Maximum government, Minimum governance. The Government’s Hindutva agenda

The BJP Government must live upto its promises of providing a secular government without any ideological baggage of the past

In 2014, when BJP was entrusted by the electorate to lead the nation for the next 5 years, the promises and the commitment expressed by Modi and his entire team had ample clarity : to ensure maximum governance and minimum government interference. Their idea was to undo all the interferences by earlier governments for political gains and let them function independently. Increasingly, a lot of our public institutions were are stress at large and showed signs of fatigue and dependancy on the political class for their actions and considerations. The government vowed to change this status quo and let our instituions run on merit and capabilities, instead on the whims and fancies of their political superiors or their ideologies.

In just over a year since these concerns were intermittently put to rest, the government seems to have backed away from its promises in pursuing its ideologies that go well beyond the scope of the constitution and the principles that we pride ourselves on. The government that entered power with the hope that it would usher an era of governance that is seen as impartial and free of bias is now engaging in practices that lead us to believe that there is a systematic agenda to further there Hindutva ideologies in a discreet yet, organised manner. This is dangerous for the society at large as it has the power to influence large sections of the population in an undemocratic and uninformed manner.

Gajendra Chouhan’s appointment as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (‘FTII’) was one such instance. He is seen as a man who has Hindutva inclinations and is perceived as one who is very close to the BJP and the Sangh parivar. In a prestigious institute like the FTII that deals with freedom of speech and creative expression and which involves a medium that has a wider reach than most information mediums, this move has the evil power of suppressing speech and ideas that go against personal and political ideologies. Such a move has not only been vehemently opposed by prominent individuals in the film industry like Anupam Kher and Rishi Kapoor but also by students who feel an impartial and capable chairman is the need of the day and men like Chouhan have the capacity to dismiss voices that go against a particular mindset and ideology.

The FTII appointment would have been ignored if it was an isolated example of selection based on considerations other than merit and experience alone. In November the government appointed a Padma Bhushan awardee, Lokesh Chandra, aged 87 as the head of the Indian council of Cultural Relations (‘ICCR’). If the age wasn’t baffling enough, his comments reaffirmed fears that his loyalties towards Narendra Modi was a compelling enough reason for this selection. Post appointment, he referred to Modi as virtually an ‘incarnation of God’. Further, he was quoted wanting to organise Ramayana and Mahabharata-based programmes with the south-east Asian countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos as they have living traditions drawn from these epics. If this was one of his many agendas as the head of ICCR, it would have been a non-issue but the fact that every statement from him speaks of a grand plan to implement an ‘unfinished’ ideology is a worrisome affair as this body routinely engages with the outside world and has the power to shape opinions about how the outside world thinks of India and its traditions.

The story doesn’t end here. The government appointed mr. Sudarshan Rao, an ex-RSS member as Bthe head of the the Indian Council of Historical Research (‘ICHR’). Mr. Rao has recommended 3 RSS historians as part of the committee. To make matters worse, the ICHR in January disbanded the advisory committee of its prestigious and well acclaimed journal that included eminent historians like Romila Thapar and Irfan Habib. Even its’ chief editor, Historian Sabyasachi Bhattacharya quit over his ‘un-approval’ of the direction in which the ICHR was heading.  In June, Gopinath Ravindran, member secretary of Indian Council of Historical Research resigned over his differences with Mr. Rao. As informed human beings, we can sense that something is systematically wrong if a string of reputed voices are raising the alarm bells in the same direction.

India’s educational institutions like the IIM have also been vocal about government interference. Their autonomy is what makes them exceptional as an institution and any attempt to take away this asset will only hamper the quality of the global renowned institutions.

The latest attempt to further Hindutva ambitions was visible in the recent story surrounding IIT Delhi. In an event organised by the professors to discuss Unnat Bharat Yojna, a project to provide technology designed especially for the rural areas, Baba Ramdev and a number of RSS members were invited as part of a well planned guest list. It would be silly to even comprehend that they would have any expertise to comment on areas like technology in rural areas. Even if rural expertise as a subject is involved, inviting right wing members and further, intending to collaborate with right wing agencies like Swami Sampoornanand and Swami Muktanand speaks of an underlining Hindutva ideology. We cannot afford to meddle with such institutions and corrupt them with over-reaching ideologies that go against the basic principles of democracy. These campuses are designed to foster creativity and unabashed flow of ideas without any hindrances and such attempts by the government are intended to stifle the thought process and encourage their line of thinking and action.

Amartya Sen, India’s noted economist and a Nobel Laureate brought the interference in Nalanda University by the government to the public domain. He was amongst the first to flag concerns about the government aggressively pursuing its Hindutva agenda. When informed and rational individuals like Sen speak up with facts and patterns, citizens should take note of this.

