Yes, Himachalis lack self-confidence. Himachalis lack self confidence to take risks. And Punjabis are the most in my opinion oozing with self-confidence. They know how to take risks and may be that’s why they are more successful than anybody else. I may also bring in Gujaratis here while referring to risk taking factors.
As far as Himachalis are concerned they lack the self-confidence to take risks, one may be because they are self-contended people and have a lot to lose. They want to stick on to what ever they have. You’ll see that only a very few people will invest into risks, whether be business, share market or anything else. We’ll invest with minimum risk and only if we are sure that we gain and not lose. And also let us not mix up education and self-confidence. It’s common sense and nobody needs to go into major theories.
One… lesser the education, the more options psychologically you have to do a work. You can be a labourer, peon, or anything else. The more educated you are, lesser the options you give yourself. The other options are still available but you rule out those options yourself. Ask a post-graduate or PhD to take up a job of a clerk, only a few will take it up. And another thing is, lesser the education, earlier you’ll get a job. In a sense that job won’t be of an officer, but a labourer, a peon, a helping hand at the local shop, dhaba, stall, mechanic. But ask those thousands of students in HPU who are jobless but enrol year after year in one or the other course to pursue HAS. They are not ready to take up any other job. And nor are they willing to be enterprising that they become entrepreneurs and venture out alone into a business.
I’ll give you a small example. On the Shimla Kalka Highway, there are many dhabas run by Himachalis. But all are unclean, unkempt and only a few visit them. Then there is Giani Da Dhaba at Dharampur. Why is it successful? All tourists visit him… why? Not because he is a Sardar… but because he is enterprising and just cleanliness and a few other things of being innovative and there you are with a successful business. Mind you Giani da Dhaba is not a restaurant but a small dhaba. In Sanjauli in Shimla, there are a few other eateries and dhabas, but all again unclean and catering to drivers or conductors or labourers. But if some others want to visit them, they shirk from going because of the uncleanliness. But in Sanjauli there is Himkiran Dhaba (also known as Pappi da Dhaba), he is successful again.
But I think I’m digressing again… Coming back to the point… we have to be self-confident to take risks, be innovative and not just be run of the mill… Chal raha hai toh chal raha hai. While avenues are open for the less educated… more avenues are open for more educated as they have the brains and they can be enterprising and entrepreneurship is expected from them. But Himachal as a fact lacks in entrepreneurship. If you look at economy development in Himachal, agriculture’s CAGR (Compound annual growth rate) is zero. Tourism’s growth rate is 2 per cent. Which is poor. Industry has been stagnant. I mean CAGR, and certainly don’t deny that there have been no industries. There have been but their growth rate has been negligible. Only growth has been in horticulture. And whereas the mainstay of Himachal’s economy has been tourism and agriculture. And if we need to develop tourism, we need more of Giani da Dhabas and Pappi da Dhabas. Not literally but metaphorically in all round development. Himachal has got the highest number of NGOs listed in India but then today its a profession not social work.
As far as language is concerned, yes its evolution, but the question here is not of evolution but of being ashamed. People think, pahari is inferior as many think for Hindi today. They prefer to communicate in English, because English is hep. May be its different in Himachal, but in Delhi ask all these guys how many marks they got in Hindi and English. They pass on border in Hindi and in English they score in 90s. It’s just a phenomena. Though we speak in Hindi but we don’t read Hindi. Same is the case for Pahari. Time is coming, when many of these hep guys have started thinking in English as well.
i agree witn you that giani da dhaba is clean and all…but it would help if somebody could tell this thought pattern to those guys there running Dhabas….how will they come to know…
what say you?they obviously wont read this article on net….
It si a good thing you are sharing this with us, but who is working on ground to make sure things change?
well said………its the spirit of enterpreneurship which we lack. Definitely WE, the youth need to develop this feeling within us and come up with new ideas. For taking risks and becoming extraordinarily successful is complementary to each other.
Its very true…Many of the successful businessmen
(whether its footwear,readymades,electronic items) are Punjabis. Although they are a very small chunk of himachal in population terms. Its not that we have to envy them, we have to learn from them. Learn about their risk taking capabilities. They are our own brethern who are there with us for the last so many years,in the same environment as we do. Then why this gap is there. We need some introspection to be done. As it is rightly said in this article we only lack in risk taking capabilities.Whereas when it comes to hardwork, I can proudly say Himachalis are second to none.
