Obama’s address to Indian Parliament

Official presidential portrait of Barack Obama...
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I stumbled upon the Hindi transcript of President Obama’s translation to on US consulate website. Sensing that it is in Hindi, Google Chrome offered to translate it in English. The translated letter has been attached below. Too much was lost in translation. Google Translate is like a kid learning english grammar 101. It is much better than what it used to be earlier. The kid is learning slowly and slowly. But on a humorous note, the translation will serve a good brainteasing exercise for you.

The hindi transcript is available at http://www.america.gov/st/sca-english/2010/November/20101109123049tegdirb0.7405141.html

President Obama’s Address to Indian Parliament (Hindi)

White House

Press Secretary’s Office

For immediate publication November 8, 2010

In a joint session of Parliament

President’s Speech

Parliament building

New Delhi, India

5:40 pm. IST

President: Vice President, Madam Speaker, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, and above all, Indians.

The world’s largest democracy and more than one billion Indians representatives to address general – to respect I would like to thank you. (Applause) I the world’s oldest democracy – the United States have brought greetings and friendship with which about three million proud and patriotic Indian – including Americans. (Applause)

During the past three days, my wife Michelle and I have experienced the dynamics of India and its people – from the glory of Humayun’s Mkzbere to those advanced technologies to enable farmers and women are the backbone of the Indian society to bone; Diwali celebrations with the kids from school to the promoters who are putting fuel in India’s economic rise; the university students from India will prepare Nekaza the future, to you – that he is the leader of India who extraordinary anticipation of this moment is to help bring up.

At every step, we the guests – was greeted with Nwazie for which Indians are always known. Therefore, I urge upon you and the people of India that I, on behalf of Mitchell and the American people accept my heartfelt gratitude. (Applause) Thank you very much. (Applause)

Now, I am not a U.S. president to visit India coming first, and no I Houanga last. But I am proud that my administration – during visit to India came on so quickly. It is no coincidence that India, my first stop on a trip to Asia, or that any other president since the country most of my long journey. (Applause) because India only emerging in Asia and around the globe land was not; India has emerged. (applause)

And I sincerely believe that the U.S. and India’s relationship – the bond of our common interests and our shared values are tied to – going to define the 21st century will be one of partnerships. I have come to build this partnership. This is the dream that our two countries can realize together.

Our common future rooted in my faith, my respect for India’s precious past have been frozen – a civilization thousands of years that would shape the world to come. Indians intricacies of the human body and opened the lock of the secrets of our universe’s vastness. It is no exaggeration to say that our information – age roots are frozen in Khojcaryoan Indians – which includes the discovery of zero. (Applause)

Indeed, India has not only opened our minds, he also expanded our moral imagination – through such religious texts which assume Asthawanoan today – call to live a life of dignity and restraint, such poets through who imagined that the future “where the mind is not a fear, and taking head high” (applause) – and a man whose love and justice through the message of today’s head – you Mahatma Gandhi. (Applause)

This trip for me and Michelle, therefore, is a special meaning. Look, my entire life, which as a youth to the urban poor, including my work, I Gandhi’s life and his the direct plain and profound lessons that we have been getting inspiration from the world who want to change things, they become themselves. (Applause). And he called for Indians to find their own luck, the same way they equate my own country’s flag – have affected carriers, which included a young preacher named Martin Luther King was. Half centuries ago, his pilgrimage to India – After the visit, Doctor King non-violent resistance of Gandhi in the struggle for justice and progress “the only rational and ethical way” described. (Applause)

So we traveled to the residence itself, where Gandhi and King both stayed honored – Manihven. And by paying their respects at Rajghat humility we experienced. And I know that maybe today I, as president of the U.S., you would not Khda front, if Mahatma Gandhi and he is not the message, which he shared and who inspired America and the world. (Applause)

An ancient culture of science and innovation; a fundamental belief in human progress – is the hour of midnight sounding strong foundation on which you have built consistent with the moment when a free and independent India was the tricolor waved. (Applause) . Sandeahadioan despite those who said that the country is so poor, or so large or so varied that it can not be successful, you Durdmaneey conquered odds and became a model for the world.

