It’s Indian railways again!!

I have expressed my fondness for Indian railways in the past. I have fond memories associated with railways. And browsing the web, I find that there are many fellow Indians sharing the same feeling.

However some suggestions this time:

Should we have a separate railway budget?
A railway budget separate from the general budget started in 1924 because the railways then formed more than a third of the budget. Many people argue that now since the size of Indian economy has increased a great deal, why should we just follow history? Why have a separate rail budget??
I have a counter argument. We should have separate budgets for all important ministries. Let the Rail, Highways, Power, Higher Education, Urban Development, Agriculture …. ministers present the annual budgets and future plans of their ministries and the Finance minister should just cover the remaining expenditures and allocations at the end. This way, all the ministries will come under public scrutiny and be more accountable.

Now something about making money.
Assume you have a 1000 kgs of Gold. And you know that the gold prices are at the peak. What will you do? The obvious choice is to sell it off and cash in. Our rail stations and trains have several lakhs of feet-fall daily. Is it not a great place to earn money from advertising? We see some ads but there is potential for a lot more. And only additional money can solve the problems with Indian railways.

Here is a workable solution: Lease out the ad space to different advertising agencies zone wise. Let them be independent to sell the ad space and finally railway ministry can pay them a certain percentage of the money made by them. Different agencies in different zones will ensure competition and the contract can be reviewed based on performance.

Here are some pics to end the blog:-

The Good:





The Bad:

Media

I often hear people complaining about irresponsible media.
I just now opened Times of India website to get some examples of the above and I got plenty. Here are some:
After headlines about Lalit Modi, Sania-Shoib marriage, we have the following:

You're irresistible!
Singles prefer dating hotties
5 dating charms that won't fail
Can suspicion kill a relationship?
Bebo turns a teacher
Salman, the new Mogambo
Where's Maanyata, Sanju?
Juhi prays for brother
Pics: Uber hot Neetu Chandra

And I did not copy all such links.
This is the newspaper having largest daily circulation in paper and one of the largest hits on the web.

We talk about how there should not be any “guidelines” and “regulations” in a free market economy. Let the organizations do what is best for them financially. But India is NOT a free market economy. We have laws censuring TV and media. Why, then we allow our media to be so irresponsible about nation. Do the above listed items qualify as news?

In my opinion the media should “repeatedly” show various poverty related news, farmers suicide, un-education, un-employment, condition of schools and colleges, why the colleges are producing so many not-fit-for-employment graduates, national security related issues and so on. There are no dearth of issues. The media should remind the public again and again about such issues so that people will be aware. And if that happens, there is a good chance that many of them will keep that in mind while voting.

I am not saying that only problems should be highlighted. The media should also have sections featuring achievers – not only Nilekanies, Birlas, Ambanies but thousands of small scale achievers. Why don’t they have articles by a school teacher or a small time businessman sharing there experiences and difficulties faced. But they will not. Because they are “financial” institutions whose sole aim is to make money. That is why most of the news published these days are “paid news”.

I hope a revolution happens by bloggers, at least for the net-savvy Indians highlighting the “real news” and “real issues” of the nation. Amen!

Election Manifesto: The Missed Points

The most “important” way for “inclusive growth” and “upliftment of the oppressed” in India is Reservation. All political parties believe so. But in spite of all pro-quota parties and their luminary and visionary leaders, there are still many areas “untouched” and I think they also should be considered for reservation. Here is a list:

1. Seats in Indian railways and Air India should be reserved for (15% for SC, 10% for ST, 30% for OBC, 20 % for Minority). After all, these casts have been oppressed by the "upper" casts for centuries. Isn’t it?
i. Any train passing through Maharashtra should have 50% seats reserved for “Marathi Manoos”.
ii. Similar thing will be considered for other states in due time depending on the level of voilent protest they do.

2. How about a reservation in Indian cricket team with the following rules:
i. The posts of captain, coach and vice captain will be alternately held by SC, ST, OBC, Minority and General category player.
ii. No two people among captain, coach and vice captain can be of the same cast at any given time. (This is to ensure that “proper representation” is given to all sections of society.)
iii. The playing eleven MUST consist of 2-SC, 2-ST, 3-OBC, 2-Minority and 2-General category players. In addition, BCCI will file a petition to ICC to increase the number of on-field players to 12 so that another player from ex-defense personal or ex-freedom fighter son category can be accommodated.

