P - People: Peri, Prashant & Arindam

 Peri Maheshwer had posted in Face book, the below; thought of reflecting on it, this Republic day. 

"A decade back, when I was leaving my job at Outlook, I was a confused man. I had four options - 

• A full time activist, 
• starting an NGO, 
• partnering with a huge corporate to start a media organization and 
• becoming an entreprenuer. 

And I ended up meeting a prominent and influential leader to take advise.

His advise was simple. The problem with our world is that well intentioned people have intentions but no wealth while some greedy ones  have cornered most wealth and dictate how the world is governed. It is important that good people earn money so that they can make a difference to the world. Intention without wealth is of no use. And money in good people's hand is ten times more impactful then those in bad people's hands. So, if you consider yourself a leader, then you must be an entrepreneur, create wealth and decide your life path afterwards. 

Similarly, a political party without power is as good as you and me - the people. You can't influence policies with mere intentions and no power.  Especially so in current times when brazenness and impunity are normal behaviour. Real politick is also about a few compromises. Prashant Kishore cannot be a bad man because he hasn't joined a party. Neither is Kamal Nath principled because he hasn't jumped ship. Strong leadership, firm decision making and alacrity in actions are a necessity in successful organizations."

Prashant Kishore - one more piece on the jigsaw puzzle of Indian democracy, is a marketing expert. He knows how to campaign successfully. Democracy cannot be reduced to elections only. He is merely an election specialist. 

Interesting people holding democracy of India today - Peri Maheshwer and Prashant Kishore. Peri Maheshwer had shot more into limelight (though he was already there), when he took on Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM. The legal battle had its genesis in a business-school survey carried by Outlook magazine in 2003 that ranked IIPM in fourth place in terms of industry interface. IIPM had claimed 100% placements in its advertisements and in the data given to Outlook, but Peri says he was moved by a visit from a parent of one of IIPM’s students, who claimed his son had not been placed and remained unemployed despite having paid a large fee for the course. After six years of exhausting battle and legal costs that ran into eight figures, battles with IIPM was closed when both the parties decided to withdraw the proceedings. Now takes on similar case with Biju's  as they give inappropriate advertisment on majority of IAS students being those using their app. 

Had a detailed discussion with Nandakishore, who was in the innercircle of Arindam Chaudhuri, having been a student at IIPM.  Arindam Chaudhuri, son of Malayendra Kisor Chaudhuri,who founded the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) in 1973 is an Indian author and the director of IIPM Think Tank at the Indian Institute of Planning and Management. He has produced movies that have collected three National Film Awards. On 23 August 2020, Chaudhuri was arrested for tax evasion of ₹230 million just five years after IIPM campuses across the country were shut down after a series of legal battles over its credibility,  undue claim of Central Value Added Tax (CENVAT) of service tax credit. He was known for his flashy dressing, crazy cars, quick drives, glossy magazines, and advises to government. He had also authored the book, You're a diamond! Now dazzle! 

Ultimate players and beneficiaries of the Indian democracy, who sit so high above us, for their own reasons. Perhaps we have taken Gandhiji’s monkeys to heart, and we do not want to see, talk or hear of evil, even when that evil is undermining our society at large. Endemic corruption in India is not limited to politicos and the babus. It has become the hallmark of our society and permeates all walks of life, including corporate India, which has never been scrutinized to the extent required. Now we have some doing it.