Thursday, January 28, 2010

Legacies of the titans

And what do we get after we do some number crunching? In the fiscal year ending March 2005, net sales of ICICI Bank were a little more than three times the net sales of HDFC. By March 2009, the difference in net sales was still three times. So you could say that the growth engine being run by Kamath in the form of ICICI had continued to outpace the more solid pace maintained by HDFC under Parekh. But wait. Between March 2008 and March 2009, growth in net sales for ICICI was virtually zero. In the same period, net sales at HDFC grew by more than 20%. In the fiscal year ended March 2005, profit after tax at ICICI was about 18% of net sales while it was about 30% for HDFC. By March end 2009, the balance sheets of both the entities were adversely affected by the meltdown. Profit after tax at HDFC was down by a little more than 20%; at ICICI, it had plummeted by about 12%. Not surprisingly, the markets also seem to think that HDFC is a better bet at the moment. The PE ratio of HDFC is hovering around 19 while that for ICICI is considerably lower at about 10. The market cap to sales ratio at HDFC is a respectable 3.5 while it is less than one in the case of ICICI. The real reasons for this current thumbs down to ICICI are easy to discern. In the fiscal year ended March 2005, ICICI delivered a return on net worth of about 14.5% while HDFC delivered a little more than 30%. After the meltdown, by end March 2009, the figure for HDFC was 18.2% while that for ICICI had crashed to about 7.8%.

In early 2008, when it appeared to most that the bubble will never burst, Business & Economy did a cover story with a headline “Aggression pays; Aggression Slays”. One of the case studies was an analysis of how far ICICI could go with its aggressive growth strategy. Now we know. Says Ashok Jainani, Vice President, Research & Market Strategy at Khandwala Securities, “ICICI has been more aggressive and tried to adopt the banking culture prevailing in large foreign banks. Perhaps that is why ICICI is now reversing some of its strategies. Under Chanda Kochhar, they are trying to consolidate themselves, moving out of the exaggerated aggressiveness that they showed over the last few years.”
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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

An Italian hamlet

Stretching over 50 km along the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most intriguing coastlines in Europe. Deep valleys run down to the sea, confirming the conventional interplay between land and sea. The coast is made up of soaring limestone cliffs terraced with scented lemon groves. For some of the most scenic coastal villages in the world, Amalfi is also listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. While savouring the Coast at twilight is a fantastic pleasure, renowned for its rugged terrain, Amalfi is fast becoming the numero uno choice for trekkers!

Once in Amalfi, a visit to The Cathedral (Duomo of St. Andrew), decorated with modern mosaic, is a must. It has a magnificent portico with pointed arches and The Crypt contains the remains of the Apostle St. Andrew. The Arsenal is located on the left of the ‘Porta della Marina’, one of the oldest doors through which soldiers ventured into the sea. Renowned for its emerald green waters, Emerald Grotto, is set in the charming bay of Conca Dei Marini.

Located along the entire stretch of the coast are small towns like Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Salerno. Statle 163 – the road connecting these picturesque towns – is built around mountains, and provides a breathtaking view of the sea.

The pearl of the coast – Positano, is considered to be one of the most striking and expensive places in the world... a “vertical” village with houses organised in a coloured cascade along the hills. The town itself is an engineering marvel; soak up the sun as you hit Santa Croce, or simply climb up the terraces of Villa Rufolo and Cimbone at Ravello, where visitors can admire a wonderful panorama. Of late, Ravello has been gaining popularity because of its Festival Internazionale di Musica. While town hopping, Correale Museum and the Piazza Tasso, the cathedral in the charming town of Sorrento, with its hidden creeks and picturesque beaches makes for time well spent.

Amalfi is an ideal ensemble of mysterious alleyways, enchanting landscape and lazy beaches. With its beautiful seaside setting, be prepared for being bewitched!
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IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Saturday, January 23, 2010

“Gun and nice words”

On the other hand, its regime is following the Al Capone maxim of “Gun and nice words” with the home grown version of al-Qaeda. It has acknowledged an open confrontation against al-Qaeda, which has been emerging powerfully since January 2009 when the Yemeni limb fused with the Saudi to form the so-called ‘al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’ (AQAP). The US and the UK is teaming up to facilitate Yemen, which is faced with an armed uprising in the north and greater-than-ever separatist attitudes in the south. And, it has started showing results. “The latest strike that killed several al-Qaeda members was in coordination between Yemen, US and other Arab nations. It has left them confused and has deterred tribesmen, who were gradually been enticed by them,” said Obaid al-Jamhi, a Sana’a-based expert on terror tactics, while talking to TSI.

However, Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh has also sent clear signals that he is willing to talk to al-Qaida members who have laid their arms and suggested that he might offer them the same kind of clemency as he has done with other militants in the past. This cautious approach of Yemen is justified amid worries over a probable backlash in a nation where antagonism against the US is common.

It is to avoid the West-trained Yemeni Special Forces troops that were posted in the eastern sectors where most of the operators are holed-up and are trying to provoke the most traditionalist tribes against America and “the traitor Yemeni regime”, who have launched a “Crusade” against them. Also, thousands of Yemenis are battle-hardened veterans of previous “Jihads” in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya and Iraq, and although they are busy with their lives right now, it won’t come as surprise if they join ranks with al-Qaeda in response to attacks.

Experts suggest that if the West involves itself directly, then the present strength of al-Qaeda will increase to millions from the current 400-odd operatives. It is not for nothing that they say in Yemen, “Ya Gharib Kun Adib”. That means "A foreigner should be well-behaved."

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IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Gujarat will pitch in with 130 MW and Rajasthan with 110 MW

Gujarat will pitch in with 130 MW and Rajasthan with 110 MW. The Centre will allocate the projects to the states on January 11. Chowdhury told TSI that the state will promote rooftop solar panels in a big way. So much so, that five MW of the state’s targeted output will come from rooftop solar power panels itself. The rest, he said, will be generated over large swathes of land statewide. He also said the generated power will fetch a tariff of between Rs 15 and Rs 17 per unit. He added that the NTPC’s newly created company, Bidyut Vapyar Nigam Ltd, will buy that power and push it into the national grid. In fact, it was acclaimed film director and former Rajya Sabha MP Mrinal Sen who is said to have shown the way. As an MP, he had donated a part of his MPLAD Fund for setting up of India’s first Energy Park. This has not only demonstrated ways of generating alternative and green energy but also shown alternatives like pump storage or even producing energy through paddle power.

Speaking to TSI, Sen said, “Being inspired by then power minister Sankar Sen’s initiative, I first donated some amount of money for setting up a solar power plant at a remote village of Birbhum district. That charged me and I donated the entire amount in three installments to the minister and Chowdhury for that Energy Park." He added, “MPs should allocate their MPLAD funds for such projects instead of misusing them." West Bengal plans to set up a dedicated hub at Andal in Burdwan district to manufacture components for solar energy units. Spread over 100 acres, it is likely to attract an investment of Rs 1000 crore by 2013. “Four companies are already generating power under this project,” Gon Chowdhury told TSI.
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IIPM Editorial, 2009

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Bring cinema to life with a human touch

“The reason why IITs do so well is because they do a fine job of filtering candidates and they get the cream of students for input” says Agarwal to TSI. He points out that, “the basic flaw with the system at IIT is that it is very bookish…there isn’t enough faculty with industry or field experience. Let me clarify that I graduated about 35 years back and things have possibly gotten better now. Basically, back then there was a lot of inbreeding at IITs; after B.Tech, M.Tech, PhD, they’d start teaching. So it was very theoretical. The problem with the IITs is the same as that of most Indians – lacking when it comes to application/implementation.” It might as well have been Rancho speaking in the film.

“A lot of people in the world are disappointed simply because they feel life is passing them by just because they do what they don’t care about at all.” says actor Himanshu Malik, who has a degree from Delhi College of Engineering, but decided to pursue a career in modeling and films because his interest in engineering “waned”. Asserts Madhavan, “The whole idea is to let the child blossom when he is a kid and not put the pressures of academics but put the pressures of education on him.” Thoughts, which right now are pounding through a million minds, thanks to the sudden draft of the breeze that was “3 Idiots”.

It’s fairly simple to decode the Hirani formula, but like Coca Cola, very hard to replicate. Says trade pundit Taran Adarsh, “On a personal level I feel that his movies not only entertain but also enlighten and educate and I feel that's his mantra for success.” There are those three words again – enlighten, educate and entertain. And at this moment, only Rajkumar Hirani seems to know how to create a perfect blend of the three.

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IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Monday, January 18, 2010

A Dynasty Spent

In Pakistan Chowk, Karachi, the once famous akhara of the Bholu brothers is now a gymnasium for youth wishing to beef up. Outside, Wasim Tara, a wrestler from the yesteryears, is engaged in dressing the fractured leg of a woman. Whatever happened to wrestling?

