Defining roles and responsibilities

Next steps for addressing these issues include:

• Developing position descriptions for all staff members that clearly explain the requirements and expectations for those positions

• Implementing recruitment and selection processes in order to hire the best staff

• Implementing policies and processes to address staff performance and behaviour

(performance and conduct policies)

Rather than pointing fingers, an investigation should take place to establish the facts and then, appropriate corrective action should be taken. Gaurav and Goldy should consider conducting 360 evaluations for the entire leadership team, including themselves. This would be a way to evaluate the strengths and skills as they craft a new organisational structure. It would also be an excellent way to develop the management skills of the entire team. Another consideration is to engage an executive coach who can work with the three senior managers and Goldy, whose background is child psychology. The advantage of executive coaching for all would be to sharpen their skills, increase effectiveness, capitalise on each of their strengths, help make better decisions with challenging issues and resolve the existing tension. Read more...

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“In HP we look at Two Dimen-Sions, Reach and Richness”

Philip Mckinney, VP & CTO, Personal Systems Group, HP Reveals to Neha Saraiya the Reasons for Choosing India as the Launchpad for HP’s Latest Offering – HP Dreamscreen and its Future Roadmap

B&E: You come from a telecom background. Considering that telecom is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world, how do you think that the sector’s scenario has changed across the globe over the past 2 decades?
Philip McKinney (PM): I was associated with the telecom industry for almost 20 years in my previous job. Regarding my contribution to Indian telecom industry, I had actually built the first GSM operator in Kolkata back in 90s. But, the scenario has changed tremendously since then. From a standpoint, what used to be a novelty has now become a key aspect of infrastructure for the countries and societies to be competitive. Thus, delivering to the mass has become really important and necessary.

B&E: But this growth in telecom has brought in a huge change in the personal systems segment. Your opinion.
PM: I think the reality at present is that all the devices are connected. 5 years ago, there would be some data services on the phone that were hardly used. But now it is amazing to look at the social networking sites and the way they have shaped up. Actually, it’s quite funny. If you consider the laptops 5 years back, the mobility was only from table to the bed. But over time, it has completely changed. As a result size, weight, battery... everything has become critical as everyone wants to be online always. It’s almost like an addiction. Here, being offline has become a state where people don’t know how to operate. And it’s all because of the mobile products.

B&E: In the Indian context, 90s was the phase when computers came into the country. Then, they were replaced by laptops, notebooks, netbooks and now tablets are making an entry. So where do you see this profile heading?
PM: In HP we look at it in 2 dimensions. One is ‘reach’ and the other is ‘richness’, be it any product created by us. What has happened in the past 24 months is a journey in order to bridge the gap between a mobile phone and the PC. Like some people came in the market with a 7 inch netbook stating that a small netbook is better. So the question is how the segment will look like in coming times. What we predict is that sleeks (notebooks, netbooks, tablets, e-reads et al) will see an explosion in the number of devices. But the reality is that every consumer has a different need. So, rather than forcing the consumers to do a trade-off, the ultimate objective should be to build those devices that are suiting consumer needs. Like, I can’t put a 50 inch screen inside my pocket. I need a smaller one for that but at the same time I don’t want to compromise with the features. So technically speaking, we have to decompose the computers in a way so that they open up a whole range of new possibilities.

Read more....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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IT IS TIME THAT OUR GOVERNMENT AT THE CENTRE LOOKS AT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AS ITS KEY BUSINESS!

Since the last two terms, the UPA government has come out with several development schemes – which on hindsight look very impressive. Welfare schemes under NREGA, NRHM, midday meal, universal education scheme, JNNURM and many others, not only have aimed at uplifting the underprivileged but also have had an objective of bringing about some uniformity within the existing regional and social imbalances. But then, what is being experienced is something that defies these aims and objectives. There is no doubt that these schemes have done small wonders, but these wonders are confined to select pockets of the society. For instance, if NREGA saw success in a few south Indian states, then it also saw rampant corruption in most of the other states, especially in north India. Same has been the case with most other development schemes. Great initiatives, but equally great failures!

