Volini Spray: Dard Se Le Panga

Volini, India's no.1 recommended and most used pain reliever has declared an association with team Patna Pirates. Patna Pirates is the one of the top three teams in the glitzy edition of all new Pro Kabaddi League. Pro Kabaddi League is in its second season and it is already the most watched sports on television after Indian Premier League. The strategic association with the Patna Pirates aims to build a strong connect and resonance with the consumers of healthcare products and sports enthusiasts.

With Volini, pain does not stand a chance. Volini had earlier successfully partnered with Mumbai Marathon, Kolkata and Bangalore marathons. Kabaddi is a game of physicality. It also involves brute power and complex muscle movements. Volini as a relief partner to Patna Pirates gives a competitive edge in terms of fitness and injury recovery. The team which is completely fit and free from any kind of pain or strain is likely to succeed. Thus, there was a need felt of a pain relief expert to enable players to bounce back quickly.

The meet was organised at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai where we got an opportunity to meet and even play Kabaddi with the legends of the game. The captain of Patna Pirates Rakesh Kumar told his inspiring story of how the sports is emerging. The transformation of mud grounds into mat finished stadium gives us positive insight into the future of Kabaddi. Kabaddi has a mass appeal and is widely understood by people of all ages.

In a sport's which works on Darwin's theory - the survival of the fittest, the strategic association of Patna Pirates with Volini plays a pivotal role in recovery strategy. Khelo Kabaddi lagao Volini. The Indian Capitalist wishes good luck to the Patna Pirates for Pro Kabaddi League Season 2. Dard Se Le Panga!

- Chaitanya Kulkarni (twitter.com/chai2kul )

How Globalised Is Economic Life?

Is economic globalization a myth or a reality? Have national economies effectively been absorbed into a single global system? On one hand, hyperglobalist present the image of borderless global economy in which the information and products are free flowing. On the other hand, globalisation skeptics point out that economic globalisation is portrayed to mend free market or neoliberal policies. As my blog name suggests my national identity and capitalist perspective, I am an avid supporter of globalisation. 

Institutions

A lot has changed after the introduction of Bretten Woods System. Global organisations like World Bank, IMF, European Union, Shanghai Cooperation Oraganisation and ASEAN has emerged. The decision taken by these global institutions affect its members as well as observer countries. Almost all countries in this world are members of the World Trade Organisation. The emergence of this organisations is the lesson learned from World War I and II. Free flow of information has led to revolutionary change in policy making. War, Terrorism and poverty has become a global issue. The world of finance is inter-dependent to global financial markets. Decisions taken by Wall Street make or break Asian markets. Emerging economies are the most benefitted by the globalised financial system but the poorer nations are left out. Third World economies like Zimbabwe are struggling with bizarre exchange rates. As technology gets superior, we might soon see the golden age in global institutions.

Travel

People of today are global citizens. People and goods are on the constant move. Two things have made this possible; an airplane and the shipping containers. With the success of Beoing 747 in the early 1920s, mass rapid transport had become a reality. Now Singapore is just a 7 hour ride away. It used to take a whole day by ship. With the introduction of massive planes, flight tickets got cheaper and today any middle class income person could afford international travel. Even at this moment, around 3 million people are traveling in the skies. Car has brought a cheerful impact to middle class families. Nearly 10 million families travel every day by their cars. Tourism and Hospitality has become one of the best industry in this global age. Another pioneer of travel is the Shipping container. Goods are made in emerging economies like China and India and are shipped all over the world. China ships electronic items and Plastics while Middle East ships oil. The inter-dependency issue of the globe has been resolved. The world has come closer.

Transnational Human Resource

What makes a nation rich or poor? Natural Resources, Population and Political will power. The rich countries like US, EU, Japan and Middle East are less populated than the poor Asian and African countries. Lack of opportunities in home countries make transnational migration possible. 'The Haves' have in plenty so that they could share with the 'have-nots'. With the introduction of ICT, the nation with the most skilled labour would excel in the superpower race. Today, China has the most skilled labour force when it comes to manufacturing. But when it comes to services, India is an IT Superpower.

Transnational Corporations

Transnational Corporation (TNC) is the company which operate all over the world. McDonalds, Pizza Hut, WalMart, Nike are some examples of TNC. The Internet is the largest TNC ever made. A website as a service can be accessed all over the world without any restrictions. Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter are among the most successful TNCs. TNCs play a pivotal role in exporting culture. Skeptics of internet accuse these TNCs of imposing westernisation. Organisations like ISIS, Al Qaeda, BBC, US Defense can be called TNCs as they have international operations. The hype of global living has paid off. Burger King and Haldirams are easily accepted by global consumers. TNCs are no less than a country. TNCs do not follow any specific laws and have local as well as international political influences. FDI are the major part of the economy and the country which highest foreign investments is likely to succeed in this global economic life.

- Chaitanya Kulkarni ( twitter.com/chai2kul ) 

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Honda Dream Ride in all new Honda Jazz 2015

The wait is over! Honda has come up with the most anticipated hatch-back of the year, the all new Honda Jazz 2015. And we have tested it. The all new Honda Jazz comes in Petrol and the Diesel variant. So is this the winner?