If we would like to believe that such actions are not reflective of the government’s ambitions to pursue Hindutva ideologies, the patterns and trends will state otherwise. Such appointments and interferences are not trivial issues by any means ; they have the power to influence and dictate the thought process of many around us. They shall look to encourage sections that support this ideology and will by all means, coercively or politically, look to suppress and stifle voices that have an opposing view. For a democracy, a healthy debate within the boundaries of democracy and the constitution is a healthy trend and such interferences and systematic intrusions  – both in our minds and our public bodies, is a serious threat to the fundamental principles of speech and expression. The ideology itself is not at the heart of our debate but its systematic installation in our institutions is a mater of serious concern and we should all rise up and flag these issues to ensure the ideals of our democracy are restored. At this rate, the thought process of our public bodies and the minds of those exposed to them shall be dictated by our political leadership. The institutions are at the heart of what we stand for, and compromising on its’ integrity is something that will have damaging consequences. We certainly don’t want that as an informed and educated nation. Hindutva ideologists will think otherwise.

#ModiInAmerica : Putting India on the Global map

This was a remarkable speech, especially because it came not from an American, Chinese or a British head of government, but because it was an Indian PM at the centre-stage. Never before have I encountered a speech by an Indian representative that spoke of global issues and the need to address multilateral problems, beyond the national and the Asian boundaries. Speeches earlier, were restricted to either remarks and observations in the Indian context or referred to India’s role in International peace, trade and diplomacy. Even when referring to issues of ‘global’ significance, the reference was about India willing to partner or support issues that were in line with its’ philosophy. It is important to note that India, in the earlier days neither had the political will nor the economic muscle to lead from the front and propose agendas or create the frameworks for International policy.

It is rare for an Indian politician to command so much respect and admiration even amongst non-Indians. Most also realize that after a long time, one politician has the political and personal will, intelligence, and more importantly, the parliament’s backing to do so. The credit not just goes to Mr. Modi himself but also to India’s rising economic stature and influence over a host of areas. Any country needs not just economic but also military capabilities to assert itself on the global arena. India now stands at an inflection point and if guided wisely has the opportunity to glow as a global force to contend with. Regional power is not something Indians at large will be satisfied with.

India as a rising global force could have some favorable consequences in its’ ability to reform rules of International engagement and policy. India firmly believes in democracy and more influence means many countries avoiding the rule of democracy until now will be forced to act. India believes in solving issues diplomatically and without use of force. Our nation now has the ability to do usual business with countries like China and Pakistan and yet firmly draw the line that are against national interests.

With constant harassment at India’s borders by Pakistan and China, PM Modi will display the resolve to settle these issues during his tenure. China asserting itself on Arunachal Pradesh and now in Ladakh is part of a well thought strategy to check India’s rise as it could challenge China’a home run until now. Pakistan continues to use terrorism as a weapon against India and our policies need to include putting an unprecedented level of International pressure on Pakistan. India, amongst other tools has to ask Americans to stop providing financial and military support to Pakistan until it gets its’ ‘own house’ in order.

Till a few months back, the Indian economy seemed off track and respect for Indian institutions was possibly at an all time low. Forward to today, and we Indians are beginning to take pride in our ability and potential. Our philosophies and value systems are unique and our rise as a global power not just benefits us, but the world across. That in itself is a wonderful thing considering Indians fundamentally believe in harmony and peace and have never used unnecessary force while fulfilling their ideologies.

PM Modi, at the 69th United Nations General Assembly made some specific observations and suggestions on a host of issues, paving the way for leading from the front and building international resolve and consensus. Many Asian, European powers and America itself would be on the same page with India on many of these issues but the world needed someone to walk the talk and work towards executing them.

PM Modi spoke of the need to do away with groups like the G8, G20 etc. as such groups end up doing damage to the UN’s authority and sometimes work in contrast to the UN’s framework, which directly is a challenge to the powers and scope of the UN itself.

PM Modi also spoke of climate change and its proposal of accepting a framework that has ‘common but differentiated responsibilities.’ Many developing nations have been demanding this and this clause has been a stumbling block in the implementation of a global framework that does justice to all nations and addresses the climate change problem too.

On the issue of the UN’s peacekeeping force, PM Modi made an important remark that further talks of India’s intentions to play a leading role in defining international policies. PM Modi spoke of the need to involve all nations in the decision making who provide military support in UN’s peacekeeping missions. This is justified considering only a few nations are stakeholders in the decision making process despite the fact that many smaller nations contribute in equal measure and should have a say in such efforts.

PM Modi said that there was a need to reform UN as its importance as a world body is diminishing by the day. Many countries now blatantly disregard UN’s framework conventions without fear of consequences as UN itself looks like a fractured body when important members quarrel and seem to differ on a host of important issues.

