Indian Philanthropist | Mohnish Pabrai | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryHow investor Mohnish Pabrai applies Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger’s principles for extraordinary success

How investor Mohnish Pabrai applies Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger’s principles for extraordinary success

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(April 1, 2024) A smart investor, thriving entrepreneur, and a dedicated philanthropist, Indian American Mohnish Pabrai has reached great heights from the obscurity of Bombay to the financial peak and fame in the US. The author of ‘The Dhandho Investor,’ and ‘Mosaic’ has followed in the footsteps of two of the most esteemed investors in history, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, who later became his mentor and dear friend.

Pabrai’s ambition has been bold and clear – to transform $1 million in savings into a $1 billion fortune by replicating Buffett’s investment approach.

Indian philanthropist | Mohnish Pabrai | Global Indian

In 2022 when Pabrai received a letter from Warren Buffett, he couldn’t have been happier. Acknowledging the impressive annual report of the Indian American philanthropist’s non-profit Dakshana Foundation, Buffet wrote:

Dear Mohnish,

I remain incredibly impressed by what you have done, are doing and will do at Dakshana. It is simply terrific – far more impressive than what business titans, investment gurus and famous politicians ever accomplish. I’m glad my annual report doesn’t get compared to the Dakshana annual report. It’s an honour even to be quoted in it.

With admiration – Warren E. Buffet

So far, Pabrai has secured investments totalling ₹130 crore for his foundation transforming nearly 40,000 lives forever.

Giving back

When Pabrai co-founded the Dakshana Foundation in 2007, he became a key figure in providing needy students in India good education and helpful guidance, helping them start successful careers. Dakshana’s primary focus is on combating poverty through education. The non-profit achieves this by identifying exceptionally talented but financially disadvantaged teenagers and offering them rigorous coaching along with hostel facilities for one or two years to prepare for the IITs and medical entrance exams.

The foundation has witnessed thousands of scholars being getting admitted to India’s prestigious IITs, and medical schools. Dakshana Scholars are exceptional students selected from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools across India based on their academic performance and results from Dakshana’s unique testing process. They receive specialised coaching after completing Class 10 or Class 12.

Mohnish Pabrai with Dakshana Scholars

Pabrai comes across as a very fun-loving and relaxed individual when interacting with the scholars of his foundation, often leaving them in splits of laughter. During one such interaction, he recounted a childhood incident, saying, “I used to have very low self-esteem and thought I was significantly below average. I remember when I was in the third standard, in a class with a large size of about 60 students. We received report cards with our ranks on them. I distinctly recall my rank was 57 out of 60. I used to sit at the back, not understanding what was being taught, and I wondered why I didn’t get a perfect score of 60 out of 60!”

The flight of life

Mohnish Pabrai was born in Mumbai in 1964. His father’s job took him to different cities in India and Dubai which gave him the opportunity to study in various schools including Jamnabai Narsee School, Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School, The Air Force School in New Delhi, and The Indian High School in Dubai. These different schools influenced his outlook on life.

After completing his school education, he went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from Clemson University, showing his early talent for technology, even though he had studied commerce in his 11^th and 12^th grade. He continued to learn by attending the YPO Harvard President’s Seminar for nine years, eventually being recognised as an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

From 1986 to 1991, Pabrai worked at Tellabs, a technology startup, and then went on to found TransTech Inc., an IT consulting and systems integration company in 1991, investing $30,000 from his personal account and credit card debt. Despite facing challenges initially, his determination led TransTech to success. After nine years, Pabrai sold the company for $20 million to Kurt Salmon Associates.

Successful investing is not about picking winners; it’s about avoiding losers. Focus on preserving your capital first, and then look for opportunities to grow it over time.

Mohnish Pabrai mentioned in his book, ‘The Dhandho Investor’

Inspired by Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger

Pabrai’s investment strategy focuses on identifying severely undervalued companies with the potential for substantial returns.

He had established the Pabrai Investment Funds, a hedge fund family inspired by Buffett Partnerships in 1999. In a matter of four years, his long-only equities portfolio returned 517 percent of the invested amount. This meteoric growth catapulted him to prominence in the financial world. People started taking notice of his strategic thinking and investing acumen which was inspired by Warren Buffet’s investment philosophies.

Mohnish Pabrai with Charlie Munger

I have two gurus Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. One of the things I learned from them which kind of took me a long time to actually figure this out, is that if you want to do well in life then what you should avoid doing is looking back.

Mohnish Pabrai

Pabrai had developed lasting friendship with late American businessman, investor and philanthropist Charlie Munger while being his mentee, and often followed his philosophies in life. Four months back when Munger passed away, Pabrai tweeted, “I lost a dear friend, mentor and teacher. As a kid from Mumbai, I never expected to have a friendship with Charlie Munger…”

In December 2023, Pabrai’s net worth was estimated to be $150 million. The bulk of his wealth accumulation are a result of his savvy investment decisions, with stakes in companies like Micron Technology, General Motors Company, and Bank of America Corporation, among others.

