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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.)

Eyes Everywhere: How CCTV Is Solving Crimes in Real Time

Dr. Keshav Kumar and Dikumoni Bora
Aug 2, 2025
3 min read

CCTV may raise privacy concerns, but in cities where it's prevalent, crime has fallen by as much as 30 per cent.

Closed-circuit television, or CCTV, has become one of the most important instruments in modern forensic investigations. CCTV technology, which was first created in the late 1940s in Germany to monitor rocket launches, has advanced dramatically over the years. It now serves an important role in both preventing and solving crimes by giving visual evidence that may be used in court. CCTV systems have evolved from analogue tape records to high-definition digital footage with cloud storage, and artificial intelligence has made them smarter and more reliable than ever.


The use of CCTV footage in legal proceedings in India has become increasingly significant. In the case of Sonu vs. State of Haryana, courts relied heavily on video evidence for conviction. The courts also said that CCTV footage can be used as evidence under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act if specific conditions are met. Recently, a major theft at a jewellery store in Delhi was cracked within hours with the help of CCTV footage that clearly showed the perpetrator’s face and movements. The Supreme Court of India, too, has emphasised the importance of surveillance. In the case of Paramvir Singh Saini vs Baljit Singh (2020), the court ordered the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations and interrogation rooms, stating that this move would ensure accountability and transparency. The bench also stated that such footage could protect both citizens and law enforcement officials from false allegations.


Scientific advancements are expanding the capabilities of CCTV. A recent study focuses on applying AI algorithms to detect tampering in surveillance videos while maintaining the integrity of the footage. Artificial intelligence is also utilised for real-time facial recognition, object tracking, and behavioural analysis, allowing law enforcement agencies to prevent crimes before they occur. “CrimeTracer AI”, a contemporary AI tool, allows investigators to explore large amounts of video footage data using plain-language instructions, which significantly reduces the investigation time.


The use of CCTV in urban policing has been pioneered by experts in India, especially Dr. A.K. Viswanathan, a former Chennai Police Commissioner. Under his leadership, Chennai launched the "Third Eye" initiative, which included the installation of over 250,000 cameras across the city and the integration of facial recognition technology to increase public safety. On the forensic side, the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) have developed into nationwide centres for video forensics. Some industry leaders like Amped Software offer solutions for court-admissible video analysis.


Internationally, agencies such as Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) offer recommendations and guidelines on the forensic treatment and handling of video evidence, promoting cross-border consistency. The insightful TED Talk titled “The Tech That Tracks You” offers insightful public perspectives on surveillance technology, balancing its benefits with concerns about privacy and ethics.


Despite privacy concerns, the presence of CCTV has consistently shown a reduction in crime rates in monitored areas, sometimes by as much as 30%. The forensic value of the technology lies not only in recording events but also in doing so in a way that can be verified, and AI is increasingly being used to find even the smallest digital changes. We expect CCTV's role in ensuring justice and public safety to only strengthen as it continues to merge with cutting-edge technology. For the average citizen, it brings peace of mind; for law enforcement, it is an unblinking ally in the quest for truth.


(Dr. Kumar is a retired IPS and forensic advisor to the Government of Assam. Bora is student of forensic at NFSU, Guwahati. Views personal.)

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