All of last week, the news making waves around the world was the size of the stimulus bill that Obama & co are putting out in the US. This is being discussed fervently, for the common and expert belief is that it will be the turning point to the downside the world markets are experiencing. The actual number tag on the stimulus package was filled in the previous Friday when it garnered enough votes through the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Curiously enough, it garnered the very minimum number (60, also referred to as the Filibuster number) to pass through the Senate. The news headlines all of the ensuing weekend overshadowed the $787B, which is the value that the future generations of Americans have to repay for getting out of the current crisis. The news instead was the reactions of the Republicans in the House and the Senate crying out loud over the death of the so-called democracy.

The Democrats, which make up the majority, claim this is the mandate given to them by the people, and given the need to do something urgently they do not see this as the time to debate the details now. The Republicans, in their own rights, claim they were bypassed by virtue of their mere numbers in the vote and weren’t sought after for crucial decision-making. Whilst both sides have logic in their arguments, for a bystander, this is at some level seen as a failure of democracy.

This isn’t restricted to the largest economy of the world. In India, the ruling Congress party has made some decisions of national interest that haven’t gone down well with the opposition parties. For example, the public fiasco that was the nuclear cooperation treaty last year isn’t that long ago. The December saga in Canada where the government would surely have lost the no confidence vote had it been pushed through by the Governor-General isn’t forgotten by the masses. So, what’s changed significantly since the wonderful people that coined Democracy to stand for “for the people, to the people, by the people” made it up.

Nothing; zilch; nada! No matter where you look, the idealisms of the politicians have evolved from leading to governing. We have come to an era of politics where even the most capable person in power becomes the laughing stock if he doesn’t toe the party line, hasn’t ensured appeasement within his/her cabinets, etc. Long gone are the days of charismatic people leading a nation. This is the era of high-power teams, like we are seeing in the new administration.

With that, the democratic ideologies and values are also probably long gone because its now decision-making by just individual party consensus. I see a new definition on the horizon – restrict democracy definitions to abstract things like countries and not to people, politicians, etc.

Democracy is probably going to be seen as outward exhibition of being tolerant as a nation; not pertinent to specific decision-making. As long as we are being clear in our distinction of what democracy stands for in today’s age, we would be doing future generations and ourselves a great service.

Image Credit: Wili Hybrid

Popularity: 18%

Gandhi gave up his life to instill non-violence,
Terrorism is taking lives to defy all sense.

Day in and day out, there’s news reports coming in on extremists’ actions taking valuable lives. From being isolated incidents across the world, this is now stretching to specific regions of the world being isolated. The justification from the perpetrators is that of fulfilling their ideologies but no matter what angle you look at it, there can be simply no reason to consume innocent lives. The extremists or terrorists, however you word them, have no right to take away something they didn’t create, period.

First it was the 09/11, then the London bombings, the Mumbai blasts in between – all gave widespread publicity. Interspersed between these incidents, I am sure there are other cases in lesser known places around the world which did not get the same publicity. Irrespective of the prosperity of the land affected, the bottom line was – human lives were lost. From being a regional menace, the issue on hand became a global problem with the mighty joining hands to eradicate this thorn of society.

There are various theories as to who helped groom the ‘bad elements’ of the respective societies. In some cases it was the local law of the land, in some cases external forces were to be blamed. In a few cases, oppression even was to be pointed at. I will leave the so called analysts and experts to provide judgmental opinions on the cause and effects of allowing this to blossom. The point I wish to make is simply this – there has to be a solution, and quickly at that, for the impact of every such incident has far reaching effects of gigantic proportions. I don’t think there is any disagreement that the majority of such blatant activities originate from a specific region of the world.

As soon as he took oath, the President of the United States, in spite of offering continued economic assistance and offering other support systems to the country in question, minced no words in highlighting this region as the problematic one, in one of his very first speeches. Canada and the United States are still debating how to get out of one side of this very region, and the Canadian premier even offered his honest insight yesterday that it may be impossible to defeat the insurgency there.

The political diplomacy didn’t work, the governments resorted to using coercion and when that didn’t work, they used force. But that isn’t working by any stretch of imagination. What’s the alternative? However controversial it may sound, I would take an “isolation” philosophy and approach to determining a solution – abandon all forms of trade with the region; stop providing economic aid or military assistance.

Isolate the region by preventing anything other than medical or humanitarian support systems to pass through, either inside or outside. Yes, the initial going would be tough for the locals, but the governments’ hands would be forced as its now a solely internal issue, instead of a regional or global problem, and they have to fix it. The most complex of problems have the seemingly simplest of solutions – maybe this does too.

