Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Why Microsoft Got It Right With New CEO Satya Nadella

By Cade Metz 02.04.14  9:35 AM

www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2014/02/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella/?utm_source=nextdraft&utm_medium=email
Satya Nadella, the new CEO of Microsoft. Image courtesy Microsoft

Though Bill Gates is stepping down as chairman of the board at Microsoft, we’re about to see a company that looks more like Gates rather than less.

This morning, in addition to announcing that Gates, the company’s co-founder and spiritual leader, will cede his chairman role to former Symantec CEO John Thompson so that he can spend several days a week at Microsoft in a more direct advisory role, Microsoft confirmed that its CEO post will be filled by 22-year company veteran Satya Nadella, who many say is cut from similar cloth.

According to those who know him, Nadella has an unusually firm grasp of both the technical and the business side of Microsoft, yet he also has a knack for pushing the tech giant in new directions. That bodes well for the company, which is still struggling to match the commercial success of rivals like Apple, Google, and Amazon in the technological areas most likely to define the future, including cloud computing as well as the rapidly growing world of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
‘If you’re looking for your most Gates-like president — in terms of really having technology genius plus business genius — Satya seems like the best bet’

— Sam Ramji

“If you’re looking for your most Gates-like president — in terms of really having technology genius plus business genius — Satya seems like the best bet,” say Sam Ramji, the former head of open source software at Microsoft who worked under Gates and outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer for many years and, at one point, alongside Nadella.

The 46-year-old, India-born Nadella first joined the company in 1992 and spent the last three years running its Cloud and Enterprise group, the extremely lucrative — and rapidly changing — division that oversees the Windows Azure cloud service as well as the old-school data center software Microsoft sells to big businesses. But it’s Nadella’s personal demeanor that may truly set him apart from Ballmer.

Replacing the 57-year-old Ballmer — the big, boisterous, business-centric boss who has presided over the company since the turn of the millennium — Nadella will undoubtedly bring an added level of technical expertise to the CEO job, but also a more calm and considerate and collaborative way of dealing with both the Microsoft brain trust and those who work beneath him. That could be vitally important as he seeks to remodel a company whose internal culture is nearly as complicated as its vast empire of software, hardware, and internet services.

“The reason why I have mountains of respect for Satya is that he’s first and foremost a great and sincere and honest human being…It’s a weird thing to say, but that’s a rare thing at Microsoft, because you have so many hardcore technologists who have risen up through the ranks,” says Bill Hilf, a veteran of IBM who until recently worked under Nadella at Microsoft and now oversees cloud services at a third tech titan, HP. “He is able to connect with people, understand the dynamics between people or understand the impact something might have — not just to a product but to the people involved with it.”

The rub is that Nadella has never run a company on his own. Although he carries a business administration degree as well as engineering and computer science degrees, some say he can’t yet match the business and sales know-how or the executive experience of Ballmer or Gates — or, for that matter, some of the other candidates considered for the CEO job, including former Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop. “What Ballmer had in spades — in spades — is this incredible business instinct,” says Hilf. “He’s not the technologist Satya is, but I think the inverse of that is also true: Satya is not the business martial arts expert [that] Steve was.”
Change. But Not Too Much

On the whole, the choice makes enormous sense for Microsoft. The company is entrusting itself to someone who has proven he can shift its direction — push it into areas outside its comfort zone. It’s not just that Nadella guided the rise of Windows Azure. It’s that Azure and other technologies developed by his Cloud and Enterprise group now underpin Microsoft internet services such as the Bing search engine, the Skype internet phone service, and the Xbox Live online gaming service. And before taking the reins of the cloud group, he worked on research and development for Bing and eventually oversaw the search engine as a whole.

“He has proven not only that he understands the Microsoft culture, but that he can change it in very big ways,” says James Staten, a vice president and principal analyst with Forrester Research who has closely followed Nadella and his Cloud and Enterprise group through interviews with many people both inside Microsoft and out, including Nadella himself.
‘He has proven not only that he understands the Microsoft culture, but that he can change it in very big ways’

— James Staten

It’s also important that Nadella drove such change on the internet, which, in the years to come, will sit at the heart of everything the company does. Nadella deeply understands the way modern online services are built, says his old colleague Hilf, and that’s no small thing.

In tapping Nadella, Microsoft passed over not only Elop but other candidates with far more experience in the mobile market, another enormously important part of the near future of computing. But this is the area where Microsoft is furthest behind — and far less likely to catch rivals Google and Apple.

Hilf, Staten, and others argue, however, that Microsoft isn’t necessarily shifting its business away from phones or the rest of the consumer tech market. After all, its Xbox game console has become enormously popular in recent years, and the company just paid $7.17 billion to acquire Nokia, the Finnish smartphone maker where Elop was CEO. But the choice of Nadella is a statement that, in the coming years, cloud computing will be a more crucial field to dominate. After all, cloud services ultimately feed the mobile as well as the gaming world, providing a way for software developers and businesses to build and host and operate the mobile applications that run on a world of smartphones and tablets.

As Steve Ballmer once famously said: “Developers! Developers! Developers!” Through software builders, a company can not only grab intelligence about what’s happing in a market — including mobile computing — but gain a foothold that provides a means of improving and expanding consumer products and services.

What Microsoft doesn’t have is a brain trust with much experience working at the giants of Silicon Valley — companies like Apple and Google and Facebook and Twitter, which have come to define the modern world in ways that Microsoft does not. That includes not only Nadella but his lieutenants. But, for better or for worse, Microsoft typically doesn’t mix well with those steeped in the new Valley culture.

This is a nearly 40-year-old company based in Redmond, Washington whose business still rests on the success of traditional software such as the Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of business software applications. It must straddle the old and the new, the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. For those who know the company well, it’s best to do this with leaders intimately familiar with the company’s unique culture. It’s best to it with a CEO who was there for its heyday as the king of computing — but realizes the world is now very different.
‘A Good, Unique Place’

When we sat down with Satya Nadella at a San Francisco restaurant in the fall of 2011, he was about nine months into his job running Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group — though it wasn’t called that at the time. It was still known as Server and Tools, and many people were still asking whether Microsoft was serious about cloud computing, a technology that lets you rent computing power over the internet instead of buying and installing your own hardware.

“We’re as serious about the cloud as we are about evolving our businesses,” said Kurt DelBene, the head of the Microsoft Office group at the time, with a nod to Nadella, who sat beside him at the table. “We always look a little askance when we get the question, because it always seems odd to us. Particularly as engineers, we say: ‘[The cloud is] the way the world is moving.’”
It’s no small thing that Server and Tools is now known as Cloud and Enterprise — or that the new Microsoft CEO oversaw its recent transformation

Microsoft would continue to drive much of its business through traditional software, Nadella explained, including the server operating systems and databases and virtualization software offered by his Server and Tools group, but the company also realized that the world was moving towards online services like Azure and Office 365, services that businesses could use in lieu of buying traditional software. Because Microsoft offered both services and software, the company was in “a good, unique place,” said Nadella, a thin, extremely fit man who typically wears dark-rimmed glasses and keeps his head close to clean shaven.

Today, Microsoft still trails Amazon in the cloud computing market — very much so — but under Nadella, the Server and Tools group has significantly changed the way it operates, and in doing so, it has expanded the influence of Azure and other modern services. According to Bill Hilf, Nadella was instrumental not only in shifting Microsoft towards the new, more rapid way of building online services, but in moving the group to a new licensing model that encouraged the sales staff to sell online services as well as traditional software.

Crucially, the group embraced many modern technologies that Microsoft once avoided at all costs. The company now runs all sorts of open source software on Azure, including the Linux operating system, long held up as the enemy of Ballmer’s Microsoft, and this shift brings the company that much closer to the new computing paradigm fashioned by the likes of Amazon and Google.

It’s no small thing that Server and Tools is now known as Cloud and Enterprise — or that the new Microsoft CEO oversaw its recent transformation. It shows that Nadella understands how Microsoft must evolve in order to compete in the modern world — but also that the company must continue to push many of its older but still lucrative businesses forward. It’s called Cloud and Enterprise. Not Cloud.

This is one of the reasons Microsoft is intent on hiring from within, though corporate culture has a lot to do with it as well. Nadella hasn’t been with the company nearly as long as Ballmer, who joined as employee 30 in 1980, before Microsoft hit it big with the MS-DOS operating system on the first IBM PC. But the new CEO does have a good two decades in Redmond, working on a broad range of products, services, and research projects.
From India to Redmond

Nadella was born in Hyderabad, India, a southern city that was traditionally known for the pearl and diamond trades, but has now evolved into a major tech hub. Some call it “Cyberabad,” and it’s home to the largest Microsoft research and development operation outside the United States.

