Maruti’s answer to Nano

Now, it’s the turn of Maruti, who is seriously planning a car priced closer to Nano, and it could apparently be the Cervo, a compact five door mini that might put the other kids on the block in the shade.The Cervo looks like a smaller Chevrolet Beat with cues from Honda Jazz’s design.

The phenomenal fuel efficiency is one of the USPs of this car.

Powered by Suzuki’s 660cc engine – as against Nano’s 623cc – the Cervo could be priced between 1.5 to 2 lakhs, a little higher than Nano. But Cervo looks too stylish and futuristic to be priced under 2 lakhs. So it’s obvious that Maruti needs to delete some of the features available in the car, or use a cheaper material to make a potent contender to Nano.

Although not all can repeat the Nano story, Maruti has resources and expertise to come up with such a model at a cheap price without compromising on quality. Lets hope for the best.

Source : Yahoo news

That was “A great day”

“The Statesman” of  Friday, 15th Aug 1947 has been preserved in the museum of Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andaman. I had an opportunity to visit the Cellular Jail in Oct 2009, and I found the newspaper kept for the visitors.  On the front page an advertisement of Tata Industries  attracted me and I tried to capture in my camera. The same is shown above. The newspaper has become brownish and must be brittle.   The content of the Ad.  may not be readable from the picture, the same is reproduced  under quote and unquote in bold letters, below  :

“In this great hour of India’s destiny we

offer our homage to those who fought

and suffered so that she may be free.

With freedom’s battle won, let us dedicate

Ourselves to the task of creating a happier

And fuller life for the people of India

And building a land in which, as the Poet

Has sung, “the mind is without fear and

The head is held high”. Then alone

Shall we be worthy of our great heritage.”

I have posted it here just not to highlight TATAs or TATA Industries, but for the content of the advertisement.  Dreams of the people of free India what was on that day, has not much changed.

On winning the battle of freedom, then the citizen of free India dreamt of a better India But today when we look at it, we find that the war is not yet over. Though India is developing country today but still it has to continue its “war” against hunger and poverty. The hunger and poverty today are mostly created one by the today’s narrow politics. The development yet to reach to the poor people of remote villages, who are the son of the soil of free India. How long this country will carry the Tag “Developing” ? In our life time, will it change to “Developed” one? God only knows.

Many miles to go (courtesy : Times of India, 14/8/10)

Nano is launched

At last much awaited “Nano” is launched today and created history in the automobile engineering. Unfortunately Singur could not be the part of the history just due to Mamata Banerjee, the most immature, destructive and anti-industry, anti-development leader of this century. Of course the name of Singur and Mamata has already made their space in the history for negative reasons, which nobody wanted.

Much have been talked/written in the media about the destructive, anti-people activities of Mamata Banerjee, so whatever I try to talk will be less. The elections are round the corner. We find surprisingly how these leaders are changing their colors and trying to be friendly with the people. She can do/ talk whatever she likes, but people of West Bengal will never forgive her for her betrayal to the youth of West Bengal, particularly Singur and neighborhood by driving out the Tata Nano from Singur. People will not forget what she and her men did for closer of the Nano factory when the car was rabout to roll out in October 2008 itself.

This is politics but this time it may boomerang

The state of West Bengal is passing through a difficult times. All the developments and industrialization process may be at grinding halt due to some irresponsible movements by the few politicians. The state is always politically active but this movement is unprecedented and most damaging to the image of the state. The upcoming Nano factory at Singur has been closed before completion of its construction and the situation there has forced TATA to rethink about the project. Their workers were stopped and threatened and the most important NH2 was blocked for days. The damage what was inevitable due to the irresponsible movement of the political parties at Singur, has been successfully done by them. The movement for ‘land for land’ for the unwilling farmers itself is a unpractical demand. If this demand is met, then it will become a precedence for the future and no development in the state could be done. The mood of the agitating parties shows that they are not bothered for the development of the state, because they want to project themselves as the savior of the farmers, just for a narrow political mileage.

The industry-pro environment was created in the state by the present Chief Minister shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and to turn “anti” to “pro” took few years. But the agitating parties and their irresponsible movement ruined pro environment in few days and it will not be surprised if the decade old ‘industrial draught’ condition comes back in the state, if TATA forced to withdraw his project from Singur. The indications are coming of similar nature, because during last few days, investors have shown their concern and apprehension and they are rethinking.

Inspite of all these how the agitating party can say that they too want industrialization in the state. Their words or wish (at least for Singur) are not matching with their activities. The package offered by the Government is very much attractive and there are still rooms for negotiations. But the agitating leaders have just rejected the package and they are sticking to ‘Land for land’ demand. It again shows that the leaders are aiming for their narrow gains only and not the interest of the farmers and the state. The agitating party should understand that their adamancy now goes against the interest of the poor farmer and this will boomerang on them and the resultant political mileage may be zero from this movement.

Suicidal movement to “ta” “ta” to Nano from Singur

During last few years, a new chapter has started in the state’s industrialization by Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister. Since then the atmosphere of the state started changing. He relentlessly is trying to change the scenario of the state. Inspite of allodds, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee successfully has brought some changes in the scenario of Industrialization of West Bengal. And Ithink it is just because of his own image tothe Industrialists and nothing else helped for such changes. Thats how Tata came here for his Nano factory.Its not that Tatas are not aware of the history andwork culture of this state. Despite of all doubts Tata presented the Nano project to this state just because of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. We all should be proud for this project since the Nano car has becomean international issue. We should feel lucky that such an international car will be rolling out from our Singur. This will make Singur known to the world.

 

Today the Nano project at Singur has become uncertain just because of some senseless agitation of Trinamul Congress Party demanding return of 400 acres of land to the farmers. The party which is shedding crocodile’s tears for the farmers, is already known for their suicidal, directionless politics in the state. Its nothing new for the state. The party has got an issue and they want to stick to that for some political gain out of that. They never want anything good for the affected farmers or the state. Had they wanted it , they would have brought the farmers at fore front to dialogue with the state government and resolve the issue of injustice, if any. But they don’t want to resolve it, and their aim is for some narrow political gain out of the situation. We are not bothered for their political gains or games what they are playing, but we are definitely worried for the cost, the state has to pay for their silly politics.

 

Nano project at Singur has become part of life of many people of Singur today. Young generation, who are in colleges, technical Institutes under going training, of nearby areas have started weaving their dreams with Nano project as many job opportunities are in the pipelines. They are looking forward for the Nano project to complete and secure a job in any company there. They are dreaming of a better life, better environments, better society which will come up with the developments of that area alongwith Nano factory and other ancilliary industries in and around Singur.The Scenario of those villages will totally change in few months. But senseless, suicidal, directionless and selfish politics of Trinamul Congress will shatter all hopes ofIndustrialization started in the state and this will send a negative message to the world.

 

The demands of the agitating party, if genuine for the poor farmers, they should have come forward for discussion with a practical, negotiable and compromising solution in the greater interest of the farmers as well as of the state. But it seems to that they want to keep the issue live with an aim to their Vote Bank.If Tata wind up the project, a grave situation will arise in the state and all hopes of industrialization will end here. After that, what will the fate of those 400 acres of land ? If Tata goes from Singur, one good thing will happen that Mamata Banerjee will lose the issue for their senseless politics.

 

God may help Mamata to understand the greater interest of the people of the state and be wise to protect that. At least she should have some sense to understand that her adamancy and senselessmovement going against her and creating sympathy to the ruling party only.

Pro-Industry Rally at Esplanade, Kolkata in favour of Industry in the state. (Photo : courtesy Times of India)