The Nano Dream

People at Tata House must be desperate I believe. What else can you call if the Tata Motors tries to push its Nano at discounted prices to one of its largest companies in the group? Last week, all of us at our company received an email from our CEO asking us to be a part of the Great Nano revolution by availing Nanos at 25k lesser than the market price. The clincher? Limited Edition versions of Nanos with Mr.Ratan Tata's autograph on it.

This comes at a time when the market is abuzz with talk about the colossal failure of India's automotive marvel. All the leading magazines and news channels have aired special programs and cover page articles on what went wrong with Tata Nano. With a sunk cost of close to Rs.3500 Crs, and the sales yet to really take off, its seems a bad move from the top corporate house to see sales through its affiliate companies.

Nano was undoubtedly the most expected automotive product in a long time. But when it did debut, the excitment fizzled out seeing a product that at best can be called a "4-wheel drive". The sporadic "thermal incidents" (as the company refers to the incidents of Nano catching fire) have created a huge doubt in the minds of potential buyers. This product might have clicked in a big way had been introduced in 1998 or there about. Now, with a growing income and better options to choose from, it does look like a misplaced product.

It is indeed commendable that Mr.Tata had a great vision to give India its cheapest car. I am still amazed by the way Tata motors captured the small load vehicle market by introducing Tata Ace, a well researched, relevant product. But somehow, Tata Nano still doesnt have that connect that Ace had. Ace served its purpose and opened up a whole new market. It had all that an Piaggio diesel load-auto didnt have. But with Nano, it wanted to people to migrate from two wheelers to 4 wheelers, which in any means is a huge shift. It was a mouthwatering deal to own a car within the 1lakh rupees bracket.

Neither did it stick to the promise of Rs.1 lakh nor did it fulfill the fantasy of people who wanted a real car. It looks like a richer cousin of a 4 stroke autorickshaw. The rear-engine's sputter just about underlines that fact.

May be the intentions were very right, just that the project parameters were too unrealistic?? I am happy that Mr.Tata could realize his vision.It will indeed be interesting to see how many of us in Tata Group grab this chance of buying ourselves a Nano. With a sizeable population of the country being employed by the Tata Group, may be the reaction to this special campaign will decide the future of Tata Nano.

Lets wait and see.

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post is entirely mine. Any conclusion arrived at based on this article is entirely at the reader's discretion.

Thank God, Its not Sashi Tharoor!

Oslo has been targetted by "home-grown" terrorist. Why is it that none of the nations are able to foil such dasterdly acts? I happened to see the photo gallery of the blast and shoot out victims on The Hindu a moment ago, and call it coincidence, I was listening to the "Bombay Theme" by AR Rahman. Unknown to me, I felt anger, helplessness, frustration and pity looking into the pictures. The grim reality was only hightened by the haunting tunes. What bloodshed!

Amidts all the reports, there was one customary note from the Chief of UN, Mr.Ban Ki Moon, deeply condemning the cowardly act. What bullshit! Buck up Mr.BanK-i-Moon.. your organization has become the most unbankable one. What is the point in having an organization that talks so much, has conferences all round the year with zero results?

It really brings us back to the funadmental question : Is the UN really relevent in current times? All they do is make a hue and cry when any disaster, be it Man made or natural, strikes and then go back into their air conditioned offices and conduct meeting. In a way, its like one of our IT companies, albeit a non functional one. Our IT Companies talk about being Proactive rather than reactive. Its another irony that there is no word called proactive. Its either act or react, isn't it? 

Crime in any form is deplorable. But when a global watch dog becomes a mute spectator and just reacts to all these acts, its just unacceptable. And thats why I said, thank God its not Sashi Tharoor at its helm. At least we are saved from knowing the UN's reaction through his tweets!!That would have been a total disaster!!

Last week Mumbai, this week Oslo and Kabul keeps erupting everyday. So,all you conspiracy theorists, out with your claim of Armageddon. For once, you could be true and it would be a pity as it looks like none would survive to record your achievement.

Mumbai attacked - AGAIN!

Can you believe it??? Mumbai is under attack again! This is the nightmare I used to carry every single day I used to travel on the Western line from Andheri to Churchgate. And now, 3 bomb blasts in South Mumbai today.. at peak hours again. The details are not clear yet but already reports suggest that the blast has claimed 9 lives.


Though I do not travel by the local trains now, it still is shuddering to think of travelling in Mumbai. Already the security checks at major places and offices are too much.. with this it will only make life more difficult for Mumbaikars.

7/11, 26/11 and now this: 3 IED devices went off at Dadar West, Opera House and Zaveri Bazar today between 6:50 and 7:00PM claiming 9 lives and injuring over a 100 as of now.

Our prayers are with the family of the unfortunate few who lost their lives today and with the injured who are admitted in various hospitals.

Crazy Crazy World

What has the world come to? Doomsday on 21 December 2012 was hard to believe even a couple of months ago. But the amazing turn of events in the Arab world makes us revisit the prophesy again. Most disturbing is the turn of events in Libya where the government got cracking on its citizens opposing mad man Muammar Qaddafi. This actually began in Bahrain which first unleashed its Army in the wee hours of the morning on its citizens in Pearl Square. Wisely though, the Royal House withdrew this audacious attack, fearing backlash from the Western powers. But no such effect is evident on Qaddafi who has the guts to state that all Libyans love him. The Mad man's regime continues and its effect is felt world over in tumbling bourses and spiraling oil prices. God help all of us who are just coming out of the worst recession in world history.

