The Right Kind Of Giving

One of my ex-colleagues, whom I happened to bump into during my morning brisk walks in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, seemed to be doing his bit of ‘giving back to society’ each Sunday morning.  I would spot him carrying a large bagful of ‘jeera-butter’ – a bakery product he brought along to distribute to all those residing in the slums inside SGNP, every weekend.  He even urged me to come along with him to help him distribute it on one occasion, which I gladly did on a couple of occasions.  I observed that he was really enjoying all that he was doing – if children came rushing, he would tell them to queue up. He would tell an old, infirm lady not to bother getting up and coming over and go over and hand over some to where she was seated.  When I told him I appreciated is kindness, he said in fact, he was doing nothing at all and really wanted to do much more!

Then one Sunday morning, he was walking down the long road to Kanheri caves empty-handed and he seemed forlorn, drifting without a purpose.  When I inquired what had happened, he told me that the security guards had seized the packet and warned him not to bring any such foodstuff inside the Park! I gathered later, that the Forest Officer in charge was of the opinion that several kind-hearted visitors to the park were actually “spoiling” the slum-dwellers by offering freebies.  Another regular morning walker justified his stand citing that such practices make them lazy and deter them from striving to improve their living standard through hard work in life!  He mentioned that he always preferred offering to foot their education expenses to his relatives back home in the village, but never offered free money for day-to-day expenses. 

On other occasions, I have been the recipient of advice not to give any money to the begging children at traffic signals.  “They are being planted by gangs – they just handover the money which could be funding nefarious criminal activities – don’t give them any money” is a common line we urban residents hear from our all-knowing friends.   So how exactly can we help these faces of obviously destitute people on the street that we see each day, one wonders? Give them food to eat, says another!  So there we are back to giving food and making them lazy!  What do these kids need? Perhaps what they really need is a rebirth into more fortunate well-to-do families? Or an NGO to spring up and teach street kids and turn around their fortunes?   So we come home and write a cheque to an NGO who does good work for the less privileged and satisfy ourselves that our urge to help them has been met – if not fully, at least partially!

The nation is today at the same cross-roads – I am not alone!  Ever since the Food Security Bill was tabled, experts have been telling us why this Bill will make our people lethargic and how the future of the country could be bleak if an entire population got free food!  So are we saying that our current public distribution systems, mid-day meal programs for the weaker sections, other freebies that States like Tamil Nadu (famously, and other states too), have been making our people choose a life of leisure instead of struggling hard to come up in their individual lives?   I do not subscribe to this view.  There are enough incentives such as better housing, better education for their children, getting well-paid jobs in more organized sector jobs – in short a better lifestyle beckons those who wish to rise in this world.   It is also seen that whereas many millions do hopelessly struggle and fail to make it, several stories of small-time rickshaw drivers have featured in newspapers for their children securing ranks in competitive examinations. 

Basically, if any government scheme meant for the abject poor is implemented properly, it would only help the lower strata of our society to save their meager earnings to educate their children and come up in life.  The newly introduced Food Security Bill is not a game-changer in that respect – we know of State Governments like Chattisgarh and Tamil Nadu already having implemented a fairly substantial food distribution system already.  One need not grudge them their rightful, nor need to worry about “spoiling” these poor people, while relishing our gourmet meal at a multi-star hotel.  As a taxpayer of the country, one would rather have our taxes go for such causes than to fund subsidies that aid fuel-guzzling SUVs that I cannot afford, what say?

The only real problem then is that of insufficient funds with the Government to meet the obligations the nation has taken upon itself – the ‘fiscal deficit’, as they call it.  Now that could be a rather sticky problem to face - for the next government, that is.  One really worries whether the FSB is effectively rolled out across the nation or not?!  But one thing is certain, large-hearted donors running NGOs will continue to feed the people who need it – and hopefully reach out to more and more deserving and needy people of our country for several years to come!

The nation has done its bit of giving away well before the “Joy of GivingWeek” observed in India in the first week of October each year.  It is now our turn to pick and choose the cause and the suitable NGO that we would want to support.  Hunger is not everything, right?

Are Investors Con-Prone?

Each passing day, newspapers and TV channels report how some unscrupulous business house offering miraculous money multiplying “opportunities” to the public vanish into thin air, leaving investors licking deep wallet-wounds. Some retired senior citizen even report to have lost all their hard-earned life-time savings, which they had invested in various get-rich-quick schemes.   Reading such reports, one wonders what is it that makes such ‘scheming’ business houses successful, although the press has been time and again reporting Ponzi schemes which inevitably do the vanishing trick leaving investors in the lurch.   Don’t such repeated acts of financial cheating make us investing folks all the more wary of tall promises and urge us to ask ourselves how these businesses can offer such high returns in such a challenging business environment  and deteriorating domestic economic conditions? 

