Corporate Citizen

INTERVIEW

DINESH THAKUR

Former director and global head, Ranbaxy Laboratories, on COVID-19 impact on Pharma Sector

CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT THOUGHTS Volume 6, Issue No. 2 / www.corporatecitizen.in / Pages 68

June 1-15, 2020 / `50

Unconventional Minds; Untapped Stories Inspirational success stories of people who, with courage of conviction, fought all odds and carved a niche for themselves

TOP (L TO R): SINDHUTAI SAPKAL, HARSH PAMNANI, RAHUL SINGH, ANIRBAN BHATTACHARYYA BOTTOM (L TO R ): TEEMEER CHIMULKAR, RUPESH TILLU, SHANTILAL MUTTHA, RJ SHONALI

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Fast-tracking digital transformation

Inspiring story of Indian Doctors’ struggle and sacrifices

I am elated going through the article “Braveheart Indian Doctor Couple in UK’s Covid-19 Battlefront” in the Corporate Citizen Issue 1, Volume 6, dated May 1-16, 2020. We never imagined even in our dreams that my son’s and daughter-in-law’s efforts could turn into an inspiring story of their struggle and sacrifices. It was just a casual call to Vinita Deshmukh, that led to this story. The magazine is glossy and the photos are good.

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Nice to flip through the Online Corporate Citizen mag

I was going through the Corporate Citizen magazine. The Last Word opinion piece, “Dealing Covid-19 Aftermath” by Ganesh Natarajan, is thought-provoking. And the rag to riches story of Ms Patricia Narayan as well as the Indian Doctor couple in UK Covid-19 battlefront, are a very good read. Though we don’t We look forward to your feedback

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understand business, but we are proud to know that Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairman, Biocon Ltd, has been honoured as one of the World’s top 20 inspirational leaders in the field of biopharmaceutical as per the “Medicine Maker power list 2020”. I happened to read a few of your issues. I like the way you interviewed Maj. General Ian Cardoza who was the 1st war-disabled officer of the Indian Army to command a battalion and a Brigade. Very inspiring magazine. I feel proud to know a few outstanding ladies like you are in our society.

Thumbs up to you, and it is nice to flip through the pages of your new flip format, online magazine.

First time I am reading a magazine online like this.

- Pushpa Subromoniam, Pune

The present coronavirus crisis is reshaping the society in a lasting way. Contained in our homes, god knows how long, is already reorienting us, how we read, travel, shop, and relate to everything around us as a social being. Of course, some changes will be for good and bring forward new opportunities. I have read news, which states that magazine’s digital subscription has surged amidst Covid-19 crisis. The Corporate Citizen magazine has made the right move at the right time, by moving to digital platform and providing their readers with the new flip avatar of their magazine, which is proving to be of huge interest. Thanks to your ability to keep readers entertained and inspired during the crisis.

— EP Patil, chemical engineer

CC is a major bright spot for me during this lockdown

There haven’t been many things I look forward to since the Coronavirus pandemic started, but Corporate Citizen is a notable exception. CC is a major bright spot for me during this lockdown, and I eagerly await every new edition of the magazine (now digital for the time being). For the couple of hours that it takes me to go through each issue, I forget the stress of the current situation and am swept away by the marvellous stories and positive vibes that they give out.

Corporate Citizen is one of the things that makes this lockdown bearable for individuals like me who are going through anxiety.

For that, I shall always be thankful to you.

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Circulation NOTICE to ‘Corporate Citizen’ Subscribers We hereby inform our esteemed subscribers of ‘Corporate Citizen’ magazine that we have Postal Registration Licence. Under this registration the date of posting is 1st and 16th of each month from Pune.

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June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 3

Editor-In-Chief’s Choice / Duvvuri Subbarao

Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian

Covid is teaching us that force of nature is bigger than combined force of science and technology For all their differences, the global financial crisis and the corona financial crisis are similar in one respect — they both teach us life-enhancing lessons

T

he global economy is in a recession. According to the IMF, this recession triggered by the “Great Lockdown” will be more intense and more extensive than the “Great Recession” in the wake of the global financial crisis (GFC). But that is not the only factor that separates the corona financial crisis (CFC) from the GFC. There are other critical differences between the two crises, and it is important to recognise them for they have implications for the nature and effectiveness of the solutions. I will, in particular, refer to four differences.

The first difference stems from the origin and transmission of the crisis. The GFC originated in the financial sector as banks and financial intermediaries got carried away by irrational exuberance and recklessly piled on risk. Remember CDS, CDO, MBS, ABS and various other acronyms that were the villains in the GFC drama as it unfolded in the rich countries. As people lost their wealth and savings in the financial meltdown, demand collapsed and growth slumped.

The contagion, which originated in the financial sector, spread to the real economy.

In contrast, the CFC came from outside the economic system. As the pandemic spread, the first impact came by way of a supply shock as China-centred supply chains broke down. And then as countries ordered lockdowns and economies shut down, demand slumped. The ensuing distress in the real economy led to distress in the financial system.

This route of transmission — financial to the real economy or vice versa — has implications for crisis resolution. The central challenge in the resolution of the GFC was to restore faith in the financial system, which meant rescue and rehabilitation of banks and other financial institutions. Once that task in the financial sector was accomplished, repair of the real economy fell in place. Demand came back, supply resumed and growth picked up.

4 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

In contrast, the central challenge in the resolution of the CFC is to beat the pandemic, and that solution has to come from science. Only when there is public confidence that the incidence of the pandemic has been brought down to a low-level equilibrium, will there be a resolution in both the real and financial economies. We are, of course, seeing that even during this crisis, just like in 2008, governments are coming out with fiscal stimulus packages and central banks with monetary stimulus packages. But these are not solutions to the pandemic, they are just holding operations till the central problem is resolved.

The second difference between the two crises arises from the asymmetry of the solutions. The GFC originated in the subprime mortgage sector of the US and then, rapidly engulfed the world. The CFC originated in the Hubei province of China and rapidly engulfed the world.

But the similarity ends there. For the resolution of the GFC, restoring financial stability in the US was necessary, and for the most part, a sufficient condition for restoration of financial stability everywhere. In other words, no country was safe until the US was safe, and once the US financial system became safe, financial systems everywhere became safe as somewhat of a by-product. The situation with the CFC is different.

Every country needs to control the pandemic within its borders. But that is not sufficient because the virus can hit back from across the border. In other words, rich countries are not safe until poor countries are safe too. And no country is safe until every country is safe.

How the policy interventions interact with one an-

other makes for the third difference between the two crises. During the resolution of the GFC, solutions in the financial sector and in the real economy reinforced each other. For example, to mitigate the crisis, the RBI cut rates to stabilise the financial system and intervened in the forex market to stabilise the rupee.

Meanwhile, the government extended special concessions for housing and real estate sectors to provide stimulus in the real economy. There was synergy in these actions.

In contrast, in managing the challenge of the CFC, what we are seeing is tension between the various sets of policy actions. The effort to contain the pandemic is exacerbating the challenges in both the real economy and the financial sector. The more stringent the lockdown to save lives, the more extensive the loss of livelihoods. Managing this tension is by far the biggest dilemma for governments battling the crisis.

The global financial crisis, although it was called “global” did not affect all countries equally and that accounts for the fourth difference between 2008 and now. China was less affected even as all rich countries were in a financial meltdown. In fact, one of the less

acknowledged facts of the 2008 crisis is that it was the stimulus provided by China that kept the global economy afloat. In contrast, now all rich and big economies are weighed down by the virus, and there is not a single large economy to keep the rest of the world afloat. If pandemics are going to be more frequent, as is now suspected, it is all the more important that there is a more enforceable global protocol on early warning and information sharing.

For all their differences, the GFC and CFC are similar in one respect — they both teach us life-enhancing lessons. The GFC forcefully reminded us that greed and avarice will only bring tears in the end. The CFC is teaching us that the force of nature is bigger than the combined force of our science and technology. Hubris is wrong.

The Corona Financial Crisis (CFC) came from outside the economic system.

As the pandemic spread, the first impact came by way of a supply shock as Chinacentred supply chains broke down. And then as countries ordered lockdowns and economies shut down, demand slumped. The ensuing distress in the real economy led to distress in the financial system

(This article appeared in the print edition of May 16, 2020, under the title ‘Two crises, two lessons’. The writer is a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India) (This article is originally published at - https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coronavirus-india-economy-6411861/) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 5

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Volume 6 Issue No. 2 June 1-15, 2020 www.corporatecitizen.in

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Unconventional Minds; Untapped Stories

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Sindhutai Sapkal

RJ Shonali

Shantilal Muttha

Rupesh Tillu

Harsh Pamnani

Teemeer Chimulkar

Rahul Singh

Anirban Bhattacharyya

Inspirational success stories of people who, with courage of conviction, fought all odds and carved a niche for themselves

9 9 COLLYWOOD Chatpata Chatter from the Corporate World 14 WAX ELOQUENT Who said what and why

6 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

16 EXPERT VIEW Indian Government’s stimulus package a dole or a booster shot to move towards more self-reliance 34 UPTREND Madhuri Bhaduri, artist and ex-sportsperson, on the confluence of art and the corporate world

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36 INTERVIEW Dinesh Thakur, former director and global head, research information and portfolio management, Ranbaxy Laboratories, talks about COVID-19 impact on India’s pharma industry, health infrastructure and more 40 SUCCESS STORY Ranjan Mistry, Bihar’s youngest social serial entrepreneur, speaker, on his success and the importance of what he has earned 42 STARTUP TREND A look at how restaurant automation startup system, Devourin, will help restaurants turn around in a post-lockdown world 44 YOUNG ACHIEVERS Acumen of thirteen-year-old, Aditya Ramchandani, far belies his tender years as a maker of a finance app, “mRush” 46 CAMPUS PLACEMENT Sahil Sood on his campus placement experience, his stint in the banking sector and his obsession with entrepreneurship

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48 LOVED & MARRIED TOO Sunanda Verma and her significant half Amit Bhatta, on what it takes to make dreams work 50 HEALTH Arjun Bajaj, Director, Videotex International, on his health mantra for overcoming the “stay-at-home inertia”

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CONTENTS

CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT THOUGHTS

Editor-In-Chief Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian

54

Senior Sub-Editor Neeraj Varty neeraj.varty@corporatecitizen.in

52 UNSUNG HEROES How a dacoit-turned-Gandhian is attempting to change the perception of people living in the ravines of Chambal

Sub Editor Vineet Kapshikar vineet.kapshikar@corporatecitizen.in

54 SURVEY Mapping the COVID-19 fallout

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61 MOBILE APPS Best grocery shopping apps during lockdown 66 LAST WORD The arduous journey from relief to recovery to resilience together

Creative Direction Sumeet Gupta, www.thepurplestroke.com Writers Delhi Bureau Sharmila Chand chand.sharmila@corporatecitizen.in

59 WORK-LIFE BALANCE Amar Kulkarni, VP - Sales, PolyWorks Software India, on using music to beat the lockdown blues 60 PEARLS OF WISDOM Small tasks are as important as the ‘great’ things of life

Consulting Editor Vinita Deshmukh vinita.deshmukh@corporatecitizen.in Assistant Editor & Senior Business Writer Rajesh Rao rajesh.rao@corporatecitizen.in

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BE A CORPORATE CITIZEN How do you like this issue of Corporate Citizen - Contemporary Management Thoughts

Send in your views, news, suggestions and contributions to corporatecitizenwriters@gmail.com.

We would love to hear from you!

8 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

COLLYWOOD ‘Trillionaire’ hopeful list adds Mukesh Ambani, Zuckerberg, Jack Ma

Mukesh Ambani could predictably become a trillionaire in 2033 at 75 years, as per the study by the advisory platform – Comparisun, along with Jeff Bezos.

Bezos is touted to become the world’s first to attain the coveted wealthiest ‘trillionaire’ status.

While the study compared 25 individuals, only 11 amongst

them are seen to have a realistic chance of becoming a trillionaire during their lifetime. Forbes’ valuation of Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries (RIL) stands currently at $36.8 billion.

Other prominent names predicted to make the trillionaire mark are Chinese real estate tycoon Xu Jiayin who is likely to trail Bezos as the word’s second trillionaire in 2027. Alibaba’s Jack Ma could become a trillionaire in 2030 at 65 years. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s current rate of growth could see his worth being pegged at $1 trillion in 2035 at 51 years.

Google successfully lobs for Microsoft’s Anil Bhansali Anil Bhansali has been appointed as Vice President of Engineering for Internet giant, Google’s cloud business in India. In his new role, Bhansali will take charge of all software development support endeavours for India’s Google Cloud business. Google’s strategic pitch for Bhansali leverages his association with Microsoft for the past 28 years.

In his previous role as Vice President of Azure, Microsoft’s cloud division, Bhansali professed as the site leader for the company’s research and development in India. He has also led engineering roles across Microsoft’s office, search, and window divisions.

Bhansali’s appointment follows Google hiring Karan Bajwa, another ex-Microsoft executive as the Managing Director for its Cloud Division in India. The recent appointments at Google Cloud indicate Google’s determination to take on all its rivals in India - Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, and Alicloud.

Harsh Vardhan, nominated as WHO Executive Board Chairman Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister (India), has been nominated as the next Executive Board Chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO), pending his election at the WHO's executive board's meeting on May 22, 2020.

While the election itself is a procedural formality, the 194-nation led - World Health Assembly (WHA) has signed off on the proposal to appoint India’s nominee, Harsh Vardhan to the executive board. A trained ENT surgeon, he will replace H Nakatani, the current advisor for international affairs to Japan’s health minister. Harsh Vardhan has been leading India’s battle against Covid-19 and in his new role as the head of the 34-member Executive Board, he is mandated to implement the decisions of the WHA. Working in close association with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General (DG), WHO, Harsh Vardhan, is likely to continue in the executive board post termination of his year-long term. As the WHO Chairman, he will also weld significant authority in the shortlisting process of the upcoming WHO Director General when Ghebreyesus ends his five-year-tenure in May 2021. “It is not a full-time assignment… But Dr Harsh Vardhan will be required to chair the executive board’s bi-annual meetings,” according to senior government officials. Harshvardhan’s nomination is a fall-out of a unanimous decision taken last year by WHO’s South-East Asia group that New Delhi would be elected to the executive board for a three-year-term commencing May 2020. The decision then had firmed up that India’s central government nominee would be the Executive Board Chairman for the first year. The WHO board is required to shortlist candidates whose candidature is put before the WHA for election by a secret ballot as against the earlier process wherein the executive board would select the DG, WHO and get its choice vetted by the health assembly.

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 9

COLLYWOOD Zee5 rejigs leadership positions Anita Nayyar has taken over as head of customer strategy and relationships with streaming services, Zee5, as she steps down as CEO of Havas Media Group (India and Southeast Asia). Besides, Zee5 has also appointed Jayesh Easwaramony as a consultant to drive its advertising, user data and audience-related initiatives, along with new hire, Dhruvadeep Roy to take over as Director-Product and Adtech. An alumnus of IGNOU, Nayyar brings in 20 years of experience working across various Indian and international firms and will primarily be responsible for building the agency-partner ecosystem for ZEE5’s India business.

Easwaramony has since relinquished his role with advertising firm InMobi and his previous respon-

sibility in driving its APAC business. Armed with 20 years of experience across brands, Zee5 gains from Easwaramony’s expertise in digital advertising and data monetisation. In previous roles, he has had stints as a consultant and executor across companies such as Frost and Sullivan, Tata Sky, Star India, and the Tata Group.

Zee5 has also cashed in on Dhruvadeep Roy’s leadership skills in harnessing platforms and product in his previous role as Head of digital platforms with DAZN Sports Streaming Service across the UK, US, Canada, and the APAC markets.

Sahu appointed to Maruti Suzuki board Maheshwar Sahu has been appointed as Independent Director of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) and replaces Renu Sud Karnad who has since joined the board of HDFC Bank Limited. As per a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sahu’s tenure has been fixed for five years, effective from May 14, 2020, until May 13, 2025. An ex-senior civil servant, Sahu has had over 30 years of leadership experience. He was Vice Chairman & MD, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) before he retired as Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Mines).

10 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

Wipro Chairman mobilises PremjiInvest for Covid-19 vaccine Philanthropist Azim Premji has capitalised in the US-based biotech firm, Moderna through his private investment arm, PremjiInvest.

Moderna is at the early stages of manufacturing a vaccine to fight Covid-19. The Wipro Founder-Chairman’s early investment in Moderna a few years ago was reported to the tune of $25-$30 million and is one of five such firms that Premji has invested in the US via a dedicated team in Boston. Despite the fund selling off some of its holdings, it still owns a stake in Moderna. PremjiInvest manages billions of dollars in assets and is among the

biggest family offices in India that ideally serves ultrahigh-net-worth (UHNW) investors. PremjiInvest has been consciously scouting for firms that work in the healthoriented sector developing low-cost immunity products, care, and delivery. Premji set up PremjiInvest fund in 2006, to differentiate its holdings from that of his philanthropy arm-the Azim Premji Foundation and its core IT business in Wipro.

He eventually merged his investment arm with the Foundation in 2018, steering more room for generating funds for his philanthropic pursuits.

Hindujas and Reubens top UK’s wealthiest chart Indian origin siblings and business magnates — the Hinduja and Reuben brothers share the ‘second’ position on Britain’s - ‘The Sunday Times Rich List 2020’ tally, as James Dyson, British inventor-entrepreneur with £16.2 billion topped the list. Britain’s top wagers on the 1,000 richest chart witnessed Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja, spearheading the Hinduja Group of companies, slipping to the 2nd position as they lost £6 billion due to the recent Covid-19 crisis as one of the reasons for relinquishing their numero uno slot from last year. But, Mumbai-born billionaires David and Simon Reuben, have retained their spot two position despite their loss of £2.66 billion over the past year. Russia’s biggest foreign investors in the metal industry in the 1990s – the Reuben brothers with a fortune worth £16bn hold 5% stake of the world’s aluminium output through their Trans-World Metals and other investments real estate holdings.

The Hinduja Group operates across sectors such as automotive, oil, banking and finance, and speciality chemicals also runs IndusInd Bank. As the oil pricing dipped, it has hit Hinduja-backed Gulf’s oil and lubricants division. Its marine arm has also taken a beating following the downturn in world trade. Manufacturers of the iconic Ashok Leyland trucks, their share price was halved over the past year which also fell sharply in their Pune-based banking outfit, IndusInd when the brothers attempted to increase their holding while the stock continued to remain cheap.

Mining major Anil Agarwal fell to 5th position with a loss of £2.07 billion and an estimated fortune of £8.5 billion, while Lakshmi N Mittal lost £3.88 billion to drop 19th on the list with a fortune estimated at £6.78 billion.

Credit Suisse re-appoints Puneet Matta Puneet Matta re-joins Credit Suisse as head of its wealth management business in India. In fact, Matta held this position as Head of Wealth Management for Credit Suisse from 2007 to 2011 and has been re-appointed to the same post as he takes over this mantle once again nearly a decade later. He will be relocating from Singapore to Mumbai to leverage his leadership experience in team-building and businesses goals. With 30 years of experience across wealth management as well as corporate and investment banking, Matta recently moved over from his leadership role with Union Bancaire Privee (UBP), in its the NRI and ISC segments, also, in the external asset managers (EAM) business. Matta began his career with Citibank and has held previous roles with Aon, a global professional services firm.

Jeff Bezos, world’s first Trillionaire by 2026

Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos is predicted to become the first-ever trillionaire by 2026. With a net worth of $143 billion, he is said to become the world’s first trillionaire within the next six years! His future wealth projection is based on the research conducted by Comparisun, an advice platform for small businesses. The advisory platform showed that 56-year old Bezos would become a trillionaire (with $1,000 billion) by 2026 at 62 years. The research platform based its projection on the average percentage of annual expansion recorded over five years and extrapolated it to future years.

According to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, Bezos’s total fortune grew year-to-date by nearly 25% (over $28 billion), to the latest estimate of $143 billion.

