Great Indian Tamasha circa 2014

The biggest powerhouse of democracy is here. To many, this is India’s watershed election. But I differ with this coinage. Why is this election being termed as paradigm shift or watershed? I am not seeing anything new in this election season. The same old political rivalry, nasty exchange of words among the political leaders, campaigning with grand hue and colour, some promises which are never to be kept and some later entrants, for last minute benefit. So what’s new in this vote? Many argue, Modi Wave is something phenomenon. But it’s not unusual. Let’s look back to some of the past elections. Everywhere there was a leading figure. Both in 1998 and 1999, Vajpayee was the face of NDA camp. 2004 was hijacked by ‘India Shining’ campaign along with Vajpayee-Advani face values. Congress's campaigns too were on expected lines. The projection is, what they have already delivered, what more is in the store. The sycophancy amongst Congress workers surrounding Sonia and Rahul is as old as Gandhi-Nehru family dominance. Yet, this election is termed as different. Yes, it is different from another perspective. If ‘Ab ki bar, Modi Sarkar’ becomes a reality, to many, it will be the biggest dent on democratic process, simply because of Gujarat Genocide of 2002. Though, in one of the cases the Supreme Court of India gave him a clean chit, but his ‘involvement’ (direct or indirect in whatever manner it may be) in the Genocide is beyond doubt as it is widely believed. Had he become the Prime Minister of the country, it would definitely defeat the purpose of democracy. But some believe, an incident which took place 12 years back, there’s no issue crying over that. Modi had won Gujarat 3 times after that, his ‘development model’ had become the most talked about thing, so what’s wrong in giving him a chance? Actually, everyone should be provided a level playing platform. Now, let’s explore the Congress camp. This is going to be Rahul Gandhi’s acid test, for the first time though. So long, he has been second fiddle to Sonia Gandhi. This is the first time when Rahul is leading the party from front. If he fails, his political acumen will be questioned. Not only that, the sycophancy surrounding the Nehru-Gandhi family can put to rest. Though at a later stage Priyanka Gandhi has taken the mantle of campaigning for her mother and brother, but whether the Dynasty Daughter can save the front, will be closely watched. The other question, which ought to be come to your mind is, the performance of the Regional Satraps. Be it TMC or AIDMK, BSP, SP, JDU, RJD, no one knows whether the key to Loksabha formation will be held any of them.If the poll-stars are to be believed the 'Mad Sister'(Mamata-Mayawati-Jayalalitha) can have edge over others. But others cannot be written off as well. Indian election is as uncertain as cricket match. Even if the pollstars are projecting Modi Wave and pulling down congress to double digit, still nothing could be said. Both in 2004 and 2009, opinion polls and exit polls had gone horrendously wrong, so have to wait for the mandate of Janta Janardan. Predicting a Hung Parliament might not be an exaggeration. The feeling is managing 200+ seats for any alliance will be difficult. The other thing is the 'Har Har Modi...' campaign. Is is as inflated as the India Shining or is it reflecting the mind of the Indian voters? Just a fortnight to go... the mandate will put to rest everything.

The Journey of a lonely girl

With a broad smile the doctor entered and delivered the news to my mother, ‘you have a baby girl’. It was enough to shatter the dream of my close ones ---- because they never wanted a girl in their family. That was the beginning of a long story. No, I cannot say that my parents didn’t provide me with good schooling and college, but there was always a vacuum. It was never straight from the heart; it seemed more like ‘duty!’ Still, life goes on. It was not an exception. As I grew older, the loneliness became my only companion. (My grandmother and aunt, cousins were always a continuous support). As a kid, I couldn't piece together the moments spent with parents. Neither had I moments which can be tagged as unforgettable. Suddenly I realised I have grown up, unknowingly, to some extent. And what do you feel when you actually ‘grow up?’ taking your own decision? That I used to take when I was in class 3! Choosing a path for higher education, career? No one ever interfered, (to be frank my parents were not even aware that in how many colleges I had applied for my degree course study!) Their only concern was ‘good result’. I had tried, but couldn't say whether those had made them happy. (The day my Mass Communication result was out and I stood third, same day my cousin’s result was out from a different university, it was a mega celebration at home as she scored a first class. I too was happy for her, I am devoid a feeling called ‘jealousy’, but no one not even my ma-baba had asked about my result. I felt bad). I moved on, consoled myself by saying that it was a degree and mine was a Diploma only. May be for that... As time flies, my education came to an end. Finished MA in History from JU and joined my first job at ABP. It was a funny experience. After a written test and interview I was selected as a trainee journalist. I was asked in the interview board itself whether I would prefer to join their English Edition! After a thought, I chose to test my hand at Bangla Journalism. It was a learning experience; I found myself as ‘tiny tod’ there... so many big names, altogether a different world. I loved the job, so was the pampering by all the Didis and Dadas. (The advantage of being the junior most). My first boss (though not on paper) Ishani Datta Ray was a lady with a substance. She taught me ABC of subbing and writing. And at the same time she became my closest friend, though almost 13 years senior to me! Later on I realised that she was the best boss I have ever worked with. At times I got angry with her, felt bad sometimes, but it was her cordial and kind gestures which made me forget everything. She is still a big influence in my life. I never had seen such a person of integrity like her. Only for her continuous encouragement, within 4 months of joining I started to write the most important stories of national and international events (barring the major political developments) But a call from IIM Calcutta made me quit this job. I joined the institute and its green campus was enough to fall in love with the place. Being a Trainee Teaching Associate there, was a real treat. I learnt and unlearnt so many things. The funniest thing was, almost all the students were of my age, so I soon befriended them. I had some personal experience there which I preferred not to discuss. But those tough times had actually made me a strong person. Today I can handle any situation at ease, thanks to IIMC. Really proud to be there. As all good things must come to an end, so with IIMC. I left the place and joined Ei Samay (Times Groups' new Bengali daily) before a very short stint with IIFT, Kolkata. Getting into Ei Samay was a journey to remember. After three rounds of interviews (two informal and a formal) and a written test I was offered the post of Senior Copy editor. I must say, it is totally a different set up, nothing to do with my former organisation (other than some people from there). I personally feel, this is completely a professional set-up, where emotions have no place. Some might say, ‘an office must be like that’, yes, so very true. But at the same time if there is no one to share your tears and smile, likes and dislikes, can a person survive there for long hours? The answer is Yes, that is possible. But for that you have to have your own Mantra ‘work, work and more work and turn a blind eye and deaf ear to everything else’. It worked. I am happy to get an encouraging boss, who himself is nothing short of a ‘Living Legend’ in Bengali journalism. Some other talented people are around, from whom one can learn so many things. I can say it for sure, my jobs have wiped away a bit of my loneliness. Music and books too are good therapy. There is a persistent question thrown at me, why am I not getting married? Well, that’s a personal choice, I want to be single forever. Please don’t read between the lines and draw your own conclusion that “I must have had an affair which didn't happen, thus...” No, I never had any affair or something like that. But I have always scored a duck in trusting people. It has started from my school and still going on, whoever I trusted as a friend or so, within months I found I was nothing but a ‘use and throw’ material for them. Once the work done, people forgot me. (Though few exceptions are there). And marriage is all about Trust, so I don’t want to throw myself into the fire. I love to be with people and want to move on like that.. and I have a peculiar character; If someone is uncomfortable with me (be it in professional or personal life) I completely withdraw myself from their lives. It might hurt me, still... However, crossing the bar is a sole responsibility of an individual & in order to win the battle called life, one has to embark upon the journey alone; for I believe, the show must go on...

New Anti Rape Bill --- Nirbhaya's unfinished journey

We have spent thousands of words in dicussing the various provisions of new anti rape Bill, which is soon going to be an act.. But the question lies. Tougher law is always a welcoming step if implemented properly. But that couldn't answer the basic question. Will this new one will be useful enough to contain the crime against the women? Well, in paper it could. But in practice, it's tough, really tough. Many eyebrows could be raised by this explanation. But in my view, I believe no law single handedly could make any difference. Had it been so, India wouldn't have any murder, dowry death and so many other things. For each of these crimes, stringent laws are in place. But did it stop all kinds of crimes? My hunch feeling is, same is going to be happened in the amended Criminal Law too, where anti rape is a section. Actually, the problem lies elsewhere & precisely, that's our patriarchal society. A girl child is still a matter of shock. In some belts of India, female foeticide is a regular exercise and moreover, the general notion about women is 'they are for pleasure and raising babies.' The moment you are accepting the fact that women are for pleasure,knowingly or unknowingly you are joining the bandwagon of objectifying the female clan. Take for example, be it cinemas or advertisement, the vital stats of a woman is harped upon. Not the product, but the woman body is selling! Enjoying a lady becomes a natural right of a man. Be it within the marriage or outside the marriage. The frustrated men couldn't keep their libido in control, so rape has become THE TRUTH for Indian society. By violating a woman's body, the man (beast, I mean) is getting a sadistic pleasure by showing his manliness. And then there is our society, which is in slightest occasion always raised a finger at women. As if the girl is responsible for getting raped. And I am not surprised that Marital Rape is not mentioned in the new Act, how could it be? Our society believes, marrying off means right of a man to make sexual advances to his wife, even if the wife is unwilling. Many of us don't even understand the very logic of 'marital rape'. Even sometimes Court had said, 'how could a husband rape his wife?' So, we cannot expect this provision to be included in the proposed Act. Strangely enough, kids of 9-10 years have become a rapist! Where from are they learning this? Have we ever thought of this? Here, we cannot deny the role of television media and online games. It brings us to the question of the age of the juvenile. An under trial of horrific Delhi Gangrape case is little less than 18-year-old, so he couldn't be tried under existing law! But he can rape a girl twice!! & he is clever enough to claim immunity under the ground of his under age. And it puts another decision in question, why did the age of consent lower to 16 years. Legal age of marriage is 18 and 21, even so there are rampant child marriage. Now lowering of the age of consent will result in more and more under age marriages and sex crimes. A section of a society will try to experience 'adventure' by physical contact. New law is good, but more importantly we need to awake the society. It is like a sleeping dragon. If it raised to the occasion and fight for the 'CHANGE' to change the attitude towards the women, then Nirbhaya will be the happiest. The brave girl from a distant will have a smile on her face and will feel proud that her pain, atrocity, death had actually woken up a careless nation. Not to forget, we had already seen glimpses of that! Now it's our turn to pay her tribute, not in paper but in practice too, not only by passing the law but also by standing on our own and combating the social evils.

