URL Changing...

It has been a pleasure writing here...with a lot of new friends and learnings...like being in school. Now JoH is moving into college and his writings will be http://www.joyofhaving.blogspot.com/ you can continue to be in touch with him there...wish you all the best

Budget, JoH and Financial Inclusion…

“The popular perception is, “Microfinance” is all about livelihood generation for the poor, whereas “Financial Inclusion” is about the very basic fundamental need to connect a poor person to the financial institution. So livelihood generation is actually a step further…”

Post budget announcements, people like industrialists were calculating the impact of minor tax percentage shifts and how it will impact them in making more money, salaried class calculating how much exemption they have got and of course the journalists, who more often do not have money but it is their job to keep a tab on else’s money. It is an irony that they have to write about millions…and how the country’s economy is doing et al…is it not? Hahaha.

JoH was expecting some fiscal support for people in the middle class who have lost their jobs or whose salaries have been reduced on the pretext of global meltdown…thus facing the music of urban unemployment with rising EMIs…as the finance minister of this country exhibits ever willingness to bail out the corporates in trouble…but alas…

However, what was of interest to JoH was “Financial inclusion”, the new buzzword. This purely means that through budget GoI has proposed to reach out to the poorest of poor even in remote rural areas with financial assistance. This will be done with micro-financial opportunities like micro-credit or small loans, micro-savings, micro-insurance policies and all other micro-financial products that can be made available. Micro-credit is the extension of small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. It has proven to be an effective and popular measure in our neighboring Bangladesh. India’s learning is from Dr Yunus, the Noble Laureate from Bangladesh, who pioneered this concept of micro-finance and has established the efficacy of this.

While the entire media is focused on issues like fiscal deficit, stock market impact, reduction of excise duty on certain products, how LCD and luxury cars have become cheaper etc…typical things involving their readers and viewers, government is silently working towards making financial inclusion a reality. For this it has increased budget allocation for NREGS and Integrated Child Development Program as part of rural development plans. It is bound to take time to reach recognizable proportion considering the complex logistical labyrinth. What is of credence to this government however is the fact that through financial inclusion, it is trying to reach out to the rural poor in the right earnest. Micro-finance will be the real clincher.

The challenge however remains in implementation of such ambitious mega projects. How to reach out to people in the remotest areas by involving network of banks, gram panchayat offices, Common Service Centres (CSCs), e-Choupals and others. Another challenge is participation of state governments, without whom these projects will fail. In the first phase state governments of UP, Bengal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh besides others attempted to derail this initiative. While such attempts may delay the implementation, these should not be a cause of worry to GoI as the recent people’s verdicts in these states have shown.

A very good indicator of government initiative is the large number of new opportunities for employment advertised by banks. In fact banks will play a crucial role in micro-financing…

Amitabh is a legendry actor because he does not act

Funny things happen…In the recent past, during a film award function, Rekha in her everlasting glory was seen sequentially hugging and pecking…Shah Rukh, Abhishek Bachchan, then his wife Aishwarya Bachchan…and then…the man next stood up and just walked away. He did not want to be embarrassed by Rekha’s teaser. He was none other than Amitabh Bachchan. Like many TV viewers, JoH also reacted with “Oh Sh..*%&#”. It instantly brought back images of their chemistry (JoH is only referring to on-screen) which till date remains unmatched…

Talking of Amitabh, JoH often hears comparisons between this living legend and Shah Rukh Khan. In the media, he sees comparative descriptions like … Sahenshah for Amitabh and King Khan for Shah Rukh. While much debate and media space has been wasted on this, there are still non-comparable differences between the two. First, Shah Rukh began when Amitabh had virtually taken an off. Second, their appeals are different; while Shah Rukh’s appeal primarily excites young girls and young ladies, Amitabh at his peak swooped everybody off their feet and of course difference lies in their respective personalities.

Shah Rukh came to prominence with a TV serial and subsequently got his break in movies. His onscreen acting impressions begin with “K..k..k..Kiran” and goes on to what seemed like desperate attempts of portraying a “Devdas or a Don.” When he appears on TV screens during a paid appearance or during IPL season…JoH often wonders “Oh this is the guy who was trying to act a particular character on-screen?” With all due regards and respects to Shah Rukh’s sincere efforts and his commercial success, one can clearly say, when he is trying to act and when he is his normal self. To many this is the way for an actor…

On the other hand, watching Amitabh on TV during IIFA or his interactions with journalists, JoH can’t differentiate between Amitabh, the actor and Amitabh, the natural person. That is the greatness of a living legend…he moulds naturally into the onscreen character he portrays. This is because on-screen Amitabh does not act. He only behaves his natural self in the character that he portrays on-screen. JoH remembers one interview of Amitabh in which he had said that “…for acting I have visualized my father’s death so many times, that in real life I don’t know how I will react when he actually dies…” A candid confession of a great actor…

Rekha-Amitabh’s on-screen pair has become legendary because the two never seemed to act with each other. They only looked their natural self in whatever character they portrayed together on-screen…especially that of lovers. Therefore, imaginations continue…

Gays and Lesbians; Intentional aberration of The Creator

Our very own Baba Ramdev is sucked in the gay controversy...hahahaha...he is not alone. For company he has all the religious heads with him. Only that Babaji has dared the judges to have homosexual sex...hahahaha.

It is sad the way people form opinions and make judgmental comments on issues clearly not understood by them. JoH is tempted to ask all these people …..”Have you seen physically and mentally challenged human beings? Can you stop the creation of “not so fortunate people”? Do you realize that sexual preference is a natural trait? Do you realize that gays and lesbians are born out of parents who are normal people like us?

Gays and lesbians are people with rare mental challenges, who are otherwise normal in all aspects. The only part which makes them abnormal by the larger society is the part of brain which determines sexual orientation or preference. While sex is a subject of natural inheritance, such acts of deformity can only be attributed to mental inadequacy. This is in line with God’s creation of diverse forms of physically and mentally challenged people. Besides this, these people are as normal as we are and their successes in various professional pursuits, only proves their capability.

JoH feels, it is an intentional aberration in God’s creation to make us feel more valuable by creating us “more normal.” The Creator makes human beings realize the importance of being born normal. This realization should only enhance the sense of responsibility, and humility towards fellow human beings and an increased sense of gratitude towards The Creator.

Death defines “Me” and “Mine”

Today morning JoH woke up with this eerie feeling of “loneliness.” After waking up from sleep he was strolling on the roof of his father’s house, enjoying the freshness of morning air and the genteel breeze, thinking about his own life and its relevance with the surroundings. After sometime, he saw the Sun coming up from the eastern horizon. It was bright and the weather was clear, thus increasing the fury of its rays. This is when JoH felt very humble amidst his surroundings.

A question crossed his mind. How long can he enjoy the surrounding? This led to more questions…does he have an answer to this “how long?” What is his relevance in this social existence? Can he call his own, the people around him including those, whom he refer to as friends, relatives, colleagues or even supposed enemies? He started questioning everything and everyone that surrounds him, breathes with him, plays with him; share their joys and sorrows with him. JoH realized that some of them will go away from him or will be taken away from him, while he himself will be taken away someday from all of them through his own death.

When we work to maintain our daily existence, we are only caught up in the vicious fabric of social creations, unmindful and blissfully unaware of the natural reality. Can we then define ourselves? Well probably in relative terms, because our social existence is only relative and never in absolute terms.

What started as a refreshing day, gradually started becoming serious and gloomy, despite the cool morning breeze and bright sunshine. With his thoughts furthering on the subject, he actually started laying his hands on the things surrounding him to feel them, which otherwise he takes for granted. In the meantime, his mother came up on the roof with the morning tea. JoH looked at her and she appeared altogether a new person. She was so attractive, beautiful and full of life. But the lady whom JoH was watching is frail, with white hair and fatigued. This is when JoH felt a chilling shiver down his spine and he sat down.

