Volcanic Eruptions and Hawaii: The Dreadful Effects of Magma

Volcanic Volcanic eruptions and Hawaii: The Dreadful Effects of MagmaParticularsPage No.Understanding Vents2Home plate Architectonicss3Erupted Material4Hawaii and Volcanic Volcanic eruptions5Volcanic eruption History6Impact of the Hawaiian Volcanic eruptions7Other Side of the Coin8Precautions/Safety in Hawaiian island9-10Recommendation for catastrophe Management11Mentions12Understanding Vents Thevolcano wordis acquired from Vulcano, a volcanic concatenation of the Aeolian Islands of Italy whose name in bend is derived from Vulcan, the God of fire in Roman mythology. Avolcanois a crevice on the exterior layerof aplanetary-mass surface, like Earth, which permits volcanic ash, hot lava, and gases to dispatch from a magma chamber below the surface. Vents originate on Earth as its crust is divided into 17prime, house tectonic home bases drifting above a soft bed with high temperature within its mantle. Therefore vents are normally present in countries wherethis tectonic home bases indulge in diverging or meeting activity. For case, a mid-oceanic ridge, such as theRidge, is an result of diverging tectonic home bases ; whereas the Pacific ring of Fire is formed by meeting home bases nearing towards each other. Stretching and cutting of the home bases inside the earth’s exterior bed can besides ensue into a vent, e.g. , Rio Grande Rift in North America. Volcanic activities can besides be seen at countries off from the tectonic home bases and are known as Hotspots.Volcanoes in Hawaii are believed to originate from a central-mantle, 3,000km deep inside the surface of Earth. It is a rare state of affairs to happen a vent in an country where home bases slide over each other. Vents which Erupt have the ability to do threat, even in the countries non environing the eruption part. A threat like the ash of the vent can make a immense hazard for an Aeroplane specifically 1s with the jet engines, the atoms will liquefy at high temperatures and stick toblades in the turbine changing their formation. Huge eruptions cool the lower ambiance of the Earth but besides lead to hot temperatures at the upper ambiance of the Earth. Adequate grounds exists to turn out that the volcanic winters lead to black dearths. Some common types of vents are shield vents, crypto domes. Volcanic cones ( cinder cones ) , stratovolcanoes, super vents, pigboat vents and clay vents Home plate tectonics Divergent home base boundaries The formation of a new ocean crust leads to the separation of two tectonic home bases besides as the surface is really slender near these topographic points the stretch due to the tectonic home bases, consequences into fragmental thaw of the mantle, ensuing in volcanic eruptions. As these type of boundaries exist deep into the oceans the volcanic activities are normally undersea. Convergent home base boundaries The hit of two home bases leads to the formation of magma as one of the home bases increases the temperature of H2O in the submersed home base forming magma. Due to its high silicon oxide content the magma is vigorous in nature, normally the magma is unable to do it to the surface. But formation of a vent takes topographic point when it is able to make to the upper surface organizing an island. â€Å" Hot spots † Volcanic countries which are considered to â€Å" Hotspots â€Å" is the name given to volcanic countries believed to be established bynucleation of a hot stone inside the Earth taking to a nappy, vents turn inactive temporarily as tectonic home bases move across them. The Hawaiian Islands is considered as a consequence of such process. Though, many disapprove with these sort of unproved theories. Erupted stuff Lava composingMagma holding the silica content of more than 63 % is known as felsic. Felsic lava is a extremely barbarous and vigorous fluid normally erupted from big sized domes. Gass which get trapped due to its barbarous nature leads to immense pollution.52–63 % of silicon oxide content is known as the lava of intermediatecomposition. Normally formed by hydration thaw of peridotite this magma contains deposits and therefore silica content is lower than felsic.45-52 % of silicon oxide content, the lava is known as mafic. These lavas have high content of Mg and Fe and be given to be hotter than felsic excessively. Mafic lava is a really common sight in the instance of volcanic eruptionsThe ultramafic lava is the one which contains less than 45 % of silicon oxide content, it is highly rare to happen the ultramafic lava, it has been found merely one time till now and is the hottest one of all. Fluid is excessively hot and is besides higher in content of Mg and Fe compared to ma fic lava.Hawaii and Volcanic Volcanic eruptions Hawaii is a typical topographic point when it comes to geological universes criterions as it is cause by â€Å"hotspots† . There exist merely a few of hot spots on Earth and Hawaii has the biggest crustal surface beneath its vents on Earth – the Pacific home base. The motion of the home bases has resulted into the Hawaiian island and Kauai holding inactive vents stands to be the most elderly island of all, and is about 50lakh old ages old. The most immature and besides one of the active vents is the island which is besides known as the â€Å"big Island† which we all know as Hawaii with the lava crust less than a million twelvemonth old. Loihi is besides one of the active vents in Hawaii. Kilauea the most active vent in the universe is a shield vent covering 14 % of the entire island the south-east portion of the Hawaii. The local population believe the 1227metre vent to be the place of Hawaiian vent goddess Pele. From a normal oculus it seems to be merged with another vent i.e. the Mauna Loa whereas scientific research prove that it is an unconnected vent with its ain activities. The vent has 61 recorded eruptions harmonizing to the United States geo-survey and has shown uninterrupted activities since the past 32 old ages. Volcanic eruption History The local Hawaiian people have written about the extraordinary phenomenon of volcanic eruption manner before the worldwide diaries. Thomas Jagger is one of the great personalities in the geologists list to hold done the base research on the activities of vent and besides to convert the United States geological section to take deeper research of these vents though Jagger is an American geologist, he formed the Hawaiian volcanic research association before the Geological section merely with the aid of a local business communities. The Hawaiians have a long history with these vents who they consider as their Gods and have written about them in the same mode. They believe these eruptions to be the choler or sadness of their God towards them. The twelvemonth 1990 experienced the most devastation menace by the Kilauea as it destroyed about 100 houses including a church and the town Parkss. The impact left a lava filling of 15-24 meters on the town therefore destructing everything that of all time existed on the surface. A Person names jack Thompson was loath to go forth his place even after detecting all his neighbors and milieus consumed by lava near the royal gardens. It was merely in 2012 when he and his friend were rescued by a chopper as his house was consumed by the vigorous lava of the Hawaiian vents. Lava still flows continuously to the ocean harmonizing to an observation by geologists. Impact of the Hawaiian Volcanic eruptions About 3 lakh people have died due to a direct or indirect impact of a volcanoe in the past 500 old ages. The explosive eruptions of vents have caused a batch of these deceases. Hawaiian eruptions are quieter and hold more fluids. Near to 97 people have died due to eruptions in Hawaii. But the impact of these eruptions on the civilized society and their substructures has been lay waste toing. An full small town names Kapoho has been brought to land zero in 1960 eruption. The volcanic activities have besides destroyed the royal gardens and a small town called Kalapana. An full small town named Hilo with the population of 40 thousand people was under great menace in 1984 Mauna Loa eruptions. Fortunately the Lava stopped some kilometers before the metropolis therefore salvaging it from being one of the largest risky volcanic eruption in the history. Volcanic eruptions have about destroyed 200 standing constructions including national Parkss, Gardens and many places and edifices in the little town of Kalapana. Except of the short term impacts of the vents, the large concern is are the people populating around still healthy? Dangerous gases such as H2O, CO2, CO, SO2, and H2S are spread in the air through volcanic eruptions A Study by an helper professor of the Nevada Orvis School of nursing shows that there was a important addition in concerns and sore pharynxs with people coming in contact with the vent or life nearby it. Besides 56 % addition was observed in people describing coughs after an impact and 600 % addition in take a breathing related diseases. In long term external respiration in the surrounding of a vent such as life in Hawaii can diminish the life anticipation to a great extent and therefore is besides non a suited pick for people with take a breathing upsets. Other Side of the Coin The Geo-thermal power works which can be constructed near a vent is really helpful to Hawaii as they have abundant militias due to volcanic activities.the Puna Geo-thermal works contributes to 23 % per centum of the electricity needs in Hawaii bring forthing 30megawatts of electricity and besides has late increased the production capacity by 8 % . The Volcanoes in Hawaii have provided a batch to the comprehensive cognition of the worlds on vents. The research on the nature of these vents is one of the basic grounds why today scientists are able to understand and foretell volcanic eruptions, salvaging a big sum of of human lives. Thus Hawaii has presented an exceeding chance for the survey and research of vents and their behavior in general. Volcanic activity beneath the ocean has the ability to make islands such as Hawaii itself. Unique sorts of workss and animate beings evolve in these sort of islands, Such as the Hawaiian Flora.Thus Hawaii really owns its being to such results of volcanic eruptions. Precautions/ Safety warning Systems in the Hawaiian Island It is believed that Kilauea is a safe vent as it’s slow and the Hawaiian national park has provided proper guidelines at each risky zone. Although tourer non cognizant about the insecure environment and besides the type of tourer who wittingly break the guidelines lead to a large figure of deceases. There have been instances of people sitting on a stone of magma and taking to hurts due to tear in the stone as the interior was weak and was unseeable to a normal oculus. Populating near an eruption zone? Don’t worry you will be informed for emptying merely in clip. The USGS scientists have instruments supervising the rift zones every hr each twenty-four hours. The seismographs predict the volcanic eruption manner before as there has to be some activity, there is no such thing as a sudden eruption as the new engineerings can observe it several hours prior to the eruption excessively. During the Kalapana Eruption in 1990 the local population was informed hebdomads before therefore supplying them a batch of clip for emptying. The United States Geological Survey section has implemented assorted safety alert- presentment systems against the activities of vents. The watchful presentment degree is dependent on four degree qui vives and besides four levelled air power coloring material codification. The degrees are decided by the scientist by monitoring and analyzing the volcanic activities and along with their cognition and experience on the eruptions. The vent alert degree can be explained utilizing the colors and the four degrees which are normal, consultative, ticker and warning. These marks are spread through wirelesss and the air power coloring material codifications are spread out in the sky utilizing aircrafts to signal the population on the landDegreeAviation coloring material codificationInterpretationNormalGreenIt is normal as specified, therefore the vent has stopped break outing and has reached to an inactive provinceAdvisoryYellowThe activities have minimized in an effectual mode but still barbarous activities might regenerate the eruptionWatchOrangeVolcano is active and is demoing barbarous activities the tallness and ash exhausts degree are besides provided if possible.WarningRedVolcanic eruption is prevailing on a important degree and tallness of the ash exhausts and the degree is highly unsafe. Take immediate actions towards your safety.Recommendations for Disaster Management As observed throughout my research the USGS has already taken a batch of proper stairss against the safety of worlds during the volcanic eruption idea there are some recommendations which can increase the safety of the population. To USGS Awareness among the tourers: – During the research, It was found that a batch of tourers in Hawaii are incognizant of the safety jeopardies and the proper significance of the catastrophe marks. The decease and hurt rate among the tourer in Hawaii still exists and should be prevented. To Population Communication: – There are opportunities of the communicating web acquiring disrupted during such a state of affairs, therefore everyone should cognize whom and how to pass on during such a state of affairs Responsible Emptying: – A list of points should be kept for such unfortunate events -Significant paperss, Medications, Valuables which are easy to transport and nutrient supply for long term endurance. Normally people who are designated as absurd before the catastrophe sometimes are the 1s who survive it. Cipher is prepared for such a jeopardy that’s the lone ground it is termed as a catastrophe. A responsible and educated society can avoid immense loss of human lives during such jeopardies. Mentions Hawaii flora – Hawaiian flowers and workss. 2015.Hawaii flora – Hawaiian flowers and workss. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.to-hawaii.com/flora.php. [ Accessed 25 March 2015 ] . . 2015.. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.eia.gov/state/ ? sid=HI. [ Accessed 25 March 2015 ] . Benefits of Volcanoes. 2015.Benefits of Volcanoes. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.universetoday.com/32576/benefits-of-volcanoes/ . [ Accessed 25 March 2015 ] . Evacuating During Volcanic Activity. 2015.Evacuating During Volcanic Activity. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/evacuating.php. [ Accessed 26 March 2015 ] . Kilauea Volcanic Eruption in Hawaii Threatens Village | GeoEvents | Earthscope. 2015.Kilauea Volcanic Volcanic eruption in Hawaii Threatens Village | GeoEvents | Earthscope. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.earthscope.org/science/geo-events/kilauea-volcanic-eruption-in-hawaii-threatens-village. [ Accessed 28 March 2015 ] . Danger in Eden: The concealed jeopardies of vent geotourism | EARTH Magazine. 2015.Danger in Eden: The concealed jeopardies of vent geotourism | EARTH Magazine. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.earthmagazine.org/article/danger-paradise-hidden-hazards-volcano-geotourism. [ Accessed 02 April 2015 ] . Health Effectss of Hawaii’s’ Active Volcano – Honolulu wellness and felicity | Examiner.com. 2015.Health Effectss of Hawaii’s’ Active Volcano – Honolulu wellness and felicity | Examiner.com. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.examiner.com/article/health-effects-of-hawaii-s-active-volcano. [ Accessed 02 April 2015 ] . The 1859 eruption of Mauna Loa and its human impact. . 2015.The 1859 eruption of Mauna Loa and its human impact.. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/2002/02_01_17.html. [ Accessed 02 April 2015 ] .

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Electronic Health Records - Has the Affordable Care Act, Meaningful use and incentives helped Where are we with EHR compliance Meaningful Use - Term Paper Example or Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) have also been implemented to achieve some positive progress in the United States of America with regard to healthcare delivery. These programs and reforms cost the United States government a lot of taxpayer money, sometimes going up to tens or hundreds of billions of dollars. The important question that must be answered with regard to these reforms is whether they are effective and whether they really do lead to better healthcare (Copeland, 2011). Past performance such as in the Medicaid and Medicare indicates that the success rate may be low. The low success rate may be indicated by the fact that these reforms such as Medicaid and Medicare end up being scrapped off due to poor performance. The affordable care act is a health reform legislation that has led to many controversies in the United States. The implementation of the reform is estimated to cost billions of US dollars. The purpose and intention of this act was to ensure that the cost of health insurance was lowered while at the same time improving healthcare to the many people who could not afford health insurance (Schreiber, 2011). It was geared towards reducing the rates of non-coverage and this would be helpful in making sure that healthcare in the United States was equalized for all, poor and rich. The act is still under implementation in the United States and it is estimated to be fully implemented by the year 2020. Reports indicate that the affordable healthcare act has made it possible to minimize the number of uninsured people in the United States from about 18 percent to about 15 percent (Foster, 2010). This is a significant figure considering that it has not been fully implemented yet. However, the pr oblem is with regard to how this act relates to other health reforms such as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, the question that must be answered as to how these two acts relate with each other and how they support,

Islamic Fundamentalism Essay Example for Free

Islamic Fundamentalism Essay Introduction: The term â€Å"Islamic Fundamentalism† refers to one of those Islamic movements in the Middle East, North Africa or South and East Asia with a goal to establish an Islamic government in the area of their struggle. Islamism and Islamic Extremism are other synonyms of Islamic Fundamentalism. The rise of Islamic Fundamentalism can be traced back to the 20th Century when different movements emerged with the goal of the revival of Islamic Political presence in the global scenario. It was initially in response to the colonialism and imperialism of the West. Most of the Muslim intellectuals regarded Western dominion of their lands as unfair. The alleged the Western Nations as looting and robbing their resources and wealth. The modern Islamists consider the global economical and political system as tools to perpetuate Western domination on the world. That’s why they appose and despise it. This paper will discuss whether the Islamic Fundamentalism is a threat to the modern civilization or not. Islamic Fundamentalism a Growing Threat: The feeling to revive the Islamic values among the daily life is a common feeling in the Muslim communities of the world. Thus in this way Islamic Fundamentalism is not a harmful or an aggressive phenomenon. There are also large numbers of Muslims who think that the western political and economical systems are not compatible with their social and religious norms. These people want to establish an Islamic political and economical system as an alternative to the Western Democracy and Capitalism. These are also divided into two categories. The mainstream of Islamists is determined to work according to the current rules and regulations of their respective societies. They do not violently appose political pluralism participate in the democratic process and recognize the interests and rights of the minorities. They do not disregard the presence of a market economy either. The Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt and Jordan and the Islamic Salvation Front of Algeria before it was deprived from its electoral victory and forced to take arms lie in this category. (Millward, 1993) In the second category of the Islamist lie those who have a revolutionary and radical notion of establishing an Islamic State. They completely disregard the existing system in their societies and are eager to overthrow it with force and military struggle. They have no recognition of the market economy and they despise any form of political pluralism, and minority rights. Alqaida, The Palestinian Hamas and Egyptian Islamic Jihad lie in this category. (Millward, 1993) Because they consider the modern political system under the jurisdiction of the United Nations a way to perpetuate Western dominion, they despise it and deem it as an opponent and hostile force. Because their long-term goal is to develop an alternate global political system they have intended to destroy the existing supporting powers of the current system. These were the intentions behind the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Because the radical Islamic Movements deem the U. S. has the most powerful supporter of maintaining the status quo they made their first offensive against her. The more will be the support for democracy and capitalism the earlier it will become the target. U.K and Spain are other examples of some rigorous supporters of the democracy and capitalism which, sustained brutal assaults from radical Islamists. Conclusion: Radical Islamic Fundamentalism is indeed a threat to the modern world, but they have their limitations. The radical Muslims are a small faction of the Islamic Mainstream. Though recent events like American led invasion on Iraq has sparked angered among the Muslim youths, the failure of the secular elite leadership of the Islamic world is responsible for turning their eyes to the radicalists. If the World Leader did not take serious measures to pacify the Muslim masses the â€Å"Green Peril† will become deadly truth. References: Bukay, David (2003). Cultural Fallacies in Understanding Islamic Fundamentalism and Palestinian Radicalism, Jerusalem Summit , Retreived from the World Wide Web on April 19th 2007, http://www. jerusalemsummit. org/eng/full. php? id=23speaker=72summit=32 Millward. Wm. (1993). The Rising Tide of Islamic Fundamentalism, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, retrieved from the World Wide Web on April 18th 2007, http://www. csis-scrs. gc. ca/en/publications/commentary/com30. asp.

Franchising as a Strategy for Small Business Growth

Franchising as a Strategy for Small Business Growth This paper is an investigation into whether franchising is as effective a method of expansion for a small business as it is for larger more established businesses. To test this theory a case study of two businesses was prepared, Interlink Express and the Cornish Oggy Oggy Pasty Shop. The case studies on the organisations were compiled from the information on their web sites. Both organisations are a member of the British Franchise Association. These case studies were compared to the literature on the topic. Through researching the topic one factor was revealed as being a major issue in franchising, this was the brand. Both the organisations that were studied are successful within their markets in the UK, and therefore proved to be good examples of franchising. The organisations had different motives for using this method for growth. The paper concludes that with the right brand, small business can be just as successful at franchising for expansion as their larger counterparts. Introduction This paper will investigate whether franchising is as effective a method of expansion for a small business as it is for larger more established businesses. There are many different methods that organisations can use to expand; some of these involve raising large amounts of capital, which is not always an viable option for the smaller business. Businesses whether large or small, must plan what their future needs will be, to move forward. Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term: which achieves advantage for the organisation. The strategy answers both the questions where do you want to go? and how do you want to get there? Incorrect or too few resources is a major factor of failure for an organisation’s strategy (Mullins L 2005). Once an organisation has developed its strategy, it can then review the methods open to it for growth. Growth can be achieved by direct expansion, mergers with similar firms, franchising or diversification. Some companies choose to grow, not by developing in the conventional way, but by granting a license to others to sell their product or service. There are clear advantages to this, the market is tested, and larger well-established franchise operations will have national advertising campaigns and a solid trading name (Price, S. 1997). Franchising is basically the permission given by one person, the franchisor, to another person, the franchisee, to use the franchisors trade name, trade marks and business system, in return for an initial payment and further regular payments. In relation to any other small business, franchising has proved to be successful, with 96% of units still operating profitable businesses 5 years down the line. To test the theory on expansion and franchising a case study approach was chosen. Both organisations operate within the UK in different market sectors. The small business that was studied is the Cornish Oggy Oggy Pasty Shop, a local organisation from Cornwall; this organisation is expanding by franchising alone. The larger organisation chosen is Interlink Express; this organisation is well established and has its roots in other countries, therefore it is only their UK operation that was studied. Within the UK it has utilised franchising to successfully expand their operation. The backbone of the paper is the literature review. This discusses contemporary theory on organisational strategy, expansion methods and focuses on franchising within the UK. A lot of articles are written for the USA markets, these were not used as they had little relevance towards the UK. Franchises operations are apparent on every high street in the UK. One of the most important factors is the brand name. This what attracts and retains the customer therefore is it viable for a small business to franchise. The importance of the brand became apparent whilst researching this paper. Kotler (2000) described a brand as a â€Å"name, term, symbol, or design (or a combination of them) which is intended to signify the goods or services of the seller or groups of sellers and to differentiate them from those of the competitors† This brand is a valuable asset to all organisations when franchising. Although, the brand name is often not as strong with a small business as it is with their larger counterparts. Franchising originated from the USA, with major players such as McDonald entering the UK market. Franchising for the individual as a small business underwent massive growth in the UK until 2000. This growth has slowed down, but there are still plenty of opportunities for businesses to expand. This paper concludes that given the right small business, expansion is possible though franchising. This franchising must be controlled to uphold the organisation’s ethos, and the brand they trade with. This chapter discusses the research methods used for the project and the justification for the choice of methods. It discusses methods that were not used, with justification of why they were not included. Included is a critique of methods selected, and with hindsight identifies any changes that would have enhanced the research. This paper evaluates the growth in franchising in the UK, and whether this method of expansion is viable for small and large organisations. Selection of the topic was stimulated and formed out of awareness of the many franchised outlets. On nearly every high street there are numerous fast food outlets, which are franchised, more and more businesses are using this model to expand. The nature of the research was discussed with colleagues and fellow students this not only added practical ideas and suggestions, it opened new avenues of thought. This was the discussed with lecturers sounding out ideas, gauging opinions and clarifying the question. The research topic was still wide; therefore other methods were used to form the research question. Focusing in on the question was obtained by employing relevance trees, narrowing the research area. This gave direction to the research, although with reviewing the literature this changed several times (Buzan, J. 1995). Next, a research proposal was compiled, with the benefit of organising ideas and setting a time-scale for research. Theoretically, the proposal would highlight any difficulties with the research question and access to data. Creating a time-scale would focus on targets and meet deadlines in the completion of the paper. The literature review, discussing theories and ideas that exist on the topic formed the foundation of the paper. The findings from the research are then tested on theories for validity (Saunders, M. et al 1997). The literature review was challenging, there is very little research in books that focuses on small businesses and franchising. Journals and newspaper articles were the backbone for the review, together with Internet sites and reports. A lot published articles are written for the American Market, although they can give useful information, they refer to the American market (Saunders, M. et al 1997). Tertiary data sources, such as library catalogues and indexes were used to scan for secondary data. This produced journals and newspaper articles, and Internet addresses. With the amount of literature, it took time to sort out relevant material to the research. Narrowing down the search Bell’s (1993) six point’s parameters was applied. Applying key words that were identified in the first search produced relevant and up-to-date material (Bell, J.1993). A limitation on the literature search was the amount of time to read all articles and books on the subject. Whilst reviewing the literature references to other publications were followed and reviewed. Bells checklist on identifying the relevance of literature found was a practical method to reduce the amount of reading (Bell, J. 1993). To compare two organisations it was decided to do case studies. The organisations chosen both offer franchising in the UK, actively promoting it on their web sites. The case studies of organisations will be reviewed and compared to the literature. The small organisation is expanding though franchising, the larger international organisation uses franchising as part of its overall strategy. These organisations have both applied the franchising business model to their expansion strategy. These organisations were selected from the British Franchise Association web site. Other methods of data collection were considered and rejected. Interviewing owners of franchises would not have revealed the overall organisational strategy, and the success of their expansion methods. The idea of Focus groups would have offered free flowing information; this could have been facilitated with discussion led by the researcher. This method was rejected due to the limited contacts within the chosen organisations; this also it could have been considered unethical to place pressure on their goodwill. The majority of information on their strategies is readily available on the organisations web sites. This information proved valuable when compiling the case studies. This section of the paper will discuss current theory on franchising and fundamental management theory. It discusses choices that are open to organisations when deciding on a strategy, for both small and large organisations. This section will focus on franchising in the UK; this information will be then compared to the case studies. Organisational strategy is the pattern of decisions that determines and reveals to stakeholders the organisations intent; this is achieved through their objectives, purposes, and goals. The organisation identifies where they strategically want to be, and introduces policies and procedures which put in place to achieve these goals. When the strategy is formulated, it will allocate the resources based on its relative internal competencies and shortcomings, and predictable changes in the environment. Strategies are developed at the top level of management, with instructions to the lower levels of management to implement them. Johnson Scholes (1997) concluded â€Å"strategic intent is the desired future state of the organisation†¦which seeks to focus the energies of the members of the organisation (Johnson J Scholes K 1997:15). All organisations require strategic plans to move them forward; some are needed to overcome specific problems within the organisation or the market place. These are long term management decisions that are aimed to place the organisation where the members have decide will be the most strategic place for them. It is the matching of the organisation to the environment; this will lead to â€Å"strategic fit† This is the ideal environment for the organisation to operate within (Reader, A 1998). Managerial decisions are made to identify what is required to implement the new strategy. Are new resources are required? I.e. property, finance or employees, then the risk should be assessed for its long-term value to the organisation. Strategies should not only be considered on how they will affect existing resource capabilities, but also if needed new resources and how they will be controlled. The costs to the organisation should be weighed against the long-term gains, and if needed it can be reviewed, accessed and amended accordingly (G, Johnson K, Scholes, 1997). Therefore strategic decisions will affect the operational level of an organisation, which needs to be in tune with long term goals of the organisation. This factor is important in decision-making; firstly if the operational level is not in line with the strategic level this can cause conflict and jeopardise the strategy, secondly it is at the operational of an organisation that the real strategy is achieved. Procedures and policies should be constantly reviewed, to ensure correct implementation of the strategy (G, Johnson K, Scholes, 1997). Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a changing environment, to meet needs of the markets and fulfil stakeholder expectations. The strategy answers both the questions where do you want to go? and how do you want to get there? The first question is answered when the goals are set; the second is answered when the strategies are planned. The traditional approach basically focused on the first question although equal importance should be given to both questions. Incorrect or too few resources is a major factor of failure for an organisation’s strategy (Mullins L 2005). A portfolio analysis will review the current position of the organisations products within the chosen markets. Ansoff (1987) developed a product growth matrix, which reviews current products and their markets; this will also highlight new markets that entry to can be considered. Ansoff considered reviewing the portfolio â€Å"as only one part of the equation for a successful strategy† To formulate a successful strategy more than one review of their current position will clearly identify any problematic areas. The greater the information gathered the greater the chance of success of a new strategy (Ansoff (1987) cited in Groucutt, J. et al 2004:212). Organisations need to continually review their strategic position, and then decide how and when to grow. Robbins (1995) defined growth (expansion) as improvement in operation of an organisation, including in general measurements, such as more revenue, increase staffing and market share. Growth can be achieved by direct expansion, mergers with similar firms, franchising or diversification (Robbins, S 1995). The traditional growth moves for organisations are acquisitions, mergers, international expansion, or price increases, these it is argued have largely run out of steam. Therefore for most organisations pursuing new growth opportunities should be the number-one priority. Growth moves fall along a spectrum, ranging from traditional product innovation ie. improving features and brand extensions to longer-term strategies such as taking core capabilities to new markets. Managing new growth requires an active feedback loop of constantly monitoring the progress of each initiative, its changing probability of success, and its shifting risk profile (Burnes, B. 2000) Mergers and acquisitions were an enormous factor of the 1990s growth, as MA activity grew sevenfold from 1994 to 1999. But acquisitions rarely produce new value and sometimes lead to disaster. International markets, are often viewed as a rich field for growth, in reality they hold little opportunity for future sustained gains in many industries. Markets in Western Europe and Japan are as competitive and mature as in the United States. And emerging markets, are characterized by weak consumer and industrial purchasing power, inefficient distribution channels, and protectionist laws that favour local players (Burnes, B. 2000) Mergers combine two or more companies into a single corporation. In business, a merger is achieved when a company purchases the property of other firms, thus absorbing them into one corporate structure that retains its original identity. This differs from a consolidation, in which several concerns are dissolved in order to form a completely new company, or a takeover, which is a purchase of a company against its will. In a merger the purchaser may make an outright payment in cash or in company stock, or may decide on some other arrangement such as the exchange of bonds. The purchaser then acquires the assets and liabilities of the other firms. When two companies directly competing with each other merge, it is horizontal integration; when suppliers and customers merge, the process is vertical integration (Johnson, G Scholes J 2004). Growth through price increases worked over the past decade in industries such as airlines, chemicals, financial services, and consumer products, as underlying demand was bolstered by the 1990s economic expansion. But in all of these industries, companies have run out of room to push through reflexive price increases as demand has slackened and competition has intensified (Johnson, G Scholes J 2004). For a small set of companies new growth is not an immediate concern, as their current growth strategies remain robust. But for most organisations pursuing new growth opportunities is the number-one priority. Today most products, even complex ones such as PCs or airplanes, are largely undifferentiated in terms of performance; so improved product functionality offers little. Fortunately, in most industries a wide range of higher-order customer needs is go unmet. These needs involve the broader economic issues surrounding the product rather than the strictly functional needs met by the product itself (Burnes, B. 2000). Growth moves fall along a spectrum of categories, ranging from traditional product innovation moves such as improving features and brand extensions to longer-term strategies such as taking core capabilities to new markets. Most companies tend to over-invest in areas they are familiar with and have well-established processes and systems (Johnson, G Scholes J 2004). Over the past two decades, the franchising industry has experienced a phase of renewed expansion and continued growth, the advent of new forms of franchising has further added to this growth. Globalisation accounted for much of franchising expansion between the 1960s and the 1980s, new industry segments, such as funeral homes and car repair garages, have been adopting franchising as a means to conduct business based on its standardisation promise. The expansion of older industry segments into non-traditional sites, such as airports, colleges, and hospitals, has allowed for another push in the growth of franchise systems. Through all of these developments, a major portion of the more recent growth can be attributed to the emergence of franchise owners who own more than the traditional single outlet (Grà ¼nhagen, M and Dorsch, M 2003). Brands A valuable asset to all organisations, is the brand name of the product, this is then a vital component when franchising. Kotler (2000) described a brand as a â€Å"name, term, symbol, or design (or a combination of them) which is intended to signify the goods or services of the seller or groups of sellers and to differentiate them from those of the competitors† (Kotler (2000) cited in Groucutt, J et al 2004:275). The brand is part of the products tangible features, it is the verbal and physical clues that help the consumer identify what they want and to influence choice (Groucutt, J et al 2004). The actual word â€Å"brand† is derived from a Norse word which means to â€Å"burn†. It is assumed that this means to imprint ideas or symbols on a product. This then gives the product identification and leaves a lasting mark on the consumer (Groucutt, J et al 2004). Because product features are easily imitated brands have been considered a marketers major tool for creating product differentiation. Even when differentiation based on product characteristics is possible, often consumers do not feel motivated or able to analyse them in adequate depth. Therefore the combination of brand name and brand significance has become a core competitive asset in an ever-growing number of contexts. Brands incite beliefs, evoke emotions and prompt behaviours (Aaker, D. (1991) cited in Kotler, P Gertner, D. 2002:249). Once a brand is established it requires nurturing, to bring out the full potential and add value to the organisation. Kashani (1999) believes that powerful brands are built over time through a conscious management effort. This is achieved through strategic decision-making and appropriate actions. All brands â€Å"need to be based on values and attributes that are permanent and, purposeful and fundamental to its strategy† (Kashani (1999) cited in Groucutt, J et al 2004:285). Therefore by creating such values in an organisation it will provide direction and a future for the brand. A brand with strong â€Å"brand equity† is a valuable asset to an organisation. This asset is difficult to measure; although it has emerged as key strategic asset. A powerful brand enjoys a high level of consumer awareness and loyalty, with the organisation benefiting from lower marketing costs relative to revenues. Consumers expect more outlets to carry strong brands; therefore the organisation has more leverage when bargaining with retailers. This all adds to the â€Å"brands equity†, which needs to be managed by the organisation (Kotler, P. et al 2005). This brand asset management is a concept that is closely related to positioning, since certain brands are central to a companys current and future performance. They need to be managed, enhanced and protected as assets. This allows brand names like Coca-Cola, Sony, Intel and Disney to extend into new product categories, and produce product variants and services (Kotler, P. 2004). What is Franchising? The term franchising has been used to describe many different forms of business relationships, including licensing, distributor and agency arrangements. The more popular use of the term has arisen from the development