Well, right now I am in the US again. But unlike the last time, when I studied and worked and stayed back for almost five years, this time, I am here only for three months on an exchange program that IIM-A has with its business school partner, Washington University in St. Louis. So, how do I feel about being in the US after two years? Has anything changed in these two years?
Well, nothing, coz nothing has really changed here in the US. Consumerism is still high. The average American is still ignorant about the world out there. His world is still the city, town or village where he lives in. But the winds of change, can you stop them?
Wall Street is dying.. Its monsters - Lehman, Bear Sterns, Merill are all dead, and the remaining - Goldman and Morgan have been tightly reined in. The economic indicators are crying out loudly - Recession. The Government has 'bought' the free markets and one can but wait for the next big corruption. In unprecedented moves, the capitalist is becoming a socialist.What seems sad is the the silent democracy.
On a different note, the democracy did surprise me by electing its first African American President. The racial pretensions between the blacks and whites, as per the Wall Street Journal, are at all time low - 25%!! The papers are awash with rumors of the increasing importance of minorities in Government. The black VPs in different organizations are silently being promoted since they might now be more influential in driving business to their firms. On the surface, you perceive a calm. But I suspect the tides of tsunamis are brewing within American society. Change always faces resistance and for a country to embrace a black President after centuries of Caucasian Presidents, might lead to more turbulence in these tumultuous economic times.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Relationships
Relationships are complex.
Humans are so obsessed with relationships that you would find an entire chapter on relationships and their complexities in any modern maths book. Jokes apart, Relationships are dynamic and alive, and you could even say that they lend color and variety to life.
We just returned from watching 'The Dark Knight' - another of the batman series.. I love Batman movies because Bruce seems so real and life-like. I mean of all the superheroes - Superman, Spiderman, X-men and who have you, I think Batman comes across as a fairly real life persona - someone whom you could relate to in a way. You find a web of relationships and philosophies wherein both the good guys and the bad guys have their black and white shades, and get estranged in myraid ways and relationships - some open, some too dangerous to be kept open.
When you look at life, you find that relationships can be truly complex. Take the case of the 'semi-girl friend', a term that I have borrowed from Chetan Bhagat's novel - A night @ the call center. You are not sure if she is a girl friend or just a friend, or someone that you are using to forget about your true girl friend. Take the case of a married man, who might love his wife, but cannot work with at office and then at the same time who likes working with a girl in the office, and not really be in love with.
From whatever little I have seen of the world, I would think that relationships do tend to be so complex sometimes that you might not really understand it all, but if you are honest about them, then maybe you can deal with them in a much better way. Transparency and openness would then be the only way for you to weave in and out of the complexities of relationships.
Humans are so obsessed with relationships that you would find an entire chapter on relationships and their complexities in any modern maths book. Jokes apart, Relationships are dynamic and alive, and you could even say that they lend color and variety to life.
We just returned from watching 'The Dark Knight' - another of the batman series.. I love Batman movies because Bruce seems so real and life-like. I mean of all the superheroes - Superman, Spiderman, X-men and who have you, I think Batman comes across as a fairly real life persona - someone whom you could relate to in a way. You find a web of relationships and philosophies wherein both the good guys and the bad guys have their black and white shades, and get estranged in myraid ways and relationships - some open, some too dangerous to be kept open.
When you look at life, you find that relationships can be truly complex. Take the case of the 'semi-girl friend', a term that I have borrowed from Chetan Bhagat's novel - A night @ the call center. You are not sure if she is a girl friend or just a friend, or someone that you are using to forget about your true girl friend. Take the case of a married man, who might love his wife, but cannot work with at office and then at the same time who likes working with a girl in the office, and not really be in love with.
From whatever little I have seen of the world, I would think that relationships do tend to be so complex sometimes that you might not really understand it all, but if you are honest about them, then maybe you can deal with them in a much better way. Transparency and openness would then be the only way for you to weave in and out of the complexities of relationships.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Outsourcing!
The west outsourced its dull back-end work - call centers, BPO and related activities out to India.
What did we do? We went and outsourced the fun stuff - IPL cheerleading out to the West!
What did we do? We went and outsourced the fun stuff - IPL cheerleading out to the West!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Randy Pausch
A really long video!! So, I'll keep it short.
WATCH IT if that's the last thing you do!!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Holi Hain
Holi. Holi in India. Holi in India after five years. Holi in India after five years at IIM-A. First of all, a very happy Holi to all. May the colors of the season color all our lives!
I played Holi, proper Holi with colors and all after such a long time that I had almost forgotten what Holi was all about. In the US, you didn't even get a holiday, so Holi had meant just another potluck in the week-end.. (Of course, there are places in the US, where a sizeable Indian population means a very colorful and bashful Holi!)
Holi at home would have been fun. But as the forces would have it, I had to spend Holi at IIM-A, which was not really such a bad alternative, but yes, to be honest, I did miss my family very much.
