Book Review: Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry

When I had read Rohinton Mistry for the first time, his novel ‘Such a Long Journey’ had made me feel like it is a long journey for the reader too. But his eye for the details was very impressive so I knew I would come back to him. ‘Family Matters’ is longer (500 pages novel) than my previous read but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it over a few days time.

Nariman Vakil is the ‘chief’ of a Parsi family living in Mumbai. When Nariman was young, he wanted to marry his girlfriend Lucy who did not belong to his community but it did not materialize with stiff opposition from his parents. He ends up marrying a widow chosen by his parents who already had two children, a son and a daughter (Jal and Coomy) from her first marriage. He becomes father to them too and then his daughter Roxana arrives into the family. Jal and Coony do not get married and lives with Nariman in a spacious flat with multiple rooms while Roxana gets married to Yezad, they have two sons, Jehangir and Murad and they live separately in another smaller flat.

While going for a walk, Nariman breaks his ankle and becomes bed-ridden. His old age and Parkinson disease makes things worse for him. Since their's is a middle-class family, Jal and Coomy struggle to make their ends meet along with the new medical expenses to be spent on their stepfather. More than the money, it is the physical effort to service the old man tires down Coomy. Moreover she did not have any nice feelings for the old man and she held his stepfather responsible for her mother’s misery and death. Exhausted by the needs to serve the ailing man, they arrange an ambulance to drop off Nariman at Roxana’s house. And the troubles get transferred to Roxana and Yezad’s family.

Yezad works in a sports goods selling shop owned by Mr. Kapoor who is disturbed by the reducing religious tolerance in the town of Mumbai. To overcome the financial pressures Yezad first attempts his hand in Matka (a form of speculation which is illegal), his beginner's luck does not last long. Then he develops a plot to gain benefit out of his employer. But coincidentally Mr. Kapoor gets killed by two members of a political outfit. That makes Yezad jobless.

In another parallel development, Coomy who had done everything to avoid the return of Nariman to her flat gets killed in a collapse in her flat while carrying out a repair. Saddened by the development, Jal (Coomy’s brother) invites Yezad’s family along with Nariman to live together in his flat. Yezad with the help of Jal sells his small flat and all family members relocate to the bigger flat.

The old man dies and the financial pressures on the family ease too but Yezad turns extremely religious. A sense of dissatisfaction remains in Roxana and Jahangir who thought they were happier when they lived in their small flat. 

Though family matters take center stage in this novel, sub plots touch many subjects from religion to politics to philosophy. Though this is a work of fiction, I guess the subject is heavily drawn from personal life of the author Rohinton Mistry who is represented in Jehangir’s character in this novel.

This novel was published in 2002. Like other two novels by the same author, this too was shortlisted for the Booker prize.

ಸಣ್ಣ ಕಥೆ: ಪುನರಾವರ್ತನೆ ಅಲ್ಲ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ

ಕೆಲ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ನಾನು ಊರಿಗೆ ಹೋದಾಗ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ ಅಂಗಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದೆ. ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಹೊತ್ತು, ವ್ಯಾಪಾರ ಚುರುಕುಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಮುನ್ನ ಅಂಗಡಿಯವರು ಸುತ್ತ ಮುತ್ತಲಿನವರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ಹೇಳಿ, ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿದು, ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆ  ಮೇಲೆ ಕಣ್ಣಾಡಿಸುವ ಸಮಯ. ಆವಾಗ ಬಂದಿದ್ದು ತುಂಬು ನಗೆ ಮೊಗದ ಆ ಹುಡುಗ. ನನಗಿಂತ ೮-೧೦ ವರ್ಷ ಚಿಕ್ಕವಿನಿದ್ದಿರಬಹುದು. ಅವನು ಕಾಲೇಜಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದನೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ತುಂಬ ಲವ ಲವಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹಣ ಗಳಿಸುವದನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದ್ದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಅಂದು ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಣದ ಸಹಾಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಿನಂತಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಒಂದೇ ಊರು. ಮೇಲಾಗಿ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಹಣ ಸದ್ಬಳಕೆ ಆಗುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ನನಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಂದೇಹ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವನು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಮೂರು ಸಾವಿರ ಜೇಬಿನಲ್ಲೆ ಇತ್ತು. ಕೊಟ್ಟಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಇತರರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದೆ. ಅವನು ಬುಕ್ ಬೈಂಡಿಂಗ್ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಬೇಕರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಹಿ ತಿಂಡಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಡುವ ಪೊಟ್ಟಣಗಳನ್ನು ತಯಾರಿಸಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯ ಪೀಡಿತ ತಂದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಇನ್ನು ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ತಂಗಿಯರಿದ್ದರು. ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಇವನ ಕೊರಳಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿತ್ತು. ಅವನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕೆಲಸಗಳಿಂದ ಬರುವ ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲೇ ಇತ್ತು. ಆದರೂ ಅವನ ಹಸನ್ಮುಖ ಇದ್ಯಾವುದನ್ನೂ ಏಕೆ ತೋರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಅರೆಕ್ಷಣ ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡಿದೆನಾದರೂ, ಬೇರೆ ಕೆಲಸಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಗ್ನನಾಗಿ, ವಾಪಸ್ಸು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ನಂತರ ವಿಷಯ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಮರೆತು ಹೋದೆ.

