- A message for all of you out there…from us…An update on the UAE. Thank you all – clients, well wishers, for messaging and calling and showing genuine concern on the happenings in the region. I sat down and voiced a few thoughts of mine, some that echo the sentiment in the country, others that are mine alone.Strategies, Business Continuity Plans, General Provisions aside, …
- Does time fly?Time flies past, doesn’t it? The hair that you struggled to control and style now you have to find a hundred ways to stop it from falling Food takes longer to go through you, most times it just becomes part of you and refuses to leave, never mind all that exercise that you pretend to …
- On choices and consequences…What role does choice play in our lives? I read a book somewhere that spoke about parallel realities. Every time we are faced with a choice, we make one and our lives go forward from that point on. But there is a possibility that the other choice is also made, and reality splits there so …
- On comfort, arrogance and a few things in between…We won! We won! WE WON!! Always a good feeling, being part of the winning side. Team India continued their new-found dominance of the sport, and people are beginning to draw comparisons with Australia in their heydays, when they won anything and everything associated with a bat, a ball and 22 players. Well, let’s relish …
On comfort, arrogance and a few things in between… Read More »
- India….India!And so, at the end of it, I finally got down to watching (still am) the IPA World Cup Final. Subscribed to Starzplay just for this. And India seems to be winning, so it’s all good. Here is something I wrote a couple of years back, when I found myself in a similar situation, and …
- Self driving cars, and self-minded people….Turns out that Venezuelans have a stellar contribution in the self-driving car industry. Did you know this? Next time you hear about the wonderful future of self-driving cars, picture this: Venezuelans, living in crisis conditions after their economy collapsed, sitting at laptops and outlining pictures of trees and bikes so that the robotic vehicles don’t …
- Well, just read more!I hear this in nearly every appraisal that I conduct – I want to improve my communication skills and writing skills. And I have the same answer every single time – Read more! I heard the same comment today, and well, I had the same answer. But here is a more elaborate explanation:) “In my …
- Of shrapnel and snippets…So a calm day passes, and then, just as I sat to write this, we got the official alerts on incoming missile threats from The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster. To be fair, they are doing a fantastic job on getting this all sorted and keeping us safe, but sometimes, it does unnerve you. …
- On colors and celebrations…होली है!! Holi hai! Holi is a popular festival in Sanatana Dharma, originating from India. It is celebrated predominantly in India, but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. Holi is popularly known as the Indian “festival of spring”, the “festival of colours”, or …
- On apples, money and endless reels…A day of lower workload, lower war news (thankfully) and supercharged AI. And yes, new MacBook Pro computers and Studio XDR displays. Also, a few conversations on Finance over evening walks (and squeezed in a bit of AI there too). But the highlight was something that I read, that I have experienced in person, and …
- A calm and uneventful day…It was a very calm night – some thought it was a bit too calm. I guess partly because of reduced traffic and generally reduced outdoor activity – but anyway. The day began with a couple of booms, but that was it for the rest of the day till now. Keshav was so excited (super …
- On planning and compilations…And so it’s Day 2, a Sunday, and it started with a scary bang, but little afterwards. The day was spent in keeping up with the (official channels) news, declaring remote work for staff (the government recommended this later in the afternoon) and reconciling with the fact that schools will go online (oh no) for …
- We are safe…There has been a lot of news and quite a lot more speculation on the happenings since afternoon today. Yes, there have been some explosions heard, and these have mostly been in the air – why and what – I would stick to official media channels of the UAE to keep myself updated, and not …
- Just a few words…Was starting a blog on another topic, when I came across some lines that I felt nice about. Here they are… At the age of 25, 27, or 30 and up, you’ll realize you’re not just chasing your own dreams anymore. You strive to give your loved ones the best this life could offer. You’ll …
