Corporate Corruption, Customer Harassment and Social Media

Over the last decade, we have seen an influx of bullish corporate culture coming to play in the Indian consumer products scenario. Undoubtedly, things have changed for the betterment of the society while giving comforts and choices to us as consumers, but what happened next? 

The economy opened up further, surging the visibility of international brands  in India. Be it UPA (United Progressive Alliance) or NDA (National Democratic Alliance), the government in power reinforced the fact that they're doing everything in the interest and favour of the Indian consumers by bringing in cheap and low quality Chinese manufactured products in the country. As a result, everything dumped from China has been landing up in our homes as consumer durables. Be it refrigerator, television set, mobile phone, LED light or for that matter, even, the hazardous toys for kids. We've been DROWNED and ENGULFED in the 'Chinese Ball of Fire'. 

On the other hand, we have our 'Desi' companies mushrooming across the country through the 'GLITTERING' malls, trying to give us the option of luxury of products and services, only to be purchased using 'PLASTIC MONEY' mostly 'Credit Cards' (Uncle Sam Will Get You Soon'). We LOVE to ape the West but we're better money planners as we would like to call ourselves. 

Today, as MasterCard advertisements say, "Dinner for 2 = Rs. 5,000 + service tax + service charge + VAT + Service tax on soft beverage + service tax on hard drink", "A Movie at a multiplex for 2 = Rs. 750 for tickets + convenience fee of Rs. 80 + Food & Beverage = Rs. 2,000" and the list goes on. FOR EVERYTHING, THERE'S MASTER CARD. SPEND BITCH, SPEND YOUR MONEY, BUY ON CREDIT, GO BANKRUPT BITCH!

We are at WAR in INDIA. Truly, look at it from all perspectives. Picture this. 'Airtel' comes up with the most AWESOME marketing campaign with a daft girl as its brand ambassador to market its AWESOME '4G' service. They give out free sim cards as well without the customer wanting it. You feel EXCITED, "YAAY, I'VE GOT A FREE 4G SIM, SO COOL". What Airtel does not tell you is that you will be CHARGED a BOMB for the 4G Plan and that they will RIP THE SHIT out of you by MAGICALLY over charging for the service you did not avail. You get a SMS from Airtel "You have consumed 100% data assigned to you. WOHOOO! Spend MORE MONEY for the FUCKING FREE SIM we GAVE you which half the time does not connect to the network." BAM! There you go, paying endlessly for a service you never received. 

Let me give you another situation of a product. You go buy a TV unit or an Air Conditioner from a dealer of say LG or Samsung. They commit a 48 hours installation and you're super kicked about parking your ass in your chilled room while watching the Cricket World Cup match on your 55 inch TV Screen. You have paid up. You do not hear from the dealer on delivery of your products. You call them up and they come back with a lame response. "Sorry Sir/Mam, your products will be delivered in the next 48 hours." WHAT DO YOU DO? Wait on. Ideally, we should as a customer ask for a compensation from the brand for the delay. We don't do that ANYMORE? Why? Are we being taken for granted by these brands? 

YES. You got that right. We are being SUCKED into the most PATHETIC CORPORATE SCENARIO of 'NO RIGHTS TO QUESTION' a corporate on how they treat us. We are heading towards a dangerous situation where in, EVEN AFTER BEING GIVEN THE CHOICE as a consumer, we will NOT HAVE A CHOICE to respectful customer service. 

E-Commerce!! What's happening? Order a product, you get a brick instead. The product most of the times turns out to be defective and the seller refuses to take it back. Do ANY OF THESE SELLERS mention that certain products being sold on their website have NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED by the manufacturer and the warranty is INVALID? They just SELL THE STUFF and WE CANNOT DO SHIT ABOUT IT, because at the end we are just BLOODY CONSUMERS, PAYING FOR A PRODUCT or SERVICE. Is it NOT how everything is working now? 

We as Indians are being shown newer sources of MONEY, higher SALARIES (What are SAVINGS?), unlimited CREDIT CARDS (cannot pay them back), fancy CARS and BIKES (No roads left to drive though) and but are we getting the DUE RIGHT of a consumer to fight over the wrong doings of these Corporates? Who gives a DAMN? It's TIME WE SHOULD start demanding what we deserve, if not through our legal SYSTEM, through SOCIAL MEDIA tools. Use Twitter (the most effective way of getting a brand to notice your problems). Shame them on Facebook. Go after them and they'll fix your issues right then and there (MOSTLY). 

Another example, buy a car, and go to a service center NOT owned by the car brand but a franchise; that's how most car brands operate. Ask for the servicing price. They say its Rs. XXXX + this + this + labour, etc. Call up another service station in the same area, you will be taken aback because the other guy is charging you 20% more than the first one. We pay a premium for ALMOST EVERYTHING that we buy, now should we pay furthermore than what's required for the servicing of our car. But do WE REALLY BOTHER? NO! SHOULD WE BOTHER?  YES! 

BRANDED LEGALIZED CORRUPTION is what I choose to call this nonsensical behaviour by most Indian and International brands. Let us take a STAND and WE as CONSUMERS shall come out as Winners sooner or later. THINK ABOUT IT. PLEASE. 

Panama Leads to India’s Narrowest Alleys

In April 2016, the world was blown away by the Panama Papers - a massive 2.6 terabyte leak of confidential documents revealing the deep web of international corruption and tax evasion from the world's political and business elite.

Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca which helps foreigners to set up international companies to buffer their financial assets leaked the papers to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists to uncover the offshore holdings and latent financial dealings of some of the world's most filthy, munificent and renowned names. It is an extensive investigation, based on a massive trove of documents provided by an anonymous source. Around 140 political figures from over 50 countries, including 12 current or former heads of states are part of this probe.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism, based in Washington, said the cache of 11.5 million records features over 500 Indians linked to offshore firms. The Indian Express, an English daily, undertook an 8-month long investigation into the data leak.

The repercussions of the Panama Papers leaks are being felt in India as well. A roster of rich and famous people, comprising billionaire property baron Kushal Pal Singh, real estate magnate Sameer Gehlaut, and  the Adani brothers - Vinod Adani and Gautam Adani have been exposed. The list uncovered also includes veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.  Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has said the report is “totally untrue.” Real estate tycoons Singh and Gehlaut have said that full disclosures have been made to the suited authorities and that they have not defied any laws.

The government has welcomed the disclosure of Panama Papers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had vowed to retrieve India’s black money from offshore shelters as part of his top electoral promise in 2014, has ordered an investigation consisting of tax authorities, federal investigators, as well as the central bank.

India’s erstwhile Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) had imposed regulations and restrictions for long on residents from transferring funds abroad due to foreign exchange deficit in the country, but, billions were siphoned off to foreign havens. The foreign exchange rules were simplified and eased in the year 2004 with the Liberalized Remittance Scheme that allowed individuals to remit $25,000 per annum, the limit of which today stands at $250,000.

There is no shortfall in rules and regulations for foreign exchange transactions in India. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, The Foreign Exchange Management Act (a less oppressive version of FERA), the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, the  Income-Tax Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act are some of them. However, an observation from a technical point disregards the spirit of these laws. Some people dissent that they had not set up any offshore company which was illegal; they only acquired them, which was permitted, while others say that they are non-resident Indians (NRI) to whom the Indian tax and other rules and regulations don’t apply.

The Indian Express has promised many more revelations in the days to come. The untold is yet to be revealed.

Dehradun Gears Up to take off its First Literature Festival

Dehradun, a beautiful place, surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, has been one of the oldest cities in India. It has been a hub of vital institutions and is also known for being a home to many avid readers and illustrious authors.

All these years, this historical city had been deprived of an organised, well-planned mega literary festival, but now there is a change of heart; Dehradun will see its first ever literature festival unfold on 22^nd April, 2016. This two-day event is being organised by World Integrity Center in association with Harvard Club of India, and Springhead Communications.

The first edition of Dehradun Literature Festival is going to be a literary extravaganza as it is bringing together some of the most well-known authors, publishing houses, and bibliophiles from all over the country, under one roof. This long awaited lit-fest is sure to act as a catalyst in augmenting the city’s image.

What the Lit-Fest has in Store for You?

In such disheveled times, Dehradun Literature Festival 2016 aims to create a path to fill our tired and overworked minds with the much needed contentment.

ASHWIN SANGHI

More than twenty five authors from different genres, along with six prestigious publishing houses will be present at the festival. Some of the noted authors making it to the event include Ashwin Sanghi, Nayantara Sahgal, Anisha Motwani, Ranjit Lal, Humra Quraishi, Novoneel Chakraborty, Chetan D Narain, Omair Ahmad, Kota Neelima, Sanil Sachar, Dev Lahiri, and Swapna Liddle. This lit-fest is going to be an iconic platform where one will be able to meet, interact and engage with his/her favourite authors for hours.

World Integrity Center

Adding more to the exciting factors, the literary meet is going to be a perfect occasion to network, engage and communicate with other like-minded literature enthusiasts. The festival will conduct a Book Fair, one-to-one sessions with the authors, and not to forget, an amazing panel discussion; the schedule for the two-day event has been well-crafted to be filled with intellectual activities, all day long. Like they say, "All is well that ends well", and so the event is planned  to end with a melodious closing musical ceremony by India's top Swatantra Rock Band.

World Integrity Center, the host of this event, is housed in a colonial building with gardens all around it, designed and created to fill one's mind with the joy of beauty. The center includes tastefully constructed dining, lodging and rejuvenating facilities within its premises. It is centrally located in the heart of the city, and is also known for serving lip-smacking food.

 

Are We Becoming Social Sadists?

A sadist is someone who enjoys inflicting pain on others. Sadists like seeing other people hurt.  Anyone who is mean and enjoys it — like a bully — can be considered a sadist. If you've ever been mean to someone and enjoyed it then, Congrats! you have been a little sadistic.

How many times have you enjoyed Roadies' auditions where judges have eternally bullied the contestants, or Bigg Boss where a group virtually harasses a weakling, or Spilstvilla where a girl is “dumped” by her own group of friends?

Welcome to the 21^st century, where apart from being developed we have managed to evolve as societal sadists! In today's world, entertainment has become a way to satisfy our shallowness. What happened to Satyajit Ray’s drama, shows like Malgudi Days, and Hum Log which helped society to rethink and renovate on the wrinkles brought by the system? And should we be happier that the sadist shows are popularly being known as "Reality Shows"!!

Ever wondered what some of the cartoon shows like Shin Chan, Ogi the Cockroach, are doing to the tender minds of this nation, and some ever-traumatizing 'saas-bahu' serials to the minds of young girls who already can’t relate to marriage? If art is called the mirror of society then should we be scared to be called its reflection?

It is high time that we stand in the middle of the reality show saga and introspect as to why we prefer sadistic entertainment. Where are we going as a society? Should we be afraid of the fact that our reaction towards a fight will permanently be a “smirk”?  Are these reality shows slowly becoming a parasite in our society?

Time to think about the ‘reality’ before you switch on that TV!