NASSCOM decided to hold a series of lectures for its members. For some reason, they chose to talk to a group of decidedly SME firms on International Holding Companies. By the end of the discussion, when someone spoke out on the obvious expenses involved in setting up such a holding company, the speaker mentioned that it certainly does not make sense for a small enterprise to look at this option. The costs, he confirmed will be prohibitive and more importantly unnecessary when they will only be acquiring one or maybe two companies abroad.
Having said this, I still enjoyed myself learning about the various new concepts that exist in the business world. Just for that evening, I wanted to be an MD who creates wealth and uses innovative but legal ways to protect that wealth for the company’s shareholders.
As a typical middle class service oriented individual, I have always been averse to the risk involved in going into business. However, the thought processes behind the ideas that people have come up with for creation of wealth and the more baser urge that people at all levels seem to have to avoid or at least minimise taxation of the wealth created is very educative. Also amazing are the laws that have come into effect to effectively curb as many of such ideas as possible. The certainty of death and taxes is true even more today than it was before. The cat and mouse game between the Governments of the world and the increasingly global corporate houses continues and there are as many brainy ideas to ensure maximising tax collections as there are to evade taxes.
Most of the discussion was based on US corporate law with specific reference to Indian corporate houses. Specifically in relation to setting up an IHC in those countries that have a favourable tax system themselves as well as a favourable treaty with the US. They are called Tax havens.
Some surprising names that I remember are the Netherlands, UK and Ireland. Do you know that the corporate tax in Ireland is just 12.5%? When comparing this with the 35% payable here in India, it sounds like a no-tax regime. How do they possibly manage?
It seems places like the Cayman Islands and Malta are no longer considered the best option and it would not make sense to set up the IHC and not be in a position to prove “Substance over Form”. This caption basically means that the Holding Company is not really a paper company and must have a reason to exist in the chosen location.
The four main areas for tax impact while deciding on an IHC are:
Dividend
Interest
Royalty
Sale of shares.
Let us now see if I understood some of the concepts that stayed with me since that day.
The LSE’s Alternative Investment Market - AIM is the London Stock Exchange's international market for young and growing companies. Launched in 1995, AIM gives companies from all countries and sectors access to a market at an earlier stage of their development, by combining the benefits of a public quotation with a more flexible and less stringent regulatory approach.
The Delaware Company Concept – The Delaware General Corporate Law is one of the most advanced and flexible corporation statutes in the nation. Secondly, Delaware courts and, in particular, the Court of Chancery, have over 200 years of legal precedent as a maker of corporation law. Thirdly, the state legislature seriously takes its role in keeping the corporation statute and other business laws current. Lastly, the office of the Secretary of State operates much like a business rather than a government bureaucracy with its modern imaging system and customer service oriented staff. Delaware is also know as the First State because it was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States; Delaware's business laws, its Chancery Court with nationally recognized expertise and governmental services make Delaware a corporate haven.
Thin capitalization law - A Corporation that gets its capital primarily as loans from shareholders rather than stock investment. The main tax advantage attempted here is the distribution of interest that is tax deductible, whereas distribution on stock is non-deductible Dividends. If the debt-to-stock ratio becomes excessive, the IRS may contend that the capital structure is unrealistic and the debt is not Bona Fide. The acceptable debt-to-stock ratio varies according to industry norms. If the corporation's debt is recast as stock, the corporation loses its deductible interest expense.
Limitation of benefits clause – A US law, the Limitations on benefits provisions generally prohibit third country residents from obtaining tax treaty benefits. For example, a foreign corporation may not be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding unless a minimum percentage of its owners are citizens or residents of the United States or the treaty country.
CFC regulations - CFC (controlled foreign company) regulations have been implemented by most western high-tax countries to prevent residents setting up and keeping profit in companies in low tax jurisdictions. Usually, the CFC regulations stipulate that resident shareholders shall be taxed directly for the profit of a CFC – regardless of whether any dividend has been paid. This effectively prevents a CFC from building up any capital. In addition the tax imposed on the shareholders will often exceed the domestic rate for company and dividend tax. CFC regulations are based on Jurisdiction and what may work in one jurisdiction may be a legal disaster in another.
Anti-inversion statute - The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (2) added Code Sec. 7874 to the Internal Revenue Code to combat the perceived abuse of inversions of U.S. corporations into foreign corporations.
