END OF THE SUNSHINE DAYS??

I had aspirations to study Physics as I was taken in awe by the vastness of the Universe as well as the smallest dimensions of atoms and its particles even though I knew well enough that the mathematical background needed to understand it was poor. Thanks to my Physics coaching master, the urge to study the queen of sciences was growing. Finally I landed up studying Engineering though not by choice specializing in Electronics and Communication after rounds of constant brain wash by parents and relatives. The reason given was the defined and immediate job opportunities it would provide given my ‘middle’ middle class background (this was in 2004 and IT was booming). With the same fervor which I would have put if I had done Physics I pursued the course and as expected I was recruited into an IT MNC with a handsome pay package early on in my pre-final year. It was a proud day for my father as I was the first Engineering graduate in the family and more proud and happy by the fact that my starting compensation was nearly the double of what he currently earns after more than three decades of working. A year has passed since the offer was made and more than four months have passed since my graduation and I am yet to receive my posting orders. Months of waiting has paved the way for frustration and dejection. Similar fate is shared by most of the freshers who have passed out in 2008 and were given offers in IT companies with the exception of a privileged few from premier educational institutes. Even after constant promises from companies that offers would be honored dark clouds looms large with the current global economic turmoil. Over dependence of both our economy and the rising work force on the IT industry has led to this poor state of affairs. Our failure to concentrate on other growth areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, production etc has added to the woes resulting in inflation that has led to drastic organizational measures and restructuring like cost cutting and employee layoffs. News of employee layoffs by IT concerns has become the order of the day sending shock waves across the population of new blood of expectant pass outs. Are these the hours of darkness in the sun-shine industry?

INDIA NOW ON TOP OF THE WORLD!!!

More than a month into hibernation from blogging, the present status that India has been bestowed among the world countries has compelled me into writing this post. A thirty year old ban on supply of nuclear source materials and technology to India has been lifted in the recently concluded Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meet, which is a representative body of a conglomeration of 45 nuclear power countries. This is the first positive step towards the Indo-US nuclear deal to be signed and it signals that half the well is crossed. The complete leap to the other side depends on the acceptance to the deal from the US Congress. The highlight of the NSG meet was amidst resistance from countries like Austria, New Zealand and indirectly China, India was exempted from the signing of the Non-proliferation treaty (NPT) which is mandatory for any country to obtain the source and technology. This exemption has come from recognition of India as a responsible nuclear power. Now India is next to the five major nuclear power countries. As said in the last post this acceptance has facilitated trade from countries other than the United States of America. Apart from the explicit benefits the deal is going to bring, there would also be an improvement in the economics of power. This was very much evident with power stocks climbing to phenomenal prices.

The role played by America in materializing the deal at the NSG meet has to be lauded since it was in a way responsible for other countries accepting to the India’s non-signing of the NPT. It was ruckus back in India when a letter from the US government to the US Congress was leaked to the media bringing out speculations that the deal has invisible clauses and conditions for India performing future nuclear tests. It maybe noted that India is free to go ahead with the testing on times of non conducive external political scenario. If in case the agreed terms are overridden the subsequent cancellation of the deal is only possible after a number of sittings and paying of suitable compensation for the loss incurred.

Whatsoever that is said of the deal, it is sure to cut down power crisis which is looming large on the faces of the India public and days of darkness will soon be in the dark. The materialization of the deal would also help in the development of medical and other scientific process. Life would then be really imparted to the mantra “India Shining”