Unreasonable hike in user charges by Tata Sky

October 11, 2016

Dear Friends at PMO,

Warm Greetings

Please see the mail below I sent to TRAI today about DTH Service Provider Tata Sky.

I decided to disturb you people at PMO with this matter, which might appear trifling on the surface, because :

1. It is high handedness by a public service provider and the rate of increase of charges by Tata Sky is so high - it not seen as reasonable and justifiable - up from Rs 380 to Rs 460 in 4 months - as such Tata Sky does not care to tell the reason to its customers.

You receive SMS that charge is now this much and you must pay by that date or else service is cut off. My service was actually cut off last night and restored today only after I paid revised fee. This reminded me of Loan Sharks in Arthur Hadley fiction "Moneychangers".

2. I took up through their web site and a phone call came from their Hyderabad office but thereafter "nothing". It is not only increase of Rs. 80 in 4 months - 21% hike - but the brazen way of doing it.

3. My third and last reason is and you people need to pay attention because it has potential to create serioius issues in future. In brief, Govt is making it compulsory for each and every household to have set top box in order to watch TV, and please think of a situation if DTH providers continue to raise charges blatantly - like as in my case the cost has gone up from Rs 380 in July 2016 to as high as Rs 460 in October 2016 - 21% increase - in under 4 months and please imagine the situation when the public at large starts blaming the Govt for it - since it is the Govt that has forced the people to come under the thumbs of these usurious DTH companies.

Please think that no one will tolerate this kind of coercion by local cablewalla but how do they get back at DTH companies sitting in big cities.

Eventually, there will be huge backlash against the Govt.

My Name and Ph No

Text of mail to TRAI : some editing done for space :

I am using Tata Sky DTH for last many months / few years with my Consumer No being 1*3X2&4@#8 Tata Sky has been raising its charges from time to time which did not appear reasonable but somehow we did not care so much and kept paying.

However, in the recent few months and presently, they have crossed all the limits of decency and fair play by raising the user charges so unfairly.

The package that I am getting was costing Rs 380 PM till a few months back but it was raised to Rs 420 PM in August 2016. The raise of over 10% may not be seen as reasonable. Besides, this hike came at the time of their 10th anniversary celebrations coupled with launch of a mega advertising campaign. The reason for writing to you is yet another hike of Rs 40 (again nearly 10%) to Rs 460 PM. Again, there is yet another mega advertising campaign. My request to you is whether :

1. Has Tata Sky obtained your clearance for such absurd hikes in user charges ?

2. In case, they do not need to obtain your permission at all, can you question them on such frequent and hefty raise in fees ?

3. Can you advise / compel them to revise the user charges downward to the reasonable levels - at par with the competition - other DTH providers ? As I see it, they are exploiting the consumers mercilessly - because it is a cumbersome thing to change the DTH providers and as a result, consumers usually grumble but are forced to pay the unreasonably high charges.

It looks like they are penalising existing consumers whenever they launch a new ad campaign. Also, in case, they are not earning enough to sustain their business, is it fair on their part to pass on the high costs - salaries and perks and the resultant losses - to existing custmers - who are somehow trapped with a looser service provider. (Actually, I am extremely sad to see this coming from a Tata Group entity - but they are behaving like loosers).

Sir / Madam, it is this feeling of being in captivity - like being imprisoned - a kind of helplessness with no remedy - that has forced me to seek your (TR

16th December 2016 :

PMO advised that issue has been resolved and case stands closed, and attached a letter by Tata Sky.

I have written back like this  :

Tata Sky is charging the hiked rate of Rs 460 PM. Their attached letter does not explain the reason for frequent and unreasonably large increase of over 10% each, after every 6 months.

Tata Sky gives no explanation for blatant exploitation of its consumers.

I have 2 questions and one suggestion :

Whether PMO sees nothing wrong with these frequent large hikes ?

Why are the user charges not being monitored by TRAI or Govt ?

My suggestion is and PMO needs to pay attention because this attitude and behaviour of Tata Sky and such DTH providers has potential to create serioius issues in future.