PM Modi also referred to an ‘International convention on terrorism’. This is expected to spark debates and can shape the future of anti-terror policies around the world. Terrorism is easily the worst menace the world is dealing with right now and a lack of International resolve has meant that the evils of terrorism are continuing to spread their tentacles in places like like Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan etc. The rise of ISIS is the biggest threat to world peace and even America has acknowledged that this is by far the biggest threat to peace right now, far worse than even the threats posed by Al Qaeda, a terrorist organization. Even China is beginning to feel the heat of terrorism on it’s soil. If India can build mutual consensus, this will be the first of many steps in eliminating terrorism from the global map.

He then spelled out the need to ensure availability of drinking water, healthcare and sanitation facilities to a large section of the world’s population that are deprived from such basic amenities even today. Millions of people around the world lose their lives because governments aren’t doing enough and these are real humanitarian issues that transcend beyond boundaries and should be of concern to every nation, irrespective of what their ideologies are.

PM Modi, in his 30+ minute speech, also spoke on a variety of other issues, that included a jibe at Pakistan for raking up Pakistan in an earlier speech. He also appealed to the UN for announcing a Yoga Day but what truly overwhelmed all Indians and not just me was the fact that he defied convention and gave his speech in Hindi. A deeper introspection on why he did this and we would realize that this was not just a change of language as PM Modi can be equally well versed in English. This was more than that; It was about taking pride in being an Indian and proudly announcing the revival of India in the global context. We Indians, as a collective force were beginning to forget our real identity and what we stood for. We were starting to lose hope in a ‘Shining India’ story and were living in disbelief. Respect for our identity and pride was taking a backseat. The inner voice in us is coming out, all over again. The credit for this goes to over 1 billion Indians who believed and will always continue to believe, in the power of democracy and India’s potential to lead the world.

 

 

I am an Ardent Apple Fan, and the iPhone launch has left me dissapointed

Before I proceed, I would like to clarify that I am not an Android user who loves to lambast an Apple user at every step. I have been a part of the Apple eco-system for over 3 years and the Iphone and the Ipad are essential to my productivity, social life and entertainment. It is precisely why I was looking forward to the launch of the new Apple Iphone. The run up was filled with frenzy, but it all proved to be an anti-climax at the end of it all.

4 Millions devices sold over the weekend already, sets a new record!

Don’t get me wrong. The Iphone 6 and 6 Plus are still amongst the best phones in their respective categories and these phones received good advancements and upgrades. But that is exactly not what we expect from Apple. We expect upgrades, advancements and evolutionary changes from other brands too but when it comes to path breaking innovation and enhancing true customer experience, we look upto Apple for inspiration and guidance.

It took me 4-5 days to go through opinions and polarizing reviews to take a call and decided to be on the other side of the fence. There was so much that Apple could have done with this launch but they missed out on this grand opportunity to come back into the limelight and receive a standing ovation from all corners of the world. It is true that Apple increased the size of the phone, made it thinner, incorporated advanced engineering and technology. At the same time, Apple left so much food on the table that competitors and Apple-haters must be rejoicing that for the next one year at least, they will trumpet features and capabilities that Apple lovers will miss out on.

Lets look at some existing technologies that Apple could have lived with. Take the case of water and dust resistant smartphones (i.e. – IP certified phones). This feature is a given for almost all flagship smartphones and Sony has been leading this wagon for over a year now. Even the Samsung S5 is a water proof phone. This technology is no gimmick. They actually prove immensely helpful to customers in the real world. With nano like coating, Apple could easily have let consumers taste the next generation in mobile advancements.

If this wasn’t enough, lets take a look at battery life. The iPhone’s battery life is its’ Achilles’ heel. Users have publicly complained about having to charge their phones atleast twice a day. Apple users, despite spending upwards of $650 on a phone are forced to spend another $40-$100 on either a power bank or something like a Mophie. With the iPhone at such a premium, no customer would love to spend even an additional penny on supporting such gadgets. Apple didn’t even bother to sacrifice a few millimeteres in the interest of the consumer and better its’ appalling battery life for the Iphone 6. It claims that the iPhone 6 ‘will have equal or better battery life’. I hope you get the answer already!

 

The earlier iPhones set benchmarks in design, form and function. Apple didnt care about rivals’ products and focused on the end customer experience. With the latest design, it seems Apple just cares about being the slimmest beauty of the lot. The lenses are protruding which is a radical departure from flat finishes in the past. Therefore, the new iPhone will be extremely uncomfortable to use on flat surfaces because of the unevenness on the back. Why Apple why?

The hardware too has nothing exceptional. Early numbers by Apple show some improvements in the speed and graphics departments but nothing that would blow your mind away. iPhone 5S had a 1.2 ghz dual core 64 bit processor and the iPhone 6 has a 1.4 ghz dual core 64 bit processor. In the real world, it would hardly make a difference to an average iPhone user. I use an Iphone 5S and nothing except the bigger screen entices me to upgrade. What also amused me was Apple proudly claiming that its A8 processor is smaller than the last generation. Does it seriously think that consumers care about the minute changes in the processor size when they are already so tiny? Seriously Apple?

On the camera front again, Apple decided to bring the Optical Image Stabilization (‘OIS) tech only to the 6 Plus. Again here it seems that Apple’s main agenda was just to drive the sales of the larger sibling when it could have brought OIS to Iphone 6 by adding just a few millimetres.

Until last year, Apple claimed that phones with large screens are difficult to use and dont do justice to the user experience. I understand Apple upgrading the size to 4.7 inches but launching an all new iPhone 6 Plus with 5.5 inches just looks like it decided to follow the herd. We know there is a demand for such phones but Apple wasn’t one of those companies to create products just because they were in ‘demand’. User experience, form and function was at the heart of Apple’s philosophy. Apple famously said that their phones can be used with just the thumb or a finger but with such screen sizes, that just isn’t possible. Here again, Apple has contradicted itself (I am aware that Apple has included the Reachability feature but you still have to tap twice every time for the screen to be halved)

An Apple’s ad taking pride in the size of the iPhone :

You look at an Apple ad and its hard to differentiate the old from the new ones. It has virtually become a ritual for Tim Cook to pronounce that this is the best iPhone ever and you could be Nostradamus in predicting how the the launch event would shape up. Sir Jony Ive would appear in the first ad and make it appear as if it took a miracle and angels to build Apple devices. These ads are no doubt very polished, informative and refined but its high time Apple found a new language to tell us something instead of reenacting the same story all over again.

It seems Apple is reserving some of the latest technologies for the next update. But that seems like a change of heart for Apple that believed in leveraging on its talent and might to bring consumers the finest mobile experience before anyone else does. When I look at the likes of Xiaomi, Sony, HTC and Motorola, you come to realise that they are working really hard towards truly getting ahead of the curve. Xiaomi is innovating by way of Apple-like phones at 1/4th prices and has a transformational business model. If one takes a look at the new Sony Z3, they will realise how Sony is committed to be in the race to build top-quality devices. Motorola came back from the ashes to succeed with the Moto G and Moto X. These companies are leaving no stone unturned in fighting a warrior like Apple.

Apple appears to be resting on its past laurels and a massive fan base to drive sales of the iPhone. One gets a sinking feeling that Apple managers believe that their Apple fans love Apple so much that they would blindly approve of anything that Apple brings to them. It is a myth that most individuals and corporations live with at the peak of their success. I hope Apple realizes that unless they are truly transformational and consumer oriented, someone else will soon take Apple’s place and pride. As tech enthusiasts, the world would be incomplete without Apple and I sincerely hope that the dream run of the legendary Steve Jobs’s vision and philosophy goes on without a glitch. But for that, it has to pull its’ socks up sooner than later.

Iphone 6s may have the innovation all Apple fans like me are looking for. I hope, next year, they will the make the best of their resources and talent and amaze us, like Steve Jobs, all over again, and again.

 

Tesla’s decision to open up patents – Putting markets and consumers first

   Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and the man behind Paypal and the Spacex program, made a landmark decision that is contrary to ‘popular’ logic. This single event, in my opinion could show the way for the business of patents in the coming years. For those of you still unaware of what I am talking about, Tesla has decided to open source its patents in ‘good faith’, essentially meaning that Tesla would either offer its patent portfolio at little or no costs.

Patents encourage innovation. Without them, entrepreneurs and scientists would have no incentive to invent something. Without patents, innovation wouldn’t attract money as no value is likely to be ensured in the run up to the market. Critics of patents argue that patents stifle competition and since the patent holder has the exclusive right, this creates a tendency to market products and services at a premium. Also, it is often not possible to address all markets as a single entity which often mean most consumers wouldn’t be able to take advantage of such innovations. Value is therefore lost if a patent fails to address the needs of the market it caters to. One would agree to both aspects of the patent argument. Forcing businesses to open up patents would discourage innovation; encouraging the use of ‘milking’ patents is unhealthy for consumers. Therefore, one would have to look at a hybrid model that addresses the fundamental issues at hand : ensuring that both the producers and consumers benefit from such innovations.

