2394: Culture, traditions...

I am a social person who grew up in an era without social media. In those tender days, the stories I heard about foreign lands used to unsettle me. I was so apprehensive about life outside my own world that I once even refused to marry someone who wished to settle abroad. I was simply scared of a world I didn't understand.

Fast forward to today: I am that same person, but now with the gift of time and the guidance of my beloved daughter. Understanding me better than I understand myself, she introduced me to the world of cinema, specifically "Christmas movies." She did her homework for me, sitting by my side to show me where to find them and explaining why I would love certain actors and stories. How lucky I am to have her.

This journey started during my notice period, as I stepped down from full-time work and stepped up to my part-time, "Weekend Forever" lifestyle. For two and a half years now, I have watched at least one Christmas movie almost every day.

While these films are scripted, I believe they are rooted in real experiences; after all, writers draw inspiration from the life around them. Through hundreds of movies, I have seen a world showcasing high culture, deep-seated traditions, family values, and immense respect.

Watching these stories from snow-covered lands, I realized something profound: foreign lands are full of culture too. The people are easygoing, joyous, and deeply connected to their heritage, culture, traditions, local delicacies etc to name a few . This realization isn't just from movies; it aligns with my own experiences of staying abroad for a few years.

I realize now that I was unnecessarily scared of crossing those "aisles" years ago. But as they say, it is never too late to know the truth. Thanks to the free time I now enjoy and these movies that feel as if they were carved just for me, my world has become much wider.

A tale / a truth.

#Culture #Traditions #FamilyValues #ChristmasMovies #PersonalGrowth #MotherDaughterBond #GlobalCitizenship #LifeReflections #OxfordOfTheEast

2393: Come on Come All 2.0

Being a foodie myself, I have always loved experimenting with wholesome ingredients like broken wheat to create tangy and sweet "one-dish meals." Whether it is a halwa or a kheer loaded with dry fruits and jaggery, I value dishes that are healthy, quick, and foolproof.

Recently, with more free time in hand, I started exploring videos on the preparation of Basundi. I noticed a recurring theme: almost every creator followed complicated, time-consuming methods just to achieve that signature brownish color.

As an academician, I saw a challenge. I decided to start my own "brownish-color challenge" to find a simpler, healthier way.

Phase 1: The Date Paste Experiment I used a bit of flavorless custard powder for thickness. Soaked fresh dates in milk, after blending them into a paste and adding it to the thickened milk, I achieved the perfect color and sweetness with zero added sugar. A unique twist on a classic!

Phase 2: The Jaggery Shift In the next phase, I replaced the date paste with jaggery, adding it once the thickened milk reached room temperature. Served chilled with saffron and dry fruits, it was a triumph of texture and taste.

Phase 3: The Hybrid & The Final Version I eventually experimented with a combination of dates and jaggery, a wonderful combo indeed. My final refined version involves milk thickened naturally with a powder of cashews and almonds, flavored with cardamom and keshar.

The result? A rich, chilled, home-cooked dessert that bypasses the long, traditional hours over the stove.

Who says innovation is limited to the lab? Sometimes, the most rewarding "R&D" happens right in our kitchens. Come on all, let’s enjoy these truly home-cooked treats!

#FoodInnovation #HealthyEating #HomeCooking #Basundi #CulinaryExperiments #JaggerySweets #PuneFoodies #WeekendForever #Innovation

2392: Happiness Augmentation

Sometimes we receive much more than we expect, and it is truly unimaginable. This is exactly what happened to me recently. In addition to my workshops on research paper writing and blogging, I have been co-teaching. Since AI fits across all domains, you will find me almost everywhere these days!

One fine morning, I received an invitation to co-teach a specific subject. Most of the syllabus had already been assigned, and only one topic was left for me. When I heard what it was, I was overwhelmed. I said yes immediately.

