"War on Terrorism" Losing its Steam ??

"I am a terrorist, not a killer." Russian Marxist Vera Zasulich shot and wounded a Russian police commander who was known to torture suspects. She threw down her weapon without killing him. The phrase "War on Terrorism" was first widely used by the Western press to refer to the attempts by European governments, and eventually the US government, to stop attacks by anarchists against leaders and officials. But then over the years it has been redefined by the west in accordance to their meeting with the term but the most modern would be the one coined after the September 11^th incidents.

In a worldwide address the then president had stated - "Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated."

Since then Afghanistan was taken and Iraq quashed, but terror of the “Terrorists” still looms large. Iraq may have hogged the limelight but it was Afghanistan where the “Real War on Terror” was supposed to be fought. Iraq was just a state on the US radar to occupy before its self destructive nature led Iraq to destroy its most valuable resource “OIL”. What initially was the only was to vent out the frustration of suddenly becoming helpless US went to war to nail down the “Al Qeada”. The mission was not to wage a battle against terrorism. Bin Laden and his group was just the face of the worldwide terrorism network and Afghanistan was not the only place they existed. But still NATO and coalition forces did go there and now they are finding it increasingly difficult to accept the fact of losing any more lives there.

The US went to the war with its allies and found strong support over the time spent there, but as time moves on most of the coalition forces has agreed to the fact that it no longer had the political or moral resolve to do what it takes to win over Afghanistan. . Britain can barely stomach the death of 200 soldiers; a reinvented Germany can't get over the collective trauma of having ordered the bombing in Kunduz. The west now tired of trying to fight a war which has led them to miles across they own country into one whose ideologies and people it can barely understand. The commitment that led the forces to try and avenge 9/11 has been slowly vanishing. Helping “Ourselves” has become the first priority and willingness to fight the “Just” war has died down. The country too is difficult to understand and the best example comes in with the top man himself. Hamid Karzai was like a breath of fresh air once the Taliban were ousted. A few years later he is being called a “Ballot Thief”, rigging polls with money coming from drug barons.

Tired and beaten up from the long waging war and sick of the “Fouling” tactics of the home team the coalition forces main aim seems to be safeguarding itself. They have realized (quite the hard way) that the Taliban or the Al Queda won’t just die down by sheer force. They are not a military force and will not wage open war with a well trained and equipped enemy. Thus now if the Taliban and Al Qaeda would to give assurance of not mounting attacks on the west it would again earn on itself the right to rule the country as it wanted.

As the looks of it right now the west seems very inclined to move away and if f it did it would mean another triumph for the “Jihadi’s”. Much like their cold war opponents the US would be the next “Superpower” who would be beaten away. But then if the coalition forces do leave it would also mean Pakistan breathing a sigh of relief. It has been much criticized by the other nations for being a US puppet and now with the US leaving it would hope to enjoy the similar kind of leverage it had with Afghanistan before the coalition forces came down. What it would also mean is a resurgent Iran who along with Pakistan would be the second nuclear capable state to have close ties with the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

The biggest “Loser” in this would turn out to be India. A rebellious Pakistan and its allies on the west and a emerging dragon on the north east, we seem to be cornered from all corners. We can proudly state that we are probably the only country in South Asia where sanity does exist and the US does agree to the fact. India may not be as important as Iraq in the US’s quest for oil but we do help protect the multi billion dollar trade route in the Indian Ocean. The recent allowance by the US to allow the Indian navy to acquire the P 81 reconnaissance planes and the advanced Hawk Eye platform has been taken to see the important trade route is well protected.

But then the forces have still not moved away and it is time the US showed enough reasons for people to call it a superpower. The status does not come merely with having the best fighting force it comes with having the moral strength to bear down even the most resistant of the enemies.

Iran, Pakistan, China, North Korea these days does ring a bell. Its time the US rather than doing away with the coalition tried forming new ones.

