Life in a Metro - 1

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Here’s the first in the series on ‘Life in a Metro’ written entirely while travelling by Metro. Await further installments soon.

Metro train is a great addition to Bangalore transportation. The city which has always suffered lack of infrastructure and haphazard development has at last found something to cheer about. Bangalore is notorious for its unending jams and unmanageable roads. The city has for long endured lack of efficient public transport system. Therefore, Metro was welcomed by Bangalore citizens with both arms who saw in it a solution to their Traffic woes. 

Implementation delays notwithstanding, Namma Metro has come as a real panacea for all Bangaloreans. Even though only the first phase is completed, Bangalore Metro has been a great hit with people. They are willing to travel a fair distance just to reach a nearby Metro station to take the train. Reasons for this love for Metro is not hard to explain. 

Metro travel is safe, pollution free and very efficient. Not to forget the on-time service - hitherto unseen/unheard of by Bangaloreans in public transport space. Metro is available round the clock and is not affected by vehicular congestion, daily strikes or vagaries of weather. Moreover for the first time in the history of Bangalore travel, you can actually predict when you can reach a particular destination in the city. This is very necessary for a city that aspires to be counted among the best cities in the world. This predictability has been the hallmark of massive economic growth in mega cities like Mumbai. Mumbai, apart from having multimodal transport also has a very reliable and predictable connectivity between different parts of the city. The Mumbai local is an exemplary exception to the chaos that is common place in many cities across India. During my short stay (~2 years) in Mumbai many years ago, I was actually surprised to see trains coming on time. Mumbai local is the lifeline of Mumbai citizens. Everyone from homemakers to businessmen to dabbawalas travel by the local. They crisscross the length and breadth of Mumbai and transports millions of passengers everyday. Amazing frequency and timeliness of Mumbai locals have made Mumbai a very reliable city. Bangalore has a long way to go before it can come anywhere close to Mumbai. But Metro is a good beginning in this direction. 

As far as Metro is concerned, Delhi leads the way with its ever expanding network and well maintained trains. Even though Kolkata got the first Metro train service, the real Metro revolution started in Delhi with its air conditioned coaches, swanky stations and well connected routes under the leadership of Metroman E Sreedharan. With Metro, Delhi leapfrogged into big league of global cities connected by Metros. It didn’t matter to people that we are more than 100 years behind the western world in Metro implementation. Long live Metro! 

Did you know that the first rapid transport started in London in 1863?

- Await next part - Metro history - World and India

Here’s the second in the series on ‘Life in a Metro’. Read and respond.

Did you know that the world's first rapid transit system was the partially underground Metropolitan Railway opened in 1863 in London? That was the first official Metro that came into operation in the world. So, Bangalore Metro in comparison is about 150 years behind the world.

China has the largest number of metro systems in the world. The world's longest Metro by route length is the Shanghai Metro. The world's largest metro service provider by number of stations (472 stations in total) is the New York City Subway. The busiest metros in the world by annual ridership are Tokyo, Seoul, Moscow, Beijing and the Shanghai Metro. China is the world leader in metro expansion in the last couple of decades with nearly 60 cities having or planning metros.

In India, 10 cities have operational Metros, and more than 17 other cities having it in various stages of construction and planning. Delhi Metro that started operations in December 2002 currently has the largest metro network in the country with 218 kms under operation and about 240 kms more under construction and planning. 

Kolkata Metro was the first Metro to be operational in October 1984. But currently it has only 27 kms in operation. However, more than 113 kms are under construction and 124 kms are in planning. Chennai that was the 2nd city to start rapid transit system in India in Nov 1995 has also lagged behind in terms of expansion. It has only 19 kms in operation, but about 117 kms are planned. Bangalore Metro (also called Namma Metro) that started operations only in October 2011 already has 42.30 kms in operation with about 91 kms under construction and planning.

The other metros in operation in India are Gurgaon Metro (Nov 2013 - 11.7 kms), Mumbai Metro (Jun 2014 - 11.4 kms), Jaipur Metro (Jun 2015 - 9.63 kms), Kochi Metro (Jun 2017 - 18.4 kms), Lucknow Metro (Sep 2017 - 8.5 kms) and Hyderabad Metro (Nov 2017 - 30 kms)

Namma Metro Is currently the second longest operational metro network in India after the Delhi Metro. It also contains the first underground metro line in South India. The metro network consists of two colour-coded lines, with a total length of 42.3 kilometres serving 41 stations. The Purple line that runs from east to west of the city is 18.22 km long and has 17 stations. The Green line that runs from north to south is 24.1 km long and has 24 stations. The system has a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated stations using standard-gauge tracks. The metro has an average daily ridership of >350,000 passengers as on November 30 2017. By 2023, there will be another 2 lines, Red line and Yellow line. 

What are the unique features of Bangalore Metro? How should passengers adapt to the Metro way of travelling? Let’s find answers to these and more in the next part of this series, ‘Life In a Metro’.

