Together

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

“With Everyone” is part of the slogan for Modi's speeches and government, before and after the 2014 landslide election in India. Modi is quite good at promoting and also pushing his agenda. He simply emails, tweets, facebook or uses the social media for bringing attention to his election stump calls, and simply makes the statement through the social media that he has passed on the directive to the responsible bureaucrats to take actions necessary to help facilitate these actions. If someone who follows him regularly sees the actions that arise from each of his messages, it is clear that he does drive the massive and bloated administration to act on what he has said he will deliver.

A sample of his communications made public by the PM through social media “I have written to all banks to facilitate opening a bank account for every Indian” (the facebook post is similar to this and may not be exact lines) but makes the point that he is simply emailing the responsible parties to make sure that they take appropriate actions to see that every Indian has a bank account. It is a very appropriate and practical public initiative to make sure everyone has a bank account, and also the banks help people to establish an account. Even if every Indian saves a few bucks every month, it will amount to a great deal of wealth in quick time. The national savings are almost all in gold and silver as only the very rich have money in excess of their needs in a mostly middle and lower income democracy, where savings are rare and even if the families want to they stay away from the banking process. By having everyone open and maintain a bank account, it will start a process of savings for everyone, and a very few pennies every once in a while will make the country start planning for future in one more way, other than in just gold. Adding real cash savings to gold, silver and precious metals and land and real estate will help the country to better manage and plan for a better future. The old saying that even the poorest Indian has a few grams of gold, we can add on a savings account to all Indians and each of them can start saving a few bucks as often as they can and add real money to gold.

While the push to save more and more in the country has always been in the forefront of national building, the exercise to make the people, banks and the process move forward and gently pushing the authorities and using social media to promote the savings account for every Indian is another master stroke from the PM. Put gentle pressure on the banks and also the people, and push them to open accounts and save. What is also an apparent plan is to have the banks and financial institutions have the cash resources for them to continue to invest in the national building and national infrastructure with the nations own wealth, rather than borrowing and foreign investment. I am not even sure of if the economists and financial planning teams of the PM's office have thought through this beyond encouraging everyone to have bank accounts and everyone to save as much as they can, the future of the money managers and available resources for new development with indigenous resources. If they have thought through this and are actively encouraging people and the institutions to get on with the process of account opening and nation building; it is no less a master stroke than cleaning up the river Ganges

A nation which distrusts the institutions and politicians without hesitation due to their experience with the truth of watching them in action for more than three generations of independence from the British in 1947, it will be difficult to trust the new mantra for savings and national building. The first few months of the new government has been trying to work their poll promises into the government agenda, and with the plan to clean the Ganges, the banking for everyone is a positive and progressive step. The country needs self management and cleanliness in the forefront of any development, and these steps are a clear direction towards a India First theme, and for this government and all subsequent governments to come, the nation and its people should be first.

Smart Country

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

We just had another grand celebration of Indian Independence day on 15^th of August and the celebrations of Indian's independence of 2014 is once again celebrated with pomp and circumstance around the world. With more and more wealth in the Indian community across the world along with the ever expanding NRI population, it so seems fitting we remember the country's freedom struggle and it being freed of the British in 1947. It has been three generations or a bit more since the British stopped using Hindustan and breaking it into pieces, and left the nation more divided than whatever it was, and the nastiness of divide and rule and caustic and religious intolerance; all of which continue to be fostered by the nations that was once a great nation with great expanse.

While we continue to want to celebrate the leaving of British on 15^th of August of every year since 1947, we have forgotten how smart the country was prior to the occupation by foreign invaders, and the division of the great country for centuries. For in fact some of the politicians of today keep referring to themselves as people who have been occupied by the Indians, rather than looking back at the division of the great nation for centuries of occupation and abuse by the invaders. Perhaps every politician who would like to represent Indians should be thoroughly tutored in the history and traditions of the nation, and that might help them from mouthing off on who they are and where they come from.

The mantra in the speeches of the Prime Minister since the victory in the latest general elections and even prior to the elections the development of smart cities in every state of India. Also the word development is used and continued to be used with such regularity, it is more than redundant to hear this repeated constantly. Your elected representatives are given a chance to represent a smart country, and the smart people of India are quite politically savvy and are quite smart in looking forward to their future. It is a country that is very large, very diverse and very smart; and always looking forward to the future. A country of believers in god, faith and destiny; and also a country of people who are smart in picking and choosing a government every five years based on their belief in future. The country remains democratic in principal and optimistic in nature, and it is already a very forward looking and smart nation.

The diversity of India requires smart planning as the issues that face the nation are as diverse as its population is, and requires smart politicians who envision the needs of the great nation and it people. No doubt that building infrastructure to meet the needs of the Indians is important and planning well ahead into the future to meet those ever expanding needs, but the politically intelligent population of the country will always look for the leaders to keep their promises made while looking for votes. The speeches made to bring voters to the polling booths, are typically in line with the aspirations of the nation, and delivering them to the electorate and only by delivering to the poll promises the democracy will allow the political parties to continue in power.

The value of being a smart nation is really making do with the resources we have, and managing to the best with what is available. Building cities that are self sufficient, energy and resources smart, forward looking in education and employment and also provide safety to all citizens is important for the country and its people. We also need smart planning in agriculture, rivers, human resources and natural resources all along with people management, and we should start to do what we plan quickly. Just talking about them is not going to help, implementation of these plans and doing them quickly will help the nation to remain smart and forward looking. There is no question of the magnitude of the issues to be resolved and the implementation of plans to meet those needs of the nation. A smart country will get started on implementation and stop talking about the ideas of the last 60 some years. We are a smart country and we know that the time to talk is over and time to do is here. With each election cycle and each elected government we hear the rhetoric of what can be done with the nation, and we only see the degradation of a smart country, rather than development to meet the needs of its people. It is now time to get smart in doing things that are made in speeches and on paper, and say we are smart people that realize that we don't want to waste any more time talking, but we get smart and start doing.

Open Mike Syndrome

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

The constant media attention to grab headlines from every politician has become a laughing circus rather than newsworthy reporting. A lot of TV channels all vying for eye balls are doing whatever they can to attract more people to tune in, and the extent to which they are going to get a few minutes of attention has been driving the politicians to grab any mike they can and blurt out seemingly intelligent verbiage which almost all times becomes statements made without any intelligence or information. The words are dramatic in impact as they often make people respond with gasps, and often wonder what are these people saying and why are these people representing general public.

How did they get there to represent a democracy, and what is that they have in their gray matter that makes them constantly say outrageous and often misstating the facts, all the time pretending to be authority on the matters that are of great importance to the nation. Some of these folks are so far off they will out right make statements that they believe that are factual, without any background information to even verify the matter of fact. The public themselves are also very gullible and tuning into these elected representatives, start to believe the atrocious details being fed to them as facts, as often times the voters themselves are quite removed from the reality of what is fact verses fiction.

India does have a very media and communications savvy prime minister leading the nation. Modi is a master of managing his communications and his public and personal profile, he personally updates and communicates just about every aspect of not just his administrative decisions and undertakings, but also personal meetings and events on a regular basis and almost everyone following can share the moment of decision making or a personal story with the head of the Indian government, and even before assuming the PM office in India, he was an excellent media manager and excellent communicator with the general public. Weather you like it or not, the skill to communicate with a billion people is not simple, and the audience is so large and so complex, it is almost impossible to say something stupid and get away with it. Once you have said it, whatever it is is out there and recorded for posterity. The problem with posterity is that typically we want to be remembered for something good or something that helps future generations or words of wisdom, not some dumb comments that are absolutely nonsensical.