It doesn’t take rocket science to gauge the gaps. And it is also nothing new! The nation’s development schemes would have delivered to their promise across the length and the breath of the country if and only if the state governments had not been suffering from inadequacies in their delivery mechanisms. Most of the times – rather, almost every time – it is the local (state level) bureaucracy and administration that fails to effectively execute and implement most of the national schemes. Not just that, the state governments are invariably found to be careless about preventive and precautionary communication emanating from the Centre. Recently, all the major cities of India experienced a massive outbreak of malaria and dengue. Now, in spite of regular and pre-emptive alarms from the central government, most of the state governments failed to act. So much so that a few states even found their hospitals and medical centers incapable of handling the rush. The hospitals were not only full to the brim but also lacked necessary manpower and facilities to tackle the outbreak. A similar situation is being experienced with respect to food security. There is much talk that has gone on and on about the distribution of food grains to people below the poverty line; but it seems there is still a state of complete crisis over the same. The state delivery mechanisms are so weak and porous that huge amounts of these grains find their way to the black market – or at best are found rotting in warehouses. To top it up, in spite of having grain stocks that are enough for food security, the states mostly waste time deciding whether to sell the same in the open market or through Public Distribution System (PDS), knowing very well that PDS does not have a great track record. A March 2010, CVC (Central Vigilance Cell) report concludes that corruption is pervasive in the entire chain and grains are distributed for 2-3 months only, in spite of the Centre allocating around `30,000 crores for the same!

Year after year, our annual budget allocates and disburses hundreds of crores of rupees to states for developmental programs viz. universal education, health and sanitation, agriculture reforms – to name a few. But half of the time, either the funds are returned unused or find their way to bureaucrats’ and government coffers. Recently, it was reported that the states have managed to use just 20% of the funds allocated by the Centre for the backward regions. What is worse is the fact that the biggest offenders are the states which have the maximum regional imbalances. It was also reported recently that the state of UP has indicated its failure to allocate funds for implementing the Right to Education Act, even after the Centre has agreed to bear 75% of the budgetary responsibility. The cases are endless. The Public Accounts Committee 2008-09 tabled in the House of the Manipur Assembly this July, reveals the grim fact that the state failed to achieve the target mentioned for road connectivity to rural habitations under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) project. Even the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found out that Meghalaya’s Education Department was very inefficient with the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme. The list of such gaps and subsequent failures goes on and on. It is incredible that most state governments most of the times still shamelessly bargain for budgets in the name of development.

The failure in implementation is just one part, the bigger worry is to know about it and still continue with it. Recently, the Economist magazine reported how the Obama and the Cameron governments in their respective nations have embarked upon a new mission to reach out to masses with their developmental schemes. They have entrusted the job of carrying out the developmental initiatives to large NGOs and social entrepreneurs with sparkling track records. Although the project is at an initial stage, it holds a huge promise. It is time that our Central government starts thinking on the same or similar lines.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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COMPUTING: TABLET WARS

While its utility is still questionable, Apple’s iPad has unleashed a new, internecine battle on the tablet front, which will involve both device manufacturers and OS providers

Starting off with Sony, it’s planning to develop a device that would primarily be an e-book reader and is expected to debut the same by the end of the year. Microsoft too is rumoured to be giving shape to a tablet called Courier, which is expected to be a dual 7-inch (or so) screen with multi-touch feature, and designed for writing, flicking and drawing with a stylus, in addition to fingers. Google is also expected to be playing a formidable role in the tablet wars with Android at the fore front. The open source software that is getting regular updates has already made waves (NPD claims it to be the second most used operating system, even ahead of the iPhone OS) with plenty of applications to cater to the emerging needs of the consumers. It’s expected to be the first choice for tablet computing, given its love for Flash and multitasking abilities. As a matter of fact, MSI and Asus had showcased tablet powered by Android earlier at the CES and are open to the idea of having an Android-based offering in the near future. Google is also rumoured to be working on its own tablet. Given the kind of success Google Nexus One has got, this one could surely get iPad panting! Similarly, HP’s White-hot Slate arriving with WebOS on “Smartphones and Tablets” will be only used in touch kind of devices. Michael Souers, S&P Equity Research, comments to B&E, “Apple is competing against itself. As I-pad is proving to be a great success, it could take away the major market share from its competitors, especially in the E-book segment.”