The challenge was engaging hundreds of experienced MBA students from diverse undergraduate backgrounds. To keep them glued to their screens, I focused on making the topic applicable to their future careers. I introduced them to futuristic AI tools, poured in real-time use cases from various domains, and demonstrated the practical usefulness of modern technology. The session was a superb success, filled with active participation and insightful queries.

The topic that reached me was none other than Cluster Analysis. What else could I ask for?

I live, dream, and breathe Clustering. It is everywhere: the applications and systems are widespread and ever-growing. It is speechless to think that of all the topics in the syllabus, this was the one left for me. This topic is synonymous with my professional identity. Clustering was not only my PhD topic, but I have also guided five researchers to their doctorates in this field across various domains.

I am deeply grateful for the invitation. It was a beautiful reminder that when you specialize in something you love, the right opportunities have a way of finding you.

#AI #MachineLearning #Clustering #DataScience #MBA #HigherEducation #PhD #AcademicExcellence #TeacherTraining #OxfordOfTheEast

2391: A Unique Celebration of the Day a Mom was Born

What a unique day indeed! While today marks my twins’ birthday, I woke up feeling the profound weight and joy of my own anniversary: the day I was certified as a Mom. It was a day of vibrant activities that I never imagined I’d enjoy so deeply.

My day started with the usual rhythm: cleaning, pooja, and tea. But the mom exhaustion is real, and the sofa called for a quick, much-needed dose of sleep. After a hurried breakfast, I headed to Gentle Physiotherapy. I messaged my doctor that I was running late; she replied with a big smile, knowing my snail-paced speed well by now!

The universe seemed to be celebrating with me. An auto rickshaw was waiting right at the gate just when I needed it. After a wonderful physio session, I set out on a spiritual journey I had been planning for a long time.

First, a stop at the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Temple. To my surprise, the Aarti was in progress, and the idols were decorated so grandly. It felt like a divine acknowledgment of this special day. Next was a second, uniquely carved temple where I walked in exactly as the Shri Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting began. Joining that melody was a mesmerizing, soul-cleansing experience.

The day was sweetened by meeting a wonderful husband and wife pair of home bakers. Their home was a sanctuary: airy, bright, and filled with nature. They welcomed me with hot coffee and the wheat flour jaggery biscuits I’d been craving. Then, another kind soul, a home cook, had my order ready and even packed lunch for me, knowing I’d be too late to cook at home.

On the way back, the Mom in me took over as we picked up the neighbor’s kids walking in the hot sun. Their school tales were the perfect company. To end this glorious day, I’ve been invited to a house-warming party with a home-cooked dinner.

I feel touched and truly blessed. On the day my twins were born, I was born too, and today, the world reminded me how beautiful this "2-in-1" journey is.

#Motherhood #TwinMom #BirthdayReflections #Gratitude #MomLife #Spirituality #Community #SimpleJoys #NewBeginnings

2390: The Art of Manifestation

Until recently, the term "manifestation" was just a word I had heard in passing. It was only after I shifted from a full-time role to my "Weekend Forever" lifestyle that I realized I had been practicing the core of manifestation for decades.

My journey with this practice began in childhood. My father held a high-ranking position, and the nature of his work provided him access to various automobiles and a dedicated team of drivers. It became an unwritten norm: twice a day, I was given a ride in a vehicle of my choice. Once in the morning when the team arrived to pick up my dad, and again in the evening when they dropped him home / our awesome quarter in a huge colony.

Those were the days of lush green surroundings, empty roads, and a deep connection with nature. During those rides, I started "conversing" with the air, the leaves, the birds, and the fragrances around me. Our colony was vast, with endless lanes and playgrounds; if my dad wasn't in a hurry, the drivers would take me on different routes every single day. The thrill of exploring new roads became a part of my DNA.

Life moved forward, higher education, professional roles, moving to different states and countries. Yet, the seed was already sown. Today, I roam the "Oxford of the East" (Pune), delivering lectures wherever I am called. Just like those childhood rides, I now have the liberty of different cabs, different routes, and the excitement of walking into new institutes to meet Principals, Directors, and VCs. It isn't just about a salary anymore; it’s an hourly joy loaded with fun.

