MoKatha: March 2020

Invitation for your regular visit to this post. Please put what you say about.....

POST CORONA WORLD

Our world is beautiful, that we keep telling now and then as a rhetoric to impress the listeners but many times it doesn't happen so for listeners being overfed with this phrase from immemorial days though it can't be told of those people of past how much did they mean it, but sure, in current times we don't as our life style, deeds and thoughts are not really in sync with the phrase though we claim to be accepted so by others, but in reality we don't mean it as our doing really doesn't beautify it, rather we every day dump tonnes of dirt on our loving beautiful world even without an iota of remorse, rather some take it as a right being an overenthusiastic citizen of our great democracy that is claimed as successful by the winning political party whereas the main opposition meekly adheres to it with a hope for the next; as the politicians are used to live with qantised hope of five-year term.
The storm of Corona will eventually pass over the globe but will leave indelible marks on the history of mankind for future. What will be future like after a month or two world goes for grinding halt. Never ever this solitude humankind has seen in last few hundred years I guess, nobody can tell really there was something like world went stand still. In modern times, discontinuity means distrust. There is distrust now for this unprecedented discontinuity. A storm or flood or drought hits locally and in a season or two people recoup to the loss. Government comes to the help and so on. But, this carona storm is different as it has hit the globe with the same rage with no bias. The commerce has come to halt, so also industry , agriculture and service sector. Tiny virus has put the mighty down on the floor. But, still there will be tomorrow and we ponder what kind of tomorrow it will be. Let's have some extrapolation while exploring the possible changes and challenges the future store for us.