My experience of travelling in a Metro has been mostly in Bangalore, even though I have had touch experiences of travelling by Metro in London tube, Brussels, Atlanta, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. I would like to provide some additional information about Bangslore Metro in this episode before talking about how to adapt to Metro mode of travel in subsequent instalments.

Bangalore Metro, as already discussed was the first Metro in South India with underground lines and stations. For the underground in Phase 1 the tunnels were dug using tunnel boring machines (TBM), approximately 60 feet below ground level, having a diameter of 5.5 metres. A total of 6 TBMs were used for work in the underground section of Phase 1. Some of the TBMs were nicknamed - Helen (TBM 1), Margarita (TBM 2), Kaveri (TBM 3), Krishna (TBM4) and Godavari (TBM 5).

In terms of technical superiority Namma Metro is ahead of the other Metros in India - be it in terms of building underground lines, or introducing a third rail for power supply or providing wifi on board the trains. However, in terms of quality of construction, sheltering and facilities in the station, Bangalore seems to be the poorest. With asbestos sheet roofs supported by steel girders, many of the Bangalore stations become porous and inundate the platforms during rains. 

Yet another area of concern is the material used for platform flooring. Granite flooring is used across all the stations and this is a safety hazard for passengers. Passengers taking metro trains are always in a hurry and the slippery flooring is a big risk for them even on normal days, not to mention the real hazard during rains. 

As far as the safety aspects in metros are concerned all Metros in India including Namma Metro have some way to go. Some of the better known Metros in Asia like Hongkong (MTR) and Singapore (MRTS) have faster trains and larger networks, but have equally good safety features. To prevent passengers inadvertently straying onto the tracks, these Metros have created an additional safety layer on the platforms. A protective capsule in the stations ensures that people have no opening to the tracks. The doors of the safety shield open in tandem with the train doors when the train arrives on the platform thus preventing any untoward incidents. This kind of safety measures in India needs better technology and more investment from Metro operators, which they can ill afford at this point of time. However this should be an area of focus for Metro service providers in future.

Next - 10 life hacks on a Metro

Dec 13, 2017

Over the last 3 months I have been a regular traveller on Bangalore Metro. I travel one of the longest routes in Bangalore on a daily basis - between Peenya Industry and JP Nagar and have a good understanding of how best to adapt and enjoy everyday travel on Metro. I use multimodal transport that includes Car, Metro and auto to reach my office. I drive to the Peenya station, park the vehicle there and travel by train for 40 mins and finally take an auto for the last stretch to reach my office. Going through this drill everyday has helped me optimise on some of the process steps. For many of these learnings, I credit my colleague and good friend SP Srikanth who taught me unique ways to make Metro travel stress-free. Here are some life hacks that I am sure will help you in your Metro experience.

1. First and foremost, identify a metro station closest to your home that provides parking facilities. This helps you take your own transport, and not rely on Cabs. I regularly park my vehicle in Peenya/Peenya Industry parking before taking the train.

2. You need to plan in advance to get a parking slot in the parking area as every Metro parking area will have limited parking slots. One of the ways to ensure you get parking is by reaching the station as early as possible in the day. The other way is to keep the parking owner’s number handy to call and inform him in advance before you arrive at the station.

3. If you are one of the passengers who travels a long distance on the metro as I do, it is always a good idea to know which trains originate from which station. Some trains start at a station other than the last station on the route. It is good to know when and where those trains start as they help you in getting a seat on the train for you entire journey. For e.g., there are at least 4 trains that originate from Peenya industry station between 8 - 9.30 am. Those trains will be the best for you to take for a comfortable journey if you travel on this route.

Next - the other Life in a Metro hacks.

Dec 14, 2017

4. Even if you can’t get a seat on the train, the next best thing to do would be get a comfortable place to stand. ThIs is important because, trains get really crowded in the peak hours and getting place to even stand at times becomes difficult. Getting a comfortable standing place can be achieved by standing on the platform at a strategic point. This strategic point happens to normally be right at the beginning of the platform where the first coach stops. The reason why this is a strategic point is due to the fact that people who get into the platform usually tend to wait for the train at the point of entry to the platform leading to a swelling of passengers at that point. If you observe, there is always heavy rush on the platform near the staircase/elevator landings and lift entry points. Therefore, it is a good idea for us to stand in the platform at a place other than those entry points.

5. Once you get into the train, it is a important to quickly get in and find a place to stand in front of the passenger seating. This will serve 2 purposes. One, it saves you from being the target of pushing and jostling in a crowded train, and two, it gives you a great chance of gaining a seat if you are a long distance traveller. It is never a good practice to stay put at the entrance pathway, even if you are travelling a short distance.

6. While standing in front of the passenger seating, do observe the movements of the seated passengers. It is a common practice for passengers to plug themselves with headphones and start browsing their mobile phones as soon as they get a seat. If you are standing and hope to get a seat, you need to pick subtle signals of when seated passengers are likely to deboard the train. Obviously you can’t ask passengers where they are going to get down. So the next best thing for you to do is to observe the telltale signs of passengers preparing to get off. Usually they start unplugging their headphones, setting their bags in order and start looking towards the exit when they are about to alight. At that point you need to be alert and and swing into action to get the seat in quick time :). 

