Sights. Sounds. Scents

Exploring Our Neighbourhoods

As I transition to a new teaching semester in the current academic year, it is time to start focusing on the lost art of crafting a good resume. And as usual, I would return to this piece of fantastic and practical suggestions from Wisława Szymborska- Polish poet, essayist, translator and recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Literature. Here are the important parts.

Regardless of the length of life
a résumé is best kept short.

Concise, well-chosen facts are de rigueur.
Landscapes are replaced by addresses,
shaky memories give way to unshakable dates.

Memberships in what but without why.
Honors, but not how they were earned.

Write as if you’d never talked to yourself
and always kept yourself at arm’s length.

‘Writing a Résumé’ – Wisława Szymborska

This and other things were also discussed during a short interaction with Ashish Pandey who discussed the transformation in health care via the emerging B2B platforms like Connect and Heal - CNH Care- a healthcare startup providing holistic outcome-focused, patient-centric care

We would love to host more industry guests in the forthcoming semester. Do get in touch if you would like to participate or recommend a friend/colleague.

DTW

During the Week, the Heritage Walk Festival organised by the Delhi Tourism Department was inaugurated and would run till 31st December 2024. I have always been a huge fan of walking tours to explore cities and never miss a chance to walk around to see and absorb the sights, sounds and scents of places.

Last fortnight, as my family and I wandered through the cobbled paths to the Forts of Goa and other heritage sights, I was reminded of how truly enriching outdoor experiences can be. Goa, with its lush landscapes, the sound of the sea, and the scent of earthy late monsoons showers, exemplifies how outdoor travel rebuilds connection not just to nature, but to each other. Similarly, the annual treks I undertake in the Garhwal Himalayas offer a different, more rugged kind of immersion – one where every breath feels earned, and the grandeur of the mountains speaks louder than any city skyline.

Reflecting on these experiences, it's clear that outdoor travel—whether it’s a family vacation, a trek, or even an ultra-running event—is transforming the way we connect with our surroundings. It’s now about being Private, Proximate, and Personalized, and platforms play a critical role in curating, matching, and crowdsourcing these experiences.

Private:
During my recent Goa vacation, we opted for an experience away from the more crowded tourist timings by visiting the beaches early mornings and the forts soon after. Similarly, on my annual Garhwal treks, we often choose secluded routes recommended through adventure platforms, ensuring a private and deeply personal connection with nature. The quiet rush of the Ganga River tributaries or the distant echo of temple bells is amplified in these private, curated spaces where the sounds of nature are the only companions.

Proximate:
In most of our travel, we keep our activities local, discovering hidden gems within a short radius of our stay. The beaches, trails, and forest walks were all found through crowdsourced platform or friends’ recommendations—highlighting the power of proximate travel. It’s not always about heading to far-flung places; sometimes, beauty is just a few miles away, waiting to be discovered. The same goes for my running routes where we keep discovering scenic and/or challenging terrains in neighbourhood.

Proximate travel makes it possible to rediscover what's just around the corner, often through a platform's careful curation of community feedback and insights.

Personalized:
Whether it’s choosing a run through the serene backroads of Goa or planning an ultra-marathon vacation, the ability to personalize outdoor experiences has become essential. Platforms now allow us to tailor trips based on preferences for sights, sounds, and scents. When I prepare for my treks in the Garhwal Himalayas, I look for high-altitude routes that challenge me while offering pristine, personalized views of the mountain ranges. On the flip side, during my Goa trip, I sought out coastal trails where the scent of sea salt lingered and the sound of waves provided a soothing backdrop. Personalized suggestions, based on user feedback from platforms, ensure that every run, trek, or vacation is deeply aligned with individual tastes.

Platforms today bridge the gap between curiosity and experience, offering more than just recommendations—they create immersive opportunities. Whether you're embarking on a challenging ultra-run, planning a family vacation, or heading to the Himalayas for a soul-enriching trek, the outdoors provide a Private, Proximate, and Personalizedsanctuary. And with platforms crowdsourcing and curating these experiences, we are only ever a few clicks away from our next great adventure, whether that’s in the hills of Uttarakhand or along the sun-kissed shores of Goa.

OTW

Over the Weekend, the Sights of vibrant decorations, the Sounds of traditional music and chants, and the Scents of incense and festive food filled the air during Durga Puja at PBEL City, weaving together a rich, sensory celebration that united our community.

The week-long Durgotsav 2024 at PBEL City symbolize the spirit of unity, joy, and cultural heritage. As families and friends gather for rituals, festivities, and shared moments, the community comes alive in celebration, fostering lifelong bonds and friendships. The culmination with the idol immersion on Saturday evening brings a deep sense of fulfillment, as we bid farewell to Maa Durga, cherishing the memories and the togetherness that enrich our lives. Great work by the Team PBEL Sanskritik Samiti.

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting Shashi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of AkshayaKalpa, alongside Naveen K L and Aru. Shashi's work is centered around empowering small and marginalized farmers through rural entrepreneurship, transforming agriculture into an inclusive and sustainable venture. Our discussion revolved around creating experiences for young people to build empathy with farmers while learning about the shift toward organic, sustainable, and digitally-enabled agriculture. Shashi shared valuable insights on how digital transformation, from farm management tools to supply chain platforms, is helping small farmers gain autonomy and improve their livelihood.

His vision aligns with our collective goal to inspire the next generation to appreciate and engage with rural entrepreneurship while recognizing the immense value of organic and sustainable farming practices. This meeting reinforced my belief in the potential for meaningful change through grassroots efforts and digital innovation in Indian agriculture. Looking forward to more collaborative engagement over next semester of course work at IBS Hyderabad.

Here is to more engaging experiences and experiential learning opportunities for all of us.

I Love You

Shailendra