Untangling the insanity of doing business
Untangling the insanity of doing business Review of Irrationally Passionate Well, yes, every once in a while someone who can infuse a new perspective to business decision-making and executions pops up like an Argonaut to set things right. The story of Jason Kothari and the way he turned from a rebel to an entrepreneur is...
Everything means nothing
Armies of specialists have taken over. Consultants are grabbing all there is to grab. Experts walk around with pedestals looking for a place to set up their shop. You really need to be a wizard in one thing or the other to get attention. Survival is difficult if you cannot prove that you are an...
The day I met Gandhi
Yes indeed, I met Gandhi a few days back. No, not the one who just wants to be left alone by his political friends. Neither any of the hundreds who go around with the Gandhi surname dangled around their existence. I met the real Gandhi. The one we all know as Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi....
Don’t allow terror to spread panic
Noam Chomsky wrote: ‘Everyone’s worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there’s really an easy way: Stop participating in it.’ This may shock or stun you because you obviously thought you were making all the right motions by lighting candles, marching through your city, pasting #SayNoToWar all over the social media, and probably asking everyone else to...
Watching crows in the rain
Crows don’t dance in the rain They neither fly away nor caw Getting wet is such a strain And against all their crow law. But they share space As they patiently wait Before another race To a prey or a bait. I know we aren’t like a crow. Even one bit.
Power is toxic to culture
Power and culture are in perennial conflict with each other. Countries experience this and so do homes. States and Union Territories in India know this. Politicians too understand the phenomenon and yet go on stoking power conflagrations. Corporates get into the heart of power contests more readily than adopting a culturally friendly attitude. Families are...
Must writers shut-up and shut-off while writing?
These days when I pick up a work of fiction I am literally dragged into a net of words where characters seem comfortable with Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and sometimes even Instagram and I find this strange. Plots hover around villains communicating on Gmail, heroes are Whatsapping poetry to their girl-friends, and long-distance conversations are happening...
Life is cool in Delhi, Mr Modi
Newspaper reports live in their own world of make-belief but once in a while they tend to hit upon some conclusion that stays steady from one decade to another, from one generation to the other… and one such conclusion that most renowned editors have never divorced is that the top leadership in the country has...
There is no space without adventure
My kid is grown-up. He is an architect and stays in London. But at home in Delhi we always have a lot of kids coming in and going out yelling, shouting, playing hide-and-seek, pretending to be imaginary characters, and writing. Writing? Well, yes, I ask them all to sit with their notebooks and pencils and...
Underdogs
Who need most attention? Underdogs. Who will respond enthusiastically? Underdogs. Whose victory spreads most joy? Underdogs. Who have potential that hasn’t expressed itself yet? Underdogs. Who make it to the headlines fastest after achieving? Underdogs. Who remember your support? Underdogs. Obviously then, any worthy underdog has the potential to be my ‘jug’ or world or...
The poet on an empty train
Three short steps and the poet is on the train. He turns back and smiles. The three steps remind him of a haiku and he mutters: Three steps and I’m gone Conversations change forever Seasons come and go. He slowly swivels on his heels to face the compartment and watches the fans pretending to dry...
Economics of life is all about saving and not saving
Yes, we are intrinsically and genetically embedded into both the art of saving as well as not saving. Saving and not saving are both virtues. We gave away smiles and shared goodwill… and saved some money every month and whether it was deposited in the bank, PPF, or FDs bought, this saving also resulted in...
