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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

XPOSE

On the green side of the fence
"Khuda ke liye", the first ever Pakistani movie to be released in India, tried restoring people''s faith in probably the most misunderstood religion across the world. Swati Hora talks to its writer-director, Shoaib Mansoor.

What led you to make the movie "Khuda Ke Liye"?

It has a lot of my personal experience, some psychological

and some solid. I love music. I started my music career in the 80s with our band Vital Science. The lead singer of the band was one of my closest friends. We were together for 17 years. But suddenly he got misdirected and started thinking that music is un-Islamic. He didn’t stop at that. He started appearing in public and spoke against music. That’s when I chose to make this movie because he had no right to mislead the young.

"Khuda Ke Liye" was also aimed at reviving the Pakistani film industry. Have you observed any changes in the industry that followed the film's release?

Though one of the aims of making "Khuda Ke Liye" (KKL) was to take a step in reviving the film industry of Pakistan, I was also sure that one movie cannot possibly accomplish such a task. This is exactly what has happened. Besides, succeeding in KKL has not been able to revive cinema in Pakistan, because KKL, or any film for that matter, could not possibly alone accomplish that.

Any award received or criticism faced after the release of the movie?

Either I have been lucky or the critics in 2008, while watching my movie, were trying to catch up on all the sleep they lost in 2007! Whatever be the reason, the result has been quite good. KKL, till now, has won several international awards…in Japan, Italy, Cairo, Oman, and Singapore, besides four awards at the domestic level. Again, luckily, all the criticism that came my way was before the release of the film when many religious clerics criticised it, without watching the film, based upon its press publicity. After the release, the response of cinema goers was so tremendous that the clerics decided to leave me alone!

Do you see Lollywood becoming better in the near future? Who in the Pakistani film industry do you think is making a difference and will leave a mark?

I am positive that we don’t lack in talent, therefore, the future is by all means bright. But, unfortunately, I can’t be optimistic about the near future since conditions here are not suitable right now for the newcomers. There are no Urdu films being made; no financiers are interested; those who can make a difference, and have both talent and money, are not brave enough to take a risk. As far as I am concerned, I have decided to stick to film making and will keep trying to contribute whatever is within my capability.

"Khuda Ke Liye" was an issue-based movie that educated the world. Which are the other cultural aspects of Islam (misunderstood or otherwise), apart from music, that you feel need to be addressed?

Islam, or any religion for that matter, does not promote anything based on injustice and inequality. It is unfortunate that the followers of all religions become followers of the radical clerics and thus hatred, injustice, and inequality takes roots in the society. It is true for Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews…everyone. In countries like Pakistan, the biggest problem is that our religious clerics are not ready to differentiate between religion and culture. This can only be solved with education…whenever that will come. In my opinion, the treatment of women by men is the biggest issue in the whole of South Asia that needs to be addressed.

India is a big market plagued with similar issues and problems. Do you plan to come to Bollywood and work with the actors over here? Who are the Bollywood actors/actresses whose work you admire? Any Bollywood movie that you like?

I would only want to do one or two movies in India because my aim is to improve the industry in my own country. Even the one or two movies that I would do in India will have the objective to improve conditions in Pakistan. I am positive that making a good film in India is going to help my efforts remarkably at the local level to revive cinema. Aamir Khan is one person I appreciate the most. He is trying to break the formula of commercial film making in India. I think it is commendable. SRK has his own place that cannot be denied. The position he holds, not only in India, but in many other countries, makes him a true King. Besides these two front runners who are 'hero' material, there are several other great actors. One that I cannot avoid mentioning is Naseeruddin Shah. He has inspired me immensely, not only by his acting talent, but also by his commitment towards the right cause. I really don’t have the words to pay a tribute to him. He is an artist in the true sense of the word…highly talented and extremely sensitive.

For Complete I I P M Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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Monday, January 19, 2009

On a note of faith - "The Sunday Indian Magazine Story"

“Not every heart is capable of finding the secret of God’s love. There are not pearls in every sea; there is not gold in every mine.”

