Can we take a look at Karnataka, and do a SWOT analysis, asks E.R. RAMACHANDRAN. Of course, a State is not an Industry or a Company in which case one will have at least back-of-envelope figures to do a reasonable analysis.
Still, it’s tempting to attempt to see, dispassionately, without any political compulsion whatsoever and without getting cynical, the Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities of our wonderful State.
Can we try to maximize our Strengths, limit or reduce the weakness, and convert Threats into Opportunities?
Please leave aside your cynicism for a moment and put down steps what you honestly believe can be done to improve our State.
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STRENGTHS
1. A global hub for the software industry (mainly Bangalore)
2. A relatively communalism-free atmosphere
3. Cosmopolitan, friendly people; easy to get along with and accommodative
4. Able to attract Foreign Direct Investments
5. Creation of Jobs
6. Rich potential for tourism
7. Trained manpower in science and engineering
8. Hub for IT, aerospace, yoga, floriculture
9. Salubrious climate through the year (mainly Bangalore)
10. Great cultural heritage
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WEAKNESSES
1. Laidback people, lacking push
2. Generally, politically sidelined
3. Different geographical areas yet to feel united
4. Succeeding governments abandon previous governments’ plans; tendency to get bogged down
5. All plans Bangalore-centric
6. High on corruption
7. Poor infrastructure (road, rail, air connections)
8. Hotbed of caste-based politics
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THREATS
1. Karnataka may follow BIMARU pattern in all critical parameters
2. Potential target of terrorists, land and other mafia
3. Danger of locals losing land to landsharks
4. Locals lose out jobs to outsiders
5. Kannada language losing importance
6. Perennial siege mentality which sees daily protest, rasta and rail rokos
7. Tourism will suffer if RRR persists for long and recurs every year
8. Enormous delay in executing important projects like doubling railway line between Bangalore and Mysore, road projects, etc
9. Water shortage due to dependence mainly on monsoon.
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OPPORTUNITIES
1. Use public-private partnership to build infrastructure in smaller towns
2. Complete doubling railway line, full-fledged airport, NICE projects in Mysore and decongest Bangalore
3. Spread IT and other projects to other smaller towns to create more jobs
4. Start pilot projects: desalinization, alternative fuel, etc
5. Concession to build cleaner, cheaper hotels for toursits
6. Settle Cauvery dispute with direct talks and move on (graded tmc for shortfall of rains etc)
7. Spread Kannada by easy-to-learn mnemonics; use IT help to do that
8. Powers for checking corruption, prosecuting offenders
9. Rejuvenate lakes, water bodies, improve storage, and make water harvesting compulsory.
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JOIN THE DEBATE: Have we missed out on anything? What do you think are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities of Karnataka? What are the critical areas we need to look at and act upon if we are not to become the “Bihar of the South”?
churumuri 
Although I also happen to be a Mysorean, let me be candid enough to say that by and large, Mysoreans have never been enterprising like those from Kerala or Punjab. A stint of 9 years in the defence services (IAF) gave me ample opportunity to witness the work culture prevailign elsewhere. For instance, a Sardarji will open a nut with a chisel and a hammer rather than waste time or wait for the spanner.
Way back in ‘50s an apt adage about Mysoreans was that they are adept and apt at only two things: Mane katsodu, Makallu hutsodu.
Yet, Mysoreans were appreciated for their cosmopolitan outlook and tolerance until the likes of Vatal Nagaraj emeged on the scene to ignite fanatic tendencies similar to Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Ram Manohar Lohia’s bent of mind on Hindi and nothing but Hindi. And now the education minister of the State wants to make Kannada compulsory and further complicate the issue.
In such confused scenariom, Karnataka is bound to become worse than the BIMARU regions of yore (the cow belt so to say).
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IT CENTRIC POLICIES FOR BENGALOORU—BIGGEST THREAT FOR OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF KARNATAKA.
IF THERE IS COLD WEATHER AND IT PROFFESSIONAL HAS COMMON COLD, IT CZARS CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AND COMPLAIN GOVT. IS RESPONSIBLE.
over-zealous cosmopolitanism is the root cause of cultural erosion in bengalooru and mangalooru.
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Dr.Ramesh…..Yella ‘OK’ yee BOLD LETTERS yaake
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Avaru thumba bold aagi mathu aadathare antha thorisokke
athava avarige eshtu kopa bandide antha thorisokke
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the way to prevent bengalooru from going the bihar way is to cull all stray dogs and northies. simple.
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First drive away all Realtors away ..then the rest will run when they dont find a place
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There is still time to prosecute SM Krishna for giving away poor farmers’ lands to IT Murthy!
