The new buzz word in Motown: Affordable luxury

The Indian automobile industry is facing one of its toughest periods in over a decade. In the period between April 2012 and February 2013, the industry registered a negative growth of -4.64% in the passenger cars segment. Sales of small and medium automobile segments are slacking off, which is in sharp contrast to the scorching pace of growth witnessed till a couple of years ago. Between FY2005-06 and FY2010-11, passenger car sales blazed at 15.2% per annum. That fell to 4.7% in FY2011-12, before languishing this past financial year.

The only silver lining has been the luxury end of the car market, which has been an exception to this anaemic trend. While the overall passenger vehicle industry has grown at a CAGR of 19.04% in the past four years, and the luxury vehicle segment has grown at a CAGR of 32.02% during the same period. Currently, of total car sales of 2.5 million, the luxury segment contributes only 1.2%. But the segment has been growing steadily over the past couple of years and is expected to contribute 4% of the total car sales in the next eight years. Experts believe that demand for luxury cars will rise to at least 50,000 vehicles by 2015, from 25,000 units sold in 2012.


Mercedes-Benz, which came to India in 1994, was the largest seller of luxury cars in India till a couple of years ago when fellow German rival, BMW, beat the company to the numero uno position in 2009. That year, Mercedes recorded 3,202 units in sales whereas BMW sold a good 3,587 units, topping the sales chart. Audi, which was then just making its presence felt in the Indian market, registered 58% of whopping yoy growth in 2009, selling 1,987 units. Since 2009, the competition has gotten more intense and scalding hot. The German players have been at each other’s throat, straining their muscles to outperform in the competitive luxury car market, which has grown thicker with the entry of newer players like Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover.

On one hand we have the entry level luxury brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Volvo; on the other hand there are the mid-level luxury brands like Jaguar and Land Rover (starting from about Rs.5 million) and then there are the ultra-luxe brands, some of the biggest names in the sports car and super luxury segment, like Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Maserati and Bugatti. The arrival of these big guns in the Indian market over the past two years has further redefined and segmented the luxury car market. So we now have the entry-level, mid-level, super luxury, sports cars and SUVs. Another key trend in this luxury space is the sudden upsurge in the entry level cars starting as low as Rs.2.2 million.

The trend was kicked off with BMW launching its X1 SUV model and lowering the entry level of its luxury cars to about Rs.2.2 million (ex-showroom). The idea is to generate volumes and so players like BMW are launching new products in the affordable luxury segment, where the demand actually is. In the process, the traditional luxury segment has now morphed into the premium category with most luxury car makers moving towards affordable luxury. In order to vroom ahead in this new “affordable luxury” category, BMW has introduced its sub-brand Mini Cooper, which it introduced at last year’s auto show in Delhi. It is planning to launch three models of this sub-brand in India − Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper convertible and Countryman, priced aggressively between Rs.2.49 million to Rs.3.19 million. Rivals Audi and Mercedes have also taken steps to create excitement in the entry level luxury segment. Last year saw Audi introduce its Q3 model (priced at Rs.2.67 million) while Mercedes has launched its B-class priced competitively at Rs.2.10 million, which competes with BMW X1 (priced at Rs.2.24 million).

As the churn in the luxury car market gets thicker, players are pulling out all the tricks to stay ahead in the competition by creating new segments and looking for new markets to generate demand. “As we move into the future, we are well positioned with a forward-looking strategy, progressive roadmap along with an exciting and emotional portfolio to tap the available market opportunities,” says Philipp Von Sahr, President, BMW India. So, BMW is tapping the market for commercial use of luxury cars such as premium hotels and cab owners and has gone for selling the stripped versions of its traditional luxury cars to generate incremental demand.

