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From Greed to Fear – An interview with COVID 19

18 Apr

You have taken the world by storm. You have no competition to be the Time Person of the year. Tell us more about yourself. Who are you and why have you caused this pandemic? 

I have no identity. I came suddenly and will vanish suddenly. You cannot catch me – at least for the near future. Let’s just say that everything in the universe happens for a reason.

But taking innocent lives and threatening humanity – is that a justifiable reason? 

Before you blame me, mankind should introspect and ask themselves a few questions. You are not the only inhabitants of planet earth. There are over 8.7M species that live on earth (Of which only 1.3M have been identified) – only humans are in panic not the other species. You have to ask yourself what is it that you have done to cause this situation. Before you point a finger at me kindly introspect.

I still dont get it – can you elaborate?

The essence of life is moderation. What your generation has done in the last 50 years is bringing the planet to the edge. In 1900 the population inhabiting earth was less than 2Bn. Today it is almost 8Bn. Over the last 50 years the incremental growth of population is in the range of 50 – 80M/year. Planet Earth cannot sustain this explosive growth.

This growth of population threatens the existence of all life forms. Nature is devastated. Look at your rivers, oceans, forests. In the last few decades over 500 species of animals have become extinct.  This generation in the last 50 years brought the planet to the edge. While everybody is aware – nobody takes action. And when a little girl cried in front of world leaders, most of them ridiculed her. Thats when I realised that it was time to take some action.

But humans have made so much advancement. Why do you think they turn a blind eye to the environment?

The first reasons is – GREED. The measure of success is growth & profit. Apple has a turnover greater than the GDP of most countries but the company still wants to grow and increase profits to shareholders. According to the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, the world’s richest 1 percent, those with more than $1 million, own 44 percent of the world’s wealth. The rich get richer and most elected Governments encourage this trend. the second reason is POWER. The global arms trade is worth 100Bn annually. Nobody has a count of the total value of of arms & ammunition lying in stockpiles across the world. The current form of capitalism is exploiting the world balance.

Its not just the environment that has been ignored. WHO says that 2.6M children die because of malnutrition every year.

So whats the point – are you here to eradicate mankind and set the equilibrium back in place. Will you leave only after wiping away 50% of the population? 

Like I said I came suddenly and I will leave suddenly. For eons I have come in different forms and shapes. Flu, Typhoid, Ebola, Small pox, TB, Chicken Pox. When I come there is panic and disaster but then things soon settle down.

In 2018 there were 10M people affected with TB and 1.5M died, but TB did not make headline news. And TB is ranked 10th in the Top 10 Global Causes of death. 

COVID 19 has a fatality rate of 2%. You may recollect that my cousins SARS and MERS had a much higher fatality rate. (SARS 9.6%, MERS 34%).

So why is there so much noise about you? 

You can attribute it to Social Media and a connected world where information can spread in seconds. It actually moves faster than me. I am the first global disease after the spread of social media. Yes, I started in a province of China and have spread globally in the last 4 months. But lets look at some data points  (As of today April 18th)

  • Total Active Cases 1.5 M
  • Deaths – 156,000
  • 20 Deaths /M

Now lets peel the onion. In the city of NY which has had a vicious attack there were only 3 deaths in the 0 – 17 age group. If you look at data closely across the globe I dont impact children and people below 20.

The biggest section of people impacted are male above 65 and a vast majority of them have some pre ailments which has weakened their immunity. Of the 4095 Male Deaths in NY 3087 had underlying conditions. 

I am not a statistician but if someone analyses the numbers you will see that less than 20% of the world population is at a risk of fatality.

But is it not cruel to go after the weak and the vulnerable?

Like I told you earlier, everything has a reason. I am not going after the weak and the vulnerable. Children and healthy women are statistically the safest from my attack. Yes they may get affected but most will recover like any normal Flu in a weeks time.

You should see the movie Logans Run. Its a science fiction that was released in 1976. It tells the story of a human like society in the 23rd century where nobody lives beyond the age of 30. While that may be an extreme and that is not something I am targeting. We need to realise that thanks to medical science, life expectancy has gone up from ~ 30 years to ~ 80 years. And if the trend continues many in their 80’s will go on to live to 100+. This is something that was unheard of 50 years back.

This is against the law of nature. I am fixing this. Again I am majorly impacting people who are already suffering from diseases like Cancer, Cardio, Kidney, Liver problems. Diseases that is causing pain, agony and  loss of wealth to families. Rather than suffer for years I help them move on to a better next life in a matter of weeks. The younger folks affected are people who have ruined their health by smoking, drinking, drug addiction etc. Find me a person who leads a healthy, positive moderate life who has been been impacted by me with death. So dont treat me as a villain. I am here for a reason and will leave after my message has been delivered.

So what is your message to mankind?

I have a few key messages

  • Dont blame me – blame yourself
  • Focus on what changes you need to make in your daily life
  • Versions of me have come in the past, I will keep coming in different levels of severity. Accept me as the new norm and get along with your lives

And finally a quote from the Holy Bhagavad Gita

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च |
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि || 27||

Death is certain for one who has been born, and rebirth is inevitable for one who has died. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable.

What is the greatest fear of humans? Death, we all know it. Lord Krishna tells his friend and devotee Arjuna not to fear death at all. Death is merely a transitional phase. Death can only come to something which is not permanent; that which is real can never die. Whether a person is an ordinary citizen, a soldier or a leader, he must not fear of losing his life, position or wealth. Relationships, wealth and all other worldly objects are just temporary; they are tools to climb the ladder and realize the Self someday. It isn’t hard to guess how beautiful life would be if there is no fear at all.

 

 

 

Corona – Best Practise Vs FEAR, A Few Good Things to do

28 Mar

Enough and more has been said on this topic. All news channels, WhatsApp groups, community messages have flooded us with ” What NOT to do” . I want to focus on “What You must Do” to stay fit and healthy – physically & mentally.  The 21 day lockdown may well stretch to 3 – 4 months and this is a golden opportunity to do the things you have been wanting to do for long. You can focus only on what is in your control and not worry about the rest. Life goes on – the Corona Virus will also pass as the wheel of life slowly moves day by day.