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Dr. Ramesh,
Try and activate the politicians you know from your region to produce a White Paper on lands delivered to IT giants like Murthy. I resent the constant whining and carping from the likes of Murthy who continue to denigrate the State while making money from the same misguided progressive policies of the state instituted under Playboy Krishna.
Then we will see them squirm for having easily acquired lands to build their real-estate IT empires.
Coming from a Somnahalli Farmer’s family, Krishna should have know better!
Thank you.
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Suresh P
Vatal matthu Ramamurthy haagu Anakru
Only with these gentlemen, some respect for Kannada was restored in Bangalore. Although, Vatal went on to become ‘Vasool Raja’ at a later date.
I am not impressed by the non-standard instrumentation by the Sardarji–it comes from a culture of diabolical self-pain inflicting sect. Why would any one want to be hirsute all their lives in a hot humid climate! Aaw devrigey preethi…
Kannadigas have come late into the party but the party is not over. We have a lot of potential and may be if you cite a few more positive examples it will do us a world of good.
IT is not a panacea for all Kannadigas–I think the protests are coming from common Kannadigas who don’t give a toss to whats happening in IT.
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ERR
A very good SWOT analysis. May be we should all enhance the sections of the analysis in this forum.
Thank you.
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Enterprising though are some communities (Shettys etc) of S.Canara, GSBs. The problem is with the Mysore-Banglore weather. It’s in the air buddy. Yawwwwn………..
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Our biggest threat is invasion through immigration (migration for the PC nazis).
The rate at which BIMARU’s are migrating to Karnataka, it is just a matter of time before this state will become so full of them that Karnataka would become another Bihar!
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ERR thanks for the SWOT analysis.
In understanding KA’s potential it might be useful to consider the various natural geometries in KA. To begin, there is an industrial helix, a tourism quadrilateral, and a cultural and intellectual triangle. While these have certain historical basis, some parts of these geometries are more developed than the others. Understanding these geometries could help identify those parts and help plan directed and detailed remedies for them.
The Industrial helix or oudhyogika mandala has 6 nodes which act as regional centers.
1) Bangalore, 2) Mangalore, 3) Davangere, 4) Hubli, 5) Hospet and 6) Gulbarga.
Focusing attention on exclusively on these 6 centers will be a good start. This will inturn have residual effects in the regions around them and thus on the entire state. Consider for example the influence of industry in Bangalore on Tumkur and Mysore and industry in Mangalore on Udupi and beyond.
Understanding this geometry also brings out the Interconnectivity graph between them. Thus the primacy of Bangalore-Mangalore connection, easing bottlenecks in completing the Bangalore-Davangere-Hubli-Belgaum highway, updating Hubli-Hospet and establishing better connectivity between Hubli-Gulbarga (and thus to Hyderabad) become clear. This also throws open the primacy of Chitradurga as a natural transportation hub of KA – a hub which connects 4 other centers to Bangalore.
Similarly there exists a tourism quadrilateral and a cultural triangle to which Shimoga becomes the nerve center.
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I have something controversial to say.Please do not abuse me.I hope you see my suggestion in the right perspective.
It is only a matter of time before telengana is formed.
Karnataka should return belgaum to maharashtra and in lieu claim villages in kasargod,hosur,hogenakkal,talavadi,harur,dhenkanikota,atleast parts of ooty.In 1947,badagas(a community which had migrated 300 years back from mysore) were the majority in ooty.Though todas are the oldest inhabitants of ooty.in gudalur, a town between mysore and ooty,badagas are still the majority.
Control over hogenakkal will give more hydel power.and a greater share of cauvery water.Hosur will give more depth and space to bangalore.Kasargod villages will give security to mangalore from mallu muslims.
Tamil exclusivist chauvinism is well known.Kannada speaking areas should be returned to karnataka.
Karnataka BJP and JD(S) should give the background to Hindu nationalist groups .
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KL
But why give Belgaum to Maharastra? These Marathis came looking for jobs and settled down in Belgaum. The Cantonment gave them lots of job opportunities. I agree with the rest of your letter.
It is the same bizarre logic with Bangalore–as you know the ‘Lake District’ Ulsoor and its environs were settled by the Mudaliars and other hard-working communities from TN–basically they are called ‘Katpadi’s in local lingo:)
So by your logic, we have to give up Bangalore as well !!
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But why give Belgaum to Maharastra? These Marathis came looking for jobs and settled down in Belgaum. The Cantonment gave them lots of job opportunities. I agree with the rest of your letter.