However, a study reported in the Washington Business Journal said that “The math behind the study that makes this estimate doesn’t make much sense because it assumes that Bezos’ wealth will grow by an average of 34% each year, as it did over the past five years. But Bezos could reach that average and still be way off a trillion because averages include wide ranges.” The report said that Bezos’ wealth is tied to his shares in Amazon and assuming his space company, Blue Origin LLC, fails to become its cash cow, Bezos will not be able to sell any more stock and Amazon would have to be worth $9 trillion in five years for Bezos to be wealthier. With the demand for home deliveries spiking up in the wake of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, Amazon recorded sales of over $75 billion during the January-March period, an increase of from $60 billion during the same period last year. Amazon had reported a revenue of $281 billion in 2019.

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 11

COLLYWOOD Ajay Dixit to exit Cairn Oil & Gas

Ajay Dixit, CEO of Vedanta’s oil and gas division, is all set to step down and quit the company by the month-end. This makes him the fifth billionaire to call it quits at the oil and gas arm of the Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group. Dixit had replaced Sudhir Mathur when Mathur resigned from the company but had the shortest tenure of just over a year since mid-April of 2019 when he officiated as the head of Cairn Oil & Gas. The company runs one of the biggest on-land fields

in Barmer, Rajasthan. He was also the acting CEO of Vedanta’s aluminium and power business before taking over as the CEO of Cairn. The company statement said that Dixit is superannuating from the company at the end of his five-year term in May 2020. However, industry buzz is that Dixit exiting the company coincides with Agarwal’s announcement to takeover Vedanta privately by offering to buy off minority shareholders. Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources has offered to buy 48.94% held by public shareholders at `87.5 per share. In April 2017, Cairn India was merged with Vedanta and delisted from the stock exchanges. Vedanta Ltd.’s shares have fallen more than 40% in 2020.

TikTok’s gain is Disney’s loss TikTok has roped in Kevin Mayer as its new Chief Executive as he relinquished his leadership position as streaming executive with the Walt Disney Co. Mayer, will also hold office as the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of ByteDance, the Chinese conglomerate that owns TikTok — the app for making and sharing short videos that has gained global popularity in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. Mayer will thus likely provide a clear link between TikTok and ByteDance’s leadership in Beijing, playing dual roles by managing both the companies. Mayer joined Disney in 1993, moving over to run Playboy.com in 2000.

He soon returned to Disney to work on Go.com, a web portal that eventually failed, and other Disney websites, including ESPN.com, before moving to strategic planning.

12 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

Manoj Jain adds up as MGL Chairman Manoj Jain takes over dual responsibility following his appointment as Chairman of gas distributor Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL), and will continue to expedite duties in his current role as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL. A mechanical engineer, Jain has had a long inning of over 34 years with GAIL across the company’s various divisions - business development, projects, O&M, petrochemicals, pipeline integrity management and marketing.

As the CMD of GAIL, Jain automatically becomes Chairman of its subsidiaries - GAIL Global USA Inc, GAIL Global USA LNG, GAIL Gas, Brahmaputra

Cracker & Polymer and Konkan LNG. MGL is the sole authorised distributor of compressed natural gas and piped natural gas in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and its adjoining areas and has proposed to expand further into Raigad district. It supplies PNG to over 1.27 million households and over 4,000 commercial and industrial establishments in its operational areas. It also supplies about 3.5 million kgs/day CNG through 256 CNG stations to about 0.75 million motor vehicles. For catering to its consumer base, MGL has laid down a network of about 5,630 km of steel and medium density polyethylene pipeline network.

Sandeep Gupta joins Shemaroo, other rejigs Shemaroo Entertainment has appointed Sandeep Gupta as COO - Broadcasting Business and follows its strategic entry into the broadcast business and is expected to consolidate its entire broadcast offerings under Gupta.

Shemaroo’s flagship Hindi GEC Shemaroo TV, and the Marathi movie channel Shemaroo MarathiBana, is expected to get a boost which will power its next growth phase under Gupta. He has moved over from his previous role at B4U Television Network India Limited, as the CFO & COO, for its Broadcasting Business in India. In his previous role, he not only scaled up but, turned around the company’s broadcasting business with improved market credibility and brand image and launched a

few television channels too. In other internal top rejig, Subhash Somani, Deputy Vice President will now take additional charge of Shemaroo TV. He will oversee the entire business for Shemaroo TV - Content Production & Planning and Channel Distribution. While Vivek Koka, Assistant Vice President, who heads the Bollywood category will additionally hold the responsibility of its Marathi Movie channel ‘Shemaroo MarathiBana’, Yojana Bahalkar Bhave, Deputy General Manager, will lead the programming for this channel.

WAX ELOQUENT

THE WAY FORWARD

Take a look at what our corporate leaders have to say about recent trends and their experiences in the business world

Coronavirus is the new normal

“What is important for us to understand is that India cannot continue in this situation for too long. Because at some point in time, deaths due to hunger will far outweigh deaths due to coronavirus. We Indians must accept that coronavirus is the new normal. What we would want the government to do is work out a returnto-office strategy. It is beneficial for the industry and the country.”

Replacing one dogma with another dogma

“What does burnout look like? What does mental health look like? What does that connectivity and the community building look like? One of the things I feel is, hey, maybe we are burning some of the social capital we built up in this phase where we are all working remote. What’s the measure for that?”

Satya Nadella, CEO,

Microsoft

Courtesy: economictimes.com

NR Narayana Murthy, founder, Infosys Courtesy: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Never let a good crisis go to waste “As the situation around 5G evolves globally, exploiting a possible void in global supply not only makes sense economically for India but is also key to 5G-related solutions for socio-economic goals at home. The use of telemedicine, remote learning, and IoT may just be the upliftment that India needs for improvements in healthcare, education, and agriculture. And now is the time to make it possible. After all, rising acrimony towards China in the West is an opportunity too good to ignore for India.”

Manash Neog, Co-Founder & EVP, Chase India

Courtesy: https://theprint.in

Government should dare to spend more

Consumer behaviour has changed

“Post-lockdown, consumers and in fact people, in general, are going to become more tolerant and far less demanding in terms of their expectations. Everyone seems to have acquired a new-found sense of patience.”

Pradeep Dadha, founder & CEO, Netmeds

Courtesy: livemint.com

14 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

“In this situation, the only agency that can intervene is the government. Not investors, not financial institutions.

So, the government should at this moment dare to spend more. You don’t borrow from the market. You borrow from the Reserve Bank and pump in money. This is not the time for reforms and prudence. We are facing a calamity. You have the COVID crisis and soon you will have a humanitarian crisis. Don’t allow things to slip to that level.”

Thomas Isaac, Finance Minister, Kerala Government Courtesy: https://www.newindianexpress.com/

A key learning from the ongoing crisis “A key learning from the ongoing crisis and a change I would like to bring about in our ways of working is to institutionalise a permanent cognitive task force, whose responsibility shall be to constantly monitor and assess risks and opportunities, factoring in global volatility and potential challenges to business through various scenarios including health / natural or other disasters.”

Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL

Courtesy: hotetlierindia.com

‘Work from anywhere’ culture

“The two months of lockdown has clearly demonstrated that a lot can be done without going to the office…. many companies will look at that and change their HR policies. And that will create many new ways of working and new opportunities for us as a business. The world will change at the end of the lockdown.

So, work from anywhere is going to come in a big way across all industries across all geographies.”

Vishant Vora, chief

technology officer, Vodafone Idea Courtesy: https://telecom.economictimes. indiatimes.com/

I have to be cautious

“I am dealing with public money; I am dealing with money, every penny of which I am answerable to. I have to be cautious. And again, even if they suggest that you have to be generous, it is only the second month of the year.”

Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, Government of India Courtesy: https://www.livemint.com/

Pandemic has brought families together, reduced corporate politics

Big businesses not speaking up

“I am not very happy about the fact that big businesses are not speaking up. They are not conveying their view, as we should in a free country about what we think is amiss and what needs to be done.

I have always believed that the reason I live in India and not in China is that I feel that I am free to give my opinion.”

“During the lockdown, we are forced to confront our existing daily lives, and two interesting things that we can ponder upon, have emerged. First, have we ever looked at our family with the same lens as we are using today? What is it that we are doing differently with family today, and what can we do to carry our actions of today into our tomorrow?”

Shikha Mittal, Founder Director, Be.artsy

Courtesy: https://www.outlookindia.com/

Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto Courtesy: indiatoday.in

The problem is more on the demand side “The number of Covid cases is still rising and unfortunately cases are rising in the more industrialised states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This means economic activity may take longer to revive. Second, despite the large size of the economic relief package, there is not much in the hands of people immediately. The package is attempting to address the supply side but at this point in time, the problem is more on the demand side.”

Sanjeev Prasad, Co-Head - Institutional Equities, Kotak Institutional Equities

Courtesy: https://www.bloombergquint.com/

Revamp higher education system by redefining the learning outcomes Digitally sophisticated MSMEs will grow

“We expect the number of digitally sophisticated MSMEs to double over the next three to five years. Small and medium-sized businesses will drive the Indian economy in the era of COVID-19 and they need digital tools to make their businesses efficient and to grow.”

Kabir Narang, general partner and co-head (Asia business), B Capital Courtesy: https://techcrunch.com/

“Science, technology and market should exist to solve society’s problems. Right now the society is solving the market’s problem. Corporates have partnered with the State to redefine learning outcomes as a narrow set of skills that would create employees that fit the narrow roles the market expects. Education should work toward knowledge creation that is socially driven.”

Jawahar Nesan, Vice-Chancellor,

JSS Science and Technology University

Courtesy: https://www.newindianexpress.com/

Crisis that redefines skilling “In India, we have never had a crisis that redefines skilling, this is that period. Suddenly rules of the game have changed, and everyone is looking online—even universities that are decade old are now seeing online as a viable proposition. A lot of people who had aversion to learning online have been forced to try it out. Until you try something, you are a non-believer.”

Arjun Mohan, India CEO, upGrad

Courtesy: financialexpress.com

The Indian market is reasonably insulated

“The Indian market has one basic advantage that our economy or our market is not confined to one particular sector. For example, the services sector, the agriculture sector, the manufacturing sector, they are all there in quite large percentages which means that if there is any global problem with regard to one particular sector, we are reasonably insulated.”

U.K. Sinah, chairman, SEBI Courtesy: https://www.equities.com/

Compiled by Rajesh Rao rajeshrao.rao@gmail.com

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 15

EXPERT VIEW

The Virus-Lockdown Double Whammy

BY S K JHA

(IRS (retd.) and former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax)

While India, like the rest of the world, is grappling with the threat to life and livelihoods posed by the coronavirus and resultant lockdowns, the government has announced a `20 lakh crore stimulus package to fight the economic ravages. But it is not meant to be a dole, but, a booster shot and prop to spur entrepreneurship to move towards greater self-reliance

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oday, the world is fighting the coronavirus (Covid-19). So far there is no preventive vaccine or medicine to treat this dreadful virus. The effort today is to stop its spread through lockdowns, and India is no exception.

India to some extent has been more successful than many developed countries including the United States of America in controlling the spread of the pandemic.

But lockdowns have serious effects on the economy. The Asian Development Bank has made a projection that the economy the world over will lose $5.8 trillion to $8.2 trillion due to the virus. The world has to fight for the economy as well while fighting against the virus. The sight of the dwindling economy is visible from the large number of applications for unemployment dole in the US and this number today is more than 3.5 million.

Fearful prospect

This sight of a falling economy is fearful for India too. Migrant labourers are seen walking from cities in far off states to their native villages. Many have died on the way before reaching their destinations. These migrant labourers have been without income since the lockdown started. They cannot afford to maintain themselves in alien cities when they hardly have any savings left with them. The host states of the migrant labourers have in all possibility failed to look after them by providing free food and shelter. The situation as of today is deaths on

two fronts: deaths by Covid-19 and deaths due to the loss of livelihoods because of the lockdown.

Virus-lockdown double whammy

The economy in India had comparatively slowed down, prior to it getting hit by the virus. The GDP growth of the second quarter of FY2019-20 was 4.5% while there was a marginal increase in the third quarter to 4.7%. The GDP growth rate had fallen down badly after reasonably better figures in the preceding five years.

The virus and the lockdown have served as a double whammy for the economy. The most optimistic estimation of India’s GDP has been pegged at below 1% in the current FY.

All sectors hit

The rating agencies have spoken about the complete disruption of the supply-chain and also of the loss of demand. When expenditure on virus-related processes keep on skyrocketing it is estimated that about 15 crore daily wagers, contract employees and vulnerable temporary employees would have already lost jobs due to the lockdown. Even high income people in some sectors of the economy are losing income due to the absence of work or through pay-cuts. The aviation sector, hotel industry, restaurants and sectors connected to tourism are losing business. There is falling of export orders as virtually the entire world is shut.

Banks are in no mood to go for aggressive lending to help the companies for fear of

“The Prime Minster never meant that we have to be isolationist, but he meant that we make ourselves strong with good products which can fit in the global supply-chain. We have to be part of the global trade from a position of strength. The nature of the stimulus provided makes it very clear that the government will be a facilitator but our entrepreneurs have to work to make the country self-reliant” 16 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

NPAs. SMSEs which are the big employers have no cash-in-hand to run their units and this is hampering jobs. If we connect the dots between demand, supply, working capital and the job market, a sad picture of a vicious-cycle emerges. And, finally, the nail-in-the-coffin is the decreasing funds in the hands of

the government, due to lower taxes collected from closed businesses, thus making it very difficult for increased financial activity and expenditure by the government to salvage the situation.

Stimulus succour

Despite constraints, the government of India has taken the lead with a huge stimulus of ` 20 lakh crores to revive the economy. The details of the stimulus have been given by the Finance Minister and her team over five days over five sessions. The 20 lakh crore package includes the packages announced earlier in the initial days of the coronavirus and the monetary concessions announced earlier by the RBI. The stimulus in total works out to roughly 10% of the GDP and this means that it is the fifth-biggest stimulus announced by any country in the world.

The summarised position of the stimulus is as under:

1. R evenue loss due to tax `7800 Crores concessions since March 22, 2020 2. Pradhan Mantri Garib `17,000 Crores Kalyan Package 3. PM’s announcement `15,000 Crores for health sector

Scheme 2.0 for NBFCs/MFIs 8. Liquidity injection `90,000 crores for DISCOMs 9. Reduction TDS/TCS rates `50,000 crores

Part 2 Announcements 1. Free food grain supply to `3500 crores stranded migrant workers 2. Interest Subvention for `1500 crores MUDRA Shishu Loans 3. Special credit facility to `5000 crores street vendors 4. Housing CLSS-MIG `70,000 crores 5. Additional Emergency `30,000 crores working capital through NABARD 6. Additional Credit `2,00,000 crores through KCC

Total — `1,92,800 Crores.

Part 1 Announcements 1. Emergency credit `3,00,000 crores guarantee for MSMEs 2. Subordinate debt for `20,000 crores stressed MSMEs 3. Funds for MSMEs `50,000 crores 4. EPF Support for Business `2800 crores and workers 5. Reduction in EPF rates `6750 crores 6. Special Liquidity scheme `30,000 crores for NBFCs/HFC/MFIs 7. Partial Credit Guarantee `45,000 crores

Sub-total — `5,94,550 crores

Sub-total — `3,10,000 crores

“Lockdowns have serious effects on the economy. The Asian Development Bank has made a projection that the economy the world over will lose $5.8 trillion to $8.2 trillion due to the virus. The world has to fight for the economy as well while fighting against the virus”

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 17

EXPERT VIEW Part 3 Announcements 1. Micro Food enterprises `10,000 crores 2. Pradhan Mantri Matsya `20,000 crores Sampada Yojana 3. Top to Total: Operation Greens `500 crores 4. Agri Infrastructure Fund `1,00,000 crores 5. Animal Husbandry `15,000 crores Infrastructure Development Fund 6. Promotion of herbal `4000 crores Cultivation 7. Bee keeping Initiative `500 crores Subtotal — `1,50,000 crores Part 4 Announcements / Part 5 Announcements – `48,100 crores (Viability Gap Funding / Additional MNREGA allocation) RBI measures `8,01,603 crores Grand Total — `20,97,053 crores

Focus on local

The stimulus was announced by the Finance Minister after the address to the nation by the Prime Minister, wherein he made it very clear that our country has to be self-reliant (atmanirbhar). He said, “The way ahead, lies in local.

Local manufacturing, local markets, local supply chain. Local is not merely a need but a responsibility. Be vocal about local.” The Prime Minister never meant that we have to be isolationist, but he meant that we make ourselves strong with good products which can fit in the global supply-chain. We have to be part of the global trade from a position of strength. The nature of the stimulus provided makes it very clear that the government will be a facilitator but our entrepreneurs have to work to make the country self-reliant.

Freebies for the vulnerable

Direct money or free grains have been provided to only limited very vulnerable sections like poor farmers and migrant labour. Doles are limited to only those for whom it may be difficult to fight against the lockdown problems. The rest of the stimulus is for the development of business by giving credit or guarantee for credit.

The stimulus is connected to many sectors of the economy and the emphasis is that these sectors must be initially helped and later they must self-grow. The nature of the stimulus also takes care of the fiscal-deficit as money is not going out. China has made itself powerful by producing goods for both domestic and global needs and thus becoming the kingpin in the global supply-chain. India can do something better.

Caught napping over supplies

Not becoming self-reliant creates several problems and the same have been witnessed during 18 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

“There was a crisis faced by this sector when raw materials stopped coming from China.

There was an alarm in the country as some lifesaving drugs were low in stock and they could not be manufactured by our reputed companies because of non-availability of basic constituents.

It reminded us that globalisation is alright but being self-reliant is most important” this coronavirus period. We did not have enough PPE suits for our health sector warriors or ventilators for needy patients. It was difficult to get them from other countries. We also had problems of unavailability of basic testing kits.

We got some testing kits from China but they were found to be defective. The country relied upon the genius of its own citizens and now we are producing our own PPE suits and testing kits. The good thing which emerged is that we are now exporting PPE suits as we have become the second biggest manufacturer of the same.

We have also seen that our pharmaceutical industries suffered serious problems when the coronavirus was at its peak in China. Most of the raw materials for this sector are imported from China as our companies do not manufacture them. There was a crisis faced by this sector when raw materials stopped coming from China. There was an alarm in the country as some life-saving drugs were low in stock and they could not be manufactured by our reputed companies because of non-availability of basic constituents. It reminded us that globalisation is alright but being self-reliant is most important.

We have to create strong brands of our local products by improving quality. We have to also work towards their costing so that they are attractive in the global market. We should consume our own products and that will help our local manufacturers and also help in creating jobs. When the world is eyeing the vast Indian market, then why should our products not take advantage of it? This is what the Prime Minister meant when he said we have to be vocal about local.

Only a first push

The economic stimulus is just an initiative but we will not achieve much unless all stakeholders work hard. We should think for the country and at the time of this crisis be vigilant that the cancer of corruption does not eat away the stimulus provided while percolating downwards. The mantra is that we should be proud Indians and ensure that the love for our country will not dwindle. Everybody has to work extra hard wherever he is. Corona is a big challenge and we should try to convert it to our advantage.

VIEWPOINT

COVID-19 MIGRANTS: Future of work and production Work needs to be reimagined. This is an opportunity to renew rural economies and make them resilient but it won’t be easy By Sunita Narain

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vents are moving so fast in our world. It was just two weeks ago that I wrote how the economic collapse because of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had made the invisible, visible. I wrote about the images of migrant labourers that haunt us, who made their way from villages to cities for jobs and are now walking back home because of job loss — often dying and collapsing with hunger.

Since then, the migrant crisis has made its way into our homes, into our living rooms and into our consciousness like never before. We have seen them, we have felt their pain and we have wept when we heard how tired migrants sleeping on train tracks were crushed to death by an oncoming train. More and more of such cases have come to light, we are all traumatised. I know.

But it is also important to note that their pain has not gone unnoticed; the government has started trains to bring migrants back home; it has done this knowing there is a danger that the contagion might spread to villages. But it knows that there is also anguish to go home. It had to respond. I can say that as yet, all these efforts, including the move to provide free food to the returning people, is still too little — much more needs to be done to take them home with dignity and to provide them with the wherewithal to survive in the coming months.

However, what we need to discuss now, is not just the returning migrants, but what this will mean for the future of work and the future of production — not just in India, but across the world.

So, what happens to work now — workers have

rashtra had a great famine looming and it feared massive unrest in its cities because of rural exodus, one man, VS Page, a Gandhian, had come up with the scheme to keep people employed at their place of residence. This was the start of the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), which morphed into the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) many years later.