According to Reuters in India, Nadella is the son of a government official who worked in Hyderabad with the Indian Administrative Service, and he attended the elite Hyderabad Public School, alongside his future wife.
It looked an awful lot like Ballmer was reorganizing the company so he could personally push it into the next decade

Later, he studied electrical engineering as undergraduate in Mangalore, further south on the Indian peninsula. “When all other students will quietly listen to what I would teach, he will ask a lot of questions — ‘why does it have to be like this, why can’t we do it like this?’” one of his Manipal University professors told Reuters. “Sometimes, it felt like he was just testing my patience.”

Then, in 1988, carrying a bachelor’s degree in engineering, he moved to the States. After finishing a master of computer science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a business administration master’s at the University of Chicago, he joined Sun Microsystems, then a hugely important and influential server and software company, working not on the business side but on the technical staff.

After joining Microsoft in 1992, he served as a vice president in the company’s business division — which oversaw Microsoft Office — and eventually took the reins of the R&D operation that served the company’s online services, including Bing. He then took over the entire Bing business, and in February 2011, he was named the head of Server and Tools — one of five Microsoft executives who reported directly to Steve Ballmer.

In July of last year, Ballmer significantly reorganized the company, placing a new set of lieutenants just beneath him. Some execs, like Kurt DelBene, departed, but Nadella remained. For Sam Ramji and others, this looked an awful lot like Ballmer was overhauling the company so he could personally push it into the next decade, but a month later, Microsoft announced that Ballmer would retire as CEO, saying the board would find a replacement within the next year.

At least in the press, Nadella wasn’t discussed as the heir apparent. When Microsoft acquired Nokia a month after Ballmer’s retirement was announced, Elop looked to be the new CEO in waiting. Even before Elop left Microsoft in 2008 to take the reins at Nokia, many insiders assumed he would one day succeed Ballmer. “He has so much charisma,” says Ramji. “We all thought: ‘That’s Steve’s bench. That’s the next CEO of Microsoft.’”

But perhaps because Nokia lost money hand-over-fist under Elop, because Nadella has more technical chops, or because Nadella has a much longer history inside Microsoft, the board has skipped over the Nokia man, and some now question his future at the company. Whatever Elop’s fate, many assume that Nadella will restructure the company yet again. “If you look at the leadership structure that Steve put in place just before he was forced out,” Ramji says, “he built a Microsoft that could only be run by Steve.”
Ballmer He’s Not

One thing that will surely change is the culture at the top of the company. Ballmer was very much a screamer — he’s even been known to throw a chair on occasion — and in many ways, his hard-nosed approach pervaded the company. But according to Bill Hilf, who worked closely with Nadella as the product manager for Windows Azure, the new CEO is extremely different.

“He is very inclusive. He brings people in and gets them excited to work on stuff, and that’s what I think his magic is — his authenticity and the way he is able to inspire people and not just push them,” says Hilf. “He can inspire them to do great work and get them motivated and excited. That’s really about him as a person: Whether he was running a technology company or a non-profit, he would have the same demeanor.”

Jason Hoffman, a vice president of corporate strategy at telecom giant Ericsson who spent many years competing with Nadella and Azure as the chief technology officer at San Francisco cloud company Joyent, says that Nadella is someone with unusual “grace” and that this grace is just what Microsoft needs. “This is the best thing Microsoft could do,” Hoffman tells us. “He’s always been an exceptionally thoughtful, calculating person.”

Whereas Ballmer often wanted to maintain as much control as possible over the people and businesses beneath him, Nadella is more of a collaborator. He provides firm direction — and he certainly has hard side, according to some — but he’s willing to give his lieutenants the freedom to make many of their own decisions. “Satya isn’t so ferocious about total control. He directs, but he also tends to look for innovation and insights for the people who work for him,” says Ramji.

Considering that the company was so slow to find its footing in the cloud and mobile markets under Ballmer, this is a welcome change. Ballmer’s 14-year tenure is littered with missed opportunities, as he clung to Microsoft’s old way of doing things. As the press so often points out, Nadella knows his technology, perhaps more so than Ballmer. But the bigger point, some say, is that Nadella can feed the other technical minds at Microsoft. “It isn’t just about knowing how to code,” Hilf says. It’s about getting the most out of all the others who know how to code.




Cade MetzCade Metz is the editor of Wired Enterprise. Got a NEWS TIP related to this story -- or to anything else in the world of big tech? Please e-mail him: cade_metz at wired.com.

Read more by Cade Metz

Follow @cademetz on Twitter.

Source: WIRED











Sunday, February 02, 2014

Northeasterners Find the City Less Discriminatory

By K Shiva Shanker | ENS - HYDERABAD   Published: 02nd February 2014 07:55 AM

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Northeasterners-Find-the-City-Less-Discriminatory/2014/02/02/article2033526.ece
Kevin Panmei from Northeast who lives in Hyderabad | Express Photos

Natives of North-eastern states living in the city say that they face discrimination even here, however,  it is much less here when compared to other states.

Around 800 students and employees from Kuki community and approximately 300 from Nagaland stay in the city besides people from other North-eastern states.

A day after a student from Arunachal Pradesh was beaten up in Delhi which led to his death, Express spoke to the students from north-east, who are either pursuing studies or are working here.

“I stayed in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai before coming to the city. We face discrimination everywhere and we are treated as foreigners in our country. Even here, people from North-east are discriminated against, they call us names, but fortunately it is far less compared to other states. People are warm and welcoming here. I hope the situation becomes better” said Francis O Haokip, president of Kuki Students’ Organisation, Hyderabad.

He added that when such incidents of discrimination or victimisation take place, speedy justice will bring them some comfort and confidence.

“In addition if people from other communities support us during such incidents, it will be of support to us,” Francis said. He said for cultural festivals or other programmes of the community which are organised in the city, they invite localites so that they get senitised to their culture.

“During our orientation program, we ask students who are new to the city to speak to people from other communities and not to alienate themselves from others,” added Francis.

Corroborating the opinion, a native of Meghalaya who works in the city said that an increasing number of students from North-east choose to shift to southern part of India. “Some people do go to Delhi, but it is because they do not have an option. If given a chance, they will shift to southern states like Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad,” he said.

However, he pointed out that women from the states are discriminated and physically abused in the interior parts of the city. “Auto drivers and youngsters misbehave with women from the north-east. Sometimes, it becomes very disgusting” he said.

“People come and ask me if I am from Malaysia or Indonesia, it might be because of my looks. But I don’t think I need to get upset over this,” said Kevin Panmei who lives in the city.

Speaking about her experience of staying in the city, Gabriela Chongloi, a student at English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, said, “Being a woman and having experienced Delhi for about a year, I find Hyderabad way better and safer. Here, I personally have never faced any serious ethnic discrimination apart from being looked at out of curiosity. But what irks me is when kids call me Chinese or Japanese. They should have been taught better”.



Friday, January 31, 2014

EC Asks Parties Not to Vitiate Purity of Poll Process

By PTI - NEW DELHI     Published: 31st January 2014 09:25 PM
Last Updated: 31st January 2014 09:56 PM

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/EC-Asks-Parties-Not-to-Vitiate-Purity-of-Poll-Process/2014/01/31/article2030695.ece
"Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises
which are possible to be fulfilled," the EC order said. (PTI photo)

Political parties will avoid making promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of election process and will have to spell out the rationale of promises made and the means of financing them in their manifestos, the Election Commission has said.   

In the draft guidelines for election manifestos issued by the EC today in the wake of Supreme Court directions to it, the parties and contesting candidates will be allowed to make only such welfare promises in their manifestos that are enshrined in the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution.  

"The election manifesto shall not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution and further that it shall be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of Model Code of Conduct," the EC said in its guidelines to check parties from announcing freebies as part of their manifestos.   

In the interest of transparency, level playing field and credibility of promises, the poll body expects that manifestos reflect the rationale for the promises and the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it.   

"Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled," the EC order said.   

The draft guidelines will be finalised and formally incorporated in the Model Code of Conduct after comments/suggestions from all political parties. The EC has asked all national and state parties to send their reactions to it by February 7.  

Majority of the parties had earlier objected to the EC's intervention in putting checks on election manifestos and the promises made by them.   

"While the Commission agrees in principle with the point of view that framing of manifestos is the right of the political parties, it cannot overlook the undesirable impact of some of the promises and offers on the conduct of free and fair elections and maintaining level playing field for all political parties and candidates," the EC said.

