What is the shape of Earth?

'World is Flat', most of you must have heard this phrase and if you have been to any of the business schools then you ought to know what it means. Btw, I have religiously bought that book in my MBA days and with the same religious zeal I have kept it on my shelf (never been able to go beyond the first few pages). Coming back to this blog, the term globalization has been used and abused so extensively that few actually understand the depth of this term. Fewer still, actually know that there are 2 aspects of globalization: globalization of market and globalization of industry. Both of these, although related, are quite different. Globalization of market is concerned with the homogeneity of the customers of a particular market with respect to customers in some other market. By this I mean that the customer demands and needs in one market are same/similar to the that in the other market. Globalization of industry is concerned with how the industry align its value chain to take advantage of global opportunities which might exists beyond and across national boundaries. There are many driving factors for each of these forms of globalization, but I will not be going into that. What I will be talking here is today's headline - "Ohio bans outsourcing of IT projects by government departments".

Talking from globalization point of view, this is an anti-globalization move. US has been a big bully of globalization where in past it has threatened smaller economies to open their markets for US Corporations. In those days US corporations have been behind such moves. It was in their economic interest. But what is happening now is very interesting. Not only US is going against WTO norms but is also going against its own industry. Corporations are not really supportive of this and other related moves by the democrat government like hike in Visa fee etc. But leave all this apart. What is your opinion on this subject?

First of all let me clarify, its not necessary to hold a opinion on a issue. You might or might not have one. Fine. Nothing to be embarrassed about. But even if you don't have a opinion till now, and if you are from Indian IT industry, I guess your first reaction would be - its outrageous... how can they do it.... what will be the impact on us... etc etc... right? If you didn't reacted like that then believe me, you would be in the precious few. But hold on, lets ponder over this topic a bit more. Let us first discuss why do governments exists. Any government is quite similar to a very large corporation. As any corporation's objective is to create value for its stakeholders, every government has to create value for its stakeholders. The majority of stakeholders consists of the citizens of the country to whom the government is answerable to. So, in short, governments exists to create value for its citizens, to ensure their welfare. Going by this, what Ohio government has done is totally fine. Their people are out of jobs, so its justified that they find ways to get them employed. But is it not against globalization and the norms which US has set for others? Well yes, but so what? I will follow the rules which are beneficial for me and my people. So, what if you brand me hypocrite. Thats not my priority. And my friends, THATS the truth. If the same thing would be happening in India, would you not have expected the government to take similar steps? We talk much about globalization and Thomas Friedman call it a flat world, but the truth is, the world will never be flat. Not until you have the concept of country. As far as the implications of such move on Indian IT industry is concerned, well there will not be any significant impact. Why? Well, its an open market... you can't hold such policies for long else you will be India pre 1991. Its my opinions, you are free to hold your views and are welcomed to share in the comment section. BTW, there is also a poll on this topic on this blog. Feel free to vote if you want.

Success, Failure and Opinions

How do you measure your success or failure? Yeah, I am asking you. So think rather than just reading... Are these 2 sides of the same coin or are these 2 entirely different coins? Are these absolute concepts? Well, I don't know what are your answers to these, but as I am sitting here pouring whatever is coming to my mind.... I think.... I just can't define success or failure! I feel that my perception of success or failure is not my own, strangely, but its how others perceive my state as success or failure. But then I also believe that this is half truth. On the second thought I also feel that there is something inside me detrimental of my state. Targets!!! yes Targets.... I don't know about you, but I have always been driven by targets and if I achieve those then I got that feeling of success else otherwise. From my childhood to my present it has always been chasing something... in school - marks... on sports ground - the score.... in college - grades... on job - targets... But now comes the interesting fact. At the end of each of those targets there has been a rosy picture projected which, at least I, have been chasing. Good marks at school will help you to get in good college. Good score in college will help you to land with good job. Achieving targets at jobs will help to to get promotion. Well, as far as sports ground is concerned, it was about satisfying one's own ego... But above all, it was about social acceptance. So, here comes back my initial argument. Even the targets are about others perception of your success and failure.

The problem comes when there is a mismatch... mismatch in your targets... mismatch in motivational cherries at the end of targets.... mismatch in others acceptance and expectancy... I didn't give it a thought in past but something is happening around me which is forcing me to think.... think that its opinions that are weighing heavy... opinions, which, if you think calmly are worthless but still they are driving everyone around. Strange but that how we humans are... Social Animals... and no matter how much we try to cut ourselves off this crap, we will still be a part of it and there will always be a gravitational force existing between us and the rest (which considering the combined mass of 'others' would be infinite)... Does anyone know the way to break free of this? I don't know any, do you?

Success.... Failure.... and Opinions
Are figments of mind....
Like the figments of our imaginations...
Like the image of dreams....
Like the dreams of others....
Like the others perceptions...
Like the perceptions of success...
Like the success of failure....
Like the failure of opinions....
Like the opinions of none....
Like the none consisting of all...
Like the all except the self...
Like the self without a clue...
Like the clue hidden in blind...
Like the blindness of the mass...
Like the mass of society...
Like the society of opinions...
Like the opinions of failure...
Like the failure of success....
Like success... failure... and opinions... forming a vicious circle...