Likewise, Audi is contemplating to launch several initiatives on the pro\duct front this year. It plans to assemble the entry level Q3 SUV, which is giving good competition to the BMW X1, in India by the second quarter of this year. The price of Audi Q3, which starts from Rs.2.6 million, is expected to come down further once Audi starts assembling the Q3 in India. The car maker at present assembles sedan A4, A6 and SUV Q5, Q7 in India. Even, Mercedes has plans for expanding its product portfolio. “We would be launching one or two products, starting this year, with a B-class launch. And soon we would be launching an A-class product as well. Secondly, we are investing heavily on production at our factories. We want to make our CKD (complete knocked down) units because it take 2-3 years to get the CKD portfolio ready,” says Debashis Mitra, who was Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes India, before quitting just a few days ago.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2013.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Get real White House

Officials promoting Obama’s Drone programme continue to churn out the same old rhetoric of how grateful those in the tribal areas are every time a Drone strike is launched on Waziristan. Well I have news for the White House. Open your eyes, stop being in the denial mode and listen to the voices of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) from Pakistan’s South Waziristan Agency (SWA), currently camped in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad on a hunger strike.

“The IDPs from Mehsud tribe have demanded an immediate halt to US Drone strikes and prolonged military operations in SWA which was launched in 2009 against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Protestors are vowing to continue their protest until the halt of military operations, which has resulted in the mass displacement of many (civilians ) from the region,” Saleem Mehsud, a Waziristan-based journalist said.

Last week, Farzarna Bari, Human Right Activists, Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader from SWA, Doost Mohammad Khan and elders of the Mehsud tribe participated in the protest camp. The IDPs stated that the Pakistan government should also take the matter seriously because “the coming generation of the Mehsud tribe are facing immense problems and are being deprived of basic facilities as a result of military operations”.

Advocate, Sherpao Khan Mehsud said the sit-in would continue until their demands were met. He said that drone attacks were not only killing innocents but were also violating the sovereignty of Pakistan. Mehsud Youth President, Jamal Shah stressed that “the military operation should be stopped immediately in which houses, markets, schools and colleges had been destroyed.” He also said the military operation “Rah-e-Nijaat” was started in 2009 in Waziristan and now hundreds have been forced into slums and living in terrible conditions.

The Mehsuds are not alone in calling for an end to drone strikes. I spoke to two members of the Wazir tribe. Arman Khan Wazir told me, “I am from Waziristan and because of drones, people are turning against the Pakistan Army and America. Children are joining Taliban because they have no facilities and they are becoming destructive minded. I can’t explain the destruction there in words.”

Imran Khan has long condemned drone attacks calling them a violation of international laws which also violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and is calling for America to identify the victims of drone strikes. He also criticised the government saying it had turned the country into a “Banana Republic” and that US authorities “were allowed to hit and kill any civilian at will inside Pakistani territory”.

Always quick to be on the scene for peaceful protestors, a tweet from Imran Khan read, “my full support for our FATA youth protesting drone attacks in front of Islamabad Press Club. Will try to go personally to join their protest.”

Says activist Raheem Ullah Wazir, “if we start doling out justice from the skies than we should get rid of the courts from the world. If someone is a culprit, he should be brought out into the open so that truth and reality is known to the world. Secondly, where is the sanctity of international borders? This is going to set a very wrong precedent. The money that is invested in drone technology could have been used to seal the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to keep out insurgents, if any.”

In an email, Hanif Ullaha, a Peshawar-based journalist, highlighted his arguments against the use of drones in an email to me, laying out the following points: it is illegal, induces collateral damage, abuses international law and norms for strike, is counterproductive and there is rampant extrajudicial killing... if Nazis could be brought to trial and prosecuted, why are the killers being allowed to get away scot free here.

I asked several people whether drones radicalized young people in the tribal areas and the answer was an unanimous “yes”. A man (name withheld) told me, “They take their revenge on the Pakistan army and get closer to Al Qaeda”. He admitted that he himself had considered joining the Taliban after the drone strikes but decided to stick to his studies.

It is important to note that a recent bombing of an army checkpoint which killed 35 people was claimed by Taliban to be in retaliation for the killing of two of its commanders by drone strikes. I argue that these “secondary” drone victims should also be added to the death figures to present a true picture of the impact of warfare. The Taliban also attacked the Pakistan government for what it called its “complicity” in drone strikes.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2013.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year

BBA Management Education

Fairs can spell money!

