Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Why China will not allow democracy in Myanmar
Source - Rediff.com; Claude Arpi (A very Interesting Read)
In Burma, the situation seems to be settling down. Is it for the good of the people? That is another question.
Anyhow, the brutal generals and Aung Saan Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, have agreed to talk. Media reports say the 'two fiercely opposed sides take cautious, conciliatory steps to end the two-decade long deadlock'. Suu Kyi's party is ready to make some 'adjustment' while the junta is prepared to nominate a 'mild' general to hold talks with the democracy leader.
The 'negotiations' will probably lead nowhere but the generals, and behind them their mentors in Beijing [Images], need some breathing space at a time when international pressure is mounting and the Olympic Games, with the sacrosanct Truce, are in sight.
For decades, China has been the major factor in the Burmese tragedy for various reasons. First and foremost are the economic considerations. Generally, Beijing finds it more expedient to do business with totalitarian regimes such as Sudan or Burma. Chinese business strives when Western (and Asian) companies' concurrence is absent due to international sanctions. In Burma today, not only is the Chinese government involved in mega projects (such as the oil pipeline to Kunming in Yunnan province), but the Chinese Diaspora runs everything from grocery to retail shops or restaurants in all major cities as well as in remote provincial towns. It is true that China has no problems with human rights violations, labour standards or other ethical issues; in their own country, similar issues are also side tracked to make place for the economic boom.
The problem is that the benefits for the Burmese people are short term and restricted to very few in the entourage or families of the ruling clique. In the long run, as in Baluchistan or Africa, the local population realises that they are subject to a new form of colonisation, but what can they do?
Beijing has a number of economic interests in Burma. Dr Kanbawza Win, a former secretary of foreign affairs of the prime minister of Burma, now a professor in the School of International Studies in British Columbia University wrote: 'Economically, China's presence, particularly in northern Burma, has exploded. In 15 years cross-border trade went from $ 15 million to over $ 1 billion. A flood of inexpensive Chinese goods now dominate the Burmese consumer market.' He quoted a foreign correspondent, Bertil Lintner, who interviewed a Chinese resident describing 500 military trucks crossing the Sino-Burmese border heading for South Burma. This trend started soon after the crushing of the student revolt in 1988. As a result, a city like Mandalay is today a Chinese city run by Chinese money. It explains why Suu Kyi has no option but to compromise with the junta and the Big Brother behind.
Another issue is the demographical change tolerated by the junta during the last two decades. In a strategy which is very similar to the one in Tibet (especially after the arrival of the train), Beijing plans to change Burma's demography, making the nation a Chinese colony.
It is officially estimated that more than one million farmers, businessmen or workers have migrated to Burma during the last 10 years alone. Some say that the official figure should be multiplied by three to be closer to reality. Imagine what would happen if tomorrow Burma became a democratic nation and a nationalist leader would take over the reins of the nation's destiny. A backlash would certainly happen and most immigrants might be sent back to where they come from. What would happen next? Yunnan province of Western China (from where the migrants originate) would experience unemployment, social unrest and probably riots (let us not forget that China last year witnessed 100,000 riots, big and small, mainly about unemployment and environmental issues).
Western democracies have been vociferous about the 'democratic' process in Burma. To take France's [Images] example, the spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs stated: 'The Burmese people cannot bear anymore to have been deprived for the past 20 years of the most elementary rights; further the people wish to be assured of decent life conditions.' It warned the junta that 'the generals will be fully accountable for the security of the protesters in front of the international community.' These are nice words, probably useful for Beijing to hear, but the question has wider ramifications, especially given the opening of the 17th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing today.
But democracy will not be on the agenda of the Congress.
While promoting the building of a harmonious society, Hu Jintao has first to make sure that the different political blocs and social-economic alliances get their share of the economic progress and that his prot�g�s are in key positions. He will therefore state the usual platitudes, such as 'boosting the people's participation in politics in an orderly and incremental fashion'. But less than a year before the Olympic Games, the situation remains far from clear on the ground.
Hu is scheduled to repeat several sections of a speech delivered to the Central Party School in late June. He will introduce to the Chinese deputies his new concept, the 'Four Insistences'. The Communist Party 'unswervingly insists' on four objectives: 'thought liberation', 'reform and open-door policy', the 'theory of scientific development and constructing social harmony', and 'the materialisation of comprehensive prosperity'.
Even our Indian comrades may not see the difference between the previous Four Cardinal Principles (Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, party leadership, the socialist road, and 'democratic proletarian dictatorship') and the Four Insistences, but this jargon is probably the best way to diffuse a far more serious time bomb, the introduction of democracy in China.
The China Brief of the Jamestown Institute recently quoted Du Daozheng, publisher of the liberal journal Yanhuang Chronicles who wrote: 'A number of liberal cadres, including those who had served under Hu Yaobang and the late Zhao Ziyang, another reformist party chief, are lobbying with the party leadership to make significant commitments to political change.'
The Politburo and its Standing Committee may not be the one-block it appears from outside. Disciples of progressive leaders such Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang are still around. One remembers seeing Premier Premier Wen Jiabao (today apparently an ally of President Hu) behind his mentor and Secretary General of the Party, Zhao Ziyang, when the latter tried to compromise with the students on Tiananmen Square in May 1989.
In an article published by the Xinhua News Agency in February 26, 2007, Wen said that 'science, democracy, the legal system, freedom and human rights are not something peculiar to capitalism.' He went a step further when he stated: 'Rather, they are common values pursued by [all] mankind', 'the philosophical precept of harmony without uniformity' and 'people are the foundation of the nation.'
Ironically, when he made a similar statement at a press conference after the plenary session of the National People's Congress a month later, several of his remarks disappeared from the official transcript published by The People's Daily.This tends to demonstrate that a debate still exists in China, though Hu's main objective in the Congress is to consolidate his power base. As Xinhua put it, the party must raise its guard against 'non-Marxist ideological trends' and 'cacophonous and impure noises', in other words democracy.
In these circumstances, it is doubtful that Beijing will allow any 'democratic' experiment in Burma, for it could have too serious implications within Communist China.
In the meantime, the Chinese government is reported to have earmarked 10 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) to boost China's internet police squads. In anticipation of the Olympics [Images], a large number of too outspoken web sites and blogs have already been closed down.
In a recent speech, Hu asserted: 'Morality is a key factor to the country's development, social harmony and the people's happiness.'
Well, it depends on what one calls 'morality'. The frail Aung San Suu Kyi may not have the same definition.
In Burma, the situation seems to be settling down. Is it for the good of the people? That is another question.
Anyhow, the brutal generals and Aung Saan Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, have agreed to talk. Media reports say the 'two fiercely opposed sides take cautious, conciliatory steps to end the two-decade long deadlock'. Suu Kyi's party is ready to make some 'adjustment' while the junta is prepared to nominate a 'mild' general to hold talks with the democracy leader.
