India enters the $trillion league !!

Not always does rising rupee bring joy to exporters. The structural adjustment infact has been worry for them. One cannot gauruntee this was totally expected, atleast this soon ! Even the RBI. The following reflects their view :
"The government has released an estimate of 9.2 percent for this year. There is clearly an upward movement toward sustained growth of 9 percent as expressed officially," Rakesh Mohan noted. "We should be a trillion dollar economy by next year. I mean 2007/08."



As Economic Times points out it was quicker estimate revelaed by a swiss Co:


"Indian GDP at the current price level is 41 trillion rupees. With the rupee appreciating to below 41 against the US dollar, yesterday was the first day for the economy to be a trillion dollar economy," the Swiss investment firm said in a note. "



Definitely a pleseant surprise. This will definitely enhance the investor confidence in India inspite of global oil & terror threats. No wonder the post 1991 refroms were watershed for India's economy revitalising itself. Atleast now the critics can lower their voiceif not stop. Because they would be quick to questions its sustainability ! Well even in 1991 external debt crisis not many agreed India's comeback, well today ???



See below for ranking (Courtesy : Times Of India - India poised campign )




Just above India is Russia & Brazil !! 3rd Asian giant to do so !
But in terms of PPP we stand 4th after US, Japan & China..

But our 20M NRI's seem to be standing even taller , their combined worth greater than India's GDP ! No wonder Deepak Parekh's committee recommended to use part of Forex for Infrastructure development ! But first aim should be to attract the remittances !



Bold new & bright future is greeting us and it will be our's to loose !

Sun in 3D !!

Recent pics by NASA reveals 3D view of the supposedly head of the Solar Family - The Sun !!
The pics look really awesome. Take a look at these : (Courtesy NASA)


This could mean more understanding the origin & composition of the "Ultimate ball of fire " known to Human race ! According to NASA :


" STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) is the third mission in NASA's Solar Terrestrial Probes program (STP). This two-year mission, launched October 2006, will provide a unique and revolutionary view of the Sun-Earth System"
(Reference : http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/main/index.html)

So why is solar reasearch so important ? Just decided to go little into the space territory ....

- Scientists can get more clarity in solar physics
- Weather forecast can be more accurate. Can save a lot of lives !!!
Forecast need some basic concepts of solar winds, solar flare, magnetic emission etc..
- Can give us some clue on the origin of earth. May be ?? not sure
- More light in "Thermonuclear Fusion" understanding ! Towards greener energy & eternal
energy source.
- Corona - the core is most important to be unserstood more fundamentally. Because this is
the one which is responsible for eternal source of solar energy !! How ??!

So how will it impact common man's life ?? let me try to muster a few :

a) Solar energy will be an eternal source of energy ! No more power cuts !!
b) Power will become cheap for common man.
c) Production of industrial houses enhanced. Hence more buyount economy !
d) No more oil wars !!
e) No more GHG emissions !! Clean energy !
f) More equitable world order.

Well this are just a few. But its ulitmate success depends on political will & tenacity to pursue its research will full vigour ! India is one of the best known countries for solar production being so close to the equator , which means more sun light !!

Did Richard change "Gear" ??

In entertainment industry short memory syndrome is synonymous with the amount of
times the artist presents herself in front the audience quite often. But for a few it comes frequently and so often presents oppurtunities to extend the short memory a
little longer. Shilpa shetty is one lucky artist. The new big sister is often caught with events for which she might not have been the initiator. As mentioned in my previous posting , she has once again grabbed the pie & gave media her piece of mind !!

Well its shilpa shining again for you ! One thing the sensation creating trouble
mongers did not realise is they are doing more PR service to the target than the
issue(if at all it is one!) Sadly these "Self proclaimed protectors of culture" may
not be aware of the way AIDs is soon becoming an epidemic in S.Asia. India may not have large percentage share with respect to its population, but is highest in terms of absolute numbers.

Look at some sample Statistics . It is baffling : India - 5.6 Mn ppl estimated to be affected China - 650,000Shockingly India rank's second in terms of absolute number of people affected,next only to South Africa.Mainly due to ignorance is the reason for prevelance !! See the reference.Has Richard really changed the "gear" of the AIDS campign. Well he is a well known international actor who has a palacial palace in Hollywood who hardly looks for cheap publicity ! May be he wanted more audiance to know about the campign.

