📚 India’s Invisible Business OS, Language Chaos, How to Engineer Luck, New York, EU Explained in 10 mins
Hanif Kureshi & St+art India, A Cartoonist's Review of AI Art, Fashion Week Invites and more
Hello,
The last few weeks have been a good kind of break. I finally ticked off some long-pending to-dos, did lots of shopping, caught a 10 a.m. horror-comedy show, and spent lazy hours chilling with Shreya at home. Honestly, I haven’t had many breaks like this, and it felt great. I’m back feeling fresh, ready for the next big leap.
As you read this, I’ve started a new chapter in my career. I’ve joined Redseer Strategy Consultants, where I’ll get to work with some of the sharpest minds in Indian (and hopefully soon, global) business. It’s a new industry, a new role, and a new environment — but the excitement and curiosity remain the same.
If you’ve followed this newsletter for a while, you’d know I rarely write about my workplace. That might continue. But what you will find here are the lessons and ideas that this new phase brings my way. So, buckle up.
I didn’t get around to reading or watching much these past weeks, so today’s spread is a little light and focused. The next few weeks might also be a bit of a transition phase, but I’ll do my best to keep sharing what’s been fueling my curiosity.
Here’s what I’m bringing you today:
💬 India’s Invisible Business Operating System
🇮🇳 Language Chaos that is India
🤞 How to Engineer Luck
🏙️ David Perell on New York
🇪🇺 EU explained in 10 minutes
👺 Hanif Kureshi & St+art India
💭 A Cartoonist’s Review of AI Art
🕵️ Clues by Sam!
💌 Fashion Week Invites: Level Crazy
That’s a lot of good stuff, let’s get started…
💬 India’s Invisible Business Operating System
Our residential society has a lively bunch of home cooks. The food WhatsApp group is always buzzing: today’s menu, quick orders, and a flood of feedback messages. It’s not really my thing, so I stay out of it. But Shreya has a knack for spotting the gems and lets me know whenever something special is up. That’s how we got hooked on a WhatsApp channel serving some of our favorite home-chef dishes.
There are many such groups; one even run by a flower seller and decorator who posts photos of his work daily and takes orders right there. And surprisingly, it works like magic.
I often wonder how hard it must be to manage these groups and small business accounts. Why hasn’t anyone built a simple solution for small business communication, community building, and order management?
Dharmesh Ba has been building in this space for over a year and recently shared a detailed piece on what he’s learned. No doubt, Indian business runs on WhatsApp, despite all its quirks. His post digs deep into the hidden challenges of this ecosystem. Sadly, there are no clear solutions yet, only some suggestions. It’s an urgent need, as Dharmesh suggests.
Why does he think so? Here’s the essence of his argument:
WhatsApp isn’t a product Indians use. It’s infrastructure Indians depend on.
Infrastructure is different from products. Products are things you choose. Infrastructure is what you assume exists. You don’t think about electricity until the power goes out. You don’t think about roads until they’re blocked.
India stopped thinking about WhatsApp years ago. It’s just... there. Assumed. Essential.
This matters because of a simple truth: when something becomes infrastructure, its problems stop being individual frustrations and start being citizen problems.
Quite a real challenge, when you see it this way. Isn’t it?
🇮🇳 Language Chaos that is India
The other day, Shreya was surprised when she heard me read an OTP in Hindi numerals: “saat so ikkis do do paanch.” I hadn’t noticed this quirk before, but thinking about it now, this might be the last place where I still use Hindi by default, without realizing it.
I studied in Hindi-medium schools till 10th grade (yes, I read Bhugol, Itihas, Rasayan and all that) before switching to English for higher studies, engineering prep, and everything after. Academically, I managed fine. Outside the classroom, it took time; and I still struggle on many fronts. I can’t recognize or remember English song lyrics to save my life.
After moving to Bangalore, I picked up enough Kannada for survival, and that’s been my language mix ever since.
Samir Varma recently wrote a brilliant two-part series on the language chaos that is India (part 1, part 2). The theme is huge, but he handles it with clarity, depth, and a knack for finding the unsexy angles most people skip.
He has a strong point of view, yet he backs it with solid examples and data. You don’t have to agree with him on everything, but his writing shows the effort of someone who’s truly tried to understand the subject.
🤞 How to Engineer Luck
Building agency and engineering luck - two ideas I never fully grasped until I started writing newsletters. It’s not that they were new, just that no one in the real world talked about them this clearly. People always told you to do things, be better, stay curious. But somehow, these phrases make those same ideas sound cooler and more intentional.
