Turmoil in orissa house

About 28 farmers commit suicide over the past four months

The Opposition Congress members created a ruckus in the Orissa Assembly over the issues of alleged suicides by farmers and the mining scam last week. With pandemonium continuing, the House was adjourned thrice for ten minutes each.

These two major issues are being used by the Opposition to corner the Naveen Patnaik government that has been ruling the state for the last twelve years. Incidentally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — the alliance partner of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the initial two elections only to snap ties in the 2009 local polls — has also joined in.

Their leaders leave no chance to highlight the ruling government’s failure in addressing farmers’ problems.

The party known for ignoring Opposition seems to be upset with the latest development in the state. Till date, at least 28 farmers have committed suicide in the state over the past four months of which more than 15 were from the western part of the Orissa — considered the ‘rice bowl’ of the state.

Besides, the government is also in the dock for its role in the Rs 14,000 crore mining scam. The Congress is seeking a CBI probe into the whole episode.

Cornered, the government has rolled out a number of schemes for the farmers whose rabi crop was destroyed by poor rainfall. However, the Congress is not willing to take the government-run rescue mission at face value. They say that the government has not come out with any concrete rescue package for the debt-ridden farmers who are distressed due to crop losses. And they are in such a sad position that they can’t even pay back their debts taken from the local agents.

“The government has no right to remain in power, as it has failed to rescue the farmers of the state. Forget about compensating the debt-ridden farmers, the government should have at least consoled the deceased family members”, BJP state president Suresh Pujari said.

Farmers’ issues has tarnished the clean image of Naveen Patnaik. “Farmers of the state are upset with the chief minister, as he has done little to address their real problems. The government has not added a single inch of irrigated land during its regime. It has neglected the agricultural sector and the farmers are suffering,” Central minister and senior Congress leader Srikant Jena told TSI.

The usual response from the government has been that it would look into the matter.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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“It was a truly people’s upsurge”

Subhendu Adhikari, Trinamool Congress MP from Tamluk and son of Union minister of state for Rural Development Sisir Adhikari, talks to Chandrasekhar Bhattacharjee about the people’s revolt against the highhanded policies of the CPI (M). Subhendu defeated CPI (M) heavyweight Laxman Sett in the last Lok Sabha elections What were the challenges you faced in Khejuri?

The CPI (M) men heckled me every time I went there to campaign for my party. They even spat on me, manhandled me and tore my dress. Yet I never contemplated revenge. On the contrary, when the violence broke out our men helped the family members of CPI (M) leaers to reach safe places. We even gave protection to the family of the notorious CPI (M) leader Himangshu Das. Ask his wife and elder brother.

What was the provocation that made you block the entry of five CPI (M) ministers’ into Khejuri?

Allowing them in would have been taking a big risk. Over 12,000 people were out on the streets, recovering firearms and ammunition from CPI (M) party offices. We had earlier told police about the stockpiles, but they remained mute spectators. The recoveries had put the people on edge.

Do you think the people of Nandigram are happy with this development?

It’s not a matter of happiness, but of satisfaction. They are now sure they can sleep well in the days to come, which they have been unable to do since March 14, 2007. The first firearms recovery was made from the house of CPI (M) leader Subrata Kar’s house in Jahanabaad, Khejuri on April 29, 2007. This was a month-and-a-half after the Nandigram massacre. Had police acted at that time there would have been no such people’s upsurge. The police inaction was obviously due to CPI (M) pressure. This upsurge has removed that obstacle. Now even the police can hope to function without fear or favour.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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The makings of another disaster?

25 years on, NGOs have failed to sink their differences

NGOs working overtime to wrest justice for the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy are at loggerheads with each other all of 25 years after the world’s worst industrial disaster shook the city. More than 8,000 people lost their lives and thousands were injured when a deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant at midnight on December 1984. After the disaster, a number of forums, groups and different political parties came together to fight to secure justice for the gas leak victims. They formed a common front named Zaharili Gas Kand Sangharsh Morcha. Owing to this organisation’s concerted effort many victims got justice.

But within a few years, infighting surfaced among them regarding the principles and practical approach to work for the victims. Things went from bad to worse six years ago when Champa Devi Shukla and Rashida Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh were awarded the Goldman Environment Prize by the American Public Association for their relief work among gas victims. The dispute was over the use of the prize money. Rashida Bee claimed that the award was for the individual. But Sunita Shrivastava didn’t accept this, arguing that the prize money should be distributed among the gas victims. Irked by the development, she left the Sangh and founded Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationery Karmachari Morcha. Since then relations between the two has continued to fester.

However, it was expected that on the 25th anniversary of the disaster they would come together. But no such signs are visible. Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha’s president Balkrishna Namdev says: “It’s difficult to solve these disputes because they believe in different approaches and principles in tackling the crisis. It is a tragedy.”

Sadhna Karnik, convener of Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti, says: “If clashes and ideological disputes persist even 25 years after the diasaster, then what is the need to have joint programmes? However, on major issues we all are together and make joint efforts to achieve our ends.”

Rashida Bee pointed out that though efforts are still being made for collective action, it is not possible anymore to operate from one platform. But Abdul Jabbar, convener of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan, hasn’t lost all hope. He emphasised that though differences and diputes have cropped up, we are all working for the rights of the gas victims. He expects that everyone will come together once more on the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Born on 26/11

TSI Profiles some Indians whose birthday last year was engulfed by death and destruction

Ayear ago, on November 26, India was halted in its tracks by a bunch of bloodthirsty terrorists who sneaked into Mumbai and unleashed mayhem. They opened fire at the CST, killing scores of innocent people, and attacked one of the city's best known landmarks, the Taj Mahal Hotel, besides the Oberoi Trident and Nariman House. By the time they were done, the intruders had left a trail of death and destruction. TSI traces out a few Indians from across the country who were celebrating their birthday that evening. Will they be celebrating their special day this year as well, or will they opt for a quiet day of mourning for all those who lost their lives in the terror attack? Life will go on, as it always does. but it will probably never be the same again!