In brief, Govt is making it compulsory for each and every household to have set top box in order to watch TV, and please think of a situation if DTH providers continue to raise charges blatantly - like as in my case the cost has gone up from Rs 380  to Rs 460 - 21% increase - in 6 months and please imagine the situation when the public at large starts blaming the Govt for it - since it is the Govt that has forced the people to come under the thumbs of these usurious DTH companies. Please think that no one will tolerate this kind of coercion by local cablewalla but how do they get back at DTH companies sitting in big cities. 

As you may see the attitude shown  by Tata Sky in their terse letter.

Eventually, there may be huge backlash against the Govt.

My Name and Ph No

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan : Why I admire her

I am not a great fan of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan but admire her nonetheless for a few good reasons. 

For being a good wife, a good daughter and daughter in law, and the good mother.

Some people tend to forget that she had came on the global stage after winning the beauty and fashion pageant ‘Miss World’ and feels obliged to keep that glamorous image intact.

My request would be that please try to appreciate the fact that she can still do it today, as gracefully, after so many years, while she is now a mother, and insists to carry around her bundle of joy, a little one named Aradhya.

Here are a few pics and videos which say it all.

Why is Shiv Sena opposing the Note Ban Orders of Govt of India ?

Some one asked me in Quora as to why is Shiv Sena opposing the Note Ban Orders of Govt of India.

An added point was whether Uddhav has any accounts in swiss banks forcing him oppose Modi/ BJP.

My response is one need not necessarily hold an illegal bank account abroad to oppose Modi or BJP.

Any politician, who is not associated with BJP, and does not believe in its policies, shall oppose, sometimes one may be right, reasonable, and logical, and at times, it may be simply opposition for sake of opposing and even when one is not sure of one’s own stand.

Here the situation is piquant since Shiv Sena and BJP are allies, share power, and also have almost similar policies and political agenda. Hence, it is strange to often see them quarreling with each other. Mostly, it is not even an open fight but only pin pricks, and mostly one sided attacks launched by Shiv Sena (and even MNS) against BJP, and few of its actions / policies. Despite the open squabbles, their alliance has been working well.

Basically, it may be seen that Shiv Sena is struggling to preserve its own existence and the oft repeated attacks arise due to their fear of being ousted by BJP from their strongholds, of being ignored, and completely forgotten by the people. They are scared of the voters shifting loyalty to BJP in near future, and it is their way to stay alive in peoples’ memory.

This is not to say that Shiv Sena is not an independent party. It is just that they are in awe of BJP, and particularly, in view of Mr Modi emerging as a popular leader of masses. This forces Shiv Sena to keep signalling its own existence, its right to differ, and to oppose.

If we look back at the background of Shiv Sena, including its estranged sibling MNS, we see that the party was initially concentrated only in Island City of Mumbai, and did not have much impact on the mainland Maharashtra. Its initial objective was to protect the local Marathi speaking people from being dominated by the influx of migrants, who have regularly been flocking to Mumbai from all over the country, and have gradually taken away the job opportunities that would have otherwise probably gone to the local people.

Shiv Sena and BJP came together for the first time in 1989, with the unspoken but strong efforts of RSS which is also based at Nagpur in Maharashtra. RSS has been founded by Marathi speaking leaders and its current leadership is also dominated by Marathi people.

In forging an alliance with BJP, Shiv Sena saw an opportunity to benefit from the strong network of RSS cadres who used to work tirelessly for BJP in elections. Their alliance had formed the first Non Congress Govt of Maharashtra in 1995. To its credit, BJP gracefully accepted a subordinate role and never fought for the spoils of power, However, lack of mutual trust and constructive cooperation, had kept these two parties away from power.

It may be added here that often BJP has played a similar subordinate role in almost all its alliances at state level. It is seen in an alliance it has with Akalis in Punjab, in an alliance it had with JDU of Bihar till Nitish Kumar walked away, and in alliance with PDP in J&K.

Strangely, in Uttar Pradesh, BJP had even supported its rivals Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to become CM (a number of times) till they reneged on their parts of bargain.

This strategy has helped BJP to grow in stature in public opinion, and its rise in Haryana is the latest example of people rewarding it for its patience. Almost all the regional parties supported by BJP have betrayed it at once or more, but the people can see the difference.