ಕೆಲವು ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳೇ ಸರಿದು ಹೋದವು. ಮತ್ತೆ ಯಾವುದೊ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಊರಿಗೆ ಹೋದೆ. ಅದೇ ಹುಡುಗನನ್ನುನೋಡಿದೆ. ಅವನು ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಯಿ, ಹೂವು, ಊದುಬತ್ತಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿ, ಲೋಕದ ಪರಿವೆ ಇಲ್ಲದಂತೆ ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದ. ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನೊಬ್ಬ ಹೇಳಿದ. ಅವನು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಮೌನೇಶ್ವರನ ಗುಡಿಗೆ. ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊರಟು ದೇವರ ದರ್ಶನವಾಗುವವರೆಗೆ ಅವನು ದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರ ಜೊತೆಯೂ ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವನು ಪ್ರತಿ ವಾರ ಇದನ್ನು ಚಾಚೂ ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಮನೆ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಪರಿಹಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಅವನದು ಈ ವೃತ. ಅವನಿಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇರುವ ಕಾಳಜಿ, ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಮೂಡಿಸಿತು. ಇನ್ನೂ ವಿಷಯ ಕೆದಕಿದಾಗ ತಿಳಿದು ಬಂತು. ಆ ಹುಡುಗನಿಗೆ ಬಡತನ ವಂಶ ಪಾರಂಪರ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಬಂದದ್ದಲ್ಲ. ಅವನ ತಾತ ಊರಿನಲ್ಲೇ ದೊಡ್ಡದಾದ ಕಿರಾಣಿ ಅಂಗಡಿ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಈ ಹುಡುಗನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲ ಸಮಯ ಕೂಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದದ್ದು ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಬಂತು. ಇದಾಗಿ ಸುಮಾರು ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ಆಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ನೆನಪುಗಳ ನಾಗಾಲೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳೇನು ಮಹಾ?

