Shriram

10/01/2026

Here are some reflections about how the last 365 days went by.

If you know someone who is going through insecure times today, tell them - don’t worry.

This too shall pass through. And sooner than one thinks.

Here’s wishing you all a happy weekend.

It was a lonely night on 31 Dec. ’24. I was laid off from my previous role 2 months ago and had been wondering what should I do in the coming months.

04/01/2026

Founder of Eternal, Deepinder Goyal, the company which operates quick commerce platforms Blinkit and Zomato said on his linkedin post that the disruptions caused by the threat from a section of gig workers to strike work on the eve of New Year 2026 had little impact on their operations.

Blinkit Zomato Hyperpure by Zomato District

Founder of Eternal Deepinder Goyal, the company which operates quick commerce platforms Blinkit and Zomato said on his linkedin post that the disruptions caused by the threat from a section of gig …

04/01/2026

Marina Make-over? Will the Bureaucrats budge?

The beach has been a go-to place for several generations of the city’s inhabitants.

The five elements which are visible to naked eyes - the Earth, Wind, Water and Sky (and fire from match sticks!) can be simply felt at the beach like no other place on earth.

Several thousands of visitors throng the public place every weekend. During the 2025 Air-Show conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) an estimated 1 million / 10 lakh visitors descended to the beach, nearly choking the city’s travel infrastructure.

Such is the love that people have for this dedicated “luncg space” in the pollution-ridden city.

However, due to political interventions, from a few hundred shops a decade ago, there are now 1,980 shops selling everything from food to fancy items, noted the 2-member Bench of the Hon’ble Madras High Court.

They are right. The beach is a public recreation centre and not a shopping centre replacement.

Will the bureaucrats blink, is anyone’s guess.

PS: The state assembly elections are around the corner!

In a landmark judgement, the Hon’ble Madras High Court has observed that the globally acclaimed Marina Beach in Chennai should not become a shopping mall, based on the finding that the beach houses…

17/01/2025

Kumbh Mela Numbers - 45 Cr?!

So, here are some real numbers. And I have been a part of these “numbers”.

Tirumala Tirupati - the 7th hill attracts on an avg 80,000 - 100,000 people a day. Yes, a day.

That’s why, people wait for 8-10 hours to get a free darshan - these are people who cannot afford Rs. 300 darshan (per head).

And those paying Rs. 300 per ticket get a darshan of the main deity for no more than 30-40 secs.
60, if one is very lucky.

Those entering through VVIP Qs get a darshan of no more than 90-120 secs. At best.

I have been part of both the above.

During Brahmotsavam, which happens during Navarathri, over 2.5 lakh to 4 lakh people are seen atop the hill. Every day.
I was there one such Brahmotsavam and have seen it first hand.

Now, back to Kumbh Mela - this happens over 3 pakshas - each paksha having 15 days. From Pournami (full moon) to Amavasya to Pournami - the last day being Maha Shivarathri.

Assuming there would be 100 lakh people/day at Prayagraj, multiply by 45 days; that is 450,000,000 or 45 Crore.

If a small hill such as Tirumala Tirupati can take 4-5 lakh people a day, am sure a city as big as Prayagraj can take 100 lakh people/day.

As rightly pointed out by many others, it is not 45 cr unique individuals visiting the mela, rather 45 Cr people attending the mela during the period, where some may spend more than a day or two at the town.

The Govt. doesn’t need to fudge data on this and non-believers (of the numbers and the faith) can just shut it up, rather than criticising the world’s largest spiritual congregation.

05/12/2024

There you go!

I had written about this a few days ago!

Rajyasabha Member Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu urges the Union Government during the ongoing Winter Session to stop online delivery of medicines.

She has quoted the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists about the potential threat posed by Quick commerce companies such as Swiggy PharmEasy among others which are planning 10-min delivery of critical medicines through dark stores.

15/01/2023

D’Mart and the Economy

Grocery Retail is among the foremost to decipher the health of an economy at large. Roti, Kapda, Makaan, as the saying in Hindi goes, most Indians spend in this order for their needs and requirements. While Food & Grocery is perhaps more basic, than say good to have clothing and accessories, it is also the volume increase that is an absolute indicator of growth in consumption.

