WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

The sun had set and day 18 of the resilient protests was coming to a close at Cairo's Tahrir 'Liberation' Square when a stone faced Egyptian Vice President, Omar Suleiman made an announcement in the public domain. The 20 second statement released on February 11, 2011, translates to:

'Taking into consideration the difficult circumstances the country is going through, President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave the post of president of the republic and has tasked the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to manage the state's affairs.'

Over a million protesters were in prostration offering prayer at Tahrir Square and Alexandria's Central Square when news of an end to the Mubarak regime broke. The statement triggered off an overwhelming sense of euphoria as the countless protesters rose to face the heavens. A deafening roar followed as the people of Egypt broke into celebration to vent their sense of relief, anger, anguish, joy and long overdue, freedom.

Although, we must not forget the tiny country of Tunisia, situated on the northernmost tip of Africa, that sparked off these revolutionary demonstrations inspiring the people of Egypt to create history a few weeks later. On December 17, 2010, demonstrations against the corrupt autocrat Ben Ali led to wide spread protests and violence across the country. Referred to as the 'Jasmine Revolution', the movement precipitated by corruption, inflation, unemployment, lack of freedom and poor living conditions eventually led to the ouster of president Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. The Tunisian protests ending Ali's 23 year regime have inspired similar uprisings in Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Ethiopia and Jordan.

The US has been tracking every development in the Middle East with a keen eye as the recent protests are posing a dilemma to its wide spread imperialism in the region. The Obama administration has been working overtime to debate the course of action to maintain their strategic, political and economic interests in the region. In light of the sprouting demonstrations, it will be interesting to observe the strategy adopted by the US to back their puppets in these countries in order to withstand an unrest of such magnitude and intensity, thereby maintaining dominance over their middle eastern allies.

We have already witnessed the build up to a historic triumph of the people of Egypt, although this may just be the tip of the iceberg. As political uprisings are evidently snowballing, a revolution seems to be unfolding with the middle east undergoing an unpredictable phase of transitioning governments.

THE WORLD IN YOUR PALM

A peek into the telecom industry and how it has come a long way, transforming lives of the millions privy to its services.

Announcing its arrival in Indian markets sometime in 1995, this industry has not only witnessed astronomical growth but also instigated healthy albeit cutthroat competition along the way. India is sensing major advancements in this sector and a string of new players coming into the picture have set the pulses racing for an intense battle. At present India is host to nearly 20 telecom service providers in 23 circles across the nation and houses close to a staggering 90 mobile handset manufacturers as per 2010 reports.

Among the fastest growing sectors of India incorporated, the $30 billion dollar telecom sector over the next few years is expected to bring in heavy domestic and foreign investments. As per BCG reports, the Indian telecom sector will witness an estimated influx of over $50 billion in investments and the market is projected to cross the $100 billion mark by 2015. The industry is touted to enjoy a steady and continuous annual growth at over 12%.

Telecom networks in India grew by more than 40% taking the total wireless subscriber base past 700 million in October, 2010. The 100 million subscriber base landmark was breached by top players with Bharti Airtel doing it in 2009, followed by Vodafone and Reliance Communications in 2010. Teledensity has surged from 52% in March, 2010 to 62% in October, 2010 indicating rapid penetration of telecom in the country.

Beyond these figures, the larger picture here is how this technology has become an integral part of our daily lives and how our increasing dependency on the mobile phone has made it a means to our survival in the modern day and age. From the time we wake up to blaring alarms set on our phones to the time we tuck ourselves in at night with the phone to our ears till sleep kicks in. Technology has literally brought the world to our fingertips. At the push of a button we can stay in touch, access the internet, track our bank account, prepare notes/presentations for office meetings, capture memorable moments, access audio/visual media and more. The mobile phone is perceived as a full fledged personal assistant rather than just another mode of communication. With talks of the 'Mobile Wallet' gathering momentum in India, phones will essentially replace the contents of our wallet eg. cash, credit/debit cards, keys, metro/bus pass. People will be able to carry out transactions, say payment, via a mobile phone carrying an integrated chip that will be scanned by a card reader to debit the requisite amount electronically. This technology developed in late 2005 by NTT DoCoMo, Japan goes by the name Osaifu-Keitai, literally meaning 'Wallet Mobile' has already revolutionised the lives of its users and is now grabbing eyeballs among Indian telecom players.(see video)

At present, the telecom ministry is going through turbulent times with the unearthing of the 2G spectrum scam, but on the technology front India is anxiety struck with 3G technology yet to hit subscribers in full swing along with the recently launched Mobile Number Portability service which has finally entered Indian markets after a deference of three years.

Speculations that Anil Ambani led Reliance Communication may see elder brother Mukesh enter the telecom space is bound to set off fireworks in the already action packed sector. Exciting days lie ahead with telecom players striving to deliver cutting edge technology coupled with world class services and further incentivising users to ensure loyalty and augment subscriber base in the race for market cap.

CELEBRATING A REPUBLIC INDIA!!!

Waking up to the ongoing parade marking 61 years of the Republic of India, a historic moment that brings with it overwhelming pride and the occasional sense of nostalgia. A day to sit back and indulge in the glorious past, tricky present and promising future of our nation. The ups and downs are evident but we must certainly and adequately take due notice of the rapid pace at which our country has developed since the inception of governance.

At a time when the nation is undergoing a torrid time marred by corruption scams, inflation and cross border disputes, let us, momentarily though, ponder beyond these challenges to celebrate the successful growth of India and Indians world over.

On being considered an emerging super power let us revisit some facts highlighting India's growth story over the past decade:
Economy: As per 2010 reports, with a nominal GDP of $1.3 trillion it is the 11th largest economy in the world, poised to break into the top 10 by 2012, although by Purchasing Power Parity(PPP) it is the 4th largest economy with a GDP of $3.1 trillion.
Military: In terms of active personnel, it possesses the 3rd largest military in the world, behind China and the United States.
Nuclear: A breakthrough in history as the 123 Agreement between India and the US was signed in 2008, despite India being a non-member of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This was soon followed by an agreement with France promoting peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Markets: The most sought after destination for Foreign Direct Investment as Indian stock markets have witnessed surging inflows of over $50 billion during FY09 and FY10. India opened its doors to FDI in 1992 and is now on the brink of breaking the $200 billion barrier in FY11.
Labour: At over 478 million, India possesses the second largest labour force in the world and is estimated to account for 25% of the world's workforce force by 2025.
Energy: India features in the world top 10 in terms of coal and natural gas production and wind energy installations.
BPO: The Indian BPO industry recorded earnings of close to $50 billion in FY10 with 7 Indian cities being featured in the world's top 10 BPO's.
Communications: India boasts of the 2nd largest cellular subscriber base at 670 million and has the 4th largest internet user base at 81 million.

Since 1997, India's GDP growth rate has been averaging over 7%, and the IMF has estimated a growth rate of 8.8% for FY11.

These handpicked facts give you an insight into India's capabilities and its robust growth which is proving to be a threat to the developed economies.

The government however, is under immense pressure with the unearthing of corruption scandals, money laundering and tax evasion scams and rising inflation. These testing times call for stern and swift action to tackle such issues before they begin to hamper India's promising growth prospects.

Under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, touted as the most qualified person ever to serve as Prime Minister of a country, the Indian democracy is in for a turbulent albeit exciting period going into FY12.

ROADS TO PERDITION

A beautiful Sunday morning, the overhead sun delightfully bright and the warmth making you lethargic as you're cruising towards what promises to be a sumptuous brunch with the works and perks. Pop goes the thought, courtesy of the blaring horn of presumably a German luxury sedan that is prima facie a white blur as it dashes past. Further down the road, the maniac continues to announce his arrival at the exposed behind of every car in his path.

A drive through the streets of Delhi is a wholesome exhibition of jaw dropping human insanity as far as mannerisms behind the wheel are concerned. From the point of view of a law abiding citizen, fictitious as it may sound, it comes down to a test of his reflexes, patience, composure, focus and ability to overcome a flurry of emotions he experiences en route to his destination.

We often encounter traits typical of the lackadaisically fearless Indian on road, be it his attitude of 'never to settle for second place' or 'my way is the right way.' Amidst the crawling motorists it is fascinating how he drives on undeterred, weaving his way through traffic, allured by the ubiquitous voids that break the pattern of the jam. Two wheelers on the other hand are a step ahead as far as bravery goes. The helmet for instance, apparently rests better by the side of the bike than on the rider's head. They have eyes for the isles, the most desirable being the one that leads up to the stop line.

Bus, truck and other commercial vehicles are equipped with drivers that are handpicked to endanger the lives of the passengers on board and around. They often muscle their way through, unperturbed by oncoming traffic, rather than being overcautious considering the extent of damage even a slight impact may cause others.

The last decade has seen an influx of call center cabs that take the cake as far as road casualties are concerned. Speeding at will and swerving through highway traffic, they personify irresponsibility, risking the lives of young professionals on board as well as surrounding motorists.

Delhi/ NCR roads have gone through quite a makeover with the construction of countless flyovers and interstate highways. These promote high speeds, a sense of complacency and negligence making them most vulnerable to accidents. Moreover, the average Indian lacks the maturity required to drive responsibly on highways.

Drastic measures must be taken to control the situation on roads and improve driving experience.
A few possible suggestions:
1. Action At Source: Strict assessment for issuance of driving licenses need to be standardised.
2. Radars and cameras to be installed and more importantly regularly maintained.
3. Process of imposing fines to be monitored.(Imperative to curtail corruption at this point)
4. Black points to licensees on being fined.(License suspension on 3 Black Points)
5. Incentives(salary hike, perks, insurance etc.) for traffic policemen to increase numbers.
6. Promoting road safety to raise public awareness.(Road Shows, Driving Schools, Interactive Events etc.)

The planning and quality of roads is also highly questionable when it comes to the traffic situation, but that is a completely different subject which needs to be looked at in more detail, from the intent of the minister handling the portfolio to the skill of the contractors and engineers laying the roads. It all comes down to how effectively and honestly the taxpayer's money is put to use.

Nevertheless, it's non stop action on the streets of the capital with everything from cars to cows constantly vying for that overrated right most lane.

Drive Safe.

CWC SQUAD- THE HITS & MISSES

Every Indian is all ears as Cheeka(Krishnamachari Srikkanth) announces the 15 member squad for the upcoming Cricket World Cup being held in the subcontinent.
The No Brainers- MS Dhoni, Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Raina, Kohli, Zaheer, Harbhajan, Praveen Kumar fill the top 10, leaving the selectors to handpick 5 deserving prospects to complete the squad.
A few good men, who based on recent performances got the selection committee talking and made it to the list of probables include the likes of Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, R Ashwin, Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra.

Keeping in mind the batting friendly pitches of the subcontinent preference would be given to a specialist batsman to fill in an empty slot. The changing game has seen part time bowlers play a vital role in the middle overs(15-40) of a match in which case we enjoy a plethora of options in Yuvraj, Raina, Sehwag, Yusuf, Rohit.

The BCCI though, had other ideas.

To start off with, Rohit Sharma not making the 15 is a big chunk of talent that has gone missing from the batting line up. The moment he came onto the scene with some blistering knocks in the 2007 T20 World Cup, it was evident the youngster was a blossoming talent and exuded confidence in his exquisite strokeplay. In a short span of some 50 plus ODIs he has showcased his temperament for the limited overs format and has seen India home on a number of occasions with some reliable knocks. Not to mention his handy off spinners that reaped dividends for the Deccan chargers.

Yusuf Pathan filling in the 'all rounder' slot did not come as a surprise on the back of his match winning 123 against the Kiwis late last year. You'd wonder if he would make the squad sans that knock.

The Indian bowling department is constantly under speculation and more so in the case of the subcontinent wickets being conducive for batting. Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma didn't make the cut with the former being in and out of the ODI team since late 2008 and the latter with his subdued pace and negligible lateral movement, is now a stark contrast from when he first hit the international stage. BCCI considered Munaf Patel's crucial spell against South Africa that helped India clinch the thriller by 1 run enough to include him in the squad. Gives you an idea of how far back the selectors went in terms of the track record of these players.

