Karan Thapar is one of best guy to screw people. I love the way he asks questions. One of the best of his interview is the one with Jayalalitha, ha ha she reacted as if she met her death.
I have attached the Karan Thapar of CNN-IBN interviews UIA Chairman Nandan Nilekani in Devil's Advocate.
Taken from a leading newswebsite.
Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to Devil's Advocate. Why do we need a unique identification number and does the proposal itself make good sense. That's the key issue I shall explore today with the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority, Nandan Nilekani.
Mr Nilekani, let me start with a simple question. It is said that 80 per cent of Indians have Election Commission identity cards, others have ration cards, some people have BPL cards, others have driving licence and passports, there are even PAN cards. Why on top of this do we need a unique identification number?
Nandan Nilekani: We need one single, non-duplicate way of identifying a person and we need a mechanism by which we can authenticate that online anywhere because that can have huge benefits and impact on public services and also on making the poor more inclusive in what is happening in India today.
Karan Thapar:When you say one online way of identifying a person, am I right in assuming what makes the unique identification different to anything else is that in addition to name, age, sex, date of birth and address, you actually have the individuals biometrics which are unique to that individual?
Nandan Nilekani: Absolutely. It is a combination of most probably fingerprints and picture and a biometrics committee will finalise that but finally that makes it unique. And we will also make sure that there are no duplicates. That's another important decision.
Karan Thapar:Let's come to the problems that are inherent in this task. First, the issue of technology. Quite simply, does the technology exist? I ask because the London School of Economics did an analysis and survey of a similar project that was being considered by the British Government and this is the conclusion that they have come to: “The technology envisioned for this scheme is to a large extent untested and unreliable. No scheme on this scale has been undertaken anywhere in the world. Smaller and less ambitious systems have encountered substantial technological and operational problems that are likely to be amplified in a large scale national system”. Now, if that is true of Britain it has to be true of India in spades?
Nandan Nilekani: There is no question that this is a project where we are going into uncharted territories, the technological challenges are immense and one of the risks of this project is the technology.
Karan Thapar: The technology is so essential to the project that I put it to you, this is not just uncharted territory, this could end up being a case of India's ambition outstripping its ability. After all, even today, we can't issue identity cards with a guarantee that the name is correct or that the address hasn't been misspelled. We could end up making a complete hash of biometric details.
Nandan Nilekani: There are certain risks in this project but I think given the enormous opportunity and developmental benefits that it can give, it's worth taking on the project and trying to mitigate the risks so that we get the outcomes that we want.
Karan Thapar: But you do accept that the technology is not just uncharted but at this moment not actually fully known?
Nandan Nilekani: There is no other country in the world where a billion peoples’ biometrics have been captured and stored in an online database. In that sense, it has not been done before.
Karan Thapar: We actually have to invent the technology for this size and scale of operation?
Nandan Nilekani: No, we don't have to invent the technology, we have to scale up the existing technology to work at this scale.
Karan Thapar: But it's such a fantastic scaling up that it's almost a reinvention.
Nandan Nilekani: It's not a reinvention but a scaling up.
Karan Thapar:The second problem inherent is the problem of cost. Once again, the London School of Economics (LSE) did an analysis of a similar project that the British government was thinking of, and that remember is a country which is one-twentieth the size of India and the LSE concluded that the probable cost for Britain would be between 10 to 20 billion pounds. Frontline magazine believes that the government in India has a guesstimate of somewhere around Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Is it worth it at that cost?
Nandan Nilekani: I don't agree with that estimate. I don't know what the exact figure is but it is much less than that by a factor of 10.
Karan Thapar: If you don't know the exact figure, how can you say it is lesser by a factor of 10?
Nandan Nilekani: The bulk part is certainly going to be lesser than that.
Karan Thapar: But it's a guess that you are giving me, isn't it?
Nandan Nilekani: It's a guess but it's an informed and educated guess.
