Satyen Gupta, former Principal Advisor, TRAI

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) played a pivotal role in the great Indian telecom success story. The body keeps a close watch on the quality of services offered by the telecom operators to millions of wireless subscriber. However, there is little that the regulator can do when it comes to implementation of these norms on the ground level. Former Principal Advisor to TRAI Satyen Gupta spoke to Akhilesh Shukla about the MNP and regulators role in implementation of QoS norms.

B&E: How you will rate the present QoS of the telecom services in India?
SG: The QoS of the telecom operators has never been upto the mark. TRAI has not enough teeth to force the telecom operators to match the QoS benchmark laid by the regulator. Operators also did not see any incentive in investing in upgradation and maintenance of quality of services, due to the falling margins. Besides, issues related to building up a new base station were always there. Operators face several hurdles in putting up base stations, especially because of the rules and unrealistic taxes laid out by the local development bodies. Improper spectrum management has lead to a crunch leading to network congestion. But now MNP will force operators to improve QoS.

B&E: Some of the telecom operators do not meet the quality of service norms in some circles. What is the action that a regulator can take in that case?
SG: Telecom regulator TRAI has a very little role to play when it comes to implementation of QoS norms. The maximum that the body can do is to bring out the QoS report in public, making consumers aware of the telcos not meeting the minimum norms set by the regulator. It can also recommend cancellation of license, but the final call lies with the Department of Telecom, the body which issue licenses. TRAI can penalise the operators also, but it is a cumbersome process as the regulator has to court of law.

B&E: After 3G and MNP, what is the next step you see in Indian telecom?
SG: 3G spectrum auction and role out of 3G services by private and PSU operators was one of the biggest landmarks in the Indian telecom success story. Implementation of MNP would be another milestone in the second largest telecom market. Now, it is the right time for the country to look forward for Next Generation Networks and Next Generation Access technology. Both the technologies will provide better and faster internet speed to subscribers. It would also be helpful in bridging the digital divide between the rural and urban part of the country.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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AFGHANISTAN: THE $1 TRILLION LOTTERY

The US has announced the discovery of minerals apparently worth $1 trillion in Afghanistan – the IIPM Think Tank believes much of this made up value is balderdash and pure hogwash forwarded by the US

There’re three reasons for the June 2010 re-branding of old news. First: when it comes to fragile governance, the Afghan government is already a top contender. It is today standing on legs largely because of foreign aid, which is over 70% of its budget. Undoubtedly, the announcement of this discovery will give Karzai – who has recently mended fences on his own terms with Obama – a new lifeline in his fragile political career, as he would be able to wishfully promise the mineral rich regions to tribal chiefs and Taliban representatives. Second: the announcement will give an excuse to the US to postpone their decision of withdrawing troops out of the country. Third: the US has been trying hard to figure out ways to attract foreign investment into the region. The announcement will jump start the proceedings. One can easily visualise deals being signed under pure promises and conjectures than on realistic data – leading to future litigation.

There is a huge downside for Afghanistan due to this announcement. Mineral and oil discovery announcements have led to social unrest in various countries; and Afghanistan is a country that is still struggling to come out of a war like condition. African nations like Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Nigeria and Sudan saw a decade long violence and civil unrest after similar discoveries. An analysis of the top oil rich countries would show that around 10-12 nations in the top 50 list are unstable. For Afghanistan, the announcement would exacerbate the ongoing power politics. If on one hand the local clans, Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the likes will fight a bloodying conflict to tap these supposed resources to fund their anti-social missions, then on the other, China, which last year grabbed the Aynak copper mine in Logar, would leave no stone unturned to expand its influence over the region and country in particular.

All this is not to say that there are no reserves – of course, there are. But in all probability, only around 1/5th of what has been announced – which anyway would be exploited by US firms. It’ll take decades for other investing companies to realise they’ve been had. By then, Obama will be out of power, and Afghanistan will no more be a priority.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri 
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles. 

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Pranab Mukherjee becoming CM first, followed by Mamata

chandrasekhar bhattacharjee explores the possibility of a power-sharing arrangement in post-2011 polls West Bengal, with Pranab Mukherjee becoming CM first, followed by Mamata

An analysis of the political situation in post-2011 Assembly polls in West Bengal will reveal that such an arrangement might be good for the state. The state has been caught in a spiral of political violence with all parties including the Maoists having a blood feast. In that light, Mamata assuming chief ministry can lead to unprecedented violence on part of the CPI(M), which will no doubt spark off unforeseen counter-violence by Trinamool activists and the state administration. Pranab Mukherjee scores handsomely here as he has personal equations with most prominent CPI(M) leaders and can tackle the situation more tactfully.

