Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Ideas Ideas Everywhere - Part 4

It's easy to lose track of your focus and wander astray when you are doing something. That concentration and attention become increasingly hard to maintain when you are involved in a verbal volleyball that is based on your core values and principles. The true hallmark of a person is to achieve the truth of the matter concerning the subject at hand rather than pretentiously or outlandishly or deceptively make statements to markedly lower the other person's stance just to prove one's point and fortify their self-image. If a conclusion can't be reached through consensus despite solid arguments embedded in facts, it's better to accept the prevailing stalemate and proceed their respective ways than using cheap, below-the-belt tactics to usurp the discussion in one's way.

By saying this, I am not saying explicitly or implicitly that the discussion I had was destructively heading in that direction. All I wanted to say is that when there is an exchange of ideas and knowledge, it is imperative that things will spiral out of control. But, how well you manage the negative sentiments without besmirching the other person using derogatory or pejorative remarks is a skill that must be constantly and continuously mastered if your purpose is to determine the exact nature of reality that is free from personal glory or bias. In case your purpose is only to self-exalt yourself, then it defeats the very existence of open discussion as the discussion is already lost before the start of it since the individual has come with a premeditated agenda to self-elevate themselves before others instead of channelizing and revolving around the subject of controversy and debate.   

Continuing from where we left from the previous part,

K: So you mean to say....the product can be shitty.....but marketing is enough to keep up sales?

V: Similarly, without planting a seed, you cannot expect a tree. That is what Modi Ji is doing. The seed is being put under the ground. But, without conducive environment for the seed to grow into a profitable tree, it is of no avail. I never ever said that...If not exceptional, one should at least have a decent product that caters to the investors or customers requirements.From the investors' POV, it's about ROI...and customer's angle, it's how the product satisfies the needs and solves the problem pa.

K: Exactly......there is no conducive atmosphere in the country to reap benefits of his so-called "relationship building". It's like those salespeople who try and avail their allowances for business meetings while they are going on a holiday but posing it to be a business meeting...

V: First of all, the image of India should be changed from obsequious and second-rate country to being a confident, assertive and as equal to the first-rate countries of the world. That's what is being done here. Our country's image has been tarnished beyond repair like ppl view the entire India as a poor country. The Social Media and Tech usage helps it to revamp the bad image. Removing the red tapes by degrees, enabling transparency, ease of doing business, GST measures etc. acts as a cohesive unit and supports the good image that is being created by Modi Ji that will augur well in the long-term. By saying this, I am not saying that everyone will become a crorepati in the future. But, it will definitely ameliorate the existing worse-to-worst situations that are prevailing in the different parts of the country.

By the way, pls don't go into GST. I am well aware of the condition at grassroots that IT is going to be a problem in the short-time. How short? That must be seen.

The effectiveness of GST can be appraised only after a couple of years as ppl has to adjust to the new system. That will take close to one year. The benefits of GST can be seen only when all the businesses move seamlessly like the ants following one another pa. Until then, my lips are sealed and will wait and watch how the transition takes place although it is laudable effort to implement at the current scenario when ppl are already used to a certain system and to make them accommodate to the new system will be the monstrous challenge.

And I am extremely sorry if you had perceived to be hurt, directly or indirectly, by my cogent arguments. My intention was only to expand our discussion to reach a common ground. I wouldn't have said anything but I considered you as a sane, sensible, reasonable and knowing you from our DAV days, I just took the liberty to say things which I normally wouldn't have said to others as most of them who call themselves rationalists are under the apparent apparels of rationalism. It's like to be called a rationalist is a trend or fad.

K: Don't worry I don't get hurt for such small things..... GST as system will definitely take time to stabilize.....but that doesn't mean that the tax brackets are rightfully allotted...... tell me.....is kumkum more necessary for a woman or sanitary pads? I feel this only shows how India is being led on the path of regress.....

V: Emotions stamp out logic like an angry elephant. To a woman, especially Indian, marriage is a personally emotional experience. I am sure you will know it better. But, to a woman from a village, her husband is everything. It's her survival. Correct? And her kumkum is the ultimate certificate to womanhood. That's how they attach significance and perceive it. Can you or me or Modi Ji change it? No. So, from their mindset, kumkum becomes their life itself rather than sanitary pads for which they can always find alternate or substitute products in the market unlike their husbands. If their husbands die, they are seen as a harbinger of bad luck and taboo by the society. Societal rules has deemed it like that. Unless a big catastrophic event as the Dinosaurs get wiped out and someone re-writes the complete set of rules, no one can change the rotten-corrupt-to-the-core -hypocritical rules for the emotionally-charged up nature is hardwired into their systems. Of course, exceptions are there. Scientifically and Rationally speaking, Yes. SPs should have been given more weight to improve the overall hygiene. Unfortunately, not all ppl think like you and me pa. Instead of seeing it as regress, it is a strategic positive appeasement on the part of BJP coz if the kumkum prices soar higher than an eagle, then they would have faced severe whiplash during the elections. I am neither supporting nor decrying the move by the BJP. Just giving the picture AS-IS from my understanding. Maybe, they would drop the rates for SPs. Who knows. Only they know pa.