I shall end here since the last one seems too difficult to understand.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Castes in India
I was talking to a new recruit at my office and she explained to me her uncommon name and surname. She has a typical catholic name but uses her caste surname that is typically Hindu.
It seems I was under the mistaken assumption that castes are only important to those who follow Hinduism for it is such an integral part of India that even religions that have nothing to do with the caste structure have integrated it.
I wonder sometimes if we as a nation have really come out of the 18th century to march on in the 21st? Our students take to the streets on reservation, we have caste wars publicised in all our news channels and people working in offices discuss each others sub sects and caste dynamics over lunch. They tell me, A Maharashtrian Brahmin has to be a miser who will never spend his money on eating out and a "CKP" loves food.
How do we get out of this mess? Is there a way out at all???
It seems I was under the mistaken assumption that castes are only important to those who follow Hinduism for it is such an integral part of India that even religions that have nothing to do with the caste structure have integrated it.
I wonder sometimes if we as a nation have really come out of the 18th century to march on in the 21st? Our students take to the streets on reservation, we have caste wars publicised in all our news channels and people working in offices discuss each others sub sects and caste dynamics over lunch. They tell me, A Maharashtrian Brahmin has to be a miser who will never spend his money on eating out and a "CKP" loves food.
How do we get out of this mess? Is there a way out at all???
Friday, April 27, 2007
Alone
I started working 10 years ago and came to the job market as a very scared rabbit unsure of myself and sensitive to the slightest displeasure.
I was also scared of being alone anywhere except a movie hall. I never stayed home alone although I often went on treks alone and travelled alone to little known nooks and corners in India.
Then I joined work at a place I was comfortable from the very first day although I was really the odd one out in a crowd of extremely sophisticated people. In general, everyone was nice to me so I really did not mind being the odd ball here. But I was still afraid of many things and one of them was sitting alone in the marketing room when everyone else was on the field. I remember asking my big bosses to come out and give me company. Time passed and I started feeling comfortable in a big room all by myself. I was still averse to the idea but it was okay.
Today, i sit in a dark office inside a dark cabin with wooden walls and dark glasses around me and have no fear of the walls around me. One can get used to almost anything I suppose, given enough time.
Maybe it is good that I no longer fear being alone but every time i enter my room i feel i could just curl up and die and the world around will just not care. A sad thought for a week end morning.
To blow away the blues, I shall listen to some lively music and leave you with "The Daffodils"
I was also scared of being alone anywhere except a movie hall. I never stayed home alone although I often went on treks alone and travelled alone to little known nooks and corners in India.
Then I joined work at a place I was comfortable from the very first day although I was really the odd one out in a crowd of extremely sophisticated people. In general, everyone was nice to me so I really did not mind being the odd ball here. But I was still afraid of many things and one of them was sitting alone in the marketing room when everyone else was on the field. I remember asking my big bosses to come out and give me company. Time passed and I started feeling comfortable in a big room all by myself. I was still averse to the idea but it was okay.
Today, i sit in a dark office inside a dark cabin with wooden walls and dark glasses around me and have no fear of the walls around me. One can get used to almost anything I suppose, given enough time.
Maybe it is good that I no longer fear being alone but every time i enter my room i feel i could just curl up and die and the world around will just not care. A sad thought for a week end morning.
To blow away the blues, I shall listen to some lively music and leave you with "The Daffodils"
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced;
but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A Joy ride
I had a great time today. This Sunday, I had planned on lunch with a friend at a previously unheard of Italian place. More about that later. First, I saw a few cars of the Haig vintage car rally and that was good fun :)
I set off on the empty roads in my Tata Indigo to see some beautiful Bentley's and Rolls. I saw quite a few of the little cars out on rally from a nice vantage point between Mahim and Dadar. I don't know about the upkeep and fuel efficiency but the cars looked so good. I saw a couple of them unable to complete the rally and settle for some gentle TLC at the neighborhood car mechanic and even that was good fun. Most of the cars were convertibles and the drivers seemed to be having a good time despite the heat. I sat in AC comfort and watched them go by in the sweltering Bbay heat. The drivers and navigators seemed to be doing quite well despite the heat. I saw two women with hats and bonnets looking quaint and lady-like driving a lovely vintage Bentley.