Traditional wrestling or Pahalwani had its most famous practioner and proponent in Rustam-e-Zaman Gama Pahalwan. The legendary strongman who remained undefeated in his career of over 50 years in undivided India and abroad, his strength(s) were soon those of his sons, the famed Bholu Pahalwan brothers. Today, however, the familial as well as cultural heritage of this sport, considered sacred by its patrons – a world away from the evils of modern-day steroids and supplements – is shrinking, as Nasir Bholu, grandson of The Great Gama, and son of Bholu Pahalwan points out. This third generation wrestler laments how the Gama kin are reduced to running a gymnasium in Karachi, or living off the local custom of getting medical dressing done by pahalwans.

TSI: When did you start your wrestling career?

Nasir Bholu (NB): It started in 1976 when I was 15. The famous Japanese wrestler Anoki was in Pakistan along with a team of wrestlers. I fought with one of the wrestlers accompanying him and won the bout.

TSI: When did your family migrate to Pakistan?

NB: My father Bholu Pahalwan was born in Amritsar. In India, the Maharaja of Indore and Maharaja of Baroda encouraged wrestling a lot. My father migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and during the early years, we received a lot of encouragement from the Pakistan government too.

TSI: Why is the tradition of local wrestling losing out in Pakistan?

NB: Wrestling is a very costly affair. Previous governments encouraged wrestling and people in general were emotionally involved in it.

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IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Tradition of selfless service

Congress may be in disarray in Gujarat, but the Chavda-Solanki clan remains invincible in Borsad, reports Hitesh Ankleshwaria

In Borsad town of Gujarat's Anand district, the Congress party office still has a Gandhian air. Situated in the heart of the town, the office is spartan. If the building did not have a signboard, one may have mistaken it for an old-fashioned business office with the seth (owner) sitting cross-legged behind a sloping desk attending to the day’s work. Just about anyone, even a beggar looking for food, is free to walk in and air his thoughts before Amit Chavda, local MLA and cousin of Bharatsinh Solanki, Union minister of state for energy. This is exactly how Ishwar Chavda, called Dada or elder brother, used to function in the past.

The history of Anand district is very interesting. It is the country's milk capital. Politically, the region has been dominated by the Congress and the Chavda-Solanki clan commands much respect here primarily owing to the selfless social work put in by Ishwar Chavda. The BJP won the LS seat only twice, in 1989 and 1999. Ishwar Chavda's loss in 1999 to Dipak Sathi shocked him. Following Chavda’s demise, his grandson, Bharatsinh Solanki, successfully wrested the seat from the BJP in 2004. Solanki has been state Congress president since taking over the reins post-2002.

Ishwar Chavda politically consolidated the landless Kshatriya community along with Dalits and Muslims. The relative prosperity of the Patels and their large land holdings had marginalised the other communities.

Back at the Congress karyalya in Borsad, people start gathering inside the office mid-morning. They are a mixed bag of very poor, middle class and affluent. There are no privileges for anyone. Everyone sits on the cotton mattresses spread out on the floor. A septuagenarian villager gives a letter to Chavda. He has come from Dehmi, a village of 5000 some seven kilometers away. Parsottamdas Gohil is a sarpanch of Dehmi and wants a BPL (below poverty line) card for his village. Receiving a letter from Gohil, Chavda immediately makes a telephone call to the Collector and asks him to get the work done. Just then a beggar with a knee injury walks in. “What do you want? Need medicines?” “Yes,” he stammers. “Do you get your food regularly at Jalaram Mandir?” The beggar nods in the affirmative

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IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Friday, January 15, 2010

Arjun Singh’s days of glory are finally over

This has further weakened Singh’s position and his electorate is only too well aware of it, though it continues to respect the Singh family name. In 1952, Arjun Singh’s father Raja Shiv Bahadur Singh, was the official Congress candidate but the then PM Jawahar Lal Nehru campaigned against him on corruption charges. To uphold the family name in 1947, Arjun Singh fought as an Independent from Churhut and entered the Vidhan Sabha as a 27-year-old. Barring a short period when he was with the Tiwari Congress, Singh has spent 50 years with the Congress active both at the state and national levels. He was CM of MP thrice and central minister many times over. The locals acknowledge him as the biggest leader of the Vindyas but are quick to add that he has neglected the area.

In Sidhi, Satna and Reeva, the loss of faith is tangible. In 1980 when he became CM for the first time a Dalda factory came up in Churhat, a cement factory in Baghwar and a khandsari mill, all of which lie closed while the BJP and the Congress trade charges.

