NEW YORK -- Over 30 Indian-origin innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders have been featured in the 2017 edition of Forbes' list of super achievers under the age of 30, who seek to break the status quo and transform the world.
The Forbes list has 30 game changers in 20 industries including healthcare, manufacturing, sports and finance.
It says the 600 in the list are challenging the conventional wisdom and rewriting the rules for the next generation of entrepreneurs, entertainers, educators and more. They are the passionate and formidable bunch and for good reason. Their goal is nothing short of breaking the status quo and transforming the world.
The group has over 30 men and women who are of Indian-origin and are making a mark in their fields.
The list includes 27-year-old Vivek Kopparthi, co-founder of NeoLight that has developed a phototherapy device that is portable for use at home for jaundice.
The company is also working on a second tool to treat infant hypothermia.
Prarthna Desai, 27, left her Harvard graduate school programme to use drones to get medication to people in the developing world.
In her operations role at the healthcare company Zipline, she is leading efforts to integrate the medicine- delivery-by-drone service with the healthcare system in Rwanda.
Shaun Patel, 28, is the orthopaedic surgery chief resident at Harvard Medical School and has dozens of scientific publications in surgery journals.
His company, OrthoNinja, aims to streamline communication between doctors by creating a mobile app that allows doctors to consult with one another.
Rohan Suri, 17 is the founder of Averia Health Solutions and has developed an improved concussion test.
In the law and policy category is 27-year-old Varun Sivaram, Acting Director: Energy Security and Climate Change in leading think tank Council on Foreign Relations.
Sivaram completed his PhD at Oxford University and is on the advisory boards for Stanford's energy and environment institutes.
He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University teaching "clean energy innovation" and previously, he advised Hillary Clinton's campaign on energy policy.
In manufacturing and industry, Neha Gupta, 28, played a role in the sale of Beats by Dre to Apple.
She manages manufacturing and supply chain for DAQRI, which makes augmented reality headsets to improve safety and efficiency for industrial workers.
Featured in the social entrepreneur's category is Aditya Agarwalla, 23, Co-founder of Kisan Network, The Princeton University dropout co-founded the Kisan Network, which is an online marketplace for small-scale farmers in India.
In the sports, category is Akshay Khanna, 29, Vice President of Strategy for American football team Philadelphia 76ers.
Among the top guns in the venture capital sector is Anarghya Vardhana, 28, who joined the firm Maveron after spending a year at Rothenberg Ventures, where she launched a virtual reality accelerator and sourced and made seed investments in a dozen startups in the virtual reality space.
Akshay Goyal, 28, is the Vice President of Starwood Capital.
The youngest vice president in Starwood's history when he was promoted at the age 26, Goyal focuses on hotel acquisitions and has helped drive over $7 billion in deals.
Recently he helped sell a portfolio of 240 US hotels to China Life for $2 billion.
In the consumer technology sector is Ajay Yadav, 29, who is the founder of Roomi, a startup app that lets users find the right roommate to live with, chat with each other, search for listings, apply for an apartment and pay rent.
New York-based Roomi has raised $7 million to date.
NEW DELHI -- Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said she favours a pre-poll alliance with the Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav, and that she is ready to step aside as Congress chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh.
"I am in favour of an alliance with the SP. I am ready to withdraw from contention as CM candidate if there is an alliance," Sheila Dikshit told the media.
"Akhilesh Yadav is a much better chief ministerial candidate than me. Would be happy to step aside for him," Dikshit added.
The senior Congress leader said nobody in her party had spoken to her about a possible alliance in the state where elections will be held in seven phases from 11 February.
There have been speculations about ongoing parleys between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party for alliance in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly elections.
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa will elect new assemblies between 4 February and 8 March.
Uttar Pradesh -- the country's most populous and politically significant state -- will go to elect its 403-member state assembly in seven phases: 11 February (73 seats), 15 February (67 seats), 19 February (69 seats), 23 February (53 seats), 27 February (52 seats), 4 March (49 seats) and 8 March (40 seats).
In a rather macabre tactic to enlist votes, the Bharatiya Janata Party sent out a letter from a deceased BJP councillor to voters in the Thevally ward of Kollam district in Kerala, which saw a by-election on Wednesday.
The News Minute reported today that the BJP sent out a letter from Kokila S Kumar, its 23-year-old councilor, who died in September. Her mother B Shailaja, who had worked with the BJP for the past 25 years, was chosen to contest the vacant post.
The News Minute carried a translation of the letter, written in first person, bearing the deceased woman's name, which reads, "I could not complete the five-year term you gifted me to serve you. The love you showered on me is indeed a great recognition for me. Even though you bid me farewell with a heavy heart on Thiruvonam, I have realized that I cannot part with you."
"I want to ask you for something....I cannot do so in person. Please give all the support you can to my mother Shailaja. I request you to do so. I shall not ask anything more from you. I end this letter with the hope that all of you will fulfill my wish," it reads.
Party district vice-president Advocate Gopan told The News Minute: "What was wrong in that?" Kokila's mother said, "I have done this for my party. I do not find anything wrong with it. My own daughter is seeking votes for me. What's wrong in that? She was my daughter. This is my right. No one can raise an objection."
MUMBAI -- Renowned sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, the last survivor of the 'Sitar Trinity' of India along with late Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan, died in Mumbai on Wednesday after a brief illness, a family member said.
He was 88.
He breathed his last at his Bandra residence around 5 P.M., his son and eminent sitar player Zunain A. Khan told IANS.
Conferred with the Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, Khan hailed from the Indore Gharana and is credited for innovating the unique music style of 'Jafferkhani Baaj'.
M.S. Dhoni has stepped down as the captain of India's One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the T20 Internationals (T20I) teams.
On Wednesday, Dhoni informed the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) that he would stand down from ODIs and the T20Is, but he will be available for selection for ODIs & T20Is against England.
Rahul Johri, Chief Executive Officer of the BCCI said, "On the behalf of every Indian cricket fan and the BCCI, I would like to thank MS Dhoni for his outstanding contribution as the captain of the Indian team across all formats."
"Under his leadership, the Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket," he said.
Virat Kohli is likely to captain the limited overs team following Dhoni's decision, Press Trust of India reported on Wednesday.
Banks have received ₹14.97 trillion rupees as of 30 December, as much as 97 percent of banned notes, Bloombergreported today.
This means that only three percent of the banned ₹500 and ₹1,000 have not been returned, which calls into question Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the demonetisation drive is key to combating black money and corruption.
The government had initially estimated about ₹5 trillion rupees of the ₹15.4 trillion rupees, which was put of circulation, would be black money.
"The prime minister had been ill advised and the government was not prepared to handle the situation," said Nilakantha Rath, honorary fellow at the Indian School of Political Economy, told Bloomberg. "The government expectation has been belied."
The Business Standard also reported that the Reserve Bank of India has likely received back ₹14.5 lakh crore of the old ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes as of 30 December, which is about ₹94 percent of the money put out of circulation.
These figures suggest that the one-time windfall gain accrued to the central bank will be closer to ₹90,000 crore as of now, much less than RBI and the Modi government's initial estimates of as much as ₹3 lakh crore, BS pointed out.
The Modi government had set 30 December as the deadline for people returning the banned ₹500 and ₹1,000.
The inevitable has happened. "Captain cool" Mahendra Singh Dhoni has stepped down as the captain of the Indian Cricket Team from the ODI and the T20 formats of the game.
However, he will be available for selection for the ODI and T20I series against England.
"On the behalf of every Indian cricket fan and the BCCI, I would like to thank MS Dhoni for his outstanding contribution as the captain of the Indian team across all formats. Under his leadership, Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket," said the Chief Executive Officer of the BCCI, Rahul Johri.
And the news of his resignation spread like wildfire on the social media, with his fans sharing their thoughts on the microblogging site.
Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, the senior most general of the Indian Army superseded for the post of Chief of Army Staff, met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday.
This is the second meeting in two weeks between General Bakshi and Defence Minister Parrikar. The two had met on 21 December. Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials confirmed the meeting but refused to provide any details. The MoD had termed the 1st meeting between the two as a "courtesy call".
In an unusual move the Eastern Army Commander General Bakshi has gone on a long leave. Sources in ministry confirmed that General Bakshi will be on leave till 26 January.
Earlier going against established convention, General Bakshi had said that he would continue to command the crucial Eastern Army that is tasked to protect borders with China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The military is hierarchy conscious.
Superseded officers chose to retire than serve under their juniors. Addressing his officers and men on 31 December from Fort William (the Headquaters of Eastern Command General) Bakshi had Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi had, however, said that he will continue to lead with 'full professional sincerity'. He had also congratulated General Bipin Rawat on having taken over as the Chief of Army Staff.
Breaking an established convention of appointing the senior most general as the next chief, the Modi Government appointed Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the Chief of the Indian Army. He superseded Lt Gen Bakshi and also Southern Army Commander Lt Gen PM Hariz.
With the Election Commission of India announcing polls in five states, the implementation of the recent Supreme Court judgement declaring that "religion, race, caste, community or language would not be allowed to play any role in the electoral process", will now be tested on the ground.
In every poll-bound state, several of these factors could have been used to woo voters. But the issue of 'language' mentioned in the judgement could significantly impact the election campaign in the sunshine state of Goa.
A few months ago, Subhash Velingkar, a veteran RSS leader and the organisation's chief in Goa, was removed after he publicly criticised and opposed the BJP for back-tracking on their stand on the sensitive issue of the medium of instruction (MoI) in primary schools.
While in opposition, the BJP had assured voters in its 2012 election campaign that if they came to power, they would change the existing policy and ensure that English-medium schools would not be given government grants. But in mid-2016, the BJP government in Goa declared that the grants to English-medium schools would continue.
Though the decision was termed as a "U-turn", many felt that better sense had prevailed, bringing much relief to not just Christians but also to a large section of parents from all communities who prefer their children being educated in English rather than vernacular languages.
But Velingkar was incensed as he backed Konkani and Marathi but not English--a "foreign language". He revolted and accused the BJP of "betraying" the people. Hundreds of RSS cadres backed him and when party president Amit Shah visited Goa, he was shown black flags. Following his sacking, on October 2--Gandhi Jayanti--Velingkar formed a new political party, the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), and decided to contest the 2017 assembly elections.
While Velingkar himself holds no position and will not run for office, GSM's main political plank is the medium of instruction: the English language. So can they still invoke the language-issue following the Supreme Court's judgement?
The new political outfit hasn't reacted yet on the judgement, but they have maintained that their demand is the same as UNESCO's which says that primary education should be imparted in the local language. Moreover, they try to make a clever distinction—their opposition is not to the "English language" per se but against "government grants".
Aires Rodrigues, a Goa-based activist and lawyer, is yet to read the finer details of the ruling but points out that legally GSM's argument may not necessarily violate the judgement. However, he questions the possible violation of the spirit of the ruling.