The above couplet is said to have been a favourite of the The

renowned 12th century Sufi saint Baba Farid, the patron saint of Faridkot, the town now believed to be the home of Ajmal Amir Kasab, one of the terrorists who stormed Mumbai and was captured by the Indian police. As neighbours refuse to acknowledge him, and scores of bereaved families look to the government for justice, why not look for peace, and meaning in our lives, through the time-tested healing powers of Sufi music…

When Sufi artists sing, their art is a passionate offering to God, and with them, the listeners too rise above their troubles and their hearts begin to resonate with the music, healing in prayer and music… “Sufism is about faith in life… it’s about compassion, living in the moment, accepting life the way it comes. It heals because it has the power to take one into a trance, and closer to the higher self. That is why when listening to soulful rendition of Sufi poetry, without even realising people start crying. It is in Sufi poetry that one translates pain also very lovingly, for it is about loving God as one’s beloved, and loving one's beloved is loving life...” says Sufi singer, Rekha Bhardwaj.

Aiming to take the heart away from all else and turn it solely towards God, the Sufi musicians have often battled the school of thought that pronounces all music as haram (forbidden). Says Sufi singer Zila Khan, “The extremists might have distorted Sufism and said that it ought to be haraam because one gets too immersed in it and may forget to pray to God… that it’s an addiction, it could take you away from reality and your responsibilities. Anything that makes you forget God is banned and is wrong, so do it in moderation, then nothing is wrong. I look at everything with logic, even praying to the almighty 24x7 is forbidden in the Quran, so even music must be done taking care of our other responsibilities as humans.” “Sufism is beautiful, innocent and pure,” says Zila, and it is of little wonder that it has travelled through so many countries and its teachings have influenced people through the centuries. Even non-religious folk have felt the effect of Sufi music, as unknown to them, it has reached out to them, in concerts where Sufi poetry meets western rock/pop music (Remember Junoon crooning away Sayonee, or Baba Bulle Shah’s words echoing on the airwaves as Rabbi Shergill’s voice swept us away to another plane), or when Bollywood took a break from the usual latka-jhatka songs, and served us the soulful voice of Kailash Kher. AR Rehman has often brought in Sufi hues to his harmonies, and this technique is yet to fail him. Every time Pakistani Sufi artists have crossed the borders to bring to the Indian audiences magical evenings of music, we have all thronged to welcome them.

There are many ties between the two bickering brothers, India and Pakistan. One of them is Sufism. But while terrorists exploit the gullible state of affairs, it is for us to hold on to what is true and beautiful and to remember that at the end of it all, all that matters is for us to be true to the God within and without…

“Sufism is beautiful, innocent and pure,” says Zila, and it is of little wonder that it has travelled through so many countries and its teachings have influenced people through the centuries. Even non-religious folk have felt the effect of Sufi music, as unknown to them, it has reached out to them, in concerts where Sufi poetry meets western rock/pop music (Remember Junoon crooning away Sayonee, or Baba Bulle Shah’s words echoing on the airwaves as Rabbi Shergill’s voice swept us away to another plane), or when Bollywood took a break from the usual latka-jhatka songs, and served us the soulful voice of Kailash Kher. AR Rehman has often brought in Sufi hues to his harmonies, and this technique is yet to fail him. Every time Pakistani Sufi artists have crossed the borders to bring to the Indian audiences magical evenings of music, we have all thronged to welcome them.

There are many ties between the two bickering brothers, India and Pakistan. One of them is Sufism. But while terrorists exploit the gullible state of affairs, it is for us to hold on to what is true and beautiful and to remember that at the end of it all, all that matters is for us to be true to the God within and without…

For Complete I I P M Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
IIPM ranked No. 1 B-school in India- Zee Business Survey ...
IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
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IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
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Saturday, January 17, 2009

On the Offensive

Assam is a case study of illegal Bangladeshi migrants on the warpath, natural when the border with an overpopulated country isn’t sealed, says TSI''s Pranab Bora

Sixty-five-year-old Lakhiram Bodo describes every moment

of the past three months in the relief camp as ‘harrowing’. Despite belonging to the Bodo community – the earliest inhabitants of Assam, and the supposed ‘bhumiputras’, he and the entire Bodo population of Dalgaon Batabari were thrown out of their homes by Bangladeshi immigrants in a matter of minutes. Today, their existence at the relief camp has been brought down to this: a tin shed, four kgs of rice, 1.1 kg of dal, 250 ml mustard oil and some salt, “per person, per week”.

“Fifty years ago, there were hardly a hundred such families here; today there are thousands of families. When they attacked us after the first skirmishes in August this year, we couldn’t resist them; our village was burnt and they killed our people…” Bodo’s voice trails off.

Dalgaon Batabari – near Rowta in lower Assam – is one of many villages that has borne the wrath of the immigrant Bangladeshi, albeit with citizenship papers available everywhere, thanks to the corrupt babus and an apathetic administration that thrives on the Bangladeshi votebank. On August 14, the Bodos brought out a procession opposing the Assam Bandh called by the Muslim Students’ Union of Assam (MUSA) that was protesting against the “harassment of genuine Indian Muslims who were being thrown out of upper Assam districts such as Dibrugarh”, as 23-year-old Badrul Islam, MUSA president, says. The total immigrant Muslim population in lower Assam is about seven million. At the time of independence, the Muslim population in Assam stood at 1.9 million. Now, the average growth rate of Muslims in Assam stands at 18 per cent; that of Hindus at 14. Six of Assam’s 27 districts now have a Muslim majority population. While in 13 districts, the growth rate of Muslims is less than 30, in seven it is less than 40. In Karbi Anglong, it is as high as 73.6 with the population going from 10,000 to 18,000 in 10 years.

Statements from two state Governors – SK Sinha and Ajai Singh – along with the Gauhati High Court in recent times now buttress what organisations like All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), that led the six-year-long anti-foreigners’ agitation beginning 1979, have said all along: that the state has been inundated by Bangladeshis who endangered the very existence of local communities. It was the detection of hundreds of Bangladeshis in the voters’ rolls in 1979 at Mangaldoi that sparked AASU’s anti-foreigners agitation.

Yet, the modus operandi of political groups who speak for the illegal migrant remains the same. MUSA’s Islam accepts that census reports show dangerous population growths in these districts, where other indigenous communities showed normal growth. Yet, every time suspected illegal migrants moving to the upper Assam are handed over to the police, the MUSA protests against the “inhuman treatment meted out to them”. The August 14 bandh call was one such protest.

The October 30 serial bomb blasts in Assam – the state is now home to a number of Islamic militant groups – that killed 90 and injured hundreds was a culmination of events. The blasts were claimed by the militant group Islamic Security Force (Indian Mujahideen). While the Congress-led government continues to blame the blasts on militant groups like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), till date nothing has come out of its so-called investigation.

Sitting in his small “Office of the Muslim Marriage, Divorce, Registration and Kazi” at Dalgaon, Qazi Md Afzal Hussain, an Assamese Muslim says: “During my father’s time, this was a place of forests where tigers have killed people.” Now, Dalgaon is dominated by immigrants, where Muslims have wiped out tribal belts. As for empowering the Bangladeshi migrant woman – most of them illiterate and some bearing up to 20 children, Hussain says he hasn’t heard of the new nikahnamah released by the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board.

The results are evident. As opposed to the sparsely populated Bodo relief camp at Rowta; the displaced immigrants lodged at camps at Dalgaon lives in squalor, the camps overpacked with unthinkable living conditions. Bashid Ali, one of the inmates, claims their village was attacked by Bodo and Bengali Hindu people, an indication that the Hindu and Muslim Bangladeshis are now at loggerheads in what, all said and done, is a war for land. The rate at which the immigrant Muslim rampages through the districts of Assam is something that local communities have found impossible to resist. At the receiving end is not just the Bodos, Karbis, Assamese or Bengalis but also the original Assamese Muslim (known as goria), a community that has broken away from the so-called Muslim ‘minority’. “Expect a Bangladeshi as Chief Minister within the next 20 years in this state,” says Nekibur Zaman, Gauhati High Court lawyer, an Assamese Muslim and founder of an organisation ‘Khilonjia Muslim Unnayan Parishad.’ “They may call themselves minorities but there are 20 Bangladeshi MLAs even now in the state Assembly.”

For the “mainstream” politician, all of it is to be shrouded in skewed, convenient statistics. Maulana Fazlul Karim Qasimi, a goria Muslim and the convenor of the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF), agrees that there is a conspiracy: “For many political parties, keeping the immigrant population an uneducated, proliferating Bangladeshi lot helps their interests, as children born today will vote after 18 years.” Its victims are both the immigrants and local communities. The toll in the August-October clashes stood at over 50. Add to that the 855 students killed during the Assam agitation, followed by the thousands who have been killed during the insurgency that was an offshoot of the agitation. And as people here point out – this is what is happening to India in its northeast, thanks to the our calloys and self-thanking politicians.

For Complete I I P M Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Most deadly Japanese warriors

The Accord has taken over the market, and is the number one seller with sales touching the 1,900 unit mark (A5 segment size: 3200 units).

