Sucheta Dalal

“To investors, the media is largely undependable as a source of policy information they have been wrong far too often. And business leaders and industrialists are obliged to make welcoming statements, whatever their real sentiment.”

“Technology is changing so fast that investment in hardware is getting riskier everyday. On the other hand, whether it is traditional computers or smart gadgets which are part of the convergence technologies of the future, some planning of hardware needs is still important.”

“Although television and newspapers have played the biggest role in hyping up the World Cup, they are at the lowest end of the megabuck chain.”

“Some argue that even physical databases were open to abuse and fake passports or driving licenses were fairly common. But technology, coupled with poor security systems, can ruin innocent victims lives by wiping out their bank balances or investments, or by misusing their identity for dubious deals.”

“Senior politicians and police officers as well as their children get away with murder and run extortion rackets. It is all accepted with some anger and a shrug.”

“India needs fresh thinking and quick decision-making to get out of the stifling bind of its galloping population and deadly poverty.”

“It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in bribes to secure the lucrative posting in the airport, cargo terminals or ports.”

“I do know that lifting from the Net is rampant, journalists do it, students are bound to do it and obviously a lot of academics are also doing it.”

“There is little incentive even for the media to encourage whistle-blowing or ruffling powerful feathers. They lose advertising, are harassed by government and cut off from the all-important 'A' lists of the rich and the powerful.”

“Mobile users happily suffer bad connections, dropped calls, inaccessible networks and pay higher charges for services that would have caused endless annoyance on a fixed line.”

“Motherhood, pester power and emotional blackmail - Indian marketers have cottoned on to the fact that these three themes can sell just about anything - from food and toys, to insurance products, tonics, televisions and air-conditioners.”

“It is worth asking if advertisements are ever an effective counter against negative publicity. International experience shows that it depends on the issue.”

“A columnist is not a doctor, who diagnoses the disease and dispenses instant medicine. My job is to highlight problems, investigate issues, to provide factual information, and if necessary, goad the people into action - that too is not easy in the current political and business environment.”

“As a parent, would you not endorse a decision by your child's school, which encourages her to read a newspaper everyday? In fact, you would be even more approving if the prescribed newspaper was a leading national daily.”

“Everybody loves to receive gifts and free goodies, and often parents are loath to look out for hidden strings attached to corporate freebies.”

“The Bombay-Pune Expressway, a spanking, modern, six-lane highway will, when completed, be India's first truly international road constructed on the lines of the autobahn or the turnpike.”

“There is nothing as nervous as a highly overbought and slightly crazy stock market dominated by greedy small investors and day traders all out to squeeze a huge profit out of the present bull run.”

“For some reason most Indians seem to think that it is the job of the media to fight corruption and their own role is restricted to sighing over their newspaper, or debates on the local train as they commute to work.”

“Sachin Tendulkar is undoubtedly India's biggest national icon. Being the object of a billion people's adoration is a tough job.”

“The e-wallet allowed anyone with a valid e-mail ID to send and receive money from just about anybody, or to settle bills through money stored online in safe systems. All it needed was registration on the e-purse providers website by filling out a simple form.”