Karan Thapar:So the truth is we don't know what the exact cost will be?
Nandan Nilekani: We don't know what the cost will be but I am very confident that whatever the cost is the social, economic and efficiency benefits of it would make it well worth it.
Karan Thapar:Let me question that. India is a poor country. I put it to you that this order of money could be better spent if you expand education, health and sanitation or if you use it to feed the 40 per cent of Indian children who are chronically malnourished.
Nandan Nilekani: We certainly don't want to take away money from important social programmes but remember that as we expand our social programmes, the efficiency of the social programme depends on the fact that they reach the right people and that there are no duplicates who are taking away the benefits which are meant for the poor. We need to make them more efficient. So you need the infrastructure at the bottom to make that happen.
Karan Thapar:There is no doubt that the unique identification number could play some role in targeting benefits better at people who deserve it, but when in India the prime need is education, health and particularly health for women and children, sanitation (700 million Indians do not have proper sanitation facilities), surely this money could be better used.
Nandan Nilekani: The investment of money in this project will actually make all those other monies be spent more efficiently. Think of it as an infrastructure for enabling you to spend money more effectively.
Karan Thapar:All of that depends on the assumption that technology can tackle these problems. Despite all the positive potential benefits of the project, the assumption that technology can actually tackle the ills of social inefficiency and social problems -- that's a huge assumption.
Nandan Nilekani: Certainly it's a huge assumption.
Karan Thapar:Maybe an unjustified one?
Nandan Nilekani: Look at it simply. You talked about maternal care, we have 10 million women who get health benefits under the JSY programme but we have to make sure that the right women get it before their pregnancy so their health will improve, the quality of the delivery will improve. These are all real social problems that this information can help you to solve.
Karan Thapar:Let me tell you why that is an inadequate example. You can only target better those women who are actually availing of the benefits but not receiving them fully. Take the example of BPL, it is a much better quoted example. The real problem in India is not that people who should receive BPL assistance do not get it properly and that there is leakage. The real problem is that there is a vast number of people who qualify and are not included in the BPL threshold at all. How will you be addressing the second problem?
Nandan Nilekani: What happens today in a particular state is that there may be more BPL cards than the population of the state because there are multiple cards issued to an individual. With the UID, you will be able to actually trim that down to one card per individual and therefore we will actually know who is not getting this now.
Karan Thapar:But what you can't do is to identify the people who should have BPL cards and do not have them because they are outside the system, they have been ignored. Technology won't improve that?
Nandan Nilekani: This (UID) is not a panacea for all the problems. This is an enabler which will allow more effective public delivery.
Karan Thapar:Which is why I say to you that the order of sum of money involved could be better spent in targeting education, sanitation and health not to mention child malnutrition because you would actually then get real benefits rather than what I am describing as 'notional benefits.'
Nandan Nilekani: Suppose in a country we are spending 100 to 200 thousand crores a year on different kinds of subsidies and social benefits, to make investment which is a part of that one time, to make those investments more efficient is definitely well worth it.
Karan Thapar:Is it a one-time investment? In fact, the Frontline magazine says that the government's estimate of Rs 1.5 lakh crore does not include recurring cost. The recurring cost could add to that and we don't know by how much?
Nandan Nilekani: On the scale of money that we spend on public programmes and the ability of the project to deliver better public programmes it will be well worth it.
Karan Thapar:That is the debate. We are leaping in the dark in the belief that technology would help us deliver our programmes better. But as you say the technology is not known, it has to be upgraded in such an enormous scale that I call it a reinvention although you dispute that. The cost itself is unknown, you agreed to that. And therefore I put it to you again, there are so many imponderables about technology, size and cost that is it wise for a poor country like ours, where there are huge levels of poverty (Arjun Sen Gupta Committee report says that 80 per cent of India live under Rs 20 a day), should we therefore be spending this sort of money on this project?