Also Read | Frank Islam: The Indian American visionary is bridging worlds through philanthropy, leadership and influence

Heads I Win, Tails I Don’t Lose

Apart from being the founder and managing partner of Pabrai Investment Funds that manages over $1 billion in assets, the investor serves as portfolio manager of Pabrai Wagons Funds, founder and CEO of Dhandho Funds, and chairman and CEO of Dhandho Holdings.

Mohnish Pabrai has crafted his own winning mantra – ‘Heads I Win, Tails I Don’t Lose.’ With this mindset he carefully selects companies which are undervalued in the market but have strong fundamentals and intrinsic values that can be reaped for good results. Employing this approach, he has mastered the art of value investing, achieving outstanding returns on his investments while minimising risks.

Indian philanthropist | Mohnish Pabrai | Global Indian

Not shy of sharing his knowledge

Beyond investment management Pabrai loves to share his insights with aspiring investors and professionals in the world of finance. He has shared his insights in two of his well acclaimed books – ‘The Dhandho Investor: The Low-Risk Formula for Value Investing’ published in 2011 and ‘Mosaic: Perspectives on Investing’ published in 2017.

These books provide practical advice and valuable insights drawn from his extensive experience and research in investing. His insights get quoted quite often. In fact, in Guy Spier’s book, ‘The Education of a Value Investor,’ there is a chapter titled “Doing Business the Buffett-Pabrai Way,’ which thoroughly explores Pabrai’s life and investment philosophy.

In addition to books, the investor frequently contributes articles to prestigious publications, offering commentary on current market trends, investment strategies, and the broader principles of value investing. His engaging writing style makes complex financial concepts understandable to a wider audience.

Mohnish Pabrai also actively interacts with the community through lectures and presentations. His thought-provoking speeches are full of humour, keen observations, and practical advice, empowering the investor community.

You don’t make money when you buy stocks. And you don’t make money when you sell stocks. You make money by waiting. The biggest asset of a value investor is not his IQ but his patience.

Mohnish Pabrai

Following his mentor Charlie Munger’s philosophy of ‘focusing on continuous improvement instead of dwelling on past’, the Indian American investor is always on a quest to reach fresh heights in the journey of life.

A little known fact:

Mohnish Pabrai is the grandson of world-renowned magician, late Gogia Pasha who earned international acclaim for his performances.

Follow Mohnish Pabrai on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook and his blog Chai with Pabrai

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Published on 01, Apr 2024

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An Uncommon Love: Getting up close and personal with Sudha and Narayana Murthy

(January 20, 2024) Sudha Murty and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni first crossed paths in in the USA nearly 50 years ago. Divakaruni was a PhD scholar at the University of California, where Murty happened to be visiting her brother. "All the Indian students would come and cook in my apartment when they wanted Indian food," Divakaruni told Vogue India. "Sudha ji's brother was one of them and that's how I met her." Decades later, life brought the two women, both powerhouses in their own right, together once more, when Divakaruni was approached Juggernaut to write the love story of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and his wife, Sudha Murty. An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy was released on January 16, and went straight to the limelight, as it takes the reader behind the scenes, into the private world of the IT tzar and his wife in a way the public has never seen before. The book was two years in the making, with Divakaruni meeting the couple on Zoom at the start. "I was trying to show the kind of people they are, the difficulties they went through, the relationship they built, to show that these two

hip they built, to show that these two people started off as very ordinary human beings from ordinary, middle-class backgrounds," Divakaruni said in an interview. Just like most couples in the world, they worked at their relationship and to keep their dream alive, while raising a family. "It was an opportunity to show these people in a very different light. It was like inviting the reader into their living room," she added. They began work through Zoom calls, after which Divakaruni and her husband spent twenty days in Bengaluru, during which time she "followed Sudhaji like a shadow," she said, in the Vogue interview.

An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy | Global Indian

The early days

The story begins in 1974, when Sudha Murty, described as "a slender young woman (with) short, bobbed hair curling around her vivacious face," first crossed paths with Narayana Murthy, thanks to a co-worker, Prasanna. Sudha, who was the first female engineer in TELCO, was living in Pune at the time. She and Prasanna became friends as they rode the same TELCO bus to and from work everyday and Prasanna was always holding a book in his hand. He was also from Karnataka and to Sudha, a connection to home. Usually, Prasanna would be reading a book Sudha had already read before, but one day, he was "engrossed in a writer she had never heard of: George Mikes." The book had been lent to him by his friend and flatmate, who had travelled all over the world and had many adventures. He invited Sudha home to meet him.

