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Author: ashokkarania

  • Dhirubahen Patel @ 100

    Dhirubahen Patel @ 100

    Some lives are lived.

    Some lives are experienced.

    And then there are rare lives like Dhirubahen Patel’s — that are celebrated across generations.

    As we approach her centennial year (May 25), an unforgettable evening in Ahmedabad — “સ્મરણો ના સથવારે” (With the Help of Memories) — brought together friends, admirers, and stalwarts of Gujarati literature to celebrate her extraordinary journey. The event was organised by her Bombay friends and fans.

    A Special Evening Where Her Words Came Alive
    Through performances and readings, her creations once again breathed life on stage:
    – Anderi Ganderi Tipari Ten — brought alive by Shri Utkarsh Mazumdar
    – Harishnu Honeymoon — performed by Dr. Preeti Jariwala

    – Ichchavar — a radio play by Sushri Vaishali Trivedi

    -Short story by Shri Deepak Mehta & Dr. Khevna Desai
    -A powerful Bhavni Bhavai rendition by Dr Khevna Desai & Shri Utkarsh Mazumdar
    – Soulful Saraswati Vandana by Sushri Nandita Thakore

    With Shri Kumarpal Desai welcoming the gathering and Sushri Mitra Patel offering the vote of thanks, the evening was not just a tribute—it was a collective remembrance of a life that touched everyone present. Every person in that packed hall had a story with her.
And somehow… she had a story with each one of them.

    More Than a Literary Icon
    Dhirubahen was not just a writer. She was:
    • A creator across every literary form — fiction, plays, films, poetry, translation, children’s literature
    • A custodian of Gujarati language
    • A guiding force behind landmark initiatives like GujaratiLexicon and Digital Bhagwadgomandal
    • And above all, a matriarch who nurtured people, purpose, and possibilities

    As beautifully captured in my journey with her — she wasn’t just a mentor, she was a living institution of wisdom, warmth, and unwavering belief.

    My Personal Pilgrimage with Her

    As I sat there, listening to her words echo again, I found myself revisiting my own journey…
    From Hansraj Wadi (Bombay) meetings to the GujaratiLexicon launch,

    From Bhagwadgomandal digitization to countless conversations over chai…
    From Gokul ice creams to priceless interactions at Ahmedabad

    She was always there — guiding, encouraging, reassuring.
    Her simple words still echo in my mind:
“Thai jashe… It will happen.”

    And somehow, with her blessings — it always did.
    She shaped not just projects, but people.
Not just outcomes, but belief.

    Her wisdom, her maternal affection, her unwavering faith — have left an imprint on my life that words can never fully capture.

    I am certain that somewhere, she and Rati Kaka are already planning the next big project for Gujarati language — perhaps from a universe richer than ours, powered by the same unstoppable love that defined them both here.

    The Legacy Continues

    For those who missed this beautiful evening — there is another opportunity to celebrate her life:
    Gujarati Literary Academy UK Celebrates the Life & Work of Dhirubahen Patel
    April 4, 2026
    Online

    The celebration continues — this time, for Gujaratis across the world.
    A fitting continuation of a journey that refuses to end — because her work, her spirit, and her impact continue to live on… through all of us.

    In Gratitude
    Dhirubahen Patel was not just a literary legend.

    She was a force of culture, a guardian of language, and a beacon of humanity.
    “A life lived thoroughly. A life to celebrate. A spiritual soul whose light lives on in every Gujarati word ever written, spoken, and loved.”

    And for me…

    She will always remain a mentor, a guide, a friend, a Godmother and a spiritual saint

    Forever grateful.
    Forever blessed.

  • Dhurandhar: The Revenge – Ruthless Ranveer Delivers Spectacular Sequel

    Dhurandhar: The Revenge – Ruthless Ranveer Delivers Spectacular Sequel

    First things first — Akshaye Khanna’s swag, his ice-cold swagger as the stylish Rehman Dakait, is deeply missed. In fact, he’s the most present character in the film… through his absence. That’s not nostalgia. That’s star power.

