India's flawed Foreign Policies

Right since independence, India's foreign policies have been based on whims and fancies of few individuals. After Independence, it was Nehru who was ruling the roost. I strongly condemn his non - aligned movement. Had we aligned with US then, we would have reaped economic benefits. Technological advancement would have been much faster. India could have sought US help in Infrastructure development. Had the infrastructure development that begun in the late nineties started in early fifties with US support, things would have been different. The entire economic scenario would have changed.

Now again, we are treading the wrong path on the Srilankan Issue. Indira Gandhi, though criticized by and large for her arrogance, did a commendable job on the Srilankan Issue. It was she who propelled the separate Tamil Ealam cause by training the Tamil fighters. She was strategic and wanted to rule the Indian Ocean trade by keeping the Trincomalle Harbour in Lanka under her control. Trincomalle is a very strategic harbour with respect to both trade and defence. Soon after her demise, India's foreign policy fell into wrong hands of JN Dixit and MK Narayan. These people from the very beginning fumbled on the Lankan issue. It was they who wrongly guided Rajiv Gandhi into the IPKF accord which proved very costly for both Rajiv and India. Again now, when India needs to be strategic on the Lankan issue, India is again goofing up!!

The Chinese and the Pakistanis are supporting the Lankan army to the hilt. India too is supporting the Lankans. If LTTE is vanquished, it's India which is going to suffer the most!! How?

1.Pakistan will start perpetrating Islamic Terrorism from South. Already, we are facing the problem of infiltrations in our eastern (Bangladesh) and western frontier. We will be facing similar problem down south.

2.In all probability, China will set up a naval base in Srilanka and pose threat to India.

Why is MK Narayan not understanding this?

Well, his love for Sinhalese and hatred for Tamilians is well known!!

Tips to Retail Investors

Retail Investors!! My sincere appeal - Do not Panic!! Panic Selling will be of no use. It is time for you to sit back, track the stocks closely, observe the movements carefully and make money out of your observations. And if u have cash now, you are the king!! Indian markets are fundamentally attractive and alluring. It might take another six months for the markets to start moving up again.

2010 would be a very good year for Indian Markets. The macroeconomic environment is likely to change. India's oil bill is bound to go down as domestic oil production from KG basin would change the entire scenario. This Oil would reduce India's oil bill by a whopping 50%. This means less trade deficit and reduction in exchange rate volatility. The results of world wide bailouts would be felt in another few months.

BSE SENSEX would be range bound (9000 - 12000) for another six months. It's high time retail investors keep their cool, exploit this range and make cool money.

Few Tips:

1.Invest in blue chips for the time being

2.Follow a systematic and phased investment strategy egs: Invest 20% at current levels. Invest another 20% at slightly lower levels of 9500. Invest another 40 % when market stabilizes around 12500.

3.Always try to maintain a cash position of at least 10% to pick up value stocks then and there

Follow this strategy and you will get wonderful returns over the next 12- 18 months.

The Story of a Boy

The tone of the blog might sound that of a narcissist but not in reality. It is actually my story, a story on how i grew up? Where am i now? Will my dreams get fulfilled? I have been a bright boy through out my life. I was almost a child prodigy. When I was 4, I was fondly called 'Spelling Master'. I could spell many English words correctly. I mugged the Southern Railway guide when I was 5. You name the city in India and I would tell the name of the train, the timings and the route the train would take and the name of the intermediate stations too!! When I was 7, i developed fascination for maps. Name any country in the world, I would spot it on the map. I knew the capitals of almost 140 countries then.
I was eight. I began reading the newspaper. I developed interest in Cricket and Politics. I was able to recollect the names of even Ranji Players and the teams they represented. Began my journey as a political observer and an analyst when I was 10. My quizzing career started when I was 9. It reached its pinnacle of Glory when I narrowly missed out making to the All Asia Bournvita Quiz Contest Finals at the age of 13. I have won many quizzes at the state and the national level. However, my quizzing career lasted for just 8 years and I put an abrupt end to it at the age of 17.
Then, I ventured into the world of equities. What began as a pencil trading later became my full time hobby!!! I want to be known as India's own Warren Buffet!!Interest in equities later developed into a fascination for business, commerce and finance. I made it to India's leading B School, IIM B after my graduation. Now I am there at IIM B. I do have a flair for entrepreneurship. I see in each and every thing an opportunity for business.I do want to become a social entrepreneur. I read and read a lot. I should be able to engage people in conversation on any topic under the sun!! Strange!! I too dream of becoming a politician and reforming the nation!! But I do have a dream of a getting a job in Goldman Sachs or McKinsey. But people say that might remain a dream for ever. Suddenly, I experience a love for socialism! Really strange!!! Been an ardent Capitalist and a socialism basher so far!!! Where am I now? Where am I heading?
Will I ever make it to Goldman? Will I create another Berkshire Hathaway? Will I become the messiah of the poor?