"Dabba" To The Rescue

Was in Mysore a few days back and as always in the midst of trying to get out of Bangalore before the morning traffic trapped us in I managed to skip breakfast. 5 hours later after finishing 3 meetings and very visibly hungry I happened to spot a Subway outlet and what struck me a deal I got a foot long sub (Non Veg) @ 150. Very happy I carried the parcel to the site office where I sat down with a rather roundish looking person. He had his “BIG” lunch dabba out and pulled out a vast array of food ranging from Rotis to Rasam. I watched him as he managed to slurp his rasam, tucking into the canary-yellow lemon-rice, setting aside the sautéed green curry leaves that had done their flavoring job, pour ghee on his rotis and once you though he was done he signaled for a tumbler and made fresh butter milk from the supply of curd he had. Meanwhile I munched away my sub and wondered who on earth would on this day travel with a huge dabba. Suddenly, as if he had the question all along, the man threw me a question – How Much? What do you mean how much I though. 150 in all I said pretty proud I got a whole sub for that price. But my thoughts were soon broken rather shattered by his reply. You like to buy eat drink and be merry don’t you. I nodded. As if not even bothering to wait for my reply he went on. Youngsters all you want now days is junk food, (what was wrong with that I wanted to ask but he went on), you by and large buy everything including food, pizzas, burgers, steaks and things, all swiped through credit cards with no concern about mounting debt.

Mounting What ?? I began to wonder if the guy was mad. I finished off my last bit of Pepsi to reply to that but he was ready for his parting shot rather Salvo. Carrying around a lunch box may not be cool but you for certain are a bigger fool to have paid 150 bucks for a bun mostly filled with veggies. Saying so he scurried away and the last portion of my sub turned into a lump which just did not go down my throat.

Fast forward to a couple of hours later I was travelling back to Bangalore I happened to ponder over the events occurred during lunch. To my alarming surprise everything the man did say fell into place. Yeah we were going the so called western way of buy eat drink. There are hundreds of such places now. Every mall these days has a food court and most of them are full. Places serving “Fast Food” are on an increase even school kids do not carry “Tiffin Boxes” these days. Much like our Western Friends who would spend seven full dollars daily at the Taco Bell, Deli or Subway round the corner we too are going towards the same mindset. Spend today man for tomorrow we can either Die or Diet.

But seriously whatever happened to the option of cooking your own meals and carrying them around. 30 minutes or else free, the mantra guarantees that food may arrive here quicker than the ambulance. I still remember the days my mom packed up stuff for me to eat on my journeys. Apart from the fact that the food would keep me from eating junk outside what it did mostly was save money. As a student who has spent quite some time studying outside I know the benefit of saving even 50 bucks. Why can’t we have our Gandhi-capped Mumbai dabbawalas for networking glitch-free cylindrical lunch box deliveries across the country? Better still if one is in Bangalore walk into a Darshini for complete hassles free Meal. At a range of 20 to 30 bucks it’s a deal.

What we would not want is to turn into what America is today, overripe on credit. Thought the sub prime has been the main reason, years of swiping of credit cards to buy lunches too have some effect.

Bloody Indians"

For “Indians” the detention of SRK could not have come at a better time. Most of us would have probably slept through the day enjoyed a lazy lunch and just switched on the TV to find news channels covering the issue. Though late in the day the “Patriot” within us awoke and probably slammed the US custom officials with the choicest of words. Bollywood has come out in force with each “Khan” capturing moments of them being detained in the past.

Well the support is good and so are the viewpoints, but then the questions that remains is all the support was aimed at what. Was it for the millions of “Khans” like SRK who probably get detained for hours exceeding 2 as the foreign embassy wont vouch for them, was it for the select people who have been detained for carrying a beard or wearing other “religious symbols”. I guess it was not for we were just plain annoyed that one of our “Superstars” got detained. The case is similar with SRK. He is very well aware of the fact that his name ends with a title which would arise attention in western countries, but then he got pissed because it was “him” who got detained.

The problem of “Terrorism” has prevailed in India since long. The Indian Army has been dealing with it since 15 days of the formation of “Independent India” and still are paying a heavy price for it. Anyone in Kashmir wearing the odd raincoat or a shawl can be pulled up for interrogation. The man/woman maybe innocent but then that is the way over there. After all these years I still do not see a Sikh entry into the SPG (Special Protection Group) guarding the Prime Minister. Mind you the Punjab and Sikh battalions of the Indian Army comprise of the countries premier strike forces.

But post 9/11 Muslims across the world have been subject to prejudice. The west seems to recognize “Terrorism” by tagging it with “Names” and other “Religious Symbols”. But then millions of such people regularly go through such harassment as they are a “nobody” moreover they are out of their country. But then to be fair to the US they take the killing of their own people in a way of seriousness that is required. Post 9/11 there has not been a single “terror” related issue in the US and it is largely due all these efforts, which by the way I do agree is very shameful and degrading. But then it is the duty of a country to protect its civilians from threat no matter what the cost. Look at the countries affected by “Terrorism” in Asia. Look at our own record for that. One just “Sailed In” and took the whole security system for a six. The US and UK both have invested heavily to screen every person that lands on their shores, so high is their efficiency that they did not even let their Celebs off the hook. Metallica front man James Hetfield was reported to have been detained in Luton Airport in UK for his “Goatee” which arose suspicion that he may be a “Terrorist”.