Source: The New Indian Express

Thursday, January 30, 2014

నీతి నిలబడితేనే మనం నిలబడతాం - కాకి మాధవరావు

Published at: 31-01-2014 00:31 AM

http://www.andhrajyothy.com/node/60038

వ్యవస్థలో మార్పు కోసం శ్రమించే వారిని వ్యక్తులుగా విడదీసి అశక్తులుగా నిలబెట్టాలని చూస్తుంది సమాజంలోని ఒక వర్గం. అదే పనిగా కుతంత్రాలు చేస్తూ, కుంగదీయాలని కూడా చూస్తుంది. వాటిని ఎదిరించే దిశగా అడుగులు వేయలేకపోతే ఎవరైనా నిలువునా కూలిపోవాల్సి వస్తుంది. ఎన్నో అవరోధాల్ని అడుగడుగునా ఎదుర్కొంటూ నీతికీ నిబద్ధతకూ మారుపేరుగా నిలిచిన సీనియర్ ఐఏఎస్ ఆఫీసరు కాకి మాధవరావు. మూడున్నర దశాబ్దాల ఐఏఎస్ అధికారిగా, ఏడు దశాబ్దాల జీవన యాత్రికుడిగా కాకి మాధవరావుకు ఎదురైన కొన్ని సంఘటనలే ఈ వారం 'అనుభవం'

కృష్ణాజిల్లాలోని పెదమద్దాలి మా ఊరు. నేనేదైనా ఒక స్థితికి వచ్చానూ అంటే, అందుకు దోహదం చేసిన బలమైన సంఘటనలు కొన్ని నా బాల్యంలోనే జరిగాయి. మా నాన్న ఒక పాలేరు. చుట్టుపక్కల చాలా ఊళ్లల్లో ఆయనకు బాగా శ్రమించే, నిజాయితీ గల మంచి పాలేరుగా పేరుంది. ఆ రకంగా తనకు లభించిన గుర్తింపు వల్లో ఏమో గానీ, ఆయన నన్ను కూడా పాలేరునే చేద్దామనుకున్నారు. ఆ మాటే అమ్మతో అంటే, లేదు. వాడ్ని బళ్లో వేద్దామంది. "బళ్లో వేస్తే ఏం చేస్తాడు? గాడిదల్ని కాస్తాడా?'' అంటూ అసహనాన్ని వ్యక్తం చేశాడు నాన్న. అయినా, అమ్మ చదివించాల్సిందే అంది. ఎంత మాత్రం వీల్లేదంటూ నాన్న వెళ్లిపోయాడు. నాన్న ఆమోదం లేకుండానే అమ్మ నన్ను స్కూల్లో చేర్పించింది. పగలంతా పనికిపోయే నాన్నకు ఆ విషయం తెలియకుండానే ఉండిపోతుందని కూడా అనుకుంది. కానీ, కొద్ది రోజులకే ఆయనకు తెలిసిపోయింది. నేను చెప్పినా వినకుండా వాడ్ని స్కూల్లో చేరుస్తావా? అంటూ నాన్న ఆ రోజు అమ్మను గొడ్డును బాదినట్టు బాదాడు. అడ్డం వెళితే, మా అన్నయ్యనూ, నన్నూ కూడా తన్నాడు. అంత జరిగినా "ఎన్నాళ్లు కొడతాడో చూద్దాం మీరు మాత్రం చదువు మానేయొద్దు'' అంది. ఆ కారణంగా అమ్మను ఎన్ని సార్లు కొట్టాడో లెక్కలేదు. చివరికి విసుగు పుట్టి వదిలేశాడు. నా చదువు, మా అన్నయ్య చదువు మా నాన్న అయిష్టత మధ్యే కొనసాగింది. మాకు తెలిసి ఆయన తన జీవితంలో ఓటమి అంటూ ఎరగడు. కానీ, ఈ ఒక్క విషయంలో మాత్రం నాన్న ఓడిపోయాడు. చూసే ప్రపంచం చిన్నదైపోయినపుడు ఎంత వారికైనా ఓటమి తప్పదేమోనని నాకనిపిస్తుంది.

చేయని నేరానికి....

సుబ్బయ్యని మా నాన్నకు ఒక సోదరుడు ఉండేవాడు. చెరువులోని తామరాకుల్ని కోసి వాటిని పొట్లాలు కట్టుకునేందుకు మిఠాయి షాప్‌లకూ, మాంసం షాప్‌లకూ అమ్ముతూ బతికేవాడు. ఒక రోజు సాయంత్రం ఏడుగంటల ప్రాంతంలో నేను చెరువు పక్కనుంచి న డుచుకుంటూ ఊళ్లోకి వస్తున్నాను. అప్పుడు నాకు 8 ఏళ్లు ఉంటాయేమో. అప్పటికే చీకటి పడింది. రోజూ లాగే ఆయన తామరాకుల్ని ఎండబె ట్టి ఆ తర్వాత వాటిని ఒకచోటికి చేరుస్తున్నాడు. సరిగ్గా అదే సమయంలో పెద్ద గాలి దుమారం వచ్చింది. ఆ తాకిడికి ఆకులన్నీ ఎగిరిపోతున్నాయి. అది గమనించిన ఆయన "ఓరి దేవుడా నా పొట్టకొట్టావురోయ్, నాకు తిండి లేకుండా చేశావు. ఈ ఆకులన్నీ పోతే నేను ఏమమ్ముకుంటాను? ఏం తింటాను.?'' అంటూ పరుగులు తీస్తూ ఆ ఆకుల్ని పట్టుకునే ప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నాడు. ఏదో కొంత సాయం చేద్దామని నాకు సాధ్యమైనన్ని ఆకుల్ని ఒక చోట చేర్చి, ఆ తర్వాత వచ్చేశాను. ఇంటికి వచ్చేసరికి బాగా ఆలస్యమయింది. మా నాన్న గుడ్లురుముతూ నా మీదికి వచ్చాడు. ఎక్కడికి వెళ్లావు.? ఎందుకు ఆలస్యమయింది? అనేమీ అడక్కుండా, నన్ను చితక బాదేశాడు. ఎందుకు కొడుతున్నాడో నాకు అర్థం కాలేదు. నే ను మంచి పనే కదా చేశాను, పైగా ఆయన సోదరుడికే కదా సాయం చేశాననే మాట నా మనసులో ఉంది. అయినా, ఆలస్యానికి ఇదీ కారణమని చెప్పాలని కూడా నాకనిపించలేదు. నేను తప్పు చేయకపోయినా కొడుతున్నాడనే బాధ నన్ను వేధిస్తోంది. తీవ్రమైన ఒక అంతర్వేదనతో ఆ రాత్రంతా గడిచిపోయింది. దీని మీద నా నిరసనను, నా కోపాన్ని ఆయనకు ఎలాగైనా తెలియచేయాలనుకున్నాను.

మా నాన్న ఎప్పుడు క్షవ రం చేయించినా మంగలిని జుత్తు మరీ చిన్నదిగా చేయమని చెప్పేవాడు. నేనే వద్దూ వద్దూ అంటూ ఉండేవాణ్ని. అలాంటి నేను మంగలి వద్దకు వెళ్లి గుండు చేయించుకుని వచ్చాను. అంతే కాదు అమ్మతోనూ, నాన్నతోనూ మాట్లాడటం మానేశాను. ఆ మౌనంలో నాకు ఏవేవో ఆలోచనలు వచ్చేవి. త ప్పు చేయకుండానే ఇలా దండించారే..! నిజంగానే తప్పు చేస్తే ఏం కావాలి? ఒక వేళ నిజంగానే నేను త ప్పు చేసి ఉంటే అప్పుడు నా వద్ద సమాధానం ఉండదు. అందుకే జీవితంలో తప్పంటూ చేయకూడదనే ఒక నిర్ణయానికి వచ్చేశాను. స్నేహితులు, సరదా కబుర్లు, ఆట పాటల లాంటివన్నీ ఆ రోజునుంచి నా జీవితంలోంచి పూర్తిగా అదృశ్యమైపోయాయి. ఫలితంగా, నాలో క్రమంగా పెరుగుతూ వచ్చిన సీరియస్‌నెస్ నన్నొక పుస్తకాల పురుగును చేసింది. నాన్న చేతిలో నేను అన్యాయంగానే హింసకు గురైనా అది నాలో వేరే రకమైన కసిని పెంచింది. హింసను ఒక వైపునుంచే చూస్తే మనం కూలిపోవడం ఖాయం. అలా కాకుండా ఆవలి వైపు నుంచి చూస్తే అది మనల్ని నిలబెడుతుంది కూడాను అని నాకనిపిస్తుంది.

నక్సలైటుగా ముద్రవేసి....

