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The Shifting Sands of Indian Democracy

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A Closely Fought Election, a Tribute to every Indian who Voted, a Vote for Indian Democracy, a Mature Mandate We close this article on the evening of 4 June, just in time for the deadline of this month’s issue. A new government is yet to be announced. But we do have some initial learning curves in our country’s march of democracy. This election will definitely add a few feathers to our cap as the world’s largest democracy, conducting our polls to the envy of many a nation. Here are some random pointers. End Result: A Vote for Modi! Let There be No Doubt There is no getting away from the fact that Narendra Modi is very much the single-most charismatic Indian leader. It was his fight, his mandate, his energy that resonated over the length and breadth of the country. He has been chastened but not beaten. It is during the last decade, under his leadership, that has brought about a new recognition of India as a potential power in the global play. Yes, we have not arrived there yet, but we w
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IPL season ends: More Fun, More Games

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IPL 2024 scored over its previous edition, just as every season it tends to outdo the last. There no losers in this game, only winners. 2024 was no exception. So, IPL 2024 came to its successful end. Yet another cricket festival, a bonanza for every player making a killing of a lifetime in terms of individual earnings. A rare feat where an Indian sport delivers so much money, steadily increasing over the years and making sure that there are no losers. Most of all, it is the viewer, the attendance at all the stadiums, each one getting their money’s worth, each one enjoying to the hilt, yet another good 60 days carnival. I have always pointed out that behind all the festive spirit, behind all the cheerleaders, there is that seriousness of intent with players competing against each other, vying for the international team, keeping up their commitment, for whatever works best for them, to each his own. It is a serious business at the beginning and at the end of the day. IPL 24? What was dif
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The Future of Air Vistara as a Brand?

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Indian Aviation has been a Grave Yard for Numerous Brands, Big and Small, Will one More Make any difference? Indian aviation industry is well known for being a grave yard for the best of brands. Most notably, take the example of Indian Airlines, a name as good as any other, but it was shut down one fine day, in the name of a merger, which too did not work well, done with the best of intentions, notwithstanding. The fact is, that a brand well known, as the first Indian airline domestically, was given a go by, overnight. For no fault of its own. At one time, it was the only airline in the domestic skies. It had a legacy. It did get a dubious edge once we had the might of private airlines to compete with; it did find its feet slowly. Not for want of its staff or systems, but for government apathy. In those early days of privatisation, quite a few names had emerged. Short-lived but some had their day out in the sun – Damania was one. Others like Archana Airways and East-West are not in thi
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Credibility is the First Casualty, and an Expensive One!

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The average reader, say the average Indian, is either most gullible or at a loss to understand what’s really going on! So many sides to every story, you are left only asking for more. Read between your favourite newspapers and see the difference. Hear your channels and note the different twists to the same story, or at best selective reporting on only what they consider is most important. I often switch on DD news for pure unfiltered reports on happenings of the day. In all the shifting sands of politics, casualty number one is the truth, and we never get to the bottom of it. Truth is a Truth, and Truth never Lies. And often when you bundle half a dozen lies together, you can hope the truth is somewhere in between. Sample some of the stories current in the last fortnight. Why Elon Musk decided to stay away? The more we think, the more uncertain it gets. For instance, why did Elon Musk cancel his much-hyped visit? It would have been some boost for the present government had he come, ann
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IPL 2024: New Trends, Faces, Aspirants for the World Cup

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Whom am I backing this IPL season? Am I a fan, of whom and why? I live in Delhi but is Delhi Capitals my team? Is the loyalty factor decided by the city we live in. Or, have we transcended city barriers to say we belong to all, any or none? Who are my favourites? With this season well past the half way mark, I am still wondering, pondering over these questions. In fact, the intensity of the questioning grows with each match, as answers become even more difficult. In a moment of quiet reasoning, they become clearer, transparent motives to an open agenda, arguably motivated by my desire to watch the best quality of cricket, as best as can be displayed in the IPL format! So, what am I looking at? Who inspires me and whom am I backing? Youth, passion and talent! The old order is giving way to new; support those who show grace in moving on. Be supportive of those who are embracing change. Admire and appreciate contemporary folklore. Where these young men have come from, with what aspiration
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Understanding PM Modi and India’s Tryst with Tourism

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Infrastructure First. Ensure ease in Travel. Tourism will Follow! A Holistic Approach and Understanding have Brought New Growth Opportunities for Indian Tourism, opening new destinations with new found access. As this government ends its second five-year stint in power, much can be said of its push for tourism. Not perhaps as how the industry would like to see it; it embraces the larger picture of which the contours are beginning to emerge. From the very start, PM Modi identified tourism as one of the 5-Ts of his government, well before 2014. Indeed, whether one agrees or not, to each his own. Modi has been consistent with his belief that infrastructure first, ensure ease in travel, and tourism will follow. So, this story in now unfolding. In the last several years, the push has been towards creating infrastructure that provides comfort and speed, both, with safety and surety in travel. There is some that people may not agree with. Like the Bullet Train project, for instance. However,
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The Shifting Sands in Run Up to ‘D’ Day

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The Countdown has Begun, and the Dice is Rolling. In the shifting sands, as the dust brings its haze, clarity of outcome remains fudgy, at best. The Dice is Rolling! What number will it settle upon? Is it really going to be 370? It could be more, or less! Only the Heavens know, or in a more practical sense, only the average voter knows. Which is not you and me! We, sitting in our urban cocoons, are not the average voter, that we all know. Any poll, any survey is not likely to tell us the end result. Just look back at 2019. It seemed to be going close but in the slog overs, all the remaining results came in favour of the ruling BJP, and the PM returned from Kedarnath from his prayers, more than answered. This time, with 2024 elections towering upon us, in the last few weeks, if all was understood to be known, some new factors have emerged and what impact will these have, is difficult to tell. The arrest of Kejriwal and freezing of Congress accounts First is the arrest of Kejriwal! Is he
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Time To Reconstruct! It is Happy Days for Indian Hospitality! Time to Position Afresh, in Keeping with its True Relevance and Outreach!

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These are excellent times for the hospitality industry. On a personal note, I can share modestly that I have witnessed the hospitality industry from up close from the mid-seventies to now, which is a good span of 50 years, right from the top, meaning even then and now. I have been an editor of a hotel magazine and I’ve had the privilege of knowing and interacting and engaging with the hospitality czars of that time, as even now. So, with that vantage point, I can share or say that hospitality has seldom seen such a good environment to grow. There is no looking behind. I see only an upside, no downside unless we plan our own demise. The market has boomed beyond recognition, the number of hospitality majors then were a handful, now almost a hundred of them. Brands were unknown except just a few, today each brand has its own 20 and more! Hotels are no more ‘oases’ in a land of poverty; today, they are mainstream as part of the social and economic fabric of the economy. The pipeline, howso
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