But what we forget as this programme took the avatar of government rules is that it was a contract between the rural and urban. Professionals in cities paid a tax, which went into the scheme meant to provide employment at home for villages. It was a win-win for both.

What we also forget is the opportunity that this work provides to rebuild nature’s capital — through real and tangible assets of water, forests, grazing lands, horticulture and investment in returned home; they may come back as things livelihoods. This is not to say that these words are improve or they may not. Already in Indian cities, not there in the government document. All this is we are getting news about how essential municsaid, but there is little understanding of the intent ipal services are affected without this workforce. or the opportunity. It is a tired scheme, meant to We are getting news about the panic of builders, provide work during distress. the industry is finding that even when lockdowns We need new a direction and leadership. We are lifted, production needs workers. must stop seeing this as a scheme for breaking So, the value of their work — the worker who stones in the scorching sun. We must see this as was until now dispensable and cheap — is being the scheme for providing livelihoods for renewal felt. These workers were kept in the worst condi— do all we can to build the rural economy, drivtions; sleeping and eating in hovels — inside the en as it is through value addition in agriculture, ‘sweat’ factory that the world has come to know. dairy and forestry. It needs a new blueprint; a new There is no government housing or transport or compact between the rural and the urban. any other such facility for But this then brings me to industrial areas — factories Work needs to be the question of production are supposed to produce reimagined. In areas — India and all other counand workers are supposed tries of the world are desperto find whatever means where people will ate to re-start factories and return, this is a great rebuild economies. The fact they can to survive.

We know that people opportunity to renew is that the global economy live cheek-to-jowl with is built on cheap labour and industry; this makes them rural economies and by discounting environment vulnerable to toxic gas leak- make them resilient protection there is a cost to ages or pollution. But have providing homes for workwe ever stopped to ask why these informal, illegal ers; providing adequate living conditions and habitations are built because there is no housing wages that would give people well-being. provided. But labour needs jobs, the industry There is a cost to ensure that water and air and needs labour. But now labour has gone; some say waste are not dumped, but treated and then disthey will never return. posed of. The rich did not want to pay this cost; Work needs to be reimagined. In areas where they wanted cheap goods for consumption. That’s people will return, this is a great opportunity to why production moved to our world. renew rural economies and make them resilient. (https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/econoBut this is not going to be easy. my/covid-19-migrants-future-of-work-and-proJust consider how, in the 1970s, when Mahaduction-71185) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 19

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known as the “Mother of orphans”, is an Indian social worker and social activist awarded with more than 750 awards

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marketer and business author

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Unconve Min Untap Stor RJ Shonali,

the most influential RJ, Radio City 91.1 FM, Pune

These are the inspirational stories f all odds and proved themselves to d They had to cross many hurdles an were undeterred and kept going un Corporate Citizen takes a loo have proved, ‘Where the

Shantilal Muttha,

activist and founder of Shantilal Muttha Foundation (SMF) and Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS)

20 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

Rupesh Tillu, actor, director, independent film maker and a clown

entional nds pped ries

Teemeer Chimulkar,

guitarist, singer, song writer, guitar instructor

Rahul Singh, actor and writer

from people who have gone against do what they think is right for them. nd faced many challenges, but they ntil they achieved what they wanted. ok at a handful of people who ere is a will, there is a way’

Anirban Bhattacharyya, author, producer, actor and stand-up comedian

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 21

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Mothering over 1,000 orphans A woman, who in her 20s was physically assaulted when she was nine months pregnant and left to die in a cowshed, gave birth to a girl in that semi-conscious state, walked out of the misery and steered a unique social reform, mothering orphaned children to give them the dignity of life. She is Sindhutai Sapkal, who, in her five-decade mission, her orphans have grown into men and women of honour. A pulsating story of ‘impossible is in a fool’s dictionary’ By Vinita Deshmukh

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rom a role model of social reforms for orphaned children, Sindhutai Sapkal has lately turned into a model! Yes, her gritty story has been captured with amazing precision in the Colgate ‘smile’ advertisement. The seventy-odd-year old Sindhutai is a picture of enthusiasm and cheer as she narrates her story with her flashing smile and courage of conviction.

At a programme, ‘Cynics take centre stage’ in Sri Balaji University, organised by TCM Pune, Sapkal displayed her unconventional mind that led to her philanthropic success. With a gift of the gab, she narrated her pulsating story, interspersed with shayaris of deep life meaning. Effusing the tenacity of motherhood, she stated that, “a woman can never be defeated.

Although I was beaten up and left to die in the cowshed, when I was due for delivery, I delivered my child by cutting the umbilical cord with a stone that was fallen nearby. Thereafter, I left the cowshed and was begging on the streets where I met many orphans and destitute ladies needing help. I was very disturbed and wanted to end my life. However, each time I contemplated suicide, something inside told me that I need to live for others.

It is this inner voice that propelled me to escort my little daughter to an orphanage so that I can steer a campaign of looking after many orphans and give a fresh lease of life to many others who direly needed it. I did not want to get attached to my daughter and then not see beyond her. So, while I ensured that she was well taken care of by the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Trust, I began my mission to give food, clothes, shelter and education to destitute children without parents.’’

She proudly stated how today she has an entire bandwagon of over 200 sons-in-law and around 1,500 grandchildren. She also gives shelter to innumerable women who have been abandoned. All of them call her ‘Mai’ (mother) and are eternally grateful and loyal to her. A mother is invincible and all-powerful, she says, if she keeps her heart strong and learns to forgive.

Born with a sharp intellect and adroit marketing strategy,

“My small work makes me feel like someone is helping me heal my own wounds. So all wounds heal with time, but you must live, stay alive for others’’ 22 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

she brings out the need for donations for her institutes through her public talks, which are peppered with humour and cheeky wit. Like for example, she says ‘giving bhashan is to get my ration’ (meaning she gets donations when she goes for public lectures and that’s the idea behind doing so). She has a string of funds coming through private donations which keeps her movement going but she rues that “the government does not think it fit to support my cause.’’ She mentions of instances when public personalities have given her cheques with much aplomb only to have bounced or simply publicly announced a grand donation which was never given.

Despite all the awards (750 and more) and travelling across regions and even to the US, I am still a beggar she says as none of her orphanages receives any grant from the government.

It is the miserable circumstances in which she grew up that makes her identify with the orphans. Says she, “I have experienced what it feels like to have no one with you, no place to go, no shelter and no food to eat for days. My small work makes me feel like someone is helping me heal my own wounds. So all wounds heal with time, but you must live, stay alive for others” she says.

Talking about healed wounds, Sindhutai said, “A few years back, at the age of around 80, my husband came back to me apologetically. I told him I could accept him only as my child and not as a wife. Because, a woman is a wife for some time, but is a mother at all the time. Now, I tell my other children that they should thank this oldest child for having me as their Mai.” The children who Mai or Sindhutai has nurtured are proud to carry her name as their middle and last name. So, all boys use Sapkal while girls use Sathe (Sindhutai’s maiden surname) as their surnames. She told the story of Vinay Sindhutai Sapkal, who she rescued from the arms of a dead mother when he was a few days old. He is now a qualified advocate but prefers to assist her and help run the orphanages and accompany her on her talks.

How does she get orphans admitted into

her orphanages? Sindhutai said, “After my speeches at various places, local people bring to me children without parents or an immediate family. After taking a signed letter from the local district administration, we usually admit such child into our orphanage.”

A gifted orator, Sindhutai, with her singing, using quotes from poet-saints Tukaram, Namdeo, Bahinabai, Gadgebaba and Tukdoji Maharaj as well as poet Suresh Bhat and switching easily between Hindi and Marathi with ease hold the audience to rapt attention, laughing and clapping one moment and wiping tears of anguish at another.

She still continues to fight for the next meal for her children. Many of the children whom she adopted are well-educated lawyers, lecturer and some including her biological daughter, are running their own independent orphanages.

One of her children is doing a Ph.D. on her life. She has been honoured with more than 750 awards for her dedication and work.

She used the award money to buy land to make a home for her orphan children. Because of her dedication and sacrifices, today the children have their own building at Manjari, Dist. Pune with all modern facilities like. computer room, a big hall for cultural activities, solar system, water filter, Library, Study room, and all required facilities. Mai is always trying to give a good standard of living to her children along with food, clothing, shelter, education and rehabilitation.

A Marathi film, ‘Mee Sindhutai Sapkal’ released in 2010, is a biopic inspired by the true story of Sindhutai Sapkal. The film was selected for the world premiere at the 54th London Film Festival.

“My life has been a road with many thorns but I made friends with those thorns and my life became beautiful and I could give beauty to so many other people’s lives” Says she philosophically, “My life has been a road with many thorns but I made friends with those thorns and my life became beautiful and I could give beauty to so many other people’s lives.’’

Indeed, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And Sindhutai, the most adorable social worker that Maharashtra has known, is a sterling example of triumph over tribulations! (vinitapune@gmail.com) (with some inputs from www.moneylife.in) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 23

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“Interpret less, Introspect more” Shonali Ranade, who is widely known as RJ Shonali, says that it has been an amazing journey till now. Starting from school days to college days, the girl who because of stage fear would always remain in back stage, today has a huge fan following for her mesmerising and captivating talking, and her connection with listeners— isn’t it great, she says. She adds that her connection with radio has been always very strong. She has been working with Radio City 91.1 FM, Pune, for last nine years and is completely in love with her job.

Let’s know how her cynical journey with radio started By Rajesh Rao

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t every phase of our childhood days, our dreams change, as to what I want to achieve or become in life. There are some very lucky, who dream of becoming something and they become—they are just amazing.

At every phase of my life, my dreams changed. When I was in school, studying in the seventh standard, I dreamed of becoming a police officer. Why? It was the uniform that police officer wear, which attracted me a lot and I decided, yes I will become a police officers. Then I went to college—you are a teenager and start thinking about yourself to be very beautiful. I also started thinking that I can become a model, so I decided I should do modelling in life. This was the time when I was completing my graduation, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree programme. I then thought that becoming a model is too far-fetched, let me realise my dream of becoming a successful manager.

I thought I had very good managerial skills of managing people, talking to them, convincing them, so why not make a successful career in the management field.

I completed my BBA degree and among the 50 students in my batch, 45 24 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

of them decided that they want to do an MBA. I was surprised that almost all of my batch mates were going for a post-graduation MBA course. If I would also do an MBA, what would happen? Either I would become the boss to any of them or else I would have to work as an employee of one of them. I asked myself, if this is acceptable to me and my answer was no, I would not enjoy doing that. We had studied together and studying to me was like understanding human beings. I want to do something different, out-of-the-box, something innovative—I wanted to bring in change. As I was going through this process, my elder sister was closely observing me. She suggested to me that looking at the qualities that I had, I should go for Mass Communication and Journalism, which would be the right career path for me. I said alright and took admission for Mass Communication and Journalism programme, in Aurangabad.

During the same time, one of my friend introduced me to All India Radio (Akashvani), Aurangabad.

She advised me to go there as they had a vacancy for an announcer job and why not give a try. One does not get a permanent job in Akashvani, it is temporary. So, I went there and surprisingly I was selected. I was told that I will go through a training programme, which I went through and started working as an announcer. This is where my career journey with radio actually started. While working at Akashvani, simultaneously I was also completing my masters in Mass Communication and Journalism.

When I completed my Mass Communication programme, I had a job offer, for sub-editor post, from a well-known print media company and they were offering me a good package. I went for it and accepted the job offer. Simultaneously I was working at Akashvani also. At Akashvani I would get hardly 3-4 slots in a month, the show was for 30 minutes and I would hardly get to talk for 1 or 1:30 seconds, as an announcer. But, the process there was amazing and engaging and at the same time also challenging. I found it very interesting. During that time, I was in two minds, whether I should join print media or leave it. At that time, I had received very good advise from the Director at Akashvani that a person should never go through a ginger kind of development, so focus and decide what you really want to do. I had worked for a maximum ten days at the print media company and realised that I was not enjoying the work.

I was getting well paid, but if I am not enjoying the work, I cannot work there. My focus was not on how much I was earning, I looked for enjoying my work. I quit my job at a print media company and I continued with Akashvani. That decision I took, was my life’s best decision.

At the same time, private radio station started coming up, in Aurangabad. When the first radio station was launched, my engagement was happening in Hyderabad, so I missed the chance. I cried a lot because what I dreamt for, that opportunity had slipped away from me. My husband assured me to keep trying and something good will happen. In the next six-month a second radio station was launched and I was called for an interview. I went through three interviews and then out of 150

candidates, I was selected. The reason I was selected, was because of my Akashvani experience.

Life plans many things for you—at that time instead of getting pulled in different directions, I decided my destination to be with radio. You might be thinking that there was no struggle in my career journey, everything came so easy to me. While building my career as RJ in the radio industry, one thing I experienced is, success comes to an RJ only when he makes a connection with the listeners. No matter how many years you have worked, making that connection with the listeners, is the biggest challenge that an RJ faces. For three years I worked very hard in Aurangabad and after that, I got an opportunity from Radio City Pune. I remember, my then boss had advised me that I will not be able to work in a huge market like

“To keep measuring success is difficult and each one’s way of measuring success is different. Understand that interpretation is outwards and introspection is inwards, so interpret less and introspect more”

Pune. But I had confidence in myself that I can do it in Pune. Radio is such a field that many aspire to enter, but very few get a chance. So, I thought if the opportunity has come my way, why not accept it and go. I decided to come to Pune. So, what I am today—known as RJ Shonali—is because, at that time I took the right decision to go for what I felt was right for me.

The biggest challenge I faced coming to Pune was, I had to start again from zero. I had to again start creating my own fan followers, my listeners in Pune. I accepted the challenge, I said I will do it and I did it. I have completed nine years working with Radio City, Pune and overall I have been working in the radio industry for the last 15 years.

Everyone feel that RJ’s job is simple and it is only about talking—we do not have a monthly target, but a new target every day. If you do it, you get a pat, but if you don’t it’s your failure. So, how does an RJ look at his/her success and failure? Today I am in Pune, I have become a known voice of Pune, I have achieved so much fame, but behind all this, I have worked very hard. I will not say that I am very talented, but yes, I am an average girl and I have three qualities in me, to work hard, have consistency and work passionately. I am passionately curious, to extent that those who work with me get irritated with it. If I do anything, I do it passionately and I swear it has given me good results.

Through my career as RJ, I have communicated so many messages and thoughts to people, with radio as a medium. I don’t measure my success counting how many awards I received, or the salary I earn now, or how known I am today in the celebrity circle. My success is, as a person, I am growing and as a person, I have been able to create a unique bond with listeners. Now when anyone asks me, if I want to become a programming head or anything else in the future, I say I want to keep working as a Radio Jockey. Why? Because working in radio makes me happy, gives me satisfaction, and gives me energy.

To keep measuring success is difficult and each one’s way of measuring success is different. Understand that interpretation is outwards and introspection is inwards, so interpret less and introspect more. (rajeshrao.rao@gmail.com)

“I am an average girl and I have three qualities in me, to work hard, have consistency and work passionately. I am passionately curious, to extent that those who work with me get irritated with it”

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 25

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Shantilal Muttha

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Achieving the Impossible It is hard enough to come from abject poverty and attain success in life, but to do so and then give it all up to serve society takes a special kind of courage and selflessness.

Shantilal Muttha, Founder - Shantilal Muttha Foundation (SMF) and Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS), speaks about what it takes to achieve success in life and how all you need to make a difference is having belief in oneself By Neeraj Varty

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ou have heard great people like Sindhutai speak before me. She has elaborated astutely how there is a vast difference between the rich and poor in this country. She has shared her experiences with the world to give them hope in times of a crisis. That is exactly what I am going to do too.

I come from a backward district in Maharashtra called Beed. I was educated in a boarding school. The education was free for a certain quota of poor students, but the institutes demanded huge donations from us. To pay those donations, I worked as a waiter in several weddings. I did this for four years. I served in several weddings. I interacted with cooks, maids, waiters, etc. They expressed how there was so much food at the wedding but they did not have a morsel to eat at home. This touched me deeply. I vowed that one day I would lift the marginalised from the daily suffering that they faced.

I had no money, no family background, and no status. But to change society, all you need is resolve. When I came to Pune for my higher education, initially I faced a lot of difficulties. I used to wear pyjamas to school when my fellow students wore trendy clothes. I couldn’t speak English. But with time I realised that it doesn’t matter if you wore fashionable clothes or spoke chaste English. If you had the determination to succeed, you will thrive despite all odds.

how they themselves can make a difference in society.

Around that time, I started working as a broker to help people get flats on rent. I was fortunate to find some success. I realised that to truly make a difference in society, I must have the means to do so. I decided that until I build an empire of my own, I won’t do any social work. I worked for eight years and established business. I went from being a broker to working in real estate and then established a construction business. I had no professional training, but if a man has the drive to learn, he will be successful, no matter the education. One does not need a formal education to be a success.

Once I acquired sufficient money, I left my business and retired. Then I started conducting mass marriages. This way, people who could not afford the costs of a marriage too could get married for free. I started with two marriages on one dais, and with time, I scaled up to 650 marriages on one dais in one single day.

I have helped in rehabilitation work in the aftermath of 25 natural disasters, all over India and even in Nepal. In Maharashtra, we have a tragic problem of farmer suicides. I have seen the pain of farmers and it is heart-breaking. Since the last five years, the children of over 1,000 farmers who have committed suicide have been educated by me at my hostel in Wagholi.

If I can come from a small backward village with no wealth or means to a city like Pune, establish an empire, and then give back to society, then anyone can do it. All you need is confidence in yourself and a desire to help society. If you have a clear conscience, no one can stop you from achieving your dreams and changing the world for the better. (neeraj.varty07@gmail.com)

All you need is confidence in yourself and a desire to help society. If you have a clear conscience, no one can stop you from achieving your dreams and changing the world for the better I became a firebrand in college. I observed that people spent a lot of unnecessary money on weddings so I and my friends decided to stage a protest at a wedding. The father of the groom came up to me and asked me point blank what right I have to protest if any person spent his hard-earned money on anything that they want? This made an impact on me. I realised he was right. I decided then instead of criticising others, one should find out 26 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

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Never Stop believing

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Anirban Bhattacharya

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Everyone has dreams when they are growing up.

But somewhere down the line, the struggles of everyday life take precedence over our dreams.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. At an event at a leading University in Pune, Anirban Bhattacharya, Co-creator and producer of Savdhaan India and ex-Content Head at Channel [V], shows us that life doesn’t have to be between choosing one thing or the other. With a little bit of planning, a fair amount of hard work and a lot of self-confidence, it is possible to have your cake and eat it too By Neeraj Varty

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decided to do a lot of things I do stand-up comedy, I do writing, I do acting, I do whatever comes my way. How many people feel that they aren’t doing what they always wanted to do in life? Quite a few I presume. Some wanted to be dancers, some wanted to be entrepreneurs in life. Most of us, however, feel trapped. We feel trapped going down a path which either our parents have influenced us. I say influenced and not forced, because this generation cannot be forced to do anything they don’t want to (laughs). Parents always influence our paths. When I was younger, my parents use to tell me to be a doctor or an engineer. If you feel trapped and don’t enjoy what you do, there is always a fear. ‘What will people think?’ The thing is, you shouldn’t be afraid of what people will say. Other people won’t be living your life, it is you who will be living it. Yes, there are certain parameters outside your control, so you should always have a Plan B. So do your MBA, do your engineering, and earn so much of money that you can then pursue your passion.

When I started stand-up comedy, it came as a solution to a problem. I used to be in a boarding school. I used to get bullied a lot in the school.

Then I realised that the only way I could be accepted by my seniors was to become the funny kid. So I became the funny kid in school. Suddenly, all the seniors stopped bullying me. That was it. Then, 25 years later, I got a call from the comedy store in Mumbai, to audition for India’s first open mic.

I was scared thinking that if I fail, what would people think? But I fought through the fear and did it. It was a success and that’s how I started my stand-up comedy career.

I also wrote a book. It was launched by none other than filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. I had a dream of becoming a writer when I was in Class six. I used to scribble in a notebook, 25 years later, I found the manuscript and I realised that I still haven’t fulfilled the dream of that eight-year-boy. So I wrote a book called The Deadly Dozen.