The 'negotiations' will probably lead nowhere but the generals, and behind them their mentors in Beijing [Images], need some breathing space at a time when international pressure is mounting and the Olympic Games, with the sacrosanct Truce, are in sight.
For decades, China has been the major factor in the Burmese tragedy for various reasons. First and foremost are the economic considerations. Generally, Beijing finds it more expedient to do business with totalitarian regimes such as Sudan or Burma. Chinese business strives when Western (and Asian) companies' concurrence is absent due to international sanctions. In Burma today, not only is the Chinese government involved in mega projects (such as the oil pipeline to Kunming in Yunnan province), but the Chinese Diaspora runs everything from grocery to retail shops or restaurants in all major cities as well as in remote provincial towns. It is true that China has no problems with human rights violations, labour standards or other ethical issues; in their own country, similar issues are also side tracked to make place for the economic boom.
The problem is that the benefits for the Burmese people are short term and restricted to very few in the entourage or families of the ruling clique. In the long run, as in Baluchistan or Africa, the local population realises that they are subject to a new form of colonisation, but what can they do?
Beijing has a number of economic interests in Burma. Dr Kanbawza Win, a former secretary of foreign affairs of the prime minister of Burma, now a professor in the School of International Studies in British Columbia University wrote: 'Economically, China's presence, particularly in northern Burma, has exploded. In 15 years cross-border trade went from $ 15 million to over $ 1 billion. A flood of inexpensive Chinese goods now dominate the Burmese consumer market.' He quoted a foreign correspondent, Bertil Lintner, who interviewed a Chinese resident describing 500 military trucks crossing the Sino-Burmese border heading for South Burma. This trend started soon after the crushing of the student revolt in 1988. As a result, a city like Mandalay is today a Chinese city run by Chinese money. It explains why Suu Kyi has no option but to compromise with the junta and the Big Brother behind.
Another issue is the demographical change tolerated by the junta during the last two decades. In a strategy which is very similar to the one in Tibet (especially after the arrival of the train), Beijing plans to change Burma's demography, making the nation a Chinese colony.
It is officially estimated that more than one million farmers, businessmen or workers have migrated to Burma during the last 10 years alone. Some say that the official figure should be multiplied by three to be closer to reality. Imagine what would happen if tomorrow Burma became a democratic nation and a nationalist leader would take over the reins of the nation's destiny. A backlash would certainly happen and most immigrants might be sent back to where they come from. What would happen next? Yunnan province of Western China (from where the migrants originate) would experience unemployment, social unrest and probably riots (let us not forget that China last year witnessed 100,000 riots, big and small, mainly about unemployment and environmental issues).
Western democracies have been vociferous about the 'democratic' process in Burma. To take France's [Images] example, the spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs stated: 'The Burmese people cannot bear anymore to have been deprived for the past 20 years of the most elementary rights; further the people wish to be assured of decent life conditions.' It warned the junta that 'the generals will be fully accountable for the security of the protesters in front of the international community.' These are nice words, probably useful for Beijing to hear, but the question has wider ramifications, especially given the opening of the 17th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing today.
But democracy will not be on the agenda of the Congress.
While promoting the building of a harmonious society, Hu Jintao has first to make sure that the different political blocs and social-economic alliances get their share of the economic progress and that his prot�g�s are in key positions. He will therefore state the usual platitudes, such as 'boosting the people's participation in politics in an orderly and incremental fashion'. But less than a year before the Olympic Games, the situation remains far from clear on the ground.
Hu is scheduled to repeat several sections of a speech delivered to the Central Party School in late June. He will introduce to the Chinese deputies his new concept, the 'Four Insistences'. The Communist Party 'unswervingly insists' on four objectives: 'thought liberation', 'reform and open-door policy', the 'theory of scientific development and constructing social harmony', and 'the materialisation of comprehensive prosperity'.
Even our Indian comrades may not see the difference between the previous Four Cardinal Principles (Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, party leadership, the socialist road, and 'democratic proletarian dictatorship') and the Four Insistences, but this jargon is probably the best way to diffuse a far more serious time bomb, the introduction of democracy in China.
The China Brief of the Jamestown Institute recently quoted Du Daozheng, publisher of the liberal journal Yanhuang Chronicles who wrote: 'A number of liberal cadres, including those who had served under Hu Yaobang and the late Zhao Ziyang, another reformist party chief, are lobbying with the party leadership to make significant commitments to political change.'
The Politburo and its Standing Committee may not be the one-block it appears from outside. Disciples of progressive leaders such Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang are still around. One remembers seeing Premier Premier Wen Jiabao (today apparently an ally of President Hu) behind his mentor and Secretary General of the Party, Zhao Ziyang, when the latter tried to compromise with the students on Tiananmen Square in May 1989.
In an article published by the Xinhua News Agency in February 26, 2007, Wen said that 'science, democracy, the legal system, freedom and human rights are not something peculiar to capitalism.' He went a step further when he stated: 'Rather, they are common values pursued by [all] mankind', 'the philosophical precept of harmony without uniformity' and 'people are the foundation of the nation.'
Ironically, when he made a similar statement at a press conference after the plenary session of the National People's Congress a month later, several of his remarks disappeared from the official transcript published by The People's Daily.This tends to demonstrate that a debate still exists in China, though Hu's main objective in the Congress is to consolidate his power base. As Xinhua put it, the party must raise its guard against 'non-Marxist ideological trends' and 'cacophonous and impure noises', in other words democracy.
In these circumstances, it is doubtful that Beijing will allow any 'democratic' experiment in Burma, for it could have too serious implications within Communist China.
In the meantime, the Chinese government is reported to have earmarked 10 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) to boost China's internet police squads. In anticipation of the Olympics [Images], a large number of too outspoken web sites and blogs have already been closed down.
In a recent speech, Hu asserted: 'Morality is a key factor to the country's development, social harmony and the people's happiness.'
Well, it depends on what one calls 'morality'. The frail Aung San Suu Kyi may not have the same definition.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
I like the quote, it has got a great meaning with some simple English
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the
fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It
doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle- when the sun comes up,
you'd better be running.
fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It
doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle- when the sun comes up,
you'd better be running.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
What is Financial Terrorism ?
Financial Terrorism is nothing but new found wave of the influence of money to propagate terrorism activities. Financial terrorism is nothing but terrorist funds coming into the country in the form of hawala transfers, foreign contributions and religious donations. Financial terrorism has become a major concern for the intelligence agencies and the police. The Financial Intelligence Bureau had pointed out the large number of funds that were entering into the country from terrorist outfits in order to carry out terror attacks. Goverment of India has a dedicated cell to track such money inflows and outflows named as Financial Intelligence Bureau(FIU). According to the latest data from FIU the number of suspicious and malicious money transactions for the year 2007 has already surpassed the 2006 data. So it is alarming. Hence when the whole of India is euphoric with each passing record breaking stock market performance their is a cause for some skepticism on the genuinity of the money that is being supplied around. It also involves all other known money flow methods like fake notes etc. where the usage of technology are being improved upon a lot which is very diffciult to judge for a common man as to which is the original and which one is the duplicate.
