2023: THIS POST WAS WRITTEN IN 2009...NOT APPLICABLE TODAY
Ok, got a really interesting topic to write on.
Phhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, and I landed (for the first time) in foreign soil. Everything around was different and new, it really looked like "Phoren". And Finally, we had made it, after a real struggle back home.
So, why does this place look like foreign ????? Whats different ????? And why ?????
Exactly these questions drove me to write this.
The first noteable difference was the amount of automation and organization everywhere. Especially so in the public transport systems. Right from taking Bus Tickets, display of time left for the arrival of next bus, the entire Trains system, seats, high speed trains, even the trams.
"The public system here makes US look piteable" quoted by an American here. Why is it so remarkable ????? Well, the histroy goes back to the Industrial Revolutions. But, how is it so sustainable. The answer is "Managed Population". The labour cost is so high here that automation is automatic.
First comparison with India.........Hugely populated..........High unemployment..........Anything automated, killing even more jobs, what the hell ???????? So difficult to maintain this balance in India.
Lesser the automation, lesser the organization. But hey, who questions systems in our country to be unorganized. Lets make a realistic comparison. The Metro connections in Paris is one of the best in the world. Equivalently, Local train connections of Mumbai. Now see - population of Paris is 5 times lesser than Mumbai but area of Paris is 5 times that of Mumbai - in effect, the population density of Mumbai is 25 times that of Paris.
And we are comparing two systems that are equivalently optimized, leave apart the crowd thats there in Mumbai local trains (thats to do with the "Unmanaged population").
Let me now talk about something more interesting...........culture. Everyone here is cool headed. Example - so much respect for pedestrains, wow !!!!! U dont need to always check left-right while crossing a road (but ya, only at zebra crossings), they will stop 5-10 metres before and when u have crossed the road, will give a smile and then only, advance further !!!!! Well, this follows from the fact that France is a PEBME. Working more than 35 hrs a week is illegal here. What will the company do with the extra profits, already everything is developed, where to invest further ???? So just chillax, be cool - headed, no frowning manager sitting on your head, so whats the hurry, enjoy guys, take a break, have fun, get into a relationship, out for a holiday - net effect - no hot-headedness, "smiles" to all the pedestrains, no need to honk anytime. And the climate here makes sure there is no error term in the assumption "everyone is cool headed". Coming back to our "Hot" country, working 35 hrs a week might lead your manager to fire you. Its a highly competition oriented economy which reflects in our culture............the other guy worked full night yesterday..............I have already missed the deadline...........Performance Appraisal is just round the corner...........getting late for office..............honking honking honking............feel like breaking the ****ing Signal, will some day drive over these zebra-crossers !!!!!!!!!!
That was just a small example............so much difference in culture but the underlying reason remains the same.
What do you think then, can India ever be France ????? The answer is "No" in my opinion just because of the huge huge population we have and we dont see the rate of population explosion decreasing in near future. Does that mean India can never be a developed economy ?????? Thats a really tricky question, but I got some pointers from the session held (by Dr. Indu Shahani, the Sheriff of Mumbai) in IESEG, Lille. She presented a McKinsey report stating that in 2020, all countries will face a shortage of manpower (even after the high degrees of automation) except India. India will supply labour force to all parts of the world, they will gain strategic positions in companies everywhere around. The untiring efforts put by the Indian population to increase the population will ultimately pay off. Feels better !!!!!!!!
Now, if you combine this fact with the fast growth rate of the Indian economy, one can see India gaining the status of a developed country, sooner or later. But, unlike France. This level of automation and organization will still not be possible. Probably, the very concept of a developed country will change with time....................India and China will be the two leading powers (as is famously quoted everywhere these days)............a developed country would then imply huge populations with everyone getting more than what is needed rather than a country with low population with everyone getting the best possible !!!!!!!!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
City of Joy - Kolkata
2023: THIS IS STILL ONE OF MY FAV POSTS :)
Thought of starting my blog with something about which I need not think much.
Calcutta, although being a metropolitan city has been looked down upon by a lot of people. When compared to Mumbai or Delhi, its obviously much less developed but its surely not a city which should bring a frown on your face. Its just negative biasness that many people have about this city.
