Thoughts.........

For the last few years, India, along with China, has been a favourite investment destination for MNC’s across segments. Be it Auto, retail, engineering, IT, software, India has attracted investments from the top organizations across the globe. A politically stable country, resilient economy with a wide base in agriculture, mining, manufacturing & services coupled with a huge domestic market has drawn the world attention towards India. Brand India had arrived.

Now that all the euphoria has died down, & economies are seeing a general meltdown, plus issues at the ground level, a question on most people’s mind is will India be able to live up to its promise?

Recent issues like communal strife (J&K, Orrisa, Karnataka), terror attacks, protests against land acquisition (Singur, Nandgram, Raigad), a flawed SEZ policy, lack of labour reforms / policy have cast shadows on the projected growth of investments. The protests against the Tata plant at Singur & the imminent pullout have elicited sharp comments from industry watchers & potential investors about the effect it will have on investment opportunities in West Bengal & India. Similar issues are faced by corporate in other segments like retail across the country.

The establishment’s inability to find sustainable solutions to these problems has created a doubt in the minds of investors regarding the viability of their investments. Such incidents reflect poorly on the planning & political will of the Indian State to take care of the interests of all stakeholders involved. In this context, China with its planned SEZ policy & more transparent dealings seems to be a better destination

India supporters like L.N.Mittal & Indra Nooyi believe things can improve a lot given all parties across the board rise above personal benefits. The state should initiate a dialogue with everyone concerned & reach a consensus before taking any concrete steps. The need of the hour is a political& social will to deal with the issues plaguing Brand India

Ok. Good. Look ahead now......

Unanswered prayers.........& making God laugh...

Maine maangi thi, masjido main dua
main jise chahta hoon vo mujhse mile,

Gar khuda hi na chahe to, main kya karu.....???

God knows who wrote this,was in context of love lost but very apt in a lot of situations life has to offer.....is it not?

Mom says i use this to blame God for my failures, but then i feel why shoudnt i? dont i thank God when something good happens......If he can take credit, take blame as well.....but not many agree with me......kya karen??

Now tell me, all those people who believe in God, pray for themselves, others, a safe world, peace, end of evil, simple happy living, satisfaction.....& then go on to become a victim of circumstances not in thier hands........can be anything......i mean, as bad as losing family.......how are they able to still believe God is taking care of them? Are they able to sustain the belief they have in God & his all pervading power?

When i posed this question to some elders, i was told believers take these as a part of God's plan - in the larger scheme of things, some even thank God for saving them from worse possibilities!! So they are able to sustain the belief & go back to praying, etc......good for them, though i think its more out of fear - to sheild themselves from further troubles......

Not that i am a non-believer, i definitely believe in God (in all the varoius avtaars, globally)....because i dont see other explanation to some good or bad that things happen to me....wat i cannot get is why i cannot be angry with God? Why do people get horrified when i say i am friends with God, & i do not need to give a haazari or bribe him regularly so that i have a nice life.....after all, good or bad, God is not asking me before deciding the course of my life....then why should be scared?? & hypocritic..??? I might as well live carefree....have my equation with God, do my work(karm?),not worry about consequences.....they are not in my hand anyways right?
As i write it , i realise thats what Bhagvad Gita's most famous takeout is........hmmmm......so , prayers may or may not be answered, but if you wanna make God laugh, tell him your future plans.........

If you are reading this.......

A colleague asked me,why do you write? Does anyone even read your postings? Why waste time??

& i said i have a loyal set of friends , who keep checking all the time.......even encourage me......

Hence.....:-)