RATAN TATA – A GREAT HUMAN BEING

26/11 incident in Mumbai might have been a thing of the past. However, the deeds and sacrifices of the Maharashtra police, National Security Gaurds, Mumbaikars and other Indians who helped nation recover from the crisis are remembered and will be remembered for ever.
Politicians and business men are generally looked down upon by the common man as a symbol of exploitation during crisis. There is no denial to this argument as the common man was exploited in the past and is still exploited by some politicians, business houses and middle men during the making of a crisis or during crisis. Let us pose a few questions to ourselves:
 How did sugar prices go up so fast this financial year despite relaxation of the imports?
 Is the agricultural output so many folds down during this Kharif season for the essential commodity prices to double and triple?
 How can a politician spend crores and crores of black money during elections?
However, there is one kind human being, Mr. Ratan Tata who stands out tall from the business community. He belongs to the rare breed of business men with a human face akin to Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. All of us must have heard of Mr. Ratan Tata’s philanthropic activities and generosity to the people working for his group companies and the common man in the vicinity of his establishments, at some point or the other. Unfortunately, Singur incident saw him being exploited by politicians for their petty interests. In spite of such unsavoury incidents, he remains committed to charitable and philanthropic activities in West Bengal.
However, Mr. Ratan Tata, despite being on the receiving end during the 26/11 crisis both financially and emotionally (It’s a common knowledge that he was emotionally attached to the heritage building housing the Taj Hotel), evolved in to a super human being aftermath of the crisis, by his charitable deeds and reaching out personally to the victims and their families. His reactions to the crisis are well documented by the netizens and can be retrieved from the hyperlink below.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByOMpjy3KhxkOTIyYjEwZTUtYWU1MS00YWM1LTg0ZmQtYjFmN2VkM2QxY2Vk&hl=en
I would personally like to see him being bestowed upon with BHARAT RATNA by the Indian government.

Appended on 26.06.2010.

I am elated to see Mr. Ratan Tata being recognised and honoured by Cambridge University, the ancient seat of learning. The news item and his humble reaction is reproduced below:

LONDON: India's leading industrialist Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, has been conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Law BY Cambridge University for his role in producing the world's cheapest car Nano. The degree was conferred by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is also the chancellor of the Cambridge University.

In his acceptance speech, India's leading industrialist Ratan Tata, said: "We have always tried to help people in need. One of the tenets of the Tata family has been to acquire wealth to distribute it. So 65 per cent of dividends of our holding company go to charitable trusts which distribute that, so we have been doing it for a hundred years".

STEPS TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM AND FIND A RIGHT SOLUTION

The present day struggles are highly complex due to complex setting we are living in, be it either from the blight or discord with the people around us or the financial circumstances or the nature’s affliction.

The complete sequence can be split in to the following segments:
A. Precursor
The most important step is to isolate oneself from the Emotions, fear and greed. It greatly helps if we can get the rational and spiritual cap on before we commence the process.
B. Problem
a. Identify: Every problem needs to be addressed in its entirety. We need to capture different perspectives and dimensions of the problem. List every aspect on a piece of paper.
b. Simplify: Simplification of every problem is the key to the process of finding the right solution. The more the simplification of the problem, the better is the solution. List down the simplified segments of the problem.
C. Solution
a. Evaluate: Every segment of the problem has numerous solutions. Hence, evaluate all the possible solutions on a piece of paper.
b. Define: Evaluate the pros and cons of each and every solution identified and tabulate them. This procedure pops up the most reliable and relevant solution.
c. Execute: Execute the solution in its true sense with out any major compromise.
D. Assess
If the subject problem and solution has time component to it, assessment from time to time will be most appropriate. If the executed solution requires a re-evaluation due to changed circumstances, it would be prudent to revisit all the segments.
The above process can be adapted for all types of problems, be it financial, health, relationships, careers etc.
Most times, we will be better off, finding a solution by ourselves rather than depending on others for a solution. This gives us total control of the situation in the immediate and long term future.
At times, where I deem it fit, I consult my spiritual guru for an affirmation of the whole process. The interaction and consultation with my spiritual guru annihilates the spiritual insecurity embedded in the above sequence.

