Time flies so fast!

“Time flies so fast!” - A phrase used to stimulate the feeling that one remained busy, engaged in fun activities, or witnessing fascinating changes in life; so much so that a few moments seemed like they were frozen in time...?

How true!?

Today marks one year of my retirement from my last salaried job in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

And what a year it has been!?

The year passed by witnessing two big things happening in my life – things that are best accomplished by not defining a goal, rather by savoring every step in the journey, giving your best shot and accepting the results as they manifest.?

One –?“The Scrappers Way: Making It Big in an Unequal World” saw the light of the day in January. Published by HarperCollins India, the book is doing well on Amazon @?https://amzn.eu/d/f90XdWS. From ~150 reviews so far, it continues to retain a ~5* rating. It has found its place consistently in the bestseller aisles at most major airports in India, and at major bookstores in the country, especially, the Crossword. All, primarily,?thanks to YOU?- my network of friends on?LinkedIn. ?

Two – The philanthropic endeavor at a 3+ acre site near my village in the state of Odisha has seen the planting of ~200 trees and excavation of a pond this past summer. ~300 more in the plan. Compound wall is nearing completion. Initial steps are hard; these activities are major milestones in the journey towards building a plastic and tobacco free campus, dedicated to unconventional learning and professional skills development helping employability of rural youth. This campus will have less concrete, more trees. Pupils will learn under the shades of the trees. ?

While promoting my book I have often appealed, “royalty received from HarperCollins publishing house towards the book sale will be utilized for the ongoing philanthropic endeavor in the state of Odisha”. The royalty will probably be the tip of the iceberg of the total funding for the undertaking, nevertheless, would be the most fulfilling part.?It is my desire to fund the saplings and their first few years of maintenance from the aforesaid royalty, so that everyone who buys a copy of the book would have his contribution flowing in the saps of the growing trees.?

Do keep an eye on this space for periodic updates on this undertaking...?