A great art festival kicked off during this weekend @ Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai.
I walked through the art exhibition today (Sunday 7th Feb). It was absolutely great and I really enjoyed it. I felt like walking thro’ an European city such as Vienna. Great stuff. Worth a visit. May be a couple of visits. Next weekend I am planning to go again, on the closing day (14th Feb). Why don’t some of you folks join in ?
Some pics below – not really outstanding, I will take my better camera next time !
Kala Ghoda Art Exhibition Entrance
Colourful Masks !
Wiry Objects d’ Art
The crowd – see the hanging bell
Amazing Viewers enjoying an artistic performance by school kids
Beautiful objects inducing one to take a close look !
Intense crowds
Shopping !
Art aficianados and Shoppers galore
Close up view of the bell
Great, isn’t it ? See you there next weekend (next to Jehangir Art Gallery),
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
7th Feb 2010
Mumbai
When I came around four years ago to Mumbai, the economy was doing fine, the BPOs were thriving, telecom was taking off like a rocket, new brands were getting launched and malls were sprouting like mushrooms.
And, the auto industry was reaching its peak towards 2007/08.
I used to always look at the mix of cars parked in malls, apartments and offices. Most of the cars back then were small cars – Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Indica types. Of course, always there was and will be saloons and luxury cars parked, but the proportion was relatively small. We are talking of 20 to 25% mid-sized saloons (1.3 to 2.0 litres engine capacity) and probably 2% luxury cars (more than 2 litres engine capacity) ; very little of SUVs (more than 2.5 litres engine capacity).
This mix kept changing over the past four years. The economic downturn in late 2008 did cause damage, but not really at the low end of the car market. With the Tata Nano launch, the entire auto industry in India got a major fillip as well.
Over the years, there has been increase in the population of mid-sized cars, such as the Hyundai Accent, Tata Indigo, Ford, GM, Toyota Corolla, Honda City types, indicating that the disposable incomes are rising and the purchasing power is going up from the middle class segment. Though the auto industry categorizes these buyers as upper middle class or somewhat like that, there is surely a shift towards brand name mid-sized sedans in the marketplace, while the youngsters go for the smaller ones.
In the past six months or so, very high-end cars such as the Audi, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls Royce, etc., have been launched with much fanfare, though the numbers will be in hundreds at the most in terms of sales.
Recently, I noticed that the car mix in my own apartment has changed with more Skodas, Hondas (CRVs, Accord, Civic), Toyotas, a few BMWs/Mercs/Prados. The number of smaller cars has definitely dropped. I witnessed the same in a nearby shopping mall’s car park last evening.
Clearly, the Indian market is moving ahead with greater purchasing power, taste for mid/high-end, and speed in terms of growth rate. Growth rates will be high at the high-end, due to the very low base of such cars. It is an interesting dynamic that would shape personal transportation in the coming years. The roads are improving elsewhere (not in Mumbai though), so the Government’s increased focus on adding 12 Kms of roads per day is bearing some fruit, I guess.
Well, one can imagine what it would be like in 2012 on Indian roads and car parks ! GPS Parking, anyone ?
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
7th Feb 2009
Mumbai
MY COMMENT : I do not personally agree with this “Amazing Story” sent via email from a closed community. I have met both “ants” and “grasshoppers” in my life, and I have found them to be either equally good or equally bad. I have also met successful “grasshoppers” with their own businesses in the U.S. and elsewhere. Reservations do not matter in life anymore. What matters is sheer hard work and basic intelligence and a passion for accomplishment/reward. How does it matter whether one is an “ant” or a “grasshopper” or a “panda from China ?”
In any case, please read through and interpret according to your own experiences, beliefs and thoughts !
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Amazing story
The U.S. Version :
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.
Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.
The Indian Version:
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant’s a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.
The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant’s house.
Medha Patkar goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.
Mayawati states this as `injustice’ done on Minorities.
Amnesty International and Kofi Annan criticize the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.
The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) .
Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for ‘Bengal Bandh’ in West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry.
CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers.
Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway Trains, aptly named as the ‘Grasshopper Rath’.
Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the ‘ Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act’ [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the winter.