Oh Nooooooooooooooo!! Bangla...

“To me, there’s no difference between French and Bengali!’’ a 13-year-old Bengali girl uttered these words in a most stylish way! She took great pride in the fact that she can’t read or write her own mother tongue!
Bengalis otherwise branded as an ‘educated and intellectual class’ has these exclusive characteristics of taking pride in not knowing their own language. ‘Banglata na thik ashena (I don’t know Bengali properly) is the most common feature of the urban youth, who don’t even know their favourite English in its actual form! There’s no denying that knowing the correct English is too important for communication, career etc. as it is considered the connecting language for both India & abroad!
But the irony is, ‘International Mother Tongue Day’ is the outcome of ‘Bhasha Andolan’ (Bengali Language Movement) which was fought by the students of the Dhaka University in order to recognise Bangla as the official language of Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan) against West Pakistani government’s imposition of Urdu as the official language of East Pakistan! Today is the 61st year of ‘Bhasha Andolan’ and Bengali has become the most neglected language and an ‘embarrassment’ for a large number of people in Kolkata itself! I am excluding the Diaspora chapters for some other connotations.
India too has experienced its own sort of language movement. Potti Sriramumulu’s ‘fast-unto-death’ and consequently his death sparked off the major re-shaping of Indian state boundaries. Sriramumulu demanded Telugu-speaking-state. Through the act of Reorganisation of the states, 1956, the old states were dissolved & new states were created on the lines of shared linguistic and ethnic demographics. Thus, Telugu speaking Andhra Pradesh, Malayalam-speaking Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Marathi-speaking Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab were created. Bengal never has to fight for its language, it was automatic but it is the state which has least respect for its native language.
In almost all the Indian states, learning the state-language is mandatory. Be it Maharashtra or Gujarat, Kerala or Andhra, you have to have learn the language of the state you are residing in. The exception is west Bengal, where Bengali is not even compulsory as third language! So it’s of no surprise that Marathis or Gujaratis, Punjabis or Tamilians or Malayalis have great pride for knowing their language! Bengalis are probably the only tribe who prefers English over Bengali while communicating in a social gathering! Showing-off has become a normal practice for most of the Bengalis! Parents feel satisfied if their kids get less marks in Bengali or if the school doesn’t teach Bengali at all!! Kids can’t be blamed for disrespecting Bengali, because this is the culture their parents are implanting in them! They are simply following the ‘global practice!’
Rabindranath Tagore believed, English should be skillfully and thoroughly taught as a second language, the chief medium of instruction in schools (and even in colleges up to the stage of the university degree) should be the mother tongue. He has four reasons for this belief: first, because it is through his mother tongue that every man learns the deepest lessons of life: second, because some of those pupils who have a just claim to higher education cannot master the English language; third, because many of those who do acquire English fail to achieve true proficiency in it and yet, in the attempt to learn a language so difficult to a Bengali, spend too large a part of the energy which is indispensable to the growth of the power of independent thought and observation; and, fourth, because a training conducted chiefly through the mother tongue would lighten the load of education for girls, whose deeper culture is of high importance to India. He holds that the essential things in the culture of the West should be conveyed to the whole Bengali people by means of a widely diffused education, but that this can only be done through a wider use of the vernacular in schools.
One must not misunderstand me, I am not telling that in name of saving own ‘cultural distinctiveness’, everyone should follow Siva Sena’s path, forcefully imposing alien languages to others, abusing other language speaking people. My point is simple; one must have respect for his own language! Caution is especially for the self-forgotten Bengalis, because ‘’Everyone loses if one language is lost because then a nation and culture lose their memory, and so does the complex tapestry form which the world is woven and which makes the world an exciting place…”. Even Gandhiji firmly stated, “Any nation that cherishes its individuality must love its own language and feel proud of it. The learning of English must come second to learning one's mother tongue.”
I am proud to be a Bengali. I am proud that I can read, write and speak in Bengali. I never feel ashamed of that. Some of the best literary creations of the world is in Bengali, great movies were made in Bengali by eminent film makers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak. Noble Prize, for the very first time came to India for a Bengali, Oscar too followed the same path! One Bengali had unfurled his jersey at the Lord’s Balcony, innumerable examples are there! Still, most Bengalis don’t know their mother tongue, they feel ashamed in speaking in Bengali.
It’s a question for them… very recently Bengali bashing has been a regular practice in most places of India. Don’t they think that actually their disrespect for their own language has actually widened the path for this insult? Have they ever thought that each Indian has to sing two Bengali songs, namely Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ at least once in their life?
Now,take a look at our neighour. The Morning Star of the Language Movement, this year have chosen to 'celebrate' the occasion on a different note. In a close affinity with the Arab Spring, Shahbag Square is burning bright with the candles. The war-cry being 'hang the 1971 terrorists'. 'Amar Ekushe' (21st February forever)is the driving force of Bangladesh. They know, they fight for a cause, unlike India where one Nirbhaya Case shook the conscience of the nation and within weeks die down! Bangladesh knows how to ensure justice, we must take a cue from them! I am sure 90% of the people would give a blank look if you ask the significance of the date!
Wake up Bengalis… we must not forget our very own Bangla! After all, ‘amar bhaiyer rokte rangano ekushe February/ ami ki bhulite pari?’ (My brother has shed blood on 21st, how could I forget that?). Let’s think of those young, brave boys and then look at ourselves. I can assure, if we have emotions, we will feel pity and ashamed for ourselves only! The 'sweetest tongue' is allover my body and soul...('Amar Bhitor o Bahire, Anatare, Anatre Achho tumi Hriday Jure' the immortal lines by Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah, penned during the Bhasha Andolan), so let's embrace it. No shame in knowing your own language!

Economics Vs. Politics: Didi's Way

It’s again Politics versus Economics. Experts would call it ‘bad politics, good economics’ but there is a huge mass, known as the backbone of Indian democracy will cheer the decision of Mamata Banerjee- to pull out from UPA II on Friday, if her demands of diesel price & LPG price rollback is not met. Manmohan Singh government has to say ‘No’ to FDI in multi-brand retail! Mamata loves to portray herself as a ‘messiah of the poor’ and her line of action in withdrawing support from UPA II is completely in sync with her image. But at the same time Mamata is a shrewd politician, she knows her arithmetic well. So she has deliberately kept an `escape route’ till Friday. What could be the possible calculation for this? Mamata clearly knows where she is standing and making this gesture at this point in time will make congress panicky & will increase her value in the national politics! Congress will try to reach to her through a heavyweight leader, and even if there is a tiny rollback on increased prices, she would agree to stay back in the UPA II, may be by providing with outside support only. At present, she wants to buy time only. Two messages emerge out of this. If there is a Mid Term poll, Trinamool Congress will come with more strength. Though, in West Bengal her government is facing major criticism for various reasons, but those `anger’ is not enough for the Left to regain their previous status. Going to Loksabha poll in early 2013 means, TMC will call the shots to a large extent in the centre! She wants to make her presence felt in the centre. If Mamata comes out of UPA II, how could Congress continue in state assembly? This is also a question of ego. Congress, in past few months, too have threatened to withdraw support from the government, she didn’t bother to care as TMC on its own have 2/3rd majority! This is a message for Left as well. Left is again trying to reconnect with the poor by going to the roots. Mamata hampers their plan in a small way by this gesture. UPA II, which could be nicknamed as ‘SCAMmohan Singh Government’ is in trouble for various corruptions. The scams are coming out like gushing soda. Finding the opportune moment, big, small, tiny allies are playing their cards which make Congress blink first! It is said, economics always takes a backseat in political crisis. Reform is best option in single party rule, not an ideal one for coalition government. Seeing Mamata’s gesture, Lalu, Nitish, Thackerays all have congratulated her and extended a warm hand. Three-day is a big time in Indian politics. Let see who emerges as the winner, Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister, 1991 or the Manhmohan Singh, the Prime Minister in this Great Indian Tamasha!

