Mohan’s musing: It’s no more, “more the merrier” mindset…………

Early morning the two ladies were vehemently arguing and as I was returning from walk, decided to indulge into inquiring….

I knew one of them the regular in our street who sells flowers and I also knew that over a period of time she has sort of established a monopoly in the area and in the process controlling the price and the quality of supply in her own ways. I suspect that she has studied during her spare time Michael Porter’s “5 forces Model” – Sole seller, she set the sale price and of course no substitutes.

However this morning she had a new challenge in the form of a new entrant and possible rivalry that could change the dynamics - opening up the choice for the buyers and also in the process bringing in the bargaining power of the buyer.

I left knowing well the seasoned lady will shoo the new entrant out …

Flipping through the paper over coffee, I almost fell off the chair… the flower vendor like reactions from all the interest groups and quarters ( I better not name  them ) to the news item of the HRD ministry plan to set up one IIT and IIM in each state, made me feel quite sad

Driving to office was thinking all through how the mindset of some people does not change; be it the street corner flower vendor or the distinguished institutes at the country heart centers.

Control the supply ….. Control the sale price…...systemically choke the competition……. The strategy is the same the dynamics are the same.

“Where the knowledge is free” Tagore must be uncomfortably rolling in his grave today

PS: This does not take away the genuine national challenge of getting into academics the best talent at the best price