'Khaan Peen Saah Vakhra' - else all is connected

Jan 24, 2023

I must have been 2.

My grandmother would take me to the sarovar inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, for the morning bath.

We lived nearby.

Naked and shivering, I would listen to her pouring water on me. 'Khaan Peen Saah Vakhra’

What we eat, drink and breathe is separate from others. Rest everything else - Whatever you do - is for others. Including putting on clothes!

This lesson shaped me.

My parents set the example to be the community glue.

On Christmas, Diwali, Id and Gurpurabs - they would prepare food for 30 or 50.

As the smell of delicious cooking wafted through the mohalla, everyone knew they were included in the festivities that would follow.

Soon after the appropriate prayers, at the home of the faithful.

The world has a way of multiplying your generosity & returning it back to you. We were all **so** happy.

It was a shock to reach Delhi College of Engineering after a Hindi medium education and find, English was my nemesis.

At the end of the 1st semester, I sat myself down and cried bitter tears of failure. What face would I show to my parents?

I had failed in 5 subjects, because I could not understand what was happening in class in English.

Friends came to the rescue and consoled me. Helped me.

My mojo came back.

I decided to SERVE and be USEFUL TO OTHERS around me, instead of just studying.

I joined the mountaineering club and did the work. Perk - Hike and Trek without budget.

I joined the cine club and we screened films on campus every weekend. Perk - Watch films with friends without budget.

By the time I reached 3rd year, all my supplementaries were in the clear.

Oh yes! Thanks to all the interactions, my English was now fluent.

I had also learnt how to organise and influence, as a side effect.

I have continued to make myself similarly USEFUL in IIM Ahmedabad and in life thereafter.

The food I eat, the water I drink, the breath I take - those are uniquely mine. Everything else is shared and enjoyed with others.

In my work, I have always been able to SEE a HIGHER PURPOSE in the ordinary work that we do.

It energises me & motivates even others around me, like nothing else.

When I worked at TVS - I made it my business that the person on the street would get the best moped value, out of his hard earned money.

Ditto for the time at Hero Honda.

I think I helped worsen the nation's mindset on 'mileage kitna deti hai?' -- We made the cheapest, most fuel efficient bike happen.

I continued to climb the corporate ladder, first in India and then in the US.

March 2012, I had completely spoiled my health from STRESS.

At 230 pounds, my HbA1C was 12+ and I had colon cancer to accompany.

Do or Die. I worked hard to fix me.

In 2015, cancer-free me - weighed 168 pounds -- Yay!

I left my corporate job.

I have since then devoted myself to AYURVEDA, YOGA & MEDITATION . I facilitate healthy living, especially for seniors.

Grandma would be all smiles today.

'Khaan Peen Saah Vakhra' - else all is connected.

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