West Bengal- A Coward State

Posted on November 30, 2007 by indra

I had once tried to go through Taslima‘s famous novel ‘Lajja’. I was in my village for few days and I had nothing to read. My cousin Alok had given me the book that was a Hindi translation of her book in Bengali. Somehow I didn’t find that interesting. I couldn’t ascertain if that due to a bad translation or that was because of her style. Over the years, Taslima has become famous rather controversial for wrong reasons. Because of fear of her life, she left her own country and lived for some years abroad. She then came back to Kolkata and started living there.

Few months ago, I saw her on TV getting assaulted in Hyderabad when she was attending a literary function. Was that not cowardice an act against a woman whom Indian culture claims to respect? Could those cowards do the same for someone who is really damaging the social fabrics of the country and still roam around freely? I got shocked to find that happening in an Indian city. I felt pity when I saw Taslima with fear clearly written on her face while getting driven in a taxi to the hotel in Rajasthan, West Bengal exiled her from Kolkata and asked her to move to Rajasthan because of the pressure from the minority community that demanded it. I got amazed and started questioning its rationality. How can any civilized society disown her? Bengalis were never like that. After all, Taslima is a writer. And how rightly she claims, “You may dislike my writings and my contentions, but you can’t deny me the space to write and lead a normal life free of fear and persecution”? Where were the intellectuals of West Bengal, when Taslima had to leave Kolkata? How could Buddha, himself a man of letters, order or agree for such an action? Has CPM become so much dependent on the vote bank of the few in the minority? What a shame for the people and women of the state for whom I had a lot of respect? Can we be proud with this action in this largest democracy of the world? Can Bengali be proud of this action of their government?

And let us look at the irresponsible media that provides all information such as the flight number with seat details, destination, and address of the hotel where she stayed. Don’t the reporter and the publisher understand its consequences that can harm her?

For the first time perhaps BJP, RSS, and Modi took a right stand to invite her and provide all the security. I wish they kept on taking such decisions and permit Fida Hussain to come back to his homeland. If UK could shelter and provide security to Rusdie, why can’t West Bengal do that for Taslima?

It is good that the government of India has finally decided to provide shelter and security to Taslima. Let this nation of one billion be not afraid of taking the right and rational humane decisions. And West Bengal must invite her back, as she finds Kolkata more homely. She can’t be an outcast.

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Manufacturing India-IV

Posted on November 29, 2007 by indra

It appears manufacturing in India is moving fast. Some segments are doing wonderfully well. Here are some stories from the recent weeks:

Manufacturing beats IT, pharma in returns: The manufacturing sector was the top performer in creating shareholders value, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Three manufacturing sectors (engineering and construction, industrial commodities and materials and commodities) created more value for its shareholders in last five years than IT or pharmaceutical companies.

Tata Motors plans fresh wheels: Tata Motors is readying a slew of launches in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment during 2008 to counter increasing competition and also revive demand.

GM bets on R&D to win India race: The GM Technical Centre in Bangalore is developing and designing a number of new cars in the small, medium, sedan and sports utility vehicle (SUV) categories for achieving a 10% marketshare in the passenger car segment by 2010.

Hyundai to set up R&D centre in Hyderabad: Hyundai Motor Corporation is investing $40 million to set up its fifth R&D facility at Madhapur in Hyderabad. As per the company, the designs from the Hyderabad unit will be used in our global operations.

L&T eyeing $1 bn shipbuilding orders: India’s largest engineering and construction firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) is negotiating with global shipping fleet owners to build ships worth over $1 billion (Rs3,930 crore).

Samsung India to invest $100 mn: Electronics major Samsung India will invest $100 million in four years at its new manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur near Chennai. Investment of $30 million in the first year will be to manufacture colour televisions for the domestic and export markets.

<b>Mitsui to set up manufacturing unit in Rajasthan: Mitsui Prime Advanced Composites India is setting up a manufacturing facility for polypropylene compounded resin, with support from the Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation (RIICO) at Japanese Investment Park, Neemrana – Phase III, in Rajasthan.

<b>Cummins on expansion mode: Cummins, the global engine player, is acquiring 300 acres in Phaltan region in Maharashtra to expand its operations in India. Tata Cummins Ltd (a 50:50% joint venture between Tata Motors and Cummins) and Cummins Turbo Technologies (CTT) would first establish their projects in this newly acquired area.

Apache plans to invest Rs 500 cr more in Nellore project: Apache Footwear Ltd, an authorised manufacturer of Adidas Sports shoes, is planning to bring in the second round of investment into its existing sector-specific SEZ for footwear near Tada in Nellore.

Tatas, M&M close in on Ford brands: Ford Motor Co, the owner of the two brands-Jaguar and Land Rover, is believed to have narrowed the auction to three bids. Apart from the Tatas and Mahindra & Mahindra, One Equity Partners, a buyout firm funded by US investment bank JP Morgan, is on the final leg of the race.

