A Man Of Dharma (A.M.O.D)

Just read the Forbes World’s Billionaires list (yet another, yes). There are 4 Indians in top 10 which is quite laudable (the others are 2 Americans, 1 Mexican and 3 Europeans.)

Now, the similarities end there. If you read more about them, you will see the differences between the Indian billionaires and non-Indian ones: 

• The wealth of All these 4 Indians is inherited. Yes, because their dads were rich, these people have become richer. Nothing fantastic about it, is there? While almost all non-Indians are self-made, not necessarily rags-to-richesstories, but have had business in their mind and soul as early as age 13 (Warren Buffet).
• Most of the non-Indians are highly ‘private’ people. They don’t like flaunting their wealth . Can’t be said the same about Indian billionaires; whille one has the ‘distinction’ of purchasing the most expensive residence in London and also one of the most extravagant wedding, there are others who build billion dollar multi-storey house (if it can be called a house). No, I am not advocating abstemiousness, but atleast don’t be vulgar about displaying your wealth.
• ALL of the Non-Indian billionaires have given to charity. Warren Buffet has given most f his wealth to Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, Bill Gates is known for his charities in Africa and Asia. Lookup other non-Indians and you will see the similarities. What about our billionaires? It would be interesting to see the billionaires giving charity in a country where “daan” has been emphasised since Vedic times.

Write to me if you find any more differences.

The 6th Pay Commission for central govt. officials is out and everyone’s got the same old feeling. Srikrishna (Chairman of the commission) has churned a lot and left the butter for no one.

The military have been given MSP (Military Service Pay). For what you ask? The other day I read a news item which said that parched Gurgaon residents were supplied water by the Army at New Delhi. Today, a child, who fell into a well (yet again; a unique distinction to this country) was rescued by the Army. When the airport authority employees struck work, Airforce officials in Kolkata were called in. The Army, besides CI ops is also called in during natural disasters, riots, elections and national events. Perhaps some babu had a “brainwave” when he recommended this MSP - so now the country can rightfully call the forces for everything else that’s left!

As for the rest of the govt. employees - they can calculate their arrears while “working” from the garden near their offices.

With the Gujarat election results now confirming a victory of Modi (underscore that), one cannot but admire the man who won thrice using different strategies, his histrionics and rhetorics notwithstanding.

I was in Ahmedabad (in Oct) for a day and I had a chance to interact with the locals (the cabbie, room attendant etc). I asked them about Gujarat elections and it emerged that the overwhelming factor there was and is Narendra Modi. His development schemes come later and religious factors the last (atleast they said so).

Will he be a National leader, as many say so? Personally, being a shrewd politician CEO that he is, I think he knows the dangers of coalition politics at the centre - well atleast for now. He is, as I see, the Nurse Ratched of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” for now (the dissenters must be agreeing while kicking themselves now)

Last month I was transferred from New Delhi to a remote place called Binnaguri in West Bengal; don’t bother Googling it - its not known for anything, perhaps not known at all. The upside is the clean air and well…that’s about it. For a few days, I liked the quiteness around - then it became unbearable, depressing at times.

Then came an opportunity for me to go to Calcutta. So here I am, writing this post from a cyber cafe on Park Street between glances (pun not intended) at the Indo-Pak cricket match - add the chaos of people and traffic in it and visualize. Perfect! I love it and I realized that I thrive in chaos. I love dodging pedestrians, dashing across unmarked crossings and shooing off urchins peddling books and stuff. Ah! The chaotic city life - there is order in disorder, spirituality in spirits (the kinds you drink…) and poetry in business.

So, now excuse me as I go across the street and well…do nothing.

I am presently reading Kishore Biyani’s “It happened in India”. Much has been said about India’s nascent retail industry in the book and elsewhere. Sometime back, the monthly Business & Economy ran a story on “How Walmart will Not succeed in India”. The same can now be applied to our desi retail chains especially Reliance.

Obviously, Reliance’s time tested strategies of “managing the environment” hasn’t worked here - simply because they managed the wrong environment!! The trader lobby in this country is much powerful than the farmers’ associations or consumer groups - just ask the hapless housewife who is now buying veggies at a premium of 50-80% or the farmer who is at the mercy of these traders. And so we have the ugly scenes in U.P. (where Reliance has now exited) and West Bengal or Orissa.

A much pragmatic approach will involve all the stakeholders in this business which will result in better operating conditions. Farm to fork is alright; get those middlemen in the business - after all they have more field knowledge about the market than do the MBAs, and rally the consumers to back the company. The politicians will follow And not the other way round.

Here’s to the success of Indian Retail industry and better buying experience for my wife! (saves me lot of hassles!!)

