Delhi is not the problem, its NCR!

Over the last few weeks, there has been a sudden outcry against the critical pollution levels in Delhi. The Delhi government has come up with multiple plans that may have far ranging impact on the situation. The most controversial of these is the odd- even formula where citizens would be allowed to use their cars only for odd/ even days as per their number plate. In addition to this, the government has promised to take multiple other steps to curb the pollution.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this time indeed is desperate for Delhi. However, the odd- even formula can at best be a short term emergency measure. Till the time the city develops a comprehensive network of public transport, and by comprehensive I mean safe and reliable last mile transport, a plan like this will fall in the first few weeks. There are many exceptions that can be applied to the above and most have been endlessly debated on the media, primarily around safe transport for women and elderly and occasional use. Also, it may promote the use of additional cars for people who can afford it, thereby beating the whole purpose.

I take exception to this plan because I feel that the plan hits on the issue from the top. At the bottom of the issue lies the landlocked territory of Delhi surrounded by the most polluted areas of Faridabad & Gurgaon (Haryana), and Noida & Ghaziabad (UP). The last wave of cleanup in Delhi saw polluting industries being shunted out of Delhi into these suburbs that have now become independent industry clusters.

These cities are consistently ranked amongst the most polluted places in India ( seehttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ahmedabads-air-2nd-worst-Faridabad-tops-the-list/articleshow/47142739.cms,http://cpcb.nic.in/divisionsofheadoffice/ess/Faridabad.pdf, andhttp://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/industries-polluting-groundwater-hc-flak-for-ghaziabad-dm-pollution-board/ Since most of these places are beyond the control (and eyes) of the government in Delhi, the increased checks in Delhi will not amount to much if these cities are allowed to go unchecked.

Take Kaushambi as an example, the former residence of the current Delhi CM. It is separated from Delhi by half a road, but instead of CNG rickshaws in Delhi, Kaushambi makes do with the archaic "Vikrams" that mostly run on a concoction of diesel and kerosene (because its cheaper) ferrying people to the suburban areas of Vaishali, Vasundhara, Indrapuram and Mohan Nagar. Add to this, around 1,000 small scale, poorly monitored industrial units in the area (including Sahibabad) plus the 20,000-odd trucks that pass by on NH 24 and the SH 57 every night. This past April, the PM10 reading for Kaushambi was 342 µg/m3 whereas on the same day, the Mandir Marg reading was 132 µg/m3. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/on-delhis-edge-a-township-of-25000-more-toxic-than-delhi/#sthash.Jv1jCWlF.dpuf

This is the story of a township that literally shares the boundary wall with Delhi. Go further deep into the suburbs of NCR, and the pollution levels, not just air, are extremely high. Add to this, the burning of crops in Punjab and Haryana and winter fog, there is little that any measure promulgated by the Delhi government can do.

To improve the air and water quality of Delhi, we will have to take the entire NCR under one umbrella. The NGT for example would need to come up with strict laws regarding industrial emission and waste, regarding use of diesel vehicles for private use and regarding crop burning and disposal. Only when Delhi restrictions find their way to these bustling suburbs will we be able to comprehensively tackle the problem. Anything less will just be window dressing for the moment.

Why India Should Give Up Claim On Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir

Earlier this year, Pakistan raised the issue of India building a wall along the LOC in the UN Security Council. Pakistan said that India has plans to "convert the LoC into a "quasi international border". According to the Security Council resolution of 1948, J&K is recognised as a disputed territory with both Pakistan and India laying claim to it. Adding to this mix is the Kashmiri populace, some of whom are advocating a separate state.

The area, in general, has been referred to as a potential flashpoint between two nuclear powered nations with one post-nuclear conventional war fought between the two countries in 1999 -- Bill Clinton famously referred to this area as the most dangerous place in the world.

Declaring the LoC as an international border will end the disputed status of Kashmir in both the countries.

The problem with the current arrangement is that the LoC is not a recognised international border. Pakistan lays claim to the entire Kashmir region in accordance with the Pakistan Declaration of 1933, while India cites the instrument of succession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir during partition. Both the countries control roughly half of the disputed territory with the Aksai Chin area under Chinese control. Despite the Simla Accord, where both countries accepted the demarcation, the LoC is not an internationally recognised border.

This state of confusion pushes both parties to keep their claim on all of Kashmir alive. Pakistan openly supports the Hurriyat Conference, a self-styled "separatist" organisation. The Hurriyat, in turn, does not let the Valley return to normalcy. They do not have any legitimate claim to be the leaders of the Valley except for the fact that they provide money believed to be drawn from various sources in the fight against India.The BJP government has tried to keep the Hurriyat at bay by questioning their legitimacy and trying to prevent them from meeting with the Pakistani leadership. However, it does not stop them from fomenting trouble in the Valley.

To look for long-term peace and prosperity in the Valley, the Indian government should relinquish its claim on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This would put international pressure on Pakistan to give up the counter claim on the Indian territory. As it is, even though a Parliament resolution proclaims all of Kashmir as Indian, India will never attempt to take over PoK forcibly (for fear of a nuclear reprisal), and to expect a peaceful surrender is a day dream. Declaring the LoC as an international border will end the disputed status of Kashmir in both the countries.

In a stroke, it will also remove any legitimacy that the Hurriyat enjoys in Kashmir since Pakistan will have to endorse Indian sovereignty over the existing J&K. The Hurriyat leadership enjoys close ties with Pakistan with many of their family members living in the neighbouring country. A change in Pakistan's stance would force the Hurriyat to blend in to the new system to gain legitimacy. They would have to fight the elections that they have been boycotting for the last many years. The terrorist organisations operating in the Valley will also have to rethink their fight since they will no longer be able to get funding as mercenaries of freedom.

In a stroke, it will also remove any legitimacy that the Hurriyat enjoys in Kashmir since Pakistan will have to endorse Indian sovereignty over the existing J&K.