నేను వరంగల్‌లో కలెక్టర్‌గా ఉన్న సమయంలో జనాన్ని తీవ్రమైన ఆందోళనకు గురిచేసే పరిణామాలు కొన్ని జరిగాయి. నక్సలైట్లు అన్న పేరుతో పోలీసులు కొంత మంది స్థానిక యువకుల్ని అడవుల్లోకి తీసుకెళ్లి కొద్ది రోజులు ఉంచేసేవారు. ఆ తర్వాత ఒక ఇన్స్‌పెక్టర్ వాళ్ల తలిదండ్రులను కలిసి, పోలీసులు ఇవ్వాళో రేపో మీ పిల్లాడ్ని కాల్చేస్తారు, మీరు ఇంత డబ్బు ఇస్తే పోలీసులకు చెప్పి విడిపిస్తాను అంటూ బేరం పెట్టేవాడు. మోహన్ రావు అనే సిపిఐ నాయకుడొకాయన నాకీ విషయం చెప్పాడు. వెంటనే ఈ విషయాన్ని నేను ఎస్.పి గారికి చెప్పాను. ఆయన అలాంటిదేమీ లేదని దాటవేశాడు. మళ్లీ ఒకరోజు అదే మోహన్ రావు ఫలానా అడవిలోని ఫలానా కొండ మీద 16 మంది యువకుల్ని బంధించి ఉంచారంటూ సమాచారాన్ని చేరవేశాడు. అప్పుడింక తట్టుకోలేకపోయాను. సబ్-కలెక్టర్‌గా ఉన్న జి. పి. రావును, అసిస్టెంట్-కలెక్టర్‌గా ట్రెయినింగ్‌లో ఉన్న హరిని ఆ ప్రదేశానికి వెళ్లమని చెప్పాను. వీళ్లు అక్కడికి వెళ్లి చూస్తే 16 కాదు 22 మంది ఉన్నారు.

వాళ్లను వెంటనే విడిపించాను.

ఆ సంఘటనతో పోలీసులు నా మీద కన్నెర్ర చేశారు. వివిధ కారణాలతో అప్పటికే నా మీద ద్వేషంతో ఉన్న కొంత మంది ఎం.ఎల్.ఏలు, ఒక మంత్రి ఇదే అదనుగా 'కలెక్టరు నక్సలైటు' అంటూ నా మీద ఒక పిటిషన్ తయారు చేసి అప్పటి రాష్ట్రపతి వి.వి. గిరికి అందచేశారు. ఈ విషయం స్థానిక పత్రికల్లోనూ, వివిధ జాతీయ పత్రికల్లోనూ ప్రచురితమమయ్యింది. కాని ఎకనామిక్ అండ్ పొలిటికల్ వీక్లీలో మాత్రం నా గురించి చాలా పాజిటివ్ వ్యాసం వచ్చింది. దాని శీర్షిక 'నక్సలైట్ ఇన్ ఐఏఎస్ క్లోత్స్..!' అని. అందులో "అన్యాయంగా తమ భూమిలోంచి తరిమివేయబడ్డ పేదవారికి ఆయన తిరిగి ఆ భూమిని ఇప్పించాడు. గీతకార్మికులకు కాకుండాపోతున్న తాటి, ఈత చెట్లను వారికి అందేలా చేశాడు. ప్రభుత్వం ఇచ్చే కరువు నివారణా నిధులను పేదవాళ్ల పొలాలు చదును చేయడానికి, బావులు తవ్వడానికి ఖర్చు చేశాడు. ఈ చర్యలన్నీ నక్సలిజంలో భాగమే అయితే ఆ కలెక్టరు నక్సలైటే' అంటూ రాశారు. ఈ వ్యాసం కూడా అప్పటి రాష్ట్రపతి వి. వి. గిరి దృష్టికి వెళ్లింది. ఆయన విచారణకు ఆదేశించారు.

ఐ.బి జాయింట్ డైరెక్టర్ కూడా నా వల్ల పోలీసులకు చాలా ఇబ్బందులు ఉంటాయని భావించి కొన్ని కుయుక్తులకు పాల్పడ్డారు. అందులో భాగంగా డి.ఎస్.పితో ఈ కలెక్టర్ మీద ఏదైనా ఒక నెగెటివ్ వాక్యం రాయండి. నేను అతన్ని తన ఉద్యోగ విధుల్లోంచి తొలగిస్తానన్నాడట. అయితే అలా రాయడానికి ఆ డి.ఎస్.పి మనస్సాక్షి ఒప్పుకోలేదు. అందుకే రాయలేదు. పైగా "అతని వల్ల కొంత మంది ఇబ్బంది పడుతున్న మాట నిజమే కానీ, అతనికి నక్సలైట్లతో సంబంధాలు ఉన్నాయని చెప్పడం నిజం కాదు'' అంటూ రాశాడు. పలు ఆరోపణలు ఎదుర్కొంటున్నా, నేను అక్కడే కొనసాగడానికి అది దోహదం చేసింది. అయితే, ఐ.బి జాయింట్ డైరెక్టర్ తనతో అన్న మాటల్ని ఆయన తన మనసులోనే దాచుకున్నాడు. వెంటనే నాకు చెబితే, 'నానుంచి ఏమైనా ఆశించి అలా చెబుతున్నాడని నేననుకుంటానేమో అనుకుని ఆ విషయాన్ని నేను రిటైర్ అయ్యేదాకా అంటే 1998 దాకా నాకు చెప్పలేదు. ఆ రహస్యం మరో వ్యక్తికి కూడా తెలిస్తే మంచిదని నేనంటే కేంద్ర ప్రభుత్వంలో సెక్రెటరీగా చేసిన జి. పి. రావు ముందు ఆ నిజాన్ని బయటపెట్టాడు. విధినిర్వహణలో సమస్యలు ఎప్పుడూ తప్పవు. కానీ, అత్యున్నత హోదాలో ఉండే వారు సైతం వక్ర మార్గం పడితే సమాజానికి ఇంక మనుగడేముంటుంది? హోదాల్ని కూడా మనుషుల హృదయాలతోనే కొలవాలన్న సత్యం ఆ సంఘటన నాకు నేర్పింది.

ఔదార్యానికి హద్దులా?

నిజాయితీగా ఉండడమే కాదు. మన నీతిని అనుమానించే పరిస్థితి ఏర్పడకుండా చూసుకోవడం కూడా అవసరమనుకుంటాను. ఎన్. టి. రామారావు ప్రభుత్వం అవినీతిని అంతమొందిస్తాం అంటూ అధికారంలోకి వచ్చింది. అవినీతికి పాల్పడే వారి గుండెల్లో రైళ్లు పరుగెత్తడం మొదలెట్టాయి. సరిగ్గా అదే సమయంలో మా అబ్బాయి పి.జి పూర్తి చేసుకుని సొంతంగా ఏదైనా పరిశ్రమ స్థాపించాలన్న అభిప్రాయానికి వచ్చాడు. అందుకు నేను అనుమతించలేదు. "నువ్విప్పుడు ఏ రుణంతో ప్రారంభించినా అది నేను అవినీతికి పాల్పడి సంపాదించిన డబ్బుతోనే పెట్టావని అనుకుంటారు. అందువల్ల నువ్వు సివిల్ సర్వీసెస్‌కు చదువుకోవడం మేలు'' అని చెప్పాను. వాడు ససేమిరా అన్నాడు. "ఒకవేళ నువ్వు అంతగా అనుకుంటే నేను రిటైర్ అయ్యేదాకా వేచి ఉండు అప్పుడు పెట్టుకో'' అన్నాను. "16 ఏళ్లు వేచి ఉండడం అంటే చాలా కాలం వృధా అవుతుంది కదా !'' అన్నాడు. "అయితే నా ఇంట్లోంచి బయటికి వెళ్లిపో, నాకూ నీకూ ఏ సంబంధం లేదనుకున్నాక ఇంక ఏమైనా చేసుకో'' అన్నాను. "అంత కఠోరంగా ఎందుకులే నాన్నా మీరు రిటైర్ అయ్యాకే ఆ పరిశ్రమేదో పెడతా'' అన్నాడు. అప్పటికి వాడికి 38 ఏళ్లు వచ్చాయి. అన్న మాట ప్రకారం 1998 దాకా ఖాళీగా ఉండి ఆ తర్వాతే మా గ్రామస్తుడైన సుజనా గ్రూప్ ఆఫ్ ఇండస్ట్రీస్ చైర్మన్ వై.ఎస్ చౌద రి (ఎం.పి) గారి కంపెనీలోని ఒక యూనిట్ తీసుకుని దాని మేనేజింగ్ డైరెక్టర్‌గా పని ప్రారంభించాడు.