Agreed that because of a few leaders, there have been a big hue and cry over certain issues off late which just deteriorates the image of Calcutta, but that does not give anyone a licence to generalize it as an unpreferred destination for residential and industrial purposes.
As the famous saying goes about this city, "Either you love Calcutta or you hate it, you just cannot ignore it". This very statement should ring a bell in one's mind. Now let me start with my views about this city. I have travelled a lot in India but have not found a city like Calcutta. Its unique, it runs in its own lethargic way, it has still not lost its old-city charm.
If India is considered to be a diverse land, Calcutta is the culmination of diversity. There is diversity in everything. On one hand, it is the least expensive metro city if one chooses to while on the other, it has come up with India's biggest mall (South City Mall). There are well planned places like Salt Lake and Rajarhat where the real-estate prices are at par with those in Mumbai and Bangalore and there are places which are cheaper than the cheapest areas of any of the other 5 metros. An article in Telegraph talked about how one can gradually go back in time if he just takes the route from South Kolkata to North Calcutta. To illustrate how poor and rich, both are an integral part of this self-sustainable model, I would like to talk about the transport facilities available inside Calcutta. The rail services include Locals (inside and around Calcutta), Underground Metros, the age old Trams; roadways include the very famous yellow taxis, autorickshaws, buses, mini-buses, normal rickshaws, hand-pulled rickshaws, Tanga-rides; waterways consist of small boats, Ferries. My point here is that there is a different feeling altogether when one gets to be a part of Calcutta. There is a lot one can experience in this lovely city.
There is a great beauty in simplicity. The smallest of sweet shops in Calcutta serve the best "Sondesh" in the country. The roadside tea served in "Kullad" which costs you Rs 1.50 will just make you feel "WOW" and if its evening time, you just cant afford to miss the special tea which includes ginger and cardamom, but alas costs you 50 paise more !!!!!!! Most parts of the city will give this oldish and a lazy first impression but then, you will understand the real essense of the first sentence of this para.
This city has preserved its culture which is visible in everyday life. I would just like to mention a certain aspect of culture, i.e. sports. Its a crazy city when it comes to Football and Cricket. I consider myself unlucky to have not watched any live football match in the Salt Lake Stadium. But, I have experienced Eden Gardens, live and animated to the maximum. Just imagine a full house of cricket-crazy junta in a jam-packed stadium which has the largest capacity in the entire world. To add on that, imagine Shah Rukh Khan cheering his KKR team dreassed in all black and golden. Further, imagine speakers all round the stadium which plays the KKR song "Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re". Scintillating !!!!!!!!!!
Ok, moving forward, lets take a look at the options for weekend masti. Being a metro, the city is full of malls, pool-bowling joints, some of the best water-parks in the country, movie multiplexes, food-joints esp those around Park Street; and if you choose not to spend more, please do not get disheartened. Just take a ferry ride in the evening, or a couple of hours in parks in front of Victoria, a tanga-ride round the same area, a visit to Dakshineswari temple, or just spend some time in City Centre. You can woo at those who spend on the routine masti stuff which you can find in any other metro. But hey, you cant win over late night party animals. The discs start late at night, after 12 and goes round till 3:30-4:00, just go there with your friends (if you dont have a gf) and have a blast.
Well people, this city is much more than I have tried to mention here. Its a typical city. You will always find people fighting for 50 paisa, some unforeseen rain causing flood and bringing the city to a standstill, some celebrity and band performances, people waiting and preparing for Dusshehra, some real HOT girl with one of those chamanest guys (which actually gives a lot of confidence to me ;)), some really irritating and money-sucking house-owners and you can always estimate India's population by standing at Howrah station.
Personally, I have spend some of the best times of my life here. Will always have a soft corner for Calcutta and thus, this was an attempt to show a better part of the city to those who havent ever visited this place and still dislike it !!!!!!!!
Thought of starting my blog with something about which I need not think much.
