Hmmm...

For the last year or so, Aryan has been driving me around most of the time in his car. Today, he suddenly asked me to come with him on his bike, a Svartpilen 401. I sat behind him. As we moved through the traffic, I occasionally held him when he braked. Nothing unusual about that, except that it suddenly took me back many years. There was a time when Aryan used to sit behind me or stand in front of me. His little hands would go around my waist and hold me tightly whenever I slowed down. Sometimes he would fall asleep, completely trusting that I would get him home safely. I don't remember how many rides we had together, but I remember that feeling. Today, I was sitting behind him. And he was the one taking me home. It is strange how children grow up. There is no announcement. No particular day when you suddenly realise that the little boy you carried has become a man. It happens in small moments. You notice it when he starts driving instead of you. When he starts giving you directio...

 Dear Brother PM, For the last few days, one thing has been bothering me. Why did these young girls come forward and apologise? Why did some of their mothers also come forward to apologise? I understand that using abusive or insulting language against anyone is wrong. It does not matter whether the person is the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister, a police officer, a celebrity, or an ordinary citizen. We should all be responsible for the words we use. But I am still trying to understand what changed in just a few days. Did they suddenly sit under a Bodhi tree and attain enlightenment? Did they suddenly realise that their words were wrong? Or did something else happen? Did the enormous amount of trolling and abuse they faced online make them afraid? Did their families become worried? Did they receive calls? Did the possibility of legal action frighten them? I don't know. Maybe their apology was completely genuine. If it was, then I sincerely hope we have ...

 Let me start with something that may sound strange coming from me. I live in Wayanad. I am building businesses here. I am involved in hospitality. I am working on holiday homes and nature based living. And still, if someone calls me and says, "Anup, I am thinking of buying a piece of land in Wayanad and building a homestay. What do you think?"   My first answer today is not, "Yes, go ahead." My first answer is, "Wait." Spend some time here. Understand Wayanad. Then decide. Because I have slowly realised that many people are not really investing in Wayanad. They are investing in a picture they have created in their minds about Wayanad. They see a beautiful piece of land. A mountain view. A stream running beside it. A lake somewhere nearby. Trees everywhere. Maybe the forest is just a few hundred metres away. The broker says, "Sir, this area is going to develop." The price still looks reasonable....