However, the current leadership of BJP, with Mr Modi and his confidant Amit Shah, being in command, is not willing to yield too much to the regional parties and to local satraps. Shiv Sena has already tasted it during the last assembly elections. Shiv Sena had driven a hard bargain for distribution of seats, leading to break up of the alliance. Shiv Sena was forced to re-join the alliance, after BJP emerged as the bigger winner and Shiv Sena lost the chance of having its own CM. Next time, it will have to accept whatever crumbs BJP offers.

In view of the aforesaid, the opposition to currency note ban by Shiv Sena and even MNS, may be seen as an expression of their independent existence, and as the ploy comes after seeing long queues of people at banks and ATMs, there may be a popularity angle as well.

And then the note ban orders have come along with the local body elections, in which BJP and Shiv Sena and MNS have been fiercely competing against each other at several places.

Now a word for BJP too. As its Chief Minister has been facing opposition even from within the party itself, and also from several other fronts, it has to keep a tight leash or else, the advantage it has for now might diminish and the local parties like Shiv Sena, MNS, and NCP - Congress alliance might grow strong by the end of the term of its present regime.

I hope Shiv Sena, and its estranged sibling MNS, will not become strident opponents of Modi and BJP like AAP, TMC, and assorted Communists and Communal parties.

Also, there is another interesting angle to the BJP Shiv Sena squabbles. It keeps both the parties in media focus and others like Congress and NCP go in to the blind zone. And like in films, in politics too, it is better to remain in news, good or bad, rather than being ignored and forgotten. After all, like films, Shiv Sena too hails from Mumbai.

Incidentally, have you ever seen BJP leaders responding strongly to the barbs by AAP. The answer is No. BJP defends itself and laughs at AAP but never condemns it strongly. This is because AAP attacks keep them in news and it keeps Congress in dark zone.

Lastly, about note bandi kanoon, while I am a strong supporter of the policy, and evidence of it is strewn around on Quora and also on my write ups in Blogshree, but somehow the acute misery being caused to the poor people does call for urgent remedial measures, and Govt of India, PM, FM, RBI, Finance Ministry, Banks, BJP, NDA, can not get away from the anger that may eventually unleash if and when the peoples’ patience runs out. One hopes the situation would improve well before any such thing happens. Please Beware.

Pains and Gains from the British Rule

We all know that British gave us a lot of pain when they were here and their parting gift was the partition and riots and a permanent headache named Pakistan. 

Also, the British rule gifted us with the slave mentality (to white man and the fair looking skin).

However, the British also did a few good things in various ways. Everyone knows about the education system (though there are a lots of its critics too) but it is true that Gandhi, Nehru, and most of our freedom fighters caught the germ of liberty and SWARAJ from the same education system that was taught in British universities and was later replicated in English schools in India.

Also, being very visible, the vast network of railways is not hidden from anyone, and it is a wonderful thing to see that they took the rail lines to high hills of Simla and Darjeeling. There is a rail line going from Lumding in Assam to Silchar in Barak valley - Lower Assam, and beyond - this line is an example of engineering marvel created by British more than a century earlier. The engineers of Railways had a tough time recently in converting the line to Broad gauge - which is now complete and line now extended up to Agartala in Tripura.

SURVEY is one major thing that is known to only few people and almost no one talks of it. British carried out survey of the entire land mass of India, including Roads and Bridges, Hills and Forests, Rivers and Lakes, Farms and Deserts, everything was surveyed by the British and the learned people know and aver that it is a great legacy for modern India. Today, it is easy to record a whole lot of data with the help of computers but they did it more than a century earlier, without aid of modern machines, and the record is perfect.

The work done in the field of posts and telegraph, search of petroleum oil in Assam, and cultivation of cash crops like tea, coffee, sugarcane, and such things are examples of good work done by the British. Their contribution to agriculture through better irrigation facilities using dams and canals is also praiseworthy. The maze of canals carrying Ganga water to every nook and corner of Western Uttar Pradesh was created by the British.

Like wise, the much talked about Mullaperiyar Dam and its canal system are a unique creation of the British. Enlightened readers may go to wiki page on Mullaperiyar Dam and it is wonderful to see that the waters of the Periyar river, which flows westwards of Kerala towards Arabian Sea, was diverted eastwards (against the slope) to flow towards the South Tamilnau with a view to provide water to the arid region of Madurai and nearby areas, that was in dire need of water, in addition to what was available from the small Vaigai River.