Regulatory Scenario of Foreign Direct Investment in India

14th September, 2012 is historic in a sense. After the watershed year of 1991, India has not seen such a ‘reformation bonanza!’ Amongst widespread protest, UPA II government has nodded 51% FDI in multi-brand retailing, 49% in aviation & 74% in DTH. India is now a preferred destination for investment for its political stability, natural resources, and a large number of English speaking populations, well-regulated financial markets, tested legal systems and above all an investor-friendly attitude of the government. Some statistics might help in understanding the same. Cumulative amount of foreign direct investment (“FDI”) inflows into India from 2000-2012 is US$ 243,055 [Source: Fact Sheet on FDI, Aug. 1991 – Jan 2012 of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (“DIPP”)] Investors are attracted towards India because it has the largest democracy in the world along with skilled & competitive labour market & liberalised foreign investment regime. Coupled with large domestic market & highest return on investment, it has become the second largest emerging market of the world. Countries like the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Mauritius, France and others did not waste much time to grab the opportunity to tap the potential market in India. As there were (are) several sectoral caps in FDI, most of the initial investment was in the form of Joint Ventures (“JV”).With regular changes in FDI norms, the nature of investment too has witnessed a change. There are some advantages as well as disadvantages of FDI. Infrastructure & technology transfer, increased productive efficiency due to competition from MNC subsidiaries, faster growth of output & employment, threefold consumer benefits (price, quality, and varieties), increasing export, investments & savings are some of the advantages. On the other hand the disadvantages are dominance of industrial sector in domestic market, dependence on foreign technology sources, disturbances of domestic economic plans in favour of FDI-directed activities, cultural change by means of ‘ethnocentric staffing’ (infusion of foreign culture & business practices). Foreign investments in India can be made through five channels, namely: i) Foreign Direct Investment ii) Foreign Portfolio Investment iii) Foreign Venture Capital Investment iv) Other Investments (G-SEC, NCDs etc.) v) Investments on non- repatriable basis Different modes, through which FDI in India can be made, are • By direction (Inward & Outward) • By target( M&A, Horizontal FDI, Backward & Forward Vertical FDI) • By motive (resource-seeking, strategic asset-seeking, market-seeking & efficiency-seeking) India has its own distinct policy for promoting foreign investment in the country. As on date, there are some regulatory hurdles for insurance & multi brand retail segments, as there is no consensus of allowing FDI in these sectors. This seems to have given a wrong message to investors from USA, as American President Barack Obama had commented on 15th July, 2012, “They (US business community) tell us it is still too hard to invest in India. In too many sectors, such as retail, India limits or prohibits the foreign investment that is necessary to create jobs in both our countries… there appears to be a growing consensus in India that the time may be right for another wave of economic reforms…” Indian Commerce Minister, Anand Sharma has reassured that the ‘foreign investment environment is conducive. As a result of assurance, FDI in Multi brand retail has been approved by CCEA on 14th September, Friday, 2012. So far, it could not be implemented due to wide political protests, although the Government has allowed it up to 51% under approval route ('Circular 2 of 2011- Consolidated FDI Policy', dated 30.09.2011, issued by the DIPP) almost a year ago. There is immense fear among the small traders & farmers, that once these giants with ‘big discounts’ flooded Indian market, they would lose their livelihood & most of the political parties, both national & regional are supporting their concerns. India has already revised its earlier stand on single brand retail trading. By issuing press note PN- 1/2012 (10th January, 2012), the Government of India has reviewed the extant policy on FDI and decided that up to 100% FDI, under the government approval route, would be permitted in Single-Brand Product Retail Trading, subject to specified conditions. IKEA, world’s largest furniture manufacturer is coming to India with a promise of investments worth 1.5 billion Euros (R10, 500 crore) in two stages via its Indian subsidiary. The company will invest 600 million Euros (around R4, 200 crore) in the first stage and an additional estimated FDI of up to 900 million Euros (around R6, 300 crore). These conditions are as follows: FDI in Single Brand product retail trading would be subject to the following conditions as prescribed in the Master Circular of April, 2012: (a) Products to be sold should be of a ‘Single Brand’ only (b) Products should be sold under the same brand across the world (c) ‘Single Brand’ product-retail trading would cover only products which are branded during manufacturing. (d) The foreign investor should be the owner of the brand (e) In respect of proposals involving FDI beyond 51%, mandatory sourcing of at least 30% of the value of products sold would have to be done from Indian small industries/ village and cottage industries, artisans and craftsmen. This 30% clause, however, has been opposed by several foreign retailers. The government is also considering allowing the foreign companies to undertake local sourcing through a separate entity from that of the retailing venture. As per the present government norms, both the activities have to be undertaken by the same entity. As soon as notification has been made by the Central Government in single brand retail trade, IKEA didn’t waste any time to investment. Now, IKEA has demanded certain ‘favours’ from the Indian government: • It wants India to tweak a clause that will require it to source 30% of the value of goods sold in India from domestic small industries whose investment do not exceed Rs 5.5 crore. • Local firms, which will supply its inventory, should continue to qualify as small industries even if their investments exceed Rs 5.5 crore after their association with the Swedish giant. • It also wants the compliance of the mandatory 30% sourcing condition to be calculated over a cumulative period of 10 years and not annually. • The export value of materials sourced from Indian MSMEs should be included. In simpler terms, this means IKEA can source raw materials from domestic MSMEs but export it to other markets. However, as of now no changes in the single-brand retail policy has been implemented. DIPP has referred the IKEA demands before FIPB. The DIPP will take a decision on any change only after receiving the views of the FIPB. Very recently, the Commerce Minister of India has said that, the process of reconstructing the definition of small and medium enterprises is underway, in order to help the foreign retailers meet the MSME criteria. After much deliberation, IKEA has agreed to comply with India's local sourcing conditions by the seventh year of its operations and has said that it is willing to sell food items under the eponymous brand at its stores. However, there are some issues between the Swedish company's plans and the current government policy, which need to be sorted out before the final nod from the government. However, not all foreign investments meet with such regulatory hurdles. For instance, the Reliance Industries Ltd. - British Petroleum joint venture, which is the biggest FDI in India ever. But on the other hand, the Cairn-Vedanta deal had a long story of facing various legal barriers before it commenced business in India. RIL-BP Deal A 50:50 joint venture formed by the RIL-BP for sourcing and marketing gas in India, taking the overall investment in the partnership to $20 billion or Rs 90,000 crore. BP is taking a 30% stake in 23 RIL-operated PSCs in India, including the offshore producing KG D6 block. This is the single-largest FDI flow into India ever and a multi-year commitment. Valuation was justified with analysts having valued RIL’s upstream business at around $30 billion implying $9 billion for a 30% stake. Cairn-Vedanta Deal Vedanta Resources wanted to buy a 51% controlling stake in Cairn India for $9.6 billion. Vedanta Resources was in talks with Cairn Energy, which had a 62.4% stake in Cairn India, to buy a controlling stake in the unit in August, 2010. The deal was done in 2010 but got stuck due to ONGC and Government of India. ONGC and Cairn India had started oil drilling operation in Rajasthan under a Joint Venture. Cairn owned 70% and ONGC 30%. So Cairn had sought an NOC (No objection certificate) from ONGC for this deal with Vedanta, which was denied by ONGC by using the Right of First Refusal or Preemptive Rights as per Companies Act, 1956.But, ONGC did not provide that at the first go citing the issue of royalty for Rajasthan Block, which was supported by government of India, as ONGC wanted to buy the controlling stake. In 2011, the petroleum ministry gave “in-principle” approval for Vedanta Resources’ $9.6 billion acquisition of Cairn India with a set of 11 preconditions. Despite Cairn India's reservations, its current and future promoters -- Cairn Energy and Vedanta, respectively -- accepted the government conditions, following which ONGC waived its preemption rights over the deal. Vedanta Group now holds 60 per cent in Cairn India, while Cairn Energy retains about 22 per cent. The Supreme Court in July, 2012 said, it will be difficult to reverse the deal. Both the deals are valuable examples of the legal issues one might face while doing business in India and an in-depth look at the cases brings to light a substantial number of nitty-gritty’s existing in the current business environment. Both Cairn-Vedanta and RIL-BP are equity-based partnerships. Unlike RIL-BP deal, Vedanta-Cairn stake sale faced a number of regulatory hurdles as the issue of controlling stake was involved. Because of this very issue of controlling stake, the issue of national interest had been raised by the parties as well. According to the SSPA (Share Sale & Purchasing Agreement), an acquisition in this case does not need any approval per se. The acquired entity maintains its individuality. But, once a company wants to buy out more than 50% of the equity stake in the target company, it involves a change in the management and control of the company. In the Cairn-Vedanta case, this was exactly the situation. Vedanta wanted 51% controlling stake in Cairn India where the change of management would be inevitable. Initially Cairn had claimed that its deal with Vedanta was a corporate transaction and not a transfer of stake and hence did not require the permission of the GOI. Subsequently it agreed, albeit reluctantly to the government clauses. Analysts are of the view that the two deals (RIL-BP and Cairn-Vedanta) were completely different. In the RIL deal, the Indian company was selling a significant minority stake; Reliance would remain in charge of operations and retain a majority stake. On the other hand, the Cairn-Vedanta deal involved a transfer of ownership. Besides, the Cairn-Vedanta US$ 9.6 bn deal was a transaction between two London-listed companies and the money would not come into India. The RIL-BP deal, in contrast, is the single-largest FDI in India. Also, the non-existence of a party like ONGC in the deal is another positive sign for the RIL-BP stake transfer. Foreign companies come to India as an incorporated entity by floating a company under the Companies Act, 1956 through JVs or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries. According to the existing norms, more than 49% investment by a foreign company needs prior approval of FIPB. But RIL-BP deal does not need any clearance as only 30% stake is being sold to BP and hence no change in management is expected. Aviation too was a highly debated sector regarding the inflow of foreign money. India allowed 49% FDI by foreign investors i.e. foreign airlines can buy stake in local carriers. Till September 13, 2012 foreign airlines are barred from buying stakes in domestic carriers. Why FDI is so important? FDI refers to capital inflows from abroad that are invested by the foreign entities in a domestic economy to enhance the production capacity of the economy. Presently there are two entry routes to invest in India. Those are:- • Automatic Route • Approval Route/Government Route There are four slabs of FDI ranging from 100% to a complete bar in certain sectors. The slabs are 100%, 74%, 51% & 49%. Some sectors are there where no FDI is allowed. Automatic Route Under automatic route, to invest in India, does not require any prior approval either by the Government or RBI. The only requirement is to notify the Regional office of RBI within 30 days of receipt of inward remittance and file the required documents with the office concerned within 30 days of issue of shares to foreign investors. The conditions are, • The company has complied with the procedure for the issue of shares as laid down under the FDI scheme as indicated in the Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB or its subsequent amendments • The proposal is within the sectoral cap Approval Route In many cases, foreign investors need consent from Government of India prior to investments. It is known as approval route. The FDI, which doesn’t come under the automatic route, requires following this step. Such proposals are considered by the FIPB. Government approval is required in the following cases: • In sectors with caps, including inter-alia defence production, air transport services, ground handling services, asset reconstruction companies, private sector banking, broadcasting, commodity exchanges, credit information companies, insurance, print media, telecommunications and satellites, Government approval / FIPB approval would be required in all cases where: • When an Indian company is being established with foreign investment and is owned or/and controlled by a non-resident entity or • When the control or ownership of an existing Indian company, currently owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, is being transferred to a non-resident entity as a consequence of transfer of shares and/or fresh issue of shares. Other than automatic & approval routes, the foreign investments can also come to India in various other ways, like: i) Acquisition of shares route (since 1996) Under the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) Scheme, investments can be made in shares, mandatorily and fully convertible debentures and mandatorily and fully convertible preference shares of an Indian company by non-residents through Automatic & Approval routes. ii) RBI’s non-resident Indian (NRI’s) scheme There are several schemes for the NRIs to invest in India. NRI and erstwhile OCBs may transfer by way of sale or gift the shares or convertible debentures held by him or it to another NRI. A person resident outside India can transfer any security to a person resident in India by way of gift. Person resident outside India can transfer shares / convertible debentures, by way of sale under private arrangement to a person resident in India. A person resident in India can transfer by way of sale, shares of an Indian company in sectors other than financial service sector (Banks, NBFC, Insurance, ARC,) under private arrangement to a person resident outside India iii) External Commercial Borrowings (ADR/GDR) route Indian companies have been granted general permission for conversion of External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) into shares / convertible debentures, subject to the following conditions and reporting requirements: (RBI Master Circular). Indian companies can issue equity shares, fully, compulsorily and mandatorily convertible debentures and fully, compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares subject to pricing guidelines/valuation norms prescribed under FEMA Regulations. In this regard, a limited two-way Fungibility scheme has been put in place by the Government of India for ADRs / GDRs. Under this Scheme, a stock broker in India, registered with SEBI, can purchase shares of an Indian company from the market for conversion into ADRs/GDRs. Two-way fungibility implies that an investor who holds ADRs/GDRs can cancel them with the depository and sell the underlying shares in the market. The company can then issue fresh ADRs to the extent of shares cancelled. An Indian company can also sponsor an issue of ADR / GDR. The relationship between FII and FDI is intertwined. Number of reforms was initiated in the end of 1990s to attract FDI. FDI is also allowed through FII’s by way of private equity, preferential allotment, joint ventures and capital market operations. However, there are some sectors where FDI is completely prohibited both via automatic route or approval route, primarily from the perspective of national Security concerns & Consumer/industry interests. (a) Lottery Business including Government /private lottery, online lotteries, etc. (b) Gambling and Betting including casinos etc. (c) Chit funds (d) Nidhi company (e) Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) (f) Real Estate Business or Construction of Farm Houses (g) Manufacturing of Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes (h) Activities / sectors not open to private sector investment e.g. Atomic Energy and Railway Transport (other than Mass Rapid Transport Systems). (i) Foreign technology collaboration in any form including licensing for franchise, trademark, brand name, management contract is also prohibited for Lottery Business and Gambling and Betting activities. Though there are some complaints against India’s FDI policy, the government has been continuously trying to make it more flexible and investment-friendly. By relaxing certain policies, India has successfully attracted foreign investments in 2011-12, as compared to the previous year. It is believed that the recent decline was temporary. Courtesy: • The Economic Times • The Hindu Business Line • The Business Standard • The Mint • Website of DIPP (Consolidate FDI Policy, 2012, Press Notes, FDI sector wise chart) • Website of RBI • Website of RIL • Website of BP • Website of Cairn India • Website of Vedanta Resource • Website of ONGC • Website of IKEA • Slideshare • http://www.unctad-docs.org/files/UNCTAD-WIR2012-Full-en.pdf • http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GCR_Report_2011-12.pdf

