Time to get real about virtual worlds

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Living in virtual worlds can be exciting and challenging. Anu Gulmohar assumes a spunky avatar and goes out to meet other avatars in virtual alleys, beaches and valleys to understand the ways of these worlds…

Living parallel lives in virtual worlds was initially all about fun and games. In real life, where one has to be an adult and mistakes are seldom tolerated, virtual worlds are like playgrounds where one can try new games – from exchanging vows with your virtual soulmate to adopting children – and not be afraid of real life consequences. But as the possibilities of living large have expanded, and people have gotten completely caught up with their second lives, the line between the real and virtual seems to be diminishing. In May, a 43-year-old Japanese woman was divorced by her online husband, and the lady took it so hard that she hacked into his account and deleted him from the story line. While she had no intentions of physically harming him in real life, her enraged ex called on the cops, and now Japanese Police have divulged that she could find herself behind bars for up to five years, or be fined upto $5,000, according to the time and money that her online spouse had spent on his avatar. The days of simply flirting in chat rooms are gone, and what people from around the world are getting addicted to, is living full-blown, real virtual lives.

Gul Sorbet is my online avatar on Second Life (SL). I have to confess, Gul is a tad slimmer than me, but I haven’t intentionally cheated on any other count! A lot of people are far more original in creating their avatars; for instance the very first person I got chatting to was Ambassador Atlas, who told me that he’s from Chicago, but in SL he poses to be from UK, and fools everyone with a perfect Brit accent! The next person I chatted up (let’s call him Mat) told me how SL is a place to be yourself, and that he has chosen to be himself with lesser inhibitions.

Second Life has its own currency – Linden dollars – which can be exchanged for real world currency (roughly 260 L make 1 US$), and people can find employment and run businesses in this world. One can be a journalist and cover events pertaining to the second world, or become a receptionist, or an office administrator. One of the easiest ways to make money on SL, Mat told me, is by becoming a dancer in a nightclub or by becoming an escort. He then teleported (if only one could escape traffic so in real life too!) me to a store which had plenty of free clothes, shoes, hair, eyes… Before leaving, Mat advised that if I’d like to try becoming an escort then I should pick up – hold your breath – "a vagina" for my avatar! “It is always easier to drop inhibitions in a ‘pretend’ world – this is precisely one of its key functions. So people use spaces such as Second Life to be able to achieve what they cannot outside virtual worlds. This experience can feed into the real world and help individuals to change (for the better or for the worse),” says Sandra Jovchelovitch, Head of the Institute of Social Psychology, London School of Economics.


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


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Porter Tsenge and his friends are the soldiers' truest friends

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Smiling Buddhas

At a crevice, we stopped and were being lined up for the crossing. But Tsenge and his friends had already crossed it and were sitting under a lazy sun, amusedly watching us, smiled benignly, chatting between themselves. They cross small crevices like hares. Our team took nine hours to cover just eight kilometres on the first day. The trek had started after prayers at 8:30 am and we reached the first camp at five in the evening, with no strength left even to drink water or have food. But Tsenge was still brimming with his smile as he handed over Mukunda's belongings to him.

Tsenge belongs to Khardung village, just below the worlds highest motorable pass, Khardung La (18,380) ft. Most of the porters belong to Laddakh. The army doctors explained that being locals, they are any time stronger than anyone coming from the plains, no matter how well the plainspersons are trained. One senior doctor said: “When extreme conditions in Siachen do not allow a person to carry more than eight kilograms, the porters carry 20 kgs with ease because their body is naturally acclimatised."

Sonam was on his maiden trip to the glacier. The other porters said that while Sonam is just 18, Tsenge – who too had started his trips to glacier at 18 – is today those many years older than Sonam. When we asked Sonam if he was frightened, he appeared a bit disturbed. He said, “The glacier doesn’t hurt anyone. So why should I be scared?” Well, who’d say he is not a veteran, for when we reached a small but deep crevice, Sonam simply jumped across and started helping the others too. And all the while he and others sang Laddakhi or Nepali songs.

The porters earn Rs 300 per day if they work at the base camp and Rs 450 per day once they climb the glacier. “It is these porters because of whom death toll on the glacier has come down,” a senior official confided. From collecting ice to be melted to 'make' water for drinking or ablution, to carrying heavy loads, cooking and serving meals, the porters make life livable for the soldiers, which leaves them free to ward off the enemy.

Sonam is the eldest son in his family, and plans to educate his younger brother in a good school in Leh. Tsenge wishes his son to join the army and serve the nation. And Utup, one of the porters, says, “If Pakistan attacks us again, I will not hesitate to fight, and I'll fight for free. And then he smiles too, the youngest and the oldest Smiling Buddhas up at 15,000 feet!