Normally, Sudha would not have considered visiting a male friend at his flat - it was definitely a no-no in her traditional home state, Karnataka. But Pune was a progressive place, and very cosmopolitan. Besides, the idea of an entire room filled with books by foreign writers was too good to resist. Sudha was also curious about this young man. "In her mind, she imagined this intrepid world traveller to be suave and debonair, tall and broad-shouldered," Divakaruni writes in Uncommon Love. "Maybe... because she loved Hindi movies, he would look like Rajesh Khanna, sporting sideburns and boots."

So, meeting Narayana Murthy for the first time was a bit of a surprise - he was thin, with thick glasses, wearing a checked coat. He was very quiet, too, until they started talking about books. The two connected instantly over a shared passion for Kannada writers like Kuvempu, Shivarama Karanth and S.L. Bhyrappa. But she loved his exotic bookshelf even more and he generously offered to lend her anything she wanted, filling a shopping bag with all the books she liked. Just as she was leaving, he asked her to have dinner with him the following night. Again, it was not something Sudha would normally do, but she heard herself saying yes, adding, "But Prasanna must come with us, too. And I will pay for my dinner."

Sudha wanted to be clear that she was only meeting this young man as a friend, but sensed that he wasn't like other men. That's how their story begins, and it would go on to write a new chapter in the history of Bangalore city - and the country. They were soon spending most of their free time together, often at the family home of a friend, Shashi. Those were happy days, they both loved eating out, at the inexpensive cafes that students loved. They were both well read and opinionated and would often argue gently with each other.

Navigating real life

Real life often doesn't have much in common with the first flush of romance though, and Divakaruni notes how their relationship changed, and how they weathered the ups and downs. When Murthy found himself in a low place he even tried to distance himself from Sudha, only to realise he couldn't. That's when he asked him to marry her. "I'm no hero - just a short man with a squint and thick eyeglasses and no job," he told her one day, as they returned home from dinner in Pune. "You, on the other hand, are beautiful and smart. But I love you, and that gives me the courage to ask this. Will you marry me?"

In the early days, Sudha was the successful one, with the better job, one that she had struggled to get. Growing up in a traditional household in Karnataka, being educated and earning an engineering degree was a struggle – her college didn’t even have a toilet for girls. She made it through and landed a job at TELCO, only to be dismissed again for being a woman. Narayana Murthy had his own share of struggles too – his career wasn’t always going well and when he began dating Sudha, he had to prove to her family that he could take care of her. When Murthy wanted to strike out on his own, it was his wife who loaned him Rs 10,000 to start his company. He went on to forbid her from joining, which he recently accepted was a mistake, saying he was "wrongly idealistic," believing that family shouldn't get involved with business, even though she was more qualified than him and all the other co-founders.

Up close and personal

[caption id="attachment_48454" align="aligncenter" width="620"] An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy | Global Indian Sudha and Narayana Murthy[/caption]

Their story is captivating, helped by the fact that both Sudha and Narayana Murthy are good writers. Divakaruni, of course, is one of India’s best-known writers and holds great mastery over her craft, handpicking anecdotes and instances that will keep the writer hooked from start to finish. Divakaruni describes how hitchhiking through the USSR and finding himself thrown into the jail at the railway station, converted Murthy, from a staunch socialist to ‘compassionate capitalism’. The narrative weaves through various pivotal moments in the couple's life, starting with their unique bond formed over a love for literature. It then explores the challenges they faced, such as the awkward first encounter between Murthy and Sudha Murty's father, their modest wedding ‘on the wrong side of the Tungabhadra river,’ costing just Rs 800, and the subsequent concerns it raised among relatives. The book also sheds light on why their honeymoon was cut short and Sudha Murty's emotional decision against attending MIT. Further, it delves into her role in infusing optimism during hard times, her foray into writing, and managing family life with extended family support as Murthy's professional commitments intensified.

Then again, as Sudha Murty told Vogue, things change. Murthy would take her to watch the films, which she loved, but now she goes with her friends. "Just because we're partners doesn't mean we can go into each other's space," she said. "There is no perfect person and you just have to accept a person for who they are.”

The book is available for purchase on Amazon

10-tastic travels in 12 months – How startup founder Amanda Sodhi juggles music, film & travel

(December 29, 2021) In 2021, Amanda Sodhi was on the move, non-stop. Around Christmas last year, she sold her furniture in Kolkata, downsized to a suitcase and embarked on a journey in search of “home” and “belonging.” Living life out of a suitcase, Amanda’s search took her to 10 cities in the past 12 months. Friendships were born, memories cherished as this juggler of many talents moved forward. Her 12StepsToHome Instagram project across 12 cities in India went viral. The singer who has written lyrics for two songs in Amazon’s Made in Heaven and directed films in diverse genres, is looking at 2022 to become an author now! A digital nomad, Amanda’s startup — Pen Paper Dreams promotes creative self-expression. The former Washington DC native wears multiple hats — entrepreneur- singer-songwriter-poet-screenwriter, filmmaker now travelling philosopher. “We’ve conducted sessions at bookstores, cafes, schools, co-working spaces, lit fests, etc. We’ve been hosted by Juggernaut Books, Rupa Publications, LBB, WeWork, YLAC, Hyderabad Trails and Haptik,” informs Amanda, a self-confessed book worm to whom poetry, songs and stories come naturally. [caption id="attachment_18317" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Amanda Sodhi[/caption] While Pen Paper Dreams began as a poem-a-day Instagram project, it evolved into a brand that helps people

