The Daughter’s 18th Year Poem

I have been writing limericks for a while now. However, for my daughter’s 18th year I did get a bit emotional and ended up writing a long poem. many of the verses are contextual and refer to specific instances over the past few years. The daughter and other family members did seem to like – er, love – what I composed.

Was it not just the other day

I was hoping it were a girl 

N god gave us the little pearl 

Thinking, a smile’s come my way 

Ten hours we waited in anticipation 

For that shrill cry to rend the air 

Did you hear me say “this is not fair”

As I ponder about your next destination

You, our little darling fresh as a rose

Staring at all of us with purposeful eyes

The wife and I nodded, what a prize

As I look around the time is getting close 

And when it was time to crawl

All you did was roll and roll 

Wonder was being a rebel the goal?

I look at you now, standing so tall!

To make you eat was quite a feat 

There was none without a frown  

How could we get you to gulp down

I know now you’ll love the treat 

Growing up with Barbie you were as delicate

Did I see signs – or hope – of a tomboy  

Be it that, you were always coy 

When I look up the one I see is a sophisticate 

The question arose what would you want to be

A designer, photographer? Was it fine 

Said we follow your heart and you’ll shine 

It’s the age, the urge to go out and be free 

My dear daughter you’ve reached that age

When  the world calls you an adult 

Surely, it is a time to exult 

Proud we are as you get to the big stage 

Eighteen years, they just rolled by 

It does seem the time is but flat

For it was yesterday we gave you a gentle pat 

As you laze the countdown’s begun  for you to fly 

My dearie, I know it is now your time under the sun  

Knowing one day you’ll be able to cross the road

And, Of course, you will be able to handle the load 

Sweet girl, go out, cross the sea, have loads of fun

My Book Reading – 2022

As we step into 2023, one habit I have been able to sustain for the past 3 years is that of reading books. While I may not have read as many as what I did in 2020, however, 50+ is still a good achievement.

The focus continues to be on history, philosophy/spirituality, public policy & international relations, management and a small sprinkling of fiction. As I have been finishing a book a week, I must say the more I read the more I know I don’t know, and the imposter syndrome kicks in.

A few callouts  

1.     While over the past few years I have been focussed on Indian philosophy. However, this year, I have tried to delve into Greek philosophy and the perspectives – both on a stand-alone basis and in relation to Indian philosophy – must say it has been quite interesting.

2.     It has been the year where I completed both Charles Darwin’s on the origin of species and Adam Smith’s wealth of nations. I still wonder why I wanted to read them. While they have been interesting reads in their own spaces, from a historical perspective I did get inputs of the times that it was written in. 

3.     From a western view standpoint, the epic of Gilgamesh is regarded to be the oldest book in the world and so I ticked it off the bucket list. Even 5+ thousand years back there has been enough contacts and exchange of ideas across civilisations. I was surprised to read about gods starving as humans were not conducting sacrifices or the point re seven sages (Sapta Rishis?!)

4.     As they say truth is stranger than fiction and while I read just two books in the fiction category, with the likes of operation mincemeat or the Great game there was no scarcity of intrigue, drama and suspense. There are enough more in the to-read list.

5.     I have never been keen to read books in the management/self-help category and so I was myself surprised to have read quite a few of them and, also, have enjoyed most of them!

For me, the stand-out books are

i.                Completing the unabridged Mahabharata translated by Bibek Debroy was a great feeling. This is an absolute must read and I am happy I could complete this magnum opus.

ii.              The psychology of money by Morgan Housel is another book that resonated with me big time. The author’s perspective on making and retaining wealth, being humble are a few aspects that will be with me forever

iii.             A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson is a fascinating read. A must for anyone who wants to get a perspective about the planet we live in.

iv.             Nandi’s charge by Arun Krishnan is a piece of historical fiction            that is unputdownable. A brilliantly interwoven thriller set in South India during seventh century CE involving Pallavas, Chalukyas and King Harsha. Apart from the narrative the description of the times and landscape is so vivid that one can actually “feel being there in person”! it heartens to read such high-quality books and am keenly waiting for the next in line of the series

Vaclav Smil’s How the World Really Works is a fascinating read where the author talks about not only how the world has evolved but also about development of nations and risks that the world could encounter. The way the author explains about development through improvement in energy efficiencies is truly captivating. BTW, while may be obvious to many, it never struck me that most of the land that is cultivated is used to feed cattle and other domesticated animals!

Finally, this is a book I wanted to read for a while. After finishing it I must say it was one of the most enjoyable books. Surely   you Must Be joking Mr. Feynman shows what geniuses are made of – a peek into how a man thinks and acts is something to be read 

The to-read list is long and, this year too, I am hoping to sustain the habit.

PS: On my blog, I could not post this earlier. Must say January was a bonanza month in terms of the number of books read and the perspectives gained… 

Budget Musings – 2023


The first budget of #AnritKaal has laid out a roadmap for robust growth and for a vision of India @ 100. 

This may not have been the wow budget that many would have wanted. However, with the current environmental and global politico-economic factors, I must say the FM did a commendable job of showing fiscal prudence and, at the same time, focussed on growth that is inclusive, #Atmanirbhar and sustainable. 

One thing folks in management and marketing profession should learn from the current dispensation is the ability to come up with themes that are both catchy and easily understandable. This year too was no exception where the FM grouped her focus areas under seven priority heads which were aptly named “Saptarishis”.

