There’s something deeply liberating about a long road journey — the kind that lets you set your own pace, veer off the beaten track, and stop wherever a curious turn or a sudden hunger pang beckons. It’s the kind of freedom only the open road offers, and we’ve always been drawn to it. On February […]
Journey to Sadakmaliya Read More »
Tariffs have been making headlines again. The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, imposed a 25% duty on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% duty on goods from China. There were also threats to impose tariffs on other countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit. Since India has a trade
Why Tariffs Hurt Everyone Read More »
The biggest headline from the Union Budget for FY 2025-26 was the reduction in income tax for individuals. The government adjusted tax slabs and rebates, ensuring that individuals earning up to Rs. 12.75 lakh a year would pay no income tax. That translated to a maximum benefit of Rs. 83,200 for such taxpayers, with the
Union Budget: A Closer Look at the Tax Cuts Read More »
Trump’s Tariff Fallacy? Political rhetoric often clouds self-evident truths. A striking example of this came recently during Donald Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum, where he claimed, “China is paying us billions of dollars a year in tariffs.” He has repeatedly suggested that tariffs could bring trillions into the U.S. Treasury from foreign nations.
The Politics of Indirect and Direct Taxes Read More »
On a sunny Sunday, January 19, 2025, we found ourselves in Ahmedabad, reminiscing about our frequent absences from this vibrant city due to our decision to split our lives between two states. Sundays have a special charm and today was no exception as we eagerly anticipated our beloved breakfast of parathas paired with gobhi-alu subji,
A Culinary Journey with Sitaben: Our Michelin Star Chef Read More »
I usually stick to direct flights when traveling, but sometimes a layover can be the smarter choice. Take my recent trip from Ahmedabad to Chennai, for instance. The two direct flight options weren’t ideal: one would have me waking up at 4 a.m., only to arrive hours before hotel check-in and wait in the lobby.
Travails of Air Travel in India Read More »
In the quiet hum of the flight back to Ahmedabad from Delhi that September evening in 2010, a profound sense of accomplishment washed over me. I had successfully secured Dr. Manmohan Singh’s agreement to be the Chief Guest at IIMA’s Golden Jubilee Convocation, scheduled for March 26, 2011. The following day, I wrote to Dr.
Two Leaders, One Stage: A Tale of Vision and Leadership Read More »
My first encounter with Dr. Manmohan Singh occurred in the latter half of 1992 at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). The meeting was arranged by Dr. Ashok Desai, who was then the Chief Consultant for the Finance Ministry. At the time, there was a palpable sense of uncertainty surrounding the future of the
A Gentleman Prime Minister Read More »
As I embarked on my first year as a professor at IIM Ahmedabad, I was tasked with conducting the summer/preparatory program for a select group of about 40 students from the incoming MBA batch. These students were identified as needing additional coaching in communication skills and mathematics before the regular program commenced. My team consisted
Perils of Being a Teacher Read More »
There has been an uproar in the media about India’s GDP since the release of the Press Note (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2079024) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on November 29, 2024. The note informed that the “Real GDP has been estimated to grow at 5.4% in Q2 of FY 2024-25”, implying that India’s real GDP
Whither India’s GDP? Read More »
