After the Satyam disaster, Infosys got itself into some muddy waters by the remarks of its HR and Mr.N Murthy. First, they said, they will not poach on Satyam employees. I looked at some dictionaries and understood that "poach" actually means to unfairly or illegally benefit from a situation. Well, in that case, it appeared there was nothing wrong in what they said. After a while, they stirred the mud a bit more as if the earlier statement wasn't enough. "We will not recruit Satyam employees" ! Now, here comes trouble ! IT people from all companies started throwing stones at this remark. All sorts of allegations were made at Infosys. Some took oath never to join Infy in their life. One guy said Mr. Murthy can never become President of India because of this one remark (as if he was dying to become President).
Now, why all this hungama ? We are talking about a company - Satyam - that fell on its own face because of its fraudulent activities. When my competitor falls like this - due to all the fraud he committed over the years, after cheating all stakeholders and violating the laws of this land - why on earth should I not use that golden opportunity and crush him out of business ! If this happened to Yahoo, will Microsoft and Google sit back and shed tears? The next moment they would be setting off like roaring lions to finish off the bleeding prey. There is absolutely nothing wrong in it. Business is war, and if a competitor falls because of his mistakes it is nothing wrong of others to use that opportunity.
But, if Satyam had fallen because of a natural disaster like earthquake or flood - or a terrorist attack on its facilities - then it makes sense for others to show some sympathy and lend a helping hand.
The best help other IT companies can do to Indian software business now - is to do everything possible to take over Satyam's clients and employees - and ensure that our image isn't affected in the global arena. Without any hesitation, we should welcome Satyam employees into our companies - and people can call it poaching or whatever - but I feel that is absolutely right.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wake Up Call to Dr. Manmohan Singh
Someone has to tell Dr. Manmohan Singh to close that Economics book he is reading, and try reading "How to become an effective leader in 21 days" or something of that sort. Mr. Singh is definitely a nice man, a scholar, a man with clean hands, etc etc. But, all these traits can only make up a College Professor or a lab scientist or an Economist or whatever - but definitely not a LEADER.
India needs a leader, who is courageous, who can take stern decisions without fear, who can rally the masses behind him, who can command and order - and who can send a clear signal to terrorists that he is a roaring lion and not a meowing kitten. We are in a time when we don't need Manmohans, but rather need Sardar Patels, Churchills and Indira Gandhis.
Shivraj Patil was glued to his chair - even after the entire nation gave him the Most Inefficient Home Minister award. It needed a massacre like the one that happened in Mumbai to finally show him the way out. No idea how Mr. Chidambaram would perform, but he would obviously be better than Mr. Patil (looking at the pathetic track record of Mr. Patil). But, a lot more is expected from Mr. Chidambaram. A lot lot more.
We definitely need a separate law to deal with crimes of terrorism. Terrorists cannot be treated the same way like other criminals. They should be shown zero-tolerance and the harshest of punishments, in addition to curbing privileges like appeals, bails, etc. Well, what if this law is misused ? In times like this, when the security of a whole nation is at stake, we cannot be handicapped by the fear of misuse. We can try to minimize misuse, that's all we can do. We have to definitely make some sacrifices - because this "terrorism cancer" has gone to the last stages. (FYI, any criminal law is prone to misuse !)
In Tamil Nadu, we have a separate form of pro-terrorism - in the name of "Saving Lankan Tamils". Why was Vaiko released from prison even after he openly supported LTTE? People like Vaiko should be tried under the same anti-terrorism law that is applied to terrorists. Either he should face the same fate of terrorists, or should be asked to leave the country for good. He can settle in Kilinochchi, play "kabadi" with Prabhakaran, and live happily ever after. Why bother India !
In a few months, the Mumbai attacks will be forgotten. NDTV will start covering some other scandal. The only-captured terrorist may sit in jail and enjoy meals 3 times a day (with our tax money). Or who knows, he may appeal and appeal, and get bail, and have dinner in Taj. Some human rights group may actually demand for his release (because achooo...he was brutally beaten by interrogators). All this...until finally... one more attack comes. This is the protocol we have been following these years.
Let's see if it changes.
India needs a leader, who is courageous, who can take stern decisions without fear, who can rally the masses behind him, who can command and order - and who can send a clear signal to terrorists that he is a roaring lion and not a meowing kitten. We are in a time when we don't need Manmohans, but rather need Sardar Patels, Churchills and Indira Gandhis.
Shivraj Patil was glued to his chair - even after the entire nation gave him the Most Inefficient Home Minister award. It needed a massacre like the one that happened in Mumbai to finally show him the way out. No idea how Mr. Chidambaram would perform, but he would obviously be better than Mr. Patil (looking at the pathetic track record of Mr. Patil). But, a lot more is expected from Mr. Chidambaram. A lot lot more.
We definitely need a separate law to deal with crimes of terrorism. Terrorists cannot be treated the same way like other criminals. They should be shown zero-tolerance and the harshest of punishments, in addition to curbing privileges like appeals, bails, etc. Well, what if this law is misused ? In times like this, when the security of a whole nation is at stake, we cannot be handicapped by the fear of misuse. We can try to minimize misuse, that's all we can do. We have to definitely make some sacrifices - because this "terrorism cancer" has gone to the last stages. (FYI, any criminal law is prone to misuse !)
In Tamil Nadu, we have a separate form of pro-terrorism - in the name of "Saving Lankan Tamils". Why was Vaiko released from prison even after he openly supported LTTE? People like Vaiko should be tried under the same anti-terrorism law that is applied to terrorists. Either he should face the same fate of terrorists, or should be asked to leave the country for good. He can settle in Kilinochchi, play "kabadi" with Prabhakaran, and live happily ever after. Why bother India !
In a few months, the Mumbai attacks will be forgotten. NDTV will start covering some other scandal. The only-captured terrorist may sit in jail and enjoy meals 3 times a day (with our tax money). Or who knows, he may appeal and appeal, and get bail, and have dinner in Taj. Some human rights group may actually demand for his release (because achooo...he was brutally beaten by interrogators). All this...until finally... one more attack comes. This is the protocol we have been following these years.
Let's see if it changes.
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