#Financial sector which is one of the 7 pillars shows its importance for the overall growth of the economy. With the growth in the past years being a testament to India’s existing digital infrastructure and #fintech services, #Budget2023 focused on furthering the role played by the nation’s digital public infrastructure. Initiatives like setting up the National Financial Information Registry and the Central Data Processing Centre show that the government and regulatory bodies have their eyes set on enhancing financial stability. I am keen to see the amendments to the Banking Regulations and RBI act that the FM mentioned about. 

With a 33% increase in CAPEX, the FM has walked the talk on infra and investments. This demonstrates how the Govt. is leading from the front in sustaining growth in a systemic manner. The carrot offered to states with a 50-year interest free loans to focus on specific capital expenditure was heartening.

The number of initiatives focussed on tribals, and marginalised segments shows the intent of the Govt for an inclusive growth.

For a nation that is aspiring to be a middle-income country in the next 25 years, growth without considering the environmental impact could have been an easy path to have taken. It is a matter of pride that the FM has green growth as one of the priority items. Be it the green hydrogen mission, use of alternative fertilizers and emphasis on natural farming there has been many an initiative. India is leading from the front in taking care of mother earth and leaving a healthy planet for posterity.

Speaking of which with India having the largest youth population, it is only natural for youth power and entrepreneurship finding a place in the priority list.

the income tax relief that has been widely anticipated needs to be studied in more detail. the effort, in a calibrated way, seems to be getting towards the DTC regime. The other highlight of the budget is on the non-fisc side. Be it harmonising ID requirements for MSMEs with PAN or dismantling many licensing requirements is a step in the right direction. 

While a lot of right things were said, my view is that the Govt needs to bring in significant reforms and focus on four areas a. while education and vocational training did form a part of the budget speech, a real thrust in a PPP mode is required where the curricula is radically modified b. Urban planning and infra is in shambles and spaces are built without regard to planning, aesthetics and cultural preservation. Again, while the FM did focus on this, my view is more of the same will lead us nowhere c. I believe the Govt has to work to bring down the number of people in the agri sector to less than 10% of the workforce. This is not going to be easy task and reforms including market linkages, storage, financing is critical d. a need to focus on holistic healthcare where the traditional and modern techniques find the right balance, 

On all the four points above, there are challenges and opportunities galore. Re the numbers front, I am keen to see where disinvestment and asset monetisation will fit in. Further, if tax buoyancy continues to be high then there could be more investments on CAPEX for the coming year. 

Overall, a great budget that sticking to fiscal prudence coupled with the aspiration of a growing India. 

A Tryst With Arunachalam

It is exactly a week since I ticked off something from my bucket list – a trip to Thiruvannamalai and completed the Giri Pradakshana (Giri Vallam; Parikrama) around Arunachala Hill. Also, was eagerly waiting to visit Ramanashram and meditate at the place where Ramana Maharshi spent most of his time.

As told by Ramana Maharshi, Arunachalam is Lord Shiva himself, & the positive energy you feel all around is quite evident. The Pradakshana, best done on Purnima, is a 14km barefoot journey around the hill. We embarked on this journey knowing it would not be easy. We  reached Thiruvannamalai on Friday, 9th Sep in the assumption that the full moon day was on the 10th and that is when we would undertake the Pradakshana. However, Pournima began on the 9th at 1800. We then modified our plans and around 1730 , we made our way from the hotel to the Ganesha temple which is regarded to be the starting point. Once we began our journey after taking blessings from Lord Ganesha at 1900 I saw a sizeable crowd but still did not realize what I would encounter. We were told the number would be around a lakh!

The barefoot walk was quite demanding but what kept us going, was the crowd around us completely immersed in devotion. I must say that  our young kids who accompanied us walked along in a relatively non-fussy way. It took us 6 hours to complete the journey and though our legs were gone , it was an exhilarating feeling. While I would not know the exact number of people who had undertaken the journey, I do think that a lakh may not be as wild a number as I had thought. If one were to be conservative, we could say that it was a few tens of thousands.   At 0100 when we completed the Pradakshana  so many people were beginning their journey and the whole atmosphere of faith and devotion needs to be seen to be

The next morning, I sat down to view Arunachalam from the comfort of our hotel & found myself transfixed at the sight. I sat there for over 2 hours, simply contemplating & it was one of the most calming feelings. The serene feeling continued with our visit to Ramanashram. There is something magical  in the ashram and one can sit there in contemplation for hours.

There was positivity all around and this trip was an absolute blessing. After a tiring schedule, guess I deserved to rest on an easy chair in the afternoon. And as I write this post from my home in Bengaluru just today morning we were discussing about  when the next  trip to Arunachalam should be planned for…

The Feisty Marriage

Appalams aka Poppadums is the basic accompaniment of any South Indian meal. Whenever I encounter these addictive culprits my minimum count is half a dozen and so I shudder to think what would have happened to the puny me at this wedding… 

At a marriage in Kerala began a fight

When the diners said it was their right

For an extra serving of appalams 

So amidst the beating of drums  

They showed off who got how much might 

I Want Vegetables, Hic

Scientists have found that by soaking soil with alcohol plants survive even when they do not get water. There will be a high demand for such heady vegetables…

During  drought when soil is dry

Plants do wilt whatever you try

Now a scientific study shows

That any plant healthily grows

With a tipple & when they hic get  high

The Invisible 2nd Passenger


All of us would have heard of the controversial US Supreme Court judgement on abortion rights. This woman who was driving alone – or was she – was caught driving in a high occupancy lane and her defence was not only ingenious but also absolutely tenable!

The cop said in the high occupancy lane you can’t be

The lady said we are 2 –  the one in my tummy & me

He told a pax has to be outside, there’s a flaw

Nah she told him you better read the law

Let me tell you this sir, you reap what you sow said she