Hnsne hunger in the pit instead, you started the Green Revolution, which fed millions.Materials and become dependent on exports rather than, you put up capital in science and technology, and applied in it is your biggest resource – the people of India. And the result is seeing the world, you have the super – computers made with him to India, the flags that you put on the surface of the moon.

Global economy rather than to resist, you have become one of its engines – such as improving the license raj irons economic miracle – which freed millions from poverty Ubara and the world’s largest middle – class is constructed.

Further division rather than capitulating, you have demonstrated the power of India – India’s basic idea is the same – all colors, all races, all religions embrace, adopt them.(Applause). The diversity that is today represented in the conference room. That the richness of faith for more than a century ago my home – the city of Chicago had come a passenger by the ritual – known Swami. He said that “holiness, purity, and generosity in the world, ownership is not exclusive of any church, and every philosophy – science the most sublime character female – male to be born.”

And the false impression that progress instead of being attracted to the price of freedom can only be achieved, you have built the institutions on which democracy depends is true – free and Neshpksha choose which its citizens without resorting to arms Leader gives you the opportunity to choose – (applause) – an independent judiciary and rule of law, which gives people the chance to get their complaints resolved, and a flourish – Afult free press and civil society which a live chance that lets everyone be heard. This year, when India as a country with a strong, democratic constitution has completed 60 years, this lesson is clear: India is successful, not in spite of democracy; India has been successful because of democracy. (Applause)

Now, as India has changed, the same kind of relationship our two countries have changed. Freedom – the decades in the post-India Non – Aligned Movement as the proud leader pushed his interests. But, often, long cold – one because of the war – the other turned on the United States and India itself north – south divide found in the conflicting sides. But the days have passed now.

Here in India, different – different parties led a – coming after the other two governments recognize this more intensive partnership with the U.S. is inherently more important too. Both my ex in the United States – Vertiyoan the – which was a Democrat and a Republican – to bring both of us and worked closely, resulting in increased business and a historic civil – nuclear – Agreement concluded. (Applause)

Llihaja then ask people in our two countries remain: What next? The progress and build on how we can further our partnership can achieve full potential? Today I want to dwell on it – how interconnected the world in the U.S. in search of the future, and I believe that this is why it is indispensable to India to dream; how we can create truly global partnership – the only one or two areas, but in many areas of partnership; only for their mutual benefit, not the world for the benefit of India.

Indeed, India’s national interests and how they promoted on the world stage to set it as only Indians can. But I am today in front of you Khda because I sincerely believe that U.S. interests – and that we do share those interests with India – could be the best promotion in partnership. I believe it. (Applause)

U.S. wants to protect – our nation’s security, the security of our friends and partners. We want prosperity – an open international economic system, a strong and growing economy. We want respect for universal values. And we want a just and sustainable international system through the global challenges facing much stronger global cooperation by promoting peace and security.

Now, to promote these interests, I have the U.S. with the world based on mutual interest and mutual respect widely is committed to working together. And thus a central pillar of working together – the 21 th century with centers of influence to establish deeper cooperation – and these will necessarily be included in the India.

Now, India, the world’s emerging powers alone. But the relationship between our countries are unique. Two powerful democracy whose constitution we start with the same revolutionary terms – like revolutionary words – “We the people of this country.”We have two great republic for all those who are dedicated to freedom and justice and equality. And we mean two free market systems where people free to act on such ideas and innovations that can change the world. And hence I believe that India and U.S. to meet our time Chunautiyoanka indispensable partner. (Applause).

Since I took over, the same reason, ever since I made our relationship a priority. Its president – the first official state visit time to welcome the Prime Minister I was proud. (Applause). This course is the first time that our governments work together in the same series is full of challenges that we face. Now, I can say as much as Spshh, I want to say: the United States a Aeiashviaka emerging power of India as not only welcome, but we support him with passion, and to help make it a reality we have worked.

With our partners we G-20 on International Economic Cooperation forum have made a staple of the global economic decision making and voices are brought to the table, and these include India’s. We in the international financial institutions have increased the role of emerging economies like India. We appreciate the important role of Kopanhaagan India where, for the first time, all major economies to take steps to confront climate change was the word – and has vowed to stay Khre with those tasks. We maintain peace missions of the United Nations a major contribution – as subject to salute India’s long history. And we welcome India while he took his seat in the UN Security Council is preparing to. (Applause)

In short, while India is taking place in the world, its just for us, relations between our two countries to define the coming century, the present historic opportunity to form partnerships. And I believe that together we have three key areas – can do this by working together.