If you want to dig deeper, George Mack recently wrote a brilliant piece called How to Engineer Luck on his High Agency Substack. And what are the odds! And, it’s gone Substack-viral, for all the right reasons.
The piece blends timeless ideas with an easy, feel-good energy. You’ll likely find something that sticks; maybe even a small change you want to make in your own life.
Here’s my favorite bit, and one I’m going to try.
5. Proactively make introductions - If friend A and friend B can get value from each other, introduce them. It’s a 30-second email for you, and it may change their lives forever. Maybe they will start a company together. Maybe one hires the other. Maybe they fall in love, have three kids and become soul mates. Networks are unique because they don’t divide when you share them -- they multiply. There’s no higher ROI on any other 30-second activity. (Note — do not confuse this with making introductions where only one side gets value from it)
🏙️ David Perell on New York
David Perell’s writing is a masterclass in simple done well. It’s evocative without trying too hard, and his sharp observations give it real power. What’s remarkable is how this style works across formats: tweet threads, long-form essays, or short videos.
Recently, I came across a tweet thread where he shared his take on life in New York. It’s classic Perell - insightful, playful, and deeply observant.
Sample this bit:
4) The vibrant social life is a positive externality of crappy housing. In most cities, people are content to hang out at home. But in New York, it’s so easy to get stuck in such a dungeon that you’re desperate to escape. Because of that, people end up socializing more than they would if the living quarters were nice.
There are 22 more such tiny gems, each one capable of sending you down a thoughtful rabbit hole; or simply making you smile at how true it sounds.
I’ve never been to New York, so I can’t vouch for the accuracy. But it’s always refreshing to see a city captured through such honest, vivid writing.
Who else writes like this, or paints cities with such feeling?
🇪🇺 EU explained in 10 minutes
When it comes to the European Union, my understanding is pretty limited. Here’s how I currently see it:
About 15 years ago, I went on a student exchange program and felt the joy of traveling across a dozen countries with one visa and one currency.
My main references to Germany, Italy, and France come from their sports teams, food, and places I dream of visiting.
I know there are some great European universities for postgrad studies, though I’ve often wondered if they’re worth it from a career or ROI point of view.
Finally, the EU took center stage during Brexit, but even then, Britain dominated the headlines — and I never really grasped what the EU was or what exactly the UK was exiting from.
If you relate to this, or just want a quick 10-minute primer on the EU, check out this great LessWrong post by Martin Sustrik. He weaves together history, politics, culture, and geography into one short, clear explainer that helps make sense of the EU’s complexity.
And of all the interesting insights about the EU, this piece stood out for one specific nugget of knowledge. I’d always noticed those rebars and wondered why they exist, but never thought to ask. Now I finally know.
👺 Hanif Kureshi & St+art India
Graffiti and street art have always fascinated me. During my student exchange days, I remember seeing some of the coolest graffiti tucked away in random street corners abroad. Back then, India barely had any of it. But the last decade has changed that. I’ve seen glimpses of it in Pondicherry, Goa, Mumbai, and Namma Bengaluru. The creativity is unparalleled..
Much of this movement in India can be credited to Hanif Kureshi and St+art India. In a podcast episode, Kedar Nimkar talks to Hanif about the story behind this art form, its rise in India, and what lies ahead. It’s an old episode, but a solid, quick listen.
Here’s one snippet from the Substack summary that stood out to me.
I visited Bandra’s Chapel Road last year and saw the Bollywood-themed murals that have completely transformed those narrow lanes. In Bangalore, I’ve admired the work around Church Street, but I’m yet to explore Malleshwaram’s street art.
If anyone’s up for a walk together, let’s plan it. Could be a fun way to explore; maybe even turn it into a street art walking tour.
✨ Everything else
A cartoonist’s review of AI art - Matthew Inman, the mind behind The Oatmeal, takes a witty jab at AI art in his trademark style. Smart, funny, and a little too real. It’s sharp commentary on what it means to be an artist today.
Clues by Sam! Put your logical thinking muscle to good use. Even the easy level isn’t really easy. I get stuck every single time.
Fashion week invites, but make them wild. From blood bags to mini TVs, these invites redefine creativity. Proof that imagination truly knows no limits.
ICYMI, here is the link to last week’s post:
That’s all for this week, folks!
I hope I’ve earned the privilege of your time.
See you next Monday.