What this would do for the Valley? Surely, the hopes of all independence-seekers in Kashmir would be dashed, but the idea of a small landlocked independent nation between three nuclear powers is a non-starter. Kashmir does not have any economic/military strength of its own that would help it to keep its own. As for Kashmiris being divided, they have and will always be divided under the current arrangement. It is better for the people to be a part of either country and enjoy the growth that has been denied to them.

An assimilation of J&K into India followed by political normalcy in the state would allow industries to set up shop in the area. Youth, many of whom are unemployed and have no hopes for the future, will have access to opportunities and move towards creating a peaceful paradise. Trade relations between the two countries can open up and they can benefit from the smaller distances. Perhaps, travel restrictions can be lifted and people allowed to cross the border for work or meeting family.

If such an experiment succeeds, maybe India can do the same with the LAC in the Aksai Chin area to settle the long-standing border dispute with China along the entire eastern front.

The need for a new National Compensation Policy

In the aftermath of the Gurdaspur terror attack, the family of the slain Gurdaspur SP refused to cremate him until all his children were given high-ranking government positions. This was on top of the cash compensation announced by the state and the Centre. Then there was the case of a high-profile murder case in Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal  the Delhi CM announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakhs to the family, but politely refused when he was asked to award the same sum to other victims of murder.

The idea of a nation rests on its constituents believing in the concept of a state as bigger than a land mass. There is no other explanation why in a country like India, in the absence of a compulsory draft, youngsters voluntarily sign up for the armed forces and similar dangerous jobs.

A news item caught my attention recently. In the aftermath of the Gurdaspur terror attack, the family of the slain Gurdaspur SP refused to cremate him until all his children were given high-ranking government positions. This was on top of the cash compensation announced by the state and the Centre. Then there was the case of a high-profile murder case in Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal  the Delhi CM announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakhs to the family, but politely refused when he was asked to award the same sum to other victims of murder. Clearly, the lack of a national policy allows politicians to get into a game of oneupmanship depending on the media coverage an event receives.

Further in the list is the differential compensation to families of soldiers who die in the line of duty -- compensation for getting killed in a major attack is much higher than one for a lesser known ambush. In 2008, Minister of State for Defence admitted in the parliament that Kargil martyrs and those wounded in Operation Vijay received Rs 11.5 lakh more than those in other military operations. Again, this could be directly attributed to the amount of media attention the issue receives and the number of governing bodies involved.  Even here, in multiple cases, the widows of the soldiers received all the money leaving the parents in a state of misery.

In recent accidents, the Bihar government announced ex-gracia compensation of INR four lakh rupees to the next of kin of those killed in the April earthquake, whereas in the case of the recent train accident in MP, the next of kin were awarded a compensation of INR two lakh only. In both the cases, the victims died in their sleep for factors beyond their control.

This anomaly continues in another provision awarding jobs on compassionate grounds to families of government servants who die while in service. It is not required that the death of the person concerned was while rendering the service. Hence, even if someone dies at 59 of a heart attack, his family is often eligible to get a job on compassionate grounds. No such provision exists, however, for families of people working in the private sector. In 2012, the SC observed that "Appointment on compassionate grounds cannot be claimed as a matter of right. As a rule, public service appointments should be made strictly on the basis of open invitation of applications and merit."  However, that does not stop families from making such demands, primarily because a government job is still considered to be the most stable source of livelihood.

I believe that the government should base ex-gratia payments on a victim's potential future earnings, his/her age, as well as the level of negligence he/she suffered. Victims can, of course, seek legal recourse but the lengthy process deters many.

We need to study the system the USA followed after the 9/11 attacks. The US Congress set up a September 11th Victim Compensation Fund soon after the attacks. Payouts to families of the deceased were decided on a case-to-case basis, taking into consideration the economic losses suffered due to sudden death, the emotional burden it placed on the family of the victim as well as the worth of the family's existing collateral sources of income or insurance, with a minimum $500,000 for deceased with dependents. 

In India, the multiplicity of agencies and politicians on the prowl for populist measures only complicate matters. We need to create a new committee to study the various compensations (monetary/ employment/non-monetary) awarded in the last five years and highlight the differences. Then we need to create a framework for compensation in all possible scenarios. Such a system would lay clear guidelines for any compensation to be awarded and will mitigate the media factor to treat the loss of life/health as the same in all circumstances.

A nation is best if it treats all subjects equally, in front of or away from the spotlight.

Does Yogendra Yadav need to do a Sculley on Kejriwal!

Kejriwal's contribution to AAP cannot be ignored. Even though he relied on a team of selfless workers, the fact was that his deft leadership and courage. The Janlokpal movement that catapulted him and Anna Hazare into the national spotlight. Despite Anna Hazare being the symbolic head of the movement, he managed to get recognized as the master strategist behind the man.

Ideological differences led him to split with the original IAC team and go the politics way. Here, he brilliantly managed to amass a huge following in the national capital with a deft use of rhetoric and his anti establishment image.  With the congress government at the center falling into one trap after the other, the timing was perfect for AAP to launch into the Delhi elections. Shrewd mathematics, combined with a high degree of anti incumbency factors, led the AAP to a stupendous show that stole the BJP's thunder of sweeping all four states. And that is where the downfall started.

Even before a final tally was released, I heard Kumar Vishwas talking of Amethi and someone else branding Modi as the next target. The ruckus that followed saw AAP's biggest support base dwindling away, the BJP ending up as the biggest gainer. The lok sabha elections gave BJP a thumping majority, and Modi, riding on the plank of development came to the fore, decimating the "giant killers" of AAP, and all other parties in India.