The major reason for the populist Arab uprisings seems to be because of the oppression which the people suffered at the hands of rulers who in some cases have been around for more than 40 years! Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. How true is this in the case of Arab nations where absolute Monarchy or Dictatorship is the only power center? Arab citizens are of the view that a democratically elected parliament based on a nationally accepted constitution is the only way out. But is it really the case? They have just given vent to their anger on all the possible forums and have also successfully toppled long stable governments in the wink of an eye. Is it all really worthwhile?

Change is the only thing that is constant. But a change without a proper direction is like a rudderless ship. It will have its bottom torn apart. I have always had this opinion that a military rule in India will lead to a more organized society than what it is now. But, being in an Arab nation which is called a welfare state and also taking in consideration all that is happening around me, I can see that that too is not a correct solution. In fact I am confused.

To draw an analogy, let’s see how the state I grew up in, Tamil Nadu is shaping up. We have a democratically elected government running our affairs for close to 10 years now. How has it helped the people? Well, the average income of a household has definitely increased and the lifestyle has also seen uplift. But is the government ruling the state responsible for it? Not really. We have always yearned to be like our counterparts in the Western country so as people; we have made this state a safe haven for investment. We, as normal law abiding citizens, want to lead a life of contentedness and hence we are burning the midnight oil to ensure that we are wealthy and prosperous enough in the years to come.

But, is the government actually doing anything at all? I would say the answer is no. India on the whole is riding on the great Indian story with galloping stock markets and blazing IT Superpower. But, somewhere in the middle of things, we have forgotten to ask: What about governance? What about our growth plan? Things have come to such a position that we don't care whether its Ram or Ravan who is ruling the state as long as we get our monthly cheques. Slowly, the aam admi is feeling the pinch of inflation on his wallet. He is starting to question why prices have to double each year when the Price of a liter of milk in US hasn't changed in a long time.

With the plethora of scams hitting the country, our taxes meant for improvement of our country's infrastructure is falling into the hands of a few powerful lot who in turn enrich themselves, but cleverly masquerading in the public as a good government servant. For instance, the print, visual and audio media in Tamil Nadu is completely controlled by the first family. So, all the medium of propagation is already in their hands. It is they who will decide what its citizens need to hear, see and read. Is this any different from the likes of Qaddafi and his son? I don't think so. It’s a well known fact that booth capturing in the southern part of the state is a long time activity and is noticed, but ignored completely by the state and central officials. I am surprised people don’t see this as tyranny!

Cinemas were one area of relaxation for the public. But, now, even the movies are produced, purchased, released by companies and theatres owned by the first family and also reviewed and ranked high in channels owned by them. WOW! Amazing.. THIS can happen only in Democratic, Republic nation called India.

If this is not enough, the government decides that its people do not have enough outlets for entertainment, so it decides to give a TV Set free to all of them! And since that TV can accommodate 100+ channels, the government sees it fit to start its own Cable/Satellite TV! Little do people realize that this will take their view of Tamil Nadu to each and every home in a single move and also ensure that the channels held by them gets better revenue!

Wait wait.. you cannot completely write off the government, can you?? ;). It did have a brainwave when it realized that giving the people TV alone won’t suffice as they will end up being lazy and earn less. What did it do? Give Rice at Re.1/- per KG and other commodities at such low price that people will have sambar, pongal and vadai at home and keep watching the Government TV beaming the First family's political propaganda. The family head doesn't stop there. He further enters the visual and print medium with his books and scripts that are converted into movies that bomb without a trace. A good move to convert black money to white??

And if this is not enough, the MP from the ruling party also thought that he could get his hands on a couple of, if not more, telecom companies so that they also give free Mobile handsets to people for the next election. Thank God he is lodged in Tihar Jail.

With all this happening in front of our eyes, we are still content with it as long as our pay packets are on time and we can maintain the current lifestyle.

NO.. please don't get me wrong.. I am not asking to replicate a Tahrir Square at Marina Beach or MGR Samadi. Just trying to let the Tunisians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Yemenis, Bahrainis and Libyans know that grass is always green on the other side.

This is the world as it is. People come, people go. Corruption, Greed and thirst for power will always be there as long as Earth lives, just like the cockroaches.

Ciao.

Artificial Kidneys!!!

I am taking a break from the Abha Roadies to write about this wonderful new invention: Artificial Kidney. I was browsing the usual news websites when this article caught my attention:Artificial Kidney.

An Indian, Mr.Shuvo Roy based in US, and his team has created the first implantable artificial kidney. WOW! This is something we should have had years ago. No, I am not complaining that it has come so late. This comment stems from my experience when my Dad was affected with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). He was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure 10 years ago and due to his smoking habits, his kidney performance deteriorated rapidly.

He is not the first in the family to be affected with PKD. My paternal grandmother, my first aunt all had this killer disease which proved fatal for them. Luckily, my Dad had the courage and more importantly the will power to overcome this disease.

A fistula and 75 painful haemo-dialysis later, we were able to plan for his renal transplant. But his kidneys had been so badly damaged that he had to undergo a bilateral nephrectomy. 4 weeks later he had a successful renal transplant.

It was really bad to see 200 odd pin pricks on his hand meant for dialysis. I sincerely hope this new device from MIT will help reduce the physical pain and the cost of dialysis for all those who are suffering from renal disease!

Congrats Mr. Shuvo Roy!