Biggest Indian Acquisition Ever

Tata Steels acquired the European steel maker Corus Group yesterday for $11.6 billion dollars. The all cash deal is the biggest acquisition ever made by an Indian company. This move will apparently catapult Tata’s production capacity from 56th to 5th in the world and likely make Tata a global player in the steel market.

Why Wait, Let’s do Something Now

In my scientific research experience, I have found that any new idea carries along with it a net burden of unforeseen consequences. Some good, some bad! Why should new and alternate sources of energy be any different? Bio-fuels are already causing a huge spike in the prices of corn, wind power turbines have been known to affect bird population as some flying creatures cannot see the turbines, solar energy is still struggling with scalability issues and large hydro power plants cause severe environmental damages. I am infinitely positive that we will overcome all these challenges in due course of time. However, even as we wait for these technologies to mature, there are things that we can do now to decrease our dependence on oil. What can be done to minimize the traffic congestion that we encounter during our everyday commute? Is it possible to eliminate traffic lights completely? How do we encourage people to use public transport more often? Now that we are in the digital age, can we institute more work from home options without affecting productivity levels? A good answer to each of these questions is probably a solution to reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

A Fence Sitter on Global Warming

I have a confession to make. I have been for long a fence sitter on the issue of global warming. There are obviously 2 sides to this story. The side that claims global warming is not a concern and the side that predicts doomsday scenarios. Because both sides tend to put their own spin on the facts in hand, I have had trouble believing either of them. However, when Exxon comes out and says that global warming might indeed be happening, I have to sit up and take notice. In Exxon’s own words, “we know enough now — or, society knows enough now — that the risk is serious and action should be taken.” This is very similar to when the tobacco companies admitted “Smoking is injurious to health”. Additionally, Exxon has also decided to stop its funding to some of the non-profit organizations that are for limited government action against global warming. Only time will tell if this is a fundamental shift in stance or a reaction to the political changes in Washington DC.

Future of Green Energy

I am beginning to spend a considerable amount of my time looking into the future of renewable energy worldwide. http://www.renewableenergystocks.com is another wonderful resource for people who are interested in finding out what is currently happening in this field. It is interesting to note that India and China have already taken leading roles in green alternate ways to generate energy. India, with a current institutional capacity of India 130,000 MW is looking to add over 500,000MW of electrical capacity in the next few decades. India is also aiming for about 100,000MW of electricity to be generated from renewable energy sources by the year 2050. Is this the sector that is going to drive India’s economy over the next few decades? We will see…

On a lighter note, I am on a hot streak. This is the 4th post in the last 10 days. I am really enjoying blogging in spite of the fact that no one seems to be reading my blog. I am going to hope that I don’t cool down anytime soon!

When Banks Rob You

In the last 30 days my bank (Wachovia) charged me $10 twice because they had to transfer money from my savings to my checking for overdraft protection. Even as I was arguing with my bank that this is an unfair practice this bit of news had me stunned. Just the kind of stuff that makes me want to plough my fists through a wall. Apparently banks make an astounding 44% of their income through different service fees. I understand that some of these fees are required to keep people from constant finance mismanagement. However, not all of these fees are justified. The banks lure you into their plastic world with promises of world class service and devise cheap ways to take your money away. So, people, take a close look at your monthly bank statement. If there are charges that you don’t understand then call your bank and ask about it. If they are making 44% of their money this way, then there is a good chance that it is happening to you on a regular basis.

Apple Inc.

Apple’s reincarnation continues with the unveiling of the iphone yesterday.


The newest addition to the smart phone market is by far the coolest. 4.5 inches high and 2.4 inches wide and a completely touch sensitive screen without a key board, the iphone is a cell phone, an MP3 player, a video player and an internet browsing device all packaged into a single unit. To be available through cingular stores starting in June 2007 a 4GB iphone costs a whopping $499.

What next for Apple Inc.? Should Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox be scared?

B-Schools Hypocrisy

I am not what you would call a success story insofar as how my B-school application process evolved. The results of my 5 applications are waitlisted, waitlisted, accepted, dinged and dinged. So, if you think that the conclusion that I draw in this piece is in part due to this bitter experience then you are probably right!

B-schools need their prospective students to be ambitious, driven and committed in addition to possessing strong analytical and quantitative skills. Moreover, almost every school requires future students to have clear goals, a sound career plan and strong reasons for choosing that particular school. Because B-schools have such high expectations from their students, I have a problem with them placing applicants in waitlists. Waitlists seem to be a classic way to say, “We think you are good, but we are really not sure”!

Would it be acceptable to the B-schools if I went into the admission interview and said, “Hmm.., I really like your school, but I am not that sure”!! In this sense, I find all B-schools hypocritical and self serving. B-schools are in a sellers market because there are more qualified students than the number of seats available in the top schools around the world. Under these circumstances, B-schools have a moral responsibility to provide honest and straight answers to their prospective customers. It is time that B-schools followed the ethics that they seem to preach so unabashedly in their campuses. Ultimately, B-schools are in the noble business of providing education, and education is not about self service.

Through this experience, I have learnt something very important about going to B-school. I am not going back to school to earn a much coveted brand name but to learn new skills, share my experiences and later apply my talents to make a difference in this world. In the process, if I make a few thousand dollars then so be it!