Nandan Nilekani: The Government has come to the conclusion that this project is stragetic and worth it. I have been invited to lead this project. I believe that it is viable and I will do my best to make it viable.
Karan Thapar:Let me come to the third inherent problem in the unique identification number project. How can you ensure that the database that you are creating will be secure and that it won't be misused and it won't, worst of all, result in an invasion of privacy?
Nandan Nilekani: That is a very legitimate concern. We are looking at the design as to how to make it secure. We are saying that nobody can read this database. All they can do is verify the authenticity of an identity. You can ask a question like -- is x x? and the only answer we will give is yes or no. So there is no data coming down from the pipe. But there is no question that once the UID is implemented and the UID becomes ubiquitous in many applications, then there are challenges of privacy and I think along with this project, we have to put in other checks and balances, including laws.
Karan Thapar:Can you ever put in sufficient checks and balances? You said that people can only verify against this database. They won't actually be able to read it, but professor Ian Angle of the LSE, a world renowned authority on precisely the creation of such database, says with relevance to England, and it will apply even more to India, that what you are going to end up with is the "Olympic games of hacking." You are going to provide people the biggest challenge to hack through. No one believes in the perfectability of computers, so hackers will hack and succeed.
Nandan Nilekani: This again is a legitimate concern but we will have to design it as good as possible.
Karan Thapar:Can you design it to prevent hacking?
Nandan Nilekani: We can certainly create checks and balances.
Karan Thapar:The risk of hacking can never be removed hundred per cent?
Nandan Nilekani: In every system, there will be people who will try to hack on it. Some are impenetrable, some are not. The important thing is -- is the risk of hacking and privacy large enough not to do this project? And the view is that the project has so many significant benefits for the poor in making it inclusive and in giving them a chance to participate in the country's progress, that it is worth it and we have to mitigate those risks.
Karan Thapar:In India, you are creating a system which in the wrong hands would be a powerful tool for either religious or caste profiling. How can you ensure that unscruplous politicians won't misuse it for their benefit and against your intentions and the best interest of the Indian people?
Nandan Nilekani: We are not keeping any profiling attributes in our database.
Karan Thapar:You mean you won't have any details of people's caste?
Nandan Nilekani: No.
Karan Thapar:In which case, how can you say to me that you will better target benefits at BPL and other categories because if you don't know someone is SC or ST, if you don't know that they are OBC, how can you ensure better targetting?
Nandan Nilekani: That is the responsibility of the applicant that provides those services.
Karan Thapar:So then they will add in that feature into your detail?
Nandan Nilekani: That is outside our system. Our system has only basic attributes like the name, address, date of birth.
Karan Thapar:When you say that it's outside your system, you are providing the fundamentals for someone else to misuse? But misuse, if not at your end, will happen later on.
Nandan Nilekani: There are databases today which are accessible and therefore along with this we have to create the necessary laws, checks and balances, the citizen oversight to guard against these things.
Karan Thapar:The first thing that you conceded or accepted is that even if there is no misuse at your end, there is a huge potential of misuse at the end of other people who have access and use it and add to it. What you are doing therefore is that you are creating a weapon which you may not misuse but others could?
Nandan Nilekani: Today itself we have electronic databases in the country which potentially can be used the way you are suggesting. We are not doing something different from what already exists.
Karan Thapar:You said a moment ago that you would create checks and balances. I put it to you that you can never create sufficient and the reason say is this -- In the UK, in the US and in Australia, because the authorities couldn't respond to public concerns about misuse, they have effectively put on the backburner consideration of similar schemes for those countries. Now if developed countries cannot tackle the problem of misuse, then how can India, where 35 per cent of the people are illiterate and 22 per cent live below the poverty line? How can India claim that we can tackle these problems?
Nandan Nilekani:What these developed countries have put on hold is giving national ID cards to people. But both the countries, US and UK have a number. For example in the US, you have the social security number, in the UK there is the national insurance number. They already have a numbering system, which is what we are going to propose.
