The Cow on a Morning Walk

Mother and I were on a morning walk. We noticed that a cow was on the same path behind us. It would be about 6.30 in the morning. Mother started walking fast to escape the cow, but the cow was quick to follow. The cow was a clean one; she was white and very beautiful. After some time, we saw the cow entering the main gate of a neighbour’s home. The cow had a child like enthusiasm as she went through the entrance. We learnt that every morning the landlady of that house used to feed that stray cow with bread (rotis). That was why the cow was coming to her house that morning too. I thought about the cow. Every morning she would wait for the time her owner would release her and then she would run for that lady’s house. It should be more than the food because since the cow wandered all through the day, she could find better food elsewhere. I thought that it should be the love and reception that made the cow come to the house every morning as a routine. Then I also recalled how the cows which would be taken long distances for grazing (by cowherds) would travel back to their homes every sunset, all on themselves. So cows have memory, cows have discipline and routine and cows understand love too. And the motherly aspect of cows is unparallel; a cow would clean her children with her tongue and gentle mother cows would turn ferocious to protect their babies. It pointed towards an alternative world of cows living on this earth, with their complete lifecycle. And then there are so many other animal species too.

On so many fronts, these cows are far better than us. On routine, punctuality, and discipline, they are better than us because of their nature. They are gentler and less violent than us. On character traits like loyalty, love, devotion, reliability, or perseverance, they score far better than we humans. I realise that there is more to this world than meets the eye…

- Rahul

Corporate Donations to Political Parties

Page 115 of Mahindra and Mahindra Annual Report 2009-2010 makes an interesting disclosure. It tells about the company’s donations to political parties; as under:

(a) Indian National Congress Rs 1 Crore
(b) Bhartiya Janata Party Rs 1 Crore
(c) Shiv Sena Rs 0.50 Crore
(d) Nationalist Congress Party Rs 0.50 Crore
(e) Bihar Pradesh Janata Dal (United) Rs 0.25 Crore

Corporate like Tata have a very transparent policy for political donations. They don't donate any sum exclusively to any one political party. They would donate the same amount to say top 2 or 4 parties. Such donations are not made under the table, or from black money. These donations are accounted for in the balance sheet. So here too, Mahindra has donated the same amount to both BJP and Congress. We also know that such practice is alive in many of the developed nations.

One reason why our politicians are corrupt is also that they need large sum of money to fight and run in elections. Such corporate funding is a very welcome system and we should all welcome and support it.

- Rahul

How They Exit

With growing consumer’s indifference along with increased consumer awareness, advertisements and PR attempts are becoming ineffective to create a positive image of a company or its products. In these times, companies are thinking about innovative effective ways to reach the same effects. One concept to which we should become aware is the opportunity lying in the exiting employees. Each employee resigning and exiting from the company is actually a potential brand ambassador for the company.

I can recall my experience with the first company I was working with after my graduation in engineering. Then I had no prior experience of leaving a job and hence I was anxious as to how they will take my decision. That morning when I presented my resignation letter to my immediate boss, he talked to me and then informed the superior bosses. Then I had a meeting with the Works Manager who requested me not to leave and then I had a long meeting and conversation with the Plant Manager. I was asked to review my decision in some days. When I held to my decision, my exit formalities started. I remember my last day in the company. I completed all clearance forms and then I went to the Finance and Accounts for the final settlement. To my surprise, they were very courteous. My documents were checked and they calculated and informed me about my settlement dues and balance. The whole process didn’t take much time and in fact they had given me a priority over other jobs, perhaps learning that it was my last day there in the company. I was so relieved with the entire process that I sent an email to the HR and Finance Heads, thanking them for the extremely courteous exit process.

I have always been appreciating towards the first company I worked with and this exit experience is one of those which are always in my mind. It is understandable that my appreciation for the company and their fair process goes far beyond to reach others each time I speak about it. I am sure that with word-of-mouth (WOM), the company would have benefited much all through the years.

Comparing it with another experience made me realise how not all companies are aware or awakened enough about this opportunity. Leaving a job is not an easy experience for an employee and in those nervous hours if the HR and Finance departments are a bit more empathetic, courteous, fair and quick, it creates a whole lot of difference.