Holi at IIM-A started off with the usual morning dunking, a round of water wars and then we all trooped over to the common grounds.. IIM-A Cult-Com had done a good job, and there was the gulal tanki, the balloons, the pukka rang, and most importantly the junta. Even the profs came over to play Holi, and for a change it was fun to dunk the very same profs who customarily dunk us with fundae in class day-in and day-out.
Holi over, the bath - half a bar of soap and frantic rubbing and the colors of Holi still refuse to get off - Good!
I played Holi, proper Holi with colors and all after such a long time that I had almost forgotten what Holi was all about. In the US, you didn't even get a holiday, so Holi had meant just another potluck in the week-end.. (Of course, there are places in the US, where a sizeable Indian population means a very colorful and bashful Holi!)
Holi at home would have been fun. But as the forces would have it, I had to spend Holi at IIM-A, which was not really such a bad alternative, but yes, to be honest, I did miss my family very much.
Holi at IIM-A started off with the usual morning dunking, a round of water wars and then we all trooped over to the common grounds.. IIM-A Cult-Com had done a good job, and there was the gulal tanki, the balloons, the pukka rang, and most importantly the junta. Even the profs came over to play Holi, and for a change it was fun to dunk the very same profs who customarily dunk us with fundae in class day-in and day-out.
Holi over, the bath - half a bar of soap and frantic rubbing and the colors of Holi still refuse to get off - Good!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Namesake
Well, I watched Namesake today. Yes, its not a new movie, yes, it was released last year, but for some reason, I just never got round to seeing it till today. A very nice movie (though initially I thought it was rather slow) - the kind of movie that makes you all mushy and strike all the poignant chords, the kind that makes you think.
After coming back from the US, I never really thought too much about it, but strangely enough, after seeing the movie, the single thought that I had was that one of the best decisions that I have made is to have come back to India. You might laugh at me, I mean how are the two related - Namesake and India. I guess I don't really have an answer. Some things don't need to have an answer. You don't really need to figure out whether there is a God. Its better to let it 'blow in the wind'. And so, I am just going to let it blow in the wind. Not think too much, not analyze too much, nor dissect too much.
Just feel so happy that I am back in my land. Just feel so happy that I am close to home, to everything that means anything to me. Just feel so happy that I was able to visit home more times last year than I have in the last six years.
Great movies, they make you think, great movies, they make you cry and laugh, great movies that make you feel you are after all only a human.
After coming back from the US, I never really thought too much about it, but strangely enough, after seeing the movie, the single thought that I had was that one of the best decisions that I have made is to have come back to India. You might laugh at me, I mean how are the two related - Namesake and India. I guess I don't really have an answer. Some things don't need to have an answer. You don't really need to figure out whether there is a God. Its better to let it 'blow in the wind'. And so, I am just going to let it blow in the wind. Not think too much, not analyze too much, nor dissect too much.
Just feel so happy that I am back in my land. Just feel so happy that I am close to home, to everything that means anything to me. Just feel so happy that I was able to visit home more times last year than I have in the last six years.
Great movies, they make you think, great movies, they make you cry and laugh, great movies that make you feel you are after all only a human.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Inclusive Growth.
At the cost of being termed 'nerdy', I shall use this medium to think aloud my thoughts on the current talk of the town - Inclusive Growth. (See, I have invested so much time and effort the last six months in my MBA program that there have been spill-over effects and I have begun to believe that the trade is closer to my passion than engineering. Then again the last statement was fairly strong and is subject to the standard disclaimer: Strong statements are subject to market risks and are expected to change and temper with time.)
Well, coming back to the issue. A lot has been said about Inclusive Growth and no doubt a lot more will be said.. Now here's how I see the problem.
I believe that the issue of inclusive growth is a 'principal agent' problem (Google for principal agent problem in the economic context.) The agents being the haves and the have-nots. So, then if a particular section of the society is disbarred or prevented from sharing the profits of the entire community, it could act in accordance with its own interests and, thus, create market disturbances.
In simple layman terms, the interests of the entire community, society or organization need to be well aligned. For this to happen, the implication is that the rewards of progress need to be fairly distributed to all the stakeholders. More importantly, no one should get the feeling that they got a raw deal. This does not mean that you reward poor performance. On the contrary, poor performance should be punished and the agent should be told in very clear terms the basis on which his performance was judged, why he did not perform and what steps he could take to improve future performance. Similarly, excellent performance needs to be adequately awarded, thus, incentivising the agent to perform even better in the future.
Simple problems have simple solutions and complex problems have even simpler solutions. The concept of the principal agent problem is applicable in most disharmonious organizations and societies, and my limited knowledge would suggest that it applies to the problem of non-inclusive growth in the Indian economy.