Chronicle of a ‘Reluctant’ TTA

In last few days I have received two phone calls & an e-mail from the prospective TTAs of IIM Calcutta. The query was how to prepare for the GD-PI & what is the job profile of a TTA? Now at the very outset I want to clarify that I was a ‘reluctant’ trainee teaching associate, so my views might not reflect the approach of a ‘serious’ & ‘committed’ person. Now, if your employers know that you are not involved enough in the assigned work(s), it is their duty to wring out from you. It wasn’t any exception for me as well. As the days went by, subjects kept piling on me, sometimes five subjects in a single term of three months, attending each of the classes (sometimes from 8.30am in the morning to 7.15 pm in the evening) earned me a tag of ‘reluctant TTA’. Habitually, I am a friendly person. So I made friend with many of the students. That was actually a potential danger. It could lead you to a huge trouble. Complaints may be raised against you for being ‘close’ to the students! And now, the most essential part of the story. TTAs need to work with one-to-one basis with several faculties. You have to act according to their professional necessities. If there is any friction, you might have to face the consequences. I acquired a name of ‘two sides of a same coin’ as I was not able to meet up the expectation of a certain faculty. It was clearly told that the subject TTA had stopped the students from attending a class of a certain subject. His argument was well accepted & naturally enough, no one was bothered to check the attendance sheet of that day! Had they checked, they would have found actually how many students didn’t attend the class that very day! Anyways these are small incidents which are common to all work places & please keep in mind this was an experience of a reluctant TTA. TTAs, those who are serious, committed, sincere, they never ever had faced this. Deserving TTAs always get their dues & for that you just need to ‘perform’. Actually the job is a total fun. I, being ‘reluctant’ & ‘insincere’ was not able to accrue advantage of being a TTA. But there is immense scope, if you really want to use the opportunity of being a part of this august institution! The first thing is learning. Both in & outside the classroom, there are ample opportunities to learn new things. New subjects, known subjects in a different perspective, developing cases would give you an immense pleasure. It is really fun to see how some of the students go to ‘transcendental meditation’ mode as soon as the class starts. You would find how engaging the lectures could be, it would definitely force you to question so many things! These are inside picture of a classroom. Outside learning could be of many kinds, from good to bad to ugly! The next big thing is the evaluation of answer-scripts sometimes with the answer key and sometimes not. I was among those fortunate people who never ever got an answer key from any faculty, in place I had to solve the answers first to prove my knowledge & competency to check the copies. Don’t worry, these were treatment for a ‘reluctant’ TTA, serious people always get the key (to success). Once the copies are displayed, flock of students would come to request you marks by 0.25 to 0.75 for go to the next grade! This is the biggest challenge I always faced. They bombard you with questions … Now the most crucial part, you have to work with atleast 3 faculties at a time. In my case it was never a less than 7 in each of the trimesters. Now, those who are serious & committed would get a chance of gaining indirect experience of various fields from them. Believe me or not, this rapport is essential in some cases. But keep it mind this is from a ‘reluctant’ person, who was reluctant in this too. After working with some of the faculties, I bet, you would have the feeling ‘what a class!! You won’t even realise that 90 minutes have already gone past!!’ If you wish you can have a baby nap in the class, yes, in normal term, this must not be done in the classroom, but TTAs who had slept/missed the class was never tagged as ‘reluctant’. You must not acquire that tag by keeping your eyes wide open! I used to enjoy interaction with the students. This depends on your nature. You might like it, might not. Actually TTAs are thought to be a bridge between the admin & faculty & students & faculty! One of the most enriching experiences is Institute lecture series. Luminaries from different field come to the institute & share their experiences. It was a great learning. Canteens are spreading across the campus. Some coffee shops too are there. Eat well to run fast. (Sometimes faculty sits so far away from TTA block, that additional calorie is required to take that journey ). Many times you might have to miss your food for pending works, though this is true for a reluctant TTA, not for serious persons. I consider the campus as the most beautiful place. It has a magic in it, so even after I left, I keep going back to there. With seven lakes and caring trees with blooming beauties of known-unknown flowers, you would feel it as a different world. Howrah Bridge toward the Faculty block & Hooghly Bridge towards the newest hostels would definitively give you a feeling of your small world in a single place! I was (am) so deeply in love with the campus that I become a photographer!! I never clicked photos before I came here, now people call me a good photographer! So, not to worry! Step in and be ready to make your own journey! In times to come you will surely discover ‘everything is relative’ here!! I can guarantee, this is going to be one of the most enriching experiences of your life, even if you belong to ‘reluctant’ block! PS: I am dedicating this piece to one of the faculty I have worked with consecutively for five terms. I owe many things to that person.

Didi o Didi... !!

