RBI seeks to boost Debit Card Usage

This is a small, but good step to encourage usage of debit cards, over credit cards.

Card issuing banks may not do that. But, central bank should do this.

The way we are moving to a consumer-society, where wealth/income/asset/etc are more important over everything else, we need to discourage from moving from

• a saving-socity 
• to 
• a spending society 
• to 
• a spending-on-credit-society !

PS :I am tempted to add -  This rampant consumerism is at the core of most of ills plaguing our society, across all strata

http://www.livemint.com/2012/06/28232846/RBI-seeks-to-boost-debit-card.html

A day at Khandalahhhhhh!

Got to spend a day at Khandala. 

Auspiricous start, as it was raining cats & dogs in amchi Mumbai.

It took more than double the time to reach the hills. Incidentlly, the crux of the problem was water-logging in parts of the city. Perhaps, administration was not ready for the torrential showers !

Amazing experience, professionally.. 

As for nature's beauty, words can not describe.

PS : 'Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish' - Anonymous

London Summer Capital for Super cars from Arabia

Interesting read...

Young crowds from Middle East are escaping the summer & hitting London roads, with their dream/mean machines.

Check out http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/28/223327.html

Happy driving @ London.... the young & vibrant crowd from ME :)

Car - Buy Vs Finance

Here is the expert view on whether to buy car or finance : 

The question whether to buy a car by paying cash or taking a loan is not as simple as it sounds. In case you don’t have enough cash, it becomes easy to answer as you don’t have an option but to go for a loan. Also, any future need of money can also help in deciding the same.

But in your case it is not applicable as you have enough resources. For you the determining factors can be whether your company has a “company car lease policy”. If yes, then opting for the same is recommended as the car is purchased in the company’s name and EMIs are adjusted from salary thereby making salary structure more tax-efficient. Further, check if there are special deals in the market which makes going for the loan more attractive. If not, then taking a loan will not give you any advantage as you will be paying a high interest on the loan and your cash surplus will not be able to deliver you an equivalent interest amount. ( SOurce - Ask Mint Money, Mint )

Fully agree with the expert to go ahead & buy ( with extra 'cash discount'), if one can afford. But then, car is usually bought in India thru finance, mostly  due to the non-affordability factor. 
Those who can afford, may still opt for finance to employ own funds elsewhere ( in business) and generate interest. The perception is also, it helps 'tax planning' ! ( don't think it has changed much!)


Sadly, lease & rent-a-car have not developed here as much as in other big markets.


Happy & safe Driving !

A day at Amchi Mumbai, Professionally

I ventured out this morning, to Mumbai city, for some professional, & personal work.


Some thoughts : Mumbai City ?

• Is Mumbai actually a "city" ? Or more of a "state" or something in between ? Surely no longer a "city'. So huge & so many people ! 
• People move out of jobs or offices get re-located. But Mumbaikar stays put at the same residential unit. Happy to commute, but leave the family in the comfort zone of appartment, society, school, doctor, maid, et al ( may be newspaper boy to kabadi-wala !). 
• While none of these are valid reasons to stay put at the same flat/society/locality, the office-goer & businessman fails to recognise the sheer impact on his personal health, efficiency, quality time, work-life balance, et al

Food for thought, mumbaikar!

A day out in Amchi Mumbai, Professionally!

As I moved from Western suburbs, into the city, there were proof of showers, in the morning. As I returned, it was more than a drizzle, esp around Mahim. It was dry towards western-suburbs! 


There was also unusual traffic congestion in Mahim. I thought it may be the usual rush as school-children were heading home ( full of joy, to get back home!). But the taxi-driver attributed it to the 10-day long function at Mahim-Church. 


I thought no wonder, the prayers were having a good impact. 


With monsoon yet to pick up & the lakes almost going dry, should we all not pray for more rains, esp at the catchment areas ? 

Indian Car Mfrers should tap export opportunity

Cars "Made in India" exports :


Car exports in May 2012 from India : 
45 K compared to 33.5K cars exported in May, 2011 ===> 34 % jump


Now that is the smart way of handling a dip in demand. 


Most of the cars brands have taken to a more easy out, by offering hefty discounts.


Demand for low-cost cars has gone up in most of the markets. As there is more pressure on wallet, mass-segment will opt for better value for money. It may not be a bad idea for India's manufacturers to go for an aggressive push on exports. Even Middle East looks promising...