The success of such schemes can be attributed several layers of urban and rural population which have been rising slowly but steadily from their hitherto hand-to-mouth existence up to a reasonable earnings and living standards due to changing economic fortunes.  They do have investible surpluses (however meager), which they would want to put away for a better future, but do not have even the basic knowledge of investment, let alone financial prudence!  This translates into thousands of lower middle class households eking out a living in Tier-III towns having small surpluses that are looking for a good return on their small savings.  Private finance firms promoted by business houses exploit these conditions and plant ideas of how their schemes could help them beat inflation, whereas bank FDs offer interest rates lower than inflation, eating away into their savings!

Although every Indian is truly challenged on this count of inflation eating away into interest bearing relatively safe bank deposits, the fact remains that the more important aim of any investor - capital protection - is thrown to the winds, while attempting to beat inflation! Loss of capital is one aspect that every investor, big or small, needs to be concerned about.   Return on investment is not the only criteria – return of investment is paramount.  This is because while comparing investment options, a small investor takes this as a given and does not even think of such tragic eventualities as loss of capital.  In reality, this question ought to prop up in the minds of small investors each time an offer with super-duper returns on their investment are offered to them!  Another question that investors do not ask is: How come these business houses can offer such high returns in a competitive business environment? Obviously, overwhelming greed seems to pip investment rationale, even to those who are better equipped with the fundamentals of investment.

There is one important aspect that unscrupulous scheme offers bank on - that investors would not mind investing a small portion of their investible surpluses in such schemes.  It is tempting to try it out with smaller amounts and then invest higher amounts in such schemes, if they taste success.   Invariably, this trick seems to work for conmen! Several small investors trying out their hand at such get-rich-quick schemes (offering as high as 5%-10% per month at times), translates into cash-flows of several Crores of Rupees for such business houses!   Most of the investors barely recover their invested amount, yet what is more intriguing is that once they find that the 2-3 months returns have indeed really been paid to them, their faith in the scheme soars sky high, prompting them to invest more!  

A simple back-of-the-envelope calculation would tell us that even @10% per month, in 3 months they have got only 30% of their investment back – and although it is too early to judge them on return of capital, there is a mistaken sense of belief only because they did what investors least expected to be true – that they would give 10% per month, when banks cannot offer that even in the whole year! What is more, they even rope in other relatives and friends to invest in the scheme citing their own “success”.  This is indeed a disastrous step, as, unwittingly one has now begun canvassing for the promoters of these schemes, while risking souring of relationships if the company defaults on payment of interest or principal repayments.

The basic problem is that most of us undergo education at schools and colleges, in which “investor education” is not a subject taught, as this is not part of the syllabus in any stream.    Fundamental aspects of investment such as return on investment, safety of invested amount, liquidity and capital appreciation, investor rights etc. are least understood subjects and are learnt only the hard way – by losing money! The man who put in all his lifetime savings into such schemes had just to learn about the adage of financial prudence - “Do not putting all your eggs into the same basket” – and remembered it when it mattered most. 

Several such small investors make fly-by-night financial product offers hugely successful by lending their small and big investments.   Conmen regroup and form other financial syndicates to come back again and again to the public to raise monies, only to vanish again and reappear in different avatars.  How long will this conning activities continue?  Both widespread investor education and strong regulatory controls on raising public moneys are the need of the hour.   Each and every one needs to know that “Too-good-to-be-true” Schemes are just that – Scams!  One fervently wishes that enlightened members of the public ought to pledge not to support such schemes with even One Rupee of their hard-earned money.   Instead one could donate that rupee saved for a good cause, if one would like to kiss it goodbye anyway!

Social entrepreneurs and activists have been educating the lay public by way of street skits, Magicians have been debunking fake religious heads for performing “miracles” that are nothing but a sleight of hand. They are spreading the word not to repose “blind faith” on those claiming supernatural powers. Similarly, some financial “wizards” seem to be offering “miracle financial products” to struggling masses and they too ought to be debunked in a similar manner.  More recently ad campaigns on television channels on several social ills that one must guard against e.g.  Consumer protection body has launched a series of successful “Jaago Grahak Jaago” ad campaigns on all TV channels. Investor protection campaigns need to be propagated on the same lines. 

