From Principalities to Municipalities…The accession story of 565 Princely states to form united INDIA

Republic day has come and gone, but I am still thinking about ‘India’ and her past. It’s so strange, when I had to learn about India in my Social studies class, it seemed to be the biggest ‘hathoda’ (booooriiiing) and I absolutely mean no disrespect to my teacher, but now I skip my lunch and do research on India’s past!

I was wondering how the world must have viewed India’s freedom struggle. Knowing what to look for makes your ‘Google’ search so easy, right! I came across a very interesting article in Time magazine. It had a cover story on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in its January 27th, 1947 issue. There were some really great facts, that I am sure we never read in our school’s History books. Here is my take…

           Interestingly, it was assumed by many that freedom of India will not affect the princely states and there 93 million (25% of India’s population) residents. These were mostly, though not all, ruled by egoistic group of princes who had, on an average, 11 titles, 5.8 wives, 12.6 children and 3.4 Rolls-Royces. To bring under control this vast interplay of seemingly irresistible forces and immovable bodies would take more than the fanaticism of Muslim Leaguer Mohamed Ali Jinnah, more than Jawaharlal Nehru's eloquent idealism, even more than Gandhiji's mysticism and his faith in ‘one secular India’. India needed an organizer. She had one…Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Rest of the world saw chaos in India, but Vallabhbhai Patel saw it as a puzzle to be fitted together with thought and patience.

             Patel brought together 565 independent states, some by diplomacy and some by intimidation, and formed a nation. Kings and Princes turned over their 587,888 square miles and 88 million subjects to the Indian administration. That was not all; principalities also surrendered at least 700 million rupees' worth of securities, palaces and lands to the Indian government. The price that India paid for getting together all this principalities was 56 million rupees ($1.5M) a year in "purses" paid out to 283 princes.

Wait, there is more to come.

               New Delhi also promised the princes "the continuances of their rights, dignities and privileges." These include ceremonial salutes (9 to 21 guns, depending on rank and custom), the use of red automobile license plates, and the right to be called Your Highness. Each prince was allowed one palace for everyday living and a second palace at a seashore or hill resort. The fattest purse went to the Nizam of Hyderabad, who as also fabled as the richest man in the world, who got 5,000,000 rupees a year. The least, 192 rupees, went to the Talukdar of Kadodia, a tiny village in the Saurastra, Gujarat.
If you would like to read the original article (and to see how much I copy…pasted, please go to the following link)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,778889,00.html#ixzz1CAZ8zZ1Z

President Obama: Hmmm…Left or Right!!

Yesterdays State of the Union (SOTU) speech might not be the best of President Obama’s works, but I think it did the trick for his ever depleting poll rating. When he spoke about how he will ‘support’ the limiting of the mal-practice law suites against the doctors and reviewing the corporate tax code, it felt as if, for a brief moment, President Obama might have changed the party!

His referencing of China, India and South Korea in the first five minutes of the speech shows how the views have changed in Washington and Whitehouse, especially. From being a ‘blind-folded world superpower’ to ‘one of the competitors in the truly globalize world’. I think it was important for the Whitehouse to accept this fact first before it sells it to the American people. Global economy is ‘not a zero-sum game’ anymore. And other emerging powers, like India and most notably, China, should also know this. If they want to keep there trade surplus with US, they have to offer US companies the same level playing field in there domestic market as local competitors. 

Coming back to President Obama, I think he should have focused on corporate tax reform before signing off the second Quantitative Easing (QE). As per Larry Kudlow of CNBC, supply-side economics have to be given a chance if demand-side doesn’t work in the first try (first QE).

After watching last years SOTU when the then, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) was standing and applauding President Obama after the end of each and every sentence, it was strange to see the new House Speaker John Boehner(R), only standing up thrice during the whole 50 minute speech. Although, understandably so.

As far as building the hi-speed rail network, expanding the wireless connectivity to every nook and corner of the nation, building ‘better’ schools, making public school teachers the ‘nation builders’, cutting budget deficit and selling more electric cars then anyone else on the planet, Obama sounded more as a Presidential candidate for 2012, then the US President of 2011. 

Happy 61st Republic Day, India

Yesterday President Obama gave his annual State of the Union speech to the US congress. In his 50 minute speech he mentioned China 8 time, South Korea 7 times and India 3 times. This is a progress for India compare to last year when he only mentioned India ‘twice’!