Yes. The Jazz is a good looking car by any angle. It has large angular headlights which are similar to its big sibling, the Honda City. The front engine grills come with the chrome lining and black elements. At the back, there is silver chrome running across the middle with the Honda logo in it. There are angular lights at the back too giving it the smart looks.

Inside, the Jazz comes loaded with features. The steering wheel comes with the volume buttons and lots of other button which do geeky stuff. There is a touch screen remote control for the AC. There is LCD touch screen for functions like GPS Navigation, Music etc. The Jazz supports all forms of audio systems which means you can even play an electronic guitar using the AUX. The Jazz comes with rear camera which makes bumper-to-bumper parking handy. The speedometer has lighted up with different colours depending on your driving style. But is it practical?

Yes. There are plenty places keep bottles. The Honda Jazz comes with 354 liter boot which is awesome for a hatchback. The back seats can be completely folded which makes it a van. The ‘van’ Jazz can easily carry your monthly grocery and around 6 trolley bags. The front rear seat can be folded too and it can give you business class experience. The Honda Jazz 2015 gets 10/10 in practicality.

Under the bonnet, the Honda Jazz comes with 1.2 liter engine. The Jazz gives smooth ride and the automatic model would be the best buy for Indian cities. The jazz swiftly goes around the corners.  The gearbox feels smooth which makes it a smooth drive.

The Honda Jazz 2015 starts from Rs 5.6 lakhs ( ex – Mumbai ) and runs high on practicality. Both petrol and diesel variants saves your cost. When you drive the new Jazz, the interiors and the exteriors feel sublime. The Honda Jazz 2015 is the best ever hatchback ever made. Honda Jazz 2015 stands above the competition.

By - Chaitanya Kulkarni ( twitter.com/chai2kul )

Saudi Arabia Open For Foreign Investors

The largest country in the middle east, Saudi Arabia has decided to open it's Tawadul (Stock Exchange) for foreign investors. The Saudi Arabian stock market capitalisation is around $528 billion which about two-thirds of Saudi GDP. The move comes after steep decline in oil prices in 2014. Saudi Arabia no longer want it to be an oil dependent economy. It aims to attract foreign investemnt through it's Tawadul and smart cities like King Abdullah Economic City. The steep decline in oil price has affected Saudi Arabia economy by about -2.7%.

The reforms comes at the right timing. Saudi Arabia's economy has doubled since 2006. The total value of FDI resulted to around $208 billion by the end of 2014. Financial services are improving as much as 65% of women having a bank account (this is a big deal). Insurance premiums have grown by around 20%. According to the Telegraph, the best stocks to invest in are Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Saudi Telecom and National Commercial Bank.

Foreign Investors also have plenty reasons to stay out of Tawadul.

They are :  1) Growing influence of ISIS.

                 2) War with Yemen

                 3) Greece Bailout

                 4) Saudi Arabia's fiscal deficit

                 5) India and China look more promising.

By - Chaitanya Kulkarni ( twitter.com/chai2kul )

Are Mobiles Worth Your Money?

Humans are on the constant quest of communication. We are monophobic and smartphones have become our tool. Mobile is one simple solution to hunger, shopping, dating, emergency and pretty much of everything. A 3 year old might not know ABCD or 1 to 10 but the kid knows how to download a game from Play Store. One might say that mobiles are making our lives easier. But I think it's making us vulnerable. A perfect example of it is mobile networks getting jamed during a terrorist strike or a festival. We are addicted to quick in-hand data. This stupid 5 inch pocket device has ruined our lives. Debates have been taken over by stupid Whatsapp forwards. Dumbos have become a part of Al Qaeda by sending fake messages on bomb blasts and accidents. And the fucking cost of this pocket device is equivalent to a motorbike or even more.

Sadly, these too big to handle devices have become a part of our style statement. Narcissists pleasure themselves while looking at the front camera. People with boring lives are busy filling up things on their facebook wall. Showing off your fancy device has become a sign to avoid contact. 

The myth of digital superiority is the result of expensive marketing strategy. Mobiles these days come with storage capacity upto 128GB. We have Octa Core processors with 3 GB RAM and other geeky stuff like quick charging, GPS, Gaming chipsets blah blah blah. But even after constant attention to R&D, mobile phones suck when compared to Windows XP running computers. The updates are made so scarce that even if you buy an expensive mobile, it will only run for maximum 3 years. This is hardcore Consumerism directly from the factories of Communist China. I hate those tech bloggers who portray Mobile as the greatest tech invention. Mobile Technology is so dependent on its add-ons. A mobile phone needs SIM Card, Internet, Micro SD card, Electricity to operate. It's easy to built an all in one Smartphone but R&D and Marketing department has a reason not to do so. Jet planes, Smart Cities, Power Grids, MRTS Systems, Space Stations have been shadowed by this stupid pocket device which hardly has any contribution towards mankind. Mobile phone has become a Fast Moving Consumer Good.