Cultural and religious festivals in India are of immense importance

Truly, religious festivals have not been confined to religious activities. Their contributions extend to economic development, employment creation and tourism. Among all, Kumbh Mela is one of its kind, claiming to be the world’s largest religious festival. The mela, which occurs once in three years in four different places including Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik alternatively, is happening currently in Allahabad. Around 100 million people are expected to join this 55-day festival. However, the economic contribution too is as gigantic as its crowd. A report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India estimated that the mela will generate about $2.2 billion of income for the city and create thousands of jobs. However, it is not the only religious festival generating revenue and employments for Indians; there are other melas including Sonepur Mela and Onam in the southern state of Kerala. The Sonepur mela brings good business to the local people. There were over 600 shops where sale of around 3,000 heads of cattle has been recorded. Onam, a festival of Kerala, has taken the international route, being celebrated in different places of the Middle-East including Dubai and Qatar.

Still, there are many lessons to learn from the way many countries have modified their festivals and marketed them at an international level. The Rio de Janeiro carnival has positioned itself as an international event, attracting an estimated 1.1 million visitors to the city in 2012 and with 5.3 million people taking part in street parties, an increase from 4.9 million people in 2011. Similarly, the Venice carnival attracts over three million tourists. Another classic example is that of the Mardi Gras carnival in the United States which generates a direct revenue of $ 144 million (more than $ 500 million by some other estimates) attracting more than five million visitors in New Orleans every year.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2013.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year

BBA Management Education

Great power needs great responsibility

Privatisation has done wonders for sectors like pharma, telecom and auto. Can we expect the scenario of power to change as dramatically in the coming years with increasing privatisation? B&E elaborates on some of the most critical circuit breakers en route

In 2007, when Anil Ambani was announcing the Reliance Power IPO, one question emerged quite prominently in everyone’s minds. Would the company be able to indeed deliver on its power projects considering that it was a new and difficult terrain? At that time, Anil Ambani had enthusiastically pointed out how his father had started the petrochemical refinery of Reliance Industries without any past experience.

Leave alone IPOs, private players have been on a money raising spree for creation and expansion of power facilities over the past few years in general. 2009 saw $2.2 billion being raised by the power sector through IPOs, $412.85 million through private equity investments and $235.85 million through QIPs (Grant Thornton Advisory). The big names in 2009 were Indiabulls Power and Adani Power, besides the state owned NHPC. In 2010, the market is anticipating the IPOs of Jindal Power, Usher Eco Power Ltd., Tarapur Transformers, Everest Infra Energy and Sterlite Energy.

However, we seek to move beyond the debate on valuations and subscriptions to IPOs and FPOs and their ilk for the time being and focus on the larger issue that we talked about in the very beginning – inexperience. And this has little to do with the fact that Reliance Power is caught in a quagmire due to the legal battle on natural gas price with RIL and is facing enormous delays.

On a much more macro level, is the entry of private players going to indeed change the dynamics of a sector that has been known since ages for the power it did not provide? Are we going to see the vision for ‘Power for all’ in India (Ministry of Power laid down 2012 as their target year); which most experts believe in but refrain from giving a timeline to, get realized ultimately? In other words, will the growing private presence in power generation (21% by 2012) ‘light the bulb’?

On the question of whether we will indeed have ‘Power for All’, a study by consulting form McKinsey does light some bulbs. The consulting firm is pretty certain about where the demand is headed, as it projects the demand to be between 315-335 GW by 2017, as compared to 120 GW in 2007. This assumes several factors – a steady GDP growth rate of 8% per annum, growth in manufacturing and residential demand (the latter by 14%) and fulfilment of the government’s vision to provide connection to 1,25,000 villages. And the report estimates that the sector provides an investment opportunity of $600 billion from 2007-2017.

Indeed, privatisation has made great strides in sectors like telecom, pharma, auto and IT in India. But power is a unique ball game. R. V. Shahi, former Secretary, Power and currently Chairman, Energy Infratech said at the Powering India summit organized by Essar in New Delhi recently, “In the power sector, what you plan now takes a time cycle of 6-7 years for completion.” And they could turn out to be pretty tense years too for a variety of reasons, starting from the critical issues of land allocation and R&R that mar so many large projects in India today.