Mamata and her party’s position on the Maoists have been pretty ambiguous from the start. She has always made amply clear that she does not see eye-to-eye with Union home minister P. Chidambaram’s assessment of the Maoist situation and his counter measures. Mukherjee will have greater synergy with the Central view. But this logic gets grounded on the premise that a power-sharing alliance is more likely to be governed by common minimum programmes and agendas than by the personal opinions of the leaders of the dispensations.

The industrialist lobby of West Bengal as well as those who have invested in the state will heave a sigh of relief if Mukherjee assumes power at Writers’ Building. Mamata, in her capacity as railway minister, may have tried to overhaul her image as a pro-development politician but the memories of Singur and Nandigram are still afresh in people’s minds.

Political observers also believe that the astute and experienced Pranab Mukherjee will be better placed to deal with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha about the situation arising in the Darjeeling Hills in the north of the state.

Of course, sharing power for stipulated periods of time is a bit like playing spin on a tricky wicket. Past experiences of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir say that fissures between the partners only get enlarged in such experiments. Pranab Mukherjee’s reputation as a troubleshooter will have to play its part in any such eventuality. Mukherjee will likely play an important part in national politics even if he assumes responsibility of his home state. So that way, he will wield power both at the state and the Central levels. It remains to be seen if Sonia Gandhi and the Congress high command will be comfortable with that.

But the odds against Pranab Mukherjee are also huge as Mamata Banerjee enjoys a huge mass base across the state which Mukherjee or for that matter, no other Congressman, can claim to rival. If the Railway Budget was any indicator, Mamata is dogged on winning Bengal. And being the bigger partner of the alliance, she just might have the final word.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri 
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles. 

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It’s The small-ticket Strategic Acquisitions that will drive the sector in 2011

FMCG Saw Some Heavy action on the M&A front last year. But, as The Industry matures and valuations rise, It’s The small-ticket Strategic Acquisitions that will drive the sector in 2011

If a recent report by KPMG is to be believed then M&As will intensify in Indian FMCG space in the near term. “However, the lack of large acquisition targets and the number of acquirers looking for opportunities means valuations will continue to be at a premium,’ says the report. In fact, the sector has already seen over a dozen deals in M&As in the first half in 2011 so far, and the momentum is expected to continue going forward. Certainly FMCG sector in India has been experiencing a phenomenal pace of growth since the last decade owing to increasing consumer incomes and rapidly changing consumer tastes and preferences. Further, large scale and low cost production facilities, modern retailing strategies, gives Indian FMCG companies an edge over its western counterparts. “All this certainly makes India an exciting place to be for international FMCG giants which are now looking forward to ramp up their Indian operations or are planning to enter the country soon,” says Oliver Mirza, MD, Dr. Oetkar Funfoods. For instance, Reckitt Benckiser has already acquired Ahmedabad-based Paras Pharma, makers of OTC brands like Moov, D’Cold, Dermicool, Krack, Itch Guard, et al, for a whopping $730 million (in December 2010).

However, going forward the sector is unlikely to see any big ticket acquisition as the local brands have still not scaled up beyond the $20-25 million mark. But then, that’s what they call a market for strategic acquisitions!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

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IIPM Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri on Internet Hooliganism
Arindam Chaudhuri: We need Hazare's leadership
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri - A Man For The Society....
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management

Burning Indian roads on Korean wheels!

What is Hyundai India’s marketing chief doing to ward off competitive eyes? Or is he only bothered about giving his best shot and not worrying about the pack? By Pawan Chabra