Dear Mr. Vivid
Though the article is well written but still I do not accept the claim that Himachali’s lack in entrepreneurial skills. Here I believe certainly we lack of awareness .
Major reasons for lack of awareness are
1. Lack of availability of information to establish an industry .
2. Himachal lacks in establishing the good Technical institutions in the state . Though now there is a good improvement .I still remember that even in year 2000.only 300 students were in a position to pursue Engg course through Govt. Institutes. Whereas in Punjab the figure was more than 6000 nos.
Thus if we produce less that will be consumed in regular market … We require to generate large chunk of technocrats so that more people can be innovative to pursue own business.
3. Even today many of the technological areas are unaddressed thus scarcity of technical manpower .Getting a highly skilled turner ,fitter , mechanic , electrician , molder , is of great concern .
4. Govt. fail to propagate Industrial policy and incentives in true sprit. Dept does not even respond about the availability of land . Information is not available right on one click on the website of Dept. of Industries.
5. Govt failed to attract large industries like Hero Honda , HP, Compaq, TATA Motors to the state . These industries creates opportunities for SSI/MSI entrepreneurs. A few of these budding entrepreneurs shines in business and become legends like Sunil Bharti Mittal.
6. Dept of Industries require to draw the MAPS of Industrial areas and availability of plots with plot nos.
7. Also a flow chart /process to get various approvals from state govt. require attentions of hon Director Industries.
8. There is a need to establish SEZ in state with basic facilities like good Schooling , Specialised Hospitals , Express Bus Services atleast , Smaller Airports to attract the talent for pursuing jobs in proposed SEZ.
9. How many SEZ we have … compared with Gujarat. Thus How can you expect himachali’s to react like Marwari.We require conducive environment for industries.
10. In Himchal the decisions takes place on following parameters like
a) Upper Himachal Vs Lower Himachal
b) Dhumal Vs Sh. Shanta Kumar
c) Kangra Vs Shimla
compare how many technical institutes , Universities , centre of excellence are there in Distt Bilaspur compared to Kangra , Mandi ,Hamirpur ,Shimla , Solan .
Inspite of the fact that Kangra got Amity University besides Tanda Medical College , Regional centre of HPU , Krishi Vishwavidayala , CSIR LAB , Aaurvedic College , JTS ( A Technical School) , Mandi got New Govt Medical college , Sundernagar has Govt. Polytechnic & Engg College , Dental College & Hamirpur blessed with Pvt. Medical College , NIT/REC , Polytecnic . Where does BILASPUR STANDS.
11. Point no 10 was only to share the fact that decisions are taken with political motive … these so called think tanks need to work for Industrial Growth instead of personal Political gains.
Pick certain highlighted issues and write to Hon CM you will again get appreciation but no results.
I wish that Next Govt. ( Whoever) will look into the aspects.
regards
.
Dear Mr. Vivid
Though the article is well written but still I do not accept the claim that Himachali’s lack in entrepreneurial skills. Here I believe certainly we lack of awareness .
Major reasons for lack of awareness are
1. Lack of availability of information to establish an industry .
2. Himachal lacks in establishing the good Technical institutions in the state . Though now there is a good improvement .I still remember that even in year 2000.only 300 students were in a position to peruse Engg course through Govt. Institutes. Whereas in Punjab the figure was more than 6000 nos.
Thus if we produce less that will be consumed in regular market … We require to generate large chunk of technocrats so that more people can be innovative to peruse own business.
3. Even today many of the technological areas are unaddressed thus scarcity of technical manpower .Getting a highly skilled turner ,fitter , mechanic , electrician , molder , is of great concern .
4. Govt. fail to propagate Industrial policy and incentives in true sprit. Dept does not even respond about the availability of land . Information is not available right on one click on the website of Dept. of Industries.
5. Govt failed to attract large industries like Hero Honda , HP, Compaq, TATA Motors to the state . These industries create opportunities for SSI/MSI entrepreneurs. A few of these budding entrepreneurs shines in business and become legends like Sunil Bharti Mittal.
6. Dept of Industries require to draw the MAPS of Industrial areas and availability of plots with plot nos.
7. Also a flow chart /process to get various approvals from state govt. require attentions of hon Director Industries.
8. There is a need to establish SEZ in state with basic facilities like good Schooling , Specialised Hospitals , Express Bus Services atleast , Smaller Airports to attract the talent for perusing jobs in proposed SEZ.
