Nano - Great Indian Dream !!

Not many times have Indian product design being vowed like this one. And you would least expect that too in auto design. Tata's managed just that ! Would have been 'Despite Mamta' car has generally been given a good review - for its design & cost. Above all to the design team who rose against a seemingly improbable idea. Tata's dream is best explained by Hindustan Times

"Every couple of decades, one man's personal dream defies convention to transform the aspirations of millions of people all over the planet. Ratan Tata is such a man. His daring, passion and commitment has not only stretched the boundaries of how ordinary Indians view their lives, but in one epiphanous moment revolutionised how they would see India"

Usually shy Mr.Ratan Tata, took exception recently at the Auto Expo. A flamboyant opening with "2001 a space odyssey" said it all. Because its tune is very indicative of "Future Indian Auto Odyssey". Also uncharacteristic Tata taking on the environmental critics - be her director for govt research centre or director general of TERI

Two things which attract me

1) Simple & Elegant design - The design has 33 patents filed. Young
team of design engineers from India did this.
(Read this interesting story at ET")

2) Gives 'Aam Admi' a chance to own a car. Ofcourse quote of a
police constable doing the rounds as testimony.

Debates on roads getting clogged, environment, fuel availability is in full swing. One way to disturb govt's slumber. It is challenges like these make governance more active. Sure any govt
will be voted out if they say, small car's would flood the roads. If we understand vote bank, then this assumption is almost correct. Tata seemed to have indirectly triggered govt to start thinking on those lines also.

But direct benefit to the country is generation of employment - for production, spares, service centers. Tata is contemplating idea of inviting young entrepreneurs to assemble car's locally. This is definitely a novel idea.

No doubt the roads will get more clogged, but alteast we can bear some cost towards egalitarian society!

Finally- against its name opening was a mega one & by no means Nano !!
Well a fitting title to be tagged - A Great Indian Dream !

2007 Saluting Brave heros !!

As we prepare to welcome 2008, it is sad "A few goodmen" were left behind in the sands of time. These men chose to give up their lives to make us see 2008. As we take our first step into New YEar 2008, it is our moral responsibility in paying tributes to the bravest of souls - selfless !! Their names would be etched in Military history, We salute all who laid lives for their Motherland !!!

Thanks to Rediff for having triggered my thoughts in that direction. They have a fantastic series one should look at.

Especially the tribute to youngest Ashik Chakra(Highest Military honour in peace time) is IMPRESSIVE !
http://specials.rediff.com/yearend/2007/dec/20yrharshan1.htm

Ofcourse Col.Vasanth will ever be etched in our thoughts for his highest leadership quality !
Bravo !! Bravo !
http://specials.rediff.com/yearend/2007/dec/17yrvenu1.htm

Sixth pay commission recommendations will hopefully attempt to make soldiers, Police & Other security personnel / families life a liitle better ! Otherwise we should be prepared for "Crop eating Fence" situation pretty sooner than we anticipate.

Trtibute to Mother Teresa !!

Gene technology can produce a Xerox copy of you ! But can it bring the love of greatest human ever - Mother Teresa. It's been a decade since the greatest missionary soul rested in peace. Her lifetime mission was "To serve the poorest of poor ".
Migrating her from former Yuguslovia to Kolkata, destiny seemed to have already shaped the future of the "Saint of Gutters". Starting as a humble teacher she went on to build an empire for the poor & downtrodden. In cannoical form she was serving the needy, but psychologically it is mind boggling. How can a women take up such an enormous challange.

Mind you all, we are still struggling to bring millions out of poverty. But this unitary sould peace to millions of poor - be it orphans, abandoned, destitutes, sick. Missionaries of charity made many wonder at the miracale created by those hands, which never saw distinction, but only carassed who needed them.
Pope had initiated the "Miracle" process for her, but whole world knowns , this missionary zeal "Mother" blessed the battered with her magical spell. As we approach 10th anniversary of Mother Teresa, time has come to redeem all her dreams - to serve or atleast show some compassion.
Sister Nirmala, who has taken the baton from Mother Teresa , is equally enthusiatic about the work. When one visits kolkata, this must be place to visit - to feel, breathe her dream , her work. Pray god bless her sould with peace & give us the strength to have atleast 0.1% of her zeal !!!

Nation Salutes its Supreme Commander Adieu !!

So far only 12 Indians had the previlige of occupying the highest Office in the country. Even few used that to instill confidence among the citizens. But Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam is the only President ever to spell bound us with his pure love for Nation.

Dr.Kalam assuming the office of President in 2002. Then began his quest for reaching out to all the Indians , especially youth to "Dream Big". He visited almost every state & UT to inspire national feelings amongst all.

