tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179421972011-09-19T19:40:41.866+07:00Hi ! Bloggers This is my way of contributing to some issues that I think about and carry opinions on. I just wish to express. Ofcourse, I would love to know what others feel about the issues I wrote on. So if you are one with views - you are warmly invited. Yours Truly AkashAkash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.comBlogger721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-20428785035185968612011-05-16T02:10:00.001+07:002011-05-16T08:09:53.845+07:00

Writing a post after a hiatus of six odd months. I also write at The CH Edge as a part of faculty team of CH EdgeMakers. So this is my opinions blog and on issues related to career and MBA Entrance, you shall find me writing at The CH Edge. My last post was on Corruption. Little did I know at that time that it will turn out to be so insightful. As if as a trigger the floodgates opened soon after

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-26621142954320937022010-09-03T00:37:00.002+07:002010-09-03T21:30:07.867+07:00

This post was triggered by this innocent mail from one of my students Sir, i want to know your views regarding corruption in CWG (Common Wealth Games). I read that a lot corruption is happening in CWG? like 1:Renting a chair for Rs 8400. 2:Renting a 100 litre refrigerator for Rs 42000. 3:Buying a roll of tissue for Rs 4100. 4:Renting a treadmill for Rs 10 lakh. sir,is it a reality that such

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-54567309712381923292010-07-21T01:59:00.001+07:002010-07-21T01:59:54.288+07:00

This is bound to be a small post. However, the start (for me) was a really interesting one. I have been thinking of writing on this new symbol that our currency just got. And almost two weeks later when I could sit down and log in to blogger - Voila - a new reader on the blog had this comment. It's great..really great job..!! Looking forward to read more from you esp. on "our Indian Rupee sign"

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-56698489414571940782010-06-29T15:42:00.002+07:002010-06-30T23:58:26.581+07:00

On 25th of this month (june 2010) the Indian Govt. took a major step forward in reforming the Indian Economy. It freed petroleum prices from all regulation and indicated its intention to do so for diesel as well. That's not all, it increased diesel prices by Rs. 2 a litre, LPG by Rs. 25 a cylinder and even increased the kerosene prices, long untouched from price hike. Read the details here. Now

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-44162903620680131792010-06-26T00:46:00.003+07:002010-06-26T00:49:51.702+07:00

Received this mail from my school time friend - Ajay. Could not resist putting it up here. If you have anything to do with the business of education don't miss it. If you have nothing to with the business of education - still don't miss it. Thanks Ajay for Sharing. - Akash ***************************** As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-15994256096144385292010-06-21T00:03:00.000+07:002010-06-21T00:03:56.812+07:00

Govt. came up with an ordinance on the issue simmering between the IRDA and the SEBI over who of the two should be regulating the ULIPs (Unit Linked Insurance Plans). Here is the news. Govt. has decided to take the IRDA side. Now that's puzzling and curious - everything the ordinance, its logic and its timing. First a background - ULIPs are considered/treated as Insurance in India  however

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-35352098313824523512010-06-08T01:54:00.001+07:002010-06-08T10:43:12.060+07:00

"Mummy, Aaj school nahi Lagega - Bahut bada accident ho gaya hai. 1000 se jyada log mare hai" (Mom, Today there will be no school - there has been a big accident. More than 1000 people died) Horrible but true. This was my first reaction to the news of "Bhopal Gas Leak Tragedy", which reached us through the morning newspaper (you see there were no 24/7 News Channels & no inetrnet). I was twelve

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-17399292763147027992010-06-07T13:07:00.000+07:002010-06-07T13:07:46.150+07:00

Received this poem through mail - Author not known to me. But worth sharing, Beautiful thought. I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all, Nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp-- The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-72757284311228532672010-05-20T08:40:00.002+07:002010-05-20T08:48:05.409+07:00

Indian Govt. gets a whooping 68K crores from the auction of 3G spectrum. Check the news here. Looks like good news isn't it? Pranab da only planned for Rs. 35K cr. revenue in his budget. This difference alone would mean that he can bring down fiscal deficit by half a percentage point. Magical good news. Not really !! Here is why. Not many of my age would forget what a luxury a telephone was in

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-61454049168336199082010-05-09T09:54:00.001+07:002010-05-10T01:07:55.920+07:00

