Saturday, August 30, 2008

Racism is the lowest form of collectivism - Ayn Rand

Friday, August 29, 2008

My vision of a business organization in Assam, as told to Maa

Maa,

I've nurtured this vision of building a business in Assam that would be based on the "people, planet, profits" framework. My business vision will have the following impacts:

People : It will be a business model that will impact the people of Assam - create jobs, give them economic benefits, disposable incomes - while making use of the skills that they have, or have inherited from their forefathers. I want to build a business model based on preserving the art and culture, and identity of the people of Assam. Besides love of family, force of roots, of belonging to a culture, the identity of a community - always anchored me, and kept aligning me to the purpose of right use of my life and the skills I was blessed with. I would definitely want the rest of the children of Assam to also have that privilege - I want them to have a strong sense of self. My business model is to make high fashion, high style life style products out of designs originating in Assam, and the other hill states - from fabric to other hadicrafts. I'm dreaming big here. I'm dreaming of becoming an international brand. I will use all modern techniques of product assortment, replenishment systems, prediction models, inventory management, marketing strategies - to make this a successful venture. I will pick up all those skills - some of which I already have.

Planet : It will be a business model that will not disrupt the natural harmony of the planet - of the land of Assam. My organization will leverage the resources of Assam and will follow a method that will not deplete the natural resources, rather sustain it. Hence, I'm eliminating any flaw in the system that will lead to industrial waste and hence increased pollution, and hence imbalance of nature. One of the primary mission of the organization would be " ethical use of natural resource". I will grow trees to cultivate silk worms, and use renewable energy as much as I can. Our earth is in real danger - we often tend to ignore it thinking the problems will not hit during our lifetimes. We may be just lucky Maa, but our future generations - your grandchildren may not be. I want to leave behind a safer world for them for I want them to have a good life. And no region of the world will be a safer place -we will all be impaceted. So I better put some efforts in building an environmentally safe Assam.

Profits: I believe every business must make profits. For a business to be sustainable, it has to generate profits - it has to make enough money to pass on economic privileges to its employees, to its people.Besides, I also want to enjoy the fruits of hard work. I want to give a shape to the dreams of many like me - " If you have a vision, work hard for it - you get to do what you want in life". Hence I definitely want to have a revenue generating business model. As of now, I don't believe in non-profits. I want to make profits, so that these profits could be passed on the people who work hard to make these profits.

I also believe this industry will also give rise to increased profits in other related areas - tourism for instance. My organization will help build curiosity and interest in Assam and her people. People would like to see the land of origin of such unique design - for the same reasons people visit Rajasthan for. Like Bandhini is known all over, so would be Muga. I also plan to build museums which would tell the history of the land that I'm so proud of - but in a way and format that is attractive to the masses. Beauty charms all - and I will use the power of beauty of Assamese design to unify people and fortify my land, and my people.

Ofcourse I've to learn various things - strategy, finance, marketing, negotiation skills, network, blessing of some venture capitalists or angel investors - that's why I'm going to a business school.

Now, I need your help:

- What is the history of Assam's art and culture? What is the origin? What were some of the long lasting influencing and impacting factors? ( e.g Ahom rule, impacts of Sankardev's religious teaching on art & culture and design)
- Which are the most flourishing form of art & cultures? (e.g. muga, paat), Which vanished on the way? And why?
- Why these are primarily developed in pockets? e.g. Sualkuchi and not uniformly all across Assam?
- What are the factors of the success of these traditional businesses? What are the factors of failures?
- What is the cost price of muga, paat, endi?
- What is the usual mark-up price?
- How much of silk is produced?
- What is the demand?
- How much is exported now?
- How many well known retail outlets are there? I know Silkaloy is one of them
- How many individuals are doing good business? What typically are their annual revenue? Do they have consistent business?
- Do these retailers or individuals plan their business - predict how much they would sell, what should be the revenue 2/3/5 years down the line? Do they have a business plan, a methodical approach? Or do they just rely on instincts - without any data pattern?
- Anything else that you would tell me, I would listen:)

Lets see where do I go!

- Majoni

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Private life in American Politics

An American president's family life (or atleast a hopeful presiden'ts family life) has to open out for the entire country.Why do spouse and daughters and sisters and brother-in-laws and grandparents and parents become crucial factors in an election? Ironically, that too in a country which talks about individual freedom. That someone's son is in Iraq fighting doesn't make him a more deserving presidential candidate in the same logic that someone was brought up by a single mother. No, those can't be logical reasons of electing someone a president; those are just playing with emotions.

