That Day Yesterday

Mumbai Local

2016-01-21T09:27:00.000-08:00

I am back to Mumbai local train after a gap of almost 6 years. To say that a lot has changed in last six years will be an understatement. Actually its like the entire world has changed, apart for those rush hour traffic.

One of the biggest change which has come in all these years is mobile phone. From just phones to smart phones, with high speed mobile data at lower cost with affordability and ease of usage, mobile phones have become the new man's best friend.

It was not too difficult to see the same change in train where most of the people have gone away with newspaper and books and have shifted to news apps and social media. But that's all known. So let me move away from the known part to the other way people are using their phones, good and bad part of my 40 min Goregaon to Lower Parel journey.

Good part - Watch a movie. I saw six people watching movies on their phones. With earphones plugged in and phone in hand, the disturbed no one and enjoyed their journey.

Browsing photos, even those which come in what's app forwards and read them careful. Sometime even forward it further.

Gone are the days when you need to go to temple for morning blessings. Open the picture of your favorite god, there they are, your morning blessings in front of you in your hands. The fun part happened when the guy didn't noticed that the screen has timed out. Having finished his prayer, he double tapped the screen and swiped to right, twice, in hurry. Well, the first swipe unlocked his phone but the second swipe changed the picture and in the same hurry, he did a charansparsh. He later realized its not his god but picture of a hot girl in short dress, possibly picked from net, of whom he has done done charansparsh. He directed it in the same breath.

It would have been a laughter event but then the bad part of the journey was also there. No one saw this happened. Everyone had something to do on their mobile phones. No one chatted with anyone or look at other, they ask looked down, either sleeping or looking in their phones.

I got down at Lower Parel and made sure not to open map app but asked few people for the way out to reach my office. One gentlemen stopped and guided me, I thanked him and he wished me a good day. It was really a very good day, joined a new company, started to learn new things, met a lot of new people.

Have a good day.

Customer Ignorance = Companies Gain

2013-02-10T13:13:00.001-08:00

Its an old saying that maximum profit an organisation makes is through customer ignorance. I came face to face with the saying this last Saturday.

I was at HDFC Bank for getting verification on HDFC Ltd. standing instruction form. After waiting in the queue, I finally reached the counter. I handed the request form and narrated the requirement to the girl sitting at the counter. She asked me to fill my account number in the form and I dutifully did the same. After examining the request form for some time, she told me that this is a chargeable service, further she informed me these charges are for getting your account and signature verification and you don't need to pay anything here, the charges will be deducted from your account.

I asked her if she is sure that she is going to verify my signature and account and not providing me someone else account details for which I might think that you can charge me. But since its my own account, which I opened with your bank, why should you be charging me to just press few buttons on your keyboard and stamp that the account exists. "Sir, that's our policy" she replied.

Then I asked her how much are the charges. She replied "Rs. 120/-, Sir". Wow, Rs. 120/- for getting my own account verified. I said that's fine, can you give me a receipt? She told me to talk to her branch manager. Well that was fine with me. I must say that the staff was very helpful, as everyone one was ready to resolve my problem rather then simply telling where is branch managers cabin. In the end, I finally got it.

While at branch manager's cabin and after explaining her everything, she said "Don't worry, I will ask her to give you a waiver." And its done. Just by words. Nothing in writing or email. Just like that.

Well my question is, if HDFC bank can do such waiver of some stupid charges, why have them in the very first place. May be not all customers will ignore to ask for a receipt and the bank will earn some fee income. As I said earlier, customer ignorance is companies profit.

So next time you are asking for a service or buying something, do ask for a receipt. Who knows you get it for free.

Foolish ant and intelligent grasshopper - 2012 version

2012-07-30T12:18:00.004-07:00

Remember Aesop's parable of ant and grasshopper? The ant works hard all summer and prepares for winter. On the other hand the grasshopper laughs, dances and plays all summer. In the process he is unprepared for tough days. Winter comes; the ant is safe and warm. The grasshopper, in contrast, has no food or shelter. Consequently, he suffers.

Moral of the story: Act responsibly.

The 2012 version is as follows: As winter dawns, the ant is safe and warm. Using the shivering grasshopper, an NGO calls a press conference (of course in a five star hotel) and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and fed, while the grasshopper is starving.

Electronic media instantly provide us live feed of shivering grasshopper, followed by visuals of the ant seated comfortably in his home. Worse still, he is seen having food. The whole country is stunned by this stark contrast. How can we in a socialist democratic secular republic allow poor grasshopper to suffer this way?

Medha Pathkar and Shabana Azmi follow this by staging demonstrations in front of the ant's house. Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechuri tell us how Karl Marx had foreseen all this as early as in nineteenth century and even provided solutions to such problems.

Laloo Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav blame the ant for hoarding and seek to immediately revive the Essential Commodities Act. As a solution M K Karunanidhi promises free TV while J Jayalalithaa rushes to offer free mixie and grinder. Mamata Banerjee, for her part, assures free Railway travel for the grasshopper. The Bharatiya Janata party without offering an alternative lampoons the United Progressive Alliance.

Naturally, the government is forced to act. The National Advisory Committee drafts the "Grasshoppers' Economic Revival Act" to be implemented retrospectively from previous summer. The Act, Kapil Sibal explains, seeks to distribute thousand rupee currency notes through the local PDS shops - seven every month for each adult in every such grasshopper family and four per child per month!

NDTV invites Mani shankar Iyer and Swapan Das Gupta to debate this legislation. We do not know what they discussed except for the fact that one can remotely conclude that they spoke in English. Arnab Goswami (Editor in Chief of Times Now) calls eight experts. Yet, his is the only voice that was heard. Rajdeep Sardesai (Editor-in-Chief of IBN18 Network) is "concerned" and wants "concerned" citizen journalists to express their views.

"The Hindu" hails this legislation in its editorial as progressive. The Times Of India carries a page three picture of a scantily clad grasshopper in better times, in page one, leaving its readers confused. Others in media welcome this decision without even understanding its economic and social consequence.

The ant left to fend for him and ridiculed for being a disciplinarian now sees merit in leading an indiscipline life. The next generation of ants adopt a new role model - grasshoppers.

As all this build systemic indiscipline, no one gets any worker to work in their farms, factories or offices. Grasshoppers - the beneficiary of this skewed economic policy - continues to vote governments that provide such doles and governments continue to subsidize grasshopper for its electoral fortunes.

The story ends, as India sees more indiscipline, lower production, higher subsidies, poor growth, plummeting rupee and soaring inflation - finally leading to its economic collapse.

G for Greeks, G for grasshopper

But if you thought all that I have narrated above is an original one - hang on. Let me make a confession - this is an Indian version of a power point of a similar story being circulated by some of my friends in the US. This power point is supposed to capture fault lines in the debate in US - between Republican voters and Democrat voters.

Put pithily, the debate till date in US has been the role of governments, the nature of its intervention in providing social security to its own people and the manner in which US Federal Government should tax its "rich" people to fund such schemes for its "poor."

While this debate attempts to encapsulate the entire gamut of economic theories, the fact remains that there is hardly any difference in the US, even between Republicans and Democrats! No wonder, while former Republican President Ronald Reagan famously remarked "Government cannot be part of any solution, in fact, Government is the problem," former Democrat President Bill Clinton echoing Regan's idea remarked "the days of big government is over."

In short, while there seems to be an absolute convergence at the macro level in the ideology of presidents Reagan and Clinton in a smaller role for the government, on the ground level the share of government expenditure in the national GDP even in the US continues to be at a stubborn forty per cent over the past three decades. So much for the argument of small government, liberalisation, privatisation and de-regulation!

Jeffry Sachs in his recent work - The Price of Civilization has brilliantly captured this convergence of economic ideas between the two political parties in the US, just as it is between the UPA and NDA in India.