‘Fall of Bastille’ took place on 13th May, 2011. No, I am not referring to the French Revolution which is still the ‘ most significant turn’ in world History, but I am talking about ‘Jasmine Revolution’ as told by many in Bengal led by firebrand Mamataa (this is her new spelling, may be for certain Numerological purpose) Banerjee. With the change of guard in West Bengal after 34-year, many people have believed now they can see the ‘change’ (in Bengali Paribartan).
Mamata led government is only 11-month old, and by this time as expected she is redefining the terminology of ‘democratic autocracy’. You may question, why I am taking the word ‘autocracy’, it is simply because her party is ‘one man army.’ Whatever ‘Didi’ will decide that will be final, if anyone tried to modify the script the fate will be either Dinesh Trivedis or Kabir Sumans!! The only thing count in this party of ‘Maa-Mati-Manush’ is loyalty points (towards Mamata of course)!!
I am not going into any details of the governance issue. Those who can see with or without glass can easily see the ‘change’ in the real sense of the term. So, no use wasting time here. Rather I would like to like to draw attention to the embedded nature of cartoon & politics.
Kutty, R K Lakshman and many others have earned their ‘bread & better’ only through political cartoons. Right from Nehru to Indira, Sonia, Rahul, Lalu, Vajpayee, Manmohan singh, Advani, Mayawati, Jayalalitha & almost all the politicians come regularly on the cartoons. There was time politicians used to feel sad had they missed the front page of the daily on that day’s cartoon! Take for example; Lalu Prasad Yadav-he is probably the politicians who had been caricatured, cartooned maximum no. of time both in regional & print media. Critics say, he also ruled Bihar in an autocratic manner, but did he put anyone behind the bar for making his cartoons?
So, what made didi so angry? Why didn’t she tolerate this kind of simple joke? For that matter, the cartoon those who have seen is not at all abusive, it is a line from Satyajit Ray’s ‘Sonar Kella’ where it was discussed how to get rid of ‘Dushtu Lok’ ( Evil person)! In the cartoon Indian Railways have been depicted as ‘Sonar Kella’ (Golden Fort) which was shown by Mamata to Mukul (present Railways minister) & Mukul was asking about ‘Dushtu Lok’ Dinesh Trivedi who was vanished & Mukul would get it (assumed)!!
Actually, the problem is not in the cartoon, it is the problem of Narcissism. Mamata is so pompous that whoever even jokingly saying anything against her, he/she is becoming her target. She is driven by the aphorism ‘I can’t be wrong!’ But she knows she has been doing so many things which are not right, so it is actually a battle within. Thus, she has become so intolerant.
Just before West Bengal Assembly Election, city intelligentsia rallied against Left Government with the-then CM Budhhadev Bhattacharya’s pictures on hand where it was written “ I am a man-eater” ( Ami Manush Kheko)” “I have done no wrong by killing people” (Merechhi besh korechhi), “My hands are stained in blood” (Amar Duhat Rakte makha) etc, (& many of these slogans were either exaggeration or wrong), still no one was put behind the bar as our Constitution has given us the Fundamental Rights of Freedom of Speech & Expression (Artcle. 19A).
Didi, who I always believed is a very good actress on the political stage, actually is not able to act anymore. Her true self is unfolding before the people & she is losing temper every now & then. Once she was storming the police station for releasing her party goons, calling rape a ‘framed incident’, demolishing ghettos for expansion of roads and justifying her acts, painting the city blue etc. etc. She has told ‘Ganatantra (Democracy) in place of Dalatantra (Party diktat), what she is doing now? No, I am little wrong , her’s is not even party-driven, it is almost the rule of ‘Great Dictator!’
Some years back when Left went for ‘Operation Sunshine’ (driving out the hawker from pavements), she sat at Gariahat crossing to beg for them, now when she is doing the same thing, and no one is there to say anything! Before coming to power she told ‘No Mao-Fao’, now she only has instructed the joint force to continue and as a result there were some success too!! There is plenty of such kind of examples.
I believe, this toon-tamasha has actually made her scared, because she is slowly understanding her frantic remarks, eccentricity is not at all going well with the public, and this is a high time to consolidate power. And how to that? The answer is witch-hunt!!
This has to bear in mind; she is actually running a state government single handedly. 11 months is a long time in politics and naturally she has become tired. Fear, insecurity coupled with narcissism she is running the state as her household.
The cartoon is just the beginning; to cover her shortcoming and failure to deliver the election promises plethora of things are waiting for us! Indeed West Bengal now is in real danger! Didi justifies all her act through Rabindranath Tagore, I don’t know which lines will be suitable for her now. I would rather suggest her to read ‘Samanya Khati’ (Little Loss) to understand the condition of the state!
Those who are telling ‘Mamata has changed after coming to power’ they are wrong. She was never a different person, her pretensions gone well with the mass and to get rid of the Left they have voted her to the power! Now, by taking the self-destructing route, Mamata is actually making a statement for future why sometimes democracy is not very useful tool in a state like India!
Didi, this is high time to change yourself or else there will be similar war-cry for ‘Paribartan’ may be less than 5 years of time.

PS: I might be put behind the bars for this article

Ordeal of being a Woman

The opening line of the conversation was “… I strongly believe my husband is the only person who can touch me or so to say I would allow that person only for any kind of physical contact…”. The listener on the other side of the table interrupted the speaker in between, “…unless you also like the person who wants to touch you…” At that point of time the speaker said, even if that’s the case, no physical contact please!!
Dear readers don’t draw your conclusion at once; kindly bear with me for some more time.
The conversation was between a senior colleague and a junior one. The junior colleague had been ‘harassed’ by one of her senior colleagues & to get the right direction she stated the whole thing to another of her senior colleagues who happened to be a male. The explanation by the male colleague was “it is rampant in work place, many of the employees might approve of this situation… avoid that person at your best and what I believe you must have misunderstood him.” Naturally, that girl didn’t get any justice in this issue and had to settle everything ‘amicably’ and forced to believe “it was just a touch for consolation, no other intention was there”.
The second incident is followed by this one. Within few months, that junior colleague’s character has been questioned, morality was raped and expectedly she had not been given any chance to defend her. And who was responsible for this, no one but that senior colleague who knew the previous incident. Just for his own benefit he didn’t waste to take the route of character assassination. The girl didn’t continue there as she was mentally destroyed & was tired fighting a lone battle.
The essential lessons from these are, girls are always vulnerable & targeted.
Now we are shedding tears for baby Afreen and want to give the cruelest punishment to her father, who didn’t even deserve to be called a ‘human being’, but unfortunately in every parts of this country, be it rural or urban, this is a regular phenomenon, most of the stories are buried deep under.
In name of honour killing, innocent girls are killed mercilessly. Khap Panchayats are giving the verdict in this regard and without a word of protest rest of the people are accepting and following their dictum. Less we talk about infanticide, better for India as well as Bharat which boasts of being a super power!
Girls are not safe any where, be it home, on street, work place; name it you will get several examples to justify your points. At home she gets abused in various ways; many times she has to accept ‘being a girl is a sin’. On street, some jobless youth and some frustrated men want to fulfill their sexual strive by eve-teasing or harassing them and at work place if one doesn’t agree to be office spouse, she always faces the consequence (though sometimes girls themselves approach mostly to their seniors for easy promotions.) Single girls are the easiest victim and soft targets if she is of marriageable age. Men, mostly married, would show their ‘commitment’ to their families and would frame the girl, if she doesn’t agree with him. Actually these ‘wife-lovers’ are nothing but perverted souls who needs a ‘partner’ outside of his home to satisfy his lust & desire and they believe ‘single’ means ‘available on the bed’…
Can we really say India is changing? There might be some examples where women are super achievers, but what is the percentage of that success? Indian patriarchy still believes and spread, girls are ‘burden’ girls means ‘dowry’ etc, educating them is a futile exercise, if girls are not married within a particular age she will ‘bring down her family status’!!
‘Rising India’ is ‘advancing’ with this baggage. No one questions, those who question, they cannot change and those who can change they won’t do.
Let me go back to the conversation I have referred to. Had the last sentence been different (read yes, if there is mutual likings for each other, physical contact is welcome) that junior might not (won’t have faced) face some of the consequences…
So, girls/women are still nothing but an object for play, pleasure and…
Women are bearing for more than a century, degree might be different, but the status remains same.. so in no time explosion has to happen.. not the ‘feminist’ explosion but for ‘equality’ in the real sense of the term!!

Please go 2011

Another year gone by. The new one is reckoning. With mesmerizing fireworks of Sydney Harbour world will welcome with colour & vigour 2012! Will leap year bring anything new for all of us? Well, that answer we will have on the 366th day i.e. December 31, 2012!

This is not a look back to 2011; end no. of articles will come on paper & TV to bifurcate the year 2011. Fear of Recession, hot debates on global warming, Anna’s action the fate of Lokpal , Sachin’s 100th ton & many more will be carried forward to the coming year too.

There are some events of 2011 which we would like to forget, and there are some which will be remembered for their brighter sides. So, no more discussions on the year that was, but the year through my eyes which might be very different from the general belief.
Personally I feel, this year was a very different for me. And If I have to balance, it’s a negative year, though in the long run the experience might end up as positive.

I have learnt some basic lessons and renewed some old ones. The first one is surely about trusting people. This is for sure, I won’t be able to trust anyone ever even if the person is really nice and wants good for me.

What are the lessons I have learnt in 2011?

-I must DELETE the word TRUST from my dictionary.

-I must not tell anything good/bad to anyone. Everything should be within me.

-If you are going through difficult times, many people will give you careful listening & later that would be the ingredients for juicy gossips.

-Social Activism, Citizen Journalism and many more are there to say that high & mighty not always win, but personally I know & believe, highly placed people always get the support even from the most unexpected quarters.

-If you want to fight against a person who is ‘someone’ in a given society, you have to fight ALONE.

-And above all WHO you trust is the Essential factor & I must admit I was wrong in almost all of my selections.

-Honesty, selflessness, diligence are some of the words which actually don’t exist anymore.

-Without evidence, even statements, a person can be pronounced guilty based on Assumption and prejudice only. The person must not be given any chance for self-defence. (Though Indian Legal System says something different- presumption of innocence or innocent until proven guilty, evidence, accused should get a chance to defend etc.)

And beliefs I have renewed? Those are quite a few in number.

-I am a Use & Throw object, sometimes recyclable

-Don’t keep any Expectation even from the closest friend/relative

-Self interest is the only factor in any given situation

-You have to be a good actor & diplomat if you want world beside you

-High degrees don’t make a person educated.

-I am a taken-for-granted creature

-‘Single’ means ‘available to all’ & married men are always ‘committed’ to their wives. Any problem arrives; single girl will be always ‘responsible’, even if she didn’t play any role in the problem!

-If you don’t compromise, you have to pay for that.

-“A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first."

There are many accusations against me, those are, I am selfish, I often forget those people who have helped me, and I always blame others for my own faults. I don’t know whether these are true for me, if so, I will try to change myself.

I don’t know whether there will be anything new in store for me in 2012.
I have a dream and will love to give a shape to that in the coming year. But as I believe ‘dream is a destination with a deadline’, so there is very little time left for me.

With lots of hopes and aspirations, I am welcoming you 2012 & a little expectation from you, I want to remember you as a positive year!! Frankly, I wish there wasn’t any year called 2011!!

Pen is Mightier...: The Journey of 50 years

Pen is Mightier...: The Journey of 50 years: Few survive, fewer sustain and the fewest can actually make the difference by leading from the front. IIM Calcutta is one such institute, w...