On one hand, tighter regulations are needed to ensure that any firm raising money from public gets his proposed scheme approved from the Government before embarking on the offer. Also, the Government through the various branches of the Public Sector Banks could also take up this cause of investor education and spread prudent financial decision-making skills to small investors so that the savings can be brought into the mainstream economy instead of losing it all to scam operators.  The investment programs could be structured by SEBI, RBI and other regulatory bodies jointly.  Instead of promoting complex financial products like mutual funds, investment-cum-insurance products which are all too confusing even to the financially savvy amongst us.  

Jaago Niveshak Jaago!

© Gopinath Mavinkurve 2013

Blogger's Post-Script:  Editors of newspapers, magazines and online editions of publications are requested to feature this post for wider reach.   The post has been written in public interest and the blogger would appreciate any effort to spread the word around in any manner that they deem fit. Thanks!  Wishing everyone Happy and Safe investing! 

Book Review: The Good, The Bad and The Wierd

Book Review - The Good, The Bad and The Weird

A debut novel by Eknaath Nagarkar

Available on Amazon.com Kindle Version – can be downloadedon PC/laptop Kindle reader

The story, set in Bangalore is about a pious, upright, honest teacher, Thonse Shivaram Rao (popularly known as “Meshtru”)  who has helped many youngsters of all communities and have mould their early part of their lives. Many of his student grow to become well-known figures in their chosen fields, but they all have great respect and regard for Meshtru, who after his retirement heads the JGI Foundation for philanthropic purposes, formed by the successful industrialist Janardhan Rao (popularly known as “Johnny”).  

When a struggling student seeks help to pursue his aspirations for medical education, Meshtru plays an instrumental role in getting him a seat and Vikram Jahagirdar (Vicky) feels indebted to Meshtru even when he strikes it big in the USA some time soon.  A group of well-intentioned NRIs fired by the love of the mother-land plan to do something for the education of the millions back home, which culminates in the formation of a Foundation in which monies collected worth close to a Billion Dollars are planned to be utilized for the worthy cause of education.

The Indian counterpart who is entrusted with the task of this proposed foundation, Akshay Karnad, a Chartered Accountant and a son of a cabinet minister of Karnataka opens a proprietary concern to receive the moneys collected ‘pending registration of the trust’ which would be in due course.  When the function to inaugurate the Foundation’s activities is organized with invitees including ministers of the Karnataka Government with a view to get vast tracts of lands, the ‘surprise announcement’ of dedicating the project to Meshtru backfires!  Meshtru wonders why a dollar billion would be needed to help education of the poor millions here – he did it on a paltry sum and these figures are heard only in case of scams!  His speech aborts the project and the generous donors are advised to support the ‘Ekal Vidyalaya movement’ and the ‘Friends of Tribals Society’ instead of such ambitious projects.

Akshay Karnad’s project, Kalpavriksha Foundation in the meanwhile had taken off into the building and construction activity in which the organization gains immense popularity for being honest, not supporting any bribe giving inspite of being in the construction line and delivering quality homes without charging escalation project costs!   The good reputation of the group’s contribution to society is so rapidly spreading through the media that the growth of the organization is done through Akshay and his wife roping in most of their relatives – all successful professionals working in reputed organizations to join Kalpavriksha.

A residential complex adjoining the corporate office becomes the hallmark of the group and a committed team brings in all their life-time savings along with their lifetime commitment to support the organization they join with full faith in the Karnad couple’s leadership.   However things change over time, and the inmates of the residential complex are learnt to be up to strange behavior lately which is rather uncharacteristic of the community they belong to - such as ill-treating their parents, pulling out children from schools, not attending community events to avoid mingling and other cult-like behaviours.   A middle-writer finds out all about these strange goings-on and tries to have this reported in newspapers – but how can his unsubstantiated stories with the complete lack of complainants be taken up against a Goliath in the construction business known for his honesty?

Do read this book to find out how the committed Meshtru plays a role in stopping the mindless destruction of social values by a cult being forced on hapless employees of a reputed organization ably aided by other members of his community and to set things right.  There is immense drama, action and detective work involved all along as you will read beginning to end this unputdownable thriller churned out by Eknaath Nagarkar in his own narrative style that grips you all along!

Rating: 4.5 / 5

From one National ailment to another

Some time ago, we witnessed public rage over the wide-spread corruption in our country.   With the help of the Right to Information Act (RTI), which empowered ordinary folks to take on the officials in government positions to deal with corruption.  Activists brought to the notice of the general public, how vested interests had been exploiting the common man and depriving them of their rights and privileges. A wave of protests swept the nation – only to cool down gradually and disappear into the ethereal space that held other frightful prospects for the hapless citizens of India.   