The BJP hopes it has reason to cheer, especially as Velingkar had sworn to defeat them with a significant section of RSS workers deciding to work against the party's interests. Vinay Tendulkar, the BJP's state unit president, insists if the GSM uses the medium of instruction issue it will be in contempt of the Supreme Court.
That apart: this is 2017. Goa is a cosmopolitan and a comparatively rich state where being educated in English is not a luxury but a normal way of life. That does not mean the local language has no place. It does. But shouldn't the choice of medium of instruction be left for parents to decide rather than political parties?
But to return to the Supreme Court's judgement: the Election Commission has assured it will be honoured and implemented. The onus will now be on their staff on the ground to listen carefully.
Muslim voters do not vote en bloc or as told to by clerics, contrary to popular perception, and do not vote strategically to defeat the BJP, new evidence from 15 years of voting data shows. The most remarkable thing about the Muslim vote, the researchers argue, is that it is not remarkable at all.
Researchers Rahul Verma of the Department of Political Science at Berkeley University and Pranav Gupta of Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies looked at 15 years of post-poll surveys and National Election Studies conducted after assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh by Lokniti-CSDS to understand voting preferences and views on politics of Muslims and other groups. Their research was published in the Economic & Political Weekly on December 31.
With Muslim vote share for the BJP in single digits, there is a pervasive notion that Muslim voters strategise to defeat the BJP, and this is achieved through mobilisation and mass voting, often as a result of a call from clerics. Nowhere is this more deeply rooted than in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims form 19.3% of the population and make up over 20% of the electorate in more than a third of seats.
The researchers found that there was no difference between the Muslim voter and the state's average voter when the survey respondents were asked whose opinion matters the most in casting their vote--political or community leaders, family, friends, colleagues or their own decision; Muslims were no more likely to say that a cleric or community leader had influenced their vote. They also found that Muslims vote on the same issues as other voters; in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, for instance, economic issues such as price rise, corruption and employment were seen as most important by Muslims and others.
While the popular notion of a "vote-bank" assumes that Muslims are mobilised by a party during elections, the researchers found that Muslims were no more likely to have been canvassed for their vote or be close to a particular party.
As for voting preferences, while Muslims have largely supported the Samajwadi Party in the Uttar Pradesh's recent history--and remain poised to in 2017, going by Lokniti-CSDS pre-poll numbers--this support has not been uniform, and fluctuates between parties and elections as it does for other caste groups.
While Muslim voting patterns indicate an antipathy to the BJP, the researchers conducted constituency-level analyses and found no evidence that Muslims engage in negative strategic voting or that they coordinate to defeat the BJP. In 2012, Yadavs and Jatavs were more consolidated in voting for their preferred party than Muslims, while in 2014 Brahmins and Muslims were much more consolidated behind their respective parties. "In that sense, the political behaviour among Muslims is like any other large caste group," Verma and Gupta write.
As India assumes the mantle of the world's fastest-growing large economy, it is being forced to reconcile its need to lift hundreds of millions of its citizens out of poverty while trying to limit its carbon emissions. The two goals seem diametrically opposed to each other. After all, how can India bring electricity to the 20% of the population who lack it without massively increasing greenhouse gas emissions?
This is a particularly large hurdle because roughly two-thirds of power currently comes from coal plants. Narendra Modi wants to reduce India's emissions, but to meet its energy needs, the nation will still need energy from coal-fired power plants. It is a difficult dilemma, but fortunately, technological breakthroughs could resolve this seemingly intractable problem.
In the past, the technology has been seen as too expensive for developing countries to afford—but that may now be changing.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS), one oft-discussed option, involves capturing emissions from coal-fired power plants and storing them rather than releasing them into the atmosphere. CCS technology captures up to 90% of carbon dioxide released from power plants in one of a few ways, including removing CO2 from exhaust by absorbing it in a liquid or burning fossil fuels in oxygen, producing an exhaust stream of water vapour and CO2 that are then separated.
In the past, the technology has been seen as too expensive for developing countries to afford—but that may now be changing. India has already begun testing affordable clean coal techniques, and a prototype facility operating in Chennai promises to capture nearly 100% of the CO2 emitted from the burning of coal in a commercially viable way.
In addition to experimenting with CCS, Modi has been phasing out obsolete power production methods. The government recently announced that all power plants over 25 years old would be decommissioned and replaced with modern, more efficient ones. It aims to complete this process, which involves the replacement of 11,000 MW of energy capacity, within 5 years.
At the same time India cuts emissions, it is those 300 million without power (and the millions more with only a haphazard connection) that will ultimately pass judgement on whether Modi kept his pledges to bring development and connectivity to India's villages. Even so, India is going beyond cleaner coal facilities to do its part. Modi has announced his plans to raise 45,000 MW of renewable capacity installed to 175,000 MW by 2022, the same year by which the government plans to phase out all inefficient power plants. This would put India firmly on track to meet its commitment to produce 40 percent of its power from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Some environmental groups have attempted to chastise India for its continued reliance on coal energy in the interim, but India's sizeable overall emissions mask the fact that per capita emissions are far lower than in America, Europe, or even China. Per person, the average Indian is far less culpable for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than the average German or American. Indian industries cannot be expected to keep up with competitors overseas while relying on an unpredictable solar source. While many major manufacturers (including foreign corporations like BMW in Chennai) are partially solving the shortfalls by building their own solar installations, this is not necessarily a way to build a thriving industrial sector India.
Per person, the average Indian is far less culpable for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than the average German or American.