410316_1017495878634104_6834845297965793280_n.jpeg" alt="Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur" width="522" height="752" /> Amanda Sodhi[/caption]

While Pen Paper Dreams began as a poem-a-day Instagram project, it evolved into a brand that helps people bust stress through creative self-expression.

A city to city trail

While enjoying a shikara ride on the pristine Dal Lake in Srinagar on Diwali 2020, a realisation dawned upon Amanda. “Rather than staying in one place and feeling sorry, why not consciously uproot each month and live in different cities and see if I find a place that has the potential to feel like home or, if I find my tribe,” informs Amanda, who like many others was feeling isolated towards 2020 end.

A chance meeting with filmmaker Amit Madheshiya (Cannes-winning director) in Srinagar who himself shuttles between Delhi, Mumbai and Srinagar led to 12StepsToHome. “Witnessing him pull that off inspired me to take it up a notch and live out of a suitcase for 12 months, a different city each month,” says Sodhi in an exclusive with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_18318" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Coonoor[/caption]

Born and brought up in Washington DC, Amanda moved to Los Angeles in 2011. She was 25 when she moved to Mumbai (2012) and later to Kolkata (2017). The same year, the Indian-American launched Pen Paper Dreams -- which works towards cultivating inclusive virtual safe spaces which are creative communities.

But first, the travel

Amanda’s journey took her through India’s hinterland. Her experiences in Andamans were most cherished. “In Andaman, I was fortunate to meet very kind locals who were a wonderful support system. The beaches were stunning too,” she says.

The beauty of Kashmir captivated this itinerant traveller though it was challenging at times. Her time in Hyderabad was great. “It has all the facilities of a tier-one city with the added bonus of a more leisurely pace,” quips Amanda, who went to Marymount University in Virginia, where she double majored in communications and English, and minored in business. She graduated the four-year programme in three years.

Living out of a suitcase is quite affordable, insists Amanda matter-of-factly. Her monthly spend is ₹7,000 to ₹15,000 on rentals, meals or shared kitchen access, Wi-Fi, electricity, room cleaning etc, though in metros like Mumbai, it was more. Amanda, whose father passed away in December 2015, has her mother and elder sister in the US.

[caption id="attachment_18319" align="aligncenter" width="465"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Hyderabad[/caption]

Work defines her, through her 12 steps. To budget, the 34-year-old relies on auto-rickshaws and buses to sightsee. The startup founder is presently in God’s own country – Kerala - the 12^th and final month of #12StepsToHome.

While her 12-month journey ends on December 31, 2021, the search for home and belonging has come full circle. “I would like to divide my time between Hyderabad and Srinagar next year,” informs Amanda, who just finished reading The Cat Who Saved Books and now switches between The Startup Wife, Destination Wedding and Tokyo Ever After.

A solo woman traveller

As a woman travelling alone, she has had some bad experiences too, one homestay billed her falsely, and after she wrote a bad review, she had to face the police. “In Srinagar, someone followed me to my homestay, and later even followed me to the police station. The homestay was semi-starving (us) tenants - though we were billed for a meal plan – as the landlady was sadistic. The second wave was in full swing, so most shops were shut and sourcing food became a huge issue,” says Amanda, who agrees with Indian comedian and actor Vir Das about “two Indias.”

[caption id="attachment_18320" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Andamans.[/caption]

Of course, Sodhi always has her guard up while travelling. “I have never felt that my life is in danger but eve-teasing saddens me. In Puri, I was uneasy when older men stared and cat-called at a beach. This, I would only go for walks when friends were on a a call with me,” informs Amanda, who grew up watching Hindi films and listening to Indian music.

The entrepreneurial bug

Travel aside, she is a hands-on entrepreneur. “I’m a digital nomad and I have great discipline. I meet client deadlines, irrespective of whether I am traveling or not. I’m simply living in different cities each month, not on a 365-day vacation,” says Sodhi. Interestingly, she had previously enrolled in a few kirtan classes at a local gurudwara, briefly.

Her startup conducted online sessions during the pandemic too. "Writing is therapeutic. We conducted many free creative writing workshops online to help people destress, in addition to our paid programmes. We created a virtual interactive reading and writing group. It is rewarding when people share how these sessions have helped them,” says Amanda. Her company works with interns and freelancers but Amanda does most of the work on her own. “We are a tiny startup, and don't have the budget to recruit a full-time team,” she smiles.