We leave jobs but our experiences don’t leave us. Therefore companies should try to convert this loss (of engagement) into an opportunity. Each employee leaving the organisation is a potential Brand Ambassador. The sooner companies realise this, the more effective and permanent their PR endeavours would be.

- Rahul

Many Shades of Life

How noble intentions are abused because of selfish and self-fulfilling motives of others is reflected in this story (it’s fiction inspired from a real life incident):

There was a small village with a close community where everyone knew each other for generations. Rajanna was head of one of the village's richest family. Radaiya and Rasaiya were heads of two other families who were poor and depended on Rajanna for their survival. Both these families had a debt of around ten thousand rupees from Rajanna and had not been able to return it in time. Everyone in the village knew about their debts. Both these families had one son each who were now old enough to start earning. Both families sent these boys to the city, in order to earn and save some money to return the debt.

One year, Rajanna had a noble idea in his mind. He thought that he already had all the money he or his family could ever enjoy and hence he should waive the debt of his debtors. He decided to waive the debt of Radaiya that year. Radaiya was very happy hearing this and in his happiness he disclosed the good news to whole of the village. Everyone praised Rajanna's generosity and Radaiya expressed his humble gratefulness for this gesture of kindness. But with passage of time, people's empathy turned into ridicule. Now people ridiculed Radaiya and his sons for not being able to return the debt by themselves. The family tolerated everything with patience.

Next year, Rajanna decided to waive the debt of Rasaiya too and hence he informed him about his decision. Rasaiya was very happy knowing this and came back to his home to disclose this good news to all. Rasaiya's wife was a very clever lady. She saw it as an opportunity. She made her son return back from the city and once he was in the village, she called many of his neighbourhood and declared, "Look how responsible and successful my son is. In merely two years, my son has returned from the city with enough money to return the entire debt of Rajanna." Everyone was surprised at the news and started praising Rasaiya, his wife and his son.

No one knows how people would respond to news and events in a village. Positive news may receive caustic sarcasm and at times some hypothetic gossips may be invented to swing negative events too. This time, people started criticizing Rajanna for not waiving the debt of Rasaiya; as he had done with Radaiya. They said that because of their efforts Rasaiya deserved the waiver more than Radaiya.

After some time, the rumour reached the ears of Rajanna and his family too. They confirmed the news from multiple sources and once being sure, they noted that it was a disturbing thing that had happened. If it continued to become a trend, good people would be criticised and evil people and cheaters would get the respect in the society.

Rajanna, therefore, called a public meeting and disclosed what had actually happened. Rasaiya was asked to defend his case but he didn't open his mouth. And ashamed, he couldn't see Rajanna in the eye.

Many times, our noble intentions are abused by selfish designs of others. And because of that, many times people are discouraged to do such noble acts again. For example, what if you gave a fifty rupees note to a beggar, who in turn purchased a bottle of wine for himself? Will not you take a vow not to help a beggar like that again? Also, such evil people spread their cheatings by inspiring others to do the same. If their designs are not exposed, many others would also take similar paths towards meeting selfish ends.

If life and this world is a war between evil and goodness - Ravana and Ram – then it is Ravana who is at advantage from all counts...

- Rahul

Changing Colours

Once we were discussing how some people ‘change’ colors depending on the situation. At one moment they would be fiery and stern, but another moment they would like the humblest in the world. They would change according to the situation and their self-interest. At this, mother told an interesting story from her household:

It so happened that the cat which was a nuisance to mother’s kitchen gave birth to some babies somewhere on the upper shelfs. Seeing her condition, mother didn’t prevent her from entering the kitchen. But for the sly cat, motherhood had brought a great change. After she kept her babies in our kitchen, she stopped eating or stealing anything from our house! Even if milk would be kept uncovered, she would not drink anything from it! Mother was happy and she had no problems with the cat now. Before late night, the cat would feed her babies with her milk and then she would go out of the house to hunt and eat during the whole night so that mother cat remains strong enough. Then she would return in the morning. If we would be sleeping and kitchen would be closed in the morning, she would sit outside the kitchen do very soft and polite meuw-meuw, making mother to come and open the door. This way, her critical months passed without any threat.