Ajit
Ajit
Piggybacking on a ninja with exploding arms - US subprime rate views.
The Indian Housing Finance and Real Estate market has a lot to learn from the US Sub prime crisis. I happen to read a very interesting point of view put by Mr. Deepak Parekh (Chairman HDFC and one of the pioneering financial thinkers that India has ever produced). Here are some of the excerpts -
The US sub prime mortgage crisis is likened to Piggybacking on a 'Ninja' with 'exploding arms'. A piggyback loan is a second mortagage enabling a borrower to buy a house with little or no equity. 'NINJA' is an acronyn for borrowers with no income, no job, or assets while 'exploding ARMS' are mortgages with initial low, fixed interest rates which escalate to a high floating rate after a period of 2 or 3 years.
The US sub prime rate crisis is a result of a vicious circle where all involved have to take the blame and responsibility, be it the borrower, lender, investor, advertiser, people who rate the quality of the mortagages and even the regulator and market (both US/global - as they purposely failed to see this crisis coming).
Actually Indian market unlike the other big global financial markets have been fairly insulated from this crisis as we do not have any sub prime rates as such and our central bank - RBI(Reserve Bank of India) was quite proactive in seeing a prospective housing loan bubble or over heat happening in the near term and quickly took steps to correct them.
Thanks
Ajit
The US sub prime mortgage crisis is likened to Piggybacking on a 'Ninja' with 'exploding arms'. A piggyback loan is a second mortagage enabling a borrower to buy a house with little or no equity. 'NINJA' is an acronyn for borrowers with no income, no job, or assets while 'exploding ARMS' are mortgages with initial low, fixed interest rates which escalate to a high floating rate after a period of 2 or 3 years.
The US sub prime rate crisis is a result of a vicious circle where all involved have to take the blame and responsibility, be it the borrower, lender, investor, advertiser, people who rate the quality of the mortagages and even the regulator and market (both US/global - as they purposely failed to see this crisis coming).
Actually Indian market unlike the other big global financial markets have been fairly insulated from this crisis as we do not have any sub prime rates as such and our central bank - RBI(Reserve Bank of India) was quite proactive in seeing a prospective housing loan bubble or over heat happening in the near term and quickly took steps to correct them.
Thanks
Ajit
Friday, September 21, 2007
I want to read the book Seeing red written by Graham Poll
I would say that for a person like who is fond of writing and sharing his views and considers reading/writing as something close to his heart similar to being a hobby or passion, my poor effort at not reading into any new book as a very lazy effort. Recently i have come across some good reviews on a book " Seeing Red" written by one of the best Football referees that the English have ever produced Mr. Graham Poll and I want to read it. Graham Poll being the controversial soul that he is gives a lot of insights into the tunnel and other back room knowledge that he personally came across int he various high profile club/country matches that he officiated. One incident that iparticularly want to get a first hand knowledge about is the famous tunnel run in @highbury between Roy Keane of Manchester Untied and Patrick Viera of Arsenal.
I will be soon laying my hands to this book Seeing Red and if I have come across something interesting will defintley share the same.
Enjoy and have a good weekend.
Look how the business of club football is played like a typical business boardroom battle.
Football Comment: Hell hath no fury like a Mourinho scorned! Courtesy - Kelvin Leong & Espnstar.
Well Done Kevin, I enjoyed readung the article and it is fantastic and worth the salt.
The boys in school are talking about it, the butcher at the market is talking about it and as I passed the coffee shop below my block, the beer guzzling uncles were gossiping about it.
One would have thought that some political figure must have been assassinated, or at least a famous celebrity found dead after an overdose of drugs. Sorry to disappoint, but it was the sacking (or did he resign?) of Chelsea’s motor mouth coach Jose Mourinho that has been the big news.
Reports came flying out fast and furious in the media and every soccer fan was texting one another to find out more. So now that reality has set in and we don’t have to rub our eyes in disbelief anymore, the next few days will surely see a flurry of discussions on what Mourinho plans to do.
The man has too big an ego to think of taking a break away from football for long. As a result, here are two suggestions as to how he might be able to plot his revenge on Chelsea and their Russian money-tree, Roman Abramovich.
Plan A. Almost every interview that Mourinho has ever done which mentions his family, makes it clear that they are settled and happy in London. His wife and kids enjoy the city a lot and for this reason alone, Mourinho’s likely destination might not be an plane ticket away but just a bus ride.
Tottenham Hotspur, just across town from Stamford Bridge, might just become his new home, as it has all the qualities needed for him to carry out his revengeful plot on Chelsea.
Martin Jol’s head has been on the chopping block for weeks and the only reason he’s still there is probably down to the lack of a better manager being available.
Now that Mourinho is on the market, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy should pick up the phone to ask if the former Chelsea head honcho is keen on the hot seat at White Hart Lane.
Mourinho might just take up the offer as that will allow his family to stay in London. Above all that, what better way is there to annoy his former employees than to join their city rivals?
Once Mourinho signs on the dotted line with Spurs, he will start toying with the media, no doubt to the detriment of Chelsea. What price then his ability to persuade Frank Lampard to join Spurs. After all, Lampard has already refused to renew with Chelsea because he wanted to see if Mourinho is staying.
And if Michael Bullocks, I mean Ballack, is so unhappy at the Bridge, Mourinho might just take him to the Lane. On top of that, he might as well drop Didier Drogba a line to encourage him to join AC Milan. Oh, and don’t forget, Mourinho might know the exact details of how Chelsea managed to lure Frank Arnesen from Spurs. How the journos would lap that one up.
Of course, if Plan A can’t be executed because Martin Jol has found some miracle superglue to stick himself onto the hot seat at the Lane, Plan B is just as good.
Destination, Spain. Club, Valencia.
So why Valencia and not Madrid or Barcelona you might ask. The answer is simple and twofold. First, look at the Champions League tables and search for Group F. Top of the table is Valencia, and then you look further down the table and you find, Chelsea! Then you see the fixture list and tadah! October 3, 2007. Valencia against Chelsea at The Mestella!
Mourinho will jump at the chance of squaring off against Chelsea so soon after leaving them. His cause will be helped by Valencia being a team capable of beating the west London outfit. We all know how much Chelsea want to win the Champions League and you can bet on Mourinho knowing that too.
Secondly, why wouldn’t Valencia want Mourinho? The Mestella faithful are crying out for a coach with a strong personality to lead their team. What about the side’s current coach Quique Sanchez Flores? The players refuse to listen to his tactics and star men David Villa and David Silva are annoyed with him. Mourinho for Valencia? Worth a bet.
