On the Way to Race Course Road

The race to the seat of President of India has been won by Pranab Mukherjee even before it has begun. The numbers clearly suggest that Pranab Da is soon going to become the 1st Citizen of India, taking over the mantle from Pratibha Patil. He is being opposed by Former Speaker P.A. Sangma, who we all know doesn't stand much of a chance. But still the BJP chose to support him. Why??

There was a small period in between when the BJP would have been smelling blood-Remember Mulayam's 'support' for Kalam or is it to much in the past now!! But, President Kalam is not a politician and there was no way he was going to contest "just to make a point." 


After the Mulayam fiasco, BJP decided to support the candidature of Sangma though it has not been supported by allies like JD(U) & Shiv Sena. There have been arguments that BJP didn't want to lend support to a fledgling UPA, which maybe true. There have also been voices that BJP didn't want to support Mukherjee, because it was not consulted before the announcement. Again, if there is one thing consistent with UPA/Congress, it their arrogance & audacity. So, it wouldn't have come as a surprise. So, why fight the losing battle?


I am not a journalist and don't have contacts in political parties to tell you what the "insiders" say but my own observations tell me that supporting Sangma is the best Political move BJP has made in ages. Who cares that they will lose. Who remembers the person who fought against APJ Abdul Kalam? Who remembers Who supported her candidature? BJP knows that Sangma's candidature and this election would be forgotten pretty soon. They have used this election as a launchpad for 2014. They understand very well that 2014 is the best chance for them to return to power and if not, the next chance may not come in the current leadership's life time. Seriously, CWG/ 2G/ Inflation/ Rupee Falling etc etc. If anyone benefits from all this, it has to be the BJP. And who is the best candidate to get them to 7, Race Course Road? Yes, you got it right- Narendra Modi! One may have any views against him or his politics, but you can't deny that he has become the posterboy not just for "Hindutva" fanatics but for "development" freaks as well. The biggest hurdle in his way is not the opposition from Congress but that from the JD(U). By supporting Sangma, BJP has gained favours with AIADMK & BJD, which in fact double the strength of JD(U). As for Shiv Sena, BJP knows- Jayenge to Jayenge Kahan! 


Also, Supporting Sangma would ensure BJP some traction in the North East where it is non-existent. There is good possibility of Sangma & his supporters joining the BJP after the elections. Though North East doesn't have the strength to play make or break but it could be BJP's chance to make its presence felt in that part of the country as well. Though BJP wouldn't want to depend on it, but chances of support from Mamata Didi would also be very high.



And after all, Sharad Yadav has been the NDA Convener for all these years so you can't except JD(U) to support Congress in the next elections. Although nothing is certain in Politics but such an eventuality looks unlikely. Therefore if the BJP falls a few numbers short in 2014, they can always bank upon the outside support of JD(U)!! Ofcoure, all these calculations are hypothetical in nature and depend a lot on whether or not BJP can set its house in order before the next General Elections. But for the time being, they seemed to have Bypassed Raisina Hill on the way to Race Course Road. 

Blank Pages

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 28; the 28th Edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The topic for this month is 'BLANK PAGES'.

When I was born

I didn’t know nothing

I didn’t know speech

No bitter, No Sweet

What fools, What sages

A book of Blank Pages

When I was born

I didn’t know nothing

I couldn’t even read

No caste, No creed

Just calm, No rages

A book of Blank Pages

When I was born

I didn’t know nothing

Wasn’t able to walk

Life didn’t have a clock

Those were the ages

A book of Blank Pages

When I was born

I didn’t know nothing

Now the times have changed

Life has shifted lanes

Now am caught in the cages

A book of Blank Pages

Not one of the mages

A book of Blank Pages

Same play, different stages

A book of Blank Pages

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

 

The Story of a Young MBA

It has been a year now. That time of your life when you are supposed to have become independent and self sustainable etc etc. Exactly 365 days ago, I joined one of India’s or rather world’s top Telecom companies as a Management Trainee. The plan was to become Marketing Head within 10 years, India CEO in maybe 15 and Global CEO in 20. As John Lennon once said, “You may say I am a dreamer but I am not the only one!”

I still remember having gone to office on the first day, trying to look as dapper as possible. Somewhere deep within, we all feel that looking “good” will earn you brownie points & if you don’t feel that way, well keep your views to yourself!! Just kidding! Atleast I felt that way. The next few days were spent meeting the top honchos of the Indian Opco, as the HR often said! With the number of Top Management crossing 50 in about 5 days and them highlighting their career graph, my timelines were revised. At the same time, I had accomplished the task of checking out all their Linkedin profiles in the quickest time, I believe! Suddenly Global CEO seemed a distant dream. We all ain’t John Lennon after all!

Sales & Marketing!! Those were the only two words that made any sense in B-School. Hence, the choice was obvious when I had sat for placements. But, those were days of ignorance, as I now see. As most MBA grads with S&M as their preference would know, the most dreadful day in a Management Trainee’s life is the day when he/she gets his/her stint location. I still remember mine. All the MTs had been teasing each other with the idea of going to the location they most feared. Chennai for Northies & Punjab for Southies! And then the inevitable started. One after the other, the cards were unfolded and then the HR said those magical words, “Adarsh Sharma- Ubli, Karnataka” or thats what I heard. Turns out, the place is “H”ubli. Call me illiterate but that was the first time I had heard about the place! I don’t even remember what others were feeling at that time, I didn’t care! My life had been ruined, I had been send to the jungles of Karnataka L But I told myself, “There must be answer, Let it be!”

