Ghost at the Door: Fear or Faith

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Raghav stood in the middle of the party hall, a mental clipboard clutched to his chest like a shield. Outside, the Bengaluru evening was soft and still, but inside Raghav’s head, a storm was raging. He was an organizer for a Bhajan Sandhya, yet he wasn’t feeling the divine bliss; he was feeling the “what-ifs.” He had turned a spiritual gathering into a military operation, spending weeks locked in combat with phantoms that didn’t exist outside his own skull.

Unreal Devils of Own Mind

He had spent his days meticulously constructing catastrophes out of thin air. He worried that the audience may not appreciate this or critique that, percussion player might lose the beat or a singer sings out of tune, convinced that such minor slips would invite public mockery and make it difficult for him to continue living in the community. He imposed a rigid, suffocating schedule and spreadsheet cells-like boundaries on what could one sing and what photos can be placed, where should every lamp be placed and so on. He mistook these internal scripts for external reality, failing to realize that the world was far too busy worrying about its own reflection to notice the slight tilt of his floral garlands.

As the singers began a soulful chants & bhajans and the room filled with bliss of Bhakti, Raghav remained paralyzed. He didn’t sit; he didn’t sing. Instead, he kept peeping out of the door, checking the corridor for imaginary problems as if the universe were plotting his downfall. He was standing before a door he was certain was locked—the door to true spiritual connection—never realizing he hadn’t even bothered to turn the handle because he had already envisaged the rejection behind it.

The cold, refreshing truth finally hit him when he saw an elderly woman in the front row, eyes closed and lost in the music. She wasn’t judging the acoustics or his clipboard; she was simply existing in the moment. Raghav realized his brain was wired for survival rather than happiness, inventing “devils” to hide from because the neutral truth felt too vulnerable. He took a breath and labeled his thoughts as passing scripts rather than absolute truths. He failed to chose action over analysis and to sit down to join the chorus, so that the ghosts can vanish.

Bhakti is Bliss-Free from Boundaries

The world was wide, open, and Raghav refused to stop being his own ghost.

A friend not connected to Art of Living but who participated in the Bhajan Sandhya sent these lines – a perfect depiction of the state of his mind and the prescription thereof.

मन के शोर में उलझा था मैं, व्यर्थ के जाल बुने, अनहोनी के डर से मैंने, अपने ही शत्रु चुने। हाथ में कागज, दिल में धड़कन, द्वार पे थी मेरी नजर, भूल गया था उस ईश्वर को, जिसे ढूँढने आया था इधर।

वो नियम बनाए, वो सीमाएँ बांधी, जैसे कोई जंग हो, भूल गया कि भक्ति वही, जो पूरी तरह बेरंग हो। जब देखा उस बूढ़ी माँ को, जो सुध-बुध अपनी खोई थी, तब जाना कि मेरी चिंता, बस एक झूठी लोरी थी।

छोड़ दिया वो कागज़ मैंने, छोड़ दिया हर एक हिसाब, मन का पर्दा हटा तो देखा, खुला हुआ है नया अध्याय। अब न कोई डर बाहर है, न भीतर कोई साया है, सच्चा भजन तो वही है राघव, जो तूने खुद में पाया है।

To be an instrument is to realize that you are a vessel, and a vessel can only pour what it contains. If your internal world is a landscape of chaos and tension, then stress is the only currency you have to offer those around you, no matter how much you might try to mask it with kind words. True service isn’t about draining yourself to the point of depletion; it is about the law of overflow. You must cultivate a surplus of peace and happiness within yourself so that your contribution to the world becomes an effortless radiation rather than a forced chore. That is Art of Living

Drop the Clipboard-Enjoy the Moment

When you prioritize your own inner clarity, self-care stops being a luxury and becomes a fundamental responsibility to the people you love. An out-of-tune instrument cannot produce a harmonious melody, and an empty cup cannot quench anyone’s thirst. By guarding your intake and keeping a constant inventory of your emotional state, you ensure that what spills over from your life into the lives of others is worth receiving. Ultimately, the quality of your presence is your greatest gift, and filling yourself with light is the only way to truly illuminate the path for others.

Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji often reminds followers to look in the mirror every morning and give themselves a cheap smile. If your smile is expensive and your anger is cheap, you are an instrument of stress. He advocates for meditation and Sudarshan Kriya as the tuning process—daily practices that clear the dust from the instrument so that you can radiate your true nature, which he defines as Love, Joy, and Peace.

Be an advocate of the Guru to the World not the Other way?
It is not just about Capability, it is more about Availability

Post-Script – The Mic Drop Moment for us

What a turnaround! It was a classic case of “Man proposes, God disposes.” Despite all the gatekeeping and the laundry list of conditions, the universe (or a very insistent lady) clearly had other plans. It’s often those who try hardest to control the environment who end up looking the most surprised when things unfold naturally. There is a certain poetic irony in someone being so worried about opposition only for a total stranger to be the one to break the rules immediately.

Upon insistence of so called “problematic” audience – A background that we Love

True spiritual power often operates on a level that completely bypasses the friction of human logistics. There are moments when the collective energy of a Satsang or a sacred gathering becomes so immense that it simply swallows up an individual’s administrative anxiety, making the usual rules feel suddenly small. When a guest with no official ties makes an unexpected request, they effectively sidestep the internal devils of the gatekeepers putting him in a difficult spot; the conditions guy finds it nearly impossible to argue with a sincere outsider without creating a disruptive scene that would break the very sanctity he’s trying to protect. For those watching with faith, this isn’t just a lucky break—it is divine synchronicity. It serves as a sharp, beautiful reminder that the Guru’s presence is never a prisoner of human permission or red tape.

Never worry about Opposition. When even a complete stranger insists on Gurudev’s presence, it’s clear who is actually running the show! Despite all careful planning and conditions, the guest of honor found His own way into the room. Some things are just meant to be, no one can stop that. A gentle reminder for life –

Grace doesn’t follow a checklist

History is a reference point, not a life sentence

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Despite an early morning commitment, I could not help but stay awake (with benefit of hingsight no regrets) to watch my Favourite Brand in Action – “Royal Challengers Bengaluru” Be it men or women team, the brand has a loyal fan following, the largest one for any club in the league. Nothing to do with playing on Home ground which they did not in WPL2026. The icing on the cake was the result that I always pray for. When RCB (WPL) won the title in 2024, it ended a 17 year wait for the franchise (including both men and women) to lift the 1st cup and immediately following this RCB men’s team lifted the maiden title too.

But this post is not about the earlier victories but what happened last night and the lessons we can learn from it.

With 5 consecutive victories and 1st team to make the play-off’s, Eee Sala Cup Namdu wasn’t just a slogan this time. It was an inevitability. And then a minor blip losing 2 matches when just a victory would have ensured direct entry into finals. Neverthless it happened when it mattered the most. A convincing victory over UPW with Captain leading the way.

Twelve months ago, the jokes were the only thing louder than the cheers. We all know the narrative: “Great on paper, heartbreak on grass.” For seventeen years, that was the script. That was exorcised in the previous season when Smriti Mandhana’s side lifted the trophy and took that victory lap. But last night, as the RCB Women lifted their second consecutive WPL trophy, they didn’t just win a tournament; they permanently killed a ghost – erasing the narrative on being Paper Tigers and Popularity only off the field.

For years, the joke was that RCB lived on vibes and hope, but as Smriti Mandhana walked out to the middle last night after an early loss of Grace Harris, you could see something had shifted. This wasn’t the Smriti of the old, nor was it RCB of old. She simply dismantled the bowling hitting a crisp 87 (2nd time she missed out on a definite maiden century) while navigating the weight of huge expectations of largest fanbase, and her game screamed that resilience isn’t loud. It’s the quiet confidence of someone who has spent the last year refining their craft in the shadows. Smriti didn’t just play for the Orange Cap (which eventually she won with 377 runs added to her kitty) – she played like a leader who knew that winning once is a feat, but winning twice is a statement.

The real magic, however, happened in those middle overs. When the required rate climbed, Georgia Voll didn’t flinch. She proved to me that success is a relay race. A leader can set the pace, but you need a team that trusts the process enough to carry the baton through the exhaustion. They didn’t panic, they put on 165 runs in quick time, as if they had a blueprint (I doubt, if they had any other than the mental blueprint that said WIN).

