Recently, I watched the movie Governor , wherein the lead actor, Mr. Manoj Bajpayee, plays the RBI Governor, Mr. Raman, who arguably steered the Indian economy through the BoP crisis of 1991. The protagonist displays exemplary grit, resilience and a never-give-up attitude amidst the turbulent and chaotic political landscape of the country during that period. Seeing that grit, I was reminded of my college days—days which, in hindsight, I think I can cherish for having exhibited some resilience and grit, though towards my personal goals. December 2014 was a testing time for me. I was in the 5th Semester of my college, and we were scheduled to appear for the University Entry Scheme (UES) Interviews of the Indian Army. At the same time, I was among the selected students to represent the University at Mood Indigo , the prestigious annual cultural festival of IIT-Bombay, which was scheduled to be held during the last week of December. We were also to appear for the Major (Term-end) examinati...
The year 2025 has indeed been a roller-coaster ride for quite a lot of us. Highs and lows came unannounced, often overlapping, leaving little time to pause and reflect. Yet, as the year draws to a close, reflection becomes inevitable. If I were to sum up 2025 for myself in a few words, it would be: Patience, Gratitude, Calmness, Trust, Perseverance, and Health. On both personal and professional fronts, life has been humbling with every passing day. One of the most important lessons I learnt is that when you let go of your ego, carry goodwill, and act with bona fide intentions, the Invisible Hand somehow takes care of you. There is a quiet reassurance in surrendering yourself to the Almighty. Once you do that, you realise that the universe, in its own way, aligns things for you. Of late, many people have been describing me as calm and stable. While I appreciate the observation, my own understanding of calmness is slightly different. To me, calmness is chaos...