Arvind Saxena
Director – Sales & Marketing, Hyundai Motor India

Arvind Saxena is one of those individuals, who have seen the Indian automobile industry being built brick by brick. With a rich experience of 25 years in the industry, Saxena, who is currently the Director of Sales & Marketing division at Hyundai Motor India, has been spearheading the company’s branding and sales efforts for the past five years. After he majored in mechanical engineering from the Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College, Allahabad, he got enrolled in the MBA degree course at Lucknow University. Saxena started his career with Escorts as a Management Trainee in the Sales & Marketing department. Realising his capabilities at an early stage, he was handed over control of Escorts’ auto business in Bihar after just a couple of months into his training at the company. Recalling those days, he says, “It was actually the best assignment that has ever been given to me.” After a successful stint of nine years at Escorts, he moved to Bajaj Auto as a Regional Marketing Manager for the company. He was put in charge of the company’s marketing operations in the Eastern and Northern region of the country. Saxena also has a long list of achievements to share, and they have all been result-driven performances. After a short stint at Bajaj, he joined Maruti Suzuki, where he worked for ten long years. He quickly rose up the hierarchy and was spearheading Maruti Suzuki’s all-India sales force (in the capacity of Chief General Manager – Sales) before he joined Hyundai in November 2005, where he was allocated the task to manage sales and marketing operations at the all-India level.

While at Maruti, he ensured that the company maintained its #1 spot in the Indian market. From there, he jumped ship to the #2 Hyundai, which was then and still is, chipping-away at the leader’s market share day in and day out. So how is Saxena taking this change of side? Is there a sudden antagonism towards all in the Maruti camp? Disagrees Saxena, “There is always a sense of competitiveness, but even today, I have close friends at Maruti. But when you are at the marketplace you are definitely competing with each other.” But one fact which he cannot deny is that a lot has changed for Hyundai since he joined the company. And it comes in the name of heightened competition. Though Hyundai continued to play the right cards by banking on the Indian small car segment (which has always attracted maximum volumes in the industry), competition has grown by the day. In recent years, players like GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Nissan et al, have moved into the small car category to make the most of the opportunity at hand. But Saxena disagrees on this front as well. He boldly dismisses any worry, as he says, “The market has expanded well over the past few years, with many product launches happening in the small car segment. But Hyundai has also done very well. Five years back our market share stood at 17%, and despite competition rising, our market share today is close to 20%, which more or less describes how well we have been doing.” Numbers surely prove his point.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2011.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

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Survival of the fittest?

When hunting is all they have done for generations, it is difficult to contemplate an alternate means of living overnight. Inasin Bai, an intrepid member of the hunting tribe of Pardhis brazenly questions, ‘what about us?’, now that hunting is banned...

We are a nomadic clan. For generations we were known as baheliyas and have been hunting to earn a living. We know no other skill. Living in the jungle has been a way of life for us. Tigers are like cats for us. We stay in the jungle and for days our men roam around the jungle and study the routes that the animals take, especially the tiger.

Tigers fetch us good money because the buyers are readily available. A lot of business comes from the crocs as well. But for killing them we use poisonous tablets. Once the men have hunted the animals, it is the women’s job to shave the skin off, to clean it and to look for a buyer at a good price. Till the time we are in the forest, we often feed on birds like bater (quails). Our kids have learnt to mimic the voice of the bird well, which it assumes as another bird’s call and also responds. This makes it easier for us to trace them and then we hunt them with a catapult. But now animals have to be protected and hunting has been made illegal. So suddenly our means of earning a living has become illegal. The rules are so strict that most of our men are in the jail. It has been three months that we have been ostracized from our community because we have stopped hunting in the hope that the government would provide us with an alternative. But now there seems to be no source of earning from the jungle. It seems like it will take long before anything is done for us. The money in the work they offer us isn’t enough and the work is tiresome too. If we don’t get enough food to survive, we would have no other option but to go back to the community and engage in hunting, which is no more legal. Everybody thinks that the count of tigers and other animals is falling, but we can’t die of hunger for them. I’m sure you would weigh human life more than that of an animal!....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

In Delhi, people were swayed by Sheila Dikshit’s consistent track record on development, and simply ignored the BJP

In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh – the creditable innings of Shivraj Chauhan and Raman Singh notwithstanding – the two were also partly helped by the Congress party’s internecine struggles and often outright negative campaigns. The party failed to project a united front, ignoring young leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia.

In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress was visibly divided between the VC Shukla, Moti Lal Vora and Ajit Jogi camps. While Jogi kept projecting himself as the chief ministerial candidate, the other Congress leaders continued to be in denial mode, confounding the electorate to no end. Slim as Congress chances were, Chief Minister Raman Singh’s promise of providing rice at Rs one per kg won for him the sobriquet of Chaval Baba. In an impoverished state like Chhattisgarh, such gestures count a great deal; and the Congress could find no effective counter to the popularity this had ensured. But if these upsets can for a moment be put aside, the polls do show that the scale – howsoever slightly – is at this point tilted in favour of Congress. And it also looks like the finals will be a real cliffhanger. The issues will be different no doubt, as too will be the protagonists. But what is almost certain is that smaller parties like the BSP will have a major say in determining the course of events.