Yeah !! I know everyone worth his/her salt will write about the Judgement on the Ambani bros case - an analysis of how much gas (literally) was wasted - apart from air time, talk time, reams of print, share holders' and tax payers' money. Lamenting will be done (has already been done) on the excruciatingly slow pace of justice delivery costing a few percentage points slip/miss in the GDP (really

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-66209036453078143512010-04-03T11:30:00.000+07:002010-04-03T11:30:48.065+07:00

I carry vivid memories of the proud day when my dad proudly drove home our family's first car - The Maruti 800 - after a wait of more than 3 years, one makeover of the model already done and at a price tag more than double of what we believed it will be available at. Today when I read the news of its "good bye" from showrooms and a five year plan to phase it out - I am full of - well -

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-17530743545530415282010-03-06T10:32:00.001+07:002010-03-06T10:39:45.466+07:00

Before you continue reading this post, let me warn you. This one is disturbing, if you are used to reading what I have been writing usually. Its not my domain or style. It might hurt sensibilities, if you are religious in a very Indian manner. South Indian media is agog with a sting video of one Swami Nithyanand showing him in compromising position(s) with a southern actress (well lets leave her

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-16544131715500254742009-12-27T03:07:00.002+07:002009-12-27T03:25:36.534+07:00

Interesting... I smiled as I typed the title to the post. But then what would you feel when someone tells you passionately - you must blog more often - and you wonder why are you not doing that. A recently became colleague of mine made that comment - "You should blog" and I said I used to. He was unmoved - so why don't you aymore? My first reaction was - "because its not my profession."  and I

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-33606088792951360572009-10-05T01:08:00.006+07:002010-06-20T10:45:00.641+07:00

Was listening to a Prannoy Roy Interview of none other than Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Montek as always precise, to the point and analytical. I quote a detail from him - India is now lending to the IMF. We have lent to the tune of $10 billions to the IMF. We do not generally borrow from the IMF. Even when we did (during the worst ecomomic crisis faced by India - early reform years of 90s) the peak

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-85412913844864211532009-07-14T10:53:00.003+07:002009-07-14T11:35:05.076+07:00

28th August 2006 - almost three years back I had written this post on my blog. Today on 14th July 2009 newspapaers report that all those charged with the henious crime were exonerated because of lack of evidence. The judge mentions in his judgement that the prosecution "failed misrably to prove its case". (watch/read more details here)First a recap - I refer to the death of a simple and respected

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-58821802501815113452009-03-05T18:17:00.003+07:002009-10-05T01:08:24.676+07:00

In the midst of the Global Financial Meltdown - when everyone including me, is busy giving seminars on why the world is going through this terrible crisis, comparable only to the great depression of 1930s - one finds some time free (if that is some solace). Yeah !! I actually could sit down to blog means I am relatively free.And no this post is not yet another harangue on the global meltdown.

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-3125855610726279452009-01-15T09:59:00.003+07:002009-01-15T10:53:53.512+07:00

Never really the ones to leave an opportunity to catch attention - where are our politicians on the issue of Satyam?Why is the entire Indian political class so quiet on the Satyam saga. Beyond "The law will take its own course" - noone is seeking political mileage from the issue. Why?Is it because of this?Well one thing is clear - Raju could not have carried on a scam of this scale without

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-18791425214953068382009-01-08T13:41:00.003+07:002009-05-20T17:29:02.913+07:00

Amazingly simple and amazingly effective message.http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=M0XTPSYdP08

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-44106295708986632032009-01-07T18:34:00.008+07:002009-01-08T00:51:09.748+07:00

What a day to get back to one's year old hobby - for long dormant - jolted out by none other than - B. Ramalingam Raju - our own iconic, winner of the Best Corporate Governance (I mean his Company) now ex-EVERYTHING of Satyam Computers.And what a way to be jolted out of slumber:Stock markets lose a delirious 750+ points in a single session all because our Mr. raju decides to trigger panic in

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-5378207357845772912008-10-14T13:18:00.002+07:002008-10-14T13:22:40.467+07:00

smiling more to myself - here is my mid year resolutionAt least one full post a month. Thats what we will find on this blog.Ha ha .....