First, global partners as we can promote prosperity in both countries. Together, the future of high – technology, high – can create jobs with wages. With my visit, we are now starting to materialize their civil nuclear deal is ready. The India’s growing energy needs will help our two countries will create thousands of jobs. (Applause).

We defense and civil space sectors such as high – technology sectors to create partnerships should. So we called the Indian organizations and called her “entity list” are removed. Remove its controls on exports and we – and will work to improve. These two steps will ensure that the U.S. high – technology, business and technologies, seeking the same with Indian companies will be treated as our closest friends and are partners with. (applause).

We can pursue joint research and development that are creating green jobs; India and carries much cleaner – only to gain greater access to energy; Kopanhaagan given to us to fulfill our promises, and following – the potential development of carbon capable of displaying.

And together, we can resist protectionism which is Hontt own development and innovation. United States is one of the world’s most open economies – and will remain the same. And to open markets and foreign investment by reducing barriers to the path, India can achieve its full economic prospects. G-20 as partners, we can ensure that the global economic revival is strong and durable. And we try to continue the Doha Round can Ararak who are ambitious and balanced – the courage to show such an agreement which required that all such economies to global trade to be effective.

Together, we can create stronger agriculture. Cooperation between Indian and U.S. researchers and scientists of the Green Revolution was Jlayaie torch. Today, India is a pioneer in the use of such technology, which enables farmers, like the farmers market that I met yesterday and fresh information about the weather on your cell phones free is derived. And the United States, agricultural productivity and research is leading. Now farmers and rural areas facing climate change and drought, we have other, more sustainable, Evergreen Green Revolution can puff life.

Together, we Maonsun next season before India are to improve weather forecasting systems. Our goal millions of Indian farmers – farmers helping families so that they can save water and can increase productivity, improve food in the toilet so that recession crops rotting in the road if I get accepted, and climate forecasts and crop improvement so that losses can be avoided and which foods tend to make communities crippled If Kazimtean increases.

As part of its Food Safety Initiative, we specialize in India Bateange with farmers in Africa. And it is a sign of the rise of India – hard-earned expertise that we now can export to those countries that consider a sample to India for Agricultural Development. A powerful example of it and how Indian and American partnership can deal with an immediate global challenge.

Because a country’s prosperity depends on its people’s health, we have tuberculosis and HIV / AIDS against such diseases will continue to support India’s efforts, and partners as a global effort to prevent the spread of flu by Deshantrgami Global Health will work to improve. And because knowledge is the currency of the 21st century, our students, our Kolejoan and exchange between our universities – increase the Pradanaoan, which are among the world’s finest.

While we will work to promote common prosperity, we can become partners in the direction of the second priority – and that our common security. In Mumbai, I brave families and survivors of the brutal attack met. And even in Parliament, which itself was targeted because it represents democracy, we pay tribute to the memory of all those who have stripped us, which killed U.S. citizens on 26/11 and 9 / 11 Indian nationals were killed are involved.

If this is the bond that we share. That we urge upon innocent women, men and children killed anytime, anything, can not justify. That is why we at any time to prevent terrorist attacks in comparison, are working more closely together and are making our cooperation more intensive. And why is that strong and overcome every difficulty coming As societies, we refuse to live in fear. We do not sacrifice the values and the rule of law Acdhayeange define us, and we defend our people in Dgmagayeange never.

Al – Qaeda and its terrorist associates against the U.S. war in Afghanistan as the reason we have been determined as a Khre, where India’s major development assistance has improved the lives of the Afghan people. We break the Taliban and Afghan forces to train Agatimyt its mission are progressing so that they can lead their own security. And while I made it clear that American forces starting next summer, will hand over responsibility to Afghan people, I also made clear that America’s commitment to the Afghan people will Brkzrar. United States, the people of Afghanistan – or the area – those who will not abandon the violent extremist threat for all of us offer.

