Catharsis of a Non-Thinker

Currency Muddle: Dollar - A villain for Asian Economy?

2010-06-16T21:43:00.002+05:30

This morning I happened to read an article by Todd Guild of McKinsey & Co., Tokyo. Here he gives insight about Asian consumer and market, it being one the toughest of the markets to penetrate because of cultural, ethnic, political and social diversity. Cultural and economic disparities make it more difficult for businesses to understand the consumer and pose a huge challenge facing them. China and India have been harbinger as world gets out of and what has been touted as one the worst downturn ever. Japan was also among the first to recover as compared to other developed economies. Private consumption to GDP ratio was considerably reduced in US during 2007-08 was reduced considerably and hence exporter like India and China had to think of new ways to cope with it. Then came concept of intraregional commerce which was a solution to a problem give n above i.e. by trading among themselves. But if this has to be achieved successfully then the Private consumption to GDP ratio in Asian countries needs to be increased from a mere 36%. Among all these discussion Mr. Guild compared USA and Asia as a growth hub on various parameters which I am listing below.

At the End of 2008 –

Parameter	Asia	USA
GDP	< $14 trillion	$14 trillion
Private consumption-GDP ratio	0.50	.072
Spending	3 billion people spend about $7 trillion	300 million spend more than $10 trillion

Before putting my point of view I must ask you to point out anything I am missing in my observation or am I being naive in my viewpoint. Dollar, being the standard currency of the world, takes care of all the macroeconomic terms pertaining to each and every country of the world. But isn't it an unjust comparison is being made in, for example, Asia and USA across various parameters. Value of currency of the countries in Asia is way less that currency of USA. Let us consider an example of India, an average graduate engineer earns about $60,000 per annum provided he gets a decent job and in India a person with similar qualification world earn around 300k per annum which amounts to a mere $6000 per annum. Now there is huge 900% difference between the two values and two persons of similar living standards. If such is the earning difference how would anyone expect the spending to be in parity even if India becomes a developed nation. An average person with the salary mention above can spend $4000 per month which is almost equal to a per annum Indian salary. If for a developing nation being developed means filling the gap between parameters when campared with USA or for that matter any developed nation, it becomes more daunting and challenging than it would have been in case of, which i would call, a just currency.

This was my one of the main concerns that remains to be addressed. According to me, a standard figure is one which is just to everyone and hence should be equidistant from the value of each and every currency. A value that can candidly compare each and every aspect of each and every country of the world, a value around which a forex market should revolve. Still it only remains to be a view point and an observation which came very late though but I think is worth to be discussed about.

Jai Ho, Bhay Ho, Moditva and all that.

2009-05-14T18:40:00.013+05:30

March, April & May 2009, probably the most important months in the year 2009,reason being 15th lok Sabha General Elections.This is the first time i voted in a national election and experience was quite confusing. Political parties are campaigning to their best and literally for their best.

The first thing that caught my attention was the debilitating Ideological Politics,i wonder whether it ever existed after the introduction of coalition system, in the wake of Opportunistic politics.Machiavellianism is a rife but all for personal gains.Its not that i am cynical about everyone involved with the Indian polity.Save few and your hand is full of all those Machiavellies.

Anyways, most prominent parties campaigning vigorously are Centrists' congress, with there 'jai ho', rightists' BJP playing ideal opposition with their "Bhay Ho" and the brand new Third Front led by Leftists, which i thing is an excellent impetus for the other parties to "keep their all options open".

Lets comes to congress first - Its a party led by the Mrs. Sonia Gandhi with Mr. Manmohan Singh as the prime ministerial candidate.Panab Mukherjee is one more name i would like to mention that is associated with the party. Mr. Singh and Mr. Mukherjee seem to be the most learned and cleanest personalities on the whole stage. Hence, acc. to me these are the most important names that are keeping party afloat inspite of not-so-good performance.

Talking about BJP - the party boasts of having the Iron Men like Mr. L.K Advani,Mr. Narendra Modi, 'true politicians' like Arun Jaitley. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the name associated with the party who have got it most of the respect.

I would spare Third Front this time because i think it deserves a whole new space in my notes.

But Narendra Modi is the person that deserves more space than just his name per se. He is the person who gave birth to a whole new phenomenon called as "Moditva" which even outweighed the popularity of his party's ideology of 'Hindutva. A dynamic person credited for transforming Gujrat, not just economically, not just politically and not just socially, in span of mere 6 years.In 2007 Mr. Modi had a landslide Victory with a clean sweep and therefore people ensuring that Gujrat is truely flourishing under his leadership.He is also known for his fiery oratory skills which has helped him to have virtually every community in Gujrat on his side.Seeing the reaction of the people of Gujrat sometimes i think i should bow for that person.But there are some things that predominantly stops me from doing so.

