Tuesday, September 21, 2010
ALL OF USA IN 19 DAYS FLAT COURTESY KUONI-SOTC WORLD TRAVEL
It is nice and wonderful to be back after a whirlwind and hectic holiday / vacation under the able organising leadership of SOTC.Let me at the outset commend /congratulate SOTC for organising such a wonderful and exhilarating Holidays. It helped turn many dreams into distinct reality. We got full value for the money paid upfront. This is my unequivocal statement, if not a declaration. It would perhaps be in order for me, to also state that, such clockwork-like precision-arrangements in terms of stay (choice of hotels), providing quality Indian food including Jain Food; transfers, transportation to other destinations by overland route in AC buses etc., which require making arrangements much ahead of actual date, speaks volumes of the SOTC's mastery in its chosen field. I have no hesitation in sharing with you a secret, which other competing agencies would gladly sweep it under the carpet. While on Caribbean cruise on the ship 'Monarch of the Seas', it was observed that some guests from Thomas Cook were seen to be occupying the tables reserved for SOTC. And when our tour manager remonstrated with her counterpart ( I say this on record, as some of us were witness to that deft and efficient handling of the situation by SOTC tour manager) In the result, this prompt action by the SOTC tour manager forced those (supposedly) bravehearts occupying SOTC table, to beat a hasty retreat!One look at the dishevelled and unkempt appearance of their tour manager, said it all. Need I say more? We were extremely lucky to have a cultured, suave, affable and very eloquent Lady tour manager by name Tejaswini Padhye. Initially, I had a creepy feeling about her capacity to handle situations. I wondered how and what this single woman do to keep this disparate flock together. To my mind, she seemed an unlikely Shepherdess!!! (if I can use that expression). This feeling arose mainly due to her inability to immediately get the bus into the JFK Airport area, where we were all huddled in the cold and windy evening. However, to be fair to her, it was not exactly in her hands altogether, as JFK Airport area has strict codes relating to ingress of private buses and their parking slot.This feeling was was soon to be erased, as we saw her shaping-up and taking full control of her flock. Which was shortly after self-introductions. In no time, I observed many stiff and unbending males too deferring to her announcements and carrying out her bidding's!!!!!. The feedback that I gave on the conclusion of the tour was reflective of the above stated sentiments and warm feelings towards SOTC's able management OF THE WHOLE SHOW. I ASKED MYSELF "WAS IT CHOREOGRAPHED?" THE ANSWER WAS AN EMPHATIC 'NO'. BUT IT SURE WAS WELL OILED, WELL MAINTAINED MACHINERY CARRYING OUT ITS ASSIGNED TASKS TO PERFECTION I had also indicated, that I would, on return to Bangalore give specific recommendation's / comments: to make such Vacations / Holidays more memorable. The reason why I chose to record that I would furnish my comments separately is for the reason that they specifically relate to SERVICE BEFORE GOING ON HOLIDAY. And hence, strictly speaking, comes under your domain / purview I had noticed that SOTC distributed to intending travellers a colourful and equally exhaustive booklet. Which to be sure, would serve as a mine of information to the lettered folks. However, if you will recall my observation made in my email prior to my departure for USA; in which, I had shared my thoughts that SOTC would be well advised to make things easy for illiterate simple folks as also dhoti wallas. And that is another segment of potential travellers which is loaded with moolah and eager to take such holidays, provided it is properly packaged.It is this 'brand packaging' that I seek to explain in detail. As mentioned earlier, illiteracy can be a great curse and a handicap in the sense that, it holds back that class of would-be-travellers from seeking further information due to their embarrassment intertwined with shame and other undefinable feelings..Their hesitation and trepidation needs to be addressed squarely by SOTC. I suggest that SOTC consider making a video presentation in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi etc. Literally replacing the booklet for them. It should be a slick presentation for various destinations with voice-over in a cool, collected and matter of fact manner. The video presentation will be equivalent of what Braille is for the visually impaired. You will agree that the unlettered cannot appreciate what is written in the booklet notwithstanding numerous accompanying coloured photographs But they will definitely understand and decide, if it is given to them in the manner they understand. Which in their case, would be a video presentation. It could literally be a speaking booklet with soothing voice over, at times injecting an element of suspense and excitement.... The next comment relates to non-communication of benefits of frequent flying with a particular airline, which in our case was 'Emirates' Airline. Such benefits get lost by default. If the traveller is not made aware of the need for prompt beforhand registration by the traveller. (Which, to be sure is to be undertaken before taking the flight to avail the facility of being categorised as a MEMBER) In my own case, this was not made known to me. This came to my knowledge only when Emirates insisted that I give them a feedback, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY EXHAUSTIVE FORMAT. I myself realised that I had lost out for no fault of mine. In the event, this non-communication of benefits like bonus mileage, frequent flier benefits et al are consciously not extended by SOTC to the customers for reasons of availing bulk discount for itself from the airline, then of course, I have no further comments to make. You may enlighten me in the matter, specifically giving reasons why this is not done / extended automatically by the SOTC. It could be carried out on behalf of the travellers by suitably changing the software / programme or what have you. If this suggestion is accepted by SOTC, it can be put into operation a day prior to actual date of travel, as the entire itinerary is known to SOTC and after factoring the last minute dropouts, i.e. after all that had coalesced and crystallised. Yet, another comment relates to issuing a SOTC-SPECIFIC memento to all travellers on completion of tour, which could be an Emblazoned SOTC Group Photo duly framed, or a Certificate etc. This PRACTICE engenders kinship and sense of belonging to that group. A Group Recognition goes a long way in building lasting relationship and leads to a legion of foot soldiers who will spread the Good Word around i.e. recommending SOTC as a 'Preferred Organisation to be With'I am now consciously bringing this feedback to a close.Yours trulyK K LuthriaBangalore http://luthriakk.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 18, 2005
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Overarching urge to go public
K.K. Luthria
Our bureaucracy was conceived to be an invisible spirit guiding the onerous task of nation building
IT WAS not until T.N. Seshan, who first cracked the whip at the errant political class, did we realise that the Election Commission was indeed vested with immense powers waiting to be exercised by an intelligent Election Commissioner.
