Of queens and trips…

Trips…short or long…have some commonalities. There is the booking, and then the planning, and then the packing, and then the journey. You then have the “to-do” list, the free breakfast (which you do complete justice to), the good food overall (hopefully), the mandatory long bath (not your water after all) and then the wrapping up, …

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Of names and good company

Had a meeting today where I discussed a structure with a potential client. We got talking and they asked me about the name of my consultancy – 10 Leaves. Why 10? Why Leaves? They also came to know the name of my son, and liked the fact that it is a unique name, with a …

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Of staycations and work…

What do bromance, shopaholic, brunch and romcom have in common? They are all portmanteaus! At the risk of sounding like a certain Tharoor, portmanteaus are obtained by combining two words to make a new one that describes the combination. You may have heard quite a few portmanteaus, but the latest I heard is staycation. No, …

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Of Humanoids and Blocks of chains

The past week has seen a flurry of activity. I have been on the phones constantly, speaking with clients on various topics in Fintech – crypto, blockchain, robotics, A.I, big data… I go to YouTube and see an ad for a revolutionary Made-In-India Ola electric scooter – with a 7-inch display, operating system and “moods” …

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रक्षाबन्धनवर्णनम् – Rakshabandhanvarnanam – the history of Rakshabandhan

Contrary to popular belief, Rakshabandhan did not originate during Mughal times. According to the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Shri Krishna, in a long narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, speaks about रक्षाबन्धन and it’s significance. This chapter is called रक्षाबन्धनवर्णनम्. Krishna says  “Listen to me carefully as I describe the ceremony  of Baliraksha.” “In the days of yore, there was a …

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Onam Ashamsakal!

Asura is typically construed as evil, and is used interchangeably with Danavas, Daityas and Rākshasās, mainly because in English, they are all demons! But all asuras were not considered evil. Here are some of the niruktas (etymologies) of the root word asu.  Asu can mean, prana – life breath, life- force; in this sense, asura means ‘one who brings, gives prana’ …

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OTT and the cinema experience

I recall there was a huge outcry when Kamal Hassan had announced his plans to release Vishwaroopam simultaneously on OTT and in theaters. This was in 2013. Now, since 2020, theaters have done meagre business, if any, and most of the movie releases have been through OTT. “Only when the tide goes out do you …

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Of masks and freedom…

I saw a lot of faces staring at me as I walked into the DIFC today. Not quite as delusional to think that this was due to my good looks, I started to wonder – was it my hair? A spot I missed while shaving? A tear in my shirt?… Ah…my mask. I didn’t have …

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