    Dhurandhar: The Revenge has been one of the most hotly anticipated sequels in recent Bollywood memory — and to its credit, it delivers. It comes in guns blazing… and blood spilling.

    Ranveer storms the screen as Jaskirat Singh Rangi from the very first frame—wounded, wild, and unapologetically violent. The story picks up right where it left off, with Hamza diving deeper into the deadly nexus of Karachi gangs, ISI, and terror networks. And then begins the rise as King of Lyari, King of Karachi and Sher-e-Baloch. Not just titles—this is a man dismantling an entire ecosystem of terror, one brutal act at a time.

    The film is unabashedly masculine and brawny — more gore, flying limbs, bazookas, and scorching dialogues, all designed to feed the ravenous hunger of its fanbase. But the near-total absence of songs, no emotional counterbalance and any meaningful feminine presence makes it feel uni-dimensional in stretches. Which is precisely why I respectfully but firmly disagree with Ram Gopal Verma’s claim that this film is 100X better than Sholay. It isn’t even in that conversation.

    The editing is patchy, the detailing inconsistent, and the Bada Saheb character — which promised so much — turns out to be a significant letdown. The film does find its footing again around the interval and builds momentum from there.

    One sequence, however, must be flagged: the brutal beheading-turned-football scene crosses into territory that can only be described as torture porn in its most demonic avatar. Shock value is one thing — this is something else entirely.

    And yet, through all of it, Ranveer Singh reigns supreme. His legendary commitment and physical dedication are on full, glorious display. He doesn’t act. He attacks the role. Every frame screams commitment, madness, and method. Rakesh Bedi as the scene-stealing Jameel Jamali and R. Madhavan as the sharp Ajay Sanyal are both top-notch — no complaints there.

    Dhurandhar 2 Final Verdict Gripping. Gritty. Technically ambitious. Powered by Ranveer madness. But missing the soul and sharpness of the original.

    Worth watching? Go for Ranveer. Enjoy the spectacle. Forgive the rest.

  • The Materialist: The Business of Love

    The Materialist: The Business of Love

    The Materialist: The Business of Love

    First things first: Celine Song’s The Materialist doesn’t quite reach the quiet brilliance of her debut, the magnificent Past Lives. Yet, it’s still a relationship drama worth your time.

    Dakota Johnson (yes, of 50 Shades fame) shines as Lucy, an upmarket New York City matchmaker for the rich and privileged. She approaches romance like an M&A deal, quipping, “Marriage is a business deal and it always has been.”

    Her carefully constructed world collides when she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal) — a charming private equity prince with a $12 million penthouse and impeccable style — at a client’s wedding. At the same event, Lucy’s past resurfaces in the form of John (Chris Evans), her struggling-actor ex who’s working as a waiter. Their breakup years ago, heartbreakingly, was over a parking fee.

    Celine frames Lucy’s dilemma in modern Jane Austen fashion: should she choose the wealthy, flawless suitor or the imperfect, impoverished man who once held her heart? Classic setup, updated for Manhattan.

    The film is peppered with witty (and often depressing) “wish lists” from Lucy’s elite clients — a satirical mirror of transactional love. A side plot also hints at the risks of modern dating.

    Song still delivers memorable moments:

    • Lucy admitting she left John not for incompatibility, but for his poverty.
    • Lucy seduced by Harry’s luxurious lifestyle, yet starved of intimacy.
    • Lucy and Harry, seemingly the perfect match, inevitably drifting apart.

    Dakota Johnson gives a grounded, honest performance. Pedro Pascal oozes charm, while Chris Evans taps into raw vulnerability. The film itself, though, is uneven. The screenplay meanders, and the writing never fully soars.

    Still, Celine’s words resonate: “Love is the greatest mystery in everyone’s lives, and therefore one of the most important themes in cinema.” Couldn’t agree more.