Before I knew it, it was time for lunch and I picked up my friend and headed to Penne at Juhu. I had read about this place in a foodie article on the Bestofbombay site and decided that I wanted to try it out. It is fun to go to a new restaurant and find out how good or bad the food is.
Somehow, from what I had read, I expected it to be a tiny nook with soothing ambience but it turned out to be fairly spacious with a lovely ambience. The veggie starters were not so great but the Pasta and the Desserts were good. My friend and I had a lovely time and spent a load of time enjoying the place, the food and the Company.
I then drove back home for Sunday siesta and got up to watch Massa rule F1 for a change at the Bahrain Grand Prix. It's funny getting used to F1 without Schumi but then I think when your idols retire you start putting your age in perspective.
Life goes on; I still have places to go and promises to keep...
I set off on the empty roads in my Tata Indigo to see some beautiful Bentley's and Rolls. I saw quite a few of the little cars out on rally from a nice vantage point between Mahim and Dadar. I don't know about the upkeep and fuel efficiency but the cars looked so good. I saw a couple of them unable to complete the rally and settle for some gentle TLC at the neighborhood car mechanic and even that was good fun. Most of the cars were convertibles and the drivers seemed to be having a good time despite the heat. I sat in AC comfort and watched them go by in the sweltering Bbay heat. The drivers and navigators seemed to be doing quite well despite the heat. I saw two women with hats and bonnets looking quaint and lady-like driving a lovely vintage Bentley.
Before I knew it, it was time for lunch and I picked up my friend and headed to Penne at Juhu. I had read about this place in a foodie article on the Bestofbombay site and decided that I wanted to try it out. It is fun to go to a new restaurant and find out how good or bad the food is.
Somehow, from what I had read, I expected it to be a tiny nook with soothing ambience but it turned out to be fairly spacious with a lovely ambience. The veggie starters were not so great but the Pasta and the Desserts were good. My friend and I had a lovely time and spent a load of time enjoying the place, the food and the Company.
I then drove back home for Sunday siesta and got up to watch Massa rule F1 for a change at the Bahrain Grand Prix. It's funny getting used to F1 without Schumi but then I think when your idols retire you start putting your age in perspective.
Life goes on; I still have places to go and promises to keep...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The poor knee cap
I was rushing to get into a train this morning when I went sprawling. The cat call that stayed with me was a screeching "Aunteeeee, take care."
Here I was on the station floor and what bothered me more was not my poor doddering knee cap but someone calling me "Aunty." Getting old is no fun, feeling old is worse.
"Vera, Vera, What has become of you? Does anybody else here feel the way I do?"
Here I was on the station floor and what bothered me more was not my poor doddering knee cap but someone calling me "Aunty." Getting old is no fun, feeling old is worse.
"Vera, Vera, What has become of you? Does anybody else here feel the way I do?"
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Roads and Accountability
Who makes the decisions to dig at the MMRDA? They dig up newly made Concrete roads to do what they should have done before making the road, break water pipes repeatedly at three different places within 2 kilometers, wasting gallons of the precious liquid, start work on busy intersections with skeleton staff and waste time.
Traffic is forever stuck at narrow lanes left for zillion vehicles to pass while a man- hole is without a cover and left unattended for days together in this single lane that they have left us. Who is responsible? Who is accountable? Who will ask the questions? How do I do it?
I visited 2 other cities recently. Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Bangalore seems worse than us but Ahmedabad was great. The road works contractors work at nights, finish jobs they start within time. The city is small and there is hardly any traffic compared to Bombay but they still think it is important to care for the road travelers.
The MMRDA just puts up a board to suffer today for a better tomorrow; I have been seeing it for the last 6 years on the Andheri-Kurla Road. Every year there is a new plan, half done work and broken pipes. Roads are wider, traffic is higher, plans are bigger but nothing gets better. In some cities bridges are completed in 1 month, we take 6 months and still make uneven badly finished ones. No one asks any questions, the Government feeds the road mafia year after year the World Bank's dollars and they keep taking the sorry citizens who traverse these roads for a bumpy ride.
I waste time writing a blog to get rid of my anger and will be back on the road come Monday morning without a crib. Who will write that Petition? Who has the time? Who will make the time? My Mom says I should go and fight. File a Petition, go talk to somebody in the BMC. But I know I will not do anything. I will just go on finding ways to beat the traffic, leave early, stay late, work harder and forget the woes of the world in a comedy.