The other problem I keep hearing is that people don’t have time to pursue their dreams. That’s the standard answer people give. I was a Producer when I started writing, and you know how hectic the TV business is. But I decided that come what may, I had to finish the book. So for an entire year, I wrote from 11 in the night to four in the morning. I sacrificed my sleep because I had to fulfil the dream of my eight-year-old self. If you believe passionately in what you do, you will make the time. If you don’t respect your own self, no one else will. First and foremost, you have to be true to yourself.

How many of us feel like losers? If you feel like you have reached rock bottom, that’s actually a good thing, because now the only way to go is up. We are all special. Have respect for yourself and always follow your passion. (neeraj.varty07@gmail.com)

“If you believe passionately in what you do, you will make the time. If you don’t respect your own self, no one else will.

First and foremost, you have to be true to yourself”

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 27

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Harsh Pamnani

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“Life is a marathon and not a 100-metre dash” A marketer with over 14 years of experience with startups, corporates and think tanks, Harsh Pamnani, is also a renowned business author.

He has worked with companies like Firstcry, HSBC, Cognizant, Deloitte, World Bank and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). His books Booming Brands (Volume 1& 2) covers inspiring journeys of a new age “Made in India” brands. Here shares his career journey and why even after being socially known as marketer and business author, he is a cynic, living in a way natural for him and rejecting the conventional, which he believes has helped him to achieve success in his many endeavours By Rajesh Rao

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hough socially my title is a marketer and business author, in reality, I am a cynic. My parents always wanted me to do something significant and meaningful in life, but I was neither interested in studies nor good in sports. Unfortunately, I scored only 55 per cent marks in twelfth class and I was really not sure what I would do in my life.

At times when you don’t know what is going to happen in your life, the almighty will show you the way. Something similar happened with me also.

One of my cousins had scored top twenty rank in the engineering entrance exam. I had nothing to do, so I joined him in his counselling session, where I listened to many toppers speaking about the kind of struggles they went through and the dreams they had for their future. I wanted to become like one of them and asked my cousin, If I can. He said that nothing happens by just dreaming, one has to work hard. I decided to go for computer engineering and after working hard for one year, I was able to score decent rank to get into computer engineering, at IET-DAVV in Indore, which is one of the top engineering colleges in Madhya Pradesh state.

At IET-DAVV, I was surrounded by students who were better than me, in English and computer programming. Somewhere inferiority complex started developing within me and my academic performance started degrading. The second year was more unfortunate. My father was suffering from a slip disk and was bedridden for almost four months. I was quite 28 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

disturbed and couldn’t focus much on studies and thought of taking a shortcut. I was caught cheating and the examiner cancelled my whole examination and I lost a whole semester. I was shattered and thought about dropping out of the engineering programme.

The then director at IET-DAVV, Dr Manohar Chandwani, came like a God and gave me a patient listening. He said that I made a mistake and was rightly punished, which he said can’t be changed. “But, if you decide to change yourself and improve yourself, I will help you in your transformation,” he assured me. With the motivation and moral support of Mr Chandwani and my hard work, I was able to transform myself and become one of the toppers in the college.

Through campus, I got placed with HSBC bank, in Pune. But, then I faced another challenge. As I had completed my engineering six months late, the training programmes for the students were already over and the company was not giving me the joining date. Then the cynic inside me pushed me to persevere. I came to Pune and started waiting in front of the company’s gate, every day for almost a month, asking the HR manager, as to when I will get the joining date. My perseverance paid and eventually, I got the joining date and I started my career at HSBC. Within one year with HSBC in Pune, I was sent to New York City, where I noticed a totally new world and was surrounded by high achievers. Again the cynic inside me said why not listen to the journeys of the achievers who have come here and gained some wisdom from their journeys. During one such meeting with an achiever, I realised that life is a marathon and not a 100-metre dash.

I came back to India and started working with Deloitte in Mumbai.

During this period, I was curious to understand why only a few people were able to create successful business. So, over the weekends and after office hours, I started attending sessions by entrepreneurs at IIT Bombay and the IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE). Looking at my passion TiE offered me a two-year fellowship, to make an impact in the entrepreneur ecosystem in India. My parents and colleagues advised me that it would be a wrong move to leave a good job and career, to join a non-profit organisation. Then the cynic inside me told me that you can earn money whenever you want, but opportunities to earn perspectives don’t come every time. I listened to my heart, left my well-paid job and accepted the opportunity to work for a non-profit organisation. In the two years I worked there, I got opportunities to meet many successful, not so successful and struggling entrepreneurs and closely see their lives. By the time the fellowship got over, I realised that I don’t want to become a full-time entrepreneur and also going back to the previous job was not a possible option.

This time one of my mentors gave me a piece of valuable advice, which changed the trajectory of my career journey. He said that in the field of cricket there are two popular people, one is Sachin Tendulkar, who goes and plays in the cricket field and the second is Harsha Bhogle, who doesn’t play but understands the game so well that he is able to talk about the strategies of the players and everything about cricket. You may not be interested in becoming an entrepreneur, but definitely, you have curiosity, passion and hunger to become someone like Harsha Bhogle, in the field of business.

I decided to do an MBA and you can call it my destiny, I got an interview call from XLRI Jamshedpur and the cynic inside me said that this chance is not to be missed. I made it through the final interview and took admission.

At XLRI, I got access to a wonderful library, where I could satisfy my curiosity in knowing how the brands are built and what all marketing strategies are emerging. Then I thought let me give myself a new goal—as Harsha Bhogle writes in many publications about his area of passion and interest, I will also write about my area of interest like marketing and branding, in

business publications. It took me one year to get my first article published.

Fortunately, that first article became the most popular article in an entrepreneur magazine and my journey of writing business articles started from there on.

Post my MBA programme, I got a decent job, got married and was living a comfortable life. But then the cynic inside me said, is it not too early to live a comfortable life, why not give yourself another challenge. I again looked at Harsha Bhogle, who had written a few wonderful books and I also decided to write a book. But, finding a topic for my book was not an easy task for me. I had met many professors, students, marketers and entrepreneurs, who expressed that there is a lot of literature available on American brands, but hardly anything on the journeys of Indian brands, especially the new age Indian brands that were created post-liberalisation and in the digital era.

I felt, maybe I could fill this void by writing a book that could be referred by many who are interested in understanding how the brands are getting created in today’s crowded and competitive market place. Though I got this idea, it was not easy for me to figure out which entrepreneurs will be able to give their time, to cover their journeys. I was lucky again—founders of 11 admirable made-in-India brands like Shaadi.com, Bookmyshow, Byju’s, Zomato, Paperboat, Padman and many others agreed to give me their valuable time. One of the biggest names in business media, CNBC, agreed to publish my book. My book was released at my alma mater, XLRI, and over the period many business leaders and academicians appreciated my book.

“I felt, maybe I could fill this void by writing a book that could be referred by many who are interested in understanding how the brands are getting created in today’s crowded and competitive market place”

I was happy with all the appreciations but the big surprise was when Harsha Bhogle, after knowing about my book, gave me an opportunity to meet him at his home. That one-hour conversation with Harsha Bhogle, my role model, gave me a glimpse of more dreams that I want to achieve in my life and I am working on them now. Kishor Biyani, CEO of Future Group, has rightly said that when one is young and strives to rewrite rules, he is called mad, but when that same person becomes successful, because he/she dared to risk it all, he/she is then called a maverick. It is my dream that one day I will also be called a maverick. (rajeshrao.rao@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 29

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Rahul Singh

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admission in St. Xavier’s College. I was never fond of academics since I was interested in theatre.

I was doing intercollege plays for St. Xavier’s, I was also doing street theatre. I have acted in more than 50 street plays on various topics like AIDS awareness, drugs awareness, dowry awareness, pollution awareness, population awareness among others.

I believe that we should not call the pursuit of our goals or dreams as a struggle. Rather call it a quest. We choose our goals, nobody forced me to take up acting or become a doctor or something else. Why call it a struggle—call it a challenge.

My parents didn’t like that I wanted to work in films. They were worried that working in cinema doesn’t assure a stable career, fixed salary and job security, which was valued then. One day I convinced them saying I am performing in a play and I would like both you to come and see my play. At that time, I was acting in two plays, one was for the American Embassy and the other one was a street play called AIDS Awareness.

My parents came and saw both the plays and they were satisfied with my career choice. I told them I just need your blessings. By Gods’ grace,

“As an artist when you start working, you feel that you should try out things in other fields too.

Your horizon opens up”

Do what you love to do

An actor and writer, Rahul Singh, who has worked in Bollywood films, like Ghulam, Zubeidaa, The Ghazi Attack, among others, started his journey as an actor from his college days. During his college days, Rahul has wrote more than 50 street plays. Rahul shares his career journey as an actor and why he believes that we should do what we love By Vineet Kapshikar

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was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan. I had no intention as such to become an actor back then. As no one from my family had worked in the film industry. I studied in a boarding school called Mayo College, Ajmer and graduated from St. Xavier’s College. I did a lot of theatre when I was graduating. When I performed on the stage for the first time, the audience appreciated my work. So I kept on working and I was being appreciated. It is said that if you do what you love, then it’s not work. I got 30 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

since my childhood I was provided with each and everything, I never had to ask for anything. But it was necessary for me to stand on my feet and do something.

To study acting, I came to Pune, although I was still in Xavier’s at that time. There weren’t any courses at that time in acting so I started to apply abroad. I got admission in an institute from England and in a couple of institutes in America as well. My father was of the opinion that since India and England have a similar cultural history, I should go to England. People from every corner of the world come to England. I experienced many new things. For three years, I worked there, I learned how to cook, I did all the chores. I used to work part-time as an usher for the British Film Institute (BFI). They had a reputed theatre which used to screen world cinema, and every film was different. Working there was like a treat for me, as I was learning so much working at BFI. Then I got the opportunity to do modelling, my first work on a still camera.

Modelling was providing me quick money, I had also worked on various assignments but it was stagnant, I enjoyed it but there was no artistic growth as such.

As an actor, my first film was Zubeidaa, directed by Shyam Benegal, who is considered as one of the most respected filmmakers in the world, not just in India. After Zubeidaa, my journey as an actor began. I have worked in television, films and currently, I am working in a web series.

Apart from acting, I also write. I have some poetry in me because of my mother. I have written dialogues for Kaante and wrote the film Gulaal. I wrote the original dialogue for a TV show called 24, wherein I played as a protagonist and was nominated for Best Actor Award. I am now working on Adishankaracharya. I credit my mother, Dr Prabha Thakur for my writing talent, who is regarded as one of the top poets of the country.

As an artist when you start working, you feel that you should try out things in other fields too. Your horizon opens up. Acting is a continuous quest, there is no fixed salary, and as long as you enjoy what you are doing there is no need to worry. (vineetkapshikar@gmail.com)

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Laughter Unites People

Rupesh Tillu

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Rupesh Tillu is an actor, director and independent filmmaker. He holds MFA in Physical Comedy from The National School of Dramatic Arts, Sweden.

Having studied clowning and worked with Clowns without Borders, Sweden, he started the project Clowns without Borders in India where they work with kids and adults living in stressful conditions and make them laugh. Rupesh shares his career experience of clowning, why he believes that you must say yes to unknown things … By Vineet Kapshikar

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grew up in Mumbai and I have moved 22 times in my first 18 years, I had to move because there were frequent strikes happening in Mumbai back then.

My parents lost their jobs in the strikes and couldn’t pay the rent so we had to keep moving from place to place. When I was 22, I had moved to Sweden to study theatre for a month. I had `25,000 with me. I came back after 10 years with my Swedish wife and our child. Since then I have been performing as a clown and spreading laughter. I have started an initiative called Laughter Per Kilometre. It is an initiative which spreads laughter every kilometre. Why laughter? Laughter is very special in our lives, and it is very technical. The funny thing about laughter is that you can laugh out loud only when you are with someone. You cannot laugh out loud alone. People like to laugh together. When we have heightened emotional state of being, i.e. stress, there are only three ways to bring tackle that stress, one is laughter, second is crying and the third is violence. If people cannot come together and laugh or cry, then there is violence in that country. Our country is a great example. People are so violent because they don’t have opportunities to handle their stress.

Last year we reached 20,000 underprivileged children around the country in five cities. This year we reached 20,000 underprivileged children around the country again. That’s the goal I have. You have to be a cynic to understand it.

And my definition of being a cynic is different my definition is that a cynic is someone who says yes to unknown things.

How many people try to visit a country without any visa? I have visited Israel and Egypt without a visa. I was sent to Israel by Clowns without Borders, it is a very renowned organisation, it provides psychosocial aid, in simple terms, and they make people laugh. I was sent to Palestine and Israel. We performed in Palestine and Israel and made thousands of children laugh. There we met an Israeli person who asked me, do you want to go to the Sinai desert? (Egypt.) I said, yes, as I was very excited. I had a couple of friends with me, then, I was living in Sweden. From Tel Aviv, we drove to the desert. We reached the Israeli border and then I went there and I realised that I don’t have a double-entry visa to enter Israel. If I leave Israel, I cannot come back. Since I live in the moment, I hadn’t thought of this. I decided to go and talk to the person who is in charge of visas. I went to the officer with an Israeli friend, he talked with the authority in Hebrew, he explained what we do. The officer denied the request of the visa, so I decided to try my luck and I talked to the visa officer, who was a lady, saying that I provide psychosocial aid. She asked me what is that, I said I make underprivileged children laugh. She seemed moved by it and said, I can allow you to visit Israel for 48 hours. I said to her we had to stay there for five days, I requested to figure out something. After some thinking, she said, you go ahead, if I am here when you come back, then only I will allow you to enter, otherwise I cannot. I got the double-entry visa and we crossed the border. We had to walk

to the border, then I realised that I don’t have an Egyptian Visa. I stood there in a queue. My Israeli friend talked with the Egyptian authority and was trying to convince him. The officer refused to grant me the Visa. After some time, the officer told me to go and fill up a form, after I did that, I was granted the Visa.

We walk in the Sinai desert for four days and we lived in the desert, we slept under the sky every day. It was incredible. I come back after five days to Israel, I was praying that the lady officer who allowed me should be there, but there was a different lady officer at the visa counter, she asked me about my visa. I explained the entire story to her. The authorities tracked the lady, and she explained the entire situation to her, she was on a leave at her relatives. I was given the visa and I was back to India.

If you want to do things, you have to say yes to unknown situations. (vineetkapshikar@gmail.com)

“Laughter is very special in our lives, and it is very technical. The funny thing about laughter is that you can laugh out loud only when you are with someone” June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 31

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Teemeer Chimulkar

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On a high note Teemeer Chimulkar is a professional guitarist and a guitar tutor since the late nineties, inspired by popular rock music. Presently, he’s the singer-songwriter and the lead guitarist for his immensely adored rock band, ‘Teemeer and the CirKle’. Teemeer talks about his career journey with Corporate Citizen

By Vineet Kapshikar Your journey as an artist

It was the year 1997, after quitting two marketing jobs with Bajaj and Aptech Education, I decided to pursue music as a career and decided to become a rock singer and a rock guitarist.

Your inspiration

My major inspiration was American rock bands of the 80s and 90s like Metallica, Megadeth, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Slayer, etc. My friends from my college and music circle also had a major part in inspiring me. The Mumbai rock scene (formerly Bombay) was very happening in the 90s with various venues such as Razzberry Rhinoceros (Juhu), Rang Bhavan and various local colleges like IIT- Powai, RAIT, etc. hosting rock concerts and rock band competitions.

Favourite musician and band

Being a hard-core music lover I have lots of favourites but my all-time favourite band has to be Metallica, as it’s been a major influence on me, my music and also my lifestyle. The lead singer, James Hetfield is my most favourite musician. Apart from that, I’m also a huge fan of bands like Nirvana, Coldplay, Type O Negative, etc. and of course Indian musicians and singers like Arijit Singh, Shaan, KK, etc. and the eternal greats, Kishore Kumar and R D Burman.

Current scenario of music industry

The music scene always and eternally keeps changing and that is what’s tough for most musicians. Change is the only constant. From tapes to CDs to DVDs to MP3, most of us have seen it all and now currently all music has gone digital. Nowadays, the internet is a huge playground for the music industry.

There is a lot of new talent available currently, but things get stale very soon. Songs and music get outdated very soon and the shelf life is very short. Most hardworking musicians, who are also good at performing and

entertaining, and have good online/digital skills will last longer. Also, the current lockdown situation has forced musicians to perform live online via platforms like Instagram, Facebook, etc. which can very much be a thing of the future.

You also teach guitar...

I started to tutor almost around the time when I was learning to play when some kids approached me and asked me to teach them to play a few songs that I knew to play. So from starting on a casual basis 20 years later I am full time into teaching guitar on a professional level and take great pride in it. Currently, I’m associated with the Trinity College of London and follow their Rock and Pop curriculum for my students and prepare them for these exams.

Music to you is…

“There is no substitute to hard work, patience, persistence and daily practice in whichever field you want to excel in” 32 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

As clichéd as it may sound but music for me is the air I breathe, the food I eat, the blood that runs in my body.

Advice to the newer generation

My advice would be the philosophy that I live by every day. There is no substitute to hard work, patience, persistence and daily practice in whichever field you want to excel in. We also need to learn new and innovative ways to turn the tide on a bad day and keep moving forward every day. (vineetkapshikar@gmail.com)

UPTREND

ART AS AN INVALUABLE INVESTMENT An artist, an ex-sportsperson and a lot more than that, Madhuri Bhaduri has several hues to her charisma.

And that certainly depicts in her artwork. While in conversation with Corporate Citizen, Madhuri, openly talks about the confluence of art and the corporate world, her journey so far and much more.

Read on! By Ekta Katti Corporate Citizen: Give our readers a brief background of yourself...

I was fortunate enough to be born in a family which is very supportive. Seeing my father and uncle play sports at the national level, motivated me to take up badminton at a young age. My mother was a classical singer on AIR for many years. And quite frankly, what I am today is not only because of my hard work but also because of the qualities that I have inherited from my parents and most importantly, the virtue of discipline that they inculcated in me, moulded me into a person I’m today.

At the age of nine, I started playing competitive badminton. Soon I got the chance to play Nationals. Back then, there was no such category called as Juniors. We had to compete with the kids of all ages. That’s where the spirit of sportspersonship was built in me.

Art, which simply runs in my blood, was something that I was good at since the beginning. But due to my commitment to sports, I couldn’t join an arts college. After competing in several competitions and completing my graduation, I decided to go back to my first love — art. Meanwhile, I had pursued a diploma in French at Alliance Francaise de, Pune, for three years and went to on to pursue formal training in Masters of Art and Painting from SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai in 1988. I got married in 1989 and soon moved to Mumbai.

That broadened my horizons as it exposed me into the metro world of art. I spent the next 10 years in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

When my journey as an artist began, I was blessed enough to come across Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur who introduced me to Jamshed Bhabha of the Tata’s. Their gesture of buying my work instilled confidence in me.

That’s when I began my journey in the art the world. From my first show in Pune in 1986 34 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

to my latest exhibition, I’ve grown leaps and bounds. I’m fortunate enough to say that it has been an amazing journey so far.

CC: The Art market growth and higher valuation means more demand and more wealth is being allocated to art as part of a holistic investment and wealth management strategy. Do you agree?

The art market is growing all over the world. As it starts from the grassroots, there is awareness and everybody is participating. Regardless the age, art is growing leaps and bounds. Art is also about sensitising and it starts with an emotional connect. The more people get involved, the more it will get attention. International auctions are a great platform for local artists. Such things promote art and encourage artists to be a part of the

society or else everything will be robotic. When it comes to art there are many entities involved in it which makes its estimation reach the sky. Over the years, there are several corporates who are showing keen interest in art – especially paintings, there are museums all over the world which are providing a great platform to artists to showcase their art and the international and national auctions are a tremendous confidence booster.

CC: How according to you can paintings or artworks add value to the business environment?

Art not only adds beauty to our surrounding but it also gives us an impetus to think out of the box. It helps the person to go on a voyage wherein they can not only find inner peace but the path on which they walk on gives them the courage to perform better in their career. Art

terms a few years down the line. The value of art ages like wine, the older the art, the more it attracts the crowd, further increasing its appreciation in every sense. However, the first thing that pops in one’s mind while thinking about art as an investment is if it is tradeable or something you can encash on. And for that, you need strong auction houses which would understand the art’s real worth. In general, art has several aspects in terms of investment.

