It's All Amit's Fault

Introduction to my newsletter

Amit Varma, whom you probably know as India’s most successful podcaster, pushed me into this. Since he’s going on a diet soon, I knew I’d never get such a heavyweight shove again.

Along with Puja Mehra, I talk to Amit about the Indian economy on The Seen and the Unseen on Monday, and he will introduce this newsletter on the show. Deeply grateful, Amit.

The Indian economy is in much worse shape than most headlines suggest, and my first newsletter will focus on the numbers that scare me.

I follow Indian equity markets closely, and I will occasionally talk about what I am seeing there. No stock tips, though.

For the last 6 years, I have been investing in start-ups, and I even have an angel costume in my closet. No one’s invited me to a coming-out party yet, so I’m just the old guy in kurta-pyjama. Working with entrepreneurs (‘founders’ in the jargon) has been a most exhilarating experience - I’ve learned so much, been deeply inspired, contributed a little. I will write about this, too.

My wife and I spend several months a year in a little cottage in Nainital district. Sometimes, we get gorgeous views of Nanda Devi at dawn. I will share some of those experiences, and photographs.

Thanks to Mubi, Netflix, and a wonderful internet service provider called AirJaldi, I watch cinema from across the world in my stone cottage. There will be the occasional comment about film. Not formal criticism, though, and largely bouquets only.

But, if you have comments, criticism even, do write in.