Foreign Direct Investment - A Layman's attempts to understand it.

In the recent days, lot of talks is going on about something called Foreign Direct Investment. This made me to assume that all these days Foreigners were making investments indirectly. As a lay man who never made any investments even for tax saving purposes (mainly because I do not know how to do it) - until my friend entered my life - and it is she who still devises the various investment plans. But wherever I turn, people and media and newspapers were talking about Foreign Direct Investment. Being a layman this was sufficient enough to trigger an interest to know more about this subject.

Last Friday evening, after I came home, as usual I was watching TV and browsing through the channels. At 8 o' clock, there was message flashing on the screen on DD National “Please stand-by for an important telecast”. Having seen DD right from my child-hood, I know very well that after such an announcement some “mokkai”(useless) program is going to follow.  But the announcement on the screen stood still for a while and then our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared. To my surprise, he started explaining about the need for diesel price hike and more importantly on Foreign Direct Investment. I wondered how true is the statement “When the student is ready, the Teacher comes”. Manmohan-ji himself have come(though on TV) to explain Me about FDI.

But unfortunately he was talking in Hindi. With the little Hindi I know, I still tried to follow him. I also appreciated his efforts to explain every citizen about FDI, as he knew very well that more than 80% of his subjects would not have understood what it means. Also I got a secret note from believable sources that some among the protestors against FDI do so without understanding what it is. And I am sure now they would have glued to their TV sets to understand it from the person who introduced it. But the only mistake done by our Prime Minister is having selected DD which has only 0.0001% viewership and that too while jumping from one channel to another. Had I been the Prime Minister, I would have selected something like a F TV or M TV and suddenly would have appeared in between an  important program. But being a gentleman, I am sure our Honorable Prime Minister cannot do that.

Tears ebbed out of happiness and I became emotional on knowing that we got such a responsible Prime Minister who has taken the pain to explain it to each of his citizens. Since I was the only person in home who knew (little) Hindi, all others in home were looking at me to translate and inform them. But, I myself was having a hard time in understanding what he said, so I kept a stern face and never took my eyes away from the TV screen. Since I couldn’t understand anything, I started noticing his gestures & expressions. I believe he also had a hidden agenda where he gave a “punch on the face” to those people who said that he never opens his mouth. He was indeed opening his mouth while talking (though it requires some effort from our side to notice this) and was giving mild smile at times.

After the Hindi version, he repeated what he said in English too. But I changed the channel so that people in home believe that I indeed understood what he said in Hindi. I moved to our Tamil News Channels and as I expected, they were rightly discussing about it. In one channel, one guy has translated the whole speech on the fly to Tamil and was explaining in Tamil (at the same time when our Honorable Manmohan-ji was explaining in English). Now I was ready to explain to all in home, but no one turned to me, and they were listening to what he said on TV.

But in spite of all these, I have to secretly admit to my readers that I couldn’t understand what is meant by the Foreign Direct Investment, as the Tamil Guy also was also mostly using Jargons in his speech. Our Sweet PM explained that in 1991 people opposed liberalization when it was introduced, but now we are reaping the fruits of it. I agree with him on that. I know of people who booked a telephone connection and waited for 10 years, whereas we get it now the moment we provide an address proof. Also it almost eradicated the un-employment problem which was in its acute stage when liberalization was introduced. I was in my high school during those days. So our PM says that people who oppose now will also fail, and we will reap the fruits soon. As a side note, I would like to inform my readers that I hate fruits. I like only bajji, vada, etc.

But I still wanted the issue clarified, as partial knowledge is very dangerous. I called upon my friend, whom I believe is an expert on these things, and he is also a small scale business man.

“Hi Biva(name changed to protect identity), how are you doing”

“Hi Pavala(real name of the author), I am fine… how are you doing?”

“Fine here Biva… I wanted to know about an important stuff”

“Yes Pavala… whats it??? am glad to help you…”

“What is this Foreign Direct Investment… why are people creating fuss about it…”

“Its dangerous Pavala… Its not good for people…” he told in an alarming voice.

“How Biva??? That’s exactly what I want to understand…”

“It will chase all the Annachees(that’s how all small scale business men are known in Tamil Nadu..) from business…”

“How Biva???"

“Now WalMart will come and give all items at lower prices…”

I don’t know why all people target WalMart all the time. Why wont  some other company will come. To me it just shows how WalMart is keen in its business and mission and utilizing every opportunity to spread and grow.

“Hmmm… if WalMart can give at low prices, why cant our Annachees give at low prices…”

“WalMart will buy in large quantities and get huge discounts from seller and they will give at lower prices to people…”

“Why don’t our Annachees also join together and form an group and buy in large quantities and get huge discounts from the sellers and give it to us for lower prices…”

There was silence at the other end.

Though our Annachees join together for protests, I know that its tough for our Annachees to join together for business purposes, and in a hypothetical situation if they do so and get huge discounts from sellers, they wont pass it on to us, instead they will see huge profits.

