Thank You!

A Teacher's life is thankless at times. One never knows whether the effort put into moulding a generation of young students is worth it or not.

Over a teaching period of a decade, one gets used to ungratefulness from students. As happened recently. A MBA student who was coming over to collect his hall ticket, called up another student to check up whether I was in the Study Centre. He was apparently relieved when the answer was in the negative, for it appears he wanted to avoid meeting me for some strange reason. And, to think that, this student was one of the few who had spent hours in my house over a two year period and had even rung me up at odd hours seeking advice on professional matters.

But today, I was in for a very pleasant, unexpected surprise. I was sitting outside the Examination Hall, when a young muslim girl wearing abhayah came out, having finished her final year Bachelor's examination. I vaguely remembered the face, for I dont teach Bachelor's Students. She collected her books, looked at me and there was a moment of indecision on her face. She hesitated, but gathered courage, walked up to me. I looked up from where I was sitting. She asked;

"Sir, were you the person who took the first class for us when we joined?"

I remembered when I had seen her. I had taken the Orientation Program for her batch of Bachelor' Students in October 2007.

"Yes, I did take the Orientation Program for you when we were operating in the Fisheries Building", I replied

"Sir, I still remember one advice you gave that day - 'Whatever happens, write the exams in the first attempt and never absent yourself from the examination and you will be a graduate' - Sir, I have followed that advice to date and am grateful to you"

Taken aback slightly that a student took the pains to come up to me and thank me for the one small advice I gave all those years back, I felt a lump in my throat and said,

"I hope you have cleared all your First year and Second year papers so far"

"Yes sir, I have and I will complete the final year now god willing. Thank you sir", and she departed as dignified as she approached me.

A simple thank you for a small advice given years ago. It made my day. I felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

It also taught me a lesson - that I should say thank you more often to people who have helped me all these years on many varied occassions. I should never take them for granted.

Thank you, young woman,  for teaching me a simple lesson.

Grim Scenario on the Inflation front

On one hand, Government is gloating over the 8% GDP growth, during a period of Global recession, or make it more like Developed Country Recession.

(Have you noticed that it is a global ercession only when the US and Europe is involved? The BRIC countries are doing well, so are the GCC countries, whole of Africa and most of SE Asia. We unashamedly call the two wars which were fought in Europe mainly, the World Wars. When Australia, Africa, Latin America, Most of North America, Antarctica and half of Asia were not involved in the war, how could it be termed World War?).

But, the inflation has gone out of control, with the government clueless as to what action to resort to. They tried tightening the monetary policy - the inflation didnt ease. They hoped a good rabi crop would ease inflation - it actually spurred the inflation as the Government fell flat in procuring and storing the food grains. 20% of the food grains rotted, a crime against humanity. Now, they are pinning hopes on a good kharif season - but they are yet to do ANYTHING about augmenting the storage facility. The supply side weakness, coupled with hoarding my big retail chains and the middlemen is artificially pushing the prices up, as the demand has not grown to justify double digit inflation overall and the near 17% inflation in food items.

The Government, at least some quarter of it, is blaming the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for the inflation. Their specious argument is that the NREGS has spurred rural demand as it has put money in the hands of the rural folks. This is ridiculous. The audit by CAG of India has shown massive diversion of funds and poor delivery of the funds through NREGS, barring couple of States. The NREGS is a well intentioned disaster, but no one would say it openly as that would mean antagonising Sonia Gandhi. For the ruling party, this is a wonderful way of greasing the palms of its party cadre across the country. Since it is a win situation for all politicians monetarily, everyone is closing their eyes towards this national looting.

But, personally, I suspect the root cause of the inflation is the fiscal indiscipline of the Government. The Government over the past 6 years have been spending much more than it can afford to. The fiscal deficit has soared. The target to contain the fiscal deficit to 2-4% of GDP has been consigned to the dustbin. The fiscal deficit is close to 16%. The Government has no option but to borrow from RBI to cover its deficit, which means priniting more notes. This is precisely what the Government has been doing over the past couple of years. And as any economic student knows, more money chasing same goods will result in inflation.

The future on this front looks grim. With government toying with the idea of increasing the petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3.50, inflation is expected to go northward. Despite all their faked injured stance, Governments are happy when the Petrol/Diesel prices goes up, as it means substantial increase to the Excise duty and Sales tax collections. It is a Win-Win situation for the Oil PSU and the Government, but a lose-lose for the poor and the middle class. But hey! this is not an election year. So it is alright to squeeze them.

5 Why's

Japanese have a simple technique of asking 'Why' 5 times to arrive at the root cause of a problem. The standard example is as follows,



1. Why has the machine stopped?
    A fuse blew because of an overload

2. Why was there an overload
    There wasn't enough lubrication for the bearings

3. Why wasn't there enough lubrication?
    The pump wasn't pumping enough

4. Why wasn't lubricant being pumped?
   The pump shaft was vibrating as a result of abrasion

5. Why was there abrasion?
   There was no filter, allowing chips of material into the pump

   Installation of a filter solves the problem.
 
Another example that I am fond of narrating goes like this.
 
An employee is late to the office. He is queried by the Manager.
 
1. Why are you late today?
     Sir, I missed the bus.
    ( Wrong Solution: Dont you know you have to be on time. Reach the bus stop early tomorrow)
 
2. Why did you miss the bus?
     I was late getting up
    (Wrong Solution: Buy a good alarm clock)
 
3. Why did you get up late?
    I went for a late night movie with my wife
    (Wrong Solution: Dont go for a late night movie the night prior to a working day)
 
4. Why did you have to go for a late night movie when today is a working day?
    My wife is upset because I am going late every day.
    (Wrong Solution : Go home on time. Dont stay back in the office)
 
5. Why are you staying back in the office?
    I have been recently posted to a new job for which I am not trained properly. Hence I am forced to stay back to complete my work
   (Correct Solution: Arrange a proper training program for the employee ASAP)

Cause and Effect

South African brewers are urgently trying to avert a beer crisis in the country after it emerged that fans may drink about 17 million pints during next month’s World Cup. Officials said that they have plotted a “military operation” to brew extra beer.

