Business to the Buddha

Tag: corruption

  • Teaching virtues to Adviti







    We were blessed with a baby girl a couple of months back. We have named her Adviti. Adviti from a Hindi / Sanskrit word Advitiya which means unparallel, peerless or no other can be like her (him). As they say in Chinese catch them young, now, I am parenting Adviti and teaching her virtues.

    In last couple of months life has changed. A lot has changed for me and specially for my wife – Simple. Having a baby is a huge responsibility and taking care of her has changed us both in many ways. A dimension is added in all these personal, psychological and emotional changes – how do we provide good upbringing to Adviti?

    Being bit spiritual, though she is just turning six months, I started reading Jatak tales to her. At times I laughed at myself – I am reading these stories to her in English. I wonder if she understand Hindi (native language) forget about English (non native language). Isn’t it difficult to figure out approach for correct (better) upbringing of kids? Has anyone figured it out?

    When I started reading these stories to her, I asked myself, should I teach certain virtues – taught in the stories – to her? I wonder in next couple of years how our society will change.

    As a kid I lived around a lot of Jain followers. During those days not eating onion and garlic was natural to me. In fact I am trying to practice their eating habits now too. Besides other concepts, the Jain philosophy teaches a concept – Asteya meaning non stealing. However, in today’s society where morally corrupt make the law and loot are mostly legalized, what is the meaning of a parent teaching such lessons to his/her children?

    I have examples of previous 70 years of corruption cases of India alone, forget about the rest of the world. The law gets bent such that corruption – even though it is evident – of these lawmakers become legally correct. It is so difficult to prove – something that looks so evident – that many corruptions happened but we cannot prove it easily – case in point is – case on son of previous finance minister. Our (specially Indian) legal system is so slow and lopsided that it takes 20+ years to get someone jailed (read Sanjay Dutt or Lalu Prasad Yadav) and prove someone innocent (A postman).

    Here, it is needless to say that Indian film industry tried proving Sanjay Dutt innocent with all the flaws. Isn’t it possible someone in future will try to paint these current politicians also as innocent? If our culture is getting a narrative that is distorted parents may have doubt in teaching virtues to their kids. Asteya – non stealing – is it just a good concept in books or religious sermons? Does it make sense to teach virtue’s to our next generation?

  • Farewell 2016







    Wish you a Very Happy New Year.

    Cherish the moments you enjoyed and learn from the mistakes made – that he how we must move on in life and celebrate. Isnt it? The year 2016 was eventful. Every year is eventful though New Year blog 2016, New Year blog 2015, New Year blog 2014, New Year Blog 2013, New Year blog 2012, New Year blog 2011  😉

    Terrorism – There is a new common for the world – terrorism – so that was as usual, religious extremism has not only kept its target India but added Europe to it. These apparently look like some unorganized terrorist attacks, but the end of many of these thread is common. The list is not small – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents,_2016 We need to ask ourselves – when are we going to be “human” behave like humans? Did we learn anything from this in 2016? In fact I wrote this and heard 2017 has started with terrorist attack in Turkey! Waste! These good for nothing parasites on the face of earth do not understand what nonsense they are involved in, if some religion teaches this that is not a religion at all.

    Business & Economics – There were few big developments in the year, first UK voted to leave European Union, second Wells Fargo of US was found out to be involved in a big scandal and third India demonetized high denomination currencies. Here is a wonderful Ted Talk on UK’s vote to leave EU.

    Wells Fargo scandal has no lesser words for taking strict actions against the high, mighty and decision makers who looked for Q-o-Q results and made up books, profits and rewards the culprits. You must watch this video to know how

    Demonetization in India shook many within India, and to utter surprise three others countries planed to follow suit – http://qz.com/867724/three-countries-across-three-continents-after-modis-india-demonitisation-has-spread-to-other-countries-too/

    What banks did post demonetization in India must be a subject matter of scrutiny same as Wells Forgo in the US.

    Another battle happening currently in India is Tata group Vs Cyrus Mistry (the story is yet to unfold fully in 2017). As of 10th Dec 2016 (source), Investors of Tata group have lost about Rs 81,000 crore (810 Billion INR) in seven top Tata group companies since October 24 as Mistry was replaced by Ratan Tata as Tata Sons chairman.