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-31142171986269698472007-07-08T12:40:00.000+07:002007-07-09T11:34:08.591+07:00

Blogging has been an interesting hobby and a satisfying avocation to be involved in. Recently I recieved a mail from a netizen suggesting that I popularise my blog. Thanks buddy. I shall try that.This partucular mail made me think on my blog again - in fact I read through the blog spending some time on it and thought I did a decent job of compiling my thoughts.Some particular favourites of the

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-46744796769156392162007-03-25T21:40:00.000+07:002007-03-25T22:05:21.949+07:00

In cricket that is. Did we lose the world cup??Going by the reactions of fans, Indians in general and media "analyst" we lost the world cup badly.This line of thought of course assumes that we were quite close to winning (if we had not already won) the world cup. But both the losses - one against Bangladesh and other against Sri-lanka quite convincingly proved that we weren't even serious

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-85436912006628145192007-02-23T10:26:00.000+07:002007-03-08T21:45:35.777+07:00

Shailesh is an Engineering graduate from MP, 5'9'' tall, is handsome with a distinct presence of his own, comes from a well to do family, even politically well connected. He is rash, blunt, well versed with current affairs and one with a distinct but studied opinion of his own on every issue. He has a great hold on Hindi Language and is particularly keen on Foriegn affairs of India. He is

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-36506919340411180352007-02-05T13:38:00.000+07:002007-02-06T01:25:08.128+07:00

Ever wondered about what owning responsibility should mean. This year's CAT and its aftermath is a burning example of how high pitch ad campaigns, promotional programmes and the likes are empty and worth nothing. Moreover they misguide and confuse students to no ends. Read on......Sample this. About an hour after CAT 2006 ended - most major names in the business of MBA Entrance training started

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-38862091914760704092007-01-17T12:47:00.000+07:002007-01-31T12:54:16.859+07:00

Good to be back at my blog. Look at these pictures. What do you see? Happy children of school performing in a cultural show on stage. So, most probably this is an annual day function of a school. Do you notice any peculiarity. I was a part of this touching and emotionally moving experience.The happy faces on stage are "God's own very special" children, as the anchor explained in her beautifully

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-54974100374595836462006-12-05T04:06:00.000+07:002006-12-17T02:26:30.735+07:00

I am not a huge fan of Bond movies but I like them. They are a couple of hours of "fultu timepass". So if I get a chance - I rarely miss them. Now after a long time a real opportunity came - three married guys - one of them me, plan for a movie - that too a james bond movie - and the icing on the cake - without our wives. wow college days are here again. So how would you feel when you sit through

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-51355164365348983382006-11-26T05:51:00.000+07:002006-11-26T20:09:24.085+07:00

My 4 year kid watched Dhoom a couple of years back when he was just two plus years old. He adored the movie with its bikes and songs. He remembers that entire movie - frame by frame. I must confess that I too, liked the movie as an entertainer which flied into the world of fancy without losing that quintessential touch with the real world.It was almost two months back - that my kid started

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-51802938854593327972006-10-19T18:14:00.000+07:002006-10-19T18:40:00.070+07:00

I am sure Prof. Madhukar will pardon me for copying even the title of his inpiring post on this year's noble prize winner for peace (actually the post is on his grameen bank story rather than him) some quotable quotes from his excellent post"Poverty is not caused by people; it is caused by the system. ""You take the best seed of the tallest tree from the most fertile forest, and plant it in a

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-57769708536389128102006-10-02T09:49:00.000+07:002006-09-19T10:07:30.722+07:00

A couple of months back I visited Darjeeling, Gangtok and ___________. The place was heavenly, if you are a nature lover. I cannot express it in words and so expect a series of photoessays - of the journey. Enjoy with meOff to vacations - after a long time and mootably a well deserved one. My kid is full of anticipation and is enjoying the train.New Jalpaiguri after an arduous still an enjoying

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-10982018181376997172006-09-30T23:42:00.000+07:002006-09-18T00:05:20.392+07:00

There has been unrelated incidences off late in one's life that results into this rather negative title to this post -First - Officer.. Officer...,The phone on my table rings, as it does almost every five minutes, and I am told by our front desk executive - that a certain Income tax inspector wanted to meet me. I enquire what he wanted, knowing fully well the reply I would get - that he wouldn't

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-3596714868743153272006-09-10T12:32:00.000+07:002006-09-10T12:33:59.195+07:00

Watched "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" yesterday. Although, I do not write film reviews but this movie made me write one.Like most others in the country, I had adored Munna Bhai MBBS. The Movie - was not an original idea. It was inspired by one similar hollywood movie. But the inspiration was well developed and suitably indianised. In fact one cannot use the word copy in this context. It was brilliant