The limelight generated by the media proved to be a heady brew for a bureaucrat, who till then was only too happy to live in the shadow of his political master. This marked an event-change from the laid back style of previous Election Commissioners and Indian bureaucracy in particular.
Our bureaucracy was not conceived to be a visible and voluble creature hogging headlines and taking credit for discharging its duties. It was conceived to be an invisible spirit guiding the onerous task of nation building by providing the necessary steel frame and, therefore, visible only in terms of good administration and good governance.
The addition of new fangled spurs in the cowboy boots of Mr. Seshan was made possible by the omnipresent media which is ever so hungry for juicy bits of sound-bytes for the ostensible benefit of its viewers/readers.
We also witnessed Mr. Lyngdoh following in the footsteps of his predecessor. He donned the role of a moral preacher, with the media dutifully in tow. His famous pose to an official was "Aren't you ashamed" despite knowing fully well that his visit to that State was only to assess and evaluate whether elections could be held.
The overarching desire to be seen, heard, noticed, loved, adulated is innate in every human being and it ranks just a notch below the basic survival instinct. However, when one is occupying a high official post, these instinctive urges have to be curbed, if not eschewed, for effective discharge of one's official duties. Nothing more and nothing less is expected in the first task of providing good administration and good governance.
Sharing sensitive details
Officials these days, whether high or low and whether from defence services, police or other security agencies, suddenly become very eager to give their version of the event besides sharing in great detail the modus operandi of the terrorist outfit, how they are identified from the dhobi mark, label of the tailor, undergarment labels, shoe make/brand, chits/receipts found in their pockets, mobile phone number, etc., instead of keeping all these sensitive details strictly under wrap.
The cable TV channels also revel in broadcasting crime serials that have the police crowing about their investigative skills, and how they cracked the case even before the criminals have been brought to book. This naturally affects their main task of preparing a watertight charge sheet.
Recently in the Ayodhya terrorist attack case, we saw both print and visual media spilling the beans as to how the police were able to trace the phone calls made by the terrorists by deciphering the unique identity number of each mobile instrument. This achievement was by all accounts a commendable piece of evidence collection. However, the question remains whether all these details should be in public domain and are we not alerting the terrorists and their handlers across the border the kind of steps required to be taken to avoid detection/identification.
To be precise, the handlers had ensured that the terrorists this time around should not have any identifiable marks/receipts on their person and as expected the security agencies are still clueless about their identity.
It will be appreciated that the lack of coherent policy guidelines from the Home Ministry is at the root of this problem. The question of releasing forensic and other details by the officials concerned should be proscribed without any further delay. The Ministry should come out with a coherent policy to deal with the release of sensitive details of terrorist attacks on the lines of recent anti-hijacking policy.
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Sunday, Sep 18, 2005
Open Page
Published on Sundays
Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Entertainment | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |
Open Page
Overarching urge to go public
K.K. Luthria
Our bureaucracy was conceived to be an invisible spirit guiding the onerous task of nation building
IT WAS not until T.N. Seshan, who first cracked the whip at the errant political class, did we realise that the Election Commission was indeed vested with immense powers waiting to be exercised by an intelligent Election Commissioner.
The limelight generated by the media proved to be a heady brew for a bureaucrat, who till then was only too happy to live in the shadow of his political master. This marked an event-change from the laid back style of previous Election Commissioners and Indian bureaucracy in particular.
Our bureaucracy was not conceived to be a visible and voluble creature hogging headlines and taking credit for discharging its duties. It was conceived to be an invisible spirit guiding the onerous task of nation building by providing the necessary steel frame and, therefore, visible only in terms of good administration and good governance.
The addition of new fangled spurs in the cowboy boots of Mr. Seshan was made possible by the omnipresent media which is ever so hungry for juicy bits of sound-bytes for the ostensible benefit of its viewers/readers.