I am listing down these suggestion in 3 Points 

# 1 Follow the WHO Guideline

At a time when every Tom, Dick & Harry has a view, follow the WHO guideline. If you have not visited the website do it NOW. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_2.  I am listing down the points as mentioned in WHO Guidelines.

To prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19, do the following:

  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Maintain at least 1 metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
  • Stay home if you feel unwell.
  • Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
  • Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people

China recovered fast, Italy, Spain , Europe & US seem to be collapsing. But Japan a close neighbour of China has hardly been affected. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/world/asia/japan-coronavirus.html. India with its higher immunity, tropical climate and spicy food habits will probably weather it out better than most countries. So don’t panic.

# 2 Stay Healthy & Fit – Exercise 

With most countries in a state of lockdown this is an excellent time to focus on your health. You have the most priceless item in your availability – TIME. So make the best use of it. So what if the gym is closed you can do many more things to stay Fit & Healthy. Here are a few must do’s every day

  • Brisk walking for at least 60 minutes every day. Good to do in the morning Sun. It may be boring to walk alone so get a walking companion. A brisk walking companion can help you do 20% more. 1 Hr of brisk walk is 6 – 8 Kms and thats burning nearly 700 – 800 calories
  • Climb Stairs – If walking continuously is boring, break the monotony by climbing stairs (ie if you live in a multi-storey complex). For every few rounds around the complex – climb one block of stairs. Climbing stairs is a great exercise to stay fit and loose weight. It also opens up your knees. (If you are obese and overweight do it slowly and avoid climbing down as that can impact your knees)
  • Do Yoga for 1 hr every day. You can mix and match Yoga with floor exercises to break the monotony. Play some music, keep changing tracks, and do it outside. If you have a pool in your complex preferably by the poolside in the morning or the evening. Start doing more Surya Namaskars – Its a comprehensive exercise by itself. If you had a capacity to do 5 you can start increasing that on a daily basis. Remember the trick to do more Surya Namaskar’s is to take a 5 min gap between two sets during which you can do some asanas or breathing exercises. Here again a Yoga partner can help you be more energised and push yourselves more. Play soothing music or Mantras as you do Yoga.
  • Pranayam – This is a must do exercise that cleans up the nasal tracts and strengthens the lungs. There are enough videos on youtube on how to do deep breathing & Pranayam.  Do this for at least 10 minutes every day. Even Om Chanting is a form of Pranayam as it involves deep breathing
  • Inhalation with Tulsi/ Ayurvedic ingredients – Try doing this every night before going to sleep. It cleans the nasal passage of all blockages and strengthens the immunity system.

# 3 Stay Healthy & Fit – Eat Healthy

Again this lockdown is a great opportunity to eat light and healthy. Losing weight is done in the mind not in the Gym. Eating less means less usage of vegetables & grocery, less cooking, fewer vessels to wash, less trash – all of this helps you and the community.

  • With no rush you can break your regular schedule of breakfast / lunch / dinner with Grains based meals. Skip a meal once in a while, eat 75% of your normal diet
  • Eat more fruits, sprouts (It’s easy to make it at home)
  • Try to finish dinner early by 7 PM.
  • Try fasting on fruits once a week.
  • Try intermittent fasting once a week when you eat a meal at 11.30 AM and your next meal is breakfast the next day – 18 hrs later.
  • Set a goal to lose 5 Kgs in this 21 day lockdown period and I am sure you can achieve it successfully.

In Conclusion – Every crisis can be an opportunity, as Mother Nature heals with a global shutdown here is an opportunity for you to cleanse yourself and becoming healthier and stronger – boosting your immunity system.

Stay Positive – Be Happy

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2010 – 2020 : A Decade of CHANGE that whizzed by

4 Jan

A decade is a long period of time. How was the world in 2010? Many of us may have forgotten how rapidly the world has changed in the last ten years. Let’s take a look at some of the key changes and see if we are better off or worse.

Smart Phone & the App Revolution 

Remember the company called Nokia. In 2009 Nokia was the market leaders with a 46% Market Share. Smart Phones were just beginning to make an appearance – of the 1.6 B Phones sold globally in 2009 only 297M were Smart Phones. China alone sells more smart phones today and the feature phone is almost non existent.

The Smart Phone explosion carried in its wave the APP revolution. probably the biggest revolution of the decade. The history of the APP probably dates back to 1994 when the 1st Smart Phone IBM’s Simon was launched with inbuilt apps like address book, calculator, calendar etc. But the APP story really took off after Steve Jobs launched the App Store in July 2008, a year after the launch of the iPhone.  In 2010 the Tech Slang “APP” was voted the ” Word Of the Year” by the American Dialect society.

This was followed by the launch of Google Play in 2012. Today App’s like Game of war , Tinder, Candy Crush … generate monthly revenues that would put hedge funds to shame. The Free lance industry opened up the doors for App Millionaires working from home. WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, former employees of Yahoo.  At one point, they applied for jobs at Facebook but were rejected.When Facebook announced its plans to acquire WhatsApp in February 2014, WhatsApp’s founders attached a purchase price of $16 billion. This price tag is dwarfed by the actual price Facebook paid: $21.8 billion, or $55 per user.

Looking back at our daily life many of the Apps we take for granted today did not exist in 2010. The world  of Apps has changed the way we live.  Swiggy was launched in 2014 and PayTM in 2010 as a prepaid mobile and DTH recharge platform.  In 2010 Flipkart was still a website selling books. The world of Banking , Commerce, Communication has all changed thanks to the Smart Phone and the associated Apps.

Data Explosion 

This decade also saw the explosion of unstructured data.We no longer talk in terms of Gigabytes & Terabytes but Petabytes, Exabytes and Zetabytes.

The world today adds in a few days the equivalent of data that we added in years in the past. The visual below will give you an indication of what happens in 1 minute across the Internet. the messages/ photos/ Videos that consumers generate are taking up enormous amount of data. Hence the need for massive Data centres and super high bandwidth.

The decade also saw the emergence of a new currency called Bitcoin. As the common man tries to figure out the world of Block Chain and Bitcoin its worthy to remember that on January 3rd, 2009, in the wake of a global financial crisis that accelerated the growing chasm of inequality throughout world economies, a mysterious figure named Satoshi Nakamoto launched a virtual currency named Bitcoin. 

The Rich get Richer

In 2010, the 10 richest people in the world had total wealth of $296.8 billion as compared to $822.5 billion in the end of 2019.