Al – Qaeda and its affiliates disintegrated, fragmented and defeat our strategy will be successful on both sides of the border. And that is why we limit – in terrorist taunts – Banoan to deal with the threat has worked closely with the Pakistani government. Pakistani government is being increasingly understand that this warp – weft only danger is not outside Pakistan – they are a threat for Pakistani people. During the years he has suffered much at the hands of violent extremists.

And we will continue to urge the Pakistani leaders that the terrorists within their borders safe refuge – site unacceptable, and that terrorists were behind the Mumbai attacks did Khda in the dock of justice will have to go. (Applause). We also have to understand that we all benefit, both in an Afghanistan and Pakistan is a stable, prosperous and democratic – and in the interest of India.

We are in pursuit of regional security between India and Pakistan will continue to welcome conversation, while we acknowledge that you fight the two countries you can Sulzayae by the people of both countries.

See more broadly, India and the United States can be partners in Asia. Today, the U.S. leadership role in Asia is once again – by strengthening old Metrioan; relationships and by intense, as we are with China, and we then contact with regional organizations such as Sian – source Piro are the East Asia Summit are involved in the organization – the organization of which India is a partner. South – East Asian neighbors like you, we want not only that India “east view” but we want India “contact person with pre-made” – because it all of us security and prosperity of nations increase.

Two global leaders in the U.S. and India as world – wide security can become a partner – especially in the next two years, while India will act as a member of the Security Council. In fact, just and sustainable international system the U.S. wants the UN involved in it is an efficient, effective, credible and legitimate. That is why today I can say that in subsequent years, an improved I eagerly look forward to the UN Security Council in which India joined as a permanent member. (Applause)

Now, I want to say that the power to grow – to grow with the responsibility. The existence of the United Nations so that it meets its established principles, which are to maintain peace and security, promoting global cooperation and promotion of human rights. It is the responsibility of all countries, but especially her the 21st century want to lead. and so we with India – and with other countries that aspire to membership of the Security Council – to work to ensure that the Security Council to be effective weights are Joha; Zay its proposals implemented, made the following Nehaedhoan Zay; that we strengthen the international general rules that create rights and obligations of all nations and all people recognize.

The spread of nuclear weapons, including our obligation to stop. Since I took over, the United States in our national security strategy has reduced the role of nuclear weapons, weapons stores and we have agreed with Russia to reduce. We stop nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, its nuclear has topped the agenda, and we world – wide non-proliferation system is designed to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Adhaarasheela.

Together, America and India, the world’s vulnerability to secure nuclear materials can act to achieve their Lkrshy. We can make it clear that every country which has the right to peaceful nuclear energy, while each country is also important to meet their international obligations – including Iran and the Islamic Republic. And together, we have to realize that dream can work for the leaders of India’s independence – from the time of trying – it world in which nuclear weapons are not. (Applause).

And this leads me to the last area where our two countries can share – Neevoan to strengthen democratic governance in the country, not abroad, too.

In America, my administration and the government open and transparent and accountable to the people and worked to create. Here in India you to do the same technologies are resorting, as I saw yesterday in an exhibition in Mumbai. Your landmark Right to Information law to enable citizens, this capability by giving the services they are entitled to obtain them – (applause) – and that holding officers accountable. Voters wireless message through written information about candidates can get. And you are rural communities to deliver education and health care, as I last saw the time when I e with villagers in Rajasthan – Panchayat connected.

Now, open a new partnership of government in our own experience the two countries – Bateange with each other, it will see what is effective, and enable citizens will develop next generation tools. India – U.S. can deal with global challenges is how to share it as another example, we have these innovations parties and civil society will share with countries around the world. We will show that any other system of government than democracy, the common man – and woman provides results.

Similarly, the Indian vote put the whole world watches. Thousands of political parties, polling millions, tens of millions Karmic candidates and voting – and 70 million voters.The houses of this kind and nothing. So much that the transition to democracy, the country can learn from India’s experience, expertise so that India can do a joint with the world. And also so that is possible when the world’s largest democracy to embrace its role as global leader fitted.

