Public convenience is still not up to mark even in big cities

There is a series of Dhaba's in Nucleas malls, Pune. Some 20 small eating joints. I was not surprised to know that there is no loo for public convenience. This is not first time, I faced this problem. More than 200 people were present in that area and we do not have any loo for them. This is a common problem for all Indian cities. Whatever is available is too shabby that you can't use them literally. I understand that problem lies with high population and relatively inflated real estate prices for government to buy lands in that scale. I am not sure if this is a mandatory requirement in building construction approval like other requirements. If not then I strongly advocate. However this will increase cost of living and we will get it with growing economy. Don't know whats the practical solution.

Innovation is key to secured Indian growth story

One European asked on yahoo " Is India is threat to developed countries?"
His question was regarding to industrial threat. I answered him as follows.
India is just one more country where cost of living is much lower than Europe and USA. So Industries where manpower required is heavy, any low cost country will be economical. Today its China and India along with many other countries like eastern Europe, Vietnam, Indonesia etc BUT it may be some other names tomorrow like Bangladesh, South Africa, Pakistan, Nepal etc. Crux lies in Innovation. If we as a country do not learn to innovate, we will see the growth going to other countries. the way, salaries are going up in India, we are getting less competitive in many areas. We will be more organised after few years, PF, Health insurance, Environment protection etc will add cost, then we will not be able to hold competitiveness and we will loose out to other lower cost countries. But Nano has shown us that we are on right track. TATA has jumped into super computers, Ranbaxy is already showing good results in innovations, two days back, ISRO launched 10 satelites with PSLV, HAL is making its own helicopters. There are so many but still its not enough. We must press hard to innovation as this is the only way we can secure our future. We can't remain competitive forever neither we want to be low cost country for long. We want to be a country who has several thousands MNC's and millions of Patents on our name. I am firm believer of the fact that companies are realising and will soon learn in hard way as rupee will continue to be stronger leaving no choice for us.

TATA is a global brand now bringing proud to India

Last month when I was in front of US immgration officer in detroit and I told him business purpose of my visit, he asked me do you belong to same TATA who is buying JLR (Jag & Land Rover)? I proudly answered YES.
Same time, one officer asked my colleague, do you belong to same TATA who has designed USD 2500 car? Whats the name of car? I believe nano, right? He answered YES with proud.

Here is a relaion. We always heard in our child hood that americans misbehave with Indians because they feel Indians are infereiors. Is this still hold good? I feel we are going in a right direction and we will be leaders with continued innovation.

India's new generation is no less than any one

Last month, I met a person in USA who is Indian by birth but left India in his childhood. He is a British national. We had long interaction as he is part of our business in USA. He is so happy seeing the young generation of India. He mentioned that people who left India in 70's are still doubtful of India's performance but he is confident because he has seen self confidence in young India. The way they talk, the way they carry themselves gives him boost that now India is on right track. This kind of feedback boosted my morale. I am happy and wants to communicate this to my generation. Keep it up friends.

Is Pune another administrative blunder after Bangalore

As a resident of Pune, I can say that we have not learnt from Bangalore. Pune is in trouble and unfortunately it will keep rising. Once I was in discussion with a senior traffic police officer in Pune for deteriorated traffic conditions in Pune, his opinion for growth was very pessimistic. I debated with him over who is responsible for this poor show. Is it really growth or it is civic authorities, who were failed to sense changes and its impact. I believe that before such growth happened in any city, administration knows all data much in advance i.e. few years ago. If they find this time less for required modifications in infrastructure, then why they approve buildings and companies. If we are talking about growth, it is with permission of authorities. We have a bright example of Bangalore, where we could not handle growth. This is a poor show to all people who wants to move to India for business and put up their money here. I firmly believe that government must move with anticipation of growth and set up fresh cities much in advance before growth comes. This is the only way, we can welcome growth story otherwise we will be talking about some other city in similar way as we are talking about Bangalore and Pune now.

Dowry is responsible for girl child deaths

As a country, we are ashamed on skewed sex ration in our society. This shows how we think as a society. We Indians traditionally have been praising our culture and values. I disagree to this when it comes to question of girl child deaths. I have seen these trends in states like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajsthan, UP, Bihar etc. I feel it is spread across India. No one should be surprised that Hindu values clearly guides that a place where girls are not graced, that place is considered as ill fated. There are millions of goddess in Hindu religion. So what has forced Hindu society to go against religion to kill girl child. I believe its dowry which has pushed values in back seat. Every girl child means more responsibilities for family, more money going away and a boy child means a carefree life and money coming in. If we bring in security for girls in society and no dowry, then people will have no reason to kill girl child. There is of course a notion that boys are successor of family. There is no easy solution to that issue. Now advocating no dowry, I would like to put what I think origin of dowry as a social process. Few decades back, normal age for marriage was 15 to 20 years. In that age, hardly anyone earns. So as a process, parents from both families used to contribute towards gifts to new wed couple so that they can start their life with ease. No time has changed. Marriage age is shifted to beyond 25. Most of the boys are earning at this age and now with growing working women culture, I don't see any reason why we should continue with this tradition. There is no value add now. So if as a youngster, we understand this, then we can start change instead of following the norms blindly. This will change so many things in society and we will feel proud in our old age when we will tell to our children and grand children how we changed social ill practices as we now talk about swami Vivekananda. I feel proud of being an Indian and I am very happy that I belong to generation that is willing to do good.