Tesla is in the business of electric automobiles. This is very different from pharmacy or the healthcare industry or even chemicals. The Electronic vehicle (‘EV’) market is still seeing early days and technology would rapidly evolve. Electric cars account for less than 1% of the auto market and there are only 8,300 electric charging stations compared to 121,000 gas stations in the US. Further, electric vehicles often come at a premium over gasoline powered vehicles. One wouldn’t possibly imagine Tesla to address the entire US Market, forget markets like China which are yet to even get a headstart. Consumers understandably appreciate electric cars but it is the lack of convenience and pricing that is hurting the EV market. Consumers would move in on a large scale only if economics and environmental concerns are balanced. It’s when you look at all of these intertwining factors that you begin to realize that Tesla’s decision to open up patents will shake up the market. Competitors, without any further slackness, will jump on to the bandwagon and will play their due role in the development of the EV market. This is good news for consumers as well as environmentalists.  This is also likely to revive the automobile sector which hasn’t seen any major breakthroughs in recent years, often relying to incremental improvements to attract consumers.

Also, this sends a strong message to the business community at large – that businesses should rely on innovation instead of hanging on to their patents. Tesla’s decision is likely to herald a new era in business collaboration – where companies focus on building a market instead of putting all their energies in cancelling out each other. Markets, miniscule in size until now will only get bigger by the day and the entire economy will stand to benefit from such a decision. The growth in the EV sector will also give rise to ancillary industries that in turn will create more job opportunities. This is a domino effect that we are are likely to witness in the coming years.

With this decision, Tesla has risked its very business. A competitor with these tools could one day drive Tesla out of the market. It also stands a chance to capitalize on these opportunities as the market expands by continuing to outperform through better products and service delivery. Tesla is after all amongst the most creative teams in the automobile industry. All this also leads us to a larger question: Should businesses focus on incessant innovation and collaboration or have a ‘winner takes it all’ approach ? Time will only tell whether Tesla will cruise or falter but for consumers out there, it has definitely ticked on the right boxes.

 

 

 

Flipkart fears Amazon – and it just proved that by opposing FDI

 

For your reference and background: Flipkart opposes FDI in online retail

 

I personally have great respect for Flipkart. It was founded by two friends who had previously worked in Amazon and then set out to build an E- commerce company in India from scratch. It was at a time when the industry was only in its’ nascent stages and many companies were jostling for space and market share. Almost all companies, to my knowledge, were in deep red and struggling to survive. It was then when Flipkart carved a name for itself not just as an e-retail company but also as a trusted brand amongst consumers. The categories were expanding at a blistering pace and the logistical chain built by Flipkart was in good shape. Flipkart worked on a very successful hybrid model – stocking inventory as well creating a marketplace for 3rd party resellers. This allowed the business to flourish and addition of many new segments. It recently introduced a next day delivery options in select cities and will soon be launching Fipkart First, a subscription based model where consumers will get priority in deliveries, free shipping on orders and other extended benefits like an extended return policy. This will create better customer engagement and loyalty amongst Flipkart users. Today, Flipkart is a leading player in the e-commerce industry with revenues expected to cross $1 billion this year, making it perhaps the first Indian online company to scale such heights in such a short span of time. Flipkart, with a strong brand and a vast experience in this sector will be in an advantageous position to cash in on the massive growth the online retail industry will witness in the coming years. Its acquisition of Myntra recently will add to to the growth and market share of the company. Flipkart faces some competition from Snapdeal but the range of offerings coupled with a stronger management should help Flipkart stay ahead of the game.

The industry saw it’s first major shakeup in 2013 when Amazon entered the online retail space and spruced things up. FDI regulations didn’t allow Amazon to launch a full fledged retail business so it created a marketplace, partnering with 3rd party resellers to sell their products through Amazon.in.

Amazon was very aggressive with its pricing and added new product categories almost instantaneously. It introduced a range of services like the same day delivery option not seen before.It also set up a powerful supply chain that could allow it make deliveries in smaller towns and cities too. The entry of Amazon was great news for the Indian consumer – not just because a world class player entered our shores but because increased competition would lead to better choices and prices for the consumer. This would lead to a explosion of growth in the Indian industry and reap benefits for the sellers at large too as the market continues to expand and provide enough elbow room for multiple players to operate. According to a few media reports, online PC retailer Newegg also plans to enter India and we can expect a number of global players to enter the Indian market. The Indian retail industry is very small in size compared to the Chinese market but this gives online players immense opportunities to expand in India. The Indian e-commerce market was worth $13b in 2013 and is expected to reach $76b by 2021 according to Technopak, a consultancy firm. India’s internet penetration is abysmally low at and this is partly due to low broadband penetration. Things are expected to radically shake up in this decade and online retail could play a significant role in India’s retail growth in the coming years. It will lead to a massive trickle down effect – consumers will be better off, jobs will be created, other industries like advertising, logistics etc. will get more business and importantly, India will have its opportunity to showcase its’ talent and capability in retail to the world at large.

