I was recently invited by my dear friend Kapel Malhotra for an investor lunch on Saturday. 3rd May.
Part 1 of the session was about exploring some compelling investment opportunities he had curated. Part 2 was for me to speak about my book Dil Se Dost, and it unexpectedly became a heartfelt journey into something far more personal, when Kapel asked me to share why the word Dost holds such deep meaning for me.
What began as a casual talk turned into a passionate 30-minute sharing of my experiences and connection with Dost and Dosti, filled with stories and fond memories.
My dosti began in childhood, playing with children from all walks of life, shaped by the values I learnt from my nani which were humility, gratitude, and the power of a simple namaste. School days at DPS (yes, just 19 boys, no girls) during class 9–11 were full of mischief and laughter. Most of the friends from school are still in touch 15 out of 19 even after 5 decades . College and CA years brought more connections, shaped by growing maturity.
But the real test of dosti came in my professional life, when people older than me became true friends, and the idea of win-win became my way of being. Whether peers, seniors, juniors, or even my gurus, they all became Dost. Perhaps that’s why the debut book Dil Se Dost that I authored , flowed straight from my heart.
The session was followed by Q&A with diverse topics around my investment philosophy, defining Guru , values and value creation , family office. My co-founder, Ishani Chanana joined me in responding to many of these questions
What touched me deeply was how warmly the group received this philosophy. Kapel offered me the opportunity to gift an author-signed copy of Dil Se Dost to each participant, and by Sunday morning, Akhil Jain , one of the participants , had already finished the book and shared his reflections on LinkedIn. Thank you, Akhil, your note meant the world to me
Thanks veer Harshpreet A for your hospitality and being a wonderful host
Sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen when you’re not trying to impress, just trying to express.