కానీ, ఆ పరిశ్రమ నష్టాలే మిగిల్చింది. పరిస్థితి గమనించిన చౌదరి గారు ఆ పరిశ్రమ తిరిగి తానే తీసుకుని ఆ నష్టాలన్నీ తన మీదే వేసుకున్నాడు. నైరాశ్యానికి గురవుతున్న మావాడిని అంతటితో వదిలేయకుండా, తన కంపెనీల్లోని ఒక యూనిట్‌కు మేనేజింగ్ డైరెక్టర్ ఉద్యోగం ఇచ్చి కొండంత అండగా నిలబడ్డాడు. వాస్తవానికి నేను రిటైర్ అయ్యేనాటికి నాకు సొంత ఇల్లే లేదు. అప్పటిదాకా ఉన్న అద్దె ఇల్లు ఖాళీ చేయాల్సి వచ్చింది. నా కొడుకుకే కాదు, మా మొత్తం కుటుంబానికి ఆశ్రయంగా తన కంపెనీ హౌజ్‌ను మాకు ఇచ్చాడు. నేనున్న ఈ దశలో వై. ఎస్. చౌదరి లేని జీవితాన్ని ఊహించడం కూడా కష్టమే. జీవితమంతా ఒక కోణాన్నే చూస్తూ అందులో మనం ఎంత నిష్ణాతులమైనా కావచ్చు. కానీ, జీవితానికి మనుగడనిచ్చే మరో కోణం గురించి ఏమీ తెలియకపోతే ఎంత ప్రమాదమో ఈ పరిణామాలు నాకు తెలియచెప్పాయి. జీవితానికి విలువలు ఎంత ముఖ్యమో, ప్రాణానికి ప్రాణంగా, ఒక ఆలంబనగా నిలిచే స్నేహితులు కూడా అంతే ముఖ్యమని నా జీవితం నాకు నేర్పిన ఒక తాజా సత్యమిది.

'కలెక్టరు నక్సలైటు' అంటూ నా మీద ఒక పిటిషన్ తయారు చేసి అప్పటి రాష్ట్రపతి వి.వి. గిరికి అందచేశారు. ఈ విషయం స్థానిక పత్రికల్లోనూ, వివిధ జాతీయ పత్రికల్లోనూ ప్రచురితమమయ్యింది. కాని ఎకనామిక్ అండ్ పొలిటికల్ వీక్లీలో మాత్రం నా గురించి చాలా పాజిటివ్ వ్యాసం వచ్చింది. దాని శీర్షిక 'నక్సలైట్ ఇన్ ఐఏఎస్ క్లోత్స్..!' అని.
- బమ్మెర
ఫోటోలు: జి. రాజు

Source: Andhra Jyothi



Saturday, January 25, 2014

Akkineni Nageswara Rao no more

Features » CINEMA PLUS              

Updated: January 23, 2014 09:48 IST 

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

 Veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. File photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam The Hindu

 

The 91-year-old Telugu screen legend lost a battle with intestinal cancer, dying at a private hospital here on Wednesday

Legendary Telugu film actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who stole the hearts of millions of fans across the world, is no more. He breathed his last in the early hours of Wednesday at a private hospital where, for the past few months, he was undergoing treatment for intestinal cancer.

The 91-year-old doyen of the Telugu film industry is survived by three daughters and two sons, including actor Nagarjuna, and grand-children. His body will be taken out in a procession on Thursday and later cremated with police honours.

Born in Venkata Raghavapuram of Krishna district on September 20, 1924, the first-generation actor’s 75 year-old career comprised 256 films across social, romantic and mythological genres. He started his acting career with theatre but soon switched over to silver screen and made his film debut in 1941 with Dharmapatni, interestingly playing female role.

ANR, as he was popularly called by his fans, wrapped up his work with Manam that featured three generations of the Akkineni family, including him, Nagarjuna and grandson Naga Chaitanya.

He has been honoured with Padma Vibhushan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award and the NTR National Award. 

Source: The Hindu 

Friday, January 24, 2014

కంప్యూటర్ రంగంలో 'పవన'వికాసం

Published at: 25-01-2014 08:38 AM


ఆండ్రాయిడ్ వెర్షన్ పీసీని రూపొందించిన తిరుపతి యువతి
సీఈఎస్ 14లో టాప్ టెన్‌లో నిలిచిన హెచ్‌పీ స్లేట్ -21 ప్రొ
(ఆంధ్రజ్యోతి, తిరుపతి)

ప్రపంచ కంప్యూటర్ రంగంలో ఓ తెలుగు తేజం మెరిసింది. దిగ్గజ మైక్రోసాఫ్ట్ పెత్తనానికి చెక్‌పెట్టేలా ఆండ్రాయిడ్ పీసీని రూపొందించి ప్రపంచ ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ మార్కెట్‌లో సంచలనం సృష్టించింది. తిరుపతి పట్టణానికి చెందిన పవన పోలినేని.. హెచ్‌పీ స్లేట్ 21ప్రొ ఆల్-ఇన్-పర్సనల్ కంప్యూటర్‌ను డిజైన్ చేసి అంతర్జాతీయ యవనికపై తెలుగువారి సత్తా చాటారు. ఈమె తయారు చేసిన ఈ కంప్యూటర్ 2014లో టాప్ టెన్ ఉత్పత్తులో ఒకటిగా నిలవడం గమనార్హం. ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ ఉత్పత్తుల ప్రదర్శనకు సంబంధించి లాస్‌వెగాస్‌లో ప్రతి ఏడాది వినియోగదారుల ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ షో (సీఈఎస్) నిర్వహిస్తారు. ప్రపంచంలోనే అతి పెద్దదిగా, ప్రతిష్టాత్మకమైనదిగా భావించే ఈ ప్రదర్శనలో సుమారు 1.50 లక్షల మంది ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ రంగ నిపుణులు పాల్గొంటారు. కొత్తగా తయారు చేసిన కొన్నివేల ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ వస్తువులను ప్రదర్శనలో ఉంచుతారు. ఇందులో భాగంగా ఈ నెల 7 వతేదీ నుంచి 10వ తేదీ వరకు అమెరికాలోని లాస్‌వెగాస్‌లో జరిగిన సీఈఎస్- 2014లో పవన డిజైన్ చేసిన హెచ్‌పీ స్లేట్ 21 ప్రొ సంచలనం సృష్టించింది. వ్యాపార వినియోగదారుల కోసం ఆమె డిజైన్ చేసిన ఈ పీసీ ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ రంగంలో కొత్త ఒరవడికి శ్రీకారం చుట్టింది.

తిరుపతిలో విద్యాభ్యాసం

పవన తన విద్యాభాసాన్ని తిరుపతిలోనే పూర్తి చేశారు. ఎస్వీయూ ఇంజనీరింగ్ కాలేజీలో బీటెక్ పూర్తి చేసి అమెరికాలోని టెక్సాస్ ఏ అండ్ ఎం యూనివర్సిటీలో ఎంఎస్ పూర్తి చేశారు. కొంతకాలం డెల్ కంపెనీలో సాఫ్ట్‌వేర్ ఇంజనీర్‌గా పనిశారు. ప్రస్తుతం హెచ్‌పీ గ్లోబల్ మార్కెటింగ్ మేనేజర్‌గా టెక్సాస్‌లో విధులు నిర్వహిస్తున్నారు. పవన తల్లిదండ్రులిద్దరూ అధ్యాపకులే. తండ్రి పోలినేని రామకృష్ణ చౌదరి ఎస్వీ యూనివర్సిటీలో ప్రొఫెసర్‌గా పని చేసి రిటైరయ్యారు. తల్లి డాక్టర్ పి. అనసూయమ్మ చంద్రగిరి ప్రభుత్వ జూనియర్ కాలేజీ ప్రిన్సిపాల్‌గా పనిచేసి ఉద్యోగ విరమణ చేశారు. పవన భర్త ఫణిభూషణ్ గద్దె టెక్సాస్‌లోనే ఆయిల్ అండ్ గ్యాస్ ఇండస్ట్రీలో సీనియర్ అనలిస్టుగా పనిచేస్తున్నారు.

గురువులకు, తల్లిదండ్రులకు కృతజ్ఞతలు

ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ రంగంలో తాను ప్రపంచ స్థాయి గుర్తింపు పొందడానికి కారణమైన గురువులకు, తల్లిదండ్రులకు పవన కృతజ్ఞతలు తెలిపారు. తను విద్యాభ్యాసం చేసిన ఎస్వీ యూనివర్సిటీ క్యాంపస్ స్కూలు, ఎస్వీ ఇంజనీరింగ్ కాలేజీ అధ్యాపకుల కృషి, తన తల్లిదండ్రుల ప్రోత్సాహంతో ఈ స్థాయికి ఎదిగానని ఆమె తెలిపారు. తిరుపతి మహిళగా తను సాధించిన ఈ విజయం రాష్ట్ర యువతకు స్పూర్తి కలిగించాలని పవన ఆకాంక్షించారు.