Everything around him started becoming more meaningful as he began relating himself to them. He realized the creator will take away his mother from him, and also his father who is probably reading the morning newspaper downstairs. He realized that someday he will lose the senses to appreciate the surrounding beauty of the morning and finally all these will be taken away from him through his death. JoH does not know whether he will be taken away before his loved ones or his loved ones will be taken away before him. How does it matter, because he is bound to lose everything and everyone that he claims to be his?

Then what is the significance of me and what is this claim of mine, wonders JoH? He realized that his physical body and his nature or “swabhav” that we call, are the only two things that he can call his own. These are the only two things that will stay with his human existence from birth till death. Also he can claim half of his child to be his own. The half claim is because, while The Creator has created the child as his/her own, he has not guaranteed existence through his complete life time. The Creator has only granted these two and half things to the fortunate few to claim as his/her own. There are the less fortunate ones who are not even blessed to claim his or her child as their own.

Meanwhile, the rays from the Sun were probably getting hotter but he did not feel. Much later JoH realized that he was drenched in sweat…was it the heat of sunrays or was it the chill down his spine? He slowly got up and attempted to walk down…and began writing this…you are reading…

Learning from Punjab government

Punjab government’s recent directive to ban the use of ACs in offices needs to be lauded. Though it was done to cope with shortage in electricity supply, yet such bans have to be imposed for our own good. This decision was seconded by the Haryana government. Likewise, all state governments and the central government have to follow suit.

Not only to reduce consumption of electricity, ACs have become a menace to the surrounding climate. For the comfort of the rich, no government should allow use of devices which are harmful to nature and absorbs high electricity. To make things worse, now we have ACs running in cars as well, which provides comfort inside and are cause of discomfort to people outside. The amount of heat generated by these AC units is the biggest contributor to the increasing heat in our surroundings. Therefore banning use of ACs is not just a solution to manage electricity but also a major deterrent for global warming.

It does not take rocket-science to understand that ACs are harmful because they consume high electricity and cause harm to our surroundings. This is high time that the rich stop talking about global warming and its effects sitting in AC comfort. These devices should be banned immediately to avoid any further damage.

Rahul Gandhi: The unlikely minister

Will Rahul become a cabinet minister? Will he become the PM? … During the last Lok Sabha elections there was a great deal of hoo-hullah in media anticipating Rahul Gandhi’s role in this government. Every political analyst, senior journalists and media of all hues anticipated and predicted that Rahul Gandhi will probably become a cabinet minister. Some also went ahead with the audacious prediction that Rahul Gandhi will take over as PM of the country mid-way during the current Lok Sabha session.

Well, JoH could not write then because a dedicated computer with net-connection was a luxury which he could not afford. He does not know how Rahul was reacting, if at all he watched these on TV. In this regard, JoH has a few questions in his mind; if someone can help him with answers to these…what is Rahul Gandhi’s position within The Congress (I)? Considering his present position, how does Rahul gain (Means in terms of self value-addition) by accepting a cabinet berth? Why would Rahul Gandhi destabilize Manmohan Singh as the PM of his own party? What is of priority to Rahul…a cabinet post, the PM post or strengthening The Congress (I)?

If he wants, when ever he wants and which ever way he wants, he can get things done through ministers of his own party…Therefore, JoH strongly feels that Rahul’s continuance in strengthening his party, developing and maintaining his grass-root contacts are more important for him in the present scenario, rather than binding himself with a cabinet post or even The PM’s post. Either of these won’t enhance his stature because either of them is only a subject of his choice. Positions like a cabinet post or even becoming a PM maybe unfulfilled dreams for lesser mortals like JoH, but for Rahul? Na…na. He has grown with the allocation of such portfolios.

Observing Rahul remotely (because one uses a remote to surf channels…hahaha) on TV, JoH feels that the personality of Rahul Gandhi is not to be tied down by mundane routine jobs and customary duties. He would rather prefer able candidates within Congress (I) to run the day-to-day activities of governance and himself play the role of strengthening his party and increase his grass-root contacts…because, his real identity, strength and future lies in this.

At the end of it, to all the readers…JoH is an insignificant existence in this world of luminaries…therefore, a humble request…please correct him if he is wrong…he is willing to learn.

Nandan Nilekani: The project manager and his problematic client

What JoH admires about the promoters of Infosys is their PR and positioning skills.

Sometime back, Mohandas Pai, the HR Director of Infosys in a televised chat with Vikram Chandra of NDTV had said that “…some top managers of Infosys have expressed their desire to take sabbatical for sometime and work in the social sector. Infosys will however pay them fifty percent of their salaries…” And last Thursday, the news came that Nandan Nilekani has resigned from Infosys to take up a government sponsored social assignment… and now he will build his own team for this job. The following articles/stories were built around the “huge social responsibility plank” Had Mohandas given a hint then? Could Vilram Chandra have broken the news then? Can we expect to see more senior level managers from Infosys to join Nandan?

Anyway…sincere congratulations to Nandan for being offered the responsibility and having accepted it (As if Nandan personally knows JoH and will be very happyJ). Without exaggerations, this news in effect means that Nandan has been appointed as “The Project manager” by the government of India or GoI (In industry lingo “by the client”.) and now he has to deliver on the job. In the process, the GoI (or the client) has allocated a budget using which Nandan will hire his team and resources for the job. He will also have to float tenders by which some of his competitors till now will be able to participate in the job.

This should not be new for Nandan as he must have handled several business-critical projects for clients of Infosys and must have had varied client-experiences. In this case, he has embarked on a socio-political project where he is sure to face political music. By virtue of our country’s diverse demography and political mix, he sure cannot expect a smooth ride. The biggest challenge will come from the GoI (or his client) itself depending on their understanding, seriousness and resilience to opposition political pressure…nonetheless, all the best to Nandan for his huge “social-project.”

While the world will scan Nandan in his new role…JoH will wait to see his move on completion of this project…

Naxals/Maoists: Creation of mindless governance

The recent incidents in Lalgarh near Jhargram, West Bengal by Maoists / Naxals, brought back some memories…

In 1988-89, when Joy of Having or JoH went to work in the Champaran districts of Bihar, he had come face-to-face for the first time with the reality called “Naxals.” During one of his adventurous trip beyond Narkatiaganj, a sleepy hamlet near the Indo-Nepal border, covered by dense forests, he had met a group of people lazing in the backyard of what appeared to be a school building. At a first glance these people appeared to be downtrodden villagers or poor students from adjoining villages in their lungis, folded trousers and vests.

JoH was taken there by a local acquaintance named Dinkar Verma. After the initial exchange of pleasantries and his introduction, what they showed him was enough to understand the gravity of the situation. Hidden in a box and buried under ground were a large number of stenguns, semi-automatic rifles, sophisticated foreign made revolvers, pistols, and grenades, besides others. At that time their collection of arms would have put our security forces to shame.

After leaving that place, JoH had asked Dinkar who were those people and what were the arms for. Dinkar only gave JoH a silent smile and whispered not to mention this to anybody. Later JoH learnt that those people were “Naxals/Maoists.”

Having studied and lived in Hazaribagh, Giridih and Dhanbad districts, now in Jharkhand, JoH had often interacted with these people, now called Naxals, shared meals with them and enjoyed the warmth of their simple hospitality. Oops, not to forget using their sexy bow and arrows. Simple questions like…“Kuch khane ko hai? (Is there anything to eat?)…would bring out a broad smile of disbelief on their faces. It was because they could not believe that a “babu” will eat with them. Amidst them JoH felt absolutely secure, because they would give their lives to protect him.

Today, JoH is sad because he knows how one of the purest and simplest tribe of existing mankind, have been forced to become “Naxals” or “Maoists.” These people were primarily known as “Santhals” or “Adivasis” who lived in the most backward areas of Bihar (Now Jharkhand), Bengal, Orissa, Andhra and MP (Now Chattisgarh). Though backward in terms of development, these areas are undoubtedly the richest by virtue of abundant natural resources including Coal, Mica, Iron Ore, Bauxite, rich forests and natural habitat.

These tribes, despite living in the heart of abundant natural resources for ages have never made commercial gains from them. They only depended on and used these sources for their day-to-day survival, worshipped these natural resources and were fiercely protective about them.

Since Independence, these mines were owned by private owners who exploited the richness of these natural resources. Illegal mining was rampant and these local people were ill treated and exploited to the hilt. Their source of survival was snatched from them and they were made to feel as total outsiders in their own land. Post ‘70s when the government took over these mines, they hoped that things will change for better but things became unbearably miserable for them. Their girls and women were raped at will, men treated like slaves and also killed brutally at the drop of a hat. The culprits were the very people who were supposed to protect them. With no hope of justice and no where to go, those simple hearts were forced into armed revolt and are now termed as “Naxals” or “Maoists.”

It is an irony that a classmate of JoH is presently posted as a CRPF Commandant in Champaran to fight these Naxals/Maoists…JoH often wonders…will his friend kill these people who have been subjected to years of injustice…or will he be…

Chaotic Jeans…

Hahahaha…JoH just can’t stop laughing. He is laughing on the issue of “jeans-girls” which reached its peak in UP and reported by all media. While this issue has been debated in different shades of seriousness across the country…what happened in UP can at best be described as funny.

It all started with girls wearing jeans to colleges…some guys eve teasing them…the girls complain to the college administrations…since the frequency of such complaints increases, the college administrations in a joint decision passed a stricture that girls are banned from wearing jeans in colleges. Hahahaha…The story does not end there…”Kahani mein abhi twist hai ”…wait. The UP administration headed by Baheen Mayawati ji (Since JoH is presently staying in Lucknow, he has to correctly address her to safeguard himselfJ) came to know about it and promptly revoked the decision with stern warnings to the college administrations. Hahahaha…so much for jeans.

Though her government came as a respite for these “jeans-girls”, JoH thinks that the “jeans-girls” should take learning from Baheen Mayawati ji. Has anyone ever seen her wearing jeans? Yet she rules a state known for its bad characters and she commands some of the best known alleged criminals of the state. Can any of them “eve-tease” her? On the contrary even the hardened criminals address her as “Baheen Mayawati ji.” This is despite the fact that she is the most widely displayed lady (Only after Smt. Sonia Gandhi) through posters, leaflets, banners, hoardings and of course the TV channels…Oops, now also her crorepati statues.

This is pun intended only…all “jeans girls” should be free to use their discretion…

My Mother and Women's Quota in Parliament

Yesterday or maybe day before, I was stumped by my mother with a critical question. In the evening I was watching the news bulletin on NDTV which was airing the fight for women's quota in the Parliament. My mother was chatting with one of the bhabis from the neighbourhood. My mother suddenly started laughing, forcing me to ask "What happened?" The conversation that followed is as under:

Mother: What is this fight all about?
Me: This is about quota for women in Parliament.
Mother: What is the current quota?
Me: Nil
Mother: Then how are these females there (Refering to women MPs standing for the camera)
Me: They are either elected for Lok Sabha or nominated to Rajya Sabha.
Mother: If they are elected why can't other women be elected?

She promptly left to make tea for the bhabi. Her abrupt ending of the subject left me wondering, about the apathy of a middle-class lady towards women's quota in Parliament. To take this further I nudged the bhabi who has done her masters in Economics. She also laughed and responded by saying, "Bhaiya we don't have so much faltu time for all these because after this I have to go home and take care of household chores. This is OK with ladies like these who have enough backing to support them and also they need something to spend their time with."

Does this mean that a bunch of ladies (some of whom are not even elected) can decide on the future structure of Parliament? To my mind, whoever is raising such issue and wasting critical time of Parliament should be asked to first visit some remote places in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, NE, Bihar and MP. Look at the plight of women there. They don't have clothes to cover themselves. Women there are grossly under-nurished and a majority of them suffer from some disease or the other. My humble submission to all the honourable MPs who wish to do something for the upliftment of women, please don't waste your time and the valuable time of Parliament. There are pressing problems which needs to be taken up on priority and more importantly there are enough women competent enough to compete for the Parliamentary seats. Please understand that naturally women have the inherent talent to manage the resources for the desired objective. Therefore, if women decide to increasingly participate in Parliamentary proceedings, they will.

It is actually not surprising to see people like Brinda Karat advocating this reservation policy because for people like her India is only the metros and upmarket life-style. A simple question--"What would have happened to people like these if nomination to the Upper House becomes stringent?" Please do not look for short-cuts and frivolous issues...let us talk and work for real issues.

Mukesh Ambani didn't learn

Saturday's Delhi The ToI carried a small news on how Mukesh's SEZ project has hit the wall with SC declining to extend the land acquition deadline for his company. What caught my imagination are two things...one being a negative news from business perspective, how The ToI has quiently placed it in an obscure manner...good PR (Some are friends...:) and more importantly, Mukesh has not taken any learning from The Tata fiasco with their Nano project in West Bengal. He tried to acquire farming land and not non-farming land from farmers. Today, money can't buy you everything...the farmer community is increasingly becoming empowered and knowledgeable and more importantly Reliance still seems to belive that it can bull doze its way with all the resources available. Sorry this is the age of Inclusive Approach....which our Hon. PM and Rahul Gandhi has understood. Hope next attempts will be more realistic...

From the Land of Nawabs

My sabatical of six months which ends tomorrow has been quite refreshing except a few irritants. I had decided to spend the time in Lucknow with my relatives and friends and also to enjoy the mouth watering Kababs with Parathas (Ulta tawa) and Biriyani. This time I had decided to taste it in different joints unlike The famous Tunda. Personally, some were actually better than The Tunda. The one of Siddique Bhai in Mumshi Pulia was awesome. To tell you the truth, The Tunda Kababs now are more of Papaya (which is used to soften the meat).
The city of Nawabs is also unique in the sense that it has a perfect blend of modernity and old world charm. The people of this city rushes back home at about 6-6.30 pm from office and tell you what they are at home in about 10-15 minutes. That's the beauty. Think of it in Delhi.
Oops!!! That's where I am headed back after this wonderful relaxation because what Lucknow really misses are job opportunities. What consequtive state governments have failed to offer its citizens is opportunity to work locally and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Anyway, for all of you who matter much in my life, I am in Delhi starting 28th May and will meet in the popular hangouts like Kalkaji gol-chakkar, FCC, Ghitorni Pahari (one of the best places in Delhi to unwind in the middle of nature.) In the meantime, pls visit www.techchannelsindia.com. Henceforth, this will be my professional identity. I have realized that this is the segment which really gave me a lot of affection and I had neglected this segment for almost 5 years. Therefore, my renewed association with this section. This is only a beta site and being improved.

See you then...Chao.

Channel Media Reporting: The “Ghajni” Effect

What is common between the disgraced Ramalinga Raju and Vivek Prakash (Remember him?)
In the recent past when the industry learned about Ramalinga Raju’s alleged fraud leading to his resignation and subsequent arrest, we seemed to have forgotten Vivek Prakash, the ex-head of Samsung’s IT division. This was more evident in the scores of frenzied media coverage.
We have decided to resume our journey in journalism by pointing out this fact because minus his alleged financial mis-adventure, Vivek Prakash was equally popular in this channel segment. The journalists reporting on IT industry knew him well but now they seem to be suffering from Ghajni effect (short-term memory loss) while reporting on Raju and Satyam. The first major shock on hearing of fraud in the IT industry was therefore not of Ramalinga Raju but was that of Vivek Prakash.
Vivek can safely be credited as one professional responsible for creating and strongly establishing Samsung as a IT player but today the channel segment and even the journalists covering this segment seems to have forgotten him.