Now the AAP rhetoric of anti corruption will not work, considering the new government has got down to task with Modi instructing officers/ ministers to work in a very corporate manner with fixed accountability and deliverable targets. However, Kejriwal seems to still be in a world of his own. Despite party founders leaving citing a lack of inner democracy, his only solution is that he shall personally oversee volunteers. For a party that has plans of going national, the chief hopes to personally oversee volunteers! The fact that in most of the seats where APP candidates fought, the NOTA option has got more votes than AAP proves that people do not see AAP as an alternative at all. Either they are seen to be like any other party, or they are perceived to be rabble rousers who cannot work. AAP lost the plot totally because one man wanted to be the Prime Minister.

In 1985, Apple had launched the Mac Office, that had bombed in the market. In Sculley's (then Apple CEO) words, the product was ridiculed as a toy, a victim of too much ambition for the relatively small amount of computing power available.(Link) However, Steve Jobs stayed adamant despite knowing nothing about running a company and despite the fact that Apple was constantly failing with new products. Sculley, with the board fired him. The time that Steve spent outside gave him a better perspective as also allowed the company to create a strong base on which, he could apply his vision when he returned and make Apple a masterpiece in the world.

That is the same problem with AAP and Arvind Kejriwal today, AAP is his baby, and he is not able to look beyond his vision (ambition). For him, what he thinks of AAP is what it should be, never mind the downward spiral. The devoted volunteers find themselves in a fix here. As they are done defending Kejriwal's actions, he takes a u-turn that the entire volunteer base now has to defend. AAP is a hope in the Indian political scenario. It is the party that stormed the drawing rooms of people who were hithertho oblivious to their political surrounding. We have to stop the relapse of these people into the unconcerned category, and for that, the country needs AAP. Maybe not to govern, but to keep the governing class on its toes. 

Someone from the AAP leadership must take this initiative, and in my opinion it is Yogendra Yadav. He understands politics, has a clean record and is widely respected. He should steer the AAP on to a trajectory where it becomes a credible political voice, devoid of cynicism, and contributing to the country's positive growth. 

Chit b meri, pat b meri, sikka mere b”AAP” ka

I pride myself on being politically aware and active in a nation where it is still considered a dirty dungeon where no one wants to tread. Hence, I was genuinely happy, when the masses in Delhi turned out to vote for the Assembly elections. Notwithstanding the fact that most voters did not know who they were voting for except that it was an AAP candidate. It was a red flag, but I ignored it, thinking it to be the start and that, it may hold the key to change.

I had genuinely not hoped that AAP would get more than 10 seats- that I guessed were enough to keep the ruling (sic) BJP and the other opposition (Congress) on its toes, as AAP would make a fantastic opposition. The results proved me wrong and horribly so- horrible because I know what a fractured mandate can do- (At the national level) we have all seen it in ‘96-’99 and even now, when vested interests decide major policies. The congress promptly tried to corner AAP in a difficult spot, and AAP fell for it- after a high voltage drama.

I am going to list out in numbers my problems with the entire thing for ease of discussion. AAP members, as I have observed, do not answer questions directed at them, but try to take it on a whole lot “holier than thou” level.

1. AAP asked Congress and BJP for BLIND support on 18 points: Anyone who is remotely familiar with legislative process knows that any law comes into force after a lot of debate, our constitution also provides for the same - LS>RS> back to LS for verifying changes and vice versa. Sure, it does take time, but it also ensures that no one is above a collectively empowered parliament. Or else, the Gandhis would have by now declared India a Gandhian sovereign territory piggybacking on their sycophants. By asking for blind support on legislations/ decisions, many of whom were not even presented, AAP was trying to undermine a constitutional consultative process. What if a BJP legislator had a point to be included/ removed from the AAP version of Janlokpal/ Mohalla samitis?

2. Lies and more lies: Since the very start, we have been witnessing a slew of lies from AAP’s stable. I will not even talk about not joining politics, not taking congress support, not in Lok Sabha fray etc. But it gets embarrassing when Kejriwal brings out a letter from the Ugandan embassy and it is found to be a dated internal memo. Our position in the world suffers due to such antics.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/mea-calls-bluff-support-letter-cm-waved-is-7-months-old-internal-ugandan-note/

3. VIP culture: Yes we are all sick of it, but Mr Kejriwal- the 4000 policemen deployed for your dharna today were part of someone’s security. You might well say that you didn’t ask for it, but the fact is if something went wrong, you would have come out clean saying that Delhi police is not under my control.

As for a house and security, enough has been said already. Im sure great leaders like Lal Bahadur Shashtri and Atal Behari Vajpayee did live in official bungalows, did use official cars, but never did we associate them with extravagance. On the other hand, I know many MP’s who use the MP shuttle (a Maruti Versa van that seats 6 MPs at one time) in the mornings to reach the parliament, and never did they publicise their austerity.

More important than the above, as we can see in the video attached here, the AAP workers are threatening the police saying- “Ap MLA ko marenge?” Surely something is amiss- because in the hurry of fielding 800 candidates, you are enrolling everyone into the party. Is there a common thread- NO?

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/aap-leaders-shout-at-cops-allege-supporters-are-being-detained-beaten-up/306071

4. Statesmanship: The moment AAP’s government was sworn in, they ceased to be a movement and joined the executive. You may surely be angry at the way the system runs, but that is no excuse for saying “Main in policewalo ko dekh lunga?” (AK said this in the interview with Rajdeep Sardesai) The Delhi Police may have its share of issues, but in my opinion, it is still one of the better managed forces. Disagree- try living in Gurgaon/ Ghaziabad, and you will know what I am talking about.

AK demanded suspensions/ transfers of 5 top police officers on account of non performance- meaning they weren’t registering cases on the basis of audio clips. Try taking one such case to a court and see how it falls. The result: The two honest officers that AK wanted to be posted to the ACB went to the governor and refused the appointment. Demoralizing your honest officers is not going to help.