- The bad wolf of AI…The Big Bad Wolf is upon us. Or, as Keshav called it – the small bad mouse:| For those who don’t know what it is, the Big Bad Wolf is one of the biggest book fairs in Dubai, held at least once a year, with brand new books going for a steal. Last year, I …
- On pujas and vidhis…Had a discussion earlier this week on celebrations. The elaborate planning, the vidhi (or method) of every ritual, every little aspect of it. Sometimes, such arrangements can get so detailed and granular that it takes the feeling out of the equation, which I feel is the primary objective of it all. That one particular flower …
- Don’t we all live in our own stories?Don’t we all live in our own stories? The story of me, the story of you As it plays out, everyday, day after day, So unique, our stories Each one weaving a tale that is only one’s own… The people we meet, the friendships we make The experiences, good and bad Those times we spend …
- Of seasons and elections…And so election season is nearly upon us – at least four states (all biggies) will go to the polls this year. Unless the “one nation one election” proposal is implemented, this election process will continue throughout the year, year-on-year, perpetually. One set of assembly elections gets over, panchayat elections take over. Then another set …
- Random musings on a given Sunday…Was a bit of an adventurous Sunday. Well, almost. We set out to Al Qudra Lake and religiously followed Google Maps, regardless of the street signs showing a slightly different detour. And well, we did end up at a lake, but it was the Expo lake, not Qudra. A good drive, except for the last …
- Of toys and stories…And so Keshav finally discovered ‘Toy Story’ today. I had attempted to show him the movie around a year back, maybe it was too early back then. This week however, he started to speak about Mr. Potato Head and Buzz Lightyear, possibly introduced to him in school, and so I saw the opportunity. Saturday mornings …
- At the airport…Spent some time at the airport today… People…a lot of them, and suitcases Carrying goods of variety, gifts, sweetmeats… Eager eyes, aching bodies… Tired from the journey, but joyous in anticipation of relatives and friends who await them. Small dreams in their eyes, of moments to come of stories to tell, to hear, to discuss …
- 2162…2162. That’s the number of days since I first started writing this blog regularly. Not a day missed – I wrote through sickness and health, through the birth of Rohāmrta and his sickness and health as well. Through the busy days (most) and the not-so-busy days (very few). What I don’t have in literary genius, …
- That trip to a bookstore…A trip to the bookstore… A trail mostly forgotten By most of us who find ‘better’ things to get busy with… A trip to the bookstore… A joyful journey to an exciting destination of discovery… A trip to the bookstore… one that brings back fond memories of Mecca Stores and a once in a month …
- Is change the only constant?Change is the only constant – so says the cliche and every other LinkedIn profile. But it is true. And one has to keep reinventing oneself every once in a while, mostly with the aim of climbing at least a notch higher… And so here I am, working on reinvention number ‘god knows how much’, …
- Should we grow our own food?Do you think that we should grow our own food, whenever we can? Well, not all of it. But at least enough so that we can stay in touch with it, and pass it on to the next generation. For thousands of years, we ate what we grew. And then the Industrial Revolution changed us …
- Of Adiyogi and perception…Only the most painful circumstances yield the most intense prayers. The uncertainty that lies in front of us makes us appeal to the higher consciousness with all our heart. And when we are heard, and the problem is alleviated, we thank him and move on. In between this problem and the next lie a lot …
- The night that surpasses all nights…Mahashivratri. The night when you stay awake, and pray to Shiva, the ultimate Yogi. A lot of questions may arise in our minds, when we think of Shiva, and Shivratri – or the night of Shiva. For instance, why is Shiva synonymous with austerity? He is always depicted as a mendicant, as a renunciate – …
- The killing of time…Bhogā na bhuktā vayameva bhuktāḥ – The more we get, the more we want, isn’t it? At the start of my career over twenty years ago, I had thought of a target – a certain amount of money that I would aim to earn , that would fulfil my needs and help me lead a life of …
- Of finder fees and indemnities…I stumbled upon this blog of mine that I had written around three years back. I thought of it since I encountered a similar scenario, and hence thought it relevant to go back in time and read about what I had thought of it earlier, and whether my thoughts have changed since, and well, no, …
