Archive for June, 2009

Twilight Zone

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

 
Dear Investors,

As I write for the final time in this newsletter column through which I have led this company for the last half a century, it’s difficult to steer away from that nostalgic feeling. When I was being driven home this morning in my car and as I looked through those tinted glasses, I was reminded looking at the school going children how my mother would give me a hug and my father would place his hands on my head and pray for me, before I left for school. Those were the strong foundations on which I ran this company and led the employees. Ambitions never overtook character. (more…)

The Dragon’s Mask

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

 

June 2009, Beijing, China.

Unlike its sassy sister cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong, where an energized nightlife rocks into the wee hours, Beijing seemingly slumbers early in the night. But, like in most of China, its parks and plazas spring alive to greet the rising sun with taichi, ball room dancing, croquet, Chinese martial arts and other sports! China has surely come a long way since Deng Xiaoping. The ultramodern skyscrapers in the backdrop of a booming economy, the mind blowing pace of development of infrastructure and other amenities and the dead earnestness and meticulousness of the Chinese technocrats and businessmen can put any other counterpart to have a complex. (more…)

Advance Australia Fair

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

 

Australia, they say, is a whole new world packed into one continent, packed into one country. Unarguably, it is one of the most picturesque land masses on the planet with a variety unparalleled. If you are in Australia you can bush walk in the deserts, ski in the Alps, stroll on the Gold Coasts, bungee Jump in the gorges, snorkel in the barrier reef, or simple keep gasping at the amazing sights all around. (more…)

Method in Madness

Monday, June 1st, 2009

 

The government has floated three town planning schemes for an area called Bopal in Ahmedabad but has not been able to implement any of these as Bopal has witnessed haphazard and unplanned construction activities for the last two decades. The layout and the utilization of the spaces in this area is so bad that the government is wary to start anything. The government wishes that it had shown foresight before approving plans for the area. A regret, that will remain unattended for decades. (more…)