Are economic policies and promises really based on inclusive, intelligent thinking – or are they driven by popular sentiment and political ambition?

Well depends on who you ask, you will get different answers, but our political representatives, both in and out of power, will tell you that their decisions are based on inclusive, intelligent thinking (naturally).

Sadly, since there are so many variables and stakeholders involved in our country, most of the time it is difficult to really pin down what’s economic and what’s politically motivated.

Until you look at Party Manifestos.

I discovered this gem, in the Mint yesterday, in two articles on the upcoming elections in Karnataka. One titled “Cong may capitalize on BJP woes” and the other titled “Four-Way Tie“. The articles described with great detail and insight, the issues faced by the four political parties which are the main contenders here. These include the ‘big two’ which are the Congress (Cong) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the Janata Dal Secular (JD) and the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) started by former BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa.

Then there was a summary of each party’s Manifesto (see picture). Where the 5-odd points listed under each, was a clear reflection of the politics of economics!

Each party manifesto starts with a freebie or a socio-economic sop. And then some go on to list development work, while some continue to offer sops. (in a undisguised attempt to sway votes in their favor, irrespective of economic prudence?).

• The Cong starts with 2 freebies, one ambiguous ‘better regional connectivity’ point, and 2 development related projects. (they sense a weak BJP and need sops to get a foot in, and then some work to stay in power).
• The BJP which is weakened by the exit of BSY and his Lingayat voters, is lists 3 freebies, reservation for women, and one ambiguous point of ‘quality English lessons’.
• The JD lists 4 sops/promises, with one ambiguous point of ‘Mandatory English medium from 5th standard in govt schools.
• The KJP on the other hand, having proven itself over the years on development (which detractors will debate, of course), lists 4 sops its manifesto, along with the commitment to set up a cooperative bank exclusively for women.

There you have it. There will surely be more items in their Manifestos, and it could be just a case of “haathi ke daant” – but if this is what they’re projecting, and this is what the people (and newspapers) pick up and use… you know for sure how the politics of economics works in India!

The experience itself was quite smooth, despite my apprehensions of dealing with ‘babus’ – albeit in an outsourced avatar. The online application system was smooth and very encouraging. Not only could I submit my application online, I could also take an appointment, as well as upload all the supporting documents needed to get my address changed.

I had four of the twelve documents required as proof of address, and I uploaded them in the required format.

But when I got to my ‘appointment’ at the Passport Seva Kendra in Gurgaon, the reality of India’s unfortunate trust deficit began unfolding.

Not only does this government department not trust documents issued by private corporate entities, it does not acknowledge any of its own!

How else can you explain that after I submitted all these documents and got them verified by the “authorities” inside, I find my file marked for “pre issue police verification!

The documents included:

1. Landline and mobile telephone bills for the past one year, and containing my address, verified by the service providers’ stringent KYC rules (they wouldn’t activate connections without all info, thrice verified!).

2. My Aadhaar card, which is an official document, on which the government of India is putting so much importance, and where it is in my interest to get facts right, as it is the way I will receive ‘subsidies’ and other government benefits!

3. A copy of my wife’s Passport issued by the same passport office and verified by the police earlier!

The point is, what’s the use of KYC, other official documents, and even Police verification, if they’re not going to be accepted as the proof they’re intended to be?

And the irony is, that the Policeman who will land up at my place to “verify” me, will use the same documents, along with handwritten declarations of two neighbours, who he won’t meet!

Similarly, I remember trying to get my new car registered, and discovered the Haryana RTA doesn’t accept registration certificates issued by its own office as proof of address – I was trying to register my new car with the same name and address as my old car registered in Haryana a couple of years back!

I may have taken the examples of the Passport Office (which is supposed to be one of our fastest and most efficient official departments) and the Regional Transport Authority (the less said about it, the better) – but they’re symbolic of the problem that exists across the board.

The question is, when will the Government of India standardize and recognize identity documents in the same manner across departments and geographies?

The question is, are we so untrustworthy as a people, that no document is taken at face value, unless physically verified by a “trusted” policeman?

Speaking of which, the status of my Passport application has changed to “Pending for physical police verification at your respective Thana under SP Office, District Gurgaon.”

And I await the verification visit, totally at the mercy of the whims and “workload” of the system.

If you have such examples, of processes that are either redundant, or designed to give ‘the system’ unfair power rather than be fair, please share them – here, or on any other platform you seem fit.

We cannot continue to live, as they say “bhagwan bharosey“!

Note, Wednesday 1st May 2013. An article on the same subject appeared in The Times of India today, highlighting the issues faced by the common man in getting a Passport Issued/Reissued. You can read the full article by Manimugdha S Sharma here: please click here to read the story.

In response to the article, I wrote to the TOI (see article picture) and they published my letter in The Times of India, here: please click to read.

No children to be with, no wife to talk to, no parents to comfort
No dog to walk, no fish-tank to clean, no neighbours to smile at
No car to service, no clients to call, no one to follow up with

No milk to buy, no ration to stock up, no bulbs to fix
No bills to pay, no papers to sign, no files to sort
No phone calls, no deadlines, no ‘sahab, courier aya hai…’

Not a sound in the air, no eye on the door, no event on the horizon
No fear in the mind, no pain in the heart, no butterflies in the stomach
No clock, no emotions, no ego.