    Politics – Donald J Trump the next President of USA. It was most surprising and unthinkable when campaigning started last year. I wonder if what inspired Trump was mockery by Obama in white house in 2011.

    Corruption – There was enough and more hue and cry about Panama papers. Corruption of many rich people worldwide. What is Panama papers? Watch the following video to know more. We must ask each one of these filthy rich people – what would they get by making, hoarding and rolling so much money all over the world? Remember we all leave everything here, including the wealth.

    Somethings caught my eyes, were AT&T’s acquisition of Yahoo, LinkedIn’s by Microsoft and the phenomenon called Pokemon Go! https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/11/crunch-report-pokemon-go-mania/
    Pokémon Go added $9B to Nintendo’s value, global rollout continues within a week
    Pokémon Go has an estimated 7.5M U.S. downloads, $1.6M in daily revenue within a week
    Will 22K people turn up to catch Pokémon in San Francisco and what less – Robbers target Pokémon Go players in Missouri.

    What all these events have taught us? Humanity is important than a religion and terrorism. Globalization needs a perspective of interdependence at times we need to let go of some control, at times be need to think of inclusion. Every company has to be responsible, whether its Wells Fargo or Tata group. Never mock anyone, even if you are the president of the worlds most powerful, economically strong country. You will leave your wealth here only, pay your taxes instead of evading it. Legitimate money will make you and your money more respectable and in the end you would leave your body too here, wont take anything back with you. If you are doing something, put your heart and soul in it, make it awesome like the Pokemon Go!

    This was LBC topic for farewell to 2016, I am late, was bit occupied with a preparation for a workshop on IPR held yesterday 31st Dec. You can read other blogs of other Loose Bloggers Consortium members at Ramana Uncleji and Shackman.

  • Indian Elections – Criminals in politics






    When Anna said once – “I don’t agree to party politics.” I didn’t understand that. During election days I was being very hopeful on good candidates from the opposition parties and hoping they would make it one sided whitewash of ruling parties. Unfortunately I was too optimistic about Indian political system. There are many tainted candidates from all parties who have been in power for so many years. Just to give you a perspective

    Criminals in Election

    Source – ADR report first 6 phases Link

    Note when my friend Vaibhav called to suggest write on elections I said no. He suggested don’t write favoring any party. So this suggestion boils down to what Anna Hazare said. A good way to make Indian political system accountable is voting a non criminal, non corrupt and good candidate at each constituency. Then forget he/she is from which party.

    This will eventually force everyone to put forth better candidates – educated and worth voting for.

  • Indian Elections – Divided we stand Together!






    You should not be surprised when Economists (all educated – PhDs from the USA) are not looking at these expenses; …they are saying that this is an inflow of money from Swiss banks so this is boosting Indian economy! Markets are anyways touching high almost every second day [Pun Intended].

    One of my friends – Vaibhav – called me last week. He said someone (Lets call him Ravi) came canvassing for a political party to him. Viabhav asked me if I can write something on Indian Politics! I plainly rejected saying my blogs relate to Business and Spirituality I wont write on politics.

    Economist'sHe further persuaded me, said- (Vaibhav speaks) let me give you my example, I said to Ravi – I am supporting who will form Govt! Ravi told me “good, are you sure you support criminals in politics, do you find corruption as chalta hai!…” Vaibhav said “no!” Ravi – than what is your take? Will you vote for corruption, criminals!”

    Vaibhav continued over phone “Pravin, it made me think. I shall vote for what I think is right even if that person loses election. Why dont you write?” I still said – no to political blog, I am favoring a better India, not any political party. Everyone must have their plans for a better India. Every party has different priority, we should respect each one. Vaibhav said do not write in favor of any party per se, ask people to vote for what they feel as right not necessarily for any party.

    Today I voted, so thought that I should speak my mind out.

    Earlier I have written on various topics closely related to governments, economy and corruptions. All these include crony capitalism as well (perhaps subtly). How can these big parties invest so much on election? Who funds them and what is the part in the flesh (of these invisible hands) in future policy making? According to news the Ad expense itself is in Crs ref Hindustan Times News! Forget about ground activities such as rallies, printing of leaflets and air travel of netas (buying votes by cash/liquor) etc. You should not be surprised when Economists (all educated – PhDs from the USA) are not looking at these expenses; perhaps they are saying that this is an inflow of money from Swiss banks so this is boosting Indian economy! Markets are anyways touching high almost every second day [Pun Intended].

