Thought for the day
“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those
endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the
principles which direct them”
-
Napoleon Bonaparte (French, 1769-1821)
Word for the day
Nettle (v)
To irritate, annoy, or provoke.
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Teaser for the day
With the confidence instilled in me by the most honest
political speech in at least past four decades, I declare the arrival of good
times!
Unleash the bulls.
Bears may rest in 10-Janpath till their name is called.
King
of good times!
My 9yr old daughter wakes up late in the morning and
refuses to do her summer vacation homework. All persuasions in past four days
have got one standard reply – Achhe din aa gaye hain (good times have come)!!!
Incidentally her summer vacations started from 16th May, the day
election results were announced.
Three months back I had expressed my thoughts on the narrative
of nationalism as experienced in my travel to understand the current
state of the country during past one year.
For the first time I was confronted with serious doubts about
the “Indianness” of “India” and “Indians” as we understand these ideas in
common discourse.
Deriving from my discussion on social, political and economic
conditions with people of various regions, I doubted that the idea of
“Indianness” perhaps only exists in films, army manuals, national holidays (26th January
and 15thAugust), political speeches and patriotic songs. The
compositions my children write describing “Unity in diversity” appeared
mythical to me.
I concluded that after 66years of becoming a geopolitical union,
India still remains merely the one. It is far from becoming a socio-economic
union and even further from becoming a socio-political union.
And I was certainly not alone in my thoughts. “India is merely a
geographical expression,” Winston Churchill said in exasperation, more than
half a century ago. “It is no more a single country than the Equator.” The
founder of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, argued that “India is not a real country.
Instead it is thirty-two separate nations that happen to be arrayed along the
British rail line.”
In his speech yesterday PM designate Narendra Modi became first
leader in the country since Lal Bahadur Shastri to exhort that a strong sense
of nationalism is imperative for solving most of the problems afflicting the
country. He extended both his arms to all the countrymen, especially those
opposed to him, to come together and work for betterment of the country.
While many detractors are refusing to take his words and
emotions at par, I found it very genuine and moving. Surely, I am not alone in
my sentiments.
I have been arguing that the solution to most socio-economic
problems afflicting the country could only come from within and only a
“politician” can visualize and implement these solutions.
After hearing the PM designate yesterday, I am confident that
finally we have a leader who not only is aware of “what is ailing Indian economy?”
but also has a credible vision and plan to solve the problems. This completes,
in my view, 50% of the job. Balance 50% would be the efficient execution of the
plan to actualize the vision. This is something that will depend on so many
other factors including will of the people.
InvesTrekk had been highlighting five pre-conditions to turn
bullish on equity markets for past couple of years. On my part I have been
camping in neutral to marginally positive territory for past 6months. I
earnestly believe that it is time to clear doubts and turn positive. I
accordingly suggest dropping the pre-conditions.
InvesTrekk proposes to get fully invested in its Model Portfolio
(currently 60%) in next 4-6weeks. No change is proposed in the portfolio itself
at this stage, but we are evaluating couple of discretionary consumption
stories for adding.
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