Mullaperiyar Dam created the Periyar Thekkady Reservoir, from which water is diverted eastwards via a tunnel to augment the small flow of the Vaigai River. A dam was built on Vaigai River to provide a source for irrigating large tracts of land around Madurai.

Also, modern day monuments like Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, India gate, the modern market at Connaught Place, and the well planned green city known as Lutyens’ Delhi are also a gift of the British colonial era.

However, I think the creation of the most disciplined and modern regimented army is the greatest gift of the British rule to the independent India.

The journey of Johny Lever : Your skin tone may change with your circumstances

One day, I happened to watch an adorable performance of Johny Lever. It was a you tube video of a live non film show, and since I was already on the net, I started searching more about him. 

Here it goes. Johny Lever was born as John Rao in a poor family hailing from Andhra Pradesh, and financial conditions forced him to follow his father as a labour in Hindustan Lever at Mumbai.

It is said that in one function in his factory, John Rao was caught mimicking two of his senior officers and he was so good at it that the two senior officers also praised him, and gave him his new name Johny Lever. Thereafter, his mimicry act in such gatherings became a routine. 

Later, Johny Lever left his job in 1981 and started looking for work in movies. At the same time, Tabassum, well known for her TV show "Phool Khile Hain Gushan Gulshan" was planning to launch her son Hoshang Govil in films. Her husband Vijay Govil is brother of Arun Govil (who played Ram in tv serial Ramayana). Johny Lever got a chance to work in her film, “Tum Par Hum Qurban”, but the film got delayed and it was released in 1985.

Meanwhile, Johny made his debut in 1981, in a minor role in a multi starer, “Yeh Rishta Na Tootey”. The rest, as they say, is ‘history’. Interestingly, while I was reading about him, I noticed that in his photographs, posted along side the write ups, the skin tone and complexion too kept changing. I decided to collect the photographs in sequence and please watch here how Johny Lever has grown over the years - from a dark skinned young man of 1980s to a much fairer looking 59 years old senior gentleman in 2016.

Also, please watch the video at the end - Johny Lever in The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony TV.

Johny Lever is a good example of how a poor dark skinned man may change over the years because of better work conditions, and with improved financial status. This is also applicable to stalwarts like Irfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and it reflects on their faces. If we compare Irfan Khan of tv serial Shrikant (1987) or Nawazuddin of Sarfarosh with their latest films, the difference is clear.

A move from factory floors to film studios, from dark slums to luxurious homes, from poverty to prosperity, can definitely change the skin tone. I may add that talent and hard work are and would always remain the basic requirements for success. Yes, luck matters but it is also true that God favours the brave (talent + hard work = good luck + success).

Planning to get married or just an autumn trip to hills

Well, someone asked me the best place to go to where he may perform his marriage ceremony.

I joked that perhaps he does not want to see the faces of all his neighbours during his marriage and hence, wants to go away from his home town. He did not deny it entirely but somehow mentioned that he wants it to be a memorable time and not the routine big tent marriage that he had been seeing all along. He also asked me of my views about marriage ceremony. Having been married in the office of District Collector, I advised him accordingly. I see the expenditure as total waste and avoidable.
 

However, if you wish to have a ceremonial wedding, be it opulent or frugal, I would suggest a visit to the serene environment of Uttaranchal - along the sacred Ganges.

Choose your pick from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Laxman Jhula, Shivpuri, Dev Prayag, Rudraprayag, or beyond. Alternately, you may go to Mussoorie, Chakrata, in hills.

The other side of Uttaranchal, Kumaun Region, also has wonderful options like Nainital, Almora, Ranikhet, Binsar, Kausani, or wilds of renowned Corbett Park.

Visit uttarakhandtourism.gov.in and choose your favourite destination.

Besides, you have two more professional and reliable options. You may call up the officials of GMVNL and KMVN. They would offer and provide you all the support. You

may also visit GMVNL (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd.) and GMVN Garhwal Tourism Uttarakhand Uttaranchal India and www.kmvn.gov.in

How badly will AAP defeat BJP in 2019 ?

How badly will AAP defeat BJP in 2019 ?

After reading the question, it may be said reasonably and rightfully that it is not a question but what may be called a pet ‘fantasy’ of few staunch supporters of AAP.

Before we come back to AAP, one would hope that the leadership of BJP and NDA will be aware of the reality and would work hard to ensure a victory in 2019, as the anti Congress sloganeering which helped in 2014 will not be of much help in 2019.

The basic reason for my apprehension is the fact that in 2014 people just wanted to ensure that Congress is removed from power and voters across the country found BJP and NDA, under leadership of Mr Modi, as the best alternative of Congress and UPA and also, the absence of unity in other opposition parties helped greatly.

Biggest advantage was that Communists (mainly CPM) were passing through a rough phase and were not in a position to forge an alliance of the smaller parties. Also, after Delhi fiasco, AAP was completely out of favour at the time of 2014 LS elections.

This is not the case now. BJP / NDA will not be able to gain the same numbers that it had gained in large states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Even in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, 

Congress is not likely to face complete wash out again in 2019.

Essentially, 2014 votes were against the existing (bad) regime and to some degree, based on hopes and expectations of a better future. This time, the voters will respond to the actual work done by BJP / NDA while it is in power. Besides, it is a well known fact that perception of an average voter is ‘fickle’, can be influenced easily and hence, voter behavour is not easily fathomable.

Also, as may be seen from results in Bihar, a few things may hurt BJP / NDA despite its comparatively much honest governance and lot of good work it has been doing.

First, a united opposition is the biggest threat to BJP / NDA. Still, BJP may rely on the fact that complete unity of opposition, like it was in Bihar, is not so easy to achieve. Particularly, creating a nation wide alliance is difficult. The crux of the matter is that in Bihar, Nitish ji, perceived to be a competent leader himself, has meekly surrendered to RJD of Laloo ji.

Secondly, Congress will not remain deep in dumps forever and gradually, it might gain some sympathy and might improve its tally in 2019. One may expect that the leaders of both the parties / groups, BJP / NDA and Congress / UPA will keep working hard to ensure better results in 2019. And this will lead to a good fight.

Third point is that in a several states, there is hardly any presence of BJP and except for Karnataka, the possibility of BJP gaining more seats in such states seems poor. However, one expects BJP / NDA leadership to keep working hard consistently and persistently and also to spread its wings wider to ensure better results in 2019.

For now, 2019 is far off, and let us wait for the results of MCD elections in next year. Then, there are several big states going to polls in the coming years before LS 2019.

Despite there being some apprehension of BJP and NDA not doing so well in 2019, it is clear that AAP is not going to win against BJP in any election in the near future.

AAP as yet has no presence in much of India, except Delhi and a few seats it had won in Punjab are of no use since most of these MPs have been expelled or left AAP and party stands divided. Given the facts, even winning the assembly elections in Punjab may be hard for AAP. Like wise, AAP has no chance in Goa and Gujarat, despite its brave talk. At least in Gujarat, people are most likely to give such a bad drubbing to AAP that the party and its’ leadership will be forced to reassess their own political worth. Right now, they seem to be riding on high horse of arrogance and self praise.

BJP, which is a new version of Jansangh formed soon after independence, took 40-50 years to gain power at the Centre. What is interesting that despite Delhi being its cradle, BJP has faced defeat in the last five assembly elections. So much so that between AAP 1 of 2013 and AAP 2 of 2015, BJP had a static vote percentage of around 34%. The party must try to find out as to why all the pro Congress voters went en mass to AAP in 2015 and not even a few more of them voted for BJP.

Several old and well established parties, with strong voter base, like SP, BSP, JDU, JDS, RJD, and even the Communists have tried but they have not done well beyond their specific area of influence. 

Well, AAP is still a baby in diapers. However, being a political party with lofty ambition, AAP must keep trying to expand its presence all around. May be someday, they will grow up and start behaving in a better manner.

As of now, BJP looks well entrenched but surprises do happen. In any case, 2019 is not going to be a cake walk for BJP / NDA as the opposition parties are likely to give it a collective fight. Please recall Bihar, where all parties had ganged up against it.