Image Credit: Saital

Popularity: 16%

Last Tuesday, when Barrack Obama addressed the nation in a joint session of Congress, there was a thundering applause all over. For every point he made, there was a standing ovation – so much so that he made his point clear time and again, that “We are not quitters” and that “We will build America”

Here is the transcript of his speech – courtesy New York Times

Immediately after Obama’s speech, the Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was asked to give a Republican Response. I had waited eagerly for Obama’s speech skipping my regular duties at India Special and when I came to know that Bobby Jindal, a second generation Indian American was asked to give the official response, I could not switch my TV off, for I had already formed an opinion about him, however misinformed that I was

As I watched eagerly, Bobby Jindal quietly and very strategically ripped apart Obama’s plan to rebuild America as a wasteful spending. While he criticized Obama’s plans, he also acknowledged that Obama was one of the most gifted speakers of this generation. Bobby Jindal however has his inhibitions about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. You can read the complete transcript of Jindal’s speech here

Part of his response that caught my attention was when he said

Republicans are ready to work with the new president to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don’t care what party you belong to, if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation’s capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the president’s strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward.

He further narrates a story and says

The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and the enterprising spirit of our citizens. We are grateful for the support we have received from across the nation for the ongoing recovery efforts. This spirit got Louisiana through the hurricanes and this spirit will get our nation through the storms we face today.

He further went on to decline the stimulus money that was offered to him in order to have his state back on track. He had a valid point – He did not want his next generations to be in debt and hence rejected the offer.

As I listened to him further, and I started comparing him to Obama, the first thing that occurred to me was that here is a politician who has a similar background as Obama (African American vs Indian American), speaks well, has proven himself in the state of Louisiana et al and has support of many Republicans. Will he become Republican party’s strongest contender in the 2012 elections or will Mitt Romney scrape through?

Whatever I’ve heard of Bobby Jindal, he sure seems promising. He is young, energetic and convincing. If he can turn around a Katrina hit Louisiana, he certainly has it in him to be the President of United States.

I am neither a Democrat follower nor a Republican enthusiast. I like Obama for his speech, his energy, and passion – I wish he succeeds in his plans to rebuild America. If he doesn’t, then 2012 will be an incredible test for him and Bobby Jindal will surely give him a run for his money.

For all you know, after an African American, it might be the turn of an Indian American to be the President of United States of America. Certainly, a moment to cherish for Indians, if it comes true.

Time will only answer!

Image Credit: Wiki Media

Popularity: 15%

The rise of China and India is a favorite topic among many across the world. While China is way ahead of India in the manufacturing sector, India continues to dominate the IT services industry. There are many who think that China will one day overtake India in the IT services industry too. But skeptics point out that India will continue to be Number 1 in IT as long as China’s English language skills do not reach the level of India’s. As an Indian living in China, here are some of my observations about English in China.

English is rarely used in China outside the metropolitan cities like Shanghai and Beijing. It is extremely difficult for a non-Chinese speaker to get around the country. However, English is very common in Hong Kong, which is a country by itself under the control of the Chinese government. Shanghai is perhaps the most English friendly city in China since it has a long history of engagement with the west. British and French did trading (opium brought from India dominated the trade) here for a long time.

Shanghai has a large international population that includes expats, students, tourists and Western scholars studying Chinese culture. Naturally, there is a big market for English language newspapers and TV channels. There are two English TV channels, CCTV English and International Channel Shanghai (ICS). CCTV is the government’s official TV channel and equivalent to Doordarshan in India.

While these channels are a relief for the foreigners, Chinese who want to learn and improve their English watch these channels in large numbers. For their part, these channels try to cater to this domestic audience. For example, ICS broadcasts the super hit TV serial in USA, Hannah Montana with commentary in English and some Chinese. They also have Chinese subtitles. However, the most popular program is broadcast by CCTV English. The program is called CCTV Cup English speaking contest and has been wildly popular over the last 7 years.

The CCTV Cup has a structure similar to the TV talent shows like American/Indian Idol with college students across the country participating in preliminary rounds in their respective provinces. At the end of a grueling selection process, 23 students get to take part in the final rounds and the eventual winners are selected.

I got a chance to watch final rounds of the 2008 competition and I must say I was quiet impressed with the talent of the participants. These participants displayed great eloquence, fluency and also an excellent understanding of international issues. Overall, their mastery over English was as good as or even better than many Indians who grew up using English. Even though the Chinese have a long way to go, this English speaking contest showed the aspirations of young Chinese college students and the amount of hard work they put in mastering English. I believe that China will definitely give India a run for its money in the IT industry in the next 5-10 years. It will be interesting to see how things play out during this period.

On a related note, I found this interesting article on how Japanese students are using US President Obama’s speeches to learn English. This article confirms my belief that when the British left India, they left behind a great tool called English which we have taken so much for granted.

Read or watch the article here, and enjoy!!!

Image Credit: Baba Steve

Popularity: 17%

In a day and age where we hardly get time to read the papers every morning, I was at work early and started my day with a quick rush through of the morning headlines. A leading Indian website had a screaming headline quoting Obama say “I Screwed up”. Home page, First link and highlighted, I clicked on to read and only in reading realized what the real issue was. The article was written in such a hurried manner with intent to let the world know that Obama said what he said.