SKF India targets Rs 3,000cr biz in 4 yrs: SKF India, India’s leading supplier of bearings for industrial and automotive applications, is aiming to more than double its revenue in four years with the company aggressively pursuing its expansion strategies in the country. The company is aiming for a business in excess of Rs 3,000 crore, with growth of more than 20% every year.

Vestas RRB enters North American wind energy market</b>: Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas RRB India Ltd expects at least 15% of its revenue to come from exports. Vestas has received an order to export two 600-KW turbines to Canada worth $2 million (about Rs 7.86 crore). Vestas is in an advanced phase of commissioning its new wind-energy-generator blades and controllers facility in Chennai.

Commercial vehicles, Passenger cars, auto parts, wind turbines, shipbuilding, and almost all manufacturing segments are booming with a huge lot of investment going in all the segments. The interesting part is the thrust on innovation in manufacturing and the strength of India in R&D that the global companies want to cash on.

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Six Nights in Salt Lake and Two in Rajdhani Express

Posted on November 28, 2007 by indra

We came back today to Noida, the place I hate as the people here are so business minded and I like as I can see Noida as a laboratory of surging India. Lalu has earned a name worldwide and particularly in the business schools for his turnaround of Indian Railways that he heads. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any significant change at the main railway station in the capital of the country, New Delhi, he has announced time and again his intention and plans to transform some of the railways stations of the country as good as the best in the world. We felt miserable when Rajdhani entered on the different platform and not on what the digital board was showing. The announcement in public address system was inaudible. We had to transfer the luggage ourselves. It was really difficult for us at this age. The porter had left assuring us that the train would come where he has kept it. I am sure some real management is essential on railway stations. The passengers, and that too many in numbers get hardly any assistance from the railway staffs who are never seen around the train or on platform. Can’t Lalu request some of his fans from among the management school faculty members and students to help him for finding a good practical and easily implement-able solution?

It was comfortable night sleep in the train but next day morning we found the train was running late and as much as two hours or more. My co-passenger who was an advocate in Srirampur was getting restive, as he was to attend some important cases in the court. His cell phone was ringing continuously enquiring about the expected time of his arrival in the court. If Rajdhanis can’t maintain its timings which other train can we expect to do that? Perhaps, time keeping is not the priority for the railway administration or minister.

Unfortunately, the railway has by now no arrangement such as hand trolleys for the passengers to transport their baggage. Passengers are but dependent on porters who are becoming more and more difficult to be handled. I don’t understand why are the trolleys not provided, when people are already having experience of that in all malls and airports.

Vakil and Om Praksh had come on the station and I got rid of some of the worries for finding taxi for Salt Lake or any other problem after reaching AJIRA, CJ-120. While we were busy cleaning and setting the house right for living, my cell phone started ringing. I was shocked to hear that some riot had started in Kolkata. Vakil must go back through the safe route. Fortunately, I could switch on TV and found that some very little known minority forum was behind the problem. TV was showing widespread violence and arson. Army had to go for a flag march for the first time after fifteen years. I took the happenings as a typical Kolkatan one for this City of Joy, as I had seen this or the worst since 1955. It is unfortunate the Kolkata has hardly changed but for some malls such as the City Centre in Salt Lake that we went to one night. I say this based on very little that I saw while moving inside Kolkata for two days to attend the marriage functions of Soni and Avishek, and while going to and coming from Salt Lake residence from Howrah. I tried to talk with a large number of acquaintances of all sorts at the marriage functions as well as during the course of getting some repair works of painting, plumbing, and carpentry done at AJIRA or during day-to-day shopping. While the City Centre of Salt Lake was a happy surprise, the streets and lanes of Kolkata and the permanent occupants of footpaths present the misery of the people of Kolkata at large.

It was very hectic. Yamuna was real busy in getting AJIRA cleaned and lightened as much as it was possible by getting rid of many things that we had collected for many years when we lived in Kolkata. I had a wish to go up to Dakhineswar to see the newly built bridge, but it couldn’t happen.

Winding up and covering everything before leaving any residence is a troublesome affair. We left for Howrah. At station, we remembered we left some sweets in refrigerator. Nothing could be done. We expect Bharati and Vakil to take care of the preliminary cleaning task before we arrive there on January 4, 2008. Will they?

At New Delhi railway station, we found today that there is no prepaid taxi booth. Shouldn’t Laluji arrange this?

But finally I am back and am able to put this entry and that will tell why it was missing for these days.

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Can’t West Bengal Survive without CPM?