The name has some grey shades attached to it too. Narendra Modi was accused that he was aware beforehand about the Gujrat 2002 communal riots which led to lynching and killing of hundreds and vagrancy of thousands. His reaction in the Karan Thapar's Devils' advocate left many mouths openand many minds boggling.(you can watch the video here - Devil's Avocate with Narendra Modi ).

I also said that he is known for his fiery orator ship but personally i cannot buy that point.Hate speeches cannot be termed as fiery oratorship(it is the only path that our respected politicians follow). Censuring or Blaming others can never form a rehtoric & this was the only thing,inspite of ignoring hard, made me ears.

Or is this the other way round? This is the only way to assuage people of India to vote for a party,by making them look at the shortcoming of the other party, from a different angle, about which they already know. This is the thing that has perplexed me for quite a time now and i am desperately looking the answer for the a question:

What is actually Moditva - the transformation of Gujrat to a Vibrant Gujrat or the highly radical and extreme attitude that have always led to destruction, be it in Fascism, Nazism, etc?

Love was in the air

2009-02-17T14:01:00.004+05:30

Yes i know i am late but mera internet aaj hi thik hua.Even my laziness was not able to dissuade me from writing about this Valentines Day.There was something special about this V-day than any other.

Two colours ruled the day.
First, red in the form of roses presented as an expression of love and affection to our dear ones.
Second and the hottest colour of the Day or rather week was Pink. It was pink all around the country thanks to Pink Chaddi Campaign which cosequenly led to Pink Saaris and Pink Condoms Campaign.This time most of the youngistan was not only celebrating the day but also the win over certain hoodlums who call themselves the "Proctectionists of Indian Culture".

Muthailik and other RAM Sene members were drowned under odd 40,000 chaddis sent to them from all over the country.The entire story started at a pub at Banglore where Shri Ram Sene carried out that gruesome act.They beat the girls there wildly as according to them the girls goin to pubs were stains on Indian Culture.
Do they really know what Indian culture is all about?? They are talking this rubbish after beating "women" because of their, very wrongly cited , "indecency"(which acc. to them refers to Pub culture) and that so in the country of Khajuraho and Kamasutra.

They are talking of Hinduism and its protection but do those sickulars know that they arent even being humane...let alone religious.Couple of weeks ago we never heard about Mr.Pramod Muthalik, but now, he is a self proclaimed iconic moral watchdog.Just get themselves in public and gain publicity Ram Sene garbed as moral policemen.If people like Muthalik try to enforce their ethics and values on others, it's simply not democratic. It's against our fundamental right to freedom.

But this Valentines day which they vowed to make a nightmare but at the end of the day love won over the Saffron Brigade, save few instances .Youngistan was all pepped up about the day and celebrated it with more than just a smile & without any fear on their face.Moreover that thing that made this day more special was that there was more fervour among the people to refute the extremists.

SO the idea is if the country gets together and unite for a particular cause like this then each person of this country would be able to do what he/she wants until it is allowed by law.

SO cheers to liberalisation, Secularism and spirit of Youngistan...

My first GDPI

2009-02-17T12:59:00.007+05:30

Well, Yes It was my first GD/PI round at any B-school...and it was at IMT.....
The day started off at good note but it was only to get worse.It took about 3 and half hours to reach the college at Ghaziabad which comprised of about 1.5 hours of toiling in traffic and 1 hour of movement in detours.Ahhh!! at last we were there albeit in the nick of time..

The first round i.e Group Discussion incepted at 2:30 pm and we were a group of 12 (fortunate enough as 4 students were absent).There was U shaped sitting arrangement and it was quite difficult to prevent my self from seeing at moderators.
We were given two topics to choose from which were:-

1.Retail Investors should be given Capital Protection.
2.Real learning at B-school happens outside the class room.

Obviously the choice of the majority was the second one.Time limit given was 8 minutes but GD continued for around 12-15 minutes with the reiteration of most of the points...There were two instances when the moderators interrupted because all of us wanted our things to be heared and as expected it was becoming a cliched "Fish Market"

As GD got over all of us were asked to summarize the GD one by one and after that we had to write on the same topic on a piece of paper in 5 minutes.

My Interview started in about 1 hour after GD.Panel comprised of 3 interviewers and i would refer to them as p1 p2 and p3.
P2 seemed to be most dangerous one to me as i entered the room and in end he would prove to be the same....Grrrrr....