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/cm-scales-down-demand-officers-refuse-to-join-acb/

5. Saving your ministers even when they are wrong: I understand the point about your ministers being accessible to the people, but in these cases, they were clearly on the wrong- the law does not  permit the police to barge into anyone’s house, when there are women present. The day you authorise such actions on oral orders, you become another SP in a rural town, where the local minister can dictate the police actions.

Instead of taking actions against your ministers- you go on a televised drama using the rape case of a Danish girl, and your minister twice- against the law -spurts out the names of victims.

6. The last- biting more than you can chew- Even before any concrete work on Delhi has been delivered, the entire brass is busy making claims/ plans about the national election. It will be difficult to get 800 clean and capable candidates in a short period of time, especially when the party has no central ideology to bind people together. So, instead of expanding like Mallya did, be prudent and evolve a central ideology. Anti corruption can not be an ideology, there are many examples of partly corrupt nations that are doing pretty well in the world, for themselves and for their people. Get a backbone, and stick to it.

AAP has become a consortium of smug people, and a borrowed quote summarises it - “Subah ka corrupt agar shaam ko AAP me aa jaye to usey corrupt nahi kehte” My advice would be to take your mandate seriously before the people who voted you in, throw you into oblivion.

Let’s give AAP a chance, we have nothing to lose

I personally do not agree with AK’s “My way or the highway” mentality, nor do I believe that the Lokpal/ Janlokpal is the magic wand to clear all woes of the country. My views on this are already here- http://random-seriousness.blogspot.in/2011/09/why-janlokpal-will-die-silent-death.html  But as the polling day nears, I find myself increasingly wishing that AAP makes a dent, and a big one at that, in the BJP’s and the Congress’ vote share, and by extension, their bloated egos.

Politics today has become a huge melting pot of sorts, with everyone from corrupt journalists to young IAS’ aiming to join the nexus of power and money. During independence, the Sikhs decided to stay with a predominantly Hindu nation because they had a “roti-beti ka rishta” i.e. a culture of intermarriage and common eating. This amazing culture that saved a nation once has now turned into a disaster. Giving your daughter to someone was a mark of the absolute trust placed in each other. Cut to today, it’s not difficult to see instances of BJP/Congress leaders’ marrying their daughters into wealthy corporate houses, or even worse, into each other’s houses. This undying trust cuts across party and even ideological lines and is bound by a common love for money and power.

My home state Uttrakhand was founded on the premise of focused governance for the hill folk.  Over the years, people realised that the only reason politicians supported this was to ensure a greater number of red beacons in the state. I’m sure Uttrakhand today is the only state where there are greater numbers of red beacon vehicles in the state than the total MLA seats, both sides combined. The state of a department is inversely proportional to the size of the houses of the involved officers. It’s not uncommon to find small government officers (Net salary <50000 pm) living in huge mansions worth crores of rupees. Even the young IAS’ (The IIT-IAS types) have not been able to arrest this. In fact they are the ones colluding to increase this menace. It’s not hidden from anyone thata serving IIT educated IAS officer was found with Rs. 4 crore cash in his car that crashed killing him. That he was an IAS made sure that this story never made the headlines. Last year, a capable party founded and led by ex- Army/ IAS/ Doctors was in the election fray. They hoped to trounce the BJP and get the state in order. The end result- all participants lost their deposit, and the “Uttrakhand Raksha Morcha” as it was called fizzled out. The congress BJP combine continued on their path to plunder, this time under a Congress regime headed by an ex High court judge who had to resign on corruption charges.

That’s what I fear in Delhi- if the AAP loses, the entire honesty brigade will fizzle out, and people will return to their lives with the same slogan- Iss desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta. A win here will prompt a nationwide revolution against the current brand of politics and in the long term- that’s what we want. It will also prompt the Congress and the BJP to get their houses in order, and work towards genuine political work. To those who say that AAP doesn’t have the required experience- I would say it’s not difficult to gain that while working- especially when the leaders have some experience in the government. Anyways, we have nothing to lose. Delhi being a Union Territory - even matters as trivial as law and order are not under the state government. The presence of the Central Government here as also the powerful Municipal Corporations leaves little for the state government to mismanage. On the positive- the city is a beacon for the entire country and a change here will lead to a change everywhere. 

So personal differences aside- I call on everyone to give AAP a chance, let’s see what they bring on the table. Im sure honesty is one, and in today's world of Icons falling everyday, that may turn out to be the Sanjeevani Booti.

We as a nation

Its not the first time that I was hearing this: Iss desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta. But this time it was different. It was not coming from another cubicle bound software engineer, but from someone who left the green meadows to plough the fields back home. A dear friend, who left the relative ease of the corporate world to join scores of aspirants shuttling in and out of various coachings chasing the elusive dream called IAS, was now leaving the country to contribute to the brain drain that we so eloquently talk about.

I sat down to think, what are we doing wrong as a nation. A friend recently told me that in order to become successful, two full generations of a country have to slog hard in difficult times. He cited China, Japan, even Thailand as examples. True! but then which are the two generations that would have to take this mantle. Is it ours. Yes, if not entirely. Our grandparents really did not know how to handle the newly found independence. They did not have the benefit of hindsight, nor was there the money and the expertise of technology. Our fathers did, in some measure have the benefits. Our generation, blissfully has the advantage of technology. An advantage, that belies all other disadvantages we may have as a nation (with the possible exception of internet speed). To be true, I am sometimes amazed looking at the various memes floating on the net. We have exactly the same tastes, preferences, and knowledge as any other of our generation in any country. That is the power of globalization. We can acquire as much knowledge and expertise as required within the comfort of our chairs. I'm not discounting the power of globetrotting, and global education- Im sure it's in my list of to  do's in life as well. But to leave your home country in disgust with an aim to settle abroad surely is a warning bell.

