My kids 100% relate to this.
This morning the weather was better in Gurgaon after the rains. So I went for a walk. There was a lot on my mind and I wanted to walk it off.
The first person I came across during my walk was a janitor going to work. I stopped in front of him to greet him. And immediately caught myself. This isn't Karnataka, Maharashtra or Himachal. This is Haryana. Best not to rock the caste/class boat. So I stood there silently for a second, then walked on.
I am well adjusted.
The first person I came across during my walk was a janitor going to work. I stopped in front of him to greet him. And immediately caught myself. This isn't Karnataka, Maharashtra or Himachal. This is Haryana. Best not to rock the caste/class boat. So I stood there silently for a second, then walked on.
I am well adjusted.
@[100063777711947:2048:Thinvent] has finally decided to raise our Series A 😀 👏
Two years ago. Our last day in Japan. A hurried visit to the beach.
Nilay: I must have beaches. Always. Always.
Nilay: I must have beaches. Always. Always.
In the center of Mahabaleshwar's main market is a statue of Babasaheb. Under the statue, as is customary, his degrees are listed in a sequence.
This unique custom is not followed for other Indian leaders, some of whom were also highly educated (though no one came close to his academic achievements). Probably because, for a dalit in pre Independence India to achieve these heights was fantastic, and his scholarly achievements still give pride to all Indians, particularly the bahujans.
One afternoon as we walked past this statue, I proudly showed it to my kids. The kids had just had a round of strawberries with cream. It was raining, they had been bought new raincoats, their tummies were full, and a bit of splashing in puddles was going on. All the good stuff that makes childhood such a joy. You could say that the kids were on a sugar high.
They were amused that someone could spend so much of their life in amassing degrees. This annoyed me. Then they noticed the bar-at-law and all started laughing. "Is there a bar in the court? Do they serve drinks?" I tried to explain that the bar-at-law referred to him being a barrister, or being "before the bar(rier)" in a courtroom - an officer of the court.
The kids didn't care for my explanations and kept laughing. I contained my annoyance within myself and walked silently. Later Nilay came and gave me a hug and apologised for making fun of someone who clearly meant a lot to me.
I don't know why the incident has stayed with me. Even recalling the incident is making me emotional. And yet, isn't this exactly the kind of idol/hero worship that Ambedkar rallied against all his life. I am sure that instead of me, if it was him walking with the kids that day, he would have joined in and made fun of himself, instead of being annoyed.
We make great people even greater by putting them on a pedestal. While we continue to stay small and petty ourselves.
This unique custom is not followed for other Indian leaders, some of whom were also highly educated (though no one came close to his academic achievements). Probably because, for a dalit in pre Independence India to achieve these heights was fantastic, and his scholarly achievements still give pride to all Indians, particularly the bahujans.
One afternoon as we walked past this statue, I proudly showed it to my kids. The kids had just had a round of strawberries with cream. It was raining, they had been bought new raincoats, their tummies were full, and a bit of splashing in puddles was going on. All the good stuff that makes childhood such a joy. You could say that the kids were on a sugar high.
They were amused that someone could spend so much of their life in amassing degrees. This annoyed me. Then they noticed the bar-at-law and all started laughing. "Is there a bar in the court? Do they serve drinks?" I tried to explain that the bar-at-law referred to him being a barrister, or being "before the bar(rier)" in a courtroom - an officer of the court.
The kids didn't care for my explanations and kept laughing. I contained my annoyance within myself and walked silently. Later Nilay came and gave me a hug and apologised for making fun of someone who clearly meant a lot to me.
I don't know why the incident has stayed with me. Even recalling the incident is making me emotional. And yet, isn't this exactly the kind of idol/hero worship that Ambedkar rallied against all his life. I am sure that instead of me, if it was him walking with the kids that day, he would have joined in and made fun of himself, instead of being annoyed.
We make great people even greater by putting them on a pedestal. While we continue to stay small and petty ourselves.
Anyone else interested in attending this?
Maggi is the great equaliser:
Price of veggie Maggi at a small rainswept shop running under a tarp, at tourist spot in Mahabaleshwar reachable only by walking for a mile along a foggy path: ₹50
Price of veggie Maggi at a swanky café inside an office block in a major city: ₹50
Price of veggie Maggi at a small rainswept shop running under a tarp, at tourist spot in Mahabaleshwar reachable only by walking for a mile along a foggy path: ₹50
Price of veggie Maggi at a swanky café inside an office block in a major city: ₹50
The rains. The rains. ⛲🌧️⛈️☔
The city has instantly gone from searing hot to flooded. The metro is mostly at a standstill. The roads are jammed.
But its raining 😁
The city has instantly gone from searing hot to flooded. The metro is mostly at a standstill. The roads are jammed.
But its raining 😁
Café in my office block has a refrigerated treasure box of goodies. Including Nutties 😍
Suggest adjectives to describe my Uber ride this morning 🤩
My day hasn't even begun and it has brightened up already 🌞
My day hasn't even begun and it has brightened up already 🌞
Beautiful blue skies with soft, cottony clouds painted shades of pearl and silver. AQI 130. If you are in Gurgaon now, step out and enjoy this once in an year marvel. It's still quite hot outside. Perhaps your workplace or home has a window with a view of the sky.