Interestingly, despite the overarching idea of liberalisation and de-regulation, it is seen that the size of governments across continents has more or less been what it was three decades ago!

And the beneficiary of a bloated government has been the quintessential grasshopper, so much so, entire nations are now turning into grasshoppers - with little or no faith in work or discipline.

What else would explain the Euro crisis which is all about Greece which encouraged rampant indiscipline amongst its population through a dysfunctional taxation system, spent money recklessly, borrowed beyond its means and finally has a national debt that is simply unsustainable? And for all its recklessness, the IMF and other multilateral institutions rush to reward Greece with a bailout - simply because if it goes belly up, the consequences are unimaginable!

In short, we are in an extraordinary situation. If the world bails out Greece, it would cost hardworking, sincere taxpayers across continents big money. If we don't bailout Greece, it would still cost us big money! The only argument that remains to be settled is which one will cost more, and which one lesser.

Either way, Greeks can continue to be indiscipline and reckless. G for Greece. G for grasshopper.

Where people have no hope of deliverance

Lest the reader come to a conclusion that Greece is probably an exception, let me hasten to add - Greece is not an exception - in fact it is the global rule. Greece has several European countries for company as it has in South America, Asia and of course the big daddy of them all - the US too.

Call it by whatever name, the economic system of modern times favours indiscipline of individuals, societies and governments. Ants, it would seem have no place in modern economies where the system continues to subsidise, provide incentives and celebrate indiscipline. No wonder, grasshoppers proliferate in modern economies.

But if you thought that all these ideas are a by-product of modern economic thoughts and developments, you could probably be wrong. A reference to a dialogue contained in the classical Indian epic Mahabharata between Kamsa, (the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna) and his economic advisor Bahuka on the extant subject, especially on role of doles in governance, would be in order.

Bahuka, rationalised that the real danger to Kamsa was not from Lord Krishna, but from people waiting for the deliverer, and as long as they wait for deliverance, Kamsa would be in danger. Kamsa asks the next logical quesion - "How can I prevent people waiting for the deliverer?"

Bahuka pointed that the only option in the given circumstance was to extinguish any hope of deliverance in his people. For this, Bahuka suggested that Kamsa should be extensively liberal with his state spending; teach his people to eat, drink and enjoy themselves; break up their families; bring up children to look upon their parents as old and useless. In short, encourage absolute indiscipline in an individual, society and government.

Once people begin to believe in unrestrained pleasures as their only goal of life, Bahuka opined that people will look upon the disciplined as deranged and selfish; they will laugh at those who talk of duty and other values in life. That will, according to him, effectively put an end to all those who may even remotely suggest discipline.

And finally Bahuka comprehends that when wine flows, self-restraint will disappear; men will be like well-fed cattle at the mercy of their cowherds. Whatever Kamsa would do, people having no hopes of deliverance will bear as patiently as uncomplaining beasts, and obey even his "lash as if it were a favour from Kamsa!"

The problem for the global economy is that Bahuka's advice is now taken far too seriously by modern governments. His suggestion of complete subjugation of men and their debasement through doles has now come to be accepted as modern welfare economics. And to me this is the real problem of global economy as well as modern societies - where discipline of economics is all about economic indiscipline.

Foolish ant and intelligent grasshopper?

What is my karma?

2012-04-07T16:24:00.001-07:00

A jawan is posted in Kargil, where the battle is on. He faces a dilemma.If he proceeds to Kargil, he may end up paying the highest price - his life - thus leaving his young wife and children destitute. If he refuses to go, he may face humiliation and possibly a jail sentence for desertion or dereliction of duty. Still it is a rational choice as the price he has to pay for desertion is negligible when compared to losing one's life and leaving one's family destitute. Yes, he proceeds to the battlefront, like all other jawans. One wonders if any jawan even considers the situation as a dilemma. He simply does what he considers is his duty, his karma.