Mist

I opened my eyes,
Found myself surrounded by a white cloud.
Confused was my state,
But I can hear the voices out loud.
It took me sometime to realize,
That I am still alive.
That I am not in heaven,
But still in this bee-hive.

I was and I am surrounded by... Mist

Whiteness engulf me,
Wetness soak me.
Drench I am,
But is it sweat or is it mist?
I am not in the state even to recognize my own fist.
Chill is running down my spine,
But still, my brain is saying I am fine!
Numb are my senses,
But still my heart is pumping me to life.

I was and I am surrounded by... Mist

I can see no further,
I can see no far.
I look around for someone
But found no one at par.
I will have to take this journey alone,
Will have to choose the directions on my own.
Hidden are my paths in the whiteness before me,
Curtained are the dangers behind the mist before me.
Which way is right,
Which way is wrong,
From where I had come,
And where I would be gone.
I can't make anything out in this mist.

I was and I am surrounded by... Mist

I can hear the voices from all sides,
Suggesting me directions that are all so wide!
No one knows what lies in that direction,
No one knows the consequences of my next action.
The voices are trying to push me along,
So that I would be gone and they can see me no long.
But the risks are wide
The stakes are high
And the only impact is going to be on life.
So, I just stand there,
Waiting for the Mist to clear
Hoping for the light
That would steer me out of here.
But what if the light won't appear?
Then I would have to kill my fear,
Will have to take my step forward,
Into the unknown,
Into the oblivion,
Crossing my heart,
In the name of the lord.
But still I stood here...
Waiting for the light to appear...
That would steer me out of here....

Conspiracy Revealed - Menka and Vishwamitra Case

OH! Here it comes again... and this time with a lot more buzz. Thanks to Ram Sena or whatever they call themselves. And it is the day when a year ago I wrote a blog on this:)
I had no intentions to write this blog until just few hours ago some one asked me, so what are you going to write this Valentine Day? And what I am going to write now was what we joked at that time.

You must have heard of Vishwamitra. The sage whose 'tapasya' was broken by an apsara called Menka. But you actually don't know what really had happened. This came from the internal sources exclusively for you brought to you by non other than your very own news network... AakashVani. Our internal sources have given us concrete information that Menka was a qualified strategist. She planned everything very strategically. Vishwamitra was a gentleman. Menka knew that. So, she went upto him and presented him a Rose on Valentine Day! Now, being a gentleman and given that a lady was proposing him on the V-Day, Vishwamitra couldn't refuse and had to abandon his tapasya to take Menka on a date. Rest is all history and hence is present in history books so you can look into them for more details.

Finally before closing this bulletin a last message for all those who are against Valentine's Day and let me put it in Hindi (else effect nahin aayega :P)
"Bhaiya! tumhare nahin hai to kyun jal rahe ho! jake tapasya karo isse achca to. kya pata koi Menka meharban ho jake!"

Just a reminder

Its been long since I wrote. Didn't feel like writing. I am passing out of this 'institute' in 2 months and its time for the 'placement blues'! Under the current market scenario when your future is uncertain, you hardly feel like writing. But lets cut that crap over here. This post is not about any such thing. Today is 26th January 2009. Our 60th Republic Day. The day our constitution comes into effect. The single document which protects me, empowers me and guides me ( I don't know about you). The single document about which we brag the most. The first lines of our constitution reads as:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly
resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN
SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...

I am damn sure half of you won't even be knowing the meaning of all the words written over here (see the end of the blog to know the meaning of each word). The thing which we talk the most about our constitution are our fundamental rights. We always keep demanding our 'rights'. Even a school going child can recite the Fundamental Rights bestowed upon us by the constitution:
1. Right to Equality
2. Right to Freedom
3. Right Against Exploitation
4. Right to Freedom of Religion
5. Cultural and Educational Rights
6. Right to Constitutional Remedies

But the thing which we never talk about is another section of the constitution and that is the fundamental duties which are expected out of every citizen of this country. Forget about performing these duties, the bitter truth is most of us are not even aware of these duties! We always ask for our rights but when its time to give in form of our duties, we back off. Well! I am not going to give you a moral lecture on these, but this post is just to remind you of the existence of such things called 'Fundamental Duties' in the constitution and for your reference, this is what the constitution says:

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India—
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the
National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of Indiatranscending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the
case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

PS:
SOVEREIGN: Independent; autonomous; which is not controlled by external forces; self governed
SOCIALIST: In this context Socialist means social equality i.e absence of discrimination on the grounds only of caste, color, creed, sex, religion or language. It does not connote any economic or political ideology.
SECULAR: Equality of all religions and religious tolerance
DEMOCRATIC: People elect their government.
REPUBLIC: The head of the state is elected directly or indirectly for a fixed tenure.