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Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Game Changers




I was without a vehicle for almost two years after joining my first job! I had never driven a car and learnt to drive the scooter which belonged to my father! I booked a Bajaj Chetak scooter in Foreign exchange by depositing USD 500 (graciously loaned by a NRI relative of mine) -a princely sum. After about a year, I was a proud owner of the vehicle. Bajaj Chetak was the in thing those days and there used to be a waiting time of 4-7 years for the delivery of the vehicle if booked under the general scheme.

The time went by and India moved into the era of building new ‘small segment’ cars. The Maruti 800 cc car in collaboration with Suzuki of Japan hit the road and immediately, there was a scramble to acquire one, among masses. A car costing just about Rs 50000/- (in today’s terms approx USD 1000!) was an instant hit and there were serpentine queues to book the vehicle. The demand far outstripped the supply, entailing very long waiting period of delivery. You would be wondering why I am narrating some of these historical facts, as if I am here to narrate a story of metamorphosis of vehicle industry in India!

On the contrary, it is all about the game changers! A country which was starved of basic need to drive was suddenly given a choice to find something within the easy reach of masses. The phenomena was oft repeated in our life time as the first color TV was introduced in 1982 during the Asian Games in Delhi, heralding an era of color TVs . The Gulf War in 1991 brought the air waves from satellite in our bedroom where we could see the movies being telecast on Star TV satellite network. It was a paradigm shift, to be spoilt for choices.

We are not alone to have seen these phenomena in our own country. In USA, during early 1980’s the local car industry was severely threatened by the onslaught of small , fuel efficient cars from Japan, making an entry in US, and challenging the ‘lion in its own den’. At one point of time, Anti Dumping Laws were invoked to ensure protection to the local car industry in USA to obviate flooding of US market by the Japanese car manufacturers.

The entry of mobile phones, laptops and computers has broken the myth that these are luxury items! A college student especially pursuing a professional course needs them more than ever before like any other professional in any industry!

I am astounded to see that in a place like Hong Kong an Apple I phone 4S has disappeared from the market, much the same way as Bajaj scooter had from the Indian market way back in early 1980’s. A product of great ingenuity and a potential threat to the entire mobile manufacturers the world over. It is a game changer! The survival of other mobile phones will depend on how they can counter the threat of an Apple I phone which is currently priced at USD 1000 plus depending on the features. It is a mobile phone, a HD video camera, a device for video calls and unique applications of Facetime  (Face to Face calls over internet), Airplay( moving from small screen of mobile phone to big screen of TV), Air print( printing documents over the air) and numerous other applications which are unmatched.

We are now living in a ‘brave new world’ where the geographical and political boundaries have shrunk with the technology leap and these new innovations. Google has made encyclopedia irrelevant and ‘online spell check ‘and thesaurus has likewise made the dictionary redundant. Skype, Facebook and Twitter have made the world a one big cohesive social network of diverse heterogeneous entities. Never in the history of the human evolution so many changes have taken place in a span of six decades post second World War, which has made the life more enjoyable, added more comforts besides conquering a number of disease. The race of changing the game is on. Let us enjoy this rollercoaster ride!

PS Image kind courtesy Google

50 comments:

  1. Hmmm you are right but then let's hope that we can manage innovation without loosing our mind....

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  2. I agree with Francesca- I do hope we can move forward with items to help us without going crazy over said items.

    Did I read correctly & you said IPhone 4S has disappeared from the Hong Kong market???? Is this because there are other devices doing the same functions? I myself do not want a IPhone4S simply because I'm not a technological type person.

    Great post!! You always make me THINK!!! THANKS!

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  3. I agree with Francesca too. Hope the innovation and its pace is not going to have some drastic consequences that cannot be foreseen just now.

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  4. we have transformed, transforming and certainly we will transform :)
    DeepaK

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  5. So true - life is all about change. Hopefully, change for the better.

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  6. True....phenomenal changes. And change is the only constant.

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  7. The world is becoming smaller and smaller with all the technical assistance funds.

    Hope things will change for better.

    Happy week to you:-)

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  8. Is iPhone that much of a necessity? Never knew!

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  9. Agree With U Mr.Bhatia. Hope this will all change for good. Great post. Thanks for visiting my space.

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  10. :) I was so excited when we had bought our first color TV, now it's all about plasma, HD, 3D...games are changing rather quick now a days :)

    I loved this article Rahul Ji...

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  11. @ Francesca-Absolutely! To remain firmly rooted to ground is always a must!
    @ Anjuli- Yes 'move forward' is the word!Iphone 4 S has disappeared due demand outstripping supply not that any other phone can match in performance!
    @Rachna-Innovation is the hallmark of progress! Only those who strive make the diference in quality of life!
    @ Deepak- Agree totally! Thanks..
    @ Lady Fi- Yes its all about change!
    @ Alka- You have succinctly summarized that change is a constant!Thanks a lot..
    @ Spiderdama- I too wish that it makes a better world!
    @ Kusum- Iphone has such great features that it has taken the world by storm!In India more than 50% population is yet to have a basic phone! So it all depends on need!
    @ Christy- Welcome to my blog! Thanks for liking!
    @ Chintan-Yes we have all seen the world changing before our eyes! Thanks alot for your liking!

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  12. First of all I have to say that your writing is always so informative to me! I feel like I'm reading an article from a pro- journalist :-)

    I kind of wish the changes would slow down. There was a time in history, like you mentioned, where change evolved at a smaller pace.