I realize now that I manifested my current role as a "Trainer of Trainers" back in 2012. While attending Faculty Development Programs (FDPs), I used to watch the facilitators in awe. I thought, "How amazing must it be to teach the teachers?" It felt like a uniquely different calling. My university lit that fire within me, and I waited patiently for years.

Now, here I am, living that reality. I’ve learned that the core of manifestation is patience and high-intensity intent. Eventually, things fall into place exactly as you once wished. It is truly amazing to see how the "new roads" of my childhood have led to the rewarding paths of my career today.

#Manifestation #ProfessionalJourney #LifeReflections #Academician #Gratitude #TeacherTraining #PuneDiaries #CareerShift #WeekendForever

2389: The "Frido" Phenomenon – A Masterclass in Modern Entrepreneurship

I accidentally bumped into a video today that has left me completely "blue" with wonder and honestly, I am running out of words to describe it. I just witnessed the story of Frido, and "OMG" is the only way to start.

We are talking about a business scaling into hundreds of crores, with hundreds of employees working with such satisfaction that the attrition rate is near zero. They are launching extremely useful products and have already expanded into 19 countries.

As an academician for nearly 30 years, I have to ask: What is the formula?

The founder is an NIT graduate, but is any curriculum sharp enough to produce an entrepreneur of this caliber at such a young age? If the syllabus is responsible for this level of wholesomeness, then hats off to the institution. But if it isn't just the syllabus, then the formula must be a unique blend of hard work + consistency + reading books + mentorship + a dash of luck. Coming from a non-business background makes these achievements even more astonishing. Seeing the founder give a tour of his Pune workplace was a revelation. He looks so young, younger even than his staff, where the average age is just 25!

How does one person at such a tender age master the sharp details of so many domains?

• International expansion & R&D

• Salaries, Taxes, and Funding

• Online Marketing and Global Sales

• Employee Retention and Customer Support

• Branding with famous personalities

• His own fitness

The list is endless. To see such sharp execution in everything from innovation to logistics is more than impressive; it is a "Wow" moment for anyone who values growth and dedication.

It just goes to show that when passion meets a structured mind, the results are truly out of this world.

#Frido #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #NITGrad #PuneStartups #BusinessGrowth #Inspiration #SuccessFormula #Leadership 

www.myfrido.com a must visit place indeed

2387: Date Magic

According to my "four eyes," I have received the highest honor on earth: becoming a proud mother of twins.

There is a certain magic in the number 21. It was on this date that my two decided to open their eyes to the world. They are "two but one" shared inception, shared womb, and now, a shared life journey.

I still remember the day I went to admit them to their first school many years ago. I was met with curious questions like, "Did the doctor charge double for the delivery?" (The answer was no!). But I also remember the kindness of neighbors and school owners who recognized the unique "2-in-1" nature of twins, offering concessions on deposits because they saw the blessing in these two souls.

1 pregnancy. 1 delivery. 2 incredible lives.

They share everything: birthdays, toys, a room, cycles, friends, and most importantly, me. Being called "Mom" is a title I only hold because of them, and it is a role that overwhelms me with gratitude every single day.

My daughter once told me something profound: "You should celebrate too, Mom. Buy gifts for yourself, because it’s your birthday also!" She’s right. Every year on the 21st, it is a "Happy Birthday" to me as much as it is to them. It is a rare joy to celebrate my own rebirth as a mother multiple times a year.

They are my universe. Even as an academician with nearly three decades of experience handling thousands of students, I look at them and see two truly unique, blessed personalities. They are different in so many ways, yet perfectly synchronized.

Happy Birthday to my two-in-one world!

#TwinMom #DateMagic #MotherhoodJourney #LifeReflections #AcademicianLife #DoubleBlessing #GratefulHeart #Twins