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1152193130020148972006-09-08T20:00:00.000+07:002006-09-08T11:58:30.576+07:00

This is a continuation of a post that I wrote several weeks back. Read the first part here for the context.The yatra continues. First signs of tiredness visible and the prospects ahead look scary. An arduous return journey of 25+ km on foot of which we might have covered maybe 20% by now.But then the hill is beautiful, view awesome and spirits high. We go on and so does my musings.A crash course

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1156771682151704132006-08-28T19:48:00.000+07:002006-08-31T13:30:11.106+07:00

A couple of highly respected professor in a reputed college of Ujjain are beaten and humiliated. One dies of the shockThe other feels so humiliated that makes an abortive attempt to commit suicide and then gets a heart attack.A retired principal of the college also gets a heart attack after watching this on his TV screen through the local channels. Whats more all this happened in the presence of

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1153209410135704682006-07-18T14:49:00.000+07:002006-07-18T15:08:07.376+07:00

Hi ! If you are accessing the internet using one of the Indian ISPs, the chances are that you cannot see this and any other blog on the blogger.comIt seems that a selective ban on some blogs has enveloped the entire domain as the story here explains.Till then you can use www.pkblogs.com to access any of the blogs (you will need to remember the name of the blog for that however).For example to

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1153107799945003452006-07-17T10:20:00.000+07:002006-07-17T10:51:14.146+07:00

Bollywood has been an attraction to the young budding business managers at India's best B-Schools for years now. One fondly remembers a couple of special shows of Govinda flicks that the entire institute was treated to, as a part of fresher welcome ritual at the IIM Lucknow. The singing and dancing with Govinda in the Balcony of theatres was immensely charged and hugely funny.However, oflate even

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1152680397024229052006-07-12T11:20:00.000+07:002006-07-12T11:59:57.110+07:00

Last night was a a very difficult one. Sitting in Indore, watching frame by frame coverage of the gory act of terror that unleashed in Mumbai and Srinagar was a traumatic and moving experience. Everyone was visibly shocked - benumbed. What could one say or react to when something so irrational happens.Who is making a point and to whom by killing those who were killed last night??If actually there

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1151658173604299182006-06-30T15:54:00.000+07:002006-06-30T16:02:53.626+07:00

Well I was off again. This time to a vacation (yeah ! not to a pilgrimage in the name of a vacation). Come to think of it in an earlier post I said - "what the heck - lets go on a pilgrimage. As it is I need a long due and well earned vacation". Just the kind of thing my mom need to know I said.Because had she known these lines of mine she would say - see your pilgrimage brought you the truly

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1149607803615471702006-06-06T21:58:00.000+07:002006-06-06T22:43:55.526+07:00

TOI edit on 6th june notes a fact in the ongoing case of Rahul Mahajan that instead of giving their story to the police the four young men involved in the case presented it to the media, first. The edit says"While there is some justification for their act, it is a disturbing trend,one that could lead to all kinds of distortions. Bypassing normal, well-laid-outprocedures cannot be encouraged."Ha

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1149481589684913172006-06-05T10:57:00.000+07:002006-06-06T21:26:22.466+07:00

"When celebrities speak they must take a prepared punchline from those whom they seek to represent" sounds ridiculous to you ?? me too. But thats exactly what one of our rather intellectually bent media persons would want us to believe.I am refering to a talk show we the people telecaseted on NDTV on 4th June. Brakha dutt as always was good and could collect a variety of interesting and informed

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1149223725851365672006-06-02T11:28:00.000+07:002006-06-02T13:27:30.700+07:00

Sorry for this hiatus – was really occupied with personal, professional and the spiritual. Yes ! I was out for a week on a pilgrimage (tour)“Pilgrimage – now that sounds boring. And since when did you start paying visits to the deities?” Comments that I received when I announced my trip.OK !! I have never been over the top with religion or any thing that remotely smells of the meta physicals. But

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1145355922430211872006-05-27T03:28:00.000+07:002009-12-27T03:37:55.148+07:00

I was attracted to this rather loud advertisement in my morning newspaper which claimed stupendous success at the CAT / IIM - 2006 by a leading National Tutorial in the business of MBA Entrance training. Very soon I was to realise that I am faced with a bitter truth of today's education business. Results - is what sells in the coaching class markets and so results is what they will show -

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1147344269640851002006-05-11T17:26:00.000+07:002006-05-11T18:58:07.346+07:00