But once her babies grew old and she took them outside our house, she changed into her previous self. She would not leave any food items untouched and would keep mother on her toes.

Mother says that when a cat can change herself this way to serve her selfish interests, what can we say about humans?

- Rahul

Changing Colours

Once we were discussing how some people ‘change’ colors depending on the situation. At one moment they would be fiery and stern, but another moment they would like the humblest in the world. They would change according to the situation and their self-interest. At this, mother told an interesting story from her household:

It so happened that the cat which was a nuisance to mother’s kitchen gave birth to some babies somewhere on the upper shelfs. Seeing her condition, mother didn’t prevent her from entering the kitchen. But for the sly cat, motherhood had brought a great change. After she kept her babies in our kitchen, she stopped eating or stealing anything from our house! Even if milk would be kept uncovered, she would not drink anything from it! Mother was happy and she had no problems with the cat now. Before late night, the cat would feed her babies with her milk and then she would go out of the house to hunt and eat during the whole night so that mother cat remains strong enough. Then she would return in the morning. If we would be sleeping and kitchen would be closed in the morning, she would sit outside the kitchen do very soft and polite meuw-meuw, making mother to come and open the door. This way, her critical months passed without any threat.

But once her babies grew old and she took them outside our house, she changed into her previous self. She would not leave any food items untouched and would keep mother on her toes.

Mother says that when a cat can change herself this way to serve her selfish interests, what can we say about humans?

- Rahul

Smile

Watching a young baby is always a delight. Once we were around a newly born baby who rested in the lap of her maternal grandpa. The baby was sleeping with her eyes closed. In between, she would give very broad smiles. After some time, her face would show another expression, may be this time of fear. Then again, a very broad and happy smile. I was gently surprised! Was the baby watching a nice dream? In that case, even in her dream, did the infant had the power of comprehension to make out nice and happy events? That was difficult to believe. Then, was she recollecting events or scenes from her past life? This we would never know. Anyways, simply watching the baby in all her smiles, perhaps without any reasons, was heart warming. I remember an anecdote: “God speaks to us in many ways”. Or else we can say, “God smiles to us in many ways”.

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- Rahul

Videocon to make and sell Philips TVs in India

Philips Electronics has signed an agreement with Videocon according to which Videocon would make and sell Philips brand TV sets in India.

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_philips-videocon-in-marketing-pact_1373358

Videocon would pay around 3% of royalty to Philips in return. The initial contract is for five years which can be extended by another spell of five years.

I see the benefits to the two companies in the following ways:

Benefits to Philips:

1) Better profitability because of cost rationalisation and synergy with Videocon.
2) Philips would use the sales and distribution network of Videocon to increase sales tremendously.
3) This scheme would allow Philips to invest in and focus on more profitable and innovative technologies.
4) Philips may replicate the success of a similar JV with Funai Electric in US.

Benefits to Videocon:

1) Access to advance technology courtesy Philips.
2) Wider product range.
3) Better brand value as it would be managing a respected MNC brand like Philips.
4) Better international reputation.

On the other hand, I see the threats to the two companies as:

Threats to Philips:

1) A forever dependency on Videocon. Due to any reasons if the agreement fails, Philips may not be in a position to go solo again in India.
2) In case Videocon doesn’t ensure quality, Philips brand value would diminish.
3) Customers may see it as company’s surrender to the competition.

Threats to Videocon:

1) Videocon may lose focus on its own home-grown brands in terms of technology and innovation and lose out in the long term.
2) Philips sales may cannibalise Videocon.
3) Videocon Bazooka lost its value after collaboration with Toshiba. Philips experience may become a repeat.

On the overall, I think this is a great opportunity for Videocon. Agreed that its similar collaboration with Toshiba harmed its own brands, but the company may have learnt lessons from the past and could do it better this time. Access to global technologies is one good thing which would help it in the long term. And the Philips brand is highly respected in India: a fact which would continue giving Videocon a long term returns.