So why are our countrymen turning into people cynical of everything- the corporations, the government, the lowers, the uppers. Just today I read an elaborate article in Open that talked about foreign funding of NGOs and how they are potentially harmful to the country.  Notwithstanding the awesome results from the stable of NGOs of the likes of MKSS, PRS, TERI and CSE- we are still skeptical.  However, where the country should be skeptical, we remain silent. I remember a  dialogue from the movie Oh My God, where one of the priests says-"The problem with people is that they are not God loving, they are God fearing"- They look for ways to please god, in order to get on with life.

Apply the same to our people. We want messiahs or people who would deliver us from all the wrongs in the society. RG may have no idea about the politics of the country- but look at people in the villages, for them he is what will deliver them from their misery. Modi's biggest supporters claim he will ensure transparency/ accountability. What they forget is that bulk of the system will remain comprised of the same people. Palm greasing is and will remain the norm till the people change their minds. A ruthless administrator cannot keep a check on 125 billion people.

Similarly, what we lack is the followup- I can point out certain instances where our anger vanished as soon as the story was off air:

• Anna hazare: All those who were roaming around with "I am Anna" caps last year won't even know where the bill is stuck today.
• Coalgate: The companies are functioning as usual, raking in the moolah
• Helicopter Scam: No body has yet asked the question- What was the Indian government doing all along?
• Vadragate: Last known, he has even got huge land tracts in Rajasthan at throwaway prices (mis)using the National Solar Policy- the BJP is quiet for some reason, and so is the press!
• Italian marines: Went home for Christmas, and will now go home to vote. No chargesheet filed.
• Kudankulam: The brouhaha over, nobody knows the state and fate of the project
• Leave these old timers: I recently read in the papers about the Delhi Rape Case- the victim's friend, who had pointed fingers at the police earlier, now says the police did a good job. Nobody raises a question, and the entire Jantar Mantar attendance is sipping coffee in the cold Delhi winters.

It is such lack of followups that makes the country weaker by the day. Such leaders know it will be a 10 day hoopla over issues, post which they can resume their vote bank politics, the nepotism, and the siphoning off of public money to last an eternity.

I wrote this earlier, but till the point all of us become responsible enough  to ask tough questions, to follow it up with actionable inputs and make this country a better place to be in, we will continue to see the despair in the eyes of the generation that is responsible to make this country a superpower. That invariably, will contribute to the best brains going abroad, and our country being ruled by dumb and corrupt people for atleast another generation- and probably we will miss the bus again!

The 1.76 lakh crore affair- An understanding

Every day, I get up to find one or the other custodian of our country fighting over a 1.76 lakh crore figure. The CAG defends it, the congress attacks it, the media sensationalizes it and BJP- is well- clueless. I’m pretty sure half their leaders do not even realise how many zeroes we are talking about.

In the now famous report, the CAG states “Any loss ascertained while attempting to value the 2G spectrum allocated to 122 licencees in 2008 can only be 'presumptive', given the fact that there are varied determinants like its scarcity value, the nature of competition, business plans envisaged, number of operators, growth of sector etc. which, depending upon the market situation, would throw up the price that it commands at a given point of time. Instead of attempting to come to a specific value of 2G spectrum which could have been possible only through an efficient market discovery  process,  we  have  looked  at  the  various  indicators  to  assess  a  possible (presumptive) value, from the records made available to Audit rather than going for any mathematical/econometric models.”

Further, the CAG gives the following figures:

So basically, in layman terms, the CAG did what ESPN does while a cricket match. At any particular point of time, they come up with projected scores at different run rates. For example a team with 200 runs in 40 overs with 8 wickets in hand has 60 balls to go. At a 6/over run rate, they will reach 260; at a 10/over rate, they will reach 300, and at an exorbitant 20/over, they will reach 400. Now imagine, the team scores a dismal 230. The commentators start accusing the players of match fixing, the board sacks the players for below par performance and the public  start throwing stones at their house, all clamouring the “400” figure.

No doubt 8 wickets falling in a span of 30 runs is below par performance, but here, the benchmark provided is wrong, or at best, doubtful. Same is what happened with the CAG Report. No doubt it was a scam. There’s nobody in the government who can deny that Raja gave undue favours to a few people and some others were systematically sidelined. This was the precise reason why Raja went to jail. What the media did was to latch on to an unusually high figure to give it a sort of unprecedented sensationalism. The nation has remembered that figure ever since.

Understanding the various potential losses worked out:

1.       The S-Tel rate: 67364 crores
This was on the basis of the price that S-Tel was ready to pay for a share of the spectrum immediately after losing out in the auctions. Those who understand a bit of Economics will understand that the price that someone is willing to pay for a scarce commodity usually reflects its value in the eyes of the buyer. That a company to willing to pay this price means it valued the spectrum AT THAT PRICE, not the CAG.

2.       3G Auction:  176,645 crores
The report states “TRAI in its report of 2010 has observed that 2G services today are actually offering 2.75G services.  Therefore “while  comparing  spectral  efficiency  and  other  factors,  it  is  fair  to compare existing 2.75G systems with 3G systems”.

The Authority recommended 3G prices to  be  adopted  as  the  current  price  of  spectrum  in  the  1800  Mhz  band  and  intends  to separately  study  the  subject  for  apprising  the  Government  of  its  findings.  They  have recommended even higher pricing at 1.5 times of 1800 MhZ band for the 2G spectrum in 800 and 900 Mhz band. “

Even here, the comparison is illustrative. 3G may have fetched a higher price due to its enhanced data capabilities, reason current mobile operators could have valued higher than basic calling facility. Also, a time gap and the opportunity lost on 2G may have been a factor for the higher pricing. Hence, this figure had to be treated with as much seriousness as the statement that “Since Yuvraj can hit 36 runs in an over; he should be scoring at least 30 in every over”.

The fact also remains that the Government got ` 1.03 lakh crore from the auction of 3G and BWA spectrum against their own estimate of ` 35,000 crore.