We also witnessed Mr. Lyngdoh following in the footsteps of his predecessor. He donned the role of a moral preacher, with the media dutifully in tow. His famous pose to an official was "Aren't you ashamed" despite knowing fully well that his visit to that State was only to assess and evaluate whether elections could be held.
The overarching desire to be seen, heard, noticed, loved, adulated is innate in every human being and it ranks just a notch below the basic survival instinct. However, when one is occupying a high official post, these instinctive urges have to be curbed, if not eschewed, for effective discharge of one's official duties. Nothing more and nothing less is expected in the first task of providing good administration and good governance.
Sharing sensitive details
Officials these days, whether high or low and whether from defence services, police or other security agencies, suddenly become very eager to give their version of the event besides sharing in great detail the modus operandi of the terrorist outfit, how they are identified from the dhobi mark, label of the tailor, undergarment labels, shoe make/brand, chits/receipts found in their pockets, mobile phone number, etc., instead of keeping all these sensitive details strictly under wrap.
The cable TV channels also revel in broadcasting crime serials that have the police crowing about their investigative skills, and how they cracked the case even before the criminals have been brought to book. This naturally affects their main task of preparing a watertight charge sheet.
Recently in the Ayodhya terrorist attack case, we saw both print and visual media spilling the beans as to how the police were able to trace the phone calls made by the terrorists by deciphering the unique identity number of each mobile instrument. This achievement was by all accounts a commendable piece of evidence collection. However, the question remains whether all these details should be in public domain and are we not alerting the terrorists and their handlers across the border the kind of steps required to be taken to avoid detection/identification.
To be precise, the handlers had ensured that the terrorists this time around should not have any identifiable marks/receipts on their person and as expected the security agencies are still clueless about their identity.
It will be appreciated that the lack of coherent policy guidelines from the Home Ministry is at the root of this problem. The question of releasing forensic and other details by the officials concerned should be proscribed without any further delay. The Ministry should come out with a coherent policy to deal with the release of sensitive details of terrorist attacks on the lines of recent anti-hijacking policy.
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Pakistan- Failed or Flailing State ?
Not a day passes by without Pakistan or Pakistani being mentioned in the media either in the context of terrorist related acts committed by a Pakistani or Pakistan being mentioned as a State sponsor of terrorism. Be it in the context of Kashmir, where Pakistan chooses to call these terrorists as Freedom Fighters / Mujahideens or in the context of British / American Muslims of Pakistani origin committing acts of terrorism, the Pakistani link is unfailingly being heard or written about. However, we do not hear of Indian Muslims being mentioned as terrorists in similar vein or in that connotation, although the stock of Islamic adherents in this part of the sub-continent is basically the same. Fortuitously, therefore, Indian Muslims have not been bracketed or type-casted as terrorists. The acts of terrorism committed by an Indian Muslim in India invariably gets ascribed to its handlers based in Pakistan. Pakistan, therefore, is increasingly being seen and described as epicenter of terrorism in greater part of the world. This development is a matter of great concern and needs to be seriously examined by all right thinking people both in India and Pakistan.
Indeed, this grave matter has far reaching consequences for generations of unborn Pakistanis. It is doubtful, whether they will ever come to terms with this horrid appellation and also live down this stigma or bloody label for centuries to come, should also come up for serious discussion by the intellectuals on both sides of the sub-continent. The short answer to this question is firm NO. An average Pakistani, as a consequence of developments around him, senses undercurrent of hostility and being unwelcome. As a result, he is increasingly withdrawing himself into a shell and getting isolated from the world affairs. Why has the fate of an average Pakistani come to this sorry pass ?
Pakistan has come to this sorry pass because its founders, past military and non-military rulers as also its present dispensation have paid minimal, if not, negligent regard to its first task of nation-building. But its rulers,past and present, have never been found wanting in fanning hatred to all things Indian-judged solely on the basis of religion. The founders chose not to seriously consider whether social cohesiveness and integrity of the nation could be achieved in the face of diverse group interests, culture, sub-sects like Shias, Sunnis etc., (which is what present day Pakistan is) solely on the basis of religion alone. This question was never considered dispassionately. If this was really possible, then, we should not be witnessing fratricidal war being waged among the adherents of Islam in Iraq. By the same logic, the shameful act of revenge hanging of Saddam Hussein by a fellow Muslim would not have taken place. So the glue binding diverse cultural groups, interests, sects, including migrant Indians who chose to cast their die with the fledgling theocratic state, arguably, has to be something more than religion. What is that "elusive-something" that will bind the heterogeneous interest groups as a cohesive and well-knit society will be examined by contrasting the same with the formation of another theocratic state called Israel.
Israel-a study in contrast
If religion were to be the sole identity criteria for State utopia, then all the ills of infamous Pakistani identity should have visited the State of Israel as well. If not, why not?. Thankfully, the reasons are not unfathomable. The siege mentality which the founders of Pakistan very assiduously cultivated in the minds of innocent Muslims, was soon, but very cleverly, replaced by hatred for infidels(India). This was in spite of getting the country vivisected on the basis of religion. The raison- d`et re for adopting this strategy was to deflect the attention of average Pakistani from the expectation of nation building by comparison with India's progress . To achieve this end, the founders and subsequent dispensations very conveniently adopted rabid posturing, laying claims on Kashmir by terming it as 'Unfinished Agenda of Partition', empowering the mullahs etc. Basically, the founders failed to lay the foundation of Democracy deep enough, so as to be well entrenched as in India. Instead they plumped for religion, believing, that it will serve as opium of the masses. For sometime yes, but not for eternity. This regrettably has resulted in power equation shifting from the centre to the periphery. Where peripheral fringes of the society come to occupy the center stage; where the tail starts wagging the dog instead of other way round; where State apparatus assumes the form of a Frankenstein carrying out its bidding and on its own as well; where criminals and haven-seekers get patronage and shelter. In this milieu , rule of law takes a back seat, nation building becomes its first casualty, its populace misled for decades becomes available on tap, so to say, as its canon-fodder. All this in the name of religion!
Israel- A Theocratic Democracy with unshifting power equation
In stark contrast, Israel is a model of success story, where the same siege mentality has been properly channeled by the State to keep the flock with itself besides beckoning the flock elsewhere in the world to come and join it. Where the State does not use its citizens as canon-fodder and where the State wages a war to get back its captured citizens (dead or alive) as it strongly believes in its citizen`s unalienable right to live in human dignity and in peace. In short, its command and control structure has not shifted from the centre to the periphery and, therefore, its power equation remains just right and proper.
Where does this leave us, living as we do within striking distance from this unstable neighbour, ruled by a galaxy of tin pot soldiers and peripheral fringes in tandem, doing a jig or a tango?. This power sharing equation does not inspire confidence and is not likely to change either. This writer foresees, in the absence of any other potent unifying force infusing shared sense of nationhood, brotherhood and fraternity - a virtual dismemberment of Pakistan into many pieces corresponding to various interest groups. Significantly, the Democrat controlled Congress in United States has just passed an anti-proliferation bill requiring its President to take punitive actions against countries with dubious proliferation records. This is seen as Congress` first stern and real warning to Pakistan signaling its unhappiness with the way it has gone about dealing an shielding its disgraced nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan and his nuclear proliferation network as also Pakistan`s palpable unwillingness to proactively deal with Taliban menace on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
All things considered, it would be in the interest of Pakistan to restore democracy and stop aiding and abetting acts of terrorism in the name of freedom struggle besides reigning in its own ISI which has vowed to inflict million bleeding wounds on India as retribution for its dismemberment and formation of Bangladesh. As it stands now, Pakistan is both a failed and flailing state with nothing to show to its credit as a theocratic nation.
Indeed, this grave matter has far reaching consequences for generations of unborn Pakistanis. It is doubtful, whether they will ever come to terms with this horrid appellation and also live down this stigma or bloody label for centuries to come, should also come up for serious discussion by the intellectuals on both sides of the sub-continent. The short answer to this question is firm NO. An average Pakistani, as a consequence of developments around him, senses undercurrent of hostility and being unwelcome. As a result, he is increasingly withdrawing himself into a shell and getting isolated from the world affairs. Why has the fate of an average Pakistani come to this sorry pass ?
Pakistan has come to this sorry pass because its founders, past military and non-military rulers as also its present dispensation have paid minimal, if not, negligent regard to its first task of nation-building. But its rulers,past and present, have never been found wanting in fanning hatred to all things Indian-judged solely on the basis of religion. The founders chose not to seriously consider whether social cohesiveness and integrity of the nation could be achieved in the face of diverse group interests, culture, sub-sects like Shias, Sunnis etc., (which is what present day Pakistan is) solely on the basis of religion alone. This question was never considered dispassionately. If this was really possible, then, we should not be witnessing fratricidal war being waged among the adherents of Islam in Iraq. By the same logic, the shameful act of revenge hanging of Saddam Hussein by a fellow Muslim would not have taken place. So the glue binding diverse cultural groups, interests, sects, including migrant Indians who chose to cast their die with the fledgling theocratic state, arguably, has to be something more than religion. What is that "elusive-something" that will bind the heterogeneous interest groups as a cohesive and well-knit society will be examined by contrasting the same with the formation of another theocratic state called Israel.
Israel-a study in contrast
If religion were to be the sole identity criteria for State utopia, then all the ills of infamous Pakistani identity should have visited the State of Israel as well. If not, why not?. Thankfully, the reasons are not unfathomable. The siege mentality which the founders of Pakistan very assiduously cultivated in the minds of innocent Muslims, was soon, but very cleverly, replaced by hatred for infidels(India). This was in spite of getting the country vivisected on the basis of religion. The raison- d`et re for adopting this strategy was to deflect the attention of average Pakistani from the expectation of nation building by comparison with India's progress . To achieve this end, the founders and subsequent dispensations very conveniently adopted rabid posturing, laying claims on Kashmir by terming it as 'Unfinished Agenda of Partition', empowering the mullahs etc. Basically, the founders failed to lay the foundation of Democracy deep enough, so as to be well entrenched as in India. Instead they plumped for religion, believing, that it will serve as opium of the masses. For sometime yes, but not for eternity. This regrettably has resulted in power equation shifting from the centre to the periphery. Where peripheral fringes of the society come to occupy the center stage; where the tail starts wagging the dog instead of other way round; where State apparatus assumes the form of a Frankenstein carrying out its bidding and on its own as well; where criminals and haven-seekers get patronage and shelter. In this milieu , rule of law takes a back seat, nation building becomes its first casualty, its populace misled for decades becomes available on tap, so to say, as its canon-fodder. All this in the name of religion!
Israel- A Theocratic Democracy with unshifting power equation
In stark contrast, Israel is a model of success story, where the same siege mentality has been properly channeled by the State to keep the flock with itself besides beckoning the flock elsewhere in the world to come and join it. Where the State does not use its citizens as canon-fodder and where the State wages a war to get back its captured citizens (dead or alive) as it strongly believes in its citizen`s unalienable right to live in human dignity and in peace. In short, its command and control structure has not shifted from the centre to the periphery and, therefore, its power equation remains just right and proper.
Where does this leave us, living as we do within striking distance from this unstable neighbour, ruled by a galaxy of tin pot soldiers and peripheral fringes in tandem, doing a jig or a tango?. This power sharing equation does not inspire confidence and is not likely to change either. This writer foresees, in the absence of any other potent unifying force infusing shared sense of nationhood, brotherhood and fraternity - a virtual dismemberment of Pakistan into many pieces corresponding to various interest groups. Significantly, the Democrat controlled Congress in United States has just passed an anti-proliferation bill requiring its President to take punitive actions against countries with dubious proliferation records. This is seen as Congress` first stern and real warning to Pakistan signaling its unhappiness with the way it has gone about dealing an shielding its disgraced nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan and his nuclear proliferation network as also Pakistan`s palpable unwillingness to proactively deal with Taliban menace on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
All things considered, it would be in the interest of Pakistan to restore democracy and stop aiding and abetting acts of terrorism in the name of freedom struggle besides reigning in its own ISI which has vowed to inflict million bleeding wounds on India as retribution for its dismemberment and formation of Bangladesh. As it stands now, Pakistan is both a failed and flailing state with nothing to show to its credit as a theocratic nation.
Japan- The Land of the Rising Sun and Setting Buddhism
Japan- The Land of the Rising Sun and Setting Buddhism
Japan is in the news for all the wrong reasons these days. Take the case of its willful and utter disdain towards world outcry against Whale slaughter. Japanese fisherman hunt for whales by harpooning them in a very cruel way and hoisting the magnificent sea mammals alive after they are exhausted. It carries out all this in the name of scientific experiments albeit selling whale meat, blubber, and its smooth skin as shoe leather, which is commercially known as “porpoise hide” Indeed, it has become a matter of right for Japan to exploit a provision, which exists in the International Whaling Commission’s Charter of Regulated Whaling. It has been exploiting this provision to carry out mass slaughter of Whales for years with impunity and contempt for the sentiments of vast majority of people in the world, who have their heart in right place.
This writer remembers with vivid clarity, a documentary aired in National Geography Channel a few years back. The documentary detailed mass slaughter of defenseless whales by a band of merciless Japanese fishermen. The sea in the vicinity of mass slaughter was blood red, as far as the eye could see. Intrepid conservationists filmed this blood curdling graphic documentary and. the whole world is beholden to them for risking their lives in pursuit of their subliminal calling. The resultant outcry, stirred the government of the day. Paradoxically, it issued a direction to its fishermen to ensure that careful watch be kept to prevent filming of whale-slaughter-in-process at all costs and not the whale slaughter itself! Despite the angry and shrill outcry against whale fishing and their mass slaughter, Japan remains unmoved and unfazed and it is readying itself for another whaling season!
Japan is the world’s second largest economy. Next, only to USA. Ostensibly, Japanese are gentle, extremely polite and highly cultured. The world is richer as they have presented to the world their enchanting flower arrangement, painting, Haiku, Bonsai, and the famed tea ceremony. Significantly, it has fathered the Kyoto Pact to protect the humanity from the ill effects of global warming and devised a system of carbon credit. However, the most significant, unique and unparalleled feature of its philosophy of existence is enshrined in its Constitution, which directs the State to completely renounce war as an instrument of national policy.
So, why is this extremely polite and cultured society AT WAR with another extremely gentle, harmless, defenceless species called whales? The United Nations has just observed that whales, especially the Right Whales also known as Whalebone Whales are under danger of extinction. Quaintly, due to man’s insatiable desire to exploit those who cannot fight back for their very survival!
In contrast with Japans disdain for anything called Cetaceans (whales) we are by now familiar with heartwarming account of thousands of spectators rushing to the banks of Port of Sacramento just to catch a glimpse of two whales (mother and her calf) who have taken a wrong turn and swam 145 km inland. Two days later came the news that all out efforts to lure these two stranded whales back into the Pacific Ocean suffered a setback after they again reversed course and began heading further inland and that both were in great distress. The American Coast Guard have since placed a safety ring around them to ensure their safety while the veterinary doctors have administered antibiotics to hasten healing of cuts sustained on their skin. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has, just as this piece is being written, upheld the ban against whaling expeditions and Japan is making all the threatening noise of quitting the IWC!
The answer to unfathomable cruelties to these mammals perhaps lies in the Japanese psyche, which has been conditioned due to existence of 500 active volcanoes, insularity of their land. This has resulted in a narrow and circumscribed national outlook, which is out of step with the whole world despite Buddhism being religion of the masses. The same cruelty was evident during II World War. The Japanese man’s ability to commit Hara-kiri is singular and unparalleled in any other part of the world. The magnificent, gregarious and gentle Whales, Conservationists, and all right thinking people of the world will not shed a tear should Japan decide to commit political, social and cultural Hara-kiri. .
Japan is in the news for all the wrong reasons these days. Take the case of its willful and utter disdain towards world outcry against Whale slaughter. Japanese fisherman hunt for whales by harpooning them in a very cruel way and hoisting the magnificent sea mammals alive after they are exhausted. It carries out all this in the name of scientific experiments albeit selling whale meat, blubber, and its smooth skin as shoe leather, which is commercially known as “porpoise hide” Indeed, it has become a matter of right for Japan to exploit a provision, which exists in the International Whaling Commission’s Charter of Regulated Whaling. It has been exploiting this provision to carry out mass slaughter of Whales for years with impunity and contempt for the sentiments of vast majority of people in the world, who have their heart in right place.
This writer remembers with vivid clarity, a documentary aired in National Geography Channel a few years back. The documentary detailed mass slaughter of defenseless whales by a band of merciless Japanese fishermen. The sea in the vicinity of mass slaughter was blood red, as far as the eye could see. Intrepid conservationists filmed this blood curdling graphic documentary and. the whole world is beholden to them for risking their lives in pursuit of their subliminal calling. The resultant outcry, stirred the government of the day. Paradoxically, it issued a direction to its fishermen to ensure that careful watch be kept to prevent filming of whale-slaughter-in-process at all costs and not the whale slaughter itself! Despite the angry and shrill outcry against whale fishing and their mass slaughter, Japan remains unmoved and unfazed and it is readying itself for another whaling season!
Japan is the world’s second largest economy. Next, only to USA. Ostensibly, Japanese are gentle, extremely polite and highly cultured. The world is richer as they have presented to the world their enchanting flower arrangement, painting, Haiku, Bonsai, and the famed tea ceremony. Significantly, it has fathered the Kyoto Pact to protect the humanity from the ill effects of global warming and devised a system of carbon credit. However, the most significant, unique and unparalleled feature of its philosophy of existence is enshrined in its Constitution, which directs the State to completely renounce war as an instrument of national policy.
So, why is this extremely polite and cultured society AT WAR with another extremely gentle, harmless, defenceless species called whales? The United Nations has just observed that whales, especially the Right Whales also known as Whalebone Whales are under danger of extinction. Quaintly, due to man’s insatiable desire to exploit those who cannot fight back for their very survival!
In contrast with Japans disdain for anything called Cetaceans (whales) we are by now familiar with heartwarming account of thousands of spectators rushing to the banks of Port of Sacramento just to catch a glimpse of two whales (mother and her calf) who have taken a wrong turn and swam 145 km inland. Two days later came the news that all out efforts to lure these two stranded whales back into the Pacific Ocean suffered a setback after they again reversed course and began heading further inland and that both were in great distress. The American Coast Guard have since placed a safety ring around them to ensure their safety while the veterinary doctors have administered antibiotics to hasten healing of cuts sustained on their skin. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has, just as this piece is being written, upheld the ban against whaling expeditions and Japan is making all the threatening noise of quitting the IWC!
The answer to unfathomable cruelties to these mammals perhaps lies in the Japanese psyche, which has been conditioned due to existence of 500 active volcanoes, insularity of their land. This has resulted in a narrow and circumscribed national outlook, which is out of step with the whole world despite Buddhism being religion of the masses. The same cruelty was evident during II World War. The Japanese man’s ability to commit Hara-kiri is singular and unparalleled in any other part of the world. The magnificent, gregarious and gentle Whales, Conservationists, and all right thinking people of the world will not shed a tear should Japan decide to commit political, social and cultural Hara-kiri. .
Sunday, January 25, 2009
SECOND GUESSING,SCARE MONGERING AND FINANCIAL OBFUSCATION
Not a day passes by without the passive, innocent investor/s getting bombarded by high decibel firework display by the audio visual media by prophesies of impending unwinding,profit booking,short selling, desertion by FII's ,re- rating by the Moody's etc. Consequently,the poor investor finds himself in a state of shock and awe. The audio visual media which specialises in reporting the happenings in the financial market, with the active assistance of various financial intermediaries, interlocutors,fund houses, rating agencies, investment gurus - homegrown or foreign,smooth talking anchors ,are the focus of this piece.