- These countless stars…Countless stars in the sky, all looking down at me what is it that you desire, they seem to say you have everything that you wished for, and beyond… why then, are you looking upwards, and asking for more? Countless stars in the sky, all looking down at me So many opportunities, they seem to …
- The abundance of distraction…Tristan Harris, a former ethicist at Google, created a PowerPoint presentation for his fellow Google employees in 2013. Titled – A call to minimize distractions and respect users’ attention, Harris noted that products made by just three companies – Google, Apple and Facebook – were shaping (and now controlling) how humanity spent it’s limited attention …
- Big, bad, wolf!The Big Bad Wolf is back again! The end of February brings good news – the mammoth book sale is back and well, I am super excited. Not to buy the books – that I will in the truckloads – I actually am looking for bookshelves to store them. My study is already overflowing, and …
- A little book of language…A lazy Sunday called for a day of print, rather than a day of screen. And so I dug into my treasure chest of unread books and picked up ‘A little book of language’ by David Crystal. David is a serious linguist, but the book is an easy read – presumably aimed at the hoi …
- Let them flower in their own way…Had an engaging conversation with the parents of a four year old in our locality. Among the topics that we touched upon, was the tendency of parents to compare their children with others. This starts of as friendly competition, but quickly turns into a never-ending cycle of “Sharma ji ka Beta” type of pressure, both …
- How much do you want?Bhogā na bhuktā vayameva bhuktāḥ – The more we get, the more we want, isn’t it? At the start of my career over twenty years ago, I had thought of a target – a certain amount of money that I would aim to earn , that would fulfil my needs and help me lead a life of …
- There is good news, and bad news…Its all over the news today – the Washington Post laid off a third of it’s workforce – about 300 people, in the latest blow that the advance of technology and social media has delivered to traditional businesses. Claude CoWork had a negative impact of nearly a trillion dollars on the stock markets, and everyday …
- So when is international dance day?In India, there is no official Dance Day, but I guess we never needed it. Just a glimpse of the Nataraja, is enough to know how deep-rooted classical dance has been in our culture. The नाट्य शास्त्र, (Nāṭyaśāstra), of Bharata Muni, was compiled five centuries before Christ, and is the primary reference text for Indian classical …
- Oh the politics:)अनारम्भो हि कार्याणां प्रथमं बुद्धि-लक्षणम् ।आरब्धस्यान्त-गमनं द्वितीयं बुद्धि-लक्षणम् ॥ १२७ ॥ anārambho hi kāryāṇāṃ prathamaṃ buddhi-lakṣaṇam |ārabdhasyānta-gamanaṃ dvitīyaṃ buddhi-lakṣaṇam || 127 || The first sign of intelligence is to not begin any task. The second sign of intelligence is to always finish a task that has been started. And so, Sthirajeevin let out a series of groans, …
- So, what’s in a name?ॐ दिवं च रोह पृथिवीं च रोह राष्ट्रं च रोह द्रविणं च रोह।प्रजां च रोहामृतं च रोह रोहितेन तन्वं सं स्पृशस्व ॥ dívaṃ ca róha pr̥tʰivī́ṃ ca roha rāṣṭráṃ ca róha dráviṇaṃ ca roha /prajā́ṃ ca róhāmŕ̥taṃ ca roha róhitena tanvà1ṃ sáṃ spr̥śasva // Raise the standards of all the aspects of your life, raise the …
- Oh the fun and games and pressures of life…It was all fun and games at Ready Set Go, the venue for Keshav’s birthday party. It was the first time we attempted celebrating in such a manner, given that Keshav was not very aware of what a birthday actually is earlier. Being the shy kid that he is, it was a task for him …
- A look back in time…When you entered the room, we were strangers. Meeting for the first time. But when you left, on the way to our maternity ward, we were father and son. 1st February 2021 I’ve never been a father, so I really didn’t know how to react… The clock ticked, and I stood outside…I cannot say I …
- Hitotsu, wareware wa!A followup to yesterday’s post. We thought Karate was a sport, like tennis or cricket, said an overwhelming majority of those I interacted with. What you say seems like it has a lot more to offer… Well, the short answer is – YES! Here is a brief that I had written a couple of years …
- Of teachers and teachers, and students, and students…Some people like to preach, some others like to teach. I like to believe that I fall in the latter category. A voice note that I received from my HR yesterday made me remember a comment from an old student of mine around a couple of years ago. Apparently, a fresher who applied to our …
Of teachers and teachers, and students, and students… Read More »
