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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 6:07:15 pm

The Financial Magic of 8/8

AI Generated Image If numbers could talk, 8 would speak the language of wealth. When the date doubles into 8/8, it becomes more than another day. It becomes a reminder of financial power, balance and long-term abundance. Yesterday, the calendar read August 8 - 8/8. In astrology and numerology, this date is considered significant. The Lion’s Gate Portal August 8 marks the peak of what is known as the Lion’s Gate Portal - a period believed to carry heightened energy for growth, abundance and...

The Financial Magic of 8/8

AI Generated Image If numbers could talk, 8 would speak the language of wealth. When the date doubles into 8/8, it becomes more than another day. It becomes a reminder of financial power, balance and long-term abundance. Yesterday, the calendar read August 8 - 8/8. In astrology and numerology, this date is considered significant. The Lion’s Gate Portal August 8 marks the peak of what is known as the Lion’s Gate Portal - a period believed to carry heightened energy for growth, abundance and transformation. I am a financial advisor - not an astrologer or numerologist - but I find this date fascinating because of the symbolism attached to the number 8. In numerology, 8 is associated with wealth, power, ambition and balance. It is also linked with discipline, responsibility and karma - the idea that our actions produce results. When the calendar reads 8/8, many believe this energy is doubled. A Financial Checkpoint Whether or not you believe in astrology or numerology, the date can serve as a financial checkpoint - an opportunity to pause, reflect and take steps towards building wealth. I recommend treating 8/8 as a money mirror - a moment to ask yourself: Are my investments aligned with my long-term goals? Is my money working for me, or am I caught in an earn-and-spend cycle? Am I creating lasting wealth, or merely temporary income? Your Mid-Year Money Reset We often make resolutions on January 1. But by August, more than half the year has passed. That makes 8/8 an excellent occasion for a financial reset. Use this weekend for review and action. The intention may begin on a symbolic day, but transformation comes from what you do next. Review your goals and expenses. Make lumpsum investments where appropriate, increase your SIPs, check whether your insurance cover is sufficient and organise your financial documents. Also review your asset allocation. Money meant for long-term goals must be invested in hybrid and equity mutual funds, stocks and gold. Money required for short-term goals should remain in safer options such as bank fixed deposits and recurring deposits. Declutter Your Finances Close unused accounts, cancel unnecessary subscriptions, consolidate scattered investments and ensure that your family knows where financial information is stored. These may seem like small steps, but wealth is rarely created through one dramatic decision. It is built through disciplined actions repeated over many years. The Infinity Connection When the number 8 is turned on its side, it resembles the symbol for infinity - . That is what true investing is about - allowing consistency, patience and compounding to work over long periods. It does not create wealth overnight. Given time, the results can appear magical. Turn Intention Into Action As we move beyond 8/8, do not let the intention remain limited to a date on the calendar. Set a financial intention. Act on it. Review it regularly. Even the largest fortunes begin with focused steps. When your present-day financial actions begin matching your long-term goals, real transformation begins. (The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Arvind Kejriwal: Political Firestarter

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Arvind Kejriwal: Political Firestarter

Few Indian politicians embody the contradictions of modern politics like Arvind Kejriwal. The former bureaucrat-turned-anti-corruption crusader, who once inspired legions with his slogan of clean governance, now finds himself locked in a complex battle over his own integrity.

On Friday, Kejriwal emerged from Tihar Jail to a hero’s welcome from supporters of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Released on bail by India’s Supreme Court, the Delhi Chief Minister wasted no time in portraying his incarceration as a moral victory and, in a thinly-veiled rebuke at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claimed he had been targeted not for corruption but for daring to fight “anti-national forces” allegedly weakening India.His release has ignited a wave of celebration within AAP ranks, as though a political victory has been secured ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly election. But such celebrations may be premature.

Kejriwal’s legal troubles stem from the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, an ambitious attempt to reform the city’s alcohol sales framework. The policy’s alleged flaws gave rise to corruption charges involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), resulting in his earlier this year. The agencies accuse him of graft and money laundering, charges he denies vehemently. Yet, despite being granted interim bail in the ED’s money laundering case in July, Kejriwal’s release was delayed due to his subsequent arrest by the CBI. The spectacle of his staggered detentions has led many to view his predicament through a political lens, with Kejriwal depicting himself as a victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by the central government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an unusually pointed observation, Justice Bhuyan of the Supreme Court questioned the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest - 22 months after the first information report (FIR) was registered - while criticizing the CBI’s handling of the case, reminding the agency of its duty to act with integrity and fairness and not to function as a “caged parrot” speaking in its master’s voice.

And yet, Kejriwal’s release on bail is far from an exoneration. The legal proceedings against him are expected to drag on. As the BJP was quick to point out, Kejriwal’s bail is a civil right, not an acquittal. The trial will soon commence, and the AAP leader still faces a long legal battle ahead.

Kejriwal’s arrest has come at a politically sensitive time. Delhi is set to hold its Assembly elections in early 2025, and the BJP is already recalibrating its strategy. For months, the BJP has portrayed AAP as a “den of corrupt leaders,” highlighting the arrests of Kejriwal’s close associates, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendra Jain, on similar corruption charges. With Kejriwal and his associates now out on bail, the BJP will likely shift its narrative to focus on the alleged “constitutional crisis” in the capital.

From his early days as an anti-corruption activist, Kejriwal has cultivated an image of himself as a man willing to challenge entrenched interests. His tenure as Delhi’s CM has often been marked by conflict with the central government over the city-state’s limited powers, a struggle that resonates with voters who view him as a voice for local governance.

His political rise has always been unconventional, marked by his ability to turn crises into opportunities. Whether it was his brief resignation (for 49 days) in 2014 or his frequent clashes with the central government, Kejriwal has consistently positioned himself as an outsider, fighting the political establishment on behalf of ordinary citizens. This narrative of victimhood has resonated with his supporters, allowing him to weather scandals that might sink other politicians.

His administration has been lauded for populist policies like free electricity, water, and healthcare, which have won him strong support among Delhi’s lower-middle class.

But Kejriwal’s political journey has not been without contradictions: he has adopted pragmatic strategies to stay politically relevant, sometimes allying with figures he once opposed.

His immediate challenge is to navigate the legal labyrinth ahead, even as he prepares for the forthcoming elections.

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