Karan Thapar:Except for the fact that it is nowhere near as extensive or as complete in terms of the biometeric details as what you are proposing in India. The national insurance in Britain has been around and developing slowly but it doesn't have any details that could lead to an invasion of privacy. It doesn't have any details that can be misused for profiling. Yours could have both?
Nandan Nilekani: As I said, these are legitimate concerns and I think we have to address them in the public as well as in the laws and so on. But notwithstanding these concerns, the social benefit, the inclusivity that this project will provide for the 700 million people in this country who are outside the system is immense enough to justify doing this project.
Karan Thapar:Can I challenge that justification? You are making it as an assertion, you are making it perhaps as a system of belief but what's the proof that the benefit will actually justify the risk?
Nandan Nilekani: The benefit is a profound benefit because the poor who don't have identity in this country will be able to get an identity, it will empower them, it will help to meet their aspirations, they are the people for whom this is being done and I do believe they will benefit greatly from this number.
Karan Thapar:you talk of giving people an identity but the problem is you are not a demographer, you are a technocrat. How are you going to handle the inevitable problems of internal migration or illegal immigration which are going to bedevil your scheme. How are you going to ensure that the wrong people aren't captured in your system and given an identity and made Indian?
Nandan Nilekani: Having this number does not confer any rights, benefits or any entitlements. All it does is confirm that X is X.
Karan Thapar:There are hundred ways of doing that. Why are we spending close to Rs 1.5 lakh crore on this project just to be able to claim X is X?
Nandan Nilekani: To have a system which uses a unique identifier like biometrics, having a system which ensures there are no duplicates and having a system that provides online authentication is, we believe, something that can have a lot of social benefits for the poor.
Karan Thapar:I won't question that belief although I call it a catechism of faith. One either accepts it on faith or one doesn't
Nandan Nilekani: I am not a high priest of technology.
Karan Thapar:I will end by quoting the conclusion the LSE came to when they reviewed a potential British concept along the lines of what you are doing in India: "The success of a national identity system depends on a sensitive cautious and cooperative approach involving all key stakeholders, including an independent and rolling assessment and regular review of management practices," and the LSE concluded that did not exist in the UK. If it does not exist in the UK, that environment certainly doesn't exist in India?
Nandan Nilekani: We are trying to make sure that all the checks and balances are there. We will have a very wide consultative process. We will involve everybody. We will make it public. All these are legitimate concerns and we have an obligation to meet these concerns.
Karan Thapar:I Hope you succeed. A pleasure talking to you.
Nandan Nilekani:Thank you.
Crime Next Door
There was a gunbattle in the heart of Delhi's posh suburb as police and assailants exchanged fire in Palam Vihar in Gurgaon. According to witnesses, five men armed with weapons had arrived at the C-Block residence of Anoop Choudhary, a senior executive in an automobile major (Maruti) at 9:30 Friday night.
The men at gunpoint overpowered Choudhary's son, ankur who had just returned from work and took away his SX4 Maruti car. Ankur's father overhearing a commotion immediately called the police. In the ensuing commotion, three of the men drove off the car into a dead end and abandoned it.
Meanwhile, two of the assailants had rushed into the house and barricaded themselves on the first floor. At least five family members were inside the house. Two of the robbers have been killed and three escaped.
"The police were in touch with them," said Vikram, neighbour.
According to the police, the shootout lasted for an hour, at the end of which two of the men were killed and it is believed that some escaped, efforts are on to try and locate them.
The police have set up several barricades in Gurgaon and neighbouring areas. The latest incident highlights the growing concerns over crime in the city.
*** This article is taken from NDTV website.
Gurgaon, India is industrialized City and most corrupted city as well. The only problem that this city faces is the presence of Arms by gangsters
The men at gunpoint overpowered Choudhary's son, ankur who had just returned from work and took away his SX4 Maruti car. Ankur's father overhearing a commotion immediately called the police. In the ensuing commotion, three of the men drove off the car into a dead end and abandoned it.