3. The planned man on moon mission of ISRO MUST take people from all casts & sections of society in the above mentioned percentage.

4. The posts of PM and ministers should be reserved.
PM – OBC
President – Minority
Defense Minister – ST
Finance Minister – SC
HRD Minister – General (So that Arjun Singh can hold this post to "ensure" proper implementation of the above “policies”)
Etc.

You can add many more points to this list. I just started it. Now we should make sure that all our political parties include this in their election manifesto.

Is Raju Running the Govt. of India?

Govt's aam aadmi bill may be inflated: CAG

Who says Satyam’s fraud was a one-off case and it is not a representative of India or India Inc? Today’s headline in ToI says:

Punching a hole in the UPA government's campaign of Bharat Nirman and other flagship schemes, its official auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said in a report released on Friday that the government had been overstating the expenditure.

The news of Rs 7,800 Cr scam by Raju & Co. made such a hue and cry across media, and rightly so. But this news of over 51,000 Cr rupees was not discussed anywhere. Within 1 hr the news was buried in the archive pages of ToI website. This shows that the difference of expectation of public and media from the govt. is so low even in the election year. Even a fraud of 51,000 Cr rupees does not get enough attention.

The report further goes:

Over Rs 51,000 crore was allocated for these flagship schemes in 2007-08 which got transferred to the bank accounts of NGOs, autonomous bodies and district authorities. However, the government has told CAG that it was not aware of the actual expenditure by these organisations.

Raising an alarm, the CAG said money often remained unspent in the accounts of these implementing agencies. Kept outside government accounts, they were beyond the purview of any checks and balances of the Centre.

The report also pointed out how the Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) — created in 2006 for funding initiatives such as the employment of physically challenged, insurance cover for rural poor, etc — was diverted to unspecified programmes like celebration of 150th year of the First War of Independence and towards grants to various cultural organizations.

The government had transferred Rs 6,500 crore in 2007 and Rs 6,000 crore in 2008 to the SIDF. An examination of Rs 3,500 crore expenditure under this account by the CAG revealed that at least Rs 1,500 crore in 2006-07 and a similar amount the following year was diverted to celebrations and giving aid to NGOs and other expenditure rather than creating infrastructure.

Pointing out how the government had been diverting funds intended to provide subsidies to the rural “aam aadmi'', the CAG report said of the Rs 20,000 crore collected under the Universal Service Obligation Fund between 2003-08 towards subsidising rural telephony, only Rs 6,000 crore was spent; the remaining amount was not there in the fund.

Surely, our government is taking lessons form corporate India.

Indian Ocean: The Music band

Came across this band called Indian Ocean. Liked their music a lot. Here is a sample. You can get other songs like BHOR, JHINI etc in youtube, if you have not already seen those.

Defeated India

Over the last 40 hours, when the news channels are as hit as they can be my heart is full of sorrow, eyes wet and mind full of rage. I, like many fellow Indians, am in the same state of mind as the protagonist of the recent movie The Wednesday. I mean, a handful of terrorists could literally take a country of over a billion people hostage. Yes, it is an attack on Mumbai, on India, on Indian pride, on Indian intelligence, on Indian military, on each Indian. And the terrorists could not be more successful. We are a defeated nation.

The external affairs minister of India Mr. Pranab Mukharjee again warns Pakistan against letting its territory used for terrorist activities. Hello Mr. Mukherjee, YOU ARE the one letting your territory used for terrorist activities. Gone are the days when Pakistan was the only major source of terrorists. Have you forgotten the evidences of terrorist training camps in the forests of Kerala, Karnataka and elsewhere in India? Yes, all planning, training and execution is happening in India and done by INDIANS. Funding may be from outside. And this is no secret to anybody. You do not need an intelligence force or a high level inquiry to know this. Ask a street kid and he will tell you the fact.

In India, there is no preventive detention law, and prosecutions can take years. The Wall Street Journal blames our politicians for this.

And rightly so. Now the pathetic situation of training and equipments of our elite forces like NSG and ATS is an open secret. Whose responsibility is it to make sure that our forces are well trained and equipped? Who will provide required money and international collaborations to do so? Any answers Mr. Singh, Mr. Mukharjee, Mr. Patil or Mrs.Gandhi?? The poor brave soldiers are just giving their lives for us. The poor public is giving their lives.
On the other hand, half of the cops are busy planning the security of our politicians. Mayawati's security apparatus has 350 cops, 34 vehicles.

