Terror most foul
Terrorism exacts a heavy social and economic toll and India has paid dearly for it (BT cover, December 28). The Mumbai terror attacks have inflicted deep psychological wounds that will prove hard to heal.
Terrorism exacts a heavy social and economic toll and India has paid dearly for it (BT cover, December 28). The Mumbai terror attacks have inflicted deep psychological wounds that will prove hard to heal. The carnage was another attempt by cross-border terrorists to drive a wedge in our society. While the government should leave no stone unturned to stamp out this horror, we need to act with exemplary resolve, fortitude and resilence to defeat the terrorsits’ designs and their game plan.
—Mahendra Jakhar, through e-mail
Tackling Terror
The cover story (Cost of terror, BT, December 28) addresses issues of concern to industrialists and common citizens alike. While foreign investments are unlikely to be affected because of isolated incidents of terror, India has a lot to learn in its fight against terrorism. Why can’t India adopt Israel’s methods of fighting terrorism? We need to look at the economic policy measures that the US took within days of the 9/11 attacks and fashion our response. India should take proactive measures to ensure its growth story is not adversely affected.
—Pradeep Bansal, through e-mail
Act Responsibly
I am an avid reader of Business Today for the past several years. I admire the quality of your articles and the depth of research that goes into them. But I was dismayed by the cover of your December 14 issue, which shows Vijay Mallya enjoying a smoke. At a time when both the government and the judiciary are making efforts to spread awareness about the ill-effects of smoking, wasn’t it inappropriate on your part to publish such a photograph? You should be more responsible and show greater sensitivity towards public sensibilities and tastes.
—Biplab Chakraborty, through e-mail
Not a Good Time for Mallya
Your cover story Fighting the bad times (BT, December 14), holds out an object lesson for ambitious businessmen diversifying into non-core businesses and ventures. By entering the aviation business and launching Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya seems to have bitten more than he can comfortably chew. At a time when the airline industry is in the doldrums, Mallya faces the double whammy of plumetting sales and revenue losses. He will need to pull off a miracle to turn the tide in his favour.
—Janaki Raman, through e-mail
The MFI-way to Go
Messiah or merchant? (BT, December 14) presented an engaging account of how SKS Founder & Chairman Vikram Akula has been helping the poor get out of the clutches of usurious moneylenders. Akula’s approach is both commendable and worth emulating. However, despite MFIs’ potential as a change agent for bringing in economic growth and prosperity in rural areas, they haven’t really picked up steam and still have a long way to go. But instead of picking holes in the way MFIs work and function, we need to look at and constructively address the operational barriers hindering their progress. While Akula’s suggestion of helping the very poor with philanthropic capital is welcome, MFIs must also institutionalise mechanisms to proactively cater to their loan requirements. Business models of MFIs are promising enough and they hold out immense scope for changing the lives of the poorer sections of society.
—B. Rajasekaran, through e-mail
Nothing Like Dharmacracy
The message of Route to dharmacracy, (BT, December 14) hits the nail on the head. McMansions, fancy cars, and other items of luxury cannot bring us happiness if we remain spiritually bankrupt. Management guru C.K. Prahalad has rightly pointed out that current notions about the very purpose of business is in need of some fine-tuning. Businessmen and industrialists will have happier lives if they practise “Dharmacracy”, which you describe as the public-spirited and ethical conduct of business. Reworking our business philosophy to meld with traditional wisdom is a consummation devoutly to be wished.
—M. Hanumantha Rao, through e-mail
—Mahendra Jakhar, through e-mail
Tackling Terror
The cover story (Cost of terror, BT, December 28) addresses issues of concern to industrialists and common citizens alike. While foreign investments are unlikely to be affected because of isolated incidents of terror, India has a lot to learn in its fight against terrorism. Why can’t India adopt Israel’s methods of fighting terrorism? We need to look at the economic policy measures that the US took within days of the 9/11 attacks and fashion our response. India should take proactive measures to ensure its growth story is not adversely affected.
—Pradeep Bansal, through e-mail
Act Responsibly
I am an avid reader of Business Today for the past several years. I admire the quality of your articles and the depth of research that goes into them. But I was dismayed by the cover of your December 14 issue, which shows Vijay Mallya enjoying a smoke. At a time when both the government and the judiciary are making efforts to spread awareness about the ill-effects of smoking, wasn’t it inappropriate on your part to publish such a photograph? You should be more responsible and show greater sensitivity towards public sensibilities and tastes.
—Biplab Chakraborty, through e-mail
Not a Good Time for Mallya
Your cover story Fighting the bad times (BT, December 14), holds out an object lesson for ambitious businessmen diversifying into non-core businesses and ventures. By entering the aviation business and launching Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya seems to have bitten more than he can comfortably chew. At a time when the airline industry is in the doldrums, Mallya faces the double whammy of plumetting sales and revenue losses. He will need to pull off a miracle to turn the tide in his favour.
—Janaki Raman, through e-mail
The MFI-way to Go
Messiah or merchant? (BT, December 14) presented an engaging account of how SKS Founder & Chairman Vikram Akula has been helping the poor get out of the clutches of usurious moneylenders. Akula’s approach is both commendable and worth emulating. However, despite MFIs’ potential as a change agent for bringing in economic growth and prosperity in rural areas, they haven’t really picked up steam and still have a long way to go. But instead of picking holes in the way MFIs work and function, we need to look at and constructively address the operational barriers hindering their progress. While Akula’s suggestion of helping the very poor with philanthropic capital is welcome, MFIs must also institutionalise mechanisms to proactively cater to their loan requirements. Business models of MFIs are promising enough and they hold out immense scope for changing the lives of the poorer sections of society.
—B. Rajasekaran, through e-mail
Nothing Like Dharmacracy
The message of Route to dharmacracy, (BT, December 14) hits the nail on the head. McMansions, fancy cars, and other items of luxury cannot bring us happiness if we remain spiritually bankrupt. Management guru C.K. Prahalad has rightly pointed out that current notions about the very purpose of business is in need of some fine-tuning. Businessmen and industrialists will have happier lives if they practise “Dharmacracy”, which you describe as the public-spirited and ethical conduct of business. Reworking our business philosophy to meld with traditional wisdom is a consummation devoutly to be wished.
—M. Hanumantha Rao, through e-mail
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