1. Education: Will now parents feel safe their kids to schools ? So also colleges ? Particularly, with planned families, parents as such are extra careful. Will these institutions be of buildings for hundred years of solitude? Home schooling or online schooling could be options open. Or it could be old traditional gurukul , teacher(s) with five to ten students.
What about higher learning? Higher learning  is to be redefined. It's no more business of our current colleges , institutes and universities. When higher learning is chasing of new knowledge, the institutes of higher learning will be very few and very few go such institutes. In such case, naturally the number of students for real higher learning is downsized. What we have now, all most all are for run of the mill kind, and those handle huge mass of young workforce. But again large number assembly brings massive anxiety for all the stakeholders , more to parents. This will lead to online education including teaching and grading. What before typical educationists despise but they have to accept with Corona-shock. More interesting is the automatic downsize of Indian students going abroad for education. Never before foreign returnees are so badly despised with. As before, the students interested in higher learning will only go abroad to reputed universities with high research agenda not for the sake of going abroad for neighbors to envy. Education as such is going through upheavals but will go further in a big way.
However, for us in India the rural education is in fragile state. Private players slowly but steadily making in roads into primary and secondary education market. They hold the string in control of change in Indian rural education.
With online culture, the ethics of teachers, students, exams, evaluations, grading and certificate awarding- all these are to be redefined. Finally, what one reads now market decides and institute provides. But post corona day education though still is market centric, but will not institute/university centric. It will be guru centric. A guru teaches on-line and degree awarding authority evaluates on line and awards certificates on particular papers one has learnt from different gurus. Degrees in a particular program like B.Tech / M.Tech / MA will not be there. These programs will have no more recognition rather what papers one learnt do matter. Employer no more will look for degrees but for papers studied. Gurus will be back to centre stages in changing scenario.
Small and beautiful institutes will catch the imaginations of cautious Indian parents. Something like IIIT Hyderabad, small but rigorous in pursuit of knowledge. Such institutes could emerge as destinations for the avid academic students whose parents may not prefer abroad studies. One way it's good to stop brain drain. But, learning in these institutes could be costly for this being exclusive institutes. Let's some hope some philanthropist corporate houses enter into such ventures.
Foreign Universities  will not find India their destination. They are on wings to fly in waiting for our parliament nod to a reform in education sector allowing foreign direct investments. But, as post carona time look for small size institutes, then these foreign universities will not find coming India a financially better proposition. But, as I propose guru centric study, we will be lucky if some reputed professors working in USA come back India and invest their money and mind for cottage-institutes. It will be a fantastic qualitative change for under the stewardship of an accomplished professor, world standard sishyas will come out to push the frontiers of knowledge.
Computer Science for easy job seekers studying Computer Science and Engineering will remain a favourable discipline.
Core Engineering subjects will pick up for demand at home, when post-corona time takes up anti globalisation stand. Nations, particularly our nation should take this opportunity to develop our own industries so core engineering subjects will be of demand.
Medical Science : will be on favourite card to put on choice table, for increasing government employment opportunities.
US and other countries: Indian students will not flock mad any more to foreign universities for simple reason of drastic reduction in employment opportunities in European countries. USA will go for more close options to foreigners maybe excluding researchers. But, still elites may go abroad as before on their own money. Canada may turn to a future destination but it will not be as such preferable for Indian students for its drastic weather conditions and not much employment opportunities.
Ameerpet finishing industry will face measure slump for dip in IT industry, lessening choice in reading engineering and its squeezing class rooms. However, online finishing courses and even regular engineering courses will be available.
Social Science has been on renaissance as far as readers' interest concerned. More social upheaval attracts more study on people. In that sense, COVID-19 has added new dimension to social problems. New seekers can make a brave and smart choice of Social Science for a career ahead. Law, Management, Political Science and ofcourse Economics all the disciplines will find a new vista to explore. Academicians and thinkers, hopefully, will plunge into research in this field.
Natural Science has been struggling for research funding excluding Life Science. It has been getting generous funding considering its importance in current world. Agriculture science has done immense service to India in terms of offering high yielding rice varieties to hungry India of '70s. It has also done immense damage to many species pushing to extinguish and for lack of soil management fertility is coming down.
Coronoa virus spread time, I'm talking of India, there has not been any candid statement of a bio-scientists showing resolve to untangle the nation from tangle of Carona. This brings them to sharp criticisms. Indian funding to bio-science research will be monitored and accountability will be fixed in terms of novel research not just paper publishing. It's praise worthy Indian bio-engineering industry has come up with the first indigenous Cororna testing devise. This will enhance trust to industry, so state funding can be extended to such exclusive research oriented industry.
World front, Carona shifts attention to virology from Cancer and Alzheimer. Funding will be biased to virology henceforth.
Humanities studies will have tinge of human grief and nervous of life threatening viruses. There is a proverb in Odia is 'Apana Hata Jagannatha'. That essentially a lot of courage on one's ability of doing things by one's own hand. Covid-19 has put distrust on one's own hand, leave aside others' hands. Novels, poems will be there in plenty on this aspect of life. Humanity study while revolving around digital humanity will add characteristics of online human relations particularly depicting human emotions while in isolation. 'The Cries in Isolation' could be a next novel and an anthology of poems. Will it be for the next Nobel in Literature ?
Fine Arts
Soft skill

By and large such changes are offing but COVID-19 will accelerate the change for good or bad, time will tell. But sure, we all eager to look at the post COVID-19 evolving changes in education sector.

2. Industry

What's the new paradigm, industry looking for ?

World wars have pushed us to the world of industry , mostly propelled by west and now rest of the world has caught up to it. Post Corona world is projecting probable supremacy of China in production of industrial goods and thus graduating itself to super power with its upsurge in economy. World worries of leadership of a country that's almost opaque to the outer world and the country will ill reputation of plowing tanks over its own young mass at Tinneman square. Chinese are silent but world has not forgotten it.
So, west even ready to risk of lifting lockdown to catch up to the competition China has thrown to them. It's all global game. Globalisation the mantra west fed to the world once to gain its supremacy is gradually getting ineffective for their good. Is globalisation theory hitting its dead end? Probably yes, probably not. Industry, trade and politics: three either make a good world or bad world. Let's explore the good in shape of industry in post corona world.
Till now, our run for industrial growth has been exploiting, ruthless exploitation of Nature including  human values. China has led in two fronts running sweat shops. Its huge population is mercilessly marshaled to overwork and produce cheap goods to capture world market capturing super market shelves and footpaths with pick-anything for ten rupees or a dollar. People around the world have succumbed to this tact giving an indirect thumbs up.
Post corona world:
1. If literate west wakes up, then innovations will be towards towards new green technology.
2. sustainable technology
3. less consumerism
4. Developing countries will find it difficult to cope with changing world.
5. Underdeveloped countries may not catch up to the change.

If west ego can get together particularly NATO countries with Israel, Australia and Japan may build up very very conservative captive market for their goods. They are capable of going for green technologies provided their people shun consumerism (particularly at low cost not getting caught in Chinese low cost products). Their military industries will go for high order productions.

Indian industry will have really a peculiar as well as differently difficult situations. India can do well going with bandwagon of west without any past romance of non-aligned, India must shun the past and come out actively to join with west to be a partner in development of new genre industries. It must waste time in taking decision. Post corona time it must catch up with west in providing its youth educated manpower for development and setting up green industries for mass production. India must not give its market without technology. That's India in global run of industry.

Will there be any change in Indian Industry ?

India's own industry base is important. It has to redefine its industry priority in post-coronal world. The lesson of this pandemic is sustainable solitude. Let's ask some questions to catch our wishes.

1. Can we not make our kitchen-grinder, washing machine, airconditioners, automobile and small toys , chocolates and all FMGs ?
2. Do we really need to go for variety of cars ?
3. Importantly, do we want to be an assembler and engineer of screw-driver technology excellence?
4. Will India take its manufacturing industry serious?
5. What the change offing in heavy industries like iron, electrical, fertiliser, power generation,cement etc.
6. Does India take its strategic industries at different level of priority?
7. What's about its healthcare industries ?
For the first question, the answer is 'yes', in order to give employment to its large number of unemployed youths, the engineering industry for daily usages, will be looked at very seriously with gradual scaling down of import to appreciably at zero level. If Indian political system as well as people's unselfishness and nationalism give a hand, post-corona world of India could turn gold. Automobile industry must go for severe downsizing only allowing Tata, Mahendra like few established players. Public transport can be in abundance, so private cars are made irrelevant as well as expensive. India will climb up from its assembly-servicing industry to manufacturing. Manufacturing. Mostly, it depends how Indian goods can compete with foreign goods. Reduction of Indian middle class purchase power may dissuade foreign companies to dump their goods here. But this vacuum in domestic market is a golden opportunity that Indian companies must encash and the Government policy may be redrawn to give a boost to Indian manufacturing company. This Corona-positive market space is to be created for home manufacturing companies.

Independent India wen for giant public sector industries mostly for creating infrastructure as well as strong industrial base with auxiliary industries mostly run by private entrepreneurs. This paradigm has already over-lived and India has gone mostly towards private entrepreneurship with rejuvenated emphasis on innovation powered startups. But, the post-corona era needs a pragmatic approach calling for a overhauling approach in Indian Industry policy aiming not really to be global players but to safeguard goalpost so balls from opposites don't pass through bringing us on our knees both in peace and war times.

what's that pragmatic approach?

The key to stand strong in our industry is to have rugged network of region based small industries across the nation mostly to manufacture on what the region has and what other regions need and achieve a status I need - I make . In other words, I don't if it's not.

Most importantly, the bunch of tongue-twisters must be made insignificant by people only. If you allow them to talk then you do nothing hearing them and it's doomed fate.

2.1 A Framework for Indian Industry

British India industry to today India Industry is a route traveled fairly in short span of time; even after missing many surges of industrialisation , India could ride on the crest of IT-surge for a period a good push to national economy and at the same time abandoning the puffed and parched rices for noodles and cornflakes. Now many workers are returning to their home states leaving their workspots as these are turning to hotspots. Will they return to work ? Will Indian industry get back to its pre-COVID-19 state ? These as now looks unsolvable questions. Never the less, time flows as the earth keeps rotating, that bringing new mornings but how admiring these morning will be? Everybody has a suspicious look in their eyes. Why is it so? Why are the people so apprehensive? Is't not true the size of our country is big enough to stand up? There were many such upheavals in future;and India had stood up. This time, ofcourse, India will stand up. But how good and how fast these will be a question? But, experts are apprehensive because others have also very badly affected. They are not in a mood to import goods because they also need to provide supports to their farmers and unemployed youth. So called globalisation has vanished and so also global market smacked by suspicion and distrust. Evils run across the Globe!
Well, then for India what's the way out ? So many stomachs are wailing for food. And all dream chasers have squirmed back to their villages. Before, the alarmists used to tell agriculture were ruined with empty villages. But, now villages are full albeit by some deadly infected COVID-19. Nevertheless, the days of infection will go or the nation will live with it for some time. But, the mass has to get food. Will these village returned neo-turning-urbanites take up agriculture? Will the changing prospect of agriculture attract the youth creating a neo-class of farmers? That's what the thinkers and policy makers are to look for and administrators are to implement and politicians are to vet. What do these neo-farmers look for? Easy farming with the help of technology, good harvesting and captive markets. Vast Indian consumers are to be rational to the surroundings around them and must support Indian farm products. An unwritten rule needs to followed that disregards foreign goods. Let the neo-farmers grow foods, carry to local markets and park the materials in local cold stores . This requires at least a small scale a road network connecting farmers' residence, cold stores and local markets. This leads to life style game changer. The lifestyle needs to be "eat deshi and live deshi." Internationalist may see too much nationalism in it. They may even extrapolate it to Nazism but that's a misrepresentation of pathogenic arguers. To stand firm on the ground you need to hold the ground strong !And that's the need of the hour to provide employment and food to a large population of India.

3. Agriculture

4. Trade

5. Geo Politics
Politics is interesting as long as there are humans around and it's important at difficult times. Corona virus has put the humanity certainly at difficult times that it never has seen before. Unprecedented situation indeed. Will there be unprecedented politics out of it? That's the question all ask and theories run high claiming to be true corroborating themselves with the information that flying high in uncharted sky either west or east. The emerging world view is essentially west view vented on leading newspapers of the countries who are badly bitten by Corona. The huge egos have bitten dust while the source is believed to have a dice in folds of its shirt to play the trick on world economy when all others are rolling on ground on whimpers of angers for not only loss of huge precious lives but also with a bizarre feelings of being tricked off. What are the questions flying around ? How far is each potent to make global impact ?:

1. Is China the centre of this global Corona agony?

The conspiracy theory is going around and that is added doubtful sequence of events China is involved with and WHO's complicity or negligence in it. Whatever it may be there is clear cut anti Chinese hysteric built up around the globe. Now, the question is of continuity of such rage and translation of that to revenge actions by the countries hit badly by Corona. Will it be ?

2. Will world eventually forget it?
The first possibility is forgetfulness, people have short memory. They may pick up and carry forward with with corona-after-world.

3. Go slow with China
The second possibility is go slow with China though not very open way. Some may prefer that way but unknowingly gradually come to terms with China for its money; for poor and developing matters money matters. But for country like Pakistan not only money but also score (on India) is the factor to its choice of China.

4. Get it to pay:
The third possibility is hawkish action against China. Trade war and market denial are two weapons developed western world may choose to deal. Itlay's hug-a-Chinese theory has now turned to a curse. Spain has its own spare. How does European Union respond to the one-road-one-belt grand vision of the world's neo rich country?

