The Hidden Diamond - Blurb

“Death is easy, but to live….”, he mused as he looked through the door of his cell at the impending waves of Indian Ocean

It’s extremely unfortunate that he is referred as Bhagat Singh’s comrade and not the other way

An almost non-fictional account of a freedom fighter 

Joint Issue

“What’s the highest peak in Earth”

“Mount Everest”

“What’s the lowest point in Earth”

“Should be under some ocean”

“Dead Sea”

“How nice it will be to have both the highest and lowest point of earth in a stamp, But it’s not possible. Stamp is usually issued by a country and here we have geographies under 2 different counties”

“Joint Issue”

“So you are saying its possible”

“It’s not just possible. It had actually happened in 2012 itself. Israel and Nepal did a joint issue”

“Wow. Do we have these kind of joint issue stamps in India”

“Yes, we have several stamps. India has good relations with several countries. Here are some example of joint issue stamps (and Miniature Sheets) from India”

Hari Singh Nalwa

Hari Singh Nalwa was mortally wounded, the medicine man was applying ointments but Hari Singh knew that his end was nearing. Hari Singh Nalwa was the commander-in-chief of Khalsa, his fierce campaign for over 30 years lead to the addition of Kasur, Sialkot, Multan, Kashmir, Attock, Peshawar and Jamrud to Sikh Empire. 

The majority of the Sikh Army was in Lahore to attend the marriage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s grandson (1837).  Padshah Mohammad Khan took this opportunity to lay a siege on Jamud Fort, Hari Singh who was in Peshawar immediately rushed to Jamud Fort. During the ambush near Jamud Fort Hari Singh succumbed to  mortal woundS. This was not the first time that Hari Singh was near death, the wound inflicted during the Battle of Multan (1818) took almost an year to heal. But now Hari Singh was getting old, long War Campaigns had already taken a toll on his health.

He called his lieutenant, Mahan Singh and asked, “Is there any action outside?”

“No Sir! The Afghans are waiting. We have already sent messenger to Lahore. The king should dispatch army”, replied Mahan Singh

7,000 cavalry, 2,000 matchlock, 20,000 Khybers, 50 pieces artillery Afghan Army against just 800 garrison! But the Afghans were still waiting, because they knew that Hari Singh Nalwa was inside the Fort. The Afghans remembered Battle of Mangal (1821), Battle of Sirikot (1824) both won by Hari Singh Nalwa in spite of the fact that the Afghans outnumbered the Sikhs! They feared that Hari Singh Nalwa had some trick up his sleeve and waited for him to make the first move.

“When I die….”, began Hari Singh Nalwa

“No Sir! You are not dying!!”, interrupted Mahan Singh.

Mahan Singh wanted to continue with his reassurance but when he saw the calm face of Hari Singh Nalwa, he decided to be silent and waited for the instructions.

 “Let no one know about my death until our army reach here”

And so the Afghans waited outside the fort patiently for a week, unaware that Hari Singh Nalwa was dead and finally when the relief Sikh forces came, the Afghan army returned back to Kabul without offering any resistance.

Hari Singh Nalwa, even in his death saved the ‘strategic’ Jamrud and Peshawar!

The Citadel – Review

I never knew about this author, I just picked up this book from my lending library, after reading the Blurb.

The story is the journey of a Doctor Andrew Mason from his first day in duty. His insecurities when he joins this profession, his friends and foes, his passion and convictions. How he slowly builds on his career.

This story covers almost all career options of a Doctor, starting from being an Assistant in a mining community and then becoming  a Doctor in another mining community. Doing his higher studies and then the research. Then an option to work in a research organization and then working as an independent medical practitioner. This completes the full cycle isn’t it!!

The first 2 jobs are dealing with the “card system” Medical Practice, wherein you are paid a fixed amount for the number of members in the community (who gives you their cards). I think this system  exists even today when each office has a visiting Doctor. This is technically the lower most line of work in Doctor Profession in terms of remuneration.

I sometimes felt stopping reading the novel, because it looks monotonous and predictable. The number of character appearing in one part will not appear in another as the characters move from one place to another. Also it’s a predictable story, the hero is always correct with respect to this diagnosis and is a highly principle man and doesn’t get well with the environment and then moves on.

