I'm a Master in India

Chapter 262: Conspiracy

Gopal Dute had been in a bad mood recently; another safety incident occurred at his Aurangabad factory, and it happened right in front of the Japanese visitors who came for inspection.

Videocon was in deeper cooperation talks with Toshiba, and the ambitious Dute wanted to introduce Toshiba's complete production line, including all processes from picture tubes, circuit boards, to assembly lines.

His company was established eight or nine years ago, initially manufacturing electronic resonators, a component used in radios.

As the factory gradually expanded, they began producing their own brand of radios.

That was the first time Dute tasted the sweetness of terminal profits from consumer electronics, and his ambition grew, setting his sights on the promising electrical appliance market.

He traveled to Japan to discuss technology transfer, persuading them to invest in India. However, Japanese manufacturers distrusted the Indian Government and doubted whether Indians could master the true technology.

At that time, India's policy still followed the guidelines of the Nehru era: import substitution and state ownership.

The precedent of Coca-Cola made most technology companies extremely cautious about the Indian market.

With no other option, Dute had to settle for producing Toshiba's OEM televisions.

Most of the parts were imported, and Videocon only had control over insignificant components like the casing and knobs.

This distorted production method inevitably gave Toshiba immense leverage throughout the entire market cycle.

The profit Videocon earned from each television produced was pitifully small, initially only a few dozen rupees. It only exceeded three hundred rupees after the local content ratio increased in recent years.

However, Dute was still not satisfied; he wanted to control every production step of televisions himself.

Dute was very jealous of the splash Sur Electrical Appliances made when it signed with NEC last year.

At the time, the media was saying it was a complete technology transfer, and that Sur Electrical Appliances would soon have the capability to independently produce televisions.

Sur Industrial Park, as a supporting industrial park, also bore the heavy responsibility of revitalizing Mumbai's industry.

Dute was also envious of those accolades.

Inspired by Sur Electrical Appliances, Dute decided to pursue the path of technology transfer again.

The timing was just right, as the Indian Government had greatly relaxed the approval conditions for foreign investment.

With his years of hard work for Toshiba, Dute was confident that Videocon could secure a contract for the complete production line transfer.

He planned to achieve 100% localization of Videocon televisions next year, with an annual output of no less than one hundred thousand units.

Dute was ambitious, and he invited Toshiba representatives to inspect the Aurangabad factory.

The result, as mentioned above, was a complete embarrassment.

The miraculous Indian always shows their creativity at critical moments.

During assembly, a worker connected the television's power supply incorrectly. When tested in a later process, it exploded upon being plugged in.

The television's wooden casing caught fire, and panicked workers, in an attempt to extinguish it, splashed a basin of water onto it.

Then the factory's circuits crackled like firecrackers, making continuous popping noises, and finally, the transformer was scrapped in a puff of smoke.

The Toshiba representatives witnessed the entire incident. Dute explained it was an accident while scolding the workers furiously, ultimately firing sixty employees from that production line on the spot.

Things did not go smoothly, and Toshiba has not given Dute a clear response since their return.

This was not the only bad news; the suddenly rising Sur Electrical Appliances loudly announced in the newspaper that its 14-inch black and white television sales had exceeded fifty thousand units and that it would launch an 18-inch large-screen black and white television in two months.

Damn it, fifty thousand units! Dute's entire face soured into a lemon when he saw this news.

His grand ambitions and plans were merely to increase television production to one hundred thousand units next year.

Now, he realized that others had achieved half of that in less than two months. What was there to compare!

Videocon did have multiple television models, including color televisions of various sizes.

But these were insignificant compared to the massive sales of two hundred thousand or three hundred thousand units.

If the current expansion speed continues, Sur will dominate India's television market within two years.

Most importantly, the other party is actively expanding various product models, and these measures will further accelerate their speed of encroaching on the market.

Dute, however, had little confidence in beating them; Su'er Television was simply too good.

The city-wide sensation of the advertisement two months ago was still vivid in his mind. As a competitor, how could Dute not pay attention?

Almost immediately, he had his company acquire a Su'er Television.

But the moment he opened the packaging, Dute knew Videocon couldn't compete at all.

Whether in terms of workmanship, quality, or price, their televisions were utterly defeated.

It was precisely because of this that he accelerated the progress of cooperation with Toshiba.

Dute had already inquired and learned that the core components of Su'er Television were also imported, not a complete technology transfer as stated in the newspaper.

He was very curious how they managed to achieve such low prices. Could it be that those cunning Japanese had suddenly become charitable?

Dute was more inclined to believe that Sur Electrical Appliances was engaging in a price war, capturing the market first with extremely low prices. Once competitors were down, they would slowly reap the profits.

In essence, it was about burning money to cultivate the market first. In the face of low prices, OEM manufacturers like Onida and Videocon had no advantage.

Dute initially didn't care, even treating Sur Electrical Appliances' struggle with a mocking attitude.

Without complete control over production costs, a price war was suicidal.

Even a slight fluctuation in the price of imported core parts could make Sur Electrical Appliances unable to sustain itself.

But the good news from Sur Electrical Appliances shattered Dute's illusions.

