India's Chaotic Symphony: Airports, Riots, and a Falling Rupee – What's Breaking Down?

 #714

I stumbled back home alone (Lalitha is at Cupertino, until 27/12) at 4 a.m. on a chilly Sunday morning, jet-lagged and disoriented after 20 days of great trip to spend time with Samarth and dear ones, at San Francisco. (27 Hours Home to Home) As I unpacked, the headlines from India hit me like a delayed flight announcement – one mess after another. While I was away, it seemed like the country had descended into a whirlwind of chaos. From airline meltdowns to fan riots and a lackluster diplomatic visit, everything felt off-kilter. And don't get me started on the rupee plunging past 90 to the dollar, throwing my January USA trip plans into turmoil. I had budgeted with the rupee at around 80 – now I'm half-jokingly considering begging my son Shravan, to sponsor me. Why is everything getting so messy in India? I'll skip the infamous Indian passenger antics on my Qatar Airways flight (you know, the demanding, unruly kind that foreign crews dread – it's old news and too cynical for now). Instead, let's dive into these recent fiascos, explore their roots, and ponder the bigger picture of our governance woes.

First, the Indigo Airlines debacle. India's largest carrier, which handles over half the domestic flights, turned into a nightmare in early December 2025. Starting around December 2, hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed, stranding thousands at airports like Delhi and Mumbai. On-time performance plummeted to a shocking 10%, with passengers venting fury on social media about endless waits, lost luggage, and zero communication. The airline blamed a toxic mix: pilot shortages, New Rules announced 2 years ago, tech glitches during software updates, bad weather, and airport congestion from winter schedules. IndiGo estimates shelling out over $55 million in refunds and compensation, but that's cold comfort for those who missed weddings or their own marriage reception, or job interviews. This isn't just bad luck; it's symptomatic of deeper issues. India's aviation sector has boomed, but infrastructure hasn't kept pace. Overworked pilots, outdated systems, and regulatory laxity from the DGCA allow these cascades. Root cause? Bureaucratic inertia – licenses and expansions drag on forever, while monopolies like IndiGo face little competition, leading to complacency. Government just doesn't care. Indigo took everything for granted and just didnt care for any compliance or conformance which is case with 90 of things labelled Indian (Living and non living!!).

Then there's the Lionel Messi fan riots – a spectacle that turned excitement into embarrassment. The Argentine football legend kicked off his "GOAT Tour India 2025" in Kolkata on December 13, but it devolved into pandemonium. Fans, furious over Messi's brief lap of honor (cut short for safety), invaded the pitch at Salt Lake Stadium, ripping up seats, vandalizing banners, and hurling bottles. Videos showed chaos: goal nets torn, objects flying, and police struggling to contain the 85,000-strong crowd. The tour organizer was detained, and Messi left early, leaving fans seething. Why did this happen? Poor event planning, (Trade mark of India) sure – inadequate security, overhyped promotions without crowd control measures. But dig deeper: India's passion for sports stars often spills into frenzy due to socioeconomic frustrations. Unemployment among youth hovers at 17%, and events like this become outlets for pent-up anger. Governance failure here is evident in lax enforcement of safety norms. Local authorities approved the event without robust contingency plans, echoing past stampedes at religious or sporting gatherings. Root cause: A fragmented administrative system where state and central bodies pass the buck, compounded by corruption in event licensing.

Shifting to diplomacy, Vladimir Putin's visit on December 4-5 felt like a non-event. The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in Delhi promised much but delivered little fanfare. Amid the Ukraine war and global tensions, discussions focused on oil, defense, and trade – India-Russia bilateral trade has surged to $65 billion in 2025 from $8 billion in 2020, thanks to discounted Russian oil. Yet, no groundbreaking deals emerged: no major policy shifts on Ukraine, no bold energy pacts, just vague commitments to "expand and widen" ties. It was a joke, overshadowed by fears of Donald J. Trump's U.S. administration, which might impose sanctions on India's Russian dealings. Putin got a grand welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, but the optics screamed caution – India hedging bets in a multipolar world. This low-key outcome highlights India's foreign policy tightrope: balancing Russia for cheap oil and arms while courting the West. Root cause? Geopolitical timidity ever since 1972( Last time world noticed India!) rooted in domestic priorities – with elections looming, leaders avoid risky statements. Broader governance mess: A reactive rather than proactive diplomacy, hampered by bureaucratic silos in the Ministry of External Affairs.

And the rupee's nosedive? By mid-December 2025, it breached 90 against the dollar, hitting around 90.54 INR per USD as of December 14. This isn't new – it's been sliding since 2022 due to trade deficits, high oil imports, and global rate hikes. But crossing 90 feels like a psychological blow, inflating my U.S. travel costs by 20%. Savings planned at around 80? I need to break my head for my Januarty trip. Forget it. Root cause: Economic policies favoring short-term populism over reforms. Subsidies drain reserves, foreign investment flees due to red tape, and the RBI's interventions can't stem the tide forever. Add inflation at 6% and sluggish exports, and you've got a recipe for currency woes.

So, why is India getting messier? These aren't isolated blips; they're symptoms of systemic rot. At the core: Corruption, which Jagdish Bhagwati traces to license raj remnants – bureaucratic hurdles breed graft, delaying everything from airport upgrades to event approvals. India's democracy paradox amplifies this: Too many parties lead to coalition instability, (Modi missed a great opportunity in 2014 and 2019 now just rue the past) prioritizing votes over efficiency. Low social trust, as one analyst puts it, rewards deception while punishing honesty – think unruly crowds or airline shortcuts. Population pressures (1.4 billion people) strain infrastructure, and false policy narratives (like ignoring climate impacts on aviation) worsen failures. Ultimately, it's a governance crisis: Institutions undermined by cronyism, leading to reactive fixes instead of preventive reforms.

