Open Indian Sky

From my recent trip to delhi amazing cloud formations.

Indian Patriotism (From the Dean - IIT Madras )

Dear Friends,

Here is a personal experience, as well as a moment of national pride, which I want to share with you. Hope you find it worth the time you put in reading it : "In the middle of 1965 India-Pakistan war, US govt - then a close friend of Pakistan - threatened India with stopping food-aid (remember "PL-480"?). For a food deficient Indiathis threat was serious and humiliating. So much so that in the middle of war, Prime Minister (Late) Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Ram Leela Grounds in Delhi and appealed to each Indian to observe one-meal-fast every week to answer the American threat. As a school boy, I joined those millions who responded to Shastri ji's call.

I continued the fast even when the war was over and India became self sufficient in food. Hurt deep by the national humiliation suffered at the hands of the USgovt, I had vowed to stop my weekly fast only when Indiastarts giving aid to USA. It took just 40 years. Last week THE day arrived. When Indian ambassador in Washington DC handed over a cheque of US$ 50 million to the USgovt, two plane loads of food, medical aid and other relief materials were waiting to fly to the USA. Time to break the fast? With no bad feeling about the USA, and good wishes for the Katrina victims, this humble Indian feels proud of the distance India has covered in 40 years. Let's celebrate a New India!"

- Vijay Kranti. Dean - IIT Madras

(I got this e-mail as a forward, was very touched by the spirit and pride of the author that we all share. )

Im Back!!

Hi there people. Im sure many of you must have been wondering if I had died or something, because of the lack of new posts on the site. Relax I am back, in action and will keep going at it.

I had been quite tied up for the past two weeks. Had a great time at the overseas staff training seminar organized by my company, got to meet a lot of cool/different people form many countries, It has been a great experience which has helped me to broaden my mental horizons and in the end left me with many good friends scattered all over the globe.

Thanks to all you guys (who attended) for making the seminar such a cool event and looking forward to meeting you all next year.

Seat in the UN Security Council

In my personal opinion, there is no other country more deserving to be on the Council other than India. The present council members are China, USA, Russia, UK and France. As in the views of Prime Minister Singh the council reflects the world of 1940’s and does not do justice to the current economic and political situation.

This is true to a great extent, the formation of the UN security council was in a world recovering from two major wars, and the nations which turned out as victors made place for themselves in the council.

The current world scenario requires admittance of India into the security council namely because India stands like a pillar of strength represented by its democratic system in an unstable Asian environment.

The largest democracy on the planet, Independence through non violence, economic growth. Who deserves to be on the security council more than India? Link

Latest Google Offering!!!!

Google has launched its Google Blog search, dedicated to finding blogs on topics that interest you. Try it out.

Indian Stock Rocket heading for a Crash??

Its been a rosy time for the hot shots at the stock market with the SENSEX crossing the 8000 point mark for the first time in history. The stock drive has been fueled by foreign investors blindly channeling money into India.

How ever the economist and analysts have found reason for concern and have started forecasting an economic crisis on the horizon, with surging fuel costs expected to further soar to 100$ a barrel (God forbid it) will put India confronting a severe case of Hyperinflation. The Indian authorities are slowly coming to grasp with the reality. But we are still in the self-denial mode. The increasing fuel costs will cause an unprecedented rise in cost of commodities leaving the common man in a tight spot there by reducing consumer spending and dampening over all economic growth.

The most famous case of hyperinflation occurred in Germany in the 1920's. Inflation was so out of control that it was cheaper to burn German currency for heat than it was to use it to buy firewood.

Time to start worrying?

India on a shopping spree.

Looking at the news over the past few weeks, it becomes evident that India has been shopping and I must say splurging. Majority of the purchases at the government level have been primarily for defense. India has become the largest Purchaser of arms among the developing nations of the world, taking over China and Saudi Arabia. Is all this defense expenditure justified? Are we spending a little too much too soon? Patriot missile systems, European Submarines, F-16 and Hornet fighters are we going overboard? Should we not be saving for the rainy days as well ?

2004-2005 Deming Prize Winners ;>)

The late Dr. W. E. Deming (1900 - 1993), one of the foremost experts of quality control in the United States, was invited to Japan July 1950 after the American Industrial experts disregarded his theories and teachings on quality. His work helped to revolutionize the concept of quality manufacturing in a war ravaged Japan, which has helped the Japanese become world leaders in quality manufacturing.

The Deming Prize was established by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers in 1951. The award is given to organizations or individuals that have achieved excellence in quality management. Of the six companies that received the Deming Prize this year, three of which are Thai companies which belong to the Siam Cement Group and the others are their Indian counterparts. Click to see list of winners.

