Dr.Nilesh Gokhale

Article 370: The untold story

2015-01-19T12:59:00.001+05:30

Article 370: The untold story

An article by By

Maj Gen Sheru Thapliyal is worth reading

“Why should a state of the Indian Union have a special status? It conveys a wrong signal not only to Kashmiris but also to the separatists, Pakistan and indeed the international community that J&K is still to become integral part of India, the sooner Article 370 is done away is better.”

The story of Article 370 is unfold below

It is often not realized that among the causes of Kashmir problem – inclusion of plebiscite in the Instrument of Accession, reference of Kashmir to UN, halting Indian offensive when it was poised to drive out the invaders from Kashmir, Article 370 has played no less a part in preventing J&K from becoming an integral part of the Indian Union. Not many people are aware as how and why this Article was formulated and included in the Indian Constitution despite grave misgivings of Sardar Patel and indeed a large number of the members of Congress Working Committee and Constituent Assembly.

Article 370 was worked out in late 1947 between Sheikh Abdullah, who had by then been appointed Prime Minister of J&K by the Maharaja and Nehru, who kept the Kashmir portfolio with himself and kept Sardar Patel, the home minister, away from his legitimate function. Hence Nehru is answerable to all acts of commission and omission, consequences of which we are suffering till date as far as J&K is concerned.

While it was Mountbatten who persuaded Nehru to take the J&K issue to the UN, it was Sheikh Abdullah, who, driven by his ambition to be ruler of an independent Kashmir and his hatred for the Maharaja, persuaded Nehru to give special status to J&K. Among his reasons were – occupation of one third of J&K by Pakistan, reference to the UN and plebiscite. The most sinister aspect of proposed Article 370 was the provision that any changes could be brought about in it only by the concurrence of J&K assembly. Nehru’s promise that Article 370 was a temporary provision and will get eroded over a period of time has turned out to be a chimera. The first thing that Sheikh Abdullah got done was to abolish hereditary monarchy and redesignate him as Sadar-e-Riyasat who was to be elected by the Assembly. The accession of J&K State into Indian Union was approved by J&K Assembly only in 1956.

It is often forgotten that J&K state is not a homogeneous entity. Apart from Valley Muslims, Jammu has a predominantly Hindu population while Ladakh has a mix of Buddhist and Muslims. Then you have the Gujjars & Bakarwals. Why is Article 370 detrimental to the full integration of J&K state into Indian Union. Firstly the Central Govt can make laws only with concurrence of the State govt, practically giving it the Veto power. Article 352 and 360 for declaration of national and financial emergency respectively cannot be applied in Kashmir. While a citizen of India has only Indian citizenship, J&K citizens have two citizenships. Anti Defection Law is not applicable to J&K. No outsider can buy property in J&K state.

The beneficial laws such as Wealth Tax, Gift Tax & Urban Land Ceiling Act and intermarriage with other Indian nationals do not operate in J&K State. Even Article 356 under which President of India can impose his rule in any state cannot be enforced in J&K without consent of the Governor who himself is an appointee of the President. State of J&K can refuse building of any cantonment on any site or refuse to allot land for defence purposes.

Article 370, included in the Constitution on a temporary provision should have been gradually abrogated. This has not happened in sixty years. In fact whenever someone mentions this, vested interests raise an outcry that legitimate rights of Kashmiris are being trampled upon. Stated agenda of National Conference is return to pre 1953 status. Why should a state of Indian Union have a special status? It conveys a wrong signal not only to Kashmiris but also to the separatists, Pakistan and indeed the international community that J&K is still to become integral part of India, the sooner Article 370 is done away is better.

Advice for Young Managers

2015-01-09T17:06:00.001+05:30

Advice for managers by a leading author

"Winners always put in extra effort even when it hurts"

"Preferences are negotiable, convictions are not"

"Less than 5 per cent people have written goals... the balance 95 per cent work for them"

"Where one will be five years from now shall depend on two things: the books one reads and the company one keeps"

1. Take pride in performance

People who take pride in their performance hold themselves accountable to much higher standards than others do. They always strive to do the right thing, first time every time. To them, good is not good enough.

2. Get involved

Remember, 'If we are not part of the solution then we are the problem'. There are people who have a habit of constantly criticizing anything and everything no matter where they are. They only want to criticize without taking any corrective measures. However, if one does not want to get involved then one has no right to criticize. Either get involved or shut up.