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An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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War & peace - The state vs the Maoists

There is widespread sympathy for the ultras’ cause but none for their methodology

Dr Trinath Mishra

Author of ‘Barrel of the Gun’ – a study of Maoist movements

The Maoists have been waging a relentless armed campaign against the Indian State for the past 42 years. The movement that originated in Naxalbari (West Bengal) aims to bring down the parliamentary form of government and replace it with a proletarian regime. Launched initially to press for land reforms it has, down the years, morphed into a virulent guerrilla campaign. Within just a few years after Naxalism erupted in 1967, it had engulfed large swathes of rural West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. But now urban areas – metros like Kolkata and Hyderabad – too are threatened.

It was their disgust with rampant political horse trading and spiraling unemployment that drove these young people to take up arms against the State and their capitalist exploiters. In Naxalism’s early years, a large number of university students, even from professional institutions like engineering and medical colleges, gave up their studies and flocked to the cause. Large areas in these states came under their dominance and for a while it almost appeared that revolution was at the doorstep.

But the campaign was poorly organised and inexpertly led. A large number of criminal lumpen elements jumped on to its bandwagon to legitimise their activities. Moreover the leaders could never agree on which operational method was the most sound. Such disagreements caused several splinter groups to arise, spawning the culture of the personality cult. The State meanwhile got stronger. Political stability at the Centre and in the states enabled governments to launch Operation Steeple Chase and re-establish its authority in the vulnerable areas, and the mindless bloodletting sanctioned by the ultras turned public opinion against them.

Taking full advantage of the political instability of the 80’s and 90’s, the Naxalities re-established themselves in their old areas and used these bases to spread their tentacles in other regions. Under the banner of CPI (Maoist) they succeeded in uniting the various sub groups. The emergence of Maoists as the dominant political force in Nepal gave further boost to their morale.

Amidst all this the government response remained disoriented and disjointed. Naxalism was routinely treated as a ‘law and order’ problem to be tackled by the affected states. This was a mistake, because the police forces were too ill equipped to tackle the situation.

By the end of the last century the Maoists had expanded their influence politically, socially, territorially and economically – and by 2005 they had made their presence felt in 11 states. They remain well entrenched in large parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

The reasons behind the birth and growth of Maoist armed movements are well known, but both Central and state governments looked on passively. A competent anti-Maoist counter would have been to speedily and effectively strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions. This would have empowered the people and isolated the Maoists.

Armed revolutions against the modern state, especially those which have popular sanction, generally fail. To succeed, the revolution would require support from an outside power: direct or proxy invasion by a strong power or a civil war or a coup d’etat. But none of the three appears to be feasible in India. The Maoists, no matter how committed, are no match for the might of the government forces. Indeed they would do well to keep the fate of the LTTE in mind and quickly reform.

But this is not to say that the Maoist movement has not been without some notable achievements. In its own way it has empowered the poorest sections of our population. It has brought women in the forefront of the struggle. It has given voice to the dumb, so that even the sparrow has been turned into a hawk. So now no one can afford to neglect these communities and the areas they live in.

Development by all accounts is the key to solving this problem. The governments have an ambitious blueprint to develop these areas and have set apart a big budget for the purpose. However, since top-ranking Maoist leaders like Ganapati and Kishenji have summarily rejected the offer of negotiations, the sole alternative is to supplement developmental initiatives with an effective and coordinated armed response. As for the Maoist leaders, they urgently need to rethink and amend their strategies. This ‘Red Corridor’ or the ‘Compact Revolutionary Zone – stretching from Tirupati to Pashupati – can’t just be wished away. Yet while there is widespread sympathy and support for their cause, there is none for their methodology.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Farmers left in the lurch

Nine kill self in 90 days, govt still ‘assessing’ losses

Farmers in Orissa are a distressed lot. This year, their misery has been compounded further by heavy crop losses due to poor rainfall. And to add to their woes, the crop they toiled to grow has been devoured by swarming insects. A conjuction of these factors have hit cultivators so badly that many of them are struggling to pay their loans.

The worst hit are the farmers of western Orissa which is considered to be the rice bowl of the state. Till now, nine farmers in the state have been reported to have committed suicide in the last three months. Out of them, six are from western Orissa. And with little help coming from the Naveen Patnaik government, they have resorted to agitation. Angry farmers blocked the national highway in Jharsuguda district for 12 hours to protest farmers’ suicides in Jharsuguda district.

Ashok Pradhan, prominent farmers’ leader and convener of the Western Orissa Farmers’ Coordination Committee, lashed out at government officials for their failure to take timely action. “The government was well aware of the situation but it failed to address the crisis. We had alerted the officials well in advance. But, neither the district administration nor the state agriculture department took any precautionary measure. We will teach this government a lesson, ” he said, putting the whole blame on the government.

Worse, there are regions in the state that don’t even have basic irrigation facilities. Jamenkira, Kuchinda and Rengali blocks of Sambalpur and Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district are some of them. Being close to the Hirakud reservoir, the land here is at a higher plane from the water level. Lift irrigation is the only solution in these areas. But what happens if 90 per cent of the government-sponsored lift points are defunct?

The government’s lackadaisical approach in tackling the crisis has even upset a former judge of Orissa High Court, Choudhary Pratap Kesari Mishra. Justice Mishra, who visited the drought-hit areas and villages where farmers have committed suicide, asked the government to be proactive to bring farmers out of this difficult situation. “And if it fails to do so, the government will have to pay a heavy price for ignoring the farmers,” he told TSI. The crisis has given the state Opposition enough ammunition to bay for BJD chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s blood. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the BJD till the other day, has also sought the chief minister’s resignation for his government’s utter failure to protect farmers’ interests in the state.

