[Assam] Tata's Nano - any innovation or waste of consumer's money

Thu Jan 10 14:43:12 PST 2008

See the attached picture from NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/01/10/world/20080111INDIA_index.html

The Nano is a good looking car. Certainly well designed considering 
Indian needs. But an auto in every Indian household is an absurd 
ambition, and having one will NOT improve the quality of life of the 
people, but worsen it many folds. To copy everything western or 
American , regardless of indigenous needs or suitability is not the 
sign of a progressive nation.

>  > But with Nano and other similar affordable vehicles> coming up, 
>sure the only option to "move around" in> Indian cities will be to 
>walk ..... even the bus will> not move.
>
>That simply is my point too, Krishnendu. They need good and expanded 
>roads, not cars.
>
>Everybody complains about it, but it has been sort of a status 
>symbol to have atleast a Hyundai Santro in front of the house.
>
>Here, especially in Texas, businesses are bound to provide (if they 
>want to survive) parking places to get customers, but in India that 
>theme/consideration is not even there - and it's ok as long as the 
>traditional way to go there is maintained - public transportation. 
>One side of that tradition has been changed - more and more of those 
>cars are coming up - but same old narrow and dusty roads are still 
>there.
>
>It reminds me of the movie where Anil Kapoor wanted to be the CM for 
>a month to change things into the right direction.
>
>There are pot holes and uneven roads in other countries, yes, but 
>the road condition in the areas that my folks live in India is, in 
>no way comparable to any place in the US. Thats my perspective only 
>- and I believe its an unbiased, uncompetitive one - on what I see.
>
>We are a little spoilt here in Texas - everything is huge. But the 
>pollution and road condition that exist in those cities in India is 
>just not comparable.
>
>I love and am proud of the country that I'm originally from, but 
>can't ignore the facts that my own two eyes could see.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>"In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree 
>and humble like a blade of grass"
>- Lakshmana
>
>
>
>
>>  Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:31:19 -0800> From: krish_gau at yahoo.com> 
>>To: assam at assamnet.org> Subject: [Assam] Tata's Nano - any 
>>innovation or waste of consumer's money> > Alpana-ba> > Improving 
>>road condition and road to vehicle ratio is> definietly one of the 
>>highest priority for India.> > However, street parking, public 
>>parking near markets> etc are a common problem in Boston as well. 
>>The same> goes true for Veranda's as well. In Boston suburbs 2> Bed 
>>condos with no balcony sell for 250K even in this> dull real estate 
>>market. The price is much higher in> city.> > In fact, my view on 
>>driving in America changed> completely during my current stint in 
>>Boston (after> the earlier stints in sleepy towns of upstate NY 
>>and> in KY). > > Driving is a nightmare with red light jumping, 
>>lane> violation, traffic jam, pedestrians (jay walking) etc.> The 
>>only element missing is cows, authorickshaws and> thelas :-) ... 
>>even giant potholes are common,> particularly after winter.> > It 
>>takes me 50 mins to drive 10 miles from work to> home even though 
>>both my work and home are in Boston> suburbs (need not travel 
>>through Boston city). > > The plus is, now I am pretty confident 
>>that I can> drive in India with ease :) > > But with Nano and other 
>>similar affordable vehicles> coming up, sure the only option to 
>>"move around" in> Indian cities will be to walk ..... even the bus 
>>will> not move.> > > > > From: "Alpana B. Sarangapani"> > 
>><absarangapani at hotmail.com>> > To: <assam at assamnet.org>> > Date: 
>>Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:48:54 -0600> > Subject: Re: [Assam] Tata's Nano 
>>- any innovation or> > waste pf consumer's money> > > > This is 
>>good...> > > > ...it would be even better if road conditions 
>>were> > better. I've seen people having to park on the> > street 
>>(that includes posh areas in Delhi, MP, Tamil> > Nadu, Karnataka, 
>>and Assam, of course). Many don't> > even have a proper verandah, 
>>leave alone a> > space/garage inside their compound. > > > > A 
>>country where public transportation has been so> > good (that 
>>includes Taxis, Rickshwas,> > Auto-Rickshwas, 'Trackers' and what 
>>not!), more than> > private cars, the road space/condition needs to 
>>be> > taken care of first. And parking space near the> > markets? 
>>As you know!, that's another nightmare! > > > > If I was a current 
>>resident of India, I would still> > prefer going by a bus to 
>>places. But I understand> > the economy has been booming...the only 
>>thing is> > that every issue that contributes towards having a> > 
>>quality living needs to be taken care of, be it by> > the 
>>government itself (if that is not done by the> > government), or by 
>>the influential business> > magnates/tycoons/groups. > > > > My two 
>>cents' worth. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In order to make 
>>spiritual progress you must be> > patient like a tree and humble 
>>like a blade of> > grass"> > - Lakshmana> > > > > > > > > > > Date: 
>>Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:28:38 -0800> From:> > jaipurschool at yahoo.com> 
>>To: assam at assamnet.org>> > Subject: [Assam] Tata's Nano - any 
>>innovation or> > waste pf consumer's money> >> >> 
>>http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Ratan-Tata-unveils-Rs-1lakh-Nano/259912/>> > > 
>>Umesh Sharma> > Washington D.C. > > 1-202-215-4328> > [Cell]> > 
>>Ed.M. - International Education Policy>> > Harvard Graduate School 
>>of Education,> Harvard> > University,> Class of 2005> >> > 
>>http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu> > info)> > 
>>http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)> >> > > > > 
>>www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are> > used )> 
>>http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/> > > >> > 
>>http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/> >> > 
>>---------------------------------> Support the World> > Aids 
>>Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! for> > Good>> > 
>>_______________________________________________>> > assam mailing 
>>list> assam at assamnet.org>> >> 
>>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> > > > > 
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>>_______________________________________________> assam mailing 
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