Consumer pays a hell lot of money for this handy device. The packaging of the phones is not at all Value for Money when compared to other consumer electric items. A mobile phone is packed in 'ecological' paper box cramped with the add-ons. The manufacturers make sure that the device is packed in the smallest and the lightest box to save logistic costs. Device makers just don't give a fuck to the unboxing feeling. Plus there is no cost of installation service. Then what makes mobile phones so costly? It just requires plastic, glass, chipset, screws, software and camera. Motorbikes, Split AC, 4K TV, Desktop Computers, Washing Machines etc are way more cooler and useful devices than mobile phones.

Spending a pile of money for social status is bull shit. Instead, one should rent Mercedes S Class or BMW 7 series and go on a ride on Mumbai Goa Highway. Or a solo trip to Indonesia would be an awesome life changing experience. Stop filling your virtual walls with the artificial you. Spend carefully and enjoy your life. YOLO :)

- Chaitanya Kulkarni ( twitter.com/chai2kul )

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a

Insurance Review : Edelweiss Tokio Life - MyLife+

EdelweissTokio Life - MyLife+ is a non-participating, non linked term assurance plan that covers your life and provides security to your family. This plan is exclusively offered online which means one can buy this policy without annoying middlemen or hectic paperwork.

• Entry Age: The minimum entry age for the policy is 18 years.
• 2 Death benefit options viz. Lump-sum benefit option and Income benefit option: the buyer is free to choose either or both depending on his/her family’s needs, his/her age, and his/her level of financial literacy.
• Lump-sum benefit option: A lump-sum benefit equal to the sum assured will be paid on death of the life insured and the policy will terminate.
• Income benefit option: 1% of sum assured will be paid every month for the next 130 months starting from next month from the date of death.

Let’s have an apple to apple comparison of Edelweiss Tokio Life MyLife+ plan with Aviva i-Life plan.

	Edelweiss Tokio Life MyLife+	Aviva i-Life plan
Min Entry Age	18 years	18 years
Max Entry Age	60 years last birthday	55 years last birthday
Max Maturity Age	80 years last birthday	70 years last birthday
Policy Term	Minimum 10 years  Maximum 80 years minus entry  age	Minimum 10 years Maximum 35 years
Premium Payment Term	Regular Pay	Equal to Policy Term
Payment Frequency	Annual	Yearly or Half Yearly
Riders Available	You can make your term cover    more comprehensive by adding  rider  from the below mentioned  riders:                Edelweiss Tokio Life - Accidental  Total and Permanent Disability  Rider        Edelweiss Tokio Life - Accidental  Death Benefit Rider       Edelweiss Tokio Life - Waiver of  Premium Rider	None

Thus, our pick of the month is Edelweiss Tokio Life - MyLife+. With so many options to choose online, we at The Indian Capitalist think Edelweiss Tokio Life MyLife+ has a lot to offer to the netizens.

Two key needs that the product satisfies – a need for longer term period and the choice of payout options that best suits the buyer’s family.

* This is a sponsored review. I need money too.

By - Chaitanya Kulkarni

twitter.com/chai2kul

e-IPO for Start-ups

Start-ups is the new craze in graduated Indians. With the success of Flipkart, Housing, Zomato etc, everyone wants to be big in less time. With Private Equity firms like SoftBank, Sequoia Capital pouring money into Indian Start-ups, things are looking easy. India ranks 3rd in the world in the number of Start-ups launched in the year. Yet the billion dollar companies and MSMEs were finding it difficult to raise money from the financial markets and High Net Income individuals. Not a single tech start-up is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

In a new wave of reforms, markets regulator SEBI is set to herald an e-IPO system to allow investors to bid online in the public offers, while the new-age startups will get a separate platform to raise funds and list their shares with an easier set of regulations. 

Under the new norms for startups, SEBI will provide ‘Alternate Capital Raising Platform’, which will allow such firms to raise funding from institutions and high net worth individuals from the capital markets. However, due to the risks involved, retail investors would not be allowed to invest in such companies. Besides, the entire pre-issue capital would be locked-in for a period of six months for all shareholders

Besides, SEBI would make easier disclosure norms for startup listing. While filing the draft offer document with the capital market watchdog, such firms would only need to disclose broad objectives in line with the major international jurisdictions. The new regulations are expected to help startup companies raise funds within India and stop their flight to overseas markets.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) may come out with a detailed guidelines on electronic Initial Public Offers (e-IPOs) by June end, where investors can bid for shares on internet. Initially, investors would be able to place bids through internet and by using broker terminals across the country as against the current practice of filing long documents.

SEBI may drastically cut the timeline for listing of shares within two-three days of the IPO as against 12 days. The introduction of e-IPO would help eliminate the printing of application forms, help in reducing the overall cost of public issuance and support companies in reaching more retail investors in small towns.

A framework for the use of mobile applications for making bids in public issues may be presented at the board meeting. Under the norms, investors may also get SMS/e-mail alert for allotment under the IPO, similar to alerts being sent to investors for secondary market transactions.

Hope we see Apple, Google or Alibaba coming from India. It would help both – the initiators and the investors.

- Chaitanya Kulkarni

Connect with the author - twitter.com/chai2kul