But you have to wait till the last part to see the story actually picking up as it shows that the Hero has shades of negativity as well, as he pursuits money. Almost 70% of the story was to get to the point since it was essential to know where he came from.

One important character of this story is the Doctor’s wife Chris. She was always in his side supporting and comforting him. The relationship between the Doctor and his wife gets stained when he starts chasing money and the friction in their relationship is shown very naturally. The Doctor thinks that his wife wants him always to be poor and when he starts getting rich she is not appreciating it!

The last part of the story which deals with the money in the business and the network among the doctors who rotate the rich patients among themselves!! This is so relevant even today. The revelation happens to this Doctor only when he realizes that the “network of doctors” who chase money are not really skilled doctors. This is very dramatic and need not be the case in real life, there are doctors who chase money and are also very well skilled.

Also the last part of the story talks about the healers (with no formal degree) and should the doctors work with these unconventional healers.

Overall this is a story of a man who is searching for success fuelled by ambition and towards the end almost losses his way but he comes back strong with a new noble ambition!

Chepauk Stadium

I went to Chepauk stadium to see India vs Australia match. This was my first live match experience.  I was there for about 1:30 mins. I had a wish to see one four, one six and one wicket which was fulfilled.
Good to watch star cricketers playing live less than 1 km away.
Sachin was just a km away, Dhoni was 1 km away.
Cricket commentators who I adore, Harsha Boghle, Ravi Shashtri and many many more were just a km away.
Wow! What an experience! That too just for Rs 125 / day. Commuting was so very simple with MRTS.

Its very difficult to follow a six, before you see in the air its already in pavilion.

It was still winter in Chennai but how much hot it was! How the players stand this heat for a full day!

Have resolved to see every test cricket match which is played in Chennai.

Safal Niveshak's Art of Investing Workshop Chennai

I attended this session on March 3^rd. I always told myself that I will definitely attend a session on share market investment , but was  looking out for the right opportunity.

I tried looking up  for classes and workshops  but in vain.

Sometime in Jan I came across the Safal Niveshak website and got hooked, then immediately came this opportunity and I took the plunge.

I like Vishal’s genuine passion for sharing knowledge. It’s a unique offer, he asks you to give any amount between 0 to Rs. 5000  for this training!

The following are the things that I learnt:

1.       How to read the Balance Sheet and look out for key numbers and ratios and using Screener

2.       Buy a share  which is much below its intrinsic value. You need not buy the best share, it’s enough to buy even an ordinary share at a discounted price. What you pay is very important.

3.       Do not buy Index Funds in India.The books that you have read which asks you to invest in Index Fund is written by western authors. The Index that they have here in India is not mature enough and it has frequent churning of stocks. 

4.     Do not sponsor the higher education of your child. Support till school and they can take educational loans

5.       Uncertainties and Risks are different. Risk can be calculated, uncertainty cannot be. Need to know Human Behavior so that we can respond rather than react to situation (one of the  materials for this training is “As A Man Thinketh”)

6.       Have journal to jot down your investment decisions(Better to have a journal for life as well). This will be helpful to reflect upon the decisions made and refining the investment style.

Here is the link to the blog regarding the workshop

The Ear phone

I need the ear phone. I hate exercise and I want to trick myself in hearing songs so I take my mind out of the body pain. But nowadays I’m into hearing discourse and podcast.

My previous company was in Siruseri and I used to commute for almost an hour to office, so that’s 2 hours a day. I’m not a guy who falls asleep as soon as I sit in my bus (this is an office bus). I’m not that  gifted! Also I cannot read in a moving bus, so I resorted to listening to radio and also sometimes to audio books.

Switching back to the present day, I’m hearing discourses in Tamil during my exercise. Right now its Velukkudi and Suki Sivam to be specific its Vidhura Needhi and Bhagavat Gita respectively.

All the audio books I heard previously were in English and this is the first time I’m into hearing a Tamil audio book (discourse).

Intellectually refreshing and physically beneficial (remember I’m exercising as I am hearing it)