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Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India:

YOU say that our Government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say that the System is corrupt. In such a dealing, Someone Gives, the Other Takes, both are to equally blame.

YOU say, say and say.

What is Your Role? And what do YOU do about it?

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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Creativity in Adolf Hitler


These drawings and watercolours are the childish attempts of a want-to-be-artist, Adolf Hitler. He was dreaming of attending courses at the Academy of Belle Arts in Vienna. Unfortunately, they did not accept him at the Academy. If they had accepted him, the world would have definitely been different today …

Courtesy: Mohinder Singh Saundh, IITK, Sweden.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Def Expo 2010: ‘Self-Respect’ comes from ‘Self-Reliance’

(Moderator: Noida Industry Must Take Advantage of the Defence Procurement Policy, and the Govts Indigenisation Efforts).

India has fairly large-sized Security Forces to maintain its integrity with hostile environment in the South Asia and not very conducive environment for its development & growth in the rest of the world. Do we let India realize its potential, is the question to be answered by the developed nations, and how would it affect Us? This should be the main ‘Term of Reference’ for developed nations.

We have small and large advocacy organizations operating in India which are always happy in ‘Doing Down Indian Achievements’ for reasons best known to them. 30% of Us below poverty line, corruption, slow Govt. processes, etc are well drummed, but what is not appreciated is ‘middle class and above’ in India, tone of young Indians to achieve heights, its technological leaps, improvements all around despite certain problems, etc. It is a kind of Psy War unleashed on Us by interested parties with connivance of some of Us, even intellectuals ‘hired’ to do Us down --- a dangerous trend.

GoI has always had a vision to achieve ‘near-self-reliance’ in various fields. It has achieved this with mixed success. Security Industry, Defence & Aerospace specifically, has not reached the objective for various strategic and tactical reasons. Our focus to achieve high degree of self-reliance in this Segment must remain – a message delivered loud and clear in Def Expo 2010.

Policy Initiatives like ‘Buy’, Buy & Make (Indian)’, and ‘Make’ need implementation in all its facets. ‘Tainted Advocacy’ by Indians must stop for larger good whether You are part of an Indian or a foreign firm. Look at the development of the Indian Industry pragmatically in keeping with the ‘strategic needs’ of the country, of course with business sense. All this will help Us retain our independence in thought and action.

National Security is Not a Pure Business Case, Nevertheless Profits Flow.

Brigadier (Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for India Defence & Aerospace Ecosystem)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Def Expo 2010: Defence Offset Policy Implementation

India’s defence offset policy would be the key driver for growth and modernisation of the defence industrial base, says the Govt. “The industry therefore will evolve in sync with the overall development, leading to progressive policy initiatives coming up in future,” said Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju.

Raju outlined that offset proposals worth 49,000 crore are in the pipeline. Given the complexity involved in supervision of offset, an administration infrastructure has been put in place.

Public Sector alone will not be able to absorb the offset that are to be generated in future, he said. Offset, therefore, give domestic players an opportunity to enter the sensitive defence industry. The Govt. is also planning to extend tax sops enjoyed by exports firms to domestic players as well. Also, combining Public and Private Sector skills that will help achieve higher degree of defence indigenisation is also being mulled upon.

According to Raju, the role of SMEs has been a testimony of being a backbone of the defence industry and its role is vital for the self reliance of the industry. Urging the industry to gear up, the Minister earmarked the prospects of Buy and Make (Indian) category which facilitates JVs with foreign OEMs, strengthening R&D and technology up-gradation among others.

A strong defence industry will help India leverage its Buying Power, expanding technological base, facilitating global tie-ups and JVs. This will be aimed at reducing defence imports and promoting indigenisation, Raju said.

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
www.IndianDefenceIndustry.com
(An e-Hub for India Defence & Aerospace Ecosystem)
Credit: Financial Express.