BANGLORED

Once more - Politics triumphs over commerce, economics and business sense, and we can safely draw some comfort from the fact that it is not restricted to our brand of Politicians but shamelessly played by others around the world including the US.
The U. S. President Barack ( CHANGE? ) Obama’s recent ranting at a White House event to announce tax reforms by lashing out at U.S. multinationals who indulged in ‘tax avoidance’ by setting up business activities around the world, which is a perfectly legitimate tax planning route exercised by intelligent managements, as opposed to ‘tax evasion’ appears to be misguided and untimely.
To indulge in misplaced rhetoric and bash Bangalore as a metaphor to describe all things from job loss to globalization, merely to score political points for a protectionist agenda is a leadership failure based on half truths not expected from USA.
The warped logic of the Obama argument wherein he states that “American Corporations under the current tax regime pay lower taxes by creating jobs in Bangalore than in Buffalo, New York” has nothing to do with the outsourcing phenomenon which the ‘Politician’ in the President has wrongly targeted at his and US of A’s peril.
That the tax code has got nothing to do with outsourcing and off shoring should be more than obvious to any rational mind with common sense. Private enterprise and business without boundaries is all about globalization and adding wealth for humanity based upon best use of economic resources.
Whether Obama and his limited mission for USA and other world leaders like it or not, India is an attractive wealth creation destination by virtue of its English speaking educated human resources and other economic inputs which attracts commerce to generate profits and wealth. Knowledge available at attractive costs cannot be ignored, hence corporate America and business houses will have to remain engaged with Indians and accept to be Banglored rather than remain Buffaloed (pun intended). Incidentally, if Mr. President succeeds in this stupid policy, it is good news for Indian multinationals for obvious reasons, and may be, India will run past the current global economic slowdown flag post faster than expected. Thanks Mr. Obama!!
Politics and economics don’t mix and it is hoped that Americans do not attempt to achieve it. Bush disturbed the world by unjustified wars on terror in search of fictitious WMD now Obama seems to get involved in another type of fight chasing imaginary shadows based on conjectures and confused thinking.

BANGALORE DISSAPOINTS

The post poll statistics released by the Election Commission cuts a sorry picture of the Indian citizen forming the electorate from Bangalore.
The overall turnout is less than 50% - meaning that people have voted for status-quo (of minority ruling the majority) instead of the much needed change. Lethargy and apathy appears to be much more deep rooted than the initiators of various aggressive and innovative ‘awareness campaigns’ had assumed. Failure to inspire voters to turnout in larger numbers is obviously a serious malaise. Turnout is lower than the previous election in spite of serious attempts to spread the message to “GO VOTE”.
In depth analysis is required to be undertaken to draw meaningful conclusions for the persistent failure of the ordinary citizen to get involved in the only process which is within his/her private control to make a difference.
This state of affairs is a distressing indicator of the ‘REAL’ failure of the much touted “largest democracy” that we pride ourselves to be. May be it is time to consider alternative forms of electoral process starting with rejecting the “First past the post” principle with “50% + 1” concept.
Part of the blame for the poor performance can be attributed to the Election Commission and the legal frame work under which it operates. Relying on archaic systems and Stone Age tools in the midst of IT/ITES environment possibly highlights the fact that our political leaders want to perpetuate existing failures as their strongest weapon against change to protect their turf with the help of the proverbial bureaucrat.
It is only to be hoped that the tentacles of corruption has not infiltrated the Election Commission whereby ‘names disappear’ from the electoral list instigated by party cadres and goons.
Who will bell the cat? You & Me or the EXISTING SYSTEM CONTINUES WHILE WE REMAIN IN SLUMBER AND LEAVE THE FIELD WIDE OPEN FOR THE CORRUPT MINORITY TO CONTROL OUR LIVES?

INVERTED DEMOCRACY

The RIGHT TO VOTE (I proudly enjoyed today) enshrined in the INDIAN CONSTITUTION has unfortunately been reduced to a farcical exercise riding on tall claims made by the political leadership and the ‘Babus’ of a flawed system.
The glaring failures exposed in the role of the Election Commission are disappointing. Optimum voter turnout cannot be achieved to change things through the ballot box unless the EC becomes more efficient along with strictly upholding its mandate to conduct free and fair elections. An institution which is not in order cannot conduct an orderly activity.
The myth of a “SECURE” Electronic Voting Machine gets exposed by total inept handling of the strangely completely manual procedure which precedes the Voter’s access to the machine. Untrained, uninspiring and ‘forced to work’ human resources pressed into “Election Duty” are a weak link in the system.
The vicinity of the polling stations are a cesspool of dubious party workers openly doling out inducements in the form of ‘tokens’ for breakfast/lunch and other cash/non-cash incentives to vote for their candidates. Police and other security agencies turn a blind eye to this day light corruption in the open under their relaxed nose.
The fact that the voting procedure is full of blatant corrupt practices is indicative of the end result that it generates. The ‘campaigning to voting cycle’ of the system is heavily tilted towards electing dishonest immoral candidates who then spread their dirty nets across the landscape to recover ‘investments’ within the shortest possible time to prepare for the next election, which may happen earlier than prescribed five years depending upon the level to which ‘neta’ stoops on the ‘corruption scale’. This perpetuates the corruption loop - spreading like galloping cancer in our society.
The demand for reforms in systems and need to clean the existing rubbish is of paramount importance if India is to progress and achieve its full potential as the largest democracy and economically strong country capable of fulfilling the aspirations of its citizens.
The revelations in the polling phase is a clear pointer to the murkier post poll scenario (on 16th May) when results throw up shameless winners who will then participate in the race to be part of the government indulging in choosing strange bed fellows and stranger policies performing the ultimate "Corruption Dance" in the name of ‘inverted’ democracy where “MINORITY” rules the silent helpless “MAJORITY”.