ಅದು ನನ್ನ ಬಾಲ್ಯದ ದಿನಗಳು. ಅಂದು ನನ್ನ ಅಕ್ಕಳ ವಧು ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ. ಉಪಹಾರದ ತಯ್ಯಾರಿಗೆಂದು ಕಿರಾಣಿ ಸಾಮಗ್ರಿಗಳನ್ನು ತರಲು ಬರಿಗೈಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಕಳಿಸಿದ್ದು ಅದೇ ಅಂಗಡಿಗೆ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಹುಡುಗನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಗಲ್ಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದರು. ಹೀಗೆ ವಿಷಯ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿತು ಉದ್ರಿ. ಸುಮಾರು ಮೂವತ್ತು ರೂಪಾಯಿಯ ಸಾಮಾನುಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಬೇಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯಾದ ನನ್ನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಆ ಬಾಕಿಯನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿಸದೆ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ತಿಂಗಳು ಸತಾಯಿಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ. ಆ ಅಂಗಡಿಯ ಮುಂದೆ ಓಡಾಡಲು ನನಗೆ ಮುಜುಗರ ಆಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ದುಡ್ಡಿನ ಮಹತ್ವ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಲ ತರುವ ಅವಮಾನಗಳ ಅನುಭವ ನನಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಸಣ್ಣ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಆಗಿ ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ಕಾಲ ಕ್ರಮೇಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇರೆ ಊರಿಗೆ ಓದಲು ಮತ್ತು ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ಅರಸಿ ಬಂದ ನನಗೆ ಆ ಕಿರಾಣಿ ಅಂಗಡಿಯೊಂದು ಮುಚ್ಚಿ ಹೋದದ್ದು ಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುವ ಯಾವ ಘಟನೆಗಳೂ ನಡೆದಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆ ಸಂದರ್ಭ ಮತ್ತೆ ಈಗ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ನನಗೆ ಇವನು ಅದೇ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಹುಡುಗನೇನಾ ಎಂದು ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ. ಅವನ ಮನೆ ಹುಡುಕಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋದೆ. ಅವರು ಮೊದಲಿದ್ದ ತಮ್ಮ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮನೆ ಅದಾಗಲೇ ಮಾರಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರು. ಊರ ಹೊರಗೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸವಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಮನೆ ಹೊರಗೆ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ಆ ಹುಡುಗನ ಅಪ್ಪನ ಗುರುತು ಸಿಗಲು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಷ್ಟವೇ ಆಯಿತು ಆದರೆ ಗುರುತು ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಂಶಯ ಉಳಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಅಂದು ಗಲ್ಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಳಿತು ಹೂಂಕರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಅದೇ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಇಂದು ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯದಿಂದ ದುಡಿಯಲಾರದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ತಲುಪಿದ್ದ. ಆತ ನನ್ನ ನೋಡಿದನಾದರೂ, ನನ್ನ ಗುರುತಿಸದೆ ಹೋದದ್ದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಯಿತು.

ಯಾರಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಅಸಹಾಯಕ ಆದರೆ ಅವಶ್ಯ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಲದ ಸಹಾಯ ತೆಗೆದು ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೋ, ಅದೇ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಮಗ ಸುಮಾರು ೨೦ ವರ್ಷದ ನಂತರ ನನ್ನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಸಹಾಯ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ! ಕಾಲ ಪುನರಾವರ್ತನೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೆ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅದಲು ಬದಲಾಗಿದ್ದವು.

ಆ ಹುಡುಗನಿಗೆ ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಬೆಳೆದಿತ್ತು. ಮತ್ತೆ ಭೇಟಿಯಾದಾಗ ಕ್ಷೇಮ ಸಮಾಚಾರ ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದ. ಅವನ ಮನೆವರೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಆ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ-ಗತಿಯ ಅರಿವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಒಂದು ಕ್ಷಣ ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ನನಗೆ ಬರಬೇಕಿದ್ದ ಬಾಕಿಯ ನೆನಪು ಅವನಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ, ಮುಂದೊಂದು ದಿನ ಅವನ ಮಗನು ಮತ್ತೇ ಇದೇ ಕಥೆ ಬರೆಯಬಹುದು ಎನ್ನಿಸಿತು. ಬದಲಿಗೆ ಅವನು ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಕೆಲಸಗಳ ಕೂಲಂಕುಷ ಪರಿಚಯ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡೆ. ಕೆಲವು ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರ ಸಹಕಾರದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಅವನ ಆದಾಯ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಆಯಿತು. ಅವನ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ, ಅವನು ಪ್ರಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾಣುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಸಂದೇಹ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮೌನೇಶ್ವರನು ತನ್ನ ಮೌನ ಮುರಿದು ಇವನಿಗೆ ಅಸ್ತು ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಾನೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ, ಆದರೆ ಇವನ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ದೃಢಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದ.

ಇದಾಗಿ ಸುಮಾರು ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷಗಳವರೆಗೆ ನಾನು ನನ್ನೂರಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುವುದು ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾದದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಏನೋ ನನ್ನ ಅವನ ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದಿನಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಅವನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದೆ. ನಾನು ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹೋಟೆಲಿಗೆ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿಯಲು ಹೋದಾಗ ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಅವನೂ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಅವನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನೊಂದಿಗೆ. ದೂರದಿಂದಲೇ ಕೈ ಬೀಸಿದ. ಅದೇ ನಗು ಮುಖ. ಆದರೆ ಹೊಸ ಕಳೆ ಮೂಡಿತ್ತು. ಅವನ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದ ಬಟ್ಟೆಗಳು ಉತ್ತಮ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟದವು ಎನ್ನಿಸಿತು. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣ ಮೌನೇಶ್ವರನ ವೃತವೋ, ಅಥವಾ ಅವನ ಸ್ವತ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವೋ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಆದರೆ ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಪುನರಾವರ್ತನೆಯಾಗದೆ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಆಗುತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯಿತು.

