Marxism and Shiv Sena !

After scratching my head for one month, finally I had to let out my frustration on the Shiv Sena circus going on in India (home). So instead of blabbering out some useless abuses on them, I decided to think why such a significant amount of people would follow the command and ideology of such unreasonable and racist family. Who have based their entire political ideology on hate crimes!
I would just like to admit that I am no expert in politics. I was born in Mumbai, stayed most of my life in Gujarat but attended my college in Pune. So I have spent a good amount of time in Mumbai and as well in Maharashtra, which at least gives me the right to comment on the situation (I am sure Shiv Sena would have a problem with an Indian Citizen writing about Maharashtra and Shiv Sena from America).
I think there is a strong relation between Hitler, Stalin/Lenin and Thackeray’s. They all believe in Marxism!
I am sure Bal Thackeray has his personal collection of Karl Marx literature. I would like to explain Marxism briefly for those of you who are not aware about this political philosophy.

Marxism is a particular political philosophy, economic and sociological worldview based upon a materialist interpretation of history, a Marxist analysis of capitalism, a theory of social change, and an atheist view of human liberation derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The three primary aspects of Marxism are:
1. The dialectical and materialist concept of history — Humankind's history is fundamentally that of the struggle between social classes. The productive capacity of society is the foundation of society, and as this capacity increases over time the social relations of production, class relations, evolve through this struggle of the classes and pass through definite stages (primitive communism, slavery, feudalism, capitalism). The legal, political, ideological and other aspects (ex. art) of society are derived from these production relations as is the consciousness of the individuals of which the society is composed.
2. The critique of capitalism — In capitalist society, an economic minority (the bourgeoisie) dominate and exploit the working class (proletariat) majority. Marx uncovered the inter- workings of capitalist exploitation, the specific way in which unpaid labor (surplus value) is extracted from the working class (the labor theory of value), extending and critiquing the work of earlier political economists on value. Although the production process is socialized, ownership remains in the hand of the bourgeoisie. This forms the fundamental contradiction of capitalist society. Without the elimination of the fetter of the private ownership of the means of production, human society is unable to achieve further development.
3. Advocacy of proletarian revolution — In order to overcome the fetters of private property the working class must seize political power internationally through a social revolution and expropriate the capitalist classes around the world and place the productive capacities of society into collective ownership. Upon this, material foundation classes would be abolished and the material basis for all forms of inequality between humankind would dissolve.


Based on these three principles, Stalin killed millions of people justifying it as restructuring of the society based on Marxism principle. Killing the most talented and wealthy people on the grounds of creating a society where all are equal. Stalin and Lenin use to publicly admit they were firm believers and followers of Marxism, what baffles me the most is the fact that they were never convicted of any crime against humanity (to learn more about this subject I would recommend to watch the documentary “The Soviet Story”.
Hitler twisted the Marxism principle and used it to kill Jews. Many would believe that he was greatly inspired by Karl Marx. Hitler believed that Jews were inferior humans and only by killing them he could lay the foundation for a great society.
It is interesting to see how the two different allies of WW-II took the same principle and used it completely in two different manners to justify the killing of millions of people. Russia believed in killing the best performing class and Germany in the lowest class (based on their assumption) the Jews.
I just feel Shiv Sena is not any different they feel people from other states are lower human beings compared to Maharashtrians; they want to create communal disharmony to gain cheap publicity. Just by collecting chanda (donation) from chawls and societies one cannot claim to be the protector and guardian of the “Marathi Pride”. Maharashtra which directly translates into “Great Nation” is the state housing India’s financial capital Mumbai, it is one of the strongest states in India when it comes to Agriculture, base of Bollywood, home to Lata Mageshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Ambanis and billions of others (including the Dabbawalas; just love their management and operational skills). There are millions of things which represent Mumbai the list would be longer Maharashtra. But the only thing I am certain about is the fact that it has no place for Shiv Sena or the Thackeray’s.
I also would like to know what Shiv Sena has done so far to help out the people in need. Snatching jobs from north Indian cannot be categorized as Job creation! I was greatly inspired and delighted by Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai’s open letter to Udhav Thackeray (http://stg.ibnlive.com/blogs/rajdeepsardesai/1/61523/an-open-letter-to-uddhav-thackeray.html).
I don’t know how many people would read this, but it really does not matter how many do!
The more important thing is what we are going to do about this!
If you agree with me that something has to be done, please pass on this message to all your friends.
Thank you,
Kushal Gohil
kushal.gohil@gmail.com

Proud to be at U.C.! Bearcat for life!

Graduate studies is a very important phase in a student life, and it starts when you are selecting the schools you are looking to apply. It is even bigger for us (international students) because there is a lot at stake. We are half a globe away from our home, in search of a better education and a better life. I was really excited about joining U.C. from the day I got to know about the course. I was over the moon when my application was accepted.