Just wanted to indulge in some retrospection. Today my blog received its 1000th hit.I wrote my first post on 15th November. Since then - 31 posts and almost six months later the counter on my blog crosses 1000 mark.This isn't a great show, if I go by the performances of some veteren bloggers (like rashmi, amit, Gautam Ghosh etc.) whom I have picked up the habit of reading regularly. Of course I

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1147175408660885872006-05-09T18:40:00.000+07:002006-05-09T18:50:08.683+07:00

Even Reliance can lose money.Reading this note I wonder - for how long will government be able to hold on to these subsidies specially when private sector companies like Reliance has made aggressive forays into an industry which has been historically in the PSU domain.Given the abilities of Reliance to influence Government policies - one can expect market parity soon for petrol, Diesel and

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1144765724070859952006-04-11T21:28:00.000+07:002006-04-12T14:12:15.286+07:00

The HRD ministry has issued a notification mandating 27% additional quota for Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in higher education. This will take the overall reservation to institutes like IITs and IIMs to almost 50%. Now in an increasingly competitive scenario (Typically for 1300+ seats at the IIMs more than 1,75,000 people appear) this is obviously a shock for students from the general categories.

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1143194264609596432006-03-24T16:50:00.000+07:002006-03-24T17:55:15.910+07:00

Sonia does it once again.Yes ! Sonia resigns as an MP and as chairperson of NAC. Time for Congress to take the moral high ground and yet again for the opposition to cool its heels as the sonia team take away issues from them one after another.While this was a case of congress getting cornered in one of its own trap. However Sonia does have the courage and the wisdom to keep her moral image

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1142752033520892492006-03-19T13:47:00.000+07:002006-04-08T21:39:52.350+07:00

In the final post on this series I present the interactive round between audience, host and the speaker of this talk show that I participated in. For the full context you might want to read part I and part II of this series.The audience and the host were surprisingly connected to the topic and they seemed to have heard everything that was said by us. The interaction went into hours of engaging

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1142671352524067542006-03-18T15:36:00.000+07:002006-03-18T15:47:31.603+07:00

Interesting piece of newsThe intentions could be good but personally I believe the idea of issuing fatwa by religious clerics is just ridiculous. No person should have the authority to direct communities to what they think is the interpretation of religion, law or morality. Terrorists justify their actions in the same way.This is the time when liberals should speak out and oppose even this one.

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1142574002719514642006-03-17T11:26:00.000+07:002006-03-20T12:48:29.490+07:00

This is continuation of last post which you can read here. This post presents the other side's view on the topic "Do we really need so many engineering colleges". Do wait for the third and final post on this which compiles the interactive audience rounds of the talk show.Next speaker in the talk show - resident editor of a leading hindi news paper started with a clear statement - "I am extremely

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1142518221019637922006-03-16T17:57:00.000+07:002006-03-17T01:24:04.440+07:00

I was a participant in a live talk show on this topic last week. This event was held as a part of a college festival and I was one of the four speakers. The format was loosely a copy of the big fight - NDTV. It was great fun and it actually turned out to be more interesting and enlightening then I initially expected. I wish to collatet the thoughts from the show in three parts. Part one & two

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1141843800747783022006-03-09T01:27:00.000+07:002006-03-09T12:37:21.706+07:00

In times of crisis the nation should talk one language. Remember when the Parliament was attacked by some dastardly terrorists - the entire polity came out and condemned it. No body thought of taking political mileage out of the situation.Contrast this with the response to the varanasi blasts and one understands the desperation that BJP as a party and Advani in particular feels.What else can one

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1141586018777149812006-03-06T01:31:00.000+07:002006-03-07T01:43:14.390+07:00

Here is the BJP's official response to the Nuclear deal that PM Manmohan singh finalised with the USA during the visit of the US president George Bush. One immediately realises that he is unable to find any thing to criticise about the deal. He digs in deep and leverages his skill with the language to come up with criticisms which mean nothing.Mr. Jaswant singh says that the Govt. surrendered to

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1141277788266025602006-03-02T12:29:00.000+07:002006-03-07T01:00:14.603+07:00

Background to Budget 2006-07GDP growth 8.1%, Manufacturing sector at 9.4%Agricultural growth bounced back to 2.3% Inflation, as on February 11, 2006 4.02%. Most critics say of P chidambaram that he missed on an opportunity to present another path breaking dream budget when all things were going right for the economy. J Mulraj in DNA money writes"When the economy is firing on all cylinders, and