For context, in 2010, global wealth totaled $200 trillion as compared to $360.6 trillion in 2019, according to an October report on global wealth from financial services company Credit Suisse.

Today, wealth inequality between the world’s richest and poorest continues to grow. According to an Oxfam report published in January, the world’s wealthiest 26 individuals had the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the population in 2018, the latest figures available. During the same period, the wealth of the world’s billionaires increased by $900 billion ($2.5 billion per day), while the wealth of the poorest half of the population (3.8 billion people) fell by 11%, the Oxfam report found.

A few changes closer home to us in India

India did well in the decade that went by as our GDP grew from 1.7 Trillion to 3.2 Trillion and there is hope that we will get to 5 Trillion by 2025. While this looks impressive our neighbour China galloped ahead.

In 1987 India and China had comparable GDP’s, in 2019 China’s GDP was 4.87 Time bigger than India’s. As population growth started slowing down the per capita income of India has almost doubled. But this may be a misnomer since the top 10% income grew a lot more exponentially than that of the masses.

More Consumption 

More disposable income meant more consumption and travel. In 2010 only 51M Indian travelled by plane, that figure has almost tripled in 2019 to 150M. Indians bought less than 150,000 cars in 2010 but that figure almost doubled in 2019 – and remember 2019 was a bad year for car sales. While more cares were on the clogged city roads global crude prices came down steeply but the price of petrol for an Indian consumer was still amongst the highest in the world. Jan 2010 Petrol in New Delhi was priced at Rs 51/Litre and Dec 2019 it was priced at Rs 75.51/ Litre

Investments & Interest Rates 

Those who invested in the Sensex made handsome returns. The Sensex surged from 21000 in Nov 2010 to  an all time high of 41,000 in Dec 2019. A point to remember here inspite of the rapid fluctuations the Sensex has been growing steadily at a CAGR of 16% over the years. Its journey from 100 – 39,000 happened over 40 years.

2019 saw multiple Interest rate drops and we are probably at the lowest level of Interest rates over the decade. What this means is that a retired pensioner living on his interest income has seen the interest income swing from 9% to 6.5%. While that may look like a 2.5% interest drop your income actually reduced by more than 25% 

Low interest rates is thanks to low inflation. While most Sr citizens and investors miss the 9 – 10% interest rates on their FD’s those were also years when Inflation was 7 – 8%. The 2 % spread between Inflation and Investment rates continue to be maintained so that’s a mental benchmark that people need to come to terms with.

The Indian rupee fared badly between 2010 and 2014 going from 1 USD = 45 INR to 1 USD = 64INR. That pace has thankfully slowed down in the last 5 years, but Exporters want a steep devaluation of the Rupee and with rising Crude prices we may very well see a conversion of 80 soon and I wonder where it will be in 2020.

What about 2030

Well predicting the future is a challenge. Our generation has seen not just in the last 10 years but in the last 50 years a level of  peace and prosperity that is unparalleled in the history of the world. So let’s hope and pray that peace prevails and the good times continue.

The best news is that world population is slowing down. Population in the world is currently (2020) growing at a rate of around 1.05% per year (down from 1.08% in 2019, 1.10% in 2018, and 1.12% in 2017). The current average population increase is estimated at 81 million people per year.

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Secret Revealed – Where to find Bangalore’s best Chocolates

22 Oct

Everyone loves Chocolates. Almost everyone I know barring one. While day to day after meals craving can be met with Lindt, 5 Star , Dairy Milk, Toblerone and Amul Chocolates – many of those will be at the bottom of the pile in a chocolate connoisseur’s ranking.

So where do you get the best Chocolates in Bangalore? The city has a decent array of Chocolate shops. Ooty Chocolate, Chocolate Junction, Zoroy, Royce, Jus’Truf, Smoor (Earlier BLISS) and Fabelle (ITC) are the leading brands. Of them my favourites have been Smoor & Fabelle – that was till I discovered Gallianoz.

Smoor & Fabelle have taken chocolate retailing to a different level – their variety, experience and packaging is a delight. But they are very expensive – and as the brand has become popular the rates have been going higher and higher. Smoor has doubled its rates in the last 6 years. They sell Boxes based on Pieces (Not on weight) – So a small box with 10 tiny pieces can cost you 800 – 1000 Rs. That is exorbitant. And thats where Gallianoz scores.

Gallianoz sells an amazing range of Tastier, Bigger Chocolates that can be customised in shape, size, flavour, packaging at a price that is almost 1/2 of what you get at Smoor or Fabelle. Yes the retail experience will not be so good since this is sold from a tiny shop tucked in the bye lanes of Rhenius Street near the Hockey stadium in Richmond Town. Good things always need to be hunted down, and Gallianoz is indeed a great secret to discover in Bangalore.

Gallianoz was started by a housewife – Zaver in 2002. Born in Mumbai and having lived in Toronto & New York she could not find good Chocolates in Bangalore. Thats when she started experimenting at home and crafted the art of becoming a master Chocolatier. Her friends loved her chocolates and spread the good news word of mouth. It has been almost 18 years and thats how she runs her business. Happy satisfied customers get her more customers.

Gallianoz specialises in making Truffles. A chocolate truffle is a type of chocolate confectionery, traditionally made with a chocolate ganache centre coated in chocolate, cocoa powder or chopped toasted nuts (typically hazelnuts, almonds, or coconut). Most Truffles you get in the market are Cream Based – Gallianoz Truffles are hand made with fresh chocolate – No ready made pastes or fillings are used.

These Truffles are priced at Rs 2000 + GST / KG ( 1 KG = 44 Pieces) – Thats less than Rs 50/piece for a huge piece of Chocolate. And Fabelle will sell you Chocolates that are half the size at Rs 100/piece. The assorted Chocolates are smaller in size and are priced at Rs 1800/kg + GST (1 Kg = 80 Pieces) ~ Rs 25 / piece. And if you wonder how they manage to keep their prices so affordable – Its easy they focus on the product. Cost of retailing in a high street / mall with many employees adds up to 1/2 the cost.

In addition to their trademark Truffles (which are always in stock and stored at a controlled temperature of 14 Degrees) you can custom order a wide variety – Caramel, Coffee, Walnut, Almonds, Orange , Mint, Dates dipped in Chocolate, White Chocolates, Cardamom, Pepper Chilly ….