The future is bright

Next on agenda is a book about her 12StepsToHome. “I hope to release it in 2022, and will also release a new single then. I hope to continue to grow Pen Paper Dreams.” She is hoping that the book about #12StepsToHome gets picked up for an OTT project.

[caption id="attachment_18321" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Spiti[/caption]

Earlier in her career, the Indian-American recorded the background score of an Indie film called 5 Souls in 2011, and wrote music reviews for Planet Bollywood which caught the attention of renowned lyricist, screenwriter and poet Prasoon Joshi. He asked her to translate his lyrics into English for his anthology, Sunshine Lanes.

She has penned the lyrics of two songs for Netflix series Made in Heaven, and for the hugely popular — Puppet Life, I Don't Write Sad Songs Anymore, Takiye Pe Sar she composed and sang too.

A tweet by AR Rahman and Kalki Koechlin for her lyrics in the two songs in Made In Heaven thrilled her to bits. She also released three singles earlier — Jigsaw Puzzle, Behind My Sunglasses and MainKhaali that were received well.

Filmi gupshup

As she juggles diverse talents, one must mention her co-written feature film Life! Camera, Action.... with Rohit Gupta. Amanda shared a nomination with him for Best Screenplay at the World Music and Independent Film Festival 2011. Apart from the lyrics of Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar, she wrote and directed two short films — The Dance of Death and Through Bloodshot Eyes.

"The fact that I’ve survived the curveballs life has thrown at me, and haven’t given up on my dreams yet is what gives me maximum joy,” says Amanda, for whom Mindy Kaling, Hasan Minhaj and Lilly Singh are her favourite global Indians.

How Amanda went around India in 12 months
January - Hyderabad
February - Andamans
March - Ooty
April and May - Kashmir
June - Hyderabad / Hampi
July - Manali / Spiti
August - Imphal
September - Puri
October - Chandigarh
November - Delhi
December - Kerala (Wayanad, Alleppey, Varkala)

Follow Amanda Sodhi on Twitter and Instagram

Reading Time: 8 min

Ranjit Singh Veer: The UK bus driver becomes a singing sensation

(February 20, 2023) “Proud to be a bus driver’s daughter.️ His hard work made sure I had every opportunity in the world. Thank you, Dad!” commented Pam Kaur, Ranjit Singh Veer’s daughter as soon as his music video released on YouTube. The family didn’t know at that time that it would go viral. “It was when my friends started messaging, ‘we saw your father on TV and TikTok’, that we realised, whoa! he has gone popular,” remarked his son Jag. UK-based Ranjit Singh Veer loves two things dearly - driving buses and singing. He combined both his profession and passion to come up with a music video. Still, he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would turn into a singing sensation, attracting a fan following from around the world and media coverages from the likes of the BBC. When he set out to create the video, Singh had intended to show his relatives back in India how he spends time with his colleagues while working for the National Express in the United Kingdom. The song, that he penned and sang, celebrates the diversity of his colleagues, his passion for his job, and the significance of health and safety.

colleagues while working for the National Express in the United Kingdom. The song, that he penned and sang, celebrates the diversity of his colleagues, his passion for his job, and the significance of health and safety.

[caption id="attachment_35198" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Indians in UK | Ranjit Singh Veer | Global Indian Ranjeet Singh Veer[/caption]

Singh had hired a video production company to create the sleek music video, featuring him and his colleagues. Before this viral video, his love for singing had led him to create another video two years back titled Corona Journey, which had garnered a lukewarm response. This time his creation managed to touch the chords harder.

Singh who is more comfortable in speaking in Punjabi said in an interview with BBC, “It was my dream to make a music video about my job so that when I retire, I can watch it back as a memento and reflect on how me and my colleagues used to drive buses together.”

The feel-good factor

The video reflects a sense of team spirit and the response has been overwhelming.

I wanted to celebrate the different communities we have at our depot and how we work together as one team. A music video was the best way to do that.

Sung in Punjabi, the music video has been praised for being entertaining while promoting the goodwill, peace and togetherness between people of different creeds and cultures who work together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t1wci2AcdY&t=16s

Singh has been working for the National Express in the UK for 13 years. The video was filmed at one of the company's garages and West Bromwich bus station.

"Our staff really are our greatest assets,” said David Bradford, managing director for National Express West Midlands. “They all work incredibly hard to keep our customers moving, and to see the enthusiasm that they have for their roles in the company is great. Thank you to Ranjit and the team at West Bromwich for putting such a smile on everyone's faces,” he added.

From Malaysia to UK

Before moving to the United Kingdom, the Global Indian worked as a priest at Gurudwara Sahib Butterworth in Malaysia. One of the people who knew him during those days commented on the video reminiscing how he has always been a good singer.

