967 Musings on Miscellany

Do Private Sector Banks in India have horns? It is understandable if Private Sector Companies embrace and encourage Private Sector Banks. But, the same thing cannot be said about Public Sector (Govt. owned) Companies embracing and encouraging Public Sector Banks. Public Sector Companies and Public Sector Banks are supposed to have affinities and synergies. Both the PUblic Sector Companies and the Public Sector Banks can survive only if they stand together and support one another. This Government Insurance Company "New India Assurance Company, Mumbai", largest among the five Govt. Insurance Companies in India, as on date, seems to be allergic to Public Sector Banks. Okay, some PUblic Sector Banks may be villains, lackadaisical and lethargic, and above all UNBUSINESS-LIKE. There are nearly 25 Public Sector Banks in India, with wide demographic and geographical spread. It should not have ordinarily been difficult for the New India Assurance to pick up five Public Sector Banks to handle its IPO (Initial PUblic Offer). Or at least, it could have had a mix of 3:2 i.e. 3 public sector banks and, two private sector banks, or vice versa. Strangely, it selected all the five fellows-- Private Sector Banks.

RELATED LINKS

Click here to go to http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/new-india-appoints-five-bankers-for-ipo/articleshow/58466718.cms

ybrao-a-donkey's views not intended to be imposed on others

If Public Sector Banks are not offering New India Assurance, attractive and competitive terms/tariffs, New India Assurance, could have then reported the matter to its Holding Company, and the Government of India, seeking competitive and reasonable terms. Public Sector entities both Banks, and other Corporations, cannot be 100% business-like and socially irresponsible like their Private counter-parts. They have a dual burden of working profitably, and also responsibly. Acting in harmony and cohesion with one another should be an uncompromisable strategy of all Public Sector Units and Undertakings, in whichever industry/service/business they may be engaged. Supervising organisations like Government of India's different Ministries, Reserve Bank of India, Bureau of Public Enterprises, etc. have to continuously monitor this area,of mutual support among public sector units.

Quotes from the related links

"...Responding to speculation of merger of government-owned non-life companies, Srinivasan said that there was no concrete move and there has been only unconfirmed news reports. "As far as we are concerned there is no such thing and we are going ahead (with the public issue) in our present structure," said Srinivasan. ..."

yb-donkey: There seems to be some communication gap between the Govt. of India, and the New India Assurance. Govt. should be transparent to the Board of New India Assurance, about its future, i.e., about whether there are going to be some mergers, if so, likely with whom, on what terms etc. etc. Even if the Govt. of India is reticent, the New India Assurance's Chairman ought to have written an Official letter to the appropriate Govt. Ministry, seeking some information about the Company's future prospects/fate. Secretiveness can lead to the 'Controller' and the 'Controlled' working unintentionally in opposite directions. This will not be a good management practice.

Pakistan's inhuman acts of mutilating bodies of Indian Soldiers

Battles, wars, squabbles and squirmishes take place between countries, and as a part of it, sometimes, unfortunately some soldiers may die on both sides. But mutilating the bodies of slain soldiers is an extremely reprehensible practice which all Nations have to condemn. Pakisthan seems to be ruled by ISIS and Taliban, rather than by a democratically elected Government. Besides, Pakistani Generals and Military Officials seem to exercise undue authority and dominance on their Civil counterparts. In addition, Pakistani Army seems to be infested with from ISIS and Taliban militants, who do not have any scruples about military traditions. Religious Fanatism is blind to everything sane. We should not expect any sort of civil behaviors in such situations.

India should go for more drones, robots, missiles and unmanned aircraft like Lakshya

India cannot continuously afford to sacrifice the noble lives of its brave soldiers. there will also be no use of Prime Minister and Defence Minister, repeatedly expressing dismay and taking lofty pledges and vows. It must find out ways of unmanned, less-manned, attacking and defensive methods using latest equipment, vehicles, and systems.

Posting of Mr. Anil Kumar Singhal as the Executive Officer of TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam), the largest and the Richest Temple in India

TTD is an All India Temple. Pilgrims visit not only from all parts of India, but also from other parts of the World. It will, therefore, be natural to expect the E.O.of the Temple to know the International Link language English, India's National and Link Language Hindi. Mr. Anil Kumar Singhal fulfills these two needs.

The TTD Shri Venkateswara Temple, situated in South India, is surrounded by the cultures and traditions of the four South Indian languages Telugu, Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil. Among these four languages, Telugu and Kannada have some affinities of vocabulary, grammar, script, and many other practices. Tamil and Malayalam have a similar relationship. It will, therefore, be apt to expect that Mr.Singhal will try to learn at least two of the four languages, one each from Tamil/Malayalam, and Telugu/Kannada. TTD follows Vaikhanasa Agama (scripture of worship methods) method of worship. Mr. Singhal will have to study these AAgamas and try to establish a close working rapport with temple's priests, and their working modes and moods. Managing a Temple, will be totally different from managing other Government Departments and Offices, in administering which it will be sufficient to know law, Management science, and some behavioral methods.