I managed to get sometime later in the day and went through print media! Sania Mirza is upset! – that’s what the sports page reads and why? Because a couple of guys went to a movie without taking her!! Give me a break!

It was the same day when India played Sri Lanka for the 3^rd time and Sachin was adjudged leg before. I am not exaggerating here, but in exactly 30 minutes from the time the event had happened, an award winning Indian news cast site with the biggest names in the news business ran an opinion poll on whether India must complain because Sachin was a victim of bad umpiring!

I think the media is certainly missing the trees for the woods here. I firmly believe the role of any media is to make a meaningful impact to society. The reason I say this is because they choose to put the old adage, the pen is mightier than the sword in front of them at all times and hence I’d like to logically assume that their profession comes with responsibility.

If that is the case, why didn’t most media houses choose to dwell on the fact that the world’s most powerful man confessed to making a mistake and did it without much ado? Isn’t this a lesson for most leaders around the world? How many leaders have the guts to go in front of the world and say they made a mistake without batting an eyelid?  Likewise with Sania! While I certainly believe they overdid the victory coverage to make me believe that this is the greatest thing that had happened to Indian sport (while I think this is probably the stepping stone), they chose to ignore the young kid who won a juniors on a world stage! The poor kid came up for review in a corner in fine print! I understand he does not have the glamour that a Sania has, but is that fair to the kid who did what he did?

It’s not over! The cricket story that day had India seal the series in clinical fashion. A series win overseas is a big deal and this probably went to the backstage with the focus on the reviews being how Sachin was penalized. Spare a thought for Yuvi and Sehwag who literally took the Sri Lankans to the cleaners in facilitating that great win!

In a glaring reflection of the state of the media, I pause to wonder how the media can be very selective in what they report and often times pick on trivial events to make the news? Is this the need for eyeballs or one of those fancy 3 word abbreviations that define viewership?

Image Credit: Chrstphre

Popularity: 15%

The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr.Gopalaswamy truly stirred the hornet’s nest by his open demand to remove Election Commissioner Navin Chawla from his post. In a detailed letter to the President of India, he cited several instances to prove that the EC’s conduct was partisan, suggesting that he has a soft corner for the Congress Party. On the other hand, the Congress Party subtly insinuated that Mr.Gopalaswamy who was handpicked by the BJP was leaning towards that party.

Mr.Gopalaswamy perhaps scored a point or two, but diminished the respect and aura of the institution of the Election Commission in the eyes of the entire nation.

Countless are the instances of state Governors and secretaries of various central and state ministries flouting established norms and procedures to satisfy their political masters or the parties that appointed them.

When politicians and criminals of the lowest order become our ministers and rulers because of the compulsions of electoral politics, we hang our heads in shame, instead of holding them high as poet Rabindranath Tagore envisioned.

The Americans have an efficient system to make sure that they have the best people at the helm. In the grueling primaries the best and the brightest in the Republican and Democratic parties jostle among one another ,weeding out many hopeful presidential aspirants till only two candidates are left standing to slug it out in the last round. The media gives the Americans all the information they need about the two Republican and Democratic candidates through a system of debates and extensive analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. And on the day of reckoning, the Americans can take a very informed decision about the person who will guide their destiny.

This is only the beginning of their very fascinating system of deciding who is going to fill more than 2000 other high posts in the American government. The newly elected President nominates those whom he considers the best for various jobs, sifting through the background of each of them. In the case of Obama, he gave them all a 63 item questionnaire covering dark and gr ey areas. The questions were very uncomfortable, such as “Ever taken a puff of marijuana? Overlooked a work permit for your household help? Grazed with a lobbyist at Washington’s top tables? Slung a “friendly” arm around an intern? Or been a bit too relaxed with your taxes?”

Once the president nominates a candidate, the FBI conducts an investigation on behalf of the executive branch. On top of the vetting by the President, aided by an FBI investigation, the US Senate has to confirm all of these appointments. More than 2,000 appointments by the President – mainly those of Cabinet positions, Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, U.S. attorneys, federal judges and the heads of some government agencies and commissions require Senate confirmation. The Senate has various committees set up to address specific subject areas, to go through the background of the nominated persons. The senators go about their job very professionally, grilling the high-profile appointees like school children and at times shredding their reputation to pieces in full public glare.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s confirmation was delayed a few days after revelations that he had failed to pay $34,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes. Daschle, the former Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, and Obama’s choice as health and human services secretary withdrew from the race as news that he failed to pay some taxes in the past created quite a stir.

“I think I screwed up,” Obama said of Daschle’s appointment fiasco in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “And I take responsibility for it and we’re going to make sure we fix it so it doesn’t happen again.”