9. How many SEZ we have … compared with Gujarat. Thus How can you expect himachali’s to react like Marwari.We require conducive environment for industries.
10. In Himchal the decisions takes place on following parameters like
a) Upper Himachal Vs Lower Himachal
b) Dhumal Vs Sh. Shanta Kumar
c) Kangra Vs Shimla
compare how many technical institutes , Universities , centre of excellence are there in Distt Bilaspur compared to Kangra , Mandi ,Hamirpur ,Shimla , Solan .
Inspite of the fact that Kangra got Amity University besides Tanda Medical College , Regional centre of HPU , Krishi Vishwavidayala , CSIR LAB , Aaurvedic College , JTS ( A Technical School) , Mandi got New Govt Medical college , Sundernagar has Govt. Polytechnic & Engg College , Dental College & Hamirpur blessed with Pvt. Medical College , NIT/REC , Polytecnic . Where does BILASPUR STANDS.
11. Point no 10 was only to share the fact that decisions are taken with political motive … these so called think tanks need to work for Industrial Growth instead of personal Political gains.
Pick certain highlighted issues and write to Hon CM you will again get appreciation but no results.
I wish that Next Govt. ( Whoever) will look into the aspects.
regards
Any queries on above post … readers are advised to approach N.P.Nadda on e-mail : 4u.micky@gmail.com
Point no.10 noted.
we can’t take it from bilaspur to kangra or shimla.don’t buck us from where we are!! and my fellow himachali we lecture ‘Enterpreneurship’ on HIMVANI.
I swear you didn’t said so brother it is just with my eyes they catch what they like.
No hard feelings.
Dear Mr. Thakur
This point was posted only to clear the fact that decision are being taken on vote bank politics . Leaders require global thinking . The theme to write point no 10 was different than what you percieved.
regards.
I was just going through the article “Himachalies Lack self-confidence” I actually don’t agree with the statement. Iam also himachali and working for IT company in Mumbai. You can put this way,I have to brief you little bit about myself, so that you should not make any preconceived notion on my skills and why I strongly disagree with this statement. My ancestor belongs to hamirpur and I feel proud to be himachali and associated with my root which lies in himachal. I am working as SAP consultant in one of top IT Company. Till now it was not easy journey, but finally doing well in my career. Confidence comes from within and it’s rightly said “Destination lies in your deeds and individual action makes you feel enrich about the resources available around him”. In the month of November I had attended one of my cousin sister marriage, and later move to my close relative in bilaspur. I just noticed few things which are actually not left the good memories of last month visit to H.P. I found that elderly people in our town was on high with alcohol in night. Later I have come to know that this is the usual practice. I was walking down street to get medicine but not seen any medical shop, but strange to see two Desi Liquor shops in close proximity. It’s just an opinion and will differ from person to person. I found that young females are more educated as compared to the young man out there. And I also respect himachali women for the amount of work they do to run their livelihood. This entire example is not fictitious and I noticed this in my ancestor village. I always have seen people argumentative about lack of confidence, lack of opportunities lack of adequate schools & development plans. Ask question to yourself “Am I providing the direction and resources for my kids so that they can get better education and create sense of positive thought process to understand the need of having good carrier path, it all about how you nurture your kids. Tell me what kind of message you are spreading by spending maximum time in gossip and Desi wine shop. Please don’t pass conclusion on lack of confidence by himachalies, the problem is somewhere else or first try to become role model to your family. It’s a very serious issue as iam writing this mail somewhere in himchal Pradesh Kids are getting dropped out from School, young himchali guy is following the footstep of his father’s alcoholism. So it’s high time to first correct things from your side of the fence. Iam extremely sorry if I have hurt anyone sentiment, it is just an opinion.
Yes it is true that HImachlis are very contented people they do not like to work extra for extra income. Here is a concept in himachal that govt. job is the best thing and everyone, rt. from a matriculate to a MBBS doctor is aspiring for the same. No one is willing to risk a few thousand rupees and become an employer but they are happy to be an employee because it doesnt risk anything.
I agree …exceptions r there.2 sum it up i remember what i heard when small about troops ordered 2 retaliate enemy fire…”chai pc pher thoos karc!” (Tea 1st …!)