So now, we sit back and eagerly await this long drama to play out before our very eyes. And come next May’s end of season fun and games, Mourinho might become the first Portuguese nominated for Best Director in a Drama series at the Emmy Awards.
I cannot wait for the thank you speech come awards night. Revenge could not be sweeter.
Well Done Kevin, I enjoyed readung the article and it is fantastic and worth the salt.
The boys in school are talking about it, the butcher at the market is talking about it and as I passed the coffee shop below my block, the beer guzzling uncles were gossiping about it.
One would have thought that some political figure must have been assassinated, or at least a famous celebrity found dead after an overdose of drugs. Sorry to disappoint, but it was the sacking (or did he resign?) of Chelsea’s motor mouth coach Jose Mourinho that has been the big news.
Reports came flying out fast and furious in the media and every soccer fan was texting one another to find out more. So now that reality has set in and we don’t have to rub our eyes in disbelief anymore, the next few days will surely see a flurry of discussions on what Mourinho plans to do.
The man has too big an ego to think of taking a break away from football for long. As a result, here are two suggestions as to how he might be able to plot his revenge on Chelsea and their Russian money-tree, Roman Abramovich.
Plan A. Almost every interview that Mourinho has ever done which mentions his family, makes it clear that they are settled and happy in London. His wife and kids enjoy the city a lot and for this reason alone, Mourinho’s likely destination might not be an plane ticket away but just a bus ride.
Tottenham Hotspur, just across town from Stamford Bridge, might just become his new home, as it has all the qualities needed for him to carry out his revengeful plot on Chelsea.
Martin Jol’s head has been on the chopping block for weeks and the only reason he’s still there is probably down to the lack of a better manager being available.
Now that Mourinho is on the market, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy should pick up the phone to ask if the former Chelsea head honcho is keen on the hot seat at White Hart Lane.
Mourinho might just take up the offer as that will allow his family to stay in London. Above all that, what better way is there to annoy his former employees than to join their city rivals?
Once Mourinho signs on the dotted line with Spurs, he will start toying with the media, no doubt to the detriment of Chelsea. What price then his ability to persuade Frank Lampard to join Spurs. After all, Lampard has already refused to renew with Chelsea because he wanted to see if Mourinho is staying.
And if Michael Bullocks, I mean Ballack, is so unhappy at the Bridge, Mourinho might just take him to the Lane. On top of that, he might as well drop Didier Drogba a line to encourage him to join AC Milan. Oh, and don’t forget, Mourinho might know the exact details of how Chelsea managed to lure Frank Arnesen from Spurs. How the journos would lap that one up.
Of course, if Plan A can’t be executed because Martin Jol has found some miracle superglue to stick himself onto the hot seat at the Lane, Plan B is just as good.
Destination, Spain. Club, Valencia.
So why Valencia and not Madrid or Barcelona you might ask. The answer is simple and twofold. First, look at the Champions League tables and search for Group F. Top of the table is Valencia, and then you look further down the table and you find, Chelsea! Then you see the fixture list and tadah! October 3, 2007. Valencia against Chelsea at The Mestella!
Mourinho will jump at the chance of squaring off against Chelsea so soon after leaving them. His cause will be helped by Valencia being a team capable of beating the west London outfit. We all know how much Chelsea want to win the Champions League and you can bet on Mourinho knowing that too.
Secondly, why wouldn’t Valencia want Mourinho? The Mestella faithful are crying out for a coach with a strong personality to lead their team. What about the side’s current coach Quique Sanchez Flores? The players refuse to listen to his tactics and star men David Villa and David Silva are annoyed with him. Mourinho for Valencia? Worth a bet.
So now, we sit back and eagerly await this long drama to play out before our very eyes. And come next May’s end of season fun and games, Mourinho might become the first Portuguese nominated for Best Director in a Drama series at the Emmy Awards.
I cannot wait for the thank you speech come awards night. Revenge could not be sweeter.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
How to decode the Pay Slip ?
A salary slip is one of the most confusing pieces of paper you will deal with, especially when you move into a new job. Few of us bother to try and understand the various elements in our pay slips. Which is why a salary that looks great on the surface might actually give you little cash in hand at the end of the month? What do the different parts of a salary slip actually mean, which parts eat into your net salary and which ones are there for decorative value only? This story helps you become salary smart.
Questions 1. Is failing to get into the nitty-gritty of your salary break up when switching employers a potentially costly mistake? Why?
Yes, I would say it is always good to analyse one’s salary before joining a new job. The simple definition of a salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which is specified in an employment contract. From the point of view of running a business, salary can also be viewed as the cost of acquiring human resources for running operations, and is then termed personnel expense or salary expense. But are today’s salaries with its various subplots as simple as it looks? My answer is a big No. Today, a salary incorporates a lot of components and is interlinked with the applicable tax structure and has various intangible benefits attached along with it. Prevention is always better than cure.
2. Could you name some deceptive salary components that, though part of the overall CTC figure, are (mis)used by companies to lure candidates? (Some examples you could elaborate on: annual bonus –which you don't get in full, food or canteen allowance, employee training costs, interest subsidies, PF contributions, etc.)
The term CTC (Cost to Company) is the most deceptive term by itself used very loosely at each firm’s convenience. Now CTC as a term includes everything and anything under the sun and hence it is very difficult to analyse an individual’s salary as the net difference between the CTC and the actual money that gets deposited every month in his salary account is becoming larger by the day. I have mentioned a host of components that form part of CTC that have come across in my professional life below but I am sure to have missed quite a few of them still. When a firm hires an employee and the salary negotiations happen, it needs to be as open, pragmatic and true as it can be with the employee. It is always better to set the expectations of the prospective employee upfront and ensure there is a lot of clarity in the salary front. I personally feel the HR of a firm has a big role to play in salary negotiations and it will help the firm a great deal in the long term.
3. What are some of the 'good components' that you NEED to look out for in a prospective employer's salary offer?
Salary or Fixed pay has continued to evolve/change as times have passed by. Salary or compensation does raise various proverbial questions on the pay like - Does the firm resort to a uniform pay on merit or include components like ESOP’s, profit sharing. Do they get into factor comparison and rank the various jobs like comparison on skills/effort/responsibilities and working conditions. Actually the proactive firms of today need to look at Salary as being part of the Total Rewards System (TRS) which includes the fixed /variable pay with all other fringe benefits like bonuses, perks and benefits etc. attached with it, thus helping the employer link rewards to an employee’s measured performance and some are taking bold steps on this front. This view will ultimately have an over binding impact on greater employee satisfaction and lesser attrition rates.
4. How important is it to understand the FBT or fringe benefit tax deduction concept at the outset and what effect does FBT have on your overall income? That is, out of two individuals with the same CTCs, who pays more tax at the end of the year - the person who pays FBT or the one who doesn't?
