FDI in Retail

If I think of all the stake holders getting affected in this decision and take a call on how it is going to affect each one of them.. Here is how the picture looks to me.

1. Large Indian retail chains: These are the guys who will probably be most affected. They are the ones who might be forced to make their supply chains much more leaner and cost efficient. They are the ones who will take the biggest hit from this "competition"

2. Small retail shops: The small kirana shops, if you ask me are safe. The same furore was there when the Indian retail was opened to bigger, organised players with deep pockets. However, today everyone plays on their own strenghts and have evolved, adapted

3. Farmers, Suppliers: Better bargaining power, better market for their products and might as well get some guidance (A win win). I dont see the possibility of any exploitation from the "deep pockets"

4. Politicians: Congress - Good move (long pending); BJP - Have to take up a fight to oppose it (Thats what opposition is for - protest without judging the merits of the move)

5. Consumers: We actually are the ones who are most profited as Prof. DTR pointed out.  We will be spoilt for choice now. We will see many more companies competing to provide better service.

6. Macro Economy in general: Now from a marcro economic perspective, This will probably create jobs in sum total. True, there may be some firms that might go out of business. However, the overall economy will restructure itself and I believe that overall, many more jobs will be created.

Overall verdict: I dont see too many cons of this move. Time and again, we have studied that the main problem that India faced in the Nehruvian era was Competition, or lets say the lack of it.This will only enhance competition and hence result in better service overall .. hence..  A definte and emphatic Yes!

The love of my life...

Like the first drop of the summer rain
and the distant hoot of the chugging train,
A long forgotten song that you loved
and the flutter of every butterfly that moved

Like the dew drop struggling on a lotus leaf
The conversation with your friend sharing your grief
A cup of coffee from mom early in the morning,
or a lazy sunday spent sleeping, eating and doing nothing!

A phone call from your childhood friend
The endless conversations with your girlfriend
The presence of the one person to come back to at nights
despite the arguments and the silly little fights

The fun in getting lost in a new place
The joy of being the reason for the smile on someone's face
A long walk along the seaside in solitude
or guzzling on the pizzas, dosas or any other good food

The joy of receiving a hand written letter
A nightout with friends in playful banter
The quick sleep stolen after the alarm rings
are some of those that define... the love of my life!

A week in Manali

The room

The art of holidaying evolves for everyone over time. Earlier, holidays were more about activity, sightseeing and checking off everything there is to see in a place. Now it has evolved into something that values time, values each day, each hour and every activity done over the period of 1 week. 2 of my friends and me took a bus from Delhi to Manali. Reaching there Monday morning, we decided to chuck the prebooked hotel and took up a small cottage in the hills in Old Manali. At 100 Rs per day, this was one of the best cottages that I have ever stayed in. Overlooking the snow capped peaks and situated within an Apple orchard, this place was ideal for a lazy holiday.

Walk to the lake

The day we reached, we hired a car and went white water rafting in river Beas. The snow melted water was extremely cold. A 14km ride and 600 per head was worth the bone shattering swim. Later towards the evening, we visited the Dussera mela in Kulu which is held every year for 20 days. The next day was mostly about long walks, coffee shops and trek preparation.

The lake

Beas Kund lake is a popular trek that starts from Solang valley and is usually completed in 3 days. Situated at a height of 4471m, the trek to this glacial lake is a steep ~1000m climb in about 7-8 kms. Terrain is mostly through boulders, snow mounds and ridge crossings. Difficulty: Moderate. We decided to start from Dhundi and finish the trek in a day. We had taken about 6 hours to reach the lake and another 3 to return to the base. We actually had to take off our shoes and cross a river during the trek. The lake is surrounded on all 4 sides by snow capped peaks and is a delight to the eyes. Completing this trek in 9 hours gave us inexplicable satisfaction and incurable enervation. We had slept through most of the next day.

The next three days, we ended up holidaying in the most amazing way possible. There is a small cafe along the way to Manu temple called the Drifter's Inn. We had spent more than 5 hrs each day at this place playing every board game possible. Scrabble, Jenga and Monopoly were declared the winners. The cafe served some of the best continental food. Completed reading "A fine balance" by Rohinton Mistry and slept for more than 10 hours each day.

Focus on Jenga

Scrabble time!

Thats all about the week that was. A calm and peaceful Diwali it was!

"Set of guiding principles" or a "medium to control masses"?

Religion for me has always been a very controversial topic. Mostly because of the contrast observed in the intended purpose and the ground reality of what religion is today. Idealogically speaking, religion is supposed to be a set of guiding principles of how a  man should lead a just life. While the principles may be different, the underlying values are the same across Hinduism, Christianity or Islam. What religion started out to be was to teach a man to live life in such manner that he becomes one with nature. One set of rules for everyone to abide so that all can coexist peacefully.