This leaves me with some random question, What is my karma?

I am not a jawan in Indian army. I don't have to face any enemy bullets. But what if in a situation of riots and the police has asked everyone not to come out of home and there is an important meeting or presentation lined up. What should I be doing? What is my karma then? Should I follow the jawans footpath or should I stay at home? I guess everyone reading this will ask me to do the later one.

So why don't people around the world see an attack (war or terrorist) as a prisoner's dilemma? I assume that is a terrorist defect, the jawan will surely defect, hence saving both their life and in turn of other civilians. But the big question is, if jawan defects (not guarding the border), will the terrorist defect? I guess, he won't. Which mean, even the terrorist does not see such attacks as a prisoner's dilemma. He does what he thinks is his karma. And that leaves this world a very unhappy place.

(First paragraph reference from Games Indian Play by V. Raghunathan. Chapter Game Theory and the Gita)

Eric in Chaos

2012-03-19T11:56:00.002-07:00

A team stands afar, with a mission to conquer a pinnacle, only the tip of which can be vaguely seen at the horizon. The path to the pinnacle is unknown, but the team claims its spirit is high and its determination strong. Eric is one of the many team members who have held hands and are gearing up to embark on the mission.

As the ‘team’ moves a step closer to the destination, the view of the pinnacle gets clearer and more alluring. The prospect of reaching it and taking in the view of the world from that height is enticing, and the prospect of having to share the space on the narrow edge of that peak is unnerving. All hands are freed and each person makes a dash for the goal – each man for himself.

Eric is a lamb who struggles to survive in a world of jackals. By the time he can realize that the team’s mission has converted into a full-blown race, several people have zoomed right past him, leaving him behind in confusion. Even his most trusted comrade, Derek, now view him as a competitor and busies himself with devising plans to get rid of him. For running fast is not sufficient to ensure that you win the race. You also need to ensure that the others are pushed as far behind as possible.

Eric is in chaos. He falls prey to the trap and reaches no man’s land. But he must understand that this is the worst that can happen to him in this race. He thinks he is lost. He stares listlessly at a signpost that shows four arrows in different directions, clueless as to which arrow he must follow. A tornado is blowing over his head, ready to fling him away. But he must remember that the world is round, and everything in life goes in full circle. He can choose any of the options at this chaotic crossroad, and he can be assured that he will be able to make his way back. It’s a long walk, but the destination is still within bounds.

The world indeed is round, and Eric finds his way back. He scoots through a different route that intercept’s Derek’s path. He has a choice to run now, but the thought of landing Derek in the same chaos is more exciting than just achieving the pinnacle. He lays a booby trap for Derek and sits to watch the fun. Sure enough, the trap gets Derek – which becomes Eric’s point of elation.

Eric finds the pinnacle and sits proudly on it. Yes, there is no way he can occupy it forever, as there will always be some force that will try and bring him down. But as long as it’s there, it’s all his. The view from the pinnacle is a surreal dream. He waves down to the world in ecstasy and hopes that the moment lasts forever.

Eric is on the pinnacle, but the glory is all lost. The view is beautiful, but there is nobody to share it with. It is lonely up there and ecstasy the pinnacle offers is just not worth the cold loneliness. It’s time to surrender to the will of destiny.

Eric is on the pinnacle, but something is missing. The view is beautiful, but he realizes it will be more beautiful if the experience can be shared with his fellowmen. It’s time to help others scale up to the pinnacle.

One Letter Short of Danger

2012-03-07T12:52:00.002-08:00

Listen, I'm sorry ... I really didn't mean to

Relax...I'm fine and you Don't need to apologize....

And the conversation became normal and after few minutes the question popped

"What is it.... Why does the anger even at a basic level unnerve you...As in so many times even when its not your fault you end up apologizing just to ease out the situation....What is it?"