BJP spokesperson Nayan Mohanty and vice-president Pruthiraj Harichandan said the government lacked political will and administrative acumen to address the explosive situation. They also criticised the chief minister of trying to suppress such a sensitive issue with the help of ‘false’ official reports. Naveen Patnaik has also drawn flak for not visiting the villages where cases of farmers’ suicide have been reported from. The Orissa government’s reaction to the accusations has been shocking. It says that relief measures will be announced only after its officials assess the situation. For this purpose, a team of divisional officers from the revenue and agriculture department has been formed to conduct an assessment of crop losses in the districts. But can the impoverished farmers wait till then?

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Ideas felled by the gun: Kennedys and Luther King Jr

It's been almost five decades since John F. Kennedy was hit in his head and throat when three shots were fired at his car. The presidential convoy was passing through the main commercial district of Dallas, driving from the airport to the city centre. A bystander alleged that shots were fired from the casement of a construction across the road. The President buckled into Jackie Kennedy’s arms, who was heard crying out “Oh no”. The President’s limousine was immediately driven at speed to the Parklands Hospital. He died 35 minutes after being shot. Within hours of the shooting, a cop approached Lee Harvey Oswald, believing he matched the description of the killer. The cop was shot dead. Oswald was arrested straightaway, suspected of being the assassin. Shortly afterwards, he was charged. The suspect was never tried as he was shot dead two days later.

So it’s over: the Kennedy epoch in which the political realisation of the majority of my American cohort was born. It was John and Robert Kennedy whose lives actually thrilled American political principles and whose murders surely catalysed, as Norman Mailer previously asserted, a “general nervous breakdown”. It was that disastrous psychic rage that gave birth to the “youth culture” of the Hippie era, with its blend of lofty romanticism and self-absorbed bliss – which, as it happens, was a predominantly fitting cenotaph for the Kennedy dream. As I spent much of that period at Berkeley, where we made up what became the international student revolution; this is what I can analyse in retrospect.

It is nearly unfeasible to overrate the impact that the presidential campaign, the poll triumph, and then the assassination of President Kennedy had on a suggestible fresh legion of Americans who were rising from the Eisenhower years and a phase of conventional stagnation. Experts had termed our direct predecessors “the silent generation”.

All that optimism, all that pledge, the Peace Corps, the initial official acknowledgment of the objectives of the civil rights movement, the splendid oratory of Kennedy's speeches were doused in what was then an “unimaginable act”.


The jolt was literally astounding. I can still, to this very day, evoke it in all its intuitive passion, as can, I am sure, approximately every American who had been conscious then. When Bobby Kennedy, too, was killed, there was a philosophical sense of ineffectuality. Possibly it was at that instant that the movements entered properly into their nihilistic stage. For, there was still a faith then that the Kennedys were two typically good men who personified the most excellent aims of America. That was, obviously, before we learned the reality about their personal lives. But strangely, even after we came to know of the inconsistency between the personal and public ethics of the Kennedys – in John Kennedy’s case, a sexual promiscuity bordering on the pathological – and of the squalid arrangements that were made to obtain women for JFK by his kin, the legacy was not entirely shattered.

On the other hand, you simply cannot listen to the name Martin Luther King, Jr and not imagine death. You may heed the words “I have a dream,” but they will undoubtedly only dole out to emphasise a picture of a plain motel terrace, a large man made small, a pool of blood. Although King was among the most famous figures of his era, when he was alive, it was death that eventually defined him.

He ate, drank, and slept death. He bopped with it, he lectured it, he dreaded it and he stared it down. He looked for avenues to lay it sideways, this weight of his own transience, but eventually recognised that his steadfast resolve on a non-violent end to the ill-treatment of his folks could just end violently.

Since the age he started speaking in public, King was preoccupied by death – assaulted by the pledge of obliteration for seeking an end to humiliation to African Americans and the commencement of parity with whites. He dishevelled the feathers of white chauvinists who grew further resolute to bring him down. There were outstanding physical threats to King.

In an illustration of bare hostility, two white cops tried to wedge his entry into a Montgomery courtroom for the trial of a fellow who assaulted one of his comrades. Regardless of a caution from the cops, King jabbed his head in the courtroom looking for his solicitor to help him get in. His behaviour put a match to cops’ rage. The cop twisted his arm behind his back and shoved him into detention. A photographer happened to click the picture.

The shot of Dr King, clad in a natty tan outfit, fashionable gold watch and a cool snap-brim fedora, flinching as he is shoved to imprisonment, is an iconic civil rights image

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Critical contest as nothing less than a victory

The stiffest battle is on at Kannur, where the LDF is putting all its weight behind its star contestant M.V.Jayarajan. Congress leader K.Sudhakaran held the seat before he was elected to Parliament. Sudhakaran had defeated CPI(M)’s K.K. Ragesh by a huge margin. The other aspect which makes the battle for Kannur interesting is that M.V. Jayarajan is pitted against former comrade-in-arms A.P. Abdullakkutty, who has twice represented the constituency in Parliament for CPI(M). Abdullakkutty, who joined the Congress after his controversial ejection from CPI(M), also takes this as a critical contest as nothing less than a victory could baptise him as a Congressman. However, Abdullakkutty won’t have it easy. Within the Congress itself, there is a group of disgruntled leaders who fear that a victorious Abdullakkutty can put paid to their future political careers. Both the CPI(M) and the Congress are accusing one another of preparing to rig the election. While the Congress alleges that the CPI(M) leadership, with the help of the district administration, has added bogus voters’ names to the voters’ list, CPI(M) accuses the Congress of trying to spread unrest in the constituency. A case has been registered against Sudhakaran charging him with unbailable offences including that of disrupting the duty of a tehsildar. Sudhakaran, of course, refutes the charge and alleges that the district collector has become a tool in the hands of the CPI(M). Thus, Kannur has emerged as the hottest battleground among all the three constituencies.

Elsewhere, the CPI(M) has accused Union minister Vayalar Ravi of violating election rules. The Congress has levelled similar accusations against state ministers C. Divakaran and K.P. Rajendran.

In Ernakulam, which elected Union minister K.V.Thomas as its MP, Congress leader and former parliamentarian Dominic Presentation is contesting against a new face, local CPI(M) leader P.N. Seenulal.

In Alappuzha, A.A. Shukkoor of the Congress is pitted against the CPI youth leader G. Krishna Prasad. Both of them are newcomers in the poll arena and the seat could go either way. BJP has fielded candidates in all the three constituencies but do not expect any miracle. The Congress leadership claims that the by-poll results will be a report card on the performance of the state government.

Though the influential Nair Service Society (NSS) ardently supported the UDF in the Lok Sabha polls, this time it is not putting its weight behind the Congress. The NSS leadership is not happy with the UDF candidates. Soon after the names were announced, NSS leaders commented that it seemed like Congress candidature was reserved for a certain community. Earlier, NSS had sent their reservation against Shashi Tharoor’s candidature for the Lok Sabha polls. The Catholic Church is still with the UDF even though there were attempts from the CPI(M) side to reconcile the differences between the Church and the government.

The LDF does not expect victory in all three seats. A CPI(M) leader told TSI, “We are sure to lose Ernakulam. We have a little hope at Alappuzha but do not expect a victory. Our only hope lies in Kannur where we expect Abdullakkutty’s remarks supporting Modi’s development model and his flip flops will cost him dearly. Actually, Kanur is a fight between the CPI(M) and Abdullakkutty, not between the two fronts.”

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Not quite cricket

The hasty Bangalore police action against two young Kashmiri cricketers has deepened the sporting schism between India and the Valley, reports Haroon Reshi

The treatment meted out in Bangalore to two members of Kashmir’s under-22 CK Nayudu Trophy team could have long-term repercussions on cricket in the Valley. Parvez Rasool and Mehraj-ud-din were detained by the Bangalore police on October 17 on suspicion that they were carrying explosives in their kitbags. They were let off because the securitymen found nothing incriminating on the two boys.

This hasty action has dealt a body blow to the spirits of a host of young Kashmiri cricketers who are seeking to use the game as a means to step out of their isolation and make their presence felt at the national level.

The incident has sparked widespread anger and concern in Kashmir. Many observers here believe that Parvez and Mehraj were targetted only because they are Muslim boys from Kashmir. “I suspect our players were targeted only because of their origin. It’s a conspiracy to create a fear psychosis among our talented cricketers,” Abdul Qayoom, coach of Kashmir’s under-22 team, told TSI over phone from Bangalore.

“The detention of the two innocent boys has stunned all the players in our team. I am now hard-pressed to boost their confidence. I hope this episode does not affect their on-field performance,” the coach said.

Qayoom castigated the mass media for playing a “biased role” in the incident. “As soon as the Bangalore police raided Parvez and Mehraj’s common room, some television channels jumped to the conclusion that a residue of some explosive substance had been recovered from their possession. “It was an obvious example of the media fanning a hate campaign against Kashmir across the country," he added.

Kashmiri youngsters who have taken up cricket as a serious pursuit are understandably feeling slighted. They have described the incident as something that has brought dishonour to the entire sporting fraternity in the state.

Abid Nabi, a leading Kashmiri cricketer, told TSI in Srinagar: “My dream is to play for India but such things are really disappointing. I am still in shock. I think our boys were singled out in Bangalore because they are from Kashmir. We should not take this episode lightly.”

Nabi, who played for the under-19 Indian team before joining the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL), called upon the state government and the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) to lodge a strong protest over the issue so that such things do not recur in future.”

Nabi, now 24, is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in India. He was trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in Bangalore. He dropped out of India contention when he joined the ICL. But now that the official ban on ICL cricketers has been lifted, Nabi has another opportunity to work his way back.

Another budding cricketer from Kashmir, Waseem, says: “I feel there is a section of the police and the authorities in other states of India who are attempting to prevent Kashmiris from playing at the national level."

JKCA has demanded an apology from the Bangalore police and the Karnataka Cricket Association. Immediately after JKCA received information about the detention of its two players in Bangalore, an emergency meeting was held in Srinagar. JKCA members strongly condemned the incident and a letter was dispatched to BCCI lodging a strong protest.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Meaning of entertainment

Movies with historical lessons flop most of the time…

Prakash Jha, Nagesh Kukunoor and Anurag Kashyap are all, without a slightest doubt, brilliant art film directors. Prakash Jha directed scintillating films like "Damul" and "Hip Hip Hurray", but these little gems failed miserably in the box office. Anil Sharma’s masterpiece "Shradhanjali", also bombed in the box office, is the indicator of pall of gloom for makers of realistic films. Consequently they had to drop their ideals and embraced a switchover, as was the case with Prakash Jha who came with films like "Gangajal" and "Apaharan". Jha laments for this but he is left with no other choice, as economics of the films stands tall at the expense of creativity. Then time less classics like "Ardh Satya" and "Deham" and even recent creation like "Shaurya" flopped and remained unsold in the TV channels. Therefore, like popular mandate and distributors the small screen as well eludes these directors of their craftsmanship which is meant for small segment of audience and thus not commercially viable. On one hand commercially successful films like "Krrish", "Dhoom-2", "Phir Hera Pheri", have their TV rights being sold at a phenomenal price up to Rs 30 crore; on the other hand, there are no takers for Shyam Benegal, Goutam Ghosh, and Kalpana Lajmi.

Most of the TV channels like Zee Cinema, Star Gold, Set Max, B4U Movies et al, show four films a day while only six art films in a month find their place in small screens. Even the duds like "Janani" (which was removed from the theatre after just three days) or "Raja Ki Ayegi Barat" is preferred to parallel cinemas like "Bhumika", "Mrigaya", or "Saraansh" to name a few. So, it is evident that critical acclaim means nothing; it is the economics that matters. Anurag Kashyap made a film called "Paanch", and got appreciation from every body that saw it, but it never saw the light of the day in theatres. Undeterred, he made another realistic film called "Black Friday", which was raved by the people, but was a loser in economics and flopped. The ramification to Anurag was prolonged depression and alcoholism because he made some truly good films! Ultimately he had to make a commercially successful film in the name of "Dev D", with songs like Emotional Atyachar became very popular. In an article published in the Hindu on Sunday, July 08, 2007, Mahesh Bhatt said “Contrary to the assumption that people want good cinema, they don’t. Even if they get it for free, they don’t watch it. Even Doordarshan, where profit is not the main motive, does not want art house cinema. It's a battle for the eyeballs, a battle for bums on the seat. It's pure and simple economics, no art.”

In Hollywood too, a wonderful movie like "Troy" flopped while the movie nicely portrayed smallest truths of history. The effort used behind making movies like "Vantage Point" is praiseworthy but it was one a disappointing films of 2008. Hundreds of movies are made on Gandhi; none of them ever become a blockbuster. This reflects that audiences rarely digest movies with historical importance. Rather movies without history, logic and sense appeal masses more.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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Life is beautiful

At 81, british zoologist and ethologist, dr. desmond morris thinks that life is worth clinging on to forever. despite the risks that run with the possibility of eternal life for the mortal human race, this author of the seminal bestseller on the human animal, "the naked ape," dicusses with swati hora how scientific inquiry to stop the process of ageing must go on and so would life for all of us...

80 going on 20

What the scientists mean by immortality is this – as we grow older, the cell replacement efficiency declines and this is a built-in obsolescence because evolution relies on the fact that there are new generations coming along so that all the time there is a flexibility in the species implying that with each new generation there are new combinations of genes and new possibilities of developing in different directions. So this lack of efficiency when we get old in terms of cell replacement, that’s what they can help with. So, your cell replacement at 80 will be as good as when you were 20, which means that at 80 you would have a body which is as efficient as when you were 20. It is not really immortality, it is contextual immortality because the person can still be knocked down by a truck, can still catch a disease and die of it, or be bitten by a snake. So, you are not immortal but you would be able to avoid the ageing process. And that would mean that you will be able to stay young physically and mentally as you grow older, and if you don’t have an accident or catch a disease, you should be able to go on living forever. The result of this would be that far more people will live for longer, increasing the population even more than it is at the moment. When that happens, sooner or later we will run out of resources and we will become so crowded that we will suffer from epidemics of various kinds. May be wars will get more frequent because of the crowding but essentially, we will be vulnerable to epidemics. They will be able to sweep through our population more quickly because we will be so crowded. And that will be the hazard we face in a few 100 years. The question is whether they can develop medication to protect us. And in future, that should be possible. So it is possible that we will be able to develop modern medicines to a point where the epidemics would not spread and where we could go on living for a very long time and then, the problem we will face would be of overcrowding and depleting natural resources.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Ilayaraja, A.R. Rahman - Southern maestros

I am very proud talking about Ilayaraja and A.R.Rahman. Classical music is not different from cinema music. Even in folk songs, we can perceive elements of classical music. I sang my first song in 1954 in a Telugu movie, Sati Savithri. Now I see many great musicians in the film world. Likewise, Ilayaraja and Rahman are contributing to India through making great music. Ilayaraja is a master of classical and western music. Rahman has climbed many heights at a very young age. The Oscar is a great achievement.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Maidan cricket - The nursery of Indian players'

The Maidan. This is the open arena where the Sachin Ramesh Tendulkars of India hone their skills and to make a bigger name for themselves. The sprawling Maidans across India draw aspiring cricketers in droves. Clubs that dot our cities and towns face off on these grounds. Thus, they throw up a bunch of battle-ready cricketers who graduate to playing representative cricket for their schools, colleges and states. At any given time on the weekends, one finds multiple contests taking place on Mumbai's Shivaji Maidan, Delhi's India Gate grounds or Kolkata's Maidan, so much so that a batsman who plays a delicate leg-glance might find his stroke blocked by the makeshift stumps being used for another match on an adjoining pitch. Or sometimes, a ferocious square cut might not go the distance it is intended to simply because the Maidan wall is too close to the batting strip.

These maidans capture the spirit of India in many crucial ways. Unlike parks, which have lush green lawns, these maidans have matted, scraggy grass that struggle to stay alive under a million feet and all the dust and tumult that they raise. Enthusiastic boys, sometimes as young as 10 or 11, run around with such gusto that you might be led to believe that their lives depended on how fast they moved. The rough and ready methods employed in the course of these cricket matches give these boys a certain edge, which in due couse is translated into basic cricketing skills of a reasonable high order. Not everybody from this crowd of cricketers goes on to become a Tendulkar, but without the Maidan and gully cricket, the sport would not have quite attained the status that it enjoys in India. Cricket is a religion in this part of the world because young boys, who might not have access to regular playing facilities, can go over to their open Maidans to put their abilities to the test. This helps as when they graduate to the next level - more organised age-group cricket sponsored by the official establishment - they don't really feel like fish out of water

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Shayari - Heartbeats spun into magical words

Shairi lies at the very heart of Indian culture. No love letter is complete without a couplet. Neither is a gathering of friends. Poets played a crucial role in the freedom struggle. Who can forget Ram Prashad Bismil’s Sarfaroshi ki tamanna... From Mirza Ghalib to the present-day exponents of the craft, shairi has lived on as a living tradition amidst the people of the land. It springs from the soul of the subcontinent and resonates across the world.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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IIPM News - Kohinoor - A Diamond is forever..

