Telangana : From Tipping Point to Turning Point

The Telangana agitation in December 2009 was not a first, but it drastically changed the dynamics of this agitation. Before 2009 also many were fighting for separate Telangana and the emergence of Telangana Rashtra Samati (TRS) a decade earlier implied an underlying sentiment that the party desired to tap.

Many people in Telangana region did have some grievances, but many such people didn’t feel that a separate state would benefit them. While the number of people supporting separate state was significant, those neutral/ opposing it was also considerable. Hence, the movement never gained momentum required to scale up this into mass uprising involving support from all sections of society.

Movement in 1969

In 1969, the movement was primarily from dissatisfied government employees and students who were the first to perceive the negligence, exploitation, step-motherly treatment etc.  and protested against state government. Needless to say, the movement was crushed brutally.  Noteworthy to mention here is that a new outfit named Telangana Praja Samithi that capitalized on this sentiment braved the nationwide Indira Gandhi wave and won handsomely in this region. In a tragic twist however, Chinna Reddy, the leader of TPS, merged with Congress in lieu of some safeguards for people of this region.

In hindsight, 1969 failed due to following major reasons:

•   The agitation was spearheaded by government employees and students and had not yet acquired all-inclusive appeal.

•   It was positioned as Anti-Andhra which threatened settlers. This did not go well with many sections of society including at national level.

•   Lack of media support that curbed dissemination of information and crippled propaganda.

•  It was eventually dependent on politicians, who at their first opportunity encashed the sentiment and let it go.

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Events leading to 2009

Telugu Desam Party established on the plank of ‘Telugu Pride’ at once appeared to dissolve regional feeling within AP and with Chandrababu Naidu putting Hyderabad in world’s map; things seemed to have settled in this issue.

When CBN appeared invincible around 2000, even Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, then opposition leader asked his colleagues in Congress from Telangana region to raise this issue. Later, K Chandrasekhar Rao, a TDP member, espoused this cause when he failed to get a cabinet position and formed Telangana Rashtra Samati. And thus began the second phase of the movement.

TRS initially allied with Congress in 2004 elections; but allied with TDP in 2009.While TRS gained in 2004 elections, the same cannot be said of 2009.The switch of loyalties from Congress to TDP did precious little to strengthen TRS. The towering presence of YSR ensured that no inroads were made in this direction during his reign. TRS’ lackluster performance in 2009 sealed the fate of this movement – or so it appeared.

When by a quirk of fate, a helicopter carrying YSR crashed, a political vacuum was created. Sensing an opportunity, KCR embarked upon the fast – a fast that was to change the course of history of AP. During the 3^rd or 4^th day, I even heard rumors that KCR had abandoned the fast upon reaching an agreement with government leading to widespread outburst by OU students and other Telangana supporters. Caught between devil and deep blue sea, KCR had to persist on continuing fast while his party members quickly rebuffed these reports as politically motivated.

All these efforts bore fruit on 9^th December 2009 – when Chidambaram announced the steps would be initiated to carve out Telangana region. A tide of celebrations swept this region and even cynical and neutral people found a reason to be happy.

But this was just the beginning of another episode – culminating in Chidambaram’s announcement on 22^nd December indicating clear reversal of stand taken on 9^th December.

No other factor united the people of this region as strongly as this reversal did. Telangana just crossed the tipping point.

Telangana movement may be divided as pre-22^nd Dec and post-22^nd Dec in history.

Why 2009 won’t be like 1969?

That a decision by Centre was subverted due to pressure from Seemandhra leaders led to widespread anger among the people. Even the neutral/pro-united people were aghast that years of toil had been undermined. Ironically, this led many to reason out that things should have been really favorable to Seemandhra at the tremendous cost to Telangana in the present setup that it evoked such mass counter-agitation.

And when few statements from these leaders came forth, they turned the tide of public opinion decisively in its favor. Long pent up feeling of humiliation and prosecution came to fore. Most of these people weren’t really sure if Telangana had been victimized and exploited with respect to water, jobs etc, but they had experienced first hand the ridicule of their dialect and their lifestyle.

They began questioning as to why all movies should project them as comedians or villains. Why no protagonist speaks in their dialect? The claim of Seemandhra on Hyderabad was the last straw on the camel’s back. People were astonished to hear the claim that a 400 year old city was ‘developed’ by Seemandhras.

Frankly speaking, the ridicule of dialect and lifestyle is common in India, given its diversity. But ridiculing people in their own region is what made this appear in poor light.

In relatively shorter hindsight (as we are not yet aware of where this could lead to) we can say that the following reasons were responsible for 2009’s success till now.

