sahari blog

  As parents, we often prioritize two main things: our children's education and earning money to support it. These days, education—especially in premier institutions like IITs and IIMs—has become a very expensive affair. It can strain even a well-planned financial life. When it comes to our children’s education, we must have a long-term vision. Studying at a top-tier technical institution is not the only path to success. Whether our children pursue technical or non-technical fields, what truly matters is that they excel in what they choose. Today, education is increasingly driven by the child's interests, not just the parent's expectations. Imposing our ambitions on them can sometimes suppress their creativity and turn them away from their true passions—and from us. I say this from personal experience. I made several mistakes regarding my daughter’s education. I had a singular goal in mind: IIT. I enrolled her in top coaching institutes like FIITJEE and Maharshi Vidya Mandi...

  In my childhood days, we were always very happy during the  Vinayaka Chaturthi  festival. We would go to the mango trees and collect leaves to make  thoranam  (a decorative garland) for the house. My mother would wake up early in the morning and start preparing the  Nivedyam  (offerings) for the God. My father and siblings would take care of the festival preparations—cleaning, decorating, shopping for essentials, and getting the  Ganesha idol  ready for the  pooja . As I grew older, I became curious and asked my father about the significance of the festival. I even wondered if the God would really come to our house. After the  pooja  began, my father explained the meaning behind the mantras we were chanting during the ritual. The essence of the festival is like inviting a guest into our home. In ancient times, guests were considered as God. Welcoming a guest and then sending them off properly was a significant challenge, and ...

  I, too, am one of the three, having started my career alongside Mr. Rao and Mr. Ram. My journey began in 1988 when I started working in Hyderabad. Back then, I led a simple, modest life, cooking my own meals and focusing on the essentials. During my tenure at Engine Valves Ltd, I contributed ₹50,000 to my father for house construction, foregoing my share in the property and giving it to my brother. In 1991, I bought a 2400-square-foot plot of land in Anantapur for ₹12,000, which is now worth nearly ₹60 lakhs. In 1996, I moved to ICF, withdrawing my PF from the previous company. With that, I bought 1800 square feet of land in Egattur (near Tiruvallur) for ₹20,000, which is now valued at ₹10 lakhs. I have always believed in empowering women, and this belief guided my approach to family life. After marriage, I encouraged my wife to pursue a government job. My concept was simple—one child, one government job. In October 2000, my first daughter was born, and soon after, my wife secure...

  One of my friends, Mr. Rao, worked as a senior manager in several leading automobile companies. He recently retired with a retirement fund of ₹45 lakhs. Since he worked in the private sector, he is not eligible for a pension. He has two children. His son recently returned from the USA after completing his studies and is now working in an organization with an annual package of ₹12 lakhs. His daughter, who completed her BE degree, is currently employed with a modest salary of ₹2.5 lakhs per year. Mr. Rao set aside ₹25 lakhs in fixed deposits for his daughter’s future marriage and spent around ₹15 lakhs on his son’s overseas education. However, he also took an education loan of ₹40 lakhs for his son’s studies, which is now being repaid through the son's monthly salary. Due to high living expenses and limited income, Mr. Rao is facing financial difficulties in his day-to-day life. As a result, even after retirement, he has decided to take up a job with an annual salary of ₹6 lakhs to...

  Recently, one of my close friends called and shared that he is about to start a new career in Sanand, near Ahmedabad. I was surprised—after completing 58 years of age and retiring from Ashok Leyland as a senior manager, taking up a second job feels quite unexpected and, in a way, admirable. Back in 1988, after completing my diploma, I began my career as a trainee supervisor at Rane Engine Valves Ltd with a starting salary of ₹750 per month. There were seven of us trainees, and among them, Sairam, Rao, and I became close friends during our training. Though we lived in different places around Ameerpet, we commuted together every day and became almost inseparable. After work, we spent our time planning for higher studies and better job opportunities. We used to visit the library, read newspapers and  Employment News , and prepare for competitive exams. For the first three years, we didn’t take these exams very seriously—we spent more time chatting, going to movies, and explorin...

  In 1978, when I was studying in 5th standard, my father and I traveled to the district headquarters for a second-level entrance examination for admission into the 6th class at Andhra Pradesh Government Residential Schools. After the examination, my father took me to watch a film — a movie that has remained etched in my memory ever since: "Sholay". This was the first Hindi film I had ever watched, and we saw it at Rahuveera Theatre, during a matinee show. I still remember the excitement of that day, even though I didn’t know Hindi at the time. Despite the language barrier, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, purely through its visual storytelling, powerful expressions, and the commanding presence of legendary actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and the unforgettable villain Amjad Khan as Gabbar Singh. I was deeply inspired by the heroism of Amitabh Bachchan and, at the same time, genuinely terrified by the menacing character of Gabbar Singh. What ...