The task of India's one and only central banking authority viz. Reserve Bank of India(RBI); is onerous and thankless to say the least. However, the job mandated to be carried by the regulator (RBI)has to be carried out with utmost diligence and care besides factoring in the role of currency speculators who come in the garb of investors and are,therefore, perpetually on a sharp lookout for an arbitrage opportunity ,to make a quick pile for themselves.
The work of arbitrageurs has been made easy because the central banks around the world ,do not,as a rule, react to each and every financial/currency development in the market. Nor does the RBI step out and issue a press release to stop or quell the process of second guessing that goes on merrily and rampantly in the A V media. Every speaker in the audio visual media wants to out-do the previous speaker to create the shock and awe by prophesising impending fall in the sensex to such and such level besides indulging in second guessing and obfuscating the real issue at hand.The smooth talking intermediaries are for ever present in the talk show and are for ever willing to give their side of the view without ever taking any responsibility or accountability for the views they so ardently articulate. The same- set-of speakers even go to the extent of advising at what level and at what price the investor should enter the market and what should be the stop loss level for a particular security- both in a rising market and falling market! This leaves the poor,guileless, and innocent investor thoroughly confused. And that situation gets confounded, when the investment guru based in Singapore is roped in. That investment guru prides himself as being known as prophet of Gloom and Doom.Is there felt need for prophets?
This unhealthy development,if it had ended there, would be understandable in a talk show. The fact that chairman and managing directors of banks ,both private and public,feel compelled and get embroiled in the game of second guessing the possible moves of the central bank i.e. the extent of increase in Repo,Reverse Repo,CRR etc., ,should be curbed,with a heavy hand.
Another,distasteful participation by the banks is second guessing the level of weekly inflation rate and the audio visual media name the banks who have participated in the build-up of consensus inflation rate Are the banks mandated to lend their weight in building up inflation expectation or as an agent of change,development and growth?
All banks have their own risk management systems,in place. The system is required to be alive to all such emerging and evolving situations. However, in the unlikely event of the system not being in place and ticking, the absence of such a system calls for regulatory upbraiding and a directive to that effect. Nothing more nothing less will do to remedy such a situation. And, therefore, the need for chairman and managing directors to add or lend their weight in second guessing the RBI moves in audio visual media, in either direction,or allowing their banks to participate in building consensus level of weekly inflation level, is both needless and avoidable,to say the least. Reprehensible, if it continues despite this amplification,because, they will be a hindrance to / scuttling price discovery mechanism. Thus,effectively, undercutting at the very root of the existence of the Stock Exchanges in the country.
Further, it calls for strengthening the inter-regulatory mechanism for exchange of information and SEBI being sensitised to deleterious role being played by the non-responsible and unaccountable but systemically important financial intermediaries, since it can lead to systemic collapse with far reaching reverberations and consequences.
SEBI should also look into uniformly opaque and non transparent disclosures made by the financial intermediaries is nothing but mockery. SEBI should study the system of disclosure in USA etc and issue directions besides advising the audio visual media what is acceptable and what is to be eschewed at all costs. The audio visual media can at best be disseminator of market position and not market maker. It cannot usurp the role of the Exchanges, which are meant to facilitate price discovery .
The task of India's one and only central banking authority viz. Reserve Bank of India(RBI); is onerous and thankless to say the least. However, the job mandated to be carried by the regulator (RBI)has to be carried out with utmost diligence and care besides factoring in the role of currency speculators who come in the garb of investors and are,therefore, perpetually on a sharp lookout for an arbitrage opportunity ,to make a quick pile for themselves.
The work of arbitrageurs has been made easy because the central banks around the world ,do not,as a rule, react to each and every financial/currency development in the market. Nor does the RBI step out and issue a press release to stop or quell the process of second guessing that goes on merrily and rampantly in the A V media. Every speaker in the audio visual media wants to out-do the previous speaker to create the shock and awe by prophesising impending fall in the sensex to such and such level besides indulging in second guessing and obfuscating the real issue at hand.The smooth talking intermediaries are for ever present in the talk show and are for ever willing to give their side of the view without ever taking any responsibility or accountability for the views they so ardently articulate. The same- set-of speakers even go to the extent of advising at what level and at what price the investor should enter the market and what should be the stop loss level for a particular security- both in a rising market and falling market! This leaves the poor,guileless, and innocent investor thoroughly confused. And that situation gets confounded, when the investment guru based in Singapore is roped in. That investment guru prides himself as being known as prophet of Gloom and Doom.Is there felt need for prophets?
This unhealthy development,if it had ended there, would be understandable in a talk show. The fact that chairman and managing directors of banks ,both private and public,feel compelled and get embroiled in the game of second guessing the possible moves of the central bank i.e. the extent of increase in Repo,Reverse Repo,CRR etc., ,should be curbed,with a heavy hand.
