Is travel about covering the entire itinerary?

Or is it about the best selfies on Instagram?

Or the most pretty feeds at the end of trip

With #throwback hashtags

Or is it about soaking in the moment

Soaking in the view

Soaking in the breeze

Let the atmosphere seep in to the bones

Let the desert sand stick to your jeans

De hyphenate, travel from social media theatre

Travel is ultimately about

The journey

The roads

To the destination and back

Rather the translation of the senses

Look outward

To veer inward

Travel is a synonym

For journey

For life

For learning

And the occasional vanity picture

Ofcourse, as travel is a human endeavour

After all

There is an impression that Indian entrepreneurship has taken a hit with Nirav, Vijay and Rotomac episodes is unfortunate. There are people who spend their lives building legitimate businesses and the negative perception does a disservice to the business community. I feel for the lost jobs to be honest more than the lost money to the banking system, where NPA’s are a reality.

It is easy to critique the non availability of good work in the system, where reservations and lack of public sector jobs are major concerns/drivers. In this precarious environment, business is the avenue for jobs. The amount of risk an entrepreneur takes is mind boggling. The money that the entrepreneurs make is after walking on a bed of thorns, and lost sleep. There is no rent seeking in this matter. Businesses lose face value of their stock over a tweet now a days.

The hype and the hysteria of the Lynch mob mindset should be tempered. Who will create the jobs in this gig and AI economy? Not at AK Gopalan Bhavan certainly. Cyber Hub is more the correct geography.

Demographic Deluge rather than Dividend is not too far away.

Not everything has a template in life. A template is a crunch. It might be a supportive friend, a boss who knows that one is not blazing the trail, a reporting deliverable which is rehashed. Create a fresh report. Identify dead weight and reboot. Life does not offer many opportunities. Reflection in this distraction friendly social internet paradigm is rare. The world of AI is brutal and it will only recognise what has been not created apriori.

What are the default settings we are operating on?

Ekushe. We will not forget the day when Language consciousness became national consciousness. Dignity stolen will be dignity redeemed.

Entrepreneurship is a perennial buzz word bordering on rhetorical fatigue , in the traditional discourse on employment generation and business literature. There are plenty of entrepreneurship forums and platforms such as TiE on a global basis. A select few focus on women and their stories regarding their journeys in the big bad world of business. Women in Business have metaphorical glass ceilings, which has recently been amplified with the recent debates on the news ticker and twitter feeds such as diversity.

Entrepreneurship Seminars and Conferences are non conventional sites of knowledge production, as stories are shared and lessons are learnt, beyond the textbook. Entrepreneurship is a contact sport, and insights catalyse the Imagination for creating value. Oman is a country on the cusp of transforming beyond a hydrocarbon present and entrepreneurship is the natural engine for economic growth. Women in Oman lead the way in many a realm, and business is no stranger to their brilliance and strategic expertise.

Knowledge Oman, a pioneering social initiative curating relevant context and content regarding entrepreneurship in the country, founded by youth visionary Mr. Tariq Al Barwani. The last instalment of the entrepreneurship seminar series, had a stellar A Player cast with an auditorium packed to the brim. The evening of learning began by an articulate talk by Madam Sharifa, the founder of a USD 15 million micro fund – The Wadi Accelerator. She hit the nail on the head when she quipped that ‘Self Development is as important as Business Development’. She goes back to learning something new every two years, and doubles down on grit as a quality for an entrepreneur. She finds being a women entrepreneur no different than being a male entrepreneur and foregrounded her talk by thanking the men in the audience for being there for a women entrepreneur seminar!

Madam Sharifa warned the entrepreneurship community to be careful of limelight and to concentrate on the bottom line rather than be egotistical. Be humble, was the straight forward takeaway. A great, great talk, full of good leads. Memorable Stuff to recall on a bad day.

Next up the curve was a terrific panel discussion constituted by six panelist’s, sharing commonalities in their entrepreneurial journeys marked by joy, disappointments and the range of emotions spanning the spectrum. The panel had a jeweller, a handicrafts pioneer, a hospitality entrepreneur, a bakery owner, a social Internet enabler, and a famous fashion designer popular in the GCC. An eclectic all women panel (obviously) is a rare event, and was certainly the piece de resistance of the evening. A lot of stories of accidental starts and failures were common themes mapped from their stories. The ‘light bulb’ moment was fascinating to understand as entrepreneurs are movers, and they move the ecosystem forward. These amazing women were candid and honest. The Fashion Abaya entrepreneur on the panel, started her business by saving her wedding expenses. Some amazing insights were shared.

The best business expertise is learnt by doing, and academics do definitely fall short, way short. But, through this article, i hope to record these narratives of Omani women entrepreneurs which need to be read and this will I hope, Add to the entrepreneurial conversations in Oman and the wider region, as writing is an act of theorisation and memory.

