Reflections

 Navigating the Real World Through The Gita:  Karm, Inaction, the Inevitable Blowback, and Yogakshem We speak of The Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta often; we even state that it is applicable to modern life. Yet, few of us daily people try to articulate what it means in a real world context. In this small thought experiment, I am attempting this daunting task – please forgive me for any errors – they arise from my own lack of understanding. I am not a Guru – just a learner studying the book daily for at least 10 years.   When analyzing the Bhagavad Gita, it is easy to get lost in theoretical theology. But the Gita is, when applied, a manual for navigating the real world. In a recent discussion, I found myself categorizing the concepts of Karm and Akarm into four distinct parts: .        Understanding karm or akarm , Thinking about others' karm, Focusing on your own karm, and Finally, forgetting (rather than just forgiving) others' karm. (Before I proceed – t...

  Why Large Indian Corporates Fail at Innovation A recent piece in the Business Standard accurately pointed out a glaring problem in India’s business landscape: while our startups build frontier tech and the government successfully drives massive digital and defense innovations, our large, legacy private corporations are lagging. The popular consensus often blames this on "rent-seeking"—the idea that large incumbents are too comfortable operating as oligopolies in protected markets to bother with R&D and building innovative ideas and stoking innovation and experimentation in their organisations.   While rent-seeking is certainly a factor, in my long experience of large organisations, it is not the predominant one. When you spend decades in the trenches of corporate strategy and execution, a very different reality emerges. Companies do not actively hold board meetings and vote against innovation. Instead, they fail because of a massive structural and cultural misali...

A NOTE ON SPIRITUAL SATISFACTION What is satisfaction? What does Santushti imply in reality? When I ask this question, I am speaking of Satisfaction, Santushti in its deepest, most profound state. A state wherein one’s mind is at peace, calm and tranquil, a state where there are no ripples in your mind, or any emotions in your heart. That stillness, that calm is true satisfaction. It is most often confused with acceptance, or even compromise – the difference is in both,   the burning desire to achieve / possess / do something remains. But in a state of satisfaction, this desire is also quelled – leaving a calm motionless lake. In its crudest form, Satisfaction is always used in reference to a specific need or want; that is a superficial look at the term, and is typically a temporary state. In such a temporary stage, the core desire remains, and that, with time, again lights the fires of desire, ambition etc. This leads to a mind that is full of thoughts, emotions, feelin...

Irrationally Passionate Jason Kothari The Book The book is the story of the life of Jason Kothari, an autobiography if you will. Jason Kothari is a prominent Indian Business Leader, a professional manager plus an entrepreneur. He is currently the CEO of Emaar, and has in the past held prominent roles as  former CEO of Freecharge, Housing.com, and Snapdeal. He is also the former CEO of the USA based Valiant Entertainment, which deserves a special mention inasmuch as Valiant is a success story that Jason scripted from literally the dustbin; a once-great corporation with a millions-strong revenue history, and once-strong valuations, but now up for sale – which he bid for, and won, while a kid just out of college, and with zero cash; yes – no money . And from there, Mr Kothari crafted a success story that is stunner… It dives into exhaustive detail of each of his professional tenures, with generous details of his personal life as well. Jason Kothari was educated througho...

Startup Secrets From The Ramayan Prachi Garg The Ramayan is not a scripture one would normally connect with something like a Startup; sounds, well, zany, at least at first thought. Even at a second thought, the connection may not be apparent; so my advice, think a little again. For, from one POV, that is exactly what Prabhu Shri Ram did : Startup, afresh-anew, with minimal resources and an uncertain external world. Now if that isn’t the literal definition of a startup, I don’t know what is! The Book This is a book that certainly breaks in a style that continues to break fresh ground; representing a time-honoured scripture in a learning that is mesmerizing, and well-laid-out. The concept is similar to what is stated above: an entrepreneur decides to separate from his existing business etc, and sets up anew in a new city and a new business. He, alongwith his family – Wife, Younger Brother – sets off to build a thriving business, and expanding all over, including Lanka....