AhmedaBob

India's Global Powerhouses

2009-08-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

How They Are Taking on the World!
by Nirmalya Kumar
Indian Bsiness 1947 - 1991
Rich Owners, Poor Companies
The economic growth has had a significant impact on the reduction of poverty levels. Within two decades, between 1985 and 2005, the percentage of the population living on a dollar a day was reduced by almost half, from 93 to 54 percent. Based on that reduction, it is estimated that 431 million fewer Indians live in extreme poeverty today. The McKinsey study expects Indian incomes to triple over the next two decades, lifting another 290 million people out of poverty and boosting India's middle class to 580 million. More optimistic surveys show even greater progress on poverty reduction, with estimates as low as 319 million Indians currently living at under a dollar a day.

Overcoming the liabilities of Indian Origin.
Until the late 1990's before the IT outsourcing boom, the image of India was detrimental to Indian business. At it's worst, India was identified with abject poverty. Most images and stories of India in the international press reflected this with pictures of starving masses, natural disasters, and famines. At its best, India was seen as an old and mystical culture. The images most frequently associated iwth this view featured snake charmers, historical palaces, temples, and holy men. while both of these were, and still are, reflective of India's reality, they missed another India--an India populated by pockets of technological sophistication, an entrepreneurial private sector, and a well0educated workforce

TV

2009-08-26T14:34:00.001-07:00

TV is chewing gum for the eyes.

July 21, 2009

2009-08-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Boy, what a night! I've spent the evening tearing up Ahmedabad on the widow maker. It was a LOT of fun and I didn't hit ANYTHING!

Wellllll, except that one cow that was trying to pass me but it wasn't really my fault.It was coming up on my blind side!

I got my helmet yesterday with the help of my new PA. She took me to a place on the third floor of a pretty scary looking building called the Helmet House. They didn't have many helmets and it sure wasn't a house BUT they did have this one helmet that looked pretty cool You know, like Easy Rider would wear.

It said Optima on both sides of it in a kind of widow maker script so I asked the Helmet sales guy what Optima meant but he couldn't understand me and just stared at me, so I finally asked him directly if Optima was Hindi for Easy Rider and he shook his head yes, so I grabbed that one before anyone could get it! It cost a LOT MORE but it is really cool. Every where I rode tonight EVERYBODY kept staring at me!

I'm rolling now BABY! It's really nice to have the freedom to jump on it and go anytime I want. I*'M FREEE! Free to eat bugs. free to get filthy, stinking water splashed on me from three sides. Free to run from the cops. Free to smell bus fumes and free to enjoy the rain as nature intended!

Bob "Easy Rider" Massa

Eat My Dust Baby!

= = = = = = August 19, 2009 = = = = = =

I had a little storm myself this afternoon. I had a bus run me off the road. Literally hit me and knocked me and my driver who was on the back, off the road . I got my shoulder hurt where the open door hit it. My foot we thought was broken because it swole up so bad, (but it's just scratched up), my knee of course, my elbow and my leg where I landed on a big ass rock.

The driver basically just stood up and he's fine. I had Devesh ask Gaurark, the driver to tell me what I did wrong so I wouldn't do it again and he said I didn't do ANYTHING wrong it just happens all the time. He said there was nothing I could have done so I don't know. I saw the buss in m,y mirror hauling ass but I was behind a car and I didn't want to try to pass it on the right until I knew if there was a cycle, pushcart, cow, carolr another bus on the other side so I decided I would just slow down never dreaming the bus would literally knock me over.

They ain't scaring me off! I've been really enjoying the widow maker this past few days and learning how to get down CG road and go through Vijay Char Rasta and driving like a real indian! I'll figure out the buses too but it may cost me a little in dr bills.

The medicine, the x-rays, the bandages, the office calls EVERYTHING including replacing the mirrors on the widow maker cost me almost Rs 500!

Bob "buses love me to pieces" Massa

Two Wheeler July 26, 2009

2009-08-26T13:19:00.001-07:00

It runs like a bat out of hell. I just wished it had more storage. I can barely fit 4 beers in the tiny little compartment. And then I have take out my insurance records and bill of sale to get them to fit! :-(

I've named her the widow maker and I haven't had the guts to ride her yet.
Hell I barely had the balls to pay for her!

I'm going to buy a helmet this morning. and a jacket, and knee pads, some elbow pads, some steel toed boots, a bullet proof vest, some fireproof gloves, a thick scarf for my neck, some really think protective, lenses and some thermal socks. THEN I'll hit the road and start enjoying the freedom and the feel of wind through my helmet and protective clothing

Bob, "easy rider" Massa

I rode the widow maker last night, (in the rain of course), and I've started carrying a bag with me with shit in it like an extra shirt and pair of pants. I also have started carrying the phone charger with me because the battery goes dead about every two hours :-(

I got halfway where I was going and thought to check on the bag, with ALL MY CD'S, every last one, in the bag and it was GONE!

so now I have like NO battery on the Iphone and can't call anyone or text until I get someone to switch the sim card back to the blackberry or tell me where to go to get another charger. bob

Back to Ahmedabad June 19th

2009-07-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

They surprised me on June 20th with a BIG Welcome Back to India and Birthday Party.

More Pictures of Party

Ahmedabad Relocation

2009-01-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

We are working on Ahmedabad Relocation. We are putting content into the site. If you have anything that you would like to share with the world about relocating in Ahmedabad India. Send them to kathi@techndu.com

Kathi here!

2009-01-09T20:17:00.000-08:00

I was so very glad to see Kathi when she got off the plane! It is so great to have her here. Life feels complete. This is the winter season and the days will be beautiful and the nights a little cool, but it is really a good time to enjoy the culture of India.

We have a couple of wedding to attend. I hope that Kathi can find a Saree that will make her fell like part of the wedding festivities.

So far this year I've done well.

2009-01-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help.

Good Bye

2008-12-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

A heavy heart says good bye to Dui

Christmas In Diu

2008-12-26T10:18:00.000-08:00

I spent Christmas Eve walking in the Arabian Ocean in Diu. It was beautiful. I felt like Indiana Jones. Our hotel is right on the beach.

I passed a Portugese 16 century church having midnite mass.

The food here is wonderful. I should be back online on Saturday.