The prospect of being victim of heinous gangrapes!  Not a single day passes without a report of a violent attack on some woman, girl child - or even an infant! Each case more shocking than the other!  Society would certainly need to treat such mentally deranged members before they become offenders.  But in these episodes, what emerges it that the accountability and dependability of the very establishment that is expected to protect the citizens of our country is now under question – the Police force!   

I have just one question to ask them:  “Tell me, what is your problem in filing an FIR?”

There is hardly an instance where the police have immediately registered the FIR when victims of horrendous crimes have approached the Police with their complaints.  I have not heard a single valid explanation from any one on what prevents them from taking down the complaint and registering an FIR!  Do they think that people just go to the Police Station with frivolous complaints only  to harass them? Or do they think that problems will disappear if they drive them away with a wave (or strike) of their lathis?  I am clueless!  Aren’t they employed just for us citizens? Or are you waiting for a “Right to File an FIR Act” to be enacted and come into force?

As rampant corruption and violent crimes grow to gargantuan proportions, the economic and financial crimes, generally referred to as ‘white-collared crimes’ are not the kind to sit back and watch their darker cousins steal the limelight!  Heartrending scenes of thousands of investors losing their hard-earned money can be witnessed on TV news channels, as the perpetrators vanish with their booty!  It is amazing to find rural folks invest in chit funds and MLMs / chain marketing schemes – all because of a promise to give phenomenal returns.   Schemes that offer unbelievably high returns are just that – unbelievable!  Yet, several thousands of gullible investors allow greed to prevail over common sense and become victims of such financial frauds committed by ‘scheming’ innovative offerings.  Some, who have invested their entire life-time savings, have ended up committing suicides!

I have blogged about MLMs and‘get-rich-quick’ schemes before.  The question that one needs to ask is how could they offer such returns in the first place?  What business could give so much return as to double the money in as fast a time as 6 months or a year?   And as soon as we get a couple of instalments, we ask all our friends and relatives to join in the investment frenzy – so we all get rich together?!!

Readers of my blog would have been wise and stayed away from such traps, but what about the thousands of poor rural folk who get duped day in and day out?  Spreading financial education, prudence and awareness among rural masses is a pressing need of our times.  Should we not entrust this task to public sector banks who have a nationwide network to take on this task with the help of local NGOs rather than push mutual funds and complex insurance cum investment schemes?    That way, we will be able to fill in the gap too and lend credibility to the banking industry.  Some soul-searching  by banking industry would be needed before we can expect that to happen!  Or is it expecting too much from target-oriented professionals?

The other aspect that amazes us is the enormous sums that such funds and schemes manage to muster until the bluff is called.  The inaction of regulators is a subject beyond the scope of this post. I can look forward to Moneylife Magazine to pick up the cudgels against such bodies.  The magazine has never failed to take up severial causes of the investor in every issue – the reason why I have just renewed my subscription for another 3 years, without any hesitation! Moneylife NGO set up by them works on investor education, consumer protection and such subjects of public interest that sets it apart.  One sees them play a big role in investor awareness so that fly-by-night operators fail in every of their effort to con the public at large.  It is due to  these ignorant, greedy and foolish investors that trust them with their money, that they flourish.

PS:  Although I do not blog regularly, I share my thoughts and other interests and post some funnies on Twitter more regularly.  My Twitter id is @gopinathmm    Do follow me on Twitter.

Book Review – 'My Husband and Other Animals' by Janaki Lenin

My Husband And Other Animals

Author: Janaki Lenin 
 

Genre:  Non-fiction

Imprint Westland
Format Paperback
Extent 296pp
Pub date Sept-12
Rs 250
ISBN 9789381626726

Reviewed by Gopinath Mavinkurve  (Twitter Id: @gopinathmm)

A nature lover would certainly love to read this non-fiction book by Janaki Lenin, a compilation of the columns published by The Hindu, now brought out in the form of a book titled “My Husband and Other Animals” published by Westland.  Janaki Lenin presents to the readers several episodes of her life lived entirely out of her choice – to be with animals in their habitat, the jungle!   For a 5-year old who wished to have a pig as her pet, marrying a herpetologist of international repute and wild life conservationist, would be the ultimate gift of her life. One that she cherished for a lifetime, as Rom Whitaker, the founder of Madras Snake Park and Madras Crocodile Bank offers Janaki  an adventurous life in the deepest forests of India and several other countries, as the couple go “snake-hunting” (they catch ‘em – not kill ‘em).  As Janaki explains, there is no way one can watch snakes to study them – they need to be caught just as to be able to tell their species!