Mr. Singhal to apply his mind to the problem of VIPs, contractors and business persons intruding into the Temple's Systems, claiming special treatment. This is leading to grave injustice to the ordinary pilgrims.

Enriching Contractors or depriving contractors from their due profits cannot be a duty or pastime of a Temple Management. Temple Managements cannot become slaves of contractors, particularly those having political patronage, for earning kickbacks, or promotions.

TTD also seems to have an insatiable urge to entertain donations of 'gold' and 'precious-stones' from its devotees. Accumulation of gold will only divert the attention of the Temple Managements, from their main object of maintaining a 'divine' and 'serine' environment in Temples. Security will become another problem. Employees and Priests themselves, however honest they by nature are, may be tempted to steal gold/precious stones. Cash/gold/precious-stone donations given by persons and Corporates who earn them through corrupt, dubious, illegal means and methods, as Commission /share of booty to God-- the Temple should refuse to accept such tainted donations.

Nations and Societies have to learn from history. We should not forget that Ghazni Mohd. from Turkey invaded India 17 times from 1000 CE to 1017 CE, almost every year, to rob the Somnath Temple at Gujarat. Mohd. Ghori to robbed hundreds of maunds (Maund=100 Troy Pounds) gold and precious stones after vanquishing Prithviraj Chauhan in 1171. Even today, temples and their deities are dug up by unscrupulous persons in search of treasures hidden beneath the idols and phallus-es.

It is a banal cliche / jargon in India to say that 'All are Equal before God'. Along with other Temples in India, TTD's Venkateswara Temple also proves that 'some people are more equal than others'. I believe that in India, even on cremation grounds/ grave yards, we cannot find equality though the Great Medieval Lyricist Annamacharya sang:--

తందనాన అహి, తందనాన పురె tandanAna ahi, tandanAna pure
తందనాన భళా, తందనాన || tandanAna bhaLA, tandanAna

బ్రహ్మ మొకటే, పర brahmamokaTE, para
బ్రహ్మ మొకటే, పర brahmamokaTE, para
బ్రహ్మ మొకటే || brahma mokaTE.

కందువగు హీనాధికము లిందు లేవు kanduvagu hInAdhikamu lindu lEvu
అందరికి శ్రీహరే అంతరాత్మ | andariki SrIharE antarAtma
ఇందులో జంతుకుల మంతా ఒకటే indulO jantu kula mantA OkaTE
అందరికీ శ్రీహరే అంతరాత్మ || andarikI SRIharE antarAtma

నిండార రాజు నిద్రించు నిద్రయునొకటే ninDAra rAju nidrincu nidrayu okaTE
అండనే బంటు నిద్ర - అదియు నొకటే | anDanE banTu nidra - adiyu okaTE
మెండైన బ్రాహ్మణుడు మెట్టు భూమియొకటే menDaina brAhmaNuDu meTTu bhUmi okaTE
చండాలుడుండేటి సరిభూమి యొకటే || canDAluDu unDETi sari bhUmi okaTE

అనుగు దేవతలకును అల కామ సుఖ మొకటే anugu dEvatalaku kAma sukhamu okaTE
ఘన కీట పశువులకు కామ సుఖ మొకటే | ghana kITa paSuvulaku kAma sukhamu okaTE
దిన మహోరాత్రములు - తెగి ధనాఢ్యున కొకటే dinam ahOrAtramulu - tegi dhnADhyunak okaTE
వొనర నిరుపేదకును ఒక్కటే అవియు || onara nirupEdakunu okaTE aviyu.

కొరలి శిష్టాన్నములు తిను నాక లొకటే korali SishTAnnamulu tinu Akali okaTE
తిరుగు దుష్టాన్నములు తిను నాక లొకటే | tirugu dushTAnnamulu tinu Akali okaTE
పరగ దుర్గంధములపై వాయు వొకటే paraga durgamdhamulapai vAyu okaTE
వరస పరిమళముపై వాయు వొకటే || varasa parimaLamu pai vAyu okaTE

కడగి ఏనుగు మీద కాయు ఎండొకటే kaDagi yEnugu mida kAyu EnDa okaTE
పుడమి శునకము మీద బొలయు నెండొకటే | puDami Sunakamu mIda polayu enDa okaTe
కడు పుణ్యులను - పాప కర్ములను సరి గావ kaDu puNyulanu - pApa karmulanu sari kAva
జడియు శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వరు నామ మొకటే || jaDiyu Sri Venkateswaru nAma mokaTE

Approx. Engl. gist for the benefit of Readers who do not know Telugu language

తందనాన అహి, తందనాన పురె tandanAna ahi, tandanAna pure. This is chorus, in group singing.
తందనాన భళా, తందనాన || tandanAna bhaLA, tandanAna. This is chorus, in group singing. Approx. Engl: you are right. It is correct.