With the the new government in place, it is widely expected that the new FDI policies will allow for the entry of foreign players in online retail where they could sell the inventory directly to the consumers as well as have a marketplace. Consumers would welcome the entry of players like Amazon as a direct seller of products. As for a capable company like Flipkart, one would naturally expect them to welcome such players and yet be confident about the outcomes. A true champion of capitalism would always want decisions that are taken in the interest of the consumer. Also, why do Indian entrepreneurs have to assume that huge capital and resources shall prove enough for Amazon and the likes to trample smaller players. India after all, is a hugely diverse market where local expertise will be critical. This is in sharp contrast to other economies where consumers by large are homogenous and show similar preferences. India is a continent in itself in the retail sector and reaching every district, town and village will require more creative thinking than possibly any other economy. The Flipkart management, in the spirit of business should have welcomed the opening up of the online retail sector to foreign players through the FDI route.

But it is an irony that a management as capable as that of Flipkart and driven by the values of a market driven economy, would oppose such an idea. They have publicly opposed FDI in online retail claiming it will be ‘benefit only one company’, thinly veiling a reference to Amazon India. This according to me is not just naive and churlish, but also highlights the fear of Flipkart against Amazon itself. Instead of gearing up for the battle of the giants, they are wasting their energies in hoping that they wouldn’t have to fight Amazon out in the marketplace and are sending out wrong signals to their shareholders and consumers. This is not what capitalism is all about. Real entrepreneurship is about the spirit of business itself and built on the foundations of fairness. This philosophy calls for allowing the natural conditions of demand and supply to play the central role. Consumers should make the final choices about what they like and what they don’t. What Flipkart is communicating reminds me of the pre-reform days when local companies resisted every attempt of entry by foreign players. Such a situation will only mean a loss to the consumers. It will also prevent Indian companies from identifying their real strengths and weaknesses. It is unfortunate then, that an Indian management does not appear up to the task of fighting bigger rivals and believing in itself. Lets hope they reverse this stand of theirs soon and show the world what Indian online entrepreneurs, if given the right conditions and opportunity are truly capable of. The days are not far when India will be the breeding ground for the next Amazon.

 

Leadership – It all comes from within

What is leadership?

The art and science of leadership has been of great interest since the olden days. One wouldn’t merely call it science and if that were true, all it needed was a sincere student to replicate this meticulously and get results as if this was the law of nature. One would be forgiven for calling it pure art at the same time too. Certain principles of leadership have shown to produce results in a certain direction. Different leaders have demonstrated different styles and each of them, unique to our universe, had worked wonderfully. Steve Jobs was very dictatorial in each approach and considering the circumstances then, this was novel in itself. Jobs believed in deciding for a customer and presenting them with an option. In his book of business, asking the customer was never going to take you to the path of innovation as customers can only comment on the choices available to them. No customer, for example, in the 1990’s would tell you that the tablet would be the next big thing after the era of smartphones (mobile phones was a luxury in those days). Take the case of watches that was just another accessory until 2013.  This device was completely disconnected from the outside world and the value was of this was a result of the brand, hardware and materials associated with this category. Just when we thought we knew it all, leading companies like Google, LG and Samsung (Apple likes the concept of secrets) announced that this would be the next big platform for a technological revolution. Flashes of vision that predict the next big wave require wisdom, insight and the ability to think in that direction. This ability cannot be manufactured. One either has it or doesn’t. Jeff Bezos of Amazon is another example. He is relentless in his approach for perfection and speed of execution. Leaders like them can inspire their team members, make them believe and put all their might in his direction. You could label them as ‘autocratic’ leaders: their will, vision and passion making a difference to the world at large.

Style of leadership can vary

Lets turn to politics now. Leaders in this sphere cannot afford to be ‘autocratic’ in the 21st century beyond a point of comfort. Their audience expects them to be humble and above all, a great listener. If Tim Cook today wants you to believe in what he believes, chances are you wouldn’t even raise a whisper. Imagine Barack Obama or even David Cameron asking you for his vote in blind fashion and chances are they wouldn’t be where they are. Such leaders are expected to be democratic in the choices they make. Like it or not, they will be held accountable not just for their actions, but for the tweets they post!