Unfortunately the moral policing gang, as ever interpreted through their sensational prism giving more colours ,followed by uncanny protests rather than higlighting importance of why both shilpa & Richard Gere had met on stage.

In all the recent light of events media creates more confusion rather than awareness ! Though an advocate of free media I feel media to be more role playing in issues lie AIDs awareness. For example instead of repeatedly palying the "dance pose" they could have also sent message of the growing epidemic nature of HIV/AIDS. That would have added more value to the news & society. This way one attains the same sensation (gain ERP ratings!) & also reflect the current problems.

After all Richard Gere made no "Indecent proposal " on stage ! He has been a very effective ambassador in the AIDS campign and I hope his message reaches 1 billion people and justify his visits purpose than changing the "gear" of the campign !

Agni III - Takes off to glory !!

In one of the earlier posts I had mentioned about the "First Agni III test" & difficulties in a high technology mission. India scientists have once again proven their worth with successful test of Agni III today !! Definitely it puts India into the "Missile League" & top spot in South Asia.(China an exception !) This is again an important message sent to strategic community saying India will puruse indigenous research of critical technologies. This is an important close to the final days of Indo-US nuke deal close & friendship with neighbours !!

No doubt India is one of the most popular "Soft Power"(Thanks to tharoor for popularising the term !! ) Safe guarding its own security interest is one of the top priorities in the current economy accelerating.

To re-iterate the history Agni was one of the pet projects of then Director-General Dr.A P J Abdul kalam. Conceived as part of the Integrated Missile development programme(IGMDP) to which then defence minister R.Venkat Raman (Both of these men went on to become first citizen !) without a second thought ! Agni I(850 Km) & II(2000-3500) were runway success, ofcourse both had their share of initial hiccups !

Agni III seen more as a precedent to ICBM (surya!?) ! Does this mean Indian missile can reach to all ! Not just yet. Strategic thinkers feel AGNI III can target most of Chinese cities, deep into W.Asia. Pretty much Asia is in the missile shield. Recent testing of anti-missile system(with Prithvi) also a feather in the defence R&D cap !

As Agni III roared in the skies, reminds me of Dr.Kalam's poem :

Dreams float on an impatient wind,
A wind that wants to create a new order,
An order of strength and thundering of fire."

Sure Indian scientists have taken forward the legacy of Great men !!

Dalai Lama Speak !!

Karan Thapar has never been so modest , downplaying as he was during his interaction with his holiness "The Dalai Lama". The 71 Year old Dalai Lama was as cool as ever taking one question at a time and giving crytal clear reply. The views seem to be more realisitic and going with current happenings. And one of the plain speaks in recent times :

For instance he insists :

"Now, I think the whole world knows that I am not seeking independence. As far as history is concerned" .

This clearly gives the direction the struggle is heading. One should appreciate the way he has patiently taken a non-violent struggle and now tweaking to realities still not compromising on the main issue. The issue might have been freedom , in the sense freedom to pursue & preserve their culture. Does not seem to be political freedom.

Atleast thats what is the indication he gives when he points out :

"I think many visit Tibet including many Chinese. When they reach Lhasa, they realise that Tibet is actually ruled by terror. The autonomy is not that. The Tibetan should have their final authority except foreign affairs and defence. The rest of the business Tibetans can handle, may be even batter, because they know Tibetan mentality and geographical situations"

Nothing more could have been crytal clear !!

He also does not hesitate to point out the need for revisiting foreign policy with changing times !
Words of wisdom !

In another sense also this assumes importance as he throws open challenge to the Tibetean youth :

"I tell them ‘yes, you demands are right, doesn’t matter’. But if they really want a different approach then they must assure us, the people the method step by step. That’s not very clear"

This charismatic Chief buddhist monk has shown his pure heart when he said, that he would not worry if he does not see Tibet in this life time ! Final Punch :

"No problem. I am a Buddhist monk, now over 71-years-old. These several years I have trained my mind according to Buddhist teachings. Doesn’t matter"

Final parting thoughts of Dr.Brahma Chellany (reference made by Karan Thapar himself):

"The only way that India can build counter-leverage against Beijing is to quietly reopen the issue of China’s annexation of Tibet and its subsequent failure to grant autonomy to the Tibetans.”

Please do see for more details :

Visit the site (reference cnn-ibn site)

Wild Flash - Road not taken !!

One of my favourite pieces from genius "Robert Frost" .. U definitely would freeze !
Njoy the chill !!
====================================
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler,long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

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

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

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

- Robert Frost