“Tell me Biva, for consumers like us, is it good or bad… We will get items (not the item as in “item songs”… here it means commodities :-)…) at lower prices no…”

“Yes Pavala… But our Annachees and their families will suffer… it will drive them out of business…”

“But, why should I worry about Annachees Biva… are they worrying about Me or about My family… The 'mukku kadai' Annachee (corner shop Annachee…) is not even giving Me free Corriander leaves nowadays…”

“Yes Pavala…” He was a bit sad and embarrassed and we talked about something else for a couple of minutes before we dis-connected.

That cleared it… Soon there is going to be increased competition and we are going to get commodities at lower prices. But our PM said that the accusation that it will drive away Annachees is baseless and they will have their share. I have to agree on this too, as I can see that the road side food stalls co-exist with big restaurants.

I also have business people is my very close circle, but I am really scared to ask them about this.

Note: This article is purely based on the author's (poor) understanding and assumptions and if this hurts the feeling or sentis or anything else of our Honorable Prime Minister or the Annachees or anyone else, it primarily has be to attributed to the poor understanding and writing skills of the author in which case, the author apologizes to them in advance.

Vinayaka Chathurthi

Yesterday around 3 in the afternoon, I asked my friend to update the list of items to be purchased for the Vinayaka Chathurthi. She made a lengthy detailed list and sent and shared it over a chat application. In the evening I couldnt start from office on time & was a bit late and had to hear the question "Then why did you ask me to send that list. Rather, I could have gone directly and purchased them".

But still I managed to reach home a bit early and upon reaching, started for the purchase with the list, which I transcribed to a paper. My friend's strategy is to first walk through all the shops and then come in the reverse direction, asking for prices and purchase them. The market today has extened to the main road near the signal. She first started with Arugampul:
"How much?"
"10 rupees madam"
"Too much... Its 1 rupee normally"

I stayed a bit behind, expecting a tough fight over the negotiation, as a negotiation starting from 10% of the quoted price is sure to bring one. But she decided to move out of that shop and went to another one. Finally she got it for Rs. 5 in a shop. Shopping continued in a similar fashion and finally came to a completion. When she started searching for a "Berikai", I told her that its out of season. But when she found them in a shop, she shouted several times "What is this"... "What is this?" by pointing to those fruits. The women in that shop got scared and told in a feeble voice "Berikai", thinking that the question was posed at her. I managed by saying that some had taken intensive steps to procure them, even if they were not in season currently.

Finally a bunch of banana was the only item to be bought and we came to a man selling bananas. I was summoned with the task of finding the type of banana. For me all banana are one and the same, as inspite of several conscious attempts, I could never distinguish between their varieties. Fortunately that shop man was having only 2 varieties and I asked him what those varieties are. She selected one from them, and said that it was variety offered to God commonly and it was of the variety "banana" :-).

Morning we  were supposed to wake up very early, but slept until our usual time and started making preparations for the Poojai. Mama & Athai had woke up very early and they made all the cooking & initial arrangements for the Poojai. We prayed to God around 9:15 AM and thus our Vinayaka Chathurthi commenced happily.

City Life

Aroma of Jasmine, Chime of Anklets around the office in Mid-night

Guest post from my friend: http://www.ramanipgr.blogspot.in/


Four guys were working in night support for several months

Two days back Jay and Venkat were busy working. Other two guys Harish and Tarun were on leave for the week. Around 12:30 in night, Jay took a break from work and stepped out of hall.  Venkat was seated alone. Suddenly  he felt the aroma of nice jasmine flower. around the same time, he also heard chimes of anklet bells in specific intervals. The eligible bachelor was kind of shocked and horrified. He was waiting for Jay to come back.

Venkat: Jay, Where were you?

Jay: I stepped out to pantry for having a cup of coffee.  what's up ? you look dull. Again fight with your girl friend Riya?

Venkat:  No. This is worse than Riya.

Jay: What else then... yet another girl? what's her name ?

Venkat : Why ? you wanna try ? We call her mogini pisasu(Beautiful Ghost). Just now I could smell jasmine fragrance and the chime of anklets.

Jay: What ? Didn't you sleep well in morning ?  so you slept and had a dream ? (Jay laugh out loud)

Venkat: Shut up. I am serious.

Jay: There is no pisasu. You better behave like a educated man.

Venkat. You wait for some time. Then you will believe me.

Time passed. No smell or sound. Bad luck for our guy Venkat. When shift time was over they both left office.

Next day, Jay forgot what happened previous day. Venkat was tensed like yesterday.

Around 11:45 , Jay wanted to take a break to attend nature's call. The moment he stood up, Venkat opened up.

Venkat: Sit Jay.

Jay: But Why ?

Venkat: Do not leave your seat till I say.

Jay: (he recollects) Oh Man. You are still into yesterday sickness ?

Venkat: Stop talking. Just sit at your desk for another hour.

Jay: I shall go to rest room and be back in five minutes.

Venkat: No. What ever you do it is after an hour only.

Jay: Dei, Don't make me angry. I can control my anger but not this. My bladder will burst.

Venkat: Okay. Then lets both go.

Jay: This is not possible. Other two guys are on leave. Alteast one have to be there online to respond to queries

Venkat: Ok. Then you sit here for another one hour.