The taxation of perquisites or fringe benefits provided by an employer to his employees, in addition to the cash salary or wages paid, is fringe benefit tax. Any benefits or perks that employees (current or past) get as a result of their employment are to be taxed, but in this case in the hands of the employer. This includes employee compensation other than the wages, tips, health insurance, life insurance and pension plans. Although these are to be taxed on the employer, it has an overbearing impact on the employee as the employer may stop providing a lot of these features or benefits to its employees or try to recover these additional benefits/perks provided to the employees as promised in his or her CTC in one way or the other. I think their still needs more clarity from the government on the FBT issue and based on the feedback the govt. is trying its best to bring more clarity on FBT. FBT is still an issue inviting a lot of interesting views and my opinion is that it will have one more major revamp in the coming budget which should make FBT more user friendly to both the corporates and the general employees.
5. Are certain sectors at fault for using lucrative-sounding CTCs to lure candidates? Which ones?
A CTC can incorporate any or all of these depending on various factors.
Basic Salary Commissions/Incentives Bonus Dearness allowance Child Education Allowance (better give as reimbursement to save tax) Child Hostel Allowance (better give as reimbursement to save tax) City Compensatory Allowance Conveyance Allowance House Rent Allowance Leave Travel Allowance ( better give as reimbursement upto a maximum of 15,000/- to save tax) Lunch Allowance Medical reimbursement to a maximium of 15,000/ (otherwise it will go in tax) Newspaper allowance (better give as reimbursement to save tax) Special Allowance Gift voucher Club membership (save tax)
Uniform Maintenance
Professional Enrichment Allowance
Vehicle/Phone Allowance
Entertainment Reimbursement/Dating Allowance etc.
Yes, a lot of the sectors today are at fault in using lucrative sounding CTC and they think it is a sure shot way to employee retention. Most of the flak needs to go to the sunrise sectors of the recent years especially IT sector. Some other sectors are the Airlines (more with talent shortage), even manufacturing, KPO, Retail, Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Healthcare.
Generally a badly made CTC leads to a bad relationship and rocks the foundation of the relationship or trust that is built between the employee and the employer. Unfortunately the market in India today has a lot of over paid and poor skilled employees and it shows. Today to find the right talent is a premium and I personally feel companies do not make enough efforts to get the right talent and resort to such short cuts like making fancy looking CTC packages. I say India needs a tough regulator in the recruiting industry to take it to the next level.
Questions 1. Is failing to get into the nitty-gritty of your salary break up when switching employers a potentially costly mistake? Why?
Yes, I would say it is always good to analyse one’s salary before joining a new job. The simple definition of a salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which is specified in an employment contract. From the point of view of running a business, salary can also be viewed as the cost of acquiring human resources for running operations, and is then termed personnel expense or salary expense. But are today’s salaries with its various subplots as simple as it looks? My answer is a big No. Today, a salary incorporates a lot of components and is interlinked with the applicable tax structure and has various intangible benefits attached along with it. Prevention is always better than cure.
2. Could you name some deceptive salary components that, though part of the overall CTC figure, are (mis)used by companies to lure candidates? (Some examples you could elaborate on: annual bonus –which you don't get in full, food or canteen allowance, employee training costs, interest subsidies, PF contributions, etc.)
The term CTC (Cost to Company) is the most deceptive term by itself used very loosely at each firm’s convenience. Now CTC as a term includes everything and anything under the sun and hence it is very difficult to analyse an individual’s salary as the net difference between the CTC and the actual money that gets deposited every month in his salary account is becoming larger by the day. I have mentioned a host of components that form part of CTC that have come across in my professional life below but I am sure to have missed quite a few of them still. When a firm hires an employee and the salary negotiations happen, it needs to be as open, pragmatic and true as it can be with the employee. It is always better to set the expectations of the prospective employee upfront and ensure there is a lot of clarity in the salary front. I personally feel the HR of a firm has a big role to play in salary negotiations and it will help the firm a great deal in the long term.
3. What are some of the 'good components' that you NEED to look out for in a prospective employer's salary offer?
Salary or Fixed pay has continued to evolve/change as times have passed by. Salary or compensation does raise various proverbial questions on the pay like - Does the firm resort to a uniform pay on merit or include components like ESOP’s, profit sharing. Do they get into factor comparison and rank the various jobs like comparison on skills/effort/responsibilities and working conditions. Actually the proactive firms of today need to look at Salary as being part of the Total Rewards System (TRS) which includes the fixed /variable pay with all other fringe benefits like bonuses, perks and benefits etc. attached with it, thus helping the employer link rewards to an employee’s measured performance and some are taking bold steps on this front. This view will ultimately have an over binding impact on greater employee satisfaction and lesser attrition rates.
4. How important is it to understand the FBT or fringe benefit tax deduction concept at the outset and what effect does FBT have on your overall income? That is, out of two individuals with the same CTCs, who pays more tax at the end of the year - the person who pays FBT or the one who doesn't?
The taxation of perquisites or fringe benefits provided by an employer to his employees, in addition to the cash salary or wages paid, is fringe benefit tax. Any benefits or perks that employees (current or past) get as a result of their employment are to be taxed, but in this case in the hands of the employer. This includes employee compensation other than the wages, tips, health insurance, life insurance and pension plans. Although these are to be taxed on the employer, it has an overbearing impact on the employee as the employer may stop providing a lot of these features or benefits to its employees or try to recover these additional benefits/perks provided to the employees as promised in his or her CTC in one way or the other. I think their still needs more clarity from the government on the FBT issue and based on the feedback the govt. is trying its best to bring more clarity on FBT. FBT is still an issue inviting a lot of interesting views and my opinion is that it will have one more major revamp in the coming budget which should make FBT more user friendly to both the corporates and the general employees.
5. Are certain sectors at fault for using lucrative-sounding CTCs to lure candidates? Which ones?
A CTC can incorporate any or all of these depending on various factors.
Basic Salary Commissions/Incentives Bonus Dearness allowance Child Education Allowance (better give as reimbursement to save tax) Child Hostel Allowance (better give as reimbursement to save tax) City Compensatory Allowance Conveyance Allowance House Rent Allowance Leave Travel Allowance ( better give as reimbursement upto a maximum of 15,000/- to save tax) Lunch Allowance Medical reimbursement to a maximium of 15,000/ (otherwise it will go in tax) Newspaper allowance (better give as reimbursement to save tax) Special Allowance Gift voucher Club membership (save tax)
Uniform Maintenance
Professional Enrichment Allowance
Vehicle/Phone Allowance
Entertainment Reimbursement/Dating Allowance etc.