• Media : Electronic and print media initially over-hyped the agitation to get better TRPs. However with situation getting out of control, media was more circumspect in reporting. In this crucial nascent stage, the idea was kept alive through internet especially blogs (that reach few audiences) and distribution of pamplets and folk songs (mainly for villagers.) But for better reach, it was necessary that electronic and print media be explored. With T.News and Namaste Telangana, this was achieved.

• Positioning: Parakala Prabhakar [he heads Visalandhra Mahasabha, dedicated to cause of united AP] while analyzing the movement contends that linking together love for Telangana and separate state cause – this communication strategy helped this movement. But this movement had also to considerable extent de-linked T-movement with anti-Andhra. It’s positioned as ‘common man’ vs. ‘greedy capitalists’ thus integrating ‘common Seemandhra people’ with T-movement. This is by far its greatest success.

• Brand Laddering: A book named “My Telugu Roots” by Nalamotu Chakravarthy provided statistical evidence to debunk allegations of Telangana region backwardness. This is refuted by Sujai, a pro-Telangana blogger here. Meanwhile, Sri Krishna Committee report while asserting that Rayalaseema is more backward than Telangana, made statistical observations that showed that T region is not all that backward. While this put public in confusion, the revelation of secret 8^th chapter suggesting measures to ‘manage’ the movement caused uproar.  Faced with these confusing statistics, for whatsoever reasons, Telangana movement was fast laddered as a demand for jobs, water, (rational aspects) to self-rule and self-respect (emotional aspect). While this point is regularly projected by pro-united-AP as lack of ‘proper’ reasons, it definitely helped the cause, as it was no longer necessary to defend statistics. Finally, it’s ‘We want Telangana because we want it’.

• Popular ground base and political support: The sheer ground base forced all parties in this region to out-do each other as champions for this cause. All opposition was now stupid as it now concerned the parties’ very survival.

• TRS, for some reasons, that I cannot fathom is working in strange fashion, diluting the movement whenever it reaches the emotional peak. During the recent Sakala Janula Samme, the government employees dropped out at last due to sheer exhaustion. Of course, few argue justly that they infact lost nothing.

• Over-targeting of TDP smacks of tacit understanding of TRS with Congress, for I cannot understand how TDP can be more responsible for delay of Telangana state than ruling Congress. How come TDP becomes Telangana Drohula Party whereas every silly antic from Congress, like they have confidential information that Madam is favorable etc., is welcomed? Targeted smear campaign against TDP makes many question      the commitment TRS has towards the cause; or is it just to consolidate gains.

• Forgive my digressing from topic for a moment – In Mahabharata’s Kurukshetra war – on the 15^th day of war after Dronacharya is killed unjustly, Ashwatthama, his son hurls a potent weapon named Narayanastra. This weapon cannot be countered by any other weapon, and destroys one who attempts to face it. The only way to escape it is to give up combat and let it pass. In the current scenario, knowing the potency of the sentiment all forms of overt opposition is given up. And everybody is waiting for the sentiment to die down naturally.

• The delay is more because of Centre's apathy rather than Seemandhra lobby. But more delay may upset the fragile balance and create more problems.

• Apathy from leaders – both at regional and national level. For some reason, there is no concrete action from leaders. Everytime, and now it appears funny, we have leaders saying that they are privy to confidential info that in backdoors all is well for Telangana. And announcement will come after the next festival.

• The undue delay is creating heartache to both pro and neutral communities in (Hyderabad atleast.) The recent Sakala Janula Samme, was a case in point. While the pro-groups feel betrayed that their genuine demand is not being respected, the neutral groups feel the heat of inconvenience caused due to strikes. Animosity is being created among the society of no fault of either group. Many 'settlers' are favorable to Telangana cause, or atleast indifferent to it; these strikes are forcing few to shift their position to anti-Telangana. This is not good for all stakeholders of Hyderabad, as the destinies of all communities are intertwined.

Challenges ahead

The initial euphoria gave place to cynicism, given the prolonged delay in taking any meaningful steps towards achievement of Telangana.

Let’s hope that peace prevails and prosperity grows in Telugu speaking regions by successful conclusion of this problem.

FDI in retail or Kirana stores : Let customers decide !

You must give it to Congress government for successfully diverting the whole nation’s attention from its inadequacies to FDI in retail sector. It’s become a hot debate in webosphere and blogosphere.

I have been reading different opinions from different ideologies and will use this platform to discuss more on this. The outrage against the move is widespread and there are common concerns prevailing out there.  

I’ll try to answer the main concerns in this regard.

Concern#1: Kirana shops will be wiped out.

When organized retail like Big Bazaar first entered Indian market, there were similar concerns. But 10 years down the lane, I have not seen kirana shops closing down drastically. They remain in business despite the clear edge organized retail has over them. Imagine asking somebody not to open decent shop with modern facilities next to a primitive one as it will force the other out? Its competition boss !