Meanwhile, two of the assailants had rushed into the house and barricaded themselves on the first floor. At least five family members were inside the house. Two of the robbers have been killed and three escaped.
"The police were in touch with them," said Vikram, neighbour.
According to the police, the shootout lasted for an hour, at the end of which two of the men were killed and it is believed that some escaped, efforts are on to try and locate them.
The police have set up several barricades in Gurgaon and neighbouring areas. The latest incident highlights the growing concerns over crime in the city.
*** This article is taken from NDTV website.
Gurgaon, India is industrialized City and most corrupted city as well. The only problem that this city faces is the presence of Arms by gangsters
THE NANO EFFECT - 2
Nano is really an Indian marvel. Perfect engineering (or I can tell perfect supply chain) There is nothing in a car that one find it odd. I got the chance to give a drive check for nano. I drove the car the highest variant with my boss on co driver seat.
My feedback on Nano,
1. They have definitely benchmarked M800 in almost everything.
2. Since it is a rear engine rear wheel drive its steering effort is very less. But above a speed of say 50 Km/h one can feel a slight loss of stability.
3. Gear Shift the best. I really admired it. No stickiness, slip, or even a slight uncomforting feel during the gear shift.
4. The noise outside is bad but cabin noise is very less and cabin vibration is very less compared to the benchmarked car.
5. Braking is comparable.
6. Space – wow here is where the nano scores the best. The front seats are best and very comfortable. But I heard from my test drivers that the seat cushion is hard for a 6- 8 hrs drive.
There are few things that also came up during the drive check. The rear seat vibration, observed high and one person pointed out there is slight feel of engine heat.(but I do not trust his words) Frankly I did not check the rear sear.
Certainly it is the second and the best revolution happened in Indian Auto sector. The Japanese never used to drive the cars which are to be launched in India. But they are coming from Japan and will be feeling the car (for first 15000 Km ) along with top heads of our company.
There is another nano that will be stripped completely and a group of engineers study the level of engineering into the car. The nano may be the smallest car but it is considered highly confidential and only big boys handle it (I handle a model which is planned for a launch in April but my boss handles the nano. Ha ha ) that’s the Nano real effect.
Jai ho! Nano.
My feedback on Nano,
1. They have definitely benchmarked M800 in almost everything.
2. Since it is a rear engine rear wheel drive its steering effort is very less. But above a speed of say 50 Km/h one can feel a slight loss of stability.
3. Gear Shift the best. I really admired it. No stickiness, slip, or even a slight uncomforting feel during the gear shift.
4. The noise outside is bad but cabin noise is very less and cabin vibration is very less compared to the benchmarked car.
5. Braking is comparable.
6. Space – wow here is where the nano scores the best. The front seats are best and very comfortable. But I heard from my test drivers that the seat cushion is hard for a 6- 8 hrs drive.
There are few things that also came up during the drive check. The rear seat vibration, observed high and one person pointed out there is slight feel of engine heat.(but I do not trust his words) Frankly I did not check the rear sear.
Certainly it is the second and the best revolution happened in Indian Auto sector. The Japanese never used to drive the cars which are to be launched in India. But they are coming from Japan and will be feeling the car (for first 15000 Km ) along with top heads of our company.
There is another nano that will be stripped completely and a group of engineers study the level of engineering into the car. The nano may be the smallest car but it is considered highly confidential and only big boys handle it (I handle a model which is planned for a launch in April but my boss handles the nano. Ha ha ) that’s the Nano real effect.
Jai ho! Nano.
