SORROW OF WEST BENGAL

I was in office, as usual busy in finding out the dwindling sales comparing to various earlier periods; and preparing myself to listen to stories on recession and all possible reasons by salesmen as to why they could not achieve the sales targets. It is in this busy schedule, I got a call from my nephew, wanting to know – what is sorrow of West Bengal? He is in his fifth grade, preparing hard for his exams and sure enough this question has got something to do with his preparation.

I could have scratched my head for a while, to recollect my school days. Could have taken a memory test; or tested my understanding of West Bengal Geography – to help him find an answer. However, I thought this being an easy question, I should not strain my brain; and instead find out from any one of my friends and colleagues associated with West Bengal.

First – I found this gentleman, who has joined our office recently; from one of the Tata group Companies from West Bengal. Very much associated with West Bengal – a senior executive; and I was sure of the answer. So I asked him – What’s the sorrow of West Bengal? - He looked seriously into my eyes, as if making sure I am not kidding him. Even without battling his eyelids, he replied – Mamta Bannerjee; and seriously walked away, as if he was forced to say something which he never wanted to tell in his entire life!!

This time, I tried to pose this question to another colleague – who is quite an intelligent person; and quite jovial in his approach. He said – Karats, Prakash and Brinda, and winked at me and just walked past without allowing me to ask him for explanation!

I was sure these answers have got nothing to do with my nephew’s studies. I was pretty sure that he will not be able to use these answers even to improve his General Knowledge – for next few years. Determined to find out the answer, this time, I asked the old Accountant in my office, who is a no-non sense, thorough gentleman, working with us for quite a long period. On hearing the question, he looked lost in thoughts, looked like he is traveling down the memory lane to recollect the answer – and finally said: The communism; with a pale voice and heavy heart. Sure enough, this gentleman who is from West Bengal, living outside his birth State ever since he passed his degree has a reason to look sad in his reply.

It is already five-ten minutes since my nephew asked me the question and waiting for the answer. I did not want him to be waiting anymore. Also, it is a question of my own reputation at stake – and had to answer. So called my nephew back – and told him – it is Hoogly – something I could recollect and associate with West Bengal instantaneously. There was a silence from that side for a minute – and he told me, No uncle – I found the answer myself – it is river Damodar and came the click sound of the receiver being hung up.

DOLLAR DREAMS !!!

First it was Crude, which gave us a real shock of heights it can reach – before falling to unexpected lows. Inflation figures followed the suit – reaching to decade highs only to retreat to seven year lows. Now, inflation is cooling off at 2.34% increase, which is a seven year low. Experts putting this growth in a negative zone for the quarter ending June 2009!

When these two economic factors were catching the eyeballs for their sharp rise and steep falls, two more economic factors are laughing their way up with huge attention turned on them. Dollar and Gold prices are the current favorites asking for attention.

Dollar against rupee has hit a all time high recently, touching Rs. 52 odd per green buck. This was quite a shock when the experts were talking about Rs. 36 a dollar about a year back !. The unexpected stock market crash, and the fleeing away by FIIs in a big way, a huge drop in export earnings and a big break on the movement of FDIs into the Country are said to be the main reasons for this unprecedented rise in Dollar against Rupee.

Now the experts are working overnight to predict the course and destination of Rupee:- latest predictions doing the rounds – it would touch a 60 mark for a dollar soon !!. Is this for real – or will follow the earlier predictions of crude touching $ 250 a barrel is a matter of huge speculation.

With the US economy being in the state what it is, and the Government supply of green bucks to kick start the economy, I wonder, will it really touch a Rs. 60 mark!!. Or is it one more game by Uncle Sam – akin to what many people believe was done in Crude prices ?– to prove to the world that their currency is still in demand?

STOCK MARKET STORY:

Whenever I see the Bombay Stock index; and the reports on FIIs turning into huge sellers on the stock exchanges, I am repeatedly reminded of this stock market story. I found it quite interesting – am sure, all of you will too….


Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for Rs10.

The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest and started catching them.

The man bought thousands at Rs10 and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort.

He further announced that he would now buy at Rs20.

This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms.

The offer rate increased to Rs25 and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it!

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at Rs50!

However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him.

In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers.

Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at Rs35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell it to him for Rs50."

The villagers squeezed up with all their savings and bought all the monkeys.

Then they never saw the man nor his assistant, only monkeys everywhere!!!