Every Chocolate is hand made and crafted to perfection. Its never kept in stock as the taste of Chocolates are best when eaten fresh. Gallianoz sources its Chocolate from Ghana & Ivory Coast. They also make fresh hot chocolate Drinks powder. You can mix it with milk or drink it concentrated like a rich Chocolate shot. This is rich pure chocolate and gives you a ton of energy. It comes in 3 flavours – Dark, Orange & Mint and is priced Rs 2400 / Kg.

 

So the next time you want to celebrate or gift chocolates head to Gallianoz. Call the friendly Zaver at +91 99455 95645. And remember – Truffles are available all the time but other products need to be pre ordered.

Address – 14/2, Rhenius Street, Richmond Town, Bangalore, India 560025 (Google Maps may not take you to the exact location)

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Healthy Carrots – History & Trivia

8 Sep

Here is some interesting Trivia on Carrots. Our parents always told us to eat Carrots for healthy eyes and good skin. And we always knew that rabbits loved carrots. But there is a lot more to the story of this amazing vegetable.

  • While the carrot is known as a bright orange root crop (Or Red during Winter) the original carrots domesticated in Central Asia  around 900 CE were purple and yellow. It was only around 1500 AD that Orange carrots were cultivated in Netherlands.

  • In the late 16th century Dutch Farmers took mutant strains of the purple carrot and gradually developed them into the sweet, plump, orange variety we have today. Some think that the reason the orange carrot became so popular in the Netherlands was in tribute to the emblem of the House of Orange and the struggle for Dutch independence.
  • Afghanistan & Persia is probably were Carrots were first cultivated, but today China is the largest producer of Carrots in the world with an annual production of ~ 18Million tonnes.
  • When they were first cultivated, carrots were grown for their aromatic leaves and seeds rather than their roots.
  • Some close relatives of the carrot are still grown for their leaves and seeds, such as parsley, cilantro, coriander, fennel, anise, dill and cumin.
  • Of all known vegetables except for beet, carrots are known to have highest naturally occurring sugar content. So, beet take number 1 position while carrots take 2nd position in terms of sweet vegetables. No wonder carrots make a wonderful snack even when eaten raw.
  • Did you know that carrots are far more nutritious when they are cooked and eaten rather than being eaten raw? This is exactly opposite of every known vegetable in world. The reason for this is the cell walls of carrots are very tough and it is very difficult to digest the cell walls. When cooked, these cell walls break and release the nutrients, making cooked carrot far more nutritious.
  • If you are traveling to places where food is scanty, make sure you carry carrots with you. A single carrot can give you enough energy to walk 1 mile

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Joy & Anxiety of joining a US College (UCLA) – Our Experience

8 Aug

A few months back I had written a detailed Blog on how to go about getting an admission for an undergraduate degree in US (https://vak1969.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/undergrad-in-us-simple-tips-to-get-you-started/). 

This Blog is a continuation on US College admissions and shares our experience and learnings on joining college for an undergrad degree. I just came back after settling my daughter at UCLA for her College Summer Session (CSI). Which brought to a logical beginning a 2 year project. While this may have specific information on UCLA many of the points can help the 15,000 students from India heading to US for their undergrad.

I have studied in an REC and visited most IIT’s & IIM’s in India. But what I experienced in UCLA was unique. It’s massive, majestic and meticulously designed. My nephew who lives in LA defined it aptly when he said UCLA is like a theme park and probably has the best campus life across all US colleges.

And like Disney Land it does attract people in thousands. For Fall 2019 UCLA attracted over 110,000 applications (The largest across US) of which about 7% were selected. 14 Nobel laureates, over 261 Olympic Medals, 3800 Courses – 125+majors & 90+ minors, 12 Libraries, 9M Books, annual research budget of 1Bn, 4 museums, a sculpture & botanical garden and the best food across all US Colleges  – All of this and more is what makes UCLA the #1 Public University in California. Add to this its blessed with excellent Souther California weather, located in West LA it rubs shoulders with Beverly Hills & Hollywood and has close proximity to LAX airport making it one of the most after colleges in the US.

Getting into UCLA is not easy but the focus of this blog is to help students from India who have gained admission to plan their homecoming.

Check out Summer School  

UCLA follows a Trimester system. 2019 Fall Session starts from Sep 26th and students start arriving by Sep 19th. However well you manage it when 9000 students land up in a week there is bound to be chaos. Thats why it helps to join up for CSI (College Summer Institute). CSI helps you settle down faster and also acquire additional credits. You are 18, staying alone for the first time. You got to figure out the system in campus where everything is DIY, adjust with your room mates and the food and start studying. College in US is tough. All of this takes a toll and most students struggle in their first term exams. CSI in UCLA is a 7 week paid program that starts by end July and ends Aug 13th, it attracts about 200 students. This 7 week period helps you settle down, complete 3 subjects ( additional credits) and takes. a lot of load of your back before the normal term starts. It also gives you time to meet professors, and get a thorough understanding of the resources in campus

Planning your Travel

Flight tickets to US are expensive. There are very few periods when you can get a round ticket for $ 1000. Most of the year fares vary from $1250 – $2500. So book tickets in advance. More than tickets book your Air BnB well in advance. If you are attending the regular start session – then thousands of families are going to land up hunting for rooms and rental cars close to campus, so book well in advance. Please note that UCLA has its own Guest House and you can stay there – http://guesthouse.ucla.edu

How much baggage do airlines allow

In the past you could carry two bags of any size / any weight. That has been curtailed. Most airlines now allow two bags with weight of each not to exceed 23 Kgs. So if you have bag one at 27 Kgs and bag 2 at 18 Kgs that is NOT OK. So pack accordingly. Invest in a simple suitcase weighing machine – you can get them at Amazon for about Rs 500. There is also a size limit on bags – Length + Weight + Height should not exceed 158 Cms. (These limits could vary by airline so check the airline website while booking).