Posted on November 21, 2007 by indra

I have seen the emergence of CPM in West Bengal as ruling party. Congress Party after Dr. BC Roy gradually lost its hold. CPM emerged indomitable as it forged an effective united front of all leftist parties. Division of votes stopped enhancing the win-ability of united front. And the Congress after the Sidhartha Sankar term weakened because of the formation of Mamata’s Trinamool Congress. If Mamata could have got the chance to lead the combined Congress, she had the required fire and honesty to throw out Leftists. Unfortunately for West Bengal, it didn’t happen. Over the years, Mamta because of her own shortcomings and immaturity born out of frustrations is no more the earlier firebrand Mamta. However, with the land requisitions for industrial development at Singur, Mamta again brought her at the center stage. Mishandling of Nandigram by Budhha, the CM has made her stronger.

Nandigram has exposed the leftists and its way to deal with the people dissenting with it. Nandigram has become the hottest issue from he streets of Kolkata to the corridors of parliament. It must be for the first time in left rule that the happenings in Nandigram forced even the left leaning intellectuals to join a peaceful march from College Street to Esplanade. Thousands of the city’s students, teachers and activists joined writers like Mahashweta Devi, filmmakers like Aparna Sen and artists like Jogen Choudhury to register a silent protest against the atrocities in Nandigram.

CPM rules through cadres that can be totally armed if needed. Its cadres control all the factories and enterprises and decide whom to employ and who is to be promoted. Even CEOs and managers remain in office till they keep on agreeing to what the cadre desires.

A TV programme from the Town Hall of Kolkata by NDTV on Nandigram on Sunday made me feel that the middle class of Kolkata is really aggrieved and disenchanted. However, I wonder why the people have realized it so late. Columnists after columnists are writing against Left in West Bengal, particularly CPM and specifically about Buddha who to me appears to be a frustrated man now. Many of the alliance partners have opposed the methodologies adopted and the statements made by Buddha. The respected governor from Gandhi family expressed his remorse. Strangely, Manmohan Singh maintains his silence because of political necessity.

Left was always like that. It never allowed the followers of opposing political parties to vote even in 60s, wherever it had the cadre’s strength. No one can oppose them on any issue, if he wants to live in the state and carry out his business for living. All sorts of mafia- be it builders, contractors, or material suppliers flourished under its protection. Leftists have mastered the art of winning election. The same CPM that is talking so enthusiastically for the need of industrial development and is ready to do everything to help Tata Motors and many others did everything to make the lives of industrialists and managers in 60s and 70s miserable. I wonder how Tatas decided to set up manufacturing plants in West Bengal.

When Lalu and Rabri ruled Bihar for fifteen years I used to wonder how would the end come and if it would at all come. I also keep on wondering the same about the left that has ruled West Bengal for last 30 years. Will there be no end to its rule? Why don’t the people of West Bengal who are much more enlightened and informed than those of Bihar bring a change of the government?

I read a news item in Telegraph today:

Five local CPM leaders were trussed up in their office, beaten and paraded with garlands of slippers and cowdung cakes around their necks in party bastion Burdwan. They were accused of favouritism in an official list of the poorest of poor. The thrashing – the third in the district in a little over a month since ration riots swept through south Bengal – took place this morning at Saloon Mollahpara, in the Khandaghosh area, about 140km from Calcutta.

Can this be the beginning of the end? I feel happy, though I know the end is not near. May be, it may not come even for many years.

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Booming and Blooming India-XXVIII

Posted on November 19, 2007 by indra

Stock market time and again makes record rise. The benchmark 30-share index rose 893.58 points, or 4.69%, to 19,929.06 in one day. Even many small investors are making money in this market. It was never like this.

Top 5 IT firms spend $438 mn on training: The country’s top five software companies will together spend close to $438 million (Rs1, 721 crore) this financial year in training around 100,000 engineers they would have hired in the same period. In the case of most companies, up to 80% of the hires are made at the entry level, and up to 80% of the training budget is spent on them. With better working relations with educational institutes shaking off the professional ego, the expenditure could have been reduced to a great extent.

India Inc`s order book overflows: Contrary to hints of an economic slowdown, India Inc’s order books are overflowing. In the first 10 months of calendar year 2007, Indian companies received orders worth Rs 128,147 crore that are 68.6 per cent more than Rs 75,984 crore in the same period a year ago.

India, the new global hub for advertising campaign: The list of multinational companies that have chosen India as the base market for regional or, in some cases, global advertising operations, has grown considerably in recent times. Last year, BT awarded a $1-million contract to Tribal DDB India to manage a global online assignment, while Nissan, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Motorola and Johnson & Johnson have all begun to create work for other markets out of their Indian agencies.India climbs to 15th in ad ranking: According to the Gunn Report of 2007, India has moved ahead of China, New Zealand, Mexico and South Africa, among others, to notch up a total of 39 points for award winning campaigns in Print, TV and Interactive. Indians had been creative and are now cashing on that.