3-something-a.m. silence, pre-dawn calm, wide-awake clarity…
Rare, but real… Fleeting, but fulfilling… Simple, but satisfying…
These are moments and happiness to hold on to.

The calm before the storm that daylight brings

© Mehernosh Shapoorjee – aka. Noshtradamus
Thursday, 25th April, 2013.

It’s not that I am Catholic, or even Christian, but I stayed glued to Vatican TV via BBC and CNN for two reasons:

First, to listen to the “expert” commentary and panel discussions around ‘which Cardinal would possibly emerge on the balcony’ – and their reasons for why the next leader of the Catholic church should be Italian, European, Non-European, African or even Asian.

Second, to listen to ordinary men and women on the ground talk about their reasons for being there and their expectations, and to watch their spontaneous, emotional reactions to the events and announcements in St. Peter’s Square and from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

So what’s the point of all this? The truth is, listening to the experts and the common man, gives us a perspective on not just the background and sentiment around the event itself (in this case the selection of the Pope), and it also gives us insights into larger public sentiment, and social, economic, and cultural trends.

Here’s what I learnt and how it has bearing on the world around us today:

He’s the first Jesuit and first non-European in this position in a very long time, and he’s the first ever to take the name Francis. He started his maiden address to the world as Pope, not by blessing the people, but by seeking their blessings for him. And his opening remarks included references to technology and evangelism.

Jesuits form one of the largest order of priests among Catholics who are known for working very hard, anywhere in the world, even under extreme conditions. And given the social and economic issues facing the world is today, we need leaders who are hard working, and not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, in the trenches with their people.

Latin America is home to around 40% of the world’s Catholics, as against just around 25% in Europe. Yes, the world needs leaders who are homegrown, speak the local language, know the people, and understand local issues.

While Latin America is still dominated primarily by Christians, religion is on a decline amongst its youth. Any good marketer will tell you, you must hold on to your core markets, as well as go after the low hanging fruit around it. The youth of Latin America (like the rest of the world) need something to hold on to, and believe in, especially in hard times. Giving them a Pope who’s one of them, tells them that their Church must be doing something right – so why not give it another chance!?

Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose his Papal name keeping St. Francis of Assisi and his work for the poor in mind, rather than a patron saint of his own Jesuit order. This again showcases the fact that leadership can and must seek inspiration from the outside, and it has to make choices where the good of the people trumps everything else.

At 79, Cardinal Bergoglio was also an unlikely choice, given the fact that his 76-year old predecessor cited age as one of his reasons to resign. And then Pope Francis spoke of technology and evangelism – two concepts (buzzwords?) that have captured the imagination of the youth and societies of today. The way I see it, is old world wisdom is best served via technology and spread with evangelism, rather than only with from-the-pulpit speeches.

And finally, by seeking the blessings of the people first, Pope Francis humbly acknowledged the fact that leadership cannot work without the blessings and participation of the people. And that we all have something to give others, even if it’s just a prayer, and even that can go a long way in building long and fruitful relationships together!

So there you have it – my reading of the signs that the election of Pope Francis gave out, and the arising learning for leadership around the world, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

I may have read too much into all this, and the reasons for Cardinal Bergoglio becoming Pope Francis election may have had nothing to do with any of the above at all. But I believe in signs. And I am always looking for some to tell me that despite all we see and hear around us, there are people who know what they’re doing (including the Iceman) – and the world is moving slowly, but surely, to a better place.

Amen.

So I ran away.

Then I was taken in by a widow and her teenage daughter who lived in the neighbourhood. They didn’t have a big bank balance, but they had a big heart.

We took to each other like we were meant for each other. They fed me, showered me with love, and in turn I took on the mantle of a protector. After all, I was the man of the house!

I could come and go as I pleased at first – often visiting my sisters who still hung around perhaps imagining mom or a suddenly returned dad would take care of them – but in vain.

Food was always plentiful, and I grew stronger and bigger by the day. Handsome I might add, considering the admiring glances I got from everyone, especially females.

But my sisters remained skinny and scrawny. And if ever they came around to my new home, I would offer them food. My new family happily accepted these visits. But the visits didn’t last.

My sisters were more interested in the males hanging around the colony. It bothered me to no end, and despite the noises I made, they did what they pleased. And this drew us apart.

In fact, the last time I saw my youngest sis, she was making out with some nameless, faceless fella in the street behind my house. I was disgusted, but he just glared at me and continued pleasuring my sis. That was it, the last I saw of her.

Meanwhile, my new family had started treating me like a king. I would get the best to eat, I could do what I want, sleep when and where I wanted while they adjusted to keep me happy.

And they never bothered to educate me. It was like ‘I’m going to always take care of you, so why should I bother’. The mother loved me so much by now, I realised I was a surrogate for her son who’d gone away and completely forgotten her.