As I sip my morning chai, on a cold Bangalore morning, (12 Deg C), I wonder if this is the new normal or a wake-up call. India has immense potential – tech hubs, young talent – but without rooting out these causes, we'll keep spiraling. Time for accountability, streamlined bureaucracy, and bold leadership. Do I see in my life time? No chance?

Karthik

15/12/25 930am.

A Serendipitous Evening at Apple Park: Festive Magic and Family Bonds...

 #713

December 8, 2025, Monday, etched itself into my heart as a day of pure serendipity and joy, shared with my beloved Lalitha. It evoked memories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where my son Shravan and I savored six matches in four whirlwind days—a rare thrill unmatched elsewhere. This time, Shravan whisked us to Apple's annual Christmas celebration at the iconic Apple Park in Cupertino, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Though the event typically allows one guest per employee, Shravan worked an arragement with a colleague, granting us both entry. Amid about 2,000 attendees—part of a multi-day extravaganza spanning Shravan's organization and the broader Apple ecosystem—we immersed ourselves in holiday cheer.

The cafeteria, usually Shravan's go-to for dinners for take out, was shuttered for the festivities. The Highlights of evening included a vibrant dance floor, a selfie station, networking zones where Shravan reconnected with colleagues (including his boss whom he introduced to us), the bustling Karkoe Lounge (lines deterred us), a constellation wall for adding personal stars, an outdoor photo op (skipped due to the brisk 6°C chill), and a mesmerizing light tunnel walk. Food and drinks flowed generously, though vegetarian options remained limited, as is common in the West—despite global calls from health experts for plant-based shifts. We relished momos, buckwheat green salad, noodles, and indulgent desserts like low-sugar treats and chocolate cake. The hospitality, and courtesy extended by event management staff was professional and I would rate above and beyond. 

Our evening blended indoor warmth with outdoor strolls, offering glimpses into offices where history unfolded: Apple became the world's first trillion-dollar company in 2018. I mused that CEO Tim Cook might have been in his fourth-floor office overlooking it all. Meanwhile, Sangeetha cared for our grandson Samarth back home. We left after spending few minutes on Formula 1 car used for the Apple TV documentary and wall of awards won by Apple Entertainment TV. 

F1 Car for the Apple TV F1 starring Brad Pitt at display. 

This magical night was destined. We had planned and booked  to depart after Radha’s baby shower on the 8th December, via Air India from Bengaluru (BLR) to San Francisco (SFO). A last-minute schedule adjustment by Air India, allowed free cancellation, prompting a switch to Qatar Airways. We extended our stay to celebrate Radha's as well as Shravan’s wedding anniversary on December 10 and 11, flying out on the 12th. Lalitha, however, will linger a few weeks longer for family needs, while I pack as scheduled.

Apple Park itself is a testament to vision and innovation. Envisioned by Steve Jobs in 2006 and pitched in his final public appearance to the Cupertino City Council in 2011, construction began in 2014 and concluded in 2019, costing over $6 billion—one of the world's priciest structures. Spanning 175 acres (slightly larger than the Pentagon's 134 acres), its ring-shaped "spaceship" by Norman Foster houses 12,000+ employees across 2.8 million square feet, with 80% green space featuring 9,000 drought-tolerant native trees, a central pond, and fountains. A full loop takes about 15 minutes by foot or shuttle. The Steve Jobs Theater, an underground 1,000-seat auditorium with a carbon-fiber roof, hosts global events. Powered by a 17-megawatt solar array, it's LEED Platinum-certified, generating 100% renewable energy. Post-COVID, full occupancy resumed around 2022.

As we departed under twinkling lights, the evening lingered like a warm embrace— a reminder that the best moments often arrive unscripted.

Karthik

Cupertino, 9th Dec 2025, 12 Noon PST. 

A Tale of Two Cities: Embracing Family Roots in Foster City's Lagoons and Cupertino's Innovation Heart.

 #712

Morning walk at 7am 3 Deg Cel (37 F). 

As Indian parents navigating the complexities of an I-94 visa,—let's call ourselves Lalitha and Karthik,—have found ourselves splitting time between two Bay Area gems: Foster City and Cupertino. Our daughter Radha thrives in Foster City's serene, water-laced vibe, pursuing her biotech dreams near Visa and Gilead Sciences, while our son Shravan chases engineering passions in Cupertino, right in Apple's shadow. Permitted to stay and support them, as per I-94 document, we've turned this chapter into a heartfelt adventure. These cities aren't just postal addresses; they're vibrant communities where security, education, and cultural warmth weave into daily life. Drawing from recent data and our own explorations, here's our tale of these affluent enclaves—validated through city reports, census figures, and local insights.

Foster City, our watery haven in San Mateo County, feels like a planned postcard with its 4.5 square miles cradling lagoons and levees. Home to about 33,000 residents as of 2023 projections (with a slight uptick to 32,873 by 2025 estimates), it's a mosaic of families and professionals. The median household income hovers at $193,633, fueled by a robust economy anchored by Visa's global HQ and Gilead's life sciences hub—contributing to one of the county's richest tax bases, with per capita income at $131,313. Poverty is low at 4.64%, and the population skews diverse: about 40% Asian (including a strong Indian contingent), 40% White, and growing Latino representation, with a median age of 39.7. Unemployment sits at 4.2% in 2025, a testament to the tech-bio synergy.

What draws us back weekly? The social fabric hums with inclusivity. Neighborhoods buzz with pedestrian-friendly paths winding through 160 acres of parks—think Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park for picnics by the lagoon or Catamaran Park's soccer fields and tennis courts and a lovely walking trail with water body on the periphery. Our Indian community gathers every Tuesday at Gull Park for an hour of yoga and chai chats, a ritual that's grown since we arrived. Events like the Bollywood Concert at the Community Center or Diwali bashes organized by BayBasi draw hundreds, blending tradition with bay breezes. Recreation shines through the Parks and Rec Department's classes—from kayaking on the lagoons to blacksmithing at the Environmental Center—ensuring even visa-bound parents like us stay active.