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1140724089110269902006-02-24T02:48:00.000+07:002006-03-07T01:09:03.263+07:00

A few danish Cartoons have generated a grave controversy across the world strengthening the divide between Muslims & Non-Muslims. There has been violent backlashes resulting into ceased trades with "culprit" nation, or attacking their embassies in various countries so on and so forth. The Denmark government took a stand that the paper is well within its rights of freedom of expression guaranteed

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1140160148986430762006-02-17T13:56:00.000+07:002006-02-17T14:18:14.576+07:00

Came across this absolutely great piece through chain mails that circulate in few groups of which I am a member. I do not know the name of the author.According to the mail "This poem was nominated poem of 2005 for the best poem, written by an African.........amazing thought!!!"When I born, I Black, When I grow up, I Black,When I go in Sun, I Black,When I scared, I Black,When I sick, I Black,And

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1139251470029891092006-02-07T01:30:00.000+07:002006-02-08T02:08:37.860+07:00

Recently, I witnessed a launch function of a new business daily in Indore. The English business newspaper DNAMoney is a publication of the Dainik Bhaskar group. Dainik Bhaskar started from Indore approximately two decades ago and today they enjoy the largest circulation in India for their flagship publication Dainik Bhaskar - a hindi daily newspaper which claims to have a readership which more

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1137674969813039632006-01-19T18:07:00.000+07:002006-01-21T16:12:56.156+07:00

In a wiered incident at Khargone a mother died of shock after she was shown her newly born baby. The baby took birth with terrible deformities. She had no legs, an out of proprtion & large head and palm, scaringly big eyes and abnormal body shape. It pained the mother so much that she fell unconscious after seeing her & then never came back.Thats not all, the family members considered her under

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1137572421470106952006-01-18T15:03:00.000+07:002006-01-18T17:20:21.706+07:00

Came across this curious news - that a 76 year blind, almost deaf person who has been a heart patient and used a wheel chair to move was delivered the death penalty soon after he completed his 76 years on this tuesday - 17th of Jan 2006. Here is the confirmation that the death sentence has been executed.I write curious because after reading of the details of the case - I don't carry any doubt

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1136969139080509472006-01-11T14:53:00.000+07:002006-01-12T12:07:05.123+07:00

As someone who graduated out of an IIM (and one who cruised through those two years with a lot of jest), one feels nostalgic with every CAT result and one follows it with a lot of personal interest. And dare I say, CAT results do follow interesting trend, that is if they follow a trend.It has grown tougherMay be I am saying the obvious. CAT has grown tougher. No, I don't mean it comprises tougher

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1136747037018526452006-01-09T01:57:00.000+07:002006-01-11T01:43:37.566+07:00

I attended a concert by the flute mastero Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, this sunday. Now, thats no news. The news is he was in Indore for a launch of a new school & the concert was a part of the launch function of the school at one of the best known hotels of the city.Yes ! Panditji was roped in, to rope in a crowd that would then be roped in to admit their wards in the said school.Getting a guru

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1136141755178822042006-01-02T01:26:00.000+07:002006-01-03T02:14:55.166+07:00

On a new year day, it is customary to write about past year's glory and disapoointments and is fashionable to make new resolves . So, I had decided not to write yet another of those new year articles.As luck would have it - On the 31st Evening, I travelled from Indore to Mandsaur on a meter gauage train(yes, you read that right - in this part of MP - one still finds those lazy meter gauage trains

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1135660109328628012005-12-27T12:08:00.000+07:002005-12-29T16:11:09.156+07:00

Eleven (yes 11) MPs were expelled from the Lok Sabha as an outcome of the sting operation. Welcome step indeed. Time for our democracy to sit back and think for a while.A strong Deterrent If the tainted MPs were counting on short public memory to negotiate through the aftermath of the sting operations – they were in for a surprise. Parliament showed an uncanny swiftness in acting against them.