Concern #2: Will cause large scale unemployment by driving out small businesses.

The social aspect of any move should always be considered, agreed. But consider extending the same logic to any industry, especially in connection with 1991 reforms. Indians had no option but to pay hefty amounts to whatever products/services were available in market. Hasn’t competition helped customer with more choices and drastically reduced their prices.

Bajaj Chetak was the only option you had if you wanted to own a two wheeler. So was the case with telephone. Hasn’t opening up competition adversely impacted the employment of many state employees? Yes, but at the same time it had opened up new avenues of employment for many others. Why should this involve lack of exercise of choice for consumers?

Few state the many intermediaries are involved in the present retail setup which will get upset in the changed scenario. I ask, why then is farmer still committing suicides; because the benefits do not permeate up to him. The middle-men exploit the situation and themselves get benefitted. Whereas now we increasingly hear of reports of farmers able to get better prices under organized retail. Except for the traders, I do not seeing farmers and consumers suffering in the new system. And most of these traders can either be absorbed in these new retail outlets or they sure can find themselves suitable opportunity. [ I agree that the situation is not that simple, but overall its my opinion that farmers will benefit.]

Concern #3:Wal-mart will offer dirty low paying jobs. Is that really a good employment?

Try telling that to an unemployed person in India! BPOs per se are also kind of IT coolie jobs. Why work for them? This surely is a nonsensical argument. What many such people fail to observe is that back in 80s unemployment was chronic. These days, atleast people have some way to live decently instead of begging for jobs and can in the meantime improve their skillset and set further goals. Harsh as today’s employment scenario is, it is in no way comparable to India before ’91 reforms. And if Wal-mart really pays lower than kirana stores, then nobody will join them in the first place. 

Concern #4: Manpower will not be available for kirana stores? How’ll they manage?

Should that be the basis for denying a person better living through employment in Wal-mart?

Concern #5: Since Wal-mart etc. have deep pockets, they will start with low prices driving out competition.

Why should masses pay more for the inadequacies and be forced to bear some businesses only because it generates employment to certain section of people. Agreed, we are not speaking of a small no. here, but considering from the total consumers point of view, it will remain small. I read somewhere that kirana shops employ close to 1.2 million people; now compare that with 1.2 billion people in India who can exercise their choice to pay less. Why isn’t the social aspect clear here? Does less spending for the lower middle class not come into picture here?

Concern #6: The low pricing is a strategy. Once they penetrate these retail outlets will create an oligarchy and fleece customers?

I heard exactly the same statement from Cable TV association’s advertisement asking customers to trust them instead of DTHs. But eventually I shifted to DTH – why? Poor quality picture and recklessness with regard to any complaint! You will be surprised to note the clear cut monopoly these guys have. They neatly divide territories amongst themselves and do not allow competition in their area. So, if at all you want cable, you have to bear with that local guy no matter what! Aren’t people driving out these people out of employment? :)

What most of us do not realize is that choice is merely an illusion in many areas – like you have many autos to choose from, and yet cannot bargain much because all of them charge the same, allowing you no option but to comply with their exorbitant prices.

Do you have any control over the quality these kirana stores have? Even branded items are fake these days; forget about other generic items like rice, sugar etc. The product is adulterated beyond reasonability sometimes and yet when you pinpoint that to them, they just shrug it off.

Consider the impact if any of these corporate retail outlets indulge in this? They lose their reputation. They cannot simply shrug off this responsibility!

Consider the oligarchy among telecom service providers these days – yet they offer a far better choice than the monopoly that existed two decades back.

One Reasonable Concern:
The only reasonable concern that I see among all these shrill and myopic arguments is that your average kirana guy is not a well educated guy who can easily seek employment in Wal-mart types. True. But again, Wal-mart types are usually smart enough to employ them as their experience benefits them a lot. 

Considering the huge benefits majority of India can probably get, I see no reason why FDI in retail should be opposed. Just like every innovative technology and business strategy, there will be shifts and some disturbances. But if these are all the reasons one has against FDI, then they are not strong enough that merit rejection of FDI in retail,considering its long-term benefits 

Let me know, if you have anything to add. I welcome different perspectives.

Is Manmohan Singh a person of Integrity?

"Virtuous motives, trammelled by inertia and timidity are no match for armed and resolute wickedness."- Winston Churchill.

Among the reports that are even critical of Manmohan Singh, there is always a mention of his personal integrity and honesty. The picture presented is that of an honest man thrown into an impossibly corrupted environment.