The most prominent that one would mention is the availability of raw material. India’s power story still relies quite heavily on coal. The update by the Ministry of Power for given on February 28, 2010 reveals that thermal power plants (coal, gas and oil) still fuel 64.6% of India’s power generation capacity, with coal alone accounting for 53.3%. Kameswara Rao, ED & Industry Leader, Energy, Utilities & Mining, PwC, cautions, “Thermal coal imports are likely to triple in near term.” Power Minister H. S. Brahma has stated on record that India’s extreme reliance on thermal power won’t change significantly over the next 20-30 years.

Obviously, this creates a pressure for private players to secure coal supplies for the long term. But the major caveat is still the coal policy, which has not kept pace with the demands of the power sector. Demand for coal has been increasing by 8-9% per annum, but Coal India’s production has only increased by 5-6% CAGR from 2004-09. The government’s plan to open captive mining to private players has not yielded the desired results as the blocks allotted have not proved economically viable for many reasons. The government has introduced a useful policy initiative for allotment of coal blocks on competitive bidding basis. But the framework for final allocation is still not finalized; and that’s impeding projects by a great deal. It is also being proposed by some sections that blocks be given to private players for commercial use too.

Coal has limitations, thanks to green concerns, due to which there has been an imposition of a coal cess on thermal power generation and a growing commitment to reduce its use. Hydro is a very useful alternative, but the pace has been too slow. V. P. Bhargava, Director-Technical, NHPC, comments, “We need to have 10-year plans in the sector to fulfil current five year plan targets!” India’s hydro generation capacity is around 1,48,700 MW and we have exploited just about 47,000 MW. Out of total installed capacity, share of hydro is only 25% whereas for stability of the grid, it should be 40%. Policy clearances play the main villains here too, besides geographical issues. Post the announcement of the plant, actual clearances take 3-4 years. Most unexploited potential is in the north east (around 60000 MW); primarily in Arunachal Pradesh. Bringing this power to other parts of India through the chicken neck (the thin tract of land that connects North East to West Bengal) presents its own set of problems.


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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

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“We will change your outlook” - The Sunday Indian on B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED! A must read...
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Kitchen ka Khiladi too?

After enjoying the profits of his production “Housefull”, Akshay Kumar has his hands full with films like “Patiala House”, “Khatta Meetha” and interestingly, a television show. An Indian version of the hit American TV series “Top Chef”, which is internationally hosted by top model Padma Lakshmi, is being launched by Star Plus, and the 42-year-old Khiladi, who was once a humble chef in Bangkok, will be the host of the show. Having made his successful small-screen debut by hosting two seasons of “Fear Factor – Khatron Ke Khiladi,” let’s see if Akki gets the recipe right this time too!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Arrested for alleged complicity in the Lajpat Nagar blasts when he was just 16, Syed Muhammad Maqbool Shah

“My brothers were businessmen. They would collect papermache products from craftsmen in Kashmir and sell them to Delhi shopkeepers. But now they have lost all that business. Now my brothers are themselves working as craftsmen. Poverty becomes evident once one visits my home. Every one around has grown rich but my family has lost every thing due to this unfortunate occurrence,” says Maqbool.

“We closed down our business in Delhi as the police had seized all our business documents and bill books. We had some savings at that time but we lost it too, fighting for justice in courts,” adds Maqbool’s brother Syed Hassan Shah.

“They have ruined us by imprisoning my innocent son for 14 years. How could they think that a child was involved in such a big crime? I have lost my husband and daughter due to this,” 75-year-old Zoona Begum, Maqbool's mother, tells TSI.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) has urged the government to compensate Maqbool for gross violation of human rights.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat recently demanded in the Rajya Sabha that Maqbool should be “adequately compensated" for the injustice he has faced.

“The Centre should intervene and give him a job to ensure a secure life. He has been a victim of a totally flawed investigation and we cannot shrug it off as collateral damage. We should rehabilitate him in order to send the right message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Brinda said in Parliament.

“The society and the country owed compensation to Sayeed Maqbool Shah for gross violation of human rights,” she added. The demand by a Rajya Sabha member has raised Maqbool's hopes.

He says, “I hope they (Central Government) will pay attention to this demand. It is the moral responsibility of the government to provide me with all the facilities that I need to lead a respectable life. And, it is the very least I am asking for. I am not asking for justice because I know they can not deliver. the same.”