    What I see in the current Indian political system is – lack of effective opposition. It is evident that the government also realized it. The UPA government has talked about everything except Janlokpal bill in 2011. Passed a weak bill (just to garner votes in 2013 state election & general election now). If we look at 2011 at various occasions Govt spoken to malign those who want to stand against corruption. The list includes – Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal (his wife) and Sri Sri.

    It has been observed that CBI can VERY efficiently work against those who can be threats to Govt. but CBI FAILS miserably to Find facts, File cases and Finish the proceeding against any political parties. It simply proves the current system does not work. I asked myself few questions about two years back – Will Mr Raja contest next election? Will Mr Sibal contest? Mr Digvijay Singh had been finishing his 10 years “Sanyas” after a comprehensive (Bijli, Sadak, Pani) MP Defeat, would he contest next Lok Sabha elections? All are answered now.

    Corruption has become talk of the history. No one speaks as passionately against corruption as we – citizen of India – voiced in 2011. The reason is simple – we are divided by political parties – we all want things to change, we do not want to change our narrow focus of political affiliation!

  • #CoalGate, corruption, politics & economics







    A few days back I completed this book Globalization and is discontent by Dr Stiglitz, a nobel laureate. I wrote on that recently – Interdependent co-arising a macroeconoics example. Besides this macroeconomics example, I had this intra-country example of the same concept of interdependent co-arising. Stiglitz has written so many things more than 10 years back which are happening in India currently. However, here I am just interested in quoting a small part of the book which relates to the corruption of coal mine allocation in present day India. This example is from page 71 of the book –

    …

    There is more to the list of legitimate Complaints against Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Such investments often flourish only because of special privileges extracted from the govt. While standard economics focuses on the distortion of incentives that result from such privileges,  there is a far more insidious aspect: often those privileges are the result of corruption the bribery of govt officials. The Foreign Direct Investment comes only at the price of undermining domestic processes. This is particularly true for investments in much oil and other natural resources where foreigners have a real incentive to obtain the conversation at low prices.

    Moreover such investment have other adverse effect- and often so not promote growth.  The income that mining conversation brings can be invaluable but Development is a transformation of society. An investment in mine – say in a remote area of a country – does little to assist the development transformation, beyond the resources it generates. It can help create a dual economy, an economy in which there are pocket of wealth. But this duel economy is not a developed economy. Indeed, the inflow of resources can sometimes actually impede development, through a process that is called “Dutch disease”

    …

    So effectively, what Stiglitz said was bribing of officials for mining in developing / undeveloped countries. Further, the dual economy this FDI may create is not best for country to develop. I would take this example of Dutch disease in my next post – “Business to the Buddha”.

    Here what I want to highlight is this – the current issue in India – #CoalGate scam is a clear example of what Stiglitz wrote more than 10 years back. Indian Prime Minister – Dr Manmohan Singh – being an economist might have been aware about this and perhaps therefore kept Coal Ministry with him. This is just an extrapolation. Otherwise why would Law ministry and Law minster would want to change parts of report? According to the Supreme Court of India, the changes are Heart of the report.

    After reading the book – Globalization and its discontents – I realized that Stiglitz is not against Globalization but against the way Globalization is happening. So, when you read the above part, you should not infer that Stiglitz is against Globalization.

  • Inner revolution







    Recently heard that UK has declared recession, Spain and Italy has done so earlier, Greece has once voted against the austerity measures and Sarkozy is no more French president – which is a dent on austerity measures of Eurozone. This is the story of Euro! USA employment numbers are not that encouraging, employment should be about 250,000/month however last time I noted it was 150,000 or so. China showed reduced production and Indian GDP is down.

    The picture looks gloomy, however have you seen importance of stars during full moon?  No! The importance and glitter of stars is prominent during darkest of nights. I believe this tough economic time is hinting of such nights when we would realize the importance of small things which impact us in big way. Take an example corruption! Take an example Greed! Though it seems a lesson on moral science but what else we are saying when we talk about the “Moral Hazard” as the biggest reason of recession and financial turmoil! In Indian context we need to work on reducing corruption (byproduct of greed) which is the biggest moral hazard here. In Europe and US Greed is the problem.

    I asked myself – are we going to see a revolution in the world? This revolution I believe would be on a tangent – it would not only happen in the society, not only by the society but also it would happen on the self! We have seen societies changing, cultures evolving  however these changes die down slowly and moral hazard starts again.

    Guruji

    I was attending an Art of Living (with Guruji :)) session today and the idea of ‘inner revolution’ stuck to me at that time. This makes a perfect sense – if everyone becomes righteous, we would not need to change the society, it would change itself.

    We need to get ready for inner revolution and help change the world for better today and tomorrow! Remember this would start from each one of us.

  • God be the CEO!







    From The book of Mirdad –

    God is your captain, sail, my Ark!
    …
    Love is your compass, ply, my Ark!
    …
    Faith is your anchor, ride, my Ark!

    Today I was wondering about what if the world is an organization and the God is the CEO! What would be the situation, in the boardroom and what must be going through His mind?

    Situation – the countries and continents are a department each. There is a cost center – USA – this department is in debt and there seems to be no way out for it to survive. The likely other cost center is the EU – European Union. Operations and manufacturing unit is China. Parts of Middle-East and India a chaotic department wherein the left hand ‘does not know‘, ‘does not want to know‘ and ‘does not want to support‘ what the right hand is doing. The chaos is such that the department is rather a destruction center, not even a cost center. Only good department seem to be Africa and the South East Asia region. Would the CEO resign? Or He would dismiss few those who are responsible for this. For namesake – Former president of USA George W Bush (he forced the world to a war – to me which was unnecessary – the Iraq war), Gaddafi, many politicians including Indian politicians, leaders of the terrorist organizations (Osama is already dead) and those others who are the culprits.

    Keep aside the joke of the God being the CEO. Do you think that the situation is really dire – accounts (economy), production and administration everything is in a chaos. If yes, do not you think that it is our responsibility to improve everything round us. Should one take life of the other in the biggest organization – The World? (terrorism). Should one be corrupt in the organization where her/his family will also be at the receiving end? (India). Should one produce products which could be contaminated by Lead (China – some toys), be prone to fail and take life (cars)? Should one be so extravagant that the whole organization is under debt because of that department? (USA).

    Even if we still continue thinking the God be the CEO, would not the CEO want every employee to do his/her job responsibly, be moderate and ethical? Let us hope that the CEO succeeds in his mission and vision of making the organization profitable with the triple bottom-line and make it an ethical organization. With that hope what we need is ‘responsible we’ – each one of us – and committed employee to make the organization a better place.

    Note – those who are agnostic, for the time being consider God exists. Or do not read the blog, or shoot your concerns/comments. Even if we do not want to consider God be the CEO, I thought about another philosophy from India – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. It means that the whole world is one single family. Would you kill your brother or sister, would you do something for which you may have to feel sorry in your family?

  • Power corrupts!







    It is an old saying – power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I was wondering on the saying and the recent news. I thought to understand how ‘power’ has morphed in different forms, starting from the prehistoric muscle power to money, economy and authority.

    For a long time power was defined as muscle power of individual. When humans created concept of ‘money’ slowly economy took precedence over muscle power. European countries colonized more than half of the world and economic superiority took precedence worldwide. Until now economic power has been the major factor influencing force. So, countries having economic influence changed the world (for good or bad is disputed), such as oil crisis of 1970s, slow down of 1980s and recession of the last decade (which still continues and perhaps result in double dip).

    Then I started looking at ‘authority’ as power. Recent news about Egypt and arrest of Indian politician triggered this thought in my mind that authority is one major factor to prove the saying – “…absolute power corrupts absolutely”. We have debated enough on democracy and dictatorship, which one is good? There is no debate over this – authority given in either case corrupts.

    We see that power corrupts but who gives the freedom to others to exercise those ‘right’ to influence? Are we not equally responsible for the state we are in? Should not we take charge of ourselves and – rather than being spectators – act to bring the change?