“He was known to perform some of the most beautiful and heart touching kirtans, lots of tears especially during weddings when he sang about daughter leaving her parents. I am tearing up now even 30 years later writing about this. I am so proud of you,” he commented on the video.

[caption id="attachment_35200" align="aligncenter" width="1008"] Indians in UK | Ranjit Singh Veer | Global Indian Ranjit Singh Veer with his colleagues[/caption]

Breaking the language barrier

As the music video topped the charts, people around the world showered their love and appreciation on Singh and the Sikh community. The message conveyed is clear, even though many of his audience don't understand a single word.

“I'm a young English lad living in London. The Sikhs are some of the hardest working people I've ever seen! I want to thank all those who work in the public transport sector regardless of their religion. Your hard work is what allows us to travel safely to work and to see family. Thank you for your efforts and for this beautiful music video!” remarked an overwhelmed British fan.

Overjoyed with his sudden stardom he could not contain his joy. “I am so happy and proud that so many people liked and gave such lovely comments,” the singing sensation told BBC News. “If you put your heart into your work, you will achieve great happiness. I like driving. There is a lot of joy in this job,” he added.

Watch Ranjit Singh Veer's songs on YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

Philippa Kaye: Advancing sustainable tourism through ‘Indian Experiences’

(April 9, 2024) “I live between India and Yorkshire. Two completely different worlds. My heart lies in India, which I’ve specialised in as a destination expert since 1998, my family lives in Yorkshire, I juggle the two,” mentions entrepreneur, consultant, author and public speaker Philippa Kaye. The British national fell in love with India during her first visit and has since explored its vast expanse, including Delhi/NCR, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh, Karnataka, Goa, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. As a destination consultant, Philippa has been facilitating travel to India since the past two decades, and has spearheaded the establishment of Indian divisions for multiple UK-based travel companies like Selective Asia, Unforgettable Travel and Experience Travel Group. Philippa has also lent her expertise to various hotels and Indian DMCs (Destination Management Companies). “My fervour lies in spotlighting 'A different India,' venturing beyond the conventional tourist destinations,” she tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_50611" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Phillipa Kaye[/caption] A gifted writer and author, she has penned a novel, Escape to India. “It is partly my story though I’ve never disclosed which are fact and which are fiction,” she remarks. Moreover, her website Memsahib in

n="aligncenter" width="576"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Phillipa Kaye[/caption]

A gifted writer and author, she has penned a novel, Escape to India. “It is partly my story though I’ve never disclosed which are fact and which are fiction,” she remarks. Moreover, her website Memsahib in India encapsulates her varied experiences in India. That’s not all. She has also contributed to columns in prestigious publications such as The Times of India and Mint.

Rich experiences

In the course of two-and-half decades of her association with India, she has enriched her life and developed lasting relationships.

“I have ridden priceless Marwari horses, been invited to royal weddings, been threatened by the local mafia, trekked mountains, rafted white water, been wined and dined by Maharajas, slept out under the stars, driven vintage cars, got caught up in Holi and ended up with hair dyed a permanent shade of green,” she remarks. “Best of all, I have got to know its people and discovered that in India, anything is possible,” the entrepreneur and author mentions.

[caption id="attachment_50601" align="aligncenter" width="627"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye with ladies in Rajasthan[/caption]

Promoting India through ‘Indian Experiences’

Motivated by love for the diversity and richness of the country, Philippa founded Indian Experiences, a consultancy firm in the realm of the Indian travel trade. The firm helps travel companies to showcase the real India helping them discover more offbeat destinations. It promotes experiences beyond normal sightseeing in mainstream destinations and helps to tailor the services to client demographics.

“We represent experienced providers and specialist, regional and niche travel companies in India with a focus on ethical and sustainable travel,” adds Philippa.

Indian Experiences particularly focuses on empowering women and rural population and actively promotes small companies who are specialists in their fields. The firm believes in the ethos of sustainable tourism. In the process, it creates memorable and sustainable travel experiences by crafting unique itineraries for tourists with the goal of making them return for more such Indian experiences.

[caption id="attachment_50602" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye with ladies in Ladakh[/caption]

“Indian Experiences is now in the process of rebuilding itself post Covid” remarks Philippa. Before the pandemic, the firm had an office in India but now it’s working through associate offices. It has also forayed into tourism in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

India from a British eye

Philippa describes her experiences in her beloved country as “frustrating, illogical, often hilarious, humbling, surreal, but never, ever dull.”

The most challenging part for her is dealing with the bureaucracy. “It is always a challenge, particularly with setting up a business and bank account and also, as I learnt to my detriment, being able to find a good CA who you can trust,” she tells. “Things take longer over here and in business discussions, there’s a lot more nuance than we use in the UK.”

It all started when…

Philippa visited India for the first time in 1998 and explored Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as a part of a six-week recce project for her job – which was for a travel company. After completing her task, she returned to the UK, prepared the brochure and launched the India campaign for the company.