Are we really a democracy? Or is this a new form of slavery and autocracy or is it the Jungle?
Traffic is forever stuck at narrow lanes left for zillion vehicles to pass while a man- hole is without a cover and left unattended for days together in this single lane that they have left us. Who is responsible? Who is accountable? Who will ask the questions? How do I do it?
I visited 2 other cities recently. Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Bangalore seems worse than us but Ahmedabad was great. The road works contractors work at nights, finish jobs they start within time. The city is small and there is hardly any traffic compared to Bombay but they still think it is important to care for the road travelers.
The MMRDA just puts up a board to suffer today for a better tomorrow; I have been seeing it for the last 6 years on the Andheri-Kurla Road. Every year there is a new plan, half done work and broken pipes. Roads are wider, traffic is higher, plans are bigger but nothing gets better. In some cities bridges are completed in 1 month, we take 6 months and still make uneven badly finished ones. No one asks any questions, the Government feeds the road mafia year after year the World Bank's dollars and they keep taking the sorry citizens who traverse these roads for a bumpy ride.
I waste time writing a blog to get rid of my anger and will be back on the road come Monday morning without a crib. Who will write that Petition? Who has the time? Who will make the time? My Mom says I should go and fight. File a Petition, go talk to somebody in the BMC. But I know I will not do anything. I will just go on finding ways to beat the traffic, leave early, stay late, work harder and forget the woes of the world in a comedy.
Are we really a democracy? Or is this a new form of slavery and autocracy or is it the Jungle?
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year 2007
I made an entry in my blog again today after a long time. A New Year resolution is made to be broken but I resolved today to start blogging again. A few people I know who got me into the blog world seem out of it now but I came back.
A visit to Juhu beach is something I love. I went by this evening so I could start my New Year in a nice way. I met my friend and both of us spent a couple of hours walking along the beach and reminiscing about years gone by.
A visit to Juhu beach is something I love. I went by this evening so I could start my New Year in a nice way. I met my friend and both of us spent a couple of hours walking along the beach and reminiscing about years gone by.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Fashionable finally!
Three times in the last four days, I have received compliments for my attire. Something’s' wrong with the world or is it me?
Last Thursday, colleagues in office found my attire "inspiring". Since they have always thought I am a dork it was a pleasant surprise to them as well as me. Then on Saturday I met old friends from college. Now these gals, they KNOW I am a dork. There was a time back in college they would spend hours lecturing me on the current sense of style. When they saw no improvement, they gave up on the lost cause. None of them ever knew as much about the various stages of completion of our class projects and the dates when we had to submit them so it was okay if the dork chose to hang around with them. Useful.
The same girls, now successful Executives, wives and mothers, (Super-Women really) "ooh- ed and aah-ed" at my choice of clothes and discussed it in great detail. I never knew women could discuss the intricacies of a mix and match selection for over an hour. But then, what do I know? I was pleased that I finally found something to wear that met with their approval 10 years on.
The final feather of course was yesterday at the Infiniti Mall at Versova. I was there to see "The Departed.” (A fabulous movie directed by Martin Scorsese with great acting by Jack Nicholson and Leornado.) At the pop-corn queue, a complete stranger walked up to me and she said, "Lovely outfit" with a big smile on her face. For a second there, I was unable to respond. Then I said a mild Thank you and told her I got the kurta from Ahmedabad. Here I was in the midst of all these beautiful or at least confident and well dressed people and this smart looking lady gives me a compliment on my clothes. Three times in 4 days, not bad at all for a Dork is it?
Last Thursday, colleagues in office found my attire "inspiring". Since they have always thought I am a dork it was a pleasant surprise to them as well as me. Then on Saturday I met old friends from college. Now these gals, they KNOW I am a dork. There was a time back in college they would spend hours lecturing me on the current sense of style. When they saw no improvement, they gave up on the lost cause. None of them ever knew as much about the various stages of completion of our class projects and the dates when we had to submit them so it was okay if the dork chose to hang around with them. Useful.
The same girls, now successful Executives, wives and mothers, (Super-Women really) "ooh- ed and aah-ed" at my choice of clothes and discussed it in great detail. I never knew women could discuss the intricacies of a mix and match selection for over an hour. But then, what do I know? I was pleased that I finally found something to wear that met with their approval 10 years on.
