Thoughts Unlimited

In the recent times, lots of analysis has been going on around retailing in India.  The retailing drive has been punctuated by Wal-Mart’s proposed collaboration with Bharti, as a back end logistics partner.  But what is in it for we consumers?  Everyone talks about the scope available in the organized retail sector, but how does it help us?

Firstly, we have to see whether this kind of a retailing model would work here.  In US, almost every household has a car and they drive to the retail store located a little away from their home, for weekly purchases.  But traveling some distance, just to get those stuff which one could very well purchase in the mom-and-pop store around their home, doesn’t make much sense.  Also the lack of proper space in some shops makes one feel sick and waiting in a queue to pay for the purchase, just add to the woes.

Secondly comes the question of flexibility.  Many of the middle class households are very much used to having account with the local stores.  These stores maintain the accounts and purchases made during a month, can be paid back towards the month end.  Though, only those who live in a locality for a long enough time will be able to avail this offer, they would lose it when they move to retailing stores.  Ultimately, the rapport that one can develop with the local store, is lost in case of retail stores.

Thirdly a comparison between the total cost of items purchased in a retail store and a local store, works out in favor of local store in many cases.  I would mainly attribute this to the overhead these retail stores incur in terms of rental space, electricity, employees, etc.  Ultimately these expenses would be pushed to the consumers, when they really have nothing to gain from these overheads.

Already we are witnessing a large scale opposition to the Reliance Fresh stores in UP and neighboring states.  But if you analyze the issue further, even if the retail giants are allowed in, there is only a little chance that it would eat away the mom-and-pop stores.  A better strategy for the retail stores would be, to strike a deal with the local stores and merge them in to their model.  This would ensure that the competition is suppressed and the consumer base of retail stores would improve

Hmm… I can see a “4″ in this sculpture!! Look at the outline of his torso at the posterior, up to the legs. I hope you must be able to see a “4″ too
Image Courtesy: “The Hindu” supplementary which has the image of this sculpture. This sculpture has been erected at the venue for IAC, in Hyderabad

This news really made me laugh…

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/schoolgirl-makes-bomb-hoax-call-to-shirk-homework/49764-3.html?xml 

I am wondering at the creativity and boldness of the girl who made these prank calls.  It is very fortunate that the cops were able to trace the calls and find out the girl.  I consider it a difficult task.  I believe there might have been a gang of students working on this idea
I feel, this might set a precedent for more such activities to be carried out.  Given the sensitive situation in India with respect to bomb threats, these calls cannot be completely ignored.  Think about a Software Engineer who wants to shirk work or a Government Employee who wishes to take off without wasting his sick leave, using this technique.  Hmm… This girl has introduced a new style of mischief, that could be beneficial to the person performing it and also guarantees lots of fun…

Need not say more about this
This struck me when I was playing yesterday…

Today, October 2, marks the birthday of one of the most powerful personalities in this world. Mahatma Gandhi has won many a hearts around the world not by his power, but by his love for people. Many different interpretations exist around Gandhi’s personal life; but I always consider him as a greatest hero, to look up to.

I was almost surprised to find no movies or shows related to Gandhi’s life, in any of the Television channels. There is a flurry of “masala” and violent movies in all the channels with an ironical tag, “Gandhi Jayanthi Special”. I was expecting the movie “Richard Attenborough’s Film: Gandhi” to be telecast in any of the movie channels, but in vain (An exception is ‘Rang de Basanti’ being telecast in one of the channels).

In the present day, whole of the world is suffering from the trauma of Terrorism and Violence. Iraq and currently Myanmar, are few of many examples of violence claiming human lives. Gandhian principles are very much applicable, and the dire need of the day. His principles are not just applicable to our country, but for the entire world. One of the oaths that the world community must take on this “Non-Violence Day”, is to make sure that all possible efforts are taken to curb terrorism.

Another hurting aspect is that the money, which was invented by man, is causing his own demise. We hear a lot of news about Vidarbha Farmer suicides and borrowers committing suicides due to pressure from banks. Government and Banks must realize the sensitivity around these issues and make sure that human lives are taken care of.

So eradication of terrorism and increased importance to human lives must be made emergency issues in the agenda of every nation.

Jai Hind!!

I would like to dedicate this one to Java, which is mainly responsible for my bread and butter

Got it from my refrigerator to start with!! “Cool” na
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