Till date, Kerala and Tamil Nadu hold a special place in her heart – the states that she has visited multiple times since her maiden trip. A strong advocate of meaningful human connections, she still prefers to travel these states with the same driver who she had hired on her first trip to South India.

[caption id="attachment_50603" align="aligncenter" width="829"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye with her dad in India[/caption]

Philippa is happily single but has a loving family staying in the UK. “My brother, sister-in-law, nephews and nieces have all been to India. I also brought my dad over for his first trip when he was 80,” she shares with joy.

Escape to India

Her love for the country led her to write the novel - Escape to India - based on a true story about living in the jungles of central India, and running a safari lodge in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

For Philippa and the protagonist in the book, life in India is ‘extraordinary and exhausting, fascinating and unfathomable but always thought provoking’. “Simple daily tasks that we from first world countries take for granted, can become expeditions in India. The most mundane activity can cause endless causes for frustration or amusement. Life in India has tested me, more than occasionally, but amused me endlessly, perhaps that's just me,” mentions the author.

[caption id="attachment_50605" align="aligncenter" width="499"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye[/caption]

She is in the process of writing three guidebooks on an alternative India. “I am on the lookout for a publisher,” she says.

Giving back

Philippa’s consultancy has supported various NGOs in the country by working with them and encouraging tourists to visit the place. It also offers them free marketing and social media strategies to improve their visibility.

The selection of travel partners by Philippa's firm has always been based on their dedication to supporting local communities. While she is in the process of rebuilding the reach of Indian Experiences, the ethos of sustainable tourism and giving back to the community is not being compromised. “I am focusing on steering it in the right direction,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_50608" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Indian Tourism | Philippa Kaye | Global Indian Philippa Kaye in Rajasthan[/caption]

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The pioneering Parsi adventurers: Indian cyclists who conquered the world

From rugged mountains to bustling cities and serene countryside, cyclists have been embarking on daring expeditions, experiencing the world in a unique and exhilarating way. With each turn of the pedal, they weave through diverse landscapes, discovering hidden gems, and immersing themselves in the beauty of nature and culture. This World Bicycle Day, Global Indian brings you the story of Parsi cyclists who were the pioneers in adventure in India. (June 3, 2023) It was a regular Monday for many Bombaywallas on October 15, 1923, but not so for the Bombay Weightlifting Club which organised a send-off for six of its young members — Adi B Hakim, Gustad G Hathiram, Jal P Bapasola, Keki D Pochkhanawala, Nariman B Kapadia and Rustom B Bhumgara - ready for their first cycling expedition across the globe. In two groups of three, these young Parsi lads left to pursue their dream of travelling the world - something that was unheard of in India at that time. It was this novelty which intrigued these Parsi men. Three years before taking the leap of faith, they had huddled together at Bombay's Oval Maidan in 1920 for a public lecture by a Frenchman who had walked from

Frenchman who had walked from Europe to India. Inspired by the travels of the Frenchman, they were determined to embark on their extraordinary journey that took them through Punjab, Balochistan, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Japan, and South East Asia. It wasn't just the curiosity to explore but the desire to tell the world about India that pushed these men to pedal hard.

In the Bombay of the 1920s, India was reeling under the British Raj and the freedom struggle was slowly gaining momentum in the country. This was the climate in which these seven young Parsi men longed for freedom and adventure – but not without purpose. The daring and intrepid explorers were keen to put India on the global map by pedalling across the world, traversing Amazon rainforests, the Sahara desert and war-torn countries. Driven by their innate curiosity and armed with newly-introduced Kodak film cameras, they embarked on an extraordinary journey. Between 1923 and 1942, they set off on the first-ever expedition by Indian cyclists, putting India on the global map of adventure travellers.

[caption id="attachment_39555" align="aligncenter" width="494"] Parsi Cyclists | Global Indian Adi Hakim, Jal Bapasola and Rustom Bhumgara in Ooty.[/caption]

Scripting history - one pedal at a time

Armed with crude copies of a map, a compass, some layers of clothing, a medicine box, cycle gear, and some money from their savings, these men took off on their adventure on British Royal Benson cycles fitted with Dunlop tyres, however, without letting their families get a whiff of their plans. Fearing opposition, they left quietly. In fact, one family only found out about the world expedition when the men had reached Persia. The journey made these men the first Indian eyewitnesses of strife-torn Africa, the ravages of wars in Europe, and America's Great Depression.

Those long months on the road in extreme terrains and weather conditions weren't easy for these men. But they worked together as a team to keep their dream of exploring the world afloat. Bapasola, adept at reading the map, became the team's GPS on the journey while Bhumgara, an auto mechanic, helped repair cycles throughout the expedition.