Let me present the following scenarios…

#1 :A bank is being looted by some robbers. The security person is fully equipped with a gun and has the potential to avert the situation. But far from attempting to avert it, he looks the other way when the robbery takes place. Did he personally indulge in robbing? No. Is the person of good character otherwise? Possibly, yes. But would you call him a person of integrity? I doubt.

#2: You ask help from two of your friends. One person openly states his inability to help and moves out. The other person talks politely and lets you feel important while promising help. You take certain decisions based on the promised help. And yet at the opportune time, this person simply vanishes from sight. Of the two, who was rude? Who was polite? Whose action would you come to appreciate in long term?

#3 : A tribe is threatened by neighboring community. The leader has to make choice and take some hard decisions to protect his tribe. Yet, this man procrastinates and doesn’t take a decision. Due to his inaction, his tribe is wiped out. Was the leader a good person? Again, possibly yes. Did he ever hurt his own people? Possibly, no. Yet, will this leader be revered?

Naiveté in an individual is permissible, but criminal on part of a leader as their decisions would influence the masses. Inaction on part of individual only influences his own life and perhaps his own circle. Inaction on part of a leader is deadly poison.

Let me elaborate. Nehru is no doubt one among the finest leaders that India could produce. With all his influence he could easily have become a dictator, yet he chose the tedious democratic process to get things done. Yet, we have come to criticize his short-sighted policies that many argue threw India into poverty. But most of his critics would not question his patriotism or honesty of intention. His intention was no doubt noble, yet when he failed, it wasn’t just a person who failed, it was a nation that faced the circumstances.

The will of one leader, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, made the dream of united India (ofcourse that's after partition though) possible and made a difference to millions under the oppressive rule of monarchs in princely states. 

With power comes responsibility and it could have been better if Manmohan like Indiri Gandhi merely parrots "Corruption is global phenomenon" instead of making fools of people by staking his so-called personal integrity to protect his colleagues.

I can understand if a middle-class person refuses to fight back corruption and complies to get things done. What I cannot understand is that with powers invested unto him as Prime Minister of India, how he can fail to check the loot of this country by his team.

Considering that he is perfectly nice person (again this is not considered so by many..Please read this article - Manmohan Singh chronology) Contrary to what Manmohan thinks, integrity also involves owning mistakes. When he hints at his personal non-involvement in many of these scams, what he forgets is that as PM its his duty to be informed of all this. If he is not aware of these, then he doesn’t deserve to be in that powerful position.

And if he is aware of these, isn’t he an accomplice in the game which’s also a crime? Isn't he more dangerous than an openly corrupt person?

Web Marketing, how Indian SMEs can leverage on it!

Indian market is yet to fully appreciate web marketing – one would gather this going by the static nature of most websites. My focus in this piece would be to understand how websites and online efforts can pay off handsomely with little investment.

Introduction

The costs involved in out-of-home marketing in India is quite staggering – enough to keep any budding company at bay. While this could be the right medium for large businesses, it simply doesn’t work out for small and medium enterprises. Most of these are startups that operate on a niche business or are able to achieve economies of scale due to certain market situations.

They benefit usually by exploiting the gap which is left open by large enterprises. Their continuation then depends on how long they are able to maintain the profitability that ensures their survival without scaring or luring larger enterprises. Thus, the customers pertaining to such businesses are a smaller segment that lay scattered across the market.

Since marketing is intended to reach the target audience, it makes sense to use strategies that specifically reach them. Here is where below-the-line marketing comes as a huge relief. And internet is a tool that has enabled this big time.

Website: Content is the King

Most of the websites of such companies merely copy the available offline content to digital content. However, there is a huge difference between web and print medium. Therefore, one must refrain from using the same material without tweaking it to suit web.

Firstly, reading on web is a cumbersome process and the content needs to be suitably short and crisp to ensure reader’s attention. Most readers would rather search for the keyword and read the neighboring text rather than reading it from beginning to end.

Given this situation, its best to have a paragraph around 3-4 lines. A friend who works as a copywriter for a very reputed ad agency, once told me that “One paragraph, one idea” is the driving principle of any good content. It helps to have a graphical representation of the website architecture.

Few companies, that offer many services, club all of them together and dump it online. Adding to this, the navigation is poor. This would only ensure that the visitor struggles to find related content and one bad experience is sure to discourage him from exploring it anytime in future.

Clarity with respect to individual brands under the flagship of one company would help position each in positive light. There is a need to maintain a consistency in marketing communication.

Social Media Marketing : The rise of interactive marketing

Social networks especially Facebook and Twitter are very useful tools for customer engagement. Welcoming customer opinion on a variety of topics, sometimes on generic content could hugely build up the corporate image of the company.

Many times, discussion is on non-promotional lines, but this kind of publicity can generate more goodwill as it showcases company’s willingness to invite new ideas. The basic idea is to keep the customer engaged and remind him of the brand.