The final feather of course was yesterday at the Infiniti Mall at Versova. I was there to see "The Departed.” (A fabulous movie directed by Martin Scorsese with great acting by Jack Nicholson and Leornado.) At the pop-corn queue, a complete stranger walked up to me and she said, "Lovely outfit" with a big smile on her face. For a second there, I was unable to respond. Then I said a mild Thank you and told her I got the kurta from Ahmedabad. Here I was in the midst of all these beautiful or at least confident and well dressed people and this smart looking lady gives me a compliment on my clothes. Three times in 4 days, not bad at all for a Dork is it?
Monday, October 09, 2006
A Drive around Town
Friday night on the streets of Bombay. I love to go on a drive to start off perfect week ends. The best way to start off would be a drive to naturals for an ice cream followed by a stroll at Juhu Beach, newly shorn of all the shops that had hidden the water view from the road. It's a better place now without all the stalls. After mid night, you can easily park on the road and sit and play in the sands or stroll towards the sea. Enjoy the music of the waves and walk along the beach. The lovely thing about this city is that you feel safe even at midnight.
Sunday morning is another lovely time to hit the road. The near empty roads across town tempt you to stretch the speed limit and enjoy a drive. I love the empty highway and some great CD's are all I need for company. I wish some times that the roads were clear through the week and I could drive in to work on empty roads but then I suppose Bombay would never be the same if we did not get stuck in traffic snarls while heading home from work.
Beautiful drives are probably meant only for late nights and early mornings when life looks so much better. Like the sharp lights on the road at night that allow you to weave a magic spell helped by the songs on radio or the beautiful sunrise that hides the rubbish and makes our very own Juhu look like some picture post card from Goa.
Sunday morning is another lovely time to hit the road. The near empty roads across town tempt you to stretch the speed limit and enjoy a drive. I love the empty highway and some great CD's are all I need for company. I wish some times that the roads were clear through the week and I could drive in to work on empty roads but then I suppose Bombay would never be the same if we did not get stuck in traffic snarls while heading home from work.
Beautiful drives are probably meant only for late nights and early mornings when life looks so much better. Like the sharp lights on the road at night that allow you to weave a magic spell helped by the songs on radio or the beautiful sunrise that hides the rubbish and makes our very own Juhu look like some picture post card from Goa.
The Beatles
I enjoyed a lovely Beatles feature presentation on TV with screaming fans adoring every movement of the famous band while there was an INXS concert in town. I heard later that there was hardly any crowd at the live concert here in Mumbai despite wide spread coverage and a pretty regular TV appearance by the band in the last couple of months.
I was wondering about the mad rush and crazy fan following that the Beatles enjoyed in the '60s and the luke warm reception the Bombay audience gave a pretty popular band today. Are there too many bands now or too few fans? How is it that there were so many great rock groups then and so few singers one can actually listen to now...
I was wondering about the mad rush and crazy fan following that the Beatles enjoyed in the '60s and the luke warm reception the Bombay audience gave a pretty popular band today. Are there too many bands now or too few fans? How is it that there were so many great rock groups then and so few singers one can actually listen to now...
Monday, August 14, 2006
The Loot!
Raksha bandhan is not about the loot. It's about all sorts of nice feelings. But I got great Brothers. So....
I got an I Pod. I have just started the onerous task of getting all my Cd's copied into the system so that I can then copy it to my I Pod. Yieeeeeyyy :-)).
I would have never got one my self. It's too hi-fi for my simple soul. But I know now that I always wanted it. It's so nice to be able to carry around your own music everywhere.
I got an I Pod. I have just started the onerous task of getting all my Cd's copied into the system so that I can then copy it to my I Pod. Yieeeeeyyy :-)).
I would have never got one my self. It's too hi-fi for my simple soul. But I know now that I always wanted it. It's so nice to be able to carry around your own music everywhere.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
A beautiful day
I have three elder brothers and I just love this day.
Raksha Bandhan is about brothers and sisters and it just makes me so happy to celebrate it. As a Tamilian, it really isn’t "my festival" but since I was a kid, I always knew that I would tie a “rakhi” to my brothers irrespective of that.