D’Mart results for Q3 FY 22-23 are heartening to see. Awaiting detailed results from Reliance Retail as well as FMCG companies to understand how the country is faring. By the way, Organised Retail is about 10-12% of the estimated USD 800 Bn retail Industry in India. Assuming over 35% of this comes from Food & Grocery, where the share of semi-organised and the scattered, unorganised business exceeds 90%, it is indeed a great sign that India and Indians have bounced back from the adversities of Covid-19.

Lives and livelihoods lost, yes. But we have moved on. The so-called threat of another severe wave early Jan. ‘23 after China opened its international doors & borders also seem to have waned. While most of us are exercising utmost caution, I sincerly believe that consumption patterns will not be significantly different in Q4 FY 22-23. However, most of the discretionary spends could go towards Financial services (and savings) for the salaried as well as tax-paying segments of the population.

DMart sales soar during India’s top festive period

11/01/2023

By Summer of ‘23, PVR+Inox entity would operate 1,600 screens across India.

Seems OTTs have not impacted the Exhibition business. Rather, it’s the content (of films) which is super important.

Rocketry, Kashmir Films, Kantara, RRR among others have been nominated for Oscars this year. And not Lal Singh Chaddha. Content matters, after all.

PVR Limited Inox Leisure Limited Amazon Prime Netflix Disney+ Hotstar

On 27 Mar. ’22, PVR Cinemas and Inox Movies announced that they were merging to form a large conglomerate. By April 2023, the merged entity would be operating around 1,600 screens across India. For the record, there are an estimated 8,000+ movie screens in India currently. Pre-pandemic, this would...

01/12/2022

Madras Margazhi - all details under one hood. Hats off to those who have built this website. Seems they’ve been doing it for a decade. Kudos.

https://www.chennaidecemberseason.com/p/concert-calendar.html

A website dedicated to Madras December Music Season

14/11/2022

15 human beings were killed in a bomb blast in 1991.

For thise celebrating “Tamil Pride” with the release of the convicts;

14 Tamilians were killed on that fateful day. Seven Life convicts (who were originally given Death penalty) were Tamilians (4 of Srilankan origin) and have been released by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

Former ADMK Government had pushed for this verdict and present DMK Government gave a year long parole to one of them.

One North Indian was also killed that day. He happened to be a Former Prime Minister of India, btw.

Before arguing North, South, Tamil, Hindi, etc., take a moment to mourn for the 14 + 1 families who lost their beloved ones.

Hard hitting article by an eyewitness.

Few questions on judicial decisions are of greater import than those concerning the premature release of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. After having performed a dry run through the release of AG...

04/09/2022

Power of Human Mind

Those who have known me even for a few weeks (worked closely / spent time on assignments) and those who have known me for years would know I have more caffeine than heamoglobin in my blood. My first coffee is between 5-6am on most days (when I am at home) and the last one is usually around 5pm - with a generous 6-10 cups (crazy work days, esp.) in between. I never thought I could live without coffee.

When I travel outside of South India, I completely avoid coffee as what I get is mostly not the flavour, thickness and the aroma I am used to, save for the espresso machine coffee from the likes of domestic & international cafes.

Today, it’s been a week since I quit coffee. Completely. What more, I have neither taken a drop of milk or tea as well. Those around me are beyond astonished. My immediate family, friends and even the colleague at office who gets me my cuppa joe is surprised. Absolutely no coffee, tea or milk for a week straight.

I believe this simply demonstrates the power of a human mind. As new born babies, we are neither conditioned nor crave for anything, except mother;s love and her direct food to us. As we grow, our expectations keep increasing and our mind is so conditioned that we believe the world (around us) works only in a particular way.

Through my spiritual quest over the years, I have moved in to a completely different direction, from altering my life goals to the way I think and live. But quitting coffee (and tea!) is another thing altogether.

It all started with the thought that I gave up social drinking 3 years back. Not a shot touched thereafter. I quit smoking 16 years back (tried quitting 50+ times before that…). So, I was wondering what would it take for me to quit coffee altogether.

I had this mindset- a coffee after I wake up, a coffee or tea after breakfast, a coffee after reaching office and so on. I used to say, that if I don’t get a coffee or tea at 4pm, then my rest of the day would be gloomy. Been a week now. I am alive, not a single gloomy day and I have no regrets or a withdrawal syndrome either.

Power of Human mind. We create and build our habits. We break them too.

Do you know of anyone who have broken habits, vices especially or attachment to cravings? Do share!