Software boutiques have potential to take the party away from big IT services companies

You cannot stop automation so says the below comic strip.

In the computer age, development of software too is seeing lot of automation. For example, developing a website for a new company/business is a matter of few days task now but it was a couple of month’s project a decade ago. A business user is able to manage much of the applications his company uses when compared to a big support team required to run the same. This means the same work is done by less people supporting it.

Today ET reported that Barclays plans to cut more than 30,000 jobs citing redundancy. (Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48138995.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst).
Barclays is not alone. Much of the companies in BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) are able to reduce the support staff, thanks to IT automation wave. It is nothing a new phenomenon. Bill Gates had warned about it in an interview. “People Don't Realize How Many Jobs Will Soon Be Replaced By Software Bots” (Link: http://www.businessinsider.in/Bill-Gates-People-Dont-Realize-How-Many-Jobs-Will-Soon-Be-Replaced-By-Software-Bots/articleshow/31969522.cms)

When IT jobs went offshore (or ‘Bangaloored’) India had benefited greatly through big 4 IT firms. Now the same jobs are being automated. New technologies and platforms are creating fewer new jobs than the number of jobs they are obsoleting. Hiring in big IT firms is slowing down. But the number of start-ups setting up shop is seeing a huge increase. ”Indian IT is a victim of its success” said Mohandas Pai (Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/indian-it-victimown-success-start-ups-next-big-idea-mohandas-pai_2044061.html?utm_source=ref_article). Indian IT industry in the last two decades had created a big pool of talent while it drove productivity across all industries (majorly BFSI) where IT solutions were implemented. Those employees who understood the technology, needs of the customers are venturing out to become entrepreneurs. An estimate says, India has some 18,000 start-ups, expanding at the rate of 4,000 start-ups a year. Since Bangalore is already a home to many of the techies, they are creating companies in their neighborhood quite similar to the phenomenon of Silicon Valley. (http://bangalore.startups-list.com/)

All of these start-ups may not see great success but they are at the forefront in driving the technology. Some of them are innovative, flexible and cost effective. They may not grow big to be another TCS as it is not in their design and they are focused on a specific market segment instead of a wider portfolio. But when they see success it is most likely at the cost of bigger and established firms. IT budgets are closely monitored by major businesses of the world. The total spend do not grow at double digits now. So the market is not getting bigger every passing year for both big firms and start-ups to make money. As the market saturates, market share sets the winners apart from losers.

Much of the business data is moved to internet with the rise of web based applications replacing desktop run programs swiftly. The advantage of ‘body-shopping’ the bigger firms have would not give them any more upper hands over smaller firms in processing that data now. Cloud applications are making it easier through pay per use models avoiding heavy investments in IT infrastructure. Transformation is underway; it is a matter of time before the landscape changes. Now start-ups mostly funded by venture capitalists or founders themselves are not yet a dent on big firm’s earnings, they are mostly sharing the snacks. But they have all the potential of snatching the lunches from the big firms.

What do you think of Mu Sigma, a humble startup now employs a few thousand data scientists? Did big firms find the niche segment of analytics uninteresting? I think they did not play it right, so missed the bus. Acquiring successful startups and merging them into bigger companies may not always work as the culture required would be different and the margin structures do not allow a smoother integration. So the big may not continue to get bigger as they will have to share their meal with numerous small players. If they ignore small players, it will be at their risk.

Bad days for Oil & Gold are good days for Rupee. And why buy Tourism stocks now?

Gold is an alternative currency. Gold is an alternative to fixed investments. Gold protects the value in the times of inflation. Gold’s value is decided by these three factors primarily and they are not favorable to Gold now.

The reserve currency US Dollar is becoming stronger. US Fed reiterated its commitment to raise interest rates from near zero, meaning fixed investments will make a comeback in the world’s biggest economy. Many countries are worried about deflation than inflation now.

All of that is taking the air out of Gold.

Gold is trading at a crucial point now. It is giving enough signals to drop down to its strongest support levels at around $980-1000 per troy ounce. That would mean almost 15% drop from current price levels.

