Stories from the grassroots | Thoughts on development | Lessons on leadership
“Corruption has been blamed for many of the challenges India as a nation faces today, and rightly so. Corruption in public offices has reached a level where most people believe and indulge in it as if that is the norm.… Continue reading
A few weeks ago, a friend called to inquire about a US University to which his son had secured admission. He was concerned as this particular university did not figure in the top 100 Universities on the QS rankings. He was worried whether spending so much money on his son’s higher education was worth it and what exactly the significance of the QS rankings was? … Continue reading
The world is now gaga over the need for Social Enterprises and how impactful they are capable of becoming. People are increasingly looking for providing solutions to societal problems while at the same time ensuring a reasonable profit while doing so.… Continue reading
Listen to some of my thoughts shared on this subject in a talk that I delivered for DISHA-Bharat a few days ago.
An elderly person met me recently and wanted to know some details about the ongoing COVID vaccination program. He was keen on understanding whether it would be better to get the shot at the government hospital are at a private hospital nearby.… Continue reading
“Development has been a buzzword in the past few years which has been used and abused to shape the political and economic dimensions of entire nations. It is projected as a broad purpose and justification of all activities, often without answering the questions of whose development and how.… Continue reading
On a personal level, it is indeed a delight to read or listen to a review of one’s book. Recently a friend shared this wonderful video where Sri Gurupada Belur, one of Karnataka’s well known engineers shares his view of my book ‘Leadership lessons for Daily Living’.… Continue reading
Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts and ideas on education have been studied, often quoted and has inspired several Institutions to start schools and colleges. From the conceptual understanding of what education needs to be, to making it both pragmatic at the individual and community level, Swami Vivekananda’s ideas are both relevant and necessary.… Continue reading
Recently, one saw a mockery of the statement ‘first amongst equals’ in the state of Karnataka. Constitutionally, the head of government is the chief minister at the state level while the Prime Minister is at the national level.… Continue reading
Swami Vivekananda’s life and message continues to inspire millions of people around the world. Describing him and his work is like trying to describe God…One can do it in so many ways depending on one’s beliefs, experiences and perspectives. Instead of spending time on trying to unpack him and his message intellectually, it is more rewarding to try and live it on a daily basis.… Continue reading
This is the talk that I gave on the occasion of Vivekananda Jayanthi at the Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies on January 11, 2021. Swami Vivekananda never ceases to inspire and one feels that one has only scratched the surface in trying to understand his message.… Continue reading
Over time, I have given several interviews and have spoken at several forums. Each one has been different and taught me several lessons. They have also given me the time and space to reflect on the questions that had been asked and my own life too.… Continue reading
The last couple of weeks has seen discussions around the vaccine for COVID and whether they are safe and effective. While each person is entitled to his/her own view, it can indeed be confusing listening to the several experts and political commentators about this issue. … Continue reading
Early last week, I was invited to a one-to-one meeting with Ms Nirmala Sitharaman ji, the Union Finance minister to share inputs on the forthcoming budget. She was keen on understanding the fiscal policy aspirations of the NGO sector and other insights into how best to grow the rural economy.… Continue reading
The inequities that India’s caste system has created has been attempted to be stalled or reversed through the constitutional mandate of Affirmative action. Increasingly, one has forgotten the basic tenet of ensuring justice and fairness to all citizens and the sociopolitical eco-system has only been exploiting the sentiments of religion and caste.… Continue reading