goggly

Saturday : In air : Frankfurt Mumbai Some sunahara gyan from who heads gold trading of Canadian bank. India is world's biggest importer of gold. She import and consumes close to 900 tons per year and our gold import bill is next to oil. Even Dubai be around 200 tons and that too bulk of it is exported. His major customers are Zaveri Bazar , Laxmi Road. A big jewelry shop would house at least few hundred Kgs just on display. Nearly 12 banks are in the business of this trading. With price being uniform ; service, payment terms and relationship must be variables that would differentiate one trader from the other. US interest is zero percent, stock and bond market crashing, western countries economy tottering , real estate price defeating. People who hoards the money need a place to park. No other option than gold. Result gold prices are going up and up. I kept on thinking, can this gold asset of India not be channeled in economy ? Answer lied in various gold loan schemes that are...

Sunday : Mumbai/Pune All hotels while check in take pre -authorization yet while checking out, they again swipe the card , take a print out , ask for your signature and take another printout and fish out for an envelope to present customer his copy , in between make a call (perhaps housekeeping dept to check if all room belonging are intact). All these sequence of events don't happen in US hotels - at least in Marriott. They just swipe the card at the beginning, last day of the check out slip in the bill copy to the room and that's it. You inform them at check out and 'Bye' . In my previous visit to US, I asked the front office person and he said ' of course, we are business hotel, we don't waste time '. At 2am, at Marriott Courtyard, Mumbai, front office was manned by just one staff and he took his time to attend to the customer till he turned out to me. I waited with mix of impatience counting the minutes of precious sleep that I would be wasting after tra...

This was my first experience with Go Air. Flight was New Delhi - Pune . Business class was just the normal seat on the first row but with handheld i-pod, packed lunch and custom made tea. Not a bad deal when the price was better than Kingfisher. Aircraft was Airbus 320, spacious with friendly crew. As i took to my seat, pilot arrived in with young girl - his daughter. He introduced her to flight crew and she took a seat on second row. So far so good. But when aircraft was taxing away for take-off, she was quietly ushered inside the flight cockpit with curtain briskly pulled aside and back in place in jiffy. Through acrylic glass window ahead of me, ' crew only' plate stamped on the door of the cockpit became more prominent. My fellow passenger was amused and kept protruding his neck to see how this smart and suave looking girl was invited by equally smart crew and was made to disappear behind the curtain. He had no idea about strong filial connection she enjoyed with her da...

I have made many visits to this area but one such visit to Meerut and Agra made me realize the brutal reality of corruption that exists in India. Both these towns are next door to New Delhi and are backed up with bountiful agriculture, numerous medium and small Industries. Both cities have an access to tourism revenue. One with Taj Mahal and other with the proximity to Haridwar and Rishikesh. There is a stretch of road after Hapur town built on toll basis. However, I was in for rude shock when my car driver paid Rs 10 as cash to the man managing the extreme gate instead of paying the official fee of Rs 15. His argument was 'it saves time standing the queue plus saves the money '. 'Does he take all the money he collects?’ I questioned. 'No way, this loot goes to all the way to his boss and shared across the organization '. 'But how would Ms. Mayawati - UP CM get the revenue? My naïve question must have surprised my driver. 'Are Bhaisaab. The person has alread...

This was our first attempt to mount Gudi. Efforts started in procuring resources in wakad ba zar. Poor couple sitting in the hot sun with stack of bamboo sticks, a lady on four bicycle wheel cart - that sold garlands of solidified sugar cakes that was most popular among Wakad Flies, picking up cloth was easy- choice was one of jaree or bright plain cloth, I opted for vermilion. Flowers garland was easy to get but difficult was to get neem leaves. We weren't sure of getting a jar that would fit on the top of stick. But somehow, the only one we had did work. I had no inclination of achieving any spiritual nirava through this Gudi but was happy that Akshta could relate to this important festival that is hardly gets celebrated outside India. Plus a satisfaction of stimulating trade of hardworking entrepreneurs who really struggle to live a decent life. Now came the issue to installation and commissioning. Google as usual came to my rescue: Why empty inverted Jar ? : Empty your ego, tak...