What to carry

Indian’s carry too much luggage. The rooms in UCLA are triple sharing so there is limited place. Your clothes, a few pairs of shoes, essential medicines are a must carry. Plan clothes in a manner that they last you 7 – 10 days , that’s the frequency with which you will be washing them. Other items like towels, bedsheets, hangers, plastic boxes, shower robe etc can  be purchased from stores near the campus. Don’t forget to buy a shower caddy and Tide pods from the local store. A Plastic pouch can be of help as you may carry your access card & phone to the bathroom.  If you are travelling early you can get a laptop from US (Its cheaper) else buy it here and get a charger locally.  The Mac is designed for 110 – 220 V so there will be no issue plugging it in with a local charger. Write your name on the Mac, cables with a permanent marker or stick some stickers on them. Laptops are the most commonly lost items in campus.  You can carry stationery – Notebooks, pens, staplers, highlighters  etc they are very expensive in campus. The weather is pleasant all year around so you don’t need too much of winter wear – a jacket, few light sweaters and a fleece is probably all you need.

Carrying Food

Fortunately the food in UCLA is excellent. Lots of variety for vegetarians also. So if you have a good Meal plan you will be comfortable. Most Indians tend to carry Maggi, Instant MTR etc – yes this can be cooked on a microwave or kettle that is available in the common area. You cannot use kettle or hot plate in the room without persmission. Some dorm rooms are designed like a suite with two rooms having a common sit out, UCLA rents refrigerators and Microwaves the cost of which can be shared by the room mates.

Your Suitcase

You have limited storage place in your room and if every student brings 2 Suitcases + 1 Stroller there will be no place in the room. So buy a set of 3 suitcases that can go inside each other. That way you use the stroller for local travel, the medium sized one for India travel and the large one is rarely used. Use suitcases with number locks so that you don’t lose the keys. These suitcases are also where you will lock and keep your passport, original certificates, cash etc. Each person gets a bed, a wardrobe and a table. The chest of drawers is shared.

Do you need to carry your original certificates

We did carry them but they were not needed.  Make a set of copies and get them attested at a local BDA complex. Before your admission most of your grades / mark sheets etc would have been uploaded on the portal. That should suffice. If you have close relatives in and around LA you can leave the originals with them for a few terms.

Immunisation

There are mandatory requirements for immunisation. Get them done in India before travelling and upload the details on the UCLA website. the deadline for this is Oct 1st. TB testing may have to be done in campus.

When should one plan to reach 

If your joining date is 19th please don’t reach on 18th. Travel  3- 4 days earlier, try and get out of the Jet Lag before college starts. Adjust to the surroundings. Rent a car and travel around the neighbourhood. You can rent cars using a Indian driving license. Without a car it is difficult to manage.

About Orientation 

There are multiple Orientation sessions that run before the opening of session. It is a must attend. For joining students its a 3 day session. Parents attend a 1 day session on Day 3. . Students are formed into smaller group and a Student Advisor mentors them through the 3 day program. Registration is a must for this session – Parents need to pay for their 1 day session.

How do you get a SIM card & Open a Bank account 

Get a good plan with a local carrier. We were able to leverage my sisters family plan. So we got an unlimited Talk/Data plan for $ 30 (Something that is normally $70). We reached early and went to a Wells Fargo bank and opened an account – but I am sure there will be Banks in campus that can help students with account opening. They normally give you a temporary debit card on the spot. You may also want to carry a Forex card from India and keep topping it with currency from India. In Campus cash is hardly used – but do get your child some quarters & 1 $ bills – this will help them in local travel. The Bruin Card which is used to access most of the resources in campus also doubles up as a debit card and you can add money to it. The Bruin card is accepted across all campus facilities and even in some stores in the neighbourhood.

How to get an ID

If you have an Indian DL that helps. You may not want to carry your passport everywhere. There is an option of  getting a California Resident card from the local DMV (Department of Motor Vechiles)

Tips for Meal Plan 

The Hill is the place where you have the Dorms and the Dining places. The distance from here to the class room is a good 20 – 30 min walk. On most days you may not be able to come back for lunch. So plan your meal plan to include 14 meal swipes with a rollover facility . Opting for a meal plan with 3 plans may be an overkill.

Buying Books

Buying books can be expensive. Most students depend on PDF versions. You can also borrow books from the Library and keep it with you for 3 months.

Carrying your Bruin Card / Access card for Room etc 

This is your lifeline – so be careful with them. Most students put them in a small push and stock them to the back of their cell phones. But then this carries the risk of losing everything. Another option is to have a Lanyard

Travel in Campus 

The campus is designed like a bowl. The residential quarter are at one end at a elevation – hence this is called the HILL. This also houses the administrative office for students like Housing , International students offices, New Student Orientation offices etc. As you walk along the Bruin walk you walk past the stadium , tennis courts, indoor stadium, etc and reach the central area which houses the Health Centre, UCLA Store, Restaurants, Student Activity Centre, Book Store etc. Further ahead are the class rooms and libraries. Each day you will end up walking 3 – 4 miles. But given the landscape it’s difficult to ride a bike. Also Bikes and Laptops are the most frequently stolen items. We did see a lot of students zipping past on scooters – but that did not seem safe. (Download the UCLA Campus Map from here http://map.ucla.edu/downloads/pdf/UCLA_Campus_Colored_Map.pdf)

Registering for your 1st Trimester Course

During orientation your student guide will hep you register for your 1st trimester courses. Once you register you can see the dates of the exams. The term ends on Dec 13th – but your last exam may end on Dec 12th – this will help you plan your tickets back home. The second Trimester starts on Jan 6th and you can be back in campus any time between Jan 2nd and 6th. Trimesters are 10 weeks – they are short and fast so before you can realise the mid terms hit you. In addition to attending all classes Sr students recommended a 2 – 3 hr of individual / group study every day to ensure decent grades.

Additional Requirement for International Students 

International students need to complete a course on American History and one on Foreign Language. We checked back on the foreign language issue – there is an option to visit the school of  Asian Languages & Cultures Dept and request for an exempt. They may ask you to take a qualifying test in Hindi to assess your abilities. If you pass that then you can exempt yourself from the course.

