then-nowAnd for a Friday…. a sudden trip to Chennai and after the funeral of a very dear relative….. some reflections of Then and Now.

Those of us born after Independence in the 50s have retired or are retiring and as good a time to reflect on our Nation. How much we have really changed for the better….

Then – Salaries for Management Trainees at the few top companies was a princely 10 to 15 K per month.
Now – the Freshers start at a lakh or two per month….. and still cribbing….. and at the earliest opportunity jump Boats.

Then – in Socialist India everything was controlled and some Babu had to approve. Milk only two bottles between 6 to 7 am. Book a two wheeler and wait for maybe 4..5… 6 years to get Hamara Bajaj or the Good old Ambassador.
Now – India is an Open Market. Choose the type, quality and brand you want. We are one of the largest manufacturers of two wheelers and every global car is available at every price point.

Then – the black coiled telephone. There were only two types of Families. The privileged ones, who had a phone at home and the pitiable neighbours who would request to make a PP call. Did not matter…. you booked 180 and waited…. from Lunch to Dinner…. to get the call from Mumbai to Chennai.
Now – IPhone 7plus or Samsung Galaxy….. available almost the same day as in New York or London. India has the world’s largest number of mobile and internet connections…. and Jio is offering free data & voice free till March 2017.

Then – Foreign Travel was an event. The whole extended family was informed. Pooja’s were done in the family temple and the RBI allowed you after a number of trips to their office and scores of formats filled, a total of 500 Dollars for a ten or even 20 days trip and you had to keep accounts upto the last penny and RBI expected you to return the unutilised Dollars.
Now – before you can wink….. every bank thrusts different types of Cards. The rupee is convertible on the revenue account, not yet on the capital account but there is no problem to the Gulf countries alone there are more than 200 Flights each day.

Then – India was nonaligned…. neither with the Soviet Block nor with the Western Block.The so called Non Aligned Nations were neither here nor there. America always supported Pakistan, gave them weapons, trained their soldiers and gave them dole and India had to fend and pay hard earned Foreign Exchange.
Now – there were great hopes Trump will do differently, India was hot favourite during campaigns but alas Pakistan PM says Trump called him “Terrific Guy”, “Fantastic person”….. will do anything to help solve Pakistan problems.

Well…. well….. Then and Now….. we as a Nation must develop on our own terms. The Ethical, Moral and the Right way…. the SEEGOS Way.