The third and concluding part of Young Turks show on the road at Goa was telecast today. (Read my other posts regarding the first and second part)

Shereen interviewed Gourav Jaswal of Synapse, Nandini Paliwal, CEO of Entertainment Society of Goa and  Elizabeth Kurien, founder of Stonehenge, a design company.

Anybody who has grown up on a diet of publications from Jasubhai Digital especially their monthly tech magazine called Digit will instantly recongnize Gourav Jaswal as its past editor. He has setup a non-profit company called Synapse at Dona Paula in Goa. Synapse is a business communications company with a philosophy that people working in it are entrepreneurs and not employees. I liked Gourav’s philosophy about work-life balance and not ramping up the operations solely because someone (read VCs) has a stake in them. The thought of working from a shack in Dona Paula, (which is where my in-laws live) is inviting indeed…

ESG is an organization which, among other things, organizes the famous IFFI (International Film Festival of India). I have witnessed 3 IFFIs  at Goa and the dreams to make it the next Cannes are should I say, iffy (couldn’t resist it!). Unless ofcourse Nandini and her team get rid of the chaos which prevails everytime. And please, do something about the traffic jams during these events. The people of Goa enjoy a good siesta, but certainly not inside a car in sweltering heat.

Well, Young Turks now move to Hyderabad (next week) and I am looking forward to it.

Now, what can be common between Google and our Lok Sabha elections in 2009? I am still trying to rack my brain about it…do let me know your views.

But, Google can provide an excellent platform for our people to voice their expectations / demands from the next government.

Google can implement this by having a special multilingual section which can have:
1. YouTube videos of the politicians broadcasting their manifesto
2. YouTube videos of people putting forth their demands
3. Online polling for political party / representatives to present a graphical outcome with analyses by experts in different fields on the impact of each outcome
4. Leaders can post their blog to connect to masses
5. Leading political experts could educate voters on their politician (I forget the word “leader”, when it comes to politics)

Please come up with some ideas and use the comments form to send to me. The good ones will be posted here with your name. I will also write to Google for implementing this. This is your chance to make a difference to the great Indian democracy. Let your voice be heard!

…and forward this to your friends too.

In the last post, I told you about CNBC TV 18’s “Young Turks” on the Road to Goa. Today, Shereen Bhan spoke with Nathan Chowgule of Chowgule Group, Luis Souza of Souza Developers and Reboni Saha of Mosaic Design.

Luis and I studied together at People’s Higher Secondary School, so it was a huge surprise (considering his 145 Kg bulk!!) to see him on this show.

But, I was impressed by Reboni Saha, more than the other two (both are 2nd generation entrepreneurs) - she aims at “raising the bar of design in India”. Well, watch out for her…

Next week is the concluding part of the Goa trip of Young Turks (looking forward to it), after which they turn to Hyderabad.

Have you heard of Kiva? Kiva, founded by 3 youngsters, is an initiative to get lenders to (micro)finance businesses by poor. So as a lender, I, along with other sponsors, can loan as little as $25 to say, a 45 year old mother of 3 who wants to start a bakery business in a remote village of Kenya. I pay the amount via PayPal to Kiva, who sends my loan amount alongwith that of other sponsors to a microfinance company in Kenya. I get frequent updates on the business and the loan amount is returned after a certain time. Its that simple and just what the doctor ordered to feel good! A selfless act at a click of the mouse button from the comfort of your home…Try it - it can make a difference to some poor family and a lot to your heart.

Young Turks is a TV series, broadcast by CNBC TV18 and hosted by Shereen Bhan. It features current young (business) achievers who are likely to become tomorrow’s corporate leaders. Shereen and some co-anchors interact with these achievers in an informal setting - its a good learning experience for wanna-be businessmen, especially when first generation entrepreneurs are featured. Its like a “Start Up 101″ with gems of info / tips in staffing, funding, marketing etc from these achievers.

Presently, Young Turks is on a trip across the nation. Today they featured the first part of Goa leg. Shereen talked to Srinivas Dempo, Chairman of Dempo Group and Swapnil Kamat, CEO of trip2Goa.com. I enjoyed the section with Swapnil’s interview. Swapnil, a 25 year old Commerce graduate from Goa University and an MBA from Symbiosis of Business Management, was with L’Oreal before the entrepreneurial bug bit him. According to him, he would like to make trip2goa.com an “obvious choice for Goa related travel”.

Inspired by Richard Branson, Swapnil wanted to do something different to stand out in the fast saturating Goan travel market and thus was born trip2goa.com a website that promotes Goa. With a team of seven employees across Goa and Mumbai trip2goa is a one stop shop online for all kind of info on Goa.

Having spent a better part of my life in Goa and being a sort of ambassador in my organization (pushing people for a holiday in Goa) , Swapnil’s idea struck a chord. Wish him all the luck and yes, do visit Goa.