Addressing 10+ state assemblies , he proposed to all more bolder vision for powering the growth engine. As supreme commander of the Armed Forces, reached out to jawans assuring that they have untiring support of the nation.

One of the greatest accomplishments of his tenure is making "Rashtrapathi Bhavan" as "People's Bhavan". His human side took better of him to nurse the pet animals in the Mughal & Herbal Garden. Poet in him never missed enjoying nature !

As Dr.Kalam steps down we all stand to salute this great Indian who has inspired millions of youth to work for nation's development.

Jai hind !!

Reviving Nalanda !!

Best introduction to IIT's were given by its alumni gathering in 2003 :

"Put Harvard, MIT, and Princeton together, and you begin to get an idea of the status of this school in India."

In the same tone to define "Nalanda" -

"Put 10's of IIT's together & u might start getting the Idea of how nalanda was !!"

What made Nalanda greatest besides Taxila in its hay day ??

Nalanda(in Bihar)was built during the Ancient Gupta period. It's alumni boasts to many intellectuals like Chanakya, Chandra gupta maurya, Huen-Tsang, Charaka, Susruta, Nagarjuna & many more buddist scholars. Breadth of the subjects dealt was lengthy - Philosphy, chemical,
structual engg,astronomy, geomentry, logic, music, literature .. Believed to have been a city unto itself, like today's Oxford or Cambridge ! One of the historical evidence of how advance out intellect was. Scholars were gifted with a oceanic ilbrary adding to other sea of options !

Nilanjana Roy in her Article "Invisible Indian Library" mentions :

"There were at least three separate libraries: Ratnasagara, Ratnadadhi and Ratnaranjaka. "

The cost analysis is intresting :

"Creating and running an institution like Nalanda wasn’t cheap. It required, according to some accounts, “the revenues of 100 villages”—a sum not so far removed in scale from the bequests of $2.4 million and $5.2 million made respectively by Samuel J Tilden and Andrew Carnegie to establish what would become the legendary New York Public Library"

A quick estimate in the Indian context. The total budget of IIT's put together amounts to 2000 Cr per year ! It is roughly $45M !And can easily be covered by Income Tax collection of a state like TN or Karnataka !!

When I read about Nalanda as a student I was immediately attracted by it ! In years to come it would refuse to goaway from my memory, ultimately cherishing the Dream of "Reviving it one day if I had the power !!"

Recent news of it revival definitely raised my Spirits ! What more it is expected to generate revenue for 200 villages surrounding Nalanda ! Thats neo-economics @ work !!

Mind its potential : "Will it become next cambridge"

This step is an important in the context of today's Knowledge economy ! We have potential of becoming next educational destination with a host of World class Institutios ! But as of"Nalanda" I wish it to be part of "Great Indian Legacy" than just another world class learning centre !! Hope dreams will come true !!

Well some respite for now with e-nalanda : !!

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 !

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 !!

PSLV-C7 blasts off to glory !

Madhavan Nair was a visibly happy chief. What more can the chief ask from his troops. In his own words "More perfect than text book launch !". India's 9th continuous successful PSLV launch is definitely a great stride by itself. On PSLV's vehicle configuration lies many ambitious plans including the manned space mission ! The GSLV's recent dismal was yet nagging as the countdown began.

PSLV-C7 by itself has many "first's". First time Space Recovery Experiment(SRE), Dual Launch Adopter, 4 satellites out of which 2 weigh a ton ! First ever video capture of stage separation !

India now proclaims its capability to put multiple satellites on space ! Budget constraint for smaller countries can seek India's capability. Because vehicle design is the crux & the most expensive. Argentina experimenting its first satellite !

Shriharikota will be buzzing all the year as there are series of launch schedules waiting execution. ISRO has the track record of silencing their critics through their success rather than rhetoric. I feel it is one of the channels where tax payer can atleast be proud of !

Time is come for ISRO to start thinking big ! Ofcourse they already have , but a vision document should be generated on public debate ! Antrix, the commercial wing of ISRO no doubt has been busy marketing our transponders. Scientific diplomacy integrated with focused vision will make our space programme more attractive not just to customers but to great minds !

The End of a Raaga !

The Ganges would flow silently as it wud fail to hear the music that reverberated for more than half a century. Ustad Bismillah khan was enthralling varanasi for decades through his identity "Shennai" . Known for his humility , he did his shennai speak everything else.
As a disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khan, this octogenarian did his master and nation proud.