With Iran coming back into the market, oil supply is increasing further. So fuel (petrol & diesel) prices are likely to offer some more relief for us.

And this is all good news to Rupee as Gold and Oil are biggest components of our imports. When the trade deficit comes down, outflow of Rupee reduces. That would mean RBI need not go on buying dollars from the market. If they reduce some of the forex reserves (though it is not in their plan), Rupee can comfortably come back to Rs. 60 a dollar. If RBI does that it is a bonanza for Indian consumers and if not still there is a relief.

Reduced oil and gold prices and Rupee not devaluating helps in reducing inflation. When the inflation slows down there is a case for reducing rates. Both will leave more money in the hands of consumer. His spending power gets better. The corporate will see their bottom line improving in the same proportion and that helps NPA situation in banks too. Reduced deficit and lower rates will help Govt. function efficiently. All this will boost the economy. If inflation and interest rates come down by approx. 1% from current levels, they may translate into 1-2% higher growth rates in GDP. Our finance minister’s expectation of 10% growth may become a reality in 2016. And it is just few months away.

But do not buy the capital goods or the steel sector hoping that there will be a new investment cycle beginning soon. There is lot of overcapacity there, utilization has to go up first before the new investments come in, which is few years away.

What likely will get better are those sectors which are closer to end consumers. E-commerce sales will see a new peak in 2016. Car sales will come back. Hotels and restaurants see rushes they have not seen in the last five years. Airlines will fly at full capacity. With India opening up to foreigners with visa on arrivals and Indian citizens having more money in their pockets, tourism will see a renewed interest. 

In the stock market, we should get in before the mass does (that is in 2016), so I am looking for investments opportunities now. Do you follow any company in Tourism sector? Can you share some details? 

Great artists but troubled lives

There are great artists who could produce great pieces of art work but yet could meet obligations of family and the societal norms. They were passionate buy yet responsible.

And there are numerous artists considered genius in their work but led faulty personal lives. They are my subject of interest today.

God when showers with great gifts to an individual he seems to blunt some other sense in him to make up for it. Like Achilles had it in in his heel. Geniuses have a great vision but yet are blind to simple things in life. Steve Jobs when fired from the company he founded, he was a given a reason that he was not sympathetic to his fellow employees. He was a great product designer but a poor people manager. Passion and tolerance do not seem to like each other. They rarely coexist peacefully.

An artist needs to have great emotional skills but at the same time he (or she) should not be sentimental. That lets him renew himself, cut-off from previous work and get ready for the next. Many great artists are versatile; they can get into shoes of various personalities rather easily. They also develop an awareness to come out of it with the same ease too. But the same skills do not go well when applied in their personal lives.

Family, friends, finance or fame, they expect care and sympathy to bond well. If you were there for family or friends when they needed it most, there are higher possibilities that it will be reciprocated. But the artist always lives in his imaginations, even when he is not painting or writing or acting or composing music. So sympathy gives him a miss.

If fortunate, an artist could get paid well for his work too. For him, money is the sixth sense to keep rest of the five senses in good humor. He is not trained to keep and grow the money. He has the least inclinations to learn the tricks of the trade. So it is a matter of time before art or money leaves him. In Indian mythology it is said that when goddess of wealth Lakshmi comes in, Sarasvati, goddess of knowledge and art takes leave.

Even when the artist is in distress, he would use art as his media to express his frustration rather than finding a friend to cry on his shoulder. But a common man does otherwise. A mediocre person visits temples or shrines or spends time in dim lit bars to find solace. Artist’s mind does not work the same way. He can be broken financially but rarely emotionally. So the spouses of great artists, however strong their bond is, cannot hold their partner’s souls to themselves.

Relationships or businesses, they expect discipline and commitment to flourish. Those qualities work against the nature of an artist. His mind wanders continuously. That makes him less dependable. People get attracted to him for his passion or intelligence. But the same is not enough to hold them together. When the material exhausts, artist’s interest dies and he moves on to newer subjects or persons. 

Artist is married to his art first and his artistic creations are the first children he has ever produced. That does not go well with the expectations of the society. So he is seldom an ideal husband or an ideal parent. Society says he is irresponsible. But the artist is deaf to it. Society thinks he had a troubled life but the artist does not agree or care. Now you may not wonder why Salman Rushdie had to marry four times. But look into his works, you would not find a half-hearted author.

Admirers of art adore the artists. But it need not be the same with those closely associated to the artists. The dogma continues.