Many of our elected officials are educated, some with degrees that have value. For some reason they seem to be in a cocoon and not aware of the facts of life and also the history of the nation and its people. Although a seemingly intelligent statement might have great sound bites, it can be totally inaccurate and come back to bite you in the back. Since the division of AP and also the new party in Delhi, our politicians have constantly getting the open mike syndrome, and getting caught for blabbering nonsense. The latest is one to make outrageous comments on Hyderabad and Kashmir. While it provides no practical purpose to make outrageous utterances, it might have felt the few minutes of open mike was providing a platform for national audience, but it has become a national disgrace. What can be achieved by making statements that are against the interest of the nation? Nothing really, except people starting to look at the person with disdain. It also deeply divides the people and their sentiments towards each other. No one gains by divisive and ignorant statements, except that they build mistrust and misunderstanding in people, and further divide already conflicting minds of folks who look up to their leaders.

India is a country of great contradictions and also great diversity. The greater Hindustan is a case study that will take many life times to research and study, and it still will continue to yield treasures of history that has no parallel. Though many centuries of occupation and abuse and eventual independence in 1947, along with breaking the country prior to the newly independent India, which was no longer Hindustan, the country has survived with the constant internal conflicts and external pressures. With more than a billion people in 2014, it needs a vision for caring or its people and a future for the young ones. The country doesn't need politicians who have no appreciation for the integrity of the country and the importance of the republic. With open mike's all over it is difficult to stop anyone from making any statement they choose to, but we can better choose who should represent us. The only way the country can weed such people out of the electoral system is by education for everyone and appreciation for its history and integrity.

Indians First

vasureddy@aol.com

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

The abstaining of ratification of the WTO trade talks by Indian government is not brazen nor against the global trade initiatives. The new government under Narendra Modi simply said India and Indian first, and then only they will ratify any agreements that leads to betterment of trade options. The current government's involvement with the agreement is limited as they just got into power at the center and had little inputs into the agreements prior to its taking office. Although power is handed from one government to the next is seamless in India, the objectives of the government in power can be distinctly different. The current government refraining from the ratification of the WTO agreements with a simple objective of India and Indians first is commendable. While it sounds absurd to hold off on ratification of a WTO initiative that has just about every nation on the band wagon, India holding off with the stated objective of India's grain safety as the primary concern for it's holding off on signing on to the global agreement.

The rest of the developed world (the definition of developed is simply industrialized) is raising alarm about India not signing up to the WTO agreement, there is not a whole lot of opposition from Indians and also several heavily populated nations. Was this an expected argument by the USA and others who want India to sign up to the agreement? The answer is perhaps yes, if the Congress lead government came back into power for the third straight term in India. The Modi lead government has not had a lot of time to make major international advances and although its stated objectives in the election manifesto are clear, the WTO agreement might not have been high on its getting elected manifesto, and if today the Modi government simply asks for more time to think about the implications of signing up to a WTO agreement, and also states Indians first; there is no doubt that the countrymen will have to agree and embrace the objectives of such decision by the government.

For the global audience the news simply will relay that Modi has decided not to sign the WTO agreement, and this essentially kills the entire effort of a trillion dollar agreement for countries that are under the agreement. For whatever it is worth the trillion dollar deal will typically benefit the developed nation, and the yet to develop nations typically bear the brunt of the demand for dollars on their economies.

The abstaining of the agreement at this stage will disappoint the major players, no doubt will leave the WTO itself in self doubt. Can they do it without India, yes then can, but the size of India’s population certainly matters to the rest of the world. They can still go ahead and ratify the WTO agreement, and wait for India to join them as India feels appropriate. There is definitely important for the entire association of countries, including India to agree to the current framework, and without India signing on to the agreement, it falls apart.

Just a couple of weeks ago BRICS countries agreement a bank with equal partnership between the five nations. The formation of such bank covers almost 2/3 of the global population and the interest of those people. The immediate word from the rest of the countries outside of BRICS nations was that the role of world bank essentially gets eliminated with the formation of BRICS bank. Two basic issues to the address on the formation of BRICS bank and possibility of elimination of world bank or its role with developing nations.

1. Formation of BRICS bank addresses the needs of the member countries and their specific developmental needs. The five countries essential with almost 2/3 of the global population will have direct and unbiased involvement with their own investment and development needs.
2. World bank in current style of function serves as a conduit for developed nations with certainly specific agenda to push their aspirations and management in controlling the activities of the bank. The big brother syndrome exists in functioning of the world bank and the nations that controlling the funding and management certainly want the beneficiary countries to tow their line; politically and philosophically.

WTO and World Bank were found with noble intentions of helping with trade and banking to the needy and help developing countries compete and trade efficiently and effectively with the rest of the world. Their style of functioning and work across the world is commendable and has yielded positive results to millions of people. While the original intentions of both WTO and WB are noble and humanitarian, the developed nations which contributed to the majority of funding to run these organizations also continue to want to influence their agenda on receiving nations. It is expected that the investments were being made to open markets for their goods and services and also push political agendas. From the 1900 through the two world wars, and the communist rule, the formation of the WB and ATO along with UNO was a well timed and well advised enterprise to handle the global situation at the time and the needs of that time.

It is perhaps the time to rethink about the global needs and how to cater to the demands of a population that is exponentially larger and the Geo political issues exponentially complex in today's world. There will always be a need for maintaining peace, fostering trade and lending a helping hand, it simply is time for rethinking how to handle it. At the same time Modi's government taking the stance of Indians first is also commendable.

Holidays

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

It is the middle of summer, and it has been a mild one in Chicago. We had a great winter and a pretty good spring, and the summer is going pretty good so far. Things are sort of normal for those of us living here and there is no excitement beyond the normal summer stuff around here. The taste of Chicago (although canceled for one day), lake shore and beaches of Chicago, the many museums and the tall buildings (except a small break in one of the sky deck viewing windows) and many of the normal activities of the city are just about normal as is the weather and forecast for the rest of the summer. This city is wonderful and just about predictable for its seasonal changes, although the weather forecasters keep saying that things can change very quickly in Chicago, they simply mean that the weather can change quite dramatically in the windy city. As predictable as the city and its inhabitants are and as unpredictable the weather patterns of the city are, everything else is quite the same year over year. Outside of the gangs of Chicago, the rest of the folks are quite domesticated and have very little action outside of an occasional traffic ticket. We the people of greater Chicago and its suburbs are quite far away from any real action that the rest of the world is experiencing in the summer of 2014.

The kids have been home for the summer holidays and they still have about a month or so before they begin the next school year. Life is boring for them even if they are not busy for a few minutes, and finding activities for them through the summer is as difficult as one can possibly imagine. All things said and written the summer it self is just the same as other summers here, and will be an uneventful one for 2014.

The rest of the world seems to be in turmoil, specially the middle east is in constant state of tensions. The children seem to be caught in the cross fire of people waring against each other and most times with their own folks. The news is graphic and constantly showing the images of battles and carnage, and summer of 2014 for the children in the war (not sure of these are war zones, but lack of better phrase) seem to be caught without their summer activities for the year. No one is giving them a break for the year to enjoy the street games and ice cream and the beaches and parks. Their adults seem to be in a state of war and no one is bothered about schools or holidays. It just is incredibly sad to see them miss out the whole summer without just hanging out with their friends and families.

