What do you think?

We must use the expertise of Ehsingh to make all types of CDs / event films. He can conjure up events of any year and splice it with the freshly conjured current events and make them look real without a sweat. I heard once he tried to get into bollywood unsuccessfully. Then, it seems, he decided to write real life scripts. He now says this is more interesting and rewarding than fiction. His CV in this arena is commendable.

Move over Broadway, Milky Way and all ways. We now have reality shows unfolding on news channels. Move over sakshis and vadhus…we now have real Sibals, Rudys, Tiwaris, Javadekars and a score of others playing out comedy on the small screen in real time. We just can’t guess for nuts what may happen in the next episode…we don’t even know when the next episode will be aired…it could take days, a day, hours or even only minutes. In some cases the next scene is telecast as ‘breaking news’ even before the current one is concluded. Ha! What suspense! What drama. We also have those mega suspense dramas like the ‘Bofors’ and mini mega hits like the ‘Tehelka’, for instance. These come packaged for National and regional viewership.

The other day eminent scientists and bigwigs were discussing the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project‎‎ on a popular news cannel. These guys were virtually shouting each other down. It was fun as it seemed nobody knew anything about what was to be discussed. Of course Arnabda didn’t mind that – you see It is commotion that brings in the TRPs; not the contents of the debate. This trend is an extension of what happens in our Parliament – those who shout the loudest will get more votes in the next elections… at least that is what we think our MPs think as they think democracy means elections and votes and nothing beyond. Governance, they think is the job of bureaucracy who let the Ms of P think what they want to think and perpetually make hay as the sun always shines for them! With so much of thinking going around what does a common man think? He can’t think because in this chaos he does not know what to think as he is unaware of himself. So he always lets others think. Others do not know that they are others and so they don’t think either. And fellow countrymen that is how in India nobody thinks; but only follows…seemingly without thinking.

Do pardon me if you think, you think and I need to do a rethink!

Is a leader born or made ?

That this Q about leadership is an enigma even now in the twenty-first century in itself tells us that the subject is beyond discussion – or in other words the subject could evoke endless ‘discussions’. Leadership exists in the animal world too. It is thus safe to presume that the traits for a leader have evolved with mankind itself. And yet after tens of thousands of years we are still trying to define a leader!!!

We were all in our Blue Patrol dress. As a pre dinner routine that evening some of us Keen Kumars were gathered around our Corps Commander.  Senior officers of the Indian Army were making small talk.  A colonel in a tight fitting patrol dress broached the subject of ceremonial dresses with all the accoutrements and their futility in the ‘modern’ times. The General looked at the colonel and then sweeping a glance at all of us gathered around asked - “How do I stand out in this crowd without my epaulettes and accoutrements?  If I do not wear them I will not be recognized as your Corps Commander and as your leader, whereas a Lalu Prasad Yadav will be recognized as a leader even in his vests!”

There are both ‘born’ leaders and ‘made’ leaders.  Every person comes into this world with certain traits. She modifies / improves upon these and acquires more traits from the environment in the process of growing up. A leader is essentially created by circumstance. The circumstance may throw up a leader and when it does, we say a leader is ‘born’!  Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King fall in this category. Alternately a potential leader is introduced to a circumstance and thus, a leader is ‘made’.  Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, Admiral Ronnie Pereira, MS Dhoni and for that matter Major Riesman (Lee Marvin) in the movie The dirty dozen, are examples of leaders introduced to a circumstance.  A leader is a person who guides others towards a common goal. A common goal is created by the circumstance. There can’t be a leader without a circumstance. A leader then shows the way and guides the led towards the common goal. The success or failure of a leader is determined by her capability to use the by now ingrained traits in leading the group to achieve its goal. The bottom line is that he who succeeds is a good leader…’’what may have been’ is never part of any equation!!!!

There are volumes and more volumes written on leadership qualities, skills and traits. It is a subject taught in military academies and all B schools.  This is one subject that should to be removed from any academic dispensing – Abraham Lincoln, Robin Hood, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, MS Dhoni et al never attended any class on leadership. Any discussion on these traits / qualities will be repetitive, mundane and purposeless. 