Well, I admire Obama's oratory skills - I respect his ability to motivate and inspire. But I don't like his attacks on John Mc Cain's number of houses. John Mc Cain's wealth, by birth or by life, does not make him a less desirable candidate. Similary, Obama's tryst with adversities does not make him a more deserving presidential candidate. Personally, yes - my heart goes out to Obama for he represents my situation in life. But wealth, or lack of it, doesn't qualify a president. Adversities or abundance is the determining factor itself; the end product is. Did adversity make an Obama out of you or delinquent - that matters. In a similar way - did wealth make a Paris Hilton out of you, or you chose to be Bill Gates, whose donations only make the dream of attending school possible for a few thousand children in India. Personal wealth, or the lack of it can't be political propaganda. I would not expect any mature person to use it.

And secondly, stop using your family. Stop bringing your wives to the convention and using public display of affection to fortify your image as a strong family. You don't have to exhibit that. Michelle's speech the other day was a stroong evidence of the intellectual compatibility shared that you share.( I actually found Senator Hillary Clinton's comments funny - Barack has a potential partner in Michelle to run the country? Now is the Barack the presidential candidate or Michelle? These may be confusing to an India who is new to American politics. But I was secretly thinking our Indian polliticians are not far behind - Laloo handed over reignes to Rabri; clearly Laloo must have been elected because he had an able partner in Rabri!)

And then I feel sorry for the two gilrs - the little one surely was awake past bedtime, and it was evident. Yes, I believe in supporting my family, very strongly, very undonditionally. But what's the point in exhibition? May that's not what it is done in India. Given our history, we often find only one in the family who is all out - rest are shadow.

I don't think so anyone in India elected Manmohan Singh because of his deserving family; but I do know Sigh's daughter has scaled intellectual heights.

In the true spirit of American freedom, Joe Biden'son can become what he wants to and John Mc Cain can live in the most luxurious house, provided they knew to respect their freedom and acepted their responsibilities to the community.

Green energy in 10 years - we can solve it

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

India's poverty

One third of the world's poor lives in India.456 million is the number - 42% of India's population if you consider $1.25 per day as the poverty line.

India also has 828 milion people, or 75.6% of the population living below $2 a day, beating Sub-Saharan desert, considered world's poorest region with 72.2% living below $2 per day level, or 551 milliion.

Is anyone taking note of these numbers?

Life is like GMAT - an open book test!

That is quite an interesting observation. Life is like GMAT - the answers are all out there, you just have to learn the process of elimination,have to learn not to fall into the tricks and traps - but everything you need to score is all out there!

I guess that's the story. Most things that we learn painstakingly already happened - only we didn't know when they happened. Only we were sleeping. Mao,Regan, Marx - all lived many years before I was born. But I somehow discovered them only now. Many great movies were made during my grand father's youth, but I discovered them only now. Think about it I watched Fantasia when I was 25 or 26!! Why am I trailing? Why I did I lose out in the race?

And now - in the days of democracy of information, I no longer have an excuse of living in a third world country where even the newspaper arrives a week later.That used to happen in my childhood. I insisted on subscribing to The Hindu and The Times Of India, and I was reading news 4/5 days stale on a good day. On a bad day when Borjhar airport didn't let a plane land because of the weather, there's no news at all. I was very hungry at that time - hungry for information, hungry for knowledge. I don't know where I got that hunger from, but even at 10 I insisted on reading the editorial of The Hindu.

And then - action originated only in the west. Now action is here - China & India. But somehow I lost out. My knowledge became outdated. I learnt about China's "Giant Leap Forward" only now.Tsk tsk. Decades behind! Where will I get the time to catch up now?

Why suddenly I'm feeling this rush? Obama's age and Benazir's age when she was first jailed and Martin Luther's worry me a lot. Have I lost my opportunity? No, I can't. I'm determined.

There's a lot out there that I need to know and see - I've to make the most of life. Any moment spent is regret is a precious moment wasted. I need to look forward. I need to do.

I'm determined to make most of life, to create value, to justify my parents' act of giving me life, to be role model for my sister, and for the confidence of the generation to come.

Yeah! I'd experienced rock bottom. But the only way is up from there.

Yeah - I've a dream too. And I will make it happen.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

A leader primarily motivates

One has to master effective habbits painstakingly and guard one's daily activities to become a leader. Agreed, a leader has a private life. But a leader has public responsibilities - many would be ideolizing, mirroring the leader considering the example of the leader's life as ideal.

