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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.)

‘When I won, my mother was working as a labourer’

Dev Dhurandhar
Dec 28, 2025
3 min read

Ganga Kadam, player of India’s Blind Women’s World Cup team, proves courage overcomes physical barriers


Mumbai: Six months ago, Ganga Kadam had almost given up her dreams of playing for India in the Blind Women’s World Cup. Traumatised by her father’s death in May, Ganga decided to quit cricket and help her mother earn a living for the family.


Thanks to her coach, who persuaded her to continue playing cricket, Ganga abandoned her plans and resolved to fulfil her father’s wish of seeing his daughter playing in Indian colours for the World Cup. She was the only player from Maharashtra selected for the final 17-member Indian World Cup squad.


Today, 26-year-old Ganga is basking in the glory of being a part of the Indian team that created history by winning the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup. As vice-captain, she played a crucial role in team India’s success with some stand-out all-round performances.


India demonstrated their dominance by winning all the matches before going on to win the title. India won their opening game against Sri Lanka, followed by a 57-run win over Australia. The Women in Blue later defeated arch-rivals Pakistan, chasing down the 136-run target in 10.2 overs. They continued the winning spree by thrashing Australia by nine wickets in the semi-final. In the final held at Colombo’s P Sara Oval on November 23, Indian team defeated Nepal by seven wickets.


Ganga was the cornerstone of several memorable wins in the World Cup. In the opening match against Sri Lanka, she was named Player of the Match for a standout performance that included five run-outs and one wicket. In the semi-final against Australia, she scored a crucial 41 runs, contributing significantly to India’s nine-wicket win. “The World Cup win has given me a new identity and a sense of responsibility,” she told ‘The Perfect Voice’.


Humble Beginnings

Born in a humble farmer’s family in Solapur and visually impaired since childhood, it has been a long journey for Ganga. The physical barriers failed to limit her ambitions. After completing her primary education in Futana village in Kalamnuri taluka of Hingoli district, she went to Solapur for further studies and it was there that her cricketing journey began. Ganga was inspired to play cricket after watching other children at her school, the Bairu Ratan Damani School for the Blind, playing the sport. Under the guidance of coach Raju Shelke, she honed her cricket skills and emerged as a shining name in disabled cricket.


The World Cup win has suddenly catapulted Ganga to a never-seen-before stardom. Following the triumph, she, along with the Indian team, was felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. Ganga was also honoured by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, her most memorable moment came in a meeting with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who lauded her major contribution to the World Cup semi-final win over Australia, leaving her ‘stunned.’


However, despite all the accolades, it is the concern for livelihood that has left Ganga worried over the future. After father’s demise, the burden of the family has fallen on her shoulders and, in the absence of a good job, it has been a difficult task for her.


Ganga said, “When I won the player of the match award in the first match against Sri Lanka in the World Cup, I was overjoyed and called up my mother to ask whether she watched me playing. But to my great disappointment I found out that she could not as she was away working as a labourer in other’s farms. I want to change this situation by providing my family a decent living.”


According to Ganga, players from other states in the Indian team have received financial rewards and job assurances from their respective state governments; however, no such acknowledgement has yet been received from the Maharashtra government. “During a meeting with him, CM Devendra Fadnavis has assured me to provide financial assistance and suitable job opportunities,” she said.

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