Today after only spending nine months at the college I have become a Bearcat for life. My colleagues feel I am a talking, moving, mobile billboard for U.C. I am so proud of being at U.C. as a student, as a member. I think partly this strong affiliation is because of my regular interaction with Mrs. Mary Stagaman. She is so passionate about her work and the university it is hard not to get inspired.

My friends and colleagues tell me I am a true U.C. ambassador, personally I fell that is a really big compliment and I have not achieved enough here to be called that. But I sure am a Bearcat and cannot stop myself from promoting this esteemed university where ever and when ever I can.

I always wear a U.C. pin when I am meeting someone outside of the university for official work. It really looks smart, but that not why I wear it. When I put on that pin it gives me this great feeling which is really complex in nature. If I had to put it in words it’s a mixture of:

Belongingness: to such a great entity (university)

Pride: Because it’s one of the best university

Confidence: It feels like I am not alone

One of the current campaigns that University has undertaken to raise donation is called “Proudly Cincinnati “. I was really surprised by this because no were in the slogan university is mentioned. But then I realized it was because president Zimpher believed a great university cannot exist without a great city and vice-versa.

I do not expect everyone to do the same, as in wear the pin. But I do strongly feel that everyone should take pride in being part of such an esteem university.

After reading a recent blog on wsjblog by miss jordan on the security/ guarantee a M.B.A provides for securing a job is diminishing rapidly i was compelled to put this on my blog. A decade ago an M.B.A had much more value in the eyes of the employers. The question is whether this diminishing effect is due to whether this is the new status quo or if it is just a temporary, recession-driven change is unclear. Your thought's !!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

P&G’s Stengel: Make purpose your star


Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lisa Biank Fasig Staff Reporter




One of the best ways to beat perspiration is with aspiration.
This, in a way, was the message by Jim Stengel, the global marketing officer of Procter & Gamble Co., to a crowd of hundreds of people this morning at the University of Cincinnati’s inaugural marketing summit, called Purpose Driven Branding. In a one-hour presentation that highlighted the on-the-ground efforts by P&G, Stengel highlighted its global efforts to prevent disease, lighten the load for poor mothers and – in the case of perspiration – help boys become men.
“The function of marketing lacks a north star,” Stengel told the crowd, as he prepared to guide it through P&G’s own mission. That north star, he said, is purpose and ideals.
But it’s not so simple as pledging to go green in the office or supplying vaccinations to children in third-world countries. Such goals have to be part of the moral fabric of a company. Every mission has to be backed up with action. It must first be geared toward helping others, and in turn elevate the brand. Only then is the effort authentic, and therefore worthwhile.
To accomplish this, a company has to line up a few other stars. The leader must be explicit about the purpose, and it has to resonate with workers; it must energize them. If the company’s own people aren’t passionate about the program, why would consumers be?
Stengel illustrated how P&G accomplishes its purpose through several of its global programs, each initiated by the teams that oversee the brand involved. Safeguard, for instance, launched a program in Pakistan to educate families about hygiene, a program that eliminated illness while growing brand awareness. Pampers teamed with UNICEF in a global program wherein one tetanus vaccination is donated with every package of Pampers sold. So far, 40 million vaccinations have been funded as a result.
And Old Spice, a decades-old brand that was losing market share, turned the ship around by making manhood its north star. Or, more specifically, helping men “navigate the seas of manhood,” Stengel said.
The tongue-in-cheek commercials that resulted helped build the brand and attracted the attention of actor Will Ferrell, who contacted P&G and asked if he could get involved. More commercials followed.
The point is that the most successful brands drive emotion and trust among consumers, Stengel said.
“You have to be selfless about the consumer,” Stengel said. “It’s about him or her. It’s not about you.”
Stengel closed by encouraging the students and marketers in the crowd to become a part of the movement.
“We can be much, much better than we are today.”
Stengel’s presentation was followed by a roundtable discussion by Jim Sluzewski, vice president of communications for Macy’s Inc; Kathy Selker, CEO of Northlich; Walter Solomon, chief growth officer of Ashland Inc; and Chris Allen, the Arthur Beerman professor of marketing at UC.
The event was held at the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center.

Definition ! can you come up with your own or edit this ?

Consumer behavior is the study of how people buy, what they buy, when they buy and why they buy. It blends elements from psychology, sociology, sociopsychology, anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the buyer decision processes/buyer decision making process, both individually and in groups. It studies characteristics of individual consumers such as demographics, psychographics, and behavioural variables in an attempt to understand people's wants. It also tries to assess influences on the consumer from groups such as family, friends, reference groups, and society in general.

Your views on Global Financial Crisis ?

Any hypothesis on the global economic failure ? Is it the goverment policy failure ?