The most impressive bits of Seminar time are what might be labelled as fillers, inconsequential gaps in space time eagerly waited for it to get over with and move on to the real deal. However, these networking gaps over some Gloria Jeans Coffee and savouries, are nodes for collaboration and a quick exchange of business cards and ideas. These exchanges are starting points for opportunities to open up and bloom.

Knowledge Oman does an amazing job in creating these interconnections by forging practitioner and volunteer communities of ideas and learning and this evening and the entire entrepreneurship series was a seminal moment in the contemporary landscape of learning in Oman.

He is from Chembur, Mumbai where my Mother grew up. He works for a group which has common ancestral roots with his family. We discussed the Gujarati trade diasporic roots in Oman, including their initiative to maintain Temple assets here. He knows Vashi well, in the satellite city of Navi Mumbai in the greater Mumbai region, where my family has a nest. We spoke about the expansion of Navi Mumbai as well. He is here for a decade, and works at a Pizzeria. I would not be surprised if he does not eat most of the fare he helps to create.

#migranttales

#latergram

#humansofmuscat

Radical value needs the breakthrough idea, which is beyond business as usual, as per definition. The idea comes when, focus and context, merge at an inflection point. Reflection, very much a core methodological tenet in sociology has practical import. Only, when we know several data points from across disciplines, then the awareness dawns upon us that we have to go beyond the normative. Anyone can do the needed check list bullets. The information era, makes mediocre normal, and excellence very hard.

The definition of an A Player has evolved. It’s beyond delivering the goods. Neoliberalism, stretches the top five percent top performer bracket, every two years. Organisations in the gig era, will need more than the mediocre. I know this will sound audacious, but now a days, A Players will need to create the Blue Ocean space. Create value there is none. College does not teach you this. Actually, College is John Snow, it knows nothing about the real world.

In the information era, all data is online. The key is know what to know and have the cognitive tools to process it, in real time. The limitations of the post text era, the title of a very recent NYT article, will make for the cognitive dexterity in numbers and narratives, intersecting at various hierarchies very difficult. One remedial measure, is to learn ‘close reading’. The ability to read between the lines is slowly getting lost. If we do not read, how would we know?

Reskilling is resilience, and economies all over are dispensing Education fit for 1950. The smart phone knows more than you, then how will you remain relevant in the market, ready with millions of graduates in South Asia ready to do remote work?

Heard some folks complain and saw a meme on Facebook as well (the pettiness of diaspora politics) about migrant construction workers getting half day leave as was petitioned by the Indian Embassy here requesting leave as Modi was in town. Outside the country, we are all Indian citizens and Modi is our Prime Minister, irrespective of our politics within the country. I sat with migrant construction workers yesterday, and saw the event celebrating the Indian community in Oman. The migrant workers were thoroughly enjoying the freedom with snacks and entertainment, having a rare off weekday time away from work away from constrained lives in labor camps.

Migrant workers send back millions in remittances back home, lifting families out of poverty. They are not OCI’s and Indian Citizens with privileged Overseas Permanant Resident status, sipping Chardonnay on a Sunday. They build countries and families, so spare them your condescending politics. They were the most enthusiastic shouting their lungs out to Vande Mataram and clapping the hardest to their states cultural representation. They will head home after a few years to their towns and villages. Gulf migrants matter.

Prime Minister Modi has spoken to diaspora audiences from Madison Square Garden in NYC to the Singapore Expo, which I missed then. Fortunately, I was here today, to witness and document the address to the Indian Diaspora here in Muscat, all of whom are Indian Passport holders, including blue collar construction labor who were brought over in buses to Muscat as major construction companies were backing the event. The diaspora event was organised by the Embassy of India at Muscat and the Indian Social Club. The event was a half day affair with the cultural program starting at 3pm in the afternoon which lasted till 7pm. Modi ji took the podium after landing up from Dubai where he spoke at the World Government Summit. There were about 20, 000 people in the stadium by evening who were handed out Water, Fruit Juice and Snack packets. We Indians like a free takeaway.

The Indian Diaspora is a reflection of the polity back home. The Indian Social Club is a meta organisation of various regional clubs. Prior to the cultural program, the Ministry of External Affairs videos, which ran on the projectors, where high on the usual tropes of Yoga, Food and Bollywood. The cultural program started with a dance performance by the Sanskrit Club, a classical language which is not a spoken language indicative of India’s current bias in cultural programming. The programs doubled down on Bollywood and film music in dance and singing, catering to a mixed audience. The Punjabi and the Kannada performances received the most applause. I was not aware that there are Sindhi, Uttaranchal and Telangana wings of the Indian Social Club. Sindh, is reflected in the Indian national anthem, but is geographically a part of post colonial Pakistan. The Gujarati and Bengali performance were professional and were locked in to the traditional.

Oman, has a historic association with Gujarati diaspora with a major trading presence in Mutrah, Ruwi and Darsait. However, the close trading and people to people contact was not represented in official GCC level diplomatic relations. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were always rendered precedence. Oman was not given its due in South Block. Modiji’s Muscat visit changes the narrative, as India’s maritime neighbour in the Arabian Sea.