This isn't how you burn money; fifty thousand units, how many rupees must have been thrown in?

Dute's determination to introduce Toshiba's complete technology became even stronger; only by mastering all core processes would Videocon be qualified to participate in this competition.

However, there was a prerequisite: Sur Electrical Appliances could not be allowed to continue expanding.

Videocon needed time; even in the most optimistic scenario, self-production of core components from the cooperation with Toshiba would only be realized next year.

Thinking of this, Dute picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“How have you been lately, Chandani?”

“Dute?”

“No need to be surprised. Although Onida and Videocon are competitors, that doesn't hinder our friendship.”

“Alright, what do you need?” Chandani was the boss of Onida.

“Did you read that report? I mean about Su'er Television.”

“Yaar~” Chandani remained impassive.

“This is a tough opponent; it's coming on strong.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“My point is we can't sit idly by. No one can do four thousand rupees; no one in this market can.”

“What's your suggestion?” Chandani wasn't actually in a hurry.

Because Onida had already reached a cooperation agreement with JVC from Japan, and they would also introduce their complete production line.

This was the independent production Dute yearned for; Chandani had already taken a step ahead behind the scenes, and even cargo ships from Japan to India had already set sail.

In at most three months, Onida would set up its own production line, and by then, Chandani was confident of cutting current production costs by over thirty percent.

Onida could certainly afford to wait a few months. Its market share was already larger than Videocon's, and it occupied the high-end market.

Yes, Onida was about to introduce a color television production line; black and white televisions did not account for a high percentage of the company's profits.

Su'er Television seemed to be coming on strong, but its impact on Onida was limited. Their products were diverse, with televisions, washing machines, and air conditioners, everything imaginable.

Dute was somewhat dissatisfied with Chandani's perfunctory attitude but patiently persuaded him nonetheless.

“Sur Electrical Appliances' products are too cheap, and they're developing too fast; they'll enter the high-end market sooner or later.”

“I know, so what do you want?”

“We can't let them have it too easy. We'd best meet and discuss it slowly.”

“Alright,” Chandani agreed.

“How about Sapphire? It's a great place, you'll like it.”

“Oh,” Chandani raised an eyebrow, “I've heard of that place.”

“Then it's settled. See you tonight.” Dute hung up the phone.

Mumbai is a hot city; no matter what social class you belong to, you can't escape the companionship of pleasure.

Places like bars, dance halls, and nightclubs are never short of important figures.

People are accustomed to striking deals with a few words under the dazzling lights. The festive, restless atmosphere helps to bridge the gap between parties.

Sapphire has now become the most popular entertainment venue in South Mumbai; the quality of the dancers there is surprisingly high, and almost no Indian man can resist them.

Yet, Sapphire does not pimp; whether the dancers are willing to accompany guests depends entirely on their own will.

Thus, many important figures, eager to win their favor, would resort to various flattering methods, just to gain the approval of a certain dancer.

It and The Palace are two extremes: one offers ultimate service, while the other makes guests revolve around the girls.

Each provides its own emotional value; it all depends on which you prefer.

Dute was in his forties, and he had visited Mumbai's red-light district countless times.

Girls from Andhra Pradesh were gentle and lovely, girls from Russia were unexpectedly considerate, and call girls from Gulf countries were also good.

And those short ones, where were they from again? Oh, right, Filipino monkeys.

Filipino call girls were the best; they agreed to any request. Unlike in Saudi Arabia, where finding a prostitute was as hard as climbing to heaven.

Black girls also took care of people; with them, you had to be very, very gentlemanly, at least for three or four months, after which they would be yours for the taking.

The entire Mumbai has eight million call girls, of all nationalities and skin colors.

Migrant workers, rickshaw drivers, young people eager to enter Bollywood, advertising models, sailors from all over the world come to Mumbai seeking excitement and tenderness, not minding to vent their desires in any hidden corner.

They conduct their business in train compartments, stations, taxi backseats, parks, and even public restrooms. The coastal rocks are the most favored spots.

On Carter Road or Marine Drive, one often sees groups of men and women entwined in pairs. They lean against large rocks, facing the sea, and the thousands of passersby behind them do not disturb their intimacy, because people cannot see their faces, and besides, the couples around them are busy with their own caresses, with no time for others.

The more unfamiliar the person, the more it ignites sexual desire: Look, there's a woman hanging clothes on the balcony, she just showered, her wet long hair draped over her shoulders. Look, there's a group of female students outside the church school, they're wearing short skirts, revealing a section of their calves.

“Mumbai is a big bedroom,” Dute concluded this truth after countless romantic encounters.

However, decades of 'tea-tasting' experience had made Dute's palate very discerning.

He was tired of gentle and submissive call girls and instead became exceptionally obsessed with dancers who had a bit of a temper.

The girls at Sapphire were beyond reproach; not only beautiful, but also educated.

Many of them were foreigners, and taking them out brought prestige.

Dute had recently become infatuated with one of them, and he was so impatient that he even chose that place for their business meeting.

As soon as the sun set, Dute arrived early on Haines Road, where well-dressed social elites were everywhere.

See, no matter the social class, there's always a demand for desire.

He went in first; Chandani would arrive in about half an hour.