These may be distant dreams, but there are a few products that are already trying to make the most of the iPad frenzy by offering more packed devices at more enticing price tag. One of these is being offered by a German company Neofonie and it was been innovatively called WePad. The spec sheet for the same reads out to be 11.6-inch screen, 1.66GHz processor, front-facing camera, 2 USB ports, SIM slot, MicroSD slot, Flash, Adobe AIR, and ability to use all open eBook standards; in short all the things that the Apple iPad was criticised for not providing. It’s also noteworthy that this Android-based tablet is priced at €449, while iPhone is priced at €499. This indicates that the war is already on and with newer options being added in the market, and there is going to be some form of price correction. Interestingly, all this competition would also heat up the OS space with a brawl between iPhone, Android & Windows. For us, that means more innovation, better, sleeker gadgets and the price tags getting sweeter.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri 
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles. 

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ABOLISH IMPORT DUTY

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE CEMENT INDUSTRY

Cement is certainly an important raw commodity / input for the infrastructure & real estate sectors. However, in the cement sector, import duty on inputs is higher than its finished goods that include high import duty on coal, petcoke and gypsum which are major inputs for the production of cement.

I expect reduction or complete abolishment in the present import duty on our input costs. The budget should also include some special schemes for boosting exports, which is the need of the hour. In fact, India’s exports could witness a significant improvement in coming years if the government adopts proactive measures.

I am also hoping for some reduction in the railway freight rate and more wagons to be added to the fleet in this year’s budget. Further, I expect the finance minister to target the GDP growth of at least 8% or higher for the next three financial years.

On tax reforms front, I would be very happy to see the reduction in individual income tax levels as it leaves the consumer with more spending power hence builds consumption leading to higher economic growth.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri 
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Stratagem-INTERNATIONAL : EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: ONE DOLLAR CEOS

What is it About a One Dollar an Year Compensation that Attracts some of The Most Powerful CEOs in Corporate America? Unfortunately, The Answer isn’t what it is Perceived to be. 

In 1978, Lee Iacocca (yes, the Iacocca who was kicked out by Henry Ford) was appointed as the CEO of Chrysler at a base salary of $360,000 per annum. In September 1979, the board decided to reduce salaries of bonus eligible executives by 10% for the next two years. The deducted amount would be converted into free shares of restricted stock and delivered two years later. However, citing concerns over the company’s financial health, Iacocca proposed that his salary be reduced to $1. He became a symbol of modern capitalism overnight but what went unnoticed was the fact that $359,999 (the salary cut) was converted into free shares. By the end of 1987, Iacocca had exercised stock options worth $43 million and was unwilling to part with the system irrespective of the company’s strong financial position.

On the face of it, the one dollar salary seems to be an act of unmitigated self promotion. But dig a little deeper and you’ll realise that there’s more to this than meets the eye. Take Apple’s Steve Jobs for instance. He rejoined the company in 1997 at a salary of $1. In January 2000, he was awarded the largest stock grant ever in business history (40 million split adjusted shares). But the dotcom bust made the options almost irrelevant. In 2001, the board issued an additional 15 million shares, but the shares further slid. In 2003, Jobs voluntarily surrendered all 55 million shares. The company disclosed in its proxy statement later that year that surrendered shares were compensated in the form of 10 million split adjusted shares. A derivative of the Black Scholes model was used in valuations, which made the shares worth $75 million. When the sale restriction lapsed in 2006, they were worth $640 million!

In 2009, Corporate Library (a US based research firm) came out with a report titled 2009 Proxy Seasons Foresights #7: The one dollar base salary which examined 18 CEOs who had served without salary in 2008. According to the Greg Ruel, Research Associate, Corporate Library “these CEOs had a combined total of almost $6 billion in stock of the companies at which they are employed, which leads us to conclude that voluntary forfeiture of salary and cash bonus is largely symbolic”. Confirming this doctrine is a research paper by Professors G. Loureiro, A. Makhija and D. Zhang christened Why do some CEOs work for one dollar salary? The authors studied 50 CEOs with $1 salary between 1992 and 2005, and found that “Shareholders of firms with $1 salary CEO salaries do not fare well in the aftermath of these adoptions. $1 salaries are a ruse hiding the rent seeking pursuits of CEOs who adopt these pay schemes.”

