Musings on Life Series

Scroll through LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram today. Onam wishes everywhere. Beautiful pookalams. Traditional colours. Festive greetings. And a logo somewhere in the corner saying, *“This brand wishes you a Happy Onam.”* There is nothing wrong with that. We all want to acknowledge the moments that matter to the people around us. But it made me pause. When everyone is wishing, what actually stays with us? Do we remember the hundreds of posts we scrolled past during every New Year, Pongal or Diwali? Or do we remember the person who called? The unexpected message. The small gesture. The person who remembered something about us that nobody else did. Because there is a difference between acknowledging a relationship and nurturing one. A greeting says: “I remembered the occasion.” A thoughtful gesture says: “I remembered you.” And perhaps, in a world where we are constantly connected, this is what we are slowly losing. We have more ways to communicate than ever. But fewer moments...

  I Went to the Chettinad Business Expo to Shop. I Came Back Thinking About Family. Yesterday, 15 August 2026, I visited the Chettinad Business Expo organised by the *Nagarathar Chamber of Commerce*. I went to browse. I bought a few things. And I came back thinking about family, business and what makes a business truly memorable. Not because someone gave a talk about family business. I simply watched what was happening at the stalls. At one food stall, I heard a grandchild proudly tell a customer: “My Aachi made it. Taste it and see.” I smiled. But then I started noticing something. That child wasn't an exception. I was seeing families building businesses together. At most stalls, there were four or five people managing the business. Mothers with daughters. Sisters working together. Fathers handling transactions. Husbands actively promoting their wives' businesses. Parents supporting their daughters. And grandchildren enthusiastically talking about products m...

*Some people come into our lives through a particular chapter, but when they leave, that chapter suddenly feels very different.* We first met for a KYT in BBB. One year later, we worked together as the Charter Management Committee of BBB Prithvi, Venkat Sir as our Charter President, you as the Charter Treasurer, and me as the Charter Secretary. We built the chapter together. We worked together, strategised together, disagreed, fought, laughed, and found our way through things. I also had the opportunity to do strategy consulting for your business. And somewhere along the way, beyond BBB and beyond work, there was a warmth that I will always remember. You and Vijayshankar Sir treated me like your daughter. You were such a vibrant person, Shanthi Mam always carrying that beautiful smile and that wonderful energy. It is difficult to reconcile that lively presence with the fact that you are no longer here. After you passed away, I realised how much of that affection had quietly beco...