Lessons From Golf

 Sport teaches you many things. Football and Cricket thrive on teamwork. Basketball on shooting ability to score. Defence too, in some of the team games. What about Golf? It can teach you a few things.

1. Planning a shot. You have choices, starting with what Club to use. Where you want to reach.

2. Concentration. While hitting the shot, all energy is focused on the ball and the swing of the club, or the Putt, on the green. 

3. Visualising. On a green, particularly, it's tricky because of slopes-up or down, the behaviour of the ball, because the green can be fast or slow depending on the moisture, grass length and so on. 

4. Execution. For all the planning, and the right grip, stance etc., how you play the shot matters the most. 

5. Consistency matters more than genius in one or two shots. It's a long haul. 

6. Practice on a given course matters, in addition to generic practice. Understanding the course you are playing on is important. 

Translate these into life learnings, or work.

One on Cocktails

 I recently interviewed Ravi, a friend in Calicut, on his interests, that focused on Cocktails. This is the link to the chat, on my Chat Masala Youtube channel. 

https://youtu.be/hPkDNWxyM3I

Craft Beer

Bangalore has been a pioneer in the Internet Cafe and IT Mindset, and everything tech. But also in craft beer. I remember some visits to Biere Club, one of the first place in the Vittal Mallya Road area. Went there a few times with Avinash Mulky and other friends. 

Toit, in Indiranagar was just starting up when I went there with students, Sunny, Jimmy, and Mukesh of KIAMS. Now we have a TOIT in Pune too. 

Bangalore now has several pubs and craft beer places, in JP Nagar too. Bramha Brews is one large place. Others are also quite popular.  

The good thing about craft beer is that it is fresh, taste includes various flavours, and includes both light and dark varieties. I am not a big beer drinker, but craft beer is an exception.

In Kolkata too, I tried two or three places, in Park Street (Roman theme) and Galleria mall.

My Predictions for the Elections in Summer 2026

 It's fashionable to predict what will happen. It also was lucrative at one point. Now, if a party funds you, it may still be.

But I am adding a twist to the prediction game. I am predicting how things may turn out for people like you and me- the Aam Admi, in whichever state the elections are happening. Names ending in 'ni' not included.

1. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

2. Petrol prices will rise. So will a few other essentials, partly to offset doles announced.

3. Liquor prices may rise, for the same reason as above.

4. The first six months will look as if there are bright days ahead.. not using acchhe din, as it's copyrighted.

5. From month 7 to the next election, it will seem like a long wait for change. Refer to 1 above.

Noise and Elections

 The brouhaha over elections in some Indian states is almost over. The counting is on May 4th, a big day for individual contenders and the Parties in the fray. So who will celebrate with a party on that day?

I don't have any guesses, because the Indian voter throws up surprises quite often. What now seems like a pattern, is that Southern States will vote a regional party, but I have no idea what Bengal will do.

But whoever wins, the lot of the common man seems to change very little. Jobs are probably stagnant, and so are wages at the bottom of the (large) pyramid. So what will anyone in that position gain from whoever comes to power is a moot point.

The elite usually continue to flourish, no matter who wins. The era of big ticket reforms kicked off in 1991 is almost over, and India will continue growing at 5-7 percent, due to its large population, as a whole. How that translates into the well-being of different segments is what really matters. 

Zen Katha- Play Review

 Saw this in Pune yesterday (April 26, 2026). Directed by Lillette Dubey, it's the story of Bodhi dharma, a proponent of Buddhism and Dhyana, which became known as Zen. Brilliant in its direction, and acting, and Sets and Lighting. The scenes depicting China are particularly well done. Actors play multiple roles, barring the lead players. A great message too. 

Golf Training

 I played Golf starting from my days at Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies in Harihar, around 1996. My colleagues Dhanapal and Vijayakumar, and YK Gaur, were my partners. Occasionally, got to play in Bangalore with friends- Ravi at BGC, or Muthu at KGA. But in later years, I found opportunities to start training students and faculty in playing Golf, when I was at IMT Nagpur. We actually created a Green and played in the evenings, and trained our students and colleagues. 

At IIM Indore, I used the cricket ground to play a few shots, and trained some students and faculty in the basics. Also a few MDP participants from various companies. 

At NMIMS Bangalore just after the COVID pandemic, we started playing on a green patch in campus, and many faculty or staff picked up the basic drive and Putt. It was great fun and the institute bought a kit subsequently.

I think schools or institutions should, where they have some space, try and teach this unique sport - it's not very expensive to do just a couple of shots and some putting. And the bragging rights for students are priceless!