3. Always put in extra efforts

If we read through the life history of the most successful people, we will find they have all lived by one principle and that is, "I shall always give more than what I get, to my family, my organization, my customers and my society".

Winners always put in extra effort even when it hurts. Nobody has become a champion in this world without putting in the extra effort. It is the extra that turns the ordinary into extra ordinary. This principle applies to any profession; Medicine, Law, Accountancy, Architecture etc. Would one wants to go to an ordinary Surgeon or to an extra ordinary Surgeon?

4. Take a stand

If we look at the life histories of most great leaders, we will find that they were never neutral. They always took a stand either for something or against something. They had conviction. There is a big difference between a preference and a conviction in life. Preferences are negotiable, convictions are not. Under pressure, a preference becomes weak whereas a conviction becomes stronger.

5. Be focused

Studies show that less than 5 per cent people have written goals. This means that they are the only ones who have a very clear destination. The balance 95 per cent work for them directly or indirectly. Think about it -- how can one reach a destination that one does not have? Suppose we go to watch a football game where both teams are enthusiastically charged up ready to play. At this point the referee took the goal post away, what is left of the game? Nothing! They have no goal post, how does one keeps the score? Destination determines direction.

6. Choose friends carefully

Sometimes we hear that the leader is good, but his advisors are bad. This statement is not true. We will find that all over the world, by and large, leaders always choose their own advisors. Remember we do not get advisors in life of the kind of people we want, we get the kind of people we are. We don't get friends of the kind of people we want, we get the kind of people we are. We get attracted to the kind of people who are similar to the kind of people we ourselves are. Where we will be five years from now shall depend on two things: the books we read and the company we keep. Today where we are is also the result of the books we read and the company we kept in the last five years.

7. Build high self esteem

Self esteem is defined as the way we feel about ourselves. We may notice that one day we get up in the morning feeling good, the world looks nice, productivity goes up, relationships are a lot better etc. The reverse is just as true. Self esteem is inversely related to egos.

There are two kinds of egos that are destructive.

'The know it all': people with this kind of ego demonstrate arrogance. They put down and look down upon others. Think about it, why does a human being put down other human being? It is sadistic but true, there are some people who feel good when the other person feels bad. They feel superior when the other person feels inferior which means they don't want to lift themselves up, but they want to pull others down.

The second kind of ego is called the fragile ego, they take anything one says personally and get hurt.

What do both these egos do to team work? They just destroy it.

8. Build character

Character is something that a person would or would not do even if no one is watching. It is integrity and authenticity in its true form. There is a big difference between reputation and character. Reputation is what other people think about us whereas character is what we know who we are and they can be two totally different things.

Some people are honest because they don't want to get caught telling lies. They are doing the right things for the wrong reasons. They are only building a reputation.

Some people are honest because they believe it's the right thing to do. They are doing the right thing for the right reason. That is character.

9. Live purposefully

What is a purpose?

A lifetime goal is called a purpose.

How do we define our purpose?

Supposing we are aged 100 today and we were to look back at our life, what is it that we want to say, is our accomplishment?

That accomplishment is our purpose. Have a lofty purpose in life. Only a lofty purpose has the power to move the spirit. Shoot for the moon, even if one misses, one will become a part of the stars. A great philosopher once said, "I would rather fail in doing something great then succeed in doing nothing". There is glory in such failure too.

10. Start day on a positive note

Why should we start our day on a positive note every day?

It is because just as our bodies need food every day, our minds need positive thoughts every day. Starting the day on a positive note sets the tone for the entire day. Staying positive is like fire; unless we keep adding fuel, it dies out. Similarly if we don't feed our minds with positive thoughts, everyday, positivity dies out.

Many times you hear that success is tough.

Answer is: Try failing and see if that is easy!

11. Make courtesy a way of life

A courteous person who is not very sharp will go much further in life than a sharp, discourteous person. Courtesy is made up of little sacrifices in life. Every courtesy has a moral background. When people practice courtesy as a strategy, they are crooked; they have ulterior motives. For people with integrity, courtesy is a way of life.

(Source:http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/career-11-things-shiv-khera-wants-young-india-to-know/20150107.htm)

2014 in Retro

2014-12-31T19:05:00.001+05:30

2014 in Retro

‘An Eccentric Year’

2014 was an Interesting year for India as well as the world.

An year which can be truly described as 'Eccentric' with very little shade of Grey.

An Year that announced India's thumping arrival on the World platform.

Click the link below and take a journey through 'YEAR-2014'.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8QlBBKolpd2SkZKaTk0aU5EaTg/view?usp=sharing

2014-04-16T12:15:00.001+05:30

Wake up-Its high Time

This is historic Election and it will be a sin if we don't vote.Let us ask at least 15 people on voting day if they have voted.If you have not got the voting slip find out your name in the voter list through the link below.
http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/Links.aspx
Getting 15 people from your acquaintances to vote is the least we can do for this Nation

2012-12-22T13:44:00.002+05:30

Dear Indians
The article below is as it appeared on rediff.com,a well thought and well written article right from heart.
Would have loved to thank the author in person but the author isnt mentioned.Do read and spread to as many as possible.

Rapes happen in India, because we are a callous nation

Last updated on: December 18, 2012 15:49 IST

NEWS

2012-07-05T18:16:00.002+05:30

Image view

2012-06-15T10:14:00.001+05:30

Pleased to share that i have been awarded with Ph.D. by University of Pune.My area of research was consumer buying behaviour!
A special thanks to my students who keep me going...always :-)

We are 'independent' but are we really 'Free'??

2011-08-13T21:12:00.000+05:30

On the brink of midnight of the 14th of August, 1947,the first Prime Minister of India Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the Nation. The speech focused on various topics related to India and the freedom that she had achieved from the shackles of British colonial rule.

Nehru started his historical speech with following words

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity. “

A day after, we will be the 65^th Independence Day.

We are independent Nation but are we really free?

Ironically, If you recite the above speech and relate it with what is going on since past year or so ,the speech still stands. Unfortunately there are no Nehrus,Patels,Tilaks or Bose around.

Corruption is a well-accepted norm(I got a shock of my life when a fellow teacher said limited corruption is ethical!!).

Ministers(Mr.Sibbal) shameless defend the scams saying it’s a small scam. Opposition is almost non-existent and can’t even tackle their one chief minister.

Patriots like Baba Ramdev(however flamboyant he is,his patriotism is beyind any doubts) are slinced in a way that is more suited for ‘Autocracy ‘that the ‘Democracy’.

People cannot express their views on the sensitive issues like’Arakshan’.

Crores of scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes are yet to really get benefited by the Reservations…probably some of them do not even know about it even today. ‘Reservations’ and ‘appeasement of Minority’have been used effectively by the prominent parties to come to Power.

The real beneficiaries are not the ‘needy’ but the ‘Greedy’.

Inflation is unchecked and Middle class is almost the most popular burden Donkey of this Government. Today’s youth are disillusioned by Media Managed Young leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Varun Gandhi.

Team Anna is given permission for their fast with 22 riding conditions….even Britishers never laid down so many conditions when Mahatma was on fast!!!

The question again is ‘Are we really free?’

The aspiring class of the economy has become very self-centric and their patriotism does not go beyond watching debate fights on channels like Times now and reading papers like’Times of India’

Satyagrah has taken ugly form of violent protests and bloody Rasta Rokos.

Very little has been done to retain the ‘Talent of this country’. Don’t be surprised if we once again witness ‘Brain Drain’. This time drain will be towards ‘East’.

Our Neighbour and worlds touted future Super power –china is trying every bit to supress our economic rise.(Off course with given economic and foreign policies they don’t have to put much efforts!).

India’s say in world politics is not more than a whisper.

Corruption is at its best….and we are blessed with an ‘Innocent’ Prime Minister who is ‘Rubber stamp’ is personified.(A rubber when stamped at least makes some noise).

The youth of this country are disillusioned and have feeble rays hope in form of Anna and Ramdev.

With this baggage, just wonder what still keeps Indian economy growing. A bitter but true answer is the sheer’Size of Indian Economy’. Despite of all wrong doings we remain to be one of the prominent ‘Consuming Nations’ and hence we will always remain important as a ‘market’ to the rest of the world.

But remember we will just remain a ‘Big Market’ and probably not a Strong Nation!

This decade will determine if we emerge as a strong Nation or just remain a Big market….Odds are daunting.

'ICC World-cup 2011' and Marketers Golden Opportunity!

2011-03-04T20:40:00.000+05:30

Cup of Hope-Cup of Money!!

The World Cup has grown as a media event with each tournament. The International Cricket Council has sold the rights for broadcasting of the 2011 Cricket World Cup for around US$ 2 Billion to ESPN Star Sports and Star Cricket. The tournament will be broadcast all around the world in about 220 countries.