Spin has always been an integral part of the Indian bowling attack and the search was on for one to bowl in tandem with the turbanator. Ojha's omission from this list was a definite setback. A genuine left arm orthodox bowler with immaculate control and a cool head on his shoulders somehow never grabbed any eyeballs amongst the selectors. R Ashwin, a budding talent and a promising start to his international career is an understandable pick, although he must consider himself fortunate with just 7 ODI caps to his name. Piyush Chawla, an inclusion that defies logic and there just isn't anything I can imagine that would make the selectors tip the scales in his favour.

Above all these petty selections and omissions is the state of Tendulkar's hamstring and we would want to see the master a 100% in time for what is being feared to be his last World Cup. The World Cup trophy itself will be graced to have found its way into the hands of the greatest ever to have played the game.

TEAM INDIA DO THE UNTHINKABLE!!!

Munaf Patel running in with South Africa a hit away from extending their lead in the 5 match series to 2-0. The Indian spectators with heads in their hands wait for the obvious, dare to watch possibly the final delivery of the nailbiter. With Wayne Parnell in cruise control and on strike, the proteas were already in a celebratory mood swaying to the beats in the stands. Parnell cuts fiercely hard and low, and to the amazement of the Indian fans only manages to find a crouching Yuvraj snap up a sharp catch to bring India on level terms in the series. A moment that silenced the home fans and simultaneously caused deafening jubilation amongst the Indian spectators.

Many of us turned in early on Saturday night with India supposedly going through the motions as the proteas were in a commanding position; 71 runs from a win, 6 wickets in hand and required to score at a rate not worth a mention. A missed opportunity of witnessing one of India's most emphatic wins with the ball will be rued by many.

The series all squared early on, is now alive and kicking as we head to Capetown for hopefully another gruelling encounter between the world's top 2 ODI sides.

THE INDERICAN

The average Indian is constantly in awe of the coolness quotient that the westerner(often the American) exudes. The 'Hi' extends to a 'Hey' and a 'How are you?' is cut short to a 'sup?', the answer to which is apparently another 'sup?.' Squeezing this slang in his lang(uage) on one hand and a momentary lack of blinking at the sight of a pair of legs walk by in hot pants on the other, gives us an insight into the dilemma of the confused Inderican.

With India rapidly spreading its wings across the world map, it is imperative to tactfully bring about some degree of modernisation in its culture from a global perspective. Graduating to be amongst the most sought after economies to invest in, it is inevitable that India will continue to attract people from all corners of the globe. So what facets of our culture shall we subject to this so called modernisation? How to strike a balance with the young and the old so that neither generations are unwillingly driven towards an unsatisfactory change?

These questions will continue to stare us in the face till a hypothetical situation of our saturated satisfaction levels are met.

Coming back to the flummoxed Inderican, take for instance, his paranoia for fair skin. In retrospect, if I were caught with a men's fairness cream in my school bag, it would probably haunt me for the rest of my schooling days. However, over the years it has become quite the thing with the biggest of personalities holding up these creams, promising you guaranteed western skin. But noticeably, the search to attain just the right skin tone resonates with the people world over, as the westerners resort to sunbathing to get that ever elusive tan.

Although this is confined only to the cosmetic aspect of things, we are witnessing a definite evolution even in the parent-child relationship.

The shift made its presence felt with 'Mummy' & 'Papa' being downsized to 'Mom' & 'Dad.' It came with its set of pros and cons. Unfortunately, obedience and respect for parents took quite a battering. The Inderican has developed this not so welcome habit of talking back to his parents sans the dignity that is least expected of him. On the contrary, I must mention here the level of openness and ease with which today's youth shares its views on just about anything, which in the yesteryears was limited to predictable conversations.

The Inderican will constantly strive in search of that perfect balance but till this identity crisis is resolved, perhaps with a conclusive cultural transition, his dilemma shall linger on but at the same time will at some level keep him rooted to the traditional values and ethics that define Indian culture.

OFF THE MARK

To start off, here's wishing you all a prosperous new year.
We hope 2011 brings with it accountability, better governance and at least some, if not all of the scam ridden taxpayers money, that is stashed in some very known and well guarded pockets.

As the day comes to its inevitable climax and with a few opening comments, I have finally set the ball rolling.