“Ultimately, I campaigned on changing Washington and bottom-up politics,” Obama said. “And I don’t want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards — one for powerful people and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes.”

As Obama’s head went down in contrition for his inadvertent mistake, I am sure the heads of the Americans were held high, proud of their President and their country. The Americans seem to have discovered the values of the India of old.

Perhaps we should ape the Americans here. We deserve a better system – to bring to the fore the honest, the best and the truly meritorious people – to preside over our destinies.

Can we create a wave and push for this change?

Image Credit:  Jurvetson

Popularity: 14%

They say “accidents do happen” and when you are in front of a mindboggling audience with millions turning to Washington and may be many more millions glued to the TV sets watching history being made, there is bound to be tension and a few words exchanged.

I was witness to some tension and exchange of a few words during the Presidential Swearing In Ceremony, albeit literally. Read on…

John Roberts, the Chief Justice, was responsible for swearing in Barack Obama as the 44^th President of USA. While he was reading out the swearing in words,

As per the American Constitution, the words that make up the oath is written as

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

But when Roberts was swearing in Obama, he exchanged few of those words, saying:

“I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully.”

Roberts faltered, Obama watched on and the crowd had some good moment of laughter.

But that’s ok…Never mind..Let’s move on !

Image credit: bobster1985

Popularity: 10%

If 2008 is considered to be the year of the frog, then will 2009 be the year of the bull ? It better be…and I have my own reasons that it will be one, although I must admit I have been an eternal optimist.

Wall Street is getting ready for a new US President. Will the new President translate his promises into convincing actions? Will the Stateside see the 2.5 million jobs that he promised ? Will there be enough consumption to bolster the economy ? Will the serial bankruptcies of 2008 end ?

All these, pretty much depends on the confidence that the new President is able to build in his newly formed team and how they are able to effectively drive for results. If President Obama is able to deliver what he promised and if the consumers and investors show signs of renewed confidence and increased spending, then there would definitely be a rally witnessed.

Will the Obama magic work wonders for India? – Some say yes, some say may be but I haven’t heard many people say “No”. Gives me good enough reason to believe that there is some HOPE for India too.

Consider this – During his campaign Obama promised 2.5 Million jobs and over a trillion dollar in spending. What would that mean ? Better purchasing power, better imports for US and bigger exports for the rest of the world including India. That itself is one solid reason for the possible bull run

There are other factors too which would affect fuel India’s growth in 2009. The world economy has learnt a big lesson – it can no longer depend on the world’s greatest economy. So what if the United States go wrong, the world still needs to go on. And so it will.

P Chidambaram is very optimistic. He sees India at 9% growth in 2009. Although I think it might be slightly utopian to come at this stage where the world is just picking up from what it has lost last year, I think the mood says it all. PC is confident than ever.

Irrespective of whether Chidambaram’s predictions come true or not or India witnesses growth owing to Obama influenced rally, the long term solution definitely is being self dependent.

India needs to be more depended on its internal affairs, its commercial set ups, its infrastructural development, its agriculture, banking and finance reforms, its exports etc. Only then can we predict India’s growth to near accuracy.

Until then it’s a story of clinging to the wagging tail.

Image Credit: Herval

Popularity: 11%

So much has been talked about India in the last decade. It has become symbolic with growth, opportunity, power, knowledge etc.  I know of hardly any place where you can’t see an Indian.  I can’t speak the same for an American, a European or for that matter a Chinese.

Don’t get me wrong. I have high regards for these cultures but the fact is you don’t see an American in India that often – neither a European nor a Chinese. If you are lucky, then you’ll see a couple of them doing the rounds of The Taj.

Why is it that India gained so much prominence in the last couple of decades ? Have we accelerated in the last one decade much more than what we have done in centuries ? Or is it that our culture is so strong that whatever we do, gets showcased in a subtle manner ? Should we continue the journey of progress and if so, at what rate ?

There are many unanswered questions. But an energetic, youthful, aggressive, powerful India is what we will see in the coming decades. The signs have started showing already..That said there are many important social issues that need to be fixed for India to reign supreme. My vision for India are several and I have tried to put my two pennies here. Read on…

I come from a small village in Kerala, about 25 kilometers north of Calicut city a.k.a Kozhikode. Even today, if you go there today  you’ll see a  Dhoti or Mundu clad villagers moving around.  There is a sense of pride in them.  They do not know what is happening around the world –  whether it is a financial tsunami or an Obama, it doesn’t matter to them.  They care less for people beyond their immediate circles.  All they know is Onam, Shivaratri, Talappoli, Perunnal, Christmas, Thayampaka, Kathakali, Koodiattam, Working, Eating, Sleeping, Praying etc.

This is not the story of just Kerala – This is the story of rural India, where two thirds of our population live -from where many bright ambitious brains churn out with the hope of making India proud one day. Yet, they are insulated from the other parts of the world.