Trying to achieve development without the primary global source for electric power is a needle no other industrial country has thus far been asked to thread. Energy minister Piyush Goyal made this point to the American talk show host David Letterman a few months ago: when empty office towers in New York are lit all night, how can America blame India for wasting energy? To its credit, Indian officials did agree to undertake expensive renewables projects if the affluent developed countries would assist with the financing. They did not, and private companies had to make up most of the difference.
On top of that, solar implementation has not been as straightforward as advertised. Not even many of the rural villages the Prime Minister claimed to have electrified with solar micro-grids are as connected as the government claims. The trouble is that thousands of these so-called "solar villages" still lack electrical infrastructure and have falsely been counted among the list of villages that now have power. It is already a low bar not to clear: to count as "electrified," just 10 percent of the households in a rural village need have access to energy.
Then again, while these setbacks have been embarrassing for the government, there is not necessarily a more feasible way of connecting far-flung villages to India's chaotic power grid. To avoid throttling its rapid growth and sacrificing its economic potential, India needs to combine vast improvements in these local-level initiatives together with the effective implementation of clean coal to power the major cities and form the bedrock of the country's economic development. To succeed, though, these projects will require more diligence and transparency than we have thus far seen from the government's statistics. After all, the future of India's development is at stake.
Horror films are not everybody's cup of tea. While some people are obsessed with them, others are freaked out at the very thought of them. But the thing with horror movies is that they can get you hooked and haunt you endlessly.
Now, horror movies come in different flavours: supernatural, found footage, paranormal, psychological, slasher, zombie, etc. Most horror movies are spawned by novelists such as Stephen King and Clive Barker or screenwriters like Sam Raimi and Wes Craven. Others are inspired by real-life events. Regardless of the origins, horror movies can really be fun if you have an appetite for them. So, without much ado, let me present my selection of the 10 scariest horror movies ever made.
10. Let the Right One In (2008)
This Tomas Alfredson-directed Swedish romantic horror film takes the idea of human-vampire romance to a whole new level and makes the Twilight film series look downright juvenile. Watch it only if you have a strong heart.
9. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
This American found-footage psychological horror film made by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez is unique in every sense of the word. You better be prepared for some serious shocks if you do decide to watch this one.
8. Poltergeist (1982)
This American supernatural horror film written and produced by Steven Spielberg is about a family whose home gets invaded by evil ghosts. Poltergeist will give you endless nightmares and so you better stay away from it if you have a weak heart.
7. The Ring (1998)
This Hideo Nakata-directed Japanese supernatural film revolves around a television reporter and single mother who gets caught up in a series of deaths involving a cursed video tape. With creepy scenes galore, this film is guaranteed to scare you shitless.
6. The Thing (1982)
This John Carpenter-directed American sci-fi horror film is certainly one of a kind. An undisputed masterpiece of horror, The Thing is a freak-out fest.
5. Evil Dead (1981)
Made on a meagre budget of $350,000, this Sam Raimi-directed supernatural film today features amongst the greatest horror films ever made. Evil Dead is about five college students who come in contact with demons and spirits while vacationing in an isolated cabin in the woods. It's classic horror at its very best.
4. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
This Roman Polanski-directed psychological horror film is about a young couple who move into a building with an unsavoury history. The wife's mysterious pregnancy makes us more and more paranoid about the safety of the unborn. Here is a rare horror film which succeeds in delivering endless chills while trying to focus more on inner demons than outer ones.
3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
This American horror film produced and directed by Tobe Hooper is often described as a pioneer of the slasher genre. It presents the story of a group of friends who get victimised by a family of cannibals. This endlessly disturbing movie is not meant for the squeamish.
2. The Shining (1980)
This Stanley Kubrick-directed British-American psychological horror film is based on a Stephen King novel of the same name. The film has had a tremendous influence on popular culture and regularly features on the lists of greatest horror films of all time. Try not to watch this film alone on a chilly winter night.
1. The Exorcist (1973)
It wouldn't be hyperbole to call The Exorcist the "Godfather" of horror films. Directed by William Friedkin, this masterpiece, an adaptation of William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel of the same name, revolves around the exorcism of a pre-teen girl possessed by a demon. The Exorcist is said to be inspired by real events, so watch it only if you're not the superstitious sort—else it will feed into your worst fears.
My dangal starts every morning at 9am—the fight against traffic to get to my destination, the fight against time to get things done, the fight against cellular services, against incompetent team players, bosses, auto driver...I can go on forever.
One of my biggest challenges, anger, is like Delhi Police—with me, for me, always.
But as I watched the Aamir Khan starrer Dangal this weekend, I realised there's a lesson to be learnt here. This list has gone up on my kitchen board, so that every time I forget I am reminded of how I can make my everyday dangal-free. (And yes it's easier written than done.)
1. Bura mat suno
I loved Aamir's calm composure and ability to drown out the rubbish through the most difficult times. One of my biggest challenges, anger, is like Delhi Police—with me, for me, always. But the key is to keep the end goal in mind and not let the journey take the steam away.
2. Money can't buy love, talent or time
Babita and Geeta were trained on everything BUT wrestling equipment in their formative years. Every alternative in the book was devised to give them a wrestling experience closest to the real thing. How many times do we say we don't have time to learn a new language, or the money to keep our hobby alive? The things that give us the most pleasure and cost nothing are on the bottom of our priority list.
3. Looks/labels can be deceptive
A national-level coach with the best resources could not help Geeta win an international championship. We have an inbuilt judgement app that scans people on the basis of their appearance, designation or status, and while we try to get their attention, they may not be the right stimulus for us.
4. People we take for granted are the ones who have our back
Geeta lost three international titles before it dawned on her that she had refused the advice of her in-house coach and dad Aamir Khan. I take my parents for granted as much as the next kid on the block, but hopefully I will be able to sift through the advice they give me so I can grow into my own.