Rather than say he dosnt need a apology what SRK should have done is take steps to see that the whole “Branding” of “Terrorism” done by the west is broken. People need to realize a man having a particular surname of sporting a particular beard has got nothing to do with spreading terror. Religion, be it any where helps rise and keep faith. SRK is a global sign and a few clarifications from him would do well for the millions of other “Nobodies” who get stopped everyday.

But then as it was pointed out the support was not for the other “Nobodies”, it was for the “Baadshah” himself. One can now easily plot the next blog coming up labeled “Tit for Tat”. Stop the “Firangs” and degrade them too. But then we would not even eyeball one and rather lay the “Red Carpet” down for them. Even after 62 years the “Colonial Hangover aint Over”. But then for us “Bloody Indians” that aint the problem.

The answer is “PLAIN BLOODY LETHARGY”. But then we would not mind standing in a mile long line to get hold of “Black” tickets for the “Baadshah’s” latest flick.

“Bloody Indians” someone did paint a very apt picture.

Encountering the Dragon - Hukou

Anyone aware of what “Hukou” is.

So for the benefit of all the UNAWARE it is basically a resident permit issued by the Chinese government, allowing one to stay in China even if you were born there. It is issued on family basis. Every family have a Hukou booklet that records information about the family members, including name, birth date, relationship with each other, marriage status (and with whom if married), address and your employer...

Everyone in China has a Hukou.

Now this booklet is very important. One is expected is stay where they were born and stay there until there demise. One cannot move around. One can travel but then there is no access to jobs, public utility services or food. It is just like visiting other places with a B-1 (business) type of visa - you can visit, but cannot work there (it is illegal), cannot go to school (not accepted), cannot go to hospital (without a hukou, you are not treated). For food, in those old days, you cannot buy food no matter how much money you have. You need to use Liangpiao (The currency for food) with money together to get food. Liangpiao is only issued by the government of the place your Hukou is registered.

The worse is when it comes to travelling, If you travel without a hukou, you don’t exist, you’re a non-person. If you go to Shanghai, or anywhere else, you’re treated as an illegal. No place to stay, no licence to work, no assured pay, even if it’s a few grains of rice a day.

China very rigidly manages the flow of people from one place to another and one cant just travel upto Shanghai or Beijing. He or she would have to have a Hukou.

That then has to be stamped by the local Party commissar in your city and also stamped by someone higher up in the Party in the city you want to go to. Then and only then do you get to move.

All the trouble to move around we Indian’s would have gladly stayed at home, but then China being China passenger rail transport is one of the principal means of transport, with 1.456 billion railway trips taken in 2008.

But we don’t need to have a Hukou to move around in India. The trains keep on moving rather chugging and the bogies are always full. The “mango people” like to travel and we do so with aplomb. Along the journey we ensure that we crib and curse on and at the system which runs the railways. Are we justified to do so, well there does not seem to be a reason for that much of it comes to us as a BIRTHRIGHT.

But lets be kind to the “Mango People” and paint a picture of the so called “Ordeal” of travelling on the Indian Railways. This would include getting into a general compartment, stow your meager luggage, and then hope for the best that you’re not kicked around at three in the morning when you’re trying to sleep sitting on a hard wooden berth shared by four other uninvited co-passengers. And on the upper berth, callused feet, dangling, kicking you around the face.

All this time though people inside would try and wage a futile war to keep the door shut against the tide of people trying to rush in and as always - since the will of the person trying to catch a train than the one inside being more strong – the numbers inside the coach would increase.

The bathrooms in all the bogies always malfunction which seems very strange. Either there is no water or there is a leak in the flush which eventually drains the tanks out into the bogies much to the distaste of the passengers. The aromatic sewage from the loo spilling out and lovingly wetted the pants of the unfortunates crowded there and the curses flowed.

But we would be on the same train the very next time we needed to be. Why so?? Well the answer is simple. This was the cheapest ride back home for the “Mango People”. One did not need a ticket a mere bribe and the stamina to endure the above mentioned would be enough to get you to your destination. AND we did not need to have a HUKOU.