Another,distasteful participation by the banks is second guessing the level of weekly inflation rate and the audio visual media name the banks who have participated in the build-up of consensus inflation rate Are the banks mandated to lend their weight in building up inflation expectation or as an agent of change,development and growth?
All banks have their own risk management systems,in place. The system is required to be alive to all such emerging and evolving situations. However, in the unlikely event of the system not being in place and ticking, the absence of such a system calls for regulatory upbraiding and a directive to that effect. Nothing more nothing less will do to remedy such a situation. And, therefore, the need for chairman and managing directors to add or lend their weight in second guessing the RBI moves in audio visual media, in either direction,or allowing their banks to participate in building consensus level of weekly inflation level, is both needless and avoidable,to say the least. Reprehensible, if it continues despite this amplification,because, they will be a hindrance to / scuttling price discovery mechanism. Thus,effectively, undercutting at the very root of the existence of the Stock Exchanges in the country.
Further, it calls for strengthening the inter-regulatory mechanism for exchange of information and SEBI being sensitised to deleterious role being played by the non-responsible and unaccountable but systemically important financial intermediaries, since it can lead to systemic collapse with far reaching reverberations and consequences.
SEBI should also look into uniformly opaque and non transparent disclosures made by the financial intermediaries is nothing but mockery. SEBI should study the system of disclosure in USA etc and issue directions besides advising the audio visual media what is acceptable and what is to be eschewed at all costs. The audio visual media can at best be disseminator of market position and not market maker. It cannot usurp the role of the Exchanges, which are meant to facilitate price discovery .
Oath Taking- Need for a re-look into the Constitutional requirements.
History was made on 20th January 2009, when an African American took the Oath of Office in full view of the estimated 2.5 million cheering fellow Americans. The whirlwind of extravagant inauguration and the administration of Oath by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was in full compliance with the prescription in Article II Section I of the American Constitution. The fact that President Obama flubbed, stuttered steps, misplaced the word 'faithfully' due to miscues from the Chief Justice, has sent many legal luminaries in a tizzy and one legal wizard has gone to the extent of spelling out need for taking fresh Oath of Office, et al. Since doubts were raised and consternation expressed by eminent legal pundits, President Obama has re-taken the Oath of Office (on 21st January 2009) administered by the Chief Justice in a private function held in the Oval Office (White House) this puts to rest any future speculation besides addressing any question of legitimacy that his presidency may face. In India, the largest democracy in the world, the transition of power from one political party to another has never been an issue. It has been smooth all through these sixty odd years. The problem in India, therefore, has been palpable lack of governance, and unity of purpose, in the interregnum period covered by two general elections for the Lok Sabha. We are witness to ugly scenes, disorderly behaviour, fisticuffs, hurling of microphones in the hallowed precincts of the State Assemblies. But we have never heard of single instance of any MLA or MLC being named by the Speaker / called upon to pay for the colossal damage caused by him etc. This culture has to end and we have to imbibe the Unity of Purpose; dignity in the conduct of assembly proceedings, if we are to progress and go beyond mouthing empty slogans like removal of poverty.This digression from the main topic was considered necessary by this writer, only to bring home the message that it is in this milieu, the newly elected legislators entering these precincts of God's Work, get to cut their political teeth. The inscription in the polished stone above the foot steps of Vidhana Soudha (Karnataka) reads as " Government Work is God's Work"They also learn, in double quick time, all the ropes / kit for their own survival.One of the first lesson they learn is, how best and how fast, they can utter few words in praise of their leader/s, which of course, is pure ghee, honey and music to the ears of that leader/s. So, these legislators come armed with quiver full of choicest arrows. The arrows have to be so skilfully designed so as to be aerodynamic and find its target with built in homing device. In the words of Swami Vivekananda: " Can the ice resist melting, under the caressing rays of the Sun?"So our legislative members have fashioned a new all-weather proof arrow which they string to the bow of oath taking. The political demonstration of this prowess was exhibited when one newly elected lady legislative member took the oath in the name of women of that State. Not wanting to be outdone, another lady member took the oath in the name of the first lady legislative member's father-in-law and the latter's two sons, by explicitly uttering their names, and only finally, in the name of the revered freedom fighter Kittur Rani Chenamma.This illustrates an imperative need for taking a re-look at the requirements of the Indian Constitution, which, otherwise, gives the legislative members, poetic freedom to take oath in the name of anyone/anything. The legislative member owes his first allegiance to his constituency and the electorate who voted him into the assembly, in the first place, and then submit himself to party discipline.Contrast this with the unalterable prescription in the American Constitution. It specifies oath consisting of 35 words with "So help me God" being added, though not originally included in their Constitution, but that which has become a part of presidents traditional oath taking. If we want to be recognised by the whole world as a largest functioning democracy, we also have to agree and put in place 'Structured Oath ' and brush aside all obstructive view points. The question is that of Legitimacy, National Identity and respect for Rule of Law.If need be, we should not fight shy of revisiting the Constitutional requirements framed by our founding fathers.K K Luthria
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