5. Kuch to log kahenge
Training two teenage girls for wrestling in a male-dominated society in a tier 4 city? Recipe for instant isolation. I am sure you have heard at least one of these:
Don't invite boys home at night... log kya sochenge?
Don't wear a short dress... log kya sochenge?
Don't eat from the roadside dhaba... log kya sochenge?
The faster I grow deaf to the log kya sochenge syndrome, the faster I will get on with life.
6. Dream a little dream for yourself
Materialistic dreams are easily attained, but our innermost desires are gathering dust under years of superficial existence. Listen to that inner voice before it fades away.
7. Kuch paane ke liye kuch khona padta hai
There are sacrifices galore to be made on the road to success... it may have been pani puchkas for the budding wrestlers, and in my case it could be anything from sleep, diet or abstinence from the mall depending on what my goal is.
Thanks Aamir, for making the difficult journey of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters so inspiring for people like us who have it all and yet seem to be wasting it all away.
(Then there is no way in hell that you can do sales!)
This was how a friend's interview process at a Fortune 500 company went.
True story!
It is weird how as you go through life, everything seems interrelated and connected to each other. Be it sales, getting the girl or even clearing an interview.
Being deeply interested in human psychology and a hustler by nature and after hearing numerous complaints by my guy friends about not getting enough matches on online dating app Tinder, I wondered if I could "hack" Tinder to try and get more matches, both in quality and quantity.
I could not help but wonder at the analogy between hundreds of companies hounding consumers online and guys desperate to catch a girl's attention virtually!
Believe it or not, online dating today is a $2 billion industry (in the US alone), and according to Match.com one in five relationships these days began online. It has come a long way from being a "weird" way of meeting people.
I defined my first win as getting the girl to spend at least 3–4 seconds more on my pic than she would otherwise.
This hack got me 100 plus matches in less than nine days, more Tinder dates than most people will ever go on, where I met up and befriended a model, an entrepreneur, a fashion designer, a psychiatrist, a doctor, an Australian dancer, a lawyer and even had a crazy night out with an MIL... ah, well but that is a story for another day.
As those familiar with it know, Tinder makes it extremely easy for girls to reject you before you can say "Tinder" unless you are Ranbir himself which I'm pretty sure you're not. Unless of course, you are, in which case "Hey Ranbir! Big fan."
It's scary how much choice today's internet consumer has. He/she can reject you in the blink of an eye before you even have a chance to explain your many merits.
You might be the smartest, sweetest guy around but if the girl has swiped left on you in under half a second, then your love story has ended before it's even begun.
This is exactly the problem with internet companies today who have a killer product but can't even convince a customer to try them out.
THE HACK
"Know thyself" said the great Socrates many hundreds of years ago and it rings true to this day.
A picture of me upfront on my Tinder profile would mathematically give me a 50:50 chance that a girl would either swipe left or right. But realistically speaking, an average male hardly generates 1–2 matches a day. Data suggests that right swipes are even rarer at <2% for the average Indian male.
Tinder is, at its most basic level, a game where the cards are stacked in favour of spectacularly good-looking, photogenic men.
Since I was odds-on to lose in this particular game, I knew I had to manipulate this game to bring the odds in my favour.
Step 1
In an app where the girl can swipe your face to obscurity in nano-seconds, I defined my first win as getting the girl to spend at least 3–4 seconds more on my pic than she would otherwise.
This mimics one of the central concepts of marketing and sales: The funnel— through which companies are supposed to systematically move prospects from awareness through consideration to purchase.
So how did I do that?
Seth Godin puts it succinctly when he says:
"Figure what the always is. Then do something else."
I could have done what this guy did (picture below) but then I'm no good at Photoshop. What I'm good with is words and deep thinking. And Boyzone let us all know way back, how words were all you ever needed, to take someone's heart away.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Damn, Daniel!
And so, I did this.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Picture 1
Instead of a picture upfront, I posted a quirky note and tried to keep it conversational and genuine.
A note in between all those photos instantly gathers attention and piques curiosity! I knew that anyone who stopped to read this would swipe to the next picture for sure!
Aren't all dating websites just that at the end of the day: texting based on our judgment of other people's pics? Therein comes the a-ha moment for the prospect.
Then I tell you that I have a slightly different idea on how to go about things.
Curious? Then I hit you with a call to action which leaves the prospect in no doubt whatsoever what she is expected to do next.
Step 2
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Picture 2
This was my second pic.
I searched online for what women generally look for and sought to reassure them beforehand that I was all that they were looking for and more. Smart, intelligent and sweet are supposedly the characteristics women most look for in men. Well-educated (MBA) and well-settled (equals well-paying job) are signs of success. And behind every successful man, there are hundreds of women. Chasing him!
I ended the second picture with another call to action as the prospect, at each stage, must know what is expected of him/her. I asked the girl to swipe right and to agree to a coffee if I looked anything like a nice person!
Tinder is a game where the cards are stacked in favour of spectacularly good-looking men. Since I was odds-on to lose... I knew I had to manipulate this game...
And unless you have a face like Osama Bin Laden's, I'm pretty sure each and every one of you looks like a nice person when you're flashing that beautiful smile of yours.
Also, prospects need to be kept informed at all times regarding the "why" of what they are doing, and by telling them that I was relatively new in the city and presumably without friends, I gave them another reason to say yes.