K:  Kumkum is ultimate certificate for womanhood....? Seriously ???? And menstruation is not ?......if this is not regressive thought....then what else is..... isn't it evident that this gov't is playing "bloody" politics to just win votes and take the country further into regression..... on one hand you have slogans like "beti bachao beti padhao" and on the other hand you reduce womanhood to kumkum ?!! If the gov't itself is not able to think progressively and wants the country's women to be oppressed with such a patriarchal mentality......how will women be empowered......? Obviously, they'll be used like tissue paper to wipe men's sexual needs and thrown away like filth......isn't that how rapes/gang rapes are rampant in the country? And only Hindu women are the ones whose "womanhood is certified by kumkum".......but every single woman in country bleeds...... shame on this gov't......seriously!!!

And pls stop calling this an emotion women have......it's forced on them..... women in villages especially..... who are married off even before they attain puberty...... against their wish......and enslaved in the name of marriage......

V: Ahem...Madam..nan maatum yenna sonnen..Society has imposed unnecessary rules on women which majority has no option but to kadapidichifying nu dana solirken......pls read the previous comment carefully if u haven't....Understand one thing...The Govt. did not form or frame the societal rules pa.....It has been there for centuries and centuries and passed on generation after generation like a leaf on a flowing river....In fact, I have also said that even Modi Ji cannot do about it in the earlier post itself....If you feel they are doing politics with it, you should ask the concerned person and not me......What I have said is the objective reality that is persisting in the society as such.......you cannot change it....I cannot change it...idhayum nan ponna post laye soliten pa....I know u will bring about the topic of "What about another woman in other religions"? adhuku dan ..I had already said "Maybe they would drop the rates for SPs. Who knows. Only they know" nu sonnen......

Our forefathers, Read: Hinduism!, had put the rules in place for an effective functioning of the society...In fact, women were given greater voice and role...It has degraded with time to the extent that they have become like a gilugilupu bomma....all we can do is change our own perspectives on life and lead the right life.....Mathavangaluku solli puriya vekardhu koodu ipo elam thappu aagudhu...The only reason why I am still continuing this thread is that you don't claim to be a rationalist like some ppl but u r really trying to be one seeing both sides of the coin and having moral outrage on witnessing the smelly drainage that has percolated our society pa.

K:  I am only concerned about the path the govt is adopting......if a country has regressive idelogies.....it's the government's responsibility to change that and lead the people on a progressive path.....not feed fodder to the regression...... going by your point.....looks like manual scavenging, untouchability, female infanticide and many other social evils might never come to an end..... the govt will probably use all these to gain votes in elections..... then how can we be first-rate country ?

Sanitary pads are a means to women's personal hygiene...... if women/half the population are gonna be suffering from bad health due to infections and unclean conditions......how will this country be a first rate country.......shouldn't sanitary pads been a priority rather agarbathis and kumkum which serve the purpose of Hindu regression? Why has this gov't lost its priorities ?

V: Okay...Just like IT, Manufacturing etc. is bread and butter to us, politics is food to mouth for the politicians...their survival depends on it...I wholeheartedly agree that some earn their income through illegal or alternate means as well apart from their salary and allowances..but, we cannot tar everyone with the same brush just coz few politicians are corrupt...isn't it? So, like how we are having quarterly or yearly or continuous appraisal cycles, the govts also have them in the form of elections for once in 5 years...Othukriya? Doing politics with people's emotions is inevitable as society is comprised of human beings - each having their own expectations and needs.Apdi irkarcha, to what level the politics is done becomes an important question that needs to be addressed.Is it done by ignoring the welfare of the people or performed by including the well-being of all sections of the people?

If I were the Govt., I would have done politics by placing kumkum at a lower slab as my survival is dependent on my next course of meal when I know I don't have additional sources of income besides the salary taken home...But, I also know that kumkum doesn't improve the overall health of women irrespective of religion...I would have reduced the slab for sanitary pads understanding very well that my future (Read: elections) is dependent on the decision.So, a non-pussyfooting response to "Why has this gov't lost its priorities ?" is that....."You have to ask the concerned person from BJP" pa.

K: But you will still be in praise of its ridiculous methods and misplaced priorities aren't it?

