The Conversation - The Nirmata of all things!!!!

So this will be my first ever interview of a non cricketer for the blog. Of course if you ask the man, he will say he just about missed getting into the Ranji team. It was an interesting sequence of events that led to me reaching out to Nataraj or Dr N or Natz or AJ as we now know him. 

First things first, Natz was super pissed with me while an important life event was going on for him at home. Talk about timing. Add to the mix one common harami dost and its the perfect cauldron of mixed emotions, anger and disappointment. 

But Nataraj is not a man of grudges. You can see his displeasure very easily but he takes joy out of most things in life. He is clearly an inspiration to a lot of people around him and the man will never stay shy from helping anyone out including bargaining for car mats when you spend a bomb on a new car :-) 

So here's to the man himself who is always in everyone's thoughts whether he is there in person or not. Palladian wont be complete with Natz and most of our lives would be poorer without him around. 

Enjoy this freewheeling conversation and the photo collage. You wont be disappointed as all his answers are straight from the heart and no filters. 

Your first passion is singing, and tennis is likely a close second! Do you have a third passion?

Absolutely. Singing and tennis are my primary passions, along with any sports or gym activities that help keep me fit. This has always been the case, but it wasn’t until I turned 48 and achieved FIRE (Financially Independent Retired Early) that I had the opportunity to fully focus on these interests. Now, I'm seriously considering enrolling in learning academies for both singing and tennis. Besides these, I have many other interests. For example, I enjoy watching OTT content and various movies in my home theatre, learning about new technologies to stay informed, and being involved with three tech startups—though this passion is more about engagement than financial gain. Recently, I’ve also started exploring fashion and related areas. With more time on my hands, I’m discovering new places and embarking on adventures with a fun group I've recently joined. We’re doing some wild things and I feel like I’m reliving my youth. Although some of our activities might be hard to describe and could even be a bit controversial 😊, I believe in retiring with style, which is reflected in how I spend my days and weekends. Right now, I’m in the process of overhauling my entire wardrobe.

You’re not particularly interested in cricket and think it’s a waste of time. What would you do to encourage more people to play tennis instead?

Tennis is a fantastic sport that keeps me fit, and I plan to continue playing as long as I enjoy it. I’d love to promote a tennis group in Palladian and introduce a ladder system that can be challenged every three months. I’ve seen this practice in Espana, and it’s quite intriguing. It’s important that players are competitive, but the beauty of such a system is that it helps bring people along and encourages improvement. Everyone’s skill level increases over time, and we should have more one- or two-day competitions where everyone gets to play matches. Just as you can enjoy cricket with a diverse group of players, why not apply the same idea to tennis? 

You have a strong voice in the tennis group? What irks you most about the groupism in the tennis forum?

Playing doubles and grouping players can help improve overall levels. It’s the responsibility of experienced players to keep the tennis community vibrant. Ideally, we should ensure that at least four good players are available to play every day, a practice I’ve observed in other successful communities.

Having a coach is definitely important for achieving one’s best. The success of a community often hinges on how experienced players foster interest and engagement—a key difference I’ve noted in thriving communities.( Editior agrees with this) 

Describe Ajay?

I am who I am and where I am due to the decisions I've made over my 50+ years of life, shaped by my experiences and the lessons I've learned from those who have inspired or influenced me (as Twitter might describe it today). What you learn in business school or professional colleges might involve subject knowledge, strategy, planning tools, or understanding people, finances, markets, and technology. However, I view life as an ongoing learning experience, where the moments I live and the people who inspire me form a continuous education that I choose never to graduate from.

You’re the captain of a sinking boat with only two life jackets. Vikram and Arjun are with you. Who would you save?

I would save both of my friends, as I believe I can handle any hardship or situation 😊. That’s what a captain should do.