    💡 The Materialist may not be flawless, but it’s a smart, satirical look at the math of love in a material world — and a worthy weekend watch.

    #TheMaterialist #Netflix #WeekendWatch #Romance #RomCom #DakotaJohnson #ChrisEvans #PedroPascal

  • Running a Tesla on kerosene?

    Running a Tesla on kerosene?

    Running a Tesla on kerosene? 🚗⛽
    Streaming Netflix on dial-up? 📺🐌

    So why are you still running your business without leveraging the full power of AI?

    AI isn’t just another social media app or search engine.
    AI isn’t an experiment. It’s not a side project.
    It’s the new engine of growth, disruption, and survival.

    Here’s the hard truth:

    👉 If you’re not building an AI-first business, you’re building a museum
    👉 If you’re not redefining your industry, someone else is writing your obituary

    Digital transformed business.
    Cloud rewired it.
    AI will reinvent it.

    Every business is now an AI business.
    Every leader is now an AI leader.

    The only question is:

    🚀 Will you use AI to redefine your future—or wait until the future redefines you?

    And yes big shout to Tesla and Netflix – They aren’t just brands, they’re disruptors who redefined entire industries. 

    Image Credit: AI 🙂 

  • Bakaiti: Middle Class Mayhem Minus The Gullak Magic

    Bakaiti: Middle Class Mayhem Minus The Gullak Magic

    The struggles of the middle class captured in the new slice-of-life story – the constant bickering, money crunch, and endless family drama. The intent is heartfelt, but it never quite reaches the charm and depth of Gullak, which remains the gold standard in this space.

    The Ghaziabad based Katarias have monetary challenges and the low bank balance impacts all areas of life. They decide to rent out a room in the ancestral property to ease the financial crunch – much to the dismay of extended family members. Educational dreams, teenage crush, property quarrels – all add to the middle class mayhem.

    The Bandish Bandit pair of Rajesh Tailang and Sheeba Chaddha are as reliable as ever and portray the challenges of middle class struggles in touching manner. The nightgown & dupatta wearing Sheeba conveys a lot through her eyes and silence. The sibling squabbles feel authentic, with a nice balance of mischief and underlying love. Aditya Shukla as the younger son Bharat steals the show with his natural charm, and Tanya Sharma (Naina) makes a strong impact.

    Despite these performances, the series struggles to leave a lasting mark. The episodes are short, but the writing feels safe, the humour lacks bite, and the warmth never quite envelops you. The climax arrives abruptly, leaving you wishing for more emotional depth and sharper storytelling.

    Final Verdict: A watchable but forgettable middle-class dramedy. Fine for a casual binge, but don’t expect the Gullak-level heart tugs.

  • Wired for the Future: My Next Chapter with AgenticAI at WinWire

    Wired for the Future: My Next Chapter with AgenticAI at WinWire

    “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin
    And today, that change is powered by Agentic AI…

    As Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI & one of the leading voices in this space, says:
    “We’re going from a world where you have to tell computers what to do, to a world where they do things for you.”

    🚀 Thrilled to announce a bold new chapter – I’ve joined the incredible world of WinWire! 
    Together, we’re going to wire the future – with purpose, with vision, and with Agentic AI at the center of it all.

    🧠 Why Agentic AI?

    The Age of Agency is upon us!

    Agentic AI is the most profound shift in technology & business since the birth of the internet. It’s reshaping how we work, innovate & lead. The future belongs to those who can harness it — boldly, responsibly & strategically.

    🔍 Why WinWire?

    When I asked myself what I truly wanted next, this was my checklist:

    ✅ A platform to build & scale
    ✅ Strategic ownership & creative freedom
    ✅ Brilliant minds to collaborate with
    ✅ The chance to shape the next frontier of AI

    🙏 And then came WinWire — the right mission, the right moment & the right people.