బ్రహ్మ మొకటే, పర brahmamokaTE, para. Supreme Spirit is one. (Telugu, Sanskrit word para= Supreme. brahmam= Spirit which is infinite. It is formless=nirguNam).
బ్రహ్మ మొకటే, పర brahmamokaTE, para. Supreme Spirit is one.
బ్రహ్మ మొకటే || brahma mokaTE. Supreme Spirit is one.

కందువగు హీనాధికము లిందు లేవు kanduvagu hInAdhikamu lindu lEvu. There are no distinctions of 'abominable' and 'venerable'.
అందరికి శ్రీహరే అంతరాత్మ | andariki SrIharE antarAtma. For all Lord is the Inner-Soul.
ఇందులో జంతుకుల మంతా ఒకటే indulO jantu kula mantA OkaTE. In this all the fauna is one.
అందరికీ శ్రీహరే అంతరాత్మ || andarikI SRIharE antarAtma. For all, Lord is the Supreme Soul.

నిండార రాజు నిద్రించు నిద్రయునొకటే ninDAra rAju nidrincu nidrayu okaTE. Sleep of a King is same.
అండనే బంటు నిద్ర - అదియు నొకటే | anDanE banTu nidra - adiyu okaTE. Sleep of a servant is same.
మెండైన బ్రాహ్మణుడు మెట్టు భూమియొకటే menDaina brAhmaNuDu meTTu bhUmi okaTE. Land on which a Priest (Brahmin) resides is same.
చండాలుడుండేటి సరిభూమి యొకటే || canDAluDu unDETi sari bhUmi okaTE. Land on which an outcast lives is same.

అనుగు దేవతలకును అల కామ సుఖ మొకటే anugu dEvatalaku kAma sukhamu okaTE. The sexual happiness of Gods(Goddesses) is same.
ఘన కీట పశువులకు కామ సుఖ మొకటే | ghana kITa paSuvulaku kAma sukhamu okaTE. The sexual happiness o the insects and cattle is same.
దిన మహోరాత్రములు - తెగి ధనాఢ్యున కొకటే dinam ahOrAtramulu - tegi dhnADhyunak okaTE. Days and nights of a Rich person is same.
వొనర నిరుపేదకును ఒక్కటే అవియు || onara nirupEdakunu okaTE aviyu. They are same even to a very-poor person.

కొరలి శిష్టాన్నములు తిను నాక లొకటే korali SishTAnnamulu tinu Akali okaTE. The hunger which nourishes on succulent foods is same.
తిరుగు దుష్టాన్నములు తిను నాక లొకటే | tirugu dushTAnnamulu tinu Akali okaTE. The hunger which eats remnants and stale foods, is same.
పరగ దుర్గంధములపై వాయు వొకటే paraga durgamdhamulapai vAyu okaTE. The wind which blows on obnoxious-odious smells is same.
వరస పరిమళముపై వాయు వొకటే || varasa parimaLamu pai vAyu okaTE. The wind which blows on sweet perfumes and scents is same.

కడగి ఏనుగు మీద కాయు ఎండొకటే kaDagi yEnugu mida kAyu EnDa okaTE. The sunlight which falls on an elephant is same.
పుడమి శునకము మీద బొలయు నెండొకటే | puDami Sunakamu mIda polayu enDa okaTe. The sunlight which falls on a stray-dog is same.
కడు పుణ్యులను - పాప కర్ములను సరి గావ kaDu puNyulanu - pApa karmulanu sari kAva. To save the great virtuous, and the sinners
జడియు శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వరు నామ మొకటే || jaDiyu Sri Venkateswaru nAma mokaTE, the name of the Supreme God is same.

Though the poet has used the name 'SrI Hari' as the name of the Supreme Godhead/ Supreme Soul (para brahmam), any name, including Christian, Islamic, ... ... names could be substituted here. We can give a benefit of doubt to the Great Poet Annamacharya that he did not intend only one ABC God, as the one who treats the Virtuous and Sinners equally. A person of such deep intellectual thinking, cannot NORMALLY / ORDINARILY view from the narrow walls of a particular religion, caste, region, language, inheritance, wealth and thousand other creators of inequalities in this world. This type of literature of Great Equanimity and Balance of Mind, we do not ordinarily find in European languages.

To continue adding / deleting / modifying. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.