Opting for a home in rural Tamil Nadu to live with four dogs, a pair of emus, a flock of geese and a pig, would surely come with several pesky tree frogs, ants, weevils, porcupines, shrews thrown in good measure! But Janaki isn’t complaining! In fact, she tell us how nature can be best understood in their midst, rather than in the concrete jungles of the cities that most of us consider ‘safe’.  So instead of eavesdropping on jealous neighbours of an apartment complex, you will be treated to the insights of the private lives of snakes and crocodiles.  

Rom Whitaker, who single-handedly set up the Madras Snake Park and Madras Crocodile Bank, has several stories to share about the challenges in setting them up, but that is not all – several stories of his encounters with the King Cobra and how he survived several snake bites, while seeking out new species of snakes and how the early days  of snake hunting with the Irula tribals for the Haffkine Institute for developing the snake venom anti-dote and the perils of living in a jungle as they find their dog falling prey to a leopard and several such experiences – both the pleasures and perils of living in the jungle!

Did you know that Crocodiles can be trained like dogs?  One of them learnt upto 12 commands!  Can you tell a Russel Viper from an Asian Pit Viper?  Or that monkeys are the most dreaded animals if you had been making a living on farming?   You will find hundreds of such gems of truths revealed in this book narrated in a matter-of-fact manner – no ‘save-our-animals’ pitch or ‘down-with-civilisation’ rants in these stories – just pure predators and preys and how they switch roles for the larger good of nature’s ways to keep our planet going as it always did!

Do read this amazing collection of columns from which one can learn a lot about life in a jungle – the closest you can get to Mother Nature.  I loved reading this book immensely!  

Thanks, Westland for gifting this book to me – that too, just for asking some questions in a Westland Chat event on Twitter!

Follow me on Twitter @gopinathmm  Do look out for Westland Chats with Twitter Hashtag  #Westlandchat (and for amazing gifts offers! :)

Rating 5/5                                               

BMC's Heartless Apathy!

When I read this Cover story report featured in the Mumbai Mirror on Monday 25^th March 2013, I was shocked at the heartless apathy of the municipal body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), that runs KEM hospital.  Municipal and Government run hospitals are institutions to which the masses turn to for “affordable” healthcare services.   The inverted commas that I have used when I keyed in the word “affordable” can be understood better when you read the report – of some who had to sell their jewellery to raise the amount of Rs. 60000/- to pay as deposit to have their child logged into a long queue for an open heart surgery!  Read the complete report here

My blood boiled as I read THIS:

 “In the two years since it applied for the tender, Sorin had moved on to making more advanced machines. Production of the older, less sophisticated, machine that the BMC had ordered had been suspended. Sorin was willing to give the latest machine without charging a penny more. But the stubborn mandarins of BMC would have none of it.”

What would you call this decision of BMC?  To refuse a more sophisticated machine at the price of the older version?  Stupidity or Foolhardiness?  Or any of the synonyms that one gets when you right-click on these words?  Or would we need a new word for this?  I am at a loss to understand this stance of the hospital, although I am sure they would have a reason for such stupidity, one never knows!  BMC ought to explain this to us laypersons who don’t understand their wisdom in refusing a more sophisticated equipment when they could darn well have surgically treated the hundreds of children in the waitlist for their heart condition and saved precious lives! Over to you, BMC, do tell us, you owe us an explanation!

Ms. Lata Mishra of the Mumbai Mirror needs to be lauded for her commendable report, which brought to fore the malaise afflicting the administrative functionaries of the civic hospital in the “Maximum City”, namely, “Maximum red tape”.  A killer malaise, as it proved to be.  Kudos to her and the publication!  But what beats me is how come such an acute problem was not highlighted at all and went unnoticed?  Have we become a society that does not sense the pain of masses that continued to bear it all as silent sufferers?  I understand there are millions of NGOs registered in our country.  Atleast a few hundred must be health-related NGOs?  What were the regional political parties that contest municipal elections doing all these while? One is truly baffled at the heights – or is it depths of public apathy!

The report did shake several folks into action - The High Court, for instance demanded the BMC for an explanation.  Dr. Devi Shetty the eminent cardiologist with a heart came forth with a plan to operate on the children at his Narayana Hrudayala,  a well-equipped paediatric cardiac surgery facility  at Bengaluru – at no extra cost!  Read this report here.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/15/2013032620130326053113465f06facf/Ray-0f-hope.html

I am sure more Cardiologists in Mumbai and other parts of the country and NGOs will soon press into action - rise to the occasion to help to save the lives of the poor children in the waitlist, the future citizens of our country!  I shudder to think if there are more such waitlists elsewhere in our country, that have yet to be uncovered by the media and wonder what would’ve been the fate of these unfortunate angels registered in KEM hospital, had the facts not been reported by them!

