end of the road for sahara

the sahara group is divesting its non core business like avaiation, entertainment , real estate inorder to retain its core business - a ponzi scheme. the consulting company madanated to do the stuff uses terms terms like restructing or divesting, while i would have preffered a plain term "sale". i wonder what is the reason for the sudden change in business strategy - may be something like not enough cash being raised to pay back existing depostors?

all ponzi schemes like to keep the appearence of a healthy business until they bust. i guess the same is with Sahara - sponsoring the indian cricket or offering jobs in the group to all those from sahar airlines who dont want to join jet -

i guess the end is near for the group and it hope it doesnt lead to social chaos in many north indian states.

when every human is a potential treat

the finnish health service has mapped out a terrifing scenario for the bird flu - here - A third of the Finns could catch the virus and about 10,000 could die. hopefully, the scenario is purely a planning exercise and has no use in reality.

but what if such a scenario comes true - God forbid. then every human will become a possible source of infections and human have to minimise or avoid contact with each other. i dont know what kind of a society or economy this will lead to - but i am sure humans will be seggregated based only on one parameter - infected or not - as against caste , creed, religion, skin colour that presently happens.

Stock to watch -Kaashyap Radiant

Kaashyap Radiant - Board Meeting on Jan 10, 2006.
this co. came out with a public issue in 2000 in think at par. then the stock touched rs 220. i personally know that the company has no operations. the stock used to trade at 10 paise six months ago. i think it is to rocket with the aid of some adroit manupulators. it is a stock to watch. it now trades at rs 2.50

a career choice

"if he picks the trowel he can earn 160 rupees a day in a few years. it is a profession that wont let you down if you work hard. please advice him , sir," pleads the head mason.

the sixteen year lad , who always sports a sheepish smile and a spritely step, has his mind set on beginning a new journey in lfe - to become a clearner in a truck where he will earn rupees 60 a day on a regular basis, as against his present rupees 90 , when he finds work. he hopes to graduate to a driver in time and earn a few thousand rupees a month, perhaps double of what he will make as a mason.

the choice is far cry from the boys i know, who have to deal with supposedly critical choices at the same age - to join the science stream in high school or step into the commerce branch - a decision often debated by elders and techers to find out what is best in the interest of the child.

i am speechless and dont know what to say and the boy continues his grin.
i extend my hand and grasp his much callused young palm and wish him the very best as he traverses the risk ridden roads of our vast country.


as the sensex races ahead towoards the 10,000 , double my target for the year, i continue to spend time carrying our minor contruction work - interacting mostly with mason, carpenters and electricians.

a world where money has a different meaning - equated to livelyhood and not wealth.