Hyundai, Ford, Nissan will find it easier to reach out to markets where their brands enjoy certain equity. But others, like Suzuki, Tata & Mahindra may need to invest & commit themselves for a long haul. It may be worth the effort, surely... 

This Cat needs your kindness

I took a flight from Blore to Mumbai, at 1PM. As always, slept peacefully most of the flight, thus missing the lunch on board. As I stepped out at Mumbai, I headed straight to the food-court right at the exit gate (of private airlines), for a quick bite. 


As I waited for my Mumbai-special, paav-bhaji, I saw this cat lying under a chair, next to my table. 


It looked very week, but very peaceful & 'saintly'... she was at the wrong place, being an all-veggie food-court! 


Boys attending to the customers confirmed not even eggs served there ( Thank God!)


As I kept looking, clicking photo & praying this creation of God be taken care....the elderly man sitting on that chair got up stepping on the paw :( ::::  It let out a cry... full of pain.


It was quick to recover from the physical pain and moved on... 


As I headed home, I felt guilty for not preventing the physical pain on the lovely cat. I could just pray... someone takes care/adopts the cat. 


( I already have a dog at home, hence I could not do it myself - my dog is a cat-hater !)

Most beautiful experience in evening

I was on a call. It was around 6.05 PM. 

I was distracted by the beauty ! Captured on my IPhone. Can't fully capture the majestic nature. Neverthless, look closely at the snaps. You will surprised... 

Truly mind-blowing!!

Bengaluru Green

Bengaluru beautiful, during the day !

Morning Walk

Stepped out, early morning for a walk !!

It is difficult, while on tour. Neverthless, pulled myself out !

The main road had too much traffic, even early in the mornings. (Hence, was reluctant even earlier !)

So, took a road, 'less travelled' :) Away from the highway, in to the village !!!

It was a much better experience.. cool, pleasant & less poluted ! Hope & pray Blore gets some showers very soon.

Of course, ran into these black-beauties... they just gave me a look of authority for entering their domain. But, meant no harm :)

Keep Walking !!!

Re-location Pains

Happy & Safe driving ..... is something I keep telling friends!

Difficult to be happy, with current petrol prices & the proposed excise duty hike on diesel cars, but safe driving is within our control! And I sincerely hope Govt will take a more appropriate step to work on diesel prices, rather than go for ‘low-lying fruit’, increase excise duty on diesel cars!

Met a friend who had moved in from Saudi Arabia, last year. He said, one of the biggest shocks of re-locating was the petrol price. He was used to paying just 60 Saudi halalas (=Rs. 7 plus). Petrol price in India was just ten times costlier!!

He travels from Blore to a town, 200 kms away, every week-end. His family lives there. With the recent hike in petrol price, he has opted to bus/train as his preferred mode of travel. But then, the connectivity & infrastructure are so poor!

He is very upset. Not sure, whether to sell his petrol car & go for a diesel car, before govt increases the excise duty or get used to public transport woes!!!

Life goes on J

Happy & Safe Travelling!

Traffic Control in India

Over the last few weeks, I have been travelling a lot ( taking a toll on my already fragile system!)


One thing stuck me was how horrible our sense of traffic was.. 

• Lane discipline is a universal violation. 
• Everyone is in tearing hurry. 
• We honk just too much. There should be a ban on honking... 'NO Horn Please, OK'
• No empathy on road, we are never courteous to the fellow-travellers. 
• Of course, city roads are over-crowded with cars, and at times trucks. 
• No specific timings & routes for trucks ?! 
• Public transport gets no priority. 
• Our autorickshaws are.... wow ! This deserves a separate story/post :)
• Traffic Cops are usually not 'managing' traffic, but only 'penalising' - whether on city roads, catching the offenders, rightfully. Or, on suburbs/highways, the truck-drivers - may not be always 'offenders' !

The ratio of cops deployed against the optimum no required to manage is surely not sufficient.  But that is no excuse to to focus more on penalising, than managing traffic.