Calcutta, although being a metropolitan city has been looked down upon by a lot of people. When compared to Mumbai or Delhi, its obviously much less developed but its surely not a city which should bring a frown on your face. Its just negative biasness that many people have about this city.
Agreed that because of a few leaders, there have been a big hue and cry over certain issues off late which just deteriorates the image of Calcutta, but that does not give anyone a licence to generalize it as an unpreferred destination for residential and industrial purposes.
As the famous saying goes about this city, "Either you love Calcutta or you hate it, you just cannot ignore it". This very statement should ring a bell in one's mind. Now let me start with my views about this city. I have travelled a lot in India but have not found a city like Calcutta. Its unique, it runs in its own lethargic way, it has still not lost its old-city charm.
If India is considered to be a diverse land, Calcutta is the culmination of diversity. There is diversity in everything. On one hand, it is the least expensive metro city if one chooses to while on the other, it has come up with India's biggest mall (South City Mall). There are well planned places like Salt Lake and Rajarhat where the real-estate prices are at par with those in Mumbai and Bangalore and there are places which are cheaper than the cheapest areas of any of the other 5 metros. An article in Telegraph talked about how one can gradually go back in time if he just takes the route from South Kolkata to North Calcutta. To illustrate how poor and rich, both are an integral part of this self-sustainable model, I would like to talk about the transport facilities available inside Calcutta. The rail services include Locals (inside and around Calcutta), Underground Metros, the age old Trams; roadways include the very famous yellow taxis, autorickshaws, buses, mini-buses, normal rickshaws, hand-pulled rickshaws, Tanga-rides; waterways consist of small boats, Ferries. My point here is that there is a different feeling altogether when one gets to be a part of Calcutta. There is a lot one can experience in this lovely city.
There is a great beauty in simplicity. The smallest of sweet shops in Calcutta serve the best "Sondesh" in the country. The roadside tea served in "Kullad" which costs you Rs 1.50 will just make you feel "WOW" and if its evening time, you just cant afford to miss the special tea which includes ginger and cardamom, but alas costs you 50 paise more !!!!!!! Most parts of the city will give this oldish and a lazy first impression but then, you will understand the real essense of the first sentence of this para.
This city has preserved its culture which is visible in everyday life. I would just like to mention a certain aspect of culture, i.e. sports. Its a crazy city when it comes to Football and Cricket. I consider myself unlucky to have not watched any live football match in the Salt Lake Stadium. But, I have experienced Eden Gardens, live and animated to the maximum. Just imagine a full house of cricket-crazy junta in a jam-packed stadium which has the largest capacity in the entire world. To add on that, imagine Shah Rukh Khan cheering his KKR team dreassed in all black and golden. Further, imagine speakers all round the stadium which plays the KKR song "Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re". Scintillating !!!!!!!!!!
Ok, moving forward, lets take a look at the options for weekend masti. Being a metro, the city is full of malls, pool-bowling joints, some of the best water-parks in the country, movie multiplexes, food-joints esp those around Park Street; and if you choose not to spend more, please do not get disheartened. Just take a ferry ride in the evening, or a couple of hours in parks in front of Victoria, a tanga-ride round the same area, a visit to Dakshineswari temple, or just spend some time in City Centre. You can woo at those who spend on the routine masti stuff which you can find in any other metro. But hey, you cant win over late night party animals. The discs start late at night, after 12 and goes round till 3:30-4:00, just go there with your friends (if you dont have a gf) and have a blast.
Well people, this city is much more than I have tried to mention here. Its a typical city. You will always find people fighting for 50 paisa, some unforeseen rain causing flood and bringing the city to a standstill, some celebrity and band performances, people waiting and preparing for Dusshehra, some real HOT girl with one of those chamanest guys (which actually gives a lot of confidence to me ;)), some really irritating and money-sucking house-owners and you can always estimate India's population by standing at Howrah station.
Personally, I have spend some of the best times of my life here. Will always have a soft corner for Calcutta and thus, this was an attempt to show a better part of the city to those who havent ever visited this place and still dislike it !!!!!!!!
My reason to be here
Keeping it short and simple, just wanted to try my hand at the latest buzzzzz !!!!
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