That's the boon, that's the curse of leadership - power to impact.

An upcoming leader must inculcate these in her character. Its not saying that a leader may not have flaws - its the story of uprising from rock bottom that matters, the grit and character that's demonstrated from every such fall.

More than anything else, leadership is about motivating - about building trust in self first, and then the system

Homework is needed everywhere - preparation for B-School or presidential election alike!

You must be watching this space Red River – and sometimes I update just for you.
But I’ve been feeling an increasing need to maintain a log of my life – of my activities, of my changing convictions, of my increasing hunger to know the people who rocked the world and changed the way the people think, of my pursuit to know the leaders better, of my attempts to explore the purpose of life. Who know why – may be in my own capacity, I want to leave behind my own legacy, my own tales. Even if I fail to impact the world, may be my grandchildren will benefit from my accounts and will fulfil my journey. May be I just don’t want to be left to chance, and fear my story of life being misinterpreted for the want of more information.
The hospitalization and the hiatus from office has given me a big opportunity to read without deadlines. And I’ve been reading a lot.
Most of all, I’ve been following one emerging young leader – Barack Obama. I’m not equipped to comment on who will make a better president for the United States – the Americans will decide that. But I’m surely inspired by the Barack Obama story. And hence I’m following him, speech by speech.
His speeches triggered my search for the other great speeches of the world – including “I’ve a dream” by Martin Luther King.
I’m not here for critical observation of their lives – I’m here to just observe the common underlying theme of most exemplary lives – they were definitely human beings of superior skills. They were not ordinary. Martin Luther achieved all the greatness of his life in just 39 years; Kennedy became president at 43; and now at 47, Obama transcended mental barriers and is the first African-American presidential candidate. I don’t know who deserves to win the election. But I surely know Obama has the special ability to inspire young people. He surely inspired me – raised by single mother, economic adversity and look where he managed to go – Columbia, Harvard. He surely must have had some grit to attend these schools. He must have had talent.
Connection of the Ivy Leagues (Yale, Harvard mostly) is evident everywhere – even Daughter of the East Ms Bhutto attended Harvard. Contributions of these schools to the world are undoubted. And that’s why I hope against hope.
While I was turning the pages of history from Regan to Kennedy, from Hillary to Benazir, from Martin Luther to Obama – one thing was very evident. Over achievers, some level of intelligence, independent opinion, discipline towards a goal, well read, well written, commitment to a cause and not complacence of a 9-5 job – all lessons that I should learn. Lessons that I should learn to discipline myself better to make more use of my life, my time, my skills. I’ve to make use of what I’ve – create value; do something. Not watch and let it be.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

All roads lead to Rome

Eventually I guess all objectives and purposes of human life revolve around to make it a better life – a better planet, a better economy, a better set of beliefs – everything revolves around improvement, becoming better – at different levels though.
What else can drive all actions? Its only pursuit of this excellence, of this want to be better, to live better, to do better, to love better, to look better, to feel better – decides our actions, our goals.
We choose our goals and activities at different levels but we all aim to be better in some chosen field of endeavour.
And I also chose – a better planet. Easily said. But the task of breaking it down to doable tasks is bigger than the task itself!
That’s what I’m debating now – what should I choose to maximise the resources of one life? I’m doing what I can do - transactional activities – taking care of pets, taking care of my family, teaching the 14 year old boy to read & write and dream of a life – and I think I’m doing a good job.
But , what’s my big picture? Venture capitalists in an emerging market, research in economy geared towards removing disparity amongst the people in the world, leadership for an equal world – a better world… what is my calling, how can I make use of my life to make things better, and with maximum impacts?
I’m doing it all to better myself to her – one that will come after me; I want her to be proud of me. I’m sure this is the desire in every human being – and every human being makes attempt in becoming a better parent, but somewhere the bigger picture is lost, and mistakes committed.
Hence, I’m taking my time to see the bigger picture. Some argue I’m taking too long. But it takes time to bake a cake. Isn’t it?

Monday, August 18, 2008

Silence has a reason....

A lot happened in between; ever since the last post. Wedding anniversary, sister's surprise visit,my first hospitalization,Dark Knight, Jian Carlos,discovery of People,Profit,Planet,Saddam Hussain,Abhinav Bindra's gold, Michael Phelp's abnormal torso and his attention deficit disorder, my questions about my job, many good books read because of the sudden time I won from my prescribed bed rest...many things. Unfortunately, I'm not able to update....for I can't sit and type for long. All updates will have to wait.