Yes, a lot of the sectors today are at fault in using lucrative sounding CTC and they think it is a sure shot way to employee retention. Most of the flak needs to go to the sunrise sectors of the recent years especially IT sector. Some other sectors are the Airlines (more with talent shortage), even manufacturing, KPO, Retail, Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Healthcare.
Generally a badly made CTC leads to a bad relationship and rocks the foundation of the relationship or trust that is built between the employee and the employer. Unfortunately the market in India today has a lot of over paid and poor skilled employees and it shows. Today to find the right talent is a premium and I personally feel companies do not make enough efforts to get the right talent and resort to such short cuts like making fancy looking CTC packages. I say India needs a tough regulator in the recruiting industry to take it to the next level.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
What defines a big Football club?
Being a ardent football fan especially the English premier League, I thought this article by Antony Sutton ont eh pedigree that defines a club being big is a good and informative article. Courtesy Espn Star.
I always have a quiet chuckle to myself when I hear Chelsea described as a big club. If three championships and four FA Cups in 102 years make a big club then ok but who has lowered the bar to greatness?
Wolverhampton Wanderers likewise have three titles and four cups while Sheffield Wednesday have four titles and four cups; are they big clubs? What makes a club big? Is it purely their current record and if so, are Arsenal a big club? They have won nothing for a couple of years after all. Success obviously plays a role in defining a club as big but surely so do history and tradition? It is these qualities that get passed from father to son and it is the stories of the past that warm us during drab 0-0s when we almost wonder why we bother. But success? Success is often so transient, so fleeting. Wolves were massive in the 1950’s, champions three times and runners-up twice but little before and little since. For their fans they are of course the best and biggest club in the world but in the wider scheme of things? Just another club who has had some glory but now plod along waiting for a sugar daddy to open his wallet.
To be a big club then you need sustained success. A collection of pots and trophies spanning the decades, each pot with its own story and legend. Liverpool of course fall into this category. A record 18 league championships since 1900, seven FA Cup wins since 1965 and enviable success in European competition. But there’s something else about Liverpool. There is a glamour attached to the club, the Kop, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Bill Shankly. You can’t buy glamour, it is an unquantifiable essence that either attaches itself to your club or it doesn’t. It’s passed down over the years from Ian St John to Keegan to Grobbelaar’s shaky knees routine in a European Cup Final. It’s beating AC Milan on penalties coming from behind, it’s the Kop in full voice. It’s the many things that make up the Liverpool experience and keep people round the world supporting them even while the Premiership evades them.
Liverpool became successful through shrewd management. This summer they signed Fernando Torres for a fee that could have paid off a small African nation’s debt but it’s worth recalling in years gone by Shankly and Bob Paisley did their shopping at the corner store. Kevin Keegan, Phil Neal, Ray Clemence and co., these guys were picked up for a song from lower division clubs and put in the reserves to learn the Liverpool way. It takes a keen eye to spot talent and this perhaps is one skill missing from managers of today with the possible exception of Arsene Wenger. Indeed, not until Keegan left in 1977 did Liverpool really splash the cash on one player and that was to sign some guy named Kenny Dalglish. While Keegan hit the headlines players like Neal performed steadily and consistently and became part of the legend that is Liverpool today.
Manchester United of course are big. They won their first Championship back in 1908, their first cup of 11 a year later and have been successful ever since. But while Liverpool are big in terms of trophies and the glamour associated with the club United are big in a different way. They are England’s premier celebrity club where the players are just as likely to be the headline makers as the club itself and the club shop is as much a tourist site as Buckingham Palace is in London. Be it the inimitable George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law or the 21st century vintage of Beckham, Ronaldo and Cantona. United’s appeal is as much pop star as football. Ronaldo’s chest and smile are as much PR as anything the club does on the pitch; the tours of Asia resemble Beatlemania more than any serious attempt at developing the game locally.
United have personified glamour ever since Best became the fifth Beatle and the media infatuated in where the genius Irishman spent the previous night. Perhaps only Manchester United could allow a professional footballer so much freedom. Perhaps only United encourage the impression that an individual player can be bigger than the club. From that night at Wembley in 1968 when they became the first English club to win the European Cup to Barcelona 1999, to nine Premiership titles, United have drank success often enough to be classed as a big club. But there’s more about United. It’s the Bests, Charltons, Beckhams, Giggs. It’s Scholes and the Nevilles and McIlroy. For all their largess in the transfer market, United have traditionally looked to youth.
And then we have the Arsenal. Their first title was 1931, their first FA Cup a year earlier so they came to the party later but since then Arsenal have consistently added to their haul, the 60’s being the only blot on the roll of honour with nothing to show. Not for Arsenal the sheen of the celebrity footballer, they share with Liverpool the team ethic. Until the Wenger years success in London came from a tightly knit bunch of local lads who had come through the ranks gelled with some smart buys in the transfer market. George, Merson, Adams, Thomas, Rocastle, Armstrong, Rice, ask any Gooner and the names fair roll off the tongue. Throw in smart signings like McNab, McLintock, Bould, Dixon and Fabregas and the picture you get is one of a mistrust of the ‘star’. Big money signings over the years haven’t always been great successes, think Blockley, Hudson, Reyes, Wiltord, Jeffers.
There’s an Arsenal Way of doing things that involves a lot of hard work mixed with last minute winners and this has become the fabric of the club. Don’t pull your weight and you’re gone. While the club develops a new youth policy looking for new Bradys and Mersons, Wenger seems happy enough to follow the old Anfield method of casting near and far for talent at bargain prices; the uncut diamond just a polish away from shining. Players who shun the limelight and have something to prove on the pitch. Arsenal may lack the glamour of United, they’re a tad traditional but the fans love them for it. Even now as everyone billionaire lines up to throw cash at English football Arsenal sit back and pooh pooh the idea. They have their traditions and values and will stick to them as long as possible.
And Chelsea? Throughout their 100 + year history they have had little in the way of success. Their previous golden age came in the late 60’s - early 70’s when the King’s Road was the centre of the music and fashion world and Hudson and Osgood the lords of the Bridge but it was ephemeral. One FA Cup in 1970 and a Cup Winners Cup a year later was it until 1997 when Chelsea appointed Ruud Gullit. Since then, Chelsea have won trophy after trophy with two Premiership titles and three FA Cups plus the odd League Cup and another Cup Winners Cup. A golden era for sure but not enough to make them a big club. Their policy of signing established stars from the most expensive boutique falls way short of Manchester United and Arsenal’s method of mixing youth with experience. Indeed there is something obscene in the whole notion of using cold hard cash and nothing else.
And that is maybe another dynamic into what makes a big club. Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have won trophies over many decades and done so with a touch of class. Chelsea, the brash young upstart, have come to the party throwing their weight around, acting big time Charlies. But it’s all an act. They are dancing to the tune of a flighty conductor and when he throws his baton away do you think those players will stick around? There will be a fire sale at the Bridge and plenty of bargains to be had. And guess who will be sniffing round with open cheque books and a century of pedigree behind them?
