Monday, April 12, 2010

Winners ideate

What nanotechnology can do!

Finally, nanotechnology is all set to revolutionise the age of modern technology. For the uninitiated, nanotechnology is old age manufacturing with new age atoms. The Centre for Responsible Nanotechnology observes that this technology will help in making new nanofactories that will produce any product rapidly, cheaply, and cleanly. Technically, it is a revolutionary, transformative, powerful technology. But more importantly, it can be potentially either very dangerous or extremely beneficial.

Going by statistics, investment in nanotechnology has increased exponentially in the recent years. According to a nanotechnology development blog, investment in nanotechnology research was over $8.6 billion globally in 2004, which increased to $12.4 billion in 2006; the area accounted for $50 billion of global sales in 2006. Countries investing heavily in nanotechnology are the US, Germany, Japan and South Korea. But China is rapidly emerging too. Nanotechnology is of particular interest to China to maintain itself as the manufacturing hub of the world. While the US is the leading investor in nanotechnology with 28% global share, others include Japan with 24%, Western European countries with 25%, and the remaining being accounted by other regions, including Asia, Canada and Australia. In 2010, the National Nanotechnology Initiative of the US government gave a nanotechnology funding request in 13 federal departments and agencies for $1.64 billion. In 2001, this figure was $494 million. The UK government, during the middle of this decade, prepared a report berating their slow response in nanotechnology.

What cannot be denied is that although the field has huge promise, it also poses the danger of misuse (for example, to create untraceable weapons of mass destruction). The emergence of this technology field is inevitable. Imperative is the need for global regulations controlling research and funding, and intelligent use.

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

Thursday, April 08, 2010

The buddhist circuit exudes religious fervour and architectural beauty in equal measure

Sarnath Museum: The museum boasts several paintings and busts related to Buddhist culture. The famous Ashoka Pillar with four lions is also kept here. Similarly, there are several stone tableaux that are filled with Buddha’s messages.

Kaushambi: It was the capital city of King Udayan’s Vatsa Janapad from 6th to 9th century AD. This historical city was visited by Buddha and was the site for one of his sermons. The place has several fingerprints of Buddha that have been preserved in various forms. One can also see the currency that was prevalent at that time. These have been shifted to Allahabad Museum for preservation. The place also has an Ashoka Pillar and an old fort.

Sravasti: The place is also linked to Buddha. Situated in north-eastern UP, it was part of the Kosala kingdom from 6th century BC to 6th century AD. This was a huge trading centre. It still has an old Stupa in a village situated on the border of Sravasti and Balrampur. The place hosts a huge fair in the month of Kartik. Another huge fair takes place during Buddha Purnima.

Kushinagar: It is one of the most important places in the Buddhist tour circuit because this is where Buddha attained nirvana. Archaeologists stumbled upon this place in 1861. The place has an old Nirvana temple and Stupas. The place also has several mathas. The Nirvana Stupa was excavated in 1876. Its height is 2.74 meters. There are inscriptions written in Brahmi and it has been erected at the same place where Buddha attained nirvana. It also has a 6th century, six-meter sandstone statue of Buddha. Nearby is Mathakur that has a Buddha statue in black. This is the site where he delivered his last sermon. Nearby is Chaumukhi Stupa that is 49 feet tall. Temples constructed by the Chinese and Japanese stand nearby.

Sankisa: Located in Farrukhabad district, this place has a statue of Buddha built by Emperor Ashoka. It also has a Ashoka Pillar and a statue of an elephant. The place has been extensively excavated and a 500 square yards of remains have been unearthed. Famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited this place and mentions it in his travel diary.

Kapilvastu or Piprahwa: A 122-km drive from Gorakhpur is Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. Only private vehicles are available for the last 26 kilometers of the journey. This is where he renounced his royal life and became a hermit. He returned to this place after he attained enlightenment.

Buddhists are centred in East and South East Asia. The government has plans to consolidate this circuit. It will be linked with the circuit in Bihar and Nepal. Avnish Awasthi, director-general of UP tourism department, says, “The state has a plan in place. To attract domestic and foreign tourists, it is essential for us to build world-class infrastructure. In the last few years, we have built several hotels, tourist bungalows and airstrips.”

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 :-

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

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Keep the Faith In prez Obama

Will the controversial health reforms' overhaul lead to a better life?