Like any typical Indian festival today is a colourful day with everybody dressed up in finery and traditional goodies prepared early morning.
The rakhi has 2 meanings attached to it. One is the obvious request for protection by the sister to her brothers in time of emergency and the other is the sister's prayers for her brother’s safety and long life. I suppose it is what all festivals are about. Thanksgiving for what we have and hope for a good future ahead.
Raksha Bandhan is about brothers and sisters and it just makes me so happy to celebrate it. As a Tamilian, it really isn’t "my festival" but since I was a kid, I always knew that I would tie a “rakhi” to my brothers irrespective of that.
Like any typical Indian festival today is a colourful day with everybody dressed up in finery and traditional goodies prepared early morning.
The rakhi has 2 meanings attached to it. One is the obvious request for protection by the sister to her brothers in time of emergency and the other is the sister's prayers for her brother’s safety and long life. I suppose it is what all festivals are about. Thanksgiving for what we have and hope for a good future ahead.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Blogs interrupted?
It looks like while trying to block terrorists from blogs the Indian Government has blocked the entire community. This is sad. I hope I can continue to say that I reside in a democracy.
I had made it a daily habit to read some of my favourite bloggers who write well instead of taking a break for tea in the afternoon. I am one of those lazy creatures who prefers to enjoy others reading more than creating passable prose myself. Today I found that I could not get my daily dosage of blog reading at office.
For a moment, I wondered if it was my Network Admin at work but then I remembered this morning's paper head line and realised it must be the Indian government at work. This is a reaction of those who cannot understand what the Net is about. The guy who was given the job to block certain blogs probably decided blocking *.blogspot.com is easy. Who reads blogs anyway? A miniscule minority who is not expected to raise its voice against such stupidity.
Some blogs might have been used by terrorists and the government should take steps against them but throwing the baby out with the bath water???
I wonder if I will go back to my afternoon cuppa or maybe I could start writing regularly instead. Its more difficult and certainly less entertaining. The cup of tea looks more interesting by the minute. The only fall out of the Bombay bomb blast 2006 in my life would probably be the return of my afternoon tea.
I hope they bring it back.
I had made it a daily habit to read some of my favourite bloggers who write well instead of taking a break for tea in the afternoon. I am one of those lazy creatures who prefers to enjoy others reading more than creating passable prose myself. Today I found that I could not get my daily dosage of blog reading at office.
For a moment, I wondered if it was my Network Admin at work but then I remembered this morning's paper head line and realised it must be the Indian government at work. This is a reaction of those who cannot understand what the Net is about. The guy who was given the job to block certain blogs probably decided blocking *.blogspot.com is easy. Who reads blogs anyway? A miniscule minority who is not expected to raise its voice against such stupidity.
Some blogs might have been used by terrorists and the government should take steps against them but throwing the baby out with the bath water???
I wonder if I will go back to my afternoon cuppa or maybe I could start writing regularly instead. Its more difficult and certainly less entertaining. The cup of tea looks more interesting by the minute. The only fall out of the Bombay bomb blast 2006 in my life would probably be the return of my afternoon tea.
I hope they bring it back.
Friday, July 07, 2006
India Untouched
I started another blog and left this one out...
Here goes...
I was on vacation and read a book called India Untouched. The sorry details of rural poverty in India. The apathy of the government and the complete despair that the people face is chilling.
We have the best combination of PM and President today. Can they find a solution? How do we address the social, economic as well as the cultural ramifications that have led to this situation?
India shines in her knowledge economy, can we use our abilities to also alleviate the problems of rural India? Is there an answer here?
Here goes...
I was on vacation and read a book called India Untouched. The sorry details of rural poverty in India. The apathy of the government and the complete despair that the people face is chilling.
We have the best combination of PM and President today. Can they find a solution? How do we address the social, economic as well as the cultural ramifications that have led to this situation?
India shines in her knowledge economy, can we use our abilities to also alleviate the problems of rural India? Is there an answer here?
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Corporate Blogs
I read a Corporate Blog regularly. It’s about a new economy company. They are consultants who help in off shoring for US clients in India.
In this blog, they have analytic experts explaining mathematical models on customer abandonment and much more. Service level models are discussed and staffing decisions are taken based on these models. Industrial Engineering philosophies are now routinely used by consultants while discussing offshore call centre benefits. Given that personnel are the major operational cost in most offshore processing units, even a small reduction could mean significant gains.