Am I proud of them ? …Of course. They are the keepers of our culture, the lords of our values, the foundation for the future generation – they are at their best where they are.

Do they need to know more than what they do ? Do they deserve a better life ? – Absolutely ! In fact, the prime focus for the next  two decades should be to uplift rural India. That should be the Vision No. 1 for India

Develop Rural India. Preserve Her Culture

Now look at the other side of the coin.

A 23 year old Manisha, hailing from the heart of Mumbai – Andheri.  A couple of years back she graduated from Mitthibai College with an Honors Degree in Commerce which helped her land a job in one of the leading BPO companies in India.

She worked hard for two years continuously before she was elevated to the post of a Team Leader in the same company.   She now leads a team of five business analysts – each one of them elder to her by at least 4 years.

Obvious question that comes to your mind – What is it that distinguishes Manisha from the rest of the lot ?

Manisha is living the Great Indian Dream – one in which women are the corner stone of society’s natural progression.  Until recently, women have been restricted to a traditional family where she never went to a college, did not work nor made any major decisions without the consent of her husband.

Times are changing and women like Manisha are the symbol of such changes in India.  There is no better sight in the world than to see your wife, mother and sister happy.

Empower Women. Break Them Free !

What is your vision for India ? Post your comments below !

Popularity: 31%

Change-It is a fashionable word these days. Obama steam-rollered into American and world consciousness with his clarion call for CHANGE. Most often, we perceive change happening only when it is accompanied by wave upon wave of public opinion, advertisement blitzkriegs, publicity and media overkill.

Just as wisdom does not come by chance, neither does change. In the history of the world there are a few handpicked individuals who have toiled hard for the progress of mankind. Yet, not all of them got or get their dues. Some rain makers are seen as mere shadows or side players lurking in the back ground of history’s unwinding.

India has undergone a metamorphosis during the past 18 years and indeed it has been a sea-change. A revolution of sorts. If we have to handpick a single individual for the greatest contribution, it will of course have to be Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Manmohan Singh, unlike Obama, does not rouse the people with charisma or eloquence. Yet, beneath his veneer of ordinariness and shyness, he has been the greatest architect of modern India. Here is a man who is incorruptible, humane, decent and secular to the core and extremely resourceful and determined when it comes to his clearly identified goals.

One of Manmohan’s greatest contributions has been his ability to float above pettiness, and bring about decency in politics. He taught his countrymen without speaking that it is possible for different cultures, religions and languages to live and thrive together without hatred. Above all, he nurtured and created the right climate for nation building – instilling a sense of pride and confidence in the minds of the citizens about the concept of India as a nation.

It has been India’s tryst with destiny that Narasimha Rao picked the most unlikely person -Dr. Manmohan Singh – to be the Finance Minister of our country in 1991. Then the sluice gates of controls and licences were opened, allowing for flow of fresh air in institutions riddled with corruption and favoritism.

As a Prime Minister, presiding over a booming economy for the best part of five years, getting the nuclear deal through – almost at the cost of sacrificing his government – and tackling terrorism with firmness are not the only changes you can credit this visionary with. He is farsighted enough to provide for decent outlays for education. Scientific and technological leaps culminating in the mission to the moon happened under his watch. And, Indians around the world are a respected lot these days.

It is a tribute to his courage, perseverence, readiness to dare and dream big – that despite his personal disinclination for petty politics and power plays – he has stayed on for 5 eventful years braving every storm that came his way, with poise and grace. He has been an example of calm and grace under pressure – an ideal he cherishes.

According to Jim Rohn, an influential thinker,

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.

All of the above attributes reside in Manmohan Singh in good measure.

The changes brought about by him are changes we can believe in. It is there for everyone to see. Yet it has come without any fanfare or loud words. They came unannounced, softly, unsung, just like Manmohan, the man. Who will say the the gentle, incessant rain pattering on the leaves is any less majestic than the grandeur of the distant thunder or the roar of the seas?  We are all prouder Indians because of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

May God Bless India!

By the way, scribes in our land are on the look out for the Indian Obama. Anyone want to venture a guess and help those poor, distressed souls?

Popularity: 19%

It has been fashionable around the world to whip America for almost every ill in the universe. Under George Bush, “The ugly American” got tarred with more ugliness. The recent Presidential election has forced a lot of people to look at America from another vantage point.

It is a tribute to their maturity that Americans rose above hardened and deep seated prejudices of race and colour and voted for someone – virtually unknown till two years ago – on the basis of the content of his character and policies.

Almost the entire country was galvanised along a common agenda during this election. Through out the 50 states the issues they talked about were the same – economy, health issues, energy, wars in Iraq and Afganistan, security, war against terror etc. These common issues united the states of America into a land sharing the same dreams and fears – a very cohesive and proud nation.

There is a lesson we could learn from the American politicians and leaders. Not a speech of theirs ends without invoking God’s blessing on America or speaking about the greatness of America with a great deal of pride. The ideal of America, “not as a collection of red or blue states, but as the United States of America”, is what unites politicians across the political divides.

Sadly, our politicians harp on what devides rather than what unites Indians. It is a common enough sight in our country to see them resorting to the most lethal means to pit brother against brother.

The elections were on the whole free of bitterness or rancour and neither Mc Cain nor Obama whipped up mean, ugly phantoms to get them votes. McCain conceded the election paying glowing praise to Obama for the way he ran his campaign.The President elect was equally effusive about the heroic status of the vanquished – a  great example of grace – under victory or defeat. It is living examples such as this which breathe life and humaneness into the sinews of the collective culture and ethos of a nation.

The right to prosperity, happiness and freedom of Joe The Plumber or Obama’s rise to the top  symbolise the reality that regardless of the origin or status of an individual, his or her right is protected. And, it is awe inspiring to see the extent to which the entire country would rally behind an individual whose rights have been trampled upon. The lesson not to be missed here is, bringing about a climate of freedom and hope in the collective psyche of a nation presupposes the right of the individual.

Americans would dump into the waste bins of history any politician with an unclean, corrupt or unsavoury reputation, or someone with a broken family. Many eminent politicians such as Clinton, Nixon or Edward Kennedy just could not withstand the scrutiny of the high moral standards expected of them by their countrymen. The irony is that Americans themselves have many broken homes, while Indians are known to protect the sanctity of wedlock. In the world’s most populous democracy on the other hand, leaders of dubious backgrounds and character are the norm than the exception.

It is time we stopped “America bashing” and started looking inward. That way there are good chances we may cleanse our polity and society. And then display to the world the attributes and accompaniments that should belong to a spiritually alive nation which we are famed to be.

Till that happens, let us salute the Americans. They have some stuff.

Popularity: 19%

Image Credit: Ahin Sajain

This is a season of “change”.

People across the world seem to have embraced the idea that “Change is the only thing that does not change”.  Barack Obama campaigned and won on the plank of “Change”. His opponent John McCain also was forced to change his campaign slogan to “Real Change”. Now someone in our country is chanting the mantra of “Change”. Guess who? It is Mr. L K Advani.

Let us pause for a flashback. On July 11,2008, the US newspaper Washington Post published an article titled “India’s Unlikely Obama“. The story in Washington Post started like this “An 81-year-old Hindu nationalist who wants to become India’s next prime minister has chosen an unlikely model for his election efforts, the Internet-based campaign of Sen. Obama.

For a few months, a small team of political strategists, computer specialists and management graduates in New Delhi has been studying Obama’s speeches and slogans, Web site, campus outreach and rhetoric of change “.

The article went on to say that Mr. Advani’s campaign plans to use modern technology tools exactly the way Obama did.(”Replication, No; Inspiration, Yes” says one of his aides).The campaign team is planning to use text messaging, social networks, emailing, and a website to start mobilizing young people to bring to their fold. They wanted to create a bottom up participatory movement just like Obama did.

Mr. Ramachandra Guha, political historian, had this to say

That particular campaign style worked for Obama because he is a young, fresh-faced, charming man who promises change. But Advani has too much baggage, both good and bad, attached to him. It strains one’s credulity to imagine the austere, unsmiling Advani being rebranded like Obama.

Now, back to the present.

Today (Nov 8, 2008), IBNLive had this news item “Advani follows Obama, launches a website.”". I was curious about how L K Advani is executing this “Change” strategy and hence I took a look at his website. It has both Hindi and English versions.

The viewer is welcomed by a message from L.K.Advani himself. He talks about his “dreams” of the country, “aspirations” of the Indians and, the usual suspect, “change”. In his welcome speech of a little less than 2 minutes, he used the word “Change” 4 times.

The website then provides the viewer information about Advani’s vision of India, videos of some of his speeches, stance on issues, details about his memoirs, press releases and links to his party. It also has interactive features like forum and options for netizens to provide suggestions and ideas for NDA’s governance.

People who like to participate in the campaign can enroll for Volunteering or join his party. You can compare Advani’s website with Obama’s website at BarrackObama.com

This “Change”strategy worked in US. But will it work in India?

It could work because

1. Like Advani says, India has a lot of young population with around 100 million new voters. This voter segment is more technology savy and can make a difference in the election.
2. The party with the most strong cadre base usually has a good advantage. Technology allows wider reach, speed of execution and enhanced fundraising capabilities.

It might not work because

1. Just like the “India Shining” campaign, the reach of this campaign might be restricted to the urban areas where the party is already strong. The election campaign in rural areas which are untouched by these advancement in technologies will continue the old-fashioned way.
2. Obama’s support was broad based – white, black, Hispanic, Asian, native American, male, female, etc. Will Advani be able to bring voters of all castes and religions to his fold?
3. L.K.Advani’s age.

Now what about Indian National Congress and Rahul Gandhi? According to the article” Rahul’s office said that while it, too, has “flooded” the YouTube and Flickr Web sites with images of Gandhi, such campaigns cannot go far in India, where Web reach is limited and a quarter of the population lives in poverty, ..”.

I found this very ironic considering the fact that INC’s young leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and others who are educated abroad do not have confidence in technology. Particularly at a time when INC’s hold on the urban and more educated voters is waning.

A more relevant question for INC is, who can first time voters better relate to – 80 year old Advani or 38 year Rahul Gandhi? Perhaps, INC is not realizing their strengths.

It will be interesting to see how this “Change” strategy plays out.

What to do you think?

Popularity: 20%

Image Credit: Jacob Botter

Everyone of importance around the world – leaders of almost every country, social activists, religious figures, and business leaders- had to say something about  Obama’s victory in the US Presidential elections. Some of the views were congratulatory, some poignant (like Nelson Mandela’s), some cautious, some skeptical and some euphoric. But to me, the most thought provoking comment came from, guess who?

Infosys chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy. Here is what NRN had to say

“Today is an extraordinary day. The US has voted for compassionate capitalism over laissez faire capitalism. Besides, this election has shown that meritocracy matters most.”  Read more here

There are three key concepts here – compassionate capitalism, laissez faire capitalism and meritocracy. The concept of meritocracy is the foundation of US and enough has already been said about it. The same can be said of “laissez faire capitalism”. Laissez faire capitalism has been debated among economists for close to 300 years. Simply put, “Laissez faire” supports free markets, minimal intervention of government in businesses and hence low taxes.

But what exactly is Compassionate Capitalism?

Aren’t “compassion” and “capitalism” mutually exclusive?  Capitalism as it is practiced in the western economies today is about least government regulation, companies making the most profits, improving share price and increasing shareholder’s wealth.  The positive side of this is that there is always competition, which in turn promotes innovation and ultimately the customer benefits from the competition. But on the negative side, to achieve the ever increasing “profit” targets, companies adopt the most effective and efficient way of doing business and if that means laying off people, so be it. Sorry about the job loss of a subordinate or colleague, but hey, that is the way it is. Life has to go on.

Compassion is considered a weakness in the brutal marketplace and also a competitive disadvantage. Compassion is associated with “collectivism” or socialism and is a strongly despised word among many US citizens. The mere mention of “socialism” can spook many of them. Individualism, which finds expression in capitalism, is what characterizes US and the Western European cultures and has tremendous appeal in these nations. It is no wonder that the novels extolling the virtues of individualism like “Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged” written around 60 years back by Ayn Rand, the ultimate advocate of individualism, are still best-sellers.

So what happens when “compassion” and “capitalism” are combined? Business leaders will become more sensitive towards stakeholders. They will try to increase shareholder value without sacrificing the interests of the employees. If every firm in the marketplace practices “compassionate capitalism”, this world will be a better place to live in.  But is “compassionate capitalism” self-sustaining and work without external influence ? It could, if only there was no greed in this world.  That is where the role of the government comes in.

Narayana Murthy’s comments should be seen in the context of the current economic turmoil across the world. Nobody will object to the fact that this economic mess is a result of years of non-regulation of market that started during the Reagan-Thatcher days of the early 1980s. There is a widespread desire among the common people in the US for an end to the non-regulatory era and more government interference in business.

Obama understood this mood for change and made “Change” as his campaign theme. Needless to say, this “Change” strategy paid rich dividends and has made him the 44^th US President. It is expected that under Obama, US will continue to practice capitalism but with more checks and balances. We can expect to see CEO salaries capped, corporate taxes modified, Wall Street regulated, employee rights protected and free trade restricted.  This will be a big shift in the way international business is conducted for the next few years.

So, where does India stand on this issue? India already practices “compassionate capitalism” by default primarily because of the influence of the Communist parties. There is some amount of restriction on free trade, rights of stakeholders are protected to a great extent and employees get a fair chance before laid off. Even though this means a lot of bureaucracy leading to frustratingly slow decision making, there are no sudden disruptions in business. The groundswell of support for the laid off Jet Airways employees illustrates the fact that India is practicing “compassionate capitalism” without anyone really noticing it.

India is considered to be one of the countries less affected by the global turmoil and that can be partially attributed to the regulations on businesses by the government.

So, as usual, NR Narayana Murthy is spot on in his observation about “compassionate capitalism” and proved once again why he is a thought leader. I sincerely hope that the next government involves people like NRN and other visionary business leaders in the public policy making.

PS: While doing the research for this article, I came across the book “Compassionate Capitalism: How Corporations Can Make Doing Good an Integral Part of Doing Well” by Marc Benioff and Karen Southwick. I look forward to reading the book in the future. If anyone else is interested in this book, you can find the details at Amazon

Popularity: 21%

Barrack Obama has been elected the President of United States of America. John McCain called Obama earlier and conceded defeat.