Plan your travel 

You can view the entire years schedule before joining. This helps you to plan tickets in advance both for travel to India and during long weekends like Thanksgiving . https://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Calendars/Annual-Academic-Calendar#77070292-2019-20

Other Useful Points 

  • UCLA is a smoke free / Drug Free campus. That should be good news for parents
  • UBER & LYFT come inside the campus and will drop you close to the Dorm. If you are driving a rental car figure out the parking lot that is closest to the place you want to go. There are multiple parking lots. So if your email says SV Parking Lot 3 that means Sunset Village Parking lot 3 – if you type in Google Maps SV parking Lot 3 it takes you to a different place.
  • The campus has its own Guest House – you can boom rooms there. http://guesthouse.ucla.edu

There is Joy & Anxiety as you complete the admission process and leave your child. The process is a bit like a marriage. Its long drawn – almost 2 years, you go thru a rigorous selection process to identify the best college, you plan your travel, spend weeks shopping ( like a trousseau ) and finally the “Bidai” happens. And then you leave it to Goddess Saraswati to take care of your child and let her flourish in the new environment. Children are super smart and adaptable. Every plant that is uprooted takes a few days to settle in a new garden but they do settle in and develop deep roots in a few weeks and months.

2019 is a great year to join – its the 100th year of UCLA and that makes it even more cherish able.

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The Challenge of making 8% + Returns in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable market

25 Apr

Aditya Birla Sun Life Focused Equity Fund a 3 Star Rated fund, a leading fund in its category  has given a 4.76% return in the last 1 year (2018 – 19). In the same period Nifty reported a 14.93% gain and Sensex reported a 17.3% gain. Aditya Birla fund did relatively well because in the same period Equity Mid Cap reported (-) 3 % and Equity Small Cap  (-) 11.5%. (https://www.livemint.com/market/stock-market-news/sensex-ends-fy19-with-the-biggest-gain-in-4-fiscal-years-1553879533118.html)

This is not a 12 Month trend but a 24 Month phenomena. If you started investing in March 2017 and your Investment Advisor assured you of an Alpha (A gain over the Index Returns) – well you are in trouble. In this period the Sensex moved from 29,000 – 39,000 a whopping 30% + but the best of MF’s you have invested in may have given you returns of less than 10%.

In effect in the last 24 Months you would have made better returns if you had stayed invested with your neighbourhood Bank FD Or with a good Liquid Fund – some of which have given annualised returns of 8%+

You wonder how this is possible when the Country is supposedly growing at 7% GDP. A 15% annual Index Gain and a 7% GDP growth indicates an economy that is burning hot. But the reality seems to be different. IT Companies are reporting 3 – 4% growth and holding on to their stock prices with buybacks, Airline are melting, Real Estate is sluggish for the last 7 years, and Telecom companies have merged and reported losses and Job losses. Banking Industry is reeling in NPA’s the Pharma industry has lost its sparkle and the booming Automobile industry has started showing low to negative growth. The liquidity crisis is severe and the rate of loans on the street is very different from what the RBI rates are. And Swiggy, Ola & Uber seem to be the only people hiring. Yes inflation is low – but one wonders if this inflation or deflation driven by low consumer spending.

If every large industry that constitutes the economy is limping, there is a job challenge and liquidity is stretched –  one wonders how the economy and the stock market is booming. 

Which answers the 1st Point on why the Index is gaining but the MF’s you invested in are lagging. A handful of stocks have done extremely well. Reliance, HDFC Bank, TCS, Havell, Bandhan Bank …. you can pick the stocks with your fingers. But sadly most investors picked the wrong stocks and are seeing their portfolios steeply negative. Ask your friends who invested in Stocks and PMS schemes and they will tell you how they have burnt their fingers in the last 24 months. So if the fundamentals are not strong you have to question what is driving the index higher and higher over the last few months – is it really the Modi factor or is it Black Money coming in thru the P Note route to fund the 10B USD Grand Indian elections?

So where do you go from here.

Your investment manager will tell you about India being a great 10 year story and how the stock market has given 15% + returns over the last 25 years. Big bull Rakesh Jhunjhunwala will talk about India being in the midst of the greatest bull run ever. All this is true and works well if you don’t want your money back for the next 10 – 15 years. But if you have invested in the stock market hoping to pay for your daughters education in the US a few years away or for buying a house 2 years down the line and are expecting to skim away 15 – 20% of the profits from your MF every year – then beware you may be in for a rude shock.

Let’s look at the Nifty P/E

A P/E below 14 indicates – Extremely Oversold and above 22 Extremely Overbought.This link will give you an indication of how the Nifty P/E has fared over the years. (https://nifty-pe-ratio.com). We are today at a historically high P/E of 29 – and that is cause for concern

Remember 2008 when the Lehman Brother Crisis hit the globe. 2008 was an incredible year for the Indian markets, after scaling the 21,000 peak in January 2008, the markets were at 8,000 in Oct 2008. The Sensex P/E in Jan 2008 was also 28. See the correlation – all that goes up has to come down. It’s been a great 10 + years since 2008 as liquidity has flown thru global markets like a river in flood.

Losing faith in the system

Track the best of analyst reports over the last two years and you will see the extremely poor quality of research in India. Let’s take the example of South India Bank – 2 years back the stock was at Rs 18. leading Analysts talked about the Bank being on a fast track growth and the target price was given as Rs 45 over 12 – 18 months. Some even spoke of a 100+ price. In the midst of the euphoria the stock did go up steeply and touched 34 and then it collapsed to Rs 12.5 and is now settling down at 16 – 17 Rupees. You will see this trend again and again for numerous stocks and it leaves you with a feeling – are these stocks being manipulated and is the common investor being taken for a ride.

There is no skin in the teeth.

ILFS was rated AAA by Care, ICRA, Crisil in March 2018. A few months later the company went bankrupt. A Bluechip like ICICI bank is under scanner for nepotism. ZEE, DHFL and many more are reporting inability to pay back loans. Banks gave away Billions in loans that were defaulted. And Kotak is defaulting on its FMP – just to recollect the word FMP means Fixed Maturity Plan. When a Bank like Kotak delays your FMP you better get worried. All this makes you question the role of the Board of Directors, Auditors, Management and the Regulator.

Your Financial investment partner also has no skin in the teeth. Irrespective of you making or losing money they continue to make their commissions on your holdings. You can’t blame them – they run a company that is measured on quarterly growth and if they start getting pessimistic then that’s the end of their company. Given the state of confusion they  may pitch for complex products like A Structured Product where the returns are linked to the Index over 2 – 3 year. Some may even make handsome returns on it. But if you delve deep into the product you will realise that a small part of them are invested in Futures & Options while a large chunk is lent to Small & Medium Business at very high rates. That Debt can be very risky. Also remember the basic rule – Never invest in a product which you don’t understand. 