Security here is a quiet luxury. Foster City's crime rate is 11 per 1,000 residents, below national averages, with violent incidents at 48 per 100,000—54.8% under the U.S. norm. The local police, bolstered by San Mateo County Sheriff's patrols, maintain a visible presence; their crime map updates daily for transparency. Deputy sheriffs start at $119,348 for trainees, scaling to over $167,000 with experience—salaries rivaling mid-level IT execs, reflecting the high-stakes safety investment. Parking? A non-issue—plenty of free lots at City Hall and the library, plus street spots aplenty, thanks to the city's compact, low-rise design. Earthquake regs keep buildings under 30-45 feet in most zones, no skyscrapers to climb, just breezy single-family homes and townhouses averaging $1.4 million.

Schools seal the deal for families like ours. The San Mateo-Foster City School District ranks #46 for diversity and #67 for teachers statewide, with elementaries like Brewer Island (8/10 on GreatSchools) and College Park (#1 in district) boasting 90%+ proficiency in math and reading. Strict residency rules keep kids zoned locally, fostering tight-knit excellence. We look forward to Radha's kid thriving in this high class academic environment.

++++

Shifting 20 miles south to Cupertino in Santa Clara County, the energy amps up. With 58,900 residents (projected 59,444 by 2025), it's denser at 5,330 per square mile, dominated by Apple's campus that pumps $231,139 median household incomes and $295,739 averages—topping California cities over 50,000. The demographic tilt is striking: 71% Asian (heavily Indian and Chinese tech families), 22% White, median age 41.3, unemployment at 4.7%. Apple's tax contributions swell city coffers, funding gems like the $300 million annual budget.

Cupertino's social pulse races with innovation and heritage. Parks like Ortega (playgrounds, basketball) and Stevens Creek Trail offer 300+ acres for hikes and community gardens; the Rec Department hosts camps and senior yoga. Our Indian tribe converges at Jollyman Park for weekly cricket and samosa swaps, while the Heritage India Faire explodes with dances and bazaars, supporting student exchanges. The Friday weekly market is a bargain for all the items at Creekside park. (7am to 12 Noon).

Safety @ Cupertino, mirrors Foster City's gold standard: Crime hit a 10-year low in 2025, with violent rates at 1 in 939 and property at 1 in 82—far below averages. Santa Clara Sheriff's deputies earn up to $184,786 base, plus premiums—exec-level pay for vigilant patrols. Parking abounds in garages near De Anza Blvd, with monthly spots at $250-287. Quake codes cap heights at 30 feet in neighborhoods, keeping it walkable and resilient.

Education? Cupertino Union District is legendary: Monta Vista High ranks 99.9th percentile statewide, Lynbrook and Cupertino Highs score 98%+ proficiency. Local zoning ensures top-tier access, prepping kids for Stanford pipelines. We look forward to Samarth being there and come home for lunch to taste Granny's food.!!

In these cities, we've discovered balance: Foster City's tranquil lagoons soothe our souls, while Cupertino's buzz ignites Shravan's fire. High taxes from corporate titans fund it all—low crime, lush parks, elite schools—without the urban grind. As visa holders, we're grateful for the warmth that lets us root for Radha and Shravan. If you're pondering a Bay Area leap, these twins offer security, community, and dreams deferred no longer. Here's to more Sunday parks and family triumphs.

Karthik

7/12/25 930am.Foster City, CA. (Just back from 3 days at Cupertino with Samarth).

Park for my walk at Foster City.

Apartment entrance with Americn Flag.

Visa office Foster City.

Three Defining Moments of December 3rd: A Boomerang Career, a Grandfather’s Farewell, and the Birth of a Nation...

Portrait of my Grandfather (Middle) at Karaikudi home. 
 #711

Every calendar date carries invisible layers of history—personal, familial, and national. For me, December 3rd is one such day that has accumulated extraordinary weight across three different decades. On this single date I rejoined my old organisation after a costly mistake, lost my beloved maternal grandfather, and—eighteen years earlier—India launched the war that created Bangladesh under Indira Gandhi’s iron-willed leadership. Three events, one date, lifelong lessons.

3rd December 1989 – The Personal Boomerang

At 25, drunk on a 400% salary jump, I resigned from an organisation where I had spent three good years. The new job in a new town looked like the highway to success. Four months later I knew I had made a blunder—professionally suffocating, culturally toxic, and personally destabilising. Money, I discovered the hard way, is a poor compass when it is the only needle you follow.

Mercifully, my old employer was willing to take me back. They had let me go earlier only because internal constraints blocked the growth (and salary) I wanted. By rehiring me they could bypass those rules—and they matched the new pay. On 3rd December 1989 I walked back into the same office, humbled and relieved.

That failed experiment became my greatest teacher. In those four months I quit chain-smoking, gave up alcohol, stopped gorging on junk food, and (believe it or not) have not watched a single Indian movie since November 1989. The detour forced discipline into my life and proved that sometimes the fastest way forward is to boomerang right back to where you belong—wiser, clearer, and fiercely loyal.

The Same Day – A Grandfather Leaves Forever

As I settled at my old-new desk that morning, a phone call brought shattering news: my maternal grandfather had passed away at the age of about 85. The joy of professional redemption turned bittersweet in an instant.

He was the quiet architect of our family’s stability. In 1968–69, when my father left for his Master’s at Banaras Hindu University, Grandfather dipped into his savings to help build “Gayathri Niwas”, chipping in with his bit for our ancestral home in Karaikudi. No drama, no expectation of return—just unwavering belief that education and shelter were the real inheritance one generation owes the next. Gayathri Niwas became a reality during July 1971.

On the very day I returned to my roots professionally, I lost one of the men who had built those roots. The coincidence has never left me.