Arjun Singh makes ‘Special Reservation ‘ for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions & in Government Services.
The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, it’s home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.
Arundhati Roy calls it ‘A Triumph of Justice’.
Lalu calls it ‘Socialistic Justice ‘.
CPM calls it the ‘ Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden ‘
Koffi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.
Many years later….**
The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company in Silicon Valley, 100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in India ,
AND
As a result of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the grasshoppers, India is still a developing country.
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Quoted from an email message
Unquote
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
6th Feb 2010
Mumbai
I was very pleased when one of my ex-colleagues mentioned to me that I am a “cool” guy. What he meant was not that I am one of those college kids with descriptive jeans and an open shirt with skewed hair and coloured glasses, but rather that I am calm and collected most of the time despite interrupts.
I agree with his assessment. I am not a person to get too excited about distractions, interrupts and provacations.
I am not saying that this trait is an asset and one should have the same. It just helps one to get over the harsh realities of daily life and take one strategic move at a time, instead of constant maneuvering of tactical steps all the time. Some people do think that the latter mechanism is better in terms of positioning oneself as a customised engine to deal with interrupts as and when they come or happen to one. But I do think that it is critical to make an assessment first before reacting or moving.
When one takes up things in a calm and collected manner, it may not always entice crowds. But that is not the objective anyway. It is important to do things in one’s time-tested manner, and not sacrifice the consistent behaviour for the sake of some interrupt which is trying to disrupt one’s considered approach to problem solving.
There is meaning in a non-responsive behaviour. Because analysis is not completed yet. But unfortunately the world thinks that either you are lazy, or do not understand the nature of the interrupt. What a pity ! World is not going to change anytime soon. However, on this one matter, stay focused on yourself and your ability to think calmly through a problem, before providing a response. Nothing is going to happen untoward…….life is much more complex that just one response. It is important to develop a pattern of thinking and apply the same in multiple scenarios and multiple problems.
It will only be a short time when your collected and measured responses start to make sense to people working with you or known to you. You will be a trusted and respected partner in any endeavour from then onwards.
I wanted to probably convey more than this, but here you go for a good weekend with some thoughtful reminiscences………….
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
6th Feb 2010
Mumbai
I saw this nice 1930s movie last evening on my flight from Singapore to Mumbai.
I have always liked somewhat artistic movies from old times, and I chose this movie (correctly) to expect some old-time movie action from the streets of Chicago, in the middle of those nice office buildings of yesteryears. I love those roads in which gas lamps were burning, and shootouts happen in almost a rhythmic manner, unlike the brutal attacks from new flicks. The 1933 bank robbery scenes are breath-taking, to say the least. Michael Mann, the director of the movie, has done a marvellous job of enacting a realistic movie with a fantastic cast of actors. Johnny Depp is probably the best fit for John Dillinger, and similarly, Christian Bale fits in very well as the FBI Agent, Melvin Purvis.
This is a good movie, shot with a lot of taste and appreciation of the 1930s environment, but using modern techniques of filmography. Very well directed, and a movie which is not to be missed by people who prefer the realistic past rather than the unnatural science fiction stuff which has come to dominate Hollywood. I somehow did not agree with the way the movie ended, but that is for the director to decide and deliver. Johnny Depp has done a fabulous job of replicating Dillinger’s bravado.
See it !
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
31st Jan 2010
Mumbai
I am amazed at the rapid turnaround of the Singapore economy.
I thought it was decaying when I had been to Singapore in August 2009. My measurement of the economy was based basically on two parameters – (1) the number of taxis waiting to pickup the almost non-existent passengers at taxi stands/taxis cruising around with the lighted “For Hire” blue lights ; and, (2) the moods of the cross-section of folks that I spoke to, which was not even cautiously optimistic. Of course the GDP de-growth story was there in the media for everyone to see – the growth was negative and exports were falling rapidly.
But, when I went there recently, the story was reversed – it was difficult to get a taxi, we had to queue up ; and, the mood amongst the people I know had become optimistic. I also noticed that more jobs were created in Q3, and the unemployment rate was below 2%. The real estate prices are up, and rentals have gone up. It was difficult to get people on the phone – they all seemed to be very busy. I saw a lot of real shoppers at iSETAN, the Japanese supermarket chain.