Laughter... No it's no filmy crap or any dirty secret from my past that is embedded in my memory which scares me... Its just I don't like the concept of Anger.... One of those silly things "Anger is one letter short of Danger"

And with that answer I got a look of "Stop Bullshitting Me" and then I had to explain further

Anger according to me is the most damaging thing.... People's worst side comes out when they are angry.... It's reactions are short sighted.... Even the most virtuous people in History are known to have resorted to violence because of their anger. It makes us do things that we regret later and sometimes things that are unrepairable...

Yes I'm human and I do get angry too, but I prefer to go quite because it can create a lot of damage... Ill spoken words, violence what does it achieve... just bad feelings and a feeling of regret later.. When in a fight I either can fuel the fight by further speaking rudely else I can be the one to say sorry and end it there. Why carry on the fight and the tension and the ill-will and all??? Isn't it best to end it there...

The most virtuous of kings... Ashoka- The Great in his spite and anger led the conquest of Kalinga which led to a lot of destruction. The exact reason for the Wat of Kalinga is unknown but it is said that

Susima's brothers might have fled to Kalinga and found official refuge there. This enraged Ashoka immensely. Ashoka asked the royalty of Kalinga to submit before him but they refused.

Ashoka sent one of his generals to Kalinga to make them submit.

The general and his forces were completely routed through the skilled tact of Kalinga's commander-in-chief. Ashoka was baffled at this defeat and then attacked Kalinga with the greatest invasion ever known. The whole of Kalinga was plundered and destroyed. About 100,000 people were killed on the Kalinga side and 10,000 from Ashoka's army. This was the price of his anger. There after he felt remorse.

Whats the use of such anger which leads to pain and destruction for so many. So many times even when the anger doesn't come out and simmers within a person it is harmful. Yes even when I get angry and I go quiet .... I get this burning feeling inside and feel irritable and end up harming myself.. In my anger, I can't think rationally and can't do things in a proper manner, so yes even though I don't speak mean and I don't hurt the other person it does harm me...

So ya I do prefer letting the matter go with a simple sorry and that does help mellow the other person down and then talk it out with them and clear the misunderstanding.

Also when you re arrange the alphabets of Anger they come to Range and really I do feel that anger does harm and destroy everything in Range.... As in when a persons angry they end up being mean and rude to people who haven't even done anything...Your near and dear ones end up facing the brunt of someone else's mistakes or improper behavior....Just because of your anger, You lash out on everyone else and that's not fair or reasonable but that does happen.. So ya I feel Anger destroys things in Range.

So that's just the reason why I get un-nerved when I'm around people who are angry or when a similar situation.... I feel its prudent just to say Sorry and ease the situation at hand...And please you know I'm not bull-shitting now so trust me and let be...Lets enjoy the food

From random beginnings by namrata chhatwani

9th Jan 2012

2012-01-09T12:40:00.001-08:00

Yesterday - 08-01-2012

India is getting hot and cold. Hot politically and cold with the winter breeze. All political parties have got themselves all geared up and are using their collected weapons for all these year. And it continues to snow in J & K and now also few places in Punjab got snow too. In fact, a village in Himachal got snowed in 35 years. Wow.

Leander Paes and his Serbian doubles teammate wins the Chennai Open. Now that’s some good news in sports after a long break. Talking about break, Indian cricket team took a break from their usual practice and went for go karting. Hope that gets something better from our batsmen.

India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says India’s GDP will grow at 7% and will revive to 9% - 10% in the coming years. He also points out that our current trends of growth in scientific publications may look good on paper, but they are not at par with global standards. Hence something needs to be done for bridging the knowledge gap.

Mr. Sibal, are you listening? Can we get something better from you after your desire to put a censor on Facebook, Google and Twitter and how can we forget Aakash tablet. I heard that it does not starts at all once you switch on the wifi.

Vaccine for AIDS have shows positive results in monkeys and is expected to work on human as well. The research though is still on and the results will tell us, whether, in future, people will be able to have free and unprotected sex or not. Well seriously, the success of this drug will help a lot of people.

Delhi Auto Expo 2012 is going on a high with lots of new cars and motor bikes, some fresh and some with new variants, are wooing the viewers. From small RE60 to Mini to new Jaguar to lot many been shown up at the expo.

Anna Hazare is out of hospital, advised a months rest but I guess he is now planning for his next fast.

And for football fans, Manchester City is out of FA cup

That’s it for the day dear.

Enjoy Reading.

Chears!

8th Jan 2012

2012-01-08T09:37:00.001-08:00

Yesterday - 07-01-2012

A dull Saturday not much happened to talk about. But there is no dull day in a country like India.

India prepares that’s the story today. India prepares for its state elections, an event which will happen in a phase wise manner and in states like U.P. it will be done in as many as seven phases. So, the stage is set and the political drama has already begun. Didi, Madam, Sir ji, the youth icon all have tighten their belts and are out on the road with their shows on.

North India painted white. It’s snowing in J&K and the haven on earth is looking as beautiful as ever. Just looking at the pictures and only one thing comes in mind, pack the bags and go Kashmir. It’s already touching 0 degree in Delhi and with rain at New Year it’s chilling and just too good.

Sales season is back. Yet another End of Season sale has entered the malls and discounted items are on display once again. This makes me think two things, one what is the actual price of all these things with 90% to 10% discounts on them almost five to six times a year. And that’s my second point, actually how many end of seasons are there in a year?

Talking about sale, I read about an interesting sale going on in Spain, walk in undress and walk out dressed. And guess what, people half naked queued outside the store. Consumers around the world are same only that in India no one will take off clothes. Well until now.

Actor detained at Mumbai airport. How common is that story now? So common that it doesn’t sound’s yesterday now. This time it was Dia Mirza for walking out of green zone with Rs. 2 lakh of undeclared dutiable good and was fined Rs. 1.25 lakh for it. I checked out some history on it, first in India, only female actors have been detained. Second, with the printed data, there is no relation between worth of undeclared good and the fine charged.

Well that’s it for today.

Enjoy Reading.

Chear!

7th Jan 2012

2012-01-07T00:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday - 06-01-2012

Indian cricket team celebrated their first 400+ score in last one year, even when fans thought of 3rd innings defeat in last 4 test matches. Well I guess that sums up what Indian team is going through, the SCG defeat is their 6 straight losses in away tests.

SRT again got out inside 100, or should I say in 80's, keeping his commitment with the organizers and also helping Indian team in getting some attention off them after the loss. So be ready for another 2 page coverage on how SRT is going to get his ton of tons at Perth, how all the experts feel this is the ground he will get that ton and how everyone will watches the match till he gets out. My prediction, he won't even get a half century and I will be happy if he proves me wrong.

Gold is again up. Well I know everyone will be thinking when did it cam down. So an update for all those, gold has recovered some Rs. 2000/- in last two weeks. Are you thinking that you missed out on buying gold at a bit cheaper rate, well you are right?

Though I never followed what is Anna Hazare doing or what Lokpal bill is all about, but haven't seen anything major on him or his bill in last few days, not even yesterday. Well that's what happens when you dream and do not plan, after a point you have to stop and think where to go next.

Abhishek Bachchan doesn't disappoint again to a large portion of movie goers as he shows up with another flop. But I must give full marks to the casting director, Abhishek and Sonam seems made for each other as both have too many things in common. You see, both are star children, have dads who are great actors and both of them don't know how to act. What a pair.

That's it for today; nothing else read yesterday, nothing related to 26/11 case, 2G scam, housing scam, CWG scam.

Enjoy Reading.

Chears!

Gaurav Seth

Introduction

2012-01-07T00:19:00.000-08:00

A Day That Was Yesterday talk about events happened a day before and how I see them. It’s just my view point on few of the world events which I got be read about during the day. And while talking about yesterday, let’s try and see what can come tomorrow.

Enjoy Reading.

Regards,

Gaurav Seth