Furniture imports surge on growing demand: According to the Commerce Ministry figures, furniture import to India rose to Rs 1,801.27 crore in 2006-07 from Rs 1,103.46 crore in the previous year, an increase of 63.24 per cent against India’s total import growth of 27.27 during this period. Are Indians crazy about imported goods? Is it the real face of consumerism?

GDP growth may stay at 9%: Better agriculture growth and mixed corporate performance may help achieve 9% GDP growth in 2007-08 according to the latest issue of the CII’s ‘State of the Economy’.

Desi students still largest group in US: For the sixth year in a row, Indian students have emerged as the largest group of international students in the US. According to the latest figures released by the Institute of International Education on Sunday, there are 83,833 Indian students in US that comprise 14.4% of the total international students in the US. Indians are getting resourceful enough to bear the high expenses of education inUS.

NHPC plans to add 25, 000 mw capacity:The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which has managed to produce just 4,145 mw from 11 projects since it was set up in 1975, is planning to add over 25,000 mw of hydro generation capacity over the next 20 years. One must dream big but must do everything to get the dreams realized too.

Wockhardt plans 14 new hospitals: Mumbai-based healthcare firm Wockhardt Hospitals is planning to set up 14 super-speciality hospitals across the country over the next two years, which could entail an investment of up to Rs600 crore. Apollo, which has 39 hospitals in India, will spend 8 billion rupees by 2009 and take up its bed count to 9,600 from 8,000 now. Competitor Fortis Healthcare Ltd will add 28 hospitals to its 12-hospital chain by 2012.

The small car dream-merchants: With approximately 56% of the population comprising youth and a rapidly expanding middle class, India could overtake China within a couple of years as the fastest-growing car market, according to analysts.

Carlos Ghosn in top gear on Indian drive: In just over six months since the launch of Logan, Ghosn has worked out a multi-partner strategy, tied up with Ashok Leyland for Nissan trucks, worked out an ultra-small car project with Bajaj Auto and is reputedly talking to both Eicher and Bajaj for Renault light commercial vehicles. Add to that the global production arrangement with Suzuki through Maruti and the greenfield plant and powertrain facility in Chennai.

Indian American is new Adobe president: Indian American Shantanu Narayen has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Adobe System Incorporated from December 1 next replacing Bruce Chizen. Mr Narayen holds five patents and serves on the Advisory Board of the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley and holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from Osmania University and Master’s in business administration from the Haas School of Business.

World takes note of Mumbai start-up’s waste-to-fuel tech: A Mumbai start-up may have well discovered a way to convert plastic, organic and electronic waste into petroleum without the usual harmful residue, and, emboldened by encouraging results from tests in the Netherlands, West Asia, and Malaysia, is now setting up plants that can process 25 tonnes of plastic a day in Austria, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.

India to buy 400 firms in US, EU: Assocham: India Inc would buy 400 firms in European Union and the US market every year from 2010 onwards, according to a study by Assocham. “Indian Companies acquired more than 180 Companies in Europe and US, up from 130 in 2005. The number would exceed 210 by end of current fiscal and the tempo would further be facilitated towards the projected numbers,”

Seven Indian firms among world’s 1,250 top R&D investors: Tata Motors, India’s most valued automobile firm, and drugmaker Ranbaxy are among the seven Indian firms in the world’s top 1,250 companies ranked on the basis of investments in research and development. Ranbaxy spent a total of Rs639.3 crore on research in 2005 and Rs483.8 crore in 2006.

Tech Mahindra to invest Rs 1,000 cr on three software units: Tech Mahindra, one of the largest IT services and telecom solutions has posted a turnover of $430 million during first six months of this year. Mahindra Group’s IT arm Tech Mahindra would invest Rs1,000 crore for setting up software development centres in Chandigarh, Noida and Jaipur in the next few years.

India to become 2nd largest steel producer: The country is set to become the world’s second largest producer of steel before 2015-16 and the sector is likely to witness an investment of Rs 8,70,640 crore by 2020.

Pyaasa, Apu Trilogy in Time list of best films: Time magazine has listed Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa, narrating the pathos of an unpublished poet, and Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy, about a child growing into manhood in modern India, in its list of all-time 100 great movies.

India’s bull run is likely to continue: According to Rob Morrison, chairman and chief executive of financial research firm CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, “The surfeit of liquidity powering markets in Asia (and India) will not dry up in the next six months or a year, but when the US overcomes its credit concerns, some of this money will surely go back.”

Construction boom: The construction industry employs about 31 million people, second only to the agriculture sector, the workforce requirement is about 5 million people every year over the next seven years to eight years to sustain the present 8 per cent growth rate.

Richest Indians crash billionaire club: There’s at least one thing Indians do better than the Chinese: generate wealth. At a staggering $180 billion, the four richest Indians are worth more than the 40 richest Chinese combined, according to Forbes magazine. The richest 40 Indians, on the other hand, are all billionaires, and together form the wealthiest such group in Asia, riding a surging Economy, soaring stock Markets and a stronger currency.

<b>Global telecom cos ride on Indian operations: Indian operations are clearly driving revenues and earnings of global telecom companies including Singapore Telecommunications, Maxis Communications, Vodafone Plc and Telecom Malaysia – all of which are present in the country.

Gems and jewellery exports in H1 up 21.5%: The country’s gems and jewellery exports have risen 21.5% to $9.38 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal as against $8.01 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Forex reserves up $3.6bn at $270bn: Foreign exchange reserves increased $3.663 billion to $270.181 billion for the week ended November 9, according to data released by the RBI today.

After Moon, India eyes Mars mission: The Indian mission to Mars got a fillip with ISRO’s 11th plan including the flight to the Red Planet as a part of the document. Are Indians moving too fast?

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Chhath- Some Reflections

Posted on November 18, 2007 by indra

During Hindustan Motors’ day, we lived in its residential flats for many years. Yamuna used to organize and celebrate Chhath almost every year without fail. For some years, I also undertook the rigorous fasting for almost four days and offered prayers to Sun God. It used to be exciting to carry out the religious rituals at the sunset and the dawn next day in the water of Hooghly River with the temple of Dakhineswar facing us on the other side. It seems Chhath must have originated many years ago in Vedic period when Sun used to be one of the main God, and people worshiped the nature in all forms.

But I left HM and moved to Salt Lake. It became unmanageable for Yamuna to organize. When we came to Noida in 1997, we got further distanced. Old age also dissuades us. Some hundred thousands from Bihar must be living in Noida, but unless we pass by some of the bridges on Yamuna River or near around on this day, we hardly come to know Chhath, neither do we get any ‘prasad’ of the ‘vrata’ from anyone. It pains me, but what can I do about it. People from Bihar whom I know are either too modern that they don’t organize Chhath or they don’t have our names in the list of beneficiaries.

Alpana, my eldest daughter-in-law is continuing the traditions and fasts even in US on Chhath. Yesterday, she called us on completion for our blessings. I hear in Mauritius, people of Bihari origin celebrate Chhath in one big tank there. In Delhi, politicians take a lot of interest to get Ghaats of Yamuna River cleaned. May be one day, the people fasting for Chhath will take Yamuna cleaning task in their hands and serve the city and its regions.

However, we still wait for Mansa to bring in the ‘prasad’ that Yamuna asked her for. And Mrs Lakshman Singh wished me today in morning: ‘Happy Chhath‘ from her Kolkata residence.

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Researching India

Posted on November 17, 2007 by indra

Attractiveness: India is tipped to be among the top three destinations where multinational companies (MNCs) planned to spend their R&D budgets over the next three years, according to a 2004 survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit. A recent UNCTAD survey corroborates: India was number three in terms of R&D location attractiveness – close behind China and the US. The number of R&D centres of MNCs trebled from 100 to over 300 in the past three-four years.

Patents: In patents, India lags behind global peers; a US ranking of patents between 1995 and 2004 showed India in 24th place globally. Aggregate domestic R&D spending has never exceeded 1 per cent of GDP – just Rs 21,600 crore in 2004; in purchasing power parity terms, it was at Rs 1,07,600 crore, making India the world’s ninth largest spender. But China spent more than three times as much at Rs 3,76,000 crore, becoming the third-largest spender.

Spending: About 75-80 per cent of India’s R&D spending comes from public enterprises, while in China, more than 65 per cent comes from private enterprises.

The total private R&D investment is estimated to have risen from Rs 3,200 crore in 2002 to Rs 16,400 crore in 2005. This has led to a corresponding increase in total R&D spending from Rs 16,000 crore in 2002 to Rs 34,000 crore in 2005 (when total private spending is estimated to have risen to 48 per cent). India has seven firms in the worlds top 1,250 companies ranked on the basis of investments in research and development.

Manpower: India has between 117,528 and 300,000 scientists, researchers and engineers while China has three times as many at 926,252.

China vs. India: As investment and output in China are mostly for local consumption, India with its local and global focus could emerge as the dark horse and become the No. 1 knowledge destination by 2020.

US-based DuPont has invested Rs 200 crore in its R&D centre in India that is the only ‘One DuPont Centre’ worldwide housing everything from biotech to IT solutions. IBM has set up R&D centers staffed by 3,000 engineers in India, which have become a source of innovation on everything from software to semiconductors to supercomputers.

AstraZeneca India, could realize its biggest success by introducing a cheaper and more efficient TB drug by 2010. This could be a big breakthrough as no new TB drug has been discovered since 1964. The company may take a crack at discovering new drugs for diseases such as dengue and diarrhoea.

