The birds returned to the tree a few days after we finished painting it. I like to think it was not coincidence but our hand. The birds have stayed on ever since. And the magical tree has taken on a different form.
A letter to my COVID-19 fears
A few days ago, I chanced upon a wonderful piece of advice by the much-loved author, Elizabeth Gilbert. Although she recommends it before embarking on a creative project, the advice would be apt for our current times as well: Write a letter to your fear. Here’s what Elizabeth wrote to her fears before embarking on…
An invitation
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way. And there are always choices to make.” One might find these words very idyllic and, perhaps, impractical. But as they say, there’s always a story. A…
World Heritage Day: A narrative to revive the globe
This year, amidst the global corona phenomenon, the spotlight on world heritage is even more telling: exploring the theme of our shared cultures, shared heritage, shared responsibility
Love in the time of Covid-19
Bursting with life, happy, opening up to the promise of a new day – those lovely lotuses float casually in the morning breeze, life’s philosophy shining amidst its dew.
How I became Hanuman: My life & times
My story is simple, and ordinary. At every step, I acted for my Lord. Yes, even before I was born as Bajrang.
A team leader’s guide on effective remote teamwork
You, as a leader, can add to a sense of calm, and encourage your team towards finding a sense of normalcy.
A silent change
I remember the hurt, pain, anger and the high-pitched voice. Traveling over the water to a pair of puny, giggling schoolboys. The setting was unusual. Although I was a spectator that scene has not left me for over 25 years. It all started with a simple swimming class. An old-fashioned cork float with heavy ropes…
Why the Chhichhore engineers make us question inner peace
The basketball is tipping around the edges (slow motion!), and you desperately want it to go in. It’s a Bollywood film you think, of course the ball will go through the net. But the wait is tantalizing. They say cinema and literature hold a mirror to society. The movie Chhichhore holds one such mirror for…
When a warm popcorn kernel hits you in the eye
And how to recover from it People often say: a penny for your thoughts. How about popcorn instead? How many bagfuls of popcorn can you pack! My machine runneth over. Let me explain: I decided to do a little experiment. Each time, my mind harkened a distant memory, squirmed at the thought of the future…
Some ancient secrets to stay motivated
Let’s face it. It’s not easy and is not going to be. It’s not possible to stay happy all the time. It’s not possible to have faith in yourself every day. And, it’s not possible to always believe in your dreams. Reality kicks in, obstacles surface and life is not as hunky-dory as we would…
A surprise discovery at India’s only Pashupatinath temple
Sometimes we get unknown perks just by flying by. A chance journey and a last minute plan. Well, that’s another story. But what happened was this. We decided to go on a road trip from Maharashtra to Rajasthan. As providence would have it, we passed by the little town called Mandsaur. I confess, I’ve never…
Begins with me... 