బిజినెస్ కస్టమర్స్ కోసం తక్కువ ధరలో ఆండ్రాయిడ్ సాప్ట్‌వేర్‌తో 21.5 అంగుళాల స్క్రీన్‌తో ఈ ఆల్ ఇన్ వన్ పిీసీని తయారు చేశారు. ఇప్పటి వరకు మైక్రోసాఫ్ట్ ప్లాట్ ఫాంపై క్రోమ్ ఆపరేటింగ్ సిస్టమ్ పనిచేస్తూ వచ్చింది. హెచ్‌పీ స్లేట్ 21ప్రొ రంగ ప్రవేశంతో ఆండ్రాయిడ్ ఆపరేషన్ సిస్టమ్స్‌తో కూడా పనిచేయనుంది.హెచ్‌పీ మార్కెటింగ్ అధినేతగా పవన పరిచయం చేసిన కంప్యూటర్ హెచ్.పి స్లేట్ 21ప్రొ ఆల్ ఇన్ వన్ 21.5 అంగుళాల స్క్రీన్‌తో ఫుల్ హై స్పీడ్ డెఫినిషన్‌తో పనిచేస్తుంది. ఐపీఎస్ టచ్ స్క్రీన్ కలిగి ఉంటుంది. బిజినెస్ కస్టమర్లు ఎక్కువగా వినియోగించే సిట్రిక్స్ సాఫ్ట్‌వేర్ కంపెనీ భాగస్వామ్యంతో ఆండ్రాయిడ్ ఆఫీస్ సాఫ్ట్‌వేర్‌ను ఇందులో అమర్చారు. సుమారు పది లక్షలకు పైగా యాప్స్ ఈ సిస్టమ్ ద్వారా లభ్యమవుతాయి. 4.3 ఆండ్రాయిడ్‌పై నడుస్తుంది. క్వాడ్ కోర్ ప్రాసెసర్, హెచ్.డి వెబ్‌క్యామ్, 2జి.బి ర్యామ్, 60 జీబి మెమరీలు దీనిలో లభిస్తాయి.అమెరికన్ మార్కెట్‌లో దీని ధర కీబోర్డు, మౌస్‌తో కలిపి 399 అమెరికన్ డాలర్లు (భారతీయ కరెన్సీ ప్రకారం.. సుమారు రూ. 25 వేలు)గా నిర్ణయించారు.



Tuesday, January 21, 2014

No Fee Barrier at This School

By Swati Sharma
Published: 19th January 2014 06:00 AM


P Vasundhara is a mother to many. The 55-year-old fulfilled
her wish of being a parent by starting a school in Hyderabad
to educate underprivileged children for free. | Photo/ R V K Rao

She may not have children of her own, but P Vasundhara is a mother to many. The 55-year-old fulfilled her wish of being a parent by starting a school in Hyderabad to educate underprivileged children for free. 

Vasundhara came up with the idea while attending satsangs at the Nachiketa Tapovan Ashram. “After visiting Vaddera basti in Madhapur, Hyderabad, I realised children there did not get an opportunity to go to school,” says Vasundhara, founder of Nachiketa Tapovan Vidya Mandir.

The foundation of the school was laid in the late 90s on a plot of land owned by Vasundhara’s husband. “In 2004, we constructed the school building and from then on began functioning,” she says.

The Vidya Mandir has also put in place a novel initiative to recycle paper and plastic waste and in the process make a little money. “Under the project, we request people to collect plastic and paper waste such as cups, sheets, use-and-throw polythene bags and drop it at the Tapovan. We make around `16,000 to 18,000 per month just by selling 2,000kg of recycle material,” she says.

The student strength at the moment is 250 and classes are conducted till 10th grade. The school’s mission is to reach underprivileged city kids by involving them in creative projects while teaching them the core high school subjects. The children get free food, uniforms, books, and shoes. Many teachers here are IITians and all have volunteered to work.

“Many children who enrolled didn’t have basic education or ambitions. But now if you ask any child what they want to do, they all have goals and are working hard to achieve them,” she beams.

“In the last few years we have had a few students who cleared their Board exams with high scores and are now doing their intermediate,” she says. “There was Shiva who is now studying at Vignan Engineering College. Another student, Nagamani, wants to become an IAS officer,” she says, proudly.

With most of the children coming from slums, health care often emerges as a serious issue. “Every week, a free medical camp is conducted where doctors from top hospitals volunteer. Also, we provide food and milk for the children on a regular basis. The students are taught yoga and practice surya namaskara and meditation before class every morning,” says Vasundhra, who also runs a block printing unit from her home that provides employment to underprivileged women. The profits made by this unit are used to fund the school.

“The children are taught in English and are able to follow and respond well, be it in English or Telugu,” says Anuradha, a teacher.

Vasundhara emphasises the habit of saving money so that the children learn to plan for the future from an early age. “The students make a lot of craft items such as diyas, writing pads, paper bags, envelopes and rakhis for sale. Some percentage of money from these sales goes to the school and the remaining amount is deposited in the students’ individual account,” she says.

With enrollment increasing, Vasundhara has had to expand her premises. “I have asked for the government’s permission to construct one more floor, but we are still awaiting confirmation from their side,” she says.


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Two shades of immunity

January 12, 2014 10:46
January 12, 2014 10:46

Devayani
 She had signed an agreement to pay her domestic help, Sangeeta Richard, $9.75
 an hour. Instead she paid her only $3.31 an hour.

As we move away from a monocivilisational world of Western domination of world history to a multicivilisational world, our minds must begin retooling themselves. We have to develop the capability of carrying competing, if not contradictory, narratives and understand that both may be correct, even if they contradict each other. We will have to learn to shed black and white judgements in favour of multi-hued, complex assessments.

A perfect example of equally correct but contradictory narratives is provided by the case of Devyani Khobragade, an Indian consular officer arrested by US authorities on December 12. In American eyes, it is a clear, black and white case. She had signed an agreement to pay her domestic help, Sangeeta Richard, $9.75 an hour. Instead she paid her only $3.31 an hour. As Khobragade had violated US laws, it was both legal and legitimate for the US attorney, Preet Bharara, to have her arrested and charged. Reflecting mainstream American opinion, The New York Times editorialised that “India’s overwrought reaction to the arrest of one of its diplomats in the United States is unworthy of a democratic government”.

This American narrative has a point. Khobragade has her rights. So does Sangeeta Richard, the employee. Richard was clearly the underdog in this exercise (even though by being employed in America, her wages increased 25-fold). Indeed, the traditional American concern for the underdog is one of the strongest aspects of American society. So is the egalitarian spirit of American society, which has gone much further than any other human society in removing and eradicating all traces of feudal culture. In my first book on America and the world (entitled Beyond the Age of Innocence), I praised the American doormen who would look me in the eyes and treat an ambassador like me as an equal, and not act in a submissive manner like any Asian doorman would.

Shekhar Gupta has waxed eloquent on the egalitarian virtues of American society. He noted that barely within a year of leaving office as deputy secretary of state, Strobe Talbott had to scramble for a taxi in New Delhi like any other commoner. More amusingly, he told the story of a famous Indian film actress who refused to marry and settle down in America because Indians in America refused to allow her to cut a supermarket queue, even after they had recognised her. The good news for our world is that this American egalitarian spirit is gradually infecting other societies, including Asian societies, and therefore making them less feudal.

Ironically, however, even as this American spirit of egalitarianism infects the world, American government officials continue to insist on feudal-type privileges while serving in other countries. It is normal for American diplomats to receive diplomatic immunity. Rather abnormally, the American government expects that even its non-diplomats should receive immunity. In some cases, they have literally, not metaphorically, gotten away with murder. Raymond Davis, a CIA contractor, was whisked away from the Pakistani judicial system after shooting and killing two Pakistani citizens. In the ancient days, only feudal lords stood above the laws of the land. Today, American government employees also enjoy feudal immunities overseas (even though most of them are law-abiding citizens while working overseas).

Sadly, few Americans are aware that the American government practices double standards in the application of laws. It allows no foreign government officials, including a powerful person like Dominique Strauss-Kahn, then head of the International Monetary Fund, any immunity from American laws. Yet it expects its government officials to be — in theory and in practice — immune from other countries’ legal courts. Whenever any US government official faces the threat of prosecution in a foreign legal court, he or she is quietly whisked away, as few governments can withstand bilateral pressure from the US government. Since many Americans are puzzled by the Indian outrage, they should know that Indian society was deeply shocked that a senior Indian official was subject to a strip search. This created a deep sense of cultural outrage, similar to the outrage that Americans would feel if a black citizen is called a “nigger” today. Any Westerner who cannot understand this analogy will be unable to absorb a multi-civilisational perspective.

All governments in the world are aware of this schizophrenic attitude of the US government (which, I must stress, reflects the views of the US Congress). On one hand, the US government is second to none in defending the rule of law at home. On the other hand, the US government is second to none in defending immunity for its officials from all foreign legal courts and judicial procedures.

When the International Criminal Court (ICC) Statute came into force on July 1, 2002, the US government undertook a massive campaign to get over a hundred foreign governments to sign what have been called “article 98 agreements” or “bilateral immunity agreements (BIAs)”. These agreements stipulate that these countries would not send US citizens to the ICC. Similarly, the US Congress has developed a long-standing practice of extra-territorial application of its domestic laws on other countries and their citizens. But it is extremely reluctant to allow the extra-territorial application of other countries’ laws on its own territory.