    “Growth comes from investing in growth. Think differently, embrace behavioral change & harness the power of AI.” — Deb Cupp, President, Microsoft Americas

    WinWire stood out as a Microsoft-first consulting leader with an authentic grasp of Agentic AI’s power. No fluff. No AI-washing. Just clarity, conviction, and cutting-edge execution.

    💡 What made me say YES?

    ✨ A culture that breathes people-first, technology leadership, and execution excellence
     ✨ Visionary & humane leadership — Absolutely loved CEO Ashu Goel’s deep thinking, candour & agility. CTO Vineet Arora’s brilliant thought process, tech understanding & humility impressed me beyond measure. 
     ✨ Passionate & compassionate team — Huge gratitude to Kalyan G, Eugene Agresta, Sujata Das, Nitin Shinde & Subba

    At WinWire, I felt immediate alignment — on values, ambition & the shared desire to build something meaningful

    🎯 My Focus at WinWire:

    🔹 Accelerate & scale our Agentic AI GTM playbook to the next level
    🔹 Drive broader adoption of lighthouse use cases & industry-focused solutions
    🔹 Amplify growth with Microsoft field teams & across key verticals
    🔹 Spark conversations, shape narratives & lead with impact

    🌎 The world is shifting. Fast. And I’m fired up to be part of this journey where strategy, innovation & purpose come together.

    If you’re curious about Agentic AI, innovation, or meaningful tech — let’s talk.

    Let’s reimagine what’s possible.

    Let’s wire the future.

    “Hazaaron khwaishein aisi, ke har khwaish pe dam nikle
    Bohat niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle.”
    — Mirza Ghalib

  • “Hum hai raahi pyaar ke, phir milenge chalte chalte…”

    “Hum hai raahi pyaar ke, phir milenge chalte chalte…”

    “Hum hai raahi pyaar ke, phir milenge chalte chalte…”

    Goodbyes are strange.

    They bring flashbacks and memories… smiles and tears… anxiety and gratitude.

    But the circle of life continues.

    I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful people around me — who made saying goodbye the hardest part. It’s the daily interactions we part with, not the eternal connections.

    Thank you for a beautiful farewell — where we relived stories, celebrated memories, and honored the amazing ride we had together.

    🙏 Special gratitude to:

    • Apexon Management & Yatendra – for the belief and acknowledgment in building the Infostretch institution & Apexon journey. Teamwork truly makes the dream work.

    • Harish & Utpal – for your kind words and gracious memories

    • Alliance Rockstars – Kavita & Geetanjali

    • Ignite Superstars – Geetanjali, Pravin, Dr. Heli

    • Wonderful Igniters – Krunal, Anand, Jankit, Xama

    • Buddies Forever – Devangbhai, Milind, Kalpana, Ayushbhai, Paras, Mihir, Sheetal, Chirag, Pranay, Anil & everyone!

    And a heartfelt salute to our silent heroes – the ever-smiling Housekeeping, Security & Admin teams — thank you for the love, affection, and care that touched me deeply.

    • Ashokbhai – for always being there with airport rides and warm smiles

    • Jigar – for your support that kept my energy and focus intact

    • Ramibhai & Security Team – for always watching over

    This isn’t goodbye. Just a “see you later” — with deep gratitude and endless love. 💙

  • The Ignite Life: Sunshine. Smiles. Sukoon

    The Ignite Life: Sunshine. Smiles. Sukoon

    “The purpose of life is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate — to make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

     — Ralph Waldo Emerson

    As I sign off from Apexon after 16 incredible years, I want to pause and celebrate something very close to my heart—Ignite.

    What started as a small idea turned into a movement of compassion.

     A platform where we didn’t just give back—we grew.

     We didn’t just support causes—we created change.

     We didn’t just help others—we found ourselves.

    ✨ Ignite has been a happiness project. Our sunshine corner. 

     From mentoring changemakers to empowering NGOs, from learning with leaders to creating lifelong bonds—Ignite has truly ignited me.