The BJP MLA, Kedarnath Shukla from Seedhi reasons:” If Arjun Singh was that big a leader all seats would have gone to his party. But that never happened. The fall of the Samajwadis helped him rise. His rise was a result of circumstances. For years he was minister for education and health. In both these areas, we continue to be laggards”.

It is not that Singh does not have his supporters, at Saadha, Kalyan Singh says, “He got us a degree college and factories.” Shankar Bahadur Singh of the same village says: “Earlier people were more accepting of failure. Not so now.” There is praise for Singh’s son Ajay who helps people personally.

The tribals are unhappy. At Kapoori village Mangal Molai says, “I don’t have a job card as hundreds of others. We don’t even have disability certificates. The Churhut college runs under a tin shade. The roads are pitiable.”

Satna’s former Congress MLA, Arun Pratap Singh, says: “Arjun Singh helped many people in the area but never took anyone with him.” Another former MLA Ramashray Prasad Singh says: “He was interested in promoting only his own family. That was his undoing.” The district’s Congress president says, “Things were different earlier. There was a lack of opposition. Now the backwardness coupled with a vibrant opposition is eroding faith in Arjun Singh. Even his son is unable to capitalise on his name.”

But the master politician that he is, on November 14, Arjun Singh distributed watches, shawls and certificates to 2,500 old Congressman and used the occasion to declare: we are not a political dynasty.”

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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Euro Launched

Euro was officially adopted as the common currency of European Union by the 16 of the 27 Member States of the Union making it the second largest reserve currency and the second most traded currency in the world after the US dollar. As of today, with more than €751 billion in flow, the euro is the money with the highest combined value of cash in circulation globally. It has also helped propel the Eurozone as the second largest economy in the world. What has worked in favour of Euro is the fact that it is inversely correlated to the US Dollar, which makes it the best bet at hand in case the Dollar falls. This is precisely why, during the meltdown several other European nations also started trading in Euro. Economic manifestation of the European political aspirations, it has succeeded in eroding the monopoly of Dollar.

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IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

‘Gujarat’s push to education is unique’

The innovative ‘Gunotsav’ (Festival of Quality Education) is a unique idea to revamp primary education across 18,000 villages and all urban centres in Gujarat. Raman Vora, education minister of the state, in this interview with Manish Macwan, spells out this and other plans of the narendra Modi government aimed attransforming the state’s education system.

How was ‘Gunotsav’(Festival of quality education) conceived?

Over the past seven years, the government of Gujarat has successfully run school enrolment and women education programmes. Because of these efforts, we have seen 100 per cent enrolment in primary schools across the state. The dropout rate in primary schools has come down to 8 per cent from 42 per cent. Our efforts are not only to deliver education to the people but to ensure it is of a certain quality.

Can you elaborate please?

To deliver quality education to every student, we have roped in 8,000 government officials across the state. Chief minister Narendra Modi, the chief whip of the Gujarat Assembly, all state cabinet ministers, IAS and IPS officers took part in the ‘Gunotsav’. We planned sudden and surprise inspection visits to every primary school for three days in a row. We received tremendous response from teachers and students. We held tests and general knowledge quiz programmes. In the six villages which I visited, some parents were so impressed that they collected money to buy computers for the schools. This shows how public participation works if we give it a good shot.

‘Pravesotsav’(Celebration of Enrolment) was successful. The response even in remote areas was spectacular. How much do you expect from Gunotsav?

First, Gunotsav is not an audit programme. Its aim is to encourage both students and teachers. Some teachers personally request me to celebrate such programmes at least twice a year. Teachers believe that from such programmes, their ability and teaching quality improve and they get encouragement. Already, I can see the results for myself. I hope my teachers sustain their enthusiasm and hopefully, in two to three years, we will see more tangible results. This is not a quick-fix programme. Don’t expect results in the very first year itself.

A state will do well in education if it has a strong system of primary education. So apart from Gunotsav, what extra efforts are being made to improve primary education?

Children should not just get education but education with a cultural ethos. Worship and yoga are a part of it. Everyday, schools in Gujarat declare their own “Aaj ka Deepak” and “Aaj ka Gulab” from among the students. A student does not have to wear the school uniform on his/her birthday.

Gujarat has taken revolutionary steps in primary education. What about higher education?

Right now, we are focusing on primary education. However, we will definitely put efforts into secondary and higher secondary education in the future.Could you specify what kind of efforts you are talking about?

At present, it is difficult to talk about them because I will be able to speak only after the final blueprint is drawn up. This year, we have established 240 new schools. In 2011, the state government intends to start 1,000 new secondary and higher secondary schools to mark the golden jubilee of Gujarat.