This schizophrenic attitude of the US government explains why virtually every other government in the world was quietly cheering on the Indian government as it insisted on total reciprocity in the treatment of Indian and American officials. Few governments in the world have the geopolitical heft or the moral legitimacy to look the American government in the eye and demand such absolute reciprocity. India does. Hence, even India’s biggest detractor in the world, Pakistan, is quietly cheering on India. They hoped that India would finally succeed in persuading the US government to accept a level playing field in dealing with other countries.

The Indian government’s success in persuading the American government to allow Khobragade to return home and not face charges in an American court will therefore be cheered all around the world. Most countries realise that they would not have had the weight to shift the US government. India is one of the few who could do so. And in doing so, India has also enhanced the rights and standing of other foreign diplomats on American territory.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, India may have actually done America a favour. Why? The former American president, Bill Clinton, has wisely counselled his fellow citizens to prepare for a world “that we would like to live in when we’re no longer the military political economic superpower in the world”. His wise advice indicates how the two contradicting narratives can come together: Americans should work hard to create binding international law regimes that would apply equally to American and non-American officials and citizens. In the final analysis, a level playing field in this area would demonstrate that the American egalitarian spirit is influencing international law too.

Kishore Mahbubani

The writer is dean and professor in the practice of public policy of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore
express@expressindia.com


Saturday, January 11, 2014

Wish You All a Happy Sankranthi 2014

అందరికి సంక్రాంతి శుభాకాంక్షలు 2014

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

  2014
  
నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Telugus living in USA for six decades going strong

NATA embarks on 15-day Seva Days at a cost of Rs 4 Crore
   
Hyderabad, December 27: Telugu community, which is one of the largest Indian groups in the United States of America is going great strides. Telugus have been living in USA for over sixty years.

They have contributed their best for the growth of American economy as well as Indian economy. Telugus living in America made Andhra Pradesh and India proud. There are many NRIs from Andhra Pradesh who made it big in USA.

Today Telugu-speaking community in USA is the highest paid job-holders in America. For most Telugus, USA has become their homeland informed Sanjeeva T. Reddy, President of North American Telugu Association (NATA), addressing a Press Conference organised to give concluding brief on the 15-days of NATA SEVA DAYS here in city on Friday at Hotel Taj Krishna.

There used be just 30,000 Telugus in USA in 1970. Now nearly two million Telugu Diaspora live in USA, most of them comprising of students, scientists, IT Professionals and Doctors.

Increase in population of Telugus over the last three decades has been quite high. In particular there has been phenomenal growth in the Telugu population in the last two or three years. It is estimated that there are about 15 to 20 percent of Telugus among the total Indian Immigrants in USA.

So also problems and challenges have also increased for Telugus. The Telugus though divided on various issues, working under various banners are always united, especially when there is a crisis.

NATA is a non-profit cultural organization serving the Telugu Community in the USA and Canada, it involves in promoting community services, cultural and social activities, student assistance and preservation and promotion of Telugu language and heritage in the United States and across the globe.

NATA is not a breakaways group from any other organization. It is a new organization started in 2010 with just 50 members, now has 8000 members, informed Sanjeeva T. Reddy.

NATA kicked off 15 Day Seva Programmes on December 16th which will conclude with grand gala closing function and service activities on 29th December with a Cultural Evening and Presentation of Life Time Achievement Award to Dr. Kasu Prasad Reddy of Maxi Vision Group and NATA Excellency Award to Mr. Sekhar Kammula, Telugu Film Director at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad.

NATA though just three years old kick started a unique program of NATA Seva Days of various service activities taken up at the cost of Rs 4 Crore which is nearing completion.

During this fortnight various service projects have been taken up including Scholarships to Toppers in Second year Intermediate from Government Junior colleges (five from each district) totaling to 117 scholarships worth Rs 11.5 lakh, 16 Safe Drinking Water Projects, 6 Clean and Green Graveyard Projects.

Spread across various parts of the State of Andhra Pradesh service activities of NATA SEVA DAys include Health Camps, Pediatric Eye Camps and others.

Each student will be given away Rs 10,000 scholarship through the hands of Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao at NATA Seva Days Celebrations. Though we are trying to award five from each district but there is a tie on 2 students in West Godavari and Praksham districts, hence number has gone up to 117, informed Mr. Ramasurya Reddy, Secretary of NATA. NATA Overseas Coordinator Dr. Dwarakanath Reddy put in their persistent efforts to collect data from Government.

NATA also has taken up Safe Drinking Water Projects in Districts of Nellore, Nalgonda, Kadapa. These are sponsored by Dr. Prem Reddy, Mohan Talamati, Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, Dr. Harinatha Policherla, Dr. Adisesha Reddy, Suresh Reddy, Mohan Kaladi, Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy.

Six projects of Clean & Green Graveyard are taken up in Nellore District. Sponsors of these projects include Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy, Dr. Prem Reddy, Mohan Talamati. Dr. Prem Sagar Reddy and Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy are in fact the founding members and are two important pillars of NATA, said Sanjeeva T. Reddy, NATA President.

Another highlight of the SEVA DAYS is Pediatric Eye Camps which are conducted in large numbers and few lakh children got screend. We have identified during this screening that nearly 300 kids need Eye Surgeries which will do in next three months. We have issued spectacles to the needy then and there.

During their journey to various parts of the state during NTA SEVA DAYS there have been many requests for school benches and drinking water plants, which NATA will take up in future.

Futher to promote Telugu and Literature NATA is also organizing a Short Stories and Poetry Competition in Telugu. The winners will be given away Prizes at a function to be held in Ravindra Bharathi on 29th December.

Adding further it is informed that 2nd NATA Convention will be held in 2014 from July 4 to 6th at Atalanta City in USA. We have already formed 45 committees, informed Sanjeeva Reddy.

NATA is also launching Hyderabad Chapter of prestigious TEA(Telugu Entrepreneurs Association). In this connection a meeting is also being organised on 29th December in City. This international level business seminar of highly successful entrepreneurs from USA helps to promote one on one mentorship programs.

Source: Telugu People

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Crime Against Women on the Rise in Cyberabad

Published: 28th December 2013 07:38 AM

Are women safe in Cyberabad? Despite all the big talk and concerns that were raised about security of women in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya rape case in Delhi in December last year, the statistics of crime against women in the jurisdiction of Cyberabad police commissionerate, present a grim picture about safety of women in the software district.

With 135 cases of rape, 334 cases of outraging modesty, and 114 cases of women being abducted besides the increasing cases of dowry harassment and deaths, the year 2013 saw a sharp increase in crime against women with 2,391 cases being reported in 2013 compared to 1,914 cases in 2012. As many as 110 Nirbhaya cases were reported this year after the Act was enforced in February.

Giving the round up of the law and order scenario in his jurisdiction for the year 2013,  Cyberabad Police Commissioner CV Anand said that crime against women had gone up compared to previous year. “Cases of harassment of women, including that for dowry, has gone up and 1565 cases of harassment were reported this year,” he said.
He informed that Madhapur police would file the chargesheet in connection with the Abhaya case (a techie who was raped by two men) within a week.

Besides, the Cyberabad police registered a total of  27,156 cases during the current year, showing an increase of 2,234 cases compared to 2012. In 2012, a total of 24,922 cases were registered.

Source: Excerpt from The New India Express


Friday, December 13, 2013

Just a Fad or a Healthy Lifestyle?

Published: 13th December 2013 10:13 AM 

Essentially people tend to describe a vegan as a non-dairy vegetarian. Ideologically, a vegan shuns all products that are derived from the labour of animals which include eggs, honey, leather, wool, fur, silk, soaps and cosmetics that contain animal products.

The ethics of consuming dairy products started being questioned by vegetarians as early as in 1909. In 1944, Donald Watson held a meeting of six like-minded people who believed in the cause and called themselves non-dairy vegetarians. It was on that day that the term ‘vegan’ was coined.

Donald Watson is now considered the founder of the Vegan Society, the oldest and largest society of vegans in the world.

The reasons that vegans give for choosing their difficult lifestyle in an unsympathetic world are first, to create a more humane and tolerant society to live in. They believe that if people stop consuming as many animal products as they use, industries will not be forced to breed cattle and livestock the way they have to now, to meet the demand.

In a society where a child is taught to have 2-3 glasses of milk a day, a vegan diet seems very unhealthy. It seems like there is no source of protein but this is not true.

The reason for the success of the vegan lifestyle is the variety that is available all around us.

Vegans get their protein from food items like lentils, tofu, chickpeas, potatoes, broccoli, kale. Dark leafy vegetables, such as spinach, provide vegans with iron, calcium and zinc, to name a few nutrients.

But there are some nutrients that vegans don’t get despite their healthy eating. It is of utmost importance, which is why vegans take their daily dose of multivitamins. Vitamin D, for instance, is not available in any vegan friendly fruit. It is recommended that vegans spend time in the sunlight to start producing some Vitamin D for themselves.