The Microsoft’s development centre in Hyderabad works on core product groups such as Windows, Office, Visual Studio, and data and storage platforms. It has fully developed from scratch products like Virtual PC and Data Protection Manager.
Microsoft’s Koppolu has orchestrated a 100-strong external partner team which includes HP, Intel, Wipro and TCS, sitting across the world to come up with an RFID solution, slated for release by the end of this year.

Motorola’s team of 30 full-time researchers and scientists are working on phones that will have multi-lingual displays and speech recognition and noise cancellation technology. The team is responsible for more than 40 per cent of all software that goes into Motorola phones, including the latest Motorazr.

General Motors chose Bangalore as its first research centre with an investment of $60 million in 2003.

A recent study by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), an association of Indian IT professionals in the US, revealed that close to 60,000 professionals have relocated to India in recent years. At GM, the percentage of returning Indians to total employees is over 50 per cent; at Monsanto, it’s 30 per cent; at GE, its over 20 per cent; and at MSIDC and Biocon, it’s over 10 per cent.

Most of the captive MNC labs started with developing parts of a product or doing feature enhancements and have gone to taking over complete ownership of products and building them from ground up.

Texas Instrument’s engineers in India completely designed a single-chip cellphone solution that has made possible the Rs 1,000-cellphone dream; the chip brings down power and space consumption by 50 per cent. At MSIDC, teams have developed from scratch solutions such as RFID Biz Talk, Virtual PC, and Data Protection Manager. At Yahoo! India, employees have fully developed properties such as Avatars (images that can be customized and used on mail or messenger), Farechase (which pulls out best airfares from multiple sources such as cleartrip, travelguru, etc), podcasting service and Ourcity (compilation of city-based information).

Scientists and engineers at GE’s JFWTC are helping in designing key parts of the GEnx engine, which powers the Boeing “Dreamliner” 787 and Boeing 747. Another team at the GE’s Bangalore Engineering Center simulates bird strike and fan blade out (an occurrence when the blade comes out from the fan module) events.

Indian companies such as Tata Motors, Bajaj, Mahindra, Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Tata Steel, Dr Reddy’s and Ranbaxy are beefing up their core R&D initiatives and have produced results that have made them globally successful.
By 1996-97, the cumulative patents of Tata Steel were around 30. Last year, they had filed 234.

If we look at two recent news reports, we can appreciate what Indian technocrats and scientists are at, so far the product development capability of India is concerned.

1.The Tata supercomputer, named EKA after the Sanskrit term for one, at Pune’s Computational Research Laboratories, a Tata subsidiary, has been ranked fourth in the widely anticipated Top 500 list released at an international conference on high performance computing in Reno, Nevada. The Indian supercomputer has been adjudged the fastest in Asia.

2.India has successfully tested the indigenously developed cryogenic stage to be employed as the upper stage of the country’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) in a significant milestone in its space programme.

But Indian firms are still playing catching up. According to World Bank data of the top 50 applicants for patents in India between 1995 and 2005, 44 were foreign firms. Miles to go to match the competition!

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Education: National Priority

Posted on November 16, 2007 by indra

No doubt, education is the national priority. India can’t develop as superpower only with its massive number of population in working age group. India must build skills in its people through quality education of all sorts. IT has broken many traditional barriers about educational qualifications. Even a good graduate in English can serve Microsoft in equal position with another with degree in engineering. It starts with good and universal education at primary level. Education must be one that enables one to understand whatever is taught clearly and must not end with the ability to reading and writing. And it must continue till the end of professional life with refreshing courses and training in new skills as and when developed or desired.
It is heartening that the government has started realizing the need and necessity. The 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-2012) under making proposes nearly one-third of the total allocation for education and health that was 9% of the Plan allocation till date. It reflects the change.

Main thrust will be on primary education. Rs 1.25 lakh crore (as against Rs 30,000 crore in the last plan) out of a total of Rs 2.85 lakh crore will go to primary education. However, thrust must be on improving the effectiveness of the allocation and the working culture in the schools. And it can happen only if the teachers are motivated through training and incentives to impart the best to the students. IT and technologies can take away the workload off the teachers who will be expected to be working more as facilitators. The curricula must focus on developing values, communication skills, and creativity while imparting the traditional knowledge of the subject based on its actual application. Teaching must arouse the interest to know, learn, and apply the knowledge rather than to pass examinations. Students must get an urge to spend time in library and the creativity centers of the schools or colleges.

Likewise, the share of adult and secondary education is being increased to Rs 6,000 crore, and Rs 53,000 crore respectively. And higher and technical education gets Rs 84,000 crore. The plan envisages major reforms in education such as introducing credit and semester systems and exam reforms.