The general compartments’ are filled with our so called “Mango People”, people who would be responsible to take the country forward. The best diamond cutters in Gujarat come from Bengal. Going home, we experienced really free migration first hand: the poorest of the poor, our co-passengers, would do anything to migrate for work to a better place, paying just 10 rupees to the TTE.

To get a Hukou in China is tough mostly so to control the flow of migrating workers. But then the rigidity would not help the Dragon in times of a downturn.

But then “The Mango People” will travel and business will prosper.

MAHARAJA in Distress !!

12 hours that’s what it took. The fears that the Air India’s losses might spiral up to heights of 5000 crores have come true, the losses now stand at 7200 crores. But in no sooner time the media is out with its own “read to analyze articles”. The papers are full of why how Air India has been spiraling down from the past 2 years. Welcome change though the whole issue of Gayism and its pin up girl Celina Jaitley (who got some welcome headlines) was getting quite irritating.

Staying in aviation business is no child play JRD Tata was smart enough to understand that. Pioneering an industry has never been the forte of any government across nations and similar was the case for the airline industry. Many countries have national airlines that the government owns and operates. Fully private airlines are subject to a great deal of government regulation for economic, political, and safety concerns. Private players now rule this sector. But then the global recession and terrorism to a large extent have caused some worry to all carriers across the world. If we do go back to history air travel has survived largely through state support, this came through in way of equity or subsidies. Risky and costly is the best way to describe this industry but one has to outweigh the microeconomic losses by sighting higher growth due to global mobility. Over the years many countries have privatized their national airlines in order to improve profitability in the future and this has paid rich dividends. Innovations such as the low cost carriers have made their mark. Thus today many large airlines today are privately owned and are therefore governed by microeconomic principles in order to maximize shareholder profit.

But then as mentioned earlier this is a industry which has high operational costs. Aircraft financing by itself can be quite complex. Since this is an industry which gives high importance on safety newer planes with better safety features are being designed throughout and carriers must upgrade their fleet which is why they need to take major long-term fleet decisions with the goal of meeting the demands of their markets while producing a fleet that is relatively economical to operate and maintain. But then being capital intensive is not the only problem alone. Hedging oil and fuel prices also play a major role in the operational costs of an airline. Another important factor amidst all of this in view of the congestion apparent at many international airports, the ownership of slots at certain airports (the right to take-off or land an aircraft at a particular time of day or night) has become a significant tradable asset for many airlines. Clearly take-off slots at popular times of the day can be critical in attracting the more profitable business traveler to a given airline's flight and in establishing a competitive advantage against a competing airline.

One can wonder the reason for the discussion of the high level of economic forces but then most of the reasons cited out by the EXPERTS pertain to the above. The problems plaguing the national carrier are numerous but then ceding market share and bad routes top the reasons along with the merger which has lead it to so called spiral down. Bad routes cant be complained about especially when the airlines operates out of some of the most inhospitable places ie within India. Most private players have virtually no planes going to the north eastern parts of the country. Many small towns and cities are still yet to be served by private aircrafts. The fact that Air India operates out of such places goes down completely UN noticed when it comes to “Bad Route Planning”. Not to mention the cost of operating a Airport and the maintaining the ground crew at these places. But then the so called EXPERTS fly in or out only from the major towns. The market share has clearly dipped and the major cause has been the private players taking fair travel to newer heights. Most of Air India aircrafts were delivered back in the late 1980’s its surely could not compete the newer “Dream liners”. We did go ahead and order better planes but then in days of a recession delivery issues plagues everyone and thus the carrier had to Dry Lease planes. The merger surely did not go as planned but then merging 2 giants was not going to go happen without any glitches. The media ever so vocal about “Privatization” has been going on rattling about it. British Airways was privatized one would want to check out its state after the government gave up its control. The Rod Eddinton era resulted in a 50% slump in profits. Similar scenes were repeated post September 11^th when most of the private carriers faced problems of liquidity, high fuel prices and drastic reduction in travel. The players responded by drastically cutting workforce and selling of stakes to investment bankers (German subsidiary Deutsche BA was sold to investment group Intro Verwaltungsgesellschaft). Fresh equity was also raised to pay off debt.