CC: Does art act as a pathway to explore non-art topics such as leadership, change, and innovation in business?

I feel that art always needs involvement from the industrialist, tycoons and corporates. And in turn, both these entities will grow exponentially.

Art needs patronage because art by itself doesn’t create wealth. It is sensitising the society. And to create art that appeals to all, you need artists. And if these two intuitions have a close bond, then the

“At the age of nine, I started playing competitive badminton. Soon I got the chance to play Nationals.

Back then, there was no such category called as Juniors. We had to compete with the kids of all ages”

world will surely become a better place than what it’s today. That’s where art-based learning, empathising, involving and helping comes into the picture. And the tycoons and leaders play a huge role in this. When art becomes a part of us, the world just transforms into something beautiful.

I strongly believe that art acts as a pathway to explore non-art topics such as leadership, change, and innovation in business. That’s because it changes your path of thinking, it makes you more sensitised, in turn, making you empathic. Everyone needs a stressbuster. Especially, when it comes to the corporate world where stress is taking a toll on all. It is important to have a respite from the stress. And trust me, nothing better than art can heal your soul. It makes life worth living!

CC: Your paintings have been appreciated and purchased by well-known tycoons. What does one look for while buying a painting?

Only a person who is moved by the artwork buys it. Art is something that appeals to the person’s senses. And every tycoon or a corporate stalwart goes through the same process before buying the art. They are someone who cannot be forced to buy a certain artwork. The work has to strike the right chord with the entrepreneur for them to purchase it. All through my journey, people have brought my artwork because it has touched their heart. And of course, some corporates invest in artwork as the per their dealer’s advice. There are different avenues where a corporate or a tycoon decides to buy art.

CC: Could you talk about the relationship between the business world and paintings (art at large)? How has this relationship evolved?

is about creating unique ideas and the business world runs on the basis on the exclusiveness of their thought process. In the corporate world or rather in life, there are several ups and downs.

And according to me, art encourages a person to be calm in the face of adversity. The art that these tycoons and corporate stalwarts buy not only enhances their work environment but it also exudes the much-needed warmth and harmony to survive in this corporate world.

(L-R) Meher Pudumjee (Chairperson of Thermax Limited), Madhuri Bhaduri, Dr Surud Sardesai and Padma Shree Anu Aga during the exhibition of her artwork

CC: What inspires you to paint?

CC: What are the current trends at the intersection of art and investment?

Art is an investment in most of the developed nation and that’s where it gets it due status.

When you say investment, it also means does that particular artwork have any appreciation value. For instance, if the artwork is brought today, will it have an appreciation in monetary

The relationship between art and the business world is slowly getting to a place where it should have been. I remember in the early 60s and 70s, there weren’t a lot of galleries in India. There were fewer artists and the prices were negligible. Back then, nobody thought that they would make a living out of art. But artists continued to paint. Slowly and steadily, the monetary aspect of art came into the picture, to an extent where the value of an artist decides to what level the artists has successfully reached an audience.

And now, art is growing at a very faster rate.

Madhuri Bhaduri (centre) with Mruga and Dhaval Kirloskar during the exhibition of her artwork

After spending four decades in this field and after spending countless hours painting on the canvas, I feel that it has become a part of me. I have always been passionate about art. For me, anything related to art – colours, canvas, texture, etc. inspires me to do better and provides with a medium to express myself. (ektaakatti@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 35

INTERVIEW

Pharma Sector’s

Survival Factor Dinesh Thakur, known for turning whistleblower against the violations of Good Manufacturing Practices at Ranbaxy Laboratories, the company whose research information & portfolio management he formerly headed, rues that the malaise is far more widespread in the Indian pharma sector. Also that, despite the fact that we have been caught napping by the current Covid-19 pandemic, no real effort has gone into systemic course correction or meaningful investment into health infrastructure‌.

BY VINITA DESHMUKH

36 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

Dinesh Thakur was earlier Director & Global Head, Research Information & Portfolio Management at Ranbaxy Laboratories, India’s largest generic drug manufacturer. He was responsible for managing research and development information for drug development, manufacturing, and commercial operations. He also implemented automated systems to capture research and development data for global regulatory submissions, compliance, and manufacturing.

He is internationally acclaimed as a Ranbaxy whistleblower for his tenacious investigations, bringing out into the open, the compromises in quality control and patient safety in the manufacture of generic medicines by the company he worked in. A book titled ‘Bottle of Lies’ by US-based journalist, Katherine Eban, based on his investigation and findings, was a New York Times bestseller in 2019.

During his career, he also held senior positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Infosys Technologies. Most recently, he co-founded and was CEO (2007-12) of Sciformix Corporation. He is an expert and accomplished entrepreneur in pharmaceuticals, biomedical product development, drug regulation, and information technology.

Presently, he is a public health activist focussed on improving the quality of affordable medicine across the globe. His current focus is to improve health policy in the United States and in India.

Corporate Citizen interviewed him to get an insight into the COVID-19 impact on India’s Pharmaceutical Industry, on various dimensions.

“The response from the Government of India has been very patchy.

They did react early and imposed a lockdown, but other than that specific action, very little of what they have done subsequently inspires any confidence in their ability to govern”

Corporate Citizen: What is your overview of the present pandemic, COVID-19 which has affected practically every country-in terms of its intensity, and did you see it coming?

Dinesh Thakur: People who work in public health have been talking about a potential pandemic for years now. Bill Gates, who runs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spoke of this very issue several years ago in a TEDMED talk.

Therefore, there was awareness about a respiratory virus spreading globally in the past, but sadly, not many countries took proactive action to get prepared to address such an outbreak until it was here.

CC: With reference to India, what do you think of the COVID-19 spread and its management by the government?

The response from the Government of India has been very patchy. They did react early and imposed a lockdown, but other than that specific June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 37

INTERVIEW ‘Before this pandemic, China was aggressively building its capabilities to take business away from India. We already source a large percentage of our raw materials from China. They were beginning to move up the value chain by developing skills for formulation, which is our key strength. The fallout from this pandemic is changing the landscape. … How this all works out is too early to tell now” action, very little of what they have done subsequently inspires any confidence in their ability to govern. The humanitarian tragedy that has been triggered as a consequence of ill-conceived actions was completely man-made and wholly preventable.

CC: What was the state of the Pharma industry in India before the coronavirus epidemic?

The Indian pharma industry, which largely makes generic copies of off-patent medicines was still dealing with the fallout of the issues uncovered in the case against Ranbaxy. If you look at the US FDA regulatory action, many of the large companies in India have been cited for gross violations of manufacturing standards over the last two years.

CC: Do you think the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and its sudden demand by the USA and several other countries and other anti-viral tablets made by India to counter the pandemic has boosted the Pharma economy in India during this COVID-19 crisis?

I don’t think so. There was some acute demand for Hydroxychloroquine initially. But once clinical data began to emerge that this drug is not therapeutically effective against COVID-19, it all fizzled out. It is true that some companies like INTAS and Zydus may have had a short-term opportunity to capitalise on this demand, but it is not applicable across the industry. There have been a series of approvals for other medicines needed to treat this disease, including Azithromycin and Albuterol for Indian generic drug companies, and I am sure this will be a good financial break for those companies that have a valid Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for these products.

CC: What was the state of the generic medicine industry in India, before coronavirus and now?

The Indian generic drug industry continues to be plagued with issues with compliance and 38 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

quality of products. Not much has changed over the last five years.

CC: Do you think China’s pharma industry would overtake India’s, particularly because India depends on China for much of the raw material?

It is too early to tell. Before this pandemic, China was aggressively building its capabilities to take business away from India. We already source a large percentage of our raw materials from China. They were beginning to move up the value chain by developing skills for the formulation, which is our key strength. The fallout from this pandemic is changing the landscape. There is an active effort underway in the US Congress to restrict the import of medicines which are either made in China or have ingredients made in China. How this all works out is too early to tell now.

CC: You have been a whistleblower of international acclaim through your bold investigations on compromises in quality control and health safety in Ranbaxy’s manufacture of generic medicines. Do you think it has led to better standards in India in this sector?

Sadly, it has not. Not much has changed in India, despite the fact that the problems which I uncovered in Ranbaxy are not specific to that one company. Unlike the US, where systemic changes were made to drug regulations after the Ranbaxy episode, precious little has been done in India.

CC: Would you say that the pharma industry would be one of the few sectors that would positively benefit from the COVID-19 impact?

Anytime there is a pandemic, the industry that makes drugs, devices, diagnostics, vaccines and so on, always benefits. The question is whether our industry in India will benefit. We have invested very little in developing skills to discover new drugs/therapies in the past. We can try and repurpose existing therapies to see if they are effective in treating this disease, but the payback

for that is not the same as if we discovered a new chemical or a biological entity to treat this disease. So yes, the industry will benefit; to what extent, I don’t know.

CC: What do you think of the state of Public Healthcare Management in developed countries including the USA? And countries like India?

Delivery of healthcare is largely privatised in the US. Therefore, when the pandemic broke, the US Congress had to pass a regulation paying for tests and making them accessible for everyone in the country free of cost. Likewise, they provided funding to hospitals to treat patients who needed care after developing an infection.

Having said that, the US has a very strong surveillance system. The Centers for Drug Control and Prevention provides a strong policy basis for public health in the US. Therefore the government can take quick action based on real evidence and surveillance data and respond to the pandemic in a timely manner.

In India, we haven’t made any significant investment in public health. Individual states have made some progress, Kerala being a really good example. The fact that Kerala has been able to control this pandemic in such an effective manner is a testament to its public health infrastructure. But this is not true of all the other states in the Union.

There is a lot to be desired when it comes to the robustness of public health systems in the country and unfortunately, it is reflected in the way our response has been to this pandemic.

CC: Is there a need now for top government priority for expenditure in healthcare management? If so, how?

Yes, there is. In times like these, where there is such an immediate and visible need to react to the outbreak, throwing money at this problem does not address systemic issues within our public health infrastructure. We will need to take a holistic look at the problem once this pandemic passes and frame policies based on data. Let me offer a simple example. In the last two months, we have seen several advertisements from state and local governments to hire people trained in epidemiology. If you look closely at the renumeration they offer for these posts, it is pathetic.

It speaks of the value that we attribute to public health and people who are trained in this area.

This is a knee-jerk reaction to the misery and fear we see all around us. Likewise, we do not have a trusted source of national surveillance data when it comes to disease outbreak. The way this lack of good data manifests is where ICMR revises their recommendations on who needs a test and when so often. They are reacting to segmented and patchy data because we don’t have a consolidated view of what the pandemic looks

like at the village and panchayat level. These are systemic issues we have. Just throwing money at them during this pandemic will not solve years of neglect by successive administrations.

making sure that good quality, affordable medicines are made available to patients. It follows my story of an eight-year battle with Ranbaxy Laboratories, which I had once worked for, in a US court.

As a result of that case, changes were made to the US regulations and to the US regulator in how they ensure the quality of the US drug supply. Sadly, nothing much has changed in India; we continue to subject our people to poor quality, substandard drugs.

CC: What do you think of our nurses, doctors and other paramedical professionals who generally were not provided with enough safety kits although they are frontline COVID warriors?

Clearly not an ideal situation. There have been enough news reports that frontline healthcare workers are not provided with enough protection. In fact, this has been the biggest source of risk for community transmission. The way that the government failed to react with a sense of urgency to protect frontline healthcare workers is a reflection of the poor governance we are straddled with. Even after two months, there are still news reports that certain hospitals and healthcare facilities lack proper PPE for their healthcare workers. This is simply not acceptable in any civilised society.

CC: At the individual level, what is your advice to citizens in terms of prevention and care to counter this pandemic?

There is very little a citizen can do, other than to follow the guidelines that the Ministry of Health and the ICMR have put out. People panic because they don’t understand that this is an infectious disease like any other and will be controlled if we just follow basic hygiene. A vast majority of people will recover with few or no symptoms. A small percentage of people will develop presentable symptoms and will need medical care. Our focus, until such time that we have a vaccine or a therapeutic drug, surveillance and monitoring by healthcare workers using techniques like contact-tracing should be to used to stem the spread of the virus. The guidelines published by the Ministry are helpful if followed.

Having said that, we have some real challenges on the ground in following these guidelines. Our sanitation in cities and towns leaves much to be desired. Man-made tragedies like the humanitarian distress that has been caused by poorly executed policies exacerbate the situation. At the end of the day, we have to remember that we are all in this together and not forget the basic aspects of humanity.

CC: Is the pandemic here to stay?

No, the pandemic will be controlled, but the virus is here to stay. This virus is like many others which cause common cold and influenza. It has now crossed the threshold of community transmission. At some point in the future, we will develop herd-immunity to it.

CC: The book ‘Bottle of Lies’ is an eye-opener to the world of the shocking

We do not have a trusted source of national surveillance data when it comes to disease outbreak. The way this lack of good data manifests is where ICMR revises their recommendations on who needs a test and when, so often. They are reacting to segmented and patchy data because we don’t have a consolidated view of what the pandemic looks like at the village and panchayat level” laxity of an array of factors required to manufacture top-quality generic medicines. Could you summarise your observations and investigations?

Bottle of Lies was written by Katherine Eban based on my investigation into what happened at Ranbaxy when I was employed there. It shows how our regulations and regulators in India fail the people of the country over and over again in

CC: Tell us about the philanthropic work that you are pursuing since the last several years.

My work is focused on building public health infrastructure in India and empowering people to defend their civil rights. My foundation works with many great people and organisations which do so much good work in these areas. We are collectively trying to make a small difference in the lives of people when it comes to their healthcare and their rights as citizens.

CC: What recommendations would you make for a youngster to choose the pharmaceutical industry as his or her career?

The pharmaceutical industry offers a diversity of opportunities for young people to make a good career. Pandemics like COVID-19 provide a good example of the kind of skills that are needed. Epidemiologists, Microbiologists, Data Scientists, Chemists, Pharmacists all have a role to play in providing healthcare in the country. Young people need to find a good institution and role models that help them develop the right kind of skills and capabilities to succeed in these roles.

CC: Your philosophy of life?

I don’t have a philosophy or something that laudable. I try to live by simple principles which help me, namely, always be honest, live a life with integrity and always give back to the society where you came from. (vinitapune@gmail.com)

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 39

SUCCESS STORY

Dream away in the winds of change!

At just 23, he has achieved a lot. The work that he has done has rewarded him in many ways, one of them is the tags that he has earned – changemaker, social entrepreneur and others. And he is well aware that it comes at a price. He measures his steps carefully and within that, he is determined to change the state of Bihar and our country too. Meet Ranjan Mistry – Bihar’s youngest social serial entrepreneur, speaker, and a nominee of Forbes Asia 30 Under 30. He has risen from the ashes and he knows the importance of what he has earned. In conversation with Ranjan By Ekta Katti taught more than 10,000 students. I also bring education to more than 10 Naxal affected villages of Gaya by providing them with teachers regularly. The best part is, my experience not only helped me grow but it gave me a chance to create opportunities for others. Being one of the youngest serial social entrepreneurs and a think tank, I have closely seen Bihar evolve.

To give youngster’s ideas a new shape and to give wings to their entrepreneurial dreams, I be-

Corporate Citizen: Do introduce yourself to our readers…

I am a social entrepreneur. And I am also the new identity of changing Bihar. I was born and raised in Chakauri Bigha, Tankuppa block, Bihar, which happens to be a Naxal affected area.

My parents Gopal Sharma and Sudama Devi toiled hard to raise me. I know education is very important and I had to work really hard to pursue my basic schooling and further studies.

Owing to several factors like the lack of teachers or my family’s financial condition, I took it upon myself to get things going. From not being to afford the computer classes to learning more than 10 programming languages to working as a software developer, social entrepreneur, a think tank and much more, I have come a long way.

CC: Could you enlighten us a bit about your career?

Growing up, as money was an issue, I started taking tuitions to support myself. That’s how my career as a teacher started. It was by accident but I guess that some things are just meant to. Incidentally, it was the start of something beautiful as after that I taught several students and I even took classes of my classmates due to the lack of teachers. I am proud to say that so far, I have 40 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

“Our life is like a business where everyone is a CEO. We need to maintain the balance sheet of relationship, tax filing of grief, a bank statement of health and, profit and loss of love. If you understand this concept, then the sky is your limit” came the founder member of Patna University Incubation Hub (PUI-Hub).

Rural areas produce some of the best entrepreneurs and to connect these rural students with the rest of the world, I founded Campus Varta, which is India’s first EdTech Media, that

connects rural schools, colleges and universities on a global platform. We grow by empowering others and over the years, I have mentored more than 150+ startups across the country.

CC: You are touted as one of the think tanks of Bihar. What according to you is the role of a think tank?

There isn’t a formal book that describes the role of a think tank. As per me, a think tank is born when they overcome adversities which not only aids in their self-growth but their experience and knowledge empower others too. It’s not that I decided to be a think tank. Right now, I am just doing my job of a responsible citizen which is to uplift society.

I feel that a think tank’s thought process is to bring in development at any cost. And the institutes that I proposed were to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bihar. Change does not happen overnight, it takes days, years or even decades. But trust me, when things fall in place, people will appreciate and applause you.

The road to enlightenment or change is not easy to navigate. But with hard work the change you want to see in the world slowly becomes visible.

Over time what I have realised is, some people are not ready to educate their daughters even now. To change this situation, we decided to give free education to those girls. Times are changing but at a slower rate. However, it gives me immense happiness when I see the girls of my village reading books, letters, newspapers and they are also educating their daughters in the villages.

CC: How can a social entrepreneur help in building a better world, especially after the recent outbreak of COVID-19?

Since our planet’s inception, earth has been hit by several calamities, but sooner or later us humans have bounced back. Although unfortunate, this Covid-19 situation also comes with a silver lining. It will create several opportuni-

“I vow to create 100 entrepreneurs and personally mentor and guide them. They will be provided with networking guidance, resources and everything which they are looking for”

ties for people who are willing to take risks and think big. Sure, a lot of startups, companies and industries have come to a standstill. And to add, several youngsters have lost their jobs due to the financial crisis, but all of us know that we are entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs are born to take risks and they will surely bounce back.

They come with a trait, they look for fixing the problems instead of just identifying them. Now, just imagine if all these people come together to solve these issues with innovative solutions, then they are not employing themselves, but also creating opportunities for others.

CC: What according to you is important - education or awareness?

I believe both of them are important. However, there are misconceptions between a degree and education. A degree is just a piece of paper which helps you to prove that you have followed some rules to get educated while education is the learning from different sources, conditions and situations. Well, I have always said that I didn’t complete my degree, but I have completed my education as a freelancer.

My knowledge due to this freelance education, awareness and experience speaks volume as I hold the will to change the world. If you want to innovate or come up with impactful

ideas, then start learning and educating yourself from local people, stay among them and most importantly take a rural tour of different parts of India.

entrepreneurs and personally mentor and guide them. They will be provided with networking guidance, resources and everything which they are looking for.

CC: Too often people associate the term ‘dropout’ with someone who hates learning. Do you agree?

CC: At such a young age, you have become a changemaker who is looked up to by many. How does that make you feel? Does that tag create some sort of pressure?

The tag of dropout doesn’t mean that a person hates learning or educating themselves. Nowadays, it’s one of the fanciest terms used by all.

Most of the terms which were associated with my name were not known to me. When I met people and was interviewed by them, they informed me about these tags. I was never willing wanted to drop out of college, but owning to my financial condition I was forced to do so. But I did not give up, that’s why I found an alternate way to learn and educate myself.

CC: Brief us about your Program Nxt100. What do you think its impact would be?

The youth of Bihar is hungry to work but unfortunately, there is no such effective ecosystem developed by the government to provide for them. That’s why I decided to launch a programme known as Nxt100 to help these youths independently at free of cost. I vow to create 100

Nothing beats the feeling when someone appreciates your work. Yes, I am an inspiration for many. But all of this comes at a cost. I need to be careful about my actions and everything in general. These tags indeed create some sort of pressure as well because great things come with great responsibility. There are thousands of youths across India who have started following me, if I take a wrong step then it will not only affect me, but it will also make an impact on them.

CC: Any message for the youth of our nation?