If there is an instance of a jewel shaping the history of a nation, it has to be the Kohinoor. It was dug out 4000 years ago from the Godavari basin. Back then, women used to consider wearing diamonds unlucky. For centuries, it adorned the crowns of the Mughals. When Nadir Shah invaded India and routed the Mughals in 1739, it travelled to Persia. It was later offered to Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. The British East India Company snatched it from the Sikhs. It was offered to the British ruler, Queen Victoria, in 1849 on the completion of 250 years of the company.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Mango - The king of fruits

History records that Pathans brought the mango to India. Not surprisingly, some of its best varieties come from the Pathani settlement of Malihabad, 20 km from Luckmow. The names are as divine as the fruit. The Husnaro is a half red, half green variety; the Gulab Khas changes its colour on the tree; the Khas-o-Khas is so named because its taste is unmatched. The mangoes of Malihabad (and its lesser known cousin Rahimabad) get their taste from the lower percentage of sand in the soil. Another legend has sprouted some kilometers from Malihabad at Kakori where some 300 years ago a tree is believed to have yielded that king of mangoes: dussheri. And while mango aficionados can reel off 40-50 varieties with ease, Kaleemullah Khan, owner of the Abdullah nursery at Malihabad, has grafted 300 varieties of mangos on a single tree.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Kamasutra - The frank legacyof forbidden talk

India, for sure, is a country of strange contradictions. A 50-minute drive from the Silicon Valley of Bangalore will transport you back to the Stone Age. And it is here that the most globally authoritative handbook of practical advice on sex was crafted in ancient times although many in modern India are still not well read about the bees and the birds.

Now, this reference of Kamasutra is seriously intended to be an example, and not the reference point of this discussion. Vatsayana’s work and the sculptural specimens at Khajuraho and Konark don’t intend to allude that our ancestors were sexually more active than us.

Surely, it does take some doing to reach a 1.15-billion population mark and there is no hint that we are stopping. One has to discount the scientific plausibility of the theories of Divine Origin and Immaculate Conception here, though I am sure some people still try to propagate the same with missionary zeal. Well, after all, it’s a free country and there is freedom of speech. Cutting three sentences back, these ancient examples rather mean that the old society was not in denial of the fact that sex was a part of their normal lives.

Let’s now scan ourselves. We boast of a modern education system; and yet, we don’t have reproductive health as a subject. This looks totally stupid in the light of the WHO warning that by 2030, India may witness an AIDS explosion. The government’s constant denial to legalise and thus regulate the professional sex trade contributes to the AIDS epidemic theory. In ancient India, kingdoms made money by taxing sex workers. That’s some policy contrast. The Indian judicial system has played the maverick when it refuted the government’s ‘moral’ refusal of the rights of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community. This has been a radical departure. For once, we are just not having sex. We are also talking about it.

Codes of morality all around the world have changed. The notions of traditional morality based on religious diktats and sexual abstinence have given way to a new code based on tolerance, peace, individual freedom and respect for human rights. In this light, it’s imperative that our policy makers, political leaders and religious heads take stock of the situation. If India is to shake off its quasi-feudal, semi-capitalistic image, the starting point has to be the mentality of controlling other people’s lives and thoughts. And that will be in line of the legacy of Kamasutra, which should be a well enough read, unless one is an admirer of Marquis de Sade. The pictures are enough descriptive. Honestly, I have not come across a single bloke who has read the text in full. And that is because it is astounding that a book considered to be the mother of all erotic literature can be as unreadable as a statistical hand-book.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Close-Up has dominated the gel segment

CLOSE-UP
Close-Up has dominated the gel segment, but the presence of Colgate still haunts...
Close-Up is positioned in a way in which no other toothpaste is positioned. It has broken all the rules and norms of toothpaste advertising ever since its launch in 1975, and taken the brand a leap forward in Indian market. It was the first brand to introduce gel toothpaste to the consumers and has led the gel segment ever since. Such was the power of the Close-Up bright red colour, its intelligent advertising and belligerent promotions that even market leader Colgate was forced to launch a gel variant. Its marketing initiatives include myriad tie ups with high-profile programmes like Close-Up Antakshari, Harsha KiKhoj and even movies, such as Kyun Ho Gaya Na. The highlight was the speed dating contest last year in association with Zoom Television. “Close-Up is a youthful brand and expresses togetherness so it was a perfect partner for the dating contest,” a Zoom spokesperson told 4PsB&M. Not that the brand did not have its share of catfights. The year 2004 was especially tough, when there was a strong contest between Colgate and Pepsodent, with eventually Close-Up losing market share. The same year saw a consecutive bombing of Oxy fresh and Eucalyptus Blue variants, which led HLL to continue with the mother brand, tingly red and lemon mint flavour and drop all other variants. To prove a point and get back into action Close-Up was then re-launched with a three in one benefit of fresher breath, stronger and whiter teeth. The brand has dropped in our rankings, but will hopefully be able to sustain the attention of the youth, by providing complete oral health care.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Many of Orissa’s 40,000 unwed mothers are minors from tribal areas

Yet while both the law enforcement and criminal justice systems in the state need to be strengthened, Orissa’s social system too warrants an overhaul. A recent incident that occurred in Chandrasekharpur (Bhubaneswar) is a real eye opener. A minor tribal girl from Sinraghati village in Mayurbhanj district who worked as a domestic help at the house of a powerful local personality for just Rs 200 a month got trapped in a physical relationship with the man’s brother-in-law, who promised to marry her soon. But when it came to be known that she was five months pregnant, they gave her some money and packed her off to her village.

