"I am not a Rajya Drohi, I am a Rajya Snehi"

We elect our Government with the hope that there will be Change. No one wants status quo. They want improvement, and visible ones at that.

 

There are two basic types of change that are polar opposites: Radical change and  Incremental change. There has been a surprising amount of debate over which kind of change is better, though the context is an Organization, and not a Country.

Some people  promote the idea of innovation, or Radical change. Others, such as the proponents of  Kaizen, believe that smaller, gradual improvements at regular intervals are better. People who believe in Radical change often think that Incremental change is too slow. Those that believe in Incremental change often believe that Radical change is too risky and isn’t sustainable.

 

But what both sets of people accept is that Change is required and it should be for the better.

 

Unfortunately, in India, over the past few decades the Change has been for the worse. Honest people, who constitute 90% of the population, had seethed in anger at their Governments working only for the Corrupt and Anti nationals, and thinking of them only at the election time. Fake Currencies and Black money ruled roost. Land purchase became a dream for the common man, as the black money guys inflated the price many fold. Too much money was chasing too few goods, leading to double digit inflation. The honest tax payer got nothing in return and was resigned to cursing his fate.

 

Then came Modi in 2014, with a promise to change their lives drastically. He promised fight against black money, and extended hope that there will be development. He delivered a lot on the latter during the past 30 months - new roads, toilets, bank accounts for all, direct cash transfer scheme, lower inflation, overall digitalization, allowing self attestation of documents, better railways, and no corruption at higher levels. But it was not enough for the honest voter. He viewed it as Incremental Change and that was not why he voted Modi to power.

 

He bayed for Radical Change. He wanted Pakistan to be taught a lesson. He wanted black money to be eradicated from the system. He wanted a level playing field, and not scoffed at by the corrupt, rich and famous.

 

Time was running out for Modi. UP, Punjab elections are round the corner, followed by Gujarat and Karnataka elections. And then the 2019 General elections will be at the door steps.

 

During the past one month, he took on Pakistan, let the Army loose on them and started isolating them globally. The Voter was happy. This restored his pride as an Indian, but did not make any material difference to his day to day life.

 

And then, on Tuesday, 8th November 2016 at 8 pm, Modi came on Television and declared a war on the Fake Currency and Black Money. He demonetized the Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes with immediate effect, and asked people to co-operate.

 

The corrupt, including the media, cried hoarse. The bottom has gone out of their castles built on corrupt money. Pakistanis couldn't believe it. Their entire eco system created to destroy Indian economy through fake currencies, apart from funding terrorism, collapsed in one second.

 

But the Common Man cheered. This was the Radical Change he wanted.  He knew he will have to face inconveniences for a few days, but it doesn't matter. This is for the greater good. Modi, bypassed all rogue media, and addressed the common man directly. He sought their co-operation. People listened to him, stood up and cheered, and then vowed to make this a success. They recognize leadership when they see it. They are patriots. They know it is for the country, it is for them, for their children and for the next generation. They were happy, as I was, that at last, at last, someone cared for the majority - the honest guys who always were at the receiving end all these years. And they did not miss the chance to gloat at the squirming of the distributors of fake currency and the hoarders of black money.

 

Even in the far off Muscat, their sound reverberated. I was in the Super market counter waiting for my turn. A low level malayali worker, was talking to the malayali cashier about the demonetization. His words summed up the situation perfectly

 

"I support this decision by PM wholeheartedly, because I am not a Rajya Drohi, I am a Rajya Snehi", and people around him concurred.

 

Never before has a PM of India done so much for our Country with this much Intent.

 

Let us be thankful for that, and take a moment off to pray for his long life.

Risk Taking leads to Success

Rohit Brijnath is perhaps one of the best Sports Journalist around. In his article about the Golfing Legend Arnold Palmer, who died a few months back, he writes;

The second thing sport should take from Palmer is risk taking. No doubt we admire those who play the percentages, reduce error and embrace consistency but sport isn't an Accountancy Exam. It also needs the gambler, the heart-attack giver, the "you're-kidding-me" athlete who has the lunatic spirit to roll over the Niagara Falls in a barrel.

 

One of the reasons football is turning dull is because no wants to lose but Arnie would try any shot to win. If the high stakes of today's sport is suffocating the adventure out of coaches and athletes, then he was golf's version of the guy who did handstands on a high wire. Of course, he fell. His refusal to play safe cost him - he wrote in his book A Golfer's Life - "three or four US Opens, perhaps a Masters or two, and the PGA Championship on at least two occasions".

 

Yet as he risked he also soared and said that "if I hadn't had the instinctive desire to attempt those shots, regardless of the outcome, almost without thinking, I wouldn't have won half the tournaments I did".

 

This is so true of Management. I am into New Ventures and Investment. And I have seen most of the Companies, Financial Institutions and their Management playing ultra safe. No one wants to take risk.

 

You go to a Financial Institution with a New Venture, and they expect you to cover all the risks five times over, want to see an off take agreement, solid contract, 200% collateral security etc etc. I went to them with all of the above, and still they refused, because they felt the project doesn't meet the Risk profile of the Bank, whatever that means.

 

Every single Top Manager I know, want to have risk free and preferable investment free projects. They want a return of $ 1 Million by investing $ 10,000. If I knew that magic, I would be a Billionaire  by now!

 

I am yet to see an Investor or Manager who says "This project has the potential and looks great. Let us give it a go. I will back it"

 

And when their Companies are facing a melt down with low oil prices in the Middle East, they crib and blame everyone except themselves.

 

Their Companies are in trouble because they did not take adequate risk or show the entrepreneurial spirit when the going was good.

 

Play safe will help them perhaps to sustain, but will ensure they remain mediocre.

 

It is the risk taker who makes it big. And the thrill one gets when one pulls off the impossible is a fantastic feeling.