The Journey of 50 years

Few survive, fewer sustain and the fewest can actually make the difference by leading from the front. IIM Calcutta is one such institute, which has pioneered the concept of management education and is leading from the front. It has shown how to survive, grow, sustain and expand. Thus, the theme of the 50th Year celebration has been aptly chosen as ‘Sustainable Tomorrow.’
It’s that cherished moment again. Feelings of achievement, accomplishment and jubilation. IIM Calcutta, as it completes its 50th Year, encompasses all aspects of management education and promised to expand its horizon for coming 50 years.
Naturally, it’s a special moment for all its stakeholders. Students to Faculty, Officers to staffs- all belong to a family called IIM Calcutta. All of them have their own stories to tell. Some are good, some are not-so-good, some need to forget, and some must be treasured.
With the motto of ‘Jnanan Sarvahitaya’ (Knowledge for all), IIM-C has redefined the dimensions of management education. As IIM-C Community believes, it’s not a regular business school but a complete management education centre. It doesn’t explore the business needs only, but also brings forth the essentiality of public policy and ethical aspects of business decision making. So, it’s different and thus it sustained over 50 years as a winner in its field.
“We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time”- these words of T S Eliot is in complete tune with the journey called IIM Calcutta.
From host to guests, all have explored the various avenues of sustainability. An erudite Professor and the Chief Guest of the inaugural session Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam in his characteristically jovial manner delivered the key address on “Sustainability”, not only from the technological and environmental perspective, but also from the perspective of the management education. Over and again he focused on ‘Nobility & Management Education’ must go hand in hand. In course of his address, Dr. Kalam focused on three broad themes of Empowerment, Integrity & Leadership which are embedded in the notion of sustainability.
If one has to sustain, he has to be a good leader, this is what Prof. Kalam harped on and the essentiality for a good leader is vision, passion for accomplishment and ever-ready mentality to deal with the success & failure.
‘Empowering three billion people’ kept coming in his address and he has shown a very simple way for achieving that, ‘I can do… We can do & thus, Nation can do.’ To make it happen, two approaches can be taken, either the conventional method of top-down (the success will be limited) or the percolation method in a phased manner, but the need of the hour is ‘Out of the Box’ ideas which will initiate the process.

Sustainability cannot be perceived without integrity and leadership. For a sustainable world, Physical, Electronic and Knowledge Connectivity are needed, collectively it will be resulted in economic connectivity and in this phase Resource entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs will play a huge role.
Enterprises, Academic institutions and Entrepreneurs together will create Core Competency and competitiveness will come from economic development.
On the occasion of the completion of 50th year, he greeted IIMC by saying this is the first institute where Nehru’s vision and dream got a shape and now it has become a nodal centre for propagating the thoughts. He believes IIM-C with its student can maintain this leadership position. and he taught a new Mantra to IIMC students “I will work with integrity and succeed with integrity.”
Earlier, Dr. Sekhar Chaudhuri told, the theme of the Golden Jubilee is so because second phase of recession is already there and management education is at crossroads. So sustainability is the need of the hour. Mr. Ajit Balakrishnan drew the picture of 2061 i.e. how IIM-C would continue its leadership and sustain itself by providing consultancy services.
Luminaries like Dr. Himadri Pakrasi, Dr. Stuart Hart, Dr. Dipesh Chakrabarty, Dr. Paul Shrivastava, Mr. Juan Costa Climent have graced the occasion by sharing their thought in various panel discussions. From technology to energy, from economy to public policy- all of them have been discussed under the theme of sustainability and its quintessentiality.
Director’s conclave discussed and debated the future roadmap for management education and necessity to tie-up with other subjects and disciplines in order to make it more acceptable and sustain with ‘harmonious co-existence.’ Intellectual stimulus and innovation too are essential components for writing new success stories.
Not only stimulating debate and discussions over Management Education, but there were scintillating performances by Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt and Shobhna Narayan. Cultural programmes by students too were mesmerising.
IIM-C didn’t forget anyone to embrace again. By felicitating the long serving employees-Faculty, staff and the alumni it has shown its concern for all. They also reminiscence about their august institute. Some walked down the memory lane.

Beautiful campus looked even more gorgeous with colourful lights. Definitely a moment of pride but it’s not the time for complacency. IIM Calcutta has established itself as a brand that has a global value… but the journey has just begun!
Next 50 years would be the bigger challenge as new economic order is about to set in and already in the horizon. Challenge will be bigger, competition will be tougher… but again, IIM Calcutta will sustain as a visionary leadership is there…

Continue to be on the winning streak!!

My Moments with IIMC

Prologue

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon. After a long time, I got a Sunday which was minus the workload. In a way I was relaxed. As I was quietly spending this time with myself only, my mind started rewinding! And it’s IIMC only… campus, classes, invigilation, students, professors, colleagues and many others.

21st June 2009

First time ever I entered the campus of IIMC at the outskirt of the city. Though, didn’t take a stroll as I was there for a written test and an interview thereafter for the post of the TTA. Naturally very tensed, never ever thought of management, and my first tryst was with IIMC-citadel of management education. What I can roughly remember, I wrote the exam very bad (atleast that was not at all satisfactory to me), gave an interview which didn’t make me happy… so I was pretty sure that this day was my first as well as last day at IIMC…

7th July, 2009

It was drizzling. I was with my sister for her first ever class at college. It was a huge crowd outside as most of the parents or others accompanied their kids for the first day of their campus life. A phone call came from an unknown number, asking me whether I was at home. It was a call from a courier company to deliver an official letter, I asked him to leave the same with my father. Then the real surprise… as I opened the same after coming back, it was offer letter from the IIMC!! It was unbelievable… how could I be among the selected few!! History, Mass Comm, Media- nothing could make me a part of IIMC! I was so unhappy with my performance on 21st, how could professors like that…

8th July, 2009

I made my mind to accept the offer. That means I need to resign from ‘Anandabazar Patrika’ the paper where I was working as a sub editor for last three years. I told my boss about the development, he was not ready to let me go. I had a long discussion with him; he reluctantly accepted the resignation letter. Though I was enjoying the news, its fragrance, and its uncertainty until the last date…

18th August, 2009

After serving the stipulated time of notice period, I bade goodbye to ABP (though don’t know whether forever!!). It was a nice farewell and one of the touching moments of my life. I was such a junior, yet my boss and other colleagues (both seniors and juniors) made me feel so special… I don’t know whether I deserve that!

24th August, 2009

Finally, I joined IIMC as a TTA. So unsure about the job profile, colleagues and many other things. One of the major reasons, why I had joined the institute was to get opportunity to study. First day, as expected went in official work. Later, I was shown my office, which was my address for coming two years. All of my colleagues joined before me, so I was the last person to join. That time term I and IV were almost coming to an end, so for first few days I was jobless. Debarati (now an FP and one of my good friends ever), Deepshikha and Archana (both had left long before) were my first friends there, because of a very funny reason. All of us joined at a later date.
Initial days
There were only three PCs and 19 TTAs, so not even a scope of net surfing, twitting or face booking. That gave me an opportunity to know the campus…lush green compound, surrounded by trees, auditorium, Howrah Bridge, jetty-soon became part of my life. I simply loved the campus. Within few days I got my allotment list from PGP Office i.e. what were the courses I need to work with and who were the respective faculties. My allotment was in Communication and PPM group under three professors. One of them was veteran there; the other one too has spent a good no. of years at IIMC, and another one was very new, first time a course was offered.
Two of the professors asked me to attend the classes and one of them asked me to help him in academic works, but not to attend the classes. I started attending the classes, and the learning phase (both in terms of subjects and experience) began for me.

1st September, 2009

The first ever class I attended at IIMC and loved it, though the subject was completely alien to me. It was a PPM group paper taught by a very new professor. As it was a term V course, STEP students too were there, whose understanding of India’s regulatory environment was very different, thus created lot of fun and sometimes even confusion! Before this, I never attended any class with PPTs as I was a student of regular stream and chalk-duster was the mode of communication.

September 2009-June 2011

Work pressure kept mounting up, odd hour classes had been my regular routine, skipping lunch, running from Acad Block to NTB and MCHV to meet various faculties for academic purpose actually made me slimmer a bit :). I love challenges and can deliver on time even if there’s a huge workload, that might had been noticed, as the days and terms progressed, newer subjects came to me. I never had any term since December, 2009 less than five subjects and less than 14 classes a week!!
Still, I loved the job. It was a huge learning experience. Wrongly, I started feeling I am part of IIMC.(Why wrongly I would come later).
In between, for some reasons, a special bond had grown naturally with batch 46/16. Many of them started considering me as their friends and vice-versa, some of them sister. Many a times, I started spending my free time (which I barely got) with them in the campus. Parama, Drishya, Shelly, Amlan, Abhinav, Amit, Ankit and Shreyans to name a few with whom I was (and still am) in touch and close too. Though, getting ‘friendly’ with the students was seen badly by some and later a complaint was raised. But this much I can say with pride, they are real friends who stood by me thick and thin, which many of my ‘close’ and ‘near’ ones didn’t do.
Bonds are natural, that can’t be consciously made. So what I used to share with 46/16th batch, that was never the case with 47/17th or 48/18th. Though some of the students from 47th batch are my friends and I cannot forget the FPs with whom I spent quality time.

