[Reader-list] On my view of Nandan Nilekani

[Taha Mehmood]

Dear Bipin and AK Malik,

I wish to draw your attention to the craftsman argument. All craftsmen
aspire to perfect their craft. Only a very careful process of internal
evaluation of life opportunities can lead them towards their goal.
Perfection requires practice. Perfection requires focus. Perfection
requires sorting out of all that which is not necessary.

To me, Mr. Nandan Nilekani's life appears lonely. As I have said
yesterday to me he appears like a yogi. A person who has devoted his
life to nirantar abhyaas and vairagya. This process requires a
constant movement in one direction. Which can only happen if you keep
asking questions which makes you focus in one direction only. All
craftsmen abide by their questions.

A surgeon might live his life by asking how can I make the most
perfect incision, a batsman may battle with a question like- how can I
perfect my straight drive, a lawyer might struggle with a question
like- how can i present the most irrefutable argument  and so on. you
tell me,

how had Mr. Nandan Nilekani might have last thirty years of life?

He appears to have invested thirty precious years of this life
assiduously tending, cultivating, honing, perfecting his soul, his
outlook, his feelings towards only one thing. Which is the art of
harvesting wealth.

He started with 1200 rupees, he ends with more than a thousand million
dollars. He has emerged as a master craftsman.

What sort of questions he might be battling with on a day to day basis
in this period?

Just think about it!

Warm regards

Taha