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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 11:37:15 pm

Modak and the Art of Investing

As the aroma of freshly steamed Modaks fills homes during Ganesh Utsav, the festive spirit comes alive instantly. My mouth is already watering at the thought! The humble Modak, prepared with love to honour Lord Ganesha, may look simple from the outside. But anyone who has tried making one knows that a good Modak depends on several things coming together - the right ingredients, the right recipe, patience with the process, and finally, enjoying the result. Investing is surprisingly similar....

Modak and the Art of Investing

As the aroma of freshly steamed Modaks fills homes during Ganesh Utsav, the festive spirit comes alive instantly. My mouth is already watering at the thought! The humble Modak, prepared with love to honour Lord Ganesha, may look simple from the outside. But anyone who has tried making one knows that a good Modak depends on several things coming together - the right ingredients, the right recipe, patience with the process, and finally, enjoying the result. Investing is surprisingly similar. Choose the Right Ingredients A Modak is only as good as the ingredients that go into it. Fresh coconut, good-quality jaggery, properly prepared rice flour and the right flavours all contribute to the final result. Our investments and financial products are the ingredients of our financial plan. Equities, mutual funds, fixed income, gold and other investments each have a specific role to play. The objective is not to pick whatever appears most exciting at the moment, but to select suitable, good-quality investments that match our financial goals, time horizon and ability to take risks. Health and life insurance are equally important ingredients. Adequate coverage helps protect savings, the family, and their financial goals and dreams. Good ingredients provide the foundation. But ingredients alone are not enough. Get the Recipe Right You may have the finest ingredients in the kitchen, but if the proportions are wrong, the Modak may still not turn out well. The same applies to investing. Asset allocation is the recipe of a financial plan. Too much of one ingredient can spoil a Modak. Similarly, excessive concentration in one asset or too much money in low-return products can spoil a portfolio. Balance is key. A thoughtfully constructed portfolio brings different investments together in the right proportions. To keep asset allocation very simple - short-term goals can be planned through bank fixed deposits, recurring deposits and debt mutual funds. For long-term goals, one can consider hybrid mutual funds, equity mutual funds or direct stocks. Trust the Process Once the Modak is shaped and placed for steaming, constantly checking whether it is ready will not make it cook faster. Investors often make the same mistake. We keep checking markets, reacting to every correction, chasing recent performers or changing strategies because of short-term noise. Good investing requires patience and discipline. Invest regularly, review periodically and allow your financial plan enough time to work. Compounding is powerful precisely because it rewards those who remain invested for long periods. Sometimes, the best thing an investor can do is simply avoid unnecessary interference. Enjoy What You Have Created Finally comes the most important part - eating the Modak! The purpose of investing is not merely to accumulate the largest possible number on a statement. Wealth should eventually help us fulfil our goals, support our families, create financial security and enjoy life with greater peace of mind. A good Modak needs the right ingredients, the right recipe and trust in the process. A good investment journey needs exactly the same. This Ganesh Utsav, may Bappa bless us with the wisdom to make good financial choices, the patience to stay disciplined, and the prosperity to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. Ganpati Bappa Morya! (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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