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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 11:37:15 pm

Fast Today, Prosper Tomorrow

AI Generated Image Navratri is a time when devotion, self-control, and celebration come together. For nine days, people across the country observe fasting, prayers, and rituals with discipline and faith. But beyond the spiritual significance, Navratri also carries valuable lessons for our financial lives - especially in how fasting and sacrifice mirror the principles of investing. Fasting as discipline When we fast, we consciously give up indulgence. It is not just about avoiding food; it...

Fast Today, Prosper Tomorrow

AI Generated Image Navratri is a time when devotion, self-control, and celebration come together. For nine days, people across the country observe fasting, prayers, and rituals with discipline and faith. But beyond the spiritual significance, Navratri also carries valuable lessons for our financial lives - especially in how fasting and sacrifice mirror the principles of investing. Fasting as discipline When we fast, we consciously give up indulgence. It is not just about avoiding food; it is also about training the mind and body to resist temptation. The same applies to investing. In a world full of instant gratification, whether it is the latest gadget, a fancy car, an expensive lifestyle or a luxury holiday, real wealth creation requires the discipline to sometimes say, “not now.” Just as fasting strengthens willpower, disciplined investing strengthens our financial health. Sacrifice for a greater good Navratri fasting involves small sacrifices today for spiritual growth tomorrow. In investing too, we often have to sacrifice some short-term pleasures to secure long-term prosperity. Choosing to invest a bonus instead of spending it entirely, or increasing SIPs using a portion of every salary increment instead of allocating the entire increase towards expenses and new liabilities, may feel like a sacrifice initially. But these small decisions, repeated over many years, can accumulate into significant future wealth and financial security. This is the very essence of delayed gratification. Patience and consistency Navratri fasting is not observed for just one day. The discipline continues throughout the nine days. Similarly, investing is not about one lucky trade or one successful investment. Wealth creation requires staying the course month after month and year after year through regular investing, sensible asset allocation and the power of compounding. There will inevitably be periods when markets test our patience. But just as discipline during Navratri is maintained throughout the festival, financial discipline must continue through both good and difficult market conditions. Balance and moderation Fasting during Navratri is not about starving. It is about moderation, restraint and mindful eating. Investing too should not be about extremes, neither reckless risk-taking nor excessive conservatism. A well-planned portfolio spread appropriately across assets such as equity, debt and gold can provide both growth and stability. Just as moderation keeps the body healthy, balance helps keep our finances resilient. The bigger picture Ultimately, Navratri fasting is also about purification of the body, mind and soul. Investing, in its own way, requires purification of financial habits: moving away from impulsive spending, unnecessary liabilities and short-term thinking towards purposeful saving and wealth creation. This Navratri, as you observe your fast with devotion and discipline, also resolve to bring the same qualities into your financial life. After all, both fasting and investing ask us to give up a little today in pursuit of something greater tomorrow. (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Breaking barriers, shaping the future

Writer: Akhilesh Sinha
Akhilesh Sinha
Sep 21, 2025
2 min read

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them. 


Part - 1


Name: Sita Devi | Where: Karnal, Haryana
Name: Sita Devi | Where: Karnal, Haryana

In Haryana, a state once infamous for its deep gender imbalance and harsh restrictions on women, stories of modern-day Shakti are unfolding. Among the most inspiring is that of Sita Devi from Karnal district — now renowned as “Namo Drone Didi.”


Armed with a drone and a vehicle, Sita has become a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and the breaking of barriers. After 15 days of intensive, free drone-pilot training in Gurugram through government programs run by IFFCO, Sita Devi started working in farms and fields, spraying pesticides and earns Rs 400 per acre. For her, the drone is not just a tool of livelihood but a symbol of flight — an ascent into independence and dignity.


The journey was far from easy. Leaving home for training was daunting, and balancing household duties with new responsibilities posed challenges. But her husband, Khushiram, stood firmly by her side, encouraging her to step beyond tradition. Sita credits his support and government schemes for giving her the confidence to adopt technology and pursue opportunities outside the home. Now, she not only contributes financially but also secures quality education for her children.


Her efforts have drawn national attention. Recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders has amplified her role as a pioneer. Yet, her real achievement lies in inspiring other rural women. Seeing Sita command a drone in the fields challenges stereotypes and sparks dreams that that, women, too, can master machines and embrace innovation. Today, Haryana has 108 “Drone Didis” like Sita, each one rewriting the story of what women can do in agriculture and beyond.


The backdrop makes this transformation more striking. In 2014, Haryana’s sex ratio was a shocking 871 women per 1,000 men. Campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao raised it to 923 by 2019, but by 2024 it had slipped back to 910. The numbers remind us that progress is fragile — and that true equality requires more than statistics. It demands visible, lived change in the lives of women.


Sita Devi embodies this change. Her husband calls the scheme “transformative,” enabling women to make productive contributions to society. Her story proves that when resilience meets opportunity, barriers collapse. Haryana’s Drone Didis are not just economic contributors; they are modern embodiments of Shakti, rising above centuries-old restrictions to lead their communities forward.


During Navratri, as we worship the Goddess in her many forms, stories like Sita Devi’s remind us that Shakti is not confined to temples or myths. It lives in women who seize the tools of progress — be it a plough, a book, or a drone — and use them to lift entire families and communities.


With each flight of her drone, Sita Devi sends a powerful message: empowered women are not just beneficiaries of change — they are the very force driving it.

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