Try doing rather mentioning of doing the above in India. What would result is a huge dharna outside parliament. How can even someone dream of throwing out people out of government organization. Try selling of stake the Left would probably leave no means unturned to see the government fall’s down. Raising an IPO in times of a volatile stock market is also not advisable. Someone needs to feel sorry for Praful Patel. Some complained that years of bad running have undone the carrier. But since the government took Air India over the whole accumulated losses were around 1000 crores. That figure in over 5 decades of existence is not bad. The carrier was hit hard by the recession and the fuel prices and probably the decision to buy planes did not come at the proper time. We talk aircrafts from Air India not flying and thus losing money. More than half of Singapore Airlines fleet was “Grounded” due to planes going half full. In days where airlines cant pay of fuel charges people are drying out loud that our planes did not fy hence did not make money.

As a national airline it was one of the best in Asia and the world. But then the recession took a toll on it as it did with many airlines globally. Alitalia have gone bankrupt and are shutting down operation. British Airways have reduced staff without giving salaries. But then being a PSU Air India cant resort to the above tactics. But then a restructure is required. The carrier is overstaffed and the professional standards for which it was known for have vanished. The future does look grave. But then necessary steps have to be taken. NPA’s need to be eased out and that would include staff also.

The MAHARAJA has been cordial enough time now it showed some resilient spirit.

The Dilemma named MMRCA

The IAF had projected a requirement for 126 aircraft's back in 2001when its strength was down to 39 squadrons. The initial requirements were for a 20 ton aircraft which was supposed to be filled with the Mirage 2000 whose capabilities had impressed the IAF during the Kargil War. However this fell through as the upcoming manufacture of the Dassault Rafale and lack of orders, the Mirage production lines were to be closed down.

Meanwhile delays with the LCA project and the unavailability of the jointly developed 5^Th generation aircraft not happening before 2020 made the IAF float a RFI in 2004.

Since then 5 years have passed and finally we are on the verge to finalize on the selected few. Below is an analysis on who might actually win.

The SUPER VIPER -

India as a matter of fact has never procured any defense equipment which has been fielded by Pakistan. Even during the 65 and 71 wars while Pakistan has the much famed Sabres and Star fighters and the Patton tanks India relied on tried and tested old Russian inventory. The thought has not been so for the past few years. In a bid to see that the current strength of the IAF does not fall beyond the 40 squadron mark in a time most of our neighbors have shown signs of hostility the government floated a requisition to draft in MRCA’s (Multi Role Combat Air crafts). Since then the Super Viper has been a common sight in the Bangalore Aero Show. Let’s face it 13 million flight hours, 4 lakhs combat hours over lakh combat missions if figures were a fact to choose a place the Viper would have ousted the best in the business. Add to that the fact that more than 20 nations has been using it since its inception in the 70’s. Even the IAF is well aware that the F 16 IN is probably the only aircraft which fits in perfectly in the qualitative requirement. As a icing on the cake the F 16 IN would come with an AESA radar which the IAF just adores. What also lies ahead if the IAF does go ahead with the F 16 is the option of getting the F 35’s at a later date. The us with the F 16 seems to have hit the IAF with an offer which is quite irresistible to resist. But then there are a few glitches. The F 16 is on the verge of being phased out and the USAF is not ordering any more of it. The F 35 shall now be the next move on for the USAF. Thus procuring a plane whose production line would be stopped hence would not go well for the IAF. And again there is the fact of India never procuring anything that has been fielded by Pakistan. The US knows the fact and has tried making the deal a tag “Sweeter” by saying India would have access to the F 35’s at a later date.

The GRIPEN -

Its been labeled as “The Independent Choice”. The tag has been well chosen. The MMRCA deal is pointed at changing a lot of things, the Gripen is the only underdog in the competition and choosing it would certainly be a choice aimed at being “Independent” and looking for “Change”. What many of us are unaware is of the fact that Gripen though being an underdog is an excellent aircraft and like the F 16 fits in quite well with the qualitative requirement the IAF had asked for. What also are crucial to Gripens state in the deal is its low turnaround and maintenance costs. The aircraft also adds a lot punch with its new systems and sensors. What also speaks volumes for the aircraft is the time it can be turned around on the ground a fact in which it beats all its competitors. But then would any government again take the risk of buying defence equipment from Sweden again. We are still shaken from the aftershocks of the Bofors deal. The 155 mm shell has scored a hit where we would least want it to.