Higher education will undergo massive expansion. The plan seeks to establish 30 new central universities of which 16 are to be set up in areas, which don’t have a central university. The rest 14 are to be model universities with world-class infrastructure costing around Rs 1,000 crores for each. Seven more IITs, seven IIMs, 10 National Institute of Technology, five Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, 20 IIITs and two schools of architecture are part of the plan. Additionally, 330 new colleges will come up in educationally backward districts.

I wish the plans got approved and implemented giving all the benefits out of good education within the timeframe.

It gives real joy to know that Indians in general give so much weightage to education. There can’t be better proof of this than the information that ‘for the sixth year in a row, Indian students have emerged as the largest group of international students in the US. According to the latest figures released by the Institute of International Education on Sunday, there are 83,833 Indian students in US universities. Indian students comprise 14.4% of the total international students in the US.’ And it is on increase and for better education. 71% of them in US are doing Masters and PhD studies. Graduate student enrolment grew nearly 6% from 56,397 in 2005-06 to 59,521 in 2006-07. There are only 12,500 Indian undergraduate students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at US institutions. Indians students are seeking admission in institutions of many countries including even China. It’s good sign. Let skilled knowledgeable Indians move to all corner of the globe and serve the humanity. Let the nation move from ignorance to knowledge, and India takes the real leadership in knowledge sector.

P.S. Indian students dominate Harvard Business School

Indians among largest overseas student groups in the UK</

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Why Are Politicians Blocking N-deal?

Posted on November 16, 2007 by indra

As reported, a high-profile group of former military chiefs, ambassadors, senior bureaucrats, strategic planners, foreign secretaries, and nuclear and space scientists has addressed an open letter to MPs on the eve of the Parliament session to get the Indo-US Deal approved by majority in parliament without making it a political issue. It seems to be a last-gasp effort and interesting development. Let the MPs hear the opinion of the people who held very important and the highest positions on an issue of national importance.

Unfortunately, a majority of MPs will have to oppose the deal during the debate in both the houses because of the party’s directive or whip to do that. Some political parties wish to oppose it as they want to project themselves anti- American, otherwise major minority community may get offended as it treats US as anti-Muslim. Some oppose the deal with US as US is the only superpower today with the demise of the communist block led by Soviet Union, and China is still not ready to lead and they faithfully believe in communism as the only solution of all troubles. Some oppose it because they would have liked their own party to get the credit of taking the deal through.

The group has asserted that India could not hope to get a better deal, and have raised pertinent questions: “Can we do better without the agreement, or, can we get a better one? The answer to the second question is surely, no.”

“The agreement has given us as much as it has because of a most particular combination of circumstances which can hardly come again. To the contrary, there are forces at work internationally that will only complicate our position – for example, the growing pressure for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, or the growing potential of American opponents of the agreement.”

The Left seems to have softened its stand on letting the government open negotiations with IAEA. But BJP even after all the lobbying from the American heavyweights in administration seems to be undeterred and bent on cashing the political advantage of opposing the deal in the forthcoming elections.

Who can stop India from exploding more devices if it was ready to face the consequences? “Even under the Non-Proliferation Treaty – from which we are being exempted – a state can opt out and conduct a test if it feels that it is vital to its security.”
The signatories said the agreement with the US would put no fetters on India to produce more weapons if it deemed it necessary.

The signatories suggest accepting the “attainable” instead of holding out for the “ideally desirable”. A major obstacle to India attaining world power status “has been the denial of high technologies, particularly those related to security needs, which have enabled some self-selected powers to forge well ahead of us. We will continue to be denied access to such technologies unless the international community agrees to remove the existing sanctions. In opening the way to such an outcome, what is formally a bilateral agreement between us and the US is actually the basis for agreement with the international community.”

Suddenly, the leftists are very much concerned to prove India’s sovereignty. According to the signatories, the nuclear deal wouldn’t put Indian foreign policy hostage to the US. “International relationships are shaped by strength, the stronger you are the greater your freedom of action. We believe India is more vulnerable to foreign pressures without this agreement than we would be by increasing our strength through an intelligent use of it to put through various development programmes which currently falter.”

But will our great politicians listen to the advices of these dignitaries or some unscrupulous ones even brand them pro-American paid lobbyists to prove that they are the only to have the knowledge and concern of the dignity and future of the country?

I wish better sense prevails on MPs and party bosses so that Indian scientists don’t remain outcastes and India can get access to all scientific researches on equal terms. That is possible only if India goes ahead with the Deal.

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Economist and Technology in India

Posted on November 15, 2007 by indra

Economist last week carried a commendable special issue ‘Technology in India and China’. The lead article ‘Howling at the moon’ talked of the Asian aspirations on moon mission.

China’s Chang’e 1 satellite, launched in October, began its first lap of the moon, marking another step towards a manned lunar mission. India, which hopes to circle the moon with its own satellite next year, matches China’s technological enthusiasm. India shall be taking up the feasibility study for landing on moon.

