May 2004:
The congress party forms the government with its major pre-electoral alliance partners and names its government as UPA (inspired by the previous regime) much to the suprise of the urban indian.Yet another surprise was awaiting during the cabinet allocation.
The Indian railways(the white elephant) was given to one of the most charismatic and controversial indian politician Mr.Laloo prasad yadav.The indian railways financial health was neither too strong and nor many of the railway "experts" were willing to paint a rosy picture for the railways which was employing 1.6 million people.Mr.Yadav was given a ministry which not long ago(in fact in 2001) had deferred its dividend payment,whose fund balances had reduced to just Rs.350 cr and heading to a terminal debt trap.
The expectation was that Mr.Yadav can do nothing but watch and infact hasten the death of the white elephant, the world largest employer.
May 2006:
Mr.Yadav rises in the parliment to announce the railway budget for the year 2006-07.
There was a pleasant surprise waiting for the whole world and also for the major corporate chiefs, the white elephant has made one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the corporate history, under the able leadership of a rustic man, who was often ridiculed for his broken hindi jokes and his association with scams. The railways has a fund balance of Rs.11,000 crores and the internal generation before dividend has touched Rs 11,000 crores. Quite a remarkable turnaround in a short span of 5 years. Suddenly lalooji has become one of the darlings of corporate india and is one of the most sought after speakers in any corporate meetings. Infact the IIM-A, the most prestigious B-school in india, has decided include in its syllabus, the turnaround of the indian railways.And the topping on the cake is that, the whole of corporate india and the IIM-A students are awaiting for the day when Mr.laloo will deliver a speech, briefing about the turnaround of the indian railways.
Nothing is constant in this world, and especially if your in the public domain.
The congress party forms the government with its major pre-electoral alliance partners and names its government as UPA (inspired by the previous regime) much to the suprise of the urban indian.Yet another surprise was awaiting during the cabinet allocation.
The Indian railways(the white elephant) was given to one of the most charismatic and controversial indian politician Mr.Laloo prasad yadav.The indian railways financial health was neither too strong and nor many of the railway "experts" were willing to paint a rosy picture for the railways which was employing 1.6 million people.Mr.Yadav was given a ministry which not long ago(in fact in 2001) had deferred its dividend payment,whose fund balances had reduced to just Rs.350 cr and heading to a terminal debt trap.
The expectation was that Mr.Yadav can do nothing but watch and infact hasten the death of the white elephant, the world largest employer.
May 2006:
Mr.Yadav rises in the parliment to announce the railway budget for the year 2006-07.
There was a pleasant surprise waiting for the whole world and also for the major corporate chiefs, the white elephant has made one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the corporate history, under the able leadership of a rustic man, who was often ridiculed for his broken hindi jokes and his association with scams. The railways has a fund balance of Rs.11,000 crores and the internal generation before dividend has touched Rs 11,000 crores. Quite a remarkable turnaround in a short span of 5 years. Suddenly lalooji has become one of the darlings of corporate india and is one of the most sought after speakers in any corporate meetings. Infact the IIM-A, the most prestigious B-school in india, has decided include in its syllabus, the turnaround of the indian railways.And the topping on the cake is that, the whole of corporate india and the IIM-A students are awaiting for the day when Mr.laloo will deliver a speech, briefing about the turnaround of the indian railways.
Nothing is constant in this world, and especially if your in the public domain.