So what does this all prove? To begin with, it’s an indication that US regulatory bodies have an extremely weak stance on executive compensation. The recently introduced Dodd Frank Act does lay down provisions to introduce advisory “say on pay” voting by shareholders. But as the case with Steve Jobs demonstrates, that won’t really help. Shareholders must actively lobby for a system that scraps stock based compensation and links CEO performance and compensation to variables under his control which influence stock prices; so that the next time when a Larry Ellison proposes a reduction in salary to one dollar, we know that it’s a genuine step in the direction of shareholder wealth maximisation, and not a fulfilment of narrow personal goals to gain more shareholding within the company.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

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Consolidation is Inevitable

The Nuclear Crisis in Japan on March 11, 2011 has in a way Provided enough fodder for The Industry which was Projected to Witness a surge in M&As. As Nuclear Projects Globally are Adopting ‘adjust and Improve’ Strategy Projects, The Inorganic mode will Gradually pick up...

Twenty five years after the Chernobyl disaster (Ukraine, April 26, 1986) and a month and a half after the Fukushima Daiiachi (Japan, March 11, 2011) nuclear crisis, the political and civil reactions globally have re-ignited the debate on nuclear concerns. Speaking strictly from an investment perspective, the nuclear debacle and the debate thereafter fuelled by extrapolation and sentiments have only helped add to the already existing volatility in the uranium industry. In a knee-jerk reaction to the aftermath of the nuclear crisis in Japan, the financial market’s view on the industry has turned negative with share price of miners such as Saskatoon (Saskatchewan, Canada) based Cameco Corporation (which accounts for approximately 16% of world production) registering a fall of 22.5% (between March 11, 2011 and April 25, 2011) and the NYSE listed Global X Uranium ETF declining almost the same, 22.4%, during the given time period.

However, while the industry is now set to trade primarily on news flow and not fundamentals and with the valuations eroding faster than ever, the state of affairs has given rise to new speculations and new possibilities opening doors for a lot more activities both in organic as well as inorganic modes of business. Nevertheless, given the equations in the industry dynamics (the speculation that investment in nuclear energy will decrease), where the free fall of the miners share price are yet to bottom out, takeover speculation are at an all time high. Statistics has it that the global M&A activity in 2011 is expected to total more than $3 trillion and consolidation in uranium space – as a fuel for the nuclear power industry – would certainly play a pivotal role.

At the same time, as Nomura International points out, the burgeoning construction of nuclear new-build in Asia and the concerns over fuel security to power these plants will in all probability increase the international merger and acquisition activity to ensure supplies of uranium. Estimates go on to suggest that around 200GW of nuclear power capacity are currently planned or under construction with India, Russia, China and South Korea as key drivers of uranium demand. What is to be noted at this juncture is the fact that by 2015 the global uranium mine production is projected to be pegged at approximately 86,393 tonne while the demand would increase to 91,719 tonne (a deficit of over 5300 tonne); and it is this growth in demand and the subsequent deficit that, for sure, will fuel growth competition for supplies. Though growth in uranium requirement is projected to witness a moderate growth of 1.6% annually between 2015 and 2030, growth in energy consumption may still accelerate depending upon the economic and population growth – the key determinants of the above mentioned global uranium consumption over the period to 2030. Apparently the brewing competition will play a vital role as far as consolidation in the industry is concerned. Amidst the fact that demand will slightly outstrip supply through 2015 taking prices to $80 per pound, it is clear that the requirements will have to be met through expansion of global uranium production, reasons enough as to why consolidation could be a possible way out.

Read more...