NAN0 EFFECT
Well I am talking about the TATA’s NANO car. Well it has a nano effect in market since its volume of production is very less compared to its demand. But it shocked my organisation and we are taking it serious. We have planned to evaluate the vehicle for definite cycles and each parts will be tested for reliability (actually for re engineering, like how most of the Indian companies do). The car was launched almost a month back but I have seen only one car on road, and that belongs not to a person who is in middle class but a upper –middle class family. It has rewritten some basic rules of Indian auto sector. A good learning. I will update you regarding NANO after stringent evaluation.
A one good example, for the saying, 'the real talent would do things what others things it is impossible'
A one good example, for the saying, 'the real talent would do things what others things it is impossible'
Independence Day - I celebrate my independence.
Well in 1947, India got its independence and from the day I am in school I think I have celebrated the day. In college at least we used to badge Indian flag though not a visit to the flag hoisting.
For the past two years Independence Day means a holiday, a happy day where we spend at home either sleeping or sleeping heavily.
Well I have grown lazy after coming to North India. Do you know the reason?
I have complete freedom from every one. I speak to people who I want and I like and no fakes.
I am having independence. Ha ha
For the past two years Independence Day means a holiday, a happy day where we spend at home either sleeping or sleeping heavily.
Well I have grown lazy after coming to North India. Do you know the reason?
I have complete freedom from every one. I speak to people who I want and I like and no fakes.
I am having independence. Ha ha
Thank you - ha ha
I have reached a milestone today. I have an 100 different readers. I feel it is an achievement. Thank you so much for reading my blog.
My best drive
As I am in testing group of new models we are the first people to check the vehicles ( I think at first stage they make the clay models and then the real cars). This happened to me when I was in training. I was with my trainer and analysing the new model for its suspension, ride and comfort. It is a new sedan and rear hood were loaded with about 100 Kgs of weights. The first day we drove and one person found that the sway of vehicle is high and alerted everyone to check safely. My boss drove the vehicle and he found it acceptable. And in next round he made more severe turns to check the sway. And now the climax, he said, “this is the worst that car can handle” and within seconds the vehicle parked into the bush. I was sitting in the co driver seat. The vehicle went completely out of control, the swaying was too much that the wheels got locked (may be due to full braking without ABS) and steering is not possible when front wheels are locked. (It was like experiencing a real movie). I felt like as if I was in some theme park and enjoying the drive. It was not a major accident but our faces turned red after it. Till date it is my best experience in car. Hope I have better adventures in test track because I am double insured.
Ritz - Rocks
Maruti's Swift twin, RITZ rocks in volume sales. It clocked more than 8500 units for the month of June 09. It was about 400 units more than SWIFT. We were actually prepared for a drop in sales of Swift and Wagon R, but fortunately our stock of these cars were also empty. To boost our SWIFT sales we have launched its sports edition and for Wagon R we have introduced Mr Wiser as a sales model. I think in future to the effect of RITZ will not be in any of our cars in the segment.
I learnt driving in this car. I clocked a maximum speed of 140 Km/h speed. This car is really a good car, built in quality is very good.
I learnt driving in this car. I clocked a maximum speed of 140 Km/h speed. This car is really a good car, built in quality is very good.
No Orkutting
Orkut is a real networking site. I really had fun in it. But after a year into my professional world I found it as waste of time. I log in at least once a day and it consumes too much of my time.
Now I have deleted my account in Orkut and I am going to invest the time in blogging which I love better than Orkutting.
Good Bye Orkut.
Now I have deleted my account in Orkut and I am going to invest the time in blogging which I love better than Orkutting.
Good Bye Orkut.
Drive Safe Please
I am working in a department where vehicles are tested for its endurance. There are too many “rules”. I remember one test that I did which I am sure I will never dare to do in my car intentionally.
I drove my car to about 70-80 km/h speed in 5th gear and I tried (in fact very hard as it could not be done) shifted to Reverse gear . The gears should never mesh but I could feel the baby really being abused. (may be that’s why it is called abuse test). The test will hardly take 30 minutes, but preparation and checkpoints before doing the test is heavy and it consumes too much time. Why do we do it; for safety it means to avoid accidents.