Next - Life hacks 7-10

7. Another observation point is to be aware of the stations where passengers are most likely to get off. At these points, be alert and stop being engrossed in your phone and be prepared. In the Peenya-JP Nagar route, the popular stations where people normally get off are Yeshwanthpur, Sandal Soap factory, Majestic and KR market.

8. If your office or destination is some distance away from the station where you deboard, then prepare to travel the last mile by booking your connecting transport one station before your final station. Thankfully, app based taxi and auto services are a great boon here. You can use Pre-saved locations to book your cab/auto a station before your last so that your cab/auto will be ready by the time you come out of the station. I usually take Ola auto to reach my office from the station.

9. If you are a regular Metro traveller, ensure that you buy a smart card for your journey. Even though you pay Rs. 50 for the smart card upfront, in the long run this will save you both time and money. Travel using smart cards cost you 15% less and saves you the time in buying tokens and dropping them at the counters.

10. Another time saving hack for you with smart cards is to keep the card in your wallet and to flash your wallet at the entrance and exit counters. Since the cards are magnetic, you really don’t need to pull the card out of your wallet to flash the card. All you need is to flash your wallet near the counter and you are through.

Thanks everyone for reading my random thoughts on life in a Metro. If this has prepared you better for Metro travel, I will consider my efforts fruitful. Do let me know what you thought about this series.

 June 1, 2013

The opportunity to experience the land opportunities has been quite exciting and exhilarating for me. My experience of the US is just 2 weeks old, but it has given me quite a taste how this country works. Being alone, without my family, has forced me to learn many new things, though not always by choice. My engagement leaders in the US have been quite welcoming and have been trying to ensure that I settle down here as early as possible, so that I can concentrate on more important things.

Being an acknowledged nervous starter, I have had my own share of tense moments when I landed in the US. Once I landed, I had to go through a thorough baggage check at Detroit and after a few days I almost missed my flight to Memphis from Dallas. Due to a miscommunication, the taxi driver took me to the American Airlines departure lounge at Dallas, but thankfully I realized the mistake and the driver was accommodative enough to take me to the Delta Airlines departure in quick time. But the delay had been caused and the last check-ins for the aircraft was going on. I squeezed in somehow, but while checking in my baggage, the lady at the counter showed that the baggage was weighing 55 and I had to take some stuff out. I was shocked to hear this. I know we did a lot of jugglery to bring the baggage weight down to 22.5 kgs in Bangalore and I had not added anything new in Dallas. I didn't know what caused an increase of 33 kgs in my baggage. Nevertheless I opened my bag and stuffed some items into my hand baggage which was already overloaded and took the baggage again to the baggage checkin. This time the weight showed 49 and the lady at the counter let the baggage in. I was surprised to see this. How could she let 49 kgs to pass through? It was only then that it struck me that America uses the pound measure for weighing. The scale was actually showing the weight in pounds and I was here panicking thinking how I had added more than 30 kgs to my bag. I quickly ran in and checked into my flight. However, on landing I discovered that my baggage had not arrived because I had checked in late. The next day I had to make a presentation at the client and my baggage was stuck. Thankfully I had a set of formal clothes and my formal shoes in the hand baggage. Moreover, I was wearing my coat, which saved me embarassment at the client. With the help of my engagement manager, I could get the baggage delivered at my hotel the next day afternoon. That was a great welcome to the US. One that I can never forget. Welcome to America!

Pound is not the only different measure you find in the US. They calculate the distance by miles/foot and fill petrol by gallons. They have their own way of doing things. Here're some of the new experiences I've had in the US. Hope you'll find it interesting:

1. Blind faith: What is blind faith? This is something that you normally associate with India, where millions of people live by faith some on spiritual faith and many on blind faith. But here in the US everyone lives by blind faith. Surprising? Yes, but it is true. America is a very vast country. It is a country that is 3 times bigger than India and has 4 time zones. When it is early morning 7 am in California, it is already 10 am in New York. The country is so huge that without an efficient transportation system, people cannot move around. Air travel is the most preferred way to travel around the country. If that is not possible or required, then the next best option is the personal transport of travelling by car. That's why you see so many cars on the American roads. I guess America has more cars than people. The reason why car is the preferred way of travelling in the city is because of a lack of development or encouragement to public transport in the US as much as you see in Europe. There are trains and buses no doubt, but they are far and few. America has a very large rail network, but this network is mainly used for freight carriage. Amtrack is the only passenger carrier in the US that has coverage around the country. The bus services are also available but insufficient. Big cities like New York, Chicago and Seattle have good public transport, but this is not a universal phenomenon.