3.       Sale of Equity by new licensees: INR 69626 crores, and INR 57,666 crores

Anyone remotely familiar with valuations will know that a buyout will consider all assets and liabilities of the firm on offer. This includes things like intellectual capital and other similar items. The value offered for the “non-quantifiable” items again follows the demand and supply model.

If it comes to valuations for a takeover, for example, Mckinsey & Co will be valued at a far higher price than the land-bank owning DLF, primarily on account of its “non-quantifiable” items like intellectual property, alumni base, existing relationships etc.

Similarly, in the 2G case, Etisalat DB, a renowned telecom operator of the Middle East, and Telenor, a huge Norway based telecom operator, entered into a JV (bought equity) with Swan and Unitech AFTER the latter acquired the spectrum. Since both the Indian players knew nothing about telecom and had no systems in place, it can be safely assumed that the price offered was the price of spectrum, the only asset these companies had.

These, precisely were the potential losses, and how they were calculated. The government may well say that in order to keep the prices of telephony low, we gave spectrum for free. But it can never say that there was “Zero Loss” or “No Scam”.

The potential losses worked out by the CAG are based on the value different people saw in it. The government gathering 9k crore today in the auction reflect the values these people see in that asset today. In a dynamic market that has seen 2 recessionary phases since 2008, expecting an asset, especially a technology asset, to hold its value against time, is well, idiocy.

But at the time this was given away, the presence of 500 bidders meant that the government COULD have realised a lot more money, if not 1.76 lakh crore.

Disclaimer: No use of any privileged information has been made in preparing this article. All info provided is available in the public domain.

Management lessons from the road

Driving is an enjoyable activity. More so, because it lets the drivers think and analyse their surroundings. Driving style is a direct resultant of a person’s personality and says a lot about his attitude.
Having about 50000kms of tarmac under my belt across terrains, I thought to put up some general rules that incidentally, also hold true for managing an organization.

1. Transparency helps: It might be jazzy to have an opaque car (with dark all round film/high slanted rear windshield) where the guy following you cannot see what’s in store for you, but in case of a slight hiccup, you shall be the first one to be hit from the back. This is especially true for a company with an upward trajectory, as people rarely follow you downwards.

2. Stay on the right side of the law: Not following the law may have an adventure/gain quotient, but over the long term, law will sure catch up with you. A Rs. 45 + 10 minutes regular pollution check shall help you escape the INR 100 penalty + 20 minutes haggling time.

3. Identify the leader, and follow him closely: How many times have you seen a car just zipping through the crowd, and more often than not, another motorist clears the maze by following the leader. It calls for immense faith in the leader as also the ability to steer clear of the leader’s path if he gets into a roadblock. If you don’t have the ability to create, have the ability to imitate.

4. Keep your eyes open for potential roadblocks: A steady cruise may be brought to an abrupt halt the moment you fail to notice the bullock cart that is crossing the way. It may not be your competitor and may not be planted by the competition, but can destroy your dream run.

5. Watch your back: Similar to the point above, it is necessary to know what is behind you in order to adapt your course/speed according to the situation.

6. Watch out for potential opportunities: Many times, you can spot an empty space in the fast moving lane. Other times you can judge from the speed difference of two cars that a space will get created soon. Have the eyes to spot these spaces and the power to move in when it seems beneficial. The Oberoi group is still reaping the gains of the Vilas hotels, all of whom were taken on cheap lease.

7. Never on autopilot: Autopilot works in autobahns where the perfect competition scenario is unfolding. In a competitive scenario, you need to keep an eye on the work, and on the business.

8. Automatic transmission is easy; it’s the manual that will take you ahead. Automated processes can help iron out the inefficiencies of the regular operations. However, it is only the creative people who can invent processes dynamically. Value these people and let them choose their processes. It may not work sometimes, but usually you will have a winner.

9. Size matters both ways: An SUV may look intimidating in the rear view, and people might give it the first right of way, but in case of a block, it will be stranded for longer while a hot hatch can just weave its way through. Similarly, a behemoth may intimidate its competitors, and dissuade them from entering the industry; but in case of a change, a nimble footed organization will change course and succeed, leaving the giant stranded.

10. There is no point trying to beat down a super car; chase it nonetheless: Know your territory, there is no point trying to beat down a 500 bhp supercar with your 75bhp hatch. Even though, trying to chase it will take you ahead of your siblings. Fight with people your size, and aim to get closer to the ones that are bigger.

11. Carve your niche: This requires knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Similar to last point. Don’t give up thinking you are weak. Identify your strengths and play the game on those. A 150cc bike can give a supercar a run for its money when it comes to negotiating a busy street. Similarly, a ZTE/ Huawei can succeed in the Indian market selling Tata Photon Internet Dongles.

12. Both the machine and the driver are equally important: A 500 bhp car will crash in the sidewalls in the hands of an incompetent driver. Also, a Michael Schumacher behind the wheels of a Fiat Padmini will not win rallies. The organisation and the human resource need to be properly aligned for best performance. It includes training and development of the employees, as also constant updating of the organizational resources.

13. Humility matters: Even if you dream of the sky, keep your eyes on the ground (low-beam). A high beam can set you on a collision course with another vehicle. If your eyes are up, he will never be able to see your actual purpose, and your course may be considered defiant. Even a lowly clerk in a government office, or a journalist, or a rights activist can derail your huge plans.

14. Using the public transport may cut the clutter at places: Instead of driving through till the city centre, park in the fringes and take the subway to the centre. It may be uncomfortable and void of exclusivity, and you may need to adjust to other people, but you will travel faster. Similarly, lobbying alone may get you exclusive privileges, but the possibility is low; align to a bigger group to target better results.

15. Safety: It’s for your own good, not for the police. It may not be fashionable, but a safe shell will protect you in case of an eventuality. Had Kingfisher followed a proper and sound business model instead of investing in fashionable frills, it would have been in a sound (if not great) condition today.
 