However, the main hypothesis of Economist is on the growing technological capabilities of both the countries and some advisory as usual how should both move ahead. According to Economist, ‘both countries believe they can succeed in high-tech markets that America, Europe and Japan have long regarded as theirs by right.’

The article ‘Running fast’ deals with nicely on the strength of China as well as India. It talks about India’s IT sector:

India’s ancient civilisations ushered in a “mathematical revolution” from the fifth century, when Aryabhata devised something like the decimal system. In the seventh century Brahmagupta explained that a number multiplied by zero was zero. By the 15th century, Madhava had calculated pi to more than ten decimal places. India’s genius, then as now, was in software not hardware. The heirs to Aryabhata and Brahmagupta, India’s digital ambassadors have won acclaim for their mastery of ones as well as zeros.

India produces more engineering graduates than America. But it has only 24 personal computers for every 1,000 people, and fewer than three broadband connections. India’s billion-strong population cuts both ways. As of now, India matters more to technology than technology does to India.
Leapfrogging or piggybacking?
India’s path has remained idiosyncratic. The skills demanded by its industries are those of a much richer country. This can be shown, roughly, by statistics, but more sharply by anecdote. General Electric’s technology centre in Bengalooru (formerly Bangalore) is working on advanced propulsion systems for jet engines. India’s Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) produces the software for Ferrari’s Formula One cars. India’s drug makers offer 60,000 finished medicines; only three countries produce a bigger volume.

Ganesh appears in some unofficial versions of the Mahabharata, a Hindu epic, as a scribe, whose quill pen breaks in his haste to record the poem as a sage recites it. Not to be beaten, Ganesh snaps off one of his tusks, dips it in ink and does not miss a line. Those virtues of determination and improvisation explain much of the success of India’s celebrated IT firms, such as TCS, Wipro and Infosys. Each firm has its epic tales of deadlines made and obstacles overcome. Their exports of IT services (which do not include other back-office services) grew by 36% in the last fiscal year to reach $18 billion, according to NASSCOM. IT services employed about 560,000 people. The big three have landed several deals each worth over $300m (with companies such as Skandia, General Motors, United Biscuits and British Telecom) and margins are still healthy. For example, Infosys reported an operating margin of 28% for the third quarter.

But some think India should be doing more with its intellectual resources. It should aspire to be the poet, not the scribe. India’s exports of its own software-or licensing of its own intellectual property (IP)-amounted to about $450m in the year ending March 31st, a tiny fraction of its service exports.

Services are labour-intensive; products require a bit of capital. It thus makes sense that India started out by specialising in the services. Add a roomful of computers and a company could get to work. But it is precisely the labour-intensity of services that must ultimately limit the industry’s growth. To double its revenues, a service company has more or less to double its headcount. That is expensive: wages of IT professionals are growing by 15% a year. TCS, for example, now has over 100,000 employees, having added over 12,000 in the most recent quarter.

Eventually, Indian firms will need to embody their brainwork in a patentable software product that can be copied and sold, over and over again.

What is stopping them?

Indian software firms often lack the wherewithal to push a product in the marketplace, and to survive the marketplace’s whims. Services yield predictable returns. Products, on the other hand, require a heavy outlay up-front, which may never be recouped if the package fails to find enough distributors, “channel partners” and customers. I-flex solutions, India’s biggest software-product success, survived its early years by running a services business on the side.

To make a successful product, a company needs to be close to its customers. But Indians do not use much software-they bought only $1.6 billion-worth last fiscal year-and when they use it, they do not pay for it. Piracy rates are as high as 72%. One company, Tally, has succeeded by writing accounting programs for small businesses in India and other emerging markets. It touts “the power of simplicity” and traces its origins to the efforts of its founder and his son to computerise their own company’s accounts in the 1980s. You can buy the silver edition of Tally’s ninth release for 11,232 rupees ($290). This compares well with foreign packages that are “atrociously expensive” and “require two or three PhDs to run.”

Meanwhile, the services firms themselves seem happy renting out IQ. Their aim is not just to add heads, but also to earn more revenue per head. India’s leading firms hope to move away from charging clients on the basis of inputs-“time and materials”-or even outputs-pieces of code. They want to charge customers on the basis of the gains their IT services can deliver, such as cutting their billing costs.

Scribes want to become better scribes. To become a poet, you probably need to be born as one.

But it seems logical to expect the big players of Indian IT sector getting into software-product as they can afford it. And many of the smaller entrepreneurs and startups must emulate Tally. In sheer number, it doesn’t seem India lacks talent, but its younger generation of entrepreneurs straight from the incubators of the institutes must be enthused to enjoy the risk of going in to software product business rather than money making BPOs only.

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