of what is called business format franchising. Business format franchising is the granting of a license by one person (the franchisor) to another (the franchisee), which entitles the franchisee to trade under the trade mark/trade name of the franchisor and to make use of an entire package, comprising all the elements necessary to establish a previously untrained person in the business and to run it with continual assistance on a pre determined basis (Kotler, P, et al 2005). The principle is simple; some companies choose to grow, not by developing in the conventional way, but by granting a license to others to sell their product or service. There are clear advantages to this, the market is tested, and larger well-established franchise operations will have national advertising campaigns and a solid trading name Some franchisors can also help secure funding and discounted bulk buy supplies for outlets when you are in operation (Price, S. 1997). Each business outlet is owned and operated by the franchisee; however, the franchisor retains control over the way in which products and services that are marketed and sold, and controls the quality and standards of the business. The franchisor will receive an initial fee from the franchisee, payable at the outset, together with on-going management service fees, usually based on a percentage of annual turnover or mark-ups on supplies. In return, the franchisor has an obligation to support the franchise network, notably with training, product development, advertising, promotional activities and with a specialist range of management services (Kotler, P, et al 2005). Franchising is essentially the permission given by one person, the franchisor, to another person, the franchisee, to use the franchisors trade name, trade marks and business system, in return for an initial payment and further regular payments. In a UK franchise industry currently worth  £9.1 billion and comprising 718 franchised units (Nat West UK British Franchise Association Annual Survey of Franchising 2004). In relation to any other small business, franchising has proved to be successful, with 96% of units still operating profitable businesses 5 years down the line. Only 66% of small firms survive the first 3 years (Small Business Service Report 2005). There is (some) evidence to suggest that franchises are less likely to fail than other types of small business organisations (Small Business Service Report 2005). A franchise is defined as a long-term, continuing business relationship in which for a consideration, the franchisor grants to the franchisee a licensed right, subject to agreed requirements and restrictions, to conduct business utilising the trade and/or service marks of the franchisor and also provides to the franchisee advice and assistance in organising, merchandising, and managing the business conducted to the licensee (Price, S. 1997). The franchisor develops a special product, service, or system and gains national recognition. The franchisor then grants a right or license to small, independent businessmen throughout the country to merchandise this service or product under the national trademark and in accordance with a proven, successful format. This increases the franchisors exposure for more national business and gives the franchisee a greater chance for success in a given field with a smaller amount of capital investment (Price, S. 1997) Code of Ethics for Franchising The UK Code of Ethical Conduct in franchising takes as its foundation the Code developed by the European Franchise Federation. In adopting the Code, the Federation recognised that national requirements may necessitate certain other clauses or provisions and delegated responsibility for the presentation and implementation of the Code in their own country to individual member National Franchise Associations. The Extension and Interpretation, which follows the European Code, has been adopted by the British Franchise Association, and agreed by the European Franchise Federation, for the application of the European Code of Ethics for Franchising by the British Franchise Association within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (www.thebfa.org). The European Franchise Federation, EFF, was constituted on 23rd September 1972. Its members are national franchise associations or federations established in Europe. The EFF also accepts affiliates, i.e. non-European franchise associations or federations, and other professional persons, interested in or concerned with franchising. Affiliates have no voting rights and cannot be appointed officers of the EFF (www.thebfa.org). The EFF also comprises a Legal Committee, composed of two lawyers from each national member association or federation and highly qualified in franchise matters. The EFF has, furthermore, installed a Franchise Arbitration Committee, which is at the disposal of parties preferring to submit their disputes to the latters determination. The evolution and the ever-growing importance of franchising in the EC economy as well as the EC Block Exemption Regulation for franchise agreements, entered into force on 1st February 1989, prompted the EFF to revise its existing Code of Ethics (www.thebfa.org). The motives differ between small and large organisations when they are using franchising for growth. Franchising is fast becoming one of the most popular entry mode strategies for international retail companies when moving into international markets. Though initially slow to respond to this practical phenomenon occurring in the international retailing domain, the academic community has also been gradually turning its attention to the nature of international franchising, in the context of retailer internationalisation (Quinn, B Alexander N 2002). Despite this increase in the practical use of franchising, academic attention has only recently been afforded to the nature of international franchising in the context of retailer internationalisation. Control is an issue of serious concern for international franchise companies. It is becoming a particularly important issue for international organisations as they continue to employ franchising as a mode of expansion in internationally diverse economies, and in locations geographically distant from the home market (Quinn, D Doherty A 2000). In terms of market entry mode strategies available to international retail companies, franchising has proved an increasingly popular mode of operation in recent times (Burt, 1993 cited in Quinn, D Doherty A 2000) Franchising has historically been a favoured mode of expansion among service sector companies, particularly the fast food restaurant business. However, a diverse range of retail companies has become aware of the advantages for international expansion, which the franchise strategy may bring. Therefore, the strategy has been adopted not only by niche retailers, for example, Benetton, Body Shop and Yves Rocher, but also other retailers such as Casino (France), GIB (Belgium) and UK variety stores Marks Spencer and BhS, where it has been employed as only one of a range of entry strategies (Quinn, D Doherty A 2000). Studies have identified how complex the expansion practiced in small busines is and how it can strategically gain a competitive advantage over a competitor. Although these studies have also conluded that expansion is often seen as peripheral to some small firms requirements. Research has found some small businesses use sophisticated marketing strategies and others use no form marketing (Klemz, B and Boshoff, C 2001) The small firm has always been viewed as the budding large firm, and Alfred Marshalls analogy of the young plant in the nursery seedbed is applicable today as it was in the nineteenth century, of course most of these tender young shoots are destined not to survive. Marketing of products and service can develop the business, increasing turnover and profit (Alfred Marshall cited in Day J 2000). Smaller firms share a number of characteristics differentiating them from larger organisations, that lead to marketing problems. These include, limited customer base, limited activity, fewere resourcrs, owner/managers marketing competency, no formalised planning and evolutionary marketing, and, innovation, niches and gaps. The relationship and affinity that many SME owners/managers have with their customer base has frequently been cited as an advantage. It is considered that the best strategy a small business can adopt is to fully appreciate and exploit any existing customer base, prior to attempting an expansion of this base (Klemz, B and Boshoff, C 2001) One argument with marketing in SME,s is that it differs from the larger organisation, it requires more intuitiveness, creativeness, networking is of higher importance and more about operating under extreme time pressure. Day J (2000) stated, â€Å"Encouraging small firms to act both intuitively and flexibly is not tantamount to condoning sloppy and careless thinking, nor equally, is it an excuse to impose rigid and conservative business school models on them† Therefore the smaller businesses require their own models to be based on (Day. J. 2000:1036) For these SME’s to reach international achievement, they not only have the appropriate product and strategy, but the decision makers must have the appropriate attitudes as well (Calof, 1994). It is these attitudes that determine how decision makers perceive the benefits, costs and risks of internationalisation (Calof (1994) cited in Chetty, S and Campbell-hunt.C 2003). These attitudes that will shape international decisions are based on the decision-makers past experiences (Chetty, S Campbell-hunt. C. 2003) Resources or the allocation of resources are a key factor to the success of any marketing strategy. There are a number of different theorisations of processes of development in a firms international operations. Cavusgil and Nevin, (1981) considered â€Å"internationalisation to be a gradual, sequential process through different stages, with the firm increasing its commitment to international operations as it proceeded through each stage† The most often used model is the Uppsala process model. It emphasises learning by focusing on market knowledge and commitment. To minimise risk and overcome uncertainty, it says that firms internationalise in a step-by-step process. As firms gain market knowledge they commit more resources to the market (Cavusgil and Nevin, (1981) cited in Chetty, S and Campbell-hunt,

Communications Strategy for Bihar Tourism

Communications Strategy for Bihar Tourism Executive Summary Places must decide on not only how many tourists they want and how to balance tourism with other industries or strategies but also what kind of tourists they want. The choices will be constrained, of course, by the places climate, natural topography and resources, history, culture and facilities. Like any other business, tourist marketers must know the actual and potential customers, their needs and wants, determine which target markets to serve, and decide on appropriate products, services, and programs to serve these markets. Once they have defined a target group they must strategically devise a communication mechanism which attracts that tourist in the most cost effective manner. This study aims to look at Bihar as a tourism destination, understand its potential in light of its history, both cultural and political along with the way it is perceived by the world outside, especially the traveler. It aims to synchronize the objective of the state with regard to increasing tourist inflow and that of the demands of the contemporary traveler both domestic and foreign. In that view research has been carried out to understand the factors that affect tourism growth on the demand and supply side. And with the help of that analysis recommendations for a communication strategy have been given. Introduction Tourism is a major social phenomenon of the modern society with enormous economic implications. Its importance as an instrument for economic development and employment generation, particularly in remote and backward areas, has now been well recognized all over the world. It is also an important activity for cultural interaction, social uplift and environment conservation. Tourism is now one of the worlds largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. Tourism may have a positive economic impact on the balance of payments, on employment, on gross income and production, but it may also have negative effects, particularly on the environment. Unplanned and uncontrolled tourism growth can result in such a deterioration of the environment that tourist growth can be compromised. . This is especially true with regard to tourism based on the natural environment as well as on historical-cultural heritage. Thus new word which is being used very often these days is ‘sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism has three interconnected aspects: environmental, socio-cultural, and economic. Sustainability implies permanence, so sustainable tourism includes optimum use of resources, including biological diversity; minimization of ecological, cultural and social impacts; and maximization of benefits for conservation and local communities. It also refers to the management structures that are needed to achieve this. The following lists down comprehensive benefits of tourism especially in India: Social Benefits * Promotes national integration and social equity * Helps survival of traditional art forms * Promotes international understanding Economic benefits * Nearly 8% of employment worldwide is tourism dependent * The latest study by World Travel and Tourism Council predicts that the highest real growth of tourism demand worldwide at 9.4% will occur in India * Comparison of the IT and Tourism sector worldwide o Size of Industry  § IT: $500 billion Tourism: $4.6 trillion o Jobs generated  § IT 20 million jobs Tourism 250 million Literature Review Tourism and hospitality industry in India India is known worldwide as ancient and mysterious civilization and the second most populated country of the world after China, with a population of one billion. With increasing worldwide tourism and travel for leisure, business and cultural purposes are on the rise, India attracts only 2.4 million visitors annually of the 600 million who travel. India can develop a sound policy to attract tourism and travel to generate jobs at the lowest cost of investment per job in this industry as well as promote sustainable development and cultural heritage, which has been so precious to India. India needs to shed its reluctance of encouraging tourism by affluent Westerners. Tourism, if properly planned and promoted can provide 20+ million jobs in next ten years and foreign exchange in excess of 30 billion dollars. What India needs is a firm policy and commitment to expand tourism as a source of sustainable economic development with value for the tourists and enhancement of Indias cultural herit age. (P, 2005) Understanding the concept of ‘Destination Branding Destination marketing involves using tourism as a means to an end rather than an end in itself for reasons including: improving the image of an area to attract industrialists; increasing the range of facilities and amenities available to the local community; giving local residents more pride in their local area; providing a rationale and funding for improvements to the local environment; and trying to make the destination politically more acceptable to outsiders. Thus we see that due to the multiple stakeholder nature of a destination, there lies a need for a concerted effort to achieve any goal set forth. This can be explained by the diagram below: The Dynamic Wheel of Tourism Stakeholders One of the key problems have been difficulties associated with marrying the objectives of profitability and sustainability, and co-ordinating the activities of the various stakeholders associated with a tourism destination. Destination marketing should occur not only on the demand side to increase visitor numbers, but also on the supply side to market the destination to intermediaries and to increase the numbers of sellers through investment in accommodation, entertainment and infrastructure, etc. The Requisites of a Successful Tourism Marketing Plan o The main competition is identified o Tourism trends are identified o A long-term orientation is adopted o The importance of competitiveness is recognized o The need for infrastructure improvements is highlighted o The need for integration with national/regional tourism plans is recognised o Residents attitudes to tourism are considered o Local cultures, values and lifestyles are considered o Wealth and job creation and quality of life for residents are primary aims o The issue of environmental problems is addressed o The issue of seasonality is addressed o The benefits of tourism to the destination is quantified (Cameron, 2008) * Destination identity and image o The need to develop brand identity is recognised o Brand associations are identified o The need for image development is recognised o Positioning is discussed o The need for coordination of industry promotional material is recognised o Recognition to ensuring the promises made in marketing communications are conveyed to visitors o New and innovative forms of communication channels are addressed o The need to improve branding and brand awareness is recognised o The importance of experiences to tourists as opposed to tangible propositions is recognised * Stakeholder involvement o National government agencies are involved in planning o Local government agencies were involved in planning o The area tourist board/area tourist office was involved in planning o Local residents were involved in planning o Local businesses were involved in planning o The need to improve communication between stakeholders (public, private and residents) is o recognised o Leadership is addressed to give greater guidance to stakeholders. * Implementation, monitoring and review o The timescale for each task is included o The need for monitoring and review is established 12The absence of a structured approach requires the study of destination marketing under theoretical lenses. Here a white paper which throws light on the existing theories which address the area has been studied. The crux of which is: As a consequence of globalization, the marketing of places has grown in importance as countries, regions and individual destinations compete with one another to attract investment and visitors. In order to compete effectively, it is essential to identify the critical success factors and ensure these are incorporated into ones strategic planning. An extensive review of the literature covering place and destination marketing indicates that image and identity play an important role in differentiating between objectively similar alternatives. Accordingly, the branding of destinations has become of major importance and is analyzed in depth. (Halkier, 2008) Place Branding A Case Study: Denmark In order to observe a structured approach to Destination Branding the case study of Denmark has been reviewed. It proposes how theoretical models have been applied successfully in real life scenarios. This paper examines the area of cross-sectoral branding where tourism is combined with other international economic activities in order to construct a common national umbrella brand. From a theoretical perspective the article contributes to the study of cross-sectoral place branding by developing a coherent analytical framework, drawing on recent contributions to the study of Other images and inter-organizational relations. On the basis of this, an empirical case study of the prospects for establishing a cross-sectoral umbrella brand is undertaken, focusing on Danish national tourism and inward investment promotion bodies. Having analyzed both the rationales behind and the image profiles of current branding efforts, it is concluded that while disagreement exists at the strategic level with regard to the potentials of umbrella branding, the differences between the current image profiles are of a more manageable character. In the case of Danish tourism and investment promotion, barrier s to inter organizational cooperation, in other words, seem to be founded on unfavorable assumptions about potential alliance partners in view of own future aspirations rather than the present branding actions of the actors involved. Why Bihar? Bihar had once been the seat of the golden age of the Indian empire but now has shrivelled into one the most backward states of India. Some pockets in Bihar now exhibit one of the lowest living conditions the world over. Bihar post its bifurcation into two smaller states has lost most of its natural resources and the state has failed to catch the IT train which has left it with small scope of riding the ‘India Rising bus. The youth of Bihar are leaving its motherland and doing so the great state is losing its heritage. It is in the interest of not only the people of Bihar but also the nation to protect its cultural heritage. An approach for Bihar can be based on the ‘Appreciation of Frames study by Schon wherein he demonstrates alternatives to approach in dealing with the housing problem within the social policy. One perspective frames slum areas as diseased, the other frames them as natural communities. When viewed as diseased, the problem becomes one of eradicating the diseases, with the implied solution of urban renewal and regeneration. This involves tearing down slums in order to stop the cycle of decay and relocating the inhabitants of the areas to newly planned and sanitized developments. In contrast, when viewed as natural communities the problem becomes one of dislocation. Natural communities should be preserved in order to maintain the beneficial outcomes of established patterns of interaction and informal networks which characterize them. The Current State of Bihar o Negative Brand Equity o Change in local government o Renewed faith of residents of the state in the system o High rise in migration from the state o High worth of Non residents o Disparity in documented and actual state of tourist sites o Lack of any dedicated communication focused on tourism o Unorganized and fragmented efforts in maintenance of crafts and culture o Tourist activity concentrated in pockets (e.g. Buddhist Circuit) The notion of Bihar â€Å"When Delhi newspapers publish articles on Bihars disorders and atrocities, they tend to make a point of emphasizing the states ‘backwardness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"The first ballot-rigging recorded in India took pl ace in Bihar (in 1962)†¦ the first instance of criminals being awarded parliamentary seats also took place in Bihar (in 1980)† William Dalrymple in Caste wars and At the court of the fish-eyed Goddess The above quotes, summarize the general impression that the public holds about Bihar. From Laloo Yadav to corruption to crime This is one state that has perpetually been in the news, and for all the wrong reasons. In the days immediately prior to the fodder scam, the media had a field day reporting Laloo and his antics, people were quoted saying that â€Å"Laloo was the most entertaining item on television†. (Nambisan, 2000) The extensive reporting, in the last few years with the explosion of the news media, has played an significant role in shaping public opinion and view about Bihar, its culture, and its citizens. Laloo Yadav has, in a way, come to symbolize Bihar to the audiences. So, Bihar, to a ordinary citizen, is a state full of rowdy, dishonest politicians, and heavily accented, non-English speaking, primitive simpletons. I am often told, in a manner of considerable disbelief, â€Å"But you dont sound like a Bihari at all!† Because it appears that all Biharis are supposed to talk in heavily accented, wrecked English. Evolution of Bihar over the Ages The history of Bihar can be effortlessly traced back into ancient times. Bihar appears in the earliest mythology and legends of ancient India , as far back as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Sita, the partner of Lord Rama, was a princess of Bihar. She was the daughter of King Janak of Videha. The present districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Madhubani, and Darbhanga, in north-central Bihar, mark this ancient kingdom. It is in fact, known that the author of the Ramayana, Maharishi Valmiki, lived in Ancient Bihar. Not only Hinduism, but Jainism and Buddhism have roots in Bihar. It was in here that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was in the modern town of Gaya that the religion of Buddhism was born. It is here also that Lord Mahavira, the initiator of another great religion, Jainism, was born and attained nirvana. That site is located at the current town of Pawapuri, south east of Patna, the Capital of Bihar. It was also in Bihar that the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh was born and became a Guru. A beautiful Gurudwara (a temple for Sikhs) built to commemorate his memory the Harmandir- is located in eastern Patna. Known reverently as the Patna Sahib, it is one of the five holiest places of devotion (Takhat) for Sikhs. Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, the author of Arthashastra, the first discourse of the modern science of Economics, resided here. He was also the adviser to the Magadh king, Chandragupta Maurya. Another Mauryan king, Samrat Ashok, around 270 B.C., was the first to formulate firm doctrine for the governance of a people. He had these doctrines, the so called Edicts of Ashok, inscribed on stone pillars which were installed across his empire. The pillars were crowned with the sculpture of one or more lions atop a pedestal which was inscribed with symbols of wheels. As the lion denoted might, the wheel denoted the never-ending nature of truth (dharma), hence the name Dharma Chakra. This of lions, atop a pedestal, with writing of a wheel, was adopted as the Official Seal of the independent Republic of India (1947). The dharma chakra was, also incorporated into the national flag of India, the Tricolor. (Biharinfoline, 2009) In medieval period Bihar lost its stature as the political and cultural hub of India since the Mughal era was a period of national administration from Delhi. The only notable person of these period in Bihar was Sher Shah, or Sher Khan Sur, an Afghan. Based at Sasaram which is currently a town in the district of the similar name in central-western Bihar, this jagirdar of the Mughal Emperor Babur defeated Humayun, the son of Babur, not once but twice, first at Chausa and then, again, at Kannauj (in the present state of Uttar Pradesh or U.P.) In the course of his conquest Sher Shah became the monarch of a territory that extended till Punjab. He was not only a ferocious warrior but also a dignified administrator in line with the tradition of Ashok and the Gupta kings. Numerous acts of land reforms are attributed to him. The remains of a grand crypt that he built for himself can be found at todays Sasaram (Sher Shahs maqbara.) During British India, Bihar was a division of the Presidency of Bengal, and was managed from Calcutta. As such, this was a region very much dominated by the citizens of Bengal. All leading learning and medical hubs were in Bengal. Throughout the 20th century, Bihar saw a great deal of geographical division. When divided from the Bengal Presidency in 1912, Bihar and Orissa were a single province. (Kumar, 2007)At that time, an region in the south-east, primarily the district of Purulia, was separated and incorporated into West Bengal as part of the Linguistic Reorganization of Indian States. Yet another dissection of Bihar occurred in 2000, when after years of political hassle, the state of Jharkhand was carved out of the state of Bihar. The region of Jharkhand now includes southern districts of Bihar, and has the city of Ranchi as its capital. The Politics of Bihar Bihar played an significant role during the freedom resistance and it was from Bihar that Mahatma Gandhi started his civil-disobedience movement. It was at the unrelenting request of a cultivator, Raj Kumar Shukla, that Gandhiji visited Champaran, saw the sad predicament of the indigo farmers and the domination of the Biritsh. Many people from Bihar consequently became leading partakers in Indias struggle for freedom. The most distinguished was Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who went on to become Independent Indias first president. Another was Jay Prakash Narayan, also warmly called JP. JPs considerable contribution to contemporary Indian history continued up until his demise in 1979. It was he who persistently and unwaveringly opposed the dictatorial rule of Indira Gandhi and her younger child, Sanjay Gandhi. Fearing peoples response to his opposition, Indira Gandhi had him detained on the eve of declaring nationwide Emergency beginning June 26, 1975. He was jailed in Tihar(near Delhi). The m ovement started by JP, nonetheless, brought the Emergency to an end, led to the colossal defeat of Indira Gandhi and her Congress Party at the elections, and, to the putting in place of a non-Congress government -The Janata Party at Delhi, for the first time. With the approval of JP, Morarji Desai became the fourth Prime Minister of India. JP continued to be the Conscience of the Janata Party and of post-Gandhi post-Nehru India. He called upon all Indians to work tirelessly towards removing dictatorship in favour of democracy and bringing about independence from slavery. Sadly, shortly after attaining power, internal strife among the leaders of the Janata Party led to the resignation of Shri Desai as the Prime Minister. JP persisted with his call for total revolution, but he succumbed to kidney failure in 1979. Subsequent internal strife in the Janata Party led to the creation of a breakaway political party the Janata Dal. It was also from this party that Laloo Prasad Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar was elected. A new party led by Mr. Yadav was shaped as the Rashtriya Janata Dal which went ruled for about 15 years in Bihar. The Janata Dal at first came to power in the state in 1990 on the support of its victory at the national stage in 1989. Laloo Prasad Yadav became the chief minister after winning the battle of legislative party leadership by a slim margin against Ram Sundar Das, a former chief minister from the Janata Party. Later, Laloo gained fame with the masses through a succession of populist measures. The honorable socialists, including Nitish Kumar, slowly left him and Laloo was the uncrowned king by 1995 as both Chief Minister as well as the President of his party, Rashtriya Janata Dal. He was a magnetic leader who had the peoples support and Bihar had got such a person as the chief minister after a long time. However, he derailed programs for the development of the state. When corruption charges got serious, he relinquished the post of CM but anointed his wife as the proxy CM. All through this period, law and order and management grew steadily poorer. In 2005, as hostility reached a crescendo among the masses, middle class included, the RJD was voted out of control and Laloo Prasad lost the legislative elections to a coalition headed by his earlier partner and now rival Nitish Kumar. Bihar How much in the eye of the Beholder? ‘Bihar is in the eye of the beholder says Vijay Nambisan in his book of the same title. He attempts to paint a more positive portrait of Bihar at least in the opening chapters, attempting to be unlike those who trash everything about Bihar completely, and believe it beyond hope at any point. He states that Bihar is the richest among Indian states in terms of natural and mineral wealth, and only its political stat sets people thinking about it in a negative way. However, as we read on, the state of Bihar and its citizens that Nambisan explains starts becoming similar to, more and more, the typecast that he was trying to shatter. Its true that the tome is peppered with optimistic images, people and events, but overall, the picture that Nambisan paints is as dismal as any other. The stories and tales are mostly about corrupt politicians, gang lords getting the better of the community and the killings, extortions, and adversity that the ordinary man faces. In between, we have tales about devoted teachers overcoming caste discrimination, innovative women trying to make a living for themselves and their children, and intelligent young minds harassed against a system that otherwise fetters them. An entire section deals with the high occurrence of violence in the state and how it is taken as everyday phenomena a scary situation. Has Nambisan also fallen victim to the typecasting of Bihar? Or is the reality of Bihar so bleak that even the most optimistic picture that is painted of it shows more despair than hope? â€Å"What is happening in Bihar is happening all over India. But Bihar is a microcosm of the whole; laboratory specimens, as it were, most easily brought under the microscope of analysis†. (Nambisan, 2000)The rest of India has a propensity to become self virtuous and holier than thou, and look down upon Bihar and Biharis as a pollutant. Politicians shake their heads and mumble, journalists condemn the collapse of democracy and the general public remains contented with just shuddering at the mere mention of it. What people do not want to admit is that the ills that plague the state are festering everywhere, in varying degrees and different stages of development. Such is the inclination to look upon Bihar and Biharis as a expression of all that is bad, that there have been reported cases of people accommodation to Bihari students in cities like Delhi, simply because they were scared to have Biharis beneath the same roof, thinking no doubt about probable robbery, rape and murder . (palgrave-journals, 2008) Previously, there were a little half hearted attempts to industrialize the state: an oil refinery in Barauni, a motor scooter factory at Fatuha, and a power generation unit at Muzaffarpur. However, no continued effort had been made in this way, and there was little achievement in its industrialization. Historically, sugar and vegetable oil were prosperous industries of Bihar. Until the mid fifties, 25% of Indias sugar production was from Bihar. Dalmianagar was a large agro industrial region. However, these were required to shut down due to flawed central policy which negated the strategic advantages of Bihar. Recently the dairy trade has picked up very well in Bihar. Sugar industry is another one which has started to improve with 25 new sugar factories committed in Bihar between 2006 and 2007. Since 2005, the state government has taken the major task of creating a business friendly environment and investment opportunities and leverages the resources there for all big and small industrial houses. There was a partition of Bihar in 2000, when the industrially superior and mineral-rich southern-half of the state was carved out to outline the separate state of Jharkhand. Since then, the main economic activity of Bihar has been crop growing. The new Bihar state produces about 60% of the yield of the old Bihar state. There is a tendency now, amongst politicians, to hold responsible the separation of Jharkhand from Bihar as a reason for the majority of the problems surrounding the growth of the state. Biharis and Non-Biharis : Perceptions and Opinions Respondents were asked to name anything that came to their mind when they thought of the â€Å"Bihar†. The top of the mind recollection is the strongest connection that a persons mind makes among two things and it was fascinating to see the diverse things, people or places that respondents linked with Bihar. The respondents were then additionaly probed on other stuff that they linked with Bihar, how the connection came about and why. Respondents in both cases were also asked about famous places or people that they associated with Bihar. This kind of factual information gave a few insights into how much authentic knowledge the respondent had regarding the state, and whether knowing more concerning Bihar, its history and culture changed the opinions and perceptions of the people at all. As was anticipated, people from Bihar possessed significantly more factual knowledge about Bihar. What was exciting was that though there were distinct disparity between Biharis and Non Biharis c oncerning perceptions about Bihar, there were still some expected threads. As a youthful housewife from a small town in Bihar put it, â€Å"Jab tak rahega samose mein aaloo, tab tak rahega Bihar mein Laloo† . The line is a famous one, from a speech by the great politician himself. Almost all the respondents thought of Laloo Yadav first when asked to name celebrities linked with Bihar. In one case, a young university student of Delhi University was unable to think of any other renowned person or place that she knew of, from Bihar. Among Non Biharis, Laloo unquestionably enjoyed top of the mind recall, as every respondent, with no exception named him. Even amongst my Bihari respondents, a number of them reflected of Laloo Yadav as one of the eminent people associated with Bihar. An interesting incident that I observed here was that respondents from the younger age bracket could think only of Laloo when it came to associating eminent personalities with Bihar. Some of the older age bracket remembered Jai Prakash Narayan, even smaller number remembered Ra jendra Prasad. Despite being the present Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar was not recollected as frequently as Laloo by the respondents. There was hardly any talk about of personalities from fields other than politics. One or two respondents recollected Prakash Jha for his films and the stand-up comedian Shekhar Suman, but it seemed that the lone people from Bihar that had achieved any fame at all were politicians. There was one interesting case where I interviewed an elderly lady, who had spent almost her whole life in Bihar, save for a period of few years in Delhi. She had no complicatedness naming famous personalities connected with Bihar, right from ancient times. She also had a authentic tourist guides list of the famous places of Bihar, for historical or cultural importance. This was in bare contrast to the younger age bracket, who knew moderately little of Bihars history, despite having lived there. This led me to consider that media had clearly played an extremely important role in formation of even the level of factual information that people possessed, apart from determining their opinions .Laloo Yadav yet again was the chief image that came to peoples minds when asked about their observation about Bihar. Though, the awareness of Bihar was not limited to just the image of Laloo. Having named Laloo as the foremost thing that came to mind on hearing â€Å"Bihar†, most of the respondents and interviewees went on to talk about the corruption and disorder that had become widespread in the state during his rule. (bstdc, 2009). The above quote from my interview with a lecturer in Ahmadabad summed up a what Non Biharis as well as Biharis felt about Bihar. The view is that the state has been devastated by dirty politics, and not allowed to build up in any fashion over the time, and the overpowering emotions were those of bleakness and sadness at the state of affairs. While talking of opinions and associations with Bihar, there was marked disparity between respondents from inside and outside Bihar. Almost all Biharis spoke affectionately of memories of their childhood and youth spent in Bihar, and had some sort of a sense of belonging to the place, which obviously came from having spent a long time in the state and having fond memories to look back upon. Even when they spoke of the ills that plague the state, the manner in which this was spoken about was one of sorrow that the situation had turned out to be so bad. In contrast, Non Biharis spoke in a manner that implied a sense of almost disgust from the state and the state of affairs there. A 2o year old college undergraduate from Delhi University summed it up when she said (bstdc, 2009) The same response, in not so many words, echoed across other interviews of Non Biharis. Overall, the awareness of people about Bihar was related to Laloo. In one way or the other, roughly all respondents were of the view of Laloo while answering this inquiry. The biggest substantiation that suggested this came from an interview with a young college student from Ahmedabad, who spoke of Biharis as primitive, and speaking in a typical dialect. (Halkier, Contemplating Place Branding Umbrellas. The Case of Coordinated National Tourism andBusiness Promotion in Denmark, 2008) Bihar Tourism Amongst all the states of the country, Bihar is in all probability the one that enjoys a distinctive history. It is here that religions followed the world over, Buddhism and Jainism were born, even as Hinduism flourished. It is here that an important advocate of a fourth religion Guru Gobind Singh of the Sikhs was born. And it is here that the worlds first institution of higher education at Nalanda was established. And if all that is not sufficient, it was in Bihar that Gandhiji launched his Satyagraha movement in opposition to the British rule. (Cameron, 2008) Bihar without doubt bears the profound weight of history, but bears it with much warmth and awareness. For both Buddhists and Jains, the land is sprinkled with monuments and sacred pilgrimage centers, while the Hindus have no fewer temples. However, it has not shied away from accepting the modern. The old learning centers continue in the structure of newer centers of excellence, the olden day trade hubs have paved way for the fresh economy and even newer technologies. Bihar is a land sanctified with beauty both spiritual and physical. Its vast lands, fed by some of the countrys most important rivers, have ensured prosperity. It has a rich traditions and legacy and its people are meticulous and fun loving. Places of Int