Turns out, things weren’t that bad afterall. Ya, I remember having made a few calls in order to find another job(the initial days) but eventually I settled in. The best part was not having a bad boss, as many other colleagues complained! The majority of the people could speak hindi, the non-availability of which had been amongst the biggest fears. I had also started enjoying the food and had even located a place that served fresh Aloo Paranthas! But still, something was wrong. Friends told me that this could just be the lack of company or common problems one faces in his first job. I just didn’t like the job!! All throughout I had known that I will have to do 2 years of sales (atleast), before the bliss of Marketing appeared and a halo appeared around my head!! I could have done that but for what?? Spending my entire day on a few excel sheets to see how I can reduce call rates and still retain customers? Bunkum! Copy the competitor’s plan and increase/decrease 5 paise/min! No offence to my buddies back there. The job has its own challenges, but it didn’t make any sense anymore. Also, what all we did in the name of sales was something my conscience didn’t allow me. I didn’t want to be a marketing guy who made products according to his (or his boss’) whims & fancies, and tell the Sales guys to sell it (By hook or by crook)!

So, the search began!! 

It took a few months and eventually I was lucky enough to have a couple of job offers in hand .While many thought that I gave up because of sales, I think it was a bit more complex. Probably I just couldn’t fit into the so called “corporate” culture. So, when a decent enough Consulting Company made me an offer, I politely refused.  Ya, the consultant through whom I cracked it started crying when I informed her about my decision! Apparently, it was the first job she had ever cracked. I actually felt sorry but I did what I had to do. So after 8 months of selling SIM cards,  I decided to join a Quick Service Restaurant Chain based out of Pune & Mumbai. The company is small (startup as many say) and I directly report to the CEO(makes it sound cool, doesn’t it :P )! While my mom still thinks that I have become a cook, all I do is sell food to feed myself. We have plans to become the biggest QSR Chain that India has ever produced, and why not! Right now I head South Mumbai operations and the next step will probably be heading/launching a new city. Suddenly, the timelines have shortened significantly! Gives some satisfaction at the end of the day J

Sometimes I Wish

Sometimes I wish I could fly away
To a place I don't know
For sometime I will stay
Then again Fly away

That place will be new
Like nothing seen before
That will be some view
That place will be new

Or it could be the same
Like just any other day
A rose by another name
It could be the same

But still I want to see
Crowds of people
Or mountains overlooking the sea
I still want to see

Sometimes I wish I could fly away
To a place I don't know
For sometime I will stay
Then again Fly away

When I hear a melody

When I hear a melody

I take my ear close

The beautiful rhythmic tone

Takes me into a zone

Its not something new

Something that has always been

Something we all love

And love we all do

When I hear a melody

I just close my eyes

Dive into the voice

Causes a different joy

We all love a song

When it talks of love

But ain't it the same

Melody,Love's other name

When I hear a melody

I just think of love

The beautiful rhythmic tone

Takes me into a zone

Something we all love

And love we all do

Moving On?? What moving on??

Its been 10 years since Gujarat Witnessed one of the most horrific and unfortunate carnage in the history of modern India. I have not used the word "Riot" as some claim that the violence was state sponsored and therefore, a massacre. The other side claims otherwise. 

Many years have gone by and we still don't know the truth and I fear we never will, Call me Pessimistic! Many people died back then, from all religions. Many were left homeless, again from no specific religion. Many commissions have been set up and a lot of different findings have come to light. While HIS supporters want to believe Mr. Raghavan, the detractors swear by Mr. Ramachandran. 

I have heard many a times that Narendra Modi is a polarizing figure and that you can either hate him or love him but you can't ignore him. Well, I don't think ignoring him is an option since all news channels are always busy advertising him-one way or the other. But, strangely I feel myself a bit neutral towards Mr. Modi. There is no denying that Gujarat has had unprecedented growth in the last 10 yrs but there is also no denying that the Chief Minister could have done better to the control the riot. So, I find it difficult to fit him in one bracket.

Today again, a court verdict seems to have given him a clean chit and thus the news channels are all on about him. The question they ask is, "Is it time to move on?" Well, the sad reality is that many have moved on and the others might never be able to. I still can't shed the tumultuous images of the madness on the streets of Gujarat from my mind. Many commentators have articulated that the 24*7 coverage of the riots have ensured that no riot will ever take place in India again as the concerned Government will not make the same mistakes it did 1984 or 1993 or 2002. I think that maybe right. But while the Coverage was a part of it, the media also became the de-facto judge by declaring Modi as the Villain. For years, almost every news channel in this country treated Modi as the only one to blame for the carnage.I can't claim that I understand the feelings of those who have suffered but my elementary knowledge of human psychology tells me that when those who suffered were literally "told" that Modi was responsible, they believed it! And when the same thing was hard bound after years of media trial, it became a "fact" for them. So no matter how many reports come, Modi will always be the villain for them, and they are not to be blamed for it. 

I don't think that Modi is 24 carat pure, oh No! But the fact remains that nothing substantial may ever surface against Modi but his treatment as "Maut ka saudagar" by the forth pillar of our democracy will never leave our minds. So, "moving on" is something they made sure will never happen!

Khwabon ki Udaan

Another attempt in Hindi (written in the English alphabet )

Khwabon ki udaan hai meri

Koi patang nahi jo kat jayegi

Hum to udte rahenge umar bhar

Lehrate, Lehrate

Jo kisi ne pech ladane ki koshish ki

Jo kisi ne haemin harane ki koshish ki

Uchayi aur badh jayegi

Ye zindagi ka safar ik udaan hi to

Ik tere saath ki zarurat hogi thodi

To jo kabhi main thak jayun

Ladte ladte ak jayun

Baith jayun

Tu mujhe uthana

Aur jo main na uthuun

To bas thoda sa muskurana

Khwabon ki udaan hai meri

Koi patang nahi jo kat jayegi