Well, for a small, export-driven, externally over-dependent economy, that was a big turnaround.
The reasons could be related to the government stimulus, tax breaks, protectionist measures (or hint of such measures) and positive response from citizens. I am sure the analysts will be doing the rational analyses of the economic turnaround. But clearly the mood is positive, and at the same time, costs have given up. The costs of doing business must be going up, notwithstanding the easy availability of real estate space at prime locations. More locals are obviously getting jobs.
It appears to me that Singapore will continue on this trajectory for the next 18 months or so, and then taper off. The GDP growth coming in now and for the next few quarters will make up for the losses over the last six quarters or so.
Good for Singapore and Kudos to its economic management skills in a rather trying environment,
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
31st Jan 2010
Mumbai
In my opinion, The New York Times is the best example of a newspaper which is balanced in its news coverage while also highly opinionated – it achieves this feat by segregating the “Opinions” column separately from the mainstream coverage, though I look for its columnists’ opinions on current affairs first before reading the regular news !
The web version of NYTimes is one of the best news websites that I have seen, I visit the same everyday for a perspective on global news and affairs. I have been a registered user of NYTimes website for many years now, so I was naturally upset when I read that the newspaper has decided to charge fees for its readers. There must be thousands of global readers of the web version, who do not get to enjoy the print version because it is not available where they are resident. In India, it is not available of course, but we do have the International Herald Tribune which is the global edition of The New York Times, the only problem being its unaffordable local price at Rs 20 as compared to one-fifth of this figure for the local English newspapers.
So, one has to depend on the web version. And, it is always better to make U.S. views available across the world without cost, as it anyway costs a lot, especially in developing countries to get internet bandwidth. So, given the constraints, it is only natural to expect most content on the web to be free. The newspapers of repute could always develop a policy of charging their U.S. and European readers, while specifically excluding the countries which are in the developing and under-developed categories. Free content invariably enhances accessibility and creates potential influence.
So, hope The New York Times will carefully review its policy (though it is not entirely bad, giving free content up to a certain number of articles per month) of charging its web-only customers. I will surely regret not being able to read the articles in an unlimited fashion and search its archives.
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
24th January 2010
Mumbai
There is now a serious and determined attempt by President Obama and the U.S. Congress to regulate financial institutions and tax them to reduce their risk-taking behaviour in the markets.
Well, this must be the most anti-Capitalistic step that the world’s most entrenched Capitalist Country can take against the big, “bad” banks on Wall Street, which have released some of their best quarterly results ever. Seems like Wall Street is back in full action, profits are going through the roof, and employee bonuses are going to be fat. And this is upsetting the middle class Americans many of who have lost their jobs or in the process of losing their jobs, with a rather uncertain future.
So, is it right to conclude that curtailment of risks by taxing the banks is the right way to move forward ? I don’t think it can be as simplistic as that, in terms of guiding the future behaviour of risk-taking investment bankers. The banks have clearly figured out how to have a big party trading on almost zero-cost Fed money. The Federal Reserve is maintaining its interest rates at near zero, instead of gradually raising it as it should have done by now. So, can it be said that Fed is actually supporting the big banks ? Yes, it does, not just by maintaining very low interest rates but by purchasing huge amount of treasury bonds and bank securities.
So, it may not be the sole fault of banks.
Banks will play their game when and if allowed – and they did that again in the last 6 to 9 months of free money. Can’t blame them.
And, how come government can keep interfering with free market mechanism ? Aren’t governments supposed to do their job of governing first and in a better manner, rather than worry about how much money bankers make ?
Luckily Indian Government is not interfering in the market. Hope it stays that way.
We can expect more trouble in Wall Street soon.
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
23rd Jan 2010
Mumbai
Religion has remained a sensitive topic over the centuries, and has been the cause of many wars and untold sufferings for all of humanity. It is not easy to write about religion and its impact on society, nations and the whole world, because often it is mistaken that the writer is biased.