Well now that I have got you worried let’s come back to the basic question – How do I make 8% steady returns over the next 2 years? We are now in a situation where we should be worried about Return of your Capital Vs Returns on your Capital. 

There are no easy answers – but these pointers may help you make your right decision

  • Nifty P/E at a historic high of 29 is a Red Flag – it’s time to Go slow on market investments.
  • Unless you are a whiz kid – stay away from investing in individual stocks. The Daily TIPS and Research Reports cause more harm than help.
  • Debt Funds thanks to rate reductions have given good yields over the last 1 year. Given the severe liquidity crisis one can expect a few more rate cuts that will ensure Debt Funds yields of  7 – 9%.
  • A Good Bank FD gives you 7% and is not Tax friendly – but it does give you a lot of peace of mind
  • If the market crashes and you have liquidity – invest 25% of your portfolio in Index Funds – like they say you can never beat the Index.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank You Jet Airways

17 Apr

In a few hrs from now Jet Airways will fly its last flight (April 17th – 10.30 PM). The era of a great airline which set high standards for the Indian aviation industry will finally come to an end. Hopefully a temporary one.

I have fond memories of Jet Airways. it has been my favourite airline for almost 25 years. My corporate career from 1992 and the growth of Jet mirrored each other. In the last 25 years I would have taken over 2500 flights in India and Abroad. During these flights I was treated well, got decent food, was upgraded many a time and almost always got my priority aisle seat near the emergency exit or the first row.

I recollect in the mid 90’s when even a cost conscious company like Wipro made an exception allowing employees to fly Jet even if it was not the cheapest fare – because the service was excellent and the Chairman and Corporate head of HR enjoyed travelling Jet.

Jet Privilege – The award winning frequent flyer program was excellent. The best in the country – and we have enjoyed many a free holiday thanks to the thousands of miles we accumulated. In the initial years it was easy to upgrade and almost all my Bangalore – Delhi flights I used my Vouchers or Upgrade points to fly in luxury. If you were a Jet Platinum customer your baggage would be on the belt as you walked out with almost no wait time. When I started flying to London every quarter – I skipped the direct BA flight from Bangalore and went all the way to Mumbai or Delhi to take the Jet Flight to London. It was worth it. The Business Class on Jet international was better than most International flights and I was often rewarded with an upgrade to 1st Class and many a time rubbed shoulders with Politicians and Fortune 100 CEO’s. For many years my Brown & Cream night suit was thanks to Jet Airways.

From Day 1 Jet differentiated itself with the food it served. It was piping hot and fresh. The Food in Business Class was outstanding – selection, taste and aesthetics were 10/10. I remember a presentation made by an International Strategy Consultant on Branding in 1998  – when he explained the concept of Brand Differentiators. He explained that all planes were Boeing or Airbus make but then some airlines were Air India, some were Singapore Airlines and finally some were Jet Airways. The differentiation was in service. In the early days Jet made India proud with its service.

The golden era was till 2005 and then the IPO happened. I have observed that most companies start tumbling down after their IPO as the greed for quarterly profits accelerates. After that the airline slowly started going down hill.

This accelerated with the disastrous acquisition of Sahara. The loyalists like us still stuck along with fond memories of the past. By 2012 – 2013 things started getting bad. The seats were jammed and there was hardly and leg space, food quality dropped the Rotis were half cooked and the Air Hostesses looked overworked and tired. The AC would start only after you boarded the flight. Getting an upgrade even with vouchers was a challenge.

As Brand Indigo grew and the fare wars escalated Jet started struggling even more. Rather than hold fort as a full service airline and charge a premium Jet fell into the trap of retaining market share at any cost. It was a losing battle and slowly Jet lost its No 1 position to Indigo.

With Etihad stake there was some hope and service levels did go up before Jet started its final descent a year back. Loyalist that I am – inspite of all the challenges I booked my Bangalore Amsterdam flight for my May holiday on Jet – KLM Codeshare in January. A few weeks back I realised that the last nails were being banged in the coffin and managed to cancel with a steep penalty and booked myself on Emirates. But I have no regrets – I see the cancellation penalty as a small fraction of the Upgrades and excellent service I have been provided over the years. A small cost to pay for the great times I have had over the years.

Thank You Jet Airways and all the staff for a wonderful 25 years. As you make your last flight people of my generation will sigh and empathise with you. I sincerely hope you revive and get back to your golden days again.

 

 

 

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Annadanam – The best form of Charity

3 Mar

Annadanam Samam Danam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe
Annadanam is supreme and incomparable to any charity

“So this is our life, let’s find ourselves. Let’s be kind to others, be good to people, do as much seva as possible to all living beings because there’s nothing better than seva. And, unless you do seva, your mind cannot be purified and unless your mind is purified, the Song of the Lord cannot be heard inside, which is the real meaning of Shabad, the Song of the Lord. And, it is ‘anahat’, it is heard from inside.” – Sri. M. 

Tomorrow being Shivratri its a good time to reflect on this. As the devout stand in long Q’s to propitiate Lord Shiva the Milk they pour with affection on the Shiv Lingam may be put to better use. In ways that the Ascetic Lord Shiva may better approve. Indians lead the world in making charitable donations to temples and hosting ostentatious weddings / birthdays and other celebrations but when it comes to charity we have a long way to go.

I want to share my last 1 years experience as a volunteer of The Satsang Foundation interacting with the kids at Vallabh Niketan. This is one of the 6 Ashrams that was set up by Achary Vinobha Bhave in 1965 and named after his Disciple Vallabh Swami.The Home has transformed over the years from a Library, research & training centre, a Social help stop and a base for social transformation.

A green oasis located in the heart of Bangalore city next to Chitrakala Parishad and Gandhi Bhawan this is home to 35 Orphans  and 15 Old destititutes. The first time we visited the place they shared their meal with us – and I struggled to eat the bland bowl of sambar & curd rice with no vegetables. We realised that’s the meal the kids eat almost every day. Thats when we started sponsoring breakfast after our Sunday Yoga sessions once in 2 weeks and Lunch / Dinner on special occasions. A small act – but it is something that the kids and Sr citizens look forward to eagerly.

