Friends are forever,

But the Friendship day is one,

There’s no normal human being,

Who has none!

One, two, three of four,

Friends are dear and take care,

In grief and happiness,

Not only present, they’re there!

Relatives move away in life,

And colleagues are just office friends,

True Friends last a long long time,

Till eternity ends!

Folklores are full of tales

Of lasting friendship and pure love,

But Krishna and Sudama take the cake

For their unique relationship as above!

I am not Krishna or Sudama,

Nor I my friends for that was yore,

However, all my friends are loveable,

Having a heart of gold that’s pure!

Happy friendship day to all my friends – not the girl friends or boy friends or fair weather friends or friends in need either, but just plain and simple friends who do not need any specific designated day to be remembered and are there in my heart irrespective of the day or purpose. Don’t want to write more about it for such days have become a fad with origin unknown and this is just a relationship that doesn’t require any eulogy.

The rise of V G Siddhartha from a young Masters in computers, who came to Mumbai to make a fortune, to being the undisputed coffee king of India is the stuff folklores are made of. How he borrowed a small sum from his father, invested in coffee plantation, made money on bourses and finally felt inspired to start Coffee Cafe Day (CCD) will be an unputdownable read should some decide to write this story.

Somewhere his ambition got better of him and though still not conclusively evidenced, him having indulged in some sort of financial jugglery through balance sheet management cannot be ruled out. But it’s also true that he was an extremely conscientious person and being unable to beat the burden of all the expectations and demands, he chose the softer option of ending his life.

Some very serious systemic issues have been raised in the aftermath of VGS’s death and let’s sincerely hope that like several other matters, his death doesn’t go waste and these systemic fault lines are erased from public memory. What are the issues highlighted by this tragic incident that require immediate fixing? To my mind, these are:

(1) Internal governance. Company’s must improve internal governance , especially for related party transactions and diversion of funds. We could be sitting on another time bomb with one promoter having raised grave issues against the other in Indigo.

(2) Sanctity of balance sheet- Promoter, directors, auditors, bankers need to collaborate and ensure that balance sheet reveals true state of affairs sans any artificially manufactured facts or figures.

(3) More friendly ecosystem- Not every default may be wilful and definitely not a fraud. Even the investigating agencies viz. CBI, SFIO, ED may not have bandwidth to handle so many cases ! To treat every case of default as fraud and nexus between borrower and financier may not be conducive to the economic growth of the country.

(4) Tax demands and attachment of accounts by the authorities for prolonged period of time can choke the company to death by blocking its working capital. In the event of doubt, further investigation must be undertaken but it should be unobtrusive.

(5) Bankers and promoters should build mutual trust and confidence so that in the times of emergency, company can get some relief and leeway instead of funds getting recalled.

We must make India an investor friendly, business friendly and preferred place of doing business and the tax, banking and investigative regimes must be made more sensitive. This will be a fitting tribute to a great visionary, who almost succeeded in building a chain that had the capability of becoming the first Multi country brand, till his heroic journey was cut short by cruel destiny. For now, let’s hope CCD and other businesses that VGS built survive and thrive. He might have died young and so did Steve Jobs – but like Apple acquired iconic status after his death, do should CCD after VGS’s death, which the managers/other directors running CCD and other companies must ensure!

RIP VGS!

Life is all about paradoxes and mysteries. The need is to constantly adapt to the changes and challenges being faced by us everyday.

Let me pose a philosophical question here? All of us,whether in our 30s, 40s, 50s or in the higher age brackets, still get a feeling that it was only yesterday that we were a kid in secured environs of our homes with our parents! Today, at whichever stage of our lives we find ourselves in, it seems that our schooling, higher education, the first job, marriage…. all happened in a jiffy as if it was only yesterday! Time simply seems to have flown at rocket’s pace. Speaking for myself, now that I have playthings in the form of two lovely cutie pies, my grandchildren, I fail to understand how come my daughter grew up so fast to be an independent entity living far away from me. And this is the design of life and applies to everyone who had a relatively peaceful and comfortable existence to date.