I was open enough to admit what I was actually looking for (which was meeting someone rather than incessant back-and-forth texting) and I was sure that anyone viewing my profile would have, at the very least, smiled at my ingenuity and that was more than enough leverage for me to ask her out for a coffee.
Visual attraction is still the catalyst that drives most dates online, like in real life, and so I knew I had to end it with a picture of mine.
And so we come to the final step.
Step 3
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Picture 3
BOOM. Now that expectations of physical beauty have been significantly lowered, any average looking Joe should realistically hit the bull's eye.
The quantity of my matches went up like crazy and much more importantly, so did the quality. I was extremely fortunate to meet with a lot of genuinely interesting people with whom I could never have ever got in touch with otherwise. Plus, a vast majority of these women initiated the conversations themselves which, as we men all know, NEVER happens. Some even said that this was the first time that they felt they couldn't actually resist texting a guy!
TIPS
Photo
I would suggest not uploading group pics on Tinder because nobody enjoys a good mystery guessing which person you are! Brightly lit pics with you smiling genuinely into the camera should do very well indeed.
Bio
This is extremely important as your bio is the only way to know a little bit about the person you really are. Since I'm a very casual and fun-loving guy, I tried being funny in my bio as well, as a reflection of my personality.
Evidently, it worked well. Girls texted saying they couldn't stop laughing after reading my bio and seeing my pics. This gives you the upper hand pretty early, and you don't have to jump through hoops to impress the girl later, which is what usually happens.
Remember, if you're not funny or don't keep her engaged, the next guy is only a few seconds away.
The girl is on Tinder to meet new guys, she's swiped right on you and has initiated a conversation. From there on, unless you completely mess it up, you're winning!
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Bio alternative 1
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Bio alternative 2
I usually open with something funny like:
— You don't know how many times I've had to swipe left to find you.
Remember, if you're not funny or don't keep her engaged, the next guy is only a few seconds away.
The trick with Tinder is to move the conversation out of Tinder as soon as possible. Once again, I tried to be funny while asking for her number:
— On a scale of 0 to 9999999999, what's your number?
From there on, I guess it's pretty straightforward to fix up a date and go meet the girl. Best of luck!
Warning: The best Tinder hack still remains spectacularly good looks!
***
So this was basically how I changed the game in my favour by turning around the conversation in the prospect's head from:
"An above-average-looking, normal guy," (*swipes left in a flash*)
to
"Ooh, here's something different. A smart, successful guy with a cute face. And funny. Yes, definitely funny. Coffee? Hell, I'd marry him!"
What I learned can be a valuable lesson for marketers looking to attract and acquire new customers , on new platforms. Sometimes, it's all about getting into the head of your prospect and turning that mental conversation around.
In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is a failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible.
Going ahead, as average companies making average products for average people start to proliferate, those which will stand out, be bold and dare to be different, will be the ones who'll get matched most often to their customers and derive the most success.
There's too much of average out there. Beremarkable, which in essence means: something people can pass a remark on!
Remarkable as in generous, daring, creative, silly and vulnerable.
In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is a failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible.
If you loved this article and want to go for a coffee with me, or want to discuss anything ranging from product, tech, marketing, startups or Manchester United, you can tweet to me@AbhishekMadhavn
With daily news about increasing crime against women, seemingly endless clashes on the basis of religion and caste, it's clear that this country sure has miles to go in some ways. But between all the hatred and negativity, the scams and the riots, there are still some amazing things that India is doing (and doing right!)
Here is a list of some kickass things that India leads the world in:
1. Movies
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With over 1600 films released every year, in as many as 20 different languages, India's 103-year-old film industry is the largest producer of films in the world!
2. Many, many agricultural products
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With its legendary diversity, India is rich in many, many ways. One of these is agriculture. India is the largest producer of cotton, millet, dry beans, chick peas, pulses, banana, mango, papaya, cumin, ginger, chilli pepper and turmeric. That's a whole lot of goodness we're producing every year!
3. Post offices
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Yes, e-mail may have taken over, but spare a thought for the amazing reach of the Indian postal service. With 154,919 post offices as per this report, India is leading the world in the postal department. That's nothing to scoff at!
4. Stock exchange
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The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai is Asia's first stock exchange and the world's fastest stock exchange with a median trade speed of 6 microseconds. More than 5500 companies are publicly listed on the 137-year-old BSE.
5. Mangalyaan
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Let's not forget that India became the first (yes, the first!) nation in the world to successfully put the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan, into orbit in its very first attempt.
6. Reading habitsImage may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Did you know Indians are the biggest bookworms in the world? According to this survey, Indians spend an average of 10.7 hours reading every week! That's a lot of learning, guys. And at a time when smartphones and laptops are threatening to take over all our free time, this statistic is simply marvellous. It's also almost twice the reading average of countries such as the USA and UK.
At The Better India, we attempt to do stories and videos that bring out the incremental progress being made by the people of this country, the developments happening on the social and economic front. Watch more of our videos here.
In 10 years, a majority of India's electricity will be produced from cleaner and renewable sources, putting the country ahead of promises made at the Paris Climate Summit.
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India will generate as much as 56.5% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2027, the government has estimated in a draft energy plan. Besides the coal-fired plants that are already being built, the country does not need to build new ones, it said.
This puts India far ahead of its Paris commitment of meeting 40% of its energy needs from non-fossil fuel electricity sources by 2030. Besides growing its green energy sector, it has also launched the International Solar Alliance at the Paris Climate Summit, which is on its way to become an intergovernmental treaty-based organisation. (See: International Solar Alliance opens for signing)
India [is] far ahead of its Paris commitment of meeting 40% of its energy needs from non-fossil fuel electricity sources by 2030.