Nothing is happening which could give us hope of a better future. Worse is a realistic possibility. I have no faith left on political leadership in India.

Value of Life in India - II

I wrote this piece after the Naina Devi temple stampede comparing deaths caused by terrorist attacks and stampedes. And now after another tragic incident at Chamundeshwari temple in Jodhpur, The Times of India also points out the same with death counts:
In 2008, stampedes have killed 360, blasts 156
Have we become a society with no sense of understanding at all? I still stand by the opinion that if the authorities really act, these accidents can be avoided. I mean, do not allow more than a certain number of people at a time in the temple premises, provide more number of exits, wide exit gates, route the people properly. Common, this is not a rocket science to do. Agreed, it is difficult to implement, but is it not worth doing if so many lives are at stake??

Islamic Terrorism

Everytime there is a terrorist attack in India, they start the same old debate on TV channels. All the "SECULAR" speakers tell us "Terror has no religion." "We can not claim it as islamic terrorism." "Terrorists belong to no community." etc. etc. Everytime they talk about Gujarat riots and justify that there are communal people in all religions. I agree. But my dear SECULAR friends, please tell me, Is there ANY member of Al-Qaida, Laskar-e-Taiyaba, Taliban, Indian Mujahiddin..... who is a non-Muslim? If terror has no religion, why do not the muslim people and their leaders come to streets and condemn the terrorists? We only see one of two TOKEN gesture from these people, no serious effort.
So if somebody like poet Johar Kanpuri condemns terrorists openly, I can not but praise him for this brave step.


So I would say it IS islamic terrorism and will remain so as long as the muslim community makes serious effort to change this perception.

Opportunity Knocks Our Door - II

A month back I wrote this post about how india can be a potential exporter of nuclear energy technology or more easily the exporter of nuclear energy technology professionals. Now that the completion of Indo-US (and Indo-world) nuclear deal is round the corner, it is time the country recognise the opportunity.

1. Big corporate houses should make JVs with Europian and American companies to provide nuclear technologies. Which they have started doing. This news confirms it.

2. Scientists at Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC), BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Center) and the likes should work with primier engineering institutes to design carriculum and start specialized undergraduate and PG courses.

3. And of course, the govt. should make the task easier for the companies and engineering institutes by making supportive policies, providing adequate funds, helping indian companies deplomatically to clinch deals with western companies.

This may well be another BIG thing for india the future. May be as big as indian IT services industry of today.

Bravo!!

This story is no less than any crime detective novel or movie. If this is true (I think it is), congrats and thanks to the Gujrat police and their political leadership. We Indians never get tired of blaming our politicians for corruption, selfishness, hunger for power and what not. True most of the time. But there are a few who have proved that politicians make the difference. Modi is one of them. I have always believed that a leader should be tough and strong. I am sure unless there is ample pressure from the top, the police and intelligence will not work so fast.

If you also have the same question [How did the Gujarat police manage what the police in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Bengaluru could not do in the last two years?] here are a few excerpts from the above mentioned news story:

Modi has projected himself as a "different" leader because he provided safety to people in a country wracked by terrorism. But 18 blasts in 80 minutes seriously dented his image, and his only redemption lay in going about the investigation with professionalism.

By midnight of July 26 the ruling political leadership sprang into action to make senior policemen understand that their investigations will get 100 per cent support, nothing less nothing more. They had at their disposal money, resources, manpower and even a chartered plane.

"From July 26 (the day of blasts) to August 16 (when the breakthrough was announced) none of us went home to sleep. Every morning at 7 we would all go home and return after a shower and in fresh clothes. We would sleep on our chairs in the daytime. We haven't hit the bed yet," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhay Chudasama, who along with his boss Joint Commissioner of Police Ashish Bhatia and Rakesh Asthana, police commissioner of Baroda, played an important role in detecting the conspiracy behind the bomb blasts.

A news-hungry media was all the time "fooled" by leaking irrelevant stories and even sketches of the 'accused' were made only to "feed" the media. It was of no use to the investigators whatsoever. In reality, they were going down a different path.

By August 8-9, Modi knew his state police was just days away from success that has eluded the police in other Indian states wracked by terrorism.

Well, I am impressed by the professionalism (which has become an oxymoron to police) and the understanding of sense urgency. Read the full article if you want more details.

