In an era where 21 inch TVs were the norm, a fringe TV brand took the market by storm by offering great deals on large 29 inch TVs. They started with an almost unbelievable 'buy a big TV and get a small TV free' offer! They then offered great exchange prices on the 29 inch TVs before finally pricing them like 21 inch TVs of the more reputed brands. The era of great offers had begun - other players followed suit to regain ground but the upstart who started it all soon slipped out of peoples' minds.
A few years later an airline brand declared that flying was meant for everyone and started pricing tickets a little above train fares. In fact they started selling a few tickets on each flight for just a rupee! To facilitate this they did away with free meals and even began charging for water. While the business traveller wasn't particularly impressed with the lack of frills (and on-time record), the airline opened up the market completely by adding passengers who didn't care if they reached a couple of hours late (or didn't eat on the flight) as long as the tickets were cheap. Again, the airline business changed completely - price wars began and all the airlines were forced to introduce low cost variants - slowly making it the norm in the market. But the airline which began the norm vanished soon!
And more recently a new political party agitated, protested and demonstrated their way into public imagination on the issue of corruption and proved that when common people came together for just causes they could indeed bring the powerful to their knees. The party went on to do very well in a state election even though they did not have much money to spend. All they did was to help people see that an alternative style of politics was possible and power could be challenged. The big players were forced to change their rhetoric - and in many cases even the type of candidates they fielded in the general election that followed. On the face of it all leading political parties started seeing the value of projecting a 'cleaner' image and also seeing the perils of taking the public for granted. Politics in India has hopefully been changed for good.
Early days yet, but much like the TV and the Airline brand this new political party too is in danger of fading away. Does it have anything to do with the letter A?
And more recently a new political party agitated, protested and demonstrated their way into public imagination on the issue of corruption and proved that when common people came together for just causes they could indeed bring the powerful to their knees. The party went on to do very well in a state election even though they did not have much money to spend. All they did was to help people see that an alternative style of politics was possible and power could be challenged. The big players were forced to change their rhetoric - and in many cases even the type of candidates they fielded in the general election that followed. On the face of it all leading political parties started seeing the value of projecting a 'cleaner' image and also seeing the perils of taking the public for granted. Politics in India has hopefully been changed for good.
Early days yet, but much like the TV and the Airline brand this new political party too is in danger of fading away. Does it have anything to do with the letter A?