Doddi Buddi, Marathis are natives of Belgaon. Get ur basics right before u open ur mouth.
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What kind of people would want to denigrate another state when it wants to do a self analysis? Who else but Karnataka chaps. Having enjoyed a more than fair share of the dev funds from the Govt of India, now you chaps can think nothing better than call Bihar names?
With such disrespect for another people, I can see noting but absolute ruin for Karnataka.
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Very good SWOT Analysis.
I am looking to enter into small hotel business … Banking on tourism to improve ….
This Analysis helps a lot.
Please … if somebody wants to discuss on giving away or adding land to karnataka kindly start another discussion.
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Sisya, why are you so afraid of northies. I am not angry when u say Stray Dogs and Northies, but really pity you, your mindset. Till now I thought we all were Indians, I faced competition from all over India for my entrance examinations, including south India, did I write anything like that?
If you are really strong, then try to stand by a farmer of punjab, a rajput of rajasthan, a man with modern outlook from New Delhi, a honest person from Himachal, a hardworker from UP and Uttranchal and strongest of all, people from Jammu and Kashmir, compete and not say harsh words. I have spent a good amount of my career in chennai and I was treated well by south indians and I seek to return favour whenever I get a chance.
God Bless You!
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First of all,it was very disheartening to see the heading of this article..Why do you want to degrade other state ?You have started a noble cause on a negative note…I am a bihari,And I am a proud Bihari…And I can proudly say that we biharis do not degrade people from other state…All my teachers used to be south Indians,mostly from Tamil nadu and Kerala.We never complained that they are taking our jobs away,or they are inferior.I think Indians,from the southern part of India,have an inferiority complex.Get rid of it.Bihar is my mother,karnataka has been no less than my mother.its given me my job,and my bread.I’ll always be indebted to Karnataka.Although,from my bosses,to the auto drivers,my friends and me have always got it hard just because we r from north India.
However,let me tell you,I am from Bihar,but I have no shame in speaking my language and my identity.Can you say the same thing about the younger kannadiga generation?If you dont believe me,go to mg’s or brigade’s and show me one guy or girl who’ll proudly speak his/her mothertongue,and will wear anything traditional.They live in a surreal world,if they dont respect their culture,how do you expect the culture and language to grow….Who’s fault is it,people from the northern part of India or your own ,your own upbringing?
Get real brothers,wake up!
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I agree 100% with Gurinder and Amit. I am myself a Kannadiga and I’m sickened whenever I read this guy Sisya’s posts. He is the first person who needs to be culled, for Karnataka and India to proceed.
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Dear Sir,
I liked your Idea in the heading “how to stop Karnataka from becoming Bihar”……
Can you also give some light about how to make Bihar like Karnataka..or other Developed States..?
Warm Regards
AbhayJ
(Chartered Accountant, MBA(Fin.)University of Wales.)
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the way to prevent bengalooru from going the bihar way is to cull all stray dogs and northies. simple…i agree
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Kannada people are one of the most alienated people in India. Most of the Indians have not even heard of Karnataka and I wonder how many north Indians who live in Bangalore have actually made an attempt to learn the language. What bothers me is the sheer arrogance of some of the north Indians I have interacted with who have lived in Bangalore. I asked them if they could speak Kannada and their responded by saying they could get away with Hindi. If those people do not watch their manners and respect local sentiments, we will begin to see a rise in parochial nationalism.
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Karnataka is becoming like Maharashtra not Bihar, outsiders will come loot and blame locals for anything wrong. This is happening all over world look at UK, Australia …neways to stop all this government needs to take steps. Maharashtra is mostly controlled by Gujurathis and Marwadis in business front. In Karnataka Kannadigas do have strong hold in business but in Bangaluru it is Tamils Telugus and Malyalees and now is it slowly shifting to Hindis.
Tamils played a big role in destroying Kannada culture in Karnataka .they started with Veerappan who looted innocent and rich Kannadigas at gun point. Tamil in Karnataka is like Gujurathi/Marwadi in Maharashtra…Like Virus dividing and destroying everthing in the name religion, language and culture.
A gujurati in maharashtra will ask for Gujurathi language in Maharashtra but in Karnataka he will wants Hindi.
Kannadigas Start marketing yourself dont sit quiet raise your voice against injustice in Karnataka and outside. If Tamils are dravidians than even Kannadigas are also DRAVIDIAN …RISE UP
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I realise the post to which people have responded here is an old one. Why say Bihar is paradigmatic when it comes to failure in statecraft? Hasn’t Karnataka shown over and over that it is second to none in corruption and nepotism?
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