It’s been 61 years since India’s constitution was adopted and boy what a journey it has been. We have witnessed the low of ‘Operation Blue Star’ and the high of ‘many’ hung parliaments, which never compromised our constitution. Our constitution has been tested over and over again but it has always been respected, no matter what. India is a proud democracy and with her diverse culture and huge population, I don’t think we credit her enough for this achievement.

In a very ‘short’ period of time, India has become the world’s fourth largest economy (PPP based), World’s Information Technology hub and hopefully, pretty soon, permanent member of the UN Security Council !

           
            India’s Constitution has been ‘adopted’ and ‘respected’ but has it been ‘implemented’ in a way that it trickles down to the bottom of the population, so that they can also reap the benefits? I am afraid not. Justice is still ‘delayed’ till the people involved are dead and the case closes. Same thing with our democratic system, Democracy is not ‘only’ about holding successful elections; it is about fulfilling people’s wishes.

It is ‘Of the people, ‘By the people’ but is it ‘For the people’?

What India has achieved in the past 61 years is phenomenal, but given the potential that this nation has, I am sure we can do much much better.  

India’s journey from Monarchy to Democracy to "Pseudo Monarchy"...

I am an avid reader of Soutik Biswas’s articles on bbc.com. In his most recent article he is talking about a new book India: A Portrait, by historian Patrick French. Patrick presents some startling data on the stranglehold of family and lineage on Indian politics. Following are some startling revelations from the book:

• Third of India's parliamentarians have a hereditary connection.
• More than two thirds of the 66 MP’s aged 40 or under are hereditary MPs.
• Nearly 70% of the women MPs have family connections.
• Every MP in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) under the age of 30 had inherited a seat.
• 37% of the MPs – 78 of 208, in Congress party are hereditary compared to 19% hereditary MPs – 22 of 116, in the main opposition party, BJP.

      
Is this a trend? I hope not. I think India as a democratic nation is still in her infancy and hence, still growing. If you look at a bigger picture, hereditary runs in most of the other fields. Take for instance, Indian film industry, how many present day actors had a family member in the industry? Take the big corporations, the control passes on from father to son/daughter (main and ONLY exception being the Tata Empire).

One of the most important things to remember after reading the above post is that all the hereditary MP’s still have to be voted in. So to all the critics of India’s hereditary politics, lineage remains a key factor in politics, but it can only give a head start and nothing more.

Repulicrats & Democrians

The basic difference between Democrats & Republican’s economic policies:

Democrats will increase Taxes and Spend!

Republicans will issue Debt and Spend!

2011- Aon Political Risk Map

Aon, based in Chicago, is the world’s largest Re-insurer.

In its annual political risk survey for 2011, Aon upgraded India to ‘Medium low’ from ‘Medium’ risk level.

Chindia

India’s dynamic economy was able to stay clear from the global recession. This indeed can be a transitional period for India and in the coming decade I seriously think that India can grow faster then China.

Since last 30 years China was growing at an average of 10% per year. India’s average for the last decade was a healthy 7.5%. Much much better then the ‘Hindu rate of growth’ of 3.5%. Goldman Sach’s chief economist, Jim O’Neal said that 2011 India is China of 2001. Not that India is a decade behind, but the potential that India has in the coming decade. The most important thing working in India’s favor is its population. India’s working age population (20-65) will increase by 130 million by 2020, where as China will ‘only’ add 23 million, thanks to its ‘one-child’ policy of 1970’s. The mean age of India’s population is 27.5 years and China’s is 36.8. It is interesting to note that America’s mean age is 37 years but come 2020 and US will be younger (35) then China (38)

This all will only help if India implements ‘structural reforms’ and reduces redtapism that has become synonymous with government offices. This is a golden opportunity for India to get back its ‘rightful’ place in the global economy. I remember how Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani mentioned about India’s booming population growth in late 90’s during his speech at Wharton Business School. He said that 600 million youths are one of the biggest assets that India has to become an economic superpower one day.

Truer worlds where never spoken…

India’s answer to America’s Social Security card:

Project AADHAAR – India’s Unique Identification Number (UID)

              In early 2009 Man Mohan Singh government started the process of allocating identification card to each and every resident Indian’s. As of now, I think there are more then 20 different proofs of ids accepted as official document.