Me : may i come in sir
panel : come in
P2 : Sit down Please
me: thank you sir (with a good smile on my face but the it seemed as if my heart is in its last race)

P2 : Tell me about yourself,Jatin, very briefly.
me: [started of with my name] blah blah blah...I like to pursue dance as my hobbie and it is..[interrupted]

p2 : wat type of dance do you do???
me : Sir generally, freestyle....[interrupted]

p1 : [here comes a first speed breaker to my heart beat]Until now i had heard freestyle in wrestling only[with question mark on his face].
me:Sir , its just that i dnt do a particular kind of dance as i didnt had any formal training i just try to learn from videos only...[stopped again]

p2 : [ Here comes the sarcasm]Ohh!! i got you you are talkin about the same dace like movin your body parts here and there, right?? and yes it seems you are born with this special talent , as you dance without any training ,we all ordinary people dnt have...Am i right???

me: [Here comes the clarification][ my feet were burning like hell and heart running like hell, Oh God plz save me]No sir its not that. Actually it is wat i try to practise and learn from the my peers and videos but i am lookin forward for a formal training?

P1 :in which dance form??
me: Sir, Jazz.

P2. As far as i know Jazz is a form of music.Wat are u talking about?
ME : [my mind and heart sinking] ....(I told wat is jazz dance)..

P2 : Ohh i am sorry my GK is quite limited i am fortunate that you are sitting in front of me....
{Errrr!! now how should i tell him that how unfortunate i am...OH god oh god help meeeee)

P2 : wat do u mean by "Strength Exercises"??[i mentioned it as my second hobbie]
me : Sir , it basically refers to Weight Training like full body exercises and all.

P2 : you have unique Terminologies...[one eye raised]Any ways that'll be all Jatin.
Then al the three wished me "ALL THE BEST" and i said "Thank You"..

An indigenous Sub Prime Crisis?????

2008-09-02T02:14:00.002+05:30

Recently i [accidentally] went on to read EPW and then to my surprise i went on to read a article about the increasing chances of Sub-Prime [mortgage] Crisis (yes!! same as that in US) in India..I would like to bring this issue up through this medium...

Globalization in India is at its best with most of the vernacular firms preferring organic growth to the inorganic and numerous private players entering in the country.The is the space for firms in each and every industry and numbers are soaring like anything.Same is the case with the Banking System.

Banking system was developed to help the poor and to help middle classes but today it seems that as "Globalization" is well underway ,banking is also becoming a business with the increasing competition from the private Banks.Even the public Sector banks are focusing more on the profits that can me made out of different lending options.Government is also thinking to increase the share of the Private sector in PSBs and this moves proves the governments focus on its earning rather than people.

Instruments like Credit Derivatives and numerous other devices that ensure secrutization are being offered by banks so to proliferate their businesses.Lucrative lending options with less interests rates are being offered to the one who can be incapable in returning the loan back.I would like to throw light on the fact that the prime reason behind the mortgage crisis was the complex instruments made by the banks and indiscriminate lending option,which in the end,confused the banks per se.Moreover the RBI's monetary report warns for the amount that consists of the outstanding loans which are remain yet to be paid and hence it has put temporary hold on the proliferation of Credit derivatives but the averse doesn't seem elusive.

So i think our intelligent Entrepreneurs and respectable government would do their best to avoid this catastrophic situation

My Stance on Nuke Deal..

2008-07-16T02:00:00.004+05:30

Well, to start with its not exactly my stance but some points which should be put in front of govt. before it goes for a deal...Here are they!!!!

Nuke Deal!!!.......Now a days it seems that nothing is important but the civil nuke co-operation with US...I am not against this deal but in my view the government should not haste for such a significant issue regarding energy......there are some points i would like to put in this debate which are preventing me for favouring this deal fully.....

Firstly,the govt. is pursuing the pact on grounds of energy requirements,But if we try to look towards other renewable sources of energy like wind power(which is about 7200MW against 4120MW of nuclear energy...also acc. to suzlon,INdia hold the wind power capacity of 45000MW),solar power(a mere .5% of indian electricity demand)they dont contribute to a large percentage of india electricity demand so why not try to increase them instead of so large investments on nuclear power(it can be done afterwards also).
solar energy holds huge potential as a source of energy if investment is done on it......

Secondly,If govt. is so keen in developing India as a nuclear power so why not develop indegenious reactors instead of importing those reactors.(moreover i read that US has not gt even a single order for the export of those reactors since 1980s).Also the investment on the importing would be larger than the prodcution and development of vernacular energy alternatives

Well, seeing all this i thing govt. should reconsider the situation and should not hurry with the deal.I respect Mr. Manmohan Singh and i hope that he takes the right decision.....

PLus, personally i am somewhat skeptic about US policies which right from the beginning of globalisation have been highly biased and were totally against developing countries..(take example of the oil prices)

P.S-Facts and figures are taken from reliable sources......Plz report immediately for any discrepancy....

A hint of me

2007-10-26T12:41:00.000+05:30

Sometimes..

Sometimes
                        I am sad,
sometimes
                        I m happy.
Sometimes
                        I m true,
Sometimes
                        I m naughty.
Sometimes
                        I m restless,
Sometimes
                        I m muse.

always thinking if i m of some use
Wat this world waant from me
wat can i give,trying to relegate the best
always hoping for better,never losing the trust
trying to look who i am

am i purile,am i mature

the answer i m looking forever for.....

Antecedents to be looked upon

2007-10-16T16:08:00.000+05:30

Talking about our native land,there have been many epochs through which it has passed
both gud & bad. It has developed ,to a great extent,in the feild of both economy & energy.
In past few years our nation has become a hub for all the big boys in their respective sector.Since
then privatisation has became the order.Various MNC's are being set up in India as it is
constantly rising in the list of big markets for rest of the world. Education is heading
for the pinnacle.Every year India produces more number of the world class engineers,
doctors when compared to any part of the world. And from the latest news the 30 stock sensitive index is on the Apex in its 21 yrs history.

Does all this means that we are on the verge of becoming a developed country?
Does all this convey that now we r competent to the Uncle Sam which is called as
the super Power??

But wat about aur connates?? Are we also developing at the same rate??

Well,i dont think so. We r loosing our values & culture day by day, year by year & most importantly generation by generation.Pupils here have become more of inhumane nature
& insensitive.Selfish,self-centered people r not difficult to locate but if u r in search of a person
with all culture & values intact then be prepare to compete in the quest u r in for.Rate of crimes
are increasing day-by-day.Extortions & rapes are too common now,infact Delhi has gt the title for the same.Now no one believes each other.Is the end for this is a fiasco in which humanity loses.

So wat r the things which has led us to this kinda situation.Accordin to me infuence from the
west has changed aur mentality(m not saying that in west these things r more)but due to
that leverage of western side of the mighty earth we have lost aur worth. Also in the greed
for getting more & more things r getting worse..

I dont know wat is the solution fr this.But there must be one.
Dont thing m condemning our nation but these r the things which i m critizing could lead us to
the door of hell.I dont know wat to do as if m stuck between a devil & deep blue sea.
Just all people of our country has to contribute for a bit..............................................

Independent India

2007-10-15T16:36:00.001+05:30

A almost 60 yrs old home for us , a place of diverse communities , numerous cultures ,
almost 700 languages, a place with the richest heritage has seen various ups & downs in this
post-independence era.Now as we r here in this 21st century.
Many things have been metamorphosed,be it our culture , economy , people , there tastes  almost every thing but sometimes i think whether this change is positive or leading for a great debacle.Can we percieve india as the
the developed country in the coming few years.I dont know why i m writing this blog,m not a patriot & also it is not that ,that i hv a dream to bring some change in this world.
i wanted to discuss India , to know india & every thing abt it like why people consider it a heaven., may be that is thereason i hv started this thread.

In this period of 21st century various there have been various changes in our nation.
Be it politics,be it crime,be it economy or any other thing.As we r witnessing now the
bull is touching 19,000 , various turmoils in politics both in nation as well as its states,
and a great increase in the terrorism.All over the place ppl r fighting with each other
i dont know whether we have become insensitive or what.There r very small things
which we easily ignore or dont want to see.when i see them too i want to do something
but how & why?these answers i have to look upn. Premisely we take a example of a piece
of a cloth with three different coloured stripes(orange , white & green) on iteach conveying a different message to the people of the country & a blue wheel called as Ashoka Chakra on it
Yes, it is our national flag but who cares??????????????

Oh!!!!!!!!
dont be so amazed,Do we care really?(of course this question is for me also).
# We put it in our so beautiful & gorgeous driving machine to make it more decorative.

# We fly it as our kite in the sky on the so called auspicious occasion(As called by aur
forefathers & then by aur new brand GenX) of out Independence Day 15th August.

# Hv any seen a cricket match? Oh! Yes why not,after all we love our India &
Indian team
(to Tiranga le jana to banta hai na.)Yes of course why not? Lekin when India
loses or match would be over then it shudn't be thrown there only it shud be respected?????

#Ok leave it, we take our emminent & so benign politicians. All of them seem to
be nemesis
to each other & still every one remains unscathed in that vicious circle.
they can do anything for their position & power.(dont they ever think what images r
they making in the minds of the hindustani junta like as we say "junat sab janti hai", fir
bhi they dont care".

THese are some of the things which have coerced me to start this blog as i just wanted to
express my feeling abt wat things i think & muse abt....wat are the things  can we do to improve the situation??

Will this sentence  remain question all the time......................................