Coming back to my topic about blind faith. With every family having at least one car in America, people use cars to travel everywhere. But how do you find your way around this large country? This is where blind faith comes in. GPS or global positioning system is a boon to road travelers around the world and more so in the US. Through a combination of geostationary satellites, GPS systems provide the exact coordinates of different places on Earth. For a well-developed country like the US, GPS is an essential device. Most people set their GPS to the destination where they want to go, and just follow the voice and map instructions that come up on the GPS screen. They don’t need to know the geography, directions or landmarks. The GPS takes care of everything. Isn't this amazing? People trust a dumb device to take them places. What do you call this? Blind faith? But the GPS maps are so accurate that they provide you directions to the last foot. This is really the revolution of technology. How else would a first time visitor to the US like me find my way to different places around the city? It's all courtesy GPS. Faith is great!

2. Transportation: Talking further about transportation, US has a great road network no doubt. But what is really great is their planning. People follow lane discipline and there are no cops to monitor the traffic flow. Being such a vast country, big superstores, malls and restaurants are all well planned out. Every major shopping centre will have a huge area reserved for parking just outside. I guess US planners plan for the parking first and only later for the stores. Unlike in India parking lots are situated in open air. Despite parking being outside, cars dont gather dust. That's how clean the place is. My car has not been washed since the time I got it about 10 days back and still it looks new and shining.

3. Filling petrol: Staying on with cars, you see no attendents at petrol stations to fill petrol as you see in India. There will be no one at the petrol station to ask whether you have filled petrol, paid the money or not. If you are visiting US better have a look at how the fuel attendants in India fill petrol to your car. Because you need to fill petrol all by yourself, by swiping your card, entering the amount and authorizing the payment. I filled petrol yesterday and when I authorized payment and lifted the nozzle, petrol gushed out. Then I realized that I had lifted the nozzle by pressing the trigger. Later I understood how to hold the petrol nozzle and fill. That was a good experience for sure.

June 17, 2013

Time to give you more information about US, my stay and my learnings.

Sometimes I wonder why people jostle to come and stay in the US. Visiting US is definitely a great aspiration for people around the world, especially for us Indians. I am no exception. Having come here, I have a different approach to the US now. But I have met several Indians in Memphis who have the same enthusiasm to stay in the US as I had seen with some of my friends way back in 90s. I have at least a dozen friends who keep talking about coming back to India, but never ever have the intention to do so, either due to peer pressure or due to the fear of losing their elite status in the society. The most compelling reason why people like to stay in the US, according to me, is the easy access they have to all essential services without discrimination. The US is as much a country of naturalized Americans as it is of Africans, Asians, South Americans and Russians. You don't have to wait in the queue for anything here and the system works like magic with everyone abiding by the law and rules of the land. And, more importantly people get paid by the dollar. One other thing is that Indians are well entrenched in the US now with cultural centers, temples, community events and traditional courses available for those who so desire. If you get the best of both worlds, why not stay-put, and have a great life.

The US is by all means a country of several paradoxes. A country built on the tenets of liberty and freedom is also a place where crime and corruption run high. You thought it is only in India that corruption exists, think again. US Government is almost always on attack in news channels for being corrupt, insensitive and highly opaque. In the last one month I have seen at least 3 major issues being discussed on news channels with consistent regularity. First the IRS scam, where the Government is accused of using American tax payer's money to fund election campaigns for the Democratic Party (the party in power - Obama's party). Second the 'surveillance expose' that has threatened to divide US in half over whether or not the government can keep tab on the call records and internet usage of its citizens. Government says it is doing this to protect people from terrorism, while people groups are accusing government of spying on their own citizens and compromising the privacy of its own citizens. Third, whether US should arrest and get Edward Snowden, the whistle blower who exposed America's surveillance program, to justice. Snowden is sitting pretty in Hong Kong under the protection of Chinese government and US is finding it difficult to get him extradited. This is similar to how we are struggling to get Dawood Ibrahim or David Headley extradited to try them in India. Well, it looks like US has its match in Chinese who are tough nuts to crack, when it comes to sharing information. Well, politics in the US is definitely lively. It may not be as much as we see in India, where politics is a way to get everything done, but the debates are quite hot and highly entertaining all the same.

Another important thing about politics is that US is divided in its preferences to parties that they vote. The eastern and Midwestern states have traditionally been Democrat supporters and some of the northern and western states have been Republican supporters. There are however, some states that are neither Democrat nor Republican and the results of such states in American elections are unpredictable. Such states are called as 'swing states' in the US. You never know which side they swing. Arkansas is one such state that I am aware of. With such marked preferences, I sometimes wonder if the US is really a democracy. BTW, Memphis and Tennessee have been traditionally democrat supporters. Memphis has a sizeable African American population and they have their preference for Democrats. I was wondering why Memphis has such a significant African-American population and I discovered that African Americans made Memphis their own when the whites of the land abandoned the place when Yellow fever affected these parts in the 18th century. I have been learning a bit of history due to my visits to Civil rights museum and reading lonely planet.