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1135565898353983072005-12-26T09:45:00.000+07:002005-12-26T09:58:18.363+07:00

I read somewhere that "A Questions is often a cleverly disguised opinion". Madukar in an excellent piece Setting the terms of debate convinces us that"A debate is often a cleverly disguised path to a desired outcome"In this second part of the theme he goes on to convincingly state that the terms of the debate set by wolcker's report on the "oil for food programme" takes the discussion away from

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1135059686955535782005-12-20T12:19:00.000+07:002005-12-21T13:29:46.220+07:00

There are some great signals for democracy & governance in India. The wind is changing and changing fast. The push & pulls of our system seem to be far more active in the new liberalised, confident, aggressive, aware and most of all competitive India. The latest example are the series of sting operations.Tehelka started it all when it caught on camera BJP president Banagaru Laxman accepting a wad

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1134972340226704532005-12-19T12:53:00.000+07:002005-12-21T18:18:29.543+07:00

After a long time this Sunday, I attended a live concert of Jagjit Singh - Our own Gazhal Maestero. Four hours of soulful music with a huge audience. It was good as always, but I really did not feel my soul stirring in the same way as it did in the days when I grew up to become one huge fan of Jagjit. Could it be that he is sliding down the ladder which he climbed year after year, gazhal after

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1134240787751758642005-12-11T00:59:00.000+07:002005-12-11T02:01:43.176+07:00

Excellent instance of some plain speaking - wish more people had the nerve to use such critical occassions to speak their minds out the way this year's Noble prize winner for Literature did. Could not find the link on the TOI website for this particular article hence simply pasting it. Inspiring stuff. Mr. Harold some day I will write with the passion you do.‘The invasion of Iraq was a bandit act

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1134043148451485262005-12-08T18:41:00.000+07:002005-12-09T13:19:28.166+07:00

Life is truly perplexing. It springs up surprises - some pleasing ones and then some which shakes one's soul. I currently face one such timeI live in a fairly "well to do" locality of Indore - the mini Mumbai situated in MP. And we have had a fairly peaceful and successful existence. One fine evening during dinner, my mother surprised me with this question - "Do you know somebody in the police?""

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1133722232589248762005-12-05T01:42:00.000+07:002005-12-05T01:50:32.600+07:00

Not often now a days, we come across some great piece on the Times of India. However this was something that immediately attracted me.I am not a regular visitors to many "national" news channels (except NDTV) and after reading this article I am happy not to add to their TRP.The age of marketing has changed everything including some of the most noble prefessions - education, medicine and

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1133522013670574842005-12-02T18:11:00.000+07:002005-12-05T12:12:12.436+07:00

Rashmi in a thought provoking post MBA-Entrance : Time for a rethink makes a case for rethink on the way MBA-Entrance is conducted in our country. Few will disagree with the need to rethink on the admission process. However I wish that well meaning individuals be careful about offering piecemeal soutions. I write this blog to add my few pennies worth to the issue.Rashmi in her blog writes:"The

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1133117142710619712005-11-28T01:21:00.000+07:002005-11-29T01:57:25.440+07:00

Varun in this post reports an unfortunate suicide at the IIT-B campus. In the same posts he points to apparant apathy of the administration at the IIT regarding the serious incident.He later wrote an update on the same issue, which in a way clarified some early judgements that he might have suggested which on closer analysis turned out to be incorrect.He says that despite this case not being the

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1132724187773848772005-11-23T10:42:00.000+07:002005-11-24T19:55:13.963+07:00

Rashmi in a rather unusual post and-no-1-cat-coaching-class-is says"Cosmetics is the business of selling 'hope in a jar'. Coaching is pretty much the same thing, except in an overcrowded little classroom"Some food for thought - that.A Look around us and we find every student right from a school going kid to an undergraduate has turned himself into an IIT aspirant, an IIM aspirant, an IAS

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1132166591451432362005-11-17T01:06:00.000+07:002005-11-21T13:47:49.586+07:00

"I have no interest in married women. However, I don't like even to talk to divorced women" - barked the character in a prime time soap on the number one entertainment channel. In a particularly twisty turn of events when the woman in question signs on her divorce papers in a bid to win over his latest love - the one who barks back at her with those words. My parents with their infinite interest

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17942197.post-1132065920078320282005-11-15T18:26:00.000+07:002005-11-16T17:32:47.273+07:00

Saurav Ganguly is out. And there are critics out there to write his obituary. There are others who are sad because of the way he was thrown out. There is still another section that believes that he is a victim of intense polictics in the BCCI. The truth as always lies somewhere among all these.He is Out for sureDoes saurav have any chance of coming back if one were to believe his words that he

Akash Sethiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351068798810789870noreply@blogger.com0