It is just not the children but their folks are also missing out the activities of summer of 2014. There is no end to the running away from carnage, and no one seem to care about learning and fun for the young ones. Hey guys what about the children? I am sure everything people are fighting for is for a reason they believe in, but hey folks its the kids we work, live and die for, and we have forgotten that they are missing out on being children and whatever you aspire for yourselves is not really looking at the little ones and their future. You are really taking away the fun from the young ones and along with them their families also are missing out the fun of being parents, grand parents and brothers and sisters and cousins and friends; and a whole lot more. If the little ones are not able to have fun and enjoy the summer, then what ever that their countries are aspiring for is for no reason or no cause. The little ones are our future and whatever we do is for them, and looking at their faces should make us realize their aspirations.

We know that religion and traditions are a part and parcel of life, but children should come first while we observe the age old traditions. If not for them there is no need to aspire for Utopia. While life is just about normal in Chicago, we also have to look at the folks around the world and hope they have a just about normal summer, specially the little ones enjoying the fun of being little ones. Here is to world peace. Have great summer of 2014 everyone.

World at War

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

Lost airplane still lost, and hundreds of millions spent on finding the cause and location of a massive 777 jet still did not yield any clues and hundreds of people missing and thousands of relatives grieving and lost for words and thoughts on what ever happened to their near and dear ones, and absolutely no answers to any of the screams for information. Another plane shot down and again hundreds of people lost their life for simply being on another big jet and looking forward to their destination, and once again thousands of relatives grieving and lost for words and thoughts on what ever happened to their near and dear ones, and absolutely no answers to any of the screams for information. This time the bodies are found and the remains of the plane, people and their belongings found on land and shown no respect for the dead, and the countries fight for simply allowing access to the field of destruction. Once again the world is up in arms and everyone from the presidents to common man screaming and yelling for respect for the dead; all in deaf ears.

Although the same airplane make and model, and belonging to the same airlines; the incidents are very much dissimilar, but the loss of life and the actions that lead to the disappearance of the plane or shooting down of the plane are similar in loss of innocent life and great and long lasting grief that is bestowed on the people of the world in incredible and immeasurable. Everyone who travels now will have to worry about what will happen next and how will they be safe guarded?

The value for life has become nothing. People just want to kill for a cause they believe in, but simply ignoring that they will never be able to replace the life they are taking, and no one can bring the dead back to life, and no one comfort the loss of a near and dear one. Everyone have a reason to fight for, but no one has a way to save a life of innocents who have nothing to do with the cause; they are simply humans and in the line of fire for someone's cause.

Everywhere we have tragic and man made crisis; the US border and its inflow of young children without their adults trying to get into the USA for escaping their national issues, simply drugs and gangs and fighting. USA simply unable to handle the influx of new and very young people who all of a sudden are in the middle of nowhere and in the middle of a political and human battle field which they want to try and escape, but have made another country a place which is not as welcoming as they first started out thinking, it has its own limitations and its own issues to deal with and is unprepared to take in tens of thousands of little ones. A human tsunami and a human tragedy of great proportions where the answer is not just with the USA, but with entire south American nations which are simply throwing these young ones and their families to turn them away from their own homes.

We have quickly forgotten that hundreds of young girls were abducted from their school in Nigeria and no one has kept their disappearance on the front page anymore. We are simply moving on from one human tragedy to another and the world constantly is grieving one human tragedy after the other.

Syria, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, North Korea and much of the older Russian federation countries and so many others in internal turmoil and no end to the conflict and the killing. Not forgetting Israel and Palestine conflict that has gone on for generations, and still no chance for peace for the little countries. We have no way for even listing the conflict zones in the world and tracking who is killing whom and why, except for human belief. The whole world is either trying to fight itself or trying to dissuade the fighters. There is no limit to the killing and burials but only new reasons being thrown at the world for continued killing. The world wars of 1900's although still fresh in the memory of people, the current wars of killing by far exceed the cruelty of the world wars and the end of the current conflicts seem to get broader and broader, rather than leading to solutions. In reality there must be problems to find solutions and the current killing spree is really a problem that is without solution as people don't want to find common ground and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Just imagine the loss of life and property that is being destroyed daily, and what could be done to betterment of life for all humans if these resources are diverted to betterment of all humanity. No one is thinking of peace, and everyone is simply wanting to destroy whatever they can so the news for a few minutes will capture the loss of life and destruction of environment. There is no need for world war 3, as we are already in the war of the world and this time there is no reason for the war and as there is no reason there is also no end in sight for the war.

Chanting Development

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

Since the election season began in India, Modi and his fellow campaigners constantly used and after getting elected to the highest office still continue to use the word development as if it is a mantra they chant constantly. The word development is being used so commonly and generously, it has become the constant in every utterance by the PM and his team of ministers and supporters. We certainly like to hear the word development in every part of the world and every aspect of life. There is no question that in every country and every society continued development is a natural requirement to keep people happy and forward looking. It is also commendable that Indians believed in Narendra Modi's promise of development for all in India, and voted him and his party in absolute majority to run the nation for the next five years and there is no doubt that Modi and his team are looking at all angles to make every effort to promote and implement the development of the nation.

Granted that we have been in the first couple of months of administration for this government, the word development is being used so much and constantly, it is hard to imagine if it is even necessary to be told to people, as people of India have already voted for the development and they are waiting for the actions leading to new development. While the government is new and the time to start and implement programs in India (and everywhere else in the world) require time to move forward, it is also time to work on projects and programs that have been promised at the time of elections, and stop the per-poll mantra of development. People are waiting and looking forward everyday to see the promise of a better tomorrow, and each day simply turn into yesterday, and they don't need to hear the same tunes, but need to see the actions.

The new tax plans, smaller budget deficit (although still a deficit which gets added on to the already existing burden of previous decades of deficits), strong voice of the leaders on promise of better management, pro-industry and pro-labor practices, above all the support of the people of the country to the government, believing in the promise of better days in the horizon; all of them are of great help to the leaders. When the country believes that better days are in the forecast, it is like a great monsoon and great season for agriculture, which come one after the other.

The resources of India and the demands of India might not be in proportion. But if the government has the promise of better management, attracting investments will be simply equated to a global enterprise which is managed well, and wanting to grow, and will definitely attract people who want to invest in the promise of participating in the rewards of massive markets and massive benefits of the well managed enterprise. Modi's government essentially promises a massive enterprise that will be managed well and the investors well rewarded for being a part of the enterprise. While making India itself a enterprise that is run like a business might not evoke positive thoughts amongst all people of a democracy, essentially Modi's government has promised to deliver a well managed country where all participating folks will be well rewarded and well treated. The team Modi has put together also represents a management team rather than just a team of politicians. No question that they are all seasoned politicians, but their public outlook for the short period in the office along with the chief (Modi) is towards management and development. While the politicians will continue to be just that politicians, the new government's Development mantra certainly will need new outlook and new style of management. What we will see in the coming months and years, we can only wait for, but envisioning the future which is vastly different from the previous five year planning for Indian government's, the Indian business engine must work efficiently, be managed with utter care and also take into the needs of more than a billion. It is a challenge that should now go from the rhetoric of development to the implementation of a great business plan that can be viewed and reviewed by everyone, and hopefully bring benefit to all Indians.