- What is real charity?After the great battle of Mahābhārata was over, the victorious Pāndava brothers organized the Ashvamedha Yagna. At the end of this ceremony, King Yudhishthira gave costly gifts to the priests and donated very large quantities of food, gold, cattle and other forms of wealth to the poor and needy. Everyone praised Yudhishthira for his generosity …
- A day of announcements!A monumental day today. The first big news was the signing of the FTA between India and the EU – what is called the Mother of all Trade Deals, and by the looks of it, justifiably so. The collaboration between the two largest markets with over half of the world population directly or indirectly benefited, …
- The Indian Republic Day, parade and all:)Ah, the Indian Republic Day! The tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the parades, the tableaus, the march past…the show of strength… I remember when we were kids…switching on the television early morning, watching India at its finest, on Doordarshan (the only channel available). The commentary was a damper (very boring, and it hasn’t got …
- I, me and of course, myself…If I am not for myself…who will be? If I am for myself alone…who am I? If not now…when? And if not you…who? Four phrases that shook me when I heard them. Hillel the Elder was a Jewish philosopher who lived over 2,000 years ago. While I have not read his teachings extensively, I am …
- What’s the point of the Panchatantra?I buy second hand books from many places in Dubai, one of them being www.bookhero.ae. Mostly will make the trip tomorrow as well:) Around a year back, on one of my frequent trips to the store, I chanced upon the owner and got talking to her about books and writing, when the conversation moved to the …
- The day of commencement of learning…सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥ sarasvati namastubhyaṃ varade kāmarūpiṇi .vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhirbhavatu me sadā .. Namaskar, O Saraswati, grantor of blessings and embodiment of all wishes. Bless me as I commence my studies, and help me to be successful in the gain of knowledge. Today’s shloka is as relevant for …
- Do you think you can do it?The issue is not that you are not capable of doing it…the issue is that I know you are capable but you don’t. A phrase (or a close derivative) that I have found myself repeating often – to karate students who I taught, to employees, even to family. The starting point for most people is …
- Relevant to our times…Around a couple of years back, I read this intriguing book called ‘The Fourth Turning’ by Neil Howe and William Strauss. This was written in 1996, yet is very relevant not just today, but I guess throughout time. On time, the authors write about three concepts of time. “Over the millennia, man has developed three ways …
- Keeping a silent watch…Conflicts starting across the world… People against each other – choosing sides… I am right and he is wrong..this is mine and that is not his… My country, my house, my family…rest be damned… Let’s watch this unfold on social media… Bombs falling, people slaughtered… All from the comfort of our couch… And don’t forget …
- Its dreamtime!So, I was reading about iron ore mining in Australia, and I came across a passage that took me on a tangent. This part of the book addresses the history of mining in that part of the world and the blatant disregard that mining companies had for the lands held sacred by the original inhabitants, …
- The role of choices…What role does choice play in our lives? I read a book somewhere that spoke about parallel realities. Every time we are faced with a choice, we make one and our lives go forward from that point on. But there is a possibility that the other choice is also made, and reality splits there so …
- The might of the dosha…Tomorrow is a Sunday, and I usually begin my Sundays at Hariprasad, my favorite neighborhood (nearly) Kannadiga food joint here, I usually also think about the origins of the dish that I order. One is a clear favorite. The masala dosa. Legend has it that a Brahmin adiga (cook) was the creator of this popular …
- On the origins of phrases…A few months back, I read a bit about the origins of some common phrases. Was very interesting! They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this …
- The complicated you, and the complicated me…We humans are complicated. I mean, things can be simple but we tend to make them complicated. We leave things unsaid, tasks undone and people incomplete. Our desires are not rational, our greed excessive and our satisfaction is elusive. We make things and situations harder than they actually are, and then search for solutions. We …
