What people say about us !

This is a site devoted to collecting and disseminating gossip about government civil servants (and some politicians) who are being promoted, demoted, transferred, etc.
I find the idea of this website more interesting than the site itself. Someone really needs to write about the culture of the Indian civil service elite. If you talk to an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer about another senior civil servant, they can usually tell you that person's "batch number" and a host of details about that person and all of the other persons in his or her "batch." The amount of time that IAS officers spend gathering and analyzing gossip is fascinating. I am sure it is the same in other large bureaucracies, but I am just amused by some of the idiosyncrasies of the Indian system.
V Yadav
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ADVERTISE ON-WHISPERSINTHECORRIDORS.COM

Contact-sureshmehrotra@yahoo.com
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TOP BRASS

For Anuj Gandhi, President of SET Discovery Pvt. Ltd, participative management and being receptive to ideas is of an immense importance. An energetic, polite, strategic thinker and perfectionist to the core, Gandhi feels "the big story in 2007 will be the Direct to Home (DTH) and digital cable. We should see deals being struck on all addressable platforms."

In an exclusive interview with whispersinthecorridors.com, Anuj Gandhi before leaving for Singapore said "the Indian Infotainment industry is poised at a very critical phase in its life cycle and is slated to grow in excess of 15-20 per cent in the next decade."

While, sharing secret of his success President of the SET Discovery Pvt. Ltd said "the company has crossed several milestones since its inception."

1/What inspired you to start this venture ?

- Market realities and dynamics of the C & S Distribution business in 2002
- Comparative activities
- Changing face of the Media Industry
- All of the above inspired our thinking and our drive to start SET Discovery Pvt. Ltd. and build it into a Distribution Powerhouse. The company has crossed several milestones since its inception.

2/What difficulties have you faced in developing the business?

Like in any new business, there were concerns about whether we will be able to achieve the goals we had set ourselves, but we had immense confidence in our people and the product we were representing. We have set ourselves high targets and I am happy that we were able to achieve our numbers.

3/What is the secret of your success ?

I can attribute my success largely to the fact that I am a strategic thinker and like to combine my entrepreneurial ability with creativity. I advocate an energized, participative management style and flexibility to understand the diverse and changing needs of the industry.

4/How do you see the year 2007 for the Media Industry?
The big story in 2007 would be DTH and digital cable. We should see deals being struck on all addressable platforms. Digital cable, voluntary CAS(Conditional access system), Headend-In-The-Sky (HITS) should all become a reality and make economic sense to distribution companies like us. As an industry, we should support unregulated CAS. Things will take time to settle down till digital gets in mass volumes.

5/Where would the Indian Infotainment industry be by the year 2020 and your role by then?

The Indian Infotainment industry is poised at a very critical phase in its life cycle and is slated to grow in excess of 15-20% in the next decade.
I believe all aspects of the Infotainment industry would continue to grow. It would not only mean big revenues and market valuations but also great opportunities for more and more people to contribute to this industry.

I have now been in the Media industry for close to 12 years. After having seen the industry grow from where it was, virtually non-existent in 1994, to where it is today, I would like to still be a part of it as it takes its next leap forward.
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NAME THE NAMELESS

Who is the Super Boss & Super Cop-name the nameless.

For a change, this is not a whisper. In fact, it's a yell from the housetop. A yell for the year 2007.If our patrons endorse it, this yell from the WHISPERS should reverberate in corridors of all state capitals, besides of course the heart of India-that Delhi has always been and shall so remain all times to come.

These are happening times. You don't do things. They happen. Or you make them happen. Everywhere on the eve of or at the advent of New Year, people were or are busy looking for their Man of the year. Politicians, businessmen, moviemen, sportsmen and social activists are hogging limelight. The civil servants continue to remain the self-effacing names behind the supposedly big names. They run the Rails and the rustic humour of someone Read gets Qudos and Credits. Thats the funny way democracy goes. Interesting, isn't it?

We thought on the New Year Day we should attempt doing the hitherto unattempted and un-done. You and us will make it happen. We are going launch you this year on a thrilling voyage of a discovery. We are declaring that in the Year 2007 all of you would help us discover the Bureaucrat of the Year and also the Super cop of the Year in each of our major states. Besides, New Delhi's 'Supers' which will happen in December 2007.Every month we will be looking for a Super Boss and Super Cop of the Year in a particular state.