The blog discusses various research projects and has subtle advertising hints to contact the consultants. I wonder how many hits actually convert to productive man hours for them. Although I am a regular reader there, corporate blogs are good to discuss and learn but to use them as advertising tools is an innovative idea.
In this blog, they have analytic experts explaining mathematical models on customer abandonment and much more. Service level models are discussed and staffing decisions are taken based on these models. Industrial Engineering philosophies are now routinely used by consultants while discussing offshore call centre benefits. Given that personnel are the major operational cost in most offshore processing units, even a small reduction could mean significant gains.
The blog discusses various research projects and has subtle advertising hints to contact the consultants. I wonder how many hits actually convert to productive man hours for them. Although I am a regular reader there, corporate blogs are good to discuss and learn but to use them as advertising tools is an innovative idea.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A matter of choice
This is the story of the Hare who lost his spectacles is a cute song I love. Like the Hare, I lost mine too.
"Ostensibly motionless, the hare was trembling with excitement, for without his spectacles he was completely helpless. Where were his spectacles? Could someone have stolen them? Had he mislaid them? What was he to do?"
I was not sure why anyone would flick my dear pair of spectacles? It was only dear to me and to no one else. But then, such is life.
Thanks to the meteoric rise in the use of technology in ophthalmology, I also own a pair of lenses. Rarely used for special occassions. This also means that I was not as helpless as the hare. I did not have to rush to an optician and get another pair. I started using my lenses at work, for a drive and for a movie. After all, I did own the pair, might as well use it.
A week went by and I was headed on a long drive out to the mountains. It was so irritating that I had to spend half an hour to get lens ready just for my very own drive. That day I decided to get another pair and damn the lenses I own.
So, here I was, all set on buying a new pair of spectacles. I went to the shop expecting to spend a few minutes trying out a frame and spent an hour checking out "fashionable" stuff. There were 500 varieties and innumerable brands and so many designs vying for my attention.
It's funny how the shop keeper and his assistant become your close friends ( I wonder if that is the correct word here) and decide that his opinion on what suits me should matter. They tell you what they like and what looks good on my face. I was to make a choice and I "chose" what they liked on my face. Why? I wonder!
A matter of choice indeed! I was wondering if I would have been happier if I had no choice except for the gandhian frame or some such basic number but maybe not. Do we really need all these varieties to spice up our lives? Were we as a race more clear and focused when we had less choice? Has China got it right when they choose economies of scale and make a billion similar pieces of an item than Indian Entrepreneurs who customise just about everything?
What is the real choice? Waiting for a perfecet holiday when you can see the perfect sunrise over a golden beach or enjoy the daily sunrise outside my window in between two buildings?
"Ostensibly motionless, the hare was trembling with excitement, for without his spectacles he was completely helpless. Where were his spectacles? Could someone have stolen them? Had he mislaid them? What was he to do?"
I was not sure why anyone would flick my dear pair of spectacles? It was only dear to me and to no one else. But then, such is life.
Thanks to the meteoric rise in the use of technology in ophthalmology, I also own a pair of lenses. Rarely used for special occassions. This also means that I was not as helpless as the hare. I did not have to rush to an optician and get another pair. I started using my lenses at work, for a drive and for a movie. After all, I did own the pair, might as well use it.
A week went by and I was headed on a long drive out to the mountains. It was so irritating that I had to spend half an hour to get lens ready just for my very own drive. That day I decided to get another pair and damn the lenses I own.
So, here I was, all set on buying a new pair of spectacles. I went to the shop expecting to spend a few minutes trying out a frame and spent an hour checking out "fashionable" stuff. There were 500 varieties and innumerable brands and so many designs vying for my attention.
It's funny how the shop keeper and his assistant become your close friends ( I wonder if that is the correct word here) and decide that his opinion on what suits me should matter. They tell you what they like and what looks good on my face. I was to make a choice and I "chose" what they liked on my face. Why? I wonder!
A matter of choice indeed! I was wondering if I would have been happier if I had no choice except for the gandhian frame or some such basic number but maybe not. Do we really need all these varieties to spice up our lives? Were we as a race more clear and focused when we had less choice? Has China got it right when they choose economies of scale and make a billion similar pieces of an item than Indian Entrepreneurs who customise just about everything?