I always have a quiet chuckle to myself when I hear Chelsea described as a big club. If three championships and four FA Cups in 102 years make a big club then ok but who has lowered the bar to greatness?
Wolverhampton Wanderers likewise have three titles and four cups while Sheffield Wednesday have four titles and four cups; are they big clubs? What makes a club big? Is it purely their current record and if so, are Arsenal a big club? They have won nothing for a couple of years after all. Success obviously plays a role in defining a club as big but surely so do history and tradition? It is these qualities that get passed from father to son and it is the stories of the past that warm us during drab 0-0s when we almost wonder why we bother. But success? Success is often so transient, so fleeting. Wolves were massive in the 1950’s, champions three times and runners-up twice but little before and little since. For their fans they are of course the best and biggest club in the world but in the wider scheme of things? Just another club who has had some glory but now plod along waiting for a sugar daddy to open his wallet.
To be a big club then you need sustained success. A collection of pots and trophies spanning the decades, each pot with its own story and legend. Liverpool of course fall into this category. A record 18 league championships since 1900, seven FA Cup wins since 1965 and enviable success in European competition. But there’s something else about Liverpool. There is a glamour attached to the club, the Kop, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Bill Shankly. You can’t buy glamour, it is an unquantifiable essence that either attaches itself to your club or it doesn’t. It’s passed down over the years from Ian St John to Keegan to Grobbelaar’s shaky knees routine in a European Cup Final. It’s beating AC Milan on penalties coming from behind, it’s the Kop in full voice. It’s the many things that make up the Liverpool experience and keep people round the world supporting them even while the Premiership evades them.
Liverpool became successful through shrewd management. This summer they signed Fernando Torres for a fee that could have paid off a small African nation’s debt but it’s worth recalling in years gone by Shankly and Bob Paisley did their shopping at the corner store. Kevin Keegan, Phil Neal, Ray Clemence and co., these guys were picked up for a song from lower division clubs and put in the reserves to learn the Liverpool way. It takes a keen eye to spot talent and this perhaps is one skill missing from managers of today with the possible exception of Arsene Wenger. Indeed, not until Keegan left in 1977 did Liverpool really splash the cash on one player and that was to sign some guy named Kenny Dalglish. While Keegan hit the headlines players like Neal performed steadily and consistently and became part of the legend that is Liverpool today.
Manchester United of course are big. They won their first Championship back in 1908, their first cup of 11 a year later and have been successful ever since. But while Liverpool are big in terms of trophies and the glamour associated with the club United are big in a different way. They are England’s premier celebrity club where the players are just as likely to be the headline makers as the club itself and the club shop is as much a tourist site as Buckingham Palace is in London. Be it the inimitable George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law or the 21st century vintage of Beckham, Ronaldo and Cantona. United’s appeal is as much pop star as football. Ronaldo’s chest and smile are as much PR as anything the club does on the pitch; the tours of Asia resemble Beatlemania more than any serious attempt at developing the game locally.
United have personified glamour ever since Best became the fifth Beatle and the media infatuated in where the genius Irishman spent the previous night. Perhaps only Manchester United could allow a professional footballer so much freedom. Perhaps only United encourage the impression that an individual player can be bigger than the club. From that night at Wembley in 1968 when they became the first English club to win the European Cup to Barcelona 1999, to nine Premiership titles, United have drank success often enough to be classed as a big club. But there’s more about United. It’s the Bests, Charltons, Beckhams, Giggs. It’s Scholes and the Nevilles and McIlroy. For all their largess in the transfer market, United have traditionally looked to youth.
And then we have the Arsenal. Their first title was 1931, their first FA Cup a year earlier so they came to the party later but since then Arsenal have consistently added to their haul, the 60’s being the only blot on the roll of honour with nothing to show. Not for Arsenal the sheen of the celebrity footballer, they share with Liverpool the team ethic. Until the Wenger years success in London came from a tightly knit bunch of local lads who had come through the ranks gelled with some smart buys in the transfer market. George, Merson, Adams, Thomas, Rocastle, Armstrong, Rice, ask any Gooner and the names fair roll off the tongue. Throw in smart signings like McNab, McLintock, Bould, Dixon and Fabregas and the picture you get is one of a mistrust of the ‘star’. Big money signings over the years haven’t always been great successes, think Blockley, Hudson, Reyes, Wiltord, Jeffers.
There’s an Arsenal Way of doing things that involves a lot of hard work mixed with last minute winners and this has become the fabric of the club. Don’t pull your weight and you’re gone. While the club develops a new youth policy looking for new Bradys and Mersons, Wenger seems happy enough to follow the old Anfield method of casting near and far for talent at bargain prices; the uncut diamond just a polish away from shining. Players who shun the limelight and have something to prove on the pitch. Arsenal may lack the glamour of United, they’re a tad traditional but the fans love them for it. Even now as everyone billionaire lines up to throw cash at English football Arsenal sit back and pooh pooh the idea. They have their traditions and values and will stick to them as long as possible.
And Chelsea? Throughout their 100 + year history they have had little in the way of success. Their previous golden age came in the late 60’s - early 70’s when the King’s Road was the centre of the music and fashion world and Hudson and Osgood the lords of the Bridge but it was ephemeral. One FA Cup in 1970 and a Cup Winners Cup a year later was it until 1997 when Chelsea appointed Ruud Gullit. Since then, Chelsea have won trophy after trophy with two Premiership titles and three FA Cups plus the odd League Cup and another Cup Winners Cup. A golden era for sure but not enough to make them a big club. Their policy of signing established stars from the most expensive boutique falls way short of Manchester United and Arsenal’s method of mixing youth with experience. Indeed there is something obscene in the whole notion of using cold hard cash and nothing else.
And that is maybe another dynamic into what makes a big club. Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have won trophies over many decades and done so with a touch of class. Chelsea, the brash young upstart, have come to the party throwing their weight around, acting big time Charlies. But it’s all an act. They are dancing to the tune of a flighty conductor and when he throws his baton away do you think those players will stick around? There will be a fire sale at the Bridge and plenty of bargains to be had. And guess who will be sniffing round with open cheque books and a century of pedigree behind them?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Our trip to Vizag
I am here talking of a journey of relatively short duration organized by Kenexa India for all its managerial level employees to visit the port city of Vishakhapatnam popularly known as Vizag. Little did we know when we set out for a journey to our next possible work destination (our new office location) in Vizag that we will be having such a wonderful blast filled with a lot to learn and understand. The entire trip was a great experience for each one of us and I will like to thank the organizers for helping us go through such a wonderful experience. We had a whole weekend lined up to spend in Vizag. To start with Kenexa had got permission to get a dedicated train compartment only for its employees. This was rechristened the “Kenexa Vizag” compartment. The port city of Vizag is roughly 700 kms North East of Hyderabad and has strategic importance to India with a considerable presence of Indian Navy, boasts of one of the best ports in India, has a steel plant (in fact the only steel plant owned directly by Govt. of India). Vizag is known more as a tourist destination and has a good representation of the basic infrastructure capabilities.