“They detained me illegally, charged me with serious crimes and imprisoned me for 14 long years. Now they themselves accept that I was not guilty and they have released me. But I want to ask them that who will give me my 14 years back? Can they return me my youth? Can they bring back my educational career? Most of all can they bring my father and sister back,” asks a visibly annoyed Maqbool.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Just arm-candy? No Thank You!

It is rare that Akshay Kumar rubs his heroines the wrong way but apparently miss hoity-toity Sonam Kapoor is miffed with him for chopping her role in their forthcoming movie “Thank You” in which she portrays the role of a tennis player. Though the shooting for this movie started some time ago, Sonam was only informed a few days back. Perhaps she is scared of being reduced to just another PYT on Akki's arm?

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Encounters haunt police force

More officers may be arrested in the Sohrabuddin case

The Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsi Prajapati fake encounter cases continue to haunt not only the Gujarat government but the state police force also. Till date, four IPS officers and eleven policemen have been arrested in the fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin.

Also, the CBI had summoned six more IPS officers for questioning in this case. They included retired additional director general of police OP Mathur, ADGPs Geetha Johri, VV Rabari, retired DGP GC Raiger, DIG Rajnish Rai and superintendent of police GL Singhal.

On November 26, 2005 Sohrabuddin was killed in an encounter and the investigation was handed over to the CID (Crime) of Gujarat. However, after Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin filed a petition, the Supreme Court handed over the investigation to the CBI in January 2010. After two months of investigation, the CBI, just two days before the celebration of Swarnim Gujarat, arrested IPS officer Abhay Chudasama the then DCP (Crime Branch) Ahmedabad. Since then Chudasama is being described as the main conspirator in the Sohrabuddin case.

Official sources say the CBI has ample evidence that Chudasama played an important role in the Sohrabuddin encounter case.

Till now, the CBI has received some 200 complaints of extortion and corruption against Chudasama. According to some officials, these complaints were filed by those people who allegedly suffered at the hands of the controversial IPS officer. After the CBI arrested Chudasama, the CID Crime also swung into action. It arrested Dahod SP Vipul Agrawal on May 3 in connection with the Tulsi Prajapati fake encounter case. It is understood that Tulsi was the only eyewitness in the Sohrabuddin encounter case.

Both the cases are making the Gujarat police antsy. A senior police officer on the condition of anonymity told TSI: “When the Gujarat CID arrested IPS officers DG Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh MN in connection with Sohrabuddin encounter case, the cops were not jittery. But the recent arrest of Abhay Chudasama by the CBI has made them nervous.”

Moreover, Amit Shah, Minister of State for Home and close aide of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is maintaining a low profile. He has not been seen at public places since last week. He was even not present at the mega celebration of Swarnim Gujarat. Amit’s absence from such an important event has become the talk of the town. Rumours have started circulating about his possible arrest and resignation. But nobody, even those at the top of the BJP, is willing to discuss the sensitive issue on record. Even senior officials in the police force have adopted wait and watch policy.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

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Money Madness

Forty-six year old Nicolas Cage is trying to take up a lot of projects, one after another, to come out of the financial crisis that he has been going through. But most of these recent roles taken up by him are slightly wacky. Whether it is the ‘twisted crime fighter’ in a flick titled "Kick-Ass" or a 'drug-addled detective’ in "Bad Lieutenant", he has been heard as saying that all his characters have a 'glint of madness'. Well, signing up for films randomly, without giving much thought to roles and scripts, is no less a sign of madness!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

THE NEED OF A RIGHT TO FOOD BILL - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
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Better treatment for stars

A code of conduct is issued for actors, producers & directors

T he Association of Television Media artists (ATMA) and Malayalam Television Fraternity (MTVF) want serial actors, producers and directors to follow a code of conduct. Of late, the TV industry was rocked by bickering between actors and producers.

And the ATMA is unhappy with the development as it gives a bad name to the industry. Issuing a circular, the ATMA states that it doesn’t want such a situation to arise in Malayalam serials. Besides, it has asked its members to sign an agreement with the producer of the serial in which the guidelines, including the dates, remuneration and working time, are mentioned clearly. Producers have been asked to give second class AC train ticket fare to the artist in case s/he is from other city. For woman artists, fare for the accompanying person should also be offered. Guidelines also talk about giving accommodation to the artists.

The circular asks directors to complete the daily shooting by 9 PM. Artists can be requested to stay on stage only in emergency situations till 10 PM. For the night schedule, artists should reach the location at 4 PM instead of 7 AM for the regular schedule. K.B. Ganesh Kumar, MLA and president of ATMA, says: “We have received complaints from many artists that directors block their dates in advance and cancel work at the last minute. Thus they lose their chance to work for another serial. This should be stopped. ATMA and MTVF have issued notices to the people to avoid such a situation in future.”

The TV industry in Malayalam is going through a hard time. Reality shows are all the rage. Many serials that started well have been shifted to non-peak hours because of their waning popularity and hence the industry is worried.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

THE NEED OF A RIGHT TO FOOD BILL - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
Delhi/ NCR B- Schools get better
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There’s a lot about Hrithik Roshan that hasn’t changed with the stardom he’s attained

Anurag says that “Kites” has changed you a lot as a person too. Would you agree?

I think it’s quite true because I have evolved. In fact, the person inside me changes with every film. I’ve been doing “Guzaarish” for the past 8-9 months where I see the world go by through the eyes of a paralysed man. So, all films teach me a lot. It helps me to filter out all the significant things from the trivial issues that would bother me every day.

So has this change helped you become a better actor as well?

Yeah, definitely. I think your work is a reflection of the person you are and how you live your life. You, as a person, are inseparable from the work that you do. So if you want to create anything that has to have a value, you have to live that kind of life to develop those instincts to create that. The experiences that I’ve had in the journey of my life have helped me learn and grow. And your interpretation of life in your work subconsciously travels into the hearts of the audience who are watching you. So it’s always you that will reflect in your work. You know, it’s like, between the painting and the painter, one can’t say which is better. A painting is the manifestation of the painter’s vision of the world that he portrays in the painting. It’s as simple as that.

Which is the most memorable moment that you have of “Kites”?

When Anurag Basu narrated the script was the most memorable moment. It was at a point when I was contemplating not continuing as an actor because of my knee problem. I had given up and was depressed and heart-broken. I didn’t want to continue as a compromised actor, you know. I was at a crossroad of sorts, thinking of what do I do ahead of here. And then came “Kites”. When Anurag narrated the script to me, I could see my face on that character. I had a vision and that the vision was so strong that I knew it had to manifest. I just kept struggling and working on it and imagine that right before the shoot, in fact on the day of the shoot my knee healed, quite dramatically!

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Setback to vedanta

Foundation asked to stop all construction works

Anil Agarwal’s plan to establish the Rs. 150 billion Vedanta University in Orissa has hit a roadblock. On May 11, 2010, the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has kept in abeyance the environmental and Coastal Regulatory Zone clearance that it had granted for the establishment of the proposed education institution near the Puri-Konark marine drive spread over 6,892 acre. Besides that, the Ministry has also directed the Foundation to stop further construction on the site. The Ministry has issued the letter after objections raised during the Orissa Coastal Zone Management Authority Meeting.

In July 2006, the Orissa government signed an MoU with the Vedanta Foundation, later renamed the Anil Agarwal Foundation, for setting up the Vedanta University an par with world-class universities like Stanford, Oxford, Harvard etc. Later on, Vedanta’s proposal to acquire 6,000 acres on the Puri-Konark coastal belt rolled into the rough because of environmental concerns. But the government, after considering the issues, decided to pass a bill in July 2009 to allow the university to be set up.

This led to petitions being filed in the Lok Pal by labour union leader Dwaraka Mohan Mishra. Justice R.K.Patra of Lok Pal subsequently expressed his views over the previous MoU for land allotment to Vedanta University. In a 26 page order, the Lok Pal observed: “The MoU signed by the parties doesn’t constitute a legally enforceable contract.” The Lok Pal’s findings indicated that the 6,000 acres targeted by the Foundation includes 1,300 acres of arable land belonging to the Jagannath Temple and another large stretch of land containing huge quantities of thorium and other rare minerals. This apparently violates the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.

