Rajen Kumar
Sep 2009

SME WORLD and economic recession appeared almost at the same time. For SME WORLD, it was like taking birth by the roadside, with no cradle; no piggy back.

It is said, most periodicals die out in a short span  three to six months to the maximum. In the face of odds, we kept up the pace with renewed fervour, and each issue enthused us towards betterment.

“Your magazine came out at a wrong time”,

“This is not the time to lend any support,”

“We are facing tough times. Let things improve,”

were some of the comments to put us off from the potential advertisers. But we refused to feel disheartened. We kept up the pace and accolades came in good measure.

“Your magazine is very good,”

“Is it an Indian publication ?”,

“SME WORLD is glossy, a class magazine in contents and presentation,”

were, however, the oft-repeated comments from the readers which kept us going. Ironically, we are a happy one year old while our close cousin recession is on the wane.

Issue after issue we kept improving. We made our visibility in the right channels. Subscriptions started pouring in. Our hearts felt content. We had a sense of achievement. We went ahead with launching our e-version. Support did come but half-heartedly. We could well understand.

However, I wish to share with you all our unique experiences on the work culture of some of the government-funded autonomous organizations or the public sector ones, entrusted with the task of development and growth of MSMEs. 

Savour the sample ! We wanted to interview CMD of a public sector bank. And we were asked to a mail a questionnaire ! We did. It is over five months now. The answers are still awaited. A big yawn. We felt the questions were not \'friendly\'.

Sample the second. We sent another questionnaire about three months back to the CEO of a government-funded organization. Well, believe us -- no response till date. Our frantic inquiries evinced amusing responses:  \'The CMD is out of town, the CMD is out in a Seminar, the CMD is out of country and so on.

I was taken aback at the style of working of such public sector organizations wasting public money like this.

Another experience too is worth mentioning here. I along with our regional head visited a public sector organisation in Mumbai after taking due appointment. As soon as we entered the office, a junior level official was sent to us who, before taking his seat, shot on our face “we only give advertisements to \'big\' magazines (he named a few) run by big companies” even while there was no request from our side to the effect. Stunned by his unprovoked outburst, we suggested him to kindly let us meet some senior official who could \'talk\' to us on the role of your organization. The senior official was, however, apologetic and we did have some useful interaction.

The clout of the media giants bringing out periodicals for small entrepreneurs was visible and the message was loud and clear. It was hard making them digest the fact that here is a periodical, the first of its kind, which is dedicated to the MSMEs sector. Happily, we have been able to make our mark the hard way. The \'hurdles\' are giving way to our strength and confidence.

Our parleys with such organizations may have left a bad taste in our mouths, nonetheless, there have been silver linings too to make us feel flattered. A CEO from Hyderabad wrote to us. “Where was SME WORLD all these years? Better late than never. Keep it up. We are with you.” A young lady from Bhopal having done her MBA sent us a tribute which was like a bouquet of flowers emitting pleasant fragrance. “I don\'t want to take up any job. Your articles on women entrepreneurs have motivated me to start my own business. Thank you, SME WORLD.”

The hand of fraternity I have extended from Day One till anniversary and on and on as I march with the magazine, I would never mean any offense as I have never meant. We meet again!