Double-edged weapon

An area of pain to companies is the ease with which one could criticize you online. To tackle such criticism is difficult, given that all communication is visible to all. Things need to be sorted out delicately without appearing unconcerned or oversensitive.

The advantage of such activities far outweighs any negative consequences. Moreover, customers are highly knowledgeable these days…while they do understand the limitations in business they are not carried away by dubious explanations.

Content sharing actually stimulates interest. Contrary to the perception – “Why would they buy cow, if you give milk for free” – there is more to this concept than meets the eye.

As seen in Hollywood movies, lots of information is shared much before the release, giving rise to speculation and generating interest of great proportions. “2012” (the movie) is the best example of success of viral marketing. There was widespread discussion among netizens on the theory that 2012 marks the end of the world.

PULL Customers …. Don’t push products….

Of course, all marketing efforts cannot be a substitute for a good product. But there is a definite shift in trends. It makes more sense, these days, to ask if a marketing campaign was successful than the product itself.

A filmmaker is believed to have said that “We’re not in the film-making business. We’re in the film marketing business.” If at all you would like to differ, the success of Ra.One should put all questions to rest.

All information is just a click away from customer these days. And increasingly, customers do not get swayed by staggering advertisements or sales promotions. Most of the promotional emails barely get noticed.

Industrial Products

Many of us would like to buy some industrial products – that are not available in consumer market – for projects, personal interests or for entrepreneurial pursuits. To enquire, most would invariably search for it online. For electronic goods, you can find many Chinese websites. These products are sometimes available within your own city, but you fail to find any reference online. Many end up paying more for Chinese products mainly because you find a clear product catalogue where you can match specifications and buy it online.

I understand that internet in India, still does not command mass following. I suggested online marketing mainly because I feel that those interested in buying niche technology products or niche solutions would necessarily have to be internet savvy.

But with respect to industrial products, it’s a different ballgame altogether. Many such people feel that investing in a website is waste of time and resources. It’s true to considerable extent.

How does one random enquiry that comes once in a while justify a recurring investment?

I genuinely feel that here is one opportunity that needs to be tapped.. There are so many website building companies around that vie for projects with big companies. The space is too crowded with competitors.

Instead, if they could approach these companies, and offer them a primitive web location, (a free page within a domain) there they can outline their products and indicate their contact details. After 6 months the webpage could be upgraded to website depending on whether the company finds it productive. Else, the webpage would be adequate to guide random enquiries and generate some revenue.

Nothing "cool" about it after-all

The recent news on hearing of Maria Susairaj and parallel announcement of Director Ramgopal Verma that he’s coming up with a movie titled “Not a love story” based on this incident is good news for RGV fans like me.

In crux, Maria, a kannada actress along with her fiancé Emile Jerome (a former navy officer) is accused of murdering TV executive Neeraj Grover in a flat, made love in the very flat after the murder, chopped off body of Grover in parts and disposed it to a nearby jungle and finally burnt them.

RGV tweets “My interest in a film inspired frm susairaj case is to understand hw 2 seemingly ordinary everyday ppl can commit sch a hair rising crime”. Indeed, something that the world in general and India in particular must be ready to very interested to know.

Crime is not new to the annals of human history. History is replete with instances of brutal violence and cruelty. And for those of us who would live to believe that we are moving away from quiescent past to chaotic present, it would do well to recall that its not crimes which have increased, its our awareness that has – through newspapers, media, etc.

That however brings us back to the point RGV raises. We can understand crimes where a clear motive is established. We may feel repulsed by selfish actions by criminals – but we understand why they do it. We have seen invaders looting commoners in past ages and today we may see underworld gangs who operate secretively or better still, white collar crimes – but in all cases we see a clear motive – profit and power. Despicable, but nonetheless understandable!

Planned murder – for reasons not necessarily arising out of motive for profit, power or vengeance is a bit hard to understand.

God is Dead

When German Philosopher Nietzsche thundered thus at the end of 19^th century, people were aghast. But contrary to popular understanding Nietzsche did not mean that a supernatural power that we call God is no longer present – he meant that the old order & system centered heavily on religion is dead. The governing principle of people is no longer religion centric. Charles Darwin banished religion from science, but left the moral aspect untouched. Nietzsche now banishes religion from morals as well.( “Two great addictions – narcotics and religion”.)

Nietzsche says “My truth is terrible: till now what was called truth were lies.—Transvaluation of all values: that is my formula”.

And what values did he propose? Whether you would like to believe it or not: most of modern philosophy and psychology is inspired from this man. His common themes like being oneself, doing what one likes without any regard to others etc are recurring themes of modern world. Please click here to read “Influential ideas”.

If these were not enough, he proposed that man would evolve further to become the Overman. And how would the Overman be: His test is that he won’t feel compelled by morality of the day. He can do anything and everything without feeling guilty ever. Does lion feel guilty of killing the sheep?

No doubt, a person who fancied himself to be the “Overman”, a "monster filled with joy" and "conscience of a beast of prey" is also a man who caused unparallel destruction and loss of life and property throughout the world. We know him today as Adolf Hitler.

While it may be true the morality is a human construct and evolves with time – it surely is a dangerous idea to suggest that few people can do anything including killing people and when capable of doing so with coolness and composure he becomes the Overman. There is nothing to brag about coolness either, as many such people broke down completely during investigations. The guilt in most cases overwhelms them.

In many such cases these murderers were torn by guilt and fear. “Crime and Punishment” by Russian philosopher Fyodor Dostoevsky explores this concept in detail.

All religions in general emphasize on humbling & taming of over-individualistic streak and disciplining it to bring it in harmony with society. So when religion is dead, we need to replace it with another system. Unfortunately, no system has been ever able to fill the moral void so far.

Why am I worried about India in particular? Because India never really experienced the loss of old religious order and system until now! Till 1990s most the development was steady and the social structure did not change at a fast pace. The changes were slow and its impact on social order was minimal. Not so today!

West in general has learned to keep up with these changes and through psychological counseling provided to teens and also adequate understanding of history (as in Germany, wherein young minds are taught how meaningless these theories of racial supremacy ended with holocaust). Noam Chomsky had made it clear on 9/11 incident that the only difference between this and ones that occurred earlier is that the hunter had become the hunted for a brief moment.

Sensitizing the child to these wrongs will help him develop a reasonable respect for law and humanity. The new generation of over-busy working couples fail to spend quality time with their children which leads to feeling of alienation and apathy. In a country where visiting psychologist is tantamount to confessing mental illness, I’m not sure if this perception helps improve things.

In a society of philosophers, no law is necessary. Likewise, in a society of Overmen, maybe law is unnecessary. Nietzsche himself did realize that his theory may be misconstrued by many and makes it clear that the Overman will not come anytime soon and all should not imagine themselves to be one.

And finally it may not be out of place to reason that “lion killing sheep” is totally unfortunate. Animals do not have the power of choice! They are bound by their nature and we cannot find a lion becoming vegetarian or sheep becoming carnivorous. We cannot fault them for they do not enjoy the freedom to make a choice. Humans however are not bound by nature to kill others.

Lastly, the man who proposed the idea, Nietzsche, went insane for the last few years of his life. That obviously doesn’t discount his penetrating intellect. However, when a man with fire in his pen and proposing Overman becomes insane you begin to suspect the theory et all. Maybe it’s a just a poem and not philosophy after-all.

The Insider -- Part 2

[ A fictional account of thoughts of a person who rose from humble origins to become Prime Minister of India, a person second perhaps only to Nehru in political astuteness and vision. "The Insider" -- a semi-autobiographical account of PV Narasimha Rao ends at the point where he, an outsider in reality, finally becomes the insider..Just thought of typing some thoughts with lots of idealism ingrained in the character which many may refute. Its a work of fiction nonetheless and my way of paying tribute to the great leader]

Destiny is often met in the very path we take to avoid it.

And fate intervenes precisely when you’ve finally figured out what you want to do for the rest of life.

Not that it was new to me. My journey – from humble origins from a Princely State in pre-independent India to a close ally of the supreme head of Independent India – had prepared me to face the vicissitudes of life. A journey involving tenacious opposition to every step I took towards bettering India.

Having seen India passing a phase of being subservient to foreigners to becoming rulers of their own fate – I had high hopes for my country. My own feeble efforts towards the out-throwing of a monarch in my region gave me the first taste of blood…..a blood determined not to allow someone else to impose his will on us.

I persevered – long in the sidelines – waiting for an opportunity to usher a regime of change. It was a really really long and hazardous journey in the sea of anonymity and behind the scenes. India had not lived up to its potential – I always felt. When much more was right within our reach, we were struggling like an eagle that assumes itself to be turkey and limits its imagination to grow…

The so-called successes were only the outcome of correcting mistakes – which we should never have committed in the first place. That these vast resources cannot be enjoyed by a minority while million others languish in pitiable conditions under the spell of poverty! Our duty was not to make Indiarich – it’s to make Indians rich.

A nation doesn’t comprise merely a land, natural resources, vegetation, livestock etc….its main constituent is the PEOPLE. It’s not an iron spell of fate that has doomed India to such a pathetic condition; it was the result of conscious decisions of people who never realized that politics is an instrument to enrich the country – not an art of capturing the office.