We request all those who are interested in our WHISPERS and visit us frequently to send us the names of such individual officers whom they consider as a Super Bureaucrat and a Super Cop in their state. We are putting forth no yardsticks. You judge entirely on your own. The nominations will rest entirely and exclusively on your wisdom. Just E-Mail the name of Super Boss and Super Cop of your state. This flow of nominations will end on the last day of the month.
We will announce the winner on the 7th day of next month. Seven, the numerologists say, is the number of mystery. Therefore, a good day to unfold it.

And Uttar Pradesh is the first state, we are beginning with. Arguably the most appropriate state to discover the undiscoverable or to name the perennially nameless. There is no territorial bar. You can nominate even for an incumbent outside your state. You can be brief or elaborate. As you choose. You don't even have to disclose your identity. We will trust you.
So, here we begin. Just E Mail us on <sureshmehrotra@yahoo.com>A very Happy New Year.

1973 batch IAS officers promoted
In one go, all the empanelled 1973 batch IAS officers in the Government of India have been promoted to the rank of Special Secretary .
Former IB Chief to be Governor ?
A meeting of outgoing IB Chief, E S Laxminarsimhan with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil at 7 PM on Tuesday has fuelled speculations about the former becoming Governor . He is 1968 batch retired IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Sunil Krishna empanelled
Sunil Krishna has been empanelled to the rank of DG in the Government of India. He is 1973 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Minni Mathew to get promotion
Chairperson of the Coconut Board, Minni Mathew, is being promoted to the rank of Additional Secretary in the same organization. Minni Mathew is 1976 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Will Kumar settle down in UK
There is a buzz that 1972 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre Kumar who did his doctoral thesis from UK is planning to settle down in UK. Is it true ?.

Prasar Bharati Act amended
Prasar Bharati Act is being amended to bestow more powers with the Ministry.

What a media management by SP ?

The media management of the Samajwadi Party is superb. Ash-Abhishek marriage episode has come at a time when Uttar Pradesh is all set to go to polls. And Ash-Abhishek story is unlikely to be finished before that. Are the other parties thinking of countering it? How?

K S Sarma is Maa TV Chief
Former CEO of the Prasar Bharti, K S Sarma, has taken over the Chief Executive Officer of the Telugu Channel Maa TV.

Gautam Chatterjee to join as CVO
Joint Secretary Defence, Gautam Chatterjee, is joining the Damodar Valley Corporation as CVO in a couple of months. He is 1982 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

BJP loses sheen in Rajasthan
BJP which rode to power with a thumping majority is day by day losing its charm in Rajasthan because of having failed to fulfill the aspirations of people. This is evident from the fact that it has lost seven civic polls in a short tenure. Is it not an indication of the things to come when the state assembly elections are held two years from now. Is BJP leadership aware ?.

Post in Space Commission is vacant
Post of Member Finance (Space & Atomic Energy Commission) has been lying vacant for the past 15 months. Any reason ?.

1988 batch IPS promoted in West Bengal

1988 batch IPS officers in West Bengal have been promoted,in situ,to the rank of IGP.

Cadre of IPS officer changed
Cadre of 2003 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer Anurag has been changed to Madhya Pradesh.

Former IPS gets Congress ticket
Former Delhi Police Commissioner P S Bhinder has been allotted Congress ticket in Punjab.

Former SC Judge no more
Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India R P Sethi has passed away in Chandigarh. He was 70.