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

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Now that’s a ‘Lucky Gold’star

Detail of all IIPM branches

In June 2006, LG India became a part of a completely new global marketing strategy of the consumer electronics company. Apart from readying itself to become an export hub for some of the foreign markets and entering new segments, it came out with a brand new communication for its entire home appliance range, breaking away from its health platform, conceptualised in 1997. The campaign for new “Health Plus” for the home appliances range focused on intelligent and futuristic technology under the “Intello” umbrella. But then, did it really paid off? “The thing which has worked wonders for LG is their marketing muscle which allows it to flex across categories. Moreover by shifting its target positioning LG has provided an opportunity of cross shopping to its customers,” answers Sumit Arora, Senior Director, Synovate India. What’s more? The electronics giant has just shifted its technological advancement to masses products also. Wonder at the time when many companies are re-working on their prices, LG believes in playing across all segments. Now that’s called a real winner!

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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“Be aware!”

“Be aware!”, echoed both masters. Here, it would be pertinent to note that both have been responsible for giving extensive close quarter combat (CQC) training to various law enforcement agencies, the military and some of its elite units. It seemed a generic directive, but as the South Africans proved, it was the one trait – being aware of one’s environment (moving away from glass areas, fire, checking for exits, and finding resources for barricading an area) that saved more than a 100 lives.

“Secondly, you should always stay low – you might escape both bullets and heavy smoke”, urged Vicky Kapoor. “Krav Maga (used by the Israeli Defence units) was designed to counter hostage situations”, he elaborated, as he showed us how he would’ve handled armed hostage takers even if handcuffed “and while most Israelis would’ve made difficult hostages because they’ve served in the army and trained in CQC, most of us Indians are neither trained nor aware. Even if you can’t get army training, every school, RWA and organisation should run programmes that run basic first aid. Doctors trapped in one of the hotels saved the lives of a wounded few with basic first aid techniques. Perhaps many others could’ve been saved. Teach people what to do incase of a fire or an earth quake. Offices have fire extinguishers but who knows how to use them? In case of a fire or explosion, more might die in a stampede. Simple evacuation drills could save lives. Martial skills could be infinitely useful, but the rest is basic and should be mandatory training for each and every Indian. Wake up, and take charge of your lives. No one else would do it for you”, he concluded. Incidentally, Vicky Kapoor has been training security teams in some prominent hotel chains in the aftermath of 26/11. Kanishka echoed the same thoughts. “We’re usually too busy walking like zombies to notice our surroundings. Why is that man so nervous? Whose bag is that? Where are the exits? Which is the closest hospital? I’m not saying you should be in a state of paranoia 24/7, but be aware of your surroundings. And be careful before you start a self defense course to prepare yourself for hostage situations. They work…” he said as he demonstrated how even an unarmed hostage could, at the right moment, “with the right training”, disarm an armed assailant and get out alive “… but you must understand that combat martial styles, like Kali (a martial art used by the Filipino Marines) begin where most martial sports (Tae kwon do and sport Karate are sports which’ve banned lethal techniques, focusing instead on scoring points) end. Their aim is to train to finish the opponent (even if armed), not score points and this distinction is very important when you choose a martial art for self defense. Presence of mind, common sense and even the ability to engage hostage takers in a conversation, a negotiation, could save your life. If that fails, train the mind and the body with self defense skills and you might still come out alive.”

I know what you’re thinking? What good are martial skills in the face of a bullet. Well, if someone wants to shoot you, he will and there’s nothing you can do about it. But in a hostage situation, escape if you can. And if you can’t, wait. There might be a moment when the terrorist comes close enough for you to act. I hope such a day never comes, but if it does, you might as well be prepared… See you in the dojo then… PS Mr CEO(s), do remember to organize fire safety, first aid and evacuation drills in the office. It might save more than just one life…....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Star Cruise !

The routes of these ships keep on changing and there are a lot of cruises one can choose from, like Blues Cruise, Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean etc and the cruise packages also vary. The one I journeyed on, stopped at the Langkawi Islands and Phuket Islands for half a day each and I got down at Phuket Islands, the best and the cheapest place to shop. The beaches at Phuket were beautiful and I couldn’t resist trying out para-sailing, where I was perhaps the only one who was made to brush through the sea water for at least half a minute – perhaps the best moment of my life! I also tried driving a motorboat and later, after a Thai massage, I made my way back to the cruise.

