IndianMaze

Getting to an elaborate shopping in 44 degrees Celsius is generally not my kind of an idea. Even more so when one is forced to be a host cum driver cum guide to guests from overseas. Yes, I was sulking but it turned out to be a great lesson. Well worth the sweat in hot and dry summer of Delhi. I was allotted to accompany my overseas relatives on a wedding shopping spree in India. Whats is the price of item A? What is the value of the same item A? This is a dilemma that is understood by quite a few businesses, for sure in India. India has a rule of law that prescribes a written price for most consumer items but there are still quite a few items that do not have prescribed prices (MRP as we know in India or RRP as known in many other countries). Also, services generally do not have the diktat to mention the prices in advance. The salesperson at the shop started to gauge the customer first. Looking at the dressing, style of speaking et al. I was thankfully sitting in a corner...

It is one culture that runs through the organisation. Why not? The leadership is same and they have same policies running across the company. Yes, mostly. Here comes the leadership at a level other than a leader. It is a tale of two newspapers from the same house. For ease I will call these as City News (CN) and City Business News (CBN). CN is the elder sibling by a few decades. So when started CN acted like the big brother and everyone assumed complete protection and support by the elder sibling. Alas, it was not the case. Younger sibling felt being taken for granted and undervalued. One day CBN challenged and decided to walk on own terms. The head of CBN decided, rebelling against the elder sibling, to have its own culture and behaviour. The result has been astounding. CN still runs the roost due to past legacy and still acts as a bully. CBN has set up a new team that is more passionate, customer service oriented, a better product and more disciplined. This young lea...

"Where is Blue Lake? Is it on this train journey? How can I fit it in my very tight sight seeing schedule?" asked an enthusiast 20something youngster on a holiday to Switzerland. These questions were directed to the train conductor. I, sitting next to the couple, was in the hear of the conversation. Next came out a a four folded notebook paper that had a few scribbles on it and a few ticks against some lines. "We have seen 11 of the 14 we are supposed to see today" exclaimed the enthusiastic partner. Conductor was very helpful and explained that there was nothing special about the blue lake that was different from the lake we were passing by in the train at that time. But the insisting went on as to how to see, even if from the train's window, THE BLUE LAKE. All 14 "things" must be ticked. It was an eye opener for me. How many times do we make a list to enjoy/complete the tasks giveing the due importance to each one? Is ticking against all a m...

This is an article written about 2005 by me. It is amazing that our responses to new technology remain the same despite moving miles ahead. Reproduced here. Business - India;TV and the waves of change Dinesh Jain Every now and then, men of great wisdom have paused and looked upon their world as it existed then and made one of two pronouncements; condemning emerging technology to the realm of the 'useless' or declaring mankind's attainment of all that had to be attained, the peak of technological advancement by the human race. In 1977, Ken Olson, Founder President of Digital Equipment Corp said, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home". There is no evidence that people want to use these things," said the San Francisco Examiner in 1984 on an experimental pointing device called 'the mouse'. In circa 1991, cable TV arrived in our homes, and it opened up a whole new wonderland to the 'Desi Alices'. Most cond...

Its a rich (wo)man's world! Life is all cosy for the rich. They live in large mansions, have limousines at their disposal, servants all around, top brands and what not. Eat in top hotels and restaurants, Caviar and Champagne is their regular choice. Absolutely right.... ummmmm Going beyond stereotypes, rich are not after all the EXPENSIVE things all the time. They tend to seek a self satisfaction. On a recent visit to one of the richest countries in the world, Switzerland, I felt a completely different world of the RICH. It started with the research on various blogs and travel sites. Was amazed at the flurry of advise the the RICH people as to how to save money. The advise ranged from using 2nd class in trains as the benefit of 1st class does not commensurate with the price you pay to the fact that one should take "picnic" in trains includig own wine as most Swiss do. It was quite a surprise to see that actually most Swiss do so. The reasons vary but large...

The title of the blog says it all. I get surprises everyday but still surely the maze many a times goes unrecognised. We are too close to it to find out what it is really. All that you see about India is true and all that you hear about India is equally true. The reality, reportage, stories, myths and all else actually is true. Living here. Living now. It is an ecosystem that has contrasts living in harmony without any "observed" effort by her children - own or adopted. This has been beautifully captured by an external pair of eyes. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/mad-for-mumbai/story-e6frg8h6-1225934717682 Reproduced below in text Living in India is like having an intense but insane affair, writes expat Catherine Taylor TONIGHT, as I waved my high heel in the face of a bewildered taxi driver, I thought suddenly: I am absolutely nuts in India. It's a thought I have often. Someone or something is always going nuts, and quite...

Just did a small survey in my bathroom (shared with my wife). Total no of movable items - 113 Branded - 64 No of brands - 51 MNC brands - 32 More on this soon.