5. Will China get a image of a rich spoilt brat ?
The recent image of China going around with bag full of money to buy shares of technology
companies around the world is seen as its nefarious game plan.

As Corona recedes or even before, world geo-politics could be found on oil wells and trade limitations. Let's hope it does not flare up in a big way. Well it's good to explore where does we in India stand in post-corona geo politics.

6. Environment

7. Innovation & Research

Inspiring to hear the prudent call of Mr. Prime Minister India to young scientists and engineers to take up Corona challenge in all aspects to contain the fall outs of Corona spread. This indeed a call of a leader on rising to the grave situation not only the nation but also the whole world facing.
Well spelt research and engineering problems are to be taken up for developing early solution at most in an year so the nation can reap the fruits of the research. Research a nation like ours has to be result oriented though critics may shout, research is not a business. But, true the research often has yielded when the world is in stress. There is less effort without stress, that is natural to human. Whatever, it could be as the scheme has allocated funding and situational priority there will be enthusiasm among researchers and engineers to take up the Covid-19 challenge. Mr. Prime Minister hopes for few good innovations by startups that can take up the world in waves.
Lets hope for the best !

8. Rural & Urban

9. Culture
No adda and ne dera - less of
10. Defence

How safe defence services are there in such lockdown? How about their preparedness ? Will warfare be nasty with biological warfare ?

11. Health services

Will health service workers feel exhausted thinking all the loads on their heads?

12. Other Services

Will other service providers feel low of them? (while comparing to amenities and social prominence the medical service providers get.)
13. Disaster Management

14. Socio-Political Quakes and Slides

15. Virology

Will there be an 'International Authority on Virology Study' ?
Will there be National Regulatory Board on Virology ?

16. Rural Economy

27th March 2020.

May be I will restrict to Indian after Corona rural scenario. Eastern India states Odisha, Bihar, Bengal, will get their workforce back home. Good number may not like to go back to their workplaces in metros in post-carona time. This will be an emerging scenario to which each state governments plan to make it a positive development. That needs government priority to agriculture, its supply chain and associated technology management. Our hon'ble ex-president Dr. Kalam's vision on clustered village should be at national centre stage.

No food products be imported to provide exclusive market access to rural agriculture products. Dominating packaged food products by multi-nationals and big national companies are to be stopped. Instead local small food processing units to make packaged products for local markets. In order to avoid monopoly more than one such companies can be encouraged. The home returned migrant workers can be workforce for these companies.

The taste of nation should return to local deshi delicacies! Individuals can help their own way to turn post-carona world to a national golden opportunity.

30th March 20 ( exodus of migrant workers)

Now, migrant workers mostly from Bihar and UP working in Delhi have started walking in thousands from Delhi to their homelands. Odisha says its 100,000 natives are stranded elsewhere and 15,000 migrant workers are locked in the state. So could be from West Bengal and Assam too. Let's not talk about politics in this too. True, the lockdown has created an unprecedented situation that nobody could ever thought of. It's not here but elsewhere in the world is so too. Well leaving aside the present we have started looking ahead as the post talks of. What will be to these migrant workers? Will they return to their workplaces? Can they work as before? There could be possibly many scenarios like,

1. Some may be afraid to return.
2. Some employers may just vanish.
3. Some may go for cut in employment.
Sceptics, alarmists and more habitual critics see a disaster in it. But, a positive strategist can turn it to an opportunity charting new path in rural agro-economy that is self-reliant and isolated to global upheavals like this.
Lets hope MBA(rural-management) gets into hot basket of degrees. Will India wake up in post-corona era to the inner call of a resurgent India? The states and centre together can make it a golden opportunity. Home coming could be home making !

17. Religion, Ethics & Spirituality
Will organised religion take to back seat ? (all these religious places are under locked down.)
Or will it be there as before through online?
How much safe these online religious activities?
Many may prefer to be with their beliefs at home.
Will online darshan dent importance of holy dhams?