“Whether fans are celebrating success or drowning their sorrows, they can be assured that they’ll have enough beer when and where they need it. Logistics experts are planning it like a military operation. Nothing can go wrong,” The Daily Star quoted a source, as saying. Meanwhile, South African Breweries, makers of top tipples Castle Lager and Miller Draft, said that they have drafted in a fleet of refrigerated beer trucks to cater to the surplus demand. The trucks will be stationed outside cities showing matches so they can race to pubs whenever stocks are running low

“While it’s difficult to predict how much extra beer will be consumed, we estimate at this stage that we will sell an additional 100,000 hectolitres of beer during the five-week World Cup period. That equates to about 17 million pints,” said Alastair Hewitt of South African Breweries

 Based on this 'anticipated demand surge' and the 'consequent physiological effects', should'nt the South African provincial governments also spend a few billions on a war-footing on setting up thousands of urinals and augment the sewage system across the country???

Ways of Worship -8

The eighth and final way of worship is SAMARPANAM.

Samarpanam has to be totally selfless and without expecting anything in return. Here we offer a part our earnings and assets to others. It also means we put to others everything we have at our disposal. Daanam is an important aspect of Samarpanam. Daanam can be in the form of Vastra daanam, Raktha daanam, Bhoo daanam, Go daanam, Anna daanam or any other daanam as per one's ability. In Tamil Brahmin marriages, the bride is given to the boy, by the brides parent, as Kanyaa daanam, which is considered to be the ultimate samarpanam by the brides parents, for they are offering a part of themselves to the groom. I, personally, do Vidya Daanam, where I give as my offering Knowledge to those who desire it.

The threat is increasing in magnitude by the day

10 months back, when the focus was on terrorism from across the borders, this blog had a post that claimed that the bigger threat to the nation is from the Maoists. I have never been afflicated by "I said so" syndrome and it is double worse when the issue has such severe repurcussions like Maoism. I really wish my prophesies turned out to be incorrect, but I am afraid it is not so.

Today's Times of India has come out with the theoretical moorings of the current Maoist movement based on the Charu Mazumdar line.

The Government appears to be totally confused as to how to tackle the Maoist. And the NGO's and Activists have mixed up the issue so nicely that any attack against the Maoist is seen as an attack against the poor tribals. This absurdity has to go. The Maoists are resorting to violence, terrorism, killing, forced tax collection, and are fighting a war against the nation. They are running a parallel government in nearly 1/3rd districts of India (see map above).  This has to be tackled strongly with the full powers at the disposal of the state, as they are not only an internal threat, but an external threat, for they have logistical support from China, Nepal, Bangladesh and of course Pakistan. This a tactical war on the country, which is bleeding us. The Government is appearing hapless which doesnt augur well for the country. Once you lose the legitimate and moral authority of the Government, the country will transcend to anarchy and chaos.

The tribals are at best supporting actors in this. They are caught between the Government and the Maoist. It is true they have genuine grievances, they have been dispossessed of land and deprived of their livelihood by industrialists encroaching their domain. But they are too simple to fight against the government using guns and bombs. I have had personal experience with tribals in Attapady. The Maoists are comprised of educated unemployed group, who have been indoctrinated. Most of them are well read and are angry at the atrocities done by the State. The tribals are simpletons. They have only obeyed others in the past and need a benefactor. The State has failed to provide support to them. They look upon Maoist either as someone who can protect them, or who they think are fighting their enemies (the industrialists) or they are providing logistical support to the Maoist out of fear. Either way, they have been won over by the Maoists.

The Government has to isolate the two. Once tribals understand that it is to their benefit to support the government, and they will have protection of their life and property from the Government, they will switch sides. This has to be done through an intense tribal development program. If that means stopping mining and industrialization in their homeland, so be it. That will send the right signal. And a special police force sensitive to the tribal needs, ably supported by a judicial system that shall dispose of cases pertaining to tribal grievances can go a long way in assuaging their feelings. And finally, they should be made part of any decision making pertaining to development in their area. It is sad but true that many tribals loose their moorings when development takes place and they get meagre compensation in return. Cut from their land and forest, they drift to the cities where they end up as the worst of the under privileged.

Simulataneously, the Government has to tackle the Maoist with all their might. State police and CRPF do not have the capability to handle counter insurgency operations or anti-guerilla warfare. Our police have become very soft over the years. Most cannot even run 100 metres in 12 seconds nor can they hit a barn door while shooting. The State needs  crack Counter Insurgency battalions, armed with modern equipments, information system, and knowledge of the terrain to win the war. If these battalions have to be created out of our army, so be it. Let them be deputed for this special job. The role of the army is to defend the nation. And we need political consensus and a single bloody mindedness to crush this threat. Finally, the activists and the NGO's who support the Maoists have to be tackled at an intellectual level. Their arguments have to be countered logically and with facts, and not through trying to shut them up. Though I dont approve of the collateral damage that resulted in hundreds of thousands of Tamilians being dispossessed, the LTTE was totally neutralized by the Srilankan army. The whole of South Asia will be a safer place because of that in the future. And guess, who gave the training and tactical support to the Srilankar army during their final assault? The Indian Army!!!

6 Questions

I have been a facilitator for finding out the root cause of the problems in Organizations. I follow the simple universal truth.

"There are only 6 questions that one human being can ask another".

Ask these questions in the right manner and you will get to the root cause.