Got this story from a friend, about the blackberry devices used by traffic cops in Blore. Yet to see one, but very inspiring story, it is actually being implemented.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/situation-in-hand/477544/

Pls don't get me wrong. I don't want to sound snobbish. These days, I am under no pressure to reach my destinations, no work-pressure, etc. Hence, perhaps, observing a lot more ! Also, I would like to think I am more empathetic!!! 
Traffic is so much more organised even in Middle East, leave alone other developed countries. And we have lots of Indians driving on ME roads. 


The traffic depts & govts need to do their bit to inculcate traffic discipline. But then, we need to take some responsibility too.


Happy & Safe driving .....  

Dieselisation of Indian Auto Industry

Govt is thinking in terms of taking the easy way out - increase excise duties on diesel cars.

Simple choice, may be, but surely not the best.

The obvious choice is to increase the diesel price, by say Re.1. But, the political will needed seem to be missing to make such crucial decisions.

Latest reports say, diesel fumes may cause cancer. Some may say, ' no conclusive evidence'. But, if we wait for that, it may be too late. Just like impact of climate change !!

With the fast changing developments at Delhi's political circles, this particular decision may be slightly delayed.

But this is an opportunity for the govt to show some guts & take the correct decision.

We need to stop this dieselisation of our auto Industry !

Audi Q3 record booking

Audi Q3 has bookings sold out in just five days !
500 cars in just five days!
The price range, 26 to 31 Lac ex-Mumbai.
A luxury, SUV is the latest hit in the auto space.

BMW and other luxury brands watch out...
Small, luxury cars will have great demand in India, as the owners move up from Swift-range !

Hope they ensure top of class after-sales service also, to ensure the brand equity in the long run.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-06-15/news/32254776_1_q5-q7-audi-india-head

India goes online for car purchase decisions

India's car makers can no longer ignore the power of internet


More & more potential customers are going on line to make comparisons & arrive at their 'dream car' ! 

• 50 % customers are going on line to check out, before visiting car dealerships  - An opportunity to get prospects hooked !
• 54 % customers changed their preferences after going on line
• For more info, check out http://www.livemint.com/2012/06/05223651/More-car-buyers-going-online-b.html

PS : The dream though turning sour with the increase in petrol prices & 'democle's sword' hanging in the form of potential excise duty increase on diesel cars !

Amul Girl is 50

Amul Girl is 50 years ‘young’ !

What a journey it has been for them & also for us, customers. It remains 'utterly, butterly delicious'!

Amul continues to be a great example of a successful cooperative movement. They continue to dominate the market. The best part was they were leaders in almost all the segments, except ice-cream.        

Amul campaigns have remained simple, around Amul girl, looking at the contemperory issues with a bit of sarcasm... we love it!

Business India recently carried a great feature on Amul. Do check out the issue & share with your kids.

A big thanks, Amul !

Hearty welcome to Rain God

Before & after rains !! ( First 7 snaps, taken this afternoon )

It has been cloudy over the last two days.
Few parts of Mumbai got light showers yesterday.
But this evening, monsoon has arrived at Mumbai !

Early this week, there were worries monsoon may fail this time. It is too early. Let us pray & hope we get a normal monsoon this year also.

Plants and trees are already looking clean & green.

Sunset at Mumbai

Had shot this few days ago... Beautiful Sunset... from our appartments, not from any vantage point!

Wondered, in our day to day busy life, how many of us pause to enjoy the beauty of sunset !

gulfnews : Toyota flags industry concerns

The top concers for global auto industry.... reiterated by Toyota Head

1. Euro concern, 
2. Rising Yen
3. Slowing US economy

Last year it was natural disasters.... this year may be man-made disasters ?!

gulfnews : Toyota flags industry concerns

World Environment Day 2012

The theme for 2012 is GREEN ECONOMY. 

The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. ( http://www.unep.org/wed/theme/ )

We all have a big role to play...


Let us take responsibility to save water, energy & ensure we are responsible to the environment.


Let us make it part of our lifestyle, value-system, get our kids to be more aware...

Perfect Day

Attract Your Perfect Day

Today is a special day... personally!


I am glad to share something very special with you... Pls check out 
YOUR PERFECT DAY 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJLY6mAoGoo&feature=youtu.be

Courtesy - Joe Vitale ( Author - Zero Limits)


The affirmations are very powerful. Try them


Be Happy!

A Career in Indian Army

I was delighted to receive an SMS, inviting me to join army!!
But then, even in my sencond innings, I am unable to take up - too late, age being the constraint ?