Adventure in the unknown

After pedalling for months, of them, Nariman returned to India from Tehran owing to personal reasons, while Gustad decided to stay back in America after being enamoured by the country and its culture. However, the trio of Hakim, Bapasola and Bhumgara continued to pedal 71,000 km over four-and-a-half years across terrains. Some days they went without water and some days without food. Avoiding the sea, they took over some of the most difficult routes that no cyclists had undertaken before. "We wanted to know the world more intimately and to acquaint the world with India and Indians," they said years later. Their expedition had them cross the snow-covered Prospect Point in Ziarat which is 11,000 feet above sea-level to enter Iran and then move towards Baghdad. But it was the journey from Baghdad to Aleppo in Syria that was one of the most treacherous, as they braved sandstorms, parched throats, and temperatures over 57 degrees Celsius. In return, they set a record by crossing the 956 km Mesopotamian desert in just 23 days.

Parsi cyclists | Global Indian

They later sailed to Italy and rode across Europe to reach Britain, and then left for America in the next three weeks, where they cycled 8,400-km across the East to West Coast over five months. Tired, they took the much-needed break when they boarded the cruise to Japan after months of gruelling. Keeping up with their adventure streak, they became the first bikers to reach the 'Hermit Kingdom' of Korea and then moved along China. The last leg of their expedition included cycling through Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma before entering North East India and reaching Mumbai in the March of 1928, where they were received amid applause and garlands.

Their adventures were later inked forever when the trio published With Cyclists Around The World in 1931, which had a foreword by Jawaharlal Nehru. "I envy the young men who have made the book. I too have some of the red blood which seeks adventure; something of the wanderlust that even drives one forward. But fate and circumstances have prevented from satisfying it in the ordinary way – I seek adventure in other ways," he wrote.

Lost and found

But over the decades, their story was lost, until Anoop Babani, a cyclist and former journalist, came across the book in 2017, and upon research found that there were three groups of Parsi men, who over two decades, travelled across the globe. His wife, writer-painter Savia Viegasa, dug deep into their stories as the duo contacted the families of these unsung heroes, and even curated a photo exhibition on the cyclists in 2019 titled Our Saddles, Our Butts, Their World. She realised that the Parsis were the closest to the British, they often took up many allied activities that the British did in India, including love for exploration and adventure. That's one of the reasons that they were the first ones to take on the world expedition, followed by the desire to carry the name of Mother India to far-flung areas.

Parsi cyclists | Global Indian

Inspiring a new generation

Babani found that the cycle expedition trio inspired Framroze Davar, a Parsi sports journalist from Bombay, to set off on a solo cycle voyage. It was after nine months on the road that he reached Vienna where he met Gustav Sztavjanik, an Austrian cyclist, who was so impressed by his journey that he decided to join him, and the two explored the world for the next seven years.

[caption id="attachment_39556" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Parsi cyclists | Global Indian Framroze Davar at Sahara desert[/caption]

"Theirs was the longest, toughest, and most adventurous journey," Babani told Scroll. From pedalling in the Sahara desert and Amazon forests to riding over the Alps and parts of the Soviet Union, the duo braved sandstorms, snow, and the worst weather conditions. At times, the terrain was so thorny that they had to stuff grass in the tyres to push them across. En route, they even contracted malaria. However, it was the ride through the thick forest of the Amazon that was the most challenging part of their journey. "It was their first such trip ever from the West coast to the East coast of South America and took them about nine months,” wrote Austrian author Hermann Härtel in a book on Sztavjanik, adding, "This was uncharted territory and very dangerous. Many explorers before them never made it back out again."

Davar, who covered 52 countries and five continents, ended up penning three books on his travels - Cycling Over Roof Of The World, Across The Sahara and The Amazon in Reality and Romance. According to Scroll, these adventurous stories inspired another group of Parsi men Keki Kharas, Rustam Ghandhi, and Rutton Shroff to cycle the world in 1933. They too covered five continents and 84,000 kilometers, and ended up chronicling their adventures in two books: Pedaling Through The Afghan Wilds and Across The Highways Of The World, where they wrote extensively about being days in a desert in Afghanistan without food and water and were suspected British spies in eastern Turkey.

[caption id="attachment_39554" align="aligncenter" width="715"] Parsi Cyclists | Global Indian Keki Kharas, Rustam Ghandhi and Rutton Shroff in New York[/caption]

These Indian cyclists were not just keen to see the world but also acted as nothing short of brand ambassadors of India at a time when not many dared to take the path unknown. "It has a lot of relevance because sports history is going to become a part of academics. [It also serves as inspiration] for younger people. These cyclists went through such hardships; they made themselves into some kind of superhuman machines, travelling with cycles that did not have the wherewithal to go through the desert heat, for example [they stuffed it with straw to make the tyres last].” These Parsis not only put India on the global map but also showcased the power of human curiosity, resilience, and the transformative potential of travel.

Reading Time: 6 min