As if in an answer to my prayers, I was elevated to the position of Chief Minister of my region. That was not necessarily because anyone saw any merit in me but as a compromise candidate I was considered best in light of the disturbing conditions in the state. My vision was now aided by the political machine.

With a series of steps, dramatic changes were brought around. With a sweep, I introduced schemes that were aimed at leveling regional, economical & social disparities. I was confident that by the time my term ends the good work would already be initiated and even if I do not continue I can heave a sign of relief that my life has not been without a meaning to the masses and to myself.

Alas, I now realize that I grossly underestimated the extent to which I cut the arms of the very powerful elite that brought me to power. And how, my schemes to eliminate disparity at the grassroots levels had spiral effect on the top people who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the loot.

Naïve as I was, it never dawned on me that they would dislodge me because I was stopping them from having the rightful “share”. I was to face the humiliation of quitting the office despite my party having a majority in assembly and to top it was a Presidential rule.

That had a lasting impact on my political ambitions. I was disillusioned for a while and to keep the life going was assisting the first family of India in whose eyes I was reasonably useful person. I was lending my ideas, my words to these people who dramatically enhanced their impact like a cinestar.

But the damage was done. I foresaw that I had no scope of ever leading my region or nation and my ideas could never be translated to action. The writing on the wall was pretty clear. I was contemplating a quiet life with my books and personal hobbies leaving my hopes forever. Already I was advancing in this direction.

And suddenly…it all changed. Our leader, a charismatic person, an unbelievably young Prime Minister was assassinated in a bomb blast in a function atSouth India. The leadership vacuum he left was getting unmanageable. The country was in chaos. So was the economy. The communal harmony so laboriously maintained thus far was disturbed due to an immature action of the late PM.

The nation was heading to a total chaos with multiple powers raging for their share from the people. The young lion-cub left too much vacuum behind and hundreds of wolves were racing to fill in the gap.

The winds of change set in. There were whispers that I could be fielded as PM candidate – a compromise candidate, again – for the time-being. My advanced age they felt ensured their free run while I would remain as a mute figurehead! At the moment, I was uncharismatic, powerless, of frail health – a perfect combination of attributes for becoming PM?

As I looked at the newspapers already hinting the readers, I was ………happy? No, I felt a heightened sense of surroundings….My senses more keen than ever as if imploring me that their contribution would be maximum in my final battle.

I felt that I was born for this moment – all my life, all hardships, all humiliations were but a preparation for this moment.

Armed with experience, fuelled by resentment, emboldened by hardships, matured by victimization – I decided that this was my final chance. I have at best 5 years with me. Whatever I do during this period must have a lasting impact on my people….The very scale of development should be such that it cannot be undone by my successors.

Ideas do not die with the individual! And my goal – would be to do whatever is in the best interests of the millions of my countrymen. While others knew the art of politics, I knew the art of POWER!!

The rules, ideas, ideologies of the past belong to that era. To attempt to solve the new age problems through aged ideologies is tantamount to prescribing agriculture to a problem resulting from industrialization.

I will try to do solve the problems that bother us. And opposition? They themselves have taught me how to deal with them….My aim, my goal, my vision – that of bettering India – is the most important ideal to me. For me, anyone else however prominent is secondary to my ideal.

I will do everything that I can to handle these forces that might impede the country’s progress. I know – I am buying lots of displeasure from various powerful people who would haunt me the moment I step down the power. But that doesn’t daunt me the least. The individual in me might succumb, not the IDEA. The idea lives on if it passes on to other minds.

For me to do execute my vision, I also have to put the first family in the backburner. So be it. I may be denied any official appreciation…..but appreciation cannot be calibrated. My image will rest with those who in hindsight will observe the good that I have done to my nation! My brand may not be owned by my party…but the people themselves in due course of time own it.

Guiding me was an image of a brahmin born two millenniums ago……a man who single-handedly created a empire who fame lasts as uncorroded as the pillar that found its way through our national emblem. A person who personified the art of diplomacy to control all opposing forces and who groomed a lion that shattered the wolves plundering the people!

I will make sure that I will not let India remain as poor as it is today! I WILL!!!

As a writer / critic / philosopher !

[Random thoughts on what I feel must be guideposts for writers (mainly bloggers) who write on social broad ranged topics usually excluding personal lives unless it adds to the narrative. Its pathetically long, but I needed the space to elaborate.]


“A writer is an engineer of soul” – Joseph Stalin


No good style or bad – it’s my style


There are many guide styles available throughout the web which emphasize on a particular style of writing. Among the ones are Chetan Bhagat/ Thomas Friedman kinds who over-simplify and have a curious use of metaphors. On the other side of spectrum are writers who write as though they would like the readers to break their heads to understand them and take creative pride in the fact that few usually do that.