Special moments in Campus

I was lucky enough to attend IIMC’s Golden Jubilee celebration last year. As a part 50th year commemoration and Institute Lecture Series, I had the opportunity to hear Gov. of WB M K Narayanan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Comrade Sitaram Yechuri and other distinguished guests from different walks of life.
I am happy that whoever faculty I had worked under, almost all of them wished to have me as a TTA again in their courses. I cannot ask for more. This was indeed a proud moment for me. A non-MBA, general background student with no experience in any MBA curriculum could get such an acknowledgement from the faculties of IIMC was like dream come true.
I can still recount the words of a very senior faculty of PPM group, who introduced me to batch 48/18th in his compulsory class of IEPH as, “a young scholar who assists me... She has more power than me & would help you too if she has enough time''. How much this had boosted my confidence I cannot tell, but I surely know it was the greatness of the professor, I don't deserve so much... I am honoured. There were many such moments with some other faculties too.
There were not-so-happy moments too. Some faculties didn’t even feel to say a simple ‘thank you’ after the terms were over, though I didn’t give any lesser efforts in their subjects. Some of the faculties made ‘mountain of a molehill’on some insignificant issues, some felt ‘reluctant’ TTAs should go and many other things. All of these have been learning experiences for me. I realised, giving one’s best is not always the best to the person you are working for. It had given me the opportunity to better my performance.‘
Among many spots, I won’t forget library, staff canteen, Machan, coffee shops at Acad block and at NTB and SBI Joka. In last two years I was a frequent visitor to these places.

4th July, 2011

This was a special day for me, nothing to do with America’s Independence Day. I had learnt the single biggest lesson of my life on this date. Before this, I had paid for trusting people, but this was much bigger in its reach. I called myself a ‘Use and Throw’ object, this name was again proved perfect for me.

22nd August, 2011

Another date I won’t ever forget. Again I paid for my straightforwardness and not being diplomatic. This day had made me feel ‘I am nothing but a useless contractual staff, which would only listen and digest, must not reply back!!’ That very day I realised, time has come to say goodbye to this august institute and decided to leave as soon as possible.

15th September, 2011

I tendered my resignation to PGP Chairman. The decision was not easy to take as I didn’t have any alternative in hand and whatever I earn I have to support my family. I didn’t tell anyone about this as by then (thanks to some great people on campus) I had become unacceptable & unwanted to all, mostly to my colleagues. But news of my resignation had somehow spread, though no one asked me anything!! It had become an open secret.

10th October, 2011

I used to go to campus on my own in the morning. On this day, I deliberately didn’t take the private bus but availed the Office bus from Gol Park, just to feel little special. While entering, I read the signboard, (which is little hidden by the trees) very slowly ‘Indian Institute of Management Calcutta’. I loved this campus more than anything else. So entering there for the last time made me sentimental.
Some of the professors asked me to stay back when I went to meet them to bid adieu. That made me feels good as well as sad. Good because there are some faculties around, who had acknowledged my effort and wanted me in the campus and sad because, I knew it was not possible. I wanted to meet all of my faculties on my final day, but that was not possible, but as a token of gratitude card and e-mail reached to all.
Students of batch 47/17th and 48/18th wrote me on my departure. I was touched by their responses. Some of my colleagues (TTAs) too were there for me.
Before taking the bus in the evening, I took a stroll from Acad Block to MCHV, NTB, Audi, New hostels, Howrah Bridge. Clicked some photos of the beautiful campus. Unknowingly, a drop of tear or two rolling down and I suddenly recalled 21st June, 2009; that day I came alone, in between 2 years 3 month, when I left, I was alone too.

Epilogue

IIMC is a great place to be in. I just want to remember the pleasant moments, because bad moments always get a permanent seat in one’s mind.

I cannot forget the colourful campus of winter with various flowers unwinding their petals, the divine rain which made the campus romantic and more lovable, those reptiles especially the snakes, with whom I had an uncommon friendship, school of fish on the upper layer of the water, chirping of the birds in the evening and L1, L2, L3, L4, small lecture halls at Acad block and NAB during the classes and invigilation. But more importantly IIMC as a whole- one soul called among so much diversity.

My best wishes will be always with you, may you celebrate 500 years of excellence in education like you are doing in your 50th Year. I am thankful to you that you had given me the chance to be with you for more than two years.

My biggest achievement I guess is students love me and at least some of the professors think me of a good TTA. A teaching associate cannot ask for more!

Cheers and Hats off!!

The Blue Turban

A technocrat in his famous blue turban has done everything what was expected from him. From scope of Management education to Economic Reforms, Double dip in world economy to India’s success story- he touched upon all aspects and cleverly referred Lokpal Bill as ‘a topic of discussion’ under the broader spectrum of governance failure! Politician in him compelled him to say some words on Bengal politics too.
Yes, for the first time ever the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh has graced the IIM Calcutta’s campus at Joka to deliver the Golden Jubilee speech of the institute. West Bengal Governor Mr. M K Narayanan and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee were his companions in the programme. He started his campus touring by planting a sapling. Then straight into the auditorium where guests, faculty, students and staffs were waiting to listen to him.
Nothing ‘unpredictable’ happened in this campus unlike IIT Kharagpur where he went later for the Convocation and students protested before him in support of Anna Hazare and his demands for Jan Lokpal Bill. IIMC was a fort with police and security personnel were busy maintaining the PM’s security!
As expected, the Lokpal Bill controversy has taken a backseat amongst this august audience. He brought the reference of Corruption under governance failure issue, where he touched upon the danger of inefficiency and Cronyism if ‘aam aadmi’ is forced to pay bribes to government agencies. He brought back the memory of Licence Raj and wide spread corruption related to that. Abolition of the same has helped in curbing the unfair practices.
But the name which he carefully avoided is Anna Hazare, the man who has shaken the conscience of the nation. His campaigns, not even for a fraction of seconds found any direct mention in the speech. Rather he welcomed debate on Lokpal Bill inside the Parliament! And those who have (read Anna Hazare) different views must send their representatives to the House to discuss. The underneath message was that Ramlila Maidan is not a suitable place for this. Black money, pending reforms of judiciary all were present when he was telling ‘government is open to discussion for Lokpal Bill, which is now with the Standing Committee.’
He was never an orator, rather he always reads out the rehearsed scripts with his scholarly approach. This time too, there was no exception. Shades of Economist Manmohan Singh came out over and again in his speech. He took silent pride in the fact that twenty years back he advocated and brought in Macro Economic Reforms which is till date yielding ‘great results’ in market economy. That time a controversial step actually had shown India a positive side of growth path by widening the way for more capital investments in form of Foreign Direct Investment, Merger & Acquisition etc.
PM rightly made the audience think the positive side of Japan, Korea and Chinese successes of economic prosperity. As this is an ‘Asian Century’ so this is a high time to think beyond Dollars and Euros, but never write them off. He is confident that India will achieve the objective of sustainable inclusive growth at the 9% rate, though in this year it is a bit slow!
But the real show stealer is Mamata. At her original and spontaneous best she said, “IIMC is first national institute of Bengal (sic)! IIMC was founded on 14th November, 1961. This is not only an asset but foundation of India. Tomorrow is in your hand for its students and research programmes.” This is not a big mistake on CM’s part that Kolkata is proud of Calcutta University (1857) and Jadavpur University (1905) which she has forgotten to mention. In her style, which is known as ‘didism’ she gave back the shawl to a student which was presented to CM as a memento! Clapping continued till the end!
Again to the PM. What was his message to the students, he requested all the future managers to maintain transparency in decision making. He focused on the fact that for IIMC only Kolkata is on the global management map! He fondly recalled the achievements of IIMC alumnus Indra Nooyi in business circuit and Malli Mastan Babu in mountaineering! They would inspire and encourage the future managers what he strongly believes.
Mamata on stage and nothing political about it, how could that be? Dr. Singh emphasized on the fact the ‘lost glory of Kolkata must be reclaimed’ as change of regime has taken place recently. He said that, there were times when Kolkata was known for its creativity and a thriving learning centre. Time has come to rejuvenate West Bengal polity, economy and human endeavours!!
But what was completely remained untouched that how could policy reforms initiate the change in social reforms and when reforms would be seen from a multi dimensional angle, rather than treating it as an economic & financial explanation! Why the government is so busy with 9% growth rate when 40% of the population doesn’t get full square mill every day? I believe too much focus on reforms actually widened the gulf between rich and poor. If poverty is not eradicated, how could India become the numero uno contributor for Asian Century?
The man who is known as ‘the honest’ person of Indian politics is unfortunately nicknamed as ‘Manmohan Singh Ghotala’, thanks to series of scans. Had he been more transparent on the Jan Lokpal Bill today, that might have given him certain edge, though this is what I personally believe.

The Close(d) Chapter

A confession.
Several explanations.
Pleading. Repenting. Crying.
A second thought before taking the final call. It could have been a different story, but forgiving is the best human virtue and the same was done.
This is just the prelude.

The second part is about forgetting. Long back, in a school text there was a piece called “The Forgetting”. The hilarious article catered around why forgetting is a good exercise and the best medicine for human brain. But in reality, one cannot forget everything even if one wishes to.
Many-a-times it happens that an apparently forgotten past becomes alive in the present context; things that were “conveniently forgotten” start occupying a significant space in different circuits under the title of ‘defamation’ and ‘mudslinging’.
Let us see some instances of slander and insult.
• Suggestions to modify the course content and inclusion of certain elements in order to make the subject more lively and enjoyable is considered to be a tool for “defamation”.

• “If there is no politics around, I think you will be the first beneficiary of it”- these words signify, not the belief of a person in somebody’s abilities, but his/her ulterior motive of maligning someone.

• Predicting almost the accurate feedback of a person, based on the observation of what that person is capable of doing, earns the predictor the title of ‘Octopaul’. However, later on as things take a turn, even the congratulatory messages start to be considered as a means to “pull him down” from his popularity.

• The one who listened to and followed the advice of a person in case of any difficulties has been called “two sides of the same coin”. Ironically, it was the same “coin” who categorically stated, ‘NO, THIS CANNOT BE… YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE’, when a nasty allegation against the same individual was raised by mystery phone call. However, the defender was held responsible for it later.

• A request for translating a text in the regional language to English is turned down because of one’s inability to read the native language. But the irony is, the person is most fluent in that language and has a command over the same.