Then their are leaders who build their success on social innovation.  Take the case of the Barefoot College, an organization that has made some valuable contributions that few know about. This institution thrives on doing good to the world and the community in which it operates. As part of their mandate, they empower rural communities by imparting the necessary formal skills to make them self sufficient. This self sufficiency also translates to eco systems that are sustainable too. In one of their initiatives, they provided formal training to African ‘grandmothers’ in rural areas to become solar engineers. An average man would balk at the idea of training older women who were largely illiterate and had no no academic backgrounds. But Sanjit ‘Bunker’ Roy, the founder of Barefoot College thought differently. Grandmothers would have very little activity in their hands, having raised their children. Also, these trained grandmothers were largely immobile and would not prefer to relocate to urban areas simply for a higher wage. This will result in something that benefits both the community and provides a source of earning for these women too. Also, the pride of doing good to the society is an addition. Surrounding communities, most of which would remain powerless for hours and sometimes even days could ensure cheap and affordable power solutions within their reach.

Ideas like this require a deep understanding of the world around you. Such wisdom cannot be bought in a library and even second-hand experiences would just give a glimpse of how it was done. Examples like this can give you inspiration, not direction. Success as we all know is unique in itself, and cannot be exactly replicated.

Its all about the voice within

Leadership is all about the the inner voice within. A voice that urges you to change the world around you and make en ever lasting impact.One needs the courage and passion to drive through the rough times as and when they come. The world will make a mockery, people around you will be skeptical and you, for the larger part will be alone in the journey. After all successful leaders in nascent stages are like successful products in the lab.  The world just wouldn’t be able to take note before they are racing ahead of the rest. May be that’s how leaders are made. Their struggles have made them tougher and stronger. Their passion is limitless and they would strive to achieve what they set out for even in the severest of storms ahead of them. They would not just give up.

Hard work is all it takes

We find leaders glamorous and often fail to look behind the curtains for the real picture. Real leaders are not just about flashy cars, and billionaire houses. This is just a by-product of what they set out of achieve. Had they set out to achieve all of this, we wouldn’t call them our leaders. opulence is just what we would attach to their names. Henry Ford’s first automobile venture, Detroit Automobile company had to be dissolved after it his shareholders lost faith in him.  In his second attempt, he founded the ‘Henry Ford Company’ with the help of a prominent businessman in Detroit named William H. Murphy.  This time too, his partners were focused on profit alone and interfered with Ford’s drive for perfection. Soon, he was forced to leave the company. This was his second failure. Most people thought that it was the end of the road for Henry. But he never lost hope and went on to start another company with the help of another investor named Alexander Malcomson. However, this time around Henry Ford seemed to have learnt the right lessons and Alexender Malcomson was the right choice as he shared a similar philosophy and wouldn’t meddle with Henry’s style of working. The focus was on quality and from there on, this corporation reached new heights and never looked back. Their product named Model T was an instant hit with the masses because it was well made and yet affordable.  His entrepreneurial tenacity soon reflected the culture and spirit of America. All this was a result of Henry Ford having learnt his lessons from failures in the past. We are overwhelmed by the success and glamour that follows leaders like them but it is their struggles and determination that should inspire all of us. Success is like the light that comes out from the sun but it is the perseverance and faith that is the hydrogen within.

MBA programs and the likes can teach you what it to takes be a good leader. They can give you valuable insights on what history and our present has to offer. But they cannot make you one. For if they could, the world would be plentiful with leaders. It has to come from within. Why it appears in the mind and heart of one and not the rest will forever remain a mystery. For if we could predict and replicate accurately, we would have the mind of God.

What matters most

So the next time when you set out to achieve something, just focus on the fact that you have to master the art of perfection in whatever you undertake. Don’t carry the baggage of expectation, possible failures and the goals that lie ahead. Focus on every moment as if it were your only moment to bring something new to the world. More moments and many more like this. One day, you might just be on the list of people the world admires and looks up to.

Links

http://www.fastcompany.com/3002809/be-henry-ford-apprentice-yourself-failure

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T

BJP and Narendra Modi: The new face of India

 

It has been a fascinating year for all like minded Indians like me. I have been following politics for nearly 10 years now with great interest and to my knowledge, I have never witnessed an election that was so intensely fought and where emotions were running this high. This was an election where every instrument played its suitable role, whether it were the social media with the likes of Twitter and Facebook storming us with new information or the media houses, giving us a glimpse into every move of our PM candidates or even the regular voters like us, voicing our opinions on every platform we could possibly get hold of. The last 6 months have been truly an exciting time for even those who don’t take an active interest in politics and democratic affairs. This was also an election that had nearly 100 million new voters – that’s more than the population of many countries around us!

Elections until this one never seemed to evoke enough interest the majority of us. We had to vote only because we were supposed to. All candidates seemed corrupt and drowned in vested interests. Only a few ‘appeared’ patriotic and passionate about the role they wanted to play. Most lacked a vision and the will to execute even if they had one. Lastly, we rarely came across leaders who had leadership skills to unite a country of 1 billion people. We were very content with looking up to sportsmen and business leaders. Politics and politicians for us, was a filthy place where the world was devilish and gloomy. Until now.