The Future FULCRUM

No defense procurement in India looks complete without any tender from Russia. While previously we have quite successfully inducted the MIG 29’s and the Sukhoi’s looking to Russia this time around was not expected. But then Russia has always had that leverage with India and it wasn’t that hard to pitch in the MIG 35. The major fact that India may go with the Fulcrum is the commonality of operating it. The gurus already say that buying the MIG 35 would mean huge saving’s in infrastructural and training costs. The MIG 29 always had had good reviews from the IAF. While a few days back most of the Russian MIGS were grounded due to corrosion the IAF MIGS had no problems as such.

But still apart from what the Russians claim about the FULCRUM being a far superior than its 29 variants the IAF doest not seem convinced enough. Though Russia has been our most prominent defense equipment suppliers the relations have taken a beating over the years. Russians are not the best when it comes to after sales services, provision of spares to have been very hard to get. Also in a way what could go horribly wrong for the MIG 35 is the fact that the Russians themselves have not chosen the MIG and are filling up the spaces with the Shukois. Add to that the fact of the Russians overpricing deals midway much like the Groshkov deal could result in the IAF actually rejecting the FULCRUM.

The French Connection – RAFALE -

I cited at the beginning of my article the intention of the IAF to go for the MMRCA deal. Initially though the real intent was to procure just the Mirage 2000 an aircraft which the IAF hold in very great esteem. But as always Red Tap ism affects all decisions in India time ran out and Dassault closed all production lines for the Mirage and offered the Rafale instead. The Rafale along with the Gripen are the only 2 aircraft's in the competition with a refreshing newness to them. Neither of them comes with an old aircraft platform upgraded to meet the requirements of today’s modern warfare. The F 16 / 18 as well as the MIG 35 (evolving from the 29) are based on old platforms. The French has also cleverly pitched the Rafale as being the next logical step after the Mirage. The aircraft has proven battle worthy in the recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Rafale will also come with new, high-capability variants of MBDA missiles that the IAF has operated for decades, and places a lot of value on. There is a problem about the cost of the aircraft but with an added cost comes the reliability that the French have been extremely professional in all their defense deals till date with India. But the fact which could make the IAF think for the Rafale is its ability to deliver nuclear weapons. Add the the fact that it is a proven aircraft carrier based aircraft too operating from the Charles De Gaulle. But then price is always an issue when it comes to India and the Rafale is the most costliest among all present in the competition. Also like the Gripen and the Bofors the Rafale too might have a nemesis called the Scorpene.

The Super HORNET -

The Super Hornet is quite visibly Super considering its sheer size and payload capability. In what became a common picture of USA becoming a super power was Hornets taking off from the flight decks of its aircraft carriers to precision bomb targets mostly in the Gulf and of late in Afghanistan. It is considered to match the capabilities of the Super Viper if not be better than it and like the Rafale is a proven aircraft operating both from carriers as well as ground. What the Super Hornet also does is effectively reduce the pilot workload, its digital flight control systems are said to be better than any aircraft (within the same range) operating today. Being proven on aircraft carriers means that the aircraft can take off and land within a shortened runway, with full payload. The IAF too has been dealing with the Boeing Corp for quite some time now and are quite satisfied with the dealings. Then like the F 16 deal there is a benefit of getting the F 35’s at a later date. But then again the USAF has no more orders for the Hornets and is moving on the F 22 and F 35. The F 18 also is in much ways similar to the Sukhoi which the IAF already field. We would not want 2 aircraft's of the same capabilities running together the logistics effort would drive the IAF crazy. Also whatever Boeing might say the Hornet is effectively a carrier based aircraft it was developed with the mindset of having a multi role aircraft to be fielded from the sea. Whether it would be as effective on the ground is a big question.

So finally who would it be. Its boils down to the Hardened and Proven vs the Underdogs. I doubt the IAF would go with aircraft's whose production lines have almost been stopped which would rule out both the Super Viper and the Super Hornet. Though both are well proven the choice this time is to be “Independent”. The Fulcrum could win the deal but Russia comes with a long tail of delays, poor after sales service. Also the FULCRUM has not been chosen by the Russians themselves. This would leave the Gripen and the Rafale possibly the 2 underdogs in the competition. The IAF have had a long association with the French and over the years deals with them to acquire the Mirage 2000 and the Mysteres have gone on smoothly and professionally. But then as a nation we like the best bargain and the Gripen comes off as the best.