Democracy – OMG

Vasu Reddy from Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The world loves the word democratic. It is the most widely used word in political rhetoric and the most commonly abused word in English language. We love the word democracy, and we mean everyone on earth really want to be in a democratic society It simply implies that democratic rule gives freedom of expression to people. The global population has been typically classified as democratic and autocratic rule, and for as long as people were given a choice they have mostly chosen democratic rule.

India; the largest democracy currently in the world, despite its constant bickering and scams survives as a democratic enterprise. No amount of politicking and no amount of public displeasure, and whatever people in power partake, India continues to be democratic and people thrive on the country being democratic and the freedom to choose its leaders. This doesn't imply that we choose the best possible alternatives for our nation since the British left India in 1947. In the recent general election the BJP won absolute majority in the parliament and the government under Narendra Modi as the prime minister has shown some promise of taking up the issues that are of importance to the country and its people. In the very short time he has been in the office, Modi by himself has also demonstrated that he is willing to listen and work for the betterment of processes in New Delhi. My most endearing things of his short time in office are; early to work and late to leave for the head man, and all others will have to follow the leader. Just imagine Indian bureaucracy starting to work at 9 in the morning and working all day long with lunch at the desk. This it self will make a common man smile, as the babus are so far from having the office hours of a common man, and with Modi leading by example of early to work and stay late and finish the work, the rest of the clan have no choice but to follow the leader. Form the time we got independence from the British until now, the culture of minimal effort for the first time, is being driven by a single man's time sense of maximum effort every day, and this leader works seven days a week. For a country with such massive work load, it probably is time for the decision makers to show up on time and work till they get things done. The inference here may not be very democratic for the babus who have to move the files along, but the democratic enterprise of Narendra Modi certainly put the pressure of performance on the guys who run the massive democracy.

The country also has a chance for some radical changes to its thinking and working. The years of nepotism and fiefdom will now be limited or viewed with a magnifying glass as Modi himself has no strings attached personally, and politically he is untouchable for next five years. Perhaps now the democratic process of best man for the job will come into play with the government decision process. It is no saying that just Modi himself can turn the entire country into a haven for people and people's agenda, but certainly his attitude and his much used word of development, will certainly be more robust under his time compared to the previous regimes. It is simply democratic to let the people's issues come first and then people's issues come also last. Modi's magic with words can be translated into action by the current government, and then the true meaning of a democratic country and a democratic enterprise will come into shape.

There is no guarantee that we will see a 100% shift in focus to people first agenda by the Indian nation and its politicians, but even a shift from nepotism to country first will make a drastic difference to the much needed improvement in common man's agenda in India. With the early signs of the decision making my the Modi government seem to take simple steps in making meaningful decisions to the overall well being of the nation. Democratically elected government with a leader with no personal agenda but the development of the nation, should make a turn for the betterment of the general public of India.

Football

Vasu Reddy From Chicago

vasureddy@aol.com

World cup 2014 soccer in Brazil is entering quarter finals and has been keeping the world glued to the television and radio and also the internet for a few weeks now and should go on for another couple of weeks. As incredible as it sounds this tournament may have a billion viewers or more and only increasing by the day. As of last night when Mexico lost and was out of the tournament, you did not find a single Mexican venturing out on a hot Sunday evening in Chicago. The country lost and most of the fun loving and beer drinking guys were really quiet, and not their usual merry fellows on the weekend. I would not find fault with them as football is really a simple and very competitive game. You have to love the game as it only needs a football and open space (may be not even open space according to a television commercial by McDonald’s), and the game is on. Guys kick the ball all around and run and run, until they are exhausted and there is still no score. Its a simple game and probably the most inexpensive of all sports, which only requires heart and speed to kick the ball around. It truly is a global game and the spirit shown in the 2014 world cup is a testament to the spirit of the world and the spirit of the game of football. Although the Americans as of today are still in the game, they are not odds of favorites to win the world cup, far from being the favorites. Nevertheless the spirit of football is all over the USA and everyone is rooting for the team here.

The game it self is quite simple to understand and the rules are uncomplicated to follow the game. Players don't need anything but shoes and a ball to kick, and the that’s all there is to the real game of football. It is difficult to sit through the entire game as the guys are simply running and running and dribbling the ball, and only once in a while they get a chance to take a shot at the goal and typically the scores are quite low, and even no score in the competitive matches. The field is long and the players need to be in great condition to keep ruining and running throughout the game. The fans are uncomplicated, they simply love their teams and the game. They root constantly and even the commentators simply keep blabbering, except for the occasional shout “GOAL”. All said and the done the beauty of the game is just that it is simple and uncomplicated, and the world loves it.

The following of the country teams and also the local and professional clubs is phenomenal and unmatched in any other sport. The Americans display a lot of support for all their sport teams, but nothing comes close to the support for the football teams, specially the national teams and when the stage is the world cup. It is a spectacle unmatched by any other vent in sports, perhaps any other event; period.

USA has another game to today, and if they win tomorrow and a few more to win before the final and if they win the final, I am sure there will be a celebration that will be the mother of all celebrations. I am not betting on the USA to win at this stage, or probably at no stage. The punters are fully busy, and the betting is being done in hundreds of millions of dollars. Wherever the fans and teams are, there are also gamblers who go along for just the betting, and world cup soccer is probably one of the biggest betting stage on earth. Whatever the final outcome, the game is going to keep the world glued to the television for a whole month, and all other news is secondary for the duration of the tournament, and this time it is the beautiful Brazil, which is a country which is just beautiful by itself, and also a country that has a chance to win the world cup. No matter who wins and what will be the final outcome, the game will keep the world smiling and happy for its duration, not just because of its simplicity but also for the love of it, the whole world loves the game, and it is truly a spectacle to watch and enjoy.

Bitter Medicine

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

Just about a month into the new government in New Delhi, they had to increase the rail charges with the notification that the charges are needed to fix the balance of payments. The opposition and the general public immediately cried foul and want them reversed, and both the increase in fares and the outcry are absolutes in our society. The opposition outcry on the price increases and the demands to withdraw are almost certain in any democratic society as they attract voters sympathy to the parties demanding the repeal of the price increases, but here what good will it do as the party in power has almost five more years to present its case to the public next time they need to ask for votes. Five years of power in absolute majority is a life time, and the hard decisions to increase prices will be long forgotten if the public sees the benefit and utility of the pricing plans.

It is impossible to keep things static while we have exponential growth in population which demands huge increases in services and benefits. Everyone knows that they are demanding something that the population as a whole must bear the burden. There is no doubt in democratic countries looking at meeting the demands of the general public, and only way is to make sure that the balance of payments; revenues and costs are a match. In most of the global democracies, the revenues are typically falling short of the cost of managing the countries, and no one single country which has a large population is immune to the budget deficits. The gap between revenues and spending gets bigger and bigger in in the case of the good old USA, it is more than ten trillion dollars (just imagine how many zeros after one is a trillion dollars) and even in the USA, people constantly bitch about any talk of paying for the benefits, but constantly demand more and more services. Democracies at work, which argue about the management of the country, and rightfully so, but no one want to balance a budget.

India is a wild child with not yearly plans, but developing five year plans. I have a personal story which is from sometime in the 1990's when I attended a financial planning program conducted by Dr. Mike Kami, and he used the GAP analysis for budgeting in India in Nehru's government. GAP is simply the difference between revenues and expenditures, and in India's case each five year plan, would have a GAP, and the Indians never accounted for the old plan's GAP, but simply developed a new five year plan, without including the deficit for the past into developing the new five year plan. Just imagine if Nehruvian policies are constantly applied what could be the real GAP in Indian budgeting? I have no idea if India continues to do this in the current planning, and if they do we would have by far exceeded the costs by any revenues we might be generating in current day. After all these years I still remember Dr. Kami and the example of GAP analysis in Nehru's time.

Modi government definitely will have a good deal of time before they have to hit the road again and ask for votes. Modi has come out and already stated that some of the decisions that the government will have to take, and will take will be bitter medicine, which will turn out to be for the good of the country, and he will certainly bring his policies and positions back to the people in five years, and he is also certain that they will not only benefit from the decision being taken by the new government but people will appreciate these difficult decisions but will also appreciate them and will vote his party back into power. Probably wise political moves n early stages of the new government as these decisions are warranted to meet the demands of the ever increasing population, and if they are close to meeting the demands of the people, they would only remember the benefits of the infrastructure, rather than a five year old price increase.

Utilizing the public resources well, avoiding duplication and stagnancy in decision making, and avoiding looting of the public property will go a long way in handling the national budgets and demands, and also the value of good management will certainly show in the overall economic growth of the nation. Modi who is still quite new in the office is pushing hard to bring the work culture to work hard, and make decisions to positively impact the public needs; and if he continues to do what he says, we should see a better management of India budgets, and perhaps eliminate the age old GAP of Indian financial planning. The bitter medicine might be the cure of age old problem of Five Year Planning that never accounted for the history of poor financial planning of the country.

Did People Of India Forget Bharath Mata?

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

“India can be a dangerous place to be a girl” screams a headline on the internet. What is going on with our people? Everyday we read and hear of atrocities committed by mobs against women; mass rapes and then killing them. The killings are beyond comprehension on small child girls, who were never given a chance of growing up to be women, and then brutally killed. The news headlines are full of these unbelievable atrocities committed by groups of hooligans and there seems to be no end to the rapes followed by murder against the youngest of the girls. There is simply outcry in the media and no one seem to follow through with the capital punishment to the rouges who are constantly indulging in satanic attitude towards our own children.

Mother, Sister, Daughter; no one seems to be spared in the eyes of the hooligans. Just find a women alone and then simply abuse them. Irrespective of the capital city or small town or village or wherever the women folks go they are being subjected to the inhuman behavior of the men of the country, and when the atrocities are inflicted on the women, they are either killed or subjected to life long harassment by the society. For a nation of more than a billion, and democratic we are a nation of imbeciles and idiots who continue to either engage in atrocious behavior or live with such idiotic attitude towards our own women. We claim a lot of things such as largest democracy, blah, blah, blah. We can't claim a safe place for our own women, some crappy society that tolerates rape and murder of women.

These atrocities have become common and everyday happenings in India. They are publicized more than any government programs or business accomplishments and sensationalized in every form of the media in India and latched on by the foreign press and receive a great deal of coverage for a couple of days and then people move on with life. No one knows what happened to the rapists and killers, we already know they killed helpless women, but no one knows what happened to the criminals. There is absolutely no follow-up for what has been done to those who committed the most heinous crimes, just that they are publicized as if they have done something of national importance. None of their crimes are followed-up until the punishment is meted out to them, and then how they were punished publicized, so people know that there are consequences for rape and murder. There is nothing that shows what has been done these criminals, and nothing done to either prohibit or dis-entice future harassment of women.

There are no immediate recommendations to the national evil and harassment of women. Just punish and hanging the rapists may simply not change the inbred attitude towards the women folks. The media coverage to the extreme on each of these reported incidents only stops at displaying the plight of the deceased, rather than what will happen to the rapist. Crime and punishment, should be a part and parcel of the largest democratic country. The country also must start with providing the dignity of women in every aspect of life, not just show case a few areas of importance and excellence. Each and every women must be accorded the safety and security that is demanded in a democratic society, along with the capital punishment to anyone intruding into their modesty. Life is quite simple when everyone is accorded same safety, security and respect, and the men of India need to accord the same to every women that they extend to their own mother, sister, daughter and wife, then only these atrocities will start to become back page material and stop being front page news. We can never have a perfect society, but we don't have to have our women live in fear of the society. There many are simple ways to stop and also deter the abuse, and the government and the public should start taking steps to stop the atrocities against women. We first start with according the same respect to all women that we do to our own, although this is a broad statement assuming all men are respectful to their own families. The government and civic organizations make efforts to provide sanitation and public facilities where women will not be subjected to exposure at anytime to unsavory characters in the society. Crime and punishment that it demands and making sure each incident is followed-up through its entirety, and not just publicize the rape and just sensationalize the incident and nothing after that. Government can certainly take the steps to better facilities, education, communications and infrastructure, along with legal remedies to handle atrocities against women. May be we should all begin with respect to our own first, and smile and appreciate every mother, sister and daughter, it will be a start to a better Bharath.

Master Stroke – Maa Ganga

vasureddy@aol.com
Vasu Reddy From Chicago

The new government in India is a couple of weeks old, and has been taking some bold decisions quickly, and intelligently. One has to wonder why the Indian politicians did not think of the issue before, and why was this issue ignored for so long on such an important part of Indian life which has been sacred form the beginning of life. Congress has represented the state of UP for generations and Nehru's have great affinity to Allahabad, but still they could not push for a free flowing, clean and prosperous Ganga, but here is Narendra Modi and his cabinet drawing a gigantic plan for not just a clean Ganga, but also a prosperous one. Master stroke number One for Modi's government and governance.

No river is as sacred and holy as Ganga for Hindus, and it is for ever been a pathway to salvation for the people of Hindustan. It has been abused and used but continues to flow and continues to provide the divine salvation for millions of people. One dip in the holy river washes away the mortal sins of people, as it continues to be the belief of Hindus. No matter how people look at the great river, it is majestic and magnanimous despite the constant dumping and pollution. It is probably the greatest river on earth in human devotion and holiness.

The river for centuries has been abused and has began to show the effects of human intolerance and human greed, although it still continues to be majestic and still a major source of life to hundreds of millions of Indians. From the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal for hundreds of miles and millions and millions of people it is truly a mother which gives with love. We have constantly abused the river (as we do with everything else) and irrespective of how majestic the Ganga is, it has started to show the impact of human waste and human greed.

Narendra Modi won the Varanasi MP seat along with Baroda, but has retained the Kasi platform as his choice of electorate. A wonderful and wise gesture to the heartland of Hindus and the great significance of Maa Ganga the river and also the city of Benares. He has always campaigned to the theme of Maa Ganga and his commitment to make it vibrant and virtuous as it has always been and bring the river back to its past glory. The announcement on making Ganga go back to its past glory, become clean and prosperous is a master stroke for the life of this government and his governance. There is no bigger joy for Hindustan to see Ganga preserved and revered for generations to come, so that the glory of the river and the glory of its banks and the importance of the great Indian cities that have been a part of the river banks can be forever be glorified and revered.

There is always a cost of managing massive enterprises and a clean Ganga will be as massive an enterprise as it comes. The cost of clean Ganga is never measured in money, as the river supports lives of hundreds of millions of people along its way from Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. If you place the human value on the top of the religious significance of the great river, no amount of money can be spent of keeping the river clean and full of life and flowing through the vast expanse of the nation. Here again Modi's government will use the national support and national importance to rebuild and bring back the glory of the past. Every Indian will be happy to help do a little bit or a lot in helping with the clean Ganga project. The companies both big and small will come forward to help develop and help improve the environment in and around the majestic river, and there will be no dearth of support for the rebuilding of the river in the country and in the world. Since the time the government has announced the plan to revitalize the river, there has been nothing but praise and support for the massive undertaking, and the spirit of the nation is already well behind the well being of the river.

Why has any other Indian government to date placed importance to the most scared of the Indian Rivers? We can only think that they must have thought of the issues, but they did not take it as a priority number one as this government did. Massive plans for religious platforms, and tourist development, and commercial planning, and power generation, all along with a clean river is a wonderful master stroke for the new government. There is nothing to stop the nation from doing this and anything else it aspires to do, and starting off with the Ganga project is nothing but an endearing plan for the nation. Jai Hind.

Five Year Plan

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The new BJP government has a five year tenure and should have the ability to set the agenda and also drive the agenda for India. It has the votes needed and power to plan and deliver to whatever plans that it can develop and already has developed. It is only the second week of the new government, but a lot of discussion on every available medium that covers India (including yours truly) has optimistic opinions on what Narendra Modi will drive in his tenure as the PM of India.

Just by judging from the reactions of the Pakistanis, it is apparent that Modi has started to drive home his agenda, and they don't like the developments and all of a sudden a democratically elected PM of Pakistan looks like a school boy. Modi must be doing something right to get the attention his is, and not just Pakistanis, but other international media seem to have very optimistic opinions on what he might do in his tenure as the head man of India. I do too, along with all my friends and colleagues who want a better managed India. He certainly has the people's backing and support to do something extraordinary for the massive democracy, and he keeps stating and restating the obvious; development.

India certainly needs development in every aspect. Not just with building infrastructure, and education and jobs and taking care of poor and providing sanitation facilities and cleaning the rivers, and attending to the diverse needs needs of the people and the vast variations in requirements of people and process. It is a massive undertaking, and Modi is the right man for the job. He has no interest in money and he has no worldly affiliations except a couple of suitcases, but has a lot of people believing in what he can do, and overall they are ready to receive the benefits of the mandate given to him. It is no small task to handle the varying interests and requirements, but the new PM seems to be taking them in stride and working on what he said while he was asking for the votes. The difficulty for him is not just the size of the population and their needs, but the entrenched attitude to scams, bribes, looting and dishonesty disparity in the society and with life in general. Indians want someone else to do it and will always want the other person to do things (specially good deeds) rather than they taking the initiative (This is critical of my own folks but it is just the way it is with most of the Indians).

Modi needs not just plans for India's development, but also plans for people development. He needs to impart on them that society as a whole needs to be appreciated, rather than individual gains. People needs to respect each other, and woman needs to be cherished. There are so many ills in the society that needs to be addressed outside of just development, but Modi can perhaps drive the social development along with economic development.

India and Indians need a much longer plan, rather than a five year plan. The life of a nation can be devoid of selfishness and divisiveness. The nation can be prosperous by respecting its own and embracing all of its people. We don't need a communist society, rather a true democracy which treats people well first and development comes with the societal equality. Modi certainly represents a life time of simplicity and a drive for development. While the word development is rather loosely used in the Indian context, he certainly represents a generation of simplicity and striving for societal improvement. Irrespective of how the opposition parties and foreign media presents him, he is different in approaching the people issues. First few days are a refreshing change from the years after congress government. Next five years will certainly be interesting for India and the world. Jai Hind.

Modified

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The 15^th Prime Minister of India was sworn in today in front of 4000 plus invited politicians and other dignitaries. India witnessed first of it's kind swearing in ceremony that is typically fashioned by the western countries. It was quite well revived by the public and the politicians, both and conducted quite well. To start with inviting the leaders of neighboring countries, along with the elected politicians of India was a wonderful gesture of seeking their brotherhood in dealing with national security.

Prior to and between and after the swearing in ceremony, Narendra Modi continues to reach out the public via his favorite medium; the social media, and the message is the same; this is our country and we will have to look forward to making it better and better, and I can only do this with your help, support and blessings. The public continues to hear the same line constantly, and it has not changed after the successfully completed elections. It is like music to the ears to hear this constantly, as the powerful seldom will want to include the common man in their plans after getting to the powerful post they aspire with the help of the voters. Although it is his first day in office, the tome has not changed in communicating with the common man.

Looks promising on day one with things to come quickly and what can be expected by the Modi Sarkar. It is wonderful to see the trimmed size of the ministries to start with, along with the people who he has chosen to lead the different ministries. The just sworn in ministry is about half the size of the last one, with a whole bunch of consolidation in the new batch of ministries. It is a great start in the sense of two major issues that have plagued Indian politics. The size of the ministries avoids duplication of efforts and also management of resources. The immediate need of the country is good governance and proper planning and execution. By slimming the ministries, you automatically downsize the hands reaching into the funds available, and by placing people who are with limited need for new money in charge of the ministries, you will see the flow of funds going into the projects rather than pockets.

There is no guarantee that smaller number of power centers will directly equate to scam free environment, but it certainly will help the PM to manage them a bit better, and also appointing people who have no interest in money (similar to the PM himself) will make way for better management of resources, and PM himself will be held accountable for promising a scam free government, and it is for certain that he will be held accountable for keeping clean governance.

While anticipating that there will be no pocketing by the new team of ministers, it is also highly unlikely that the system will change overnight and tomorrow morning we will wake up to the Indian government running with 100% money free management. It is impossible in any society to have a 100% compliance to not having hands out for crumbs. The action of Narendra Modi in trimming the size of his cabinet, and his choice of people in the decision making roles certainly adds credence to a cabinet that will see more money going into projects rather than pockets.

An interesting part of the life of politicians and bureaucrats as that they drink a lot and eat a lot just about everyday, and many of them include their family and friends at the expense of someone who comes to them for getting approvals for projects and plans. The new PM is a vegetarian and also a teetotaler. It will definitely impact the social scenario where wining and dining is a norm. What will all the guys do now if they are not drinking and eating most of the evening and night? Perhaps they will work a bit more and get a bit more quality time with what they do? It is an interesting phenomenon with a leader who works 16 or more hours a day, and want a business like discipline in managing the country. Whatever might be the outcome the cost of booze and food for sure is bound to come down and the tired faces of drunk bureaucrats and politicians will start to appear far more relaxed and focused.

The idea of using social media and involving the public is a fantastic opportunity for politicians. Much of India is young and the young ones use a smart phone or a computer. They are easy to reach and easy to mobilize and easy to influence, and the new PM is a master at utilizing the social media. This is inexpensive and quick and also very effective to communicate with just about everyone with a few key strokes. Once again this also saves a lot of time and effort and definitely resources of the government and PM himself.

Things are quickly modified in Delhi and India and the rest of the world is watching, and definitely anticipating good things to come from the new government. Narendra Modi is definitely demonstrating the will to implement what he promised in his stomp speeches in getting elected as the leader of India. With the best of intentions and best of ideas that are for the best of Indians, he is certainly started well and quickly off the gate to tackle the billion people's aspirations. Jai Hind.

NaMo

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The largest democracy has chosen a new leader in a democratically conducted election, and with little or no tension for the country, and the country has given his party the majority the BJP needs without the help of any affiliated parties. The ruling party was decimated with less than 10% of electoral votes as the electorate across the country was not willing to listen to the SOS of the ruling party. If we forget the constant bickering and name calling before and during the elections, the people of the country clearly wanted a new leader, leading the nation to a better tomorrow, and we have Narendra Modi ready and willing and able for the action.

