on since last 1 week or so..shows the urgent necessity of Heros required by and for India !!

Every society,civilisation requires Heors to look upon to !! Those who can do great work, achieve impossibles, gerat artits or thinkers or philosophers with mass appeal !! These Heros can be in various fields, walks of life which are popular at those times - be it science or technology or sports or fashion or music etc etc !!

What is the necessity of Heros ? Why do we need them ?? What if there are none ??

Monotonousity ( i dont know if thts a word or not !!) is mediocrisity !! Both are not exciting things !! Hence in order to come out of this boredom man looks upto somebody whos famous and doing something different, who has OR can achieve more than himself !! He tries to align his actions and aspirations as per Heros instructionss !! These instructions are indirect and subtle but sometimes are very strong !!

Our nation is in the middle of a change - huge change which might be studied by historians of future, business gurus of future as case study !! But in order to move this tide in right direction, we require Leaders - who can guide masses in correct direction ! These leaders need not be from Politics alone ( as unfortunately todays working youth is no more interested in the same ) but Achievers from ALL Walks of life - sports, music, cinema, arts etc. etc !! Our country is desperately seeking for such leaders whom to look upon and mimic !! Following whom people (especially children & youngsters like me :D) can come out of their shelves and try to do something really exciting or constructive or different in life !! Dearth of such leaders has been one of the reasons of recent muslinging on Indian Cricket Team as there are not much options avaiulable ! Nobody cares about the national game anymore !! So this scaricty will lead to over hype of minor sucesses like Ms.Mirza or Yuvraj Singh and likes will create uncecessary pressure on them, which in turn might hamper their performance and their view might be skewed from long term carrer to short term money minting !! thts it !!

Arts and science are still underrated in India ! With arrival of business news channels - fortunately business leaders are getting the attnetion what they always deserved ! Narayan Murthy and Anand Mahindra are becoming household names ! Acquisition by Indian co.s make us, you me everybody feels proud !! Gives us something to talk about, boast about and feel good about !!

Considering our population and its diversity I still feel that there's requirement of hell lotta leaders on various levels from various walks of life so that the nation progresses sustainably and as a whole - together as single entity !!

Vincent !!

One of the Lovely songs by Don Mclean.....the song is so mesmirising tht while lisening to it...u will feel the song...the breeze...u can almost see those colorful Daffodils....the songs portrays both beauty and sadness with colors...great lyrics and great singing too !! Here it goes..........................................................

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry, starry night.
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze,
Swirling clouds in violet haze,
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue.
Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain,
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you,
But still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night,
You took your life, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.

Starry, starry night.
Portraits hung in empty halls,
Frameless head on nameless walls,
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met,
The ragged men in the ragged clothes,
The silver thorn of bloody rose,
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they're not listening still.
Perhaps they never will...

The Road Not Taken - by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair;
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood,
And I-I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

---
Robert Frost

There’s something about PAF………………….

Reminiscene - March 2004 !!

Its spring time…with leaves falling and me recovering from the midsems perhaps for the last time....the festival of holi spreading its colours…all over the hostel and nothing much to do in life..PAF brings with it all passion and mastee and learning. It also bring those beautiful memories of previous years …those night outs in the OAT..sleeping on the stairs and getting up before breaker ..working for bamboo frames and those larger than life back drops with spray guns and brushes…those announcements for run throughs and choreo junta fighting hard to get everything perfect….those power packed voice overs still echoes in my mind. Dinners in OAT & geese from here and there in order to survive …prod junta putting up Herculean effort to raise the structure and once it is raised all applaud and whistles across the OAT.. will remain with me forever…throughout my life. From freshie days when we saw PAF in its fullest glory and grandeur to its latest shorter avatar. I saw people getting senti for PAF….fighting for it…day and day out not stop...I saw outburst of enthu never seen before…so there is something great about PAF something..which develops a strong bond and unites all to work for the common goal. Over the years I have seen people getting involved in PAF and loving what they are doing…well I guess the sense of achievement the sense of creation is the final reward. .It is a great feeling to see one’s hard work and imagination taking shapes of reality and is being appreciated. It feels great watching and working with some 100 guys who share the similar sentiment and desire to win, and after putting in so much of effort and hard work I guess the thing which makes PAF so special is that everybody is a winner. At the end of the day..everybody wins much before the results are out with a feeling of self satisfaction and accomplishment…and great memories to cherish throughout life about which I guess everyone will tell stories of to their children and grand childrens..with all passion and proud.

The weather is almost same - 3 years down the lane ! Location - somewhat similar to IIT Bombay ! Precisely - Goa!! Pleasant afternoon..bright sun with moderate temperature...due to vicinity of Sea..slightly high humidity, but still tolerable !!

Despite more than 2 years of passing out from IIT...days and nights spent in working for PAF still remains as fresh memories...which I will always cherish !!