Its taken me some time to write this. Last week, around the same time of the day, the world - for me - tilted on its axis. My mother-in-law, Mrs. Uma Venkatram - Amma - left us. I am yet to fully process my grief, but feel compelled to share it here. I entered her household when I was 23 and she was 58. (Now, I am 58 and she is/was 93 - still can't bring myself to say she 'was'). I was a young professional, new at the workplace, eager to prove myself and build my own identity, while she was the embodiment of a generation that anchored itself in the sanctity of the home. For a time, we were two women finding it very difficult to navigate the fault lines of a changing India. She urged me toward domesticity, while I was relentless in my pursuit of my own version of success. That initial, unspoken friction, that push-and-pull between tradition and transformation continued till Avtar was born. And then, something changed in a very profound way in her. My idea of a business, a social enterprise, finding jobs for women - jobs which gave them flexibility, gave them independence and security - financial and otherwise, that touched a chord in her. She did not just adapt to my dream, she became its bedrock. She understood what it meant. She empathized with the countless Indian women who would benefit. When I dared to imagine Avtar, it was her hand that wrote the first cheque for ₹60,000. It was the seed capital of a business, but more importantly, it was the validation of a daughter-in-law by a woman who had once hoped for a different path for me. They always said she was fortunate. They said money touched by her multiplied. They said a purse blessed by her would never be empty. But as I look back, I realize it was us who were the fortunate ones. While my husband and I chased our careers, she was the one at every karate practice, every music class, and every Bharatnatyam recital. She turned a fussy eater’s meal into a tricolor "flag pulao" and moved from being my teacher in the kitchen to being my fiercest advocate in the world, telling her relatives, "Saundarya is my daughter, there's no 'in-law' there." The depth of her support, however, was something I only truly grasped after she passed. While sorting through her belongings, I found it, a carefully curated archive tucked away in Cadbury's chocolate box. Clippings of every newspaper article, every interview, and every press mention of my work over the last three decades. She had been quietly collecting the milestones of my professional life with a pride she rarely voiced aloud. Our final chapter was as grace-filled as her life. Last Friday, April 24th, after a 45-day battle following a fall, as she lay in her final moments, my husband held her hand, and I stood by her side as she breathed her last. She chose to include us in her farewell, a parting gift of intimacy that I will cherish forever. Amma, love you. Om Shanthi. Om Shanthi. Om Shanthi.

Other than originality of thinking, AI will own everything else!

Thalaivar's charisma being put to good use by our neighbors 😊🔥

#KaalaiVanakkam! To every lighthouse in my life - grateful thanks 🙏 You are a guiding force that has helped me and countless others lead a more purposeful life, sans judgment, sans criticism 🙏 Hope to be such a lighthouse to those in need 🙏

Hey! If you are free at 10 today and want to listen to me chat with @rks_ramkumar on women's careers @projectputhri, @myavtarjobs and how women's employment is the (hidden) key to #ViksitBharat, do tune into @pttv_tweets!

#KaalaiVanakkam! However hectic life maybe, filled with a hundred chores, caregiving duties, tasks to be completed et al, take time out definitely, doggedly, to spend with the Universal Energy (I call Her God). Sit in its presence - chant, meditate, pray. God answers our genuine search for clarity by sharpening our discernment, settling our thoughts and replacing internal confusion with profound peace. Happy spiritual Sunday to you🪷

#KaalaiVanakkam! Strength comes only from adversity. No other exercise of spirituality is effective. Salutations to every strong person 🙏

#KaalaiVanakkam! The essence of Satsangam is that we become good people even without realising that our habits are changing for the better. The presence and influence of great people has a profound impact on us. Namaskaram to all the Gurus in our lives!

Class act! Turning an audacious moment into a lighthearted rebuttal with gentle humor shows true wisdom, poise, and masterclass diplomacy. Absolutely commendable leadership from the one and only @anandmahindra!

#KaalaiVanakkam! It's totally OK if certain things are left unsaid. Complete surrender to the Universal Energy (I call Her God) requires us to leave every situation at Her feet. It's fine. She will handle.

#KaalaiVanakkam! Detachment is about realising that what you want, may not always be what you need. As the great karmayogi Swami Vivekananda says, do your duty and dont be meshed up with the results. And that is the exact same thing that our glorious Lord Krishna says in the Gita!

#KaalaiVanakkam! This is a list of simply amazing pointers for a happy, stress-free, contented and peaceful life. I have seen many of my elders at home practice this. My absolute favorite is Point 5! What's yours?

Happy #AyudhaPooja!

#KaalaiVanakkam! It will. It will. It will. May the Universal Energy (I call Her God) make everything possible which is good and wonderful and beneficial for you 🪷

This year, Navarathri is short - just 8 and a half days and it made me feel (especially since we did not keep Golu this year) that it should have been longer, since the whole world is at a sharp turning point. - Global conflicts, economic shocks, and the quiet force of AI are rewriting the rules of work almost overnight. - Mid-tier knowledge roles that once offered stability are thinning. - Our government and leadership is facing tremendous heat and is fighting battles we know nothing about. - Economic pressure is quietly adding to the unpaid caregiving load many women already carry. Decades of hard-won progress in career equity and financial independence now face fresh vulnerability. Yet Navarathri has always been more than ritual. It is a nine-night reminder that spiritual grounding is active strength. Prayer, meditation, and chanting are not an escape from the world; they are the daily practice that builds the clarity, inner steadiness, and radical resilience we need to stay present and purposeful when the ground shifts. Career intentionality, the deliberate choice to keep learning, adapting, and protecting one’s professional path, becomes even more vital in such times. As we pray to our Divine Mother Lalitha Tripurasundari, let us pray not just for our own clarity but for everyone: for safety in conflict zones, wisdom for those who lead, and fierce courage for women defending their autonomy, their careers, and their right to contribute. The world is being rewritten, but our collective capacity to adapt, to support one another, and to draw strength from faith remains undiminished. Ground yourself. Lift someone else. Keep showing up with both skill and spirit. That combination has always been, and will remain, invincible.

#KaalaiVanakkam! May the day be all about letting go ✨ Let go of negativity. Let go of anger. Let go of comparisons. Relax. Be at peace. You are enough. It's no longer about becoming, it's about being 🌺

Tamil cinema lost its beloved Thenisai Thendral, Deva. The genius behind iconic anthems like #Baasha shaped the pulse of the 90's generation. I recall the magic of his live concert in Chennai in 2022, where thousands united in enjoying his music. Also reminded of his family's incredible unity; he and his brothers would compose five distinct tunes for a single film situation to ensure producers got the absolute best. Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti 🙏 #DevaTheDeva