Anyways,  sharing the link for the benefit of the reader :

• www.upsc.gov.in 
• www.joinindianarmy.nic.in

If age is not a constraint, I would give Territorial Army a try for my 2nd Innings ! http://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/WhatsNew/405/taadd070512.pdf


BTW, delighted to read MS Dhoni is considering a career in Army, after Cricket. That is a great thought indeed.

A Tribute to Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singhji

Sharing the link, for those who missed the program on Color Channel:


http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Fu_PK4OMpgQ&feature=email

• Brilliantly organised, great effort by Colors.
• Most of the contemperory big names from music-world come together to lovingly remember the ghazal-great ('90% of the audience were musicians', as Jalotaji mentioned). 
• Fortunately, the audience was restricted to these music-greats & few others from film world, like Shabana Azmi, Javed Akthar, etc. They spoke very well, as always.
• True greatness of Jagjitji was in what he gave to ghazal...He gave it the mass-appeal. Common man started enjoying ghazals. ( 'Ask not what you got from the country....!) 
• Pt Jasrajji did not sing :( Would have loved a few lines of Jagjitji or any of his own 
• When these great singers sang Jagjitji's songs, it sounded so different. That was the uniqueness of his voice, style, delivery and soul of his singing...
• Some of the songs brougt tears... Chitra Singhji would have struggled to control tears, on several occassions

'Yeh Daulat bhi lelo...' remains a personal favourite - Jalotaji sang it in his own style. 


'Music is to the soul, just as food is for body', said my beloved Master. 


Jagjitji will always remain the soul of ghazal music for many of us, simple music lovers !

State plans to drop you at work

Finally Government agencies are looking at ways to handle the chronic commuting woes of office-goers at Mumbai. 


The pain of commuting is one of the most difficult part of living in Mumbai. Early 2000, many of us would take buses from our colony in western suburbs to BKC. The flyovers were not complete and buses not air-conditioned. It was horror. It would take anything from 60 mts to 120 mts. During Mumbai's monsoon, it used to be hell. ( I would have burnt lot of my past karmas during those trips, I am very sure!)


We evolved from 'be-car' to 'car-owners' ... 
And car-owners to 'caaar-owners' ! That is small car to big cars!


We pooled, of course! We had sufficient quorum - availability of cars & willingness to be part of pool, and most important to get out on time !!! The last was a challenge - we would step out at 630PM, though working hrs was till 5 PM. And people would invariably ask in elevators, 'leaving so early?'  Of course, 'to overcome the guilt', we would often spent sometime on our laptops at home! 


Great to know there could be point-to-point drops by A/c buses. The agencies are coording with HR depts of organisations. Over the last week, everyone was criticising the fuel price hike. Today, all are critical about the 'notional' roll back of just Rs 2 per lit. The solution really lies in efforts such as these - efficient public transport system. 



http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_maharashtra-govt-plans-to-drop-you-at-work_1696978

3000 Itallians flee city to become shepherds

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-30/3-000-italians-flee-city-to-become-shepherds

• Some are doing it for passion... : that is great... back to nature!

• some, out of necessity ! ... that is sad :(

Breaking free from the mundane - Live Mint

Came acorss this interesting article : Breaking free from the Mundane
http://www.livemint.com/2012/05/31202712/Breaking-free-from-the-mundane.html

The author has a doubt if it is a trend yet...
But I can humbly add, I am part of the evolving 'trend' ! Having quit a bank in Middle East.... to seek.
Author concludes the article with our option 'to seek' or to be restricted by our job & everthing that comes with it, positve/negative.

Charles Handy's ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Handy) idea of 'Portfolio Life' is the need of the hour. To do something, day after day - perform Karma. But, with a higher purpose. Not for money or fame. 'Simple Living, High Thinking', would be an appropriate dictum to live by.

I am tempted to add, the aim to get out of typical corporate life should be only to seek. To seek a higher goal. Else, the result could be dissappointment, frustration & depression.

As I catch up with friends & relatives, the reactions are very different. But, all in the corporate world, want to get out of corpo-RAT-e race  and move on. But, few end up doing it.

It also helps to create space for others to grow in the corporate sector. We have enough skilled manpower to fill up all types of shoes, big or small !

Thanks to Mint. Gladly, I see more such articles appearing these days.