Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Nobelist Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
A joint winner of this year's Chemistry Nobel prize , Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Venky to his friends and colleagues) has worked on the importance of ribosomes. Apart from this, his journey from theoretical physics to chemistry via biology proves the seamless nature of theoretical sciences. He studied B.Sc. (Physics) in Baroda university in India before doing research in Ohio University.
Dollar in doldrums
There is a news report in The Independent that the Gulf countries, Russia, China, France, Japan and Brazil (there is a reference to India also) have recently decided to start quoting for oil in non-US Dollar currencies. The oil price will be linked to a basket of currencies including Yen, Yuan, euro, a new unified currency planned for nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar and gold.
The authenticity of the report is not yet established. If true, it is a momentous event heralding a revolutionary change. If apocryphal which is more likely, it means that China and perhaps Japan are floating a balloon to test the waters. These two countries will feel the maximum impact of any change in the status of US Dollar. If the dollar is dethroned as the oil currency, it is likely to suffer a precipitous fall in value vis-a-vis other major currencies. Correspondingly, the values of forex holdings of China and Japan will fall by the wayside.
Dollar's status is linked to the puissance of the US as a global power. American GDP is around 14 trillion dollars and China's only 4 trillion. Those who are bearish on dollar argue that China is growing by 10% p.a. as against America's 2% growth and therefore China will catch up with America in economic size. This argument overlooks the imponderables afflicting China including its totalitarian political system and lack of credibility of its statistics and product quality in general. We may not be at an economic crossroads as yet.
The authenticity of the report is not yet established. If true, it is a momentous event heralding a revolutionary change. If apocryphal which is more likely, it means that China and perhaps Japan are floating a balloon to test the waters. These two countries will feel the maximum impact of any change in the status of US Dollar. If the dollar is dethroned as the oil currency, it is likely to suffer a precipitous fall in value vis-a-vis other major currencies. Correspondingly, the values of forex holdings of China and Japan will fall by the wayside.
Dollar's status is linked to the puissance of the US as a global power. American GDP is around 14 trillion dollars and China's only 4 trillion. Those who are bearish on dollar argue that China is growing by 10% p.a. as against America's 2% growth and therefore China will catch up with America in economic size. This argument overlooks the imponderables afflicting China including its totalitarian political system and lack of credibility of its statistics and product quality in general. We may not be at an economic crossroads as yet.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Air India's novel in-flight entertainment
100-odd passengers of IC 884 , Air India's Sharjah - Lucknow -Delhi flight were treated to a special entertainment yesterday when the flight was in Pakistan air space. Pilots and steward(ess) exchanged blows in front of all passengers. Passengers were unnecessarily startled sivce they did not realise that it was a new marketing ploy of Air India. Unexpected entertainment is more entertaining than scheduled ones.
Reasons for the slugfest ('scuffle' according to Air India) are too crass to be mentioned here. When this unprecedented entertainment was on, the cockpit remained unmanned ! Aviation experts say that the air travel was least risky during the time the cockpit was not manned.
The pilot had threatened to land in Pakistan. This threat brought the entertainment to an abrupt end. Had the aircraft landed in Pakistan, the co-pilot would have been subjected to Sharia jurisprudence and would have been castrated straightaway.
P.S.: The fare for IC 884 is being doubled forthwith.
Reasons for the slugfest ('scuffle' according to Air India) are too crass to be mentioned here. When this unprecedented entertainment was on, the cockpit remained unmanned ! Aviation experts say that the air travel was least risky during the time the cockpit was not manned.
The pilot had threatened to land in Pakistan. This threat brought the entertainment to an abrupt end. Had the aircraft landed in Pakistan, the co-pilot would have been subjected to Sharia jurisprudence and would have been castrated straightaway.
P.S.: The fare for IC 884 is being doubled forthwith.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Dealing with governance issues
That we have an unhealthy way of dealing with issues of governance is made obvious almost every day.
1) A single judge of the Delhi High Court had earlier held that information on assets declared by Supreme Court judges in the possession of the Chief Justice of India comes within the ambit of the Right to Information Act. This decision was universally applauded. Now the Supreme Court Information Officer will file an appeal before a Division Bench of the High Court against this prudent decision.
2) Central Bureau of Investigation has filed an application in a trial court seeking permission to withdraw prosecution against the Italian businessman , Quattrocchi. CBI has once again come under political compulsion.
3) The unedifying corruption allegations against Justice Dinakaran are allowed to fester by Supreme Court's delay in taking a decision. In the meantime, the Forum for Judicial Accountability has sent its third petition to the CJI giving details of the alleged purchase of property by the judge in different parts of Tamil Nadu.
1) A single judge of the Delhi High Court had earlier held that information on assets declared by Supreme Court judges in the possession of the Chief Justice of India comes within the ambit of the Right to Information Act. This decision was universally applauded. Now the Supreme Court Information Officer will file an appeal before a Division Bench of the High Court against this prudent decision.
2) Central Bureau of Investigation has filed an application in a trial court seeking permission to withdraw prosecution against the Italian businessman , Quattrocchi. CBI has once again come under political compulsion.