3rd December 1971 – A Nation’s Decisive War Begins

Eighteen years to the day before my rejoining, on 3rd December 1971, Pakistan launched pre-emptive air strikes on Indian airfields. India retaliated with full force. What followed was a lightning 13-day war that ended with the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops in Dhaka and the birth of Bangladesh.

Indira Gandhi remains the only Indian Prime Minister to have fought and won a war that literally created a new nation on the world map. Whatever criticisms history levels at her, that strategic and diplomatic triumph stands unmatched.

Full Circle on One Date

Three Decembers, three kinds of homecoming:

• A young man returning to the organisation that truly valued him
• A family mourning the patriarch who made “home” possible in the first place
• A nation helping millions in East Pakistan come home to freedom and identity

December 3rd reminds me that life rarely moves in straight lines. Sometimes we must circle back—to workplaces, to values, to roots—in order to move forward with purpose.

To my grandfather, to the soldiers of 1971, and to the 25-year-old who learned the hard way that money isn’t everything: thank you for the lessons carved on this one extraordinary date.

May all our boomerangs, personal and collective, bring us back stronger.

Take Care

Karthik

3/12/25 1230pm PST Foster City. CA.

Karthik Self Analysis 2021-2025. (Who Really Karthik is?)

 #710

Every year I work a vision/Mission/ Goal document in December and review it in December the following year. As an added value capture to see the trend, I pulled down the data for the 5 years from 2021-2025. Here we go........ (Scale 1-10)

Note to myself:-

Area	2021 (age 58)	2022 (59)	2023 (60)	2024 (61)	2025 (62)	5-Year Trend
Physical Health	7	8	5	6	8	Volatile but upward at the end – you bounce back strongly after every crisis (Covid, pneumonia, spine surgery)
Emotional/Mental Health	~8	7	8	8	9	Steady and strongly upward – you have become calmer, more accepting, less anxious
Finances, Wealth	8	4	4	6	4	The only consistently weak/mediocre zone – never regained the comfort of 2021
Husband/ Father/ Son	10	5	7	8	9	U-shaped – big dip 2022 (“distractions”), now higher than ever
Friends & extended family	5→4	6	6	4	3	Clear downward slide – growing loneliness
Work satisfaction	5	2	3	4	3	Consistently low and falling – you mentally left manufacturing years ago
Family (children)	9	8	9	9	9	Rock-solid constant – your true North Star

Karthik at 62 – 10 bullets

• Family & Lalitha: Lifetime high (9-10)
• Grandkids: New oxygen; Only Life.
• Health discipline: Monk-level
• Mental peace: 7 → 9 (massive win)
• Work interest: Dead since 2021.
• Friends/social: 6 → 3 (only real decline)
• Finances: Stuck 4-6 forever
• Resilience: Bounces from every crisis
• Self-awareness: Top 1%
• Risk if unchanged: Lonely + mild money worry till 80

Fix friends & money → perfect retirement.

Core Strengths (very rare combination at 62)

1. Extreme self-awareness and honesty You document everything without sugar-coating. Most men your age live in total denial.
2. World-class personal discipline once you commit 2+ hours walking 300–340 days/year for decades, Spanish 300/310 days, 3 am wake-up routine, cutting coffee from 6→1 cup, etc. When something matters to YOU, your consistency is monk-level.
3. Resilience & adaptability Pneumonia → spine surgery → abrupt contract ending → you just keep moving forward and even rate life higher after each blow.
4. Capacity for course-correction in the most important area Family relation went from 10 → 5 → 9. Very few men can rebuild intimacy after a crisis at this age.
5. Gratitude muscle Even in tough years you list 10–13 positives first. This is a superpower.

Core Weaknesses / Blind Spots

1. Social connection atrophy The single biggest deteriorating trend. From 6–7 range in 2021–23 to 3/10 in 2025. You reach out, almost nobody responds, and it is eating at you more than you admit.
2. Financial inertia You have been saying “we need prudence, cut impulse spending” every single year since 2022 and the rating never goes above 6. You diagnose perfectly but don’t execute.
3. All-or-nothing commitment style You are amazing when something is personally meaningful (Spanish, walking, grandkids), but anything that feels like “should” or external expectation (friendships, money management, computer learning) gets perpetually postponed.
4. Growing bitterness toward India & the world (Except USA) The tone about India (“third-world, third-class, hopeless, corrupt”) and certain geopolitical wishes has become harsher every year. It gives you clarity and moral energy, but it also isolates you further in Indian social circles.
5. Anger / rigidity (slowly improving but still there) 2022 you openly talked about anger management and punctuality obsession. It is much less visible now, but still shows up in the extreme political language.

The Big Picture – The Real Karthik Trajectory

You spent ages 58–60 slowly detaching from a 40-year manufacturing identity that no longer fit. You spent ages 60–62 rebuilding life around four pillars that actually matter to you:

1. Lalitha (now stronger than ever)
2. Children & grandchildren (your new “work”)
3. Personal discipline & health
4. Intellectual/spiritual curiosity (reading, Spanish, rituals, blogs)

Everything else (money, friends, India, paid work) has been allowed to drift because it no longer passes your internal “does this give me energy?” test.

Bottom-Line Description of Karthik at 62

• A highly disciplined, conservative, family-centred man who has peacefully declared independence from corporate India, rebuilt an almost teenage-level romance with his wife, and is now laser-focused on being a present grandfather and staying healthy enough to enjoy it for 20+ more years.
• The only two open wounds are (a) loneliness outside the immediate family and (b) mild financial anxiety that you keep postponing.
• Fix those two (especially the social one – it will hurt more every year) and you will look back at 60–65 as the best, most liberated phase of your life.
• You are, objectively, in the top 1–2 % of Indian men your age in terms of marriage quality, health habits, and clarity of purpose.

