Anopheles and I Discuss Corona

Not the beer, but the virus, also called COVID-19. Anopheles, as some of you know, is my female friend from the mosquito world. She and I have chatted before about many things that affect both our worlds.

Anopheles: Hello again!

I: Hi, long time no see..where have you been?

A: Nowhere in particular, just chilling and staying at home..

I: Hey, that's EXACTLY what we are supposed to do now, due to this Corona thing..

A: What Corona thing?

I: Haven't you been watching the news? Oh, sorry, you don't have TV channels..there's this virus. Called the Corona, and passed on by human contact.

A: Oh, so you can't blame it on us mosquitoes like you tend to all the time,..and what caused it to come around with such great force?

I: Trump thinks the Chinese did it while mixing up some exotic sauces.. but they think it was Budweiser trying to copy a Mexican brand of beer!

A: Hilarious! Sorry, I don't mean to be frivolous, but you mean He and Xi are still fighting?

I: (taking a different tack) Well, that's our lot, isn't it? Battle of the Sexes. Who would want to give up on their Superpower status without a fight? (I was now curious)..don't you have fights between Male and Female mosquitoes?

A: Not at all, the males we have are completely useless, and can't do anything well-not even fight. We do all the food-gathering, and educate our kids about what's good and bad!

She said bye at that, and I said, we would meet again, Corona willing.

Explaining Corona to a Hyderabadi

Hyderabadis are quite rugged, and have survived the plague, Irani chai hotel waiters, and the like. It's not easy to get them to panic. Here is a brave attempt.

Panicking Man (P.M.): (trying to get Hyderabadi to panic)- Kya karre miya? Itta bhi light mat lo..Bahar nakko jao bole na aapku?

Hyderabadi (H): Magar kaiku bolre, bolo na?

P.M.: Ek virus rehta babu, Corona naam ka, unhe jump maarke aapku pakad leta, iske waaste bolre miya..

H: Hau? Yeh viruson ku koi kaam nahi hai kya? Kaiku to bhi idhar se udhar koodrein? Ek jagah nahin baith sakte?

P.M.: Aisich dikhra, aapke jaisich.. ek jagah aapku bhi baitho bolke bolre..ghar mein baithke biryani kha sakte na? Bahar mat niklo bole, uttaich.

H: Chillar kar dere na? Ghar mein baithe to ab tak biwi chillari thi, baahar niklo, kuchh kaam karo bolke. Ab bahar gaye to musibat. Magar biryani kaisa banate? Gosht to lana padinga pehle, markit se..

P.M.: Nahin miya, home dilivary karte katey sab logaan, gosht bechnewale bhi, aur chawal bechnewale bhi..

H: Aisa? Abbich phone lagatun unku.. Begum, tab tak zara chai-ich pilado na,..

..and though he refused to actually panic, the Hyderabadi settled down on his diwan, and waited for his chai..

Why Predictions Are Iffy

Predictions, barring a few, are iffy. Newspapers wrote reams, and business news channels expended hours with "experts" about everything from stock prices, movements of indices, and oil prices per barrel, in the months leading up to the Corona crisis.

And what do you have now?

Sensex at 29,000 instead of 41,000

Oil prices at 30 dollars a barrel instead of 60 and climbing

Consumer sentiment at zilch

Job cuts in most sectors, unprecedented in aviation, tourism and allied sectors like hotels, restaurants (except where they have home-delivery options)

The most-in-demand are doctors who have sane advice, and politicians who have their hearts in the right place- a few may still be around.

Those who keep the wheels running in these tough times, well, hats off to all of them.

The Convocation That Was Not

By this time next week, we would have finished our Convocation, had things gone according to plan. The Corona Virus has changed all that, and staying healthy has taken precedence over gatherings of any type. That does not mean that we cannot wish our graduating students well, the ceremony postponement notwithstanding.

Had a lot of good times, and good memories of all my courses, from different programs. Doctoral students who were a part of my courses, and whose committees I was a part of, included. The last batch of PGP-Mumbai, PGP-MX students from the Weekend program in Mumbai, and regular MBA/IPM students from our own campus, there were many I taught.

Here's wishing all graduating IIM Indore students a great career ahead, and a wonderful life too- in other words, a Work-Life balance that they will cherish. Hope you will keep coming back to your Alma Mater, one way or another.

Sanchi Visit 2020

Madhya Pradesh has so much to offer a tourist. I am a resident tourist, now for six years. While in Nagpur, I had visited Pench, a Tiger Reserve, and Bhedaghat near Jabalpur. But had never been to Sanchi near Vidisha before. Well, I can say I did it, and am happy that I did! Here are some pics of the amazing monuments there, which were built from 3rd century B.C. till the recent centuries, by different people. Some are very well-preserved, and the beauty has to be seen to be believed. See for yourself-

An Amazing Community

A few years ago, a former student (from 1991, XIMB) introduced me to a music group (online) which is into old Hindi film songs (which I simply adore). Since then, I have enjoyed being on the group, and when we decided to have a physical meeting in Hyderabad sometime ago, jumped at the chance. Then, the group only grew bigger -it also has a couple of my young students- and we recently had our second meet in a Bangalore resort. These pics only demonstrate a fraction of what went on..sheer magic, with all activities built around music- quizzes, stories, new friendships, reminiscences- and singing! Every pic has at least one friend I met for the first time (physically) from this amazing group/or their families.

Corona Virus

Suddenly, it seems as though the end of the world is near. There is a virus named Covid-19 that resembles a cold or flu virus, and is doing the rounds and spreading fast. Did Nostradamus predict this? not sure, but some novel seems to have talked about it, with the precise location-Wuhan-pinpointed.

Tourism and airlines will of course take a big hit, just when we were hoping that 2020 vision will the world soaring to new heights. What can we do? Wring our hands? No, wash our hands -apparently, the best protection from catching the virus..apart from building general immunity.

Remember, there was the AIDS, Hepatitis A or B, Swine Flu, Mad Cow Disease, SARS and a few other modern-day viruses that were thought to have the capability to wipe us out, but unlike dinosaurs, we have survived. Till now. Here's hoping we continue to..take care, and wash hands often.