The two largest democracies of the world as we should never forget that we value our own freedom for the freedom of others are Khre. (Applause) India know it, because it is the story of your country. India’s struggle for independence starting far before Gandhi, for the rights of Indians in South Africa by Khre. Much like others including the United States supported the independence of India, India, from Africa to Asia to take people’s self- – decision making responses while they were free from imperialism. (applause) and with the U.S. – with the world around you to support democratic development and civil society groups are leading ones. and also of the greatness of India a part.

Now, we all understand that every country on its own will only Mrga.’s Monopoly on wisdom of any country, any country ever try to impose their value on someone else should not. But the peaceful democratic Let crushed movements – such as Burma, for instance, is – the world’s democracies can not be silenced. because it is unacceptable that the perpetrators of peaceful protest and political prisoners gunned Zay decades Zay decades Kazeirkhanoan placed. It is unacceptable that an entire people’s ambitions and greed of the administrators over bankrupt – Zay kept hostage to unreasonable suspiciousness. it is unacceptable to go to steal the election, as the administration once again in Burma have the whole world can see.

Such gross violations of human rights when facing the international community – particularly the U.S. and India leaders – the responsibility that should be condemned. And if I say clearly, some issues such as the International Forum on India is often self-conscious. but speaking on behalf of those who themselves can not do for themselves, not to interfere with other countries. The sovereignty – is not in violation of the rights of rich countries. to its democratic principles have to be solemn. It is to make them meaningful to human rights, about which we say that they are universal.And it is the progress which Sanpohaith Thanashahioan democracy in Asia and worldwide has helped change and eventually the world have increased our security.

Promote the common prosperity, peace and security to maintain, strengthen democratic governance and human rights – the leadership responsibilities. And global partners, as is the leadership the United States and India in the 21st century presented Can. but eventually the relationship between presidents and prime ministers, or in the corridors of the parliament was closed can not. Ultimately, this partnership will be between the people of our countries. (applause). So I direct those of India I want to conclude by addressing the people who are watching us today.

In their lives, you have got to conquer the odds, who would have overwhelmed a less great country. Only a few decades, you have achieved the progress and development in other countries get the feeling Ashtbdiaan were. Now you between countries leader’s own justice – a seat are compatible. your mother – father and grandfather – it was conceived by Nana. your children and grandchildren – Potiyon see it back on.But only this generation of Indians who can take advantage of the possibilities of the moment.

While you have the front to try to accomplish this difficult task, I want to kill every Indian it: the United States viewers – by shouting from the gallery is not the only incentive you will, we in the field with you will Khre, side by side. (applause). because India is a symbol of the hope we have faith in him. We are confident that we will build the future will be the same. We believe that no one you have, come from anywhere If every man his God – given the possibilities might come true, of course, just like picking up a Dalit doctor Aambedkara himself composed the words of the Constitution which protects the rights of all Indians. (applause)

We believe that if you live anywhere – in a village in Punjab or a thin street of Chandni Chowk (laughter) – a construction area of Kolkata or Bangalore in the new high rise building – each individual security and to live with dignity, to education, find employment, equal opportunity to give their children a better future must be obtained.

And we believe that the country and cultures to the old habits and attitudes tend to negate the people – keep away from each other, when we recognize our common humanity, we can begin to meet these shared ambitions . This a simple – little text that is contained in the collection of stories of Indians who for centuries has been a guide – Panchatantra. and that the inscription is the essence of the Great House – Used to enter the Every person sees is: “a mine and the other an outsider, it is the ideology of small minds. but big heart for someone the whole world is his family.”

This is the story of India; This is the story of America – that despite their differences, people can see themselves in each other, as well – can work together, and with a proud nation – to achieve success with can. And that sense of partnership between countries can be Hmar – that while we respect those who have different histories separated us at the time – put aside while we also hold Sanjo a globalized world makes us unique , we can still come together to identify how much we can accomplish something.

And if we simple – simple ideology Please be my guide, if we work on the vision statement which I made today – a global partnership to tackle global challenges – so I have no doubt that the coming generations – Indians and Americans – in a world Jiyeangee the more prosperous, more secure and will be more equitable relationships, because those bonds are fabricated to our generation today.

So, thank you, and Jayhianda. (Applause). Long live the partnership between India and the United States. (Applause).

Finish 6:17 pm IST

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A race! A car! A robot!