Well, coming back to the issue. A lot has been said about Inclusive Growth and no doubt a lot more will be said.. Now here's how I see the problem.
I believe that the issue of inclusive growth is a 'principal agent' problem (Google for principal agent problem in the economic context.) The agents being the haves and the have-nots. So, then if a particular section of the society is disbarred or prevented from sharing the profits of the entire community, it could act in accordance with its own interests and, thus, create market disturbances.
In simple layman terms, the interests of the entire community, society or organization need to be well aligned. For this to happen, the implication is that the rewards of progress need to be fairly distributed to all the stakeholders. More importantly, no one should get the feeling that they got a raw deal. This does not mean that you reward poor performance. On the contrary, poor performance should be punished and the agent should be told in very clear terms the basis on which his performance was judged, why he did not perform and what steps he could take to improve future performance. Similarly, excellent performance needs to be adequately awarded, thus, incentivising the agent to perform even better in the future.
Simple problems have simple solutions and complex problems have even simpler solutions. The concept of the principal agent problem is applicable in most disharmonious organizations and societies, and my limited knowledge would suggest that it applies to the problem of non-inclusive growth in the Indian economy.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Wise cracks!
In the mood for wise cracks today, so here goes!!
- Everyone's after the time value of money (read interest rate), but what about the money value of time (read opportunity cost)??
- When there's a gold rush, everyone runs after the gold, a few run after the spades. Guess who make the fortune?
- Everyone's after the time value of money (read interest rate), but what about the money value of time (read opportunity cost)??
- When there's a gold rush, everyone runs after the gold, a few run after the spades. Guess who make the fortune?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Encounters of the marital kind.
First post for the year. So, by default, has to have masala. And in good measure, while I am at it, am gonna spike up the drink.
Ok, I am new to the marital encounters and while I do offer consultancy services to many a friend, many of whom have been blessed by my advice, this was a first for me.
In all earnestness, this was like the driving test that I took in the US. I go to the driving school. The instructor tells me go drive the car. I take the car out into the streets, do my best to make sure I don't ram into that truck, and scare the bonkers out of every car that dares to come near me. Fifteen minutes later, the guy says let me out, you passed the test. I go what the!, smile and get my license.
Ok, so lets play "Meet the parents."
Conventional Indian arranged marriages go: Guy and his family and uncles and aunts go to the gal's house. The gal comes in with a tea tray laden with goodies, and delights everyone with her culinary delights, and shyly says my name is Mira.
Fast forward to 2008, I had the gal's family come over to meet me at my house. No gal, just Mommy dear and Papa dear, who wanted to take a good hard look at me. Talk of men's liberation or the changing times. Whatever, I come in with the tea-laden tray.
Mommy Dear: "So, beta, did you make this samosa?" I nod my head in glee. "And how much 'moin' did you put?" This is worse than an I-banker's interview but hell I am prepared for this! "Two tbsps!" Mommy dear pacified, its Papa bear's turn.
Pappa Bear: "And what are your hobbies?" I shag. Well, couldn't tell him that, so I talk about my stamp-collecting and coin-collecting interests. Papa Bear is impressed. Beta's gonna take good care of my stamps and coins, he thinks..
Well, mission accomplished. Mommy Dear and Papa Bear gave the green signal. Now I move to the second round of interviews -this time with the gal. But then that's another story, another day!
Ok, I am new to the marital encounters and while I do offer consultancy services to many a friend, many of whom have been blessed by my advice, this was a first for me.
In all earnestness, this was like the driving test that I took in the US. I go to the driving school. The instructor tells me go drive the car. I take the car out into the streets, do my best to make sure I don't ram into that truck, and scare the bonkers out of every car that dares to come near me. Fifteen minutes later, the guy says let me out, you passed the test. I go what the!, smile and get my license.
Ok, so lets play "Meet the parents."
Conventional Indian arranged marriages go: Guy and his family and uncles and aunts go to the gal's house. The gal comes in with a tea tray laden with goodies, and delights everyone with her culinary delights, and shyly says my name is Mira.
Fast forward to 2008, I had the gal's family come over to meet me at my house. No gal, just Mommy dear and Papa dear, who wanted to take a good hard look at me. Talk of men's liberation or the changing times. Whatever, I come in with the tea-laden tray.
Mommy Dear: "So, beta, did you make this samosa?" I nod my head in glee. "And how much 'moin' did you put?" This is worse than an I-banker's interview but hell I am prepared for this! "Two tbsps!" Mommy dear pacified, its Papa bear's turn.
Pappa Bear: "And what are your hobbies?" I shag. Well, couldn't tell him that, so I talk about my stamp-collecting and coin-collecting interests. Papa Bear is impressed. Beta's gonna take good care of my stamps and coins, he thinks..
Well, mission accomplished. Mommy Dear and Papa Bear gave the green signal. Now I move to the second round of interviews -this time with the gal. But then that's another story, another day!
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