- A day of transitions…The earth is tilted on it’s axis, and this is what gives rise to the seasons. This is the reason why we do not receive an equal amount of sunlight through the year. The sun “transits” between hemispheres – around the 16th of July it moves towards the southern hemisphere, and around the 14th of …
- Kids are the same…mostly:)Wakes up 7:30 shouting “Mr Sun!” (He has a nightlight that switches from moon to sun in the morning.) Mommy comes in and says good morning. Emerges sleepily to join Mommy and little brother in living room. Dresses self now, though imperfectly. Eventually whole family bundles into minivan and goes to Joanie’s for a hurried …
- On education and skills…There is this constant deliberation on education, and skills. The current system of education is quite new. For a large part of our existence, we have been working on skills, those that passed down for generations. Each generation added more to the mix thus resulting in an accumulation of skills over time. A 5th generation …
- On cinema samskaras…Today was a milestone day in the (if I can call it) history of the Ghai family. Rohāmrta Ghai, aka Keshav, aka our Kisna, finally completed one of his rites of passage – crossed a boundary that holds a lot of importance in a family that well, has (of all people) Subash Ghai as a …
- It’s time to be thankful…There is a lot going on right now – work, expansion, recruitments, new businesses, new ideas, son’s birthday party planning, reading…a list to keep me busy for at least 6 months from now. Over the past two weeks, I have also been speaking with a lot of fellow professionals, and potential candidates. It is so …
- The art of war and reading well…We had a team lunch today, and The Art of War came up in our discussions. One of my colleagues had tried to read through it, and found it quite dry and unpalatable – I don’t seem to understand the point of it – she said (or something like that). Actually yes. If you read …
- Who is the real me?Who am I you may well askI really wish I knewIf I am not myself at all Then maybe I am youTo discover who I really amIs really quite a task Maybe I am someone elseWho wears a funny maskI strive so hard to know myselfTo discover the “real me” My thoughts and feelings all …
- And a day well spent…Keshav had a great janma tithi…or so I would like to believe… The day started with breakfast (I was too sleepy), then a light cleanse (NO! I don’t like), puja at home (pairee pauna paapaa) , then a visit to the temple (no photos and videos papa, only in restaurant in the evening), and then …
- Rohamrut’s Janma Tithi…it’s written in the stars…दीप्यते दीपयति वा स्वं परं चेति that which is light and enlightens others is known as Deepa… Tomorrow is Keshav’s janma tithi, that time of the year when the celestial ingredients are the same as when you were born, your own personal set of inputs that led to the miracle that is you. We all are born …
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- Samatva, or equanimity…उदेति सविता ताम्रस्ताम्र एवास्तमेतिच। सम्पतौ च विपत्तौ च महतामेकरूपता॥ udeti savitā tāmras tāmra evāstameti ca | saṃpattau ca vipattau ca mahatāmekarūpatā || Kavya Prakash 7.245 The Sun is red at the time of rising, and red at the time of setting too. Likewise, great men remain alike in both good times and bad times. In …
- Oh, these birthday celebrations!The weekend descended and so did the quest for the ideal venue for the (not so) little one’s birthday party. Gone are the days when kids were satisfied with the “Baar Baar yeh din aye” kind of celebrations with party hats and cakes and adults having most of the samosas and the fun. No sir …
- On the feeling of jealousy…Jealousy is a common human trait. We would have to admit that we have been jealous or envious of someone at some stage of our lives. It may be as silly as a car, to bigger things such as someone having your dream job, or a much better pay package, a bigger house, a better …
- A good day oneA good first day. Began with yoga, then a nice breakfast, reading, walks with family in the community, digging dinosaur fossils, child not sleeping, visited a friend’s house, child threw tantrums on the way back, and now onto the first blog of 2026. Managed to read a lot as well. Started this new book – …
- Just a few more hours…Around eight hours to go. This time around, the community management has thankfully not organized a year-end party, well, right outside my house. So I can decide if this will be a long night, or not. How was 2025? Well, fast, for one. Business-wise, we did great, more than doubled our team, lots of new …
- And what is your daily pick?Keshav has his daily pick. One toy, one piece of stuff – can be anything from a spoon to his car. This thing then becomes his obsession of the day, so much so that he carries it with him everywhere, his food table, his school, he even sleeps with it in his hand. And he …