V: I know u will ask this que...that's y I had said earlier itself that doing politics is something no one can prevent even if Modi Ji doesn't want to do it....If Congress comes to power, they have their politics.Similarly, AAP has their own...as the ideology and core beliefs of every party is different...and to strengthen and increase the voters' base, all the political parties have to necessarily play to the gallery...Is it right? IN the context of Politics, Yes. But, Morally? No.....However, one thing is that...There was this interview with Nirmala Sitharaman in Times Now and paraphrasing what she said is that GST council will take a look again @ all those products for which the slabs are perceived higher that pinches the majority of the ppl...

K: Hey....just because I don't like BJP's methods it doesn't mean I like congress's or AAP's ways...... but there is the difference between playing politics and bloody politics...... any party involved in dirty politics doesn't deserve to run/serve the people......

V: Idealistically, what u r saying is ðŸ’¯% true..even I was of that strong moral value till some days back until I had a bout of self-realization that there is a clear-cut distinction between what the situation is and what the situation should actually be..but, Practically?? What other options are there? Just coz u and me tell "Dude..what u r doing is wrong"? Are they going to change for the better? No. Do we have the requisite credentials to be in power? No. If given a chance, will u be in politics? You can only answer this question.

K: Even if we don't say "dude what u r doing is wrong" we can at least stop saying " wow this dude is doing awesome stuff" when he is actually doing wrong isn't it?

V: Will u sit and be quiet when someone makes an unnecessary and unfounded accusation on u of something which u didn't do? Think for a moment before answering it. I am sure the answer is No, right?. This is not Mudhalvan movie or Utopia where everything is ideal or perfect. Infact, by the fag end of Mudhalvan also, even Arjun shoots Raghuvaran and tells "Kadasila yennayum arasiyal vaathiya aakiteengale"....Have you ever been the head of a team? If not, then there is no way that you could understand as to how make things amicable between the members of a team to reach an objective - I am talking about good objectives here like the target of an organization and not some frivolous team outing plans...Trust me it is difficult to get things done as I have been there in the position thrice in my life...In Modi Ji's case, it is the entire India consisting of several languages, religions, castes, states, central values of respective states....On top of it, you have external forces acting as well....If you can just imagine the stress that man must be going through, then you will understand that even nightmare will be a sweet dream! Now, you will say that was what for he was elected by the people...Correct.....But, to do the balancing act between the all the stakeholders without any short-term or long-term hazard is something which even any high-wire artist will find impossible to do it.....Considering how the opposition is doing their business, Modi Ji is the right person for the right job unless they came up with something drastic and dramatic that can alter the face of our country quickly and smoothly.If they can do it, I will be happy.But, will they? I don't know.....Until then, Modi Ji is the best bet to alleviate the misery of poor in the long-term......You are still going to go into overdrive abt Modi Ji....I am not here to convince you coz I know very well that you are not going to be for one.....

From here, the conversation switched to and fro like a Ping-Pong match until it took a decisive and dramatic turn towards "Clean Politics" 

K: Clean politics is that in which first of all a new candidate/party is not threatened by a pre-existing party...... or an election that is not rigged or bribed..... where people are not lured by money and freebies.....where all party funds and cash flow are available for scrutiny by public..... and there are transparency and honesty in the whole process.....

V: Okay...So, u mean to say that if a situation where u become a political candidate who wants to do fantastic good for the people but the people expect freebies to be given during election rallies, you will not offer them even when you know that you will lose the elections and miss the golden chance to do exceptional work that uplifts the society as a whole? For the sake of argument, many will say they won't. And still, others would give a theoretical answer to increase the aura of themselves.

K: That's how these politicians have exploited the poverty of the people...... but yes that would be my stand of clean politics..... it's the same people who got the freebies are suffering like hell because they sold their votes.....after these corrupt politicians have taken over the gov't....term after term..... clean politics would be when none of the parties indulge in such bribery and rigging..... when they compete only on the administrative capabilities and policies.....

V: we still haven't completed talking abt "clean politics"..at least yet.....U r a management grad dana...Unaku oru situation tharen...U have identified a niche area where there is an unmet need...U have a world-class pdt that will give endless happiness to your customers...But, a hardened corrupt govt. official is the one who is standing between you and your delight to the customers...He/She sees tremendous potential in ur pdt as well and wants a cut of the pfts.....Keep in mind that the pain point u r addressing is a major issue that the ppl are losing their sleep over every night....What will you do?

K: I would complain against the corrupt official...... and see to that my business process is done cleanly in every stage..... 