INDIA'S ECONOMIC JOURNEY SINCE INDEPENDENCE

Indian economy was largely directionless till early 1990’s due to domestic political compulsions and bi-polar global politics. The GDP growth, from the Nehruvian economic model, was hovering around 2% on an average till India faced a Macro-economic crisis during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

However, Indian governments in the early 1990's realised the importance of pursuing a growth oriented model and in all earnest pursued following economic policies:
 Increased Private sector funding and participation in all sectors
 Impetus on Infrastructure growth and development
 Rationalisation of direct and indirect taxes, import and export duties, tax holidays etc.
 Liberalisation of foreign direct investment norms in to various sectors, foreign exchange regulation
 Sops for exporters and IT sectors
 Partial convertibility of Rupee etc.

This resulted in
 Country’s GDP growth touching 9%
 Reduced gap between imports and exports through increased exports
 Increased foreign exchange reserves
 Increased spending by the government
 Improved infrastructure in the country thus resulting in improved living standards
 Increased job opportunities
 Increased Per capita income
 Global integration of businesses and people
 Reduced dependency on the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other agency for loans and financial support (As was the case till 2000)
 Growth of the country as a possible economic super power and it’s ability to avoid arm twisting by the economic super powers

All the governments since early 1990's whether it is a NDA government or a UPA government are pursuing growth oriented economic policies which is augering well for the Country's development. However, there is still more room for improvement. It is high time we do away with populist and vote bank oriented economic policies like subsidies and loan waivers which will furthur help in India becoming one of the leading world's economic super power. Ofcourse, onus lies on respective state governments too, in areas of Fiscal responsibility, prudent spending, emphasis on state subjects viz., education, prudent utilisations of water resources, strengthening of rural institutions etc.

HOW TO EASILY UNDERSTAND YOUR BLOOD TESTS?

I was always intrigued by the number of medical (Laboratory and Radiological) tests carried out on  a patient when we go to a doctor whether it is for a common ailment or for a critical ailment. Every test result has many facets to it and unless it is properly interpreted by the doctor who has prescribed it, it will serve no purpose during the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. My father was a victim of wrong clinical tests, diagnosis and treatment.
Many of us being non-medical professionals fails to understand the relevance of each of the many tests prescribed by a doctor. Towards educating ourselves, I have attatched a 38 page booklet in the following path which can give us lots of information on all types of blood tests. The information includes, allowable and critical ranges, importance of the tests, effects due to upper and lower limits, nutritional tips etc.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByOMpjy3KhxkNWY0MTNmNGItZGZlNi00Y2Q1LTg0N2YtNzE5MTc2MDY0NzA5&hl=en

I would like acknowledge the genuinity of Dr.P.V.Ramachandra Raju, Cardiologist at STAR hospitals, through this blog, who told me that the number of medical tests can certainly be minimised through proper physical examination carried out by a doctor. He practices what he says and we need many such genuine medical professionsals.

STOCK MARKETS & SELF PROFESSED EXPERTS

All investors in the stock markets are bombarded with “free of cost” advices by the so called “market experts” through print and visual media.

How many of us still believe that we are in an era where we can get a free and genuine advice to multiply our hard earned money? Alas! I have stopped considering “experts” advices after loosing nearly Rs.2 million in the stock market trading and investing in various instruments many a times influenced by the experts advices.