- On how we dream…बन्धुउद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ॥ ५ ॥ बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: ।अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥ ६ ॥ uddhared ātmanātmānaṁnātmānam avasādayetātmaiva hy ātmano bandhurātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ bandhur ātmātmanas tasyayenātmaivātmanā jitaḥanātmanas tu śatrutvevartetātmaiva śatru-vat One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the …
- Keshav and his new Dinos…We visited the recently renovated Dino Park and Glow Garden yesterday. The traffic was horrendous, but the visit was worth it. They have now added more ‘active’ Dinos that the kids absolutely love – they shout and scream and finally get around to touch the monsters, realizing that well, they are not the real deal. …
- The ideal self…Humanist psychologist Carl Rogers believed that self-concept is made up of three distinct parts: ideal self, self-image, and self-esteem. His theory explains what it means when these parts are congruent or incongruent with reality, which impacts your self-concept. Rogers described the self-concept as being composed of three parts: Ideal self: The ideal self is the person you want …
- On connection…So I went to the Hindu temple today at Jebel Ali, to perform a puja for my new car. After long actually – not the car…the visit. It was a pleasant atmosphere, some Vedic chanting on one side, a couple of families perfuming puja on the other. A few people sitting in the middle and …
- Wish you a Merry Christmas!Christmas, in the words of Sri Krishnananda. I have taken a few bits of his lecture – parts that are relevant to you and me. Have a read:) The way spiritual is one of the ways in which man can live in the world, is what the common populace may be thinking. The way spiritual …
- A bit about a byte or two…The human body is a feat of nature that we don’t think much about. We all know what DNA is, but did you know that DNA can survive for thousands and thousands of years? In effect, it will outlive us for generations and generations to come, in a world where your own name may not …
- Are you worthy?अमन्त्रमक्षरं नास्ति नास्ति मूलमनौषधम् ।अयोग्यः पुरुषो नास्ति योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभः ॥ amantramakṣaraṃ nāsti nāsti mūlamanauṣadham ।ayogyaḥ puruṣo nāsti yojakastatra durlabhaḥ ॥ Samayocitapadyamālikā There is not a syllable which is not a mantra; there is not a root that is not a medicine. There is no person who is not able, but rare is the person who knows how to apply …
- Five essential commandments…1. Question every requirement. Each should come with the name of the person who made it. You should never accept that a requirement came from a department, such as from “the legal department” or “the safety department.” You need to know the name of the real person who made that requirement. Then you should question it, …
- We and the bats…Dr. Rick Hanson, neuropsychologist and author of “Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence”, writes that we humans share ancestors with “bats, begonias and bacteria that go back at least 3.5 billion years.” Hanson describes these ancestors as living in a world of carrots and sticks. Carrots are rewards (food, sex, shelter), and sticks …
- The slow life…well at least todaySo I mostly caught a virus of some kind. Which means, cancelled meetings and calls, a bit of work pile and the headache and fever to top it up. Is it just me, or are we witnessing a never-ending cycle of infections? I don’t remember falling sick so often…its like there is always something wrong …
- Watching a seedling grow…Watching a seedling grow, Is an exercise in patience, determination and grit… It may seem natural, but no It takes a lot of work and effort to just help nature along it’s course… A strong wind a bit of extra rain can cause the heart to skip a beat as one watches the seedling reach …
- What’s your social score?I have been following the Foodpharmer for quite a while now. In fact, ever since he started his campaign against Bournvita in 2023. He does sound a bit sensationalist at times, but he does take up very important topics. Stuff that we don’t think about but affect our health in ways we understand, but do …
- Fellow traveler, oh fellow traveler…So two things happened today. One – our license in GIFT City, India came through. Finally! Second – I bought something materialistic – those close to me know what it is. The first news was received with more relief than excitement, the second seemed like a culmination of something, but not really “I looked forward …
- Learn, unlearn, repeat…again!I had written this a little under a year back. The end of January – and we are already into the last fortnight of December. Time flies, and flies faster as you grow older. Wait – that is actually true – research shows that time does indeed fly past faster as we grow in years. …