Either way, to each his own! But what I would like to say is that while one must always be open to improvise his writing, one never needs to copy others blatantly. Obviously each writer has their own role model and is creatively inspired by a select few writers and imbibes their style.


One must bear in mind whatever one writes must be comprehensible to others. However this does not mean that one writes for the sake for others. NO. One writes to express. While expression doesn’t entail the way it is interpreted by others, communication does involve efforts to guide the reader into understanding it the way writer does. That blogger makes his work public is testimony to fact that he writes not only to express but also to communicate.


Not that the writer doesn’t derive delight in praise. “You great star, what would your happiness be had you not those for whom you shine?” *.


Here I am reminded of an essay by George Orwell on the attack of Leo Tolstoy on Shakespeare. In summary, Tolstoy feels that of Shakespeare’s works lack “aesthetic sense” and goes to cite various other literary deficiencies. Orwell feels that literary works can hardly be categorized into such terms and “longevity” is the only true test of any work where Shakespeare scores beyond measure.


PS: Though an avid fan of Nietzsche, my inspiration for writing style (and most of my thinking) is from Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer is clear, precise and most understandable of all philosophers. I specially recommend his essays which are pure pleasure for any layman.


Ideology! What Ideology?


Despite the wide range of topics that a writer chooses, it remains a fact that they come from the same perspective. Hence, one will find a remarkable pattern in all the works despite the variety.


See Dan Brown, and forget the setting of his novels – one would observe perceivable similarity in plots all over. Compare the works of your favorite director/writer…you would notice the consistency.


Read “The Fountainhead” and you have the main theory of Ayn Rand. Her other works are but commentaries and variants of the same idea expressed. [I intend to write a critique on her someday].


So even unconsciously a writer is in chains! Why bother to further imprison through an ideology?
The categorization of a writer as liberal/right wing/conservative/leftist etc are all for others to demarcate him! A writer owes no allegiance to anyone or any ideology except what he considers truth.
In this connection it’s noteworthy to include the identity aspect of the writer. Writers as does any other man belong to a nation, state, religion, region, caste, etc. It does give him a sense of belongingness and meaning to associate with these identities. A classic example is that an atheistic Khuswant Singh returning Padma Bhushan in protest against siege of Golden Temple by Indian army.


So people must forgive if I claim Hyderabad to be a better city than others despite a horrendous scale of pollution and total lack of traffic sense. (and many other reasons ofcourse). That India is a great nation with rich heritage and huge potential despite distracters claiming the opposite. That Telugu is a really sweet language...


Off the topic for a moment – Schopenhauer says “Will power is to the mind like a strong blind man who carries on his shoulders a lame man who can see.” He famously defines genius to be someone in whom intellect predominates over "will" much more than within the average person. I extrapolate this statement to imply that every serious blogger should rise above his partisan concerns in a similar vein.


Writing for whom?


He who thinks a great deal is not suited to be a party man: he thinks his way through the party and out the other side too soon. - Nietzsche


Somehow I am not comfortable with people who write for a living. To elaborate, Sakshi, a telugu TV news channel, is a totally unreliable source to me. For me a single point – just one – that Sakshi media will never ever be able to criticize Jagan come what may is a big letdown. What’s the point in calling yourself a “news” channel when it’s clear that they are interested only in transforming them into “views”. Not those other channels are impartial – but they do it subtly and atleast sometimes the criticism is all-around.


Few US newspapers were criticized for bias in favor of Israel as they constitute a significant business-community and their contribution to the revenue of the newspapers is considerable.


Media houses should create a business model that enables sustainable revenue while ensuring that no one can influence its functioning. Reuters, the famous news agency, earlier had a rule that prevented any single party from gaining shares beyond a limit that could influence its independent functioning.


Thankfully, blogging is still a hobby with many. It doesn’t create much business despite Google adwords etc. Hence, the source of income of bloggers is no way influenced by their opinions. That’s a real brownie point for bloggers. This is also the reason why media repeatedly portrays blogs are amateurs; because they enter their basion of “educating people” which was their sole preserve previously.


[I link Telangana’s rapid intellectual case-building with rise of blogs. Ten years back, the intellectual agenda would not have penetrated this way; the media could surely curb contrary opinions and nothing could have come out. More in next…..]


A person who writes for pleasing a set of people ends up justifying their every action. Philosopher Hegel was a professor at a German university and therefore a government employee. He had to become “loyal” to the government thus twisting his earlier philosophy to suit present needs.


Finally, a critic must always act as a check for the prevailing government and forever be a rebel.


PS: I had many more ideas when I started, most have evaporated by now. Shall add to part2 if need be.