The Gripen seems to be the perfect complement to the inventory of aircraft we already have. As cited before operating the Hornet or the Rafale would mean the IAF have similar aircrafts operating thus creating a logistical challenge not to mention the fact the gap of having a MRCA would still remain. Also given the fact that the Gripen is the best price wise too would make it a certain forerunner to bag the deal. If it would it could edge out to the Rafale in point of the nuclear weapons capability. But the point is would the defense ministry have the “BALLS” to go for something Swedish. With France a nemesis named Scoepene exists too.

But then as stated earlier this time the deal is aimed at CHANGE and the decision for such should be a choice INDEPENDENT of political or any other kind of pressure.

Faulty System or a Demand & Supply Gap Mr. Sibal ?

Was watching “We The People´ on NDTV yesterday and the hot topic was Mr. Sibal’s proposed efforts towards a potential paradigm shift in the way our educational system would be run. Changes over the past 60 decades have been restricted to a few and the hordes of students who have passed/failed the system which had deep structural flaws had not yet complained. Now suddenly with Mr. Sibal’s announcement gave them a reason to do away with the whole system. No more board exams blues, no more parents haranguing about the fact that the next door neighbors kid is putting in more hours of study, no more reading those stupid guide books, nothing to do with all of what comes packaged as “The Class X Board’s”.

While expected the students to be cheering on Mr. Sibal what did come out was quite shocking. Most of them actually thought the Xth Boards was necessary. There were 2 ways out of this

1. The fact of what we call “Mogoj Dholai” in Bengali. Any kid in India would probably learn at a very early age (thanks to his parents) that a point in life would come when he would have to face a year without games, fun and play to endure on to a journey much harder than that taken by Frodo in LOTR. The journey being the dreaded Xth Boards. Dad would not do tours; Mom would cut down on kitty parties. After being told about this “Journey” all his/her life how else would you want a kid to act when asked whether he would want the Xth Boards.

2. Second would be the fact that kids today are much smarter than we would have been at that age, are thus in a better position to gauge their strengths via the Boards which then help them in choosing their stream. This would ensure that they would be studying what they like and not what “Mummy Daddy” likes.

But seriously the point would be much more than the above reasons. Here’s a man trying to make amends to a system which has been crying out from the very time it was set, for CHANGE. Lets face it the Class X board examinations an arcane make or break point in the system which at best “Chokes” students. Barrack Obama might praise the fact of our students getting higher grades than those in the western countries. But little does he know about this so called “Mug & Vomit” system. Mug the guide books and reproduce them with such high precision that would put a photocopier to shame. This sadly is the way the Xth boards are going on. I would have thought that the change cited by Mr. Sibal would be welcome.

But why is there such a clamor to do so well that nowadays getting even 80% is not enough. Back in times when I did my boards only a handful got above 90% marks (Back only till 2001 I aint that old). These days only a handful would get below 80%. No doubt kids these days are much smarter but the objective type questions coupled with the “Mugging & Vomiting” does help too. It’s a crime to get less than 80% these days. People would act as if India yet again lost to Bangladesh in a World Cup. But this time the students or the parents are not to blame. With the cut off percentages in the top colleges across the country beginning from 85 what would you expect?

The problem thus now it seems is not about the “Mugging & Vomiting” (never was I guess, we were quite content doing so, even I did). The problem is purely a demand and supply gap. While we have successfully rolled of the campaign to educate every Indian by having schools created we have failed to see that enough colleges are there to provide for the thousands of students who pass out of various schools across India. The seats offered by some of the top colleges in India are still in the same numbers which were offered in times of our Mum & Dad’s. There still are not good enough colleges which are being churned out. Colleges which were top 50 years back are still the top. Yes they do have the credibility to remain there but not being challenged enough too is a reason for them to be there. An India Today article published on the top colleges for India there hasn’t been a new entry in the list for the past 10 years. We are closing our eyes when it comes to this problem. Increase in seats and good colleges would do a great deal in improving this so called trauma called the “Boards”. Widening doors in trains does not mean it can take more people. We need more bogies newer trains too.

But I guess the system of having the optional exams is one which has not been tested yet and it would take time for people to come to terms with an idea which they probably would not have lived with in so many years past. The proposal to set up accreditation bodies for schools and higher educational institutions has merit in them too. We do need to improve the educational system and lifting the restrictions on private capital to be invested is a move in good stead as well. But the Demand & Supply gap must be plugged to ensure the trauma is kept at a minimum.

Hopefully Mr. Sibal has the agenda and the space to do so in his proposal.