Nation to a Corporate

The global scene of dominance has changed over the last few decades. Economic power has taken precedence over military power. The American and the Soviet dominance has slowly dwindled away after the cold war era and in the 21st century the West has to compete with the BRIC countries, considered to be developing nations in the past. This new front has shifted gears and is in full speed to attain economic prominence in the world stage. Under these changing circumstances, the old and tested formulae of governance must make way to the more dynamic, contemporary and lucrative methodology. What I am trying to say is a nation cannot be treated as a geographical divide of culture and ideology but as a corporate having it business objective set at attaining economic sustainability and then supremacy. On saying this, it does not mean other governance sectors are of any little importance. But when you as a nation have set your goals to move forward progressively, the economic structure of the nation drives all its branches like agriculture, infrastructure, law, health and culture towards that common goal.

After all the tamasha of this years elections and a thumping verdict in favor of a ruling national party, it was time for governance to take center stage. We have a Prime Minister who has his visions clear on what he and his government wants to achieve in the next five years. The accidental Prime Minister had become the peoples choice to lead this country forward during its tough times. In the following days after the elections results, the elected party set its sight on establishing a formidable, experienced and transparent government. There were a lot of words flying in the air of who would be what minister. One thing which caught my attention and provoked me to write this essay was the nomination of Montek Singh Ahluwalia for the post of Finance Minister. A technocrat with an Oxford degree and also currently the deputy chair of the planning commission, he had the potential and experience to handle India's economic top job.

Is India as a nation ready to revamp its 62 year old system and adjust to a corporate governance formula? How affective is it to have technocrats running crucial sectors of the government? Won't technocrats have better understanding of the ground reality than politicians ? Will technocrats understand the political sensitivity of certain issues? And ,are elected representative ready to work with technocrats ? These are few of the questions which came in my mind as I visioned India as INDIA Inc. rather than REPUBLIC OF INDIA.

Imagine an India led by a technocrat politician and advised by other dynamic, visionary and efficient technocrats. Wont that structure make a cabinet meeting look like a board meeting....!! Sounds interesting doesn't it. A government in which a lawyer is heading the ministry of law, a economist heading the finance and commerce department, a educationist heading the HRD and education department, a veteran soldier heading the defense ministry etc.. Well versed with their area of expertise gives them the liberty to focus and implement regulations effectively. They relate more to the situation than someone who is bestowed the duty on compulsion or by political balancing. For example, imagine a comparative situation where a technocrat or a politician with no defense background has to take a decision on national security and threat from his enemies. A technocrat will have a better understanding on the military capabilities of the country and his countries capability to defend the nation. In lieu we have a politician who has never interacted with the defense forces and doesn't have an understanding of defense mechanism, is expected to take prompt and apt decision on national security. To state another example, a high school teachers turned politician who has no educational background or experience in finance is given the responsibility of handling the nations finance under such economic backdrops. Do we really have so much time in hand in such a fast and competitive global scenario of try our hand on such individuals?

On the flip side technocrats think from the brain and not from the heart, which the politicians do well ( I must say few of them think well from others pockets also!!). There is a very fine balancing act which today's politicians perform to maintain their vote bank and also prove their worthiness to the people. Issues regarding reservations to the backward classes in educational institutions and other public sectors is an old formula but in this contemporary world of internet based entrance exams, this method proves profitable to many politicians on voting day. Issues on free rice and flour to the poor, free electricity to the farmers etc are viable and test ways to lure public favoritism. What would a technocrat, treating these issues as business objectives over a period for 5 or 10 years do? He might aim at development of schools for the backward classes and encourage merit based selection to generate competent work force to run this very mechanism he has been thriving to develop. He would create jobs for the poor to earn their rice and flour and be more self-sufficient. He would encourage farmers to harvest renewable sources of energy for their cultivation having a vision of eradicating the dependency of conventional energy. All these ideas may look fascinating to us on the long run but can they really attract votes?

Summing up, I believe a fine blend between technocrats and educated politicians can help in the transition from a nation to a corporate. A shrewed politician acting along side an erudite technocrats who has his mission memorised is an appropriate way in this age to deal with a nation of varied economic, social and cultural backgrounds, marching towards its objective of global recognition or as they say in corporate world - GLOBALIZATION!

Underdog Millionaire

Last two of season 1 prevail as top two of season 2 as the lights dim, music is turned off and spectators descend the stairs with a sense of satisfaction mixed with feelings of joy and sadness. In spite of being miles away from the fanaticism of Indian sport lovers, this seasons IPL continued to capture the world audience by its quick, colorful, loud and glamorous version of the old gentleman's game. In the backdrops of will it, won't it-the IPL stood its ground and with its chairman's determination we were able to experience a sporting extravaganza.

People expected a certain disconnect when the IPL was shifted to South Africa after constant failures in negotiations on security with the home ministry, which had the responsibility to conduct a safe and smooth general election. Reluctant at first to stage the home groomed event anywhere else apart from its own backyard, the organizers tried their best to work around the home ministries request, until a fortnight before D-day there was a sudden decision to play the tournament in the Proteus backyard. To look at it now the decision was worth the risk.

After all the shenanigans and ruckus, the spotlight was back on the players and the game. Experts had their money on Delhi Daredevils to carve their name on the trophy followed by Chennai and the defending champs Rajasthan. In all their discussions two teams were blind sighted as contenders, as a reflection of their previous performance. The Deccan Chargers which were pitched as front runner in season 1 on paper and Bangalore RC's who were always considered a test team from the start. In 2009 fortunes changes for BRC by a millions dollars increasing the hopes and expectations from Malleshwaram to Whitefiled to Jayanagar. The DC's drafted a change in their fortunes with new colors and a new leader to ignite a sense of regional patriotism spreading from Hitech city to Charminar.

With the call of "play ball", the two underdogs surprised the world audience by defeating the defending champions and a formidable side convincingly making a clear statement to its critics. This fortune was short lived for the BRC's as they got back to their old habits, but the DC's marched forward under an able and dynamic captain. As the tournament progressed, Bangalore lost their plot and slumped at the bottom half of the table until a change of guard from the flamboyant and rash Englishman to the more subdued, reliable and veteran Indian. Bangalore started to win not only matches but also the hope of thousands of Bangalorians, who had continued to cheers for their team in their hardest times. On the parallel the fortunes for the DC's derailed by overconfidence and complacency. It took flawed performances by other teams to open a path towards a semis birth. On the last round robin game, it was a contest between the two underdogs who had flirted with their fortunes throughout the series. A contest to determine who would play the mighty Delhi and the talented Chennai contingents in the semi-finals.

As the final four took shape, it was predicted to be a contest between north (Delhi) and south (Bangalore/Chennai), a divide invisible of its existence to the eye but deeply rooted in many Indians on either side of the geography. But what came out of those two days of fierce contest was pleasingly surprising and a reminder to critics to never count anyone off. A contest between the underdogs who were fighting for recognitions, acceptance and supremacy. A rivalry only seen for now to prove info tech and bio tech dominance had poured onto a cricket field miles away. What was for the winners?-A team set to prove they had the capabilities to win not only on papers but also on the field and the other set to remove a tag of a lazy test match side.

What came out of the finals had little significance to what was seen on that day. Two champions in their own respect ; a Aussie war horse and the Indian Jumbo had led teams down and out to the top two spot. Their recipe of hard work, determination, passion and a tea spoon of luck created the perfect blend to sum up the tournament. They managed to prove that age is temporary but class is permanent. Whoever said that T20 was meant for the young has to see what we saw in IPL2 and eat his own words to hail the brilliance and talent of these fine men.

At the close of season two, India has witnessed another famous rags to riches story in a different form to converse about for many coming weeks. Will SRK's KKR turn their fortune in season 3 inspiring me to write another blog is a thing we will have to wait for an year!!!

From Raddhi to Gaddhi Part-2

In my previous blog I expressed my views on how we could be miss-governed by someone who keeps their interest and a handful of peoples interest over the others.

As many analyst put it the world is not bothered about the India elections and who would ride to 10 Janpath. Fortunately not because the world is not interested in India, but because they are confident of our system and the past track record of our leaders. But should the world show concern if a leader from a minority in India rises to the Gaddhi in Delhi? Should we hail that as the rising of a leader from raddhi to gaddhi (from dirt to thrown), some may say why shouldn't we? didn't the world do it when America elected its first African American president?

For many in India it will be a perfect script for a blockbuster bollywood movie another rags to riches movie, may be another Oscar winning movie! But what is there for India in this script......

Yes India is always proud of its diversity, be it a Sikh PM, a women President and a Muslim Vice President. A rise of a dalith or any lower section citizen to India's highest office is something to be proud of, but only for a deserving candidate, who not only recognizes the need for his people but also for all Indians. Being an Indian I am proud of our power structure and diversity it emits.

We do need leaders who work to uplift the needful segment of the nations. We have to rise as one India not a segregated India. We need a leader who may not be foreign educated but can take educated decisions to take India forward. We need a raddhi to gaddhi story of a individual who worked for it and who , we the people of India elevated to become our leader not someone who is an opportunist, someone who sneaks their way into the political mess we are held ransom to .

As I come to the end, I apologise if I have hurt the sentiments of anyone, but I want to voice my opinion and as an Indian I have the right to do so, keeping in mind not to hurt any ones sentiments. But to leave a mark on the stone , I would rather prefer an educated , intellectual, diplomatic and prosperity driven leader than an opportunist.

From Raddhi to Gaddhi Part-1

How modern is India? How open minded is India? How ready is India?

These are the question which wonder in my mind as I make my second attempt to write a blog. Today on one of my favorite programs on an Indian English news channel, a group of elite panelist were thrown a question which goes something like this : Is India ready for a Dalith Prime Minister?" Are we ready? Is the world ready to see India governed by a non foreign educated, non-english speaking leader?

So I wondered about this and I had two sides of it; you decide which side I tilt.

Demographic segregation has been prevalent in India from ages and we as citizens have flirted with this concept over the years. We have taken this system as a cushion in creating and solving many if India's dilema. Politician use this a magnet to attract vote and even cause tensions between communities for their own political viability and few even to bloosom their political aspirations. Many have been successful and few have failed, that is the weightage this system carries in India.

So coming back to the question of is India prepared to be governed by a leader who believes to be lost and a victim of this segregation. One such leader is slowly climbing the ladder today and for many its a scary sight. A hindi teacher from a small town in one of northern India most demograpfically segregated state, she climbed the political ladder , potentially errupting as a king ( or should i say queen ) maker in the 2009 general elections. With India's two major parites scrambling for alliences to fulfill their own political aspiration, we shouldnt be surprised is she sneeks into the race.

Known for her dalith propaganda and total autocracy within her party, the Bhainji from northern India is also infamously know for corruption, bad governance and self propagation. So can this powerful figure emerge from the dirt and challenge likes of an economic genius or a hindhuthva hardliner, a gifted orator of both english and hindi language? Quite a fierce challenge isn't it, but in Indian politics anything can happen.

Over viewing the left and the right , where the left being a hard pro-dalith and hindi speaking powerhouse , the right being english speaking, foreign educated and elite symbols of Indian political system. After being governed for nearly a decade by two of India's biggest names not only is politics but also as international figures are we ready to accept a so called anti-obama (as one news magazine puts it)? One who doesn't speak english, one who keeps her interest first and her sect interest if needed ahead of the nations? I believe India has come a long way from the time Sri BR Ambedkar formulated a affirmative system for the lower segment of the Indian society. For many city educated and college educated young Indians, these social segregation's does not matter. Our politicians have enforced laws and regulations which keep reminding us of this awful break in our system for their own leverage. Today India has a PM whose resume can put any world leader in shame, and his grasp of the international scenario is immensely acknowledged by the citizens all over India. Now going from that to someone who doesn't even acknowledge India's growth in the international platform is a hard CHANGE to accept. We are know to the international community as a young, vibrant and educated country . These adjective have been added over the ,I agree, but they have reached their peak in the last decade. India's reflection are our leaders , even though we cant be fully proud of few our leaders but we have handful who we can look up to and who have given India a face value. From going to an international brand, a prosperous country focusing on competing with itself and the world , are we ready to focus on matters like which section of the society should be given privilege and free pass and which should be treated as a pseudo dalthi. All this on the expense of neglected economic growth, international relations and national harmony.

Envision India

I know most of you reading this blog will predict what the theme of my blog will be about, but I wanted to start off this exercise by talking about something which stuck to my head, the current general elections taking place in India. As we know this week India voted in its third phase of its 5 phase election saga in states where issues from terrorism to development to demographic segregation ( or as we Indian love to call it CASTE) were important factors.

Days before this round of election, there were a lot of talks about one region in particular, Mumbai. After yet another deadly experience with growing global terrorism, Mumbaikars showed the apathy towards the government and our dear politicians in large numbers. Something which caught my eye in particular was, it was not the down trodden residents of Mumbai or the insipid party workers and supporters which were making the noise but the more affluent and vocal middle and upper middle class. One more interesting point was the percentage of youth driven protests and media exerts. This made me happy and saddened at the same time that me being an Indian was not able to do anything sitting two continents across, but there was a new wave of prospects to answer the traditional "chaltha hai" attitude.

A day after the voting day , I was eager to log on to my regular news network in India to listen to few of the analysis and post voting discussions. I was surprised, shocked and disappointed. India had seen the lowest percentage of voting this elections and the biggest question was where was Mumbai on voting day after 26/11. Some say long weekend drove them away, some say the heat drove them away and some say the politicians didn't not energize them sufficient enough to make them vote!! During India's display of democracy, somewhere in Bangalore and Delhi, two groups of young India with the help of some famous personalities of Indian cinema were taking out ad campaigns and literature's on our duty and right to vote. The responsibility to vote before we complain and the power to decide who runs OUR country. I personally believe this as one of the most effective initiatives I have seen in recent times after the OBC/SC/ST quota decision by the current government. I shower accolades to these two groups Janagraha and Jago Re India for putting all their efforts to make India vote. I believe a initiative driven by the youth, advertised displaying young India would have motivated many to step out from their comfortable A/C classrooms, cafes, meeting joints and also those glued to their LCD tv's, PlayStation's, laptops etc. I am pointing out the youth of India.