             This is going to be one of the largest projects of its kind in the whole world. The project is lead by Ex-Infosys Chairman Mr. Nandan Nilekani. According to planetbiometrics.com, last week it was revealed that the three top bidding groups for the biometric solution for UID project were Accenture, Mahindra Satyam (in consortium with Morpho) and L-1 Identity Solutions.

            Accenture is believed to have quoted the lowest price with a transaction cost of Rs. 2.75 per record, and the two vendors who were next in the line have been asked to match this rate. Tentative date for the project to go live is 12^th August of this year. Although first UID’s were issued to the tribal people of Tembhli village of Maharashtra's Nandurbar district on September 29^th.

            I am being very optimistic here, but just imagine how much corruption would be eliminated. All the benefits of the government programs for the ‘not-so-privileged’ people will finally reach them. No more ‘Lalu’s Fodder scam’!! I know corruption in India is like water, that will eventually find its way, but you have to at least agree on the fact that UID will certainly have a positive effect on the countries finances.

Rahul Dravid's Curse

Do you feel you are not appreciated?

If ‘Yes’ (or No), please read below:

• Rahul Dravid scores his 10,000th run, but wait, Virendra Sehwag scores a career high of 319.
• Dravid scores 11,000 test runs, goes past Allan Border and scores a match saving 177 after 32-4, but wait, Sachin Tendulkar just completed 20 years in international cricket.
• Dravid scores his 12,000 tests runs and goes ahead of Brian Lara, but wait, Sachin scores his 50th 100
• Dravid takes his 200th catch, but wait media is still celebrating Sachin’s 50^th 100

How do you feel now??

Shamelessly copied from cricinfo.com

Growing up in 90's India

             Growing up in 90’s India was like watching the 5 day test match in 20-20 format.

The first half of 1990’s:

            I remember how there was only one ‘World class’ automobile company, Maruti Suzuki that was giving Hindustan Motor’s, Ambassador, the symbol of India’s License Raj era, run for it’s money. Oh! And for the people with some taste we also had Doshi’s Padmini Premier.

Getting a phone connection took 5-6 years and would cost a fortune. If I am not mistaken, ‘pp’ became the standard for ones neighbor’s phone number.

          

           You can watch all the television you want, provided you watch it between 6am to 9 am, 12pm-4pm & 5pm-11pm on the grand total of ONE channel ‘Doordarshan’. A friend of mine was in his 3^rd year of engineering and during his summer break I went along with him for one opening that was published in the newspaper. There were over 800 ‘potential’ candidates for that one job.

           The effect of 1991 liberalization took a while to reach Baroda, but when it came it came with a ‘bang’.

The second half of 1990’s:

           GM’s German car company Opel opened its plant near Baroda. I started counting the Opel Astra’s that were running on Baroda’s road. I stopped counting after 10. During the post 95 period, I remember my professor of Marketing saying that there are so many car brands that he can’t figure out which model is owned by which company!! Internet café’s became the new place for the youths to hang out. E-mail address now took the place of ‘pp’ on people’s contact info. Cable television gave birth to the new breed of entrepreneurs. Now, you can watch TV anytime you want, on any channel you want, with No conditions applied!!

           I can gladly say that the generation of 90's have seen 'almost' everything!! but I bet fellow Indian's from other generations will say the same.

I concur!

Hindi Movies

               I was watching the 'Best Songs of last Century' the other and I started thinking about how the landscape of the Hindi movies (I hate to refer Hindi movies as 'Bollywood', it seems like a cheap knock-off of Hollywood) have changed in the past couple of decades.

              With all due respect to the great actors & directors of 50's thru 80's, I feel that movies reflected the society of those times. We had movies that would have famine stricken farmer & a victim of the labor stricken, un-employed as the main protagonist. India of 1950's-70's was indeed going through a very rough phase which was rightly reflected in the movies. The economic liberalization brought a new wave of enthusiasm in Indians. They started to feel optimistic about the future. Movies that had Shimla & Mahabaleshwar as their regular backdrops, globalized as well. The 'Himalaya's' became ‘Alps’; Bombay's Nariman Point building took back seat for New York's sky-scrapers, Namibia's desert took over Thar of Rajasthan.

             The vision of Indian movies shows what the society as a whole thinks about their own future.

And there is more to come in terms of prosperity, which will be rightly reflected in the movies, as the great Indian tiger has just about awakened…

…abhi picture baki hai mere dost!!