"I Love You" is a Lie

How many times have you told somebody "I love you" or somebody has told you the same? That many times, be assured you have told a lie or you have been subjected to a lie. Don't believe me? Well try this sincerely with me once...Take a deep breath and think of the person you think you love.
All that you can remember are the good feelings that the other person has made you feel...and good feelings come from satisfied senses. Some will satisfy your emotional senses, others will satisfy your physical senses, while others will satisfy your funny senses and so on...We only say "I Love You" when some senses are being satisfied by the other person in parts or in totallity (at least we think so) or we say so simply because we want something from that person. Also you will notice that "I Love You" syndrome is mostly felt and told either pre-sex or having sex.
I maybe wrong but I feel that we only love ourselves and because our various senses are satisfied by the other person partly or completely, we say "I Love You. " Therefore...
we lie!!!

Reading Ramalinga Raju’s Mind

Actually I am trying to think like Ramalinga Raju or to say I am thinking like a Big Man J. I have never met Ramalinga Raju but will definitely like to meet him once. Till then I can only guess what his thoughts were but I can say with conviction that his intention was not wrong. Hold on…hold on please before you start throwing things at me like @#$%.....&*^%. I am only saying that his intention was not wrong as A BUSINESS MAN. He just wanted to earn more money quickly. Now am I correct???
Raju’s thoughts…”What am I earning from this big company named Satyam? After so many years of hard work and with my caliber I have created a valuable company like Satyam but my earnings value is so low. In a way I am earning for these shareholders who have invested only once and are repeatedly taking higher returns. Therefore instead of giving Satyam’s money to these guys why don’t I create another company, maybe in the real estate sector which gives much higher returns. I can retain a much higher share in this new company and it will also be good for the future of my two sons. If at all time comes to return the money to Satyam, either I can return from this new company which will give me higher returns or in worst case scenario I will merge this company with Satyam…”
This is where he did two things wrong. He forgot that Satyam was a listed company and the money thus earned is not entirely his. Secondly, he thought the money taken out of Satyam can be returned when required because of high returns in real estate sector.
What gave him in were his greed and equally importantly, The Recession. Had he limited his money siphoning from Satyam to a much smaller amount and had the recession not hit the real estate sector so badly, Ramalinga Raju could have still managed.
Irony is that the name Maytas with reverse spelling of Satyam actually reversed social fame of the name Ramalinga Raju.

Infosys: Zero Tolerance??

To restart writing is great fun...Actually, a recent report published in The Times of India dated April 11, titled, Infosys Axes 2100 for "Poor Performance" did the trick of my comeback. In it, Mohandas Pai, the revered HR Head of Infosys has justified the sacking saying that it is due to under-performance and that the company has a policy of zero tolerance. Hahaha...I am laughing because promoters of Infosys have always projected themselves on high moral grounds. No, there is nothing wrong in their so-far projection. It has been their aspirational positioning. But...

To play with the careers of 2100 professionals? After such a public statement, would it not be difficult for these people to get a suitable alternative job? Mr Pai, first you sack such a large number of people and then justify your act by giving such a statement for these people...I thought you were one of the thought leaders of Indian IT Industry. At a time when Mr Narayan Murthy is positioned as The Chief Mentor of Infosys, you will definitely be viewed as The Chief (Tor)mentor by these 2100 people.

Talking of zero tolerance in the same report...lets consider the costing of these 2100 people...
2100 people with average salary @ Rs 240,000 per annum=Rs. 50,40,00,000 per annum.
Add to it the average cost of hiring and training these people. Then there is the cost of re-hiring as many people (...untill ofcourse Infosys decides this was a surplus number....:) Considering that all were permanent employees, as reported, such a huge amount is a waste.

Being the HR head of Infosys, Mr Pai, is this zero tolerance?