- Fall down seven, and get up eight…Every time I fall a bit sick (which isn’t a lot thankfully), I recall this poem that I wrote a few years ago. Maybe a bit too much for a simple cold, but it does make a good read for me and helps me re-focus on what matters. Here it is: Fall down seven and …
- The midnight library of 1929, where I ate cold mezze and sabotaged my throat…Well, I had an interesting weekend, at least most of it. The party started on Friday evening itself, where I found myself inadvertently conforming to my unspoken and unwritten rule of falling a bit sick in the final month of the year. I have been (reluctantly and with vehement protest) keeping up this tradition from …
The midnight library of 1929, where I ate cold mezze and sabotaged my throat… Read More »
- On the fear of the unknown…Status-quo bias – The tendency for people to stay committed to current situations, for fear of changing to the unknown. Status quo bias is also caused by laziness, aversion to complexity, unnatural learning style demands, reading small print, etc. A few months back I read the book – Nudge – by Richard H Thaler and Cass R Sunstein. The crux …
- The one…the only…happy 75!And today is the day when a birthday celebrates it’s Rajinikanth:) The release of a movie of Rajnikanth is a festival in itself…from the announcement, to the first look, the decked up theatres, the fan frenzy, and now of course the craze on social media as well. It’s apparent that people buy into the mania, …
- Read a book, or two, or four…Had an interesting conversation today, where the topic of reading came up. Specifically, the way to read. But is there a way to read? Can I read three or four books at a time? Do I have to finish a book that I have started? Here is something that I had written a few months …
- And sometimes…sometimes…Sometimes I wonder if the world could be a better place, where people say what they mean and mean what they say… Sometimes I wonder if the world could be a better place, where work is worship and gods are loved… Sometimes I wonder if the world could be a better place, where people matter …
- On Stress….Stress is not inborn nor is it inherited it does not even exist in nature except in your own mind… Yes that same monkey mind as they say that conjures up dreams and situations constructing an imaginary future that exists only in your mind… We get stressed about what may happen we stay stressed because …
- Is this alien intelligence?Nexus – by Yuval Noah Harari, is turning out to be a very engaging read. Like in all his books, Yuval takes his time to come to the main topic of the conversation, but does so in a systematic manner, and you begin to see the relevance of all what he has spoken about once …
- On your way and mine…There are many paths to where you want to go, I’m on my way there too, so that you know… I walk the thorny bushes, you chose the flowery avenue Only cacti on my path, yours is filled with morning dew… I can’t stop, to catch my breath, for I may stray, Oh what a …
- Are you crazy at work?I read an interesting book by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Actually two. One is related to the title of this blog. The other is called Rework. I loved the fact that a lot of what they think about and suggest – is what we have already implemented at my consulting firm. It’s refreshing …
- Are you in good company?As I was browsing through the archives, I chanced upon this post that I had made approximately a year back. Something happened today that made me think about this, and as I read through the Bhaja Gōvindam again, it brought a lot more clarity to me. On company – how many of us are able …
- A bit about your grandfather…How many of you ‘know’ your grandfather? By know, I mean what he was all about. His daily life, his joys, the challenges he encountered, his friends, colleagues…let me put it this way. Most of us must have heard stories from him, but these would have been the highlights of his life. What about the …
- The acquisition of true knowledge…How do you acquire true knowledge from a Guru? Through – Praṇipātena – Prostration – Not just falling at the feet of the Guru – that is a symbol of surrender. You have to surrender to your Guru – when you prostrate, your head and heart lie at their feet. This signifies devotion – a higher form of …
- Happy 54th…,my karmbhoomi!I had an interesting conversation with an Emirati client a couple of years back. A free zone had asked him to wait 6 months before making an application for a cutting-edge fintech. “What the world takes five years to do, we in Dubai do it in six months”, he said. “Asking me to wait six …