But the Lok Pal logically also supported the project in a neutral way. Justice Patra has asked the State government to constitute a vigilance cell to monitor the progress of the project. Besides, Lok Pal wants the government to offer land to the foundation in phases to ensure the full educational use of the land. But the recent direction issued by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment seems to be the toughest one for Vedanta as the environmental and Coastal Regulatory Zone clearance is imperative for the university to come up without future hindrances.

Given that the Foundation still has much at stake in Orissa – and not all this stake commercial – it would be highly pertinent for both the Ministry and the Foundation to get into a mode of resolving the issue rather than keeping it hanging, more so as a positive resolution of the issue would perchance provide Orissa with a university at global standards – something that Orissa direly needs to up its global investment image – and a negative resolution would free up the land for alternative use. Non-resolution of the issue could put a bad light on future investments into the state.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

THE NEED OF A RIGHT TO FOOD BILL - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
Delhi/ NCR B- Schools get better
IIPM fights meltdown
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Tipplers left high and dry

Breweries work overtime to meet soaring demand

Beer is in short supply in Kerala. Many outlets of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) are hanging hoardings: ‘Beer out of stock.’ It is a hard time for beer drinkers in the state. However, some 337 BEVCO outlets are working 24 × 7 to meet the demand of the customers.

Kerala banned arrack, the locally-made liquor in 1989. The current Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who played an important role in the ban of arrack, was the then chief minister of the state. From then onwards the state took the responsibility of providing safe alcohol through a regulated system. But now, the black marketing of alcohol thrives even as the state provides plenty of liquor through BEVCO. Official statistics show that more than 80,000 people visit BEVCO outlets every day. There are 600 bars in addition to 5,000 toddy (palm wine) shops across the state. The total income through liquor is around 40 per cent of the state revenue. That is why officials are fretting over the shortage of beer.

What is the real cause for this unprecedented crisis? Is it an artificially created problem? These and other questions are being discussed by beer lovers. While presenting the budget, the government announced that beer would cost less. Sources say the profit of margin is between Rs 5 and 10. Most of the experts don’t know the main reason behind the sudden shortage of beer in the state. But BEVCO managing director N.Sankar Reddy has the answer. He told TSI that the sharp increase in consumption has led to the shortage of beer. “Last year, the consumption of beer was eight lakh bottles per day during this time. But now it rose to 13 lakh bottles. Kerala, having a production capacity of about 10 to 12 lakh bottles a day, is working overtime for maximum production,” he said. He doesn’t agree with those people who say that the shortage started only after beer supply from Karnataka was stopped. The state receives only a small quantity of beer from other states, he said. Two new Hyderabad companies are willing to supply beer.

Of late, anti-liquor movements and religious bodies have criticised the state government for its liquor policy. Officials say they are implementing prohibition stage by stage. Sociologists say it would be an arduous task that too in a state where consumption of liquor is the highest in India. There has been a 100 per cent hike in consumption in the last four years. And most of the beer lovers are youths.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

THE NEED OF A RIGHT TO FOOD BILL - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
Delhi/ NCR B- Schools get better
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1 LAKH COPY SOLD in less than ten days of Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's new book Discover The Diamond In You
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Darkness at noon

Dependants of jawans killed by Maoists struggle to stay afloat. A report from Orissa by TSI’s Dhrutikam Mohanty

Two years of anguish have gone by since Mase Madkami’s husband, an SGO jawan, lost his life in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists. But life hasn’t returned to normal for the 25-year-old woman. She lives in the southern Orissa village of Udupa, 25 km from the Malkangari district headquarters. Her hut, located in a distant corner of this tribal hamlet, has four rooms. Her husband, Ganga Madkami, was the family’s sole breadwinner. Today, the responsibility of their eight-year-old son and Ganga’s ageing parents is on Mase’s frail shoulders.

We reach her house at dusk. Her son, Sunadhar, is studying in the front room. Mase is busy cleaning a lantern. Udupa does not have electricity. In a while, the lantern will be the only source of light in this benighted home. “I never imagined I’d ever have to see such dark days,” Mase begins to narrate her tale of woes. “Five days after the incident, the chief minister handed out cheques to the families of the martyrs. He also promised each affected family a job, a plot of land and other government benefits. He had tears in his eyes. We had reason to believe that we’d be taken care of by the government.”

