Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Three important principles of Business in India - Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam and Ashtami

I was supposed to have been in Tuticorin today, to sign papers for a loan. Tickets were booked, documents were ready. I got a call literally 10 minutes before I boarded the bus. The Finance company proposed to postpone the signing by a day. Why? Because today is Ashtami and it is inauspicious to sign papers on Ashtami.

I wanted to scream like Vivek asks in a Tamil movie, "Buggers, you take so many guarantees from me and make me sign in tons of papers, still you want me to sign on an auspicious day?". Ofcourse I didn't. I said politely, "No Problem. I will postpone my trip by a day". After all they are the lenders.

This is an important factor in doing business in India. Auspicious time is chosen by favorite astrologer (if you can afford one) or by consulting the panchangam. No documents are signed during Rahu Kalam or Yamagandam or on Ashtami days or Kari Naal (I don't know what this means). Probably the availability of fewer days to do business is hampering the productivity of India. Here is Madman's similar experience in Bangalore.

A relative of mine takes it to the extreme. He leaves home for a 6.30 train to Tuticorin at 6.00 PM, which puts enormous pressure on the driver. The reason is on Sundays Rahu Kalam is from 4.30 to 6.00 PM and he wants to leave after that. I asked him smartly, "What would you do if the train left at 5.30 PM". He came back with "I will leave home earlier than 4.30 and wait at the station" .

9 comments:

Anand said...

Economics has already beaten Aadi! Heck, I've made some fairly important career decision this Aadi!

A Motley Tunic said...

There are ppl that i know, who won't even soak rice for idly batter, because it is rahu kaalam. Imagine doing business with them!

Anonymous said...

Chenthil, why blame those guys. After all a lot of business is about luck and they don't want to take any chance. Moreover, when even the so-called, self-proclaimed rationalists (only the "thondars" won't believe that their leaders are capable of such duplicity!) look at auspicious hours, days and minutes to do things, why find fault with these guys.

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded of another Vivek joke, the one where he has fallen off the motorcycle he was riding on under a lorry and where he eats the lemon that was hanging on the bumper of the truck. The lorry cleaner says the lemon was to ensure safety and Vivek says "when about 700 parts in the lorry cannot ensure your safe journey, how can a mere lemon do."

Kowshic said...

Trivia: Which is the tamil month during which married couple ought to practice celibacy?

*Your honor, note the operative word, "married",;)*

D LordLabak said...

I hate those words because as much as I would want to do stuff that day, the "what-if" feeling appears from nowhere and I become a wimp.

Chenthil said...

Anand, so are you going to act again in Tamil movies?

Sowmya, have heard about people like that. Thankfully it is not that bad in my home.

Ramki, rationalists and communists in TN are just another words. Very few real rationalists out here.

In fact it was that Vivek joke that I modified to suit my situation.

D.N.A - our ancestors knew the impossibility of practicing celibacy, hence they physically separated the couples.

Deepa - try once, and banish the what if forever.

Anonymous said...

Do you really think rationalism is that rare in Madras? I know qutie a few people who are so hardcore they criticize my listening to Carnatic music, forget about rahukaalam.

nastikan

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