Both Congress and BJP are gearing up for the Big Battle. While Congress has to put its house to order in some states, BJP wants to sharpen its attack on issues which it feels, might appeal to people in parliamentary elections. “People might not have found rising prices and terror a potent issue in the Assembly elections, but we will keep highlighting the government unwillingness for strident terror law, till either government accedes or people realise the need for such a law”, says BJP general secretary Arun Jaitely.

By announcing a hefty bail package, Congress is leaving no stone unturned to contain inflation, rising prices and combat economic recession. It has already reduced the repo rate and reverse repo rate, besides infusing the manufacturing sector by lowering cenvat. “People would have forgotten about inflation and price rise by General Election time,” said a senior Congress leader. But where all pundits have failed, such statements seem based on the recent euphoria. Reality may be different.....Continue

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Tribals put Reds on red alert

The tribal upsurge in West Bengal’s Jungle Mahal area is making the ruling CPI(M) lick dust, with people in Chhotopelia village of the now famous Lalgarh area surrounding a patrol party of the Central Reserve Police Force for more than seven hours through the night of December 8, till the district administration asked for forgiveness for “a breach of treaty”. The ‘treaty’ had been worked out on December 7, one point of which was precisely that villagers would have to be informed whenever police wanted to enter the forests or villages.

Again, this week itself, the vast Sarenga area in Bankura district, so far unaffected by the upsurge, saw a gathering of 2,500 tribals telling the administration that they would follow the Lalgarh path against police atrocity. Surprisingly, far away from Lalgarh, tribals in Balurghat, West Dinajpur district, submitted a 33-point charter of demands, which included immediate stopping of atrocities on tribals in the name of hunting for Maoists, and punishing those responsible for atrocities in Lalgarh. And in Nadia and Jalpaiguri district too, tribals are expressing solidarity with Lalgarh.

Almost a full month after the massive tribal unrest started in the Jungle Mahal area, the agitation had been suspended early this week after the leaders of the Committee’s Rail Roko call....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

…not with standing the fact that many Pakistanis suspect the hands of their own establishment in one of the worst terror strikes anywhere, that is wha

Lashkar-e-Taiba or "Army of the Pious" was banned in Pakistan in 2002 but it continues to operate in Pakistan under the garb of a charity organisation, Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Similarly, al-Qaeda and the Taliban, with strong footholds in Pakistan's Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), continue to pose grave threat to nascent democracy in the country. In the Swat valley, some 100 miles from the capital city Islamabad, at least eight people were killed and 40 others injured when a suicide bomber attacked a military check post on December 1. The intelligentsia in Pakistan is equally alarmed by developments following mayhem in Mumbai.

"The inhuman and callous attack in Mumbai is a great surprise to each and every Pakistani. When hopes were high that India and Pakistan relationship was going to be normalised, various routes between India and Pakistan were going to be opened, the trade between the two countries were on the verge of taking off, and the uselessness of military establishment was going to be a reality, this incident is a stab in the back of the people of Pakistan. I hope that the two governments will stop the blame game and rise above in the interest of common man and appreciate the new reality of a global village," said Dr Syed Haroon Ahmed, an eminent psychiatrist and president of Pakistan Association for Mental Health.

Veteran journalist and peace activist MB Naqvi concurred. "Speculation about who organised the Mumbai outrage is useless. Both India and Pakistan are among the usual suspects. It is quite possible that Pakistan''s security establishment has decided to derail the Indo-Pak peace process and to keep the two at daggers drawn; it will suit its long-term purposes," he said.

The Mumbai carnage and subsequent developments have also alarmed the US government because war between India and Pakistan would mean diversion from the "war on terror", that is neither in the interest of the US nor the vast majority inhabiting South Asia.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

The renovation of the Jallianwala Bagh is drawing a lot of flak from veteran patriots, but the old order is yielding place to the new.