Our life is like a business where everyone is a CEO. We need to maintain the balance sheet of relationship, tax filing of grief, a bank statement of health and, profit and loss of love. If you understand this concept, then the sky is your limit. (ektaakatti@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 41

STARTUP TREND

Contactless Dining on the Menu

From a digital menu to an operational system that enables restaurant management to work from home to additional features that promote personalised service, here’s looking at how the innovative products from restaurant automation startup system Devourin will help restaurants turn around in a post lockdown world By Kalyani Sardesai

W

ith the food and beverage industry badly hit by the Covid-19 crisis, restaurants and diners across the board will have to make fundamental changes in their service. After all, with anywhere between 7 to 8 million people employed by the hospitality industry in mind, INR 4 lakh crores the sector brings in by way of annual turnover, are at stake.

Easier said than done because even post lockdown it’s going to take some doing to win back the customers To that end, Pune-based restaurant automation technology startup Devourin is offering products to make contactless dining a ground reality. This will, hopefully, go the distance in eliminating the need for diners to touch valet receipts, menus and bill copies, when they start eating out again.

As things stand, Devourin’s USP is that it provides multiple products on a single platform, so that restaurants have all their technological needs met at one point. “Our range of products include a QR code-based digital menu, POS, Inventory and Recipe Management, Self-Ordering Kiosk, Interactive Digital Signages, mobile/tab apps for the staff and owners to run efficient operations and stay ahead in the game,” says Sivanandan Chettiyar, Founder and CEO, Devourin. What’s more, the technology covers the vast ground: from fine-day restaurants, pubs and lounges to fast food chains, it suits them all.

The software essentially offers you three modes of operations: a) A Centralised mode for a centralised management to manage everything from a single point: be it adding/subtracting items from the menu or tailoring portion sizes to local tastes or creating invoices and inventories. b) A distributed mode allows branches or franchises to run operations autonomously. c) A hybrid mode that facilitates both centralised and distributed management, allowing some aspects to be looked after by a single point,

Devourin and contactless dining

even as others may be handled at diverse points.

In short, seamless and continuous customer engagement through actionable real time insights.

“If simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication, Devourin makes it simple for owners

First things first. It allows senior management to work from home. Here’s how: Its unique hybrid cloud model that works offline, independent of geography. Thus while the operations have no dependency on the net, they are nevertheless, connected to all outlets at the backend.

42 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

to view all data in real-time for all outlets, right up to the know-how on what’s happening at a particular table,” says Chettiyar. “The software analyses customer preferences in a particular market-so you can alter recipes, cut back on waste and give them exactly what they want.

“Its best in class cloud technology provides 100

want with ease.

2. Contactless ordering without the need for customers to install any mobile app or go to a website.

3. No food delivery services in your city/town – no problem. Enable online with no investment in website or app.

4. Increase hygiene, no-touch payments – take payments without touching a card reader from the comfort of customer’s own mobile device.

5. Contactless staff operations – taking orders from customers whether dining-in or take away or online, go touch-free. Enable staff to take payments without any contact.

6. Seamlessly integrates social media platforms.

Bring back your patrons and entice new customers.

7. Increase efficiency, reduce operational costs by reducing staff.

The software, says Chettiyar, is affordably priced and cost-effective, even as it targets a varied customer base: from top of the line fine dines to fast food chains. Best of all, it allows quick on-boarding, meaning the time taken for your staff to acquaint themselves with the intuitive interface, is minimal. The Devourin team, he says, is on hand to assist restaurants in seamlessly upgrading to their platform, without a loss of time or productivity.

From strength to strength

“If simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication, Devourin makes it simple for owners to view all data in real time for all outlets, right up to the know-how on what’s happening” per cent data back up, seamless data flow across outlets, close monitoring and efficient management. Given that personalised service will make the cut even in the Post-Covid world, Devourin’s range of mobile and tab-based tools will enable the hostess, captain and manager of the restaurant to keep abreast of guest preferences including tastes, allergies, preferred dishes, birthdays and so on

Digital Menu

“There’s little doubt that Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the restaurant industry. The fear factor has set in every custom-

er’s mind and will stay longer. Post lockdown, gaining patron’s confidence will be a herculean task for every restaurateur along with coping with new operational challenges – staff shortage, uncertain supplier commitments for produce, high training costs and lower sales. Here’s where Spark the Contactless Digital Menu will have the maximum impact,” says Chettiyar.

Here are the ways that Spark can help the average restaurateur: 1. Contactless digital menu – whether a customer is dining-in, ordering from home or anywhere. Replace your paper-menu with digital. Change your menu as often as you

On his part, noted entrepreneur Deepak Nathani, chief promoter and MD for Devourin believes the customer-centric and intelligent product will find takers across the board. “While Devourin already enjoys a steady client base in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, the contactless dining features shall be important in the days to come. Soon we plan to enter the Middle East too,” he shares.

(For more information, log on to www.devourin.com)

CC

tadka Bats not an enemy in the fight against COVID-19 Bats have come under intense scrutiny as misleading interpretations of preliminary research links them as the most likely reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19). Scientists studying the transmission pathway of the Covid-19 say that although the known bat virus is close to SARS-CoV-2, it cannot bind to human lungs directly and cause the infection.

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 43

YOUNG ACHIEVERS

mRush Play, Earn and Learn all about your finances

Thirteen-year-old Aditya Ramchandani is proof positive of the truism that age and maturity have little to do with each other. Besides, as part of a Young Entrepreneurs Academy course, he needed to come up with his own business idea. Blessed with an acumen that far belies his tender years, this student of St. Mary’s School, Pune has successfully combined his love for mathematics and interest in the subject of finance in a fab new mobile-based app called mRush By Kalyani Sardesai Corporate Citizen: How did this app come about?

Curiosity and love for numbers. And my interest in making mobile apps!

As part of a YEA (Young Entrepreneurs Academy) course, I needed to come up with my own business idea. I recalled how when I’d see my father meeting with bankers, and carrying out various banking transactions or investing 44 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

in the stock market, there were so many words and concepts that I did not understand. When I requested my father to explain these terms to me, I realised some concepts were hard to grasp.

After some quick spot surveys with friends and research online, I realised that it is actually quite an issue not to have financial literacy as a part of our mainstream education. This makes us jittery when it comes to managing our finances. Con-

sidering how much time people spend on their screens and mobile games, I knew that the solution to the problem was to make a game out of a perceived boring topic into a fun game that helps you Play, Earn and Learn all at the same time.

And thus, mRush was born.

CC: What triggered your interest in finance at such a young age?

Well, many factors contributed to the interest, and my curiosity fueled it. My parents’ conversations, my grandfather always watching the news and market-driven channels (like CNBC-TV18, NDTV Profit et al) made me curious. But the one learning I took from dad was quite simply this – “Money makes more money”.

CC: Is this what I planned to do or something that happened along the way?

Prior to mRush, I have made a couple of small mobile apps over the last two years. mRush as a concept picked up pace because I needed a concrete concept as part of my YEA course.

CC: How did you approach YEA?

My friend’s mom, Ms. Namita Thapar, is the Head of YEA in India. For the last couple of years, she was keen for me to join YEA. My parents thought it’s best for me to get enrolled only when I was actually ready for it. In 2019, I decid-

ed that I wanted to be a part of the course and I thought that it would be cool to have my own business venture. What began as just something cool to do, became something I fell in love with, it’s become a passion today.

CC: Tell us about YEA’s contribution to mRush’s journey.

YEA helped me and the mRush journey tremendously. It gave a strong base to begin my entrepreneurship journey. YEA’s mentors taught us how business functions, different aspects of a business - be it market research, competitor analysis, product design, prototyping, finances and expenses, marketing and sales among other skills.

At the end of the YEA course, we need to come up with an investor pitch and present our ideas to a panel of judges. Similar to Shark Tank.

The icing on the cake was the fact that mRush won the first prize at the Pune chapter this year and has been invited to take part in the global finale at Rochester, NY, USA. However, the COVID-19 situation has postponed the NY event for now.

CC: How do you feel about entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is the process of taking an idea and developing into a business and then growing it. I believe that as an entrepreneur you should never give up your idea, stick to it, promote it, market it, grow it and make people realise the importance of your idea.

It is important to identify the right problem and then work towards the solution. Similar to math, which by the way, is my favourite subject-every problem has a solution-we just need to form the right equation.

Persistence is very important as I came across a few scenarios that made me want to drop the idea, but YEA and my parents encouraged me to stay on course and overcome the challenges.

CC: Any career plans/inclinations as yet?

I love cars. And I love coding. I think that I would either want to become a mechanical engineer or a software engineer. So, it is the engineering stream for sure. I’m unsure yet and I would either want to bring innovation to automobiles or to other industries that can benefit from technology. Who knows, maybe I’ll make cars cooler!

CC: Tell us about the people who encouraged you.

As the famous saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work”. I’ve had tremendous support from friends and family. There have been so many invisible hands that have helped mRush through its journey and make my dream a reality.

The mRush app is interesting and multi-faceted and this would not have been possible without the help from friends and freelancers

who have contributed to the technology journey. While I have a great vision, it needs a few helping hands and a lot of support to get there.

My biggest cheerleaders have been my parents and close family. They have been my guiding angels through my journey, helping me balance my school life and the mRush initiative.

CC: Your long term plans for the app.

Helping build a financially literate society is not just an objective for mRush, it’s now my mission. My vision for mRush is to pursue this and enhance the reach not just in India, but globally. The future roadmap of the product

CC: What can mRush do?

mRush replicates the Personal Finance Cycle: Earn, Invest, Spend, Grow. It has a virtual ingame currency known as Mohurs. Players can Earn these Mohurs by playing mini-games within mRush!

Quizzes help reinforce financial concepts.

Fun games like Mining Game, Lucky Wheel and a Tile Game (Replicating the Game of 15) keep adding to your Mohur balance in the mRush Bank saving account.

The game encourages players to invest their Mohurs and understand the power of compounding. Mohurs can be invested in Fixed

“The icing on the cake was the fact that mRush won the first prize at the Pune chapter this year and has been invited to take part in the global finale at Rochester, NY, USA” is to introduce multiplayer mode and online gaming. Since the game has been launched fairly recently, it’s been very important for me to keep in mind user feedback and increase the number of installs on Google Play and Apple App Store. To achieve my goals, I want to tie up with banks, mutual fund houses, and educational institutes to promote financial learning and wealth creation among young adults. I’m also looking to monetise the app and focus on revenue generation and look for investments to fund the future roadmap.

CC: So what are your other hobbies?

I love solving Rubik’s Cubes. I have a collection of over 10 different kinds. Apart from that, I am also a part of the school basketball team and I am also a part of the school band where I play the drums.

During this lockdown, I am learning German which is a very interesting language. Fun Fact!

Did you know that in German ‘Money’ is ‘Geld’.

CC: How has the app been received?

The app has been very well received. mRush has seen 1000+ downloads in a short span of less than three months. That too without any aggressive paid marketing campaigns.

Deposits, Recurring Deposits, Stock Market & Gold Investments. Stock market prices and gold rates are tied to real-world actual rates. So you can practice risk-free investing!

You can set goals and achieve them, in a fun gamified manner! It teaches a very important concept-money that most people have access to is Finite. And that you need to Earn and Grow your money to be able to buy the good things in life.

Our newest feature is by far the coolest-it’s a new mini game called “mEx. It’s like the stock exchange only that it’s virtual and in Mohur land! This game teaches investors the relation between macro-economic and industry triggers and the recommended investing actions (buy/sell/sit tight). (https://play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=com.mRush) (https://apps.apple.com/in/app/mrush-bankingfinance-game/id1497141858) (www.mrush.in) (kalyanisardesai@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 45

CAMPUS PLACEMENT

Living like a

BOSS After getting the taste of the corporate world, Sahil Sood is all set to dive into the ocean of entrepreneurship. Sahil helps his father run their family business amidst the snow-clad mountains of Himachal.

Having travelled across India for education and job, his homecoming after almost two decades was nothing short an achievement for Sahil.

In conversation with Corporate Citizen, Sahil opens up about his hostel life, his stint in the banking sector and his obsession with running his business. Read on!

F

By Ekta Katti

or him, work is worship! Be it working as a customer relationship manager or now joining his father in their family business – he works with all his heart. “The apple does not fall far from the tree. I grew up watching my father work hard to grow our family business. And I am a proud child that I get the same qualities from him,” smiled a proud Sahil. The Sood’s are running an apple business in Himachal Pradesh. “Be it studying, working or running your own business, work with all your heart and integrity. If you do so there will never be a dull moment in your life. There is no greater reward than working from all your heart and then tasting the sweet fruits of success,” said Sahil.

Planning is everything!

Born and raised in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Sahil got a chance to travel through the country courtesy of his education. Having finished his schooling from Shimla, he moved to Chandigarh for his higher studies. After his graduation 46 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

“Be it studying, working or running your own business, work with all your heart and integrity.

If you do so there will never be a dull moment in your life. There is no greater reward than working from all your heart and then tasting the sweet fruits of success” in Commerce from Jalandhar, his love for education pushed him to move to Pune, where he pursed his PG in International Business.

He did travel a lot, things changed and he was ready to put up with it. But the only constant thing was learning, planning and working according to the plan. “Plans are nothing, planning is everything. A goal without a plan is just a wish. All through my educational journey, I made it a point to plan things ahead of time.

It made things easier for me,” he explained.

Further adding, “Courtesy of my planning and working according to it helped me get good grades in school and college. Frankly, I wasn’t that good at Math and Physics, on the contrary languages and other subjects were my forte.

Which is why I would jot down a proper schedule and give proper time to each subject.”

Lovin’ the hostel life

Owing to a family emergency, Sahil had to study in a boarding school. He must have been around six-years-old when he started living away from his family. He never had any issues living that life, rather he was happy that he got to learn a lot. “Agreed, I had to stay away from family but the life lessons I learnt living the hostel life is impeccable. It taught me how to traverse through to difficult times and how to enjoy the best days. In short, it helped me evolve into what I am today,” he explained.

Sahil would come home during vacations and those were the best days for him – as he would get to spend some time with his family and secondly, he would spend time learning on the apple farms. “Every time I got home, I would learn something news about the apple business. It was a treat to watch my father work on the field,” he said.

Placement journey

Since the time he began his PG, he was sure of companies he wanted to work. “I had three companies in my mind and I wanted to get through any one of them. Campus placements are very crucial and everyone should take it seriously,” he said. Sahil wanted to work with either Bajaj, Deloitte or ICICI Bank. After diligently working on his plan, he got through ICICI Bank. Talking about the preparations he said, “To prepare for the aptitude round, I had downloaded a few apps that helped me a lot. I anyway liked staying updated with the current news which is why I would go through the newspaper or news apps every day. Before sitting for any company, I would do thorough research about the organisation and what were their expectations.”

Although the world might portray that the corporate world is a bit too harsh but it was never an issue for Sahil. Fortunately, he was working with a prodigious manager who helped him grow leaps and bounds. After working for a year with ICICI Bank, Bengaluru, as their relationship manager, Sahil decided to hang up his corporate boots and move back home. “I wish to experience everything that life has to offer which is why I chose to work in a firm before stepping my foot in the business world. My stint with ICICI bank taught me many things. I would always cherish those days and bank on the life and corporate learnings that it had offered me.”

Sahil (second from left, standing) with his friends

“To have a healthy batch of apples, we ought to take care of the tree for more than five years.

We have to nurture it and take care of the tree as a child. It has taught me patience”

The homecoming

Moving home after almost twenty years was a dream come true. It was as if he was eagerly waiting for this day. “Each day I get to learn

something new. I always wanted to run a business and working with my father at our family business means the world to me,” he said. His days are usually very hectic but he loves it. Further adding, “To have a healthy batch of apples, we ought to take care of the tree for more than five years. We have to nurture it and take care of the tree as a child. It has taught me patience.

And made me realise that to achieve anything in life one needs to plan ahead of time, work hard and be patient.”

After venturing into both the corporate and business world, Sahil is now settling in well after getting the hang of the respective work ethics.

On that note, he passes on a few tips to his juniors for the campus placement.

Set a target and achieve it: You are a human after all, and you cannot ace every subject. Understand your shortcomings, set a target and achieve it.

Understand the concept: Instead of mugging up

The love in his family flows strong and deep, just like the roots of a apple tree. Sahil (second from right) with family members during a function

the subjects and their concepts, keep a clear mind and understand every concept. Trust me, getting good grades becomes an easy job.

Do your groundwork: Before appearing for any interview make sure to understand what the company does. Read about the company online.

Apps for aptitude: There are several apps will surely enlighten you. Spend at least half an hour every day to solve the aptitude questions on those apps.

Stay updated: At the end of the day, go through the newspapers, news channels or news apps to get a hang of what’s happening around the world.

Calm and composed: Be it PI or GD, never panic! Be calm whenever they throw a question at you, take your time to answer and when you answer, be composed!

Follow your heart: When you follow your heart, instead of blaming others, you would be responsible for your actions. Have the courage and follow your intuition. (ektaakatti@gmail.com)

CC

tadka

Liquor bonanza On the first day of lockdown 3.0 when liquor stores were allowed to open, Uttar Pradesh recorded sales of over `100 crore in just one day. Liquor sales on Day 2 of the lockdown relaxation hit a record high for a single day with beverages worth `197 crore selling across Karnataka.

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 47

LOVED & MARRIED TOO

It is not often these days that a college romance fructifies into wedlock. Corporate Citizen unlocks the story of love that has culminated into marriage, for we believe in the stability of a relationship and family unit. We bring to you real-life romances that got sealed in marriage

“Cooking is more his thing while cleaning is mine. We don’t really believe in gender specified responsibilities, instead, each of us does what we enjoy” - Sunanda

Enterprisingly yours— in life and work Together for over seven years now, this Pune-based entrepreneurial couple believes life is for living and taking those risks. After all, they’ll have you know: security is just a state of mind and entrepreneurship entails taking that one mighty leap of faith. Over to Sunanda Verma and her significant half Amit Bhatta on what it takes to make dreams work

By Kalyani Sardesai

T

he recent lockdown on the backdrop of the COVID-19 scare had both Sunanda and Amit engage in some serious brainstorming on how to operate in a post-COVID work. “Not only did we spend quality time together, but also used the time for strategising a few things,” says Amit.

This would possibly include the prospects of The Daftar, a co-working space that Sunanda runs along with another partner, as well as Tcha. co, a startup owned by Sunanda and Amit. While The Daftar started a few years ago, Tcha.co is an utterly novel move to organise the chai ka tapri culture in India. “Typically speaking, setting up

48 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

a chai ka tapri is something that people don’t see as a lifestyle...but it could be, considering we are a nation that loves to bond over tea-coffee and snacks. What we do is to bring in the element of brand management, sales, and marketing, a layer of technology and standardising processes apart from bringing in a new revenue model, various platforms, including a tea van, e-commerce, and corporate tie-ups: this will help scale up operations, bring in a diverse clientele and give them better visibility,” they say. “At the end of the day, entrepreneurship is about investing your efforts and creativity in an idea whose time has come.”

Back to the beginning

This love story was first scripted on the campus of IMDR, a management college run by Pune’s re-

Let the good times commence: Akanksha and Ankush at their wedding celebration Sunanda and Amit believe acceptance is the cornerstone of a rocksteady relationship

All of life is an adventure when your partner and you are both explorers at heart.

puted Deccan Education Society, where they were both studying towards an MBA. While Amit had come all the way from Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, Sunanda is the quintessential Punjabi girl from Delhi. But as it happens, college campuses tend to be quite the melting pot of cultures, bringing people with seemingly little in common in close proximity. “I remember being taken aback by him,” shares Sunanda. As is it happened, the year had just about begun and all the students had been instructed to study their notes and bring them to close. “The professor, being a stickler for discipline, asked those who hadn’t brought their notes to stand up. I stood up and so did a few others, including Amit.” The professor then asked them what he ought to do with those who had disobeyed him. “Amit replied that students like us shouldn’t be allowed in class, picked up his book and walked out. I was dumbstruck by his boldness, I mean who does that?”

“I was just trying to do the right thing,” shrugs Amit. Gradually, the duo began to hang out together as they had several friends in common. By the end of the first year, both began to spend time by themselves. “As part of the course, we went on a six-month student exchange programme to France. It was there that we got to know each other. By the time we returned, we realised we were meant to be together,” says Amit.