In test track there is a patch where one can cruise from 80 – 175 km/h (the 175 is the max speed that I have heard possible as the road ends to a sharp turn). There is only cars and that too in a single direction. Giving the “rule” that one could go at high speeds we had a major accident. The security person who was walking (may be I can say suddenly wanted to cross the road without looking back) in the direction of the track could not notice the car that is coming behind (may be because there was a constant noise from turbine nearby). Result; he broke his leg with multiple fractures. Result; he needs one more leg for rest of his life. May be it is his mistake that he did not see the road but in my opinion a car should always stop before hitting. There lies the skill of the driver.
So, as per books driver cannot be blamed as it is he is within the rules!!
Well this not only happens in test track, it happens in India everyday. As per statistics, there are about 300+ people killed everyday, due to accidents. And as per Indian law, Car is the only vehicle which is licensed to go above 60 km/h speed.
I should specifically mention about “Indian roads” – where one can expect people crossing the National Highway roads (where one can least expect and where they are not supposed to and I think they are the only area where cars can reach beyond 80 km/h). as if the cars will slow down and wait for then to pass.
I remember my boss saying, guys when you are driving keep your eyes wide open because in India you can see anytime anything coming at you in any direction, so drive safe and slow there. (I thought he meant that I can drive at any speed in test track)
One always has the right to say that I went by rules and it is the pedestrian who was wrong. But if you see in-depth the truth is,
1. Your conscience will be pricking you all the time that you have bumped into someone. That will always be there in your mind (and the worst part is you will start advising others which they will never like). It creates an unnecessary fear.
2. It is you or the pedestrian who is making the mistake but it is the pedestrian who will suffer (unless to avoid hitting him you go and bang a group of people where you make yourself and many people except the pedestrian, suffer).
SO
“Drive safe and think in mind we are humans and they are too, Because you don’t have the luxury to say sorry.”
I drove my car to about 70-80 km/h speed in 5th gear and I tried (in fact very hard as it could not be done) shifted to Reverse gear . The gears should never mesh but I could feel the baby really being abused. (may be that’s why it is called abuse test). The test will hardly take 30 minutes, but preparation and checkpoints before doing the test is heavy and it consumes too much time. Why do we do it; for safety it means to avoid accidents.
In test track there is a patch where one can cruise from 80 – 175 km/h (the 175 is the max speed that I have heard possible as the road ends to a sharp turn). There is only cars and that too in a single direction. Giving the “rule” that one could go at high speeds we had a major accident. The security person who was walking (may be I can say suddenly wanted to cross the road without looking back) in the direction of the track could not notice the car that is coming behind (may be because there was a constant noise from turbine nearby). Result; he broke his leg with multiple fractures. Result; he needs one more leg for rest of his life. May be it is his mistake that he did not see the road but in my opinion a car should always stop before hitting. There lies the skill of the driver.
So, as per books driver cannot be blamed as it is he is within the rules!!
Well this not only happens in test track, it happens in India everyday. As per statistics, there are about 300+ people killed everyday, due to accidents. And as per Indian law, Car is the only vehicle which is licensed to go above 60 km/h speed.
I should specifically mention about “Indian roads” – where one can expect people crossing the National Highway roads (where one can least expect and where they are not supposed to and I think they are the only area where cars can reach beyond 80 km/h). as if the cars will slow down and wait for then to pass.
I remember my boss saying, guys when you are driving keep your eyes wide open because in India you can see anytime anything coming at you in any direction, so drive safe and slow there. (I thought he meant that I can drive at any speed in test track)
One always has the right to say that I went by rules and it is the pedestrian who was wrong. But if you see in-depth the truth is,
1. Your conscience will be pricking you all the time that you have bumped into someone. That will always be there in your mind (and the worst part is you will start advising others which they will never like). It creates an unnecessary fear.