While I watched Obama win today, I recollect some of the points that were being discussed about Obama in the media. Here are some excerpts…

• Obama is about transcending beyond race, gender, geography etc. Business community may not favour him but the fact is the business community respect him for the way he ran the campaign like a  true champion – totally professional !
• Obama is the man. He has united the whole of the United States of America.
• Obama made more people become citizens. He is expected to change the tone of the country – economics, politics etc.
• The healing touch, education has just begun. There is a long way to go through now. The amount of pigment in your skin does not decide who you are or your greatness.
• In his biography he had said he is a blank screen where people stared and gave in their opinions. Now he has proven again to the world the audacity of hope.
• The parents now can say to their children – “If he can, so can you. ” This is the rise and fulfillment of an uncommon dream.

Now as he finished Presidential speech in Chicago, Barrack Obama conveyed that he is the President of those who voted for him and those who did not. He is here to bring about a change.

We hope he indeed brings a change to the United States of America which in turn will trigger positive changes for India.

Obama’s election is not just America’s moment of glory but also a defining moment for the world. The world watches for him to deliver and so is India.

We, at IndiaSpecial, wish him all the very best.

Popularity: 13%

Image Credit:Tony The Misfit

Media in India is abuzz with US elections news. Countries all over the world are inexorably linked and wired together. And, US being the power house that it is, the direction the country takes under a new President will have an enormous bearing on people in all corners of the vastly shrunk globe.

There are genuine concerns that Obama, if elected President will clamp down on jobs leaving the shores of his country directly impacting the strong software and BPO industries in India. His public stance regarding H1 Visas is also hawkish.

The argument offered by Obama supporters is that he has to allay the fears of middle America about their jobs going elsewhere. They opine, once the elections are over he will be forced by economic ground realities to switch gears and renege on his commitment.

We may be in for a surprise. There is a ring of sincerity about Obama and there is every possibility that he means what he says – to deny tax breaks to companies outsourcing jobs outside. If he does renege on his commitment, it will erode his moral authority significantly and he will no longer be the messiah of change and hope. It will be a betrayal of sorts if he turns out to be just like any other politician relying on rhetoric and empty words to win votes. Amid the gloom of depressing economic melt down, the last thing he would want to hear from Americans who voted him in is, “Et-tu, Obama?”  

In spite of Obama’s stance against outsourcing jobs, why would it still make sense for Indians to plump for Obama? Because, a strong America which can reclaim the respect of the world is in the interest of India.

Obama has vision of a strong America and he has been very successful in articulating that vision. It is a vision that unites people grounded on the belief that color or creed is immaterial in a land where the core of its belief is that “all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

To a great extent, the idealism inherent in these words have served as the beacon steering America to a position of leadership based on enduring values and principles. Millions of people in America and other parts of the world desperately want Obama to win because they believe that the nation will again rock and bloom under an idealist, inspirational President who cherishes the ideals and values of the Founding Fathers.

Bush, McCain and the economic pundits who cry hoarse about capitalism, lower taxes, and free, unregulated  markets and big-is-beautiful-attitude, have lot of eggs on their faces and all they have to show for their beliefs and actions is the mayhem in the market places everywhere. There are a lot of things right with capitalism and there is indeed a necessity to do away with too much of controls.

At the same time, there is also a need to listen to the cry of the down trodden and understand that small also could be beautiful. The way forward could be following the Middle Path as Buddha preached, without going far too right or far too left. Obama, more than McCain is more qualified to create a new world order paying attention to changing ground realities.  

A McCain Presidency is likely to continue the same policy of a belligerent America hurtling down on “nations belonging to the evil axis” by brute force. As Bush has shown, such attitudes and actions can have very disastrous consequences, not just for America, but for the rest of the world as well.

McCain has demonstrated during the three debates and his election campaign that he can be nasty and intemperate at times. It is a fact of life that a leader leaves the residue of his emotions on the policies of government and the style of governance. And the older one gets, the stronger is the belief that he is the repository of all experience and knowledge.

So, where does that leave India? Apart from his professed intention to discourage outsourcing jobs, Obama seems to have a liking for India. Besides, Biden the Vice Presidential candidate is strongly and openly pro-India. Above all, India is on the ascent.

If we are able to sell Brand India – a land akin to America in several ways, with strong democratic traditions, different cultures living in harmony, depth of knowledge and expertise in almost every field, a huge consumer base and the ability to communicate easily with the West – then we will be talking to America as equals and not as supplicants. That will be the day and times when the idealism of America and India will meet and create a better world order.  

America and the rest of the world expect the world from Obama because he has promised the world. Anything less from him will be a huge disappointment.

He better deliver!

Popularity: 14%