I have started asking myself following simple questions after the damage is done?

a. Did we ever get any stock specific advice well in advance from the most successful global investor, Warren Buffet and India’s most successful investor and trader Rakesh Jhunjunwala? NO. However, print media and visual media creates a buzz around the holdings of these investors from time to time. Also, Buzz is created around their new equity stakes and purchases. However, we have noticed them being bullish on specific sectors from time to time and voicing their views on the general direction of global and regional economies and markets. Why are these successful men not offering stock specific advises unlike other experts?

b. It is a well known fact that most of the experts offering you free advice have some interest behind their public utterances, be it solicitation to their subscription services from the retail & HNI investors or Portfolio management services or mutual fund services.

c. If the so call experts were so smart, they can utilise their special knowledge to further their own interests and earnings akin to Rakesh Jhunjunwala.

d. I have observed that most of the recommendations that come in to public domain have a time lag from the time they recommend to their clients and the time they express/recommend in the media. Average retail investor who is looking for making some quick money gets attracted to the recommendation and most of the times will become the spring board for the paid clientele of the expert to exit the stock with a profit.

Unfortunately, we are bombarded with too much unwarranted and contradicting information with the advent of many business channels and sites on the internet, which are corrupting our own investment rationale and decisions thus leading to wrong execution at most times.

FUTURES & OPTIONS – CHOOSE THE RIGHT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENT FOR TRADE

As we all know there are two types of markets viz., Trending markets and Range bound markets.

Investors will benefit trading Index and stock Futures in Trending markets and trading Index and stock Options (Calls and Puts) in Range bound markets.

Based on the market movements, we can confidently say that we are in the midst of RANGE BOUND market and it is prudent to trade in Options.

SIMPLE TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE UNWARRANTED STRESS & PROBLEMS IN LIFE

Millions of people are suffering from unwarranted and undeserved stress, trials, heartache and problems.
A part of a person’s life is dictated by the events and actions of the people and nature we live in. All of us are aware that we do not have any control over such actions affecting us.
The famous Newton’s first law holds good even in the real life too. Every individual reacts to the action on which he has no absolute control. However, the individual’s reactions can enhance the stresses, problems, heartaches etc. It is imperative to recognize that we have absolute control over our own reactions. This is the quality which can make a huge difference to one’s life and whence, a focus area to work on to make our life more meaningful and worthy.
According to Stephen Covey, the author of “Discover the 90/10 Principle”, 10% of life is made up of what happens to you and 90% of life is decided by how you react.
90% of the life is in your hands. That’s great, isn’t it?
Let’s all work towards it and make our life as well as other lives associated with us meaningful.

LORD VENKATESHWARA

OM NAMO VENKATESHAYA

Lord Srinivasa, the Kaliyug avatar of Lord Vishnu has numerous names. One of them is Venkatesha or Venkateshwara. Every soul on earth liberates from the physical body at some point of time. Karma determines the duration of the association of soul with the physical body. However, during Kaliyug, every soul gets attached to a baggage containing either good deeds (Punyam) or Sins (Paap) depending on the earthly deeds of each individual. The ultimate goal of each soul is to liberate and attain the feet of EESHA or EESHWAR (Lord Shiva). Venkatesha means Cleanser of Sins to attain the feet of Lord Shiva. (Ven means Paap+Kata means cleanser or remover+eesha means Lord Shiva). Hence, all followers of SANATHANA DHARMA, pray Lord Venkateshwara and Lord Shiva with utmost reverence to attain the ultimate goal of every soul.

Power of Universal sound OM (ॐ)

The vibration of "OM" symbolizes the manifestation of God in form and embraces all that exists. The mantra "OM" is the name of God, the vibration of the Supreme. When taken letter by letter, A-U-M represents the divine energy (Shakti) united in its three elementary aspects: Brahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti(liberation, and/or destruction).

According to THE BHAGAVAD GITA, uttering the monosyllable Aum (ॐ), the eternal world of Brahman, One who departs leaving the body (at death), he attains the superior goal.

Om tatsatiti nirdesho brahmanstrividhah samratah (Sloka in The Bhagavad Gita)
Meaning "OM, tat and sat has been declared as the triple appellation of Brahma, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss."