1959-2009 : Golden Jubilee

Volume 1 Issue 8 Business & Management Ezine December 2009

Techno India, EM-4/1, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700091 Table of Contents

Sl. No. Topic Page No.

[1] First Byte [ Editorial ] Ed/1 [2] Cover Story : Media Studies Do/1-14 The Doordarshan Story ( Anis Chattopadhyay & Monojit Banerjee) [3] Cover Story : Media Studies Mo/1-6 Doordarshan : Most Popular TV Characters (Anis Chattopadhyay) [4] BIZarre We/1-11 Weird Products (Debraj Datta) [5] Soft Skills In/1-6 Dodging The Bullets: Guidelines For Facing Specific Interview Questions [Part-3] (Virag Bhushan Dwivedi) [6] Case Study : Merger & Acquisition Me/1-6 The Air India – Indian Airlines Merger (Monojit Banerjee)

Disclaimer: Any views expressed by author(s) are their own. Bizzy Bytes is in no way responsible for the personal opinions of the author(s). We try to keep all information accurate, but that is subject to reliability of the sources.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Cr/2 December 2009 The Bizzy Bytes Team:

Editorial Team: Content Writers:

[1] Monojit Banerjee [1] Anis Chattopadhyay [2] Anis Chattopadhyay [2] Debraj Datta [3] Bijan Chakraborty [3] Virag Bhushan Dwivedi [4] Arjan Biswas [4] Monojit Banerjee [5] Vijay Kumar Singh

Graphics Design Team: Marketing Team: [1] Monojit Banerjee [1] Monojit Banerjee [2] Archita Pal Choudhury [2] Anis Chattopadhyay [3] Bijan Chakraborty [4] Amit Kundu [5] Archita Pal Choudhury [6] Shamima Haque [7] Arjan Biswas [8] Vijay Kumar Singh [9] Debraj Datta [10] Jayeeta Debnath Munshi

Our Advisors: [1] Debraj Datta

Bizzy Bytes is available at: Contact details: www.tisoms.co.nr (Download all issues today) Techno India School of Management studies You can also provide us your EM-4/1, Sector-V, Salt Lake, email ids and we will mail you Kolkata – 700091 every issue as and when it is published. Monojit Banerjee M: +(91)9231342749 Never miss an issue !!! E: [email protected]

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Bizzy Bytes Page : Cr/3 December 2009 Editorial

First Byte Monojit Banerjee Editor Bizzy Bytes Email: [email protected]

Bizzy Bytes, the business and management ezine of Techno India School of Management Studies [TISOMS], has been in existence for 8 months now and we are delighted to present our readers with the December 2009 issue. On behalf of Bizzy Bytes, let me once again take this opportunity to thank all those people who have made this possible.

We have, for our readers, the following regular columns: BIZarre, a column by Debraj Dutta, (faculty, Department of Management Studies, Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology) featuring some curious and extremely interesting facts and stories from the business world. Soft Skills, a column by Virag Bhushan Dwivedi, an alumnus of our college.

Also in this issue:

Cover Story: Anis and I take a trip down memory lane on the nostalgia express. We are very fond of Doordarshan, the channel we grew up with. Even though now we may not watch DD much, still when DD celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 15th September 2009 we could not help but dedicate an issue for this phenomenon in the history of Indian Television. Anis also specifically pays homage to some of the most memorable characters of Doordarshan’s history. We wanted to include so many things which would probably fill a book. The short space of a magazine issue is only sufficient for a collage, and that is what we have attempted to do. The Air India – India Airlines Merger: In this case study developed on the requests of students, I explore the hopes and implementation issues behind a merger.

Hope you enjoy all this. Keep sending us your views.

Thanks & regards,

Monojit Banerjee

Bizzy Bytes Ed/1 December 2009 Cover Story : Media Studies

The Doordarshan Story

Monojit Banerjee Anis Chattopadhyay

Doordarshan (Hindi word for Tele-Vision) is the public television broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati, a public service broadcaster nominated by the Government of India. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15 2009,it completed 50 years and its celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Modest beginning of an era

15 September 1959 experimental telecast starting in Delhi with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio. 1965 The regular daily transmission started as a part of All India Radio. 1972 The television service was extended to Bombay and Amritsar. Till 1975 7 Indian cities had television service and Doordarshan remained the only television channel in India. 1976 Television services were separated from radio. Each office of All India Radio and Doordarshan were placed under the management of two separate Director Generals in New Delhi. Finally Doordarshan as a National Broadcaster came into existence. 1982 National telecasts were introduced. 15 August 1982 Colour TV was introduced in the Indian market with the live telecast of the Independence Day speech by then prime minister Indira Gandhi. 1982 Colour telecast of 1982 Asian Games being held in Delhi.

Now more than 90 percent of the Indian population can receive Doordarshan (DD National) programmes through a network of nearly 1400 terrestrial transmitters and about 46 Doordarshan studios produce TV programs today.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/1 December 2009 Memorable programming

The 80s was the era of Doordarshan with shows like Hum Log (1984), Buniyaad (1986-87) and comedy shows like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984).

• The first ever daily soap Hum Log, Buniyaad and Nukkad and mythological dramas like Ramayan (1987-88) and Mahabharat (1989-90) glued millions to Doordarshan and later on Bharat Ek Khoj, The Sword of Tipu Sultan and The Great Maratha. • Hindi film songs based programs like Chitrahaar, Rangoli, Ek Se Badkar Ek, Superhit Muqabla. • Crime thrillers like Karamchand (starring Pankaj Kapoor), Barrster Vinod (starring Parikshit Sahni), Barrister Roy (starring Kanwaljeet), Byomkesh Bakshi (starring Rajit Kapoor), Reporter (launching Shekhar Suman), Tehkikaat and Janki Jasoos, Suraag (starring Sudesh Berry), , Johni soko and flying Robot. • Shows targeted at children include Fairy tale Theatre, Dada Dadi ki Kahaniyan, Vikram Betaal, Space City Sigma, Stone Boy, Malgudi Days, Tenali Rama, Potli Baba Ki, Superhuman Samurai Cyber Squad, Street Hawk, Knight Rider and a horror serial Kile ka Rahasya (1989), Ek Do Teen Char (Thriller of four Kids), Appu Aur Pappu. • Other popular shows include Oshin a Japanese drama series , Trishna, Mr. Yogi (Based on whose storyline we had a recent Bollywood film “What’s your Rashee”, starring Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra), Neem Ka Ped, Fauji (launching Shahrukh Khan), Doosra Kewal

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/2 December 2009 (starring Shahrukh Khan), Circus (starring Shahrukh Khan), Gul Gulshan Gulfam, Udaan, Rajani, Talaash, Phir Wohi Talash, Katha Saagar, Nupur, Mirza Ghalib, Wagle ki Duniya, Phulvanti, Sangharsh, Lifeline, Kashish (launching Malvika Tiwari), Srimaan Srimati, Tu tu mein mein, Junoon, Ajnabi (starring Danny Denzongpa), Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Sansaar, Swabhimaan, Chanakya, Shanti (launching Mandira Bedi), Sea Hawks (starring R. Madhavan), Surabhi (a cultural weekly TV magazine anchored by Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane), Tana Bana, Mujrim Hazir (launching Navni Parihar), Jaspal Bhatti's Flop Show, Alif Laila, Meri Awaaz Suno, Captain Vyom (starring Milind Soman), and Chandrakanta, Doosara Keval.

Doordarshan also telecast English cartoons at 12.00 noon during summer vacations in a programme named "Fun Time" which showed cartoons like Spider-Man (1967 TV series), Giant Robot (Johnny Soko and his flying robot), Gayab Aaya, Guchhae, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, The Jungle Book, Talespin & Duck Tales (basically the world of Donald Duck created by Walt Disney) also the comic plays of Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy and Didi's Comedy Show.

Presently, Doordarshan operates 21 channels –

CHANNELS No. All India channels-DD National and DD News 2 Regional languages Satellite Channels (RLSC) 11 State Networks (SN) 4 International channel 1 Sports Channel 1 (DD-RS & DD-LS) for live broadcast of parliamentary 2 proceedings Total 21 Channels

On DD National (DD-1), Regional programmes and Local Programmes are carried on time-sharing basis. DD-News channel, launched on 3 November 2003, which replaced the DD-Metro Entertainment channel, provides 24-Hour news service.

The Regional Languages Satellite channels have two components – The Regional service for the particular state relayed by all terrestrial transmitters in the state and additional programmes in the Regional Language in prime time and non-prime time available only through cable operators.

DD-Sports Channel is exclusively devoted to the broadcasting of sporting events of national and international importance. This is the only Sports

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/3 December 2009 Channel which telecasts rural sports like Kho-Kho, Kabbadi etc. something which private broadcasters will not attempt to telecast as it will not attract any revenues.

Active Doordarshan

It is an Interactive Service of Tata Sky to show 4 TV Channels of Doordarshan which are not available on Tata sky as normal channels. Active Doordarshan channels are Rajyasabha TV, Gyan Darshan, DD Urdu and DD Bharati.

DD has its own DTH service called DD Direct Plus. It is free of charge.

International Broadcasting

DD-India is being broadcasted internationally through Satellite. It is available in 146 countries worldwide, however the information on picking up this channel in other countries is not easily available. In the UK, DD-India was available through the Eurobird Satellite on the Sky system on Channel 833 (the logo is shown as Rayat TV). The timing and programming of DD-India international is different from that of India. Transmissions for Sky Digital U.K. stopped in June 2008 and DirecTV U.S. stopped in July 2008.

Criticisms

Citiations of Bias

• Doorsharshan does not have an independent editorial control unlike the BBC. Prasar Bharati, its parent body has all board members appointed by the Government of India acting through the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. This control is evident in a budget that allows expenditure on "propaganda and public relations". • It has been actively used especially during the Emergency for government propaganda. • In 2004, it censored the airing of a controversial documentary on Jayaprakash Narayan, one of the opposition leaders during the Emergency.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/4 December 2009 • In response to Pakistani propaganda in the Kashmir valley, Doordarshan launched the Kashir Channel in Kashmir for pro-Indian propaganda. DD Kashir beams programmes like Sarhad Key Do Rukh (Two faces of border), Pakistan Reporter, PTV Sacch Kya Hai (PTV! what is truth. • It has in association with All India Radio established high power transmitters along the India-Pakistan Border to counter Pakistani propaganda with its own. • During Operation Bluestar, only government sources were used for reporting the story. Here Doordarshan was complicit in the production of a video that claimed acts of violence which when investigated by independent journalists were found to be false.

Commercial Viability

• Once private television channels were allowed in the 1991, Doordarshan has seen a steep decline in viewership in homes with Cable and Satellite Television which in 2002 was just at 2.38% for DD National. • While it earns significant advertising revenue due to the compulsory feed given to it by the highest bidder to national events including cricket tournaments, there has been a proposal to give it funds by imposing a license fee to own a television in India like the BBC. However this is unlikely to be imposed keeping in view the financial constraints of the average Indian viewer.

Mal Gudi Days- Swami and his Friends Jungle Book

Flop show Dekh Bhai Dekh Padosan

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/5 December 2009

Star Trek Johnny Soko and Flying Robot

Bharat Ek Khonj Sriman Srimati

Kasamm

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/6 December 2009

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/7 December 2009

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/8 December 2009 The A- Z Serials and TV shows on Doordarshan

A A Mouthful Of Sky A Tryst with the Aa Bail Mujhe Aaina People of India Maar Aakhri Daav Aamne Saamne Aap Beeti Ados Pados Agatha Christie’s Poirot Agni Afsane Air Hostess Aisa Bhi Hota Hai Ajnabi Akbar The Great Akira Alpha Plus Alice In Wonderland Alif Laila All the Best Amir Khusro Amravati Ki Kahaniyan Anandi Gopal Ank Ajube Aparajita Apna Apna Aasman Appu Aur Pappu Aryamaan Asish Aurat

B Baaton Baaton Mein Babaji Ka Bioscope Bahadur Shah Zafar Baigan Raja Bante Bigadte Barbapapa Barrister Vinod Basera Bharat Ek Khoj Bhootnath Bible Ki Kahaniyan Bioscope Bodyline (miniseries) Boolbul Bagh Brahmaand Buniyaad Byomkesh Bakshi

C Captain Vyom Chamatkari Telephone Chanakya Chandrakanta Chapte Chapte Charitraheen Chauraha Chayageet Chekhov Ki Duniya Chhoti Badi Baatein Chhutti Chhutti Chitrahaar Chunauti Chunni Circus Cricket with Mohinder Amarnath

D Daane Anaar Ke Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyaan Danger Bay Darpan Dayasagar Deewar Dekh Bhai Dekh Dekho Magar Pyar Se Deviji Didi’s Comedy Show Dil Dariya Disney Hour Doosra Keval Duck Tales Duniya Gazab Ki Different Strokes

E Ek Din Achaanak Ek Do Teen Char Ek Ghar Aas Paas Ek Se Badhkar Ek Ek Tha Rusty Ekai Dahai Saikda

F Fairy Tale Theatre Farmaan Faster Fene Fatichar Fauji Fhir Wahi Talaash Flop Show Focus Fraggle Rock

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/9 December 2009 G Ganadevta Gaurav Gayab Aaya Ghutan Ghar Giant Robot Gopichand Jasoos Guchhae Guinness Book of Guldasta Gul Gulshan Gulfaam Guniram World Records

H Haddi Raja Hamari Bahu Tulsi Hakke Bakke Hari Mirchi Lal Mirchi Heera Panna Hello Zindagi He-Man and the Himalay Darshan Masters of the Universe Himalaya Ki Goud Mein Honee Anhonee How’s That! Hum Hindustani Hum Log Hum Pancchi Ek Daal Ke Humrahi Here comes Lucy

I Idhar Udhar Indradhanush Imtihaan Inkaar Intajaar Intezaar Aur Sahi Isi Bahaane Itihaas

J Jai Hanumaan Janbaaz Jaanki Jasoos Jantar Mantar Jhingur Pehalwan Ji Mantriji Jugalbandhi Jungle Book Junoon

K (Don’t Blame Ekta Kapoor for K serials again!) Kab Tak Pukaroon Kabhi Saas Kabhi Bahu Kacchi Dhoop Kahan Gaye Woh Log Kala Paani Kakaji Kahin Karamati Karan the Detective Kashmakash Zindgi Ki Katha Sagar Karamchand Kashish Khali Haath Khandaan Khel Khel Mein Karwa Sach Kile Ka Rahasya Kirdaar Kissa Shanti Ka Knight Rider Krishi Darshan Kshitij Yeh Nahin Kya Banoge Munna Kunti Kanoon kuch khoya kuch paya

L Lahun ke phool Lekhu Life Line Living on the Edge Lohit Kinare Lok lok ki baatein (The) Lucy Show

M Mahabharat Main Dilli Hoon Malgudi Days Mamaji Manoranjan Manzil apni apni Mashaal Mashahoor Mahal MatheMagic Meri Awaaz Suno Mirza Ghalib Mitti Ke Rang Morning Transmission Mrityunjay Mr. & Mrs. Mr. Yogi Mrignayani Mujrim Haazir Mulla Naseeruddin Mummies Alive Mungeri Lal Ke Haseen Mungeri Ke Bhai Mein Tulsi Tere Sapne Naurangi Aagan ki

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/10 December 2009 N Nadia Naya Nukkad Nathkat Narad Neem Ka Ped Neev Nirmala Nukkad Nupur

O Oshin Om namah shivay

P Pachpan Khambe Lal Palash ke Phool Panch tantra ki Panchhi Deewarein kathayen Pankhon Se Panjon Parakh Param Vir Chakra Paying Guest Tak PC 1008 PC Aur Mausi Phir Wahi Talaash Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan Phulwanti Police File Se Potli Baba Ki Puraskar

Phatichar Prashan Manch Prahari Professor Vasan Pumpkin Patch

Q Quiz Time

R Rajni Ramayan Rangarang Rangoli Reporter Raja Ka Baja Raju Aur Udaantashtari Raag Darbari Raja Aur Rancho Rimba’s Island Raghukul Reet Sada Chali Aai

S Saanjha Chulha Sab ka maalik ek hai Safarnama Samundar Sangharsh Sansaar Saptahiki Sauda School Days Sea Hawks Shanti Shaktimaan Show Time Shrikant Shriman Shrimati Shri Krishna Sigma Sinbaad The Sailor Singhasan Battisi Space City Sigma Spiderman Star Trek Street Hawk Stone Boy Subah Subah-Savere Sukanya Suno Re Kissa Super Human Samurai Super Six Suraag – The Clue Surabhi Cyber Squad Swabhimaan Swaraj Some guys just ‘ve ‘em

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/11 December 2009

T Taana Baana Talaash TaleSpin Tamas Tandoori Nights Tarang Tehkikaat Telematch Tenali Rama Terah panne The Great Maratha The National Programme of Dance The Sword of Tipu The World This Thoda Sa Aasman Thundercats Sultan Week Thumblina Trishna Turning Point Twelve Months The World This Week

U Udaan Ulta Pulta Upanyaas Uttar Ramayan Upasana

V Vikram Aur Betaal Vilayti baaboo Viraasat Vishwamitra Vishwa Darshan

W Wagle Ki Duniya Wah Janaab Waqt World of Sports

Y Yeh Duniyan Gazab Ki Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi Yug Yugantar Yatra

Z Zigma Zamana Badal Gaya Zameen Aasmaan

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/12 December 2009 Reference:

[1] Kasbekar, Asha, “Pop culture India!: media, arts, and lifestyle” [2] Mankekar, Purnima, “Screening culture, viewing politics: an ethnography of television, womanhood” [3] 4.bp.blogspot.com [4] www.ninapaley.com [5] www.fasttrackcochin.com [6] www.indiantelevision.com [7] ibnlive.in.com [8] www.connect.in.com/doordarshan [9] www.youtube.com [10] www.deccanherald.com [11] http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2219/stories/20050923005011400.htm [12] http://tech2.in.com/india/news/mobile-phones/nokia-doordarshan-tie-up-for- mobile-tv/3077/0 [13] http://melodyonmumbai.in/2009/06/06/remembering-the-old-doordarshan- days/ [14] http://www.ceveni.com/2008/05/giant-robot-johnny-sokko-and-his-flying.html [15] http://abhisays.com/humor/watch-yeh-jo-hai-zindagi-online.html [16] http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/radio-and-tv/article27878.ece [17] http://www.dishtracking.com/blog/doordarsan/catch-fair-and-lovely-chhoo-lo- aasma-only-on-doordarshan/ [18] http://www.broadcast-technology.com/contractor_images/becil/4.jpg [19] 1.bp.blogspot.com [20] http://www.bhaskar.com/2009/09/16/090916011344_doordarshan.html

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/13 December 2009 Author profile:

Anis Chattopadhyay

The author is B.Sc. (H), PGDMSM, PGDBM (IISWBM), Former faculty of IISWBM, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College. He is presently associated with Techno India. He can be reached at: [email protected]

Author profile:

Monojit Banerjee

The author is an MBA from the Institute of Business Management (Affiliated to Jadavpur University, Kolkata). He is currently Lecturer, School of Management Studies, Techno India [TISOMS]. He can be reached at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:

Any views expressed by the author are his own. Bizzy Bytes is in no way responsible for the personal opinions of the author.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Do/14 December 2009 Cover Story : Media Studies

Doordarshan : Most Popular TV Characters

-- Anis Chattopadhyay

Doordarshan, the national broadcasting channel completed its golden jubilee on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. The mention of DD takes us back to the good old golden era when the small screen was not crowded with a thousand satellite channels and all eyeballs were only glued to the big daddy, Doordarshan. Entertainment hadn’t gone so commercial in those days when television had still not gained the tag of idiot box.

We reminisce some iconic characters from the early and evolving years of television programmes (in the 80s and early 90s), whose memories are still fresh in our minds unlike present day daily soaps which one forgets post its runtime.

Bassesar Ram, Badki, Majhli, Chutki, Nanhe, Lallu in Hum Log (1984)

All characters from this popular serial on middle-class life became cult-classics. From Bassesar Ram (Vinod Nagpal) as the drunkard father to the good looking Nanhe (Abhinav Chaturvedi) and Lallu (Rajesh Puri) are well-etched in public mind. Ashok Kumar who played the sutradhar making an appearance at the end of each show to give the moral of the story added some star value to this sober serial.

Karamchand (1985)

Pankaj Kapoor as the carrot- munching detective Karamchand is the master of all detective-dramas to have hit the small screen. The mystery element was amazing and Karamchand added his own touch of humour. He had a female assistant in the form Kitty played hilariously by Sushmita Mukherjee. Director Pankaj Parashar used puzzling camera angles without distracting the audience from the basic plot.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Mo/1 December 2009 Pankaj Kapoor tried to recreate the same effect in late 90s with versions of Karamchand in the form of Mohandas BALLB and others but failed badly.

Rajani (1985)

Priya Tendulkar became a household name through the character of Rajani that she played in the TV series directed by Basu Chatterjee. Rajani was an Indian housewife who couldn’t stand any injustice and was actively involved in social causes. She was the emerging face of the informed and independent Indian woman.

Nukkad characters (1986)

Another serial after Hum Log where all characters became so popular that even today we remember them not by their real names but character names! There was Guru (Dilip Dhawan), Khopdi (Sameer Khakhar), Kadar Bhai (Avtar Gill), Hari (Pavan Malhotra), etc... This slice of life character driven series directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza was the perfect blend of real-life comedy and emotions.

The makers tried to repeat the success of Nukkad with a sequel in the form of Naya Nukkad which got lukewarm response.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Mo/2 December 2009 Vikram aur Vetaal (1986)

After the immense success of the epic mythological drama Ramayana, Ramanand Sagar cast Arun Govil (the popular face of Ram) as King Vikram. Vikram has to overpower the white-faced flying ghost Vetaal (Sajjan) hanging upside down from banyan trees. Each time he does so and carries him on his back to his kingdom, Vetaal narrates him a fable and asks Vikram it’s moral. Every time Vikram gets the moral of the story correct and speaks out, Vetaal flies back to the forests. The individual stories in each episode were simple yet entertaining.

Swami in Malgudi Days (1987)

Master Manjunath played Swami and the audience saw the town of Malgudi through his eyes. Swami along with his friends gave life to Malgudi Days in R K Narayan’s classic book brought to life by Shankar Nag. Malgudi Days is one of the most endearing experiences on Indian television.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Mo/3 December 2009 Mr and Mrs Wagle in Wagle Ki Duniya (1988)

Anjan Srivastav as Wagle and Bharti Achrekar as his wife Radhika were one of the most simple and adorable couples, highlighting the unsophisticated happy life of a middle-class family. The second season of the serial ‘Wagle Ki Nayi Duniya’ wasn’t as big hit as the original.

Mr. Yogi (1989)

Mohan Gokhale as the foreign return Yogesh Ishwarlal Patel (Mr Yogi) was a huge hit in this Ketan Mehta directed comedy serial. Yogi is on a bride-hunting spree to India and sees 12 girls in 13 episodes. Now doesn’t that sound like the plot of Ashutosh Gowarikar What’s Your Rashee?

Tipu Sultan (1989)

The present generation might know Sanjay Khan as Zayed Khan’s father or Hrithik Roshan’s father-in-law. But Feroz Khan’s brother, after a successful innings in films, retired to television as the brave warrior from Mysore, Tipu Sultan. During the shooting a massive fire erupted on the sets in which Sanjay Khan suffered major burns and spent 13 months in hospital undergoing 72 surgeries. The serial also held the record for the maximum number of fatalities on a shooting location which accounted to as many as 62 people.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Mo/4 December 2009 Mungherilal in Mungherilal Ke Haseen Sapne (1990)

Mungherilal immortalized by Raghuvir Yadav was an average Indian middle-class man working in an office where he is ridiculed. In the serial Mungherilal Ke Haseen Sapne, he fantasized of playing a superhero solving problems in every new episode and was in love with his female colleague.

Byomkesh Bakshi (1993)

Another Basu Chatterjee classic, this detective series was loosely characterized on the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Rajit Kapoor gained a distinct identity as Byomkesh Bakshi, a man who effortlessly solved the most confusing mysteries. KK Raina made up for Dr Watson. Sourcing stories from rich Bengali literature (created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay), Byomkesh Bakshi was one of the most convincing crime thrillers.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Mo/5 December 2009 Reference:

Author profile:

Anis Chattopadhyay

The author is B.Sc. (H), PGDMSM, PGDBM (IISWBM), Former faculty of IISWBM, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College. He is presently associated with Techno India. He can be reached at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:

Any views expressed by the author are his own. Bizzy Bytes is in no way responsible for the personal opinions of the author.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Mo/6 December 2009 BIZarre

Weird Products

--Debraj Datta

In marketing literature, product remains the most important matter since all the marketing activities actually revolve around it. By definition, a product is any thing that satisfies a need or want, and can be offered in an exchange. In marketing text books, we could see so many different interpretations and classifications of product. However, many products are still existent in the market which are perhaps beyond these categories (or at least to me!!!). Here I will talk about some of such weird (but real!!!) products.

1. The Death Star Cookie Jar

Any fan of the Star Wars saga will instantly recognize this as a model of the death star (planet-sized spaceship cum fortress loaded with high-tech weapons commissioned by the evil emperor). One can purchase this Death Star Cookie jar to store the cookies. It could also work as a candy bowl or an ice cooler.

2. Bread Buddy

This may be the best thing since dispensed pez. The Bread Buddy keeps your bread fresh and dispenses one slice of bread at a time, sort of like a Pez dispenser. You don't have to reach way down into the bag to pull out a slice; the bag folds over the outside of the Bread Buddy so you just pull the bag down to bring more bread to the top. It makes every day sandwich eating in the kitchen easier, and it's a bit hit at picnics or camping.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/1 December 2009 3. The TravelJohn-Disposable Urinal

For the guys it’s always fairly easy to find someplace where they can respond to nature’s call. Find an old tree, shrub, dilapidated (or not so?) wall or any other place you name it, they’re ready to go. Sadly it’s slightly more complicated for women. It’s quite depressing to find the new generation women, while spending whole day outdoor just like their male counterparts, suffering terribly especially in a city like Kolkata where public toilets are abnormally few in numbers and those existing could kill anybody by the dint of its squalor. Now there is good news for them! They can purchase TravelJohn Disposable Urinal product and tuck them away for those times when they surely know that there’ll be no toilet. They just use them and then the urine turns to a jell, which can be disposed in the nearest trashcan.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/2 December 2009 4. The Chick Alarm Clock

Gone are days of reveille. However, the war-like urgency has not become extinct from our life style. So willy- nilly, most of us (at least me; I’m just fond of sleeping) have to start our days with that incorrigible sound of alarm clock. Now, some people prefer to wake up to the sound of a rooster crowing with a possible desire of tracing the ancient root of pre- civilization hunting profession. However, even if that’s not quite enough for some of you, here comes a chicken that hatches on command. It pops out of its egg and you’ll wake up to the sound of a baby chicken clucking. It’s a little more accurate than having a pet rooster to wake you up at sunrise. With this you can actually program the time into it. It runs on 3 AAA batteries and the most recent price is only $14.98.

5. Bubble Calendar

This calendar is more attractive than the standard paper ones, as it features a bubble that you can pop each day. It could be extremely sought-after product for those who have a penchant for popping such bubbles. This poster- sized calendar measures 48″ x 18″.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/3 December 2009 6. Mons Water Washbasin

Kids naturally seem to resist the things their parents want them to do like chores, homework and regular hand washing.

But encouraging good hygiene doesn’t have to be a struggle if you make it fun.

The Mons Water Washbasin offers a fun, approachable way to keep little hands clean with a silly character that dispenses water from its tooth. It conserves water by only flowing when hands are placed inside and it's just the right height to avoid spills. Sounds like good clean fun that everyone can agree on.

7. Latten Bookcase Made of Chairs

The Latten Bookcase by ABR takes wooden chairs, colorful beams and little bit creativity and turns them into a large open bookcase with lots of storage for books, potted plants or fun accents. The chairs are tied together with zip ties, so we can't imagine it's too hard to disassemble when you need a few extra chairs when guests come over.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/4 December 2009 8. Rear Gear Butt Covers for Pets

While we love our pets dearly for their companionship and free spirits, we have to admit that they could work on their hygiene, not to mention their sense of shame. Some cats and dogs seem almost proud of their backside, always putting it up in your face as you scratch their back. Obviously little pants wouldn't be practical, but Rear Gear Butt Covers do the trick by dangling in front of the bits you'd rather not see. They come in designs like fuzzy dice, cupcake, number one ribbon, biohazard symbol and more. Sure, butt covers are among the weirder pet products out there, but with a slogan like "No more Mr. Brown eye" we can totally get behind them.

9. Jug and Measuring Spoon

If you're like us then occasionally you're a little too lazy to bother measuring correctly... especially when mixing drinks after a rough day.

But you don't have to put in a lot of extra effort or pull out your measuring cup thanks to the Jug and Measuring Spoon. The spoon features markers for ounces and millimeters so you can read it off when placed in the jug. And the "jug" part of the jug-and-measuring-spoon-duo can be used as a pitcher or carafe when you're not using it as a measuring device. Hooray for 2-in-1 kitchen gadgets.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/5 December 2009 10. Node Electrical Outlet

So between the computer, printer, scanner, rechargeable batteries, cell phone, second monitor and any other miscellaneous devices you have at your desk, those power strips are getting pretty cluttered... and then there’s the issue of large adapters that take up 2 plugs... Hopefully before you resort to plugging one powerstrip into another we'll see something like the Node electrical outlet hit the states. This unique design is brand new from Japan and turns your wall socket into an innovative outlet that handles multiple 2-pronged plugs.

11. Creative Library Chair

If you only have room for a cozy chair or a book shelf, why not get both anyway? You can have your books and read them too thanks to the Creative Library Chair. Comfortably seating one and storing 200-300 books you can the corner of any room into your own mini-library. The chair also includes a felt cushion (not pictured).

12. Throx - Socks with a Spare

Throx is a company that sells socks, claiming to have solved the problem of the missing sock: by selling three socks instead of two.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/6 December 2009 13. World's First Non-Contact Thermometer

A company called Kidz-Med, Inc. has launched a new thermometer called, "Thermofocus", claiming it as the first thermometer to take accurate body temperature readings without touching the body.

The product's website says it can read infrared heat eminating from a person's forehead, and give results as accurate as a rectal thermometer, and more accurate than an ear thermometer.

The reason why they recommend pointing the device to the forehead is because the head is supplied with blood from the temporal artery, which receives blood through the aorta and the carotid artery, guaranteeing a considerable flow of blood. Moreover, the forehead is the only part of the body close to the brain that is not covered in hair.

Kidz-Med says you can also use the Thermofocus to take the temperatures of baby formula, bath water, and food.

This might be the start of the first Medical Tricorder?

14. Bagged Ice - In Reseable Bags

A new company called, On The Rocks, based out of Hartford, CT, is selling bagged ice in resealable bags.

They claim to be the world's first bagged ice intended exclusively for use in beverages. It's ice is supposedly of such a high quality, that it comes in a resealable bag, to keep it fresh and pure in your freezer.

According to the company website: The product is packaged in a Puncture Resistant, Re-sealable package and sealed with a tamper evident seal. The bag is then printed with a lot code as per FDA Bottled Water Regulations and automatically packed in a case for shipment.This way, if the FDA determines any contaminants have entered the ice, the company can issue a recall.

The website is also stamped with a graphic claiming "100% Natural Freezing Process". In a day and age where so much ice comes from artificially frozen water, it's such a welcome relief to get natural ice. The website goes on to say that the company uses an "extra slow freezing" technique to virtually eliminate air bubbles.

The result is a slower melting, harder, and more dense ice cube. No word yet on where you can buy this stuff.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/7 December 2009 15. The Fizz - Screw-on Ice Cream Float Cup

The Fizz is a plastic cup that screws on to a plastic PET bottle allowing you to create a mobile ice cream float.

Once you screw the cup to a bottle, fill it up with ice cream, then insert a straw, and finally, squeeze the bottle. This fills the cup with soda, allowing you to sip out a mixture of ice cream and soda.

The cup is reusable, but not dishwasher safe.

16. Meat Business Cards

Welcome to the age of meat business cards. Could a prospective employer ever throw out your contact info if it's seared onto a slab of beef jerky?

Your contact info can now be seared onto a tiny of beef jerky, thanks to a process involving a 150-Watt laser.

The meat card is the perfect way to market yourself in a dog-eat-dog world. When you hand a thin slab of beef with your name and number to a prospective employer, you're making a statement that can't be ignored. As the manufacturer states, "Meat Cards do not fit in a Rolodex, because of their deliciousness CANNOT BE CONTAINED in a Rolodex." If you're hiring, you wouldn't want to throw out a meat card, along with a bunch of unread resumes. Think of the vermin it would attract. You may be paying extra, but when you see your name seared into beef, you might just get that confidence boost you need to land a job.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/8 December 2009 17. The Chair with special effects

Harley-Davidson Recliner Puts Soom Oomph Into Your Living Room

If you think your chair is deficient because it lacks mirrors, a tailpipe and motorcycle sound effects, then First Impressions has your next $6,950 purchase.

18. Medirelax RelaxOne

According to this Swiss company, sitting inside a giant egg is the key to maxin’ and relaxin’. Unlike the similar Sonic Chair, the RelaxOne surrounds you in sound. Although it probably doesn’t sell well with the claustrophobic set, it includes a CD player, ambient light and massaging action.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/9 December 2009 19. R2-D2 Projector

Another one for Star Wars fans. If you thought lines for “Revenge of the Sith” were filled with pimply geekboys, wait until you see the response for the R2-D2 projector. It’s got a built-in DVD player, an iPod connector, memory card and USB ports, and a remote that looks like the Millennium Falcon (spaceship). Start practicing your Jedi mind tricks; it’s available in mid-summer and only a few will be available.

20. Gadget Universe Home Theater Watch

For those of you that found the iPod video too big and blinding, this watch can turn you into the Dick Tracy of home theater—if Dick Tracy liked to squint.

Sure it can play MP3, WMA, JPG and MP4 formats, but it’s also on a 1.5-inch screen. Is that really entertainment?

$149.99

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/10 December 2009 References

[1] http://foolishgadgets.com/200907/the-death-star-cookie-jar/ [2] http://www.chipchick.com/2009/07/death_star_cookie_jar.html [3] http://foolishgadgets.com/200907/the-traveljohn-disposable-urinal/ [4] http://foolishgadgets.com/200907/the-traveljohn-disposable-urinal/ [5] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NV878S?ie=UTF8&tag=bookofjoe- 20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000NV878S [6] http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/07/08/traveljohn-for-when-you-really-have-to-go/ [7] http://foolishgadgets.com/200907/the-chick-alarm-clock/ [8] http://www.harrietcarter.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/F4B16 2DE-5F75-473B-A1DA-FE106DAB92D3/productID/3AE7D219-6A40-4B74-82AF- AEBC7DEE8194 [9] http://www.bookofjoe.com/2009/07/chick-alarm-clock.html [10] http://foolishgadgets.com/200902/2009-bubble-calendar/ [11] http://www.lataz.com/2009-bubble-calendar.html [12] http://incrediblethings.com/ [13] http://www.strangenewproducts.com/

Author’s Profile:

Debraj Datta

The author is a gold-medallist engineer from Jadavpur University and holder of Masters in Business Management degree from University of Calcutta. He worked in Infosys, IDC and ABPPL as software and management professional. He was a faculty of Marketing and Statistics in ICFAI Meritum College and later on Academic Co-ordinator of ICFAI National College, Dumdum. Presently he is the Lecturer and Teacher In-Charge of Department of Management Studies, Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology - a Techno Group institute affiliated to West Bengal University of Technology.

He can be reached at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:

Any views expressed by the author are his own. Bizzy Bytes is in no way responsible for the personal opinions of the author.

Bizzy Bytes Page : We/11 December 2009 Soft Skills

Dodging The Bullets: Guidelines for Facing Specific Interview Questions [Part-3]

Virag Bhushan Dwivedi

Be Alert!! The interview board is firing questions at you! How do you survive?

Question 11 : Why do you want to work at our company ?

TRAPS: This question tests whether you’ve done any homework about the firm. If you haven’t, you lose. If you have, you win big. BEST ANSWER: This question is your opportunity to hit the ball out of the park, thanks to the in-depth research you should do before any interview. Best sources for researching your target company: annual reports, the corporate newsletter, the company’s website(s), any contacts at the company or its suppliers, advertisements, articles about the company in the trade press, etc.

Question 12 : What are your career options right now ?

TRAPS: The interviewer is trying to find out, “How desperate are you?” BEST ANSWER: Prepare for this question by thinking of how you can position yourself as a desired commodity. If you are still working, describe the possibilities at your present firm and why, though you’re greatly appreciated there, you’re looking for something more (challenge, money, responsibility, etc.). Also mention that you’re seriously exploring opportunities with one or two other firms. If you’re not working, you can talk about other employment possibilities you’re actually exploring. But do this with a light touch, speaking only in general terms. You don’t want to seem manipulative or coy.

Question 13 : Why have you been out of work so long?

TRAPS: A tough question if you’ve been on the bench a long time. You don’t want to seem like damaged goods.

Bizzy Bytes Page: In/1 December 2009

BEST ANSWER: You want to emphasize factors which have prolonged your job search by your own choice. Example: “After my job was terminated, I made a conscious decision not to jump on the first opportunity to come along. In my life, I’ve found out that you can always turn a negative into a positive IF you try hard enough. This is what I was determined to do. I decided to take whatever time I needed to think through what I do best, what I most want to do, where I’d like to do it…and then identify those companies that could offer such an opportunity.” “Also, in all honesty, you have to factor in the recession (consolidation, stabilization, etc.) in the (banking, financial services, manufacturing, advertising, etc.) industry.” “So between my being selective and the companies in our industry downsizing, the process has taken time. But in the end, I’m convinced that when I do find the right match, all that careful evaluation from both sides of the desk will have been well worthwhile for both the company that hires me and myself.

Question 14 : Tell me honestly about the strong points and weak points of your boss (company, management team, etc.)…

TRAPS: Skillfull interviewers sometimes make it almost irresistible to open up and air a little dirty laundry from your previous position. DON’T. BEST ANSWER: Remember the rule: Never be negative. Stress only the good points, no matter how charmingly you’re invited to be critical. Your interviewer doesn’t care a whit about your previous boss. He wants to find out how loyal and positive you are, and whether you’ll criticize him behind his back if pressed to do so by someone in his own company. This question is your opportunity to demonstrate your loyalty to those you work with.

Question 15 : What good books have you read lately ?

TRAPS: As in all matters of your interview, never fake familiarity you don’t have. Yet you don’t want to seem like a dullard who hasn’t read a book since Tom Sawyer. BEST ANSWER: Unless you’re up for a position in academia or as book critic for The New York Times, you’re not expected to be a literary lion. But it wouldn’t hurt to have read a handful of the most recent and influential books in your profession and on management. Consider it part of the work of your job search to read up on a few of these leading books. But make sure they are quality books that reflect favorably upon you, nothing that could even remotely be considered superficial. Finally, add a recently published bestselling work of fiction by a world- class author and you’ll pass this question with flying colors.

Bizzy Bytes Page: In/2 December 2009

Question 16 : Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized.

TRAPS: This is a tough question because it’s a more clever and subtle way to get you to admit to a weakness. You can’t dodge it by pretending you’ve never been criticized. Everybody has been. Yet it can be quite damaging to start admitting potential faults and failures that you’d just as soon leave buried. This question is also intended to probe how well you accept criticism and direction. BEST ANSWERS: Begin by emphasizing the extremely positive feedback you’ve gotten throughout your career and (if it’s true) that your performance reviews have been uniformly excellent. Of course, no one is perfect and you always welcome suggestions on how to improve your performance. Then, give an example of a not-too-damaging learning experience from early in your career and relate the ways this lesson has since helped you. This demonstrates that you learned from the experience and the lesson is now one of the strongest breastplates in your suit of armor. If you are pressed for a criticism from a recent position, choose something fairly trivial that in no way is essential to your successful performance. Add that you’ve learned from this, too, and over the past several years/months, it’s no longer an area of concern because you now make it a regular practice to…etc. Another way to answer this question would be to describe your intention to broaden your mastery of an area of growing importance in your field. For example, this might be a computer program you’ve been meaning to sit down and learn… a new management technique you’ve read about…or perhaps attending a seminar on some cutting-edge branch of your profession. Again, the key is to focus on something not essential to your brilliant performance but which adds yet another dimension to your already impressive knowledge base.

Question 17 : What are your outside interests ?

TRAPS: You want to be a well-rounded person, not a drone. But your potential employer would be even more turned off if he suspects that your heavy extracurricular load will interfere with your commitment to your work duties. BEST ANSWERS: Try to gauge how this company’s culture would look upon your favorite outside activities and be guided accordingly. You can also use this question to shatter any stereotypes that could limit your chances. If you’re over 50, for example, describe your activities that demonstrate physical stamina. If you’re young, mention an activity that connotes wisdom and institutional trust, such as serving on the board of a popular charity. But above all, remember that your employer is hiring you for what you can do for him, not your family, yourself or outside organizations, no matter how admirable those activities may be.

Bizzy Bytes Page: In/3 December 2009

Question 18 : The “Fatal Flaw” question.

TRAPS: If an interviewer has read your resume carefully, he may try to zero in on a “fatal flaw” of your candidacy, perhaps that you don’t have a college degree…you’ve been out of the job market for some time…you never earned your CPA, etc. A fatal flaw question can be deadly, but usually only if you respond by being overly defensive. BEST ANSWERS: As every master salesperson knows, you will encounter objections (whether stated or merely thought) in every sale. They’re part and parcel of the buyer’s anxiety. The key is not to exacerbate the buyer’s anxiety but diminish it. Here’s how… Whenever you come up against a fatal flaw question: 1. Be completely honest, open and straightforward about admitting the shortcoming. (Showing you have nothing to hide diminishes the buyer’s anxiety.) 2. Do not apologize or try to explain it away. You know that this supposed flaw is nothing to be concerned about, and this is the attitude you want your interviewer to adopt as well. 3. Add that as desirable as such a qualification might be, its lack has made you work all the harder throughout your career and has not prevented you from compiling an outstanding track record of achievements. You might even give examples of how, through a relentless commitment to excellence, you have consistently outperformed those who do have this qualification. Of course, the ultimate way to handle “fatal flaw” questions is to prevent them from arising in the first place. You will do that by following the master strategy described in Question 1, i.e., uncovering the employers needs and them matching your qualifications to those needs. Once you’ve gotten the employer to start talking about his most urgently-felt wants and goals for the position, and then help him see in step-by-step fashion how perfectly your background and achievements match up with those needs, you’re going to have one very enthusiastic interviewer on your hands, one who is no longer looking for “fatal flaws”.

Question 19 : How do you feel about reporting to a younger person, minority, woman, etc. ?

TRAPS: It’s a shame that some interviewers feel the need to ask this question, but many understand the reality that prejudices still exist among some job candidates, and it’s better to try to flush them out beforehand. The trap here is that in today’s politically sensitized environment, even a well-intentioned answer can result in planting your foot neatly in your mouth. Avoid anything which smacks of a patronizing or an insensitive attitude, such as “I think they make terrific bosses” or “Hey, some of my best friends are…” Of course, since almost anyone with an IQ above room temperature will at least try to steadfastly affirm the right answer here, your interviewer will be judging your sincerity most of all. “Do you

Bizzy Bytes Page: In/4 December 2009 really feel that way?” is what he or she will be wondering. So you must make your answer believable and not just automatic. If the firm is wise enough to have promoted people on the basis of ability alone, they’re likely quite proud of it, and prefer to hire others who will wholeheartedly share their strong sense of fair play. BEST ANSWER: You greatly admire a company that hires and promotes on merit alone and you couldn’t agree more with that philosophy. The age, gender, race, religion, etc. of the person you report to would certainly make no difference to you. Whoever has that position has obviously earned it and knows their job well. Both the person and the position are fully deserving of respect. You believe that all people in a company, from the receptionist to the Chairman, work best when their abilities, efforts and feelings are respected and rewarded fairly, and that includes you. That’s the best type of work environment you can hope to find.

Question 20 : On confidential matters…

TRAPS: When an interviewer presses you to reveal confidential information about a present or former employer, you may feel it’s a no-win situation. If you cooperate, you could be judged untrustworthy. If you don’t, you may irritate the interviewer and seem obstinate, uncooperative or overly suspicious. BEST ANSWER: Your interviewer may press you for this information for two reasons. First, many companies use interviews to research the competition. It’s a perfect set-up. Here in their own lair, is an insider from the enemy camp who can reveal prized information on the competition’s plans, research, financial condition, etc. Second, the company may be testing your integrity to see if you can be cajoled or bullied into revealing confidential data. What to do? The answer here is easy. Never reveal anything truly confidential about a present or former employer. By all means, explain your reticence diplomatically. For example, “I certainly want to be as open as I can about that. But I also wish to respect the rights of those who have trusted me with their most sensitive information, just as you would hope to be able to trust any of your key people when talking with a competitor…” And certainly you can allude to your finest achievements in specific ways that don’t reveal the combination to the company safe. But be guided by the golden rule. If you were the owner of your present company, would you feel it ethically wrong for the information to be given to your competitors? If so, steadfastly refuse to reveal it. Remember that this question pits your desire to be cooperative against your integrity. Faced with any such choice, always choose integrity. It is a far more valuable commodity than whatever information the company may pry from you. Moreover, once you surrender the information, your stock goes down. They will surely lose respect for you. One President we know always presses candidates unmercifully for confidential information. If he doesn’t get it, he grows visibly annoyed, relentlessly inquisitive. It’s all an act. He couldn’t care less

Bizzy Bytes Page: In/5 December 2009 about the information. This is his way of testing the candidate’s moral fiber. Only those who hold fast are hired.

References:

[1] www.scribd.com [Plus many other job-related sites that are too numerous to mention.]

Author Profile:

Virag Bhushan Dwivedi

The author is an alumni of Techno India School of Management Studies [TISOMS]. He obtained his BBA(H) in 2008, and is pursuing PGDM from the Birla Institute of Management Technology, Noida. In his own preparations for interviews he has learnt certain interesting techniques which he wishes to share with us.

He can be reached at: [email protected]

Bizzy Bytes Page: In/6 December 2009

Case Study : Merger & Acquisition

The Air India – Indian Airlines Merger

-- Monojit Banerjee

Process of the Merger

Amalgamation of Air India Limited and Indian Airlines Limited with National Aviation Company of India Limited:

The Government of India, on 1 March 2007, approved the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines. Consequent to the above, a new Company viz National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 on 30 March 2007 with its Registered Office at Airlines House, 113 Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, New Delhi. The Certificate to Commence Business was obtained on 14 May 2007.

Presently, the Board of NACIL consists of:

• An Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation • A Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation • Director, Ministry of Civil Aviation

The Scheme of Amalgamation of Air India Limited and Indian Airlines Limited with National Aviation Company of India Limited was approved by the Board of Directors of all the three Companies.

Thereafter, the Meetings of Secured and Unsecured Creditors of Air India and Indian Airlines were held in New Delhi on 28 June 2007, in which the Scheme of Amalgamation was approved by the Creditors. The final hearing of the merger petition was held on 31 July 2007 wherein the last date for submissions of objections was fixed on 8 August 2007 and the Order of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs was awaited. The Authorised and Paid-Up Share Capital of the merged entity was Rs.1500 crores and Rs.145 crores, respectively.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Me/1 December 2009

It has been decided that post merger, the new entity will be known as “Air India” while “Maharaja” will be retained as its mascot. The logo of the new airline will be a red coloured flying swan with the “Konark Chakra” in orange placed inside it. The flying swan has been morphed from Air India’s characteristic logo “The Centaur” whereas the “Konark Chakra” was reminiscent of Indian’s logo. The Corporate Office of NACIL will be at Mumbai. [The brand name Indian was also proposed.]

The Government had approved the appointment of Shri V Thulasidas and Dr V Trivedi as Chairman & Managing Director and Joint Managing Director, respectively, of the merged entity, with effect from the date of merger.

It was decided in 2007 that Air India Express and Indian Airlines' low-cost arm Alliance Air will be combined into one entity which will have operations both abroad as well as domestically. This follows the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines. AI will have a third subsidiary, AI Cargo, with two A310s belonging to Air India and two Boeing 737-200s belonging to Alliance Air already being converted to freighters. The cargo operations will be launched from June 8. These will operate on medium haul routes like those to Frankfurt, Paris and Damman.

Rationale behind the merger

Although the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India was pursued in order to arrest the two airlines' loss of market share over the years (as some reports have suggested), it was not the only reason.

A merged airline would of course show a spike in the numbers when it comes to market share, but that would be statistical illusion. It would in any case be a temporary feature, unless the underlying factors that have caused the two airlines to lose ground are addressed.

So far the argument has been that

Bizzy Bytes Page : Me/2 December 2009 it was the failure to order new aircraft that was the villain of the piece; that was being addressed. If that was the sole source of the problem of declining market share, then both airlines should start doing better in the near future. So the business of market share should not have driven the merger decision.

This is not to argue against size being an advantage in the aviation business. The trend of even giant airlines merging in many markets (KLM and Air France, for instance) is too well-established to dispute that aviation has become a size game. And a merged Indian Airlines and Air India will be a sizeable regional airline, even if not a global giant.

The other argument in favour of merger is economies of scale in a whole series of areas: maintenance, ground operations, the use of landing slots and parking rights, and much else.

But the single-most powerful argument is that a merged company can effectively deliver the classic hub and spoke system that the largest airlines have been operating: Emirates in Dubai; Lufthansa in Frankfurt and Munich; British Airways in London; Delta in Atlanta; and so on.

The domestic leg will bring passengers to the two main gateways of Delhi and Mumbai; also, Air India's domestic flights can be scheduled to complement the Indian Airlines schedule.

This could be important when looking at a scenario in which rival Jet and Kingfisher operates both domestic and international routes. The same result cannot be fully achieved through airline cooperation or even through the device of a common holding company. Merger is therefore a logical solution.

That is in theory. The problems arise in terms of the disparate nature of the two airlines' work forces, their pay structures and organizational ethos. In a merger scenario, for instance, it is likely that pay structures will migrate upwards, towards the level prevailing in the higher-paying airline. [Recently (2009), we have seen Indian Airlines pilots and flight crew carrying out a strike when it was attempted to cut performance linked incentives temporarily to cut costs and survive colossal losses.]

Similarly, the airlines have duplicate structures in a large number of areas; unless these are got rid of, it will add a layer of fat and a lot of staff unhappiness. Both airlines, for instance, have ground- handling facilities at the Delhi airport, to take one instance.

Without rationalization of staff, it will become impossible to benefit from the economies of scale that are there for the asking; and both being public sector airlines with strong trade unions that have access to politicians (especially from the Left), any attempt at staff rationalization is going to run into turbulence. There is also the issue of flying overseas, traditionally seen as the higher end of the aviation business. If Indian Airlines pilots/crew are expected to stay in the domestic arena while Air India flies overseas, there will be heartburn.

If Air India pilots are asked to do domestic routes, there will be an even bigger problem as they lose their fat international allowances. And finally, as more and more airlines start international airlines, the hub and spoke system itself may break down. Lufthansa, for instance, now flies to six destinations in India and does not need domestic spokes at all.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Me/3 December 2009

Current Scenario

A recent press report stated that the loads in the flights of former Indian Airlines have fallen after the merger. What is implied here is that merger of the two national carriers is not working.

Airlines in India are passing through turbulent times. High crude oil prices, and the consequent increase in ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices, have been the bane of the airlines business the world over. In 2003, crude was selling below $30 a bar rel; in July 2008 it was $142.

The price of ATF in India is higher than the international price by about 65 per cent, thanks to the higher basic price and the taxes. ATF sells at Rs 41,500 per kilolitre in Singapore whereas it sells at Rs 68,388 in Delhi.

ATF price is only one part of the high cost regime for airlines in India. Airport and hotel charges and manpower costs, especially for pilots and engineers, are also part of the problem.

Passengers are harrowed as AI airport staff caught unaware of IC flight status; this despite a merger of both brands:

Though Air India and Indian Airlines are part of the same parent company, and after a merger also operate under the same umbrella brand, the airport staff believes otherwise.

And the brunt of this confusion is borne by passengers mainly traveling by Indian Airlines (IC) flights, who are made to run from pillar-to-post to get information of their flight status at the airport.

Though the merger has been completed, Air India ground staff is updated with only details of Air India flights. There is no integration of the operations of the two companies.

While efficiency and quality of customer service suffered, the way Air India chose to implement its merger with Indian Airlines resulted in diseconomies of scale.

Phenomenal growth in the recent past

The high-cost regime is to be seen against the low yields and revenues of the airlines. The last five years have witnessed phenomenal growth in Indian aviation. Air travel has become more affordable (with the entry of budget carriers) at a time when the economy has been registering spectacular growth, driving demand high. As against just the two national carriers and one or two private airlines, this period saw the birth of several more airlines in India.

There was a time when every air show in the world saw contracts for large numbers of aircraft being signed by Indian carriers. Airbus and Boeing were thrilled and, obviously, encouraged this trend.

There was high praise for the Indian success story from IATA (International Air Transport Association). The government encouraged the growth, not only by facilitating the launch of new domestic airlines, but by also liberalizing the bilateral regime and allowing phenomenal increases in the rights given to foreign carriers to enhance capacity into India.

Bizzy Bytes Page : Me/4 December 2009 All these are, no doubt, good for the passengers. But this would, at best, be short-lived. When the industry starts to solve the problem of overcapacity by selling below cost, it risks becoming sick. That is not the best way to take care of the long-term interests of the consumer.

The new National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) is paying the price of a market with large capacity and plateauing growth. In 2006, domestic passenger growth was 39 per cent, whereas in 2007 it was 32.5 per cent.

Despite the erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines ordering a large number of new aircraft, both international and domestic flights of NACIL still use several old aircraft. In this highly competitive business, and given the market realities, this is not the ideal way to attract a larger share of the passengers.

The merger effect

How does the merger of the two national carriers help in such a situation? First, one needs to realise that none of the aforementioned problems has anything to do with merger. But can the merger help the airlines tide over the situation?

The NACIL’s product quality is bound to improve with the induction of more new aircraft. The hardware part of the problem will get resolved sooner than later. This would not have been a problem had the earlier governments allowed the airlines to renew their fleets, as all other airlines in the world do. After all, the national carriers buy aircraft with their own money; not a single rupee is given by the government, contrary to public perception.

It is the software part that has plagued the national carrier in the last few decades. Operating separate networks for domestic and international passengers, without any provision for interconnectivity is not the best service passengers are looking for. Nor is there a model like this anywhere in the world.

Air India and Indian Airlines were encouraged to think differently and act differently. The two organisations competed with each other, rather than co-operate and offer better services to their passengers. Now there is a chance to change all that and offer the advantage and strength of two large domestic and international networks working as one single entity. The vastness and reach of the new Air India, as a result of the merger and membership of the Star Alliance, will be truly impressive.

In these days of high costs, the merger will enable the new Air India to rationalize costs by synergizing operations. Not only can separate offices and manpower be avoided, many other facilities such as engineering, inventories, IT, etc., can be integrated, leading to large savings.

Both in terms of revenue and costs, therefore, the merger can help the national carrier. For this to materialize, the process of merger has to be carried to its logical conclusion. Merger is not easy nor is it painless. It will take time and there will be teething troubles; there could be setbacks and constant irritants. These are all part of the merger process and have to be seen and accepted as such, and solutions found.

Shared vision

Bizzy Bytes Page : Me/5 December 2009

There is great responsibility resting on the current generation in NACIL, including its unions and senior management. It is easy to fall a victim to the temptation of encouraging divisive thoughts among the employees of the two erstwhile airlines.

There could be temporary and individual gains for a few but lasting damage to the majority.

The synergy of the integrated network can be realised only when the people think as part of one entity. The success of the merger depends on such a shared vision. When that happens, not only will Indian aviation gain but so will all the employees of the national carrier.

References:

[1] www.airindia.com [2] www.airindia.in [3] http://indian-airlines.nic.in [4] http://2.bp.blogspot.com [5] www.livemint.com/2009/06/28230233/The-king-is-dead-long-live-th.html [6] www.mid-day.com/news/2009/sep/280909-Air-India-Indian-Airlines-Sharjah.htm [7] www.india-aviation.in [8] www.whereincity.com [9] aviatingindia.wordpress.com [10] www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/topics/tnc-all/airports-and-air-connectivity-in- orissa [11] www.skyscrapercity.com [12] aviatingindia.wordpress.com [13] www.mynews.in/News/AI_strike_No_New_Booking_for_now,_other_air_lines_as ked_to_help_N26843.html#

Author profile:

Monojit Banerjee

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Bizzy Bytes Page : Me/6 December 2009

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