However, most of these protests have fallen on deaf ears. A public interest litigation filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in September 2008 was dismissed, and the initial stay given on the petition was vacated. The order of dismissal signed by Chief Justice TS Thakur and judge Surya Kant says: “If the Government, the Trust and the Managing Committee have put their heads together and conceived a plan intended to revitalise and preserve the Memorial (sic)for the future generations, we see no reason why the petitioner should find fault with the same, particularly in exercise of the extraordinary public interest writ jurisdiction of the court.”

The background goes like this. In 1923, the trust purchased land for the project from the Jallewala Sardars at a hiked-up price of Rs 5.65 lakh. The money was gathered by an international appeal for a memorial issued by Mahatma Gandhi. The British Government in India was keen to turn the Jallianwala Bagh into a cloth market so that all traces of the incident were wiped out. Nationalist leaders, however, formed a committee headed by Madan Mohan Malviya. The land was purchased from the Jallewala Sardars at a hiked up price of Rs 5.65 lakh.

The money was gathered by an international appeal for a memorial issued by Mahatma Gandhi. The upkeep of Jallianwala has been with a Mukherjee family of Bengal. S.C. Mukherjee, an associate of Malviya, was appointed the first secretary of the Trust. It subsequently went to his son and now to his grandson S. Mukherjee. A memorial designed by American architect Benjamin Polk was built on the site and inaugurated by the then-President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on 13 April 1961, in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders.

A flame was later added to the site. However, the past few decades have seen the monument in neglect and decay with only a fraction of the people who come to the splendorous Golden Temple next doors visiting it. Interestingly, the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Committee is headed by the Prime Minister of the country. But in spite of the high profile management, the memorial suffered complete neglect during the past many decades.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Parties in Kerala are looking at this proposal from different angles. The news has certainly delighted LDF who had received Jamaat’s support in the last assembly elections. The Front has already busied itself in building up an alternative Muslim vote bank to counterbalance Muslim League, a constituent of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

In this regard, the only catch, so far, is People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abdul Nasser al Madani, who was acquitted in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blast case, aimed at eliminating BJP leader LK Advani. Right-wing National Development Front (NDF), known for its extremist Islamic views, attained influence and strength during the nine year-long incarceration of Madani, causing CPM and PDP grave worries. Till date, it gives PDP sleepless nights.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Lakhimpur Kheri, stands a lonely house… and here they say, an old tiger still roars

As an adult, Billy returned from the army after the second great war and moved to these lands bordering the forests of Dudhwa, hoping to make a living as a farmer. It was difficult because these lands were overrun by stray and wild ungulates, and yet Billy succeeded in running the farm in the lap of nature, sharing its bounties with the wild animals who frequented it. Around the same time, in the 1960s, he took up cudgels against the rather popular sport-hunting outfitters who organised trophy hunting expeditions for rich paying clients. Billy was almost single-handedly responsible for driving them out and having the government ban trophy hunting for good. In a way, he was atoning for the transgressions of his early days. And Dudhwa, especially its rare barasinghas, owe an invaluable debt to this man for dedicating his life to protecting the park from poachers, land grabbers, and securing the future of this deer.

But when I ask him of his legacy, he seems unsure. “Democracy will kill the tiger. There are just too many of us and soon these forest too will have to go. What can you do?”, he says. I’m saddened to hear him say that. I was hoping that he, more than anyone else would hold out defiant hope. After all, isn’t he the most decorated conservationist in the world, having won awards and appreciation from all quarters and corners and isn’t he the man who poachers still fear? And isn’t he the man who has repeatedly achieved the impossible, whether it be protecting a forgotten landscape from eternal destruction or be it successfully returning hand reared leopards and tigers back to the wild. “What can I do? I’m an old man now. Everybody I know is gone. I’m just waiting for the end. Soon, I’ll be gone too… and so would the forests.” I must’ve looked crestfallen, and I was. Though physically much taller, I felt dwarfed by the majesty and aura of the man. I must’ve seemed like a sad little boy who’s had his last shred of hope wrenched away from his hopeful heart. The affectionate old man seemed to take pity on the little boy sitting across him and his eyes softened… “I haven’t given up yet. I might be old but I’m not going to quit. I’m still working hard… I can’t give up the fight.” There’s fire burning in that belly yet… the old tiger roars still… ....Continue

Decentralisation has done more harm than good to India….