It is expected that the share of non-fossil based installed capacity will increase to 46.8% by the end of 2021-22 and further grow to 56.5% by the end of 2026-27, the Central Electricity Authority said in its Draft National Electricity Plan released in December. This estimate assumes capacity addition of 50 GW of coal-based capacity already under construction and no new coal-based addition during 2022-27, according to India's apex power planning body.
India's green energy space has been growing rapidly in the past few years. In two-and-a-half years, the country has added 14.30 GW of grid-connected renewable energy, which includes 5.8 GW from solar power, 7.04 GW from wind, 0.53 from small hydro and 0.93 from biomass, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said in a statement in December.
Solar flair
Among renewables, the solar energy sector is in the middle of unprecedented growth, fed by declining tariffs, improved technology and a global oversupply of photovoltaic panels and other material, mainly in China. As of 31 October, 2016, solar energy projects with an aggregate capacity of over 8.7 GW have been installed in the country, the ministry said. (See: India's solar dream rests on Chinese exports)
The country added solar capacity of an estimated 4.9 GW in 2016, crossing the 10 GW cumulative installed capacity mark, the clean energy consultancy Bridge to India said in its 19 December market outlook. New tenders were floated for 9 GW of grid-connected solar projects including 900 MW for rooftop solar systems, it said.
"India is on track to install more than 10 GW of renewables per year from 2017 as large-scale renewables, rooftop solar and off-grid sectors show impressive growth," Bloomberg New Energy Finance said in November in a report titled "Financing India's Clean Energy Transition".
The world's biggest solar power plant was inaugurated a few weeks ago in Tamil Nadu. It has a capacity of 648 MW and covers an area of 10 sq. km. The plant built by the Adani Group boasts of 2.5 million solar panels, capable of lighting up 150,000 homes. The Tata conglomerate announced in October that it would aim to generate as much as 40% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.
Fall in tariffs
This pace of expansion is boosted by a significant fall in solar tariffs. "As solar tariffs fell below INR 5 (USD 0.07) per kWh, solar power gained parity with other sources of greenfield power," Bridge to India said. "We expect the INR 4 tariff level to be breached in early 2017, which will be a radical moment for the entire power sector in India."
The solar energy sector is in the middle of unprecedented growth, fed by declining tariffs, improved technology and a global oversupply of photovoltaic panels and other material...
"Wind power is up next after successful reduction in solar tariff through transparent auction of sites," Energy Minister Piyush Goyal told the Press Trust of India news agency. This optimism follows a fast growth in wind power installations as well. In the six months to October, India has added 1.5 GW to a total capacity of around 28 GW from wind power, making it the fourth-largest nation in installed capacity in the world.
The renewables sector is also not lacking for investment. The interest is particularly high among domestic firms. The top 10 developers by solar pipeline capacity are local corporations, according to Bridge to India.
The activity around renewables is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of India and slow down climate change. "It is estimated that about 268 million tonnes of CO2 emission will be avoided annually by the end of the year 2021-22 from renewable energy sources," the Central Electricity Authority said in its draft energy plan.
Just a few days after I proudly announced to a few visiting relatives that Delhi isn't as bad as it is portrayed to be when it comes to women's safety, I was rudely made aware that I was so wrong. A casual trip to a bank with a friend followed by a man's casual but very deliberate brushing against my breast made me realise that I was just being naïve when I made that statement. What I should have said is that all cities in India are bad. Hell, I'm pretty certain the entire world is bad when it comes to how women are treated. Nothing has changed, and I'm afraid nothing will change for a long time to come. (Some) men will always be pigs (I use the word "some" because of all that #NotAllMen bullshit).
When I was studying in Lucknow, many light years ago, I cannot count the number of times I was sexually harassed, groped or stalked, and each time an "incident" happened, I quickly tried to get away from the situation and proceeded to pretend that nothing had happened. I wish I had the gumption to "make a scene" and haul the perpetrators to the police station but I never did. I neatly packed the frustration in a small compartment in my head, hoping I would never have to open the box again.
And today, even when I'm so much older and so much wiser (this one is up for contention), I still run away and pretend nothing happened. This spinelessness makes me want to hurl. Perhaps the reason I've not been groped in a while is because I have subconsciously altered my lifestyle to a more sheltered one. I do not go to crowded areas, I avoid going out at night alone, I avoid using public transport, I guess I avoid anything that involves unknown men in close proximity. And for that too I am ashamed. Why should I change the way I live for others?
I'm ashamed because no one told me to "not create a scene". In fact, if anything, my mother used to yell at me for not yelling at my tormenters. I'm ashamed because I am scared. I'm ashamed that every time anything happens I am the one who feels embarrassed. Why is it that I feel ashamed when a man abuses me, I know not, but it happens and I just can't change that—God knows I've tried.
Sadly, I bet there is not one woman out there who has not gone through this hell so why am I writing this post, you ask? Well, I write this just to thank the numerous women who do stand up for themselves. I write this to tell them that every time I read or hear of a woman who beats the crap out of a man for abusing her, I'm filled with pride. Perhaps one day I too will stand up for myself and not cower in the corner, but till that day arrives I would like to tell these women how much I look up to them and how much I want to be like them. I want to tell them that they are an inspiration to us wusses.
NEW DELHI -- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday floated a consultation paper on the much-debated net neutrality issue, seeking stakeholders view by February 15, and counter-comments by February 28.
The net neutrality issue has left the telecom service providers (TSP) and the over-the-top (OTT) players in India at loggerheads.