I have had a few new experiences in this past 15 days. Yesterday, I drove 450 miles (to and fro) to Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee. It was a good drive, but it is hard to keep the speed within 70 miles/hr as the roads are free and well maintained and the traffic is sparse. The freeways in the US are well designed. You can keep going on the freeways without any interruption. For those who want to get out of the freeway into a place of their choice, you have exits that open up on the freeway. You have indication of the exits few miles in advance and you have enough time to change lanes and move to the right lane shoulder to exit out. Moreover, you always have the GPS that alerts you 2 miles in advance about the upcoming exit that you need to take. Also on the freeways you have designated 'Rest Areas' that have facilities for parking cars, rest rooms, eateries and place to sit and relax before moving on. These rest areas are available every 40 miles and the signboards indicating upcoming rest areas start showing few miles in advance. And when you near a rest area, you are also shown how far away the next rest area is situated, so that you can make a choice on whether to stop or proceed to the next one. There are also signboards every few miles for 'food exits'--where you have multiple choices of food, mostly the fast food variety and also 'fuel exits'--petrol pumps. In many cases food and fuel points are together and you can take such exits to fill both you and your vehicle. The fuel stations and restaurants are never on the freeway and they never interrupt your journey, but the signboards are always well positioned to give you the option of exiting out when you need to. On the trip to Nashville, I had to encounter massive road blocks due to road repair works. On the way to Nashville, I was stuck in traffic for 15 minutes while on the way back to Memphis the block was for close to an hour. I thought this block could've been better managed if they had suggested alternate routes. Also, it was my fault that I didn't take an alternate route when the electronic signboards started showing the road block about ten miles away. Well, it’s an experience and I will be wiser next time.

A few interesting facts about the US:

1. US has the highest number of duplicate city names. 'Clinton' tops the list with 24, followed by Springfield with 23. There are 19 Georgetowns and Greenvilles and Princetons and 16 Centervilles. Ashland and Madison number 20 each, Marion 21, Newport 19, Arlington with 18... Winchester 16, Albany and Plymouth 15 each (from internet sources). Most of the repeating names are either duplicates of UK cities or Mexican cities. There is a Memphis in Texas as well. So, when you tell someone about Memphis, you need to specify the state. I constantly hear RJs on radio programs asking people who call about the state they belong to. With so many states and so many places, it is really difficult to keep track of the names of places in the US.

2. Electric switches in the US work in the reverse in comparison to India. Putting the switch in the upper position is ON and putting it down is OFF, just the opposite of what we follow in India. But I guess we follow this reverse order with main meter switches and MCBs.

3. As you can imagine, everything is automatic in the US. The toilet flushes, the wash basins and even the soap dispensers are automatic. Soap is dispensed when you bring your palm under the soap dispenser. I guess this is catching up in India as well.

4. Do you know what a downtown means? Every city in the US has a downtown. It is the city center and has all the major offices and business establishments. Why is it called a downtown? This name came from New York, the city surrounded by water down south could not grow any further down south. So, the city had to grow northwards. So, people started referring to parts of the city well developed as the downtown or down south and the ones towards the north as up north or up town. So, in New York downtown is the Manhattan, which is the busiest part of the New York city.

5. American currencies: We know dollar and cent, but do you know what a penny, nickel, dime and quarter are? Well, this is something that I had to learn dealing with money here. Penny is nothing but a cent (1/100th of a dollar), Nickel is 5 cents (the coin has 25% nickel in it), dime is 10 cents and quarter is 25 cents. Some general knowledge for you.

6. Greeting people: Greeting one another is very common here in the US. Americans greet total strangers the same way they greet known people. So, the first thing you hear is 'How u doin?' and you should say 'good' or 'good, good, how about u?' or 'Hey there' or ''how are you?'. There are other things that people use, but they always acknowledge your presence whether they know you or not.

Well, that's about some updates from me today. Will write more as I find time. Take care and respond to my mail when you find time.

Best regards,

Vinay

Jun 30, 2013

Here's my third US experience mail. Please don't curse me if the content of this mail is boring!

As I am someone who is constantly looking at American systems and practices in comparison with our own in India, I see a lot of similarities. Despite its super power status, America still feels vulnerable against immigrants. There is a lot of debate on a new immigration bill in front of the American parliament that restricts passage to immigrants and the regularization of illegal immigrants from across the American borders. This is similar to the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India. America has a significant population of Mexicans who cross-over to the US through the porous America-Mexico border as construction workers, farm laborers and for other unskilled jobs. The immigration bill also addresses the threat of highly skilled workers from India, China and Latin America who are rendering Americans jobless. As per the latest estimates America has more than 10% unemployment and about 1/6th of the population go hungry everyday. Do you know that there is an organization in America by name 'Feed America' which is mobilizing funds to feed these hungry Americans?