FORUM
WHO IS SUPER-BOSS OF INDIA
There were about 70 scientists working on a very hectic project. All of them were really frustrated due to the pressure of work and the demands of their boss but everyone was loyal to him and did not think of quitting the job. One day, a scientist came to his boss and told him -Sir, I have promised to my children that I will take them to the exhibition going on in our township. So I want to leave the office at 5 30 pm. His boss replied "OK, You're permitted to leave the office early today. "The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 PM. Suddenly he remembered of the promise he had given to his children. He looked for his boss. He was not there. Having told him in the morning itself, he closed everything and left for home. Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. Children were not there. His wife alone was sitting in the hall and reading magazines. The situation was explosive, any talk would boomerang on him. His wife asked him "Would you like to have coffee or shall I straight away serve dinner if you are hungry. The man replied "If you would like to have coffee, I too will have it but what about Children ??". Wife replied "You don't know ?? Your manager came here at 5.15 PM and has taken the children to the exhibition "What had really happened was ... The boss who granted him permission was observing him working seriously at 5.00 PM. He thought to himself, this person will not leave the work, but if he has promised his children they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. So he took the lead in taking them to exhibition The boss does not have to do it everytime. But once it is done, loyalty is established. That is why all the scientists at Thumba continued to work under their boss even though the stress was tremendous. By the way , can you hazard a guess as to who the boss was..?
He was none other than Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India . . .
Contributed By : Virag Gupta
Mumbai
Aaj Ki Aawaz

Big B's 'punnar janam' ad has has put him and SP in a spot,
Now expenditure details for this ad both Congress and Jan Morcha have sought!!!

The Nithari murders have taken the bottom out of the claims made by Big B in the ad!!!! In fact the ad has been withdrawn because it's made a laughing stock of SP!!! Leave the cost of making the ad, the airing tab crosses Rs. 5 crore per channel….. SP needs to account for the money its paid for airing this ad!!!! And here's hoping that in his punnar janam Big B is born in UP......Nithari !!!!

Ajitabh has gifted Abhishek a plot,
Details of this gift should be sought!!!

On Sunday, Abhishek got engaged to actress Aishwarya Rai and now his Chacha Ajitabh has gifted him a 674 square metre plot in Juhu worth around Rs 3,30,21,000… value as per Ajitabh. Based on this amount stamp duty amounting to Rs. 6, 60, 450 has been paid!!! Real Estate consultants say that the plot is actually worth Rs. 9,00,00,000!!! The undervaluation means that stamp duty has been avoided…… and Ajitabh's ownership of this plot needs to be investigated!!!!

Amrinder just does not smile any more,
Seems he knows ki uss ke liye what's in store!!!!

His coterie has appointed one amongst them as OSD or Officer on Smiling Duty, whose job is to remind Amrinder that he should smile!!! This 'Officer' also has a collection of bawdy jokes that he keeps repeating so that Amrinder has some reason to smile!!! Seems his bro Malwinder has been refused ...... Amirnder should be thankful if he gets a ticket himself !!! And Singla has put in his papers for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat…….. post Punjab elections Singla would prefer to stay away from Punjab!!!

Akali Dal has blundered by giving Barnala Junior a ticket…… he's accused of rape,
When his being given the ticket was announced many in disbelief karr rahe theh gape!!!

The case is not closed!!!! In fact everyday in the newspapers there are reports of how the Barnala's have been able to buy the raped Maid's silence!!!! Badal has given an opportunity to his detractors to raise this issue!!! Now Badal cannot point fingers at Laloo's dirty four….. and as BJP is a partner with Badal it too now needs to think about the spot Badal has put BJP into!!!!

Laloo is holding a meeting on developmental projects in Bihar….overstepping his brief,
He should remember he's only Railway's Chief!!!

Laloo has invited Officials form different Ministries to appraise him of the Projects being undertaken be their Ministries in Bihar!!!! Nitish is right when he says that Laloo does not even know the rules!!!! For fifteen years Laloo and Rabdi literally dug Bihar into the ground!!! In fact it would be prudent to look into how Laloo and Rabdi finished Bihar!!!! Actually Laloo is aware of the tremendous progress being made under Nitish's Chief Ministership and now Laloo wants to take credit for Nitish's work…. like he did when he became Railways Minister!!!!

Bharat Kumar
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CORPORATE

Bhatt to appear for interview
ED of the UCO Bank S C Bhatt is appearing for interview on January 24 for the post of the CMD of a nationalized bank.

Lall is Regional Head of YES BANK
Bhaskar Lall has been appointed Regional Head , national capital region and retail banking.
Arora appointed MD
Aseem Arora has been appointed Market MD for Singapore-based Asia Pacific NRI Market of DSP Merrill Lynch
Holcim to take over ACC!
Holcim is believed to be moving ahead to take over ACC which is being re-organised.