I have been fortunate enough to witness two contrasting government system elections. Here in the US which is mainly a Presidential System and India which adopted the British Parliamentary system. What I saw in the US was 2 years of hard fought elections right from the party nominations to the presidential elections on Nov 4th. I personally cannot comment much on the system as I am still learning the american political setup. But The reason I point out this 2008 Presidential elections is mainly because of two reasons. Firstly, Pres. Barack Obama and secondly the drive to pull college students and first time voters to express their views and vote.

Many of you who follow the news and read about last years elections will surely remember journalist talking about a tech savvy Obama team. Their methods to attract the youth and allowing them to express their views. Visits to universities, where most of the first time voters were initiating town hall style interactions with them. Setting up offices near universities, starting communities in popular social networks where the college crowd could voice their opinion and even reaching out to the mobile savvy crowd by texting their agenda. All this slowly transformed into a group of energized, enthusiastic, YES WE CAN voters. The day following Nov 4th, leading news papers showed a surge in youth voters between the age of 18-35. Most of them voted for their new young , dynamic president. I must confess, I am a Obama admirer also.

The reasons for pointing out the above section was to bring to light two factors which I believe are very important for India to emulate if it wants its voting records to improve and expect more participation from its citizens. The first part of this observation was the drive to reach out to the youth. As the current statistics project, India's national average age is between 28 to 35 years. This itself shows how vibrant , young and energetic India is and how we can make use of this energy to place India higher in the global platform. During the course of this election, I have never heard of any candidate reaching out to the youth in a method they relate to . Speaking in a language they can understand. I don't believe students and young working professionals will visit dusty grounds and crowded road shows to listen to politicians blame their rivals and blow the toot about their minimal achievements. We want to hear the the issues, issues which relate to progressive India, issues like employment, education infrastructure development, improving education standards, creation of jobs, reduction of corruption etc...and not communal derogation and maligning personalities. Visit colleges and universities, sit with students and acknowledge their concerns on education,infrastructure and job creation, make your case to us regarding our concerns. Go to companies and government offices, interact with people at the grass roots directly, understanding their concerns on job security, health care benefits,tax reforms etc. Mr. Politician , market yourself in a way where we can trust, you understand our requirements and will work towards developing a product which suits a broader frame work.

The second part of this observation, which I know is a hard bargain to make in the Indian political system is of a fixed/nominated PM candidate. There were in previous cases arguments made by communist parties in India to make elections based on fixed portfolios. I personally agree this would be a big leap, but starting of with knowing who our Prime Minister will be give citizen an idea what they are getting when they go press the bottom next to the symbol. Today under the current situation, we know Mr. L.K Advani is the leading PM candidate from the NDA and as the UPA(or Congress !) puts its across, Dr. Manmohan Singh will be given a second opportunity to lead this country forward. I have nothing but respect to both candidates, but the questions is, under the current multi-party government system India has embraced since mid 1990's, we really don't know who will finally take the oath to office from Ms. Prathiba Patil. Will it be the vetran hindutva leader or the acclaimed economist or will it be leaders from smaller parties who will decide the fate of the next formation. This uncertainty in our system doesnt drive enthusiasm to go vote of a particular personality. We have been seeing ads in India echoing "My vote is for congress - My vote is for Dr. Manmohan Singh", laid by the Congress party. Should we take that as a writing on a stone? Should we be sure that after May 14th, we will not be surprised by the UPA ( if it attains a majority) by announcing a second, third or even a forth candidate for India's top job, just because of political number balance? On Nov 4th , people in US voted for Barack Obama, they voted for him knowing he would be president and the democratic party will not ( and cannot ) change its nomination. They had confidence in him that we will pick a team which will work towards Americas problem. Should we as citizens of India ask or demand to know who would be the PM if their party came to power or should we just hope its a person who wont take Incredible India down!!

As we move to the last two stages of India's celebration towards democracy, we as Indians should think , do we want Change ( a word becoming very popular), do we want the system to be fixed? Do we want to be a part of this system? We should think, have I voted to be a part of this system? Have I done my duty which gives me the right to criticize my leader if he/she is not working towards change? Do I voice my opinion and make my feelings be heard?

I have not voted, I am not eligible to vote sitting in a different country. But I am an Indian and when given a chance I will VOTE , I will voice my opinion and dismay. Till then I use this as a source to put my views across and hope together we take one step at a time towards the right direction.