The Relevance of Hannah Arendt

If you happen to own Arendt’s books and read them a long time ago, it’s time to dust them off your bookshelves and read her all over again. I regret I did not read her earlier, but I am glad I have discovered her wonderfully sharp intellect and detailed expositions of totalitarian regimes now. Why… Continue reading The Relevance of Hannah Arendt

Bird of Burden

Meet Ms WhistleWise, who flew in recently from Dortmund, Germany. Created by my cousin, her mum and her twin boys with leaves, twigs, berries and cornflowers, all found in owl territory, against a beautiful summer watercolour wash background, Ms WhistleWise, is evocative of my blog’s newsletter, The Whistle, of course! Nothing worth noting escapes Ms… Continue reading Bird of Burden

Why Brand Purpose Must be Aligned with Business Purpose

Sharing an article that I just wrote for LinkedIn on brand purpose, since there is so much discussion around it these days. I came across a 1970 article by Milton Friedman in The New York Times that spurred me to put my thoughts down on the subject and refute some of his theories or arguments.… Continue reading Why Brand Purpose Must be Aligned with Business Purpose

Okay, It Wasn’t Our Men in Blue to Win It

I am saddened that the Indian team didn't make it to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final, thanks to some poor decision making by the team management and poor batting by the batsmen. But I am glad the other Men in Blue team made it and won it, for reasons different from those you… Continue reading Okay, It Wasn’t Our Men in Blue to Win It

Owl Wisdom Time!

It is almost six months since I made this video for my blog, but have been saving it for the right time to share. In the midst of so much happening, what with trade wars, culture wars and even the threat of real wars, I thought this might be the time to tell folks that… Continue reading Owl Wisdom Time!

G20: A Summit in Need of Statesmanship

If, after watching news of the recently concluded G20 Summit, you got the impression that the global economy is chugging along fine and that countries were getting along fine, you can attribute it to one person: the world leader with the world-leading tweet! After firing off a set of confrontational tweets in customary style, Trump… Continue reading G20: A Summit in Need of Statesmanship

After the Financial Crisis, the World at Cultural Crossroads

I don’t know about you, but the year 2015 was defined for me by images of hordes of people clambering on to boats to take them across the Mediterranean. Many making it to their destination and many others meeting a watery grave. Since then the sea has become a sort of metaphor for the European… Continue reading After the Financial Crisis, the World at Cultural Crossroads

Is India Adequately Schooled for the Technological Age?

As we digest news of the slowest rate of economic growth in India in many quarters (5.8% in Q4 of FY 2019) and the highest rate of unemployment in 45 years at 6.1%, all the talk of our demographic dividend of the past 15 years is fast evaporating into thin air. More relevant now, would… Continue reading Is India Adequately Schooled for the Technological Age?

Jacinta Island: Ladies’ Day Out!

Taking a break from the recently concluded Indian elections, US-China trade wars, Brexit, the EU elections and sundry other preoccupations, I decided it was time to relax a little. My sister was visiting us in Goa and I thought it might be a good idea to take a drive to an island I have long… Continue reading Jacinta Island: Ladies’ Day Out!

Brexit v ICC World Cup: Which Britain Will Prevail?

An Indian newspaper headline recently read “World Cup 2019: Cricket Sunshine breaks through Brexit Clouds”. The article says that “the World Cup is happening at an extraordinary time. The Empire is trying to define what it means to be English. At the same time, it’s the outsiders who are shouldering the nation, cleaning it –… Continue reading Brexit v ICC World Cup: Which Britain Will Prevail?