One other point I want to make is that a successful manager or a boss need not necessarily be a leader of any quality.

Facets of agitation against corruption

While I endorse the movement against corruption wholeheartedly I condemn the celebrations if there were any. A victory is achieved only when there is a vanquished. At the end of what was a magnificent manifestation of democracy under the guidance of veteran Anna Hazare, there really is no victor or vanquished. Moreover celebrations are to unwind and it is too early to unwind in this movement against corruption. If at all anything, we need to maintain the intensity of pressure. This is going to be one hell of a battle. A battle without an enemy…a battle to cleanse the system.

The response to a clarion call from Anna has been stupendous considering it was a peaceful agitation. The overwhelming support on ground, on the net and in the media can be attributed to three main reasons. 1)  The bugle was sounded by an apolitical leader supported by apolitical organisations and individuals. 2) The cause (eradicate corruption) is a subject close to every Indian’s heart. Anger against corruption was growing in leaps and bounds without a release valve somewhere. Suddenly there was Anna, a successful agitator and social activist showing he way. 3) Good communication systems such as mobile telephony and the Net. Here was a cause no one could turn away from. Understandably the press also played its part positively.

I was at the Freedom Park in Bangalore for half a day on April 6, 2011. Let me assure you I did not see a mob there. I saw people. I saw Indians, each of whom knew why they were there.  There was none of the whipped up frenzy or desire to destruct. It has been demonstrated that under responsible leadership without vested interests and high rise walls to hide behind, the people of India who own the constitution (To recall, the preamble to our constitution starts thus … “We the people of India…..”) can come together with equanimity and poise for a just cause. This is refreshing, heartening and above all reassuring.

In this instance, it suited the Government of the day to be supportive.  With all the scams and corrupt practices taking centre stage they were on a burning deck with unfathomable sea all around. Suddenly there appeared a tiny boat – Anna’s movement. Manna from heaven. The Lokpal bill if passed, the credit will go to the congress party; if stalled the discredit will go to the opposition. Either way, for the next general elections lokpal bill will be the kavach (armour) behind which the UPA will go to the hustings – 2G, CWG, CVC and all other alphabets will be long forgotten…at least that is what the congress party reckons now!!!!! Unfortunately it is a fait accompli if it so happens.
Even then, the people’s power in our democracy, other than at the ballot, has stamped its presence. Power to the people has been established…

Having said that, being in a democratic system there were detractors. Detractions are welcome as they also help to clear the air.  One voice was that people can not legislate as it is the prerogative of the elected representatives. But what do we do when the interests of legislators which are contradictory to those of the people, are involved in a proposed legislation? There is a flaw in the way our representatives are elected. Tickets (party’s OK to be its candidate from a specific constituency) are distributed to candidates on the basis of their winnability rather than on competence or a party’s principles. Else how do we explain convicts and accused in the august house. A voter’s choice is like “take it or leave it”. (As an aside…One of the demands of Anna and many of us is to have a ‘none of the above’ column in the ballot paper – or machine. Where the ‘winner’ is ‘none of the above’, fresh candidates are fielded for a fresh round of elections. This is repeated until a candidate is elected.) Such elected representatives who are criminals, convicts and under-trials, obviously have no stake in the lokpal bill. But now the parliament probably has no choice but to pass it. The committee is only recommending a draft. The actual legislation is enacted by the parliament. In the case of the lokpal bill this has been the masterstroke by the people led by Anna that the legislators have now to take a positive interest.