The lifestyle as a whole stands for something beautiful — animal protection and shelter — but over the years it has somewhat lost its meaning.

As I said in the beginning, now one just thinks of a vegan as a fussy eater who will drink expensive soy milk rather than regular milk. I once overheard a person say, “Oh the friend who is coming over is a vegan, so I guess I should not put any butter in the chicken.”

The above statement just proves how illiterate people are about veganism if they have not been born into it or are vegans by choice. Veganism is also being used as a diet to lose weight. This is not what it is all about.
True vegans actually stand for something, and that is the welfare of the poor animals that are beaten, tortured or, worse yet, slaughtered to produce eggs and meat.

Cows are injected with chemicals and hormones so that they produce more milk than is natural for them to produce. Such practices are what veganism is essentially against.

Some pseudo-vegans today truly are what people think them to be — fussy eaters. The fad is such that vegans not only think they are above others by being more humane, but also feel that they have the right to convert others by holding conversations that are always about veganism.

Today there are thousands of societies with their very own support groups for vegans. These societies are trying their best to educate the public and be there to guide new vegans in what to put in and on their bodies and also what to wear. These societies have their events and meetings quite regularly. This movement has become so powerful that now along with the ‘Jain option’ most restaurant also carry vegan options.
There are vegan cookbooks available that have countless recipes — all without any dairy in them.

Some of us may understand the point of it all and some won’t, but the fact that there are so many vegans all over the world and more and more join the movement every day makes one believe that humanity exists.

The fanaticism that surrounds vegans is a little putting off but hope still exists that veganism goes back to its roots and once again becomes more than just a diet.


Thursday, December 05, 2013

In for a penny, in for a pounding



P. Sainath

The ‘Rayala-Telangana’ idea seeks to exploit a regional divide within a regional divide. It could backfire with serious consequences.

The UPA government’s notion of a ‘Rayala-Telangana’ state could fail before it gets off the ground. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti has called for a bandh to protest the idea. It is a rare case of a newly emerging state saying it does not want additional territory. And of course those for a united Andhra oppose the idea anyway. Although the TRS is the flag-bearer of the Telangana statehood cause — and the major Congress ally in the region — its anger should not come as a surprise. Not to those who read the Congress’s strategy on the issue. The Bharatiya Janata Party too is on the offensive. Those for Telangana will also bitterly resent the ‘joint capital’ status for Hyderabad. But what is really rattling everyone is the plan to include Kurnool and Anantapur districts in the new state, which would then be called Rayala-Telangana.

Political calculations
Three political calculations underpin the Centre’s, or rather the Congress’s, strategy on ‘Rayala-Telangana.’ The first of these: it could effectively divide the anti-bifurcation movement. The people of Rayalaseema were against the division of Andhra Pradesh, and Kurnool and Anantapur districts were home to some of the biggest protests. Yet, this is where the Congress leadership believes the wedge must be driven. What if people in these districts could be convinced that their first preference — United Andhra — is out? Might they then turn their attention to seeking a better deal within the new state? For instance, on water-sharing? They argue that even if people in the region were anti-bifurcation, they were never enamoured of their brethren in coastal Andhra. This exploits a regional divide within a regional divide.

Second: some in the Congress believe this could transform any voting in the Assembly. As of today, 160 MLAs are from Seemandhra regions, and 119 are from Telangana. (Another 15 of the first group stand disqualified). The nays have it. But take away the 28 MLAs of Kurnool and Anantapur from the 160 and pencil them into the Telangana column and the scoreline reads 147-132 for the new state. This of course involves very dicey assumptions. But the Congress believes the MLAs and MPs and, importantly, lower-level leaders from here, will go along. And many indeed might. This could also leave the masses, still opposed to the move, leaderless, and perhaps keep them off the streets.

Third: from the Congress point of view, the carving out of Rayala-Telangana would bring the party two further benefits. It would truncate the base of its major rival and dilute that of its main ally. Rayalaseema is the stronghold of Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress party. Take away two of its four districts and the Congress believes it has him corralled. Kurnool and Anantapur account for 28 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats. Their joining the new state would also dilute the strength of the TRS, which has no presence in any of those seats. Perhaps this might further pressure the TRS to merge with the Congress. It would also leave the new state and what remains of Andhra with exactly 21 seats each in the Lok Sabha.

Cynical course
All three calculations beg for trouble. The TRS is coming on to the streets with its opposition to the ‘Rayala’ element. The BJP could do the same. And whether you are a supporter of Telangana or a United Andhra, the chances of things going wrong with this cynical course are worrying. The race is on to get the division through before the Model Code of Conduct for next year’s general elections comes into force — which it could by February. This further highlights the Congress’s move as having less to do with genuine statehood aspirations than with poll engineering. So at the same time as it tries to win the game in the Assembly, the party makes it clear that it does not matter if it loses there.

Simply put, the Congress is saying that (if it loses out on a vote), the opinion of a democratically elected State legislature counts for nothing. This could launch an awful trend. Sure, the assent of the State Assembly is not mandatory in a legal-constitutional sense. It has not been the practice, though, in any of the last several State divisions. Whether in the case of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand or Jharkhand, the opinion of the Assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was given importance. Each had six to eight weeks of discussions. In the case of the U.P. Assembly, 10 weeks. Their suggestions were taken on board.

In Andhra Pradesh, the Congress intends to ram it through, the defiance of its own Chief Minister notwithstanding. The State Assembly won’t get anything like the time-frame the others did. About the only safe prediction of what will happen as the Assembly convenes is chaos. Anger and passion will rule. But perhaps that is the idea: that the Centre could disregard the Assembly’s views, indeed its very role in the process. In terms of future fallout, this is scary. Do this once, and it’s hard to say where it will stop.
Yet, even the short-term calculations might explode. In the 21 Lok Sabha seats the truncated A.P. would have, a wipe-out of the Congress seems likely. The last round of by-elections signalled that sharply. What could it pick up in the new state? Bringing Kurnool and Anantapur into it also means making Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress a force in Rayala-Telangana. It already has a base in districts like Khammam which have a huge “settler” population from Coastal A.P.

The fight in the four Lok Sabha seats in the two ‘new’ districts might well be between the YSRC and the Telugu Desam Party. (The last by-election to the State Assembly held in Anantapur saw the Congress finish third). One Lok Sabha seat in the new State would go to the MIM. A TDP-BJP alliance — now on the cards — could also pick up a few seats. That would leave the Congress sharing 10-12 seats with an increasingly unhappy ally, the TRS. So the whole exercise could give the party half-a-dozen seats there and vanavas in A.P. for the foreseeable future. And how long will the ties with the TRS hold? They have frayed quickly in the past. The willingness to chance all this argues both electoral cynicism and desperation. Remember the Congress won 33 Lok Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh in 2009 — more than any party did from a single State anywhere in the country. It could lose most of those in 2014. And at the end of it, have resolved none of the major issues driving statehood demands: water-sharing, Hyderabad, and more.

Polarising impact
There is also the polarising impact on the Telugu vote in other States in 2014. There are major Telugu communities in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha, for instance. In Maharashtra, those communities could favour Telangana and vote the Congress. In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha, the impact on the much larger numbers there, could be the opposite. But never mind the polls, the most risky and dangerous part is here and now, in the process itself. Some leaders of the government have declared they will get the Bill on Telangana through Parliament in this winter session. That starts on Thursday and ends within three weeks.

What should normally be the process? The Group of Ministers (GoM) presents its report to the Union Cabinet. The Cabinet studies it and sends it on to the Union Law Ministry which will draft a bill on statehood. The Cabinet finalises the bill and sends it on to the President of India. The President after studying it, refers it to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly for its views. The Assembly debates the bill and returns it with its views to the President. Who then recommends the bill to Parliament. Only then does the latter discuss and vote on the bill. 

Normally, each stage of this process would require a minimum of one or two weeks. The stage at the Assembly, as the process in earlier cases shows, needs 6-8 weeks. How will all of that happen by December 20? Key actors, including the President, the Assembly and Parliament will be denied the time to study or debate the bill. None of them will take kindly to that. There has also been talk of extending the session or holding a special one for this bill. All to beat the Model Code of Conduct deadline.

Whether you are for or against the bill, this amputation of the democratic process sets dangerous precedents. Maybe, as the cliché goes, ‘wisdom will prevail’ and the bill won’t be pushed through in the winter session. A couple of Congress leaders have begun to waffle on the matter. If it still does happen, it will be driven by the need to get it done before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force. And for a possible half-a-dozen seats in the next Lok Sabha for the Congress. There is no other explanation for short-circuiting the process to wind it up before February. That too for polls where, compared to 33 seats the last time, the Congress is in for a penny, in for a pounding.

sainath.p@thehindu.co.in 

Source: The Hindu