In my opinion, one’s religion and religious beliefs should be a private matter. Unfortunately, privacy cannot be maintained easily as one has to go places of religious worship as part of life. However, it is easy to maintain the privacy on most other occasions, by not displaying articles of faith publicly, despite the call of religion or insistence of family superiors. Open display does attract some attention – be it ash on the forehead, prayer beads, or a particular garb.
Man has been affected seriously and severely by religious indulgence over the centuries, and I am afraid he has not learnt the lessons. Destruction and death are the result of blind faith on religions, which mislead man. This has happened so often, and is in plain evidence over this last decade that we have all just completed. Religion does provide followers a common faith and a common place of worship, but it cannot be a differentiating factor, or a potential reason to band together. Human faith should be the common bond, rather than religious affiliations.
Very unfortunately, allegiance to a common cause pertaining to a religion provides a rallying platform against non-believers, or against believers in a competing religion. Isn’t it funny that religions do compete against each other ? Let us remember that religions were created by man, and he is not able to get out of the clutches of religions even in this modern 21st Century.
All religions have good things to say or impart as instruction, and we should rather be focused on the positive things rather than the bad stuff out there. However, I see that even in my own religion that is not the case, and it never will be. Respect for differing ideologies and perceptions is non-existent. Man cannot become God, but we have thousands claiming to have divine powers, and even intelligent, educated people believe in something like this ……. it is puzzling to say the least, because scientific analysis is the basis for intelligence and further analysis. The most loyal religious folks like to proselytize unswervingly in a very focused manner, and I show respect to them but not commit to their philosophy.
In a nutshell, religion is a way of life in a rather loose manner, rather than prescriptive and destructive towards others. Life treats everyone in the same way, only the committed individual with passion and belief in himself succeeds though.
I am sure this will invite comments, but it is better to think and deliver based on one’s intellect rather than quote from any kind of scripture. At the end of the day we are answerable to ourselves.
Cheers and Have a Great Weekend,
Vijay Srinivasan
23rd Jan 2009
Mumbai
Australia !
This is my second post on Indians getting bashed up in Australia. My earlier post “Curry Bashing” received a number of interesting comments from readers.
Relations between Australian and Indian Governments have been improving over the past several years, after Australia realised that it can no longer ignore a rising economic and political giant on the world stage. I guess it took two hands to clap, and joint working on trade and economic partnership, as well as political relations, enhanced the relationship between the two countries. However, India never forgot the slight it received from Australia after the Pokhran Nuclear Test, I guess…….
Further, Australia declared that China is its most important trading partner, not without some reason. Notwithstanding the arrest of senior Australian executives in China, Australia has continued strong partnership with China and consistently ignored the human rights issues in China, unlike other Western powers who atleast make some muted noises.
Given this background, it was not surprising to note that Australia treats India as a Third World Country still, and has termed ALL the attacks on Indians as “opportunistic”, rather than atleast some of them as “racist”. The attacks on Indians, as compared to attacks on any other nationality is on a rapid rise in Victoria. But officially, the Deputy PM of Australia and the Victorian PM have deftly deflected the race theory and are asking Indian students to take precautions, rather than providing security. And, Indian Government is apparently soft-pedalling, and there appears to be a disconnect between the External Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the latter being more vocal and demanding.
There has been a drop of 46% in Indian Student Visa Applications for admissions this year, and is it any wonder ? Indian Mothers won’t send their sons to Australia, not with the publicity and media glare that has followed every attack. I presume that this situation will deteriorate, and the Indian Government will be forced to issue further and tougher advisories about travel to Australia. For a change, a non-Western Government would be issuing travel advisories and warnings – hope this trend continues to some good strength, as we have only seen advisories against India from Western Governments so far !
So, in a nutshell, it is appropriate to conclude that Australia has lost face in India. Its lack of force in being able to demonstrate that it is capable and competent to convict the murderers and attackers, is going to destroy its position further in India. A lay man can only conclude that the Australian Government is not serious at all, indulging in accented verbosity, rather than interested in taking serious action. Is Australia a country with law-abiding citizens and a competent law enforcement mechanism ? And, what does the Victorian Police Chief have to say ? He said that “Indians are safer in Australia rather than in their own country”.
Nothing more need be said.
Adieu Australia !
Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
17th January 2010
Mumbai