Another point was regarding setting precedence.  To them I appeal not to consider the people of India as fools. We will never see an uprising as this one for any cause with lesser severity to National pride and well being than corruption.  Do not liken these gatherings of the past few days to be mobs. What do we do when we see a Raja or a Rani amassing wealth; what do you expect we do when we see their opulent life styles?  Do you expect us to believe they will legislate for our welfare? To them I say rest easy, we Indians are responsible or else blood would have flooded the streets long ago.
Somebody called this blackmail. This is no more blackmail than when the opposition stalled the house proceedings telling the Government “If no JPC then house will not function…” or actions to that effect! Well, do you expect that I keep quiet when my house is being looted?
And then, what is the Constitution of India? There have been 94 amendments to the constitution in the last 61 years. One more (or many more) for the good of the people will do no harm. Any system has to continually improve. We need to respect the freedom and equality provided for in the constitution above methods and practices.

Will the lokpal bill prevent corrupt practices? A million rupee question. For the moment the bill is not as material as the awakening.

Of gems, promises and Bharat Ratna

A couple of days back I was at my jewelers’.  Neeta and Rajiv are first generation jewelers; the husband is a gemologist and the wife a jewelry designer. I like my visits to that place for one I get a smart salute from the tie clad retired subedar who is ‘head’ administration of the facility! Mythili and self have struck a friendship with N & R that on every visit we learn something new about gems. My wife is an ardent student of these precious stones, especially when they are set in gold! I am also blessed with two daughters who take after their mom in these matters!

For instance after the first few visits we know all about diamonds – the Belgian cut, VVS1, VVS2, VS, d,e, f ….., rough cut, uncut et al.

Since a few years, I have taken to wearing a couple of three rings on my fingers. One of the rings, the oldest to be precise, sports a coral. During my last visit Rajiv pointed out that my coral was not original and he proceeded to show us the ugly side of gems. Firstly my coral was just coral dust held together by glue and shaped! He then proceeded to painstakingly explain and demonstrate the range of precious stones, semi precious stones and non-precious stones.
Then I realised that just by calling a green stone emerald does not make it an emerald and you do not have to name an emerald for it be recognized as emerald! So much for Bharat Ratna.

On a day when Anna Hazare and millions of other Indian citizens are propelling a promising movement against corruption, no Indian in his right senses (after the hang over of world cup win) is happy that politicians are ‘promising’ ‘rewards’ (to earn brownie points? ). In Karnataka, a twice Olympic athlete and an Asian games medalist is running from pillar to post to get a legitimately paid for Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) plot..and the state CM has the temerity to illegally announce BDA plots to all members of the winning Indian cricket team. Rest assured most of theses announcements are just that…..announcements for political mileage. Almost all these promises are never kept…Ask Kapil Dev! The cricketers care two hoots for such announcements. They earn their wine and cheese elsewhere.

So, rest easy, all of you.

A tribute to the crusade against corruption

Charles Dickens in his novel A tale of two cities wrote, in 1859, about the uncertain times leading to the French revolution (1789-1799). More than a century and half years later his words seem like prophetic of our times……. 

It is the best of times for Indian economy, it is the worst of times in governance, it is the age of intelligence, it is the epoch of deficient education, it is the age of incredible India, it is the period of incredulous infrastructure, it is the season of light (opportunities), it is the epoch of darkness (vested interests), it is the spring of hope (enthusiastic Gen Y), it is the winter of despair (corruption), we have everything before us, we have nothing before us….

 In the larger context, Anna’s movement today is a message to the Government of India and hopefully to the bureaucracy, that democracy is not just about adult franchise. It is also about morals and people’s participation in the affairs of the state as ordained for a democracy.  Another message is that a popular leader need not necessarily be a politician and conversely a politician is not always a leader. The fact is that a corrupt official or a bureaucrat in India almost always goes unpunished and the swindled cash is never recovered! Here is hoping that this movement that exposes the fallibility of a system that has hijacked democracy for over 60 years is perpetuated and gains strength with each passing day.

Anna is not talking about punishing corrupt individuals. He is talking about instituting a system where individuals are immaterial. He wants a mix of civil society and power centre(s) to work together in drafting a bill that aims to curb corruption in the corridors of power - an excellent thought. I hope this paves the way also for directly inducting experts into governance at the level of bureaucrats.

I unequivocally salute Anna and Kejriwal for the initiative…they have infused in me a new belief in my country and my country(wo)men.