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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.)

Nashik’s Lady Singham

Writer: Ruddhi Phadke
Ruddhi Phadke
Sep 26, 2025
3 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 - 6


Name: Sharada Raut | Where: Nashik, Maharashtra
Name: Sharada Raut | Where: Nashik, Maharashtra

A simple, studious and honest personality that very obviously displays sincerity and genuine passion for work, and that is of Sharada Raut who is nicknamed "Lady Singham" and has a pool of experiences that would inspire every woman in India. Hailing from a small village in Nashik district of Maharashtra, as a child, Sharada wished to either choose medicine or civil services as her profession because she believed that after any emergency, a person either runs to a doctor or a police personnel. Eventually Sharada chose to graduate in Commerce and began her journey to become an IPS officer. She achieved All India Rank 283 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2005, which led to her entry into the Indian Police Service (IPS). Sharada believes that perseverance and will to leave no stone unturned to achieve a dream is a most crucial quality any student needs to be able to taste success in future.


Sharada who has recently been appointed the Special Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Maharashtra's newly formed Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Nagpur and gained recognition for her work in Palghar and Mumbai. Before this appointment, she had returned to Maharashtra after a stint on central deputation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). She is considered to be an expert in bank fraud investigation cases. In June 2021, while at the CBI, she led a team to Dominica to help extradite fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi. She has achieved recognition for her work in investigating high-profile cases, including the Punjab National Bank fraud involving Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi.


From Nashik to Nagpur, Nandurbar, Kolhapur and Mumbai- Sharada’s journey is a substantial one. Be it her contribution to tightening the noose around dance bars in Mira Road and Mumbai, or her contribution to reduce crime rate in Palghar, Sharada’s brave and courageous discharge of duty has been recognised and appreciated time and again.

 

Not one to believe that women have to shatter the proverbial glass ceiling, Sharda believes in gender equality in the real sense of the term. In an interview with India Unbound published in 2015, Sharda had said, “Being a lady officer, I never faced any different treatment, or discrimination and I never took disadvantage of being a lady officer to get any leaves or such type of privileges. In our field, all are the same. However, it is very important to take care of all the lady officers in your team. We ensure that all basic facilities are provided to all lady officers, and also to avoid any gender discrimination at grass root level.”

 

She was very much on the field like a lioness even during her pregnancy and did not avail any maternity leave. Sharda says, “those who work hard, can’t sit at home peacefully.” Sharda believes that domestic responsibilities are equally important, however a woman like her who is lucky enough to have strong support from the family , should join police forces immediately.





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