मेरी life ना हुई, TikTok के किसी second grade channel की script हो गई। जिसे देखो हँस रहा है।
Just moments ago, I realised that when food is "battered", it isn't beaten up in the kitchen before cooking. It is in fact merely covered in batter before frying.
I always thought the cook takes the vegetables and beats them with a rolling pin or something till they are softer and easier to chew.
I always thought the cook takes the vegetables and beats them with a rolling pin or something till they are softer and easier to chew.
All smiles
The #ghats are such an unstoppable adventure
A one, a two, a three and a four
#waterPark
#waterPark
Some people are grossed out by water parks.
Others take to them like a fish takes to water
Others take to them like a fish takes to water
तूफ़ान और रास्ता
बहुत #coolboy
Shruminate on these
Another composition by S1
और फिर जैसे ही नीली छतरी वाले को ज़ोर से छींक आई, चारों तरफ़ पानी ही पानी बरस गया, हरियाली ही हरियाली छा गई, फूल ही फूल उग गए
और फिर जैसे ही नीली छतरी वाले को ज़ोर से छींक आई, चारों तरफ़ पानी ही पानी बरस गया, हरियाली ही हरियाली छा गई, फूल ही फूल उग गए
S2. Always stands straight for a pic.
S1 captured these candid pics of M2 and M1.
What do you think of them?
What do you think of them?
I got videobombed while trying to take a video of S2
This might be the last of S1's pics with me.
What do you think about it? Nature from the eyes of a twelve year old. Does the imagery talk to you?
What do you think about it? Nature from the eyes of a twelve year old. Does the imagery talk to you?
There will come times in your life when you need to decide between spending time with your child and taking care of work/home/life.
Listen to https://open.spotify.com/track/5x9RZg7HfXGY3JayXL3seF before you decide. It has always helped me prioritise.
Listen to https://open.spotify.com/track/5x9RZg7HfXGY3JayXL3seF before you decide. It has always helped me prioritise.
A candid moment captured by S1. I have no clue what M1 is up to here.
Freddiebhai Mercurywale
पानी
बादल
ऊर्जा
जीवन
बादल
ऊर्जा
जीवन
How #green is my #valley?
Met up with Pepe the Don after an eternity. Some people truly never change. It's amazing. The same cheerful voice and bright smile.
Just yesterday I posted Stephen Fry talking about his love for language, and disdain for linguistic nazis. Yes, spelling and grammar aren't very important, and we mustn't make fun of others. And then I saw this.
I mean, if you have access to transportation by fairy, I don't think you need to bother with the realm of mortal humans, asking questions on our primitive means of mass communication (Facebook) about our primitive means of mass transportation (ferry).
I mean, if you have access to transportation by fairy, I don't think you need to bother with the realm of mortal humans, asking questions on our primitive means of mass communication (Facebook) about our primitive means of mass transportation (ferry).
I could say many, many things on the subject but I'd rather just stand back and let Stephen do all the talking. His passion is infectious.
Useless time wasting people of the Internet. Do something useful for a change. Listen to my friend's video, like, share and support na. Do some good this Sunday.
Facebook keeps removing the original post, which is here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156066469821010&id=651746009
Facebook keeps removing the original post, which is here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156066469821010&id=651746009
😍
(drool)
Mahindra kicks so much butt. Making truly global mechanical products.
(drool)
Mahindra kicks so much butt. Making truly global mechanical products.
Even though the #children can't venture into the #sea, they are still #excited to see it after a long #road trip.
The sea at #Kashid is pretty rough. No chance of venturing even near the sea.
More #gnarly #trees to #haunt you at night @ Murud-Janjira
And then, across hills, fields, villages, palm trees and beaches, we could see the sea.
Looking at all these trees being uprooted for road widening work, I have diabolical idea 💡
What if we increased consumption of products that came off of trees. Like, live trees, not wood and paper. Tree fruits, coir, etc.
It would still lead to rain forests being replaced by plantations.
Not even bandwidth to research the idea. I'm sure someone's gotten to the bottom of this already.
What if we increased consumption of products that came off of trees. Like, live trees, not wood and paper. Tree fruits, coir, etc.
It would still lead to rain forests being replaced by plantations.
Not even bandwidth to research the idea. I'm sure someone's gotten to the bottom of this already.
Busy buzzy #bees @ Pratapgad Fort
Which one do you like?
The sounds of water @ Pratapgad Fort
#झरना #waterfall
The magical sounds of nature.
The magical sounds of nature.
We are leaving these behind
फूलों की कमी नहीं यहाँ @ Mahabaleshwar
कुछ फूल बगीचे के
#flowers #mahabaleshwar @ Mahabaleshwar
#flowers #mahabaleshwar @ Mahabaleshwar
The happiest café owner ever. She was delighted to have the opportunity to feed all the children, and did remarkably well.
#art #devrai @ Devrai Art Village
#art #devrai @ Devrai Art Village
This is too beautiful for me to be able to caption.
Water lilies
Contemplating on the #pond
What a beautiful campus
#flowers #sculpture
The picture is hastily taken. But if you zoom in, you'll see the artist has depicted the balance between industrialisation and conservation very beautifully.
The view
Unlike my children, my niece Sanjoli likes being photographed, and likes photographing me.