Only time can tell!!!

WON VOTE BUT LOST TRUST

Pathetic!! The PM has no moral right to continue in office. He is already described by many as a weak, dummy, puppet Prime Minister. It is high time that he steps down owning moral responsibility for the incident that happened in Lok Sabha yesterday that put the entire country to shame and disgrace. He is regarded as a gentleman by the so called watch dogs of democracy, the Media. If he is a 'Gentleman', he needs to prove that by stepping down. Whenever anyone points out that he is a weak PM, he takes a dig at them and blasts them and proclaims that he is not a dummy. He might be a good economist but has proved that he is also a bad politician. Will he bring the criminals behind the bribery episode to hook? Never. he will make them go scot free.
He said that the left tried to make him a bonded slave. Was he not a bonded slave to the left and Sonia for the last 54 months? His cabinet was dotted with criminals and criminals were bailed out from prisons to save his government. A crime was also committed (bribery) to save his government. No gentleman would tolerate such ghastly acts. So, PM - Kindly tender your resignation and sit back in your home and start writing a book on inflation!!! History will never pardon you for these acts!!

THE MIDDLE CLASS - ARISE AND AWAKE

Voter turnout in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, New Delhi is hitting new lows. Hardly 40 % of those residing in cities cast their votes. Delving further, the polling percentage in lower class areas is found to be very high whereas in many middle class locality it is even less than twenty percentage. A typical middle class person cribs about the fact the sorry state of affairs and the indifferent attitude of the politicians. Be it a pothole on the road, overcrowding in suburban trains, infrequent bus services and water less taps, he cribs and blame the politicians.

Even after 50 years of independence, bijli, sadak and pani are the main election issues. Ideally, social security, universal health schemes and external policy should have been the planks on which elections should have been fought but free colour TV'S, free cycle are the planks.

On election eve, 500 rupee notes, wine bottles, free sarees are doled out to the poor to woo them. They also express their gratitude by turning out in large numbers and casting vote to their bribers. What is the middle class doing? Sitting in home and watching mega serials and game shows!!!! Truly a sad state!!! I am not asking the middle class people to chop the trees, block road traffic or throw eggs and acids!! All i want you guys to do is just cast your vote!!

This could make a huge difference. Remember there are some 85 urban constituencies where the middle class is the deciding factor. If you guys turn out in large numbers, you can rewrite the annals of history!! There is no point crying over the spilt milk. I am sure you guys will not be taken for a ride!!

Mandate 2009

It's again festival time for Indian Democracy. With just 10 months to go for the elections, the countdown has begun. Who will be the next Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy? Will the eternal no 2 Advani become the no 1? or Will Rahul Gandhi continue the Nehru family tradition of leading the country? or A surprise in store for us - an unexpected hitherto lesser known candidate ( Remember IK Gujral and HD Dewe Gowda) walk through the corridors of power in South Block?

With victories in Gujarat, Karnataka and HP, BJP seems to be marching towards Redfort. Sky rocketing food and crude prices, a double digit inflationary figure and not so impressive track record of UPA make the BJP the front runner. But much depends on the outcome of the assembly elections to be held in Rajasthan, MP, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand. TINA factor might work in favour of BJP in MP and Chattisgarh. Rajasthan is an acid-test for the saffron party. Caste equations are bound to change as a result of Gujjar stir. A clear picture is yet to emerge on how these equations are expected to change? If BJP manages to retain power in these states, there is a very good chance that they might cross the 160 mark on their own in the Lok Sabha elections. NDA in that scenario might win 250-260 seats.

Mayawati is expected to win around 40 seats. Mulayam might win 20 odd seats. BJP needs the support of either of the parties to form a government. Or a third front government supported by either Congress or BJP is also a possibility. If BJP lose the states of Rajasthan and MP, then India is headed for a period of instability. Situation akin to 1996 would arise as a result of the fractured mandate. At this crucial juncture, instability would severely affect the Indian economy. We need to continue with the economic reforms. It would be in the interest of the country, if a government is formed sans left support, headed by either of the two big national parties. So. it's for the people to decide whether they need a pro- reform government or an anti-reform government.