2. It is you or the pedestrian who is making the mistake but it is the pedestrian who will suffer (unless to avoid hitting him you go and bang a group of people where you make yourself and many people except the pedestrian, suffer).
SO
“Drive safe and think in mind we are humans and they are too, Because you don’t have the luxury to say sorry.”
I am never alone
I am staying with 5 of my classmates very happily. Sometimes we may not get time to have chat. But still there would be enough sound so that house owner feels that we are alive. Now as there is block closure (for a week), everybody went home. Days went cool, very silent too. I had great time experimenting (and honing) my cooking skills and my adaptability to a lonely environment. Then the D Day. I misplaced my mobile. Usually I give a call from friend’s mobile; solved. But now where are the friends? No one near. Ha ha. Since it is late I cannot disturb anyone. Ha ha. I kept on searching and finally it got resolved when my friend “came” – ha ha he came in gtalk and I asked him to give a missed call. Problem resolved. I am never alone. Ha ha
Delhi is becoming cleaner for Common Wealth Games
Cleaning the city for common wealth games have begun a year back in Delhi but I could find the change when it happened it near my home at Gurgaon NCR. All petty shops were removed and there is a daily watch from cops to null it at least till the event. You know India now looks clean. Rules are made and the best part is made to follow strictly. I think this is correct for the capital, but only for the capital.
My Road to Maruti Suzuki
Before writing about Maruti let me tell something about my road to Maruti.
I am an automobile engineer who never dreamt to start my carrier with auto sector. In fact I wasn’t a kind of a guy who was very much interested in Auto before joining the course. I took this stream because I don’t want to be in one among the junk. I wanted to be different & (may be another reason is) there was a sudden boom in this sector and (one more reason) I never liked electrical or electronics, which I feel a study where people should assume that something is happening inside a wire and predict this will happen. (After very long mathematical calculations). I really hated it as I never cared to learn even in school. But I remember Ms. Padma, my Chemistry teacher saying."most of you guys will dream that you will be flying in cars when you are starting your career, but the reality is not that. Remember. Stop dreaming and learn." I sometimes felt that she was pointing me and said. But the reality is I am really flying with cars, as I deal only with cars, the sexiest of all things on earth. I wish one day I meet her and take her in my car fly at speed more than 200 km/h yet she feels comfortable and safe.
In
I am the only guy in my family to take this course. I was really proud when there were some of my relatives’ added auto engineering to their most prefer list after seeing me. (Nice to see people follow)
College life went cool. I really did not study much hard but life in hostel and PSG Tech is a real experience. It taught me many things especially how to handle with people. And why there is a separate field which studies to understand the human mind(I mean the MBA and micro, nano economics). As expected I first got placed in Software Company(I was happy and satisfied too), and then after 2 months and attending 2 other reputed company interviews (and getting screwed) I finally got placed in Maruti. I did not find the interview too technical to handle, they were of general topics and some advanced technologies in auto sector. I had a light confidence after interview, but after final announcements wow! I was not on the earth for a while. I was really flying. Getting into Maruti is a remarkable leap in my life, my best achievement too
Harsha is My Hero
I first know his as a cricket commentator, then one day I saw his speech in IIM C. Wow! he is the best. "The best".
Once when Harsha was asked about memorable moment in his carrer, he replyed,
"It was when
FEW POINTS FROM HARSHA'S SPEECH AT IIM C TO MBA GRADUATES
When you are using someone's time you ll have to come prepared.
Get your hands dirty because we wont be doing that job later in the carrier.
Corporte world is doing things and not planning it to perfection.
Great individuals dont make great leaders in corporate life.
Take time to relax, manage strees and learning to relax.
If you are working late everyday there is someone somewhere inefficient in his job.
The importance of health. The whole family will be worrying if you are not fit
Incourse of time you ll have the influence people around you. Be honest and have ethics in life. There will be a lot of scope for corruption to enter your mind. Never follow it.
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