After many decades of failed endeavours, a Democrat President finally signed the landmark healthcare legislation on March 23, 2010, to overhaul the healthcare system that will ensure 32 million uninsured Americans can access to medical insurance. Two days later, the Bill was voted in the House, with the Democrats prevailing a 220-207 majority in spite of 32 defections and a united Republicans voting against it. Earlier in the same day, the Bill was passed in the Senate where some Democrat senators defied the chosen party line. President Obama can surely now claim it to be a historic event that will seal his position as an American President who succeeded at refurbishing the nation’s healthcare system since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid legislation by President Johnson in 1965. That was also a milestone in the history of America’s healthcare improvement, which extended insurance cover to additional millions for the first time. It also speeded up the process to end segregation in hospitals, as federal payments were hitherto barred for these segregated wards. Later on Bill Clinton tried mightily to bring about a paradigm shift in the healthcare system - even his aides wrote a 240,000-word Bill- but failed miserably as Republicans took control of the Congress in the mid-term elections of 1994. The most important difference between then and now, is that employers and business groups being concerned by the spiraling cost of healthcare decided to sit in the negotiating table, instead of defeating the plan outright as they did in 1993-94. Consequently, Obama’s cookie did not crumble, like before, he showed the world that he can pull it off from the edge - when in his budget for 2010, he asked Congress to keep back $600 billion as a reserve for his ambitious healthcare restructure over the next 10 years. According to Congressional Budget Office, the total cost of the government will be massive $938 billion over next 10 years, and it will reduce federal deficit by $138 billion over the same period.

In the capitalistic economy of United States, the intrinsic “right” to medication never existed - like it exists in Canada or UK - where 830,000 Canadians and 1.8 million Britons are in waiting for treatment or to be admitted in the hospitals. The government there provides these facilities- in fact, in all the countries with socialised medicine ration healthcare by compelling their citizens to stand in the lines to receive scarce treatment. The citizens of these two countries receive additional healthcare allowance from their governments which they can use freely, the way they want. But, the United States is jittery of government intervention in any industry, as one Republican Senator warned that the current Bill will lead to the “quasi-nationalisation of the healthcare industry”.

In spite of criticism, flack and tumultuous debate, there is no doubt that the healthcare bill is historic that can rewrite care for millions; which has brought death threats; and socialism and has opened up a divisive battle with the Republicans in the run up to November elections and beyond. Whether the Bill would turn out to be a boon for socio-economic dynamics remains to be seen, but certainly Obama’s courage and ability of what all other Democrats had promised but failed to deliver, is the legacy that will ensure maximum attention in the years to come.
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 :-

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

Monday, April 05, 2010

Expecting too much?

Appointing an expat CEO, for traditional Indian companies, has always been a high stakes game, especially as their being ‘culture unfriendly’ is a huge disadvantage! Then why do Indian companies still take expat CEOs? Any valuable lessons yet?

As the troubled General Motors was busy finalising its restructuring process and doing some heavy duty pondering over hard decisions of retaining and shedding various brands under its vast portfolio post the bankruptcy filing under Chapter 11, home-grown Tata Motors was keeping a close eye on the developments. Around the same period, Carl-Peter Forster, President of GM’s European operations, had a decision to make of his own; one, a bigger job at General Motors – perhaps even the global head – and, two, becoming Group CEO of Tata Motors. Having worked at companies like GM, BMW and McKinsey, the Tatas knew that if Forster could be convinced, he would bring a lot of valuable experience on the table. For the London-born Forster (raised in Bonn and Athens, worked across the globe), India could promise to be an enlightening experience. But Forster also knew that if he were to join the Tatas, however hard he tries, he would – by rote nomenclature – be known as an ‘Expat CEO’ (short for expatriate CEO). Along with the bouquets that accompany this garnishing, Forster would have had the benefit of being brandished with the standard ignominious accusations reserved with honour for expat CEOs. But really, why do typically Indian companies take expat CEOs in the first place? Are there any lessons?

To be fair, this is not the first case of an Indian company headhunting for an expat CEO; and it definitely won’t be the last. In fact, the Tata group itself has believed heavily in global talent for top positions; which is logical since a huge 65% of the group’s revenues come from overseas markets. Raymond Bickson, MD, Indian Hotels (of the Tata Group), contributed heavily to the company’s global expansion through innovative acquisitions and tie ups with luxury hotel chains and cruise lines. But taking in Daryl Green as MD of Tata Teleservices wasn’t as rewarding as Green quit in two years, citing personal reasons and amid rumours attributing his resignation to his inability to mingle with the culture of the Tata Group.
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 :-

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

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Rajpal Singh Captain Indian Hockey team

“It’s larger than the movie industry”
Despite a Tiger Woods, there are more role models than fallen angels!

Bula Chowdhury

Swimmer & National Champ who crossed all seven channels

I still remember how on the eve of the Commonwealth Games, my mother was asked to deposit Rs. 7,500, so that I could compete. Nothing much has changed since that day. Athletes are being told that if they can’t pay the required amount for selection, then someone else will be taken. That is totally horrendous!

Viren Rasquinha

Former Captain, Indian Hockey team

In India sports is not given due importance. It can help in building a more disciplined society. The problem is that unlike Cricket, other sports lack stars and are not marketed well. PSUs can become the link between grass-root talent and real sports. Through their tournaments, they can help in nurturing domestic talent...

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 :-

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