Readers must be wondering that it’s such a common feeling experienced by each one of us, failing to understand where lies paradox in all this? I will explain. The paradox is about the time already spent and elapsed and the time that’s yet to come! While it seems like yesterday when straight out of college, a scrawny, unsure of himself, young man, that’s me, joined his first job and it’s already been close to 36 years! However, the remaining tenure to superannuation, which is less than 3 years, seems like a mountain, very high and difficult to climb!

In another blog written a few months ago, I had touched upon the tendency to crave for the future. A child wants to grow big, when big one wants to acquire goodies of life and enjoy the same after meeting one’s responsibilities and by that time one becomes old and infirm! This is something of an offshoot of a similar feeling albeit a bit nuanced!

I think remediation for all this is to live in present and enjoy the moment! It’s easier said than done but is worth practising.

The denizens of this country have recently been through a roller coaster ride, confusing them whole lot whether they are in for a boon or a bane. It started with India’s super show in the World Cup cricket, including a convincing win over the arch rivals Pakistan, till the team’s meek surrender to Kiwis in semifinal, ending the team’s WC campaign. In between, Dhoni, Shami, Kuldeep became heroes one day and villains the other! Jadeja shone after being categorised as a “bits and pieces cricketer”.

Then came the concerns around monsoon. From weak monsoon affected by El Niño to plentiful of rains in some parts causing unprecedented floods, deaths and miseries, has left the people floundering whether to celebrate rains or worry ! Of course, while some parts have received and are receiving record rainfall, including our Mumbai, the drought like situation in Marathwada hasn’t improved much with some of the dams reporting less than 1% water holding of their total capacity! If the rains don’t catch up in next few days and become more fairly distributed, it’s going to cause catastrophe in over watered as well as under watered areas!

Towards the May end Modi Government came back to power with overwhelming majority and the first statement made by our PM was in favour of the need to include all sections of society in the growth agenda. However, the nation again witnessed a couple of cases of mob lynching, enough to divide the intelligentsia into worriers and warriors with 49 writing to PM against this polarisation and 62 opposing those 49! Mob mentality is a very fearsome phenomenon and no amount of security and law enforcement can totally arrest this unless the society itself realises the perils of this! Mob lynching tantamount to people taking law in to their own hands and stray instances have the potential to flare up in to a full fledged civil unrest. India has largely remained a tolerant and peace loving society and both the sets of ideologies will do their best by working on the ground level to make a difference rather than this showy gesture of shooting out their mouths and pens! Euphoria over Modi’s inclusive policies or dangers of the polarisation of communities and societies – both are a bit confusing!

Social media celebrated the cold reception on Imran’s arrival in US, but his clever manoeuvring in eliciting Trump’s mediation offer for settling Kashmir issue and restoration of US aid towards the end of his visit shifted celebration to the other side of the border!

Indian cricket team, rains, Modi’s inclusion agenda or Imran- all these are to be seen as events that have some very serious messaging in store for us! Let’s not view these are booms to celebrate or banes to lament , but as learning to improve our future. Let’s adopt water harvesting and plant trees, look at cricket as a mere game and encourage other sports also, spread the message of unity to wrest the initiative from these intellectuals who have lost credibility and leave Imran to Pakistan and worry about our beloved nation and all these would become boons for us!

Chandrayaan-1 was the first Indian lunar probe under Chandrayaan program. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008, and operated until August 2009. The mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor. India launched the spacecraft on 22 October 2008 at 00:52 UTC from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, at Sriharikota. The mission was a major boost to India’s space program, as India researched and developed its own technology in order to explore the Moon.The vehicle was inserted into lunar orbit on 8 November 2008. With Chandrayan 1, India entered the elite club of nations that had their flags hoisted on the Moon’s surface.

Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the Chandrayaan project on course in his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2003. The mission was a major boost to India’s space program. The nation shall always remain indebted to its one of the most charismatic sons, Vajpayee for his vision.

Chandrayaan 2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1.Developed by ISRO, the mission was launched from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 22 July 2019 at 2.43 PM IST. It consists of a lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed in India.The main scientific objective is to map the location and abundance of lunar water.

A successful landing would make India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the space agencies of the USSR, USA and China. If successful, Chandrayaan-2 will be the first mission to land at lunar south pole.

It’s moment of great pride for the Nation and it’s team of dedicated heroes working for ISRO. Under the proud leadership of the current ISRO chief, K Sivan, the team has achieved a great feat, providing the nation a great reason to rejoice. This is a great moment and all of us should pray that the mission achieves all its objectives beginning from soft landing to landing at lunar South Pole and ultimate lunar probe on the proposed agenda. The first objective of successful launch is already achieved.

For once let’s overcome World Cup disappointment, interest around Imran’s visit to US and dirty political game happening in Karnataka and celebrate Chandrayaan-2!

These are difficult times. On one hand, jobs are drying up and whatever jobs are left, artificial intelligence and robotics are replacing the manpower requirement. This technology ensures accurate and error free processing and untiring work 24X7 without the requirement of any break , with much faster processing.

Ironically, while unemployed youth are unhappy, those who have got jobs are also unhappy! They lament long working hours, stiff targets, insufficient compensation and limited opportunities of career enhancement. They look here and there for a change, but change does not appease them because new organisation is hardly different!

I, as a senior level manager leading a large team, am facing this challenge like never before. On one hand, increasing automation is creating a sense of insecurity in the staff on the prospects of continuity of their jobs. On the other hand, in the transition phase, they are being called upon to work extra hard by attending to their normal work as also facilitate automation. This is affecting their work life balance and creating dissatisfaction.

However, I view all this differently. For me, an age old saying, ” Work is worship”, is motto of my life. I feel blessed to have my plate full, even if it means stretching myself a bit. Also, I have recently come across a new concept that emphasises on the life itself, and especially work, being a celebration! As I read:

Everything we experience from food to clothes to shelter, the comforts and the luxuries we enjoy… are all rewards from the work we do.

*So, revere your workplace.*

*LET YOUR WORK BE YOUR PRAYER

Also, to my ambitious, restless, hurrying young friends, I will quote from the same source that says:

Anyone who plants a seed today and expects fruits tomorrow should relocate to another planet. It isn’t possible on planet earth.

Here, you don’t win unless you consistently and continuously back up your attitude to win with the attitude to prepare to win.

Eleventh hour preparations do not work beyond the ninth standard in school.

In life, preparation to win is a prerequisite to win.

Before you ask yourself or others, ‘Will you win?’, you’d better ask,

*Are you prepared to do what it takes to win?

Even after a career spanning almost 35 years, I have spring in my feet and song on my lips while coming to office. Every bit of new business enthuses may no end and every new challenge stimulates me to try harder. I also try to learn something new.

However, I neither like sermonising nor want to be a preacher. What I want to convey to all the youngsters, including my team members is that they should celebrate work and enjoy, because we are there as Work is there and we’re blessed because there are millions looking for work!

The above Doha by Sant Kabir ranks Guru higher than God, for realisation of God wouldn’t have been possible without the Guru.

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur devo Maheshwara,

Guru sakshat, Parma Brahma, tasmai Shri Guruvay nama.

Guru is Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Mahesh (destroyer) and I pay my obeisance to my Guru who helps me realise God by removing darkness.

Today is Guru Purnima. As per the legend, this was the day when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata – was born to sage Parashara and a fisherman’s daughter Satyavati; thus this day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima. As Veda Vyasa is universally acknowledged as a Guru, hence his birthday is celebrated as Guru Purnima.