I do hope all agencies come together and put a date by which they are committed to clear up this waitlist at once!  I am sure the funds and resources will come by if there is a coordinated effort and the determination to tackle this problem right away.

Bhagwad Gita made easy!

 Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya explaining how the Easy Chanting CD ROM aids in learning how to chant the verses of the Gita at a release function during Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in 2012 at Andheri West, Mumbai.

The team that was involved in the project and some ardent fans of the product.

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya with her brother, Bharat Savur at the twin release - The review of Bharat's book, A Way With Words in my previous post in this blog.

The Bhagwad Gita made easy - CDRom and Book

The Bhagwad Gita is undoubtedly the most revered of the ancient Sanskrit scriptures in the Hindu religion. It has been accorded this supreme position because it contains timeless wisdom as told and elaborately explained by God to Man - Lord Krishna to Arjuna.  Mahatma Gandhi referred to it as his “spiritual dictionary”.  The central part of the epic Mahabharata, the Gita serves as the guide in dealing with the battles within our minds. We often turn to the gist of the messages in the Gita, when our daily struggles require us to choose between several alternate courses of action. Without this handy aid, we would opt for inaction instead!  The sacred texts have withstood the test of time when generation after generation turn to the pearls of wisdom contained in it have been referred to by scholars all over the world.

Across the globe, spiritual thinkers and modern day philosophers continue to believe that the ultimate truths about life have been explained in the Bhagwad Gita like no other work till date.  It is believed that the battle really is all about the effort of man over his own 100 vices (Kauravas) for the 5 virtues (Pandavas) to emerge winners in life. One learns that the  “Arjuna syndrome” affects us all as we find ourselves sulking when confronted with enemies – within us or amongst us - that we need to fight and conquer! Needless to say, we all need to absorb the timeless wisdom to cope with the challenges in life!

But the advent of the electronic media and several gadgets and the internet tend to sway the tech-savvy generations in different directions. There is the possibility of an increasing disconnect between the youngsters and the teachings of the Gita!  In order to prevent this drift, Dr. Deepika Pandya (nee Savur), a medical practitioner and an avid Gita-enthusiast took up a project to produce an interactive CDRom for “Easy Chanting and Easy Reading”, with a book on “Easy Chanting” and one for "Easy Reading" to read and reflect upon. This is to help the future generations to recite the shlokas, and simultaneously understand their meaning in a simplified manner!

Dr Deepika Savur Pandya is the daughter of Savur Narsingh and Ahilya, both true yogis who introduced her to the Gita whilst very young.  In 1965, Ahilya suffered from a stroke and Narsingh faced a severe financial setback. At such times, the essence of all these learnings held in good stead, as the family sported smiling faces as Deepika completed her medical education and set up a successful medical practice in Santacruz Mumbai. Dr. Deepika believes in righteousness and reaching out to the under-privileged sections of society.

In this project undertaken by Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya, several team members from various fields put in great amount of efforts. I had been privileged to be part of this project and contributed to it by doing the final proof-reading of this flawless work. In other words, I did nothing!.  In order to understand the effort that went into the project, yours truly posed her some questions.  The responses are as below:

Q 1: From the "Afterword" one learns that you were initiated into the Bhagwad Gita by your father when you were only 17. Please provide some details about how passionate your father was about Bhagwad Gita. What kind of writings did your father leave behind that motivated you to take up this project?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya:  My father was a many lettered man, but a man of few words. In my childhood, he was very regular about performance of pujas and rituals. Later, he took up reading, studying, chanting from, and writing his notes on various scriptures, mostly the Upanishads and the Gita. At 17, I was actually struggling with German, while my friends who knew Sanskrit were sailing through! Knowing Sanskrit would have certainly helped me, but later in life, it was my German that helped me learn Sanskrit – there was so much similarity between the two!

As I grew up, I read and made my own notes on the Gita, from various available translations and authorities. In 2006, my brother, Bharat Savur, came across Daddy's fountain-pen notes, of the 70’s which were almost crumbling, for having lain on the loft for such a long time.  Knowing my interest in the subject, he brought this hidden treasure to my notice - it took me 2 years to organise these pages. They form a major part of our current text.