Pretty much a case of opposites attracting each other, the differences in personalities only served to complement their equation. “She was innocent, and in many ways protected. Nevertheless, she has a beautifully open and receptive mind and is ever open to trying out new experiences,” he says. On her part, she enjoys the “strength and positivity” he brings in his wake.

The conversation flowed and seamlessly at that.

“We hiked, trekked, tried out various adventure sports together and we talked. Both of us enjoy the outdoors and fresh air, we never were the type of couple that enjoyed typical dates in a cafe or at a movie theatre,” grins Sunanda.

The mantras of marriage • Shared goals • Respect • Acceptance • Communication

However, given the cultural differences between the two, their parents were none too pleased. “For about a year, it was the classic stalemate as shown in the famous Bollywood film Two States,” smiles Amit. “But we stuck to our guns and gradually

to the home space, both pitch in. “Cooking is more his thing while cleaning is mine. We don’t really believe in gender specified responsibilities, instead, each of us does what we enjoy,” says Sunanda.

“It is the acceptance that helps you move beyond the hunky dory, romantic stage. Knowing your partner and accepting them with their strengths and shortcomings is key to a marriage” - Amit allayed their fears.” Slowly but surely, the families gave them their blessing in 2012.

The building blocks of marriage (and a business)

Post marriage, both took up jobs in Pune. While Sunanda worked in brand management for a pharmaceutical company, Amit worked for the management and coaching centre, Chrysalis.

But the wish to strike out on their own was too strong for the duo to resist for long. It started with Sunanda setting up The Daftar along with another partner, an experience she found hugely rewarding. Gradually, Amit too, gave up his job to work towards their company Tcha.co.

So what do they have to say about the rough and tumble entrepreneurship-not to mention the lack of fixed income and the security it represents? “Security is simply a state of mind,” says Sunanda. Amit couldn’t agree more. “Entrepreneurship is a wonderful tool that allows you to build on your dreams, take onus for your decisions as well as enjoy what your efforts bring in. If you are willing to work hard, cut back on the excuses and give it your all, the money will follow,” he says.

Life is generally hectic but happy as they are actually living it on their terms. Plus, when it comes

After so many years, they are mutual about rooting for acceptance as the cornerstone of a marriage. “It is the acceptance that helps you move beyond the hunky-dory, romantic stage.

Knowing your partner and accepting them with their strengths and shortcomings is key to a marriage,” says Amit.

Like every couple, this one too has managed to evolve a simple technique of dealing with conflict. “When one person is angry, the other must keep quiet,” says Amit. “You need to wait a bit for things to cool down before putting in your two-bit. Meaningful communication happens only when both are ready and willing to listen to others’ viewpoint.”

Bringing up babies (only not just yet)

“So yes, people do ask me all the time when we are planning a baby,” smiles Sunanda. “I just point to our projects and say we already have our arms full-for the moment.”

Amit adds that while they aren’t averse to it, work takes centre stage as of now. “When we are finally ready to experience parenthood, we may well just decide to conceive or adopt, whatever feels right then. A child is a child, biological or otherwise,” he rounds off. (kalyanisardesai@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 49

HEALTH

Mantra for overcoming stay-at-home inertia The on-going Covid-19 led-lockdown phase has witnessed corporate executives exhibiting self-drive in keeping themselves productive viz fitness regimes, hobbies, and new initiatives. Corporate Citizen interacted with Arjun Bajaj, Director, Videotex International, Daiwa and Telefunken, on his ‘lockdown’ status. Bajaj’s mantra for overcoming the “stay-at-home inertia” has been to self-motivate his passion for “workouts” by switching gears to YouTube fitness channels and several fitness apps

By Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar

“F

“During these gloomy times, it is important to do the things that make you happy, for me – it is fitness”

50 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

eeling frustrated in this lockdown period is quite natural. However, that does not mean one can compromise health and fitness. Keeping that mantra alive in me, I have found my own unique routine, to keep myself motivated and also staying fit”, said Arjun Bajaj, Director – Videotex, Daiwa and Telefunken.

Bajaj has had a long lineage in the television manufacturing industry with the 34-year-old flagship company Videotex - one of India’s premier LED television ODM (original design) and

OEM (original equipment manufacturer). The company sells its own home-owned TV brands under the Daiwa, Telefunken and Shinco mantle and also manufactures TVs for 25 brands. The company is currently the official brand licensee of the German-Telefunken brand, with close to 7% market share in Europe.

Fighting Fit ‘Virtually’

An advocate of regular fitness regimes, he continues to enhance the need for doing the things that helps derive happiness at the individual lev-

el. “During these gloomy times, it is important to do the things that make you happy, for me – it is fitness,” said Bajaj.

He has found his fitness inspirations in YouTube fitness channels and other fitness apps and believes in the completeness of such channels which comes with a handy guide on indoor workouts. “Whether you are willing to pay for an app or find free options, the choices are now endless,” he said.

“Making the most of the online world, exercising daily strengthens the immune system, improves mental health, and makes you feel better about yourself during this frightening time”, said Bajaj.

Daily Dose of ‘Fitness’

The impact of the ‘lockdown’ has not demotivated Bajaj as he continues to keep up with his regular cycle of workout and lifestyle management as he did in the pre-Covid-19 phase.

Beginning his day at 7 am, he hits on to his workout schedules from 8 am, which is usually a combination of functional and body weightled exercise. A believer in staying fit, his treadmill at home has made it easier for him to match his workouts with an iota of cardio training.

In his recent adaptation to fitness apps, he has also taken up some online fitness challenges through these apps.

To add a fun factor to his regime, and cut the boredom of exercising alone, he often invites his friends to join in his fight for staying fit in these trying times. “I have nominated a few of my friends for some of these appbased fitness challenges, thus attempting to spread some positive vibes” Besides, he keeps a close watch on his food intake and plugs in his daily intake of calories too. “I try to take my daily intake of 2200 calories with minimum consumption of two and a half litres of water.”

“Whether you are willing to pay for an app or find free options, the choices are now endless.

Making the most of the online world, exercising daily strengthens the immune system, improves mental health, and makes you feel better about yourself during this frightening time”

Health Tips

However, the ‘at-home’ phase could be a dampener to one’s self-drive and sometimes ‘laziness’ is a killer even if one has had a great start to the day.

Bajaj has therefore incorporated a few DIY activities, especially experimenting with his cooking skills to escape from boredom. Exploring recipes that tickle the sweet bud has added a new ‘zing’ to Bajaj’s ‘at-home’ phase. With sweet and dessert outlets shut, Bajaj has incorporated DIY ‘at home dessert’ for himself and his family.

“I am trying not to get lazy but learn the things that I never had time for making desserts. Since I am a big fan of desserts I am making it myself - Hui-quan Li, Assistant since most sweet and dessert project Scientist, University outlets are shut. I have almost of California, San Diego mastered making my favourite Self-Drive dessert Banoffee Pie,” he said.

The biggest gainer for Bajaj has The lockdown has enabled Bajaj to catch been family time. “I usually live away from my up on TV shows such as ‘Succession’ and family, so I am trying to spend as much time as I ‘Money Heist’ can with my family during the lockdown.”

A study from the University of California, San Diego found that specific neurotransmitters switched following sustained exercise, leading to improved learning for motor-skill acquisition. “If you hope to learn and enjoy challenging sports such as surfing or rock climbing when we’re no longer sheltering at home, it can be good to routinely run on a treadmill or maintain a yoga practice at home now.”

Wellness Pointers

Diet:  Eat everything but in limited proportions.  Adhere to one’s daily intake of calories  Stay Hydrated Self-Drive:  Avoid lazy steak and learn new DIY activities, including cooking.  Catch up on movies and TV shows

WFH – the positives

The lockdown has pushed the buck for most companies and employees, to create suitable ‘work from home’ (WFH) agenda and Bajaj too had to transition in doing the same. He said that some factors in the WFH regime are beneficial too.

Offers flexibility, liberty, and opportunities for generating healthier habits to remain productive.

Adapting work ecosystems with cloud-based frameworks, VPNs, texting, Skype and ‘Zoom’ app call conferencing keeps connectivity between teams and ongoing operations.

Virtual communication tools creates a seamless communication flow between employees and the leadership team.

Despite the uncertainties looming large, he believes that WFH has helped him with more ‘managed’ time at hand. Besides, it has enabled him to be more focused and productive, without getting distracted by co-workers, which is not uncommon under normal circumstances! (sangeetagd2010@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 51

UNSUNG HEROES - 36

Even while committing the most outrageous crimes, Suresh made sure that no women, children or elderly people were harmed

Once a Dacoit, Now a Gandhian!

I

“Non-violence requires a double faith – faith in God and also faith in man.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

n an attempt to dislodge the culture of violence in Chambal, dacoit- turned-Gandhian, Suresh Chandra ‘Sarvodaya’ is working to build a school for the young and the old. Suresh Chandra’s ‘dream’ project will cater to the educational needs of people in the Bundelkhand-Chambal region, one of the most backward areas of the country. In popular culture, the ravines of 52 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

Chambal have more often than not been synonymous with feared dacoits, murder, underdevelopment, dacoit-politician nexus and everything else that’s bad. Now, a dacoit-turned-Gandhian is attempting to change that perception.

Sixty-one-year-old Suresh Chandra ‘Sarvodaya’ does not resemble the archetypal Robin Hood figure; yet for much of his early life, he has worn that character. He sports a Gandhian

cap; his voice is meek but words strong. If spotted in a crowd, you may even mistake him for an Anna Hazare supporter. In an attempt to dislodge the culture of violence in the ravines, he is working to build a school for the young and the old, based on Gandhiji’s principles of self-reliance. “Those who quit violence can reform themselves here,” he says. “Besides education and exercise facilities, the school will serve

as a character-reforming institute for the youth of the area. It’s so easy for them to join gangs.”

While he hopes to complete the necessary groundwork for his ambitious ‘non-violence’ institution within a year, Suresh has begun seeking the support and contribution of people. Notably, he is also part of a group of intellectuals, academicians and journalists that envisages a university in Chambal, something unthinkable to most observers.

The ‘dream’ project will cater to the educational needs of the people in the Bundelkhand-Chambal region, one of the most backward areas of the country and often neglected.

Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district, adjoining Madhya Pradesh, Suresh’s family belongs to the goldsmith caste. His father was in the service sector, while his mother taught in a primary girls’ school. Though from an early age Suresh was deeply religious and was fond of reading and reciting texts, he also revered freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh. Defiant, he even said ‘no’ when as a child he was set to be married off. Suresh committed his first crime at the tender age of 16 after being inspired by Manoj Kumar’s film Shaheed featuring the song “Mera Rang De Basanti Chola”, which features the Kakori train robbery sequence. He then shot dead a rich man, who was accused of raping a girl in his locality. “I always believed that for good to win over the bad, force is sometimes required.

After this incident, I began to think that it was not entirely wrong to kill for fighting injustice,” said Suresh.

As his reputation grew, his friends started seeking favours from him, which led Suresh to commit some robberies. “Back then, little did I realise that this chain of violence would never end,” he says. Many stray incidents later, as if to follow protocol in Chambal of those days, Suresh formed his own gang. Yet, even while committing the most outrageous crimes, Suresh made sure that no women, children or elderly people were harmed. “We would target the rich in the nearby cities of Madhya Pradesh and U.P. and distribute the wealth among the poor and the needy,” he says.

But his run came to an end in 1973 when aged just 21, he was arrested and sentenced to life for murdering a policeman while escaping after a robbery. The court rejected Suresh’s bail application moved by his father and sent him to a jail in Kanpur. However, after serving just one-and-a-half years behind the bars, Suresh escaped while he was out on bail. He went underground and spent his days on the run, mostly in forests and ravines, but only to be captured again. This is when he accepted his destiny.

“The first time I was arrested, I was angry and

His run came to an end in 1973, when aged just 21, he was arrested and sentenced to life for murdering a policeman while escaping after a robbery. The court rejected Suresh’s bail application moved by his father, and sent him to a jail in Kanpur burning with a vengeance. When I was captured again, I realised this was fate. The life of violence would never end. The more I harmed or killed, the more enemies I made,” says Suresh, who was booked in at least 20 cases, including murder and robbery.

His life and perception changed during his stay in jail, in particular, after he attended a lecture on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of life during one of the rehabilitation missions led by a college principal in Hamidpur. The principal provided him with books and Suresh started reading Recovery of Faith, by Dr. Radhakrishnan and Mangal Prabhat, by Gandhiji. Deeply influenced by the Mahatma’s teachings, he decided to live the rest of his life on the basis of his principles. He even used to read out to the other prisoners. Books on Gautam Buddha and Swami Vivekananda also moulded his thoughts on truth and non-violence. Based on his goodwill and ‘Sarvodaya’ nature, Suresh was released from jail in March 1999 after serving a 22-years and 10 months jail term.

“Unlike most dacoits, who are hounded by the police even after their release, police have never had any complaint against me,” he says.

Interestingly, when he went with his group to clean the premises of a police station, the policemen on duty happily served them sweets.

He even encouraged other dacoits to leave behind their life of violence. After his release,

Suresh went to an Ashram in Maharashtra and changed his surname to Sarvodaya, one of Gandhiji’s ideologies. Today, he carries on the Father of Nation’s message and travels around the country, delivering lectures in schools and colleges, participating in film festivals and cultural programmes.

(The above story is featured in “Torch Bearers -51 Real Inspiring stories” ISBN 978-93-82524-96-0 by Maj Pradeep Khare (pradeepkhare2011@gmail.com). It is published

by The Book line, New Delhi.)

CC

tadka

India's largest evacuation Independent India's largest repatriation mission to bring back its citizens stranded abroad due to COVID-19 pandemic will be the largest-ever evacuation carried out by India. The previous record was the 1990 airlift of Indians from Kuwait during the Gulf War in which 170,000 Indian expatriates were from the west Asian country.

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 53

SURVEY

FALL 54 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

MAPPING THE COVID-19

COVID-19 is, first and foremost, a global humanitarian challenge.

At the time of writing, COVID-19 cases have exceeded 3.6 million and are increasing quickly around the world. There is a limited window for governments to act. Without this, the possibility of a deeper effect on lives and livelihoods is more likely. Management consulting firm McKinsey offers their latest perspectives on the coronavirus outbreak, the twin threats to lives and livelihoods, and how organisations are preparing for the next normal

LOUT — COMPILED ­BY NEERAJ VARTY —

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 55

Official count only a fraction of the true totals

Excess mortality exceeds reported Covid-19 deaths

Sample-based testing suggests that officially confirmed cases are only a small fraction of the total

Confirmed Covid-19 deaths and unaccounted excess deaths in March-April

At the time of this writing, the official counts of cases and deaths from COVID-19 have passed four million and 280,000, respectively. Recent studies have made increasingly clear that each of these figures is a significant underestimate. Population antibody surveys suggest that official counts are underestimating the true number of cases by a factor of five or more.

Comparisons of 2020 and 2019 mortality rates show that substantially more people are dying this year, although we don’t know how much of this is due to missed deaths from COVID-19 rather than excess mortality from other causes.

Mobility reduction during lockdowns is roughly correlated with reductions in transmission

In general, implementation of public health measures leading to reduced mobility (e.g., closure of public spaces, lockdowns, closure of schools) have successfully reduced COVID-19 transmission In select geographies, other factors have led to higher or lower than expected changes in transmission.

56 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

Countries with the widest testing tend to have the fewest cases per 1,000 people

THREE LEVELS OF TESTING Countries with limited testing: Low volumes of testing lead to few confirmed positive cases Countries with moderate testing: Some countries test only (or predominantly) those with significant symptoms. Since

milder cases are more likely to be missed, the Case Fatality Rate appears higher Countries with broad testing: Countries that have taken broad testing strategies tend to be those that have had success in limiting the number of new cases

Covid-19 U.S. impact could exceed anything since the end of WWII

The impact of Covid-19 on the USA, the world’s most powerful economy, could be catastrophic. Not since WW 2 has such economic and human devastation been seen.

Companies have had limited success in their transitions to remote work

While many companies around the world have attempted remote work practices, companies in Silicon Valley have been at the forefront of repeated attempts to increase the proportion of remote work. However, after decades of this push, many companies have gone remote extremely slowly, or have had to reverse previously launched remote work policies. (neeraj.varty07@gmail.com)

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 57

CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT THOUGHTS

Advertising Rate Card

the brand new entrant into the glossy world of business magazines in India, steps in with a new vision and a fresh perspective.

Despite the jungle of print, effusing reams and reams of corporate news and features, Corporate Citizen is all set to create a stir with its vibrancy, value-based approach and with prime focus on young readership that is waiting in the wings to fly into the cut-throat community of risers and achievers.

The aim is to present a top quality magazine that is particularly aimed at corporate youth, pursuing a career or entrepreneurship, and aspiring to zoom into the corporate world, at large.

The early issues of Corporate Citizen provide a great opportunity to address this special and relevant audience of corporate youth and their role models, through our invitational advertising rates.

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For more than 3 advertisements the rates are negotiable Frequency

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Fortnightly

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CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT THOUGHTS

Head Office: Krishna Homes Housing Society, Flat No 2 and 4, Bulk land No 4,Near Iskon Mandir,Sector 29, Ravet, Akurdi, Pune - 412 101. Phone No. : 020-67117604/9. Website: www.corporatecitizen.in

WORK LIFE BALANCE

Beating the lockdown blues

Grown up enjoying every note of music, Amar Kulkarni, VP – Sales, PolyWorks Software India, is beating the lockdown blues by playing live music for the residents of his society. His love for music has helped him understand the ethics on which a company runs a lot better By Ekta Katti

F

rom the boardroom meetings to playing live music for the crowd, Amar has rocked and rolled his way in style. Currently, he is the VP Sales at PolyWorks Software India Pvt Ltd and along with that, he also a part of various music ventures. “Music has been an integral part of my life. Throughout college, I wanted to be a musician, I did try my hands on that. Later, the fascinating world of CADCAM attracted me. While that was happening, I did get back to music,” said Amar, who played the drums for the band NH4, and also played the West African folk drums with TAAL INC. Continuing his love for music, Amar is a part of his solo project called ‘Amar Chitra Katharsis’.

Transforming life Over the years, this hobby-turned-passion has made a huge impact on him. “Growing up, it helped me cope with childhood confidence challenges and gave me several newer perspectives.

So much so that music became a doorway to the culture and social thinking. It exposed me to the world of art and books, and musicians which certainly shaped my thinking. What I am today is a sort of a byproduct of the artists that have come my way,” explained Amar. He is also part of another music project called DripFeed Theater. Amar mainly plays the guitar and now

very curiously experimenting with waveform synthesizers.

Correlating work and music Talking about the similarities between his job and playing music, he informed, “Be it working in the office or composing a song, both need a strong essence of the composition. We need to rehearse our performance, we have to ensure the audience is always engaged and in many circumstances, we have to learn how to improvise and adapt to the audience’s flow. You realise that synergy is so important in both cases.

The band members need to be tuned in, just like various teams of an organisation, for the smooth functioning.

Quarantined in style Since the lockdown has kicked in, Amar has been working from home giving him enough and more time to work on his passion. To keep the morale high and with an intent of spreading positivity, Amar has been playing live music for the residents of Hillscapes, near Baner Pashan Link Road. His friend, Kunal encouraged him, and they got to rehearse. “Keeping up to all the norms and regulations, we have been playing music for our society members. We are very fortunate that as the people are quite motiving and loving our initiative,” he said, further adding, “This gesture was inspired after I saw the video of the Italians playing music to entertain people from their balconies. We have families and senior citizens that live in our building and I thought it will be good to get them off TV and experience something that’s not part of their daily routine.” They have played some Indie music and also a bunch of Kishore Kumar songs too. Going with the vibe, the team is also trying some pop songs. “We also played our tribute to Rishi Kapoor by playing his songs. So yeah, we are having a lot of fun,” smiled Amar.

During the lockdown, he has also got his hands on learning the art of podcasts.

Living a holistic life Sure, we are living in the times of uncertainty but there are a few things that could be done to restore our faith in everything. Amar advised, “Tough times don’t last, tough people do. And by tough, I mean, we should be living a holistic life, accept the change, value human relations, work on our passion and live each day to its fullest.