Not only are the Americans losing jobs and feeling hungry, but a recent survey has suggested that American people are also falling behind on several parameters of growth in comparison to people in countries like China, India and Eastern Europe. America is in the 25th place in the World in Mathematical ability, 24th in science and 26th in reading comprehension, well below even Indians and Chinese. 'Spelling Bee' a competition that tests the English spelling ability of Americans has seen more than 80% winners from Indian parenthood.

America guarantees equality to all citizens. But the ground situation in US is a bit different. News items about blacks being discriminated against in America is very common. This discrimination is nothing new for the blacks (aka African Americans). History of America, despite its liberal outlook, is replete with instances of intolerance towards blacks and treating them as second grade citizens. First it was the era of blacks being used as slaves by American land lords, that Abraham Lincoln fought to eradicate. He was successful in removing slavery from America but could not change the mindset of Americans. American institutions and majority of white population always treated blacks with suspicion and always treated them differently. Just like the British discriminated against Indians in the pre-independence era, Americans treated whites and blacks differently in all walks of life-- jobs, common amenities and justice. This was called as racial segregation and it lasted in the 'free' America until 1968, when the American Supreme Court ruled all forms of segregation as unconstitutional.

America is no doubt an integrated country now. But the mindset of segregation is very much alive as evidenced by a couple of recent incidents in the US. Paula Deen, the celebrated American food specialist and a restaurateur is in the middle of a huge controversy for her remarks against blacks. She admitted to having used the 'N' word (read negro) referring to blacks and she is now being severely criticized by American people for being insensitive towards blacks. As a result Paula has now been removed from all her food industry sponsorships and being subjected to scrutiny. But Paula's remarks against blacks are being seen as only a reflection of how Americans still treat blacks. Yet another instance is the court trial of George Zimmerman who killed a black teenager. This has attracted a lot of media attention as a case of white aggressor vs. a black victim.

The point I am trying to make here is, class discrimination exists in a highly advanced country like US. If America opens its mouth about India not treating its minorities right, we can remind them of the disparity in their own country. A point to think about.

When Barack Obama became the president of United States, it was hailed as a victory of American equality. Is Obama a black (African-American)? Only half black. His father was a Kenyan and his mother an American. With his mixed lineage, he is seen as a true representative of the free America where everyone is equal.

The latest in the American clamor for equality is related to gay marriages. In a recent ruling, the American Supreme Court has legalized same sex marriages in the US. This is being celebrated as a great victory for minorities (read as gays). In a few days of the Supreme Court ruling, news channels showed a marriage of two women in a traditional ceremony. The gays are now going to get the same government privileges as any married couple.

Coming to other on ground things, Memphis has been experiencing some high temperatures of late. The temperatures are in the range of 90-95 deg F. To convert Fahrenheit to centigrade you need to use the formula - Temp deg C = 5/9 * (Tem deg F -32). So, 95 deg C is equivalent to 35 deg C. Some of the places in the US like Nevada and Arizona are expected to touch 120 deg F this summer. That's really hot!

That's it for now. I will write more about my experiences in the US soon. Take care.

- Vinay

Jul 14, 2013

Yet another update. Hope you find this informative.

1. US has 50 states. The thing that most of us don't know is that these states have nicknames that are used by the Americans and by government agencies to promote the state. Some of these names are approved by the respective state legislatures and in many cases these names are required to be displayed on the number plates of vehicles registered in these states. Most nicknames highlight the natural resources and the wildlife the state represents. For example, Alaska is called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”, because the sun shines nearly around the clock during Alaskan summers; Arizona is called “The Grand Canyon State” due its most famous natural feature, the Grand Canyon; Arkansas is known as the “The Natural State” for its natural beauty, clear lakes and streams and abundance of natural wildlife; California is called the “The Golden State” due to the discovery of gold here in 1848 and Florida is known as the “Sunshine State” due to its sun warmed beaches and year round warm weather. Some other states are called by their state fruits or animals/birds like Georgia is called Peach state, Kansas the Sunflower state, Kentucky the bluegrass state, Louisiana the Pelican state and so on. A few others are nicknamed by the famous events in history like Connecticut being called the “Constitution State” as the Fundamental Orders of 1638/39 were first written here and Delaware being called “The First State due to the fact that on December 7, 1787, it became the first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Thanks to Subbi for bringing up this subject that set me to do some research. You can find more info at: http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname1.htm#.UeLSZ9Qo4dU

2. US seasons - In India we are used to three major seasons--Summer, Winter and Rainy seasons. Of course in some of the states like Tamil Nadu there are only two seasons--Summer and Hot summer with a sprinkling of rain in between. However, US has very different seasons that are marked by definite changes in the flora. The 4 seasons are Summer (mostly between June to August), Fall (September to November), Winter (December to February) and Spring (March to May). The names for these seasons are apt. In Fall, the leaves of all trees turn colorful and represent the ripened state and they start falling. This is a very colorful season I am told, where the weather is cool and the trees are full of color. The Winter is the barren season, but is has its own color-White. Trees are without leaves and most of the US witness snowing. I am told snow periods are coming down these days due to global warming. Memphis doesn't receive much snow and is considered a warm state. Next season is Spring, where trees spring back to life with fresh green leaves that are a real treat to the eyes. And finally the Summer, where the color of leaves turn dark green and heat takes over.