Value of Life in India

The blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad caused about 50 deaths. That's sad, unfortunate and alarming. But what about the "at least 146 deaths" caused by stampede at the Naina devi temple in Himachal Pradesh? If terrorism is a big problem, isn't these kind of carelessness thrice big problem? The amount of money and jewellery offered at these religious places is huge. The Tirupati Balaji temple, Rameshwaram, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dwarika, Badrinath, Jagannath Puri, Siddhi Vinayak, Akshardham, ....and so many other famous religious places get crores of Rupees daily. Why can't the corresponding trusts make enough arrangements so that such incidents do not happen? Is it such a big problem to avoid a stampede? Having seen many of these temples I think it can be done. If only the trustees of the temples care about human life more than wealth accumulation.

This, added with the ailing bridges over many rivers across the country is killing and will kill many more people than the terrorism is.

Opportunity Knocks Our Door

Since many years I have been a big fan of Swaminomics, the editorial column of Swaminathan Iyer in the Sunday Times of India. If you see the sunday times of last 3-4 years (I do not know before that as I used to read some other newspaper before that) he has regularly talked about the energy security. Here is another article on this issue.

The IT services industry has changed India in a way no one would have imagined. Most of the people of my father's generation never went outside India though they had the higher educational qualifications. And when I see my orkut profile I find my classmates all over the globe. Could a farmer or a clerk imagine that his son/daughter would go to Europe, Japan, USA, Australia.... But that's reality today. And that's just one of the many ways IT industry has impacted us.

But India should not think that IT services would keep pumping in money forever. The way Bajaj used to think in 80s that Chetak would sell forever. Time changes, and it does faster than one relizes. It is time we should come up as superpower in some other area also. Energy services could be one such area. We could not become exporters of IT products but we became dominant exporters of IT services. The same way, we cannot become energy exporters but we can become dominant exporters of energy services. This includes nuclear power plants, equipments, manufacturing, commissioning, maintenance and manpower suppliers. This is going to be a HUGE industry in 10 years time.

Without Title

Hadu Bondhu Das, a farmer in Kalahandi district of Orissa, a father of 3 children, is contemplating suicide. The never ending draught and loan has left no hope for the future.

Rajiv Ranjan 'Guddu' (who was a good student once) has formed a gang of four to kidnap kids of rich people in Bhgalpur, Katihar, Munger and Begusarai districts region of Bihar. The joblessness in the state has left nothing except this way of earning a living for him and his gang men.

Jokhu Prasad now works as a daily laborer in his village in Gorakhpur, UP at less than half of what he used to earn two months back as an autorikshaw driver in Mumbai. The wave of attacks on North Indians in the city had left him bleeding on the streets two months back. He somehow managed to flee away with his wife Putli and daughter Renu.

Khumukcham Gokul is planning another bloody revolution for Gorkhaland statehood. He thinks that the growth of his community people is not possible in WB.

Naxal groups in Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, AP, Chattisgarh are planning a united approach to combat the police.

Ratan, a clerk at municipality office of Jabalpur has decided to take out his both sons from convent school and enroll them in a government school where his two daughters study. He can not afford the increased school fee of the convent school.

Gopichandar and his family of 4 arrived to Hyderabad this morning. Looking for daily laborer job. Their farmland in Guntur district in AP has been taken by govt which will be used for an SEZ.

Shobhit, a newly joined SET of Infosys has postponded the plan to buy a bike for now and will go to office by BMTC bus. Reason: Increased fuel price and heavy traffic in Bangalore.

The prime minister of India has won the trust vote in parliament today.

At least somebody is happy in India.

What’s in a name?

The family which has done the greatest good to India is the Nehru-Gandhi family.
What else can be the reason for naming several hundreds of important institutes, airports, hospitals, colleges, roads, govt. programs etc after some member of this family. From Indira Gandhi International airport (Delhi), Rajiv Gandhi International airport (Hyderabad), Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Kamla Nehru Road, Jawahar Rojgar yojna………………… and the list goes on and on. Actually it will be hundreds of things for each of the family member. Take Rajiv Gandhi for example:

Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the children of working mothers, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC/ST candidates, Rajiv Gandhi National Awards Scheme for Original Book Writing, Rajiv Gandhi Bharat Samvrudhi Yojana-Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, , Rajiv Gandhi Udayam Mitra Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidytikaran Yojana (RGGVY, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Rajiv Gandhi foundation , Rajiv Gandhi shiksha Mission, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Rajiv Gandhi shelter scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, Rajiv Gandhi Computer Saksharta Mission, Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Swavlamban Rozgar Yojna, Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation package for fishermen, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards................... to name a few.