I see this as a win-win deal.

- Rahul

Industry status for Logistics Sector in India - Why Not

CII has long ago asked for an 'industry' status for Logistics Sector in India. So have asked so many industry bodies, companies and business leaders.

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As they said, an industry status would facilitate in removing bottlenecks and sorting policy issues; it would create better image for industry; and would achieve better access to finance.

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My question is: Why do you think government of India doesn't grant logistics and SCM sector an industry status? And if we are not an industry, then where do we fit in?

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- Rahul

Seeking Attention

This comes from a real life incident that happened recently.

We visited their home after a long gap. The only kid in the family was naturally the centre of our attraction. After some initial period of pause, the boy opened up and started playing with the guests. He was chatting, showing off his toys and running around. It was then that his grandfather arrived from his morning walk. As the old grandpa sat down and started talking with the visitors, we noticed something unusual. While the kiddo was mixing up well with the guests and also talked some times to his parents, it so happened that about ten minutes had passed and the kid didn’t talk to the grandpa even once. He seemed to be too excited to see the visitors and was engaged in other things, and hence naturally forgot the need to talk to his grandpa at that time.

Now there he was running and passing in front of the grandpa, still not looking at him. What happened next was shocking. We saw grandpa raising his one leg and catching the kid unaware. As the kid fell down, grandpa raised his other leg and caught hold of him. The kid, realising that he had fell down and his fun had come to an interruption, started crying. Now grandpa got up, pulled the kid up in his arms, wiped out tears from his cheeks and played with him to stop his crying. The kiddo still said in his hurt and tears: “grandpa made me fell down…” But grandpa seemed happy and content now. What I quickly analysed the incident into, was a very sad realisation.

It seemed to me that the grandpa was an absolute self-satisfying attention seeker. When the kid whom he loved so much didn’t give him any attention, he created a situation where the kid had to be consoled by him and hence he would get enough importance that he thought he deserved. Was it because he, a retired professional, was missing his ‘important’ days on job? Or was it his true nature where he craved for attention from others and if not provided gratification, would do ‘something’ to fetch it for him? I remember a piece of news from some place in Europe where an elderly couple had a unique and perverted case. The husband kept administering a kind of poison to his wife for years, so that she kept on felling sick and he got chance to nurse her! Their marriage was not going on very well and he had devised this method for them to come ‘close’… It seemed to me that a similar game was put on here in front of us. The child was made to pay enough attention and importance by being interrupted and harmed, and the retired grandpa didn’t miss such an opportunity to fetch out some moments of gratification for him. While all of us know how children cry and create scenes seeking attention of elders, this case of a similar but more perverse behaviour from an old man made me wonder.

Of course truth is more interesting than fiction.

- Rahul

Gandhi Peace Exam

About three years back, I had read about ‘Gandhi Peace Exam’ in a news article. The article said that the exam was then conducted for inmates in a jail in Mumbai and hundreds had appeared in the same. The exam was taken after giving them induction about life and philosophy of Gandhiji. I searched on net more about this exam and got to know that it is conducted in schools and colleges too. I was immediately interested. I had read Gandhiji's autobiography a long time back and having read it I had grown up as a huge fan of his. Gandhiji's personal integrity and industrious efforts for nation building were unmatched in our history; so was his devotion towards non-violence.

I contacted Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal who conducted this exam. They sent me a copy of the 'Abridge Autobiography' of Mahatma Gandhi and asked me to come to their office to appear for the exam at any time.

Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal / Gandhi Book Centre
299, Tardeo Road, Nana Chowk,
Mumbai - 400 007 India.

Tel: +91 22 23872061 / 23884527
Email: info@mkgandhi.org
Website: www.mkgandhi.org

I couldn't appear for the exam for a long time since I had contacted them first. So last month I quickly finished reading the book and then asked for the exam. They were quick in response and within a week I received a beautiful certificate of appreciation (for the exam) accompanied by a letter. I had got 70 out of 80 marks and had cleared the exam. What a wonderful feeling, of being a 'certified fan' of Mahatma!

Visit the website maintained by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal www.mkgandhi.org for details about Mahatma Gandhi’s life and philosophy.

- Rahul

Foreign Educational Institutions Bill

The Union Cabinet has Okayed the Foreign Educational Institutions Bill which allows foreign universities to open campuses in India. This bill would now be passed by the Parliament. Government says that the intent of this bill is to curb outflow of Indian students and money towards foreign countries (In 2008-09, 2.25 billion USD went out of India to fund Indian students studying abroad).

As such the bill looks good. It allows foreign universities either alone or in collaborations with local universities to offer programs in local campuses, just like any other private institution. Such universities would not have to implement any caste-based quota and can decide on whatever fee they want to charge. As a check, such universities can’t take back any profits earned out of India. Still, I doubt the success of the scheme towards its goals of stopping outflow of Indian students and Indian money abroad.

Firstly I doubt if the best of the foreign universities would be inclined enough to set up local brick and mortar campuses in India. The reason is that their foreign mother institutions depend heavily on Indian and Asian students filling up their seats (very critical in recession times too). If they start local campuses, they miss such students and hence money reaching up to them. I fear only the rank-B foreign schools would come to India. And these institutes would not stop the outgoing students. When one decides to join a foreign university, money or class room education is not the only things in mind. One goes to get a global exposure, studying with diverse set of students from all across the world. Such local campuses of foreign universities would not fulfil this very important expectation from the students. And then there would be concerns about quality of education and exorbitant fee being charged without getting back enough values in return. The cream of Indian talent still prefers IITs or IIMs over many foreign universities, unless they have intent to settle abroad. The students who have money but are not talented enough to get into IITs/IIMs, go for foreign universities for higher education. Such students would still go abroad. Also, the students who have intentions to settle abroad after studies would still go join the foreign universities rather than their local campuses because that is the shortcut to their goals. For the clause of not allowing profits to be taken out of India, they always can get creative to utilise the money in ways of self-fulfilment, like funding student exchange programs, funding training and research of their global counterparts, and in many other ways, not allowing this clause to harm their interests. On the other hand, I fear such local campuses of not-the-best foreign universities would be harming interests of Indians in more ways than one.

The high fees of such local units of foreign universities would definitely result in Indian private universities hiking their fees too, claiming their own standards being no less than those. Then, such universities would eat up some market share out of Indian universities, in terms of talented faculty members and quality students. Also, it would be very difficult to ensure that their courses are best designed for Indian environment; otherwise we would end up creating misfits.

I doubt if the government has thought enough around the bill before pushing it to the parliament. I am not sure if the time is right for such a bill too: the newer IITs and newer IIMs are still to establish grounds. If the education reforms are continued, and quality education is ensured by proper regulation, I think this bill may be welcomed after 10 years from now. In the present times, such a bill would harm our interests and would fell short of its target of stopping expatriation of Indian students and money.

- Rahul

A Collateral Loss

Our company had to roll out a plan. It had decided to implement it in South Zone first, because of its favorable past experiences. Hyderabad was to be the hub. But by the time the roll out date came nearby, Telangana issue had blown up the political space and Hyderabad and AP was burning in anger and anticipation. The company decided to deter the plan and chose West Region instead. The same story is being repeated for many other companies in all sectors and businesses.

The loss to Andhra Pradesh due to the political crisis has been immense. The losses would amount in thousands of crores, I guess. And the agitation in AP has even cost the other Southern Indian states in general as tourists, companies and investments would choose other safer destinations like West or North.

I think it would be naïve to blame TRS or any particular separatist group for the Andhra crisis. The main culprit in the case is the irresponsible handling of the issue by the central leadership of UPA/Congress. It’s also amusing to note that the members of Nehru dynasty – Rahul and Sonia Gandhi have hardly taken any clear stand on this issue; thereby saving themselves from any possible challenges or issues of ideology. It’s a situation like Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned.

Whether Telangana becomes a separate state or not, Andhra Pradesh has already lost out heavily. Until the political crisis is resolved, the investor confidence in the state would remain negative. Given the manner in which the central leadership has handled this case, and given the attitude of the political powers in the Center, the future of Andhra Pradesh is muted.

- Rahul