What is pitiful though, is what religion has evolved into. Though my interpretation is largely pessimistic and not a generalisation in any manner, glimpses of what I will be speaking are still widely prevalant in todays world.

Religion for me is the sole source of communal problems in our country which the constitution defines as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. Although it is more to do with selfish individuals who have misused the concept for their own purposes including power, vote banks and many more. Religion is probably what led India to get separated from Pakistan. Religion is what killed a few thousands in Babri, a few more in Gujrat and many other instances that I can recall. There are political parties that exist where 50% of their manifestos are based on communal development. India has seen the emergence of caste system and untouchability over the last few centuries. So what fuelled these absurd rites? Caste system started off as a way of dividing the working population based on their profession. It is scary to think of what the same caste system has become today. Religion is often used as a tool by various religious leaders and thinkers to control the masses. The sins committed on the name of god are unpardonable. So how did religion evolve into what it is today? Why was there no control over what started out on a moral high ground. How did we let some people take it over and misuse it? I am not an atheist or a cynic for religion. I am just not happy about its misuse and its evolution into what it is today. I believe that the divinity is lost to some extent somewhere along the its road to where it stands today.

Looking at things differently, religion is essential in today's life. Practically speaking, it is the primary way in which the masses can be given a moral order which all can adhere to. Religion helps controlling chaos by defining a set of rules for behaviour and conduct. But most importantly, religion is the way of life for a lot of people. There are majority of people for whom religion is sacred and sacrosanct. It is the others who malign the concept, with whom my discontent lies.

Is there a solution to this? Can we maintain the sanctity of religion?

Disclaimer: I do not understand any other religion but Hinduism. Even in Hinduism, what I know is probably just the tip of the iceberg. My general discontent is for what I have observed personally and nothing more.

Serenity by the seaside

Solace by the sea

I have always criticized the sea side towns even though I was born in one of those. They are sultry. They stink often. The beaches have always been dirty. I have always had this uncomfortable feel, thanks to the sweat and dirt. Most people I have met from these seaside towns have always defended their place, and its charm, passionately and vehemently. I never understood why.

Today as I sit by the beach once again, I cant help but admire the sea, admire the waves hitting the rocks relentlessly. Last few days, I have spent a good amount of my time in Pondicherry in Tamilnadu. The weather as in most of the South, was hot, humid and sultry. I spent most of time walking along the coast, sipping coffee at the beach side cafes, watching families flock towards the evenings. There is a different way of life here, along the sea side. The quaint beaches complemented by the buzzing of the crowds brings the place alive each and every minute. The constant rumbling of the waves against the rocks, the perpetual sea breeze, vendors selling anything and everything from bhel to mirchi bajji to baloons are things you have to sit and admire.There are all kinds of people that gather here. Old men meeting up with their friends to have discussion of how the new government is going to change the state, couples sitting on the rocks and exchanging sweet nothings, college students expressing their joy at Rajnikanth's comeback or the aunties discussing the latest soap that started on Sun TV.

Minutes and hours pass away easily just by sitting at the edge of the rocks and staring at the waves and people around. The most fascinating experience has been my hunt for the new lighthouse which was unfortunately off limits for me. The small fishing villages dotted along the coast are a treat to watch.

Each of these and all of these is probably what brings character to these towns. A kind of identity that we will have to fall in love with. Something we probably wont understand untill we live it.

Thinkers, Doers and the "Others"

These broadly are the 3 kinds of men in the world out there today. The Thinkers, the doers and the "others". Way forward would not have been possible had it not been for the first two. Progress cannot happen unless the thinkers and the doers coexist and perform together. It is the third kind, the scavengers, who have lead second hand lives all along and squeezed every penny of the more resourceful ones.

While the thinkers provides a vision, a direction and a way forward, the doer implements and takes the idea / thought to a successful and meaningful completion. Mind you that these two sets are not exactly mutually exclusive. The most effective leaders have been those who have put their thoughts to action, those who have implemented their own strategies to success. Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hilter, Mahendra Singh Dhoni have become what they are only because they led from the front. They were able to convert their thoughts to actions.

So why exactly this abstract topic? This is an attempt to evoke thought in you. The world would be such a better place if everyone of us resolve into becoming one of these two instead of trying to pull down someone who actually is out there adding value, instead of criticizing someone who is trying to do something different. Are we making a difference? Are we doing some good to the world out there? Are we doing good to ourself?


Think!

A Tribute

Taken from the theme song of Friends

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too...

You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast
So far... things are goin' great

Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
Oh but she didn't tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that...

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too...

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah

:)