DK Kapila The Oracle

The Boy Alone. By Dinesh K Kapila This refuses to go away from my mind. I thought perhaps writing it down would help me move on. Its nearly a month since   we travelled on the Sapsan Train from Saint Petersburg to Moscow. The train (Sapsan – a Russian word - is a type of Falcon which flies the fastest) covers the distance of 700 kms in nearly four hours.    We, my wife and I, were ushered in most politely though I was surprised that the luggage of all passengers was passed through the baggage check machines twice. As we settled down, we got chatting and watching the passengers coming in. This particular compartment had seats both ways, starting from each end, at the centre there was a common table with four seats around it, two seats on each side facing each other across the table. We were seated just on the row behind, on the opposite side and could see the table clearly. A young boy walked in, cap pulled tightly over his head, looking for his seat. He realised ...

The Newlyweds Have settled down. DKK I was walking in the park. Very Late. Actually first I slept in the evening. Then after feeling fresh I thought I would exercise but gave up the idea. Then I thought why not go for a walk. Then revised it to a walk cum jog. Then thought some more and ultimately decided the normal long walk was in order. However precious time passed while deciding about the fitness Regime to adopt today. Now to the park. It is quite expansive and lit up at night. I was close to a sharp turn when I heard loud voices. The girl was laughing loudly though in a friendly manner about her husband panting in just one round. As I came closer I realised she was wearing the Chura -the set of bangles traditionally worn by a bride on her wedding day and for a period thereafter, specially in Punjabi weddings. And yeah, I googled the description ! Then she turned serious and simply said in Punjabi, “who eats parathas at night, from today it is dry Chapattis for you and don’t you ...

The Slowdown and GST - One Micro Version Dinesh Kumar Kapila This is rather interesting. I have just been asking around and mostly the small timers, not the small shop keepers but the guys who would have a turnover in the crores range but below Rs 10 crore maximum. Just to know what they say, this is not a study. I just picked up what many such businessmen say, over a period of time. As one worthy explained, with a lot of tired looks (must be his daily talk show with friends) Earlier if you paid tax upfront for say a truck load of cargo, the tax paid upfront would be normally around 4 %. Now the tax as regards GST, if taken as an average of 12 %, means that much more cash is paid upfront while the stock, say a truck load, would be sold over the next three months to four months. The natural course to adopt for many traders / stockists was to scale down orders and in any case minimise over stocking. The trucker, used to loading up a truck for one customer, now finds himself havin...

My Varied Laws Dinesh K Kapila Kapila’s Law of Gardening On a hot day when you water the lawns, the probability of sudden rain or thundershowers within 12 hours goes up by 70 %. Kapila’s Law of Walking When you are out walking, with clouds yet to build up overhead, always remember distant thundering clouds are only to mislead us. If you don’t believe this, then be ready to be wet to the bones. Kapila on Trees to shelter from the rain When you hide under a tree to take shelter from the rain, you will still get wet. Only gradually rather than suddenly. The choice is yours. Kapila’s Law of Offices – Lean Periods Actually there is no lean period. When you feel there is a lean period and sit back to relax and take it easy, multiple tasks or a mini crisis will soon descend upon you.   Or God Forbid, a Video Conference. Kapila’s Law of Good Looking Women at Airports It’s a fact. If a good looking lady enters an airport at the same time as you did, has the security...

Just Stories from some Farmer Producers Companies Dinesh K Kapila It’s been a long lazy day.   I had a rather long walk, found it most refreshing and idly watched the birds fly by ever so effortlessly across a blue sky. While walking (you must realise that walking can be boring, the mind has to focus on an issue) I just suddenly realised that the farmers, specially the section of astute leaders of farmer producer companies, we can or rather we do address them as directors are gradually but certainly   picking up the norms and various intricacies of the business end of the agriculture sector. There is a change in the offing, maybe slow, maybe scattered, maybe just evolving but on some fronts the changes are there and it is encouraging. Ofcourse I write with a limited exposure in terms of geography and interaction.    I would not like to share names or locations but certain incidents which indicate the changes as above I plan to share today. I heard an interes...

A Vision in Red Dinesh K Kapila (I wrote this at Srinagar, around 2015. Maybe November. Retrieved it. I was in my Car with the Driver returning from the Agriculture University, some things you just recollect. Always. It’s just there in the mind). She was a vision in red and flashed past my eye. On a very cold, windy. sunless day she stood out. Young, fair, waif like and from a distance looked so young and innocent, ever so happy and so very pretty as she clung to the arm of her hubby (I only presume this !). She was dressed in a bright red shirt, short sleeves and with a light pink stole thrown around her shoulders. This was set off against what seemed like light black well styled trousers. The hubby atleast was in a blue cardigan though I really don't recall the colour except that he wore something warm. They looked so lost in themselves. An island of warm happiness on a cold windy dreary day. And the photographer was clicking away, I glanced back and remember thinking atleast ...

Note - Agri Start Ups – TIECON – 16/02/2019- by Dinesh K Kapila Thanks to The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) for organising this day long   celebration of entrepreneurship. We would like to associate with this sector as it evolves and are associated with this sector.         1.        This event is very relevant for our nation today. As it brings together major stakeholders and domain experts (excluding me !) both practicing and academicians to discuss & deliberate on this important sector. I would be primarily focusing on Agri entrepreneurship. A.    NABARD in General Since I am present as a NABARDIAN, a short introduction about us before we go the subject proper. However I have drawn upon essentially my experience and knowledge and consultations on this subject and the views flow from that primarily.   2. NABARD is the apex Statutory Financial Institution for Agriculture and Rural Development with...