This emboldened and I dare say really spoilt me. I started taking advantage of them. Bullying them to give in to whatever I wanted, scaring away the daughters friends…

And then, I guess your pedigree shows. I began doing the same thing my father and mother did. Going out whenever I wanted, fighting with the neighbours – and of course, jumping on the bones of any women who was even half willing.

In a few years, the colony was filled with kids who looked like me. Needless to say, the rest of the people around began to hate me.

The landlord of the old lady’s house even threatened to evict us. But I continued to rule the roost.

I became a king.

Then the teenaged daughter got married. And her mom suddenly realised she’d not prepared herself for this.

She had no one except me. But by now, I was a liability for her. I couldn’t do any work, and she couldn’t stay at home to take care of me.

I didn’t realise the enormity of the problem. Not even when she packed me off to live with her daughter, who seeing my plight, decided to once again take me in. Her husband made the right gestures and even thought I’d be helpful in their home, being tough looking fella.

But it was not to be.

I was so spoilt by the love of the old lady, I wasn’t willing to accept I was no longer in her home. Or that I was no longer king.

I tried my old tricks and tried bullying my new family, and they resented it. The husband started at first simply denying me access all around the house.

Foolish me, I started having fights with him. And one day, emboldened by my visiting step-mom [you could call her that] I even attacked him.

Today, I am old and I sit on the balcony and think back on all this. And I realise I am completely alone. Banished literally from their lives.

They feed me, they send me out with the servants everyday. Once in a while my step-sis goes for a walk with me.

My step-mom rarely visits, and when she does, she avoids me, because she doesn’t have it in her to face me.

The one she made king, is now actually a pauper. A lonely soul, bereft of love and affection.

It doesn’t matter to me.

I sit by myself and occasionally scare the neighbourhood kids who often tease me. I make a lot of noise. It’s the only thing I can do.

After all, I can’t move very far. Because nowadays, they never take off my leash.

Yes leash… I’m a dog. And nasty old dogs are kept in chains… what did you think??

ps. this is a work of fiction. any resemblance to anyone living or dead would be hilarious !

© Mehernosh Shapoorjee, 2000

Change, Schumpeter pointed out, will come in the form of new technologies, new processes, and new organisation realities… which if a company, even in a monopolistic or market leader position like Nokia was in, fails to embrace, will eventually not just lead to loss of market-share, credibility and profits, but strike at the very foundation of their existence and hence future.

Basis this theory, and its interpretation of what’s been happening with Nokia over the past couple of years, the Finnish company should be scared, very scared. Unless it suddenly develops new flexibility of strategy, thinking, and reaction to the changing environment, and dramatically breaks free from its own history and past glory.

Really large and successful firms are more likely to be challenged thus, as the “not invented here” syndrome often makes them loath to change.

Of course, Nokia is not alone in this situation, just most prominent today and hence used as an example in the article. Microsoft too is in some ways in the same (Apple) flavored soup with open source side-orders.

Niranjan further points out that Schumpeter drew an important distinction between monopoly and big businesses saying they are not interchangeable.

“…big firms could rarely protect monopoly profits in the long term. Big companies survive because of innovation and organizational agility rather than monopoly status.”

In summary I would like to point out, as one who has bought many Nokia handsets in the past (but not in the past 5 years), and as one who has friends working in senior positions at Nokia worldwide, I would like to see the company wake up and reinvent itself now. Not just in terms of products, but also in its approach to markets and marketing, and of course. I would love to see it break free of the templates of success that brought it this far. And hopefully be another example for us to read about in the future. Albeit a very successful and shining example of change.

Read the full article online here

Related Articles

• The Real Cause of Nokia’s Crisis (blogs.hbr.org)
• Microsoft and Nokia’s partnership poses challenges, say agency chiefs (prweek.com)
• Why Nokia Fell From Grace (customerthink.com)

It’s a joke going around on SMS and BBM:

Neil Armstrong lands on the moon, only to find two Indians already there!

“Who the F*** are you??!” he asks in dismay.

Pat comes the reply from one of the guys “Cameraman Santosh ke saath, Deepak Chourasia – Aaj Tak”

Related Articles

• And that’s how you make branded content that doesn’t make folk’s eyes bleed (community.prweek.com)
• 7 Stellar Examples of Branded Content from the Fashion Industry (mashable.com)
• Branded Content, Top Tool for Most Marketers (pamil-visions.net)

So here they are, the words that caught my attention. I hope they spark something in your mind and add value to your thinking in the year ahead.

“The thinking of the last millennium has been concerned with ‘what is’ – the thinking of analysis, criticism and argument.

We need to concentrate with ‘what-can-be’. This is thinking that is creative and constructive and seeks to solve problems and conflicts by designing a way forward.

The emphasis is on design, not judgement.”

“It is time we moved forward from the constipated, judgemental thinking of the last millennium and all the strife it caused, to thinking which is more concerned with design and value creation.

You can analyse the past, but you need to focus on designing the future”. This is my learning (and goal) verbatim, for the new year 2011, and the decade ahead. Thank you Edward De Bono!

Let the designing begin!