Partnership that did it for RCB

They had turned their 2024 win from a lucky break into a repeatable system of excellence proven by the fact that RCB(WPL) became the first Team in the history of WPL, where that Table Topper lifted the Championship trophy.

Not to forget, friendly and affable looking Lauren Bell – who conceded below 20 runs in her quota of overs, when over 400 runs were scored in the match. She bowled like a champion throughout. Heartening feature was 5 different Players won the Player of the Match awards for RCB, which is a testimony to this victory being a truly team effort. Each match threw up a new star who put their hands up to perform.

Lauren Bell who bowled 128 Dot Balls in WPL2026

Watching them celebrate under the stadium lights, I realized that their back-to-back dominance isn’t just about talent. It’s a masterclass in shifting a losing culture and making Victory, their second nature. In the first season, the pressure of the brand seemed to weigh them down. Every mistake felt like a confirmation of the old curse. But something changed in the way Smriti and the team approached the game this season. The team stopped playing “not to lose” and started playing like they owned the ground. They traded the desperation for a calm, clinical edge that looked more like an elite machine than a struggling underdog.

When success, especially the one that repeats, isn’t a fluke. It’s what happens when you stop listening to the noise of the past and start focusing on the discipline of the present. They proved that the “Choker” label is only permanent if you choose to wear it. When the winning runs via a boundary was hit (even that was filled with drama, a suspected hit-wicket, replays confirmed it was Keeper Lee’s gloves tipping the bails inadvertently) it wasn’t just about a trophy. It was a masterclass in proving that character is built in the comeback. From being the league’s underdogs to becoming its first true dynasty, the RCB Women showed us that if you fix your culture, the results eventually take care of themselves. If you want to change the result, you have to change the identity first. RCB Girls did exactly that.

Bails coming off at the striker’s end as Radha Yadav hit the winning boundary. To everyone’s relief it was DC wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee had dislodged the bails with her gloves.

Finally, tipping my hat to Leader par excellence, Smriti Mandhana. She entered this tournament facing immense personal challenges and scrutiny. Instead of letting it derail her, she channeled it into her best-ever season, bagging the Orange Cap. Salutes, Smriti – You just lived up to what True leadership is about – showing up when it’s hardest. Your team drew strength from your persistence, not from your perfection.

Ee Sala Cup Namde-2

Footnote
What I still don’t appreciate is 2nd class treatment of WPL which is equally a money spinner for BCCI. What else explains a final played bang in the middle of a week whereas the whole International schedule is drawn out contingent on IPL Schedule – Finals definitely is on a Sunday. Hope this is remedied soon and the WPL gets its rightful recognition at par with IPL.

From Certificates to Craft: Confronting the Silent Killers of Indian Skilling

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This is in continuation with my earlier article Degree is the Usher at the Door, Only Skill keeps you in the Room which related to huge amount of unspent funds budgeted for Skill Development in India. You can click on the link to read the same. Thanks to Ms Sheila for capturing the entire 4 hour talk delivered yesterday for a particular Skill Development Institution and sharing it with me. The content is mostly unedited and shared directly. This part was focussed on Remedies to the problem. Here we go…

While the government focuses on outlay (money) and enrollment (numbers), the quality of delivery—the actual human interaction between trainer and student—is where the system often collapses. I call these factors the Silent Killers of the Indian skilling ecosystem.

A sharp look at the structural decay that is described above and how it’s being (or not being) addressed:

In many ITIs and other skill training centers, instructors are permanent employees or long-term staff who haven’t stepped onto a factory floor in 10–15 years. They are teaching Industry 2.0 concepts (even that, theoretical) to a generation that needs to work in Industry 4.0. A Certified Trainer is often just someone who passed a 10-day Training of Trainers (ToT) program. As noted earlier, they may have the certificate, but they lack the muscle memory of the trade. Author suggests to strongly push for Dual System of Training (DST) and Flexi-MoUs, where industry experts are invited to teach, and trainers are sent back to factories for refresher stints.