"Transparency is one of the key enabling factors towards ensuring adherence to the nondiscrimination principles set forth in any net neutrality framework," the consultation paper said.
"In a net neutrality context, the scope of transparency obligations can range from obligations cast upon TSPs to disclose technical information on QoS (quality of services) parameters, to providing high-level information that is widely understandable and may enable consumers to make more informed decisions, and detect violations," it added.
Regarding the scope of transparency obligations, the paper has put thrust on price information and commercial terms and traffic management practices along with many other characteristics.
The consultation paper asked stakeholders: "What could be the principles for ensuring nondiscriminatory access to content on the Internet, in the Indian context?" and how should "Internet traffic" and providers of "Internet services" be understood in the NN context?"
It sought views of the regulators on reasonable traffic management practices as well as regarding what would be the most effective legal/policy instrument for implementing a net neutrality framework in India.
Timeline of net neutrality related activities:
January 19, 2015 - Creation of DoT committee on net neutrality
March 27, 2015 - Consultation on regulatory framework for OTT services
May 2015 - Release of DoT committee report on net neutrality
December 9, 2015 - Consultation on differential pricing for data services
February 8, 2016 - Regulation on prohibition of discriminatory tariffs for data services
March 3, 2016 - DoT sought Authority's recommendations on net neutrality
May 19, 2016 - Consultation on free data
May 30, 2016 - Pre-consultation on net neutrality
December 19, 2016 - Recommendations on provisioning of free data
LAHORE -- The Punjab Police has arrested over 100 clerics for attempting to hold a rally in Lahore to 'celebrate' the assassination of governor Salman Taseer on his death anniversary.
Taseer, who had angered religious zealots with his statements against the country's controversial blasphemy laws, was killed in 2011 by one of his guards for supporting Asia Bibi, a Christian woman charged with blasphemy.
The clerics had gathered to hold a rally on Main Boulevard in Gulberg area of the city, reports the Express Tribune.
Meanwhile, Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasoolallah has organised two separate rallies, one on Mall Road and the other in Gulberg led by Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali and Hafiz Khadim Hussain Rizvi respectively.
The clerics were given a go-ahead to hold a rally on Mall Road but not in Gulberg.
Blasphemy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, with allegations often prompting mob violence.
The Morning Wrap is HuffPost India's selection of interesting news and opinion from the day's newspapers. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning.
Essential HuffPost
MS Dhoni stepped down as the captain of India's One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the T20 Internationals (T20I) teams. He informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) he would stand down from ODIs and the T20Is, but he will be available for selection for ODIs & T20Is against England. Virat Kohli is likely to take over from him.
Language politics, more than religion, will play a key role in the upcoming assembly elections in Goa, writes Tejas Mehta. The reasons behind the precedence of Konkani and Marathi over English — a foreign language — are not unrelated to religion but are also tied up with complex sociological aspects of identity.
Muslim voters do not vote en bloc or as told to by clerics, contrary to popular perception, and do not vote strategically to defeat the BJP, new evidence from 15 years of voting data shows. Ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, read our analysis here.
PARTNER BULLETIN | DSP BLACKROCK
These Stories Of Overnight Success Defy Logic
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Many a struggler has desperately prayed for that one life-changing moment. For these talented individuals, that moment came through controversy, circumstance, or simply luck. Whatever the reason, they are today successful beyond their wildest dreams. Read their stories here.
Main News
Only three days separate the proposed national budget day and the start of the assembly poll in several states. While administratively this may not pose a problem, ethically it has raised eyebrows, especially of the Opposition. The Election Commission will take a call on the postponement of the budget date to 8 March.
Farmers from a remote village in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district were shocked to receive newly printed ₹2000 notes without the image of Mahatma Gandhi from a State Bank of India branch. Bank officials took back the notes but said they were "genuine", not fake as the farmers had feared.
IAS officer Rajendra Kumar, who was Principal Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the time of his arrest in a corruption case in July last year, has alleged he was told by his interrogators that they would set him free if he implicated the CM. He also sought voluntary retirement from service less than a month after the notice was served to him.
Off The Front Page
The results of a survey poll released on the day the dates of the assembly elections were announced reveal the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) having a clear upper hand in Uttar Pradesh. It shows the BJP's vote share has increased from 31% in October (before the note ban) to 33% in December. It projects 206-216 seats for the party in the 403-member UP assembly as opposed to the measly 15% vote share and 47 seats the party had in 2012.
A 13-year-old boy and his parents were allegedly attacked with rod, sticks and bricks by a group of drunken men at a village in West Bengal last night after the family protested against their indecent behaviour. The youths fled the area when local people rushed to save them.
A 50-year-old man allegedly killed 10 members of his family, including nine young girls, before hanging himself to death in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district, police said on Wednesday.The bodies were found inside the family's home with their throats slit.
Opinion
On the basis of poll surveys it seems the BJP is ahead in the run-up to the assembly elections, but it has a serious contender in the newly popular Akhilesh Yadav and Mayavati's ambitious Dalit-Muslim plank. In The Hindu, Vidya Subrahmaniam looks at the big picture closely and offers some prognosis of the weeks ahead.
From the Shiv Sena to the BJP, several political parties have appropriated Shivaji, the Maratha emperor, for their own vested interests. In each case, the ruler has emerged in a new persona, with a avatar that differs from the others. Girish Kuber puts together a comprehensive picture in The Indian Express.
Goa elections are going to be an exciting affair this year as several new and smaller parties, like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), are trying to enter the political arena. Ketaki Ghoge explains in the Hindustan Times the twists and turns in the plot to this year's assembly polls in the state.