Not an exaggeration to say shennai got a re-birth under his reign. Throughout his life as master shennai player money was not even the least priority. Simplicity as a way of life he was a staunch supporter of pluralism. His striking words "Heavens weep today to see the drastic event . Miscreants would be defeated as their design was !"(On varanasi blast)

Nation awarded highest civilian to Ustad bismillah Khan. He might not have a musical blood line legacy to continue but his hindustani notes would be travelling through ages !

India pays rich homage to this musical genius ! May his sould rest in peace !

Good bye Mr.Murthy !

What can one achieve within 25 years of life span from nothing ?
Well Mr.Narayan Murthy let his deed speak the answer :-) ! No prize for guessing !

Infy his child has grown into an emperor ruling the IT world.
As he turns 60, the high profile chairman renounced his chair on sunday Aug 20,2006. By conventional wisdom he his retired from day to day operation as exectuive though he will continue to mentor it to even greater heights. His kin not succeeding is something unique to him and industry ofcourse ! Instead he left hi own child to be nurtued !

Infosy'ians are going to miss him ! So will the corporate world !
As a professional of this genaration we owe a lot to him who has radically changed all our life styles indirectly. Infosys set precedence by listing on NASDAQ. Until then world only knew us a land of snake charmers and advocates of eternal conservationalism. What followed is history.

Murthy's "Why not? " unconventional approach has always awestruck me. As this business giant retires I stand to salute his greatness & empathy for society !
Good bye Mr.Murthy ?
Welcome to the social world ! They need you more !

India Marches Ahead !!

As India celebrates her 59th independence day the optimistic tides are splashing all around. Exceptions are part of any system so let’s discard any non-optimistic comments. Growth is the buzz word ringing. Second fastest rowing economy in the world next only to China! Export numbers growing, average life expectancy going up, access to information technology increasing users and their reach far plus wide.

Indian business tycoons from Lakshmi mittal to Vijay mallya have officially stamped their presence through global acquisitions. 8’o Clock coffee is to have Indian aroma all 24 hrs after Tata Coffee buying it out ! Recent IATA conference invited Indian civil aviation minister and IA chief for the first time in years stressing the importance of our aviation sector flying globally ! Cancer drugs expected by biocon in a few years and AIDS trial have already kicked off .

According to World Bank social indicator, India has reduced her poverty to 25% from 50% in 1950’s, life expectancy going up to 63 from 49. Though WB warns of hurdles ahead. Factors like oil prices, monsoon, poverty , rural development are to be looked after. India is in the way of the “Millennium development Goal” commitment to reduce poverty by 2015 !

Scientific progress too has been on success strides. Defense, space and nuclear technologies have been on growth lane. Indirectly a lot of spin-off’s are benefiting the masses in providing energy and security. IT is our core competence! Telecommunication has been the backbone of connectivity shrinking our space and time!

Few years back I heard an international business man comment “IT – India & china” . Almost anonymous view that Tiger and Dragon are to rule the century through their economic supremacy! As world enters new international dimension in relationships we should be malleable responsible state in world affairs!

As India enters 60th independent year with more than 60% youth power, we all set for an exciting future ! The Indian geography has a long history besides transforming into scientific economy! Balance of payments look good as our ForEx reserves are over $150 bn ! That enables us to clear all our external debts in one go & still have balance left ! Though hypothetical, even this was considered insane in early 1990’s ! Indian economy has come along way , reflection of our fundamentally sound policies .

The right words of Charles dickens reflect our state of being today – “ We are in best of times and worst of times”. Worst - because of today’s terror, hindrances do crop up. We do realize our long journey, but with her characteristic diversified unity and charismatic appeal India will march ahead – confidently and youthfully!!

Jai hind !

Tribute to kargil Martyrs !

The time of the year the climate was freezing cold where mercury would dare to raise, no life would want to catch a glimpse of it. But silently few rough men cross the LOC making one think god knows what drive them. Though realising late, India did not pardon them ! An accepeted fact that Army was taken by surprise, but not disheartened. As in Kargil Gen.V.P.Malik states "Kargil was from suprise to victory !". Ofcourse, yes ! It comes from a man who commanded Army during kargil times !

Capture of Tiger Hills, restoration of NH1 were all daring instances of "Profiles of courage" !
Numerous examples starting from Sqd.Leador Vijay Ahuja's mission to 18 grenadiars capturing tiger hills, braving infiltration defence at batallik will ever be imprinted in the minds all indians !

Kargil will remain as one of the best examples of the exemplery chavalry of our ever dedicated fellow soldiers ! Guarding our borders has not been an easy task, but they had outpaced the disasters whenever they cropped up !

A moving statement by a fine soldier : "Tell them for their tommorow we gave our today !"
Today had come & gone , but soldiers continue to keep their promise.

Nation stands united in saluting the brave martyrs of Kargil who laid their present for our future !