The bond between Rotary and me is special; my wedding expenses were reduced because of Rotary. In the early ’90s, the Rotary Sea Coast used to meet at Centaur, Mumbai, every Thursday when I was a chef there. They were charged Rs 65 per head while I was quoted Rs 145 per head for my...
I STARTED CRRAFT OF ART ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO TO REINTRODUCE MONUMENTS TO PEOPLE - ESPECIALLY TO THE YOUTH TO BRIDGE THE WORRYING DISCONNECT THAT IS DEVELOPING WITH THEIR ROOTS. wanted to create an event to which they could relate and revisit in their mindspace. For this, I chose the monuments and to take them to...
I told my school where I am going today. I am a little afraid about how and what I'll speak but after I reached here, I felt some confidence. Today, I am here to ask for a computer lab for my 1500 children. I have been working for 30 years and I am about to...
What is ‘purpose’ in the corporate world? How should companies take leadership and take it forward? Why is it important today? The world today has greater expectations from companies; consumers are starting to associate with companies and not just their products. The new generation has a different view so it's important for companies to realise that...
Rotary International drives positive change around the world and I know, whether in India or Australia, there are so many prominent people with good intent. The Sydney club has a wide range of charity events, too; Rotary clubs across Australia are working together to fight glaucoma. People of Indian origin in Australia have really arrived;...
“WHY ARE SOME COUNTRIES RICH AND SOME POOR? This is the question that drove me to learn developmental economics and, as an economist at Goldman Sachs, into research that ultimately coined the term BRICS. At the time, we had no idea that it would generate a particular interest in the global community. I moved to India...
Sailing is my first love; water has always inspired me to move forward. I joined the Navy in 1989 but I fell sick and had to resign. At that time, a friend suggested starting a marine business which I did. We are where we are, thanks to the goodwill. Mumbai’s coastline is used by the...
It's been nine months in India, and it's been pleasant. We have gone out to explore different regions in and outside Mumbai. The focus of my office is to strengthen the relationship between India and Canada. Specifically, we are responsible for building relations in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Today (October 11th)...
When I was in my 20s, I was working in Atlanta and had three best friends: vodka, tequila and margarita. About 50% of my money was spent on them. My typical Gujju father said: “This is not our culture.” So, I quit my job to come to Ahmedabad. On my flight, they were showing Swades...
What was your journey to NASSCOM? In 1975-’76, we decided to come back to India to be closer to family. This was during the Emergency. I tried to be with my father in his business as it wasn't in a good shape, and neither was my father-in-law's. My dreams of starting a business in those areas...
I am an architect by profession, at an intersection of science, technology and business. I graduated in 2011 with an interest in bio-mimicry that is bios and mimesis, life and imitation, taking inspiration from nature to design. I did my Masters in Emerging Technologies from London with a Tata scholarship. I thought India is not...
BOMBAY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A NEW BOMBAY. WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS? It is an intense question. It was to be a twin city but two decades ago a Rotarian suggested it should be 25 coastal cities. Bombay needs to decentralise. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE UNDERGROUND, THE SEALINK AND GOING UNDERNEATH WALKESHWAR TUNNEL? The Coastal...