Evenings can occupy one with a variety of activities. The ‘games room’ hosts talk shows, game shows and dance classes. A staircase from there leads to the Captain’s Bridge Viewing Gallery where passengers can watch the Captain toil over the complicated consoles. Then there is a ‘picture house’ that screens movies. The cruise liner also has a discotheque and an Africa-themed karaoke bar. So not only did my days pass by in a jiffy, but my nights were just as much fun. However, as they say, there are no free lunches in the world; most of the activities came with a price tag!

The last night was really special as the Captain and the crew joined the party with the passengers. There was music, dance and dinner... It could not have ended on a better note, leaving me with a lot of memories to be cherished... until I set sail, yet again.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

SECURITY DISASTER

A Defence Ministry report of March 2007 stated that there is real danger from sea. Quoting from the report, Defence minister, A.K.Anthony, informed the Lok Sabha that ``there are reports about terrorists of various tanzeems being imparted training and likelihood of their infiltration through sea routes..." When further queried by a MP whether "maritime terrorism, gun-running, drug-trafficking and piracy are major threats that India is facing from the sea borders of the country?", Anthony’s reply was a categorical `Yes, sir.’

At the Fourth Regional Security Summit in December, 2007, at Manama, National Security Adviser, M.K. Narayanan – now in the eye of the storm – told those assembled that "there are now certain new schools that are being established on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which specialise in the training of an international brigade of terrorists to fight in many climes...According to our information, recruits from 14 to 15 countries have been identified as trainees there... —``.

This is no ordinary threat either. The Ministry maintained that ``studies had been conducted about important targets, with regard to vulnerability, accessibility, poor security, absence of proper counter-terrorism measures, etc. The sea route, in particular, is becoming the chosen route for carrying out many attacks, even on land. ''

Despite overwhelming evidence and warnings, no lessons have been learnt. In 2000, in the aftermath of the Kargil war, four task forces were set up. Of them, one was dedicated to border management. Defence doyen K.Subramaniam, who authored that report warned that "the long coastline with its inadequate policing makes it easy to land arms and explosives at isolated spots on the coast." He recalled that this was the route taken to smuggle explosives into Maharashtra in 1993 before the Mumbai blasts. "The situation, if anything, has worsened over the years with activities of the ISI becoming more widespread along the coast…Such coastal areas must be particularly kept under surveillance." That, sadly, is the last thing that the security establishment did. ....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Oh, brother!

For a limited cast of only five characters, “Sorry Bhai” is a markedly refreshing departure from standard Bollywood fare. The movie plays around with a simple theme of sibling equations as influenced by the catalyst called the elder sibling’s fiancée. The script is a typical take on the ‘dysfunctional-family-comes-together-for-a-cause’ mould. Harsh (Sanjay Suri) has been away (in Mauritius of all places!) from his family, while his younger brother Sid (Sharman Joshi) tries for a research grant for his latest hypothesis (a cranky idea involving a wooden dog!). When Harsh decides to get married to Aaliyah (Chitrangada Singh), he pleads his younger brother to get his parents, especially his mom for the wedding. The fun in dysfunctional is put in by the antics of the parents, played with superb chemistry by Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi.

Sharman Joshi does a pretty good job keeping up his boyish yet mature image while Chitrangada Singh essays a role that perhaps doesn’t present her as much of a challenge as her debut one did. For an actress of her potential, this is just about par for the course and she is underutilised. On the brighter side, the scenes shared by her and Shabana Azmi deserve special mention. Sanjay Suri exudes quiet confidence as usual and it fits his big brother persona perfectly. The slow narrative (you sort of expect that with a limited cast of characters) is a dampener though the locales of Mauritius do provide a picturesque background for the well shot scenes.