“With a market share of 24%, Honda has been at the top of the premium segment. We will continue to provide the latest technology to the customer on a regular basis,” says an optimistic Masahiro Takedagawa, President, Honda Siel. Even Gaur adds, “Honda is an established brand in India and enjoys a brand equity few can match. The company caters well to the customer with the best of products.”

In the mainstay A3 segment, Honda has however lost its sheen after the advent of the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and the Swift Dzire. The company’s City has been subjugated to the number four spot and apparently a newer version is on the cards. India by far is a very important market for Honda outside the developed world but now the company is no longer in an ‘You can’t touch me! Ha! Ha!’ position. The competition is firing all cylinders and the ASIMO robot may not really be the mean-bad guy, but Honda urgently needs to re-direct all its resources from the robo-labs to the car-labs... Or else, only the mean guys (ASIMOS?!!!) would need the Honda!

Shinji aoyama, president, hmsi

B&E: On HMSI’s future plans.

SA: Our production is about 1.2 million. Now we will take a few years to expand our production to 3 million units. Currently we sell about 80,000 units every month; we would like to increase this figure considerably. But we have no plans for a new plant.

B&E: On HMSI’s consumer base.
SA: Our customers are young and those who want style from the product.

B&E: Will HMSI be affected by the current market downturn?
SA: I think the overall industry has been affected by the slow down. However, HMSI will not be affected by this situation in a major way.

B&E: On HMSI’s hybrid plans.
SA: No hybrid plans for now. However we are looking at the 800cc + segment where we intend to launch products. These will be CBUs therefore expect a price range of above Rs.10 lacs.

B&E: On the new CBF 125.
SA: The new bike will target style conscious young customers and there will be a lot of demand from there. We expect to sell 80,000 units of the bike in this financial year alone.

B&E: On the scooter segment.
SA: We can expand in the scooter segment. If we offer more efficient products and offer more value, the scooter promises great growth for us...

For Complete I I P M Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Is there a war on in Georgia?!!?

Georgia has been used by Russia as a platform to send the West and its allies a warning signal; a clear one
Georgia lost an imprudent stake in thumbing its nose at her

authoritative neighbour, Russia, which bombed the Georgian cities and snatched control of her seceded province of South Ossetia. While Russia stopped its assault after a week of adventure, it did not do so before stretching her attacks on ‘mainland’ Georgia. Tanks, heavy artillery and infantry were already on the outskirts of the Gori in central Georgia when ceasefire orders were finally read out. This was the first ever attack on a Georgian city in ‘Georgia Proper’. The attack is said to have intensified after Georgia announced a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from South Ossetia, which many believe were actually chased out by the Russian forces.

The present military manoeuvre – which includes aerial bombing of capital Tbilisi – indicates that Russia’s plan in the clash had gone beyond securing South Ossetia and Abkhazia that are supposed to be pro-Russian, to delivering the death blow to the Georgian military apparatus. Georgia, part of former USSR is a vocal ally of the West – a fact that has not gone down too well with the Kremlin. Western diplomats are worried that Russia has used relatively low-level conflict in the Caucasus region to expand its sphere of influence and to send a warning signal to the West at the same time. It has also opened second front at Abkhazia—another breakaway province of Georgia. While the US has criticised what she calls Russia’s “Disproportionate Response”, Russia has asked the US to mind her business. Talking to B&E, noted Russian military expert Yitzhak Brudny said,“Russia could not have possibly let go of this golden opportunity to teach Georgia and its neighbours a lesson. The message is clear, ‘Behave properly or perish’.”

The West too has to share the blame. They never tried enough to make President Mikheil Saakashvili see reason. Saakashvili on his part completely misjudged the situation. President Bush on his part has declared Georgia as a citadel of democracy in otherwise jittery Caucuses, all the while ignoring its crackdown on protestors following a keenly fight election. The US went on to help reinforce its armed forces and urged NATO to take Georgia in its fold. A headstrong that Saakashvili is, his adventurism was fuelled by all the pep talk by the US and NATO. So, he concluded that he could incite Russia with impunity. The Russians concluded that it was time to teach him a lesson. Andrew Wilson, a celebrated Caucuses expert at European Council on Foreign Relations told B&E, “Saakashvili may have thought the Olympics would give him cover. But this only made him look duplicitous. The Georgian may therefore already be losing the all-important propaganda war.” With Georgia, Moscow has sent a clear warning to the expanding West: Thus far, and no farther. West has few options but to succumb.

For Complete I I P M Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative