Anupam Gupta

And finally it's out! My third book! Two years of research, writing, and travels. One story of a Titan of India's industry and of Champaklal Choksey, one of four original founding members. The Rise of Asian Paints: Champaklal Choksey, a Doyen of the Indian Paints industry. On Amazon and across bookstores. amazon.in/Rise-Asian-Pai…

Reckless chaos continues at Senapati Bapat Marg – Meenatai Thackeray Flower Market. For years, repeated complaints — yet zero action. Illegal parking, double-parked tempos for loading/unloading, and dangerous U-turns with handcarts on a high-speed stretch. This stretch has become a death trap. Accidents are now a regular occurrence. How many more lives before authorities act? Shifting this flower market outside city limits is now absolutely necessary. @mybmc @TawdeRitu @DadarPS @mybmcWardGN enforce the law before the next tragedy. @mumbaimatterz @chakachakdadar

@varkhachulani Thank you!

Thank you for not getting carried away 😊 Always grateful 🙏

The story of the proud rose and the king cactus. How we get carried away by appearances and adornments instead of looking deeper. @varkhachulani youtu.be/sREw2UEGfzA?si…

"Feminism at its low." 🚨 Hindu astrologer Ashok Kharat was arrested by Nashik Police in a rape case. In a viral video, MH Women Commission head Rupali Chakankar is seen washing his feet. Even if she had no idea about him, how can a Chairperson of State Women Commission wash the feet of any man while showing reverence, even in the name of religion or rituals? She holds a responsible position. Reportedly, Rupali Chakankar is also a member of a trust where self-styled Godman Kharat serves as president. In another instance, she refers to him as her guru. This is a big blot on women empowerment. She must resign from the post, as no girl will feel inspired by a Chairperson of State Women Commission who washes the feet of a man who was later arrested in a rape case. Such actions send the wrong message to society. The chairperson of a State Women Commission must uphold dignity and set the right example. She should take responsibility and consider stepping down. Just now.

Many small canteens like this one in our office building switched to kerosene pressure stoves in the last 10 days. But kerosene which should retail around Rs 61 per litre is going at Rs 120 per litre in Mumbai. Now, kerosene too is apparently running out either because of hoarding or not enough supply. India's kerosene production fell 80% in last 7 years to < 1 million tonne as homes rightly switched to gas.

Bank, not banker

India's private banker before HDFCB scandal today. @menakadoshi on point:

@BalakrishnanR @menakadoshi And yet PSU Bank Index > Pvt Bank Index 😂

@b50 @menakadoshi This is all routine in psu banks. No one expects fair governance from PSU banks

I personally know off 1000 plus hotels, restaurants and kitchens - that have nearly zero revenue for over 10 days now My kitchens are going to be in a loss of roughly 1 CR this month Sab changa hai, sab changa hai

yes sir, that is the sad reality. But as long as there are knowledgeable and wise people such as yourself, I know that garbage/engagement farming tweets like those will get called out. Perhaps those kids need to change their content consumption pattern instead of assuming WhatsApp is best.

@b50 Haha. But Sir, its tweets like these that go viral and seep into the WA groups and conscious of people. Know kids who are at home since they haven't been able to get a job but too afraid to risk and go on their own too

Why its tough to survive as an Entrepreneur in India. Failure is looked down as being stupid vs its part of the game.

"not in congruence with my personal values and ethics" reads like a rando Twitter account saying "I don't like to stand in line for Benne Dosa".

@SadaaShree Last line 🎯

Bollywood is neither Left nor Right, Liberal nor Conservative. It has no ideology per se, it just goes with whoever calls the shots and whatever is the flavor of the season. It was Nehru in 50s,60s, Indira Gandhi in 70s, Rajiv Gandhi in 80s, Bal Thackeray, Dawood Ibrahim in 90s, UPA during 2004-14 and since 2014 been Modi. Aman ki Asha was the flavor between 2004-14 and now it's Pakistan Hamara Dushman. They even were a fan of Laloo Yadav when he was in power. To have an ideology good or bad, one needs to be well read, and think, not something you associate Plywood with. And that accounts in their movies too. Also if you look at the history of many of these "Nationalist" movie makers, stars, it would be quite interesting, would need a separate thread actually. Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal, Kangna Ranaut currently the 3 Hindu Nationalist champs were all introduced and mentored by Mahesh Bhatt, the Left Libs darling. To movie dekko, enjoy Karo but usse zyada expect mat Karo.

My portfolio today

More than anything else, India's ethics, morals, norms needs a major upgrade. "Paisa leta hai, magar kaam karta hai" "Group company siphoning off cash" "Promoters running companies on the side" "Founders running their own startups" "Contractors offering bribes to Infra companies" "Employees offering bribes for promotions" "Banks offered bribes for loans" *Juiced numbers for valuations" All this was supposedly only in Lala Companies. Turns out, professional companies aren't too different. All this was done by paunchy uncles in safari suits. Turns out VC/PE led startups aren't too different. Or, is this a feature not a bug of a system?

India's 1991 reforms had three poster boys. Banks, IT, Telecom. They created jobs in huge numbers, they brought in private investment, etc. All three landed up with their own set of problems. Telecom: went through regulatory reform, M&A, scams, took a long while and became a mass success only in past decade. IT: the OG middle class success story. Had a few Satyam type scams and a few shady companies. Infy saw drama but overall good sector. Until recently when AI threatens its future. Banks: confident start to the private sector but smaller banks had to M&A early on. Later, major issues at two large private banks. HDFC Bank always stood out as the giant in all of this. FIIs loved it, everything was great, corp gov, leadership, parent merger seemed finally getting settled in. Till last night. It's 40 years since liberalisation and the largest companies in large sectors created from reforms - professionally managed companies with the best of education at the top - have all seen churn, major scandal, questions of leadership, etc. My take? 1. We are early in India's corporate life cycle. 40 years is not much. It's just a start. 2. Corporate scandals are everywhere. India isn't too different, really. Banks, IT, Telecoms in other countries have also seen drama. 3. Be kind towards Lala companies. Family business are the primary mode of entrepreneurship in India. 4. Is this a generational change? The leadership that came in the 1990s is churning out now. Could the next generation be any different? 5. Obviously HDFCB will survive and perhaps emerge stronger. But that's long term.

Sad day. Didn't expect such a major scandal at HDFCB. The truth won't come out so soon but this isn't good. The bank will go on, of course.

Don Tzu: You can’t lose if you don’t have a goal.