Likewise, even though law and order remains a state subject, wherein the states continue to fight against the formation of a central law enforcement agency, these very state bodies literally seem to destroy policing in their respective regions. They have not only kept the force subservient to the polity’s dictums, but have also created lack of amenities, training, low remuneration and defunct intelligence machineries, contributing to create a demotivated force that repeatedly fail to perform duties proficiently. Be it hooliganism in Mumbai, riots in Orissa and Karnataka or relentless terror attacks across India, the states seem to remain clueless of any appropriate actions. Its only when things go absolutely out of control that they seek help from the Center. Similarly, agriculture, being a state subject, remains shackled till date. The sector not only faces complete lack of capital investments but also sees relentless suicides of debt-ridden farmers.

Today's identity politics (and the resultant violence) is a residue of the aspirations of regional political parties, trying to consolidate their regional vote banks with utter disregard to national integrity. A strong central government, with more discretionary powers, would have perhaps created a far better India than what it is today. Nothing can be worse than witnessing terror rattling India when foreigners are mistreated in s Goa, or when non-Marathas are beaten up in Maharashtra. The Union Government, knowing that law and order is but a state subjects, chooses to remain a mute spectator; and it seems it shall remain so that even if this fallacy someday destroys the very concept of India, disintegrating it altogether.....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Karnataka State Cricket Association

He has been bowling for India continuously for 18 years. To sustain and to be successful for a long time in a team, one must cope with different kind of pressures. The generation after Anil also has to cope up with the pressure in both forms of the game – the traditional test format and modern limited over format. The two formats demand different modus operandi while bowling. Adapting to the two forms of the game is not easy and the fact that Anil has done it perfectly proves he is one of greatest players India has ever produced.

Wherever he played, whatever may be the condition, he played for Team India. He is a complete team person. Imagine a bowler coming in with his jaw strapped, or 11 stitches to his non-bowling hand. That’s determination personified. I once told him that bowling from a short run-up would put heavy pressure on his shoulder. He changed his bowling style and adopted his own run up in later stages. He is a great learner of the game. There are two types of players – one who quits the game finding it boring; another, who continues to play just for the sake of playing. But Anil stands apart, as mentioned before – he never entered the field unless he thought he was 100 per cent fit to play. I respect his decision to say 'Good bye' to international cricket. I do not think a player who played for the country even when he was injured and led the team towards victory will take a wrong decision.

Coming to the other part, Anil and his gentle approach to everything – no matter whether it is professional or personal – always caught my attention. I have neither seen him losing patience nor ever speaking aloud. There were times where I advised him when he was down. He lent his ears attentively to me and took in passionately whatever I said. Though I am not active in cricket, he is still in touch with me; he occasionally comes to my home for dinner and, of course, he invites our family over as well. He is a true gentleman. Anil is a great ambassador of cricket and the nation. He is a great inspiration and a good friend, whose smiling face never fades. None can fill the vacuum he leaves behind. Gems like Anil come but once in eons. Team India was lucky to have had the services of this rare gentle gem. ...Continue

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The Sunday Indian

Olive branches: political maths

IIPM Publication
The octogenarian Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi is into his political maths once again. The Diravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has tried to woo back the estranged Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). Last week, Union Minister for Surface Transport TR Balu met Dr S Ramadoss, chief of PMK and conveyed his leader’s rapprochement message. Ramadoss said he would consult his party colleagues. The meeting was kept a secret. So secret in fact that the DMK’s organ Murasoli’s scribes too did not know of this, and Murasoli continued it’s tirade against PMK. However, the news leaked out after two days, and immediately senior functionary of the party, Naganathan hastily telephoned Ramdoss about the faux passé. Things are tough for the ruling DMK these days. It went to the 2004 Parliamentary elections with Congress, PMK, CPI, CPM, MDMK on its side. But over the years, the alliance eroded. First it was MDMK to go. Then PMK, and finally the communist parties, citing DMK’s support to Indo-US nuke deal. Now the only partner is Congress but its members are peeved for not getting a share in power. The DMK, with 96 members in the Assembly, is running a minority government with support from the Congress. With the general elections nearing, DMK’s voice in the UPA is not as powerful as earlier....Continue

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The Sunday Indian

“Best Marketed State? Andhra Pradesh?! What?!”

IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...

