Gallivanting in Mumbai

 Gallivanting in Mumbai.. BKC etc. Bay Route and more for eats..

Single Malts - Kilchoman and More

 I got introduced to the class of Whisky called Single Malts, around twenty years ago when I lived in Bangalore, and Prabhakar, a friend, ran his own company. He travelled to the U.K. and elsewhere frequently, and brought back a couple of Malts from there. We experimented, not knowing the right way to drink it. After some failed experiments, we finally got it. Neat, or with a bit of water is best. I think we started with a Glenfiddich (pronounced with a 'k' at the end, as I discovered much later!)

After that, till today, it has been a lot of Single Malts over the years, and each is distinctive. I have found friends- women too, who enjoy Single Malts, and have had some great get-togethers over a drink or two. India now has a decent range of Malts too.

Some malts I have tried- 

Char Chaughi- Marathi Play

 What the title means is Women like Any Other - or Ordinary Women. But here it refers to four strong women of a family- a Mother and her three daughters, and the life choices they make, which are ahead of their times. Set in 1991, written by Prashant Dalvi and directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni, this is a powerful narrative about women's 'place in society', and how some of them chin up and challenge those patriarchal views. In general, a unique perspective emerges from each of the four women. 

The brilliant cast (Rohini Hattangadi, Parna Pethe, Mukta Barve, Kadambari Kadam...) only adds to the appeal of a well-knit story. Ahead of its time certainly, with some of the choices staggeringly so, it is all very convincing, the way the story unfolds. The men in the play also do their parts well. I like the reference to another well-known play, Hayavadana, which sort of mirrors the dilemma faced by one of the characters.. though she explains later the differences between the two.

A must see for anyone who thinks progressively- man or woman. Pic from Balgandharva theatre as the actors took their bow. They got a standing ovation.

Year books

 We had this tradition of a Tear Book, with some memories of the institute, along with photos and writeups about each student. I, along with Dash, partner-in-crime and co-editor, wrote/edited the one for our batch at IIM Bangalore. Our MBA batch of 1982-84. I recently found some later years' Year Books at the campus, and took a few pics from them, just for keepsake nostalgia.. here are some. We included nicknames, like some of these do.. The name remains IIMpressions.. iimpressive?

Posts on Social Media and Oscars

Luckily (for me and my audience), social media did not exist in my days of graduation. Else, you would have been subjected to some such messages-

I thank my brother, sister, maid who fed me regularly without fail, and my parents who woke me up in time to catch the school bus, friends on the bus who kept me amused on the long ride, and my teachers at school who only chose the best age-appropriate nursery rhymes for my class,.... for my successful completion of Class 1. I have graduated to Class 2 with flying colours, and I hope to replicate my success there.

.. and so on.

And of course, eulogies to your spouse, to add some spice to her/his life, and that of the readers..

Thanks, my love, for your unlimited patience in dealing with my whimsical behaviour. You always believed in me, and took care of my smallest needs, not once complaining about my numerous character flaws. How you did that, I don't know. Without you, I would be lost, a speck of insignificant sand in the Universe. Thanks for being my guiding light.. love you forever..to the Moon and back!

Oscar thanksgiving speeches have lost their sheen, for a reason..

Brotherhood Fundas

 A lot has been written about Motherhood, but not Brotherhood. Why? Anyway, I am now correcting that imbalance, bro.

There's only one Mother, but you will come across lots of brothers in life. From natural siblings, to adopted ones, right from Toddlerhood to the Robin Hood (OK, teen) years. And beyond.

There is a brotherhood code, which includes-

1. Not ratting on your brother, ever. 

2. Doing what the gang of bros approves-slight transgressions of the prevailing laws included. Like riding triple on a 2 wheeler.

3. Endless rounds of chai in a cheap joint- cutting chai, mostly.

4. Debates on the state of the universe and your cures for its ills.

5. Bunking classes (already paid for, a sunk cost) for the greater good of the economy, by spending money on movies, pubs, eating out etc.. how else will the economy be no. 1 by 2047?

A lot more besides, that can't be put in print for the public.. hope this gives you the outline.

Transit Post

 It is not often that I post from an airport while in transit.. but I have the time, and the laptop, so why not? Life is transitory, so why not the posting while transiting?

Had an interesting couple of days at IIMB, what with a symposium on Digital Innovations, Financial Inclusion and sustainability.

A session with HDFC and Mahindra Housing Finance.

Got to listen to a lot of experts on the subject. I liked the HDFC rural/agri initiatives the best. Mahindra also had some interesting new businesses aimed at the rural population in terms of housing loans..

As an aside, met a couple of former colleagues - one of whom is transiting, out of academia into industry- Google, to be more precise.

IIM Bangalore has a few new classrooms, of which I saw one from the inside. A U-shaped seminar hall (pic above).

Interesting to meet a childhood friend after a few decades too. I have written about that elsewhere.