Beyond Layoff

Stealth help books are a genre of literature that focus on providing assistance and support to individuals and organizations without drawing attention to oneself. These books offer strategies and techniques for providing covert support, often with the goal of empowering the recipient to become self-sufficient. One popular book in this genre is "The Stealth Mentor" by Dr. Roger Firestien. This book provides a step-by-step guide for mentoring others without them even realizing it. It covers topics such as how to provide constructive feedback, how to build trust, and how to recognize opportunities for growth. Another notable book is "Stealth Philanthropy" by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen. This book provides an in-depth look at the world of anonymous giving and how it can be used to make a positive impact in the world. It covers the history of stealth philanthropy, the ethics of anonymous giving, and how to create an effective stealth philanthropy strategy.  "The Stea

The other day, I came across the story of a 21-year-old boy, Sanjay, who had hanged himself from the ceiling fan in his room after his Australian student visa application was rejected. This story highlights the deep-rooted aspiration among a segment of middle class that wants to leave Indian shores. And sometimes the price to pay for it is simply too high.  Many Indian youth feel that going abroad is a way to escape the intense competition for jobs and career opportunities in India. The sheer number of youngsters graduating from high-schools aspiring for a limited number of seats in the professional educational institutions filters out a large percentage of students. The reservation policies adopted and enhanced by successive governments at central and state levels further exacerbate this sense of anguish when youth from “general merit” category is planning for their future. It starts with reservation for college and professional courses and continues through filtering for career o

The office of the President of India has been graced by people with unique backgrounds, many of whom overcame seemingly unsurmountable odds. A generation of Indian youth were enamored by the technocrat turned president, APJ Abdul Kalam who rose from a rather humble background. The story of President Draupadi Murmu is no less inspiring. Earlier this year, Indians were in awe when we heard news of a Dalit woman from the tribal hinterland was to be elected as the President. Ms. Murmu hadn’t been active in national politics and like many in India, I was intrigued to know more about the leader from Odisha who was to become the president of the largest democracy in the world. I was fascinated as I began reading up on President Murmu and her background. She is a woman from a highly oppressed and backward ‘Dalit’ community from a tribal belt. Many of us in urban India accustomed to a cosmopolitan way of life, cannot comprehend the parochial, cast-based oppression that continues to permea