In yogic lore, it is said that Guru Purnima was the day that saw Shiva become the Adi Guru, or the first Guru. The story goes that over 15,000 years ago, a yogi appeared in the upper regions of the Himalayas. Nobody knew what his origins were. But his presence was extraordinary, and people gathered. However, he exhibited no signs of life, but for the occasional tears of ecstasy that rolled down his face. People began to drift away, but seven men stayed on. When he opened his eyes, they pleaded with him, wanting to experience whatever was happening to him. He dismissed them, but they persevered. Finally, he gave them a simple preparatory step and ‘closed’ his eyes again. The seven men began to prepare. Days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, but the yogi’s attention did not fall upon them again. After 84 years of sadhana, on the summer solstice that marks the advent of Dakshinayana, the earth’s southern run, the yogi looked at them again. They had become shining receptacles, wonderfully receptive. He could not ignore them anymore. On the very next full moon day, the yogi turned south and sat as a Guru to these seven men. Shiva, the Adiyogi (the first yogi) thus became the Adi Guru. Adiyogi expounded these mechanics of life for many years. The seven disciples became celebrated as the Saptarishis and took this knowledge across the world.

In modern lore, when the education has become highly commercialised and Guru-shishya parampara a thing of the past, I have seen some posts on social media worshiping the most knowledgeable of all the Gurus – Google!Whether it’s Ved Vyasa, Adi Guru, our school/college teachers or “know all” Google, the theme of Guru Purnima is that knowledge should be respected and the source from where knowledge is obtained is more venerable than God itself. In that context, even our parents are our Gurus being responsible for the first knowledge bites! On this auspicious day, let’s make two easy resolutions – (1) knowledge is power and given its vastness let’s imbibe a small nugget each day and (2) let’s respect our elders, who bestow their blessings on us besides providing worldly knowledge, something that Google is incapable of!

Happy Guru Purnima!

Sunday saw two closely fought games- World Cup cricket final between the hosts England and New Zealand at Lords and Wimbledon Men’s single final between legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the Centre Court! Though, India was directly unconnected with both this big games, lovers of tennis and cricket were treated to a real feast.

The World Cup final was a game to die for. New Zealand, batting first, put up a moderate score and then fielded and bowled well to defend the target. However, heroic performances by the men for all seasons, Buttler and Stokes tied the scores, dragging the match into Super Over. At the end of two super overs, bowled by Boult for New Zealand and Archer for England, the scores were still tied. Finally the rules of the game came into play resulting in England getting declared as the Champion. You seldom get to see such a close encounter with nothing to choose between the two teams. Of course, I read some interesting trivia about the tournament. Pakistan was the only team team to have beaten both – England and New Zealand, while India lost to both, but defeated Pakistan most convincingly. We can conclude that while Pakistan is a giant killer, India is an effective killer 🤪. Something to rejoice for neutral spectators!

Joker- Federer game was the longest final game played ever in the history of Wimbledon. The eventual champion had to save two championship points. Amongst the three of them – Nadal, Novak and Federer have won 11 grand slam tournaments on the trot! Goes on to show the complete dominance by these top 3 players. A special mention must be made of Roger Federer, who at 37 continues to be a top player, having already registered his name in the list of “All time Greats” !

India had a great team but some poor strategy and planning and a bit of adverse luck, ensured that its campaign ended rather prematurely. Though, we saw some individual brilliance from Rohit, Kohli, Bumrah, Shami and Jadeja, probably that temperament to perform on the big day was lacking. In Tennis, after eclipse of Bhupathi and Paes, who won a few grand slam doubles by partnering each other as also other players, we have not really seen a talent capable of offering formidable challenge to top players. But let’s not forget that if cricketers did not fulfil our expectation and tennis was a distant dream, Dutee Chand won 100 metres gold in 2019 Summer Universiad and has brought great glory and cheers to our nation. Let’s encourage all sports persons and their disciplines and that may lessen the load of expectations that we put on our cricketers!