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


Read these article :-
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

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Their maladies merit a carefully thought out, long term and 'foolproof' solution, carefully suggests Ratan Lal Bhagat

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The banks had already stopped giving dollar loans to them a month ago, which has forced them to buy dollars from the market at a higher rate.

On the outset, these players require cash inflow of around $1 billion a week to meet the requirements of oil and oil products of the country. India imports nearly 70 per cent of its oil requirements. With commercial banks abruptly deciding to withdraw any further financial support in the wake of the liquidity crunch, OMCs are in a tight spot. IOC, BPCL and HPCL have borrowed over Rs one trillion from both foreign and domestic banks in the current year till September. The banks had already stopped giving dollar loans to them a month ago, which has forced them to buy dollars from the market at a higher rate. And with this financial cushion gone, the OMCs are being further pushed down the barrel. Moreover, the perils of the oil companies' credit crunch only worsened manifold as the overnight borrowing (or "call") rates touted as the other funding route, climbed to 16 per cent in the first week of October. “This has resulted in global sentiments weighing down the monthly performance of the sector; the sector went down 5 per cent M-o-M, as compared to CNX 500, which dipped 12 per cent, states Mansingka.

All does not seem to be lost though. Firstly, the global drop in crude prices has surely raised hope of a possible cut in domestic retail selling prices of auto and cooking fuels, thus bringing a sense of relief for the common man. Secondly, the slide in the prices would also bring down the fiscal deficit as subsidies — estimated to be around Rs 2.6 trillion in July, are now placed lower at Rs 1.5 trillion; thus helping the sluggish economy. Finally, the under recoveries and realisations are expected to come down and the refining costs have also fallen due to the fall in global prices; an aspect to cherish for the oil producers and distributors.

One cannot however discount or overlook the dreadful trap that the OMCs have fallen into, thanks to this downturn. The Union Budget has no provision for the oil downstream companies to address either product prices or the excise duties of these companies; which will force these players continue to suffer under recoveries from petroleum related products. “A pro-active action by the government and the other related authorities is the need of the hour, to save these companies from phasing out completely,” emphasises Wadhwa, rightly echoing the voice of these oil churners. The Parliament has approved oil bonds worth Rs.659.42 billion as a bailout package to help reduce the financial burden, but this not more than a stop gap arrangement. The government has to be careful while cutting oil prices, considering the losses already faced by OMCs.

“The OMCs, on their part, could improve their profitability by cost cutting measures. But again, unless the key issue of subsidies is addressed; such cost cutting measures only come across as instances of delaying the inevitable.

The matter calls for a thorough analysis of the situation to come up with a permanent solution.

If the government suddenly has to un-'bond' itself, one wonders what can happen. Sans liquidity and sans the 'gas'; OMCs would surely capitwulate. And it takes no rocket science to gauge what that means for India.


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


Read these article :-
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

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For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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‘We are promoting a second line of leadership’

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Resentment in the BJP is more than in Congress. It will help the latter to form government in Madhya Pradesh, Suresh Pachauri, Madhya Pradesh Pradesh Congress president, tells TSI’s Pramod Kumar. He also adds that the Congress has never projected a chief minister in advance and only state legislators would decide.

For the first time, you are heading the state Congress. How optimistic you are about success?

It is true that I am heading the state organization for the first time. When a party is going for polls, it is the collective responsibility of every leader. As for as the success, I am sure that this time Congress is going to form a government on its own.

But if the party looses, the moral responsibility lies on the PCC president.

We are contesting this election to win.

What are the main issues in the elections?

The success of the Central government will be the main plank, for example the nuke deal along with fulfillment of the Common Minimum Programme, the Right to Information, National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) and achievements of the Central government.

There is a lot of resentment in distribution of tickets?

What ever recommendations were made by the state observers, the Central Election Committee had decided on well laid down norms. We have tried the best possible balance between rural and urban constituencies. The real hue and cry is in BJP not in Congress. There are more rebels candidates in BJP which will benefit us.

But there is resentment in Congress as well.

We have honoured those who sat in opposition and raised the concern of ordinary people of the state. Some of them have been denied tickets, so the anguish is natural. But I am confident that everybody will unite for a purpose to defeat communal forces in the state.

What about the tribals when a leader like Kantilal Bhuria has left the Congress?

If you see the list of candidates, ample reservation has been given to them according to the population and region. I don’t want to comment on Bhuriaji.

A lot of old faces have been denied tickets this time? Will they sabotage elections which is being fought by new candidates?

I don’t think that there will be any challenge to established leaders. Rahul Gandhi has already emphasized on promoting a second line of leadership so that new faces could be inducted. Senior leader Digvijay Singh has said that Kamal Nath is the best candidate for being the Chief Minister.

The Congress party has never projected a Chief Minister before the elections. There is convention is the Congress that the leader is always elected by legislators. The same convention will be repeated after the results are over.

Who will be the star campaigner?

The election committee will finalise the names. As far the choice is concerned, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will the main campaigners in the elections as every candidate is asking for their programme in their constituencies.

Apart from them, senior ministers and state leaders like Arjun Singh, Kamal Nath, Jyotiradiya Scindia and Digvijay Singh will campaign according to their schedule.

Do you think anti-incumbency will benefit the Congress?

Definitely, anti-incumbency is a factor. The BJP government has failed to perform. The communal face of BJP has came out in the open. In addition, Uma Bharti will dent BJP votes.

What about BSP factor?

Well, to be honest, the BSP has no role to play outside Uttar Pradesh.


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


Read these article :-
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

ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY


For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
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Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
» IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
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But after being two films old and winning over many a skeptic, Himesh Reshammiya aspires to become the best in the industry.

IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...

You have said that you are now only going to be a part of a movie when you get to sing and act in it. But don’t you think that by this you might be limiting your opportunities as a singer and a music director?

That is because I don’t want my producer to suffer if I am making music outside. As it is I would be doing about five films in 15 months, which is hectic and I don’t want to work more than that. Right now the market is such that the visibility should be less and the songs that I would be doing for myself would be more as a business model and made with keeping the money in mind.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and you have been imitated and spoofed a bit too often. What do you have to say to that?

I’m very happy because the biggest of the biggest legends have been imitated. Not that I am a legend, but I’m very happy because agar mera mazak udane se unke ghar mein roti aati hai to (if they get food in their house by making fun of me then) it’s a very good thing for me and they can continue to do so.

What is your take on reality shows? As a judge, what do you keep in mind before judging a performance?

I want to give them the right advice because if I’m the guru then I will help them to stick to one genre. If at all they have one X factor then they should highlight that and not be jack of all trades.


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


Read these article :-
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

ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY


For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
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 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
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...

Minority Institution - Quality, not funds plague amu

IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...

We get Rs 250 crore Central grant, and yet produce lesser IAS officers than Kerala Univ

Irfan Habib

Eminent Historian

The recent world alumni summit of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was remarkable as a show of love and warmth that ex-students have for their alma mater. Naturally, they possess a keen interest in the Anjuman of their institution. The university had sent invitations to all its living former students to see for themselves the current state of the university and interact with students and teachers.

As in any old boys’ meet, some of them could not come. Some people may grumble that it was unnecessary to raise funds from former students. People should understand that the expenses for this meet cannot be met by government funding alone. We have to create our own funds through donations, and this had to happen. As far as the issue of registration fee of Rs 3,000 is concerned, it was made mandatory, assuring us that only serious individuals would participate in the summit. This meet was not meant for all and sundry and we were specifically seeking donors. For instance, if the Congress government wants to build a factory, it will not seek money from farmers or labourers but from capitalists. Likewise, when the university requires funds, it will approach those who are able to donate. If they are unwilling to even pay registration fee, how can we expect donations from them? The money coming from government or the nation cannot be compared with financial assistance given by old boys. However, when we ask for donations from the alumni, we should also clarify how we are spending the government grants. The National Education Policy dictates particular regulations, and there are areas where government assistance is not forthcoming. So we need alumni funding in areas where money is scarce. We should remain extremely careful while spending government money and not be extravagant. Some universities in Kerala are spending Rs one lakh per student annually, which is a big amount in a country like India. Such spending should be made at the right directions. We should first learn to utilise the grant properly.

People talk of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s dreams, but I think, as I have emphasised before, they are irrelevant today. His dreams were for his age only. Many things like scholars offering their own interpretations of Quran are today irrelevant. Strangely, no one is willing to visualise this dream of Sir Syed. He was very impressed with the British government. Today’s modern education system should not be connected to his days. The real and relevant issue today has to be tested against only one benchmark: is this education system benefiting Muslims or backward sections of the people in India’s nation building process?


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


Read these article :-
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

ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY


For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
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The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
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Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
» 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
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
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domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs
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The winners of Rs 3,000 are...

IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...

Better use of penalties

Prasoon is perfectly right that fines should be used for greater purpose instead with the purpose of getting popularity. The focus should be on delivering larger public good. His idea of diverting the collected funds to a social cause such as blindness is a very innovative idea. The problems such as these which involve huge social costs and economic costs should be taken care of. That ways a larger unfortunate section of our country, which is deprived of funds and are marred by poverty and basic amenities will be benefitted. Human rights violation of persons with physical disabilities is rampant. The issues that should be taken care include poverty, malnutrition, inaccessible health and education facilities, total absence of rehabilitation programmes, discrimination, and social insensitivity.

Sonal Bhatt

Via Mail


For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).


Read these article :-
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

ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY


For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
1500-plus IIPM students placed across the country with 44 bagging international offers
IIPM set to beat economic slowdown
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
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 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
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...