Cannot Teach Industry 4.0 with Industry 2.0 Theory
PC: Gemini

It would be incomplete if we don’t address the elephant in the room. The Leadership with Topline vs. Pedagogy approach

Many private Training Institutions  operate like factories. Their Topline is the number of enrollments they can claim fees for or for government subsidies; their Bottom line is the cost-cutting on equipment and low trainer salaries. As a result, Training becomes a rote exercise for compliance rather than an educational one. If the leadership doesn’t understand pedagogy (the how of teaching), they view simulators and modern labs as unnecessary expenses rather than essential tools.

Though The NCVET (National Council for Vocational Education and Training) has started de-linking and de-affiliating thousands of non-performing affiliated centers (over 400 ITIs recently), there is a long way to go in attaining targeted results. Pertinent to note here that even NCVET also is a body of academics from the existing system who refuse to see beyond the academic box.

Coming to the Assessors, the other important cog in the wheel, most often the person training and the person assessing were often “friendly” to a detrimental level. While being friendly is a great characteristic to have in a training context, I am emphasizing this trait leading to inflated pass percentages that didn’t reflect actual skill. Same issue of lack of industrial exposure persists with Assessors too. In my personal experience, have witnessed assessors coming in to assess trainees who underwent high precision manufacturing and assessor who was seeing a CNC for the first time and had no clue about what the trainees were doing. He had no abilities to create real assessment criteria (like tampering the code and getting trainee to fix it). In the end, it was easy to steam roll him into “submission” Unless assessor have the ability to ensure that a student can actually do what the certificate says, this again is an exercise in futility.

In the Indian community, a Guru  is traditionally respected, but in skilling, they are often underpaid and undervalued. Until the Trainer is treated with the same prestige as a Professor, the quality will remain a detail that everyone ignores.

Here is a Pedagogy-First model designed to ensure that a skilling institute transforms from a certificate factory to a center of excellence. This addresses the issue by forcing leadership to value the craft as much as the cash flow.

A blueprint for pedagogical excellence begins with shattering the stale trainer syndrome. To keep technical expertise sharp, institutes must move away from static, lifetime roles. This starts with Mandatory Sabbaticals, requiring every trainer to spend thirty days every two years on a live industry floor to refresh their technical muscle memory. This is bolstered by the 70:30 Rule, where thirty percent of curriculum delivery is handed over to active visiting practitioners. By bringing current shop-floor language into the classroom, the institute ensures that students aren’t learning yesterday’s news. To drive this home, trainer incentives should be decoupled from seniority and instead linked directly to the placement retention rates of their graduates.

The heart of this model lies in Radical Pedagogy, summarized by the “Show, Don’t Tell” rule. Leadership must shift focus from PowerPoint decks to practical mastery, enforcing a strict 20:80 ratio—twenty percent theory and eighty percent hands-on workshop time. Assessment undergoes a similar revolution; written exams are replaced by Job Simulations. In this environment, a student does not pass by merely describing a motor; they pass by fixing a broken one under the pressure of a timer. Furthermore, peer-to-peer learning integrates leadership training into the technical grind, as senior batches mentor juniors to sharpen their communication and soft skills.

True institutional change, however, requires Leadership Accountability that looks beyond the balance sheet. Governance must treat financial health as a byproduct of quality, not cost-cutting. This means the Board of Directors must review Employer Satisfaction Scores with the same scrutiny as financial statements seriously. To prevent a disconnect from the ground reality, leadership should conduct Shadow Student Audits, spending one day a month in the labs to experience the quality of equipment and instruction firsthand. Financially, this commitment is solidified by legally earmarking some percent of annual revenue for equipment upgrades to stop obsolescence in its tracks. Finally, the system is secured by a rigorous Assessor Integrity Protocol. To eliminate the possibility of grace marks or bias, external assessors must have zero prior contact with training staff. Every final practical assessment is then backed by Video-Log Evidence, ensuring each skill was actually demonstrated and digitally archived for audit. Through these layers of industry immersion, practical obsession, and administrative transparency, an institute transforms from a mere school into a powerhouse of employability.

PC: Gemini

This approach would help an institute in more ways that one. Topline will naturally grow because the Brand Equity of their graduates will become the best marketing tool. When a Skill Certificate from a particular institute guarantees a Salary premium (higher starting salary compared to other graduates), the Aspirational Value takes care of itself.