Actually as a progressive thinker, I suggest we start naming buildings and institutions on the name of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi (Vadera) and her children. Ultimately these are the people who will do the utmost service to the nation in future. Right?

Is this Democracy or Monarchy?

???

According to an estimate (my own estimate by observing the placement statistics at some Indian engineering institutes websites), nearly 65-70 % of all engineering graduates join IT companies. Interestingly, the institutes have only 10-15% seats for computer science/ IT streams. So I was wondering why we teach so many students Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil etc subjects when we know they will eventually end up working for some IT company. Why not have 70% seats in the computer science class and the remaining 30% seats shared by other branches?

Singh is King

Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Congratulations for being able to do what you believed was right. Your academic background leaves no doubt that you are an eminent scholar and expectedly you have contributed extremely well as an economist at different national and international positions. But as you yourself admit, you are a politician by accident; I did not have much hope from you as a PM, apart from being free from corruption.

But please accept my hearty congratulations for fighting the lonely battle and at the end convincing your party and allies (barring left) to back you on the Indo-US nuclear deal. I am quite sure that had it been any other Indian politician in your place, s/he could never dare to stake the govt for this (at the time of record inflation and resurrecting opposition). Not that I am happy about the performance of your govt in the last 4 years. I think it was quite pathetic. But this time I am convinced that no one else could have done this. The soft spoken man in turban had the last laugh. I am surprised that media is not highlighting this brave effort of yours. Now, even if your govt falls, you won hearts. Singh is King.

Yours Sincerely,
Sushil Upadhyay

Poor tax payer

This is in continuation to the previous post.

http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/may/27oil1.htm

This happens only because of the vote bank politics. I understand that the govt. of India has no control over the international crude oil prices, and hence our oil companies are bleeding with loss. So the govt. has a great idea to bail them out. It’s easy, ask the money from the tax payers.

My point is, why don’t stop subsidizing the petrol and diesel? So that everybody pays what s/he uses. But they won’t do that. Particularly in this election year. The easier way out is to enforce extra cess in our annual tax.

But if I use a bike for commute (because of environmental, economic reasons and commute time) why shall I pay extra tax? To give subsidy to a person who is driving a Mercedes Benz or any other high power low mileage vehicle?? Is it justified to tax me in order to provide petrol at subsidized rate to that fat ass. Why not let everybody pay what what s/he uses? Anybody listening?? Perhaps in the election year, the govt. can’t listen. Sad.

Rising fuel price

Here is a great analysis from Mr. Maulik Zaveri, which he posted at timesofindia.com.

From: Maulik Zaveri, Ahmedabad (Mobile:9898002186)
Why Rate per Ltr. of petrol is same for vehicle giving averae of 2,4 or 8 per ltr and 40,60 or 80 per Ltr?

Example:
If we take base Rs. 30/- per ltr of petrol and 40 Km. per Ltr. as standard then Vehcile giving average of 2, 4 or 8 Km. per ltr. are consuming 20, 10 or 5 times more that vehicle giving average of 40 per ltr.

So that if price for ltr. of petrol is Rs. 30/- for vehicle giving average of 40 Km. per liter then prices for vehicle giving average of 2, 4 or 8 per lt. will be Rs. 600/- (20*30), Rs. 300/- (10*30) and Rs. 150/- (5*30) per ltr. respectively.

Suppose Mr. X runs car having Avg. of 2Km/Ltr daily for 20 Km., he uses 10 Ltr petrol per day. If we take Rs. 30/- per ltr. of petrol and 40 Km per ltr. as a base his car is using 20 times more petrol than standard so he would be charged Rs. 600/- per ltr. of petrol (20* Rs.30/-). He has to pay Rs. 6000/- per day for use of 10 ltr. petrol in fact he is paying Rs. 300/- only so Rs. 5700/- per day is subsidy to him and for year Rs. 20,80,500/- (Rs. 5700*365. If their are 10000 users of car giving avg. of 2 km/ltr than subsidy to him is 2080,5000000 (Apprx. Rs. 2080/- Crore)!!!!!!.

1)Don't you think that at present governemt is giving subsidy to a purcahse of petrol whose vehicle are giving average of 2, 4 or 8 per Km
ltr. and burden of same is passing on the vehicle owner whose vehicle is giving averae of 40, 60 or 80 per ltr. ?

Balance

Randomness is the nature of the nature. The nature is balanced by random forces in all the directions. Consider a closed empty box in your room with nothing but air in it. It is kept on your floor. Suddenly if it starts moving up in the space, how would you feel? :-)
We know that the air molecules in the box move randomly in all possible directions and hence neutralize each other’s forces. But what if all the molecules get motivated and become progressive and all start moving up. They will lift the box. Is not it? It will destroy the physical stability of the universe. Thankfully, nature has balanced things by randomness.

Similarly we always complain about various things not happening the way we think they should. We want everything to be progressive, righteous, correct, ethical etc (definition of these terms vary from person to person). Like the left parties and BJP should let the govt. go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal, the leftists should allow economic reforms and privatization, there should be no corruption etcetera etcetera. But will not USA start taking us as lightly as it takes to UK if we agree to all their suggestions. I do not know whether this nuclear deal will get through or not, but the domestic opposition has clearly told USA that it is not a charity which we will be glad to accept. Mr. Bush had made it look like a charity that he was offering. But the Indian opposition has clarified that it is a DEAL. Not surprisingly, the US media doesn’t talk about it these days. They are embarrassed.

The Vajpayee govt had a separate disinvestment ministry (first time in our history) headed by Mr. Arun Shoury, whose only job was to privatize the state owned companies. But should it be done mindlessly? Remember at what price did they sell BALCO to the Sterlite group? It was much less than the fair valuation. Also is privatization the only solution for progress? What if the private companies start minting money from the public? Remember Reliance Energy (which supplies power in Mumbai) suddenly increased domestic power cost by 240% a year back? Should not monopolies be checked?

So I believe a strong opposition is the backbone of a strong democracy. Without opposition, countries will become like Pakistan. There should be forces in all the directions to balance the things. That’s democratic way. Sure, democracy runs slower but chances of blunder are very less here.

Regarding corruption, everybody is not corrupt. Also, everybody is not corrupt every time. So it’s balanced too. :-)

Understanding Indian Politics

Almost every educated and civilized person believes that democracy is the best way for progress of a country. I am no different. But, I think, pure democracy at all levels will lead to a chaos and ego clashes. Because, democracy makes every person equal, and if everybody is equal, there won’t be any leaders. I will take examples of Indian politics. By all means India is democratic. Ideally our political parties should be democratic too i.e. their leader should be ELECTED by the party members, and it happens; only the elected member belongs to the same family of the previous leader.

Axiom: Only a blood relative of a big political leader has the ability to become a big politician in India.

Proof:

• Congress has the most powerful family at helm. That’s why this party has ruled India the maximum.
• Whereas when we see the other parties, they came into power riding high on the public image of somebody but vanished soon after. Janta Party came into power because of JP (Jayaprakash Narayan), but since JP did not have any scion to take the mantle from him, Janta Party disappeared.
• Similarly BJP came to power because of Vajpayee, but sadly he is a bachelor. :-) So no question of son/daughter taking the responsibility. Today, everybody in BJP is equally big leader and there is no super leader to lead them. That’s causing it’s downfall.
• The sons of Karunadhi are the strong contenders for the crown of Tamilnadu. I can predict the downfall of AIADMK after Jayalalitha if she remains unmarried. :-)
• The sons of Deve Gawda are the most likely for chief ministership of Karnataka in future.
• Sons of Mulayam Singh Yadav are ready to take the UP battle from him. Poor Mayawati, she is still unmarried.

So, an engineer can not certainly produce (biologically) an engineer, same is true for a doctor, scientist, cricketer and so on. But only a big politician can produce a successful politician in India. The world’s biggest democracy is run by monarchs, literally.

Well, this is strange and seems wrong from an idealistic point of view, but it works that way in Indian politics. So the future India will more likely be led by the sons/daughters of Sonia Gandhi, Bal Thackarey, Mulayam, Karunanidhi, Chautala, Narendra Modi…..and so on.


Similarly, there are companies in western countries owned by professionals, but traditionally India has had family owned businesses (the TATAs, Birlas, Godrej, Bajaj, and so on). The globalization has given us the professionally owned companies like L&T and Infosys. But still, till today majority of Indian businesses are owned (or controlled) by families.

Conclusion: Family owned political parties and businesses are most suitable and stable for Indian conditions.

* And Gandhis will rule here generation after generation.