    Now it seems like we don't have ample time to appreciate the new 'toy' we have just purchased. The next model, that will supersede it, is already on it's way! Why did we bother buying the first one? He he.

    Wonderful reading, as always, dear Rahul :-)

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  13. Interesting read and very informative..Takes me back to my dads first scooter .. So true change is only constant.. Hope its for good .. Love the way u write :D

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  14. I found this a very interesting read, firstly because you educated me on some vehicle history (a topic I am not versed in) and secondly regarding the 'game changers'. I actually would have preferred to live in a time when things were much more simple and wholesome. I find that these these people are too obsessed with material things. And as much as technology is a step forward, it also has its downfalls

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  15. I agree and just when we think that this is the max that can be done, a new technology emerges and surprises us :)

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  16. I second Spiderma .. and they've turned iPhone into a necessity if nothing else. Strange.

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  17. @ Princesa Fiona-Thanks for all the generous praise:)Yes, the sweeping change of technology are here to stay,sometimes to our discomfort:(
    @ Single Girl- Thanks! It is always good to relate with others and it gives a feel of striking the right chord:)
    @ Sam- So sweet of you for that comment! Obsession with material things is something I too hate:)
    @ Purvi- Yes, that is how it is! By the time you get something the next model has just hit the scene:)

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  18. @ Crystal- Aayushi, your nice comment crossed while I replied others:) True, I phone is not a necessity but the fact is that there is a market where people crave for it! I am not promoting Apple Iphone in anyway! It was a mere example of being a game changer in the cluttered world of mobile phones:)

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  19. Gone are the days when new innovations and technologies did not rain on us making us cherish them and look forward to the next one. Today things are changing so fast that a hand-me-down phone or laptop is still new as the owner has changed his or hers!

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  20. I agree with Francesca. I hope the change that is inevitable is change for the better.

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  21. Yes the times are definitely changing. But sometimes, I miss the old days... when life was simpler :-)

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  22. Change is the only thing constant in life, Rahul. Bajaj scooter, brought back memories of my Dad and older cousins riding it :)

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  23. Love this post :)Reminds me of dad's scooter those days and I still remember when we got out colour TV.Very true that things are changing so fast..and things become obsolete within one year! It is getting tough to catch up with new technology..But I do miss the good ol' days when people had to wait to get something new in technology :)

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  24. @ Zephyr- Welcome to my blog! Am honored with your gracious presence!
    You are right, the owners of new gizmos change with new models at the drop of hat!Strange are the ways of the world!!
    @ Ria- Yes we all hope that the changes will be for the good of man kind!However, every coin has two sides:)
    @ Agnes- Yes the old world charm is becoming rarer! One has to go back to old towns in India to reconnect!!
    @ Rachna- When you make such a comment, it gives me goose bumps:)Reliving the happy past is the best way to maintain the cheer !
    @ Natasha- Welcome to my blog! I am very happy that I could connect in a small way and stir up some happy memories! Your sweet comment made this effort worthwhile:)

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  25. The changes are coming faster, day by day! Hope most of them are for the good of humans and nature!

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  26. So true Sandhya!Thanks for your nice comment..

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  27. True !I also remember this quote now ,You must welcome change as the rule but not as your ruler. ~Denis Waitley.

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  28. @ Kavita- Thanks for your comment and the lovely quote

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  29. So true! Great post.

    Have a nice day always.

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  30. Yes it is amazing how technology takes over life. I owned a maruti as I finished college.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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  31. @ Kalai- Nice to see you back!Thanks for liking:)
    @ PAPS- Thanks for your nice comment and following my blog!You made my day:)

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  32. Thanks a ton ,Eden!Have a wonderful week ahead!

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  33. It is good. Love this post. We all embrace change but I really wish the innovation wont rack our minds but help us..

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  34. @ Very right Megha, innovations should only make our lives better!

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  35. Tomorrow's luxury will soon become today's necessity, which will evetually turn into yesterday's obsolete!! That's how fast technology is improving..

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  36. bajaj chetak ke liye 7 years ka waiting time!! baprebaap!!

    very interesting article since you brought in so many examples into it. game changers indeed
    liked the way you ended on a positive note "lets enjoy the ride" many take a cynical note of technical advancements

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  37. Sujatha, one thing is for sure that the onslaught of technology will overtake any political or other debates to have/ not have them! They will be there for us and it is for us to decide how to best use them or otherwise!

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  38. Yes Ashwini, we are living in the best time ever since the human beings evolved, without ever realizing it!

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    1. very true ..lets enjoy as long we can get the benefit ..rest every thing has its own pros n cons ..so not indulging into that,,
      every person here is tech smart .. n computer literate ..
      I guess its an smart era!

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  39. Yes I remember the waiting, for the scooter, the car, times have changed so much and so much for the better. People are living longer, with the help of medicines, and many spectacular things have happened in such a short period. I totally agree with you, that, we must enjoy, and celebrate the evolution, and not crib about the negative side of these rapid discoveries.

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    1. Rama! So nice that at least you know of all those things and relatively hard times which most of the GenX takes for granted! I see them as blessings and nothing less:)

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  40. Excellent narrative on the changes and development on industry and technology basis. What u said is indeed true at last and we need to handle these with sense and not alone with knowledge.

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  41. I also remember those Bajaj Chetak days!! And you write very well! Keep it up :-)

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