Though Supreme Court has strictly banned it, many schools in the state are subjecting small kids to interviews. Parents also have to give hefty donations. What is the state government doing to address this problem?

We wish that every child should study in government schools. Government schools don’t ask for donations. However, the urban people, and specially those belonging to the richer class, believe that government schools are not up to the mark. They send their children to private schools.

You stated at a recent seminar that today education has boiled down to securing good scores in exams only. Do you believe that a change is needed?

To get more marks in exams, parents emphasise on extra tuitions for their children. Unfortunately, teachers are also involved in this malpractice. The state government desires that a child should become not just an examinee but a true student. He/she should take active interest in sports, cultural tours, etc. When a student becomes a scientist or a sportsman, we can call our system one of comprehensive development.

Teachers should not only teach in the classroom but also ensure social development. In the present scenario when commercialisation of education is rampant, what should be done?

The Gujarat government has started schools with science stream education in 40 blocks in 2009. Moreover, 12 engineering colleges have been established in 12 districts. Some years ago, many Gujarati students were going to other states and foreign countries for higher studies. But today, we have enough colleges for them in the state. Now parents from other states demand 15 per cent seat reservation in Gujarat for their wards. If the government delivers proper facilities, Gujarati students will not go out of the state for higher studies. We aim to start engineering colleges in every district. The number of polytechnic institutes and Arts-Commerce colleges will also be increased. Why do students go for management quota in self-financed colleges? As per the government Act, admissions are given on the basis of merit alone.

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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009





An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Monday, January 11, 2010

Wrong medicine

Sending more troops not enough

Obama has recently announced that he will send additional NATO troops to Afghanistan to stabilize the situation. However, troops cannot solve the larger issues faced by Afghanistan.

The major stumbling block is corruption, where the enemy is ironically far better placed. To fight corruption in its ranks, the Taliban has set up its own anti-corruption committees in 33 provinces. It also runs its own courts, which are known for quick justice without the need to pay bribes. The US is trying to win over mid-level Taliban commanders with lucrative job offers and offering them good money, which is, to a large extent, not working! In comparison, the Afghan military is hopelessly incompetent, ill-equipped and highly corrupt. Afghanistan supplies over 90% of the world’s opium and heroin, which brings in billions in revenue each year. So much so that even the US Drug Enforcement Administration reports, “Heroin is more valuable than oil. Example: A ton of crude oil costs less than $290 - but a ton of heroin cost $67 million in Europe; and a ton of heroin in New York cost between $300-$900 million.” The warlords of the region are facilitating the whole trade.

President Hamid Karzai has stressed on ending “the culture of impunity and violations of law.” Opposition leader Dr.Abdullah has blamed overseas interests for the malaise, as he comments, “For that sort of corruption, it’s the international community that also shares responsibility with us.” To contend with the growing Talibanism in 2001, the US had turned to these warlords for help. Even today, NATO still has to rely on some of them for security in the provinces. According to American officers in Afghanistan, tribals will gladly take money and assure the eradication of insurgents without taking up arms. But the resulting corruption is going to stand in the way of all attempts to bring long term stability to Afghanistan. If Obama is serious about saving Afghanistan, he needs to tackle this parallel economy at the earliest. Soldiers simply cannot win this war.

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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Friday, January 08, 2010

Rajesh RAI - BJP leader Kusum Rai's Husband

Docile and simple-natured, Rajesh Rai is a special appointee in the Uttar Pradesh Information and Public Relations Department. His wife, Kusum Rai, mother of two daughters, is a Rajya Sabha member and national vice-president of the BJP women’s wing.

Rajesh, 46, has a MA degree in Hindi literature. Talking to TSI, he maintains that his family had never been actively involved in politics; however, they participated in social activities. He became a member of the ABVP, the students’ wing of the BJP, and got aware of the prevailing political situation in the country. He married Kusum Rai in 1984 and came to Lucknow the very next year.

They got close with the RSS and Kusum joined the women’s wing of the organisation. She was offered a role in the Rajajipuram unit of the RSS.

Rajesh recollects how he used to take care of their infant daughter when Kusum was in her work. He chose to take a backseat when Kusum jumped into the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and mobilised thousands of women.

In 1998, when internal political tussles began to take their toll and Kusum found herself in the line of fire, Rajesh stood by her side like a rock and did not let her capitulate. As a consequence, she steadily kept gained strength. According to Rajesh, the troubled times have helped his wife mature so much that she no longer needs anybody's help to tide over a crisis. Instead, she now offers help to others who need it.

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Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative