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The LifeTime Offer

Vodafone India ₹ 499 LifeTime Offer Today, as I was having lunch, I received a call. The caller identified me by name. Then proceeded to explain she was calling to offer me a great ‘postpaid’ plan. From Vodafone. Why? I was already on a Vodafone pre paid. No Answer. But I figured. A few months earlier, I had figured that the bill being charged to me was too much for the services I was availing. So I did what a right minded Gujju would. Switched to pre-paid. Now mind you, I have been on post paid for over a decade before the switch. Back to the call.  She : I am suggestiing a Rs. 499/- “lifetime” plan which would include some 700 minutes of local talk time, 500 SMS and 2 GB of 3G data. Me (Thinking) : Now that is a pretty decent plan for someone with my kind of usage. My curiosity is piqued. Me : How long is “lifetime” Her (irritated voice) : lifetime means lifetime. Me : What if Vodafone shuts down this plan. Her : Kya Sir, aisa kabhi hota hai kya. Vodafone wil
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Education Innovation

Frequently the question arises of education will change, innovate. What do we expect in the education industry ? This industry I believe, will see some huge changes. The segment I refer to here is the under K-12, maybe restricted up to 10th standard in India, the equivalent of the sophomore year. The model so far prevalent in this industry is capital intensive. The ability to start a school is based on your ability to invest in a land tract, or own one, in a prime location or at least sufficiently accessible . have the capital to build school, and relevant infrastructure. interface with government for necessary approvals and other purposes like grants, compliance etc. This greatly limits competition in the industry. Worse, it eliminates motivation to improve. Instead, what I expect in the future is a triad, which optimizes competition, ensuring better outcomes. The triad would be Infrastructure providing businesses Regulation, Compliance Testing Services The
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Technology Endgame

My brain was wired to wonder what would happen 10 years down the line. Not with my life, but with the profession that I am attached with, of computer software. In 2000, I believed we would be selling songs on the internet, doing infrastructure management remotely and need security consulting for organisations in ICT and most of that is true. Now, what next. When I look at the current landscape in technology + businesses, where is what generally happens. Startups, which do various business models providing similar services, eventually merging to form large companies to provide scale, as and when the service becomes  a commodity. The interesting nature of the startups from around 2005 is simple, automate. Automate the way we live our life. What will we do when we have reached this level of automation, and a particular level of efficiency - Cars are no longer produced for individuals to purchase, but can be 'rented' for short periods.  Public/Private scaled transport
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Why Mumbai will never be free from traffic

2004 : Regular commute on the western express highway (which was barely a total of 3-4 lanes) all the way to Seepz, sometimes via Aarey Colony/JVLR. Chai pe discussions (borrowed phrase) over why are they bothering to build a highway in the middle of the city..why we just cant have a metro from  Ghodbundar / Kashimira  to atleast Bandra , since we were anyways building the commercial district of Bandra Kurla Complex  and the  Bandra  Terminus. Anyways Delhi had a metro since the 1990's, and we being the hip and happening Mumbai deserved our own. That, we all know did not happen. And, in the meanwhile, atleast I now have good understanding of why something like that or similar will have opposing forces : Lost Fare - Such a move would render thousands of auto fares/taxi fares needless. Think about Rs. 1 to 2 crore lost on a daily basis. In this context, think of the cycle of increasing taxi-auto fares -> increasing taxi/auto permits -> increasing fares -> you get th
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Formation of Indian States & National Unity - India in Danger ?

Welcome. Please ask yourself which state do you reside in, and the further, the basis of formation of that state.   States, in India, have been formed based on percentage population of people speaking a language . Such a basis, coupled with other factors, have set India on a path to disintegrating which should gain momemtum, in my estimtates within the next decade, with visible extreme negative results by 2025 . The intensity of this problem has aggravated in the last decade, simply due to the change in technology, making people more connected, in many cases amplifying perceptions of injustice to a particular group.   Why such a basis of division has been accepted, and used so far, is a question that needs serious answering. Worse, the momentun of such activity has been increasing in the past 15 years, bringing us periliously close to a Europe like reality.   Chattisgarh - formed 1 Nov 2000, separated from Madhya Pradesh. Uttarakhand - formed 9 Nov 2000, from Uttar Pradesh
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Is India a Shudra nation now

Across my reading of the Hindu literature, the segregation of the people is generally into the 4 classes. Please note, CLASSES, not castes. The word used for this social classification is 'varna', not 'jaati'. Loosely translated, it means, a class, a complexion, a category. Those who defend and fight for honour, largely, to uphold 'dharma' or righteousness, are Kshatriyas. The key capabilities are those of war and battle. Those who learn, research and distribute knowledge are the Brahmins. The key capabilities are those of learning and teaching. In most places, it can be seen that a combination, a partnership, a close collaboration of the Kshatriyas and the Brahmins is a necessity for managing/ruling the people, where the objective is largely the betterment of the people, or upholding dharma. Those who trade, own business houses, including those of skilled trade like carpentry are Vaishyas. The key capabilities are those of trading and of their particular
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Mumbai - Auto Riksha Permits

This post is largely about some changes which would be beneficial to Mumbai ( rikshaw drivers and commuters both) and not so beneficial to the politicians. The objectives that would be met are: 1. financial benefits to the autoriksha instead of the middlemen. 2. guidelines which bring clarity to autorikshas and commuters, both. 3. guidelines for vehicles. Current circumstances: A permit is issued for an autoriksha, which is transferable to another vehicle used. An public service capable license is required to drive these autos. Currently no additional registration or listing is required to be able to drive Suggestions:  An increase in the number of permits based on the increase in population in the city every year. (before you yell @ me about the traffic problems already, please read on) The permit of an autoriksha should be issued to those who own a public service license. This should be necessarily combined with other details like a PAN number or now an Aadhar numbe
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