For Indian television and print media, the world seemed to have ceased. Every TV channel is competing with another in screaming vociferously about India Pakistan Semi Final at Mohali . No Japan, Bahrain, Libya. Everything is match centric. Life will be standstill from 230pm. Where do I watch a match? In Pub or at home. I would rather do both. If India goes great guns, pub atmosphere is exhilarating. If the match is absorbing, home TV is the best. India’s collective and individual happiness revolves around the outcome of Cricket Match. So far, India has not tasted defeat in the world cup from Pakistan. Would this trend continue? Greg Chapel – ex coach of India, was impatient in making changes in the team and the batting order while Gary Kirsten – is making change only if they have reasonable degree of success. Which way Dhoni would go? This is the only chance and any of his decision that back fires would be scrutinised, dissected and pilloried for rest of his life. During 1996, India P...

India is the land of the possible; a land where anything is feasible, and frequently actually happens. It is not a country that you can ignore, it is not a land from which you can stay aloof. It is vibrant, tumultuous, colourful, aromatic, tangy, terrifyingly friendly and unbelievably involved; it is chaotic and noisy, but most of all it is tangibly, viscerally real. And nowhere is India most visible in all its splendour and mind-bending complexity as at a game of cricket. For cricket is truly the subcontinent's sport. It may have been invented on the green lawns of a different and more straitlaced land, but it is in the Indian subcontinent that cricket finds its soul.

I heard this comment 'Singapore media hardly reports any untoward mishap that happens in private condominiums but quick to report even frivolous incident that would occur in Govt housing HDB'. The logic behind this statement is ' Singapore Govt do not like to see private property market gets hit by bad publicity’. I am not sure about the validity of this argument but have had few instances of suicide and accidental deaths in our neighboring condominiums not being reported in the media compared to ones in HDB . Last week, I heard another comment from a person who is involved with Singapore Media 'we do not have any Govt censorship but as a “Nation Building" instrument, we practice a responsible behavior not to report anything adverse that would affect our nation' . The above comments stood in stark contrast to Indian media bashing of Common Wealth Organization. Indian media vied with each other to paint horrible picture of Commonwealth games in New Delhi. Twent...

Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan remarked that “due regard” should be given to the wishes of a rape victim if she chooses to marry the rapist or have the baby conceived as a result of the crime. This means ' if a rapist gives consent to marry a woman he has raped, there lies an opportunity of rehabilitating victim in the society’. This is an example of a modern welfare mechanism of Indian Society whose ancient mythology cites rape as one of the eight forms of marriage called ' R akshas V ivah - devilish marriage '. In a vocal and argumentative India society, the views of Chief Justice were promptly denounced by woman organizations. In the space of a year, Official Saudi cleric proclaimed that if a woman breastfeeds another male, he become her son. Another debate followed - expressing shock, surprise on such a statement but this statement was smartly used by intelligent Saudi woman to substantiate their claims of letting them drive. Saudi woman are prevented from...

It has been an exhilarating and exhaustive experience to find a land for factory project in India. This exercise took me to Mahindra Industrial Park in Chennai, MIDC in Vile Bhagad - Raigad, Chakan -Pune, Shirwal - Satara, GIDC Jaghadia - Ankaleshawar, Sanad - Gandhi Nagar, Manesar- Haryana. Some of them were spanking clean with the entire industrial infrastructure in place while some with just barren land with dried grass and hard rocks. Both conditions made economic sense. But making a factory in a verdant landscape with rich black soil that has been already been tilled and sowed, ready to receive mansoon to make agricultural produce, intrigued me. Farmers in the vicinity seemed well off with motorbike reclining in the shadow of a tree. Village had plastered wall houses, eager students tucking along their mothers hurrying to reach school premises before the bell rang, a small grocery store with refrigerator and stocked every brand of cold drink and string of packaged munching ch...