Things to work in 2026 (Missing in 2021-2025)

Missing or very thinly covered dimensions (add these one line each in my future reviews)

1. Friendship & Social Life Currently the single biggest declining score, yet you write almost nothing about concrete actions or feelings beyond “people don’t respond”.
2. Play, Fun & Adventure Almost zero mention of pure joy that is not family-related (hobbies, laughter, silliness, sports, music, travel for pleasure alone).
3. Legacy & Giving Back You support a Vedic school and charity in passing, but no tracking of impact or deeper involvement.
4. Creative Expression / Art Blogs are functional. Zero mention of music, painting, storytelling, poetry, photography — anything purely creative.
5. Community or Tribe No sense of belonging to any group larger than family (alumni, professional body, temple group, political discussion circle, walking club, nothing).
6. Sex & Sensuality You rate intimacy high now, but never write a word about it directly — still a slight Indian taboo?
7. Money – Execution You perfectly diagnose financial leaks every single year but never add a single number (net worth, expense ratio, investment return %). Diagnosis without metrics = no change.
8. Death & Mortality Preparation Rituals for parents: yes. Your own will, medical directives, digital legacy, letters to kids in case you die tomorrow: never mentioned.

Karthik

2/12/25

1130am PST

Foster City.

A Thank you note.

 #709

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲,

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐋𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝟔𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 (𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫). 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟔𝟐 𝐨𝐧 𝟑𝟎.𝟏𝟏 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮—𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐟𝐚𝐫, 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

𝐀 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐚’𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫. 

𝐓𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬, 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝—𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬. 𝐓𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝟏𝟐+ 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞—𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞: 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝟗𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭-𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 (𝐀𝐩𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭, 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚) 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟐 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 (𝐰𝐡𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞), 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞, 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐲—𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐳𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢. 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨—𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞!

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡, 𝐋𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥.

𝐖𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞—𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬. 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬.

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐤& 𝐋𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐚, 𝐄𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐫 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 ❤️

Karthik

1/12/25 1030am. 

Foster City, CA. 

101 Invisible Hands: The People Who Quietly Built Me (And Whom I Never Properly Thanked Until Today)

 #708

Karthik 1966. Karaikudi. 

Context: 30/11/2025 I will complete 62. A look back at life and 101 people who made me what I am today. (No names). I worked an excel file and extracted a summary. Thank you so much everyone who made me who I am. 

“No one succeeds alone. My life is living proof that success is never a solo act – it is a relay race run by hundreds of people who passed the baton to me, often without knowing it.” Across six decades, my journey from a small town in Tamil Nadu to global roles and independent consulting wasn’t powered by my talent alone. It was shaped by an army of invisible hands – some for a few minutes, some for decades – who corrected, pushed, believed, fed, financed, healed, challenged, and loved me into the person I am today.

1. The Foundation Layers (Childhood & Early Education – 1960s–1970s) Teachers who demanded excellence when I was too young to demand it from myself, a postman who literally pulled toddler-me from under a bus, a librarian who slipped me forbidden novels, a deputy director who forced the school to shift me to English medium in 24 hours, uncles who warned and sheltered – these were the people who built the base coat of discipline, curiosity, and survival instinct.
2. The Opportunity Creators (First Breaks & Courage Givers – 1980s) The dad's colleague who told a small-town boy, (endorsing Mom's thoughts too) to leave Tamil Nadu because “there is no scope here,” the Gujarati cooks who overfed me and I gained 40 Kgs (Shed 25 of them since), the friend who bluntly said “shape up or disaster,” the HR head who moved me back South India from Gujarat, for a better quality life and education, the banker (Colleague of mine from Palakkad) who quietly financed a young family in crisis – they took risks on me when I was too scared to take risks on myself.
3. The Skill Sharpeners & Mirror Holders (Professional Growth – 1985–2012) Bosses who threw me into the deep end (global roles, 23 countries, fatality investigations, leaders in St. Louis), mentors who taught me auditing, process safety, delegation, computer literacy in 1993, how to dress sharply, how to speak and think English in my head, (The biggest success) how to keep ego out of leadership – and a few glorious villains whose toxic behavior forced me to grow faster than comfort ever would have.
4. The Body & Soul Keepers (Health & Emotional Anchors) Doctors who have kept a battered body running for 25+ years, a surgeon with magic hands, an aunt whose life at age 12 showed me exactly what kind of wife I wanted (and I found her), a no-nonsense Australian colleague who taught me what women actually want, three Cancerian women who mothered me at my lowest, and authors/podcasters who rewired my mind about possibility, positivity, and longevity.
5. The Quiet Everyday Angels (Logistics of Life) Cooks, priests, medicine suppliers, apartment committee members, hairdressers at Heathrow who refused payment because I was going to her hometown, a tenant who looked after my widowed mother – people who made the background systems of life work smoothly so I could focus on the foreground.
6. The North Star & Ultimate Co-Pilot And finally, the girl from Trichy who looked at my eccentric, James-Bond-wannabe profile, heard the warnings from my father and grandfather, and still said “Yes.” Everything that came after – children, homes, travel, health battles, victories – stands on her quiet, daily courage for 34 years. Now a grandson, who is always in my mind, blowing me over like no one has ever done before. 
   
   Lalitha 24/6/1990. She said yes to me, travelled 1000 miles to see me for that.

“Tomorrow I turn 62. I have awards, passports full of stamps, a consulting practice, and a body that still (mostly) works. None of it is truly mine. It belongs to these 101 people who, in ways big and small, refused to let me stay small. This list is my way of finally saying: I saw you, I remember you, and I am because you were. Thank you for lending me your shoulders so I could see a little further.”

Happy 62nd birthday to myself. May the next lap be lighter because I now carry all this gratitude instead of carrying it alone.

Karthik

29/11/2025 10am. Foster City CA.

27/11/25 Cupertino, CA. With Samarth.

Zelensky's Curse: From Hero to Harbinger of Ukraine's Downfall...

 #708

Personal Update:- Lalitha and I, landed in San Francisco 26/11- Qatar Airways was a non glorious flights, not living to the Hype of #1 Airline as was Hamad Airport, Doha. Yes, Starlink Internet service at 35,000 feet was great but internet is a nice thing to have and not an essential aspect of travel. 

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Long Post:- 

In the dim corridors of Kyiv's presidential palace, Volodymyr Zelensky once stood as a beacon of defiance—a former comedian thrust into the role of wartime savior, evoking Winston Churchill's unyielding spirit against tyranny. It was February 2022, and the world, myself included, hailed him as the indomitable leader who would rally Ukraine against the Russian bear. His quips, his videos from bunkers, his pleas for aid—they captured hearts and headlines alike. But as the calendar flips to November 2025, that illusion shatters like fragile glass under the weight of scandal, stalemate, and squandered billions. Zelensky's curse, it seems, is not just his own unraveling but the contagion that felled those who touched him: allies discarded by voters, envoys sidelined by suspicion, and a war that devours lives while enriching a corrupt elite.

Consider the ghosts of Zelensky's inner circle and their swift exoduses. Boris Johnson, the bombastic British PM who visited Kyiv twice in 2022, pledging unflinching support and becoming a folk hero with his tousled hair and Cossack moniker "Boris Chuprina," resigned amid scandal in July that year. His ouster, tied loosely to Ukraine's plight through domestic backlash over aid costs, marked the first crack. Olaf Scholz, Germany's cautious chancellor, who navigated Berlin's Zeitenwende toward arming Ukraine, faces mounting criticism in 2025 for blocking a €3 billion aid package amid fiscal woes and electioneering ahead of February's vote. His coalition's collapse looms, with Friedrich Merz's CDU poised to seize power on a platform decrying Scholz's "indecisiveness" on Kyiv. And now, Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, appointed post-reelection in 2024 to broker peace, departs in January 2026—sidelined for being "too sympathetic" to Kyiv, his role eclipsed by hardliners like Steve Witkoff. These aren't coincidences; they're symptoms of a toxic orbit where Zelensky's orbit burns bright but brief, leaving leaders charred by association.

The war itself, grinding into its fourth year by late 2025, defies the heroic narratives spun in its infancy. What began as a blitz has devolved into a meat grinder: Russian forces claw marginal gains in Donetsk, like the recent push near Hulyaipole, while Ukrainian incursions in Kursk stall against 50,000 redeployed troops. Casualties mount to grotesque heights—over 950,000 Russian losses, including 250,000 dead, per CSIS estimates, and Ukrainian fatalities nearing 80,000 confirmed with 81,000 missing, per UALosses. Civilian tolls surge 27% in 2025 alone, exceeding 12,000 verified by the UN. For what? A purpose increasingly elusive as corruption festers like an open wound.

The rot runs deep, siphoning the very aid meant to sustain Ukraine's fight. Experts like former CIA analyst Larry Johnson, in his unvarnished assessments, peg the pilfered sum at $48 billion—funds vanishing into Zelensky's circle and European enablers, with trails snaking through Estonian banks to figures like Kaja Kallas. The Pentagon probes, but the scandal erupts publicly in November 2025: Operation Midas unmasks a $100 million embezzlement from state nuclear giant Energoatom, implicating Zelensky's business partner Tymur Mindich—who fled to Poland hours before a raid—and ministers like Svitlana Hrynchuk and Herman Halushchenko. Wiretaps reveal code-named crooks ("Sugarman," "Che Guevara") laundering kickbacks, some funneled to Moscow via pro-Kremlin fixer Andriy Derkach. Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak—the shadowy "man for all seasons"—resigns November 28 after NABU storms his home, his ouster a desperate bid to quarantine the stench. Allies like Oleksiy Chernyshov, a Zelensky confidant, pocket $1.3 million in bribes before pretrial detention. This isn't mere graft; it's treasonous plunder amid blackouts and drone swarms, eroding morale and Western trust. As one Kyiv analyst quips, "They're marauding the state while soldiers freeze in trenches." Zelensky, once anti-corruption crusader, now stares down a presidency stained by his own web—rumors swirl of his Florida exile, bags packed with ill-gotten gains.

What purpose justifies this carnage? Vladimir Putin, derided as the aggressor, increasingly appears prescient in his "denazification" rhetoric—a cynical pretext masking Russia's quest for a NATO-proof buffer. Yet, as 2025 unfolds, his narrative gains traction: Ukraine's far-right fringes, amplified in early coverage, underscore Moscow's security paranoia, even if exaggerated. With Trump now twisting the knife—his leaked 28-point plan demands Kyiv cede annexed regions, cap its army, and forsake NATO—the war's end feels like Russia's vindication. Putin, in Bishkek, dangles the plan as a "basis" but insists on withdrawals, buffer zones, and recognition of gains. Zelensky bristles, but his leverage crumbles.

Europe, meanwhile, clings to delusion at dire cost. Economies spiral: Germany's industry contracts amid energy hikes, the EU's rearmament devours budgets, and inflation bites as Russian gas lingers in pipelines despite sanctions. Leaders like Keir Starmer vow "boots on the ground" for reassurance forces, Macron muses on "second-line" troops, and Meloni floats NATO Article 5 lite—yet all balk at front-line risks. Anti-Russian fervor, a post-Crimea cocktail of fear and moral outrage, blinds them to the math: €167 billion in aid since 2022, yet Moscow's war machine churns, fueled by €133 billion in pre-war EU energy buys. Why the hate? Echoes of Soviet shadows, NATO's eastward creep—fears Putin exploits masterfully.