Q 2: Your command over the English language is apparent. What level of proficiency did you possess in Sanskrit language? Did you seek to improve your understanding of Sanskrit through this exercise and if so, how successful have you been?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: I was keen to learn Sanskrit, and began a self-study.  I read from various available books, provided by family and friends. Several attempts, going over 20 years, taught me one thing: Sanskrit was an endlessly deep ocean. Grappling with its intricacies, I was barely able to keep myself afloat. Even a 2 years’ course at the Arya Samaj (with exams et al) took me just a few steps ahead - or so it seemed. It was then that I decided to attend Gita Chanting classes. These helped tremendously - I realised the importance of simultaneous listening, reading, reciting and writing (which my grandfather had put me through in childhood). This was the key which opened up the doors ahead.Soon, I decided to take up a methodical study of the Gita, aiming at simplifying it for myself to understand it better. Shalan Savur (nee Trikannad), my sister-in-law, showed keen interest and we decided to do it together. This was in 2009.

Q3: You have accredited several persons who have participated in this project due to their knowledge of Sanskrit and the Vedas. Could you please elaborate on the nature of support the Vedanta experts from Chinmaya Mission, and others provided while working on the Beginner's Guide?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: Before embarking upon the project, I sought blessings from our Swamiji Sadyojat Shankarashram in Talmakiwadi, on December 4, 2009.

In January 2010, I carried a demo to Bangalore, to seek the blessings of Swami Brahmananda-ji, of the Chinmaya Mission, whose rendition we have used. His response was very encouraging. He was the first to give me His instant approval and support for this project. He also gave a practical demonstration and explanation of how best to simplify and display the Text to help Easy Chanting.

Swami Swatmananda-ji is considered one of the most dynamic Teachers of Chinmaya Mission today. He gave excellent suggestions for enhancement of the presentation, insisting upon the inclusion of Basic information for the Beginner. Dr. Manu Kothari (Prof of Anatomy – Seth G S Medical College), a versatile speaker and well-known published author has written the Introduction in the Book.

Dr. Narain Bhatia, who heads the Chinmaya Mission, is a Teacher of Vedanta. He suggested people who would proofread the Sanskrit. He set me several tests on my knowledge of Vedanta, my skills of translation, and ability to remove ambiguity, by identifying the most difficult verses to work upon. When he saw my method of working, and was convinced about my ability to give him the required outputs, he agreed to guide me.  

I was simultaneously recommended to work with Smt Pratibha Jobanputra, an expert on Vedanta.  She has extensive experience in literary fields and proofreading of the Chinmaya mission texts, and was instrumental in allowing us to beautify the text in all ways possible. She went through the text, to ensure that there were no errors of commission or omission. The entire process of finalisation of text went on for over a year (through 2011).

Interacting with Brahmacharini Vibhooti Chaitanya was a uniquely beautiful experience. The Overviews emerged thanks to her ideas and helpful contributions, to give the beginner a good start for every chapter.

Shrimati Pushpa Adhyaru (shishya of Swami Brahmananda-ji) was my link to the Chinmaya mission and all the Swami-jis I needed to interact with. She was very enthusiastic from the start, and instantly introduced me to and connected me with the right people at the right time.

At times my fading knowledge of English grammar, of simplifying words, found me looking for synonyms, coining of new words would prompt me to believe that, perhaps I could do with some more help! Shalan and Bharat Savur – my sister-in-law and brother – who have been into journalism for several decades, were useful in editing and simplifying the text, as their skills in the written language, synonyms, punctuation and grammar – which I lacked.

Sheela Nair has an in-depth knowledge of Sanskrit, being well-versed in the study of various scriptures. She is an educationist and teacher of Carnatic music. She helped me temper down the heavy words which faced me, when I was reading all the available literature and translations, as also find suitable alternatives.

Poonam Sethi is the Vedanta expert who taught me chanting of the Gita and the Durga Saptashati, her enthusiasm pushed me to take the plunge.

Navaz Hilloowala, who has extensive experience training children and adults in spoken English, urged me to simplify in as many ways possible. She helped me in giving titles to the groups of verses in every chapter, and suggested we have an overview for each chapter.

Dr Mitra Mukherjee Parikh, head of the Dept of English in the SNDT University, is a linguist. She worked on beautifying the Overviews, which I consider one of the most difficult parts of the project. We were particular that we adhered to British English in our choice of words, spellings and syntax. We wanted to avoid archaic words, yet the language had to sound ancient (hence note the use of Thou etc.) and have an appeal for the newcomer.

I am blessed that I had the support from my husband Dr. Pankaj Pandya and the entire Pandya family and also the ‘help from above’ all along. At times, during my struggle with the text, suddenly a word I was seeking for days, would just look out at me, from a newspaper headline or a hoarding. I was happy meeting and working with all these people, picking up what I thought was best. They left me to make the final choice. Sometimes, working late in the night, I trained myself to invoke their faculties and think the way they would have. And Bingo! I would get the right word.  