Jay: Oh God. Mercy to Riya. I can understand now, why there is frequent fight with her. I have to go rest room.

Venkat: Then come lets go.

Jay:  I will also get black mark for absense in desk.  Its all my fate. Come.

They both are back to desk in five minutes. Nothing happened till dawn.

Jay: Better stop reading horror novels Venkat. Don't open up the same topic tomorrow.

Venkat: I'll try. Better you take your break before 11:30 and be on seat for next hour.

Jay gives a hot glare on venkat and steps out to home.

Yesterday, Venkat seemed to be relaxed a bit, as nothing happened previous day as he feared. But Fate had something else for them.

Around 12:30 Jay heard the chime of anklet bell.

Jay: Venkat, do you hear ? I hear the anklet bell chime

Venkat : (he does not open up , but sits quiet and observe the sound)

Jay: I am asking you da

Venkat: Keep quiet. Don't open up and convey the Pisasu(Ghost) that we guys are here.

As Venkat said other day, Jay now heard chime sound and smell of jasmine flower also followed shortly. Both were shocked. But kept quiet. The only fellow they can talk to is the security who works in night shift. But they were scared to discuss it with him. What if , he suddenly fear and run away. They decided to stay inside the cabin locked and avoided going out.

At Dawn when duty was over, both of them stepped out. They could not stop worrying. At the same time did not want to terrify the security.  So they went to him casually and had a chat.

Jay: Good morning Sir. All set to leave for the day?

Security:  Yes Sir. I shall leave once the morning shift security is here.

Jay: Oh. okay. So you will come back here in night again like us ?

Jay wanted to develop a conversation, so that in night he can ask him about their sense of smell and sound. However Venkat could not control it for a day further.

Venkat: some smell is present here Jay. Do you sense anything?

Security: That's nothing but the new Odomos cream with Jasmine flavour .

Security bent down to pick the cream from the cup board lower shelf and the key chain fell down from his pocket. It was having a bunch of bells like the one of ladies anklets.

R.K.Narayan - My Days - Review

For a long time, I was longing to read the My Days by R.K.Narayan - his auto-biography. Whoever writes about R.K.Narayan or about his stories always have a reference to his My Days, which increased my eagerness to read it. Last month when we went to landmark, I was able to locate all other works of R.K.N, except his My Days. But somehow recently I managed to acquire a copy of it and started reading it.

Earlier whenever I read his novels or any of his work, I used to complete it in a day or in 2 or 3 days max. I remember reading his "The Talkative Man", while I was travelling from Chennai to Trichy in bus, seated under the only blue-coloured night lamp that was lit in the bus. I started reading when the bus started at 9:30 PM and finished it by 3:30 AM, after which I slept. But this time, I was reading My Days for over 3 weeks. This might be due to the fact that I have not read any novel or book over the last couple of years, or I may have lost my interest in reading, a bit.

In the initial chapters, he describes about his childhood in Purasalwalkam, Chennai. As I live close to Pursaiwalkam, and I know almost all the landmarks that he had mentioned, leaving nothing to my imagination, made it a bit less interesting to read - for me. He has not written the book in chronological order, but has mentioned the major events in his life in different chapters. His school days, then college days, love, marriage, career and it ends abruptly with RKN mentioning that an auto-biography cannot have a final chapter.

I liked his chapter on college days, where he mentioned about his long walks on the Chamundi hills in Mysore. I had been to Mysore for a special trip in my life and I could visuvalize the roads and greeneries in his walking route. But unlike the Puralwalkam, I enjoyed reading his life in this area. During my college days, I also had the habit of walking for very long distances in the evenings, mostly on Friday evenings, until one day I saw a very big snake crossing my route, in just one feet before me. We both got scared on seeing each other and rushed to clear out our ways from each other.

The chapters in which he describes about his search for a job after completing his college was intresting. He had a short stint as a schoolmaster(A govt job). He left that job when his boss asked him to go as substitute for the Physical Training class. He finally decided that he should become a writer, a profession that he liked. A Govt job is much sought after even in these days of liberlization, and he has dared to leave one, since he wanted to do something that he really liked to do. And his family member's support for this un-orthodoxical careers was a plus for him. As my friend used to say, one is very lucky if one is paid for persuing his hobby and makes a living out of it. I am one such privilaged to some extent.

His love was another interesting chapter (read about My Love here), somewhat un-conventional when we think about him, getting in love with a 15 year old girl and subsequently marring her, which should be a tough task in those days, and a un-matching horoscope adding more toughness to it. But unfortunately his wife left this world after 5 years of marriage, leaving behind a girl. Having read his "The English Teacher" - which was more or less his auto-biography of this part of his life - I expected this area to be a water-shed. But he just crosses it in a few paragraphs. He also describes how he over-came it and he belived that death was only a change of vehicle and the soul continued to live.

He also briefly describes his trip to US and his stay in Berkely, during which time he wrote the "The Guide".
He also explains the challenges he faced while running his own publishing company and about his experience in building his own house. In all it was a intresting read, sure to be an inspiration for aspiring writers. Hoping to read  his "My Dateless Diary" soon, which was a journel of his trip to the US.

- spgr.