'Emotional Empathy' and 'Pecuniary Gain' are two potent forces to get the work done and achieve something in India. But it's not necessary to use these forces in absolute manner. Very often, a ' promise or assurance ' is good enough to get the work kick-started. Mutual expectations are never spelt out in the beginning nor work accomplishment schedule. All that is agreed is a overwhelming desire to help each other in the spirit of friendship or 'dostana 'As things stutter, as they often do after initial euphoria, both parties deviate from their assurances but maintain sketchy friendship enough to throw respective names for future transactions with prospective clients. With this scenario pervading all over, it has opened new careers that few management graduates may have envisaged. Breed of consultants, PR managers, Fixers galore and shine as the desperation sets in to match deadlines of projected activities. I am experiencing the above scenario as we ...

Here is an article in a recent wall street journal that talks about Chennai as a new Detroit . It's also interesting to read the interactive comments from readers who analyze the ramifications of the fall of Detroit and environmental effect of rampant industrialization of China and India. I am not sure how far is Pune behind Chennai as an auto hub. Mercedes, Skoda , Tata , Bajaj , Volkawagon in Pune versus Nissan, Hyundai, Ford and BMW in chennai . An old article on Pune as a motor hub. Chennai or Pune , India's emergence of economic might is pleasing.

After a gap of two years, I visited Tees Hazari court. 'Cross Examination' - an act or procedure that brings excitement equally to the lawyer and Indian movie script writer. This time, I was being cross examined. Reading through the written statement and submitted affidavit while waiting for my turn made me feel like a student appearing for an examination. Judges - often referred as ' learned judge ' . I wonder why ? Is there any Anpadh Judge ? But here lawyers referred him as ' Janab ' . This 'Janab' meant very direct business stating that his new target is to dispose 108 cases per month - revised from earlier target of 80 cases per month. He went at frenetic pace ; hearing, directing, disposing of cases that ranged from property dispute, outstanding collection, credit card frauds, defamation suits to corporate wrangles. 'Janab' , while scratching vigorously his left beard, peered at me through space left between his spectacle an...

Most airports have their lounge after the immigration and security. At Mumbai airport, it is before the security. Once you pass security, you can't go outside. A lesson learnt as I wait for two and half hours at the most domestic airport. Transfer from international to domestic was smooth affair as the bus goes through the inside prescient of the airport complex. A pink coloured Premier lounge card is given but it has no directions, instead mahindra holidays advertisement proclaim as ' My happiest holidays'. No one has any idea about the lounge location including jet ground staff and crew. While being in the coach, driven from international to domestic airport , I see contours of new building that extends the current one at international airport. It will look good when it gets over but the unavailability of access road joining the western express highway is the first glimpse a travellers gets of Mumbai airport. ' He must be the biggest fool, if he were to give up ...

Edward T Hall defines two type of work culture. Monochronic work culture. This mainly confines to US, Western Europe, Australia. Typical traits of this work culture make people : 1. Do one thing at a time and focus on it. 2. View time as a scarce commodity and take appointments, schedules, deadlines seriously. 3. Rule of privacy. Private office. Don't share , borrow or lend 4. Expect high degree of specificity,have clear description, unambiguous communication and defined goal and path. 5. Keep in view of short term relationship and work on accomplishment of mutual goals. Polychronic work culture :This mainly confines to India, Middle East, Indonesia, Sri Lanka , Thailand - Typical traits of this work culture make people : 1. Do many things at once and get distracted and make others distracted. 2. Time commitments are in nearby time zone(8 ish , Around 12) and punctuality takes a back seat. 3. No private domain : Involve friends, family, neighbours, customers 4. Share space, info...