“Best Marketed State? Andhra Pradesh?! What?!” Sceptics would debate over this extensively surveyed and intensely calculated choice. Really, think of Andhra Pradesh, and perhaps the first monument that comes to mind is the Char Minar. Right? Next, think of a city in this state. ‘Hyderabad’ is your top-of-mind recall response, right? Nothing wrong there, but in all probability, you (like most) are not too well aware of the real Andhra! Appropriate thus that you demand ‘reasons’ that hail Andhra as the Best Marketed State as per this exclusive 4Ps B&M and ICMR Survey 2008. So, allow us to take you through a revelation of the secrets behind the Best Marketed State in the country – Andhra.

As you look upon the runway at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad (22 km due-west of Hyderabad), you’ll appreciate the ‘green’ efforts of the Andhra government (also thanks to the GMR-HIAL combo) to maintain one of the best greenfield airports in the country. ‘You feel fresh about it all’, and that’s the line to describe Andhra. But wait! This state is more than what meets the eye and has more than just mountains (it has none!) and river valleys (it has two - Krishna and Godavari); talk about it - Information technological advancements, Bio-technolgical breakthroughs, Pharma investments and setups, Infrastructural developments, and so on... Andhra has enough to boast about; more than any state in the country. The state is the first in India where an international MRO provider (Lufthansa Technik) is setting up an Indian base (in Shamshabad with initial investments of Rs.100 crore), therefore giving a boost to the state’s connectivity quotient as Arun Agarwal, Research Analyst, Karvy Stock Broking opines, “With the setting-up of this new MRO facility in the new airport, Hyderabad is all poised to become an important hub in the global aviation map...” And there’s more... The airport modernisation and other developments in the aviation sector are only a miniscule fragment in the massive Andhra developmental drive.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Toofan(i) caravan

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Girl power to storm the rural ‘ad-man-world’

The amount of opportunities in the vast virgin lands of the Indian hinterlands have tempted many big-ticket organisations like ITC, HUL, Bharti et al to set up shop there. However, the marketing & advertising fraternity, which takes great pride in helping these companies in making inroads into this unexplored marketplace, has itself stayed away from venturing into rural India. But here’s an agency that has changed the rules of the game.

RC&M,which began its journey in 1990, is today a specialist in planning experiential marketing campaigns for these rural markets.

RC&M (previously Rural Communication & Marketing), is the brainchild of Rajesh Monga, who after spending time in the advertising industry decided to start an agency that would cater to rural marketing. Soon RC&M roped in a host of agri clients like Eicher Motors, Parle et al. Four years later RC&M decided to move up the value chain by entering markets in semi-urban areas & even metros. With the passage of time, other verticals – event management, separate company for LEDs – were added to RC&M. Rajesh moved on to take charge of these sister companies, while the baton of RC&M was passed on to his wife, Priya Monga.

“RC&M basically seeks to provide experiential marketing solution to a brand,” an effervescent Priya told 4Ps B&M, adding that under the banner of experiential marketing, the major task is to take brands to the doorsteps of consumers. So unlike mass media, RC&M is more into one-to-one communication. Priya opines, “For such marketing one needs to be clear about where to do and how to do. The target group needs to be spot on as we cater to refined audiences. It’s all about the right venue, the right timing and conveying the right kind of message. In short, experiential marketing is very strategic and driven by results.”

Then again, within the broad banner of experiential marketing, a host of services can be offered and RC&M especially specialises in exhibitions, road shows, putting up banners, customer contacts & kiosks. Events and launches are taken care of by one of its sister concerns. With such 3600 offerings, clients from different sectors have been flocking to RC&M. The agency’s ever expanding portfolio includes clients like M&M, TVS, Castrol, Bharat Shell, Colgate, Parle, Marico, HUL, Airtel & Nokia. Their Toofan campaign for M&M and GM’s Caravan have even received awards at various forums.


With success stories like these to narrate, one cannot help but ask about the core competency of the agency. Priya is prompt to reply that “We have the concepts to deliver the right solutions for the concerns which are shared by the client.” She believes that honesty in the business in terms of deliverables is also essential. “One may commit anything to the clients, but one must be able to deliver them as well,” she avers.

Those are the dreams and determination that help in making an agency big and RC&M is no different. Adds Priya, “I try that in a year I can take up three such projects that would help make a dent in the industry.”

Hear, hear! With an ambition like that, small surprise that RC&M’s already going places!

Edit bureau: Surbhi Chawla

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

Read these article :-
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!