The official event ambassador for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is Sachin Tendulkar, promoting various ICC initiatives for the tournament.

The official song of the 2011 World Cup "De Ghuma Ke" was composed by the trio of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, and is sung in Hindi, Bengali and Sinhala.[31] It incorporates an array of Indian rhythms, as well as elements of rock and hip-hop. The song was performed at the opening ceremony of the tournament, which was held in Bangladesh on 17 February 2011.

Mascot

(Stumpy, the official mascot for the 2011 Cricket World Cup in South Asia.)

Stumpy, an young elephant, is the official mascot for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.He was unveiled at a function in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday, 2 April 2010. The official name of the mascot was released on Monday, 2 August 2010 after an online competition conducted by the International Cricket Council in the last week of July, 2010.

ICC has all the biggies as its Commercial partners for its 2011 Worldcup

The World Cup in India is a multi-million dollar enterprise.

And as the on-field battles begin, the runs will pour in the field and money outside the field.

RACE FOR TRPs

The World Cup is a high TRP news event for which leading news channels have been preparing for months. For them, it is India's biggest news event of February-March 2011. Most channels have assembled their own teams for the cup, each packed with reputed cricketers and presenters who will be expected to keep viewers engaged for the 44 days of the tournament. With each channel putting together four dedicated shows during the extravaganza, this is a battle that will be fought with considerable intensity and verve.

Strategies are of paramount importance. How to stand out from the others, what more to give to viewer and how to ensure that the channel gets extra eyeballs - these are questions being debated. Making the most of the situation are cricketers of varying stock from around the world. They are being paid between $800-1500 a day for their services and stand to earn Rs 20-25 lakh during the course of the tournament.

Advertiser’s dilemma: Worldcup VERSUS IPL

Over the last couple of weeks, multiple new advertisements have made their way to our drawing rooms and a series of new hoardings are ready to greet us on the roads. Every corporate in India, big or small, is looking to harness the World Cup and the IPL - back-to-back spectacles that will occupy centrestage till May 28, 2011. Perhaps the only debate among advertisers is which among the two is a safer investment option.

With the unsavoury experience of World Cup 2007 continuing to haunt them, some corporates have opted to bet on the IPL. The argument is simple. In the IPL, all teams are Indian. So, unlike the World Cup, there's no danger of India crashing out early in the tournament, leaving advertisers in the lurch. Others have tended to disagree. With the World Cup format tailored to ensure India is a sure entrant into the quarter finals, many regard World Cup 2007 to be an aberration.

For them, an assured Indian presence till at least the quarter-final stage - that is, till March 24 - is enough to make the World Cup an economic success.

Media buyers, who buy commercial times for advertisers, say that both the ICC and BCCI will fail to fully monetise the tournaments as advertisers will choose one over the other. Advertisers across categories such as telecom, automobiles, insurance, FMCG and durables say it will be impossible for them to cough up money to advertise on both events.

Hyundai Motor, which has been associated with the IPL for three years, is yet to make up its mind this time. “IPL helped us create brand equity. We would like to continue with the tournament, but need more clarity on the two tournaments before we make a final decision,” says Arvind Saxena, director (sales and marketing) of the Korean carmaker.

Videocon Industries plans to invest in both events with more money going into IPL. “We will spend three-fourths of our cricket budget on the IPL, and the remaining on the World Cup. We can’t spend equally on both tournaments,” says Venugopal Dhoot, chairman of the Videocon Group.

The advantage with IPL is that its saleability does not depend on the performance of any particular team, while the success of the World Cup is a lot dependent on how far team India progresses in the tournament.

The World Cup will be the first off the block. Also its timing will suit industries such as insurance, banking and mutual funds as it takes place in the last quarter of the financial year.

The rival broadcasters are upbeat.

MSM, which raked in `900 crore from the IPL earlier this year, is confident that advertisers will stick to the club league. “The risk element in the IPL is minimised, unlike a World Cup where viewership ratings depend on the Indian team's performance,” says Rohit Gupta, president — network sales of MSM India, which has bought IPL rights till 2017 for $1.63 billion (`8,200 crore).

An ESPN India spokesman said the channel is not worried about IPL because the stature of the World Cup is too big.