Generally, the states to the north experience severe cold weather in winter. Many Americans who don't enjoy the cold weather move to the Southern states like Tennesse, Missouri, Mississippi, Arizona, Alabama and Florida. Rich people choose states like Florida to settle, but the not so rich choose other states to migrate depending on what they are looking for in terms of occupation and living conditions.

3. Conservatives vs. Liberals - People in the US identify themselves as either Conservatives or Liberals. These are not political parties, but group of people who represent specific views on various aspects of public life. Liberals are more left wing and Conservatives are right wing in political views. One of my colleagues likened Liberals to our Congress Party, that is driven more by a socialistic agenda and Conservatives to our BJP, driven more by national identity, economic freedom and religious orientation. I find this likening somewhat appropriate but not completely. If you see what Conservatives an Liberals represent, you feel conservatives being more liberal (English word) than Liberals. Here's an overview of what they represent:

Conservatives: Prefer smaller government, less regulation and most services to be provided by the private sector in a free market. They feel Government should tax less and spend less. Higher income earners should have an incentive to invest (credits). Charity is the responsibility of the people. They oppose gay marriage, abortion and embryonic stem cell research and support the right to bear arms, death penalty, and personal responsibility as an individual. Individuals should exercise personal responsibility and it is the governments role to hold them accountable even with severe penalties.

Liberals: Prefer more regulation and services like free universal health care to be provided by the government to all citizens.Government should provide more services to the less fortunate (like health care) and increase taxes if necessary. High-income earners should pay a larger percentage of their income as taxes. Gay couples to get equal rights like everyone else (e.g. marriage); abortion should be legal and they support embryonic stem cell research. Support restrictions and regulation around the right to bear arms.

4. Medical insurance and life of senior citizens - I met a couple of senior citizens in Chicago last week. They are living in the US for the past 2-3 decades and are from the Indian subcontinent. They came to the US in search of jobs, but didn't have special skills to survive. They served in the US in their productive years, but now are dependent on governments' social security to survive. With increasing prices and not adequate income, they are struggling in the US, somehow moving the life wheel. And they don't know or don't feel welcome if they go back to India. Sad state indeed. This brings us to the care given to senior citizens and less fortunate ones in the US. Of course, social security is a big thing in the US, but it comes at a cost and you need to prove that you are eligible for it. Also, health costs are very high and if you don't have health insurance you are sure to go bankrupt. My colleague in Chicago told me that he had to shell out $ 287 for a single specialist doctor consultation for his daughter's skin rashes. And health insurance is very expensive. This colleague has to pay $ 640 every month to insure his family. That's a lot of money. There is a lot of talk about Obamacare, which is a universal healthcare system. But this will not come into effect until 2015. So, this is an area of concern in the US.

5. Judicial system and court cases - I was witness to a publicly televised court hearing in George Zimmerman case. I was amazed at the speed at which justice was delivered in this case. In flat 2 weeks, the judge heard the prosecution and defense and each of the parties were given a day each to make their closing arguments. After that the jury (comprising 6 women) delivered the verdict after 16 hours of deliberations. This is amazing. George Zimmerman, a white neighborhood watch member killed a 17 year old black boy. This had taken racial overtones and it seemed most blacks were in favor of punishment for Zimmerman, but the verdict came out as 'Not Guilty' as he had used his gun in self defense. What I am most amazed about is the speed at which justice was delivered. Can we imagine a high profile murder case to be completed in 15 days with a clear verdict at the end of it in India? We have a long way to go.

That's it from me for now. Let me come back with more in the next fortnight.

- Vinay

Aug 1, 2013

Detroit's bankruptcy

How can a city possibly go bankrupt? We thought bankruptcy is filed only by companies or individuals who cannot pay off their debts and have no source of funds. Well, these are the very reasons why even a city can go bankrupt--spiraling debts, no tax income and inefficient financial management. But, this can happen only in the US. Recently Detroit, America's 4th largest city, filed bankruptcy.

What is bankruptcy filing? There are four kinds of bankruptcy filings (I take the liberty of borrowing this explanation from my writer friend Srivathsa Joshi's article):

Chapter 7 - Liquidation, Chapter 11 - Reorganization, Chapter 12 - Adjustment of debts of a family farmer with regular annual income, Chapter 13 - Adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income.

The most common bankruptcy filing is Chapter 7--Companies, married couples and individuals are allowed to file Chapter 7. Someone filing Chapter 7 is giving everything away to the government (court), except primary residence and personal items like clothing, hoping for a clean financial slate. Once the debtor's assets are liquidated creditors receive money from the proceeds. Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 are similar, except that Chapter 12 is for family farmers and Chapter 13 is for other individuals. To file Chapter 13, you need to have a steady, reliable income. Under this, the debtor and an assigned trustee develop a proposal for a plan for repayment of debts, which the court needs to accept and then the plan should be executed within three to five years.  Unlike Chapter 7, under Chapter 12 and 13 filings, debtors do not have to liquidate their assets.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy is similar to Chapter 13.The main difference is that there is no limit regarding the amount of money owed by the debtor. Originally only intended for large corporations, individuals and now even cities file Chapter 11. American cities are run like large corporations. Every city has its own budget and is responsible for its own financial health under an elected Mayor. 