Q 4: What aspects had to be kept in mind to make the Bhagwad Gita "easy for beginners" as you aimed it to be indeed 'simpler' to aid the younger modern generation?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: We kept in mind barriers such as simplifying Sanskrit compound-letters, breaking of words into their constituent parts for ease, picked out the best font for visual clarity. We re-worked on the entire Roman font (despite several others being ‘available’) to make it easy to read. Wherever possible, we did away with the upper case to provide better readability. We worked on punctuation to simplify, without losing the essence of meaning. We removed all the ambiguity we came across (In earlier texts clod=lump of earth, innumerate=countless). We worked on adding colour coding to the speakers, and gave a comparative study in the CDRom (between the Translation in verse and the Meaning Simplified in prose) with the same idea in mind. 

Q 5:  The project includes an interactive CDRom containing the recitation of all the 700 verses of the Bhagwad Gita supported by the text in Sanskrit and English for the modern user. Could provide some details of the creation of the CDRom ?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: 700 verses are present in all the available texts. There is a verse added at the beginning of Chapter13, by a Sanskrit scholar, several centuries ago, to maintain continuity of the Text. This verse no. 701 is now incorporated into several of today’s accepted Texts. Swami Brahmanandaji very graciously allowed us to record his recitation of this additional verse live. I felt really that I was truly the privileged one, because I had never dreamt this would be possible.

Q 6: You also had to deal with modern Tech and IT related advancements whilst producing the CDRom, did you have experts in every field or did you have to grapple it all by yourself?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: Sukhvinder Singh Vasan from Jalandhar was my computer expert, who did almost 80% of the computer work with me. He taught me whatever skills of programming and designing I would need, from insertion/editing of the text in the Book, to animation in the CDRom. None of this was easy. Chapter 1 took us 2 months to put into the book. In the remaining 6 months the other 17 chapters were done. I learned as we went along.

Q 7: Could you share with us your experiences whilst dealing with Sanskrit, Vedanta and other theological experts that you interacted with in the course of working on this project? How long has you all been working on it?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: I am not sure how many hours all have put in, but most of them have just been there whenever I needed them. The entire work on the Text and the CDRom took about 2 years, and the page layout took about 9 months. It was done piece by piece, eg. Working on the Overviews took about 10 complete days, when Vibhooti-ji from the US, was here in India.  

Some chapters had to be re-done and re-worked upon several times eg. We had to re-do the text of Ch 13 five times until it was approved by all. It took a great deal to convince the Sanskrit experts that all we were trying to simplify was the ‘appearance’ of the text, and not demean its rules or prove a point. It was only to help the purpose of the chanting.

Q 8: What are the benefits of Vedic Chanting, why do you think there is so much interest being evinced in this ancient language in times when translated text in English does express the essence of the Bhagwad Gita better to present generation?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: If you attend Vedic chanting at the Ramakrishna Mission on weekends (Swami Devarupanandaji’s) you will get your answer. Most times, we the students have difficulty with the words, trying hard to follow Swamiji’s fluent footsteps. Then there comes a stanza which we are familiar with. All at once, there is a sudden ambience created when everyone chants in unison. An unexplained wave seems to move across the entire hall, the echoes are in unison. No amount of reading can replace the effect of reading-recitation combined, which is satisfying and soothing. 

Q 9: Do you think that the translations of the Sanskrit verses in other Indian languages would also benefit the spread of the message across India? Do you plan to venture into it?

Dr. Deepika Savur Pandya: Of course, it would. Ours is a vast and diverse population. And translations of other scriptures similarly would help. Unfortunately somebody else would have to continue this relay race. We also have suggestions that making a presentation with animated characters would reach out to the younger generation. The possibilities are endless. 

Q 10:  Is the CDRom with the Easy Chanting book freely available and how does one get them?

The Bhagwad Gita Beginner’s Guide books for Easy Reading and Easy Chanting and the complementary interactive CDROM are widely available at various locations as below:

Available At:

SHABD Publishing Proudly Presents:

The Bhagavad-Gita: A Beginner's Guide,

Easy Chanting and Easy Reading Books

By Dr Deepika (Savur) Pandya

Guidance: Chinmaya Mission

Easy Chanting  - Swami Brahmananda-ji

Price:  Rs. 500/-

The Bhagavad-Gita Easy Changing CD ROM is complimentary

“An eternal scripture linked to mass-media communication”

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