Stanford Racing and Victor Tango together at a...
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Over the weekend, a set of Priuses suddenly displace every known flesh and blood superstar to from the popularity rankings. Every blogger (irrespective or being professional or hobbyist), was putting their hats down for the next big thing to happen after invention of wheel, and the car itself. The series of bizzare statements about Karl Benz‘s invention being a bug would have found no appropriate time than now. Another one of google’s “inventions” :) .

Maybe, i am the only one unable to understand Google’s contribution other than just bringing money on the table. I suspect that google’s role in this is no different than what Michael Mauritz and John Doerr played for building Google itself.

DARPA has been organizing the AGV races since some time now. I got a chance to speak to one of the teams way back in 2005. At that time, the first edition has just completed, and none of the participants had managed to go beyond 7-8 miles. The villain was non other than barbwire fences. CMU team was the best performer there.

The next edition saw completion for the first time. Stanford University team was the winner and CMU held second and third positions.

In 2007, DARPA held Urban Challenge, where the participants had to drive in urban condition obeying all the traffic rules. CMU won this as well, followed by Stanford in second spot.

Not to mention, Google sponsored both  CMU and Stanford Teams.

A big chunk of the folks behind the intelligent Priuses are the teams from DARPA AGV challenge. Google brought them money and facilities, they brought the technology to run the cars.

Sebastian Thrun, who is leading the effort there, was the team lead of Stanford team, and used to be a faculty member with CMU with Red Whittaker, who lead the CMU team.

While they are trying to solve a problem of autonomous cars, it is still perceived as problem of the rich and famous. For masses, public transport is essentially the same solution on a better scale. Less number of people apply their brains in controlling the vehicles, better is the road transport. Moreover, it is a man made problem :)

Better remove the roads and put the rail tracks, and asks the suits to adopt the mass transport. Make mass transport available to all.

Reminds me of an old joke of Americans investing millions in a pen that could write in space, and Russians using a pencil instead.

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Telecom sector performance for Q2 2010. ARPU and usage.

TRAI recently released its report on telecom sector performance for quarter ending June – 2010.  Following are the main observations -

  1. The teledensity stands at 56.83% as compared to 39.86% observed at the end of same quarter last year.
  2. Urban teledensity stands at 128.20% and rural teledensity is 26.43%.
  3. Year on year growth on wireless subscribers is 48.73% .
  4. ARPU (GSM) decreased 33.9% on as compared to last year.
  5. Incoming minutes of use (GSM) are 206 minutes per subscriber, and outgoing minutes are 195.
  6. ARPU (CDMA) decrease 19.6% as compared to last year. It stands at 74.
  7. Incoming minutes of use (GSM) are 154 minutes per subscriber, and outgoing minutes are 146.

For details, please read the report below.

oct510IndicatorReport Jun10

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Cleartrip – improve you customer care.

I have been using cleartrip since some time now. Fortunately, i never had to reschedule a flight. First time i tried to do it today, i could not do it :)

  1. They provide no means to do it online.
  2. Upon calling customer care, their some xyz dept which is supposed to handle such requests, is busy even for their own customer care folks :) , so the polite lady asked me to call after some time.
  3. Since it was for a flight about to take off with 12 hours, i decided to cancel the ticket.
  4. They charge 300 bucks more over top of airline charges for cancellations :)

Perhaps reservations have less margin, and cancellations have much more. Although 300 bucks are not hurting me that much, i am not amazed at the customer experience.

I would rather suggest  going to ixigo, searching and booking from the airline directly. At least, you will have more flexible options in case you need to change your travel plans, and i never found a problem with flight reschedule (at least with spicejet) .

I would be surprised how long it will survive on this strategy. Serious advice guys, instead of spending countless hours in Mahesh Murthy bashing, please spend those in building business, and care for your customer.

PS :- Try searching google for “cleartrip complaints” :)

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News sucks. Ok! sometimes.

