Nanothoughts on Nano Matters

[nitinpahuja]

By Divya Vasantharajan.

Nano, the world’s cheapest car!!! Made in India!!! Launched by an Indian!!! I have always been proud to be an Indian but more so today. Ratan Tata, one of the most commanding personalities in the corporate world today, unveiled the tiny four-wheeler amidst much ado and media frenzy.

Most auto-makers around the world went into denial and made statements like ‘We cannot achieve this’ or ‘A one lakh car is not within our reach’. With the launch of the Nano. Mr. Tata has put the best of car-makers far behind in terms of competition for the lower segment cars. Even Japanese car makers are baffled at the strategy used to produce a car just (approx) 2500$.

So what does this mean for India?

Nano's introduction will inevitably rekindle the fierce competition that once reigned in the automobile sector. While it will help increase social mobility of another level of people, it is definitely make physical mobility on already clogged Indian roads a complete nightmare.

The era that we live in is full of paradoxes. While on the one hand we believe vehicles are supposed to be transportation solutions; on the other we treat them as a status quotient. vanity barometers. Vehicles are treated as important desirable objects through which people mark their material milestones in life.

Statistics say, Delhi has the highest number of vehicles in India (much more than Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata all put together). More than 70 flyovers came up in last few years. But it didn't solve the traffic problem. Currently roughly 1,000 vehicles are inducted into the city every day, – one can imagine how many times more it will be, very soon.

We know how many people are killed every day on the roads in Mumbai. Chances are, there will be more pedestrians who will find themselves here as mere numbers, as even now scant footpaths will disappear at an alarmingly faster rate just to accommodate more four-wheelers.

And where are we going to find parking places for the many cars that will need sheltering? As such our concrete jungles are insufficient to accommodate humans alone; add to that the misery of car parking and it will be a double whammy.

The pricing of automobiles has been the main deterrent for the slow growth in car-owners. But now, all factors like affordability, availability of easy finance, will make more people buy Nano in a booming economy. But while buying a vehicle is a private matter, – the petrol is a social issue. (and that's for all vehicles!). We, as a country are heavily dependent on imported fuel, which takes away a lion's share of our Forex reserves.

Any conflict like Gulf war, or even unstable Pakistan (through which the proposed Indo-Iranian pipeline is supposed to cross) will completely jeopardize the country. A barrel of crude is already over a $100, but the Government will not increase prices in order to gain public favour.

So democratic compulsion forces it to subsidize fuel. But subsidized money is also out of the pockets of the masses which could be better utilized in abysmal sectors like public health. Therefore, it is the poor who bears the burden of shouldering more vehicles on the road. Maybe very soon we will find ourselves all dressed up and nowhere to go as there will be no road left to drive.

The other issue that crops up is the amount of pollution that will be generated. In an age where we are trying to convince people to limit their use of non-renewable sources of energy, we are giving them a reason to do the exact opposite. Now everyone will want to limit the use of their feet and two-wheelers will be a thing of the past.

It is a complex situation where neither Tatas, nor aspiring people, nor media or activists can be blamed. The onus lies squarely on shortsightedness of the Government. The mere replica of a development model of the West will not work here because we are too many of us to be
catered for. Besides where is the resource for infrastructure and facilities? And space? Even the issue of land for the one lakh car at Singur factory, in West Bengal could not be resolved.

You will ask: is it the only the prerogative of the rich to enjoy the best things in life. In this sense there can't be any disagreement that everyone is equally entitled to buy whatever they wish and can afford. But mere availability of purchase options will not change the power equation in the society. While some will buy Bentleys others will buy Nano. However, we seem to have finally managed to democratise road congestion. No matter which car you drive, be ready to spend your days on the road.

Given this scenario is there any reason for us to really cheer for the Nano?

Yes!! I say this as a student, as a woman and as an Indian. Affordability for the student community, to travel in ease rather than hassle along in public transport. It saves you the pressure of time constraints especially in metros like Mumbai, Delhi etc. where night life is no longer party time. With the number of call-centres and night schools around the city, where crime rates against women are hitting all-time highs, one can only thank heavens and Mr. Tata for the Nano.

The Nano is also a divine intervention for women drivers. Maneuvering a car like that around the cluttered streets of these metros is indeed a pleasing thought. And the amount of parking space it consumes makes one sigh in happiness.

Rural dreams and town hopes are also on the rise for here is an industrialist who brings them means that were far beyond the horizon to them. After all, they needn’t stay ‘the have-nots’ always, do they? Pretty soon a car will be as accessible an asset as a mobile is today. In fact it costs as much as some of the best laptops available.

The Nano, with all its negatives is welcome into this country. With a smile and open arms, India always welcomes any product. As for the problems it causes, well, a billion heads can come together to find ways to sort that out as and when they arise.

Until then, cheers to Ratan Tata and three cheers to the tiny tot!!!

 

[ROHAN KACHALIA]

Well if we see, it is for the first time that the whole nation was talking about apart from cricket, politics, crimes and it is nothing but "The NANO". Even the competitors to Tata's were desperately waiting to have a look at the NANO. That shows the amount of belief that they have in us "Indians" and especially from the TATA's.

I think the whole of the TATA team who worked day in and day out to bring this dream machine into reality must be appreciated especially the designer of the car Mr. Girish Wagh. The feeling of his can be comparable to that of Mr. Ford when he created his America on the wheels. NANO can definitely be said to be "Indian on the wheels".

But the fact of the concern to most environmentalists is about the growing problems of pollution in metros and never say die global warming. So whats the solution to this. Do we ask Tata Motors to stop manufacturing NANO? or ask them to start building better and long lasting roads? Well the fact is they can even build state of art roads and other civic amunities but thats not their job. The job is that of the state governments and no need to say the quality of work done by them.

And other important question is are they really concerned with the degrading environment. Initially there were talks of AIDS and now Environment is in fashion. If they had been serious then they should have stopped chopping down trees, polluting rivers and lakes and then spending lacs and crores in cleaning them. So their saying of environment is absolutely of no consideration simply because consideration require planning, thinking and implementation which can never happen with the state government and other agencies.

So till then its like CAR CHALAO, MAUJ MANAO.

 

[arunnv]

It definetly NANO going to take indain status to head because its belived that people owning car has an prestigious issue and all credit goes to TATA group and Ratan Tata whos the Henery Ford of india.
ARUN