The outgoing party did not lack the intellect and experience to lead the nation, but it simply did not function as a government. The family controls kept the actions needed at bay, or on hold and at most times and became detrimental to the nations well being. The scams and looting of public wealth was unabated and did nothing but just enrich just a few, and most of them are fighting the courts and justice system while their party was still in office. Irrespective of who the party was the last ten years of Indian elected leadership was the worst representation of the national interests, and irrespective of who was against them in the 2014 elections, they would have trashed them.

Narendra Modi was and is a gifted communicator, and a great hand at using the electronic media. His twitter feeds are almost instant and keeps his followers around the globe instantly connected to him, and his thought process and also his agenda. He is also quite gifted at keeping to his agenda, and never hesitates to speak it out. His tireless campaign in the 2014 elections agave a great opportunity for him to get out to most parts of the country, and also reach out the Indians all across the world. The results of the elections are a reflection of not just people wanting change, but also his ability to reach out to all people of India. Intellectuals and farmers and workers and young and old and everyone followed him quickly and with enthusiasm, and the results clearly reflect that public's interest in making a change in the government. He was able to articulate the ideas of what is needed to Indians vocally and in believable language, while the ruling party was constantly using the same name and constantly attacking the man.

Irrespective of what Narendra Modi does in the next five years, the two things that are in universal agreement.

1. He is not interested in money. This will be the most dramatic and most important step in governing India. Narendra Modi has no need to money and he is not interested in making billions by scamming and looting the public coffers. This is reflected in his actions as a public figure and is constantly documented by every news outlet. The vast resources that have been pocketed by people in power would have greatly helped in nation's continued development in both human and infrastructure. He will certainly not get his hands dirty, and will also make sure that the people who are working under him will remain controlled. While eliminating graft 100% is difficult in a society that has its hands out at every nook and corner, Narendra Modi will definitely make a huge mark in placing controls to limit the graft business.
2. He is humble and respectful to his Mother, and also to the elders. You never see him forget to acknowledge and respect the elders, and the few visits with his elderly mother is the same as most Indians visiting their elderly parents; just love and respect. Now that he is about to lead India, he still has the same demeanor and still sits in a plastic chair and looks happy seeing his mother, and she certainly shows equal happiness just holding the man.

Here is a common man, who worked hard and worked diligently to reach the highest elected office of the largest democracy on earth, and is constantly articulating the vast and untapped future of India. We can look forward to abetter government and a better future for the nation. Just to see someone like Narendra Modi reach the pinnacle of a successful political career and still maintain his roots and be grounded, should be a great story for all Indians to tell and learn from.

Commenting on the name “NaMo” chosen as a tag, probably was without insight by Narendra Modi himself or whosoever came up with the acronym, but for south Indians, specially the followers of Lord Balaji, “NAMO VENKATESA” is the devotional and heartfelt addressing to the Lord Venkateswara. My sincere hope is that Lord Balaji is looking down on Narendra Modi with kindness and blessings. Here is to wishing the new Prime Minister the very best of the time in Office and wish all he will aspire to do for the good of all Indians to come true. Jai Hind.

Exit Polls

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

As of this evening on 12^th of May 2014, the Indian general election were still in full swing and going into the final phase of polls, with results just about four days away. It is almost certain that the largest democracy will have a new leadership at the center, and also in several state and local governments. More than 60% of the Indian voters exercised their voting rights, which is a record for India.

Indian exit polls at this time and during the elections have gone through some changes, but by and large have reflected similar outcome that the government in Delhi will be a new one with a new prime minister. As much discounting you can do with the Indian polls as possible, they have been projecting the Modi wave all along, and specially in the BJP states, and Modi himself has shown how to campaign and how to present himself as a national leader, and how to respond to whatever is thrown at him. While Modi conducted himself with great finesse of a seasoned politician on the national stage, the other national leaders simply keep abusing him and whatever little personal life Narendra Modi has, which itself is very little to complain about.

The elections have been by and large free of violence, except the incumbent party throwing a lot of baggage at Modi, and claiming that they need a few more years to implement development programs. While the programs are very much needed in every part of the country with every aspect of life of the common man, INC never really believed that it needed to do anything constructive across the country to help the needy, and purely relies of the name Gandhi. It is probable that the time has run out on the name recognition except for the real Gandhi, the Mahatma.

The exit polls during and after elections should have noticed the Americans demeanor to the announcement of Modi as the prime minister candidate earlier in the year. USA is run pretty much my pollsters and polls. When you saw the US ambassador to India (Nancy Powell) visit with Modi at his home right after he was declared the PM candidate of BJP lead alliance, it should have been a great indicator of things to come in the just concluded elections. Americans are quite good at conducting formal and informal polls, and they are also quite good at political predictions. When Nancy Powell met Modi, who in fact has been on the crap list of the USA for more than a dozen years, that too days after his being declared as the PM candidate, Indians watching should have guessed that his chances of becoming the PM are bright. Right after that Nancy Powell announced her resignation from her long term diplomatic role, and this should have been another indicator that the Americans were fairly certain that Modi will become the PM of the largest democracy on earth, and there will be no way other than reach out to him. With removing the old team of diplomats, and having them reach out the prospective PM just before they declare their resignation from diplomacy, it should have been a good indicator for things to come with the elections about to come in India. My though process is not far fetched looking at historical behavior of the Americans. They always poll and poll and also rely on polls for making decisions to manage public and international policy.

By no means my thought process is scientific, and it is to make only observations after the elections, and also continuously looking at the Indian polls. The Indian polls are 100% with issues as politicians and pollsters both make wide accusations and wildest guesses, which are far from reality. India is also a country where money flows when elections come, but most of the public is smart enough to accept whatever money or gifts they are given (some times negotiated based on votes) but vote what they feel like in the booths. So, listening to exit polling results is really a crap shoot.

But the actions of the Americans should have been a great indicator for things to come in the elections, and the bet's should have been placed on Modi, rather than throwing money at people and wasting billions on trying to make people listen to never ending promises which get repeated every five years. The guess is that the polls will be right this time with Modi's Sarkar in Delhi for next five years, and if he keeps up with what he did in Gujarat, perhaps more five year terms. Here is wishing all Indians a very best of government and governance. Jai Hind.

Not Enough Money

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com.

Elections of 2014 are almost over in India, and in about a week we will have counted towards a new government to lead the massive democracy for next five years. This elections have a bit more sizzle than the last one, although till date the directed attacks have been limited to verbal duels, and apparently there has been no loss of life in the long and drawn out elections. Each of the contesting parties and candidates have been promising everything on earth to people, just as they did in the previous election and the one before and so forth, and pretty much everyone promises all things for free and everything for everyone.

With absolute authority and hundred percent straight face they will swear on everything and anything that they will do the impossible for their constituents. From freebies to loan waivers, interest free loans to outright abolishing of past loans, all things that are imaginable are absolutely free and immediately done, once voted into power. As usual politicians both the incumbents and the wannabees both are making promises to no end, and tall claims of transparent and frugal management of the future. Each candidate and each party are spending money that is beyond a reasonable comprehension. For all the money that is going into the elections and all the candidates that are spending the fortunes in getting elected, the final call from the voters is almost done, and in about a week the winners will be planning for what they do for next five years and the losers will be licking their wounds and planning on what they will have to do in five years to get back into the action.

