Entrepreneurial innovations of corporate world get noticed and lauded by media. Some innovation or the other happens in unexpected way every day from unexpected corners of the world as well.
I visited Coimbatore over the weekend and this is what I heard. A vegetable vendor, most probably owns a small farm has found a unique selling model. He loads farm produce in his truck and drives to city by himself every week. The price is fixed at Rs. 20 and the number of vegetables is fixed at 9. The quantity and the choices of vegetables is variable based on the season. He will come with a chart that will clearly state the vegetable name and the quantity for that week. If you give Rs. 20 and your basket, that will get that filled with a week supply of vegetables for a family of four. It is truly a win-win model. The farmer does not waste any time and money on packaging, preservation, etc. People are extremely happy getting a week worth of vegetable for Rs. 20 (approximate 40 cents). Entrepreneurial innovations are not just the mantra of corporates !
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
A.R. Rahman's Oscar & Slumdog Millionaire
It is more than a month (23-Feb-2009 morning time in India) since the 81st Oscar ceremony. It was a curious moment to know whether A. R. Rahman would get the award or not. I desperately wanted him to get it though I'm not such a great music listener. I saw that win as a confidence booster for millions of music enthusiasts in India and other developing nations.
Just the day before the oscar ceremony, induced by the media coverage, I watched Slumdog Millionaire. I liked that film. The story line was good and the movie held my interest. Various incidents were sewn well with the story. It was a good film though a sad one.
Just the day before the oscar ceremony, induced by the media coverage, I watched Slumdog Millionaire. I liked that film. The story line was good and the movie held my interest. Various incidents were sewn well with the story. It was a good film though a sad one.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Election time in India
If anybody doesn't believe in God, just bring that person to any part in India and make him observe the surroundings. I'm sure, he'll come to a conclusion that unless such divine power exists, it is impossible to run the wheel of India. Otherwise, how can so many people be alive when they travel through hanging cables, extra large hoardings on weak poles, center median cut-outs unexpectedly and automatically changing its axis,... well, leave the traffic violations of our fellow citizens. After all they are in hurry to earn their livelihood. God will save them!
Election times are challenges to logic. Well, Indian Politics challenges logic always. But, it is lot more obvious in election times. One such interesting 'logical' thing I saw in the news paper today was the initiatives to reduce the Pub culture. The Government owned liquor shops (known as TASMAC) are overflowing with crowd. Pubs are less crowded and frequented by wealthier people in comparison with TASMAC shops. It is an obvious logic that closing TASMAC shops will bring higher benefits than this pub thing. But our cabinet minister's logic is unsolvable by me!
Election times are challenges to logic. Well, Indian Politics challenges logic always. But, it is lot more obvious in election times. One such interesting 'logical' thing I saw in the news paper today was the initiatives to reduce the Pub culture. The Government owned liquor shops (known as TASMAC) are overflowing with crowd. Pubs are less crowded and frequented by wealthier people in comparison with TASMAC shops. It is an obvious logic that closing TASMAC shops will bring higher benefits than this pub thing. But our cabinet minister's logic is unsolvable by me!
Friday, January 2, 2009
ooty
Ooty is a hill station on the Nilgris mountain of Tamil Nadu. It is nature's gift to the people of the tropical terrain. It was a great pleasure to see so much of green and experience the refreshing chillness. Every now and then, eucalyptus aroma touch the nostrils so mildly and so naturally.
The most distinct characteristic I noticed was the politeness of people. In any tourist centric areas, there are always some sort of uneasiness and fear of unknowns. Ooty felt like home town. The auto-rickshaw drivers are quite different from Chennai drivers. They are polite and ask only resonable fare. Thanks to the strictly enforced auto fares by Tamil Nadu tourism department as well. A bajji maker on the pavement was generous and asked his customer to pay later and take the bajji. I don't know why the customer could not pay.. But this kind of gesture is not so common in the plains.
You ask anyone for direction. Whenever there is a decision to be made on your path, we say Left, Right or Straight. In hills, people say, go up or go down! It took few seconds to catch the direction instruction from locals.
The most distinct characteristic I noticed was the politeness of people. In any tourist centric areas, there are always some sort of uneasiness and fear of unknowns. Ooty felt like home town. The auto-rickshaw drivers are quite different from Chennai drivers. They are polite and ask only resonable fare. Thanks to the strictly enforced auto fares by Tamil Nadu tourism department as well. A bajji maker on the pavement was generous and asked his customer to pay later and take the bajji. I don't know why the customer could not pay.. But this kind of gesture is not so common in the plains.
You ask anyone for direction. Whenever there is a decision to be made on your path, we say Left, Right or Straight. In hills, people say, go up or go down! It took few seconds to catch the direction instruction from locals.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
December in Chennai
Chennai is beautiful at this time of the year. The weather is at its best.
It is also music season here. You get to hear best classical music sung by the best singers here. In the recent past, we do see NRIs flocking in to display their talents.
Vedanthangal, the bird sanctuary near Chennai, gets new visitors. One can see pelicans, spoonbills and lot more big, beautiful birds. Last year I visited Vedanthangal. I'll upload some photographs later. I plan to visit this year too.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Mumbai Attacks
26th Nov 2008 Wednesday night it started in Mumbai. Militants started attacking civilians. The media named it as 9/11 of India.
The most annoying thing is that most of the troubles in this world are religion based. People are getting killed and injured for no good reason. The killers are strongly believing that their killings are justifiable though none of the Gods have said that killing of innocent people is justifiable. As for as I know, all Gods have told people to help each other and not to get involved in bloodshed.
If militants are believing that their killing of innocent people is justifiable, but if none of the Gods have said that killing of innocent people is justifiable, then who really instills such belief in young militants' minds? Is it not obvious that some elements, for their personal gain, are instilling such beliefs and grooming militants?
Oh, young militants, you are killing and getting killed not for the Godly virtue. It is for the vested interest of some persons or organizations. The path of peace is peaceful. The path of blood is bloody. Please do drop your arms and turn to peace.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
I just finished Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize winning "The White Tiger". It was an interesting book to read. The corruption is so real. Sometimes, I think India has attained Nirvana in corruption. Hats off to you Adiga, for throwing light on Darkness!