If we do so, it will make a great story for our children and grandchildren.

Our grandparents went through a pandemic too, they showed high empathy, inclusiveness and patiently shared their joys, sustained and survived. Let’s do the same, shall we?” (ektaakatti@gmail.com) June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 59

PEARLS OF WISDOM

Dada J. P. Vasvani

Life is about the little things

Take light things seriously! Small things, small tasks are as important as the ‘great’ things of life. Take serious things lightly! Do not raise a storm in a teacup over trifling issues

H

ave you heard the beautiful song which begins: Little drops of water, little grains of sand Make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land!

It is the little things of life that count! But alas, in our mad rush for bigger and greater things, we ignore those little things that make life truly meaningful. Look at the huge banyan tree which spreads its leafy green branches so wide that dozens of people can rest comfortably under its shade. Do you realise that it has come out of a tiny seed? Let us take care of the little things of life and it is out of these little habits that our life is shaped.

There is an amusing story told us about a king who built a magnificent temple of Lord Shiva.

On the day of the consecration, he had arranged for a grand ritual of worship. So he ordered every citizen in the kingdom to bring one jug of milk and pour it into the temple’s tank. This was to be done on the previous night so that the worship could start early in the morning.

Now, the citizens of the kingdom said to themselves, “Everyone is bringing one jug of milk. Who would know the difference if I took a jug of water instead? A little water would hardly make a difference in a tank full of milk!”

And so, under cover of darkness, everyone brought a jug of water and poured it into the tank, confident that no one would notice anything amiss. The next morning, it was discovered that the tank was filled with water. Not a 60 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

single person had thought it his duty to offer a little milk for the Lord’s special pooja!

Everyone matters! Every little bit counts! I am sure you have all heard of the conundrum given below: Something important had to be done urgently. Everybody thought somebody else will do it.

So nobody did it. Anybody could have done it – but it was not done because nobody thought of doing it themselves!

Little things matter and very often, so do little people! Do you know the height of Napoleon Bonaparte? He was barely 5’1”! As for Julius Caesar, he was just one inch taller, at 5’2”. Arrogant Britishers described Mahatma Gandhi as “that short, toothless person”, “the half-naked fakir”.

This short, toothless, half-naked fakir shook the mighty British empire to its very roots!

Take light things seriously! Small things, small tasks are as important as the ‘great’ things of life. A perfectionist is one who pays as much attention to small details as to great tasks. Such a person peels an orange with as much care as he implements an important project. This is also the teaching of karma yoga, which does not distinguish between ‘low’ and ‘high’ work in the execution of one’s duty.

Take serious things lightly! Do not raise a storm in a teacup over trifling issues. It is only our inflated egos that lead us on to take offence over every trifling issue.

We often dismiss the ‘little’ people and events of our lives. We take our friends and family

members for granted. By doing so, we simply overlook their special gifts and insights. It has been said that every person who walks the earth is a God in disguise. We celebrate a few great souls and extol them as ‘leaders’ – but what we must do is lift our vision and find the highest in those around us.

People seek fame and fortune in the world outside – as they believe that if they become rich and famous, they will also be happy and contended. They have got themselves slightly mixed up: if they do what makes them truly happy, appreciation and contentment will naturally follow.

After his life-changing experience in Walden, the American thinker and philosopher Thoreau went to visit his friend and fellow-intellectual, Emerson. He told Emerson all about his experience, living in the woods.

What would you say is the most important lesson you learnt at Walden?” Emerson enquired of him. Thoreau answered emphatically, “Simplify, simplify, simplify!”

Emerson smiled and responded, “I think one ‘simplify’ would have done quite well!”

In a beautiful book called Wisdom of the Heart, bestselling author, Alan Cohen tells us: “The lighter we get, the higher we soar… we gain freedom in releasing possessions… and begin to appreciate the simple things of life … we recognise that simplicity is the flower that brings the intellect to its knees and recognises the greatest riches of all.”

MOBILE APPS

BEST GROCERY APPS FOR THE LOCKDOWN Grocery items are a priority during the lockdown. People understandably want to avoid long queues in supermarkets or bazaars during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately, major tech companies realise this need and are now offering essentials online. Download these apps and you never have to risk stepping out till the lockdown is over BY NEERAJ VARTY

Milk Basket – Milk & Grocery Delivery

Milk Basket is a milk delivery app. The services are available in six major locations in India. It delivers a number of Dairy Brands and close to 500 products at present. Apart from milk, milk basket also delivers bread, eggs, juices, butter, yoghurt and other daily grocery items. It is one of the popular food delivery apps in India, especially for milk delivery.

Zomato – Food Delivery

Zomato is a major food delivery app that not only delivers food from restaurants, it also delivers groceries and essentials during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that restaurants have been allowed to resume takeaway business, you can get your pic from Indian, Chinese, Thai, Fast Food, Quick Bites, Keto, Vegan and many more cuisines from your nearby restaurants. Zomato offers free as well as paid subscriptions.

Amazon – Grocery delivery

Big Bazaar

Amazon had temporarily discontinued the Lower Priority items to focus on essentials commodities during the pandemic. But they are delivering all essential products including groceries, even to red zones Currently, they are supplying to select cities only. They are delivering essential items only and accepting only pre-paid orders.

Big Bazaar is a major food mart chain in India having a presence in more than 120 cities. Due to long queues at their stores, many customers may prefer to order online. They are delivering essential food items during the lockdown. If you want to avoid the risk and hassle of long crowds at a supermarket, this app may be the best way to go. (neeraj.varty07@gmail.com)

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 61

Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian

FROM THE MOBILE

Have an intention to help

I

t was getting dark. Someone was calling from behind the locked iron gate. Wondering who it could be I came out. An elderly person was standing behind the gate. The clothes wrinkled and with a small bag in his hand, he appeared to have travelled some distance coming here. Looking into a small piece of paper in his hands he inquired, “Isn’t this Anand, Number 8, Yogananda Street, my son?”

“Yes, I am Anand and this is the address. And you?” I mumbled. Slightly shivering and moistening his dry lips with his tongue he replied, handing over the letter, “Babu, I am your father’s friend. I am coming to your village.

Your father gave me this letter and advised that I seek help from you”.

Taking that letter from him, exclaiming “Father?” I eagerly read that letter.

“Dear Anand, Blessings to you. The person carrying this letter is my friend.

His name is Ramayyagaru. He works hard. A few days ago, his only son died in an accident. He is running around seeking compensation that would help him and his wife to pull along with their other meagre income. I am sending the police reports after the accident, the compensation affidavits given by the travel agents and other relevant papers. He was told that the final payment may be collected in the Head Office. This is his first visit to Hyderabad and he is a stranger. I am hoping that you would be able to help him. Take care of your health. Visit us at your earliest convenience. Your loving father”.

Ramayyagaru was watching me. I thought for a moment and invited him inside. Giving him some water to drink, I enquired, “Did you have anything to eat?” He replied, “No, my son! As the journey got delayed, I ate the two fruits that I brought with me.”

Going inside I prepared four dosas and served them with pickles. Saying, “you please eat”, I went out and made a couple of calls and returned. When I returned, I found that he had finished the tiffin and was sitting with a few papers in his hand. There was a photo of his deceased son. The boy was handsome and young. Maybe 22-years-old. My eyes moistened.

“He was my only son. Those who were born before him died due to various other causes. He was the only one we had. Mahesh was his name.

He studied well and got a job. Assuring us that he will take care of us and we would get over all hardships he took up the job. On a fateful day, he was

62 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

involved in a road accident while crossing the road. Died on the spot. Not wishing to take compensation in the name of the deceased son we were initially reluctant. But day by day, I am becoming weak and my wife too is not doing well. With your father’s insistence, I came here. Saying my son will help, he sent me with this letter”, he concluded.

“Fine! It’s late now. Take rest!” Saying this I too slept.

Next morning, we got ready, had coffee at home and started. Finishing breakfast on the way, we reached the office address mentioned in the documents. “Anand, I will take care of the rest. You attend to your office work” said Ramayyagaru. “No issue. I have taken leave for today,” I replied.

Being with him I got the compensation paid to him. “Thank you, dear son. My wife is alone at home and I will go back home”, said the old man.

“Come, I will drop you at the bus-stand and see you off.” I took him to the bus-stand, got him a ticket, and bought a few fruits to eat on the way.

With joy in his eyes, he said “Anandbabu, taking leave for my sake you helped me a lot. Soon after going home I will narrate everything to your father and thank him too.”

Smiling and holding his hands I explained, “I am not your friend’s son, Anand. I am Aravind. You came to the wrong address. That Anand’s house is another two km’s away. You were already tired and I didn’t have the heart to tell you the truth. I called the number in your letter and enquired. His wife said that Anand had gone out of town on some work. I called your friend and told him too. He felt very sad. Once I assured him that I will take care he felt good. The loss you have suffered is irreparable. But I felt that I should help you. That I did it gives me the greatest pleasure.” As the bus moved, holding my hands Ramayya left with tears of gratitude in his eyes. “God bless you, my child”, were his parting words. That is enough for me, I thought. My father passed away fifteen years earlier. Now looking at Ramayyagaru I felt my father had returned.

Looking up at the sky I thought my father must be somewhere there.

“Dad, did you come in this form to check my progress in life! Sending me a letter, were you testing me whether I would help or not? Born to a great father like you, as a son I have performed by.

The Tree of Life

FOUR THINGS THAT YOU CAN’T GET BACK 1. The stone after it’s thrown. (Literally) 2. The word after it’s said. (Even if retracted) 3. The occasion after it’s missed.

(Learn the lessons life gives) 4. The time after it’s gone.

(We only have NOW)

LEARNINGS OBSERVED DURING THIS TIME

T

his tree (in pic) is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the modern world.

It stands on a hill in the Arabian Desert surrounded by miles of sand.

There is not another tree as far as the eye can see – there’s actually no life at all in that vast, arid desert.

The average temperature in the region is 105 degrees Fahrenheit, often soaring to 120 degrees, and bone-stripping sandstorms are common.

How does the tree survive?

No one is certain. Scientists have speculated that the nearest possible source of water is an underground stream about two miles away and that the tree is somehow drawing water from that stream.

Others say the tree has learned to extract moisture from breezes blowing in from the Persian Gulf or squeeze moisture from grains of sand.

Others claim that the tree is standing in what was once the Garden of Eden, and so has a more mystical source of water.

Whatever the reason, the Tree of Life is more than four hundred years old, thirty-two feet high, and abundantly covered in green leaves.

As I sat in its shade against its wide trunk, I meditated on how this tree represents our willpower.

If we can tap into our willpower, we’ll be inspired to thrive even in apparently impossible situations.

The Tree of Life represents hope – a hope beyond logic.

Hope can nourish, sustain, and inspire us to grow even in challenging circumstances.

From a devotional perspective, the Tree of Life represents faith in a power beyond this world – the power of the Supreme Being’s love for us.

The tree of Life stands alone. Somehow, against all odds, it finds water in the desert and has been doing so for centuries. And the tree’s growth is not stunted. It reaches into the heavens and offers its shade to any who sit beneath it. The odds today may not be in our favour.

1. The United States is no longer the world’s leading country.

2. China won World War III without firing a missile and no one could handle it.

3. Europeans are not as educated as they appear.

4. We can survive vacations without trips to Europe and the USA. 5. Rich people are in fact less immune than the poor.

6. Human beings are opportunistic and despicable no matter their socioeconomic position when prices are rising.

7. No priest, pujari or God saved patients.

8. Humans are the real viruses on the planet.

9. We can spend billions of Rupees on the poor without red-tapism.

10. Health pro-

fessionals are worth more than a footballer.

11. Oil is worthless in a society without consumption.

12. How animals feel in the zoo.

13. The planet regenerates quickly without humans into play.

14. Majority of people can work from home.

15. We and the kids can survive without junk food.

16. Prisoners in jails for petty crimes can be released.

17. Living a hygienic life is not difficult.

18. Only women are not supposed to know cooking.

19. There are a lot of good people in the World.

20. If you build more schools, you have to construct fewer hospitals.

(Articles published in this ‘From the Mobile’ pages are WhatsApp forwards. Corporate Citizen does not independently vouch for their authenticity. It’s a fun page. Enjoy)

June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 63

CLAPS & CLAPS CORPORATE CITIZEN CLAPS FOR THE COURAGE THAT UPHOLDS THE ‘TRUE’ FLAME OF JOURNALISM AND HUMANITARIAN ETHOS, AND THIS TIME ENCOMIUM RESTS WITH TWO OF THE MOST ICONIC PADMASHRI RECIPIENTS – SUCHETA DALAL AND BARKHA DUTT Both have once again risen to combat Covid-19 in their own rights-one rising above the ‘headline’ juggernaut to exhibit compassion in garnering on-ground medical support for healthcare workers and the other bringing in a higher sense of clarity in news reporting amongst the barrage of media coverage on the plight of migrant workers. Youth icons in their own ways, rising above the ‘norm’ is not uncommon to either of them. While Sucheta shook the nation as she literally took the stock market’s ‘Big Bull’ by the horn in pulling the lid off in the historic 1992 Harshad Mehta scam, Barkha’s frontline reporting across ‘the line of control’ during the1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan rekindled new journalistic code in her ‘line’ of duty. They have since continued in their respective commitments and resurfacing strongly when the nation needed them the most. Many moons have passed since their journalistic debuts, but both have re-kindled the ‘fire’ as they strike once again amidst the country’s multiplying woes, following the Covid-19 spread.

S Sucheta Dalal

ucheta as the Managing Editor of Moneylife magazine and cofounder of the Moneylife Foundation continues to strike a chord with the common man in debunking ‘financial’ jargons, faulty administration and enabling money management for all and sundry. In recent times, Sucheta’s activism has unfurled her thought that “each new disaster throws up thousands of new victims”. She has since spoken out for healthcare workers and engaged in conversations to provide positive facts that boost their morale, in unearthing ‘Covid’ capitalism and scams and corruption that has to some extent stymied the availability of masks, PPE’s and medical essentials to frontline workers. She has also consolidated efforts in donating two lakh PPE kits to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in sourcing high-quality sanitisers for hospitals directly from manufacturers; also coordinating with individuals on requirements of body bags etc. In doing so, she urged the BMC, “Let’s see some action—you don’t pay doctors but can pass on public donations in time”- Sucheta Dalal@suchetadalal. Her tweets

64 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

have warned against phishing emails targeting those wanting to cancel travel bookings after the lockdown, on refund frauds and attempts to skim donations through fake UPI (unified payments interface) handle similar to the official handle for donations to PM-CARES, on being mindful about email, SMS and IVR calls offering help to defer EMI (equated monthly instalments) payments by activating the temporary moratorium announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), et. al.

B

arkha, in her current avatar as the owner-anchor of Mojo news channel on YouTube, has taken ‘onground’ reporting to yet another level. She has been visibly recounting the grief and despair of jobless and penniless migrant workers across 10 states in her ongoing chronicle, ‘On the Road with the Pandemic’. Honoured as a ‘Vogue’ warrior in the prestigious international magazine for bringing in the ‘real’ news, Barkha continues shadowing clusters of migrants in their long, risky exodus. She initially trekked along the expressway between Delhi and Agra to record ‘real-time’ agonies of these vulnerable workers. Risking her health and that of her brave support team members in their ‘ground zero’ coverage and on the possibility of getting infected, she said, “But it was the same when we reported a war or a conflict from other parts of India. In some ways this has been even tougher—the enemy is unseen, invisible.” Her empathetic reporting has captured the hidden yet ‘ignored’ disparities and the devastating impact of the lockdown on the people living on the economic fringes.

In her recent Washington Post article, she said, “But India’s poorest citizens are already paying a devastating price—far bigger than the middle class and the wealthy. And instead of gratitude, empathy or even acknowledgement, we have behaved as if they are the problem,” - implies not only her connect with the ‘migrant populace’ but her grit in exposing the government machinery in letting them down.

Barkha’s newsgathering intent and Sucheta’s willingness has blatantly exposed the muchneeded thrust required for an inclusive welfare and health system - beyond the Corona crisis!

Barkha Dutt

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June 1-15, 2020 / Corporate Citizen / 65

THE LAST WORD

Ganesh Natarajan

Dealing with the fallouts of COVID

 SV Iyer who just published his memoirs

If Adolf Hitler was the trigger for World War II, it is a villain no less than him, the invisible Coronavirus which has begun to wreak havoc this time

T

he unfolding drama on our television screens and internet sites are one of despair, drama and occasional flashes of hope as the Government tries to come to the rescue through supply-side guarantees and fiscal stimulus.

Even as India struggles to come out of the lockdown imposed

by COVID, for many people in our country, this is the first time we have seen a problem of this scale and the rather disconcerting thought that often crosses the mind is “Hope it’s the beginning of the end of this problem and not just the end of the first beginning.”

The size of the havoc already wreacked on jobs and the economy is staggering. Since February this year, the world has shed over 15 trillion dollars of wealth and the global economy could shrink up to three per cent this financial year, with some pessimists believing that it could even be as high as five per cent. Indian GDP would have lost over ten per cent by the end of May and it will need a minor miracle to show positive growth this year and then climb back to our original hope of five per cent and more in the next fiscal.

India’s special problem of over ten million job losses in the month of April itself, albeit some on a temporary basis and the massive reverse migration that we are witnessing with collateral damage in the form of accidental and starvation deaths,

havoc this time. may leave the economic recovery London senior, Mr Baker restalled. This is because as factories minds me that the World War and construction activity wait for took a toll of 70 million lives, with labour to return and there is a very roughly half being soldiers and real danger of prolonged disrupthe rest civilians. Twenty million tion in supply and demand chains of those were in the Soviet Union in the country. Worldwide, the ILO with the siege at Leningrad itself has warned of over 100 million job causing over a million deaths due losses thanks to COVID and the to starvation. And while European overall impact on livelihoods is a countries reported the biggest canightmare to visualise. sualties, the Pacific was no less with In such times, it is good to take China losing 16 million civilians, counsel from senior citizens in three hundred thousand falling our midst who were witness to the last such destruction caused by World War II and I have had the “Hope it’s the good fortune to have beginning of the end of conversations with two this problem and not folks in their eighties who were in London just the end of the first and Kamptee respecbeginning” tively in that critical period. Young readers of to the Japanese Nanjing massacre this column may not know this, but and five hundred thousand lives the cause of that war was, of course, lost when Chinese leaders opened primarily the rise of nationalism in a dam to stop the invaders, causing certain parts of the world and the the 1938 Yellow River Flood. strife caused by naked ambition and Pondicherry senior, Mr S.V.Iyer walls erected between communities recalls the “Gora Bazar” in Kampand countries. We must be cautious tee, just 12 km from Nagpur, then of the fact that our own world in in Madhya Bharat and now part of 2019 was suffering from many leadMaharashtra. The bazaar was earers who did not believe in free trade marked exclusively for white offior the flat world, and global supply cers of the Army and Iyer recalls chains were being threatened by as a twelve-year-old boy, the exfood export embargos and barriers treme subservience to the “goras” to free trade. If Adolf Hitler was the for people to get what they needtrigger for the war then, it is a villain ed to live through these troubled no less than him, the invisible Corotimes. While Indian lives lost in navirus which has begun to wreak

66 / Corporate Citizen / June 1-15, 2020

the War were comparatively small, estimated at three million with under a 100,000 being soldiers, in other parts of Asia, civilians were slaughtered in villages. Slave labour became rampant in Korea and China and up to 400,000 women were forced into prostitution and sexual slavery, with ninety per cent of them dying in the war.

Clearly, those were extreme times and we can only hope that this scourge that has disrupted our lives vanishes or diminishes in the next few months and enables all of us to pursue a new narrative at life and work soon.

If there is one positive outcome we have seen in the last two months, it is the willingness of Governments, Corporates, NGOs, philanthropists and civil society to come together to support the poor in cities. In Pune, the Pune Platform helping the hospitals, the relief efforts of Pune City Connect, CYDA, members of the RSS and many others and the yeoman work done by Commissioners Gaikwad, Hardikar and the PMC response leader Rubal Agarwal have been inspiring.

One can only hope that this spirit of inclusion and help will continue and expand to the entire country and we will then approach the more arduous journey from relief to recovery to resilience, together.

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan is Chairman of 5F World, Pune City Connect and Social Venture Partners, India.

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