A city survives on large companies setting up shops who in turn provide jobs and pay taxes. This in effect attracts more people to the city, who settle down and pay taxes to the government. These taxes should help the government to take care of the public services and providing benefits like police, fire services and other essential public services to people in the city. But what happens when companies move away, and people desert the city for greener pastures? This creates a financial deficit for the city administration, which chokes under the burden of paying for healthcare, pensions and benefits for public service employees, who are essentially government workers who are entitled to these benefits and get them anyhow, irrespective of whether the city is in financial boom or mess.

This is what happened in Detroit. The automobile capital of America, once a jewel crown of automobile boom in the country, lost its primacy when auto companies started moving out of the city. Detroit has been on decline since 1960s when auto plants began to close and the city started losing jobs. Population of the city started declining and from a population of 2 million in 1950s, Detroit today has a population of only 700,000. It has an estimated $18.5 billion in long term liabilities and half of it are retiree benefits ($3 billion in pensions and $6 billion in healthcare and other benefits). About 78,000 buildings in the city are abandoned, robbing the city of taxes and spending. With this debt burden, the city is reeling under some serious financial and social crisis. With spending cuts, the city now has only 20-30% of the police services in some parts. Those that have stayed back in the city are older and poorer and are dependent on the government for medical and other public services that has imposed more burden on the city's economy. This is the story of Detroit's bankruptcy. The city has filed bankruptcy, but has to put together a workable plan to bounce back to normalcy. It is not going to be easy. As per one estimate, about 61 cities in the US are in financial crisis and face bankruptcy. That's a staggering number. But going by past history, these cities are going to bounce back once the overall economy of the country starts improving.

American Society

A country's superiority is not measured by its military power or its economic power. Not anymore. The greatness of a country is measured in terms of how well it takes care of its people and society. This has been a point of constant quest for me in the US. Is US really a caring society? How does it compare with India, which boasts of history of thousands of years and is known to be respectful to elders, women and the needy? Is America just a self-serving, individualistic and materialistic society. That is the common perception we have about US in India. We feel India is more community driven, has a better feel for the society's needs and is spiritually oriented. This perception is not entirely untrue. But what I've seen in the US has made me believe that we talk a lot about respecting elders and women, but US practically does it. The difference lies in saying and doing.

During my limited exposure here, I have observed that America cares a lot about all classes of its people. A case in point is the way it treats its handicapped. I have not seen a single building in the US that doesn't have handicap friendly access. I have not seen a single parking lot that doesn't have a handicap slot. More importantly people respect these provisions and never grab the privileges from them even if there is a strain on the resources, for e.g., handicap parking spots are always vacant even if the parking is full otherwise. Of course, the law enforcement has a role to play here as well. But the point is, how much of respect do we in India give for our handicapped? Very few buildings have access paths for the disabled and fewer even recognize that they need to be cared for. Isn't this respect for humanity and isn't this a higher order of civilization? India has to learn here.

Coming to the elders. Of course we Indians take pride in respecting our elders and we feel superior that children care for their elders at home rather than sending them to elder care home. What I have observed in the US is that people here respect their elders as much if not more. The societal practice makes it impossible for them to keep their parents with them. That doesn't mean they don't respect them. They keep in constant touch with their elders, take their advise on matters of importance and have great family reunions. Also, in every walk of life senior citizens are given special privileges in the US--in transportation, entry fees to places of public interest and other public services. How much of this is true in India?

Now to the women. India takes pride in the way it treats its women. We give them 'maryada' and we protect them. Do we? The real respect for women is when you let them feel equal in the society. And this doesn't happen by just talking. So, doesn't America have gender bias? Sure it has. But women in the US have equal opportunities in all walks of life. They are not restricted to only certain set of activities. They do everything that a man does and more. They work as CEOs as companies, journalists, mechanics, drivers and in all professions that you can think of. I feel women in the US are more liberated not because they are respected but because they are treated as equals.

Dignity of labor - It is funny to see a trench digger or a trash cleaner come in a car, do their work and drive back in their cars. It seems funny for us Indians because we have such a stark class divide. We expect only certain class of people do these kind of things and we can't see them living the same quality of life as people in higher professions. That is where the difference lies. Any person in any profession in the US is respected for what he does. There doesn't seems to be a class divide based on what profession they do. A toilet cleaner is given the same respect as an engineer. This is an area too where Indians need to learn.

This has been a rather long mail. Thanks for your patience. You can give it a broad level reading first and when you find time you can read this in detail and provide your feedback.

- Vinay