Meanwhile Red River, Panchi, Indu, Mami must be all preparing for Indu's wedding. It would have been nice to be there. But...

With my current health scenario, even the trip to US is questioned.And my B-school prep has also be thrown out of gear. But when I think of those days with the acute pain, everything else seems small in comparison. Good that episode is over. Atleast that's what I would like to believe till my next appointment.

Monday, August 04, 2008

A busy weekend, and a new home!

Yes, I've been to Mumbai for the weekend, extended weekend I should stay for the weekend began on a Thursday evening.

The news that I received on Thursday itself was not good. Mom called up to say one of sis's close friends high school passed away on a road accident. He was the pillion rider. Mom asked me not to mention this to sis over the phone, and talk about it when I get to Mumbai at night from Bangalore.Buki, that's what we called him. He was Vishal otherwise. Can't describe my feelings - felt awkward. I've decided to train my mind to think less and less, and concentrate on what we have. Funny how sis can say such matters of truth is simple things. She puts things simply - her strength. And I've to make a melodrama out of everything, using complex sentences with phrases and clauses. Its simplicity which offers life's wise lessons I guess.

Anyway, reached Mumbai at 11:15 PM in the night. Reached home ion Powai at around 12:30 AM. This was the last night in the house in Powai. The next day is when we shift to the new flat in Mulund behind Nirmal Lifestyle. That's the mission I'm here in Mumbai for.

The next morning was a lot of packing, unpacking, cleaning and expressing irritation, "Why do you shop so much? Why do you leave all these bottles unfinished and buy new ones?" Well 0 the truth is even I do so. But right now the subject is "sis" and not me, and she, not me, will be critiqued:)

Well, in transit from POwai to Mulund we lost the brand new Sony camera. One more reason for me to give her lectures on being "responsible". And those who know me never knew me as "responsible". But being in charge of the mission gave me rights to "lecture".

I called the packers & movers, and the guy had to say, "The camera accidentally slid out of my bag to his bag!!" Whoa!! I could never decode that mystery. But surprise of surprises, the guy did come to return the camera. Spirit of Mumbai? May be! He said the other guy flicked it, and that the guy in question was bashed up when the sin was discovered.Anyway - lesson learnt.

And then cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. the previous tenants were a bunch of guys. And now guys don't know what is cleanliness and the needs of hygiene! So one can imagine the volume of work.

ANd then there was fixing, fixing and more fixing to be done. Carpenter, plumber, electrician - which other vocation did I leave out?

But the good news - the owner is an extremely sweet person. She ends every telephonic conversation with,"God bless you my dear. Take care". She sent us breakfast, lunch and dinner all the three days!

And she a Golden Retriever - MAX! And the bonus - the folks staying the in the flat across have 2 dogs - a cocker spaniel Jenny, who was an exact replica of our own Butterly and a Rottweiler named WIncy! What more can you ask for!

We called the land lady for tea on Sunday afternoon. The "head fake" here was to impress her. We were so sure of our good skills of doing up the place that we wanted to hear the compliments loud and clear. And she did throw the compliments loud and clear. Have to ask sis to send a few pics of her new place!

And yes, I forgot to mention the movie marathon. The fact that we were 3 mins walk away from PVR is the icing on the cake. Actually its PVR + Crossword + AT home + Shopper's Stop + W + all the good places to eat! So on Saturday evening it was Mummy. And then on Sunday - "Ugly aur pagli" and "Caramel". Back to back. One screen to the other.What an experience. Caramel was a beautiful experience. One of sis's colleague - a guy, also watched "Caramel" with us. Poor fellow - Caramel is so much a feminine movie, he must have been completely bored. But sis & I decided to ignore the fact, and sink in. It is indeed a beautiful movie.

And then on Monday morning - the first flight to Bangalore. Woke up at 3:30 AM to catch the flight. And then another day at work. God save all those who work in the outsourcing industry. We will soon forget to think!

And after all this, miss sis around. She is alone in her new flat for the first time. Big girl she is now. I know she will manage, and show me how to in a few days!

Read Kongki and her sis's blogs. The "sisterhood" that they share and expressed in one of their blogs triggered me to write this blog too. Even when I'm tired from the travel, and know that I should rather be solving that math problem from the Official Guide or write the bullets for my essay. But then....

"Its about where you want to go, where others have gone may not be where you want to go."