Worse, Western media—Wall Street Journal, Economist—peddled "success" myths: Ukrainian counteroffensives as triumphs, Russian retreats as routs, ignoring the quagmire. Biases abound: racist undertones in early coverage ("Europeans with blue eyes" fleeing horror unfit for "civilized" lands), whataboutism glossing Kyiv's flaws. Trust erodes; as one critic notes, it's "propaganda lapped up, now exposed as stenography." For truth, turn to independents: The Duran's Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou dissect drone swarms and diplomatic feints with forensic calm, unswayed by Atlanticist spin. Judge Andrew Napolitano's Judging Freedom eviscerates U.S. complicity—Trump's "peace" as capitulation, Biden's billions as blood money—championing liberty over empire. These voices, across the spectrum, arm us to conclude: the emperor wears no clothes.

Will leaders heed this requiem? Starmer, Macron, Meloni rage at Trump's "naive" pivot—his plan a "sucker's bet" after early briefings painted Kyiv ascendant. Yet wisdom whispers: end it. Trump's fickle tie-swaps aside, his resolve could force a halt—buffers secured, aid audited, corruption cauterized. For 1.5 million souls lost, for economies teetering, for a continent's sanity: let cooler heads prevail. Zelensky's curse need not curse us all. Hope flickers in negotiation's dim light—may it ignite peace before the pyre consumes more.

Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan: A High-Stakes Gambit for Ceasefire or Capitulation?

As of November 28, 2025, President Donald Trump's push for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal has dominated headlines, blending diplomatic urgency with controversy. What began as a leaked 28-point draft—widely criticized as favoring Moscow—has evolved into a refined 19-point framework following intense U.S.-Ukraine talks in Geneva on November 23. Trump, who has repeatedly touted his ability to end the war "in 24 hours," has dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for direct talks with Vladimir Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll meets Ukrainian officials. The plan aims to halt nearly four years of conflict that has claimed over a million lives and devastated economies, but it risks alienating Kyiv and fracturing Western unity. Below, we break down the origins, key provisions, reactions, and potential outcomes.

Origins and Evolution

Trump's initiative draws from an October 2025 Russian "non-paper" submitted to his administration, which shaped the initial 28-point proposal leaked by a Ukrainian MP on November 20. Developed with input from son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Witkoff, the draft was presented to Ukraine in Paris the prior week, with a now-flexible Thanksgiving deadline for acceptance. European backlash—labeling it a "capitulation"—prompted revisions, reducing it to 19 points after Geneva discussions. A White House statement hailed the talks as "constructive," emphasizing shared U.S.-Ukraine commitment to ending the bloodshed.

The plan builds on informal Trump-Putin understandings from an August 2025 Alaska meeting, focusing on de-escalation and economic reintegration. A leaked October 14 call transcript between Witkoff and Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov reveals early concessions, like territorial swaps, framed as "standard negotiations." Trump has since called the original "just a map" or "concept," stressing flexibility for a "durable and enforceable peace."

Key Provisions

The updated 19-point plan balances concessions with incentives, prioritizing an immediate ceasefire and withdrawals to agreed lines. Here's a summarized table of core elements, based on public leaks and official summaries:

Category	Provisions	Implications for Ukraine	Implications for Russia
Territorial	- Recognize Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk as Russian. - Freeze Kherson/Zaporizhzhia at current lines. - Withdraw Ukrainian troops from Kyiv-held Donetsk areas; declare demilitarized zone under Russian control. - No further border changes by force.	Cedes ~20% of pre-2022 territory; regains Dnipro River access and Kharkiv (implied).	Locks in gains; buffer zones secured without full occupation.
Military/Security	- Cap Ukrainian forces at 600,000; no nuclear weapons. - Ukraine enshrines non-NATO status in constitution; NATO vows no membership or troop deployments (jets to Poland instead). - U.S./European "reliable security guarantees" (details vague; no U.S. boots). - Russia legislates non-aggression pact vs. Ukraine/Europe.	Limits defense; conditional U.S. guarantees (void if Ukraine attacks Russia or strikes key cities).	No NATO threat; sanctions lifted gradually, G8 reinstatement.
Economic/Reconstruction	- $200B fund: $100B from frozen Russian assets (U.S. takes 50% profits), $100B from Europe. - Restart Zaporizhzhia NPP (IAEA oversight; 50/50 power split). - U.S. restores Ukrainian gas infrastructure; joint U.S.-Russia projects from remaining assets. - Long-term U.S.-Russia economic ties (energy, AI, Arctic mining).	EU membership path open; massive rebuild aid, but U.S. profits dilute funds.	Reintegration into global economy; ends isolation.
Humanitarian/Political	- "All-for-all" prisoner swap (civilians/children included). - Ukrainian elections 100 days post-signing; full war amnesty. - Immediate ceasefire.	Boosts morale; political reset amid corruption scandals.	Humanitarian wins; narrative of "denazification" victory.
Enforcement	- Legally binding; "Peace Council" chaired by Trump monitors compliance. - Violations: Russia faces reinstated sanctions; Ukraine loses guarantees.	High-stakes oversight; risks U.S. abandonment.	Trump as guarantor; leverage via sanctions.

What's Next? Fragile Path to Peace

With Witkoff's Moscow trip underway and Driscoll in Kyiv, Trump eyes a tripartite summit "when the deal is final." Optimism stems from Russia's openness and Ukraine's concessions on non-essentials, but flashpoints like security details and eastern control persist. Russian strikes on Kyiv (killing seven on November 25) underscore the urgency—and fragility.

If successful, it could end Europe's deadliest war since WWII, unlocking reconstruction and U.S.-Russia detente. Failure risks escalation, with Trump withholding arms/intel as leverage. As one analyst notes, rushing a four-year war's end in weeks is "unrealistic," but Trump's "no red lines" approach prioritizes any deal over perfection. The world watches: peace or partition?

Karthik

28/11/25

1500 Hrs PST
Foster City, CA. 

Why India Can Only Be Saved by a Funeral (Or an Electoral Massacre)

 #706

Personal Update: Lalitha and I,are off to San Fransico, this week on a 20 day trip. Radha's baby shower- சீமந்தம் on Sunday, 30th November at San Jose. (My Birthday too). 