What is the real choice? Waiting for a perfecet holiday when you can see the perfect sunrise over a golden beach or enjoy the daily sunrise outside my window in between two buildings?
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Music as celebration...
Music as celebration is the key here: brightly coloured by elements of improvisation, this material echoes the many diverse and sometimes conflicting spiritual yearnings, which might trouble the itinerant middle-aged musician on his continuing journey across the world stages.
Apparently, it was also quite fun to play.
- Ali Aziz, The Mesopotamia Sun – Times, 1995
Yesterday evening I was home early and felt like some lovely Tull to start the weekend.
I read this on a CD cover. Every piece of music over the years by Jethro Tull or Andersen has been one great celebration of music.
Ian Anderson plays the flute beautifully and is the Commanding General on the stage for Jethro Tull music. I read once that he does not like blog reviews and I will certainly not do that here but I liked this bit of Journalism about him and wanted to “own” it.
Apparently, it was also quite fun to play.
- Ali Aziz, The Mesopotamia Sun – Times, 1995
Yesterday evening I was home early and felt like some lovely Tull to start the weekend.
I read this on a CD cover. Every piece of music over the years by Jethro Tull or Andersen has been one great celebration of music.
Ian Anderson plays the flute beautifully and is the Commanding General on the stage for Jethro Tull music. I read once that he does not like blog reviews and I will certainly not do that here but I liked this bit of Journalism about him and wanted to “own” it.
Monday, March 13, 2006
I am New to this!
Someone asked me this morning:
how do you define success? Is success tons of money in the bank and position in society - somebody else's perception where you get talked about in big society-do's or maybe written about in magazines as part of an elite statistic? In the process, how much do you compromise on time for yourself, or for the people you love, or live for?
I was thinking and so this blog came up.
Success is to achieve what you want to achieve. It could just be 2 square meals and lots of time to do nothing or it could be 80 hour weeks and a million dollars growing in your name. It could be betterment of the society you live in or a combination of it all. I believe I am rich and fairly successful since I am happy with what I have. You may think otherwise. Relativity and Change are two things you need to keep in mind when you define success. My mother is possibly the most successful in my eyes because she raised us well and devoted herself so much to the concept of family. She made the future a bright place for so many people by making sure her children were good human beings. In her view, she failed because she did not make any use of her musical talent. So, both of us view her success or the lack of it differently.
I know by every yardstick of society I am not a successful human being but maybe this is all I want out of life. I might change the view 20 years later, who knows and frankly does it really matter at all?
If I can sleep at night knowing that I did not harm anybody today and I spent the day constructively, I think I have then earned the right to live. (Even if it was just a constructive Holiday spent watching movies)
To sum up, I don't measure success on a pre defined scale. It's a yardstick that is fluid depending on the time, place, people and god knows what else…
That was tough thinking in between a working Monday. I really should be getting back to work or feel guilty about wasting time.
how do you define success? Is success tons of money in the bank and position in society - somebody else's perception where you get talked about in big society-do's or maybe written about in magazines as part of an elite statistic? In the process, how much do you compromise on time for yourself, or for the people you love, or live for?
I was thinking and so this blog came up.
Success is to achieve what you want to achieve. It could just be 2 square meals and lots of time to do nothing or it could be 80 hour weeks and a million dollars growing in your name. It could be betterment of the society you live in or a combination of it all. I believe I am rich and fairly successful since I am happy with what I have. You may think otherwise. Relativity and Change are two things you need to keep in mind when you define success. My mother is possibly the most successful in my eyes because she raised us well and devoted herself so much to the concept of family. She made the future a bright place for so many people by making sure her children were good human beings. In her view, she failed because she did not make any use of her musical talent. So, both of us view her success or the lack of it differently.
I know by every yardstick of society I am not a successful human being but maybe this is all I want out of life. I might change the view 20 years later, who knows and frankly does it really matter at all?
If I can sleep at night knowing that I did not harm anybody today and I spent the day constructively, I think I have then earned the right to live. (Even if it was just a constructive Holiday spent watching movies)
To sum up, I don't measure success on a pre defined scale. It's a yardstick that is fluid depending on the time, place, people and god knows what else…
That was tough thinking in between a working Monday. I really should be getting back to work or feel guilty about wasting time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)