GREAT PITCH FOR TOURISM

Unlike the Commonwealth Games where negative publicity resulted in a dwindling of tourist interest in the event, the World Cup is the flavour of the season among Indian tour operators around the world. Many in America's Silicon Valley have created dedicated match packages - comprising two to three high-profile India matches -- for Indian software professionals working in the area. Travel agents in Australia and UK are busy fine tuning the tours they have put together for clients and for many last-minute shift in venues have caused serious problems.

For example, bookings for over a 100 rooms at the Oberoi hotel in Kolkata has just been cancelled, a fallout of India-England match being shifted from Kolkata to Bengaluru. Some travel operators are still encouraging their clients to travel to Kolkata and are in turn booking them on a domestic flight from Kolkata to Bengaluru. The argument being given is that you get to see an extra Indian city at little extra cost. It's estimated that at least 15,000 international tourists will travel to India during the World Cup, giving cricket tourism a much needed boost

RADIO GOES GAGA

With the tele-visual and the print medium doing all it can to appropriate the world cup, radio too isn't being left behind. Leading radio stations like Mirchi are launching innovative world cup contests for the best cricket jockey, a contest that has resulted in unprecedented interest among cricket fans. Prospective jocks are being encouraged to send in clips of their commentary and shortlists are being drawn up by experts with the winning jock getting to host world cup shows right through the world cup. While generating employment and unearthing new talent on the one hand, these initiatives also demonstrate the incredible currency of cricket

across the country. It is, well and truly, India's single biggest national unifier.

THE HEAT IS ONLINE

As millions get ready to follow the cup online, the digital space has witnessed feverish activity over the past couple of weeks. World Cup communities are already raising the pitch on Facebook and Twitter, and dedicated cup sites have come up almost overnight. The most important challenge for all these sites is to provide real-time information, ensuring that traffic to these sites remains high.

A website that is one of ICC's official sponsors is likely to have an initial advantage. ICC's lawyers are already engaged in trying to ensure that World Cup piracy is minimized. With a huge number of pirated sites broadcasting cup action live it is a challenge that cricket's apex body faces to ensure its sponsors aren't cheated of potential revenue. These sites often disappear without a trace if they are tracked down, resulting in legal action against them an almost impossible task. In general, however, there's enough interest in the cup for other websites, especially news portals, to ensure that a steady stream of traffic keeps coming their way.

APPETIZING FARE

As the tournament gets ready to move across the subcontinent, foodies can also prepare for their very special World Cup moments to savour. From pubs and restaurants in India to eateries across the border in Dhaka and Colombo, the cricket fever has encouraged chefs to include a special World Cup fare in the menus. In Dhaka, several food joints have named new dishes after stars like Shakib and Tamim, as well as the entire team.

At the end this Cup is a fine Example of Sales Promotion!!

We the people,People of India!!

2011-01-08T07:03:00.000+05:30

New year has dawned and most of the media has termed year 2010 as 'Year of scams!'I differ slightly.
I would say it was a 'Decade of Scams'.
Scams are bound to be there as long as the marriage between the money and the power exists.Does it mean Scams can not be prevented?
answer is Yes ,these can be prevented.
there are three factors which desist an individual from committing such scams

Number one is the Nationalistic views and love for one's own motherland
Number two is the fiber of Integrity which unites a nation
Number three how active are the people of that country and how much of pressure(Direct,indirect, visible,invisible) do they have over their Governments.

If we talk about India and be honest in our retrospection,then the picture appears to be gloomy on point number and abysmally sad on point number three.
The saddening level which the politics in India has reached(wow,an achievement and a record in itself!) is mainly because of one major factor........'We the people are tolerative beyond imagination'.
Tolerative is a very dicey word,its actually negligent.we dont wake up unless our own sleep is disturbed.
On other hand as the economy is growing so is the growth in income and the lifestyle up-gradation which is unprecedented especially in the last decade.
This additional comfort(call it as up-gradation)to some extent is having a toll on our Vision.(I am a party to it).
At the most what we do is express our concerns over burning issues in closed doors(This nation of Tilak,Bhagatsingh and Savarkar has lost the guts of raising the voice against anything thats going wrong).
Our memories are poorly short lived and that exactly what the today's politicians bank on.
there was a time when people felt things can get back to normal and are not out of control.
But if one looks at today's scenario its a gloomy picture with very dim rays of hope.
2G scam is defended by the new telecom minister Mr..Sibbal by saying that CAG figures of Government loss are overestimated.Mr.Sibbal further shamelessly defended that its 'FEW Thousand crore scam and not Few lacks Crore scam'
This brazen statements by Mr.Sibbal and also senseless statement by Mr.Digvijay(Rakhi Sawant of Indian Politics) are a testimony to what i said'We are ignorant.'
When i started expressing my views some of my coworkers even indirectly advised me against expressing my views so openly.
As far as our National Integrity is concerned thinhs are catching fire.National Integreity will be a major concern few years down the line.for political gains statues of historic figures belonging to a perticular community are being shifted.J&K chief minister Abdullah does not allow Tiranga flag hoisting in our very own Shrinagar.politicians beyond doubt are responsible for this divide and also we the people who tolerate this.
I am yet to come out with any possible solution to the situation.May be you guys,the students can post your suggestions and we can start a chain of mass awareness and infuse the' Nationalistic'thoughts beyond our own political belongings!
Till then lets all 'Tolerate'!!!!!!!!!!!

Insult of Martyares

2010-12-13T09:24:00.000+05:30

Digvijay Singh erstwhile mouthpiece(Loudspeaker) of congress party has done something unimaginable and unpardonable.
Nobody in their wildest dreams thought that he would be portraying Shahid Karkare's sacrifice as a murder and the Rightist being behind it!!
The oldest political party of the country-Indian National congress is pulling down the democratic fabric of this nation to an unfathomable depth.
The PM is upset about the parliament deadlock but interestingly he is not at all upset about his own inaction in case of telecom scam!!
a person of PMs stature remaining silent on an issue is as goos as aiding it.Name a ministry which is running without a scam.
Congress which was instrumental in the freedom fight is now getting this country into a deep deep trench especially at a time when we are making a statement in the International community as second fastest democracy.Just wonder if its the same manmohan Singh.
What is more disturbing is if Congress feels they havent done anything wrong ,then why is Sonia or her proxies are not ready for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation.
The food grain scam is the latest one.Its just bad and getting worse .Unless we raise our voices ,be it any party in all the forums possible things will further deteriorate.
Its probably our last chance!!!!!

Hero-Honda marriage fallen apart!

2010-12-05T22:15:00.000+05:30

Hero and Honda will be parting ways come 2011.Hero is all set to buy out Honda's stake.However their technology sharing agreement will continue for some time.
It will be interesting to analyse what gains each of them could have by the split.
Hero Honda even today remains to be WORLD'S LARGEST SELLER OF TWO WHEELERS AND UNDOUBTED KING OF INDIAN MARKETS.Then the question comes why are they parting ways???
Lets try to explain this.
Hero started with a spare part business and gradually started manufacturing bicycles.Looking at the growing markets Hero took help of Honda which had the technology.For Honda, local partner like Hero was a necessary both by choice and default.The then FDI norms and regulations made Honda look up for a Local partner.
Honda gave technology and leveraged upon low cost of production in India and also enjoyed distribution networks of their local partner.
In past 15 odd years,Indian markets have witnessed a healthy growth in 'Four stroke Bikes' segment.Geared Scooters are history.100%FDI is allowed in two wheelers. Nonetheless technology is not a legacy of only developed nations.Hero has the technological capability.On the other hand,HONDA is not as Alien to Indian markets as it was 25 years ago.Honda knows Indian markets and Indian consumers very well and they have proven this through success of 'Activa' scooters.
Which takes us to the most common simple business principle-"If the cake can be enjoyed alone without anybody's help,why to share it?"This is a nearest explanation to the split from marketing perspective.
Well, it will be interesting to watch how ?Indian consumers react to it'Do they show faith in the homegrown company or still show their penchant for global products?'

Nokia -Challenges ahead

2010-10-07T22:01:00.000+05:30

Recent figures released about India's mobile handset pie,indicate Nokia to be the still market leader.But interestingly Nokia's market share has declined from over 60% to 35% in past 5 years.
Nokia lost all three segments of the industry.
First was the top end or business or smart phones.Blackberry and Apple dominate it and Nokia could really never get any space in this segment.
Second was the bottom of pyramid.Again Nokia was pushed on the back-foot by some of the Indian manufacturers and mainly G%(Chinese giant) by offering value loaded entry models.
(Interestingly G5 is now the third largest mobile handset player after Nokia and Samsung in Indian markets.
Nokia is still very dominant in the middle segment but its facing real heat there as well from Samsung,LG,Sony and micromax.
Coming two years will be the test of fire for Nokia.It will be interesting to watch how Nokia retains its market leadership in India-world's fastest growing handset market!