Why our democracy is not a great success?

India, the largest democracy of the world, with over 69 million of registered voters and a population of over 111 crores. If we look at the no of people in this country from some developed country’s point of view, it is an amazing number. We have a huge cultural, geographical and natural diversity. We are one of the country with highest no of spoken languages. And of top of all these, one of the most laziest bureaucracy in the world.

To count our other achievements, with second highest population we hardly manage to get few medals in Olympics! A lot of our great researchers need to go to other countries to pursue their research. Many of the students have to go to foreign university in search of quality education. In terms of implementation of technology, we are atleast half a decade behind any developed country, it is when Indian are considered to be talented.

Why all this? Is it that for us only quantity dominates? In any field we dominate, whether it be cricket or anything else, it is basically due to quantity of people. Where in any developed country, the output per person is far beyond than that is ours. Some could be contributed to their advancement in technology, but upto a large extent there are some fundamental faults in the system which we are ignoring. It could be said that some people are lazy, but not everyone is lazy.

One of the fundamental drawback I feel is that, technological and medical related departments are being headed by bureaucrats instead of technocrats and doctors. In govt everything is worked controlled by bureaucrats ( like IAS or people from other administrative services), whether it be a technological department, medical department or any other public sector enterprise ignoring whichever field they might concern.

How can we expect a bureaucrat to understand and allocate resources better than a engineer in any engineering projects. Alas, this is the way we have in our country. Health ministry is controlled by more bureaucrats than doctors, so no wonder our life expectancy is less and our health standards are low as compared to other countries.

An example how engineer when head a engineering department instead of bureaucrat can work wonders is Delhi Metro. One of the most successful enterprise in our country and a technological marvel of our country.

Why don’t we look at country like America in terms of management and technology, when we can follow them in other stupid terms. In USA, each department is headed by a specialist of that field. President’s team like that of Obama’s include excellent managers, lawyers(himself), doctors, engineers and many others. Each government department is headed by a specialist of that field. And we can see the result of their growth. Today, dollar is the standard currency in international market. Everyday in newspapers, don’t we see rupee and other currency as compared to dollar or prices of commodity in international market in terms of dollar. Could economic recession starting from any other country could have affected whole world so badly?

Coming back to our country, how do we manage one of the wealthiest sports club of the world? Yes, BCCI which is among the richest sports club needs no mention of bureaucracy. Wouldn’t things be much better if it would have been headed by a cricketer (could be a retired one). And decisions would be taken in more favor of players/cricket instead of self interest.

Bureaucrats are no doubt needed but not at the topmost level in all organizations. The process of selection of some bureaucrats like IAS do deserve respect. But govt department should be controlled by a person of that field, who can be assisted by a bureaucrat if needed. This would increase the efficiency and boost the performance. Results will be better than they are now.

Then why do we give every power position to a bureaucrat? The answer is simple. Because of political power and greed of some people. No doubt, it would not be favor of the politicians and many other. If we make some fundamental changes like these then chances are more that we can fight corruption better and can land in the list of those developed countries faster and most important of all will have a better life to live. Then how would these people will continue to earn. They are more used to free bread than working.

Boot Camp @ India Development Centre, Microsoft

Generally I do not blog about events which are of no use to others. But this one is worth to mention. It was one of the best of the best camps I ever attended.
We (me and 4 other friends of mine:Ram, Rajul, Shailesh and Divya) were going to attend the camp. We reached secunderabad on 6th. The auto we hired from secunderabad station till our hotel did not know the way and where to go. So it was some round trip before we reached the hotel. We had our hotel(Ellaa suites) booked by Microsoft for us was very near to its campus and next to ISB. The hotel was wonderful though I could not see most of its facilities.

There were students from all over the nation to participate in the Boot camp. One of the main motive of boot camp was to meet people with similar frequency. That day, we went to Microsoft campus at 4 and had a introduction with the team of Microsoft. On that day, some of the participant had registered for the intership test. For those who did not register for the test had a skit competition.

For the skit competition we were divided in four groups. Though our skit did not went nice we had a lot of fun preparing and doing that. None of the teammate knew each other before the skit, but after the skit we had a know each other feeling. One of the thing I learnt in this was that understanding among people can be best developed when they are under pressure.

Then next day we had our technical sessions. The sessions were on some of the latest technology of Microsoft by the people who were developing those technologies. The sessions were fine (if not boring). Whatever be the case, it is not just my university teachers, who makes us sleep, but even those engineers. There is no worth in attending these sessions and seminars if you are not interested in them. Sessions can become interesting if they are interactive (one of the reason why my teachers in coaching classes were better than my university teachers).
That day evening we had our dance party which was one of the best event of the camp. That night even the food was awesome, esp. the "Gajar ka halwa".
Then next day we had sessions by some of our friends on robotics and MashUp. We got free nearly at noon 12 that day. After that I went to snow world, which gives you the feeling of being in a snowy place (ie, at -2 to -7degrees). It is one of the most wonderful places to visit and enjoy atleast in south India.
The boot camp was a great learning experience with a lot and lot of fun added to it. To say it in the way of some of my friends from Coiambaitore, it was
awe awe awe awese
awe awe awe awese
awe awe awe awese
awesome

Exams going on

Our exams have finally started. After a long unexpected holiday break. One joke I once read best describes my (and also my friends) situation:

"We students are like rocket,
It is not we aim high
but we start working only when our back is on fire."

Anyway, I have my maths exam tomorrow, so bye for now.

Petrol and Diesel Prices should not be reduced

In India, currently Govt regulates the price of most of the petroleum products. Some of them like petrol and diesel which were once subsidized by govt are now turning out to be profit source for the petroleum companies. As the crude oil prices in the international market is coming down(due to economic recession), so is the pressure on govt to decrease the fuel prices in India. If govt wants to decrease the fuel prices then it has to do it very soon before election commission announces the date for elections. After the announcement of the dates of election model code of conduct comes into existence. After model code of conduct comes into existence govt will not be able to reduce the petroleum prices.

If govt makes a major policy decision to deregulate the prices of petrol and diesel then again it has to do it very soon(I don't feel just before elections govt will take such a step). Deregulation of petrol and diesel price is possible and this is the right time to do it. Govt can control the price of cooking gas as deregulation of it is simply not possible in current scenario. Govt provides a subsidy of more than 150 rupees on each LPG cylinder. Deregulation of it will simply rocket hike the prices of LPG and will badly affect a common man. Keeping cooking gas and kerosene under direct govt control and liberating the prices of petrol and diesel is a possible option for govt.

If crude prices further fall in the international market or remain the same then govt will have to decrease the fuel price. I feel decreasing the fuel prices will have an adverse effect on the economy in a long run. Currently, vehicles are one of the major source of environmental pollution. Decreasing the price of fuel will directly increase the environmental pollution. If we look at the statistics then our emission of green house gases is going on much similar pattern as the industrial revolution(or development) phase of developed countries. Since then, developed countries have been a major source of environment pollution.

As some of the adverse effects of climate change are now directly visible, it is now no more a theory or mere assumption. If we also go on the same pattern as that of developed nation in terms of pollution than very soon it will be difficult to control the climate change as it is an irreversible process. Already most of the damage to environment cannot be repaired. Also one of the fact we should keep in mind is that the worst effect of environmental pollution will initially be on the sea coasts of these developing countries. Frequent cyclones, floods, loss of coral reefs, less fishes all are return gift of mother nature for the damage caused by us. The population density in coastal region of developing countries is very high due to the location of sea ports which are major trade centers of economy. A loss of these cannot be repaired in any way.

Along with the environmental pollution, it will also adversely effect our exposure to green technology. People would prefer to take a petrol car instead of a electric car if petrol prices are cheap. It will also demotivate the research and investment in the environment friendly technology, which is the need of hour.

One possible solution to this can be that the profit from petrol and diesel can be diverted towards green technology. This could be in terms of incentives like tax benefit or other similar profit for using the environment friendly technology. This will boost up the morale of these industries and motivate people to use green technology along with earning carbon credits for the nation.

If we dont try to save the environment now with the excuse of economic recession then we have to pay a very heavy price to pay in future. For example consider a scenario where people cuts down a complete forest for resources and boost up the GDP. The exports and domestic consumption for that time will surely be good but in long run will lead to a downfall of GDP. Also it is very expensive to recover a lost resource that to save it.If that forest would have been saved then it would have helped in cleaning the air and also reduced many heart related diseases in nearby areas which would save govt's expenditure on health care and boost up tourism and related activities along with earning carbon credits.

Global economic recession can be used as a turning point for world's economy. This is the time when people will adapt themselves to change then any other time.

Let our culture evolve not die

Valentine day is coming and our nations self proclaimed warrior of Indian Culture will be back in action to save our culture. They have protected our culture and will keep protecting it.

Ram Sene got a achievment to boast about. They are saving us from so called pub culture (whatever it may mean). And how? Dozens of men (probably some might be with some weapon) beated handful of women.They saved a culture which is supposed to teach tolerance, non violence and respect towards women. A culture highly influenced by teaching of Gandhi and Buddha. Both of them have spend their life teaching non violence and tolerance.

And if it was to be the way of these moral police, they should also ban girls from getting any formal education. Even in Ramayan Ram attended gurukul but not Sita. Then why should girls go to schools and colleges. Isn't it against (their's so called) Indian culture?

Indian culture is not what these moral police (like Ram Sene) interpret. It is much different than it. It is about respect for other freedom. respect for diversity, respect for women, tolerance and peace. It is about accepting the wrong and keep improving ourself. It is about change, not stagnance.

As no human is perfect so how can we say about a culture. After all it is human, who makes a culture. As there are shortcoming in human, so there are in our culture. It is not perfect. Our civilization being among one of the oldest (along with Romans and Greeks) have survived where as other civilizations have vanished over the time.

As Charles Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest who survives, but the one who is most adaptable to change". Our culture have been continuing till now because we are adaptable and accepted change. If it would have been only stronger one to survive than Dinasours would have never vanished from earth and humans would not have continued their life till now.

History is evident humans have been shedding most of their wrong practices during these evolution. Lets accept the change and not deny them. After all there is a beauty in evolution also.