But the story doesn’t end here. When the villagers learnt about the 14-year-old’s pregnancy, rather than going after the culprit they threatened to ex-communicate the girl’s family if it failed to deposit a fine of Rs 3,000. So what small assets the family had were sold to pay it. As for the culprit, he was freed within days of his arrest.

A striking feature of the unwed mother syndrome is that most of these exploited girls are minors and come from tribal areas and villages. A survey conducted by INTOW on 10,000 unwed mothers in 2007 revealed that 70 per cent of them belonged to 11 districts with a heavy concentration of tribal households. Says Archana Mohanty, secretary of the NGO Basundhara: “In our male dominated society these poor, illiterate girls have no idea of what they are letting themselves into. They also have no knowledge of contraceptives.” And yet, all that the state government manages to do is to pay the meagre charges of the 30 short stay homes run by NGOs. That done, the government thinks their responsibility is over. Usha Padhi, Director, Department of Women and Child Welfare, admits there are no special arrangements for unwed mothers. But she says the women empowerment schemes that are in place are enough to make them self-dependent.

However, the minister for Women and Child Welfare, Pramila Mallick, denies outright that the government too is in some ways responsible for their plight. Claims Mallick: “The sole remedy lies in spreading awareness among these women. This is why the government funds these NGOs so liberally. Now if despite this they fail to deliver, what do we do?”While the state government has admitted in the legislative assembly that rape cases have gone up by 18.5 per cent, several sensitive posts, including that of the Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, are lying vacant. And while all concerned in the matter remain busy passing the buck, little girls are raped and ostracised and their exploiters roam freely hunting for their next victim.

(Deepti is not the victim’s real name.

It has been changed to protect her identity.)

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Trip to dhaka - "IIPM News"

Merely 15 per cent of the children residing in these camps have the opportunity to avail of basic education. Till the mid-90s, the lone school run in the Geneva camp used to receive a yearly allocation of school textbooks from the local education officer as elementary education had been made compulsory and free for all by the government. “Since 1996, they stopped giving these allocated material on the pretext that our school is not registered,” laments one of the teachers.

But that is just a vicious cycle. To obtain free textbooks, the school needs to be registered; and to do so, it has to furnish a deed of possession for the piece of land it is constructed on. And that cannot happen as Biharis can’t own that land.

Lack of proper sanitation is another big problem. “We have only 150 toilets for 25,000 people of the camp,” says Abdur Razzaq Khan, another resident. “No one thinks of us, not Bangladesh, not Pakistan,” he laments. “We aren't accepted here, we'll never be.”

But is Pakistan willing to accommodate them? Well, the answer is tricky. In 1973, under a tripartite accord between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the Pakistani regime received a total of 1, 26,941 persons. An extra 18,000 were repatriated in 1979, some 9,000 in 1982 and 325 in 1993. Then the procedure stopped dead. Today, the number of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh is around 3, 00,000.

After 38 years of Pakistani assurances that haven’t been acted upon, the sullenness is now obvious. “The reigning select few of Pakistan, particularly the politicos and civil servants, are accountable for this”, says an angry Jamil. “More than Rs 100 crores was collected in Pakistan to facilitate our repatriation and settlement, but even after a decade we are yet to receive the money.”

Adding insult to injury is the behaviour of the staff at the Pakistan High Commission. Jamil once wanted to visit a friend in Pakistan whose daughter was getting married. The officials at the Pakistan High Commission stared several times alternately at his passport and his face and asked, “Wahan jaake kahin bas to nahi jaoge?” Jamil retorted, “Arre tumhare yahaan koi jannat nahi hai mian.” He remembers leaving the high commission in tears that day.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Widening fault lines

Muslims of Azamgarh continue to seethe as the town’s fair name lies in tatters a year after the Batla House encounter

On the face of it, Sanjarpur has changed. “Media Not Allowed” signboards that stood at the three gateways to this dusty village in Azamgarh a year ago are no more. People here no longer regard every stranger as a plainclothes policeman. Politicians who once fished in troubled waters have vanished. And yes, those small groups which would gossip in hushed tones about the Batla House encounter have melted away.

But has Sanjarpur really changed? The answer is no. Anger still palpably courses through the veins of the village. People are angry with political parties, the police and the system iself. Azamgarh’s Muslims, especially the younger elements, have bones to pick with all political parties—Congress, BJP, SP, BSP, et al. “Our names only figure in FIRs. Nobody cares about our economic and educational backwardness," says Samshad, a post graduate student from the village. Following the Batla House encounter and serial bomb blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Benaras and Faizabad, Sanjarpur’s name suddenly came into the limelight last September.

This Muslim dominated village of 6000 looks affluent. Palatial houses and sedans are common features here. The village owes its affluence to petrodollars—a large chunk of which comes from the Gulf.

And Sanjarpur is not a solitary example. Other Muslim dominated villages also receive remittances from the Gulf. This has not only changed the thinking of the youth here but also motivated them to earn money at whatever cost. The lust for money also pushed them into the hands of the underworld. “The year 1975 opened the doors to the Gulf for the Muslim youth and then there was no looking back. This gave ample opportunity for directionless youth to chase their dreams. Their educational backwardness acted as a catalyst. They agreed to do anything in purusit of a fast buck,” explains Misbahur Rahman, a local social worker.

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An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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The Djoker of the Pack - "IIPM News"

He dreamt of being the ‘number one in the world’ when he was four. 18 years on, Novak Djokovic is on his way up there. Currently ranked 4th, he’s been Roger Federer’s nemesis (he beat him twice this season before Federer beat him in the finals at the Cincinnati Masters) and that makes him a top contender for the US Open this year. In an exclusive interview with TSI, Djokovic reflects on serve-and-volley, impersonations and facing Federer.

You’ve been one of the few to have successfully derailed the ‘Fed Express’ last year. What exactly does it take to do that?

Roger is one of the best players ever to play the game, if not the best ever, so it takes more than the 100 per cent to be able to defeat him. It is always an honour to play against him and to defeat him is something very special.

What, according to you, is the way to tackle Federer?

Play at your best and in my case with the first serve going in at a high percentage.

Close to Wimbledon you felt that you were physically and mentally in just the right direction. What do you think went wrong?

This is a very good question but I don’t think I have the answer. I am still young and I need to learn and improve. Maybe that’s the answer. I am working with my team to do so.

Previously, there were many serve-and-volley players, but only a very few are around now…

Tennis is faster now and players can pass you on the net so maybe that’s why there are less serve-and-volley players. Also the surface and balls are quite different and slower.

Before going in for a match, how do you mentally prepare yourself? What is it that you tell yourself before stepping on the court?

I try to stay focussed and concentrate in the locker with my coach. I only think about the match and what I need to do to go out there and win.

After a loss, do you watch the videos or contemplate what went wrong? How much does a loss affect you mentally?

Sometimes I do, but it is not a usual thing for me to do so.

Which tennis player do you find the toughest to play against?

The names are obvious. The top guys like Nadal, Federer, Murray and lately Del Potro are the ones playing better tennis.

Winning the Australian Open or defeating Roger Federer – which was the bigger achievement?

Both were difficult but with all my respects it is more difficult to win the Grand Slam since in any case you still have to beat Roger and also whoever else is in the final rounds.

You started playing tennis since the age of four. Did you always aspire to be a tennis champion?

Yes, it has always been my goal and my dream.

You’re known for your off-court impersonations of fellow players. Who do you enjoy impersonating the most? Who among fellow-players is your best buddy?

I have really stopped doing it. My best buddies are the players who speak my language. These are the Serbian and the Croatian players.

Do you follow the women’s tournaments? Who is your favourite player?

Sometimes I do, especially when we are at the same event. I follow players from my country Ana (Ivanovic) and Jelena (Jankovic).

What impact have tennis players from the Balkans, Slobodan Zivojinovic and Goran Ivanisevic had on your career?

In the case of Goran Ivanisevic it has been more since I had the chance to see him a lot on TV. Great player, and a great person too.

How do you react to players from Croatia on the tour? You were born into a time of strife. How has life changed back home in Belgrade?

We get along very well. They are among my best friends and we spend time together at tournaments. Life in Belgrade is great although I spend most of my time at tournaments and in Monte Carlo where I live.

When small countries like Serbia and Croatia produce such great tennis players, what do you think India needs do to produce top-ranking players in tennis?

The competition in one’s own country is important. I think that is one of the keys, together with good coaches for young kids.

You were the youngest ever to reach semis of all four Grand Slams and you also won the Bronze at the 2008 Olympics. Are you eyeing the Golden Slam?

For me to win Grand Slams and to be number 1 is a goal that I have always had. I am working hard on it.

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Happy to harass! - "IIPM News"

Oops was that Happy to Help?
Substandard customer service is fast becoming the bane for consumers, say Pallavi Srivastava & Abhishek Kumar

Seventeen-year-old Prateek Saran, a first year B.Com student of Delhi University, switched to a Vodafone prepaid connection some time back, cajoled by the telecom service providers’ consumer friendly and ready to help image created by their multi-million bucks campaign 'Happy to Help'. “They are just happy to harass,” is what Saran feels today in just less than two months of the use of the network. Saran bought a Rs.30 Bonus Card (on August 22, 2009), which offered reduced local and STD call rates and cheaper national SMS valid for one year. But when he tried to recharge his number with the card, it repeatedly displayed: Recharge not possible. When the troubled customer tried to call the heavily publicised ‘Happy to help’ customer care, hostility is what he got in return.

He was blatantly told by the first customer care executive that the benefits of that card is now available only for the new Vodafone connections and the company has revoked the scheme for the existing ones. The Bonus Card was first launched for all the customers on July 26, 2009 (Vodafone customer care is not sure about the launch date as some executives say that it was launched on July 24 while others say it was launched on July 26). However, by August 15 the benefits of the card were revoked for existing customers. When Saran inquired about why was there no mention on the card about the same or why was there no communication from the company’s end about the sudden change in the scheme, he got an unconcerned reply, “I’m sorry for the inconvenience sir… but we have launched a new Bonus Card for our existing customers… you can buy that…” and the executive started blabbering about the benefits of this new card. Saran further pressed on the fact that why was the promotion still there in the kiosks and dealer shops (without any mention that it is only for new customers now) or why the change in scheme was not communicated either through SMS or promotions, the customer care executive simply banged the phone on his face. And this was not the end of his woes. The next three calls made by Saran were also treated in exactly the same manner by executives Kumar Singh, Vir Singh and Shehanwaz. Interestingly, the feedback SMS that a customer receives after talking to a customer care executive, was also not sent to him for any of the four calls.

Saran was in no mood to bear such an ill-treatment so he called Vodafone customer care once again and threatened to lodge a complaint in the consumer court. The executive this time offered to connect the call to his senior and Saran was put on a hold for one hour and one minute (before his phone was disconnected), only to listen to Vodafone’s signature tune. Interestingly, none of the executives registered a formal complaint. This is totally against Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s regulation, which stipulates that a telecom service provider has to ensure that the call centres immediately on receipt of a complaint have to register such complaints by allotting a unique identification number.

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