• Several phone calls, sms, chats, e-mails and endless conversations were forgotten by both the people concerned. Likewise, presenting a ‘certificate’ to show gratitude towards the “most deserving” individual on a special day, has been easily forgotten by the addressed, and has been termed as mud-slinging.

• Social Networking is the best invention of 21st century to connect with people. But giving excuses regarding certain “technical difficulties” which cannot be solved from abroad, and thereby rejecting a friend request even after asking to send one was too insulting a circumstance to be forgotten, but the sender had to forget it for bigger professional interests; it was clearly demarcated that a non-branded object cannot find its place among the established brands; that would deface the bigger brands! Another big issue cropped up when a webpage was found in the name of a particular person. However, nothing malicious was written there and surprisingly, the person who reported it, was blamed to have created the page!

• There are certain talks for talk’s sake; Promises of foreign chocolates, treats etc. were forgotten as soon as they were made. It was evident that they were simply some casual words. A ‘mercenary’ can never share the same platform as the General. No General would devalue his status for an inferior, incompetent mercenary soldier

• A discovery was made, that even the official mails could be fake as no one ever ‘choosed’ a particular individual for any professional assistance, although evidences hint otherwise. And surprisingly enough, that particular individual continued to assist till ‘the relieving order’ came. Although, decision of ‘relieving’ was taken much earlier, the assistance was sought till the last moment without revealing the actual fact. Yet, the person was called ‘reluctant.’

This could be called a learning experience, the essential lessons being innumerable. Rediscovering one’s self was probably the most significant one. This could reveal the unknown mischieves, uncover the hidden malice in one’s self and make one aware of the degree of ‘immorality’, ‘credibility’ and ‘professionalism’.

It is very generous of the person to have allowed such an immoral individual to learn so many things, in spite of knowing the malicious intentions right from the beginning. Yet the incident is a ‘closed chapter and a small one’. But, this ‘Closed Chapter’ lingers on in the sub conscious mind and cannot be forgotten ever.This could continue to be a permanent tag with a particular place.

Everyone says ‘time is a great healer’, however, time can only help people get used to the wounds instead of healing them. Many-a-times a ‘Closed Chapter’ becomes a CLOSE CHAPTER.

Yes, this is indeed a CLOSE(D) CHAPTER.

Hats Off Prof. Sreenivasan

Veni Vidi Vici- ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’. Prof. Sree Sreenivasan could well make it his tagline for his USIS lecture on Social Networking! As a participant, I found his talk no less than mesmerizing.
On 19th July, 2011 American Centre, Kolkata has arranged a session with Columbia University Professor and Dean Dr. Sreenivasan. The discussion was centering on how social networks actually could play a role in democracy.
In recent past, we have seen some popular uprising in Middle East and Egypt, which are popularly referred to as twitter or Facebook revolution. Professor interacted on this in a very lively manner, though the title of the discussion was ‘New Media: Defining Democracy’ but it was never so limited in discussion. In a lively manner, professor through his wonderful presentation took us to the universe of the social networking. What are the countries that are hooked into this, what’s the latest trend in this, can an individual stay really aloof from social networking in present day scenario etc.
In India, I can bet that no institution can ever think of having a lecture period on Facebook, Orkut, Twitter or Google Plus. But Prof. Sreenivasan has been doing this in the Columbia School of Journalism for past few years. Actually, he encourages students on getting into social networking so that actually it ‘ruins their interest’ in it!
Time to time there was snap polls that how many in the audience actually know how to connect on linkedin and twiiter and some other interesting stuffs. The response was really surprising, most of us really don’t know the mechanism of those sites. Large number of school students were present and they made the programme very lively with their continuous participation.
In the course of the discussions, good, bad and the ugly side of the social networking has been focused upon. The renowned digital media from USA emphasized the need for social media practices that balances in perfect tune on & off line status.
How did the professor himself be part of Facebook? That’s co-incidentally a Kolkata connection. He glued into the ‘Scrabulous’ (online Scrabble) – popular game on Facebook, much before Farmville and Mafia became everyone’s darling! It has been developed by St Xavier’s College alumni Jayant and Rajat Agarwala, that attracted him to join it. Though in this city of warmth, this is Professor’s first visit!
In the lively Q&A session, moderated by veteran journalist Snehasis Sur, so many interesting questions came up. One of them was how far face book ‘revolution’ or ‘peace initiative’ can yield result? Isn’t profanity a common practice on the social media platform?
Isn’t social media making us ‘unsocial’ too? He considered the scenario as ‘glass half filled’. He told, “My family is in four countries, so it’s the best platform to keep in touch with each other.” Humorously enough, how so many eyebrows were raised when his FB friends saw he (Prof. Sreenivasan) is now friend with his mother-in-law! But he himself has taken a tough challenge that how for another 5 years he would keep away his kids away from this networking world. His twins will reach teen then.
Though he is for social networking, but he never encouraged fake accounts on networking sites. To keep inquisitive parents and curious cousins at bay, he advocated a real name culture. In his words, “You should have only one account on any social website because then you will be more real. It won’t be a case of split personality…”
He was introduced to us by Acting USA Consul General in Kolkata Clinton S “Tad” Brown as a person who teaches facebook and orkut (In India many would lose their consciousness after knowing this) but the most skeptic of the same. And all I can say the ‘City of Joy’ welcomed him with his skepticism & mastery.
Professor, waiting eagerly to meet you again…
Welcome back to ‘Coolcutta’!

Cyclone: The story of an Individual

Assumption & Prejudice are two deadly words in the English Dictionary. Actually this is what I believe. If a person’s act is driven by assumption and prejudice that cannot be good for anyone.
Just to share, I used to know a person who was in colloquial term can easily be tagged as ‘metro sexual.’ I was pretty open with him almost in every sort of discussions, but that can cause some heart burn in some other places, I never ever even think of. Not even once.
But my inability to understand certain indication of brewing storm actually resulted in a hurricane. Or should I call it a cyclone? Hurricane has a shorter life span than cyclone, so am attributing this as a cyclone.
Why it’s a cyclone? Because it has a far-reaching effect, the immense casualty, massive destruction and recovery (if at all) would take a long time and above all the people who are in face of it (here it’s in a singular term) is Helpless. So I am not finding much difference between the natural cyclone caused by the movement of the wind and the man-made cyclone caused by the movement of certain communication tools!
And this cyclone is based on Assumption & Prejudice. The assumption was that a particular person favours a particular person over others and the very assumption is based on prejudice of a third person. Deadly combination of this prejudice and assumption actually destroyed a firm base of professionalism & healthy working condition.
This is not like actual cyclone that after the rebuilding everything will fade away from memory, but actually this has a huge after effect: THIS CANNOT BE REBUILT. It would definitely fade away from memory of certain individuals who are not directly or indirectly hit in this, but the person who faced 4-fold attack from different direction, for that individual, this would probably continue to stay as ‘The MEMORY’ of a certain place.
Cyclone cannot do any good to anybody, but here the case is slightly different… It actually benefitted all other than an ill-fated individual, who is still in process to find out why of things!!

Result Out: One Month On...

This is exactly a month since the results of the assembly elections were declared. Some were expected, some were not… In short there was not much surprise in the result! But the results were enough to supply some food for thought, both politically and in general course.
Let see the political picture first.
One may argue that the change of guard in West Bengal is a complete shocker. No it’s not! In 2009, ‘Change’ was seen in respect of vote share. That has multiplied manifold in another two years. West Bengal was going green was anybody’s guess.
34 years is a long time in democratic politics. Consecutive 7 win for the left in this state had actually made them over confident and more importantly complacent. They started moving away from the grassroot and certain hasty steps in land acquisition etc. made them answerable to the mass. ‘Opposition’ led by now-CM Mamata Banerjee didn’t keep any stone unturned to make the Left sit in the opposition!
But here lies the actual surprise. Though Left was routed in Bengal, still it has 41% vote share! After 34 years, managing 41% vote is a difficult task. As some are assuming, Left cannot come back, that might not be true at all. One week is a long time in politics, so 5 years like a light year. Mamata has already started with a faux pas in bringing the Singur Ordinance… So Left will wait for some opportunities to come and encash on the same.
Left has lost Kerala by a whisker. UDF has managed to get 11 lakhs vote more than the LDF. Only 0.89% swing in favour of UDF brought them to power. Kerala didn’t give any mandate for any particular party. The moral victory is for the Left as CPIM is still the biggest party in the Kerala Assembly.
Kerala & WB has played as eye openers to some of the political thought leaders. Elections can’t be won if the party disassociates itself from the mass. ‘Taken for granted’ is a not acceptable by the electorates. Plan the future based on the reality. These are the lessons for the Left in Bengal, whereas Kerala has proved that able and robust leadership coupled with inclusive growth is key to the success.
In the grassroot level, some unwanted people have registered as ‘primary member’ of CPIM. They are nothing but opportunist, the force which want to earn some benefits by using the party name. They should be thrown out in order to make the party more disciplined.
CPIM General secretary Prakash Karat denied any need for leadership change, But I feel that must be started from the top and filtered down the same thereafter. Theorists like Karat cannot win election on its own!! The left must go back to the basic now and understand the realities beyond ‘Das Capital’ & ‘Communist Manifesto!’
Other Southern state Tamil Nadu has given a strong mandate against corruption. The most dangerous social ailments have been rampant in that state. By throwing away DMK (gripped withy 2G Scams), Tamil Nadu wanted a government free from corruption. But the question is how far AIADMK led by Jayalalitha can deliver the same, only time will say! Kerala too has paraded with VS in corruption issues, which almost made them win the election.
Assam & Pondicherry didn’t make anyone surprised. The Only thing with the Assam win, Gogoi-led Congress managed to be in power consecutive for third term, which might help UPA in centre to resolve complicated north-east trouble.
If we analyse the impact of these election in the national context, it is heartening for the UPA. But winning 2014 won’t be easy as Corruption, Price rise and some other core issues are huge concern for the general public. Inclusive growth with equity is the key for any political party with real developmental agenda.