    Thank you Rutesh Shah for igniting the mission and providing unbelievable trust and unconditional support

    To every Igniter who chose hope over cynicism, kindness over convenience—thank you. Thank you Geetanjali Sahni, Pravinsinh Rathod, Heli Z Karvat, PhD, Zil Shah, Krunal Sagan, Jankit Shah, Anand Rohit, Sejal Bavishi, Nitin Nikumbh, Charu Mishra, Kashish, Rohini Chandra

    Thank you Manish Mathuria, Sriniketh Chakravarthi, Anand Kabra, Vinu Venkatesh

    To every NGO partner, colleague, and volunteer who shared your light—thank you.

    Because of you, the world is a better place.

    As I move into the next chapter, Ignite remains a part of who I am—and always will be.

    Here’s to living well—and giving well.

    One Life At A Time!

  • The Incredible Sixteen-Year Journey @ Infostretch & Apexon

    The Incredible Sixteen-Year Journey @ Infostretch & Apexon

    Today marks the end of one of the most defining chapters in my journey.

    After 16 incredible years at Apexon (formerly Infostretch), I sign off with a heart full of gratitude, pride, and purpose.

    In 2009, I walked into the Infostretch office with curiosity, energy, and ideas. The reception desk bore a powerful message by Mahatma Gandhi—“Be the change you wish to see in the world”—and I knew I was at the right place. That message became my mantra.

    Over the years, what followed was nothing short of extraordinary—a journey across continents, business verticals, strategic pivots, and cultural transformation. From startup energy to scaled enterprise; from late-night brainstorms to global partnerships—I’ve had the privilege of helping build something meaningful.

    Infostretch Founders Rutesh Shah & Manish Mathuria gave me complete freedom and encouragement.  With their intellectual humility and supreme trust, they inspired beyond measure. The company was being built with great alignment of vision, mission and values. As Infostretch moved from one orbit to another, I relished the opportunity to take multiple challenges and make a difference. The Infostretch story reached a new peak with the investment backing of Goldman Sachs and Everstone Group to create a strong platform called Apexon, which unlocked a new level of learnings and opportunities.

    Beyond all of these, I am really proud of Infostretch and Apexon for creating the amazing culture, ownership of executing customer’s business vision, winning the customer trust and confidence, and learning from best and brightest minds.

    🔑 5 Timeless Lessons I Carry Forward:

    1. Entrepreneurship = Ownership: Act like an owner, think like a founder.
    2. Excellence is a Habit: Relentlessly chase excellence—success will follow.
    3. Culture Wins: Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch and dinner—but when they align, magic happens.
    4. Leadership Multiplies: Leaders create more leaders. True leaders are humble, secure and rise by lifting others. They elevate, empower and energise people!
    5. Learn. Unlearn. Relearn: Technology business keeps changing and only curious minds with passion for continuous learning thrive successfully. Be lifelong learners! Stay curious, stay humble.

    💡 Highlights & Memories That Shaped Me:

    • Annual planning offsites, night long brainstorming, animated discussions & Bollywood stories
    • Designing new business models for Indian telcos
    • Mobile app development and certification business
    • The making of the Infostretch house
    • European expansion
    • Leading key deals in fintech, payments, and healthcare
    • Building the Global Alliances
    • Spearheading Ignite program: Global giving back & philanthropy program
    • Hosting events like Mobile Monday, Koffee with Karania, Hot Seat, Filmy Fridays, and our legendary Sales Super Saturdays
    • Winning trust, building culture, and co-creating lasting impact with an amazing team

    These are not just career milestones—they’re life moments. They shaped the leader I am today.

    🙏 A Thank You Note From The Heart:

    To all my customers, partners, colleagues and friends – they are the reason that each day of the sixteen years journey was filled with purpose, energy and joy!

    Rutesh Shah for being one of the biggest cheer leaders for me – While he has led with example, showcased passion with compassion and treated everyone with respect, he has been an amazing mentor and guiding light to me.

    Apexon Leaders—Sumitra, Somesh, Sriniketh, Vamsi, Sandeep, Anil, Anand, Vinu—your leadership sharpened mine.

    To my early crew at Infostretch—Manish, Shalin, Pinakin, Avery, Siva, Vipul, Palvinder, Leila, Anil, Padmini, Michael, Kanhai, Deven, Kinjan—we built something beautiful.

    Awesome Champions: Jay, Gaurav, Vaibhavi, Rajesh, Rupal, Chinar, Niraj, Anushree, Bhavana, Aris, Brijal, Avani, Harish, Yatendra, Ankit, Sheetal, Murali, Chetan and others who made this journey joyful!

    Alliance Rockstars: Rama, Adarsh, Kavita, Geetanjali, Prashant, Viveck for creating amazing impact with frugal resources

    Amazing Ignite Team: Geetanjali, Zil, Heli, Pravin, Kashish, Charu and local leaders Krunal, Jankit, Sejal, Anand, who work for a cause and not applause!

    Family & Friends: Aditya, Aangi & Komal & Friends for accepting that Apexon was the fourth family member for 16 years – the one who was part of all our vacations and weekends!

    (If I’ve missed names, forgive me—so many memories flooding in!)

    📖 As I Turn the Page…

    While the celebrated thinker Daniel Kahneman states that we only remember our most intense and concluding experiences – ‘Peak-End Theory’, I remember it all. Because Apexon wasn’t just a job—it was a mission, a family, a journey.

    I leave with no regrets—only deep gratitude, enduring friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose.

    Here’s to new beginnings. To applying everything I’ve learned to what comes next—at the intersection of technology, innovation, and impact.

    Forever a cheerleader and well-wisher of Team Apexon.

    Thank you for the 16-year magic. 🙏

  • Saiyaara: GenNext Musical Melancholy Ignites Romance

    Saiyaara: GenNext Musical Melancholy Ignites Romance

    A Long Post of The Tending Saiyaaraa….

    Saiyaara: Mohit’s Mashup Of Mohabbat, Music & Memories! 

    First thing first: 
    Is Saiyaara worth watching? Yes
    Does Saiyaara connect? Yes
    Is Saiyaara worth the hype? No

    What makes Saiyaara work? 
    Timeless romance, awesome music and fresh talent with strong screen presence

    Dimaag bhool janta hai, dil yaad rakhta hai!

    Saiyaara is an emotional roller coaster that works! The romantic musical drama connects and engages with its authenticity and story-telling! 

    An aspiring and short fused reckless musician meets a talented soft-spoken poet. As they erase their past and heal each other, romance blooms, music flows and life glows. They make new memories but memory itself plays a spoilsport! 

    Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda make a wonderful impact with their performances – both living their characters magnificently! Ahaan is indeed the ray of sunshine. Aneet grows on you. The music is engaging and the songs carry the movie forward fabulously. Saiyaara, Barbaad, Dhun and Tum Ho To are good tracks. The screen play is good with memorable dialogues. 

    Mohit Suri repaints his old movies with Yashraj colors and similar sparklers to create Saiyaara. The movie is based on Korean drama ‘A Moment To Remember; which has inspired Ajay Devgan Kajol starrer U, Me & Hum. Apart from the traces of Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain and other Mohit movies, we see ’50 First Dates’ and Notebook influence as well. Yet Mohit’s doomed love conviction and emotional treatment moves the viewers. 

    The movie is not an all time classic because of the uneven pace. The second half was stretched while many aspects were rushed, unexplained and undercooked. While the nepo kids bashing by Ahaan was smart, calling a dating app Soulmates was out of place. But where love is never perfect, how can a love story be perfect? Love becomes eternal only beyond seeing imperfection, mistakes, rough edges, missteps and lost opportunities – so let’s celebrate the good old-fashioned romance with good music and authentic chemistry! 

    Saiyaara – Watch it!