An example of a breaking news intro graphic
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The judgement day arrived. Whole of India was glued to TV. Since morning, every new channel was pumping out breaking news after breaking news giving a paradigm shift to the breaking news itself. After drying my eye balls on this river of breaking news, suddenly i wondered what’s the latest in CWG today? Any roofs that collapsed? Any dogs found reading newspaper while sitting on the pot? Any cows giving the athletes run for their money? Did shiela aunty again drummed up the tantrums of betrayal of ones country! Not to mention, every channel, either run by our home grown Jawaharlal Nehru University read hindi patrakar’s to Oxford returned journalists were suddenly not interested in it. No! Even Arnab lost interest in it :)

The takeaway from this was that the customer does not have a choice in selecting what to watch. Or rather, customer only has a pseudo democratic choice originating from primary research done by someone on a small sample of intellectuals resulting in TRP’s, and the desi or friang analytical brains deciding upon what (Wo)men want!

On the other hand, a newspaper scales better in these scenarios. I can choose to leave front page story in middle, and jump to editorial, or sports whenever i want to. Such a choice is not available to me with the news channels. Also, in race for TRP’s, new channels host their (arguably) meaningful discussions, panels and open houses at the same time. You can choose to watch any one of these. Thus a choice exists in theory, but makes little sense for someone who wishes to watch more than one of them. Repeat telecasts won’t help because a basic constraint is that a customer has limited time slots to consume new holds.

With internet and tech advances these days, we can at least try to build a better news experience. Providing choice to customer and let him/her decide what is to be watched rather the paying fat packets to a set of analytics companies. Not to mention that internet dissemination already has mature metrics to know the impact and circulation. If i am able to switch between Times Now‘s ayodhya coverage and CWG coverage at the same time, that would make more sense to me.

News broadcasting certainly matured in terms of production quality from the days of Shammi Narang (i liked him) and Avinash Kaur Sarin to Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai and Arnab Goswami. But it still needs a big push in news consumption. I shall revisit this topic in future posts.

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Another bug. This time on tv.burrp

Since last few days, i have been using tv.burrp.com to find out what’s running on different channels (Such a functionality should ideally should be provided by the aggregators like tata sky and airtel, but nevertheless burrp sort of fills the gap). It is a nice support tool to figure out what to watch in only one hour i have each day.

Today, i had a slight more free cycles. I searched for some decent piece of comedy running on world movies. I was recommended “Forever Young”, and review had a nice plot of cryogenics, freezing, 50 years in no particular order. Upon watching for 15 mins, the promised sci-fi was turning out to be heavily sedated with blues music. Curiously, i searched the title on IMDB, and in a sec found out the problem. There are more than one movies by this name. Burrp seems to be assuming that first hit is always right, but in this case it was the second one. World movies was playing this, and burrp was telling this. Blame Mel Gibson for this.

Moreover, World Movie’s official site has a burrp widget displaying the same error.

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Google news algorithm. Mismatch

Fact no.1, India is playing Sri Lanka in tri-series cricket match today(25th august).

Fact no.2, The match starts in afternoon around 2:30PM IST.

Google news algorithm detected that there is a match today. It tried to get the score from cricinfo. Since the match has not started yet, it is listing score of sunday’s match. Result? following screenshot. Sounds like a bug.

google news

Policy Bazaar: Good thinking, bad execution

Policy Bazaar has been selling insurance online since some time. Online sale of insurance products has been around in the developed landscapes from quite some time.

Policy Bazaar’s process is as simple as this - 

  1. Go online to policybazaar.com
  2. Select an insurance category
  3. Fill in your details in a form including your phone number and email
  4. View the options available
  5. Buy, if you are able to make up your mind
  6. If not, leave it there
  7. Next day, start taking calls from all the insurance companies to which policy bazaar sold your number as it qualified as a lead. 
  8. Tell first caller to call later as you are driving
  9. Tell second caller to call later as you are driving
  10. Tell third caller to call later as you are out in a meeting 
  11. Tell fourth caller to hold. Take a look at time. If it has been less than 30 mins since the first call, scream
  12. Else think of a new errad and tell that to fourth caller
  13. In case policybazaar customer care calls to confirm whether you are interested in it or not, scold them

Essentially there are two monetization channels here. 

  1. Sell a policy online and take home the commision
  2. If a user does not buy a policy, forward his number to insurance companies and charge them for the lead.

Good thinking. Must be an MBA for such great strategies as it is maximizing the revenue potential by pushing the focus on conversion of unsuspecting lead. 

Summary – The experience is horrible. Wait till a decent offering does it online.