Times Of Mind

Even after all the virulent and insinuating criticism that TOI manages to emanate from the junta it remains albeit with some usual rampus the most read/ogled newspaper in the college.

My allegiance with TOI although a frivolous matter to me personally, is partially inherited, some wise and truly marwari ancestor of mine articulated that at same cost TOI had more recycle value than IE simply because of a better paper quality and more number of pages. Marwari for those of you don't know is the sub-caste or probably sub-sub-caste I belong to, I might have to write another post on how much I actually don't know about my roots except for the fact that I am an Indian who was born in some obscure part of Jaipur. Anyways the profound piece of advice came to me when I was about eight years old and even with the risk of being labeled as unctuously modest I say that I was not a fair judge of content then.

Even though as of now I do not draw any monetary benefits by giving a huge stack of newspapers to the hostel boy monthly , I continue to subscribe TOI. There are three basic reasons behind it...

a) Firstly Hindu, a newspaper truly admire comes two days late in this part of country, please the hindutva branded state courtesy Mr. Narendra Modi, really needs a difference in opinions, print media as anyways always accused of being insular and incestuous.

b) Secondly I just love reading its TOI columnists right from truly Indian Mrs. Shobhaa De to always exegetic SWAMINATHAN A AIYAR.

C) I don't mind looking at Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis as long as they are young.

But during recent few weeks the column I have enjoyed reading most is the “Times of Mind” by Subroto Bagachi. Subroto Bagachi is the co- founder of MindTree Consulting. He is truly a veritable raconteur; his anecdotes manifest the right ideals in the most succinct manner. His sagaciousness has been the corner stone of his success.

He writes in today's edition

[..] What is the role of each stranger in our lives? It is a matter worthy of reflection. As is this one thought: how good a stranger am I?

[...] Is there a lesson delivered to us right at the birth that we all forget? Just as a
stranger helps me take my first breath, is the next great thing in my life, being held upside down by a stranger? And by the same token, how good a stranger I am to the world around?

Sadly his articles aren't available in the online edition, but do the read the full piece if you get hold of the print edition, it’s really thought provoking.



Here's a link another article he wrote for Business world.

Here's a copy of an inspiring speech given by him.

Five IITians have started a political party called Paritrana. Best wishes for the same.

Finally I really had to get this out of my system

"Procrastinate Whilst there's a tomorrow"

-Anubhav Agarwal
19/1/06