No matter how we look at the elections, the cost of them is massive for the country which is always clamoring for resources. There is a limit to how much each candidate can spend, but the restrictions certainly doesn't stop the candidates from spending as much as possible to attract the voters to the polling booth, and casting the vote for the right candidate. The money although is flowing all around, the influence of money is limited in the final votes leading to the election of candidates. The money could have been well spent on social-economic programs that could well lead to attracting voters in the long run, but the candidates seldom think of long term, but just what they need to do at elections time.

The value of elections is enormous to the retail and other businesses, outside of the liquor and food businesses, the travel, clothing, advertisements, posters and news, and whatever other means of transportation and advertisements, all of them become a very active at elections time. The money flow also allows the people to spend the free money they get from candidates back into the purchasing things that are basic necessities. So, the flow of money is a good thing in helping the retail businesses.

What happens after the elections is the real issue for both the candidates and electorate. What will the elected candidates do and how will they fulfill the promises made to the electorate? There is not enough revenues to meet the current demands of the public, and all the freebies announced during the elections will cost much more than what is available. The cost of elections and money spent by the candidates will be paramount in the minds of both the winning candidates and those who lost. Their primary concern will be how to recoup the money they spent and some more, which will precede any people related programs. Where will all the money come from? And how will the money be recouped? Where will the money come for any people programs and development of the nation? What will we do to handle the immediate and future needs of ever growing population? So many questions, all leading to the where will the resources come from and how will the nation handle the ever increasing demands?

Entitlements

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

India has been run on political entitlements since 1947. For some reason the country continues to favor the privilege of the past or privilege of the family in looking for leadership at every level of the country. From the smallest village, town, city, state and the country; at every level politics are typically run as entitlements, and the country despite being the largest democracy continues to push through political entitlements. We love to keep talking about the legacy of someone or some family, and always are looking backwards on the glory of the past, and try to recapture the glory of the past in the current generation of people who represent the past.

While the value of remembering the past and the people who we look up to, the idea of a current generation of people are the same representation of people of the past is far from real. The claims by almost all Indian politicians at every level of politics, is difficult to miss even in this age of mass media and 24/7 coverage. The politicians simply will claim their right to be in the race as the legacy of their fathers, and will only use the past to constantly remind the voters of the totally irrelevant record of members of their family. To be on the record, India really doesn't have a record to boast of anything in any sector. It is a country of more than a billion people, and much of them live under desolate conditions. India is the largest democracy on the planet, and perhaps its only claim is to being the largest free society.

India is a country of contradictions, and people of easy gullibility. Contradictions exist with everything in its people, places, geography, languages, traditions, caste, religion, wealth and whatever human conditions that can possibly exist and distinguish people. Despite the contradictions, people simply find common ground and by and large live and let live in peace. In fact the contradictions add to the beauty of the country and its diverse and difficult fabric. Not too long ago, India really was a much larger country with multiple countries evolving with in the short span and now have become hostile neighbors. Whatever you do and however you view India it is still a cosmos of great diversity which is held together with sheer intensity of its people's will.

While the country makes great strides at becoming a global power with its democracy and the sheer size of the population, and its diversity, it really has never deployed all of its human minds and vast natural resources to the best use. It we forgive the invaders and conquerors of India until the independence from the British in 1947, even the newer India has never been able to find leadership that will truly devote the country's human and natural resources to the best use of the people of the country. India is constantly engaged in either useless wars or infiltrations, and large scale scams which simply destroy the country's ability to best deploy its resources to best serve the country's ever expanding population.

We also have the population, which is simply oblivious to the leadership and its doings. When we did not have mass media and relied only on radio and news papers, it was given that the people fully were not informed of the deeds (misdeeds) of the people in power, or it took a long time of the public to be informed of how their wealth was being squandered. In 2014 it is difficult to imagine that people don't know what is happening? India has 100% mobile phone use, 100% people have access to TV and mass media, and we still follow the words of few without personal evaluation of what they are saying and what they are really doing (or what they did when in power). There is no magic to meeting the country's needs, it can be as simple as use all of its resources without scamming and abuse. That could mean that politicians will really want to get elected to serve people, and almost all of Indian politicians are absolutely uninterested in public service. Politicians are in for only to scam or take an ego trip after achieving wealth that is beyond a person's means.

Wealth and history in democracies do have a lot of intrinsic value and Indians are no different than others in having the respect for both. The problem is not with wealth or history, but the Indian problem is with the politicians entitlements to the legacy of their families and their past politics. If the people of India really look at the worst possible legacy of every government that has been in power, and every government that has squandered public wealth and country's past since 1947, they would simply start looking at the future of the country without the entitlements to any person of the past and start to look at what would be best for their future.

Two Point Agenda

Vasu Reddy From Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

The Indian elections are here and have begun for 2014. The process is drawn out for a couple of months covering the nation, and there is probably little speculation on the outcome of this election, except rhetoric from the politicians. The time leading to the first ballot has been with little new hoopla, and we have only heard the same old personal bashing, and nothing that offers a brand new agenda to deal with great Indian population and great Indian needs.

The recommended two point agenda for the new administration is quite simple and should be easy to embrace and implement.

1. No New Scams

2. No Nepotism

1. No New Scams – The great nations wealth and resources have been squandered for years and years of scams in every aspect of national management and state and local management in India. Everywhere and anything that is being built or developed, has been embroiled in scams and the new government should strictly adhere to no scam politicians and policies. This will immediately help rebuild the confidence of people in government and more so will deploy the scarce resources of the country into the needs of the country. Politicians have been investing huge amounts of money into party fund and campaigning to get elected and they need to recoup the money that has gone into electioneering, and the ones who don't get elected also have invested heavily into the elections and they also at some point will need to look to recoup their investment into politics. Now if we stop the recouping of investment into politics, that will be a start to the deployment of public resources for public welfare, rather than scams. How it can be done, what needs to be in place to stop the scams, and how the country and its electorate will manage the scam free society is for the Indian public to manage.

The public service aspect of politicians has been long forgotten in India, and once the politicians come into politics for public service and not scams, then we will probably see the resources going to public needs, rather than scams. How do we get there, and how do the public influence the politicians to really be into public service, it is a matter for changing the human nature and expectations. The love for democracy and freedom of the human spirit drive all humans, and India is the largest democracy on earth and it deserves a scam free society. While we want to be scam free, we should also be free of demands that are unreasonable on individuals competing for public office. The splashing of negative advertisements, indecent comments on others and constant bickering on what others are doing can be avoided by people, and encourage the agenda of the party and what the party can do to better manage the resources and how the party can provide services can be made more appealing. All people are willing and wanting to live in a free and democratic society, so they will have to figure the direction to a scam free society. It is their time now for electing representatives that will deliver just that.

2. No Nepotism – The root cause of most of the problems we have in politics is nepotism. It is entrenched in Indian politicians that they are entitled to positions of power because of their relatives hold or held higher positions, or elected positions. Just about every politician has a baggage to carry with family and friends constantly looking for favors. It is impossible to say no to a member of the family or a friend and if politics continue to foster nepotism, it will be impossible to be neutral in making decision that will impact the country and its citizens. India should elect individuals based on their merits and representations rather than whose family they belong to. It doesn't mean that politicians can't have relatives that are already in politics but that doesn't mean they have a birth right to getting the seat of power because of their lineage.

The 2014 general elections are here and in full force, and India is 100% sure to have a new PM as the current PM has elected to retire. It is also certain a number of new politicians will be elected to represent the great nation and its people. It is time to be scam free and nepotism free, and make people the first and foremost priority.