1. Get an MBA degree
2. Travel to at least 10 exotic locations in the world
3. Own a Merc
4. Become CEO of a Bank
5. Write a book
6. Challenge every assumption/prejudice that I have lived with
7. Be healthy and fit
8. Try all types of food
9. Learn to Swim
10. Complete reading a quarter of books from my “to read” list
11. Interview Ramgopal Verma. Understand “how” he thinks
12. Smoke a Cuban Cigar once
13. Contribute directly to poverty alleviation and fund home
for the aged
14. Own a Bungalow
15. _________________

Post-Scriptum

1.Am sick of answering ‘B Sc’ to the question “what is your qualification?”
2.Along with my wife, of course
3.My next car?
4. Will ISB experience take me to entrepreneurship?
5.Topic undecided. But the topic will be something which integrates my
learning from various disciplines ranging from Anthropology to Astronomy
6.Trying
8. A little conservative here. But, had ‘ras malai’ for the first time
today. Hey, I am getting there……
9.Close to being hydrophobic.
12. If I survive the first few puffs
14. Both at Hyderabad and South Mumbai
15. Unmentionable

(I)

Am in Bangalore today and tom. Bangalore is a great place for pub goers / beer drinkers. Got to know of a word called “Alcohologic”, which means “the absurd logic advanced by a person who is highly influenced by alcohol.

A few examples of Alcohologic

1. It is my birthright to puke. What’s the fuss all about?
2. What is wrong with it? I always drove on the right side.
3. Quite funny. Why are these people moving upside down?
4. Bouncers? They like me very much. Always help me get dumped in my car.
5. Even on my tenth drink, I can tell people correct time. Only issue is my shirt/trousers/shoes always get wet after I tell time. There seems to be some correlation between these two
6. Alcoholiday – Today I took off to booze
7. Work? It is the curse of drinking class (Acknowledgement: Oscar Wilde)

(II)

Roads and Buildings are a simple measure of the development of a city. As I drove from airport to a friend’s house, I realised that Bangalore had amongst the worst roads. Cannot imagine how a foreign investor would ever be convinced about investing in Bangalore.

I believe what I wrote in my ISB essay, ethics is not just about “not doing wrong”, it is about “proactively doing right”. Domestic companies have greatly benefited from this city. They have grown thanks to the local talent, subsidized lands and other facilities. MNCs have grown here thanks again to the local talent pool and subsidized facilities. These companies and their promoters made (and still make) millions of dollars. What prevents these people from contributing to making good roads?

Don’t think I will ever want to work or live in this city.

(III)

Bangalore used to be called pensioners paradise. I did not see any pensioners; nor is this a paradise. It is bloody as hot as Hyderabad or Chennai. Pollution is equally bothering. Cost of living is extremely high. The traffic sense or civic sense, as it is with other cities, is at its nadir. Added to it, traffic signals and speed breakers at every conceivable corner and post. I forgot. It used to be called. No longer so.