'Eerie' is one word that I could sum up my feelings when I visited Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai few months ago. As I stood in the lobby of Taj facing white plywood that blocked the corridor, images of my past rendezvous along the corridor that led past ' Golden Dragon' Chinese Restaurant, 'Tanjore' Indian restaurant leading to an elevator that takes to various function halls and residing rooms, flashed my mind. It was difficult to conjure the plight of hapless tourists that must have been trapped in the ruthless mayhem on that night. I thought of myself being in the situation and was wondering the possible escape routes that must have been available then. When I used the toilet just behind the reception, I thought this could have been one such hiding place. Once I was there , I realized how vulnerable that place must have been. No hideaway except three toilets facing the barrage of terrorist guns, if he opens the door. At Taj, like every big hotel property in Indi...

The result was predictable. India's stood at No 85 on corruption ranking. Some solace in the fact that there are still some countries like Somalia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iraq behind us. Singapore as has been for last decade stood among top three along with New Zealand and Denmark. As I read more about corruption, its menace and methods used to root out the corruption, I realized the single most effective step is the 'will of the governing leader'. Unless the person at the helm of India's governance has the courage and will to confront this monster, only then he would have necessary implementation program to make institutions ‘corruption free' . In India, it is obvious that election funding is the primary cause for institutional corruption that is backed up, encouraged and protected by political party in power. Corruption patronized by politicians during Arms purchase, Import of commodities, awarding infrastructure projects, land acquisition and disbursemen...

New govt of Japan is offering a financial package to encourage families to go for babies. US$ 300 per baby. Would this reverse the population trend? Now Japan has three adults supporting one old person. By 2050, it would be 1.6 adults supporting one old person. Japan has avoided opening up the country for immigrants lest they would dilute their cultural purity. Now they realize they have two generations to balance the equation. I did think of the possibility of India Govt financially rewarding those who help in arrest of India's population growth. Rs 20K tax subsidy every couple who is childless and Rs 10K for those who just have one kid. They could add Tax surcharge for those who have more than one child. These surcharges could be on all necessities like gas, electricity, ration, bank loan and could be applicable for every sector - organized, unorganized, agricultural or service. Such thought often idealist is not easy to implement. Perhaps, ID card project would take one-step ...

Sept 2003 issue of Times of India reported Raj Thakre’s blue Print of Nasik : " A jogger's park along the Godavari ghat with the trees to be planted along the route, , snow-theme park, a health spa, boat club and an amusement park " . Somewhere in the by lanes of my memory labyrinths lie a wonderful memory of Godavari Ghat that refuse to smudge or fade. Image of me holding the fingers of my grand mother, going along the sloping road from Bhadrakali temple to Godavari Ghat. Standing along the river in the twilight, youngsters wearing ‘red langoti’ diving off from the trapezoid shaped ‘cement block’ that stood in the middle of the flowing Godavari river . That cement block may have been served as the measuring device to know the depth of the river. My visit in 99 to Godavari Ghat shook my childhood image and another visit last month is now threatening to tatter that image forever. It pained me that see the plastic packets chocking the standstill water of Godav...

Raksha Bandhan reminds me of my journey from Gwalior to Agra. I had been to Gwalior to visit Cancer Institute - that was to be part of the beneficiary of JAICA aid for CT scanners. Visiting Agra and seeing Taj Mahal was a dream come true. Agra is in UP and belonged to Northern region while Gwalior was in MP, part of western India , my sales territory. Getting a chance to visit Gwalior gave me my best opportunity to see the Taj . Gwalior being just few hours train journey from Agra. Holiday of Raksha Bandhan came as a special boon . I took a mid day train that stopped at almost every station. Little kids dressed in traditional Indian attire, boys with rakhies tied on their right wrist, red tilak on the forehead while girls decked up in shimmering, glittering chunidars looked very adorable. Moms wore their choicest jewelry while dad carried boxes of sweets. Every station would have new set of families board and alight making me my first northern experience memorable. I realize...