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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 6:07:15 pm

Akshay Tritiya and Gold

As Akshay Tritiya arrives, gold once again takes centre stage in Indian households. For generations, buying gold on this auspicious day has been considered a symbol of prosperity, purity, and good fortune. It is not just a purchase. It is an emotion, a blessing, and a tradition passed from one generation to another. But beyond tradition, gold also carries an important financial lesson. Gold is not just jewellery. It is an asset. Gold During Uncertain Times Over the years, gold has proved its...

Akshay Tritiya and Gold

As Akshay Tritiya arrives, gold once again takes centre stage in Indian households. For generations, buying gold on this auspicious day has been considered a symbol of prosperity, purity, and good fortune. It is not just a purchase. It is an emotion, a blessing, and a tradition passed from one generation to another. But beyond tradition, gold also carries an important financial lesson. Gold is not just jewellery. It is an asset. Gold During Uncertain Times Over the years, gold has proved its worth not only during festivals, but also during uncertain times. Whenever the world faces wars, inflation, currency weakness, economic slowdown, or financial panic, investors across the globe look at gold as a safe haven. This is because gold has a unique quality. It is trusted across countries, cultures, and generations. It does not depend on the promise of one government, one company, or one currency. Why Gold Holds Value Unlike paper currency, gold cannot be printed endlessly. Unlike businesses, it does not depend on profits or management quality. Unlike real estate, it is globally accepted and easily valued. This is why gold continues to remain one of the oldest and most respected stores of value. It has survived centuries of change, economic cycles, wars, and financial crises. The Right Role in Your Portfolio That said, gold should not be treated as a shortcut to wealth creation. Equities and equity mutual funds still remain essential for long-term growth. Gold plays a different role. It brings balance, stability, and protection to your portfolio. When equity markets are volatile or global uncertainty rises, gold often provides comfort. A sensible allocation of around 10-20% to gold can help reduce overall portfolio risk.  So basically, while stocks and equity mutual funds play the lead role in your long-term financial goals, gold plays the supporting but essential role. Physical Gold Has Limitations However, the way you invest in gold matters. Buying physical gold during festivals may feel emotionally satisfying, but it comes with practical challenges. There are making charges, purity concerns, storage issues, risk of theft, and liquidity problems. A necklace may be beautiful, but you cannot easily sell only a small portion of it when you need money. Also, when gold is bought as jewellery, the investor often forgets to calculate the actual return after making charges and deductions. Smarter Ways to Invest This is where Gold Mutual Funds and Gold ETFs become useful. They allow you to invest in gold without worrying about lockers, purity, theft, or storage. You can invest flexible amounts, start SIPs, track value easily, and redeem conveniently when required. For investors who want gold as part of their financial plan, these options are far more practical than buying jewellery purely as an investment. Tradition with Financial Clarity Akshay Tritiya is a beautiful reminder that wealth should be built with faith, patience, and clarity. Buying gold is auspicious, but buying it in the right form is financially wise. This Akshay Tritiya, celebrate tradition - but also upgrade your financial thinking. Because true prosperity is not just about owning gold. It is about owning it smartly. (The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Top Maoist leader shot dead in Bihar Encounter



A 35-year-old self-styled area commander of the banned Maoist outfit, CPI(Maoist), was killed in an encounter with security forces in Bihar’s Banka district, police said on Wednesday.


The slain Maoist has been identified as Ramesh Tudu, also known as Tedua. He carried a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head and was active in parts of Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand.


Based on a tip-off, security personnel launched a combing operation in the Kalothar forest, falling under the Katoria police station limits in Banka. When the police reached the area, Tudu and his group opened fire on them.


The police team, led by Katoria police station’s Station House Officer (SHO) Arvind Rai, returned fire in self-defense. Tudu sustained bullet injuries during the exchange.


He was taken to the government referral hospital in Katoria, where doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, his associates managed to flee into the forest between Budhi Ghat and Kalothar, using the difficult terrain to their advantage.

Banka Superintendent of Police (SP) Upendra Nath Verma said Tudu was the area commander of a Maoist unit that operated in Jamui district. Several cases linked to Maoist activities had been registered against him at Chandra Mandi and Chakai police stations in Jamui.


The state government had announced a ₹1 lakh reward for his arrest. Tudu was reportedly a resident of Budhi Ghat village in Banka. A carbine was recovered from his possession after the encounter, the SP said.


According to police, Tudu was also wanted in at least 11 Maoist-related cases in Deoghar and Gasidih districts of Jharkhand. The SP added that the search operation in the region would continue.

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