Recently while commentating for the World Cup cricket, former cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar created furore by calling all rounder Ravindra Jadeja a “bits and pieces player”. It’s a different story altogether that Ravindra Jadeja paid back by playing the knock of his life in the semifinal fixture between India and New Zealand.

But why so much noise has been created on this admittedly unwanted comment ! There was a time in cricket when we had 5 specialist batsmen, 5 specialist bowlers and a wicketkeeper. Once the first five batsmen were out, wicket keeper, who could bat a bit would delay the end of the innings for a few overs along with tailenders. Tailenders were not expected to last more than a few balls- remember Bedi, Prasanna and Chandra, who went inside just to come back. Though we did have all rounders earlier- Gary Sobers, Vinu Mankad etc., genuine all rounders came much later. We had Eknath Solkar, who could bat a bit, bowl a bit but could also merit a place in side on the strength of his fielding as also Abid Ali, Ghavri etc. However, the respect for all rounders got cemented firmly by the troika of Botham, Imran and Kapil and all rounders actually became strength of a team rather than being bits and pieces players.

Ravindra Jadeja should not take any offence to this unwanted comment by Manjrekar. For once, all all -rounders in that sense are bits and pieces players for they can do a bit of this, a bit of that and a bit of everything. By this analogy, Sanjay has inadvertently placed Ravindra in the grand company great all rounders as named above. Secondly, the comment itself came from a player who himself was a bits and pieces player averaging 33 in 37 odd tests that he played! An ordinary player cannot be expected to have an extraordinary judgement!

What if someone fires you for even the minutest of your mistake or omission, is highly temperamental, speaks his mind and is absolutely blunt? Fear him? Avoid him? Dislike him? No, not quite! Not if the person in question is Mr V K Malik.

I was a young, scrawny, immature, Mama’s boy probationary officer, leaving my parents for the first time in life to report at Ludhiana office for 3 months training. I reached late in the evening and decided to check-in at a hotel as Punjab terrorism was at its peak and it was very unsafe to move around after dusk. Next morning, very unsure of myself, I reported at the branch and bumped into this gentleman. He spoke aggressively, had a tremendous gait and seemed to be a man in hurry, very unlike staid, chair bound bankers. But in no time I could make out that behind this aggression, speed, restlessness, no-nonsense facade was a very tender and affectionate heart. What he put up was just a pretence! Inside it was all very soft tender, eager to go out of way to help a needy or give comfort to even a stranger! Who was I to him? No one- a nomad coming for a few months and then moving ahead in life! I could have served no purpose to him and yet he went out of way; patiently taught me work, took care of my accommodation and meals, protected me in a strange city and virtually took me under his wings to make my stay at Ludhiana memorable!

As aforesaid, I moved on and like any ordinary selfish human being forgot him, till I needed him again at a new Centre. Again I was a nomad coming to a strange centre and this time with wife and a kid in tow! There he was like an angel – ready to come to my rescue once again and supporting me and my family till I got my bearings back.

A highly intelligent man from a very literate family, his father being a dentist and elder brothers in top notch jobs, he suffered professionally for his attitude that was uncompromising to the hilt. Always calling a spade a spade, this hierarchical system requiring boss management never suited him and he suffered punishment postings and delayed promotions till he decided to quit and avail of a voluntary retirement plan at his prime. But I have seldom seen any regret on his face. He actually feels relieved and liberated and has been living peacefully with his daughter’s family by his side. Actually both his daughters are so caring and affectionate that it belies the myth that sons are required for care during old age. He continues to display same passion for whatever he’s doing – cleaning, gardening, cooking or just reading!

What have I learnt from him ?Self respect, uncompromising attitude on certain principles, never say die spirit, daredevilry, plain speaking, meticulousness and of course, spirit of helping others with or without him or her soliciting the same!

I am lucky to have known him and on his 75th Birthday wish him, great health and life till life immemorial because people like him have so much to do selflessly for others! I wish Mrs Malik also for her rock solid support by managing children single handedly all the while he used to be away to those god forsaken places as punishment posting.