  Yesterday, I was chatting with a friend about our plans for the upcoming three-day continuous holiday. She shared that she would be travelling to her native place along with her family by car. I noticed a sparkle of happiness on her face as she spoke—it was clear how much she was looking forward to visiting her hometown, spending time with her loved ones, and reconnecting with relatives and friends. Her excitement reminded me of my own past. I still remember the first time I left my home in 1985, when I joined my diploma course at the district headquarters. My native place is about 56 km away, but I stayed near the college and used to visit home once every 15 days. My first stop was always my family, followed by meeting my friends. Back then, we had a close-knit group of 12 friends. Today, some are settled in Bangalore, Anantapur, and Hyderabad, while a few have remained in our hometown, working in their own fields. Whenever we happen to meet in my native place, it’s like steppin...

  Today is an auspicious day – the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna. For me, Krishna is not just a god; he is also the  Vishva Guru  – the  teacher of the universe . The name  Krishna  itself means "dark blue," and for that reason, he is often referred to as  Neela Megha Shyama , meaning "one who is the color of a dark rain-filled cloud." Whenever we think of Krishna, we are reminded of the  Mahabharata , an epic that offers profound lessons in  politics, life, joy, sorrow, and dharma . In my view, Krishna’s philosophy can be understood through three key aspects: Bhagavad Gita Dharma Platonic Love 1. Bhagavad Gita – The Essence of Krishna's Teachings In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains the eternal truths of  life, karma, rebirth, and the soul . He teaches that: Every being has an  Atma (soul) , which is  immortal . The body is temporary, like clothes. When clothes wear out, we change them. Similarly, when the body perishes, the ...

  In 1995, when I first came to Chennai, I didn’t know a word of Tamil. During my initial 18-month training, there were about 35 of us from Andhra Pradesh. Naturally, we formed a close-knit group, sticking together most of the time. Whether it was sitting in the training hall, going for meals, watching films, shopping, or just spending free time—we did everything together. We enjoyed our training days thoroughly, but we hardly mingled with the local Tamil trainees. In June 1996, I was posted to Shop 16 (the Machine Shop) along with other machinist general candidates. Unfortunately, none of my Telugu friends were assigned there. Suddenly, I found myself in a new environment where I had to interact mainly with Tamil-speaking workmen. The language barrier became a real challenge, especially when coordinating work. At that time, Mr. Nazeer Eqbal was my General SSE, and there was also one Telugu SSE in the shop. Over time, I began adjusting to the environment and building rapport despit...

  Recently, a friend of mine asked for advice about his daughter’s higher education. As part of the 2025 generation, I was surprised to hear that he was unwilling to spend much on his daughter’s education, yet he was fully prepared to invest more in his son’s. That day, we had a deep discussion about  equality . In my own family, my parents always treated sons and daughters equally. During my childhood, housework was shared — both boys and girls had to contribute. Education, work opportunities, decision-making — everything was given equal value. This upbringing shaped my belief that fairness should be the foundation of family life. In my own home today, my wife and I live by the same principle. I am proud to invest in my daughters’ education — I have already spent significantly on my elder daughter’s studies and am equally ready to do so for my younger daughter. My wife and I are both working professionals, and we respect each other’s independence. We have never had disputes o...

  Life is a journey , filled with both the happiest moments and the saddest situations. My own journey has taken me through experiences that still stay fresh in my memory—some joyful, some deeply painful. Years ago, when I was working in Hyderabad at Engine Valves Ltd., I lived in a small compound with four rooms. In one room, I stayed alone. In the next, my friend and his younger brother lived together. Another was occupied by the widow who owned the property, along with her 19-year-old daughter. The fourth was home to an elderly man, his wife, and their 4-year-old daughter. My friend and I were both company employees, while the widow managed a small shop from the front of the house. My friend’s brother was studying Chartered Accountancy (CA). Our factory operated in three shifts: · Morning shift  – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM · Evening shift  – 4:00 PM to 12:00 midnight · Night shift  – 12:00 midnight to 8:00 AM Travel time was long—nearly two hours each way—so for the even...

  I saw her in a completely new way for the first time during our first-year Intermediate College Day celebrations. Until then, we had only seen her in the regular formal college uniform. But that day, she wore a pink saree. Her hair was left loose, adorned with fragrant white jasmine flowers. I was stunned by how graceful and beautiful she looked. She was the top student in our class — intelligent, disciplined, and confident. Interestingly, she had been my classmate since 3rd grade, but I had never spoken to her, not even once, during all those school years. In college, she was always calm — no stress, no worries about studies — and many students admired her from afar. Just after the College Day function, I discontinued my Intermediate education because I got admitted into a diploma course. On the last day of college, following the trend of collecting autographs from classmates, I asked her for hers. She boldly said, “I will not give.” That surprised me. She was also one of my sis...

  T oday is the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan – a beautiful celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters, filled with love, care, and lifelong commitment. I am blessed to have two elder sisters who have played an important role in shaping who I am today. Our bond is strong, full of affection, and built on years of shared memories and support. When I was in 10th grade, my first elder sister was pursuing her diploma in Electronics. We both lived in Hyderabad for two years after my diploma. She was not only a brilliant student, especially in mathematics, but also a guiding light in my studies. Her help and encouragement played a key role in my academic journey. Even today, I share a very close relationship with her and her family, and we continue to maintain a strong and affectionate connection. My second elder sister, who is two years older than me, and I studied together for four years. She is an excellent cook and has always treated me with warmth and love. Whenever...