Though I am management grad and have been trained in business management ..... I have also learned ethics.....Well, your example just made it clear why the gov't is lenient towards Mallya, Ambani and Adani...... they have eaten their shares from these tycoons.....


V: U have given me enough fodder to dissect your statements from multiple fronts.....We will start one by one... 

1) Rationalists are open-minded people who know distinctly how to differentiate the reality and cloud cuckoo lands...I am very sad that what you have done is to mix my hypothetical situation as real and have taken it further to be as an example by linking it with the Ambanis, Mallyas and Adani..  


2) "Would complain.....see to it biz process is clean"...These are all merely CLAIMS from your side to strengthen your previous comments...No one has ever seen you ACTUALLY do it as what I asked you was just a hypothetical situation...People are fed up of hot airs! 

3) "Eaten their shares from these tycoons".....Where is the evidence to substantiate this ridiculous statement? In your blind hatred towards Modi Ji, all you are doing is to make sweeping declarations like a seasoned opposition party leader.... 

4) Yes...NO denials...Ethics would have been a part in MBA system...But, learning is different from applying it to reality....Learning is merely intellectual... Applying it is experiential....So, are you ethical in this case? We will break it down again. 

5) There are 3 types of ppl....One who REALLY has genuine intentions to do good, the other who PRETENDS that they are virtuous but only cater to their self-interests and the third who openly says "I don't give a damn about others"...We will ASSUME that my hypothetical situation is real and your CLAIM that you are genuine and what you are by saying that you will report corrupt official....Touch your heart and practically say whether your business will see the light of the day after you have irked and ruffled the official who is sure to have political connections? Though you may not want to say it, the answer is a LOUD AND CLEAR NO. So, basically what you have done is to jeopardize your entire business to protect the vanity of your image to be moral...What I mean by this is that the official will ensure that your business does not start..Or even if it commences the operation, you will face tremendous hurdles and your world-class product will be simply sitting in the room and looking at the ceiling when the people are suffering outside coz ur product has failed to be launched and solve their problem...All this hpnd because in ur hasty pursuit to be looked upon in high moral ground and seem ethical, you placed yourself to be the number 1 priority than your customers..You can say ask where does Ethics come here...If you do ask this question, then you have not read ethics properly...Still, I will give you an example....In Medicine, doctors take the Hippocrates Oath which clearly states that even if the person is an enemy, they have to do their duty to nurse them back to health....In our hypothetical biz case, you are the doctor and you have failed in your duty to protect the customers who are unhappy and sad for their problem is unaddressed because you had chosen to complain about the corrupt official thus starting an unending negative chain of events which has resulted in your world-class products to be idle in the room......If you don't trust me, it's fine...But, ask any successful businessman how difficult it is to run their venture especially if it's a start-up and SME.......


I am just having the feeling that I have wasted my time and energy. I am not blaming you. I am taking the responsibility for having prolonged this conversation for this long. I will just say one thing to your question on Panama Papers... 

1) Did BJP pay me money to portray a positive picture of them? No.

2) Did I project a rosy image about BJP? No. 


3) Am I a BJP party worker or spokesperson? No. 

4) Am I not aware of Panama Papers or Mallya? No. 

All I did was to see the reality as such and understand Modi Ji's thought process how he is transforming or going to transform our country as a neutral, unbiased and objective person who is frustrated to the core as to why our country which has so much potential is being dragged into the abyss of hopelessness and despair.

You can now hate or love or despise Modi Ji in your own world at your own comfortable time. That's your choice. I cannot do anything about it. This has been a good discussion though. Thank you for your stimulating thoughts and relentlessly fearless arguments. You can be the leader of the opposition party to BJP...I am not pulling your leg here...It's really a compliment pa.

Like a thundering applause that drowns the performer's splendid talents on the stage, our discussion also finally braked to a stop but not without a vociferous and vehement voicing of opinions that left me with wondering whether I should have further continued this detailed and byzantine enquiry into the working of the reality. But then, it was way too long and I felt that I would be unnecessarily protracting having dived into detail covering the essential details.

Ideas - The powerful propeller which gives the humanity the much-needed thrust like a Rocket Fuel without which the Rocket of Life will be in a state of inertia and comatose rather than escaping the gravity of the Earth to discover the splendors of the magnificence of the Universe. 

                 "Ideas are no one's monopoly. Think Big. Think Fast. Think Ahead" - Dhirubhai Ambani
                                                                      
                                                       
                                                                               X---Concluded---X

PS:
I sincerely apologize to those who didn't fully understand it as the complete series would have had a mix of Tamil and English. I wanted to preserve the nativity of the coherence of the logical connectivity of ideas and thus, I refrained from translating the Tamil portions into English when I shifted this conversation from Facebook to my blog.

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