"Aam Aadmi" has spoken and spoken decisively for the Congress.This result has surprised most pre-poll predictions! What an original strategic master stroke one would say. Well, I differ, not because I am a bha-jaa-paa supporter but because I have facts to support my case.
A cartoonist had discovered it in 1951. His name was R.K Laxman and till today his strips remain the most eagerly awaited section"You said it" Times of India. That generally nimble political parties took six decade to understand the power of common man is astonishing!! Did they know something or did hey become so busy with their VIP status that they missed the"Aam Aadmi" completely.
My views are biased towards the former hypothesis. Remember "Garibi hatao" - this helped Indira sweep elections long back...then somewhere in the way this slogan lost its appeal. Well, in between India's growth started picking and more people bcame"common" from "garib" and the slogan lost its appeal(the left over "garibs" understood that all that netas had to offer was empty platitudes.).The readers of Laxman, on the other hand were all"common man"
The moral of the story- "It took India six decades to become "common" from poor.At this rate we will need loads of patience to move our "common" man to a economic emancipation. Jai HO!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Bihar Economy on Take off stage??
I find it quite funny that one starts economics education in our country thorough international examples and anecdotes. (most examples are on widgets, which I am sure most dont know of till they come across this in an economics book)No wonder one is not able to relate to them. I would be guilty of same if I made no attempt to understand the economies of my home states before I express my opinion on Indian and other economies).My attempts to educate myself on them fell flat as there were no data readily available on this state (most data that I could lay my hand on was dated Census of 1991 and 2001.)Finally, I did a project on the
This is why I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Bihar Govt claimed to have a SGDP growth rate of 16%(ahead of
Not withstanding the above facts I believe that the economy of
a) Infrastructure development is happening at some rate (especially in roads). This through various linkages would itself create some growth momentum.
b) Educational landscape is changing. The Govt has apparently lifted an age old ban on the private professional colleges (not sure of this though).
c) The long term social transformation that began at the end of 80s is nearly complete. The last time a upper caste person was a the chief minister of the state was in 1980s.This transformation is of extreme importance in a society where the land reforms did not happen.
d) Bihar electorate are likely to vote for Nitish Kumar who is seen as a pro-development chief minister.(However, I also believe that Bihar electorate has been a lot smarter than the mainstream media has given it credit of.. Mr Lalu Yadav had lost an election from Madehpura(a constituency full of yadavs a decade ago)
True a lot more is desirable on education(spoken English skills which is a must for the current service industry to prosper, though I have a different point of view on this, which forms a subject matter for a separate post) and the social change process has just taken roots and the feudal mindset as well as structure is still present.
However it would not be wrong to say that change is in horizon and as long as the weather Gods smile (economy is agrarian, mainly) and the law and order is in control(naxalism is a big threat and with situation in
Friday, May 1, 2009
Election-my lesson in civics
Yesterday was election day in Bombay. It is a holiday for me!!..I have never voted and the day anyways doesnt mean much to me( I do have a point of view but expressing them on a blog made more sense than going down to polling booth in heat where I am just 1 out of 100 crore. The probability that I will make an impact is absymally low.)
For me it is a like any other holiday... Swimming, partying or play ..choices galore ...I check out the tickets they are all booked. Mahabaleshway and kashith reservation was nowhere to be found..a friend's dad was retiring(in Jaipur) and she wanted to go, but tough luck..no seats available in flight or train. Looked like any other long weekend where the busy souls look ways to run away from the sweltering heat.
Disappointed I wanted to order some beer..but well, it was a dry day..but determined I was to beat the boredom.
I called up my friend and what do i see..luckily he had foreseen this and stocked himself of eough liquor and in next five minutes I was on the way to his place.
Playfully asked autowallah"Did u vote". Yes, he said...I asked him how was the experience. " Great he says. I know nothing will change for me but isnt it amazing that I can make a difference. How much time did it take him. He said 3 hours, that is why I was his first passenger. I asked him how much have u lost inn voting process . Maybe Rs 300. How much do u earn in a day ..may be about a thousand...this person had lost 30% of his daily wage to vote in this election.
But did u vote Saheb, he asks me. I said no. "And u have a holiday today aur aap padhe lika bhi ho". The autodrivers name was Amanrao and that day I got a practical lesson on democartic duty that all civics books in my school had failed to.
For me it is a like any other holiday... Swimming, partying or play ..choices galore ...I check out the tickets they are all booked. Mahabaleshway and kashith reservation was nowhere to be found..a friend's dad was retiring(in Jaipur) and she wanted to go, but tough luck..no seats available in flight or train. Looked like any other long weekend where the busy souls look ways to run away from the sweltering heat.
Disappointed I wanted to order some beer..but well, it was a dry day..but determined I was to beat the boredom.
I called up my friend and what do i see..luckily he had foreseen this and stocked himself of eough liquor and in next five minutes I was on the way to his place.
Playfully asked autowallah"Did u vote". Yes, he said...I asked him how was the experience. " Great he says. I know nothing will change for me but isnt it amazing that I can make a difference. How much time did it take him. He said 3 hours, that is why I was his first passenger. I asked him how much have u lost inn voting process . Maybe Rs 300. How much do u earn in a day ..may be about a thousand...this person had lost 30% of his daily wage to vote in this election.
But did u vote Saheb, he asks me. I said no. "And u have a holiday today aur aap padhe lika bhi ho". The autodrivers name was Amanrao and that day I got a practical lesson on democartic duty that all civics books in my school had failed to.
Lazily Yours!
I am a truly lazy ..the only time I work is when I feel too lazy to be lazy....
This blog is my way of expressing my self....the world - the way I feel and the way I see it. I retain my right to be wrong and to be corrected by discerning readers(if there are any!).
I intend to blog on diverse topics including my ecoomics, ploicy and history. Most of the postings would be random as and when they occur in my brain.
And thanks Mayank for taking time out to get this blog started. Bing to think of it- u ar ecompletely responsible for it. The idea of an individual blog germianted thorugh our discussion on Nehrus contiribution to India etal...and then obviously u had to help yr Lazy brother get this blog literally started!!
In case this posting has made u curious of Mayank , please dont be lazy, his blogs are fun to read http://www.indiblogger.in/blogger/4224/.
This blog is my way of expressing my self....the world - the way I feel and the way I see it. I retain my right to be wrong and to be corrected by discerning readers(if there are any!).
I intend to blog on diverse topics including my ecoomics, ploicy and history. Most of the postings would be random as and when they occur in my brain.
And thanks Mayank for taking time out to get this blog started. Bing to think of it- u ar ecompletely responsible for it. The idea of an individual blog germianted thorugh our discussion on Nehrus contiribution to India etal...and then obviously u had to help yr Lazy brother get this blog literally started!!
In case this posting has made u curious of Mayank , please dont be lazy, his blogs are fun to read http://www.indiblogger.in/blogger/4224/.
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