Rained Out!

The deluge caused by torrential rains, in Mumbai last evening, brought out how trying times provide opportunities to bring out latent leadership traits in people. Yesterday was all about 'what happens when opportunity creates shared purpose'!

When people are propelled by a collective sense of purpose - as they were yesterday - there's no telling what can be achieved.

I believe a collective sense of purpose works on the upside when coupled with empathy. It creates a bond so strong that few obstacles, if any at all, can withstand the force.

That downpour last evening  ended up eroding years of societal and religious divides in a matter of minutes as people came together from all walks of life to ensure that this 'maximum city' functioned as it should - efficiently! And all because they believed in the identity of 'The Mumbaikar'. It gave them a sense of purpose, a comforting hope. Who you were didn't matter as much as what you did, to address the crisis. And being recognised for what you did wasn't as important as was making a difference in how you did it. That's Leadership at its core. Period. And Mumbai, my lovely, just see how you showed it to all who cared to see! ☺️

So many nameless faces,
...as many helping hands,
recognition that barely mattered
And none of it was planned!

Madras rasa 🎶

Happy Madras Day people! 

If you are from Madras or have spent any period of quality time in this singara city, you would have definitely felt a strong love for it (I have and, I love it!). That is because Madras is more than just a city. It has a distinct personality. A unique persona that is almost impossible to replicate! 

It's where: 

# music sings in taalam to the raagam of math, 

# where the 'traditional' weaves seamlessly into the silky folds of the 'modern', 

# where, the inseparable combination of vadamanga pickle and thayair-sadham tease and tingle the tongue as they satiate hunger in delight like no other culinary feat can

# where coffee is as intoxicating as the 'tanni', 

# where paying obeisance at the 'kovil' is as revered as it is with paying it at the temple of knowledge

Madras - a decoction like no other, where time brews at its own lingering pace to the pressure of frothy change!

Pic location: Kapaleshwar kovil, Mylapore, Madras.