3) The unedifying corruption allegations against Justice Dinakaran are allowed to fester by Supreme Court's delay in taking a decision. In the meantime, the Forum for Judicial Accountability has sent its third petition to the CJI giving details of the alleged purchase of property by the judge in different parts of Tamil Nadu.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Strikes galore
And now it is the turn of Air India pilots to go on strike. Any strike causes some dislocation in daily life atleast to some sections of society. Therefore, our tendency to blame the people going on strike is natural, though sometimes misplaced. There is a common link among the recent three strikes namely of the pilots of Jet Airways, IIT teahing staff and Air India pilots.
The reason why these strikes materialised is the inept handling by the managements and HRD Ministry. In Jet Airways, some pilots were unceremoniously and summarily sacked without conducting any enquiry and apparently for unlawful reasons. The HRD Ministry failed to respond to repeated requests of the teaching staff for discussions. Mr.Kapil Sibal's public pronouncements of his readiness to discuss coupled with his (deliberate ?) failure to get in touch with the faculty only added insult to injury. It was totally ham-handed. The management of Air India unilaterally effected reductions in allowances payable to pilots. There was no discussion with the pilots before imposing salary cuts.
In all these three instances, principles of natural justice were given the go-by. If only these situations had been handled with tact and reasonableness by the managements and the HRD Ministry, strikes would have become unnecessary. Arrogance is a human failing; it cannot be a business strategy.
The reason why these strikes materialised is the inept handling by the managements and HRD Ministry. In Jet Airways, some pilots were unceremoniously and summarily sacked without conducting any enquiry and apparently for unlawful reasons. The HRD Ministry failed to respond to repeated requests of the teaching staff for discussions. Mr.Kapil Sibal's public pronouncements of his readiness to discuss coupled with his (deliberate ?) failure to get in touch with the faculty only added insult to injury. It was totally ham-handed. The management of Air India unilaterally effected reductions in allowances payable to pilots. There was no discussion with the pilots before imposing salary cuts.
In all these three instances, principles of natural justice were given the go-by. If only these situations had been handled with tact and reasonableness by the managements and the HRD Ministry, strikes would have become unnecessary. Arrogance is a human failing; it cannot be a business strategy.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Justice P.D.Dinakaran : The communal card
The Supreme Court Collegium is still in the process of taking a decision on the allegations levelled against the the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. Time is a benevolent healer that solves some problems. But in a case where allegations of corruption are made, delay in decision-making leads to a murkier milieu. This is exactly what is happening in the present case.
Initially, Shanti Bhushan made the preposterous claim that the Chief Justice of India was supporting Justice Dinakaran because the latter also was a Dalit. It is surprising that no action has been taken against this inflammatory remark. Now comes an equally absurd canard from Mr.Buta Singh, the Chairman of The National Commission for Scheduled Castes who alleges that the campaign against Justice Dinakaran is motivated because he is a Dalit.
Playing the communal card is a dangerous game. It obfuscates the issue and poisons the atmosphere. Meaningful debate becomes the casualty. Justice gets sidelined.
Initially, Shanti Bhushan made the preposterous claim that the Chief Justice of India was supporting Justice Dinakaran because the latter also was a Dalit. It is surprising that no action has been taken against this inflammatory remark. Now comes an equally absurd canard from Mr.Buta Singh, the Chairman of The National Commission for Scheduled Castes who alleges that the campaign against Justice Dinakaran is motivated because he is a Dalit.
Playing the communal card is a dangerous game. It obfuscates the issue and poisons the atmosphere. Meaningful debate becomes the casualty. Justice gets sidelined.
Minister's rantings
It is unfortunate that Mr.Kapil Sibal continues his outbursts against the IIT faculty. He says that autonomy is only a smokescreen and that they are agitating only for more money. He continues that their agitation is not consistent with the dignity expected of them.
IITs already have a notoriety (perhaps undeserved) of being 'elitist'. Though many would dismiss this criticism as sour-grapism, the fact is that this view does exist. The minister's strident denunciations will only aggravate anti-IIT feelings. Ministers like Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor who are blessed with gift of the gab will do the nation a great favour if they control their utterances and tweets.
One is reminded of a popular couplet from Thirukkural which says, " Even if one does not control any other faculty, one should keep one's tongue in check. Else, one will come to grief through this lapse". It is high time that the minister initiates discussions with the faculty instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate further. Such loquacious ministers need to develop 'soft skills'.
IITs already have a notoriety (perhaps undeserved) of being 'elitist'. Though many would dismiss this criticism as sour-grapism, the fact is that this view does exist. The minister's strident denunciations will only aggravate anti-IIT feelings. Ministers like Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor who are blessed with gift of the gab will do the nation a great favour if they control their utterances and tweets.
One is reminded of a popular couplet from Thirukkural which says, " Even if one does not control any other faculty, one should keep one's tongue in check. Else, one will come to grief through this lapse". It is high time that the minister initiates discussions with the faculty instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate further. Such loquacious ministers need to develop 'soft skills'.
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