“Sorry Bhai” deserves a watch, at least for being far better off than the apology of a movie that other comedies have become.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

The Mumbai attack could not have happened without assistance from the locals

A close scrutiny of the terrorist operation will tell you that this was certainly not the result of some momentary emotional impulse. The killers had clearly done their homework well and were both well trained and deeply indoctrinated. It is quite obvious why they targeted Mumbai -- because as India’s financial capital an attack on it would draw the maximum publicity worldwide. The terrorists’ aim this time was to discourage overseas investments in India. That is why they took on foreigners. What they want is to bleed India financially – to hit us hard. The attack has already send shivers down the English cricket team, as a result of which all tournaments have been cancelled.

The attack has exposed the numerous chinks in the Indian Intelligence armour. For consider: none of our agencies was able to come up with a single clue even after so many people had been killed. And the sad thing is that this is not a one-off incident. Our intelligence agencies almost never wake up in time so that such attacks are pre-empted. They come on the scene after the incidents have already occurred. If we are really serious about stopping such attacks on India we will need to strengthen our intelligence agencies manifold. We will need to modernise it so that it becomes possible to develop foolproof intelligence mechanisms at the local level. Then only will we be able to spot suspicious activities before this kind of mayhem is unleashed.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Call of nature

When one wants to answer the call of nature, one goes to the bathroom. But according to scientists, the kitchen garden may be a better place. Why? Studies have discovered that urine helps plants like cabbages to grow more. Researchers in Sweden used urine (stored for six months) to fertilise a plot of cabbages and compared the results with a similar plot where conventional fertilisers were used. The findings, cabbages watered with urine grew to be not only bigger but healthier than most other conventionally treated plants. And yes, they tasted the same!...Continue

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The Sunday Indian

who will win? Ajai Bhambhi

Chaotic Centre, BJP to lose states

Venus, the planet of luxury and wellness has been a major factor in India’s fate for the past 20 years. This is amply reflected in the great strides India has taken over that period. However, at present, Ketu will play a spook: its temperament does not dine together with Venus. From November 4, 2009, Ketu sub dasha will play a major role in the main mahadasha of Venus. Result: chaos. The 2009 general elections’ result will have no single party form the government at the Centre, and which party comes, it will not complete its term.

Congress: Presently with Venus in the 11th house along with Jupiter is good. In astrology 11th house indicates huge gains by friends, well-wishers etc. Congress will not win as many seats it had won in the last election but it shall be in a position to call the shots due to its alliances. However, a precise prediction can only be made after the poll dates are announced.

BJP: In this party’s case, since it has a Venus-Mercury combination - which is good - we still believe that the party will do well in this election but to get a mandate will not be an easy task.

Delhi: The charts of VK Malhotra and Sheila Dixit are not too different, but going by all considerations, there can be no better time or opportunity than now for the former.

Rajasthan: Vasundhara Raje might manage to manipulate MLAs and come back, but chances are she will go down fighting. Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chauhan, with his Moon chart showing Jupiter leaving Sagittarius on December 9, 2008, is a sure loser! Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh beware: Saturn’s sadey saati in operation, so the least said the better!...Continue

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The Sunday Indian

An island in the ocean

“Why do you do yoga all the time? You want to live to be 150, isn’t it? Why? What would you do at 150… all alone while your friends, your loved ones, perhaps even your children and grand children have all gone? Not worth it!” Thus spake Kakoo (uncle) – let’s call him Dr Kakoo…
Dr Kakoo happens to be my favourite uncle in the neighbourhood and he’s seen me grow from the toddler who chased after a butterfly (which, incidentally, has nothing to do with being gay; I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Sir David Attenborough and Steve Irwin do pretty much the same thing on TV) into a professional gadfly. And ever since the time he suggested I might want to reconsider my decision of running away and joining the circus as a four-year-old, I’ve always found his advice timely and pertinent.

But this time, I begged to differ...
I was sitting in his living room, following up on an after dinner chat, while a replica of the Mona Lisa stared down at us from luminous white walls. He insisted that life was worth living only till about 80 (Kakoo’s in his 70s) or so and beyond that, it is but a listless wait for the end to come. And since reaching that limit, going by current gerontological standards, was a more likely statistical possibility than not amongst middle-class Indians, why bother with the mind-numbing stress of a workout for a few more years of life?...Continue

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The Sunday Indian