A lot of people are keen to contribute to Charity but are not sure if it will reach the end recipient in totality. Notwithstanding the good work done by few organisations there are many charitable organisations where the overheads are steep and people collecting money receive commissions. This was my perception for many years as I was hunting to be associated with an organisation where I could contribute. And thats when the association with The Satsang Foundation and Vallabh Niketan happened.

At Vallabh Niketan neither is federal aid solicited, nor foreign or Corporate aid accepted. Only individual and institutional helps alongwith participation as per Vinobaji’s wish of ‘Kanchan Mukti’ & ‘Shaasan Mukti’.

You can contribute directly. There are 3 ways of doing it.

#1 You sponsor a meal and pay the restaurant directly. Keep the Volunteers of The Satsang Foundation informed. Breakfast for all inmates (35 kids, 15 Sr. Citizens and 5 Staff) can be sponsored for Rs 1600/- and Lunch or Dinner for a slightly higher rate . You are welcome to talk to the restaurant and customise your food offerings.  Normal breakfast offerings include Set Dosa with Chutney & Sagu Rs 30/Plate, Thatte Idli with Chutney & Sagu Rs 30/Plate, Small Idli Bowl dipped in Sambar with Chutney Rs 35/Plate.

  • Nandishwar Tiffany Centre, Between Vinayaka Circle & Vyalikaval police Station.
  • Owner : Ravi Pojjary, +91 9591528945
  • A/C No : 0417101049326, Canara Bank, Vyalikaval, IFSC – CNRB0000417

It is not mandatory that you have to use the above vendor, if you know other caterers / restaurants who can supply clean hygienic food in a timely manner at the venue that is also an option. Vallabh Niketan is located at 19, Kumara Park East, Sheshadripuram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001 (After Chitra Kala Parishad take a right turn and 100 m down the road you will find Vallabh Niketan on your right)

Coordination Contacts : (Please text or WhatsApp)

  • Satsang Foundation Volunteers : Sumati Mohan  +91 9844307580, Nirmala Jayram +91 99010 58868, Manjunath  +91 97416 22766
  • Vallabh Niketan : Hasan : +91 9945566331

#2 You contribute directly to the Trust that manages Vallabh Niketan. The Vishwaneedham Trust was set up in 1963. Contributions will go towards Electricity, Water, Building Upkeep, Medicines, Day to day requirements at the Home. (Please note that currently monthly provisions for food and milk for children is sponsored by the Volunteers of The Satsang Foundation Bangalore). Purely voluntary donations are accepted in the name of Vishwaneedam Trust and a receipt issued.

The Vishwaneedham trust banks with Canara Bank, KP West Branch Bangalore 560020, India: SB a/c #0422101003660, IFSC Code #cnrb0000422
Ashram is also certified under sec 12A of the Income Tax Department, Government of India, vide No.ACCTS/718/10A/Vol/B II/V-195: & Our PAN No is Vishwaneedam Trust AABTV5514H

#3 You contribute with your services. Come and Teach Yoga, English, Arts & crafts, take the Kids out for a movie or a picnic. Conduct a Sports day, spend Diwali or any other festival with them. Help in gardening and growing fruits and vegetables. Help them with Clothes, Bedsheets, Shoes, Medicines… For all this coordinate directly with Hasan the Home In- Charge at : +91 99455 66331 or Sumati Mohan  +91 98443 07580

Make an effort and experience joy. Here is an opportunity to bring a smile to a Childs life in your own small way. Helps you get your children grounded as they see the advantages they have in life. It’s a great opportunity to be thankful for all that you have.

Just think – If you celebrate at home a birthday party with 15 friends and relatives you will spend 15 – 20 K on the function. That money can provide breakfast to this Home for 15 days. Thats feeding 900 Mouths. Thats 900 deprived people being satisfied with a tasty meal. And thats earning you a lot of positive Karma.

So make a start this Shivratri – and help a few needy soul’s.

 

A few more glimpses of the activities at Vallabh Niketan

 

 

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Horlicks – Energiser or a Sleeping Aid ?

22 Feb

“Comforting, warming, fortifying since 1906,” is written on the promotional mug Horlicks launched in the UK last year. In Britain, the malted milk drink has long been linked to bedtime, a soothing aid to sleep.

The story in India is very different – with a brand line “Taller, stronger, sharper” Horlicks has been positioned as a drink for boys and girls to grow faster and stay energised at all times. It’s a breakfast drink that gives you the strength for the long day ahead.

Yet the drink’s main ingredients are exactly the same: wheat, malted barley and milk. 

How is that possible? So is Horlicks a drink revered by generations of Indian’s just a marketing gimmick ? In the world of brand marketing – Perception is Reality and years of marketing propaganda have built the perception that Horlicks is ideal for the growth and development of a smarter, stronger child. But the story doesn’t end here.

The history of Horlicks is even more fascinating. Horlicks was invented by two British-born men, William Horlick (1846-1936) and his brother James (1844-1921) from Gloucestershire, England. James was a chemist, working for a company that made dried baby food. William, the younger brother, had emigrated to America in 1869 and James decided to join him in Chicago in 1873. That same year, they started their own company (J&W Horlicks) to make a malted milk drink. They called their product ‘Diastoid‘ and their advertising slogan read: ‘Horlick’s Infant and Invalids Food‘.

Later it was used as a war drink during WW 1. Horlick’s became important for British soldiers on the front in World War One. Horlick’s was a dried product and, formed into tablets, it could be included easily in a soldier’s pack. Horlick’s was known to have nutritive and calming powers. The “delicious and sustaining” tablets provided important nutrients, making their consumption, “an every-day incident on the front.”

Over the years most of Horlicks sales came from India and SE Asia where it was positioned as a nutritional drink for children. The 140 year old brand saw sales growth dropping to single digit numbers in the recent years. 

The brand was finally acquired by HUL in 2018. Unilever Plc, will merge GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare with itself in an allstock deal that will give the country’s largest pure-play consumer goods company access to Horlicks, Boost and Maltova malted drinks brands as well as distribution rights for a five-year period over over-the-counter and oral care brands such as Sensodyne, Eno and Crocin.

Boost, Viva and Maltova brands will be owned by Hindustan Unilever. However, the Horlicks brand, which is currently owned by GSK Plc, is being acquired by parent Unilever and HUL will pay royalty for its use in India.

 

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