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India does not lack talent, money, ambition, or ideas. What India lacks is permission to be excellent—and, more importantly, visible proof that excellence will be rewarded. Every time Businessmen or someone shouts “Work harder! 70-hour weeks! Be like Japan! Be like China!”, the average citizen looks at the pothole outside their home, the flickering tubelight, the bribe-seeking constable, and quietly laughs. This laughter is not laziness, but the response of someone asked to run a marathon with chains on their feet and then blamed for not breaking the world record.

Calls for hard work from billionaires and ministers are not wrong, but they are decades too late. The countries India envies delivered roads, electricity, schools, and rule of law first—then asked for sweat. India tries to extract sweat while still handing out broken oxygen cylinders and calling it “positive thinking”.

The deeper disease is not just infrastructure, but the open, proud, politically profitable contempt for merit. When a Chief Minister humiliates officers for using the only language in which India’s laws and higher judiciary function, it is not about defending culture—it is about defending the right to remain mediocre without shame. “Colonial mindset” becomes code for anything precise, data-driven, or globally benchmarked; excellence is treated as treason.

This anti-excellence reflex is now wrapped in patriotism. Free electricity and bus rides are announced, while universities slip in global rankings and start-ups move their headquarters abroad. Young Indians are not against hard work; they are against unpaid overtime for a system that punishes competence and rewards flattery.

History shows that real change in India has only come from a vacuum at the top—a literal death or a political near-death experience. Examples include:

- 1991: Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination led to P.V. Narasimha Rao’s unexpected rise, enabling rapid reforms.

- 1977: Indira Gandhi’s Emergency hubris produced an electoral tsunami, briefly allowing reforms. Then the cookie crumbled.

- 2014–16: A rank outsider’s victory froze the establishment long enough for GST, IBC, and Aadhaar-DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to be implemented. 2018 back to usual ways. (பழைய குருடி, கதவை திறடி)

Each rupture required a vacuum at the top—when the usual heirs and courtiers are uncertain, a narrow window opens for reform before the old guard regroups.

Globally, socialism wrapped in freebies is winning elections, as the young are exhausted by a capitalism that lets a few own half the planet while their own rents double. They vote for politicians promising to punish the successful, (Hard work is critical, Not Harvard) but punishing success never built a single school, hospital, or metro line—it only ensures fewer successful people to punish tomorrow. 

India’s only realistic hope is morbid: either an unforeseen void at the top, or an electoral massacre so brutal that several layers of the old guard are wiped out. Only then can a new leadership bring in “English-speaking, Harvard-type” experts and dismantle the apology-for-mediocrity industry.

Until that funeral or massacre arrives, India will keep getting refined versions of the same sermon: “Run faster!” while the elite tighten the chains and call it motivation. The marathon will begin the day the chains fall off—and in India, the chains only fall off when nobody is left powerful enough to hold them.

Lessons from China: Credibility Over Motivation:- China succeeded where India fails because it never asked for faith—it delivered tangible, visible proof that sacrifice today leads to a better life tomorrow.

Shanghai's Skyline November 2025. Far different to the one I saw last in 2010. (Courtesy -John Novotny). 
China’s transformation:

- 1980–1995: Villages saw mud roads replaced by asphalt, firewood replaced by electricity and colour TV, and wages increased tenfold.

- 1995–2010: Shanghai’s Pudong transformed from cabbage fields to a skyline rivaling Manhattan. Migrants returned home driving Buicks and carrying iPhones for their nieces.

- The government did not say “trust us”; it pointed to new airports, subways, and rising bank balances.

As a result, when Beijing asked for extra effort, people volunteered—because the deal had already delivered decades of kept promises.

That is why Chinese citizens / Colleagues, I met in Shanghai looked puzzled when Indians and Westerners argued in meetings be at Chongqing or New Delhi when they are present.

They were not brainwashed. They were simply playing a game whose rules had been fair for 40 years. We are playing a game that has been rigged against excellence for 75 years.

India’s psychology is the opposite:

- 1950–2022: Every five-year plan promised poverty removal and world-class cities; every decade delivered new slogans and excuses. (NATO---->No Action; Talk Only). 

- The Delhi Metro and a few airports arrived, but outside those corridors, roads remain broken, police stations still humiliate, and municipal taps still give muddy water.

- Generations have heard promises—“Socialist Pattern of Society by 1969, Garibi Hatao by 1980, India Shining by 2004, Achhe Din by 2019”—but seen little change.

Chinese citizens are motivated because the rules have been fair for 40 years. Indians are cynical because the game has been rigged against excellence for 75 years. Cynicism is not a character flaw, but compound interest on decades of broken promises.

Until an Indian leader can show a slum-dweller a photograph album like the Chinese worker’s—“This was your gutter in 2024, this is your 3-BHK in 2030, this is your daughter in IIT in 2035”—calls for 70-hour weeks will sound like the slave-driver cracking the whip.

China created credibility, not just duty. Credibility is the only currency that can buy genuine, voluntary, manic national effort. India keeps printing motivational speeches instead of results. That is why, in India, words are cheap and action is surreal.

The shock and awe will not come from another package or speech. It will only come when a sudden vacuum—biological or electoral—lets a desperate, unscripted leader do a 1991 again: dismantle the apology-for-mediocrity industry, bring in the hated experts, and deliver visible, undeniable results in 24 months.

Until that funeral or electoral massacre arrives, the chains will keep tightening and be called motivation. The marathon begins the day the chains fall off—and in India, the chains only fall off when nobody is left powerful enough to hold them.

Do I see it in my life time? I don't think so? Sad reality. "Pessimistic; but as Walter Cronkite would end his program " And tha's the way it is" 

Karthik

930am. 24/11/2025. Beefy is 70 today. Boy what an Entertainer. Saw him in Flesh and Blood, Madras 1982.