As Modiji pointed out in his address, a Refinery in Madhya Pradesh is running with Oman’s assistance. There is plenty of joint ventures too, including my undergraduate institution. Modiji’s Address started at 7pm after the customary national anthems. He started off on a good note recapping the historic nature of the Oman India relationship. He pointed out that 8 lakh Indians in Oman are ambassadors and partners. He humorously noted that Indians are like sugar in milk, we mix well effortlessly and add to the sweetness. But he also made an effort to add that the diplomatic establishment works behind the scenes to make sure all aspects are smoothened to make Oman, as favourable home for Indians. He also wished well on behalf on billion plus Indians for the long life of His Majesty.

Then, Modiji restarted on the same template as his campaigns in India during elections. The slogans of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ and ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’dominated the one hour Address, with black money crackdown. He is a charming orator, with the apt interjection with humour, this time about Modi Care, and all pro poor policies. It sounded like a sales pitch of his government rather than any specific measures for the diaspora, although he assured that no migrant in need will be left behind overseas with ‘e migrant’ and Madad portal.

A proactive foreign policy with the Modi-Sushma ji team, has been a feature of NDA2. The speech was full of energy and paisa vasool with loads of punch lines such as ‘Ek hawai chappal pehene wala bhi hawai jahaz main jaa sakta hain’.

Finally, Modiji ended the evening with a golf cart tour around the stadium waving at his fans.

This was indeed the signature move. A very intelligent man, with keen engagement skills.

Prime Minister Modi has spoken to diaspora audiences from Madison Square Garden in NYC to the Singapore Expo, which I missed then. Fortunately, I was here today, to witness and document the address to the Indian Diaspora here in Muscat, all of whom are Indian Passport holders, including blue collar construction labor who were brought over in buses to Muscat as major construction companies were backing the event. The diaspora event was organised by the Embassy of India at Muscat and the Indian Social Club. The event was a half day affair with the cultural program starting at 3pm in the afternoon which lasted till 7pm. Modi ji took the podium after landing up from Dubai where he spoke at the World Government Summit. There were about 20, 000 people in the stadium by evening who were handed out Water, Fruit Juice and Snack packets. We Indians like a free takeaway.

The Indian Diaspora is a reflection of the polity back home. The Indian Social Club is a meta organisation of various regional clubs. Prior to the cultural program, the Ministry of External Affairs videos, which ran on the projectors, where high on the usual tropes of Yoga, Food and Bollywood. The cultural program started with a dance performance by the Sanskrit Club, a classical language which is not a spoken language indicative of India’s current bias in cultural programming. The programs doubled down on Bollywood and film music in dance and singing, catering to a mixed audience. The Punjabi and the Kannada performances received the most applause. I was not aware that there are Sindhi, Uttaranchal and Telangana wings of the Indian Social Club. Sindh, is reflected in the Indian national anthem, but is geographically a part of post colonial Pakistan. The Gujarati and Bengali performance were professional and were locked in to the traditional.

The whole stadium rose up to its feet to ‘Saare Jahaan Se Aacha’ and shouts of Jai Hind and Bharat Mata Ki Jai reverberating through the Air. Electric is the mood. Never seen Muscat like this in 25 years.

Oman, has a historic association with Gujarati diaspora with a major trading presence in Mutrah, Ruwi and Darsait. However, the close trading and people to people contact was not represented in official GCC level diplomatic relations. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were always rendered precedence. Oman was not given its due in South Block. Modiji’s Muscat visit changes the narrative, as India’s maritime neighbour in the Arabian Sea.

As Modiji pointed out in his address, a Refinery in Madhya Pradesh is running with Oman’s assistance. There is plenty of joint ventures too, including my undergraduate institution. Modiji’s Address started at 7pm after the customary national anthems. He started off on a good note recapping the historic nature of the Oman India relationship. He pointed out that 8 lakh Indians in Oman are ambassadors and partners. He humorously noted that Indians are like sugar in milk, we mix well effortlessly and add to the sweetness. But he also made an effort to add that the diplomatic establishment works behind the scenes to make sure all aspects are smoothened to make Oman, as favourable home for Indians. He also wished well on behalf on billion plus Indians for the long life of His Majesty.

Then, Modiji restarted on the same template as his campaigns in India during elections. The slogans of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ and ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’dominated the one hour Address, with black money crackdown. He is a charming orator, with the apt interjection with humour, this time about Modi Care, and all pro poor policies. It sounded like a sales pitch of his government rather than any specific measures for the diaspora, although he assured that no migrant in need will be left behind overseas with ‘e migrant’ and Madad portal.

A proactive foreign policy with the Modi-Sushma ji team, has been a feature of NDA2. The speech was full of energy and paisa vasool with loads of punch lines such as ‘Ek hawai chappal pehene wala bhi hawai jahaz main jaa sakta hain’.

Finally, Modiji ended the evening with a golf cart tour around the stadium waving at his fans.

This was indeed the signature move. A very intelligent man, with keen engagement skills.

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