RACE BEGINS

The first phase of Elections '09 for the Fifteenth Lok Sabha begins today. The statistics of this massive exercise is mind boggling and a logistical nightmare.
124 of the 543 seats spread across 17 States and Union Territories will be up for grabs today. Incidentally, phase one of two simultaneous Assembly Elections involving 154 of the 297 seats of Andhra Pardesh and 70 of the 147 seats of Orissa assemblies will also be conducted.
It is interesting to know that Indian Elections are the largest democratic activity conducted any where in the world to form a government.
Hats off to the Election Commission to be able to undertake this massive task with a fairly independent and strict monitoring using the electronics voting machine which in itself is another world record!!
The back end of our democracy is convincing and worth being proud of. We now need to put the front end of this process in order to remove the corruption that is all pervading amongst majority of the politicians who slip through to form the government.
Hopefully this election appears to have made a tentative beginning towards a clean up operation considering awareness campaigns and new levels of involvement from citizens who were considered to be full of apathy towards the election process.

PROTECTING ABUNDANCE

Back from a short holiday with nature in its breath taking awesome splendor.
Makes me wonder why we humans remain stuck in petty matters involved with low end of existence in the midst of such abundance!!
A three and half hours drive to our destination (Thekkady is only accessible by road) from the rail head after an over night journey from Bangalore gave an instant sense of liberation as we alighted at the resort in the midst of blue skies full of oxygen rich greenery and pleasant sound of birds.
Kerala is famous for back waters but Thekkady is a different jewel tucked away on the high ranges of the Western Ghats offering unique taste of beautiful landscape amidst fascinating natural wildlife with the man made Periyar Lake created by the British in 1895 from the Mullapperiyar River depicting a harmonious blend with nature.
Can we resolve to ensure that EARTH remains protected from the catastrophic abuse we hurl at it disrespecting the unconditional abundance we receive?

CORPORATE SOCIAL IR-RESPONSIBILTY

We live in the neighborhood of a Tech Park (imposed upon us by corrupt politicians being hands-in-glove with real estate sharks!!) – and silently tolerate a whole lot of nuisance and abuse of the environment on 365/24/7 basis associated with an influx of more than 12,000 persons directly employed by the who’s-who of corporate world aside from hundreds of support staff who make a living from the tech park.
The EARTH HOUR initiative last evening should have been an opportunity for the huge multi national companies (mostly of US and Foreign origin) to show solidarity with the cause in their adopted overseas location by at least switching off non essential lighting on their sprawling premises for an hour. Sadly, nothing transpired and the thousands of lights remained glowing oblivious to the more than urgent need to get involved to protect the very future of their own cash flows!!
It is distressing to realize that we are at the mercy of people who manage companies and enjoy a lot of privileges (some times undeserving) but are so blatantly IRRESPONSIBLE towards the impact of their behavior on the environment. This ‘don’t care’ attitude is all the more devastating when they ignore well publicized efforts (apparently small) like the EARTH HOUR especially since the chosen hour was on a Saturday evening.
May be the bosses were too busy with their single malts and sushi in designer dresses at some well lighted week-end venue relaxing after a hard week’s abuse?

V - ('OTER CARD) DAY!!

On Sunday 22nd March around 20:00 hours obtained the much anticipated VOTER IDENTITY CARD on the Fifth visit to the designated office of the Election Commission!! Considering the level of frustration earlier experienced the fact that the card matured on the FIFTH TRIP became an anti-climax for which I must thank the flawed system. It prepared me for not expecting any thing to happen when I walked into the issuing office – but to come out with a sense of achievement with the treasured card in the pocket!!
There’s a lesson in this for those who want to get things done when inter acting with any agency of the government. Go about the procedure in accordance with the mostly cumbersome system and DO NOT EXPECT ANY OUT COME. The most important aspect is to approach matters with a sense of resigned perseverance!!
By the way, the government also has adequately provided for outlets to vent your emotions. They have a plethora of e-mail IDs with a disguised message which gives the impression that you can approach the senior most Civil Servants to resolve problems encountered while dealing with the system – but they will ignore your mails and complaints/grievances, by the time this realization strikes, the job gets done. This practice works splendidly as a punching bag for your anger, frustration and other negative emotions. E-Governance at its best!!
So next time have a bit of consideration for the subtle manner in which we the citizens of India are protected by the State from the build up of negative emotions which are deceptively destructive for the well being of the Indian!!