We are all the Same

No matter where you live, be it New Orleans, Tokyo, Mumbai or Istanbul there is one force from which no government or military can protect us. The force of Nature has always been admired and awed, a millennia of recorded history and we are still in the dark about natures force and fury. The tsunami in south east Asia, earthquakes around the world and violent storms all around, every week are signs of the ever changing climate. In a way nature is getting back at us for the harm we have been doing to the planet.

The vulnerability of people and the inefficient crisis management was exposed both in Mumbai and New Orleans. People are the same every where and the one force treats every one equally in an unequal world is Mother Nature.

Indian retail sector to open up to FDI soon

As citizens of the world's largest democracy, we Indians are trusted to choose our own government. But, until recently, we were not free to choose what we wanted to buy. With the onset of liberilization things started to change namely in IT, biotech, manufacturing, banking and other sectors.

The next in line to open up for FDI based on the signs from the center is the retail sector. Benefiting from this will be the common middleclass Indian who will now be able to purchase his groceries much cheaper and in a relaxed and convenient manner, this being made possible by the economies of scale and professional retailing practices utilized by global retailers. Numerous major global retailers are at the Indian doorstep waiting for the green signal. India would also further benefit from the additional jobs that professional cash and carry retailing would generate.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is readying ally communist parties leaders to accept FDI in retail trade – the announcement is expected soon, major FDI is expected from the Europe. The Indian retail sector will also be a hot topic at the EU India summit this week

Personal Note : The real reason behind Indo Pak tensions ;>)

Just got back from lunch. Had been to lunch with a group of senior managers. Being representatives of different regional markets the conversation was varied and in numerous languages. The discussion ranged from China’s mineral markets, piracy in Vietnam through to the quality of Shawarmas available in Bangkok as compared to the real thing in Dubai.

It was not long before the discussion reached India……Indian Bhiriyani…..and finally India /Pakistan. One of the Managers was narrating his experience and personal view as to why the conflict exists between India and Pakistan. On his visit to Pakistan it so happened that his flight was delayed and he had to spend several hours in his hotel. He switched on the TV and was surprised to see the wide array of Indian channels available there. He was also impressed by the good looking Indian women on the various programs.

He then jokingly tells me the reason for the tension between India and Pakistan is because India has a lot of beautiful women and the Pakistanis are jealous about it. I was thoroughly amused but had to contain my self. He praised the openness of Indians and the freedom we have in India.....(which we take for granted but is soo envied by others).

So all the other political cover-up reasons for tensions aside…. Are Indian women unknowingly the real reason behind tension between Indian and Pakistan? :>)

..................................Interesting Quote

"In China, there is order on the surface and chaos underneath. In India, there is chaos on the surface and order underneath."--A foreign investor

Why America is still the best place to work!!

The rapid growth of the Asian economy, with its huge low cost manufacturing base, liberal government outlook to foreign direct investment, and a rapidly growing asian middle class have created a lot of interest and unrest not to mention been blamed for stealing American Jobs.

This allegation has been proven to a certain extent, how ever the unsung fact is that more efforts have been made to retain the skilled labor available in the U.S as the U.S finds its self in a position of having to provide the world with innovative and new products and services to stay ahead of the other world economies. The average pay for skilled and knowledge workers in the U.S has risen between 2 to 5 percent in the last 2 years.

The only way for America to compete with the low cost good quality products from Asia is to invent winning global products. This is some thing which America has proved its self capable of. The development of such winning products and services will calls for increased investment in the countries skilled and knowledge worker pool, thus making America still the best place to work.

Your view on this idea?? please voice your opinion...post a comment.

Know the malayalee

The fundamental fact about Kerala is its openness to external influences. These have been many and varied: Arab, Roman, Chinese, British, and for that matter Islamist, Christian, and Marxist influences have gone into the making of the Malayali people.

For quite some time a number of my friends have asked me about Malayalees and Christianity in Kerala and stuff. I happened to come across this article that answers all the queries. Check it out.

End of India’s Energy Crisis In sight ??

Necessity is the mother of all invention, in the present global energy scenario with diminishing global energy reserves and rapid growth spurning high energy consumption and the rat race to secure a stable source of energy intensifying, India has managed to come up with a solution that will eradicate all of her energy problems.

India has unveiled before the international community its revolutionary design of "A Thorium Breeder Reactor (ATBR)". The ATBR can produce 600 MW of electricity for two years "with no refueling and practically no control maneuvers." Designed by scientists at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, ATBR is claimed to be far more economical and safer than any power reactor in the world. Most significantly for India, ATBR does not require natural or enriched uranium, which the country is finding difficult to import and what more India has an abundant supply of Thorium. Looking forward to the Brighter days ahead.