Impromptu trip to Reckong Peo in an Ikon

13th February: Me and a friend sitting at the Cafe Goethe in Central Delhi for Lunch. He says, "Im going to Ladakh" Since Ladakh trip has been planned and ditched many times in the past, I casually ask, "When and how?"

His response: "Tomorrow in my Ikon, Coming?"
I asked him if anything had been prepared. The answer was in the negative. He asked me to check up Team BHP and finalise by the evening (He is not a member but an avid follower). We decided to attempt Spiti as it was more likely to happen than Ladakh.

That evening, I put up an emergency thread on Bhp, my main concern was the roads in winter, and underbody protection for Ikon. Met with a stern response from the mods: 'Please refrain from posting new threads on topics already discussed.' Searched on all possible threads and dropped in a PM to fine69 (Vikram- He had done Spiti on his Swift). I packed up my trekking gear, but had still to ask my parents.

14th February: In the morning my parents vetoed the idea. I called up my friend and told him " Need to check, will only be able to confirm by 4". He informs me that he will get his tyres changed during the day. At 2, somehow cajoled mom to agree. They didn't know it was Spiti, they were told of Narkanda.

At 4: 15, yours truly in Boss' Chamber: "Sir I need some leave" Surprisingly boss gives a go ahead and says -Be back by Monday.

4:30 The Ikon is parked in the office driveway, We leave for Spiti in 10 minutes. No reservations, No music, No map!

Putting up a couple of teaser pics.

We left the Delhi border around 5:30. Manyu (my friend) had got some snacks and had got both rear tyres changed. His front tyres had been replaced about a month back. So we were on all new tyres.

No other checks had been made on the car. However, since he is one person who takes good care of his car, I was assured of the car. We were carrying a couple of military-spec jackets and body warmers as we expected to stay in the car for a night at least.

We made our move towards Chandigarh. We were to stay at a cousins' place there. It was after the Delhi border that I got a chance to drive the Ikon for the first time (in my life). I had never driven his car as he always considered me careless. It took some time for me to get used to the controls of the Ikon (light/indicator on the left stalk as against on the Right for my Esteem). Also, the diesel engine had a torquey feel.

Drive 1: Delhi- Chandigarh 14th February
The highway is good, and the only stops we made were at "Sukhdev Dhaba, Murthal" and the three tolls enroute.
The dhabas at Murthal have a loyal Fan base and they serve excellent parathas with White butter. Total bill for 2: Rs 140.
There are three tolls on the way: Total hit about Rs. 145
Just before entering Chandigarh, we saw a huge Sambur on the highwayside. I could not brake there and had to take a u-turn after about 500 metres, by when it had vanished. It did look imposing with the huge horns and the lights falling on it from passing vehicles.

We reached Chandigarh by 9:30, had a great home cooked dinner, and fell asleep.

Drive 2: Chandigarh- Shimla- Narkanda- Rampur- Jhakri- Bhabhanagar (262 kms, 15th February)

The next day we got up early and left Chandigarh by 730. At about 930, we stopped near Solan to load some music on the USB drive. The cold outside was freezing and we knew that we were in for a tough time.
Attachment 892150

We met two young kids going to school. Remembered my school days, when I used to trudge up the hill with my younger brother. Stopped and gave them a chocolate each (for telling their names )
Attachment 892152

At 1100, we reached Shimla and went up to the ground above the mall. Surprisingly for a weekday, there were many tourists. We sat down at the HPTDC 'Goofa' restaurant and ordered breakfast. It has a fantastic location and offers both open air and glazed sitting. The service was very slow but the food made up for it. Price: Rs. 104 for two.

We were out of Shimla by 1215. Being a hill person myself, I was saddened by the state of the city. As with Nainital (my hometown), this city has also been damaged irreparably by rampant commercialization.Traffic Jams, numerous vehicles, and construction everywhere have taken away its charm.

We continued towards Kufri. We got our first glimpse of Snow and Slush there. The roads had been cleared by the PWD/BRO and hence were in motorable condition. (though the snow had made the surface undulating, hence slowing down average speeds)

The Road


Kufri


I dream of such a house: Lonely yet vibrant with nature


The dancing clouds


Beyond Kufri, we got amazing roads, and we found ourselves profusely blessing BRO/PWD for the job. A glimpse


We reached Narkanda at about 1530 hrs. It was covered in at least 2-3 ft of snow. We asked people for the roads ahead and set forth to Rampur immediately.
Snow near Narkanda



Rampur is a decent town, and has a Vishal Mega mart, and dealers/ service centers for ICML/ MAruti/ Tata/ Chevrolet and Yamaha. There is also a tibetan Gompa for those who wish to visit.


We crossed Rampur at 5:00. At about the same time, got a call from Vikram (Fine69) about our plan. He was surprised to know that we were already on our way. He suggested that we stay the night at Sarahan and then move forward.

We got amazing valley view after Rampur. There was some landslide near Jhakri but the road was open.



The car and the owner



Divine views


At Jeori, we decided against going to Sarahan and instead continued to Wangtu. Sarahan was a little off the track, and since we were doing good speed, we hoped that we will make it to Wangtu by 8ish.

However, a little later, we came across a slush covered Aveo. The gentleman there advised us to stay at Bhabhanagar (about 30 kms from Jeori, on the way to Wangtu) as there was heavy slush after that and we may get stuck.

Bhabhanagar had an SJVNL field hostel. The incharge asked us if we work for the government. On my affirmative answer, he made me talk to his boss, who allowed us to stay there for the night. The hostel is well built and provides running hot water + heaters. The food was decent and we paid him a total of Rs. 750 for the stay + dinner + breakfast next day. My suggestion would be to enquire with them in advance for a booking during season time.

Drive 3: Bhabhanagar- ReckongPeo(almost)-(reverse) Narkanda (almost)- reverse to Sainj. (180 kms)

We got up early today, and went down to the river for a stroll. Came across this Chinese machine thrown near the river.
It is probably some compressor engine used by SJVNL in one of its hydro projects.