But Mase’s hopes were dashed. “For six months I ran from one office to another to get my dues. I finally received Rs 4 lakh as compensation and Rs 10 lakh for his life insurance. But I am still waiting for the promised job and land,” she says.

Her problems have increased manifold with the passage of time. She has to travel to Bhubaneswar every month to collect the family pension. Being a single lady, she is usually accompanied by somebody from the village, which entails additional expenses. At times she has to travel to the state capital more than once for the same purpose. Sometimes the officers concerned are not available. At other times, the processing of her payment is deferred. “We are illiterate poor villagers and don’t know much about government procedures. But running around like this for what was promised to me is actually hurting me more than my husband’s death,” says Mase, tears welling up in her eyes.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

THE NEED OF A RIGHT TO FOOD BILL - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
Delhi/ NCR B- Schools get better
IIPM fights meltdown
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1 LAKH COPY SOLD in less than ten days of Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's new book Discover The Diamond In You
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Is it too little... and too late?

Reforms in coal sector, on which India’s power generation is heavily dependent, have seen a faint light on the distant horizon courtesy reform proposals in this budget. B&E’s anchal gupta argues that the steps may be too small considering the delay and a lot more needs to be done, quickly.

“Not a penny off the pay, not a second on the day.” This blunt reply by the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain (MFGB), the national union of mine workers to coal mine owners was a spark that ignited the chain reaction culminating in the famous 1926 General Strike in the United Kingdom. Mine owners, under the veil of a soaring pound, hurting exports and low productivity of mines decided on wage cuts to normalise profits. Despite massive subsidies to the coal mine owners, the wage cuts were implemented. The strike began on May 3 and lasted for 10 days. In the aftermath, coal mining was forever transformed in UK with the extra labour being sucked out and productivity rocketing from below 100 tonne per miner per annum to over 300 tonne by the World War II.

Swivel back to the present and India’s coal mining output still hovers at less than 200 tonne for some of its mines while the average productivity is less than one tenth of mining giants in US and Australia. And despite a new glimmer of hope in the form of proposals to reform the sector in this years’ budget, the pertinent question remains: Is it too little… too late? But for all the hype surrounding renewable energy and efficient usage, India stands tall among the planet’s most un-efficient energy user (read massive wasters). And, till date, more than 53% of our electricity is generated in power plants fueled by the black treasure hidden deep below our rocky terrains. Estimates suggest that by 2012, India will stare at more than 100 million metric tonnes (MMT) of coal shortage and around 250 MMT by 2025. Ironically, we have the world’s largest coal miner Coal India Ltd. (CIL), a Navratna PSU. The repercussions are perilous.

According to Girish Solanki, Energy analyst, Religare, “The coal mined in India has not been enough to meet the demand. The shortage has resulted in loss of electricity generation in power plants. The power companies in India imported coal in FY2009 to keep the plants running. Coal India, for the first time in history, resorted to import of coal in FY2009. Further the calorific value of coal mined in India is at 4,000-5,000 kcal/kg. substantially lower than the coal mined in countries like Indonesia which have calorific value in excess of 6,500 kcal/kg.” The impending entry of mining giant, Trimex to strike long term coal supply contracts with Indian power producers is just the beginning of the dark tunnel. Courtesy archaic laws and divided authority over every link of the value chain, much of the coal remains buried and much of India remains dark.

In fact not just power, other core sectors dependent on coal feel strangled too. As per Ashok Jainani, Analyst, Khandavala Securities, “India largely depends on imported metallurgical coal for steel making. Our met-coke imports are as high as 80% of requirements and the situation is likely to remain so in the foreseeable future. As regards thermal coke, it still remains highly protected business within government control.”

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

THE NEED OF A RIGHT TO FOOD BILL - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
Delhi/ NCR B- Schools get better
IIPM fights meltdown
IIPM News
1 LAKH COPY SOLD in less than ten days of Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's new book Discover The Diamond In You
IIPM B School on Twitter
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