Lion Police

Yes It happens only in India. The government of Uttar Pradesh state wants to unleash five cats in the bandit-ridden Chambal ravines. Police hope that the lions will keep the bandits away. There have been about 4,000 kidnappings and 180 murders in the area in the past five years. “Not that the lions will be chasing the bandits, but the area will soon have a lot of movement by tourists and officials and will be lit up brightly. This will force the dacoits to flee to safer hideouts," said a senior police official.

What can I say…lions to catch bandits….tourists to see lions…..4,000 Kidnappings and 180 murders in the area…..You do the Math ;>).

Why China won't be able to match India

A little difficult to Imagine at the moment, but once you read this article you realize in the long run it is possible. Read the views of the renowned British historian Paul Johnson, On why India is on the right track.

What goes around comes around!!

Like they always say

"What you give is what you get"

Blog Directory

First we had the Phone directory, then the Mailing list......now the next hot spot to get your self registered is with a blog directory. Try Googling the word blog directory and you end up with an astounding 17,700,000 hits.

For all you Desi bloggers out there who have not yet registered yet, try Blogstreet India, the premier Blog Directory in India, it features citywise listing of blogs which makes it very useful.

One could also try the indian bloggers webring which has recently been started.

Register and let others know your Blog exists.

Guess Which Indian Festival This is??

You might have said: Krishna Janmastmi. Wrong !!!

RAKSHA BHANDHAN

Rise of ChIndia

China and India. Rarely has the economic ascent of two still relatively poor nations been watched with such a mixture of awe, opportunism, and trepidation. The postwar era witnessed economic miracles in Japan and South Korea. But neither was populous enough to power worldwide growth or change the game in a complete spectrum of industries. China and India, by contrast, possess the weight and dynamism to transform the 21st-century global economy.

But in a way, even America's rise falls short in comparison to what's happening now. Never has the world seen the simultaneous, sustained takeoffs of two nations that together account for one-third of the planet's population. For the past two decades, China has been growing at an astounding 9.5% a year, and India by 6%. Given their young populations, high savings, and the sheer amount of catching up they still have to do, most economists figure China and India possess the fundamentals to keep growing in the 7%-to-8% range for decades.

Within three decades India should have vaulted over Germany as the world's third-biggest economy. By mid-century, China should have overtaken the U.S. as No. 1. By then, China and India could account for half of global output. Indeed, the troika of China, India, and the U.S. -- the only industrialized nation with significant population growth -- by most projections will dwarf every other economy.

The U.S. and other established powers will have to learn to make room for China and India.

Poverty Premium.

A significant proportion of India lives under less than $ 2 a day as compared to other countries. World over the poor pay a premium on every thing from rice to credit. The poverty premium or rather poverty penalty is universal and differs in magnitude form country to country. The poor pay more some times up to 25 times more than what the rich pay for the same services. Poverty penalty is a result of local monopolies, inadequate access, poor distribution and strong traditional intermediaries. Find out more.

The itch that never goes away.

Two weeks back when Pakistan and India signed a missile treaty, according to which each one is to inform the other in advance of nuclear and ballistic missile tests the rays of hope for peace between India and Pakistan were rekindled. South Asia was half way back on the road to stability.

How ever even before the Ink on the agreement was allowed to dry, Pakistan test fires its Babur Missile on Aug 11th with out informing India. The Babur missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads and has a range of 500km. Talk about a total breach and disregard of honoring ones agreements. Pakistan as always, takes the entire progress made on the missile front back to the drawing board. The attitude demonstrated by Pakistan had been totally unprincipled.

“India was not informed about Thursday's test because the agreement did not cover guided missiles, a Pakistan military” spokesman said…………

Free India Turns 59 and Going Strong.

What a better day to start this Blog than on the Independence day of India. 59 years past since Independence. India has gradually grown form the small under developed country it once used to be to one of the Economic and Political power houses of the world. The current progress made by India on the economic front, the Technological arena, and the Improvement initiated on the Social and Infrastructural situation surely make Indians Proud, and make others to stop and take note.

The development and growth are much welcomed in India, but we still have a long way to go till the dreams of "The Mahatma" ie that of a unified India clear of poverty is realized.This blog exists with the Idea of fostering discussion and debate among fellow Indians on topics and issues that define and influence India and the path she is on. Feel free to mail or forward any issue relating to India to my mail and please express your views. It shall be posted and discussed. I whish you all a very Happy Independence Day, and urge each one to keep our Great Nation in your Prayers.