Its when Narendra Modi presented himself as a PM candidate. A section of the population with people like me already had entrusted their faiths and convictions in this one man. The rest of us were skeptical of his intentions and motives. This had emanated from the fact that he was a Chief Minister of the State during the Gujarat 2002 riots. After all, being the head of his state it was his moral responsibility to be held accountable. It is important to note that a thousand other riots took place during the Congress rule but never before did an individual come under such severe criticism and was a recipient of so much venom spit on him. But that’s where things started looking bleak and biased when you look at his opponents. Gujarat was on the forefront of economic growth and development. Foreign Direct Investment and business houses seemed to pour in year after year and very soon, Gujarat was the hot-spot of economic activity. This growth and development was spread across Gujarat and the state pioneered many transformational policies for setting up business and industry. The land acquisition rules, for example seemed to simplify the acquisition of land by business houses and were beneficial to our farmers at large at the same time. No riots were ever seen in Gujarat post 2002 which in itself was remarkable considering the plight that its citizens had been through during those murky days.

People began to take notice of his work and sincerity when it came to setting up goals and meeting them more often than not. The young generation seemed to associate him with growth, development and job creation. For them, it wasn’t fair to burden him with the baggage of the past and seemed to appreciate Modi’s forward looking ideas. The young generation, often seen as ‘influencers’ began to galvanize support around Mr. Modi. The world was starting to believe him more than they did yesterday. They found him energetic and a visionary. He seemed like the one who would not just build India on merit but also provide relentless support to the left out sections of our society. India saw him as secular not just in ideas and speeches alone but also in the work that he undertook. After all, true secularism is about providing equal opportunity, in work and life to every individual. If one dwells into this philosophy, Modi’s mantra would start looking profound and complete in itself. Those who call him communal ignored that fact that he gave no preference to either the majority or the minority. To him, every Indian is an equal Indian, and that is where India started to unite as one.

Those who call him polarizing are indeed right. Modi did polarize all of us. Where the polarizing line stands will astound many of us. Mr. Modi polarized those those who were forward looking from the ones who still lived in the past. He polarized those tho were willing to accept politics of dynasty and sycophancy from the ones who didn’t. Modi believed in growth, development and prosperity for all and a few didn’t want this to become a reality because it wouldn’t suit them anymore. If this was polarization where the entire country stood for what he believed in and a few felt uneasy with the the fact that India could dream and realize it one day too, then this was a good thing to happen.

Some of us still might to choose to live differently, but BJP and its leader is the new face of India. We don’t believe in the archaic and bigoted concepts of cast, creed and religion. We wouldn’t vote for a leader anymore just because he happened to be from our ‘community’. We want India to be not just a regional but a world superpower. And at the same time, we will be the brightest symbols of non-violence, peace and secular democracy. If we believe in what I just said, that’s exactly what Modi and BJP stand for. We live on the principles of merit and equal opportunity. We would help someone in need but not let someone jump the queue if he didn’t deserve one. We are neither for the majority nor the minority. We are equal and consider everyone around us just the same.

That’s just the candidate we needed. After all, nature has its own unique ways of restoring balance in chaos. Our country was on the brink of something close to that. Neighbors seemed to undermine us and the growth was at its lowest in so many years. Job destruction was often heard more than job creation. We were pessimistic, skeptical, disappointed and thought the Idea of of a prosperous India is far from being realized.

It’s at this inflection point that we resolved to stand in one direction and put back all our differences in the interest of the nation. Only anti-incumbency couldnt have given him a mandate of this magnitude. If we were still living in the past, we would have gifted some more seats to the likes of Samajwadi Party, NCP, DMK or even the RJD. The fact that we didn’t itself should make us be proud of ourselves. Our dream is being realized or at least we can hope for it. After years, India is uniting as one for a common goal: A mission to ensure everyone runs together, and at the same pace. We are not willing to opt for a family only because its ancestors have done some good to us and we are supposed to behave as if we were indebted to them for the rest of our lives.

I don’t know what the next 5 years will bring for all of us but I have started to believe in a resurgent and stronger India and this thought was looking like it was fading at a pace faster than ever. The fact that many of us are rallying behind BJP and Mr. Modi should in itself make us smile. We are so used to negativity and criticism of everything about our leaders that this support should bring a sense of calmness and resolve in us. For once, we voted as Indians and not as pockets of rich, poor, religion, community, caste or creed. India finally has seen the light of the day. This optimism doesn’t stem from the a belief that things have suddenly changed in a week but the fact that we have made the right choices in front of us. The rest, as you all might know is destiny. After all, there is a famous saying by Joseph De Maistre saying “Every nation gets the government it deserves”. If we deserve it, we will get it.