The riverside had amazing views. The water was sparkling clear and the gurgling sound was enchanting.



We left the field hostel at about 10 am. A driver with SJVNL, Deepak helped us out with the route. We were advised to not go beyond Reckong Peo, as the area was prone to Snow and the road would shut down for days on end.

The road from Bhabhanagar to Tapri via Wangtu was in a bad shape. Mostly it was unmetalled/ (metalled with lots of debris). The average speed on this stretch was about 20kmph.

The mountain roads. It gets really difficult if you have to reverse on any of these due to a truck/bus in the way.


Awesome sights surrounded the place.



An old timer


The Baspa Dam.


We kept driving on and came across a bridge, after which the roads became worse. We did a water crossing after watching intently a bus do the same. Manyu was deftly guiding me from across the crossing. Soon after this, we came down a 30 degree incline that was slushy and did not have a railing. The track was barely wide enough for the car and more than a couple of times, I could feel the car slipping towards the river.

Two turns later, we came across a huge stretch of deep slush where the Maxx travelling in front of us got stuck. He was a local taxi driver and deftly reversed the vehicle, got a few people to deboard and then took the stretch again. This time he managed to do it. We were waiting along the sides when a bus from the other side informed us that the track ahead was equally bad, if not worse. It had also started snowing, and we decided to not take any chances. We decided to turn back there.




While returning, we recorded the inclined slush track that we crossed.

Abhimanyu and Tapish drive through Reckong Peo - YouTube

The way back gave some awesome scenery. Drive times improved considerably after Bhabhanagar. This time, Manyu was on the wheel, and following some spirited driving by him, we reached 5kms short of Narkanda at about 6 o clock.


The drillers of the Dams appear like missile launchers. Feels like the Hindustan Tibet Road.


The SSB center near Narkanda provided some awesome valley views.




The adventure was yet to begin..
It was snowing on the foothills of Narkanda. A bus had collided sideways onto a Maxx, and the two were having a heated argument. The damage to the MAxx was not much but he was adamant on the bus driver paying up. The bus driver on the other hand was asking for some time to get the money. After about an hour, the argument ended but by this time, the road had about a couple of inches of snow. There was a Maruti 800 with a Northern Motorsport sticker parked in front of us. He asked us to follow him and parked his car on the right as the traffic had started moving on the left. He also asked us to reduce tyre pressure for better grip.

A car passed from the left after swaying around in the snow. It was followed by an Innova, whose driver braked hard and BANG! it banged into the rear of my car. People around pushed it out and then suggested me to reverse the car. The M800 I was supposed to follow also changed course and set south. I turned the car in snow with great difficulty. A big thanks to the people who pushed the car around, though I must admit that everybody was giving contradictory directions, making my job difficult.


Attaching daytime pics of the curve.




Surprisingly, the car just had minor scratches.


We drove back about 28 kms to Sainj. Thanks to the HPTDC, Narkanda manager who Talked to the manager of Atul Regency and got a room confirmed.


The hotel provides decent food, and running hot water + Tv in rooms.
After a hard day's work, we finally had some good food and slept.

Day 4: Sainj- Narkanda (33kms)

We got up early this day, and went down to the river. The river was beautiful and provided some very nice frames. We relaxed in the chilling waters for some time, as we had to go only upto Narkanda that day.

The village


The view from my room. Spot the bus!


The cauliflowers


The Parakeets


The riverside view


The rivulet that joins into the river


An SUV track leads into the river. Highly recommended to give your car a much needed wash


We left the hotel at about 11 after breakfast. Paid him a total of Rs. 1300 for a night's stay, dinner (including chicken) and breakfast.
We encountered heavy snow enroute Narkanda. We were thanking God we returned last night.





Once in Narkanda, we went straight to the HPTDC Hatu rest house. It has a fantastic location and a beautiful lonely path leads to it.




The awesome Snow chairs


The awesome view from the hotel.



We checked in and immediately went Skiiing. The ABV Mountaineering institute in Manali runs extremely cheap skiing programs of 7/14 day duration here. The slopes were nice and not very crowded. We paid Rs. 500 for two people. They initially quoted Rs 200 each for an hour, but we preferred to take the unlimited usage plan .

Skiing proved to be an awesome experience. After that, we trudged back to the hotel and had food at the Cafeteria. HPTDC has a list of Himachal delicacies that they provide their guests. We chose to have the Anardana Chicken. It was simply superb. After dinner, we asked them for a jug of tea and sat down on the snow chairs outside. It was cold, but the clear starry sky, and slight wind combined with hot tea made the experience worth it. We retired soon for dinner after that.

Day 5: Narkanda- Chandigarh (182 km)

We got up early and checked out. Paid a total of about Rs 2400 for a night's stay + dinner for two. Narkanda also has some other cheaper options for stay. We had breakfast at a small restaurant Shyam Bhojnalaya, and proceeded for Skiing.

Today, we did better than the last day. I was even able to negotiate the professional slope once. The second time, I crashed into the sides .









We left Narkanda after skiing for about 4 hours and took the highway to Shimla and beyond to Chandigarh. We reached Kalka at about 8 o clock. There was a slight jam there. We also had Isher's kulfi in Kalka (on the main chandigarh shimla road). Highly recommended!

We got some awesome frames on our way back. some of these are showcased here:





And the Finale


We reached Chandigarh at 9. Went for a quick family dinner to the Sagar Ratna in Sector 5, and then crahed.

Final day (Chandigarh- Delhi)
We left Chandigarh at 11, and continued till Murthal where we had a good meal, again!

Saw a couple of Bhp marked cars on the way. A White Swift DDis and a Silver Zen Estilo with an L marker.

We hit Delhi at about 4, marking the end of this fantastic trip.