The train journey was fun by itself with the journey time lasting 14 hours. We had the train departing Hyderabad by early evening and ensured all the travelling entourage in the train well in time. Kenexa had ensured all travel related niggles and stuff was well taken care of and the journey was perfectly set. The train departed Hyderabad on time and everyone had a sense of feeling that something good was happening with this trip. The train journey was indeed a blast. The one good thing that I can vividly recount myself is the level of interaction and it was very good amongst us. The Kenexa camaraderie was not found lacking as the trip progressed. As the train ambled towards its destination and the night set in, the mood inside the compartment was one of expectation of the things to unfold in Vizag the next couple of days. People in the train indulged in some fun activities amongst themselves and thus the atmosphere became light and lively. We all were fed with a sumptuous platter of Hyderabadi biriyani specialties as dinner. The next day we reached Vizag and went straight to the hotel, The Park.
The Park is right besides the beach in Vizag and has a breathtaking view to the Bay of Bengal. One can see a slew of ships lined up far across the sea waiting for their turn to dock into the Vizag port. It is really worth watching. After a quick bit of break where all got freshened up for the day, we all met at the breakfast table and regrouped ourselves into our respective groups who were assigned some tasks to explore the city more and help in general to understand the city better, teams formed to explore the Vizag city on real estate, shopping, entertainment, schooling, emergency facilities like hospitals etc. Post our breakfast we all went with our respective teams to explore more on the above areas in and around Vizag and also got to see for the first time the Kenexa building atop Hill Number 3. It was indeed good to see our building from as far across the Vizag International cricket stadium. One has to go there or see the photo close ups to know the distance between the two. All the assigned teams worked enthusiastically till late in the afternoon to collect some valuable data on the city. This data is going to help the company to understand the city and its environs better on the above mentioned parameters. Once back to our hotel rooms, we had a wonderful evening party awaiting us. We did have a press briefing on the new facility also. The party setting was just perfect with sea as a backdrop and non stop DJ music, all of us did unwind in the dance floor to some peppy numbers. The day ended with the dinner being served alongside the party.
The next day morning all were scheduled to visit the Kenexa site post our breakfast. The arrangements where done for the same. We all visited the kenexa location at Hill Number 3 in the morning. We were told that quite a bit of work had been done of late and one could see lot of labourers going through their act. The facility looks good and one could see lot of open space (Planned for greenery and will help the facility become an environment neutral facility) right in front and surrounding areas of the kenexa building. The people at the kenexa site did brief us through the construction activities and other key attributes related to the site. I just stood there to watch my fellow journeymen as all were listening quite eagerly to the conversation by the so called experts there at the location. It showed how much all of us desired this location to come good. We were at the location for more than couple of hours and people did take a lot of pictures and stood for a lot of group photo ups. Some were seen enquiring about the surrounding construction activities and other general conversations were seen happening amongst the groups. We were all reasonably confident of the construction activities there and thought the deadlines for the building completion to be fairly achievable. Once the location was fully surveyed by us to our satisfaction, all were taken back to our hotels for our lunch and the journey back to Hyderabad. We had the return train to catch early evening the same day. All of us boarded the bus to the station and later took to our respective seats in the train. On the train leaving the Vizag station, one could feel that all had a good enjoyable trip to our new location and more or less made up their decision on Vizag.
The train journey was fun by itself with the journey time lasting 14 hours. We had the train departing Hyderabad by early evening and ensured all the travelling entourage in the train well in time. Kenexa had ensured all travel related niggles and stuff was well taken care of and the journey was perfectly set. The train departed Hyderabad on time and everyone had a sense of feeling that something good was happening with this trip. The train journey was indeed a blast. The one good thing that I can vividly recount myself is the level of interaction and it was very good amongst us. The Kenexa camaraderie was not found lacking as the trip progressed. As the train ambled towards its destination and the night set in, the mood inside the compartment was one of expectation of the things to unfold in Vizag the next couple of days. People in the train indulged in some fun activities amongst themselves and thus the atmosphere became light and lively. We all were fed with a sumptuous platter of Hyderabadi biriyani specialties as dinner. The next day we reached Vizag and went straight to the hotel, The Park.
The Park is right besides the beach in Vizag and has a breathtaking view to the Bay of Bengal. One can see a slew of ships lined up far across the sea waiting for their turn to dock into the Vizag port. It is really worth watching. After a quick bit of break where all got freshened up for the day, we all met at the breakfast table and regrouped ourselves into our respective groups who were assigned some tasks to explore the city more and help in general to understand the city better, teams formed to explore the Vizag city on real estate, shopping, entertainment, schooling, emergency facilities like hospitals etc. Post our breakfast we all went with our respective teams to explore more on the above areas in and around Vizag and also got to see for the first time the Kenexa building atop Hill Number 3. It was indeed good to see our building from as far across the Vizag International cricket stadium. One has to go there or see the photo close ups to know the distance between the two. All the assigned teams worked enthusiastically till late in the afternoon to collect some valuable data on the city. This data is going to help the company to understand the city and its environs better on the above mentioned parameters. Once back to our hotel rooms, we had a wonderful evening party awaiting us. We did have a press briefing on the new facility also. The party setting was just perfect with sea as a backdrop and non stop DJ music, all of us did unwind in the dance floor to some peppy numbers. The day ended with the dinner being served alongside the party.
The next day morning all were scheduled to visit the Kenexa site post our breakfast. The arrangements where done for the same. We all visited the kenexa location at Hill Number 3 in the morning. We were told that quite a bit of work had been done of late and one could see lot of labourers going through their act. The facility looks good and one could see lot of open space (Planned for greenery and will help the facility become an environment neutral facility) right in front and surrounding areas of the kenexa building. The people at the kenexa site did brief us through the construction activities and other key attributes related to the site. I just stood there to watch my fellow journeymen as all were listening quite eagerly to the conversation by the so called experts there at the location. It showed how much all of us desired this location to come good. We were at the location for more than couple of hours and people did take a lot of pictures and stood for a lot of group photo ups. Some were seen enquiring about the surrounding construction activities and other general conversations were seen happening amongst the groups. We were all reasonably confident of the construction activities there and thought the deadlines for the building completion to be fairly achievable. Once the location was fully surveyed by us to our satisfaction, all were taken back to our hotels for our lunch and the journey back to Hyderabad. We had the return train to catch early evening the same day. All of us boarded the bus to the station and later took to our respective seats in the train. On the train leaving the Vizag station, one could feel that all had a good enjoyable trip to our new location and more or less made up their decision on Vizag.
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